Sprowl - as written about by Gemma Gary
Page 62 - 63
The Cunning path is first trod out in the land where the ‘novice pellar’ is called to go in search of the natural forces that will both empower and inform their craft. For the Cornish witch, one of the most potent and useful forces is known as the Red Serpent or Sarf Ruth. This is the spirit force or ‘sprowl’ that flows within the land, animates all living things and empowers the spirit within all natural things; for traditional Cornish witchcraft is an animist path which acknowledges spirit within such things as stones, streams and buildings.
Detecting and harnessing the serpentine flow is of great importance to the pellar, and they must know the ways to this and the places where this force will be best drawn forth. The desire to seek these forces and draw upon them, and indeed the ability to do so, should be naturally held within the true witch. It is a thing ‘deeply known’ and the ways of it are not easily put into words. Often it is just a case of fine tuning the familiar senses, desires and abilities within those who are starting their way along the path, rather than something alien having to be learned from scratch.
It is a regular practice of witches in Cornwall to walk out into the land to gather ‘sprowl’ to aid and empower their craft, such journeys may be known as ‘walking the serpent path’; a path of power and chthonic gnosis. The witches are very sensitive to the landscape in which they live and they know well the places of power around them where the sprowl can best be drawn forth and stored for later use; this is how the Cornish witch gathers power. The highly important tool - the witch’s staff is the traditional companion upon the serpent path, as the sprowl may be drawn forth and stored within this as well as within the body of the witch. The winding serpent-like paths that flow and meander through fields and valleys, alongside and through the magical thorn-hedge, following streams or along the towering and dramatic sea cliffs, are commonly travelled by the witch who ‘picks up’ sprowl along the way. These serpentine tracks also have magical & meditative uses. The hills, boulder strewn carns and other high places, where the ser[ent will coil cone-like in the land, are also places where this potent force may be accessed in abundance as well as within the ancient stone circles where the serpent is literally ‘danced alive’ by the circumambulations of the witch.
Page 99
[On traditional craft magical tools]
Natural materials not only contain the very sprowl or spirit of the landscape in which they were found, but more easily become a vessel and conduit for magical forces employed and directed and the working sprowl of the practitioner. Such tools become a magical extension of the practitioner's being and are seen as gifts directly from the land and the Old Ones.
Page 137
[On colours and animals sacred in cornish witchcraft]
Red is ruled by the serpentine fire in the land, it is magic of potency and empowerment, to charge an item, being or place with generative sprowl is an act of red magic, as are workings of sexual energy and the laying down or directing of protective spirit forces. The familiar spirit of red magic is the red serpent.
Page 149
[Working incense to raise sprowl]
Serpent Smoke
A general working incense for the gathering, raising and direction of sprowl. It is employed in acts of empowerment and all rites and workings aided by the virtues of the eastward road:
Bryony root ½ tsp, Cinnamon oil 15 drops, Clove oil 30 drops, Colophony 1 ½ tsp, Dragons Blood 2 tsp, Geranium oil 5 drops, Ginger powdered ½ tsp, Madder root 3 tsp, Patchouli oil 12 drops, Pine needles 1 tsp, Rue 1 tsp, Sloe berries 1 tsp, Wormwood 1 tsp, Alum 1 ½ tsp.