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Showing posts from February, 2012

The Wiccan Rede: Speak little and listen much

(This is a continuing discussion line by line of the full Wiccan Rede.  See the first post in February for the full rede and beginning of the discussion.) Soft of eye, light of touch, speak little; listen much Soft of Eye Soft of eye is exploring perception.  It is plumbing our own inner depths, and achieving something more than a static model of looking at the world.  All of us are consciously aware, when we focus our vision.  Honing our gaze to a fine point, to discern what we are looking for.  Such as searching for an item within a puzzle.  This type of fine focus, is used during periods of high concentration.  It also references a person who is overly critical or judgmental.  Such as the metaphors stemming from " long hard gazes" or taking a "hard look".  During this type of activity, the eyes tense, the body develops a rigidity, and everything perches upon on edge.  Careful someone doesn't tip you over! Soft of eye, on the other hand is a differe

The Wiccan Rede: Fairly Take and Fairly Give

(This is a continuing discussion line by line of the full Wiccan Rede.  See the first post in February for the full rede and beginning of the discussion.) Live ye well and let to live; fairly take and fairly give. Living Well Many websites, commercials, and books are dedicated to the art of living well.  Our consumer driven society is obsessed with it.  What does it really mean?  From a material point of view to live well, might be to live comfortably from a financial standpoint,  have a few things that make you happy.  Have a few people with whom you are close to and  exist  in a somewhat enjoyable manner. Lets look at this from a different perspective.  Living well, can also be a standard to which to hold yourself.  We as wiccans and pagans, actively work to create a better life for ourselves, better communities and a better world.  In doing so, we take on the role of the steward, the caretaker.   As stewards we have a responsibility to our charge, namely the earth, our comm

The Wiccan Rede: Ancient Laws, Perfect Love and Perfect Trust

(This is a continuing discussion line by line of the full Wiccan Rede.  See the first post in February for the full rede and beginning of the discussion.) Bide the Ancient Laws ye must, in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Advice of the Ancients Bide the Ancient Laws ye must, Wait a minute, what the heck is an ancient law?  We are talking about a religion that has officially been around since 1950.  Even though we understand that the concepts and practices have been either handed down through time, reconstructed from information available,  drawn from the collective unconscious or "downloaded" from the Divine.   I haven't seen any scroll hanging out with ancient laws! Ancient laws are not the laws of man, but more specifically the laws of the universe or universal laws.  The Universe uses natural and moral laws combined with regulatory vibrations to maintain balance.  Just as with current, when you work within the flow of a current (such as swimming), your actua

The Wiccan Rede - A Study In Ethics

Advice of the Ancients Bide the Ancient Laws ye must, in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Live ye well and let to live; fairly take and fairly give. Soft of eye and light of touch, Speak little: listen much. Heed ye flower, bush and tree. By the Lady, Blessed Be. Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, let Love and Trust be our guides again. Cast the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out; To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme. Deosil go by the waxing moon; sing and dance the Witches' Rune. Tuathal go, by waning moon; chanting out the baneful rune. When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to her times two; When the Moon rides at her peak, then your heart's desire seek. Nine woods in the cauldron go; burn them fast and burn them slow. Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows. Oak in the forest towers with might; in the fire brings the God's insight. Rowan is a tree of power, causing magick and life to