http://www.feritradition.com/grimoire/garden/angel_trumpet.html

Our new section on Faery Flower Sorcery is up at Faerytrad.org. Plenty of spells, lore and more to inspire your Feri practice.

The Mighty Dead of Faerie

The Feri Tradition website now hosts a page for the Mighty Dead of Faery.

+Feri Tradition

Not Kala

This is an ineffective way of doing  Kala.
For a better way visit http://www.feritradition.com/grimoire/practices/practices_kalarite.htm

A Feri-Centered Review of 'Children of Cain'

A Feri-Centered Review of Children of Cain

by Storm Faerywolf

'Children of Cain: A Study of Modern Traditional Witches'

by Michael Howard

©2011 Xoanon Limited

Three Hands Press

‘Children of Cain’ is an important book within the traditional witchcraft revival and one that is likely to be cited for years to come. In this work author Michael Howard presents a case for the survival of pre-Wiccan (‘traditional’) witchcraft, treating us to a look within several “covines” and groups that make the claims of pre-1940 lineages, the rough date when Gardner’s Wicca came on the scene.

Drawing from stories, first-hand accounts, and folklore, Howard presents us first with a general study of the traditional Craft, demonstrating differences between the neo-Pagan practices of the majority of modern Witchcraft and focusing on the former’s “more informal and improvised structure”, frequently based on older (and often fragmentary) rites and ceremonies. Howard presents ‘traditional witchcraft’ in terms that distinguish it from modern Wicca, such as the formers’ non-adherence to the Three-Fold Law, a differing vocabulary, or the tendency to not celebrate the Wheel of the Year (a modern creation not used in pre-Christian cultures). One interesting observance, according to Howard, is that many pre-modern groups tend to place focus on male deities rather than on the Goddess, which is generally the primary deity for modern witches.  

Howard delves into specific traditions, individuals, and groups that have been influential to the modern traditional Craft revival. Individuals well known in traditionalist spheres such as Robert Cochrane and George Pickingill are given their due, and groups such as the Clan of Tubal Cain and the Regency are described in detail giving the reader a personal account of just how some of these groups operated and how they co-existed with each other.  Other secret societies such as the Horse Whisperers (and their offshoot the Toadsmen) are also explored for connections to what has been called “Old Craft”.

The influence of these older groups are shown to have affected Gardner and his inheritance from the ‘New Forest Coven’, giving argument for threads of the ‘Old Craft’ being present and woven into the framework of modern Wicca. This theme of the old informing the new is a theme that is explored further in this book.

Of particular interest to Feri tradition readers is the chapter titled “American Traditional Witches”.  About halfway into this section we are treated to an introduction to the late Victor Anderson, and even to a small bit of liturgy for ‘sealing the circle’ as well as some that purports to be from the initiation ceremony. Neither are core liturgies of traditional Feri (and a small deviation appears from the norm in the liturgy for the circle’s sealing) but still it is nice to see some distinctive elements of our tradition gaining wider recognition.

Besides Feri, in this section Howard also includes material on Pennsylvania Dutch, Pow-Wow, Hexencraft, and Hoodoo, all manifestations of magical craft unique to the New World that carry an inheritance from an old one. Here he does a great service in revealing how these “newer” forms are legitimate inheritors to an older way of practice.

While the book does a wonderful job of compiling many disparate paths and opinions it certainly has its flaws. The editing in this book is horrible, with several typos, mis-numbered chapters, incomplete or incorrectly constructed sentences, inconsistent formatting, and the like. But this is largely what we have come to expect from books of this type as anyone who remembers the travesty of editing that was The Pillars of Tubal-Cain, can attest; another work to which Michael Howard’s name is attached. As someone who has dabbled in self-publishing I can admit to what is often a daunting task as many of my own works have suffered from this very issue. But hopefully the message of this book will be well received and the sloppiness of editing will not detract readers from Howard’s otherwise respectable work.

There is, however, one area in terms of approach in which I feel the author misses the mark. In his dealings with the Feri tradition it becomes clear that the author is drawing from somewhat limited sources and proceeds to “fill in the blanks” with some assumptions of his own. Howard correctly identifies material, such as that from Huna, Voudou, and even the works of modern fiction, that have found home in the rites and philosophical understandings of many Feri practitioners. However he is too quick to assert that the inclusion of this material equates to a deviation from that which comes to us from the Harpy Coven, the traditional witch group that Victor was initiated into as a teen and which modern practitioners of Feri claim initiatory lineage. Howard states:

“This means that the newer groups have deviated from the original teachings of the Andersons that were based on the traditional principles inherited from the old Harpy Coven and representing the Old Craft. In that respect, it is debatable whether they can be classified as traditional witchcraft.”

Whether Feri deserves to be recognized as traditional witchcraft or not is beside the point, but the inconsistency in which the author presents the various groups and traditions is first made apparent here. The assessment that modern Feri groups and practitioners have deviated from our Old Craft inheritance by including newer material is completely lacking of any supportive evidence. It would have been more convincing had he demonstrated how a newer piece of material had supplanted or conflicted with an older one, but we are not given any examples of this. This line of thinking also incorrectly assumes that any of the actual rites, liturgies, and practices of the Feri tradition (modern or not) stem from the Harpy Coven to begin with. As an initiate and a practitioner of Feri for more than 20 years I can honestly say that I have never heard the claim within our traditional circles that anything that we do or what Victor taught were practices based on those form Harpy Coven. To this I say there’s just no there there.

But let’s explore this further. On the surface it would appear to make sense that if a group that received teachings in a traditional form were then to change those forms then they would not be practicing the same tradition. Unfortunately (for this line of thinking) Feri is not a static system; part of the ‘Old Craft’ inheritance that we receive is an ecstatic and ever-changing path that evolves to meet the changing needs of its practitioners, qualities that we will see praised by Howard in other forms of what he recognizes as ‘traditional Craft’, though not for some reason in Feri. While Howard earlier in this work freely admits that contemporary practitioners of traditional witchcraft have often borrowed from other sources (including from modern Wicca) in order to complete the ‘fragmentary rituals’ that they had been passed in their Craft, when it comes to Feri he does not extend this same consideration. This inconsistency of approach is at the heart of why this book is somewhat problematic in its dealings with Feri tradition.

This inconsistency is further highlighted in the chapter on ‘The Sabbatic Craft’. Here Howard presents the workings of the Cultis Sabbati, the work of the late Andrew Chumbley. This form of witchcraft is described to be a mode of praxis wholly created by Chumbley while still presenting itself as a legitimate vehicle for the traditional Craft into which he had been previously inducted. At the core of this tradition is the belief in a sort of astral convocation that is asserted as being the basis for the fantastical medieval depictions of “the Witches Sabbat”; flying astride brooms, taking the form of an animal, dancing around a fire, and orgiastic rites with the Devil himself. In the Cultis Sabbati we are given a picture of a traditional Craft that has beliefs and practices that are handed down in a lineage, but are also “ever changing and being informed by an ongoing praxis.” Howard goes on to say, “It would be wrong to think of modern traditional witchcraft forms as static or totally immersed in the past as they are always evolving and developing to suit changing conditions”. One is left to wonder why this mode of approach was not extended to his view of Feri tradition.

The chapter on the Sabbatic Craft was one of the most enjoyable for me to read. It is obvious that Howard holds Chumbley and his work in very high regard (rightly so!) and he did a beautiful job in presenting it to the reader. I would recommend this chapter especially to those who work in Feri tradition as I found many aspects of Sabbatic Craft as described in this book to deeply resonate with the teachings of Feri both as I received them and as they continually unfold in my work. Its focus on ecstatic workings and trance experiences that form the basis for praxis are of particular note for the Feri practitioner.

In summery, Children of Cain is a respectable and noted addition to the growing genre of traditional witchcraft. While it is not perfect I think it has much to offer both traditional Crafters and modern witches alike.

Feri Ceromancy Wax Divination with the Divine Twin Candles

Feri Ceromancy
Wax Divination with the Divine Twin Candles
by Chas Bogan

A typical Feri altar holds a pair of candles, each representing one of the Divine Twins. The colors of these candles vary among sects of the tradition, sometimes blue and red, white and black, silver and gold. The Divine Twins are often represented as opposites (although each is said to contain the other), and are commonly addressed in the guise of female and male, light and dark, moon and sun. How the Divine Twins are represented is not of major importance for this work, only that each is represented by an altar candle, and that their wax is together poured into a bowl of cold water for the purpose of having them bear insight into the future through symbols seen in the wax.

 

           For the purpose of promoting and innovating traditional practice we will use the color associations and deity names from the Bloodrose sect of Faery Tradition. Although some are not comfortable with representing the Divine Twins in a gender binary manner, I will describe their traditional Bloodrosian aspect and leave it to the individual Feri Practitioner to find something more fitting if he chooses.

            Although some Faerie like to cast a circle before a working, many do not, and so I will not detail a circle script here. What I do believe is important is the lighting of the black Quakoralina candle, since a flame is lit from it in order to light the blue candle, symbolic of how all things emerge from the Star Goddess. You may say whatever invocation you believe is appropriate for calling in the Great Mother, or use the traditional one described at:
http://www.feritradition.com/grimoire/practices/practices_candleprayer.htm

            After the Star Goddess has been invoked, we focus on conjuring one of the Divine Twins, in this instance a female aspect represented by a blue candle. With a lighting stick we carry the flame from the black Star Goddess candle to the blue candle at its left. Lighting this we then chant the following goddess names: “Ashtoroth, Ashtoreth, Belili, Belkoreth, Lilith-Alure, Anatha-Tiamat.”

            To summon her twin, we ignite a lighting stick from the blue candle and light one that is red, and that is positioned to the right of the others candles. We chant: “Keraillos, Keranos, Kernunnos, Krana, Kronos.”

            At your altar you will need a bowl of chilled water. Something from your faucet is fine, or you may use blessed or conditioned waters, even add some scented cologne if that inspires you. Personally, I prefer to charge the water with Blue Fire in a manner similarly found at the following Feri Tradition site (http://www.feritradition.com/grimoire/practices/practices_bluefire.htm).

            Now that your candles are alive with flames, and the Divine Twins have manifested through the ancient names of Goddesses and Gods, the bowl sits charged and ready to receive insight. Speak aloud your question. The more succinct your question the more exact your answer will be. If you wish to be poetic, that is fine, query the Divine Twins with rhymes and flourish, however have a concise version of your question clear in your mind so that it is not lost amidst grandiloquence. The Divine Twins will answer the question that you most truly wish to know, so be certain that this is what you ask of them and not some lesser concern.

            Once spoken, simply take a candle in each hand and turn them towards one another. Let their flames touch, and say:

"From the One who is all By the Two who are one Divine Twins hear my call Show my future as done"

            By now a fair amount of wax will have poured from the two candles into your bowl of water, so reposition the candle on the altar and behold what forms have taken shape in the bowl. Their significance may mean something solely to you, or you may look for definitions of these symbols in dream books to find meaning. Often you will find such things as numbers, animals, or the shapes of things in your environment such as planes and telephones.

            If the future is to your liking, then you may wish to keep the wax, perhaps carry it with you in a pouch, or even pair it with a lodestone to draw your positive future to you quicker. If your destiny is bad, then you may melt the wax and petition the Divine Twins for a better outcome. I personally like to light a charcoal in a cauldron, burn some Frankincense and Myrrh resin as an offering to the Divine Twins, tell the smoke what better outcome I would like, then burn the regretful wax on the charcoal after the resins have died away. Those are creative ideas, however if neither appeal to you just be sure to dispose of the wax in a respectful manner, for this is symbolic of the bodies of the Divine Twins that have been shed to give you insight, so bury them properly. The crossroads would be a great place for this, as each road represents one of the twins, so burying it there where they meet is a way of returning their essence to them. Barring that, you can bury it wherever earth is available and simply draw an X over it. The water should similarly be disposed of with intention and reverence. Throw it to the West if you reject the future that was shown to you, or toss it towards the East if you wish to invite it to you.

            Candles should be snuffed out in reverse order with an appreciative heart.

-Chas Bogan, 2012

Feri Star Goddess

http://www.feritradition.com/grimoire/deities/star_goddess.html

Our Star Goddess page is now active on Feri Tradition.

Come check it out.

A Simple Bone Reading with The Divine Twins of Feri

A Simple Bone Reading with The Divine Twins of Feri

by Chas Bogan

The practice of casting bones for divination has grown in popularity (thanks largely to the work of cat yronwood's book "Throwning the Bones"). It is a highly personal way of divining the future, as everyone is free to choose whatever bones or other small curios hold meaning for them. I have a whole set that I have associated with Faery deities, spirits and ancestors, and am writing this to share a simple style of reading that requires only two objects, each representing one of the Divine Twins, for a question regarding which of two actions should be pursued.

I use the tibia bones of a crow, each of which represents one of the Divine Twins. But you could use something else, such as the two sides of a wishbone that have been cut, or common chicken legs. For sacred items I like to know that they were not hurt, and therefore my crow bones work best for me since I know it died naturally and not in a corporate slaughterhouse. However you use what you've got, and you are not even limited to bones. A pair of sticks may work even better for you. As a devotee of the Arddu I work best with bones, however someone more in tune with Mari and plant consciousness could get better results from sticks, or someone working with Krom could saw either end from a stang and use those, so you have options and are encouraged to be creative, to find that which resonated best with your energy.

You may be asking "Why can't I use stones, or a coin?" The answer is that you can, however two long bones or sticks will sometimes cross one another, and in this position they demote that your path is crossed and/or serve as a warning not to go forward with either course.

To differentiate the bones that I use I have painted a red line on one and a blue line on another to represent each twin, which I associate with the red serpent and blue dove.(1)

The process of throwing them is simple. Think of two alternatives, such as, "should I attend Harvard law school or join the Circus". Hold a bone in either hand. Let's say you hold the red bone in your left hand, then give it a squeeze and ask the Serpent Twin if you should attend Harvard, then focus on your right hand and ask the Dove Twin if you should join the circus. Then thrown the bones ahead on you. The one that is closest to you represents the path you ought to take. If it seems witchier for you to say an incantation for this, then try the following:

On this path rides the Serpent red

On this path rides the Dove of blue

Unless these two be crossed before me

the closest is the path that's true

Of course, these two bones could be used in a more advanced reading with the addition on other symbols, making your readings will be more nuanced.

1. For more about the Divine Twins as Red Serpent and Blue Dove read "The Divine Twins" section of The Divine Twins Wiki at http://www.feritradition.com/grimoire/deities/divine_twins.html