Using Animal Parts In Ritual

Some Pagans use animal parts in ritual. While this may seem a bit unsavory to some folks, it's really not that uncommon. A good guideline to follow is as follows:

* if your tradition doesn't forbid the use of animal parts, AND
* the parts are gathered humanely and ethically

then there's no reason you can't use them. Let's look at some of the different parts you might want to use.

Thousands of years ago, our ancestors performed rituals and ceremonies. They didn’t have tools ordered from an online catalog or purchased at the Local Wytchy Shoppe. They made do with what they had. For the ancients, many of their tools -- both magical and mundane -- came from the animal kingdom. Few things went to waste. Bones could be turned into anything from a knife to a sewing needle. An antler could be used as a weapon or a farming tool. A horse's bladder might become a pouch to carry herbs. Anything was usable.

In some shamanic traditions, animal parts can be used to connect the practitioner to the animal. One might wear a necklace made of bear claws, a headdress of antlers, or use a fetish of bone and feathers. Some traditions still use these today. Someone wishing to celebrate fertility might use the antlers of a stag, for example. An individual hoping for transformation could perhaps powder a bit of snakeskin for use in a spell. A person who wants to develop their inspiration and creativity might use feathers in a working, and so forth.
Naturally Dropped Items

These are the items that animals discard on their own as part of the natural cycle. Snakes shed their skin regularly. Deer shed antlers after the fall mating season has ended, typically around January through April. A bird may lose feathers as it flies overhead. These are all items that drop on their own naturally, and there is nothing wrong with picking them up and using them.
Items from a Dead Animal

Animals die. It's part of the natural cycle of things. After they've died, sometimes you may find pieces of carcasses lying around. Bones, fur and other parts can be gathered from animal that has died on its own. If you happen to be a Pagan who hunts for food, you may wish to use some of the parts of the animal you've killed. This prevents waste, and allows you to maintain some connection with the animal after death. If you are the one who has made the kill, be sure you have done so in a humane and ethical manner. It's never okay to kill an animal just to use its parts in ritual.
Purifying Animal Parts

It's generally a good idea to offer some sort of thanks to the animal before using the item in ritual. As part of this process, you might want to cleanse or purify the object -- you can use smudging, asperging, or any other method of ritually purifying the item. You can also consecrate it as you would any other magical tool.

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Benjamin Rowe - Comselha An Enochian Macrocosmic Ritual

Shamanistic Glossary

DEITY: A common concept is that of a dual divinity.

A creator who is responsible for the creation of the world and is recognized in religious ritual and prayers. A mythical individual, a hero or trickster who teaches culture, proper behavior and provides sustenance to the tribe. There are also spirits which control the weather, spirits which interact with humans, and others who inhabit the underworld. Simultaneously, the Creator and the spirits may be perceived as a single spiritual force, as in the unity called Wakan Tanks by the Lakuta and Dakota.

CREATION: In the beginning, the world was populated by many people. Most were subsequently transformed into animals, thus feeling a close bond with animals. Natives, because of their shared human ancestry. Dogs are excluded from this relationship. This bond is shown in the frequent rituals in which animal behavior is simulated. Each species has its deer who is larger than all the others. Master, for example. The deer have a master. The master of humans is the Creator.

EMERGENCE OF THE TRIBE: This is a concept found extensively in the Southwest. The universe is believed to consist of many dark, underground layers through which the humans had to climb. They emerged into the present world through a small hole in the ground - the world's navel.

SACRED TEXTS: Native traditions have been preserved as an oral tradition, not in written form. As a result, traditions are often updated and changed as a result of dreams and visions.

AFTERLIFE: In general, native religions have no precise belief about life after death. Some believe in reincarnation, with a person being reborn either as a human or animal after death. Others believe that humans return as ghosts, or that people go to another would. Others believe that nothing definitely can be known about one's fate after this life. Combinations of belief are common.

COSMOLOGY: The universe is understood as being composed of multiple layers, with the natural world as a middle segment. These layers are thought to be linked by the World Tree, which has it's roots in the undergrounds, has a trunk passing through the natural world, and has it's top in the sky world.

SHAMANS: Spirits may be encouraged to occupy the Shaman's body during public lodge ceremonies. Drum beating and chanting aid this process. The spirits are then asked to depart and perform the needed acts. Other times, Shamans enter into a trance and traverse the underworld or go great distances in this world to seek lost possessions or healing.

VISION QUEST: Young boys before or at puberty, are encouraged to enter into a period of fasting, meditation and physical challenge. Girls are not usually eligible for a quest. The boy separates himself from the tribe and goes to a wilderness area. The goal is to receive a vision that will guide his development for the rest of his life. They also seek to acquire a guardian spirit who will be close and supportive for their lifetime.

RENEWAL CELEBRATIONS: The Sun Dance amongst the Plains Natives is perceived as a replay of the original creation. Its name is a mistranslation of the Lakota sun gazing dance. Other tribes use different names. It fulfilled many religious purposes to give thanks to the creator, to pray for the renewal of the people and earth, to promote health, etc. It also gave an opportunity for people to socialize and renew friendships with other groups. A sweat lodge purifies the participants and readies them for lengthy fasting and dancing. It was successfully suppressed in most tribes by the Governments of the US and Canada. However, it survived elsewhere and is now being increasingly celebrated.

SWEAT LODGE: This is a ritual of purification, of spiritual renewal and of healing. It is sometimes used to educate the youth in Native traditions. A sweat lodge is typically a small structure made of a frame of saplings, covered with skins, canvas or blankets. A depression is dug in the center into which hot rocks are positioned. Water is thrown on the rocks to create steam. A small flap opening is used to regulate the temperature. As many as a dozen people can be accommodated in some lodges.

HUNTING CEREMONIES: These involve the ritual treatment of a bear or other animal after its killing during a successful hunt. The goal is to appease its spirit and convince other animals to be willing to be killed in the future.

PROPHETS: The Abramic Religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) trace their development through a series of patriarchs and prophets. Native religions do not have corresponding ancient revered persons in their background. There have been a few prophets among the Natives, the most famous being Handsome Lade in the Iroquois confederacy. However, they appeared after the European invasion.

TRADITIONAL HOUSING: There were many variations across North America conical wigwams or tipis, long houses, and cliff dwellings. The shape of the structure often represents a model of the cosmos.

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Shaman Saiva And Sufi

Book: Shaman Saiva And Sufi by Ro Winstedt

THis book is the outcome of a close study of the language and beliefs of the Malays during a period of residence in the Malay Peninsula that has now reached twenty?two years. Its object is to unravel a complex system of magic in the light of historical and Comparative data. By itself this system is a tangle every thread of which scholars working in Europe are led to term Malay, although even the native distinguishes this thread as Indian and that as Muslim. Chapters i.?iv. deal with the Malay's evolution from animist to Muslim; chapters v. and vi. with his animism; chapters vii. and viii. with his shamanism; chapter ix. with rites largely infected with Hindu magic; and chapters x. and xi. with Muslim accretions. Like all writers on this subject I am indebted to the classical works of Tylor, Frazer, and Jevons, and particularly to the articles by specialists on the magic of different races and faith in Hastings' Encyclopaedia
of Religion and Ethics. Working far away from an adequate library, I have found this Encyclopaedia of incalculable value.

Chapters iv., vi. and viii. are based almost entirely on manuscripts written down for me by Malays and checked by my own observation. The chapter on "Magician and Muslim" is founded on Malay lithographed texts and on a Manuscript magic religious treatise obtained by Dr. Gimlette in Kelantan and kindly lent by him to me. The same manuscript and an old Perak court charm book have been used for the chapters on "The Malay Charm" and "Magician and Mystic." Papers on Malay charms, on birth and marriage ceremonies, on the ritual of the rice field and the ritual of propitiating the spirits of a district have appeared from my pen in the Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums, and should be in the hands of those who wish to study original sources and vernacular terms. I owe a debt to the authors of many articles printed in the Straits (now Malayan) Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, to Dr. Gimlette's Malay Poisons and Charms, to Fasciculi Malayenses by Messrs. Annandale & Robinson, and above all to that assiduous collector, Mr. W. W. Skeat, the author of Malay Magic. Not to burden my pages with footnotes I give detailed References and authorities for each chapter in an appendix. I would remind Malay readers that every race has its lumber room of magical beliefs and practices, and many such survivals are gracious and beautiful and full of historical interest. It is to be hoped that the rapid influx of modern ideas will not wash away too many of the landmarks of their complex and ancient civilisation.

I have to thank Mr. C. O. Blagden, Reader in Malay at the School of Oriental Studies, London, and Che' Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad of the Sultan Idris College, Perak, for reading this work in manuscript; the former has made many useful suggestions and the latter given me valuable material. SINGAPORE,1924.

Download Ro Winstedt's eBook: Shaman Saiva And Sufi

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Ro Winstedt - Shaman Saiva And Sufi

Plant Spirit Medicine The Healing Power Of Plants

Book: Plant Spirit Medicine The Healing Power Of Plants by Eliot Cowan

Traditional healers use plants in their techniques; but Cowan learned that leaves and plant parts are relatively ineffectual: he maintains that it's the spirit of a plant that does the actual healing. Cowan contacts these spirits and asks for their help: his different herbal remedy method is imparted to readers, here.

This book is an accessible, sincere and inspired guide for anyone who is curious about how to recover the human's innate ability to be in communication with the non-human world - which apparently just awaits our intention to do so. Eliot Cowan shares his own fascinating journey of discovery in a way that also offers to the reader ideas for how to do the same. His message is not, "look at me, I have special abilities," but "look into yourself and see what is there just waiting to be revived." The disastrous psychological, ecological and spiritual situation humans find themselves in as a result of having stopped engaging in "the great conversation" with nature, as author Thomas Berry puts it, can begin to heal if we try hard, now, to apply ourselves to the wisdom available in such books as Plant Spirit Medicine. We have a responsibility to read and utilize such information as Eliot Cowan makes available here.

Trained as an acupuncturist, Eliot blended his skill in 5 element methodology, herbalism, and basic shamanism to create a gentle, non-invasive way to restore harmony in the mind, body, and spirit. Plant Spirit Medicine is the ability to see beyond a persons symptoms to the real cause of the disease, where the person is out of balance. Balance in 5 element methodology is the relationship of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood from the viewpoint of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Though to deep to explain here, Eliot dedicates a chapter to each element and well as specifics on plants and how to contact them and the healing power of dreams. My favorite part of the book is Eliot's frank portrayal of his teachers and experiences during his apprenticeship in the Huichol ways as well as "talking shop" with other shamans and plant healers.

Buy Eliot Cowan's book: Plant Spirit Medicine The Healing Power Of Plants

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Animal Allies

As humans, we each have one or more animal guardians that have come to us at the time of our births to protect us, whether we are conscious of it or not. Generally, these guardians, or power animals, are our spirit allies that have volunteered to do us service. Their job is to keep us healthy-physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. A person may have many different Power Animals during his or her life. These animal beings may be any type of animal: of the Earth, of the Sea, of the Air, extinct in this realm, seemingly
"mythological" etc., though they generally are not insects or domesticated animals. Though a power animal can have a distinct gender, age and personality, it is representative of the entire genus or species. For example, if your animal guardian happens to be Bear, the spiritual power and guidance comes not only from that one specific bear, but from the entire genus or species of Bear. Also, there is no hierarchy of power animals. No particular animal is more power-full or more beneficial than another.

Power Animals are only helpful and never bring harm, no matter how fiercely they may present themselves. They are here to help us. Though your animal ally is available to help you in times of crisis, illness and/or danger, they can also offer guidance and support in your day-to-day life. Power animals often awaken our creativity as well as the ability to perceive the beauty and magic that surrounds us. Shamans may call upon their power animal(s) for many reasons: in the diagnosis of an illness, to assist the shaman in Spiritual Journeys through other realms of reality, to bring power to a ceremony or to provide needed information and teaching.

Calling upon your animal can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. However, the most important ingredient is your intent and focus. You can call out with your voice or quietly in your heart. You can simply repeat its name or recite many beautiful words of welcome. Whatever you do, be sincere and not frivolous in your request. There is a story of a poor Tibetan man that spent much of his day turning the prayer wheels of a monastery as he circled the complex repeating the prayers of a certain female deity. From the monastery, the monks could see that as the man prayed, the deity followed behind him. One day, a monk overheard the man's prayers. Realizing the man had some of words wrong, he promptly corrected him. The next day, the monks saw the man as usual but no longer did the deity follow behind. Acknowledging the error, the monk returned to the man and instructed him to recite his prayers as before. Because, though the man now said the correct words, his heart was no longer in it.

In building a relationship with your power animal, it is also beneficial and important to often honor your animal in some way. Once again, this can be as simple or elaborate as you want. In general, gifting the animal with your attention is a way to honor and respect it. The simple act of silently greeting your animal in the morning as you wake and, for a few moments, opening yourself to being receptive to any information your animal may have for you can be a transformative experience. Giving thanks to the animal for Big Dreams you may have, drawing or creating images of the animal as well as physically exercising your animal by inviting it into your body as you hike or swim are also ways to honor your animal guardian. In this way, the power animal has the pleasure of experiencing the material world. It is important that the animal feel welcome and appreciated. Shamans often honor their animal allies by singing of the animal and\or inviting the animal into their body and dancing the animal. This is not mere imitation, but transformation.

So, how can you know if you have a power animal and what it may be? I invite you to look about your home. Are there pictures or figures of a particular animal that occur throughout your home that you feel an emotional connection to? Is there an animal that comes to you in dreams or meditations that provides you with guidance or answers to questions? These are valuable observations and worth Investigating further. All things are significant in some way. One way a shaman can discover whether or not an individual currently has the help of a particular guardian animal is to undertake a spiritual journey into non-ordinary reality, and ask the spirits.

How They Communicate With Us

In ancient times, there was unity between the animal beings and the human beings. We conversed freely and easily with one another. Now, however, this unity is lost in this physical world of limitation. Though the shaman is able to journey to realms where this unity continues, it is important for all to be aware of when an animal ally is communicating with us and what information they are bringing.

Power animals are not the only animals that can and do communicate with us. Any animal can bring us a teaching at any time. An animal may come for an extended period of time to help us with a particular issue, or it may appear only to bring a timely message or teaching and then be gone. Most helpful in building relations with the animal beings and opening yourself to their assistance, is to see them as sacred beings worthy of your attention and respect, rather than viewing them as objects, inferior, or stupid.

There are some practical steps you can take in learning to understand an animal's message. Observe the animal. What does it look like? How is it moving? How is it relating to its environment? Perhaps most importantly, how are you feeling as you observe the animal? What thoughts or memories are you having? Where is your attention drawn? Often, animals will attract our attention in some way before they offer us the message. Be patient. Use all of your senses. Silently ask the animal what it has for you and then be receptive to what comes to fill the space after your question. Some people worry that they are 'making up' the information. It is possible that in that moment you may fill the space with mind chatter rather than hearing any message the animal has for you. Even so, this is also an important message to you. Perhaps it is a teaching about the importance of truly listening to others, or perhaps an awareness that your mental chatter is blocking you in some way. There is no pretend, all things are significant and meaningful. Sometimes all that is needed is a view from a different perspective.

There are books available that can help in deciphering the message or gifts of a particular animal. Some of these books are quite insightful. Above all, pay attention to how the visit from the animal felt to you. For example, if you were to search in a book for the meaning of a visit by Bee, you may learn about the importance of productivity or the value of community. However, Bee came to me with some unexpected information, information that I'd not seen in any book. During a time when I was doing research on the nature of prayer, I was approached by Bee during one of my journeys. She told me that all Bees live their life as a prayer. She went on to share with me much information about prayer and how to pray. Recently, during a time of loss, I was again visited by Bee. She asked that I ask the Bees to pray for me and also to go out into my gardens. Sitting beneath the Spring blooming trees, my attention was drawn to a loud humming. I looked up to see a cloud of Bumble Bees among the branches of the trees. I began to hum along with them and felt a peace settle over me. For months after that day, I encountered Bees in the most unlikely places. Reminders for me that they continued to pray, and also that I was not alone. Neither are you.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Sepharial - A Manual Of Occultism
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Cat Blessing

You will need :
Gold candle(For the God/dess)
A cat figure candle for each cat ( or just a white one)
Catnip Toy (homemade is best)
Incense/smudge and,
of course, your cat.

Light the incense/smudge and place the candles in the center of the altar. Cast your circle. Light the gold candle and invoke the Horned God:

"O Great Horned God, keeper of all things wild, I invoke thee, and invite thee, into this circle."

Light the cat / white candle and then, holding your cat, kneel before the altar
and recite the following prayer:

"O Great Horned God,
Father of the woodlands
And loving lord of all creatures
That walk crawl, swim and fly
A Threefold blessing I humbly ask
Of thee on this special day:
May this cat's life be a long
Happy and healthy one.
May she/he always receive
Your divine protection.
And when our incarnations
In this world cease to be
May we forever be reunited
In the great Pagan otherworld
Known as the Summerland.
Blessed be!"

After the blessing has been recited, gaze into the flame of the gold candle and chant three times the name of your cat with the words "Blessed Be". End with the burning of a sweet incense like Sweetgrass to please the spirits. You can also cleanse & consecrate a collar for your cat, if you would like him/her cat to wear one, you can add a pentacle as well.

Kiss your kitty and set him/her down, Present your cat with the Catnip toy, you can make one easily by adding drip Catnip to an old stocking and tying off. This Catnip offering will create a Psychic bond between you & your cat. You can also burn some Catnip and watch how CRAZY your cat gets (good crazy). Give thanks to the Horned God in your own way and close the circle.

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Order Of The Golden Dawn - Enochian Tablet Of Union
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Cat Dream Interpretations

To dream of a black cat is lucky.
To dream of a tortoiseshell cat means luck in love.
To dream of a ginger cat means luck in money and business.
To dream of a white cat means luck in, spiritual matters, divination and spell-craft.
To dream of a black-and-white cat means luck with children; or the birth of a child.
To dream of a tabby cat means luck for the home and all who live there.
To dream of a gray cat means to be guided by your dreams.
To dream of a calico or multi-colored cat means luck with new Friends and old ones.
A dream of two cats fighting means illness or a quarrel.

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John Gadbury - The Doctrine Of Horary Questions
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