Barking Up the Wrong Tree

First of all I think it should be known, that witchcraft as an elite religious society of political influence in Europe began with the “Völvas” and “Seithkonas” of the Scandinavian Norse; just as the sibyls were to the Greeks and Romans. Before then such practices were largely shamanic and quite secularly tribal throughout Europe. While communities had their masters of ritual ceremony, this should not be confused with the practices of the Derwyd (wild man) or the Wicce (wise woman) who resided in sacred groves. What distinguished them apart from the rest was not some grimoire of ancient secret magical spells and rituals handed down through the ages. Sorry, but that is just pure Medieval fiction. It is not the spell or the instrument that carries the power, rather, how it resonates with the user and vice versa. In essence, these were people born with any number of outstanding psychic skills apt to be seen as quite advantageous to the community. As these skills are usually hereditary, that’s where the idea of the hereditary witch really comes from. To this, any oral traditions that accompany it, are second nature; as any true Seith carries the ancestral memory. As for what we aspire to define as “covens”, these were meant to be a mutual bond of people to collectively enhance the influence of the channeller. Nonetheless, this is not something you can instruct to people, especially when neither you or they have the ability to begin with, no matter how much they may agree or even exalt you as an “authority”. It has sod all to do with authority, rather, the ever so slightest ripple that makes the tsunami, the flap of the butterfly’s wings. A question of time and place.

The Merseburg Incantations

Allegedly two ancient Germanic charms written in a 9th century Carolingian (Old High German)
manuscript from Fulda. This document was discovered by Georg Waitz in the library of the Merseburg Cathedral in 1841 and published for the first time by Jacob Grimm in 1842.

Eiris sazun idisi
sazun hera duoder.
suma hapt heptidun,
suma heri lezidun,
suma clubodun
umbi cuoniouuidi:
insprinc haptbandun,
inuar uigandun.

Once sat women,
They sat here, then there.
Some fastened bonds,
Some impeded an army,
Some unraveled fetters:
Escape the bonds,
flee the enemy!

Phol ende uuodan uuorun zi holza.
du uuart demo balderes uolon sin uuoz birenkit.
thu biguol en sinthgunt, sunna era suister;
thu biguol en friia, uolla era suister;
thu biguol en uuodan, so he uuola conda:
sose benrenki, sose bluotrenki,
sose lidirenki:
ben zi bena, bluot zi bluoda,
lid zi geliden, sose gelimida sin.

Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods,
and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained
So Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, conjured it.
and Frija, Volla's sister, conjured it.
and Wodan conjured it, as well he could:
Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain,
so joint-sprain:
Bone to bone, blood to blood,
joints to joints, so may they be glued.

While it is assumed to be the earliest written record of a Germanic magical verse, the rarity of such early manuscripts is largely due to the simple fact that tribal cultures in continental Europe adhered exclusively to oral traditions. Runes and other petroglypic markings were still coveted as secret symbols of magical empowerment, at least until the Saxon and Norse invasions introduced more complex runic systems evolved for the sake of written language. In fact, written language was never considered a necessity until the Romans turned up. While some Celtic pantheons readily adapted to commercial influences of Roman culture, this was not the case for the Germans as they were more a transient folk of herders and hunters at the time- and why German remains a non-latin language. They simply could not be integrated, given their two entirely different perspectives of existence and self realization. For instance the word "Geist" in the German sense not only refers to a ghost, spirit, or soul spirit, but a conscious realization and communication of self and its will ability to design and manifest. In that sense "Zeitgeist" refers to the collective spirit and mentality of a particular period in time. In this it can be seen the German mind generally inclined to perceive existence in terms of spiritual relativity. In essence, spirit is not described as anything immaterial, rather, understood as a life force that generates the construct, the magical power to realize itself in the physical. Thus in a shamanic sense, the journey to the nine worlds represented a journey in conscious realization on so many levels, whereas Ragnarok illustrates that all things are subject to change in order to maintain continuity. As we say in Germany, "that which rests, rusts".

Now having given you some idea of the Germanic mentality, imagine the time Carolingian monks had trying to convert these people. It's one thing to conquer a foreign culture, but another to even get them to understand what you're talking about. Schools and churches only permitted the use of Latin, and a higher education in early Christian society inclined to be reserved either for orphans raised in monasteries, or the sons of rich nobles unfit for battle or marriage for that matter. In the feudal system, serfs were seldom allowed this "privilege" for obvious reasons.Aside from having to farm to earn their keep, they also had to defend the kingdom from rivals when called upon. Especially this left the monks with a problem of communicating their theology according to scriptural standards. Thus they made use of local folkloric allegory in the form of illustration, adapting folk heros and deities into the more devoted role of "patron saints", each represented by a particular animal familiar playing a part in the allegory.

Nonetheless, it didn't keep the common folk from carrying on their oral traditions, as much of their allegorical verse retained everything from herbal pharmacopea and agrarian wisdoms of planting, harvesting and weather reading, down to the treatment and use of materials for building- much of which was inseparable from their mythical associations. In that respect, Roman Catholicism ended up having to absorb it, if it was to be in anyway practical to the locals.

In the Merseburg Incantations, however, the second verse reads more like a Frankish reinterpretation of a Saxon galderdict to include the patrons of other tribes. In academic circles, however, the controversy is over the meaning of "Phol". No deity by that name could be found in any of the oral traditions.

Throughout the Teutoberger Forest in Westphalia there are countless remnants of neolithic grave chambers suggesting it was once central to an indigenous megalithic culture. Amongst these, in the vicinity of Bippen are the obscure remnants of a stone circle in what was once an open heath. This circle is one with a phallic center stone named the "Pfaohlenstein". This name has misled numerous academics to assume some association to the "Phol" in the Merseberg Incantations. There was even a bronze plaque mounted there on that assumption. While the Teutoberger Forest is also well known as an important heritage site of the Teutonic peoples to this day, the Pfaohlenstein reference is more apt to define "Phallic Stone" than some forgotten local deity. The fact is the west Germanic peoples never even had a fertility god named "Baldr". This is more likely to have been Frey, and this is where the problem began in course of Carolingian conversion. Namely trying to put Frey into a context of Jesus as illuminator and protector of his flock.

In Loving Memory of Mana

I Digress

If you find my views offensive, then bear in mind that I’m neither North American nor was I Christened, baptized or raised on any kind of Christian dogma. As a clairvoyant empath I was always in communion with some kind of spirit or another. Rather, the folklore I grew up with was quite adequate enough in explaining these things in detail. So, I have never seen the need to “belong” to anything else. When I say this, some will tell me I should expand my horizons, although I’ve travelled around and lived on both sides of the North Atlantic, and speak several languages- whereas most of them have never had this experience. Others will try to tell me I have ego issues for saying this, as if they don’t have them themselves. It only makes me wonder what other moral double standards they will try to lament me with next. The only reason I am laying it out plain for everyone to see, is because I’ve been dealing with it long and wide enough to know the difference. There was always some smug tosser trying to talk down “at” me as if I didn’t know better, so this is my revenge (HA!)-

A Pagan is:
1. A) An adherent of surviving local polytheist folk traditions (Mayan, Celtic, Roman etc.)
The belief in a system of diversely interacting divine hierarchies or pantheons on different levels of existence. These may be a major part of their heritage though not necessarily their geographical location, but being raised on its language and customs was enough to be their way of life.
B) An adherent of surviving local pantheist folk traditions (shamanism, animism, etc.). Generally the belief in a continual metamorphosis of diverse entities out of the integral will or “life force” of existence (namely the “collective unconscious” as Carl Jung so aptly put it), integral to the whole, regardless what we may try to interpret as good or evil. In essence, all things, regardless if biological or elemental, are regarded as entities in this process. Christians and New Agers often try to relate the idea of an integral spirit to monotheist “God”, but fail to recognize its general ambivalence and multifariousness in the scheme of things; namely what we define as the “crooked path”. Like our polytheistic counterparts, we take pride in our heritage, thus tend not to fare well with Neopagans and New Agers making too many presumptuous claims about the “old ways”. These are wisdoms of survival sense, in the form of allegorical verse because we’re not in the habit of lugging books around on our ventures. Rather, having ancestral connections with certain places and its memories, it is wise to respectfully consult with the wights of the land one ventures into.

2. Neopaganism; the revival and adaptation of the previous two to popular esoteric trends. This is usually the case in locations where the aforementioned folk traditions no longer exist or are too far removed from their source to be fully understood- especially because of language barriers. This is usually compensated by incorporating hermetic mysticism which, based on the Kabbalah, provides a universal system of magical formulas in which seemingly anything can be integrated. This actually forms the esoteric basis of ancient biblical practices that were forbidden by the Nicene Creed as witchcraft and removed from Christian theology. Thus it tends to be favoured by Christians who feel the need for something more involved than mere humble faith and selfless subservience. In this case the practitioners are defined as pagan by the fact that witchcraft is a forbidden practice. In the same sense, its’ more freelance practitioners often express their pride in defying Christian authority. Of course, the “darker” and more “forbidden” the practice, the more intriguing the defiance. Unfortunately, in any hierarchy that defiance can easily turn into its own gospel thumping piousness. It happens in Wicca with the Rede and the Three Fold Law and I’ve also seen it in Odinism, with the Havamal as its gospel, especially the subjugation of women and the emphasis on Odin as the “Allfather”. It’s also an attitude that could easily be interpreted as a form of Nazism. I hate Nazis because they stuck my grandfather in labour camp for the free thinker he was. They stuck my mother in the Luftwaffe, because she was underage with no one left to look after her. They tried to murder her in Hameln for going out with my Anglo-Canadian father (he was a dual citizen). Thanks to the subsequent brain damage, I have never known her to be sound of mind.

3. New age spirituality; a whole esoterical “melting pot” of popular spiritual concepts from around the world, on the premise of divine oneness in universal consciousness or “all gods are one”- unfortunately, often with very little actual regard for cultural diversity, let alone, individuality. In essence, they not only call themselves pagan but every other belief or religion under the sun, especially Native American. Yet in the same breath, they’ll bewail the ever decreasing biodiversity on this planet…and when I say “popular concepts” I mean the consumer wholesale of foreign practices and wonder cures as a trendy fashion statement; with only a superficial understanding of the actual language and customs. Outside of that, they really couldn’t give a toss about the rest of the world unless for some fashionable crusade to prove just how “humane”, politically or morally correct they are. Heaven forbid if you try to spoil that illusion with any “negative” facts. On the other hand, that kind of self- righteousness always plays on some premise of impending doom where the chosen can be saved by the visions of some utopian new world order, under the divine guidance of the cosmic master race of purest spiritual being. Umm…thanks, but no thanks, I can think of better ways to indulge my hedonistic ego.

4. Anyone who isn’t christened, baptized or committed to a religious institution, provided they at least believe in their own psychic ability to effect causality, albeit for better or worse. Sometimes existentialists will use this as a premise to call themselves pagan, but theirs are usually socio-political philosophies that don’t apply very well to natural causes.

Aerial Phenomena and the Human Psyche

Often referred to as UFOs or „unidentified flying objects“ these can be attributed to various geophysical phenomena, as I have listed here:

1. Earth lights; geostatic plasma discharges that usually occur when quartz and metal rich ground strata come under tectonic stress, especially around volcanoes and tectonic fault lines.
2. Swamp gas; stagnant bodies of water rich in decomposing biomatter, produce a great deal of methane and phosphorous. Rich concentrations can ignite, shooting off fire balls with a loud bang. This igniting can also occur deep in ancient peat moors, releasing some pretty lethal gases, if disturbed.
3. Water sprites; water, especially with high levels of salinity has a great capacity to suspend charges on its surface. Under certain atmospheric conditions, these charges can reach levels where sparkles or veins of blue or spectral light appear to dance on the surface.
4. St. Elmo’s Fire; similar to water sprites but more an atmospheric phenomena of supercharged moisture under turbulence.
5. Atmospheric light refractions; namely things like sundogs, partial light halos from sunlight, moon or even bright starlight refracted by thin cloud.
6. Upper atmospheric sprites; electrostatic plasma discharges from the ozone layer into the ionosphere. This can also include localized auroral effects from solar radiation ionizing the atmosphere.
7. Lenticular clouds; the effect of convectional air pockets usually over mountain peaks.
8. Mirage; thermal air conditions, heat domes, etc. Sometimes the lens effect of such conditions can be so great that mirror images of cities have been seen over the arctic. At night such heat domes over cities can mirror the street lights below. At the horizon, air density can oblate the light of a bright star or planet. The same distortions can happen to the lights of low flying aircraft in the distance.

Experimental aircraft, rockets, hot air and weather balloons, even passing satellites, are often mistaken for alien craft. Remove all the misidentifications and you’re left with no more than 2% cases of possible “unknowns” in the global scheme of things. Unfortunately, these statistics are also hampered by the credibility of the observer. In Dr. Jacques Vallee’s book “Messengers of Deception”, he points out many of the religious cults that evolved out of the deleterious want of spiritual guidance and metamorphosis into “supreme cosmic beings”, often the case of narcissistic personality and other psychological overcompensations of deep childhood traumas. He also points out how this psychological effect has been exacerbated by certain counterintelligence agencies experimenting in psychological warfare. No, this is not something out of a Tom Clancy novel. In 1979 at the International UFO Symposium in Switzerland, several serious scientific researchers basically told J. Allen Hynek that none of his “close encounter” data could be considered valid if the alleged contactees had been hypnotically regressed to obtain these testimonies. It had come to the attention of the scientific community that the CIA was using these regressions in NICAP to experiment with inducing false memories. It was bad enough that religious cults were using much the same methodologies to indoctrinate their followers. Hence, hypnosis and cult hysteria (ie. rapture) are taboo to any serious researcher in the field of aerial phenomena. This does not say that sightings of the unknown are just a figment of the imagination, but one should use a healthy degree of scrutiny over the nature of what one is mentally processing. Indeed, as pagans, we know the consequences of trying to read too much into a visionary or psychic experience especially if psychogens are used. As you know, yogic method (ie. Chakra stimulation) is also used to alter serotonin and dopamine levels in the body to induce euphoria. Personally, I’ve found euphoria only clouds the psychic impression I am processing, especially empathic signatures. It’s much the same as trying to process this information when you are in a deeply emotional state.

Nonetheless, despite all wishful thinking, there are still the odd valid sightings but they are few and far between. In many of his books, Dr. Vallee expresses the hypothesis that these may not be alien at all, but phenomena of parallel reality much like the classic legends of the fae folk. Indeed there are many uncanny parallels there that fascinate me much more than strange lights in the sky.

Indeed this and the aforementioned natural phenomena such as plasma discharges and tidal force effects are also witnessed where such ghostly events and manifestations seem to occur. Some explorers may refer to these as “portals” whereas others may describe it as a “thinning of the veil of reality”, either way though, it involves transdimensional overlap where we can see everything from phantoms of the past to strange beings of all kinds. Different cultural folklores are full of these diverse testimonies, some imaginative, some quite personable and some quite nasty if you don’t tread carefully.

Finally, I see alot of various photographic defects on the internet being passed off as spirit orbs, ghost lights and etherial entities. If you have any real experience with professional photography, you know perfectly well how dust, moisture, smoke or an errant camera strap can cause these things. In fact, it’s amazing what you can do with photoshop and a few morphing tools these days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Vall%C3%A9e