To the North!?

Casting the circle is the essential ritual of Wicca. When casting a circle you, create a place between; a sacred space that is apart from the mundane world in a space without time and without native space. When we cast this circle we layout the poles of direction and attribute elemental power to them. This gives us ground to make our own world where wonder is obvious and miracles are commonplace. Much of us hang heavy over a many questions of the praxy of our circle; today I ask "Where do the elements of a Northern Hemisphere’s circle lay?"

-Do they lie as we are taught: Air in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West and Earth in the North?
Tradition holds power, so placing Earth in the North here makes sense. According to my High Priestess, this layout creates an energy flux of eternal dynamics. The energies start in the East with Air, summoning the attention of the ritual and then conducts it to the South where Fire will direct the energies to the sustaining Earth in the North, crossing the center of the circle, creating a nexus of power. The energy is then actively drawn by Water in the West who holds it to be summoned once more by the Air in the East, again crossing the center of the circle, creating this cross nexus of power. This creates an infinity symbol over the layout of the ritual circle.
According to Deborah Lipp this shows the steps of manifestation. It begins cerebral, with an idea - Air. Then it moves to action and passion - Fire. After a while of action it becomes a place of reaction and reflection - Water. Finally after it has gone through the proper steps it is made manifest - Earth.

-Perhaps with local bodies of the elements?
Perhaps the second idea is the most simple. If you stand in a valley at sunrise with mountains to the west, a lake to the north, the sun to the east and further valley to the south then perhaps Fire burns in the East, Earth rests in the South, Air stirs in the West and Water falls in the North.

-Maybe they fall around the bagua putting Water in the North, Earth in the East, Fire in the South and Air in the West?
The baqua is the tri-gram map of Feng Shui. There are entire books on the subject, but in short this is a diagram of Creation. There are in fact eight tri-grams on this map. Starting at the top or in the South (where the applicant is standing) and going clockwise they are translated as follows: Fire, Earth, Lake, Heaven, Water, Mountain, Thunder, and Wind.
Naturally this system is more complex than our four elemental system, and this isn't even their actual elemental system we're talking about. BUT if we supplant the concepts to a four spoked wheel of our circle with the elements most familiar to us we have the layout spoken of above.
This sets a polar dichotomy: placing the active elements in the North and South and the transitory elements to the East and West.This places Water, the Active Feminine, in the North, cold and receptive, eternally receiving the energies thrust to Her from Him in the South. This is where the Active Masculine is, with the apex of the sun. To the East, place of Spring and bounty is the Earth passing Her energies back and fourth through the constant polarity of Water and Fire in the center of the circle to the West. This is where Air resides in this layout playing in the eternal game of catch and release with Earth in the West. The center is a place of constants and flux, a paradox which is so sacred to many faiths.

- Mike Nichols suggests that the circle once followed the stars, and through ritual tampering certain things were moved. He says that Earth belongs in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West and Air in the North.
Though I don't want to pilferage the entire essay from him, he makes a good argument. For something more in depth read his book. The main of the argument is that our Wheel of the Year and our Sacred Circles follow the path of the sun through the stars. At Mid Winter (Winter Solstice) the sun in the sign of Capricorn, but at First Fire (Bride's Day) the sun enters 15 degrees Aquarius, Air. At Mid Spring (Vernal Equinox) the sun is in Aries, but at High Fire (Beltaine) the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus, Earth. At Mid Summer (Summer Solstice) the sun is in Cancer, but at Dying Fire (Lammas) the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, Fire. At Mid Autumn (Autumnal Equinox) the sun is in Libra, but at Death's Fire (Samhain) the sun reaches 15 degrees Scorpio, Water. Now if we follow the following quarter points as ruling that which has left it then we end up with the layout above.
Below is a point that he did not notice, this is something I picked up while writing this essay.
The solar apexes would leave us placing Earth in the North, Fire in the East, Water in the South, and Air in the West; yet another option.
The flow of the first would have us begin with the manifestation of Earth in the East which then the energy must either be summoned to the North with Air, or directed from the South to the West by Fire to Water.
The latter would leave us with the Energy originating in the East with Fire: the rising sun, and being received in the South by Water, promptly summoned up by Air in the West to be conducted to the North for manifestation by Earth.

Of course there are the seasonal and elemental associations to take into account here.
Earth is the element of plenty, of bounty as is the season of Spring. This would place Earth in the East.
Fire is the element of high energy; passion and the Sun which would make it at home in the South with the Summer and the apex of the Sun’s power.
Water is the element of reflection, intuition and emotion. Some connects with the other world and water is drawn, making sense that it would be found in the West with Autumn.
Air is the cold, calculated element without emotion, with lofty ideals. This could be seen as winter, placing Air in the North.
The elemental and seasonal associations could go in a variety of ways.
This should make for interesting conversation I hope. Again, please feel free to point out to me anything to narrow the arguements.

Tool of Fire? Tool of Air?

As the tools are concerned we've all read and seen the Tool of Air and Fire rearranged and it is somewhat common educated knowledge that there was Ritual tampering with the tools in both publicly published works and tarot from the major facet of occult literature, Uncle Al and his Golden Dawn.
The Rod was presented as a symbol of Fire, and therefore the projector of the Will while the Blade was presented as a symbol of Air and therefore the sender of Energy. Both tools are rightfully phallic in nature, so they do there jobs of sending/projecting but one is more direct, the other more subtle, and this is the point to be made here.
Most try to argue that the Blade is forged in fire, and therefore must be a symbol of fire, though few explanations of why it belongs to air are really ever given. I am going to try to ignore the reason of how one is made as to what makes it of it's element.

In Tradition the Blade is a tool of direct power. There is no question in the minds of men what a blade means when pointed at them. Traditionally this Tool is crafted from steel, double edged, with a black handle. The handle is black (and should be made of a carve-able material) to show that it stores residual energies of the magician. The double edge of this Tool is a display of the nature of that power: healing and harming; while the very nature of the material: steel, is that of masculine projection and force.

The Rod is a Tool of commanding attention and direction; a sign of rulers and heralds alike. Whether to hoist a banner of victory or surrender, to direct music or summon quiet among a unruly audience; the Rod communicates. Of Tradition, the Rod is made of feminine materials such as the wood of the willow tree. This is to show its transitory nature: to receive attention and direct it. When contacting Gods or spirits the Rod is in hand to signify the summoner. Never would the Rod be required for something already present.

So, dear readers I ask, do I make a good point? How do you view these tools? Are there arguements that I've left out either to deny my thoughts or to support them?

So, what's your answer?

When someone finds out your Pagan the inevitable question of, "What does that mean?" comes up. So, short and sweet this week. How do you answer that question to someone outside of the pagan community without sounding like a total freak and at the same time holding true to your beliefs and dignity?

What are They made from?

This is a seriously "duh" topic that I'm surprised I have waited this long before posting, but it was brought up on conversation and the clue-by-four hit hard.
What makes an Elder? Who decides when one is an Elder?
As some of you know, I'm HUGE on community, and I think that Elder is a communal station. As such, I think that being of the community: working, teaching, leading, and helping for a long time is what makes an Elder an Elder of value. I don't think you can move into a new town, not knowing anyone and claim to be a Sage, of course if you were back home, then I suspect it would take little time for that to carry over.
But, can one name themselves a Sage or Crone? I'm split on this. I think it is reasonable to say, "I've own a shoppe in this community for 25+ years, I've taught, lead rituals, gone to festivals, and Hel: I've played midwife for near an entire two generation of you! I am a Crone!" but at the same time, I think you only have the right to make that claim if you have in-fact lived up to the title of your age.
I'm a Seeker at 23, I don't know what archetype I fall into at this point, other than that of course, but I have a good idea of which ones I would like the emulate in a few years. Sage being one of them a long time from now.

Taking the Week off

Sorry I'm getting here late. I'm taking this week ( and possibly next week) off for a couple of reasons. See my personal blog if you are insterested.

Intent

"Do what feels right." "Its the intent that matter."
Know what I hear? "Don't worry about research." "Don't bother with the hard work."
I know that part of getting the magic to work is simple force of Will. I also know that not all things work the same way for everyone. That's not what I'm getting at.

Can we as Witches use the excuse of intent and feel-good to be lazy? If we don't feel that its convenient to fast, or hunt for that special ritual tool, or wait and make space for that special timing, is this okay? Have I been fretting over study that I love so much only to be told that none of it means anything, really, that it is all in my head?

I know the tools are only there to help me focus, but the things like herbs, stones, and such that lend their energies, are they pointless? Why are they here if we could just look at something, see a pink aura around it and make it feel all warm and fuzzy?

This is turning into more of a rant that a question. But feel free to tell me "yes" if you have too. I honestly am curious.

The Call

What is a young Pagan to do if they feel "The Call?" That's what we called it when I was Baptist, "The Call to Preach" or Shepard - so forth. For me: The Call is overwhelming. Sometimes I wish I could accept the Christian belief because I could be a Priest of a Pastor and make that my life center, my calling, my lively-hood. I feel the need to educate, council, and lead in a religious manner. I've found ways to appease myself. If someone is having a bad day then I say, "The Buddha says _______," or "You know, an old Irish folklore would have one _______ to solve that." No, I'm not saying that I think Wicca is The One True Path, and that I want to lead folks to the Goddess and spread the good word of WitchCraft. Not at all.
What I'm saying is that I want to be a Priest, I want my life to center on my religion, and that of others. I don't want to worry about design deadlines, bills, sales, commission, and so forth. I want to lead Ritual in a Temple or Grove, what-have-you. I'm a fair talented artist, and I have a serious knack for teaching, but honestly those are simply aspects of my call to be a Priest. There is no seminary that would do me well enough to matter, no institution of learning that would lead to a life of what I'm looking for as of current.
There are so many conflicts. I could, of course follow in a sparsely tread path behind Isaac Bonewitts, and create one. Though, I have a keen idea of how rough of a walk he's had and going through applying a degree in magic to pay his mounting bills. I feel often that I have a messiah complex when I set out to do something radical in the name of religion. I fear the "cult" stigma. I suppose for a real priest there would be no question of making way through the hard times if for the name of the Divine. Bleh. I think this is the most personal of any post I've made thus far, or will make in some time.