Hindu Celtic Witchcraft's topics - tribe.net

Celtic Myth Podshow

Ruthie — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:27:43 GMT

Hi all,

I apologise if advertising here causes offence but I am hoping that
the subject of this podcast will be of sufficient interest to the
subscribers to this list to warrant inclusion.

I produce the Celtic Myth Podshow (http://celticmythpodshow.com) which
is a free MP3 download and aims to tell the stories of Celtic
mythology to its listeners. We have started with the Irish
Mythological Cycle and aim to cover all of the Six Nations in the
series. The by-line of the show is "Bringing the Tales and Stories of
the Ancient Celts to your Fireside" which is the atmosphere we would
like to create. The old legends were recounted orally and only written
down in later years, so by hearing them told we are getting a step
closer to their original presentation and hopefull, meaning. That's
the theory anyway :) Our website also includes Maps of Ireland
with the places mentioned in the stories marked. Many of these places are
still exist and are spiritual centres to many people
You can find these maps in the resources section of the website.

You can find us on itunes or download/listen to the episodes on the website

I hope this is of interest to some

Thank you

Ruth

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Hindu/Celtic Connection?

Kitsa — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 06:14:22 GMT

I am just wondering what leads people to make the connections? I have a great love of things Hindu/Indian, and yet my path, my bloodline and my ethnic background are Irish. So the question i wanted to throw out to this group is..why? What is it that leds us to make this internal connection? Just a little food for thought, discussion, debate.
Kitsa

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 14 replies

An Inconvenient Truth Presentation

WizardsAura — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:18:49 GMT

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posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Needing balance

songflowermari — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:37:44 GMT

Several events in my life have led me to seek more balance in my life. I've been getting away from spirituality and other things I hold dear and what make me "me". The image of Lakshmi seated in her lotus has really inspired me recently.

How do we seek balance?

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

The Goddess, "Samhain"?!

MacMorrighan — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:57:40 GMT

Hey guys, for MANY years we Pagans have been castigating our newby kindred-souls by stating (and deflating the popular notion) that there was no such Deity as "Samhain", after whom the Sabbat was named. But, is this so? Well, I had always heard that there was never any God (in the masculine) named "Samhain". But, it turns out, that there is certain a Goddess that bears this name--The Morrighan! I ordered an academic article from a Celtic Studies publication (I forget the title of the Journal and article off the top of my head, as I've filed them away for the moment) wherein The Morrighan, during the Da Derga's Hostel tale--when asked who She is--utters off a string of names and epithets, including Macha, Bodb, Nemain, as well as even "Samhain"--"Summer's End"!!! So....there ya' go! ;o)

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 9 replies

Extent Indo-European Celtic Festivals?

MacMorrighan — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 03:56:15 GMT

Hey guys, Christine recommended I join tis group and post my current research question:

I am presently performing such original research (so far as I know!). Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here might be aware of any scholastic journal articles or books that pontificate about the apparent Indo-European cultural and religious themes from many extensive cultures as they align with Samhain, Imbolc (for which I have found some in Rome as well as Lithuania!), Beltane and Lughnasadh! Sadly, to date, I haven't found any (which is why I ask). But, these same seasonal portals are also roughly found in China! Although, given this occurence in China and Lithuania, there's a possibility that it may also be pre-Indo-European. This comperative methodology, for what it's worth, is known as phenomonology. Sadly, I have read no material that saught to deal with I-E religious holidays!

Also, I'm interested in researching the providence of the hearth-deities (esp. I-E), but...I've found no academic literature that has decided to discuss this particular phenomenon. Is anyone presently familiar with any? (If course, there are many hearth-goddesses, from Hestia, Vesta, Brighid, Gabija, and Tabieta, etc.!) Heck, it seems like no scholars have studied *either* of these potential topics, so far as I know!

Take Care,
Wade MacMorrighan
http://MacMorrighan.CovenSpace.Com

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Spiral Dance 2007 in SF

songflowermari — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 06:41:05 GMT

Who's going?

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

Communal Puja in Stockton, CA

songflowermari — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 06:39:48 GMT

Hello all,
There hasn' t been a posting for a while so I thought I'd throw one in there.

There will be a community puja for Kali Ma in Stockton, CA on November 25, 2007, hosted by the Maa Batakali Cultural Center (in the Sha'can tradition) from SF and the Circle of the Divine Feminine from Stockton.
From the Maa Batakali site:
"Our ongoing puja, or worship ceremony, is held in our sanctuary space located in San Francisco. We are dedicated in our worship to the Goddess Kali in Her myriad forms, and as She is expressed through the world's various traditions that honor the Dark Goddess, the one who holds the wisdom of the full spectrum of human beingness. Ceremony is held in the Sha'can tradition and lead by one of our Rashani (ordained priestesses). This puja infuses methods and practices from East and West in order to create a sacred space for worship and opening on the path of the bhakta, or devotee of the Divine.

What to bring... Offerings for the main altar are welcome. It is customary to bring flowers, fruit or sweets and to refrain from wearing black to our public rituals. If you wish to wear a special color for Kali, we invite you to don red, a color associated with Her power and the energy of creation. You are also invited to bring an object you would like to have blessed.

A sliding scale donation of $8-21 is suggested to cover the cost of the puja supplies and prasad (blessed food); however, no one is ever turned away and any donation is happily accepted.

An R.S.V.P. is required if you'd like to participate. All ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m. No one is admitted after 5:45pm."

When I find out more info I will post it here.

Blessings

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Shakti Wicca Study Circles forming in 3 cities

Devi — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 21:18:08 GMT

The Shakti Wiccan tradition is launching 3 in-person study circles that are currently forming and will begin meeting in early 2007.

These study circles are suited to those who are inspired by Hindu spirituality and are drawn to worshipping and working with the Hindu deities, but wish to do so within a Wiccan format.

The study circle curriculum will be based around an in-depth and experiential exploration of the Deities and mythos of Hinduism and the basics of Hindu spirituality, with an emphasis on blending that knowledge into a Wiccan ritual context. Students will also be introduced to such topics as puja (Hindu ritual worship) , mantrajapa (the chanting of mantras) , bhakti (loving devotion of God/dess) , as well as intelligent and intuitive methods of syncretizing the Hindu material with the mainstream eclectic Wiccan structure. The curriculum is both academic and experiential -requiring not only study and comprehension of textual material, but practical application of the knowledge gained. Students must be motivated, committed, and be prepared for regular journal work and meditation assignments.

Those interested in joining a study circle must apply and be accepted for Petitionership into the Shakti Wiccan tradition. Petitioners who successfully complete the Outer Circle curriculum will be invited to join the Inner Circle and become privy to all tradition-specific material and be welcome at all closed Sabbat events and working circles. The average Petitionership is 12 months.

There are currently 3 study circles forming around North America:

* JAI DURGA MANDALAM - The Circle of Durga Victorious - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Located in the downtown Toronto core, Jai Durga Mandalam is facilitated by Shakti Wicca founder, Devi Spring.

* KALI MA MANDALAM - The Circle of Mother Kali - Mankato, Minnesota, USA

Located in Mankato, the Kali Ma Mandalam is facilitated by Shakti Wicca Priest, Preachan.

* SRI YELLAMA MANDALAM - The Circle of the Devadasis - Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Located in Montreal, Sri Yellama Mandalam is facilitated by Shakti Wicca Priestess, Kirtana

Those applying for membership who are located near a study circle, or otherwise able to meet regularly in one of the cities listed, are encouraged to mention their location and interest in attending the in-person study circles in their membership application.

Shakti Wicca Study Circles are based around and require student participation in the same core material from the online curriculum as is mandatory for all members, whether their involvement is primarily through correspondance or through membership in an in-person working group.

About Shakti Wicca:

Shakti Wicca is a Goddess-centric (not exclusive) tradition of IndoWicca that draws most of its spiritual inspiration from the Hindu tradition, in the same manner that other Wiccan traditions draw the bulk of their inspiration from Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian or other spiritual cultures. It is considered an eclectic tradition, despite its exclusive focus on the Hindu pantheon and spiritual philosophy, due to the freedom it grants our dedicants in creating their own path and the general lack of dogmatic ritual liturgy.

Shakti Wicca is similar to what has been generally referred to in the NeoPagan community as "Hindu Wicca", and "IndoPaganism", although Shakti Wicca strives to provide a definite belief structure and training scheme, which is easily accessible to those who resonate with a Hindu-inspired Wiccan (IndoWiccan) spiritual path.

Shakti Wicca utilizes a worship and ritual structure that blends eclectic Wiccan traditions with universalist Shakta Hindu spirituality - so that it remains familiar and easily adhered to by modern Western dedicants. Worship will always contain simple, but important elements from Hindu puja (ritual worship) and the overall theology will be generally based in Shaktism, although the extent to which the dedicant incorporates traditional Hindu aspects is generally up to the individual. Reference to the Wiccan cosmology, mythos and basic ritual framework will be maintained in order to keep logical syncretic coorespondances between the two traditions.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

Saraswati

songflowermari — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 08:48:45 GMT

Saraswati, that patroness of our tribe, has reeled me around again, bringing my head into focus and not letting me stray too far from my path. When I see her I think of the first time we met, what my interests were, what my focus was, and how I wanted to acheive it. Now, however, almost 6 years have passed, and my interests have grown, sometimes for the better, and other times not (those are the ones that get tossed by the wayside).
And now I feel that I am being brought into focus once again. She has been trying to get my attention for a while now, ever since we moved into this house...actually before that, down south. At any rate, I'm being reminded of those things in my life that matter to me most and what I'm best at. I want to get back into those things, which means sacrificing others. Hard decisions have to be made, maybe ties have to be cut, tribes to be deleted.
This is a good year so far. I just have to cut the crap back to 2004 levels.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

The Witches Next Door

songflowermari — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 08:28:20 GMT

TLC — My Unique Family
The Witches Next Door

Kendra is a wife, mother, and a 21st century witch. She founded the First Wiccan Church in a town that believes witches are evil in spite of the Church's golden rule to do no harm. Will her annual Halloween party reconnect her with the community?

On Air (et/pt):
FEB 19 2007
@ 10:00 PM

http://tlc.discovery.com/tvlistings/episode.jsp?episode=3&cpi=55683&gid=0&channel=TLC

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Hi.. I'm new!

Justin — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 05:16:18 GMT

I was drawn to tribes by a 'random' occurance (though I don't believe in chance, only syncronity). I've been studying the druids for.. wow.. 13 years already? I consider myself a neo-druid, though, not a 'witch' or a 'wiccan'.

I've been drawn to adopt formyself the online nickname ShivaFang, which I use everywhere (except here, since Tribes likes using First Names, which is OK by me.. and actually if it wern't for that the syncronity of my being here would not have happened, as it resulted out of someone with the first name as me asking questions about.. the town I live in... like I said, a bizzare... 'coincidence')

I've since learned that Shiva is a hindu deity and have done some reasearch on Him/Her. And the more reasearch I do the more I am fascinated with Hindu spirituality.

I have felt this 'connection' in my heart, and I felt this was a personal truth. Lo and behold my suprise when, browsing through the religion groups.. I come across THIS tribe. It 'blew my mind' that other people have a similar connection between the two, and as such I felt inspired to join this group and see where the ride takes me.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 5 replies

Vedic elemental beings and the Wiccan Quarter Call LONG POST

Devi — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:45:16 GMT

In my quest to find appropriate beings to invoke in the Quarters of my IndoWiccan rituals, I did the following research. I hope some find it of use here on their path.

~Devi~

====================================================

Here is some basic research so far into the order of Indic elemental-type beings:

APSARAS

An Apsaras (Sanskrit: apsarāḥ, plural apsarasaḥ, stem apsaras-, a feminine consonant stem) or Accharā (Pāli), is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Despite ending in -s, "apsaras" is to be construed as singular. The English plural is "apsarases".

In the Rig-Veda there is one Apsaras, wife of Gandharva; in the later scriptures there are many apsarases, created by Lord Brahma, who act as the handmaidens of Indra or the celestial damsels of his court who dance before his throne.

Natya Shastra lists the following apsarases: Manjukesi, Sukesi, Misrakesi, Sulochana, Saudamini, Devadatta, Devasena, Manorama, Sudati, Sundari, Vigagdha, Vividha, Budha, Sumala, Santati, Sunanda, Sumukhi, Magadhi, Arjuni, Sarala, Kerala, Dhrti, Nanda, Supuskala, Supuspamala and Kalabha.

Apsarases are said to be able to change their shapes at will, and specially rule over the fortunes of gaming and gambling. Urvasi, Menaka, Rambha and Tilottama are the most famous among Apsarases who are well versed in the arts of music and dancing. The total number of Apsarases at Indra's court is 26, each representing a distinct aspect of the performing arts. They can be compared with the ancient Greek muse. They may also, in their "Nature" capacity, be rendered comparable to the Greek nymphs, dryads, naiads, etc.

Apsarases are the wives of the Gandharvas, court servants of Indra. They danced to the music made by their husbands, usually in the various gods' palaces.

One of their duties is to guide to paradise the heroes who fall in battle, whose wives they then become. They are distinguished as daivika ("divine") or laukika ("worldly").

The Apsaras was associated with fertility rites. In Hinduism, the lower Apsarases (also Vṛkṣakas, dryads or tree-fairies) are sometimes referred to as nature spirits, who sometimes lured men to their deaths; cf. the Slavic Rusalki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsaras

GANDHARVA

In Hinduism, the Gandharvas (Sanskrit: गंधर्व, gandharva) are male nature spirits, husbands of the Apsarases. Some are part animal, usually a bird or horse. They have superb musical skills. They guarded the Soma and made beautiful music for the gods in their palaces. A connection between their name and that of the Greek centaurs was proposed in the 19th century, but has met with strong opposition from some Indo-Europeanists.

In Hindu theology, Gandharvas act as messengers between the gods and humans. In Hindu law, a Gandharva marriage is one contracted by mutual consent and without formality

In Buddhism, a Gandharva (Sanskrit) or Gandhabba (Pāli) is one of the lowest-ranking devas in Buddhist theology. They are classed among the Cāturmahārājikakāyika devas, and are subject to the Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Guardian of the East.

Gandharvas can fly through the air, and are known for their skill as musicians. They are connected with trees and flowers, and are described as dwelling in the scents of bark, sap, and blossom. They are among the beings of the wilderness that might disturb a monk meditating alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandharva

YAKSHA

Yaksa (Sanskrit) or Yakkha (Pāli) is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits or minor deities who appear in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The feminine form of the word is yaksī or yaksinī.

In both Hindu and Buddhist mythology, the yakṣa has a dual personality. On the one hand, a yakṣa may be an inoffensive nature-fairy, associated with woods and mountains; but there is a much darker version of the yakṣa, which is a kind of cannibalistic ogre, ghost or demon that haunts the wilderness and waylays and devours travelers, similar to the raksasas.

The yaksas may have originally been the tutelary gods of forests and villages, and were later viewed as the steward deities of the earth and the wealth buried beneath.

In Indian art, male yakṣas are portrayed either as fearsome warriors or as portly, stout and dwarf-like. Female yaksas, known as yaksinīs, are portrayed as beautiful young women with happy round faces and full breasts and hips.

In Buddhist mythology, the yaksa are the attendants of Vaiśravaṇa, the Guardian of the Northern Quarter, a beneficent god who protects the righteous. The term also refers to the twelve heavenly generals who guard the Buddha of Medicine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaksha

NAGAS

Nāga (नाग) is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for a minor deity taking the form of a very large snake, found in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Nāgas in Hinduism

Stories involving the nāgas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in predominantly Hindu regions of Asia (India, Nepal, and the island of Bali). In India, nāgas are considered nature spirits and the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought. According to some traditions nāgas are only malevolent to humans when they have been mistreated. They are susceptible to mankind's disrespectful actions in relation to the environment. Since nāgas have an affinity with water, the entrances to their underground palaces are often said to be hidden at the bottom of wells, deep lakes and rivers. They are especially popular in southern India where some believe that they brought fertility to their venerators. Some believed that the legends of nāgas may have originated with some kind of tribal people in the past.[citation needed]Varuna, the Vedic god of storms, is viewed as the King of the nāgas. Nāgas live in Pātāla, the seventh of the "nether" dimensions or realms.[1] They are children of Kashyapa and Kadru. Among the prominent nāgas of Hinduism are Manasa, Shesha or Sesa and Vasuki.

The nāgas also carry the elixir of life and immortality. One story mentions that when the gods were rationing out the elixir of immortality, the nāgas grabbed a cup. The gods were able to retrieve the cup, but in doing so, spilled a few drops on the ground. The nāgas quickly licked up the drops, but in doing so, cut their tongues on the grass, and since then their tongues have been forked.

Ganapati is popularly worshipped in numerous avataras [2] including that of the Naga King.

In Buddhism, the nāgas are the servants of Virūpākṣa (Pāli: Virūpakkha), one of the Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_%28mythology%29

FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS

I found this extremely interesting - all the creature that are sevitors of the Buddhist Four Heavenly Kings (Gaurdians of the 4 Cardinal Directions - whose colors and so forth DO NOT correspond to the normal Buddhist/Chinese ones, but DO to a great extent correspond to the Wiccan ones = N-Earth/Yaksha, W-Water/Nagas, E-Air/Gandharvas) originiate in the Vedic tradition, and for the most part line up extremely well with our elemental calls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings

The problem lies with the Southern realm, as kumbhandas do not really fit any description that makes sense (in the Western Wiccan context) for Fire or its attributes:

The kumbhandas are spirit eating demons who are known for their huge scrotums. They have human bodies and horses heads.

http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/4kings.html

And althouth I can certainly find reference to the other beings within the pre-Buddhist Vedic cosmology, I have yet to find reference to kumbhandas outside of the Buddhist Vedic context - making it further problematic for one working within the Hindu Vedic context.

This led me to research further into supernatural being of the Vedic universe, and I found this:

EIGHT KINDS OF SUPERNATURAL BEINGS

In addition to the geography of the Mt. Sumeru world system and the six worlds which compose it, one should know something about the population. In addition to human beings and animals, there are many kinds of gods, demons, and other supernatural creatures. The major ones are included in the group called the eight kinds of supernatural beings who protect and revere the Dharma. These are:

1. Devas or gods: This category includes all those who live in the heavenly realms, from the celestial courtiers, the apsaras, to the Four Heavenly Kings, Indra, Brahma, and all the other devas, or shining ones. The major devas and groups of devas who inhabit the heavenly realms are:

Apsaras: These are the attendants, retainers, entertainers, and celestial nymphs who populate the heavenly palaces.

The Four Heavenly Kings: These are the guardians who defend the world and the four sides of Mt. Sumeru from the fighting demons. They are: Vaishravana - Heavenly King of the North; Dhritarashtra - Heavenly King of the East; Virudhaka - Heavenly King of the South; and Virupaksha - Heavenly King of the West. They dwell in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, and from there command their armies under the direction of Indra.

The Thirty-three Gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-three: According to the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (cited in The Myths and Gods of India by Alain Danielou) there are thirty-three gods and these consist of their ruler, Indra; the lord of creation, Prajapati; the eight spheres-of-existence, the Vasus; the eleven divinities-of-life, the Rudras; and the twelve sovereign-principles, the Adityas.

The Vasus rule the elements of the earthly realm. Their name means "dwellings" because they rule the dwelling places of all that exists. Danielou lists them as follows:
"The eight Vasus include the earthly-sphere (prthiva) and the fiery energy which dwells in it, Agni; the sphere-of-space (antariksa) and the fiery energy which dwells in it, Vayu, the Wind; the heavenly-sphere (dyaus) and the fiery energy which dwells in it, the Sun (Surya); then comes the sphere-of-constellations (naksatra) and the gentle energy which dwells in it, the Moon or Offering (Soma). " (The Myths and Gods of India, pp. 85-86)

The Rudras rule the life-forces and their dynamism keeps the world in motion and change. Their name means "howlers" and they are called this because of the suffering that is caused when the life forces withdraw upon death. They are fearsome warlike deities and are aspects of the god Shiva. According to the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, there are ten Rudras corresponding to the ten life-forces of human beings and an eleventh corresponding to the self or atman. Danielou states: "Eight of the Rudras are equivalents to eight of the auspicious manifestations of Siva (asta-murti); the others represent the fearful forms of fire. The first can be propitiated through worship; man should keep aloof from the others." (Ibid, p.103). The eleven could also possibly be the five deities who are the components of Siva, the five deities who are the five faces of Siva, and the self.

The Adityas rule the intellect and the celestial sphere. They are the sons of Aditi, the Primordial-Vastness. Danielou lists them as: "The twelve-sovereign principles are generally given as Mitra (solidarity), Varuna (fate), Aryaman (chivalry), Daksa (ritual skill), Bhaga (the inherited share), Amsa (the god's given share), Tvastr (craftsmanship), Savitr (the magic power of words), Pusan (prosperity), Sakra (courage), Vivasvat (social laws), and Visnu (cosmic law)." (Ibid, p. 115)

Yama: The first human being to have passed away was Yama, and he then became the first ancestor and eventually the ruler and judge of the dead. Though he presides over the worlds of the hells and hungry ghosts, his palace is in the Heaven of Time.

Mara: The "murderer" who rules over the realm of desire from the Heaven of Free Enjoyment of Transformation by Others, the sixth and highest heaven of the realm of desire.

Maha Brahma: The Great Brahma who dwells in the Maha Brahma Heaven dwells in the realm of form and transcends the realm of desire and the machinations of Mara, but there is still a subtle (or perhaps not so subtle) egotism which keeps him bound to the six worlds of rebirth. The Great Brahma believes himself to be the omnipotent creator of the world.

Ishvara: The Freedom God who dwells in the Highest Heaven. Sometimes he is called Maheshvara, the Great Freedom God. He is the highest and most sublime of the devas.

2. Ashuras or fighting demons: These are the anti-gods who fight against the devas out of pride and envy.

3. Nagas or dragons: These are the serpents or dragons who live in the ocean and rule over the rain, rivers, and tides. They also guard the hidden treasures of the world. They are classified as supernatural animals.

4. Gandharvas: These are the court musicians of the heavenly realms. They are classified as supernatural animals.

5. Kimnaras: These are court singers and dancers. The men are said to have horse heads and sing, while the women are fully human in form and dance. Kimnaras are also portrayed as birds with human heads and torsos. They are classified as supernatural animals.

6. Garudas: These are either giant birds who hunt and eat the nagas, or they are humanoids with wings and the heads of birds. They often serve as mounts for the devas. They are classified as supernatural animals.

7. Mahoragas: These are also celestial musicians. They are either giant snakes or humanoids with the heads of snakes. They are classified as supernatural animals.

8. Yakshas: The Yakshas are the spirits of the forests, fields, villages, and towns. They are also serve as the armed forces of the Heavenly King Vaishravana. This last type of supernatural being is actually part of a much larger category, the rakshasas, who are themselves a powerful type of hungry ghost. The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism states: "The sutras of both exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism describe three types of Raksasas: firstly, the demons who belong to the company of Yaksas; secondly, the unbelievers, who are the enemies of the gods; and thirdly, those who haunt cemetaries at night and hinder the offerings of the sacrifice, the evil demons who raised up corpses and capture and eat men." (p. 492)

Copyright by Ryuei Michael McCormick. 2002.
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/vedic.html

It is unfortunate that there is not another grouping of being within the 33 Gods of the Heaven of the 33, because the Vasus work beautifully with Earth, the Rudras are wonderful for Fire, and the Adityas are perfect for Air. This leaves Water and her attributes.

Perhaps then, we can look once again to the class of supernatural animals - as some Wiccan traditions certainly use supernatural animals as their Quarter gaurdians. So we are back to:

Nagas-West/Water,

"The Dragons, or Serpents (Nagas): These are spirits associated with water. They control rivers, lakes and seas, and they dwell deep in the ocean. They include the cyclonic forces of nature, whether they are material or spiritual. They control storms and the wild & instinctive forces of nature."

http://www.tientai.net/teachings/dharma/6realms/8groups.htm

Gandharvas-East/Air, However, using the definition of Gaurudas from
they seem almost more suited to Air overall.

"The king of birds, with golden wings, living below heaven but above the highest trees of the earth. It is associated with the legends of the Roc and the Phoenix, and it is said to be able to travel a hundred thousand miles in a single day. It is the enemy and devourer of serpents (Nagas). The name means 'Wings of Speech', and it represents the spiritual power and magic of the spoken word, which conquers nature, invokes and inspires the mind and carries it far and wide. The god of knowledge (Vishnu) is said to ride on its back and it carries the 'Wish-Fulfilling (Cintamani) Gem' around its neck."

Gandharvas here http://www.tientai.net/teachings/dharma/6realms/8groups.htm described as make them seem more suited to Fire due to the excitment and erotic associations:

"Gods of fragrance & music, celestial musicians of Sakra Devendra (Indra), with the King of Heaven Dhritarastra (Protector of the Nation - The Strong) as their lord. They are said to feed on fragrance and cause ecstasy. They are erotic and are the patrons of marriageable girls."

Yakshas-North/Earth, but interestingly we find Kinnaras listed as one of the 8 types of beings, which as described here http://www.tientai.net/teachings/dharma/6realms/8groups.htm as:

"The Kinnaras are the musicians of Vaisravana, also known as Kuvera (God of Wealth), with men’s bodies & horses’ heads. They are the same as the Kentauros (Centaurs) of Greek mythology - in fact the words Kinnaras and Kentauros have the same Indo-European origin. They are called the ‘doubtful (mythical) spirits’ and ‘human but not human’. The males have horns & play on lutes, and the females sing & dance. They rank below Gandharvas - the music of the Kinnaras is like popular ('pop') music compared to the classical, heavenly music of the Gandharvas. The Kinnaras are first of all entertainers."

Perhaps more suited to the kind of Earth-spirit we are calling upon as opposed to the Yakshas:

"Originally Asuras and malignant demons from the earth, they were later accepted by the gods (Suras). They are guardians of the earth’s treasures and protectors of the gates & moats of their king Kuvera (the God of Wealth), one of the four Kings of Heaven."

The problem still remains with the Fire element - as the Gandharvas are traditionally associated with forests, mountains and air...none of which are very firey. Thier association with music and scent confirms them as more creature of Air than anything else, even if the Gaurudas may fit our ideal of Air moreso.

Of course, Agni being Agni there seems little reason for a class of beings to take on those attributes. But for the purposes of continuity it seems most logical that we stick to one class of beings for the Quarters. If we are forced into individual Vedic deities - which certainly COULD work on a purely elemental level - we are then faced with having to decide how exactly to work the fact that the Vedic deities are already assigned as a directional gaurdian and this doesn't line up with the Wiccan context. I feel it rude to snatch a deity from his traditional area just to make it fit our modern context - and likewise, using a 10-direction call in Wiccan (where the N-E-S-W associations do not even align) seems likewise silly.

So, the search continues...
But let us look for a moment at the traditional gaurdians of the 4 Cardinal directions:

In Hinduism the Guardians of the four cardinal directions are called the Lokapālas (लोकपाल). They are:

Kubera (north)
Yama (south)
Indra (east)
Varuna (west)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_directions#Lokap.C4.81las

Kubera works fine in the North as Gaurdian of the Earth and its Treasures and Abundance.

Yama in the South does not fit so well with our Fire:

"Yama (Sanskrit: यम) is the lord of death in Hinduism, first recorded in the Vedas. Yama belongs to an early stratum of Indo-Iranian mythology. In Vedic tradition Yama was considered to have been the first mortal who died and espied the way to the celestial abodes, and in virtue of precedence he became the ruler of the departed. In some passages, however, he is already regarded as the god of death. Yama's name can be interpreted to mean "twin", and in some myths he is paired with a twin sister Yamī."

Yama is assisted by Chitragupta who is assigned with the task of keeping complete records of actions of human beings on the earth, and upon their death, deciding as regards sending them to the heaven or the hell, depending on their actions on the earth.

Yama is also the lord of justice and is sometimes referred to as Dharma, in reference to his unswerving dedication to maintaining order and adherence to harmony. It is said that he is also one of the wisest of the devas.

Yama can be loosely related to the Greek deity Hades or Pluto, the god of the underworld."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama_%28Hinduism%29

Indra in the East is a bit troublesome, too:

The theonym Indra may be reconstructed for Proto-Indo-Iranian[citation needed], but not for Proto-Indo-European. Indra is also attested as a god of the Mitanni.

If Indra as a deity is cognate to other Indo-European gods, either thunder gods such as Thor or Perun, or heroic gods, or gods of intoxicating drinks, his name has either not been preserved in any other branch, or else it is itself an Indo-Iranian innovation. Janda (1998:221) suggests that the Proto-Indo-European (or Graeco-Aryan) predecessor of Indra had the epitheta *trigw-welumos "smasher of the enclosure" (of Vritra, Vala) and diye-snūtyos "impeller of streams" (the liberated rivers, corresponding to Vedic apam ajas "agitator of the waters"), which resulted in the Greek gods Triptolemos and Dionysos.

In the Vedic religion, Indra has prominence over the continuation of chief god of the Indo-European pantheon Dyēus (Dyēus appears in the Vedas as Dyaus Pita, a relatively minor deity who, interestingly, is the father of Indra). Compare to this the comparatively low status of Tyr compared to Odin or Thor in Norse paganism. The battle between Indra and Vritra is reflected in the Avesta, but only among the Indo-Aryans does Indra appear to have risen to the head of the pantheon.

Vedic Indra

The Rig-Veda states,

He under whose supreme control are horses, all chariots, and the villages, and cattle;
He who gave being to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, He, O men, is Indra. (2.12.7, trans. Griffith)

Indra is the chief god of the Rigveda (besides Agni). He delights in drinking Soma, and the central Vedic myth is his heroic defeat of Vritra, liberating the rivers, or alternatively, his smashing of the Vala, a stone enclosure where the Panis had imprisoned the cows, and Ushas (dawn). He is the god of war, smashing the stone fortresses of the Dasyu, and invoked by combatants on both sides in the Battle of the Ten Kings.

The Rig-Veda frequently refers to him as Śakra - the mighty-one. In the Vedic period, the number of gods was assumed to be thirty-three and Indra was their lord. (The slightly later Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad enumerates the gods as the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati). As lord of the Vasus, Indra was also referred to as Vāsava.

By the age of the Hindu epics, Indra became the prototype for all lords and thus a king could be called Mānavendra (Indra or lord of men) and Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, was referred to as Rāghavendra (Indra of the clan of Raghu). Hence the original Indra was also referred to as Devendra (Indra of the Devas). However, Sakra and Vasava were used exclusively for the original Indra. Though, modern texts usually adhere to the name Indra, the traditional Hindu texts (the Vedas, epics and Puranas) use Indra, Sakra and Vasava interchangeably and with the same frequency.

Status and function

Indra is an important god in many tales and epics. He leads the Devas (the gods who form and maintain Heaven and the elements, such as Agni (Fire), Varuna (Water) and Surya (Sun)), and constantly wages war against the demonic Asuras of the netherworlds, or Patala, who oppose morality and dharma. He thus fights in the timeless battle between good and evil. In addition, he is one of the Guardians of the directions, representing the east."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra

Varuna is acceptable in the West, despite solar connotations:

"In Vedic religion, Varuna (Devanagari:वरुण, IAST:varuṇa) is a god of the sky, of rain and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld. He is the most prominent Asura in the Rigveda, and chief of the Adityas.

Vedic and other roles
As chief of the Adityas, Varuna has aspects of a solar deity. As the most prominent Asura, however, he is more concerned with moral and societal affairs than a deification of nature. Together with Mitra – originally oath personified — being master of rta, he is the supreme keeper of order and god of the law.

Varuna and Mitra are the gods of the oath, often twinned or identified as Mitra-Varuna (a dvandva compound). Varuna is also twinned with Indra in the Rigveda, as Indra-Varuna.

As a sky god, Varuna may either correspond to, or rule over, the dark half of the sky — or celestial ocean (Rasā), hence being also a god of rain — or represent the 'dark' side of the Sun as it travels back from West to East during the night.

The Atharvaveda[1] portrays Varuna as omniscient, catching liars in his snares. The stars are his thousand-eyed spies, watching every movement of men.

In the Rigveda, Indra, chief of the Devas, is about six times more prominent than Varuna, who is mentioned 341 times. This may misrepresent the actual importance of Varuna in early Vedic society due to the focus of the Rigveda on fire and Soma ritual, Soma being closely associated with Indra; Varuna with his omniscience and omnipotence in the affairs of men has many aspects of a supreme deity.

Both Mitra and Varuna are classified as Asuras in the Rigveda (e.g. RV 5.63.3), although they can already be addressed to as Devas as well (e.g. RV 7.60.12), possibly indicating the beginning of the negative connotations carried by Asura in later times.

Varuna later became the god of oceans and rivers and keeper of the souls of the drowned. As such, Varuna is also a god of the dead, and can grant immortality. He is attended by the nagas. He is also one of the Guardians of the directions, representing the west.

Later art depicts Varuna as a lunar deity, as a white man wearing golden armor and holding a noose or lasso made from a snake. He rides the sea monster Makara.

[edit] Name
As a theonym, Varuna quite likely dates from the Indo-Iranian age, although no Iranian continuation of the name has survived. The Mitanni names aruna and urvana may refer to the same early Indo-Aryan god. The name Varuna seems to derive from the PIE root *wer- or *wel-, meaning "to cover" (see also Vala, Vrtra).

Cognate names of gods in other Indo-European languages have been suggested, but remain uncertain: notably Uranos, the sky god in Greek mythology, and also Vörnir, a giant of Norse mythology (from *verunyos?), the Slavic god Svarog, and velnias, the Lithuanian for "devil". Many of these matches have been contested by linguists, particularly the connection with Uranos is considered untenable.

Varuna may be loosely connected to Poseidon in Greek mythology or Neptune in Roman mythology. The planet Neptune is called Varuna in Hindu Astrology.[citation needed] Kuiper Belt object 20000 Varuna, discovered in 2000, is named after the god Varuna."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna

Which brings us to perhaps the most simple answer, looking at the Pancha Mahabhuta (Five Great Elements) of Hinduism and seeing who/what is used to personify them:

"The Pancha Mahabhuta, or "five great elements", of Hinduism are Prithvi or Bhumi (Earth), Ap or Jala (Water), Agni or Tejas (Fire), Vayu or Pavan (Air or Wind), and Akasha (Aether)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_elements#Classical_elements_in_Hinduism

Let me see if I can find directions coorespondances for these:

I find this in association with temple archetechture on http://www.hweb.nl/raja/akasha_gamanam.html:

"The doctrine explains that the Mahabhutas or Elements appeared one out of the other, generated from the transcendental plane, and producing the material universe. First to appear was Akasha, the Ether; from which came Vayu, the Air; from Air came forth Tejas, or Fire; from Fire emerged Apas or Water; and from Water was brought forth Prithivi, Earth. This is expressed in the temple architecture through the five concentric prakaras or courtyards surrounding the Sabha."

This works perfectly with the placement of the Elements in the Wiccan Quarters! The article explains that various parts of the temple were considered the dwelling of the elements as one opened into another. But no mention of cardinal direction associations...so this may be open to usage without infringing on a pre-determined cardinal association.

In this article, http://www.arthistory.upenn.edu/meister/teacup.html, outlining the symbolism in the archtechture of a Shiva temple, we find metion of goblin-like figures that are placed as Quarter Guardians:

"Four personified figures of the Mahabhutas were placed on the
corners of the upper vedi-platform of the Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, near Madras, in the seventh century A.D.; but the full range of "Elementals" the infinite particulate fragments or atoms of reality are associated with Siva's host of sprites (his pramathas).

The architects of a small Siva temple built at Amrol in
Central India early in the eighth century have rather placed such
bhuta-goblins representing the Elements in corner niches on the temple's walls. These take the place of a familiar set of Vedic deities that act as "Guardians of the Quarters" (the Dikpalas)."

I looked for a further definition of Shiva's sprites, the pramathas:

"Pramathas are the ghostly companions of Mahadeva" as a footnote to a verse in the Mahabharata that talks of the pramathas thusly:

""Bhishma said, 'Then all the highly blessed deities and the Pitris, and the highly blessed Rishis also, addressing the Pramathas, said, 1 'Ye are all highly blessed beings. Ye are invisible wanderers of the night. Why do you afflict those men that are vile and impure and that are unclean? What acts are regarded as impediments to your power?...

"The Pramathas said, 'Men are rendered unclean by acts of sexual congress. They who do not purify themselves after such acts, they who insult their superiors, they who from stupefaction eat different kinds of meat, the man also who sleeps at the foot of a tree, he who keeps any animal matter under his pillow while lying down for sleep, and he who lies down or sleeps placing the head where his feet should be placed or his feet where the head should be placed,--these men are regarded by us as unclean. Verily, these men have many holes. Those also are numbered in the same class who throw their phlegm and other unclean secretions into the water. Without doubt these men deserve to be slain and eaten up by us. Verily, we afflict those human beings who are given to such conduct.

Listen now to what those acts are which are regarded as antidotes and in consequence of which we fail to do any injury to men. Those men upon whose persons occur streaks of Gorochana, or who hold Vachas in their hands, or who make gifts of ghee with those ingredients that go by the name of Akshata, or who place ghee and Akshata on their heads, or those who abstain from meat are incapable of being afflicted by us. That man in whose house the sacred fire burns day and night without being ever put out, or who keeps the skin or teeth of a wolf in his abode or a hill-tortoise, or from whose habitation the sacrificial smoke is seen to curl upwards, or who keeps a cat or a goat that is either tawny or black in hue, is free from our power. Verily, those householders who keep these things in their houses always find them free from the inroads of even the fiercest spirits that live on carrion. Those beings also, that like us range through different worlds in pursuit of pleasure, are unable to do any injury to such houses. Hence, ye deities, should men keep such articles in their houses,--articles that are destructive of Rakshasas (and other beings of the kind). We have thus told you everything about that respecting which ye had great doubts.'"

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b096.htm

So, these beings, depicted as goblin directional gaurdians in a temple, destroy those who break certain taboos regarding Dharma and cleanliness.

In the Srimad Bhagavata, pramathas are described simply as "his [Shiva's] different mystic attendants".

http://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/canto10/chapter63.html

They are also described as a benign ghost here:

"Different kinds of Ghosts:

There are so many different kinds of ghosts, although they are all disembodied jivas, spirit souls really like you and me.

"Some of these different kinds some of you will have experienced, some consciously, and some unconsciously. The different kinds are brought about by the different ways "they met their end", and the consciousness that they achieved at that time.
There are Pramathas who are not harmful, but others like Vetaalas who like to haunt cemeteries, and who animate dead bodies (Zombies), they create an atmosphere of fear wherever they go."

http://www.salagram.net/ghosts.htm

Here they are classed as demi-god fiends attendant upon Shiva http://go.webassistant.com/wa/index.lhtml?-Response=cont_pub_view_item.lhtml&-Token.cID=100031&-Token.ID=20095&-Nothing

It makes sense that within a Shaiva-context that these attendants could be set as Quarter guardians.
Other contexts may need to dig deeper.

~Devi~

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Any Recommendations??

dara — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 17:04:22 GMT

Hello all!! I am new to this tribe (by the way this is a great tribe) and would like to know if anyone could recommend a good web site on Hindu deities. I have worked with the Celtic Pantheon for many years now, but recently have been drawn to some of the Hindu deities and would like to learn more about them.

~Dara

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 9 replies

Checking in...

songflowermari — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 07:58:14 GMT

Just checking in to see how you all are doing. I hope everyone had a Blessed Samahin and Dwali, and that you are finding yourselves prospering in the New Year.
I've just finished reading, and I've spoken about this on another thread, "Progressive Witchcraft" by Farrar and Bone. It's an eye-opening read if you're finding yourself stuck in a rut in your practice. They emphasize LIVING breathing Witchcraft traditions, diety-based, and non-reconstructive. Their emphasis is on the here-and-now and not in the past (unless the history of modern Wicca is concerned).
I'm curious: how many have read that book? And if so, what is your opinion of it? Any thoughts on the future of Paganism/Wicca?

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

IndoPagan discussion group & links

Devi — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 03:37:44 GMT

For those who are interested, there is a yahoo group that I have created for the IndoPagan community.

To subscribe, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShaktiWicca/

If you would like more information about networking with other IndoPagans, and also an online database of IndoPagan readings and ritual resources, feel free to visit these sites:

http://indopaganproject.tripod.com

http://shaktiwicca.tripod.com

Blessings,
~Devi~

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 3 replies

1st day of Summer!

FyreChyld — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 06:26:44 GMT

Happy Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice everyone! Hope your day was Bright & Fun!

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

New Member!

CreoleMoon — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:22:30 GMT

Merry Meet All, I just joined the tribe and wanted to send some POSITIVE Blessings.

I wish you all Peace and Light,

CreoleMoon

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

interested in Shaktism & Celtic Goddesses , looking for any Divine Feminine links

Somaadi — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 02:54:56 GMT

looking for Shakti / Devi / Shakta Tantra information & contacts

Pranams , Jai Mataji !
Namaskar . blessed sadhakas , here is a Goddess devotee , my spiritual name is Somaadi ,
am a bhakta shakta sadhu , i will travel soon to India
and am looking for some information which i could not find
elsewhere , such as :
anything related to Shakti sadhana , pooja , ashrams , maths , orders ,
genuine teachers and sadhus , temples , maths , places of worship , especially in the nature etc ... also , anything else related with Shakti sadhana / Goddess worship in east and west ( mainly India & Asia , but also any other places , in England for example , anything of dianic orientation and other Divine Feminine links ) .
also , i would be happy to exchange and connect with
serious students , practicants and masters of
Shaktism and devotional Tantra ,
who are totally devoted to Maha Devi . i would love to meet friends and connect with spiritual people who will travel to India or who live there since a while .
especially , i would like to know what exactly are the
similarities and differences between the main Shakta schools ,
such as Dakshinachara , Samayachara , Kaula , Sri Vidya .
very interested in exchange on this .
please help me in any way , if you wish .
many thanks , blessings and best wishes , brother Somaadi , eternally HER servant
OM SHAKTI --------- OM TAT SAT
personally at : ambaji_777@hotmail.com

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Tribal witchcraft (?)

songflowermari — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 08:47:06 GMT

I was driving home from my tribal bellydance class tonight when I was struck by the thought that witchcraft is essentially tribal in nature. Each group has its own way of connecting with deity, whether its the Roma Gypsies, the clans/families of the Irish and Scottish peoples, Native American tribes, "kinfolk" of the Southern Appalachains, or the nomadic groups of the Middle East and Africa, these are practices that are passed down from parents to children, each with their own meanings. Tribes can intermingle and learn from each other, and the practices will be changed or expanded upon. The idea is, I believe, to be very respectful of the culture/group/tribe you're borrowing from....I'm not into this mixing deities business, or calling on as many names of the Goddess/God as you can. Witchcraft practices were passed down from parent to child, and are steeped in the culture from which they came.
I'd like to hear other thoughts on this.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Ancient Meditating Yogi in Norway - Compare to Mohenjo Daro and the Gundestrup Caultron

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 19:59:52 GMT

Thought to share this... maybe it is as interesting to you as it is to me. Compare the pics...

http://www.stormfront.org/whitehisto.../oswas.jpeg
(I don't like this link... but the pic is ok art-historically).

I friend of mine found a meditating yogi from the viking times (800 a.D.). This is an amazing picture of some kind of yogi in lotus position. I guess, the idea of mediation and yoga (maybe even tantra) must have reached further north than we thought...

Quote,"The Indo-European origins of the Vikings is illustrated by this detail from a very well preserved Viking ship uncovered by archeologists in Scandinavia, known as the Osberg ship, circa 800 AD. A handle mount on a bucket found in the ship depicts a figure carrying a shield with four swastika sun emblems in its corners. The fact that the swastika appears as a symbol from Scandinavia to Italy to India indicates precisely how far the Indo-European influence was felt."

Also, look at this:

The picture from the Gundestrup Caultron shows a meditating yogi. It seems that meditation and maybe even forms of tantra may far more wide spread.

http://www.jblstatue.com/gundstrup/gunstrup3.jpg

It reminds me on the seal of Pashupati from Mohenjo Daro.

http://www.cat.middlebury.edu/~slides/...aa004.jpg
http://www.faculty.cva.edu/Stout/Indi...roSeal2.jpg

Interesting and inspirational!

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

may GODDESS return ....

Somaadi — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:06:27 GMT

Blessings to all , may The Great Mother Goddess of endless names and forms activate and manifest Her holy Shakti I AM presence in us and outside us , may the gregorian new year 2006 mark Her glorious return !!! thank you for .... being ! best wishes , a starseed lightworker & Goddess devotee
Jai Maa

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Happy Winter Solstice Everyone!

FyreChyld — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:46:55 GMT

Hope the Gods grant you all your wishes this Holiday Season.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 3 replies

Winter holidays

songflowermari — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 02:24:57 GMT

Hello all, sorry it's been so quiet. The winter holidays are upon us and as I was looking on the calendar wondering when the heck I'm going to find time to squeeze in a bit of holiday shopping, I noticed that a lot of the holidays are squeezed together this year. Yule/Winter Solstice is almost here, followed closely by Christmas. Hannukkah, Kwanzaa, and Boxing Day all begin on the same day (Dec 26th), and goodness knows that soon New Year's, Old Christmas (Jan 6)/Twelfth Night, and Imbolc will be here soon.
I know it has already passed, but I also like to celebrate Diwali this time of year, usually a week before Yule - I light a small tealight in the windows each night to light the way (at my old college, the InterFaith councel used to include all these holidays in their annual Festival of Lights).
How will we be spending our holidays? What traditions/customs are meaningful for us this time of year?

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Dian Cecht, Miach, Airmid & Herbs

FyreChyld — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 08:54:19 GMT

I'm looking for info on the Celtic gods Dian Cecht, his son Miach & daughter Airmid. Specifically what herb is connect to each one of them. I know they are all healing gods & herbs are their realm but surely theres a herb that is specific to each of them. Anyone? A friend of mine has been ill for many years. Recently a man name Miosh has been visiting her often in her dreams. I mentioned Airmid & Miach to here that she should be offering up prayers to them. Something click & she realize that Miach is Miosh of her dreams. Now she wants to place a small shrine next to her bed so she can do daily devotion to them as she works toward fulling healing herself & traveling down the path of celtic shamanism.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Konichiwa, Namaste, Merry Meet, Hello

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:09:16 GMT

Konichiwa, Namaste, Merry Meet, Hello,
I"m a recent member. just wanted to say hi there.
My personal pantheon is based on different individual deities rather then any specific one pantheon. Though I'm dedicated to two celtic deities who are my patron/matron deities I have had two hindu deities in my life for many years even before any others were personally in my life.

Ganesh and Lakshmi. I placed a few pictures up to share in the photo section. I have a bookshelf that has several little statues of both deities, and one of Sarasvati. there is a box I made called a Lakshmi box but the cover broke a while back that had a pendant on it of Lakshmi..it is what I call my prosperity box and whenver I come home I place come change in the box, usually a quarter or two. there are also some other small items in there as offerings.
I am very found of Ganesha and these are two hindu deities that will always remain in my personal path.

I have also loved hindu art for many years, since I was a teenager and used to go down to little india (nyc) to stock up on incense and buy lovely posters of different hindu deities. also the food is delicious!

I found tribe.net a couple of weeks ago and joined many tribes.
I also decided to create two of my own tribes. below is the info in case anyone is interested in them.
you can read about me at my profile if you like so I won't post an intro.

hope to find some things to discuss on the boards, meet other fellow tribe members and feel free to connect me to your network. :-)
)O( )O( )O(
arigatou, bb*peace
Willow Ravencraft

My Groups: at tribe.net
NYC Pagans and beyond - webweave, network, chat, events
tribes.tribe.net/nyc_pagans

Witchcrafting - recipes, incense and oils, kitchen magick, crafting etc.
tribes.tribe.net/witchycrafting

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Happy Samhain / Blessed Diwali everyone!

songflowermari — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 22:38:50 GMT

The dark time of the year is fast approaching...even here in SoCal where the temp is 80-something degrees and beautiful. :) I hope everyone has a great Samhain and/or Halloween in what ever you do. For me, I've chosen to spend All Hallow's Eve with my very dear friend carving pumpkins and watching scary movies...maybe even getting dressed up and wandering the streets of Downtown Disney is in order as well! :)
I also want to wish everyone a happy Diwali as well. Though I usually celebrate the holiday a little closer to December because of it's obvious connections to light and rebirth, I thought it interesting that the holiday begins the day after Samhain this year. Any other thoughts on that?

In any case, many blessings in whatever and however you decide to celebrate the holidays. If you want, please share some ideas/experiences, tell myths, post rituals...we can all learn from each other.

Blessings and Namaste

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Diwali ritual for money..

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 19:44:46 GMT

A small ritual for the coming Tuesday..the 'new moon' NIGHT. Please check this out at

your respective places. On this new moon day, India has a festival of light called "Diwali".

It also has a lot of other cosmic significances too.
There is a small ritual to be done to attract money.
On a ceramic plate, place some diskettes of camphor. Wear red and face the west

direction. Burn in it cloves. Take care that the cloves should be with it's 'ball' on its

apex.The top. Let the cloves burn completely to black ash.If they have not fully burnt out,

add some more camphor diskettes.Take this black powder & put it in a small silver box &

place it wherever you place your money.

All the time while the clove is being burnt, keep on chanting "AUM HREENGM SHREENGM

NAMAH".You will start getting 'at ease' just after 40 days of the ritual.

This is a tried & tested 'totka'.Please pass this on.Any query, please contact me.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Western Tantric Order

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 18:00:53 GMT

Adesh! Adesh!

"The spirit cannot be liberated until it has satisfied and experienced all the attractions of the senses and their demands." - Shri Gurudev Mahendranath

Dadaji was a contemporary of Aleister Crowley's, who travelled to India in 1953 to study Yoga and other systems. Already well versed in Western Occultism he wanted to escape the rat race of Western culture and ideologies. He strongly identifies with being a 'pagan' in his writings.

Check out: http://mahendranath.org/ and start with his twilight yoga series.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

search information about vedic rsi ,or rishi cult in thailand???

ninjakiller06 — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 17:31:02 GMT

hi all,

i m looking for information about vedic rsi in thailand,their cult and occult practice

thanks

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Mantra Siddhi on Eclipse Day..

Sun, 25 Sep 2005 18:34:37 GMT

During the eclipse on Oct.2nd/3rd. reciting the following Aghor Mantra will give it's Siddhi. I shall try to make it as simple in English ( the pronunciation included). Should be recited RHYTHMICALLY. Sit on any asana ALWAYS esp. Red if possible.

"Aum hrong aghore ghore hungm,
Ghortare hungm; (tare pronounced not as in 'tearing tare...but as ta-re)
Aum hreengm kleengm, sarvatah sarvaange,
Namaste rudra roope hungm."

To be recited at least 108 times....

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Navratri Rituals for Peace & Prosperity.

Mon, 03 Oct 2005 20:10:00 GMT

1)

A small recitation, done during Navratra (October 9 days from 4th to12th)..recited just 27

times, facing north in the nights..is highly effective Siddhi to ward off every calamity.

Must be repeated every year during Navratra. One must have a Ma Durga photo/idol in

front. Burn an oil lamp to HER right ; incense to HER left. Sitting on red asana &

offerring red flowers to her ..recite:-

"AUM Namo-a-stute Bhagwate, Paarshwa Chandraa-dharendra Padmaavati Sahitaaye ,may

abheeshta siddhim;
Dushtagraha bhasm bhakshyam swaaha,
Swaami prasaade kuroo kuroo swaaha;
Hillihilli Maatangani Swaaha,
Swaami prasaade kuroo kuroo swaaha".

Daily 27 times for 9 nights of Navratra. When in danger, just recite it 7 times & blow

thrice shoulder to shoulder. You will be safe.
___________________________________________________________________________
It is too vast and beyond the scope of this letter to write the ACTUAL spiritual aspect of

Navratri ( Nav=Nine: Raatri (as it is pronounced)=Nights). There are two such Navaratris in

a year. One around March and one around October/Nov....depending on the Hindu Lunar

Months. Again, there are two 'facets' of Navratri. One the Pauraanic (ancient folklore)

aspect and one metaphysical aspect. I guess you may FIND latter too on the internet. Just

type "Navratri" on Google.

Siddhi means 'attainment'....especially spiritual kind. And the person who has attained

Siddhi..is called Siddha Purush. Purush meaning Man. "The man who has attained". This

attainment can be got by many methods..but Mantras (incantations in a specific way for a

specific purpose) is the BASE.

Durga is a combination of Duh (not as in US DUHH..lol) + gaah. The combo makes it

Durga. Duh.. D pronounced in softer note as the French 'du' or 'the' of English. Duh

means bad/evil..Gah means to 'ward off'. So Durga means she who wards off the bad/evil

etc. And there are stories about her.

ANY QUERY PL.CONTACT ME FOR CLARIFICATION.
Blessings to all;
Chandan

www.newspiritservices.com/gems.html

2)

Within the TIME perscribed in Los Angeles time, please do the following. (convert the timings to your time zones please).To be done by the 'head of the family'. This is for wealth. Take a piece of SQUARE red cloth. Cotton/Silk any.Put in it 58 SHINY COPPER COINS (e.g. penny). Make a knotted bundle & put away WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR MONEY (moneybox).Whenever any money/cheque comes..put it in that money box for at least 3 hrs.(preferably overnight) and then spend it.This is an ancient Hindu 'formula'.Timings: On the 9th 0230hrs to 1830 hrs.the same date.IT IS THE MAHA-ASHTAMI DAY OF THE AUSPICIOUS NAVRATRI. This info is for universal benevolence & is NOT a spam.
Love'n'Light.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Europe's Ancient Nature Worshippers, The Pagans, Call for a Hindu Alliance

songflowermari — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 06:17:38 GMT

This is an article from 1991 (Hinduism Today). I don't know if some of you have read it already, but I think the information is just as relavent today. The Fararrs have also mentioned similar ideas in their recent writings as well. Enjoy!

York, Michael

As the Christian era slowly thaws, it's springtime for the indigenous faiths of the planet. A bubbly sort of euphoria has possessed the pre-Christian earth religions. They survived what to them has been a long winter. Today they meet and celebrate their rebirth, their roots and connections with each other and with Hinduism.

On November 24th, the 2nd Annual United Kingdom Pagan Federation convened at the University of London and proposed that Pagans not only become aware of the Pagan/Hindu overlap but take it another step establish a recognized alliance. Author and Pagan Nigel Pennick addressed the spirited group of 300 stressing that for Pagans not being Christian or Muslim was insufficient. Paganism is a tradition in itself - one for which he feels Hinduism constitutes its Eastern extension. Pennick foresees the possibility that Hindus may come to accept Europe's Pagans as a European branch of Hinduism. He pointed out that Hindus in Britain tend not to be persecuted by the Assemblies of God and other Christian extremists because it is assumed that they have an "ethnic right." He added that Pagans are assumed to be apostate Christians and it is considered permissible - since the Justinian Reforms - to hunt them down.

Pennick called for an alliance between Paganism and Hinduism. He cited discussions within Hinduism that all the Gods (Shiva, Ganesh, Kali, etc.) are part of the One and proposed that Paganism be absorbed into that discussion - especially with its Goddess-oriented sects. He added that Hinduism and Paganism have common roots - shamanic, ice-age, ecological, nature-worship, etc. and envisages that Paganism could become a part of the World Hindu Federation.

The meeting's setting was colorful. There were stalls marketing Pagan products from a range of different traditions. And everyone was glad the Fundamentalist Christian Coalition didn't disrupt the proceedings as they had done the year before.

Noted authoress Prudence Jones supported Nigel's proposal and further stressed that Paganism is very similar to Hinduism and Japan's nature-oriented Shinto religion as well.

The tack this bold idea now takes is uncharted, but Prudence and Nigel are not alone. Other indigenous faiths are also considering Hinduism as an ally as they reassert themselves in what some are calling a "Post-Christian era." Collectively, they feel Christianity buried them with a theology that masculinized God, separated man from Divinity and robbed the land of its sacredness. They promise the opposite: returning femininity to the Divine, seeing Divinity in all and treating the earth as a friend, not an enemy.

PAGAN (ism)

Paganus="rustic, peasant, heathen." HEATHEN, from Heath="forested or uncultivated land."

The term "Pagan" was coined by the early Christians to designate a non-Christian. The Mediterranean peoples at that time followed a lifestyle and thinking very Hindu-like. Temples to Gods and Goddesses were many. Religious festivals filled the year based on an agrarian calendar. Mystery schools taught the metaphysics of healing, yogic disciplines and the belief that all life is sacred and interconnected.

According to the U.K. Pagan Federation, there are roughly 20,000 Pagans in Britain and 200,000 in Europe who call themselves Pagans, but possibly several million more - especially in rural life - who subscribe to Pagan thought.

Pagan/Hindu

SIMILARITIES BELIEF IN:

* EXISTENCE OF MYRIADS OF NON-PHYSICAL BEINGS FROM NATURES-SPIRITS TO DEITIES

* KARMA AND REINCARNATION

* THE ONENESS OF ALL CREATION PERVADED BY THE DIVINE FORCE

* NO DOGMA: FINAL SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF TRUTH

* THE DIVINE IS FEMININE AND MASCULINE

* DECENTRALIZED ORGANIZATION

* CHAKRAS, KUNDALINI, PRANIC ENERGY

* INNER, NON-PHYSICAL REALMS

* USE OF CEREMONIAL WORSHIP TO INVOKE AND AWAKEN HIGHER SPIRITUAL ENERGIES

DIFFERENCES:

* TRADITIONS: HINDUISM IS INDIAN; PAGANISM IS GRECO/ROMAN/CELTIC

* DEITIES: HINDU: SIVA, VISHNU, SHAKTI, ETC: PAGAN: COVENTINA, BRIDGE, ETC.

* TEMPLES: HINDU: WORSHIP IS VERY RITUALIZED; PAGAN WORSHIP IS LESS RIGID

* SCRIPTURES: HINDUS REVERE ESTABLISHED TEXTS; PAGANS FOLLOW DIVERSE, INSPIRED WRITINGS

"YES, Hindus are Pagans"

INTERVIEW WITH PRUDENCE JONES

HINDUISM TODAY: How do you envision Paganism allying with Hinduism?

Prudence Jones: To start, through conferences we could see our connections. The most important connection between Paganism, Hinduism and Shintoism is they are not limited to a holy book like Islam and Christianity. Not dogmatic. All the indigenous faiths must talk to one another. They all obviously wouldn't [merge] because of differences of tradition, history customs, etc. But they must link because the legal system today has defined religion based on monotheism - with a Supreme Deity who has to be obeyed. I wouldn't want to make anything too formal yet, because we don't know each other. Perhaps what we need is a Worldwide Council of Indigenous Religions.

HT: Then you consider both Hinduism and Shintoism to be Pagan?

PJ: Yes. Basically, we want to show people how similar our faith is with Hinduism and Shintoism and the North American tradition. We have to stand up against this world decade of Christian evangelism - 19912,000 - out to convert everybody of an indigenous faith. Also for legal reasons, it might be useful to be able to say we are affiliated with a world Hindu organization. But we don't really want to become part of or join another religion, but rather affiliate. One reason - although we vastly appreciate the similarities - is that we don't want the weight of social history that both Hinduism or Shintoism have. [We are enjoying] a new spiritual current and don't want to get tied down with traditions of 'Who is Brahman?' and who's allowed in the temple on which days.

HT: What are the main Pagan beliefs?

Prudence Jones: European Pagan religion is the native, indigenous religion of Europe. Religions with doctrines, like Christianity, came later. We feel all the world's native religions have three features in common: One, they are all nature-venerating, seeing nature as a manifestation of Divinity. The second is their polytheistic approach - many Deities, many manifestations of the Divine. The third feature is they all recognize the Goddess, the female aspect of Divinity, as well as the male.

HT: What about karma and reincarnation?

PJ: Yes, not all Pagans, but most. We have no central authority that dictates what we have to believe because it has to do with experience of the divine, and forms in which you describe that experience will vary.

Produce Jones is a spokesperson for the U.K. Pagan Federation. Her address: 21 Shelly Garden, Cambridge, U.K. CB30BT.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Wiccan Wants Town to Pay Her Legal Bill

songflowermari — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 23:01:12 GMT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050815/ap_on_re_us/council_prayers

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Celtic-Indian music

songflowermari — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 06:25:25 GMT

OMG! Check out these awesome CDs at this link:
http://newearthrecords.com/productcart/pc/viewCat_P.asp?idCategory=61

Blessings!

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Channeling Quan Yin

13 — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 23:47:38 GMT

i remember quan yin -- she & i have been intimately connected

i used to channel quan yin NRG a lot
lately, however, i'm channeling a lot of some martial artist sword dancer goddess who remains "nameless" at the moment
but she feels very asian -- like a samaurai geisha

what i recall of Quan Yin is that she IS the manifestation of serenely graceful compassion as r her sisters, Tara & Mary

when i channeled her nrgies while trance dancing i would feel sooooo expansive, it felt as if the tiniest movement of my smallest fingernail could set entire galaxies in motion

a friend gave me an amethyst crystal carving of her --- standing upon a "moving" crystal globe with her water dragon coiled 'round

for me Quan Yin resonates to some ancient life-time as Chyneeese --
the images which come to my mind's inner-eye r these:
i must marry -- i refuse to marry
i have 2 options -- suicide -- or become a nun
i choose nun & became a devotee of Quan Yin

not so oddly enuf, i have a strong affinity for things chinese yes??

as i recall -- Quan Yin was originally a male --- one of the long names in Sanscrit(?) like Avoleks____?? & then became a female
could probably find that story in a Google search for Quan Yin

enjoy the journey with the Q-Y
and consider this -- we & she are one & the same NRG --
she is our own projection & reflection of our inner Compassionate Nature --
we R looking into a "mirror" -- and she is whom we C --
so, let's honor and love our reflection -- she certainly loves us -- with-OUT reservation, hesitation, or equivocation

lovin u'all
Chyna

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

Happy Lughnasah!

songflowermari — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 08:26:25 GMT

The bright August sun is upon us, and if you live anywhere near the central valley like I do, then you feel like a loaf of baked bread in all this heat! Actually, Lughnasah and August always make me think of dry heat, yellow dried grass and lost of dust! I have a love-hate relationship with this time: my birthday's in 2 weeks (YAY!) but I also start back at my regular job in a couple of weeks as well, and summer's almost over :(

Hope everyone has a bright and happy Lammas. Eat lots of bread, fruit, wine, juice, corn, rice, and anything else you can stuff in your mouth! :) What's a Sabbat without tons of food I always say? :)
How do you celebrate?

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

So glad I found this!!

Whispers — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 05:39:44 GMT

Hello, everyone. I'm not exactly a Celtic Witch, but I am Pagan and I do follow Hindu Gods. Saraswati and Ganesha are my Partons.
I am not Hindu, but being that I have Hindu/Vedic Gods, I don't want to loss sight of that.
I've been having trouble mixing the two faiths-- Holidays, rituals and such.
I want to clebrate the Wheel of the Year, but with a Hindu slant...things like that.
I'm glad to know there are others like me. I felt SOOOO alone :(.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Quan Yin

Sat, 14 May 2005 05:20:00 GMT

Hey All,
Blessed Be and thanks for being here! I find it really funny that there's a tribe about celtic/hindu connections, because i am of celtic decent, and have always been drawn to the celtic way of goddess and earth based spirituality.... however, recently i came across Quan Yin, learned just a little about her, and suddenly, every time i thought of her i felt an amazing rush of compassion and love and this beautiful blue/white/purple light...... i couldn't possibly begin to explain in words how i would feel when i would meditate on Quan Yin, but i just have to say i feel an amazing peace.....
Do any of you have any input about Quan Yin, and maybe any comparisons or similarities to other forms of the goddess?
Thank You!!!

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

May Wine

malcha — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 16:49:56 GMT

Beltane, Earth Day, Mother's Day, Spring!
Here's a fragrant wine for this whole beautiful time of year:

Ingredients:
8-10 sprigs of fresh Sweet Woodruff
1/2 cup sugar
fresh strawberries
lemon
2 bottles sweet German wine (Moselle)
1 bottle champagne

Green-dry the woodruff for 3 days in a ceramic container.
To 2 cups of the sweet wine, add sugar, some sliced strawberries, lemon, and woodruff. Soak overnight in the refrigerator.

In the morning, pour the soaking wine, the rest of the wine, and the bottle of champange over whole strawberries in bowl.

* * *

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Beltane Ritual

malcha — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 20:03:32 GMT

This is a really fun public ritual that we did many times for the Whole Earth Festival. I'll post my good May Wine recipe also. (The ritual is *especially* fun when all have had a bit of the May Wine first!)

BELTANE RITUAL

EQUIPMENT: Altar/table, flowers, flower
garlands, flower vase, smudge, salt water,
aspergillus, strawberries in large bowl.
Maypole & portable hole.

People:HPS, HP, Maiden, Green Man, 4 quarters

*********************************
Before ritual, parade with decorated pole, passing altar. One person at altar smudges all who pass and another sprinkles with aspergillus.

Plant pole in portable hole (with a lusty huzzah!). All stand in circle around the pole.

Spiral dance to center of circle (Maypole) and out again, kissing each passer-by. After dance, all standing in circle,
HPS says:

My friends, this is a little ritual to welcome summer. To our celtic ancestors, there were 2 seasons: Summer & Winter. The first day of Winter was Samhain and the first day of Summer was Beltane. We are going to define the sphere, call in some special energies, and then dance the Maypole to raise energy. Then we are going to use this energy to bless this land for miles around. Are you ready?

HP and HPS circle the outside perimeter of circle, she with branch and water and he with censer.

All sing: ‘Lady weave your circle tight, spin your web of glowing light. Earth and air and fire and water bind us to you.'

HPS: "Let the far kingdoms be hailed!"

Quarter callers:
EAST: Soft and whispering Winds from afar
Greetings be unto thee, in the Names of the Old Gods.
Blow clear and fresh and free in magickal presence here.
Blessed be!

SOUTH: Warming and quickening Light from afar
Greetings be unto thee, in the Names of the old Gods.
Grant the warmth that brings forth life in magickal presence here.
Blessed be!

WEST: Cool Waters of lake and stream
Greetings be unto thee, in the Names of the Old Gods.
Flow clear and pure and swift in magickal presence here.
Blessed be!

NORTH: Far Lands and Wild Places
Greetings be unto thee, in the Names of the Old Gods.
Bring forth your bounty and great powers of life in magickal presence here.
Blessed be!

HPS to HP: We give you greetings,
O Laughing Lord of the Greenwood
Guardian of all things wild
Friend and protector of those who
seek the wilderness,
Grant here your joyous, potent, and
enlivening presence!

Enjoy our rite, as do we,
and grant us of your lust
for beauty and for life.
Blessed Be!

(HPS places flower garland around HP's neck)

HP to HPS:
We give you greetings,
O Loving and Gracious Lady of the Earth!
Patroness of the field and of meadow
Queen of forest and of stream,
Grant here your gentle, laughing
and magickal presence.
Enjoy our rite as do we
and grant us your power to enchant and to create.
Blessed be!

(HP places necklace of flowers around HPS's neck)

HPS: Thus do we invoke the Summer Gay
To come to us this sacred day
By fur and feather, leaf and tree
We show you a mystery!

East crowns Maiden. HPS says:

Summer is off on her yearly circuit of the
wheel! (Maiden begins to run around the
circle.)

South crowns Green Man. HP says: Green Man!
Bring summer back to us again! (Green Man begins to chase Maiden, all cheer.)

Maiden and Green Man make a full circuit and then she stops in east, he in north, etc.

Maiden: Oh I shall go into a hare
and run with the wind through the meadow fair
And I shall go in my Lady's Name
Aye, til I be call-ed hame!

Green Man: Hare, take heed of a swift greyhound
Will harry thee all these fields around
For I shall go in my Master's Name
Aye, to call thee home again!

Maiden moves to the South, Green Man to the East.

Maiden: Yet I shall go into a bee
to dance with the flowers of field and tree
And flit to hive in the Lady's Name
Ere that I be call-ed hame!

Green Man: Bee, take heed of a red, red cock
Will harry thee close through door and lock
For here come I in the Master's Name
Aye, to call thee home again!

Maiden moves to the West, Green Man to the South.

Maiden: Yet I shall go into a trout
to slip through the river with nary a doubt
And show thee many a merry game
Ere that I be call-ed hame!

Green Man: Trout, take heed of an otter lank
Will harry thee close from bank to bank
For here come I in the Master's Name
Aye, to call thee home again!

Maiden moves to the North, Green Man to the West.

Maiden: Yet I shall go into a mouse
And haste me unto the Miller's house
There in his corn to have good game
Ere that I be call-ed hame!

Green Man: Mouse, take heed of a white tom-cat
That never was baulked of mouse nor rat
For here come I in the Master's Name
And -thus- it is I call thee hame!

Green Man "catches" Maiden and takes her hand. They both move to the Maypole to cheers of all assembled. HPS gives them a bowl of strawberries to hold between them. (They will both be wrapped in ribbons, facing each other with Maypole between them, when the Maypole is danced.)

HPS: Cunning and art she did not
lack, but aye his song has called her back!
Old winter's dead, the Lady reigns
And summer has returned again!

Behold now the Maypole, drawing power from
the Earth and showering it down through our
bodies to the Earth again. Ladies grab a red ribbon, gentleman grab a white ribbon, and let us dance in the May!

People who want to dance move forward and get ready.
HPS gives quick dance instructions (red ribbons go right, white ribbons go left, over, under, over under etc.

HP: In a ring we all shall stand
and pass the power strand to strand

HPS: As the year is given birth
Build the power, root to earth

HP: Pass the power, strand to strand
Bless the Lady, bless the Land!

HPS: Bless the Lord, and bless the skies
Bless the Power that never dies!

All sing (or designated singer sings, or tape, or live music) Maypole dance songs. When circling gets tight, dancers are instructed to direct energy to the Maiden and Green Man. When dancing is over, all dancers touch the Maiden or Green Man and HPS will direct all assembled to touch someone who is touching someone who is
touching them. Maiden and Green Man will send the energy up the pole to shower in all directions and back to earth.

Green Man and Maiden are released from the Maypole and HPS retrieves the strawberries, holding them high, saying:

With our bodies we have charged these sweet berries to grant us strength, health, and fortune so the power also goes forth so that the land be fertile and all creatures prosper!
SO MOTE IT BE!

HPS & Quarters pass berries around.

HPS: "Friends, the Goddess and God and the Earth herself have been honored. We have become close to the seasonal forces
and close to the old ways of magick, and now it’s time we end our summer celebration. Callers of the far kingdoms, give now our
farewells!

Quarter callers give farewells:

NORTH: Far lands and wild places,
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail, farewell, and Blessed be!

WEST: Cool waters of lake and stream
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail, farewell, and Blessed be!

SOUTH: Warming and quickening light from afar
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail, farewell, and Blessed be!

EAST: Soft and whispering winds from afar
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail, farewell, and Blessed be!

HPS to HP: O Laughing Lord of the Greenwood,
We thank you for your powerful presence here.
We have been honored to have your spirit here among us.
Hail, farewell, and blessed be!

HP to HPS: O Loving and Gracious Lady of the Earth,
We thank you for your enchanting presence here.
We have been honored to have your spirit here among us.
Hail, farewell, and blessed be!

HP opens circle in NE.

All: Merry have we met and Merry have we been!
Now merry let us part and Merry Meet Again!

* * *

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Irish "Gypsies"

songflowermari — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 02:50:44 GMT

Thought this was really interesting:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=624047

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Yoga, Hindu Deities

SatyaLila — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 23:43:31 GMT

http://www.yogapodcast.net/

This was posted on the All Yoga tribe. Thought some of you might find it interesting.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

Basant Panchami / Imbolc

songflowermari — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 05:23:01 GMT

Feb 13th - festival of the Goddess Saraswati (pictured as the icon of the Tribe)
I noticed some time ago that this festival co-incides with the Celtic/ Wiccan holiday Imbolc, which is the festival of the Irish goddess Brigid. Saraswati and Brigid have A LOT in common: they share many similar attributes such as patronessess of the arts, learning, healing, music, poetry, speech, and so forth. Brigid is more connected to fire, however, and includes smithcraft in her persona, while Saraswati - once a river goddess - is connected with water (wait...so is Brigid! sacred wells...hmmm.....)
So why is this? A theory goes that the Indo-Europeans made their way across Europe from India and brought with vesteges of the Vedic religion with them. This element may have mixed with the religions of the Celtic tribes. This website has more info:
http://www.vedanet.com/HinduCeltic.htm

So, the questions is, how will YOU be celebrating this day? Traditional puja or more modern Wiccan/Pagan celebration, or any at all?
Blessings

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 13 replies

Neo-Tribal Summit

malcha — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 18:04:56 GMT

For those of you who, like me, don't catch all the listings, something really exciting is coming together soon in the NW US. This looks like a great chance to connect with some magickal folks who are ready to *act* instead of just talk..

http://springneo-tribalsummit.tribe.net/

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 0 replies

Pantheacon

songflowermari — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:24:32 GMT

Feb 18-21 @ the DoubleTree in San Jose. Is anyone going?

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

My Introduction

topher — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 20:52:28 GMT

Hello everyone... My name is Christopher Hurley Joseph O'Connor also known as Topher or Tophu. I'm a 23 yo gay fae otherkin male based in Washington D.C. soon moving to Savannah, Georgia for a little bit to get my boyfriend through Grad School. I'm guess you can label me a Celtic Hindu Pagan Unitarian. I have a very Unitarian world-view on the religion and life. I study magic and witchcraft and know that it all works for me. I follow four main gods: Heimdall and Brighid and Shiva and Kali. Who represent the Light and Dark Half of warriorship for me. I follow Eastern Warrior Philosphy as set out by Sun Tzu or Minyamoto Musaki or the Bushido. I study Tae Kwan Do and wish to start studying more arts. I'm also very much a scientist and believe science and religion can be blended. I'm a member of House-Eclipse a otherkin/vampire house based here in DC. See www.house-eclipse.org. I'm also a member of the DC Radical Faeries. I'm looking for more people to talk about theroies and such and maybe gain some teachers. Preferably in Savannah but will be back in DC January 07 and periodically til then. So any of this interests anyone and they wanna talk just hit me up.

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 1 reply

Directions???

Piwaket — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 03:40:06 GMT

I have been wanting to incorporate hindu deities into my pre existing altar space, but I seem to have run into a sort of problem, would anyone know which deities are best associated with each direction?

Is there actually any info on that sort of thing or is it more of an intuitive placement?

H to the A-LO

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 6 replies

kundalini

songflowermari — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 08:57:42 GMT

Does anyone know anything about kundalini yoga? I'm interested in taking a class but before I would like to know more about it before I commit 6 weeks of my time (and money). Thanks :)

Hope everyone has a blessed Solstice/Yule!

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

"Cernunnos" tribe

Sat, 11 Dec 2004 22:23:56 GMT

Hello. I've started a tribe for Cernunnos, in case any of you are interested.
Blessed Be

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 9 replies

Whoa! There's more people like me?

mamagaea — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 07:03:47 GMT

I practice Green Witchcraft, which incorporates Druidic elements. I have always been a daughter of Lugh and have been with Macha and Brigid in the past. But I also have a Shivalingam stone on my altar along with a framed picture of Lakshmi, my favorite. Wow. How cool is this!

posted in Hindu Celtic Witchcraft - 2 replies

Hindu Celtic Witchcraft's topics - tribe.net

Celtic Myth Podshow

Hindu/Celtic Connection?

An Inconvenient Truth Presentation

Needing balance

The Goddess, "Samhain"?!

Extent Indo-European Celtic Festivals?

Spiral Dance 2007 in SF

Communal Puja in Stockton, CA

Shakti Wicca Study Circles forming in 3 cities

Saraswati

The Witches Next Door

Hi.. I'm new!

Vedic elemental beings and the Wiccan Quarter Call **LONG POST**

Any Recommendations??

Checking in...

IndoPagan discussion group & links

1st day of Summer!

New Member!

interested in Shaktism & Celtic Goddesses , looking for any Divine Feminine links

Tribal witchcraft (?)

Ancient Meditating Yogi in Norway - Compare to Mohenjo Daro and the Gundestrup Caultron

may GODDESS return ....

Happy Winter Solstice Everyone!

Winter holidays

Dian Cecht, Miach, Airmid & Herbs

Konichiwa, Namaste, Merry Meet, Hello

Happy Samhain / Blessed Diwali everyone!

Diwali ritual for money..

Western Tantric Order

search information about vedic rsi ,or rishi cult in thailand???

Mantra Siddhi on Eclipse Day..

Navratri Rituals for Peace & Prosperity.

Europe's Ancient Nature Worshippers, The Pagans, Call for a Hindu Alliance

Wiccan Wants Town to Pay Her Legal Bill

Celtic-Indian music

Channeling Quan Yin

Happy Lughnasah!

So glad I found this!!

Quan Yin

May Wine

Beltane Ritual

Irish "Gypsies"

Yoga, Hindu Deities

Basant Panchami / Imbolc

Neo-Tribal Summit

Pantheacon

My Introduction

Directions???

kundalini

"Cernunnos" tribe

Whoa! There's more people like me?

Vedic elemental beings and the Wiccan Quarter Call LONG POST