Lesson Fifteen: Solitary Witches / 219
As stated, the Solitary has only her/his own knowledge available. This, then, is another disadvantage but, again, one that must be accepted. There is certainly no reason why, as a Solitary, you should not be in touch with others (Wiccans and non-Wiccans) who are astrologers, tarot readers, herbalists, etc. and to call upon them for help and advice when needed. It is just that you don't have them readily to hand there in the Circle with you, available at all times. 7. A Solitary can change with her/his moods. A Gardnerian coven rigidly follows the Gardnerian rites. A Welsh-Keltic coven rigidly follows the Welsh-Keltic rites. A Dianic coven rigidly follows the Dianic rites. This all goes without saying. Even an eclectic coven will generally settle into rites, from whatever sources, with which it feels comfortable and will stay with them. But the Solitary is free (freer even than most eclectics, if only by virtue of having only her/himself to please) to do whatever s/he likes ... to experiment, to change, to adopt and adapt. S/he can do elaborate, ceremonial rites one day and simple, plain, ingenuous rites the next. S/he can do Gardnerian oriented rituals one time, Welsh-Keltic the next and Dianic the next. There is tremendous freedom for the Solitary, which I urge you to enjoy to the utmost. Experiment. Try different types and styles of rituals. Find those that are exactly right for you.
THE WARRIOR QUEEN I am the Warrior Queen! The Defender of my people. With strong arms do I bend the bow And wield the Moon-Axe. I am She who tamed the heavenly Mare And rides the Winds of Time. I am Guardian of the Sacred Flame; The fire of all beginnings. I am the Sea-Mare, the firstborn of the Sea Mother And command the waters of the Earth. I am Sister to the Stars And Mother to the Moon. Within my womb lies the destiny of my people For I am the Creatrix. I am daughter to the Lady with ten thousand names; I am Epona, the white Mare. —Tara Buckland
8. A Solitary ritual can be the barest minimum of words and actions. This follows on from (7), above. You can enjoy a true economy of ritual, if you so desire. Let me give you an example: ERECTING THE TEMPLE (Alternate)
THELORD
The Witch lights the four Circle Candles from the Altar Candle and, with the athame, "draws" the Circle, directing power into it. She then sits, or kneels, before the altar and proceeds with a meditation on the elements: (This should be familiarized—not necessarily word for word—so that it can be followed through without effort)
Behold! I am He who is at the beginning and the end of time. I am in the hgat of the sun and the coolness of
"You are sitting in the middle of a field. There is lush green grass all about you, with a generous scattering of bright yellow buttercups. Some distance behind you, and continuing way off to your left, a wooden rail fence, with other fields beyond it, stretches off to another distant fence, beyond which are more fields leading to the foothills of the mountains which you can see in the far distance. A very light breeze ruffles the top of the grass and you can feel the wind's gentleness as it brushes your face. Crickets chirrup in the grass and, from the trees beyond the hedgerow, you can hear the occasional song of a bird. You feel contented; you feel at peace. A swallow swoops down and soars low across the field not twenty feet in front of you. He wings up and away over the trees towards the distant mountains. A grasshopper lands on your knee, then almost immediately is gone again. You get to your feet and stroll leisurely through the grass, parallel to the hedgerow. Your feet are bare and the grass lightly tickles them as you move
the breeze.
The spark of life is within Me As is the darkness of death; For I am the cause of existence And the Gatekeeper at the end of time. Lord-dweller in the sea, You hear the thunder of my hooves upon the shore And see the fleck of foam as I pass by. My strength is such that I might lift the world to touch the stars. Yet gentle, ever, am I, as the lover. 1 am He whom all must face at the appointed hour, Yet am I not to be feared, for I am Brother,
Lover, Son.
Death is but the beginning of life And 1 am He who turns the key. —Raymond Buckland