Practising the Witch's Craft: Real Magic Under a Southern Sky

265 Pages·2005·3.502 MB·English

by  Douglas Ezzy

656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page i
Practising the
Witch’s Craft
Douglas Ezzy
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page ii
First published in 2003
Copyright this collection © Douglas Ezzy 2003
Copyright © in individual pieces remains with the authors
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the
publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a
maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever
is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for
its educational purposes provided that the educational institution
(or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to
Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act.
Suzanne is the Witch in the cover photo. She refers to herself as an Eclectic
Pagan and is an active member of the Sydney Pagan Community. She runs
workshops and other Pagan events as well as working regularly with a local
coven. Visit her website at <www.wytchyways.com>.
This book is intended to give general information only. The publishers
expressly disclaim all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly
fromthe use of, or for any errors or omissions in, the information in this book.
Theadaption and application of the information in this book is at the reader’s
discretion and is his or her sole responsibility.
Every effort was made to trace all copyright holders. But if any have been
inadvertently overlooked, the publisher will be pleased to make the necessary
acknowledgment at the first opportunity.
Allen & Unwin
83 Alexander Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Australia
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.allenandunwin.com
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:
Practising the witches craft : real magic under a southern sky.
ISBN 1 86508 912 5.
1. Witchcraft. I. Ezzy, Douglas.
133.43
Set in 11.25/15pt Granjon by Bookhouse, Sydney
Printed by Griffin Press, South Australia
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page iii
Contents
Introduction v
Douglas Ezzy
1. What is a Witch? 1
Douglas Ezzy
2. When magickal things begin to happen 23
Veronica Hall
3. Sabbat wine of the Witches 36
Tim Hartridge
4. A Pagan birth 53
Chel Bardell
5. Feminist spirituality and the power of ritual 70
Kathleen McPhillips
6. Goddess/Witch/Womon 89
thea Gaia
7. Sex and death 106
Olvar and Yavanna
8. The magical universe 122
Julia Phillips
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page iv
9. Spells and magic 140
Don McLeod
10. Bewitched by tarot 154
Vicky Christidis
11. The sabbats 169
Caroline Tully
12. Sacred landscapes 189
Yarrow
13. A Witch’s garden: herbs and incense 206
Lesley-Caron Veater
14. Training and finding a working group 228
Gabby Cleary
15. Pagans in the bush 242
Lewis
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page v
Introduction
DOUGLAS EZZY
Practising the Witch’s Craft
Introduction
This book contains the stories of individual Witches, but it is
much more than personal stories. It contains some spells, but
it is much more than a spell book. It describes some of the theory
and history of Witchcraft, but it is much more than a theory book.
This is a book about the practice of Witchcraft.
Are there different types of Witches? What is it like when you
first experience magic? What do Witches believe? How do Witches
perform spells? What are the aims of Witchcraft rituals? How do
you find other Witches to work with? What are the dangers involved
in Witchcraft? What is it like to be a Witch? Why are women so
interested in Witchcraft? This book answers these questions. Witches
with many years experience tell stories of their own journeys to
explain the essence and variety of contemporary Witchcraft.
This is a book about Witchcraft written by Witches. There are
a large number of Witches in Australia, many of whom have been
v
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page vi
Practising the Witch’s Craft
practising for decades. This book describes the experiences of modern
Witches in their own words. Ihave written my contribution to this
book as an academic. Ihave spent many years studying Witchcraft,
but I did not want to write about Witchcraft. Rather, this book is
written withWitches. Witches speak for themselves.
Television and film present stereotypes of Witches as either evil
people on the margins of society, or gorgeous young women obsessed
with fighting demons. Neither of these images of Witchcraft is
accurate. Some of the people in this book have university degrees,
whereas others have educated themselves. Many work in professional
jobs in the media, education, health, information technology and
businesses of various types. There are also Witches living in the
country on alternative-lifestyle farms and some have written chapters
in this book. However, Witchcraft is a religion of the city as much
as of the country.
The contributors to this book are Witches who are typically
practitioners with years of practice and reflection. Many are leaders
of the contemporary Australian Witchcraft movement. Others are
relatively inexperienced in Witchcraft, describing it from the
perspective of the newly initiated. The contributors represent the
diversity of the contemporary Witchcraft movement, with represen-
tatives from most of the traditions and varieties of Witchcraft in
Australia.
I have usually found Witches to be generous people. Ihave been
welcomed into their circles, and have shared many meals and warm
cups of tea. I could not have put this book together without the
support of these people, too numerous to thank, and who often prefer
not to be named anyway. They know who they are. In particular,
though, I would like to thank Ambriel and Hiraeth who first
encouraged me to work on this book and suggested a list of chapter
topics and contributors. I would also like to thank Lewis, who was
vi
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page vii
Introduction
one of my first Pagan contacts and who has shown a sustained
interest in my research.
Witchcraft is a spirituality that celebrates life. I hope that this
book goes some way to correcting the many misunderstandings about
Witchcraft that still prevail in our society. I, as an academic, remain
convinced that the development of a contemporary spirituality is one
of the central social issues of our times.
vii
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page viii
656-main.qxd 24/10/03 11:43 AM Page 1
1
What is a Witch?
DOUGLAS EZZY
Practising the Witch’s Craft
What is a Witch?
My lover and I are on the shores of a remote beach. The
full moon shines brightly. Skyclad, we cast our circle.
Carving a pentacle in the air, I say: ‘Hail ye guardians of the
watchtowers, watch over our rite.’ She draws the circle with her
ritual knife. I light a bonfire that warms our goosebumped skin.
The eucalypt smoke mixes with the salty scent of the sea. Nature.
What bliss.
The words of invocation roll off my tongue. I kiss her feet:
‘Blessed be your feet, that have brought you in these ways.’ I kiss
her knees, her belly and her breasts. Embracing her, I kiss her lips:
‘Blessed be your lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names.’ Her eyes
stare into my soul. She is Goddess to me. She is the beauty of the
green earth, the white radiance of the moon and the mystery of
the waters. Inthe sand, by the fire, our rite is complete.
As the bonfire dies, we open the circle and farewell the
quarters. Thank you, thank you for watching over our rite. That
peace, that loss of self when lover, land, sea and heaven become
one. The Gods and Goddesses, they are here.
1