Theosophy - The Theosophical Movement

The Theosophy Movement was spearheaded by Madame Helena Petrovna
Blavatsky. She founded the Theosophical Society in 1875 to promote
what is termed in the Greek "God Wisdom".

The idea that certain ideals and virtues lead a person closer to
what she called "The Absolute".

A few of these things are Science, Philosophy, Astronomy, even
Philanthropy. Also noted is the belief in a seven layered soul
construct in every being.

Everyone is said to have begun as pure spirit, next becoming great
sexless beings like the people of the mythic "Hyperboria" to the polar
north, moving then on to the giant "Lemurians" who were of human
consciousness and capable of sexual reproduction then as the people
of "Atlantis". Blavatsky claims that most humans now are in the fifth
cycle and working toward a Lemurian cycle next in our evolution.

Blavatsky authored her first tome "Isis Unveiled" in the year 1877 and
her second major work "The Secret Doctrine" in 1888 which contains a
commentary on The "Book of Dzyan".

Some of the most famous, people influenced by Blavatsky and the
Theosophical Movement are, Guido von List and his followers such as
Lanz von Liebenfels, the members of the Nazi "The Thule Society" and later
Rudolf Steiner as well as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,

One of her most notable opponent, though one of many, is entertainer
and Magician Harry Houdini.

Goddess Worship

Though obviously a favorite among women there are a good number of men that
consider themselves Goddess Worshipers. The Goddess in this path is seen as
the creatrix, protector, teacher and nurturer of everything in existence.

There is no one set Goddess instead many Goddesses are worshiped as principals
of the Divine Goddess Principle. In this way it is likened to Wicca but without a
strong /MaleGod presence. In Wicca, the Goddess is the "First among Equals".

They invoke the Gaia principal, that the Earth herself is a Goddess and
everything that is a part of the Earth is an integral part of the Goddess. As
such they are deeply aware of ecological concerns. Harming the Earth is harming
their Mother Goddess.

Many see this form of worship a great redress for the harm that has been wrought
over thousands of years by the patro-centeric Abrahamic religions.

Shinto

"The Way of The Gods"
Traditional spiritual path of the Japanese. It is estimated that over
130,000,000 people are Shinto. Peace and beauty are sought in this
way of life.

Shinto is a very simple spiritual path that has much power there is no
real God worship in Shinto. A purely animistic view gives that "Kami" are
the Divine in everything from people to trees. It is said that there are
8 million Kami and this has been interpreted to mean that there are Kami
for everything that there is. The major Kami in Shinto are:

Amaterasu "Great Goddess who shines from the Heavens" she is the Sun Kami
and it is from her that the Japanese Royal line descends.
Uzume The Dawn Kami,
Kami-no-Kaze The Wind Kami who is so old that he was there at the time of
creation,
Hachiman-shin or Yawata no Kami The Kami of War and Protector of Japan,
Inari the androgenous Rice Kami who grants fertility,
Izanagi Kami of Creation and Life and his wife/sister Izanami Kami of
Creation and Death, they are the parents of Amaterasu, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi.
Omoikane The Kami of Wisdom and Council of The Kami themselves,
Raiden The Kami (or Oni) of Thunder and Lightning,
Owatatsumi Dragon God of The Sea,
Suijin Kami of Water,
Susanoo-no-Mikoto The Storm Kami,
Tsukiyomino Mikoto The Moon Kami and brother of Amaterasu and Susanoo.

Along with the Great Kami are the Seven Lucky Gods

Benten Goddess of the Flowing, such as words, knowledge, thoughts and poetry
Tamonten Punisher of Criminals and God of Fortunate Warriors
Daikoku God of The Wealth of The Harvest and The Household
Yebisu The Laughing God, First child of Izanagi and Izanami
Fukurokuju, Sothern Pole Star God of Longevity and Wisdom
Hotei God of Contentment and Abundance "Laughing Buddha"
Kudokuden Goddess of Beauty, Happiness and Fertility

The Kami are neither good nor evil and are capable of both and anything
in between. "Things are as they are."

Aside from Kami there are also Oni, Kappa and Yurei.

Oni are something like Otherworldly Deamons who, although not specifically
evil, do often bring disaster, death and plague. Some dead turn into Oni
and others into Yurei.
Yurei are ghosts, and they can be dangerous as they are unsettled and often
quite unhappy.

Though there are no church services in the Shinto religion there are
many shrines big and small. Everything from a tiny niche by the road side
to a full sized temple for many attendants and monks. Each family has a
personal shrine in their house. Usually a small niche or table layed out
with statues of Kami, pictures of ancestors, candles and offerings of
incense and often strung over with zig-zag strips of paper or straw called a
Shimenawa for protection. They mimic the public shrines in every way on a miniature scale.

An ancient and unbroken tradition of ancestor veneration is still very strong
in the practice of Shinto as are moral codes of conduct. These aspects as well
as the awareness of the Kami are integral parts of everyday life.

The practices associated with the Shinto lifestyle are harvest
celebrations as well as others to mark the passing of the seasons of the
year. It is surmised that these are the reasons that Japan has been so easily
able to move forward into the future while not for a moment forgetting it's
past, continuing on with a core sense of self.

Lunar Magic

Working Magic With The Moon
     

 The light shed from the face of the Moon is not its own but that of the Sun as
it lies hidden beyond the horizon. The Moon is a beaming beacon of borrowed light
and not the self-illuminated object it appears to be at first glance. When we see
by the reflected light of the Moon there is an ethereal quality to all we view,
though it is often driven from us by the more direct light of the Sun. We see
these mysterious things most often at night and they later flee into the shadows.
As The Sun rules the magic of the Physical World, so the Moon does rule that of
the Otherworld, the unmade and the unseen.

 The Moon and all she governs is feminine and highly mysterious. Women are
empowered and feel at home in the Moon's influence and men are intoxicated by
its subtle and enigmatic workings as they are by women themselves. Indeed
working with the Moon promotes knowledge of women and mystery.

 The nature of the power that the Moon wields is manifold and changeable as it
cycles through New Moon to full and back again. Her energy ebbs and flows like
the tides which she also rules. As the Moon waxes it grows stronger and this is
the time for any magic that relates to waxing and increase. Conversely, during the
time the Moon is waning and growing dark we work spells cleanse, remove and undo
that which we find undesirable.

 Magic can be affected any time you put your will toward your intention. Utilizing
the effects of the Moon is in no way necessary, mearly another powerful force you
can use to your advantage.

 If you wish to gain power from the Moon you may perform an Esbat. An Esbat is a
Lunar Rite which is performed at any of the three phases of the Moon's power. A
Full Moon Esbat is any rite to gain the power of the Full Moon and would be done
in the interest of spells and workings of growth and increase. The New sometimes
called "Dark" Moon Esbat and the Waxing Crescent Esbat are for clearing away the
old and broken and for starting new projects respectively.

Esbats are used to honour Lunar Deities if you wish to do so. They are of great
help with Lunar Magic to say the least.

 A simple example of an Esbat. Choose a phase of the Moon, (Full, Waxing or Dark)
from which you wish to draw power and find the next time the moon enters that
phase. Choose a candle and cloth of the appropriate colour (See below) and a proper
incense. On the night of or just before the desired phase of the Moon choose a
quiet spot in front of a window through which you have a good view of the Moon and
its light shines in upon you as you work (or shadow as with the Dark Moon). You may
choose to have a candle and a small cloth to place underneath, some incense, matches,
and a candle snuffer.

 In front of the window set the candle in a holder on top of the cloth, light
the incense and let it smoulder. Light the candle and speak some words to the
effect that you are harnessing the power of the "Full/Waxing/Dark" Moon. You
can state that the power be channeled into you at that moment or that it be
channeled into the candle. If you are just starting out you may want to choose
to have the energy stored in the candle, that way when you wish to cast a spell
and the Moon is out of the proper phase you need only light the candle to release
the stored energy. This can be added to any spell. If you are stating that the
Energy be stored in the candle, visualize it pouring into the candle until it is
fully charged then snuff the candle and store it till needed.

Spell Correspondences

SPELL CORRESPONDENCES
-------------------------
Use these lists of correspondences along with your
own intuition to craft spells at will.

Substitutions should be made at your disgression,
paying in mind the sympathies involved. Any act or
object with a strong sympathy may be used in a Rite
or a spell successfully. Use your senses to decide
when in doubt or find council. For example, it is
not hard to see why Gold has strong sympathies to
both the Sun and to Wealth. This is the principal
you should use in your Spellcraft.

To test an object, colour, herb or stone for use
in a spell, place your hand on it and meditate on
it and your intention. You need not meditate very
long, you should be able to feel quite quickly if
the object and your intent are linked by strong
sympathies, whether or not they are listed here.
Let your intuition be your compass.

The Sun - Spell Correspondence

          THE SUN  
                   
Colours: Gold, Yellow.
Element: Fire
Stones & Metals: Gold, Amber, Ametrine, Carnelian, Cat's Eye, Citrine,
 Herkimer Diamond, Diamond, Pyrite, Quartz, Ruby, Sunstone, Tiger's Eye,
 Topaz.
Lunar Phase: Full Moon
Day of the Week: Sunday
Time of Day: Noon
Planet: Sun
Herbs, Incense & Oils: Mistletoe, Rosemary, Rue, Saffron, Sage,
 Goldenseal, Heliotrope, Angelica, Bay, Centaury, Cinnamon, Citron,
 Thyme, Ginseng, Goldenrod, High John the Conqueror, Yarrow,
 Adder's Tongue, Agrimony, Allspice, Borage, Caraway Seed, Celandine,
 Eyebright, Galangal Root, Cinnamon, Mistletoe, Wood Aloe, Sandalwood.
Resins: Benzoin, Copal, Frankincense, Gum Arabic, Gum Mastic.
Woods: Oak, Ash, Birch, Fir, Walnut, Juniper, Cedar Wood.
Flower: Sunflower, Chamomile, Daisy, Marigold.
Fruit: Orange, Tangerine, Pineapple, Oat.
Symbols: Quartered Circle
Animals: Eagle, Phoenix.
The Sun governs: Love, Success, Day, Fire, Masculinity, Illumination,
 The Self, Ego, Authority Figures, Promotion, Friendship, Healing,
 World Leaders, Gods and the Divine, Fathers.

The Moon - Spell Correspondence

       THE MOON  
                   
Colours: Silver, White.
Element: Water
Stones & Metals: Moonstone, Selenite, Silver.
Lunar Phase: Full Moon
Day of the Week: Monday
Time of Day: Midnight
Planet: Moon
Herbs, Incense & Oils: Lemon Balm, Poppy Seed, Calamus.
Resins: Myrrh, Camphor.
Woods: Willow, Sandalwood.
Flower: Gardenia, Jasmine, Lotus.
Fruit: Coconut, Grape, Lemon.
Symbols: Crescent Moon
Animals: Owl, Cat.
The Moon governs: Night, Women, Water, Intuition, Children/Birth,
 The Home & Family, Herb Gardens, Celibacy, Tides, Brewing, Divination,
 Rebirth, Reincarnation, Dreams, Psychic Abilities, Introspection,
 Secrets, Meditation.