Entry tags:
About
I realized I'd never really posted a kind of capsule description of this path on this journal. So here's one now. This entry is also post-dated and will remain towards the top of this journal.
What is Sorgae?
Sorgae is a revealed (i.e., given to us directly from the Gods) form of religious Witchcraft, influenced by Wicca and other European traditions, but also comprised of group/shared gnosis, much of which has been subsequently verified through our research. We celebrate our Esbats as the thirteen New Moons in a calendar year, as opposed to the Full Moons. Our holidays occur at the same eight points on the calendar as other Wiccan/Pagan paths, but in most cases, these have different names and different foci. We recognize eight Directions, Elements, and Powers (as opposed to Wicca’s four), and honor Deities associated with these directions.
In addition to the Directional Deities, we also honor a High God and High Goddess, a Goddess of the Rim (as in the outer edge of a circle or ring), and an as-yet indeterminate Deity form of the Center. Our ‘Craft works heavily with Fae, two sorts in each of the four Cardinal Directions, and also Familiar spirits (animal and human forms, from both ancient and modern myth).
Now and again, this information will include non-English words. These are Vaska, a language taught to us by Deity, and one we believe may be a forgotten precursor to Basque. The name of our ‘Craft is Sorgae (“SOHR-gay”), which means, “what Witches do.” A male Witch is called a Sorg, and a female a Sorga (at this time we do not have terms for gender expressions outside the traditional binary, however the word Sorgitsais plural for Witches, and Sorgitsak means "all Witches across all of timespace"). Our holidays are called Sabeot/ds (“SAH-beh-ohtds”). Just to list a few examples.
I wrote about Sorgae in 2013 for the Pagan Blog Project, posting entries to this journal. It is fully public and set to accept anonymous comments, so please feel free to browse and ask questions. The PBP posts are linked in a sticky post at the top of the journal, and all posts are tagged. I'm working on compiling a more coherent and cohesive table of contents, complete with links to the appropriate entries.
For now, the cut at the end of this entry has a suggested reading order.
In 2014 I began working with my Coven to create Tarot deck based on Sorgae ‘Craft, which can be seen at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
sorgae_tarot. The card descriptions for this deck will also include information about the relevant Deities and concepts addressed, and all artwork featured there (aside from any images from the Rider-Waite deck) are original works by our High Priestess for the purpose of this Tarot deck.
I'm happy to answer any questions anyone may have about this path.
( Suggested Reading Order )
What is Sorgae?
Sorgae is a revealed (i.e., given to us directly from the Gods) form of religious Witchcraft, influenced by Wicca and other European traditions, but also comprised of group/shared gnosis, much of which has been subsequently verified through our research. We celebrate our Esbats as the thirteen New Moons in a calendar year, as opposed to the Full Moons. Our holidays occur at the same eight points on the calendar as other Wiccan/Pagan paths, but in most cases, these have different names and different foci. We recognize eight Directions, Elements, and Powers (as opposed to Wicca’s four), and honor Deities associated with these directions.
In addition to the Directional Deities, we also honor a High God and High Goddess, a Goddess of the Rim (as in the outer edge of a circle or ring), and an as-yet indeterminate Deity form of the Center. Our ‘Craft works heavily with Fae, two sorts in each of the four Cardinal Directions, and also Familiar spirits (animal and human forms, from both ancient and modern myth).
Now and again, this information will include non-English words. These are Vaska, a language taught to us by Deity, and one we believe may be a forgotten precursor to Basque. The name of our ‘Craft is Sorgae (“SOHR-gay”), which means, “what Witches do.” A male Witch is called a Sorg, and a female a Sorga (at this time we do not have terms for gender expressions outside the traditional binary, however the word Sorgitsais plural for Witches, and Sorgitsak means "all Witches across all of timespace"). Our holidays are called Sabeot/ds (“SAH-beh-ohtds”). Just to list a few examples.
I wrote about Sorgae in 2013 for the Pagan Blog Project, posting entries to this journal. It is fully public and set to accept anonymous comments, so please feel free to browse and ask questions. The PBP posts are linked in a sticky post at the top of the journal, and all posts are tagged. I'm working on compiling a more coherent and cohesive table of contents, complete with links to the appropriate entries.
For now, the cut at the end of this entry has a suggested reading order.
In 2014 I began working with my Coven to create Tarot deck based on Sorgae ‘Craft, which can be seen at
sorgae_tarot. The card descriptions for this deck will also include information about the relevant Deities and concepts addressed, and all artwork featured there (aside from any images from the Rider-Waite deck) are original works by our High Priestess for the purpose of this Tarot deck.I'm happy to answer any questions anyone may have about this path.
( Suggested Reading Order )
Entry tags:
Colors
Some Pagans assign colors to the compass Directions. Most commonly, North/Earth is green, East/Air is Yellow, South/Fire is red, and West/Water is blue, though there are variations, depending on practice, Tradition, and culture. Some also include Spirit/Akasha/Æther/Center/Unification, and assign it purple.
My High Priestess and I spoke about this in relation to Sorgae, when a mutual friend wanted to cross-stitch a compass with appropriate colors. These are the associations we came up with.
Northeast- Smoke, the Infinite, Potential, Journeying, Astral, Crossing Boundaries of Spacetime= Grey
East- Air, Knowledge, Beginnings, Fae Teachings, Elder Children of the Gods= White
Southeast- Spark, Decision, Divine Wisdom, the True Quest, Firestealer= Pale Yellow
South- Fire, Will, Action, Dynamism, Witches, Doing= Red
Southwest- Steam, Blood, Sacrifice, Desire, Ecstasy, Indulgence, Frenzy, Lust = Dark Red-Purple
West- Water, Otherworlds, Emotion, Inspiration, Death, Hounds = Dark Blue-Grey
Northwest- Clay, Magick, Formation, Realization, Manifestation, Inherent Lifeforce= Silver
North- Earth, Silence, Communion, Gateway Between Past and Future= Black
Entry tags:
Witchgender
For my own purposes and interests, I've recently been hunting for different gender/sexuality/fetish pride flags. During such a search, I came across this:
This is the flag for being Witchgender/Magusgender/Magegender/Venefigender, which is defined as, "[a] gender that has a closeness or connection to witchcraft and magic. It is, in a way, a magic gender." And that got me thinking.
In some Witchcraft Traditions, the biological sex of the body determines whether the Witch acts as a Priest or a Priestess, and whether they Channel a God or a Goddess. In Sorgae, though, as I've mentioned before, the gender identity of the spirit inhabiting the body at the time of the ritual/invocation, is the determining factor. A further quote from the given definition, "You could use it to perform strange gender magic." A female body Channeling a male Deity might fit that bill to some.
This gender identity is, apparently, "also associated with a feminine or androgynous gender expression." This is another interesting twist, since a.) Witches are often assumed to be women, and b.) the soulbonding/Familiar phenomenon, as it manifests today, seems to happen to women far more often than men, with cross-gender pairings seemingly the norm, especially for the primary 'bond/Familiar. While this last point somewhat excludes men who practice Witchcraft of any stripe, and those who experience soulbonding/have Familiars, it is nonetheless an interesting one.
My overall thought is this; a Sorg or Sorga, when Fronting their cross-gendered Familiar and then Channeling a Deity Who is also cross-gendered, could potentially be said to be Witchgendered. Because at that point, the internal, personal gender identities of the Witch, the Familiar, and the Deity become somewhat less consequential, and instead, all three, regardless of biological sex, act in accord to harness the desired energy.
Entry tags:
Ritual Elements
I met with my High Priestess some time ago now, and we went through the elements of a Wiccan-style ritual (which is the format we’re both the most well-versed in), deciding what was needed/appropriate for a Sorgae ritual. This list is not in any specific order, but these are the aspects of ritual that we feel are important. For most of it, we haven’t entirely decided on how we’re going to express the concepts, just that they need to be incorporated somehow.
1. Direct contact with the Gods via Channeling (and/or meditations).
2. Acknowledge the Directions (and all related components; Elements, Powers, Gods, Fae, etc.).
3. Acknowledge the Source and the High Gods.
4. Acknowledge our Sacrifice for the Gods (as part of #2).
5. Acknowledge the inherent Divinity in participants (similar to the Hindu concept of Namaste).
6. Include Gobah, a Vaska word meaning, “I give so you may give” (via a Cakes and Wine style rite).
7. Tools will be determined as needed and/or requested by Deity.
8. If the Directions etc. are specifically invoked, a dismissal is also necessary.
9. Rituals will be performed at or near the New Moons, with adjustments for the seasons/Sabeotds(holy days) made as appropriate.
10. Familiars will play a vital and prominent role (for both she and I, the specific Familiars in question are male, human, and come to us from modern media myth).
We managed to iron out a few details and a few pages of script from material/planning we’d already had and done. It's a start.
Arduina, Priestess and Goddess
One thing that has been a puzzlement to me, is Arduina talking about Mama Erta, a Mother-Earth Goddess She says She worshipped and served "when She was a Priestess." It always made me wonder what She meant. How was She once a Priestess, but now a Goddess? A possible answer has come from two places.
One, is something I've mentioned before the similarities between the words "Sorgitsak" in Vaska as the Gods have taught it to us, and "Sorginak" in modern Basque. As was stated then, "...it is deemed unclear by scholars whether 'Sorginak' refers to actual, physical Witches, or mythological beings. This is significant, because Sorgitsak, Witches who practice Sorgae 'Craft, are considered a race of Fae. So Sorgitsak are both physical, practicing Witches, and 'fabled beings.' We are the Fae of Will, in that we are the vehicles of Divine Will on this plane of existence." I doubt it is a point of any contention that Arduina was/is a Sorginak/Sorga. So from there stems the conflation between Priestess and Goddess; She is both human and so-called "mythological being" Who served an Earth Goddess.
However, that still begs the question of how this is at all possible. Aside from the assertion of Sorgae 'Craft that Witches are also Fae, I'll let a quote from the novel Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny address that issue:
Arduina is a Goddess because we (and presumably someone, somewhere, before us), recognized Her as one. Just as Deity names being agreed upon by consensus between Witches and Gods, so too is the very condition of Her Godhood. She is a Goddess, because we name Her as such, and She does not object.
One, is something I've mentioned before the similarities between the words "Sorgitsak" in Vaska as the Gods have taught it to us, and "Sorginak" in modern Basque. As was stated then, "...it is deemed unclear by scholars whether 'Sorginak' refers to actual, physical Witches, or mythological beings. This is significant, because Sorgitsak, Witches who practice Sorgae 'Craft, are considered a race of Fae. So Sorgitsak are both physical, practicing Witches, and 'fabled beings.' We are the Fae of Will, in that we are the vehicles of Divine Will on this plane of existence." I doubt it is a point of any contention that Arduina was/is a Sorginak/Sorga. So from there stems the conflation between Priestess and Goddess; She is both human and so-called "mythological being" Who served an Earth Goddess.
However, that still begs the question of how this is at all possible. Aside from the assertion of Sorgae 'Craft that Witches are also Fae, I'll let a quote from the novel Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny address that issue:
Godhood is more than a name. It is a condition of being. One does not achieve it merely by being immortal, for even the lowliest laborer in the fields may achieve continuity of existence. […] Being a god is the quality of being able to be yourself to such an extent that your passions correspond with the forces of the universe, so that those who look upon you know this without hearing your name spoken. […] Being a god is being able to recognize within one’s self these things that are important, and then strike the single note that brings them into alignment with everything else that exists. Then, beyond morals or logic or esthetics, one is wind or fire, the sea, the mountains, the rain, the sun or the stars, the flight of an arrow, the end of a day, the clasp of love. One rules through one’s ruling passions. Those who look upon gods then say, without even knowing their names, ‘He is Fire. She is Dance. He is Destruction. She is Love.’ […] they do not call themselves gods. Everyone else does, though, everyone who beholds them.
Arduina is a Goddess because we (and presumably someone, somewhere, before us), recognized Her as one. Just as Deity names being agreed upon by consensus between Witches and Gods, so too is the very condition of Her Godhood. She is a Goddess, because we name Her as such, and She does not object.
Yearly Cycle and Deities
I had a bit of an epiphany about Deities and Sabeot/ds and such.
Some background, every year at B/Pelatin, my Coven performs a Tarot reading to determine our purpose and goal for the coming year. After laying a card for each of the eight Sabeot/ds, we discuss how they fit together as a whole, like a story, and then determine which Deities we feel need to be Called and/or honored at each point. This seems to change every year.
It caused me some anxiety, in relation to making the Sorgae system in general more public; if the Deities shuffle about every year, how could we possibly standardize rituals (whether the formal, elaborate sort, or the Tarot ritual I devised)? Because other Pagan paths always honor, say, Brigid at Imbolc, or Lugh at Lammas, the Holly and Oak Kings at the Solstices, or the Horned God at Samhain.
Then it hit me. Sorgae is not like this. Sorgae is an organic, living system. Why should the Deities remain static if the year's purpose doesn't? And why should the purpose for our Coven be the same for everyone else who may practice Sorgae? The answers are, they shouldn't. If Sorgae is going to keep its organic, living qualities, then everyone who follows it needs to discover for themselves what the Gods want of them each year, and when They need to be honored in relation to the Sorg or Sorga's progression through the year. Each Sorg/a and Sorgae Coven should find out how they, individually, contribute to the renewal of the Wasteland. Because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
So my thinking now is that, with thesorgae_tarot deck, we need to include the (very simple) instructions for the yearly Wasteland Renewal reading, so that those who buy the deck and begin to work with this system and its pantheon, can add their energy, their Gobah, to the whole of the Sorgae collaborative effort.
Some background, every year at B/Pelatin, my Coven performs a Tarot reading to determine our purpose and goal for the coming year. After laying a card for each of the eight Sabeot/ds, we discuss how they fit together as a whole, like a story, and then determine which Deities we feel need to be Called and/or honored at each point. This seems to change every year.
It caused me some anxiety, in relation to making the Sorgae system in general more public; if the Deities shuffle about every year, how could we possibly standardize rituals (whether the formal, elaborate sort, or the Tarot ritual I devised)? Because other Pagan paths always honor, say, Brigid at Imbolc, or Lugh at Lammas, the Holly and Oak Kings at the Solstices, or the Horned God at Samhain.
Then it hit me. Sorgae is not like this. Sorgae is an organic, living system. Why should the Deities remain static if the year's purpose doesn't? And why should the purpose for our Coven be the same for everyone else who may practice Sorgae? The answers are, they shouldn't. If Sorgae is going to keep its organic, living qualities, then everyone who follows it needs to discover for themselves what the Gods want of them each year, and when They need to be honored in relation to the Sorg or Sorga's progression through the year. Each Sorg/a and Sorgae Coven should find out how they, individually, contribute to the renewal of the Wasteland. Because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
So my thinking now is that, with the
sorgae_tarot deck, we need to include the (very simple) instructions for the yearly Wasteland Renewal reading, so that those who buy the deck and begin to work with this system and its pantheon, can add their energy, their Gobah, to the whole of the Sorgae collaborative effort.Quizzes
I know I haven't posted here in some time, my focus has shifted over to sorgae_tarot. But, my High Priestess devised a Directional quiz some time ago and recently fixed it so it functions again. Both Cervus and I took it today.
( Satya (who could die of Not Surprise) )
( Cervus (with thoughts) )
sorgae_tarot. But, my High Priestess devised a Directional quiz some time ago and recently fixed it so it functions again. Both Cervus and I took it today.( Satya (who could die of Not Surprise) )
( Cervus (with thoughts) )
Witches
Vaska has several words pertaining to Witches. A Sorg is a male Witch, and a Sorga is a female Witch. Sorgae, the name we use for this 'Craft, means, "what Witches do." Last week I introduced the Basque word "Sorginak" in connection with our Vaska word "Sorgitzak," because they both refer to Witches.
The first point to expand on, is that it is deemed unclear by scholars whether "Sorginak" refers to actual, physical Witches, or mythological beings. This is significant, because Sorgitzak, Witches who practice Sorgae 'Craft, are considered a race of Fae (I've even mentioned that they were categorized as such). So Sorgitzak are both physical, practicing Witches, and "fabled beings." We are the Fae of Will, in that we are the vehicles of Divine Will on this plane of existence.
Growing from this, is the significance of the Goddess of the Sorginak, Mari. She is the primary Deity of the ancient Pagan Basques, along with Her Consort, the God called Sugaar. Mari is a cave-dwelling Goddess, the very personification of the Earth. Her name may mean "mother," and She is sometimes associated with cows. This is strikingly similar to Arduina, our Mother Bear.
But Sugaar is not to be discounted either. He is associated with serpents and flames. He sometimes takes the form, in the sky, of a sickle of fire. This aligns strongly to the position and office of the Tsaranos.
This provides us a North-South axis, which is seen in shamanic practice as the path to Divine communion, the World Tree, the North Star Road. But also, specific to Sorgae, we Witches, the Sorgitzak, are associated with the South; and Arduina, the North Goddess, was not only the first to speak to us about this path, but the North represents that place and condition of ultimate communion with the Divine, with the All.
"Sorgae" means "what Witches do," and what we do, is honor and serve our Gods, through ritual, communion, and Gobah.
The first point to expand on, is that it is deemed unclear by scholars whether "Sorginak" refers to actual, physical Witches, or mythological beings. This is significant, because Sorgitzak, Witches who practice Sorgae 'Craft, are considered a race of Fae (I've even mentioned that they were categorized as such). So Sorgitzak are both physical, practicing Witches, and "fabled beings." We are the Fae of Will, in that we are the vehicles of Divine Will on this plane of existence.
Growing from this, is the significance of the Goddess of the Sorginak, Mari. She is the primary Deity of the ancient Pagan Basques, along with Her Consort, the God called Sugaar. Mari is a cave-dwelling Goddess, the very personification of the Earth. Her name may mean "mother," and She is sometimes associated with cows. This is strikingly similar to Arduina, our Mother Bear.
But Sugaar is not to be discounted either. He is associated with serpents and flames. He sometimes takes the form, in the sky, of a sickle of fire. This aligns strongly to the position and office of the Tsaranos.
This provides us a North-South axis, which is seen in shamanic practice as the path to Divine communion, the World Tree, the North Star Road. But also, specific to Sorgae, we Witches, the Sorgitzak, are associated with the South; and Arduina, the North Goddess, was not only the first to speak to us about this path, but the North represents that place and condition of ultimate communion with the Divine, with the All.
"Sorgae" means "what Witches do," and what we do, is honor and serve our Gods, through ritual, communion, and Gobah.
Entry tags:
Vaska
Vaska is the language Arduina spoke when She first arrived, and still often speaks. We believe it to be a predecessor to Basque, for several reasons.
One, mostly simply, is that in Spanish, the term for "Basque" is "Vasca." This is a bit obvious if you know the Spanish language; Bs and Vs have somewhat interchangeable sounds, and are in fact often voiced together. The "-que" suffix in Spanish is pronounced, roughly, "keh." So, if a Spanish-speaking person saw the word "Basque" written down, they may well pronounce it as "Vasca." Or, if they heard "Vasca" and tried to write it, it could conceivably be spelled, "Basque." As part of the Basque region is in Spain, none of this is very far-fetched
Another reason is that, in both Vaska and Basque, the suffix "-ak" is a plural. As Basque is essentially unrelated to any other known language, this unique characteristic seems significant.
But in addition, one of the most important words in Vaska is not unfamiliar to pre-Christian Basque Paganism. As I said, we believe Vaska to be a predecessor to modern Basque, thousands of years older. So, not all words we hear from the Gods will translate into the modern language. But one very nearly does.
We have been told that Sorgitzak means, "All Witches anywhere, any time, throughout all time and space." In Basque mythology, there is a word, Sorginak, which refers to "the assistants of the goddess Mari...It is also the Basque name for witches or pagan priestesses (though they could also be male), being difficult to discern between the mythological and real ones."
There is more to be said stemming from this one linguistic connection, But I'm saving it for next week's post.
One, mostly simply, is that in Spanish, the term for "Basque" is "Vasca." This is a bit obvious if you know the Spanish language; Bs and Vs have somewhat interchangeable sounds, and are in fact often voiced together. The "-que" suffix in Spanish is pronounced, roughly, "keh." So, if a Spanish-speaking person saw the word "Basque" written down, they may well pronounce it as "Vasca." Or, if they heard "Vasca" and tried to write it, it could conceivably be spelled, "Basque." As part of the Basque region is in Spain, none of this is very far-fetched
Another reason is that, in both Vaska and Basque, the suffix "-ak" is a plural. As Basque is essentially unrelated to any other known language, this unique characteristic seems significant.
But in addition, one of the most important words in Vaska is not unfamiliar to pre-Christian Basque Paganism. As I said, we believe Vaska to be a predecessor to modern Basque, thousands of years older. So, not all words we hear from the Gods will translate into the modern language. But one very nearly does.
We have been told that Sorgitzak means, "All Witches anywhere, any time, throughout all time and space." In Basque mythology, there is a word, Sorginak, which refers to "the assistants of the goddess Mari...It is also the Basque name for witches or pagan priestesses (though they could also be male), being difficult to discern between the mythological and real ones."
There is more to be said stemming from this one linguistic connection, But I'm saving it for next week's post.
Entry tags:
UFOs/Aliens
I'm not a fan of the History Channel show, "Ancient Aliens." I saw an episode that explained away Norse mythology as extra-terrestrial encounters, and it was ridiculous. I don't believe that flying crafts have been coming from some other planet(s) to Earth for millennia.
I do, however, believe the stories of abduction by other beings that come from different worlds than ours. "Planet" and "world" are not synonyms here.
Almost every account of alien abduction, and faerie abduction, share similar traits and themes. These being possess technology just one step ahead of that of thr human world, just close enough that we can understand and perhaps mimic it, but don't yet have it. Often, humans are impregnated during these abductions, or feel as though parts of them have been removed, or that they were given something.
There's also their appearance. When I described the Hurralya and the Keriosak, I mentioned that they may sound familiar, and this is why. These two basic descriptions have existed for centuries, attributed to Fae, but are now applied to extra-terrestrial aliens.
Isn't it interesting, that we have all these parallels. Even Dr. Jacques Vallee, a reknowned UFO investigator, has seen them:
I believe firmly that Faerie interaction with humans is largely responsible for shaping our development. After all, they exist to teach us, and Dare for us. They are partners, not adversaries.
Modern media has also given us a glimpse into this idea. The movie "Prometheus" puts forth the idea of "Engineers," a race that infused its very DNA into just-developing worlds. "The Fourth Kind" features aliens that speak Sumerian, the language of the oldest civilization we have records of, and whose likenesses appeared in ancient carvings from that society. Even "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" revolves around the concept of otherworldly beings having a pivital role in early human society.
Human beings tend to try and frame the unfamiliar with the known or recognizable. We see stars making patterns in the night sky and call them bears, or eagles, or humans. We see faces in rock formations. Gods have long taken on the shapes of native animals, but were identifiable all over the world regardless of culture. So in earlier times, we encountered beings from an Otherworld, and called them Fae (or perhaps vampires or angels). Now when that same experience occurs, with our fascination with space travel and exploration, and our explosion of advanced technology, and love of science fiction books, television, and movies, we call them aliens.
Sorgae's primary teaching is, "It's all the same thing." This topic nearly more than any other is the perfect illustration of that.
I do, however, believe the stories of abduction by other beings that come from different worlds than ours. "Planet" and "world" are not synonyms here.
Almost every account of alien abduction, and faerie abduction, share similar traits and themes. These being possess technology just one step ahead of that of thr human world, just close enough that we can understand and perhaps mimic it, but don't yet have it. Often, humans are impregnated during these abductions, or feel as though parts of them have been removed, or that they were given something.
There's also their appearance. When I described the Hurralya and the Keriosak, I mentioned that they may sound familiar, and this is why. These two basic descriptions have existed for centuries, attributed to Fae, but are now applied to extra-terrestrial aliens.
Isn't it interesting, that we have all these parallels. Even Dr. Jacques Vallee, a reknowned UFO investigator, has seen them:
"The symbolic display seen by the abductees is identical to the type of initiation ritual or astral voyage that is imbedded in the [occult] traditions of every culture...the structure of abduction stories is identical to that of occult initiation rituals...the UFO beings of today belong to the same class of manifestation as the [occult] entities that were described in centuries past."
-Dr. Jacques Vallee citing the extensive research of Bertrand Meheust [Science-Fiction et Soucoupes Volantes (Paris, 1978); Soucoupes Volantes et Folklore (Paris, 1985)], in Confrontations, p. 146, 159-161
I believe firmly that Faerie interaction with humans is largely responsible for shaping our development. After all, they exist to teach us, and Dare for us. They are partners, not adversaries.
Modern media has also given us a glimpse into this idea. The movie "Prometheus" puts forth the idea of "Engineers," a race that infused its very DNA into just-developing worlds. "The Fourth Kind" features aliens that speak Sumerian, the language of the oldest civilization we have records of, and whose likenesses appeared in ancient carvings from that society. Even "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" revolves around the concept of otherworldly beings having a pivital role in early human society.
Human beings tend to try and frame the unfamiliar with the known or recognizable. We see stars making patterns in the night sky and call them bears, or eagles, or humans. We see faces in rock formations. Gods have long taken on the shapes of native animals, but were identifiable all over the world regardless of culture. So in earlier times, we encountered beings from an Otherworld, and called them Fae (or perhaps vampires or angels). Now when that same experience occurs, with our fascination with space travel and exploration, and our explosion of advanced technology, and love of science fiction books, television, and movies, we call them aliens.
Sorgae's primary teaching is, "It's all the same thing." This topic nearly more than any other is the perfect illustration of that.
Uartalya
This post serves as a basic go-to for the various Elemental Beings and Fae we've thus far learned of in our Sorgae explorations. The title is but one of them. We'll start though, in the East.
I've already written about the Hurralya, the Beings of Air. Also in the East are the Hostarak, the Beings of Knowledge.
In the South are the Seiralya, Beings of Fire, and Sorgitzak, Beings of Will.
The West is home to the Keriosak, Being of Daring, and the Uartalya, Beings of Water.
Finally, in the North, the Itlasak are the Beings of Silence, and the Ertalya arez the Beings of Earth.
Many other systems have Elemental Beings as well, such as Sylphs, Salamanders, Undines, and Gnomes. A book series I've read had Djinn, Dragons, Selkies, and Gargoyles.
We don't yet know much about most of the Sorgae Elemental Beings, but thus far the Hurralya, Keriosak, and Sorgitzak have been most important.
I've already written about the Hurralya, the Beings of Air. Also in the East are the Hostarak, the Beings of Knowledge.
In the South are the Seiralya, Beings of Fire, and Sorgitzak, Beings of Will.
The West is home to the Keriosak, Being of Daring, and the Uartalya, Beings of Water.
Finally, in the North, the Itlasak are the Beings of Silence, and the Ertalya arez the Beings of Earth.
Many other systems have Elemental Beings as well, such as Sylphs, Salamanders, Undines, and Gnomes. A book series I've read had Djinn, Dragons, Selkies, and Gargoyles.
We don't yet know much about most of the Sorgae Elemental Beings, but thus far the Hurralya, Keriosak, and Sorgitzak have been most important.
Tsaranos
This was the designation given to us for the South God, and at first we assumed it to be a proper name. However, we have come to realize it is in fact a title. If we separate the word as "tsar/anos," it means, essentially, "King of the Year(s)." We speculate that Whoever fills the role as South God in a given Age is to be given this title. Previously, for the Piscean Age, He was the Kristos. Now, in the Aquarian Age, we have Tsaranos Hermes.
Since I've already done a post on Hermes, here instead is other information about the role of the Tsaranos in Sorgae 'Craft.
The Wand is the tool of the South and the Vaska word for "wand" is the same as the word for "snake," tsarnu. There is a Celtic God, Taranis, associated with snakes (He did battle with a great sky serpent), Who was worshipped in regions surrounding the Danube river. He was also associated with the eight-spoked Wheel of the Year. Taranis is considered to be a Celtic Equivalent of Zeus, Who, as discussed before, we associate with the High God, Iove.
No, Taranis, is not, in fact, our South God. However, to have the King of the Year(s) aligned in part with the High God makes sense, in a macrocosm/microcosm kind of way; Iove is part of the First Division, when the All split into male and female, and as She took Time, He took Eternity. Taranis' association with the Wheel representes the ever-turning cycle of Eternity, but on a smaller scale, a measured and relatable calendar. Thus the South God, the Tsaranos, is a reflection of the cycle of Eternity that Iove embodies.
Additionally, snakes are classic representations of rebirth and eternity, from the shedding of their skin to the symbol of the ouroboros. The position of Tsaranos is the Dying God, the willing sacrifice, the Sacred King. And you'll notice, Hermes' caduceus has two serpents entwined around a wand. We've yet to discover the nature of His sacrifice though, as the Age has just begun.
Since I've already done a post on Hermes, here instead is other information about the role of the Tsaranos in Sorgae 'Craft.
The Wand is the tool of the South and the Vaska word for "wand" is the same as the word for "snake," tsarnu. There is a Celtic God, Taranis, associated with snakes (He did battle with a great sky serpent), Who was worshipped in regions surrounding the Danube river. He was also associated with the eight-spoked Wheel of the Year. Taranis is considered to be a Celtic Equivalent of Zeus, Who, as discussed before, we associate with the High God, Iove.
No, Taranis, is not, in fact, our South God. However, to have the King of the Year(s) aligned in part with the High God makes sense, in a macrocosm/microcosm kind of way; Iove is part of the First Division, when the All split into male and female, and as She took Time, He took Eternity. Taranis' association with the Wheel representes the ever-turning cycle of Eternity, but on a smaller scale, a measured and relatable calendar. Thus the South God, the Tsaranos, is a reflection of the cycle of Eternity that Iove embodies.
Additionally, snakes are classic representations of rebirth and eternity, from the shedding of their skin to the symbol of the ouroboros. The position of Tsaranos is the Dying God, the willing sacrifice, the Sacred King. And you'll notice, Hermes' caduceus has two serpents entwined around a wand. We've yet to discover the nature of His sacrifice though, as the Age has just begun.
T'hot'
[Click to enlarge]
East God – T’hot’ (teh-ho-teh) - associated with incense and knowledge, the psychopomp and the prophet. Questions to Him must be distinct, or the answers will be too vague to understand, but He will often aid the questioner in narrowing the focus of his/her query so as to elicit a more helpful answer. He is far older than and became the Egyptian Thoth.
I've found three sources that corroborate our pronunciation, instead of having the THs spoken as in "that" or "with." It's interesting as well to note that this and other spellings resemble the word "thought."
In Egyptian mythology, Thoth is the Scribe, inventor of language (both written and spoken), astronomy, geometry, and medicine. He is the Record Keeper, a librarian of sorts, recording all knowledge and communicating with the other Gods.
In Sorgae, our God T'hot' sits in the East, the place of Knowledge and communication. He can easily communicate with the other Gods of our pantheon without any of Them being present. He has said, basically, that the ancient Egyptians knew Him as their ibis-headed God, but He is older than that civilization.
This is another of the Sorgae Gods with whom I haven't had direct contact yet. As a writer and someone fascinated by etymology, He appeals to me. However I think that asking Him to assist in creative writing is inappropriate, as that deals with inspiration, and so is the domain of Ariadne, the Muse. Though it is another East-West connection, the physical act of writing coupled with the ethereal act of inspiration.
Soven, Salanakh
This entry is going to be brief because I'm not feeling 100% due to allergies and sinuses. My apologies.
( Soven and Salanakh )
( Soven and Salanakh )
Salonshai
[Click to enlarge]
South Goddess – Salonshai (sah-lohn-shy) - the Priestess for the Aquarian Age, associated with fiery pillars and sacred prostitution. The Light-Bringer of the Southeast [Atamenoch] is Her Lord. She is the fire lit from the bone, fire and blood. She is the Phoenix, the Eye, the peace of the Light-Bringer. Her manner is bright and forceful.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
Rituals
If you've been following along with this series, you'll notice there isn't a lot of "how-to." It's been mostly Theory with little Practice (some minor exceptions have been my Tarot Ritual, Orano Ze Zoma, and Channeling). This is because my Coven has had to start from scratch with this system, not only in terms of meeting the Gods and learning about Directions, Sabeot/ds, other Beings, etc., but also HOW to express it all in a way that satisfied the Gods (some of Them can be very particular), made sense for humans, and honored previous Oaths the Coven members had made.
However, rituals are extemely important for Sorgae 'Craft. They are the Doing, the Will. And we mostly have to write them ourselves. Arduina thinks the rituals we had been doing (in keeping with our initial Tradition) make absolutely no sense. Erian likes frippery and formality, props and processes. Some Deities insist on certain methods and words being used to Call Them, others show up pretty much as They please. Or not at all. So while rituals are absolutely essential, we haven't finished formulating them yet.
( Read more... )
However, rituals are extemely important for Sorgae 'Craft. They are the Doing, the Will. And we mostly have to write them ourselves. Arduina thinks the rituals we had been doing (in keeping with our initial Tradition) make absolutely no sense. Erian likes frippery and formality, props and processes. Some Deities insist on certain methods and words being used to Call Them, others show up pretty much as They please. Or not at all. So while rituals are absolutely essential, we haven't finished formulating them yet.
( Read more... )
Renewal
Renewal is one of the central themes of Sorgae 'Craft. We mark New Moons to renew each month, raising power between Sabeot/ds. We mark Sabeot/ds to raise power for and renew the year. And each year then adds to the decade, the century, the millennium, and the Age. The Sorgae yearly symbology, as I've mentioned before, is of the Wasteland. I plan to do a post focusing on it in the future.
It is one of our Tasks as Sorgae Witches to help things turn like this. It is related to Gobah; we give so that we may receive and ensure that the Cycle continues. Scientific laws support this necessity: A body in motion tends to stay in motion. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Energy can never be either newly created or finally destroyed, only changed in form.. And so it works with the energy needed to turn the Age, because even Witchcraft is bound by the laws of Nature.
It is one of our Tasks as Sorgae Witches to help things turn like this. It is related to Gobah; we give so that we may receive and ensure that the Cycle continues. Scientific laws support this necessity: A body in motion tends to stay in motion. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Energy can never be either newly created or finally destroyed, only changed in form.. And so it works with the energy needed to turn the Age, because even Witchcraft is bound by the laws of Nature.