Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth
In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.
What Do You Swear On When You Take a Public Oath?
You're giving testimony in court, or maybe you're assuming public office.
In both cases, it's customary to swear on a holy object.
So, Pagan: on what do you swear?
Strike me dead if I'd swear on one of their accursed books.
Strike me dead if I'd swear on a book at all.
In the old days, there were statues of the gods in law courts for people to touch while taking their oaths. In these barbarous days, a small one would do, I suppose: provided it were handled with respect.
You can swear on the coven sword, I'm told. (An Alexandrian trope, I believe.) Good luck with the metal detectors.
Me, I'd swear by the Oldest, as our people have sworn forever.
So witness Earth (bend and touch her).
So witness Sky (raise hands).
Comments
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Wednesday, 13 June 2018I once read that the ancient Egyptians took their oaths on an onion. Something about those concentric rings in an onion.
I like yours about taking oath by land and sky, though I might include the waters that circulate between the two. -
Thursday, 21 June 2018Traditionally, Slavic people would take a lump of earth in hand while making an oath and then eat it. I like it.
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Friday, 22 June 2018
Makes sense: who is as stable or trustworthy as Earth?
And, of course, she knows everything. -
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I've thought that an altar pentacle could work for a witch.