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libations
A linguistic quibble: "to libate" can only correctly be used for liquids, as the Latin word means "to pour as an offering". -
thingums
"thingums" is an ancient Witchcraft term for ritual tools, candles, oils, herbs, offerings, jewelry, statues, altar cloths, robes, and any other material objects.
It's probably Ye Olde Celtic or Old High Gallifreyan in origin.
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pentagram and pentacle origins
Someone asked about the origins of the pentacle symbol in nonwiccanwitch. This is what I wrote:
You will find more information if you look for "pentagram" than "pentacle". If I remember correctly, John Michael Greer has a decent entry on the pentagram in his The New Encyclopedia of the Occult.
The pentagram (not necessarily encircled) entered the Western esoteric ( Read more... ) -
calculating sabbat dates
In nonwiccanpagans, faeriegirl asked questions about the sabbats:
I have a few questions which are probably the most stupidest and obvious questions of ever, but bear with me please!
Every time a sabbat rolls around I get confused on the date. It's because I know the Celts viewed the day as beginning at sundown (so, for example, Friday will begin at sundown tonight), and I'm ( Read more... ) -
wandering many paths
I keep seeing posts from various people who are trying to find the right path (singular) for them, the (single) label that encompass their souls. And I always want to ask, "Why?" Why do you want to limit yourself that way ( Read more... ) -
ethics, via quotes
I've often found that certain popular culture quotes express my ethics succinctly.
Glinda the Good: Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?
Tira (Mae West): When I'm good, I'm very good. But, when I'm bad...I'm better.
The Doctor: Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many. -
stepping onto the path
My usual advice on finding a religious or magical path is:- Start by reading broadly.
- If possible, meet real life practitioners, and participate in open rituals if they are available to you.
- After a bit, pick something to *do*. Some discipline. It can be a whole tradition or just a simple practice or anywhere in between. The point is committing to ( Read more... )
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my list of the Mighty Dead
That which is remembered, lives…
- Iolo Morganwg (1747-1826)
- Dion Fortune (1890-1946)
- Gerald Gardner (1884-1964)
- Robert Cochrane (1931-1966)
- Robert Graves (1895-1985)
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the point of divination
The core question of divination is not:- What will happen to me?
The core question is:- What should I do in this situation?
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Astrolabe makes astrologers look bad
Here's a place where my professional and magical lives intersect...- Wow! Via Slashdot, we discover that a company named Astrolabe, which appears to make astrology software, has ridiculously decided to sue the maintainers of the timezone database that nearly every Unix and Linux platform uses to set clocks to local time. Astrolabe apparently bought ( Read more... )