Verbena Paradigm

by Billy Bishop

The Paradigm - Nature. Nature holds primordial truths for all to learn. Other traditions tend to see Reality “top down,” looking through the lens of their paradigms. The Verbena try to see from “bottom up” by letting what they see in Nature create their paradigms. Since Willworkers can influence Nature, She can learn from them as well. Future Verbena can then learn from the lessons Nature has learned. And it so it shall ever continue.

Seeing the many forms Nature takes, the Verbena believe in a multiplicity of paths. This is in part represented by the countless deities they worship. Because Nature is also One, the Verbena think these paths and deities are also One. However, Willworkers choose to value the seeming differences Nature has created. So, while Traditions like the Technocracy, the Virtual Adepts, the Sons of Ether, and the Celestial Chorus may not be wrong per se, their extreme “top down” orientation often leads them to try to silence the Voice of Nature. This makes their views highly suspect to most Verbena.

Ascension - “Light in Darkness, Whole in One.” The true mistress of the Mysteries will be able to respectfully and lovingly embody Nature in all its unity and all its diversity. This is why the Verbena are said to seek an Ascension of Self. Other Verbena say seek something like god-hood - becoming completely and totally some aspect of Nature, just as the gods of legend are. Some view this god-hood as but a step on the way to Ascension of Self. These are the most common views but there are others. You will hear them if you go anywhere the Verbena gather to drink mead.

Magick - Willworking. Another Verbena proverb is “What is Willed will Be.” By keen observation, communion, and friendship with Nature, the Verbena can ask Her to do what they want. Nature is harsh with Willworkers that make Her do things that She does not want to do (in part because Her dreams have been corrupted by the Technocracy). While friends can get away with a lot with each other, friendship has its price and its limits. The watchwords of Verbena magick are Respect and Cooperation, though like all truisms, they sometimes must be ignored in favor of a greater good.

Arete - Wisdom. Witchcraft is the work of the Wise. Verbena compare this growth to that of the Oak. It starts out being very small, but if it survives to adulthood, it becomes the mother of many trees and provides homes for animals and shade for people. Just as the Verbena grow, so they will be able to do more and have more of a positive impact.

Quintessence - Heart’s Blood, Blood. Blood is the substance that contains the life force of living things. The Blood of Nature contains the vital force of Nature itself. Verbena using the power of sympathetic magick often use mundane blood and ritual sacrifice along with Heart’s Blood to make their magick more powerful.

Paradox - Banefulness. This is when Nature sees your will moving against Hers. Sometimes it needs to be done, but Nature is rarely kind about it.

Spheres - The Paths of the Gods.

Willworkers tend to worship whatever deities they find to be useful. While Verbena will usually pay at least lip service to all gods, some masks of divinity are more difficult for them to accept than others. Some Verbena would find it hard to follow the Path of Odin because that god has been linked to the Nazis, for instance. So, the names below are not fixed in any way. Some Willworkers come from strong Celtic roots and have found deities from that tradition to work with. The names below assume the Willworker was apprenticed in a more eclectic version of Verbena tradition.

Using a certain Path is as much about worshipping and respecting the goddess or god as it is about becoming that deity and understanding her or his place in Nature. It should also be noted that the deities often have more than one face. Paths can often heal as well as harm, just as the Great Goddess is usually thought of as being Maid, Mother, and Crone.

Correspondence - The Path of Hecate. The Greeks made stone shrines to Hecate at crossroads. Hecate’s understanding of space can be used by the Willworker to move people and things amazing distances in no time at all, or even to make new kinds of crossroads in space. In her more bellicose affects, She helps the Willworker in battle.

Entropy - The Path of Kali. Kali is the force that destroys and brings death, and as such is to be honored as part of life and nature. As Death, She knows the many secrets of death, decay, and transformation of all kinds.

Forces - The Path of Pele. Pele’s literal embodiment is that of a volcano. She is also symbolic of the titanic energies available on this very dynamic path.

Life - The Path of Demeter. Demeter is one of many faces of the Earth Goddess. By learning the secrets of the seasons and the rhythms of life, the Willworker learns all sorts of useful techniques with which to heal or harm. Because the Path is so closely aligned with the Verbena’s ideas learning from and participating in Nature, they tend to be better at these sorts of things than any other Tradition.

Matter - The Path of Hera. Hera was charged with looking after married women, and a home that is going to provide for children needs to have a solid material basis. The roof must not leak, the clothes must stay mended, the men need a place to keep their stuff. Hera gives the Willworker knowledge of these secrets and more.

Mind - The Path of Thoth. Thoth was the scribe of the Gods and recorder of spells. As such, He was able to learn much about the operation of the mind and how to weigh a person’s heart in addition to other things he keeps as his secrets.

Prime - The Path of Gaia. Gaia makes up most of Nature. It is the ground beneath our feet and the ground from which Magick flows as well.

Spirit - The Path of Osiris. Osiris became the ruler of the spirit world after his death by dismemberment. He has much to teach, but just as he did not come by his position easily, so this path is not without peril.

Time - The Path of Odin and the Fates. Odin sacrificed his eye in order to gain visions of the future. The Fates are always at the their loom, weaving the destiny of all. By working in partnership with them, the Willworker will learn their powers, and doubtless someday pay the price for them.

Mage Backgrounds from a Verbena Perspective

Arcane - The Crone’s Cloak. The Crone will sometimes lend her Cloak to shield the Willworker from the prying eyes of a cold world.

Avatar - Inner Self. This is another part of the self. It bears watching and talking to just like any other part of Nature. Willworkers that are more closely connected to it for some reason tend to be closer to Nature. It is certain that this Mystery lies at the heart of the quest for Ascension.

Destiny - Destiny, Doom, Wyrd. Some rivers are bigger than others. Some storms are bigger than others. Some Willworkers are fated for more than others.

Dream - The Cauldron of Ceridwen. By making certain preparations (usually involving a cauldron), the Willworker can gain access to the Cauldron of Inspiration itself and gain knowledge and skills not previously possessed.

Node - Sacred Grove, Place of Power. Verbena tend to prepare Sacred Groves of oak trees as their places of power, though sometimes a garden will have to do in these corrupted times. Verbena also know that other Traditions prepare other places that have power. Nature Herself sometimes designates a place as having power (because they are close to the Heart of Nature, apparently).