Dolmen Grove Chronicles The Spirit of the Crow Dance
an interview with Mark Van Der Stelt A look at The Dragon ‌.the
mythical beast, the resin, as a totem, as a crystal
www.dolmengrove.co.uk
CONTENTS 1…Spirit of Rebirth Camp – Marisha Kiddle 2…Blood of the Dragon – Andrew Cowling 3…Aromatherapy – Sandra Wiseman 4…Castlefest interview with Mark Van Der Steldt – Diane Narraway 5…Anja interview – Diane Narraway 6… Nuada; God of the Sun – Taloch Jameson 8…Spirit of the Crow Dance – Taloch Jameson 9 …Dragons as Totem Animals – Cheryl Waldron 10 …Women of Babalon Review – Matthew Levi Stevens 11…Nature Speaks – Sheena Cundy 12…Magic of Nature Oracle Review – Lucya Starza 13…Dragons Blood Ink – Brenda R Johnson 14…The Use of Scent in Magick – Molly McHenry 15…Dolmen Grove Moot Information 16…Metaphysical and Healing Properties of Dragonstone – Cheryl Waldron 17…Diary of the Hedgewitch and Sowing Charts – Rachael Moss 18…When the Ex’s been hexed; Elf and Safety in the Face of Psychic Attacks – Lou Hotchkiss Knives 19…The Dragon – Scott Irvine Photos in this issue – Scott Irvine, Rachael Moss, Duncan Knifton, Joanna Caswell. Cover Photo – Rebecca Hignett. Artwork – Sem Vine, David Cilia, KT Glitz. Unless otherwise stated all other images are from the public domain. Further information on the Dolmen Grove can be found at: www.Dolmengrove.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheDolmenGrove/110124449082503 All information is accurate at the time of publication and all articles and images are assumed to be the work of those being credited
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THE DOLMEN GROVE The Dolmen Grove is a pagan organisation of mixed spiritual paths established in the early 90s by Taloch Jameson, which over the years has grown from one small circle in Weymouth Dorset, to several clans not only across the UK but worldwide. The Spiritual ethos of the Dolmen Grove has remained the same throughout and is based purely upon the Freedom of the Individual. It is the collective belief that in an age where technology can often dwarf our humanity, it is important that we take control as individuals and embrace our own spirituality in order to maintain the equilibrium within an ever changing world. Although the Grove is not a political organisation preferring instead to focus upon the spiritual, this does not prevent either individual members or the Grove as a collective from playing an active part in humanitarian and environmental issues. There are no hierarchy or titles within the Dolmen Grove as it is our aim to encourage each man and woman to discover their own unique and authentic journey so that their spiritual connection is founded upon that which works for them as an individual rather than a spiritual rule book set for the masses. The key to our success is the Round Table which is made up of around twenty people from a variety of spiritual paths who uphold the spiritual ethos of the Grove. They not only organise their respective moots but also the festivals and events hosted by the Dolmen Grove. Our Moots are regular meeting places which are held once a month in several areas. Although these are organised by and largely attended by Grove members, non-members are always welcome to find out more about the Grove and enjoy the company of other free thinking people as well as the activities organised by the Moot. There is a membership in place that enables those who wish to be part of this ever growing Clan to enjoy reduced ticket prices for Dolmen Grove Events, festivals and where stated ‘member only’ Ceremonies and Courses. Although we host many Ceremonies which are open to the general public, to avoid crowding and to allow our members to celebrate free from pressure we also hold members only ceremonies.
‘ALL ARE SPIRITUALLY UNITED WITHIN THE DOLMEN GROVE
The Dolmen Grove Spirit of Rebirth Camp
Our little family have just come home after our first ever Dolmen Grove camp, and what can I say, but wow! After hearing about the Grove’s Beltaine and Tribal Dreams camp over the last few years, we decided to ‘give it a whirl’. I went with an open mind, I have taken the recommendations of others before, attended an event and sadly found that it was not all it was ‘cracked up to be’; I was however, pleasantly surprised (and totally wrong). Having spent the Friday morning setting up our temporary homes, we spent the rest of the afternoon mainly relaxing and chatting to our new neighbours when we were visited by the Grove Chairlady handing out the itinerary for the weekend. The choice of things to do was amazing, and discovering that each activity was free was even better, I didn’t know whether to listen to the talk on plant metamorphosis or learn how to make a basket out of brambles! I decided to make a basket, intrigued as to how I would be able to make one without cutting myself to bits on the thorns. My day followed with an interesting talk on Isobel Gowdie by Lou Hodgekiss, who really brought the story alive and certainly kept the listeners entertained. As I imagined it would be, a talk held by Professor Ronald Hutton on the Holy Grail was packed and a huge success.
I had a wonderful evening with great entertainment and lovely company, followed by an exceptional Fire Ceremony held around a roaring fire to celebrate Beltaine, each moot contributed something to the celebrations, the mead went down exceptionally well! Sunday was just as busy with talks and workshops taking place throughout the day, I never got bored for one moment and neither did my daughter. My personal highlight of the weekend was a beautiful naming ceremony for Corren Raven Leona, which was held by Cheryl Waldron and followed by Diane Narraway and Taloch Jameson welcoming Corren into the Dolmen Grove; the children of the Grove made beautiful flower decorations and circlets especially for the occasion. Open mic night was thoroughly entertaining with a number of different people taking a turn at singing, reciting poetry and storytelling; it was great to see so much hidden talent. I found myself reluctantly packing away on Monday morning, preparing to leave my new found friends, who now felt more like family. The relaxed atmosphere of the weekend I have tried to capture and keep it with me, until at least I have gotten home and back into the hectic schedule of normal life. I am eagerly waiting for August to come around so that we can come to Tribal Dreams to have another enjoyable weekend with our new found family and cannot wait for more talks and workshops.
Marisha Kiddle
It is much used as a constituent of incense as it is said to boost the power of the incense and therefore enhance the power of ritual energy. Burnt with Catnip it can be used to exorcise the self of a bad habit and promote self-growth. It can also be used in rituals for the dead and dying.
Blood
of the Dragon
Dragon’s Blood is a generic term for a red coloured resin which is harvested from a number of different plants in Sumatra, China, Mexico, South America, Borneo and the Canary Islands. The most familiar source is from Daemomorops draco; the dragon’s blood is an exudate from the fruits although it is also harvested as a resin exuded by the bark of various trees and derives its name from ‘drakaina’ being Greek for ‘little dragon’ (also apparent in another plant yielding the resin: Dracaeno draco). In form it can be obtained as a powder, in lumps or as small sticks. Commercial uses were mainly as a dye in the manufacture of varnishes, toothpaste, plasters and for the dyeing of horn in order to imitate tortoiseshell. Its medicinal uses are limited to a treatment for diarrhoea and as a constituent of an old remedy for syphilis; it is not used by herbalists today. In folk medicine the resin was burnt by an open window for 7 nights to bring back a straying lover and a lump placed under the mattress was used as a cure for impotence.Dragon’s blood has a major role in magick and ritual, both as an Herb of Consecration and Protection and as a constituent of incense. As an herb of Consecration it can be used to consecrate the tools of ritual, magick and divination and has a particular association with the Sword of Truth. In some instances of consecration it is used as a substitute for blood e.g. instead of the blood of a young goose along with Pimpernel in the consecration of the Sacred Blade. Its role as an Herb of protection involves its use as an ink used to write magickal rites, sacred documents, oaths and vows and in its resinous form to seal them.
As an incense it has also been used to aid the study of the Tarot, having a particular affinity for the Emperor and Lovers cards. It has been used in shape shifting, to enable the magician to astral travel and assume another physical form. The Chinese variety is used in the making of a potent alcoholic drink which when consumed, helps participants attain ecstatic states during rituals. A quick scan of the internet reveals a plethora of claims about its efficacy as a skin care product along with a host of lotions and potions which you are encouraged to buy. Quite what evidence there is for such marketing I know not; there is nothing in the traditional herbal literature about such properties but perhaps the cosmetics manufacturers know something we don’t! Andrew Cowling BSc(Hons),Dip.Phyt,D.Hyp,RCST,MNFSH,FNIMH Herbalist, Craniosacral Therapist, Hypnotherapist 62 Grove Road Portland DT5 1DB. Tel. 01305 860611.
Wheel of the year February (Imbolc) -The Enchanted Market, Wokingham, Berks. March (Ostara) -Psychic fayre and Spring Ball, St Austell, Cornwall April (Beltane) - Spirits of Rebirth Camp, Dorset June -A Midsummer Nightmare August - Tribal Dreams, Gathering of the clans September (Mabon) – Bardic event October (Samhain) - Psychic fayre and Wytches ball December – Yule Ball www.dolmengrove.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dolmen-Grove
Aromatherapy If you are new to Aromatherapy or have not read previous articles on this then an insight to it is: - Aromatherapy is the use of organic essences extracted from aromatic plants for healing and maintenance of vitality. It may help minor ailments, keep us fit whilst still enabling us to be relaxed and at ease with ourselves. The oils work by entering the blood stream via the skin, smells evoke memories and the brain registers the scent via the neurological and the endocrine system. The therapeutic potential of essential oils, like other plant derived remedies, has yet to be fully realized. Although numerous medical herbs have been utilized since antiquity, many of which have become of modern drugs (such as Quinine and cocaine) In order to use essential oils apart from Lavender and Tea Tree they MUST be blended with carrier oil.
Hemp seed Carrier oil As this oil has so many fatty acids in and vitamins, it is amazing effect for dry skin, keeps the skin supple and helps the hair to be strong and healthy also helps minor skin abrasions, psoriasis and eczema Hemp carrier oil or botanical name Cannabis Sativa is extracted by cold compress from the seeds and the origin is England but believed to originate from India. Some people may be worried about the narcotic properties as it comes from the same plant that produces cannabis and marijuana, but it is grown legally for the seed and differs both scientifically and in the growth process. It contains more naturally occurring essential fatty acids than any other plant-based oil (75-80 % ) and is rich in Omega 3, and the iodine value is 86.37 .the colour is dark green with a pleasant nutty, grassy smell and has a shelf life of 14-16 months.
The carrier oil can be diluted with Jojoba or sweet Almond oil. As this oil is sensitive to light once opened it should be stored in the Fridge For massage it is helps sore muscles and reduces inflammation.
Clary Sage Essential oil This essential oil is the main component of Eau de Cologne and is often added to soaps and detergents. It blends well with lavender Juniper sandalwood coriander frankincense and many more. Clary sage is very closely related to common garden sage, it is also known as Salvia Sclarea and gets its name from the Latin ”clear eyes”, which it was referred to in the middle ages. It grows from May to September and is Native to Southern Europe especially the Mediterranean region, USA, Russia, Morocco and England. When converted into an essential oil, Clary Sage provides outstanding benefits for your eyes, nervous system, digestion, and kidneys. Although it doesn’t come cheap, it’s still worth using due to its many positive health effects. It is extracted by steam Distillation from the Clary Sage flowering tops and leaves and is a colourless or pale yellowy-green liquid which has a sweet nutty herbaceous scent.
Apart from treating eye health-related problems, Clary Sage oil is also used to calm the nervous system, especially during times of stress, depression, and insomnia and is very good for muscular problems. Clary sage oil also can help address menstrual issues such as cramps and hot flushes, promote relaxation during childbirth, and ease menopausal symptoms, as well as being used to treat high blood pressure and throat infections where you can use 1 or 2 drops of Clary Sage in brandy or other alcohol mixed with hot water to gargle. If you are having an operation this is a great one to have a massage with as it is antiseptic. It also helps with acne, oily skin, dandruff and can improve memory as it stimulates mental activity (Julia LawlessThe Encyclopaedia of Essential oils).
Safety Data Avoid during pregnancy. Do not use if driving as has a narcotic effect and do not drink alcohol if you have used this before going to bed as could have nightmares. This is not the same as Garden Sage and the common garden sage is unavailable as an Essential oil due to its toxicity.
Sandra Wiseman 01702 523951 or 07804138585 E mail Sandra_wiseman@talk21.com www.therapies4you.com
Irvine Photography Pagan photographer http://www.irvineimages.co.uk 07748198089
Castlefest has grown rapidly since it began in 2005 to become one of the largest festivals held in Europe attracting around 30,000 visitors. I caught up with the co -founder and organiser Mark Van Der Stelt who along with his wife created Castlefest to find out how it came about and why it is such a success….
Diane: How would you describe Castlefest? Is it a music, a pagan or a medieval festival? Mark Van Der Stelt: Ha that’s a difficult question. I don’t think Castlefest fits into a box. The festival is mainly a music festival with pagan, medieval and folk music. It has fantasy influences but also medieval and Pagan. I think it works so well and our visitors like it so much because we don’t fit into just one box.
Diane: What were you doing before Castlefest? Mark: Times were very different before Castlefest. Myself and my wife Natasja worked in the ‘grey suits’ world except on the weekends when we dressed very differently and would go to events and festivals. We lived in two totally different worlds.
Diane: Where did the idea for Castlefest originate and whose idea was it? Mark: Although myself and Natasja were frequent visitors of events in Holland, we also attended those in Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg and saw that the events in Holland missed a lot of the atmosphere that could be found at other European events. I suggested to my wife that we should try to organise an event that WE would like to go to. And that idea became Castlefest!
Diane: Who is responsible for what for instance the different aspects/duties etc Mark: My wife and I are the team that do the creative part of our events. We decide about which bands to book, how everything should look, where we put what on the terrain etc. My wife is more the visually creative part and I am the more the organisational part.
Diane: To what do you attribute the huge success and rapid growth of Castlefest and has it exceeded or matched your expectations? Mark: I really don’t know. We have discussed it a lot with our friends, but we could never put our finger on it. It’s a combination of the intention, passion, magic and energy of everyone involved. It has exceeded our expectations so many times. Every year we are surprised by the atmosphere, positive response and compliments we get. It’s all so massive for us. We hadn’t necessarily aimed to grow as such. The aim has always been and shall always be to do our best to give ALL our visitors a great weekend.
Diane: What plans do you have for Catlefest in the future? Mark: Every year the number of visitors grows. We expect this year to sell out on Saturday and in the coming years on all days. This because the quality is more important than the quantity. We will try to grow with our visitors aiming to make the event more interesting every year. That has been our aim for the last 10
Diane: And how do you see Castlefest in ten years’ time? Mark: We hope that our visitors will still look forward to our events and give us the opportunity to keep doing what we do. Because we are very thankful that we have the opportunity to do this.
Interview by Diane Narraway Anja Novotny is the guest pipe player on the forthcoming Nuada album and I got a rare opportunity to catch up with her on her recent visit to the UK where she took a few minutes out of the Dolmen recording schedule for a brief interview.
Q…What are your musical origins and how did you meet the Dolmen? A…I first began playing in a Traditional German Brass Band but quickly changed from there to play bass in a Death metal band, later I played Scottish bagpipe in a military band, an Irish folk band and then later some friends and myself formed Methusa and I was with them for seven years. It was while I was playing with Methusa that I first met the Dolmen at. I think the first time was about 5 years ago at a PF event in the Netherlands and since then we have shared many stages together at the MPS festival and other festivals and concerts Over that time I have got to know the band quite well as people. Q..How did you get involved with this album and what attracted you it? A…We went last year to Mps Buckenberg to catch up with the Dolmen and while speaking to Taloch he told me that Kerry had left because of the baby and that he had advertised on facebook for a flute player At the time I was pregnant and told him that if I wasn’t pregnant I would be asking to play with them. So he asked me if once the baby was born I would like to be a guest musician on the next album…I replied with a very emphatic yes!
Q..Would that have been the case for any album or were you especially drawn to the concept of Nuada/ A...I love their music and Nuada has a mysterious quality which I find very appealing. It’s a fabulous album so I am very happy to be involved with this Q…Will you be playing with the Dolmen on the Nuada tour in Germany? A… Yes this was always the intention and I am really looking forward to as I have missed performing live so it will be great to be part of that again Q…What plans do have for the future music-wise ? A…At the minute being a Mum is the most important job and occupies a lot of time but perhaps ultimately I would like to put together an album of my own, a selection traditional Irish songs with me singing, playing the flute and guitar etc – The whole album would be me but this could take years to do and for now I am happy to work as a guest musician. I definitely hope to work more with the Dolmen in the future
We bring you the Vampire Pirate. Available in Black (white screen print) DEMON PIRATE T-Shirt Now Available In Celebration of the Great Spirits of the Sea The Dolmen have always had a close affiliation with the Sea and its dark & mysterious secrets as 21 years of Dolmen music have ex-pressed this fully, from Shanty to ferocious Celtic Rock. Now as part of our celebration of these 21 we release the DEMON Pirate. Long Live the Pirate King.
Designs on white that capture the spirit of Dolmen music available in a variety of sizes.http://www.thedolmen.com/merchandise.html
To think it was 3 years ago that we began work on the Nuada Album, however since beginning the album and announcing the Nuada tour, the Dolmen have gone on to release 4 more albums. So we guess an explanation is probably necessary as to why it has taken so long for Nuada to be completed. When work started on Nuada, it like all other Dolmen albums chose its theme, its unique character and energy which is how all Dolmen albums start (in fact we gave a clue to its theme in the Banquet Video released last year). Because of the theme this meant only certain songs would be selected to go on the album, and although there has never been a shortage of songs written, but with Nuada the greatest challenge was waiting for the right song to emerge. In what has become a 3 year waiting process we have turned around four other albums and with more tracks
going on the back boiler for other release’s, yet the songs for Nuada were elusive and sat in the shadows.
The Dolmen have a certain ritual to writing music and when employed it’s as if a chord one may have played a thousand times before suddenly becomes possessed, you hear and feel it a different way than ever before and from that point of possession one must stay with it. The unusual thing with Nuada is that we had to wait not
only for spirit to charge the chord but for a particular spirit, an energy that itself seemed reluctant to step out of the shadows, and funnily enough it mirrored the characters of the album perfectly.
So we have sat and waited for those priceless moments when this would happen and that would be the next song to be added. Listening to the songs at this point as they are compiled it is a bizarre journey and a story
which may suit those who understand the need to stay out of those glorious blinding rays of the great God of the Sun - NUADA
May
Sun.31st… Wessex Folk Festival – Weymouth, Dorset
June
Sat.13th … MPS Bashorst Sun.14th … MPS Bashorst
Fri.19th … Feuertanz Germany Sat. 20th … Feuertanz Germany Sat. 27th … MPS Wassenberg
Sun. 28th … MPS Wassenberg
July Fri. 31st ….Castlefest
August
Sat.1st … Castlefest – Official release of Nuada Sun. 2nd … Castlefest
Fri.14th … Park Festival, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Sat.15th ... Park Festival, Eindhoven, The Netherlands/ Ridder Spektakel ,Amsterdam Sun.16th … Ridder Spektakel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Fri. 28th … Tribal Dreams – Weymouth, Dorset Sat. 29th Tribal Dreams – Weymouth, Dorset
Sun. 30th … Tribal Dreams – Weymouth, Dorset www.thedolmen.com
The Spirit of Crow Dance Taloch Jameson on the Spiritual Quest of the Crow Dance At the recent Dolmen Grove Beltane Spirit of Rebirth Camp Taloch along with a few others brought to life an introduction to the spirit of the Crow Dance. For all those involved it was a moving and deeply spiritual experience. The Crow Dance is both spellbinding and captivating as it brings us ever closer to the ancestral realms. For the benefit of those who were not there and in order to find out more about the history and spirituality of the Crow Dance I asked Taloch to explain the concept and purpose of the Crow Dance.
There is a long history behind the Crow Dance, both for me personally and also as an adaptation of its oldest form - the universal Round Dance that can be found in cultures all over the earth since time out of memory. Firstly, looking at the fundamental foundations upon which the current ritual and Dance has been built within my workings over a lifetime. We must start with Crow, a bird that has been prevalent throughout the sacred histories of many cultures as a messenger of the gods, a traveller between realms, an escort that guides souls to the afterlife; a numinous bird that aids in the manipulation of the magical arts. In Crow, as psychopomp, as spiritual advisor, we have a bird that serves as a symbolic go between for the world of the here and now and the world of the ancestors, a bird that brings both the living and the dead together in unity. Secondly, dance is a basic practice of humankind. We know that in all cultures people have been known to fling their bodies about for pleasure. It is essentially a physical expression of emotion and energy. It is most natural to dance and in fact, “to dance is to live”, so to speak, as dance is a manifestation of the energies animated into the physical realm. But also, in ancient as well as varying cultures today, dance was and is used to generate energy for purposes outside that of an expression of pleasure as dance can also be used as a tool to enhance ones’ psychic capability. Everyone is familiar with the dances of the Native Indians of America or those of Australian and other tribal cultures who have just about managed to keep a hold on at least some of their cultural beliefs and practices.
And not unlike the famous Ghost Dance of the Native American, Crow Dance has its purpose beyond that of normal recreational pleasure. It is used as a tool to help transport ones’ consciousness into a trance like state whereby an individual can exchange information or parley with those in alternative realms of existence. In ancient times there was a simple and commonly held conviction that those who were skin walkers would one day become spirit walkers; that in fact it is only the most transparent of membranes that veils these worlds, separating one from the other. Communion between worlds was once more common, accepted in many cultures as a normal fact of everyday existence. Through a variety of leadings, workings, and personal connections, the Crow Dance and Ritual has emerged as a curious chain of association within these earliest Ghost Dances of the American Indians, to manifest within my own magical life over a period of years. A bit of history may help explain the concept of the Dance in the past and its subsequent visitations within my practices over the space of years: When Wovoka, the great Paiute prophet, ‘introduced’ the Ghost Dance in the late 1800s, he was actually re-introducing an organic spiritual practice that Native Americans from sea to sea had been engaged in for millennia. In fact, there have been more Spirit Dance ‘movements’ among Native Americans than is generally discussed in history – before Wovoka, there was an emergence of a form of the dance in the 1870s. Before that was a movement that built in intensity at the time of the American and British war in 1812.
But long before these (and in fact long after), it was practiced and revived in evolving forms at times of great stress or need among the Native American Nations, to ‘bring back’ the wisdom of the Ancestral Spirits who had been ignored, resulting in imbalances in the interconnected web of the material world, the Otherworld, and the human soul. The Native American forms of the Ghost Dances were not understood by everyone and in fact, in history it has been misunderstood more often than not, even by its own practitioners much to the sorrow of Wovoka in particular- like any religious fervor. It is a ritual and a dance for the entire World – for all the Worlds. It is not necessarily to destroy enemies, it is to bring balance against ‘enemies’, in whatever form “enemies’ or threats may appear and in whatever way is most wise to deal with them to ensure survival, which the Ancestors will impart to us as a result of the ritual if we will listen and honestly interpret their messages. This ritual has appeared in the history of humankind over and over again, like the rolling waves of a great sea, emerging at the insistence of the mysterious Spirits who cannot allow us to ignore them any longer. Yet, too, this organic and living Dance is at the heart of the Great Myth of all humanity, and that is its real Power. Its meaning has its roots in the Perennial Philosophy of the true seekers, it is the self-same magic found in the ancient spiritual Round Dances in the deserts of the Middle East and the sacred dances of the mountains of Tibet. Stonehenge itself, a great circle, can be interpreted as a symbol of the dancing ancestors a people brought with them in their migrations and has been so recognized as such by more than one indigenous visitor to that obviously sacred site. Crow Dance in modern day. Over the past few decades there has been a gradually increasing number of spirits whose awareness monitors the world’s technological advances and the destructive effects that such may incur regarding the well-being of our earth and its life forms. Within the spiritual community of the Dolmen Grove there are many of us who are part of this policing of the earth and obviously because we feel the way we do it becomes embroidered in the tapestry of our spirituality.
As I mentioned above the Crow Dance is not unlike the Ghost Dance of Wovoka with regards to its true purpose. The point of this spiritual dance is one of liberation of the soul so that the individual may connect and share with fellow beings, to commune with the realms beyond to enhance and generate a united energy that can be released back into this world that at present is suffering severe pain. The Crow Dance serves as a tool whereby one’s psychic ability is used to connect with the power of the energies of the earth and the universe in order to transfer knowledge, and gain the wisdom to interpret and use that knowledge for a positive result in the great evolution of life. Connecting to the source of our being is essential to human existence and yet the ability to make this connection has near but been destroyed within the human race all too often being replaced with religious tyranny that by force, more often than not took responsibility for souls that never belonged to it. We became victims to superstitions planted by others and through fear we sought to obey, only to be completely let down until the current path of human evolution looks seriously like we will destroy not only ourselves physically and spiritually but all evolving natural life on this planet. Given that they are intimately entwined, such destruction also damages Otherworld realms, the world of the Ancestors that functions simultaneously within and without us. This would be a disaster without precedence in the history of our world. The Crow Dance is for all people. It is universally tribal and resonates of times past when we beat our spirit drums, wore sacred feathers and beads as symbols in our hair and on our clothing; when we painted our faces and bodies with those sacred signs that we perceived in dreams and danced in communion with the nature of all things. The Crow Dance has emerged again, as was planned years ago for this time. And it will do whatever the guiding spirits of universal love require it to do. Crow brings the message.
Taloch Jameson
Just as the Crow, Messenger between Worlds, melts magic, mystery and the mundane into one joyous Dance, “Crow Dance”, the album, weaves a unified tapestry of ancient and modern-day tribal rhythm. Drawing upon the ancient roots of his personal family heritage, Taloch, singing and playing to the Four Winds with Native flute melody and chant, draws close Crow’s vital force. He has created an enchanting collection of songs dedicated to the Spirit of the Crow, denizen of the Air so gentle that even the smallest of birds might drive it away. Brother Crow, in whose black satin feather is represented the colour of Order and of its numinous self, peace.
Dragons - the ultimate representation of a supernatural beast, they are master and dictator of the elements, the graceful messengers of balance; pair this with their primordial power, strength and their formidable fierceness and durability and we find ourselves with the perfect protective totem animal. Animal totems are ‘guides or souls’ that walk through life with us, guiding, teaching and protecting us, showing and sharing with us their qualities as spiritual tools on our own spiritual journey through life. Dragons are a common sight within our Pagan community, I’m not referring to real actual fire-breathing, flying dragons, but those that we decorate our home with, in the shape of ornaments and wall hangings, the silver tokens of jewellery that we adorn ourselves with and those that we conjure to be with us when calling forth the elements and magickal protection. As a totem animal a dragon is about as big and bad ass as it gets, it is a courageous and faithful guardian, an intimidating warrior and protector, yet it has softer, gentler qualities that are often overlooked by those that choose not to seek them. Since the dark ages dragons have been portrayed as evil, destructive creatures, the story of St George and the dragon tells us of how brave St George slayed the evil, fire breathing Ascalon and many a faery tale will end with the dragon being killed by a brave knight. Yes dragons can be destructive if you do not treat them with respect, but they are also peaceful creatures, compassionate and nurturing. They have an air of mystery and wonder and a wisdom that has been called upon by many a wizard throughout history and to the ancients they were the incarnation of evolution. In China, dragons characterised imperial power, strength and good luck, they were the chosen creature of the warrior and they did and still do represent one part of the duality of yin and yang, the dragon being the yang and the phoenix being the yin. In England dragons were worn upon banners and the flags of war and the true English flag bears a white dragon on a red flag, something that the English Liberty Foundation actively promotes. Dragons bring strength, confidence and bravery to those who most need it and do so with a quiet swiftness, they will teach you to find and utilise these own abilities within yourself. Do you have a passion, a desire, a masculine raging fire deep within? A dragon will take those dark feelings and guide and counsel you to transmute them to gentle, lighter feminine energies, it will enhance your mental, spiritual and magickal feelings, bringing a higher sense of enlightenment to your everyday life. Dragons are the protectors of jewels and riches - gold, diamonds, emeralds and rubies; they have been for many thousands of years, so it would only be appropriate that a dragon totem would come to you to guide you with your finances and important monetary decisions, take heed of what the dragon tells you, it has your best interests in mind. Being an ancient creature, the dragon has stood the test of time, it has a profound and grounding connection to the past and therefore is an excellent choice for recalling past memories from this life, before and beyond. If you are having trouble facing up to painful past experiences, then meditate with a dragon as your guide, it will help you to discover the peace and balance that you crave. As fierce as a dragon may seem when it first appears to you, do not allow your subconscious thoughts to allow you to feel fear of this magnificent creature, for the dragon is the bringer of truth and freedom, of insight and inspiration; it will transform you and guide you through the mundane, influencing your path, and overcoming obstacles and will do so with infinite wisdom and clarity. The dragon will show you what you truly are capable of, illustrate your potential and all of those things you never dreamt yourself capable of will become reachable with a dragon by your side.
Cheryl Waldron
WOMEN OF BABALON REVIEW
Matthew Levi Stevens preparation of the Astral Temple, and explorations of orgasm at each of the chakras: “Manual magick is the formula for those who wish to dance with demons and with Jinn, to seduce the Loa and the serpent Nagas of the earth, and to create for themselves familiars to carry forward their desires.” Perhaps not surprisingly, much of this is rooted in Falorio’s work with the Nightside energies – and images from her Tarot do appear. Other highlights include suggestions for working with the Zar spirits of Egypt or Voodoo Loa, guidelines for conjuring the Demon Lover “by invoking your Holy Guardian Angel (HGA) into the body of your lover via the sexual act”, and a ritual to that proto-Babalon, Sekhmet – with a recipe to make your own Kyphi incense – all giving further food for thought.
Women of Babalon is a new anthology from Black Moon Publishing, based in New Orleans and Cincinnati. But do not make the mistake of thinking this is a solely American affair – or else because of the Babalon theme or New Orleans connection, all of the material sings from an exclusively Voodoo or Thelemic song-sheet. There are some obvious common sources and inevitable parallels between a number of the works herein, but the range of material gathered across the book’s (almost) 200 pages gives a rich and varied cross-section. As you might expect, the stories conveyed through the words and pictures gathered here are as individual as the journeys of the women telling them, reflecting the diversity of ages, backgrounds, desires, ethnicities and experiences. Sexuality and spirituality are the keys held in common, of course, in a sense forming the crossroads at which these Modern Witches meet to compare and contrast notes about what it means to be a magickal artist-practitioner – and also a woman – in today’s world. It makes for a heady brew indeed. Contributors include Linda Falorio, Charlotte Rodgers, Mishlen Linden, Lou Hotchkiss Knives, Emma Doeve, Diane Narraway, Geraldine Lambert, Semirani Vine, Lorraine Sherwin, Dianne Mysterieux, Lilith Dorsey, Ayahna Kumarroy, Madeleine Ledespencer, Maegdlyn Morris, Sarah-Jayne Farrer, and Sharmon DavidsonJennings. The collection opens with a substantial contribution from Linda Falorio, best known for The Shadow Tarot, and her emphasis is refreshingly practical. Here are suggestions for meditations and visualisations, the
Next is Emma Doeve, with two articles accompanied by her own original artwork. The first profiles Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington (fast becoming everybody’s favourite Witchy Great Aunt, and currently subject of a Retrospective at Tate Liverpool), in particular her engagement with the occult, and also explores her harrowing experiences of breakdown and incarceration during wartime as a kind of crisis initiation. The second boldly follows on from Carrington’s boast that she “didn’t have time to be anybody’s muse” to look at the struggles women have had to confront and overcome mostly male authority – summed up here by Robert Graves’ infamous “Woman is not a poet; she is either a Muse or she is nothing” – and then to find their own equivalent to the Muse, or Daemon, as Doeve would have it. She gives numerous literary points of departure for further consideration, from Coleridge’s Kubla Khan and Percy Shelley, to Camille Paglia, Sylvia Plath and Emily Brontë – but these issues are just as relevant for the female occultist as for the artist or writer. Details of a more personal nature reveal the dilemma for the potential Babalon of being a woman in what is still largely a man’s world, but also that solidarity with other women may not be that forthcoming: “I would be branded, and often made to feel like an outsider among my own sex” writes Doeve about her formative years, and affirms “mine has been a more organic and solitary journey.” She describes spontaneous Kundalini awakenings, Nature rites, and study of Tantra and Yoga, and “the whole Tradition of Western Sex-Magick: of Crowley, and Evola, and Fortune, and Grosche, Parsons-Cameron, Randolph, Spare” – and, like some of the others here, reveals a special affection for the works of Kenneth Grant!
Diane Narraway presents her own very distinctive answer to the question of the Daemon Lover, examining the figure of the Adversary through the different aspects of Lucifer, Satan or the Christian Devil, the Shaytan Iblis, Baphomet and Pan, and gives an intriguing insight into what it is for a woman to engage with such figures, magickally and erotically. Charlotte Rogers resumes a trajectory taking in animism, Crowley, promiscuity, work in the sex industry, and the use of orgasm “not just for the charging of sigils, but also as a way to aid astral projection.” She describes shifting gender definitions and sexual delineations, working with bodily emissions – then what must have been a series of radical re-evaluations post hepatitis C and menopause – and ends with the declaration that “True Magick does Not Exist Without True Love.” As with Emma Doeve, there is an acknowledgment that to be a Babalon may be a doubly antinomian path, not just at odds with the mainstream but even with other women occultists. Rogers tells us also that her “shift from bisexual to heterosexual to celibate” was actually “considered deviant and close minded” by some of her friends, suggesting that even now, the last taboo of Sexual Empowerment – especially for a woman – may still be the right to say NO. Editor Mishlen Linden provides the lengthiest and most intimate contribution, a substantial excerpt from her personal Magickal Record, which details sexmagickal workings with a new priest-lover that she meets unexpectedly after the death of her Beloved. An account of exploration – with practical hints & tips on asana (both sexual positions and gestures of prayer), cautions about the care of your Priest, and possible attitudes needed (“Those around you will call you a whore, and that is exactly right! But you are a Sacred Whore”), also of discovery of possibilities for further exploration (“There are five chakras above us, and each brings us closer to the stars”) – in the end, it is a revelation of healing through the acts of love and acceptance. On a personal note, I was struck by Linden’s observation in respect of the fact that she is 58, her new lover only 28, her description of the Crone Wisdom, the build-up of power that can come when a woman is no longer subject to the release that comes with the monthly cycle of bleeding: “We simply build the power up inside ourselves... it just grows with age. A younger man, at his peak of sexuality, and an older woman, who has crone wisdom, is arguably the best combination for this work. Of course, it’s not likely you will hear this from a man!” Speaking as a former graduate (the pun is there if you want) of just this form of initiation, let me go on
record as saying that here is the answer to the dilemma posed by Nema, quoted at the beginning of the book: “What happens when Babalon gets old?” Answer: She keeps on growing in power, initiating, loving – Herself, and Others... By contrast, Lou Hotchkiss Knives clearly represents the younger Babalon, writing with an eager enthusiasm as she weaves together a tale of growing pains from the loss of an unplanned-for child and exultation as she struts her ripped-fishnet hour upon the Sex ‘n’ Death ‘n’ Punk Rock stage – delivering a roll-call of Outsider Heroines, from Emily Dickinson and Nell Gwyn to Patti Smith, The Slits, Courtney Love and beyond, all wrapped around enough Cabala, Dee & Kelley, Parsons & Hubbard, and Crowleyan Sex-Magick to keep occultist fanboys happy. My only caution would be a certain unease at the easy juxtaposition of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion with references to “codeine dreams” or “Nancy Spungen’s opiate-fuelled romance” (I defy anyone to find meaningful role-models in Sid & Nancy’s short, squalid, tragic affair and its ghastly end) – but Hotchkiss makes it clear in her arch comparison of Aleister Crowley and Kurt Cobain that she is all too aware that for “a Witch with a foot on the punk rock scene... shadows lurk in every corner.” Some of the contributors even manage to go beyond conventional Thelemic notions of Babalon: Lilith Dorsey, comparing Her with Voodoo’s Erzulie, plus the insight that while possession might be central to Voodoo and Santeria, they tend to keep sex separate from their spiritual practice – Sarah-Jayne Farrer, introducing the little-known spectral seductress of Scottish folklore, the Glaistig (illustrated with a delicate, finely detailed drawing from Lorraine Sherwin) – and Madeleine Lesdespencer, who takes us into the trans-human realm with her sadomasochistic icon of gender as biomechanical process. Her strange angel is fitting accompaniment to the piece that follows, by Maegdlyn Morris, in which she celebrates a “Warrior Babalon” that is an intriguing mix of sexualised Our Lady of Sorrows and Belle Dame sans Merci. With a background in BDSM sex-work, Morris puts forward perhaps one of the most challenging images of all, that of the “Babalon of Severity” and tells us that her “secret weapon is the knowledge of her infinite selves” – a clarion call to women of all ages, places, and times. So: Women of Babalon, a diverse and dynamic collection, but I would have to take issue with the subtitle, A Howling of Women’s Voices – I appreciate there may just be a pun intended here, along Goetic lines – but these assorted women’s voices don’t just howl: they educate and initiate and inspire, they startle and seduce and sing.
May the Women of Babalon be heard far and wide!
Nature Speaks… The Magic of Nature is an oracle card deck based on British wildlife for spiritual and healing guidance. Inspired by the spirit of the Crone, the cards were created with the intention to connect with this magical thread of wisdom and weave it into our everyday lives. As the wheel turns, we find ourselves on the threshold of the coming season…
Summer Opportunity Increase Motivation & Enthusiasm The spirit of Summer represents the high energy of increased opportunities as it pushes you to forge ahead and maximise your full potential. The vitality and feel good factor reflect the radiance of the sun as it lights up your pathway and calls you to celebrate! Experience – You will sense a quickening in your life which compels you to act spontaneously and encourages you to move forward with the least amount of effort. Summer gives you the enthusiasm and motivation to make things happen, to share your talents and turn your dreams into reality. Lesson – Summer teaches you the benefits of working with solar energy to bring increase into your life on every level. By giving your undivided attention to the present moment you stay productive and effective through all your actions. Attend to all you must do and make the most of this time of plenty as Summer confirms you are moving in the right direction. Gift – The spirit of Summer brings enrichment to your life which heralds a blossoming of the soul in nature. It radiates from within, connecting you to an abundant source of positive and vibrant energy. Use it for good and it will return for the greater good in every way. Magical Mantra ~ I embrace golden opportunities I look forward to contributing another oracle reading in the next issue… Until then, enjoy the sunshine! Magical and blessed be,
Sheena Cundy www.craftycrones.org www.sheenacundy.com https://www.facebook.com/sheena.cundy craftycrones.org@gmail.com
The Magic of Nature Oracle Review You know how exciting it is when a parcel arrives in the post containing something you’ve ordered or asked for, but haven’t actually seen except online? You are really looking forward to opening the parcel and seeing if it is as going to be good as you hope, with just that little bit of worry that it won’t live up to your expectations. And you know how great it feels when it is actually better than you expected? That’s how I felt when my copy of The Magic of Nature Oracle arrived last week.
don’t know the Essex countryside and think that Essex is all towns housing London’s overspill, think again. Better yet, go and visit the wilds of Essex for yourself. Avoid Lakeside, the M25 and that long road to Southend and you can find countryside as beautiful as anywhere in England. Although by birth I am a Kentish maid myself, rather than an Essex girl, this is still the kind of countryside I know and love – which is probably one of the reasons this deck resonates with me so much.
I’d been recommended The Magic of Nature Oracle by a witchy friend who knows the divination cards’ creators, Sheena Cundy and Tania Copsey who go by the name of the Crafty Crones, and that was enough to make me want to review it on my blog, but I didn’t really know what it was going to look like.
But now onto the book. As one would expect, it offers suggested interpretations for each of the cards and descriptions of various ways of laying them out, but again I was really pleasantly surprised by the way it is written. It is a down-to-earth, common-sense kind of book – not a book full of New Age woo. Let me quote from the advice on giving a reading: “There is nothing mystical about using the cards and there are no hidden meanings or supernatural forces at work. However, they were written to help others and therein lies the source of their Magic... as a reader you are a facilitator and guide of a natural and creative process. You are helping someone to help themselves. You are not saving any souls...”Just giving common sense advice.
The first thing that made me go “Wow!” was the unusual bag the divination deck comes in. It is made of natural hessian, blanket stitched with purple wool and finished with a lovely big wooden button. It is just so tactile – much more interesting than a printed cardboard box. Presumably it is more environmentally friendly and longer lasting too. Inside the bag is the deck of 39 cards and a good-sized book giving their meanings and ways to use them. I’ll talk about the cards before I talk about the book, because let’s face it, that’s the most important bit. The images primarily depict animals, birds, insects, trees and the seasons with a kind of luminous vibrancy and sense of motion that makes them seem full of life. Each card gives me a sense of the same feeling I get when I am really out in nature, walking through a meadow of spring flowers or catching sight of a robin or a squirrel on my garden fence just before it flies or bounds off again. And this is English nature too, drawn from the woods, fields, skies and waterways of the Essex countryside where Sheena Cundy and Tania Copsey live. If you
The Magic of Nature Oracle, like any oracle set, is a tool to help us see the choices we have, past events that are influencing us and things that have the potential to influence the future. The cards can also be used as an aid to meditation. I love The Magic of Nature Oracle just as much as my witchy friend said I would. If I had to make a suggestion as to how the deck could be improved, it would simply be to add more cards to it. But perhaps one day Sheena and Tania will feel inspired to bring out a Magic of Nature Oracle 2, with more beautiful and inspiring images from the countryside of England.
Lucya Starza
A Recipe for Dragon's Blood Ink: original date in journal 3.14.1992. I am 60 plus years old, and was taught many things by my grandmother. Her path was heredity. She learned so much from her mother and she in turn from her mother. Over the years my grandmother taught me a lot about our family heritage and one of the things we did was make our own paper and ink. We often used onions and dragon's blood to write in our journals or as some would say, "Grimoire". A friend of my grandmother used to ship her the dragon's blood from the Dracaena plant, although I am not sure of which specific plant it came from. Whenever she got the red resin, she would save it in a dark place in the cabinet. We used a shell to grind it to a powder. Then she would then mix it with gum Arabic which she used in paintings as an adhesive as well as an additive to her inks and now I will share what we did years ago. She always did the mixture on the night of the full moon. Make sure you have all ingredients before you begin. You will need Gloves Cheese cloth Ink well bottles about 2" round - make sure you have a snug fit for the cap and the opening is big enough to put your pen into - you can buy these online. We used dark red and green ink wells. Dragons blood resin Alcohol Gum Arabic Optional rose oil Take your dragon blood resin and grind to a powder. Then take your gum arabic and grind to a powder separately. Take your powdered Dragon's blood, and gum Arabic and mix them together. Start small at first. Use 1/4 teaspoon of dragons blood powdered and 1/8 teaspoon of gum arabic powder to start. Gradually add your alcohol to the mixture 1/4 teaspoon at a time. When you think the mixture is a suitable consistency to use as ink, STOP, and pour mixture through your cheese cloth, and then into your ink well bottle, and try it. This often takes practice to get the right consistency. For the alcohol we used pure grain alcohol back in the day, which my grandmother made of course. However you can substitute this alcohol with another. I do remember we added rose oil that we made, that is the only one I have listed in my old journals. My grandmother taught me to use this ink sparingly. We used it for luck, protection symbols for our talismans, created runic symbols, for packs, staffs, writing in our journals, and used as a liquid incense. A little goes a long way. We were not big on spells per se but I am sure you can use it for that too. I would love to know how it works for those that try this recipe. Blessed be.
Brenda R. Johnson (Lady MoonWolfe.)
The Use of Scent in Magic Of our senses, that of smell is the most overlooked. Perhaps it's just our modern sensibilities that cause public denial that anything or anyone has an odor, but we have learned to remain silent in a way that separates us from even the very perception of it. It is important to remember, however, that our sense of smell is one of our strongest links to memory. The faintest scent can trigger a sudden feeling, a rush of memories, recalling strong emotions, including both the big and little moments from the past. What better asset can we have for magic? Through it, we can cast stronger spells, possess greater focus, and reach deeper connections. Let's dig into our neglected sense for the potential within. For Casting Spells Just like your personal perfume that shows something special about you and which lingers long after you have left the room, a signature scent for spellwork can portray a specific mood without a word and maintain that association for years after. Once you have chosen a scent that seems to echo your feelings about magic, use it only for this purpose. Soon it will infuse your workroom, your altar, your ritual garb, and your mind to the point that one breath and you're transported to that timeless space. For the Seasons Sabbat incense should not only be feeling that its smell evokes. Choose remind you strongly of the season. If you choose scents which have personal understand. Childhood summers spent your Midsummer formulas include about bright, icy days than evenings with forgo the standard cozy nutmeg and instead.
appropriate in association but also in the recipes that include ingredients that perform sabbat rituals alone you can meaning to you, even if no one else would on the farm, for example, could mean alfalfa. Perhaps winter for you is more mulled cider and cookies. If so you can ginger opting for minty, bracing scents
For Different Kinds of Workings You may wish to uncork a specially blended scent just for prosperity spells, or to waft a unique healing incense to set the mood before you begin. Formularies are filled with recipes for these occasions, but how many of us make use of them every time we cast? Keep a set of mixtures on hand so they're ready when you are. Before long, they'll easily create the atmosphere in which that singular piece of magic may thrive. This is especially true of the kinds of work with which we struggle. For example, if you have a hard time getting results from love spells, adding a repeated and significant action can really help. Smelling it will bring you into focus with the task at hand while also reminding you of previous successes. For the Coven The introduction of a scent can set the tone for discussion within a study group or lessons with students. For an initiated coven, however, you could go a step further and make your scent to express its particular style. Coven leaders should always be aware of methods which bring unity, and a specially blended scent - especially if the recipe is kept secret from all but its members can be a silent advocate for a tightly knit group. Methods for Instilling Scent in your Practice So how do we bring in all these scents? The obvious choice is incense, but you can go so much further than that. Look for natural and fresh sources such as herbs,
flowers, and woods. Decorate your space with living plants. Arrange vases with cut wildflowers, ferns, or aromatic boughs like pine and juniper. Strew fresh herbs or flower petals around your ritual space and across your altar. Consider, also, creating natural potpourri, hot-pots, sachets, pomanders, tinctures for spraying throughout the room, and oils for diffusers. Each of these lends a different strength so experimentation is key. Because they have their own potential, you might like to arrange your scents strategically throughout your space. Keep stronger scents at the edges of your space and milder ones close to its center, allowing room for each of them to exist independently. Layer spicy, sweet, woody, and herbaceous scents to create a unique blend that will change as people move the air around. Once you start applying scent to your practice, you will quickly discover many ways to play with it. Such an addition brings a new dimension to your practice and can elevate spell-work, ritual, and a magical community to a higher place. Form memories, recall old ones, inspire and ignite your work through the power of scent. Molly McHenry
MEMBERSHIP OF THE DOLMEN GROVE The Dolmen Grove offers a lifetime membership, which simply means a one-off payment of ÂŁ20 for those who wish to embrace and enjoy the freedom, Clanship and the right to practice their own spiritual path within the Grove family. Full Members of the Grove will enjoy reduced rates for events such as Gatherings like the Beltane Spirit of Rebirth and Tribal Dreams, and to many other events when stated. A Full member will receive a Membership Card and a unique Membership Number that identifies who they are when wishing to attend Member only Ceremonies and other Dolmen Grove Events. The Dolmen Grove does not have a hierarchy, as we do not believe that people need titles or labels to follow a spiritual path; instead the spiritual ethos of the Grove is facilitated by a Round Table, a circle of people from all walks of life. For further information on the Dolmen Grove and becoming a member please send an email to dolmengrove@dolmengrove.co.uk. Also find us on faceboook - thedolmengrove and thedolmengrovemagazine
Gig guide Saturday 30th May 2015 - The Feathers hotel Coleford Gloucestershire Myths and legends tour Friday 05th June 2015 - Rising sun Arts centre Reading Myths and legends end of tour Friday 19th June 2015 - 3 wishes Faery Fest Cornwall Saturday 04th July 2015 - St Joseph’s School fete Bracknell Saturday 11th July 2015 - Wokingham town centre Saturday 08th Aug 2015 - Followers of the old religion festival Bishop’s Stortford Saturday 15th Aug 2015 - Artemis Gathering 2015 Oxfordshire Friday 28th -31st Aug 2015 - Tribal dreams Weymouth http://www.sprigganmist.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spriggan-Mist/128208557193962?fref=ts
Weymouth is the Dolmen Groves oldest and most established Moot which these days takes place on 2nd Wed of every month at the Old Town Hall, High West Street, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8JH. 7.30pm onwards. June Moot has been cancelled due to unforeseeable circumstances July Moot features a talk by Alan Pindar on Dorset Standing Stones. August Moot will be a picnic and a visit to Stone Circles in and around Abbotsbury Weymouth moot hosts are Sarah & Charlie Penfold who ensure that everyone is kept informed of up and coming events on the Weymouth Moot Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/435089566582005/
Dolmen Grove Hampshire Moot meet on the first monday of each month at the Heathfield Arms,116 Blackbrook road,Fareham,Hants. PO15 5BZ. This is a large moot that has a great core of attendees, who share the Ethos of the Dolmen Grove and bring a diverse and interesting range of knowledge from various paths, along with love and friendship. Hampshire moot hosts are Duncan and Angie Wilde, who can be contacted via Facebook- Dolmen Grove Hampshire Moot. https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.dolmengrovehampshiremoot/?ref=ts&fref=ts
Poole Moot meet every Third Tuesday of the month at The Kings Head, High Street, Poole, Dorset. BH15 1BP Tel. 0871 951 1000. It is a smaller friendly moot that hold talks on a variety of subjects and arrange local Ceremony's to sacred sites around Poole to celebrate the Wheel of the Year. June Moot – A talk by Diane Narraway July/August - tbc Poole Moot hosts are CarlTrimmer and Paula Willcocks who can be contacted either via the Poole Moot Facebook page or Telephone 07758 329804 https://www.facebook.com/groups/285539554914086/?fref=ts
Dolmen Grove Essex Moot meet once a month on Sunday afternoons usually from 2pm to 5pm at The Scout Hut in Grays, Essex. The moot is run as a collaboration of its members, with all members playing an active role in the success of the moot. June Moot is a planning moot where summer events will be established. Essex moot hosts are KT and Toni Glitz and moot dates are agreed on at the end of each moot and published as an event on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/dolmengroveessexmoot
The Dolmen Grove Cornwall Moot meet on the first Wednesday of every month at The Polgooth Inn, Polgooth, St.Austell PL26 7DA from 7.30pm onwards. All spiritual paths are welcome to enjoy talks and workshops on a variety of interesting subjects as well as pagan path outings to ancient sites in Cornwall. June moot is an outing to the hurlers and trethevy quoit with picnic after July/August - tbc Cornwall Moot is hosted by Karen & Dave cooper who can be contacted via Dolmen Grove Cornwall Moot Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/460165050682366/?fref=ts
The Dolmen Grove Portland Moot meet up on the last Wednesday of every month at the George Inn, 133 Reforne, Portland, Dorset DT5 2AP from 7.30 pm onwards . They are a small but friendly group who welcome all spiritual paths and often gain knowledge from each other. June Moot - Diane Narraway will be doing a talk on Soul senses. Portland Moot hosts are Beth Irving & Nemmius Teach and all information can be contacted via their Dolmen Grove Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/148075512033935/?fref=ts
Dolmen Grove Berkshire moot meet on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at The Boot Public House, Park Road, Bracknell RG12 2LU. Moot hosts are Maxine Cilia( tel:07916173517 )and Baz Cilia (tel:07771896677) who can be contacted by phone or via their Dolmen Grove facebook page for details. All moots hold a raffle in aid of the Dolmen Grove Landfund where prizes are donated by members and all Moot hosts can be contacted by those interested in attending or offering talks/workshops.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE DOLMEN GROVE Full Members of the Dolmen Grove enjoy reduced rates for all the events and gatherings that we host throughout the year. A Full member receives a Membership Card with a unique Membership Number that identifies who they are when wishing to attend Member only Ceremonies and other Dolmen Grove Events. For further information on the Dolmen Grove and becoming a member please send an email to membership@dolmengrove.co.uk. Also find us on faceboook - thedolmengrove and thedolmengrovemagazine
Metaphysical and Healing Properties of Crystals Dragonstone/Septaria
Dragonstone or Septaria as it is also known is a stone of shamanic influences and high vibrational Earth energies. Legend says that this stone got its name when the last of the dragons died out and fell to the bottom of the sea, their bodies fossilized and all that remains of them now are the petrified remnants of their scales and when you look at the stone, each piece very different from the next, so you can understand how the name Dragonstone came to be; there is a striking resemblance to the scales of a dragon.
Dragonstone is a combination of the minerals, Calcite, Aragonite, Chalcedony and Limestone, formed between 50 and 70 million years ago, chemically bonded from volcanic eruptions, sea sediment and water making it a strong elemental stone with each mineral exemplifying the properties of the one stone. Having high vibrational energies, Dragonstone is an excellent stone to use when you feel the need for grounding and deep relaxation; healers use these vibrational energies to allow them to gain a deeper understanding of their client’s mental and physical ailments as well as looking for possible disease. When used in conjunction with meditation it will promote self-healing and deep relaxation and for those with experience it can be further utilised for past-life regression and to obtain answers. The vibrational energies of Dragonstone bring groups of people closer together, as it develops a closeness and strengthens bonds, so use Dragonstone next time you are in a drumming circle or are participating in a Reiki share.
Healing Properties
Metaphysical Properties
Shamanic Influences Earth grounding energies Enhances psychic abilities Balance & grounding Past-life memory recall Intuitive Guidance Centering Calming Meditation Helps healers gain deeper insight
All Chakras Broken bone Teeth Muscular ailments Relaxation Promotes flexibility Self-healing Boosts confidence Expands communication Relaxation & tolerance
Diary of the Hedgewitch The fruits of the harvest germinate afresh and longingly ache for the consummation of Love, for union, and the creation that springs forth from their marriage.
The pulsating vitality of Beltane gushed forth on a blustery gale, surging sap up the stems of vegetation hurriedly unfurling, pumping the blood through throbbing veins, and peeling back with barely contained urgency the petals of delicate pink-white apple-blossom that lay voluptuously open to the ravaging wind and insects craving sweet nectar. Bluebells dripping with the morning dew, shine vividly, sprawling over woodland floor; gentle pink Lady’s Bonnet peeks from the long grass, and armies of Meadow Dandelions leer in brazen yellow. From the hedgerows Cow Parsley flutters its lacy umbrella of white, Campion reveals its hot pink blooms and graceful white stitchwort steals glances amongst the bristly stems of goose grass and yellow Archangel. White Strawberry flowers beam radiant, already bearing their fruit, Arum Lily opens its yoni-like pale green hood and thrusts up its purple phallus flower, in the fertility dance and climaxing of spring. The Horse Chestnut spreads wide its palm-like leaves and flickers open its white candles, avalanches of Blackthorn blossoms tumble, whilst the May blossom’s late this year, and other trees sway with new tender green leaves freshly unfurled into becoming from buds that pounded with possibilities. The Solar yellow of the primroses and daffodils that shone as the Sun was still newly awakening, have given way mostly to “virginal” white that brims with every colour, as the Sun’s strength grows. But on a precipice they dance, offering themselves up to the Sun and the wind and the winged pollinators; in May Jack Frost could still come, grasping with icy fingers, leaving frozen brown scorches like bruises on delicate blooms. The newborn breath of spring brought the swallows, fledged the young, and the heat of the maturing Sun urged green things into flowering and birth, and the world vibrates with its yearning.
And as the blossoms, like chalices, lift themselves up, opening to the Sun, they offer themselves, not just to the Light and heat of the Sun, and the breath of the wind, but to the world of insects, in a divine marriage where the kingdom of animal and the kingdom of plant join in conjugation, and for a moment, blend into an in-between kingdom. The banqueting table of the Cow Parsley and Umberliferae flowers, entice all that desire to come and feast, whilst others waft their fragrance to beguile, and the butterfly, as an airborne flower, comes to alight on their soft petals, dipping long proboscis into the flower’s deep corolla tubes, sipping sweet nectar, whilst the moth will sip while on the wing, hovering. As the plant blossoms, with its blooming, it enters the world of light and fire as it almost dissolves out of the earthly realm, the petals becoming immaterial, as fire is immaterial, its climaxing intense as fire burns with intensity; the plant leaves the terrestrial world to unite with the insects in a burnished world ablaze with light, open to the Sun. The bees, children of the Sun, messengers of the divine, the tears of Ra, their hum resonating and vibrating the world into existence, come. So strongly associated with the Sun and the heart/love, the bee sips from the heart of the flower. The worker bees that make the honey take 21 days to develop, the same amount of time that the Sun takes to revolve once upon its axis. The honey is light from the Sun transformed from nectar to alchemical golden sweetness, the ripening of the Sun’s light, maturing over time as the bee gathers the nectar from the many flowers to store in their honeycomb cells. As we gather from our flowers of experience, eventually through our work we bear wisdom and the light of higher consciousness, spiritual honey, through the divine union of Love as the blossom of Venus, of Love and Light-bearing, shudders in the summer breeze, enticing the wandering bee to linger and sip from its heart, there is a fertilisation.
The community of the beehive is borne by the Love that is philia, it is an expression of Love spun by community and loyalty, and serves the common good, as we can aid the community of human consciousness with our sharing of our individual virtues and understandings. It is not the wild love of heady erotic lust, but nears the agape Love, the lust for union and light of the divine. The Latin name for bees is Melissa, and in ancient Greece melissae were the priestesses of the Mother Goddess. According to one myth, an aged priestess of Demeter called Melissa, who by remaining loyal to her goddess, was torn to pieces. Demeter caused bees to be born from Melissa’s dead body, releasing a swarm onto her murderers. Melissa and the Melissae, were said to draw souls down to be born and the cluster of stars known as The Beehive in the constellation of Cancer in the highest point of the Sun’s orbit, is known as the Gate of Men, where souls become ready to be born into earthy existence. Within the beehive of the bees they make their honeycomb cells to rear the larvae and store their honey and pollen, these wonderful hexagonal cells that fit together with no empty spaces in between. From the 6 sided hexagon is formed the hexagram, and the combining of opposites (eg. conjoining of male and female; it is made up of the Fire and Water triangles intersecting which then also make the Air and Earth triangles), a symbol of creation and generation and divine union. I love also that the bees belong to the Hymenoptera (membrane
wing) order of insects, a hymen being a veil and also as we know the membrane on female sexual organs that becomes pierced at first intercourse, and as I understand it, this is a symbol of not only creation but of the creative Will, free and unbound, thrusting into the hidden world, to pollinate. I love to sit on a sunny day and close my eyes and listen to these creatures as they hum, and in their humming the air vibrates resonance, sound creating the world, as within us they bring down souls to be born in the form of thoughts, feeling, and imagination, uniting, pollinating, so that fresh new creations are enkindled. I write this around Beltane, the time of heightened creativity as the world is in a dizzying state of becoming and begetting and the lust for union on all levels, the fertile spark of Love, prevails. We may experience this in the surging of energy, the lightning of mood, a desire to create and beget; all is in a state of fresh becoming, not as helpless newborns but as active beings wilfully unfurling into a realisation. We may see the wonder in a flower and awe in the Life of the bee, but to see the natural world as a mirror of what we are or could be is perhaps not a full reflection, it is a looking backwards to our past. We have the freedom of individuality and imagination to be all the things of nature, the bee’s ability to make liquid gold from experience, the endurance and strength of a bull, the fearlessness and soaring elevation of the eagle….as well as the savage killing lust and rape of other creatures. The precious thing about us is our individuality, and our freedom from which is borne the blossom of responsibility, we are physically tied, as such, for our physical survival, to the changing seasons and the cycles of the rains, and we have our own cycles, the pulsing of blood, the breathing of air, the monthly lunar shedding of female blood. And we have the responsibility of freedom as individuals to discover and unfurl our potentials, as the leaf unfurls from all the quivering possibilities held within its bud, but wilfully; and as the bee hive works for the greater good, we collect our nectar and pollen from our experience and understandings, and make alchemical golden honey, sharing its sweetness, to create ever more from the experiences of what we have gathered, as a being, as a human, and as an individual. As we approach the blazing heat of the summer Sun, our own fires can burn with intensity, flaring, like a flame, grasping beyond the material world.
Rachael Moss
June Sowing/Planting Calendar Sun
Mon 1
Tues 2
Weds 3
Thurs 4
Fri 5
11
12
Sat 6
from 3pm
4pm 7
8
9pm
9
10
13 from 2pm
x allday P 5am
4pm 14
15
16
21
22
23
2pm
1am
17
18
19
20
24
25
26
27
8pm from 1pm
A 5pm 28
29
11am
5pm
30
July Sowing/Planting Calendar Sun
Mon
Tues
Weds 1
Thurs 2
Fri 3
Sat 4 from 10am
7am 5
6
7
8
2am 9
10
11 from 1pm
x all day P 7pm 12
8pm 13
14
1am
15
16
17
18
25
from 10am
4am 19
20
21
26
27
A 11am 28
1am 22
23
24
29
30
31
8pm
4am
from 5pm
6pm Key to Astrological Symbols Capricorn
11am
Cancer
Dark Moon
A P
Aquarius
Leo
1st quarter
Apogee Perigee North (ascending) node
Pisces
Virgo
Full Moon
South (descending) node
Aries
Libra
3rd quarter
Taurus
Scorpio
Highest Moon
Gemini
Sagittarius
Lowest Moon
Element Symbols Earth Air Fire
x
Crops to Sow in July Root/Earth Hamburg Parsley Radish Turnip
Flower/Air Broccoli Flowers
Leaf/Water Chard Florence Fennel Kohl Rabi Lettuce
No sowing
Parsley Salad Spinach
Water
Fruit/Fire Peas Runner Beans
When the Ex’s been hexed: Elf and Safety in the Face of Psychic Attacks By Lou Hotchkiss Knives “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24–29) Have you ever noticed? Individuals who have never been on the receiving end of a psychic attack tend to regard the phenomena, at best, as a bit of an urban myth, or as the kind of disgusting thing that only happens to other people, like scabies or genital herpes. “We’re good pagans, we don’t do things like that in our circles,” they’ll say, wagging their fingers. “We abide by the Three-Fold Law, what goes around comes around…” “Yeah, some people may stoop so low, but not us. Irresponsible teens who ‘dabble’, you know, or deluded egotists, or people with no ethics, or Satanists… Modern pagans don’t hex.” As a result, if you happen to suspect you’ve been subjected to foul play, your friends’ reaction might seem inconsiderately dismissive at first. “Hey dude, how is it going?” “Well… not great. I think I’m under psychic attack” “No way mate. Naaaaah. Wait a minute, are you suuuuure that it’s not all in your head?” And this is where things can become confusing. What does, indeed, constitute evidence of psychic attack? How much of the phenomena we are experiencing does stem from our own paranoia? Can recurrent nightmares count as a sure sign that one is being astrally assaulted? What about sustained bouts of bad luck, exhaustion, depression, illness, financial troubles? Or unexplained bruises, scratches or marks appearing
on the body overnight? Even when we swear blind that something is appearing to us in the darkness of our bedroom, something alien, ugly and threatening, are we not just being stressed out, over-reacting, or deluding ourselves? Surely, we tell ourselves, we can’t be that important, or vindictive, for someone to go through the whole pain of hexing us, humble, Primarni-loving, smalltown witches that we are? … “Ultimately, the only person who can tell you if you are actually being attacked is yourself”, I was once told by author and Trident Witchcraft practitioner Mark AllanSmith, whom I queried on the matter. “Friends are often dismissive because they don’t wish you to worry unnecessarily, but ultimately the answer lies with you. Only you know what is normal and abnormal in terms of occurrences. Examine carefully the situation, don’t get emotive; keep a diary of your moods and of the manifestations, look for recurrent symbols in your dreams, use your divination skills, then things will start becoming clearer.” We would do well to remember that not all hexes are intentional. Some people’s negative emotions can be so overpowering that they start manifesting as thought forms and attack a target without the upset party having even entertained the thought of resorting to actual baneful magick. An overstressed and bullying linemanager doesn’t have to be a pagan to ruin the morale of his co-workers and drive them to depression, alcoholism or worse. This said, we also know that malefica, the kind that involves slugs and snails and yucky body fluids, does and has always existed. Therefore, there is no point pretending that people who are versed in the magickal arts will not be tempted to give it a go once in a while when faced with a personal crisis. Hurt, jealousy and lust are all very powerful motivators.
Hell hath no fury like a witch scorned!
The effects of psychic attacks vary according to the attacker’s conscious intent or lack thereof, their degree of emotional involvement, of magickal expertise and their past experience in the matter. Some will lash out at your nearest and dearest, your partner or your children; some will undermine your health, your mental state, or stifle your creativity. Some will manage to ruin your nights by turning firm to flaccid or by giving you a few blindingly violent nightmares. Finally, a tiny minority (the very pissed off, or those who have no qualms in spilling the blood of the family hamster to achieve their desired outcome) will get the big guns out and summon all kinds of sinister entities from all corners of the astral to effectively ruin your life. So what should our response be? Well, first we need to attempt to identify our culprit. People who resort to malefica often do so under pressure of violent emotions. They feel so desperate to get their own back and show you exactly how powerful they are that they will not care to cover their tracks when hexing you. Consequently, their face might appear in flashes in the middle of nightmares, or specific symbols or power animals may turn up in your dreams and meditations, thus allowing you to get a clearer idea about the identity of your enemy. This said, the more dangerous and calculating attackers will proceed like snipers, taking all the necessary precautions to conceal their identity. When faced with those, remember that all attacks, no matter how carefully planned, will leave an energetic trail linking you to your foe. Your job will be to find and follow this trail back to its source: this can be achieved through astral vision, divination, trance induction and careful cross-referencing of your life’s past events. Keep in mind that a sniper-type psychic attack may well have been formulated in order to blind you to the real provenance of your sorrows. If you think this may well be the case, having a more experienced magickal partner help you track down your enemy could prove invaluable, as their objectivity and perceptive abilities will not have been affected by the spell cast against you. It is always distressing to realise that someone in your immediate surroundings has been consciously plotting to make your life difficult. However, as tempting as a full-blown retaliation may feel, it is generally wiser to simply return negative energy to its source or to bind your enemy to prevent further shenanigans. For binding operations, the use of poppets is a classic. Return-spells may involve magically charged mirrors or
sigils placed on the passage or in the vicinity of your attacker. If you simply wish to neutralise your enemy's spell, a good tried and tested trick is to find a photograph of your nemesis (there's bound to be be a couple knocking about on Facebook...), ritually insert it in a bottle halffilled with water, all the while visualising your desired outcome. Seal the bottle in the name of your patron deity, then place it in the freezer and purposely forget about it. As the water turns to ice around the photo of your foe, the energy of their hex will stop flowing, thus preventing them from harming you. For the more creative and less squirmish amongst you, why not try making a “B/witch-jar”? This spell alone, whilst a little bit... eyebrow-raising, should be enough to cause your attacker to feel the full force of their own hex and convince them to turn their attentions elsewhere. Select an old jar and ritually fill it with a selection of offensive items, concentrating on your intent ( fillers can include rusty nails, barbed wire, old shrapnel from WW1, broken glass, graveyard dust… you get the picture). After this, top the jar to the brim with bodily fluids (Not terribly glamorous, I know). Seal, bless and consecrate the jar in the name of your chosen deity, give thanks, then put it away somewhere where it is not likely to attract much attention or be knocked down (ouch!). Then relax, allow yourself to forget about it and leave the magick to operate. Psychic attacks are no laughing matter, but thankfully they are quite rare, so do not succumb to paranoia and remember that you are not defenceless against them. There may well be some readers who will object to this article on grounds that talking about psychic attacks gives paganism a bad name, but let us not forget that one of the most important and oftneglected aspects of magickal practice is the daily build-up of personal psychic defences, as well as the development of skills required to defend oneself against potential attack. Magick demands that we embrace personal responsibility, and that includes responsibility for our own safety. We are witches, and as good-natured as we are, we do not take any nonsense. In the end, if our Gods wanted us to systematically turn the other cheek, we would choose coffee mornings with digestives over song, mead and roaring fires.
Forewarned is forearmed, as they say!
From fierce Dinosaurs to Toothless the cuddly Night Fury, the Dragon has been a part of our culture for as long as we can remember. It has appealed to us in the media, both adult horror and children’s fantasy. Its symbolism is as rife through royalty as it is through ritual magick and it has fuelled tales of heroes and villains alike. So what is it about the Dragon that has made it such a common feature in worldwide cultures? Scott Irvine takes a look at the mythical beast that has captured our hearts and imaginations for so long…
The Dragon
I read somewhere that the dragon was a symbol of the ‘old religion’ and it got me thinking that this creature might be a hidden representation of the old traditions! The word dragon comes from the Greek word ‘derkein’ which means ‘seeing’. The Greek dragon was a positive creature that protected the earth. It represented wisdom and was often found guarding sacred temples throughout the western world. In China the dragon was a symbol of supernatural powers. It represented the fertility cycles of the weather, in particular the rain bearing force of thunder. Chinese dragons were seen as water spirits that reflects the nature of both the 4 directions and the seasons. The Blue Dragon is from the East and rules the spring. 2 dragons reside in the South; the Red Dragon that rules most of the summer except for the last month when the Yellow Dragon takes over. The White Dragon in the West rules the autumn and the Black Dragon reigns over the winter from the North. Chinese dragons are also grouped into 5 separate realms; Imperial, Celestial, Spiritual, Earthly and Subterranean.
For the Babylonians the dragon represented the struggle between opposing forces like good and evil, light and dark etc. They adopted the dragon symbol from the Egyptian crocodile Draco, the fat of which anointed the Pharaohs under the authority of the Royal Court of the Dragon. To the Babylonians the dragon represented secret knowledge and a symbol of authority. The Celtic Dragon represented the Winter Queen of the Underworld Cailleach who held power of the winter over the lamb of Brigit, the goddess of the spring. The Sea Dragon was a guardian of the Celtic lakes and portals into the Otherworld. The Druids combined the powers of the snake and the eagle as a serpent with wings; as a symbol of their sovereignty. They used herbs that grew on scorched ground where a dragon had landed to heal the sick and in fertility rites to bless the tribe and the land.
There are 13 mentions of a dragon in the Bible, all conveying the idea of the Devil and something that must be subdued and destroyed; something to fear! The Bible tells us that the paradise of Eden was destroyed by the revealing of the Knowledge of Good and Evil by the Red Dragon. He changed all things by illuminating the world with selfawareness. Probably the most powerful message to come out of the Bible is found in Revelations and is all about a dragon. Revelations 12-13. In the heavens 2 signs were seen, the first a pregnant woman bathed in the radiance of the Sun with the Moon at her feet and wearing a crown of 12 Stars on her head. The second sign was a fiery coloured dragon with 7 crowned heads and 10 horns dragging a third of all the stars of heaven with its tail as it thundered towards the earth to stand before the woman as she gave birth. Yahweh whisked the newborn baby away from the dragon just in time and guided the scared woman to flee. Then a war broke out in heaven as Michael and his angels fought the dragon. Both Michael and the dragon fell to the earth where the dragon revealed his true self as Lucifer - the Beast would know his congregation. The dragon went in search for the mother and found her hiding in the wilderness. He disgorged a river to drown the woman but the earth opened up swallowing the torrent before it could reach her. The dragon took his anger out on humanity by summoning a 7 headed Beast, each head bearing a blasphemous name, with 10 crowned horns from out of the sea. The Beast was like a leopard with the feet of a bear and a lion’s mouth and had authority over humanity given by the dragon. Humanity worshipped the Beast and they loved the dragon for giving them the Beast. Then another Beast came out of the earth with 2 horns like a lamb but it spoke with the authority of the first Beast. The second Beast would know his congregation by his mark on their right hand or on their forehead. The number of this Beast is 666.
Christianity had changed the dragon from a positive force into a negative one, a force that must be slain. It reminds me of the story of St. George and the Dragon where the Saint is Christianity and the Dragon is Paganism who, to the church represented chaos, unbelief and evil. It is about the slaying of monsters; the slaying of a perceived evil and dark thing and most of all, the slaying of opposition to the church. To complicate matters Psychologists like Jung convinced the Victorian world that it is the dragon that binds the soul with the Ego. Our true self has been captured in a dragon cage of our own making hindering our progression through the journey towards enlightenment. For Jung, the dragon not only represented evil but it also reflected the nature of the mother figure; make of that what you will. Scott Irvine
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