
     YOU  ARE  INVITED  TO  ATTEND  A SERIES OF EIGHT INTRODUCTORY 
     CLASSES  IN  THE  OLD  RELIGION  OF WITCHCRAFT. THE COURSE IS 
     FREE  AND  WILL  BE TAUGHT USING THE SPIRAL DANCE BY STARHAWK  
     AND  POSITIVE  MAGIC  BY MARION WEINSTEIN.  THESE CLASS NOTES 
     WERE  PREPARED  BY  RICK  CARLSON  FOR  HIS OWN USE AS A HIGH  
     PRIEST TEACHING INTRODUCTORY WITCHCRAFT. 
 
 
     COURSE OUTLINE 
 
     WEEK 1. THE CRAFT AS A GODDESS RELIGION. 
             TRACES THE HISTORY OF GODDESS RELIGIONS THROUGH  
             ARCHAEOLOGY AND MYTHOLOGY. PRESENTS THE ARCHETYPES OF 
             THE GODDESS AND THE GOD. DISCUSSES ETHICS AND VALUES 
             SHARED BY MOST MEMBERS OF THE CRAFT. 
 
     WEEK 2. THE WORLD AS VIEWED BY A MEMBER OF THE CRAFT. 
             PRESENTS A MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOLOGY WHICH REUNITES  
             PEOPLE WITH THE PLANET AND IT'S LIFE FORCES. 
             DISCUSSES MODES OF PERCEPTION, THE CONCEPT OF SELF, 
             POLARITY OF THE LIFE FORCES, DEATH AND OLD AGE. 
 
     WEEK 3. MYSTERY RELIGIONS/PSYCHIC SELF-DEFENSE. 
             A SURVEY OF ANCIENT MYSTERY RELIGIONS AND THEIR  
             INFLUENCE ON MODERN RELIGIONS TODAY. INSTRUCTIONS ON 
             HOW TO WARD OFF PSYCHIC ATTACKS AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR- 
             SELF FROM BECOMING THE GUEST OF HONOR AT THE NEXT  
             BURNING TIMES. 
 
     WEEK 4. MAGIC IN THEORY AND PRACTICE. 
             PRESENTS TRADITIONAL FORMS OF MAGICAL TRAINING AND 
             DISCUSSES SOME OF THE USES MAGICAL TRAINING IS BEING 
             PUT TO USE TODAY. 
 
     WEEK 5. THE CREATION AND USE OF RITUAL IN MAGIC. 
             GUIDELINES ON HOW TO CREATE MEANINGFULL RITUALS WHICH 
             HELP YOU TAP THE HIDDEN POTENTIALS OF YOUR MIND. 
 
     WEEK 6. MAGICAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT. 
             HOW TO MAKE AND USE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT OF MAGIC. 
 
     WEEK 7. MAGICAL SYMBOLS AND SPELLCASTING. 
             A DISCUSSION OF THE UNIVERSAL TRIGGERS WHICH UNLOCK 
             THE POWERS OF YOUR MIND THROUGH THE USE OF SYMBOLS. 
             HOW TO PREPARE AND CAST SPELLS. 
 
     WEEK 8. THE COVEN. 
             ADVICE ON JOINING A COVEN INCLUDING THE PURPOSE OF  
             JOINING A COVEN, TYPICAL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION 
             OF A COVEN, HOW A COVEN TAKES ON A LIFE OF IT'S OWN, 
             HOW TO FIND A COVEN TO JOIN AND HOW TO KNOW THAT YOU 
             HAVE FOUND THE RIGHT COVEN FOR YOURSELF. 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
                         LECTURE NOTES 
 
                             WEEK 1 
 
 
  I. GODDESS RELIGIONS IN THE OLD WORLD 
 
     A. GRAVETTIAN-AURIGNACIAN CULTURES (25000 BC-15000BC) 
 
        1. THE UPPER-PALEOLITHIC PERIOD, THOUGH MOST OF ITS SITES 
           HAVE BEEN FOUND IN EUROPE, IS THE CONJECTURAL FOUND- 
           ATION OF THE RELIGION OF THE GODDESS AS IT EMERGED IN 
           THE LATER NEOLITHIC AGE OF THE NEAR EAST. 
 
           A. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS STUDIES OF PALEOLITHIC 
              CULTURES, EXPLORTIONS OF SITES OCCUPIED BY THESE 
              PEOPLE, AND THE APPARENT RITES CONNECTED WITH THE 
              DISPOSAL OF THEIR DEAD. 
 
           B. IN THESE UPPER-PALEOLITHIC SOCIETIES THE CONCEPT OF 
              THE CREATOR OF ALL HUMAN LIFE MAY HAVE BEEN 
              FORMULATED BY THE CLAN'S IMAGE OF WOMEN, WHO WERE 
              THEIR MOST ANCIENT PRIMAL ANCESTORS. 
 
              (1) IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE MOTHER WAS REGARDED AS 
                  THE SOLE PARENT OF CHILDREN IN THIS CULTURE. 
 
              (2) ANCESTOR WORSHIP APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE BASIS 
                  OF SACRED RITUALS AND ANCESTRY IS BELIEVED TO 
                  HAVE BEEN RECKONED THROUGH THE MATRILINE. 
 
                  (A) THE BEGINNINGS OF ROMAN RELIGION WERE BASED 
                      ON SURVIVALS OF THE ETRUSCAN CULTURE AND 
                      ANCESTOR WORSHIP WAS THE EARLIEST FORM OF 
                      RELIGION IN ROME. 
 
                  (B) EVEN TODAY, THE JEWISH PEOPLE DETERMINE WHO 
                      IS AND IS NOT A JEW THROUGH THE MATRILINE. 
 
        2. THE MOST TANGIBLE EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE THEORY THAT 
           THESE CULTURES WORSHIPPED A GODDESS IS THE NUMEROUS 
           SCULPTURES OF WOMEN FOUND THROUGHOUT MOST OF EUROPE 
           AND THE NEAR EAST. SOME OF THESE SCULPTURES DATE BACK 
           AS FAR AS 25000 BC. 
 
           A. THESE SMALL FEMALE FIGURINES, MADE OF STONE AND 
              BONE AND CLAY (AND SOME SEEMINGLY PREGNANT) HAVE 
              BEEN FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WIDESPREAD GRAVETTIAN- 
              AURIGNACIAN SITES IN AREAS AS FAR APART AS SPAIN, 
              FRANCE, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND 
              RUSSIA. 
 
              (1) THESE SITES AND FIGURINES APPEAR TO SPAN A 
                  PERIOD OF AT LEAST 10,000 YEARS. 
 
        3. JOHANNES MARINGER, IN HIS BOOK THE GODS OF PREHISTORIC 
           MAN, SAYS "IT APPEARS HIGHLY PROBABLE THEN THAT THE 
           FEMALE FIGURINES WERE IDOLS OF A 'GREAT MOTHER' CULT, 
           PRACTICED BY THE NON-NOMADIC AURIGNACIAN MAMMOTH 
           HUNTERS WHO INHABITED THE IMMENSE EURASIAN TERRITORIES 
           THAT EXTENDED FROM SOUTHERN FRANCE TO LAKE BAIKAL IN 
           SIBERIA." 
 
           A. IT WAS FROM THIS LAKE BAIKAL AREA IN SIBERIA THAT 
              TRIBES ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE MIGRATED ACROSS A GREAT 
              LAND-BRIDGE TO NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS TIME 
              PERIOD, AND FORMED THE NUCLEUS OF WHAT WAS TO 
              BECOME THE RACE OF AMERICAN INDIANS. 
 
              (1) THIS TENDS TO SUPPORT THE OBSERVATION THAT 
                  EUROPEAN WITCHCRAFT AND AMERICAN INDIAN 
                  SHAMANISM HAVE SIMILAR ROOTS. 
 
     B. THE ROOTS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 
 
        1. WESTERN CIVILIZATION BEGAN IN MESOPOTAMIA AND THE NILE 
           VALLEY WHERE IT TRAVELED INTO PALESTINE AND GREECE. 
 
           A. FROM GREECE CIVILIZATION TRAVELED TO ROME. AND AS 
              THE ROMAN EMPIRE GREW IT SPREAD TO SPAIN, FRANCE, 
              GERMANY AND ENGLAND. 
 
              (1) FROM FRANCE AND ENGLAND IT SPREAD TO WHAT WAS 
                  TO BECOME CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF 
                  AMERICA. 
 
        2. MESOPOTAMIA ( 3500 BC - 539 BC ) 
 
           A. MESOPOTAMIA (THE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS")  IS THE 
              NAME USED TO DESCRIBE THE REGION BETWEEN THE TIGRIS 
              AND EUPHRATES RIVERS, THE SOUTHERN AREA OF WHICH IS 
              MOSTLY LOWLYING SWAMPLAND AND MARSHES. 
 
              (1) THE FERTILE LANDS OF MESOPOTAMIA LIE BETWEEN 
                  THE DESERT AND THE MOUNTAINS. THE NORTHERN PART 
                  HAS REGULAR RAINFALL WHILE THE SOUTHERN PART, 
                  STRETCHING DOWN TO THE ARABIAN GULF, SUFFERS 
                  DRY SCORCHING SUMMERS FROM MAY TO OCTOBER. 
 
                  (A) THIS SOUTHERN PART IS WHAT WAS ONCE KNOWN 
                      AS SUMER. IT WAS HERE, IN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN 
                      AS THE SOUTHERN PART OF IRAQ, THAT ONE OF  
                      THE WORLD'S FIRST CIVILIZATIONS GREW UP. 
 
           B. BETWEEN 2800 AND 2400 BC THE CITY-STATES OF SUMER 
              WERE AT THEIR STRONGEST AND WEALTHIEST. 
 
              (1) THE GODDESS WAS WORSHIPPED UNDER VARIOUS NAMES 
                  WHICH WERE EPITHETS, OR CHARACTERIZING PHRASES, 
                  SUCH AS "QUEEN OF HEAVEN" AND "LADY OF THE HIGH 
                  PLACE". THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN THAT SHE  
                  WAS THE PATRONESS FOR WAS OFTEN ATTACHED TO HER 
                  TITLE MAKING HER NAME EVEN MORE SPECIFIC. 

                  (A) AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE TEMPLE ERECTED 
                      ABOUT 3000 BC IN THE CITY-STATE OF URUK 
                      WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO THE QUEEN OF  
                      HEAVEN OF ERECH. 
 
                  (B) THIS CITY WAS MADE A MAJOR POWER AND RIVAL 
                      TO IT'S SISTER CITY UR BY GILGAMESH'S SON. 
 
           C. ABOUT 2350 BC AN AMBITIOUS KING NAMED SARGON 
              ATTACKED SUMER AND MADE IT PART OF HIS HUGE EMPIRE. 
              HIS CAPITAL OF AGADE GAVE US THE NAME BY WHICH 
              SARGON'S EMPIRE IS KNOWN - THE AKKADIAN EMPIRE. 
 
              (1) THE AKKADIAN EMPIRE WAS THE FIRST SUCESSFUL 
                  ATTEMPT TO UNITE A HUGE AREA UNDER THE RULE OF 
                  ONE MAN. IT EVENTUALLY GAINED SUPREMACY IN  
                  ABOUT 1900 BC AND GRADUALLY SUPERSEDED THE  
                  SUMERIANS AS THE CULTURAL AND POLITICAL  
                  LEADERS OF THE REGION. 
 
                  (A) THE AKKADIAN LANGUAGE OF THE BABYLONIANS 
                      BECAME THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE  
                      NEAR EAST JUST AS FRENCH WOULD BECOME THE  
                      LANGUAGE OF DIPLOMACY THOUSANDS OF YEARS 
                      LATER.  
 
                  (B) THE NEW BABYLONIAN CULTURE INCORPORATED 
                      THE SUMERIAN RELIGION AND THE SUMERIAN 
                      LANGUAGE WAS ADOPTED AS THE LANGUAGE OF 
                      THE LITURGY MUCH AS LATIN USED TO BE THE 
                      LANGUAGE OF LITURGY FOR ROMAN CATHOLICS. 
 
                  (C) THE SUMERIAN GODDESS, UNDER THE NAMES 
                      INANNA, ERISKEGAL AND IRNINI EVOLVED INTO 
                      THE GREAT BABYLONIAN GODDESS ISHTAR. 
 
           D. APPROXIMATELY 1600 BC BABYLON WAS SACKED BY AN 
              INDO-EUROPEAN PEOPLE KNOWN AS THE HITTITES WHO 
              CAME FROM ANATOLIA OFF TO THE NORTHWEST. 
 
              (1) DURING THE CONFUSION THAT ENSUED THE KASSITES 
                  SEIZED THE THRONE OF BABYLON AND RULED 
                  PEACEFULLY FOR 400 YEARS. 
 
                  (A) ISHTAR'S POWER WANED AS THE BABYLONIANS 
                      WERE INFUENCED BY THE WARLIKE HITTITES 
                      AND HER TEMPLES WERE TAKEN OVER BY A  
                      MALE-DOMINATED PRIESTHOOD WHICH CALLED 
                      THE GODDESS TIAMAT AND WROTE STORIES  
                      OF HOW THEIR GOD MARDUK HAD KILLED HER 
                      IN THE STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE REGION. 
 
           E. IN THE CENTURIES FOLLOWING 1103 BC THE ASSYRIANS  
              ROSE TO POWER AND EXPANDED INTO MOST OF MESOPOTAMIA 
              FROM THEIR HOMELAND WHICH LAY BETWEEN THE CITIES OF 
              ASHUR AND NINEVEH ON THE TIGRUS RIVER. 
 
              (1) IN THE EIGHTH CENTURY THE ASSYRIANS CONQUERED 
                  MOST OF SYRIA, PALESTINE, AND PHOENICIA AND HAD 
                  INVADED EGYPT AS FAR AS THEBES (LUXOR) BEFORE  
                  BEING DRIVEN BACK BY THE EGYPTIANS. 
             
                  (A) LOOKING TO LEGITIMIZE THEIR NEW EMPIRE THEY  
                      "MARRIED" THEIR GOD ASHUR TO ISHTAR WHOSE  
                      FOLLOWERS HAD SECRETLY KEPT HER WORSHIP 
                      ALIVE. 
 
                  (B) THE JOINING OF ASHUR WITH ISHTAR PRODUCED A  
                      SON NAMED NINURTA AND THIS IS THE FIRST  
                      FORMALLY RECORDED TRIAD OF GODDESS, CONSORT 
                      AND DIVINE CHILD IN THE NEAR EAST. 
 
              (2) FROM ABOUT 631 TO 539 BC A LOT OF INTER-CITY 
                  WARFARE OCCURED AS THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FELL 
                  APART. 
 
                  (A) IN 539 BC NABONDIUS, THE LAST KING OF  
                      BABYLONIA, SURRENDERED TO CYRUS II OF 
                      PERSIA WHO WAS BUSY BUILDING THE  
                      GREATEST EMPIRE EVER ATTEMPTED. 
 
        3. ANATOLIA 
 
           A. ANATOLIA, WHICH IS ALSO CALLED ASIA MINOR, IS A 
              BROAD PENINSULA JUTTING WESTWARD FROM THE ASIAN 
              CONTINENT ITSELF. TO THE NORTH LIES THE BLACK 
              SEA, TO THE SOUTH THE EASTERNMOST PART OF THE  
              MEDITERRANEAN. AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE BLACK 
              SEA ARE THE DARDANELLES AND IT IS HERE THAT ASIA 
              COMES CLOSEST TO THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. NOT 
              SURPRISINGLY, ANATOLIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MAIN 
              LINK BETWEEN THE ORIENT AND THE OCCIDENT. 
 
           B. IN NEOLITHIC ANATOLIA (PRESENT DAY TURKEY), THE 
              GREAT GODDESS WAS WORSHIPED IN THE SHRINES OF  
              CATAL HUYUK AROUND 6500 BC. 
 
           C. ANATOLIA WAS INVADED SOMETIME BEFORE 2000 BC BY  
              THE INDO-EUROPEANS AND A GROUP OF THEM SETTLED  
              IN A PART OF ANATOLIA KNOWN AS HATTI. THE INVADERS 
              AND LOCAL PEOPLE CAME TO BE KNOWN COLLECTIVELY AS 
              THE HITTITES. 
 
              (1) THESE ARE THE SAME HITTITES WHO SACKED BABYLON 
                  IN 1600 BC AND SUPPRESSED THE WORSHIP OF ISHTAR 
                  IN FAVOR OF THEIR GOD MARDUK. 
 
           D. MOST OF THE REFERENCES TO THE GODDESS IN LITERATURE  
              AND TEXTS OF ANATOLIA ALLUDED TO THE OLDER HATTIAN 
              DEITIES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ONLY RECORDS 
              ALLOWED TO SURVIVE WERE WRITTEN AFTER THE CONQUEST 
              OF ANATOLIA BY THE INDO-EUROPEANS. 
 
              (1) ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FEMALE DEITIES TO 
                  SURVIVE WAS THE SUN GODDESS OF ARINNA. AFTER 
                  THE CONQUEST SHE WAS ASSIGNED A HUSBAND WHO 
                  WAS SYMBOLIZED AS A STORM GOD. 
 
                  (A) AT THE TIME OF THE HITTITE INVASIONS OF 
                      OTHER LANDS MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE 
                      GODDESS-WORSHIPERS MAY HAVE FLED TO THE 
                      WEST. THE RENOWNED TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS 
                      IN THE CITY OF EPHESUS WAS THE TARGET OF 
                      THE APOSTLE PAUL'S ZEALOUS MISSIONARY 
                      EFFORTS (ACTS 19:27). THIS TEMPLE REMAINED 
                      ACTIVE UNTIL 380 AD. 
 
        4. CRETE 
 
           A. THE AEGEAN SEA IS AN AREA OF THE MEDITERRANEAN  
              LYING BETWEEN THE MAINLAND OF GREECE AND THE  
              WESTERN COAST OF ANATOLIA. THE AEGEAN IS DOTTED 
              WITH A GREAT NUMBER OF MOUNTAINOUS ISLANDS AND  
              THE LARGEST OF THESE IS CRETE WHICH IS JUST ABOUT 
              60 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GREECE. 
 
              (1) CRETE WAS THE SOCIETY THAT IS MOST REPEATEDLY 
                  THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN MATRILINEAL AND POSSIBLY 
                  MATRIARCHAL FROM NEOLITHIC TIMES TO THE DORIAN 
                  INVASION. 
 
                  (A) WORSHIP OF THE DOUBLE HEADED OX AS A SYMBOL  
                      OF THE MOTHER GODDESS AND A REVERANCE FOR  
                      THE SEXUAL VITALITY OF BULLS WERE TWO  
                      NOTABLE ASPECTS OF CRETES EARLY CULTURE. 
 
                  (B) BULL LEAPING IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN THE  
                      ORIGIN OF SPAIN'S BULLFIGHTING ALTHOUGH 
                      THE BULL WAS NEVER HURT ON CRETE. 
 
              (2) AFTER VIEWING THE ARTIFACTS AND MURALS AT  
                  KNOSSOS, THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM AT 
                  IRAKLION AND OTHER MUSEUMS ON CRETE THERE IS 
                  LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE PRINCIPAL SACRED BEING 
                  ON CRETE FOR SEVERAL MILLENIA WAS THE GODDESS 
                  AND WOMEN ACTED AS HER CLERGY. 
 
        5. EGYPT (3100 TO 30 BC) 
 
           A. EGYPT IS A HOT, DESERT LAND DIVIDED BY THE FERTILE 
              VALLEY OF THE NILE RIVER. HARDLY ANY RAIN FALLS  
              THERE AND THE SUMMERS ARE SCORCHING HOT. EVEN 
              TODAY, MOST OF EGYPT IS ARID DESERT. 
 
              (1) THE CULTIVATION, A STRIP OF LAND ON EACH SIDE  
                  OF THE NILE RIVER, IS ONE OF THE MOST FERTILE 
                  STRETCHES OF LAND IN THE WORLD. 
 
                  (A) ALTHOUGH THE CULTIVATION IS ONLY 12 1/2 
                      MILES WIDE, IT RUNS FOR ABOUT 620 MILES 
                      FROM ASWAN IN THE SOUTH TO THE BROAD 
                      FARMLANDS OF THE DELTA WHERE THE NILE  
                      EMPTIES INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN. 
 
           B. IN PREHISTORIC EGYPT, THE GODDESS HELD SWAY IN 
              UPPER EGYPT (THE SOUTH) AS NEKHEBT AND SHE WAS 
              DEPICTED IN THE FORM OF A VULTURE. 
 
              (1) THE PEOPLE OF LOWER EGYPT, INCLUDING THE 
                  NORTHERN DELTA AREA, WORSHIPPED THE GODDESS 
                  AS UA ZIT (GREAT SERPENT) AND DEPICTIONS OF 
                  HER SHOW HER AS A COBRA. 
 
           C. FROM ABOUT 3000 BC ONWARD THE GODDESS WAS SAID  
              TO HAVE EXISTED WHEN NOTHING ELSE HAD BEEN    
              CREATED. 
 
              (1) SHE WAS KNOWN AS NUT, NET OR NIT WHICH WAS 
                  PROBABLY DERIVED FROM NEKHEBT. 
 
                  (A) ACCORDING TO EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY IT WAS  
                      THE GODDESS WHO FIRST PUT RA, THE SUN 
                      GOD, IN THE SKY.  
 
                  (B) OTHER TEXTS OF EGYPT TELL OF THE GODDESS 
                      AS HATHOR IN THIS ROLE OF CREATRIX OF 
                      EXISTENCE, EXPLAINING THAT SHE TOOK FORM 
                      AS A SERPENT AT THE TIME. 
 
           D. IN EGYPT THE CONCEPT OF THE GODDESS ALWAYS REMAINED 
              VITAL. EVENTUALLY THE GODDESS EVOLVED INTO A MORE 
              COMPOSITE GODDESS KNOWN AS ISIS. 
 
              (1) ISIS (AU SET) INCORPORATED THE ASPECTS OF BOTH 
                  UA ZIT AND HATHOR. ISIS WAS ALSO CLOSELY  
                  ASSOCIATED WITH THE GODDESS AS NUT, WHO WAS  
                  MYTHOLOGICALLY RECORDED AS HER MOTHER; IN 
                  PAINTINGS ISIS WORE THE WINGS OF NEKHEBT. 
 
                  (A) ISIS WAS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER TRIAD 
                      WHICH INCLUDED HER HUSBAND, OSIRIS, AND 
                      THEIR SON HORUS. 
 
                  (B) ISIS' CULT WAS INTRODUCED INTO ROME AND THE 
                      LAST TEMPLE OF ISIS WAS CLOSED IN 394 AD 
                      BY THEODOSIOS. 
 
        6. CANAAN (8000 - 63 BC ) 
 
           A. THE BIBLICAL LAND OF CANAAN, THE "LAND OF MILK AND 
              HONEY", WAS AN AREA ABOUT 99 MILES WIDE RUNNING 
              NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG THE EASTERN COAST OF THE  
              MEDITERRANEAN. 
 
              (1) IN MODERN TIMES THE REGION INCLUDES THE STATES 
                  OF ISRAEL, JORDAN, LEBANON, AND PART OF SYRIA. 
                  THE AREA MADE UP OF JORDAN AND ISRAEL USED TO 
                  BE KNOWN AS PALESTINE. 
 
           B. IMAGES OF THE GODDESS, SOME DATING BACK AS FAR AS 
              7000 BC, OFFER SILENT TESTIMONY TO THE MOST ANCIENT 
              WORSHIP OF THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN IN THE LAND THAT IS 
              MOST OFTEN REMEMBERED TODAY AS THE HOMELAND OF  
              JUDAISM AND THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
              (1) IN EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE AND IMPORTANCE OF 
                  THE WORSHIP OF THE GODDESS IN CANAAN IN 
                  BIBLICAL TIMES WE FIND THAT AS ASHTORETH, 
                  ASHERAH, ASTARTE, ATTORET, ANATH OR SIMPLY AS 
                  ELAT OR BAALAT SHE WAS THE PRINCIPAL DEITY OF 
                  SUCH GREAT CANAANITE CITIES AS TYRE, SIDON, 
                  ASCALON, BETH ANATH, APHACA, BYBLOS, AND 
                  ASHTORETH KARNAIM. 
 
           C. IN EGYPT THE HEBREWS HAD KNOWN THE WORSHIP OF THE 
              GODDESS AS ISIS OR HATHOR. FOR FOUR GENERATIONS  
              THEY HAD BEEN LIVING IN A LAND WHERE WOMEN HELD A 
              VERY HIGH STATUS AND THE MATRILINEAL DESCENT SYSTEM 
              CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AT MOST PERIODS. 
 
              (1) JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF HEBREWS WHO EMERGED  
                  FROM EGYPT IN THE EXODUS, AS COMPARED WITH THE 
                  FAMILY OF THE TWELVE SONS WHO SUPPOSEDLY 
                  ENTERED IT FOUR GENERATIONS EARLIER, IT SEEMS 
                  LIKELY THAT A GREAT NUMBER OF THOSE HEBREWS 
                  KNOWN AS ISRAELITES MAY ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN  
                  EGYPTIANS, CANAANITES, SEMITIC NOMADS AND OTHER 
                  GODDESS-WORSHIPPING PEOPLE WHO HAD JOINED 
                  TOGETHER IN EGYPT. 
 
           D. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDS AND ARTIFACTS REVEAL THAT 
              THE RELIGION OF THE GODDESS STILL FLOURISHED IN 
              MANY OF THE CITIES OF CANAAN EVEN AFTER THE HEBREWS 
              INVADED IT AND CLAIMED IT AS THEIR OWN ON THE  
              AUTHORITY THAT THEIR GOD HAD GIVEN IT TO THEM. 
 
              (1) AND JUST TO THE EAST, ALSMOST AT THEIR DOORSTEP 
                  WAS BABYLON WHERE THE TEMPLES OF ISHTAR WERE 
                  STILL GOING STRONG. 
 
        7. PERSIA (3000 - 331 BC) 

           A. THROUGHOUT IT'S EARLY HISTORY IRAN WAS OFTEN 
              INVADED BY NOMADIC PEOPLES. 
 
              (1) SOME CAME THROUGH THE ELBURZ MOUNTAINS EAST  
                  OF THE CASPIAN SEA. 
 
                  (A) OTHERS, LIKE THE MEDES AND PERSIANS, 
                      ENTERED IRAN THROUGH THE CAUCASUS 
                      MOUNTAINS IN THE NORTHWEST. 
 
           B. BY THE 9TH CENTURY BC THE MOST POWERFUL GROUP 
             IN IRAN WAS THE MEDES WHO KEPT THE PERSIANS  
              AS THEIR SERVANTS. 
 
              (1) IN 612 BC THE MEDES, TOGETHER WITH THE  
                  BABYLONIANS, CAPTURED NINEVEH, ASHUR 
                  AND KALHU WHICH WERE IN THE HEART OF 
                  THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. 
 
                  (A) THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE COLLAPSED AND  
                      IT'S VAST TERRITORIES WERE DIVIDED 
                      BETWEEN THE MEDES AND THE BABYLONIANS 
            
           C. ABOUT 550 BC THE KING OF THE PERSIANS LED A  
              REVOLT AGAINST THE MEDES AND FROM THAT POINT 
              ON THE PERSIANS, LED BY THEIR KING CYRUS THE 
              GREAT, RULED OVER IRAN. 
 
              (1) CYRUS CAPTURED BABYLON AND GAINED CONTROL 
                  OF THE WHOLE OF THE FORMER BABYLONIAN 
                  EMPIRE. 
 
                  (A) VIRTUALLY ALL OF WESTERN ASIA WAS NOW 
                     UNDER PERSIAN RULE. 
 
              (2) THE NEXT TWO KINGS EXTENDED PERSIAN RULE TO 
                  EGYPT IN THE SOUTH AND TO THE BORDERS OF 
                  INDIA IN THE EAST. 
 
                  (A) EGYPT REVOLTED LATER AND WON IT'S  
                      INDEPENDENCE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT 
                      WAS FORCED BACK INTO THE EMPIRE JUST 
                      IN TIME TO BE PART OF THE PRIZE WON 
                      BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT OF MACEDON 
                      WHEN HE CONQUERED THE PERSIAN EMPIRE 
                      IN 331 BC. 

 II. POEMAGOGIC HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSAL GODDESS RELIGION 
 
     A. DEFINITION OF POEMAGOGIC 
 
        1. TERM COINED BY ANTON EHRENZWEIG 
 
           A. THE SPECIAL FUNCTION OF INDUCING AND SYMBOLIZING 
              THE EGO'S CREATIVITY. 
 
              (1) IT HAS A DREAMLIKE "SLIPPERY" QUALITY. 
 
                  (A) ONE ASPECT SLIPS INTO ANOTHER JUST 
                      LIKE A DREAM. 
 
     B. LEGEND OF THE UNIVERSAL GODDESS 
 
        1. THE CRAFT IS A RELIGION WHICH HAS AN UNBROKEN 
           TRADITION THAT DATES BACK TO PALEOLITHIC TIMES 
           (APPROXIMATELY 35,000 YEARS). 
 
           A. AS THE LAST ICE AGE RETREATED THE TRIBES 
              OF NOMADIC HUNTERS WORSHIPPED THE GOD OF THE 
              HUNT AND THE GODDESS OF THE WILD THINGS AND 
              FERTILITY. 
 
              (1) SEMI-PERMANENT HOMES WERE SET UP IN CAVES  
                  CARVED OUT BY THE GLACIERS. 
            
                  (A) SHAMANS AND SHAMANKA CONDUCTED RITES  
                      WITHIN HARD TO REACH PORTIONS OF THE 
                      CAVES WHICH WERE PAINTED WITH SCENES 
                      OF THE HUNT, MAGICAL SYMBOLS AND THE 
                      TRIBES TOTEM ANIMALS. 
 
        2. THE TRANSITION FROM HUNTER-GATHERERS TO  
           AGRICULTURISTS WAS REFLECTED IN THE CHANGE 
           OF THE GOD FROM THE GOD OF THE HUNT TO THE 
           LORD OF THE GRAIN AND THE LADY OF THE WILD 
           THINGS TO THE BARLEY MOTHER. 
                     
              A. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PHASES OF THE MOON 
                 AND THE SUN WAS REFLECTED IN THE RITUALS 
                 THAT EVOLVED AROUND SOWING, REAPING, AND 
                 LETTING OUT TO PASTURE. 
 
                 (1) THE GOD AS LORD OF THE GRAIN WAS  
                     SACRIFICED WHEN THE GRAIN WAS CUT IN  
                     THE AUTUMN, BURIED IN THE WOMB OF  
                     THE GODDESS AND REBORN IN THE SPRING. 
 
        3. VILLAGES GREW INTO TOWNS AND CITIES AND SOCIETY 
           CHANGED FROM TRIBAL TO COMMUNAL TO URBAN. 
 
           A. PAINTINGS ON THE PLASTERED WALLS OF SHRINES 
              DEPICTED THE GODDESS GIVING BIRTH TO THE 
              DIVINE CHILD - HER SON, CONSORT AND SEED. 
 
              (1) THE DIVINE CHILD WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE A  
                  SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE CITY DWELLERS  
                  JUST AS HIS MOTHER AND FATHER HAD TAKEN 
                  AN INTEREST IN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED AWAY 
                  FROM THE CITIES. 
 
           B. MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY, POETRY, MUSIC,  
              MEDICINE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORKINGS 
              OF THE HUMAN MIND DEVELOPED SIDE BY SIDE WITH 
              THE LORE OF THE DEEPER MYSTERIES. 
 
        4. FAR TO THE EAST NOMADIC TRIBES DEVOTED THEMSELVES  
           TO THE ARTS OF CONQUEST AND WAR. 
 
           A. WAVE AFTER WAVE OF INVASION SWEPT OVER EUROPE FROM 
              THE BRONZE AGE FORWARD. 
 
              (1) WARRIOR GODS DROVE THE GODDESS' PEOPLE OUT  
                  FROM THE FERTILE LOWLANDS AND FINE TEMPLES INTO 
                  THE HILLS AND HIGH MOUNTAINS WHERE THEY BECAME  
                  KNOWN AS THE SIDHE, THE PICTS OR PIXIES, AND 
                  THE FAIR FOLK OR FAERIES. 
 
           B. THE MYTHOLOGICAL CYCLE OF GODDESS AND CONSORT, 
              MOTHER AND CHILD, WHICH HAD HELD SWAY FOR 
              30,000 YEARS WAS CHANGED TO CONFORM TO THE  
              VALUES OF THE CONQUERING PATRIARCHIES. 
 
              (1) IN CANAAN, YAHWEH FOUGHT A BLOODY BATTLE TO 
                  ENSURE THAT HIS FOLLOWERS HAD "NO OTHER GODS 
                  BEFORE ME." 
 
                  (A) THE GODDESS WAS GIVEN A MASCULINE NAME AND 
                      ASSIGNED THE ROLE OF A FALSE GOD. 
 
                  (B) ALONG WITH THE SUPPRESSION OF THE GODDESS, 
                      WOMEN LOST MOST OF THE RIGHTS THEY HAD  
                      PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED. 
 
              (2) IN GREECE THE GODDESS IN HER MANY ASPECTS  
                  "MARRIED" THE NEW GODS RESULTING IN THE  
                  OLYMPIC PANTHEON. 
 
                  (A) THE TITANS, WHO THE OLYMPIANS DISPLACED  
                      WERE MORE IN TOUCH WITH THE PRIMAL 
                      ASPECTS OF THE GODDESS. 
 
              (3) THE VICTORIOUS CELTS IN GAUL AND THE BRITTISH 
                  ISLES ADOPTED MANY FEATURES OF THE OLD 
                  RELIGION AND INCORPORATED THEM INTO THE 
                  DRUIDIC MYSTERIES. 
 
                  (A) THE FAERIE BREEDING CATTLE IN THE STONY 
                      HILLS AND LIVING IN TURF-COVERED ROUND 
                      HUTS PRESERVED THE CRAFT. 
 
                  (B) THEY CELEBRATED THE EIGHT FEASTS OF THE 
                      WHEEL WITH WILD PROCESSIONS ON HORSEBACK, 
                      SINGING AND CHANTING ALONG THE WAY AND  
                      LIGHTING RITUAL BONFIRES ON MOUNTAINTOPS. 
 
                  (C) IT WAS SAID THAT THE INVADERS OFTEN JOINED 
                      IN THE REVELS AND MANY RURAL FAMILIES, 
                      ALONG WITH SOME ROYALTY, COULD CLAIM TO  
                      HAVE FAERIE BLOOD. 
 
                  (D) THE COLLEGES OF THE DRUIDS AND THE POETIC 
                      COLLEGES OF IRELAND AND WALES WERE SAID TO 
                      HAVE PRESERVED MANY OF THE OLD MYSTERIES. 
 
        5. IN THE LATE 1400'S THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ATTEMPTED TO 
           OBLITERATE IT'S COMPETITORS AND THE FOLLOWERS OF THE 
           OLD RELIGION WERE FORCED TO "GO TO GROUND". 
 
           A. THEY BROKE UP INTO SMALL GROUPS CALLED COVENS AND, 
              ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER, FORMED WHAT WOULD LATER 
              BE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY TRADITIONS. 
 
              (1) INEVITABLY, PARTS OF THE CRAFT WERE FORGOTTEN 
                  OR LOST AND WHAT SURVIVES TODAY IS FRAGMENTARY. 
 
        6. AFTER NEARLY FIVE CENTURIES OF PERSECUTION AND TERROR  
           CAME THE AGE OF DISBELIEF. 
 
           A. MEMORY OF THE TRUE CRAFT HAD FADED AS NON-MEMBERS 
              WHO COULD REMEMBER HOW THEY ONCE MET OPENLY DIED 
              AND THOSE WHO CAME AFTER NEVER KNEW OF THEM. 
 
              (1) ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE HIDEOUS STEREOTYPES 
                  WHICH WERE LUDICROUS, LAUGHABLE OR JUST PLAIN 
                  TRAGIC. 
 
        7. WITH THE REPEAL OF THE LAST WITCHCRAFT ACT IN ENGLAND  
           IN 1954 THE CRAFT STARTED TO RE-EMERGE AS AN 
           ALTERNATIVE TO A WORLD THAT VIEWED THE PLANET AS A  
           RESOURCE TO EXPLOIT. 
 
III. THE ARCHETYPE OF THE GODDESS 
 
     A. THE CRAFT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RELIGION OF POETRY, NOT 
        THEOLOGY. 
 
        1. THE MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND TEACHINGS ARE RECOGNIZED AS 
           METAPHORS FOR "THAT WHICH CANNOT BE TOLD"; THE  
           ABSOLUTE REALITY OUR MINDS CAN NEVER COMPLETELY 
           EXPRESS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON IT 
           THROUGH BIOLOGY. 
 
           A. THE MYSTERIES OF THE ABSOLUTE CAN NEVER BE 
              EXPLAINED - ONLY FELT OR INTUITED. 
 
           B. SYMBOLS AND RITUAL ACTS ARE USED TO TRIGGER 
              UNUSUAL STATES OF AWARENESS IN WHICH INSIGHTS 
              THAT GO BEYOND WORDS ARE REVEALED. 
         
              (1) WHEN THE PHRASE "SECRETS THAT CANNOT BE 
                  TOLD" IS USED IT IS NOT A MATTER OF OATHS 
                  TAKEN OR THE THREAT OF PENALTIES THAT 
                  MIGHT BE IMPOSED. 
 
                  (A) THE TRUE MEANING IS THAT THE INNER 
                      KNOWLEDGE LITERALLY CANNOT BE  
                      EXPRESSED IN WORDS. 
 
                  (B) IT CAN ONLY BE CONVEYED BY EXPERIENCE 
                      AND NO ONE CAN LEGISLATE WHAT INSIGHT 
                      ANOTHER PERSON MAY DRAW FROM ANY  
                      GIVEN EXPERIENCE. 
 
                  (C) THIS IS WHY THE CRAFT IS NOT A SPECTATOR 
                      RELIGION THAT YOU CAN REFUSE TO PUT ANY 
                      EFFORT INTO AND GAIN ANYTHING MEANINGFUL 
                      FOR YOUR OWN DEVELOPMENT. 
 
                  (D) THIS IS ALSO WHY ENTRENCHED PRIESTHOODS 
                      FOSTER THE BELIEF THAT EVERYDAY MAN MUST 
                      GO THROUGH A HIERARCHY OF PRIESTS, HEADS 
                      OF CHURCHES AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH CHOSEN 
                      PROPHETS AND SONS OF THE DIETY IN ORDER TO 
                      RECEIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION BY THE DEITY. 
 
     B. THE PRIMARY SYMBOL FOR "THAT WHICH CANNOT BE TOLD" IN THE 
        CRAFT IS THE MOTHER GODDESS. SHE HAS AN INFINITE NUMBER 
        OF ASPECTS AND THOUSANDS OF NAMES BECAUSE SHE IS THE  
        REALITY BEHIND MANY METAPHORS FOR THE CREATION OF THE 
        UNIVERSE. 
 
        1. UNLIKE OTHER PATRIARCHAL SYSTEMS THE CRAFT SEES THE  
           GODDESS AS GIVING BIRTH TO THE WORLD RATHER THAN  
           CREATING IT OUT OF NOTHING. 
 
           A. THE FERTILE LANDS WERE MADE FROM HER FLESH, THE  
              WATERS FROM HER OWN BODILY FLUIDS, THE MOUNTAINS 
              FROM HER BONES AND THE WINDS FROM HER OWN BREATH. 
 
              (1) THE GODDESS DOES NOT RULE THE WORLD SHE IS THE 
                  WORLD AND SINCE SHE GAVE BIRTH TO ALL OF US WE 
                  HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO RECONNECT WITH THE SPIRIT 
                  OF HER IN ALL HER MAGNIFICENT DIVERSITY. 
 
              (2) RELIGION FOR US THEN IS A MATTER OF RELINKING  
                  WITH THE DIVINE WITHIN AND WITH HER OUTER 
                  MANIFESTATIONS IN ALL THE HUMAN AND NATURAL  
                  WORLD. 
 
                  (A) ONE OF THE BASIC BELIEFS THAT THE CRAFT IS 
                      FOUNDED UPON IS WHAT STEWART FARRAR CALLS  
                      THE THEORY OF LEVELS WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT 
                      REALITY EXISTS AND OPERATES ON MANY PLANES. 

                  (B) A SIMPLIFIED BUT GENERALLY ACCEPTED LIST 
                      WOULD BE THE PHYSICAL, ETHERIC, ASTRAL, 
                      MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL PLANES. 
 
                  (C) IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT EACH OF THESE LEVELS 
                      HAS ITS OWN LAWS AND THAT THESE LAWS, WHILE 
                      SPECIAL TO THEIR OWN LEVELS, ARE COMPATIBLE 
                      WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR MUTUAL RESONANCE  
                      GOVERNS THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE LEVELS. 
 
                  (D) THE POINT OF THIS EXCURSION INTO THE 
                      ESOTERICA OF HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS IS TO  
                      POINT OUT THAT WE DO NOT SEPARATE OUR  
                      PHYSICAL EXISTENCE FROM OUR SPIRITUAL 
                      EXISTENCE. IN THE CRAFT, SPIRIT AND FLESH 
                      ARE JOINED TOGETHER AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS 
                      OF BEING HUMAN SUCH AS SEX ARE NOT 
                      CONSIDERED "DIRTY" OR "SINFUL". 
 
     C. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CRAFT FOR WOMEN IS A DIRECT 
        OUTGROWTH OF THE DECLINE IN GODDESS RELIGIONS AND THE 
        RISE OF GOD DOMINANT RELIGIONS. 
 
        1. MALE IMAGES OF DIVINITY CHARACTERIZE BOTH WESTERN 
           AND EASTERN RELIGIONS TODAY AND WOMEN ARE DEPRIVED  
           OF RELIGIOUS MODELS AND SPIRITUAL SYSTEMS THAT SPEAK 
           TO FEMALE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES. 
 
           A. IN THE EXTREMES OF MALE DOMINATED RELIGIONS WOMEN  
              ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN STRENGTHS 
              AND REALIZATIONS. 
 
              (1) THEY ARE TAUGHT TO SUBMIT TO MALE AUTHORITY, TO 
                  IDENTIFY MASCULINE PERCEPTIONS AS THEIR 
                  SPIRITUAL IDEALS, TO DENY THEIR BODIES AND 
                  SEXUALITY, AND TO FIT THEIR INSIGHTS INTO A  
                  MALE MOLD. 
 
        2. THE IMAGE OF THE GODDESS INSPIRES WOMEN TO SEE 
           THEMSELVES IN A VERY DIFFERENT LIGHT. 
 
           A. AS DAUGHTERS OF THE GODDESS THEY ARE DIVINE, THEIR 
              BODIES ARE SACRED AND THE CHANGING PHASES OF THEIR 
              LIVES ARE HOLY. 
 
              (1) THEIR AGGRESSION IS HEALTHY AND THEIR ANGER IS 
                  PURIFYING.  
 
                  (A) THEIR POWER TO CREATE AND NURTURE AS WELL 
                      AS THE ABILITY TO LIMIT AND DESTROY WHEN 
                      NECESSARY IS SEEN AS THE VERY FORCE THAT 
                      SUSTAINS ALL LIFE. 
 
              (2) THROUGH THE GODDESS WOMEN CAN DISCOVER THEIR 
                  STRENGTHS, ENLIGHTEN THEIR MINDS, OWN THEIR 
                  OWN BODIES AND CELEBRATE THEIR EMOTIONS. 
 
                  (A) THEY CAN MOVE BEYOND NARROW CONSTRICITING  
                      ROLES AND BECOME WHOLE PEOPLE. 
 
        3. FOR WOMEN THE GODDESS IS THE SYMBOL OF THE INMOST SELF 
           AND THE BENEFICENT, NURTURING, LIBERATING POWER WITHIN 
           ALL WOMEN. 
 
           A. THE COSMOS IS MODELLED ON THE FEMALE BODY WHICH IS 
              SACRED. 
 
              (1) ALL PHASES OF LIFE ARE SACRED AND AGE IS A 
                  BLESSING NOT A CURSE. 
 
                  (A) THE GODDESS DOES NOT LIMIT WOMEN TO THEIR 
                      BODIES. SHE AWAKENS THEIR MINDS AND SPIRITS 
                      AND EMOTIONS. 
 
                  (B) THROUGH HER THEY CAN KNOW THE POWER OF 
                      ANGER AND AGGRESSION AS WELL AS THE POWER  
                      OF LOVE. 
 
     D. THE IMAGE OF THE GODDESS HAS A GREAT DEAL TO OFFER MEN AS 
        WELL AS WOMEN. 
 
        1. MEN ARE ALSO OPPRESSED IN A GOD RULED PATRIARCHY. 
 
           A. MEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY WITH A MODEL THAT NO 
              HUMAN BEING CAN POSSIBLY LIVE UP TO. 
 
              (1) MEN ARE EXPECTED TO BE MINI-RULERS OF THEIR 
                  OWN NARROW UNIVERSES. 
 
                  (A) MEN ARE INTERNALLY SPLIT BETWEEN A 
                      SPIRITUAL SELF THAT IS SUPPOSED TO 
                      CONQUER THEIR BASER ANIMAL AND  
                      EMOTIONAL SELVES. 
 
                  (B) THEY ARE AT WAR WITH THEMSELVES. 
                      IN THE WEST THEY ARE EXPECTED TO 
                      OVERCOME THE TENDENCY TO SIN WHILE 
                      IN THE EAST THEY MUST SUPPRESS THE 
                      DESIRES OF THE EGO. 
 
                  (C) NEEDLESS TO SAY, NO MAN COMES AWAY FROM 
                      THIS STRUGGLE UNDAMAGED. 
 
        2. EVERY MALE WHO IS RAISED BY A MOTHER FROM BIRTH 
           CARRIES WITHIN HIM A STRONG FEMININE IMPRINT. 
 
           A. THIS IS SO BECAUSE WOMEN GIVE BIRTH TO MALES, 
              NURTURE THEM AT THEIR BREAST, AND IN OUR CULTURE 
              ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE UNTIL 
              THEY REACH ADOLESCENCE. 
 
              (1) THE SYMBOL OF THE GODDESS ALLOWS MEN TO  
                  EXPERIENCE AND INTEGRATE THE FEMININE SIDE 
                  OF THEIR NATURE WITHOUT DANGER OF LOSING 
                  THOSE FEELINGS WHICH ARE THE TOUCHSTONE 
                  OF THEIR MASCULINITY. 
 
                  (A) THE GODDESS BECOMES THE MOTHER WHO NEVER  
                      ABANDONS HER CHILD OR REFUSES TO NURTURE 
                      HIM WHEN HE IS FEELING HIS MOST VULNERABLE 
                      AND TEMPERS HER JUSTICE WITH A COMPASSION 
                      AND UNDERSTANDING NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE IN 
                      HUMAN WOMEN AND OTHER MEN. 
 
        3. FOR A MAN, THE GODDESS IS HIS OWN HIDDEN FEMALE SELF  
           AS WELL AS BEING THE UNIVERSAL LIFE FORCE. 
 
           A. SHE EMBODIES ALL THE QUALITIES SOCIETY TEACHES HIM 
              NOT TO RECOGNIZE IN HIMSELF. 
 
              (1) HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH HER MAY THEREFORE BE 
                  SOMEWHAT STEREOTYPICAL IN THAT SHE APPEARS AS 
                  THE COSMIC LOVER, THE GENTLE NURTURER, THE 
                  ETERNALLY DESIRED OTHER, OR THE MUSE. ALL THAT 
                  HE IS NOT. 
 
                  (A) AS HE BECOMES MORE WHOLE AND BECOMES AWARE 
                      OF HIS OWN "FEMALE" QUALITIES SHE SEEMS TO 
                      CHANGE, TO SHOW HIM A NEW FACE. ALWAYS 
                      HOLDING UP THE MIRROR THAT SHOWS WHAT TO 
                      HIM IS UNGRASPABLE.  
                 
                  (B) HE MAY CHASE HER FOREVER AND SHE WILL ELUDE 
                      HIM, BUT THROUGH THE ATTEMPT HE WILL GROW 
                      UNTIL HE TOO LEARNS TO FIND HER WITHIN. 
 
 IV. THE ARCHETYPE OF THE GOD 
 
     A. THE HORNED GOD IS BORN OF A VIRGIN MOTHER. 
 
        1. HE IS A MODEL OF MALE POWER THAT IS FREE FROM 
           FATHER-SON RIVALRY OR OEDIPAL CONFLICTS. 
 
           A. HE HAS NO FATHER BECAUSE HE IS HIS OWN FATHER. 
 
              (1) AS HE GROWS AND PASSES THROUGH THE CHANGES 
                  ON THE WHEEL HE REMAINS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH 
                  THE PRIME NURUTURING FORCE OF THE GODDESS. 
 
                  (A) HIS POWER IS DRAWN DIRECTLY FROM THE  
                      GODDESS AND HE PARTICIPATES IN HER. 
 
        2. THE HORNED GOD REPRESENTS POWERFUL, POSITIVE MALE 
           QUALITIES THAT DERIVE FROM DEEPER SOURCES THAN THE 
           STEREOTYPES AND THE VIOLENCE AND EMOTIONAL CRIPPLING 
           OF MEN IN OUR SOCIETY. 
 
           A. WHEN A MAN STRIVES TO EMULATE THE GOD HE IS FREE 
              TO BE WILD WITHOUT BEING CRUEL, ANGRY WITHOUT BEING 
              VIOLENT, SEXUAL WITHOUT BEING COERCIVE, SPIRITUAL 
              WITHOUT BEING UNSEXED, AND ABLE TO TRULY LOVE. 
 
        3. FOR MEN THE GOD IS THE IMAGE OF INNER POWER AND OF 
           A POTENCY THAT IS MORE THAN MERELY SEXUAL. 
 
           A. HE IS THE UNDIVIDED SELF, IN WHICH MIND IS NOT 
              SPLIT FROM THE BODY, NOR SPIRIT FROM FLESH. 
 
              (1) UNITED, BOTH CAN FUNCTION AT THE PEAK OF 
                  CREATIVE AND EMOTIONAL POWER. 
 
           B. MEN ARE NOT SUBSERVIENT OR RELEGATED TO SECOND- 
              CLASS SPIRITUAL CITIZENSHIP IN THE CRAFT. 
 
              (1) BUT NEITHER ARE THEY AUTOMATICALLY ELEVATED 
                  TO A HIGHER STATUS THAN WOMEN, AS THEY ARE 
                  IN OTHER RELIGIONS. 
 
                  (A) MEN IN THE CRAFT MUST INTERACT WITH STRONG, 
                      EMPOWERED WOMEN WHO DO NOT PRETEND TO BE 
                      ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE. 
 
                  (B) MANY MEN FIND THE PROSPECT DISCONCERTING. 
 
        4. FOR WOMEN RAISED IN OUR CULTURE THE GOD BEGINS AS A 
           SYMBOL OF ALL THOSE QUALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN 
           IDENTIFIED AS MALE, AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN  
           ENCOURAGED TO OWN. 
 
           A. THE SYMBOL OF THE GOD, LIKE THAT OF THE GODDESS, IS 
              BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL. 
 
              (1) THROUGH MEDITATION AND RITUAL A WOMAN INVOKES  
                  THE GOD AND CREATES HIS IMAGE WITHIN HERSELF. 
 
                  (A) IN THIS WAY SHE CONNECTS WITH THOSE 
                      QUALITIES SHE LACKS. 
 
              (2) AS HER UNDERSTANDING MOVES BEYOND CULTURALLY 
                  IMPOSED LIMITATIONS HER IMAGE OF THE GOD 
                  CHANGES AND DEEPENS. 
 
                  (A) HE BECOMES THE CREATION, WHICH IS NOT 
                      SIMPLY A REPLICA OF ONESELF, BUT SOMETHING 
                      DIFFERENT AND OF A DIFFERENT ORDER. 
 
                  (B) TRUE CREATION IMPLIES SEPARATION AS THE 
                      VERY ACT OF BIRTH IS A RELINQUISHMENT OR 
                      LETTING GO. 
  
                  (C) THROUGH THE GOD WOMEN KNOW THIS POWER  
                      WITHIN THEMSELVES AND SO, LIKE THE 
                      GODDESS, THE GOD EMPOWERS WOMEN. 
 
        5. IN THE CRAFT THE COSMOS IS NO LONGER MODELED ON  
           EXTERNAL MALE CONTROL. 
 
           A. THE HIERARCHY IS DISSOLVED AND THE HEAVENLY CHAIN  
              OF COMMAND IS BROKEN. 
 
              (1) THE DIVINELY REVEALED TEXTS ARE SEEN AS POETRY, 
                  NOT THE WORD OF GOD. 
 
                  (A) INSTEAD, A MAN MUST CONNECT WITH THE  
                      GODDESS WHO IS IMMANENT IN THE WORLD, 
                      IN NATURE, IN WOMEN, AND IN HIS OWN 
                      FEELINGS.  
 
                  (B) SHE IS IMMANENT IN ALL THAT CHILDHOOD  
                      RELIGIONS TAUGHT NEEDED TO BE OVERCOME, 
                      TRANSCENDED, AND CONQUERED IN ORDER TO 
                      BE LOVED BY GOD. 
 
           B. THE VERY ASPECTS OF THE CRAFT THAT SEEM THREATENING 
              ALSO HOLD OUT TO MEN A NEW AND VIBRANT SPIRITUAL  
              POSSIBILITY: THAT OF WHOLENESS, CONNECTION AND 
              FREEDOM. 
 
              (1) MEN OF COURAGE FIND RELATIONSHIPS WITH 
                  STRONG POWERFUL WOMEN EXHILARATING AND 
                  THEY WELCOME THE CHANCE TO KNOW THE 
                  FEMALE WITHIN. 
 
                  (A) THEY ENJOY THE CHANCE TO GROW    
                      BEYOND THEIR CULTURALLY IMPOSED  
                      LIMITATIONS AND BECOME WHOLE. 
 
           C. WITHIN COVENS MEN AND WOMEN CAN EXPERIENCE GROUP 
              SUPPORT AND THE AFFECTION OF OTHER MEN AND WOMEN. 
 
              (1) THEY CAN INTERACT IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE NOT 
                  COMPETITIVE OR ANTAGONISTIC. 
 
                  (A) MEN IN COVENS CAN BECOME TRUE FRIENDS WITH 
                      OTHER MEN WITHOUT GIVING UP ANY PART OF  
                      THEMSELVES OR SUBJECTING THEMSELVES TO 
                      DERISION OR RIDICULE. 
 
  V. ETHICS AND VALUES SHARED BY MOST MEMBERS OF THE CRAFT 
 
     A. THE ETHICS OF THE CRAFT ARE MORE POSITIVE THAN NEGATIVE. 
 
        1. RATHER THAN BEING EXHORTED WITH A WHOLE RAFT OF "THOU 
           SHALT NOTS" THE CRAFT IS GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES MORE  
           ALONG THE LINES OF "BLESSED IS HE WHO..." 
 
           A. THE CRAFT IS A JOYOUS CREED; IT IS ALSO A SOCIALLY 
              AND ECOLOGICALLY RESPONSIBLE ONE. WITCHES DELIGHT 
              IN THE WORLD AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN IT ON ALL  
              LEVELS. 
 
              (1) THEY ENJOY THEIR OWN MINDS, THEIR OWN PSYCHES, 
                  THEIR OWN BODIES, THEIR SENSES AND 
                  SENSITIVITIES; AND THEY DELIGHT IN RELATING, ON 
                  ALL THESE PLANES, WITH THEIR FELLOW CREATURES 
                  AND THE EARTH ITSELF. 
 
        2. WITCHES BELIEVE IN A JOYFUL BALANCE OF ALL HUMAN  
           FUNCTIONS. 
 
           A. THIS OUTLOOK IS PERFECTLY EXPRESSED IN THE CHARGE 
              OF THE GODDESS WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF MOST 
              OF THE RITUALS OF ALL WITCHES. 
 
              (1) "LET MY WORSHIP BE WITHIN THE HEART THAT  
                  REJOICETH; FOR BEHOLD, ALL ACTS OF LOVE 
                  AND PLEASURE ARE MY RITUALS. AND THEREFORE 
                  LET THERE BE BEAUTY AND STRENGTH, POWER AND 
                  COMPASSION, HONOUR AND HUMILITY, MIRTH AND 
                  REVERENCE WITHIN YOU." 
 
                  (A) THIS PROVIDES A MODEL OF A BALANCED ETHIC 
                      WHICH PRESENTS EIGHT QUALITIES THAT ARE  
                      POSITIVE AND NOT RESTRICTIVE. 
 
                  (B) COMPASSION MEANS EMPATHY, NOT 
                      CONDESCENSION; HUMILITY MEANS A REALISTIC 
                      APPRAISAL OF YOUR OWN STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, 
                      NOT SELF-ABASEMENT; REVERANCE MEANS A SENSE 
                      OF WONDER. 
 
                  (C) THE WITCH IS ALWAYS CONSCIOUS THAT 
                      COMPASSION MUST BE PARTNERED BY POWER, 
                      HUMILITY BY HONOUR, AND REVERANCE BY 
                      MIRTH. 
 
        3. LOVE FOR LIFE IN ALL ITS FORMS IS THE BASIC ETHIC OF 
           THE CRAFT. 
 
           A. WE ARE BOUND TO HONOUR AND RESPECT ALL LIVING 
              THINGS AND TO SERVE THE LIFE FORCE. 
 
              (1) IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT WE ALL SERVE THE  
                  GODDESS, EVEN IF ONLY AS COMPOST. 
 
        4. WITCHCRAFT RECOGNIZES THAT LIFE FEEDS ON LIFE. 
 
           A. WE MUST KILL IN ORDER TO SURVIVE BUT LIFE IS  
              NEVER TAKEN NEEDLESSLY, NEVER SQUANDERED OR 
              WASTED. 
 
              (1) TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES FEMALES 
                  ARE NOT HUNTED AS GAME FOR THEY SHARE THE 
                  SACRED BOND OF MOTHERHOOD WITH THE GODDESS. 
 
                  (A) SERVING THE LIFE FORCE ALSO MEANS WORKING 
                      TO PRESERVE THE DIVERSITY OF NATURAL 
                      LIFE, PREVENTING THE POISONING OF THE 
                      ENVIRONMENT AND THE DESTRUCTION OF SPECIES. 
 
        5. THE WORLD IS SEEN AS THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GODDESS. 
 
           A. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE 
              GODDESS IS DIRECTLY AFFECTED. 
 
              (1) WHILE THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR RENEW THE GODDESS 
                  SHE NEEDS THE PARTICIPATION OF HER CREATIONS TO 
                  KEEP THE CYCLE GOING. 
 
                  (A) THIS IS THE REAL FUNCTION OF THE SABBATS. 
                      IT REINFORCES THE TIES BETWEEN HUMANKIND 
                      AND THE PLANET THAT GIVES US LIFE. 
 
                  (B) UNLIKE OTHER GODS THAT ALLOW MANKIND TO 
                      EXIST AT THEIR SUFFERANCE THE GODDESS  
                      NEEDS US JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED HER AND 
                      WE ARE PARTNERS IN THE PAGEANT OF LIFE. 
 
        6. JUSTICE IS SEEN AS AN INNER SENSE THAT EACH ACT BRINGS 
           ABOUT CONSEQUENCES THAT MUST BE FACED RESPONSIBLY. 
 
           A. THIS IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT ALL THINGS ARE 
              INTERDEPENDENT AND INTERRELATED. 
 
              (1) THEREFORE WE ARE ALL MUTUALLY RESPONSIBLE 
                  BECAUSE AN ACT THAT HARMS ANYONE HARMS US 
                  ALL. 
 
                  (A) THIS IS SUMMED UP IN THE FORM OF A LAW 
                      KNOWN AS KARMA WHICH DICTATES THAT ALL 
                      ACTIONS BRING ABOUT CHANGES. 
 
              (2) THERE IS A SAYING IN THE CRAFT THAT ILLUSTRATES 
                  THE EFFECTS OF KARMA KNOWN AS THE "THREEFOLD 
                  LAW OF RETURN". 
 
                  (A) 'WHATEVER IS SENT OUT IS RETURNED THREE 
                      TIMES OVER.' 
 
                  (B) IT IS A SORT OF AMPLIFIED "GOLDEN RULE". 
 
        7. HONOUR IS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF THE CRAFT. 
 
           A. IT IS AN INNER SENSE OF PRIDE AND SELF-RESPECT. 
 
              (1) REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING WHICH WOULD MAKE YOU 
                  ASHAMED OF YOURSELF STRENGTHENS YOUR MAGICAL 
                  WILL AND LEADS TO THE SELF-RESPECT THAT COMES 
                  FROM SETTING YOUR OWN COURSE GUIDED BY YOUR 
                  OWN INNER SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG. 
 
                  (A) THIS MAKES YOU RIGHTFULLY PROUD OF PAST 
                      ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ENCOURAGES YOU TO  
                      STAY THE COURSE. 
           
           B. THE GODDESS IS HONORED IN ONSELF AND IN OTHERS. 
 
              (1) WOMEN ARE RESPECTED AND VALUED FOR ALL THEIR 
                  HUMAN QUALITIES. 
 
                  (A) THE SELF, ONE'S INDIVIDUALITY AND 
                      UNIQUE WAY OF BEING, IS HIGHLY 
                      VALUED. 
 
              (2) LIKE NATURE, THE GODDESS LOVES DIVERSITY. 
 
                  (A) ONENESS IS ATTAINED NOT THROUGH  
                      LOSING THE SELF, BUT THROUGH 
                      REALIZING ITS POTENTIAL. 
 
        8. SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND THE FULL REALIZATION OF ONE'S 
           UNIQUE YET MANY-ASPECTED POTENTIAL IS A MORAL DUTY 
           FOR A WITCH. 
 
           A. LIFE IS SEEN AS A GIFT FROM THE GODDESS AND IT 
              IS UP TO US TO PUSH THE EVOLUTION OF MANKIND  
              FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE. 
 
              (1) IF SUFFERING EXISTS, IT IS NOT OUR TASK TO 
                  RECONCILE OURSELVES TO IT. 
 
                  (A) WE MUST WORK FOR CHANGE IN ALL WAYS 
                      AT HAND. 
 
           B. THAT WHICH HELPS THIS EVOLUTION TO COME ABOUT IS 
              SEEN AS GOOD AND DESIRABLE WHILE ACTIONS THAT 
              THWART IT ARE TO BE AVOIDED BECAUSE EACH OF US 
              IS A FACTOR IN THE COSMIC EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS. 
 
 
 
                           END OF LESSON 1 



                       THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS 
 
 
           WHENEVER  YE HAVE NEED OF ANY THING, ONCE IN THE MONTH, AND 
     BETTER  IT  BE  WHEN  THE MOON IS FULL, THEN SHALL YE ASSEMBLE IN 
     SOME  SECRET  PLACE  AND ADORE THE SPIRIT OF SHE, WHO IS QUEEN OF 
     ALL  WITCHES.  THERE  SHALL YE ASSEMBLE, YE WHO ARE FAIN TO LEARN 
     ALL  SORCERY, YET HAVE NOT WON ITS DEEPEST SECRETS; TO THESE WILL 
     SHE TEACH THINGS THAT ARE YET UNKNOWN.  AND YE SHALL BE FREE FROM 
     SLAVERY;  AND AS A SIGN THAT YE BE REALLY FREE, YE SHALL BE NAKED 
     IN  YOUR  RITES;  AND YE SHALL DANCE, SING, FEAST, MAKE MUSIC AND 
     LOVE,  ALL  IN HER PRAISE. FOR HERS IS THE ECSTASY OF THE SPIRIT, 
     AND  HERS  ALSO  IS  JOY  ON  EARTH; FOR HER LAW IS LOVE UNTO ALL 
     BEINGS. KEEP PURE YOUR HIGHEST IDEAL; STRIVE EVER TOWARDS IT; LET 
     NAUGHT  STOP  YOU  OR TURN YOU ASIDE. FOR HERS IS THE SECRET DOOR 
     WHICH OPENS UPON THE LAND OF YOUTH AND HERS IS THE CUP OF WINE OF 
     LIFE,  AND  THE CAULDRON OF CERRIDWEN, WHICH IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF 
     IMMORTALITY.  SHE  IS THE GRACIOUS GODDESS, WHO GIVES THE GIFT OF 
     JOY  UNTO THE HEART OF MAN. UPON EARTH, SHE GAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF 
     THE  SPIRIT  ETERNAL;  AND  BEYOND  DEATH,  SHE  GIVES  PEACE AND 
     FREEDOM,  AND  REUNION  WITH THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE. NOR DOES 
     SHE  DEMAND  SACRIFICE,  FOR  BEHOLD,  SHE  IS  THE MOTHER OF ALL 
     LIVING, AND HER LOVE IS POURED OUT UPON THE EARTH. 
 
          SHE WHO IS THE BEAUTY OF THE GREEN EARTH, AND THE WHITE MOON 
     AMONG THE STARS, AND THE MYSTERY OF THE WATERS, AND THE DESIRE OF 
     THE  HEART OF MAN, CALLS UNTO THY SOUL. ARISE, AND COME UNTO HER. 
     FOR  SHE  IS  THE SOUL OF NATURE, WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE UNIVERSE. 
     FROM HER ALL THINGS PROCEED, AND UNTO HER ALL THINGS MUST RETURN; 
     AND BEFORE HER FACE, BELOVED OF GODS AND MEN, LET THINE INNERMOST 
     DIVINE  SELF  BE ENFOLDED IN THE RAPTURE OF THE INFINITE. LET HER 
     WORSHIP  BE WITHIN THE HEART THAT REJOICETH; FOR BEHOLD, ALL ACTS 
     OF  LOVE AND PLEASURE ARE HER RITUALS. AND THEREFORE LET THERE BE 
     BEAUTY  AND  STRENGTH, POWER AND COMPASSION, HONOUR AND HUMILITY, 
     MIRTH  AND  REVERANCE  WITHIN  YOU. AND THOU WHO THINKEST TO SEEK 
     HER,  KNOW  THY  SEEKING AND YEARNING SHALL AVAIL THEE NOT UNLESS 
     THOU  KNOWEST  THE  MYSTERY; THAT IF THAT WHICH THOU SEEKEST THOU 
     FINDEST  NOT  WITHIN  THEE,  THEN THOU WILT NEVER FIND IT WITHOUT 
     THEE.  FOR BEHOLD, SHE HAS BEEN WITH THEE FROM THE BEGINNING; AND 
     SHE IS THAT WHICH IS ATTAINED AT THE END OF DESIRE. 
