The Phoenix Covenant

As craft practioners I'm sure you've been bombarded with the phrase "Remember the burning times", but no one says too much about what happened after the burning times. We all know that the craft in whatever form went underground as a means of self-preservation. And there for the most part it's remained.

Before the burning times, there were warriors, teachers, healers, and priests in all the various forms of the craft. All this knowledge is still with us, locked away in our brains. It is our responsibility to try to reclaim these memories as best as we can.

We, as a new generation of practioners of the multitude of traditions (trads) available have risen once again from our ancestors ashes. We're born into a new world, with magick of its own. All we need to do is open ourselves to the energies that are available. Easier said than done, I know.

The fractuous state of the craft in this new generation is dismaying. Certain trads will not share what information they have, making this knowledge to be even more "occult" than before. It is my belief, and most likely mine alone, that these trads have not learned anything from the burning times.

"If the followers of these traditions, as well as those of us who are willing eclectics, wish to have their beliefs grow, then we must undertake to grow and change with the world around us. Beliefs that cannot be lived rather than preached will find themselves as nothing more than an alphabetical listing in an encyclopedia of myths and superstitions."---Tiele Ravenson

At this point I feel the need to relate something that happened to me online. At one time I was trying to connect with as many craft practioners as I could for following and learning potential. I had happened across an IRC chat room for what was described as a meeting place for Traditional Witches. (It was explained that Traditional Witches are from a specific branch of the craft that will not share information and say claim that they are hereditary witches of one kind or another.) Any question I asked pretty much went ignored. When questions were posed to me I tried to answer them to the best of my ability. After several minutes of being avoided, someone asked me how long I knew I was a witch. When I explained that I've known pretty much since the age of five or six, I was told that was an impossibility because no one could know that early.

Pardon me while I insert a little personal history here. I can remember going to the public library at the ages mentioned above and finding books on witchcraft. As I read through them, maybe not understanding everything but enough to know instinctively what was bogus Hollywood crap versus somethihng that could actually work.

My question to the person who said I couldn't know at an early age that I was a witch was "Why couldn't I have known I was a witch at that age?" If what I said earlier is true, if all this knowledge is locked away deep in our brains, couldn't I have started unlocking those mental doors even at that age? Look at Mozart, a great composer and musician of his time. He started writing intricate musical compositions by the age of five without any formal education. His family did not have the money to afford the tutors he would have needed to be taught what he knew even then.

My belief that I am a witch is the only belief of mine that has never wavered. I've lived my whole life knowing what I was. If nothing else this belief is what has made me the witch I am today.

It is my belief that we, the new generation of craft practioners are as infants to what was. And we'll remain so until all craft knowledge is freely shared.

It is not my intention at this time to create yet one more list. Rather I wish to acquaint myself with others of like mind. If you fit the description feel free to e-mail me. I will try to respond as time permits. However, if your intentions are to bash or ridicule me, then don't waste my time. Please use the link below to contact me: