Excerpt from Alphabet Soup by Andy Norfolk
Yule 2009 / Imbolc 2010 issue

Magic - how does it work? Well much of it, whoever does it and no matter what their system may be called, seems to be about symbolic representation of a desired outcome. You get this picture in your head of what you want to happen and then make a pattern in the here-and-now of how it should be. That pattern can of course involve actions and spoken words, but it will often include a written or drawn component. This isn't anything new. People have been doing this stuff for millennia.

It used to be said that what made people different from animals was the use of tools, but now we know of many animals who use twigs, rocks and other things to get food. Perhaps it is symbolic thought that really makes humans different? People have been making drawings for thousands of years, and that is remarkable. Even more remarkable is that people have been using small inscribed, drawn or carved marks for at least the last 7,000 years, some say 20,000 years, to represent things in a much more abstract way and that writing was invented in at least four different places.

Writing was seen as something wonderful by those who first used it. In many mythologies it had a divine origin having been invented by a deity; Thoth in ancient Egypt, Enlil in Sumeria, Ogma in Ireland or Odin - though he of course dredged the runes from the Well of Mimir so in a sense they already existed. Most people have lost their wonder at the strange way in which written language can express or record thought or be used to create thought - it's worth stopping to think about that again. Who is the god of the text message? We all know the power of names and words in magical terms - could the next Pagan best-seller be a book on text-message magic?

The first writing was probably ideographic, that is based on pictorial representations of things. It may also have been a good representation of the true nature of what it portrayed. A simple graphic image can also have many subtle shades of meaning associated with it. Of course that may make it difficult to be precise in setting down what is meant. A progression from simple pictures would be hieroglyphics in which the individual elements in a script represent something far more than just a literal interpretation - an ear of corn isn't just that but could mean harvest, for example. This fits neatly with the ideas of The Doctrine of Signatures that the spiritual or magical essence of something is represented by its form. However the writing that has become universal is phonetically based and in it letters represent sounds in a spoken language, though that might be hard to see in some  languages like English, and this is a more abstract way of recording concepts.

In some languages letters were used as substitutes for numbers, until these were invented later. This accounts for the strong association between numbers and letters in the Hebrew alphabet, which makes it possible to find the numerical values of words and find correspondences that would otherwise be missed. (Not my idea of fun) Some early magical alphabets, such as Theban first recorded by Johannes Trithemius in Polygraphia published in 1518 and Celestial invented by H C Agrippa in 1531 were derived from the Hebrew alphabet. These appear in early grimoires and later books such as, for example, Francis Barrett's book The Magus published in 1801. I wonder though how much magic there is in simply substituting one symbol for another in a text, but no doubt the extra concentration required to write out the transliteration helps focus magical intent.

Excerpt from Animal Totems by Twilightgirl
Ostara / Beltane 2009 Issue

The FLAMINGO
Flamingo, that great pink bird, what in the world does it mean if you have a Flamingo as a totem? Well, let me tell you that the bright pink colouring of a Flamingo comes from the food it eats which contains carotene. Without this the flamingo would have boring white feathers. But because of the ability to change colour, those with Flamingo as a totem are said to be able to appear as they are not. They can slip in and out of situations unnoticed if they choose to. This is very useful as those with Flamingo as a totem hate loud, chaotic situations and will often wish to disappear into the background. They may also have the ability to shapeshift.

Flamingo will also help you get in touch with your emotions, if you are bottling things up, Flamingo helps you release the emotions and come into balance again. Flamingo can also help you learn how to discard the things you no longer need or benefit from. Being able to see things clearly, Flamingos are often said to bring psychic powers as a totem, however if you do learn to develop psychic powers remember not to rely on them solely!

Those with Flamingo as a totem will prefer to live surrounded by groups of people and friends. They rarely like to be alone, as they feel safe and secure within a group environment. Flirtatious they may also be, but they are also loyal to their partners.

THE RAM/SHEEP
If the Ram/Sheep has appeared as your totem, it's time to assert yourself in new areas and have confidence in your abilities to do whatever is necessary. The Ram/Sheep reminds you that opportunities are everywhere and that if you trust in your abilities you will land on your feet. You have strength and perseverance to go all the way. Ram/sheep may also be asking you to stay balanced as you leap and climb up the ladder of life, especially if any of the situations are precarious, but have courage and stay balanced.

Ram/Sheep may also be there to ask you whether you are actually acting on your ideas or just talking about them.

Those with Ram/Sheep as a totem also have a curious and active imagination. Their minds are agile and constantly searching for new information that will benefit them and their community. Community plays a big part in those with Ram/Sheep as a totem. They seek comfort in large groups and will like to be seen as the warrior of the group and come to their defence should someone attack.

To read the full article download Ostara / Beltane 2009 issue

Excerpt from The Rat Race by Andy Norfolk
Ostara / Beltane 2009 issue

This article has been prompted by recent discussions on the Pagan Network forum in which someone from outside of the United Kingdom claimed various things about racial origins and what they might mean. Do you feel Celtic? Does that make you feel superior? Well it shouldn't! The Celts are not quite what, or who, you might think and nor are the British.

People weren't present in Britain during the upper Palaeolithic - about 14,000 bc. They came back as the ice retreated at the end of the last glaciation and we know that people were here from at least 12,000 years ago because of C14 dating of skeletal remains. The Mesolithic is the period of transition from the last glaciation to the development of farming and pottery in the Neolithic. In the Mesolithic, from about 8,500 bc to 4,000 bc people were hunter-gatherers, collecting wild food from the land around them. It has been estimated that there may have been no more than about 24,400 people in Britain at that time, based on how much land it needs to support contemporary hunter-gatherer societies. So where did these people come from?

Geneticists, such as Professor Goldstein, studying the influence of the Vikings on Britain looked at the Y chromosome which passed from father to son. While there are some traces of Norwegian DNA, what has become clear as a result of further work by people such Capelli, Sykes and Oppenheimer, is that about 75% of the population of Britain have very similar genetic origins. The remaining 25% are a mix of all sorts. During the last ice age there were human populations surviving in various places; on the Iberian peninsula, around modern day Kosovo and Macedonia and also to the north-east of the Black Sea. These population groups each had different Y chromosome groups. These haplogroups are labelled R1b, I and R1a respectively. We now know that the original people in Britain mostly came from the Iberian R1b haplogroup and that about three-quarters of us are their direct descendants. The same people also of course colonised Ireland. Our closest modern European relatives, if you study male DNA, turn out to the Basques.

Professor Sykes has studied mitochondrial DNA passed down the female line. He has identified 36 women from whom almost everyone on earth is directly descended. Seven of these are the "clan-mothers" from whom Europeans are descended. One of these, who was born 20,000 years ago near the present day border between France and Spain close to Perpignan, has been nicknamed Helena, which is the Greek for light. Her offspring have spread out to occupy territory from the Alps to Russia and Norway, including the British Isles. This is another link to our origins in a small part of Europe where people managed to survive the ice age.

Excerpt from Herbal Teas by Twilightgirl
Autumn Equinox / Samhain 2008

Herbal Teas are made from the roots, bark, leaves, berries and seeds from a variety of plants and herbs. Unlike traditional teas, most herbal teas do not contain caffeine, so are safe to drink before retiring for the night or if you are simply trying to cut back on your daily caffeine intake. Herbal teas come in a wide range of delightful flavours (and some not so delightful depending on your taste buds!) and they can be drunk hot or cold. Herbal teas are reputed to have healing properties and these are absorbed into your body through the tea.

As with any herb or medication caution should be practiced. Herbs should never be used as substitutes for a doctor's prescription. If you are being treated for any illness and are taking prescription medication seek the advice and consent of your doctor prior to taking herbs. Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not take herbs without a doctor's consent.

The most convenient way to make herbal tea is to buy it already made up in a bag, plus you know that this way you're not going to get any surprises in your tea such as a boiled bug or caterpillar! However, if you want a pure flavour with more health benefits then opt for making your own herbal tea. This is easy to do and you can mix a variety of herbs together to form some unusual flavours.

Herbs can be bought either in dried form from the supermarket or local health store or you can grow your own herbs. If you're going to use fresh herbs, you should tear and bruise the leaves so the aromatic oils can be released into the water. You will also need to use more fresh herbs than you would with dried herbs. With most plants, you can just pluck off a few leaves whenever you want to make tea, although try not to strip your plant bare or you could end up killing it!

If you are making herbal tea consisting of leaves and/or flowers this is called an Infusion. To make an infusion place one or two teaspoonfuls of dried herbs into a tea ball and place this in your cup. Pour on boiling water and place a saucer or cover on top of the cup. Covering the cup enables the herbs to infuse. Leave for around 5-10 minutes. After several experiments you will discover the exact timing for your taste buds. Remove the  saucer/cover and tea ball then sit back and prepare to enjoy your tea. You can also use herbs in a teapot. Place 1-2 teaspoonfuls of dried herb per cup in a teapot, pour on boiling water and give the herbs a stir. Replace the teapot lid and leave for up to 10 minutes. When pouring the tea, use a tea strainer.

Excerpt from Pagan Postcards by Beth-ann
Yule 2008 / Imbolc 2009 issue

Orkney

When we got on the ferry from Scrabster the Sun was just beginning to come out. It was the end of July and we had planned to spend just one day there. We had a lot to fit in that day. We had driven up the east coast of Scotland for most of the day before in rain with a grey sky and high winds so we thought that the trip would be a bit rough. It took 90 minutes to cross and although it was quite breezy the Sun stayed out and it became very warm. About an hour into the journey we passed the Old Man of Hoy, a quite magnificent rock stack which is better in real life than on the pictures that I had seen. This was our welcome to the Islands of Orkney.

We disembarked at Stromness, a small fishing port with little passage like streets, where even the roads were paved instead of tarmacked, and made our way to Scara Brae, the first stop on our sight seeing tour. Skara Brea is the best preserved group of stone age houses in Europe, uncovered by a winter storm in 1850.

"This revealed the outline of a number of stone buildings. The discovery intrigued the local laird, William Watt of Skaill, so he embarked on an excavation of the site.

By 1868, after the remains of four ancient houses had been unearthed, work at Skerrabra was abandoned. The settlement remained undisturbed until 1925, when another storm damaged some of the previously-excavated structures. A sea-wall was built to preserve these remains, but during the construction work more ancient structures were discovered".

This was not a disappointment and was situated right on the coast, the view was magnificent and it was a real treat for the beginning of our discovery of some of the sites on the Island.

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Opportunity to join the Witchtower Magazine Team

Published at 10:50 in


We have an opening for a new writer to join the Witchtower team. You must be reliable and able to commit to deadlines (and be able to write to a good standard obviously!)

As with all positions on Pagan Network, it is unpaid, but you do get a PDF copy of the magazine (not to mention you get to work with the friendly & supportive team of myself, Andy Norfolk and Beith-ann).

If you are interested please email me either samples of your work or links to your work online. Also please indicate your areas of interest.

Email address - witchtower @ gmail.com

Twilightgirl

Excerpt from Dem Bones by Andy Norfolk
Yule 2008 / Imbolc 2009 issue

Paganism in Britain, according to some who know about these things, is a recent reinterpretation of what the beliefs of the pre-Christian people of these islands may have been, with a large dollop of invention, wishful thinking and imagination. That's not necessarily a bad thing - all that positive creativity is probably one of the most important factors in making British Paganism the vibrant and energetic, if occasionally rather odd, thing it is today. People who have thought about these things and who have read some of Ronald Hutton's books, or at least heard about them, may also be a bit coy about claiming an unbroken Pagan tradition back to - well - before the year dot! There is after all no evidence that stands up to a bit of reasonably intelligent scrutiny that  contemporary Paganism goes back very far at all. However Pagans do say that they draw inspiration from the pre-Christian religions of the world and in Britain this means whatever our ancestors were up to before about the 6th century. In particular prehistoric monuments from the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages are important to many Pagans. Not surprisingly what our ancestors did is important to us, though we may not have a clear idea of what that was. Recent genetic research shows that most of us are directly related to the ancient peoples of these islands. For many Pagans our ancestors themselves are of great importance and are part of their lives and practises.  Ancestors are asked for guidance, or just "company", in rituals and everyday life.

In 2006 Paul Davies, reburial officer for the Council of British Druid Orders, asked English Heritage and the National Trust to rebury prehistoric human remains from the Avebury area presently in the Alexander Keiller Museum.

Both EH and NT are seeking responses to a consultation exercise about this request, which should be made by 31st January 2009. As they point out this request raises a great many issues. In doing so they are following the advice in "Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums" published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in 2005, Part 3 of which deals with claims for the return of remains.

The publication of this guidance seems to have been prompted by a request from Australia for the return of Aboriginal remains and Part 3 begins with a quotation: "The express recognition that the concerns of various ethnic groups, as well as those of science, are legitimate and to be respected will permit acceptable agreements to be reached and honoured". (From the Vermilion Accord, World Archaeological Congress, 1989) The guidance recognises that requests can be made for religious or spiritual reasons and may include a desire to lay ancestors to rest on ancestral land. EH and NT have written a draft report and this and supporting documents can be found at:
www.thenationaltrust.org.uk/remains.

The guidance says that certain things must be considered when requests for the return of remains are made. The status of those making the request and continuity with the remains.

The draft report points out that CoBDO represent some, but not all, Pagan groups. Its members claim genetic relationship with the remains, but make no claim for continuity of belief, customs or language with the human remains. EH and NT comment that there is no evidence that members of CoBDO have any closer relationship with the human remains than most.

Excerpt from Animal Totems by Twilightgirl
Yule 2008 / Imbolc 2009 issue

Weasel
Those with Weasel as a totem are able to fathom what is really going on and are good at keeping secrets. You  will see what is beneath the surface of a situation and quickly assess everything. Because of this skill you are usually able to get out of tight fixes when they occur. Although Weasel has vast amounts of energy, you may find yourself a bit of a loner. Many people may dismiss you at first glance but once they see you in action with your intelligence and ingenuity they soon change their minds. With Weasel as a totem if anyone gets on the wrong side of you they will know about it as those with Weasel by their side know how to hit where it hurts and some of their verbal arguments can be most hurtful and damaging.

Weasels tend to live on a mainly carnivorous diet, so you may need to watch that your own diet stays healthy and balanced instead of eating lots of meat.

Tiger
If you find Tiger walking besides you be prepared for changes and new adventures. Although the tiger can be a fierce and loyal spirit when protecting its family or territory, tiger can also be a solitary spirit, liking its own space. Being a free spirit full of energy and enthusiasm you will love to travel and seek out adventures and experiences. Tiger symbolizes courage and strength and you may find some people are intimidated by your intensity.

Those with Tiger as a totem may find they have a gift for psychometry. You may find that you are able to express great control but may also find yourself being over sensitive and emotional to comments and situations. Learn to take a deep breath and slow down. Think carefully about the situation or options before rushing into any decisions based on your emotions. Tigers tend to jump in and take what they want regardless of the consequences.

Tigers love to swim and you may find yourself drawn to water where you can relax and feel at peace. You may also be very sensual and enjoy physical touch such as massage.

Tigers tend to hunt nocturnally so you may feel an affinity with the night and moon. You may have a particulary strong intuition and excellent sense of timing. You may feel most alive during the evenings.

Excerpt from Altars by Twilightgirl
Autumn Equinox/Samhain 2008  issue

Excited about setting up your altar but confused how to do it? Then read on...

Altars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some traditional in their set up and others more free spirited. Altars can be a permanent or temporary fixture such as for a celebration or ritual. One thing to keep in mind is that there isn't a right or wrong way to have your altar.

When you set up an altar you are creating a sacred space within your home that connects you to the divine within and around you. Your altar will be an expression of yourself and a focal point for your spiritual work. If space is limited you can set up a temporary altar that you bring out for the occasion you need it, or you can have a simple altar that is out of the way or inconspicuous, such as on a windowsill, a shelf, in a drawer!

Altars can be simple or elaborate. A lot of how your altar looks will depend on your personal taste and what feels right for you. Learn to listen to your inner voice and this will guide you with the placement of your altar and altar items. You don't have to buy expensive equipment to grace your altar either, you can use whatever is meaningful to you, whether it is found in nature, bought or something you've made. Not only does having an altar create scared space in your home, it can be a place where you sit and mediate, perform magic, divination, or celebrate the Wheel of the Year. You can also have an outdoor altar if you choose to or several altars at various locations such as an office altar on your desk.

What you use for an altar can vary from a small table, cabinet top, kitchen worktop, desk, bookcase, dinner tray etc. But if you live somewhere that makes it impossible for you to have an altar set up permanently, you can spread your altar items around, such as grouping items on shelves, in corners, windowsills, on coffee tables etc. Just about any niche in your home could be used to hold items for your altar. It's always good to remember that it's your intention that is most important when choosing items for your altar, not how expensive or large they are or where they are placed.

If you are going to have an altar that represents the Wheel of the Year, there are many websites online or books that show the correspondences for the Sabbats.

Your altar doesn't have to be static in its contents; in fact having a static altar couldn't be worse. Your altar will grow and change as you do. Don't be afraid to remove an item from your altar if it no longer has any meaning to you. You will probably find that the altar energy will start to reflect your life. If your altar is cluttered, unloved and dusty, you'll find your life reflects this, where as if your altar is tidy, clean and loved then your life will be.

A question that troubles many a beginner is placement of your altar. Every book you read, every website you visit, will more than likely tell you a different placement for your altar and the items on it. It's no wonder there is confusion! But as mentioned earlier, there isn't a right or wrong way. If you are still unsure as to the placement of your altar ask yourself the following questions.

1. What do I plan to use my altar for, and how big/small do I really need it?
2. Do I want to keep my altar private or am I happy for others to see it?
3. Do I feel a spiritual connection to the altar in this area and is it pleasant to look at?
4. Is this area where I want to place the altar safe enough to leave candles burning? (if it isn't and you still feel this area is the best location you could always use flameless candles).
5. Is this area safe from the reach of the tiny inquisitive hands of children and pets and will the area withstand being knocked accidentally?

You can also move your altar around. Don't think to yourself that once you have set it up in one particular place or direction that it has to stay there. You could move it around to various locations in the room every Sabbat if you wanted to. From personal experience I know my altar only feels comfortable to me if it is facing either East or West. North sometimes feels okay but South to me really doesn't feel comfortable, yet I couldn't give you a reason why this is!

To read the full article download Autumn Equinox / Samhain 2008 issue

Excerpt from Astrology and the Wheel of the Year by Beith-ann
Summer Solstice / Lammas 2008 issue

As we go through the Great Gateway to Summer, we are going to look at the signs that the Sun is going through in that season and the element of Water, the element of the sign, Cancer, which is at the height of that season.

The Element of Water
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

Throughout time WATER has symbolised emotions. This is exactly where the Water signs live, within their emotions. If you think about it, we use quite watery language to describe emotions. "A love as deep as the ocean, as wide as the sea" `Tides of emotion' `sea of love' `cry me a river' `emotional depths'. I could go on, and perhaps you could think of a few more.

In order for this element to be kept under control it needs to be contained and is liable to take on the shape of its container. It can also take on a form of two of the other elements, (using the third, or lack of it, as a catalyst) in the form of ice (solid, earth) or water vapour (gas, air). Therefore it is the most versatile of the elements. As Liz Greene points out in her book 'Astrology for Lovers' (Rubbish title, great book) "The greater percentage of the human body - something like 85% - is composed of water. Water covers two thirds of the earth's surface. And from water, the Koran tells us, all life begins"

There is an almost primitive power with Water, underrated because there is a tendency to equate the watery type with being wet. However, when you look at valleys formed by the erosive properties of the river you can see that there is a persistence with water which will not be ignored. I have a pervasive image from a film of a dam being burst after it was weakened by just making small cracks in the structure. Water finds weakness and takes advantage of it, breaking down the structure, wearing it away or bursting through.

Water finds its identity within an EMOTIONAL relationship with others, either being dependant or having  someone to depend upon, usually both. It's like the patient needing the nurse in order to get well, but the nurse needing the patient in order to validate them. If there is one thing that Water needs, it is that sort of containment, to feel needed for something. Why else should they get the reputation for self-sacrifice? Cancer is the ever devoted mother (even the men), Scorpio tends to become enveloped in intense emotional experiences (and yet they are scared to death of them as well) and Pisces just wishes to make the world a more acceptable place for everyone, but chiefly for themselves.

Like the creatures that symbolise the water signs, the members of the water trinity can live in places that are inhospitable to humans. Not only in the physical sense, because water can endure hardship beyond all other signs, except perhaps for Capricorn, but also existing within the realms of instinct and feelings, something that the other signs find harder to cope with. The experience of life is the most real to them. It doesn't matter if you cannot theorise about it or touch it, if it can be experienced it exists. Water signs have a well honed sixth sense that the other elements have buried through lack of use.

Because of this existence in the world of the intangible, Water signs tend to have a better idea than most what is real and what is imagined, but sometimes prefer to escape into a world of imagination. Don't ever underestimate how much water signs really know, they have a wisdom that comes from an inner knowing and a connection with all realms, sometimes not even knowing where their thoughts and 'knowings' come from.

These signs tend to get a bad press now days because what they are concerned with is not the concern of society in general. The psychic realms and areas that are covered by instincts and feelings are something that tends to be knocked out of people at a young age. We live in a Fire/Air orientated world whose priorities are not those of the Water signs. Their empathy makes them the healers and the prophets, the counsellors and the psychotherapists, the nurses and even the prison warders of this world.

To read the full article download Summer Solstice / Lammas 2008 issue


Excerpt from Gaia or Gaea by Andy Norfolk
Ostara / Beltane 2008 Issue

Gaia, Gaea or Ge was the ancient Greek earth goddess and mother of the Titans. I have just heard on the news that our Government has decided to give the go ahead for a new generation (pun intended) of nuclear power stations. I feel that this is a mistake. OK - I'm probably biased; I've belonged to Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth for many years and been involved in environmental campaigns since the late 1960s.

In January 1972 the Ecologist magazine was full of "A Blueprint for Survival"; a primer for a post industrial society. It said "The principal defect of the industrial way of life with its ethos of expansion is that it is not sustainable. Its termination within the lifetime of someone born today is inevitable, unless it continues to be sustained for a while longer by an entrenched minority at the cost of imposing great suffering on the rest of mankind. We can be certain, however, that sooner or later it will end (only the precise time and circumstances are in doubt) and that it will do so in one of two ways: either against our will, in a succession of famines, epidemics, social crises and wars; or because we want it to - because we wish to create a society which will not impose hardship and cruelty upon our children - in a succession of thoughtful, humane and measured changes." At this time there was talk of spaceship earth and the stupidity with which we, its passengers, were unplugging essential life support systems, wrecking our chances of survival.

Regrettably we seem to be on the brink of the first outcome with climate change bringing about even more disasters than would otherwise have occurred and wars over oil, water and other resources becoming more likely in the future.

Where does nuclear power fit into this? Well recently James Lovelock, a scientist who proposed the Gaia theory in the 1960s, has said that he thinks nuclear power may be necessary to help us reduce carbon emissions and control climate change.

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Excerpt from The Magic Circle by Blacksaber
Autumn Equinox/Samhain 2009  issue
What is a Magical Circle?

The first thing that we must remember when we talk of circle casting is that the phrase itself and the descriptions for the activity written in many of the craft books are inaccurate.

"As she casts the circle, the priestess projects power from her solar plexus through the blade. Meanwhile she and her coven visualise a violet or golden light flowing down the blade and forming the edge of the circle."   V. Crowley, 'Wicca'

The main problem with this sort of description is that people without practical experience may not realise that when we talk about casting the circle, we do not create a 360 degree 'circle' around us but rather a 720 degree SPHERE. We should not just visualise the outer edge of the circle being cast but rather we should visualise a sphere being created both around us horizontally and above and below us.

Our circle acts as a barrier between the space inside and the space outside it. There is an oft-quoted phrase that is very appropriate in that casting a circle creates "A place that is not a place, in a time that is not a time."

This essay is on Circle casting in general; it is not specific to any one tradition of the Craft and in fact contains material taken from a number of different traditions, the author would remind the reader that whilst the information may differ from their own personal practice, the material includes information that is in current use, and is taught to neophytes from traditions that may practice in ways quite different from the readers own. Likewise information is included from sources outside of mainstream Wicca, including Ceremonial Magic.

Why do we conjure a Magical Circle?

I would like to begin with discussing the reasons for why we would cast a magical circle; there are many reasons for doing this and different individuals put varying degrees of importance on each. Bearing this in mind I have listed a number of reasons with a detailed explanation in each case. The following list is in no particular order of importance.

1.    Firstly when performing a Wiccan ritual, we will cast the circle to create a sacred space, one that is cleansed and purified to show the honour deserved to our Lord and Lady when we invoke them within the circle.
  
2.  Secondly, the act of casting our circle aids us in shifting the focus of our minds from the realms of the physical up into the spiritual realms; this helps us to prepare for the ritual ahead by focusing our minds on where we are and on what we are doing.   
   
3.  Thirdly in a Wiccan ritual, our circle helps us to "Preserve and contain all the power that we shall raise within thee." The circle acts to keep the energy we raise within its confines. It actually increases the amount of energy we raise by more effectively focusing that energy into the task at hand. This could be for empowering a candle or a poppet; or it may be directed by the HPS to then be sent to a specific target - such as when working a healing ritual. In the first coven in which I was a member we either focused the raised energy into a specific object - candle, cords, etc or if the energy was to be sent to someone that was not present the HPS would at the end of the ritual direct the energy to that person.
   
4.   Finally the circle acts as an excellent form of protection for those within "A rampart and protection between the world of men and the realms of the Mighty Ones." This seems to be a subject for much debate dependant upon the reader's personal opinion. I believe that for many of the Wiccan rituals - such as celebrating the Sabbat's - the protective properties of the circle are not the most important as we are not engaged in any activity which would require magical protection. Certainly the circle will not protect us from any entities that we have specifically evoked into the circle with us; such as Elementals at each of the cardinal directions, though it will certainly keep any that are outside from entering the circle.

There are however certain instances, such as when we believe that we are under psychic attack, the protection that a properly cast magical circle provides is invaluable. As the words of a commonly used circle conjuration states, it is "A shield against all wickedness and evil." In Ceremonial Magic, it is often the case that the operator would stand within a ritual Triangle and then evoke an entity into the circle and in this case the circle would act to keep the entity within the circle whilst standing in a triangle would provide protection to the operator.

What types of Magical Circle are there?

There are many different types of magical circles; not all are used by every Wiccan tradition. Though most traditions will use most if not all, and will use many variations of them. For simplicities sake only the basic types are listed here with some discussion, otherwise the list could be practically endless.
   
Personal Protection

These circles tend to be small and mobile, centred around the person(s) who they are intended to protect. There are many methods for conjuring such a circle, one of which is the 'Blue Egg'. This method was given to me by the High Priestess of my first coven; I do not know conclusively where she obtained it from, however something very similar is mentioned in The Order of the Golden Dawns' lesser banishing of the pentacle ritual, the text of which is included beneath the description given to me.

This method requires you to visualise a root growing up out of the ground beneath you and into the base of your spine passing all the way up to the top of your head. Breathe in through your nose and as you do so visualise yourself drawing energy up from the Earth along the root passing through your body.

With each breath out, visualise that energy coming out of your mouth as a blue mist, form that mist into a layer surrounding the whole of your body around your sides, your front and back, above your head, and beneath your feet. Visualise it as a thick layer, at least a foot thick, then see the edges harden and form a crust. Visualising a golden mist forming at the outermost crust of the Egg can further strengthen the Egg. One drawback of this form of protection is that people will instinctively keep their distance from you and be less inclined to interact with you socially while you are within the Egg.


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Excerpt from I've Been Here Before by Twilightgirl
Autumn Equinox/Samhain 2008  issue
 
Déjà vu is a French phase that means "already seen". Now I'm sure that just about all of you have experienced déjà vu at some point or another, that feeling of "I've been here before doing this" or "I've said that before", when you know for a fact you haven't. It can be kind of unnerving. No one knows exactly what causes déjà vu, but there are a number of theories floating about.

Déjà vu when experienced normally lasts approximately 10 seconds and is experienced the most by those between the ages of 15 and 25 years old. Research tends to show that the experiences of déjà vu decrease as we get older. Déjà vu is experienced through the senses, such as seeing, hearing, taste and touch.

Emile Boirac, a French psychic researcher gave this phenomenon the name déjà vu back in 1876 when he started studying it.  Since then many have studied déjà vu in an attempt to explain exactly what it is.  Sigmund Freud concluded that déjà vu was the result of repressed memories or desires. He thought that the mind had repressed the memories so deeply that the normal conscious brain was unable to recall them. This theory has been used by many scientists throughout the 20th century. They call it paramnesia.

Déjà vu can be broken down into two main categories - associate déjà vu and biological déjà vu.

Associate déjà vu is the most common type experienced. Many researchers think that this type of déjà vu is based on memory experiences. It is where you see, hear, smell or experience something that triggers a feeling that you associate with something you have seen, heard, smelled or experienced before.   

Biological déjà vu is common among people with temporal lobe epilepsy. When people are about to have an epileptic seizure they will often experience déjà vu. When biological déjà vu happens, researchers are able to study the brain more easily to find out where in the brain déjà vu happens.

Arthur Funkhouser went on to define a further three types of déjà vu experiences. Déjà vecu (already experienced), déjà senti (already felt), and déjà visite (already visited). The most common of these is déjà vecu, where you have the sensation of having done something before or being in the exact same situation. Often people who experience this are able to predict what will happen next. Déjà senti is the experience of remembering something that is triggered by a voice or thought and déjà visite is when an actual place feels familiar, like you have been there before, but you never have.

Interesting there is jamais vu, which is the opposite of déjà vu. You could be in a familiar situation, such as sitting in your lounge and suddenly everything will seem unfamiliar, like you are sitting in the room for the first time and viewing your surroundings with new eyes.


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Excerpt from Paganism and Fascism by Andy Norfolk
Ostara/Beltane 2008  issue

It seems that rumours of a far right take-over of Paganism have been greatly exaggerated. It is not happening and for some very good reasons.

Fascism, according to Mussolini, who ought to have known, is a right wing collectivist ideology opposed to socialism, democracy and individualism. Under this ideology people have no value except as part of the "State". Fascism is a reaction to a paranoid view that society is in decline and that outsiders are humiliating its people. The Encarta encyclopaedia says that fascism has idealistic gaols of seeking to improve a country by heightening a sense of national or ethnic identity, but that it rejects the idea of freedom and individual rights. The rise of fascism always results in the centralisation of control under a dictator, close state-control of society and the economy and violent suppression of dissent. The persecution that seems to be an integral part of fascism has resulted in millions of deaths and fascism is associated with right-wing fanaticism, racism, totalitarianism and violence.

So - does any of that sound like it fits into Paganism? No? Thought not! Pagans are renowned for being individualistic to extremes, to be anti-authority and hence difficult to organise. Pagans, from my close observations of over 30+ years, are a peaceful lot, though occasionally given to bitchy comments about each other. It would seem then that Pagans are going to be a pretty lousy prospect for conversion to some right wing cause - and yet people do occasionally try…

Fascism doesn't fit with most Pagans, but perhaps some are more susceptible to its influences than others. Any spiritual or religious beliefs system that holds equality as a principle and welcomes anyone to join isn't likely to fall prey to fascist tendencies. If you feel that your beliefs spring from the land where you live you are equally unlikely to be affected. However, if you have a set of beliefs that you think come from a particular people then beware, because they could be twisted to become racist.

This is perhaps why it is the Northern tradition and Heathenry that have had, and still have, some problems with white supremacist groups. Even in the Northern tradition the few attempts by the extreme right wing to infiltrate have generally been unsuccessful. In the UK, Odinshof and the Ring of Troth are well-respected large Odinist organisations that are definitely  not fascist. However, there are also such tiny groups as Woden's Folk that are clearly at the extreme end of the right wing. Their web site is full of classic indicators of fascist ideology. They recently gate-crashed the protest about the stunt at the Long Man of Wilmington which is why you may know the name.

There are also some rarer attempts to subvert Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism and/or Druidry using race-based arguments. A recent attempt to claim the discovery and translation of a lost Irish text, Lebor Feasa Runda, was quickly spotted as a fraud and the person behind it was linked back to a well known neo-nazi web site. The story about the book did start with its supposedly being brought to Britain by Rudolph Hesse! However, Pagans with an interest in Celtic ways respect the value of individuals and accept that proof of Celtic ancestry, whatever that may be, isn't an essential qualification for following this path.

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Excerpt from Pagan Postcards by Beithann
Yule 08 / Imbolc 09  issue

Orkney
When we got on the ferry from Scrabster the Sun was just beginning to come out.  It was the end of July and we had planned to spend just one day there.  We had a lot to fit in that day.  We had driven up the east coast of Scotland for most of the day before in rain with a grey sky and high winds so we thought that the trip would be a bit rough.

It took 90 minutes to cross and although it was quite breezy the Sun stayed out and it became very warm.  About an hour into the journey we passed the Old Man of Hoy, a quite magnificent rock stack which is better in real life than on the pictures that I had seen.  This was our welcome to the Islands of Orkney.

We disembarked at Stromness, a small fishing port with little passage like streets, where even the roads were paved instead of tarmacked, and made our way to Scara Brae, the first stop on our sight seeing tour.

Skara Brea is the best preserved group of stone age houses in Europe, uncovered by a winter storm in 1850.

"This revealed the outline of a number of stone buildings. The discovery intrigued the local laird, William Watt of Skaill, so he embarked on an excavation of the site.

By 1868, after the remains of four ancient houses had been unearthed, work at Skerrabra was abandoned. The settlement remained undisturbed until 1925, when another storm damaged some of the previously-excavated structures. A sea-wall was built to preserve these remains, but during the construction work more ancient structures were discovered"

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/skarabrae/

This was not a disappointment and was situated right on the coast, the view was magnificent and it was a real treat for the beginning of our discovery of some of the sites on the Island.

We also planned to go to the Burial mound called Maeshowe, so we had to book as the only way we could enter it was to go with a guided tour.  The lady at the visitors centre at Skara Brea was very obliging by booking us on the tour from there.

Our next stop was to be the Ring of Brodgar, somewhere I had wanted to visit for years.  However, on the way we stopped at the Standing Stones of Stenness because they are on the same road.


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Excerpt from George Pickingill by Andy Norfolk
Yule 08 / Imbolc 09  issue
 
One of the longest running threads on the Pagan Network forums has been about George Pickingill. It started with a few questions.

Did Pickingill start nine covens?
Was one of these the New Forest coven into which Gardner claimed he was initiated?
Was Pickingill a Satanist?
Are the 9 covens still in existence?

This has resulted in 36 pages of discussion at the time of writing and much of this has been quite detailed.

Later further questions were posed in an attempt to clarify the issues
Was Pickingill a Cunning Man?
Did he have links to any covens, orders or magical groups?
Did he pass on any teachings?

In the 1950s an author called Eric Maple researched witch traditions from the south-eastern quarter of Essex. Between 1960 and 1965 he published articles about this in the journal of the Folk-Lore Society. He mentioned George Pickingill, who was born in Hockley in Essex in 1816 and later lived in Canewdon and died in 1909. Pickingill was described as a farm labourer who charmed warts, cured other ailments and found lost property. He also ran a protection racket in which farmers paid him not to stop farm machinery and horses working. It was also said that he could fly through the air and could force local witches to come to their doors or dance for him in the churchyard. Maple, it seems, had spent some time talking to locals who could remember Pickingill, or who could at least remember stories about him. He was portrayed by Maple as a village magician, or what would now be called a cunning man.  It is also clear from Maple's articles that his clients were all fairly local.  However in 1962 Maple published a sensationalist book called "The Dark World of Witches". In this Maple exaggerated the reputation of his part of Essex as a centre of witchcraft and he reputation of George Pickingill.  This book was unashamedly targeted at a popular market and it was after its publication that people began to take any notice of Pickingill. Despite the influence of this book subsequent authors have played down Pickingill's importance. For example, Owen Davies says that Pickingill who died in 1909 "was certainly one of the last practising cunning-folk in the country, but he was never a major regional figure".1

That answers one question; George Pickingill was a cunning man.

The chances are that Maple's articles and book would not have had much effect and that most people would have never have heard of Pickingill, or paid much attention to him. However a series of articles written by "Lugh" that first appeared from 1974 in the Wiccan magazine, and from 1977 in The Cauldron were to change that. "Lugh" is an Englishman, Bill Liddell, who emigrated to New Zealand in the early 1960s and subsequently moved to Australia. He claimed in the articles that he was a child of a witch family; an initiate into a hereditary Pagan witchcraft tradition and also an initiate into a separate witchcraft tradition influenced by George Pickingill. According to Bill, the elders of these two separate traditions wanted him to be their mouthpiece and pass on information about their ways and beliefs.   

Over a period of many years Liddell wrote a series of quite extraordinary articles, which included a number of contradictions. At first his information was seized on eagerly by people such as Doreen Valiente as being a vindication of a wish to find proof of old roots for witchcraft, but as time went by more and more scepticism was expressed about his articles, even by those who were initially enthusiastic about them. These articles made a variety of claims about George Pickingill, which included that he was a hereditary witch and had passed teachings on to the Order of the Golden Dawn and that he knew Aleister Crowley and Allan Bennett. Liddell's articles said that the Pickingill family were hereditary priests of the Pagan Old Religion from the 11th century, but also that none of the traditions about which he wrote came from ancient sources but derived from a new religion which first emerged in 15th century France.  He wrote that authentic hereditary covens were lead by a Magister and that sexual initiation was mandatory, but later that this had died out by the 18th century.  Later still he wrote that in true hereditary traditions witches passed  down knowledge within their families and never joined covens. Articles about George Pickingill described him as "England's most notorious witch", from a famous family of witches and that occultists of every sort came to consult him from all over not only England, but Europe and America. Liddell wrote that in Pickingill covens all the rites were conducted exclusively by women and that Pickingill founded nine covens over a period of 60 years. Further claims included that Pickingill introduced a "book of shadows" for each coven member, and that the rites were derived from a group founded by the magician Francis Barrett in 1816 and included many aspects of Wicca including ritual nudity, a dominant Goddess, the fivefold kiss, three degrees, drawing down the moon and the charge of the Goddess. Pickingill is said to have learnt more from the many cunning lodges of which he was a member and that they practised Satanism. A collection of the articles written by Bill Liddell was published by him, with commentary by Mike Howard (the editor of The Cauldron), in 1994 as "The Pickingill Papers".

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Excerpt from Animal Totems by Twilightgirl
Autumn Equinox/Samhain 2008  issue
 
The Frog

Frogs and water, the two are never far away from each other, so it makes sense that frog represents cleansing, not only of our physical bodies, but also our minds, emotions and environment. If you find yourself holding onto your emotions, especially negative ones or emotions that are no longer useful, frog is the totem to turn to in order to help cleanse yourself of them. Often tears are a good cleansing tool for our emotions or standing under a shower or in a good downpour of rain and allowing any negativity to wash away from you. With frog by your side he might be reminding you not to become swamped by others' emotions or situations. Learn to let their emotions or situations wash over and away from you so you don't become bogged down with them, that way you will be able to help deal with them more clearly. Learning psychic cleansing is another very useful tool for those into whose lives frog has hopped.

Frog often represents transformation and regeneration due to living a life cycle in two stages, from egg to tadpole and then developing into a frog. Frogs are also seen as a symbol of fertility due to the tadpole shape resembling a spermatozoa. Because they live two life cycles frog totems, when they appear, are often regarded as a new start in life or a time of healing and growth.

Because frogs live both in and out of the water, they are linked to two elements, water and earth. Not only do those with frog totems often have the ability to cleanse themselves and those around them but they also have the ability to bring about growth, whether this is through releasing new ideas and dreams using the creative process or bringing out physical growth. Frogs possess sharp eyes on each side of their head enabling them to see in almost all directions. There isn't much that can get past a frog or you if you have frog as a totem. You are able to see what is going on around you and may even show clairvoyant abilities.

Frogs have a very complex language ranging from ribbets to croaks. Often those with a frog totem are good at learning other languages or working with people who have learning disabilities.

There is a lot of mythology surrounding frogs and they have been used in various cultures for making medicine and potions. Some American Indian cultures believed that Frog called down and controlled the rains. In many cultures frog was revered as a symbol of sexual awakening, fertility and abundance.

The Squirrel

Squirrel is the boy scout of the animal world - Always be prepared!

Squirrels always seem to be busy, scurrying from one place to the next, gathering nuts and seeds in preparation for winter. Squirrel's behaviour asks if you are so busy rushing around that you have ignored preparing for a rainy day. Do you need to take time to slow down and look at your life and see what you have planned for the future? By being prepared you can alleviate a lot of life's stresses.

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