The Ancient Wiccan Way
Vs.
The Wicca of Today
By Sylvia
Children of the Goddess:
For years many of you have searched through the many books being written on the subject of the Ancient Religion of the Wicca. Some of you were fortunate to have been led on your quest by teachings from the Goddess, herself. But not many. Most have followed the teachings of people who have gained a little knowledge and have infused their own ideals and fantasies to form their own `tradition or denomination' of the Wicca. I'm here to say that there are NO traditions or denominations of the Wicca! The Wicca are the Wicca, the path is but only one; the one that was practiced for eight thousand years before Christianity began the genocide of our followers.
I intend, through the kindness of this publication, to give you the knowledge that you seek9 As you will see, in the contest of this article, that the distances between the old ways and the ones that you are accustomed to are vast indeed.
You see, when the inquisitions and the burning times began, the banner of the Christians was to convert or die. Needless to say, the conversion rate was high. Much of the old knowledge was destroyed and forgotten, with the exception of a handful of devout families who passed the knowledge down from generation to generation.
When the resurrection of the old religion began toward the end of the 19th century, there was very little of the ancient knowledge left for them to find, except for the occasional Grimoir in rare bookstores. This left cavernous gaps in the knowledge. Most of what was found was what is referred to as the `Fruit and Flower Magick', the gentle healing arts and the Sabbat rituals. One or two of the seekers found Grimoirs that contained the knowledge of the darker side of the Wicca, known as the `Blood and Bone Magick'. Without the knowledge of how to use these magickal systems, things got very confused and some of the followers even paid for their mistakes with their sanity. The ways of witchcraft were very mystical indeed! But still the quest continued, and the seekers began to leave out the dangerous knowledge and to fill in the gaps with their own thoughts, as best that they could.
This led to what we have today, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Seax, Picta, and many others too numerous to mention. I found a reference in one book which barely touched the subject of the `Fruit and Flower Magick' which told the reader that when they completed the book that they would be equal to the standing of a High Priestess or High Priest. This is an example of what my grand mother told me, "It takes minutes to look like one, but years to become one"! Currently, I am teaching and training some of these coven `hierarchy' the proper methods of operation.
I'm going to use my own situation to exemplify this. My training began at the tender age of three. My grand mother and mother taught me the knowledge and ways of the Wicca for the next eleven years, when I was elevated to the standing of High-Priestess, (yes, the age of 18 rule is incorrect), a person must obtain a high level of proficiency and balance in the ways and knowledge of BOTH the light and the dark in order to be so presumptuous enough to stand as the physical representative of the Goddess and God. But, take heart, I'll teach you these ways if you choose.
Now, there are many gaps that I would like to fill, for you, in this article. The first of which is...
THE WATCHERS
In none of the books that I have read have I found mention of the names or nature of the Watchers. I have found reference to calling the quarters by element, direction, and sometimes even by symbol. In all of my years, and all of the students that I have had, never have the Watchers come to this manner of calling. Oh, perhaps the caller might feel a light presence of something, but in order to have them come and manifest in true physical form to protect your circle, they must be called by name, title, and with the utmost respect. For, after all, they are of the Elder Gods! Their names and titles are as follows:
EAST: LORD PHEYGON, THE LORD OF THE WINDS AND OF THE WIND DEMONS.
In his calling use due respect and his symbol to be drawn is of the upright pentagram.
SOUTH: LORD BETHOR, THE LORD OF FIRES OF EARTH AND OF THE STARS.
In his calling use due respect and his symbol to be drawn is of the upright triangle.
WEST: LORD ARRATRON, LORD OF THE WATERS OF EARTH AND LIFE.
In his calling use due respect and his symbol to be drawn is of the inverted pentagram.
NORTH: LORD OCR, LORD OF THE DEEP EARTH AND OF THE DEAD.
In his calling use utmost respect and his symbol to be drawn is of the inverted triangle.
In recent events, one of the High Priestesses that I am training used the proper methods of calling the Watchers and to the amazement of her entire coven, they all saw the Watchers and the glowing of their eyes!
The next thing that I would like to cover is the subject of the Circle itself.
In some of the books, most of them actually, instruction is given for the creation of the Circle as to merely `draw' the Circle with Atheme' or finger, sprinkle it with sacred water, then cense it with the smoke of the incense. This is great if you're planting a garden! In the proper formation and creation of the Circle, the energy of nature must be channeled through the one drawing the Circle, and must be seen by all present so that all know that it is there. This makes a BIG difference! But, be warned this is a Circle that is hazardous to step through without cutting a portal. Follow this by the calling of the Watchers.
The last thing that I would like to cover in this article is the subjects of, `sex magick', nudity, and threats.
Unlike the things that I have seen written, even in a back issue of this publication, sex magick is not, I repeat not, a personal thing that is used for personal sexual gratification! It is never used by multiple partners! And, even in the Great Rite, is the orgasmic energy directed by one partner into the other!
The purpose of `sex magick' is for maximum effect in an operation by utilizing the emotion and energy that is achieved through an orgasm. As one reaches the orgasm, the concentration of energy is placed into the spell and then cast to its purpose. As a matter of fact, the greatest effect is reached through masturbation. The usual times that partners are used in `sex magick' is in the instance of the Great Rite, when the maximum energy is needed for the healing and replacement of fertility back to nature. `Sex Magick' in any other fashion is merely the culmination of the sexual fantasy of an individual.
Nudity in the ways of the Wicca is used only three times in the life of a Wiccan. This is in their three initiations to the Goddess, and it is the way of showing the ultimate homage to Her.
The first is in the Self-Dedication; the second is the Rite of First Assention, (elevation to Priestess or Priest), and finally the Rite of Completion, (elevation to High Priestess or High Priest). These are the only times that a Wiccan is nude!
The idea of being nude in the Circle, or `skyclad', comes from the trials of the Goddess when She was forced to stand before the Dark Brothers nude. She was asked that how She could rule and expect Her worshipers to see Her without being ashamed? She answered that Her worshipers would go into a secret place and worship Her naked and unashamed. This is where the skyclad idea came from. But, of course, when the trials were over She regained Her gown and was NOT naked. So, therefore, Her worshipers did not have to be naked in Her presence. The whole skyclad issue was formulated by male sexual fantasy, so that they could see nude women, or men!
And, finally, the issue of bondage and threats made to an initiate. We of the Wicca are altruistic and passive by the mandate of the One Law that we live by, `An It Harm None, Do What Thou Wilt! There is nowhere in that statement that says, `except to put the fear of the Goddess into them'! I don't care for the fantastic symbolism some care to put into binding, blinding, and threatening by the point of a sword. An initiate comes to the Goddess in perfect love, perfect trust, and by free will. Let the Christians do all of the perverse threats that they want, it is simply not our way.
As you can see, this is not very similar to what you're accustomed to. It is the ways of our ancestors. Gentle, kind, and altruistic. A true Wiccan would sooner give up their life than to harm another, even by lying. In the articles to come, I will share more knowledge of the old ways with you. And in the meantime, try calling the Watchers the right way, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Until next time, Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry shall we meet again!
Sylvia | 
