Charleston October 3rd Fall Festival Updates

"Share the Harvest" Fall Festival at Wildflowers Metaphysical Center
Saturday, October 3, 2009--11:00-6:00


MUSIC and ENTERTAINMENT:
· David Wood, now performing as Lord SilverStar! Be prepared to be wonderfully enchanted as the haunting music of Lord SilverStar expertly carries us into the Dark Half of the Year! Featuring "Autumn Girls".
· Brhiannon, Songtress to the Goddess--Her energy and vocals will reach the deepest part of your soul. Her debut live performance!
· Tribal Desires Dance Troupe- Feel the heartbeat of the Earth and connect with the Goddess within. Two full performances by these incredible women!

SPIRAL DANCE!!!! Join together and flow with the energy of the changing Seasons in this open group activity. No dancing skills required!!!!!! Men, women and children will all enjoy this simple, yet powerful Dance of the Earth.

VENDORS & MERCHANTS
All local Craftspeople and Artisans
· Earthen Green - Eco-conscious herbal bath and body
· Jess' Tapestry - Handmade Wearables
· Verda’s Muse – Unique Handcrafted Jewelry
· The Red Serpent - Handcrafted and charmed Witchy and Pagan items by local and WV area Artisans (exquisite copper Art by Morgana of Parkersburg)
· Witch's Kitchen - Homemade baked goodies, hot dogs and beverages.....all with a touch of Harvest-time Magick!
· Susie's Stuff - Handcrafted Native American jewelry and more
· Henna Body Art
· Wildflower's WILL be open for browsing and shopping!!!!
......and more!!!!!!

PSYCHIC READERS
· Deidre
· Tim
· Aeson Knight
· Ryan Wilson


ENERGY WORK AND HEALING
· Gabriel and Gavin - MATRIX ENERGETICS
· Brandy - MASSAGE - Certified massage Therapist and Reiki Master
· Cindy - REIKI - 3rd Degree Reiki Master/Teacher

WORKSHOPS ($10 each)
Candle Magick - by Lady Bridwen
The Power of Words - by Lord SilverStar
Introduction to Energy Medicine - Dr. Linda Geronilla

DOOR PRIZE DRAWING EVERY HOUR!!!! Tickets available at Wildflower's checkout.

Remember..."SHARE THE HARVEST" is a food and supplies drive for our Fur-Friends! Thank you for your generosity and kindness!!!!!!

Be The Magick,

Lady Bridwen

Fall Festival in Charleston, WV

Wildflowers Fall Festival: "SHARE THE HARVEST!"

A GATHERING OF SHARING –No Admission or Vendor Fees!

Independent Craftspeople, Artists, Musicians, Healers and Psychic Readers sharing their Creations, Talents and Gifts

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009 - -11:00-6:00
Wildflowers Metaphysical Center-1512 Oakhurst Drive, Charleston, WV

(304) 746-0100

SHARE THE HARVEST is a charitable Benefit for our Fur-Friend community….Help us help!!!
Please bring pet food or other pet supply items that will be donated and delivered to the local Animal Shelter. Thank You!!!!!

MUSIC and SONG!!!!!
Enjoy the magickal music of David Wood performing as Lord SilverStar, featuring "Autumn Girls". David will be available for CD signing and photos.

Introducing Brhiannon, songstress to the Goddess. She is sure to enchant with her incredible voice and energy!


DANCE!!!!!
Get ready to feel the Earth's heartbeat as Charleston's Dance Troupe, Tribal Desires again delights us with an encore performance of "Sophia's Choice" and brings to us two new dance creations that will warm the autumn chill!


PSYCHIC FAIR!!!!!
The area's gifted psychic readers will be available throughout the day for private and confidential readings. (Individual charges set by independent Readers-no $$ to the Event)

INDEPENDENT CRAFTSPEOPLE!!!!!
Share the Harvest is happt to provide a venue for our community craftspeople and artists to share their talents, creations and gifts. (All prices for goods set by the vendor-no $$ to the Event).

ENERGY WORK AND HEALING!!!!!
Reiki, Matrix Energetics, Massage...Experience the ancient Art of energy balancing and healing at the hands of trained and experienced Energy Workers and Healers.

HOMEMADE TREATS!!!!!
Lady Bridwen's students will offer home-baked items and goodies. All with a touch of Harvest Blessing!

MINI WORKSHOPS!!!!!
Principles of Energy Healing- Lady Bridwen
The Power of Words -Lord SilverStar
Basic Candlemagick - Lady Bridwen
(workshops are $10 each)

We are still accepting vendors for this Event. Some restrictions apply. Please email me!

Come enjoy the beauty of Autumn and Community with us!

Be The Magick!

Lady Bridwen

Driving Directions to Wildflowers:
Drive Interstate Route 64 to Charleston, take the Oakwood Road State Rt.119 exit.
Proceed on Rt.119 south approximately 3 miles to the Davis Creek Rd - South Charleston exit.
(This will be the Wildflowers exit)
Turn left at the stop sign, there will then be an IGA store on your right.
Wildflowers will be the next business past IGA.

Huntington-40 minutes

Beckley-50 minutes

Parkersburg-75 minutes

Morgantown-130 minutes

Reflections on the “Witch’s Pyramid”: Part One

TO KNOW-TO WILL-TO DARE-TO KEEP SILENT

These are the pillars or sides of the Witches’ Pyramid which is considered the structural model for magickal working.

Together, the four powers form the foundation of magick. It is also called The Four Cornerstones of Magick (or Witchcraft, depending upon the tradition), The Four Powers of the Magus, Hermetic Quaternary and The Four Powers of the Sphinx.

Most modern books on basic Wicca at least mention the Pyramid, describe the four pillars and give a definition of each.

If you want to appreciate the roots of this process, we have to go deeper and explore our magickal and occult history.

The first mention of the concept or model of the Pyramid was presented as recently as 1981 by Clifford Bias, Spiritualist minister and founder of Universal Spiritualist Association and Ancient and Mystical Order of Seekers (A.M.O.S.).

In his publication, The Ritual Book of Magic, Bias writes:

"The Magus, the Theurgist, the True Witch stand on a pyramid of power whose foundation is a profound knowledge of the occult, whose four sides are creative imagination, a will of steel, a living faith and the ability to keep silent."

These four building blocks of magick are based on the Four Powers of the Sphinx as introduced in the writings of French occultist and magician, Eliphas Levi (born Alphonse Louis Constant, February 8, 1810 - May 31, 1875).
The following is from Transcendental Magick, Its Doctrine and Ritual (as translated into English by Arthur E. Waite):


"To attain the SANCTUM REGNUM, in other words, the knowledge and power of the Magi, there are four indispensable conditions - an intelligence illuminated by study, an intrepidity which nothing can check, a will which cannot be broken, and a prudence which nothing can corrupt and nothing intoxicate. . .

TO KNOW, TO DARE, TO WILL, TO KEEP SILENCE--such are the four words of the Magus, inscribed upon the four symbolical forms of the sphinx.”


Levi identified three primary principles of magic:



1. That the material universe is only a small part of total reality, which includes many other planes and modes of consciousness. Full knowledge and full power in the universe are only attainable through awareness of these other aspects of reality. One of the most important of these levels or aspects of reality is the "astral light", a cosmic fluid which may be molded by will into physical forms.

2. That human willpower is a real force, capable of achieving absolutely anything, from the mundane to the miraculous.

3. That the human being is a microcosm; a miniature of the macrocosmic universe and the two are fundamentally linked. Causes set in motion on one level may equally have effects on another.


Let’s take a look at the Sphinx…

THE SPHINX

The Sphinx has the head of a man, the torso and paws of a lion, the wings of an eagle and the rear of a bull. These four characteristics correspond with the four Classical Greek Elements (and Elementals) of Earth, Air, Fire and Water as well as the four cardinal directions and four Fixed Signs of the Zodiac:

The Head of Man = Air, East, Sylphs*, Aquarius and the energies of Knowledge, thought, and imagination

The Lion = Fire, South, Salamanders*, Leo and the energies of Will, determination and tenacity

The Bull = Earth, North, Gnomes*, Taurus and the energies of Silence, stability and steadfastness

The Eagle = Water, West, Undines* and Scorpio and the energies of Daring Courage, emotion and transformation

*(The classic and occult standard Elementals as defined by Paracelsus, 1493-1541 CE)

On the qualities of the Sphinx, Levi wrote:

“The combination of these four types of face and being represents the Created Universe, a complete and eternal entity, Man in fact, the Microcosm; and this is the first formula of the mystical explanation of the enigma of the Sphinx.”

Man/Woman is like the Sphinx. Both are composed of the Four Elements. However, the Sphinx is balanced and whole. The Elements exist in humans in varied proportions and are largely unbalanced.

The four elements represented by the Sphinx are indeed the Forces of Nature in balance.

The teachings of Eliphas Levi had a profound influence of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn as well as upon that organization’s former member, Aleister Crowley.

THE FIFTH POWER

The Four Powers of the Sphinx is a major aspect of Thelemic paradigm. Aleister Crowley incorporated this in his teachings and instruction. In fact there is little to be found on the Four Powers of the Sphinx outside of Crowley’s writings.

Crowley relates the Sphinx with the Adept or Magus, who employs the Four Powers to become “whole, Himself, containing all Things in true Proportion.”

Crowley introduced a Fifth Power,“ To Go”, corresponding with the Element of Spirit. This is still commonly applied and correlates to the Greek Classical Elements as aether or ether:
"The Quintessence, the invisible, luminous cosmic spiritual life-force energy that underlies and binds together all existence".

"It is out of Quintessence that four elements come into manifestation and into which they return".

Western Occultism has been greatly influenced by ancient Greek philosophies. By looking back a bit further, we can recognize the correlation of the Witch’s Pyramid/Four Powers of the Sphinx to the Ancient Greek Classical Doctrine of Elements .

Empedocles

The Greek theories of the four elements was originally developed by Empedocles (495- 435 BCE) and expanded by Plato’s student Aristotle (384-322 BCE) - - have had a significant influence upon many traditions extending into modern day spiritual philosophies and magickal traditions.

The Elements were envisioned as more than material substance, perceived as spiritual energies which manifest in various ways in both the physical and non-physical realms. Empedocles did not call them elements, but rather he called them “roots” and gave them names of Greek Deities: Zeus, Hera, Hades and Persephone.

They are the very foundation of all that is manifest in the universe. The underlying Force of the Elemental Plane is how our magick is carried into the Astral Plane, where it can become the pattern which manifests as Form in our physical world.


Working the Witches Pyramid

Levi’s writings further admonish the magickal person:

“When one does not know, one should will to learn. To the extent that one does not know it is foolhardy to dare, but it is always well to keep silent.”
“To learn how to will is to learn how to exercise dominion. But to be able to exert will power you must first know; for will power applied to folly is madness, death, and hell.”

Additionally:
“In order to DARE we must KNOW; in order to WILL, we must DARE; we must WILL to possess empire and to reign we must BE SILENT.”

Only by applying ALL of the Powers of the Pyramid (Sphinx) will we see the success we desire in magickal operations . . .and dare I say in our day-to-day life as well! By proper application of this foundation, then does the spiritual, incorruptible fifth essence (quintessence) emerge, giving Life to our Magicks!


Blessings,
Lady Bridwen

Be The Magick!

Coming Soon. . .

"Reflections on The Witch's Pyramid"

When you read those earliest Wicca 101 books and/or attended your first study groups or classes, you were likely introduced to The Witch's Pyramid:

To Know, To Will, To Dare and To Be Silent. . .

The Witch's Pyramid is widely regarded as the foundational structure and springboard for successful magick.

So, where did this model originate?
Is it a New Age concept....or based on ancient esoteric mysteries?
How important is it?
What do you really need to Know?
Is there more than one type of Will?
I Double Dare ya!
Does keeping Silence just mean not talking about the Spell?
Why and How does it work?
Where does a spiritual plan fit into this?
Is there a place for the Pyramid in your day-to-day mundane life?

Please join me for an indepth look at the Witch's Pyramid. This will be a five-part series, covering each of the pillars of the Pyramid as well as the overall foundations, principles and applications.

Check back soon for Part One. I look forward to your comments and discussion!

Brightest Blessings,
Bridwen

Be The Magick!

"Ye Olde Witches Brew" Interview

Lady Bridwen answers questions about her own Witch's Journey, including her personal views on Spirituality, Witchcraft, The Healing Arts and the creation of "A Witch's Journey"

This interview will be featured in the upcoming issue, which goes live on June 1st.Many thanks to Jennifer Toppel, creator of "Ye Olde Witches Brew", who made this experience an absolute pleasure!

To access this interview and all past and current full articles, subscription to the magazine is necessary (easy and free).

http://yeoldewitchesbrewmagazine.presspublisher.us

Happy Reading!!!!!!
Blessings, Lady Bridwen

Be The Magick!

What Is Witchcraft?

So.....what is Witchcraft?

A new group of beginning students sits and waits for their “Witch Teacher” to come into the room and for their training to begin. They are excited, full of anticipation and maybe a little nervous.

I try to not disappoint. Enter the Witch - - in full black ritual garb, hood over her head, meeting every eye. Silence…

Then it gets really fun!

My brand new students are asked to stand in a circle. They oblige and some look at their feet. Others fidget a little. I tell them that they are about to learn a most important aspect of the Craft that they must never forget.

With my most serious voice, I guide them to extend their right hand toward the center of the circle. Then to extend their right hand out….and then to shake it all about. Yep! We do the Hokey Pokey!!!!
And we laugh. . . out loud and without restraint. Beautiful. The energy of the room has just lifted.


Lesson: Relax. . Take pleasure in your spirituality. . Enjoy the journey. . Love Life

There are many definitions, descriptions, philosophical and religious viewpoints surrounding Witchcraft and Wicca. And I have certainly been known to express my opinions. Those who choose to follow this Path will form their own. I’ve never seen debating such things yield positive benefits. So I don’t go there.

Instead I leave you with a few words to contemplate…

Freedom
Responsibility
Balance
Transformation
Creation
Experiential
Challenge
Life

Don’t forget to cackle. ;)

Be The Magick,
Lady Bridwen