christopherpenczak.com

Special announcement: In-Person and Online Inner Temple Apprenticeships begin this fall

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:17:47 -0700

I am very pleased to announce a special learning opportunity. Starting this fall, Ill be teaching a year-long Inner Temple of Witchcraft apprenticeship.

There are two options available. The first is a direct, in-person class at my office in Salem, NH. Space is limited and students have an opportunity to grow and share together in an intimate group. The second option is the much-requested online format, making the class available to people across the world who would not otherwise be able to study with me.

Both courses will use The Inner Temple of Witchcraft book and CD Companion as the text book, but include additional materials excerpted from an upcoming Temple of Witchcraft Book of Shadows as well. The in-person lectures will be recorded and made available to students in the online class. Both formats require serious, motivated students with a desire to learn, experience, and practice the Craft.

Witchcraft II through V will be taught in a similar extended format in subsequent years. Details and dates are below, and anyone interested in registering should contact me directly at torcboy@aol.com for a registration form. All students must fill out a registration form and be approved prior to the start of the course, regardless of format.

Blessed be,

Christopher Penczak

For course descriptions, follow the link below.

Blessed Lammas!

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:52:49 -0700

We approach the festival of Lammas, also known as Lughnassah or First Harvest. In the mythos of the Wheel of the Year, the God of Oak and Growing Things was defeated by his dark half, the Horned Hunter, and on the first sacrifice, as the first grains are cut, he is sacrificed and his body baked into bread to sustain us through the winter months. This is a time for us to both be harvesting the bounty of our life in appreciation of the blessings we have received, as well as collecting seeds and planning for the next growing cycle.

Blessed Litha!

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:27:43 -0700

Solar Blessing,

May the light of the Solstice Sun bring blessings upon you for the rest of the year. Nows the time to appreciate the sun, light and heat while we have it, and store that power up for the dark time of the year. It seems like we never quite appreciate what we have. When its warm we think its too hot. When its cold, we appreciate the heat of the summer. The grass is always greener on the other side of the Wheel of the Year. But after a long winter myself, Im totally appreciating summer. Ive got my garden planted and though Im not spending as much time outdoors as Id like, Im appreciating the time I do have. Ive started some seedlings of the toxic witch plants and so far they are doing well.

Blessed Beltaine!

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:10:00 -0700

I cant believe I missed Ostara in my little updates and mailings. I had a lovely welcoming of the Spring, but here in New Hampshire, it doesnt really feel like spring until almost Beltaine, where the first flowers are truly blooming. Im excited to report that for the first time ever, my Black Hellbore bloomed, revealing beautiful five petalled rose like flowers. It tends to bloom under the snow, giving it the name Christmas Rose to some, though its really a very witchy plant. It practically called out to me to make an essence of it and my initial impressions upon communicating with the plant spirit is that it is used for people who feel their beauty and accomplishments are not recognized by others, to heal those who feel they are invisible to others. Magickally the root is said to confer invisibility. Cant wait to try it out.

Happy Valentines Day

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:35:27 -0800

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone......

I'm about to embark on my CA trip to go to Pantheacon, but before i go, here is a little Valentine's Day gift, an excerpt from a forthcoming book, The Witch's Heart, a book on love magick.

Blessed be,

Christopher

Love Potion No. 13
This is a formula I created in meditation for a friend who was recovering from a difficult relationship. It's purpose is to bring the feeling of love back into your life, and when you are ready, an actual relationship.
The base of the potion is water, and this particular batch was made from spring water, melted snow and well water from the red well at Glastonbury Tor. You can start with 2 Cups of fresh spring water and add three Tablespoons of sea salt.
Add to the water a copper ingot, wire or coin while it simmers on a low heat, to infuse the metallic power of copper, Venus' metal, to it. Add the following ingredients, one at a time, to it, stirring each in thirteen times.

1 Tablespoon Rose Petals soaked in Rose Water
1 Tablespoon Rue
1 Tablespoon Jasmine Flowers
1 Tonka Bean
1 Tablespoon Vervain
1 Tablespoon Star Anise
1 Tablespoon Raspberry Leaf
1 Tablespoon Damiana Leaf
1 Tablespoon Yarrow Flower
1 Tablespoon Basil Leaf
1 Tablespoon Red Clover Tops
1 Pinch of Dragon's Blood Resin
1Vanilla bean

Let the mixture cool and strain out the herbs. Add nine drops of Sea Water, if available to the potion to truly activate its Venusian powers.

This potion is not for consumption, but for anointing the body, including the chakras and nape of the neck. One of the ingredients, Rue, can cause some skin irritation in some people, and should never be used by pregnant women.

Blessed Imbolc!

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:06:37 -0800

Merry Meet and Blessed Imbolc,

Even though Mercury retrograde has struck, the movement of Mars to direct has gotten me out of my winter funk and ready to be in the world again. I have a generally afflicted Mars in my birth chart, so when things are wonky (a technical astrological term) with Mars, it seems to hit me all the harder. Its surprising I get as much done as I do, with my natal Mars.

Blessed Yule!

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:28:23 -0800

Blessed Yule Everyone,

Winter has descended upon New England where I live, and Im getting excited for the next turn of the wheel. Yule is almost here, and we shall enter the season of light, even though for most of us it will still be dark and snowy. It is assuring to know the light is coming. Ill be celebrating Yule with the Lap of the Goddess community in Cambridge, MA on Saturday. We have a lovely ritual planned on the descent and rebirth of the light and the ride of the Wild Hunt.

Midwest Tour 07

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:40:00 -0800

Im back from my sojourn to the great Midwest. Last year, I affectionately dubbed my Midwest tour Hell Tour 06, as it seemed that all that could have gone wrong did, but this year, a much shorter tour, proved to be a lot of fun. I started my journey in Kansas City, to visit Aquarius Books(www.aquariusbooks.com) and two of my favorite people, Barbara and Russ, a mother and son team who own Aquarius Books/Vulcans Forge. We had an intimate and intense Witchcraft II class, as well as a Friday night book signing and lecture. Each person came from a divergent tradition that I learned a lot. I loved it when Barbara shared her experienced with the Mayan tradition. I have a great love and respect for the Central and South American traditions.

Christopher on the Third Eye Show #40

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:05:28 -0800

Quadruple Samhain is Over.

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:35:28 -0800

Quadruple Samhain is over. And by Quadruple Samhain, I mean the four rituals spread over a week. I remember my teachers telling me early on my training that the old festivals lasted days and days. Not sure if thats really true, but it feels like its becoming true. Rather than one long tribal festival, I have multiple Samhain experiences.