BASICS

BASICS

this section is quite long, so read through carefully

Traditional Witchcraft is NOT wicca but any wiccan who wishes to study these pages is more than welcome..
These pages are not intended for beginners nor as a 'Complete Guide to...'. They are for those who already know at least the basics, and wish to persue a mystical path. In order to explain aspects of this mysticism it is necessary to discuss the basics of Traditional Witchcraft but again this is not a tutorial in it, either.

There are some fine websites devoted to traditional witchcraft, Irish Traditional Witchcraft Club webpage, and The Mysteries which are suitable for both beginners and more experienced practitioners.

The ideas shown hereafter are taken from that strain of Witchcraft practised by a few Families in Ireland . The witchcraft of Traditional Families is similar to but not identical to 'Traditional Witchcraft'. Each Family has its own traditions and rituals, but there are some things common to all. For example we measure all things in relation to the homeland. All astronomical and magickal associations, if followed at all, are relevent only in so far as they relate to the position of the Homeland.

Many people have highly individual ideas about what "witch" means. In the context of Irish hereditaries practices, it is traditionally believed that the ability to heal, to charm, and to divine are passed in the blood and some families are more prone than others. There are others then born outside these families who are "naturals", born with these abilities. This phenomenon is the basis for what is now called Irish Traditional Witchcraft. In fact few of my predecessors, until around 1870, would have used the term "witch" about themselves, sharing as they did the common perception of Witches, and being largely Catholic, although with very un-orthadox views mixed in....in this they were little different from the rest of the poulation who combined an active superstition and folklore tradition with ostensibly fervent catholicism.

The Irish language has words such as Draíocht which are now used to denote both witch and druid; even the term Cailleach which means Hag and has very specific connatations has been pressed into service to mean witch.. although there are problems associated with using the english word "Witch" to denote what we do, believe and are, it is the nearest in meaning available to us. Therefore most of our number use the term "witch" and "Traditional Witch" to mean this tradition, and also any similar tradition, that can reasonably claim descent, not from modern wicca but from older roots; including cunning or wise men/women and the horse whisperers, or bonesetters sects. It also applies in our usage to individuals not born into such a tradition but who are serious students of one, and who are committed to the honest and unflinching study of Occultism.

We apply Wicca, obviously to those practicing wicca: Traditional Wiccan applies to those practising formal Gardnerian or Alexandrian Wicca, or those who call themselves trad witches but are in reality wiccan. These are labels and like any labels, have their advantages and disadvantages - but they are useful for the purposes of debate and discussion. The alternative is a mire of terms all used for different (sometimes inimical) paths.

In the Nineteenth century, the general upsurge in interest in the supernatural among the Anglo-ascendency led to their taking over and re-evaluating Irish and Celtic culture and as they in general dispised the actual people this culture represented (i.e. us peasants )They rewrote, reinterpreted, redefined and manipulated this folklore and hisory to suit themselves and their view of both pagan Ireland, and its supernatural inheritance. (NB: in this they were no worse than the establishment anywhere.!)

In response, and as the Catholic middle-class emerged as a force in Ireland once more, the improvements in education saw the new generation of practitioners lift the tradition from rural and localised practices to a more theoretical and selfconscious tradition, and in particular great emphasis was placed on preserving this tradition from the stylized rituals and reconstructionism of the Wicca movement and its more Masionic predecessors.

It places great emphasis on Irish celtic culture and history, and also a knowledge of pre-celtic Ireland: the accurate history of Ireland is of interest, not the romanticised or convenient. Many of the pracitioners in modern times have been Pagan, in the commonly used modern sense of that word. Many others have been catholic or agnostic. I myself like paganism, and in common with every other member of my community am a POLYTHEIST. There is no one God and Goddess partnership, rather many deities who are embodied in the landscape of Ireland. In its purest sense, Irish traditions preclude monotheism:

More important however is the sense one should retain that Irish practises are not a religion. They are exercises, spells, occult workings, supernatural powers, anything you want but this is NOT a religion.

What then *IS* Irish Traditional Witchcraft? It is above all else the practical aplication and use of magic. It utilises herbs, energy, symbols, talismans, texts, spells and superstitions all to this end. It does not require that one be either good or bad, pagan or christian. The Imramma of Celtic sagas is the central spiritual tool of the tradition, and it is designed (by addition and substraction over many many generations, according to taste, and experience) to enable one to explore the concept of soul-journeys, also astral projection, with exercises and meditations. The point is to know oneself, to expand one's power and also to access the ancestors, deities, energies or collective consciousness, for answers to questions and problems

The Homeland

Geographically Ireland is the Homeland; in spiritual matters the Homeland is less a physical space and more a landscape of the soul. One should acknowledge the gods of one's time and place, as well as one's ancestral gods. This usually means that wherever you are in the world you acknowlede the local gods, and you also turn back to Ireland and her Gods as the ancestral gods.

Having said this there are more and more people interested in these ancient traditions who have no Irish connections, and for them they can either adopt the Homeland of Ireland, as their spiritual home or apply the same techniques in these pages to theie real wncestral homes.

Where To Start?

The best way to use this website is to read through it from beginning to end, especially using the Map and Clans page, which explains various terms and has a sample 'map' of the Homeland.
It is quite a complicated philosophy to pick up in one gulp, so please feel free to try various things out, e.g. a meditation. Once you have grasped the basics, and are ready to try out a few suggested exercises, after that you need to build up your store of knowledge about the Islands, the Archetypes, the associations and so forth.

The Mysticism of Irish Occult Practitioners
In general most of our ancestors would not really have used the word witch to describe themsleves, and the words in Irish most often used actually tend to mean "Druid". In many ways, if one accepts the theory that Druids were a Brahmin type class rather than a religion, or sect of priests, then most of our number would consider themselves Druidic; we tend to practise bardic divination and to use music, and the rythms and cadences of Irish traditional Music, in our work.

At the centre of Traditional Family Witchcraft is a system of mysticism and belief that is the heart and soul of this type of witchcraft. The Path shown here in these pages is the one followed in my own family for many many generations, by a lineage stretching back to the kings or Leinster.
It centres around the use of the Homeland itself as a metaphor for the condition of man. The homeland is made up of the forests and the plains, where the farmers and settlers dwell. Here we seek the spells, charms and wisdom of the ancestors in their guise of mortals. They give help very relevant to our lives but limited by their mortality and humanity. Here we are sheltered to a large degree.
The Homeland is an island surrounded by shoreline and Islands. These Isles represent the next level of spiritual development; here we seek help from the ancestors in their Divine aspect, as spirits, elementals, sidhe(Faerie), God/desses, even monsters.
We can stand on the shores and receive limited help from this mysterious realm or we can travel amoung the islands on a quest, learning from our dangers and adventures.
The teaching gained in the Forests and the Plains is gentle, helpful and often worldly.It prepares us for the mysteries and lessons of this life. The teaching gained on the Shore or amoung the Isles is more esoteric, concerned with trances, dreams and meditations, is harder to understand and can be occasionally frightening. However it is the surest measure of spiritual growth and occult ability; it prepares us for our next life, our transcendence is our path to understanding the universe, divinity and the meaning of existance.
These truths are known among different families by different names but this or something very similar is generally practised.

We are not Wiccan

We do not have what wiccans call a Book of Shadows but rather, something more nearly resembling the original type of Grimoire. In truth the Irish Leabhair Obair, or Leabhair Oibre is quite literally workbook of herbs, receipes, potions, astronomical observations, divination etc added to over the ages by each generation. "Grimoire" is the nearest corrsct term for it, and was often used by educated practitioners who recieved their catholic education abroad.

It is rarely used to write down real magical workings. They are kept elsewhere.

We do not adhere to the Rede or Rule of Three. If we can be said to have a "rule" it can best be summerised as;
Do an ye wilt but know what ye do'
In other words, do as you wish, if you have the power to do so, understanding of what you do and acceptance of the consequences.

We do NOT practise witchcraft as a religion. The spirituality outlined in these pages is non-denominational, although best suited in its present form to pagans practitioners in that it refers to several of the older Deities;however it is adaptable to any religion and has frequently been explored by those who described themselves as either agnostic or atheist. Our familiy has boasted many devoutly catholic witches.

In terms of practical work, we do not sand much on ceremony; we don't cast circles, or call quarters, or have rituals - rather we cast spells, makes potions, infuse workings with energy and will. We are the Martini Witches, anytime anyplace anywhere!

We do work with the moon, and we would conform to the image of witches as nature loving, in that we believe the landscape to be sacred, or powerful.

I am the Raven and the servant of the Raven. Mine is an ancient tradition that has been taught through many generations and has taken many of my family on a journey of self discovery and growth. There is power in the Raven but power is not why you should seek her. There is knowledge in the Raven but intuition is her greatest gift. There are many ways and many paths, some leading us through the mountainous forest and some across the great plains of the midlands. As you travel you are called upon to overcome challanges, meet and learn both from inhabitants of these places, and other wayfarers. There are dangers, rewards, duties (Geas)and ultimately, knowledge, to be found.If you would like to walk a way with me, you too may find that the great journey of the celts is the path for you.

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