Giving

December is traditionally the time of giving. Whether one celebrates Yule, Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, or a social tradition, chances are you’ll probably be giving and receiving gifts this month. 

Unfortunately, we tend to associate giving with retail in our Capitalist society. While material things can be nice, they’re not always the best gifts. I’m reminded of a quote by Steve Goodier, 

“Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love, or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.”

If you choose to buy retail items as gifts, nothing requires you to buy corporate. I strongly encourage you to seek out family-owned and sole proprietorships rather than corporations. Purchasing from a mom-and-pop shop, as they’re sometimes called, might be considered two gifts in one. One for the recipient of the gift and one for the shop owner whose livelihood depends on your purchase. 

Whether or not you celebrate a holiday, may this season bring you and your loved ones joy and happiness.
Frater Tenebris

The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book

This is a great age for books on Neopaganism and the occult. It used to be that good books on such topics were difficult to find. Today, readers have access to many great books, and more are always coming to the market.

There’s a new occult book on the market that I highly recommend: The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book by Alan Moore and Steven Moore.

 

The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book (I’ll call it from here on out MSBB because I’m lazy) is fantastic. 

The book gets its title ‘bumper book’ from popular children’s books. It’s a giant tome of a book; it weighs over 2 pounds with a page size of 9.25 x 12.38 inches, which allows for fantastic art. The MSBB is a visual feast. Some art is reminiscent of Mad Magazine, while others remind me of Heavy Metal (the illustrated magazine, not the music genre). Other art reminds me of retro children’s art reminiscent of the 50s and 60s.   

Don’t let the cover art and bumper book in the title fool you. The MSBB has a warning on the back that the book is for adults only. This is primarily due to nudity and sexual content.

The MSBB is more than art and storytelling. It’s a fantastic starter for new magic-users. It gives excellent information on the Kabbalah and the Tarot. It explores why and how magick works. The MSBB also has numerous small mini-biographies on the sorcerers and alchemists of history.

This is one of those occult books that everyone needs in their home library.

Difficult Times

“There are two ways of meeting difficulties: you alter the difficulties, or you alter yourself to meet them.” - Phyllis Bottome, English Writer.

Anyone who read my previous post knows that the recent US election wasn’t what I and many others had hoped for. Because of the results, many people are highly concerned about what the future holds. This concern is understandable, considering the promises (threats) made by the President-elect and his allies before the election.

So, what are we to do now?

 

Job one is self-care.

If you don’t meditate, this would be a good time to start. While the positive claims about meditation have been overblown, meditation has been proven to aid in stress reduction.

In addition, I believe that arcane forces flow through the universe that can aid us and help ease stress. Therefore, I highly recommend including acupuncture and either Tai Chi or yoga.

Exercise and a healthy diet have both proven to be helpful. Like meditation, exercise, and a good diet are also proven to be good for managing stress. 

Connect with loved ones. By “loved ones,” I don’t just mean biological relatives. Loved ones can include close friends. The philosopher Epicurus believed that friendship was essential for human happiness.

Spirituality can be helpful. If you have a spiritual practice that’s still meaningful to you and let it lapse, consider restarting it. Or explore a new path. There are so many good spiritualities right now from which to choose.      

It helps to also keep things in proper perspective. First, remember that people have survived hard times throughout the centuries. We are stronger than we sometimes think we are. Second, nothing is permanent, and the pendulum ultimately swings back the other way. Change is the one constant in the universe. The philosopher Heraclitus wrote, “No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it’s not the same river, and he’s not the same man.” 

I’m not going to blow smoke. We should not assume that everything will be ‘okay.’ The right-wing has been emboldened. Economic and social justice are under threat. There will be those, especially those who are not people of privilege, whose rights will be attacked. We need to brace ourselves for this and plan accordingly.

Most importantly, remember to take care of yourself.

Threat to Democracy

“The greatest threat to democracy is indifference.” Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President

We’re in the last days of an election season here in the United States. On November 5th, Americans will vote to decide who controls our Congress and who will hold the office of President for the next four years. Most political analysts consider this election one of the most important in American history. Our election results will have a global impact.

 

Philosophy and politics are inseparable. According to classic Greek thought, philosophy is more than an intellectual exercise. It’s a way of life. Philosophy is all-encompassing. Because of this, philosophy should determine one’s political views and not the other way around.

Those who have read my blog over the years will probably have an idea of my philosophical views. Humans are a paradox. We are independent individuals, yet we’re dependent upon others from birth. Each person is free, yet no one is an island. Our species is neither collectivist nor rugged individualist. The Self is the highest standard, yet its existence is tied to the welfare of others.

I hold these to be some of the core values of Dark Pagan philosophy.

Applying Dark Pagan philosophy to politics, I find Donald Trump and the Republican Party are not consistent with Dark Pagan values. Dark Paganism stands for freedom of choice and personal autonomy. Trump and other Republican leaders speak of freedom and autonomy yet promote authoritarianism. Trump himself has said on record that he intends to be a dictator on day one. He and the Republican Party leaders speak of supporting the individual, yet they attack diversity. They say they support individual choices yet pass laws restricting choice. In addition, they advocate for laws that cut social safety nets and give increased power to the religious and economic oligarchs who already have special privileges.

By contrast, Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party have established records of democratic values. They are certainly not authoritarian. Their record shows that they support freedom of choice and diversity. In addition, Harris and the Democratic leadership have shown support for strengthening the social safety net. Plus, they openly opposed giving more power to the religious and economic oligarchs. While neither Harris nor the  Democratic Party are perfect, they’re far better than Trump and the Republicans.

Therefore, of the two options, I believe that Kamala Harris and the Democratic party best represent Dark Pagan values. 

Obviously, the best action we can take is to vote. For those who say voting doesn’t work, the fact that Trump failed to be reelected in 2020 shows that it does work. Plus, the fact that there is so much effort to make it more and more difficult also shows that voting can make a difference. If voting didn’t work, they wouldn’t try to obstruct it.

Our options for change go beyond the mundane. We have spiritual actions we can take as well.

We can call upon two goddesses for help in political matters: Libertas and Ishtar. 

Libertas was the Roman goddess of Liberty. She became popular during the latter part of the Roman Republic. Libertas was often shown carrying a sword with a Phrygian cap at the end. The Phrygian cap was worn by freed slaves.

There’s a strong connection between the US and both Libertas and the Roman Republic. American Founding Fathers envisioned the young country as being a renewal of the Roman Republic. Plus, the Statue of Liberty is based on the goddess Libertas.

Ishtar (Inanna to the Sumerians) was the goddess of war, sex, and wisdom to the Mesopotamians. She was worshiped from the Near East to Britain under various names. Her worship lasted for over 2,000 years. 

To the Babylonians, Ishtar was a Sovereign Goddess in that the King’s authority was granted by Her. Ishtar is also a strong defender of justice and women. In the myth of Inanna and Su-kale-tuda, Inanna is raped. After finding the offender, before She kills him, She tells him that he will forever be known as a rapist and a coward.

No doubt, as a Sovereign Goddess, Her power would be very helpful in political matters. In addition, considering that Trump has been convicted of sexual assault, Ishtar would be an obvious ally.

Most importantly, you need to get out and vote as if your or a loved one’s life depends on it. 

Because it just might.

Season of the Witch

Over the years, during each October, I’ve written about the Pagan festival of Samhain. I’ve blogged about the festival’s origins, its connection to Halloween, and the different ways one can celebrate it. Because I’ve covered so much, writing something new about the festival was a challenge this year.   

While watching the miniseries Agatha All Along, I got an idea. At the end of the first episode, they played a great cover of Season of the Witch by Donovan. This made me think. While various supernatural creatures, such as ghosts, werewolves, and vampires, haunt pop culture during this time, probably nothing represents October and Samhain/ Halloween more than the Witch.  

But what really is a ‘Witch?’ 

 

The answer isn’t as simple as it might seem. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary illustrates the complexity of defining the term ‘ Witch.’ It provides five possible meanings of the word: 

1.    Fiction and folk traditions,
2.    Adherent to a neopagan tradition,
3.    A mean or ugly old woman,
4.    A charming or alluring girl or woman,
5.    Witch of Agnesi.

It’s tempting to go down the line of these meanings one by one. However, I think taking them out of order might work better. So let me start with the last, the Witch of Agnesi.

The Witch of Agnesi isn’t really a reference to a witch. It’s an algebraic curve. The “Agnesi” comes from the Italian mathematician Maria Gaetana Agnesi, who published it in 1748. The Italian name la versiera di Agnesi was originally given, which is based on the Latin versoria (sheet of sailing ships) and the sinus versus. This was read by John Colson as l’avversiera di Agnesi, where avversiera is translated as “woman who is against God” and interpreted as “witch.”

Jumping up to the first meaning, the fiction and folk tradition is a reference to classic stories. Think about the Good and Bad witches of The Wizard of Oz. Or the evil cannibalistic Witch in Hansel and Gretel. This includes modern fictional Witches such as Agatha Harkness or Sabrina Spellman.

I find the third and fourth meanings to be examples of the Catch-22 imposed on women by our misogynistic society. A Witch can be “a mean or ugly old woman” or “a charming or alluring girl or woman.” Taken together, it shows the ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ that’s so much a part of misogyny. 

This leaves us with the second meaning, a practitioner of neopaganism. While commonly associated with Gardnerian Wicca, not all neopagans who self-identify as Witches are Wiccan. There are self-identifying Witches found in a variety of neopagan traditions. And there are eclectic neopagans who proudly wear the name ‘Witch.’ 

Witch as a being one who practices neopaganism is better than the other four meanings, but it still falls short. Understanding what it means to be a Witch requires understanding the word’s etymology. Its origins also give us insights into why witches have been historically feared and revered.

According to the Neopagan elder Raymond Buckland,

The actual meaning of the word Witch is linked to “wisdom” and is the same root as “to have wit” and “to know.” It comes from the Anglo-Saxon wicce (f) or wicca (m) meaning “wise one,” witches being both female and male.

Source: Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judica Illes, page 3

Witches are those with knowledge. Not just any knowledge but knowledge far beyond everyday matters. This knowledge gives witches the ability to cure and bless. To help their loved ones and the rest of their community. 

As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Witchcraft is a power drawn from an intimate understanding of the occult (i.e., hidden) nature of reality. The power of witchcraft is an egalitarian power available to everyone regardless of wealth, status, gender, or sexual preference. 

This kind of power makes Witches a threat to the establishment.

One way the establishment attempts to counter-act a perceived threat is to demonize it. Hence, witches are shown as evil and dangerous. They’re portrayed as either young and beautiful sorceresses who seduce men or ugly hags who eat babies. 

Thanks to neopagan elders such as Fortune, Gardner, Leek, Buckland, and the many that have come since, the title of ‘Witch’ is being returned to its rightful place of reverence.

Blessed be the Witches.

Gothic Life

October is a magical time. It’s a time when the veil between the world of the living and the dead begins to thin, allowing us greater opportunity to connect with friends and loved ones who have passed beyond to the Otherworld. It’s also a time when society gears up to celebrate Halloween with its dark themes and spooky entertainment. Those of us with a preference for dark aesthetics and the macabre feel at home during this month.

A fantastic new book has been published just in time for this spooky season. Gothic Life: The Essential Guide to Macabre Style by Aurelio Voltaire. 

 

Aurelio Voltaire is a talented Dark Cabaret musician, and host of the YouTube show Gothic Homemaking. His YouTube series earned him the nickname “Martha Stewart for Macabre Homemakers” by the New York Times.

Gothic Life is full of wonderful ideas on how to turn your home or apartment into a gothic lair. You'll learn the best color pallets for a dark aesthetics as well as cool DIY projects. Plus, fun party hosting tips for Halloween or any gothic event.

It’s important to note that Voltaire includes more than just tips on home decor. For example, he gives some important piece of advice for those concerned about what others might think if one chooses to dress in a dark or gothic aesthetic, 

“Know that you have the right to be whoever you want to be. Furthermore, you are not bothering anyone by looking interesting or unique and by living your authentic self. If people have a problem with that, it’s their problem, not yours.”(Page 25)

In these few sentences, Voltaire has captured one of the core beliefs of Dark Paganism. I couldn’t have said it better myself (the gods know that I’ve tried.)

I highly recommend Gothic Life: The Essential Guide to Macabre Style. Also, check out his series Gothic Homemaking on his YouTube channel, The Lair of Voltaire. Click here to visit Aurelio Voltaire’s homepage.

Agatha All Along

This is a great time for movies and television shows about magic, sorcery, and witchcraft. Some great movies are Witches of Eastwick, The Craft, and Doctor Strange. Not to mention excellent television series such as Charmed, The Chilling Tales of Sabrina, and WandaVision, just to name a few. 

We now have a new great witch-themed miniseries titled Agatha All Along.

 

Agatha All Along is a sequel to the Disney + series WandaVision, with a nod to the movie Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Those who haven’t seen either might be a little lost at times since it does take place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe or MCU. Therefore, while watching WandaVision and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is unnecessary, it can help. 

Although it’s part of the MCU, Agatha All Along isn’t a superhero series. The new miniseries takes place three years after the end of the miniseries WandaVision. Over the last three years, the witch Agatha Harkness had been trapped by a spell from the Scarlet Witch in Westview, New Jersey. In the first episode, Agatha escapes with the help of a goth teen (whom she simply calls Teen because a spell prevents him from saying his name) who wishes to face the trials of the legendary Witches’ Road. Without her magical powers, the two of them form a new coven of witches for their quest.

The new series is a loving tribute to witchcraft. The climactic scene in episode two, where the witches sing the Ballard of the Witches Road while the very frightening Salem Seven assault the house, sent chills up my spine. Not only was the scene scary, but the song was also powerful. Plus, the witchy aesthetics of the ending titles are so good.

The acting is excellent. Kathryn Hahn is a delight. She can alternate from humorous smart-mouth sarcasm to scary and threatening spookiness in a flash. Another great actor in the miniseries is the fantastic Aubrey Plaza.

Agatha All Along is already one of my favorite magic-witchcraft series. I highly recommend it.

Agatha All Along is streaming now on Disney +.