New Age Retailer reviews “Priestesses Pythonesses & Sibyls”

As the darkness and cold continues to descend on us here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a great time to catch up with reading and studies!  It would also seem that in the last few weeks more reviews of books I have worked on, and other forms of feedback on my work is being brought to my attention.  One such example from the last week are reviews of both HEKATE LIMINAL RITES  and VISIONS OF THE CAILLEACH ( both co-authored with David Rankine) and the anthology PRIESTESSES PYTHONESSES & SIBYLS (which I compiled and edited, with essays with some of the most phenomenal women in the current magical revival alive today!) which appeared in the very popular NEW AGE RETAILER in recent weeks.

This is what the reviewer, Richard Wright (Tranquil Things, Derby Line, Vt)  had to say about this anthology:

This book contains brief contributions from 18 modern pagan priestesses. It draws together their strands of experience and research while also covering a wide range of ancient and modern spiritual traditions from around the world. The editor makes clear that the one aspect they have in common in their roles is their use of trance states, achieved through a wide variety of methods. Three preliminary essays serve as orientation, covering a general background regarding priestesses who speak with and for the gods, the role of the priestess of Delphic Apollo, and women of power in the early Christian church.

Each contributor explains her unique manner of invoking the presence of specific deities. According to one of the writers, once they are present, “Each one has Her own feel, look, way of holding Herself, way of expressing Herself, but still, there is something similar about the process, as an Otherworldly comes into me,” to which she adds, “Entering into that state is not difficult. The ritual leads up to this point, paving the way to the right mindset.” Commenting on the use of ritual, another writer observes, “It really does not matter if deities have an objective external existence or not, as long as the practice itself is psychologically and spiritually beneficial.” The essays make clear that the ritual, no matter what it is, allows three things to fall into place: the metaphysical perspective, the appropriate ego preparation, and the readiness to work with both light and dark aspects of self. The priestess is then able to become a vessel for the incarnation of whatever presence is being invoked.

Priestessess, Pythonesses, & Sibyls is useful as a guide for those wishing to know more about the range of practices currently used by modern priestesses and the traditions from which they have developed. As noted by one of the contributors, “The myriad forms of life, the Divine essence of which is personified as Gods and Goddesses, teach us something of the nature of Divinity which we may find within ourselves and in all things.”

You can read the original review, as well as reviews of many other new titles (including Hekate Liminal Rites) by visiting their website  http://www.newageretailer.com/PageID/466/default.aspx

You can find out more about Priestesses, Pythonesses & Sibyls by going to: http://www.avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/titles/priestesses.htm

Cauldron Reviews Hekate Liminal Rites

I am tremendously proud to have been part of the Hekate Liminal Rites project, which was the result of research with David Rankine, and which was published by Avalonia earlier this year.  Hekate is one of the most liminal goddesses of the ancient world, who significantly crosses over into a number of magical and spiritual traditions, something which Michael Howard, author of numerous books on esoteric subjects himself,  observes in this review he recently gave our book in his magazine The Cauldron:

“This is a superb study of the rites, magic, symbolism and myths of Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft, necromancy and the underworld. The authors claim that she stands at the crossroads bearing the keys of the Mysteries and inspired the poets, philosophers, witches and magicians of the ancient classical world. What is interesting about his book is the link it makes between Hecate and Judeo-Christian figures such as the Archangel Michael as described in the 3rd/4th century Greek Magical Papyri. It is a classic example of dual faith magical observance in practice. Highly recommended.”

You can find out more about The Cauldron by visiting their website http://www.the-cauldron.org.uk/ 

For more information about Hekate Liminal Rites see http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/titles/hekate_liminalrites.htm or for some general information on this goddess visit http://hekate.avalonia.co.uk

Grace and Beauty

How important is it for a magician to be a graceful, and be aware of the beauty of that which surrounds him or her in the physical world?   Can beauty really be found in all things?

 Today is Friday,  which is of course the day of Venus – and with that it is a day for Works of Beauty.  Concepts such as attraction, art, beauty, culture, grace, inspiration, love, passion, pleasure, self-confidence, sensuality, sexuality and sociability are all associated with the energies of this planet.  Which is of course interesting to observe, especially as Fridays have become the day for much of that in our modern society.  For many people its the last day of the working week, it is a day when you can go out and party and not worry about having to get up the next morning. 

How will you incorporate beauty and grace into your life today?  Take some time to observe something which is beautiful to you, or find the beauty in something or someone you encounter?  Or maybe make an extra effort with the way you present yourself to others, or take time out to find inspiration in written prose or art, go see  a show or a film, listen to some music or go dancing?

(To Aphrodite)
Of Cytherea, born in Cyprus, I will sing. She gives kindly gifts to men: smiles are ever on her lovely face, and lovely is the brightness that plays over it.
Hail, goddess, queen of well-built Salamis and sea-girt Cyprus; grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you and another song also.

Hymn to Mars

TO MARS

The FUMIGATION from FRANKINCENSE.
Magnanimous, unconquer’d, boistrous Mars,

In darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars

Fierce and untam’d, whose mighty pow’r can make

The strongest walls from their foundations shake:

Mortal destroying king, defil’d with gore, 5

Pleas’d with war’s dreadful and tumultuous roar:

Thee, human blood, and swords, and spears delight,

And the dire ruin of mad savage fight.

Stay, furious contests, and avenging strife,

Whose works with woe, embitter human life; 10

To lovely Venus, and to Bacchus yield,

To Ceres give the weapons of the field;

Encourage peace, to gentle works inclin’d,

And give abundance, with benignant mind.

[Trans. Thomas Taylor, 1792]

How to Burn Incense Grains!

There are always questions which people are reluctant to ask about, after all it might seem that it is a pretty straightforward and easy thing to do and that everyone should know!   One of those questions which seem to shyly surface every now and then is “how to burn grain incense”.  The following is a reproduction of an article I wrote for avalonia.co.uk and which was subsequently reproduced in a couple of books and in magazines over the years.  I hope that it helps those of you who have been pondering this rather simple, but highly arousing and sublime practice with fear!

———–

Burning Incence Grains

HOW TO BURN INCENSE GRAINS
(Written by Sorita d’Este for avalonia.co.uk, 1998, updated 2004)

Loose incense grains are frequently used during Wiccan ceremonies, as offerings, for purificatory rites, for consecrations and as a symbolical representation of the element of Air. The grains are placed on charcoal blocks in a fireproof container or censer which is placed on the altar and may sometimes be taken around the circle, especially when performing purifications or blessings. In order to burn loose incense you will need:

” Incense grains (a specially prepared blend, or a resin that can be burned by itself, for example frankincense)

” Charcoal disks

” A heat resistant dish or censer made for the purpose

” You will also need matches or a lighter with which to light the charcoal.

You should first prepare the container in which you will be burning the incense. It is a good idea to place some clean sand or gravel at the base of the container as this will help with heat insulation and will also allow air to circulate more effectively to the burning charcoal, which in turn will allow both the charcoal and incense to burn more evenly. Once you have prepared the container the next step is to light the charcoal block, this is done by holding the edge of the disk in a flame (a lighter or candle flame works well). If you are worried about burning your fingers, use an old pair or tweezers or tongs to hold it with.

Once it ignites you will need to place it in the censer and allow it to ignite properly. Sometimes charcoal can be troublesome and in some instances you may have to relight it, but with most good quality self-igniting charcoal blocks you should be able to see the sparks travelling across the block. Once the charcoal is fully lit, place approx ¼ to ½ teaspoon of incense grains on the block and enjoy! Different types of incense grains and blends burn at a different pace from each other, as a result you will need to keep an eye on it and add more grains as need be.

Common Sense Warnings:

” If you suffer from respiratory problems, or are prone to allergies, it is best to avoid the use of incense in enclosed spaces.

” Do not leave burning incense unattended

” Treat burning charcoal with caution; keep away from flammable objects at all times.

” On occasion a charcoal block may sparkle profusely upon ignition, so take extra care when lighting as the sparks may ignite nearby flammable objects or cause damage to clothing, carpets or upholstery.

Introduction to the Qabalah

With my latest book, Practical Qabalah Magick due out this week, I thought it might be a good thing to reproduce this introductory article on the Qabalah which I originally wrote a few years ago for my original “avalonia.co.uk” website here.  For those readers unfamiliar with the Qabalah it should serve as a good introduction to the subject from a magical perspective.

What is Qabalah?  (Written by Sorita d’Este for avalonia.co.uk, 2006)

The Qabalah is a vital and dynamic system of spiritual growth which is used widely within the Western Mystery Tradition today from the Golden Dawn to the Servants of the Light, Wicca through to the Ordo Templi Orienti, Qabalastic thought, symbolism and ideas are incorporated in both rituals and philosophies.

The word Qabalah comes from the Hebrew “QBL” meaning “received teaching/tradition”. Qabalah is a truly ancient system that can be traced back thousands of years with the first major Qabalistic book, the Sepher Yetzirah (Book of Formation) dating to around the time of the birth of Christ. The wellknown image of the Tree of Life, which embodies the Qabalastic system, was first recorded around the 15th century, although it may have existed prior to this. The Tree of Life glyph is a symbolic representation of man and his relationship with the universe and the divine. The ten Sephiroth (spheres) of the Tree of Life can be seen to be akin to bridges, connecting man and the finite universe with the infinite and ultimate deity.

It is important to keep in mind that although the Qabalah is originally Hebrew system, there are many different forms, schools of thought and ideas concerning the tradition today and it has, as already been stated become widely incorporated into much of Western magic. To distinguish the Western Mystery system from that of the original Judiac system the term “Qabalah” is used, with Kabbalah denoting the original Jewish system of mysticism. When spelt Cabala, it refers to the specifically Christian interpretation of the system. These distinctions may seem a bit silly at first, but they are necessary in order to coherantly understand the system without the contradictions which may be inherent in trying to merge the different systems without sufficient knowledge. It is also used in order to show respect by making a distinction between the original Hebrew system and those practiced in other cultural and philosophical settings, as often the way in which it is taught may be quite contrary, or developed along a different philosophy from that originally intended.

According to tradition Adam learned Kabbalah from the archangel Raziel (archangel of Chokmah – Wisdom), in the Garden of Eden. Adam taught his descendants, like Hanoch and Methuselah, who taught Noah. Noah taught Abraham, who taught some of its mysteries to the Egyptians. Moses learned Kabalah first in Egypt, but learned much more from the angels in the wilderness, studying Kabbalah for 40 years. Moses taught the seventy elders, establishing the line of transmission of Kabbalah into the tribes. Abraham was said to have written the “Sepher Yetzirah” (Book of Formation), which is the first great Kabbalistic book, laying the foundations and symbolisms which much of this course is derived from.

The Qabalah is a very dynamic system that lays out a map of the human psyche and the universe, giving you the tools to pursue your spiritual path at your own pace. This means that you can pursue your spiritual development and relationship with the divine without the need for an intermediary priest telling you how things have to be. It is also very powerful as it enables you to explore and re-explore different aspects of yourself, integrating your energies to make you more efficient and better able to develop your own gifts and genius, and appreciate the qualities of others.

The different ways of looking at the Tree of Life all give you different keys to unlocking your own potential. You can work on developing the different aspects of yourself in harmony, rather than unbalancing yourself by focusing exclusively on one aspect of your psyche. This means that you have a safe way to develop. Qabalah will push you to always strive for the next level, making it a pleasure to become a better person, and helping you enjoy your life more as your horizons expand and your appreciation of the universe becomes more panoramic. You can find your limits and then transcend them!

Extremely Compatible

Qabalah has become part of what is called the Western Mystery Tradition, referring to the practice of magic in Europe through the last few centuries. This is partially because Qabalah is extremely compatible with other spiritual systems, and can help you to explore different religions and gain a greater appreciation of the inherent truths within them. For instance, you can be a Christian, a Wiccan or a Buddhist and still benefit from practising the Qabalah, as it provides a model that enables the comparison of different religions, different pantheons and different myths. Qabalah permeates both the Old Testament and modern pagan thought.

The Qabalah is relevant to our mundane lives as well as our spiritual ones. By working on improving our virtues and eradicating our vices, we become more positive and productive members of our communities. The ideas within Qabalah are multi-layered, and can be appreciated within many different contexts. Hence even scientific ideas can often be explored within a Qabalistic framework – a rare phenomenon for spiritual systems. Qabalah helps you make links between all the different areas of your life, appreciating it as part of a holistic journey, and yourself as part of a greater whole, the sum of life striving for perfection.

 Further Reading:

Practical Qabalah Magick, David Rankine & Sorita d’Este
Climbing the Tree of Life, David Rankine
Qabalah: a Magick Primer, John Bonner
Magic of Qabalah, Kala Trobe