In the Aridian Tradition, the Lasa are an Elven or Fay Race. They are the spirits of The Old Religion. The Lare (lar-ray) are the spirits of the Witch Clan (a type of ancestral spirit). I would not say that the Lare represent the next level for the Human Soul, but it is possible that one may serve as a Lare (for a time) following the Death experience. According to the Teachings, when our physical bodies die, our soul dwells in the Realm of Luna, while preparing for the next life. During this time, it is possible that the soul may serve the needs of those souls still dwelling upon the Earth, as one of the Lare.
The Teachings tell us that our soul will either be prepared for another physical body, or for a body of Light, depending upon our evolution as a spiritual Being. There are four possible bodies, in which the Soul may exist. The Physical, Lunar, Solar, and Stellar. Each represents a stage of advancement, and corresponds to one of the Four Worlds, which comprise Existence (as we understand it).
It is a bit complicated to go into here, but the Lasa are connected to the Witch Clan, and many witches were once of the Lasa Race, prior to being born Human. This is where the "Fairy Godmother" concept originated. It is a remnant of the old teaching, in which the Witch Clans are related to the old Fay Race, and have contact with them through a Fay Guardian (or Fairy Godmother). This is why many witches are born into Witch Clans, with their psychic abilities already functioning (makes training a great deal easier).
Preservation Of The Old Ways
It is one of our Laws, within the Aridian Tradition, that nothing may ever be deleted from any ritual or oral teaching. Material may be added to a ritual, or an oral teaching may be expanded, but nothing of the original may ever be removed. Because situations change with time, the Laws do allow us to add and adapt, as needs be. When looking over the material, it is easy to see the different Time Periods, and needs of the people, reflected in the rituals and Teachings.
Therefore, when you look at the Aridian Material, you will see things which reflect the days of hunting, and the days of planting & harvesting. Everything from Hunting Magic, to blessing seeds and fields, still exist in our ritual material. This current Era we live in, will leave information regarding Aids and other concerns of our People, imprinted upon our rituals, down to the Generations which will follow us. Each addition is marked with a symbol, so that it is clear what was added, so that a History of the adaptations may be discerned.
Because we believe in a living connection with our ancestors, we still perform those aspects of the rituals, which may seem out of place to us. Many of us no longer Hunt or plow fields for planting, or copulate in the fresh furrows to encourage an abundant crop. But these rites are still preserved, and we adapt them to our modern needs. For despite our so-called progress as a Race, our basic needs are still the same: Food, Shelter, Safety, Sex, Family, Love, and Purpose.
So, the ritual for an abundant crop is performed for the abundance which our own labors may bring. Fertility rites are performed for our own Family needs, and to return the Essence of Fertility back into a dying World. Because our World is so overcrowded, many Systems feel that Fertility Rites are obsolete. What they do not understand is that it was part of the ancient rites to help "empower" the soil and the plant & animal Life with the condensed energy of Fertility raised within a Circle of Magic. The personal fertility of the Clan, was secondary. Unfortunately, many modern groups have removed all of the sexual energy producing aspects from the rituals, and replaced them with symbolic gestures. While this may appeal to the intellect, and ease personal sexual inhibitions, it does not serve Nature. Because of Judaic-Christian condemnations, many modern groups have abandoned the old Ways of the Nature Religion, and profess a non-sexuality regarding this ancient Fertility Cult. In the Aridian Tradition we do not apologize for preserving our Heritage, and we are proud of the differences between us and Judaic-Christian groups. We have adapted the sexual aspects, to our modern society (and modern concerns regarding sexual issues) but they are still quite plainly visible within the ritual material.
It is a challenge to preserve the old Traditions, and yet to adapt to modern circumstances, without compromising the integrity of either.
"Common Cause" With Nature
My Mother is very Old World, having been raised in a small village near Naples. When I was a child she used to tell me that our People have always performed the Rites which cause the Sun and the Moon to return as they do, and the Seasons to return each year. She used to say that if we were to stop, then the World would die. But, she would add, there will always be at least one person, who will maintain the Ways which give Life to our World. I do not know if she believed this literally, but as an adult now, I truly understand what she was saying, on a metaphysical level.
It is the purpose of our yearly rites, to give energy back into the World. Just as soil is depleted by crop growing, and the fields must be rotated, so too is the etheric substance depleted, which empowers the mechanism of "Lifegiving" on this Planet of ours. For example, at the Summer Solstice, it is part of our ritual to raise an energy field, and to "impregnate" it with a "formed thought". Once this "cone of power" is formed, then it is released and directed into the "Bound Ether" of our Community. The cone can be charged to disperse pollution in the air, or to rid the "Community Atmosphere" of negativity (crimes, gangs, rapes, etc.) or to replace lost fertility within the soil, and so on. In this way, we join in the dance of Nature, and make Common Cause with Her efforts to maintain lifegiving energies. Each of the eight rites of the year, serve a similar purpose, and contribute to that which is appropriate at any giving Season of the year. The Full Moon rituals, are likewise times of renewal. There is an occult property to Moonlight itself, and if properly drawn, condensed, impregnated, and directed, it too can be used to give Life back into the World. Another purpose for the Rite of the Full Moon is to empower us, as witches. Moonlight can be used to increase psychic ability, and to recharge the power centers of an individual. It is from Moonlight, that we as witches, draw our power. Science is beginning to catch up a bit now, with the ancient knowledge of Witches, and is taking a look at the effects of the Moon upon us, and upon our World. Soon, I think, Science will begin to see that the Occult Teachings of the Craft, are a Metaphysical Science as valid as Physical Science.
The "bound ether" of our Planet is what Eastern Mystics call "Akasha" (wherein you have the Akashic Records). There is also the microcosm of the bound ether of a Community, such as a City or Village. It is the energy "atmosphere" which is formed by the Collective Consciousness, of the people who live there. All places possess this bound Ether, even Bars and Nightclubs, etc. You can "feel" it when you enter in. It effects the people who come into contact with it, and over long periods of time, can change the way they look at things. It is the bound ether of a place which holds the images, which psychics can perceive about that place.
It is part of the work we do, as Witches, to cleanse this Ether of negative thought-forms. Witches have always been the local healers, not only of the people there, but also of the places themselves. Ritual Magic can change the "vibration" of the bound ether, and thus change it's "feel", and thus it's effect.
Tools & Paraphernalia Of La Vecchia
The oldest tool of Italian Witchcraft is the Moon Bowl. This is a large shell, used in conjunction with nine small shells, as a tool of Invocation. I have spoken of this on other notes. The next tool to be used was the Wand, which we associate with the element of air. This is because the branches of a tree stretch up into the sky, and birds nest in them. The next tool after this was the pentacle. It was originally an oval rock, thin and smooth, usually obtained from the coastline where it had been reformed by the Ocean waves. Later this was made of clay, and marked with a five pointed, upright, star. This tool represents earth, since it was taken from the soil. Following this was the ritual dagger, which we call the Spirit Blade. This dagger is associated with the element of fire, from which it's metal was forged. Last in the line of the older tools, was the Chalice, which was originally a gourd. This tool represents the element of water. From the time of the Middle Ages came the more modern of the tools, which are the Spirit Bowl, and the Sword. The spirit bowl actually evolved out of the Moon Bowl, and is used more frequently than it's predecessor. It contains a liquid which burns a blue flame, and is used to represent the presence of Deity within the Ritual Circle. The Sword is a tool of the Guardian, but is sometimes used by the High Priest.
The proper ritual circle of the Aridian Tradition measures nine paces in all directions, from the center of circle. Directly on the center point, the altar is placed, and arranged in orientation to the North. We use a black altar cloth, and we wear black hooded robes. Black is used for two reasons. On a Metaphysical level, black absorbs light and therefore we draw light into ourselves, and retain it. The second reason is that it is easier to hide at night when you are all in black. During the time of the Inquisition, at the first sign of danger, witches would extinguish all lights, pull up their hoods, draw their hands into the large sleeves of their robes, and seemingly "vanish" right before the eyes of the Christian spies.
The Broomstick is rarely used in the Aridian Tradition, but does appear at the "Handfasting" Ceremony, and certain rites of purification. It can also serve as a symbol of the goddess, when turned upside down. This is done when there are too few women to take up all of the ritual actors needed for the Ceremony. The Skull & Cross bones are another ancient tool, rarely used now, but once symbolized the God, in the same manner as the Broom was employed for the Goddess. These things remain written in the ritual material in order to preserve our Heritage (nothing is forgotten, nothing is ever forgotten). When you go back far enough into our History, as a Race, you will find Human Sacrifice. This was replaced by Animal Sacrifice, which itself was later replaced by Plant Sacrifice. However you wish to view that, it is simply the story of the Human Race. Remnants of the Plant Sacrifice can still be found in such things as the eating of Cakes, and drinking of Wine, at the close of Ritual. The Slain God is still consumed as this sacred meal to this very day. This is not unlike the Christian tradition of the Communion Wafer.
The written material of La Vecchia is recorded in a Book, which we call, THE BOOK OF WAYS. It is divided into three sections: Ways, Calls, and Magic. "Ways" contains all of the ritual instructions, laws, and Community Rites such as the Blessings of a Child, Marriage Rite, Ceremony for the Dead, Rites of Initiation, and so on. "Ways" also contains a record of our People, and the teachings concerning our practices, as well as material concerning the Goddess and the God. "Calls" contains all of the chants, invocations, hand gestures, ritual postures, face painting designs of the Clan, and other "secret signs". "Magic" contains all of the spells, works for Magic, herbal lore, magical correspondences, healing knowledge, potions, recipes for oil and incense, and so forth.
Each initiate is required to copy from the Book of Ways, those portions which pertain to her or his degree of Initiation. This is overseen by the Initiator, because the Book of Ways is divided up into separate Degree Knowledge. In the First Degree, a member will begin to acquire their ritual set of tools. The only things which they receive at their initiation are a colored length of cord, symbolizing their degree, a symbol representing their degree, and the mark of the Clan which is painted upon their body.
Each degree has a different colored cord, which is linked to the Mythos of the Clan. The cord itself, in part, is a remnant of the bonds which once held the Sacrificial King, of the Slain God Mythos. Each degree also has a hand gesture of identification. There is also a hand gesture which identifies you as a witch. These come from the time of the Inquisition.
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