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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com


 
 
                            History of Witchcraft 
       
      As I am trying to put this all together, I hope to bring about an  
      understanding  that Witchcraft, like any religion, has  undergone  
      it's  changes  throughout  the  centuries.   It  is  my  personal  
      feeling,  however, that the religion of Witchcraft has  undergone  
      far fewer changes than any other in history. 
       
      As the song sung by Neil Diamond starts: 
           " Where it began, I can't begin to knowin..." 
       
      Witchcraft,  sorcery, magic, whatever can only begin to find  its  
      roots  when we go back as far as Mesopotamia. With their  deities  
      for  all  types of disasters, such as Utug - the Dweller  of  the  
      Desert  waiting  to  take you away if you wandered  to  far,  and  
      Telal  -  the  Bull  Demon,  Alal  -  the  destroyer,  Namtar   -  
      Pestilence, Idpa - fever, and Maskim - the snaresetter; the  days  
      of superstitution were well underway. 
       
      It  was believed that the pharaohs, kings, etc. all  imbued  some  
      power  of  the gods, and even the slightest  movement  they  made  
      would cause an action to occur.  It was believed that a  picture,  
      or  statue also carried the spirit of the person. This is one  of  
      the reasons that they were carried from place to place, and  also  
      explains  why  you  see so many pictures  and  statues  of  these  
      persons with their hands straight to their sides.  
       
      In  the Bible, we find reference to "The Tower of Babel"  or  The  
      Ziggurat in Genesis 11. "Now the whole world had one language and  
      a  common speech.  As men moved eastward, they found a  plain  in  
      Shinar  (Babylonia) and settled there.  They said to each  other,  
      `Come,  let's  make bricks and bake them thoroughly.'  They  used  
      brick  instead  of stone, and tar instead of mortar.   Then  they  
      said,  `Come,  let us build ourselves a city, with a  tower  that  
      reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for  ourselves  
      and  not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.' But  the  
      Lord  came down to see the city and the tower that the  men  were  
      building.   The  Lord said,`If as one people  speaking  the  same  
      language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do  
      will  be  impossible for them.  Come let us go down  and  confuse  
      their language so they will not understand each other.'" It  goes  
      on to say that the tower was never finished. 
       
      In  other  references,  we  find that the  "Tower"  was  in  fact  
      finished,  and that it was a tower that represented the  "stages"  
      between earth and heaven (not a tower stretching to the heaven in  
      the literal sense.) From this reference, it was a tower built  in  
      steps.  A hierarchy on which heaven and hell were based.  It  was  
      actually a miniature world representing the Mountain of Earth. 
 
 
                                                                              793
 
      Each stage was dedicated to a planet, with its angles symbolizing  
      the  four corners of the world.  They pointed to Akkad,  Saburtu,  
      Elam,  and the western lands.  The seven steps of the tower  were  
      painted  in different colors which corresponded to  the  planets.   
      The "Great Misfortune:, Saturn, was black. The second was  white,  
      the  color  of  Jupiter.   The third,  brick-red,  the  color  of  
      Mercury,  followed by blue, Venus; yellow, Mars, gray  or  silver  
      for  the  moon.  These  colors boded good  or  evil,  like  their  
      planets. 
       
      For the first time, numbers expressed the world order.  A  legend  
      depicts  Pythagoras traveling to Babylon where he is  taught  the  
      mystery  of numbers, their magical significance and  power.   The  
      seven  steps often appear in magical philosophy. The seven  steps  
      are: stones, fire, plants, animals, man, the starry heavens,  and  
      the angels.  Starting with the study of stones, the man of wisdom  
      will attain higher and higher degrees of knowledge, until he will  
      be  able  to  apprehend the sublime,  and  the  eternal.  Through  
      ascending  these steps, a man would attain the knowledge of  God,  
      whose  name  is  at the eighth degree,  the  threshold  of  God's  
      heavenly dwelling.   
       
      The  square  was  also a "mystical" symbol in  these  times,  and  
      though divided into seven, was still respected.  This  correlated  
      the  old tradition of a fourfold world being reconciled with  the  
      seven heavens of later times.  
       
      It is thought that here was the start to numerology, but for this  
      to  have  developed  to  the point  where  they  had  taken  into  
      consideration the square as the fourfold world, it would have had  
      to have developed prior to this. 
       
      From Mesopotamia lets move over to Persia. 
       
      Unlike  the Mesopotamians, and Egyptians, who believed  that  all 
      was  done with either the favor or lack thereof of the Gods,  the 
      Chaldean  star  religion taught that luck and  disaster  were  no 
      chance  events,  but  were controlled from  the  heavenly  bodies 
      (planets/stars) which send good and bad according to mathematical 
      laws.  It was their belief that man was incapable of fighting the 
      will  of  the  planet divinities. Though, the  more  this  system 
      evolved,  the  more the wise men read ethical values  into  man's 
      fate.  The  will of the stars was not  completely  separate  from 
      man's behaviors. The stars were important, but not omnipotent  in 
      deciding  man's fate. It was believed that the star Sirius  would 
      carry  messages  to the higher gods and he returned  to  announce 
      their will. 
 
      Around  the  7th Century B.C. Zoroaster, the Median  prophet  was 
      preaching the doctrines that evil could be avoided and  defeated. 
      He  brought  about the principles of the good and  evil  spirits. 
      Below,  we will look at the beliefs and influences of this  man's 
      life which created the religion named after him. 
 
 
                                                                              794
 
      The  first of the belief structure had to do with Ormazd  (Ahura-
      Mazda) king of light, and his twin brother Ahriman  (Anro-Mainyu) 
      prince of darkness.
 
      Zoroaster  brought  about  the belief in  the  "holy  war"  (that 
      between  good  and  evil.) In this  faith,  the  archangels  (the 
      spirits  of  Divine Wisdom,  Righteousness,  Dominion,  Devotion, 
      Totality, and Salvation) and the demons (the spirits of  Anarchy, 
      Apostasy,   Presumption,  Destruction,  Decay,  and  Fury)   were 
      constantly  at  battle  with one another.   The  archangels  were 
      controlled by Ormazd and the demons by Ahriman.
 
      This  religion  had it's belief that in the end, Ormazd  and  his 
      demons would prevail, but until then, Ormazd would keep the world 
      safe.  
 
      It is interesting that the last of the demons (the demon of Fury) 
      holds such a hard and fast thought that it was incorporated  into 
      the  Hebrew and Christian belief structure. The last  archdemon's 
      name is Aeshma Daeva also know to the Hebrews as Ashmadai and  to 
      Christians as Asmodeus. 
 
      Asmodeus was the "chief of the fourth hierarchy of evil  demons", 
      called  "the  avengers of wickedness, crimes  and  misdeeds."  He 
      appears  with  three heads, a bull's, human, and a ram.   He  has 
      goose  feet, and a snake's tail. To appear more  frightening,  he 
      also exhales fire and rides upon a dragon of hell.
 
      It  is said that Asmodeus is not to be feared.  When you  say  to 
      him:  "In truth thou art Asmodeus," he will give you a  wonderful 
      ring.   He  will teach you geometry,  arithmetic,  astronomy  and 
      mechanics. When questioned, he answers truthfully. 
 
      The  other  demons  tempt people away from the  true  worship  of 
      Mazda.   They  are  Paromaiti - Arrogance, Mitox  -  The  Falsely 
      Spoken  Word,  Zaurvan - Decrepitude, Akatasa  -  Meddlesomeness, 
      Vereno - Lust. 
 
      Much  of the current day Christian beliefs were taken  from  this 
      man's  religion.  (That of good and evil forces, the  redemption, 
      the "savior" factor, etc.)
 
      From  here, let us move on to Egypt where we will look  at  other 
      mystical symbols and more history of magic and the craft.
 
      The Sphinx was a mythological creature with lion's body and human 
      head,  an important image in Egyptian and Greek art  and  legend.  
      The  word sphinx was derived by Greek grammarians from  the  verb 
      sphingein (to bind or squeeze), but the etymology is not  related 
      to the legend and is dubious.
 
      The winged sphinx of Boeotian Thebes, the most famous in  legend, 
      was said to have terrorized the people by demanding the answer to 
      a riddle. If the person answered incorrectly, he or she was eaten 
      by  the sphinx.  It is said that Oedipus answered properly  where 
      upon the sphinx killed herself.  
 
 
                                                                              795
 
      The  earliest  and  most famous example in art  is  the  colossal 
      Sphinx  at Giza, Egypt.  It dates from the reign of  King  Khafre 
      (4th king of 4th dynasty; c. 2550 b.c.)
 
      The  Sphinx did not occur in Mesopotamia until around  1500  b.c. 
      when  it was imported from the Levant.  In appearance, the  Asian 
      sphinx differed from its Egyptian model mostly in the addition of 
      wings  to the leonine body.  This feature continued  through  its 
      history in Asia and the Greek world.  
 
      Another  version  of  the sphinx was that of  the  female.   This 
      appeared  in  the  15th  century  b.c.  on  seals,  ivories   and 
      metalworkings.   They  were  portrayed in  the  sitting  position 
      usually  with one paw raised.  Frequently, they were seen with  a 
      lion, griffin or another sphinx.
 
      The  appearance of the sphinx on temples and the like  eventually 
      lead  to a possible interpretation of the sphinx as a  protective 
      symbol as well as a philosophical one.
 
      The Sphinx rests at the foot of the 3 pyramids of Khufu,  Khafre, 
      and  Menkure.  It talons stretch over the city of the dead as  it 
      guards its secrets.
 
      The myth goes that a prince who later became Thutmose IV, took  a 
      nap in the shadow of the half-submerged Sphinx. As he slept,  the 
      Sun-god (whom the Sphinx represents, appeared to him in a  dream.  
      Speaking  to  him  as a son, he told the  prince  that  he  would 
      succeed to the throne and enjoy a long and happy reign.  He urged 
      the prince to have the Sphinx cleared of the sand.
 
      In his book on Isis and Osiris, Plutarch  (A.D. 45-126) says that 
      the  Sphinx  symbolizes  the  secret  of  occult  wisdom,  though 
      Plutarch  never unveiled the mysteries of the Sphinx. It is  said 
      that  the magic of the Sphinx lies within the thousands of  hands 
      that chiseled at the rock.  The thoughts of countless generations 
      dwell  in it; numberless conjurations and rites have built up  in 
      it  a mighty protective spirit, a soul that still  inhabits  this 
      time-scarred giant. 
 
      Another  well know superstition of the peoples of  Ancient  Egypt 
      was that regarding their dead.
 
      They believed that in the West lies the World of the Dead,  where 
      the Sun-god disappears every evening.  The departed were referred 
      to as "Westerners." It was believed that, disguised as birds, the 
      dead  soar into the sky where in his heavenly barge Ra, the  Sun-
      god,  awaits them and transforms them into stars to  travel  with 
      him through the vault of the heavens.
 
 
                                                                              796
 
      The  cult of the dead reached it's height when it  incorporated 
      the  Osiris  myth.   Osiris was born to  save  mankind.   At  his 
      nativity,  a voice was heard proclaiming that the Lord  had  come 
      into  the world (sound familiar?).  But his  brother/father  Seth 
      shut  him  up  in  a chest which he carried to  the  sea  by  the 
      Tanaitic mouth of the Nile.  Isis brought him back to life.  Seth 
      then scattered his body all over the place.  It is said that Isis 
      fastened  the limbs together with the help of the  gods  Nephtis, 
      Thoth, and Horus, her son.  Fanning the body with her wings,  and 
      through  her magic, Osiris rose again to reign as king  over  the 
      dead.  
 
      The  Egyptian  believed that a person had two souls.   The  soul 
      known  as Ba is the one that progressed into the afterlife  while 
      the  Ka  remains  with the mummy. The Ka is believed  to  live  a 
      magical  life  within  the  grave.   Thus  the  Egyptians  placed 
      miniature belongings of the deceased into the tomb.  Such items as 
      images, statuettes, imitation utensils, and miniature houses  take 
      the place of the real thing.  They believed that the Ka would use 
      these  as  the real item because the  mortuary  priests  possessed 
      magic that would make them real for the dead. 
 
      The priests believed that the gods could be deceived, menaced and 
      forced  into  obedience.   They had such trust in  the  power  of 
      magic,  the  virtue of the spoken word,  the  irresistibility  of 
      magic gestures and other ritual, that they hoped to bend even the 
      good  gods  to their will.  They would bring retribution  to  the 
      deities  who  failed  to  deal leniently  with  the  dead.   They 
      threatened  to  shoot lightning into the are of Shu, god  of  the 
      air, who would then no longer be able to support the sky-goddess, 
      and  her star-sown body would collapse, disrupting the  order  of 
      all things. 
 
      When Ikhnaton overthrew the Egyptian gods and demons, making  the 
      cult  of the One God Aton, a state religion, he  also  suppressed 
      mortuary magic.  Ikhnaton did not believe in life after death.
 
      As  Christianity  became  a part of this nation,  there  is  much 
      evidence to show where the Christians of the time, and the pagans 
      lived peacefully together.
 
      In  theology, the differences between early Christians,  Gnostics 
      (members  -  often  Christian - of dualistic  sects  of  the  2nd 
      century  a.d.), and pagan Hermeticists were slight.  In  the  large 
      Gnostic  library  discovered at Naj'Hammadi, in upper  Egypt,  in 
      1945,  Hermetic writings were found side by side  with  Christian 
      Gnostic  texts.   The  doctrine of the  soul  taught  in  Gnostic 
      communities was almost identical to that taught in the mysteries: 
      the soul emanated from the Father, fell into the body, and had to 
      return to its former home.   
 
      It was not until later in Rome that things took a change for  the 
      worse.  Which moves us on to Greece.
 
 
                                                                              797
 
      The doctrinal similarity is exemplified in the case of the  pagan 
      writer  and  philosopher  Synesius.  When the  people  of  Cyrene 
      wanted  the  most able man of the city to be their  bishop,  they 
      chose  Synesius,  a  pagan. He was able to  accept  the  election 
      without  sacrificing  his  intellectual honesty.   In  his  pagan 
      period,  he  wrote  hymns that follow the fire  theology  of  the 
      Chaldean Oracles.  Later he wrote hymns to Christ.  The  doctrine 
      is almost identical. 
 
      To  attempt to demonstrate this...let's go to some  BASIC  tenets 
      and beliefs of the two religions:
 
                              Christian Beliefs
 
      The 10 Commandments 
 
      1.) You shall have no other gods before me.
 
      To the Christian, this means there will be no other God.  Yet, in 
      the bible, the phrase is plural.  I does not state that you  will 
      not  have another god, it says that you will have no  other  gods 
      before the Christian God.
 
      In  the case of the later, it could be interpreted to  mean  that 
      whereas other gods can be recognized, as a Christian, this person 
      should  place YHVH ahead of all gods recognizing him/her  as  the 
      supreme being of all. 
 
      2.) You shall not worship idols
 
      Actually,  what it says in the New International Version is  "You 
      shall  not make for yourself an idol in the form of  anything  in 
      heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You 
      shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord  your 
      God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of  the 
      fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate  me, 
      but   showing  love  to  thousands  who  love  me  and  keep   my 
      commandments. 
 
      3.) You shall not take the name of the lord in vain.
 
      This one is pretty self explanatory.  When a person is calling on 
      the lord he/she is asking the lord for guidance or action.  Thus, 
      the phrase "God damn it!" can be translated into a person  asking 
      the  lord  to condemn whatever "it" is to hell.  The  phrase  "To 
      damn"  means  to  condemn to hell.   In  modern  society,  several 
      phrases such as the following are common usage:
           "Oh God!", "God forbid!", "God damn it!", "God have mercy!"
      Each  of these is asking God to perform some act upon or for  the 
      speaker with the exception of "Oh God!" which is asking for  Gods 
      attention. 
 
 
                                                                              798
 
      4.) Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
 
      Depending on which religion you are looking at (i.e. Jewish, from 
      which  the 10 commandments come; or Christianity,  which  adapted 
      them  for their use as well.) the Sabbath is either  Saturday  or 
      Sunday.   You  may also take a look at the  various  mythological 
      pantheons  to  correlate which is the first and last days  of  the 
      week...(i.e. Sun - Sunday.. Genesis 1:3 "And God said, "Let there 
      be  light,'  and there was light., Moon - Monday..  Genesis  1:14 
      "And  God said,"Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky  to 
      separate  the day from the night, and let them serve as signs  to 
      mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the 
      expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 
      God  made two great lights - the greater light to govern the  day 
      and  the  lesser  light to govern the night.  He  also  made  the 
      stars."  Thus the Sun was created first.  With the day of the Sun 
      being  the first in the week, then Saturday would be the  7th  or 
      Sabbath. 
 
      5.) Honor thy mother and thy father.
 
      This  is  another that is fairly self explanatory.   It  is  any 
      parent's  right  after spending the time to raise you  to  expect 
      that you respect them.  
 
      6.) You shall not murder.
 
      This does not say "You shall not murder...except in my name."  It 
      says YOU SHALL NOT MURDER. PERIOD. Out of the 10 commandments,  I 
      have found that over the course of history, this one has been the 
      most  ignored.   As we look as the spread  of  Christianity  from 
      around 300 A.D. forward, we find that as politics moved into  the 
      church  and  those  in charge of man's "souls"  were  given  more 
      control that this one commandment sort of went out the window. 
 
      We  see  such things as the Crusades, the  inquisition,  and  the 
      dominating fear that was placed into the Christian "psyche"  that 
      one should destroy that which is not like you.
 
      Even  though  we here stories about the "witch trials",  and  the 
      "witch  burnings" etc....There were actually very  few  "Witches" 
      tried  or  burned.   Most  of  these  poor  souls  were  that  of 
      Protestant  beliefs  (Against  the  Catholic  Church)  yet  still 
      maintained that they were Christians. But...more on this later. 
 
      7.) You shall not commit adultery.
 
      You  can  look  up the meaning in the dictionary,  and  this  one 
      becomes  pretty self-evident.  What it comes down to is  that  no 
      person who has ever been divorced can marry again, and you  don't 
      have sex with someone that you are not married to. 
 
 
                                                                              799
 
      8.) You shall not steal.
 
      Again, enough said. However...don't go looking at Constantine  to 
      be  obeying this one!  The Pagan temples were looted to make  his 
      coinage.
 
      9.) You shall not give false witness against thy neighbor
 
      Again,  during the times of the inquisition, this also  went  out 
      the window.  Such tools as torture were used to pull  confessions 
      from  these  poor  people who then  signed  statements  that  the 
      inquisitors  had written up saying that they freely  signed  this 
      document.   Of course...the inquisitors stated that  this  person 
      was  not tortured, but it was his clever wit that  had  extracted 
      this confession.  
 
      It  was  also  during this time that persons,  refusing  to  take 
      responsibility  for their own actions or accept that nature  does 
      in  fact  create strange  circumstances...(i.e.  drought,  flood, 
      etc.)  and  the resulting illness and  bug  infestations.   Very 
      often,  as the Witch-craze developed stronger, the  one  neighbor 
      would  accuse another of Witchcraft and destroying the fields  or 
      making their child sick, or whatever. 
 
      10.)You shall not covet your neighbor.
 
      On  the  surface, this one is pretty  self  explanatory.   Don't 
      crave your neighbor's possessions.  Yes...I can relate this  back 
      to  the inquisitional times as well since most of  the  accused's 
      property   reverted   back  to  the  Catholic  church   at   this 
      time...there  were  several accused and convicted  of  Witchcraft 
      simply because they would not sell their property to the  church. 
      However...How  does  this effect persons today?  How  far  do  we 
      carry the "Thou shalt not covet..."?  This can be even so much as 
      a want, however is it a sin to want a toy like your neighbor has?  
      If so...we're all in trouble.  How many of us "want" that Porsche 
      that  we see driving down the road?  Or how about that  beautiful 
      house  that we just drove past?  Do we carry this commandment  to 
      this extreme?  If so...I pity the person that can live by it  for 
      what that would say is "Thou shalt not DREAM." 
 
 
                                                                              800
 
                               Wiccan Beliefs
 
      Since the religion of Wicca (or Witchcraft) is so diverse in it's 
      beliefs,  I have included several documents here  that  encompass 
      the majority of the traditions involved.  Again, this is simply a 
      basis...NOT the be all and end all.
 
                                 Wiccan Rede
 
                        Bide ye wiccan laws you must,
                      in perfect love and perfect trust
                        Live ye must and let to live,
                         fairly take and fairly give
                         For the circle thrice about
                        to keep unwelcome spirits out
                      To bind ye spell well every time,
                       let the spell be spake in rhyme
                       Soft of eye and light of touch,
                        speak ye little, listen much
                        Deosil go by the waxing moon,
                        chanting out ye baleful tune
                         When ye Lady's moon is new,
                        kiss ye hand to her times two
                       When ye moon rides at her peak,
                         then ye heart's desire seek
                      Heed the north winds mighty gale,
                       lock the door and trim the sail
                     When the wind comes from the south,
                      love will kiss thee on the mouth
                     When the wind blows from the east,
                      expect the new and set the feast.
                       Nine woods in the cauldron go,
                      burn them fast and burn them slow
                          Elder be ye Lady's tree,
                       burn it not or cursed ye'll be
                       WHen the wheel begins to turn,
                       soon ye Beltane fires will burn
                      When the wheel hath turned a Yule
                     light the log the Horned One rules
                       Heed ye flower, bush and tree,
                           by the Lady blessed be
                        Where the rippling waters go,
                     cast a stone, the truth ye'll know
                        When ye have and hold a need,
                         harken not to others greed
                        With a fool no season spend,
                         or be counted as his friend
                         Merry meet and merry part,
                    bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
                       Mind ye threefold law ye should
                    three times bad and three times good
                          When misfortune is enow,
                         wear the star upon thy brow
                         True in love my ye ever be,
                       lest thy love be false to thee
                 These eight words the wiccan rede fulfill;
                      An harm ye none, do what ye will. 
 
 
                                                                              800
 
                               Wiccan Beliefs
 
      Since the religion of Wicca (or Witchcraft) is so diverse in it's 
      beliefs,  I have included several documents here  that  encompass 
      the majority of the traditions involved.  Again, this is simply a 
      basis...NOT the be all and end all.
 
                                 Wiccan Rede
 
                        Bide ye wiccan laws you must,
                      in perfect love and perfect trust
                        Live ye must and let to live,
                         fairly take and fairly give
                         For the circle thrice about
                        to keep unwelcome spirits out
                      To bind ye spell well every time,
                       let the spell be spake in rhyme
                       Soft of eye and light of touch,
                        speak ye little, listen much
                        Deosil go by the waxing moon,
                        chanting out ye baleful tune
                         When ye Lady's moon is new,
                        kiss ye hand to her times two
                       When ye moon rides at her peak,
                         then ye heart's desire seek
                      Heed the north winds mighty gale,
                       lock the door and trim the sail
                     When the wind comes from the south,
                      love will kiss thee on the mouth
                     When the wind blows from the east,
                      expect the new and set the feast.
                       Nine woods in the cauldron go,
                      burn them fast and burn them slow
                          Elder be ye Lady's tree,
                       burn it not or cursed ye'll be
                       WHen the wheel begins to turn,
                       soon ye Beltane fires will burn
                      When the wheel hath turned a Yule
                     light the log the Horned One rules
                       Heed ye flower, bush and tree,
                           by the Lady blessed be
                        Where the rippling waters go,
                     cast a stone, the truth ye'll know
                        When ye have and hold a need,
                         harken not to others greed
                        With a fool no season spend,
                         or be counted as his friend
                         Merry meet and merry part,
                    bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
                       Mind ye threefold law ye should
                    three times bad and three times good
                          When misfortune is enow,
                         wear the star upon thy brow
                         True in love my ye ever be,
                       lest thy love be false to thee
                 These eight words the wiccan rede fulfill;
                      An harm ye none, do what ye will. 
 
 
                                                                              801
 
 
        One of the Pagan Oaths recognized nationally here in the U.S.
 
                       A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality
      I  am  a Pagan and I dedicate Myself to channeling the  Spiritual 
      Energy of my Inner Self to help and to heal myself and others.
        
      *   I know  that I  am a  part of  the Whole  of Nature.   May  I  
      grow   in  understanding of  the Unity  of all  Nature.   May   I  
      always  walk  in Balance.
        
      *   May  I  always be  mindful of  the diversity  of   Nature  as 
      well as its Unity and  may I  always be  tolerant of those  whose 
      race, appearance, sex, sexual preference, culture, and other ways 
      differ from my own.
        
      *  May I  use the  Force (psychic  power) wisely  and  never  use 
      it   for aggression nor  for malevolent  purposes. May   I  never  
      direct  it  to curtail the free will of another.
        
      *  May I  always be mindful that I create my own reality and that 
      I have the power within me to create positivity in my life.
        
      *   May  I  always act  in  honorable  ways: being   honest  with  
      myself and others, keeping  my word  whenever I  have given   it,  
      fulfilling   all responsibilities and  commitments I  have  taken  
      on to  the best of my ability.
        
      *  May I  always  remember  that whatever  is  sent  out   always  
      returns magnified to  the sender.  May the  Forces of  Karma move  
      swiftly   to  remind me  of these  spiritual commitments  when  I 
      have  begin  to  falter from them,  and may  I  use  this  Karmic 
      feedback  to  help myself grow and be more attuned  to  my  Inner 
      Pagan Spirit.
        
      *   May  I  always remain strong and committed  to  my  Spiritual 
      ideals in the face of  adversity and  negativity. May  the  Force  
      of my Inner Spirit ground out  all malevolence  directed my   way 
      and   transform  it  into positivity. May  my Inner  Light  shine  
      so   strongly  that  malevolent forces can not even  approach  my 
      sphere of existence.
        
      *   May I  always grow  in Inner  Wisdom & Understanding.  May  I 
      see  every  problem that  I face  as an opportunity   to  develop 
      myself spiritually in solving it.
        
      *   May  I  always act out of Love to all other  beings  on  this  
      Planet -- to other humans,  to plants,  to animals,  to minerals, 
      to elementals, to spirits, and to other entities.
        
      *   May  I  always be  mindful that the  Goddess and God  in  all 
      their  forms  dwell  within   me  and   that  this   divinity  is  
      reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.
      .pa  
      *  May I  always channel  Love and  Light from  my  being.  May my  Inner 
      Spirit, rather  than my ego self, guide all my thoughts, feelings, and 
      actions.
                                SO MOTE IT BE
 
 
                                                                              802
 
      In  the  Wiccan Rede above, and scattered in the  oath,  we  find 
      words  such  as Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.  What  are  these 
      strange words and what do they mean?
 
      Before  one  can analyze the meaning behind the  phrase  "Perfect 
      Love  and  Perfect Trust", one must first define the  words.  For 
      this  purpose, I will use the Webster's New World  Dictionary  of 
      the  American  Language  1982 edition. Perfect:  adj.  [L.  per-, 
      through  + facere, do] 1. complete in all respects;  flawless  2. 
      excellent,  as  in  skill or quality 3.  completely  accurate  4. 
      sheer;  utter  [a perfect fool] 5. Gram. expressing  a  state  or 
      action completed at the time of speaking - vt. 1. to complete  2. 
      to make perfect or nearly perfect - n. 1. the perfect tense 2.  a 
      verb form in this tense - perfectly adv - perfectness n.
 
      Love: n. [<OE. lufu]  1. strong affection or liking of someone or 
      something. 2. a passionate affection for one of the opposite sex. 
      3. The object of such affection, sweetheart. 
 
      Trust:  n.[ON,  traust]  1.  a)  firm  belief  in  the   honesty, 
      reliability,  etc.  of  another;  faith b)  the  one  trusted  2. 
      confident  expectation,  hope, etc. 3.  responsibility  resulting 
      from  confidence  placed in one. 4. Care,  custody  5.  something 
      entrusted to one....
 
      Using  these  definitions,  we  come  up  with  "Flawless  strong 
      affection and flawless faith.
 
      Is this possible?  Those that follow the religion of Wicca  often 
      give  excuses for this just being words.  When this is the  case, 
      they are not obeying their faith....thus..they are not  following 
      perfect love and perfect trust.  But to the rest...the answer  is 
      a  resounding YES.  This does not ask that you "like"  a  person.  
      It asks that you see the divine light and love within  individual 
      whether you like them or not.  Can this be done...YES. As to  the 
      perfect  trust...we  can always trust a fox to be  a  fox  right. 
      Therefore,  when we are entering circle, we can  honestly  answer 
      perfect  trust even if it is on shaky ground.  We may have  faith 
      that this person will act like any other human. 
 
      It  with these beliefs and doctrines that I state that  not  only 
      was   the  doctrine,  or  teaching  almost  identical,  but   the 
      vocabulary was extensively the same.
 
      It's with these beliefs and doctrines that I state that not  only 
      was   the  doctrine,  or  teaching  almost  identical,  but   the 
      vocabulary was extensively the same.
 
 
                                                                              803
 
      Greek  life  was  characterized  by  such  things  as  democratic 
      institutions,  seafaring, athletics theatre and  philosophy.  The 
      mystery  religions adopted many expressions from  these  domains. 
      The  word  for their assembly was Ekklesia of  the  mystai.  They 
      spoke of the voyage of life, the ship, the anchor and the port of 
      religion,  and the wreath of the initiate.  The  Christians  took 
      over the entire terminology, but had to twist many pagan words in 
      order  to  fit  into the Christian world.   The  term  Leitourgia 
      (meaning  service of the state) became the ritual or  liturgy  of 
      the  church. The decree of the assembly and the opinions  of  the 
      philosophers  (dogma) became the fixed doctrine of  Christianity.  
      The term for "the correct opinion" (or the doxa) became orthodoxy. 
 
      The  mysteries  declined  quickly when  the  emperor  Constantine 
      raised Christianity to the status of the state religion.  After a 
      short period of toleration, the pagan religions were  prohibited.  
      The  property of the pagan gods was confiscated, and the  temples 
      were  destroyed.  The metal from which Constantine's gold  pieces 
      were coined was taken from the pagan temple treasuries.
 
      The main pagan "strong holds" were Rome and Alexandria.  In Rome, 
      the old aristocracy clung to the mysteries and in Alexandria  the 
      pagan Neoplatonist philosophers expounded the mystery  doctrines. 
      In  394, the opposition of the Roman aristocracy was  crushed  in 
      the battle at the Frigidus River (modern stream of Vipacco, Italy 
      and stream of Vipava, Yugoslavia). 
 
      According  to  the Christian  theologian  Origen,  Christianity's 
      development  during the time of the Roman Empire was part of  the 
      divine  plan.   The whole Mediterranean world was united  by  the 
      Romans,  and  the  conditions  for  missionary  work  were   more 
      favorable  than  ever before.  He explains  the  similarities  as 
      natural considering the cultures etc.  The mystery religions  and 
      Christianity had many features in common.  Some examples of  this 
      are  found in their time of preparation prior to initiation,  and 
      periods  of fasting.  Their were pilgrimages, and new  names  for 
      the  new  brethren.  Few of the early  Christian  "congregations" 
      would   be  called  orthodox  according  to  later  more   modern 
      standards. 
 
      Though for many years, the pagan "churches" of this area tried to 
      bring  about  a  unity  among  their  "doctrines",  beliefs,  and 
      practices  to  raise support for their practices,  the  Christian 
      philosophies and doctrines were so organized and strong that this 
      fell  as well.  Little did they know that a couple hundred  miles 
      away, peoples were still worshipping in pagan temples.
 
      Let's take a look up north.
 
      The  worship of trees goes far back into the history of man.   It 
      was  not until Christianity converted the Lithuanians toward  the 
      close of the 14th century that tree worship was thought to be  in 
      the  past.  The truth is...whereas they are not  worshiped,  they 
      are  still  honored by society today in the burning of  the  Yule 
      log, May Day bon-fires, Kissing under the Mistletoe, and the ever 
      famous Christmas tree. 
 
 
                                                                              804
 
      The worship of the oak tree or god appears to have been universal 
      by  all branches of the Aryan stock in Europe.  Both  Greeks  and 
      Italians  associated  the tree with their highest  god,  Zeus  or 
      Jupiter,  the  divinity of the sky, the rain,  and  the  thunder.  
      Possibly one of the oldest and most famous sanctuaries in  Greece 
      was  that of Dodona, where Zeus was revered in th  oracular  oak.  
      The  thunderstorms  which  are  said  to  rage  at  Dodona   more 
      frequently than anywhere else in Europe, would render the spot  a 
      fitting  home  for  the god whose voice was heard  alike  in  the 
      rustling of the oak leaves and in the crash of thunder.  
 
      Zeus  of Greece, and Jupiter of Italy both were gods  of  thunder 
      and rain, and to both the oak tree were sacred.
 
      To  the  Celts,  or Druids, their worship was  conducted  in  oak 
      groves.  The Celtic conquerors, who settled in Asia in the  third 
      century b.c., appear to have carried with them the worship of the 
      oak to their new home.  In the heart of Asia Minor, the  Galatian 
      senate  met in a place which bore the Celtic name of  Drynemetum, 
      "the sacred oak grove" or "the temple of the oak."
 
      In  Germany, we find that the veneration for sacred groves  seems 
      to  have held the foremost place.  According to Grimm, the  chief 
      of their holy trees was the oak.  Again, here we find that it  is 
      dedicated to the god of thunder, Donar or Thunar, the  equivalent 
      of  the Norse Thor. Among the Slavs, the oak tree was  sacred  to 
      the  thunder god Perun. Among the Lithuanians, the oak  tree  was 
      sacred to Perkunas or Perkuns, the god of thunder and rain. 
       
      The  Christmas  tree,  usually  a  balsam  or  douglas  fir,  was 
      decorated  with  lights  and ornaments as  a  part  of  Christmas 
      festivities.   The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and  garlands 
      as  a symbol of eternal life was an old custom of the  Egyptians, 
 
      Chinese,  and  Hebrews.   Tree worship, common  among  the  pagan 
      Europeans, survived after their conversion to Christianity in the 
      Scandinavian  customs  of  decorating the  house  and  barn  with 
      evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting 
      up a tree for the birds during Christmastide.  It survived in the 
      custom  observed  in Germany, of placing a Yule tree  inside  the 
      house in the midwinter holidays.
 
      The  modern  Christmas tree originated in Western  Germany.   The 
      main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve was a fir 
      tree  hung  with apples (the tree of Paradise)  representing  the 
      Garden  of Eden.  The Germans set up the Paradise tree  in  their 
      homes  on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam  and  Eve.  
      They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the host, the Christian  sigh 
      of redemption).  In later tradition, the wafers were replaced  by 
      cookies  of  various  shapes.  Candles were often  added  as  the 
      symbol  of Christ, though they were also a pagan symbol  for  the 
      light of the God.
 
 
                                                                              805
 
      As  we  can see, even though the pagan community  has  been  trod 
      upon,  it  was  never  destroyed.   The  date  of  Christmas  was 
      purposely  fixed on December 25 to push into the  background  the 
      great  festival of the sun god, and the Epiphany on January 5  to 
      supplant  an  Egyptian festival of the same day  and  the  Easter 
      ceremonies were set to rival the pagan spring festival. 
 
      Let's take a look at a few of the holidays and compare.
 
      As  we  can see, even though the pagan community  has  been  trod 
      upon,  it  was  never  destroyed.   The  date  of  Christmas  was 
      purposely  fixed on December 25 to push into the  background  the 
      great  festival of the sun god, and the Epiphany on January 5  to 
      supplant  an  Egyptian festival of the same day  and  the  Easter 
      ceremonies were set to rival the pagan spring festival. 
 
      Let's take a look at a few of the holidays and compare.
 
      Easter
      On Easter Sunday, everywhere, the children hunt the many  colored 
      Easter  eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit.  This is the  vestige 
      of  a  fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit  both  symbolizing 
      fertility.  The  rabbit was the escort of  the  Germanic  goddess 
      Ostara  who  gave her name to the festival by way of  the  German 
      Ostern. 
 
      The first day of Spring holds much in the way of folklore.  It is  
      also  known  as the Spring Equinox, Ostara, Eostre's  Day,  Alban 
      Eilir,  the  Vernal Equinox, or Festival of the Trees.  It  takes 
      place  between March 19 and 22.  It marks the first day  of  true 
      spring (verses the balmy weather that may precede it.)
 
      The day and night is equal on this day, thus the name of Equinox. 
      There is a story in one culture that says that the sun has  begun 
      to  win it's race with the night and that the days get longer  as 
      the sun pulls ahead. (Followed by the fact that the sun begins to 
      lose  the  race at Mid-Summer, and loses the race  at  Mid-Winter 
      just to start the race again the next day.)
 
      It  is  a time of beginnings, of action, of  planting  seeds  for 
      future grains, and of tending gardens. On the first Sunday  after 
      the  first full moon following Eostre's Day (the name from  which 
      the  Easter was derived), the Christian religion celebrates  it's 
      Easter Day.
 
      Spring  is  a time of the Earth's renewal, a  rousing  of  nature 
      after the cold sleep of winter.  As such, it is an ideal time  to 
      clean your home to welcome the new season.
 
      Spring cleaning is more than physical work.  Some cultures see it 
      as  a  concentrated  effort on their part to  rid  themselves  of 
      problems  and  negativity  of the past  months  and  tho  prepare 
      themselves for the coming spring and summer.  
 
 
                                                                              806
 
      To  do this, they approach the task of cleaning their homes  with 
      positive thoughts.  They believe that this frees the homes of the 
      hard  feelings brought about by a harsh winter. Even  then,  they 
      have  guidelines that they follow such as any scrubbing of  stains 
      or  hand  rubbing  the floors should be  done  in  a  "clockwise" 
      motion.   It is their belief that this aids in filling  the  home 
      with good energy for growth.
 
      To the Druidic faith, this is a sacred day occurring in the  month 
      of  Fearn (meaning, "I am the shining tear of the Sun"). Part  of 
      their  practices  are to clean and  rededicate  outdoor  shrines, 
      believing that in doing so they honor the spring maiden.  This  is 
      a  time  of fertility of both crops and families.   In  promoting 
      crops,  they believe that the use of fire and water (the sun  and 
      rain)  will  reanimate all life on Earth.   They  decorate  hard- 
      boiled  eggs, the symbol of rebirth, to eat during  their  rites, 
      and  such foods as honey cakes and milk punch can also be  found. 
      The  mothers and daughters give dinners for each other  and  give 
      cards and gifts as a way of merging with the natural flow of life 
      and  with each other. (The Druids consider this also as  Mother's 
      Day.)
 
      In Greek mythology, spring was the time when Persephone  returned 
      from  the  underworld (where the seed was planted in  the  barren 
      winter  months) and thus represents the seedlings of the  spring. 
      Demeter, Persephone's mother represents the fertile earth and the 
      ripened  grain of harvest since it is alleged that she is the  one 
      that  created  the need to harvest crops when  her  daughter  was 
      kidnapped  and  taken  to  the underworld.   It  was  through  an 
      arrangement that her daughter could return for 1/2 the year  that 
      Demeter allowed the crops to spring forth for that time until she 
      again went into mourning for her daughter in the fall.
 
      In some cultures, even today, the ones that continue to celebrate 
      the  rites  of  spring rise on Easter morning to  watch  the  sun 
      "Dance" as it rises.
 
      The Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Christ, 
      synchronized  with  the  Jewish Pesach,  and  blended  since  the 
      earliest  days of Christianity with pagan European rites for  the 
      renewed  season.   In all countries Easter falls  on  the  Sunday 
      after  the  first  full moon on or following  March  21.   It  is 
      preceded by a period of riotous vegetation rites and by a  period 
      of  abstinence,  Lent (in Spain Cuaresma, Germany  Lenz,  central 
      Italy, Quaresima) and by special rites of Holy Week.
 
      Everywhere  Easter  Sunday is welcomed with  rejoicing,  singing, 
      candle processionals, flowers in abundance, and ringing of church 
      bells.   Many pagan customs survive, such as the lighting of  new 
      fires  at  dawn, among the Maya as well as in Europe,  for  cure, 
      renewed life, and protection of the crops.   
 
      May Day
      The first day of May: observed as a spring festival everywhere in 
      Europe, the United States, and Canada, and as a labor festival in 
      certain European countries.  
 
 
                                                                              807
 
      Rites such as the ever famous May Pole occur in the town  squares 
      or  in the family's front yard.  The gathering of green  branches 
      and  flowers on May Eve is the symbolic act of bringing home  the 
      May, i.e. bringing new life, the spring, into the village.
 
      The  May Queen (and often King) is chosen from among  the  young 
      people, and they go singing from door to door throughout the town 
      carrying  flowers  or the May tree, soliciting  donations  for  a 
      merrymaking  in  return  for  the "blessing  of  May".   This  is 
      symbolic of bestowing and sharing of the new creative power  that 
      is stirring in the world.  As the kids go from door to door,  the 
      May Bride often sings to the effect that those who give will  get 
      of nature's bounty through the year.
 
      In parts of France, some jilted youth will lie in a field on  May 
      Day  and  pretend to sleep.  If any village girl  is  willing  to 
      marry  him, she goes and wakes him with a kiss; the pair then  go 
      to  the village inn together and lead the dance  which  announces 
      their engagement.  The boy is called "the betrothed of May."
 
      This  festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May  Day.  It 
      officially  begins  at  moonrise on May Day Eve,  and  marks  the 
      beginning  of  the third quarter or second half  of  the  ancient 
      Celtic  year.   It is celebrated as an  early  pastoral  festival 
      accompanying the first turning of the herds out to wild  pasture.  
      The  rituals  were held to promote fertility.   The  cattle  were 
      driven  between the Belfires to protect them from ills.   Contact 
      with the fire was interpreted as symbolic contact with the sun.  
 
      The  rowan  branch  is hung over the house fire  on  May  Day  to 
      preserve  the fire itself from bewitchment (the house fire  being 
      symbolic of the luck of the house. 
 
      In early Celtic times, the druids kindled the Beltane fires  with 
      specific incantations.  Later the Christian church took over  the 
      Beltane  observances, a service was held in the church,  followed 
      by a procession to the fields or hills, where the priest  kindled 
      the fire.
 
      In some rituals, a King and Queen May symbolize the male and female 
      principles of productivity. 
 
      We  have looked briefly at the similarities of  the  philosophies 
      and vocabularies, but is that all that they had in common?  Let's 
      look at symbologies.
 
      For  many years, the cross has been the symbol  representing  the 
      death  of the Christian Christ.  It has represented that  through 
      his  death, man could be reborn into God's grace.  Thus, we  have 
      the  philosophy  of life in death being connected to  the  cross.  
      Is  this the only time where this symbol was recognized as  such?  
      Let's go back to Egypt and find out.
 
      An upright piece of wood, tied to a horizontal beam indicated the 
      height  of  the  flood waters on the Nile.  This  beam  formed  a 
      cross.   If  the  waters  failed to rise  during  the  season  of 
      planting,  it  meant a poor harvest for these people.   Thus  the 
      cross was revered as a symbol of life and regeneration. 
 
 
                                                                              808
 
      The Ankh represents the genitals of both sexes.  The cross itself 
      is  a  primitive form of the phallus, and the loop  that  of  the 
      womb. Again, we continue the symbol of the cross as the giver  of 
      life.
 
      Oh  my gosh...did I use the word phallus in connection  with  the 
      cross?  Oops!  
 
      Yes...even  prior  to  this time was the cross a  symbol  of  the 
      phallus  or  fertility.   This is not the  only  thing  that  the 
      phallus has symbolized over the many centuries within and without 
      the pagan world.  It has also been used as a symbol of strength.
 
      Within the Bible, we find several references to the horn also  as 
      a  symbol of strength.
 
      2 Samuel 22:3 - He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation.
      Luke 1:69 - And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us.
      Psalm 18:2 - He is my shield and the horn of my salvation.
 
      The move from horn to helmet is followed up also in the bible  as 
      follows:
      Isaiah 59:17 - For he put an helmet of salvation upon his head.
      Ephesians 6:17 - Take the helmet of salvation.
      1  Thessalonians  5:8  -  ...putting  on  faith  and  love  as  a 
      breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 
 
      In  Roman days a warrior would were horns on his helmet.   If  he 
      came back defeated, he was said to have been dehorned.  There are 
      several  references  where a soldier who lost his helmet  on  the 
      field  was killed for this offense because it meant dishonor  for 
      him to loose his horn.
 
      Shakespeare had much knowledge of the use of horns as a symbol of 
      protection  and victory as is evident in his works "As  You  Like 
      It" (IV,2) and in "Measure for Measure" (II,4:16) when he writes: 
      "Let's  write  good  angell on the devill's horne;  tis  not  the 
      devill's crest." 
 
      Even  in modern days, the Catholic Church uses this  symbol  when 
      setting  the mitre upon the head of a newly  consecrated  bishop.  
      The  words used at such a time are: "We set on the head  of  this 
      Bishop,  O  Lord,  Thy champion, the helmet  of  defense  and  of 
      salvation, that with comely face and with his head armed with the 
      horns  of  either  Testament  he  may  appear  terrible  to   the 
      gainsayers of the truth, and may become their vigorous assailant, 
      through  the abundant gift of Thy grace, who didst make the  face 
      of Thy servant Moses to shine after familiar converse with  Thee, 
      and  didst adorn it with the resplendent horns of Thy  brightness 
      and Thy truth and commandedst the mitre to be set on the head  of 
      Aaron,  Thy high priest, Etc..." (Copies in Latin and  translated 
      can be found in The Order Consecration of a Bishop Elect with the 
      imprimatur  of H. Card. Vaughn, p. 14, Burns and Oates, 1893.)  
 
 
                                                                              809
 
      If  we are looking at protections and the like, we must  look  at 
      the  use of stones and crystals within our lives.  Yes,  even  in 
      the Christian bible, the powers and uses of stones is  mentioned. 
      Exodus  28:15-21 - "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions  - 
      the  work  of a skilled craftsman.  MAke it like  the  ephod:  of 
      gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted 
      linen.  It is to be square - a span (9 inches) wide - and  folded 
      double.   Then mount four rows of precious stones on it.  In  the 
      first  row  there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a  beryl;  in  the 
      second  row  a  turquoise, a sapphire (or lapis  lazuli)  and  an 
      emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in 
      the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper.  Mount them in 
      gold  filigree settings.  There are to be twelve stones, one  for 
      each  of  the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved  like  a 
      seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes."
 
      Exodus  28:9-14  - Take two onyx stones and engrave  on  the  
      names  of  the sons of Israel in the order of their birth  -  six 
      names  on one stone and the remaining six on the other.   Engrave 
      the  names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a  gem 
      cutter  engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in  gold  filigree 
      settings  and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod  as 
      memorial  stones  for the sons of Israel.  Aaron is to  bear  the 
      names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord.  Make  gold 
      filigree  settings  and two braided chains of pure gold,  like  a 
      rope, and attach the chains to the settings. 
 
      Though it does not say as much, we might take the engraving as  a 
      form of runes, again creating a similarity between the craft  and 
      religions of old.
 
      From  man's search for protection, we come to the telling by  the 
      stars...Astrology, and the use of stars as protectors of man.
 
      The  lore behind the star of David is an interesting  tale.   The 
      easy interpretation is that of Zionism.  The more research you do 
      on  this though, you will find that once again, depending on  the 
      cultures  you  look at, it's interpretation  changes.   The  six-
      pointed  star  formed  by the superimposing of  one  triangle  on 
      another.  The symbol is a combination of the male (apex  upwards) 
      and female (apex downwards) triangles;  it is said, in cabalistic 
      writings, to comprise the signs of the four elements and the four 
      letters of the Tetragrammaton, and thus it came to be the  symbol 
      for God.  Since the Biblical commandment puts a taboo on the  use 
      of  the Name of God and on the depiction of God, the  symbol  was 
      inscribed as the graphic representation of God in synagogues  and 
      wherever the Name was appropriate.  In alchemy, the star of David 
      combined  the  symbols  for  fire  and  water;  hence,  it  meant 
      distillation.   Until recently, therefore, it appeared  on  shops 
      selling  brandy.  The star of David is the symbol of Zionism  and 
      appears  on the flag of Israel.  As Solomon's seal, the  hexagram 
      possessed  power to control demons of all kinds.  The stopper  on 
      the  bottle containing the bottle imp or jinni was  stamped  with 
      the  seal  of Solomon.  In the Nsibidi script of West  Africa,  a 
      native  form  of  writing,  the symbol  means  ardent  love;  the 
      universality  of  the  male-female content of the  sign  is  here 
      apparent. 
 
 
                                                                              810
 
      Astrology also has interesting roots.  Though the word itself  is 
      made  up of the Greek words meaning "star logic" (astra  -  star, 
      Logos  - logic), the actual origin is yet to be  determined.   We 
      read  in the Epic of Creation of Sumer - Akkad, or Early  Babylon 
      (ca  2200-1900  B.C.)  that:  "The  Star  -  Jupiter  who  brings 
      prophecies  to all is my Lord.  My Lord be at peace.  The Star  - 
      Mercury  allows rain to fall. The Star - Saturn, the star of  Law 
      and Justice..."
 
      The  telling  of fortunes by the stars underwent an  avid  growth 
      spurt during the times of the Roman Empire, and though with minor 
      qualms with the Christian church, it co-existed peacefully  until 
      the  time  of  Constantine  when  all  "pagan"  activities   were 
      outlawed.  Though  outlawed within the  Roman  Empire,  Astrology 
      continued to thrive within the Middle East.
 
      I  realize that I said that I would touch on the inquisition  and 
      such,  however, I think that it is common knowledge the  document 
      used to persecute those involved was written by the Friars within 
      the  Catholic  Church  at the time.  The  document,  The  Malleus 
      Maleficarum,  was a document designed to bring about fear  within 
      the  Christian community, and more power to the church.  What  is 
      not widely realized is that the majority of the persons that were 
      either burned, drowned, or hung were not witches, but Protestants 
      within the Christian church.  (The ones that were Protesting  the 
      Catholic church.)
 
      I realize that, at this time, this is a rather sketchy  document. 
      I hope in the near future to be able to take the time to  develop 
      more  of  the depth that I would like to put into  bring  up  our 
      roots.  I  hope to include in the expanded edition the  times  of 
      burning,  modern witchcraft, more symbols, and famous persons  in 
      the craft.
 
      We've  changed...but  then as a good friend has told me  on  more 
      than  one occasion..."When we cease to change, we cease to  grow.  
      When we cease to grow, life ends."
 
 
                                                                              811
 
                                Bibliography
 
      The Golden Bough - Frazer, Sir James George, Macmillan Publishing 
                Co., NY, NY  c 1922
 
      Witchcraft The Old Religion - Martello
 
      Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and 
      Legend
 
      The History of Witchcraft - Russell, Jeffrey B., c 1980
 
      Encyclopedia Britanica - 1986
 
      The Holy Bible (New International Version)
 
      Under the Spell of the Zodiac - Mark Graubard
 
      Alchemy: Origin or Origins? - H. J. Sheppard, AMBIX, July 1970
 
      Magic, Supernaturalism, and Religion - Seligmann c 1948
 
 
                                                                              812
 


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