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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
CANDLES
Candleshavebeenusedfor
morenaturallightinginritual
work as well as focal points and concentration aids for centuries.
Each different color has a different meaning for both internal and
external uses. Here are a list of uses put together by Charles
Butler.
Outer Works Inner Works
RED:ENERGY RED:COURAGE
ORANGE:GENEROSITY ORANGE:PLENTY
YELLOW:THE UNKNOWN YELLOW:CENTERING
GREEN:PROSPERITY GREEN:HEALING
BLUE:LOVE BLUE:EMOTIONS
PURPLE:INSPIRATION PURPLE:SPIRIT
PINK:REVELATION PINK:JOY
BURGUNDY:PASSION BURGUNDY:REKINDLING
BLACK:COMFORT BLACK:AUTHORITY
WHITE:VISION WHITE:PROTECTION
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GREEK FIRE INITIATION
Cast of Characters
Tiresias:____________
Hephaestus:____________
Artemis:____________
Apollo:____________
Hestia:____________
Prometheus:____________
Seeker:____________
Incastingthecircle,whencalling theQuartersyouare
free to use your own words but we ask that you use Greek styling and
personify with the names of the four Greek winds:
North: Boreus
East: Eurus
South: Notus
West: Zephyrus
Tiresiasseatednorthofaltarrises,goesaroundtoface
altar, and invokes God and Goddess in a Greek style using these two
triumverates:
GOD
Zeus: Strength
Hades: Knowledge
Poseidon: Emotion
GODDESS
Hera: Power
Athena: Wisdom
Aphrodite: Love
He then stepback andsays: "We havebeen calledforth fromthe
edges of Time and Space by one who seeks entry to the Halls of
Olympus. I am Tiresias, Prophet of Thebes, who, though blind, shall
be his guide. Seeker, come forth!"
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Seeker approaches circle at north-east point of Circle.
Tiresias: "Who seeks entry to Olympus?"
Seeker: "I, __________.
Tiresias: "Beforeyou enter,gaze uponone whosought whatwas
not rightfully his. Do you still desire entry?"
Seeker replies.
Tiresias: (If no,he leaves and circleis closed. Ifyes):
"Then enter and ask passage of the Guardians of the Gods."
Seeker enters and they travel 1 1/8 to North.
Tiresias: "Hail, MightyHephaestus, Craftsman of the Gods.
With me is one who seeks entry to Olympus."
Hephaestus: "How are you known, Seeker?"
Seeker: "I am called __________."
Hephaestus:"By whatright seekyoupassage throughthe North?"
Seeker: "I haveendured ayear of thepath ofEarth andlearned
of my own mortality."
Hephaestus: "Pass with the Blessings of the Earth."
They travel around 1 1/4 to East.
Tiresias: "Hail,Vigilant Artemis,Virgin Goddess. Withme is
one who seeks entry to Olympus."
Artemis: "How are you known, Seeker?"
Seeker: "I am called __________."
Artemis: "By what right seek you passage through the East?"
Seeker: "I have endured a year of the path of Airand have
learned the need for focus of will."
Artemis: "Pass with the Blessings of the Air."
They travel around 1 1/4 to South.
Tiresias: "Hail, Bright Apollo, Lordof the Sun. With me is
one who seeks entry to Olympus."
Apollo: "How are you known, Seeker?"
Seeker: "I am called __________."
Apollo: "By what right seek you passage through the South?"
Seeker has no answer.
Apollo: "Youhave not yetearned theright topass through the
South. To win this right, you must seek Fire from he
who first gave it to Mankind, Prometheus. Tiresias, guard
him upon his path of Fire that he learn what he needs to
face the Titan."
They travel around 1 1/2 to North.
Tiresias: "Icome with __________, whonow seeks Prometheus
that he may gain the right to Fire. What can you teach
him that will ease his path?"
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Hephaestus: "Knowthat Iam Hephaestus,Craftsman andSmith of
the Gods. In my labors, I use Fire as a purifying
agent, seperating the metal from the stone, and
for the actual forging of my Art. But remember that
creativity requires forethought. Daedalus w a s a
Master of my Craft, yet rarely considered t h e
implications of his creations. He created the
Labyrinth of Minos, who then imprisoned him within i t s
intricacies. He crafted wing that he and his s o n
might escape, yet in their flight Icarus died.
Always consider the consequences of the which you
create."
They travel 1 1/4 around to East.
Tiresias: "I come with __________,who now seeks Prometheus
that he may gain the right to Fire. What can you teach
him that will ease his path?"
Artemis: "Knowthat I amArtemis, VirginHuntress. Through my
will, no man has ever known me. Yet will must be
tempered by intellegence. Remember Otus and
Ephialtes, twin giants who were arrogant enough to think
themselves better than the Gods. They continued their
ill-wrought plans, even after Poseidon warned
them. Through supposed desire, they chose to pursue
me. They seperated in pursuit of what they saw as a
white hind, and, with simultaneous throws, slew each
other. Thus blind will caused the death of all they
truly loved."
They travel 1 1/4 around to the South
Tiresias: "Icome with __________, whonow seeks Prometheus
that he may gain the right to Fire. What can you teach
him that will ease his path?"
Apollo: "Know thatI am Apollo, Godof the Sun andKeeper of
Knowledge. Knowledge of Fire has allowed Man to forge
a civilization. But seeking to advance without
can lead to catastrophe. Witness Phaethon, who
attempted to drive the Sun Chariot without proper
knowledge, nearly causing the incineration of the
Earth. Action without knowledge will often lead to
ruin."
They travel around 1 1/4 to the West.
Tiresias: "I come with__________, who now seeks Prometheus
that he may gain the right to Fire. What can you teach
him that will ease his path?"
Hestia: "Know that I amHestia, Goddess of Hearthand Home.
The warm glow of emotion in balance is vital for
proper growth and life. But when emotions are
allowed to rule above all else, tragedy is soon to
follow. Consider Paris, who upon seeing Helen, bowed
to an all-consuming desire for her, kidnapping her
without thought of the consequences. Thus began the
Trojan War. Do not bury your emotions, but
neither should you elevate them to the level of
Ruler.
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Theytravel 1 3/4around to theSouth. Tiresiasalone goes to
altar and faces Seeker.
Tiresias: "Seeker,are youprepared toface Prometheushimself
with your request?"
Seeker: "I am."
Tiresias: "Then come forward and call him forth."
Seeker goes to altar facing North.
Seeker: "From the depths of Time, I call you forth. Arise
Prometheus, Lightbringer."
Fromwithinthe membersin theCircle,Prometheus risesand goes
to north side of altar.
Prometheus: "I am Prometheus. Who summons me here?"
Seeker: "I am __________."
Prometheus: "Why haveyou brought me herefrom the depths of
Time?"
Seeker: "I seek the Gift of Fire."
Prometheus: "And by what right do you ask it?
Seeker: "By the right of perfect love and perfect trust."
Prometheus: "Thenknow thatyou are wellmet. I willgrant you
Fire and its path for a year and a day that you
might learn its lessons. The most important
lesson it can teach you is the need for thought
before action of any kind. You must always consider
the consequences of all that you do or say. At the
end of your time on this path, you will be judged
on your fitness to continue your search."
Prometheus gives Seeker a token of Fire.
Prometheus: "With my service done, I bid you farewell."
Prometheus leaves, blending into Circle.
Tiresias: "Welldone, mostnoble Seeker.Pleasejoin usfor the
remainder of our revels."
Seekeris given seatin Circle. Tiresias faces frontof altar
and dismisses Deities using Greek styling and the following names:
GOD
Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon
GODDESS
Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite
Each Quarter dismisses its element in a Greek style and
dismisses the appropriate Wind:
NORTH: Boreas
EAST: Eurus
SOUTH: Notus
WEST: Zephyrus
Tiresias: "Our workis completed fornow. Letus rejoice and
enjoy this company, remembering that though we may go our seperate
ways, we are alway united as one. Merry meet, merry part, and merry
meet again!"
GREEK FIRE INITIATION
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Seeker's Copy
Seeker approachescircle atnorth-east pointof Circle when
summoned.
Seeker: "I, __________.
Seeker replies to question.
Seeker enters and they travel 1 1/8 to North.
Seeker: "I am called __________."
Seeker: "I haveendured ayear of thepath ofEarth andlearned
of my own mortality."
They travel around 1 1/4 to East.
Seeker: "I am called __________."
Seeker: "I have endured a year of the pathof Air and have
learned the need for focus of will."
They travel around 1 1/4 to South.
Seeker: "I am called __________."
Seeker has no answer.
They travel around 1 1/2 to North.
They travel 1 1/4 around to East.
They travel 1 1/4 around to the South
They travel around 1 1/4 to the West.
They travel 13/4 aroundto theSouth. Tiresiasalone goesto
altar and faces Seeker.
Seeker: "I am."
Seeker goes to altar facing North.
Seeker: "From the depths ofTime, I call you forth. Arise
Prometheus, Lightbringer."
Seeker: "I am __________."
Seeker: "I seek the Gift of Fire."
Seeker: "By the right of perfect love and perfect trust."
Seeker is given seat in Circle.
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