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Lycian Tradition
In the Lycian Tradition the emphasis is placed directly on the individual.
Rights of Seekers in the Lycian Craft
1. To question anything.
2. To define the purpose of their lives, known as the Great Work, for themselves.
3. To proceed in the Great Work as they see fit.
4. To do as they will, knowing they alone bear the responsibility for all consequences proceeding there from.
5. To hold any belief, though there may be no evidence whatsoever, as valid for themselves.
6. To reject any belief, for any reason whatsoever, as invalid for themselves only.
The belief is that strong individuals make a strong cohesive group, not the other way around. We test each other constantly, much as individual members of a wolf pack test one another. We use techniques such as the "Wolf Exercise" to accomplish this rather than physical aggressiveness. In this way not only do we become more skilled in the Craft, but those with the most experience and knowledge rise to the "Alpha Wolf" status of Priest or Priestess. In turn, if someone has achieved that status and no longer has any more to teach, then another more able person will take their place and continue the teachings. In this way the tradition adapts itself to the people of the current generation without losing its old ways.
The Wolf Exercise: This exercise must be done with two or more people and will work best if their number is even. If there are only two people then one of them will take the "aggressor's" part and the other will be the "defender." If there are more people, then they should divide evenly into two ranks facing one another and pair off with someone in the opposing rank. One rank being the aggressors and the other being the defenders. A time keeper is selected. If there is an odd person out then that person is the ideal time keeper, although this position should be rotated so that all get a chance to partake in the exercise. A round time is selected, usually from five to ten minutes, by the group. The defenders will now take a few seconds to think of a statement which reflects a belief they hold. This statement can refer to strongly held religious belief. The two ranks now come together and face off with their partner in the other rank. The defenders make their statements. The response from the aggressors can only be one of the following: First, "I agree with you" which stops the exchange. Two, "I need more information" which leads to a question about the statement. Or three, "I disagree" and this leads to an explanation of why there is disagreement. This then leads to the defender giving more support for their original statement and the exchange continues until time is called. Several rounds should take place before the whole group decides to end the challenging portion of the exercise. After this all should sit in a circle and discuss any interesting exchanges. Especially those that brought up new and innovative thoughts or dispelled long held beliefs that no longer seem valid. In this way we as wolves challenge one another and so make each other strong. Also, just as wolves kill the weak and allow only the strong to survive, we kill off those beliefs which are only long held superstitions and have no place in a religion of the wise.
In reading how the Wolf Exercise is done, you will notice its similarity to the "Socratic Method" which was practiced by Socrates in Athens, Greece at the Lyceum Temple; the Temple of the Wolf. The question and answer method is applied throughout the Lycian Tradition, and it is for this reason that its modern adherents have begun to call it "Lycian" using the Greek root "Lyc-" meaning "wolf" or "wolfish." In ancient times there was no name given the Tradition; it was simply the Old Religion as practiced by the Wolf Clans. The Wolf Clans were those tribes in Western Europe which took as their totem animal the wolf and practiced their initiations by means of the Wild Hunt. This is another distinguishing characteristic of the Lycian Tradition. Their initiations and practices tend to be very shamanic and make use of the Wild Hunt for the third level initiation rather than the Great Rite as most other traditions do. Many, if not most, modern traditions use the Great Rite as their final initiation into the Craft. The Great Rite for initiation purposes can be practiced symbolically, by means of a cup and athame or cup and wand, or by actual sexual union. This constitutes the third or final initiation into the Craft. In the Lycian Tradition this is not so. The final initiation is that of the Wild Hunt with its themes of life, death, love and self-sacrifice. The initiation involves facing some very basic fears and looking at where these fears affect one personally. By confronting one's fears and learning to deal with them we become much more effective in our daily life, as we are free to be more relaxed and natural in making our decisions. We recognize that it is our fears that hold us back from doing what we need, or want, to do in this world. By facing our fears in the third initiation we become more our natural selves, the selves before fear and guilt were imposed upon us by our society. Because of the secret nature of our initiations, we cannot be any more specific about the Wild Hunt initiation and so will put that subject aside. The Wolf Clans of Western Europe were quite widespread in their reach. They extended from the far northern Scandinavian countries down into Ireland and England, then into France along its western coast near the Pyrenees, down into Spain along its northern coast also near the Pyrenees, along the southern European coast and finally into Italy. Inquisition records still exist of the questioning done by the Catholic church of these "Wolf Witches" and show that the latter day cult was of an agrarian nature. The wolves were believed to be benevolent creatures wishing to aid humanity. This was done by means of a mock ritual battle in which the "good witches," those considered to be the wolves, fought the "bad witches" and depending on which side won there would or would not be prosperity for the following year. It is very evident that the battle was of a mock type as all the participants would afterwards sit together and partake of a huge feast. Any child born with the caul was considered to have been preordained to become one of the wolves. The records seem to point out that these witches believed that they left their bodies at night to become wolves, and then met others who did the same and would roam in packs doing good. They were known as the "Benandanti" in Italy. The modern rebirth of this wolf tradition in America is due to the strongly held belief that we can and do leave our bodies at night. Once out of the body, those of the "Wolf Clans" will find each other, renew the "old ties" and continue the "Great Work" for the good of all. Although there are three grades of initiation in the Lycian Tradition, the final true initiation is accomplished in the spirit body where one becomes fully accepted by the Wolf. All decisions and actions taken are unique to a particular situation and cannot be isolated into some "ideal" situation from which all others can be judged. Being accepted by the Wolf is to become as Nature intended us, in harmony with all that surrounds us. Actions then proceed from a standpoint of that harmony and not from any notions imposed on us of "should" and "should not." The person accepted by the Wolf has integrated themselves. We have united the spiritual, human and animal parts of ourselves to become a whole person in harmony with the Deities, with Nature and with our society. We know who we are and how we belong.
Author Unknown
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