Sunday, March 04, 2007

Incense Named "The Delight"

ט"ו באדר תשס"ז

My newest incense recipe to banish negativity is called "The Delight" השעשע.

2 parts frankincense (olibanum) שש
2 parts organic rosemary עע
1 part dragon's blood ה

The kabbalistic Hebrew letter correspondence for each ingredient is listed above and was abstracted from a standard table of correspondences, with the exception of rosemary. The Hebrew letter correspondence for rosemary was derived as follows:

Rosemary = כליל-הר
total gematria = 90 + 205 = 295
digit sum = 16

The 16th letter of the aleph-beit is ayin ע.

Shashua is the first level of revelation of the Essence of the Divine Aur Ein Sof. From the Inner Dimension:

The twice repeated syllable sha (shin ayin) represents in Kabbalah the number (370) of lights that radiate from the countenance of God. When they shine out of and then back into the consciousness of the Divine countenance a sha'ashuah, delight, is born.

I prepared my first batch of השעשע this evening, 15 Adar 5757, during the 6th night hour, under the "planetary" influence of the moon, which holds the keys to heaven and earth [1].

Footnote:

[1] Sefer Yetzirah, R' Aryeh Kaplan (p. 180)

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Shumshom, Appointment

ט"ו באדר תשס"ז

Sesame in Hebrew is shumshom שומשום, with a total gematria of 692, a digit sum of 17 (טוב), and a final digit sum 8 (אז).

Shumshom derives from the shoresh שום meaning "to place", "to appoint for use", "enabling" and "decision". This root is found in Shemot 4:11, "who appoints a mouth ... or who appoints one dumb or deaf, or sighted or blind ...", where Hashem is appointing Moshe as prophet.

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Happy Rhyfeddod Lleiaf o Rhiannon!

י"ד באדר תשס"ז

In the Welsh witch's wheel of the year, sundown March 3 thru dawn March 6 marks observance of Rhyfeddod Lleiaf o Rhiannon (Lesser Mysteries Of Rhiannon).

Rhainnon is the Celtic goddess archetype of endurance and inspiration (netzach and nevuah).

Rhiannon, Celtic goddess of the moon and inspiration, the enchanting fairy princess who rode so swiftly that no horseman could catch her, loved and chose to marry a mortal king of Wales. Accused of murdering their infant son, Rhiannon bore her humiliating punishment with a grace and dignity that melted the hearts of her adopted countrymen.

Eventually proven innocent, Rhiannon was reunited with her husband and son and restored to her throne. Later the Celtic goddess Rhiannon became the famous Lady of the Lake who, in the legends of Camelot, gave Arthur the magical sword called Excalibur.

Rhiannon's name means "Divine Queen".

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Saturday, March 03, 2007

In Support Of Military Witches

Witches At War
Campaign aimed at striking down prohibition on pentacle on military tombstones.
By Devon Haynie
Columbia News Service, NEW YORK (Mar 3, 2007)

"Before every dangerous mission in Iraq, Captain Richard A. Briggs Jr. stood on the hatch of his vehicle, drew a pentacle in the sky with his finger and recited the Wiccan Warrior Prayer for protection.

It was a quick, effortless ritual, but one that Briggs was thankful for in the spring of 2003 when his unarmoured cargo truck turned a corner on an Iraqi road and rolled right into machine gun fire.

Briggs, who recently returned from Iraq, is one of thousands of Wiccans involved in a nationwide campaign aimed at forcing the Veterans Administration's National Cemetery Administration to allow the Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, to be engraved on military headstones. There are roughly 1,800 Wiccans currently serving in the military, and the Wiccan community has been petitioning for pentacle approval for more than nine years.

Members say the government has refused to make a decision even while giving the go-ahead for other religious symbols -- like the Sikh khanda -- to appear on gravestones.

There are now 38 VA-approved symbols for military headstones, everything from mainstream religious symbols to those of lesser-known faiths like Konko-Kyo -- from Japan -- to the atheist atomic whirl.

The VA argues it cannot rule on the symbol until it finishes updating its policy rules. Wiccans call this an excuse, and say that they've heard it for years.

The VA did not return repeated calls for comment."

to read the full article, see link above

hat-tip to Witch's Voice for link to article

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A Leader In Yisrael

י"ד באדר תשס"ז

Looking at the Hebrew letters of the four tarot readings I have performed on myself, an interesting thread of connection runs through them:

Eden (m'Kedem, Bereshit 2:8) -> govern -> eye (to eye) -> a ruler in Israel m'Kedem

A river (the thread of connection) issues from Eden (from the first tarot reading) to water the garden, and then it divides and becomes 4 branches (the 4 Hebrew letters of the fourth reading) ... Bereshit 2:10

Bereshit 2:11-14
the 4 Hebrew letters of the 4th reading & the 4 rivers of Eden

Pishon (פישון) - revelation of previously unknown knowledge ף
Gihon (גיחון) - gush forth ץ
Hiddekel (חדקל) - prickly, ensnare good words like a net ט
Perath (פרת) - cross over into expression ה

This reflects a dynamic of nevuah, that is, of receiving words of prophecy and prophetic knowledge. Moreover, the specific words of prophecy in this thread of connection may pertain to receiving the prophetic words whereby a leader in Israel may be "recognized" (by a prophet).

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Te'amim Mysteries Ancient Of Days

י"ג באדר תשס"ז

These are the results of the fourth tarot reading I've done on myself using my standard procedure, cards and spread. The data:

status post initiation of reversal and protection spell
performed 3/3/07 Adar 13, 5767
began at 2:38 pm, planetary hour Jupiter

moon data: 24 deg. constellation Leo, 11 deg. signe Virgo, 100% full moon

sun data: 15 deg. constellation Aquarius, 12 deg. signe Pisces

weather-snowing; mood-fair; health-tired
approaching total lunar eclipse in Virgo (5:17 pm)
Shabbat Zachor; Nicanor Day

S/Q - ten of swords (disillusioned and withdrawn)

position 1 - Hierophant (Taliesin) ה
position 2 - Hermit (Myrddin) ט
position 3 - nine of cups
position 4 - Moon (Lake Of Maidens) צ
position 5 - knight of wands
position 6 - Star (Branwen) פ
position 7 - eight of pentacles
position 8 - nine of pentacles
postion 9 - page of cups
position 10 - four of swords

p1 - relationship to current situation: guardian of knowledge

p2 - forces in my favor: withdrawal from outside world, reflection and contemplation

p3 - message from higher self: this time is a cauldron within which the future is brewing

p4 - subconscious preoccupation: memory and mysteries, increasing sensitivity to unseen forces

p5 - past influencing current situation: unique way of recognizing patterns in chaos

p6 - current relationship with others: inspiring and guiding

p7 - psychological state influenced by unemployment, knowledge and experience

p8 - influential unseen forces: patience, honor

p9 - hope for use of artistic abilities

p10 - current outcome: waiting, protection in withdrawal

There are 4 cards from the major arcana indicating very strong Divine direction from the universe of Kadmon. The 4 Hebrew letters הטצפ corresponding to the 4 cards of the major arcana have a combined gematria of 184 (מקדם), a digit sum of 13 and a final digit sum of 4. From these gematria, it can be seen that the direction from Kadmon (מקדם) is rooted in the echad of that universe and brought down through all 4 subsequent universes, Atzilut-Beriyah-Yetzirah and Assiyah.

Hebrew letter permutations:

צפה ט watcher over feminine yesod, protector of power to judge properly

פצה ט open to the mysterious meanings of the טעמים (cantillations, te'amim)

טף הץ "tap" is (writing) board in Aramaic => a righteous vessel to receive prophetic words

As noted above, the total gematria of the Hebrew letters of the 4 cards from the major arcana is 184, the same gematria as the word מקדם meaning "from Kedem". Micah 5:1 speaks of this sphere of highest Keter [1] associated with the partzuf Atik Yomin [2]:

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from ancient days.

Footnotes:

[1] Sha'are Orah (Gates Of Light), R' Yosef Gikatilla (p. 362)

[2] see Yemei Kedem (Ancient Days) here.

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Friday, March 02, 2007

Cheshbon HaNefesh, Eye To Eye

י"ג באדר תשס"ז

In my dream posted earlier, the (unbleached) Linen String, my enemies are on the run. My liberators are on the way. In the pouring rain, I died. I woke up.

Linen & Nevuah

Linen is made from flax, one of the few plant species to produce a true blue flower. To harvest flax, the plant is plucked up with its roots (not cut) to maximize harvested fiber length. During the threshing process, flax is held in the left hand. Unlike most fibers, flax is stronger when wet. Bleach damages it. It resists dirt and stains. Outlasting cotton, it endures up to 20 years of use. Artists prefer it as a support for oil painting due to its archival integrity, strength and durability.

Importantly, prophets wear linen to "give notice" that they are fit to receive ruach hakodesh.

Judgment Of The Soul

The portion of the reversal and protection ritual I did this evening went rather well and uneventfully. I was alone in a quiet house. It began under a 13-day old waxing gibbous 99% full moon and under the planetary influence of Jupiter (tav, ת). Tav is a dalet making an impression upon the crown of a nun (yechidah), a crown of testimony.

Tonight's ritual actions completed under the planetary influence of Mars (gimel, ג). Gimel corresponds to the concept of reward and punishment, in the context of the physical world.

My enemies are on the run. Liberators are on the way. In the pouring rain, like a flaxen fiber, I found greater strength, lifted my hands to heaven and began to sing.

I died. At death, the nefesh is judged. I woke up.

Eye To Eye

Wound seven times around the left foot (hod) and ankle (ASTMN, Sh'ir Qoma, Sefer Raziel HaGadol) of the servant girl (ruach of yetzirah), the linen string was then placed eye to eye.

Hark! the watchers lift up the voice singing; beholding together eye to eye, the Lord's return to Zion ... Yishayahu 52:8

קול צפיך נשאו קול יחדו ירננו כי עין בעין יראו בשוב יהוה ציון

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The Linen String

I dreamt.

There were Nazis. The time and place are unclear, but it was wartime. The entire Jewish community was herded into a church building to be executed. I knew they were going to execute us, but many were in denial. We were instructed to sit in the pews to wait, which everyone did.

While we were waiting, one of the Jewish businesswomen got up with a smile to greet a colleague who had just been herded into the room, as if we were all waiting for a business meeting! They shook hands as if they were at a business meeting. I couldn't believe it! Total denial. I thought, "can't you see that they are going to murder us!?" But I said nothing, lest the whole room erupt in total terror.

The Nazis readied the guns at the back of the room behind the pews. It was time. We all had to stay seated now.

They shot each of us once in the head from behind. I could feel a buzzing tingle in the place inside my brain were the bullet had lodged, though I felt no pain. Just numb and fuzzy. I knew I was dying, as were all of us, yet very few actually died and passed over from this shot. The Nazis were shouting at their assistants, asking "who is still alive?" as the assistant Nazis went about checking for life among us.

We were dying, but not dead. Those among us still alive, which was most of us, joined our hands like a human chain and raised them up high together. We all got shot in the head with another bullet. Most died or were incapacitated from this second bullet to the brain. Not me.

Something was happening - the liberators had moved closer and the Nazis had to flee, leaving us dying there in the church pews. The Nazis abandoned the room.

I got up, dying and fuzzy headed. I was dying, I knew it, but I wasn't going to die sitting in a church pew. I left the building and went outside.

It was dusk, dark and pouring down rain. Pouring rain. I moved away from the buildings into a large grassy area with some trees scattered about in it and raised my arms to the sky - singing! I would die singing in the rain with my hands raised to heaven, I told myself.

The fleeing Nazis who passed by me couldn't countenance this and shot at me as they fled by. One stopped and kept shooting me, but I didn't fall down or stop what I was doing. I stumbled and lurched a little as each bullet penetrated my body, but I didn't stop, and I didn't fall down.

As the liberators got closer, he stopped shooting and ran away. Soon, I was very close to death and collapsed in the rain onto the ground. One Nazi as he was fleeing saw me laying there very very close to death, motionless and unable to move any longer, but still alive. He shot me once and then dragged my body to a place between two buildings, as if to hide my near-dead body from the liberators. Such hate was unbelievable!

After moving my near-dead body between the buildings, he fled. A few moments later a servant girl approached my body as I lay so very very close to passing over. On the ground, her left foot was in front on my face which was turned to my right side. She knelt down and tied a pale string seven times around her foot and ankle. The string was a natural pale color, like linen. It wasn't bleached white. It was a natural unbleached pale color like linen.

After binding up her left foot and ankle with the pale string, she took the remainder of the same string and layed it across my eyes, eye to eye, as she closed them both together with her right hand.

I died.

I woke up.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Asphodel Of Sharon, The Awakening

י"ב באדר תשס"ז

In follow-up to my previous post, irit batzal עירית בצל is Hebrew for the flower asphodel (another name for daffodil). In Greek mythology, asphodel is the "deathless kind of of lily flower that covers the plains of Hades and was a favorite food of the dead." Oddly, irit may be derived from the shoresh עור which means to "awaken" and "awakening".

Asphodel is found in the Song Of Songs, Shir HaShirim 2:1.

I am an asphodel of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
אני חבצלת השרון, שושנת העמקים

Irit has a gematria of 690, a digit sum of 15 and a final digit sum of 6, the value of vav ו, the letter symbolizing the sefirah tiferet, and the partzuf zer anpin.

Batzal has a gematria of 122 and a digit sum of 5, the value of hei ה, the letter symbolizing the sefirah malchut, and the partzuf nukvah.

Together וה they have a gematria of 11, the number of spices used in the Temple, the number of sefirot in the universe of Tohu, and the number of Holy Names of G-d associated with the sefirot.

I wrote a poem a long time ago, called Chavatzelet, Dark Torah, based upon a memory of pre-incarnate experience. I didn't realize until just a few minutes ago that chavatzelet also meant daffodil (asphodel). It seems I have a very deep connection to daffodil, and through it, and to Shir HaShirim as well, although this particular memory was shattering. I know that this memory pertains to shevirat hakelim (breaking of the vessels), yet I still don't fully understand why. It still hurts. Still.

But, I am awake.

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Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant

י"א באדר תשס"ז

Today is Saint David's Day - Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant. 'Dewi Ddyfrwr' (David the Water-Drinker) is a Welsh patron saint. While I'm not Christian, I do have some Welsh ancestry and absolutely love daffodils - my favorite flower.

From Wiki regarding traditions:

"Children take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau, with recitation and singing being the main activities. Formerly, a half-day holiday was afforded to school children. Officially this custom does not continue, although the practice can vary on a school-to-school basis.

Many Welsh people wear one or both of the national emblems of Wales on their lapel to celebrate Saint David: the daffodil (a generic Welsh symbol which is in season during March) or the leek (Saint David's personal symbol) on this day. The association between leeks and daffodils is strengthened by the fact that they have similar names in Welsh, Cenhinen (leek) and Cenhinen Bedr (daffodil, literally "Peter's leek")."

Interestingly, including my ancestry and proclivity for Welsh tarot cards, my kabbalistic name incense includes daffodil (cenhinen bedr). I had no idea at the time when I wrote the incense recipe that cenhinen bedr is an emblem of Wales or of a saint named David (Dewi). The two letters yod, one in my name Liorah לֵיאורהּ and the other in the Hebrew phonetic transliteration of my craft name Lleucu ללאכי correspond to the flower.

Daffodil is a feminine botanical linked to the planet Venus (or Mars, in some sources) [1] and to the element of water. It's magickal influences include love, fertility and good fortune. It has a cute folk name: daffy-down-dilly.

"The Chinese daffodil belongs to the amaryllis genus. Daffodil is a perennial herb. Because its bulb looks likes onion or garlic, it was called Elegant Garlic in the Six Dynasties and Heaven Shallot in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Subsequently, it obtained several smart and beautiful names, such as golden calix, silver desk, couple orchid, elegant guest, and woman star."

In honor of Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, I'm burning some shin kokonoe (daffodil) incense today. Hmm, smells good.

Footnote:

[1] Venus (Enclyclopedia Of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham) or Mars (Culpepper)

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Dare to be true to yourself.