The Western Gate

The Witches Oracle.|
The Staff.

Foreword: Example of Interpretation to a random card of personal “Witchcraft Oracle” deck (as introduced here. )

The Staff is the Upright self, that which supports and that which makes steady. It stands as ones self in the present condition. It is the Axis Mundi between the Earth and the ‘heaven’, though in traditional craft it is the link between ‘us’ and Nature, It is the Being of balance. The liminal bridge.

The Staff represents, if I may be bold, one of the four ‘temple’ articles. The other three being the Pedestal, the Altar and the Sacred Circle. These are the four articles at the root of the witches temple. viz;- The floor, the table, the window, the self.
The floor is the pedestal, upon which we stand, the table is the altar upon which we place offerings, the window is the altar as we see that which exists outside of our boundary, and the Staff which supports our frame is a reflection of us, it is the Totem of the witch, The Regent.

The Staff card denotes all the aspects of how we are seen, “I am that I am, I will be that I will be, I am that witch I am”.
Demeter is strong and fixed, the staff likewise.
She stands in posture both vulnerable and nonchalant, unguarded grace. Her clothing is bare minimal and yet sufficient, she wears a crown made from the flora of each of the four seasons, and is the Regent of Nature.

In the theatre of the witches dance, the Staff is reflective of Demeter, the Staff IS Demeter, to refer to workings we need not talk of the Staff, but can merely state ‘Demeter’ as a pseudonym. “Demeter assist me in this endeavour”.

The Staff should be of length exact of the person, from heel to top of head. This measure is your Stature. NO Sacred circle should have a radius larger than this stature.

The material used for the staff is traditionally Holly for works of a liminal nature, or if the witch is to work wholly in the service of light and healing then Oak.
Other woods are offered, the budding wood of Almond, The Mountain Ash (Rowan) particular in the highlands where the temple is situated with a view aplenty.
Any wood familiar to the host then is adequate.

The woods as discussed by the Ogham often referenced;-
Birch: Dec 24th – Jan 20th | Rowan: Jan 21st – Feb 17th | Ash: Feb 18th – Mar 17th | Alder: Mar 18th – Apr 14th | Willow: Apr 15th – May 12th | Hawthorn: May 13th – June 9th | Oak: Jun 10th – Jul 7th | Holly: Jul 8th – Aug 4th | Hazel: Aug 5th – Sept 1st | Vine: Sept 2nd – Sept 29th | Ivy: Sept 30th – Oct 27th | Reed: Oct 28th – Nov 23rd | Elder: Nov 24th – Dec 23rd.

However caution should be heeded with reference to too much reliance on A.N.others interpretation, for instance the following is purely speculative drawing from the Norse tradition;-
Fehu (ᚠ – Cattle/Wealth): Birch – renewal, abundance, fertility; birch often marks beginnings.
Uruz (ᚢ – Aurochs/Strength): Oak – strength, endurance, grounded vitality.
Thurisaz (ᚦ – Thorn/Giant): Hawthorn – protective, thorny defense; guardian energy.
Ansuz (ᚨ – God/Odin): Ash – Yggdrasil’s tree; wisdom, divine inspiration.
Raidho (ᚱ – Journey/Wheel): Rowan – guidance, protection on journeys, connection to destiny.
Kenaz (ᚲ – Torch/Knowledge): Pine – illumination, creativity, clarity through fire and light.
Gebo (ᚷ – Gift): Apple – harmony, exchange, love, and generosity.
Wunjo (ᚹ – Joy/Bliss): Elm – contentment, harmony, supportive community.
Hagalaz (ᚺ – Hail/Disruption): Blackthorn – transformation through challenge; the storm before renewal.
Nauthiz (ᚾ – Need/Constraint): Alder – resilience in adversity, endurance, sacrifice.
Isa (ᛁ – Ice/Stillness): Aspen – clarity, reflection, patience during stasis.
Jera (ᛃ – Year/Harvest): Hazel – cycles, wisdom, reward for patient effort.
Eihwaz (ᛇ – Yew/Axis): Yew – death and rebirth, immortality, the world axis itself.
Perthro (ᛈ – Fate/Mystery): Willow – intuition, moon magic, secrets, feminine wisdom.
Algiz (ᛉ – Elk/Protection): Holly – defense, guardianship, sacred courage.
Sowilo (ᛋ – Sun): Laurel – victory, illumination, divine guidance.
Tiwaz (ᛏ – Tyr/Justice): Ash – integrity, sacrifice, cosmic order.
Berkano (ᛒ – Birch/Birth): Birch – birth, growth, nurturing.
Ehwaz (ᛖ – Horse/Movement): Hazel – partnership, communication, adaptive wisdom.
Mannaz (ᛗ – Man/Self): Beech – knowledge, self-awareness, human learning.
Laguz (ᛚ – Water/Flow): Willow – emotional depth, intuition, adaptability.
Ingwaz (ᛜ – Seed/Fertility): Apple – potential, creation, fruitfulness.
Dagaz (ᛞ – Day/Awakening): Maple – transformation, clarity, enlightenment.
Othala (ᛟ – Heritage/Home): Elm – roots, ancestry, sacred inheritance.

Thus !¬ The Staff, in main should be either Holly adorned with Ivy, Or Oak adorned with mistletoe.

Before Use !
The Staff should be stripped and cleaned as if indeed it were the person to whom it belonged, the care and attention of funerary rites coupled with the dressing of a gallant prince/ess. Any protrusion of ‘green’ and particularly buds should be left, these being ‘the old self’ which always progresses to the present.

It should be furnished however proud or modest the user wishes to reflect them. Ribbons, leather from old worn shoes/boots cut into strips and tied around it, handkerchiefs or clothing.

Etchings, sigils, animal familars, runes should be carved and either painted or firebranded.

At the base, blood soaked cloth of the host should be inserted into a carefully bored out hole, the hole never bigger than half the diameter of the staff’s base and preferably only one quarter. Also on parchment should be the witches own personal sigil, or glyph representing them, this also inserted into the borehole, it may be charged by the witches own vital fluids, ejaculate, spit, or blood or all three. The Hole is then sealed with sealing wax.

Brief Outline of card interpretation.

For the purposes of illustration I have used the five card plus cross spread
(See illustration below)

If the Staff is revealed as a significator card, the Staff introduces the self. The main concern of the reading. Stubborn, unmoving, stoic.

If the Staff is revealed as a negator, it shows the self is the root of its problem, unlistening, unmoving and too proud.

If the Staff is revealed as a positive influence, it shows the wisdom and knowledge of the self is to be applied to the concerns revealed. It shows the answers and assistance lie in oneself.

If the Staff is revealed as a Crown influence, you are the main influence, this is not necessarily always good, but all below revolve around your presence and influence.

If the Staff is revealed as a base influence, it shows your past, your previous actions are tantamount to the issue, there could be reason of trauma, or regret, it could be your past experience or knowledge is at the foundation of the issue revealed.

And in a five card spread, to cross the significant, The self must cross the significant issue, the significator the bridge, the self the passenger, it is the challenge of Little John.

1. Significator; 2. Negator; 3. Positive; 4; Crown Influence; 5; Base influence; 6, Polarity/Deflector
   

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The next card discussed, will be The Stang (of the Elphame Queen) or, Moonpole