Understanding Elder Rites

Merrie Meet

I hope that this post finds everyone well.  This week I thought that it would be a great idea to take a look at the transition of a male witch into the age of wisdom.  “The Elder Rites”

In many countries throughout the world when a person reaches what is commonly referred to as the third stage of life they are honoured and revered. 

The Japanese senior citizens are treated with great respect: followers of Islam ensure that their children are taught, from an early age, to show respect to the elderly.  Certain tribes in Africa hold intense rituals when one of there members is initiated into the position of an elder.

Sadly, however, in the Western world these traditional ways have generally paled into the background.  However, with witchcraft they are kept very much alive and the transition from ordinary manhood to the status of elder is very much still part of the traditions

As an elder one is permitted to withdraw your energy from the day to day world and focus within, and by doing so a man can begin to relate his wisdom to the community.

The performance of a specific elder rite can help a man to embrace his aging as the natural process that it is.  Generally such a ritual would be performed around the time of his sixtieth birthday.  However, it can also be at the time he becomes a grandfather or when he retires from work.

There are no set rules concerning the timing of such practices but in general it is often recommended that the waning year is the better time with Samhain or the Autumn Equinox being the favoured times

The symbolic items should bear a relation to Underworld Deities – Hecate, Kali-Ma and Anubis.  Obsidian which symbolises control of the physical plane and an ability to clear out the past should feature heavily in any ritual. 

To help combat the fear of aging us flower essences such as Rock Rose whilst Honeysuckle prevents nostalgia.

When considering a location for any celebrations or ritual workings trees that are linked to the waning moon such as elder, yew are ideally suited

Blessed Be.

COMPILED BY THE MERLIN 4^TH OCTOBER 2017

ooooOOOOoooo

So now as we come to the end of this post it is time for me to take my leave of you but not before I say that if you have liked this and the other posts on this blog, please click the link to follow us. 

Don’t forget that there is an online radio station CauldronFM that broadcasts 24/7 and we have both a page and a group on Facebook that are CauldronFM and CauldronFM – the sound of magick respectively.

If this post has raised any questions please drop an email to cauldronfm@mail.com

So now I will wish you the best things that life can give and say

Love, Light and Blessed Be!

Merlin.