Satya, Zomasorga

Satya - Sanskrit, meaning "correct or proper"; I am following my True Will and path. Zomasorga - Vaska, meaning "blood witch"; I am of the Blood, an Hereditary Witch. This blog is a collection and expression of my experience of the Religious Witchcraft we call Sorgae, "what Witches do."

[bearing-light-shadows-and-love]

Is there anyone else on Tumblr who works with unrecorded gods?

If so, could you like or reblog this so I can follow you.

[satyazomasorga]

Some of the Gods in the Sorgae pantheon might fit this bill.

[unauthorized-magic-deactivated2]

This thread is so good. 

[caledoniaseries]

THIS. ^^ 

As a folklorist, this kind of thing bothers the hell out of me. So much of what people think of as ancient is Victorian era or newer. Or just wildly inaccurate, really.

[fromchaostocosmos]

example of Victorians once again fucking shit up

[titleknown]

I can’t help but think of the Big Friendly Giant’s description of Giant COuntry as able to be reached by physical means, but still “not just off the map, but off the whole bloody atlas,”

IE as a place physically still there in this world an not some sealed-off otherworld, but just at a different “angle” to it ala some ideas about spatial dimensions beyond a third, and I can’t help but wonder how it fits between these two perception of the supernatural…

[neosilverthorn]

Mm.  Let me interject here.

Great thing about being into the steampunk and gaslamp fantasy subcultures is that I do pick up some oddball bits of trivia.  And contrary to the thread’s assumption, the concept of the “Veil between worlds” and the fair folk don’t hold grounds in religion at all.  They’re actually literary in origin.

Specifically, medieval French translations of various works and folk tales.  These are, for the record, largely oral tales being passed down through the ages, translated (likely by someone whose grasp of the language is passable at best), and related for written record.  It’s like the telephone game: Things will end up warped and changed before all’s said and done.  And between time passing (as in, centuries), human behavior, and translation into multiple languages, a great many things will end up mixed, warped, or lost altogether.

So while it likely is a piece of folklore, it’s honestly debatable as to who’s folklore it really is- it could just as easily be from Germanic or Norse folklore as the celtic folklores- or if it’s a mistranslation of something in the first place.  I suspect the latter, personally, but your opinion will likely vary.

[da-at-ass]

Curious if anyone following me has some additional commentary to this?

[etamina-amata]

This is very similar to how hedge-riding and hedgecraft has come into modern magical parlance. Is it an ancient term? No. Is it derived from a concept that is older? Yes. Is the word itself derived from older words? Mmm, yes, though we don’t know where and when that derivation happened.

There should be absolutely no argument that many ancient societies believed in Otherworlds, folklore and mythology bear this out. Were there places where the borders between these places were seen as blurred? Absolutely, this is why the Sidhe were the “people of the Mounds” or the reason loads of rivers and wells were said to have individual gods or spirits associated with them, or why offerings were placed in wells and bogs, they were considered gateways. Were they using the term “liminal spaces” in Old Irish? No. Is the modern concept similar? Yes. 

Likewise, while the term or idea of “the veil thinning,” is Victorian in origin, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t reflect passages found in medieval and earlier histories. Keep in mind that the concept is actually from the idea of the “veil” that separated the average person from the Holy of Holies in The Tabernacle and then The Temple in Jerusalem.

Samhain is mentioned in the earliest Irish literature like the Tochmarc Emire and even the Tain. Many important events in Irish mythology begin on Samhain.  Macgnímartha Finn explicitly states that the doorways to the Sidhe lands were always open on Samhain, Our earliest text of Macgnímartha Finn traces to the twelfth century.  Not to mention the multiple mythological Irish kings that died the Threefold Death on Samhain. 

Given the number of Neolithic passage tombs that are perfectly aligned to sunrise on Samhain and Beltane, to say that they didn’t have an association with the living and the dead is silly. This isn’t one tomb we are talking about. There’s Dumha na nGiall, Slieve na Calliagh, and The Hill of Tara, just off the top of my head!

This to me, just reeks of someone trying to invalidate modern beliefs and practises, by suggesting the history on which they were based does not exist, or is somehow fictional. This is not the case. 

Have ASNAC, will travel.

[satyazomasorga]

Love what @etamina-amata has to say here. A lot of that is what Sorgae is attempting to do; bring these bits of lore and instruction we've been given from ages past, into a modern practice in a practical and do-able way.

[aneclecticyoungwitch]

Reblog this if you are willing to answer questions about witchcraft or your witchcraft type

I’m making another masterlist or maybe a series of people who newer, younger and maybe just curious witches can ask questions to. 

[moonlunatic666]

YES I LOVE YOUR QUESTIONS, BOTHER ME PLEASE 

[themagicalperhaps]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ANY ASK I GET ALWAYS BRIGHTENS MY DAY AND I NEVER SHUT UP SO MIGHT AS WELL USE IT FOR GOOD PLEASE

[astrologymarina]

There’s a game the Greeks used to play: whenever silence fell over a group of people, they believed that, the first sound that came out of this silence was a message from Hermes (Mercury) - this god was especially close to everyday human life and was the messenger between the divine and the mundane and he loved to interfere in silence. He was the trickster god who loves to play games with people and give them little messages or orchestrate weird coincidences. So, next time a conversation dies down, wait for the first sound you hear - it’s a message from Mercury!

[visardistofelphame]

Idk if you have any knowledge of this, but can you give me some info on familiars? Are they good or evil? What can they do for a magic user? How does one go about making their own familiar?

There tends to be three different kinds of “familiars”

Imps: The witches’ pet. What most people think of when they say “familiar”

Familiar spirits: spirits and beings that seek to aid the witches in their craft and magic. These can sometimes take physical forms and be bound to objects (including living things)

The Familiar spirit: The witches’ lover, the fairy lover, the spirit companion, etc. A spirit that is apart of the witch, yet separate, that seeks to interact with them and aid in their desires. Good example can be found in “Thomas the Rhymer" 

More reading found at the following (that you can find online)

witch cult in western Europe

folk-lore and the Isle of man

Letters on Demonology

The Magus

[satyazomasorga]

<p><a href=stable/1260607?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents>Emma Wilby</a> has some great writings on Familiars as well.</p>

[etamina-amata]

Can you clarify the difference between crossing the Hedge and flying?

Okay, this is one of those topics that can cause some disagreement on semantics in the traditional witch community, but I’ll do my best to answer according to my own practise, just mind that it is not universal. 

Both of these things are types of trancework, and what in my family, we largely call journeying. They are, however, different types of journeying, which is why I like to adopt the difference. Specifics make me happy.

The term crossing the hedge comes from the Anglo-Saxon word hægtesse, which if it looks familiar, it’s probably because it is related linguistically to the word hag. This word originally meant “hedge-rider.” However, as language evolved, it was sometimes used as a synonym for witch. 

Hedgecraft, crossing the hedge, or simply hedging are all mostly modern terms for an older art, named after the wild, brambley hedges that used to separate a town from the woods in the olden days. Most people didn’t go into the woods alone unless they had to, and they got out quickly. It was the magicians of the period who were willing to go in and stay in for periods. 

Nowadays, it, is largely a symbolic term meant to convey crossing liminal space while separated from your body, and crossing into otherworlds. Most use this term only for crossing into the land of the dead, but others include traversing into other lands as well. I prefer this second usage. 

Flying refers to spirit flight, which is another type of journeying. This type of spirit travel is one where you stay within this world, just not in the very location. These are the tales of witches leaving their bodies to haunt their victims, or to travel to the Sabbath, whereas the first is the tales like Isobel Gowdie going under the mounds and seeing the Sidhe lands.

[divinealtruism]

if there are any witches around who ever have been in a coven I’d love to talk to you! I’ve only ever been a solo practitioner, so tell me about what it’s like to work with a coven. Do you decide on spells together? Do you cast together? Do you meet once a week? Do you guys hang out outside of coven meetings? Do you guys ever just hang out in someone’s room and someone lazily casts a circle and you play ouija? Are there drunk tarot readings at 2 am? How does it all work? Talk to me!

[deactivated-blog]

Would be interested in this, too. I’m an OTO initiate, but that’s not a coven, nor have I ever been part of a group that was considered a coven. I’d love to know what it’s like, and also how it differs from being in a secret society like the OTO.

[satyazomasorga]

I know this really late, and I apologize. It’s been in my drafts for forever…

For me, being in a Coven is very important. I don’t feel that my workings are as…potent, I suppose, without one. Maybe that’s a lack of self-confidence on my part, but either way, I prefer Coven work to being solitary.

The first Coven I was officially a member of, was the Gardnerian Coven whose High Priest Initiated me. Gardnerian rituals are pre-written and performed the same way every time (that is, there is a script for each Sabbat and one for the Esbats), but the practice ia far from stagnant. The rituals are designed to trigger experiences, which then differ each time and are one of the main purposes in performing rituals in the forst place. I suppose this may be similar the OTO in that it is Oathbound, but being that I’m not an OTO member I can’t say for certain.

In general, Gardnerian Covens are usually meant to feel like a family; the HPS and HP are like parents, the other Initiates often relate to each other as siblings. And the metaphor extends upline through the lineage as well, with other Covens being like aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents, etc.. That’s not to say it’s all rainbows and sunshine, like any other family group there can be disagreements and fallings out and the like. But the Coven experience in Gardnerian Wicca is a very intimate one (and no, I don’t necesaarily mean sexually), as is pretty much required by having Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

Currently, though, my (very small) Coven practices a form of Witchcraft we call Sorgae (SOHR-gay), which is based on a combination of research, intuition, divination, and Divine revelation (I can elaborate more if there’s interest). We’re working basically from the ground up to develop our praxis, drawing inspiration not only from the Gard Wicca we’re familiar with, but from other sorts of Witchcraft as well (mostly falling under the Traditional umbrella, things like Feri, Luciferian, Hedgewitchery, etc.).

This Coven differs from Wicca though in that we have no hierarchy, we’re all co-clergy. We have no Initiation and no Oaths. That’s not to say there aren’t things that, were we teaching new students, we wouldn’t hold back to preserve the experience, but there’s no requirement of ritual secrecy. Heck, we don’t even draw a Circle for our rituals.

…I’m realizing this got to be more of a comparison of my practices rather than exclusively being about Coven work, so I’m open to questions about that or anything I’ve said here.

[unseelie-sorceress]

I have to ask why? Why deal with faeries at all? Why not just protect yourself the best you can? Why paths as fairy faith and fairy lovers exist? It's obviously why protection techniques exist but why the rest? Is there any possible positive things about this? Even demon worship don't get what I heard about faeries? Are faekin like that too or not so bad because it's a human life?

It is possible to cultivate a beneficial relationship with a Fae.  Even if it’s just “I’ll give you milk if you don’t steal my shit” or “Here’s a slice of cake, you can live in my flowers, if you keep the pests away”.  There are ways, if you are safe and keep to the etiquette, of earning favours with the Fae.  And Fae magic is powerful stuff.  There is an allure there that I can understand is hypnotizing.  

And, though we hate to admit it, there are times when Humans can help the Fae.  There are things that are easier to face if we join our powers to Human witches.  I know that Fae and Humans are working together to combat some of the global warming and environmental destruction that is occurring.  The generalization is that you should never trust a Fae.  But there are also exceptions to the rule.  Each case is different.  Faekin walk that line between being Human and being Fae and it’s a struggle for us.  

None of my warnings about working with Fae are meant to deter you from exploring this path.  I only encourage you to do your research and be safe.  

[cephalophor]

The Fair Folk

The Wild Hunt

When the winter winds blow and the Yule fires are lit, it is best to stay indoors, safely shut away from the dark paths and the wild heaths.

[ofwoodandbone]

I just saw all those asks about flying. If you don't mind, I have to disagree with you. Or to quote one wiser than myself: if God wanted us to fly, He would have given tickets.

Then you misunderstand the base idea of witchcraft. Witches have always been the ones to seize powers that God didn’t want man to have. They were gifted it by angels and spirits and the Devil himself. We don’t wait on God to answer prayers. We answer our own. 

[satyazomasorga]

My teachers have a saying; "The hands of the Gods are at the ends of your wrists." See also, the innumerable tales from various cultures of someone stealing something from God/the Gods to give to humans (often fire, which is often a metaphor for sacred esoteric knowledge). Sorgae has its own, with Atamenoch.

[flamekeeperwitch]

Familiars

What are Familiars?

The concept of Familiars can be found in European Folklore dating back to the early Medieval period. Familiars have appeared throughout history in multiple forms but often being in the form of an animal such as cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Some cases even describe them in human form or humanoid form. Others even describe them as being faeries.

Familiars are described as being companions to witches and assist them in their magickal work. In early times, familiars were feared to be lesser demons that fed from the blood of witches and assisted in malevolent magic. They were even considered to be imps, bestowed upon witches by the Devil. Many cats were killed around the time of the Black Plague which only brought more death in Europe. The cats would eat the mice and rats carrying the fleas that spread the Plague. The mass murder of cats caused an increase in the flea population leading to more deaths. Almost poetic justice.

How do you choose a Familiar?

Familiars are not chosen; they choose the person. Typically, a strong link or connection is felt between the person and their Familiar. This can be with any animal the person feels an affinity to but in modern times, is typical a household pet. These pets are treated as a member of the family and are often considered magickal partners.

However, some people do not discover their Familiar in the physical realm but instead accumulate pictures, statuary, or other research of an animal or creature that they feel strongly drawn to. This can be a Familiar that has reached out to you from the astral plane.

You may also have more than one Familiar. It is not uncommon to have a connection to multiple Familiar Spirits as they all may have a different function in your life to better assist you.

Magickal Workings with Familiars:

As partners in the Craft, Witches tend to treat their Familiars with respect, love, and wisdom. You can learn a lot from having a Familiar, such as patience, love, understanding, partnership, respect, and gratitude. These creatures can not only teach us about ourselves and our own Craft but also about nature and the Universe.

They can assist you in ritual or with spells by bringing with them a certain mood or tone you wish to set within Circle. They are able to enter and exit the Circle without breaking the energy surrounding you. Sometimes, they allow you to use their fur, scales, and nail clippings within your magickal work.

Familiars are beneficial mentally and emotionally. They provide stress relief and help keep people emotionally balanced. They tend to know our moods and will often act on a course of judgement to put their partners (us) in the right frame of mind so that we can continue with our path.

Familiars can also assist us on the astral plane. Since they live between worlds, they can enter with us on our shamanic journeys. In this plane. They may appear in a different form or even be able to speak. They can guide us to the answers we seek in our Craft.

Honoring Your Familiar:

Familiars are our partners, not our servants. The idea of a Familiar and their role in the Witch’s Craft has greatly changed over time. At first, Familiars were believed to be servants to Witches, doing their bidding without hesitation. Since the New Age, that thinking has changed. It is accepted that we show our gratitude towards our guides and honor them. This can be as easy as giving them love and attention during the day.

I, personally, spend time with my Familiar every morning and every night. I give him love and affection, I brush his fur, I brush his teeth, I keep him fed and healthy, etc. I also keep a small statue on my altar just for him. You can even work with Familiar Magic which helps strengthen your bond. Brown is the traditional color for Familiars if you wish to use candle magic. There are also stones and herbs that show your appreciation. Go out and buy your kitty a new toy or some catnip. Or you can get your dog a new rawhide.

Protecting your Familiar:

Most people look at the Familiar as their protector. They are protectors but they also need it too. You can place protective amulets or charms on their collar. I actually enchanted my Familiar’s collar so he would be protected even when I’m not home. I also have a certain space for him in the house where he can go to a be protected. You can do this by enchanting their bed.

Protection Enchantment

Materials:

Collar (blank or with symbols)

Brown Candle

Salt

Bowl of Water

Incense such as mugwort or St. John’s Wort for protection and calming

Markers (optional)

Begin by creating a salt and water protection Circle around you (and your Familiar if present). You may cast any Circle you wish. At this time, state your intention within the Circle and light your candle and incense. If you have chosen a blank collar, you may wish to draw your own protection sigils upon it or you can simply proceed with the next step.

Pass the collar through the four elements. Sprinkle the color with the Salt of the Earth and state your intention.

Pass the collar over the flame, but not too closely, and state your intention

Sprinkle the collar with the water and state your intention.

Pass the collar through the smoke of the incense and state your intention.

The collar has no been imbued with the power of protection from the four elements and is ready to be worn by your Familiar.

I would like to introduce my own Familiar as I find him quite the character. His name is Salem, a 2 year old Tuxedo who rescued me from the animal shelter. He loves creating magick with me! I’d love to see pictures of everyone’s Familiars if they would like to share!

[satyazomasorga]

Excellent post on Familiars that complements my own, and hence our understanding of and work with Familiars, quite well.

[silverjirachi]

remember witches, some people don’t even believe we exist. that’s a powerful place to be in. you are still a mythical being.

[satyazomasorga]

This hearkens to the Sorginak/Sorgitzak connection I wrote about here, and touches on conclusions toward the end of this piece. Basically, to sum those points up, our explorations into Sorgae and Vaska lead us to believe that Witches are, in fact, literally mythical beings.

[satyazomasorga]

Captain's log, supplemental. In this incredible universe it appears to be part of the natural laws that belief is as potent a force as energy and matter are in our own.

"McCoy asks Kirk if he believes that Lucien was really Lucifer. Kirk asks if that really matters, but Spock tells the captain that it may be significant, as this would be the second time Lucifer was cast out. However, thanks to Kirk, it would be the first time he was saved." (x)

[blaruto]

I still think Moana deserved an Oscar for this part

[satyazomasorga]

For my Lady Ariadne, Muse in the West.

[yyyesman-deactivated20190207]

General beliefs

Sometimes mistakenly associated with Satanism due to the Christian interpretation of the fallen angel, Luciferianism is a wholly different belief system[26] and does not revere the devil figure or most characteristics typically affixed to Satan. Rather, Lucifer in this context is seen as one of many morning stars, a symbol of enlightenment,[27] independence and human progression, and is often used interchangeably with similar figures from a range of ancient beliefs, such as the Greek titan Prometheus or the Jewish talmudic figure Lilith.

They support the protection of the natural world. Both the arts and sciences are crucial to human development, and thus both are cherished. Luciferians think that humans should be focused on this life and how to make the most of it every single day. The ability to recognize both good and evil, to accept that all actions have consequences, both positive and negative, and to actively influence one’s environment, is a key factor.

For Luciferians, enlightenment is the ultimate goal. The basic Luciferian principles highlight truth and freedom of will, worshipping the inner self and one’s ultimate potential. Traditional dogma is shunned as a basis for morality on the grounds that humans should not need deities or fear of eternal punishment to distinguish right from wrong and to do good. All ideas should be tested before being accepted, and even then one should remain skeptical because knowledge and understanding are fluid. Regardless of whether Lucifer is conceived of as a deity or as a mere archetype, he is a representation of ultimate knowledge and exploration: humanity’s savior and a champion for continuing personal growth.

Theistic Luciferianism

Some Luciferians believe in Lucifer as an actual deity, not to be worshipped as the Judeo-Christian God but to be revered and followed as a teacher and friend, as a rescuer or guiding spirit, or even the one true god as opposed to the traditional creator of Judaism.[28] Theistic Luciferians are followers of the Left-Hand Path and may adhere to different dogmata put forth by organizations such as the Neo-Luciferian Church or other congregations that are heavily focused on ceremonial magic, the occult and literal interpretations of spiritual stories and figures.

[satyazomasorga]

Many of the views of Lucifer expressed here align with what we have uncovered/experienced about Atamenoch.

[satyazomasorga]

Fruits of Your Craft 30-Day Challenge: Day 21

21. Do you have a spiritual or physical familiar? Why or why not?

I do, a spirit Familiar. In our Magickal works he goes by the name Cervus (“KAIR-voos”), but his name and appearance would be recognizable in fandom/certain media (though would have been moreso back in the 90s). He is very intelligent and curious, perhaps a bit paranoid and obsessive at times, with a dry wit and a somewhat monotone voice. But his smile is warm and genuine, and his eagerness to practice with me is always palpable.

See this post for more about how Sorgae understands and interacts with Familiar spirits. Also of interest may be my Familiars tag.

[satyazomasorga]

Fruits of Your Craft 30-Day Challenge: Day 20 20. If you could change one thing (large or small) about the way magick works, what would it be and why? I don't know about how Magick works, but I'd love it if Witchcraft and religions that utilize it were more accepted in general society. If people weren't afraid of losing their jobs or custody of their children simply because they're a Witch.