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Practical Magick

Druids: Practitioners of the Ancient Celtic Religion

Druids were the members of the priestly class in ancient Celtic paganism and its many modern traditions and are revered as high priests of the Celtic gods.
Their sacred groves and ritual sites are found worldwide, including Stonehenge in England, Carnac in France, Newgrange in Ireland, Tlachtli in Mexico, and many more across Europe and Asia.
The oldest Druid site currently known in the United States is the Cahokia Mounds near Collinsville, Illinois.
An Introduction to The Ancient Celtic Religion
Druidism is an ancient Celtic religion. Druids are people who practice Druidism and are students or teachers of Druidry.

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What Is The Wiccan Rede?

Whether you are interested in the Wicca religion or are new to the modern Pagan religion, chances are that you have come across the Wiccan Rede. When we talk about the laws of Wicca, the Wiccan Rede holds priority. It is impossible to ignore it. Most magical practitioners today use it. It is important to note that the Wiccan Rede serves as a guideline. Today’s Pagans have no ethical standards or universal rules to adhere to.

The earliest version of the Wiccan Rede was popularized by Doreen Valiente during the early 60s. Then, Lady Gwen Thomspon published a new version of the Rede in the 70s in a Pagan magazine called “The Green Egg.” She credited Adriana Porter, her grandmother, for the work. Aleister Crowley also produced a similar guideline wherein he advised readers to love without any limitations. He has admitted to being influenced by Homilies on the First Epistle of St. John, a much older text of St. Augustine. Lady Gwen Thompson’s version is prevalent today among Wiccans. It would be unreasonable for you to assume that every Pagan follows the Wiccan Rede. Besides, not every Pagan is a Wiccan. There is significant room for interpretation.

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Differences In Ceremonial Magick Vs. Folk Magick

Not every magic has the same intention or practice. As you enter the world of witchcraft, it is important to know the differences between ceremonial magick and folk magick. The last thing you want is to confuse one for the other. Contemporary Western Paganism practitioners recognize both types of magic. However, the underlying concept is different. When we look at magic from a scholarly perspective, the term refers to a continuum of practices that involve both informal and formal ritual acts performed in sacred buildings and sanctioned spaces.

Ceremonial Magick

When it comes to ceremonial magick, it is entirely unique. It has its roots in the Western Occult Tradition and was spread by organizations like the Freemasons, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and other occults. Ceremonial magick is very ritualistic and ceremonial, as the name suggests. Some of its elements date back to Ancient Egyptian high rites. It is also known as high magic. Ceremonial magicians need to enter an altered consciousness to perform the spell. They force change through the astral plane and physical plane. Astral travel is also used by ceremonial magicians and other techniques for gaining knowledge and communicating with other powerful entities that most witches might deem dangerous.
Book learning is necessary to master ceremonial magick. It is possible to unleash its power only through the understanding of intricate sets of correspondences and complicated rituals. Judeo-Christian myth has been the backbone of ceremonial magick in the West until the 19th century. The purpose of ceremonial magick is spiritual and not practical. Its concepts might overlap with folk magick. However, you should never confuse it for folk magick. One also has to improve their soul by embracing their destiny, attracting proper influences, purification, and gaining divine knowledge.

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Going Skyclad In Wicca

When people talk about Pagans, they refer to dancing naked in the woods. It is an image that simply sticks to the mind. A lot goes into the ceremony that you need to know about. Whether you are a new Wiccan or just curious and want to know more about going skyclad, you have come to the right place. It is a practice that allows one to be a part of something special.

Why Go Skyclad?

Now, you must be wondering why one should even go skyclad. The fact is that people have worshipped naked in the open for a very long time. If you have seen carvings on cave walls, you must have concluded that our ancestors worshipped naked. Being nude allows certain ritual activities to be easily practiced. For instance, Native American tribes practice sweat lodge ceremonies wherein they pour water onto hot rocks. Everyone crawls into the lodge without any clothing. Men and women do have separate sweat lodges. 

Similarly, early Christians practiced baptism naked. The person seeking baptism and the priest would enter the water naked. However, the tradition died down over the centuries. Aseptic monks are known for giving up everything worldly, including clothing. A Jainist sect called Digambaras, which means skyclad, also practices spiritual detachment by getting naked. The term “Sky Clad” has inspired the modern Pagan belief. Besides, plenty of written records reveals that witches worshiped naked. Leland is an excellent source of inspiration for witches wanting to practice nude. He has constantly written about being free from everything and naked in your rites.

Most people consider magic to move more smoothly and strongly when nothing comes in the way. It is believed that nudity does not interfere with the body releasing energy, unlike clothing. To be truly free, one must remove contact lenses, glasses, jewelry, perfumes, make-up, and clothes. Others feel that being skyclad improves safety as no fabric comes in the way, which reduces the possibility of setting a fire. When you feel the heat, it becomes easier to be careful of fire.
Moreover, going skyclad puts one in the right state of mind. Even the slightest of things can divert our minds. Therefore, being naked indicates our freedom from the mundane and frees our minds for it to enter the sphere of magic.

When we remove status symbols, it helps break down barriers and establishes equality. Men and women face each other as equals. They get to realize their physical imperfections and inadequacies. Thus, they get to accept one another completely. Nudity also encourages bonding within a group, loyalty, trust, and honesty. Being nude also generates a thrill unlike any other. It allows the body to unleash its maximum power. Finally, going skyclad is all about being in front of God as we were sent into the world without any clothes. The Wiccan religion is all about love and lust. There is no reason to feel guilty about finding someone attractive.

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Exploring the Elements In Wicca

Each element has a purpose in Wicca. Nothing is created in vain. There is an answer to every question. To be a Wiccan, one has to have an open mind and think critically. The Pagan religion offers solutions for everything, even if things seem subtle. Witches pay homage to the elements. They are the forces of nature that form the core or foundation of everything.
The fact is that everything in our universe consists of elements. Wiccans revere these elements and include them in day-to-day life, rituals, and celebrations. Having a deep understanding of the elements is crucial before diving into the Pagan religion. The concept behind the elements is not something new. Empedocles was a Greek philosopher who credited the elements for being the root of the matter. Although his writings might have been lost, his ideas remain and are accepted by most Pagans.

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