Little Grey in us all

Grey Witch

Week #13 - the letter "G"

Since I have discovered the term "grey witch," I have found that many people have not heard of it or don't know exactly what it is and is not.  This isn't surprising since the Pagan community as a whole does not have a set definition for many of its aspects and practices.  In the beginning of my journey on this path and as I've grown and matured, I have also wondered just what the term means.

I asked a trusted friend to help me find more on grey witchcraft and she asked for a more specific view of just what it was that I was trying to find.  Her response:

It depends on how you're defining grey magic?  This is yet another case of "there are no standardized definitions, so lots of people use these words to mean totally different things".

By some counts, most of Feri is grey magic, in that it's mostly about changing the self and working magic for "selfish" reasons, not about healing others (white) or cursing (black), although Feri can do those things too. Some say that grey magic is black magic done in an ethical way, for ethical reasons. Some say that grey magic is the stuff that's mildly manipulative, like "you totally want to trust me and buy this house" glamour, but that can be easily bypassed by a good shield, a strong will, or a healthy dose of skepticism. Some say that grey magic is all of the everyday "getting shit done magic", and white magic is prayer and black magic is seeded with violence. Some say that grey magic is any magic that can be white or black, depending on the intention and motivations of the caster.

Some traditions that work outside of a dualistic good/evil paradigm consider all of their tradition's magic to be "grey"... like some kinds of shamanism, for example, might say "Shamanism is grey magic"... though of course, Core Shamanism considers itself to be white, and some traditions consider it to be something that can go either way, and some traditions mostly use it for cursing (even for good, as in cursing away sickness), and some folks consider all shamanism to be black magic because it's spirit work. Some consider spirit work itself to be grey magic. Some say it's white magic if the spirits are angels, grey if the spirits are animals or wise/heroic ancestors, and black if they are demons or debauched ancestors.

Some black magic practitioners call their black magic "grey magic" because they don't want to admit to themselves or to others that they're doing black magic. Some magic practitioners call all of their magic "white magic" and any white or neutral magic done by people or traditions they disagree with "grey magic" because they want to feel superior about the way they do things.

So... yeah. If you can clarify what you're looking for, I can try to help vet resources.

Wow!  There is so much out there, so many different ideas on what it means to be a Grey.  I knew it was necessary for me to dig deep and define it for myself, what it means to me, and how it is incorporated into my practice.

So I set off to define what I meant when I referred to grey witches, grey witchcraft, or grey magic(k).

My practice has always been rooted in balance. When I first started off as Wiccan, I followed the Rede and knew that I was not to use spells for personal gain or work magick that would interfere with free will.  It was mentioned in every book I had.  It was The Law. 

White magick/white witches/white witchcraft = good

Black magick/black witches/black witchcraft = bad

Simple, right? Yes but it was too simple for me and never felt completely right. 

I did research and soul searching.  I wrote things down and then modified them.  I talked to people and gathered their thoughts and opinions.  There were message boards and Facebook pages.  The graphic to the right was the common theme and mindset of many of the Greys I was finding.

It clicked for the most part but I wanted something more to help me define and explain.

From the blog Eldritch Hele:

In common witchkin nomenclature, a white path witch (also known as a right hand path witch) is a witch that does good things and often follows a code of ethics (like the Wiccan rede), which is typically defined in a way to mean that they should not ever harm anything (to varying degrees) and to help other beings (to varying degrees). A black path witch (also known as a left hand path witch) is a witch that is comfortable harming other beings and who's focus, typically, is primarily on self rather than others. The idea that there could be an in between is kind of foreign to both sides and they do often see each other in extreme lights.

Enter the grey path witch (also known as a middle path, crooked path or twisting path witch). A grey path witch finds harming or helping others both acceptable and unacceptable because harm and help are subjective and there is always another side or ten to a situation. 

Now we are getting there.  It's starting to round out and make even more sense.  More research.  More deep, reflective work.  More time.

So here is what it means for me:

• I do not abide by the Wiccan Rede because it isn't logical to me.  I do use it as a guide, knowing that even the best of intentions can result in disaster which can and will harm.   
• If I need to defend or protect those I love, I will do so with whatever means I possess.  This may include taking a proactive approach and making the first move.
• I may refuse to heal or help if I view the outcome of doing so to be that for which I do not want to be responsible.
• There are multiple sides to every situation.  I am able to see how something the majority views as evil or bad may have acceptable motivation.  I may not agree but can see it and know it is not my place to judge others.
• I embrace the dark and the light and know that one cannot exist without the other. 

I like this and the simple beauty in how it sums it up.

I dance with the veils and walk in the mists. Light is my heart and darksome is my shadow.  Mistress of my duality, centered in divine neutrality.  Queen of my soul, I am my own North star.  I walk the path of wisdom, and my teacher resides within.  Hidden inside are my mysteries, I am a Priestess of the inner temple.  I am a Gray Witch.

NOTE:  I prefer the spelling of "Grey" with an "e" vs. "Gray" with an "a".  It's a personal preference and, to my knowledge, does not indicate something different with the different spelling.

How like the moon you are

Full Moon

Week #12 - the letter "F" again

I must confess...I've been having an affair.  It has been going on for more years than I can count.  And oh do I love her!  I love her in all of her phases, but every 29.5 days (approximately) she appears in all of her full glory and I fall in love all over again.

As I child, I loved finding the moon in the sky.  It was always a pleasure to discover her peeking out from the blue sky of day.  But it was her at night, among the stars, that would take my breath away.

The moon has been special to me my entire life.  When I became a Pagan and learned about Esbats (Full Moon celebrations) I was beyond ecstatic.  There was major clicking going on when I found rituals dedicated to the moon and some of her different phases.  These rituals and connections helped me be sure I was on the right path and made me want to dig deeper and learn more.

I often find myself restless on the day and the night of the Full Moon.  I long to be outdoors to dance and frolic under Her light.  I could gaze at Her for hours and just be lost but happy.  The moon most certainly affects me and my moods.  Luckily, it is a positive thing where I feel filled with energy, increased creativity, and so incredibly alive.

The Full Moons all have names but I've often found that they don't always click with the natural world that I experience in Nebraska.  It is because of this that I have been working on selecting names for the Full Moons that fit for my practice.  There are notes jotted everywhere and I just need to sit down and commit to it and hammer those names out.  Until that point, these are the names I use:

• January - Wolf Moon - the time to conserve energy by working on personal problems that involve no one else. It is also a time for protection rites and reversing spells. During this month the energy flow is sluggish and below the surface.
• February - Ice Moon - the time for loving the self, accepting responsibility for past errors, forgiving yourself and making future plans. At this time the energy flow is working toward the surface; good for purification, growth, and healing.
• March - Chaste Moon - the time for new beginnings, breaking illusions and seeing the truth in your life however much it may hurt. The energy flow breaks into the open, a good time for growing, prospering, and exploring. Light and Dark are in balance now.
• April - Seed Moon - the time for working on your temper, emotional flare-ups and selfishness. The energy is flowing into creating and producing; a good time for change, self-confidence issues, taking advantage of opportunities and realizing self-reliance.
• May - Hare Moon - the time for strengthening the connections with supernatural protectors and beings around you. The energy is in full flow making this a good time for intuition, reproducing and connecting with faeries and nature spirits.
• June - Mead Moon - the time for decision making, taking responsibility for present happenings, working on personal inconsistencies and for strengthening and rewarding yourself for your positive traits. The energy is in full, but resistive.  The Earth tides are turning making this a good time for protection, strengthening and prevention.
• July - Hay Moon - the time for dream-work, divination and meditation on spiritual goals and plans. The energy is slower and more relaxed, proper for success and prosperity spells. This month is the time to start preparing for the colder and darker months ahead.
• August - Corn Moon - the time for harvesting, gathering and appreciating. The energy flow is slowing more and now is the time of vitality, health and friendships.
• September - Harvest Moon - the time for organizing and straightening up physical, mental, emotional and spiritual clutter. The energy flow is resting and Light and Dark are once again in balance.
• October - Blood Moon - the time for inner cleansing. Meditate on the laws of Karma and thoughts of reincarnation. This is the time of letting go, justice, balance and inner harmony.
• November - Snow Moon - the month of transformation. It is time to prepare for the coming winter and a time to strengthen communication with the god or goddess closest to you. The energy flow is taking root and preparing to flow once more.
• December - Cold Moon - the time of Spiritual Paths. The Earth tides are turning and it is time to reach out to friends and family, the lonely and the needy. This is the month of death and renewal. Spells should be aimed at endurance and provision.

The Blue Moon occurs when four full moons fall within the same season (as regular seasons only have 3 full moons, the fourth full moon between solstice and equinox, or vice versa, is the Blue Moon) or more commonly recognized when there are two full moons in any given month with the second full moon being considered as the Blue Moon. The Blue Moon is considered the 'goal moon’; at this time it is customary to set specific goals for yourself and to review your accomplishments and failures since the last one.

Recently, I heard the term Black Moon.  A Black Moon is the name given to the second New Moon in any given month.   I know it has nothing to do with a Full Moon but I think it is incredibly interesting and wanted to be sure to get it into my blog. Another moon fact I just learned deals with the times of moonrise.  The New Moon always rises near sunrise.  The First Quarter Moon rises near noon.  The Full Moon rises near sunset.  The Fourth Quarter Moon rises near midnight.

I also like to "harness" the energies of the Full Moon.  I often will put my stones and crystals out to soak up the light of the moon.  I charge a small container of water that I keep sealed and use throughout the month for rituals or spells. 

When I taught a class on Moon Magick, I found this ritual (modified in places by me, no clue the original source) that used cords to "capture" the energies of the moon.  By directing energy during the different moon phases into knotted cords, the energy can be harnessed and preserved until it is needed. By using a technique similar to that of Drawing Down the Moon, we can capture the essence of the moon phases in the knots of the cord; this power can be released at a later time as needed. Think of the cord as a source of emergency reserve power for those times when your need is immediate but the time available for a lengthy ritual is not. Once made and charged, the cords can be utilized in all future spell work. For example, if you need to quickly banish a negative influence but don’t want to work your spell while the moon is waxing, use your waning moon cord to lend banishing energy to your magick.

To use the energy of your cord you can hold it, wear it around your neck, encircle a candle or stone with it, drape it across your spell items, tie up your magickal catalysts or use it to charge herbs by encircling them with the cord. I personally like to use the untying method. This theory reflects a belief that each knot represents the moon energy; to release it, the knot must be untied during the spell.

Traditionally, moon cords are 3 feet in length and between a quarter-inch to half-inch in diameter. I use white for the Maiden aspect/Waxing Moon, red for the Mother aspect/Full Moon, and black for the Crone aspect/Waning Moon.

During the ritual, you raise your cord so it is in your field of vision and directly in front of the moon. As you
do this, feel the lunar energy begin to flow into the cord and tingle on your palms. You can chant if you wish.  While holding the cord in front of the moon, begin tying the first eight knots, an equal distance from the last. As you are doing this, try to line up the cord so that you are viewing the moon through the loop in which each knot is being tied. This visual image will, more than any words could, get the message through to your deep mind that you really have captured the lunar energy within your cord. You must know – not believe, but know – that with each knot you make a part of the moon phase’s energy is held within the knot for it to be effective.

The moon has always been special and sacred to me and it is an integral part of my personal practice. Should I veer from my Pagan path and start to follow a completely different religion or spiritual practice, the moon will still be there for me to honor and observe.  She is a constant and I know that she is always out there, even when I cannot see her.

Knowing vs. Walking

Feri

Week #11 - the letter "F"

Until a few years ago, I really had not had much exposure to other traditions or forms of Paganism.  I had done some reading and had some discussions but the opportunity to actually experience anything but a Wiccan-based practice was zero.  Lucky for me, and my Pagan community, two individuals became active and opened up a new world to all of us.

Liv and Andross started Prairie Star Circle to give ritual experience to our community that we would not have otherwise experienced here.  They also introduced me to the Feri Tradition.

I'd heard Liv talk about it and had been exposed to some of its practices but it wasn't until a small group of us decided to do a study group as we worked through the book "Evolutionary Witchcraft" by T. Thorn Coyle.  Liv actually studied under Coyle (who was fortunate to study under Victor and Cora Anderson) and was a bit of a guinea pig for the book.  Sadly, life happened and we never finished the book group and I have yet to actually finish the book.

According to a website on the Feri tradition:

F(a)eri(e)* is a modern form of American Traditional Witchcraft derived from the teachings of Victor and Cora Anderson and passed down through their various initiates. A rich and diverse spiritual art, Feri seeks to transform the individual through practices of ritual magic, meditation, and energy work. Faery draws power from various cultures and their magical systems including Huna; Conjure; Voodoo; Tantra; Celtic Folklore; Christian Mysticism; Yezidi Mythology; Greek Gnosis; and others, and continues to integrate the magic and mysteries of ancient and evolving cultures into its rich spiritual tapestry. Faerie is understood and integrated through direct experience; adherents include dedicated practitioners and persons initiated ritually into its mysteries.

*The diversity of our tradition can be seen in the various spellings of our name, which include Faery, Faerie, Fairy, and Feri.

I still have a lot to learn about the Feri tradition but there are some aspects that have already intrigued me enough that they are incorporated into my practice.

One of the first tastes I had of Feri tradition was being introduced to the Four-Fold Self, a concept based on the Three Souls (more below). 

The aspects of the Four-Fold Self are Clay Self, Moon Self, Sun Self, and Star Self.

Created by Alivanna Rose Moore

• Clay Self is our body, the vessel that contains the other parts of our self.  We are responsible for caring for our Clay Self and repairing ourselves when necessary.
• Moon Self is our animal nature, our "inner child".  It is feral and wild, innocent and social constructs, and only understands the now.  Moon self is the etheric body in the energetic sense.  This is your basic and primal needs, your battery, the present, gut reactions, emotions.
• Sun Self is our human nature, our talking brain, our personality, our ability to reason, communicate and exist as a social and civilized human.  Energetically, it is the aura.  This is what people see in addition to your Clay Self.  It directs energy, not stuck in the present and can visualize the past and the present.
• Star Self is our divine nature, our higher self, our guardian angel.  It is the part of us that is also divine, it's our link, inspiration, intuition, and it knows our potential.  

When we started the book study, I then learned more about the Three Souls.  This belief finds its roots in Polynesian Huna and Shamanism.  Each of the three souls have their own manner of communication as well as a basis of energy.  Through practice, we get to know each of these souls and therefore helps us access our potential. The aspects of the Three Souls have many names.

In Coyle's tradition, the three aspects are Sticky One, Shining Body, and Sacred Dove.

• Sticky One is the energy body that most closely follows the physical body. Energy “sticks” to it, drawn in and stored as in a battery. Sticky One carries our animal and child nature, our instinct, and the immediacy of our connections to sex, food, sleep and exercise.
• Shining Body includes your energetic aura, an egg shape around you. This is the seat of communication and intellect of giving and receiving information rationally, energetically and psychically.
• Sacred Dove, physically, is a sphere that reaches above your physical head, like a halo, intersecting all the parts of you. This is our own divinity, or God Soul, and connects with all the other realms, including the ancestors and Gods

I have embraced working with my Three Souls by using the Four-Fold Self.  To me, the difference between the two is that the Four-Fold Self recognizes Clay Self (your physical body) as an important aspect to work in harmony with your inner self and the remaining pieces.  Because doing what I can to keep myself physically healthy is important, I prefer to use the Four-Fold Self.  I work daily to keep them aligned, healthy, and positive.

The second Feri practice I learned was one that I still practice - The Kala Rite.  It is also referred to as the Rite of Unbinding.  I don't practice it daily, at least not consciously, but do perform it when needed and at least weekly.  The version I do is slightly different from that in the link and there are many ways to perform this Rite.

This practice is for cleansing and healing.  It is an opportunity to release anything that is holding you back from reaching your fullest potential.  This can be in the form of bad habits, energetic blockages, frustrations, doubts, fears, old wounds, etc.  These all form "knots" of energy in our Sun Self and Moon Self, which when unbound, allow our energy to flow freely, allow us to be more authentic and empowered.  Big complicated knots can take several sessions.

This is my version, based on a class with Liv:

1. Pour water into a cup (only as much as you can finish within a breath).
2. Align the Four-Fold Self/Three Souls.
3. Breathe out the knot of energy into your hands, visualizing it forming an egg - as much breathe/times as needed.
4. Toning "Ah", drop the egg into the water.
5. Hold the cup up, and toning "Ma", let your Star Self/the Gods/Universal Grace pour love and light into the cup, unbinding the knot and freeing the energy within it.
6. On the next breath, drink all the water.  Drink in the light, love, gratitude, grace, energy, and the now-unbound energy.  Let it flow into you, cleansed, healed, and revitalized.
7. The water will continue to do its work until it passes back out of your body.  That is when the Rite is complete.

Feri tradition definitely has influence on my personal practice.  As I continue to study, it may have more of an impact.  Only time will tell.

Mud

mud [muhd] noun
1. wet, soft earth or earthy matter, as on the ground after rain, at the bottom of a pond, or along the banks of a river; mire.

Photo by Alpay Erdem/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

In my post on the Elements, I said I was quite balanced between Earth and Water and affectionately referred to myself as mud.  I found the above photo. It's wonderful.  She looks happy.  She's leaving the earth area to jump into the water.  It's near perfection in my book.

Since I am mud, I need to do some muddy pictures of myself to remind me of my connections to Earth and Water.  The above picture is definitely inspiration. 

(Now that I think about it, it might be very cool and affirming to do a series of photos or collages to represent each of the elements and how I personally view them.  Definitely will have to toy around with that idea in the very near future.  Now I'm all excited about this idea but have other things I must do first since they are priorities.)

I would love to go to the extreme of covering myself in mud and then jumping into a natural body of water to cleanse myself.  Those to the right are also very inspiring but I'm not sure I will be able to make something like that happen.

However, I'm pretty sure I can start out using those on the left as a point of inspiration.  They are playful, fun, and rather simple.

As signs of Spring are showing up everywhere lately and the weather is turning warmer, I know I will have plenty of opportunities to play in the mud.  I will also get to do the joyous activity of wiping the mud from the paws of my dogs and reminding my husband and kids to not track mud into the house.

There is a love of mud and a bit of aggravation as well.  But it is the combination of Earth and Water to create something completely different that I love.  It is where I find balance and peace.

Courtesy and respect

Elements

Week #10 - the letter "E" again

The elements - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water - have always fascinated me.  They are a core component of my personal practice. 

Earth Air Fire Water ambigram

The Pagan elements were one of the first things I learned about on my path.  It clicked with me and I was hooked on them.  There are moments in life when you have those "a-ha" moments when there is clarity and connection.  Learning about the elements, in paganism, was one of those moments.

I have explored the elements on many different levels.  As a Taurus, I am an Earth sign.  And it gels with me for the most part.  But I wanted to know more, dig deeper, and discover more. 

There is a ton of information, identifying quizzes, and comprehensive traits for each of the elements in the books "Elemental Witch: Fire, Air, Water, Earth: Discover Your Natural Affinity" by Tammy Sullivan and "The Way of Four: Create Elemental Balance in Your Life" by Deborah Lipp.  By utilizing the information, I have discovered that I'm equal between the elements of Earth and Water.  I affectionately call my elemental affiliation Mud.

The balance of the elements (male and female, directions, seasons, times of day, senses, moon phases, etc.) also strikes a chord with me.  Balance is one of the top factors in my belief system.  Generally, my invocation of the elements during rituals I write and perform for myself or others are detailed and elaborate. 

This is a circle casting and elemental invocation I like to use:

Return to the altar and pick up the incense. Then walk the circle starting/ending in the East with the incense while saying: “Guard and protect this circle and all who dwell within. By the powers of the East and Air, as I will it, so mote it be.”

Upon completing the circle, return to the altar for the candle. Again, walk the circle with the candle starting/ending in the South while saying: “Guard and protect this circle and all who dwell within. By the powers of the South and Fire, as we will it, so mote it be.”

Again, return to the altar, this time for the water. Walk the circle with the water (which should be flicked out of container as you make your way around the circle) starting/ending in the West while saying: “Guard and protect this circle and all who dwell within. By the powers of the West and Water, as I will it, so mote it be.”

Return to the altar for the salt. Make the final walk around the circle with the salt (which should be sprinkled as you makes your way around the circle) starting/ending in the North while saying: “Guard and protect this circle and all who dwell within. By the powers of the North and Earth, as I will it, so mote it be.”

Then say: “Great spirits of the East, South, West and North; Guardians of the great powers of Air, Fire, Water and Air, I greet thee. I see your beauty manifested in the world around me. You touch my soul and gladden my heart. I thank thee.”

Call the East Sentinel by facing East and saying: “Hail to thee, Guardians of the East! Your powerful winds calm my mind. I greet the East, direction of Air: gentle breezes and strong winds, realm of the beauty of clouds and birds, bearer of the weather which touches me, the breath of life I inhale and exhale. I am a part of all around me. Come! Send forth your inspiration, and be here now. If it pleases you, take your place at my circle, and be at one with me. Blessed Be!” Then light the Yellow East candle.

Call the South Sentinel by facing South and saying: “Hail to thee, Guardians of the South! Your powerful fires enflame my will. I greet the South, direction of Fire: candle flame, bonfire, starlight and sunlight, the energy which warms me and gives life to the world I inhabit, the energy which pulses along my nerves. I am a part of all around me. Come! Send forth your passion, and be here now. If it pleases you, take your place at my circle, and be at one with me. Blessed Be!” Then light the Red South candle.

Call the West Sentinel by facing West and saying: “Hail to thee, Guardians of the West! Your powerful waters soothe my heart. I greet the West, direction of Water: rain, snow, rivers and lakes, the great encircling ocean from which all life first came, the blood which flows through my veins still bearing the saltiness of that original home. I am a part of all around me. Come! Send forth your tranquility, and be here now! If it pleases you, take your place at my circle, and be at one with me. Blessed Be!” Then light the Blue West candle.

Call the North Sentinel by facing North and saying: “Hail to thee, Guardians of the North! Your powerful earth sustains my body. I greet the North, direction of Earth: metal and stone, hill and valley, Mother who bears and nourishes all life--root and leaf, fur and feather and scale and skin, muscle and bone and brain cell. I am a part of all around me. Come! Send forth your strength, and be here now! If it pleases you, take your place at my circle, and be at one with me. Blessed Be!” Then light the Green North candle.

Then say: “From the ground, from the stone, from the windswept sky. From the flaming fire's cone, from the flowing water's sigh, our spirits call, our voices sing of elemental power. Come, aid us in our circle. Be here in this hour. So mote it be.”

I don't always go so big with the elements. Even if I use the simplest of invocations, I take pause with each of the elements, giving them the respect I fully believe they deserve.

Air moves us

Fire transforms us

Water shapes us

Earth heals us

My way