When someone explains Wicca or Witchcraft, they almost always indicate that our belief system is a “nature-oriented religion.” This means that we follow the cycle of the seasons in our religious practices, respect life in all its forms on our planet, and often link our magick and love of deity with the many facets of Earth. Whether we live in the city or the country, this important tie is never broken. It isn’t surprising that the earth-related customs of our ancestors are very much a part of the rites and celebrations of modern Witchcraft. Those that came before us lived closely to the land, and depended on a prosperous harvest to survive. Our ancestors learned to read the stars, till the earth, follow the signs of nature, and commune with the animals to bring harmony into the household. Although the cultivation of soil has been practiced for thousands of years, the garden as we understand it today, with a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, did not begin in Europe until the 1500s. Those who had farms and gardens followed the phases of the moon and the moon in the signs for practical, daily living. Many bibles at the turn of the nineteenth century contained astrological information for animal husbandry, farms, and gardens. Indeed, what we view as “magick” today (in farm and garden lore) was simply considered practical advice in those times, yet by 1872 city folks sneered at the very thought that the moon could affect agriculture, relegating many sound practices as superstition for the simple minded.30
Magickal people of this century have realized the importance of living with the seasons rather than struggling against them, and in that understanding we have cultivated a rich and harmonious lifestyle. Many have made the effort to dig through local historical records to find reference to agricultural practices of their region, especially if they have their own farms or gardens. Others investigate community customs in an attempt to revitalize the magick of earth, sea, and sky as our ancestors enjoyed them in their personal rituals. If you work magick and ritual for any length of time at home, you cannot help but learn in which direction the sun rises and sets, the natural currents of the winds in your locale, what type of storm comes from which direction, what plants are native to your area, and which flowers, birds, trees, small animals, herbs, and weeds find sanctuary in your magickal stomping grounds. The more you commune with nature, the more balanced your lifestyle will become.
There is another upside in working with nature, and that falls within the realm of your pets (should you have any). As you work with nature by celebrating the seasons, paying attention to the weather, and enjoying the beauty of our planet, you will begin to intuit the health of your pets. Symptoms that may go unnoticed by others in the household will be obvious to you. In some cases your heightened sensitivity will literally save the life of your pet, where in more normal circumstances you will be able to ensure that the animal receives medical care that can prevent an illness from becoming something more drastic.
Deities and Nature
Pagan deities also have a rich and vibrant attachment to nature in the form of animal husbandry, agricultural, and seafaring myths. Indeed, all Pagan deity pantheons are closely tied to the planet and her seasons. You just have to dig through history to find those associations. Therefore, when you call a deity into the magick circle, you are also inviting the seasonal energy and any nature power related to that god/dess.
Although modern Witchcraft is tempered by various myths, from those who are completely immersed in Celtic history to those who celebrate the highlights of Egyptian flair and enchantment (to name only two), there is a strong line of belief that runs through all areas of the Craft: the cycle of the seasons as it relates to male and female energy, and the combining of the two to create the fluid energy of life on this planet. What is often confusing to the new Witch are the various myths attached to any given season. Unlike (for example) the Christian religion, which has only one legend for a given day, the Pagan religions may have several, each believed to be as important as the other. The age-old battles of the Oak and Holly Kings, held twice a year at Midsummer and Yule, are a traditional reminder in some Wiccan groups of our Pagan root system, where others might celebrate the divine wedding of the Lord and Lady at Midsummer (or Lughnasadh) instead. The myths used may depend upon the pantheon of the practicing Witch. Some like a smorgasbord of ideas and exercise them all! What never changes is the idea that we are tied to the land, and the land is tied to us.
More About the Green Man
When studying the Craft you will, at one point, stumble on our beloved Green Man. Once you meet him, you won’t forget him, and he will speak to you often—from the trees, the grass, the desert sands, in flowers, bushes, and even seaweed. He is the ultimate god of vegetation, symbolizing fertility, bounty, and harvest; the Green Man “appears and seems to die and then comes again after long forgettings at many periods in the past two thousand years. He is much older than our Christian era, and in his appearances he is an image of renewal and rebirth.”31 The Green Man constantly reminds us that the Earth is a single, living organism, of which we are only a part.
Throughout history the most common image of the Green Man is that of a male head surrounded by leaves and branches, as if the face and the vegetation are as one (see above). Visit almost any lawn and garden shop in the United States and you’re bound to find at least one, if not several, of these faces cast in stone, pewter, bronze, or ceramic, ready for placement in the most fashionable American gardens. In Europe we find him in churches, shrines, secret alcoves, government buildings, statuary, castles, and private gardens. The Green Man touches all, regardless of religious choice. In myth he is Jack in the Green, Robin Hood, King of the May, the Oak and Holly Kings, the Wild Man, and the garlands woven among the ribbons in a May Day celebration. Europe is not alone in the legend of the Green Man—he is the feared Curupira in Brazil; Ixpe Totec, the Aztec corn god of spring; Tammuz, lord of the wood of life, of Mesopotamia; Min, the fertile god of the fields in Egyptian lore; and Osiris (of the same pantheon) who, like Christ, was resurrected, matching his myth to the birth, growth, death, and rebirth of the seasons. Osiris is often represented with drawings of corn, wheat, vines, and tree branches. The Green Man is an ever-present theme across the world, and he is associated many times over with the sacred Tree of Life. Some feel that “the remote origins of the Green Man are found in the religion of Old Europe—the matriarchal religion of the Neolithic period of the first farmers centered on and around the Danube Basin.”32 Indeed, the divine, sacrificed god who attains resurrection is not a new plot line, but thousands of years old, dating well before the story of Christ.
A Green Man Ritual for
Blessings and Prosperity
The following ritual can be performed on the first day of spring, when you plant your garden, when the farm household prepares for the coming growing season, honor the harvest on August 2 or September 21, or to bless a barn, animal shelter, or home. The ceremony has three distinct parts.
part one: Using your magickal basket, take a walk in the woods, fields, by the beach, or along a creek or river. Collect small items from nature that you would like to include in your ritual—an acorn, an interesting small stone, flowers, and so on. Before you remove anything living, ask the universe for permission. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t take the item—look for something else. Thank nature and deity each time you put something in the basket, asking for blessings and prosperity. At some point on your walk, rest and close your eyes. Talk to the Green Man (as he represents nature) in your mind. Does he have a message for you?
part two—Supplies: Modeling clay of your choice; a collection of earth-related objects, large and small; incense; salt; and holy water.
Instructions: Following the instructions on the clay package, fashion the face of the Green Man with your own hands. When modeling the face, take your time. It doesn’t have to look gorgeous—what is important is the energy you use and the thoughts you have while you are building your Green Man. As your fingers move through the clay, think of the thousands of years of history that belong to the figure. Work some of the items you collected into your design. When you are finished, cleanse and consecrate the image with incense, salt, and holy water. Finish by holding the Green Man image in the sunlight for a few minutes, asking for the cleansing and blessing of heavenly fire. Finally, hold your hands over your work and ask that the Green Man instill the image with the positive energy of harmony and abundance. Place the Green Man in a basket filled with sweet-smelling leaves, plants, and flowers of the season until you are ready to perform the ritual.
part three—Supplies: Sacred oil; illuminator candles for the altar; basket with Green Man.
Instructions: Prepare for ritual by setting up your sacred space, followed by taking a spiritual bath or shower. As the water pours over you, think of your body, mind, and spirit casting off all negative energy. Towel dry and dress in ritual clothing or something loose—stay away from dragging sleeves or overly voluminous material if you are working with fire of any kind. If you are not permitted to work with candles, substitute solar lights or flashlights.
Light the illuminator candles on your altar. Place the basket containing your Green Man project on the center of your altar. Cast the circle. Carry the basket to the north quarter, hold it out toward that quarter, and say:
I call to the Green Man
who resides in the north.
I am the son/daughter of Earth
who summons you forth.
From caves and deep forests
from fields and their flowers
bring abundance and joy in this sacred hour.
Move to the east, and say:
Green Man with the knowledge
who sits in the east
please hear my wishes and bless my pleas.
Bring abundance and joy on eastern breeze
from over the land and across the seas.
Walk to the south, and say:
Green Man with the fire
from out of the south
remove from my life negativity and doubt. Instill in this circle courage and growth.
Bring blessings and joy; abundance of both.
Walk to the west, and say:
Green Man who governs the love
and the rain
come from the west
and push away pain.
With each movement I make
and breath that I take
bring blessings, abundance, and gain.
Remove the Green Man image from the basket and place in the center of the altar. Set the basket aside. Anoint the eyes and mouth of the Green Man, and say:
May your eyes be focused on prosperity.
May your mouth utter blessings
upon this household. So mote it be.
Hold your hands over the image, and say:
I saw you in the forest,
your eyes so deep and green.
I saw you in the fields, dancing there unseen.
I heard your breath of life
as you tickled leaf and blade
I wondered at your rippling skin
of amber, gold, and jade.
I banish smog and poisons
as I bring you in my life.
I release all pain and suffering
I refuse to live in strife.
Your gifts of joy and bounty
are welcomed in this place.
Pray bring blessings to each season
and touch this sacred space.
Repeat the words “Blessings, abundance, and gain” nine times, beginning softly and growing louder, concentrating on positive energy surrounding you. After the ninth time, clap your hands three times. Say loudly:
It is done! So mote it be.
From this day forward
I enjoy blessings, gain, and harmony!
Close the quarters and release the circle. Place the Green Man image wherever you like. Scatter the leaves and flowers from the basket outside to the four quarters, asking for continued blessings for your home from the winds of each direction. Re-empower the statue every six months, or on the Craft’s High Holy Days.
Enchanted Green Man
Harvest Candle
Wiccans celebrate three harvest festivals: Lughnasadh (August 1 or 2), Fall Equinox (around the September 21), and Samhain (October 31 to November 7, depending on the tradition). You can make three candles with three different themes:
Lughnasadh: Grain harvest and sacred wedding theme
Fall Equinox: Garden harvest
Samhain: Fruit harvest and honoring the cycle of death and loved ones in particular
The purpose of the candle is to:
• Bring unsolved issues to a natural closure.
• Celebrate the season and honor the Green Man energy.
• Bring deserved rewards to fruition and harvest.
• Place you in sync with the energies of the season.
Supplies: Dried herbs and flowers of your choice (see page 283 for instructions); one white pillar candle (or candle color of your choice); an old candle of the same color or paraffin; sauce-pan; old, heatproof bowl; water; blow dryer; 2 pieces of plain white paper; scissors; old paint brush. Choose a ritual format.
Instructions: Cleanse, consecrate, and bless all items in the name of the Green Man. Should you be making the candle as a gift, ask for blessings upon the intended household.
Take your time and arrange the dried herbs and flowers on one of the pieces of paper the way you would like them to be on the candle. Cut away any excess leaves or stems with scissors.
Heat the surface of the new white pillar candle with the hairdryer (one section at a time) until the wax is slightly sticky. Gently press the herbs or flowers onto the heated wax of the candle with your fingertips (or the eraser of a pencil). Do not overheat the wax. As soon as you apply a leaf or flower, wrap a white sheet of paper around the candle and roll on a smooth surface. This is done each time you add an herb or flower to make sure the leaves stay attached to the pillar candle. Be careful, if you press too hard when rolling you will crush or break stems and delicate petals. Continue this process until the design is complete.
Boil water in saucepan, then reduce heat to simmer. Put paraffin or old candle in a heatproof bowl, and place bowl in saucepan. Leave in the bowl in the simmering water until the wax melts completely. Remove from heat. Exercise caution with simmering water and hot wax. You can never be too careful! With an old paint brush, quickly paint your decorated pillar candle with the liquid wax. (If you take too long, the wax will cool and gum up on the brush.) Do not touch the hot wax with your fingers. Allow candle to cool completely.
If you can, begin your chosen ritual format outside at dusk. Empower the candle, repeating the four intentions given at the beginning of this spell. Follow ritual closure format. As we are moving to the dark of the year, we choose dusk because it symbolizes closure of the day, yet birth of the night (day symbolizing spring and summer, and night symbolizing fall and winter). Use the candle in holiday ritual or give to a friend as a spectacular autumn gift.
Note: Candles containing herbs, flowers, and assorted natural items will burn differently than other candles. Sometimes the natural ingredients will catch fire in unusual ways, producing a hotter flame, which increases the burning time, or an overabundance of melted wax, or a double flame. Although this doesn’t happen all the time, the candle should be set in a fireproof metal pan to ensure safety, and positioned well away from curtains, wall hangings, altar decorations, or living plants. When giving the candle as a gift, you can place information about the Green Man and what he stands for on a decorated card along with instructions for safe burning.