Post by wren on Nov 1, 2006 18:01:19 GMT -5
The Prytani Tradition
Author: Brighid Ragan
www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usga&c=trads&id=3381
History
The Prytani were the iron age occupants of what is now referred to as the northeast coast of Ireland and the northwest coast of Scotland. It is the name that was given to them in the writings of the early seafaring peoples of the fertile crescent. The earliest known documentation of the Prytani (Prydani, Pretani, Pratani) was from Ptolemy who used the name assigned by the Greeks some centuries earlier. They sailed north and found two types of people that they wrote about in their journals. They found the Blue People of the peninsula now known as Scotland and they found the White People on the island now known as Ireland. It is believed that the blue that is referred to is the blue woad they wore during their battles, rituals (or possibly their tattoos) and celebrations and that the white referred to a chalk or ash mixture, used for the same purposes.
The people of the Isles migrated to the area from the east and south. They made a great impact on the sailors because of their advanced skills, art and knowledge. We believe that many ideas and philosophies were exchanged and that over many hundreds of years they traded goods, wives and knowledge. Within a relatively short time, in terms of the time line of history, these people later became known to us as the Celts.
Because of our lack of written records about that period, our knowledge is from the archeological treasures that have been discovered in modern times, fragments of written history from other cultures and our history that has been handed down to us, generation to generation. The other sources are through cultural memory and our connection to the "Akashic Record" or universal consciousness. From the beginning of the current era, the art of memorization has been employed to record a great deal of the lore. Invaders took it upon themselves to destroy the vast ancient libraries so that the only completely safe way of preserving the history was in the minds of those who became the law keepers, teachers, poets and leaders of the people. The conquering Christians also demanded censorship of the native languages, both spoken and written. A great deal more of the history has been lost than we will ever know again.
Philosophy
We, as seekers and students of the Old Religion are considered to be Witches. We are definitely not Wiccan. Wicca is a religion developed in the 20th century from a body of teachings introduced in the 1950's by Gerald Gardner. Our beliefs predate this new religion by more centuries than we can count. It wasn't until about 25 years ago that we even identified ourselves as Witches and then simply for the purposes of identification and differentiation from the vast array of new and old religions. We are practitioners of "The Craft" or "The Old Faith", or "The Old Religion", a short way of saying that we come from those peoples who had the talent, the will and the skill to work with the natural word and bend or manipulate it to their purposes. It was considered an Art form because it is not an exact science and it was considered a Craft because the practitioner usually took on that specific job within the community, as a form of service to their people; like any person who had a craft or skill such as house building or smithing.
The religious aspect of The Old Religion was a way of life; completely unidentifiable from philosophy, ideology, practice or custom. It was the belief system that governed the complete mindset and world-view of the people of the time. They lived their beliefs with every breath they took and every thought and deed. Their religion and their relationship with the world and each other was all one thing. The way each person related to the other, the water they drank, the air they breathed, the cycles of the seasons, the earth they drew sustenance from, the fire that warmed their hearths and forged their tools and their religion was the whole of their existence. They viewed themselves as integral parts of the world. Part of, not separate from the earth, the heavens and the unseen world which they recognized as being equally important to their existence.
These are the same concepts that we follow today. Our religion is not identifiable from our view of life and our place in the world in which we live. Many say that ours is not a religion because it cannot be defined in a dictionary or compared to any other popular religious path. Magic is a way of working with the powers of the natural world to achieve what we need to survive and thrive in a hostile environment. Because we must live in this world, it is in our best interest to be careful, in the extreme, to refrain from upsetting the natural balance any more than is absolutely necessary. Our magical practice is directed at maintaining and restoring the natural balance that has been upset by outside forces or human failings. It is a natural part of our everyday lives and encompasses such things as protection, divination, healing and cleansing.
We believe in the Otherworld as a parallel existence to our own. It is the dwelling place of our Gods. Our relationship with our Gods is both intimate and personal. They are as members of our own family. We interact with the Irish pantheon and Gods of a personal, more localized nature. Our Gods are neither dead nor gone. They are very much alive and present. To deny them would be to deny ourselves. If we chose to align ourselves with Gods other than our own, we would not be Prytani.
The Prytani were the forebears of the Cruithne (Picts) whose tribes included the DalnAriade (Dal Riata), the Ui eacheach Colech and the Sogain and are believed to be the descendants of the Firbolg, who arrived in our ancestral lands in the 23rd Century BC.
The Pretanium is the place of the sacred fire. Those who maintained the sacred fire were known as the Prytani. The current practice of the modern Prytani is often centered on a sacred fire, as the symbol of the perpetuation of life; life, death and rebirth, as we understand the concept today. In modern times as in ancient households, that sacred fire burns within the hearth of each household.
Structure
There are few Traditional Prytani groups in the United States. The individual practices of these groups is varied because of the age of the tradition and geographical differences. As in any oral tradition, elements are lost through the generations and other practices and beliefs creep in as families inter-marry and move to locations far from the homeland. The evolution of mankind and science has shown the light on mysteries that were once considered magical but have lost their "occult" status. Most of the Prytani families have incorporated some elements of other traditions to fill in the gaps of lost knowledge and provide a way for those, not of "the blood", to enter the spiritual Family.
The portrait of the Prytani has changed along with society. There are a number of elements that have however, remained constant. The focus is on hearth, home and Family. The center of the Grove is based around the sacred fire, connection with the Otherworld, the recognition of the cycles of life and death and rebirth and the honoring of our ancestors.
There is no clergy, so to speak. Heads of Households and Elders teach the young and the family extends itself to include those of blood decent, adoption and fosterage. All members of the family are taught the lore, traditions, ceremonies and arts that perpetuate the tradition. Our "degrees" are not levels of attainment but levels of responsibility.
To increase the families, many have adopted a formal teaching system that includes initiation. This is a way of bringing "those not of the blood" into the family in stages, based on their level of understanding, connection and dedication to our continuation. These specific rites have their basis in the mystery traditions of other cultures but serve the purpose of being able to continue our tradition. As a tradition, we consider the living of the life path according to our beliefs to be more important than the rites and rituals.
Standards of Conduct
We hold to a Code of Honor from the ancient Brehon Laws but acknowledge a set of "Old Laws" that have been handed down from the times of the persecutions. Our laws are "living laws" and have changed in interpretation to reflect the changes in society and the focus of our lives from the production and storage of food to more intellectual pursuits. The laws of man are designed to protect us within the greater community of mankind. We acknowledge that they are, for the most part, just and for our protection. We faithfully adhere to them for the benefit and protection of all members of our family. We are dedicated to the service of the Elder Gods and their Children. Like our ancestors, many of us have military service or human service backgrounds and find our most satisfying vocations in helping the world be a better place for all.
Ways of worship
The modern Prytani practice Solar rites as a means of perpetuating the Seasonal Tides. The Wheel of Life and our connection with the Earth being acknowledged through the Solar seasons and the Spiritual Life and Inner mysteries acknowledged in the Lunar cycles. Rites of Passage are also performed to mark transition points from birth to death and beyond.
The Gods or male energies and Goddesses or female energies are recognized as equal and balanced for there is nothing that is not dependent upon the balance of its opposite for its existence. This is the basis of nature, the Family structure and each individual household, grove and Coven. Coven is a term that has come into common use within the past few generations and means a Grove or Group that has extended beyond the core Family group to include multiple Groves or Households. Grove is a term that relates to the Core or main Family group. A household is a blood family member, an initiate (and possibly their partner/blood family) who maintains a close relationship with the Mother Grove but often, by necessity, does not celebrate the seasonal Tides and other rites with the main body of the Family.
All the needs of the Family are met by the Family and each individual has a role to play in the protection, preservation and maintenance of the Family. Each person is required to provide for themselves first and foremost. Each contributes according to their ability, time, energy, skills and desires. The Family looks to the leaders of the family for instruction, advice, counseling, direction and recognition. The terms of Mother and Father have evolved to indicate High Priest and High Priestess with the High Priestess having the ultimate responsibility, for it is She that is ultimately responsible for the growth, nurturing and guidance of all members of the spiritual Family. As with most all traditional gender roles, the High Priestess is the Mother and keeper of the mysteries of life and death, love, education and The Law. The High Priest is the Father protector and keeper of the mysteries of Duality, sacrifice, duty, and fate. Together, they are the keepers of the sacred flame.
The modern Prytani share many things in common with other Pagan, Wiccan and traditional earth religionists but continue to remain fairly closed. The tradition is not open to all because the groups share a clan or Family mentality which is not suitable to the majority of people who are used to the Neo-pagan philosophy of combining teachings and acceptance of various and multiple systems into their personal practice. The formation of the spiritual family is based on like mind and common beliefs. In this day of the reemergence of Goddess worship, the temptation is to incorporate all who seek entrance but we feel that we must protect what has been entrusted to us. To do that, we must protect our heritage from those who would choose to incorporate elements that do not belong to our ancient path. We have a rich and noble history that resonates in our hearts and minds. Our connection to our ancestors is strong and our ways are simple and direct. We honor our roots and strive to keep the tradition strong for future generations.
Magic is an art form that is employed to accomplish the manipulation of the natural forces. We see magic as being neither good nor bad. It is unrelated to our spiritual practice but is guided by the same laws and directives that govern our lives. Personal responsibility is the key. If each person is responsible for each and every action and non-action, there is no need for categorizing the various actions or results of the magic we work.
We do not ascribe to a three-fold law but to the law of return. Nature demonstrates to us that whatever one does will be reflected back to them. There is no evidence that this will return three times however, it may very well return in three ways to affect mind, body and spirit. We do not, therefore, hold to a concept of Karma. Reincarnation and Karma/Dharma are Eastern philosophies that do not belong to Celtic spirituality.
This does not mean that we don't believe in the return of the spirit to life, as we know it however, not in the way that is popularly understood to modern Pagans. Return of the spirit is a more holistic venture and is only specific when certain rites are enacted to accomplish that task or there is a duty of honor to be discharged.
Also contrary to popular belief, we are not matriarchal or matrilineal. Women are equal in power and authority to men when their knowledge, wisdom, experience and service warrants. Men, on the other hand, are charged with the care of the individuals of the family or Tuath. Women, usually are more relied upon to look after the whole.
As a mother cannot love one child more than the other, she looks at all of her children as being special and precious. Therefore, when she makes decisions, it is from the perspective of caring for the whole family. When a father steps in to guide and teach his children, he teaches, loves and nurtures each according to their individual needs and talents. Most Prytani Groves and Households have balanced leadership.
Our holidays are celebrated as grand family affairs; Samhain, Feabhra (Imbolc), Bealtinne (Beltane), and Lughnasadh. There is a fire festival at Midsummer on the 24th of June and a sort of Family reunion at Nodlaig (Yule) to celebrate the New Year. The ancient Irish divided the year into halves. Bealtinne and Samhain being the dividing points. The New Year however, is when the cycle of the year turns from old to new. This is marked by the position of the Sun at the winter solstice.
Some have claimed that we practice our rites skyclad or nude. This is a most amazing conjecture. If one travels to northern Ireland at most any time of the year besides the height of summer, you will find yourself appreciating the ancient arts of weaving and knitting their famous wool. Our ancestors used nudity to good advantage in the heat of battle but there is no evidence that they chose to do without clothing for any other occasion. Where the Christians introduced the idea of nudity being sinful, our pre-Christian ancestors undoubtedly recognized it as being simply impractical in their climate.
Lastly, I would like to point out an additional difference between the Prytani and the vast majority of modern Pagans. Where many spend great amounts of time, energy and ceremony making sacred space in which to enact their rituals, the Prytani see all things and all places as being sacred. There is no need for making sacred what already belongs to the Gods for it is inherently sacred in its existence. Where we may cleanse and clear a space from the intrusion of unwelcomed energies, that is quite a different affair from the "creation" of sacred space. We commune with our Gods anytime, anywhere for we work in partnership with them in all things.
First Primary Law; "Honor is the Law, Love is the Bond".
Author: Brighid Ragan
www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usga&c=trads&id=3381
History
The Prytani were the iron age occupants of what is now referred to as the northeast coast of Ireland and the northwest coast of Scotland. It is the name that was given to them in the writings of the early seafaring peoples of the fertile crescent. The earliest known documentation of the Prytani (Prydani, Pretani, Pratani) was from Ptolemy who used the name assigned by the Greeks some centuries earlier. They sailed north and found two types of people that they wrote about in their journals. They found the Blue People of the peninsula now known as Scotland and they found the White People on the island now known as Ireland. It is believed that the blue that is referred to is the blue woad they wore during their battles, rituals (or possibly their tattoos) and celebrations and that the white referred to a chalk or ash mixture, used for the same purposes.
The people of the Isles migrated to the area from the east and south. They made a great impact on the sailors because of their advanced skills, art and knowledge. We believe that many ideas and philosophies were exchanged and that over many hundreds of years they traded goods, wives and knowledge. Within a relatively short time, in terms of the time line of history, these people later became known to us as the Celts.
Because of our lack of written records about that period, our knowledge is from the archeological treasures that have been discovered in modern times, fragments of written history from other cultures and our history that has been handed down to us, generation to generation. The other sources are through cultural memory and our connection to the "Akashic Record" or universal consciousness. From the beginning of the current era, the art of memorization has been employed to record a great deal of the lore. Invaders took it upon themselves to destroy the vast ancient libraries so that the only completely safe way of preserving the history was in the minds of those who became the law keepers, teachers, poets and leaders of the people. The conquering Christians also demanded censorship of the native languages, both spoken and written. A great deal more of the history has been lost than we will ever know again.
Philosophy
We, as seekers and students of the Old Religion are considered to be Witches. We are definitely not Wiccan. Wicca is a religion developed in the 20th century from a body of teachings introduced in the 1950's by Gerald Gardner. Our beliefs predate this new religion by more centuries than we can count. It wasn't until about 25 years ago that we even identified ourselves as Witches and then simply for the purposes of identification and differentiation from the vast array of new and old religions. We are practitioners of "The Craft" or "The Old Faith", or "The Old Religion", a short way of saying that we come from those peoples who had the talent, the will and the skill to work with the natural word and bend or manipulate it to their purposes. It was considered an Art form because it is not an exact science and it was considered a Craft because the practitioner usually took on that specific job within the community, as a form of service to their people; like any person who had a craft or skill such as house building or smithing.
The religious aspect of The Old Religion was a way of life; completely unidentifiable from philosophy, ideology, practice or custom. It was the belief system that governed the complete mindset and world-view of the people of the time. They lived their beliefs with every breath they took and every thought and deed. Their religion and their relationship with the world and each other was all one thing. The way each person related to the other, the water they drank, the air they breathed, the cycles of the seasons, the earth they drew sustenance from, the fire that warmed their hearths and forged their tools and their religion was the whole of their existence. They viewed themselves as integral parts of the world. Part of, not separate from the earth, the heavens and the unseen world which they recognized as being equally important to their existence.
These are the same concepts that we follow today. Our religion is not identifiable from our view of life and our place in the world in which we live. Many say that ours is not a religion because it cannot be defined in a dictionary or compared to any other popular religious path. Magic is a way of working with the powers of the natural world to achieve what we need to survive and thrive in a hostile environment. Because we must live in this world, it is in our best interest to be careful, in the extreme, to refrain from upsetting the natural balance any more than is absolutely necessary. Our magical practice is directed at maintaining and restoring the natural balance that has been upset by outside forces or human failings. It is a natural part of our everyday lives and encompasses such things as protection, divination, healing and cleansing.
We believe in the Otherworld as a parallel existence to our own. It is the dwelling place of our Gods. Our relationship with our Gods is both intimate and personal. They are as members of our own family. We interact with the Irish pantheon and Gods of a personal, more localized nature. Our Gods are neither dead nor gone. They are very much alive and present. To deny them would be to deny ourselves. If we chose to align ourselves with Gods other than our own, we would not be Prytani.
The Prytani were the forebears of the Cruithne (Picts) whose tribes included the DalnAriade (Dal Riata), the Ui eacheach Colech and the Sogain and are believed to be the descendants of the Firbolg, who arrived in our ancestral lands in the 23rd Century BC.
The Pretanium is the place of the sacred fire. Those who maintained the sacred fire were known as the Prytani. The current practice of the modern Prytani is often centered on a sacred fire, as the symbol of the perpetuation of life; life, death and rebirth, as we understand the concept today. In modern times as in ancient households, that sacred fire burns within the hearth of each household.
Structure
There are few Traditional Prytani groups in the United States. The individual practices of these groups is varied because of the age of the tradition and geographical differences. As in any oral tradition, elements are lost through the generations and other practices and beliefs creep in as families inter-marry and move to locations far from the homeland. The evolution of mankind and science has shown the light on mysteries that were once considered magical but have lost their "occult" status. Most of the Prytani families have incorporated some elements of other traditions to fill in the gaps of lost knowledge and provide a way for those, not of "the blood", to enter the spiritual Family.
The portrait of the Prytani has changed along with society. There are a number of elements that have however, remained constant. The focus is on hearth, home and Family. The center of the Grove is based around the sacred fire, connection with the Otherworld, the recognition of the cycles of life and death and rebirth and the honoring of our ancestors.
There is no clergy, so to speak. Heads of Households and Elders teach the young and the family extends itself to include those of blood decent, adoption and fosterage. All members of the family are taught the lore, traditions, ceremonies and arts that perpetuate the tradition. Our "degrees" are not levels of attainment but levels of responsibility.
To increase the families, many have adopted a formal teaching system that includes initiation. This is a way of bringing "those not of the blood" into the family in stages, based on their level of understanding, connection and dedication to our continuation. These specific rites have their basis in the mystery traditions of other cultures but serve the purpose of being able to continue our tradition. As a tradition, we consider the living of the life path according to our beliefs to be more important than the rites and rituals.
Standards of Conduct
We hold to a Code of Honor from the ancient Brehon Laws but acknowledge a set of "Old Laws" that have been handed down from the times of the persecutions. Our laws are "living laws" and have changed in interpretation to reflect the changes in society and the focus of our lives from the production and storage of food to more intellectual pursuits. The laws of man are designed to protect us within the greater community of mankind. We acknowledge that they are, for the most part, just and for our protection. We faithfully adhere to them for the benefit and protection of all members of our family. We are dedicated to the service of the Elder Gods and their Children. Like our ancestors, many of us have military service or human service backgrounds and find our most satisfying vocations in helping the world be a better place for all.
Ways of worship
The modern Prytani practice Solar rites as a means of perpetuating the Seasonal Tides. The Wheel of Life and our connection with the Earth being acknowledged through the Solar seasons and the Spiritual Life and Inner mysteries acknowledged in the Lunar cycles. Rites of Passage are also performed to mark transition points from birth to death and beyond.
The Gods or male energies and Goddesses or female energies are recognized as equal and balanced for there is nothing that is not dependent upon the balance of its opposite for its existence. This is the basis of nature, the Family structure and each individual household, grove and Coven. Coven is a term that has come into common use within the past few generations and means a Grove or Group that has extended beyond the core Family group to include multiple Groves or Households. Grove is a term that relates to the Core or main Family group. A household is a blood family member, an initiate (and possibly their partner/blood family) who maintains a close relationship with the Mother Grove but often, by necessity, does not celebrate the seasonal Tides and other rites with the main body of the Family.
All the needs of the Family are met by the Family and each individual has a role to play in the protection, preservation and maintenance of the Family. Each person is required to provide for themselves first and foremost. Each contributes according to their ability, time, energy, skills and desires. The Family looks to the leaders of the family for instruction, advice, counseling, direction and recognition. The terms of Mother and Father have evolved to indicate High Priest and High Priestess with the High Priestess having the ultimate responsibility, for it is She that is ultimately responsible for the growth, nurturing and guidance of all members of the spiritual Family. As with most all traditional gender roles, the High Priestess is the Mother and keeper of the mysteries of life and death, love, education and The Law. The High Priest is the Father protector and keeper of the mysteries of Duality, sacrifice, duty, and fate. Together, they are the keepers of the sacred flame.
The modern Prytani share many things in common with other Pagan, Wiccan and traditional earth religionists but continue to remain fairly closed. The tradition is not open to all because the groups share a clan or Family mentality which is not suitable to the majority of people who are used to the Neo-pagan philosophy of combining teachings and acceptance of various and multiple systems into their personal practice. The formation of the spiritual family is based on like mind and common beliefs. In this day of the reemergence of Goddess worship, the temptation is to incorporate all who seek entrance but we feel that we must protect what has been entrusted to us. To do that, we must protect our heritage from those who would choose to incorporate elements that do not belong to our ancient path. We have a rich and noble history that resonates in our hearts and minds. Our connection to our ancestors is strong and our ways are simple and direct. We honor our roots and strive to keep the tradition strong for future generations.
Magic is an art form that is employed to accomplish the manipulation of the natural forces. We see magic as being neither good nor bad. It is unrelated to our spiritual practice but is guided by the same laws and directives that govern our lives. Personal responsibility is the key. If each person is responsible for each and every action and non-action, there is no need for categorizing the various actions or results of the magic we work.
We do not ascribe to a three-fold law but to the law of return. Nature demonstrates to us that whatever one does will be reflected back to them. There is no evidence that this will return three times however, it may very well return in three ways to affect mind, body and spirit. We do not, therefore, hold to a concept of Karma. Reincarnation and Karma/Dharma are Eastern philosophies that do not belong to Celtic spirituality.
This does not mean that we don't believe in the return of the spirit to life, as we know it however, not in the way that is popularly understood to modern Pagans. Return of the spirit is a more holistic venture and is only specific when certain rites are enacted to accomplish that task or there is a duty of honor to be discharged.
Also contrary to popular belief, we are not matriarchal or matrilineal. Women are equal in power and authority to men when their knowledge, wisdom, experience and service warrants. Men, on the other hand, are charged with the care of the individuals of the family or Tuath. Women, usually are more relied upon to look after the whole.
As a mother cannot love one child more than the other, she looks at all of her children as being special and precious. Therefore, when she makes decisions, it is from the perspective of caring for the whole family. When a father steps in to guide and teach his children, he teaches, loves and nurtures each according to their individual needs and talents. Most Prytani Groves and Households have balanced leadership.
Our holidays are celebrated as grand family affairs; Samhain, Feabhra (Imbolc), Bealtinne (Beltane), and Lughnasadh. There is a fire festival at Midsummer on the 24th of June and a sort of Family reunion at Nodlaig (Yule) to celebrate the New Year. The ancient Irish divided the year into halves. Bealtinne and Samhain being the dividing points. The New Year however, is when the cycle of the year turns from old to new. This is marked by the position of the Sun at the winter solstice.
Some have claimed that we practice our rites skyclad or nude. This is a most amazing conjecture. If one travels to northern Ireland at most any time of the year besides the height of summer, you will find yourself appreciating the ancient arts of weaving and knitting their famous wool. Our ancestors used nudity to good advantage in the heat of battle but there is no evidence that they chose to do without clothing for any other occasion. Where the Christians introduced the idea of nudity being sinful, our pre-Christian ancestors undoubtedly recognized it as being simply impractical in their climate.
Lastly, I would like to point out an additional difference between the Prytani and the vast majority of modern Pagans. Where many spend great amounts of time, energy and ceremony making sacred space in which to enact their rituals, the Prytani see all things and all places as being sacred. There is no need for making sacred what already belongs to the Gods for it is inherently sacred in its existence. Where we may cleanse and clear a space from the intrusion of unwelcomed energies, that is quite a different affair from the "creation" of sacred space. We commune with our Gods anytime, anywhere for we work in partnership with them in all things.
First Primary Law; "Honor is the Law, Love is the Bond".