The Oracle of the Witch Craft ( A Year and a Day)

Foreword

It began as perhaps a notion ~ create your own Oracle Deck, as 52 cards, each being one of seven rays, that follow the Deosil (of the sun). And I questioned, because it were in my opinion, simply distraction.
“What is the Meaning and the purpose of this life?” I said to Rumi– my friend in the lucid dreaming world.
“Would you consider, the answer surely lies in madness?” He answered.
” so be it…” I replied, not caring, would the ignorant not want the cause of their darkness.
“That you chase the rainbow until you ascend and witness the rainbow is a circle, forever chasing your tail?”
It were a reply he spoke of many times, that I have heard before, the quest, the grail and the laughter at the finale.
“… it would surely drive me mad, yet also content in that knowledge, but what then is my purpose ?”
” If all is eternal, then the goal is never reached, is not that the purpose, forever expanding and knowing, the goalposts ever are widened?”
It were that, as a donkey chasing a dangling carrot, our purpose is merely to ever wayfare.
” Just because I like to watch a game of football, must you use those metaphors?”
” Indeed, A Game of two halves, each a team of Ten players and one who stands in the Abyss BAdru.”
Yes, again, he symbolises the tree, in many respects I wish I never ventured upon this path, and like my peers chased girls and fortune, fame and drunkenness instead.
” I don’t particularly want to create this oracle deck, I don’t see the point, it’s distraction, I’m content in this eternal path, and if the purpose is ever to endure, i’m ok with that?”
“But,” he said with a wry smile, ” it will be funny, and enjoyable, not ? “
So I begun, it wasn’t funny until we placed at the end, the un-named card, the Joker, the trickster and the Harlequin. Yes, the 52 cards, as each a week, and also, amongst them, the fool, the joker who reigns always for but a day, and is each time discarded.
Are we not that Fool, forever seeking the answer in the quest, when the answer is the act of the quest.

The 52 Articles of Witchcraft

I. The Six Vestments of Power (Apparel): Kether

(Being The Ascent and Investiture of Innanna )

First doth she don the Vestments of the Veil,
The Robe of Nyx, deep-wrought of night and shade,
Whereby the mortal raiment falleth off,
And she is drawn from common earth to shrine.

Then at her waist is bound the shadow’d zone,
The Belt of Binding Shadows, sure and close,
With sash of measure laid in order fair,
The Girdle of Aphrodite seals her form.

Thereon upon her hand is set the Ring,
The Signet of the Arcane Circle bright,
The Ring of Inanna, token, seal, and bond,
Declaring power awaken’d and received.

Next on her breast the ancient honours rest,
Insignia of the Old Ways shining forth,
The Boon of Lakshmi in their grace made known,
By gift and medal is her station mark’d.

Then are the Gems of the Hidden Sphere array’d,
Amber and Jet at throat and bosom laid,
The blood and body of all living Nature,
The Devas’ breath in Necklace of fair Freya.

At last the Crown is set upon her brow,
Gold with Lapis Lapets in splendour join’d,
Diadem of the Hidden Throne sublime,
The Crown of Hera doth complete the rite.

Thus stands she now in consecrated state:
Veil’d, girded, seal’d, adorn’d, and jewel’d bright;
Crown’d in the fullness of appointed grace,
She doth not now become, but simply is.

1. Robe — Vestments of the Veil, Robe of Nyx
2. Girdle — Belt of Binding Shadows and sash of her measure, Girdle of Aphrodite
3. Ring — Signet of the Arcane Circle, Ring of Inanna
4. Gift/Medals — Insignia of the Old Ways adorns the breast, Boon of Lakshmi
5. Jewels — Gems of the Hidden Sphere, Amber and Jet (Blood and Body of Nature/Devas ) Necklace of Freya
6. Crown of Gold and Lapiz Lazuli Lapets— Diadem of the Hidden Throne, Crown of Hera

II. The Three Voices of Aether (Rhythm): Chokmah

For wisdom is as music, we interpret it and can understand it, we flow to its rhythm, stirred by its tide, yet we are not it, Wisdom is Music, it is its own measure to which our footsteps can but offer dance to synchronise, as conduits bring song..

7. Cymbal/ Drum — The Ba and Ka Rite of Summoning, (The Heart/Soul= Akh);, Cymbal of Astarte
8. Sistrum — Ib Rattle of Sacred Rhythm, (The Mind), Sistrum of Tara
9. Bell — Khat Chime of Warding, (The Body), Bell of Mut

III. The Five Beacons of the Unseen (Illumination) The Tools of Senses: Binah.

By Understanding are we pervaders of the manifest, and in flesh we sense by these means.

10. Candle (Sight) — Flame of Knowing, Candle of Lucinda
11. Book (Hearing) — Codex of Secrets, Book of Sophia
12. Thurible (Smell) — Censer of the Veiled Flame, Censer of Hathor
13. Torch (Touch)— Beacon of Shadowed Truths, Torch of Hecate
14. Keys (Taste) — Wardens of the Threshold, Keys of Enodia

0 and XI. The Five Seals of Judgment (Judgement): Va Daath

We cannot enter in therein to bide,
Nor yet tarry with hope to return again,
From knowledge’ s everlasting riddle vast:
Infinity remains the distant mark,
And never may by mortal step be reached;
So are we left with naught save experience,
In which we suffer, or wherein enjoy.

15. Cloth (Cords) — Cords of Measure and Fate, Cords of Lachesis
16. Spinning Wheel — Wheel of Fates, The Wheel of Clotho
17. Scissors — Shears of Severance, Scissors of Atropos
18. The Scales — The Balance of Spirit and Flesh, the Scales of Athena
19. Feather — Quill of Reckoning, Feather of Ma’at

IV. The Five Vessels of Reception and Unification (Passive Tools): Chesed

As The Primal Mother seeks to codify and nurture and bring all things and beings to One….Ever Merging, ever synchronising, She is the Line of Balance.….,

20. Chain (Constrains)— Link of the Ancients, Chain of Lamashtu
21. Urn (Entombs)— Vessel of Ashen Memory, Urn of the Magdalene
22. Besom ( Cleanses )— Broom of Cleansing Winds, Besom of Nineveh
23. Mace (Sanctifies )— Morningstar of Vigilance, Mace of Persephone
24. Stang — (Resonance with Alignment ) Staff of Echoed Calls, Stang of the Elphame Queen

V. The Seven Ways of Artifice and Seperation (Active Tools): Geburah

….So the Primal father seeks distance, to stand above another, and upon that throne of Authority, he proclaims himself king of such kingdom, and yet, also, now sits apart and alone. he is the wavering spirit dancing the pillars, weaving the constant spheres and pillars….

25. Bow and Arrow (Centre – Will)— Longbow of the Shadow Hunt, Bow and Arrow of Diana
26. Scourge (East- Excited )— Flail of Purging, Scourge of Sekhmet
27. Athame (South – Illuminated and Revealed)— Dagger of the Shadow Rite, Athame of Lilith
28. Sickle (West -Divided Cleft and Departed) — Moon’s Fang, Sickle of Kali
29. Scythe (North – Dissolved and Culminated) — Reaper’s Edge, Scythe of Santa Muerte
30. Spear (Up- Released) — Spear of Eldritch Fire, Spear of the Morrigan
31.Sword (Down- Held)— Blade of the Wyrd, Sword of Iusticia

VI. The Four Lenses of Foresight (Illumination): Tiphareth
32. Mirror — Glass of Seeing, Mirror of Medusa
33. Tarot — Cards of Fate, Tarot/Oracle of Isis
34. Sigils\ Runes \ Veve— Symbols of the Hidden Path, Sigils of Erzulie
35. Orb — Crystal of the All-Seeing Veil, Crystal Sphere of Frigg the völva

VII. The Four Relics of the Verdant Way (The Creative Poetic and Philosophical): Netzach

The Path harmonious of the Fauna and the Flora. The Verdant winding stream, unmarked, unsigned and ways of FAe and Wyrrd.
The Craft freed from Set-in-Stone as the Sword belongs to the wayfarer.

36. Pestle and Mortar (Dividing → Dissolving / Transmuting – Solve)— Crusher of Verdant Essences, Pestle and Mortar of Morgan le Fay
37. Salt (Enriching → Consecrating / Vitalizing –Salt)— Crystal of Purity, Blessed Salt of Salacia
38. Sacred Well (Enamouring → Inspiring / Entrancing / Beguiling ) — Fount of Ancient Waters, Sacred Springs of Coventina
39. Cauldron (Merging → Unifying / Harmonizing / Binding – Coagula)— Cauldron of the Verdant Flame, Cauldron of Cerridwen

VIII. The Five Covetous Treasures (The Logical, Analytical and Contemplative): Hod

The path sole of Human: the lucid way of Reason, mark’d and measured, signed and named, by the arts of the Logical, the Analytical, and the Contemplative.
The Craft set in Stone.

40. Effigy ( Submissive) — Idol of Secret Longing, Effigy of Nephthys
41. Fetish ( Dynamic) — Talisman of Desire, Fetish of Pomba Gira
42. Pouch — (Potential ) Bag of Whispered Secrets, ‘Juju’ Pouch of Marie Laveau
43. Casket — (Inhibited ) Chest of Veiled Wonders, Casket of Pandora
44. Relic (Spent )— Remnant of Forgotten Power, Relic of Tiamat

IX. The Four Primal Elemental Tools: Yesod

In humble abodes, less possessions, except the ways upon the feast. each then, coveted, blessed and even humble are the elements of the soul. All we had, in huts of cobb were the very tools of Witchcraft.

45. Boline / White-Handled Knife (Air)— Silver Crescent, Boline of Circe
46. Chalice (Water) — Goblet of the Moon’s Grace, Chalice of Mother Mary
47. Wand / Small Fork (Fire) — Wand of Whispered Will, Wand of Brigid
48. Pentacle (Earth )— Seal of the Fivefold Path, Pentacle — Earth Shield of Gaia

X. The Four Pillars of the Hearth-Flame (Primal Hearth): Malkuth
49. Staff — (The Self – The Actor )Staff of the First Flame, Staff of Demeter
50. Altar — (The Archetype – The Emulation) Stone of Offerings, Altar of Vesta
51. Sacred Circle —(The Liminal Bridge – The Temple/Theatre ) Ring of the Eternal Hearth, Sacred Circle of the Cailleach
52. Pedestal — (The Un-Self – The External to the self, That which is the Duality from which the ‘self’ is Not ) Pillar of Consecration, Pedestal of Nemesis

From the Night where Nyx was born, through the unobtainable Pedestal where the Nemesis is fixed eternal, the wheel of the year….
… And unmarked, unknown the incognito without a name, who dances here and there and everywhere, and always without a care ,reflective, emulating and parodying them all, in Natures thicket peering the manifested world .
0. The Trickster