I thought maybe others would be interested in reading this interview:
www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/article.php
This part is especially interesting to me:
"On the center of the altar, we burn a blue flame in a metal bowl, which symbolizes the presence of divinity. Our ritual circle is cast with a blade that is dipped into the flame. In some of our rites we use an older language that is related to Etruscan, and we work with moonlight as a magical medium. Italian witchcraft is less fragmented and patched than are most other traditions."
Have any of you used the "blue flame"? I would like to try it, but I have had some accidents with fire in the past and need some safety tips! :-)
www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/article.php
This part is especially interesting to me:
"On the center of the altar, we burn a blue flame in a metal bowl, which symbolizes the presence of divinity. Our ritual circle is cast with a blade that is dipped into the flame. In some of our rites we use an older language that is related to Etruscan, and we work with moonlight as a magical medium. Italian witchcraft is less fragmented and patched than are most other traditions."
Have any of you used the "blue flame"? I would like to try it, but I have had some accidents with fire in the past and need some safety tips! :-)
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West Virginia
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 7:37 AMThanx, very interesting article! I like that he is going to write more books.
The flame is the spirit flame decribed in ways of the strega. Havent got to work with the flame yet.
While working with something, and it,s prone to accidents. Try too look as to why. Not only on a physical level. Did you evoke the flame as an elemental spirit?
Safety tips... i would have something to chocke it with if i would have too, just in case. Also putting it stable. -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 7:54 AMGood points, Henrik! I just saw some "kitchen tips for Witches" which said to have a box of Baking Soda handy, in case flames get out of control. I will do this when I try the "blue flame!"
I agree with you about studying the reasons WHY I have had accidents with fire and hot stuff. I find that when I am stressed or upset, I have more accidents like this (for instance, burns while using the iron, etc.). For me, it definitely has to do with my natal Moon in Aries in the 8th House....my temperament.
My challenge is to become more patient with myself and others and to learn to respect the element of Fire for its power and its expression, and by honoring it in my life and in my being.
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 3:11 PMI have all of Raven's books, but a lot of them are not readily available...so just going by memory here...
I believe when he is speaking of the blue flame he is adding grain alcohol to the cauldron, which burns blue (extremely flammable stuff)...
I would suggest instead using a fire pit in place of the cauldron, unless you have a really big one, and making an outside altar where it can be contained and not cover your home in soot... plus having the fire outside (note: please contain it ) is so fabulous during spring nights ... -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 4:29 PMit has been suggested :
Sterno Canned Heat is a fuel made from denatured and jellied alcohol.
It is designed to be burned directly from its can.
Its primary use is in the food service industry for buffet heating.
Other uses are for camp stoves and as an emergency heat source.
Invented around 1900, Sterno is made from ethanol, methanol, water and an amphoteric oxide gelling agent,
plus a dye that gives it a characteristic pink color
. Designed to be odorless, a 7 oz (198 g) can will burn for up to two hours.
it will burn with a vivid blue flame especially in the dark,
(from WIKI ... thanks to Dr Mu )
I achieved Blue flames outdoors but I don't know how .. we did use alcohol grain , tho'
which i think could be added in drops even to burning charcoal in a small Cauldron ..... -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 4:33 PMor a pinch of Zinc .. maybe ? but I have not tested it .. so.. yes I am asking ...
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 7:24 PMI like the idea of the Sterno, Lux. When I was growing up, we had gas heaters, and I used to lay on the living room floor and stare at the blue flames in the heater.....
I lived in a tent for a couple years and we used Sterno a LOT! ;-) To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, perhaps a blue flame is a blue flame is a blue flame......;-)
And the Sterno flame seems easier to keep safe...... -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Wed, April 30, 2008 - 5:00 PMThe fact that this tradition uses "blue" flame makes it suddenly interesting to me.
Blue is the colour of the energics of the world, once the kundalini is operational and allows us to see what really lies beyond the maya. I have seen it and it is beautiful.
According to the Enochian tradition, blue is the healing frequency that surpasses even the basic physical blueprint (read minor or major miracle).
Sorry, my tradition is not really the witch-craft (only a few lives as a witch though I am always called one) but I have been invited to examine it at close reach this time around if only through my name of Diane.
I do not believe in coincidence but meaning.
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Thu, May 1, 2008 - 5:03 PMthe Spirit flame or serpent flame as it is sometimes called is very important as it represents the soul of the Old religion. It make be used for meditation, charging and consecrating objects and meditation. Preferbly use a smaller ceramic heat resistant bowl. It does not have to be large. It should be left to burn out on its own. it represents the hearth flame and the inner spirit of the family and clan, it is the spirit that shines in each of us, the divine spark given to us by the creators. If you cannot use strega liqure, a candle will do quite nicely! -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Fri, May 2, 2008 - 5:47 AMI burned a bayberry candle for Beltane Eve, and fell asleep after my celebration. When I woke up, it was burned almost to the end, and there was a blue-ness to the flame! I was so happy! It seemed a message to me, somehow......saying something to me that if you reach out to the Spirit world in love, the Spirit of Love reaches back.....and hugs you! ;-) -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Fri, May 2, 2008 - 6:10 PMwhat a blessing, Maggie :-)
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sat, June 7, 2008 - 8:51 PMMaggie,
I was gone awhile and just noticed your post with url to interview with Raven G. If you look back in this tribe's archives under the topic "reading material" there's some yak from me in April about seeing Raven at PantheaCon and a url to info about his lecture re Leland/Gospel of the Witches.
Thanx for the blue flame=sterno (with sidebox of baking soda). Some Feri trads suggest a blue flame, too, mthinks.
Blessings,
Lupa -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, June 8, 2008 - 5:51 AMGreetings, Lupa! Thanks for the info....I will check it out. And yes, I was just reading about the Feri tradition (Victor and Cora Anderson). They have exercises to work with the "blue light," too....
Here's a quote from:
www.lilithslantern.com/godself.htm
"The spirit body of the Godself is focused just above our head and this is where it can be most easily perceived with etheric sight. It may appear as a ball of glowing light about nine inches across. The light is usually blue, but sometimes appears golden in people who are spiritually advanced."
I'm not sure about that "spiritually advanced" part....I think it is just a different way of SEEING the energy of our Spirit Connection and/or Spiritual Guides. And I haven't found they they actually work with a blue FLAME, as in the Strega tradition.
I do like this wisdom (from the same link above):
"According to the Andersons, creative inspiration is a sign of contact with the divine, and discovery is an essential part of the work of Witches. Victor often spoke of Witchcraft as a magical science. He believed that the abilities we possess and cultivate should be used not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of the entire human community." -
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Re: Raven Grimassi Interview
Sun, June 8, 2008 - 3:07 PMthe Feri trad worship an androgynous being who is of a glorious blue color .
and sad to say that Cora Anderson has just past away peacefully about a month ago.
but what is remembered lives, the traditional torch passed on.
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