Life's Transitions - From Birth To Deathand Beyond?

The following pages concern the different transitions that we as human beinggo through. This will cover Handfasting, Wiccaning's & The Summerland.

Obviously there is a great deal of information on the web, this site will givesome basic information concerning these transitions. If there is anything youwould like to see added, please feel free to contact me

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Birthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningBirthing DedicationThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning WelcomingWiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal RiteWiccaning, Quickening & Crone

Life's Transitions - From Birth To Death and Beyond?

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Handfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & Time

Summerland -Thoughts & Other TraditionsSummerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of DeathReincarnationReincarnation - Edgar CayceA Life Well LivedSamhain, God Of The Dead?Wicca

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Elements & ElementalsWitches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & HistoryMagickal Stones - A to KBurning TimesBasic InformationAura's & ChakrasAromatherapyPsychic Power?Chants & SongsDivinationDevotionsRunes & OghamMoonsEgyptA Variety Of Information - Just Could Not Find A CategoryCatsAmethyst's Wicca - Links To All My Other Pages

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Birthing Dedication

Birthing Dedication From "Magickal Rites from the Crystal Well"by Ed. Fitch

Holding the child to face the heavens say:O Lady of the starry heavens, wise All-Father, behold this lovely child,(name).Conceived and brought forth in love.Bless and protect him/her and grant the gifts of wisdom, inspiration andwonder.

Holding the child to face the ground say:

Hail Earth, Mother of all.This is my infant, my love, and my jewel.Bless and protect him/her, granting your enduring and eternal strength andsteadfastness.May he/she ever have a spirit that seeks the stars and roots deep within thyloving breast.

Hold the child close to your heart and join heartbeats.

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning WelcomingWiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal RiteWiccaning, Quickening & Crone

Birthing Dedication

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Handfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & Time

Summerland -Thoughts & Other TraditionsSummerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of DeathReincarnationReincarnation - Edgar CayceA Life Well LivedSamhain, God Of The Dead?Wicca

Birthing Dedication

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Opressed PaganGoddess/GodBook of ShadowsAltar & ToolsSabbats

Elements & ElementalsWitches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & HistoryMagickal Stones - A to KBurning TimesBasic InformationAura's & ChakrasAromatherapyPsychic Power?Chants & SongsDivinationDevotionsRunes & OghamMoonsEgyptA Variety Of Information - Just Could Not Find A CategoryCatsAmethyst's Wicca - Links To All My Other Pages

Birthing Dedication

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The 13 Wishes - A Wiccaning

The 13 Wishes: A Wiccaningby Aidan Kelly

This is a sort of "baptism " or "saining" [i.e., what is now called aWiccaning], inspired, of course, by Sleeping Beauty.

1. Parents bring child to center, the father holding 13 unlit candles, and onelit one.2. HP bundles child with wine, perhaps gives it a coven name, and HPscharges it to the concern of the Craft.3. Now 13 witches step forward, one by one. Each touches the child andmakes a wish for it, then takes and lights a candle.4. When all 13 are holding their lit candles in a circle around the parents andchild, HP says, "Your candles represent your wishes. If they were merely toburn out, so would the wishes. Therefore, Lady, let all here be for the child aspiritual birthday cake. Blow out your candles!" All do, and HP says, "Nowthe wishes will come true."Thus the child acquires 13 "fairy godparents."

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning WelcomingWiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal Rite

The 13 Wishes - A Wiccaning

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Wiccaning, Quickening & CroneHandfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & TimeSummerland -Thoughts & Other Traditions

Summerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of DeathReincarnationReincarnation - Edgar CayceA Life Well LivedSamhain, God Of The Dead?

The 13 Wishes - A Wiccaning

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WiccaOpressed PaganGoddess/GodBook of ShadowsAltar & ToolsSabbatsElements & Elementals

Witches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & HistoryMagickal Stones - A to KBurning TimesBasic InformationAura's & ChakrasAromatherapyPsychic Power?Chants & SongsDivinationDevotionsRunes & OghamMoonsEgyptA Variety Of Information - Just Could Not Find A CategoryCatsAmethyst's Wicca - Links To All My Other Pages

The 13 Wishes - A Wiccaning

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A Wiccaning Magickal RiteThis is from Ed Fitch's "Magical Rites from the Crystal Well"

On the first night after a baby is born, or the same night that the birth takesplace, the mother or father (or midwife, if she is a close friend or relative)should take the infant out under the stars.

The child should first be held up to the sky, saying:

"O Lady of the Starry Heavens, Wise All-Father,Behold this lovely child ________.

Conceived and brought forthIn love."

Place the child on the ground briefly, saying:

"Hail Earth, Mother of All.This is my infant, my love,

And my jewel.

Bless and protect him/her,Granting your enduring and eternal

Strength, and steadfastness.May he/she ever have a spirit

That seeks the stars,And roots deep within

Thy loving breast."

One should then clasp the child close and look about for a few minutes, forthose who are gifted with second sight are often able at this time to seeprophesies for the child or the mother.

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningThe NamingWiccaning or Paganing

A Wiccaning Magickal Rite

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A WiccaningWiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualWiccaning WelcomingWiccaning, Quickening & CroneHandfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & TimeSummerland -Thoughts & Other Traditions

Summerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of Death

A Wiccaning Magickal Rite

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Witches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & HistoryMagickal Stones - A to KBurning TimesCandles - Basic InformationAura's & ChakrasAromatherapyPsychic Power?Chants & SongsDivinationDevotionsRunes & OghamMoonsEgyptA Variety Of Information - Just Could Not Find A Category

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A Wiccaning Magickal Rite

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Crossing The Bridge

Crossing the Bridge

1. Have all preparations done.2. Have all personal items to be distributed as per instructions.3. Wind chimes hanging in every possible place, also representations ofrainbows.4. Know person's favorite things and have them in the circle.5. Personal jewelry to given per last will and testament.6. Ritual to be at sunset with Goddess chant playing.

Preparations: 9 white candles on altar.Luminaries placed around circle, picture on altar.

Anoint and admit participants: "In the names of Hecate and Herne, welcomeandBlessed Be."

Priest: Lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram

Priest: "We are here, not to mourn the passing, but to celebrate theElevation of the spirit of_________ so that even in sorrowThere may be happiness."

Charge Salt: "Salt is life, let it purify in all ways we may use it."

Crossing The Bridge

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Purify Water: "May the sacred salt drive out any impurities in this water sowe may use it throughout these rites."

Cast Circle:"By stang and cauldron, cup and knife,by right of office that I hold, yeancient powers of death and life, forgather to the circles fold.

Kinship to kinship, blood to blood, by wild night wind and starry sky, byheathland brown and darkling wood, to this our circle now draw nigh.

In likeness of a henge if stone, stand guard around the circles rim, whilelooming through the dark alone, stands in the east the hele stone dim.

I summon fourth the faery hounds, sharp fanged, white coated, red of ear, toprowl beyond the circles bounds, and put intruder's hearts in fear.

Ancestral powers of this our blood, we are your people, guard us well, byearth and air, fire and flood, by magick mime and spoken spell.

Our crafts own Goddess I invoke, and ancient ones of hill and mound, withfire aflame and drifting smoke, I dedicate this circle bound.By three times three,So Mote It Be!"Cast circle with censer.Cast circle with water.Call Quarters

East: "Through the athame and the topaz we call up the ancient onesKingParalda with thy Zephyrs and Eurius the east wind, we doSummon stir andcall ye up to guard this circle and join us in theseRites, we bid you welcome!"

South: "Through the wand and the fire opal we call up the ancient onesKingDjinn with thy salamanders and Notus the south wind.We do summon stirand call ye up to guard this circle and joinUs in these rites, we bid youwelcome!"

Crossing The Bridge

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West: "Through the cup and the water crystal we call up the ancientonesKing Niska with thy Undines and Zephyrus the west wind. WedoSummon stir and call ye up to guard this circle and join us in theseRites,we bid you welcome!"

North: "Through the earth crystal and the pentacle we call up the ancientOnes King Ghob with thy Gnomes and Borius the north wind, weSummonstir and call ye up to guard this circle and join us in. These rites, we bid youwelcome"

"All Hail! The elements and all hail the Gods! We bid the Lord and Ladywelcome and invite them to join us in these rites that we hold in their honor.Now is the temple erected, let none leave it but with good reason."

To Those I Love And Those Who Loved Me"When I am gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do;you must not tie yourself to me with tears.Be happy we had so many years.

I gave you my love; you can only guess how much you gave me in happiness.I thank you each for the love you have shown. But now its time I travel alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comfortedby trust, Its only for a while that we must part. So bless the memories withinyour heart.

I will not be far away, for life goes on, so if you need me call and I will come.Even if you can not see me or touch me. I will be near and if you listen withyour heart you will hear all my love around you soft and clear.

And then when you must come this way, I will greet you with a smile andwelcome you with love."

[Cover casket or urn with black veil) "As our love one must cross the veiltonight, let us remember them with a few moments of silence."

Crossing The Bridge

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Do Not Weep

"Do not stand at the grave and weep I am not there, I do not sleep.

NOW

I am the thousand winds that blowI am the brilliant flash of pure white snow.

I am the autumn's zephyr breeze lifting, tumbling, golden leaves.

I am the sunlight on ripened wheatI am the spring rains soothing beat.

When you awake in the morning's soft hush I am the sparrow twittering inthe bush.

I am the ray of the sun bringing new hope for the day to be done.

I am the billowing soft white cloud framing the sun in the sky so proud.

I am the tempestuous sea, so deep, so blue tossing its white crested waves forall to view.

I am the raging storm watering, nurturing life in every form.

I am the sight of new risen birds circling in glorious flight.

I am the great oak, so strong, so erect spreading its arms, birds' nest toprotect.

I am the red rose on the bush so lush who brings to cheek of a maid a blush.

I am the scampering autumn leaves among which children laugh with glee.

I am the setting suns red glow bringing the days rests for all that grow.

I am the shooting star, high up yonder causing your mind to reel withwonder.

Crossing The Bridge

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I am the moons ethereal light casting a mantle on earth's sleeping night.

I am the star's twinkle bright lifting you to heavenly heights.

I am the growing children at play a wondrous sight in every way.

I am the wondrous warmth of love from the Gods high above.

I am the newborn pup, nestled to its mother's side bringing fourth all yourlove from deep inside.

I am the high and mighty mountain so majestic, yet still cradled in the earthas though reluctant to depart its place of birth.

I am the eagle, high above the earth seemingly free and easy yet,still tied tomother earth.

I am the young colt so friskily gambolin' who with time will become astompin' stallion.

Now, I am with the Gods of you but by your side to watch over you.

I have been escorted to the Goddess Hecate" by her consort and our GodHerne, there, to be at one with them.

Do not stand at the grave and weepI am not there, I do not sleep.

I have not left, death shall not severI am by your side forever."

[Ring bell 40 times]

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning Welcoming

Crossing The Bridge

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Wiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal RiteWiccaning, Quickening & CroneHandfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & Time

Summerland -Thoughts & Other TraditionsSummerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of DeathReincarnationReincarnation - Edgar Cayce

Crossing The Bridge

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A Life Well LivedSamhain, God Of The Dead?WiccaOpressed PaganGoddess/GodBook of ShadowsAltar & ToolsSabbatsElements & Elementals

Witches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & HistoryMagickal Stones - A to KBurning TimesCandles - Basic InformationAura's & ChakrasAromatherapyPsychic Power?Chants & SongsDivinationDevotionsRunes & OghamMoonsEgyptA Variety Of Information - Just Could Not Find A CategoryCatsAmethyst's Wicca - Links To All My Other Pages

Crossing The Bridge

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Sharing Sorrow

It is through the sharing of our sorrow that we are able to relieve our griefafter those we love pass from this life. And by listening to the stories of thosewho have walked to the gates and let go of the hands so that a beloved couldcross over we learn life lessons on how to remain strong when we face thistask ourselves.

A CROSSING RITUAL

Materials: juniper, bay, yew, alyssum, parsley, basil, rose, rosemary

Cast your circle using rose petals and rosemary sprigs to define it.

Say before the altar:

Sharing Sorrow

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"The wheel of life turns,The cycle of rebirth continues.

Those beyond life,You are remembered today.

Gifts of love and hope,Are offered whole heartedly,

To those we rememberto those we do not,

to all of those we have lost.Dark Lady and Dark Lord,

In your gentle embrace,Our dead you have taken.All thread of life are cut,

All threads are woven anew.May the wheel turn,

And begin the cycle again.We give freely

Juniper for loveYew for rebirthBay for strength

Parsley for cleansingAlyssum for happiness

Basil for peace.May our blessings be received.

You are remembered."

This ritual can be done when a loved one passes. It celebrates rebirth andpassing from one phase of life to the next.

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning Welcoming

Sharing Sorrow

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Wiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal RiteWiccaning, Quickening & CroneHandfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & Time

Summerland -Thoughts & Other TraditionsSummerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of DeathReincarnationReincarnation - Edgar CayceA Life Well Lived

Sharing Sorrow

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Samhain, God Of The Dead?WiccaOpressed PaganGoddess/GodBook of ShadowsAltar & ToolsSabbatsElements & Elementals

Witches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & HistoryMagickal Stones - A to KBurning TimesCandles - Basic InformationAura's & ChakrasAromatherapyPsychic Power?Chants & SongsDivinationDevotionsRunes & OghamMoonsEgyptA Variety Of Information - Just Could Not Find A CategoryCatsAmethyst's Wicca - Links To All My Other Pages

Sharing Sorrow

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Moment Of Death

AT THE MOMENT OF DEATHBy Maphis (Samuel Wagar)

There are two great poles around which the Wiccan religion revolves – Sexand Death. Although we have numerous rituals for marriages and for thecelebrations of the great moments of life, we have none that I am aware offor the final great

Initiation, the moment of death. So I've written one.

Tradition Book of Shadows:Typically those who love a person who is dying will be aware that themoment of their death is approaching, even if the dying person is unaware.Even in the case of sudden accidental death there is an interval where thosewho are with the dying person will be aware of their situation, although theymay not be able to mark the moment of death due to their own pain, fearand grief.So, though this brief ritual may be performed by a loved one of a dyingperson, or by any person, it is more likely to fall under Ministry and to be

Moment Of Death

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performed by a Priestess/Priest visiting the hospital or the home to helpthrough the transition.

I believe that there is some part of a person that survives death, which mayundergo changes in the realm of the Goddess prior to being reborn intoanother body. This part of the person strips off personality and memorymore or less rapidly along with its body but it may need assistance in doingso as death occurs.There is no doubt that the person who is dying is experiencing a variety ofthings, which a death ritual needs to address – the dissolution of personality,the loss of contact with the body, the loss of the family and friends, the fear,the wonder and the awe of this transformation, and the presence of theGoddess and the Ancestors.And those who are with them, their family and friends ideally, areexperiencing terror and confusion, grief, fear at their own mortality. Theywill also experience the coming of Death and the warmth or cool of the soulleaving the body behind. And what the Priestess says will also have to partlyaddress their feelings (although she will have time with them after the deathto comfort them).

THE FORMAL RITUALPriestess: (Takes the hand of the dying persongently, and looks into their eyes, or into their face if the eyes are closed.)"You are dying. None should ever die alone. I am here to share your deathand to journey with you.There is only love, the greatest Mystery. I reachbehind my fear. I open my heart and my eyes in the light of this love.I will goas far on this journey with you as I can. I will not abandon you."She should breath deeply and center herself and enter a state of lighttrance. And she should follow the spirit of they dying person as deeply as shecan."The Goddess is taking you back now, the Great Mother. She will be withthe people left behind, providing strength and comfort. You are notabandoning them.You will leave behind your work. You will give up all of your ties to yourfamily. You will give up sex, and even gender. You cannot be a woman or aman and enter the other world. You will leave behind your body. None whohave bodies can pass into the other world.You will become nothing. You willfloat on the endless waves of the Goddess' womb. You will drift in the warm

Moment Of Death

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emptiness at the center. Nothing will be left but the Will to be reborn."If possible, the Priestess will remain with the dying person until she isdead.At the moment of her death say the following:"Journey on now, sister. We will follow when we can. May you be born againat the same time and in the same place as those you knew and loved in thislife. May you know them again and love them again."And now the Priestess' task must be to comfort the living.

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning WelcomingWiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal RiteWiccaning, Quickening & CroneHandfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style RitualHandpartingBirth & Re-BirthSummerland - An IntroductionSummerland - The Beginning?Summerland - More InformationSummerland & Time

Moment Of Death

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Summerland -Thoughts & Other TraditionsSummerland ComparisonSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralGoddess In The Kingdom Of DeathReincarnationReincarnation - Edgar CayceA Life Well LivedSamhain, God Of The Dead?WiccaOpressed PaganGoddess/GodBook of ShadowsAltar & ToolsSabbatsElements & Elementals

Witches & WitchcraftMagickDream MagickRituals - Various RitualsSpellsCovensSoulDates & History

Moment Of Death

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Goddess In The Kingdom Of Death

In this world, the Goddess is seen in the moon, the light that shines in:darkness, the rain bringer, mover of the tides, Mistress of mysteries. And asthe moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights of its cycle in darkness,so, it is said, the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death.

For in love She ever seeks her other Self, and once, in the winter of the year,when He had disappeared from the green earth, She followed Him and cameat last to the gates beyond which the living do not go.

The Guardian of the Gate challenged Her, and She stripped Herself of herclothing and jewels, for nothing may be brought into that land. For love, Shewas bound as all who enter there must be and brought before Death Himself.

He loved Her, and knelt at her feet, laying before Her his sword and crown,and gave Her the fivefold kiss, and said, "Do not return to the living world,but stay here with Me, and have peace and rest and comfort.

But She answered, "Why do you cause all things I love and delight in to dieand wither away?"

"Lady," He said, "It is the fate of all that lives to die. Everything passes; allfades away. I bring comfort and consolation to those who pass the gates, thatthey may grow young again. But You are my heart's desire-- return not, butstay here with Me."

And She remained with him three days and three nights, and at the end ofthe third night She took up his crown, and it became a circlet that She placedaround her neck, saying: "Here is the circle of rebirth. Through You allpasses out of life, but through Me all may be born again. Everything passes;everything changes. Even death is not eternal. Mine is the mystery of thewomb, that is the cauldron of rebirth. Enter into Me and know Me, and Youwill be free of all fear. For as life is but a journey into death, so death is but apassage back to life, and in Me the circle is ever turning."

Goddess In The Kingdom Of Death

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In love, He entered into Her, and so was reborn into life. Yet is He known asLord of Shadows, the comforter and consoler, opener of the gates, King ofthe Land of Youth, the giver of peace and rest. But She is the graciousmother of all life; from Her all thinXs proceed and to Her they return again.In Her are the mysteries of death and birth; in Her is the fulfillment of alllove.

Goddess & GodGoddessesCeltic Goddess's and God'sCharge of the GoddessCharge of the GodCharge Of The CroneThe Goddess WithinLady's PrayerGoddess PrayerHer StoryGoddess GraceFootprintsTouching Mother EarthA Life Well LivedThe Goddess ShrinesGoddess and Gods CorrespondencesGoddesses NamesAphroditeAradiaArachneArianrhodArtemisAstarteBabalon

Goddess In The Kingdom Of Death

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HistoryHecateHecate - Signs & SymbolsHecate - Short Biography and OfferingsHecate - Her RoleHecate In The Greek PantheonHecate - Biography & Other NamesHecate - Priestesses

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Goddess In The Kingdom Of Death

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Reincarnation

(Portions Taken from Skyhawk's Book - "The Pagan Book of Living andDying")

Death is not a final end. It's simply a part of a wheel that includes rebirth.Death is simply transformation, not termination. In Wicca, we are notstriving to get off the wheel or to get beyond the need for rebirth. Rebirth isthe Goddess's great gift to us, and we embrace it. Despite the emphasis onrebirth, death is still a great loss. Our essence, our Deep Self, is reborn, butour particular personality is wedded to a body, a gender, an ancestry, a lifehistory. That personality will dissolve at death. Lessons we have learned willbecome part of our essential being. But much of what makes us unique inthis life will be gone. This is much like when your personality changesthoughout your living life. Your environment and life challenges can oftenchange your personality. For example, in this life your dignity is beatendown everyday by someone. Your personality is likely to be one of someonethat feels they have no self worth or contribution. Now lets say in your nextlife you are born into a family that loves you very much and appreciates you,only touching you in a loving manner. Your personality in that life is likely tobe one of someone that feels loved, has self worth and tackles the world withtheir head held high.

Suicide

Suicide is not a neutral act: it causes harm to family, partners, and intimatefriends. It is not a solution to problems such as depression or despair; itsimply transfers them to another plane and intensifies the challenges the soulfaces. For these reasons, suicide is strongly discouraged. When someone doescommit suicide, however, we attempt to view the act with the samecompassion we would accord any other mistake. The person is stillconsidered part of our community, entitled to the same spiritual aid,guidance, and rites as anyone else who has died.

Reincarnation

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Crossing Over

When you die, anything that you believe in does exist in the other world; thespirit crossing over goes wherever it expects. If you believe you will go toAvalon and walk with the Goddess beneath her flowering apple trees, thenyou will. You create your own "Heaven" in your mind.If you would like more examples, and a really good movie to watch, *grin* Isuggest you check out "What Dreams May Come" starring Robyn Williams©1998. This movie is the closest thing I've been able to find to these beliefs.

One Wiccans Point of View(Written by Griffonstone) Many people have various opinions on what deathis and what exactly happens to us when we die. I too have an opinion on thisone. I have studied death and dying for the majority of my life and I haveeven experienced a few (yes, a few) near death experiences and out of bodyexperiences. I guess you can say I’ve been there. So I will share what I havelearned in my great adventure that I call life (and death). Well, as you mighthave already guessed, death is by no means the end of everything. It iscertainly not the end of us! In fact, it is only the beginning of our new life, lifeanew, in other words. We are certainly immortal in our souls and this issomething that we must learn to accept as it is something that we cannot just“ignore”. There is no reason to fear death! But, to actively seek out deathwill cause you problems both here and on the other side …more than youcan imagine!

If we so choose, we can either stay on the other side (eternal life on a“higher” plane, that is to say: Heaven, The Happy Hunting Grounds,Nirvana etc.) or we may choose (yes, it is a choice) to reincarnate either backhere on Earth or some other place. I do not feel that we have to worry aboutreincarnating into a slug or something like that but, we will reincarnate intosomeone that will best help us learn and understand what it is we need tolearn or experience at that time. We will know what is needed to be done.There is no Hell or judgment. The multiverse is far too gigantic to worryabout such trivial things. Ever wonder why there is the saying “ you are yourown worse judge?” I think that I will be far harder on myself than anyoneelse I can think of. For those who seem to have no conscious, the laws ofKarma will be very active in your life. I believe that Karma is alive and well

Reincarnation

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in our lives long before we die. Like I said, there is no judgment. We do haveresponsibility and consequence though. Just look around in our world and/oryour own backyard for this one! I believe that life has a great plan andscheme for all of us and we are intimately entwined to it and each other. Weall come from the God and Goddess; we are all their children! We will learnfrom our parents and ourselves. This is another reason for no Hell andjudgment after life. …You can let that one go now! (The whole Hell andjudgment thing). Reincarnation is the God and Goddess’s way of letting usexplore their creations from many different points of view. Our parents wantus to fully understand and enjoy what it is they have created. We can learnmany wondrous (and often difficult) lessons in our development by fullyutilizing their gifts and wonders. Remember, not all wonders are made ofgold; we must accept the bitter with the sweet. The variety is what makes lifeworth experiencing, whether we see it or not.

So, hey, don’t sweat it. We are all in good hands!

Life's Transitions - From Birth To DeathBirthing DedicationThe 13 Wishes - A WiccaningThe NamingWiccaning or PaganingA WiccaningWiccaning WelcomingWiccaning RitualWiccaning - Egyptian RitualMagickal RiteWiccaning, Quickening & CroneHandfasting - BackgroundHandfastingHandfasting RitualHandfasting CeremonyHandfasting Prayer & TraditionsHandfasting RitualHandfasting - Another Style Ritual

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Reincarnation

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Reincarnation - Edgar Cayce

Have We Lived Before? Just what is the nature of humankind? This samequestion, framed in dozens of different approaches, was asked repeatedly ofEdgar Cayce. His answers-insights into our relationship with God, oneanother, and ourselves-have served as a foundation for comparative studiesbetween the East and the West for decades.

From Cayce's perspective, we are not simply physical bodies or even physicalbodies with souls, but are instead spiritual beings who are currently having amaterial experience. As souls, we have manifested in the earth in order tolearn lessons that will enable us to return to our former state of spiritualawareness. At the same time, one purpose we all have in common is to bringthe spirituality of the Creator into the earth. A soul can choose to be borninto either a male or a female body in any given lifetime or, as Cayce calledit, an incarnation. A soul selects that environment (parents and family,location, personal obstacles, etc.) which will best allow for the learning oflessons it needs for completeness. The goal is to fully express love in all thechallenges which physical life offers. One's experiences are subject to thechoices made with free will. As one grows, he or she learns-or ratherremembers-his or her true relationship with God and one's heritage as aspiritual being. With free will, we can turn the challenges life presents to usinto stepping-stones toward growth, or we can see them as obstacles andstumbling blocks. Either way, we reap what we have sown. We constantlymeet the consequences of previous deeds and attitudes.

One frequently misunderstood concept regarding reincarnation has to dowith karma. From the standpoint of the Cayce material, karma is notdestiny; it is only memory. These memories are generally unconscious andinfluence our abilities, our faults, even our relationships with others, butwith free will we can meet this memory as a positive or a negativeexperience. Karma provides us with the potential to learn a lesson we need inorder to grow at a soul level, and free will determines whether or not wechoose to learn it at this time. The choices we make determine the next set of

Reincarnation - Edgar Cayce

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potential experiences we encounter.

Much more than simply a concept that applies to a limited segment of theworld, reincarnation is a philosophy that has-at one time or another-beenembraced by all the major religions of the world. It's a concept that canallow us to have compassion for one another because ultimately we are allequal-there is only one God, and we are all His children. From Cayce'sviewpoint, it doesn't really matter if an individual believes in reincarnationor not. For some it can be a helpful concept, for others confusing. The mainpurpose is to allow individuals to become aware of their true spiritual natureand their ultimate relationship with one another. In fact, if we can think fora moment about the one person in our life whom we love most of all. then wewill get an inkling of the goal of reincarnation: to be able to love every singlesoul, even ourselves, with the very same love.

Adapted from:Edgar Cayce on the Akashic Records

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Reincarnation - Edgar Cayce

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Summerland -Thoughts & Other TraditionsSummerland ComparisonSummerland - A ConceptSummerland - Frequently Asked QuestionsCrossing The BridgeCrossing - A TributeSharing SorrowA Pagan In HellHistory of Funerary CustomsGreen BurialPrayerCrossing The RiverA Generic Pagan FuneralAt The Moment of DeathGoddess In The Kingdom Of Death

Reincarnation - Edgar Cayce

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ReincarnationA Life Well LivedSamhain, God Of The Dead?WiccaOpressed PaganGoddess/GodBook of ShadowsAltar & ToolsSabbats

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Reincarnation - Edgar Cayce

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Amethyst's Wicca - Links To All My Other PagesReincarnation - Edgar Cayce

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