Some people in Celtic Reconstruction prefer not to use images of the Gods, following the idea that the Celts themselves did not do so. A main source for this belief is a quote from the Gaulish Chieftain Brennus, who sacked Rome and was said to have been incredulous at the idea of statues of the Gods in human form in temples: “Brennus, the king of the Gauls, on entering a temple found no dedications of gold or silver, and when he came only upon images of stone and wood he laughed at them, to think that men, believing that gods have human form, should set up their images in wood and stone.” – Diodorus Siculus
Audience
Mike Sententia talked a bit about experiences explaining magic to people. I get nervous explaining magick. Even to friends, even if they believe too, even after writing this blog for four years. I expect they’ll be bored, or they’ll trivialize my work as just another visualization, another arbitrary way to communicate intent to the unconscious. […]
Solitary Practice
Carl Neal at Pagan Square offers an interesting and stressful experience in a local wooded area years past: When I opened my eyes and looked around, I saw there was a young couple on the adjoining trail with their small child. Although the look on the adult’s faces was priceless, it was clear that they […]
Magic and Narrative
Taylor Ellwood has an interesting discussion regarding magical work and narrative structure. The way words are used and even the format of the text can set up pacing for the book. For example, if you use a lot of dialogue you’re usually trying to move the narrative along. The same applies for action sequences. Now […]
Color Magic: Orange
Orange magic is the gnosis of thought. Associated with the realm of Mercury, this focus of magic includes any manner of charlatanry, trickery, fast thinking, fast talking, quick wit, manipulation, and the building of quick connections. Salesmen, stockbrokers, petty thieves, and comedians all employ this mode of operation. This is the fast, witty thinking that […]
April 2014
It’s been kind of a rough and exhausting year so far. I’ve set a lot of goals for myself, and had a lot of problems motivating myself to achieve them. There is progress, though, and some of those goals have changed. So I want to look at where I’m at and what I’m still working […]
Color Magic: Black
Black gnosis is the gnosis of entropy and death. It is associated with the powers of Saturn. Humans die. The death process is built into our genetic code. We are designed to fall apart and cease functioning. And that weighs heavily on our psyches, even if it does so in ways hidden from conscious thought. […]
Setbacks
I’ve been setting a lot of goals for myself lately. And I’ve been failing to meet them. A lot of those goals have been related to writing, specifically on this blog. Some recent work I’ve been doing to get rid if writing blocks and find motivation have been helping (although the Mars and Saturn retrogrades […]
Color Magic: Green
Green gnosis is the gnosis of love and Venusian energy. Carroll complains of the muddling of love and sex that often occurs in magical systems, and I think he has a good point. Speaking from personal experience I can think of several people I love very dearly that I would not have sex with, as […]
Fear
There’s a young man at work that I’ve been talking with quite a bit. He’s a rambunctious, obnoxious sort who’s more inclined to have fun than worry about the consequences, but he’s got a sharp mind and is a lot more self-aware than most people I know. (He’d make a great magician should he decide […]