ElfCraft...Elves
in Legend & Ritual
e Elf Grove...
According
to legend, the Elves once lived on this world, in this reality,
a long time ago when the land was very different. This noble race
lived and played in the sacred forests of the far North. They
learned to talk to the trees and lived high in their branches
in little houses called "flets". They spoke with all
the animals and plants of the forest. The Elves are said to have
been able to communicate with the Devas, Fairies and Spirits.
The Elves, in time, became an integral part of the forest. Connected
by the Green light that is the Spirit of Nature. For many centuries
the Elves were happy.
Then
came the greystorm. It looked like snow, but it was darker. It
fell slowly at first, then faster and heavier. Fear spread throughout
the realms, as the storm began to choke the forest. The Elves
tried to run, crying out "fuin a fuin a" which in the
old tongue meant "gloom, o gloom". Only a handful of
this once great race survived. They wandered the world for thousands
of years, until life sprang forth again. Many more thousands of
years passed before the human race appeared. Eventually the Elves
intermarried with the humans. That is why there are still a few
strands of the Elf DNA that sometimes surfaces in certain people.
The
Elves that did not survive the greystorm did not die. The Elves
are a race of immortals. They were buried by the ash and could
not escape, at first. Some went deep underground to live among
the Dwarves, but that's another story! After a time, the Elves
transcended the physical world, and built a new one on the plane
of mental matter. It became known as the Elf Realm, or "Alfheim".
Only a few humans have ever gained access to that special Realm.
The megalithic standing stones at Stonehenge are a portal where
Morgan Le Fey, the sister of King Arthur once entered the Elf
Realm...
The
Ancient Norse Peoples believed in many worlds. Our Earth, they
called Midgard. The Realm of Odin and the Norse Gods is Asgard.
The World of the Light Elves is Alfheim.
The
Old Norse called the Elves "Alfar" which meant the "shinning
white ones". The Elves were not tiny creatures, Like the
Fairie Folke of Ireland, but a tall thin people of light skin
and golden hair. The Elves had pointed ears and long thin fingers
and toes. In the ancient past this immortal race lived in the
forests of Midgard as a friend and gaurdien to nature. Many of
the Elves who once lived on Midgard are now in Alfheim.
The
God Frey, is said to be the ruler of Alfheim, the world of the
Light Elves, who are responsible for the growth of vegetation.
Frey is the Northern equivalent of the Horned God Cernunnos, who
is evoked for peace and plenty.
Alfheim
is guarded by the Elf Delling, who is associated with the sunrise.
In Elven
Magick, also known as "ElfCraft", there are Seven Forces
that guide Midgard. They are represented by Seven Elven Lords.
The Four Elven Elements and the Three aspects of Life comprise
the Seven Forces...
Light...Ruled
by the Sun...East
Rocks...Ruled
by the Earth...South
Waters...Ruled
by the Moon...West
Airs...Ruled
by the Stars...North
The
Plant Kingdom
The
Animal Kingdom
The
Elven Kingdom
The
Elven Kingdom is Ruled by Oberon, the High Lord of the Elves.
Oberon is thought to be neither Male or Female, but Complete and
Whole...perfectly Ying and Yang. The other Six Elven Lords have
Male and Female aspects, making a total of Thirteen Elven Forces.
Keep in mind that the Elven Lords are Beings of Natural Magicks,
intimately connected with Nature on all levels...physical, mental,
spiritual. The Elven Lords are humble entities who do not demand
that you know Their names, or pay Them homage. If you wish to
please the Elven Lords, simply honor the Seven Aspects of Nature.
Elven
Ceremony
There
are some similarities between the Elven Ceremony and the Wiccan
Circle. Both honor and recognize the Four Cardinal Directions
and Elements. In Wicca the Guardians, or Watchtowers are invoked
at the beginning, and dismissed at the end of the Ritual. In ElfCraft
it is more like taking a deep breath. The Seven Lords are recognized,
welcomed and taken into the Heart, like a breath. Then thanked
at the close of the ceremony. The energy filters through the body
like air...coming, going and leaving one nourished by the exchange
of Energies. The Elven Lords are not "invoked" per se.
It is a joining or welcoming. Elves are part of the weave of magick,
they are beings made of magick.
Yule
is the most sacred of Elven holidays. The following Ritual is
performed at Dawn on December 21st to honor the return of the
Light...as the days grow longer after the Winter Solstice.
First
one must address Delling, the Guardien of Alfheim, so that a connection
can be made between Midgard and Alfheim. One might say:
"Delling,
Guardien of Alfheim, let the Path between Midgard and Alfheim
be clear that we may honor the Light and Wisdom of the Alfar."
Facing
the East, where the first light of dawn will appear, take in the
energy of the Seven Pointed Elven Star:
"I
honor and accept the Point of personal power...Let my will manifest
itself to mold and create our reality for the good of All Beings."
"I
honor and accept the point of Love...Let my love be unconditional
and pure...for the good of All Beings."
"I
honor and accept the point of Intellect...Let me grow and learn
for the good of All Beings."
"I
honor and accept the point of Harmony...Let me be aware of the
essential unity of All Beings."
"I
honor and accept the point of Mind...Let me elevate my consciousness
for the good of All Beings."
"I
honor and accept the point of Honesty...Let me be true to myself
and All Beings."
I honor
and accept the point of Magick...Let the Sacred energies flow
through myself and All Beings."
During
the first half of an Elven Ritual, when energy is being drawn
in, one would old the arms out, palms up, then bring the hands
together over the Heart, as if to welcome the energy into one's
Heart Centre. During the last half of the Ritual, one would start
with the hands over the Heart, thank the Energy, then extend the
arms out, palms up.
Still
facing the East say...
"We
welcome the Light of the Sacred Star Sol...from this Day forth
Let Your Energy increase and Bless us with your warmth and power."
Meditate
for a few moments on the Sun, be thankful for all it offers.
Face
the South and say...
"We
welcome the Strength and Stability of the Sacred Rock Midgard...You
are our Home and our Mother."
Meditate
for a few moments on the Earth, be thankful for all it offers.
Face
the West and say...
"We
welcome the Sacred Waters...Pure and Clear...you are the Source
of All Life."
Meditate
for a few moments on the Waters, be thankful for all they offer.
Face
the North and say...
"We
welcome the Airs...the Carrier of Sound...the Source of our Lifes'
Breath."
Meditate
for a few moments on the Airs, be thankful for all they offer.
Face
the North-East and say...
"We
welcome Oberon, Lord of Elves and Humans.
We welcome
the Sacred Energy of the Plants.
We welcome
the Sacred Energy of the Animals."
Meditate
for a few moments.
Face
the East and continue to meditate as the following poem is read.
This could be accompanied by Harp Music.
The
Circle of Fey
The
Elders were silent and the Bards tounges were still,
as the
sun softly settled, behind the green hill.
And
the clouds turned to crimson, at the end of this day,
as we
gathered to walk through the Circle of Fey.
I noticed
the ArchMage, his beard white and long,
the
Owl and the Raven seemed to sing the same song.
So I
looked to the West, and the Sun's final ray,
as we
gathered to walk through the Circle of Fey.
As the
darkness descended our patience was lost,
and
the full Moon appeared in the midwinters frost.
So I
gathered my cloak up as I heard a voice say,
"Come
walk with me through the Circle of Fey."
The
ArchMage said nothing, as his eyes turned to me,
and
the Bards and the Elders dropped down to one knee.
Each
of us wondered who would lead the way,
as we
stood at the edge of the Circle of Fey.
From
a nearby river the fog did arrive,
and
moved as 'tho it were aware and alive.
And
before we could know, it drifted away,
and
the mist softly entered the Circle of Fey.
I looked
to my left, the Archmage was not there,
and
I felt tiny wings gently touching my hair.
Then
the Forest Minstrels began to play, singing
"Walk
with us through the Circle of Fey."
Green
light did surround me, pulling me in,
as I
wore a pensive, Elvish grin.
A moment,
or a decade I could not say,
for
time means nothing in the Circle of Fey.
It was
late in the 'morn when my head did clear,
gone
were the Minstrels, the Maidens, the Deer.
All
that remained on this Midwinter's day,
were
the memories of my walk through the Circle of Fey.
Now
there's never an evening that a voice that does not say
"Come
walk with me through the Circle of Fey." Sellador ©
1999
Continue
to Meditate on the meaning of the Poem.
Face
the North-East and say...
"We
thank Oberon, Lord of Elves and Humans.
We thank
the Sacred Energy of the Plants.
We thank
the Sacred Energy of the Animals."
Face
the North and say...
"We
thank the Airs...the Carrier of Sound...the Source of our Lifes'
Breath."
Face
the West and say...
"We
thank the Sacred Waters...Pure and Clear...you are the Source
of All Life."
Face
the South and say...
"We
thank the Sacred Rock Midgard...You are our Home and our Mother."
Face
the East and say...
"We
thank the Light of the Sacred Star Sol...
from
this Day forth Let your Energy increase and Bless us with Your
warmth and power."
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