As I mentioned in a previous blog post that there are tenets that exist that create the foundation of Wicca even if you are a Modern Eclectic Wiccan. There is a line, a boundary for everything, a point when something stops being one thing and transforms into something else. There are characteristics or traits that identify Wicca as Wicca. I will continue to discuss these characteristics or tenets in this blog. I have already discussed other tenets and today I will continue with the next one, which is:
Understanding The Witch’s Pyramid
Understanding The Witch’s Pyramid
A Wiccan is self-aware and continuously works on improving his or her awareness of not only themselves, but the world around them. This is something that all magickal practitioners acknowledge and is completely illustrated within The Witch’s Pyramid, which is also known by many other names: the Four Pillars of the Witches’ Temple, the Four Powers of the Magician (Magus), the Four Secrets of the Sphinx, and the Hermetic Quantinary. It is considered a fundamental occult philosophy shared by all practical and esoteric magick. Once the four corners at the base of the pyramid are achieved the fifth becomes the capstone to the pyramid and the Cone of Power is raised propelling the desire towards manifestation, without all four aspects the Cone of Power will fail and manifestation will not occur.
The Witch’s Pyramid consists of the four concepts: To Know, To Dare, To Will, and To Be Silent and the final power being: To Go.
To Know (nescere):
Wiccans are keenly aware that knowledge and wisdom are vessels of power and because of this understanding they continue to study and practice the art of magick within their daily lives whether within a solitary setting or within a coven practice in order to grow within their Craft. Knowledge is gained through reading and studying books, counsel from spiritual mentors, magickal lessons from teachers, and interaction with other Witches and Wiccans. Any knowledge or experience that an individual gains has the ability to be applied to all their spell crafting and casting as well as all ritual workings. The more a Witch learns, knows, and comprehends (on all levels), the more frequent successful manifestations will occur and the more effective that Wiccan’s healing will be. This is a continuing process that takes time and effort on the part of the Wiccan.
To Know includes consideration of the Wiccan’s Craft as well as the Wiccan. Compiling and analyzing correspondences, information pertaining to a situation or goal, and understanding the purpose or reason for wanting something to be manifested is important, but knowing oneself is just as vital when practicing magick. Being aware of strengths and weaknesses, skills and talents, pleasures and fears, which will be of a benefit and / or hindrance to the magickal working must be considered. To Know covers all things in the Wiccan’s life both mundane and magickal.
To Dare (audere):
Wiccans recognize that they walk between the worlds, possessing the ability to harness and manipulate energy to create changes within reality. They know that it takes courage to act on that which they have committed themselves regardless of whether or not there is previous experience to draw upon. It takes great courage to stand alongside the gods and the spirits of the unseen realms, to take the required risks when walking in darkness and unknown territory and possess the willingness to confront whatever may be discovered lurking there. Wiccans dare to trust their instincts and skills to aid in overcoming personal fears and insecurities so that he or she may act in accordance with the specific circumstances and situations.
Not all individuals are born Wiccan and not all are meant to tread this particular path. Not everyone is capable of wielding magick and this is acceptable. It takes a unique individual to wear the mantle of Witch; an individual unafraid of living on the outskirts of society, the one who is comfortable being alone with themselves and their familiar spirits willing to approach boldly and unapologetically whatever obstacles stand in his or her way.
To Will (velle):
Wiccans accept responsibility for their spells and manifestations because they are aware that they have sent forth a desire with purpose, with will. Magick doesn’t occur because the right color candle was used or the working was done during the correct lunar phase; the spell manifests because the Witch wills it to. Candles, herbs, tools, and other correspondences are necessary for spell casting, but without the presence of Will and the knowledge that it is within the Witch; there will be no success. Nothing will change. It is the Wiccan’s sheer force of determination with focused intention and fueled by the raised energy that makes a spell manifest. Wiccans are aware of this. They acknowledge this and understand that confidence is required in any act of magick. Belief and confidence in one’s own knowledge, ability, and skill are necessary and present within the Will of the Wiccan.
True Will is action aligned with purpose; an awareness that what the individual is doing, saying, and thinking is an honest desire of the spirit imbued within the physical body. It is the purpose for the Witch to have manifested in the physical realm of earth. It is the Witch’s obligation magickally imposed upon him or her at birth and if working in accordance with it, will aid the Witch in his or her magick. When aligned with their True Will the Witch is able to conduct their life with the confidence that their magickal is “right” and “true”.
To Be Silent (tacere):
Much is learned within silence. In today’s culture individuals are bombarded constantly by noise and babble, which can easily distract the Wiccan from their desired intention. Finding silence not only in one’s environment but also within enables the Witch to visualize and manifest their desires easier as they are not being distracted by meaningless noise. A time of silence is beneficial when learning new concepts and philosophies. Allowing one’s mind to contemplate the new information and integrating it into the already established system of knowledge can be done much easier when the mind isn’t attempting to filter out the noise of mundane life. This time of silence allows the mind of the Wiccan to experience personal gnosis gaining them unique understanding of the new magickal concepts.
The Wiccan understands that words hold a vibrational frequency and not all words are equal in this power, so it is important that we “think before we speak” and chose our words carefully whether in speaking or writing. The definition of two words may be the same, but many times the connotation of the words is very different. Knowing when words are required and when to say nothing at all comes from life experience.
To Be Silent concerning an act of magick is prudent, as not all others will agree with another’s working and to speak of it, is to openly invite criticism, which has the potential to create resistance and interference with the manifestation of the desired outcome through self-doubt.
To Go (ire):
To Go is what is achieved when the Wiccan has mastered the other four aspects of the Pyramid. The Witch puts in the effort and work to master the four aspects and uses them throughout their life both in a mundane sense as well as a magickal one. By integrating this power, the Witch is enabled to align with their True Will gaining wisdom, insight, and power to manifest changes within his or her life.
To Go is known as the ultimate meaning of the Witch’s Oath of Service.
The Witch’s Pyramid consists of the four concepts: To Know, To Dare, To Will, and To Be Silent and the final power being: To Go.
To Know (nescere):
Wiccans are keenly aware that knowledge and wisdom are vessels of power and because of this understanding they continue to study and practice the art of magick within their daily lives whether within a solitary setting or within a coven practice in order to grow within their Craft. Knowledge is gained through reading and studying books, counsel from spiritual mentors, magickal lessons from teachers, and interaction with other Witches and Wiccans. Any knowledge or experience that an individual gains has the ability to be applied to all their spell crafting and casting as well as all ritual workings. The more a Witch learns, knows, and comprehends (on all levels), the more frequent successful manifestations will occur and the more effective that Wiccan’s healing will be. This is a continuing process that takes time and effort on the part of the Wiccan.
To Know includes consideration of the Wiccan’s Craft as well as the Wiccan. Compiling and analyzing correspondences, information pertaining to a situation or goal, and understanding the purpose or reason for wanting something to be manifested is important, but knowing oneself is just as vital when practicing magick. Being aware of strengths and weaknesses, skills and talents, pleasures and fears, which will be of a benefit and / or hindrance to the magickal working must be considered. To Know covers all things in the Wiccan’s life both mundane and magickal.
To Dare (audere):
Wiccans recognize that they walk between the worlds, possessing the ability to harness and manipulate energy to create changes within reality. They know that it takes courage to act on that which they have committed themselves regardless of whether or not there is previous experience to draw upon. It takes great courage to stand alongside the gods and the spirits of the unseen realms, to take the required risks when walking in darkness and unknown territory and possess the willingness to confront whatever may be discovered lurking there. Wiccans dare to trust their instincts and skills to aid in overcoming personal fears and insecurities so that he or she may act in accordance with the specific circumstances and situations.
Not all individuals are born Wiccan and not all are meant to tread this particular path. Not everyone is capable of wielding magick and this is acceptable. It takes a unique individual to wear the mantle of Witch; an individual unafraid of living on the outskirts of society, the one who is comfortable being alone with themselves and their familiar spirits willing to approach boldly and unapologetically whatever obstacles stand in his or her way.
To Will (velle):
Wiccans accept responsibility for their spells and manifestations because they are aware that they have sent forth a desire with purpose, with will. Magick doesn’t occur because the right color candle was used or the working was done during the correct lunar phase; the spell manifests because the Witch wills it to. Candles, herbs, tools, and other correspondences are necessary for spell casting, but without the presence of Will and the knowledge that it is within the Witch; there will be no success. Nothing will change. It is the Wiccan’s sheer force of determination with focused intention and fueled by the raised energy that makes a spell manifest. Wiccans are aware of this. They acknowledge this and understand that confidence is required in any act of magick. Belief and confidence in one’s own knowledge, ability, and skill are necessary and present within the Will of the Wiccan.
True Will is action aligned with purpose; an awareness that what the individual is doing, saying, and thinking is an honest desire of the spirit imbued within the physical body. It is the purpose for the Witch to have manifested in the physical realm of earth. It is the Witch’s obligation magickally imposed upon him or her at birth and if working in accordance with it, will aid the Witch in his or her magick. When aligned with their True Will the Witch is able to conduct their life with the confidence that their magickal is “right” and “true”.
To Be Silent (tacere):
Much is learned within silence. In today’s culture individuals are bombarded constantly by noise and babble, which can easily distract the Wiccan from their desired intention. Finding silence not only in one’s environment but also within enables the Witch to visualize and manifest their desires easier as they are not being distracted by meaningless noise. A time of silence is beneficial when learning new concepts and philosophies. Allowing one’s mind to contemplate the new information and integrating it into the already established system of knowledge can be done much easier when the mind isn’t attempting to filter out the noise of mundane life. This time of silence allows the mind of the Wiccan to experience personal gnosis gaining them unique understanding of the new magickal concepts.
The Wiccan understands that words hold a vibrational frequency and not all words are equal in this power, so it is important that we “think before we speak” and chose our words carefully whether in speaking or writing. The definition of two words may be the same, but many times the connotation of the words is very different. Knowing when words are required and when to say nothing at all comes from life experience.
To Be Silent concerning an act of magick is prudent, as not all others will agree with another’s working and to speak of it, is to openly invite criticism, which has the potential to create resistance and interference with the manifestation of the desired outcome through self-doubt.
To Go (ire):
To Go is what is achieved when the Wiccan has mastered the other four aspects of the Pyramid. The Witch puts in the effort and work to master the four aspects and uses them throughout their life both in a mundane sense as well as a magickal one. By integrating this power, the Witch is enabled to align with their True Will gaining wisdom, insight, and power to manifest changes within his or her life.
To Go is known as the ultimate meaning of the Witch’s Oath of Service.
