Archive for Devotion

The Suns Zenith – The Light In The Dark

Posted in Occultism, Paganism, Primal Craft, The Path of Flames with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 29, 2023 by Sypheara

A somewhat belated happy summer solstice to devotees and readers of the blog. It has been very productive over here – I have been taking people through working material, and going over what they have produced has been a lot of fun. Coincidentally, it has also at times been rather involved! It is good to know that things are on track – plenty of internal material has been produced which will stand future initiates in good stead. When contrasted with the additional material being released by the mother temple on August 13th (as highlighted in the previous entry), I am confident the corpus will be of sufficient basis for the later work coming down the line. The future for the current is rather exciting, and for once I can say such a thing without a hint of my characteristic sarcasm.

Outside of the above work, it was good to get back to doing some of my own, more personal stuff. Around the solstice, I finally got the time to venture down back into the woods, and the forest temple space that was consecrated last year. With having been so focused on teaching others, I felt I had somewhat neglected my own personal connection to the Gods of the current. This is something I wanted to address.

The walk down to the outside space can always be a little ‘interesting’ – at that time of night, in the isolation, curious deer etc will happily follow you through the undergrowth to see what you are up to. This night however, was a bit different – the woods themselves didn’t feel particularly welcoming – almost on the edge of anger. It wasn’t directed at me – but the atmosphere felt thicker. It felt almost like it possessed an aggressive vibrancy – potent, nature energy that edged onto an almost predatory feel. This put me a little on edge – something I’m not used to experiencing when going to do workings out there. Nevertheless, I persisted; there was work to get done.

However, I needn’t have worried so much. When I arrived at the location, it was positively brimming with power, feeling like it was almost begging to be worked with. The working itself was rather short, and sweet. First, fresh spring water was poured over the small cairn built into a tree hollow out of sight from most casual visitors. This would help acknowledge the genius locii and gods of the space before anything active was worked.

Bats in flight, Ann Froschauer

With the offerings given, the circle was then opened ceremonially and properly ensorcelled. Belial was then called to the circles edge. Something that always strikes me on reflection, is just how quickly Belial comes to the call in the natural environment. This can be rather on the nose, when he specifically choses to not be very subtle about things. The temperature noticeably changed immediately after giving the call, and the whole working space becoming slightly cooler. Bats swirled around and overhead the circle, clicking audibly. Such responses are always welcome when doing evocations, as they are forms of physical manifestation which proves without doubt the operation has been a success. In many cases, it also heralds a very physical appearance by the god or spirit in question. The energy intensified, becoming thick and heavy – this however was a very welcoming energy, feeling like I had indeed returned home in many ways. It felt like being wrapped in a cloak of purest velvet night, an incredibly comforting feeling given what I had worked through to get there that night.

From here, devotional was carried out – the use of song is something I have grown to appreciate within the last few months especially. It is a good way of building relationship with the gods and spirits, and helps exercise both spiritual, mental and physical faculties which are important to ritual work and thus the theurgic evolution. Working with dedicants and initiates has also taught me how many people struggle with this aspect of our practice – almost as if they’ve been encouraged to lose their own voice by others around them, directly or indirectly. This is from an occult perspective as well as a psychological one, is revealed as something simple when analysed at any deep level – a theft of power. Being able to project our voice, should be a very natural thing – after all it is a tool given to us in order for us to work with the gods and spirits – to enjoy and celebrate our incarnate existence. It wasn’t until I started working with others closely did I realise where I was on my own journey. I didn’t even think that this could have also applied to me before I started reconnecting with the arte magickal. On reflection, it very much did. It is something I had to painfully pull out of myself. Discovering this, I felt rather naïve – a failure of introspection up to this point perhaps – but also proud of how far I’ve come and that I can help others in this fashion.

I sat there enjoying the power that flowed into and around the circle. It seemed to rotate calmly around the circles edge, like a mini, but placid, vortex. This was in contrast with some of the more fearsome evocations I have performed. For those who have not yet had the pleasure to experience such a type of evocation of one of the witch gods – the feeling can be only be described as total love and acceptance. A feeling that you are tuned back into the very real world – the one which one was born into – seeing it again with fresh eyes. I feel massively privileged every time I am able to experience this with them.

It made me think back to the element and concept of transgression within our craft. By going into the wilds, to practice connection with the primal gods, we turn away from the actual illusion we are placed under on a daily basis. We walk through a very literal veil to reconnect with what lives outside of us. By doing something we are told is somehow wrong, we are able to break through systematic layers of control and obtain freedom even in a time when such a thing is in scant supply.

As I work more with others, and see the struggle they go through to break free of social programming, I finally begin to actually see the level of control placed upon people. At an individual as well as collective level. This doesn’t always come from the usual sources – in recent correspondences with another devotee, I laid bare how sometimes such attempts for control (at an overt, or subvert level) can come from those who should have a better understanding. This runs the gamut of wider society to those who should know us best. Those unlikely places of pressure could come from those supposedly enlightened communities we may find ourselves participating in. It can even go as far as those who are even supposedly close family, lovers or friends. Often it is unconscious – the people in question dealing with their own issues but projecting outward the consequences of such onto us.

When faced with such, the only real way to deal with it is to double down. The more years I work within the Primal Current, the less, and less I feel the need for any external validation – as said in many recent blog posts, the work turn inwards to things that can be realised both in my own practice and improving the lives of those around me through the magickal work.

I don’t know quite where this post was going when I started writing it and hope this won’t turn into a ramble. I just had a small compulsion to share some insight gained and reiterated in recent workings. I’m not even sure I have been able to properly convey what is felt into the proper words. But if anything can be taken away from this post, I hope it to simply be – don’t let others take your power from you. Furthermore, that this can come from the unlikeliest of places, and is not always willfully intentioned. This is I feel an aptly timed topic, with the power of summer all around us (at least those of us who live on my somewhat dreary and rainy island which to its credit, is doing its best of late to brighten the mood).

Important note for the above is I don’t mean this from the juvenile ‘no gods, no masters’ perspective of the more dubious of the modern LHP practices. I mean something deeper – to not allow yourself to be cut off from the spiritual well which is innately open to all living creatures. To allow such should be unconscionable to those of us who understand our origins as being that of Hecate, Queen of Hell, Heaven and Earth. This seems a very important thing to reiterate in a time of various types of sociological breakdown across many levels within society.

Things can seem pretty bleak out there right now. Without going further and getting political (which would detract from the actual message of reconnection), it should be obvious to everyone that where we are is not a particularly good place (we can save the disagreements on why to another more suitable time and place). But even so, one can see the light in the darkness if one just takes the time to look – amongst the oak trees, the running water, the power of the wild that vigorously responds to the height of the sun. This is where we should find our solace, and strength to carry on.

I hope this post reaches you all finding you well, and thriving on your work with the Trident gods and spirits. For those who may feel a little disconnected – this is direct to you – remember the gods are eternal and timeless. Take off the pressure from yourself, and instead take the time to breathe. Go light a candle, say a small prayer, or do that walk and take time to enjoy things again as best you can. They will always be there, in the sound of the wind, in the glint of the sunlight, in the subtle glow of the moon, and in the rumbling of the water.

Three Faced Goddess by HeartySpades

⛥

‘For you, Hecate,
We walk those forgotten crossroads,
Hearing you calling us home,
May you show us the way,
In Love and In Honour


For you, Lucifer
We carry the Torches of Love and Compassion,
May you show us the means by which,
To assist and guide others,
In Love and In Honour


For you, Belial,
We sing these praises in the darkest of nights,
May you show us the way to endless joy,
To reclaim our birthright,
In Love and In Honour,


For you Sepheranz,
We keep hope alive in these times of painful transition
May you help us survive,
To thrive and choose true,
In Love and In Honour

,
For you Qayin,
We keep the hidden ways alive,
In veneration of He who blazed the trail,
Setting the example to follow,
In Love and In Honour


In the Name of The Trident,
Let the Way to the New World

Be Opened,
In Revelation’

🔱

~S~

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The Key of Night – Opening the Way of Stellar Fire

Posted in Luciferianism, Necromancy, Occultism, Paganism, Stellar Gnosis, The Path of Flames, The Temple of the Ivory Spider with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 22, 2022 by Sypheara

It has been awhile!! Back end of last month, I finally ended up catching Covid. It gave me a kicking but two and a half weeks later I feel for the most part pretty well recovered. Mentally and spiritually I feel in a good place, and the above notwithstanding, it has been a pretty productive period since the last entry here.

The main working since the previous blog post was a ritual I carried out with the goddess Lilith. Lilith is very misunderstood in the modern occult scene – ironically by the supposed LHP practitioners as much as anyone else. Thus they miss the forest for the trees – focusing on her shallow aspects rather than the transformative power she and her realm, Gamaliel, brings.

Lilith by Anato Finnstark

One of the things Lilith gifted to me, coming up to two years ago now, was her key. This was given with crystal clarity in astral travel. This key, referred to as simply The Key of Night, is a required component in unlocking Lucifers Stellar Gate. At the time, I was not ready to make use of it – the final dragon rite had not been completed and blocked its use in full. As such, there could be no approach to actually unlocking the gate, and thus no need to physically embody this tool.

However with the completion of the last Dragon Rite, it became imminently important that this Key was to be physically created. It would be necessary to properly do this so that it could be used as a tool in the opening of the gate itself, a required step on the theurgic path.

In order to do this, I got myself ahold of an antique skeleton key – one that was quite substantial, and made of iron. This would be a fitting, physical seat for the power to be brought through. From this point, it was therefore all about how to correctly pull through the required essence, and ensoul it into the chosen object. I.e. How to pull that energy from her, permission to do so which she had already granted me, in a way that would make it useful for what was to come. This was eventually accomplished; the final method not being unlike the usual method of these things, but with some needed modifications.

Firstly, the key was adequately cleansed to ensure it was rid of anything that would interfere, as well as being brought correctly into the service of the Arte. Then, the working area was prepared and the circle itself was brought up to full power using the necessary calls. In turn, this preliminary work was followed by focused invocation to possession up to Triformus level.

From here, both Hecate and Lucifer were evoked, in order to properly moderate the influx of energy. This was in turn required to stabilise the focal point that would be opened to call Lilith through. The tool utilised for this was my clear, full length mirror – something I have used the stellar rites here before.

Meanwhile, I burned powerful loose incense on coals in front of the mirror gate as both offering, and to empower this already sanctified tool further. This incense blend is one of my own, a mix of benzoin, myrh, frankincense and various herbs sympathetic herbs. This helped to greatly intensify the coming work.

Key picture by OrianaNiChearnaigh

The mirror, placed within the east, was where Lilith was transvoked. The placement of the mirror in the East of the circle was done on pure intuition – something I have learned to trust on this path. Lilith was then evoked through the mirror, using both call, smoke, and blooded seal – the one that had been originally granted in dream.

With her present, and the initial groundwork contact made, she was invoked into the body. This was done using the key itself. This act was one of the components of the formula as whole, so that when combined with spoken pact, the link would be made in full. The possession that followed was difficult, more taxing, than I expected. Whilst sexual in nature, there was an element of resistance, which had to be overcome on my part. Working in such a way is not what many people envision – sometimes this process can be pure stellar bliss, other times it can be a dark and trying experience. This was the latter – with invasive imagery resplendent, which I realised quickly was a test. It was vital that I pushed through, claimed what was given, and completed the merge in full. Anything else would be to fail in pulling out the required energetic link buried deep within the subtle body. Eventually, much to the amusement of the other party it seemed, everything fell into place. After recovering, in front of the mirror, the key was anointed with the resulting possessed blood, elevated by the energy of the collapsed waveform. Note, those who can read between the lines can guess how else the key was further empowered.

Holding it aloft in both hands, I immediately utilised its form to request from Lucifer the final, inner seal required for opening his stellar gate. This was delivery quickly, and automatic writing used to commit it to the working temple books. Once complete, the key itself was lovingly wrapped up and placed in the northern quarter of the circle. The energies of the self and circle were allowed to stabilise, before being lowered and eventually brought down to baseline with the closing of the rite itself.

With the key empowered, it now falls on me to burn the required dragon seals into prepared pine disks, before completing Lucifers stele itself in the birchwood blocks. Once this is complete, disk, block and key will be utilised to complete the final working in this series. This will make a longer period of working on this specific gate than I could ever have expected – a more complex series of working being sent than I anticipated. With it complete, the road to Belials Stellar Gate will be open. All that is left, is to try and draw this all together. I wanted to do this on Beltane, but with that date being too unrealistic thanks to my illness, I expect the next attempt to be around midsummer.

I am excited to finally be able to tackle this, and feel like I’m making very real progress. I will hopefully have an update re that work around then.

One of the other things I wanted to mention in this post may seem small, in comparison. But it seems an important message to relate. In dream, the other night, Sepheranz came to me and told me something important. This plays into the previous theme above – about creation of working tools and devotional items. She showed me a particular number, and told me to avoid having a slavish devotion to perfection. Upon waking up I pondered what this might mean – personally for my own practice. In some ways, I think it is that sometimes the fear of failing can stop us in some ways tackling stuff we are less confident with – but without doing so, we will never grow and learn. It has certainly made me want to really tackle the burning of these new seals in full, without overly worrying about result. Materials are not impossible to come across and replace anyway. Being afraid of taking considered leaps, in this path, isn’t really an option if you want to succeed in Theurgy.

Reaper by BuraKulker

Recently, the primal craft instagram has recently put out some wonderful images of devotional items created by a dedicated devotee. I’d like to highlight these as well, as the groundwork (by both devotee and Magister of the Mother Temple) has finally been done to enable them to be shared to the wider public. May they serve as an inspiration to other devotees to give things a shot. Whilst the person who created these items is very skilled, the connection forged by working with your own hands is second to none where it can be carried out. My wood blocks look, artistically, as if a child had created them in comparison with this devotees work. But the power that exudes out of those blocks, that is foundation for the temple here, is enormous. Take the leap. Do your best. Enjoy the process, and the great results will inevitably follow. For in that work, there are a lot of great rewards to reap.

I will leave this post here, as it has been difficult to get formulated and out. I hope you all had a wonderful Ostara period, and are looking forward to Beltane which is soon arriving.

With Torch,
With Knife,
With Key,
A Goddess of Hell,
Opens the Gateways of Heaven
For those of Brave Heart,
And Committed Soul
~S~

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Wishing All: A Most Bountiful Samhain

Posted in Occultism, Paganism, The Path of Flames, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2021 by Sypheara

It is that time of year again, arguably the most sacred of cross quarter holidays in our witches calendar. It is a very busy one here – just last night, I was supporting the other half who led the local moot here in performing our first, group ritual since January 2020.

That ritual was a very powerful and emotive one. Seeing people I have been unable to meet up with even for a coffee, like I would in more normal times, was magical enough – when paired with a powerful, evocative rite involving the dead, it was something very special.

Reflecting on that ritual, I thought it would be great to put a post up for our dear devotees, to help with clarification on one of our newer, yearly rites, as well as share a funny little tradition that seems to have started here.

Some spoopy skeletons and stuff, photographer unknown

With that intention lain out, I’ll continue saying last nights ritual had a special poignancy.

It felt like the start of the end for a very bad time in my life. Although I mentioned it in passing in last years post – the death of my father just over a year ago today – was something that I didn’t delve deeply into. That said, it did affect me more deeply than I was willing to admit at the time. The Gods had not lied in their warning of that period… At the time I decided that that to speak on it at any length would be generally unnecessary, unwise, and self indulgent. I still feel that to an extent – there is much I would love to say, to give testimony on, that I simply can’t. What I can say is it will colour my experience of this month for the rest of my life – change is the only constant – and Samhain for me will forever now be attached to that loss.

As such it was a very intense time – much altered dramatically for myself, and the temple, and it was a very real loss that I needed to take time to process. Even with Hecate’s help – in both process and healing – it was very hard to drag myself to the altar in Samhain 2020, and do what needed to be done. Just doing the tearing down and rebuilding of the space felt like swimming through treacle – but is a duty that needed to be done. It was also whilst feeling metaphysically ran over by a train, that I decided to put together a devotional rite for the Trident – taking a leaf out of a dear mentor and guide of mine Sorita D’Este.

I had always been inspired by ‘The Rite of Her Sacred Fires’ which is conducted around Beltane (full moon in May). I wanted something similar that devotees of the Trident could also do, yearly, to both deepen their connection with their gods as well as grow a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood between people in shared sacred space. It seemed just good logical sense.

I am so very glad that I did. Many people took part last year – and shared wonderful testimonials in our Facebook group. It went so well I decided to rerun it this year – and I hope to continue it with peoples support into the year ahead.

Since I am unable to provide advice via facebook (Zuckerberg has decided I am decidedly too spicy to be allowed to post in the month of the Pumpkin Spiced Lattes), I advise anyone who has any questions over the rite to directly message me. Either by email, or by messenger if they require any guidance. The main two questions I have seen posted are to do with the following: timing and hand position, especially during the bow after the Sepheranz devotional piece. The other, often asked question by people who are not in the group is: where do I find the Rite to perform it? I will answer all three succinctly now, in a manner I hope is easy to follow.

The Timing of the Samhain Eves Rite of Trident Devotion

The timing of the Rite is that it should ideally, be performed on the night of the 30th. However there is no strict timing for the rite. Anytime between 29th-30th, before commencement of the night of the 31st, is entirely acceptable. This is a rite for the Devotee – to connect them to the Gods and other devotees around the world. Because the Current is so geographically widespread, it would make no sense for a rite such as this to be set at some strict time.

Like many older witchcraft rites, when things were done when ‘the season was correct’ and things ‘felt right’, so should intuition guide the devotee when to do this ritual, as well as in its performance. You will be connecting to the Gods and other Devotees in Mythic Time at the centre of the Circle. As such, exact timings for this particular rite, do not matter.

The event on facebook is usually therefore set at the start of the 30th Day to reflect this flexibility. Choose what works for you, when you have maximum quiet time to enjoy the ritual.

The Positioning of the Hands in the Sepheranz Devotional

The positioning of the hands in the bow to Sepheranz, is similar to a bow as performed in many schools of Iaido / Aikido. I.e. it is very similar to this video (6:40). I tend to interlace the thumbs for more stability and safety than the example here, but this comes from a martial arts background and is somewhat an irrelevant point for devotional purposes. The reason for these hand movements are entirely symbolic – feel free to adapt them to what works for you. I use the ones as lain out because, they are relatively simple once you have the hang of them. I did not want overly complex, yoga like components in the rite, but something simple to reaffirm the spoken words. If anyone has issues, feel free to message me as above and ill explain as best as I can.

Acquiring the Ritual Text

I have shared many documents in the last few years of this blog. So why not this ritual? This is mainly because I want it to be for active devotees of the current, who are interacting on a regular basis. However, those who read the comments on the blog will know I am more than happy to provide the text to anyone who wishes to perform it on an individual basis – the very act of reaching out to me means a lot in this case. If you are reading this, and are a devotee not in the social media group who wants to perform the rite, please email me by midnight tonight and ill make sure you have what you need.

I hope this has helped anyone who might be struggling and needing some clarification. I look forward to your experiences shared in the group and I’ll be able to hopefully reply in full on the Fifth of November!!

When life gives you melons..

Not everything was doom and gloom, and I want to share a small, funny story and the start of a potentially peculiar new tradition over here in very rainy England. I hope this story brings a bit of daft joy to those who read it.

Last year, there was a Pumpkin shortage in Britain. Getting any of the desired, spooky orange fruit was not possible. A week before Samhain 2020 I tried desperately to get one, and was unable to source one. This was, as they say, a bit of a problem.

Someone familiar with folklore would probably now pipe up, ‘what about a Turnip?’ Even finding a humble turnip proved harder than anticipated.. and for anyone who has had the sad, forlorn experience of actually carving one, I’ll admit the thought did not fill me with joy. They are incredibly hard to shape – being in no way hollow, and having a body that is hard and resistant to being shaped even with a good knife. My mind went back to when me and my mother tried to carve one when I was nine, and it took literal hours. A tedious experience to say the least.

Standing there, I saw another fruit. The humble watermelon. And like that it was decided. It was a non traditional choice.. for sure.. but certainly easy to carve, very tasty, and the end result I thought, looked rather good!

A Carved Watermelon, self carved and taken.

It looked fantastic on the altar, and I thought it had worked out! It served its purpose – being a lantern to keep away the malign spirits of the dead, and offer a waylight and warmth to the benefic dead who wanted to hang around the altar space and temple room. It worked far better than I expected. I gave it no further thought..

Of course, until this year. And again, there is even a worse pumpkin shortage. Feeling a bit whimsical, and again being unable to find one never mind two pumpkins, this year I have bought two of the cheery, non traditional green boys. Both of which we will be carving up for the Sabbat!

Witchcraft need not always be super serious – especially on the Sabbats which are in many ways celebrations of existence – of the lockstep of life and death – of the gift of joy and the turning of the wheel. That said as well however, on the surface what was just a bit of fun, does hold deeper meaning. The first time I made this substitution was out of desperation really – due to circumstances shooting any plans to observe the turning of the seasons to ribbons. Something had to be done.

I had to ensure that the cycled would be observed, that it would not be missed, that the dead would have their way lit, and that real healing would be conducted through the observance of the Sabbat was of primary importance. So in that way, the good old watermelon took on more personal significance than just an in joke, or just an ‘easy way out’.

Merging the Joy of the Dance with the Deep Meaning of the Cycle is the best way any of us can truly hope to both celebrate and mark our most important times of the year. And the lives of those we love, and those who we have loved, and lost.

The Lit Watermelon, self carved and taken.

I hope the above silly story also imparts the deeper lesson I had painfully reinforced. And that is where you have the will, never give up. This doesn’t mean the futility of a pointless struggle. Accept, adapt, change, undergo renewal. You will come out far stronger than how you went in – one way, or another – if in a very different form.

This is the promise and power of the Cauldron of our Great Triple Faced Goddess.

I will end this here. Things here will get busier still for me and Temple – with 30th, 31st celebrations and the initiation to be held on the 4th. This will mark a turning point for the Temple and there might be a few announcements to make – of both personal and temple nature. The latter if I can get together the required art assets over the next few months.

‘In the season leaves should love,
since it gives them leave to move
through the wind, towards the ground
they were watching while they hung,
legend says there is a seam
stitching darkness like a name.

Now when dying grasses veil
earth from the sky in one last pale
wave, as autumn dies to bring
winter back, and then the spring,
we who die ourselves can peel
back another kind of veil

that hangs among us like thick smoke.
Tonight at last I feel it shake.
I feel the nights stretching away
thousands long behind the days
till they reach the darkness where
all of me is ancestor.

I move my hand and feel a touch
move with me, and when I brush
my own mind across another,
I am with my mother’s mother.
Sure as footsteps in my waiting
self, I find her, and she brings

arms that carry answers for me,
intimate, a waiting bounty.
“Carry me.” She leaves this trail
through a shudder of the veil,
and leaves, like amber where she stays,
a gift for her perpetual gaze.’

-Annie Finch, “Samhain” from Eve, published by Carnegie Mellon University Press.

I wish you all a beautiful and bountiful Samhain and Year to Come,
In the Arms of Our Mother.

~S~

‘As the darkness now draws near,

See the cycle of the year,

As the light now goes within,

Let the hallows dance begin.’

–Unknown

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