Think of me and you think of Mary
Think of Mary and there I am.
Light a candle in the dark
Feel the love
Feel the warmth
Feel the Light.
See me and you see Mary
Touch me and feel her grace.
Gather on the shores
And see with clear vision
The truth that binds us.
Look at me and see Mary
Find her in the darkness and there I shall be
“The Keeper of Scrolls” June 2016
QUEST TWENTY SIX: IRELAND:
And so it was at the end of September 2018, we began our much anticipated week-long quest to that beautiful and magical island: Ireland. With so many mysterious and exciting places on our itinery we were just aching to get there. We travelled by car on the Sunday to Anglesey in Wales where we stopped briefly over night before catching the Irish Ferry ‘Ulysses’ from Holyhead, which ferried us very safely and comfortably to Dublin in Ireland. From Dublin we drove to County Louth, to a small village alongside a beautiful estuary, called Ballyonan, near Lough Tain – a very hard place to find even on a map!
Arriving in Ireland at the Port of Dublin wth dust falling along the estuary as we made it to our digs
So begins Quest Twenty Six; Ireland is a very beautiful, deeply religous and spiritual country, albeit with a very chequered history, as is told within the passions and ideals of it’s peoples, clashing over time, within and without.
THE CELTIC CROSS: The Celtic Cross is very much symnominous with Christianity and of course the Celtic lands; yet the symbols history gos much further back in time with much deeper meanings and do infact connect at different levels of understanding to the teachings of The Priory. In Ireland, the spiritual symbol of the Celtic Cross endures throughout Irish history and remains forever prominent in the Irish culture; it is an honour to see the symbol in it’s rightful home, just as it should be…
It is popularly believed that St. Patrick introduced the Celtic Cross in Ireland, during his conversion of the kings from paganism to Christianity. Other beliefs are that it was St. Columba or St. Declan who introduced it and that further the circle stands for the Roman sun-god Invictus, thus giving the name of Celtic Sun Cross, while other beliefs connect it to a reprentation the Celestial Sphere. It is also said to represent the halo of Jesus Christ. Many beautiful Celtic Crosses adorn graveyards and gravestones throughout Ireland and the UK. It is a symbol used by many different cultures across our planet in religous rites and sacerd spaces; different cultures attributing different names and meanings to the four points.
The Celtic Cross photographed across the northen part of Ireland; sometimes in surprising and unacustomed formats…
Day One: The Hill of Tara: The Hill of Tara is located near the River Boyne and is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath and according to tradition was the seat of the Hight Kings of Ireland, so a very important part of our Templar Quest in researching the bloodline and origins of the ‘Neville’ surname, as those of you who are following us will be well aware of, so therefore ticked quite a few boxes for us on this visit. The Neville ancestory line can be traced right back through history to the Kings of Ireland; those High Kings who would have been crowed here all those many years ago…
Liathdroim (The Hill of Tara) and the Lia Fail (Stone of Destiny) in County Meath, known as the Seat of the High Kings; the place where the true high kings were crowned. According to legend, the stone would scream if a series of challenges were met by the would-be king. At his touch the stone would let out a screech that could be heard all over Ireland. When touched today, one may receive personal visions from the stone…. The Hill of Tara is documented in certain ancient texts but always from a mythological point of view, yet hidden within those old texts, jumping out from the myths and legends, hidden within the very land itself the truth can always be found…
At the summit of the hill, to the north of the ridge, is an oval Iron Age hilltop enclosue measuring 318 metres (1,043 ft) north-south by 264 metres (866 ft) east-west and enclosed by an internal ditch and external bank, known as Ráith na Ríogh (the Fort of the Kings, also known as the Royal Enclosure). The most prominent earthworks within are the two linked enclosures, a bivallate (double-ditched) ring fort and a bivallate ring barrow known as Teach Chormaic or Cormac’s House and the Forradh or Royal Seat. In the middle of the Forradh is the Lia Fail at which the High Kings were crowned. To the north of the hill is a Neolithic passage tomb Dumha na nGial, aptly named ‘The Mound of the Hostage’ with secrets of its own hdden within time and tellings… The Mound of the Hostages was constructed around 3,400 (cal.) BC. Its is the oldest site at the Hill of Tara.
Nearby at the site entrance is the Church of St Patrick with St Patrick’s statue overlooking the land. The “Rath of the Synods” has been partly destroyed by its churchyard; the modern church being built in 1822–23 on the site of an earlier one. The earliest evidence of a church at Tara is a charter dating from the 1190s. In 1212, this church was “among the possessions confirmed to the Knights Hospitallers of Saint John of Kilmainham by Pope Innocent 111. Read more about the site from the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara
An important site in respect of the true (now hidden) history of these lands, of our true ancestors (or creators) and from whence the true royal bloodline spread its light across these sacred lands…
Filming atop the Hill of Tara and from the adjacent burial mound: it was so windy up there as you can hear, so no commentatary at this point as i had a job even holding the camera steady. A magical place full of untold history with many hidden conections to the true path as taught by The Priory, and a magnificant view across Ireland 
The Hill of Tara and The Giants Causeway
Cavan: St Patricks Cathedral: The Cathedral of St Patrick and St Felim, also known as Cavan Cathedral, was next on our list for the day. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Cavan and is the seat of the Bishop of Kilmore and the mother chrch of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. In 1152, the Diocese of Kilmore was formally established by Cardinal Giovanni Paparoni at the synod of Kells. In 1454, Pope Nicholas V gave permission for the ancient church at Kilmore (founded in the sixth century by Saint Felim to be the catherdral church of Kilmore diocese. It was rebuilt and became to be known in Irish as An Chill Mhór (meaning Great Church) and anglicised as Kilmore, which gave its name to the diocese, a name which has remained ever since.
Cavan; an Cabhán, meaning “the hollow”, is the county town of County Cavan and lies in Ulster, near the border with Northern Ireland. Cavan was founded by the King of East Breifne, Giolla Íosa Ruadh O’Reilly, sometime during his lordship between 1300 and his death in 1330. During his lordship, a Franciscan friary was established close to the O’Reilly stronghold at Tullymongan and was at the centre of the settlement close to a crossing over the river and to the town’s marketplace.
We were unable to film inside the cathedral as people were praying which of course we respected, but we did manage to tip toe around and take some photos.
The beautiful mosaic flooring of Cavan Catherdral
The stunning windows and artwork of Cavan Catherdral
Is she actually ‘Mary’ or does she represent somethng else? The ‘Holder of Life for example’? She certainly is cluthching the red and white roses; the symbols and colours of the Neville family
You may read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavan_Cathedral
Wild dramatic scenery and spectacular weather was encountered as we drove to St Patricks Church, Killinnagh, Blacklion
Killinnagh, Blacklion: St Patrick’s Church: The present Church, dedicated to St. Patrick, was built in 1846. It was a thatched structure at that time, a barn church, and would have been used for communal threshing during the week. It was not big enough to accommodate the congregation so it was decided to put in a gallery in 1889. It had to be raised. Money must have been very scarce at that time because second hand slates were bought to roof it and the timber used to construct the gallery was very poor quality.
St Patricks Church & graveyard; a stunning church amidst stunning scenery
A very high standard quality of renovation and improvement was carried out between 1930 and 1932. This was funded by Sir Patrick McGovern, a native of the area, who had been very successful as a contractor in America. A basement was built under a new sacristy and a coal-fired furnace was installed to provide central heating. This would have ranked it among the most modern in the country at that time. This lasted until the 1990’s when it needed major renovation. This was carried out in 1995 and the Church now has all modern facilities.
The sumptuous interior of St Patrick’s Church where marble has been used extensively throughout. More about the rather interesting windows can be learnt by clicking on the video link below:
A little more about the church here: http://www.glangevlin.com/index.php/parish-churches/75-st-patricks-killinagh-church-blacklion
As i was unable to find anything on the internet in respect of Killinnagh itself, you can read about Blacklion here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklion
Follow our link to learn more about the three churches we were able to film at:
Cavan Cathedral, St Patrick’s Church & St Columbas Church
Day Two: Belfast Public Records Office: Lovely sunny weather and a steady drive northwards bought us into Belfast and into The Titanic quarter of the city, to visit the public records office where valuble information was obtained; yet to be fully incorporated into our quests. We did not stay long in Belfast itself but i did snatch some quick photos from the car! Belfast is a very large vibrant city which like most cities one cannot get a true sense of it from the car, but looking at the brochure i picked up in the record office it is a city of many cultural and arts events all year round and we certainly did see many fine artworks whilst driving through.
Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital. It was the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, which famously struck an iceberg and sunk in 1912. This legacy is recalled in the renovated dockyards’ Titanic Quarter, which includes the Titanic Belfast, an aluminium-clad museum reminiscent of a ship’s hull, as well as shipbuilder Harland & Wolff’s Drawing Offices and the Titanic Slipways, which now host open-air concerts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast
Newcastle and the Mountains of Mourne: Next we headed south again and to Newcastle; a magical town nestling right besisde the coast, where the Mountians of Mourne roll down to greet the sea; everywhere one looks is a stunning view, made even more beautiful when the mists roll like tears down the face of the majestic mountains. We stayed a few hours; an afternoon of wandering and chilling and a very tasty meal too! No Craft site as such to visit but checking out the energies and future connections of the land.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle,_County_Down
We drove up high on winding narrow roads to where the mountains met the skies. It felt like being in a time portal for there is no sense of time or space here, just a maginificant sense of presence and peace and of course beauty all around.
The Mountans of Mourne
Newry Cathedral/the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Colman: So leaving the mountains and our hearts behind, we made our way to Newry and to the cathedral there. This is a Roman Catholic cathedral which acts as the seat of the Bishop of Dromore, and the head church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dromore. We did not expect it to be open for it was now late in the day, but still managed some good outside shots, but hoped to return.
Newry Cathedral just before nightfall
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newry_Cathedral
“It was never ours
Yet we deemed to own G-ds land.
The rainbow arc shone in many colours
Yet no-one saw
And the price is always paid
When G-D’s covenant is broken…”
‘The Keeper of Scrolls’
October 2018
From the beginning to the end…..
Fortunately we still just about, live in a country with a culture where we can all freely have and express our individual opinions about anything and everything; yet at the same time respect our fellow creature’s points of view, even if they conflict with our own. I often see a lot of anger and strong opinions on social media; conflicting viewpoints, with ‘friends’ being ‘unfriended’ from peoples lists, when personal viewpoints are not shared ones. Quarreling about words is of no value and will only have a negative effect on those who listen or read.
In the blink of the universal eye, this does not really matter, social media does not matter, for the true purpose of human existence is yet to be revealed to the many. In future times who is to say what is right and what is wrong, for it is all subjective and relates to given timelines of humanity and current thinking modes. In future times, it matters not one jot who fell out with whom or who agreed with whom or who said what. When one ‘draws’ away from the insular traits of modern humanity, all this bickering and self opinions is revealed as totally pointless in the bigger scheme of things and is proved to be totally ego based. Many view this planet as a ‘prison planet’ and indeed once one crosses over the threshold of profound knowledge one can see why so.
Many cultures and religions on planet earth worship false prophets and false gods with people choosing to allow their lives and how they live them, to be dictated to them by man-made rules created by those whom wish to keep their followers under control and in total darkness. These people will never know freedom of thought and choice, and sadly do not know they have no freedom of choice in the first place. Even the so called enlightened ‘spiritual paths’ also provide teachings not to be of truth, often based on man’s misinterpreted mythology; thus they misinform their followers too. But as said, we all still have freedom of choice so it is up to each individual to discover the truths for themselves or not; to believe what they want to believe.
Go tread lightly folks on this precious journey called life, see the unsee-able, look behind the mundane world and question everything, question the reason for everything, all the whys and the wherefores, seek truth out at every turn, even though it may not be where you think it is or what you believe it to be. Truth is not pretty and does not come gift wrapped with a beautiful bow, so keep an open mind, yet neither is it a personal opinion of any self-elevated individual human. Look above and beyond humanity for the answers that really are already inside of us, within our very DNA; for those whom are meant to know, really will in time, know and will awaken.
Where-ever we are on this planet peace is always to be found within each individual and has nothing to do with the control or illusion of religion or politics. Learn and evolve to become the best you can be, break the barriers of the mind in order to truly grow and to expand your consciousness, it is more than possible. Seek knowledge and personal growth; question everything you are told by those who would profess to know. The illusions of life are starting to collapse and new concepts of truth are coming out into the open and being embraced, so always ask yourselves, why all the lies in the first place? What is it that humanity is not supposed to know and why? All else will then start to fall into place, petty arguments and differences especially will seem pointless. Don’t be ‘mind-controlled’ but be ‘mind-awakened’ and make each step matter; find your own way, in your own way, be individual not ‘one of the crowd’. Do not follow established man-made paths and viewpoints, take a big step out of the glaring light, above and beyond the ‘roar of the crowd’ and try a little bit of quiet shade; you may just be surprised at what you will find there in the shadows…..
That is the thing though; the human species has evolved way beyond the original purpose and intent of its creators. Over time human brains have developed and continue to develop above and beyond the purpose intended, but they dont know what for or where they are heading with this. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing; one only has to look at how mankind is destroying the planet by greed and consumerism; mankind in these closing decades has not treated this planet well and has allowed greed and the fulfilment of ego to be the ‘be all and end all’ goal. All the carefully created balance of nature now being thrown out of the window. Of course many more human creatures live in the dark than will ever evolve towards the light of full knowledge, of whom and what they really are. Most live in the moment in the glare of the ‘Neon God’ they have created for themselves and have not an inkling of the huge possibilities that could lie ahead. Yet for those with a passion and a yearning for knowledge, those with a deep love and a hankering for the ‘Old Ways’ and for truth, the possibilities for growth within the right hands are endless and boundless.
As a teacher and guide (of Craft) I will always endeavour to guide humanity towards open doors wherein this knowledge lies, but that is all a teacher can do; gentle guidance and encouragement; it is up to each individual, whether or not they choose it, to step over that threshold or not. Knowledge once gained cannot be ‘un-gained’ yet knowledge gained can change one’s way of life and thinking for all times; those things that were once unthinkable become the norm, the thinkable and nothing can and ever will be the same again. I love to teach, love to share and love to experience with students that ‘light bulb’ moment when I know that their lives have been changed for always, above and beyond the norm; it is and always will be a very rewarding experience to share this brand new beginning with folks. Time is marching on and nothing is infinite, everything has a beginning and an end, yet new travellers are always welcome, those seekers of truth, those creatures with a sense of adventure, with a deep thirst for knowledge who wish to walk the road less travelled with us.
Family is above and beyond any earthly blood ties; honouring blood ties of another kind. For those who wish to follow the ‘ways of the blood’, of the original way, the journey is often long and ardarous, with one questioning every aspect of one’s current life and it’s associations. If within my life I can change just one person’s perspective of their reality, if i can cause them to stop and think about the very nature of reality, then I am very happy. I try and give clues, give pointers and directions for people to follow and to maybe study up on more. In time they may wish to join us in the fold of Priory; to become as one with ‘family’ or they may simply go their own way, forever enlightened. Whatever happens to planet earth in future times, one thing is sure, the species known as humans will survive the coming end times, albeit in numbers much, much less than we are familiar with today and that will be a good thing. Each student is guided by the Elders of the path to a place of safety within the physical and metaphysical realms where temporal doorways do exist to cross through. To those students who have suceeded through the mundane’s constant tempting of them not to succeed, the true beauty of reality will at last be revealed.
‘Stay well and stay sharp’
‘Fan go maith agus fanacht géar’
Craft Tutor and Keeper of Scrolls
June 2017
Wise words from the Priory (now KORO) teachings:
I sat alone but was not free
For the sight and sound did come to me. 
A sight of old yet new around
The silence upon the golden ground.
A Ground so pure yet tarnished well
As man doth cold and hunger dwell
A ground to be within the sea
Yet most saw not what I did see
The sight above lurked further still
Yet on the ground they hardly knew
Of what was come and sure to be
A tale of crime within the sea
A sea so pure yet hunger yearned
As time and space did so learn
A height of walls and oceans full
Yet to the North one whisper called
A sound of sight and of delight
For in the ground the rising height
Of North and East so raised the sea
Yet of the North a raise by three
Such raise of ground and comfort still
A still of life for others knew
A knowledge of time and place to be
As thus the land sunk to the sea
Yet of this story did so tell
That man and beast shall inward dwell
For time has come and sure to be
As I sat alone but was not free
Teachings of The Priory
Shared by the Keeper of Scrolls
This a series of four very comprehensive books that allows the student/reader to have complete access to the Knight Templar self installations and preceptory teachings as taught in Preceptory, up to the 42nd degree.
The information contained within the pages of these very informative books has only recently been available to the general public though many authors down the years have attempted to gain insight into our teachings and ways, but only now has the true knowledge come to light to be enjoyed by those whom seek. These books are full of interesting and fascinating wisdom, knowledge and facts, including many magical practices that the aspiring reader can learn for themselves at home.
“I am personally very honoured and happy to have been a big part in the creation of these books and spent many a night happily burning away at the midnight oil, studiously compiling, editing and revamping the teachings and wisdom of my tutor in order to create these works. The Knights Bible, all four books are now available on Amazon”
THE KNIGHTS BIBLE: ALPHA. Before any student can begin to practice this art, there must be a degree of understanding. It is important not to confuse the following of the Templar Practices in this book with other registered or recognised groups. Although such groups may have a place in Craft, they tend to rely purely on copied or misinterpreted scripture. The elders of this path have, in their travels met and heard of various individuals whom profess to be of a sacred order or even to be at the state of a High Priest and on a many local levels, there are people that profess to being of sacred orders, placing themselves in groups of teaching and then spend endless hours reading from others published work to pass on to their groups. Sadly, in reality most of these infidels are nothing more than seekers, hoping that on the basis of their made-up, stolen, and purely out of context paths and assumptions, they will meet the right people in the right place at the right time to steal their knowledge. The only difference being that they will, on this occasion steal from a person directly rather than steal the information from books.
THE KNIGHTS BIBLE: MU. That you redeem yourself from the society that you know, to explore the path of the many; to seek the truth. We have often wondered as to people’s religious belief system. Take a moment to consider what you actually believe in. Do you believe in a supreme being? Do you believe in God? Or perhaps you believe in another? You could ponder on that thought and consider a realm of possibilities, or maybe just read on a while longer and let us explore further, the meaning
THE KNIGHTS BIBLE: SANA. The Knight Preceptory exists to teach candidates up to a certain level – it is not a dark (or left) path. It teaches the Black Flame Lit, as the aspects of creation. We feel it is imperative to teach the levels that those whom may seek to attack would use. The Knight Preceptory operates to heighten awareness of Mary Magdalene in the role of spiritual teachings.
THE KNIGHTS BIBLE: OMEGA. I am Love. I am Light. I am Peace. I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the Master of Ascension at this time, In the presence of the Divinity and Infinity. And So It Is.
“Seek and ye shall find”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Mister+Ree
As I ascended the world seemed tiny
Its peoples further and further away.
Yet I feared not
For the truth I sought was but within my grasp
I embraced the universe with love unlimited…
And I was not alone; had never been alone
For the love that surrounded me
Came from a source not of the earthly realms
It was unending and everlasting
I had turned the Key to the door often sought
Yet seldom found
I was home at last
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:
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 the year’. 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.
Adueni KT R.O.S. AKA ‘The Keeper of Scrolls’
Whether we realise it or not, most of us who are reading this do live a fairly good life; we have our daily ups and downs for sure, many of us struggle with health or finances, yet we are able to face our challenges head on as we move forwards in life. Life may not be easy for us, yet it is through our daily challenges that we learn, evolve and grow as people; we learn from life itself; indeed life is continually our ‘go to’ teacher – our learning curve. Our lives are not at all bad really; we do make the time to do the things we love and to surround ourselves with those we love and hold dear. We all work hard yet we still find time for relaxation; we have a choice.
After spending an amazing weekend recently listening to some of the very best musicians, singers and performers in the world, I felt very happy and very privileged indeed to have the choice to be able to do this. But how can one continue to feel happy amidst all the turmoil and crisis of the world? How can one even consider personal happiness and dwell on such seemingly shallow subjects as ones image and personal appearance, when in other parts of the world innocent children are being blown to smithereens and beautiful creatures are being hacked or tortured to death because various parts of their bodies are farmed by humans for profit?
What of the world of war then – is not war just another ‘stage-managed profit project’ by those in the world with ‘other’ hidden agendas? How many times have we heard the phrase ‘the war to end all wars’? Yet that never happens and it never will be the war to end all wars, while there is big money involved with one country selling weapons to another country and people behind the curtain forever pulling the strings. One has to ask who really are the ‘good guys’ and who are the ‘bad guys’? The answer if one is savvy enough to delve and to look behind the riddles given is not what one might expect at all….
Go ask yourselves what is the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist? Ask yourselves who writes the history books and why and from whose perspective? Known perceptions become deceptions if we turn everything on its head; but thankfully the doors of perception are changing and blinded eyes are now opening. People are beginning to ask loaded questions. Nothing is ever what it seems in this world, yet once the code is cracked the ways of the world start to make more sense and the jigsaw starts to fall into place; we need to look through the smoke and mirrors to see what’s really going on and who is actually pulling the puppet strings. The thing is, not to be a sheep, get out of the field, be your own person and question everything put before you; lift the veil and really see.
We in the uk can still do this; we still have a choice and can still look down into the depths of the rabbit hole, we can do our own research, look behind the news, behind the media and question it all. As I said the good guys may turn out to be the bad guys and the bad guys knew the truths all along….. If only our eyes were opened.
So what has all this do with my amazing, healing and invigorating musical weekend? Well I was thinking that those of us who are able to find enjoyment and pleasure from our lives – we do need to harvest and harness those fantastic feelings and wonderful energies to use them to good intent within this world; to spread the truths, to educate, to use our energies as a healing, magical process on ourselves so that we can offer up help, truth and healing to the universe for the good of others, yet also on a practical level we need to use our energies to make others aware; to work towards the truths, spread the truths so to wake up the population to what’s really going on in the world and why; wake up to the hidden agendas and to the stage management of events around the globe and to share, share, share.
It’s all about being a warrior; an Ansar walking upon the sphere of time, whether in spiritual or practical mode we all need to keep on fighting, to use our personal inner resources and energies to teach and educate. Luckily, in my life I know plenty of people who are trying to make a difference and who have looked into the mirror of illusion and found it to be very cracked and grubby indeed. Just refuse to be fooled by the media or by what those in power and authority would have us believe; always seek answers and forever search out the truths for yourselves – its time to choose which colour pill to take, for it’s there in your free choice that your destiny awaits….
Coming up to the end of 2014 I am compelled to add another comment; ask another question: true freedom or a fabricated illusion? Only if you understand the question will you also know the answer….
A Warrior; always questing upon the sphere of time.
Sharing and teaching the truths to those who are open to receive.
August 2014
“Some of us have walked this way before & will walk this way again; we will always seek out and find our true kin, our ‘family’ to walk with them time & time again”
“Thaddaeus was the female apostle of Malak; a part of the very first council. She has a Craft/energy line that continues on this earthly plane to this very day…..”
From the moment I first set eyes on him, when our eyes briefly met as he passed by and our gazes melded, I knew then that he was special. I had no doubt in my mind that he was everything that those whom knew him said he was, but little did I know at that time just how close we would become and of how our lives would forever remain entwined.
That deep connection was confirmed when I was asked to become part of his carefully chosen circle. He had come down from on high after being on his own for prayer and solitude. His choice was made for those he wished as his apostles; his ambassadors in the physical world and I was to be one of those whom he would teach and share the truths with. I in my turn would protect him and continue teaching his truths long after this existence in his earthly body was no more. He taught me the truths of time and of creation; of the reason for his own existence and I knew that if the patterns of the universe were to exist, then our energies would once again meet in the future, recognize and know each other. I thus became his messenger; an ambassador of his teachings whilst out in the world and eventually and with great honour, I received the ‘K.e.y to the Kingdom’.
Had I know him as child? Some say I was related, a cousin; my mother and his mother the virgin, being cousins and so we may have played together as children, maybe if so then destiny was forged right then and there and a path laid out for me. But what is kin? For I was later to learn it was far more than an earthly connection. I eventually gave up everything that I knew in order to follow him and to learn his teachings of the truths, becoming one of the chosen ones; his bonded ones. He walked within the world of men, seen by many yet truly known by only a very few, as to whom he really was and the true origins of his birth. And so I was at his side, patiently learning and always thirsting for knowledge and willing to share, until the very end of that particular earthly stage. As one always eager for his words and teachings, i was to sup from the chalice of life at his table as he shared his blood, as he shared his life and I knew my body and heart would never hunger because of it. With my brother Simon I was there to the very end of that earthly phase.
It seems I took upon myself the courage to ask him why he did not manifest himself to the whole world, to which he replied to me that if anyone loves me he will keep his word and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him. He who does not love me will not keep my words which sadly always proved to be so true. As always the teachings of the truths and why he was here among us were built upon a strong foundation of love and trust; a love and trust which went both ways.
I was always very wary of those who would claim to preach in His name, for they knew nothing of the universe and lead others astray, yet they fooled me not and I knew that time would reveal all; all the false prophets would be doomed and destroyed. Likewise though within the realms of Angels too I knew that there were those that did not keep their word and sought that which was forbidden to them, seeking the way of strange flesh which should not be their way at all and I knew this would be their undoing and they too would be held in darkness until the day of judgement came. To live in truth we must all be filled with wisdom and not as an empty cloud filled not with rain or a late autumn tree devoid of fruit. I knew the future to come, I saw it clearly and knew the fruit was due to fall from the trees leaving them barren.
Some say I was a martyr, had a courageous heart and yet I was only doing that which I had been taught to do; that which was now bound also within my own heart. I was taught the truths of the earthly plain by him and of that which had bought him from worlds afar to these fertile lands; he spoke of his own world across the universe and his own origins of which I knew he shared with so few. Yet after all this time the truths of the world still go unheard across time and space and across the very plains of physical existence. He bestowed upon me, together with the other apostles, the other chosen ones, the flame of the Holy Spirit; we drank from the chalice of life with him and thus the divine light was forever to blaze above my head.
I was always to stand by his side, albeit often in the shadows at the edge of the group and often unnoticed by society; for that was my way, yet all his words became a complete part of me and a part of who I was to become. He led the Way and I in time became the Way also. I was close by his side on so many occasions, some written down while others not so and I witnessed him heal the sick on many occasions, guide the misfortunate ones and bestow the teachings of truth upon others. I even saw him occasionally despair at the thoughtless actions of mankind and make his feelings well and truly known, but maybe it was only those of us truly close to him that really knew how he felt.
I loved to be by myself to write down my words; the words that came straight from my heart for I knew that in a future time there would be those who would come along and read my words and would understand. I wrote my words for them. To this day many of my words still remain a mystery, my gospel truths unseen, hidden within time and attributed to others or simply disregarded, yet I know in my heart that those who find them will read and truly know.
Many writers and scholars have confused me, maybe on purpose especially the gospel writers, with Judas, not the Iscariot one I hasten to add, and with Lebbaeus and Jude also and at times they seem unsure of whom my parents and siblings were but does that really matter? One must ask what’s in a name and for what deeper reason did the scriptures appear confused; were they concealing something on purpose? For we must always dig deep to find that which we seek. I in my heart know of the truth of whom I am and why the truth has been hidden and diluted for so long within the world of men. Many usually great and renowned artists too, have been content to see me forever as a man and that is fine, for those who know me, thus know me as I truly am and it is forever the word of the truths that I have been trusted with that are important and not the teller.
At times I was greatly challenged because of who I really was, yet in time the people began to see me differently, honoured me and came to me. My challenges often gave rise to me being perceived as a martyr, though I was always following my heart and the heart of he who had chosen me and to whom I had freely relinquished my soul. I wish not for the populace to worship or venerate me, for I only wished for them to listen to the true words and to find The Way for themselves and to be awakened from the everlasting darkness of lies in which they reside and see the true beauty of the Light.
My journey was always one of forever seeking knowledge and I always had a hundred questions to ask. I needed to understand fully why some can ‘see’ while others can not and in time my knowledge expanded and the answers became clear to me. I further asked of him how it was that he manifested himself to us and not unto the world at large. But all things happen in time and with love, and time is not always the right time so we held our understandings within, until a time to come in the future allowed us all to stand together upon the shores of time once more.
Life after he was no longer within the physical earthy realms was taken up with sharing the truths of his teachings and with spreading his Word. His Divine Spirit and influence were always with me; that part of him never, ever left me and in that knowledge came great courage and great strength. I preached his truths all over the world that was then known to me; Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia and Libya to name but a few and it is written that I took the Word of his teachings to Armenia. Did I end up as a martyr with my brother Simon in Persia as the scriptures state or is my tale still unfolding? But what is certain is that a ‘Jude’ and a ‘Simon’ are to this day venerated together on October 28th, both dying together as martyrs in the eyes of the world. For this date is indeed a time of endings and beginnings and hides a tale of rebirth.
There is much confusion as to my earthly remains and as I said previously what’s in a name, so then by the same token, what is in the importance of my earthly remains or anyone’s for that matter, for it is within the wisdom of the teachings I shared and in the love in my heart that I wish to be remembered. For He that has taught and guided me; it is His truth and it is His beauty that will be forever bound within my breast like a bright shinning star upon the black waters of creation. For He that was then shall be again and those that were by His side shall rise again within the realms of time and so shall a telling be complete and our place among the stars once more affirmed. A cycle will complete within the land of time and prophecies told will come to be for those who walk The Way.
Thaddaeus as told to Su.endal 2012
‘The Keeper of Scrolls’
Into darkness I will fade 
Into a night that man has made
but through that gloom shall gleam the sun
When I am lost; and again am won.
Release! Release! I call to thee
In new lands across the sea
Let another, on narrow pathways, come to me.
Furthest and Highest, yet not beyond reach.
Choose thou well a path that will teach:
How the sunken is raised and emptiness is filled
And a wandering heart can finally be stilled.
Seek the Great Stone! Mark it well, with a sign
And those who see it shall know it is mine
And seeing shall ponder and certainly know
As the Ancients have writ “As above, so Below
And I shall guard the source of Greatness
Waiting by a teardrop
From neither joy nor sorrow born
In silver bound, Beneath the ground,
I am the Spiral Horn.
( a very old, stunningly beautiful and emotional piece of writing that contains many deep truths)
