#sabbatical craft

[visardistofelphame]

Here again with another craft project. Working on a specific altar table for familiar work and displaying icons.

[theredbeggar]

Originally the athame was used in sacrificial rites, along with the sickle and the labrys or double-headed axe. In ancient times its blade would have been made of sharp flint or obsidian, and it still is in those traditional covines that eschew metal in the circle, or of a magical amalgam of the seven planetary metals. It should not be confused with the white-hilted knife that is exclusively used in the making of ritual tools, for carving fetish or spirit images and inscribing sigils on power objects. According to tradition the blade should be consecrated with the blood of a black cat. Today a few drops of the witch's or the magician's own blood are used.

Children of Cain, by Michael Howard (2011)(pg. 205)

[visardistofelphame]

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A while back I had taken the time to draw out this description of Andrew's altar. You can really feel his style through how he sets up the space. Made up of two separate altars: the High Altar and the working altar, they each serve a different purpose.

But, both heavily emphasise the images, icons and bodies of the various entities within the spiritual congress. The positioning of the different items have various meanings, perhaps how he arranged the fetishes on the working altar depended on the season (or other specific timing).

The double altars can represent the double nature of the sabbatic space, the seen and unseen circle.

Rereading through all this helped inspire my own interpretation of the double altar space. Shown in the second design, I spent time infusing my other practices into the design. On the top surface, the elemental weapons are placed around the altar - each placed at a specific point of the 8 pointed star. The Fetish Tree (Stang) is inserted in the center, where I would hang charms, talismans, amulets, etc.

Inside, there is a second 8 pointed star that would house the fetishes inside - each positioned at a point. The idea that I could rotate them below depending on the working. By condencing the altars in this way, it is easier to house the altar in the center of the circle (my preferred altar spot).

I'll be hunting for some good candidates for the project, hopefully I can find something fitting.

[visardistofelphame]

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The thing with Azoetia's ritual script is that much is left to interpretation, much is purposely left out to encourage one's own UPG to develop naturally. By design, it is a script meant to be a flexible medium for the witch (artist) to craft.

From this, I enjoy seeing how my exploration into Azoetia and sabbatical technique differ from/relate to the other sources of influence in my craft. One aspect of this is circle casting. Typically, I would normally see to cast the circle by physically tracing and walking around the space. I might also draw a large circle to encompass the space. Perhaps I might visualize the structure in a pinch. There always is a direct aknowledgement of making the circle itself.

When I spent time deciphering Azoetia's content for my own personal use, I spoke 6 lines of the Evocation (interesting the Circle rune is also 6 lines) as I traced the sigils of Zoa, Azoa, Azoth and Sothis (Sethos/I).

"At the Meeting place of the Three, by the Full Moon's Light, O' Serpent Zoa, Great Sigil of all Living! We evoke thee: The Primal Goddess! At the Meeting Place of the Four, by the Black Sun's Light, O' Serpent Azoa, Great Sigil of Death! We invoke thee: The Primal God!"

Combining them all together would create the impression of a circle around it - the unseen circle. Its very much invokes the otherness of a sabbatical circle.

I've experimented with where to place the Circle Rune, both before and after the evocation. I've even used it in place of the evocation, since it being six lines fits rather easily in tracing the sigils together to form the circle. From these, I tend to gravitate towards using it after the evocation. It emphasises the gathering of these forces and utizing their unity to form the circle. Always felt like evoking (calling out) the sabbat and then invoking (calling in) it into the physical world for ritual.

But, I go back and forth. An element of improv and "in the moment" inspiration are a vital aspect for connecting with the deeper mysteries, so I don't worry too much if things get shuffled around.

[visardistofelphame]

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One of my favorite parts of sabbatical craft is the emphasis on building and establishing a connection with the local space. There is an importance in forming a congress of genius loci. Very much the craft provides a solid structure for doing that.

There is a great importance placed in the creation of the Altar as sacred space, both a base of magical working and a house for your familiars (genius loci). It also touches briefly on the topic of dream incubation with the magical bed and the emphasis on housing fetishes underneath where you sleep.

There is meant to be revelation through those connections. And most central to channeling that is the Sigil. I haven't read the passage about the Alphabit of Desire (AoD), but this touches on that. It acts as a bridge between known and unknowable. Certain aspects of the mystery are difficult to explain through traditional means, so the use of mystic symbols help convey both literal and spiritual meaning to the witch. If one is to understand what Azoetia is trying to teach, you gotta understand the AoD. Luckily, we are told how to do that, via the eight paths. It is through connection with ourselves and what is around us that desire become clear and the will can be absolute.