Gray Witchcraft
Every thing in nature is usually seen in the eyes of most any pagan as being dualistic. They consistantly teach of how one must be able to understand and work with these seemingly opposing forces. For example, there is the standard lord and lady or god and goddess. These are the two forces and divisions of male and female, physical and spiritual, etc. etc. Now they also tend to speak of these two forces being the division of a previous unified force, or the divine. The god and goddess generally represent any of the dualistic polarities, this too would include the polarities of positive and negative. Now as we all know, magic in itself is a neutral energy or force. Now recently with the birth of Wiccan and many of these new age practices there is this teaching of 'harm none' or 'only positive magic'. Quite frankly this doesn't make sense.
First off, if all the afore-stated is true then the divine, that whice all the polarities are the division of, is just the same as magic as it would be. The divine is neutral, grey. It is both positive AND negative.
Second of all, there is now way that one can ever do anything and still be under the law of 'harm none'. No matter how hard you try, anything that anyone does harms SOMEONE, intentional or not.
Now I'm not say that everyone should go out and just curse everyone or go out just looking for blood. What I am saying is that everything we do neutral to some varying degree. I am also saying that we, especially us witches, should not be this overly concerned with being what some would call 'white witches'. The divine, nature, and magic are all neutral. Doesn't that tell you something? There are times when so called negative magic is just plain out called for. The witches of old did not concern themselves with some rede, no they casted what they needed to cast in day to day life. They helped people, some of them, but mostly themselves and their own. They were healers, teachers, warriors, peots, etc etc. They were people who lived their lives magically, they knew the nature of the divine. They didn't have some cosmic scale weighing out their good deeds vs their bad ones. We should learn from nature and the divine as well. We need to learn the Gray
Author Ben
Every thing in nature is usually seen in the eyes of most any pagan as being dualistic. They consistantly teach of how one must be able to understand and work with these seemingly opposing forces. For example, there is the standard lord and lady or god and goddess. These are the two forces and divisions of male and female, physical and spiritual, etc. etc. Now they also tend to speak of these two forces being the division of a previous unified force, or the divine. The god and goddess generally represent any of the dualistic polarities, this too would include the polarities of positive and negative. Now as we all know, magic in itself is a neutral energy or force. Now recently with the birth of Wiccan and many of these new age practices there is this teaching of 'harm none' or 'only positive magic'. Quite frankly this doesn't make sense.
First off, if all the afore-stated is true then the divine, that whice all the polarities are the division of, is just the same as magic as it would be. The divine is neutral, grey. It is both positive AND negative.
Second of all, there is now way that one can ever do anything and still be under the law of 'harm none'. No matter how hard you try, anything that anyone does harms SOMEONE, intentional or not.
Now I'm not say that everyone should go out and just curse everyone or go out just looking for blood. What I am saying is that everything we do neutral to some varying degree. I am also saying that we, especially us witches, should not be this overly concerned with being what some would call 'white witches'. The divine, nature, and magic are all neutral. Doesn't that tell you something? There are times when so called negative magic is just plain out called for. The witches of old did not concern themselves with some rede, no they casted what they needed to cast in day to day life. They helped people, some of them, but mostly themselves and their own. They were healers, teachers, warriors, peots, etc etc. They were people who lived their lives magically, they knew the nature of the divine. They didn't have some cosmic scale weighing out their good deeds vs their bad ones. We should learn from nature and the divine as well. We need to learn the Gray
Author Ben
From our cauldron....
The Gray Witch
This is my version for it is who I am
She walks the balance of light and dark,
She knows Her magick, uses it wisely
The Gray Witch also embraces the old and some of the new ways
Yet not bound by laws of tradition made by man
She seeks no harm to any
Yet will do what is need to protect Her and those she loves
When all has been done then Her magick she will work
Harm None she respects, but it is not an absolute
Her path truly is eclectic for She knows
there is truth in all ways if we are open
we then will see and know our truth.
)0(
According to the dictionary a Gray Witch is neutral
She does not harm but does not bless or benefit any one.
I sort of differ in this as I do bless my sisters and those who may request
I also believe very well if I am justified and my own plate is clean
I may use my magick in justice if me or family is threatend
I do not play yet do not, nor will I hex or curse any just becasuse you cussed at me on the high way
That is not what magick is for and there are consequences for misusing magick
Misusing energy can be harmful
Example , put your hand through an electric socket
make sure switch turned on
I can tell you , you will wish you did not/
Magick like energy which is energy is neutral
Not bad or good
It is how we channel and use it
I really like what Lady Amythest Raine said in Her blog
What’s a Witch to Do?
Protection Magic: Flexing Your Magical Muscle
To bind or not to bind, to hex or not to hex-- What’s a witch to do when she’s confronted by a bully? Because a magical practitioner has more of an arsenal in her handbag with which to defend herself than the average person, you would think that her options would be varied and her reasons for using them valid. However, in the modern day world of the witch, there are several people and groups who propose the somewhat Christian option of ‘turning the other cheek’. We also have pagan purists who scream ‘Karma’ and gather their magical skirts about them in a panic.
The result of this is that it leaves many of the witches in the world, afraid to rile the purists or negatively influenced by the neo-flower children, completely unprotected and open to the dark energies of an enemy, the destructive forces of a foe, or victims of the rampant overwhelming energies generated by a group. It leaves the witch, plain and simple, between a rock and a hard place.
What’s a witch to do?
Is it permissible for the witch to use witchcraft to protect herself?
You bet your sweet cauldron it is, and we’re going to look at a variety of possibilities that will both protect the occult practitioner and do so in an honorable and ethical manner."
Being a Gray Witch
is very natural to me
as the Moon
Her color is is silvery white
Her light is from the sun
she is both Dark and light
she has Her phases
it is not one or the other
Balance
For me I embrace both dark and light
As you can not have day wihtout the night
Being a Gray Witch is natural to me
Magick is not good nor evil
Magick is working with energy
Energy just is
Magick just is
Being a Gray Witch
I just am
Blessed be Lady Shadow
Basics of Gray Witchcraft
I do not do all of these as personally I am more focused on the Goddess and eclectic in my path
so again my definition and ways differ a bit.
The Principles of Our Way:
The environment of this great planet, planet Earth, is the cathedral of our worship. Therefore, as often as possible our rites should be held in the forests, by the sea, on the mountaintops of the desert, within the fields of the plains, or wherever nature prevails with a loud voice. Whenever this is not possible gardens, chambers, or man-made shelters will suffice, but they must be purified and their false nature acknowledged.
Always seek out wisdom and truth. It is found in the things of humanity: religious texts, philosophical notes, cryptic poems, paintings, and rare manuscripts. However, the greatest of wisdoms and truths are found in the simplicity of nature: within stones, herbs, fields, forests, deserts, animals, and the elements of old. Listen to the elements of old and the elements of new, for in them are hidden the secrets of our universe.
Cautiously accept change, for it is part of our nature, however, steer clear of those who would have it quickly, for the Earth herself declares not rapid change, but a steady shifting of her ways.
There can be no monopoly on wisdom and truth. However there will be some who would use it for harm. Therefore, share your wisdom with others, but share it according to necessity, experience, and balance.
Mock not another’s beliefs and convictions, but rather share our beliefs and convictions with them. To do so can only lead them toward balance and harmony, for knowledge breeds acceptance.
Ensure that your actions are honorable and true, for all that you do will be written in time forever, and shall return to you infinitely, good or bane. Do not adhere to those who would claim you can distance yourself from your actions, for this is a falsity. Only your actions may distance themselves from you through the course of the ripples of time.
Beware of those who would dominate, control, and manipulate you, your workings, and reverences. Such one-sided ideologies are not balanced and harmonious and will surely end in disaster. If all are not equal in unity, if one individual’s voice is all that is heard above the rest, and if one individual’s way is all that is accepted than they have not understood our way. There are no chieftains with authority in our nature, for chieftains given authority quickly forget the necessities of all things in unity.
Honor all things animate and inanimate, for this is our way. We are the kings and queens of this world, and our duty is to care for it. Do not destroy life save it be to preserve another or your own.
And know in your hearts that these are the principles of our way.
The Thirteen Dedications of the Gray Witch:
I. The God/dess is the infinite, the “cause of the first cause” that always was and yet never was. All other gods, goddesses and things are faces of the One true Unity. They may be honored separately or together, but all are One.
II. You shall seek out total and complete balance in all things that you are, that you do, and that you shall seek to be.
III. You shall only use magick to achieve balance and truth.
IV. You shall make certain that every action is thought out thoroughly before it is acted upon and that balance and unity are its objective.
V. You shall never lie to hide your deeds and desires unless by lying you are preserving the balance of nature that has not already been tainted by your actions.
VI. You shall uphold the rights of all toward nature, and of nature toward all, for this is balance.
VII. You shall hold no ideals of humanity above the ideals of nature’s balance.
VIII. You shall respect all things living, all things dead, and all things spiritual in nature.
IX. You shall only disturb an environment when it is necessary for balance.
X. You shall recognize “balance” as anything that upholds nature and unity; be it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, or ideological.
XI. You shall be committed to your beliefs, family, clan, tribe, nation, and world.
XII. You shall seek out balanced health, balanced love, balanced truth, and practice moderation.
XIII. You shall not adhere to any beliefs, methods, or evidences of proof that distinctly contradict the Thirteen Dedications, for anyone can make an apparent truth manifest.
Our Creed
I give myself unto the God/dess,
The creators of our universe,
For they are the Spirit of Love,
Who formed us from the Earth,
I live in the Unity that is Them,
Complete and as One,
And believe Their love shines brightly,
Through the Earth, Moon, and Sun,
I believe there is balance,
I shall seek it everywhere,
I believe it’s my duty to live,
To seek love and to share,
I trust in the power of magick,
Which is rooted in my faith,
And I trust in my family and coven,
To keep and make all safe,
So mote it be!
The Nine Noble Virtues:
I. Courage- be courageous in all that you do
II. Truth- seek out truth and share it, but rebuke unjust lies
III. Honor- be honorable, just, and true
IV. Fidelity- give allegiance to your beliefs, family, clan, tribe, nation, and world
V. Discipline- practice self-discipline, moderation, proper guidance, and justice
VI. Hospitality- practice hospitality toward all, but beware the stranger’s word
VII. Self Reliance- know yourself, rely on yourself, and trust in yourself
VIII. Industriousness- knowledge and hard work are the keys to survival
IX. Perseverance- do not cease to uphold your convictions and attain your goals
Identity of worship and reverence:
Practitioners of the gray craft may hold their rites either solitarily or in groups. There are no correct or incorrect ways by which to hold the rites of gray witchcraft other than by upholding the nature of our way. As long as one or many are upholding the ways of the gray craft they may rightly call themselves practitioners of our way.
The way of the Gray Wizard is found in the nature of our way, the Principles of our way, the Thirteen Dedications, the Creed, and the Nine Noble Virtues. These are the qualifications of the gray craft…
Deity and the Gods and Goddesses Of the Gray Craft
The Way of the Gray Wizard is both monotheistic and polytheistic, for we believe in one ‘Unity’ with many faces. Each and every individual god is a high personality or characteristic of the entire Unity, or one true deity. Not only is this Unity composed of the various gods of old and new, but it also is composed of all the various goddesses of old and new. The Unity is also quite polar and dualistic. In essence the Way of the Gray Wizard is a dualistic polytheism that forms a monotheistic unity.
A grand example of just what it is that a practitioner of the gray craft believes in is in humankind itself. In the whole of humankind is found dualism in gender, differences in appearance, various personalities and traits, as well as special areas of interest and natural cunning. Each individual human being is wondrous, incredible, and dangerous in his/her own rite. However, it is humanity as a whole which is most wonderful, powerful, and deadly. It is not the individual that makes one great, but many individuals that make all great!
Those who practice the gray craft believe that the God, or father-god, has many faces, personalities, and traits. He is manifest in many ways just as man, or the masculine, is manifest in many ways. In addition, followers of the gray craft believe that the Goddess, or mother-goddess, has many faces, personalities, and traits. She too is manifest in many ways just as woman, or the feminine, is manifest in many ways. Together the God and Goddess are a union of the God/dess, who is One, or the ‘Unity’, just as men and women are the united polarities of humankind.
Furthermore, not only are all the various gods and goddesses separate and independent parts of the ‘Unity’, but all things existent and non-existent also comprise the ‘Unity’. All are one and one are all. The God/dess is neither within the boundaries of the circle or without the boundaries of the circle, but instead the God/dess is the circle itself. Just as each individual numeral is finite, composing the infinite, so too is the God/dess both finite and infinite, existent and non-existent, with form and without form. The God/dess is all things that where and where not, are and are not, will be and will not be, for the God/dess is all, the ‘Unity’.
The God/dess that is revered by practitioners of the Way of the Gray Wizard is comprised of the earth, the moon, the stars, the sun, the sky, the trees, the rocks, the waters, energy, space, time, the elemental beings, and all things existent and imaginable. S/he is neither male nor female, but rather is equated to both genders separately and jointly. The God/dess is the Unity of the God and Goddess. S/he is the ‘unit’ of their existence, power, and purpose. The God/dess is male, female, with gender, without gender, heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual; the God/dess is omni-sexual and omni-gendered. Furthermore, the God/dess is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, for the God/dess is all things; good and bane, the God/dess is all things at once.
Typically, a practitioner of the ways of the gray craft will revere the God/dess, but they may also revere the separate entities that comprise He/r according to their desired areas of necessity. When this task is undertaken (referred to as ‘invocation’ or ‘evocation’) it will usually be recognized as calling upon the gods of old. The gods most often called upon are the gods and goddesses’ of one’s ancestors. However, it is also quite common and accepted to call upon other gods and goddesses. Obviously several deities have many different areas of special interest and skill. Here is a listing of some of the gods and goddesses of old, their people, and their respective areas of reverence:
Gods
Agriculture and Fertility- Bris(celtic), Cerunnos(celtic), Consus(roman), Dionysus(greek), Frey(norse), Pan(greek), Saturn(roman)
Arts and Inspiration- Apollo(greek), Bragi(norse), Hymen(greek), Lugh(celtic)
Beauty and Appearance- Angus Og(celtic), Balder(norse)
Commerce and Money- Cerunnos(celtic), Hermes(greek), Mercury(roman)
Death and Destruction- Arawn(celtic), Cerunnos(celtic), Labraid(celtic), Hades(greek), Osiris(egyptian), Pluto(roman)
Healing and Rehabilitation- Apollo(greek), Asclepius(greek), Bran(celtic), Horus(Egyptian)
Intoxication and Frolic- Bacchus(roman), Dionysus(greek), Liber(roman)
Love and Relationships- Balder(norse), Bes(egyptian), Cupid(roman), Eros(greek),
Masculine and Male polarity- Daghdha(celtic), Jupiter(roman), Odin(norse), Pan(greek), Uranus(greek),
Mischief and Chaos- Loki(norse),
Rule, Law, and Order- Foresti(norse), Jupiter(roman), Zeus(greek)
Science, Philosophy, and Intellect- Balder(norse), Hermes(greek)
Sex, Desire, and Lust- Backlum Chaam(mayan), Cupid(roman), Eros(greek)
Travel and Communication- Hermes(greek), Hermod(norse), Mercury(roman)
War, Conflict and Protection- Anubis(Egyptian), Camalus(celtic), Mars(roman), Thor(norse), Tyr(norse)
Goddesses
Agriculture and Fertility- Aine(celtic), Anu(celtic), Ceres(roman), Demeter(greek), Diana(roman), Eostre(norse), Flora(roman), Freya(norse), Ops(roman)
Arts and Inspiration- Athena(greek), Brigid(celtic), Minerva(roman), Saga(norse)
Beauty and Appearance- Branwen(celtic), Hebe(greek), Idunna(norse), Macha(celtic), Niamh(celtic), Venus(roman)
Commerce and Money- Maia(roman), Minerva(roman)
Death and Destruction- Cerridwen(celtic), Don(celtic), Hel(norse), Kali(hindu), Libintia(roman), Morrigan(celtic), Persephone(greek), Proserpine(roman)
Feminine and Female Polarity- Artemis(greek), Brigid(celtic), Cerridwen(celtic), Diana(roman), Fauna(roman), Frigg(norse), Gaia(greek), Isis(egyptian), Juno(roman), Morrigan(celtic)
Healing and Rehabilitation- Airmid(celtic), Durga(indian), Eir(norse), Salus(roman)
Intoxication and Frolic- Bellona(roman), Lofn(norse), Mebd(celtic)
Love and Relationships- Aine(celtic), Aphrodite(greek), Astarte(semitic), Branwen(celtic), Frigg(norse), Hera(greek), Sjofn(norse), Venus(roman),
Mischief and Chaos- Ate(roman), Eris(greek)
Rule, Law, and Order- Dione(greek), Maat(Egyptian), Minerva(roman), Nemesis(greek), Skadi(norse)
Science, Philosophy, and Intellect- Athena(greek), Druantia(celtic)
Sex, Desire, and Lust- Achtland(celtic), Aidin(celtic), Aphrodite(greek), Druantia(celtic), Freya(norse), Ix Chel(mayan), Kupalo(Slavic)
Travel and Communication- Bast(egyptian), Gna(norse)
War, Conflict and Protection- Athena(greek), Babd Catha(celtic), Brigid(celtic), Diana(roman), Freya(norse), Morrigan(celtic)
Additional Explanation of Beliefs
Both good and bane are necessary for proper balance as is clearly defined by nature. The Gray Wizard or Witch looks to nature to seek out proper balance and harmony.
Karmic law and its methods are written into nature to ensure proper balance. Karmic law is not based upon intentions but rather on actions; karmic law by itself has no care for intentions.
It is natural, balanced, and acceptable to express love equally toward each gender and race, and to make a commitment toward the unification of humanity; all things are bisexual by nature.
Commitment to family and partners is an action of balance and harmony that ensures the survival of nature, however, commitment should never include the exclusion of others; exclusive monogamy is an imbalanced practice that hinders the unification of humankind.
All of nature is privy to the basic natural rights of life, liberty, reproduction, expression, thought, movement, freewill, and growth. These are things that should not be censored, restricted, denied, or sold for monetary gain. As these basic natural rights are given, so should they only be taken away or withheld; nature is the image of the God/dess.
All things have a spirit energy that is part of the ‘Unity’ of the God/dess and are destined to evolve into either total unity or total discord. There is no single destination for one, but a single destination for all; our intentions only affect our universal destiny.
Energy, which comprises all things, can neither be created nor destroyed, but only transformed. Therefore, as all things that are now are the God/dess, all things that are no more still remain, but have been transformed. The God/dess always was and always will be, and S/he can only transform into H/er own destiny, which is also our destiny.
All things within nature are inherently balanced, useful, and with purpose when used in moderation and according to their perspective purposes.
This is from and the rites and rituals are from
All information is Copyright 2006, Owner Graywitchcraft.com, All right reserved.
(you can use it, copy it, or distribute it, just remember where it came from
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