Festivals Of Fire In Time

כ"ו בכסלו תש"ע
Shamash 28

In follow-up to Through the Fires of Time, there are four festivals of fire in stellar time. These are the Greater Sabbats, the High Holy Days, of traditional Celtic witchcraft.

The four Fire Festivals can occur anywhere between 29-59 days following the preceding solstice or equinox. Apices of feminine power in time, these sabbatot are Imbolc (between Yule and Ostara), Beltane (between Ostara and Litha), Lughnasadh (between Litha and Mabon) and Samhain (between Mabon and Yule).

The Lesser Sabbats of the solstices and equinoxes (namely - Mabon, Yule, Ostara and Litha) are yearly lunar power points linked to the earthly feminine biological cycle. While times of imbalance in the solar cycle, they are times of power for the feminine Earth.

The Lesser Sabbats ground us with the full feminine power of the Earth Mother. The Greater Sabbats, the cyclical Fire Festivals in the wheel of the pagan year, expands our consciousness into the otherworlds of the heavens, and fill us with the full power of Goddess.

Harvest Of Highest Beauty

ו' בתמוז תשס״ט
Faunus 7

In preparation for sabbat Lughnasadh, the upcoming Celtic fire festival which marks the beginning of the harvest season, I've acquired my first ritual drum - a tunable Celtic bodhrán made with a natural finish mulberry wood frame and a goatskin head. It's an instrument of most high beauty. So simply perfect!

Mulberry corresponds to the magical Ogham letter muin. The associations of muin include:

harvest
highest beauty
celebration and bounty
respite from labor to enjoy the fruits of one's labor
completion
exhilaration and joy
deep mysteries of divine ecstasy
inspiration
communication
release of prophetic power
the throat and the path of the voice
mead (also called honey wine)
in vino veritas (nichnas yayin, yatza sode)

Interestingly, most of last week I was bedridden with a nasty case of the flu, waking up one morning from a dream with a wizard's cauldron brewing up fiery energy in it [1] and feeling like my throat was on fire. The sore throat has since resolved. I am still recovering from the cough and congestion, though those have very much improved such that I no longer feel so weak as to be bedridden. I am healing and more importantly, my throat and the path of my voice have been purified by fire.

This instrument is a gift of Goddess to me.

Footnote:

[1] I didn't eat any of the stew-like concoction brewing in the cauldron, as there was fire in my throat already and the stew didn't appear appetizing to me on account of that. Also in the dream, I threw one of my pearls into a magical pool of magical water. Like Excalibur, only my chosen would be able to go into the magical pool of magical water to retrieve it.

Light Of The Land

י'ג באדר ב' תשס"ח
Raven 14

Today is Ostara (Alban Eilir), the Sabbat fire festival marking the vernal equinox, which fell at 12:48 AM this morning in my time zone. Ostara celebrates the light of the land (aur ha-aretz), the astronomical first day of spring and renewal.

Aurora Borealis, The Northern Lights

Gateway

ו' בשבט תשס"ח
Imbolgen 6

I literally and physically took my spirit cord to the crossroads this motzi shabbat.

Just as there is a 3-shin and a 4-shin in Hebrew, and just as there are 3 and 4 Celtic fire festivals, there is a liminal crossroads of 3 and 4 roads in witchcraft. The crossroads of 4 represents the 4 directions (E-N-S-W), while the crossroads of 3 represents a central locus of consciousness experiencing involutionary (above, surrounding, moving inward, mekabel) and evolutionary (below, projective, moving outward, mashpiya) movements with respect to the central mediating locus of consciousness.

With 7 directions, governed by the Queen of Witches, particularly on this motzi shabbat sixth day of Shevat/Imbolgen, the crossroads is a liminal no-man's land, a chalal hapanui, and a gateway to the extraordinary.

The crossroads ritual was performed with the waxing crescent moon 21% full.

Following the ritual, I gave a gift of blessing to the peaceful elementals, nature spirits and faeries who dwell at the crossroads. The physical vehicle for the blessing gift consisted of dandelion soaked in olive oil from upon my altar, pomegranate seeds, salted bread, myrrh, mugwort and cedarwood.

Llughnasadh - The Joy Of Expression

י"ד באב תשס"ז

In an earlier entry, Shown Shamir, I wrote:

Yesterday afternoon I received my witch's order which included the new spellcraft materials of aloeswood (used to intensify power of tikun-tohu blends) and a ritual candle for the upcoming Sabbat, Llughnasadh (initiating the harvest season, corresponding to "joy" as found in the final hei of the tetragrammaton). The Llughnasadh ritual candle contains within the top of the yellowgold wax a tiger eye stone, a stone of well-being. שלום

Llughnasadh is the Celtic fire festival of feminine energy which celebrates the union of matter and spirit, giving rise to joyful expression in actuality. The joy brought down into assiyah through the final hei of the tetragrammaton and observance of Llughnasadh is called sason (see chedvah), the joy of expression.

Light Of The Luminaries

ט"ו בתמוז תשס"ז

The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun ...
Yishayahu 30:26

There are 8 festival sabbats (distinct from full and new moon esbats) in the witch's wheel of the year - 4 moon sabbats and 4 sun sabbats.

Moon Sabbats

The moon sabbats are called fire festivals, and can occur anywhere between 29-59 days following the preceding solstice or equinox. The 4 moon sabbats are Samhain (Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples), Imbolg (Feast of Torches, Feast of Waxing Light), Beltane (Bonfire of Light, Celtic Lag B'Omer, Cetsamhain-opposite Samhain), and Lughnasadh (Feast of Bread, Lammas).

Sun Sabbats

The sun sabbats refer to the quarter days (solstices and equinoxes), and are based on the astronomical position of the sun. The 4 sun sabbats are Mabon (autumn equinox), Yule (winter solstice), Ostara (spring equinox), and Litha (summer solstice).

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Matriarch Of Covenantal Messianic Consciousness

ט"ו בתמוז תשס"ז

In parashat Pinchas is the phrase (Bamidbar 26:46) "the name of Asher's daughter, Serach ..." (v'shem bat-Asher, Serach). In Hebrew, this phrase reads:

ושם בת-אשר שרח

There are 3, well actually 4, words in this phrase. We have seen this 3 or 4 phenomenon before - with both the Hebrew letter shin and with the Celtic fire festivals.

The gematriot:

ושם = 346
בת = 402
אשר = 501
שרח = 508
_______
1754 = digit sum = 17 טוב = final digit sum 8

Adding the gematriot of each word by place-column:

6 + 2 + 1 + 8 = 14
4 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 4
3 + 4 + 5 + 5 = 17

14 + 4 + 17 = 35 אלד = final digit sum 8

We can see that the word אלד is hidden in the gematriot of the Torah phrase introducing Serach as a significant member of Yaakov's family. The Sages wonder why is Serach, a woman, mentioned so atypically and significantly here?

This is what I think - Serach, like Yitzchak and Yaakov, is a direct recipient of the covenantal blessing from Avraham and Sarah. In other words, Serach is the feminine equivalent of both Yitzchak and Yaakov combined, in terms of directly receiving the covenantal blessing on the feminine side. This understanding is hidden in the word אלד, itself hidden within the Torah phrase of parashat Pinchas.

The word אלד means "I shall give birth". Sarah laughingly utters this word when Hashem tells Avraham that Sarah will bear a child, Yitzchak. Indeed, Serach the Eternal, is the source of Sarah's laughter regarding the birth of Yitzchak, and is the source of the "births" of both covenantal and messianic consciousness through the evolution of Sarah.

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Catharsis Of The Sotah

ב' בסיון תשס"ז

Parashah Naso concerns the ordeal of bitter waters endured by the sotah, an accusing wife. Through the ordeal, she will be either vindicated and her innocence established or she will die a grotesque death (Mishnah, Sotah 20a).

Sotah שׂטה is one of three shorashim (3-letter roots) derived from the sha'ar (2-letter root) שׂט. The three shorashim are:

שׂטה to deviate or turn away treacherously
שׂטם to harbor hidden hatred
שׂטן accusing, prosecuting, adversary, obstruct, hinder

The final letters of the three shorashim construct a fourth shoresh manna מנה meaning to apportion, divide and limit, appointing and allocate for a particular purpose. The idea is one of differentiation. Importantly, this informs us that it is by way of "manna" that the sotah is sustained and cleared. Through formation of manna (differentiation and individuation) are treachery, hatred and obstruction removed from the female psyche.

In the 3 shorashim which give birth to a 4th shoresh, we have another feminine '3 or 4' correspondence similar to those of the Hebraic 3-shin or 4-shin and to the '3 or 4' Keltoi fire festivals as discussed in prior entries. The structure of 3 pertains to the feminine in chochmah (of the right pillar), while the structure of 4 pertains to the feminine in binah (of the left pillar).

The shin of binah in the left pillar properly has 4 flames. The inner two flames of the 4-shin correspond to the attributes of understanding and joy. While hidden hatred characterizes the sotah, inner joy characterizes her rectification. Consequently, we can see that the ordeal of the sotah initiates a process of emotive catharsis and is really a ritual whereby femininity becomes rectified. In other words, rectified femininity is able to transform the bitter waters she is forced to drink into joy. Unrectified femininity is destroyed by the bitter waters, either by the woman's death or through transformation. There are only two possible outcomes to this ritual ordeal.

As noted above, the shin of binah in the left pillar properly has 4 flames. The 3-shin of sotah שׂטה, with a sin-dot over the left pillar, further suggests that the sotah is undifferentiated, unrectified and undeveloped. Yet, the ordeal of bitter waters moves her from chochmah to binah, initiating the process of differentiation, rectification, development and individuation. As the process completes, the feminine becomes characterized by revelation of the 4-shin in binah. Thus, completion of the process is evidenced by transformation of bitter waters into understanding and joy.

Reference:

Etymological Dictionary Of Biblical Hebrew, R' Matityahu Clark

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33 - Sha'ar Gilah

י"ח באייר תשס"ז

In an entry posted earlier today (on astronomical Beltane, a Celtic bonfire festival), I posited that the inner two flames of the 4-shin of Binah symbolize the attributes of mindful understanding and joy. Specifically with respect to joy, I focused on the joy rooted in Beriyah called gilah (גילה).

The 2-letter root (sha'ar, gate) of gilah is gal (גל). Of gilah, R' Yitzchak Ginsburgh teaches:

Gilah, from the root gal, meaning "to reveal," describes the full revelation of joy as contained within one's heart (as expressed by the frequent idiom in Torah: yagel libi -- "my heart shall be joyous").

The sha'ar of gilah - גל - has a gematria of 33. Interestingly, the joy of gilah brought forth on Beltane demonstrates another synchronicity of my eclectic individuality with the universes entwined - this evening is Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer and a Jewish bonfire festival.

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4-Shin On Understanding And Joy

י"ז באייר תשס"ז

I am 46, and have been a practicing kabbalist for over a decade. A bit over a year ago, I began to formally blend into that practice elements of Celtic witchcraft and Native American shamanism (I have Celtic and NA ancestries, as well as a Jewish ancestry). Initially, I began studying witchcraft and shamanism as a way to honor all my ancestors, but what I found is that, while kabbalah forms the greater foundation of my current mystical-magical knowledge, there exists within me something only satisfied through Celtic witchcraft.

Kabbalah brings me understanding. Witchcraft brings me joy.

Both understanding and joy (gilah) are functions of Binah, where Binah corresponds to the 4-shin of Beriyah. I suggest that the attributes of mindful understanding and joy correspond to the two inner flames of the divine feminine 4-shin.

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Reverse Vision

ט"ז באייר תשס"ז

In my previous post, I discussed the "3 and/or 4" fire-related phenomenon shared by Celtic and Jewish mysticism. Specifically, the phenomenon is encoded within the Celtic fire festivals and the Hebrew letter shin.

Another point is striking about this shared anomaly - the northern parts of the ancient Celtic world are associated with observance of 3 fire festivals (as opposed to 4), and by extension, with the 3-shin of chochmah. The Zohar connects the north itself to the element of fire. Consequently, one would expect the north to be connected to the 4-shin of binah as opposed to the 3-shin of chochmah. Yet, one element of fire is "hidden" in the Celtic north. Instead of the 4-shin, the 3-shin of chochmah (and the right pillar) is revealed in the Celtic north.

In the Celtic system, the south connects to the element of fire. Thus, in the southern parts of the ancient Celtic world, the 4-shin of binah (and the left pillar) becomes revealed through the observance of the four fire festivals.

Taking this together, the data suggests that the Celtic system and the Hebrew system are ezer knegdo to one another with respect to the eternal flame phenomenon, like opposite reflections face to face. In other words, each may be the reverse vision of the other.

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Eternal Flames

ט"ז באייר תשס"ז

Ancient and modern Celtic witchcraft typically observes 4 cross-quarter fire festivals [1]. However, in the northern parts [2] of the ancient Celtic world, one finds that only 3 fire festivals were observed. Interestingly, this "3 and/or 4" fire festivals observed throughout the ancient Celtic world has a parallel in Jewish kabbalah and Hebrew script.

The "letter of fire" called the eternal flame in Hebrew script is called a "shin" - it has 2 forms, one with 3 flames and one with 4 flames, the shin of chochmah and the shin of binah, respectively. In both the Celtic system and the Hebrew system, the "3 and/or 4" phenomenon is associated with fire - the fire festivals of the Keltoi and the fire letter of the Hebrews.

The ancients knew something cosmically significant and encoded it into the symbols and rituals of their ancient systems. I'm not sure about other mystical systems, but in my mind, clearly the ancient Keltoi and Hebrews had this knowledge. It enchants me tremendously.

Footnotes:

[1] The 4 fire festivals correspond to the (Full) Moon Sabbats: Imbolg, Beltane, Lammas, Samhain.

[2] The north itself corresponds to the element of fire according to the Zohar (Shemot, Va'Era).

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Astronomical Beltane

י"ד באייר תשס"ז

Henceforth, I will observe [1] a witch's Fire Festivals (cross-quarter points), equinoxes and solstices according to their actual astronomical correspondences.

For example, while Beltane (the Fire Festival marking the cross-quarter point between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice) is generally observed October 30/May 1, the actual astronomical midpoint between the vernal equinox and summer solstice is Saturday, May 5 at 4:08 pm in my time zone.

Consequently, I am resetting Beltane observance to May 5 this year and will observe the Sabbat a second time in parallel with Shabbat.

Footnote:

[1] ritually as an individual; although as a witch within the greater community of witches, I will still mark it at the traditional time

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Sabbat Hitkalelut

י"ג באייר תשס"ז

Beltane is one of the Greater Sabbats (also known as Fire Festivals) of witchcraft observed beginning April 30th and continuing through May 1st, marking the midpoint between the spring equinox and summer solstice in the Celtic witch's wheel of the year.

My Beltane Solitary Sabbat focuses this year on the concept of hitkalelut התכללות, integration.

Beltane Candle Dressing Oil

1 tbsp jajoba (carrier)
1 gtt lilac (protection)
1 gtt lavender (protection, purification, peace, happiness)
1 gtt vanilla musk (mental powers, love, grounding)
1 gtt jasmine/sweet pea (love, prosperity, prophetic dreams, friendship)
1 gtt cinnamon bark (success, healing, protection, love, raise vibrations)
1 gtt sandalwood (protection, healing, fruition of intention)
1 gtt frankincense (protection, raises vibrations)
1 gtt myrrh (protection, healing, raises vibrations)
1 gtt benzoin (purification, prosperity)

Candles (all inscribed with התכללות)

yellow votive (clarity, joy)
10 inch white formal (focus, culmination)
brown citrus bergamot votive (grounding, stability, success)
4.5 inch white ritual taper (focus, culmination)
bonfire* braided 3-wick havdalah candle (integration)

Incenses

sandalwood/sage/peppermint (protection, wisdom, fruition of intention)
daffodil (love, fertility, mazal tov)
saffron/ginger (love, healing, happiness, wind raising, nevuah, success)

Altar Gemstones

clear quartz crystal (transduces/amplifies/focuses/activates energy & intention)
10 blue sapphires in a circle on a gold bracelet (entire sefirotic array)
green chrysoprase (transformation, healing, abundance)

Food/Wine

custard or yogurt sprinkled with flaxseed
kosher red wine

Music

Ancient Futures, Daughters of Gaia

Ribbon Colors (3 sets of 3, ט)

green (growth, prosperity)
red (love, energy, strength)
orange (attract positive gain)

brown (earthy stability, grounding, success)
blue (tranquility, peace)
pink (love, friendship, harmony)

yellow (clarity, joy)
purple (spirituality and nevuah)
white (focused clarity)

Beltane Ribbon Ritual (described here)

[This is a] ritual binding of life and the beauties of life to the Earth plane/the self.

[You'll need] some lengths of ribbon to braid during the Magick making portion of your ritual. The idea here is that you (your body) symbolically becomes the shamanistic tree -- that you see yourself as the shaman on the tree (in your body), able to bring forth a variety of things from the Otherworld into manifestation here on Earth.

Each ribbon will represent one aspect of your life that you'd like to bind closer to you (while realizing the constraints that doing so might imply). Choose the ribbon colors accordingly.

For example, if you want to bring financial security into your life and bind it to you, have a green ribbon on your altar. (Or perhaps you find silver or gold might work better for you here.) If you'd like your life to be constantly surrounded by love, add a pink (or red) ribbon to the array on your altar. If you'd like peace of mind/emotional stability to be a constant in your life, add a light blue ribbon to the mix, etc.

I'd recommend each ribbon be as long as you are tall. Symbolically then, each ribbon represents your physical self. Be sure your altar set-up includes a symbol/tool associated with each of the four elements.

Now light your candles and incense and create your sacred space in your usual manner. Invoke Whom you feel is appropriate. Ask [the Divine] to join you in your dance of life. Include movement in your invocation if you like.

You'll now need to bless each ribbon by the four elements. Take your time in doing this. Pass each one through the incense smoke (Air), over a candle flame (Fire), sprinkle each with water (Water), and pass each through a bowl of sea salt (Earth). Or, think of the smoking censer as representing Air and Fire. Put some sea salt in your water vessel, stir, and think of it as representing Water and Earth.

Then just pass each ribbon through the smoke and sprinkle it with the water mixture, thereby blessing each by all four elements.

However you decide to do it, take some time to think about just exactly what it is each ribbon represents to you. What it is you'd like to bind to you/bring to the fullness of life within your life? What benefits will accrue to you in so doing? What is the down side in each case, and how will you handle it?

Now gather all ribbons together and tie a knot at the top to hold them together. Meditate on bringing all these things forth in your life and on how they will interact with each other to turn your life into a beautiful braid of happiness and well-being. Remember to envision yourself enmeshed in this braiding as it progresses. When you near the end, tie it off in similar fashion to your beginning knot.

End the Magick by blessing the finished braid with your body. After all, your body symbolically lies at the heart of the braid. Breathe on it (Air). Gather it to your heart (Fire). Spit on it or lick it (Water). Coil it up and stand with it under your foot for a few moments (Earth). Now call the blessing of the Goddess into it.

Wear your braid now, or carry it on your person for the rest of the day and/or night. [Afterwards, ] keep the braid in some secret and safe place away from the prying eyes and possible ill wishes of others. Or, if you're not worried about that, keep it on your altar for the coming seasons of growth and harvest.

*A community bonfire is characteristic of both Beltane and Lag B'Omer; while Beltane is set according to the civil calendar at April 30-May 1 in the northern hemisphere, Lag B'Omer varies as to its civil date independent of one's location on earth.*

The ritual proper began during the planetary hour of the sun, under a waxing gibbous moon 98% full. The yellow votive was additionally inscribed with a 4-shin on top. The brown citrus bergamot votive was additionally inscribed with a 3-shin 4 times around the side circumference of the candle. All candles were additionally dressed over the oil with the incense blend called Delight.

The first set of 3 ribbons were braided during the planetary hour of Venus (kaf), the second and third sets of 3 ribbons during the planetary hour of Pluto (da'at elyon and da'at tachton), and the 3 braids were then braided together during the planetary hour of the moon (dalet). The two Hebrew letters which fall out with the ribbon braiding planetary hours are כד, like in kadkode (כדכד). Kad has a gematria of 24; given the sets of 3, 3 X 24 = 72, like the Name of 72.

Similar to havdalah, the braided "bonfire" candle was extinguished in a chalice of kosher wine.

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