The history of the Runes is steeped in mystery and secrecy, with many scholars today arguing the case for different origins and purposes. For over two thousand years Runes have held a fascination with people, holding a sense of magic and wonder. For an alphabet to have gained this aura of mystery seems perhaps odd, yet Runic history shows that these symbols were not created purely as an alphabet with which to communicate, but as symbols of the world around them, including the unseen forces.
Legend tells that the history of the Runes begins with Odin, the mighty God of the Norse mythology. It is said that Odin hung from the World Tree, upside down, for nine days and nine nights, after which he died. As he passed on to the realm beyond death he gained knowledge and understanding beyond that of mortals, after which he was reborn. His knowledge was then passed on in the form of Runes.<br />
The very word, ‘Rune’ means ‘shrouded in mystery’ or ‘hidden wisdom’, and so it is unsurprising that much speculation and disagreement exists today as far as some of the origins and deeper meaning of the Runes is concerned. We do know that some of the Runic symbols are very old, found in carvings from the Bronze Age, and it is interesting to note that several of these have survived to current alphabets in very similar forms.
The use of Runes today as a means of divination is not new, since this was one aspect of the Runes which was used widely between one and two thousand years ago. In addition to being used as a means of divination or fortune telling Runes were also used as part of magical rituals and spells. About a thousand years ago the Roman Empire was spreading the use of its own alphabet very widely and successfully, which led to the relative demise of Runes as an alphabet, with their meaning and knowledge handed down the generations in ways which heightened their secrecy and mystery.
But this knowledge and history of the Runes has survived down the ages, and has seen recent revivals which have helped to shed more light on this fascinating alphabet, and on its people. The Runic alphabet is not merely a collection of symbols which may be used in the creation of words or as a means of divination. Many Runic symbols reflect the deep beliefs of the people who created and used them, shedding light on the aspects of the world around them which were of prime importance. If Runic history has taught us anything today, then it is that the people who developed and used this alphabet were deeply connected to the realm of the spirit and to the natural world than we are today.<br />
It is perhaps this undercurrent of mythology entwined with the relationship between Runes and both the natural world and the spiritual realm that has helped encourage their widespread use today. In a world of unseen digital information, wireless transmissions flying above our heads and gigabytes of data at our fingertips should we ask the right questions, we have found ourselves in a world where the unseen powers which bind us together are rooted more and more firmly in our own technology. Yet this can be deeply unsettling, and more and more of us are finding the need to explore a more spiritual dimension, even if that is little more than learning to see aspects of the world through the symbols and language of a people who achieved what today we can only dream of.
The history of Runes, as with our own language, draws together aspects from several paths and cultures, with some symbols being remarkably similar to Italic and Latin scripts, whilst others are entirely unique when compared to letters from any modern language. It is often the case that these unique symbols reflect aspects of the natural or spiritual worlds in ways which we are only recently beginning to piece together.
The Runic alphabet is more often referred to as the Futhark, and this is the more accurate term for the collection of Runic symbols. The word ‘alphabet’ simply derives from the first two letters of our own alphabet – alpha, beta. In the same way, the Futhark is also derived from the first few letters of the Runic sequence of symbols. However, there do appear to be a number of different Futhark variations, and if you are investigating Runic history you will notice that the two main versions are the Elder Futhark and the Younger Futhark.
The Elder Futhark is, and the name suggests, the older version which consists of 24 letters of symbols, although in Medieval Europe, and England in particular, this was extended to 33 symbols. The Younger Futhark, predominantly developed around the 17th century, is a much reduced form, comprising only 16 symbols.
The history of the Runes reveals that, unlike Tarot cards, Runic symbols provide far more than merely a means of divination, but that they hold secrets impenetrable even to today’s scholars, and a mystery which has existed for thousands of years. Whether as a fascinating relic of a culture and language long gone, a symbol of the mystery and magic which has threatened the establishment across half the civilised world in its time, or as a means of divination which harnesses visions of a natural and spiritual realm realised by its creators, Runes today are more popular than at any time in their history.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The 13 Preambles of Wicca by Rev. Thomas Moore
In addition to the “Wiccan Rede” there are also 13 articles that are followed. These preambles as they are called aid in attuning the self and becoming one with the earth and the spiritual world through study, self exploration and action. Each has lessons that are learned and not all are easy to complete. It is the drive to complete them and the knowledge that is rewarded as well as the spiritual alignment that makes them worth while. What follows is the list of the 13 Preambles, as well as a deeper understanding of each.
1: Know Yourself
2: Know your Craft
3: Learn
4: Apply Knowledge
5: Achieve Balance
6: Keep your thoughts in good order
7: Keep your words in good order
8: Celebrate life
9: Attune with the cycles of the Earth
10: Breathe and eat correctly
11: Exercise the body
12: Meditate
13: Honor the Goddess and God
As you can see from the preambles the worship of deities falls last on the list. I would like to approach that first before we go in depth into each article.
13: Honor the Goddess and God
The Goddess and God are within us as they are also within all living things on this Earth. In this case by following the first 12 articles you are already honoring the Goddess and God because they are a part of you. The 13th article is more about honoring the spirit or energy of the Goddess and God. This can be better achieved after one has attuned themselves by following the other articles. So though at first the 13 Preambles may seem egotistical in a way they are not once you explore them more fully. These 13 Preambles are nothing new, in fact many religions and cultures have them, though they are less stressed in other religions unless you plan on becoming a Priest or Pastor. They are known to us all on some level or another, and we may even follow these preambles without being a Wiccan. That is ok too; these are 13 good things to live by and can benefit anyone regardless of religious background or inspiration
1: Know yourself
Self knowledge and awareness is something that we all strive to have. How are we going to work with the delicate energies that surround us if we first do not know what is self? This is a difficult one to achieve as there are still so many things out in our world that do not allow us to fully express ourselves as individuals that are aware and filled with love of the self. Once you come to a full understanding of who you are then it becomes easier to accept others for who they are as well. This acceptance becomes one of the first paths to peace. This is not only knowing the self, but accepting the self as well both must be achieved.
2: Know your Craft
How many people do you know that are fully aware of their religion? I’m not just talking about what their places of worship teach them, or what their holy book says. I am talking a full understanding from the conception of the religion to the modern day interpretations of it. Chances are that you do not know many. People tend to follow the teachings that they hear but do not look further into their religion as a whole, unless of course they have a degree in Theology that is. This article talks about having the full knowledge of what your religion is about. Wicca, like most religions is much deeper than the surface information that we are all aware of. It has tradition, it has its guiding forces and it has its incarnation. I know a lot of people that claim to be Wiccan or Pagan and yet have never read or studied the origins of the religion. How are you going to gain a deeper understanding and spiritual awareness if you do not know where you came from to start with? Know your Craft is just that, it is attaining the wisdom and knowledge of your religion.
3: Learn
What does the word learn mean? The dictionary defines Learn as “To gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of through experience or study” Learning is something that we do everyday. Each moment that we are alive we are learning and experiencing things. It is the knowledge that we get from experience and study that allows us to make choices in life as well as live our lives to the best and fullest that we are capable of. Think about what the world would be like if no one ever learned anything? Chances are you wouldn’t be reading this article right now because you didn’t learn to read! When we talk about learning here we are not only talking about the lessons that we have each day, we are also talking about the knowledge of the craft and learning our lessons on a spiritual and karmic level as well. To learn is to know, and to know is to grow.
4: Apply Knowledge
Once you have the knowledge from the learning you need to put it into practical application. Wisdom cannot be spread if people were to hide all of the knowledge that they have attained. This isn’t to say that you need to be pushy, but freely share what you know so that you can learn from someone else what they know. This also talks about the application of knowledge of the Rede as well as the Preambles in your life. Apply them fully and you can experience a life you had never thought was possible to explore.
5: Achieve Balance
Balance is important in any metaphysical way of thought just as it is in any religion or philosophy. You strive to achieve a balance of body, mind, and spirit through various forms and knowledge. Many of us have moments when we feel like this balance has been achieved, and yet it fades after a while. Remember that we are all human, and therefore a prone to making mistakes and it is ok to do so. There are of course some individuals out there Sai Baba for instance that has fully attained this type of balance, but for most of us it will come and go. The main lesson is to allow it to come and when it leaves learn and apply what you have learned to attain it once again.
6: Keep your Thought is Good Order
This article is twofold in nature. First it talks about the power of positive thought. Not allowing negative thought patterns to enter your mind is a large part of keeping thoughts in good order. The more that you focus on positive things the more that you will attract those things, as we know from learning about the power of intention. Second, it talks about thinking before you speak. So many people blurt out what they want to say regardless of if it is going to damage someone else in thought or emotion. Think hard about what you are going to say before it is said. Make a conscious effort to plan your words carefully so that what you say can aid in allowing for the greatest good for the persons that you are speaking to.
7: Keep your Words in Good Order
This follows suit to article 6 above. After you have thought about what you are going to say carefully speak those words. Speak in a manner that is soothing and peaceful and try to avoid emotions like anger, hate and frustration in your speech. We can get so caught up in an emotional swirl that we sometimes forget to not express that in our speech. We can certainly tell the person how we are feeling and that sort of discussion is great, that way no one leaves feeling unwanted or insecure with themselves.
8: Celebrate Life
Live each and every day to the fullest that you can experience it. See each day as a new lesson to be learned and do not hold grudges or allow things to bring you down. Sometimes focusing on the day to day living can be the most rewarding, then we are not feeling any anxiety about what the future may hold for us and instead can truly experience life.
9: Attune with the Cycles of the Earth
For Wiccans this one is done quite often. Every Sabbat that we celebrate aids us in attuning to the cycles of the Earth, but there is more to it than just that. Attuning with the Earth also means to love and care for the planet on which you live. Strive to aid the Earth in life. Living Green, planting trees, aiding nature and its inhabitants all help you to attune yourself with the Earth. If we learn to attune ourselves sand aid in taking care of our planet than Mother Gaia will see to it that we are taken care of as well.
10: Breathe and Eat Correctly
Remember that old adage “The Body is a Temple”? As we talked about before with article 13 the Goddess and God inhabit us all, just as they do all creatures. Taking care of the body by incorporating healthy living plays a part in honoring the Goddess and God. This does not mean in any way that you have to live on nuts, twigs and berries! It only means that you are being cautious of what you put into your body. Be aware of what you ingest and how it is going to affect your body and its systems.
11: Exercise the Body
This falls into the article above in a stronger fashion. Not only taking care of the body through eating correctly but also through exercise. It is the strength of the body that aids in the strength of the spirit and mind. Doing these can aid as well in achieving the balance from article 5.
12: Meditate
We are all aware of the importance of meditation. It helps us to know what is self and what is not self as well as to connect us with our Higher Self and Guides. Meditation is exercise for the mind and spirit. Meditating in addition to the two articles above become the base foundations for achieving the balance in life. Finding the time to relax the mind can aid us in so many ways and becomes an important aspect to living.
These are the 13 Preambles of Wicca. They are guidelines to follow in order to experience life to the fullest and attune oneself with the spiritual world as well as the physical. Work slowly when following the Preambles, don’t rush them or jump ahead, or you will only cheat yourself in the long run. Take each for what it is and learn the lessons that they have to teach you fully.
Rev. Thomas Moore is High Priest of The Coven of L.I.G.H.T in South West Florida, as well as a professional Psychic and Healer. He teaches a variety of classes in the metaphysical field as well as Wicca.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Colors and their Magickal Associations
Colors and their Magickal Associations
In magick, colors help you fine-tune your intent, focus your energy, and help your magick work.
Black- Divination, banishing, absorbing negative energy, protection, binding
Blue- Truth, tranquility, protection, hope, honor, change, psychic ability, the color of the Element or Water
Brown- Stability, integrity, justice, sensuality, endurance, animals, concentration, grounding
Gold- The God, vitality, strength, success, action, courage, confidence
Gray- Vision, neutrality, absorbing negativity
Green- Abundance, growth, healing, prosperity, fertility, employment, luck, jealousy, the color of the Element of Earth
Indigo- Insight, vision, change, flexibility, psychic abilities
Magenta- Intuition, change, spiritual healing, vitality
Orange- Courage, pride, ambition, enthusiasm, energy, friendship, communication, success, opportunities
Pink- Compassion, tenderness, harmony, affection, love, romance, spiritual healing
Purple- Growth, self-esteem, psychic ability, insight, inspiration, spirituality, success in business, healing
Red- Sexual love, lust passion, fire, willpower, courage, energy, strength, anger, the color of the Element of Fire
Silver- The Goddess, spiritual truth, intuition, receptivity, psychic ability, stability, balance
Turquoise- Creativity, discipline, self-knowledge, honor, idealism
Violet- Success, intuition, self-improvement, spiritual awareness
White- Cleansing, peace, protection, healing, truth, divination, tranquility; white also can be used in place of any color
Yellow- Joy, vitality, intelligence, study, persuasion, charm, creativity, communication, the color of the Element of Air
To use the energy of colors in your magick, select magickal objects: candles, powders, fabric, or string, for example; of a color appropriate to the work you plan to do.
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