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The
first part of a lecture our editor gave at Ghostcon 2003 was published
in the last issue of Psychic-Tymes. This is an amended version of the
second part ofit. This section deals with a story of the 'Old Gods'
and how a dear friend of Judy's finds himself under their scrutiny.
Considering that he is a deeply committed Christian this is a slightly
worrying state of affairs for him!
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| The
story I am about to tell you is not mine. It belongs to a very dear friend
of mine who is a practicing Blade Smith. If you know your myths and folklore
well, you will also know that there is a deep and abiding link between
the human blacksmith, blade smith and the ‘Ancient Gods’.
Many of the human pagan religions have a God who is also a blacksmith:
Hephaestus, Vulcan, Wayland Smith, Regin and all the other names associated
with the smith deities. Our ancestors’ worshipped fire, and those
who controlled fire and used it to create iron held a special place in
all man’s religious pantheons.
When
my friend was learning his art under a Japanese sword smith in the mountains
of Japan, he had to work on his own projects during his free time in the
forge. He had always been psychic and now became aware that he was being
visited by young female spirit as he worked on his first attempts. The
description he gave me of the young girl was that she was a teenage female,
with long red hair and wearing a medieval green dress. Originally I thought
she might be an ancestor of his as he has fiery red hair and his genetic
roots were from Ireland! |
An
example of Andrew Jordan's pattern welded knives. Click image to visit
his web site. Image © 2003 Andrew Jordan, reproduced with his kind
permission.
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| When
he returned to the West after two years, he took a few courses in America
under a master smith to further his skills. As my friend started to work
in his own forge in Europe, bringing together all the skills and styles
he had learned, he created Saex metalwork pieces. This type of metalworking
is a very complex pattern welding that was once used to show off the Blacksmith’s
prowess, and also increased the strength of the item, be it sword or knife.
A Saex blade was the Porsche of its day: only master smiths would be able
to do this kind of work as you have to plait different types of iron into
a cohesive whole.
When
he was working with the Saex techniques the young girl would come and
watch over him in his forge. She was soon accompanied by a tall man dressed
in Saxon clothing. He only arrived on the scene when Andrew began to successfully
create Saex-work. |
An
example of Andrew Jordan's Saex patterned knives. Click image to visit
his web site. Image © 2003 Andrew Jordan, reproduced with his kind
permission.
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| My
friend is today recognized in Europe as a Master Blade Smith, and he finds
that when he works on a particularly fine and complicated piece he is
surrounded by the girl, the first male, and now a second male spirit.
This new being is small compared to the first male, very square, has long
black hair threaded with beads and other thing... but he has one eye and
has a grey long cloak about his shoulders. This spirit is a very strange
one and really puts the wind up my friend Andrew!
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When Andrew
first asked me about the visitations it was just the girl and tall man
who were checking him out. Using my links in the London Wicca community
and soon I came to the conclusion with their help that the girl was
Brighid, the Celtic goddess who keeps the eternal flame.
Brighid,
according to legend, was born in the instant between night and day and
as she rose with the sun a beam of flame was said to have sprung from
her forehead. This legend is perhaps why she was once considered a sun
deity. Brighid is a goddess of fire, smith craft, childbirth, poetry,
water, and healing. She was known as "Bright Arrow," "The
Bright One," "the High One," "the Powerful One,"
"Lady of the Shores," and because of her associations with
spring, "Brighid of the Green Mantle." It is in her guise
of goddess of fire and smith-craft that she comes to guard the forge
fire as Andrew uses it to work metal.
|
 Image
of Brighid, Celtic Goddess of fire, smith craft, childbirth, poetry, water
and healing. |
| The
tall male we think is Wayland Smith, one of the metal-working deities.
But we still had not identified the newest visitor when I gave this lecture
at Ghostcon 2003. This newest one scares my friend very deeply, as he
feels very alien to normal spirit beings.
My
friend is a deeply committed Christian and finds these pagan deities a
worrisome addition to his art and craft. I have told him to refer to their
Christianized aspects; Brighid becomes St Brigit. When the Catholic Church
came to Ireland, they encountered great resistance in the name of the
goddess Brighid. Since they could not maintain hope of converting the
island by telling them that their beloved goddess was a demon, they decided
instead to accept her as Saint Bridgit, patroness of smith craft, poetry,
and healing. Wayland Smith become St Dunstan, patron saint of armourers
and gunsmiths. One day we will identify the one-eyed deity [could it be
Odin?] but I suspect that this one could never be identified with a Christian
equivalent!
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| [Since
this lecture took place he has been identified as Goibniu, the Celtic
god of smiths. He is one of a triad of craftsmen with Luchtaine the Wright
and Credne the Brazier. They are similar to Vulcan. Goibniu forged all
the Tuatha's weapons; these weapons always hit their mark and every wound
inflicted by them was fatal. His ale gave the Tuatha invulnerability.
He is the Celtic God of blacksmiths, weapon-makers, jewelry making, brewing,
fire, and metalworking.
Aside
from his craftsmanship, he is known as the provider of the Fled Goibnenn,
a Sacred Feast. Associated, among other things, with brew-crafting, he
is said to have created a brew which bestowed both immortality in battle,
and release from illness and death for the one who imbibed. Note the similarity
with the Greco-Roman Hephaestus/Vulcan, a divine smith who was also a
brewer. Needless to say this aspect pleased Andrew immensely!] |
 Image
of Goibniu, one of the three Celtic gods of smithing. |
| One
of the interesting thing about the visitations that Andrew experiences
of the ‘Others’ is that they have come to him, a monotheist,
in far flung places from Japan to the New World.
In
all my travels through various pagan communities I have learned that deities
choose you rather than you choosing them. Here is a deeply committed Christian
being over-looked by beings that belong to our pagan past and present.
They were unlooked-for, they were not called, and yet they still come
and watch ancient metal craft being worked once more in his forge. Is
this the magic of the Blacksmith’s art and why they were so revered
in ancient times, as they had ability to commune with Deities?
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| Conclusion
I could tell you more stories from further afield, but I have kept to
stories of the strange and wondrous spirits that I and my friends have
encountered nearer to home. Are they real? Are they figments of mine,
and my friends, imaginations; or are they Jungian Archetypal's from our
collective subconscious?
Whatever
these wonderful beings are, they come from our folklore roots, our shamanic
past. No amount of logic can deal with them, only keeping to their rules
works. So if you come across spirits that do not respond to Christian
exorcism, spirits who will not go ‘to the light’, if they
seem like ‘devils’ and poltergeists, I ask you to consider
another possibility. Have you found a nature spirit, one of the Elementals
that still inhabit this world with us? Or even come to the attention of
the 'Old Gods'? |
Hephaestus
at his forge. |
Treat them
with the respect they deserve and find a compromise that you can both
live with. Thank you for you attention. I hope you have enjoyed a walk
into the weird world of Celtic Shamanism.
[Most of
this text is from a lecture given by Judy Farncombe at Ghostcon 2003.
I has been slightly amended for this issue of Psychic Tymes.]
Andrew
Jordan was recently the subject of a Dutch documentary. If you want
to watch him making a knife please access this link:
www.werkportaal.nl
Although
the web site is in Dutch the documentary is in English with Dutch sub-titles.
Andrew lives and works in Holland [Netherlands] and is an English speaker.
To watch the programme just click on one of the two Real Player icons.
|
| ©
2003 Judith Farncombe |
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|
Micheal
has sent in a very interesting article on the Iraqi war and how a Shaman
looks at it. Although at Psychic Tymes we tend to limit our remit to
paranormal and pagan related matters, we felt that what he had to say
on the subject was important and ought to have a place in our pages.
You, our readers, will have your own thoughts on the matter.
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As a Psychic,
Poet and Spiritual advisor I would be remiss if I did not address some
of the negative aspects prevalent in today’s world. As an Earth
Shaman it is my duty to speak out against war in an attempt to promote
peace. I accept and respect all opinions and ask not that you agree
with me but that you only read and accept it for what is one man's opinion.
The wisdom
of reality can at times be a harsh master, has not diminished my capacity
to honor the Divine and to know that the uniqueness of the self is something
to be treasured. The dance of life is divinely choreographed and I believe
that a time of healing will come. I have listened to my voice within
and it has told me to share my thoughts and feelings. I offer the following
to you with honor and respect.
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|
The
Future
"
I've seen the future , brother: it is murder . "
Leonard Cohen
Everyday
I read the newspapers and magazines, listen to the radio and watch the
news on television. All of them give a body by body count of the American
casualties in the War on Iraq - 400, 500, 600 and counting. How many Iraqis
are dead, do you know? Of course you do not, because they are not important
enough to be mentioned to the American people. The propaganda machine
of the media in the States would have you believe that one American life
is worth countless Iraqi lives. This I find disturbing.
Knowing
death has become a way of life in Iraq. The U.S. media and government
is quick to cry ‘Anti-American’ when anyone speaks out against
the war. This article is not anti-American sentiment; it is about the
senseless slaughter of innocent people. Thousands of Iraqis have lost
their lives, and a great many of them are civilians. My concern is the
devaluing of life over a war fought in the name of ‘God and Country’,
in the name of ‘freedom, democracy and peace’, and in the
name of oil, revenge and globalization. Each and every one of us has a
unique voice which we must use to speak out against atrocities such as
the current wave of abuse we have seen come out of the prisons in Iraq:
|
 Stupid
White Men ...and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation!
Click image or underlined text above to visit Amazon.com. Prices range
from $17.65.
Stupid White Men: ...and Other Sorry... Click
on pink underlined text above to visit Amazon.co.uk. Prices range from
£3.99.
Michael Moore's screed against "Thief-in-Chief" George Bush's
power elite, hit No. 1 at Amazon.com within days of publication. Why?
It's as fulminating and crammed with infuriating facts as any right-wing
bestseller, as irreverent as The Onion, and as noisily entertaining as
a wrestling smackdown. -Review Amazon
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|
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1221726,00.html
Tremendous
in scope is the occupation of Iraq and its impact will be felt for many
years to come. There is wisdom in every soul and to steal the lives of
innocent people diminishes us all. If we are to begin a global healing
we must listen to the teacher in our hearts and strive to educate and
enlighten those who do not fully comprehend the realities of this Crusade.
Globalization, the separation of rich and poor, world domination and the
Americanization of Sacred Mother Earth, this is the reality of the American
Agenda. The beauty of the green earth is being painted blood red and the
artist is the U.S.A.
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| These
statements are not anti-American because the majority of Americans did
not vote for President George W. Bush. I do not blame all Americans for
the actions of a government out of control. However we must not let our
fear of being censored, labeled or attacked by supporters of humanity
gone awry to dissuade us from speaking out. It would be wonderful if we
could all live in a world of harmony, peace and joy but as long as we
live in a world dominated by money barons, corporations and oil cartels
we will have more poor as well as more war.
I
live in Canada are we are not as far removed from the American way of
thinking as we would like to believe. The merger of two of our Political
parties has brought us the Regressive Conservatives whose motto is “One
step forward, two steps back". Given the opportunity they would proudly
join the coalition of those ‘Willing to Kill without Conscience’.
With passion our neighbours to the south wave their flag of freedom not
realizing it is in fact a tool of oppression and deception. Without restraint
we must allow our humanity to illuminate a path of reality and revelation.
We can all make a meaningful contribution by writing our political leaders,
boycott major corporations, and donate food and clothing to those in need
world-wide.
Before
we embrace our future we must accept our past and understand our present. |
 September
11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows : Turning Our Grief into Action for
Peace click image or underlined text
to visit Amazon.com. Prices range from $10.47.
September
11th Families for Peaceful... Click
on pink underlined text to visit Amazon.co.uk. Prices range from £10.99.Book
Description
Put together by a non-profit group of family members of September 11 victims,
who have dedicated their time to finding alternatives to war as a response
to personal and nationa ltragedies, this book offers a collection of essays
from the group's members and high profile supporters. The group has spoken
in 25 states and eight foreign countries and has sent delegates to both
Afghanistan and Iraq to meet with people who have also lost loved ones
due to terrorism and war.
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| Some
would say that to enact positive change we must create smarter people.
The truth is that smarter people are not always better people. On the
other hand if we create better people they will be smarter people for
they will have compassion and humanity. It is a time for spiritual gardening,
a time to stimulate thoughts of healing that we might forge a new state
of existence. Life’s journey is a highly poetic one and the human
thirst for knowledge, if nurtured properly, could lead to a divine dispensation
where we all drink of peace.
I
find this all deeply personal. At times it is difficult to see an end
to this madness, especially when you have a General that says to the cameras
that his ‘God’ is the real ‘God’ and a President
who calls this war a ‘Holy War and a Crusade’. What message
does that send to Moslem students of history? The painful insight that
the occupation of Iraq has presented has not - and will not - diminish
my faith in mankind. I retain a profound sense of hope that the healing
power of the grief we feel for those who have lost their lives will lead
us to a spiritual awakening where we can all live in honor and respect.
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| The
brutal honesty of death speaks to the deepest depths of ones soul. We
must listen to our hearts and seek to make this global village an enlightened
civilization, one whose citizens respect the green earth and embrace the
soul of nature. A respect for all life must be nurtured in our young as
we all share a destiny. Tears of compassion should be shed for all those,
American, British, Italian and Iraqi, who have lost their lives on the
battlefield and soil of Iraq. The web of life is a sacred one and if we
renew our spirits and rejoice in our common goal of peace we can begin
the journey to a new way of life.
I
have grown weary of the constant barrage of images of violence, death
and war. Yet I choose to rise above those images as a Hawk rides the wind
and seeks new possibilities. The power to change and transcend our limitations
is attainable. When the world around us is a negative one, we must do
our utmost to ensure that the world within is a positive one. If we are
to climb the Tree of Life we must learn to read between the leaves. Say
no to propaganda, say no to war, say no to globalization and say yes to
peace. Adjust your life to one of balance and wholeness.
|
 The
Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place in Nature click
image or underlined text above to visit Amazon.com. Prices range from
$11.87.
The
Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our... Click
on pink underlined text to vist Amazon.co.uk. Prices range from £9.15.
Synopsis
Suggests that humans need to move away from global economic competition
and towards a recognition of our connection with the Earth.
|
Global
mind-set
As
I get older I become more concerned with global warming, the rape of our
land, the poisoning of our water, the pollution of the air and the endless
violence that permeates every inch of our existence. While the 21st century
crusade of the Bush war machine rambles on in its quest for world dominance,
I choose to focus on the positive aspects of being alive. With focused
reverie I embrace the sacredness of the self. We are all indigenous souls
who are vessels for the divine. If we act with integrity and respect,
with purpose and vision we can develop the foundation for a new and better
tomorrow.
In
closing I have expressed my concerns in an attempt to purge the negative
while fostering the positive. Remember whether you be an Iraqi, American,
Canadian or any other world citizen yours is a life to be valued, honored
and respected. Please do not think that all who live in the North American
continent care for the US government’s current standpoint in world
politics! |
| Freedom Web Sites
Voice
of Freedom
Poets
for Peace
The
- Activist
Michael
Moore
Stop
the War Coalition- UK
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May
the Sun warm your Heart, The Moon light your Path and Sacred Mother Earth
embrace and protect you always.
~
The Ancient One With Heart Of Buffalo Journeys With Spirit Of White Wolf
~
© 2004 Micheal Teal
To
access The Ancient Ones own website please go to the Links page.
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