On Finding Balance

Greetings friends,

So 2016 has officially begin, and I’d like to start the new years off with a return to blogging. I left the blog inactive these past two years for a variety of reasons. First off, I just felt that I didn’t have anything useful to add to the blogosphere, nothing left to say for awhile. Perhaps a really long spell of writers block? Also, time has been limited. I’ve had enough time to actually practice, but not left over to write about it! Thirdly, I’ve become much less willing to write about my spiritual life than I used to be for some reason. I felt the need for incubation in privacy without the world looking in, thus I needed to close the drapes for a while.

I’ve made some strides in recent months. I’ve come to terms with my Druidry dilemma and have returned to a regular Druidy practice. The fact is, that no matter what else I am and practice I primarily identify as a Druid. Thus the change in blog title back to Feral Druidry (which it used to be years ago).

Over the fall eclipse I re-did the OBOD ovate initiation rite and made contact with my Ovate tutor. I’ve begun doing the AODA 2^nd degree program again. I’ve even joined in a local seed group, with some great folks in it. As much as I enjoy the online community, it’s nice to meet face to face with others of like mind once in awhile. I’ve begin the Ovate course a new and it seems to be sticking this time. I’m considering joining the Celtic Golden Dawn.

I never really set out to become a Revival Druid but sometimes I think the path calls to you, and call to me it does! For some reason when I connect to my revival Druidry practices I feel like I’m connected to a giant battery, a sea of potential, that I just don’t feel when I walk off the path. Like it or not, it’s a Druids life for me.

As always however, my background in Hermetics and dealings with Hellenic gods (ie Hekate and Helios, PGM, etc) is also a constant. Thus right now my task is to find balance both sets of practices. I’ve come to the conclusion that my spirituality can never be a one stop shop, no one set of practices that encompass the entirety of my spiritual life. Syncretism is always going to be where it lies for me. The best I can do is learn to honor and balance both paths.

Anyway, I have a few projects in the wings that I’m working on that I hope to write about. Here is to a hoping for a successful return to blogging in 2016.

Hekate Prayer Book; It lives again!

Well guys it looks like the Hekate Prayer Book Project is on again Tara Sanchez has graciously agreed to pick up the project so that it does not fall into obscurity. She will be doing the book in the name of the Covenant of Hekate. I will be passing on the mantle to her with my many thanks.

So it looks as if submissions are currently open again! If you have something you’d like to submit please send it to Tara at: askeikataskei.editor@gmail.com

Good Luck and my appreciation again!

Whats going on with me… July 2015 edition.

Holy crap a real blog post! Does anyone even read this thing anymore?

So my dear friends, it goes without saying that it has been a long long time since I last wrote. Part of the reason being… I just lost my will to write about anything. I still practice. I still do all the stuff I used to write about. The only difference I’m less inclined to write about it. However, part of the reason (perhaps the main reason even) I started this blog was to connect with other practitioners. While I still connect with many of you on Facebook, I’m increasingly keeping my FB mundane these days due to neighbors, parents of my kids friends, etc being on my feed and not wanting to alert them to the occult freak in their midst! Truth is though that I miss you guys!

So what has been going on with me int he past year. Pretty much, more of the same. I still struggle with identify and a place to belong. Recently I’ve been having my old Druid issues. I have this eternal cycle with Revival Druidry… I don’t know if I have a calling toward it, or just a desire but I feel an eternal longing to it when I’m not practicing. Then I dig in determined to “be a real Druid”, and I hit the old brick wall. Wait a second, I don’t have any resonance to Celtic mythology. Where I realize that other groups (such as the ADF) recognize other hearth cultures, for me this doesn’t work. Seeing as I worship primarily Hellenic gods, the thought of being a “Greek Druid” chafes me. Not passing judgment on those it does work for, I just know myself. So I’m eternally at that questions.. is it better to just suck it up and heed the calling,  Celts and all, or move on? See, aren’t you glad you haven’t been listening to me whine about this for the past year? I’ve tried both scenarios, many times. Nether work. Thus I’m at standstill.

In other news, I’ve been going back to basics with the Strategic Sorcery lessons, and enjoying the hell out of it. Jason has hinted at the Hekate material being offered soon, at which point I’ll be begging him to take my money! I’m still working with Hekate and Helios as a pretty much constant. I’ve also been feeling the tug of picking up my Hermetic studies again. I’m thinking the best place to start is RO’s 7 spheres book, so I’ll be undertaking that soon.

The past year has brought many life changes. I hit the death knell of the magician… fulfilling all m goals. Everything I lusted after, everything I enchanted for, manifested in spades. I changed jobs to one I love. Just got a promotion and sizable raise at it. I sold my house that I hated, and bought what I like to think of “a castle on a cliff”; an old 100+ year old home on an embankment, overlooking the town, completely covered by trees and vegetation to the point that in the summer you can’t even see it from the street. Enough space for the family to grow, with an entire room dedicated as a ritual room to boot… AND a basement workbench for all my craft works.

In the process of fulfilling all my goals I went through a lengthy process of thinking “What do I do now”? No longer did I have anything to actually work towards. My practice dulled into doing daily energy work and offerings, certainly nothing to write about! I spun about with that for awhile. I’m finally coming after it. Doing magic just for the spiritual benefits are now a interest of mine. Also, I’m finally taking an interest in financial magic to solidify my position and works to improve my relationships and grow higher with my career. In short, I’m happy and looking to keep it that way ad get even happier.

I’m afraid a word must be said about the Hekate Prayer book. I’m sorry for letting you guys down on that. Yes the project is pretty much off the rails. When I started I had ample free time. These days what little free time I do have is split between family, and actually working magic. I no longer have the time to devote to such a project. I am sincerely sorry for letting you all down on it, but I just don’t see it happening. The same can be said for my book deal with Moon Books. I feel ever embarrassed that I didn’t deliver on that (Sorry Trevor!). I just got thrown into a life situation where writing was no longer a luxury I had, with little notice.

I’m not sure where to go from here. Should I still write about my adventures in Sorcery from this point on out? I’m no sure I have much to add. I have however been enjoying reading about other’s adventures. Perhaps now that I’ve  “broken the seal” the muse will hit me again?

Oh and here’s a picture of my most recent altar arrangement. Until recently, since I’ve had the space, I’ve kept multiple altars, but I’m once again experimenting with the “one-stop-shop”. We’ll see how it works out.

Until next time my friends.

Update on me and and Hekate Prayer/Ritual book

Hi All! I’m not dead, I swear. So here is an update on both my life, and the status of the Hekate prayer and ritual book.

Round about December, out of the blue I got offered a new job. Even though I wasn’t actively looking for one, it was in the “too good to pass up” realm so I took it. This meant that I spent most of December and January trying to wrap things up enough in my old job so that I wasn’t dumping a huge mess on whoever took it behind me.

Now I’m at a month long training out of state in my new job, doing things like training and getting acclimated. Needless to say it’s been crazy (but a good crazy). I haven’t had time to do anything but survive. I’m still planning on putting out the ritual/prayer book with the submissions everyone gave me. If you haven’t heard from me about your submission don’t worry, no one has! It’s still on though, just kind of delayed until things settle down enough that I have time to breath, let alone work on it. The same goes to blogging.

I will get back to “normal” this spring.

–Skyllaros

Perihelion 2014

Perihelion 2014

As many SS students did this past new years, I celebrated the SS Hekate/Helios rite on the 1st and 4th. My Hekate rite went off pretty quietly. I also only had a few moments to make the best of the Helios rite, but since I’ve been working with Helios closely for the past year, I connected to his energy pretty quickly. I seemed to get much more out of the Helios portion, as I was nursing a Solar buzz throughout the rest of the day.

Later in the day, as I nodded off while watching Curious George with the twins, I had a dream induced vision. In it I saw a new table of practice, that incorporates elements of the PGM and Gnosticism, while maintaining a strong connection to the Chaldean aspect of Hekate. I saw the form of it in perfect detail, though I confess the actual names and leters where more abstract and needed to be fleshed out. Many thanks to Polyphanes for suggestions via twitter! What I came up with is below.

This is more of a personalized table of practice, rather than the standard Trithemius one. I remember reading this blog post, where the author hypothesizes that the best magic circles are the ones that include your own personal connection to the powers. That’s kind of what I’m running with here.

It is a rough draft, and not set in stone. My “vision” was based upon the number 8, not the standard heptarchy. I don’t know, but I ran with it, deciding to include Abrasax into the mix.

The outer edge contains the “Maskelli Maskallo” formula from the PGM, which can be used to create a sacred space. This is an important element, since basically the ToP can be used to create a sacred space around itself by virtue of the names written on it, this sets the perimeter.

The 8 triangles contain (in this version) Jason Millers 7 planetary seals along with the Abrasax sigil on the top. I’m not married to this option. Polyphanes suggested using M.C.’s seals of the 7 heavens or petitioning for my own seals. I originally filled them in with Agrippa’s seals. I kind of like the SS seals in here because they are system neutral, and a symbol set which I myself use often. I may keep them, I may not. I’m still choosing this section.

Next in place of the 7 planetary angels, are the names of the Greek gods + Abrasax. Below that are the Ephesian Letters. Below that, in place of the 4 elemental angels are the 4 luminaries. Though not necessarily elemental themselves, I think they work well here.

Moving on we have the Aktophis etc, formula around the triangle, and inside the triangle of course if Hekate’s seal, surrounded by IAO.

Like I said, it’s a work in progress. I’m sure I made many mistakes (and if you see any please let me know!). I have no illusions of infallibility where these things are concerned. Once I get it ironed out, I’ll set to work crafting the darned thing.

Book List Meme

So Jason Miller put up his book list from the “10 Most influential Books back in the ‘Day” meme. I have some free time so I thought I would take a stab at it, because I like this kind of thing. Here are the 10 books that got me started on the path:

1. Charms, Spells, and Formulas by Ray T. Marlborough: The first occult book I read, ever. It introduced the idea to me that other people actually practice magic and it wasn’t just a wishful fantasy of mine. This literally opened up the world for me.  I also used it to make a honey jar on a girl I liked in school (I don’t think it worked). 😉

2. Modern Magic by Donald Michael Kraig: I’ve written about my experiences with this book before. It was the first book to introduce ceremonial magic to me. I worked each lesson with the utmost care as a young’in. Interestingly enough I didn’t have access to incense to I used powdered cinnamon with everything as a form of incense. To this day the scent of cinnamon IS the scent of magic for me. It taps right into those early experiences I had with this book.

3.  The Necromnomicon: Likewise, this had a profound impact on me early on too. I spent many evening chanting “Zi Dingir Kia Kanpa, Zi Dingir Ana Kanpa”. Made my own tools from it too, the fire bowl, etc.

4. Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson: My first introduction to Witchcraft. This book defined Witchcraft to me before I discovered Wicca. It still defines to me what it means on many levels. I still love this book. Did I mention I own an autographed copy that I won a couple years ago? It’s a prized possession of mine.

5. Helping Yourself with White Witchcraft: Al G Manning: Cheesy as all hell. I loved making thought forms, or what now a days what we would call servitors from it. It was also the book that convinced me to become pagan. It was while I was reading it, downstairs in the basement, that I had the realization I was Pagan and began to identify as such consciously. It stuck. A cheesy start, but a start none the less.

6. West Country Wicca by Rhiannon Ryall: My first introduction to Wicca. Will always have a soft spot for it for that reason.

7. Buckland Complete Book of Witchcraft (Ie: The big Blue Book): My continued education in Witchcraft. This is also the book that outted me when my mom discovered it under my bed. Some kids had porn under there, for me it was just witchcraft. 

8. The Magus by Fancis Barrett: My continued  interest in ceremonial magic. I remember reading this during study hall in high school.

9. The Goetia: I had this wicked black hard covered edition. Wish I would have kept it. My first experiences with magical evocation. I remember carefully making my own triangle from wood and paint and making a scrying glass from an old clock glass.

10. Liber Null/Psychonaut: Yeah I discovered Chaos magic early on. It kind of set a vibe for me. I remember being somewhat horrified by “The Red Rite”, yet utterly intrigued and the feeling of freedom I experienced as I read it. This book re-defined for me what magic was and could be.

Did I mention that the deadline for the Hekate Prayer Book is coming up on DEC 21st? Want to participate? Get your submissions in! There will be no further extension.

My Chaotic Crooked Path

Dark Moon Rites December 2013

For as long as I can remember I’ve tried to put a label on my path. In short, I’ve been looking for my tribe. Every time I try though I can’t seem to fit myself under one category. My path resists it at every turn. Multiple labels fit. Definitely Witch. Definitely Magician. Sometimes Mystic, sometimes Druid. Sorcerer. Chaote.

My path revolves around fierce devotion to my gods at it’s core. I am a devotional polytheist. This is where I am happiest. I find myself at this time right back where I was 3 years ago, with three gods who refuse to be ignored, who my soul cries out to know. Three gods whom the purists may say don’t fit. Three gods who demand I make them fit, one way or the other. My inclination is to pick one and be done with it. It doesn’t work that way.

There is Hekate, the witch-mother who sits at the crossroads. Hekate the Emyprean. Hekate the Chtonian. She who sometimes I can barely hear, barely feel, yet none the less, whenever I stray too far yanks me back and reminds me, I am hers. I have always been hers.

There is the wild god. His antler horned visage casting a shadow over everything I do. The first sorcerer. The enigmatic one who’s image graced the first cave paintings. He who stood first and shall withdraw last. He has shown me much of his origins, and no matter how hard I try to pigeon hole him into a name, he evades it and shows me he is more than I will ever know. More than I can ever know.

Dionysos. Sometimes the bull-faced one, but more often coming to me with goat horns just the same. I could be content with the other two. I’ve tried to be. Three is a crowd, but Dionysos… I worship Dionysos like Rumi loves. He breaks you down and rebuilds you. everyone knows this. When does it end though? The secret? It doesn’t. His process is unending. The birthing pains to your true self never stop.

What’s this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin’ myself to you now from the essence of my being
And I sing to my God, songs of love and healing.

— Matisyahu “King Without a Crown”

One of these things is not like the other. Or are they?

Who are my tribe members?

In the end my tribe wears many faces. The witches, mages, druids, folk magicians, mystics. I see worth in all of them. I hate the modern tendency to look down upon everyone who doesn’t share your label.  My tribe has no one name, but I know them when I see them.

Chaos reigns supreme. Nothing is True, everything is permitted? I don’t believe that (hehe). Yet in the end, once you get far enough, once you see the magic that enervates all things, every path seems like different decorating styles in an empty room. Looking at the arguments we might as well be arguing about who likes Art Deco vs Rustic in their living room.

The only viewpoint that does not break down over time, is the flexible one. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

The Rites of Helios

Awhile back, I posted my Favor of Kings working, which was inspired originally by a post from Frater R.O. Since that time I have systematically been cultivating a relationship with Helios, and the sphere of the sun in general. My goal in creating the poppet and box was to have a physical materia that I could pray over to keep the enchantment ongoing. This has developed into a much larger rite for me however, well beyond the simple maintenance of the enchantment.

First, I have created this shrine to Helios and the Sphere of the Sun:

Here I have my solar disk, solar box, lots of candles, talismans for two solar spirits I work with, a candle and lamen for Michael, offering dishes, and a special candle holder with the name of my HGA engraved on it in celestial script. Baphomet was also here when this picture was taken due to his Luciferian associations, but he has since been relocated to a shelve I installed above my main working altar.

Every Sunday in the hour of the Sun I come here to pray and give Helios offerings and praise. I start off by giving the offerings. Here frankincense is the scent par excellence, though I occasionally offer cinnamon a well. Liquid offerings include white wine, whiskey, or Goldschläger, and solid offerings include honey and real gold shavings. Finally, don’t forget flame! An altar to Helios cannot have enough flame on it. All of my candles set upon it are liberally rubbed with Abramelin Oil as well.

I then anoint myself with Abramelin oil and give the offerings, light the flame, ignite the incense and contemplate the solar disk. I will then usually vibrate the sacred seed syllable and read Jason Millers “Sol of Sol” call from the Planetary magic chapbook 6x and then say:

“Helios by thy secret name I call thee: Achebukrom, Achebukrom, Achebukrom, Achebukrom, Achebukrom, Achebukrom”(Vibrated 6 times).

I then read the Orphic Hymn to Helios:

“Hear golden titan, whose eternal eye with broad survey, illumines all the sky. Self-born, unwearied in diffusing light, and to all eyes the mirror of delight. Lord of the seasons, with thy fiery car and leaping coursers, beaming light from far. With thy right hand the source of morning light, and with thy left the father of the night. Agile and vig’rous, venerable Sun, fiery and bright around the heav’ns you run. Foe to the wicked, but the good man’s guide, o’er all his steps propitious you preside. With various founding, golden lyre, ’tis mine to fill the world with harmony divine. Father of ages, guide of prosp’rous deeds, the world’s commander, borne by lucid steeds, immortal Zeus, all-searching, bearing light, source of existence, pure and fiery bright bearer of fruit, almighty lord of years, agile and warm, whom ev’ry pow’r reveres. Great eye of nature and the starry skies, doom’d with immortal flames to set and rise dispensing justice, lover of the stream, the world’s great despot, and o’er all supreme. Faithful defender, and the eye of right, of steeds the ruler, and of life the light. With founding whip four fiery steeds you guide, when in the car of day you glorious ride. Propitious on these mystic labours shine, and bless thy suppliants with a life divine.”

At this point I will address him in my own words in a fashion that goes something like this:

“Oh blessed Helios I give you these offerings to once again renew our bond. Place upon my head the crown of the favor of kings, that all who see me may be dazzled by thy light reflected through my lens. Let the power of the sphere of the sun suffuse my sphere that all who encounter me may see me cast in thy divine light. Solar king, bring onto my sphere the aura of health and well being, and let that aura be shared with all whom I encounter that may have need of it.”

I will sit and meditate upon the disk until I feel sufficiently charged up. I will usually feel a warmth spreading through my body and sphere as I do this. If I’m feeling in need this is where I will do the Stele of Jeu as well, but I find that if I do it too frequently it really messes up my juju. Less is more on this rite in my opinion. I’ve come to have a lot more respect for it than I used to.

The blessings of Helios are many. not only does he confer the “Golden Child” aura as I like to call it, but blessings of health and well being. The amount that I have gotten sick since I’ve started this ritual has gone down many fold, even when those who are around me are often ill. I don’t quite consider Helios to be my “patron”, but definitely a tutelary deity who I work with and a relationship I’ve come to enjoy in my life.

I do have to offer one word of caveat though. The sphere of the sun can be tricky to work with. when i first stared doing solar rituals my life went to shit for awhile while all the cracks in it were exposed. Since then however it’s been built back up stronger than ever. No longer on a shaky foundation, my walls are now solid. Be warned though.

Hail Helios. May his light shine forever.

Reminders and Important Dates

Hello all. There is nothing worse than having all sorts of blog posts in your head, and no time to write them. No I haven’t abandoned the blog, but it certainly has gone quiet while I try to… you know… do stuff.

Anyway, here are two updates. First, I’m extending the deadline for the Hekatean Prayer Book until December 21st, 2013. I’ve gotten some GREAT submissions so far, but honestly its looking kind of skimpy at the moment. I’m really hoping to get more submissions to make an actual book out of it. Again all hymns, prayers, rituals, spells, and meditations are all welcome, as are multiple submissions from the same author. All acceptance/Rejection notices will go out AFTER the Dec 21st deadline.

Also, In case yuo havn’t picked up on it, myself and a few other Dionysians have decided to start a global ritual for Dionysos on February 2nd 2014. To see more information about that, check out the website we devoted to this project. Reblog, spread the news, and of course participate yourself. As a teaser, there may be some extra details released for those of a sorcerous nature as the date gets closer for after the ritual. 😉

First Annual Global Dionysos Rite (February 2nd, 2014)

I invoke Dionysos the Loud-Broming, He Who Shouts Euhoi,
the Firstborn, Two-Natured, Thriceborn Bakchean Lord,
the Wild, Ineffable, Secret One of the Two Horns, of the Two Forms,
the Ivy-lush, Bull-faced Warrior, He of the Euhoi, the Pure One,
the Trietêric God of Rawness, the Grape-Bearing, Foliage-Wearing God!
O Eubouleus of much Counsel, born of
the ineffable bed of Zeus and Persephonê! O Immortal Daimôn!
Hear, O Blesséd One, my voice, and yet sweetly breathe Thou upon me, with a benevolent
and propitious heart, Thou and Thy fair-girt Nurses.

—Orpheus

Rumors has it, that somewhere on this world there is a insane group of people planning a global Rite in honor of the coolest of Gods ever, on February 2nd, 2014.

Yes, this means some semi-drunk or hung-over Dionysians (there probably are sober ones to…I guess… *g*) are planing something for DIONYSOS!

Are you a closet-Dionysian or is your feverish…

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