Shemot
וַיֹּאמֶר הַשְׁלִיכֵהוּ אַרְצָה, וַיַּשְׁלִכֵהוּ אַרְצָה וַיְהִי לְנָחָשׁ; וַיָּנָס מֹשֶׁה, מִפָּנָיו
And He said: 'Cast it on the ground.' And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it ... Shemot 4:3
Moses fled.
Snake is a totem of Divine Feminine power, of Goddess. Importantly, Snake magic is heavy magic, and not for the weak minded. Snake medicine witches and magicians are those whose experiences involve contact with poisons (physical, emotional and spiritual) and the transmutation and transformation of those poisons into something extraordinarily beautiful. As Snake swallows its food whole, so too do Snake witches take in Wisdom and Understanding with wholeness to create perfect Knowledge.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Tribes Of My Soul
Vayechi
וְשָׁכַבְתִּי, עִם-אֲבֹתַי, וּנְשָׂאתַנִי מִמִּצְרַיִם, וּקְבַרְתַּנִי בִּקְבֻרָתָם
But when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place.' Genesis/Bereshit 47:30
In this week's Torah portion, Jacob asks Joseph to bury him in the cavern cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan/Israel when he "sleeps with the Ancestors."
It is significant to my experience that Jacob considers it a significant event when one "sleeps with the Ancestors" as I "slept with the Ancestors" this past week in my dream as described in the entry In Our Likeness. Like Jacob, I slept with my Ancestors and found myself buried in the cavern cave of the Tor in the land of England/Taliesin. [Taliesin represents the greater Celtic Druidic tradition as Israel represents the greater Jewish Torah tradition.]
Akhenaten Goddess Form
Interestingly, in my dream as I slept with the Ancestors like Jacob, I was presented specifically with five souls, like was Pharaoh in last week's Torah portion (where Pharaoh represents the Divine Feminine archetypal messianic figure according to Judaic tradition). [Similarly like Pharaoh is associated with the Divine Feminine in Jewish tradition, in Celtic tradition, the archetypal messianic figure of King Arthur is protected and carried under the banner of the Divine Feminine. Similarly to Celtic tradition, the messianic figure of ancient Egyptian tradition, Pharaoh Akhenaten - the Pharaoh associated with the historical person of Moses - is depicted in stone with the Goddess shape of a woman.] At the end of last week's Torah portion, in the beginning of perek (chapter) 47 (the perek from which the above Hebrew phrase for this week's Torah portion is taken) it is written (Bereshit 47:2):
וּמִקְצֵה אֶחָיו, לָקַח חֲמִשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים; וַיַּצִּגֵם, לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה
And from among [the souls of] his kindred he [Joseph] took five souls, and presented them unto Pharaoh.
In my experience as it pertains to the Torah portions of this chapter as it unfolds in my life, as I slept among my Ancestors like Jacob, I was specifically presented with five ancestral archetypal souls like Pharaoh, namely:
Gwion/Taliesin - pan-Celtic
Ceridwen - Welsh
Boann - Irish
Jacob/Israel - pan-Jewish/Hebrew
Joseph - Hebrew/Egyptian
This week's Torah portion confirms that I, Pharaoh, as it pertains to my Jewish ancestry, am a daughter of Jacob. This week's Torah portion also confirms in parallel with my Avalonian pathworking that I am a daughter of both Taliesin and Israel. Most specifically (tribally) and holistically (pan-clans), I am a daughter of the five archetypal Ancestral soul types as written above. These five archetypal soul roots are the primary root "tribes" of my soul. I am primarily made from both the pan-Celtic and pan-Jewish folksouls. Among these folksouls, my primary tribes are those of the peoples of Ceridwen (Welsh), Boann (Irish) and Joseph (Hebrew/Egyptian).
These five archetypal soul roots come together in me to form the five Ladies of Avalon, the witch's pentalpha, and the magical Hebrew letter hei (ה), to transform the word Tor (תור) into Torah (תורה).
In relationship of the physical and spiritual realities of the Glastonbury Tor of my Celtic ancestors to the Torah pasuk (לה verse) corresponding to my Hebrew name, Liorah (ליאורה), it is written:
It is not in the heavens, that I should say, who can go up and get it for me that I may observe it. לה Devarim 30:12
ל א בשמים, הוא: לאמר, מי יעלה-לנו השמימה ויקחה לנו, וישמענו א תה, ונעשנה
Magical Mystical Glastonbury Tor
וְשָׁכַבְתִּי, עִם-אֲבֹתַי, וּנְשָׂאתַנִי מִמִּצְרַיִם, וּקְבַרְתַּנִי בִּקְבֻרָתָם
But when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place.' Genesis/Bereshit 47:30
In this week's Torah portion, Jacob asks Joseph to bury him in the cavern cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan/Israel when he "sleeps with the Ancestors."
It is significant to my experience that Jacob considers it a significant event when one "sleeps with the Ancestors" as I "slept with the Ancestors" this past week in my dream as described in the entry In Our Likeness. Like Jacob, I slept with my Ancestors and found myself buried in the cavern cave of the Tor in the land of England/Taliesin. [Taliesin represents the greater Celtic Druidic tradition as Israel represents the greater Jewish Torah tradition.]
Akhenaten Goddess FormInterestingly, in my dream as I slept with the Ancestors like Jacob, I was presented specifically with five souls, like was Pharaoh in last week's Torah portion (where Pharaoh represents the Divine Feminine archetypal messianic figure according to Judaic tradition). [Similarly like Pharaoh is associated with the Divine Feminine in Jewish tradition, in Celtic tradition, the archetypal messianic figure of King Arthur is protected and carried under the banner of the Divine Feminine. Similarly to Celtic tradition, the messianic figure of ancient Egyptian tradition, Pharaoh Akhenaten - the Pharaoh associated with the historical person of Moses - is depicted in stone with the Goddess shape of a woman.] At the end of last week's Torah portion, in the beginning of perek (chapter) 47 (the perek from which the above Hebrew phrase for this week's Torah portion is taken) it is written (Bereshit 47:2):
וּמִקְצֵה אֶחָיו, לָקַח חֲמִשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים; וַיַּצִּגֵם, לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה
And from among [the souls of] his kindred he [Joseph] took five souls, and presented them unto Pharaoh.
In my experience as it pertains to the Torah portions of this chapter as it unfolds in my life, as I slept among my Ancestors like Jacob, I was specifically presented with five ancestral archetypal souls like Pharaoh, namely:
Gwion/Taliesin - pan-Celtic
Ceridwen - Welsh
Boann - Irish
Jacob/Israel - pan-Jewish/Hebrew
Joseph - Hebrew/Egyptian
This week's Torah portion confirms that I, Pharaoh, as it pertains to my Jewish ancestry, am a daughter of Jacob. This week's Torah portion also confirms in parallel with my Avalonian pathworking that I am a daughter of both Taliesin and Israel. Most specifically (tribally) and holistically (pan-clans), I am a daughter of the five archetypal Ancestral soul types as written above. These five archetypal soul roots are the primary root "tribes" of my soul. I am primarily made from both the pan-Celtic and pan-Jewish folksouls. Among these folksouls, my primary tribes are those of the peoples of Ceridwen (Welsh), Boann (Irish) and Joseph (Hebrew/Egyptian).
These five archetypal soul roots come together in me to form the five Ladies of Avalon, the witch's pentalpha, and the magical Hebrew letter hei (ה), to transform the word Tor (תור) into Torah (תורה).
In relationship of the physical and spiritual realities of the Glastonbury Tor of my Celtic ancestors to the Torah pasuk (לה verse) corresponding to my Hebrew name, Liorah (ליאורה), it is written:
It is not in the heavens, that I should say, who can go up and get it for me that I may observe it. לה Devarim 30:12
ל א בשמים, הוא: לאמר, מי יעלה-לנו השמימה ויקחה לנו, וישמענו א תה, ונעשנה
Magical Mystical Glastonbury Tor
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Dance of the Dragons
Vayigash
וְנַפְשׁוֹ, קְשׁוּרָה בְנַפְשׁוֹ
seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad's soul ... Bereshit 44:30
In Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, Joseph and Jacob represent the Moon (Yesod) and the Sun (Tiferet) respectively. The Hebrew phrase in this week's Torah portion ~ "seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad's soul" ~ points us to the idea of the unification of these Divine Emanations as it pertains to the Divine Masculine mysteries of Jewish tradition.
Similarly, in the Divine Feminine mysteries of Celtic tradition (under whose banner the messianic archetype of King Arthur finds reunification and enduring immutable support), there is an idea of unification of the Sun (Tiferet) and the Earth (Malchut) in the Druidic teaching regarding the two Dragon eggs hidden together within a singular Willow Tree. This mystery found itself introduced to me among my dreams this past week - Cryptic Message for My Sisters and Brothers.
Reunification of the Divine Feminine Tiferet and Malchut was enacted and revealed to me as described in follow-up entries to the cryptic message dream - My Guide Heulwen and Hwylwen-Heulwen and the Unified Collective Celtic Folksoul. As described in the latter linked entry:
That this reunification within myself of my personal dream (Yesod) and acting (Malchut) consciousnesses with my Celtic Folksoul (via the unification of Tiferet and Malchut within the sacred Willow tree representing the doubled Ogam letter "Saille Saille") within the context of the Divine Feminine mysteries of Celtic Avalon occurred in synchronicity with this week's Torah portion discussing the unification of Tiferet and Yesod via the tradition of my Jewish Ancestors, it is clear to me that there is no disharmony within me between the traditions of both my Celtic and Jewish Ancestral birthrights and inheritances.
Blessed be Goddess doubly for bringing me to this day!
וְנַפְשׁוֹ, קְשׁוּרָה בְנַפְשׁוֹ
seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad's soul ... Bereshit 44:30
In Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, Joseph and Jacob represent the Moon (Yesod) and the Sun (Tiferet) respectively. The Hebrew phrase in this week's Torah portion ~ "seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad's soul" ~ points us to the idea of the unification of these Divine Emanations as it pertains to the Divine Masculine mysteries of Jewish tradition.
Similarly, in the Divine Feminine mysteries of Celtic tradition (under whose banner the messianic archetype of King Arthur finds reunification and enduring immutable support), there is an idea of unification of the Sun (Tiferet) and the Earth (Malchut) in the Druidic teaching regarding the two Dragon eggs hidden together within a singular Willow Tree. This mystery found itself introduced to me among my dreams this past week - Cryptic Message for My Sisters and Brothers.
Reunification of the Divine Feminine Tiferet and Malchut was enacted and revealed to me as described in follow-up entries to the cryptic message dream - My Guide Heulwen and Hwylwen-Heulwen and the Unified Collective Celtic Folksoul. As described in the latter linked entry:
Hwyl is to the Celtic folksoul as Achdut is to the Jewish folksoul - both terms refer to a unified collective folksoul. My Hwylwen represents my enduring immutable connection to the Celtic folksoul - this is so very exciting to me! My Guide not only represents my Avalonian High Priestess-Goddess self, She also represents my Celtic birthright and Place as both a Timeless Ancestor among and Descendant of the collective Celtic Folksoul.
That this reunification within myself of my personal dream (Yesod) and acting (Malchut) consciousnesses with my Celtic Folksoul (via the unification of Tiferet and Malchut within the sacred Willow tree representing the doubled Ogam letter "Saille Saille") within the context of the Divine Feminine mysteries of Celtic Avalon occurred in synchronicity with this week's Torah portion discussing the unification of Tiferet and Yesod via the tradition of my Jewish Ancestors, it is clear to me that there is no disharmony within me between the traditions of both my Celtic and Jewish Ancestral birthrights and inheritances.
Blessed be Goddess doubly for bringing me to this day!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Dream Mistress on the Art of Reconciliation
Miketz
וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-יוֹסֵף, חֲלוֹם חָלַמְתִּי
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'I have dreamed a dream' ... Bereshit 41:15
Pharaoh's dream consisted of a series of two seemingly opposite conditions - one with well fed kine and another with malnourished kine. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream sequentially and without any real insight, such that both conditions happened upon Pharaoh's kingdom.
The truth of the dream, however, is not one of fortune telling, as Joseph told it out to be. Pharaoh's dream actually indicated an inner disunity between good and evil. In other words, good and evil were not reconciled within Pharaoh into that mystical third condition which is more powerful than either goodness or evil alone. Had Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream with the insight of Goddess, ultimately leading Pharaoh to reconcile good and evil into that third mystical condition, history may have turned out much differently ... there may have been no subsequent enslavement of the Hebrews and no need for a Moshe or his God to rescue the Hebrews out of it. Joseph personally prospered from his interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, but his people (both the Hebrews and the Egyptians) surely did not - neither the Hebrews who were later enslaved nor the Egyptians who suffered for enslaving them. For in reality, the Hebrews and the Egyptians are one people, the children of Goddess.
Related entries on the art of reconciliation:
The Grim Adventures of CHUD and Myfanwy
CHUD - The Face of My Worst Fear?
וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-יוֹסֵף, חֲלוֹם חָלַמְתִּי
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'I have dreamed a dream' ... Bereshit 41:15
Pharaoh's dream consisted of a series of two seemingly opposite conditions - one with well fed kine and another with malnourished kine. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream sequentially and without any real insight, such that both conditions happened upon Pharaoh's kingdom.
The truth of the dream, however, is not one of fortune telling, as Joseph told it out to be. Pharaoh's dream actually indicated an inner disunity between good and evil. In other words, good and evil were not reconciled within Pharaoh into that mystical third condition which is more powerful than either goodness or evil alone. Had Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream with the insight of Goddess, ultimately leading Pharaoh to reconcile good and evil into that third mystical condition, history may have turned out much differently ... there may have been no subsequent enslavement of the Hebrews and no need for a Moshe or his God to rescue the Hebrews out of it. Joseph personally prospered from his interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, but his people (both the Hebrews and the Egyptians) surely did not - neither the Hebrews who were later enslaved nor the Egyptians who suffered for enslaving them. For in reality, the Hebrews and the Egyptians are one people, the children of Goddess.
Related entries on the art of reconciliation:
The Grim Adventures of CHUD and Myfanwy
CHUD - The Face of My Worst Fear?
Saturday, November 27, 2010
The Sacred Land's Green Mantle
Vayeshev
וַיְהִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר-בָּא יוֹסֵף אֶל-אֶחָיו; וַיַּפְשִׁיטוּ אֶת-יוֹסֵף אֶת-כֻּתָּנְתּוֹ, אֶת-כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colours that was on him ... Bereshit 37:23
Joseph's father gave him a mantle of many colors. Joseph was stripped naked of this mantle by his brothers.
Excerpt from the Ballad of Tam Lin -
"And then I'll be your ain true-love,
I'll turn a naked knight,
Then cover me wi your green mantle,
And hide me out o sight."
As I wrote in Seven Measures and the Magical Eight, in Celtic Traditional Witchcraft, the sacred number seven represents the standard metaphysical Otherworld measure marking the transformation period from one state into another, from death to regeneration, and from dwelling in the Underworld Faery Land to re-emergence and mystical merging with the Mystery of the Sacred Land Itself. Seven encodes the Otherworld mystery of total Regeneration.
After spending "seven measures" in the Underworld Faery Land, one is said to re-emerge "coated or dressed in green," like Tam Lin re-emerged wearing a Lady's green mantle in the mythic Ballad of Tam Lin and as Queen Esther (of the Biblical book of Esther) was said to have had green skin in Hebrew mythology (as recorded in Midrash).
While patriarchy may give a man a mantle of many colors, it must be stripped from him, leaving him a naked knight to be covered by the green mantle of his true wife. This is a Mystery of the Sacred Land.
וַיְהִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר-בָּא יוֹסֵף אֶל-אֶחָיו; וַיַּפְשִׁיטוּ אֶת-יוֹסֵף אֶת-כֻּתָּנְתּוֹ, אֶת-כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colours that was on him ... Bereshit 37:23
Joseph's father gave him a mantle of many colors. Joseph was stripped naked of this mantle by his brothers.
Excerpt from the Ballad of Tam Lin -
"And then I'll be your ain true-love,
I'll turn a naked knight,
Then cover me wi your green mantle,
And hide me out o sight."
As I wrote in Seven Measures and the Magical Eight, in Celtic Traditional Witchcraft, the sacred number seven represents the standard metaphysical Otherworld measure marking the transformation period from one state into another, from death to regeneration, and from dwelling in the Underworld Faery Land to re-emergence and mystical merging with the Mystery of the Sacred Land Itself. Seven encodes the Otherworld mystery of total Regeneration.
After spending "seven measures" in the Underworld Faery Land, one is said to re-emerge "coated or dressed in green," like Tam Lin re-emerged wearing a Lady's green mantle in the mythic Ballad of Tam Lin and as Queen Esther (of the Biblical book of Esther) was said to have had green skin in Hebrew mythology (as recorded in Midrash).
While patriarchy may give a man a mantle of many colors, it must be stripped from him, leaving him a naked knight to be covered by the green mantle of his true wife. This is a Mystery of the Sacred Land.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Lilith
Vayishlach
וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב, לְבַדּוֹ; וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ, עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day ... Bereshit 22:25
Like Jacob who wrestled with his darkness, so too is Lilith one who embraces Her Darkness.
The epitome of feminine power and enduring strength, possessor par excellence of sacred female wisdom, LILITH is the legendary first wife of Adam who refused to take second place to him in the scheme of manifest reality as did Eve (who was later created from Adam's side to be a helper to him). Like Adam and unlike Eve, LILITH's body was formed directly from the Sacred Land, from dust of the Earth. LILITH, with Wisdom understands the necessity of balancing dark magic and light magic to integrate and create a third reality greater than either darkness or light alone. Eve, cleaving only to white magic, couldn't understand this.
Handcrafted with premium certified kosher soy wax and pure cotton wick, this exquisite boldly red LILITH ritual altar spell candle is dedicated toward helping you to draw out wisdom and understanding, achieve holistic balance, integrate your darkness and light, actualize the full extent of your Sacred Feminine power and perform Sacred Land magic blessed with energy of the Goddess who Herself sprang from the Earth equal to the Divine Masculine Power. LILITH is generously scented with Vetiver and adorned with a red rhinestone jewel and an antiqued bronze Wisdom Owl charm hung on black satiny ribbon.
Measures 2" x 3".
וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב, לְבַדּוֹ; וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ, עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day ... Bereshit 22:25
Like Jacob who wrestled with his darkness, so too is Lilith one who embraces Her Darkness.
The epitome of feminine power and enduring strength, possessor par excellence of sacred female wisdom, LILITH is the legendary first wife of Adam who refused to take second place to him in the scheme of manifest reality as did Eve (who was later created from Adam's side to be a helper to him). Like Adam and unlike Eve, LILITH's body was formed directly from the Sacred Land, from dust of the Earth. LILITH, with Wisdom understands the necessity of balancing dark magic and light magic to integrate and create a third reality greater than either darkness or light alone. Eve, cleaving only to white magic, couldn't understand this.
Handcrafted with premium certified kosher soy wax and pure cotton wick, this exquisite boldly red LILITH ritual altar spell candle is dedicated toward helping you to draw out wisdom and understanding, achieve holistic balance, integrate your darkness and light, actualize the full extent of your Sacred Feminine power and perform Sacred Land magic blessed with energy of the Goddess who Herself sprang from the Earth equal to the Divine Masculine Power. LILITH is generously scented with Vetiver and adorned with a red rhinestone jewel and an antiqued bronze Wisdom Owl charm hung on black satiny ribbon.
Measures 2" x 3".
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Ancestral Ladder
Vayetzei
וַיַּחֲלֹם, וְהִנֵּה סֻלָּם מֻצָּב אַרְצָה, וְרֹאשׁוֹ, מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמָיְמָה; וְהִנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים, עֹלִים וְיֹרְדִים בּוֹ
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of the Divine ascending and descending on it ... Bereshit 28:12
In Jewish tradition, angels correspond to Divine communication and stones correspond to the matrilineal bond between the generations. The Hebrew word for stone, namely even (אבן) is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase meaning 'mothers and children' (אמת ובנים) where the magical Hebrew 'connecting' letter 'vav' (ו) joining the generations together corresponds to the mystical ladder into which the stones (mothers and children) are woven together in time and timelessness.
The ladder is an ancestral weaving of Goddess enabling communication throughout the generations clear back to our Source in Her. The witch's altar ladder is a physical tool magically aligned to this reality.
This beautiful witch's ladder may be purchased at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
וַיַּחֲלֹם, וְהִנֵּה סֻלָּם מֻצָּב אַרְצָה, וְרֹאשׁוֹ, מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמָיְמָה; וְהִנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים, עֹלִים וְיֹרְדִים בּוֹ
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of the Divine ascending and descending on it ... Bereshit 28:12
In Jewish tradition, angels correspond to Divine communication and stones correspond to the matrilineal bond between the generations. The Hebrew word for stone, namely even (אבן) is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase meaning 'mothers and children' (אמת ובנים) where the magical Hebrew 'connecting' letter 'vav' (ו) joining the generations together corresponds to the mystical ladder into which the stones (mothers and children) are woven together in time and timelessness.
The ladder is an ancestral weaving of Goddess enabling communication throughout the generations clear back to our Source in Her. The witch's altar ladder is a physical tool magically aligned to this reality.
This beautiful witch's ladder may be purchased at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Red Meal
Toldot
וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, הַלְעִיטֵנִי נָא מִן-הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם הַזֶּה
And Esau said to Jacob: 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, some of this red, red pottage ... Bereshit 25:30
The Red Meal is a traditional rite of Witchcraft. Simple yet powerful, it unites the Seen world with the Unseen world.
In this Torah passage, Jacob is conducting a rite of the Craft, namely the Red Meal, and Esau is asking to participate in it.
וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, הַלְעִיטֵנִי נָא מִן-הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם הַזֶּה
And Esau said to Jacob: 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, some of this red, red pottage ... Bereshit 25:30
The Red Meal is a traditional rite of Witchcraft. Simple yet powerful, it unites the Seen world with the Unseen world.
In this Torah passage, Jacob is conducting a rite of the Craft, namely the Red Meal, and Esau is asking to participate in it.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Thin Veil
Chayyei Sarah
וַתִּקַּח הַצָּעִיף
and she took her veil ... Bereshit 24:65
This shabbat we are introduced to Rivkah's veil, a magical attribute with which she hides direct knowledge of herself from Yitzchak. Will he be able to perceive the reality of who she is beyond the veil?
Tomorrow is the sabbat of Samhain, the time of the year when the veil between worlds (her world and his world) is the thinnest and the possibility for perception beyond the veil and occupying an overlapping shared world is enhanced.
So, she took her veil ...
וַתִּקַּח הַצָּעִיף
and she took her veil ... Bereshit 24:65
This shabbat we are introduced to Rivkah's veil, a magical attribute with which she hides direct knowledge of herself from Yitzchak. Will he be able to perceive the reality of who she is beyond the veil?
Tomorrow is the sabbat of Samhain, the time of the year when the veil between worlds (her world and his world) is the thinnest and the possibility for perception beyond the veil and occupying an overlapping shared world is enhanced.
So, she took her veil ...
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Upright and Just
Vayeira
לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט
that they may perform uprightly and justly ... Bereshit 18:19
What is not upright?
Bullying. For example, as one witch is trying to do to me, when a witch tries to intimidate and threatens legal action against other witches in the attempt to stop other witches from selling black drippy candles because she wants to monopolize the market and all business for herself - this is not upright.
What is not justice?
If such a witchy bully is allowed to get away with it - this is not justice. I refuse to acquiesce to her bullying threats or to let her get away with it.
לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט
that they may perform uprightly and justly ... Bereshit 18:19
What is not upright?
Bullying. For example, as one witch is trying to do to me, when a witch tries to intimidate and threatens legal action against other witches in the attempt to stop other witches from selling black drippy candles because she wants to monopolize the market and all business for herself - this is not upright.
What is not justice?
If such a witchy bully is allowed to get away with it - this is not justice. I refuse to acquiesce to her bullying threats or to let her get away with it.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Experiencing Another Being
Lech-Lecha
שָׂרַי אִשְׁתְּךָ, לֹא-תִקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמָהּ שָׂרָי
As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai ... Bereshit 17:15
Robin Artisson writes in The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill -
Whatever the essence of the woman - the man's wife - the name Sarai tells us only of his experience of this woman, a nameless Being of many names whose essence extends beyond this particular moment in time, as time pivots around the Thread of Fate which She Is.
שָׂרַי אִשְׁתְּךָ, לֹא-תִקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמָהּ שָׂרָי
As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai ... Bereshit 17:15
Robin Artisson writes in The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill -
Truth or Naming refers to creating words that have a mystical value, in the sense that they bring the person who hears the words into a sort of state where the inner nature of the thing referred to is experienced, normally in a wordless, direct manner ...
Whatever the essence of the woman - the man's wife - the name Sarai tells us only of his experience of this woman, a nameless Being of many names whose essence extends beyond this particular moment in time, as time pivots around the Thread of Fate which She Is.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Spirit of Understanding
Vezot Haberachah
וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן, מָלֵא רוּחַ חָכְמָה
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom ... Devarim 34:9
Bereshit
וְהַנָּחָשׁ, הָיָה עָרוּם, מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field ... Bereshit 3:1
Noach
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, הֵן עַם אֶחָד וְשָׂפָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּם, וְזֶה, הַחִלָּם לַעֲשׂוֹת; וְעַתָּה לֹא-יִבָּצֵר מֵהֶם, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יָזְמוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת.
הָבָה, נֵרְדָה, וְנָבְלָה שָׁם, שְׂפָתָם--אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ, אִישׁ שְׂפַת רֵעֵהוּ.
וַיָּפֶץ יְהוָה אֹתָם מִשָּׁם, עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ
And the LORD said: 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language ...
Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they MAY NOT UNDERSTAND/HEAR one another's speech.'
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth ...
Bereshit 11:6-8
*****
The LADY foils the LORD again. Understand that a multitude of languages cannot destroy true Oonagh, Achdut, Unity.
*****
"From the shadows emerges the chosen One ... Three Stones, three young girls. One will discover the Gift ... Of three Stones only One fate will remain." [The Prophecy of the Stones, written by 13-year old author Flavia Bujor and translated from French into English and then into 30 other languages.]
"I have to discuss how important the element of Understanding is. It is fine to begin the ascent into internal transformation, but without Understanding, none of this [the foundational techniques of trance work] is useful. All of the trance techniques in the world, and all of the capabilities in the world will mean nothing without Understanding ... You have to Understand that reality is One, whole, and undivided. Human minds chop it into a billion pieces, abstract parts of it away from the wholeness of Nature, and label those various 'parts' as different 'things' - but it is still One." [Robin Artisson, The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill]
"Shema (hear)... the Divine is One." [Deutereonomy 6:4]
OONAGH Celtic Spirit Witch's Altar Ladder / Silk Sari UNITY Handfasting Cord:
OONAGH is a feminine name and expression used in Gaelic and Irish Gaelic meaning "One." An equivalent expression in English is "Unity" and in Hebrew is "Achdut." OONAGH, Unity and Achdut all pertain to the idea of mystical harmony, peace and the magical communion shared among members of a collective Folk Soul (or Folk Spirit) which permeates time and eternity. It is time-bound with Reality, yet timeless and unbound by time in timeless Being. It is the collective Divine Ancestor of which all Kindred partake whether Ancient of Days, of the Present or of the Future. Past, present and future are One in OONAGH.
Handcrafted under the crescent Moon of Might, OONAGH is made with 4 strands - handmade Blue Fire silk sari ribbon, dark multicolored Mystery boucle yarn handspun on a Kromski Sonata spinning wheel, pale blue sparkle ribbon, black satiny ribbon, 9 handmade jet black glass round beads, 25 knots, a sterling silver OONAGH symbol Celtic Knot leaf charm, a pewter and black scrying mirror connector bead and a pewter pentacle key charm. Each end of the cord is adorned with a removable pale blue ribbon bow.
The 4 strands correspond to the past, the present, the future and to Understanding (and in parallel, there is one strand for each of the 4 Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft - for in them is the mystical secret of the fusion of the stones).
The key to the quest for Understanding is Clarity (Witch Sight); where the quest is protected by the pentacle of Goddess.
Nine is the diameter of the witch's sacred circle.
Twenty-five is the number of Ogham letters in the magical Celtic alphabet.
This amazing cord measures 61 inches, where 61 is the gematria-numerology of the magical Hebrew words: אני (I Am), אין (unified No-Thing state of Divine Being), בטן (womb), and הבדים (the staves - as are the Ogham letters inscribed on staves).
Comes beautifully packaged with a small surprise gift included.
This mystically magical cord of Unity may be purchased at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן, מָלֵא רוּחַ חָכְמָה
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom ... Devarim 34:9
Bereshit
וְהַנָּחָשׁ, הָיָה עָרוּם, מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field ... Bereshit 3:1
Noach
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, הֵן עַם אֶחָד וְשָׂפָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּם, וְזֶה, הַחִלָּם לַעֲשׂוֹת; וְעַתָּה לֹא-יִבָּצֵר מֵהֶם, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יָזְמוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת.
הָבָה, נֵרְדָה, וְנָבְלָה שָׁם, שְׂפָתָם--אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ, אִישׁ שְׂפַת רֵעֵהוּ.
וַיָּפֶץ יְהוָה אֹתָם מִשָּׁם, עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ
And the LORD said: 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language ...
Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they MAY NOT UNDERSTAND/HEAR one another's speech.'
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth ...
Bereshit 11:6-8
*****
The LADY foils the LORD again. Understand that a multitude of languages cannot destroy true Oonagh, Achdut, Unity.
*****
"From the shadows emerges the chosen One ... Three Stones, three young girls. One will discover the Gift ... Of three Stones only One fate will remain." [The Prophecy of the Stones, written by 13-year old author Flavia Bujor and translated from French into English and then into 30 other languages.]
"I have to discuss how important the element of Understanding is. It is fine to begin the ascent into internal transformation, but without Understanding, none of this [the foundational techniques of trance work] is useful. All of the trance techniques in the world, and all of the capabilities in the world will mean nothing without Understanding ... You have to Understand that reality is One, whole, and undivided. Human minds chop it into a billion pieces, abstract parts of it away from the wholeness of Nature, and label those various 'parts' as different 'things' - but it is still One." [Robin Artisson, The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill]
"Shema (hear)... the Divine is One." [Deutereonomy 6:4]
OONAGH Celtic Spirit Witch's Altar Ladder / Silk Sari UNITY Handfasting Cord:
OONAGH is a feminine name and expression used in Gaelic and Irish Gaelic meaning "One." An equivalent expression in English is "Unity" and in Hebrew is "Achdut." OONAGH, Unity and Achdut all pertain to the idea of mystical harmony, peace and the magical communion shared among members of a collective Folk Soul (or Folk Spirit) which permeates time and eternity. It is time-bound with Reality, yet timeless and unbound by time in timeless Being. It is the collective Divine Ancestor of which all Kindred partake whether Ancient of Days, of the Present or of the Future. Past, present and future are One in OONAGH.
Handcrafted under the crescent Moon of Might, OONAGH is made with 4 strands - handmade Blue Fire silk sari ribbon, dark multicolored Mystery boucle yarn handspun on a Kromski Sonata spinning wheel, pale blue sparkle ribbon, black satiny ribbon, 9 handmade jet black glass round beads, 25 knots, a sterling silver OONAGH symbol Celtic Knot leaf charm, a pewter and black scrying mirror connector bead and a pewter pentacle key charm. Each end of the cord is adorned with a removable pale blue ribbon bow.
The 4 strands correspond to the past, the present, the future and to Understanding (and in parallel, there is one strand for each of the 4 Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft - for in them is the mystical secret of the fusion of the stones).
The key to the quest for Understanding is Clarity (Witch Sight); where the quest is protected by the pentacle of Goddess.
Nine is the diameter of the witch's sacred circle.
Twenty-five is the number of Ogham letters in the magical Celtic alphabet.
This amazing cord measures 61 inches, where 61 is the gematria-numerology of the magical Hebrew words: אני (I Am), אין (unified No-Thing state of Divine Being), בטן (womb), and הבדים (the staves - as are the Ogham letters inscribed on staves).
Comes beautifully packaged with a small surprise gift included.
This mystically magical cord of Unity may be purchased at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
Friday, September 10, 2010
KINDRED
Ha'Azinu
הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וַאֲדַבֵּרָה; וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ, אִמְרֵי-פִי
Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Devarim 31:1
From generation to generation, the Voice of our Ancestors speaks to us, teaching us the OLD WAYS.
In honor of those who came before ... conceived, crafted and made during the Torah portion of Ha'Azinu .... KINDRED Ancestral Altar Candle made with certified kosher premium soy wax.
Intensely scented with Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils and Pomegranate fragrance oil, KINDRED is herbally charged with Wormwood, Red Poppies, Yew, Mugwort, Elder Flowers and Marshmallow Leaf. KINDRED is gemstone charged with clear quartz crystal to focus, clarify and amplify magical awareness.
This hauntingly beautiful pillar measures 2 x 6.75 inches and comes with a skull and crossbones charm (15 x 13 x 4.5 mm) hung by black ribbon.
Comes beautifully packaged. KINDRED Ancestral Altar Candle may be purchased at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
**Handcrafted scented ancestral altar candle made with 100% all natural, pure premium, ecofriendly, certified kosher SOY wax itself made with 100% American farmer soybeans grown domestically in the USA without herbicides or pesticides!!! Candles burn longer, cooler and cleaner, burning without soot buildup.**
הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וַאֲדַבֵּרָה; וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ, אִמְרֵי-פִי
Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Devarim 31:1
From generation to generation, the Voice of our Ancestors speaks to us, teaching us the OLD WAYS.
In honor of those who came before ... conceived, crafted and made during the Torah portion of Ha'Azinu .... KINDRED Ancestral Altar Candle made with certified kosher premium soy wax.
Intensely scented with Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils and Pomegranate fragrance oil, KINDRED is herbally charged with Wormwood, Red Poppies, Yew, Mugwort, Elder Flowers and Marshmallow Leaf. KINDRED is gemstone charged with clear quartz crystal to focus, clarify and amplify magical awareness.
This hauntingly beautiful pillar measures 2 x 6.75 inches and comes with a skull and crossbones charm (15 x 13 x 4.5 mm) hung by black ribbon.
Comes beautifully packaged. KINDRED Ancestral Altar Candle may be purchased at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
**Handcrafted scented ancestral altar candle made with 100% all natural, pure premium, ecofriendly, certified kosher SOY wax itself made with 100% American farmer soybeans grown domestically in the USA without herbicides or pesticides!!! Candles burn longer, cooler and cleaner, burning without soot buildup.**
Saturday, September 4, 2010
The Lord's Frustration, The Lady's Understanding
Nitzavim-Vayeilech
פֶּן-יֵשׁ בָּכֶם, שֹׁרֶשׁ פֹּרֶה רֹאשׁ--וְלַעֲנָה
lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood ... Devarim 29:17
The Lord definitely wants to find this root and to curse it.
But thankfully, the Lady understands the Lord and says otherwise.
The Hebrew root from which the translation "gall and wormwood" is derived, namely לען, means "bitter" and "to give bitter oil." Yet in Witchcraft, the wormwood plant is a protective essence which counteracts poisoning and guards against malevolent magic. It is also used to call up ancestral and nature spirits as collaborative allies in the Sacred Feminine Arts. It appears then that the bitterness may be a male patterned experience of "wormwood" because the female patterned experience of it is quite different.
So, how can the Lady's witches understand the Lord's experience?
The Hebrew word translated as "gall and wormwood," namely וְלַעֲנָה, has a gematria of 161. The word היקום meaning "living substance" also has a gematria of 161. The word היקום comes from the root קום (meaning "rising", "reasserting denied rights," and "standing in opposition to") and is found in Bereshit 7:4 where the Lord informs Noah that He is going to "blot out every living substance from off the face of the earth." Oh, the Lord's in that (bitter) mood again!
The Lady says to the Lord "no, You can't do it. I'm so (not) sorry. Here, why don't You try a tea concoction with my sweet wormwood in it instead to soothe Your anxiety a bit. It's called Aphrodisia. I promise - You'll be glad We're not all blotted out. This is what You really want to do anyway."
פֶּן-יֵשׁ בָּכֶם, שֹׁרֶשׁ פֹּרֶה רֹאשׁ--וְלַעֲנָה
lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood ... Devarim 29:17
The Lord definitely wants to find this root and to curse it.
But thankfully, the Lady understands the Lord and says otherwise.
The Hebrew root from which the translation "gall and wormwood" is derived, namely לען, means "bitter" and "to give bitter oil." Yet in Witchcraft, the wormwood plant is a protective essence which counteracts poisoning and guards against malevolent magic. It is also used to call up ancestral and nature spirits as collaborative allies in the Sacred Feminine Arts. It appears then that the bitterness may be a male patterned experience of "wormwood" because the female patterned experience of it is quite different.
So, how can the Lady's witches understand the Lord's experience?
The Hebrew word translated as "gall and wormwood," namely וְלַעֲנָה, has a gematria of 161. The word היקום meaning "living substance" also has a gematria of 161. The word היקום comes from the root קום (meaning "rising", "reasserting denied rights," and "standing in opposition to") and is found in Bereshit 7:4 where the Lord informs Noah that He is going to "blot out every living substance from off the face of the earth." Oh, the Lord's in that (bitter) mood again!
The Lady says to the Lord "no, You can't do it. I'm so (not) sorry. Here, why don't You try a tea concoction with my sweet wormwood in it instead to soothe Your anxiety a bit. It's called Aphrodisia. I promise - You'll be glad We're not all blotted out. This is what You really want to do anyway."
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Unexpected Results
Ki Tavo
וַיִּקְרָא מֹשֶׁה אֶל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל
and Moshe called unto all Israel ... Devarim 29:1
... with an agenda. And a witch and her friend came up. Poor evil Moshe with his evil agenda, the crown just doesn't belong to him. It's mine, all mine ... cackle, cackle, cackle. It's just so much fun being a witch.
Friday morning's dream.
I was in a space station like chamber in outer space. With me there were two men. One was my friend. The other was like an evil wizard (who reminds me now of the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz, only a male in this case). The evil wizard had brought my friend and I to the space station to steal the crown that only I could reach (just like the wicked witch wanted to steal the ruby slippers Dorothy wore in The Wizard of Oz).
The evil wizard thought I was gullible like Dorothy and would just give the crown over to him as easily as Dorothy wanted to give over her ruby slippers to the wicked witch when challenged for it, so he had brought my friend and I there so that I could climb up the tower ladder that went up from the space station to bring down the crown that rested at the utmost top of it. I let him think I was gullible like Dorothy so he wouldn't interfere with my climb or hurt my friend as I climbed. But, I had no intention of giving over my crown to him.
He wanted the crown so that he could rule the world with it's powers. It's my crown, and I'm going to use it's powers to enable myself to do my craftwork in peace. I'm like the evil witch who doesn't want to be bothered and to keep from being disturbed is going to buy a strong deadbolt for my door and a welcome mat that reads "GO AWAY."
Anyway, as I was standing there in the space station chamber with my friend and this evil wizard, in my dreaming mind, even though there was no obvious symbolism to suggest it, I knew that this space station and the ladder with the crown on the top of it were in a mikveh. I'm not sure how the clear association came to exist (as I've only been to a mikveh once in my life), but there it was.
Interjected here in the dream, between the mikveh association and beginning of my climb up the tower ladder, I encountered the space station dining room filled with diners, some cookies, a big dog running loose and some stairs. I took some cookies from the dining room (but never ate them) and avoided the big dog by taking a twisting winding chaotic path on the stairs between various floors of the space station. Then, I climbed the tower ladder and retrieved my crown, claiming it as my own as I touched it for the first time at the top of the tower ladder that only I could climb. The claim reverberated down and the evil wizard knew now that I'm not Dorothy and he was not in Kansas. I was crowned, and he can't have my crown or now hurt my friend now that I am wearing the crown.
Suddenly, I was in my earth bedroom (as it appeared when I was a teenager) with some girlfriends. There was a terrible tornado directly overhead (the evil wizard must be having a fit, I thought). My girlfriends wanted me to get down on the floor so that I wouldn't get drawn up into the winds of the tornado, but I wasn't afraid. I had to get my earrings off the dresser top, so I stood up and got them. They thought I was crazy. But, I knew the winds of the tornado couldn't touch me, and I really wanted to wear my pretty witchy earrings, even within the midst of a tornado (witches are fearless like that, you know). So, I got them and put them on, then got back down on the floor along with my girlfriends.
I woke up.
וַיִּקְרָא מֹשֶׁה אֶל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל
and Moshe called unto all Israel ... Devarim 29:1
... with an agenda. And a witch and her friend came up. Poor evil Moshe with his evil agenda, the crown just doesn't belong to him. It's mine, all mine ... cackle, cackle, cackle. It's just so much fun being a witch.
Friday morning's dream.
I was in a space station like chamber in outer space. With me there were two men. One was my friend. The other was like an evil wizard (who reminds me now of the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz, only a male in this case). The evil wizard had brought my friend and I to the space station to steal the crown that only I could reach (just like the wicked witch wanted to steal the ruby slippers Dorothy wore in The Wizard of Oz).
The evil wizard thought I was gullible like Dorothy and would just give the crown over to him as easily as Dorothy wanted to give over her ruby slippers to the wicked witch when challenged for it, so he had brought my friend and I there so that I could climb up the tower ladder that went up from the space station to bring down the crown that rested at the utmost top of it. I let him think I was gullible like Dorothy so he wouldn't interfere with my climb or hurt my friend as I climbed. But, I had no intention of giving over my crown to him.
He wanted the crown so that he could rule the world with it's powers. It's my crown, and I'm going to use it's powers to enable myself to do my craftwork in peace. I'm like the evil witch who doesn't want to be bothered and to keep from being disturbed is going to buy a strong deadbolt for my door and a welcome mat that reads "GO AWAY."
Anyway, as I was standing there in the space station chamber with my friend and this evil wizard, in my dreaming mind, even though there was no obvious symbolism to suggest it, I knew that this space station and the ladder with the crown on the top of it were in a mikveh. I'm not sure how the clear association came to exist (as I've only been to a mikveh once in my life), but there it was.
Interjected here in the dream, between the mikveh association and beginning of my climb up the tower ladder, I encountered the space station dining room filled with diners, some cookies, a big dog running loose and some stairs. I took some cookies from the dining room (but never ate them) and avoided the big dog by taking a twisting winding chaotic path on the stairs between various floors of the space station. Then, I climbed the tower ladder and retrieved my crown, claiming it as my own as I touched it for the first time at the top of the tower ladder that only I could climb. The claim reverberated down and the evil wizard knew now that I'm not Dorothy and he was not in Kansas. I was crowned, and he can't have my crown or now hurt my friend now that I am wearing the crown.
Suddenly, I was in my earth bedroom (as it appeared when I was a teenager) with some girlfriends. There was a terrible tornado directly overhead (the evil wizard must be having a fit, I thought). My girlfriends wanted me to get down on the floor so that I wouldn't get drawn up into the winds of the tornado, but I wasn't afraid. I had to get my earrings off the dresser top, so I stood up and got them. They thought I was crazy. But, I knew the winds of the tornado couldn't touch me, and I really wanted to wear my pretty witchy earrings, even within the midst of a tornado (witches are fearless like that, you know). So, I got them and put them on, then got back down on the floor along with my girlfriends.
I woke up.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Mitzvah Of The Twisted Cord
Ki Teitzei
גְּדִלִים, תַּעֲשֶׂה-לָּךְ, עַל-אַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת כְּסוּתְךָ
you shall make twisted cords upon the four corners of your covering ... Devarim 22:12
The "four corners" (east-west-north-south) of the witch's altar is represented by four points of the pentagram within a pentacle. From my blog Craftwork of a Jewitch, the "four corners" in the pentacle may be laid out like directions on a compass as follows:
The "up" point on the pentacle is unitive in nature. The "down area" on the pentacle is multiplicative in nature. Thus, a "twisting cord" within the context of a "four-cornered garment" seeks to create unified multiplicity within multidimensional space, as does the Shema prayer of Judaic tradition. This is true as it pertains to the Torah phrase at the top of this entry and to the witch's altar, which in addition to it's "four corners" as previously described, has a twisted cord adorning it called a witch's altar ladder. Whereas the compass directions are a fact of nature, the witch's altar ladder is handcrafted and hand made, as are many tzitzyot.
Here are some handcrafted twisted cords, also known as witch's altar ladders, available for purchase at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
גְּדִלִים, תַּעֲשֶׂה-לָּךְ, עַל-אַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת כְּסוּתְךָ
you shall make twisted cords upon the four corners of your covering ... Devarim 22:12
The "four corners" (east-west-north-south) of the witch's altar is represented by four points of the pentagram within a pentacle. From my blog Craftwork of a Jewitch, the "four corners" in the pentacle may be laid out like directions on a compass as follows:
The "up" point on the pentacle is unitive in nature. The "down area" on the pentacle is multiplicative in nature. Thus, a "twisting cord" within the context of a "four-cornered garment" seeks to create unified multiplicity within multidimensional space, as does the Shema prayer of Judaic tradition. This is true as it pertains to the Torah phrase at the top of this entry and to the witch's altar, which in addition to it's "four corners" as previously described, has a twisted cord adorning it called a witch's altar ladder. Whereas the compass directions are a fact of nature, the witch's altar ladder is handcrafted and hand made, as are many tzitzyot.
Here are some handcrafted twisted cords, also known as witch's altar ladders, available for purchase at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
2010 Blog Award
ח' באלול תש"ע
Belz 10
Wow. I didn't know I had such a faithful readership, but thank you to all who nominated my blogs - Walking on Fire and Garden of the Dark Moon Jubilee - for best kabbalah blog on the internet. Both were awarded placement among the Top 10 Kabbalah Blogs for 2010 by BestBloggers.com and Online PhD Programs for "overall brilliance." I didn't even realize I had been nominated.
Thank you, my friends, readers and judges.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Dangerous Mind
Shoftim
לֹא-יִמָּצֵא בְךָ, מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ-וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ, קֹסֵם קְסָמִים, מְעוֹנֵן וּמְנַחֵשׁ וּמְכַשֵּׁף.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
וְחֹבֵר, חָבֶר; וְשֹׁאֵל אוֹב וְיִדְּעֹנִי, וְדֹרֵשׁ אֶל-הַמֵּתִים.
or a charmer, or one that consulteth a ghost or a familiar spirit, or a necromancer.
כִּי-תוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה, כָּל-עֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה
For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD
אַךְ הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר יָזִיד לְדַבֵּר דָּבָר בִּשְׁמִי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא-צִוִּיתִיו לְדַבֵּר, וַאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר, בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים--וּמֵת, הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא.
But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'
Devarim 18:10-12, 20
Is that a code?
Or does the LORD's really have a problem with these things? What could the LORD be hiding that He doesn't want someone unauthorized by Him to find out and potentially divulge to the Israelites? Perhaps the LORD fears the spin which could be be put to the information divined by a dangerous mind.
As for me ...
I will not go down under the ground
"Cause somebody tells me that death's comin' 'round ...
[Bob Dylan, Let Me Die In My Footsteps]
There is no victim here. Nor am I "already dead."
An' I will not carry myself down to die
When I go to my grave my head will be high
It's my life, it's now or never
I ain't gonna to live forever,
And I just wanna live while I'm alive
[Bon Jovi, It's My Life]
לֹא-יִמָּצֵא בְךָ, מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ-וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ, קֹסֵם קְסָמִים, מְעוֹנֵן וּמְנַחֵשׁ וּמְכַשֵּׁף.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
וְחֹבֵר, חָבֶר; וְשֹׁאֵל אוֹב וְיִדְּעֹנִי, וְדֹרֵשׁ אֶל-הַמֵּתִים.
or a charmer, or one that consulteth a ghost or a familiar spirit, or a necromancer.
כִּי-תוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה, כָּל-עֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה
For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD
אַךְ הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר יָזִיד לְדַבֵּר דָּבָר בִּשְׁמִי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא-צִוִּיתִיו לְדַבֵּר, וַאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר, בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים--וּמֵת, הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא.
But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'
Devarim 18:10-12, 20
Is that a code?
Or does the LORD's really have a problem with these things? What could the LORD be hiding that He doesn't want someone unauthorized by Him to find out and potentially divulge to the Israelites? Perhaps the LORD fears the spin which could be be put to the information divined by a dangerous mind.
As for me ...
I will not go down under the ground
"Cause somebody tells me that death's comin' 'round ...
[Bob Dylan, Let Me Die In My Footsteps]
There is no victim here. Nor am I "already dead."
An' I will not carry myself down to die
When I go to my grave my head will be high
It's my life, it's now or never
I ain't gonna to live forever,
And I just wanna live while I'm alive
[Bon Jovi, It's My Life]
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Most Magnificent Dance In The Sea
Re'eh
כָּל-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרֹךְ כַּף-רַגְלְכֶם בּוֹ--לָכֶם יִהְיֶה: מִן-הַמִּדְבָּר וְהַלְּבָנוֹן מִן-הַנָּהָר נְהַר-פְּרָת, וְעַד הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן--יִהְיֶה, גְּבֻלְכֶם
Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the hinder sea shall be your border. ... Devarim 11:24
A few nights ago, I dreamt.
I was in a "different" magical place. Hidden in this place, behind a wall overgrown with vegetation, was a magical wall. The wall was a portal through which magical people could travel through time and energy. It was also a wall connected to the gymnasium wall of the grade school I had attended as a little girl.
Only people with strong and unusual magical strength could intuit and access the hidden power of the wall. To do so, one placed the palms of one's hands against the wall, melding one's spirit into the spirit of the wall.
As the vision of the wall came into my view, my innards stirred profoundly, as if recognizing a deep part of my own being and link with the cosmos. I walked up and touched the wall, placing my palms against it as waves of something moved through me. I stepped into another world.
In this world there was a teacher, his wife and many students. The students were paired in couples. The students were to be tested to see who could do the swimming dance in the deep dark sea as well as the teacher and his wife could. It was also a trial to rank ability for some reason, as if the teacher and his wife were going to retire at some point and needed to set up a couple to take their place when that happened.
It was a very dangerous test. Only the chosen could swim in this deep dark sea. Those who were able, swam a dance in it as pairs in the form of large primordial sea creatures, as leviathans.
I was a student and I was paired with someone. The teacher and his wife demonstrated the dance while the students observed from "poolside" of the sea. My vision also observed from within the sea itself. Then they got out and all the student pairs got in, morphing into leviathan pairs. I knew I and my partner would be the best at this dance. I had the feeling that the teacher and his wife knew we would be too. I also knew that I was different than the rest of the students - I was new to this school and did some things differently than the others.
Then as I began to swim, for some reason, I couldn't go forward in the water. I looked up to above the shallows of the water from where we all had started the swimming dance and saw that the teacher had put a hex on my feet, so that I was anchored in place as if he was standing on my feet. I saw an energy form of his foot holding me down in the water. He was deliberately trying to give me a disadvantage that the other students didn't have! What abject chutzpah! I thought. This isn't fair at all.
Well, my magic is stronger than his hex, I knew. I uttered a hex-breaking spell and cast up some words in his direction and the power of his hex was immediately broken. I took off in the water and my partner and I swam the most magnificent dance in the deep dark sea.
I woke up.
כָּל-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרֹךְ כַּף-רַגְלְכֶם בּוֹ--לָכֶם יִהְיֶה: מִן-הַמִּדְבָּר וְהַלְּבָנוֹן מִן-הַנָּהָר נְהַר-פְּרָת, וְעַד הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן--יִהְיֶה, גְּבֻלְכֶם
Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the hinder sea shall be your border. ... Devarim 11:24
A few nights ago, I dreamt.
I was in a "different" magical place. Hidden in this place, behind a wall overgrown with vegetation, was a magical wall. The wall was a portal through which magical people could travel through time and energy. It was also a wall connected to the gymnasium wall of the grade school I had attended as a little girl.
Only people with strong and unusual magical strength could intuit and access the hidden power of the wall. To do so, one placed the palms of one's hands against the wall, melding one's spirit into the spirit of the wall.
As the vision of the wall came into my view, my innards stirred profoundly, as if recognizing a deep part of my own being and link with the cosmos. I walked up and touched the wall, placing my palms against it as waves of something moved through me. I stepped into another world.
In this world there was a teacher, his wife and many students. The students were paired in couples. The students were to be tested to see who could do the swimming dance in the deep dark sea as well as the teacher and his wife could. It was also a trial to rank ability for some reason, as if the teacher and his wife were going to retire at some point and needed to set up a couple to take their place when that happened.
It was a very dangerous test. Only the chosen could swim in this deep dark sea. Those who were able, swam a dance in it as pairs in the form of large primordial sea creatures, as leviathans.
I was a student and I was paired with someone. The teacher and his wife demonstrated the dance while the students observed from "poolside" of the sea. My vision also observed from within the sea itself. Then they got out and all the student pairs got in, morphing into leviathan pairs. I knew I and my partner would be the best at this dance. I had the feeling that the teacher and his wife knew we would be too. I also knew that I was different than the rest of the students - I was new to this school and did some things differently than the others.
Then as I began to swim, for some reason, I couldn't go forward in the water. I looked up to above the shallows of the water from where we all had started the swimming dance and saw that the teacher had put a hex on my feet, so that I was anchored in place as if he was standing on my feet. I saw an energy form of his foot holding me down in the water. He was deliberately trying to give me a disadvantage that the other students didn't have! What abject chutzpah! I thought. This isn't fair at all.
Well, my magic is stronger than his hex, I knew. I uttered a hex-breaking spell and cast up some words in his direction and the power of his hex was immediately broken. I took off in the water and my partner and I swam the most magnificent dance in the deep dark sea.
I woke up.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
An Order To Live
Eikev
לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן
so that you will be allowed to live ... Devarim 8:1
This phrase is found in connection to doing the mitzvot of Torah. In order to live, in order to be allowed to return to the Land of the Living from a shamanic Otherworld journey, the mitzvot of Torah must be observed, must be done by those of Jewish ancestry. So, how do we know if we have successfully observed to do the Torah mitzvot of our Jewish Ancestors? We know when we are not only allowed to live, but when we are commanded to return to the Land of Living.
Related entry - Seeing Through The Darkness, An Otherworld Journey
לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן
so that you will be allowed to live ... Devarim 8:1
This phrase is found in connection to doing the mitzvot of Torah. In order to live, in order to be allowed to return to the Land of the Living from a shamanic Otherworld journey, the mitzvot of Torah must be observed, must be done by those of Jewish ancestry. So, how do we know if we have successfully observed to do the Torah mitzvot of our Jewish Ancestors? We know when we are not only allowed to live, but when we are commanded to return to the Land of Living.
Related entry - Seeing Through The Darkness, An Otherworld Journey
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Goddess Tree
Vaetchanan
אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין-יְהוָה וּבֵינֵיכֶם
I stood, making known to you the interaction of essential elements ... Devarim 5:5
In Devarim 5:5 (cleaving to the sacred circles of a witch's double pentacle), we find the Goddess name בין-יהוה. Importantly, the Goddess name בין-יהוה is an essential expansion of the hei mappik (הּ) of the Goddess name בינהּ (Binah, the head of the left-hand tower of strength on the metaphysical Goddess Tree which integrates All Being and Nothingness - see Rebuilding Reality). Normatively, the magical Hebrew letter hei (the fourth letter, of Binah, which expands and collapses in perpetual oscillation between extremes) has a gematria of 5. Binah derives from the three letter shoresh בין, meaning to "penetrate to the core", "having insight", "revealing, making known", and "understanding the interaction of elements."
לְעֹשֵׂה הַשָּׁמַיִם, בִּתְבוּנָה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
for the heavens are made with understanding, as the beauty of It endures forever
The First
Interestingly, the double portioned witch's pentagram designating numerically the witch words in the magical Hebrew phrase above "has no connotation with good or evil." Instead, the pentalpha (as the pentagram is also called by mystics and in Pythagorean philosophical mathematics) and its circle is a symbol of "unity, wholeness, infinity, the goddess, female power, and the sun [beauty]."
The Last
In ancient times especially, the pentagram (i.e., the pentalpha) was represented by the Greek letter tau (the letter of resurrection, with a gematria of 300) and the Hebrew letter taf (the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the letter of truth, with a gematria of 400). The gematria of 300 corresponds to the three letters of בין, and the gematria of 400 corresponds to the four letters of יהוה in the the Goddess name בין-יהוה (Bĭn Īhuvah).
So, we can understand then that, while the Lord may have alot of things to say about this and that, the Lady will always have the first word and the last word to say about everything that is made. It's written into the very nature of reality.
Making Points
משנה ד': עשר ספירות בלימה עשר ולא תשע עשר ולא
אחת עשרה הבן בחכמה וחכם בבינה בחון בהם וחקור מהם והעמד
דבר על בוריו והשב יוצר על מכונו:
Sefer Yetzirah 1:4
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness
ten and not nine
ten and not eleven
Understand with Wisdom
Be wise with Understanding
Examine with them
and probe from them
Make [each] thing stand on its essence
And make the Creator sit on His base.
Each internal angle of each of the points of the pentagram equals 36 (לו) degrees (for example, see angle DAC in the schematic below as it sits upon the base line CD). This then, may be the degrees of this and that which He says that She actually listens to. LOL. Make Her world curl and He may just be able to make a few points.
Related - Awesome Goddess Tree Oil at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu
אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין-יְהוָה וּבֵינֵיכֶם
I stood, making known to you the interaction of essential elements ... Devarim 5:5
In Devarim 5:5 (cleaving to the sacred circles of a witch's double pentacle), we find the Goddess name בין-יהוה. Importantly, the Goddess name בין-יהוה is an essential expansion of the hei mappik (הּ) of the Goddess name בינהּ (Binah, the head of the left-hand tower of strength on the metaphysical Goddess Tree which integrates All Being and Nothingness - see Rebuilding Reality). Normatively, the magical Hebrew letter hei (the fourth letter, of Binah, which expands and collapses in perpetual oscillation between extremes) has a gematria of 5. Binah derives from the three letter shoresh בין, meaning to "penetrate to the core", "having insight", "revealing, making known", and "understanding the interaction of elements."
לְעֹשֵׂה הַשָּׁמַיִם, בִּתְבוּנָה: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
for the heavens are made with understanding, as the beauty of It endures forever
The First
Interestingly, the double portioned witch's pentagram designating numerically the witch words in the magical Hebrew phrase above "has no connotation with good or evil." Instead, the pentalpha (as the pentagram is also called by mystics and in Pythagorean philosophical mathematics) and its circle is a symbol of "unity, wholeness, infinity, the goddess, female power, and the sun [beauty]."
The Last
In ancient times especially, the pentagram (i.e., the pentalpha) was represented by the Greek letter tau (the letter of resurrection, with a gematria of 300) and the Hebrew letter taf (the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the letter of truth, with a gematria of 400). The gematria of 300 corresponds to the three letters of בין, and the gematria of 400 corresponds to the four letters of יהוה in the the Goddess name בין-יהוה (Bĭn Īhuvah).
So, we can understand then that, while the Lord may have alot of things to say about this and that, the Lady will always have the first word and the last word to say about everything that is made. It's written into the very nature of reality.
Making Points
משנה ד': עשר ספירות בלימה עשר ולא תשע עשר ולא
אחת עשרה הבן בחכמה וחכם בבינה בחון בהם וחקור מהם והעמד
דבר על בוריו והשב יוצר על מכונו:
Sefer Yetzirah 1:4
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness
ten and not nine
ten and not eleven
Understand with Wisdom
Be wise with Understanding
Examine with them
and probe from them
Make [each] thing stand on its essence
And make the Creator sit on His base.
Each internal angle of each of the points of the pentagram equals 36 (לו) degrees (for example, see angle DAC in the schematic below as it sits upon the base line CD). This then, may be the degrees of this and that which He says that She actually listens to. LOL. Make Her world curl and He may just be able to make a few points.
Related - Awesome Goddess Tree Oil at WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Witch Words
Devarim
אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים
these are the words ... Devarim 1:1
The Hebrew phrase above has a total gematria of 297, a digit sum of 18, and a final digit sum of 9. The word "the words" (הדברים) comes from the shoresh (three letter etymological magical root) דבר, meaning to "combine separate items into one."
Another way in Hebrew to say "these are the words" is with the phrase אלה המילים. In this form of the saying, the word "the words" (המילים) comes from the shoresh מלא, meaning to "fill to abundance." This phrase has a total gematria of 171, and a digit sum of 9.
Nine is the diameter of the witch's sacred circle.
These are the words, אלה הדברים - with these, the witch concocts her spell and gives it the spark of life.
These are the words, אלה המילים - with these, the witch fans the spark into a flame, drawing forth and filling her spell to abundance with the magical force necessary to make its intent move and manifest according to her will.
Related entry - Alchemy of the Word
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Fearful Lord
Matot- Masei
וְאִם-לֹא תוֹרִישׁוּ אֶת-יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ, מִפְּנֵיכֶם--וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר תּוֹתִירוּ מֵהֶם, לְשִׂכִּים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלִצְנִינִם בְּצִדֵּיכֶם; וְצָרְרוּ אֶתְכֶם--עַל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹשְׁבִים בָּהּ
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as thorns in your eyes, and as pricks in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land wherein ye dwell ... Bamidbar 33:55
So, why does the Lord really fear the Canaanites? Let me tell you, for the answer hides in His words.
As Thorns - לְשִׂכִּים
The Hebrew word typically translated as "as thorns" (namely, לְשִׂכִּים) derives from the shoresh (magical 3-letter root) שכך which means "to calm down." The war-mongering Lord fears that the Canaanites will civilize His obediently bloodthirsty Israelites. Under the "evil" influence of the Canaanites, the Israelites will become recalcitrant to wage the Lord's bloody wars, and instead will seek to return peacefulness to the Land.
As Pricks - וְלִצְנִינִם
The Hebrew word typically translated as "as pricks" (namely, וְלִצְנִינִם) derives from the shoresh צנן which means "to chill", "to cool" and "to shield with a protecting cool-headedness." The hot-headed Lord fears that the Canaanites will influence His easily emotionally-driven Israelites away from violent barbarity and toward civilized cool-headed thoughtful, civilized rational reason. He fears His people will "chill out" and prefer to have barBeques with the neighbors instead of killing them.
And Harass - וְצָרְרוּ
The Hebrew word typically translated as "and harass" (namely, וְצָרְרוּ) derives from the shoresh צרר which means "to bind together" and "joining." Most of all, the fearful Lord fears that His stiff-necked Israelites will find that they actually like the Canaanites, will form mutual kinship bonds with the Lady's Pagans, and will join and bind together to "calm down and chill out" the fearful Lord Himself.
Taken together, we can easily understand then that the Lord fears the power of the Canaanites who follow Goddess (also called the Lady in Pagan Witchcraft) to successfully transform Him in the very heart of and throughout the Land. He fears the Lady and Her Canaanites will civilize Him and all His Israelites. She and Her Canaanites are just so wicked, don't you know!
You see, the Lord just cannot win a war of words with the Lady, He fears. LOL.
וְאִם-לֹא תוֹרִישׁוּ אֶת-יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ, מִפְּנֵיכֶם--וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר תּוֹתִירוּ מֵהֶם, לְשִׂכִּים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלִצְנִינִם בְּצִדֵּיכֶם; וְצָרְרוּ אֶתְכֶם--עַל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹשְׁבִים בָּהּ
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as thorns in your eyes, and as pricks in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land wherein ye dwell ... Bamidbar 33:55
So, why does the Lord really fear the Canaanites? Let me tell you, for the answer hides in His words.
As Thorns - לְשִׂכִּים
The Hebrew word typically translated as "as thorns" (namely, לְשִׂכִּים) derives from the shoresh (magical 3-letter root) שכך which means "to calm down." The war-mongering Lord fears that the Canaanites will civilize His obediently bloodthirsty Israelites. Under the "evil" influence of the Canaanites, the Israelites will become recalcitrant to wage the Lord's bloody wars, and instead will seek to return peacefulness to the Land.
As Pricks - וְלִצְנִינִם
The Hebrew word typically translated as "as pricks" (namely, וְלִצְנִינִם) derives from the shoresh צנן which means "to chill", "to cool" and "to shield with a protecting cool-headedness." The hot-headed Lord fears that the Canaanites will influence His easily emotionally-driven Israelites away from violent barbarity and toward civilized cool-headed thoughtful, civilized rational reason. He fears His people will "chill out" and prefer to have barBeques with the neighbors instead of killing them.
And Harass - וְצָרְרוּ
The Hebrew word typically translated as "and harass" (namely, וְצָרְרוּ) derives from the shoresh צרר which means "to bind together" and "joining." Most of all, the fearful Lord fears that His stiff-necked Israelites will find that they actually like the Canaanites, will form mutual kinship bonds with the Lady's Pagans, and will join and bind together to "calm down and chill out" the fearful Lord Himself.
Taken together, we can easily understand then that the Lord fears the power of the Canaanites who follow Goddess (also called the Lady in Pagan Witchcraft) to successfully transform Him in the very heart of and throughout the Land. He fears the Lady and Her Canaanites will civilize Him and all His Israelites. She and Her Canaanites are just so wicked, don't you know!
You see, the Lord just cannot win a war of words with the Lady, He fears. LOL.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Serach - A Woman Of The Craft
Pinchas
וְשֵׁם בַּת-אָשֵׁר, שָׂרַח
and the name of of the daughter of Asher was Serach ... Bamidbar 26:46
Serach is a mystery, a secret of Torah. The truth about Serach sounds out from the deep silence which surrounds and protects her.
Serach (שרח) is an Artisan, a Craftswoman (חרש). Serach is a woman of the Craft.
She's a Witch, and the number of her name is 13.
[Note - שרח has a gematria of 508, with a digit sum of 13.]
וְשֵׁם בַּת-אָשֵׁר, שָׂרַח
and the name of of the daughter of Asher was Serach ... Bamidbar 26:46
Serach is a mystery, a secret of Torah. The truth about Serach sounds out from the deep silence which surrounds and protects her.
Serach (שרח) is an Artisan, a Craftswoman (חרש). Serach is a woman of the Craft.
She's a Witch, and the number of her name is 13.
[Note - שרח has a gematria of 508, with a digit sum of 13.]
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Cosmos
Balak on this Full Moon Shabbat
וְהוֹקַע אוֹתָם לַיהוָה, נֶגֶד הַשָּׁמֶשׁ
and raise them up in the face of the sun ... Bamidbar 25:4
Thursday night before an important meeting Friday, with the word-locking warding power characteristic of Vardlokkur, I drew one magical rune out of my rune-pouch to reveal and draw out the energy which would characterize the meeting the next morning. (As always, as with every divination I do using magical alphabets, the act of drawing was made by putting one of my hands into the pouch and drawing out the rune to which my hand is drawn - I do not see any of the runes until after one is drawn and taken out of the pouch. In this particular drawing, I drew the rune out with my left hand, the hand of strength. In note, all of my runes are hand-crafted without electrical tools and hand-pyrographed into hand-cut circles of apple wood of equal size.) The rune I drew was Sowilo.
“Sowilo guides and leads you to the doorway, then waits for your return.” ... rune poem, author unknown
Sowilo, the Sun rune, is also known as the victory rune - it guides to and brings up honor, victory, success, revelation and wholeness. Importantly, Sowilo is a life-giving force. It's driving energy is not one of destruction. It's driving energy is one which activates one's inner Divinity to mobilize action of one's highest values within the given situation to catalyze transmutation of one's highest will and thought into manifest reality. Sowilo makes enlightenment real.
This Shabbat Saturday morning, the day following the meeting Friday, and opposite in time to the Thursday night rune drawing, as Sowilo waited for my return to the runes, I returned, drawing a retroceding rune (such that the two rune drawings sandwiched the Friday meeting, both anteceding and retroceding it, with magical energy). As per my usual procedure as described above, yet this time with my right hand to provide balance, amazingly I drew Isa - the Ice rune force which expertly balances and focuses Sowilo.
“Ice only appears to stop a river’s flow.” ... rune poem, author unknown
Isa wards, focuses and concentrates the success and enlightenment brought up by Sowilo onto and into the target situation and magical working. Isa restabilizes the natural instability surrounding the act of transmutation, brought up both through Sowilo and through the magical Hebrew word וְהוֹקַע in this week's parsha meaning "raise up." Isa freezes, brings to stillness and neutralizes other potential negative meanings (namely, "to condemn" or "to execute") of the word וְהוֹקַע to energetically focus, concentrate and bring into single-minded action the positive meaning of the word וְהוֹקַע - namely, "to raise up."
Isa is also the rune of satisfying, meditative quiet rest. Like Shabbat.
Together, Sowilo and Isa correspond to the elusive soul power of hishtavut (equanimity), the ability to live with harmony in the most profound reality of the Cosmos. One who is shown to possess such equanimity shows oneself to be One with the Cosmos.
The vardlokkur for this Shabbat morning is Cosmos. Oh, how beautifully the Cosmos speaks in me!
וְהוֹקַע אוֹתָם לַיהוָה, נֶגֶד הַשָּׁמֶשׁ
and raise them up in the face of the sun ... Bamidbar 25:4
Thursday night before an important meeting Friday, with the word-locking warding power characteristic of Vardlokkur, I drew one magical rune out of my rune-pouch to reveal and draw out the energy which would characterize the meeting the next morning. (As always, as with every divination I do using magical alphabets, the act of drawing was made by putting one of my hands into the pouch and drawing out the rune to which my hand is drawn - I do not see any of the runes until after one is drawn and taken out of the pouch. In this particular drawing, I drew the rune out with my left hand, the hand of strength. In note, all of my runes are hand-crafted without electrical tools and hand-pyrographed into hand-cut circles of apple wood of equal size.) The rune I drew was Sowilo.“Sowilo guides and leads you to the doorway, then waits for your return.” ... rune poem, author unknown
Sowilo, the Sun rune, is also known as the victory rune - it guides to and brings up honor, victory, success, revelation and wholeness. Importantly, Sowilo is a life-giving force. It's driving energy is not one of destruction. It's driving energy is one which activates one's inner Divinity to mobilize action of one's highest values within the given situation to catalyze transmutation of one's highest will and thought into manifest reality. Sowilo makes enlightenment real.
This Shabbat Saturday morning, the day following the meeting Friday, and opposite in time to the Thursday night rune drawing, as Sowilo waited for my return to the runes, I returned, drawing a retroceding rune (such that the two rune drawings sandwiched the Friday meeting, both anteceding and retroceding it, with magical energy). As per my usual procedure as described above, yet this time with my right hand to provide balance, amazingly I drew Isa - the Ice rune force which expertly balances and focuses Sowilo.“Ice only appears to stop a river’s flow.” ... rune poem, author unknown
Isa wards, focuses and concentrates the success and enlightenment brought up by Sowilo onto and into the target situation and magical working. Isa restabilizes the natural instability surrounding the act of transmutation, brought up both through Sowilo and through the magical Hebrew word וְהוֹקַע in this week's parsha meaning "raise up." Isa freezes, brings to stillness and neutralizes other potential negative meanings (namely, "to condemn" or "to execute") of the word וְהוֹקַע to energetically focus, concentrate and bring into single-minded action the positive meaning of the word וְהוֹקַע - namely, "to raise up."
Isa is also the rune of satisfying, meditative quiet rest. Like Shabbat.
Together, Sowilo and Isa correspond to the elusive soul power of hishtavut (equanimity), the ability to live with harmony in the most profound reality of the Cosmos. One who is shown to possess such equanimity shows oneself to be One with the Cosmos.
The vardlokkur for this Shabbat morning is Cosmos. Oh, how beautifully the Cosmos speaks in me!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Vital Achdut
Chukat
וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה, בַּלֶּחֶם הַקְּלֹקֵל
and our soul is sick with poor vitality ... Bamidbar 21:5
This phrase tells us that the singular soul (nefesh, not nefashot) of the bodies (not the individual bodies nor the plural souls), of the complainers was "sick with poor vitality." One can suggest then that the complainers were united in a high level of achdut. In fact, their level of achdut was so refined that their nefesh soul was counted as a singular united organism. Having achieved this high level of achdut, the soul required a nourishment that the manna of the desert no longer provided.
וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה, בַּלֶּחֶם הַקְּלֹקֵל
and our soul is sick with poor vitality ... Bamidbar 21:5
This phrase tells us that the singular soul (nefesh, not nefashot) of the bodies (not the individual bodies nor the plural souls), of the complainers was "sick with poor vitality." One can suggest then that the complainers were united in a high level of achdut. In fact, their level of achdut was so refined that their nefesh soul was counted as a singular united organism. Having achieved this high level of achdut, the soul required a nourishment that the manna of the desert no longer provided.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Korach's Argument And Aharon's Magical Staff
Korach
וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה-אַהֲרֹן, לְבֵית לֵוִי; וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח וַיָּצֵץ צִיץ, וַיִּגְמֹל שְׁקֵדִים
and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds ... Bamidbar 17:23
The Magical Staff - the Essence Witchcraft, the Old Religion
The almond is native to the Mediterranean region as far eastward as the Indus Valley, the very cradle of human civilization. Inhabited since 470,000 BCE, through the Indus Valley came the essence of Witchcraft, the Old Religion.
The Flower of Korach
In the Old Religion of the Indus Valley civilization of Sind, as in ancient and modern Witchcraft, there was no centralized ordained clergy (page 23). Each person was her or his own priestess or priest. Each home had its own shrine. There were group gatherings and festivals for the Sun, Moon and seasonal celebrations. The people revered the mother Goddess.
The Bud of Celtic Witchcraft
Interestingly, down through the golden threads of sacred time, the ancient figure of Celtic Cernunnos (first photo) bears a striking resemblance to the figure (second photo) of Indus Siva (from which Hindu Shiva derives) found on an ancient seal dated c.2500-1500 BCE excavated at Mohenjo-Daro.
Giving birth to Celtic culture, the sacred mother Danube river was named for the Celtic mother Goddess Danu. Danu is also the name of an early Hindu mother Goddess of primeval waters. The descendants of the Goddess Danu, in both Celtic and Hindu culture, are called Children of Danu.
Mounting evidence, both religious and archeological, clearly links the origin of ancient Celtic culture with the ancient Dravidian culture of the Indus Valley. Evidence also suggests that the earliest civilizations of Mesopotamia, including biblical Ur, the mother city of the Semitic peoples, were themselves colonial outposts of a mother civilization from the Indus Valley.
The Ripe Almonds - People of the Book
As Jews are people of the Torah, as Christians are people of the Bible, and as Muslims are people of the Koran, so too are Witches people of the Book. In a witch's Book of Shadows, Goddess continues to write and weave Her magic down through golden threads of time. Unlike the newer patriarchal religions, the Mother's Old Religion still to this day, unencumbered by caste or rank or political power, bestows priestesshood and priesthood upon each individual who practices it in her or his own dwelling, before her or his own Earthy shrine to the Divinity of which we are all made.
The Argument of Korach and the Magical Staff of Aharon
Importantly, taking all this together, we can see that within the history and modern reality of Witchcraft, both the argument of Korach (containing an element of the idea that everyone among the congregation is a priest/priestess) and the magical staff of Aharon (which flowered, budded and bore ripe almonds to demonstrate chosenness for priesthood - and priestesshood) are One.
So mote it be. אמן
וְהִנֵּה פָּרַח מַטֵּה-אַהֲרֹן, לְבֵית לֵוִי; וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח וַיָּצֵץ צִיץ, וַיִּגְמֹל שְׁקֵדִים
and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds ... Bamidbar 17:23
The Magical Staff - the Essence Witchcraft, the Old Religion
The almond is native to the Mediterranean region as far eastward as the Indus Valley, the very cradle of human civilization. Inhabited since 470,000 BCE, through the Indus Valley came the essence of Witchcraft, the Old Religion.
The Flower of Korach
In the Old Religion of the Indus Valley civilization of Sind, as in ancient and modern Witchcraft, there was no centralized ordained clergy (page 23). Each person was her or his own priestess or priest. Each home had its own shrine. There were group gatherings and festivals for the Sun, Moon and seasonal celebrations. The people revered the mother Goddess.
The Bud of Celtic Witchcraft
Interestingly, down through the golden threads of sacred time, the ancient figure of Celtic Cernunnos (first photo) bears a striking resemblance to the figure (second photo) of Indus Siva (from which Hindu Shiva derives) found on an ancient seal dated c.2500-1500 BCE excavated at Mohenjo-Daro.
Giving birth to Celtic culture, the sacred mother Danube river was named for the Celtic mother Goddess Danu. Danu is also the name of an early Hindu mother Goddess of primeval waters. The descendants of the Goddess Danu, in both Celtic and Hindu culture, are called Children of Danu.
Mounting evidence, both religious and archeological, clearly links the origin of ancient Celtic culture with the ancient Dravidian culture of the Indus Valley. Evidence also suggests that the earliest civilizations of Mesopotamia, including biblical Ur, the mother city of the Semitic peoples, were themselves colonial outposts of a mother civilization from the Indus Valley.
The Ripe Almonds - People of the Book
As Jews are people of the Torah, as Christians are people of the Bible, and as Muslims are people of the Koran, so too are Witches people of the Book. In a witch's Book of Shadows, Goddess continues to write and weave Her magic down through golden threads of time. Unlike the newer patriarchal religions, the Mother's Old Religion still to this day, unencumbered by caste or rank or political power, bestows priestesshood and priesthood upon each individual who practices it in her or his own dwelling, before her or his own Earthy shrine to the Divinity of which we are all made.
The Argument of Korach and the Magical Staff of Aharon
Importantly, taking all this together, we can see that within the history and modern reality of Witchcraft, both the argument of Korach (containing an element of the idea that everyone among the congregation is a priest/priestess) and the magical staff of Aharon (which flowered, budded and bore ripe almonds to demonstrate chosenness for priesthood - and priestesshood) are One.
So mote it be. אמן
Saturday, June 5, 2010
An Ancient Book Of Shadows
Sh'lach
יְהוָה, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב-חֶסֶד, נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן, וָפָשַׁע; וְנַקֵּה, לֹא יְנַקֶּה
The LORD is slow to anger, and plenteous in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and that will by no means clear the guilty ... Bamidbar 14:18
These midot (measures and character traits) - slowness to anger, lovingkindness and forgiveness of transgression - will not clear, will not clean up, will not acquit guilt.
The question now is, what will human beings do?
The Universe pauses to observe.
The total gematria of the Hebrew excerpt above is 1948, with a digit sum of 22 and a final digit sum of 4.
1948 = the year Israel became a nation
22 = the number of magical letters in the Hebrew alphabet
4 = the door into will
In Torah, an ancient Book of Shadows belonging to Humanity, is recorded an alchemical occult procedure for removing the alien infection of human will. As is every mystery Book of Shadows, the cleansing interpretation of the instructions is protected by encryption of the text. How do we read it and how do we act upon our reading of it?
Related dream - Tzaraat, The Mystery Under The Skin
יְהוָה, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב-חֶסֶד, נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן, וָפָשַׁע; וְנַקֵּה, לֹא יְנַקֶּה
The LORD is slow to anger, and plenteous in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and that will by no means clear the guilty ... Bamidbar 14:18
These midot (measures and character traits) - slowness to anger, lovingkindness and forgiveness of transgression - will not clear, will not clean up, will not acquit guilt.
The question now is, what will human beings do?
The Universe pauses to observe.
The total gematria of the Hebrew excerpt above is 1948, with a digit sum of 22 and a final digit sum of 4.
1948 = the year Israel became a nation
22 = the number of magical letters in the Hebrew alphabet
4 = the door into will
In Torah, an ancient Book of Shadows belonging to Humanity, is recorded an alchemical occult procedure for removing the alien infection of human will. As is every mystery Book of Shadows, the cleansing interpretation of the instructions is protected by encryption of the text. How do we read it and how do we act upon our reading of it?
Related dream - Tzaraat, The Mystery Under The Skin
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Fifth Element, The Elixir Of Life
Beha'alotcha
וְזֶה מַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנֹרָה
and this is the work of the candlestick ... Bamidbar 8:4
The gematria of the Hebrew phrase above is 13 (echad), with a digit sum of 4 - earth, air, fire and water. The work of the candlestick is to make manifest the fifth element, the elixir of life available to us in unity of being through the lifeblood of the unified Universe. Gypsies call this fifth elemental elixir mi douvals zee - the Zee Energy.
The Zee Energy runs through and permeates the Universe like blood runs through our vascular system and permeates our bodies through an expanding and spreading network of blood vessels and capillaries. Like within our veins and arteries is concentrated the flow of our blood, within the ley lines and dragon paths of the earth is concentrated the flow of the lifeforce of the fifth elemental energy. Understand then that within our own bodies exists magic sympathy with the powerful ley lines and dragon paths of the earth.
Lighting the Lamp of the Sticky Soul
As oxygen and other nutrients are delivered to our tissues through tiny capillaries, so too is the energy of the fifth element brought into our physical being through the interface of our body and our sticky soul (our animal soul and pure child nature). Feri tradition Witchcraft teaches that our sticky soul is very closely aligned with our physical body. Energy 'sticks' to our sticky soul, and through it, energy from the Universe may be drawn into our physical body. Energy may also be stored in our sticky soul like a battery.
Lighting the Lamp of the Body
Also like a battery, Gypsy Witchcraft teaches that within the protected boundaries of our physical body, the energy of the fifth element may be stored like a ball of radiant light. This light may be utilized for magic and should be kept replenished when expended.
Here is a Gypsy technique for bringing in and storing within yourself the light of the fifth element - Zee Energy Meditation [excerpt from Gypsy Magic by Patrinella Cooper]:
בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ, אֶת-הַנֵּרֹת, אֶל-מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת
When you catalyze the lighting of the lamps, at the right time the lamps shall give full light ...
Magic is not only the rituals you do, magic is what you are.
וְזֶה מַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנֹרָה
and this is the work of the candlestick ... Bamidbar 8:4
The gematria of the Hebrew phrase above is 13 (echad), with a digit sum of 4 - earth, air, fire and water. The work of the candlestick is to make manifest the fifth element, the elixir of life available to us in unity of being through the lifeblood of the unified Universe. Gypsies call this fifth elemental elixir mi douvals zee - the Zee Energy.
The Zee Energy runs through and permeates the Universe like blood runs through our vascular system and permeates our bodies through an expanding and spreading network of blood vessels and capillaries. Like within our veins and arteries is concentrated the flow of our blood, within the ley lines and dragon paths of the earth is concentrated the flow of the lifeforce of the fifth elemental energy. Understand then that within our own bodies exists magic sympathy with the powerful ley lines and dragon paths of the earth.
Lighting the Lamp of the Sticky Soul
As oxygen and other nutrients are delivered to our tissues through tiny capillaries, so too is the energy of the fifth element brought into our physical being through the interface of our body and our sticky soul (our animal soul and pure child nature). Feri tradition Witchcraft teaches that our sticky soul is very closely aligned with our physical body. Energy 'sticks' to our sticky soul, and through it, energy from the Universe may be drawn into our physical body. Energy may also be stored in our sticky soul like a battery.
Lighting the Lamp of the Body
Also like a battery, Gypsy Witchcraft teaches that within the protected boundaries of our physical body, the energy of the fifth element may be stored like a ball of radiant light. This light may be utilized for magic and should be kept replenished when expended.
Here is a Gypsy technique for bringing in and storing within yourself the light of the fifth element - Zee Energy Meditation [excerpt from Gypsy Magic by Patrinella Cooper]:
Find a place that has a comfortable feel for you, a spot that feels welcoming, preferably outdoors. It is good to lie on the grass, or lean against a tree or rock, but sit on something comfortable if that feels better. If it is more convenient to be indoors, try to fill your room with harmony and life. Have growing things about you. Burn pleasant incense or oil, maybe a candle or two if that pleases you. The main thing is to feel relaxed.
Don't try to clear your mind of thoughts: to try to do so consciously often has the opposite effect of making one tense. Let your mind range where it will. If you feel like looking around, look around! Notice the flowers, the sound of the birds, the wind through the leaves, the distant noise of traffic and people. Gradually your thoughts will quieten.
As your mind becomes still, imagine your body becoming less solid, your skin - the barrier between you and the outside world - melting. Imagine the zee energy shimmering all around you, permeating the earth beneath, the air above you. Feel the zee tingling around your body like electricity.
Take slow, deep breaths, drawing the air down into your stomach. With each breath visualise the sparkling zee being drawn into your body through every pore, through the soles of the feet, palms of the hand, and crown of the head.
Continue in this way until the zee fills your whole body with vibrant glowing energy, and you feel yourself bursting with light. Now gradually close the barriers between you and the world again, to enclose the zee energy within your body. Feel your skin become solid again. Gradually the light drains from the extremities towards the torso. then concentrate the light into a glowing ball situated in the region of the solar plexus. Concentrate your mind for a few moments on the reassuring feel of this ball of light, your own power house of energy, then darken it with an imaginary cover that will keep it safe, deep inside yourself until it is needed.
Do this exercise whenever you can, ideally every day. Don't worry if you can't complete it every time; don't worry if you fall asleep half way through; just sitting quietly for a while is of great benefit to the psyche, so the time is never wasted.
בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ, אֶת-הַנֵּרֹת, אֶל-מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת
When you catalyze the lighting of the lamps, at the right time the lamps shall give full light ...
Magic is not only the rituals you do, magic is what you are.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Skin Of The Magical Tachash
Naso
The Bowels of the Earth
and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels ... Bamidbar 5:22
וּבָאוּ הַמַּיִם הַמְאָרְרִים הָאֵלֶּה, בְּמֵעַיִךְ
The Crusty End
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had made an end of setting up the tabernacle ... Bamidbar 7:1
וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם כַּלּוֹת מֹשֶׁה לְהָקִים אֶת-הַמִּשְׁכָּן
Back to the Future - Reflection on the Skin of the Magical Tachash
כְּסוּי עוֹר תַּחַשׁ
a skin will make haste to cover ... Bamidbar 4:6
Sometimes translated as "a covering sealskin" or as "a covering tachash skin", the Hebrew phrase above may also be translated as "a skin will make haste to cover." When prefixed to a verb stem, the Hebrew letter tav (ת) indicates the future tense. The verb stem, in this case, are the two magical Hebrew letters chet-shin (חש), which together mean to make haste and to hurry.
There is no three-letter Hebrew root תחש (the letters comprising the word tachash), but there are three-letter Hebrew roots where the fiery-letter shin (ש) is substituted with the Hebrew letters in the alphabet before and after the fiery-letter shin. Before the letter shin in the alphabet is the letter reish (ר). The Hebrew root tav-chet-reish (תחר) means to protect. Following the letter shin in the alphabet is the letter tav (ת). The Hebrew root tav-chet-tav (תחת) means place below, being underneath and in place of. Taken together, the Hebrew root tav-chet-shin (תחש), namely the tachash, refers to something being in a place underneath something which protects something.
The tachash (תחש) is a magical biblical creature created specifically in the making of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Before the moment of its specific singleminded creation, it does not exist. Torah gives us instructions on how to make the Mishkan using the skin of a tachash, therefore, in the future tense - because until it is actually made, the tachash does not exist. Once the Miskhan is actually being made, in the moment of its creation, a tachash too is created ... and a skin will make haste to cover it. It's pure magic!
A Skin Made Haste To Cover It - As I dreamt, it was made - a protective skin covering and holding back the flowing fire for that standing beneath it.
From my earlier entry today [Dreams and Visions on the Divine Feminine Power of Resistance] from Walking On Fire:
Last night I dreamt.
I was visiting a small town to the east of me in the midwest. The small town was not any which inhabits my real life. The entire town consisted of magical practitioners. There was a murdering group loose in the town, but the townspeople suspected among themselves that there was a single murderer and that it was me, because I was not a native of the town. Even though I knew that there was a renegade group as opposed a single individual who was doing the murders, I couldn't identify the individuals who comprised the group. The town was investigating me. I was investigating members of the town. The group of murderers was alert to the murder investigations, and that I had them on my radar. They hid and laid low.
As the investigations proceeded, it became clear that the town was in trouble. The land upon which it stood and to the south of it was shifting due to activity in the earth's core and mantle. A huge wall of molten earth and lava rose up in the south like a tsunami wave. But, as it approached the town, when it saw me, the face of its surface cooled and crusted, forming a wall of crusted earth with molten lava dammed up behind it. For now, the town was safe. I knew that if I left the town at this point in time, the cooled crusty face of the dammed lava wall would melt enabling the wall of molten earth and fiery lava to pour down upon the town.
I began waking up. As I was waking, I saw the land making up the west coast of the United States collapse into the bowels of the earth. Then, the sea poured in and covered over where the land had been.
As I was opening my eyes, words spoke through my mind saying, "your path is diverted." In my mind, I knew that the path of my life, unseen by me, had been leading me toward moving or traveling to the west coast, but now that path had been diverted. My life path is not heading me toward the west coast any longer.
Related entry - Yabok and the Power of Witchcraft
Just a laboratory note for my Book of Shadows - Since around the time this Torah cycle began, my practice is to not read any of the weekly parsha until the moment I am ready to post my commentary on it - in other words (just like the creation of the magical tachash), I don't read a parsha until the moment of the creation of my commentary on it. Also, last night's dream and this morning's vision preceded my reading of and commentary on Naso.
The Bowels of the Earth
and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels ... Bamidbar 5:22
וּבָאוּ הַמַּיִם הַמְאָרְרִים הָאֵלֶּה, בְּמֵעַיִךְ
The Crusty End
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had made an end of setting up the tabernacle ... Bamidbar 7:1
וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם כַּלּוֹת מֹשֶׁה לְהָקִים אֶת-הַמִּשְׁכָּן
Back to the Future - Reflection on the Skin of the Magical Tachash
כְּסוּי עוֹר תַּחַשׁ
a skin will make haste to cover ... Bamidbar 4:6
Sometimes translated as "a covering sealskin" or as "a covering tachash skin", the Hebrew phrase above may also be translated as "a skin will make haste to cover." When prefixed to a verb stem, the Hebrew letter tav (ת) indicates the future tense. The verb stem, in this case, are the two magical Hebrew letters chet-shin (חש), which together mean to make haste and to hurry.
There is no three-letter Hebrew root תחש (the letters comprising the word tachash), but there are three-letter Hebrew roots where the fiery-letter shin (ש) is substituted with the Hebrew letters in the alphabet before and after the fiery-letter shin. Before the letter shin in the alphabet is the letter reish (ר). The Hebrew root tav-chet-reish (תחר) means to protect. Following the letter shin in the alphabet is the letter tav (ת). The Hebrew root tav-chet-tav (תחת) means place below, being underneath and in place of. Taken together, the Hebrew root tav-chet-shin (תחש), namely the tachash, refers to something being in a place underneath something which protects something.
The tachash (תחש) is a magical biblical creature created specifically in the making of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Before the moment of its specific singleminded creation, it does not exist. Torah gives us instructions on how to make the Mishkan using the skin of a tachash, therefore, in the future tense - because until it is actually made, the tachash does not exist. Once the Miskhan is actually being made, in the moment of its creation, a tachash too is created ... and a skin will make haste to cover it. It's pure magic!
A Skin Made Haste To Cover It - As I dreamt, it was made - a protective skin covering and holding back the flowing fire for that standing beneath it.
From my earlier entry today [Dreams and Visions on the Divine Feminine Power of Resistance] from Walking On Fire:
Last night I dreamt.
I was visiting a small town to the east of me in the midwest. The small town was not any which inhabits my real life. The entire town consisted of magical practitioners. There was a murdering group loose in the town, but the townspeople suspected among themselves that there was a single murderer and that it was me, because I was not a native of the town. Even though I knew that there was a renegade group as opposed a single individual who was doing the murders, I couldn't identify the individuals who comprised the group. The town was investigating me. I was investigating members of the town. The group of murderers was alert to the murder investigations, and that I had them on my radar. They hid and laid low.
As the investigations proceeded, it became clear that the town was in trouble. The land upon which it stood and to the south of it was shifting due to activity in the earth's core and mantle. A huge wall of molten earth and lava rose up in the south like a tsunami wave. But, as it approached the town, when it saw me, the face of its surface cooled and crusted, forming a wall of crusted earth with molten lava dammed up behind it. For now, the town was safe. I knew that if I left the town at this point in time, the cooled crusty face of the dammed lava wall would melt enabling the wall of molten earth and fiery lava to pour down upon the town.
I began waking up. As I was waking, I saw the land making up the west coast of the United States collapse into the bowels of the earth. Then, the sea poured in and covered over where the land had been.
As I was opening my eyes, words spoke through my mind saying, "your path is diverted." In my mind, I knew that the path of my life, unseen by me, had been leading me toward moving or traveling to the west coast, but now that path had been diverted. My life path is not heading me toward the west coast any longer.
Related entry - Yabok and the Power of Witchcraft
Just a laboratory note for my Book of Shadows - Since around the time this Torah cycle began, my practice is to not read any of the weekly parsha until the moment I am ready to post my commentary on it - in other words (just like the creation of the magical tachash), I don't read a parsha until the moment of the creation of my commentary on it. Also, last night's dream and this morning's vision preceded my reading of and commentary on Naso.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Yabok And The Power Of Witchcraft
Bamidbar
אִישׁ עַל-דִּגְלוֹ בְאֹתֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם, יַחֲנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
The children of Israel shall pitch by their fathers' houses; every man with his own standard [input]
מִנֶּגֶד
according to the ensigns [resistor]
סָבִיב לְאֹהֶל-מוֹעֵד יַחֲנוּ
a good way off shall they pitch round about the tent of meeting [output] ... Bamidbar 2:2
On Yabok (יבק), tradition teaches -
Kedushah - Wholiness
In follow-up to The Healing Feeling of Wholeness and A Year To Reveal All Good, this week's Torah portion tells us how to regulate, direct and amplify the proper flow of blessing so that it is experienced as all good and is not overwhelming to our ability to safely receive it.
The Hebrew word מִנֶּגֶד can refer to the load resistor mechanism like in an amplifying transistor which regulates electrical currents. The gematria of מִנֶּגֶד is 97, with a digit sum of 16, and a final reduced digit sum of 7. Seven is the value for the magical Hebrew letter zayin. Connected to the concept of aur chozer, zayin corresponds to the Divine Feminine Power to resist, reflect, reorganize and redirect. As explained in The Healing Feeling of Wholeness, in my own personal experience, the power of zayin to manage Divine Energy is found in Witchcraft.
Berachah - Blessing
The gematria of the entire Hebrew phrase loading as input onto the resistor is 2819, reducing to a digit sum of 20, and to a final digit sum of 2. The value of 2 pertains to the magical Hebrew letter beit, corresponding to berachah (blessing).
Yichud - Unification
The gematria of the entire phrase following as output from the resistor is 334, reducing to a digit sum of 10, and to a final digit sum of 1. The value of 1 pertains to the magical Hebrew letter alef, corresponding to the perfect balance achieved by moving in rhythm with the flow of one's own inner messianic Divine Spark, and to actualizing Unity in Multiplicity. Now, the blessing flowing out from the resistor mechanism is balanced and remains in essential unity even as the blessing becomes expressed in an amplified multiplicity of ways.
Through zayin, Witchcraft is for me the measure (קבי) through which Divine Blessing is safely made manifest. Witchcraft brings the blessing down into reality in proper measure, making it all good. With Witchcraft, it all comes together.
אִישׁ עַל-דִּגְלוֹ בְאֹתֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם, יַחֲנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
The children of Israel shall pitch by their fathers' houses; every man with his own standard [input]
מִנֶּגֶד
according to the ensigns [resistor]
סָבִיב לְאֹהֶל-מוֹעֵד יַחֲנוּ
a good way off shall they pitch round about the tent of meeting [output] ... Bamidbar 2:2
On Yabok (יבק), tradition teaches -
Yabok is the name of the river which Jacob transversed upon entering Israel, before his encounter with his brother Esau.
In Kabbalah, Yabok is an acronym for Yichud ["unification"], Berachah ["blessing"], Kedushah ["holiness"]). Of the varying interpretations with regard to the three levels of this most fundamental idiom and teaching of Kabbalah--yichud, berachah and kedushah--the most often cited and expounded upon in the classic texts of Chassidut is that the three concepts correspond to the three general ascending levels of the soul: nefesh, ruach and neshamah; or one's "world" of action--his ability to relate and unite with outer reality, one's "world" of emotion--the blessing of abundant emotive energy, and one's "world" of meditation--the experience of holiness as a transcendent connection with the realm of the Divine.
The word Yabok equals 112 in gematria, the combined value of the two Names (referred to together as G-d's "full Name") Havayah (26)--Elokim (86); and as well the combined value of the three Names: Ekyeh (21), Havayah (26), Adnut (65), which themselves correspond to the three levels of Yabok.
Kedushah - Wholiness
In follow-up to The Healing Feeling of Wholeness and A Year To Reveal All Good, this week's Torah portion tells us how to regulate, direct and amplify the proper flow of blessing so that it is experienced as all good and is not overwhelming to our ability to safely receive it.
The Hebrew word מִנֶּגֶד can refer to the load resistor mechanism like in an amplifying transistor which regulates electrical currents. The gematria of מִנֶּגֶד is 97, with a digit sum of 16, and a final reduced digit sum of 7. Seven is the value for the magical Hebrew letter zayin. Connected to the concept of aur chozer, zayin corresponds to the Divine Feminine Power to resist, reflect, reorganize and redirect. As explained in The Healing Feeling of Wholeness, in my own personal experience, the power of zayin to manage Divine Energy is found in Witchcraft.
Berachah - Blessing
The gematria of the entire Hebrew phrase loading as input onto the resistor is 2819, reducing to a digit sum of 20, and to a final digit sum of 2. The value of 2 pertains to the magical Hebrew letter beit, corresponding to berachah (blessing).
Yichud - Unification
The gematria of the entire phrase following as output from the resistor is 334, reducing to a digit sum of 10, and to a final digit sum of 1. The value of 1 pertains to the magical Hebrew letter alef, corresponding to the perfect balance achieved by moving in rhythm with the flow of one's own inner messianic Divine Spark, and to actualizing Unity in Multiplicity. Now, the blessing flowing out from the resistor mechanism is balanced and remains in essential unity even as the blessing becomes expressed in an amplified multiplicity of ways.
Through zayin, Witchcraft is for me the measure (קבי) through which Divine Blessing is safely made manifest. Witchcraft brings the blessing down into reality in proper measure, making it all good. With Witchcraft, it all comes together.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
A Year To Reveal All Good
Behar-Bechukotai
אֵת שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה
the fiftieth year ... Vayikra 25:10
The total gematria of this phrase is 1907, reducing to digit sums of 17 and 8. Seventeen and eight comprise the gematriot of the magical word tov (meaning good) made of magical Hebrew letters and the magical Hebrew letter chet (meaning life). The fiftieth year is thus an auspicious year in which all good is enabled by the very fabric of reality to become widely revealed in one's life. The move of all good out from a state of concealment into stark revelation, not only has already begun for me, but as written this past Monday, the Ingwaz force has forthtold and forthsent the blessing of the fiftieth year as well. Even greater blessing, revelation and understanding are on the way.
At 49 years of age, I'm approaching my fiftieth year of life. After a lifetime of suffering, life now has never been better for me in so many ways. It's only going to get better.
I've lost most of the weight I gained while suffering from a period several years ago of deep clinical depression (which discovering Witchcraft relieved in me - thank Goddess!). My skin is still youthful despite years of suffering (or perhaps, because of it). I have a unique style and feel very good in it. I love being the witch that I am. I'm still healthy and mentally alert. And best of all - I have joy and a loving family. And it's only going to get better - my fiftieth year is going to be an awesome and extraordinary year. I know it - and so does the Universe.
Even my new county employer is gleaning benefits at the corners of my field of blessing. Just yesterday, the Director of Nurses remarked that the facility's census (both general facility and Medicare) has "never been this high." My work is hopping and reimbursements are on the rise! In contrast, I've been informed through the grapevine that the census at the place of my former employer has "never been so low" - and that their Medicare census is hemorrhaging at record lows. It looks like I took my blessing with me when I left there.
Indeed, my fiftieth year promises to be amazing.
[Just an interesting eclectic observation perhaps unique to me - In Witchcraft I find in myself the archetype of Naomi (the power to overcome depression and to build a better future). In Judaism I find in myself the archetype of Boaz (owner of a field of blessing).]
אֵת שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה
the fiftieth year ... Vayikra 25:10
The total gematria of this phrase is 1907, reducing to digit sums of 17 and 8. Seventeen and eight comprise the gematriot of the magical word tov (meaning good) made of magical Hebrew letters and the magical Hebrew letter chet (meaning life). The fiftieth year is thus an auspicious year in which all good is enabled by the very fabric of reality to become widely revealed in one's life. The move of all good out from a state of concealment into stark revelation, not only has already begun for me, but as written this past Monday, the Ingwaz force has forthtold and forthsent the blessing of the fiftieth year as well. Even greater blessing, revelation and understanding are on the way.
At 49 years of age, I'm approaching my fiftieth year of life. After a lifetime of suffering, life now has never been better for me in so many ways. It's only going to get better.
I've lost most of the weight I gained while suffering from a period several years ago of deep clinical depression (which discovering Witchcraft relieved in me - thank Goddess!). My skin is still youthful despite years of suffering (or perhaps, because of it). I have a unique style and feel very good in it. I love being the witch that I am. I'm still healthy and mentally alert. And best of all - I have joy and a loving family. And it's only going to get better - my fiftieth year is going to be an awesome and extraordinary year. I know it - and so does the Universe.
Even my new county employer is gleaning benefits at the corners of my field of blessing. Just yesterday, the Director of Nurses remarked that the facility's census (both general facility and Medicare) has "never been this high." My work is hopping and reimbursements are on the rise! In contrast, I've been informed through the grapevine that the census at the place of my former employer has "never been so low" - and that their Medicare census is hemorrhaging at record lows. It looks like I took my blessing with me when I left there.
Indeed, my fiftieth year promises to be amazing.
[Just an interesting eclectic observation perhaps unique to me - In Witchcraft I find in myself the archetype of Naomi (the power to overcome depression and to build a better future). In Judaism I find in myself the archetype of Boaz (owner of a field of blessing).]
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Blessing Of The Cursed
Shabbat Sabbat Beltane, 32 Days of the Omer
Emor
הוֹצֵא אֶת-הַמְקַלֵּל
eject the one who has cursed ... Vayikra 24:14
The psycho-spiritual energy it takes to create and send forth an effective curse is massive. Anger constitutes the only energy able to fuel the manifestation of a curse's intention into reality. No other energy has the power to do it. Casting a curse against someone, whether through direct or indirect intention (i.e., active or passive ill-will), takes an extraordinary self-investment of energy.
During the active or passive act of cursing, the energy raised by the curse-caster to fuel a curse is transferred from the curse-caster to the object of the curse. Such a powerful transference of energy surely taxes and typically wipes out the curse-caster's psycho-spiritual energy reserves. Consequently, experienced practitioners of the magical arts rarely cast a curse. It costs the soul too much power to engage in a frivolous practice of cursing.
The experienced practitioner of the magical arts takes understanding advantage of energetic dynamics when faced with an enemy who has cursed her.
On understanding magical energy from Dorothy Morrison's Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions:
Consequently, the experienced practitioner of the magical arts understands that negative energy should never be returned to the sender through reversing the energy of the sender's curse and sending it back to the person or casting one's own curse against the person. Dorothy goes on to write:
Think about it. Dorothy continues:
All energy is a gift, even the energy of curse. When an experienced practitioner of the magical arts is cursed by someone who actively or passively wishes her ill-will, the experienced witch fully accepts the gift of energy and rearranges its pixels of negativity into pixels of positive blessing. After all, like pixels on the computer, pixels of energy can be moved around and transformed into something beautiful by the artist within whom they find life. Ultimately, it is the soul of the one who ends up with the energy which determines how the pixels come together as a pattern on the screen of her life. Even though the curse-caster may send the pattern of a curse, that pattern may dissolve and rearrange into a pattern of blessing once the energy arrives in the soul of the "cursed."
We can see then that, when a vengeful or inexperienced person curses an experienced witch, all that person is effectively doing is providing the witch with more energy to fill her life with more blessing. Given that the amount of energy it takes to muster up an effective curse is massive, the potential for blessing is equally massive.
We can also see why Torah commands one who has cursed to be removed from the collective camp - because one who has cursed has transferred energy out of the camp and has given it over to another camp through the process of "cursing." Energy constitutes both manifest curses and manifest blessings. Thus, by giving away energy through a curse, cursing is like giving away the energy which also constitutes the camp's Divine blessing. Considering this, we can see that it is actually for transferring energy (which ultimately constitutes all manifest blessing) out of the camp that the curse-caster is commanded to be also cast out of the camp.
Emor
הוֹצֵא אֶת-הַמְקַלֵּל
eject the one who has cursed ... Vayikra 24:14
The psycho-spiritual energy it takes to create and send forth an effective curse is massive. Anger constitutes the only energy able to fuel the manifestation of a curse's intention into reality. No other energy has the power to do it. Casting a curse against someone, whether through direct or indirect intention (i.e., active or passive ill-will), takes an extraordinary self-investment of energy.
During the active or passive act of cursing, the energy raised by the curse-caster to fuel a curse is transferred from the curse-caster to the object of the curse. Such a powerful transference of energy surely taxes and typically wipes out the curse-caster's psycho-spiritual energy reserves. Consequently, experienced practitioners of the magical arts rarely cast a curse. It costs the soul too much power to engage in a frivolous practice of cursing.
The experienced practitioner of the magical arts takes understanding advantage of energetic dynamics when faced with an enemy who has cursed her.
On understanding magical energy from Dorothy Morrison's Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions:
The pixels in a computer graphic ... they are only dots of color - nothing more, nothing less. But when an artist moves them together in a particular order and directs them into a proper measurement, an image forms. The pixels, themselves, have no control over whether the image is dreadful or gloomy, or bright and cheerful. They are, after all, just dots of color. It is the artist who brings the image to light - and evokes the desired feeling from those who view it - by moving and directing the pixels in a certain fashion. The same is true of energy and the practitioner.
Consequently, the experienced practitioner of the magical arts understands that negative energy should never be returned to the sender through reversing the energy of the sender's curse and sending it back to the person or casting one's own curse against the person. Dorothy goes on to write:
Because if both [magical] practitioners have their shields in place - and they certainly should if they're worth their salt - all this is going to do is cause a game of psychic volleyball. The energy is going to just bounce back and forth until someone gets tired. And we can only hope that someone is the practitioner who sent the energy in the first place.
Think about it. Dorothy continues:
Regardless of how it feels, all energy is a gift. It's the very substance from which everything is created. And that being the case, it should never be sent back. Instead, it should be grabbed up, moved and directed, and formed and shaped into something entirely different - something wonderful - something that can be used for personal [or collective] benefit.
All energy is a gift, even the energy of curse. When an experienced practitioner of the magical arts is cursed by someone who actively or passively wishes her ill-will, the experienced witch fully accepts the gift of energy and rearranges its pixels of negativity into pixels of positive blessing. After all, like pixels on the computer, pixels of energy can be moved around and transformed into something beautiful by the artist within whom they find life. Ultimately, it is the soul of the one who ends up with the energy which determines how the pixels come together as a pattern on the screen of her life. Even though the curse-caster may send the pattern of a curse, that pattern may dissolve and rearrange into a pattern of blessing once the energy arrives in the soul of the "cursed."
We can see then that, when a vengeful or inexperienced person curses an experienced witch, all that person is effectively doing is providing the witch with more energy to fill her life with more blessing. Given that the amount of energy it takes to muster up an effective curse is massive, the potential for blessing is equally massive.
We can also see why Torah commands one who has cursed to be removed from the collective camp - because one who has cursed has transferred energy out of the camp and has given it over to another camp through the process of "cursing." Energy constitutes both manifest curses and manifest blessings. Thus, by giving away energy through a curse, cursing is like giving away the energy which also constitutes the camp's Divine blessing. Considering this, we can see that it is actually for transferring energy (which ultimately constitutes all manifest blessing) out of the camp that the curse-caster is commanded to be also cast out of the camp.
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