Open
your eyes! Cyberwitches are the forefront of futuristic magic. Leaticia
Valverde looks at the effects the internet and the New Millennium will
have on the traditions of witchcraft, and offers rituals for a brave new
era... It's 1997.
The new millennium is almost upon us. For decades people have predicted
that life as we know it will alter irrevocably after the year 2000. But
what effect will this new era have on Wicca, a practice that is as old
as human life itself? Essentially there will be little change, but certain
technological developments will have a far-reaching affect on all our lives. The most
obvious tool for this change is the internet. Often touted as a device
that will profoundly affect every individual, the Internet has many benefits
for witches. Solitaries will be able to chat over the Internet, sharing
spells, rituals and sabbats, while members of covens who may live some
distance from each other can discuss upcoming festivals, sharing plans
and working out rituals. Already
covens operate on the Net, and many Wiccan and esoteric bookshops have
web sites allowing pagans to purchase by mail-order tools, texts and ingredients
for spells which they may have difficulty obtaining in the past. Other
solitaries may call for e-mail chat partners to discuss practices and offer
and receive advice which comes more readily to those in a coven. While the
Internet may be a bonus for many, there are also potential dangers which
one should be aware of. One of the greatest problems for Wiccans has been
mainstream society often misunderstands the Craft and attempts to distort
our reality for their own means. Sites may therefore be a means for the
uninitiated to misinterpret Wiccan ways, to use our knowledge against us. This is
why many Wiccans call us to be guarded in what we reveal about our craft
to the uninitiated. One only has to read one of the many negative articles
in the mainstream press to see why these fears have not been allayed: as
best we are presented as naked cavorters who are harmless yet loopy, while
at worst we are Satanists performing blood rites. The Internet
is also a way for the unscrupulous to latch onto the unwary. As with all
dealings on the Internet, be cautious before dealing with anyone you've
met while online. Don't give out your home address and don't give credit
card details unless you're sure that a business is legitimate. To ward
off potential problems, you may wish to cast a protective spell before
delving into cyberspace. A simple ritual for protection is Merlin's
Protection Spell. Another
way to combat the misformation spread about us is to constantly be out
there, open and proud about our spirituality. Laurie Cabot is one of the
many witches who believes that if we strive to educate others about the
Craft, understanding and interest can arise. Therefore what we need to
do is ensure that whatever we do we do it with the best intent. It is important
to realise that once you 'come out' as a witch you are representing all
the other witches in the world amongst your circle of acquaintances. Therefore
we should strive to see our festivals and sabbats become as accepted in
society as the more common festive days. Let's hope that the new millennium
will see October 31 celebrated in a positive Wiccan manner, rather than
being the "trick or treat" night where children dress as green faced hags
or Freddy Krueger.
Earth
Magic
In the new millennium we are going to see
a growing interrest in enviromental magic. Pagans of all demominations
are going to fuel their awareness of the importantance of mother earth
in their craft and will seek new ways of bonding with the elements. Sabbats
will become a time of even greater celebration, with festivals welcoming
the uninitiated into the joy of the festivities. Should the environmental dangers become stronger,
convens and solitaries may join together to form a Wiccan Coven: a coven
of 12 young people specially formed to combat danger. Young people are
chosen because they are at the height of their powers, with strong natural
talent. They will be trained by the most powerful of the high Priestesses
and Priets, but will act of their own intuition once the training has passed.
The Wyvern coven, made up of six women and six men, will use their own
especially powerful magic to battle enviornmental degradation and desperation. A positive time to perform a ritual for the
environment is the spring equinox, a time of renewal. Perhaps on the spring
equinox your coven, or you and your friends, could take a positive step
for the environment by planting native trees in your local area. As a group,
plant the trees at midnight, form a sacred circle and repeat the following:
Mother Goddess,
please accept our humble offerings,
Allow these trees to grow strong,
Their roots probing for nutrients in your
fertile earth,
Their branches reaching for your sunshine,
Their leaves filtering your air.
Allow these trees to be your servants,
Growing stronger with each passing day,
Standing as sentinels to protect our glorious
land.
Blessed be.
As well as working with others, each witch can
help heal the world by thinking on a global level to effect change. With
the new millennium selfishness will become nigh impossible: our every action
will always be considered as to the effect it will have on another. Therefore
many witches will be the leaders of this new awareness. We'll lead a new consciousness in shopping.
We'll no longer think only of recycling, but of how to minimise waste while
we're shopping. We'll re-use wherever possible, and buy in bulk using our
own containers. We'll shop in co-ops, buying in bulk with friends to save
costs and transportation. We'll see a reduction in the use of cars, seeing
a return to the old methods of self-propelled travel (walking and cycling).
Witchcraft
for Peace
Witchcraft is a peaceful religion. We have
no need for retribution, because should retribution be necessary Karma
will take care of it. If we give out good, positive works, that good will
be returned to us. However sometimes it is necessary to protect oneself
and others from harm. The last thing that we want in the new millennium
is more fighting and wars. Each witch can help prevent this by putting
her/himself into an alpha state, concentrating intensely and sending positive
pink light out to protect our local area. If each witch protects her/his
local environs in this manner, pretty soon positive energy will encompass
the earth and protect us all from harm. The greatest lessons are learnt by example.
We cannot teach others of our positive works merely by discussing what
it is that we do. We need to lead by example, working for ourselvesand
communities in a manner which is beneficial to us all. If each of us were
to spend as little as one hour per week giving back to the earth a little
of what we have taken, effects would be instantly noticeable. We each need
to prioritise areas of concern for ourselves and work on these. Next time you are in a state of alpha, visualise
that which most concerns you. How do you see yourself in the next ten,
twenty or thirty years? You are privileged to be a person with the power
to positively effect change and be capable of creating the future
you want. With the help of the Goddess you have the ability to ensure that
the new millennium is a time of positivity, an era where all types of spirituality
are freely accepted and desired. The new millennium is a time to move beyond
stereotypes, to banish negativity and rejoice in a new freedom. Welcome
the arrival of this new era and may your life and your magic be truly blessed.
