It is with Knightly honour that we are empowered to have great knowledge from within & without. With such knowledge comes power, a power that is naturally produced & requires no additional influences to achieve great things. Power is not about the control of others, it is about harnessing the inner strength & full understanding of one's purpose in this particular existence, such truth that can only be realised at a knightly level
Where do we go to dream the dark; to crack the illusion of the human heart? Who do we ask and what do we do, When the knowledge we seek is known just by a few? How do we cross the Divine Divide to awaken our powers, free the spirit inside? The Lady waits under the Perfumed Tree; in silence she has waited for eternity. She knows not of time; she knows not of space; she silently watches and steadfastly waits. Her enigmatic smile and her blossoms of white allure and entice to open our hearts. Her musky odour and scents of the night, invite us in for the very last dance. We are drugged by our sins as she spins us around and around, will we fail to see her clues on the ground? Can we chant her words that will open the veil as she spins us around in a far greater game? With her knowledge of black and her knowledge of white she can bestow great truths on this night of nights. But don’t be deceived by the allure of desire, the trappings of flesh and her beautiful attire. With the sun and the moon and the star in fusion we can dance the dance of human union, We can draw down the stars from the Lady’s eyes; we can raise the power from deep inside. With purity and innocence and a greater love, she will allow us our dance our moment of glory. For from beginning to end she has written our story; She can let us drown under the Perfumed Tree in the musky odour of our own desires; Caught in illusion, trapped in a web, still spinning, still dancing yet totally dead. When her blossoms fade and the world turns from green, when the frenzy of white combines with the dark. When lust turns to love and innocence reigns; when this fleeting life is shown as a dream. Who will we turn to; what will we do? Will we know where to find her? Will she want us to? So go drown in the odour of the scents of the flesh for in this Merry Dawn your destiny rests. Only a few will resist the pull and be soul fire cleansed in the dark lit flame. Only a few will face the dawn, will see and smell the Sacred Union. So feel the thrust of that sword as it pierces your heart And go dance the dance of the Light and the Dark
Penned May 2009
Go seek and ye shall find the KT/Craft truths hidden within my poem of words and rhymes….
At The Knights of the Red Order (Previously The Priory) Imbolc is not celebrated as a festival, although we do acknowledge that many religons of this earthy plane have been created from the one source and that mankind has adapted and changed the source over the centuries to suit many different earthly needs.
I wrote this article at a time when i was transitioning from a pagan path to a Craft path, so I have included aspects of a few paths i was familiar with at certain times on my journey, such as wicca, modern day druidry, gnosticism, traditional witchcraft, Templarism and the Serpent Priesthood, in an endevour to look through the veil to discover the real Imbolc. I was kind of fed up with all the modern-day whiteness, brightness and snowdrops etc and was searching for something darker, something much more real…
I have come a long way since i wrote this and indeed am still learning.
Imbolc is acknowledged and celebrated as a pagan festival and is associated with the heralding in of springtime in todays modern world. It is a time when the goddess is said to leave her footprints upon the cold, snowy land and each clump of sprouting snowdrops is said to trace the footprints of where she has walked upon this earth. There are many myths and legends that connect to Imbolc and each path has their own associations. Within my own path, I do not work with the wheel of the year or the Sabbats as such, for that is of the earthly plane teachings. (the eight-pointed wheel is something totally different and much older on my path) The path I follow pre-dates modern paganism and indeed the modern world, although it is very much of the modern world; my knowledge allows me also to view the celebration of the Sabbats from a universal perspective where a deeper meaning can be discovered. So here I have tried to share some alternative viewpoints on the season, also sharing some of my own experiences of paths I have followed. As always the paths and journeys trod aforetime by any of us will always lead us to where we are now in our current time line. It is said that we all endeavour to tread the path towards the Light, but will the Light actually choose to reveal to us that which we truly seek?
Imbolc is celebrated on the 1st of February and lies within the Gnostic Cycle of 21 festivals, and is known as a celebration and understanding of the Goddess, being celebrated on the eve and into the 1st February. At this time it is recognised that the Lilly Leaf will assist us upon our journey as the light begins to awaken. Praise is given to the light returning to the earth and to nature continuing its everlasting cycle of re-birth. The blessing of the union between two souls is at this time. Correspondences of the Serpent Priesthood for Imbolc are:
Strategy: Sulphur.
Stone: Obsidian.
Planet: Sun.
Tool: Sword/Amulug (goddess).
When one thinks of the Sabbats one naturally thinks of the ‘earthly cycles’ and of the earthly seasonal practices relating to the land, but they were also times when the practicing of magic was and is, most favoured. A small snippet from an ancient scripture concerning Imbolc/Candlemas sacred rites, states:
“Evoke the terrible Hastur (i.e. Safian) on Candlemas Night, when the Sun is in Aquarius and Mercury in row”
So I would suspect that in times gone by the celebrations were less about honouring the localised seasons and much more about the timing etc of rites, practices and merryment. One can therefore hazard a guess that the days of celebration and the sabbats do go way back, but were completly different than they are now, and connect to a time way before wiccaa and the modern-day wheel of the year.
Imbolc in some modern-day paths, is often known as being the ideal time of the year when folks cast out into the universe their dreams and hopes for the coming year; a good time for doing the spells and workings for that which they wish to materialise during the year; a kind of magical statement of intent; a time to let the universe know what they want, an ideal time for letting their gods know of their intentions for the burgeoning year.
For a few years I did follow a modern ‘druid’ path inspired by Bobcat (Emma Restall Orr). Druidry has been wrongly referred to by some who follow the path, as the indigenous priesthood of these lands, but that is mis-information and that title goes to other peoples entirely. To this day though a great many of the true rites still remain a mystery and actually lie embedded within oathbound Knights Templar and Craft bloodlines and rites. I did attend many open ‘Druid‘ rituals and the Imbolc rites often involved the honouring and welcoming of the burgeoning light. Personal challenges were often given that forced one out of ones comfort zones, together with the planting of metaphorical seeds that were imbued with whatever the individual needed for growth in the coming year. The rituals could be very profound and deep because these seeds contained within them the hopes and dreams of the individual’s future and were fleeting glimpses through a window into other people’s lives. But like real seeds, these dream seeds too had to be tended and fed in order for them to become reality and to manifest in the real world. If left alone unfed, they too would perish and die, as would real seeds left uncared for. Also as part of the druid path we would often plant seeds or saplings at Imbolc, or find other ways of nourishing the earth as a way of sustaining our connection to the natural world and giving back to the planet a much-needed resource.
So then, what about the real witches I thought? Would the real witches of old have acknowledged this Sabbat and if so just how would they have celebrated it? I like to think that those who followed “The Old Crooked Path” would no doubt have had an appropriate spell, curse or dark rite for this time of year and I would like to think that this would have been an ideal time for conversing with old Lucifer, the Light Bringer, himself. I can certainly imagine that they would have smeared their bodies with dubious herbal substances as they paid homage to “Old Horney” and planted their seeds in ways that I shall leave entirely up to your own imaginations. I was very keen myself to find a ‘real’ connection from the past that led me to this time of year. So after diligently sifting through various old books on witchcraft, I came across this fascinating and interesting account. It is a confession by a one Isobel Gowdie who lived at Auldearn in Scotland and I guess that some of you are probably already familiar with parts or all of the story. Of course we have no proof if she really was a disciple of Satan as she claimed or just a girl with an over vivid imagination or one who just buckled under pressure. But the tale does give one a sense of the period and beliefs of the times and gives account of the fact that Candlemas was indeed a time of a celebration that pre-dates the modern so-called ‘wheel of theyear’. It is written that she confessed freely, without torture and the part that is applicable here and I quote what is said to be part of Isobel’s confession at her trial in April 1662:
“We would go to several houses in the night time. We were at Candlemas last in Grangehill, where we got meat and drink enough. The Devil sat at the head of the table, and all the coven about. That night he desired Alexander Elder in Earlseat to say the grace before meat, which he did; and is this “We eat this meat in the Devils name” (etc). And then we began to eat. And when we had ended eating, we looked steadfastly to the Devil, and bowing ourselves to him, we said to the Devil. “We thank thee our Lord for this – we killed an ox, in Burgie, about the dawning of the day and we bought the ox with us home to Auldearn, an did eat all amongst us, in our house in Auldearn, and feasted on it”
and…
“Before Candlemas we went to the east of Kinloss, and there we yoked a plough drawn by frogs…John Young of Mebestown drove the plough, and the frogs pulled like oxen. Traces by which they were harnessed were made of dog grass. The blade in front of the plough-share was made from the horn of a ram. Twice round in a circle we went, praying to the devil that the fruits of the land be blighted, and that briars and thistles might grow there…”
Mmm….. so no kindly wishes of growth and fertility upon the neighbour’s land there then, and certainly no sign of any pretty little snowdrops! The whole article contains many gems and insights into a life very different from the modern kind of Wicca practised today; very different beliefs in fact. Some folks think we are sadly drifting too far away from the older practices….
For a few years I ran a Dark Moon Grove; we too did not celebrate Imbolc in the conventional sense either, as we worked with deities that connected to the Dark Moon and somehow Bride or Bridget, at that time, had no role for us within the grove. However, we did work together to establish an inner reconnection with our gods by sowing the seeds of growth deep within us. Thus we were accessing the dark recesses of our physic, fertilizing and nurturing those parts of our inner souls that lie beyond the reach of the mundane world. So via the guidance of our dark moon goddesses, any seeds we planted would have been the seeds of regeneration that at the time enabled us to open up the magical and subconscious spheres of this realm and beyond. So, it was still about planting and growth but very much from the deep and dark inner realms. Within the Dark Moon Grove we would kick start the year in the company of our dark sister Hecate, a later version of Inanna, in fact. Hecate is often depicted as a torch bearing moon goddess wearing a gleaming headdress of stars, bringing illumination to our subconscious realms. For those of us who follow a slightly unconventional path, who like to dive head first into the dark, it is Hecate or Inanna with their torches and stars of illumination, lighting the way for us deep into the Underworld, whom we turn to at this time of year, rather than Bride with her circlet of candles lighting up this earthly realm.
Within the early degrees of the Serpent Priesthood, it is Inanna in her pure white gown who is indeed the fore runner of Bride, Bridgette or Hecate, for the colour associated with Inanna is most certainly white. Inanna did indeed journey deep into the darkness of the underworld, to find the Light, to re-invent herself. Her tale is a wonderful tale of alchemical transformation and one we can all learn from, for it is within the acknowledging of our shadow side (our humanity) that we do find the ultimate light of truth. So the colour white associated with Imbolc can be traced way back to Inanna and it could be suggested that on a pagan and indeed on a Craft level, it is indeed Inanna wearing her beautiful white gown, who has always heralded in the light at Imbolc; the light of Spring on the earthly plain. Yet more importantly, it is also Inanna in her magnificent and wondrous battle attire who heralds in the Light of the great universal ‘Future Yet To Come’; the dawning of the new times, maybe even to herald in the rapidly arriving and foretold ‘End Times’. And like Inanna it is in the company of lions we stand with the healing nature of rebirth.
Candlemas is also said to be the day when Mary, the mother of Malak (The Jesus) presented him at the temple, forty days after given birth but the day would probably not have been known as Candlemas in those times. One must remember that Malak and the earthly family he was born into would have practiced an older religious Judaic tradition, for of course they were not Christian at all. Christianity had not come into being at this point in time and would not for many years hence, til way after the cruel murder of Malak. Malak himself, as an adult, was also a practitioner of the ‘Egyptian Mysteries’.
It was a custom of the times for women to be ‘purified’ after giving birth and it would have been very likely that it would have been by candles in the temple, but it was also customary for the wafting smoke of incense (frankincense) to be used during purification rituals. So one can imagine the cleansing taking place and Mary introducing her son; he who would become popularily known as the ‘Light of the World’ and indeed, among other things, a future messenger of G-d on this earthly plain. This is where the scriptures do get confusing though, as Makak (The Jesus) is now certainly known to have not been born in December at all, so who or what was presented at the temple at Candlemas; an older Malak maybe? I believe there are still lots more to be revealed here in respect of the meaning of this ‘Sabbat’ and more still related to metaphysical realms rather than those of the earthly square. The set times and days of the week would have been very different in those days in those eastern lands, from how they are perceived in the west today, so maybe the ‘events’ did run in a sequence but not from the perspective of our present day calendars. As always in the ‘tales of old’, much remains hidden and the true meanings remain an enigma; the scribes of old, especially those whom wrote the bible have left many clues but also many, many false trails, whether intentionally or not….
However we percieve our personal Gods and Goddesses though, is it not a fact that it is a higher power that we are tuning into and are perceiving? We are tuning into something that is beyond the understanding of the many; great universal laws, the laws of physics and binary code, the law of the ‘All’. Maybe somewhere buried in the dark underworld of our subconscious minds, as we embark on our own personal and wonderful journeys of the year, we instinctly know how to tread the cycle of the ‘seasons’. We still have the power and the knowledge to take hold of the spirit thread, that great universal energy that binds us all to the truths of the ‘Old Ways’, to our ‘kin’ and to our ‘gods’ and hence to all that has gone before. If only humans would open their inner eyes to this though.
The L.i.g.h.t. will indeed lead us into the future if we open up our inner eyes and allow it to; the ‘lantern’, the beacon shines for us, for all those who are enabled to see. Maybe the l.i.g.h.t. has a connection to the g.ra.i.l? Maybe one needs to take a small step back from the bonds of the earthly cycles that tie one inexplicably to the earthly plane, (not without reason) for it is only when one lets go from the bindings of the earthly plane that ones eyes will indeed begin to open…
‘Light of the World by William Holman Hunt
Article written and researched by yours truly
Isabel Gowdie’s Confession from
“Tales of Witches & Sorcery” by Ken Radford
The Witch-Cult in Western Europe, 1921, V.5.
Quoted in Margaret Alice Murray,
Scriptures of The Serpent Priesthood
Imbolc 2015/updated 2019
A Warrior of the Serpent Ways questing upon the temporal sphere; sharing the L.I.G.H.T. with those open to receive.
A time of recognition of the cycle of the Green Man, a time for sharing life with others.
The Winter Solstice or Yule marks the time of the shortest day; a time when the return or rebirth of the Light is acknowledged by cultures from all around the world. Folks gather together on this day to welcome in the Light from the aspects of their various traditions but yet in reality this has nothing to do with the actual birth of ‘Christ’…
Yule customs and History:
Yule Greenery: Way before modern times people would decorate their homes at Yule with beautiful greenery such as Holly, Ivy and boughs of Fir; bought in fresh from their gardens and today many people, especially followers of Pagan and Craft traditions, still acknowledge this yuletide custom. Bringing the greenery indoors can completely change and uplift the energies inside one’s home, taking one back to a timeless place beyond the bright tinsel, gaudy baubles and glitz of today’s modern celebrations of yule; allowing people to find a much deeper and subtle connection to the season. The greenery we bring indoors at Yule has many connections to traditions and cultures all over the globe; both ancient and modern and throughout all time there have been many myths and legends associated with our Yule customs.
The bright red berries and sharp thorns of the Holly are thought of as a tree traditionally sacred to the ‘God of Winter’ and yet interestingly within the Gnostic teachings Holly is aligned with the Goddess and in particular has close sacred associations with Mary Magdalene. Often wands were, and still are made of Holly and used in the recurring ritual battle between the Holly and Oak, the winter and summer tree kings. The Oak King, representing the light half of the year, rules from midwinter to midsummer and the Holly King, representing the dark half of the year, rules from midsummer to midwinter. Many pagans in their solstice/yule rites will re-enact this enduring tale and will take part in the retelling of the battle between these two mighty kings; the Oak King and the Holly King.
Before the Yule tree was born those of Craft would hang a large ball of evergreen and Holly within their homes at Yule. From the ball would be draped red, white and black ribbons and paper roses, apples and oranges.
The Ivy is known as a goddess tree, being also green in midwinter and so again is used for decorations; it was also used as a magical wand when twined around a suitable host.
The Holly and Ivy do have further symbolism associated with them, for they represent man and woman, going on forever; the Lord and the Lady and it is said that the true sexual implications of Holly and Ivy carols can be discovered in the many recreated pagan versions of the present day carols.
The Fir is also a goddess tree and is linked with twelfth night or Epiphany, when the three wise men (Magi) came, bearing gifts for Mary, Joseph and the tiny babe. In the pagan year however, this was when the young god now aged twelve was armed with his weapons and was sent forth by the goddess. The fir/pine cones carried by the priestess in many religious rites and also in many ancient carvings and paintings were said to be a masculine symbol and were said to endow the young god with virility and power. Yet also the pin cone is a metaphysical representation of the pineal gland; the third eye. Fir trees themselves were believed to be spirits of fertility, being evergreen and undying.
Just why do we kiss under the Mistletoe? Mistletoe is an ancient fertility symbol, it is the god tree of the winter solstice, green when many other trees are dead, its green and gold leaves indicate life and the sun and its pearly white berries are symbols of the seeds of the sun and the semen of men. It has strong Druid associations and was/is used for magical and healing purposes and was banned from all Christian purposes. So beware next time you steal a kiss under the mistletoe – you might just get more than you bargained for! From all these various customs and myths involving greenery, spring forth the familiar Yuletide tradition of ‘Decking our homes with boughs of Holly!’
Roman and Persian Connections: The Romans also celebrated their own festival of Saturnalia from December 17th to December 24th. It was a time of merry-making, feasting and the giving of gifts and they too would decorate their houses with greenery and lights. The Romans also practiced the Mithraic Mysteries and some sources say they celebrated the birthday of Mithras on the 25th December, although not everyone agrees with this. It is interesting to note that Azazel‘s cherub was known by the Persians as Mithras, the god of light and there are origins that confirm Mithraism was indeed of Persian origin. Firmicus Maternus tells us Mithraism was based on the Persian rituals of the Magi (See the Error of the Pagan Religions). The Magi, such as the three Magi (wise men) who sought Jesus at his birth, were Zoroastrians. The cult of Mithras was embraced by Roman Legionaries; it being a contemporary religion to the early Roman Catholic Church by whom was adopted the Mithraic Sacrament. The worship of Mithras (Azazel) in subterranean chambers was done to symbolise his entrapment within the earth. Mithras (aka Azazel‘s cherub Behemoth, the disk) was at times referred to under the religious title of Sol Invictus.
Return of the Light: The reason for lights and candles at Yule; the winter solstice is very apt, for we are welcoming in the return of the light; the return of the sun, heralding in the lighter days to come. The return of the sun, the birth of the Light, (the birth of the son), in themselves have given birth to many ancient myths and customs around the world. Again, as for the other sacred times and Sabbats of the year, the celebration is built around recognition of major and significant planetary alignments and magnetics which causes a shift in our energies and consciousness here on earth.
Connecting to the Light: At this time of year, at Yule; the winter solstice, the dark can seem even darker, the nights can seem even longer and the days can seem oh so cold, especially if we have had issues in our lives that are hard to come to terms with. It can be a time of being alone for so many people and because of loneliness, many folks simply hibernate during the dark months, awaiting the return of the light. So this welcome return of the Light can connect us to the Sun, Moon and Star of our past, present and future and in our Solstice prayers we can pray for inner guidance and request for the fire within our souls to be re-ignited as we ask that the Light will guide us through any challenging days that lie ahead. In connecting to the guiding Light, we are of course connecting to the Goddess whom the Knight Templars acknowledge as personified on earth as the Lady Mary Magdalene; known in ancient scriptures by her name of Kiam. For She may shine upon all who wish it and guide us to that inner place of peace and sanctuary, that special nous within our souls. She will bless all those who ask guidance of her, will bestow her blessings upon all, of whatever path or spirituality we are, for we are all blessed and divine in the eyes of the Goddess.
Gnostic and Templar Connections: Within the Knights Templar teachings, Yule is a celebration of Ilu or Nabu; a God festival. It is a time of recognition of the cycle of the Green Man, a time for sharing life with others. The future is developing within the womb of the earth, and the energy begins to shape and map the cycles of the future. It is a time to change habits and reduce negative thoughts around us. We give praise to the Light upon the Earth, in the knowledge that the lines of life will continue. The Crescent Moon of Ansar is featured in the Templar 21st degree, so could this crescent moon and its star have a direct connection to the holy star of Christian mythology; the ‘star’ that guided the three (the sacred 3) wise men or Magi towards the son of god? (son of the G.O.D. – son of the Universe?) Within the Templar path are further hidden meanings to this story and to the meaning of the moon and star and thinking along those lines one can now discover the sun, moon and star hidden in the well know story of the birth of Jesus.
Searching for Lucifer: Many people who have trod a pagan path over the years will have realised that there was and is so much more to the Jesus and Mary, and Mary and Joseph tellings than ever met the eye, or had previously been taught. You may like myself have held on long and hard for a truth, realising that it was there somewhere yet was not being taught; you knew that something was hidden, something was missing. Even though it is quite common knowledge these days to acknowledge that Jesus/Malak was not actually born in December and this particular date was ‘borrowed’ by those who deemed it necessary, to keep the people of planet earth forever in darkness. But never the less what a very clever way though, for the ‘weavers of dark webs’ of old to simply hide the real truths they knew, displaying them for the peoples of the Earth as riddles for all to see (should of course they choose too) hidded within the pagan mythologies. So they hid the real truths of the universe from the people and wove a new false story onto the old customs and tellings. Meanwhile the poor unquestioning ‘Christian’ folks went along with these false tellings and as we all know, the story endured for centuries but one only needs to take a tiny peak behind the veil of illusion to see the real telling of the birth of Jesus/Malak. So thus the ‘Christian’s’ have kind of been preserving Templar/Universal truths in a very well-know tale for hundreds of years without realising it. It’s all there hiding in all the riddles and codes, hidden in plain sight, reiterating once again that the seen really can become the unseen and in these current days more and more people are awakening to the truths and messages that the returning Light will thus bring forth….
The Truth of Christmas: So we acknowledge that the birth of Malak to be the manifestation of the Universe made flesh; ‘The Word made Flesh’ and we know the name of Messiah or Christ to mean the “anointed” and of course most people are now very familiar, in varying degrees with the story of Mary and Joseph journeying to Bethlehem; Mary almost full term pregnant with child. They were there to register in an empire-wide census decreed by Rome and of course when they arrived, they found that Bethlehem was jam packed full of visitors from all over the region, so henceforth no place to stay. Joseph however was very resourceful and found temporary shelter in the stable of the inn they were supposed to be staying at and it is said that the young mother supposedly gave birth to Jesus/Malak on December 25th.
The shepherds out in their fields and pastures now witnessed a stunning supernatural event; a great star in the heavens, a sign that the Christ Child was born. Also (and again supposedly) three ‘Wise Men’ from the east came to Bethlehem to honour Jesus. Herod, Rome’s client king over Judea, felt threatened by Jesus’ existence and since he could not find the child, Herod decided to massacre all baby boys that were estimated to be Jesus’ age.
And so the account grew over the centuries, weaving chapters from the Bible with Christmas myths originating from the Babylonian mystery religions practiced by idol worshippers since the tower of Babel! To understand the events surrounding Jesus Christ’s birth and his early years; fact must be separated from fiction; for despite what billions believe today Jesus was not born on Dec 25th, or even in winter. He was in all likelihood born in early autumn. To make this fact clearer , it states in the Adam Clark Commentary, volume 5, page 370 (New York Edition) that “It was customary among Jews to send out their sheep to the deserts about the Passover (early spring), and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain” The first rains began in early to mid-fall.
Continuing with the same quote “During the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As… the first rain began early in the month of Heshaven, which answers to part of our October and November (begins sometime in October), we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole summer. And as these shepherds had not yet bought home their flocks, it is a presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced, and that consequently our Lord was not born on the 25th December, when no flocks were out in the fields, nor could He have been born later than September, as the flocks were still in the field by night. On this very ground, the nativity in December should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the fields is a chronological fact… see the quotations from the Talmudists in Light-foot”
Luke 2:8 explains that when Christ was born “there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” Note that they were ‘abiding’ in the field. This could not have happened in December, or even close. Both Ezra 10:9-13 and the Song of Solomon 2:11 show that winter was the rainy season and the shepherds could not reside in cold, open fields at night. Numerous encyclopaedias plainly state that Jesus/Malak was not born on December 25. Even the Catholic Encyclopaedia confirms this! Then from where did the festival accounts associated with this date come from?
The following quote can be found in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, under ‘Christmas’; “In the Roman world, the Saturnalia (December 17th) was a time of merry making and exchanging of gifts. December 25th was also regarded as the birthdate of the Iranian mystery god, Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1st), houses were decorated with greenery and lights as mentioned previously, and gifts were given to children and the poor.
To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and Central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights; symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian” (15th Edit. Vol. 11 p. 903). Next is a quote from the December 1984 Toronto Star article; “We owe a lot to Druids, Dutch”, by Alan Edmonds: “The Reformation cast a blight on Christmas. By then of course, clever ecclesiastical politicians had adapted the pagan mid-winter festival as the alleged birth-date of Jesus, of Nazareth and thrown in a few other pagan goodies to make their takeover more palatable.”
Why late December? Understand that December 25th was not selected because it was the birth of Jesus Christ or because it was near that date. It was selected entirely because the 25th of December coincided with the idolatrous pagan festival of Saturnalia! In any event we do not know the exact date of Jesus’ birth (though in all likelihood he was born in the fall). While God certainly could have made it clearly known, He chose to hide it from the world’s eyes.
For years the birth of Jesus has been shrouded in the pagan trappings of Christmas, whose traditions and practices predate Christ’s earthly ministry by thousands of years! Billions around the world exchange gifts with each other every December 25th, believing they are following the ‘three wise men’s’ custom of giving birthday gifts to Jesus. Yet the ‘three wise men’ of the Xmas myth are called ‘magi’ in the bible, magicians from the East. Scripture does not specify how many visited Jesus. Also, the magi gave gifts to the Christ Child out of respect and royal tradition. They acknowledged Him to be a king, and thus treated Him as such; practicing the custom of giving gifts to a royal ruler. These were in no sense birthday gifts, for by the time the magi visited Jesus, He and His parents were no longer in the stable; they were in a house, and the bible refers to Christ as a ‘young child’(Matt.2:8, 11), not a baby. Much time had passed since Jesus had been born!
When we separate fact from fiction – that is, biblical truth from sadly, the lies and deceits of the pagan myths and legend – we get a better, much clearer view of the true Jesus Christ and of his birth! Thus we see that it is the old pagan myths that are still being celebrated on the 25th, even by those professing to be followers of Christ, those who still buy into all the untruths and follow blindly. These days so many aspects of the Winter Festival, wrongly and sadly celebrated under the banner of the birth of Christ, do seem to be one huge festival of consumerism and consumption which so many folks just simply buy into without any question. So in essence if one breaks it all down and puts it simply; the Chistians are celebrating pagan myths on the 25th December whether they realise it or not! And the pagans are celebrating something from a fabricated past that never existed anyway!
Of course one can still celebrate the return of the Light on the 21st because that is a fact, the light will return. Yet celebrate in a much simpler, sacred, deeper and more profound way by honouring the earth and the cycles of the land and of our place in the universe; a time for sharing the ultimate, albeit fleeting joy of life, with others and in doing so one is also honouring the Christ and the true reality of His Word.
Gi be dag ma dara bi ar.
Night to be day and dark to be light.
Written by yours truly with exerts from the Templar Degree Scriptures, Priory Scriptures, my own thoughts and My Grand Priors invaluable guidance and teachings.
Yule in the Gregorian year of 2014/updated Yule 2015
(To discover more on the real truths of He who was/is known as Christ; the Word made Flesh, much more can be discovered within the teachings of The Priory) 🙂
“The last in the series of my ‘Earth Cycle’ potions; a little late this time yet still very relevant”
A magically charged potion to assist you in accessing your own inner realms of consciousness. Created of Wormwood, Kelp, Dill and Mugwort to connect you to the Energies ofAutumn. Use for travelling within, for connecting to the underworld and to the ancestral spirits and for increasing psychic powers.
These potions are individually prepared and magically charged as per our ancient Templar knowledge and wisdom. The potions can be used as an incense, kept in a pouch (hang in your home or wear as a pendant), sprinkled sparingly in a lighted tea-light or sprinkled in your bath water. Please be very careful around naked flames and using with candles.
Herbal magic, potions, spell work, sacred herbal preparations, the magical preparation and charging of potions and compounds and alchemy are just some of the aspects of the Knights Templar path; taught in the same way as originally taught many aeons ago by the original ‘Old Ones’
Autumn In the Gregorian year 2014
A warrior of the Serpent Path; always questing upon the sphere of time
Weaving Webs of Fate and Destiny: for Change and Transformation
I know that lots of folks are really scared of spiders and do not see their beauty and wonder at all; so I thought I would share this from my times of facilitating the Dark Moon Grove of Hecate, where I had a personal and profound connection to Arachne. She was our first goddess of the eastern quadrant; very apt then to be of air and to be our guide to our fate and destiny.
Where does one start when searching for Arachne? How does one crawl through her web to unlock her mysteries without becoming tangled up in her silken threads? I thought and studied long and deep about her magical correspondences, her connection to the dark moon grove, to the very air itsself and to the east. However all the normal correspondences for the eastern quarter did not seem to fit, did not ring true, did not connect to Arachne at all. None of what I was finding out or reading about rang true to the individual essence that meant Arachne. I had to get away from what was perceived in modern-day paganism as “correspondences” as finding the truth via the dark goddesses meant stripping away all previous knowledge. Little did i know at the time that i was following my true path, away from the misinformation of those who had bought modern day paganism to the for; i was indeed treading a very much older path.
This was a big challenge to me unravelling Arachne; there must be a way round this small challenge, a way into her world, a way to unravel her web. I knew that the answer to those elusive questions must be staring me right in the face but I just could not see it. I had to look differently, go deeper into another world to find Arachne and so to create a very special incense to her. And then it slowly began to dawn on me; I must visit her world, walk with her, into the secret, green world of barks, mosses and dark, damp corners. A world of morning mists and shimmering webs, for there I would find her secrets, her scents and her magic. I started studying the Arachne myths, reading them and re reading them in order to connect, to find her, to know her.
According to the old stories and myths, she was a determined, talented young lady who took upon herself a mighty challenge by a goddess. She, Arachne was a weaver of considerable acclaim and her work truly was a joy to behold. Purple in colour, it was said, and dyed thus by her father. But she was challenged in her weaving by Athene (Minerva) disguised as an old woman, undeterred though because in her mind she was the best, Arachne took on the challenge, maybe though she was just a bit too arrogant. It was a hard-fought contest of wills and weaving skills. Arachne and Athena wove and wove, shuttles weaving in and out as they frantically wove their many threads to create works of outstanding beauty. They both had a point to prove.
But Athene, being the goddess she is, eventually won the weaving dual and destroyed Arachne’s work. Arachne hung herself, stricken with grief and distress. The goddess however showed remorse and took pity on Arachne and sprinkled Aconite on to her corpse thus transforming her into the world’s first spider.
“ A gossamer scent, as light as a spiders footfall: touched with sighing mists: pallid flowers, dusty woods and soft herbs”
In another version of the tale the transformation is more graphic as the goddess
“sprinkled her with the juice of Hecate’s herb, and immediately at the touch of this dark poison, Arachne’s hair fell out. With it went her nose and ears, her head shrank to the smallest size, and her whole body became tiny. Her slender fingers stuck to her sides as legs, the rest is belly, from which she still spins a thread, and, as a spider, weaves her ancient web.”
Which to me denotes that change and transformation can often be (and indeed is) very painful, yet the outcome is that of which to beautify. So it seems I was on the right track and Aconite, sometimes known as Hecate’s Herb was to be a very important ingredient, as too, would be the barks and herbs and scents of my own garden. This incense was to be an incense of courage and transformation which is the message I believe Arachne brings to us. She did not shy from her challenge, her destiny and yet when cruelly beaten she was forever transformed by her experience.
Arachne Incense: gathered from where she weaves her webs….
Slithers of Willow bark gathered from the riverbank.
Shavings of damp Apple bark
Shreds of last seasons dried Honesty
Fresh scented shoots and stems of Bergamot
Twigs of winter Evergreen
Spring shoots of Evergreen
Sprigs of Heather
Fresh shredded Bay leaf from the kitchen garden
Sweet Lemon Balm gathered from the gardens edge.
New leaves given by Lady Elder, the fairy tree.
Musty, dusty Seed Pods from the woodpile.
Dark, damp Ivy
Hecate’s Herb (Aconite) The bark and leaves given with love
Three Strands of your hair with which to weave the web
Sweet Geranium, over which Arachne left her tracks.
Moss gathered from underfoot.
Use this incense carefully in specific ritual, spell work or magical rites to take on the challenge of courage and transformation. Of course if one has ‘webs to weave’ of ones own, one may of course put this incense to real good use….
Arachne: weaving fate and destiny
April 2006
A warrior of the Serpent Path; always questing upon the sphere of time
Bringing LIGHT to those open to receive
Written during the times of the ‘Dark Moon Grove’
The beautiful energies from the sisters of the grove are acknowledged
“Another of my magically prepared Templar Potions that can connect each individual to the seasonal cycles and sacred energies of our planet. Created on request for you or if a follower of the path they can be prepared as and when required“
A magically charged potion to assist you in accessing your own inner realms of consciousness and empowerment. Created of Lavender, Apple Leaf, Acacia and Eucalyptus to connect you to the Energies ofSummer. To raise energy, create abundance and expansion, fulfilment and love, inspiration and psychic abilities.
These potions are individually prepared and magically charged as per our ancient Templar knowledge and wisdom. They can be used as an incense, kept in a pouch, (hung in your home or worn on your person) sprinkled sparingly in a lighted tea-light or sprinkled in your bath water. Please be careful when using lighted candles and tea-lights.
Herbal magic, potions, sacred herbal preparations, the magical preparation and charging of potions and compounds and alchemy and spell work are just some of the aspects of the Knights Templar path; taught in the same way as originally taught many aeons ago by the original ‘Old Ones
“An example of a carefully prepared Templar Potion that connects to the seasonal cycles of our planet and which can be created on request or if on the path can be prepared and made as and when required“
The Energies of Spring: An Earth Cycle Potion
A magically charged potion to assist you in accessing the inner realms.
Created of Hawthorn, Camphor, Olive and Apple Leaf for connection
to the Energies ofSpring,
to uplift the spirit, raise consciousness and assist in love.
These potions are individually prepared and magically charged as per ancient Templar knowledge and wisdom; they can be used as incense, kept in a pouch, sprinkled sparingly in a lighted tea-light or sprinkled in your bath water. Be careful around naked flames.
Herbal magic, potions, sacred herbal preparations, the magical preparation and charging of potions and compounds and alchemy are just some of the aspects of the Templar path; taught in the same way as originally taught many aeons ago by the original ‘Old Ones’
“My specially prepared Templar Potions that connect to the seasonal cycles of our planet and which can be created on request or if on the path can be prepared and made as and when required“
The Energies of Winter: An Earth Cycle Potion
A magically charged potion to assist you in accessing your own inner consciousness. Created of Burdock Root, Myrrh, Sage and Solomon’s Seal to connect you to the Energies ofWinter, for discovering your inner depths & quietness, for accessing the ‘within’, for recharging & re-establishing energies, inner strength & focus.
These potions are individually prepared and magically charged as per our ancient Templar knowledge and wisdom and can be used as incense, kept in a pouch, sprinkled sparingly in a lighted tea-light or sprinkled in your bath water.
Herbal magic, potions, sacred herbal preparations, the magical preparation and charging of potions and compounds and alchemy are just some of the aspects of the Knights Templar path; taught in the same way as originally taught many aeons ago by the original ‘Old Ones’
Within the Craft path of the Serpent Priesthood (the Ansar) as within many magical paths, the knowledge of sacred herbs is given. On this path not only is the connection to the earthly plane taught but also of how each herb and stone connects on a universal/multiversal level to a much bigger picture. Everything connects and interacts, everything is of vibration and can act for or against depending on how it is used and from which aspect; different combinations of sacred herbs and stones have different purposes and work on a magical and alchemical level on the mundane plane as well as the spiritual.
Rosemary has been used by practitioners almost since the dawn of time and its heady, pungent, invigorating aroma can transport you back in time to a far distant land, to a time when rosemary was burned in the temples of Greece as an offering to the Goddess and God. The Greeks dedicated rosemary to Apollo, their solar deity, who was acknowledged as the god of medicine, poetry and prophecy. Rosemary is also connected to the snake (Sibbu) and the sword thus connecting directly to the Serpent Priesthood and the teachings thereof. Rosmarinus means ‘dew of the sea’ thus also connecting to the goddess Amulug, Mary Magdalene, Kiam and the universe at every level of understanding through time. The connection to Mary Magdalene who is also known in truth as Kiam is most significant.
Rosemary is a member of the mint family, growing up to one and a half meters tall; its leaves are evergreen and needle-like and it thrives in the
Dew of the Sea
sun soaked shores of the Mediterranean. Breathe in deeply that enticing aroma and be transported to the sun drenched shores of your own imagination. Rosemary was one of the earliest plants to be used for food, medicine and of course magic. The country people of ancient Greece did not have access to any prepared incense, so burnt Rosemary in sprigs on their shrines and it thus became known as the incense bush. Today, gently smoldering the sprigs on charcoal is still the quickest and easiest way of using fragrant rosemary as incense.
Traces of rosemary have also been found in Egyptian tombs which is not at all surprising considering that the Egyptians knew a thing or two about magic… During the middle ages it was used to smoke out devils during exorcism and it was also burnt in sick rooms as a fumigant for many centuries. Rosemary continued to be burnt in hospital wards in France until the present century and was abandoned at about the same time that modern research had actually proved its antiseptic properties.
Rosemary can delay or prevent putrefaction in meat but we are unable to tell if it was first used in cooking for the flavour or to preserve the meat, for in distant times there was no means of keeping meat refrigerated in hot climates. Rosemary has a long folk magic tradition as a love stimulator and many ancient charms and spells use rosemary for this reason. Bridal wreaths were entwined with fresh rosemary and bridesmaids gave sprigs to the groom to symbolize love and loyalty. The plant has and still is used in countless rituals to promote love. Nowadays we can inhale the scent and visualize its subtler energies bringing love and transformation into our lives.
It seems like rosemary has always been in our lives yet to discover its magical properties we have to find how to open a secret door to the abundant garden within….. Aroma is an important tool for magic and ritual as it facilitates the unlocking of subtle pathways to the subconscious. In ritual we transcend our daily lives and become one with our gods and goddesses. A specially prepared incense wafting around the temple or sacred space can quickly evoke an atmosphere of divine worship. In spell casting and magical rites the power to cause change in ones lives can be greatly enhanced by the appropriate incense intensifying and charging the atmosphere.
Rosemary can be used fresh or dried for incense making and the essential oil can be used as an ingredient in oil blends. The ruling planet of rosemary is the sun, its element is fire and its gender is masculine. Its powers for magical workings and spell craft are that of protection, love, lust, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep, youth. It is also burned in order to receive insight and the smoke is inhaled to promote visions. The essential oil can be sprinkled on to cotton wool balls or tissues and taken into exams or placed in a car during long car journeys to aid in concentration and awareness or while at home the oil can be used in a burner for the same refreshing reasons.
Physical Use: In healing uses rosemary assists the nervous system. It can be made into a into a paste (with olive oil) then added to water for pre-ritual cleansing. Rosemary is used as a representation of union when used within Handfasting Ceremonies, being the suitable replacement of confetti. It is appropriate to use within a Funeral Rite, where onlookers cast the rosemary to the grave. Within the higher degree workings of the Serpent Priesthood, rosemary is the plant that is a part of sacred alchemical and magical combinations.
Magical Use: Rosemary aids intellectual achievements, assists purification, protection, and love. Use rosemary within the Last Rites Service. Rosemary can be used in combinations with other herbs and sacred stones as taught in the Serpent Priesthood as part of a student’s magical training and is part of a sacred alchemical combination within the higher degrees and beyond.
When using herbs for incense making start with simple combinations and then when you feel more confident experiment a bit more. You will soon become familiar with all the correspondences and magical properties. An interesting way to start is to make the appropriate incense for each festival and rites, to be used in your own ceremonies.
Rosemary on its own does make a very divine incense but it also combines very well with other sacred herbs such as sage and lavender. An incense blend which uses half quantities of sage and rosemary or lavender and rosemary (fresh or dried) can be used for purification of the temple, chapel or home and all within including self, clothes, magical tools (if that is your preferred method). It is ideal to burn before a ritual or ceremony of any sort, whilst you are preparing. Let the smoke waft around your temple to cleanse and purify the space. It will create a lovely white smoke that will very easily add the right touch. The aroma is gentle, soothing, almost antiseptic and cleansing in its properties. This incense induces a lovely feeling of relaxation and cannot fail to put anyone in the right frame of mind for ritual, meditation or path working of any description. Please try it, and thoroughly enjoy your experience of Rosemary; the dew of the sea.
It is with Knightly honour that we are empowered to have great knowledge from within & without. With such knowledge comes power, a power that is naturally produced & requires no additional influences to achieve great things. Power is not about the control of others, it is about harnessing the inner strength & full understanding of one's purpose in this particular existence, such truth that can only be realised at a knightly level
