Wicca - is an Old Craft if the Wise. The basics of natural witchcraft.

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Wicca is a very old shaman-witchy tradition. Natural witchcraft, dating back to the ancient Neolithic cults of the Mother Goddess and the first shamanic communities, in rock paintings and crafts of which images of the Great Mother and the Horned God, animal people, and so on are manifested. Basically, when talking about such finds, they most often consider the territory called Old Europe, but they have a much wider area and cover many lands. And many people have written about the Great Mother, from Jung himself, various anthropologists and researchers to mystics and philosophers of all times.

Currently, Wicca has many different currents (traditions). Also called differently: The Craft of the Wise, the Old Religion or the Cult of Witches (one of the old names). It differs from many other witchy and pagan traditions by the Wiccan Credo of witches: "Do what you want, but do no harm", as well as by faith in the Threefold law of energy return, reincarnation and a pair of primordial Great Gods (the Great Mother Goddess and the Horned God, the rest of the Gods are the essence, faces and hypostases of the Goddess and God, and in general, the Mother of the Universe as a Great Spirit or World Soul, the Source). They are usually distinguished by the desire for high moral and ethical qualities, peacefulness, free morality (if it does not harm anyone), understanding the importance of the primacy of wisdom over power and applied spirituality. Although not everyone can accept it or take it to extremes and you can sometimes meet a variety of people, calling yourself a "Wiccan" does not automatically make a person wise (Wicca is good, but Wiccan should not be idealized).

Wicca is much more than just a religion or a religious-occult tradition. Much deeper than social currents and any archetypes. Anyone and everyone can become a witch by worldview or socio-religious choice, now it is even becoming fashionable (unfortunately or fortunately, who knows how). But a witch in the essence of the spirit, along the ancient path of magic, walking between the worlds of people and spirits, by calling to a Great Craft – you can only become hard work, constant development and the desire to walk next to the Gods.

But Wicca is not just witchcraft in itself, it is spiritual witchcraft. What is called the religion of witches. Despite the current variety of currents (sometimes radically different from each other and going who where), it is based on the forces of the Earth, Moon and Sun, on the connection of each witch, Wiccan magician with natural spirits and Deities. For a pagan, the Gods are parents, spiritual mentors. Each soul is connected with the World Soul (the Mother of the World), the soul of the natural witch is aware and feels it.

Paganism in Wicca is understood as a whole, and not as a tradition of any particular people. This is akin to animism, historically the proto-culture of humanity. Witchcraft is international and ubiquitous. Individual Wiccans and Wiccan traditions can take any Gods (except warlocks) into their pantheons. Wicca was recently rediscovered to the world by the respected witch Gerald Gardner from the old witch covens found by him and initiated into them, and has once again spread throughout the Earth (after centuries of being in the shadows). There are many different traditions and trends in it, with sometimes very different views on the Craft. And even the Wiccan views of our days are a little different from the views of Gardner's time, it's natural, everything is developing. We understand it this way: every tradition, direction or coven attracts those who are closest in outlook and flow, interested and close souls.

The word "witch" in Wicca is non-gender, a practice or a craft in general, it is widely used by the world pagan community (although you will not find any self-names sometimes).

It is worth mentioning that not all witchcraft, or even more so paganism and shamanism, is Wicca. There are many traditions and ways of witchcraft that have nothing to do with Wicca or are related to it in so far. Plus, not all non-Wiccan or near-Wiccan traditions recognize the Creed. There are a lot of different New Age esotericism, traditions of non-magical witchcraft began to appear (where the witch is no longer a practitioner associated with the spirit world, but something purely socio-psychological or an "icon" of some fashion and trends, which is very strange), ethnic shamanism stands apart, etc.

By shamanism in this book, I do not mean any particular direction of any people, but a general phenomenon in general, it is worth remembering. Closer to the Old European cult of the Great Mother. As in the case of natural witchcraft and Wiccan shamanism, it is international. Sometimes they say urban shamanism, sometimes with a hint of Celtic. He can practice equally successfully regardless of the geographical location or nationality of the practitioner, if he is able to tune in with local (terrestrial) and global (celestial) forces. This is almost as old and unified as animism - the very first kind of human spirituality.

Natural witchcraft existed long before the emergence of any form of ceremonial magic, long before any kind of ethnic paganism, long before the distortion of pagan Deities by demonized images. As the very first form of human spirituality and practical interaction with the World. When a person directly interacted with the forces of Nature and the Spirit world, he was one with them. The direct heir and successor of this is Wicca. This is a great heritage passing through the millennia with invisible threads, the heritage of Ancestors and Ancient Spirits, the source and essence of all the Art of the Wise.

Natural witches usually do not use demonized magic associated with the derivatives of the Abrahamic egregors (including various orders), because it connects the true power of the human spirit and its freedom. And paganism is understood not as the view of any particular ethnic tradition, but as the heritage of all mankind, a set of knowledge and practices. Ethnocentricity happens, but not often, both in elective Wicca, and in many (but not all) her traditions.

Natural pagan witchcraft is the most primitive form of any magic or spiritual-magical system. It is based on the forces of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun, on the connection of each witch or shaman with natural and celestial spirits, Deities. For a pagan, the Gods are wise and omniscient parents, spiritual mentors. Each soul is connected with the World Soul (the Mother of the World), the witch's soul is aware and feels it.

Witchcraft traditions have always been eclectic. Despite periodic orthopraxies or orthodoxies in some of them, it has never been rigidly dogmatic in practice. An eclectic and insightful moment has always been and will be. Practices and moments from different cultures and cults that turned out to be close and well easy on the flow of tradition, personal flow or personal strength.

Much of the Old Craft of the wise ones in charge of the Great Mother has been distorted over the centuries of being in hiding, during times of persecution and severe trials, when the main task was survival. Despite the popular medieval superstitions and distortions of the era of double-belief (paganism, mixed with Abrahamic myths and demonized), sometimes existing to this day, pagan witchcraft is not a black book and is not associated with the devil, demons, demons and other characters of folk folklore. Witches are not negative people who cut small animals in gloomy places for petty selfish witchcraft and not pretentious magicians who summon demons for the sake of selfish ambitions. These are illusions and a departure from nature in a mistaken human attempt to conquer it. But the part cannot conquer the whole, unless it is cancer. Some believe that tough and demonized creatures were once spirits and pagan gods. And most likely it is, but there is a very important point here - do not stop and do not hang on digging into other people's negative speculations of the era of illiteracy and fanaticism. The darkness of the mind gives birth to monsters. The departure of ancient cults into the shadow area put them in a position of opposition to "official and well-behaved" forces, as if taking away these functions from them. And although it was done artificially, over time people began to get used to it and believe. It is always easier for the brain to concentrate on darker or even negative moments. Plus, if the world has been cruel to you, it's easier to lock in this part of the worldview picture. If the world gave only one indulgence, and the servants blew away the specks of dust, the person did not learn to work on himself. He may simply not be able to appreciate all the good things, considering it "the way it should be." And it is much easier to tune in to heavier energy vibrations than to high ones. In addition, a completely disgusting idea still prevails in the world, "mercy and gentleness are weakness, and rudeness and rigidity are strength." Even the magical grimoires of those eras bear many imprints of negative distortions. Practitioners of magic passed everything through the prism of their perception, formed by the time of a difficult and tough life, the Abrahamic paradigm (devilry and the like is also part of it, not pagan). This is not witchcraft, leading to the development of the spirit and oneself in the World. Perhaps it was once, but it was distorted enough to lose itself. There are less demonized and less rigid branches of the tree of the Great Shamanic-Witchy Craft of the Wise. The phrase fits well here: "paganism is not the preservation of ashes, but the inspiration of a living fire." This fire seems to be renewed every time and this is natural, there is no development without renewal. But at the same time, it is still inextricably linked with the ancient fire in the bowels of the Earth and with the eternal fire of the Heavenly bodies.

According to myths and legends, the Great Mother of Everything is the very first concept of the Divine, carried by people of power and knowledge through the centuries. It is the source and basis of everything, the very essence of the universe. The Goddess and God are Her manifestations and manifestations to living beings. In some witchcraft traditions, God is equal to the Goddess. In others, Her role is a little more. But They always remain one with each other, in each other. They are not separable from each other and it is impossible to say where the line clearly runs between Them, They are One. She is Him, and He is Her. Everyone chooses only what is closer to him. They also generate countless Spirits, Gods, Powers, and so on. In their high forms, many Gods are faces (hypostases) Goddesses and God. This is especially clearly seen on the Upper World streams. Although in more mundane manifestations, different Gods can be quite different from each other and require different approaches. This is a small paradox worth pondering. Gods and Great Spirits are bigger and larger than the preserved ideas about them in cults.

The very concept of the Mother of the Universe is metaphysical and spiritual, androgynous and non-gendered, non-human, cosmic. Some call It otherwise - the One. Therefore, It is one in both women and men, in animals, plants, stones, spirits, and so on. She is the World Soul and the Great Spirit, the Universe itself, Emptiness and Matter, Time and Timelessness, God and Goddess. Everyone sees It in their own way. The conscious spiritual connection of each being (incarnate or not) with the Goddess and God (in any of Their forms), and the World Soul, depends on the degree of awareness and development of consciousness of the being itself. Animism and panpsychism are often included in the spiritual path of a natural witch.

In the same way, natural witches honor the days of power - the Wheel of the Year, follow the Threefold law (everything that you send to the world will return three times), believe in reincarnation (or rather, they know about it) and spiritual evolution (the development of the soul in a series of rebirths from the simplest to Heavenly spirits - Gods and merging with the Universe). Some of the above can be found in many faiths around the world.

Although it is worth remembering that all witches and shamans are different, there are many subspecies and currents, different philosophies and systems of moral values. There are a huge number of shamanic and witchy currents, from national-ethnic and generic to modern urban and international. From natural-pagan to distorted-blackish. Millennia have influenced the Craft of the Wise. A large number of related currents have arisen on it, from various esotericism for beginners to ceremonial occultism, where magic, egregious religions and systems have already merged.

Although witches and shamans themselves are often also priests of various spirits, Gods or faces of the Great Mother, the priesthood began to occupy an independent niche. Like the theurgy, which was originally pagan. Although theurgy is not exactly the same as the priesthood. Rather, these are special magico-priestly practices aimed at the improvement and evolution of the spirit, communication with the Deity. And, in my opinion, this is an important part of the priesthood. Therefore, in this book I partially combine them. Witches or shamans themselves are often separated from each other by various traditions and other signs. For example: ethnic shamans and urban shamans, village witches and Wiccan witches, natural witches and ceremonial occultists, and many, many others.

It can be clarified that, despite the very term "shamanic-witchcraft" (which, by the way, was not invented by me) I still don't consider these directions to be exactly the same. There is a difference, but sometimes it is quite shaky. And in the light of the Wiccan approach, it blurs even more. A lot depends on the individual.

If we say averaged, then the difference between ethnic, generic (more common in the east) and urban, eclectic (more common in the west) types of shamanism is determined by their orientation. As well as a person's personality, the society around him, his cultural code, worldview, and so on. This may sound very generalized, but I would call generic shamanism horizontal, in its orientation, and urban vertical.

In an ethnic tradition with strong tribal roots, a practitioner of magic (shaman, healer, witch, druid, priest, and so on) is often tied to his land and has responsibilities to his family and others, one way or another. This gives a tough force, but also great limitations.

In urban shamanism, Wiccan or other occult-witchcraft format, the practitioner has more flexible and adaptive capabilities (the exception here is orders with a pyramidal hierarchy and strict rules-dogmas or demonized traditions). This gives greater freedom of will, but often a lighter energy structure.

In the case of shamanism, I have practiced different types of it in our circles, for example: Celtic, Scandinavian (northern), Wiccan (witchy), urban, and so on. He also studied Buryat-Mongol and the mixing of shamanism with Buddhism. The closest to me were Wiccan, Celtic and partially Northern. But these are different types and facets of one single whole, in my opinion. I understand the desire of people sometimes to alienate in order to preserve their individuality. But, in my opinion, it is not lost with some competent association, and community and friendship arise.

Despite the fact that the Craft recognizes the presence of a gift for each person and the opportunity to develop it, it is worth distinguishing the esoteric from the exoteric, and the sacred from the profane. Everyone can develop strength, but not everyone is close and simple, and it is not always easy for practitioners themselves.

You can't just go and become a witch or any other practitioner of magical and spiritual traditions. Now it is fashionable to say that anyone can be a witch (magician) or even a priest (priestess) just like that, without making much effort and years of training. If it has a certain gender, genes, worldview, etc. That's not so. To unleash power is exactly the same as to develop the brain. You can have a pagan worldview, do rituals and develop in this direction. But magic is not just a social trend of modern society. This is a way of constant development and self-improvement, knowledge of the spirit world and self-knowledge. Almost anyone or everyone can really become a witch (shaman, druid, magician, theurgist, etc.), but one desire or "birthright" is not enough. Only really wanting to develop the gift, actively working in this direction, studying the world of magic and different traditions, doing constant self-development. And in the case of the priesthood, also seriously studying the cult of a close Deity, working out a connection and doing the necessary practices.

Now Wicca combines many similar paths in spirit, for example, such as: pagan natural witchcraft, shamanism (of various types, including urban), druidism, various types of pagan ethnic traditions (for example: northern, Greek, Celtic, etc.) or ceremonial magic and theurgy close to paganism. Although it is important to say that it unites on one basis, however, it is not themselves.

The world of spirits has many faces, despite the difference of images in different cultures and cults, traditions and systems around the world and at all times. Many practices and images of spirits or Gods around the world have common points that cannot be explained anthropologically. But understandable from the point of view of the spirit world, where there are no such boundaries as for a person. For example, there is an interesting and quite working theory that the poses of people and non-people depicted on figurines and rock paintings around the world are not accidental, but ritual conscious. Using these poses in his shamanic practice, an experienced researcher enters into the same states as an ancient ancestor. Gets almost the same experience. If it acts correctly. For me, this proves once again that everything has one root.

As for Wicca, we can say that this tradition of mysteries and mysteries gives a person the keys to the knowledge of the Universe through harmony with Nature and oneself, the positive use of witchcraft as a spiritual gift of the Gods and the Great Mother.

Despite its mystery and depth, at the same time, Wicca is quite modern and social. Wiccans are often interested in science and modern topics that are important to society, although everyone treats them differently.

Wicca is a fusion of magical, spiritual, philosophical and social aspects. If you remove more than one of these aspects from it, it becomes not quite Wicca. Although different Wiccans have these aspects in different ratios and proportions, and are filled in different ways. But when comprehending the mystical, one must not forget to stand firmly on one's feet.

Every fairly old and developed tradition, including such as Wicca, has external and internal layers. Social and mystical. It's like both hemispheres of the brain acting in balance.

The external ones here are those that consider the witch through the prism of social, psychological, academic and other everyday topics of human society. This is not bad, of course, but unfortunately, too often it is limited only to solving some eternal problems of people interacting with each other, the eternal inability of people to establish a dialogue with each other. Although it can complement the inner horizons, making them more practical in life.

The inner here is that the practice of magic and mysticism as a wanderer of the Spirit, cognizing the Universe, walking along the borders of the worlds of people and spirits. And this is not a household application of magic, this is magic as a science, magic as knowledge and wisdom. Even the very definition of magic and science together is quite old. Many famous ancient philosophers, scientists and thinkers were often magicians and theurgists.

Wiccan Art includes many things, trends and cults. It is a harmonious interweaving of a single canvas made of threads of the fabric of realities, threads of fate. And for different people it plays with several different shades. Someone is more academically occult, someone is shaman-witchy, and someone is socio-psychologically. Priestly facets can manifest themselves in any of these shades. If we talk about the shaman-witch approach of our tradition, there are also different small shades of this direction for all of us. Witchcraft, shamanism and other related topics (for example, such as druidism, galdr or seid) can be intertwined in different proportions, depending on a person's preferences. My personal path, at the moment, I would compare more with the priesthood and theurgy, with the artful interweaving of witchcraft and shamanism (probably more urban and Celtic directions).

It is worth remembering that the tradition of the witchy and shamanic Old Craft of the Wise (in all facets and types of its own) is in itself ancient and continuous. If a person considers it a novelty, interrupted, and so on, he simply desacalizes it. Many cultures and cults have stories about ancient proto-religion, although everyone sees it in their own way. The gods are primordial and unimaginably old, they live not only in the very fabric of existence, but also in people living Their myths since the dawn of mankind. At the deep levels of the Craft, the witch directly interacts with spirits, ancestors (not only or not so much ancestral as with ancestors along the paths of the Craft itself) and Gods. This makes him the heir to an endless line of succession and power. If a person is ready for it and will be able to correctly disclose.

Of course, this does not mean that a practitioner is not a social person who is interested only in magical and spiritual things. Pagans are often very modern people. The witch is also a part of society, just more than purely human, including all Nature and Spirits. It is not necessary to limit oneself to purely human affairs and problems in the knowledge and study of the boundless depth and power of the existence of magic. It is not worth raising your gaze to the great Starry Sky, at least sometimes tearing off its fuss and other people's problems. But it's not worth going too far away from the solid world with your thoughts, otherwise you can lose your grounding and adequacy of thought.

It is worth turning to the Starry Heavens in the magical plan if you feel confident enough in the Middle World. Grounded and strong in consciousness.

By itself, the path of Ancient Art is a path in Eternity, a spiral dance of the spirit together with the Universe. Wicca is unity with Mother Nature, it is the whisper of the forest, the whisper of fields and meadows, it is the rustle of the Silver Wind blowing among the Stars. This is a bright morning kiss of the rising Sun and a gentle evening kiss of the Moon. It's a wink with the Stars. When the very walk through the forest becomes a rite. A witch's dance in time. Harmony with the universe, breathing with Its rhythms, singing with Its voice. Healing the World. This is a wonderful inspiration, delight and thrill of the Soul. This is unity with Spirits and knowledge directly from Them. This is the knowledge of the Great Spirits, the Spirits of Nature and the Stars, which they have always directly given to witches. Every good witch, who in her heart wants to embark on the path of the Craft of the Wise, is already initiated by the Gods and Spirits. And Nature itself is our Temple. This is the love of the Ancient Gods. This is the way of the Great Spirit.

Wicca is a path from incredible antiquity to an endless future. This is the voice of the Starry Heavens. This is a Gift From the Mother of the Universe. The Ancient Art of the Wise.

Viktor Aradia.

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Living Witchcraft, a deep path of power and wisdom.

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Wicca is one of the most ancient and at the same time the most modern mystical traditions. It is ancient with its roots in Neolithic cults and its Gods. It is modern in that new currents are constantly emerging, texts are being written and new mysteries are being discovered, theology is developing and ethics is being improved, rituals are being created and witches turn to the Gods in various forms. Wicca is where traditions serve people, not people serve traditions. At least for most Wiccans. Wicca is progressive due to the metacultural approach and the subtle unity of all pantheons, due to the freedom of the spirit. Like a Great Mother who covers almost everything with her wings. Except what was created by human malice and greed, until it is cleansed and healed. Wicca is metamorphic, adaptable to almost any culture and tradition (if there is agreement with the Creed). Wicca sees everything in the universe alive and spiritualized. And the spirits of everything are connected with each other, as well as with the World Soul. The faces and forms of which are innumerable. This helps witches to realize and receive the heritage of not one culture or tradition, but a universal spiritual heritage, the unity of uniqueness.

Some Wiccans or practitioners of other traditions sometimes say that they have difficulty comprehending the depth of Wicca, learning and practicing deep levels of Art. That having studied everything at easy levels and basics, they do not know what to do next. And that's why they sometimes superficially think of Wicca as "simple magic for beginners." For me personally, this is strange and not very clear. There is incredible depth and power in Wicca, but it is not easy to achieve. It is necessary to spend time on thoughtful study and practice, to understand and comprehend many symbolic keys from the world of living and primordial witchcraft. The Goddess, as I myself feel, has always harmoniously translated me from level to level (although this word is rather conditional here, remember this) and I have always tried to trust Her. Something came by itself, something through experienced friends and fellow witches who came at the right time. Perhaps, of course, the thing is that initially I was a medium and felt the spirit world. My first mediumistic experiences, spontaneous at that time, were at a very young age. This left its "strangeness" imprints, but my problem was rather different. After a long dark path of chaos and voidness in the Far East, the Goddess blocked my power and full-fledged vision for a while. Not because of the "sinfulness" of these occupations, although they are, of course, often destructive to a person in many ways, are not literate in practice and many types are meaningless for the development of the spirit. And because of the fact that "I went too far and saw too much," plus, sometimes doing not very safe practices. Now I understand that this was an important segment of the path that taught me a lot and gave me experience, allowed me to become stronger and wiser. He left something that cannot be expressed in words. But after returning (which did not happen easily and quickly) to natural witchcraft and heavenly types of shamanism, later transformed into priesthood (pagan theurgy), over time, vision and power began to return. I say returns because it can be expressed in one of the old Wiccan formulas: "a witch once is a witch forever." Which means witchcraft is the path of many lives. And the desire for the Celestial spheres (Stellar, Cosmic) is the essence of any soul, simply realized over time.

Comprehending the old Wiccan witchcraft in its various forms, the original power of natural magic and celestial (associated with the Upper World, first of all) forms of shamanism, and later the priesthood - you clearly see that their depth and limits extend to infinity. People in all parts of the world have left an untold amount of occult and philosophical heritage for all time, it is impossible to study everything even if you pick and choose what is close and what is not. The flow of the power and wisdom of the Eternal Mother can be comprehended endlessly, and infinitely carried out in applied forms of Craft (both for oneself and for others). The knowledge of the Gods, the Universe, and even oneself is infinite. By studying similar and related areas of pagan magic, such as Northern Runic or Celtic shamanism, Stregeria, Fairy tradition, Hecateana, and so on, I was able to harmoniously integrate them into my system of Wiccan witchcraft. It was already ready for integration, even more, it was already one with each other. "If it is not in you, you will not find it somewhere else," as the wise "Testament of the Goddess" says. You just need to look from the position of a mystic and a practitioner, in my opinion. And if it turns out to do it competently and harmoniously, you see the flow of infinite knowledge of the Mother of the Universe from new facets. This crystal has an infinite number of facets, it is always interesting to discover new ones. So I don't quite understand when people think they don't know where to go next. But for those who really have it or who want to move even further in knowledge, to whom it resonates in the heart - for those, this book is a Star Craft. It is only worth remembering that many aspects of the practices of the traditions of Star Witchcraft and Star Hecate require knowledge of the basics of witchcraft and skills of clairvoyance, clairvoyance. I will try to describe how to develop them.

Witchcraft is not a human religious-occult dry construct - words written in books (even if grimoires). Sometimes, in the social part, Witchcraft (the one that Wicca) can lose its depth behind some social ideas. But if you are not afraid to go further, behind these rows of dry data there will be a whole living world containing deep forests, endless steppes, high mountains and eternal sky. That which is the essence of spiritual and magical life. The balance of spiritual, magical and everyday life, the unity of everything. You just need not be afraid to leave the stuffy city full of dusty ego ambitions - the city of your consciousness - into a living world full of life and magic.

Of course, there is no need to strive to be cut off from society by a strange type, in modern times witchcraft is quite social (standing firmly on your feet is also important). But not only and not so much socially. These are not texts and doctrines (which only form the basis), but practices and cognition. The practice of improving life, developing the mind and improving the spirit. When a witch is the one or the one who really Knows. And it doesn't matter how fashionable clothes he or she is wearing and how beautiful words he or she speaks.

It is not just a set of beliefs and views (each person has his own), it is a full and deep life. Interaction with the world both through a social institution (of course, Wicca has certain boundaries and canons, after all) and through its gift.

Even living in a city, it is a search and finding within yourself living forests and meadows, high mountains and deep caves, boundless skies. It is a dance of the spirit embodied on Earth under the eternal Starry sky. Witchcraft and shamanism as living with the world and improving oneself in the world, priesthood as living with the Gods and knowing oneself in the universe.

Many researchers and seekers, theosophists and theologians, practitioners and thinkers have written about the Mother of the World - the Mother of the Universe. The spirit of its cognition by people permeates the entire history of mankind. Since the dawn of the epochs, people have fixed their eyes to the Starry sky and felt the rhythms of life of the living Earth around them. Traces of the cult of the Mother of the World can be found in almost all cultures and cults. This is a secret knowledge hidden from the superficial profane eye. Knowledge that opens up to an inquisitive mind and an inspired researcher. Aspiring to know.

It is not so important whether parts of this knowledge and paths in different currents and traditions are seeds sown by the Mother herself for seeking souls striving for Infinity, or whether they are fragments of the once unified cult of the Great Mother. For an inspired spirit and an open mind, this is one, because the desire for enlightenment is above all. The flame of Her Spirit ignites hearts and minds, creating poets, bards and mystics. The mother of spirits and souls, the Great Spirit that incarnates everywhere in matter. A unity that contains everything and knows itself through its incarnate children, manifested Gods, earthly elements and everything else.

Blessings.

Viktor Aradia.

 

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Notes on an Old Craft.

 

About the philosophy and mysticism of pagan witchcraft and shamanism. In the mythopoetic style.

Theology, mythology and theory of the Old Craft — The Art of the Wise. The Divine, the Way, and magic in Wiccan Witchcraft.

 

Theology - Divine.

The Great Mother of the Universe is the source and basis of everything, the very essence of the universe.  Absolute, the One, Unnamed, Dryghtyn, Cuacoralina, the source of everything. The Goddess and God are Her manifestations and manifestations to living beings. In some witchcraft traditions, God is equal to the Goddess. In some cases, Her role is a little bigger. But They always remain one with each other, in each other. They are not separable from each other and it is impossible to say where the line clearly runs between Them, They are One. She is Him, and He is Her. Everyone chooses only what is closer to him. They also generate countless Spirits, Gods, and so on. In their high forms, many Gods are faces (hypostases) Goddesses and God. The very concept of the Mother of the Universe is metaphysical and spiritual, androgynous and beyond hollow, beyond human, cosmic. Therefore, It is one in both women and men, in animals, plants, stones, spirits, and so on. She is the World Soul and the Great Spirit, the Universe itself, Emptiness and Matter, Time and Timelessness, Starlight and Interstellar Darkness, God and Goddess. Everyone sees It in their own way. The conscious spiritual connection of each being (incarnate or not) with the Goddess and God (in any of Their forms), and the World Soul, depends on the degree of awareness and development of consciousness of the being itself.

Mythology - Way.

If we compare natural Wiccan witchcraft with the World Tree, then its roots will be in the infinite past, and its branches in the eternal future. There are a great many branches of it, with a very different history. The origin of Wiccan witchcraft and shamanism in the ancient Neolithic cults of the Great Mother, which existed in one form or another, probably in many parts of the Earth. And one of the most famous examples here is Old Europe. They represent different faces and images of the one Mother of the Universe. They are quite harmoniously combined with other cults and traditions of various Spirits and Gods. Over time, they went through the stages of fragmentation, transformation, distortion, demonization, renewal, reorganization, and so on. In modern times, they merge together again. In what can be called Wicca. Despite all its variety of variations, approaches to theurgy and magic, paradigms of thinking of practitioners, and so on. Although this is a complex process, which is influenced by the human factor in the form of conflicts of figures of different traditions (currents, orders, etc.) with each other. But the worlds of Spirits and Gods are really much more connected with each other than it sometimes seems to people separated from each other by many different conventions.

Theory - Magic.

The magic of natural witchcraft and Wiccan shamanism is primordial, it is primarily based on the energies of the Earth, the Sun and the Moon. The power of the elements, the harmony of Earth and Heaven. The search for harmony of the human personality and the Divine Spirit. At the same time, the search for oneself in the universe and the desire for a joyful life here and now. Magic as an opportunity to improve your life, but with a desire for development and connection with everything that exists. The connection of every pagan witch or shaman with natural and heavenly Gods, Spirits. The ability to perceive other worlds, interact with them. Spirituality, manifested both in cognition and in applied form. These kinds of magic were before all kinds of magical-spiritual paths. From them later arose the priesthood (theurgy, which was originally completely pagan). With the development of human thought, they were also transformed, supplemented, distorted, demonized, updated and merged together again. And despite all kinds of demonized magic, it has always been and will always be. After all, by attuning to the rhythms of the Wheel of the Year, the currents of the Earth and Heaven, the inspiration of the Divine — we can draw our strength and live in harmony.

Viktor Aradia.

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Fundamentals of the modern approach.

 

The Craft of the Wise is inexpressibly old and multifaceted, it is the common spiritual and mystical heritage of all mankind and the Spirits associated with it. There are many images and keys: witchcraft, shamanism, druidism and so on - the essence is the same.

Shamanism can be ethnic (or national), urban (or international), Wiccan, and so on. Witchcraft can be traditional (or rustic), ceremonial (or orthodox/orthopraxic), pagan (natural), Wiccan, and so on. There may be a focus on different worlds and streams (Upper-World, Middle-world, Lower-world). It can be manifested through a different worldview, the level of perception or the depth of knowledge. But one way or another it is one, but it is very diverse. The legacy of the eternal union of humanity and the spirit world, it is as old as time itself. It is international and universal, it just has a lot of keys and approaches. It merges together in Wicca, in our understanding of it - Stellar Witchcraft. And sometimes it is supplemented with the image of Hecate - the Stellar Hekateane. This is the eternal shamanic-witchy Old Art of the Wise, the path of the personal priesthood of the Great Mother of the Universe in Her various faces. The path of love of the soul of a being to the Universal Soul, the path of wandering and knowledge long into Eternity.

The tradition of all the diverse paganism (witchcraft, shamanism) is not extinguished coals, it is a living fire. This fire is as old as the lights of the first stars and as young as a newly lit match. He is eternal and many-sided. Like the spirit world itself, from which people have been drawing wisdom from time immemorial. Tradition (Wicca, natural witchcraft, shamanism, druidism, etc.) is not just applied art and how to make your life better. And even more so, it's not easy to become cooler and richer. Not the dogmatism of traditionalism or consumer magic outside the context of the spirit that extremes. Tradition is the transmission of wisdom and the desire for knowledge, enlightenment and development, harmony with the universe. From Gods, ancestors and spirits to people. The balance between the worlds of people and spirits. A look into Eternity. The soul's infatuation with the World Soul. In its literate aspect, tradition gives roots for communication with the Earth and leaves for the freedom of flight into the Sky. The power of the Earth and the inspiration of the Starry Heavens. Coven, community or solitary is everyone's choice. But it is possible to engage in magical and spiritual practice without any order or organization. After all, they often have a lot of dogmas and hierarchies. A really friendly and cozy circle is not often found.

The pagan Craft of the Wise dates back to the times of animism, the first spirituality of all mankind. Theology, philosophy, practice — the art of living in harmony with the World. An art that has been studied for many years and lifetimes.

Wicca, like Witchcraft and Shamanism in general, very often relies on eclectic and syncretic approaches. But the question is that for competent magic, eclecticism must be wise and thoughtful. Eclecticism itself is probably the most common type of magic and paganism. At the same time, it is quite historical, in ancient cultures there were often mixing and flowing of some images into others. The ways of Witchcraft are based, in many ways, on personal feelings and personal search for an approach to the Divine, their transitions between the worlds of people and spirits. But it is important that it is done correctly, and not at random. For the greatest balance, the magical-spiritual approach of the pagan natural witch can be based on the following important points: personal strength and personal development; the search for harmony with the world; the power of the elements; the forces of the Sun, Moon and Earth; harmony between Earth and Sky, Day and Night. Each of these points is important. Having found your own balance and approach in this, your eclecticism will not just be a shapeless set of disparate moments, but more assembled into a personal structure.

It is important to remember that when you take a particular rite, technique or conspiracy from the Internet or other people's books, you need to understand what it brings with it. On what rules and energies it was built, with what forces it worked, what keys it used, and so on. Some things can be quite easy to adapt (for example, views on the Gods). Some are already more complicated and a more subtle approach is needed (for example, details of local spirit worlds). And some cannot be mixed (for example, specific keys to practice, local forces or specific flows). Sometimes it will be better to think carefully and separate, sometimes you can combine. Over time, you will understand what and how. The main thing is not to rush and be thoughtful. Sort out the details. And then see what integrates well and what doesn't. Wicca is almost universal, excluding some points (for example, non-ethical currents, destructive and demonized traditions, etc.). But any approach should be wise and competent. Then he will bring inspiration and strength. For the good.

Sometimes people ask me what our tradition is for me (and our circle) - Stellar Witchcraft, and why not take something "already ready and developed". The question is simple and complex at the same time. Star Witchcraft is an opportunity to give something new to the world, to bring something good into the Craft of the Wise (witchcraft, shamanism) and cult (or occult) itself) Great Mother, and interested people. Discover and strive for knowledge. Development, support and inspiration. Wings of the soul. Another bridge between the worlds of spirits and people (or perhaps the development of existing ones, some Gods will say for sure), for seekers. The High priesthood as it is, on the paths of the Mother of the Universe. But this is not just a new tradition in itself. Like some others (for example: the tradition of Fairy witchcraft, some types of Wicca, etc.), it originates in the spirit world and the Upper World, as well as the ancient culture of the Great Mother. Of course, it is easier to follow completely "beaten paths", but when have practitioners and mystics who want to study the Art of the Wise in depth walked like this?) Based on the solid foundation of the old witchcraft and shamanism, we continue its inspiring development. Standing firmly on the Ground, we direct the gaze of the spirit to Heaven. As in the ancient mysteries: "I am a child of the Earth and the Starry Sky, but my family is only from Heaven." The witchcraft of the paths of the Starry spheres, manifested on Earth.

The basics of theory, theology and the basics of the practice of tradition are in our groups or on the website (https://spiritofgoddess.wixsite.com/spirit/contact-us). Although the most complete excursion into both tradition and natural witchcraft in general will be in my book. According to the material, it is almost ready, but there remains a lot of work on editing, proofreading, and so on.

Peace and wisdom.

Viktor Aradia.

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The Precepts of Witchcraft.

 

Knowing the ways of the World Soul.

Witchcraft (Ancient Craft) old. It dates back to the days of primitive animism. He has many different currents and everyone sees him purely in his own way. It is international and diverse. There are no absolute dogmas in it. But it is possible to single out what can be conditionally called the Precepts of Witchcraft.

 

1) Respect the Great Craft of the Wise – the ancient way of cognition and development, comprehension of oneself and the Universe, pagan theurgy, shamanic and witchy Art.

 

2) Do not harm your own. All witches of the Craft of the Wise are brothers and sisters to each other, children of the one and many-faced Great Mother. You may disagree with your brother (sister) in something, but try not to go against him (her). Although you can quite defend yourself from those who do not know the honor of the Wise, forgot about the spirit and attacks you, behaves aggressively and cruelly. The main thing in retribution is to act wisely and wisely.

 

3) Strive for self-development. The path of self-development of the spirit, mind and body is endless. It leads to Heaven. Avoid only harmful and negative currents on it, they can harm both you and others.

 

4) Love is sacred. All Love is holy if it is done without violence. Violence is unacceptable, because every soul is a spark of the Divine Spirit. Although self-defense is also a sacred right.

 

5) Respect Nature and the Spirit world. It is a Source of Strength and Wisdom. The practices of the Craft of the Wise (Witchcraft, Shamanism — it is one) go back to Natural and Heavenly Spirits, Powers and Gods. Earth and Sky. Don't demonize or distort it.

 

6) Honor your close Spirits and beware of malicious ones. Not everything in Nature is safe. But everything has the right to life. Living in the rhythms of harmony with Spirits and Nature, you can draw your strength from the Universe itself.

 

7) Remember, the basis of any magic in the first place is spirituality. The basis of spirituality is peacefulness.

 

This is the path of Strength and Wisdom. Striving for it is steps along this path.

Be blessed.

 

Unfortunately, not all kinds of ways of shamanic-witchcraft have retained their desire for knowledge, wisdom and harmony with the World. Many have been distorted and demonized, be careful and thoughtful. Peace and Wisdom.

Viktor Aradia, Wiccan High Priest.

 

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The basic rules of witchcraft.

 

When doing witchcraft, remember the following important things and advices.

— The craft of the Wise is the oldest way of knowing oneself and the Universe, interacting with the Universe.

— The gift is the hands of your soul; be wise and follow the ways of the Great Spirit (World Soul).

- Remember that many, but not all rituals, you can adapt to yourself. It's worth doing this when you are already a more or less experienced witch and know what's what.

- Study the theory carefully before you start practicing. Don't do anything thoughtlessly and at random, having barely found any practice. Not knowing the ford, as they say. Be careful.

- Remember that the ritual alone is not a guarantee that everything will be the way you want. The ritual helps to increase the possibilities of the desired, but it is necessary to apply some "material" efforts. Don't sit still.

- Do not invite any forces without taking care of protecting (both your personal and space) — it may not be safe. Do not call anyone if you do not know how to safely complete the practice and close all the "doors" afterwards.

- Before embarking on complex practices, engage in the development of your energy. The more developed your energy, the more energy you can direct to the realization of the purpose of your witchcraft. But at the same time, it is also not very deliberate to act only on personal strength; learn to work at least with the energies of the Sun, Moon and Earth.

— Carefully study your reactions to certain practices, be attentive to yourself. Don't be paranoid, but also don't do "at random".

- Before addressing any Gods or spirits, study well the generally accepted views on them. But remember that each practitioner sees Them in his own way — nothing can limit you in perceiving Them. The faces of the Infinite are plural.

- Respect your helper spirits and Patron Gods, if there are any. Do not forget them, try to make offerings and practice with Them — this, like nothing else, strengthens the connection.

— Be careful in any practices with spirits. It is not worth starting deep work with Spirits and Gods (for example, invocations) if you have little experience of practical witchcraft (not how many years you have been in Wicca ... just hanging out, namely applied magic).

- After "otherworldly" practices, practices with spirits and astral travel, get grounded, clean yourself and your room! And don't forget about protection.

- Never "feed" anyone with your life force. This is extremely unreasonable and always has negative consequences. Also try not to confuse Gods, various spirits and helper spirits with astral parasites-deceivers.

- Don't forget about meditations; this is one of the basics of magical practice. They can be very diverse.

- Do not forget about the prayers and thanks to the Great Mother/Great Spirit, natural and heavenly spirits or other forces to which you turn.

- Live in sync with natural vibrations, forces and currents: the Sun, Moon and Earth, Heavenly and Earthly spirits. Do not call destructive and black forces into your life - it is reckless and dangerous.

- Do not forget about your body, physical exercises. Love your body. The body is a temple, a receptacle of the Divine, born of Mother Earth and preserved by Heaven. Plus it helps in grounding and overall development.

— Do not forget about your mind — strengthening the psyche, healing psychotrauma, developing imagination, etc. This will help you to be stronger — in magic a lot depends on consciousness. From grounding to forces that you can work with competently and safely. Consciousness is a lens through which the light of the Source passes and is refracted (speaking abstractly). A lot depends on it in the Craft, interaction with the World and the interaction of the World with you. But be careful and wise, take your time and act thoughtfully.

- Do not forget about self-development in general; without it, everything is meaningless.

- Do not engage in practices that seem unreliable and suspicious to you - do not take risks in vain.

- Be careful with other people's magical egregors, especially with egregors of closed occult structures. You don't know how easy or difficult it can be to get out of there, in all plans.

- Before you become a witch (magician, shaman, druid), you need to learn how to be Human. Adequate, conscious and harmonious.

- Do not aggravate karma with malicious actions — everything comes back! A person shapes his own subsequent lives and this life; be wise and well-directed.

— Try to avoid black magic and demonized practices and appeals to Gods or spirits. Pagan witchcraft is free from this, like the Earth and the Sky, the elements and the stars themselves.

- Energy is absolute in its original form, it has no color and gender. They are "endowed" by people for their convenience. The difference is only in the manifestations of energies and their interpretation by consciousness.

— Witchcraft is everywhere if you are in balance with the World. Where an orthodox practitioner needs mandatory conditions and attributes, a competent sorcerer can do everything under almost any conditions. If you are experienced enough. Although, sometimes special conditions are really important.

- You are free to defend yourself from someone else's aggression. But not thoughtlessly and selfishly. Try to minimize the damage you cause, if possible. Self—defense is not an excuse for cruelty. But the witch's self—defense is quite consistent with the Credo and has every right to be.

- Respect your magic items — your assistants in the Craft. They also fulfill their spiritual mission together with you.

- Periodically, the protection should be updated, because over time it tends to "wear out" and thin out.

- Don't be afraid to be yourself, don't follow "authorities" and "dogmas". Witchcraft is a creative way. Just be careful and careful. But this does not mean disrespect for the wiser (namely the wise, not just the strong).

— There are a great many different views on Craft and magic in general. Do not be surprised at the difference of views among different practitioners, even within the framework of any one tradition.

— Faith (not as a religion, but a Stream) this is the heart, the path itself. And magic is the mind, the steps along the path and its manifestations in life. In fusion and harmony, they generate a balance of Spirit.

— Craft (witchcraft, shamanism) is adaptable and multivariate. You can combine different elements in your practice if it is harmoniously combined for you and it is normal in your picture of the world. And if your main thread allows it (if you have one). Even threads can sometimes be combined with each other if they are combinable, and you are a master and able to do it. But before you do this, gain experience and do it deliberately.

— The essence and structure of the magical powers and practices with which you work can change not only from consciousness and perception (i.e. personality), but also from streams, myths (with which you work and live in), spirits, Gods, terrain features, your karma, astrological factors, geopolitical or geological events, and many other things. Do not be afraid of this and do not be paranoid, checking everything to perfectionism, but increase your level of education.

— Do not forget to check yourself sometimes and soberly evaluate your actions. To "file" the crown of magical conceit, because it can greatly distort perception.

— Do not forget about grounding - it will help you to keep yourself "here and now". Also, do not neglect socialization, so as not to make unnecessary enemies for yourself (including in society). And to know where more or less the "wind blows" in the life of society. Try to think about everything you do (both in magic and in general).

- Strive for Heaven, because if you follow the paths of a good and blessed Craft, then your soul spreads its wings and soars...

— The Great Spirit / The Source of Everything/The Universal Soul is Perfect love and Perfect trust. So it was in the old witch's testament.

Be sensible, careful and attentive.

And be blessed. For the good!
Viktor Aradia.