rite & ritual
Lexicon mini-indexes
Thursday, 25Jul2019
Unexpected goddesses
Sunday, 07Jul2019
One tripod leg
Thursday, 13Dec2018
❝The lore behind magick is only one tripod leg. Even there it's about real mastery, not rote recitation. I call it moving beyond the recipe. When you can adapt your technique to what is there and what is needed with a minimum of effort, that's mastery. The lore is about core ideas, not specific practices. That's one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn and I am not good enough with it yet.❞— NeoWayland, A Rule of Three
Short version, yes, magick works.
Wednesday, 12Dec2018
“In fact, the ultimate speculation we can make about the nature of Divinity is that Divinity is NO-THING which we can know. In Hebrew, the word for no-thing (nothing) is AIN.”
Animism means
Thursday, 29Nov2018
Paths to the Innermost
Thursday, 15Nov2018
“There are two Paths to the Innermost: the Way of the Mystic, which is the way of devotion and meditation, a solitary and subjective path; and the way of the occultist, which is the way of the intellect, of concentration, and of trained will; upon this path the co-operation of fellow workers is required, firstly for the exchange of knowledge, and secondly because ritual magic plays an important part in this work, and for this the assistance of several is needed in most of the greater operations. The mystic derives his knowledge through the direct communion of his higher self with the Higher Powers; to him the wisdom of the occultist is foolishness, for his mind does not work in that way; but, on the other hand, to a more intellectual and extrovert type, the method of the mystic is impossible until long training has enabled him to transcend the planes of form. We must therefore recognize these two distinct types among those who seek the Way of Initiation, and remember that there is a path for each.”
Technopagan retreat
Wednesday, 14Nov2018
“That sacred space of conscience where you can exercise your rights in terms of religious freedom and deeply-held, reasonable beliefs is the core of human dignity. In fact, that's the basis for civilization itself. And when you lose that fundamental principle... you have no basis on which to build.”
Facing the fire
Monday, 05Nov2018
❝Words matter. Actions matter more. Intentions don’t.❞— NeoWayland, Rules of Three, see also Would you know?
Authentic symbols
Monday, 22Oct2018
“Ritual, provided it uses authentic symbols, is no more or less than what H.P. Blavatsky called 'concretized truth'.”
Six new pages
Friday, 17Aug2018
❝I learned a long time ago that it's worth the trouble to make sure she's got at least two climaxes for every one of mine.
Keeps her smiling too.❞
Worship
Monday, 30Jul2018
“If a bible is left outside in the sun and rain it will eventually fade and decompose. A pagan's bible IS the sun and rain.”
Fantasy setting
Saturday, 30Jun2018
I was working on the lexicon and realized I had totally forgotten Isaac Bonewits' The Laws of Magic.
Read More...NeoNotes - clergy claims
Wednesday, 30May2018
I'm seeing people using their victimhood to control what others in the group will do.
Read More...Broken
Tuesday, 29May2018
Purpose of ritual
Thursday, 17May2018
Between that and the floating, it's a pretty good bet that this depicts a psychedelic trip.
Read More...Limiter
Thursday, 22Feb2018
We walk between the worlds
Wednesday, 21Feb2018
❝As a pagan, I've long since learned that the World isn't mine to control.❞
Can't keep the magick
Friday, 16Feb2018
“Treating depression in a Pagan context”
Sunday, 10Dec2017
Journal 08Dec2017
Friday, 08Dec2017
When someone starts talking about THE truth, it's to exclude the thoughts and ideas they find uncomfortable.
Read More...Transcribing Faith
Monday, 17Jul2017
❝Know yourself. Know what you can do. Know what you're willing to do. Know the price you're willing to pay.❞
— NeoWayland, Quick notes to a new seeker
❝4 Rituals That Will Make You Loved❞
Monday, 17Jul2017
❝Make it better today. Keep polishing.❞
— NeoWayland, Quick notes to a new seeker
Special harvest
Tuesday, 11Jul2017
“There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.”— George Carlin
Gather
Wednesday, 28Jun2017
“All Women are Goddess and deserve to be Cherished, unless they prove otherwise.”— NeoWayland
“All Men are God and deserve to be Adored, unless they prove otherwise.”— Juliaki
Sex magick
Wednesday, 10May2017
“Pagan temples are timeworn forests, secluded gardens, sun-kissed seashores and emerald pastures.”— Amelia Dashwood
Gateway to summer
Thursday, 04May2017
While these won't be necessarily pagan, they help show that life doesn't need clothing.
Read More...A selection of bolines
Wednesday, 03May2017
Bolines can be fancy, but I think they sum up what can be wrong with today's paganism. It's about the flair rather than the practicallity.
This pocket knife is very similar to the one I carry. It's simple, inexpensive, and doubles as an athamé and a boline. It blends in and raises no questions. I can carry it easily in my pocket as I hike or tramp.
You don't always have to work with the fancy stuff. The best symbol of a thing is the thing.
Affirmation of NeoWayland
Wednesday, 26Apr2017
Speaking of athamés
Wednesday, 26Apr2017
Chas S. Clifton, one of my favorite pagan writers, has a piece called The Story of Three Athames.
So I'm pointing it out.
You should go read it now.
So I'm pointing it out.
You should go read it now.
A selection of athamés
Wednesday, 26Apr2017
Really real pagan
Tuesday, 11Apr2017
❝I have this mythical construct in my head of a bonfire with people I would like to hang out with, and maybe discuss matters large and small.❞— NeoWayland, Touchstones along the path
Journal 10Apr2017
Monday, 10Apr2017
❝We pretty much agreed that women sometimes lie about rape and the code needed to take that into account. We added one small paragraph that said accusations of rape didn't necessarily mean rape.❞Read More...
Clean
Sunday, 09Apr2017
It's the last bright moon before Summergate, the Lady Moon is entering the Court of Stars and I am ready.
For what I am not sure.
Read More...Inspiring space
Monday, 21Nov2016
“Sex is one of the nine reasons for incarnation. The other eight are unimportant.”— George Burns
Speculate this
Tuesday, 15Nov2016
“Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”— John Muir
Ravens
Monday, 07Nov2016
“Be careful the cloaks you wear lest you be soiled by their dirt.”— from the shadow book of Red Cedar Owl
Winter begins
Sunday, 06Nov2016
I've not been handling people very well this season. I'm glad that winter is finally beginning.
Wintergate is my three day WebTree High Holiday that marks the gateway between autumn and winter. The middle day (tomorrow) of the holiday is the cross quarter day or midpoint between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice.
Wintergate also marks my semi-annual Hair ot the Bear. I did it myself yesterday this year. This autumn made me prickly, I've been trying not to take it out on the people around me that I care about. That includes my companions, bless their hearts. Well, my mood should start improving in a couple of days. Then I owe them both big time.
So it's with shorter hair and hot chocolate that I anticipate this High Holiday. Solar Festivals last from dawn to dawn, but High Holidays last from sunset to sunset. I still have a few hours to prepare.
And that means I need to put this entry up.
Bright & Dark Blessings, everyone.
Wintergate is my three day WebTree High Holiday that marks the gateway between autumn and winter. The middle day (tomorrow) of the holiday is the cross quarter day or midpoint between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice.
Wintergate also marks my semi-annual Hair ot the Bear. I did it myself yesterday this year. This autumn made me prickly, I've been trying not to take it out on the people around me that I care about. That includes my companions, bless their hearts. Well, my mood should start improving in a couple of days. Then I owe them both big time.
So it's with shorter hair and hot chocolate that I anticipate this High Holiday. Solar Festivals last from dawn to dawn, but High Holidays last from sunset to sunset. I still have a few hours to prepare.
And that means I need to put this entry up.
Bright & Dark Blessings, everyone.
Before this Year ends
Tuesday, 25Oct2016
❝The simple answer is that moral responsibility is always a personal choice. You can't compel virtue or it ceases to be virtue.❞
— NeoWayland
Rhythm Of Life
Friday, 01Jul2016
NeoNotes — What witch?
Tuesday, 21Jun2016
I don't think animals should be killed for ritual use. I have issues with animals being killed for food. It's why I still pray before meals. I'm honoring their sacrifice even though I know they don't understand.
Read More...Daily
Friday, 03Jun2016
Since I don't have much time this week, I thought talk about the daily things we sometimes overlook.
Read More...Bloody sacrifice
Tuesday, 10May2016
This year it's a bit cooler than I like. And we had scattered rainstorms, so the party was inside. Then the heat pump blower quit (on a Saturday), I built a fire in the firepace (fire GOOD grunts Neo).
Read More...Act of Change
Thursday, 24Mar2016
Fireplace
Tuesday, 22Dec2015
I joke about it, but that is the heart of it. Or maybe the hearth. It’s the center.
Read More...Midwinter
Monday, 21Dec2015
More and more I think I was wise to separate my pagan blogging from my political blogging.
Read More...Starwell - Solar Festival
Sunday, 20Dec2015
❝I think that a Greater Pagan Community™ for the sake of the institution is a extraordinarily Bad Idea®.❞Read More...
Hearthside
Tuesday, 10Nov2015
Before the Gate of Winter
Tuesday, 27Oct2015
But kids (especially BRIGHT teens) know when you’re different. They like different, they’re attracted to it.
Read More...The hard rain
Tuesday, 20Oct2015
They want flashy cheap answers to their problems. In easy to swallow pill form if possible. Read More...
Time to scry
Wednesday, 01Jul2015
“NO SOLICITORS
NO RELIGIOUS GROUPS
(This Means You Everyone)
NO PEDDLERS
NO PROBLEMS!
HAVE A SUPER FANTASTIC DAY!”— three minutes and fifteen seconds into the movie Growing Op
Flexing your calendar
Tuesday, 30Jun2015
Today is the first day of The Lady in the Court of Stars.
One of these days I really should tell that story. But not today.
No, today I’m going to talk about calendars.
This is a partial list of dates from my Lore and Wyrd calendars. The exact dates don’t matter in this example.
Pay attention to the symbols before the title in each listing.
The ☥ ankh symbol is my shorthand for a Before. Before are those who’ve inspired me and those who I choose to honor by living their example.
The ✰ shadowed star is my shorthand for a pagan.
The ▽ inverted triangle is a symbol for philosophy, I use this to designate philosophers.
The ≠ not equals sign means that I acknowledge but do not celebrate (ABNC). Just because the day is important to other people doesn’t mean that I have to celebrate it. And if you think I have a lot of these days in my Lore and Wyrd calendars, you should see the birthdays and anniversaries in my Kinship calendar.
The ★ solid star shows that this day that while not distinctively pagan is still important to my practice.
Okay, the ⊗ circled times symbol. I don’t want to use the circled cross because of it’s association with the KKK (and yes, my feelings on that go back years). This is a good alternative that maintains the same elemental associations. Of course someone who takes a title based on Wayland is going to celebrate The Firing of the Anvil. Especially someone with strong ties to the American South.
Let’s see how that actually works. As you can see, this is an event from 1971.
The ankh and the inverted triangle tell us that this man is one of my Befores and he’s a philosopher. I’ve used the location field to give more expand the information a bit. This field will also show in the day list view of the iOS calendar or in my preferred option Fantastical.
I’ve included a quick URL so I can call up in-depth information.
I’ve unchecked the “Busy” box so I still show available.
My notes show his lifespan and how old he was when he died.
And I’ve listed some of the things he was known for WITHOUT giving specific works. Otherwise the entry would be way too long and clunky.
The whole purpose of this exercise is that I have a calendar in the palm of my hand that will quickly show me what I need to know for that day.
I haven’t even mentioned my Sky calendar with the astronomical events and symbols.
Have I mentioned that I have a calendar obsession?
Here’s the most important bit.
After the initial setup (and the once a year update on my Sky calendar), I don’t have to worry about it. It’s there. If I absolutely have to I can print it up (and I still do for some events and rituals).
A little bit of work, a little bit of planning, and I’m ready.
One of these days I really should tell that story. But not today.
No, today I’m going to talk about calendars.This is a partial list of dates from my Lore and Wyrd calendars. The exact dates don’t matter in this example.
Pay attention to the symbols before the title in each listing.
The ☥ ankh symbol is my shorthand for a Before. Before are those who’ve inspired me and those who I choose to honor by living their example.
The ✰ shadowed star is my shorthand for a pagan.
The ▽ inverted triangle is a symbol for philosophy, I use this to designate philosophers.
The ≠ not equals sign means that I acknowledge but do not celebrate (ABNC). Just because the day is important to other people doesn’t mean that I have to celebrate it. And if you think I have a lot of these days in my Lore and Wyrd calendars, you should see the birthdays and anniversaries in my Kinship calendar.
The ★ solid star shows that this day that while not distinctively pagan is still important to my practice.
Okay, the ⊗ circled times symbol. I don’t want to use the circled cross because of it’s association with the KKK (and yes, my feelings on that go back years). This is a good alternative that maintains the same elemental associations. Of course someone who takes a title based on Wayland is going to celebrate The Firing of the Anvil. Especially someone with strong ties to the American South.
Let’s see how that actually works. As you can see, this is an event from 1971. The ankh and the inverted triangle tell us that this man is one of my Befores and he’s a philosopher. I’ve used the location field to give more expand the information a bit. This field will also show in the day list view of the iOS calendar or in my preferred option Fantastical.
I’ve included a quick URL so I can call up in-depth information.
I’ve unchecked the “Busy” box so I still show available.
My notes show his lifespan and how old he was when he died.
And I’ve listed some of the things he was known for WITHOUT giving specific works. Otherwise the entry would be way too long and clunky.
The whole purpose of this exercise is that I have a calendar in the palm of my hand that will quickly show me what I need to know for that day.
I haven’t even mentioned my Sky calendar with the astronomical events and symbols.
Have I mentioned that I have a calendar obsession?
Here’s the most important bit.
After the initial setup (and the once a year update on my Sky calendar), I don’t have to worry about it. It’s there. If I absolutely have to I can print it up (and I still do for some events and rituals).
A little bit of work, a little bit of planning, and I’m ready.
Spark
Sunday, 01Feb2015
Glimpse
Tuesday, 27Jan2015
I'm willing to start at mutual respect. Not everyone is. That creates a problem.
Read More...
☯ Lady in the Court of Stars
Tuesday, 04Nov2014
Before the Deepest Night - updated
Tuesday, 28Oct2014
Bone, Heart, Thought, Deed, and Spirit, I choose to honor these people this season
Read More...Poking around and organizing
Sunday, 28Feb2010
Lightning and ritual
Friday, 26Jun2009
“Paganism should spread through experience and art, not theology. The theology comes later, if it comes.”Read More...— Chas Clifton, Looking at Your Polis as a Pagan
So does my tool fetish
really qualify as a fetish?
really qualify as a fetish?
Thursday, 18Jun2009
Taking full measure
Tuesday, 26May2009
Dream a little dream for me
Thursday, 09Apr2009
“Thunder in the vicinity”
Monday, 07Jul2008
A new balance
Thursday, 14Jun2007
❝Evil spelled backwards is live. That's what I do.❞— NeoWayland, October - updated
Flake off
Tuesday, 21Nov2006
❝It always worries me when I can hear the capitals in what other people say, even if it is only what they are typing on a computer screen.❞— NeoWayland, "Here I come to save the Day"
The Focusing Flame
Saturday, 22Jul2006
Harvestpoint differs from Lughnasadh, but that is a good place to begin your studies. Read More...
Scrying with the Dark Moon
Tuesday, 27Jun2006
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C1325529963/E20060627034440
One of my (suitably edited) Dark Moon rites
The Dark Moon is one of my favorite times for reflection.
I'm not particularly gifted in augury, but some methods work to find a meditation focus or settling exercise.
When I can, usually two or three times a year, I like to do a more formal ritual.
I know that the tools aren't strictly necessary, but I find it reassuring to use them when I can.
I start at twilight, when the sun has slipped below the horizon and there is a deep violet at the edge of the horizon. That is when I start cleaning the ritual space. Can't use a circle in this one.
By the time full dark has set in, I am ready. I have a small candle on a small stand at about eye level at about chest height.
My scrying bowl is black with a slightly reflective interior. It sits beside me at first. I put the dry ingredients in a mortar, moon blessed sea salt, cinnamon, a few other things. I grind it into a very small powder. Not much. When the dry has been thoroughly crushed, I put the mortar and pestle down and take up the scyring bowl. Very carefully I hold it up to the stars, letting their light fill it. Then I close my eyes and pour the light into my face.
Very carefully I take a small amount of oil on my finger and draw a quick sign in the bottom of the bowl. I sprinkle the dry ingredients over the sign. Then I breathe on the sign.
Then I light the candle.
Holding the bowl in my lap, I very slowly add water. I crouch over it and look through the candle reflection in the water.
Of course, this description is incomplete. But you can see where it is going.
I'm not particularly gifted in augury, but some methods work to find a meditation focus or settling exercise.
When I can, usually two or three times a year, I like to do a more formal ritual.
I know that the tools aren't strictly necessary, but I find it reassuring to use them when I can.
I start at twilight, when the sun has slipped below the horizon and there is a deep violet at the edge of the horizon. That is when I start cleaning the ritual space. Can't use a circle in this one.
By the time full dark has set in, I am ready. I have a small candle on a small stand at about eye level at about chest height.
My scrying bowl is black with a slightly reflective interior. It sits beside me at first. I put the dry ingredients in a mortar, moon blessed sea salt, cinnamon, a few other things. I grind it into a very small powder. Not much. When the dry has been thoroughly crushed, I put the mortar and pestle down and take up the scyring bowl. Very carefully I hold it up to the stars, letting their light fill it. Then I close my eyes and pour the light into my face.
Very carefully I take a small amount of oil on my finger and draw a quick sign in the bottom of the bowl. I sprinkle the dry ingredients over the sign. Then I breathe on the sign.
Then I light the candle.
Holding the bowl in my lap, I very slowly add water. I crouch over it and look through the candle reflection in the water.
Of course, this description is incomplete. But you can see where it is going.
Mistress Moon
Thursday, 13Apr2006
In the moment
Tuesday, 31Jan2006
The price
Friday, 27Jan2006
Wheel
Wednesday, 18Jan2006
My response to a question about being skyclad. Taken from Wicca: General Chat from the Timerift Forums
Read More...“I'm being attacked!”
Monday, 21Nov2005
I'm going to watch this one a bit before adding it to the blogroll, but I do agree with the idea.
Read More...NeoNote — Skyclad
Friday, 14Oct2005
"all of that sunshine,
all of that sweet golden sunshine,
that thrills me and fills me and…"
What's in a word?
Monday, 12Sep2005
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather just different kinds of good weather.”
A Blast from the Past
Sunday, 15May2005
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C550866538/E1479161501
A selection from the original version of Technopagan Yearnings - updated
By way of making it up to you, I uploaded converted one of my old pages from the original Technopagan Yearnings site.
Not all the links are active, but here is The Affirmation of NeoWayland.
Enjoy!
Not all the links are active, but here is The Affirmation of NeoWayland.
Enjoy!
