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Topic: Witchcraft and Shamanism
Ruth34611's photo
Sun 12/28/08 08:22 AM
It's from 1989 and there's not much on it....here's a link to the actual movie.

http://www3.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=18031

The movie is a bit vague on details but it is about an invasion. I'm going to have to find more information elsewhere as the movie is limited.

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 08:32 AM
I think I watched that ages ago. I remember it being part of a trilogy. It has Starhawk in it and several higher profile high priestesses and Witches.

I think it was a little weak on historical facts however but still good.

Ruth34611's photo
Sun 12/28/08 08:36 AM

I think I watched that ages ago. I remember it being part of a trilogy. It has Starhawk in it and several higher profile high priestesses and Witches.

I think it was a little weak on historical facts however but still good.


Yes, that's it. It is very limited on the historical facts but has be intrigued to learn more.

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:15 AM
Edited by Krimsa on Sun 12/28/08 09:18 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3KIlPUCSwE

Stevie Nicks when she was a fetus practically. You can hear her discussing the myth behind Rhiannon for a second. She clearly says its about a Witch once its a voice over and shes on stage. happy

"This is a song about a Welsh Witch"

Stevie Nicks

Ruth34611's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:21 AM
apparently she now says that she never practiced witchcraft and that song was not about a witch. But, like you pointed out, she clearly says that as the song starts. I don't know why she is going back on it all now.

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:31 AM
Did she "find Jesus"? :tongue:

Ruth34611's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:45 AM

Did she "find Jesus"? :tongue:


Not that I know of. But, maybe. I figure if she did she would be more vocal about it and say she repented from her ways rather than denying they ever happened. Maybe she did too much dope and she forgot she was a witch. laugh

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:47 AM
Edited by Krimsa on Sun 12/28/08 09:48 AM
Ive never heard her recant that she was a Witch at one point. Im sure it happened though. Like in an interview perhaps. Stevie Nicks and Christianity just seem so diametrically opposed however. She seems like such a thoughtful woman and highly intelligent.

Ruth34611's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:54 AM

Ive never heard her recant that she was a Witch at one point. Im sure it happened though. Like in an interview perhaps. Stevie Nicks and Christianity just seem so diametrically opposed however. She seems like such a thoughtful woman and highly intelligent.


I heard that she did recant, but I never saw where she said it exactly.

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 09:56 AM
Well thats fine however Rhiannon historically was a Welsh queen I do believe and a Witch so...:wink:

Ruth34611's photo
Sun 12/28/08 10:00 AM

Well thats fine however Rhiannon historically was a Welsh queen I do believe and a Witch so...:wink:


Yep, she sure was.

no photo
Sun 12/28/08 11:26 AM
The story of Rhiannon, taken from Wikipedia, so you might take it with a grain of salt, but I found it hard to find another source, or I'm just not patient enough.frown

Story of Rhiannon

Pwyll first met Rhiannon when she appeared as a beautiful woman dressed in gold and riding a white horse. Pwyll sent his horsemen after her, but she was too fast. After three days, he finally chased her himself. When he spoke, asking her to stop, Rhiannon told him she would rather marry him than the man she was being forced upon, Gwawl. She made a tryst with Pwyll and after a year from that day, he won her from Gwawl by tricking him to climb into a magic bag that Rhiannon had given to Pwyll, striking an agreement to free him in exchange for Rhiannon.

Rhiannon gave birth to a son after three years of their rule; however, on the night of the birth, the child disappeared while in the care of six of Rhiannon's ladies-in-waiting. They feared that they would be put to death, and to avoid any blame, smeared blood from a puppy on the sleeping Rhiannon, and lay its bones around her bed. Pwyll imposed a penance on Rhiannon for her crime, to remain in the court of Arberth for seven years, and to sit every day near a horse-block outside the gate telling her story to all that passed. In addition, she was to carry any willing guest to the court on her back.

The child appeared outside a stable of King Teyrnon, whose mares had just given birth but the foals had disappeared. Teyrnon had been watching his stables when he saw a mysterious beast coming to take the foal; Teyrnon stopped the beast by cutting off its arm at the elbow, and found the child outside the stable. He and his wife adopted him. The child grew to adulthood in only seven years and was given the foal which had led Teyrnon to the stable. Teyrnon realized who the child was and returned him to Pwyll and Rhiannon, who named him Pryderi (care).

Pryderi married Cigfa and became King of Dyfed after his father died. He then invited Manawydan (his stepfather) to live with him in Dyfed. Soon, Dyfed turned into a barren wasteland and only Rhiannon, Pryderi, Cigfa and Manawydan survived. Manawydan and Pryderi, while out hunting, saw a white boar which they followed. Pryderi and his mother, Rhiannon, touched a golden bowl that the boar led them to and became enchanted. Manawydan and Cigfa were unable to help them until they captured a mouse which was actually the wife of Llwyd, Rhiannon's enemy (seeking revenge for her treatment of Gwawl), and the spell was lifted.

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 11:32 AM
Rhiannon told him she would rather marry him than the man she was being forced upon, Gwawl. She made a tryst with Pwyll and after a year from that day, he won her from Gwawl by tricking him to climb into a magic bag that Rhiannon had given to Pwyll, striking an agreement to free him in exchange for Rhiannon.


huh laugh I didn't realize the Welsh were such innate sado-masochists. :tongue:

Abracadabra's photo
Sun 12/28/08 11:39 AM

Well I know many of you are not interested in historical accounts. I personally am but thats only because its a hobby and history is something I greatly enjoy studying Its just a matter of what you view as being relevant. It also helps me to understand Witchcraft and what led up to the invention of Wicca if I have at least a basic understanding of these older beliefs as they pre-dated Christianity and they were very different in many respects than what takes place today. We are only mimicking something very ancient.

Its just another perspective in which to view this. Speaking of which, I was just on a website that was making the claim that the Witch Hunts were "overblown" and "exaggerated". They were stating that not near as many women were put to death as claimed. You can guess what type of website I found this on so I wont say. This is why history is important and even though watching that video on A&E that upset James was a bummer, he did his part in understanding what occurred and not forgetting these people and what they went through at the hands of the church.


I may have been misunderstood. So allow me to clarify.

I too find history and folklore interesting. However, I question how valuable it is for the study of witchcraft.

You mentioned the A&E video of the burning times. That truly wasn't about the art of witchcraft at all truly. Most likely the vast majority of women who were accused of being 'witches' didn't even practices 'witchcraft' per say.

In fact it's a known fact that many of the women who were accused were actaully Christians themselves. There were probably a lot of athesits accused, and anyone who practiced any sort of eastern mysticism, etc.

So the burning times truly had very little to do with true witchcraft and had a whole lot more to do with how utterly stupid and insane Christianity is.

Also, even when you study the actual folklore 'witches' you'll find a very wide variety of customs and superstitions. All of which may not fit in with your own personal understanding of what witchcraft means to you.

Just like Hollywood, many people over the centuries made witchcraft into someting sensational. Far more based on superstition than practical useful information.

To say that someone is a 'Witch' is truly about as ambigious as saying that someone is a 'Christian'.

The difference between what different 'Witches' believe is just as diverse as the difference between what different 'Christians' believe.

All Christians agree that Jesus was God. All Witches probably agree that the Moon Goddess is God in a similar sense. So titles and lables are nearly ambigious.

For example, to say that someone was a Witch and then found Jesus is just as meaningless to say that someone was a Christian and then found the Moon Goddess.

The Christians would claim that the person who left Christianity was never truly 'saved' in the first place. But the same idea could be applied to the Witch. It could be claimd that the person who left witchcraft never truly understood what it was really about.

This is why historical study of "Witchcraft" itself for the purpose of learning Witchcraft is someone meaningless.

This is also why I like Penczak's approach. Many "tradtional witches" don't like Penczak's approach because he looks at all shamans in all cultures around the globe. He's looking at what people do spiritually.

However some people who study witchcraft might focus on say, "Celtic Folklore". So from there point of view it's not 'Witchcraft' unless it fits in with what the Celtics believed.

To me that's when it becomes dogmatic and more like studying the Bible. Instead of studying the spiritual concepts they begin to worship the mythology and folklore of a specific culture.

So I guess I'm just looking at witchcraft and shamanism in the greater abstract view, and not has it has been molded by any single culture.

In fact, I thank you for sparking this idea, because I need to mention this perception in my book of shadows.




no photo
Sun 12/28/08 11:40 AM
these kind of stories happened all over Europe.
Ever read Rhinegold?

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 11:46 AM
No whats that one?

no photo
Sun 12/28/08 11:51 AM
Edited by invisible on Sun 12/28/08 11:53 AM

No whats that one?


It's German Folklore, it contains the story of Siegfried the dragon slayer. He bathed in the blood of the dragon which made him invincible but for the one spot where a leave had settled on his back during his bath, and thus he was slain.
It also tells about Gudrun, Ingrid, and many other females who through this folklore are still alive for all who care about it.

You will also find stories about the many gods that existed at the time.
It's a book written by Stephan Grundy if you are interested.

Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 12:12 PM
Edited by Krimsa on Sun 12/28/08 12:14 PM
James, I know what you mean. I also dont feel that studying Witchcraft from a historical standpoint will help you gain a better understanding of it in a spiritual sense. I agree that is exactly the same thing as studying the bible. Like take me as an example. I joined these forums, b!tched about Christianity,and was immediately instructed by Christians to read the bible. I did that and it only increased my grievances with the religion itself ten fold.

It never hurts to study a religious doctrine and its origination. I think it is relevant to have a basic grasp on what the first adopters understood the spiritual path to represent exactly and the consequences they faced as a result of their chosen identity. The Christians were fed to lions. The Witches were burned at the stake. This is all significant from a historical standpoint yet for no other reason really. Most of the Witches were probably Christians anyway that might have not relented some of the older traditions either.

Abracadabra's photo
Sun 12/28/08 12:51 PM
It never hurts to study a religious doctrine and its origination.


This is true. Like you, by studying the Bible I came to the realization that it can't possible be the inspired word of any supposedly all-wise God because it's far from wise.

But reading about history I see how the original pagans who worshiped the omnicience of spirit clashed with the Mediterraneans who worshiped egotistical Sky-God deities.

In fact, I see the Moon Goddess herself as arising from this clash. The Moon Goddess is the pagan version of a 'Sky-God".

The Americian Indians have Wanka Tanka which they also believe to be omniscient in all of nature (thus they are pagans by my definition). They don't associate Wanka Tanka with any idol image or a Sky-God. They do however recognize her feminine aspect (the giver of life).

How the Mediterraneans ever became male-chauvinistic is beyond me. Clearly it was a culture where testosterone went rampant and intelligence fell by the wayside.

I have no problem worshiping a Moon Goddess because I recognize that I am creating her in the psychic of my mind. There are values in creating deities as long as they aren't used to beat other people over the head with.





Krimsa's photo
Sun 12/28/08 01:27 PM
Edited by Krimsa on Sun 12/28/08 01:30 PM
Ruth some more of those Amazon images. Of course male historians argued that these were nothing more than the "playboy sexual fantasies" of the day and women like this did not exist outside of the realm of sexual fantasy.

I dont know about that They look pretty rough and obviously in combat with these men. That sounds like a load of crap.




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