Tuesday, June 30, 2009

She Stands Out From Other Witches

She Stands Out From Other Witches Image
Horse and hattock! Horse and go!

Horse and Pellatis, Ho Ho!

This may be a familiar chant to many Wiccans and Witches commonly used in ritual, but many of us are clueless as to the meaning behind this chant and where it comes from. This chant is probably most familiar to Gardnerians and those in BTW traditions and it is included in the questionable online Gardnerian Book of Shadows. Where it comes from is easy to answer; the simpler phrase "Horse and Hattock" originates from Scotland as does the first mention of the chant in its entirety. The meaning however gets more complex. The following is not fact; it is simply what I have come across in study.

First let us take a look at folklore. In Scottish folklore, the fairies say the phrase "Horse and Hattock" when they leave a place to go back to their own realm and also when they prepare to go off for their nightly escapades. It is said people have heard the fairies shouting it out and in turn these people shouted "Horse and Hattock!" and thus they were transported away with the fairies. There is also a story of a child that cried "Horse and Hattock with my top! " and had his toy whisked away on the winds (1).

In another piece of folklore, the Laird of Duffus when walking in his fields was said to hear the cry "Horse and Hattock!" When the Laird repeated the cry, he was whisked away with the fairies to cellar of the King of France. He was found by the butler with a fairy cup in hand. When brought before the king to explain his intrusion, the Laird was pardoned thanks to the tale of his adventures and he returned home with the cup (2).

I also found reference to "Horse and Hattock" in a fiction novel, "The Black Dwarf", by 18th century Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott, as well as in a 19th century Camelot ballad, "The Doom-Well of St. Madron" by Hawker. Both examples are used in reference to mounting and riding horses:

"Now horse, and hattock, cried the laird,
Now horse and hattock speedilie; They that winna ride for Telfer's kye, Let them never look in the face o' me.

'Horse! horse! and spear!' exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen. Many a ready foot was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastily collected arms and accoutrements (no easy matter in such a confusion), the glen resounded with the approbation of his younger friends." (3)

"'Now horse and hattock, both but and ben, '

Was the cry at Lauds, with Dundagel men;

And forth they pricked upon Routorr side,

As goodly a raid as a king could ride.

Hare, hare, God send thee care.

I am in a hare's likeness now,

But I shall be in a woman's likeness even now. (4)

Thanks to various 18th-20th century novels and writings, my unscholarly conclusion is that "Horse and Hattock" is Scottish patois for mounting a horse. It came to be so because of its use in folklore relating to the fairies. As before said, any time the fairies were to go anywhere, they would shout the phrase "Horse and Hattock". 'Hattock' is referred to in the "Dictionary of the Scots Language" as "the elfin signal for mounting and riding off... Horse and hattock, the well-known cry of the fairies at mounting for a moonlight expedition, came to be familiarly adopted on any occasion of mounting." (5)

In my opinion, "Horse and Hattock" became associated with witches via Isobel Gowdie, a Scottish witch who was on trial for witchcraft in 1662. In her detailed voluntary confessions, she spoke of how she used the phrases "Horse and Hattock in the Devil's Name" and "Horse and Hattock, Horse and go, Horse and Pellatis, Ho Ho!" in order to fly by mounting a broomstick: "Then they would put a strae between their legs, cry -- 'Horse and hattock in the Devil's name!' and flee awa owre the muirs and fells." (6) Gowdie is also commonly associated with the shape shifting song:

"I shall go into a hare,

With sorrow and sych and meickle care;

And I shall go in the Devil's name,

Ay while I come home again."

Gowdie can be compared to the modern hedge riders - sending her spirit forth with the cry of the fairies and the shape shifting can easily be compared to the fetch. Perhaps Gowdie learned the chant from her meetings with the fairies or as a less mystical view; she may have created it herself based on fairy folklore. She stands out from other witches on trial because while her confessions of her Craft are consistent with folklore, her accounts are much more detailed and the information she gave (flying, shape-shifting & witches' meetings) was not typical in other witchcraft confessions of the time. (7) The commission for her trial was told not to use any forms of torture, most likely because she confessed of her own volition. She claims to have been a member of a coven, to have been entertained by the Queen of Elfhame (the underworld), and to have had sex with the Devil himself. There is no record of her being executed for witchcraft. (6) (8)

I looked up "Pellatis" as well, but did not find the word as is. What I found was "Pellax" meaning 'seduction' in Latin. Some Latin words commonly end in '"tis"'. So perhaps it is a Scottish corruption of Latin. "Pellatis" might also come from the Scottish word "Pelat" taken from the French "paillet" meaning a bundle of straw - perhaps even referring to a broom or besom. The latter is the most likely definition as in 1538 King James V of Scotland married a French noblewoman and years later their daughter well known as Mary Queen of Scots married the Dauphin of France. (9) During the time of Isobel Gowdie French would have been integrated into the Scottish patois. This would fit in perfectly with "Horse and Hattock" because in Gowdie's chant, you place a broomstick (bundle of straw) between your legs and then shout the chant in order to fly.

Thanks to Isobel Gowdie and Scottish folklore, "Horse and Hattock" will forever be associated with Witchcraft and fairy lore. Even though to most the chant has no meaning, I hope that I have opened a door to understanding. In my eyes, by using this chant in ritual we are opening a door to the spirit world and leaving the material world behind for the duration of the circle or working. Used in Gowdie's terms, it would be a cry to shout when preparing to cross over to the spirit world perhaps with the aid of trance, gnosis or entheogens.

Overall, what first seemed senseless goes very deep indeed.

FOOTNOTES:

RESOURCES:


1. Sir George Douglas. "Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales", A. L. Burt Company 1901 (p.126).

2. Briggs, Katherine Mary. "British Folk Tales and Legends" (1898-1980).

3. Sir Walter Scott. "The Black Dwarf", 1816 (Chapter 8).

4. Robert Steven Hawker. "The Doom-Well of St. Madron".

5. "Dictionary of the Scots Language" - "Hattock".

6. Margaret Alice Murray. "God of the Witches", 1933.

7. Issobel Gowdie Case - "Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database".

8.Isobel Gowdie - Wikipedia.

9. "Religion, Marriage and Power in Scotland, 1503-1603" - "The National Archives".

Also try this free pdf e-books:

Michael Magee - Robin Hood And The Witches
Anonymous - The Laws For Witches
Margaret Alice Murray - The God Of The Witches


Labels: poem poster  magic religion essays  chimaeras stevenson  makers old tales  gods asked questions  holly ivy  francis thompson  gathering plain  winter chant  love spells to do at home  witchcraft spells and potions  
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Religion Belief Come To Me With That Which I Have Not

Religion Belief Come To Me With That Which I Have Not Image
Answering to the call of the devotee,

the Beloved One whispers in his heart:

"Come to Me with that which I have not"

Searching all over,

in fiery deserts, cold mountains,

in dark forests, wide cities or in sleepy villages,

to scholars and to lay men alike

the devotee finds nothing that God has not.

The agony of vain search knows no bounds.

until one day bursting forth like thousand suns,

the truth manifests.

"Come with the poverty of your heart.

Empty your heart so that only

and only the Beloved remains

and may take His seat forever on the Heart Throne.

Know O devotee:

it is only poverty that God has not.

So come with a pure soul bathed in poverty,

as one who has nothing

and who wants nothing

but the Beloved only."

(c) MysticSaint

5 Sept 06, Singapore

Dedicated to Sister Aisha Virginia Gray, a beautiful soul. My tribute to her lifelong dedication to the spiritual dimension of life and imparting this through teaching and publishing.

She is the co-founder and trustee of the Islamic Texts Society. Her other publishing companies, Fons Vitae and Quinta Essentia, publishes books on world religions, spirituality and art.

This poem was inspired from a talk that she gave at Darul Arqam, Singapore on 5th Sept 2006 on 'Path to the Heart'. May Beloved Lord shower Infinite Mercy on her path and journey 'Home'.[+] Please visit MysticSaint.Info For full multimedia experience and enjoy special music.

Blessings,
Sadiq

Also try this free pdf e-books:

Janet Farrar - A Witches Bible The Complete Witches Handbook
Raisa Maria Toivo - Women At Stake Interpretations Of Women Role In Witchcraft And Witch Hunts


Labels: winter solstice  poetic edda  anglo saxon  science and religion  the god of the witches  norse mythology art  lucid dreaming forum  hymn to pan  is lucid dreaming real  mythical greek gods and goddesses  grey cat  
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Stop By The Garden Of My Mind

Stop By The Garden Of My Mind Cover I dance in my mind
to the music my passion provides.
I feel bound by the constraints
that my body limits me to.
By the constraints of my surroundings....
...the People...
...the bus...
... my room...

So in my mind there is a grassy hill,
a place of peace where a lady dances
to the music that plays in her heart...
A place where no one else can go,
where no one has to wonder or contemplate her sanity...

She spins, surrounded by silk and satin,
swirling 'round her soul. Sometimes black, red, white... Sometimes
green, gray, or purple...
But Forever she dances on...

Keeping beat to my heart, turning with
The cycles of the earth...
Swirling in time to my confusion...
Stomping her feet to the throbbing of my anger,
But always at peace, somehow, in a World
that, by necessity, is separate from mine.

Books in PDF format to read:

Prentiss Tucker - In The Land Of The Living Dead
Patrick Boylan - Thoth The Hermes Of Egypt.pdf
Wim Van Den Dungen - Enoch And The Day Of The End
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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Self Blessing

Self Blessing Image
This should be performed at the New Moon or at other time of need. It is not to be performed promiscuously.

May be used as a minor dedication or as a minor exorcism to banish any evil influences which may have formed about the person.

Perform this ritual in a quiet place, free from distractions, and nude.

You will need the following:

Salt - about ј teaspoon.
Wine - about an ounce.
Water - about Ѕ oz.
Candle

The result is a feeling of peace and calm. It is desirable that the participant bask in the afterglow so that she may meditate and understand that she has called the attention to the Godhead to herself, asking to grow close to the Godhead in both goals and wisdom.

When you are ready to begin, sprinkle the salt on the floor and stand on it. Light the candle. Let the warmth of the candle be absorbed into your body. Mix the water into the wine, meditating on your reasons for performing the self blessing.

Bless me Mother, for I am your child.
Dip the fingers of your right hand into the mixed water/wine and anoint the eyes.
Blessed be my eyes that I may see your path.
Anoint the nose.
Blessed be my nose, that I may breathe your essence.
Anoint the mouth.
Blessed be my mouth that I may speak of you.
Anoint the breast.
Blessed be my breast that I may be faithful in my work.
Anoint the loins.
Blessed be my loins, which bring forth the life of men and women as you have brought forth all creation.
Anoint the feet.
Blessed be my feet, that I may walk in your ways.
Remain and meditate for a while.

by Ed Fitch. From the early 1960's

Also try this free pdf e-books:

Correllian Times Emagazine - Issue 20 April 2008 Blessed Spring
Al Selden Leif - Pagan Spells Blessings Spells

Labels: aphrodite witch goose  echoes gnosis hymn  fire blessing  white hesiod hymns  younger snorre  gods comedy  bright poet  sunset blessing  critical crowley  wiccan spells online  pictures of the gods and goddesses  easy love spells to do at home  witches witchcraft  white magic spells  
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Spring Maiden Invokation

Spring Maiden Invokation Cover
From the bower of the green earth we call thee
Maiden of the spring stars,
Virgin moon and reflected sun,
The power of growth is within thee.

Virgin queen we call forth thy dance
Upon the green hills and fields,
Flowers bloom beneath thy feet
And thy crown is woven of blossoms, wild and free.

Thou art the cauldron of rebirth whose waters
Quench the thirst that lies between winter and summer,
Shimmering between night and day.

Maiden we call to thee,
Let the saps rise and the buds unfurl.
Maiden of spring we invoke thee!


Further reading (free e-books):

Francesca De Grandis - Goddess Initiation
Max Heindel - Ancient And Modern Initiation
Malcolm Mcgrath - Practical Magickal Evocation

Labels: xxxi hymns star  ritual religion  seeking sign dragonheim  aphrodite mother goose  wicked american myth  aloha blessing  lady prayer  ritual self blessing  john thesis edition  site witch  chardin  tranlate grimoires   issue april world  witchs formulas rites  
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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Hallow Carols

Hallow Carols Image
Halloween Carols

Halloween Carols

All right, here they are, the Halloween Carols...some were written by Swarthmore students, some by Palo Alto High School students, and bits from original Charles Shultz material. And some just kind of spontaneously evolved.

1. JOY TO THE WORLD (to the tune of JOY TO THE WORLD.)

Joy to the world,
It's Halloween.
The night of fright has come!
This time of year we wait.
We hope he won't be late.
The Great Pumpkin will come,
The Great Pumpkin will come,
The Great, The GREAT Pumpkin will come.

He rules the world,
On Hallow's Eve.
He's coming here tonight.
Let's go into the pumpkin patch
They'll put us in the booby hatch,
But we will have such fun,
But we will have such fun,
But we, But we will have such fun.

2. HUMPHREY THE BLUE-NOSED PUMPKIN (to the tune of Rudolph the...)

Humphrey the blue-nosed pumpkin had a very obvious nose.
And if you ever saw it, you might even say it shows.
All of the other pumpkins, used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Humphrey play in any pumpkin games.

Then one foggy Halloween Eve, the Great Pumpkin did say,
"Humphrey, with your nose so blue, you'll make all the ghosts say BOO!"

Then all the pumpkins loved him, and they shouted out with glee,
Humphrey, the blue-nosed pumpkin, You'll go down in history!

3. O Skeletons! (to the tune of O Tannenbaum!)

O skeletons! O skeletons!
Rattle down my hallway!
O skeletons! O skeletons!
Rattle in my attic.

Let them know, the day is here,
When your spirit will appear.
O skeletons! O skeletons!
Rattle through your graveyard.

4. God Rest Ye Merry Spirits

God rest ye merry spirits, let nothing you dismay.
Witches stirring bubbling cauldrons, smelling of decay.
To save you all from Satan's Po'er before your hair turns gray.
Oh tidings of horror and fright,
Horror and fright!
Oh tidings of horror and fright.

5. Spooky Night (to the tune of Silent Night.)

Spooky Night, Halloween Night,
All is cold, nothing's right.
Round yon pumpkin glowing away.
People singing in the doorway.
Sing in devilish glee-ee.
Singing in devilish glee.

6. The First Halloween

The First Halloween
The parents did scream
At the children in costumes
Who stole all the treats.

"Go away, go away!"
The spirits did say.
"You're taking our business,
So come back in May!"

7. We Three Ghosts (to the tune of We Three Kings)

We three ghosts of Halloween are
Scaring kids who wander too far.
Trick or treating, candy eating,
Watching for the Halloween Star.

Oh...oh...

Star of darkness, star of fright.
Star of every gruesome sight.
West winds howling, cat's a-yowling,
Let us play some tricks tonight!

8. Obligatory Solutions (to the tune of Jingle Bells.)

Dashing through the streets,
Meeting goblins as we go,
Wearing contour sheets,
Wishing it would snow.

Bells in doorways ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to come and sing
And get some food tonight.

Trick or treat, trick or treat, trick or treat we say!
Try to get the treats before the ghost takes us away!
Trick or treat, trick or treat, trick or treat we say!
If you don't have treats for us we'll never go away!

9. Ghosties We Have Heard on High

Ghosties we have heard on high,
Groaning horribly o'er the plains.
And the witches in reply,
Cacklin' their eerie strains:

Boooooooooooooooooooooo
On this Halloween Night we cry:
Boooooooooooooooooooooo
On this Halloween Night we cry.

Spirits why this jubilee?
Why your ghastly tunes prolong.
What these gruesome tidings be,
Which inspire your evil song.

Boooooooooooooooooooooo
On this Halloween Night we cry:
Boooooooooooooooooooooo
On this Halloween Night we cry.

10. Deck the Halls

Deck the halls with poison ivy,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be slimy,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our strange apparel,
fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Halloween carol,
fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the goblins rise before us,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
As we sing the Halloween chorus,
fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow them as they ascend,
fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Join with all your loony friends,
fa la la la la, la la la la.

11. The Grim Reaper is Coming to Town.

Oh, you better not shriek, you better not groan,
You better not howl, you better not moan.
The Grim Reaper is coming to town!

He's gonna find out from folks that he meets,
Who should have arsenic put in their treats.
Grim Reaper is coming to town!

He'll search in every graveyeard,
Haunted houses far and near,
To see if you should stay alive,
Or die right here in fear!

So, you better not shriek, you better not groan,
You better not howl, you better not moan.
The Grim Reaper is coming to town!

12. On the First Day of Halloween

On the First Day of Halloween, my Swamp Thing gave to me:

A hoot owl in a dead tree.
Two trick or treaters,
Three black cats,
Four skeletons,
Five Snicker bars,
Six goblins gobbling,
Seven pumpkins glowing,
Eight monsters shrieking,
Nine ghosts a-booing,
Ten ghouls a-groaning,
Eleven masks a-leering,
Twelve bats a-flying.

13. Spirit Wonderland (to the tune of Winter Wonderland)

Screech owls hoot, are you listening?
'Neath the moon, all is glistening.
A real scary sight, we're happy tonight.
Waitin' in a spirit wonderland.

In the streets, we're begging for some candy.
We've been waiting for this night all year.
We've tried to embarrass everybody,
And to make a costume filling you with fear.

Later on, while we're eating
What we got trick or treating.
We'll share all our sacks
Of Halloween snacks,
Waitin' in a spirit wonderland.

14. Shivery Yells

We're on sidewalks, we're on porches,
Dressed in costumes to scare.
Through the city we're ringing the doorbells.
Trick or treating, candy eating,
Gooey stuff in our hair,
But the most fun is shrieking out loud,
"Shivery yells! Shivery yells!"
That's the Halloween nitty-gritty.
"Moan and Groan. Leave us alone.
Halloween's just one night a year."

Suggestions for songs to convert:
Frosty the snowman
Good King Wenceslas
O Little Town of Bethlehem
We wish you a Merry Christmas
Hark the Herald Angel sings.

An incomplete song so far:

Ooooh - the lurking werewolves howl,
warning us of fiends most fowl. ( to Hark the Herald...)

And a really scary one:

We wish you assorted vegetables,
We wish you the cheddar cheese bake,
We wish you the chili nachos,
And the Rice Croquettes.
(Cheeseless rice...Salad bar...where in the Hell did I park my car...)

Also try this free pdf e-books:

Frater Achad - Chalice Of Ecstasy
Leo Ruickbie - Halloween And Samhain
Leo Ruickbie - Halloween Spells


Labels: the wiccan rede  lucid dreaming how to  rune poem  lucid dreaming supplements  science vs religion  anglo saxon literature  norse mythology artwork  magic work  astral projections  
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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Ahab And Other Poems

Ahab And Other Poems Cover

Book: Ahab And Other Poems by Aleister Crowley

Mr. Crowley has amplified the Biblical narrative, has given to the savage figure of Ahab some-thing of the nobility of reason that rebels Against the tyranny of his fate. There is a modern self-consciousness in this tragic, brooding monologue. Mr. Aleister Crowley's previous work has been eccentric, and at the best he has done more to provoke curiosity than to give confidence. Now he chooses to handicap himself by printing his poems in a type that must inevitably impose restrictions upon many readers.

Buy Aleister Crowley's book: Ahab And Other Poems

Books in PDF format to read:

Peter Henry Emerson - Welsh Fairy Tales And Other Stories
Anonymous - Asatru And The Paranormal
Andrew Lang - The Witch And Other Stories
Aleister Crowley - Ahab And Other Poems
Read more »

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Hail Mary 2

Hail Mary 2 Cover
by Darlene Kenney

Hail Mary, full of grace
The dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
You are the white moon among the stars
And the desire of human hearts.
You are the mystery that if that which I seek
I find not within, I will never find it without.
For You were here at the beginning
And You are that which is attained at the end of
desire.


Books in PDF format to read:

Aleister Crowley - Chicago May
Aleister Crowley - Amphora Or Hail Mary

Keywords: magical books  liber serpente comments  shamanism teutonic  ashwaq collection odes  maxwell williams  death exploring connection  detection damnable chelmisforde  
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Winter Solstice Song For Yule

Winter Solstice Song For Yule Cover
LYRICS:

On the longest night we search for the light,

And we find it deep within.

Open your eyes to embrace what is wise,

And see the light of your own soul shining.

(Chorus)

Wrap up in the cloak of starry darkness my child,

And you'll find the center of all things.

For from this space of the deepest dark place,

Life Eternal does spring.

(Chorus)

So when you find that spark

When you dream in the dark,

Hold it close to your heart and know.

All that you see is all that can be

When you give birth to the dreams of your soul.

Chorus:

Enter the night and you'll find the light,

That will carry you to your dreams.

Enter the night, let your spirit take flight,

In the field of infinite possibilities

Music by Lisa Thiel

Also try this free pdf e-books:

James Eschelman - Invocation Of Horus
Edwin Sidney Hartland - The Science Of Fairy Tales

Labels: paganistic poem  witches creed  healing prayer  witch mother  winter invokation  witchs rune  marriage heaven  blessing food  quinti mysteriorum appendix  engraving true relation  arbatel wisdom ancients  germanic and nordic peoples  
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