KOTOW NEWSLETTER

-by Scandinavian Moon

When most people think of witches, they naturally envision a stereotypical broom riding, evil, raggedy haired, mole ridden, horrible woman with a shrill cackle.  Where did this perception come from? Let’s take a ride back in time, to the 15th Century. The first known picture of a witch riding a broom is illustrated in Martin Le Franc’s ‘Le Champion des Dames’ (1451).  A fresco in the Schleswig Cathedral of a woman riding a broom may be older, however, the Fresco is variously dated, ranging as early as the  12th  century, and as late as the 16th. 

In her book, "The Practice of Witchcraft Today," anthropologist Robin Skelton (1990) associates witches brooms with magic wands and pagan fertility dances. She writes “the broomstick dance became confused with common accounts of witches flying through the night on their way to orgies and other illicit meetings" (pp: 47).

Another more “taboo” theory about the witches' use of the broom provides a different concept about this mode of aerial transportation...  and certainly a new outlook on spring cleaning! Rye breads can host a fungus called ergot.  Ergot produces the chemical lysergic acid diethylamide (commonly known as LSD). In large doses, ergot can be fatal.  However, just a small dose can create powerful hallucinogen.  How does this relate to brooms?  Well, in order to achieve their hallucinations, users needed to find a better ingestion method.  Consuming the ergot orally caused nausea, vomiting, and skin irritation. What people realized, though, was that absorbing it through the skin could lead to hallucinations without the illness. And the most receptive areas of the body for that absorption were the sweat glands of the armpits ... and the mucus membranes of the genitals.  Balms, also known as “witches brews” were used with the brooms, specifically the handle of the brooms, and well, you can use your imagination from there.  The idea of witches flying on a broom came from the “high” that was achieved from this special ride.  

Fly high my witchy friends! 

Reference

Skelton, R. (1988). The practice of witchcraft today: An introduction to beliefs and rituals of the old religion. London: R. Hale.

-by Eric Morrow

It is time to renew myself.

I start in a quiet space comfortable with fresh morning air.

I becoming aware of myself, my space, my body, my spirit and energy.

I make a circle and call to friendly spirits to guard the space.

I ground and bring up energy of the earth and life.

(For more on grounding, see exercise below)

Holding the current, I then connect with the higher energy of Álfheimr and allow that to become part of my being.

I call to Freyr

I sit quietly with the warmth of his presence.

(For more on silent meditation, see exercise below)
I withdraw my energy, my emotions, my intent, and my attention back from all other times and places.
I’m leaving those places behind to be occupied by Freyr’s warmth. 

All that is beyond my control, I let go of, marked by Freyr’s warmth.

I become fully present with all my energy and focus.
Today, I will leave nothing undone.

In this way I feed my own growth.

I thank Lord Freyr for his wisdom and assistance.

I thank those spirits for their protection and guidance.
I close the circle of sacred space.

Grounding Exercise
 

Hold your hands out in front of you and feel the energy between them. Move the energy around. Notice how it feels. Next, draw energy up from the earth. Bring it up through your body and out around you. Notice how that energy feels, how it moves, how it is different from that which was between your hands. Now draw energy down into yourself from higher plane. Notice the difference between this feeling and the two previous feelings. Bring into yourself the balance of these energies in a way that feels right to you. Move extra energy or distracting energy down to earth and away from you.
 

Exercise in Silence
 

The mind is both lazy and loud. When doing energy work it is important to have a calm mind. Calm your mind by transforming all emotions and thoughts into energy. You may want to use a visualization technique, such as imagining a fire or a certain color light, or just concentrate on the heat, static or energy, whatever is suiting you. Simply change your thoughts and emotions into something that will not distract you during your work.