Friday the 13th

Don’t forget to hug a witch today… It’ll bring you good luck if you do!

To Pagans the numerological significance of the number thirteen is a good thing. In the ancient Pagan world the number thirteen was venerated because it was associated with the lunar year. This is also known in the Pagan world as the “year and a day.”

There are thirteen new Moons or thirteen full Moons during every solar year. There are thirteen days of the waxing Moon culminating in the Full Moon on the fourteenth day. There are, in like manner, thirteen days of the waning Moon cycle culminating in what is called Dark Moon (no moon visible in the sky), which is also known as New Moon. There are also 13 weeks in each of the four seasons.

The ancient Egyptians held the belief that the number 13 was lucky. They were aware of the fact that there are 13 Full Moons or 13 New Moons in each year, and this seems to be the source of their belief. They also believed the number 13 was associated with everlasting life. This association relates to the waxing and waning of the Moon. They thought the Lunar cycle to be associated with the god Osiris, and with his life, death, and resurrection. They saw that from Dark Moon to Full Moon, which is the waxing lunar phase, 13 days intervened and culminated in the Full Moon on the 14th day. In like manner, they saw that there were also thirteen days during the waning lunar phase which culminated on the 14th day in the Dark Moon/New Moon. The Egyptians believed there were twelve steps on the ladder to eternal life and that they believed taking the thirteenth step was to go through the process of death and resurrection. It seems therefore that they associated the number with immortality and held it to be lucky. One of the calendars they used was a calendar of 360 days. They also used a festival calendar of 365 days and a more accurate calendar of 364 1/4 days for their agricultural dates.

The Celtic Druids used a lunar zodiac of thirteen signs, rather than the solar zodiac of more recent times. The movements of Sun and Moon seem to have been well understood by the ancients and there seems to be more and more evidence indicating this all the time. The knowledge of the cycles of the Sun, Moon, stars, and seasons is reflected in the ancient megalithic sites of Britain and Ireland. Stonehenge marks precise alignments of the seasonal changes of the rising and setting Sun, and in Ireland, Knowth, Newgrange, and other locations, images of snakes and crescents show the concept of cyclic time. There are also ancient European carvings made on bone and on antlers depicting lunar crescents and spiraling snake imagery that date as far back as 5,000 BCE, indicating an understanding of the cyclic nature of time and the seasons.

The Moon goddess was associated with the number 13 due to the fact that there are either 13 Full Moons or 13 New Moons in every year. The number 13 is also associated with the death of Jesus. The last supper, which preceded his death was attended by the 12 disciples and by Jesus making a group of 13. This seems to be the source of the fear of the number 13. Also, the Moon Goddess and the Old Religion were considered a threat to the growth and success of the new religion, Christianity. (Sadly, they where not crushed)

In northern Europe the Goddess Freya was held in great esteem so She was seen as a particular threat to the success of the new faith. Freya is the Goddess who gives her name to our Friday. The number 13 was held to be unfortunate by the Christian monks and priests. They believed it unfortunate because of its association with the last supper and the death of Jesus. The number 13 was also associated with the Moon and the Goddess. Because the monks and priests of the new religion believed that the goddess Freya was a threat to their religion, Freya’s day, Friday, was called the devil’s day. So this seems to be the origin of the view that Friday the 13th is particularly unlucky.

The number 13 is also associated with the Death card of the Tarot. The first known Tarot deck appeared in Europe about five hundred years ago. Some feel that the cards are based on ancient Egyptian wisdom. It is known that the Tarot is a repository of Hermetic mysteries, astrological lore and Pagan religious tradition. The Death card has a bad reputation but its true meaning speaks of transformation and renewal.


Many people fear the number 13:

• This fear is called “triskaidekaphobia“.
• Many do not wish to attend a dinner party where there are only thirteen guests.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt was among the many who fear the number 13.
• Many buildings do not have a thirteenth floor.
• NASA’s Apollo 13 flight, which took off at 13 minutes after the hour on April 13, developed a number of problems on the way to the Moon. Miraculously, the crew was able to return unharmed. Even though this may be viewed as a manifestation of the unfortunate attributes of the number 13, the crew did have the good luck of safely returning despite all the obstacles and difficulties they had to overcome.
• Those fears have deep roots in the collective unconscious but one need not adhere to the fears held within the unconscious. With conscious, positive, focused intent, we are the ones that determine if today brings fear or fun…

Have a happy Friday the 13th!

A Path Perspective

Classification can seem, at times, to limit us as individuals. Sometimes it’s can be a useful guide. Not only in your own day-to-day morality but to find the best course of action in some morally unambiguous situations.

There are several types of moral and spiritual classifications in the magical world we live in. Two of the more popular and well known are “The Left-Hand Path” and “The Right-Hand Path”. There is also a third, and much less thought about classification known as “The Middle Path”.

THE LEFT-HAND PATH

The Left-Hand Path is a term sometimes used to identify some traditions where magic is used for destructive, selfish, or even harmful purposes. It’s main component is what some consider to be “black magic”. While it varies, usually there are a few universal concepts that put the left-hand path that set it apart from its counterparts. Morality is less rigid to those that follow the left-hand path. To the practitioner of the left-hand path there is no such thing as a selfless act. (Fulfilling one’s desire is acknowledged to be selfish. Helping someone gives you satisfaction in the deed and satisfaction is considered desirable and therefore selfish.)

Those that practice the left-hand path also feel that each individual is responsible for his or her own happiness, and that no external force, be it by deity or other, will provide that happiness to them as a reward for their actions. However the most important concept on the left-hand path is that the individual can and should harness the power that the universe provides through magical means in order to wield it in such a manner as an aid to enlightenment, to self-satisfaction, and Apotheosis (otherwise known as self-deification or ascending into godhood). The way the left-hand path views the divine is that humans can be or already are as powerful or more so than the gods. However those left-hand magicians that do ally themselves with the divine (or infernal) usually do so in an egotistical manner. They feel that egotistical gods want egotistical partners. With that belief many left-hand magicians use ego based magics. Magics that rely on then belief in ones self as opposed to the belief in a god-form in order to alter the universe to the satisfaction of the magician.

THE RIGHT-HAND PATH 

The Right-Hand Path tends to elevate spirituality, the strict observance of moral codes, and the worship of deities. The intent of “Right-Hand Path” belief systems is to attain a close proximity to divinity, or to become one with the divine.

Those that follow the right-hand path tend to use magic in the form of prayer to the divine and then only selflessly. Very rarely do they use magic for personal gains as they see it irresponsible to use the power given to them by the divine to profit in any way other than fulfilling their most basic needs.

Those that follow the right-hand path tend to believe in a power higher than themselves and will bend to the will of that higher power. They also believe in an absolute “good” and “evil” and usually deny the existence of morality situations that involve shades of gray.

Morally speaking, those that follow the right-hand path feel that there is a supernatural mechanism that enforces morality. Modern Pagan examples of such mechanism include both the “Three fold Law” and Karma.

There is also a tendency in some right-hand belief systems that there is a predestined salvation / damnation concept. That some are destined to be saved from damnation through a divine force and others where meant for damnation through a divine force.

THE MIDDLE PATH 

The Middle Path is the idea that not everything in life has to fit into one extreme or the other. Their main purpose in life is to observe the struggle between those that follow the right-hand path and the left-hand path. They feel that it is their job to not interfere with that struggle except in the case that they need to work with one side or the other in order to preserve the balance in the universe between the right-hand (divine) and the left-hand (infernal).

To those of the middle path the balance of nature, moderation, and non-extremism are the key concepts of the path.

Strictly speaking, there is very little purely gray magic. However what is gray is described as magic not performed entirely for beneficial, ethical or spiritual purposes, yet not malevolent either. Gray magic may also benefit and harm at the same time, creating a neutral or balanced effect.

Gray magicians tend to see magic itself as neither good nor bad, but a neutral process employed towards positive or negative ends. Intention itself being key to defining the magical type. Gray magicians tend to view the divine in the same manner that either the left-hand or the right-hand may, however in a manner that is either less extreme or that utilizes the balancing aspects of the deity. A chaos based deity might be worshiped for the creation force that chaos brings with it or a justice based deity might be worshiped for the justice that would apply regardless to circumstance.

THE PURSUIT OF THE 'TRUTH' 

While all three paths are a valid way to peruse the true nature of the universe, the relationship between the paths are tenuous at best.

Those that seek the left-hand and the middle paths see the right-hand path as being incredibly restrictive. The dogma that the right-hand path force upon its travelers being considered too restrictive to the point where personal responsibility becomes something that can be avoided. They believe that their dogma also stamps out individuality and encourages hatred and discrimination of the other paths.

Those of the right-hand path see those that practice the left-hand path as morally inferior to the point of damnation.

On the grand scale of things the right-hand paths, left-hand paths, and the middle paths are all interconnected. They are the yin, yang, and the line down the middle. All paths lead to the same truth and we each must find the path that we’re happiest on and the path we feel most fulfilled in traveling.


There is no “Right” or “Wrong" path. 
Just the path we’re walking on.

Ritual Eating

Introduction:
Magic is not just something to be confined to dark rooms. Magic is not just something that people clad in robes can do. Magic is something that the whole family can do and enjoy. One such magical works that the whole family can do is what I call “Ritual Eating”. Ritual Eating is directed ritual magic that uses the energy that you put into a meal and the energy that you get out of a meal for a specific purpose. I will use “Ritual Eating for the purpose of healing the leg of Pope Michael of Discordia” as an example.

Ritual Eating:

Prep:
Plan out your meal. Make sure it’s something that is a favorite in your family. Plan to prepare the meal with freshest herbs, veggies, and meat. When you are ready to prepare the food, be sure to put all of your energy into doing it. Charge up your food stuffs while you cook it.

Ritual:
1. Sit down as a family to eat.

2. Optionally, once everyone is seated, put up a circle of protection since some things are attracted to the energies you’re about to put out.

3. Before you eat state loudly “I dedicate this meal to (The health of Pope Michael of Discordia)! May the energy I consume be used to (heal his leg)! This is my will, so shall it be!”

4. While you are eating, picture the end result of your energy. As in Pope Michael walking around normally or doing some kind of sport.

5. During the meal discuss the person the meal is dedicated to: Such as memories or stories that you have of the person. Tell jokes involving the person. Make sure that the meal is focused toward the goal.

6. Once the meal is done, take down the circle. You are done!

This is one of my favorite ritual magics. Not only does it involve good food and family, it gets everyone into working magic.

The Words of the Magi

These are the words of the magi... They are CRUCIAL to proper spell work.

To Know: First off you need to know that magic not only exists but that it’s a workable process. You also have to study and analyze everything that you can about your magical work. Know the SPICIFIC outcome of your magical work and KNOW the EXACT method that you wish to use in your magical procedure.

To Dare: Not only does this mean to get up and actually do the magic but it also means that you’re willing to accept the consequences of your magical work. You must be daring in your persistence to do your magical work. You must go through the actions you’ve prepared and have conviction to see it through to whatever end that you have planned out.

To Will: In order for your magical endeavor to work you need to use unyielding will power and strength of character to push things through to the end. Stay the course and follow through no matter what comes your way. You must use your own emotional and soul / ki / will power to see things through no matter the obstacle. Your will is the power the spell work draws from. If that battery is not charged or is used in the wrong way then things simply WON’T WORK.

To Keep Silent: Out of all of the things in spell work, keeping silent is one of the most important in long term spell work success. After you finish your spell work, consider the matter closed. Worrying about the spell work, talking about the spell work, obsessing about the success of the spell work will dissipate the energy. Which is both counter productive and unsafe. It’s unsafe because letting others know about the work that you’ve done will give others the opportunity to will your spell work to fail. This is either done consciously or unconsciously by those that you tell. This can range from those that will forge a counter spell to those that will just outright doubt your abilities.

To know, to dare, to will, to keep silent is simple wisdom with a heavy weight. That wisdom will not only increase the success of your magical work but will also keep you safe from those that wish to do you harm.