2301
*
STAND UP, STAND UP FOR ODIN
-Robert Cook
(Tune: "Stand Up For Jesus")
Stand up! Stand up for Odin, you warriors of the beard!
lift high the Raven Banner that half the world has feared!
From Angleland to far Vinland shall sound the Warrior's Cry
Till every foe is vanquished, and Odin reigns most high!
March forth with steel flashing beneath the naked Sun
and never stand at rest again 'til all the World is won!
Let scarlet sword his symbol carve in every nation's sod
'Til every man still breathing stands up for OdinGod!
Let ships with prows of Dragons the mighty oceans cleave
and every land not Odin's our crimson gifts receive
let Raven Banners fill the sky where every man has trod
And all the soil beneath them belong to OdinGod!
Stand up! Stand up for Odin, you Warriors of the North!
With silver swords a-flashing to victory go forth!
From Angleland to far Vinland our joyous conquest lead
'Til every foe is vanquished, and Odin's Lord, indeed!
*
2302
*
NUDE
-W.J.Bethancourt III
-Ed Hirt
copyright 1982 W.J.Bethancourt III and Ed Hirt
(Tune: "Men of Harlech")
What the use of wearing panties
Whalebone corsets of your Auntie's
Boxer shorts and other scanties
Best of all is nude
There's such fun in going bra-less
Now that it's no longer lawless
'Specially if your figure's flawless
Best of all is nude
Nude is what you're born in
Shirts are never torn in
Underwear and lacy flimsies, garter belts and other whimsies
Yards of itchy cloth to put your form in
Ducks all do it, maidens rue it
Even ancient Picts in Britain blue it
Going naked's how to do it
Best of all is nude!
If your garters aren't elastic
Tie them up in knots fantastic
(Panty hose is something drastic!)
Best of all is nude!
If you're tired of wearing clotheses
Shed your garment 'mongst the roses
Never mind the old bluenoses
Best of all is nude!
Nude is best for ducking!
Worst for horses bucking!
Moonlit nights will see such sights
that are very best for fooling round
.....and elbows!
Nudity is grand to see
A well-known antidote to virginity
Take your clothes off and you'll see:
Best of all is nude!
*
2303
*
FAIRIES LOVE SONG
-Anonymous
Why should I sit and sigh
Broo and bracken, broo and bracken
Why should I sit and sigh
All alone and weary
When I see the plover rising
Or the curlew wheeling
It's then I'll court my mortal lover
Back to me is stealing
When the moon begins her waning
I sit by the water
Where a man born of the sunlight
Loved the Faerie's daughter
Oh, but there is something wanting
O but I am weary
Coming blithe, now bonny treads he
O'er the knolls to cheer me
*
2304
*
THE BARD'S SONG
-W.J.Bethancourt III
(c) copyright 1990 W.J.Bethancourt III
(Tune: "Dublin City")
As I walked out one quiet evening
At the hour of twelve at night
Who should I meet but a fair young maiden
Combin' her hair by candle light;
Lassie, I have come a-courtin'
Your kind favours for to win
And if you'd heed my petition
I would be your Paladin...
(CHORUS) Gather roses in the Springtime
Gather roses while ye may,
Time is passing; roses wither;
Winter comes; we're here -today-.
Have you seen the dew a-formin'
On the grass at early morn?
Have you seen the forest quiet,
Or a stag that's barely born?
Have you seen the dawn a-breakin'
O'er the Western Ocean's tide?
Have you felt my heart a-beatin'
When it's held close to your side?
I can give no gold or silver,
I can give no fields of land,
I can give no servants brisk
To wait on you both foot and hand;
I can give you wide roads callin'
Wind and Rain, and Moon and Sun,
Songs to sing, and love and laughter,
Dresses made of plain home-spun.
Come dance with me upon the greensward
in the moonlight, in the Spring.
Dance with me within the forest
Dance with me within the ring!
Earth below us, stars above us,
Fire and water by our side,
Dance with me within the moonlight,
Dance with me, and be my Bride!
*
2305
*
ALL THRU THE NIGHT
-Traditional
While the Moon her watch is keeping
all thru the night
While the weary world is sleeping
all thru the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling
all thru the night
Though this Bard must roam full lonely
My true harp shall sing praise only
Love's soft dream, alas, is over
Yet my strains of love shall hover
Near the Presence of my Lover
Hark! A solemn bell is ringing
Thou, my King are heavenward winging
Earthly dust from off Thee shaken
Soul immortal shalt thou waken
With thy last, dim journey taken
Neath this Stone my King is sleeping
Stars around Him softly sweeping
Once and Future King preserving
Britain's Saviour there reserving
All around him Stars observing
all thru the night
Holl am ran-tire sehr thuh wed-ont
ahr heed ah nos
Dum-ar forth ee vro go-gawn-yont
ahr heed ah nos
Gol-i ar-all you tuh wull ooch
ee are thang os gweer bred vairtch-ooch
tie-leer nave oith m'yoon thu-wail-ooch
ahr heed ah nos
note: The last verse is phonetic Welsh.
"ll" is pronounced by putting the tip of your
tongue to the roof of your mouth, and saying "h"
and "l" at the same time...sort of.
"ch" is pronounced as German.
*
2306
*
TWO MAGICIANS
(Child #44)
recorded by Steeleye Span "Below the Salt"
She looked out of the window, as white as any milk
He looked in at the window, as black as any silk
(Chorus): Hello, hello, hello, hello you coal black smith
You have done me no harm!
You never shall have my maidenhead
That I have kept so long!
I'd rather die a maid, aye, and then she said,
And be buried all in my grave,
Than to have such a nasty,
husky, dusky, fusty, musty coal black smith!
A maiden I will die!
She became a duck, a duck all in the stream
And he became a waterdog, and fetched her back again
She became a star, a star all in the night
And he became a thundercloud and muffled her out of sight
She became a rose, a rose all in the wood
And he became a bumblebee and kissed her where she stood
She became a nun, a nun all dressed in white
And he became a chantry priest to pray for her by night
She became a trout, a trout all in the brook
And he became a feathered fly, and catched her with his hook
She became a quilt, a quilt all on her bed
And he became a coverlet, and gained her maidenhead!
note: This has MANY variants. See Robert Graves' "The White Goddess" pg. 401!
*
2307
*
JOHN BARLEYCORN
There were three men come out of the West
Their fortunes for to try,
And these three men made a solemn vow:
John Barleycorn should die!
John Barleycorn should die!
(nb: 4th line of each verse is sung twice)
They plowed, they sowed, they harrowed him in,
Threw clods upon his head,
And these three men made a solemn vow:
John Barleycorn was dead!
CHORUS: Fa la la la, it's a lovely day!
Sing fa la la lay oh!
Fa la la la, it's a lovely day!
Sing fa la la lay oh!
They let him lie for a very long time
'Til the rain from Heaven did fall,
Then Little Sir John sprung up his head,
And so amazed them all!
They let him stand 'til Midsummer tide,
'Til he grew both pale and wan,
Then Little Sir John he grew a long beard,
And so became a man!
They hired men with the sythes so sharp
To cut him off at the knee
They rolled him and tied him about the waist,
And used him barbarously!
They hired men with the sharp pitchforks
To pierce him to the heart,
And the loader he served him worse than that,
For he tied him in a cart!
They wheeled him around and around the field,
'Til they came to a barn,
And there they made a solemn mow
Of poor John Barleycorn,
They hired men with the crab-tree sticks
To strip him skin from bone
And the Miller he served him worse than that:
For he ground him between two stones!
They have wheeled him here and wheeled him there
And wheeled him to a barn,
And they have served him worse than that
They have bunged him in a vat!
(more)
2308
John Barleycorn (cont.)
They have worked their will on John Barleycorn
But he lived to tell the tale;
For they pour him out of an old brown jug,
And they call him home-brewed ale!
Here's Little Sir John in a nut-brown bowl,
And brandy in a glass!
And Little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
Proved the stronger man at last!
For the huntsman he can't hunt the fox
Nor loudly blow his horn,
And the tinker can't mend kettles nor pots
Without John Barleycorn!
(Note: sing the chorus after every other verse or so. Encourage the group
to join the song)
*
*
THE FALSE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD (Child #3)
-recorded by Steeleye Span
"Oh where are you going to?"
said the False Knight upon the road
"Oh I'm going to my school."
said the wee boy and still he stood
"What is that upon your back?"
said the False Knight upon the road
"Ah weel, it is my books!"
said the wee boy and still he stood
Oh, what have you got there? I wish you was on the sands.
I have got my bread and cheese! Yes, and a good staff in my hands!
Oh won't you give me some? I wish you was on the sea.
No, ne'r a bite or crumb! And a good ship under me!
And the ship to sink.
An inch away from shore!
I think I hear a bell.
And it rings you straight to Hell!
*
2309
*
NOTTAMUN TOWN
-Traditional
In Nottamun Town, in Nottamun Town
Not a soul would look up not a soul would look down
Not a soul would look up, not a soul would look down
To show me the way to fair Nottamun Town
I bought me a horse t'was called a grey mare
Grey mane and grey tail and green stripe on her back
Grey mane and grey tail and green stripe on her back
Weren't a hair upon her that was not coal black
She stood so still threw me to the dirt
She tore at my hide, she bruised my shirt
From saddle to stirrup I mounted again
and on my ten toes I rode over the plain
When I got there no one did I see
they all stood around me just looking at me
i called for a cup to drive gladness away
And stifle the dust for it rained the whole day
And the King and the Queen and the company more
Came a riding behind and a walking before
Come a stark naked drummer beating a drum
With his hands in his bosom came marching along
Sat down on a hard hot cold frozen stone
Ten thousand stood round me but I was alone
Took my heart in my hand to keep myself warm
Ten thousand was drowned that never was born
*
2310
*
CAMBRIAN DREAM
-Gwydion PenDerwyn
copyright probably to Nemeton
In the mountains of Cambria, by Rhymney's bright stream
I have oft slept in heather, and dreamed a bright Dream
No mortal could wake me, nor see what I've seen
No landscape could ever compare.
'Twas the Land of my Fathers, unfettered, and free
Ere the time that the Saxon swept over the Sea
When mistletoe grew 'neath the shining Oak Tree
No landscape could ever compare!
(Chorus): Dreaming of Prydein, asleep on a hill
When I awaken, will you be there still?
Oh, Island of Poets, my dreams you can fill
But never the long waking hours.
Mighty Poets and Warriors traversed every road
Leaving stories and legends wherever they strode
Their pasts are recalled in the humblest abode
In tales of the sunnier days.
(Chorus)
Now my story is ended, my song is all gone
I have slept thru the evening, and into the dawn
Yet still, I remember your Face, Albion,
And your older, and much wiser ways!
(Chorus)
*
2311
*
SHE MOVED THRU THE FAIRE
-Padraic Colum
recorded by Theodore Bikel
My young love said to me: My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you for your lack of kind
She put her arms 'round me; these words she did say:
It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day!
Then she stepped away from me, and she moved thru the Faire
And so fondly I watched her move here and move there
At last she turned homeward, with one star awake
As the Swan in the evening moves over the lake.
Last night she came to me, my dead love came in
And so soft did she move that her feet made no din
She put her arms 'round me; these words she did say:
It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day!
*
*
CUP OF WONDER
-Ian Anderson
recorded: "Songs from the Wood"
Jethro Tull
copyright 1977 Salamander Music
pub. USA: Chrysalis Music Corp.
May I make my fond excuses for the lateness of the hour
But we accept your invitation, and we bring you Beltane's Flower
For the May Day is the Great Day, strung along the Old Straight Track
And those who ancient Lines did Ley will heed this song that calls them back!
Ask the Green Man where he comes from, ask the Cup that fills with Red
Ask the old grey Standing Stones who show the Sun His way to bed
Question all as to their Ways, and learn the Secrets that they hold
Walk the lines of Nature's Palm, crossed with Silver and with Gold.
(Chorus): Pass the Word, and pass the Lady
Pass the Plate to all who hunger!
Pass the Wit of Ancient Wisdom
Pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder!
Join in Black December's Madness! Lie in August's welcome Corn!
Stir the Cup that's ever filling with the Blood of all that's born!
For the May Day is the Great Day, strung along the Old Straight Track
And those who ancient Lines did Ley will heed this Song that calls them back!
2312
*
CUP OF WONDER II
-variant lyrics by the Whyte Bard
May I make my fond excuses for the lateness of the Hour
But I accept your invitation, and I bring you Beltane's Flower
For the May Day is the Great Day strung along the Old Straight Track
And those who ancient Lines did Ley will heed this Song that calls them back!
Ask the Green Man where he comes from, ask the Sun his way to bed
Ask the grey and Standing Stones where last they lay their head
Ask the Lady where She's standing, growing young, and growing old
Cross the Lines of Nature's Palm, marked with Silver, crossed with Gold
For the May Day is the Great Day strung along the Old Straight Track
And those who ancient Lines did Ley will heed this Song that calls them back!
Ask the Lady where She's standing in the green and growing corn!
Take the Cup that's ever filling with the Blood of all that's born!
For the May Day is the Great Day, strung along the Old Straight Track
And those who ancient Lines did Ley will heed this Song that calls them back!
So, pass the Cup, and pass the Lady!
Pass the Plate to all who hunger!
Pass the Wit of Ancient Wisdom
Pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder!
(repeat verse 1)
*
2313
*
THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS
-Wm. Butler Yeats
recorded by Judy Collins
I went out to the hazel - wood
Because a fire was in my head
Cut and peeled a hazel - wand
Tied a berry to a thread
And when white moths were on the wing
And moth - white stars were flickering out
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout..........
I had but laid it on the bank
And gone to blow the fire a-flame
Something rustled in the air
Something called me by my name!
It had become a glimmering Girl
With apple - blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name, and ran
And vanished in the brightening air........
Though I am old, with wandering
Thru hilly lands, and hollow lands;
I'll find out where she has gone
To seek her lips, to take her hands-
And walk thru long green dappled grass;
To pluck 'til Time, and times are done:
The Silver Apples of the Moon;
The Golden Apples of the Sun...............
*
2314
*
THE CHILDISH EDDA
-Poul Anderson
-Ron Ellik
(Tune: "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp")
Yggdrasil, where Nine Worlds clash, is a noble piece of ash
That shelters Norns and Gods and all that crew
There, a Dragon gnaws the base of an Eagle's resting place,
And four Harts, a Goat and Squirrel are there too!
Frigga took a year or so, and, except for mistletoe
Got from everything an Oath for Balder's good
Evil Loki wished him harm, so he hired Hodr's arm,
And the staff the Blind God threw was kissing-wood!
Tyr vowed Fenris-Wolf his hand if he couldn't break the Band
That All-Father's wisdom made both light and hefty...
Lupine muscles strained away, but the magic held its' sway -
And from then on, till The Time, they called Tyr "Lefty!"
When Thor went out to fish, he quickly got his wish,
and he hauled a Jormangandr from the Bay.
But Hymr cut the cable, and Thor was only able
To brag about the "one that got away..."
When Thor called upon the Giants, they didn't show defiance,
But they soon got rid of him, and of his Hammer!
For the sea he could not swallow, and old Grandmaw beat him hollow,
And the House-Pet caused an awful katzenjammer!
Asa-Thor became a "her" for to repossess Mjollnir,
And unto a frosty brute his troth did plight;
But the vittles that he ate would an army more than sate,
And the chefs at Utgard always rued that night!
Each God's Apple every day, kept the doctor far away
'Til a Giant captured Ydun from their Halls...
Loki fetched home Bragi's Bride, with Her health-food store beside,
Plus a char-broiled eagle underneath the Walls!
Odin said to Mim: "I think I would sort of like a drink."
Answered Mim: "That will cost you your left eye!
For you've come up very late to the Well at Wisdom's Gate
And the set-up prices, after hours, are high!"
Oh, the Giants brought their War up to Bifrost's very Door
And the battling wrecked Asgards perfect clime-
Jormungandr, Hel and Fenris dealt out Death in doses generous
And, in fighting, did the Aesir pass The Time!
*
2315
*
THE VALKYRIE SONG
(Tune: Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries")
We fly through the night skies
Flashing our fat thighs,
Picking up dead guys;
You call this a job?
You take the blond guy,
I'll take the redhead!
Wait, he's not dead yet;
Let him go . . . splat!
Chorus: Woo-oop! Woo-oop!
Woo-oop! Woo-oop!
Woo-oop! Woo-oop!
Woo-oop! Woo-oop!
Oh-h-h-h-h-h!
We're hunting the Wabbit!
We're hunting the Wabbit!
We're hunting the Wabbit!
We're hunting the Wabbit!
*
2316
*
GOD IS ALIVE, MAGIC IS AFOOT
-Leonard Cohen (c) 1966
God is alive.....Magic is afoot...God is alive....magic is afoot...
God is afoot.....Magic is alive...Alive is afoot..magic never died!
God never sickened. Many poor men lied. Many sick men lied.
Magic never weakened. Magic never hid. Magic always ruled. God is afoot.
God never died!
God was Ruler, though his funeral lengthened.
Though His mourners thickened, magic never fled.
Though His shrouds were hoisted the naked God did live;
Though His words were twisted the naked magic thrived;
Though His death was published round and round the world
The heart did not believe.
Many hurt men wondered. Many struck men bled.
Magic never faltered. Magic always led.
Many stones were rolled, but God would not lie down!
Many wild men lied.
Many fat men listened.
Though they offered stones, magic still was fed!
Though they locked their coffers, God was always served.
Magic is afoot....God is alive....
Alive is afoot....Alive is in command.
Many weak men hungered.
Many strong men thrived.
Though they boasted solitude, God was at their side.
Nor the dreamer in his cell, nor the captain on the hill:
Magic is alive!
Though His death was pardoned 'round and 'round the world,
The heart would not believe!
Though laws were carved in marble they could not shelter men;
Though altars built in Parliaments, they could not order men;
Police arrested magic and magic went with them, ah!
For magic loves the hungry....
But magic would not tarry, it moves from arm to arm,
It would not stay with them; it cannot come to harm:
Magic is afoot! It cannot come to harm.
It rests in an empty palm. It spawns in an empty mind.
But magic is no instrument: magic is the End!
Many men drove magic, but magic stayed behind; Many strong men lied.
They only passed thru magic and out the other side!
Many weak men lied.
They came to God in secret and though they left Him nourished,
They would not tell Who healed;
Though mountains danced before them, they said that God was dead!
Though His shrouds were hoisted, the naked God did live!
(more)
2317
God Is Alive; Magic Is Afoot (cont.)
God is alive! Magic is afoot...God is alive... God is alive...
Magic is afoot...
This I mean to whisper to my mind:
This I mean to laugh with in my mind:
This I mean my mind to serve
'Til service is but magic, moving thru the world
And mind itself is magic, coursing thru the flesh
And flesh itself is magic, dancing on a clock,
And Time itself, the magic length of God!
God is alive...Magic is afoot...Magic is afoot...God is alive..
Magic is alive...God is afoot...Alive is afoot...God never died.
Many strong men lied.
They only passed thru magic and out the other side!
This I mean to whisper to my mind:
This I mean to laugh with in my mind:
This I mean my mind to serve
'Til service is but magic, moving thru the world
And mind itself is magic, coursing thru the flesh
And flesh itself is magic, dancing on a clock,
And Time itself, the magic length of God!
2318
*
***************************
THAT REAL OLD TIME RELIGION
***************************
THE ENTIRELY ARBITRARY CATEGORIES OF THE VERSES
ASATRU AND ODINISM:..................................Pg.2317
BRUJA:...............................................Pg.2317
BUDDHISM:............................................Pg.2318
CARGO CULT:..........................................Pg.2318
CHRISTIAN:...........................................Pg.2318
CLASSICAL PAGANISM:..................................Pg.2319
CONFUCIANISM.........................................Pg.2321
CTHULHU: (a fictional deity, but well-known).........Pg.2321
(THE ALMIGHTY) DOLLAR................................Pg.2322
DISCORDIANISM:.......................................Pg.2321
DRUIDS:..............................................Pg.2322
EGYPTIAN:............................................Pg.2322
FICTIONAL GODS, DEMONS AMD HEROES:...................Pg.2323
HINDU:...............................................Pg.2323
ISLAMIC:.............................................Pg.2323
JEWISH:..............................................Pg.2324
KAHBAHLA:............................................Pg.2324
KRISHNA:.............................................Pg.2324
MIDDLE EASTERN PAGAN:................................Pg.2324
MITHRAISM:...........................................Pg.2325
MOONIES:.............................................Pg.2325
NEW AGE:.............................................Pg.2325
NEW WORLD PAGAN:.....................................Pg.2325
SCIENTOLOGY:.........................................Pg.2326
SHINTO:..............................................Pg.2326
THELEMA:.............................................Pg.2326
VOODOO:..............................................Pg.2326
WICCA AND GENERAL NEO-PAGAN:.........................Pg.2327
ZARATHUSTRIAN:.......................................Pg.2328
UNCLASSIFIABLE VERSES AND UNKNOWN GHODS..............Pg.2328
NEW VERSES NOT YET CLASSIFIED:.......................Pg.2328
2319
*
THE REAL OLD TIME RELIGION
tune: "Old Time Religion"
(Chorus): Give me that real old time religion (3X)
It's good enough for me!
ASATRU AND ODINISM:
I hear Valkyries a-comin One-eyed Odin we will follow
In the air their song is comin And in fighting we will wallow
They forgot the words! They're hummin! Till we wind up in Valhallow
But they're good enough for me! Which is good enough for me!
We will drive up to Valhalla It was good enough for Odin
Riding Beetles, not Impalas Though the tremblin' got forbodin'
Singing "Deutschland Uber Alles" Then the giants finally strode in,
And that's good enough for me! But it's good enough for me!
It was good enough for Loki Shall we sing a verse for Thor,
It was good enough for Loki Though he leaves the maidens sore?
He thinks Thor's a little hokey They always come back for more,
And that's good enough for me! So he's good enough for me!
Shall we sing in praise of Loki, It was good for Thor and Odin
Though he left poor Midgard smokey? It was good for Thor and Odin
Oh, his sense of humor's hokey, Grab an axe and get your woad on!
But he's good enough for me! and it's good enough for me!
All the Gods tore into Loki We will worship now with vigor
Saying Deicide is hokey! The goddess known as Frigga
And they threw him in the pokey! Tho there are some who don't dig her
And that's good enough for me! She is good enough for me!
Good old Thor's the god of thunder If you wanna worship Odin
Really helps us get our plunder You don't have to have a coat on
Tho his head's still truly dunder Grab a sword and slap some woad on
He is good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
In the halls of Frey and Freyja We will sing a verse for Loki
All the priestesses will lay ya He's the old Norse god of Chaos
If you're good enough, they'll pay ya! Which is why this verse don't
And that's good enough for me! rhyme or scan or nothin'
But it's good enough for me...
BRUJA:
Let us sing for Brujaria
Though the blood's a lot less cleaner;
It's not Christian Santaria
So it's good enough for me!
2320
BUDDHISM:
We will all go to Nirvana Oh we all will follow Buddah
So be sure to mind your manners Oh we all will follow Buddah
Make a left turn at Savannah And we'll eat no food but Gouda
And we'll see the Promised Land! Which is Gouda-nuff for me!
It was good enough for Buddha, We will go and sing "Hosanna"
As a god he's kinda cute-a, To our good ol' pal, Gautama,
And he comes in brass or pewta' He will never flim or flam ya',
So he's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
No one wrote a verse for Buddah We will all go to Nirvana
Tho I think they really coulda We will all go to Nirvana
And I really think they shoulda Make a left turn at Urbana
'Cause he's good enough for me! And you'll see the Promised Land!
CARGO CULT & PACIFIC ISLANDS:
To the tune of Handel's "Largo" If you get too tired
We will hymn the gods of Cargo And you need to get up higher
'Til they slap on an embargo Just have Pele light your fire!
And that's good enough for me! From her island in the sea!
You can keep your saints with halos,
Your hosannas or dayenus:
Let's throw virgins in volcanos!
And that's good enough for me!
CHRISTIAN:
We will worship with the Fundies There are those who worship Satan
With their itchy hair-shirt undies And are just anticipatin'
If they don't bring "Mrs. Grundy," Armageddon's conflagratin'
Then it's good enough for me! That ain't good enough for me!
It was good for old Jehovah Let's all listen up to Jesus
He had a son who was a nova! He says rich folks like old Croesus
Hey there, Mithras! Move on ova'! Will be damned until Hell freezes
Another resurrection Day! And that don't sound good to me!
Jerry Falwell thinks he's sav-ed Oh we'll all be Fundamental
In a lamb's blood he's been lav-ed And be Holy Testamental
And HE thinks that I'M deprav-ed And never Trancendental
But that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
That Bob Larson shrieks and hollers We will finally pray to Jesus
Fighting demons in his callers From our sins we hope he frees us
Save his program: SEND YOUR DOLLARS! Eternal life he guarantees us
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
Tho J.C.'s into fish, too, Anytime that I start hearin'
He's an avatar of Vishnu "Jesus loves you" I start leerin'
So he is welcome here, too, Maybe so, but not like Brian *
And that's good enough for me! Which is good enough for me!
2321
Brother Jerry is a cretin Brother Oral's in his tower,
But with all the cash he's gettin' Trusting in the Lord's power
Lotsa folks'll be forgettin Getting richer by the hour,
It's the "Land of the Free!" Now he's got the ransom fee!
Brother Robert's church is Crystal Brother Earnest is a healer
But all the Bible that he's missed'll And not QUITE a wheeler-dealer --
Make you "hotter than a pistol" More a jumper and a squealer
But he's good enough for me! So he's good enough for me!
Brother Jim and Sister Tammy Then there's good ol' Brother Billy
Had a show that was a whammy Bringing souls in willy-nilly.
But now they are in Miami All his trips are kinda silly,
Tryin' t'get back on TV! But he's good enough for me!
Whether Low Church or it's High Church And the Romans said of Jesus
Or it's Pie-Up-In-The-Sky Church "Lets kill him, he don't please us"
Come on down and visit my Church "But the Atheists will tease us"
'Cause it's good enough for me! And thats good enough for me
You could join Jehovah's Witness And let's not forget Pelagius
Running door to door for fitness Though some call him outrageous
Well if you've been blessed with quickness, He is pious and courageous
Then thats good enough for me And he's good enough for me!
CLASSICAL PAGANISM:
We will go to worship Zeus You can dance and wave the thyrsos
Though his morals are quite loose And sing lots of rowdy verses
He gave Leda quite a goose Till the neighbors holler curses,
And he's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
We will pray to Father Zeus We will sing for great Diana
In his temple we'll hang loose Who will teach of love and honor
Eating roast beef au jus, But you really gotta wanna!
And that's good enough for me! 'Cause she's tough enough for me!
Shall we sing a verse for Venus, We went off to worship Venus
Of the Gods she is the meanest, By the Gods! You should have seen us!
Cause she bit me on my...elbow! Now the Clinic has to screen us...
And it's good enough for me! But that's good enough for me!
We will venerate old Bacchus It was good enough for Sappho
Drinking beer and eating tacos With her lady on her lap-o
Til you've tried it please don't knock us She put Lesbos on the map-o
'Cause it's good enough for me! With her pagan poetry!
Let us raise a toast to Bacchus, When we worship Bacchus
We will raise a royal ruckus, The ethanol will sock us
Then we'll lay us down and f**k us We'll all get good and raucous
That's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
Diana is a little spikey We'll sing praises to Apollo;
And she is a little dyke-ey Where the Sun God leads we'll follow
You don't have to be a Psych-e ('Though his head's a little hollow)
To know that's right for me! He's good enough for me!
2322
We will worship with Poseidon Don't neglect that shrine of Zeus'
We will meet him when the tide's in Tho he's lost his vital juices
All the maidens he will ride in The old boy still has his uses
Then he'll give 'em all to me! And he's good enough for me!
All the hunters start convergin' We will all bow to Hephaestus
When Diana is emergin' As a blacksmith he will test us
It's too bad she's still a virgin 'Cause his balls are pure asbestos
But there's still hope left for me! So he's good enough for me!
And what about this Bacchus, There is room enough in Hades
Who lives just to raise a ruckus? For lots of criminals and shadies
Loosens women so they'll f**k us, And disreputable ladies,
Well, that's good enough for me! And they're good enough for me!
We will all see Aphrodite And to help things get real racous
Though she's pretty wild and flighty The priests of Pan and Bacchus
She will meet us in her nightie Will hold a f***ing contest!
And she's good enough for me! And that's all right with me!
Oh we will go and worship Pan,
'cause he just don't give a damn!
Grab a woman or a man,
And that's good enough for me!
Was a time, so I've heard tell, a We all worshipped Dionysus
Fine and promising young fella 'Till we ran into a crisis:
Gave his all to serve Cybele The bar had raised its prices;
But that's damn well not for me! That's not good enough for me!
We'll sing praises to Apollo There's that lusty old Priapus
Where the Sun-God leads, I'll follow He's just itching to unwrap us.
From Ionia to Gaul-o (He'd do more to us than tap us
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!)
We will have a mighty Party Pan's pipes got plugged last summer
In the honor of Astarte And it really was a bummer
Grab your chiton - don't be tardy Finally had to call a plumber!
'Cause she's good enough for me! But he's good enough for me!
In his dancing Pan will lead them Now Danae was sweet as flowers,
When his pipes call we will heed them She was into golden showers;
In truth tho, he don't need them And that showed her Zeus' power
He's more than enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
It was good enough for Venus We will sing our staves to Venus
She'd have sighed if she'd of seen us We will sing our staves to Venus
Letting morals come between us Tho I think this rhyme is henious
And she's good enough for me! But it's good enough for me!
There's one thing that I do know Let us dance with Dionysus
Zeus' favorite is Juno And get drunk on wine and spices
She's the best at doing...you know! The Christians call them "vices"
And that's good enough for me! But they're good enough for me!
It was good enough for Cupid We will venerate old Hermes
It was good enough for Cupid With his staff entwined with wormies
His wings look kind of stupid Warding off the nasty germies
But that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
2323
Let's all drink to Dionysus We will all bow down to Venus
Wine and women beyond prices! As we dance upon Mt. Zenos
He made a Maenad out of my Sis! We will worship with our....voice
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
There are those who, when they've got e-
Normous problems that are knotty
They just take them to Hecate We all worship Aphrodite,
And that's good enough for me! And Her sister bold Astarte,
They both throw a lovely party,
In the church of Aphrodite And that's just fine with me!
She's a mighty righteous sightie,
The Priestess wears a see through nightie
And she's good enough for me
CONFUCIANISM
Let us read works of Confucius We used to study old Confucius
As we walk thru Massachusetts As we sat there on our tushes
In white robes that freeze our tushes We're learning but don't push us
But it's good enough for me! And thats good enough for me
CTHULHU:
We will worship mighty Cthulhu We will worship Great Cthulhu,
H. P. Lovecraft's big old hoodoo We will worship Great Cthulhu,
(1930's fiction voodoo....) And we'll feed him Mr. Sulu
But that's good enough for me! 'Cause that's good enough for me!
Let us sing to Lord Cthuhlu We will sacrifice to Yuggoth
Don't let Lovecraft try to fool you We will sacrifice to Yuggoth
Or the Elder Gods WILL rule you Burn a candle for Yog-Soggoth
And that's good enough for me! And the Goat With a Thousand Young
Of the Old Ones, none is vaster Well it's good enough for *
Even Cthulhu's not his master He's a mighty kinky master
I refer to the unspeakable * When you pray he goes much faster
and that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
And for those who follow Cthulhu Let's go worship Great Cthulhu,
We have really got a lulu: And run naked like a Zulu,
Drop a bomb on Honolulu! You and me and Mr. Sulu,
'Cause that's good enough for you! And that's good enough for me!
* - well, do YOU want to say it?
DISCORDIANISM:
Let us sing to old Discordia Of Great Murphy much is spoken
Cause it's sure she's never bored ya For his Law shall not be broken
And if she's good enough for ya It's not pretty when he's woken
Then she's good enough for me! Things go wrong for you and me!
If your rising sign is Aries If your god of choice is Squat
You'll be taken by the Fairies Well then trendy, man, you're not!
Meet the Buddah in Benares But you'll get a parking spot!
where he'll hit you with a pie! And that's good enough for me!
2324
We will sing a verse for Eris Let us do our thing for Eris
(Golden apples for the fairest!) Goddess of the discord there is
Though she sometimes likes to scare us Apple's golden, it's not ferrous
But she's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
Let us praise the Holy Fool
For he's breaking all the rules
Holds you up to ridicule,
And that's good enough for me!
(THE ALMIGHTY) DOLLAR
Oh, the dollar is our Saviour There are those who scream and holler
If we spend Her or we save Her And get hot under the collar
She controls all our behaviour For their god, Almighty Dollar,
There's not enough for me! Who is good enough for me!
Call Him God, or call him Allah
The priest will take your dollah
Easy living from -your- follah-
-wers, but sorry, -not- from me!
DRUIDS:
We will worship like the Druids, In Pwyll's hall you will be welcome
Drinking strange fermented fluids, But he's not at home too often
Running naked through the woo-ids, Spends all his time in Annwyfn
Coz that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
I'll go get my golden sickle
And I'll wear it where it tickles
It ain't used for cuttin' pickles!
And it's good enough for me!
EGYPTIAN:
Let us sing the praise of Horus When we all bowed down to Nuit
As our fathers did before us There was really nothin' to it
We're the New Egyptian Chorus (Alex Sanders made me do it...)
And we sing in harmony! But that's good enough for me!
We will venerate Bubastis We will pray with those Egyptians
We will venerate Bubastis Build pyramids to put our crypts in
If you want in, then just ast us! Cover subways with inscriptions,
'cause that's good enough for me! which is good enough for me.....!
Let us all now worship Ra We will all do praise to Horus
And take care of our Ka In an old Egyptian chorus
We'll all sit round and go "Ah-h-h!" If there's something in it for us
Which is good enough for me! Then it's good enough for me!
Here's an invitation for us We will venerate Bubastis
All to go and worship Horus Cause my cat walked up and ast us
Doff your clothes and join the chorus (Now the cat box is DISASTROUS!)
And that's good enough for me! But it's good enough for me!
2325
FICTIONAL GODS, DEMONS AMD HEROES:
Here's to those who copy Conan We will sing of Foul the Render,
Here's to those who copy Conan Who's got Drool Rockworm on a bender
They're just Followers of Onan In his cave in Kiril Threndor--
And that's good enough for me! They're both too much for me!
There are followers of Conan. Of Lord Shardik you must beware;
And you'll never hear 'em groanin' To please him you must swear;
Followed Crom up to his throne(in) 'Cause enraged he's a real Bear,
And it's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
Azahoth is in his Chaos We will sing of Iluvatur,
Azahoth is in his Chaos Who sent the Valar 'cross the water
Now if only he don't sway us To lead Morgoth to the slaughter
That is good enough for me! And that's just fine with me!
We will worship Holy Ford We will sing the Jug of Issek,
Beta, Delta, Gamma, Lord And of Fafhrd his chief mystic,
But the Alphas might get bored Though to thieving Mouser will stick,
A Brave New World for you and me! And that's good enough for me!
Let us note the might of Ils We'll invoke the blessed Camber
With a thousand or more quills And the Unicorn of Amber
By the light that from him spills And the wizard Deliamber
He is good enough for me! They're good enough for me!
The late return of the Prophet Zarquon It was good enough for Cthulhu
Caused his followers to hearken Who'd eat me and who'd eat you, too;
As the Universe went dark on If it's good enough for Cthulhu
All of you and me! Then it's good enough for me
HINDU:
There are some that call it folly We will go to worship Kali
When we worship Mother Kali. She will help us in our folly
She may not be very jolly She'd be quite an armful, golly!
But she's good enough for me! And she's good enough for me!
As the goddess Kali dances I will wait till four-armed Kali
With her worshippers in trances Drags me thru that lonesome valley
You can learn some Hindu stances She's disgusting act-u-all-y
And that's good enough for me! But She's good enough for me!
ISLAMIC:
We will all bow down to Allah Warriors for Allah
For he gave his loyal follow Are sure to have a gala
Ers the mighty petro-dollah Time in old Valhalla
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
2326
JEWISH:
If you think that you'll be sav-ed Some guys have a circumcision
If you think that you'll be sav-ed On account of their religion,
If you follow Mogen David An embarrassing incision
Then that's good enough for me! Cut just ENOUGH from me!
Let us worship old Jehovah Let us celebrate Jehovah
All you other gods move ovah Who created us "ab ova"
Cause the one God's takin' over He'll be on tonight on "Nova"
And it's good enough for me! 'cause he's good enough for me!
KAHBAHLA:
We will read from the Kabahlah We will read from the Cabala.
We will read from the Kabahlah Quote the Tree of Life mandala
It won't get us to Valhalla It won't get you in Valhalla,
But it's good enough for me! Yet it's good enough for me!
KRISHNA:
We will all sing Hare Krishna Hare Krishna gets a laugh on
We will all sing Hare Krishna When he sees me dressed in saffron
It's not mentioned in the Mishna With my hair that's only half on
But it's good enough for me! But that's good enough for me!
I was singing Hari Rama
With my friend the Dalai Lama
'Til they dumped us in the slammer
But that's good enough for me!
MIDDLE EASTERN PAGAN:
I'll sing some songs to Lilith, We will have a mighty orgy
Not so young, and not so girlish, in the honour of Astarte
and She's always PMS-ish, it'll be a mighty party
but She's good enough for me! and it's good enough for me!
Lilith wears a lacy nightie We will sing to Lady Isis
And She is a little flighty She'll stand by us in a crisis
She will get you all excite-y And She hasn't raised Her prices
She's wet-dream enough for me! And She's good enough for me!
We will all bow down to Dagon We will all bow down to Enlil
We will all bow down to Dagon We will all bow down to Enlil
He still votes for Ronald Reagan Pass your Cup and get a refill!
And that's good enough for me! With bold Gilgamesh the Brave!
Let us worship sweet Eninni Oh the ancient goddess Nerthus
Let us worship sweet Eninni From herself the Earth did birth us
In a skimpy string bikini And I wonder: are we worth us?
And that's good enough for me! But she's good enough for me!
We will go to worship Lillith Well Dimuzi's on vacation
Grab your cup, step up and fill it He'll be back when spring awakens
Tho 'ware she don't make you spill it! There will be such recreation
And that's good enough for me! There will be enough for me!
2327
Oh the Phillistines abound
Oh the Phillistines abound
They had the biggest Baals around
And that's good enough for me!
MITHRAISM:
We will sing a song of Mithras We will all be saved by Mithras
Let us sing a song of Mithras We will all be saved by Mithras
But there is no rhyme for Mithras! Slay the Bull and play the zithras
Still he's good enough for me! On that Resurrection Day!
MOONIES
We will worship Sun Myung Moonie
Though we know he is a goonie
All our money he'll have soonly
And that's good enough for me!
NEW AGE:
Oh, our Spirits will awaken Well I'm tired of Ronald Reagan,
Oh, our Spirits will awaken He's too square to be a pagan,
Watch the Universe a-quakin' Let's all vote for Carl Sagan!
Which is Gurdijeff to me! He's good enough for me!
Timmy Leary we will sing to I'll arise at early mornin'
And the things that he was into When the Sun gives me the warnin'
(Well, at least it wasn't Shinto) That the Solar Age is dawnin'
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
In the sky I hear a hummin' Just like Carlos Castenada
It's the UFO's a-comin' Just like Carlos Castenada
That's not banjos that they're strummin It'll get you sooner or later
But it's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
NEW WORLD PAGAN:
Thanks to great Quetzacoatl Some folks pray to the Great Spirit
And his sacred axolotl Most folks just cannot get near it
And his gift of chocolatl So they hate it and they fear it
And please pass some down to me! But it's good enough for me!
Praise to Popacatapetl Some folks worship the Kachinas
Just a tiny cigarette'll Some folks worship the Kachinas
Put him in terrific fettle They look like "deus ex machinas"
So he's good enough for me! But they're good enough for me!
Now watch out for the Maya's, Montezuma liked to start out
They might really try to fry ya, Rites by carrying a part out
Sacrifice people, not papaya's, That would really tear your heart out,
Just as long as its not me! But it's good enough for me!
Quetzacoatl's flyin' And when old Quetzacoatl
With the Toltec and the Mayan Found a virgin he could throttle
And the mushrooms he's been buyin' And put her heart into a bottle
Are good enough for me! It was good enough for me.
2328
We will worship Xochipilli We will worship Xipe-Totec
Though it might be a bit silly Tho it is a little lo-tek *
Running naked makes me chilly It is not a bit ero-tek (erotic)
But it's good enough for me! But it's good enough for me!
* "low - tech(nology)
Oh, there's none like Huizlipochtli The Kachinas of the Hopi
For destroyin' people tot'ly Dance about and some act dopey
Best to worship -him- remotely! They don't leave you feelin' mopey
But he's good enough for me! So they're good enough for me!
I have gotten in the way-o
Walkin' with the Monster Slayer
He is worthy of a prayer
And he's good enough for me!
SCIENTOLOGY
L. Ron Hubbard liked precision In matters Dianetic
And he founded a religion You need not get frenetic
That has caught a lot of pigeons Make your Engrams copacetic
And it's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
SHINTO:
There are some who practice Shinto I don't really go for Shinto
There are some who practice Shinto It's just something I'm not into
There's no telling what WE'RE into! Tho I guess I could begin to
but that's good enough for me! 'Cause it's good enough for me!
In Japan they thought it neato
When they worshipped Hirohito
But that didn't sit with SEATO
So it never more will be!
THELEMA:
Uncle Crowley was a dreamer When the clouds they are a'rumbling
At the Abbey of Thelemer And the thunder is a'grumbling
But his magic is a screamer, Then it's Crowley that you're mumbling
So it's good enough for me! And it's good enough for me!
There are those who follow Crowley Let us call an Elemental
Tho the stuff that he held holy For a temporary rental
Turn your your brain to guacamole Just as long as it is gentle
But he's good enough for me! It is good enough for me!
It was good enough for Crowley
With his sacraments unholy
Who smoked pot and ate some moly
And it's good enough for me!
VOODOO:
There are people into voodoo There are people into Voodoo
Africa has raised a hoodoo There are people into Voodoo
Just one little doll will do you I know I do, I hope you do!
And it's good enough for me! And it's good enough for me!
2329
If you're really into dancing
And you wanna try some trancing
Then the Voodoo gods are prancing
And that's good enough for me!
WICCA AND GENERAL NEO-PAGAN:
Well, she raised an awful flurry When old Gerald got it goin'
When she made the scholars worry When old Gerald got it goin'
Thank the Gods for Margaret Murray! All that hidin' turned to showin'
She is good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
It was good enough for Granny It's not good enough for Reagan
She could throw a double-whammy It's not good enough for Reagan
That would knock you on your fanny He's too square to be a Pagan!
And she's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
With the aid of my athame Meeting at the Witching Hour
I can throw a "double-whammy" By the Bud, and Branch and Flower
(And can slice and dice salami!) Folks are raising up the Power
So it's good enough for me! And that's where I want to be!
There will be a lot of lovin' We will worship with the witches
When we're meetin in our Coven 'Cause we're rowdy sons-of-bitches
Quit yer pushin and yer shovin' And they scratch us where it itches
So there's room enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
Well the Christians all are humming We will gather at our saunas
Cause they say their God is coming, When the spirit comes upon us
Our God came three times this evening To perform the Rites of Faunus
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
Some folks worship all of Nature
Tho they love to taunt and bait-cher
They're just funnin', they don't hate-cher
And they're good enough for me!
ZARATHUSTRIAN:
We will pray to Zarathustra It could be that you're a Parsi
And we'll pray just like we usta It could be that you're a Parsi
I'm a Zarathustra boosta! Don't need a ticket; you get in free
And that's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
I pray to Ahura-Mazda I can't rhyme Ahura Mazda,
He's one god who sure won't pause ta I'll praise the man who tries ta
Pound some heads when given cause ta Then I'll wait for Barak Raz ta
Which is good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
UNCLASSIFIABLE VERSES AND UNKNOWN GHODS:
We will go down to the temple There are those who worship no gods
Sit on mats woven of hemp-le For they think that there are low odds
Try to set a good "exemple" That the god-seers aren't drunk sods
And that's good enough for me! But they're good enough for me!
Let us watch Ka-ka-pa-ull Where's the gong gone? I can't find it
Frolic in her swimming pool I think Northwoods is behind it!
Subjecting chaos to her rule For they've always been cymbal-minded
And that's all right with me! And they're good enough for me!
2330
They revered ancient ENIAC Some folks pray to the Orishas
And sacrificed to UNIVAC Tho their humor can be vishas
Now we sing our chants on VAX pack When they grant your stupid wishas
And that's good enough for me! But they're good enough for me!
When you worship Rusto There are those who worship science
Treat your friends with lust-o And some would send 'em to the lions
Pursue your faith with gusto! Without 'em we'd have no appliance
And that's good enough for me! So they're good enough for me
We will all bow down to Gozer
Priestess did it with that Joser
Cross the streams, and there she goes, sir
And that's good enough for me!
We will worship Christian Jesus Drink to FUFLUNS he's just fine
And do just like John Paul pleases The Etruscan god of wine
That we will... when Hades freezes! This verse doesn't really rhyme
And that's good enough for me! But it's good enough for me!
I have got a strange religion John, Paul, George and Ringo
I will worship Walter Pidgeon We will worship playing Bingo
Is he sacred? Just a smidgen! We will listen to them sing-o
But it's good enough for me! And that's good enough for me!
THE OBLIGATORY LAST VERSE
It's the opera written for us!
We will all join in the chorus!
It's the opera about Boris,
Which is Godunov for me!
----------------------------------------------------------------
2331
------------------------------------------------------------------
I suppose that this last song has turned you into a newt by now.
You may not realize that it happened, 'cause that's just how that
sort of thing seems to work. You need to put a carrot on your nose
and find a duck, and weigh it. Then you'll be OK again.
*
THE HIGH HOLIDAY SONG
-Melusine
(Tune "The Serving-Girl's Holiday")
I've waited longing for today
Spin the bobbin and spool away!
In joy and bliss I'm off to play
Upon this high holiday!
CHORUS: And spin the bobbin and spool away!
Oh joy that it's a holiday!
This night of (name) now we greet
Hail my friends, and merry meet!
Strike the harp; the drum we'll beat
Upon this high holiday!
The wine and cakes we've bought and made
Found a spot in a moon-lit glade
Our love and trust will never fade
Especially on this holiday!
In forst glade we've built a fire
Symbol of our heart's desire
Within Her Love we'll never tire
Wit thee well this holiday!
Cast the Circle, we're within
Let the Spiral Dance begin!
Invite the Lord and Lady in
Upon this high holiday!
Dancing, spinning to the tune
The Piper plays beneath the moon
We chant as one the Witches' Rune
Upon this high holiday!
*
2332
By: Lucie
Re: Labelling Wiccans
Hello. I'm the academic that Khaled mentioned. sigh... I've
read the
thread on definitions and I can see the trouble you have gotten into:
prescriptive definition versus descriptive definition. Let me explain:
I am currently working in the Dept of Religious Studies of the Univer-
sity of Ottawa as a graduate student studying contemporary religious
movements in Canada, especially women centered or women defined. This,
by definition,includes Wicca/Witchcraft/Neo-Witchcraft/Neo-Pagan-
ism/Women's Spirituality/Women's Urban(Neo) Shamanism...etc... I'm not
the only one there involved in this research (we have an actual
"Centre for Research in Women and Religion"). We also have a number of
women (and one man) researching collateral aspects of the above
mentioned religious phenomena. We have had to come to some working
definitions so that we can talk to each other and to other religion-
ists.
Personally, I have also had to come up with some minimal
definition of Wicca/Witchcraft that I can use as a representative of
said phenomena (yes, I am using the plural form) when I am asked to
present/explain/ explicate said phenomena to forums such as the
Canadian Council of Churches or the Canadian Association for Pastoral
Education (CAPE). It is as a result of this need, that I have devel-
oped a minimal inclusive descriptive definition that can be used to
differentiate Wicca/Witchcraft from other religious phenomena.
What is a minimal inclusive descriptive definition you ask?
Ok. Minimal = smallest number of characteristics Inclusive = includes
rather than excludes Descriptive = what is actually there rather than
what should be there (prescriptive) Definition = what can be used to
define, ie. to draw a line around, to know relative to what is left
undefined/unknown
I'm using a technique common in Anthropology: componential
analysis, ie. the identification of discreet analytical features
(components) that can be seen as occuring or not. A set of these which
minimally defines something is seen as its descriptive paradigm. A
descriptive paradigm is unique in that it can only be used to define
the phenomenon it describes and no other. Ok? Just so you know what
kind of language I'm using.
Yes, I consider myself 'Wiccan'. No, I am not a member/init-
iate/follower of any specific 'tradition'. I'm too much of an anar-
chist at heart for that, and anyways, how can I swear secrecy if my
only stock in trade as an anthropologist is the knowledge I have
gained by
experience? Sort of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
Ok. So here goes....Relative to any other faith system,Wic-
ca/Witchcraft (I won't seperate them yet) can be minimaly defined as
consisting of these five necessary components:
1) faith system is nature based
2) divinity is conceived as inherent
3) divinity is apprehended as gendered and as minimaly female
4) the locus of decision is the individual
5) the locus of action is the individual in the present
2333
What does this mean? Remember, this is to distinguish this
faith group relative to any other type of faith group. It does NOT
include variations, only COMMONALITIES.
1) nature based: as far as I can tell, all forms of Wicca/Witchcraft
(WW for short?) are based on humans being part of and in nature rather
than apart from. Also, seasonality and elements (air, earth, water,
fire) are central to the human apprehension and interaction with
nature.
2) divinity is inherent: divinity has manifested in all that is, all
that is is an aspect of divinity, we are all manifestations of divin-
ity.....
3) divinity gendered and female: divinity in one of its most apprehen-
dable forms knows itself in the specificity of gender and that gender
is at least female "The Goddess". All groups, whether they acknowledge
the God or not,know divinity in its female form.
4) locus of decision: morality is a personal, individual thing and
responsibility for choices is also a personal, individual thing. No
one can (successfully) impose a set morality on any one else. Ost-
racism seems to be the only -effective- means of moral cohersion used
by adherents to this faith. Its the other side of "Do what thou wilt,
An it harm none" and the Law of Karma. If a person acts contrary to
the community norm, this person will be shunned, ostracized, severely
criticized, and may as a result,leave the community. No matter the
behaviour which the community wishes to refuse to accept, the in-
dividual will not be 'punished' or told that they may not continue to
behave in their chosen way. Again, even community norms (and community
may be read as 'tradition') cannot be imposed or dictated. Even in
oath bound traditions, oaths are taken freely and as freely adhered to
or broken.
5) locus of action: nothing is differed to the 'ever after', nor is
the past
fully responsible for what occurs in the present. This is it, this is
all there is for anyone, make the most of it. Again, no predestin-
ation, no fatalism, no 'heaven' or 'hell', this is not a prelude.
Secondly, no congregation, no group, no church, no polity has
any more importance and certainly far less immediacy than the in-
dividual as the believer and the definer of what is believe. Faith is
lived within the individual, as an individual.
Ok. Remember, this describes ONLY what all forms of WW share,
NOT what deferentiates them from each other or what is defined within
a tradition as what constitutes the whole of THEIR tradition. It is a
minimal, inclusive, descriptive definition..... (part 2 follows)
2334
Whew....So what use is this type of definition? It allows me
to compare WW to other faiths such as Christianity, Shinto, Islam,
etc. It allows me to talk about beliefs and practices without getting
mired in the specificity of traditions. It also allows me to speak of
Gardenarians and Dianics in the same breath. They have more in common
relative to other faiths than they have different relative to each
other...
I was asked what defined WW relative to other Pagans and to
nature based faiths such as Shinto. It took some thinking but I think
I've been able to do it:
WW is
1) focused on the human (rather than nature or divinity)
2) divinity always takes a human form (at least)
3) WW works according to principles (fundamental underlying realities
which inform behaviour)
4) WW is law driven (there is a 'right' or 'proper' way...) 5) bel
ievers need to rationalize and to make scientific their faith (just
think of tables or correspondences and our explanations of 'why it
works')
I was also asked what distinction I made between Pagan, Wicca
and Witchcraft. I do make a difference.
Pagan: from paganus (latin) for of the country side as opposed to
"civitas" of the city
Neo-Pagan: post 196o's revival of country cum nature based spiritual-
ity -seen in opposition to Christian/Mainstream church -logical
spiritual outcome of the 'back to the land' and 'experiential
experimentation/mystical quest' of this same era
Witchcraft (revival): British phenomenon dating from the 1950's. Wicca
is used in Gardenarian texts but not used as a lable of the faith
group or practice. Wiccan NOT used.
Wicca/Wiccan: preferred terms adopted by many North American developed
Traditions of WW to differentiate themselves from British Traditions
(Gardenarian, Alexandrian)
Witch/Dianic: terms of self definition used by many North American
women to acknowledge their mythopoethic/political reclaiming of woman
centered / woman defined spirituality. Often expressed as: Women were
burned as witches in the Middle Ages, well, I'm a witch and you're NOT
going to burn me! May or may not express the adherence to a specific
tradition (Reclaiming, Dianic (Z. Budapest), etc) but is always an
indicator of woman centered / woman defined experience and self
definition.
Neo-Witchcraft: all forms of contemporary Anglo (ie of English lan-
guage,not an ethnic or nationalistic lable) witchcraft to distinguish
from Ancient, Middle Eastern, Midieval, or non-European forms
Wicca versus Witchcraft: as it seems to be used by most people today.
Wicca is a type of religion and witchcraft is a technology (ie spell
crafting,craft of the wise, nature magic....)
2335
By: Randronoth
Re: JudeoPagans 1
***
Iyyar: A Menopause Ritual
Penina Adelman
A time to keep and a time to cast away
This month's ritual has been designed with an awareness of our moth-
ers, grandmother, and great-grandmothers who were earlier inhibited---
even in the community of Jewish women--from marking the cessation of
menstruation, of derech nashim (the way of younger women as in Genesis
31:35) and the release from the physical tasks of childbearing and
childrearing. Now wholly freed, our female ancestors would have been
ready "to give birth" to their personal creativity, to dip into
Miriam's Well without the distractions and responsibilities of family.
We hope to convey a positive tenor to this life cycle event which has
been feared and misunderstood by so many men and women in the past.
Once a woman has reached the age beyond which pregnancy ceases, her
gender identity is often blurred by society. She is in a transitional
state, experienced by those interacting with her as being full of
power and danger. During the tumulous fourteenth century when the
Black Death struck in Europe,those women who managed to survive the
disease and live to old age were thought to be witches.
In interviewing post-menopausal woman to arrive at an appropriate
ritual marking their "change of life", I found unanimous reactions.
All indicated they would forgo any ritual ceremony that emphasized
menopause, fearing a societal backlash which might discriminate
against them as they advanced in age. Most said they did not feel very
different physically after menopause. The aging process itself was
their emphasis; the gradual body changes. These were linked not only
to menopause, but to the entire process of aging. Whether these same
feelings and attitudes will persist when contemporary young women
reach their menopause is now being speculated.
Some women may choose to mark the end of menopause with a "mature age
bat mitzvah" if they have never had one as an adolescent. Setting a
goal such as learning to read and speak Hebrew, to read Torah, to lead
a prayer service, teaching a Jewish text within the forum of a bat
mitzvah, at an age well beyond 12 or 13, is the way many older women
are choosing to reenter the tradition after years of alienation from,
or passive appreciation of, Jewish ritual. Others may wish to invite
friends who experience menopause already or are presently undergoing
it. My own mother has said that she could not imagine participating in
a menopause ritual, but would have liked to get together with her
friends to share experiences of those important years of change.
Hithbagut
Bring: The book of Ruth (several copies); a group for the mithbogeret.
(As preparation, read the Book of Ruth.) Setting: Home of the mith-
bogeret, the menopausal or post-menopausal woman, here named Tamar. We
are in a sitting room. Have pictures of the woman as a baby, young
girl, young woman, bride, mother, grandmother. Flowers and greens of
the season decorate the room. Attending are all the female relatives
of the mithbogeret who can be present--sisters, daughters, mother,
aunts--as well as her good friends, including members of the Rosh
Hodesh group.
2336
Themes of Iyyar
Keeper: Iyyar is a transitional month which falls between two major
holidays--Pesach, in the month of Nisan, and Shavuot, in Sivan. From
the second night of Pesach, we count forty-nine days (seven weeks)
until Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. This period is called the Omer.
When the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, each family would count a
sheaf offering of grain to bring to the Temple on the pilgrimage
festival of Shavuot. The purpose of this may have been partly a way of
blessing the Spring harvest which would also be celebrated on Shavuot.
In the act of counting, the Rabbis saw an opportunity to keep
track of inner harvest of spiritual qualities. Every week of the Omer
was to emphasize a particular attribute of God. Each day of the week
then represented a different permutation of the divine attributes.
In the context of this Rosh Hodesh Iyyar marking Tamar's
hithbagrut, one may think of the counting of years and deeds and
events which make up a woman's life. given are seven distinct stages
of life corresponding to the seven weeks of Omer: conception, pregnan-
cy, birth, childhood, womanhood, motherhood, and maturity.
In the seven-week counting of the Omer, we find the sugges-
tion of seven ritual activities which may be performed during the Rosh
Hodesh celebration for any given month. We take as our impetus the
Rabbis' notion of seven divine attributes to be explored and emulated
for the purpose of healing the ills of the universe. We have desig-
nated these activities:
meditation, ritual immersion, (mikveh), singing, prayer, storytelling
(midrash), text study (talmud torah). eating and drinking.
Omer as Period of Mourning
Keeper of Iyyar: The period of the Omer which includes the entire
month of
Iyyar is considered by observant Jews to be a time of mourning.
Wedding
ceremonies, hair cutting, and playing music are prohibited. The
reasons for this are unclear, ranging from a plague said to have
killed the disciples of Rabbi Akiba in the early centuries of the
Common Era, to the influence of a Roman superstition which held that
during this time of year, the souls of the dead wander into the land
of the living. We do not view menopause as a time to mourn the "end of
fertility", as have many in the past. Our purpose in coming together
today is, rather, to understand and recognize the meaning of menopause
for women who have experienced it or will soon enter its phases. Today
we have an opportunity to think of new ways for women to mark this
time in future years.
Sign of Iyyar
Keeper of Iyyar: The astrological sign of the month is the Bull,
Shor. Nisan is the month during which seeds are planted. The bull
ploughs the earth, bending its broad neck to the ground, dragging a
heavy load. The bull tends the change from the new Spring growth of
Nisan to the first Spring harvest of Sivan. The rhythms of the earth
reverberate throughtout the strong body of the bull.
Kavannah
Keeper of Iyyar: In some cultures, once a woman has passed the
age of childbearing, she is known as the "Wise Woman" of the com-
munity. In her reside the knowledge and values of her people which she
transmits to the young. Hers is the status of a venerated elder. This
contrasts sharply with the devalued status of the aging female in our
own culture. Today we intend to question this and to learn about the
experience all have had during menopause in order to instill new and
2337
positive expectations in our children and grandchildren. One of the
major misconceptions we need to address has to do with sex and the
older woman. In Judaism, sex has never been linked only to procrea-
tion. On the contrary, in addition to procreation, sex exists for the
sake of pleasure, wellbeing, and harmony in a marriage. Therefore,
when a woman has passed the age of childbearing and even earlier, she
is encouraged by Jewish law to enjoy sex with her partner. Are there
any other kavannot? Each woman voices her own intention for the
ritual.
Woman: To mark the passing of physical fertility and to rededicate
ourselves to a greater focus on spiritual, intellectual, and artistic
creativity and fertility.
Woman: To say good-bye to the womb, rechem, the center of childbear-
ing.
Woman: To praise and give thanks for the cycles of life which pulsate
through our bodies.
Woman: To say good-bye and good riddance to tampoons and sanitary
napkins and pads and foams and jellies and diaphragms and pills and
anything else I've left out--forever!
Tamar, the Mithbogeret: I would like this to be a ritual of transmit-
ting wisdom, hokhmah.
In Greek, the word for "wisdom", sophia, was identified with a female
figure. In Hebrew hokhmah is a word of the feminine gender. The
connection between wisdom of Tekoa and Abel in 11 Samuel 14 and 11
Samuel 20, respectively, are examples of what seemed to be a conven-
tion in Isreal at that time--a woman of the community who knew how to
choose her words wisely and communicate the desired message. She was
perhaps a female counterpart to the Hebrew prophet, God's instrument
of communication with the people of Isreal. More examples are found in
Proverbs 14:1 and in poem recited to the woman of the household on
Sabbath evening, "A Woman of Valor." One of the last lines speaks of
her mouth, which "opens with wisdom."
In fairy tales, the woman with special powers, with the knowledge
of creation and destruction, is either an evil witch or a good fairy
godmother. Both are frequently characterized as older women. In this
hithbagrut ritual, we teach and lead a discussion based on two stories
of mother and daughter figures where the mother passes on her life's
wisdom to her daughter. they are stories of Naomi and Ruth in the
Bible and Demeter and Persephone from Greek mythology.
Storytelling
All should have a copy of he story of Ruth and Naomi, or should
have read the story in preparation. Tamar, the mithbogeret, then tells
the Greek myth in her own words.
Demeter and Persephone
Once there lived a goddess who ruled over the earth. She had power
over agriculture, causing aboundant growth of cereals and grains. In
this way she echoed Naomi and Ruth, women of the land. Demeter had one
lovely daughter, Persephone, as fair as the first flower of Spring.
One day Persephone wandered far from her mother to pick flowers which
2338
beckoned. Steeped in the fragrance of those blooms, she was startled
by Hades, the dark god of the Underworld. He seized her and pulled her
down to his cold, damp kingdom beneath the earth.
Demeter sank into despair when her beloved daughter did not return.
She entered into mourning, forgetting to bring new buds into being.
She grieved for her daughter, even refusing to eat or sleep. Thus, the
earth was allowed to wither.
When at last she sought aid from the gods to find her daughter, she
was told that if Persephone had not eaten food in the Underworld, she
could return unharmed to this world. Though Persephone had not been
tempted by food, Hades was able to break her resolve with a single
ruby seed of a pomegranite. Knowing that if he could induce her to
nourish herself in his domain, he could have her as his wife, he
strove to make her taste food. Because of that one seed, she would now
have to divide her time equally between Hades and Demeter, between the
land of darkness and death and the land of light and life.
That is why the Greeks say that the earth blooms half the year and
withers during the other half. When Persephone descends to her hus-
band,
Hades, Demeter forgets to bring the buds into being.
Tamar describes the link between these stories in which an older woamn
passes down special knowledge to a younger woman, and the onset of
menopause in which the transmission of wisdom amoung the members of a
women's community is crucial. She tells of her own experience of
menopause and asks other women to share theirs. The younger women who
are present share their fears and fantasies of menopause and ask
questions of the older women.
Meditation and Movement
Woman: Since menopause involves a new relationship with one's
body, we now meditate on ending that segment of our live characterized
by an active womb.
This meditation begins with a movement excercise called "Aura-
Brushing." The "aura" is the psychic field arond an individual. This
aura may be affected by fatigue, illness, depression, isolation. The
purpose of "brushing the aura" is to symbolize making a fresh start by
discarding the cobwebs which drain one of energy.
We start by forming groups of threes, one woman standing in the
middle, one on each side of her. Now the woman in the middle should
close her eyes. the other two will begin to whisk the air upward from
her feet as they whisper her name repeatedly. They whisk from her
feet, her legs, her trunk, up to her neck and head, whispering all the
while.
Each woman in the group takes turns standing in the middle while the
other two brush her "aura".
Woman: I composed this meditation especially with you in mind. Tamar,
as you and I have been working together, I know the kind of imagery
you might use for yourself.
It is important to note here that the process just mentioned is a
crucial one for the Rosh Hodesh ritual. As pioneers in new ritual, we
continu to scrutinize our conceptions to create meaningful ceremonies.
2339
In this case, Tamar asked for help in saying good-bye to her once-act-
ive womb. another woman might require a different image journey.
Woman: While we composed the following for Tamar, all may participate,
even those not yet at menopause. But do not feel you must participate.
You may wish to close your eyes sending healing energy to Tamar. Or,
you may wish to start with this visualization and then let your own
imagination take over. Some of you may want to leave the room. How you
decide to participate is your own choice.
Now, begin by finding a comfortable position. Close your eyes and
focus on your breathing deeply in and out...
See yourself carrying your womb in a crystal jar. Look at it care-
fully. take the jar with you to Jerusalem. Carry it carefully up to
the Mount of Olives. Find a spot on the Mount of Olives and begin
digging a hole with your hands.
Dig deeply, and when the hole is deep enough, place the jar containing
your womb deep into the Jerusalem earth. Cover the jar carefully. Know
that your womb is buried safely, forever. Before leaving the spot
where your womb is buried, thank your womb for all that it has given
you. Thank the earth for protecting and housing your womb.
Cover the spot with a smooth, white Jerusalem stone. Walk to a nearby
waterfall. Stand beneath it and feel yourself cleased from within and
without. Retuen home knowing that you will continue to be creative
and productive. Feel yourself strong and in perfect health.
When you are ready open your eyes.
When the mediatation is over, some of the women share what they felt.
Others remain silent, choosing to listen. Tamar is very peaceful,
talking about what this ritual evening has meant to her.
Gift the women present Tamar, the mithbogeret, with a gift, one they
have made or bought. The Keeper of Iyyar invites all to partake of the
food and drink on the table.
2340
The Blot
Copyright (C) 1991, 1992 Lewis Stead
The Blot is the most common ritual within Asatru. In its simplest form
a blot is making a sacrifice to the Gods. In the old days this was
done by feasting on an animal consecrated to the Gods and then
slaughtered. (The word blot itself is related to the Norse words for
"blood" and "sacrifice.") As we are no longer farmers and our needs
are simpler today, the most common blot is an offering of mead or
other alchoholic beverage to the deities.
Many modern folk will be suspicious of a ritual such as this. Rituals
such as the blot have been falsely i | | |
