Review of Promethea

Level of reading: I would suggest having three years of reading and experience under your belt before approaching you, but don't let me dictate you from not reading this series as soon as possible!

Promethea is a comic book series for the lover of magick and all things mythological and arcane.  Created from 1999 to 2005 by Alan Moore, J.H Williams III and Mick Gray I was glad to have the entire series available at my whim to soar straight through because there is no way that I could have waited for any length of time to see the whole series through as they were produced.

The artwork is so varied and detailed as well as being perfectly paced and laid out for the reader to interpret - there is never a dull moment!

Promethea takes you through the magickal journey of Sophie Bangs - an average American girl  living in a futuristic world who writes poetry which sees her enter into magickal realms and experiences.  The more that Sophie Bangs writes, the more she realises that she is tied into her heroic role as Promethea who must steer mankind in the right direction.  Throughout the book you are taught about aspects of the occult, tarot and how the tarot links in with the Hermetic Qabbalah as she walks the Qabbalistic Tree of Life.  It certainly helps to already know of characters from the real world such as Crowley, Austin Osman Spare or John Dee but it isn't vital.

This is an incredible series for anyone wanting to learn more about the Qabbalah from scratch as I personally found it hard to pick up like any other form of magick - the Qabbalistic Tree of Life is very complex!  I found that from here I was able to merge so many of the things that I had learnt throughout my magickal journey through the art of the comic book, which as Moore notes is the best way to learn and retain information..

I can safely say that Promethea is an incredible philosophical and magical learning experience, combining so many years of my own reading and training into five comics which aesthetically and theoretically blew me away.  This comic series only added to my learning and has provided me with great respect for Hermetic Qabbalah.  For your own information, the Hermetic Qabbalah  *"is the underlying philosophy and framework for magical societies such as the Golden Dawn, Thelemic orders, mystical-religious societies such as the Builders of the Adytum and theFellowship of the Rosy Cross, and is a precursor to the Neopagan, Wiccan and New Age movements. The Hermetic Qabalah is the basis for Qliphothic Qabala as studied by left hand path orders, such as the Typhonian Order."

Apparently its writer Alan Moore - a ceremonial magician, had been criticised for pushing his own religious believes, though I think this is really a series for anyone - but certainly more for those who love magick.

A must read and well worth owning your own hardcopy of.

*Source: Wikipedia
First image from Pink Ray Gun
Second image from Elephant Eater

30 Days of Paganism [Day 7: Beliefs - The Power of Prayer]

Prayer would have to be one of the purest forms of magick as it asks directly of the 'listener.'  So far we've looked at spellcraft and wishcraft, and prayers come into their own category.  I have found that regular prayer connects and grounds me to the world and what I am grateful for.  It helps me to look at all aspects of my life during the week and also shortly before I go to bed, wishing well on those who have taught me an important lesson during my waking hours.

The following are prayers for each day of the week, which helps to build both your knowledge and rhythym.  I'm not sure where these have come from, so apologies for no references.  I wrote them down when I was about 16/17.  Don't feel that you need to have every tea, crystal and candle - it's rarely possible to have all of them available to you at once!

SUNDAY

Sunday is for: Success, ambition, fortune, money, career, sport, healing, hope, friends and outdoor fun!
Incense: Frankincense
Colour candle: Yellow
Stone: Tiger's Eye
Tea: Chamomile
Flower: Marigolds
Meditate on: The divine light and the true nature of nobility and power.
During the day, make magickal charms for friends and plant seeds.  Pursue pleasures and fun in the wilderness.

Invocation: Hail to you who are called Ra, who sails across the sky in your golden boat and thus brings us the day.  Also called Horus: Child of Light, Baal of the Solar Wheel, Apollo and Helios - blessings be unto you.  I dedicate this day to the faerie realms, the forest wild and all wilderness areas and wild things.  O Lord and Lady, bless me with vitality, optimism, health and happiness.

MONDAY

Monday is for: Psychic powers, merchandise, dreams, clairvoyance, home, childbirth, feminine qualities and theft
Incense: Jasmine
Colour candle: White
Stone: Moonstone
Tea: Mugwort - for clairvoyance.  Put some amongst your tarot deck.
Flower: White rose or daisy
Meditate on: The Fairie realms and the Holy Maiden of the Wilderness.  Contemplate the ramifications of fecundity of body, mind, spirit, your private life and the untold powers of your imagination.
Gather herbs and talismanic stones; practise astral travel, divinations, love spells, fertility spells and construct psychic shields.  Also a great night for a visualisation.

Invocation: Hail to you, Diana of the Hunt, Selene of the Moon and Hecate: Patroness of our Wiccan Way.  You who are the all-goddess Isis, blessings be unto you!  I dedicate this day to the watery realms of the oceans, lakes, lagoons, pools, streams, springs and rivers as well as to dew, rain, mist and snow.  O Lord and Lady, bless me with fertility and desire, make me receptive and empathetic to my environment.

TUESDAY
Tuesday is for: war, men, sexual energy, courage and matrimony
Incense: Dragons Blood resin - anoint yourself with pine oil
Colour candle: Red
Stone: Garnet and ruby stones
Tea: Sarsparilla (very hard to find!)
Flower: Carnations and geraniums
Meditate on: Obstacles you need to overcome to strengthen your character.  Seek to udnerstand your motivations.  During the day, perform psychic surgery and legal aid rituals.

Invocation: Hail to you Ares and Mar, implacable Lord of war and vitality - also called Hu and Tiw - blessings be unto you.  I dedicate this day to the fields and plateaus and all grazing animals.  O Lord and lady, bless me with fruitfullness, endurance and courage.  Help me to drive home my aims.

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday is for: Communication, education, travel, mental agility, writing, acting, debt, fear and loss
Incense: Sandalwood
Colour candle: Orange
Stone: Citrine/Opal
Tea: Lavendar
Flower: Lavendar
Meditate on: aspirations and goals, open your mind to inner planes.  During the day think about your plans.  After this, indulge yourself by consecrating magickal tools and perform tarot divinations.

Invocation: Hail to you who are Hermes: winged messenger, Pan the goat-footed god of the forest, Thoth the scribe and Odin the all-seeing - blessing be unto you.  I dedicate this day to the lord of the morning star, and to the process of assimilation of the raw elements as it is manifested on Earth in marshes, swamps and jungles.  May the elements be balanced.  O Lord and Lady, bless my intellect.  Help me to be adaptable, flexible, articulate and well-balanced.  Teach me the great mysteries of the Universe and enable me to speak of my acquired knowledge to others.

THURSDAY

Thursday is for: Expansion, wealth, political power, law, business, insurance matters, honor, clothing and desire.
Incense: Cedarwood
Colour candle: Light blue
Stone: Amethyst/Jade
Tea: Peppermint
Flower: Lilacs
Meditate on: Your career and job-related ambitions as well as the importance of friendship in your life in balance with your vocation.  During the day, light fires to improve health and aid promotions in career.  Study the ecosystems in your area.

Invocation: Hail to you, all father Zeus, Amon: Lord of the sky, Kronos, ruler of the elder gods and Thor - blessings be unto you.  I walk among you in dagcliffs and weather formations.  O Lord and Lady, strengthen my sense of self-reliance.  Make me patient and steady and grant me the will to endure until I attain my goals

FRIDAY
Friday is for: love, beauty, the arts, music, the environment, friendshop and strangers
Incense: Rose
Colour candle: Green
Stone: Rose quartz
Tea: Lemon
Flower: Rose petals
Meditate on: Partnerships, harmony and the true meaning and responsibility of love.
During the day indulge in lovemaking and dancing.  Make love talismans.  Perform spells to heal the kidneys.  Consecrate rose quartz stones. **Do not conduct love spells - you have been warned.  Only conduct self love spells and talismans to develop a more loving self.

Invocation: Hail to you Aphrodite: Queen of Nature, Freya, Astarte and Morwyn: goddesses of fertility, and Venus: supreme goddess of love, blessings be unto you.  I dedicate this day to the flowers and fruits of the land.  O Lord and Lady, bring me pleasure and passion.  O Empress of the evening star, make me merciful and sympathetic towards others and help me to express my creativity.

SATURDAY
Saturday is for: karma, prosperity, inheritance, agriculture, life building, doctrine and protection
Incense: Myrrh
Colour candle: Black
Stone: Sodalite
Tea: Solomon's Seal tea
Flower: Dried flowers and gladioli
Meditate on: Reincarnation and the womb of the Great Mother Gaia.  Seek to attain self control and knowledge.  During the day, practice deep meditation, psychometry and perfume rituals to do with the material plane.

Invocation: Hail to you Gaia, Great Mother of us all.  Rhea, Binah, Ge: Queen of the Universe - blessings be unto you.  I dedicate this day to the stars, to the tundra, the moors and alpine peaks on this Earth.  O Lord and Lady, help me to find inner peace and a sense of totality.

BEDTIME BLESSING
by Silver Ravenwolf
In the stillness of the night,
While the world around me sleeps,
May the angels smile upon me,
and the Lady bring me peace.
Blessings upon ---.
I know that you will care for them,
And bring them what they need.
Install in me great harmony,
In thought and word and deed.

A dream book of shadows

via Sun in Scorpio

Chairs to choose for the altar

 

Gothic Oak Hall Chair

with Hinged Seat
French or English, ca. 1870
89"h x 27"w x 20½"d

via Gilded Age Antiques

Victorian Transitional Sidechair – Gothic Revival Meets Rococo Revival

via Rare Victorian 

Charles Rohlfs Chair

via Hewn and Hammered

This piece was discovered in the rubbish in the U.S quite recently and sold on the auction market for $198,000...  Who on earth would throw this out, do they have NO taste or appreciation for the Arts & Crafts Movement?!

Very reasonable herbs and teas from Medicine Garden

Medicine Garden Australia supply me with some of my favourites like mugwort, chamomile, nettle tea, dandelion root tea, angelica powder, borage, lion's tail tea, damiana, licorice root, myrrh granules, hawthorn berry tea, horsetail tea, lemon myrtle, marshmallow root tea... the list is so fantastic you have to see for yourself:

http://www.medicinegarden.com.au

2010 Moon Calendar

New Moon     1st Quarter  Full Moon   Last Quarter                                                           Jan 15  07:12 A   Jan 23  10:53     Jan 30  06:17     Feb  5  23:50    
Feb 14       Feb 22       Feb 28      Mar  7     
Mar 15       Mar 23       Mar 30      Apr  6      
Apr 14       Apr 21       Apr 28      May  6      
May 14       May 20       May 27      Jun  4      
Jun 12       Jun 19       Jun 26   p  Jul  4      
Jul 11   T   Jul 18       Jul 26      Aug  3      
Aug 10       Aug 16       Aug 24      Sep  1   

Sep  8       Sep 15       Sep 23      Oct  1      
Oct  7       Oct 14       Oct 23      Oct 30      
Nov  6       Nov 13       Nov 21      Nov 28   

Dec  5       Dec 13       Dec 21  t   Dec 28      

Visualisation tips (from my entry on wiccantogether.com)

I thought I'd put this here because I put this advice on wiccantogether.com TWICE having lost the first entry and have had a fantastic time visualisation sequences and meeting interesting characters which I may paint one day.  To paint them though would feel sacriligeous in a sense, but they are only my personal interpretations also.

PRACTISING VISUALISATION - derived from Scott Cunningham's techniques

Close your eyes and imagine an object, for example an eggplant (aubergine!). Consider the detail: the pores, the colour, the texture, the beads of water rolling down its sides and hold that image as your eyes are closed. You might even get an idea of what it feels like. Hold that image strongly and then attempt to hold the image with your eyes open. Never at any point will you literally 'see' this object as though it's ltierally in front of you - it will be see-through and imaginary - because if it were really literally there like someone sitting across from you, you would have to go to the doctor if you didn't have a heart attack first! Practice this type of visualisation on a regular basis, inventing scenarios involving the object to help get that 'muscle' working. You could also do this on public transport: when someone gets off the train/tram (without having scared them by staring!) imagine that they are still there and refill that space.

THE RITUAL

CANDLE: SILVER - FOR CLAIRVOYANCE
OBJECTS: FEATHERS AND SNAIL SHELLS (FEATHERS FOR FLIGHT AND SHELLS FOR TRAVEL)
A MIRROR: FOR SELF REVELATION
NIGHT: MONDAY, SACRED TO HECATE WHO WILL GUIDE YOU INTO THE DEPTHS OF VISION
TEA: MUGWORT. I love this stuff. I end up in a calm, warm glow for prophetic visions - grand stuff!
SCENT: Jasmine

SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE ABOVE INGREDIENTS:

Mugwort tea, a silver candle and your confident yet relaxed self.
Asperge the sacred area and build the energy, preferably with a luscious mantra to help you concentrate on the 'dome' and light coming into your crown. Drink the mugwort tea during this mantra and before you do the 'ball of light'.

Set up your space, placing the feathers, snail shells and a clear quartz or moonstone on the altar.

- Another technique that Cunningham uses is moulding a ball of light. You can physically 'feel' this as well as sense the light that you are creating. After having cast the circle, imagine the circle's energy forming a dome above your head (otherwise known as the 'cone of power') where the crown of your head aligns with its centre. Feel the dome protect you, keeping you in a graceful, peaceful state whilst imagining the dome spinning its energy like soft white flames in deosil. The image of the dome is one of the first, and most helpful forms of visualisation because it strengthens your space and keeps a rhythm: you must continually visualise this. When you have a handle on this, imagine a beam of light coming from the heavens and through the crown of your head. The idea here is that you're not using too much of your own energy, and instead you are literally drawing energy from the universe which you will 'ground' later. Let this light flow from the crown of your head through to your hands. After some time, you should feel a warm 'buzz' in your palms - or others describe it as a spinning. Once you feel confidence with the visualisation of the dome and the sensation in your hands, face your hands towards each other to make a ball of light with the 'buzzing' energy. Shape it: pull it out, then push it in, moulding it softly. When the hands get closer and closer together, there will be a force between them much like two negatives of a magnet, forcing each other to stay at a certain distance until the ball of light is firmly formed.

- The first time I did it, my heartbeat beat distinctly and strongly through and around this ball of energy and it was incredible! Take this ball of energy, then place your hands over your eyes. From here all you need do is maintain your energy and faith, letting yourself go into guided fantasy where visualisations will lead to hidden clues and answers.

- Make sure at the end of the ritual to 'ground' the excess energy or you will tire yourself out! I forgot to do that the first time and I went to bed with the centre of my palms feeling as though they'd been slightly burnt.

Aligning the planets to the form

via VVitch

Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair - a warning to not hex nor conjure love spells

 

I'd seen this on Witch Mountain weeks ago and have thought about the phrase 'Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair' for some time now, especially given that I'd come across a quote (I believe also from Witch Mountain) which said something like "Those who cannot hex cannot heal." Of course I can't take the latter seriously, it sounds like a whimsical passing statement but at the same time I don't encourage anyone to hex just as I don't encourage anyone to conjure love spells - they are at both ends of a person's will as love and hate are just as strong as the other. All of the love spells I have performed have turned out incredibly badly, almost into hexing myself. I went down each stage, from taking an image of someone I wanted, to the next time where I drew my ideal man without giving him any of the personality traits which would make him a great love... I ended up briefly with this person who loooked exactly like my drawing, even the badly drawn long torso and long jade pendant - and it was a disaster for my soul... he floated from woman to woman anyway! I warn anyone who practices magick: do not hex or cast a love spell as it's essentially Black Magick, commanding the will of the other to be overtaken by your power which you have no right in doing. I am adamant about this for a reason: to help others and to prevent the negative outcomes that they will have placed themselves in.

'Fair is foul and foul is fair' comes close to the dualities in life which Wicca encapsulates: light vs. dark, negative vs. positive, man and woman which create the balance of life itself. These witches state that fair play is as powerful and justified as foul play and are in themselves an inherent part of witchcraft... and yes I realise they're fictional characters - I don't completely live on the web!

Those who feel the need to hex justify in doing so when the other person has done something so bad that they need to be taught a lesson, but why wouldn't karma take care of that for you? If we believe that whatever we sends out comes back times three, why would we need to control the punishment of others?

I am sincere in my warnings... and will only say it once! And watch the clip too, it is fantastic.

)0( Elspeth

Want...

www.theneworacle.com.au

Brian Keats Antipodean Astro Calendar + other publications

Hello!

A friend of mine has given me the link to this fascinating page and she recommended it for "I found the biodynamic antipodean calendars the BEST when it came to southern hemisphere moon, rain, sun, star and even bee cycles."

I've pasted the images below so that you can scour straight through, but incase you're going to buy anything, go straight to his website here incase by clicking on the below 'add to basket' link that something strange might happen!

	2009 Antipodean Astro Calendar by Brian Keats For Southern Hemisphere - AEST 32 A4 pages Full colour see sample pages Price reduced to $Aus 20.00 ........ from $25 Price in $US 15.00 approx.

2009 Northern Hemisphere Astro Calendar by Brian Keats 32 A4 pages Full colour Based on Pacific Time Printed in USA and distributed by www.northernstarcalendar.com order from northernstarcalendar.com

	2009 Moon Planting Guide by Stefan Mager & Brian Keats (simplified beginners version of Astro Calendar) . Price reduced to $Aus 10.00 Price in $US 7.00 approx. see more information

	Biodynamic Growing Guide by Brian Keats & Stefan Mager 1st edition with wheels Price in $Aus 15.00 Price in $US 10.00 approx. see information and sample pages
Biodynamic Growing Guide Japanese Edition 32 A4 pages Full colour +Soul Calendar insert Based on Pacific Time Distributed in Japan Order from Japan

	Betwixt Heaven & Earth by Brian Keats A compendium of essays pertaining to the Earth as part of a Living Cosmos. 168 page book which includes a supplement to Biodynamic Planting Calendars.Published in 1999. Price in $Aus 15.00 Price in $US 10.00 approx. see information and chapter headings

	Botanical Guide by Stefan Mager Price in $Aus 15.00 Price in $US 10.00 approx. see information and pages

Even more reasonable candles, straight from the source

Nimbin Candles (the source of the taper candles provided below)

If you go straight through their website you get them EVEN cheaper, so that the two hour taper 20 pack below is $5.50.

They do not, however, have any cat candles or human figures which the site below has at a very reasonable price (they have skull ones!!!). Nimbin just sells ordinary candles.

They also have gorgeous pyramid candles for up to 1000 hours of burning (surely that's a lifetime!).

They also have gorgeous copper candle holders.

http://www.nimbincandles.com.au

Really reasonable candles - they are so hard to find these days!

Above: two hour tapers and the cat candle

Reasonably priced altar candles are SO hard to find these days! I've been going all over town trying to find the traditional dinner-style candle in variations of colours in Melbourne and it is SO hard!

This website sells candles at a really reasonable price
The above two hours tapers are $6.50AUS for 20 - and you can choose 20 of one particular colour if you need heaps for some kind of celebration or handfasting.

They also have packs of small, lean 'wish' candles at 20 per box for $7.50 if for some reason you want to have a lot of gold or silver candles.

I am rather keen on the cat candle found in the Spell Candles section (below - $7.50AUS)

Go to the site and click on 'Candles' on the left hand side from the home page:
http://www.ozwicca.com/shop/index.html

Reliable moon calendars

These calendars are reliable, the version below from here
*Remember not to cast a spell three days before a full moon, which can either lead to incredibly bad luck or not work at all.

Year	New Moon	First Quarter	Full Moon	Last Quarter
2009 Moon Phases dates
2009		Jan 4 11:56	Jan 11 03:27	Jan 18 02:46
	Jan 26 07:55 A	Feb 2 23:13	Feb 9 14:49 n	Feb 16 21:37
	Feb 25 01:35	Mar 4 07:46	Mar 11 02:38	Mar 18 17:47
	Mar 26 16:06	Apr 2 14:34	Apr 9 14:56	Apr 17 13:36
	Apr 25 03:23	May 1 20:44	May 9 04:01	May 17 07:26
	May 24 12:11	May 31 03:22	Jun 7 18:12	Jun 15 22:15
	Jun 22 19:35	Jun 29 11:28	Jul 7 09:21 n	Jul 15 09:53
	Jul 22 02:35 T	Jul 28 22:00	Aug 6 00:55 n	Aug 13 18:55
	Aug 20 10:01	Aug 27 11:42	Sep 4 16:03	Sep 12 02:16
	Sep 18 18:44	Sep 26 04:50	Oct 4 06:10	Oct 11 08:56
	Oct 18 05:33	Oct 26 00:42	Nov 2 19:14	Nov 9 15:56
	Nov 16 19:14	Nov 24 21:39	Dec 2 07:30	Dec 9 00:13
	Dec 16 12:02	Dec 24 17:36	Dec 31 19:13 p

This site is also helpful for daily moon phases if you want something visual

Fiona Horne - supplies via her site

Thanks to the dear Fiona Horne, you can get your hands on a reasonably priced Book of Shadows and a whole list of witchcraft books which I've never seen before which are also incredibly reasonable.

http://www.mysticmonkey.com.au

One such book I am VERY interested in reading:

POPPY PALIN - CRAFT OF THE WILD WITCH
Poppy Palin teaches how to read nature's language and develop a living relationship with the land. From the perspective of a Wild Witch, she reviews Sabbats/Esbats, spell-weaving. Fairies, companion spirits, intuition development, and much more.

Her site also contains a list of your local witchcraft suppliers around Australia (via "About Witchcraft") with a supplier just around the corner from me which I had no idea even existed!:

http://www.fionahorne.com/

Wunderkammer - insects, egg shells, skeletons and curios for spell casting

This shop is something else. I applied to work here and strongly advocate their amazing range of products - bar the stuffed animals! As the moth is my familiar, I am dead keen to get my hands on one of their framed critters despite all ethical issues that I ought to have as a vegetarian.

Their essay on Natural History in the Victorian era is something else and a must read and various potions can be kept in their medical vials that are available if you are a very aesthetic witch like myself.

Hopefully I can go in there with their permission and take photographs for the blog, so stay tuned, otherwise visit them at:

http://wunderkammer.com.au/main.htm

439 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, Vic, 3000

Ph: 03 9642 4694
Fax: 03 9642 4695

We invite you to visit us to see all all that is new (and old) in the Chamber of Wonders.

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri 10AM-6PM
Sat 10AM-4PM