The Modern Pagan Male
Dr. Raven Dolick M.s.D.
The Pagan male today finds himself in a confusing position. In response to the highly patriarchal nature of the mainstream monotheistic faiths, the Pagan community as a whole tends toward a matriarchal, feminine-oriented system. In this system, the male aspects of Divinity are often greatly if not completely eclipsed by the female aspects. The “Great Mother Goddess” is often honored to the exclusion of the God, who is relegated to the status of her “Consort” when He is mentioned at all! We believe that even as a completely patriarchal system is unbalanced, so too is a completely matriarchal system - a positive, dynamic balance between the two is needed, not an aggrandizement of one gender over the other. Both genders have their own strengths and weaknesses, and each has much to teach the other. To this end, we are committed to exploring the men's mysteries, the spiritual aspects of what it is to be male. We do have an unashamedly men's group – for there are many women's mysteries groups in existence, and we consider ourselves neither unbalanced nor chauvinistic for wishing to explore the spiritual aspects of our own gender and be the Lord we were created to be.
What does community service have to do with men's spirituality?
We at RavenStar Enchantments Spiritual Awareness Center believe that in-service to the community is an important part of our spirituality - that a man can truly find the best in himself only in service to others. Sacrifice for the good of others is a traditional and integral aspect of men's spirituality - for example, the Pagan belief in the sacrifice of the Horned Lord at Samhain to be reborn at Yule and renew the fertility of the earth, or from a Christian point of view, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. All of us sacrifice in some form or another so that others may be better off, though for most of us this sacrifice is of our time and energy rather than our lives. As The Knights of Hern believe that with the power we are given comes the responsibility to help others. In fact, the word "knight" originally came from a Saxon word which meant "vassal" or "servant"; we take this to mean that we are servants of our community and of the greater good.
RavenStar Enchantments Spiritual Mens Group, The Brotherhood of Herne, will individually focus on your inner strengths and weaknesses with a very intense holistic approach to reconnect you with your true divine self and give assistance in self empowerment with modalities to balance the mind, body and soul in perfect union and pursue options to best empower you with in-service expressions of your talents and power. With one on one focused retreats offered also we reach many male figures that then take their personal empowerment to better their family structure, community, spiritual outlook and overall view of how they react to the world around them therefore effectively changing the world one male at a time.
Herne, from whom our Men's Circle focus takes its name, is a pre-Christian Saxon deity whose name is thought to come from the Latin "Cernunnos" which means "The Horned One". His image can be found on the Gundestrup Cauldron, an artifact found in Denmark and dating from about 2000 years ago. Herne is the Patron of our Retreat; for us, he represents the quintessence of manhood, all that we strive to be and to achieve as men. He is the sacrificial God, who gives of himself so that others may live. Though we do not all honor Herne as the face of our particular Deity, as men, we honor what he represents.
Concerning The Lost Rites
Be the full representation my kind sirs of what we were created to be as empowered pagan Male Spirituality.
My Heart to Yours.
Dr. Raven Dolick M.s.D.
June 24. 2012
All rights reserved
Concerning the Lost Rites
Before industrialization and the Patriarchal crippling of society, Pagan Males went through many Rites of Passage during their childhood and into manhood that rooted them deeply in their own self power. And so much more are they needed today to again center our children in who they really are and their individual power. Below you will see a descriptive of the many Rites bestowed and realize that as a pagan male we have in a whole missed the mark and need to reclaim that which has been relinquished.
The Rite of Naming
Given to a child at any age from three months to one year old, the purpose of the ritual is to formally accept the child as one of the tribe and to give him his name – and with it, his link to his ancestors (the past), his community (the present), and his destiny (the future).
The blessings of the Powers of the World are asked to be upon the child as he begins his journey. Four symbols (runes, Tarot cards, etc.) are drawn for the child, representing his progress through the stages of life – Boy, Man, Elder and Sage. These symbols, along with their possible meanings, are passed down to the child when he is old enough to understand them. If the child is to have godparents, the godparents will be asked to take the child’s hand during the Rite and to swear their oaths to watch over him and guide him.
The Rite of Understanding
Given at 5 years of age, the purpose of the ritual is to acknowledge a child’s passage from infant to boy, the first step along the path to manhood. The boy is given a gift to mark his passage from the hands of his father (or godfather or man closest to him, if the father is not present), usually a protective amulet on a chain. The Rite is of necessity short and fairly simple, to accommodate the child’s attention span.
The Rite of Responsibility
Given at 10 years of age, the purpose of the ritual is to acknowledge that a boy is ready to begin assuming an increased amount of responsibility for himself and his actions. If the boy in question is the child or close relative of a Knight of the Order, he may ask to become a page of the Hall at this time. The boy is presented with a small knife from the hands of his father (or godfather, etc.) as a sign of the trust that has now been placed in him. He may choose a new name to be known by in ritual, his boy’s name
The Rite of Maturity
Given at 15 years of age, the purpose of the ritual is to acknowledge that a boy has proven himself to be responsible, and is now ready to begin assuming some of the duties of manhood. If the boy in question is the child or close relative of a Knight of the Order, he may ask to become a Squire of the Hall at this point, with his father or relative as his sponsor. He must be at least 19 years of age, however, before petitioning for membership as a Knight- Probationer of the Hall. The boy is presented with a ritual dagger from the hands of his father (or godfather, etc.) as a sign of the increased trust that has now been placed in him.
The Rite of Manhood
Given at 20 years of age, the purpose of the ritual is to acknowledge that a boy has proven himself responsible, mature, and worthy to be called a man. At this point, if the boy has been accepted as a Knight-Probationer of the Hall and has fulfilled all necessary obligations, he may be Knighted. If he has chosen not to join the Order, he is not
Knighted, but is still presented with a sword from the hands of his father (or godfather, etc.) as a sign of his new status, and may choose a new name to be known by in ritual.
The Rite of Handfasting
The Rite of Handfasting is a marriage ceremony led by a qualified representative of the Hall. The purpose of the ritual is to bind two lovers in matrimony, ritually enumerating their duties to each other and acknowledging their oaths to abide by these vows. The two exchange rings as a sign of their pledging, and their hands are ritually bound together. They pass under an arch of swords held by
Knights of the Hall, representing the Hall’s promise to watch over and protect the couple.
The Rite of Elderhood
The Rite of Elderhood is given to a man upon reaching the age of 40. The purpose of the ritual is to acknowledge the contributions a man has made to the Order and to the community, and the honor he has gained in doing so. The man may be presented with a gift from the Order to mark his new status. He may also choose a new name to be known by in ritual, to reflect the lessons the years have taught him.
The Rite of Sagehood
The Rite of Sagehood, similar in many ways to the Rite of Elderhood, is given to a man upon reaching the age of 60. The purpose of the Rite is to acknowledge the contributions a man has made to the Order and to the community, and the honor, wisdom and respect he has gained in doing so. The man may be presented with a gift from the Order to mark his new status. He may also choose a new name to be known by in ritual, to reflect the lessons the years have taught him.
The Rite of Remembrance
The Rite of Remembrance is given to a man or woman at death, and serves to mark his or her passage to the Land Beyond the Veil. Those who knew the deceased are invited to share their memories, so that he or she may not be forgotten, and the Litany of Remembrance is spoken.
So here we can easily see how we, as modern Pagan spiritual males, have missed the mark and struggle to find our center. Now you can move to higher levels of consciousness with the self-empowering modalities you will now have available to you so wisdom can finish what Knowledge has started. Welcome to your Whole Self!
Cerrunnos/Herne
The Circle of Life
Dr Raven Dolick MsD
July 1, 2012
All rights reserved
Cernunnos/ Herne/ Green man ,The Great Horned God, The consort of the Goddess and symbol of male energy in the form of the divine is YOU!
Cernnunos, a nature and fertility God, has appeared in a multitude of forms and made himself known by many names to nearly every culture throughout time. He is perhaps best known to us now in his Celtic aspects of the untamed Horned God of the Animals and the leaf-covered Green Man, Guardian of the Green World, but He is much older. Cernnunos worked his magic when the first humans were becoming. Our prehistoric ancestors knew him as a shape-shifting, shamanic god of the Hunt. He is painted in caves and carved everywhere, on cliffs, stones, even in the Earth Herself. Humans sought to commune with Him and receive his power and that of his animal children by dressing themselves in skins and skulls, adorning themselves with feathers and bones, by dancing His dance. Yet He is older still. In the time of the dinosaurs, the great swamps and subtropical forests of cycads, seed ferns and conifers, and later in the time of the deciduous plants and flowers, when the pollinators came and the first tiny mammals were creeping up from beneath the ground, Cernnunos was the difference and diversity of life, the frenzy and ferment of evolution. But, He is much older still. He is oldest of the Ancient Ones, first born of the Goddess. At the time of First Earth, Cernnunos grew in the womb of the All Mother, Anu, waiting to be born, to come forth to initiate the everlasting, unbroken Circle of Life.
He provides for the tribe through the hunt and is honored or rewarded for his deed by being permitted to copulate with the Goddess through the Great Rite. The Horned God is the lord of life, death and the underworld. And is the Sun to the Goddess' Moon. He alternates with the Goddess in ruling over the fertility cycle of birth, death and rebirth
He has been associated with many deities throughout the world. Cernunnos, The Celtic God of fertility, animals and the underworld. Herne The Hunter, a Wood God of Britain. Pan the Greek God of the woodlands, Janus the Roman God of good beings. Nimrod and Tammuz , the Father and the son, lover and consorts to Ishtar and Inanna. Osiris, the Egyptian Lord of the underworld. also Geb the Egyptian Lord of the Earth Dionysus, the Greek god of vegetation and vine. The Green Man, the lord of vegetation and the woodlands.
The History Of The Horned One
Paintings discovered in the Caverne des Trois Freres at Ariege, France provides evidence of the first views of the Horned One. Depicted as a stag standing upright on hind legs with the upper body of a man, the figure is celebrating what appears to be a hunt and wooing a woman.
From some of the earliest myths come the union between the fertile Goddess and the triumphant phallus hunter, the Horned God. The more successful the tribal hunter in providing for his people, the greater his stature became. The more likely he would be the one chosen to impregnate the "Mother" of the tribe. Often seen as the High Priestess or at least a tribal woman who was touched by the goddess because of her prowess at becoming pregnant and extending the life of the tribe. Something that was needed during the days of ancient man, as life spans were short and death by illness or disease was common.
Many legends describe fertility celebrations occurring at the spring gathering and again in late fall. Each of these coinciding with a spring hunt to bring food to the tribe after a cold desolate winter. And in the fall to provide meat for the tribe during the winter months. The most successful hunter won the prize of sleeping with the "Goddess", most often before the Tribe watching. Something that is seen as repugnant today, in ancient times, it was a spiritual event and is revitalized in what we see as the Great Rite of today.
During these rituals, the Hunter would appear dressed or cloaked in the skin of his kill with the horns of the stag resting victoriously upon his head. Some legends describe the blood of the beast engulfing both the Horned Hunter and the Goddess, believing the life taken from the animal is transferred to the womb of the fertile Mother, thus providing life.
To the Celts as Cernunnos, the Horned God was more than just a fertile being. He is found throughout the Celtic lands and folklore as the guardian of the portal leading to the Otherworld. The name Cernunnos is known only through damaged carvings found at Notre Dame. In these carvings, a deity with short horns carries the incomplete inscription 'ERNUNNO'. In his earliest of days he was probably the fertility god to the Gauls. But as time progressed and his legends grew, he became associated with wealth and prosperity. He was such an important deity to the pagan Celts, that his image and prowess became a major target for the early Christian church. It is his image that is believed to have been adopted for their mythos of the Devil 'deo falsus' or the false god. His status as the god of Hell would coincide with the view of the pagan Celts as the guardian of the Otherworld.
As Herne the Hunter, the British version of the Horned God; he is seen as the leader of the Wild Hunt. As an antlered giant, he is rumored to still survive and live in the forests of Windsor Great Park. His longevity is owed to the cult of Cernunnos, who have also linked his generosity to provide for the tribe to the legend of Robin Hood. Some suggest that Herne was the father to Robin of Loxley; which is probably more an association since Herne is a much older figure in legend and myth. In this ability to provide for the tribe as the great Hunter of the wood, he is forever linked to the Horned God.
As the Greek deity of pastures, flocks and herds, Pan was half man and half goat. With the legs and horns and beard of a goat. He is the offspring of Hermes, but his mothers lineage is in question. Either he is the result of Hermes and Dryope daughter of King Dropys, who's flocks he tended. Or Hermes and Penelope. His cult is centered around Arcadia where he is reported to haunt the woodlands, hills and mountains. Sleeping at noon and then dancing through the woods as he played the panpipes, which he is credited with inventing. He is the lusty leader of the satyrs (woodland deities), and continually chases the nymphs (the beautiful nature goddesses). During rituals, his essence is invoked to for fertility of the flocks or for an abundant hunt. Associating him with the legends of the Horned God.
As Osiris the Egyptian god of the lower world, he is seen as the judge of the dead. Linking him to the concept of Cernunnos as the guardian of the gate to the Other World.
He is the brother of Isis, but he is also her husband. Isis as the goddess of fertility her status as the Mother is propagated by the services provided her by Osiris. Once again linking his image with that of the Horned One.
As the Green Man he is the God of the woodlands and vegetation. He is also known as 'Green Jack", "Jack in the Green" and "Green George". He represents the spirits of the trees, plants and foliage that has many powers over nature that promote growth. He has the power to make it rain and foster the livestock with lush meadows. As Green George he has been represented as a young man cloaked head to foot in greenery. In early depictions, the green vegetation emphasized his phallic symbol of fertility as he lead processions through tribal lands. As the Green Man he shares his woodland home with the forest fairies often called "Greenies" or "Greencoaties". What today we call Nature Sprites. The Green Man is depicted as a horned man peering out from a mask of foliage, connecting him to the image of Horned God.
in some traditions of Wicca, the cycle of seasons follows the relationship between the Horned God -- Cernunnos -- and the Goddess. During the fall, the Horned God dies, as the vegetation and land goes dormant, and in the spring, at Imbolc, he is resurrected to impregnate the fertile goddess of the land. However, this relationship is a relatively new Neopagan concept, and there is no scholarly evidence to indicate that ancient peoples might have celebrated this "marriage" of the Horned God and a mother goddess.
Because of his horns (and the occasional depiction of a large, erect phallus) Cernunnos has often been misinterpreted by fundamentalists as a symbol of Satan. Certainly, at times, the Christian church has pointed to the Pagan following of Cernunnos as "devil worship." This is in part due to nineteenth century paintings of Satan which included large, ram-like horns much like those of Cernunnos.
Christianity saw Paganism as a Competition so they Demonized Pagan Gods in An Effort to make people stop worshiping them.
Today, many Pagan and Wiccan traditions honor Cernunnos as an aspect of the God, the embodiment of masculine energy and fertility and power.
The Song of Amergin
I am a stag of seven tines,
I am a wide flood on a plain,
I am a wind on the deep waters,
I am a shining tear of the sun,
I am a hawk on a cliff,
I am fair among flowers,
I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke.
I am a battle waging spear,
I am a salmon in the pool,
I am a hill of poetry,
I am a ruthless boar,
I am a threatening noise of the sea,
I am a wave of the sea,
Who but I knows the secrets of the unhewn dolmen ?
Though horns adorn my head My spirit points to the moon’s sky.
Though my legs don’t end in hoofsI walk a cocksure prance ‘cross sacred Earth.
My body is hairy.I’m a proud-hung young buck.Behind sharp eyes my soul stalks wild.
Horned God–Horny As Hell God–Reviled by fundamental debasers of flesh sacredness–You still live in me.
I will drink red wine I will eat bloody venison meat And I will dance and sing and fuck and live So that you may be sacred still.
So that I may be sacred still.
So that life will be sacred still.
“You have given yourself to me… Fully… You surrendered… You’re mine! Your heart belongs to me, your soul, Your body, your breath, your everything! Mine! And you will run with me, Scream with me, and rut with me, Tremble in terror and desire of me, Dance that wild, frenzied dance with me, Journey to the dark, dank depths with me. And you will know sheer ecstasy, utter agony, And the intoxicating thrill of the hunt. And we will meet at the Crossroads together, as we always have. We will wander far and wide, with a fire raging in your head. And I will show you the way on those crooked and hidden paths I will tell you things no other could I will take you to places unknown, and unseen I will teach you. Guide you. Push you. Pull you. Rip you open. I will show you what it means to be my devotee I will break you and remake you, Over and over… And you will love me… And when I’m not with you…Remember… Remember… Remember...
About The Laws of Magick
The Laws of Magick are not laws as in rules or a code of ethics or behavior. They are the basic precepts, or ideas on which the foundation of magickal working is based. I found them interesting and informative. I work it as knowing that the entire Universe does work within its own Laws.
Let’s take the Law of Gravity for instance. You drop a coin what is going to happen every time?…… Dah, it hits the ground. K got it. BUT what makes it do that? That is a Law and when we learn the Law we then can control Gravity. Magick is the same. You haven’t been successful as a power magician because you ran instead of crawled in your upbringing. You didn’t learn the Laws that govern it.
Real magic-the magic which has been practiced and believed in for thousands of years - is based upon laws, if not fully believed by the practitioners, at least adhered to. These laws have been recognized as the governing structure which makes the magic at least seem to work, gaining for the practitioners the desired results, and making people believe in it.
One of the pioneers to achieve a classification of laws involved in magic is Sir James George Frazer in his "The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion." Many others have discussed such a classification including Isaac Bonewits, to whom this writer is indebted for his brief classification of the magical laws, and Richard Cavendish.
The following laws place one in a proper attitude to perform magic:
•The Two Main Laws of Magick
•The Law of Knowledge
•The Law of Names
•The Law of Words of Power
•The Law of Association
•The Law of Identification
•The Law of Opposites
•The Law of Balance
•The Law of the Finite and the Infinite
Today about every hour I will be posting several Laws of magick many claiming to practice never even thought about. Keep checking back as we expand our understanding and move Magick from the fantasy to the reality today.
Dev Leza Avlon. It is God who brought you.
Ja Develehi! Go with God
Two Main Laws of Magick
The two main laws in magic are:
1.Mind Over Matter
2.Belief.
Every good magician knows that it is the mind which controls the body, if it does not, he's in trouble. This is why the magician must know himself and his art. Without such knowledge he has no art, for knowledge gives control.
The second essential law of magic is belief. One must believe in what he does, for without belief there is doubt. To use magical power one has to feel it. This applies to everyone whether one is calling down a deity in a magic circle or praying for a miracle in a church. Doubt leads to failure, belief leads to success, perhaps not always physically, but always spiritually.
The Law of the Finite and the Infinite
The Law of Infinite Data states that there always new information for one to learn. The sources of knowledge are limitless if one wishes to tap them. This law can stimulate one to improve his capacities. It can also serve as a warning that one cannot learn or know everything, so it is best to limit one's visions at times, as new dangers can always appear.
The Law of Finite Senses states that one's senses are finite. They are limited to the amount of information which one can absorb and process at any given time. Simply put, one is pretty sure he does not have all data available on which to base a judgment.
The Law of Infinite Universes states that each person sees his universe or world a different way; therefore, no two people have identical views of the world. All people do not receive the same information or data; if they do, they view it differently, thus making for an endless number of universes.
Under this Law of Infinite Universes are two other laws: the Law of Pragmatism and the Law of True Falsehoods. The Law of Pragmatism simply states, "If it works, it's true." This is a very useful law because it avoids moral arguments with oneself and others. In this case, therefore, truth has a functional value since it works properly for the person. Such a law allows different responses to the same or similar situations which is the interplay of the Law of Synthesis.
The Law of True Falsehoods simply stated, "If it's a paradox, the paradox is probably true." This law will hold until a better answer or solution can be found.
The Law of Balance
The Law of Balance is simply a statement for conserving personal energy and achieving the greatest proficiency. One's energy or power level must be kept on an even keel, too much or too little will kill oneself.
This energy level is best maintained by avoiding extremes in thinking and action. One must be open minded, able to consider all alternatives, but strong enough to determine one's personal course in life. This requires the right amount of flexibility to be able to examine new ideas or concepts in order to keep the ones which would improve one's life and reject those that would not. In short, one never goes off on deep ends.
Note: Sometimes in magick, one must break the Law of Balance in order to tip the scales in your favor, and to achieve motion in a different direction. This will cause an expenditure of energy and a certain amount of chaos to be dealt with until a new balance is restored.
The Law of Opposites
The Law of Synthesis, or the Law of Opposites, states that the synthesis on two opposing or conflicting ideas or pieces of data will produce a new, third idea that will not be a compromise of the original two.
This law is used more in mysticism than magic. It allows one to simultaneously hold two opposing ideas without feeling anxiety or cognitive conflict.
The Law of Polarity says anything can be separated into two opposite parts with each part having its own essence. This law is essential to many mystical statements and arguments. Also, it is essential in denoting characteristics of objects. Examples of these are: white and black, up and down, right and left.
Dev Leza Avlon. It is God who brought you.
Ja Develehi! Go with God
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