The document, a single sheet of paper, is the original court indictment of Margaret (Stephenson) Scott.  She was a poor widow in her 70′s who was accused by Mary Daniel.  Mary was a teenager from Rowley, MA.  According to the indictment, Margaret was accused of practicing “certaine detestable arts called witchcraft and sorceries.”

Mary Daniel claims that, as a result of Margaret’s sorcery, Mary was ”tortured, aflicted, consumed, pined, wasted, and tormented …” the indictment reads.

Margaret was found guilty and hanged on September 22, 1692.  She was part of the last group of men and women to die during the Salem Witch Trials.

An undisclosed buyer purchased the indictment for $26,000.  According to Richard Task, town archivist for the former Salem Village, this is just the third time in his 50-year career that he recalls a witchcraft document being sold.  Rick Stattler, director of printed and manuscript Americana at Swann, said this is a rare sale even for them. No similar items have been seen at auction since 1983.  ”It’s not that unusual to see a document from this early, but it’s almost impossible to get one on the auction market from the witch trials,” he said. “They just don’t turn up.”

Between June and September of 1692, 19 men and women were hanged, and one man was pressed to death.  Others simply died in prison awaiting trial or execution.

In my defense, nothing said I had to do this every day – just 44 days-worth

The Descent of the Goddess

In ancient times, our Lord, the Horned One, was (as he still is) the Controller, the Comforter. But men know him as the dread Lord of Shadows, lonely, stern, and just.

But our Lady the Goddess oft grieved deeply for the fate of her creations as they aged and died. She would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of death, and so journeyed to the underworld.

The Guardian of the Portals challenged her: ‘Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught may you bring with you into this our land, for it is written that your True Self is the only fitting adornment for those in the realms of Death.’

So she laid down her garments and her jewels, and was bound, as all living must be who seek to enter the realms of Death, the Mighty One.

Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt, and laid his sword and crown at her feet, and kissed her feet, saying: ‘Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me; but let me place my cold hand on thy heart.’

And she replied: ‘Why do you cause all things that I love, and take delight in, to fade and die?’

‘Lady,’ replied Death, ‘it is age and fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace and strength, so that they may return. But you, you are lovely. Return not, abide with me.’

And she replied, ‘Nay, I love thee not and I am needed in the world of the living.’

Again Death knelt, and kissed her knees, saying: ‘Blessed be thy knees that kneel before the Altar. Abide with me; let me place my cold hand on thy heart.’

And she replied, ‘Nay, I love thee not and I am needed in the world of the living.’

Death (still kneeling), kissed her on the womb, saying: ‘Blessed be thy organs of generation, without which none of us would be. Abide with me; let me place my cold hand on thy heart.’

And she replied, ‘Nay though I feel the beginnings of love for thee, I must return to those I fully love in the world of creation.’

Death then stood, and kissed her on the breast, saying: Blessed be thy breast, formed in strength and beauty. Abide with me; let me place my cold hand on thy heart.’

And she replied, ‘Nay though I feel love for thee, I must not abandon those I am responsible for, in the world of creation. I cannot do this thing, better you would return with me.’

‘Lady,’ replied Death, It cannot be so. If I were to leave my realm, and abandon those who seek their comfort and rest with me, then the Wheel would no longer turn. Age and weakness would overtake those whom you love, and they would have nowhere to find rest, and peace, and reunion with those who have gone before. As age and debility overtook your creations, there would quickly be no room for the new, only the withered, the tired, and the stagnant.’ He then kissed her lips, saying: ‘Blessed be thy lips, which shall utter the Holy Names. Abide with me; let me place my cold hand on thy heart.’

And she replied, Let us BOTH lay our hands, each unto the heart of the other, thereby claiming and uniting each unto the other. In this way may I rule my kingdom of birth, creation, and life; yet share with you your kingdom of death, rejuvenation, and rest. United in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, that the Universe may be whole and the Wheel turn smoothly.

Death replied, ‘This is indeed WISDOM, So Mote it Be!’ They embraced, thus pledging their eternal love.

And he taught her all his mysteries, and gave her the necklace which is the circle of rebirth. And she taught him her mystery of the sacred cup which is the cauldron of rebirth.

They loved, and were one; for there be three great mysteries in the life of mankind, and magic controls them all. To fulfill love, you must return again at the same time and at the same place as the loved ones; and you must meet, and know, and remember, and love them again.

But to be reborn, you must die, and be made ready for a new body. And to die, you must be born; and without love, you may not be born.

And our Goddess is ever inclined to love, and mirth, and happiness; and guards and cherishes her hidden children in life, and in death she teaches the way to her communion; and even in this world she teaches them the mystery of the Magic Circle, which is placed between the worlds of men and of the Gods.

And thus we are taught of the beginnings of the wheel of the year wherein the Lord and the Lady share their rulership of the year, each offering and sharing a balance to the other, and the basis of that sharing.

Day 1 is “What is your Witchy Background?”

I suppose that I’m a fairly typical witch, in that I wasn’t brought up under the light of the Moon by parents who worshiped the God and Goddess. I was brought up Roman Catholic, went to Catholic school from kindergarten through 8th grade. I was Baptized, and made Communion and Confirmation. I’d always been interested in the gods of Greece and Rome, since my dad was Greek/Italian. Though growing up, they were more story than real.

I first started to question what I was being taught when I was told that a girl in my class, Nancy, wasn’t going to go to heaven with us because she was Christian, and not Catholic. This seemed wrong to me, because she was one of the nicest kids in my class, and to think that she wasn’t going to be with us at the pearly gates, even though she went to my Catholic school, was sad to me. I didn’t think God would care what flavor of Christian she was. At least, not the kind of God that I loved.

For Confirmation, I picked St. Joan of Arc as my patron saint. She was burned as a Witch for hearing voices. Researching her life made me question whether or not witches actually could exist, and if you could love God and be a Witch, too, because that seemed pretty neat to me at the ripe old age of 12. Fortune tellers were always a draw for me, and I was captivated that some weird cards could tell you the future!

When I turned 15, I believe, my Aunt gave me my first tarot deck as well as Vivian Crowley’s “Wicca: A Comprehensive Guide to the Old Religion in the Modern World.” I devoured it! Later on in High School, I got very into Ren Faire (still am!) and spent most weekends working or hanging out in Sterling Forest with the wizards and fairies and gypsies. There I found my first copy of Buckland’s Big Blue Book. This was the gateway to Scott Cunningham and Silver Ravenwolf. “To Ride a Silver Broomstick” came around at a time that I was seriously attempting to find the path – to put a name to what I was feeling, so that I could move forward. Hers was the first time I saw the word Strega, as I was trying everything on the Pagan Belief Buffet table to see what tasted the best. That one-sentence reference to an Italian witchcraft led me to Grimassi and Aradia.

I dedicated myself to the study of Strega under a full moon in the mountains of North Carolina on the weekend of the handfasting of two of my oldest and dearest friends. I ultimately found family and a path of study that truly moves me. I’m active in CoG, particularly on the local level as a member of EMLC, serving as Publications Officer for the past year.

So that’s the Reader’s Digest version of my witchy background.

Contain rather than hurt
Hurt rather than maim
Maim rather than kill
Kill rather than be killed

We discussed that a person who attacks is obviously in pain, and a compassionate warrior seeks to end someone’s pain.

We also worked on our ready position with our hands at our sides, becoming focused and aware, but not emotionally invested in what was going on. Unbendable arm to the floor, eyes focused straight ahead. Closing the eyes, then opening to bring the feelings and thoughts from the inside out.

After we did this exercise, we paired up for combo’s 1-5. The person punching in was told to punch with emotion and heat behind their strikes. But the person doing the technique was to remain ready and open, and just respond. It was challenging to not get caught up in their emotional energy, but when I was able to not do so, the combinations became easier, and they just flowed out. Punching in was also a change – aiming right for the person’s head and not thinking, “gosh, I hope they move.” but instead just throwing the punch with emotion behind it was quite different from how we do it in class normally. Everyone’s skills were raised. I was really glad to work with Katie – I know that she wasn’t holding back on her incoming attack, and neither was I.

After we worked one-on-one, and discussed what we felt, we did a combination line (probably due to the fact that we kept colliding on the take-downs since there’s so many of us). I got to punch in for Katie, and Harvey punched in for me, all from that same ready position, and all the punchers with the same degree of heat. Again, it was challenging not to let your emotions carry you through the combination… But when you were in that space where you were just ready and relaxed, again the combos just flowed out.

Day 4 started with Master Ken asking us what we’d learned so far. We covered front position, being uncommon, pushing ourselves beyond our perceived limits, being ready, and being a compassionate warrior.

Here we discussed again how the compassionate warrior is the strongest, and bravest warrior. How the compassionate warrior works for the highest good of all. To end the suffering of everyone involved. We talked about how previously, being compassionate meant being weak, or soft. We talked more about the Contain- Hurt – Maim -Kill shaolin saying from earlier, and what each stage would be. Moderate, balanced approach depending on what the situation calls for. The opponent’s actions and attitude tell you how far to go.

Compassion is to yourself first, and then to the other person. Put your own oxygen mask on, first. Gosh, I wonder how many ways the universe will find to send me that message?

Contain rather than Hurt: containing/defusing the situation with words, not engaging in anything physical. But no emotions! Remain calm.
Hurt rather than maim: Punch comes in and you step to the side, maybe an arm-bar or some counter.
Maim rather than Kill: They still are full of heat, so you might break the arm, make them a prisoner in their own body
Kill rather than be killed: Er.. pretty self-explanatory. They choose to commit “Involuntary suicide”

We clarified that the compassionate warrior’s strength and bravery is an inner strength, not how much you can bench or how hard you can punch. It’s touching that place that we have been working with in the “ready” postures. It’s strength of character, and they know the appropriate actions to take. That we must be balanced in our approach.

We also discussed combination 4 and the lesson of combo 4. At many points along the way in combination 4, you have the choice to stop or continue, and it’s the opponent’s actions and attitude that dictate how much farther you have to go to end the situation. You have to be able to see things clearly to know when enough is enough.

We worked on balance at this point, going through some horrible yoga stances that pushed our balance and our bodies – runner’s pose, and some moon poses I can’t remember the name of where you’re in a front ball stance with your hands on either side of your head, fingers to the ceiling and bicep’s at your ears. I actually found the arm positions for these easier, probably from the point of view that there was less gravity working on my arms when they’re straight up and down then when they are out to the sides (like sword). The ball stances, though, were really rough. But again, we were in those same mental positions, of being ready and focused. Eyes closed then opened to bring the inside feelings of “calm” to the outside, and so we were ready for whatever came, clear focus and intent, and able to see what was going on. Even with eyes open, you had to remain calm in the body and body, including the face. Breathing through the pain, shifting when we needed to, working on being calm in the midst of the storm. The weakest thing an opponent brings to the fight is his mind.

Man, it was great to get into horse stances after these!

It felt like the legs were solid, like our feet were part of the floor. This made for stronger kicks on combos 6-9, and better sinking on combo 10. We then paired up outside and did combos 6-9 in the same fashion as we did 1-5 on Tuesday: one person punching in with intent and emotion, and the other doing the combination from that “ready” position, arms down at their sides.

At some point we discussed again that people live in one of three worlds:

• Easy World, where everything is stress free and nothing takes effort
• Comfort World, where you do just enough to get by
• Challenge World, where you are not content to let things keep you back

We also discussed making the uncommon common, that it’s nothing special. When things are simple, they take less effort. If it’s effort, there’s something that’s overworking which means something is underworking. The lessons of sword in the test. Hrm…. coincidence?

Anyone can be brave when things are easy. What happens during the storm? What happens to your mind? Does small self respond? Or large self?

Be a Compassionate Warrior. The Compassionate Warrior seeks to end the suffering of those around them, including themselves. So by coming out of your stance, for example, you’re not failing, you’re being compassionate to yourself. You’re showing a strength that others do not have when you are compassionate to yourself, and to others.

This is the part of Thursday’s test that really resonated with me. It echo’ed the conversation I had with Master Ken during my private on Wednesday. So some of this might be a recap from my previous entry – but day 2 did continue to stir those thoughts.

Master Ken discussed being in the perfectionist’s mindset. We want to do everything to our best ability, but our best ability today may not be what our best ability was yesterday, or a month ago. It’s important to press yourself to where you are uncomfortable, but to also remember where you might have physical issues that could be aggravated by going further. Where, maybe, if you go too low, you hurt yourself more so you won’t be able to do what comes next. This would not be good. Go to where it’s uncomfortable. Stretch yourself. Challenge yourself. Be Uncommon. Part of being uncommon is to have the strength of compassion for yourself and others. That doesn’t give you an excuse not to do a good horse stance. Only you know where that line is between “this is uncomfortable because I’m pushing myself in a new way” and “this is uncomfortable because there’s an injury that’s being aggravated” is, and only you can make the choice of what to do with that information. Being compassionate to yourself will not be held against you.

Being compassionate starts at home, starts with you. You have to be compassionate to yourself before you can truly demonstrate that to others. Showing compassion to others is so much easier than it is to show it to ourselves. We are our own biggest, toughest critic. We know every fracture and every dent and every imperfection in ourselves, and we beat ourselves up over it. But, we’re so much more forgiving of similar “shortcomings” in others. We have to be as good a friend to ourselves as we are to others.

Getting through the physical parts of Thursday were so much easier from this mindset. I think, without the pressure of being in the perfect stance, or the perfect arm position, we actually did better. At least, I did. I was better able to focus on my breathing, and just let myself go to the stance, without having to do it right. I was able to relax and let whatever was going to happen happen.

We worked through 8-point with blocks, but when we did it, it felt like we were doing it against an “unnatural” strike – as we were both left-foot-forward. Typically, when we work 8-point with a partner, the blocker is left forward and the attacker is right-forward, so that you can be attacking with the “correct” side for the block that follows. This was especially true when we worked kicks back and forth (roundhouses and front ball kicks) with 8-point. When I worked with Scott, he was trying to do it in order, 1-2-3-4… and was being pretty ineffective in blocking my kicks. It was more of the opening yourself up, not TRYING to do something but just respond. We know what we’re doing – we have to trust ourselves that we’re going to do the right thing, without trying to do the right thing.

I think that, for me, the “being a good friend,” and “be a compassionate warrior” really hit home. The other thing that came through was something similar from day 1. When we were physically moving around doing the pivots, I could lose myself in the motion and just do it. The same with doing 8-point. I think it’s in those “quiet” times when we’re in stances, where you don’t have anything to really work against except your own mind and body, that the true strength that it takes to be Black Belt comes in. It’s an internal strength, a mental and physical and spiritual feeling deep inside. It’s the part of you that draws strength up from the ground, and feels it feeding your core, giving you the push you need to keep going and not give up. Being able to quiet your mind and feel that you are strong enough, even though every muscle in your body is screaming for you to stop, and your brain is telling you that this is crazy. Finding the calmness in the storm, rather than running from the rain. THAT is Black Belt.

The invitation seemed to come all of a sudden, and slowly, too. The past seven or eight months have been filled with uncertainty, of whether I would be ready or not, as Master Ken had lost track of which rank I was and thought I was farther along than I was. But it seems to have all worked out, and I was invited to test.

Testing for Black Belt has been changed this go-round. Instead of having a standard 2-day test (first day is evaluation and seeing if you are really ready, and then you get invited back for Part 2 if you prove you are worthy), the test will encompass each class in August. Each is mandatory, and part of the test. Those who pass through August will be invited to a special Black Belt Retreat weekend for Part 2.

This past Tuesday was the first class. I was very nervous, not knowing what to expect. In my head, I built up all sorts of horrible things that Master Ken would do to us. In the end, I just had to breathe, and let it go. It will be what it will be.

The weeks leading up to the first class have been stressful. I’m not where I wanted to be to be staring down the bullet of Black Belt – physically, emotionally, spiritually. But, I will do my best, and if my best isn’t ready then so be it.

When we started on Tuesday, Master Ken asked each one of us what we expected. I said that I had tried not to expect anything, as I would just build things up in my head that would convince me I wasn’t ready. But I was also eager to push myself, and have fun.

We started out doing stance work. First front position, and then horse stances. Relearning the proper way to be in front position, to be really ready. Who knew front position could be so hard? We progressed to some qi gong exercises we’d done during the boot-camp: arms out in unbendable arm, palms up… then palms down…then palms pressing out (ala Iron Man)… then spreading the fingers. Each time, to be going lower in the stance.

I was so frustrated with myself during this. At first, I was calm, breathing through it. I picked my spot on the wall and focused on it. But eventually one of the hand movements twinged my shoulder, and I came out of the stance. Shook my arm and went back into it, but I’d broken my spell. From then on, everything hurt. I remember being in tears, not so much because things hurt, but because I was angry at myself for letting my body win out over my mind.

We moved into pivoting front punches from a side horse stance. This actually was fun. I could loose myself in the movement. I wasn’t worried about pulling my foot through my center, or where my punch landed. I was focused on my opponent. I was moving forward into my strikes, doing the best I could. When I worry about foot placement, for example, it interrupts the flow of the punch. I didn’t really evaluate it until after I’d crossed the dojo – I don’t honestly remember getting to the end. It just flowed.

But then, back to stances. And more tears. More frustration. Other people came out of these stance drills bouncing, ready for anything, full of energy. All I wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep. You could chalk it up to the day I’d had, running from the car dealer to work and then a long meeting right before class that made me miss the warm-up class. Or that my head just wasn’t in the right space.

Another round of pivots, then we were done. I got home and was so upset with myself.

The next day, I had a private with Master Ken. And I told him that I resonated with what Rom had said at the end of the test: that he was disappointed in himself. Master Ken said that, of course I did, I was in a perfectionist mindset (no doubt – the moon was in Virgo and growing, afterall..). That I have to remember that I must do my best for That Day. I must take what my body gives me. Even if I’ve done more or better just the day before – it’s what I have NOW that matters. And sometimes you have those days where your body doesn’t have what it had before, for whatever reason.

We’d had this conversation before, but it was typically about comparing myself to others. I was happy that I hadn’t done that with class, really (well, except feeling something was wrong with me for not being so full of energy like Phil or Matt). But I had still set a bar for myself that I didn’t achieve, and I was disappointed. Maybe I really wasn’t ready for Black Belt.

We then discussed the pivoting part of the test, and I said that it felt really good to just let go and move, and not think about things at all. Let them happen. He made me repeat this a few times – he felt this was very important, and it was. If I can just let go, and let what is going to happen happen, then my mind’s not in the way. The mind slows us down, and gets in the way. When we just act, when we respond the way our bodies are trained to, when we released to that inner Master who knows what to do – then we are Black Belt. He said that, with the releasing I described, that my test was already a success!

Unfortunately, he would not give me my Black Belt then and there – even though I asked

So I am looking ahead at tonight, which is Day 2. The moon is in Libra tonight. Maybe my head will be in a much more balanced place, and I’ll not be so hard on myself. I’m excited to see what lies ahead, and to challenge myself in ways I’ve not yet done before.

It was mostly said in jest: being a priestess to one, let alone a whole group, is a big responsibility. And as I’ve seen from the priestesses I’ve known, the Goddess will send you students who try your patience, infuriate you beyond measure, make you cry and shout, and, of course, all of whom you will love deeply as a mother loves her children.

Of course, each of us has to start somewhere, and we all had a teacher who helped us place our feet on the path. As a teacher, you look forward to those students who learn like you do. It’s easy to teach someone who is the same type of student you are.

But that would be no challenge, and we are all in this for the growth experience, so the Goddess sends along all different sorts of students. And in the challenges those students bring, we grow as an individual and in our relationship with the Goddess. Students are sent who learn in ways quite contrary to how we would expect them to learn. Or who don’t seem to learn at all. Or who have challenges that cause them to progress at a rate slower than we would like. Or who, even with all guidance and inspiration, choose not to grow at all.

As a priestess, you are the pilot of the group. You decide which way to go, which path to follow, based on what your “passengers” need. A good priestess takes the needs of the many into consideration, not just her own desires, wants, and needs. Even when a student is being contrary. Even when they are being lazy. Even when they seem quite content with just sitting on their rock. It’s part of your responsibility, based on the contract a priestess has with her students, and with her Goddess, to work the group in a way so that everyone progresses.

So when I said, “Don’t curse me like that,” it was meant in that way – that I don’t feel I’m even a good enough student to keep myself going, let along to be able to see myself in a position where other people look to me for guidance, insights, or learning. And while I know that Don Draconus or Dona Draya or any of the High Priests or Priestesses I know did not sprout full of wisdom straight out of the birth canal, it’s a pretty daunting thought to think that one day, I might be in their position, passing on the wisdom and spirit of my tradition to others.

While the phase, “Back in the old days…” gets thrown around quite a bit, I’ll use it now: Back in the old days, people couldn’t read, and books weren’t mass-distributed. They couldn’t consult an almanac to find out the right moon sign, or see a list of herbal correspondences. Through trial and error, feelings and observations, they felt what was right, and acted upon it.

So practical magick is about seeing what you have on hand, feeling what is going on, and taking the right action. Because when you NEED do to magick, you don’t always have time to run to Spells-R-Us and get all the supplies that some book says you need to make a spell work.

YOU are the magick. The items are just points of focus to help you get your mind and your energies where they should be for the magical working.

Aradia teaches us that Nature is the Great Teacher. When we watch Her cycles, we feel the ebb and flow of the energies around us, and we just feel what is the right path for the workings. Just the act of lighting a candle and bringing whomever, or whatever, we need to work on into focus can be enough. Or forget the candle. When you ARE the magick, just focusing on the thought is enough to set the magick into action.

When you believe the magick works, it does. If you believe it will only work under the right phase of the moon, at the right time, with the right candles and the right rocks and the right robes, then you’re right. The Universe responds to the reality you build, and when you build all those limitations into what you’re weaving, then it will be terribly challenging to do it any other way.

First, I felt how the water is a constant, just like the sky. Where with the sky, the clouds are the transient aspects, I was reminded of how the waves do not define the water. They come and go, but cannot be relied upon to always be there. The truth is the ocean itself, not the waves on its surface.

Watching the waves appear and disappear is like watching the clouds float through the sky, stirred by something unseen and never the same for any length of time.

In the meditation, I also experienced the water itself. I felt what it was like to be the ocean, touching both the sky and land at the same time. I felt the cool breezes on my surface while feeling the coarse sand being smoothed beneath me. I realized that the ocean can serve as a means of bring the blessings of the astral down to the physical realm, through the movement of the waves. The waves are stirred up by things in the astral (the moon, the winds, etc) and scoop up some of that energy as they roll, building and building, until finally they crash against the land, unfurling and releasing the energy they contain into the ground. So in this sense, the ocean can act as a conduit, bringing the astral energy down into the physical plane. By the same token, as the wave retreats, it takes with it some of the sand from the shore, which is stirred up by its movements and scatters into the air, sending energy of the earth to the astral as well.

par·a·dox? ?[par-uh-doks]
–noun
1. a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
2. a self-contradictory and false proposition.
3. any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature.
4. an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.

Both in the Martial Arts and the Faery Seership working, we are looking to resolve paradoxes, defining paradox as “an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion”. With these workings, we might be seen by others who participate in the group-think as paradoxical, as we are taking what is commonly believed to be “how it always is so it must be true” thought patterns and turning them on their heads to find the actual truth. These perceived truths are painted and sculpted by way we perceive and interact with the world around us. In turn, our concept of what is truthful is many-times based on our perception of reality.

When you merely perceive reality, rather than experience it, you have a different point of view from which to look at things. It’s like this picture:

Upon first glance, it’s just a normal elephant with 4 legs. But when you really engage the picture, actually experience it from more than just the periphery, you will see that this is no mere 4-legged elephant. This is akin to the difference between a truth based out of perceived reality (being referred to here as a paradox) and a truth based out of experience.

When we operate from a place of real truth, truth that we know to be true because we have experienced how real it is in some way, those paradoxical truths expose themselves like neon lights in Vegas, allowing us to navigate around them so that they cannot impact our lives and give us a false sense of truth.

So how do these paradoxes originate? How do they perpetuate? Are we born with them? Are they learned conditions?

We all are brought up being taught that different things are true. One truth that we all hear is that the stove is hot. But until we touch the stove and feel the heat, we are simply basing our assessment of the stove on someone else’s perception. The stove is not always hot, but there are times when it is. It’s only when we touch it when it is turned on that we can say, “Ah ha! That stove is hot!”

There are other thoughts that are accepted to be truth by the Group-Think that are not real. An example of this is the thought that all Black people are good athletes. Or that Asians are good at math. If you’ve never encountered a Black person, or an Asian person, you might believe these statements to be true if someone whom you trusted told you them. But in reality, when you experience interactions with various cultures, you will find that they are just like everyone else: not all Black people are great athletes, and not all Asian people are good with math. Until you have experiences that prove those truths to be contrary, you operate under the paradoxical notions, the perceived truths.

When you begin to have experiences that seem contrary to the perceived truth around you, you might question the validity of those experiences. Or the group might attempt to make you cow-tow back in line to accept the group truth. People hold many truths that have no basis in fact, and will cling to those truths despite what your evidence may be to the contrary. Truth is dictated often from the place of the observer. Like that Star Trek: Next Generation episode where Captain Picard is held captive by Cardassians who attempt to force him through torture to say that he sees 5 lights when, in fact, Picard only sees 4. Or in Nineteen Eighty-Four, when Winston is tortured into saying 2+2=5.

Sometimes we deceive ourselves into our personal truths. A gorgeous woman who truthfully believes she is ugly. A world-class guitarist who cannot hear the talent in his playing. A writer who believes their epics are slightly less meaningful than a “See Spot Run” story. Truth is subjective, and, as such, can serve to prevent us from seeing the core of the situation, the facts, the roots.

For those daring enough to find them, there are modalities of training that serve to help see past our own personal truths to the actual truth, or core, of a situation. In Broadsword, we call it Piercing the Illusion. In Faery Seership, we call it Dispelling the Spell of Forgetfulness. Both serve the same goal – to assist you in determining what is truth based on truth, and what is truth based on perception.

When you work with the sword, it is an amazing truth-teller. Nothing brings your focus to the here and now, devoid of all other distractions, like the movement of a very sharp blade in very close proximity to your very fragile personage. You may have convinced yourself of a “truth” that you know a certain move, but actively doing the move may tell you otherwise. With the sword, we cut away those ribbons that bind us to false truths to experience the real truths. It may start physically, but it ripples into your thoughts, words and actions. Once you have tasted the sweetness of truth, the bitterness of paradox and lies is quite apparent. You can not only see those lies that we tell ourselves, but you can see the lies which perpetrate as truths to others.

It is the same with Seership. Those paradoxical views, those false truths, cling to us, cling to our blood. It stagnates our progress from this life to the next. Our entire family line can be mired down due to the false truths of the distant past. Those paradoxes cling to the blood, causing entanglements that can only be unwoven with truth, real truth. Much like we cut away the ribbons of false truth with the sword, so, too, do we comb through the entanglements with our golden combs. By tending to the ancestral energies, we allow future generations to come into the world without the paradoxical truths that bound us. These paradoxes are the Spell of Forgetfulness, which is cast to draw us into societal morays, to forget the ancient wonders and powers within us. But through experiential acts, through tasting the sweetness of memory, by awakening that knowledge in the blood of what it is like to stretch and feel creation without the entanglements of paradox, we are able to pass a cleaner lineage onto those who follow us. We become redeemed, and redeeming, ancestors, whose wisdom can be trusted as it is based on real truths, rather than perceived thought-forms.

Believe none of what you hear, half of what you see, and all of what you experience.

When there is a problem, such as difficulty with a move or a concept, to resolve the issue, you must determine its cause. If it is a moment, what is there in the preceding movement that maybe did not set you up for success? If it is a concept, is there some element about which you are not clear about and need further research or information? In essence, we are looking to the root of the problem, the ancestor of the problem, to help us identify the best course of action to use to overcome the challenge the problem presents.