What it Looks Like

    I think the best thing to do at this point is get a glimpse of what my practice looks like. Sometimes the best way to share information is to just get to it. So, let's pop the hood on this thing and see what it looks like inside. 

    The heart of this practice, as it is in Appalachian and Pennsylvania Dutch practices, is Christianity. For me that is the Via Media approach of the Episcopal and Anglican Church. I myself am what can be considered a High Church Episcopalian bordering on Anglo Catholic. Basically that's 10 dollar words to say I enjoy the rites and rituals of a more 'Orthodox' and liturgical Christianity. While this is not required it is my path and you will find many things in this tradition line up more with the so-called Orthodoxy than it does the Evangelical Churches (1). 

    As well I have included a healthy dose of Mystical and Celtic Christianity (including Neo-Celtic Christianity) as it meshes well with the above and makes, at least for me, a more solid foundation for everything else. The inclusion of Celtic Christian ideas also stems from my belief that 1) the Anglican and Episcopal Churches are descendants of the Celtic Church and 2) That Appalachian and Ozarks cultures are Celtic Cultures. 

    With this being rooted in Christianity and its Celtic expressions that means there is a focus on a few things that those from other traditions may not be familiar with. Veneration of saints is a big part for us. St. Brigid is venerated by us as the patron for our house, is one example and St. Michael for protection and dealing with troublesome spirits being another. Observance of certain Holy Days and seasons are another. For example the Seasons of Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent and Eastertide are all seasons we observe as well as others throughout the year. 

    There are also some other non-liturgical days we observe to mark the change of seasons where we live. Obviously all Solstices and Equinoxes have some observation as well as a few others throughout the year. If you are interested in this I would suggest picking up The Celtic Wheel of the Year by Meg Llewellyn to help you get a feel for it. 

    Other things coming from various traditions we have picked up is the honoring of ancestors and the honoring of certain spirits. We highly believe that God speaks to us through everything and some angels and helpful spirits will take animal forms to communicate with us. As well, we feel our ancestors are still around us and will guide us. We also honor their legacy and help. While we do not worship any of these be they Saint, Angel or Spirit we honor them and consider them allies. (2)

    My practice consists of mainly prayers and personal rites to petition for a certain outcome. I understand that outcome may not happen or may not happen the way I expect. For the most part it looks like a very official set of prayers with motions such as crossing oneself and certain hand positions for prayer. Most to all of which comes from Christian Tradition. However there are times when those prayers may be accompanied by the creation of a charm or sigil to give the prayer a physical form or items to be used during the prayer to help underscore the seriousness of the request. There actually is a long history of this in Christianity and Judaism and I suggest learning this. 

    Now for something that will be a bit controversial in this day and age. First off we have deal with some tough truths. The first is that this is a Christian Practice no matter your denomination or tradition and you are doing the practice a disservice if you try to divorce the two. Second is that there are times you will be making charms and sigils. Third is that spirits, angels and such are real and you will be dealing with them. Fourth and final for now is divination is a part of this thing. 

    So concerning that. I hear the Bibles being turned and verses are being loaded in the chamber. Save your comments not only on this but all of it as they will fall flat and be ignored. I'm not going to debate this. Later on I may explain the whys and wherefores but I have no interest in having a theological debate on any of this. You're literally going to be wasting your time. 

    That said, divination was a thing then and it is a thing now. Typically it was pendulums, some form of dowsing and various other practices such as reading thrown apple peels. The idea of divination, for me is to determine the will of God in a situation so that I can make a plan of action. It is most definitely not fortune telling though that has happened in the past with other practitioners. 

    From what I can gather playing cards were also used as well as maybe Lenormand Cards. Tarot was just not available and rarely used by many of the early Cunning Folk here. In all honesty I have yet to see any Tarot cards in this area that date earlier than the mid 20th century. I am not saying they don't exist I just have not seen them or heard stories of them being used.     

    So yes, I do perform some forms of divination but that is usually more for me and my family over others and it is always to determine the will of God in a given situation and to find the appropriate course of action. So far I have not had to do much for any outside my circle of family and friends but that may change. 

    As for tools of the trade I do have a few that I have bought but a good amount of those are items from my home or what I have found on hikes or salvaged from certain places. Most of the people here in the past were poor and had to use what they had on hand. Many things were done at the kitchen table or on the homestead with regular household items. In fact, I am going to say that unless you just want to buy something, or feel compelled to, you need not buy a single special thing to use in the practice. You more than likely have everything you need in your kitchen. 

    But what about books and such? Ok, personally I have a pretty decent sized library dedicated to this. It includes books on various subjects ranging from Celtic Christianity all the way to Hermeticism. This is not only a practice for me, it's also a hobby and a passion...though my wife would say it is an obsession. You really only need a Bible, preferably one with the Apocrypha included but any Bible will do. 

    My core three books are an NRSV Bible with Apocrypha, The Book of Common Prayer and St. Augustine's Prayer book. Nine times out of ten I that's all I need. The older practitioners just used a King James Bible and did amazing things. Now, usually those Bibles had notes, incantations, prayers and such written in them and also notes on what verse to use for what situation. These days a Bible and a patient and careful internet search can tell you what you need to know and in the time we have I will  also be posting what I have found for you to use. 

    Well friends, I see we have went a little long. So I am going to close here but I will be back with more to say and hopefully teach. Thank you for reading. 

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(1) Evangelical here is the classical meaning where it just means Protestant. It is in no way related to modern American Evangelicalism. 

(2) The Episcopal Church also believes the Church exists in 3 forms. 1. The Church Militant: which is the Church on Earth. 2. The Church Expectant: which is the Church awaiting entry to Heaven and 3. The Church Triumphant: which is the Church in Heaven. Members of all three are just as alive as you or I and even though we do not see them they are still around.