Magical Creatures, Part 2

In today’s journey, we will again begin with a legendary creature on the European continent as we did with the Nordic Norns, but rather than venture south and west into Africa and Asia, we will embark into the freezing climate of the Arctic Circle, and then make our way south into the heartland of the United States. Beginning with the Bucca of English Myth, and then continuing into the Hudson Bay to learn of the dreadful Ikuutayuuq, we will end up with the Sioux Tribe of the Great Plains to learn of how their great hunters were able to defeat Uncegila.

Bucca

Originating in the 19th Century, the Bucca is said to be a Spirit or Hobgoblin that resides in Cornwall, which is in the south-west England. These Spirits inhabited coastal communities, croplands, and mines in the area, and when something had gone wrong either on land, underground, or out on the sea, the Bucca were generally credited with this mischief. With the hopes of appeasing them, fisherman, harvesters and miners alike began to leave fish or bread for the Bucca. This was surely a fair deal for the Bucca, who received the provisions they required, and in turn caused much fewer problems for the residents of Cornwall. In due time, the threat of the Bucca declined significantly, and people generally only used the idea of the Bucca as a means to frighten children. If you have ever heard of the “Bogey-man” or the phrase “Bugga-boo” meant to frighten another, then you have indeed heard of the Bucca in one form or another.

There remain Neopagan religions that continue to worship the Bucca today – both the Widn, or White Bucca and the Dhu, or dark Bucca; namely the Celtic Pagan religion of ancient Cornwall.

Ikuutayuuq

We now travel to a place where darkness can last months; also a place where the great Ikuutayuuq once lurked for human prey. Translating to “One Who Drills” from the Inuit language, Ikuutayuuq is the native name for a monster that had terrorized human targets by literally drilling holes into victims until they lay lifeless. Tourists today that travel near the Hudson Bay may see large pile of rocks, which were put on top of Ikuutayuuq’s victims to prevent the monster from causing further damage. Ikuutayuuq, a female, had a twin brother, who had been seen only twice by the Inuits and their predecessors, though legend has it that they always traveled (and drilled) together.

In a battle amongst Arctic tribes, the Inuits had driven away the first inhabitants of the area, the Tuniit. During their exile from the land, the Tuniits had made claim that they had killed Ikuutayuuq, though her brother was never found. Legend holds that he is waiting for the right time to drill again.

Uncegila

Now we delve into the Native American culture, specifically the Great Sioux tribe. In Myth, Uncegila was a great female serpent, extending to over fifty feet long! This great sea snake would swim in the oceans, but preferred to cruise in the Nebraska River, causing great tidal waves and polluting the waters that the Sioux used for drinking and cleaning. Additionally, the source of Uncegila’s power was said to be her heart made purely of Crystal.

At a time of a great drought for the Sioux, the tribal hunters and their medicine man devised a plan to shoot Uncegila with a bow and arrow in the 7th joint of her neck – the source of her movement. The plan was a success, and Uncegila was finally destroyed after this reign of terror – but her Crystal heart is said to still lie at the bottom of the Nebraska River.!

Magical Creatures Series

Due to a high volume of questions concerning Magical and Mythical Creatures, we will begin a series upon these legendary, but not nearly outdated beautiful beasts. This week, we will start with three creatures that hold a very significant place in different cultures around the globe – spanning from the northernmost point in Europe to the vast Desert in Africa to the most Sacred Temples in India. We will begin our Journey with the Norns, with its origins in only miles away from the Arctic Circle in Norway, then continue to the Sphinx, and end with the Nagas.

Norns

Much like the Three Fates of Greek Mythology, the Norse Norns are the female beings who hold the destiny of each individual in their hands. There are three Norns total, each of whom occupies a specific role in their existential occupations. Named Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld, these three female creatures represent the Past, Present, and Future, respectively. They live under the great world tree, Yggdrasil, which is said to be surrounding by nine worlds. While legends differ as to whether these Norns are of Divine heritage, or come from a line of Elves, they are said to be faceless, and those who attempt to see their face will confront their fate at that very moment.

If you would like to know more about Norns, feel free to ask us any questions, or consult the 13th century literature of Snorri Sturluson; namely the Prose Edda.

Sphinx

If you have heard of the Great Sphinx before, you might hold an image of the great construction of a winged-lioness with a human female's head in Giza, Egypt, near the pyramid of Cheops. This is the most widespread representation of this mystical creature, though the word 'Sphinx' does not actually stem from Egyptian origins, but rather from the Greek language, signifying a 'living statue' combining elements of Egyptian or Greek royalty with their animal counterparts. A Sphinx does not have to be part lion and part human as is the Great Sphinx, but instead be any animal fused with a King (Pharaoh), another member of his family, or Deity. There is variation in the role of the Sphinx between Egyptian and Greek Culture. The Egyptian Sphinx, generally a male with the exception of the Great Sphinx, is said to represent power through a benign rule over the constituents within his or her domain. This contrasts with the Greek Sphinx, who is usually female, and is antagonistic in nature. In Legend, this Sphinx will not let anyone pass her without answering her riddle correctly.

Here is a riddle in Greek Mythology that only that the travelling King Oedipus was able to answer to move past and ruin the Grecian Sphinx. Let's see if you can figure it out:

What goes on four legs, on two, and then three, but the more legs it goes on, the weaker it be?

Nagas

We conclude our journey in India, with the great snakes known as Nagas. These creatures possess a snake-like form, though they are regarded as giant serpents that swam in the Primordial Ocean, and have survived through the ages in underground waterways. Said to have been created by the great Sage Kasyapa and his twelve wives at the dawn of time, the Nagas possess a good side, but also one of evil. They are holders of great treasure, with the greatest of them being the Nagamani - a jewel that transmits fortune and prosperity to any individual who views it. On the other hand, the Nagas are not very tolerant of human interference with their relatively dormant lifestyle. Their vengeance may strike when humans pollute the environment, or simply ignore it. Let this be a lesson to you!

Folklore concerning the Nagas differs in Hindu and Buddhist belief, though a common ground between these Faiths is that these Nagas were able to taste the elixir of immortality, or the Amrita. While these giant snakes may shed their skin often, they will never die!

Love Spells That Work

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 Classic Love Spells | Come Back To Me Spell | Unconditional Love Spell

Aphrodisiacs

The Occult is one of the few areas where science and faith are merged. While science guides the forces that allows the Practitioner to Cast and manipulate energy, it is the belief in the possibility that allows them to do so. Even within each particular topic that we discuss, there involves those same recurring elements of reality and alternative realms – that which we know has been proven to be possible and that which we believe is possible.

To cite a few examples, when we charge our instruments during Ritual, we know that when done properly we will have augmented inanimate objects because we have experienced this time and again, and the practice has been passed down over the course of millennia. However, when Edgar Cayce, the Sleeping Prophet, amongst others made their predictions about the future, claiming to have entered the Akasha Plane to ascertain the truth, this is more a matter of faith. You may believe in your heart that this is the truth, or you may reject the notion all together. Either way, nobody can tell you whether you are right or wrong.

Amongst those which the Practitioner is justified in relying upon is the use of certain Magickal Plants and Rocks. Living in this epoch, we have the benefit of knowing about the trials and errors of Practitioners of the past, who experimented with all sorts of roots, flowers, and leaves, with the hopes of finding some Magickal power within. Though we continue to experiment and expand upon these ideas, the use of Magickal plants and stones is a staple in the Practitioner’s work because it has been shown time and again that these items are necessary for proper Casting and to make certain concoctions to accompany the manipulation of energy.

One of you recently expressed doubt as to whether there is truly such feature as an aphrodisiac within a plant. The answer is yes. In fact, when Casting a Love Spell, every qualified Practitioner knows that an aphrodisiac is a necessary part in achieving the Spell’s goal.

So what exactly is an aphrodisiac? The term, of course, comes from the Greek Goddess of love, Aphrodite, because she was said to make any mortal or god fall in love with her, and also held the power to make others fall in love with each other. Thus, we stuck with the term since the purpose of an aphrodisiac is similar to the goals of Aphrodite; however, put bluntly, an aphrodisiac is a matter, generally a part of a plant, animal or a tree, that appeals to a prurient interest. In other words, it increases stamina and desire.

Some aphrodisiacs are compounds that are generated from plant production. These include Phenyl ethylamine, Crocin, and Yohimbine. Sometimes these substances are referred to as narcotics, when this is a misnomer. They are in fact natural substances found in Magickal plants. More familiar aphrodisiacs include Ginseng, Deer Antlers, Maca (one of the best that is rarely found outside of the Andes in Peru), Goat Weed, Watermelon Acid, and even the secretions of the “Spanish Fly,” a rare species of beetle.

The catch here is that an aphrodisiac is not what you might expect. If a man gives a woman a rose, or lights a nice scented candle, this might increase her desire, however these are external factors which stem more from the brain’s association with a particular gesture or a scent. Aphrodisiacs, on the other hand, are scientific compounds that truly enhance desire, whether this effect is desired or not. It is simply a fact. However, coming full circle, if you resist the truth and have no faith that it will work, it will not; the true Occultist knows that science and faith can never truly be separated.

What do you think? Join the discussion:

We always love to hear from you: please share your thoughts on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/7witchescoven.

I look forward to reading your responses.

J. Roslyn Antle, High Priestess
The 7Witches Coven
http://www.7witchescoven.com

A Week In Review 7Witches Coven

A Week In Review.

Welcome back to another week in review.  This week we have a couple more reviews we would love to share with you!  

I hope you will visit us soon when you write your own review!
http://www.7witchescoven.com

Blessed Be.

"Full Moon Cast"

7witches Review For Full Moon Spell

Thank you all at 7witches coven for the life changing events that are happening everyday now. I feel nothing but positive energies all around me and have been lucky at lottery games since my casting. Thank you for helping change my life . When in need I will always come to the 7witches coven for their help, Thanks again :) - Christine B.

"Don't leave home without it!!"

 7witches Review For Good Luck Dragon Coin Bracelet

I ordered this six months ago and I just love it. I wear it every day and wouldn't dream of leaving my house without it. It calms me, I feel very protected and secure while wearing it and I've received many compliments with it. It's perfect for us guys, because it is not at all ostentatious, but it is very simple and smart. Best of all, as I've indicated, it brings me peace of mind and, suffice to say, it has brought me a great deal of luck these last months. I recommend this to all and sundry ~ it is money very well and wisely spent. John M. Y. NYC   - John Y.

"Under the spells"

 7witches Review For Aura Cleansing

I have been using 7 witches for well over a year and it started with the Aura Cleansing. I felt the positive changes in my life and have used other spells offered by 7 witches. I would be untruthful to say that PUFF! everything gets fixed in a snap, but after a while I reflect back and see that indeed the spells worked beautifully and still have a rippling effect. I really enjoy using the 7 witches! Blessed Be! - Norma B.

The History of the Goddess

If you are interested in the history of witchcraft, you can garner your greatest understanding of the majority of cornerstone beliefs and ideals of witchcraft simply through a better understanding of the Goddess and how she ties in to the foundations of witchcraft and Wicca. The first thing that most people notice when they begin looking into witchcraft and comparing it to other predominant faiths is that it is polytheistic, meaning that it is a religion with multiple deities. Additionally, and as opposed to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and other worldwide faiths, it focuses primarily on a female deity rather than a male.

According to some historians, ancient humans may have begun worshiping the Goddess as early as 5 million to 10,000 BCE. According to the few records found, the Mother Goddess was perceived as a mysterious life giver and had powers related to procreation and reproduction. These beliefs are represented in the numerous statures and the like representing the deified female form. It appeared that with their limited understanding of where they had come from, even prehistoric men and women realized that women were the givers of life, and that was likely the reason that the originally worshiped deities were women. In fact, it does not appear that religions dominated with male deities appeared and took hold until a much more recent time in human history. Indeed, it was about the time that the modern religions (such as Christianity) began to gain followers and power that the older pagan faiths, with their strong female deities, began to be vilified.

Other interesting facts regarding the commonly held views that witches have regarding the Goddess are that they believe that the Goddess can manifest herself both physically and spiritually, and many fundamental rituals involve the witches attempted invocation of the Goddess. Additionally, the witches’ view of the Goddess is that she is believed to have what is referred to as a triple aspect. Meaning, the Goddess is at once the maiden, the mother and the crone. Some people even believe that this viewpoint may have been the fundamental foundation of the Christian view of the holy trinity: the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. In fact, many witches are quick to point out the many parallels between Christian spiritual beliefs and those well documented in Wicca and witchcraft.

Regardless of your underlying religious beliefs, it is always important to know and respect the beliefs of others if you ever want to have a true understanding of why they believe what they believe. Indeed, a lack of understanding about the basic fundamentals of witchcraft is one of the primary reasons so many people have serious misconceptions about the practice. The good news is that there are so many comprehensive and reliable resources available for anyone who is truly interested in the subject and who is willing to take the time to learn.

J. Roslyn Antle, High Priestess
The 7Witches Coven
http://www.7witchescoven.com

Transvection (Can Witches Fly?)

We often talk about the Magick performed at Rituals, such as charging objects and manipulating energy to Cast. These are very real powers that a Practitioner can attain by studying the Universal Laws and other Laws of Physics, experimentation and much practice, and sometimes coupled with inherent ability. But when it comes to the Craft, the power that many people associate with Witches is that of Transvection, or flying.

As you just read this last sentence, you are likely imagining the stereotypical Witch, in a black cloak with a tall hat (perhaps even with green skin and warts on her long nose) flying on a broom stick across the sky. Unless kept as a very deep secret, this type of Transvection is undoubtedly a creation of the mind.

More precisely, during the Burning Times, the accusers in the Middle Ages who alleged that Witches committed multiple transgressions on a single occasion needed to validate their story. They therefore generated accounts of these Witches flying across town, or even across the country at a rapid pace. Sometimes it was said that these witches flew upon the backs of wild animals, such as a boar or a wild horse, or sometimes they did not use any medium to accomplish their Transvection. However, more commonly the Witch was said to fly on her ‘broomstick.’

Though it is unnecessary to delve too deep into the historical context of the broomstick, Practitioners in Medieval Europe were contended to mix potions and experiment with Entheogens, or natural hallucinogenic narcotics. Amongst the Europeans at the time with little knowledge of botany nor horticulture, unlike the Practitioners, an association was made between the use of unfamiliar flora and intentionally falling under the influence of these ‘drugs’ (though they were not drugs at all). In turn, these uninformed individuals made a further connection between ‘getting high’ (or the powers they achieved) and sexual intercourse, and so in their stories mentioned above, they began to report that the Witch would ride on her ‘staff’ to attain her powers. As history is written by the victors, this analogy caught on and became a staple regarding the stereotype of a Witch.

In this regards, Transvection is a falsehood, but in reality, it is an essential part of the Occult – not just experimented with by Occultists, but by Buddhist mystics, often referred to as Siddhis or Iddhis, as well by certain other spiritual groups, including a certain sect of Hindus commonly called the Flying Saints.

The idea of Transvection is not to fly across the sky, but to find a starting place to defy gravity. Most of us would think of this as simple levitation, which has been accomplished in Stage Magic (as opposed to Magick), and legend holds that a handful of others have held the power of levitation throughout human history. Even if only a millimeter off of the ground, the idea of levitation is directly associated with Astral Projection. Essentially, the Practitioner must put forth all of their efforts and energy in obtaining a certain kind of out-of-body experience (for more information see our past newsletters), that allows them if just for a moment to defy the Universal Law of gravity upon this realm, and essentially float momentarily.

What do you think? Join the discussion:

The reality of levitation is subject to great debate about Occultists, but we would love to know what you think. Is it possible for a person to levitate, if only for a ‘moment’? If so, could this lead to greater forms of Transvection? Please feel free to share your thoughts on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/7witchescoven.

I look forward to reading your responses.

J. Roslyn Antle, High Priestess
The 7Witches Coven
http://www.7witchescoven.com