Samhain: Celebrating Death

Much time has passed, and I neglected this blog, due to many thoughts of what is to come, ahead. This Halloween my nerves, or should I say spirits are filled with excitement and aspiration.  I am working with and performing Magick in honor of the Goddess Proserpine, the Roman Goddess, of the Underworld and of Life, and her many lessons, and of her Crowning as the Queen of the Underworld.  Her Consort Pluto, King of the Underworld, strikes fear in the hearts of all you walk this earth, for he is what is to come after, that which we cannot control, that which is Death.   Many in religion today, Pluto would be compared to the Devil, or an Evil incarnate, but it is the ways of the Strega, he is seen as a befitting husband, and with no Devil in the Craft, he is far more admirable, than the idea and/or association that Death is Evil.

I recall a story of the capturing of his Queen, it is grossly maneuvered and associated or spoken of in a negative context, but we as Strega see it differently, for Pluto is believed and celebrated as one of three Great Kings.  These Great Kings, were divided after they Conquering of Tyrant Godly Beasts, known as the Titans.  Jupiter, King of the Heavens, Gods, and mortals, received the Sky, ruling it with thunderbolts and wind.  Neptune, received the Ocean, and all it inhabitants and many riches.  Pluto received the Underworld, and all that pass through it.  Later, Pluto sprung from the Earth in a black horse and onyx chariot and enraptured the very presence of Proserpine, and took her to his Kingdom.  

She became entrapped there, by eating three pomegranate seeds, which is believed that if you eat anything in the Underworld you will be trapped there for eternity as a wandering Spirit. Later, with the ruling of Jupiter, it was declared among the Gods, Spirits, and mortals, that she would spend one third of the year, in the Underworld, another third on Earth, and a one last third with herself, picking sweet anemone and hyacinth flowers.  From this story we received the Seasons, for when Proserpine is in the Underworld; we are in Winter, when she is on Earth; we have Spring, and when she is with Herself, we have Summer, when flowers are fully bloomed awaiting their harvesting.  

I completely love this story, in my mind and heart, it teaches me the lesson of Judgment.  So many, judged Pluto for trapping Proserpine, but surpass, that with out that we would not have seasons, we would not grasp a better understanding of life and death, especially on the level of looking beyond that which is described.  Life is a return, and Death is a New Beginning.  At this time of year with such focus on those that have passed, it makes me ponder, that which is so neglected, their return.  This Samhain, I light white candles, the “color” of projection, to honor those who have passed, and a few smaller black candles to honor and bless their passage to return.  

The Witch must live with their eyes wide opened, and strive to seek deeper meaning, in the Darkness of the Veil.  Many have lost, but are so hesitant or ignorant of knowing, that we need to need to place aside mourning, and find happiness and peace with the anticipation of what is returning beyond the Veil.

I dedicate this to all those who have lost, lets celebrate their return, Have a Blessed Samhain.  I also dedicate this to the Great King and Queen of the Underworld, Pluto and Proserpine.  May we all gain better understanding of your lessons, so that we may heal and move forward, and shine with them again.

The Two-Faced King

With Agonalia only a few days away, I am anticipating my first solitary ritual in a long time.  Janus is known as the God with two faces.  He is similar to the Haitian Legba.  He is the Gatekeeper, the Opener of Doors.  When we, as witches, attune ourselves with the magick of Janus, we search inside of ourselves and examine what it known as the animus and anima of our consciousness.  The anima and animus is the female and male aspects of the human soul, and discovering and working with the two sides aids us in finding our inner partner.  Here at Superstitious, we have created a simple shrine to honor Janus, a double-sided mask of red and blue, surrounded by red candles.

Happy New Years!

I have just finished casting my spells for the New Year. I have found that making resolutions is important, as it helps me to guage the success (or failure) of my goals that I had set for myself. Last year, the few resolutions I made seem impossible to have achieved, now that I look back. As such, this year I have added some magick to my resolutions, and have focused them on goals that are possible to achieve, though they will still be challenging. As a Witch, goals and plans enable us to spiritually grow as well as physically. In the tradition of our coven here in San Diego, we begin to prepare ourselves for Agonalia, a minor holiday dedicated to the God Janus, who is known for seeing all, for he has two faces. Like Gemini, he has twin souls, and I find myself seeking his guidance and counsel. Many of us go to him to find answers that are beyond our vision and he has seemed to answer many of my questions in the most interesting manner. A small shrine will soon be erected to him with cinnamon scented candles, pictures of himself and small, double-sided masks. I enjoy looking at his altar; it reminds me of change and the ability to embrace both sides of the human consciousness.

The Cleansing Begins

The scent of frankincense, rosemary, myrrh, and orange blossom lingers around me, wiping out any and all negative energies that I, my friends, and family may have accumulated throughout the past year.  With our springtime holiday affairs ahead, and not to forget Valentines Day, my eyes are filled with tears of hope which the warmer season brings.  With Yule and New Year's a couple days away, I seem to have had no time or mental energy to put much effort towards focusing on the enjoyment of the season.  The month of November was a rough one; I gained much and lost evenly.  It is the battle we as witches seem to partake in: living a life in the ordinary, and then living a life in the extraordinary.  Again, I find myself turning the pages of my Book of Shadows, evaluating the past, as well as the present.  I've been digging through boxes of magickal tools, jewelry, letters from family and lovers, and I have found that the ordinary can be hidden amongst the non-ordinary.  I giggle a little as I read how I was mentally as a young teenage man, as I find moments of heart-felt joy and moments of chaotic heartbreaks; moments of achieving my goals, and moments when I fell short.

Witches weave a web of good and bad, dancing in the middle...flying through the never-ending threads.  I ask myself, sometimes childishly: "Life is not fair...why is there so much bull$%@! around me?" but then I remember the lessons of the Great Aphrodite: without sorrow, there would be no room to appreciate the the joy.  Laying aside the manipulation, deceit, hatred, and plain-out nonsense of others' behavior, we are all creatures of love and joy!

My main goal now is to project that lesson that Aphrodite has recently taught me.  In truth, the battle for love is not over!

Ambrosia

As the pages of life turn, I find myself reflecting during these chilly months on my own personal desires.  I reflect on the path which I am walking and am grateful for the strength that the Old Ones emanate through my soul.  Through life's hurdles, we find strength, and even as a Witch who is attuned with all that is around us, we, too, suffer.  We cry.  We mourn.  But we also remember the lessons of life, death, and rebirth and keep the hope left from Pandora's Box in our hearts.  We tell ourselves, with sovereignty, compassion, loyalty, and sacrifice, that there lies a place of perfection and bliss just over the horizon.  It saddens me to see so many travel down spiral paths of trouble, chaos, discord, and the sense of hopelessness.  There is a reason that lies within chaos, which is opposite in its counterpart.  To find bliss.  To find perfection,  To be able to taste the ambrosia of the Gods.  At times we must surrender ourselves towards that chaos we so desperately fear, so that we may soulfully and perfectly appreciate that which we seek: that ambrosia...that sweet and comforting ambrosia.

I dedicate this as a libation to Dionysus.  That even through the surrendering towards indulgence, there beyond the chaos lies a lesson more valuable than gold.

Life, Death, & Rebirth

As for the first entry of this magickal blog, I would like to state that its purpose is to bring clarity, insight, and guidance to whosoever reads it's ramblings.  As the Wheel of the Year turns yet again to Samhain, I find myself seeking out the subconscious mysteries beyond the Veil.  In the teachings of the Witch's Craft, we either celebrate or mourn death at this time, depending on tradition.  But as I turn the pages of my Book of Shadows, I find that at this time, the celebration of life seems to be the mystery of the season.  I find small entries about loved ones lost from the physical world, and spells to aid their travel and safety on the River of Styx.  I am reminded that "I am still here... I walk upon this sacred earth which birthed itself from chaos" and I focus my thoughts and magick on finding inner balance and peace.  I meet many people from all paths and am fascinated by the few who have the strength, discipline, and willingness to succeed.  I, now like the Queen of Death, seek counsel from the Dark Goddess Hekate.  Her ebony face and golden eyes fills my heart with hope for those that we as humans perceive as lost, but the teachings of Hekate tell a very different perception of what is to come beyond the Veil.  The Queen Hekate describes a different and unusual cloak of mystery.  She is seen as dark, mysterious, and blood-thirsty, but underneath her ragged garments lies a nurturing mother and the wild maiden.  Like death, it is a mysterious cloak, but underneath that cloak lies rest, relaxation, love, and safety.  We should all look to Her and place our personal inhibitions, perceptions, and opinions aside, and attempt to look beyond our own cloaks of mystery and celebrate life... for that is the way of the Old Religion.

The Superstitious Effect Blogspot

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From all of us here at Superstitious,

Blessed Be!