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StuffCoven of Cythrawl
POSTINGS
(Number 53)
"My thoughts on The Group" = My answer Armon
Greetings One and All,
There are some new faces on the block and I'd like to take this time
to welcome everyone thanks for joining us.
Armon asked a good question recently and I guess it is time to
attempt to answer it in the best way that I can. He asked if I could
renew the vision of the Research group as well as its structure, so
that everyone might understand where they all stand in this
particular organization, (i.e. firstly perhaps what function this
mailing list plays?) And then what of the other covens that work
alongside the research group? Finally, answering if there is a
central committee at all overseeing the development of this very
newly awakened "current" or belief structure in this region?
Well, I guess I'll start with the last, first. At the present, there
is no one body or committee, or anything else actually, that is
overseeing or even attempting to bond any groups that might be out
there/here in Asia. There are now a few groups that have been formed
in the last few years, but appear to be very loosely structured and
perhaps with no official background. However, in saying that, I'm
quick to point out that it is not always necessary to have any
structured background in any belief, spiritual group, or religion.
After all it's what's inside that counts and the journey that
matters. Everyone must start somewhere and especially in Asia, you
are not about to constantly run into any officially hived groups
operating here, except ours for now I guess.
Actually, I'm hoping that rather butt heads with other groups, like
they appear to do in the States, we could and perhaps should form a
symbiosis together, so that we may learn and grow together, while
each continues to practice their own following or faith. There is no
hierarchy in true Wicca and eclectic groups can flourish on their own
very well, but perhaps by being in contact with each other, there is
a chance of forming an overall coalition, so to speak, where we can
look after one another in the face of any adversity that might happen
along in the future and also help in various chats, or even meetings
we could discuss various points to do with Paganism in the general
sense. This would help everyone and make the whole stronger, rather
than weaker causing a possible resultant disillusionment and
confusion to the newest of our followers of Paganism.
There used to be a hierarchy within High Magick, when I knew of it in
England, but my time spent with it was very short indeed and was only
undertaken for the deep interest I had in all things occult in those
days, (as did every other Pagan or Occultist). It was a desire to
learn as much as was possible. Various hierarchies were formed in
England, actually as far back as Levi and then Mathers and Crowley
and so on, to the modern day. These groups still command great
secrecy, both in members and grimoirs.
Paganism and Wicca in general has on the other hand flourished and
come out of its former secret shell, especially since the printing
of "so-called "expose" books during the last twenty years
"breaking
the silence" so to speak.
I have been running covens here since a little before 1986 and as you
all well know, have recently decided to open up a little, because of
the growing interest here. However, a little background might help
in understanding the whole picture. Are you sitting comfortably,
then I'll begin.......
Anyway, I hail from the Isle of Man and left home many years ago to
travel the world. It was my Nanna who initially taught me most of
the old Celtic ways. She never openly professed to be a witch, just
that she was practiced in some of the Old Ways she said, and when
alone with me used to sing me old Celtic and other strange songs and
tell tales of the old religion and its mystical ways and never
stopped teaching me more as I got older, until she died at the age of
98.
She once introduced me to a strange looking, extremely animated old
man called Gerald Gardner, who had a small cottage on the Island, but
I was really too young to know, or even care at that time too much.
I later learned of who he was and heard he had bought a witch museum
in Castletown from an old man called Cecil (something), who had had
that place since anyone could remember and Gardner's addition of his
own weapon collection was really cool. In those younger days, I was
growing more interested in the Eastern traditions and anything to do
with the Occult in any place and read everything I could lay my hands
on, (little as it was then). Anyway, having finally left home and
started on my travels, still fiercely interested in the Occult, I
joined the roundabout of going with the flow, so to speak, and
tasting a bit of this and a bit of that, eventually I was first
introduced and subsequently initiated in 1968 in Shropshire by a High
Priestess named Electra.
I guess you could say my next big event, (although I really didn't
know it at the time) was when my friend and Brother took me to
somewhere in Nottinghill Gate in London to see Alex Sanders. We had
been told that he held little gatherings there on Tuesdays and
Thursdays for people interested in Witchcraft and off we went to
learn as much and as often as we could. I still feel that the whole
subject was looked upon and taken very differently in those days;
than today, (where it has gone sort of fluffy to coin a phrase),
not to say that that is not correct at all, just different from my
time and I suppose one adjusts over time in greeting the new
fraternity.
Getting back to Singapore, (before I loose track and you all fall
asleep), we had started forming a Coven in late 1985 with some
initiated expatriates here in Singapore and eventually brought in two
Singaporean couples, both Chinese, into the group. This maintained
my longing for the old country and practices, although I still loved
it over here, but it kept me close to a view of the world that I have
always hankered after and followed wherever I traveled. They alas
went back to their own countries eventually and the two Singaporeans
couples emigrated to Canada and Australia. Alone again.
Over the years, we started again, but quietly and only a handful, but
still, oh so nice. It was in fact, eventually pressure from other
friends and expatriates either living in Singapore, or locals having
been born here that were desperately looking for an outlet into the
Old Ways over here, that I opened up the secrecy (whatever that is) a
little more here and put a web site up. I felt that having been
operating for over 20 years very quietly, it was a big step to
actually go "so public" so to speak. I've explained to everyone
already why and have said it on the site and I feel very strongly
that no one should mess around with someone else's mind and
spiritualism, if they don't know themselves what they are talking
about, or what they are really doing. It is not about money either!
(We do not charge for anything [except in helping people buy craft
items from abroad] and in fact, I'm the one always out of pocket, but
we try and share expenses when possible).
But in fact, as I've always said, it did take a lot of deciding to
put this page on the net in the first place and risk possible
ridicule perhaps, but then Asians deep down, are as prone, if not
more so, in believing in spiritual matters and magick than Europeans
are, so we decided to go ahead and the response has been unbelievably
good; in fact too good, as the mail alone takes hours to answer. I
then seemed to be in over my head. The work is phenomenal in just
organization and answering questions and teaching the new coven and
organizing in the other, knowing also that I myself am really only a
simple seeker, still seeking upon a path that is life within life
itself.
So many more people here then started to write in about other Western
and Eastern Practices, so I decided to widen the site view-point a
little, to give a wider perspective, per se, and perhaps offer a
broader foundation for people who were genuinely interested, instead
of them simply drifting away through lack of response and which
actually might have lead to a little loss of my own way recently,
because of its diversity and my attempting to point the way in a
labyrinth of information and apparent disinformation.
Of course in attempting to answer so much email which is so very time
consuming and basically hard work, (as you must well imagine), the
ideal answer was to form the chat group to ease the burden somewhat.
I then thought about bringing my site back to purely Wicca, wishing
that I had a greater knowledge about the other paths to impart to
these people who were still interested. I didn't want to let them
down and where else were they going to go here?
I eventually ended up with a site that sorta' lays in the middle for
all interested people in general. Many here, (like me I guess) have
been drawn to the old religions in their many guises, including
Indian pantheons, Taoist magick, Druidism and of course Wicca and
happily operate as solitary practitioners, or perhaps now in even
hoping to join some new groups or the Covens eventually. While
others become interested, but remain only in chat groups. If they
are happy with that, it is fine and good, but as in anything of this
nature, some definitive and correct teaching is absolutely necessary
to prevent unfortunate circumstances arising in ritual or practice
and facts being distorted in constant merry-go-rounds of dialogue!!
The Coven of Cythrawl Research Group idea came about because as I
mentioned, so many people were interested in various occult practices
from around the world, I thought it might be a good idea to get those
particular guys together and discuss the real from the bogus hocus
pocus rubbish that proliferates today. It's slowly coming together,
albeit in a roundabout manner. I maintain very strict control of
Coven entry though and only have a few that have lasted `the walk
before the run' and who come through with the "right" viewpoint and
spiritual yearning, and the rest join in the Research Group and chat
group or perhaps can learn to wait. Even now the new Coven needs its
little booty kicked to get them all more serious, responsible,
accountable and certainly more dependable.
I've already said and written this next story to everyone, but I'll
repeat here as I'm on a roll. Initially, after leaving home, having
been brought up to understand the Old Ways, I have lived in many
places around the world as I was chasing my Doctorate in Psychology
at the time, where I also was always delving into the regional
magickal practices and spiritual aspirations and beliefs as a great
passion of mine, very often living with a tribe such as in Brazil
when miles up the river, learning the Shaman's way of that tribe
well trying to. To the other extremes of witnessing the voodoo of
South America, the south sea islands, Africa and even of New
Orleans. Egypt was wonderful and very different, as was India, and
so the journeys went on, and on, constantly learning and seeking,
until I eventually arrived in Asia and decided to stay. In Sarawak,
I lived with the local tribes and `sang for my supper' teaching
English and then studied Chinese belief and their various practices
along with the language. I felt very much at home here and saw for
the first time all the things I had read in awe about since a boy,
although I try get back to Britain as often as I can simply reveling
in the beauty of the countryside and the `Way' that lives in my heart.
I'm sure there are other people out there (here) who also have had
similar experiences and have learned systems and philosophies from
around the world who might also like to share it on chat groups, such
as the one forming now in Yahoo.
So this my friends was the idea behind the Research Group; to share
knowledge where we can, and discuss and research together anything
that we might find interesting, totally outside of the Covens and
Wicca; keeping them separate. The powers are out there and inside,
just waiting to be rediscovered along with spiritual growth.
The ultimate aim is forming groups with the people that appear to
gravitate towards each other in similar beliefs, symbiosis and/or
aspirations.
As this research group is still in its very early stages, there has
not been any definitive organization as yet, excepting for the
opening up of the Chat Group, (not counting the active Covens) and we
are definitely at the start of the journey, but then again, it's the
journey that counts isn't it?
So Armon, in a round about manner I've tried to express my innermost
desires for the future and what prompted the actions so far in
forming this loosely knit group, to give you an idea of where I come
from, but I'm weighing under with the work it takes to keep it all
going. I don't want to burn out and feel that if the group can
maintain equilibrium and keep its steady growth and chats, it will
eventually result in physical meetings and from there, it is a short
hop-skip-and-jump to expand eventually into working groups that may
actually even start to `practice' their chosen path. However, we can
also all benefit from the results of various workings and researching
and perhaps we can share that with other groups in Singapore. After
all they are our brothers and sisters in a Pagan sort of way and
that's what friends are for
.
How to keep momentum? Well, I guess that has to come from within the
heart of the group and just speak out and to hell with it. Keep
talking until you bore yourself to tears, or get something achieved
and then, which is what I really wanted to happen, start to meet in
the physical realm and take it from there.
As you're in Malaysia Armon, you have a couple of choices too. Get a
Malaysian group going as well and we can expand and interact
together, and anyway for sure, keep chatting as I love your questions
and your explanations when offered to the group. You can always join
us when visiting here of course (perhaps vice versa) and you would be
more that welcome here. However, you can also help in getting the
guys to start with expanding and pushing everyone for one small
meeting perhaps, remembering a journey of a thousand miles takes
but `the will' to take the first step.
As I keep saying, I am however, still receiving hundreds of emails,
not just from this group, but from the 400 odd members of the OAM
around the world, of which I am the Chief Instructor and that take
literally hours to answer properly, and I hope that more and more of
our members will be able to help out assisting in the expansion of
our group here eventually. The group's organization will come about
when everyone comes up with an idea on how to work and a decision of
what you all want. It is after all, your group!
Perhaps an answer on how to start is to firstly ask everyone within
the group, (excepting the Wiccan, as we already know their path), to
what they personally would like to see and where their own footsteps
are tending to take them at this present time, (knowing that maybe
those paths will twist and turn, as life's journey continues on).
What practices would everyone like to develop and practice and has
anyone had previous experience. For those interested in High Magick,
I might still have some old hand written scraps of paper with various
rituals I saw, or participated in during my very brief encounter with
it as a young man. I don't have a Book of Shadows, I have an old
kids small leather suitcase, which is stuffed full of "stuff" from
over the years and various teachers. Sadly, I lost another case to
my ex in England who `accidentally' threw it away. Such is life, but
what a loss.
Well, there you have it. You asked a straightforward question, but I
felt it deserved more than a flippant answer and in fact, a proper in-
depth answer to show you all where my heart is in all of this and
that my heart is true.
Blessings,
Phew!...Everyone still awake?
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