Celtic Workshop #10 The Act of "Becoming" and The Charm of "Summoning" How to actually influence your surroundings. How to perform Weather Magick, to call animals to you, to improve your crops and to influence the outcome of events. How to discover your past life, find your Inner Teacher or Self and how to summon "Spirits" to your presence. Our Cyber Tuatha gathered upon the moors and among the raths once more. This night was a night of Magick and the Power of the Moon Goddess in her full glory. We engaged in some prelimenary greetings and then the presentation begain ..... Tonight's workshop is advertised to cover the following topics and I intend to give them all my best efforts at explanation. Tonight's topics are: * How to actually influence your surroundings. * How to perform Weather Magick, to call animals to you, to improve your crops and to influence the outcome of events. * * * * How to discover your past life, find your Inner Teacher or Self. * * * * How to summon "Spirits" to your presense. I am being ambitious in talking about these topics! I trust we can cover them all tonight and I also hope to have many contributions by all of you regarding your own personal experiences in these areas. We will learn from our "Inner Druids"! The key words to remember tonight are "Becoming" and "Summoning". They along with "Will" and "Authority" are the basis of most Druidic and Celtic Magicks. What do I mean by "Becoming"? What does this act have to do with Magick? How did Druids do this? I asked myself all of these questions before making this act a topic for tonight's workshop. The inspiration for the act of "Becoming" is the "Song of Amergin" from the ancient Irish manuscript the Leabhar Gabha'la (Book of Invasions). Hear now the words of the Druid Amergin: The Mystery I am the wind which breathes upon the sea. I am the wave of the ocean. I am the murmur of the billows. I am the ox of the seven combats. I am the vulture upon the rocks. I am a beam of the Sun. I am the fairest of plants. I am a wild boar in valour. I am a salmon in the water. I am a lake in the plain. I am a word of science. I am a point of the lance in battle. I am the God who created in the head the fire. Who is it who throws light into the meeting on the mountain? Who announces the ages of the Moon? Who teaches the place where couches the Sun? (If not I) This was the translation by Dr. Douglas Hyde from his work "Literary History of Ireland". This poem was once as well known in the Celtic world as the "Lord's Prayer" is in today's world. It is said to be the first verse made by the Mileseans as they arrived in Ireland (circa 1000 BC). This is also an incantation by a mighty Druid and is a good illustration of the act of "Becoming". Amergin is using the Magickal Law of Identification that is given by Isaac Bonewits in his book "Real Magick": "The Law of Identification ...states that by maximum association between your metapattern and that of another entity, you can actually "become" that entity and wield its power." Bonewits is a Neo Druid and the founder of the group A'r nDrai'ocht Fe'in (ADF for short though it really means "Our Druidic Magick" in Gaeilge). This act of "Becoming" is one that is not lightly undertaken. The danger exists of being trapped within the other entity (whether natural, human or spiritual). I suggest you not actually try this sort of thing until you know your True Will (exactly who you really are without self delusion). This was also true of the Greek and the Egyptian Mysteries. Their first and major requirement was "Gnothi se auton", literally "Know thyself"! The ability to control and return to one's being is linked directly to one's knowledge of Self. Sometimes this process goes the otherway as well, as when a Wiccan "Draws Down the Moon". The threefold Goddess actually Manifests within the High Priestess (HPS) in such a ceremony. She who has no Name is benevolent, usually, so that this possession results in the HPS afterwards being returned to control of her own body. "Becoming" is a two way street and a matter of "Will". Now that we know a little about the act of "Becoming", I think you can appreciate just how great a Druid that Amergin was....he "became" multiple entities at the same time in his Invocation of the Mystery. He controlled all of these elemental powers and made them his own. This act of Power allowed the Mileseans to land upon Eireann though they were opposed by the Magicks of the Tuatha de Danaan. He also lived to do other Magicks (though I must say that his invocation of Ireland is rumored to have caused him to marry and join the de Danaan within the spirit world of the Sidhe). We must remember that Amergin was a Druid and so had studied his arts intensivly for anywhere from 12 to 20 years as a minimum. He was able to return to hinself after such Magical Working because he knew his True Self and Will. This strong connection is the Way of Return for us all. I urge that you all exercise due caution when "Becoming". Know yourself first. Another saying worthy of note while discussing the act of "Becoming" is a common saying of the ancient world that I quote from Doreen Valiente's book "Natural Magic": "Ten measures of magic were given to the world. Egypt took nine. The rest took one." I include this saying here to establish one other connection....that of the Druids to the Egyptians. The lineage of Amergin and the Gaels includes his mother Scota (daughter of the Egyptian Pharoh) as well as Mile and Niall "of the Languages" a Scythian prince from Syria. No small wonder then that Pliny, a noted ancient scholar, says of the Druids in his work "Natural History" that the Druids practiced Magick with such elaborate ritual that it would almost appear that it was they "who had taught the Persians". These are none other than the Magi or "wise men" from whom the word Magick is derived. Another ancient historian, Dio Chrysostum groups the Druids together with the Persian, Hindu and Egyptian priesthoods regarding their use of magical powers. While I'm connecting Magical schools, I may as well say that Liber Al vel Legis (The Book of the Law) is the channeled revelation of the Egyptian dieties Nuit, Hadit and Ra-Hoor- Khuit (Otherwise known as Isis, Osiris and Horus) Horus is two in one, Horus and Harpocrates or Set/Apophis). We have already seen the use of these three godnames in the "Rite of Three Rays" from a previous workshop. This was the intonation of the sounds "IAO" used when invokiing the One Power. In Thelemic Magick the Book of the Law is the basis for the revelation of a "New Aeon" or "New Age". It was channeled in 1904 by Aleister Crowley 90 years ago this month. "Do what thou wilt is the whole of the Law". "Love is the Law, Love under Will". (caps are mine). I have digressed quite a bit here but I think the time is well spent. Celtic Magick is tied through the Druids to the Egyptians and the Persians to a far older Magick arising out of Summeria and from there beyond time. It is true and powerful Magick and I give the same caution to you that I gave about herbs last workshop....think long and hard and with great deliberation before undertaking this journey. Once the path is taken, the journey must be completed. Now I finally get to my first topic of the night! : How to actually influence your surroundings The key to any act influencing the world around us is to be in tune and in touch with it first. You must hear the tune before you can change the music or even write your own song. I suggest a lot of meditation in Nature. Find a spot that "speaks" to the Pagan within you. Be at Peace and "feel" the pulse of Nature, the God and the Goddess. Once this rapport has been established, one is ready to influence the surroundings. The Druids left us few writings concerning their spells and Magicks. We must "rediscover" these Works by looking at the Magicks that are done in the world today and by Using our "Druid filters" and "Celtometers"!! I have included examples of such "Natural Magics" from my own experiences, the experiences of other Witches and Druids as well as those that I found in the writings of Doreen Valiente, Bonewits and Scott Cunningham. How to perform Weather Magick For weather Magickal examples I turned to our very own Thunder Being, Shadow Hawk, shaman and wizard extraordinaire! He obliged me with a few examples: The first example involves the control of weather fronts and rain. Our favorite shaman uses the techniques of dancing and drumming to attain a higher state. He invokes the Lightning beings and they join the dance with him. By being so in tune with them he can ask that they do his bidding. If he must act upon an existing weather front, he sends his "power animal", Dragon into the clouds. Dragon is a manifestation of this Shaman in the power planes. Dragon then interacts with the clouds and controls the storms. When the work is done, he is recalled to his shaman. The use of such a "power animal" or Magickal construct allows the wise shaman to "become" one with the elements of the storm and influence them without "losing himself" in their wild natures. The connection is retained with the Self (Shadow Hawk) back upon the ground while the power animal (Dragon) works among the clouds. The use of such Power has its price.... Shadow Hawk suffers sever headaches for three days following these episodes. The second example of how our Dark Shaman uses the weather for Magick is in charging his Magickal tools: his sword, wand and athame. During a 200 MPH hurricane, he faced the Power of the storm, shouting out the invocation of the Quarters, forming a Magickal Circle and calling the storms Power into his sword, his wand and his athame. He also captured the storm's rain in a cauldron for later magickal workings. Can't you see him with the storm's winds lashing at his cloak? Sword upraised as lightnings crash all around him, exploding in sparks and reflecting in eerie blue lights off the steel of his blade and the aura of his Magick!!! He has used these tools in many Powerful workings. How to call animals to you This is a matter of "becoming" the animal in your mind and "willing" it to come to you. Actually the "Beastmaster" movie illustrated this technique quite well. Most good hunters do this subconsciously and naturally. How to improve your crops In this Working, invoke no other spirits than your own. Burn no fires nor incenses. Carry four stones with you that have been blessed by you in a previous ceremony. Set these stones to define the area that is to be planted. Cast a Magickal Circle within this field. Sit upon the ground and place both hands upon the earth at your sides. Feel the earth, it's dampness, its fertility, its calm. Reflect upon your needs and the crops you are about to plant. Next recite a suitable chant or poem. I like this one: "Go maith raibh agat, na mBande'. Go maith raibh agat, na De'. Go maith raibh agat, talamh me'ith. Cuirim fad beannacht na greine thu. Cuirim fad beannacht na gealai thu. Cuirim fad beannacht mo chroi' thu. Go me'adai Bhri'de do sto'r san ba'isteach de earrach. Go me'adai Danu do sto'r san greine te de tsaamhradh. Go me'adai Dagdha do sto'r san gaoth ple'isiu'rtha fo'mhar." As I sit and reflect upon the bounty that the Land has given me I give back to the earth of my own personal Power. I remember the blessings it has bestowed to me and my pleasure in its well being. After a suitable amount of reflection and meditation, I arise to do my plowing and to plant my seeds for another turn of the Wheel. How to influence the outcome of events I try to create a feeling of Positive Magick within me. I banish all negative thoughts. I surround myself with a glow of positive golden energy. I tap the flows of the earth and the sky and "project" a creative field all around me. I find that this works well in casinos and just before having important meetings. It helps to strongly visualize the outcome that is desired and to see the results occur and not the actions that cause them. Let events sort themselves as they may. Let the Magick work. Be patient and await the rewards. How to discover your past life Some people use tapes and hypnosis to do past life regressions. Perhaps some of you have and can share those experiences with us tonight. I find that what works best for me is to read about a time to understand the events of that period and to set the stage for my Work. I then allow myself to "daydream" and reflect about that time and to see myself within it. What usually happens next is that no revelation comes to me immediately. I maintain my focus over perhaps as long as three days constantly checking to see if my "dream" search has produced any results. When I least expect it, sudden revelation will show me a scene from a past life and my part in it. It's like seeing a photograph from an album for me. How to find your Inner Teacher or Self This is the start of all real Magick, finding your True Will. Many techniques exist for doing this in a variety of books, everything from "the 21 Lessons" to Donald Michael Kraig's "Modern Magic". I will relate how it happened to me. I studied the works of Magick, Science and Religions (as many as I could find). I sought for the Truth that was external to me. I was a bulldog chasing down many paths and wrestling with many concepts. The Truth eluded me, always constantly out of mu grasp....the fox and the grapes. I was incredibly frustrated. One night I gave it all up. As I lay in the Silence of my mind, I left all of the mundane world behind and suddenly I was surrounded by Spirit in a place not a place. It was not within me...I had ceased to exist I was the student and the Spirit was the teacher. Since then, if I have need of an answer, I create a sacred space for me to be silent and I await enlightenment. I listen to my Inner Guide. Sometimes the lessons are easy and othertimes I have to learn the hard way. (Frequently I get off of My Path and am "guided back" with many "object" lessons kicking me in the seat of the pants)! I would be interested in hearing how anyone else found their True Will. Mine search was long and hard and I still stray in confusion at times! How to summon 'Spirits' I will give an example of how to summon the Spirit of Merlin as found in the book "The 21 Lessons of Merlin" by Douglas Monroe. Before we begin there is a chant we must learn in old Welsh: "Bedd Ann ap lleian ymnewais fynydd lluagor llew Ymrais Prif ddewin Merddin Embrais." the meaning: "The grave of the nun's son on Newais Mountain: Lord of Battle, Llew Embrais, Chief Magician, Myrddin Emrys." the pronunciation: "BETH AHN ahp T-Lay'in, eem-NEW-ais FEEN-ith T-loo-AH-gor T-loo EEM-rais Preeve DEW-in MEER-thin EHM-rihs." I find that using an unusual language in a chant helps me to free myself from the chains of the mundane and allows me to focus upon the Working. After memorizing the above chant one must search for a suitable site....a grave yard or burial ground that is isolated from prying eyes and situated upon a hill. This sounds hard but is not impossible to do. I know of such a place where my great, great grandfather and grandmother are buried upon a hill beneath a copse of trees in a farmers fields. Many such spots exist... though work can find them (and hopefully also permission to use them). Pick a suitable night for the ritual, Samhain being the absolute best night. Gather nine pumpkins that are carved with faces (though candle holders will do...just not as spooky). Set the circle up the day before the ritual as you don't want any distractions from your Work. Arrange the pumpkins with candles around you in a circle (about arms width) with the faces looking outward. Always light the candles from within the circle. Pick a suitably soulful dirge (for meditation and mood setting) from your favorite songbook (Monroe suggests his but you know what you like better). Sing this song as you meditate and reflect upon the Working. Place an iron cauldron within the circle upon a bed of coals. Into this cauldron place a mixture of an herb, a flower and a tree (Monroe suggests using 1 part wormwood, 2 parts Ghostflower (Datura) and 3 parts Yew (juniper or cypress) as an incense mixture. (Store bought incenses work just as well and can be burned in an incense burner instead of a cauldron). Start the entire ritual at 30 minutes before Midnight. At precisely Midnight throw additional incense on the coals and recite the above invocation nine times without stopping. "Become" one with the chant! See into the Darkness! Expect the coming of Myrddin Emrys! Sit quietly and await the coming of the shade of Merlin! You may ask for the answers to three questions. Release the shade by extinguish- ing the fire and incense completely, then extinguish the 9 circling fires of the pumpkin heads. You can now pack up and leave. The key to successfully working this Magick is setting the mood, performing the meditations and reflections and reciting the invocation properly. The ritual can be adapted to allow you to invoke other Spirits as well to equal effect. The ancient Gaels would do similar rituals to communicate with the dead. They would usually lay and sleep upon the grave of the person to be summoned while fasting, until the shade appeared. This process was not lightly undertaken by them, as the dead could be quite dangerous to the living, wanting to regain the pleasures of the flesh (hence the need for the Magickal Circle of pumpkins and light). In a previous workshop I told how the Ta'in Bo' Cuailnge was recovered by a young Druid sleeping upon the grave of Feargus Mac Rioch. I'd like to caution you all once more to do these rituals only when in dire need. That's why it's important to do two things... 1. Always work within a Circle. 2. Have someone there that can aid you if things get out of hand. This means severing the connection and banishing the entity. This is also why it's so important to know your True Will. When you have that anchor you can come back from anywhere. I know... because I have done it. It's like climbing a hill though... (2-28,cherokee) Rhianna, I think as od said it's important to remember that you are working with very powerful energies. You must be pure and centered before doing the work. The indians believe it is not possible for an animal to take over a human because the animals are here as guides who keep us close to our source.