david hobbs
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The QuartersRaymond has pointed out that to a Witch the four Quarters ie North South East and West, are integral within the craft workings.
I wondered if you would expand on that a little Raymond for those who do not know about this?
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Raymond
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Gladly. Most Witches do their work within a circle. This can either be a physical circle marked on the ground or an imaginary circle set by the boundaries of a room for example.
I'll explain the significance of the circle in another thread if you so wish.
Anyway, once the circle is constructed the Witch or Coven then calls the four quarters before inviting the God and Goddess to attend.
Calling the quarters always begins in the east. So the Witch or coven face the east and call in the element of Air as the east rules over Air.
This continues on around the circle with South being Fire, West being Water and North being Earth.
The four elements that make up life are all now called and contained within and about the circle.
It's also important to know where the directions are when working magick.
If you are working fire magick then it's best to build your altar in the south of the circle and likewise for Air, Water or Earth Magick.
In everyday circles the Witch or Coven feel it's important to either face the North or the East while conducting ceremonies.
The North is favourable for magickal workings so the Witch or Coven can be in sync with the earth's magnetic poles, and east is favoured in religious workings as east is where the Sun rises and is believed to be the dwelling place of the gods.
Now you can see why I had a bit of a panic when Laura announced all this was about to change.
I'm sure Muslims feel the same, don't they have to face a certain direction for their prayers?
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david hobbs
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Interesting stuff Raymond and yes do explain a little more if you have time.
The Muslims are luckier than witches because they face a physical place, Mecca. That would I hope remain in the same direction even if the earths magnetic situation changes.
They would face the same way but perhaps have to call it west or north.
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Raymond
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| david hobbs wrote: | | Interesting stuff Raymond and yes do explain a little more if you have time. |
Well that's pretty much all there is to explain about the quarters, so I assume you mean the significance of the circle.
Most magickal practices around the world involve using a circle. The circle is perfect. It has no begining and no end.
Energy can move around a circle freely with no shapes or corners to hinder it.
When a Witch or Coven builds a circle it is done for two reasons, to keep that which is required in and that which isn't required out.
A Witch's circle is believed to inhabit both the physical plane and the astral plane at the same time.
If the circle is constructed incorrectly the Witch or Coven runs the risk of unwanted astral energies invading the circle.
This can be a problem when performing magick because if one is perform magick for healing, for example, then you would only want to attract energy that is beneficial to healing magick. (Poor example but it will do for now).
A circle becomes the place between worlds. It's neither physical nor astral but both at the same time.
It's a sacred space where man can meet face to face with the elementals and the Gods.
It's a magickal place where magick is spun.
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Samjaza
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In brief... The quarters I visualise follow the natural law.
the East Rises the sun.... Creation.
The south, the sun is at full height. Lifge
the west .. its sets.
The north its hidden.
By working deosil then the objective is born, created, seen to die.
By working widdershin it is ressurected , established and born.
If it works in nature then ritual must emulate it, as our little craft expounds.
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Raymond
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Well said Sam.
For the benefit of non-Witchy types, DEOSIL means to move in a clock-wise direction (with the Sun), WIDDERSHINS means to move in an anti-clockwise direction (against the Sun).
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