Kansas City Witches Meetup Presents
Ancestors and Spirits
Fall Equinox 2019
The Center Spiral
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions expressed in any article in this publication are expressly those of the author and the author only. They do not necessarily represent the thoughts and opinions of The Center Spiral Magazine and Staff.
Letter from the Editor The Center Spiral STaff Pagan Pride Day 2019 Turn of the Wheel Samhain Yule Dia de los Muertos & The Altars of the Dead by Shandril Oc Arran Luna's Lair with Luna Motherowl Deity Cafe Hades Cailleach What do your Ancestors Deserve? by JS Groves Songs of the Season with Mike Nichols Musecraft Ammy the Artist Pencraft Featured Creative Writing Why is my Porch Ceiling Blue? by Emily Gabbert In the Cards The Hanged Man "So Below" Deck Review Community Reading Honoring Our Ancestors: Creating our Future by Sam Shryock Crystal Corner Smoky Quartz Gifts of Gaia Mugwort The Dumb Supper: An Evening with Ancestors by Rachel Winter Out of the Cauldron Hot Apple Cider Spiritual Contact Incense The Great Yowl by Balder Bloodaxe Contemplative Crone with the Urban Crone Advertising Next Issue Rites of Passage cONTRIBUTORS Thank you
Table of Contents
Cover Image: Rachel Winter Image Editing: Emiliy Gabbert
Image Credit: Calistar KB
Letter from the Editor
In this issue, our theme is Ancestors and Spirits. It is appropriate as we move into the dark of the year, the time we have a holiday about spirit work and the honoring of ancestors. It is also a nice cap to our series on the elements, as “spirit” is often cited as the 5th element, and some witches call to the ancestors in ritual after the other four elements. Our ancestors are all about our history. Most of us automatically think of family and blood relatives when we talk about ancestors, the ancestors of body, and the articles in the pages ahead reflect that. However, we should expand these ideas to include ancestors of mind and soul. They are the line of our spiritual traditions, the history of our chosen professions, the people working to add to society and humanity at large, as well as the history of our own community. They are pioneers in the movements we fight for, and anyone whose actions made us able to live our lives as we do today. Exactly how you decide who to include when you expand ancestry to cover mind and soul, and what part you put them in is completely up to you. However, it helps to know the history of what you are representing. If you want to honor the ancestry of Wicca, Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente are essential. If you want to honor the ancestry of computing, you might consider Ada Lovelace and Hedy Lamar. The key is understanding the history, the contributions of those you are honoring, and the kind of people they were. In the pages ahead, we will learn different ways to honor ancestors, and traditions from different places. We will talk about why ancestors are important, and why it is important to face the terrible things our ancestors did. Our history and our ancestors have made us who we are, both good and bad. Taking the time to honor that history means truly understanding it as well. When we educate ourselves and each other on where we came from, we can connect with each other, as well as our past, and use it to inspire ways to move forward and improve upon what came before. Because isn’t the goal to make the world better for those we are ancestors for?
Emily Gabbert Editor
The Center Spiral Staff
Audrey Hazzard has been practicing some form of witchcraft for over 20 years, and leading public and private rituals in the Kansas City area for the last 10. She's a tarot reader with a fondness for chaos magick, trance work, potions, farmer's markets, feminism, and vintage cookbooks. She blogs intermittently and travels whenever she can.
Emily Gabbert has been a practicing witch and a follower of a Pagan path for nearly 20 years. She led a group for alternative religions at MU, and was tapped into a society recognizing women leaders for her efforts. She joined the Kansas City Pagan Community in 2013, and has been a co-organizer for the Kansas City Witches Meetup since 2016, receiving the KCPPD Community Service Award in 2017. She is a baker by trade with an interest in all kinds of arts and crafts, and sometimes she writes.
Laurie Sherman (Urban Crone) has over 30 years of experience in Tarot and divination, Urban Witchcraft, Multicultural Folk Magic and Eclectic Paganism. Recipient of the 2014 KCPPD Community Service Award, she has been a teacher and organizer for the Pagan community for a number of years, including her work with the KC Metaphysical Fair, Kansas City Pagan Pride Day, and has been the Organizer of the Kansas City Witches Meetup since 2012. Laurie Sherman is also a mixed medium and pyrographic artist, as well as a writer.
Emaleth Summer has been a practicing witch for more than 25 years. She is also a professional writer and editor with 11 years of experience in her field. Emaleth has several works in progress as well as a blog about witchcraft and eclectic paganism.
Quilycan has always had a strong affinity towards writing, nature, and animals. At an early age, and for as long as she can recall, she has spent her recreational hours scribbling away in notebooks. She grew up on a farm which prepared her for the work she would be called upon as an adult, volunteering for local animal shelters. In her early-20s, a need for knowledge grew within after a falling out with Christianity occurred. Eventually, she found herself on the path to Wicca and animism. Her journey has only grown from there.
Mike Nichols is the author of The Witches' Sabbats and www.WitchesSabbats.com, both award-winning resources on Pagan holidays. Mike has been a featured speaker on National Public Radio, and local TV and radio programs. He taught classes in Witchcraft for twenty years continuously, beginning in 1970, and owned Kansas City's first occult bookstore, The Magick Lantern. A founding member of the Coven of New Gwynedd, Nichols was the first Wiccan representative on the Kansas City Interfaith Council.
Kim Tarwater is a Christo-Pagan Witch, leads a local circle here in the Kansas City area, and is a Reiki Master Teacher in Seichim and Usui. She owns and operates Higher Vibrations Metaphysical Studio where she teaches, counsels, and give readings. She thrives on learning and experiencing all the magic this life has to offer, from cruising on her motorcycle while balancing her chakras to climbing the Qabala from Malkuth to Kether.
Kansas City Pagan Pride Day fell on September 8 this year. It was a lovely day full of great people, and we at The Center Spiral wanted to share with you a few of the pictures taken by the official photographer of KCPPD, Heidi Morton. Please note: These are in no particular order or arrangement. Thank you.
Pagan Pride Day 2019
Congratulations to Vicki Bleyenberg for winning the Community Service Award!!
Samhain
Image Credit: MaxPixel
Turn of the Wheel
by Emily Gabbert
AKA Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Day of the Dead Herbs cypress, sage, mugwort, wormwood, rosemary, chrysanthemum Gems obsidian, carnelian, onyx, bloodstone, smoky quartz, fossils Foods apples, incense, pomegranate, squash, root veggies Incense dragons blood, patchouli, myrrh, clove, cypress Deities Hades, Persephone, Hekate, Lilith, Morrigan, Cerridwen, Cernunnos, Anubis Colors black, orange, scarlet, deep purple, brown Symbols skulls, pumpkins, ghosts, divination, black cats, witch hats
October 31
AKA Christmas, Yuletide, Noel Herbs pine, evergreens, mistletoe, holly, bay, rosemary, star anise Gems emerald, garnet, ruby, diamond Foods eggnog, roast meats, cookies, peppermint, fruit cake Incense frankincense, myrrh, clove, cinnamon, pine Deities Odin, Cailleach, Ra (other sun gods), Freya, Green Man, Santa Claus Colors red, green, gold, silver, blue, white Symbols pine tree, snowflake, bells, holly, pinecones, yule log, mistletoe, reindeer
Yule
December 21
Image Credit: Emily Gabbert
by Shandril Oc Arran
Dia De Los Muertos & The Altars of the Dead
Image Credit: Shandril Oc Arran
It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not that big shopping time in December, but rather the time when the Wheel of the Year turns from Light to Dark, when the Veil between worlds is lifted, when the living and the dead may visit together for an evening of joy and remembrance. It is, for most of us pagan folk, Samhain, a high holy day of the ancient Celtic calendar. There is another ancient holy day right around this time called Dia de los Muertos, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Originating in southern states of Mexico, such as Oaxaca and Michoacan, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) was celebrated by indigenous people long before the Spanish arrived. The similarities between Dia de los Muertos and Samhain are unmistakable. First and foremost, both holidays are celebrations of the ancestors, of those who have come before, known in many cultures all over the world. So strong is the importance of these two holidays, that neither of them could be stamped out by the ruthlessness of the Catholic Church. Dia de los Muertos maintained its celebratory seat as a high holy day and became All Saints Day. Samhain, known also as All Hallow's Eve, gradually became the secularized holiday that is known today as Halloween. In recent years, as Day of the Dead also gains secular popularity, many pagans have begun to adopt the customs of the holiday, intertwining them with their own Samhain observances. My personal choice to do this came when I was leading my first coven and we took a trip to Olvera Street in Los Angeles to see the altars set up for Dia de los Muertos. (I'll admit, we also went for some of the best street tacos ever). I was instantly taken in by the ofrendas (offerings) of marigolds and brightly-colored tissue paper cut-outs hanging everywhere. I had become accustomed to Samhain being a solemn, introspective time (and it is!); I stared wide-eyed at this exaltation, this raising up of death side-by-side with life. There was music and dancing, people were singing and eating, and remembering. Then I saw that people were praying before these decorated altars, touching the photos of the loved ones they'd lost to Death. This, yes. This I knew. I was a young priestess then, and had dressed my share of altars in Wiccan practice. Still I was dazzled by the manifestation of the memory that, really, we are all one people. So we began to celebrate Dia de los Muertos as a coven, alongside Samhain, in 2002. When my second coven was born two years later, what had become tradition continued. When my family left Southern California in 2014, the altars still went up, and, as new students have come my way here in the KC Metro, so the tradition continues. (My people have lived in western Missouri for generations; I feel my ancestors here keenly.) Southern California (also home) is still rich in Mexican heritage, and that tribal energy of honoring the dead, something that exists also in the tribal lineages of the Celts from which my own people come, blends together in my spiritual practice. Samhain is a time to remember our ancestors; we honor not only the line of our blood in this life, but also the shared memories of lives past, the collective ancestral thread of Pagan thought and teaching, and the cultures that have kept ancient practices alive. To gather all of these people and archetypes together, there is a central place during Dia de los Muertos where they may all be celebrated - the altares de muertos (altar of the dead). As mentioned before, these altars are dressed with bright flowers and memories of the dead. Whether they be photographs, favorite foods, a cherished toy or piece of jewelry - these items are arranged on the altars with reverence. (It is customarily disrespectful to photograph the altars of others, by the way, so always ask permission first. The photos for this article are of my own altars.) In places of honor are set images and memories of those we have lost since last Samhain, since they were living last time 'round and have now crossed through the Veil. Beloved pets and favorite celebrities may share the same spaces as a cherished grannie; this is an altar that is about remembering those who have made a difference in our lives, who have shaped us. Candles are often placed amongst all the items on the altar, and the signature calaveras (skulls) come in many sizes and materials. Anyone that's been to any of Kansas City's local events has likely seen the tall, multi-tiered presentation altars built for display. These altars provide an additional layer of remembrance, for now they are intended not only to honor those gone, but to educate those who will carry the tradition forward. And so, the Wheel continues to turn. Ready to build your own Day of the Dead altar? The Chicago Tribune provided an illustrated tutorial last year in both Spanish and English. Feliz Día de los Muertos! Sláinte mhaith!
The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living. - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Continued
Shandril oc Arran is a Wiccan high priestess and the coven leader of Grove of the Winding Spiral. She has been a practicing witch for almost three decades, enjoying ritual magick, healing work, and a myriad other crafty things. She lives with her wife, their daughter, and their cats. She teaches locally.
Luna's Lair
Dear Luna, What are some of your favorite ways to build and release energy? Blessed be, Kat
Hi Kat! I am one to try different things and I would have to say drumming is one of my favorites and works very well for me. I also use and chant the chakra seed sounds. It helps to balance me and align my physical and mental, with the individual, vibrations and frequencies of each energy port. I also release in several different ways. Sometimes it's with the rising smoke. Sometimes I use prana breath. I also really enjoy a good loud belt out to the heavens! Magic and ritual is all so very personal and everyone experiences something uniquely different from the other. Experiment and find what shows results for you and what feels right personally and you will never go wrong! Blessings, Luna
with Luna Motherowl
Know that there are no simple, unimportant questions, and none too off the wall. I can say that my answers will be honest to my truths, loving from my heart, and straightforward from my personality. I will reply to all email questions, and will choose a few questions & answers for publishing in each edition. Send all questions to asklunaslair@gmail.com.
Hekaterine Nox, known as “Black Kat”, is a Lushede tradition-initiated Witch with wordsmithing tendencies. Having found the Craft at 18 though a Southern California based Celtic Reconstructionist “church”, she travelled the path of the solitary for many years thereafter. Influenced by Athena and the Morrighan, she is a crafter of fabric and weaver of words with teaching tendencies.
by Hekaterine Nox
The oldest offspring of the Titans, Hades is one of three brothers that rule the cosmos. He, Poseidon, and Zeus drew straws – Hades got the Underworld, Zeus received the skies, and Poseidon the seas. In later mythos, Hades became the place name of the Underworld as well as the ruler within it. He is the only God in the Greek pantheon who did not live on Mount Olympus, but in a dark palace in the Underworld. Because he rarely left the Underworld, his presence above was not tolerated or welcomed. Many Greeks were so superstitious that they would not speak his name directly, but had epithets to describe him. Hades is most well known for his kidnapping of the goddess Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter. He abducted her and rode back to the gates of the underworld in a golden chariot drawn by four black, immortal horses. Even though Zeus helped Hades with the abduction of his daughter, Zeus demanded Hades return her to Demeter. Because Hades loathed to see Persephone leave him, he offered her a pomegranate as a peace offering. Persephone, not knowing eating food of the Underworld disallowed you to leave, had several seeds of the pomegranate, and Hades used that as an excuse to keep her with him for a third of the year. (When Persephone is gone, Demeter weeps and the earth follows suit, which explains the seasons changing in Greek mythology.) Hades was also the god of the hidden wealth of the earth, from the fertile soil that nourished the seed-grain, to the mined wealth of gold, silver, and other metals. Hades is important in modern Paganism as a powerful deity because he teaches us all things must die. In his ruling of the Underworld and through his leadership with his sometimes Queen, Persephone, he allows the earth to die as well, when his Queen is with him. He allows us to affirm the fertility of the earth, pouring it upon us from his cornucopia. Perhaps modern Pagans can learn to embrace their “shadow” selves by learning more from Hades and the trials he placed upon the people who tried to escape their inevitable end.
Hades
Image Credit: Hades, Ludovisi Collection
Deity Cafe
Cailleach
All hail, the Queen of Winter, the Cailleach Bheara! Her name means “hag” or “old woman” and in Scots Gaelic she is said to have created the hills and valleys of the highlands by dropping rocks from her wicker basket, and is revered as the mother figure of the Tuatha de Danann, (the Celtic gods). Some Gaelic stories have the Cailleach and Brigit as the two faces of a seasonal Goddess, with the Cailleach ruling between Samhain and turning back into stone on Beltane. February 1st is called “La Fheill Brighde” and is celebrated as the end or continuation of winter based upon the day’s weather – if it’s sunny, the Cailleach has enough wood to survive the coming cooler months. If the day is foul weather, she is asleep, running out of firewood and warmer weather is coming soon. (Not unlike our modern Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog’s Day!) Local legends of the Irish and Scottish tell that the Cailleach and her family were given shelter by the surrounding communities of the glen and while she and her family reside there, the land is always fertile and prosperous. When the Cailleach and her family left, they gave the locals “hag stones”. These stones, when placed in the glen at Beltane and then sheltered inside at Samhain, would maintain their fertility. Many rocky crags or mountains in Ireland and primarily Scotland bear her name. Collecting hag-stones or making corn dollies are a few ways to incorporate the Cailleach into your practice. Dedicated to The Cailleach (c)Silver Wolfwinds She with the all knowing eye of two faces One of royal blue and youth Beautiful and desirable Giving birth to a nation Our mother who nurtures us Cradling us to her bosom She with the all knowing eye of two faces One of deepest black and knowledge Withered, aged, older than time Standing guard over her people Guiding them back to her ancient womb She with the all knowing eye of two faces Mother and Crone With us at the beginning and at the end She with the all knowing eye of two faces Sees all injustice A quick and swift warrior is she Do not fear the unleashing of her power She with the all knowing eye of two faces Teaches through destruction To renew the life process She with the all knowing eye of two faces Cailleach
Image Credit: John Duncan
Image Credit: Wikimedia
What do your Ancestors Deserve?
by JS Groves
Ancestor veneration has always been a thing. It has been central to many indigenous practices for millennia; it has been a part of diasporic traditions for centuries; it is arguably the basis of saint cults. I even knew of academically minded neo-Pagans doing it in the 1990s. Watching the meteoric rise of ancestor worship among white neo-Pagans over the last five years, though, has been a trip. I can’t get on the train. I keep having to ask myself, “Who are these ancestors?” As far as I can tell, for most people that question seems to conjure first an image of their beloved grandparents, and then of their fantasies of Iron Age warriors and Neolithic wanderers, with little thought of the centuries in between. I too, think of my grandparents and great-grandparents. I think of the racist jokes they told; of the way they treated my mother and my sister; of how they always had a justification for police brutality; of how they ignored the AIDS crisis; how they opposed the Civil Rights movement; how they may or may not have fought in the World Wars, but certainly did not oppose the US genocides and apartheid state that inspired Hitler and the Nazis; how they fought to preserve slavery in the Civil War. I do not find these deeds worthy of veneration. Do you? White people, whose ancestors came to the United States before the Civil War, have even less to be proud of. How complicit were they in displacing the indigenous population? Did they own slaves? Were they a part of the original, most guilty colonizing forces? As a white person, when relating to other white people, I always find a more-than-academic interest in ancestry to be a giant red flag. That territory is rife with phrases like “Christian civilization”, “heritage not hate”, “demographic twilight”, and “Jews will not replace us”. Other gems include, “the Irish were slaves, too” and “well, sure, but the natives weren’t really using the land”. Any white person interested in ancestor work of any kind needs to grapple with some basic facts of history. The very category of whiteness was invented to justify colonizing the New World. Prior to that ambition, the only pan-European identity that existed was Christendom, and the wars of the Protestant Reformation will tell you exactly how unified that identity was. Slavery existed before white people, but one of the very first things “whiteness” did was to invent the most horrific form of slavery to ever be conceived or implemented. White people implemented brutal and murderous empires on a scale unknown in prior history. White people invented scientific racism. White people continue to reap the benefits of this rapine and murderous history, continue to hold the majority of the globe in abject subjugation. Any white person interested in ancestor work also needs to look to the present and confront the reality of which white people share their interest in ancestry. Mormons, colonizing the dead through posthumous baptism. Confederate sympathizers. Neo-liberal and neo-conservative apologists who hide their racism behind “but our accomplishments”. White identitarians. White supremacists. White identity and white nationalist groups surged in popularity following the 2008 election of Barack Obama, the first Black President of the United States. That surge included a new vigor in neo-Pagan fascist groups like Odinism and the Asatru Folk Assembly. From where I sit, the renewed interest in ancestor worship by “apolitical” and “mainstream” New Agers and Pagans that I first saw in 2012/13 looks a lot like those ideas filtering from the extreme toward the middle. I’m not accusing every white person interested in ancestor work of being a crypto-fascist. I’m saying white people interested in ancestor work cannot just handwave history away. I’m saying white people – white Pagans – cannot simply just jump from their “sweet old (probably racist, homophobic, and imperialist) grandma” to their Iron Age progenitors without dealing with everything in between. I’m saying white people working with their ancestors must address the crimes of our ancestors, and the ill-gotten-gains that define our lives. We must ask ourselves, “What do our ancestors truly deserve?” White people who wish to venerate our ancestors must begin by determining which ancestors are worthy of veneration. This is the work of history; of education. When we make offerings to those who came before us, we must name the deeds that make them worthy: the inventors; the scholars; the plumbers, mechanics, and crafters; the healers and care-takers. And when we make offerings to those who came before us, we must condemn the deeds that make them unworthy. The colonizers; the slave traders; the slave holders; the rapists and murderers; the racists, misogynists, and homophobes; the status quo warriors of prior ages. White people who wish to venerate our ancestors must work to atone for their crimes among the living. This is the work of feminism; of anti-racism; of anti-colonialism; of anti-fascism. If white people – white Pagans – are to venerate our ancestors, we must do so without nostalgia or sentimentality. Even as we lift up the heroes of previous generations, we must bind our evil ancestors to Tartaros, Hell, or the Void. Anywhere but the mortal world where they can continue the work they began in life. And we must fight their unrepentant children who recommit and deepen their crimes. And we must beg forgiveness from the ghosts of those our ancestors wronged. What do your ancestors deserve?
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again. - Maya Angelou
JS Groves is a jeweler, writer, and local lunatic who has been practicing witchcraft since 1996. He has taught classes on energy work and spirit conjuration, and has just published his debut novel. He blogs intermittently at http://journeythroughtheobsidiandream.com His novelcan be found at http://mundusoccultus.com
Songs of the Season
Maybe it's just because I've spent so much time this past year doing paranormal investigations and attempting to get a brief glimpse of the "next world". Or maybe it's because the older I get, the more dear friends and relatives I have who seem to reside there. So I think about them more often, and I wonder about the world they inhabit. I think about my more distant ancestors, too, people whom I know nothing about but who contributed in making me who I am. There are so many reasons I look forward to this time of year, but even this early on, for whatever reason, the veil that separates our world from the next seems to be thinning at a much faster rate this year than usual. The twilight border glimmers, and the magic surges along it. Maybe others are feeling it, too. And maybe that's why we have such a potent yet thought- provoking selection of songs in this issue's playlist dedicated to "Ancestors and Spirits". I was so delighted to see the broad representation here: there are powerful statements about the ancestors of this land we walk upon, and its indigenous peoples and tribes. There are equally compelling statements about the ancestors who came here from other distant and far-flung lands; some brought here against their will, some forcing their will upon others. It's a chaotic blend, and the playlist here celebrates that chaos as the different song stylings mingle and blend. As always, we wish to thank all of you who heard the call, knew the music, and made your selections and contributions. You have, indeed, helped to create a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. Be sure to save the link, for it may come in handy when you want to work with the ancestors and spirits.
Ancestors and Spirits Playlist
by Mike Nichols
How did you get started in your work? I got started when I was really little and I was lucky enough to have really encouraging parents, friends, and teachers along the way. Where do you pull inspiration from? Natural History illustration, Art nouveau, other women in art history and botanical print fabric. Also, I’ve been introduced to Kehinde Wiley recently, and I *LOVE* his work.
Musecraft
with Ammy the Artist
What mediums do you work in and why? Recently, I’ve been doing digital work because admire the flexibility of it, but I also enjoy colored pencils and ink drawings. What advice do you have for aspiring artists? Just keep drawing even if you don’t feel like you’re doing good work. Eventually, something great will come out. Where do we go to find more of your work? My instagram is @ammytheartist. I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus, but I hope to dust it off again soon! There, you can see all my work, including my quilting, face painting, and all my pets, haha.
Here I stand in the light of summer's end. Autumn days are blowin’ in the wind. The harsh light of Sun begins to fade. Standing still, I relish in the shade. A crisp scent fills the air. It tells me autumn is almost here. Memories of pumpkins, besoms, and spice Memories of candles and warmth; all nice. Children laughing, playing with glee The sounds of crickets chirping And cicadas singing merrily The sounds of spring and summer ring in my head. It is time to lay all of that to bed. The laughter, joy, and sounds of fall Welcome in darker, cooler days for all. The crackling of flames in a fire pit And sounds of wind rustling leaves as they crisp Crunching of Earth beneath my feet. Bonfires, candy, fellowship- so sweet!
Pencraft
Poetic Musings of Autumn
by Quilycan
Just over a year ago, I moved to a new apartment. It is a really cute, small place in an older house converted into three apartments, so lots of great architectural detail and charm. The house itself has a shared porch that is nice and big and brick, and it wasn’t until recently that I realized the ceiling of the porch is painted a light blue. Now, I had vaguely heard of this being a thing called “haint blue”, but did not really know much about it, or where I had even learned the term. This called for research, and was timed perfectly to fit into this issue. Sadly, I did not find nearly as much folklore as I had hoped. To begin with, the term “haint” began as, and is often cited as a vernacular form of, the word “haunt”. While both have a meaning referring to ghosts and spirits, “haint” has taken on a bit of a different meaning that refers more to angry or frightening spirits. There is a deeper cultural difference between the two words, and to call a blue porch ceiling “haunt blue” would not have the same meaning. So, “haint” is the term used. The origination of haint blue is thought to be with the Gullah people of South Carolina and Georgia. They are a culture of African Americans that developed in the low country of the south eastern United States. They have a particular creole language that is close to Bahamian Creole, and preserved a variety of different African cultural heritage. While we mostly think of them as existing on the coastal islands of South Carolina especially, their culture was once much more widespread than that. Wikipedia says they “worked on plantations”, which of course means they were slaves, or freed slaves, or descended from slaves. They have a unique and interesting cultural (subcultural?) history, that is a story for another time. It seems the Gullah used the color on far more than just their porch ceilings, painting it on doors, window frames, and shutters. As it spread through the south and to the homes of white people, it was not always as fully used, but tended to remain on porch ceilings. The color itself was often made with indigo, and it is not actually one specific color. The shades vary a bit from place to place with different levels of brightness and balance of green and blue in the color. The common thread, however, is that it is always some sort of pale to light blue that seems to be reminiscent of sky. The lore behind the use of the color is a bit varied. It was certainly thought to keep angry spirits out (hence the name), but the how has a couple different answers. If it was to mimic sky, it was thought the ghosts would simply pass through. If it was to mimic water, then the ghosts would not cross (as they cannot cross water). It is a method of trickery that follows through the folk stories common in the area. While the superstition and folk story connection faded over time and the spread of the trend, the idea that the color repelled wasps and other insects remained. This story behind the use of the color likely had a practical origination, as it was likely a type of milk paint, made with lye, which works as an insect repellant. The color itself does not actually work that way. While this is obviously a trend common in the south, I was curious as to how common it is in our area. While I can’t really walk up to people’s homes to check the color of their porch ceiling, I can create a survey and ask my friends on social media. Now, I only had 11 answers, so it is not a fully representative survey, but I intend to share the results all the same. In my survey, most of the houses were built in the late 19th and early 20th century, with one outlier in 1976. There was also a majority where it was just the porch ceiling, and had always been blue, even through re-paintings. All of these houses were listed as being in the midwest as well. Largely around the Kansas City area, but a few in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Also, most people did not know of any reasoning or lore behind the color, except a couple of mentions of insect repellant. While that survey is a particularly small sample, it does show that this trend has spread through more than just the southern United States, but lost much of the lore behind it in the process. Perhaps we can start to regain some of the stories behind the blue porch ceiling and continue the tradition of haint blue.
Why is my Porch Ceiling blue?
The more enlightened our houses are, the more their walls ooze ghosts. - Italo Calvino
The Hanged Man
In the Cards
by Carrie Johnson
Number: 12 Sign: Pisces Element: Water Planet: Neptune Kabbalistic Path: Mem
Balance, surrender, release, struggle, a crossroads, and inner knowing. These are just a few of the potential qualities that the Hanged Man brings to you in a reading. When examining the imagery on the card, we first clearly see the man strung by one foot on the tree branch. The game is up. For so long the Hanged Man has gotten by in life with trickery, and mischief. Likely dishonesty has gained him clout and the false accolades he presumed would carry him through life. But the shadows have caught up to him, and he has found himself at the gates of hell. It’s time to look deep within and find the inner knowing that will truly get him to the next level in this earthly existence. As he struggles to be released from the grips of the shadows, he sees the crossroads he is at: surrender, or die. What does this mean to you on a human level? You have a choice to make. This may be a big decision coming at you, or a new opportunity. Or perhaps your life has just been in the gutter, and you can’t find a way out. You must find balance in the truth of your own existence. You must get honest with yourself and drop the lies you have lived for so long. Find your own truth and live it in order to pass this level in the game of life. Your inner voice is the only one you need to listen to. And you need to do it now. If this card does come to you reversed, it’s painfully obvious that you refuse to change. You continue to resist your next level and your addiction to your own drama. Time to get over yourself, love.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
I’m Carrie Johnson, a transformational life coach and psychology witch. I specialize in helping people see the beauty in their dark side by reaching beyond the grips of things like mental illness and addictions, to find that sweet spot where existing on this planet doesn’t suck so bad. I also provide shadow readings, which are like tarot readings on crack. We need to learn to embrace our shadows, but then completely alchemize them so they no longer control us. You can find me on Facebook, or email me at mycoachcarriej@gmail.com to find out more and book your session.
The So Below Tarot Deck Review
The ‘So Below’ deck, by well-known tarot reader and author Barbara Moore, has a bright and lively feel. I would highly recommend it! The deck is a tarot deck following the 78 card structure and core card meanings of tarot. This deck uses the classic four suits of cups, pentacles, swords, and wands. The cards themselves are standard size for tarot, about 2.75 by 4.75 inches, good card-stock, and perfectly comfortable to use. The images depicted in the ‘So Below’ deck are excellent! The artwork by comic artist Sabrina Ariganello is drawn with great details and has a splashed watercolor sort of finish. All of the cards, including the Minor Arcana or suits, have their own unique artwork. One of the intriguing things about the art in this deck, and one of the ways it differs from standard tarot, is that each of the cards depicts a modern scene. For example, the Queen of Swords doesn’t depict an actual queen, but a woman in a workplace position of authority leading a significant company meeting. It is because of the artistic deviations that I rate this deck intermediate for a student of tarot. A person who is currently learning the standard symbolism of tarot would find the non-standard artwork contradicting and unhelpful. A person who does intuition-based psychic readings, however, will find that interpreting this deck is simple. It clearly communicates real world situations. There is something to be said about using this deck in the same intuitive fashion that a person would use an oracle deck. Another unique thing about the ‘So Below’ deck is that it was actually designed as a part of a set! The set of two decks that were created by Barbara Moore to be used together are called ‘As Above Deck: Volume 1’ and ‘So Below Deck: Volume 2’ and make up the ‘Book of Shadows Tarot’ set. The ‘So Below’ deck reads well when combined with its intended partner or with different cards; it plays well with others. The ‘So Below’ tarot deck is available at the Aquarius metaphysical store for $22.95 and also readily available online. When sold as an individual deck it comes with a small pamphlet about the cards. The ‘Book of Shadows’ tarot set which contains the ‘As Above’ deck, the ‘So Below’ deck, and a detailed book by Barbara Moore about the two decks and how to read them is also available at Aquarius for $39.95, or online.
by Katarina Elaine
Overall: 5 spirals Card Stock Quality: Good Booklet Quality: Okay (The book quality for the ‘Books of Shadows’ set is excellent.) Collectibility: Common Reader level: Intermediate Where to find it: Aquarius or Amazon
Image Credit: Amazon
Katarina Elaine M. is a thriving artist, published author, professional tarot reader, speaker, performer, and healer. Her love for wild creatures and deep connection to nature has been inspiring Katarina’s surreal fantasy creations her whole life. A dedicated eclectic Wiccan; she believes in using her various gifts and skills to inspire and help others as a community witch.
Image Credit: Katarina Elaine M
by Katarina Elaine M
Community Reading
The following 4 card reading depicts upcoming shifts and changes within the Kansas City Pagan Community for the season of Autumn, as interpreted by Katarina Elaine M, read on the morning of Lughnasadh/Lammas. The Realm of Earth The card drawn for the physical realm is the Major Arcana card Strength. I interpret this to signify a serious community shift towards wellness; working with our bodies, focusing on health, and seeking physical well-being. Groups practicing fitness, martial arts, and self-defense are going to be growing at this time. We are likely to discover that the health-related classes we choose to attend are being attended by other spiritual, like-minded, people. This card also depicts a change in the way the pagan community gathers. Large spiritual groups will begin to establish structures, meeting places, that are comfortable and more accessible to people than before. The Realm of Air The card drawn for the mental realm is the King of Chalices. I interpret this to signify that by this time the pagan community has been successfully communicating, and has become aware and well informed about various emotional issues and issues of mental health. This is the positive outcome of social activism within our community. We can now look outside of our spiritual circles; there will be opportunities to teach what we know about trauma processing, or gender identity, or mental health awareness, etc. to the mainstream culture. The Realm of Fire The card drawn for the realm of passion is the King of Wands. I interpret this to signify that we as pagans are standing boldly for the causes that we feel passionate about at this time, and, we are actually being heard. We are beginning to be listened to by people outside of our circles. It is likely that as individuals we have recently become empowered to make difficult, necessary, changes in our lives. Remembering these personal experiences can help us to make seriously foundational changes in our spiritual groups and in our community when the time for change does come around again. The Realm of Water The card drawn for the realm of emotion is the 4 of Chalices. I interpret this to signify that we, in general, are feeling good about our pagan community at this time. We are a wonderful alliance of spiritual people, and we as a whole are content. As individuals we may find that we are experiencing some emotional exhaustion due to the happenings of the world at large; and that we have a need to rest our hearts. Opportunities for peace and comfort are available within our spiritual groups and we would be wise to spend time in there.
by Sam Shryock
Honoring our Ancestors:
Creating our Future
“Before us stand the unknown generations to come. Beside us stand the Beloved Ancestors whose efforts have taught and guided us, as we have joined them in the Great Work. Now we must go forward, strengthened by the bond of generations: the living and the Ancestors: the incarnate and the discarnate: standing together: one Tradition, one Family – straddling life and death, transcending time and space! A single circle of love and power, duty and honor, in which each member plays a vital role.” The Correllian Lustration of the Living ritual This summer I visited the gravesite of my great grandfather, buried in Frankfort, Kentucky. Having a rather widely dispersed family, this was a rare opportunity for me to honor a distant ancestor. This was also an opportunity to reflect on my own life in their presence and appreciate all that I have received because of their efforts. And lastly, this was an opportunity to reflect on my own future and those of my descendants. Prior to walking the path of Paganism, I did not pay much attention to my family’s ancestry, as we did not celebrate or acknowledge any form of cultural identity or heritage. But my studies soon taught me that the study of ancestry was an important part of learning “Who am I?” Knowing our ancestors better helps us to know ourselves better. We came from somewhere and the clues of who we are reside with our ancestors. Our talents and abilities to quirky qualities, as well as likes and dislikes, can be revealed when we connect with our ancestors. Marcus Garvey stated, "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." How are we to grow and become better, if we have no roots? In our bodies we carry the blood of our ancestors and the seeds of future generations. Every time I look at my children, I am reminded that a part of me resides in them, a part of my parents resides in me, and that this chain extends back to the very beginning of creation. I am here today because humans who are genetically similar to me were survivors. They learned to overcome a multitude of problems and adversities such as severe illnesses, wars, loss of loved ones, or severe economic declines. I am strengthened by who I came from and inspired by those who will follow. I am a living representation of my ancestors in this time. I feel that the most important and most challenging way I can honor my ancestors is to fulfill my personal potential. This gradual and ongoing work includes striving to become a more ethical, balanced, and open-hearted person. Acknowledging my ancestors does not mean I have to like or agree with my ancestors’ choices. It does not mean that I have to condone behavior that they may have perpetuated in their lifetime that I feel was not upright and kind. It also does not mean that I should hide it. But now the evolution of my ancestry is mine to determine. I am in a position to positively influence this evolution, so why wouldn’t I? No matter who our ancestors are, our own personal and monumental task is to become the best person that we can possibly be - someone in whom our own descendants in times to come can take great pride and find inspiration. We are our ancestors, when we understand them, we understand ourselves. By proactively learning about them, our ancestors can become a tremendous source of healing, empowerment, and nourishment in our everyday lives. To remember who we are is to claim the sacredness of our self. If you can make your ancestors real for yourself, learn their stories and who they were, your life - and death - will take on added meaning.
Sam Shryock practices Wiccan Spirituality and is a 3rd Degree High Priest within the Correllian-Nativist Tradition. He is the previous host of the KCWMU Kansas Coffee Coven, and previous local coordinator for Kansas City Pagan Pride Day. You can contact him at sunflowertemple@gmail.com
Image Credit: Sam Shryock
Release
Psychic
Correspondences: - Alchemy – earth/air - Body – abdomen, reproductive system, hips, legs, heart, nervous system - Chakras – earth (below feet), root/base, solar plexus, crown - Colors – brown, grey, black - Deities – Hekate, Gaia, Gendenwitha - Divination – light at the end of the tunnel, positive changes - Feng Shui – wood - Spellwork – addiction, warding, healing, shadow work, astral travel, ancestor work - Zodiac – all signs History: - “Samhain Stone” of the Druids - Traditional stone of the Cherokee Peoples’ shaman wands - Traditional stone in the Scottish dirk (“sock dagger”) - National stone of Scotland - Scrying stone used by Dr. Dee, Queen Elizabeth’s court magician - First (non UV filtering) sunglass lenses in ancient China - Traditional stone for Roman wax seals - Traditional stone for protective crucifixes in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria Crystal: Smokey quartz forms when common quartz (silicon and oxygen) is naturally irradiated or contains aluminum impurities. Colors vary from grey to deep brown or black, and sometimes yellow-brown. Crystals are glassy and translucent to transparent. Fakes will be solid black or grey with very little luster. Sometimes mis-sold as smokey topaz. Metaphysics: Smokey quartz is a powerful crystal alloy. From aiding in setting personal boundaries to boosting hypnagogic meditative states, this stone has nearly unlimited potential. Naturally irradiated, it guards against electromagnetic radiation, toxic environments of all types, bullying, psychic attacks, and even internal negativity. Its strong vibratory nature heightens mental abilities including: alpha/beta brainwave connections, clairvoyance, mental health, mood elevation, increased confidence and concentration. Smokey quartz was considered a power stone to several ancient cultures due to its unique ability to unite the spiritual and material planes. The Druids called it the “Samhain Stone” because it thinned the veil between the worlds. Hekate was often connected with this crystal as well, especially in her aspects as Queen of the Underworld and Psychopomp. Used in meditative settings, smoky quartz can help you to tune into your guides, your ancestors and others who have passed on, and extraterrestrial life. Use it to develop your “second sight” and to protect your auric field during trances, channeling, or astral travel.
R. May Evans is a queer witch, occultist, and artist. Their visual arts have been in group and solo shows on both sides of the state line. They have published books, essays, and collections in various genres, including poetry, fantasy, and nonfiction. Follow them on Instagram.com/maymagick.
Smokey Quartz
Crystal Corner
by R. May Evans
Image Credit: wikimedia
Protect
Manifest
Ground
Mugwort
beer
Divination
Gifts of Gaia
Common Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris) is one of those herbs that is always mentioned in relation to witchy practices. You may know it by a few other names, such as chrysanthemum weed, sailor’s tobacco, Artemis herb, and St John’s herb (NOT St John’s Wort). It grows through much of Europe and North America, in weedy areas. It has sturdy stalks that are usually red or purplish, and feathery, pinnate leaves that are green on top, and silver on the underside, with small blooms. While not common in our culture anymore, mugwort does have culinary uses. It’s a bitter herb used to flavor fats, meats, and fish, particularly the Christmas goose in German cuisine. It was very commonly used to flavor beer before the proliferation of hops, and slightly different species are used in various ways in different Asian cuisines. Medicinally, mugwort is a multi-tasker. It is a topical anesthetic and mild sedative with antibacterial, antifungal, and antispasmodic properties. Fresh leaves can be used to relieve itching and burning of the skin, and wart removal. Chewing fresh leaves can clear the mind and relieve fatigue, as can a decoction of the roots. It has been used for stomach complaints, to stimulate the appetite, and to relieve things like epilepsy. Mugwort is also used for all kinds of issues around the womb, like relieving menstrual problems, preventing miscarriage, and inducing abortion. It is also said to get into the deepest tissues of the body, and to bring other herbal medicines to those depths. The magical uses of mugwort really connects to the Ancestors and Spirits theme of this issue. It certainly has an affinity to the moon and the cycles of womanhood, but it is probably most known for its ability to enhance divination, dreams, and other types of work involving altered states of consciousness. It has protective and cleansing properties, and was thought to be used as a girdle by St John the Baptist. The rich history, mythology, and uses of this plant are tough to contain to a short article, so I encourage you to dig deeper to find the various ways you can make use of mugwort.
Bitter Herb
Dreams
Image Credit: Franz Eugen Kӧhler, Wikipedia
As I’ve aged and matured, the meaning of October 31st has evolved for me. From carefully executed costumes, make-up, horror movies, and high sugary expectations, I now plan my evening around celebrating and connecting with my dead. The kitchen is my sacred space after the garden has retired for the year. A Dumb Supper was the most fitting way to spend my evening. A Dumb or Silent Supper is an old practice popularized in the Victorian period. However, it has multi-cultural roots. For those with Southern ancestry, you may find this folklore practice within your own family. The exact origins aren’t well documented but leaving food offerings to the dead isn’t a new concept. The basic idea is this: invite your dead, leave them a food offering, and eat dinner in silence as you connect with your spectral guests. Traditionally, there are rules you must follow but my approach is to just create an inviting place for my family and friends on the other side to visit with me. The planning is done intuitively. The Set Up I do this as a solitary dinner, but most make it a social event. Standard cleaning or opening rituals would apply. Last year I cleaned the room with diluted Florida Water. The window was left cracked with a flameless candle to light the spirits’ way in. I leave pictures of my loved ones and, if possible, their possessions around the room and at their place settings. Some people will leave one table setting for all spirits or you can designate a seat for each spirit you’ve invited. An Ancestor Altar is a great way to display these items in a central location. The table setting can be as extravagant or as simple as you want. Our loved ones don’t require everything to be draped in black or to eat from your best china. The loving intention to connect is what’s important here. However, you’re having very special guests, so be creative! Fine dining, themed table settings, or using an heirloom tablecloth are just a few possibilities. Reserving the table settings just for this annual occasion can make them extra special. The Menu The menu can be planned around what foods your ancestors enjoyed or whatever’s in season. Last year, I prepared chicken fettuccini alfredo and garlic bread because that was one of my dad’s favorites. Baskin Robbins Pralines N’ Cream ice cream was the evening’s dessert. And don’t forget our furry, scaly, or feathered family. My late coonhound and doggie soulmate Rufus T had his own place setting. I served him pumpkin-fettuccine roll-ups and a dollop of peanut butter for dessert. The menu possibilities are endless as well as the drinks. You can’t go wrong with water, wine, or their favorite cocktail. Serving your dead can be just a bite or full plate. Use your discretion. The Dinner With candles lit and places set, you are now ready to begin your visit with your loved ones. Out of respect, I serve them first. The living guests are served in order of age starting with the elders, historically. Since I do this alone, there is no talking but it doesn’t have to be the case. Some hosts treat this like a celebration to share stories about their loved ones. Traditionally, it’s approached as a solemn occasion for respectful, silent remembrance. If silence isn’t required for you, feel free to play music your dead enjoyed. Rhapsody in Blue and Sam Cooke oozed from my record player which helped me create the experience. The more in tune and invested you are, the better you can connect. Over dinner, I did some automatic writing. I jotted down any memories or thoughts that popped up, whether they made sense or not. If writing doesn’t work for you, try connecting another way such as reading cards, using a pendulum, or even scrying. Another tradition is to place a written question underneath their plate and wait for your answer over dinner. Take your time to really think about them and listen to what they have to say. If you’re blessed with clairvoyant abilities, brush up on those skills. The veil is said to be at its thinnest as we enter into November 1st, giving us the best time for a conversation. After Dinner Before I get up from the table, I lovingly thank the spirits for stopping by and wait until it feels right to come back to the real world of domestic duties. While clearing the table, I process the evening’s events while they’re fresh. But what do you do with the food offerings? Instead of throwing it away into the trash, there are a few other options. You can set a plate of the remaining food outside for the wild critters to eat. You can bury the food or compost it, giving it back to the earth. The leftovers can also be fed to your pets! But as a strong caution, please be cognizant of its toxicity to our animals and the earth. Onions, garlic, raisins, some seasonings, high fat, sugar, or salty foods can be toxic to animals. Some substances can simply kill off vegetation. Consider this when devising your menu. If the best option is to dispose of it in the bin, being as thoughtful as you can is still ok. Intention is key! A Dumb Supper has become my tradition of choice for this special night. I enjoy the planning and personalization that goes into it and I start early on. There are a ton of resources online whether on YouTube, a personal blog, Pinterest, or articles like this one. Check out your local used book stores for books on Halloween, Samhain, and related folklore. Rules or no rules, this can be a transformative experience. And share your experience and inspiration! What a wonderful evening the world would have if for one night, we all sat down and talked with our ancestors and each other.
The Dumb Supper
Image Credit: Rachel Winter
An Evening with Ancestors
by Rachel Winter
The most treasured things passed down from generation to generation are the family recipes. — Robert St. John
Rachel Winter lives in Overland Park with her wife of 15 years and their 3 dogs. Her hobbies include herbalism, gardening, baking, and photography. Spiritually, she relies on intuitive practices but is guided by traditional craft and folk magic. Follow her on Instagram @thebewitchingbaker or email at natureboyherbals@gmail.com
Out of the Cauldron
Instructions 1. Wash the apples and orange; remove stickers. 2. Cut apples into halves, revealing the star shape in the center (this isn’t necessary, but is witchy, fun, and can be used to turn the cider from mundane to magickal). Add them to the slow cooker along with the whole orange. (No need to deseed, peel, or otherwise). 3. Add water, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, clove and allspice. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for for 3-4 hours. (If you notice the orange splitting at any point during cooking, remove it from the pot.) 4. One hour before the mixture is done cooking, mash the apples with a potato masher. Replace lid and continue cooking for 1 more hour. 5. Use a fine mesh colander/strainer to strain the contents into a large heat-proof pitcher. 6. Stir in brown sugar and caramel sauce until both fully dissolve. 7. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce drizzled on top. (Optional) 8. Refrigerate leftovers for 5-6 days. Rewarm to serve.
Ingredients - 5 varying medium apples - 1 whole orange - 2 cinnamon sticks - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg - 1 whole clove - 1/4 tsp ground allspice - 8 cups water - 1/3 cup brown sugar - 1/3 cup caramel sauce (optional)
Hot Apple Cider
Image Credit: Mark Bonica
Ingredients - 3 parts frankincense or 6 drops frankincense oil - 3 drops bergamot oil - ¼ cup white sage leaves - ¼ cup cedar
Spiritual Contact Incense
Instructions Grind together and burn on charcoal disc. Allow to waft over you and enjoy. Use to enhance your contact with the spirit realm. Note from Author: Personally, this recipe has worked very well for me. I have made contact with lost loved ones for peace of mind and to ask specific questions. I have also found guidance from guardian spirits and been approached by deities. This recipe should not be taken lightly. It’s fairly potent and should not be burned around pets or children under six. *** Please remember to take personal care of yourself before and immediately following the use of this recipe.
by Balder Bloodaxe
The Great Yowl
As the days grow shorter and the shadows grow longer, and Summer begins to march towards Autumn, my mind turns to thoughts of my kin. I was part of a large litter - 7 of us - and all but one survived to adulthood. I think of my Brothers and Sisters and of playing in the farmyard and running around inside and outside the barn. Sometimes chasing chickens, and sometimes being chased BY chickens! Those were wonderful, beautiful days. Lots of places to hide and things to climb. Lots of high places to watch the horses and the dogs and The Others. And lots of soft places to sleep. Sunny places and shady places. This time of year, I always think back to my days as a kitten and I cherish those memories of my kin. Winter Night is coming, and it is my custom on that night to celebrate the Disir - my female ancestors. I can follow my line back many generations. Mother used to say that we were descended from the Great Felines of Ancient Egypt. Their spirits watch over me and give my life meaning and direction. They, too, were Watchers of the One. Protectors of those who would otherwise be subject to the ill-moments brought on by the Wights and other Spirits and Shadows that The Others don’t see. There’s a mound there on The Farm. It’s where my Litter-Brother is now. And Mother. And her mother as well. Many generations of my kin are there. It’s a pretty place. Lots of green grass and shade from a nearby Ash Tree. Many of my kind don’t have their own ancestral burial mound. But I’m lucky. To know where they rest, and that they rest well in a place that I remember so fondly is a comfort beyond words. And it gives me solace to go there and know that the bones of my family are nearby. I celebrate on Winter Night by making an offering of Soft Food and Milk. The One has a Hogr in his yard. It’s a small stack of stones used for ritual purification, offerings, and Blots. He goes there from time to time and talks to The Gods. Mostly he thanks Jord and Freyr for allowing him to turn the land and grow food. And he sometimes leaves food that he’s prepared and pours Mead and Ale upon the Stones. And he talks to the Wights, thanking them for allowing him to share their land with him. Which I find odd, since most of the time he acts like he doesn’t know that they’re there! I know he doesn’t see what I see when I’m out on patrol. But apparently he understands something of the mischief they can do, because he occasionally pours them a drink and thanks them for sharing the land. He’s a strange guy, The One! But for my own part, I frequent the Hogr throughout the year – sleeping in a patch of Sunna’s Glory in the daytime, or basking in the silvery shimmer of Manni’s glow at night. It’s a really nice place! Almost as nice as The Farm. I wish The One would keep it up better. It could do with a bit of weeding … But on Winter Night I make an effort to show my ancestors, the Disir, how much I love them and how important they are in my life. I sit in silence, before the Hogr in my Sphinx position, and I remember Mother and my Litter-Sisters and Litter-Brothers and I think back on the stories Mother would tell about her mother and her Litter-Sisters and Litter-Brothers. The stories always came with a lesson. Mostly about how to protect The One. Sometimes how to protect yourself or your Litter-Mates. And she always said to be wary of the cows. “Big feet and no brains!” she would always say. Once she told a story of her Great-Great Grandmother. A story which had been told and told and told on The Farm for as far back as any of her kin could remember. It seems one day, long before the noisy machines came, an Other came to The Farm and spoke to The One and The Woman there. This was not a kind Other. The Other made lots of Big Noises, and Mother said that the Ancestors who were there then could tell that The One and The Woman were sad from the Big Noises. Then the mean Other ran toward the Barn, and began to pull one of the Horses out and toward the road! He was trying to take the Horse away from The Farm and away from The One and The Woman! Well, back then, the litters were much larger than mine, and there were many kin from 4 litters still living on The Farm. And with a Great Yowl from my Great-Great Grandmother, all of my kin from The Farm gave chase until they caught up to the Mean Other and they proceeded to pounce on him from all angles and from fence posts and from trees and from behind rocks and one even jumped on the Mean Other from a cow’s head! And they scratched and clawed and made Noises and they bit, and finally the Mean Other turned loose of the Horse and ran away down the road! And they never saw that Other again. Nor did many more Others come to visit. At least not many new ones. The Friendly Others came, still. In fact, the Nearest Others came the very next day, and they brought Milk and Soft Food and they talked and laughed and made no end of Happy Noises. And they fed my Ancestors and they scratched them and they rubbed their bellies, the kin who liked that sort of thing. Not my cup of Milk, belly rubs, but to each their own. So you see, I come from a long line of Folk who protect The One. And I am oh so proud! I think my Ancestors are the Cat’s Meow, and anyone who says otherwise is looking to get the Mean-One-Big-Yowl treatment, if I have anything to say about it! But you can see why I honor the Ancestors – the Disir – on Winter Nights. It’s a good thing. And I feel blessed to be part of such a great Kindred. And I am pledged to carry on my Sacred Duty. I protect The One. That’s what I do.
Image Credit: Balder Bloodaxe
My first role in ritual as a newly initiated witch was calling Center at a Lughnasadh Sabbat. I was told by my mentor I had a natural affinity with the Spirits and Ancestors, and that ability would strengthen our circle. Being brand new, and not knowing any better, I agreed and poured my heart and energy into opening a gateway for them to enter. The Coven I had found was an amalgamation of a number of different traditions, and this was part of how we created every circle, part of the foundation I learned in the very beginning of how to craft circles of my own that I still utilize today. Calling the Elements into circle is one of the most foundational basic things we learn early on as beginning witches. We come to understand how the different aspects of elemental energy protect our magickal boundary, and how each element brings forth a unique aspect to our work: West/Water/Emotion, North/Earth/Strength, East/Air/Wisdom, South/Fire/Creativity, etc, depending upon your tradition... Where calling Quarters for the cardinal compass points bring the elements into our Sacred Space, calling Center creates a doorway for Spirits and Ancestors to join. Center is all that is Above and Below, the Element of Spirit that encompasses our Ancestors, Spirit Guides, and those who have passed before us. Opening a gateway in the center of your circle is a way to incorporate your Guides and Ancestors directly into your ritual every time you cast a circle.Center also serves as the center pillar for the cone of power you are crafting to work within. It is easy to think of our circles as merely linear when we call only the cardinal directly. These feel like hard boundaries for our work. Center gives us something to link all these energies to over our heads and below our feet, creating a true energetic sphere to work in. Writing a call for Center is no different than writing one for your other Quarters. When writing a quarter call, you are looking for a combination of the energy of the element you are working with and the theme of your ritual. A Center Call example in a ritual for healing where we are utilizing the cardinal direction as part of the call would be: Guardians of Above and Below Spirits and Ancestors We call upon you to join us Journey with us as we seek healing and understanding Hail and Welcome Your Center call can be as elaborate or simple as you choose, exactly as your other calls can. Spirit, like the other elements, also has correspondences that can be utilized to tap into their energies. Some suggested correspondences include: Element: Spirit Energy: Ancestors, Spirit guides Symbol: Spiral, Pentacle Color: Purple, Gray, White Crystals: Amethyst Herbs: Mugwort, Damiana Incense: Frankincense and Myrrh, Patchouli, Sandalwood Direction: Above and Below Other correspondences can easily be utilized as long as they tie into Spirit. You can also use personal items that tie directly to your specific Ancestors and Guides. Find those things which make you feel connected to them, and tie them into your practices. Not all traditions incorporate these energies directly into their work as a Quarter Call. The only one that currently comes to mind is the Feri, founded in California in the 1960s by Americans Victor Henry Anderson and his wife Cora Anderson. T. Thorne Coyle, author of Evolutionary Witchcraft, is a notable member. Her book is a great place to start in learning to incorporate Center/Spirit into your circle casting. The more personal we make our practices, the more connected we feel to what we are doing. Calling Center/Spirit as part of our circle casting connects us directly to those who walk with us and guide us day to day, and gives us a way to not only solidify our magickal sphere, but honor our Ancestors and Guides in a tangible way. Autumnal Blessings The Urban Crone
Contemplative Crone
As Above, So Below As with the Universe, So with the Soul
Center: Gateway of the Ancestors
with Laurie Sherman
Image Credit: Pixabay
December 8, 2019
Rites of Passage are a way to mark a major change in our lives, and exist in all types of spirituality and rpactice. We would love to see some out of the box ideas for articles and some varied information on any kind of Rites of Passage We will also publish any big community announcements and upcoming events. Also remember, we cover from the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox with this issue, and anything seasonal is always welcome! Deadline for this issue is
Winter Solstice 2019
Our theme for the Winter Solstice issue will be Rite of Passage. We are looking for your articles, artwork, pictures, and input for this topic. Absolutely anything regarding Rites of Passage. Have you participated in any? What kind were they? What purpose do they serve in your practice? What kind of effect do they have on you? Whatever ideas you have, we would love to see them. If you need some direction, feel free to contact us at the email below. Send all of your submissions to
Rites of Passage
thecenterspiral@gmail.com
The Center Spiral Staff would like to give a huge Thank You to all of our contributors. We are thrilled to feature the hard work, expertise, creatvitiy, and knowledge of our community. The Center Spiral would not be what it is without your contributions. Thank you for helping us educate, inspire, and connect.
Contributors
Heidi Morton Rachel Winter Shandril Oc Arran Hekaterine Nox JS Groves Ammy the Artist Carrie Johnson Katarina Elaine Sam Shryock R. May Evans Balder Bloodaxe Calistar KB
The Center Spiral Staff Laurie Sherman Luna Motherowl Emaleth Summer Mike Nichols Audrey Hazzard Quilycan Emily Gabbert
We appreciate the support of all of those contributing articles, images, creative works, time, editing, advertising, sharing, and moral support while we put together our magazine. We could not do it without you. - The Center Spiral Staff -
An extra special Thank You to The Center Spiral staff. This would not have happened without the help of all of you. You are all an amazing inspiration, team of support, and integral in making this become a reality and continue to grow. Thank you. -Emily Gabbert
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Thank you!!
