Post by magnar on Dec 6, 2006 12:07:59 GMT 1
Seax Wica " The Witche's Of The Blade"
The father of Seax Wica is undoubtedly the well-known occultist and author Raymond Buckland. The tradition itself being brought about in the early 70`s, was in response to the growing number of spurious covens at the time practising their one-upmanship and elitist degree systems. Secrecy meant power and power was everything. The craft needed to develop beyond ego trips and self-gratification into a bone-fide religion, which did away with an oath of secrecy and became democratic and enjoyable. Seax Wica is just that, allowing all to have a relationship with the God and Goddess. With access to the mysteries and kinship with all, "Love is the law, Love is the bond".
In a Seax Coven until you have been initiated you would be termed a Ceorl (pron-cawl) you would spend time with the other members of the Coven learning all you could before you were ready for your intuition.
As you neared the date it is advisable to make or obtain a robe of some description, (British weather being what it is skyclad is, for the most part not exactly practical) or even an item of clothing that can be discarded into the fire marking your transition from Ceorl to Gesith (Priest or Priestess of Seax)
During your initiation an oath is made;
"As this libation drains from the horn, so shall all blood drain from my body if I should do aught to harm my God and Goddess or those in kinship with their love"
THE GOD WODEN.
Woden has many names throughout the northern countries, He is known as Woutan in Old High German and from Wodunaz to Wodan in Old Saxon. He is however somewhat different to the Norse God Odin, who he is sometimes mistakenly taken to be a representation of. He is the master of Galdra (Saxon magick) and a shape shifter, with the power over life and death. He is a God of great and infinite wisdom.
THE GODDESS FREYA.
Born of Mother earth but later taking on her Mothers attributes. Her name literally means "Lady." She is a Goddess of love, protecting children and a protector of women and childbirth. Whenever she is referred to in Seax and Norse mythology she is known as "The most lovely of all the Goddesses."
THE RITES.
Erecting the Temple.
The first and foremost of all Seax rites is the opening of the Temple. We do not call the quarters as such, but blow the horn - marking the four directions; East, South, West & North. This signals that the temple is about to be erected. Calling all assembled to the rite.
The Seax Call.
The call is a prayer that welcomes all Seax brothers and Sisters.
As all are assembled the Gesith taking the rite,
delivers the call to which all present repeat after each line.
There are other rites that are adhered to by the tradition of Seax wica
If you would like to know more please email the Coven.
Other rites include;
Rite of self-dedication
Initiation
Full Moon
Esbat
Eight Sabbats
Cakes and Ale
Handfasting
Birthrights
Rite of thanks
Consecration
Hand-Parting
Crossing the Bridge (Death)
THE SABBATS.
There are eight main Sabbats celebrated in Seax Wica, as there is in other Wiccan traditions. There are also Esbat meetings outside of the main eight Sabbats.
The four major Sabbats are:
SAMHAIN. (November eve)
IMBOLC. (February eve)
BELTANE. (May eve)
LUGHNASADH, (August eve)
The four minor Sabbats are:
WINTER SOLSTICE, (December 21st)
SPRING EQINOX. (March 21st)
SUMMER SOLSTICE, (June 21st)
AUTUM EQINOX, (September 21st)
THE BELT.
The Seax belt is woven from three equal sized pieces of Red, White and Black cord. The representations of the colours are as follows. Black and White represents balance in all things like Night and day, hot and cold, Male and Female etc. The Red is the Blood of the Gods and of Mankind, that is forever mixed together, sacred, the essence of life itself.
THE TABARD.
Seax Wican devotees can always be distinguished from other Wiccan or Pagans paths because of the Tabards that we wear. They can be Black, Green, Red, Blue or Brown for the Men but the Lady's have the choice of also wearing a White Tabard, which represents the purity of the Goddess. At the centre of the chest there should be the sign of Seax, that being the Sun, Moon and eight sabbats. On the bottom edge will be runic script denoting the names of the wearer and of the coven to which they belong (If applicable).
THE SEAX.
The most important ritual tool is the Seax itself (Athame) it is a double edged blade unlike the conventional Athame of Wicca in as much as the handle can be what ever colour you like and does not carry any symbols. Again unlike the two knives needed by other traditions the one blade is used for all and every magical and none magical task. The Seax blade is charged with power the more it is used and is always worn as much as possible.
LACNUNGA.
Lacnunga is the Seax term for Herb Lore. The Seax Gesith gathers all manner of information about the effects of plants and herbs both magickally and medically. From Electuaries to Tinctures, from lotion to potion and of course the secret recipes of the homebrewed beer, wine & mead. All Seax Gesith have their own personal "TREE" (book of shadows) where all the above-mentioned information is written down.
GALDRA.
Galdra is the Saxon word for Magick. A Seax Wiccan who is proficient in Magick is termed "Galdorscraeftig". It takes many years and hard work to become a master of Galdra, but with dedication and a true heart The Gods will bestow their gifts.
HWATA.Divination
Tarot cards, Crystal gazing or fortune-telling are all forms of divination.
In Seax Wica it is known as Hwata
The Saxon Wands.
There are three of equal 9-inch lengths, Four of equal 12 inches lengths, With one of the 12 inch being marked or decorated to make it stand out. This wand is termed the "Witen" wand. After placing the Witen wand horizontally on the ground in front of you, With eyes closed and the question firmly in mind Concentrate for a while whilst moving the other six wands through your fingers. Now with your right hand take hold of the tip of one of the wands and hold it fast. Letting all others drop onto the placed Witen wand below.
The answer you are seeking is then foretold by the positions of the wands on and around the Witen wand.
Copyright of the Coven Of The Spiral Seax UK 2006
All the above information and more can be found at www.seax.org
The father of Seax Wica is undoubtedly the well-known occultist and author Raymond Buckland. The tradition itself being brought about in the early 70`s, was in response to the growing number of spurious covens at the time practising their one-upmanship and elitist degree systems. Secrecy meant power and power was everything. The craft needed to develop beyond ego trips and self-gratification into a bone-fide religion, which did away with an oath of secrecy and became democratic and enjoyable. Seax Wica is just that, allowing all to have a relationship with the God and Goddess. With access to the mysteries and kinship with all, "Love is the law, Love is the bond".
In a Seax Coven until you have been initiated you would be termed a Ceorl (pron-cawl) you would spend time with the other members of the Coven learning all you could before you were ready for your intuition.
As you neared the date it is advisable to make or obtain a robe of some description, (British weather being what it is skyclad is, for the most part not exactly practical) or even an item of clothing that can be discarded into the fire marking your transition from Ceorl to Gesith (Priest or Priestess of Seax)
During your initiation an oath is made;
"As this libation drains from the horn, so shall all blood drain from my body if I should do aught to harm my God and Goddess or those in kinship with their love"
THE GOD WODEN.
Woden has many names throughout the northern countries, He is known as Woutan in Old High German and from Wodunaz to Wodan in Old Saxon. He is however somewhat different to the Norse God Odin, who he is sometimes mistakenly taken to be a representation of. He is the master of Galdra (Saxon magick) and a shape shifter, with the power over life and death. He is a God of great and infinite wisdom.
THE GODDESS FREYA.
Born of Mother earth but later taking on her Mothers attributes. Her name literally means "Lady." She is a Goddess of love, protecting children and a protector of women and childbirth. Whenever she is referred to in Seax and Norse mythology she is known as "The most lovely of all the Goddesses."
THE RITES.
Erecting the Temple.
The first and foremost of all Seax rites is the opening of the Temple. We do not call the quarters as such, but blow the horn - marking the four directions; East, South, West & North. This signals that the temple is about to be erected. Calling all assembled to the rite.
The Seax Call.
The call is a prayer that welcomes all Seax brothers and Sisters.
As all are assembled the Gesith taking the rite,
delivers the call to which all present repeat after each line.
There are other rites that are adhered to by the tradition of Seax wica
If you would like to know more please email the Coven.
Other rites include;
Rite of self-dedication
Initiation
Full Moon
Esbat
Eight Sabbats
Cakes and Ale
Handfasting
Birthrights
Rite of thanks
Consecration
Hand-Parting
Crossing the Bridge (Death)
THE SABBATS.
There are eight main Sabbats celebrated in Seax Wica, as there is in other Wiccan traditions. There are also Esbat meetings outside of the main eight Sabbats.
The four major Sabbats are:
SAMHAIN. (November eve)
IMBOLC. (February eve)
BELTANE. (May eve)
LUGHNASADH, (August eve)
The four minor Sabbats are:
WINTER SOLSTICE, (December 21st)
SPRING EQINOX. (March 21st)
SUMMER SOLSTICE, (June 21st)
AUTUM EQINOX, (September 21st)
THE BELT.
The Seax belt is woven from three equal sized pieces of Red, White and Black cord. The representations of the colours are as follows. Black and White represents balance in all things like Night and day, hot and cold, Male and Female etc. The Red is the Blood of the Gods and of Mankind, that is forever mixed together, sacred, the essence of life itself.
THE TABARD.
Seax Wican devotees can always be distinguished from other Wiccan or Pagans paths because of the Tabards that we wear. They can be Black, Green, Red, Blue or Brown for the Men but the Lady's have the choice of also wearing a White Tabard, which represents the purity of the Goddess. At the centre of the chest there should be the sign of Seax, that being the Sun, Moon and eight sabbats. On the bottom edge will be runic script denoting the names of the wearer and of the coven to which they belong (If applicable).
THE SEAX.
The most important ritual tool is the Seax itself (Athame) it is a double edged blade unlike the conventional Athame of Wicca in as much as the handle can be what ever colour you like and does not carry any symbols. Again unlike the two knives needed by other traditions the one blade is used for all and every magical and none magical task. The Seax blade is charged with power the more it is used and is always worn as much as possible.
LACNUNGA.
Lacnunga is the Seax term for Herb Lore. The Seax Gesith gathers all manner of information about the effects of plants and herbs both magickally and medically. From Electuaries to Tinctures, from lotion to potion and of course the secret recipes of the homebrewed beer, wine & mead. All Seax Gesith have their own personal "TREE" (book of shadows) where all the above-mentioned information is written down.
GALDRA.
Galdra is the Saxon word for Magick. A Seax Wiccan who is proficient in Magick is termed "Galdorscraeftig". It takes many years and hard work to become a master of Galdra, but with dedication and a true heart The Gods will bestow their gifts.
HWATA.Divination
Tarot cards, Crystal gazing or fortune-telling are all forms of divination.
In Seax Wica it is known as Hwata
The Saxon Wands.
There are three of equal 9-inch lengths, Four of equal 12 inches lengths, With one of the 12 inch being marked or decorated to make it stand out. This wand is termed the "Witen" wand. After placing the Witen wand horizontally on the ground in front of you, With eyes closed and the question firmly in mind Concentrate for a while whilst moving the other six wands through your fingers. Now with your right hand take hold of the tip of one of the wands and hold it fast. Letting all others drop onto the placed Witen wand below.
The answer you are seeking is then foretold by the positions of the wands on and around the Witen wand.
Copyright of the Coven Of The Spiral Seax UK 2006
All the above information and more can be found at www.seax.org
