smokingboot (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
smokingboot) wrote2005-10-11 11:18 pm
smokingboot) wrote2005-10-11 11:18 pm
Legend of the Witches; the first of many halloween rambles
Halloween is coming. In early celebration of it (and another funky new icon)*I copy down here a legend of modern Wicca, in answer to a question asked of me recently. I was asked kind of what my problem is with death: the question was gently formed and indistinctly answered, but it proves a fine excuse for the story below.
There's plenty to lift eyebrows at, in this mishmash of bits and pieces from Inanna's descent to the imprisonment of Persephone, and the bambi-isation of sophisticated goddess into fluffy bunny lover. Others might laugh at the references to scourging and bonds, and still others might wince at the cheesey dialogue. I regard myself as pantheist, and this story, central as it is to Wicca, is a new invention, not exactly classical paganism. But it is pretty in itself, and there is something magical about it. Anything that triggers the search for the divine must have some strength at its heart. Re-enactment of this story, transcending it and facing what lies within, is the challenge of the second degree of initiation into Wicca.
Now, the Witch Goddess had never loved, but she would solve all the Mysteries, even the Mystery of Death; and so she journeyed to the Nether Lands.
The Guardians of the Portals challenged her, "Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught may ye bring with ye into this our land."
So she laid down her garments and her jewels, and was bound, as are all who enter the Realms of Death the Mighty One.
Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt and Kissed her feet,saying, "Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me, let me place my cold hands on thy heart."
She replied, "I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all things that I love and take delight in to fade and die?"
"Lady", replied Death, "tis Age and Fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time I give them rest and peace, and strength so that they may return. But thou, thou art lovely. Return not; abide with me."
But she answered, "I love thee not."
Then said Death, "An thou receive not my hand on thy heart, thou must receive Death's scourge."
"It is Fate and better so", she said, and she knelt; and Death scourged her, and she cried, "I feel the pangs of love."
And Death said, "Blessed be", and gave her the fivefold kiss, saying, "Thus only may ye attain to joy and knowledge."
And he taught her all the Mysteries. And they loved and were one, and he taught her all the Magics.
For there are three great events in the life of man; Love, Death, and Resurrection in a new body; and Magic controls them all. For to fulfil love you must return again at the same time and place as the loved one, and you must remember and love them again. But to be reborn you must die, and be ready for a new body; and to die you must be born; and without love you may not be born. And these be all the Magics.
* I now have many icons. The time for a paid account has definitely arrived.
There's plenty to lift eyebrows at, in this mishmash of bits and pieces from Inanna's descent to the imprisonment of Persephone, and the bambi-isation of sophisticated goddess into fluffy bunny lover. Others might laugh at the references to scourging and bonds, and still others might wince at the cheesey dialogue. I regard myself as pantheist, and this story, central as it is to Wicca, is a new invention, not exactly classical paganism. But it is pretty in itself, and there is something magical about it. Anything that triggers the search for the divine must have some strength at its heart. Re-enactment of this story, transcending it and facing what lies within, is the challenge of the second degree of initiation into Wicca.
Now, the Witch Goddess had never loved, but she would solve all the Mysteries, even the Mystery of Death; and so she journeyed to the Nether Lands.
The Guardians of the Portals challenged her, "Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught may ye bring with ye into this our land."
So she laid down her garments and her jewels, and was bound, as are all who enter the Realms of Death the Mighty One.
Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt and Kissed her feet,saying, "Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me, let me place my cold hands on thy heart."
She replied, "I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all things that I love and take delight in to fade and die?"
"Lady", replied Death, "tis Age and Fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time I give them rest and peace, and strength so that they may return. But thou, thou art lovely. Return not; abide with me."
But she answered, "I love thee not."
Then said Death, "An thou receive not my hand on thy heart, thou must receive Death's scourge."
"It is Fate and better so", she said, and she knelt; and Death scourged her, and she cried, "I feel the pangs of love."
And Death said, "Blessed be", and gave her the fivefold kiss, saying, "Thus only may ye attain to joy and knowledge."
And he taught her all the Mysteries. And they loved and were one, and he taught her all the Magics.
For there are three great events in the life of man; Love, Death, and Resurrection in a new body; and Magic controls them all. For to fulfil love you must return again at the same time and place as the loved one, and you must remember and love them again. But to be reborn you must die, and be ready for a new body; and to die you must be born; and without love you may not be born. And these be all the Magics.
* I now have many icons. The time for a paid account has definitely arrived.
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I'm glad you like the story. It does resonate doesn't it?