(NOTE: Some of the themes of these articles may not be appropriate for young readers. Please keep that in mind when sharing this information).
Additional Note: There are two other articles in this series which go into further detail about paganism and their belief in and practice of sex magik. However, due to the graphic description of the topics involved, after much prayer and consultation with a friend and fellow Gospel preacher, I did not feel it would be wise to post such on Facebook. However, if anyone would be interested in learning further about the beliefs of pagans and sex magik, I will send those articles to you privately upon request.
It is written:
“One day I, Ezekiel, was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting there in front of me. This was on the fifth day of the sixth month of the sixth year of exile. Suddenly, the power of the Lord GOD came on me. 2 I saw something that looked like fire, like a man’s body. From the waist down, he was like fire. From the waist up, he was bright and shining like hot metal in a fire. 3 Then I saw something that looked like an arm. The arm reached out and grabbed me by the hair on my head. Then the Spirit lifted me into the air, and in a vision from God he took me to Jerusalem. He took me to the inner gate—the gate that is on the north side. The statue that makes God jealous is by that gate. 4 But the Glory of the God of Israel was there. The Glory looked just like the vision I saw in the valley by the Kebar Canal. 5 God spoke to me. He said, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and there, north of the Altar Gate by the entrance, was that statue that made God jealous. 6 Then God said to me, “Son of man, do you see what terrible things the people of Israel are doing? They built that thing here, right next to my Temple! And if you come with me, you will see even more terrible things!” 7 So I went to the entrance to the courtyard, and I saw a hole in the wall. 8 God said to me, “Son of man, make a hole in the wall.” So I made a hole in the wall, and there I saw a door. 9 Then God said to me, “Go in and look at the terrible, evil things that the people are doing here.” 10 So I went in and looked. I saw statues of all kinds of reptiles and animals that you hate to think about. The statues were the filthy idols that the people of Israel worshiped. There were pictures of those animals carved all around on every wall! 11 Then I noticed that Jaazaniah son of Shapham and the 70 elders of Israel were there with the people worshiping in that place. There they were, right at the front of the people, and each leader had his own incense dish in his hand. The smoke from the burning incense was rising into the air. 12 Then God said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of Israel do in the dark? Each man has a special room for his own false god. They say to themselves, ‘The LORD cannot see us. The LORD left this country.'” 13 Then he said to me, “If you come with me, you will see these men doing even more terrible things!” 14 Then God led me to the entrance to the LORD’S Temple. This gate was on the north side. I saw women sitting there and crying. They were sad about the false god Tammuz! 15 God said to me, “Son of man, do you see these terrible things? Come with me and you will see things that are even worse than this!” 16 Then he led me to the inner courtyard of the LORD’S Temple area. There I saw 25 men bowing down and worshiping. They were at the entrance to the LORD’S Temple between the porch and the altar—but they were facing the wrong way. Their backs were to the Holy Place. They were bowing down to worship the sun! 17 Then God said, “Son of man, do you see this? The people of Judah think my Temple is so unimportant that they will do these terrible things here in my Temple! This country is filled with violence, and they constantly do things to make me angry. Look, they are wearing rings in their noses to honor the moon as a false god! 18 I will show them my anger! I will not show them any mercy or feel sorry for them! They will shout to me—but I refuse to listen to them!” (Ezekiel 8:1-18)
Pagans often from into small congregations, called “covens.” These covens are usually composed of thirteen people (seven male, and six female). They will gather together, especially on pagan holidays throughout the year, in what is known as a “circle.” One modern day pagan describes the importance of the circle with these words:
“The magic circle is a fundamental requirement of all kinds of occult ceremonial, and one of the most ancient. The magicians of Babylonia and Assyria used magic circles in their rites. Descriptions of their workings have come down to us, together with the name they gave to the magic circle, usurtu….Why, however, should the figure of a circle be supposed capable of acting as a spiritual fortress in this manner? The answer seems to lie in the fact that the circle was believed to be the most perfect geometrical figure….A primeval symbol of the infinite is the figure of a serpent with its tail in its mouth, known as the Ouroboros….In drawing the magic circle, man, in a sense, creates and defines his own little universe. This idea is significantly developed by Israel Regardie in his book The Tree of Life: A Study in Magic. This book, written by a modern exponent of the western magical tradition, takes a much more sophisticated view of the function of the magical circle than that shown in the concept of the medieval magician defying the demons from within the safety of its consecrated round. The magic circle is that which limits the magician to the attainment of a specific end. He no longer wanders aimlessly. He is oriented, both figuratively and literally, between the four cardinal points, at which candles traditionally burn and from which sometimes incense arises….The circle also signifies man’s own aura, the field of force which surrounds his physical body. In the case of a spiritually developed person, this aura is said to extend to a considerable distance, with strength to repel evil influences and magical power to bring to its owner that which he needs or rightfully desires….In the description of the formation of a Spiritualist circle given by a pioneer French Spiritualist, Baron De Guldenstubbe, we are told that the ideal number of people to form such a circle is six of positive and magnetic nature, six of negative or sensitive nature, and a medium. Generally, though not always, men were regarded as ‘positive’ and women as ‘negative’; in other words, the six couples and a leader of the old witch coven, though I doubt if the good Baron realized this!…The traditional ritual nudity has for its purpose the free flow of power from the naked bodies of the participants. In ancient Greece and Rome also, those who took part in magical ceremonies were either naked or clad in loose flowing garments. Those who are trained to see the human aura are able to perceive it best surrounding the unclothed body. Hence, when a circle of naked or loosely robed dancers gyrates in a witchcraft ceremony, the power flowing from their bodies rises upwards towards the centre of the circle, forming a cone-shape which is called the Cone of Power. This is directable by the concentrated will of those present to carry out the object of the ceremony, by bearing its influence from the physical to the more subtle planes of the universe, where the power of will and imagination can, in turn, affect the physical again and influence material events.” (Doreen Valente, Witchcraft For Tomorrow, 122-1258 (Kindle Edition); Ramsbury, Marlborough Wiltshire; Robert Hale)
The circle that pagans participate in are commonplace in the Hazard area. One pagan that I studied with informed me that he regularly attends the pagan circles in our community. Another lady informed me that she was part of a coven that meets in the Combs area, and that their ceremonies are often practiced sky-clad (a pagan reference to nudity).
In our next article, we will learn about some of the common practices that take place within the pagan circles.
Leave a Reply