A little introduction may be in order: I answer to serveral names - my Christian name is Jonathan, whilst

the Name which chose me in the Craft is that of Nemesis. I am anointed within the Sicilian-Continental
Traditionalist Craft as a priest of our Deities, in service to Humanity and to the brooding Earth. Beyond a
very personal epiphany involving my Goddess, and some pretty direct divine manipulation to get me
here, part of my predilection comes from being raised in what i call a "Sicilian Catholic" home. This
means that, whilst overtly keeping in with the parish priest, i was raised in a world of folk magic, healing,
and the psychic arts. Our theology was simple: God is God, but Mary is God's Mother, and - as any one
from Mediteranean families can attest - Mom is more important than anyone else, therefore Mary
outranks God. I still retain elements of my family's beliefs, seamlessly woven into my own practice of La
Religione Vecchia di Trinacria. Then again, many of these same beliefs and practices are respected as
part of my line. More on this later, as well as the reasons.

Recently, aquaintances of mine queried me as to why Roman Catholic elements incorporated into most
of the Sicilian and Italian Craft traditions. There are several reasons, both out of respect for tradition
and because we are not so stupid as to think anyone at any one time ever held a "pure" tradition. Even
in antiquity, beliefs changed, molded, and adapted. This does not invalidate what we have - it makes it
all the more richer.

I have come to define the Traditional Craft, of whatever sect or hue, as a cultic sorcery. It is cultic
because it gives veneration to the Powers of Life as its very core. It is sorcery - a MUCH bastardized and
butchered word. Sorcery is the commanding of the elemental forces and the spirits of the dead. We
command because we serve. That paradox is one which all true Witches of the "old persuasion" know
well, and hold dear. We command by virtue of the blood that links us to the Mighty Ones of the
motherland, and to the very stars. As the Orphic initiates were required to quote as a password to cross
the shadowed veil - "Though born of Earth, my race is of Starry Heaven."

The first reason cited by many as to why we adopted a Christian veneer is that we did it to survive. Our
Feast of First Fruits, ocurring in mid-July, was officially stamped out. Yet the Church gave us Lammas
and the Feast of the Queen of Heaven (which, in itself, was adapted from the Feast of Diana Aventina).
And so, each Lammas, we come with our breads to the shrines of our Lady... and sing the songs. The
classic hymn "O Most Holy One" was originally a paean to Persephone. Our oral lore records that we
reared some of our sons as spies within the Catholic clergy. Most of them became Dominicans - now,
they tend to be Franciscans or Jesuits. The eucharistic host - itself the subject of much magical lore -
was bent or nicked as the sign of danger. And the rosary - fingered sorcery. As my elders chortle, "Ave,
Maria! Ave, Diana! Matri di tutti universo! Regina delle stelle sempre!"
{I am reminded by an article on the New Wiccan Church's website where they were arguing for just such
survivals of Old with new within Britain. The article cited a community in Mexico which maintained a
Catholic facade for nearly 300 years. And yet, behind closed doors, they were their own clandestine
society of ... Jews.}

The second reason cited, if people bothered to take the time to look at history, is that Christianity
effectively replaced the old sacrificial State Cults. The State Cults ALWAYS influenced the domestic cults
(and vice versa). It was only a matter of time before Christian Saints and Icons were honored side by
side as the images of the Household Gods. Primitive Christianity, as a Mystery Cult much indebted to
the classical Mysteries, also had its part to play. (Those who approached Christianity AS a Mystery Cult -
such as the Naasenes and the Carpocratians - readily submitted to the rites of Cybele and Isis
respectively. Why? In the old Gods and the sacred Myths they saw a reflection of their Christ, who was
the Everyman, the Solar Hero.) Granted, many of these fine Christian mystics were either slaughtered or
forced into monasteries behind closed walls by those who saw in Christianity a tool to further their own
agendas. In this, they were no different from any other charismatic fools more interested in the herd
mentality and status quo.

The third reason, if people would actually listen to us (or our kin the Brujas, the Santeras, the
Curanderas)... is this. It allowed us to serve Humanity. Nowadays, everyone talks about the Pagan
Community. There are even some who would claim the Wica as an insular Priesthood, serving only the
Wican Community...presumably everyone else is screwed! But to us, to the old persuasion - be we
Streghe or Strix, Bruja or Santero, Sorginak or Cunning Folk, Saga or Imago, Consurier or Seidhkhona,
Spae-wife or Night Rider, Shaman or Shamanka.... our Community is not so exclusive.

We do not live in an Ivory Tower. Hell, we can not afford the Ivory Tower. Our Community is the
World... our People (the Children of the Gods) are Humanity. And only those who TRULY serve
Humanity are worthy to serve the Gods as Priesthood. To TRULY serve humanity entails being part of
their lives.

And so we, much like the Brujas and the Santeras, will sit in Mass. We will finger our rosaries. We will
contemplate the stations of the cross. And a troubled soul stumbles across us in our vigil. They dare not
trust it to the priests. Indeed, with the current situations the Church is facing, especially not their clergy!
But the quiet women dressed in black and their male compatriots... they can trust us. And so we hear
their confessions. We lead them to the Lady Chapel and pray with them. Some meet us later, and we
divine by card and crystal, by wind and by fog. We may give them special novenas to focus their will and
solve their own problems. And when they are gone, content that they have been helped, we ride the
night wind betwixt and between, and there we rouse the Old Powers.

For our family is that of the Dread Mistress, the Goat Foot Angel, and all their Brood, and it matter not
whether the little children call them Gods or Demons or Saints. And Saint Michael the Archangel is the
protecting Saint and Patron of the Craft!

They are the Powers, the Mothers and the Fathers, and they answer the call of our hearts. We are a
race apart, yet bound - the Sons and the Daughters, the caretakers and the guardians, the upholders of
the Law of the Underworld, and the furious host that avenges itself upon those who would abuse the
People and the Land.

Then again, i can not help but wonder: how odd that they would have forgotten their own roots? The
rituals of the Lindhurst Coven were little changed from the Clavicula Solomonis, replete with Hebrew
and Christian names of Power, though references to the Grandmaster and the Good Mistress were
there. Their dressing of the wells at Midsummer has NO hard proof that they stem from Pagan times (as
quaint as that notion sounds)... and OBOD (Wica's incestuous cousin) was founded by a devout Anglican
who saw no problem between Druidry and his Christianity.

I remember in Gardner's books, him mentioning that a Witch may be a Christian, but a Christian (as
most define) could never approach a Pagan altar with reverence. While i think the truth is more fluid
than that, it is an interesting point. Alex Sanders' London Coven consisted at one time of happy Anglican
vicars... while Maxine Sanders' Temple blended elements from the LCC into its teachings. And Gerald
Gardner himself mentioned one of his priestesses keeping an image of Jesus on her shrine, out of
respect that she had for him.

Resources follow, though i am loathe to do so. People rarely find the time to get off their rear ends and
educate themselves. Rarer still are those who will admit that they have behaved poorly and move
forward, humbled yet head held high.

Sincerely,

Nemesis

(Jonathan Sousa)
SilverRoseofDea@...

RESOURCES: (in no particular order)

The Compendium Malifacaurum of Francesco Guazzo

Giordano Bruno & the Hermetic Tradition by Frances Yates

Witchcraft Today by Gerald Gardner

The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner

Etruscan Roman Remains by CG Leland

God Against the Gods by Jonathan Kirsche

The Jesus Mysteries by Freke & Gandy

Light From the Shadows: A Mythos of Modern Traditional Witchcraft by Gwynn

Dictionary of Angels by Gustav Davidson

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

The Crafted Cup by Shadwyn (esp. the chapter on "Christ & the Craft", also available on OAG's website)

ABC of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente

The Sangreal Sodality Series by Willian Gray (esp. Western Inner Workings & The Sangreal Sacrament)

Seasonal Occult Ceremonies by William Gray

The Clavicula Solominis

The Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Cornelius Agrippa

The Malleus Mallifacaurum by Sprenger & Krengel

Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome by Adkins & Adkins

The Witches' Goddess by Janet & Stewart Farrar

The Witches' God by Janet & Stewart Farrar

The Gospel Explained by the Spiritist Doctrine by Allan Kardec

Meideval Folklore by Lindahl, Micnmara, & Lindow

The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by Jonathan Michael Greer

50 Years in the Feri Tradition by Cora Anderson

Witchcraft: The Old Religion by Dr Leo Louis Martello

The Corpus Hermeticum

The Golden Bough by Sir James Frazer (admittedly a bit dated)

Firechild by Maxine Sanders

The Book of Druidry by Ross Nichols

Black Magic, Satanism, & Voodoo by Dr. Leo Louis Martello

Weird Ways of Witchcraft by Dr Leo Louis Martello

Thorns of the Blood Rose by Victor Anderson (poetry)

Santeria: the Religion by Migene Gonzalez Wippler

Jambalaya by Luisah Teish

Witchcraft: A Tradition Renewed by Doreen Valiente and John Evans

Little Albert's Book of Secrets/The Book of the Secrets of Albertus Magnus (much loved by the French
Craft)

The Confessions of Isobel Gowdie

The Confessions of Laura Milarepo

The Proceedings Against the Benandanti

Night Battles by Carlo Ginzburg

The Witches' Almanac (various back issues) by Elizabeth Pepper & John Wilcock (now taken up by
Olympian Press)

Rede of the Wiccae by Theitic and Robert Mathieson

Diary of a Witch by Sybil Leek

Witch Amongst Us by Lois Bourne

Carmina Gaedelica / The Silver Bough

Lucifer's Court by Otto Rahn

The Magical Power of the Saints by Ray T Marlborough

I think i've pondered this myself numerous times. To date, my aforementioned ponderings are outlined
below, for any who feel inclined. (Personally, i see this polemic as being a purely cosmetic issue - more
on that later).

1. One way of looking at this polemic between Stregheria and Stregoneria is as Raven Grimassi
ORIGINALLY stated: Stregheria refers to the Craft as a religion, whereas Stregoneria refers to the Craft as
a magical system. In a sense, this makes some sense to me, based on my own research. Stregheria was
in use during the Middle Ages in reference to ''the Witches' Sect'' aka Witchcraft as a religious cult -
Stregoneria was frequently mentioned, specifically as sorcery, conjuring spirits/talking with the dead,
folk healing, and bossing around the Saints.

2. A view espoused by the Lodge of UR/UR Group, per their website, is that Stregoneria is the Religion of
Sorcerers, bordering on a ceremonial path devoted to Lucifer Invictus, whom they identify with Sol
Invictus/Mithras. They also see a connection with Spiritualism and Palo (an Afro-Diasporic Tradition
rooted in Kongo religion). Their chief symbol/tool is a cauldron with human bones in it - the bones in
question being a link with the Ancestors, and coming specifically from a deceased elder. As such, they
focus on Necromancy, to expand their knowledge and learn of the Hidden worlds. Their philosophy is a
curious blend of archaic Roman religion, Catholicism (the Saints and holy relics), Satanism (identification
of Lucifer with the Devil as Lord of the World), and Spiritism (a la Allan Kardec). (This is in sharp contrast
to Southern Italian and Sicilian Craft traditions - where the Dead are left in their resting places, and to
disturb their bodies is viewed as the grossest blasphem).

3. A modern view which has a personal appeal is that Stregoneria is Male-focused Craft, the rare (though
popular among Napolitan Witches) Stregaria refers to Female-focused Craft, while Stregheria is the Craft
as a whole. These gender classifications are a misnomer - to clarify.., borrowing terminology from Paul
Huson and Robin Artisson, Male centered Craft focuses on Knowledge and Power with a distinct focus
on the Otherworld(s) bordering on Gnostici/Platonic philosophy, Female centered Craft is rooted in the
Earth - its fertility, propitation, and wellbeing - as well as the physical needs (healing and such) of
humans and animals, and both are ultimately rooted in preChristian religion.
4. In Sicily, the terms Strega/Stregone/Streghe are all inclusive - it includes those following in the Old
Religion, to fortune tellers and midwives, and folk magicians who might not see their Craft as being
religious. A more specific title - Maga/Mago/Magae - which the Sicilians stole from the Greeks - refers
specifically to one who is a Priest/ess of the Old Religion.

5. My first answer to how i define myself is that i follow the Old Religion... that i belong to the Society of
Night and fight in the Brigade of Diana.. that i am one of the Tribe of the Screech Owl. All these titles are
terms equally ancient, if not more so, than the term Strega/Stregone. We must always remember that
THEY gave us the title - since their going to call us a "Witch" (or Strega) anyways, we might as well use it.
(First, it was a term of respect - later of fear - still later of derision). {Sugnu mago-stregone, sugnu
figghiu della religione vecchia, sugnu uomo del Societe di Diana, u frateddo in covenatio vecchio di la
Strix e u guardia di onorre di mi Madre.} Call me a Witch, a Priestess, a Mystic, a Lover of Wisdom - a
healer, a warrior, a magus, a bitch. All these apply - in simple English, i prefer the term "a person of
faith". Everything else is secondary to my faith and the duties thereof - to the Gods, specifically to my
Lady Diana.. to my Family, both living and dead... and, most importantly, to my Self.

6. I am ambivalent about whether who is "more Strega" - the Catholo-Pagan folk traditions or pure
Pagan Craft. In Sicilian Craft as i was taught, and also in Thessalian Strix Craft, one is annointed (first and
foremost) as a Priest/ess of ALL the Gods of ALL the Pantheons. It is only later that one makes a specific
committment to the specific Pantheon (and/or specific Patrons) - and only at Divine Instigation, via
dreams, synchronicity, and divination. Why? Telling the Gods what to do and whom to choose is just ...
Dangerous.

7. Then again, if we claim to be rooted in our spiritual homeland... and its cultural traditions.. we must
also accept that the boundaries of culture and nationality were not (and are not) as clear cut. And - to
be truly rooted in our homeland - means that we must honor the entire history of the place. The Genii
Loci include not just the ancient Divinities, but the Gods and Ancestors of all since then. In Sicilian Craft
as i was taught, we honor ALL the Gods and Powers of Sicily - ranging from the most ancient Sikel
(Elymnian/Siculi/Secani) Deities, to the Gods of other Mediterranean groups (Phoenicia, Greece, Egypt,
and Rome), to those Gods brought by Trade (Celtic - ie ancient trade route linking Ireland with Sicily with
Egypt), to the Catholic and Saracen (Muslim) Gods and spirits. In America, we also believe strongly in
honoring the Powers of our surroundings - so we will offer cornmeal to Native Spirits, we will dance for
the Orishas/Orixas/Lwa, we will pour mead to the Aesir/Vanir, we will meditate with the Yogis, we will
chant with the Buddhists.
8. Granted, this is all history (and modern) precedent. In the 'Old Country(ies)', people continue to be
staunch supporters of their Region and Town. It is only as an afterthought that they claim to be Italian.
(Italy is only 130+ years old as a national identity). Owing to the stubborn pride and passion that is the
prize and price of Itallic culture... most refuse to acknowledge that most (if not all) of their
regional/village lore came from places alien to that area. In this, we Italian-Americans (or Sicilian
Americans) can teach our kinsfolk a few things about acceptance and history. Cultural identity serves
nothing if it used to pontificate and masturbate the purported virtues of egotism, paranoia, and
xenophobia.

I am reminded of Herrman Slater/Ed Bucinski's Warlock Shoppe/Magickal Childe. While catering a great
deal to all Occult traditions, there were a "religious supply store for all religions" (to quote the Horrible
Herman in an interview he once did). Indeed, their bustling clientele featured many nuns coming in for
Rose of Jericho flowers (i.e. Resurrection Plants).

Herman and Ed did several things to shake up the Pagan community back at the time. Their
contributions have earned them respect, while their quirks (and Herman's blatant disregard for sacred
cows) have given many a hard dose of reality (and quite a few reasons to laugh maniacally). But - they
would bring in Catholic priests, jewish rabbis, Protestant ministers, etc, to teach classes. I believe they
were mandatory for dedicants to various Pagan/Occult groups that were tied to the store. Their
reasoning? Before you embarked upon the Craft (or any other Pagan/Occult branch) and transitioned
from another more mainstream path, you had to resolve any problems you had with your original faith.
Again, quoting from Herman's interview: "...if you have left your religion over misunderstandings or
abuses, you might just find that your original faith is beautiful and meaningful." The particular people in
that sect may be another matter!

And that is commendable. In my path, my teachers require us to learn from and about all other belief
systems. There are three reasons: A) So that we may speak with education and intelligence, and no
prejudice; B) So that our own understanding of our own Path may be deepened; C) So that no one may
use their religion/magical system against us. {Of course, i get a few odd looks from my co-religionists
when they find out that i have gone beyond the "official RHP" religious family, and extended my quest
for understanding and tolerance into some of the more sane LHP folks.}

Thank you for your reply, Barbara. And i can respect you for your choice to convert to the RCC. This list
is NOT just for the good Pagans, and we boast a suprising number of good Italian Catholics with traces of
folklore and magic. :0) And your acceptance of the Pagan roots of Catholic ritual is very noble.
My only complaint is not a complaint. It is a query per se. Cite your sources...OUTSIDE OF THE
CATECHISM... for your comment that Roman Catholicism is the "church that Jesus started himself."

I find that hard to digest, given that no current historian or academic will give their backing to it. It is
certainly one of the oldest. Celtic Christianity and Christian Gnosticism were older still. The oldest living
Christian church on record is the Jerusalem Church (brought into the Coptic Orthodox fold, though
preserving its independence), who traces their history and lineage per se to the apostle John.

I could also question your purpose on the list now i.e. a desire for Christian folk magical lore, still
keeping a foot hold in the Craft (old habits die hard?), dual allegiance (which many early Catholics
upheld), or a desire to convert the Craft masses to the RCC. But - that is not a question for me to ask,
nor do i have a desire to demand an answer. Your reasons and choices are between you and your God.
:0)

In Italy, there really isn't a real concept of Tradition or Sect. Each region, town, and family has its own
particular way of doing things. If you have Italian heritage, try researching the folklore, Pagan survivals,
and customs of the region you come frome. (Mindful that the concept of a unified Italy is SOOOOO very
modern and we Americans tend to forget the xenophobia rampant among our Old World forebears, lol).

In general (emphasize the 'in general' part), i have found most Northern Italian Crafters to be very
shamanistically inclined, while those from Central Italy have a slight flair for ceremonialism, and
Southern Italian ways (including, though some do protest it so, the Islands) are very folksy in orientation.
You will also find some who are extremely comfortable with Catholicism, while there are those whoa re
out and out Pagans (though heaven forbid you actually use that term...or call practitioners a Witch!) As
Raven Grimassi rightly points out, though for different reasons, Crat ways in Italy have not yet reached
the all-inclusiveness of the modern New Age scene.

Within the USA and elsewhere, the Craft is different than what it is in Italy. Because all Italians were and
are lumped together here, the demarcating lines of regional animosity have largely faded away. You will
also find a strong element of Wiccan influence - primarily because the Wiccan Traditionalists would not
take the Streghe (or the Brujas for that matter) seriously unless they looked and sounded BTW-ish.
Hence, you saw some family traditions metamorphising into more organized groups, with formal rites
and adapting the Celtic Year-Wheel. You also see - especially among the Streghe living on the East Coast
USA- a strong interbreeding with Afro-Diasporic traditions, such as Vodoun and Santeria, in tandem with
influences from Kardecian Spiritism. Lastly, with the rise of Reconstructionism, many are going back to
celebrating ancient Greek and Roman holy-days and feasts. And, with the late 1800s and early 1900s,
you see a greater influx of Hermeticism and Rosacrucianism as well.
In the USA, those paths stemming from Raven Grimassi's work are the most prolific. The Aridian system
espoused in his books is designed as an outer court for novices and seekers not yet having a formal Italic
path. The Arician Ways / Arician Tradition (also called at one point Clan Umbreani) is initiatory and
oathbound, with Raven Grimassi as its formal head and lineage traced through him. The other public
tradition is the Sylvanic Tradition begun by Arawn Macchia as an outgrowth of his family's ways. They
are unique in that they have blended into Religio Romana as Gens Apollonaris recently.

The Sicilian tradition(s) are very secretive and reclusive. The only semi-public groups i know of are the
Coven of Befana's Broom in NY, and Our Lord and Our Lady of the Trinacrian Rose Church / Grove in MA.

You write: What exactly is the difference between la vecchia and Crowley’s thelema? I haven’t read
much about thelema but it seems that it emphasises the female aspect of the Divine in the Goddess Nuit
as a mother goddess.

Nemesis replies:

Thelema has been discussed earlier - as such, i urge you to peruse previous posts. You also may wish to
research more by perusing the web or reading Duquette's "The Magick of Thelema", an excellent book
imho!

Thelema as a magical philosophy came to Crowley in Cairo - ironically at a time when (in his books) he
admits to having put magical work on the back burner. While observing antiquities at a museum, he
came upon a Stele (known in Thelemic jargon as the Stele of Revealing). Suddenly, he heard the voice of
Aiwaz (variously described as a praeternatural intelligence, a demon, an angel, the messenger of Hours /
Ra Herukhuti, the divine self or genius peculiar to Crowley, a solar-phallic deity, and the magical current
of Thelema). Aiwaz dictated to Crowley (or, in some variations, through possessing Crowley to his wife
at the time) the Three Chapters of the Book of the Law, which Aiwaz claimed were related to or derived
from the Stele of Revealing. The chapters follow Crowley's (or Aiwaz's) theory of magical aeons ie that
we passed through the aeon of Isis (Goddess worship, female focus, lunar/telluric), Osiris (the
Dying/Rising God motif, male focus, solar and phallic cultus), and were now entering that of Hours (the
Divine Child who fuses the best of his parents, neither male nor female, the True Will).

The roots of Thelema lie, ultimately, in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. As such, there are
direct cross overs of symbolism, ritual wording, and core concepts between the two. However, Thelema
is NOT an order per se. Rather, it is a worldview, a philosophy, and a magical system, centering on the
attainment of one's True Will. There are two formal orders which have embraced Crowley's philosophy,
namely the OTO and the AA. The OTO is a fraternal association while the AA tends to work along the
lines of master/mistress and apprentice. The magical curriculum of the AA can be found in Crowley's
"Gems from the Equinox" and "Magick in Theory and Practice". There have also been two fairly recent
orders, the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn, which
have taken Thelemic philosophy and used it to "tweak" the rituals of the Golden Dawn. (Note: the
Golden Dawn order, both originally and in its schisms, was focused upon the symbolism of the
Dying/Rising God and a solar current of energy. The orders mentioned have adapted this symbolism to
reflect that of the Divine Child and the Aeon of Horus).

There are also some Orders, such as Kenneth Grant's Typhonian OTO (based in LA), which - while
claiming to draw from Thelema - are just a tad too odd for Thelema, and are not recognized by the more
.... traditional lodges.

Toni, i believe you have more experience in the OTO lodges, if you'd like to give your feedback (or
correct my errors)! :0)

In Thelemic philosophy, Nuit is Goddess of the Starry Heavens. Drawing from Egyptian lore, she can be a
Mother figure - with the stars studding her naked body being the Stars of those Magi who have fully
realized and attained their True Will. However, Nuit further represents infinite expansion, the
circumference of the Circle. Her male counterpart and "Beloved" is Hadit (or Hadith), pictured as a
Serpent. Hadit's attributes are less clear cut as Nuit's, as his name was constructed through gematria
and UPG ie there is no clear reference to him in ancient Egypt. As such, Hadit represents an essentially
male force in nature... but, more accurately, embodies the idea of infinite contraction. If Nuit is the
circumference, then Hadit is the point at the center. Their child is Hours as the Winged Falcon or
Winged Sun Disk. In proclaiming the ascent of his age or aeon, he "flaps at the face of Jesus on the cross
and pecks out the eyes of Muhammed", implying that all of the religions of the aeon of Osiris are dead
and absorbed by him. (Ironically, the aeon of Isis is never assaulted... hrmm, i must ask my Thelemite
associates...though Crowley did urge his students to never discuss the Book of the Law, but to reason
out its meaning on their own in solitude).

Thelemic philosophy (especially as encapsulated in the OTO's practice and the teachings of the ECG
associated with it) also makes use of the two Deities Baphomet and Babalon. Baphomet, taken from the
name of the purported idol of the Templars, embodies the Male polarity. Babalon, the Enochian spelling
of Babylon, is honored as the Great Whore. However, she is the Great Whore because She receives all
and so gives birth to all. She has been identified with the Hebrew Lillith and Shekinah. Drawing from
connections to the East, Baphomet is also seen as Shiva (inert unless acted upon by the female,
embodying Spirit and Matter in a state of stagnation and rest). As such, Babalon becomes Shakti, the
Divine Feminine Power which stirs the Male Matter and Spirit into action, thereby producing all in all.

I suppose that you are referring to the Abbey of Thelema which Crowley founded in Cefalu, Sicily. The
artwork there (by Austin Spare) was amazing, and drew from Egyptian, Greek, and Cabalistic lore.

Thelema makes use of a LOT of sexual symbolism. Indeed, Gardner (through his friendship with
Crowley) incorporated elements from Crowley's Gnostic Mass (for use in the OTO) into the ritual format
of his Craft Reforms. For instance, the wording of the Great Rite in the Third Degree comes from several
hymns and declarations to Nuit as coming together with Hadit... and the consecration of the cakes and
wine are literally from the similar consecrations of the Mass (albeit adapted ie substituting Athame for
Rod, and calling on the Great Goddess in lieu of "the one Lord, Mystery of Mysteries").

There was a rumor at one time that Gardner and Crowley wanted to use his Craft Reforms as an "outer
court" for the OTO... however, i have yet to see any proof of that. It may simply be that Gardner was
desperate to give his Craft Reforms backing in the fickle Occult community of Victorian Britain - since
most Occultist big wigs were members of formal lodges, Gardner may have drawn from the GD and OTO
with Crowley's encouragement in designing the initiatory rituals. In other words, elevating the British
path of Sorcery and Cunning into a Paganized Magical Lodge. {Contrary to assertions by Francis King,
Aidan Kelly (though Aidan has changed his theory at least 50 times so it may be different now), and
others, there is NO evidence that Gardner paid Crowley to write the Gardnerian Book of Shadows. As a
member of Crowley's OTO, Gardner had permission to draw from their rituals.}

There are similarities linking Thelemic philosophy with the Hermetic philosophy of Hellenistic mages. In
particular the "Knowledge and Conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel" is identical in result to the
taking of the Pahedros found in the Papyri Grecae Magicae. As the Hellenistic-Hermetic and
Neoplatonic philosophies have contributed much to lines of Craft in Italy and the Isles, this may explain
the connection with Thelema. (Thelema itself is a Greek word meaning "Will". Incidentally, one of the
less well known reasons for Crowley's spelling of Magic as Magick was because it matched
numerologically the Greek word for the male generative organs i.e. Phallos).

In practice, Thelemic ritual (again) makes much use of sexual symbolism (though not sex in actuality).
While sexual symbolism is acknowledged in most Southern Italian Craft systems with ties to the
agricultural seasons, it is NOT overtly pronounced. This (i believe) is the case with other variants of
Pagan survivals. Sex is matter of fact and a given. Mom and Dad have to conjoin to produce us. By
application of As Above, So Below, the same process must apply to the Gods and Goddesses as they
relate to the Eternal Return.

Most Streghe would find resonance with the Thelemic concepts of True Will, and it may be that there
are some Sicilian lines of Craft which draw from the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu. However, most (99 %
by my estimation, though not all members are known aside from their magical mottos) of the members
of the Abbey in Sicily were (ironically enough) British in origin. The Sicilian government became involved
with the death of a member and rumors of sexual orgies and animal sacrifice. And, it is somewhat
doubtful that the Abbey had a large number of members. After the Abbey was closed, most returned to
England or came to the USA.

Crowley did make use of Satan and various other "Demonic entities" in his magical work. Satan he
associated as a symbol of self assertion and Promethean self-sacrifice for the cause of Light. In this, he
was no different from various Gnostic sects who upheld Biblical villians as champions of Will and Liberty
against the false teachings of the Demiurge. He also associated Satan, by way of the sign of Capricorn,
with the erect penis and rituals of masturbation.

Anton Lavey drew from Crowley's Thelemic philosophy in forming the teachings of his Church of Satan.
However, Lavey stripped Thelema of its mysticism and magic, reducing it to hedonism and materialism.
When Crowley said "do what thou wilt", he was referring to one's True Will ie the voice of your Spirit
urging you to Become. The Church of Satan, however, interpreted Crowley's dictate to mean "do
whatever the hell you like." In this, the Temple of Set (an offshoot from the original Church of Satan)
has returned more towards Thelema with its theories of Aeons and True Will as a part of Becoming.

Thelema (as a philosophy and worldview) is not a dogmatic religion. Indeed, some adherents get
uptight when you use the term religion in speaking about it! They prefer to refer to it as an Art and a
Science, in keeping with Crowley's definition of magic. Thelemic orders officially welcome all who are
striving to know and master themselves. As such, you will find atheists, Wiccans, Satanists, Jews,
Christians, and Muslims involved as members of OTO camps (or lodges). The same could be said for the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which welcomed members of all faiths (and none) and adjoined
initiates to learn from all.
As a Stregone, i learn from Thelema, much as i learn from the Golden Dawn's Hermetic-Cabalistic
synthesis, from Esoteric Christianity, from other Craft traditions (both the "old persuasion" and BTW),
from Sufism, from Spiritualism, from Spiritism, from Judaism, from Demonolatry (a Hermetic religion
which venerates Demons as "Divine Beings of Infinite Wisdom"), from Santeria and Vodoun, from
Humanism and Science, from Hellenismos and Religio Romana, from any other worldview. In studying
them all i find that my own path is deepened and enriched. (I also learn how to defend myself from
rabid followers of such philosophies... as well as become better equipped to see through their eyes
without prejudice or ignorance).

Yet, my identity is as a Witch and Priest following in La Religione Vecchia. Our philosophy (or
philosophies) have similarities to other paths, depending on the influences on a given line. Indeed, i
would be worried if there were NOT similarities, as it speaks of a falsely constructed system built on a
worthless foundation! We are cosmopolitan creatures, and pluralism encourages ideas to merge and
blend and transform. Likewise, whatever our cultural overlay, we ALL touch upon the Greater Mysteries
of the Good, the Just and the Beautiful.

So much of what you want depends on which line of La Religione Vecchia you are talking about! Most of
those coming from Northern Italy have a shamanistic feel, while Central Italy tends towards grand
ceremonials eked out from the Italian Reinassance and such lodges as the Mystical Lodge of Miriam in
Naples. Southern Italy has a more folksy feel, though we are indebted to Neoplatonic and Egyptian
philosophies. Sicily, Sardinia, and Malta have very insular traditions, with a folksy ritual reminscent of
kitchen witchery, yet with a mystical philosophy drawing from the Mystery Traditions of antiquity, and a
warrior ethos born from countless years of invasion and colonization.

I would strongly disagree with your premise. There is most certainly a strong initiatory element to the
Italic Craft. That said, I would add the caveat (which also explains my objection) that there are
innumerable Craft traditions in Italy and its Islands. Each region, town, family (et al) is different. Those
traditions hailing from Sicily, Sardinia, and Southern Italy (and their Italo-American descendants) that I
am personally aware of do most work within an initiatory framework.

Add to this the other caveat that there are three primary definitions of initiation as understood by the
modern Western Occult scene. The first, a formal welcoming into a group or religious sect, is perhaps
the most cosmetic. With a family tradition, this is usually linked to what modern Pagans would term
rites of passage - birth/naming (baptism), menses for women, and like. This only means something to A)
the group and B) the recipient. Again, it is a welcoming! Second, there is the ceremonial blessing of a
newcomer at the beginning of one's studies. (I believe they call this 'commencement' in our educational
system - not the end, but the beginning to a lifetime of learning!). And finally, but most importantly,
there is the Initiation that comes directly at the hands of the Gods.
With the first, most family systems (again) incorporate certain teachings and ritual formulae into specific
ages, or even times of year. (A key example is in Italian Benedicaria, wherein one learns how to divine
and cure at Midnight on either Christmas Eve or Epiphany.) As hereditary elders include more
'outsiders' into the family, it has become accepted to design a more formal ritual to welcome, seal, and
empower the newcomer as a FULL member of the family. In some sects, this has become termed a Rite
of Adoption.

With the second, this ritual can be as simple as a party for work done and hopes for the future ... or a
moving passing of the torch into the next generation of lineage-bearers. Many times, this has become
incorporated into what i call rituals of Adoption. (Since it is not any day that you can be accepted and
adopted into a family tradition, a ritual adoption generally occurs AFTER you have earned the trust of
the family elders, proven you are ready for this elevation, and also proven that you know your stuff and
will NOT make an ass of yourself in public.)

With the third, it is my belief - and the belief of those that taught me and brought me in - that the Gods
are the ONLY true initiators. My spiritual initiation into the Craft.. and into the Mysteries of the Craft ...
came long before i formally began studies or was anointed. It began when i killed myself - very literally
dying before my time to die - and the Goddess in the Darkness embraced me, claimed me, made me Her
own, gave me a name (several actually, both for myself and for Her), and sent me back to live life with
my head held high. That is the ONE and ONLY initiation i consider valid from a spiritual level.

In the variant of Italic Craft as i was taught, and as i was anointed into, there were, are, and never will be
degrees. Albeit, the coven i trained with had adopted a level structure as a method of screening and
training. However, the environment was very much a family environment. And my oaths as a Priest/ess
were made without hesitation.

That is the thing... most Italian Traditions prize honor above all else. We take our Oaths seriously. We
take our Mysteries seriously. They are readily available to those who will bravely face the harsh winds
of Wisdom and stand at the Crossroads of Fate. They always have been. As Aristotle once said, the
Great Mysteries can never be violated. It is only the Lesser Mysteries, the 'family secrets', the recipes
and the legends, that can be told. But telling them does not damage or invalidate the Greater in the
least. It is simply a matter of respect, of pride for having done something worthwhile, and of loyalty to
Family and Creed.
Some, such as Toni (fearless List mama that she is), are primarily shamanistic. Their path in La Religione
Vecchia di Italia is that of sorcery and spirit travel. This is also part of the Mysteries. And some of us still
answer the astral summons on certain nights of the year, to ride with Diana (Goddess of the Pagans) in
the Wild Hunt, to strike down evil doers, to gather and dance around the World Tree, and to learn the
most royal Art of magic at the feet of Diana herself.

Christianity replaced the State Cults of Rome and Hellas. Stregheria (or Stregoneria) adapted, taking on
elements of the current 'State funded religion'. We let the Catholic priests (and Orthodox priests) offer
up the sacrifice to the Old Gods in new dress. The State Cult has always been focused on community -
on preserving the Pax Deorum. Many of the Streghe in America also participate in Religio Romana or
Hellenismos, as a revival of the ancient State Cults centered on that preservation. But, among ourselves,
we are the Priesthood of the Mysteries.

And during my own ordination as a Priest, i - much like Apuleis' Lucius in the Golden Ass - beheld the Sun
at midnight, adorned in the riches of the Otherworld. I worshipped in the company of the Gods and the
Ancient Heroes, paying homage to the Majesty of the Thrice-Crowned Queen. And my oaths were
spoken in but 3 brief minutes - but those minutes are beyond time, beyond space.

Every Sicilian and Sicilian-American Witch i have met has styled themselves to be an heir of the Eleusian
Mysteries and Orphic Mysteries as well. There may be evidence to support this sentiment ... or it may
be a genetic memory rooted in the Greek colonists transplanting Demeter's mysteries (there WERE
several Mystery Cults of Demeter other than Eleusis... and Eleusis did send out 'missionaries' to turn the
temple to the ancient Sikel Goddess into one befitting the Greek Demeter). As even Peter Kingsley
mentions in 'Ancient Philosophy, Mystery and Magic', on page 181, there was in Sicily "even to this very
day, a family living near the city of Enna, who worshipped a non-Greek Goddess and were renowned
throughout the ancient world as the dreaming prophets." I've met descendants of that family. They
keep inviolate their Mysteries from the profane and the unworthy. May they continue to do so.

Sincerely Yours in the Gods,

Nemesis

Roswell, NM

Ps. For a modern Strega take on 'Strega Initiation' and their Craft's mysteries, i would recommend Leo
Martello's "Witchcraft: the Old Religion" as well as "Keepers of the Flame" by Morganna Davies and
Aradia Lynch (two of the contributors interviewed are of the Sicilian Path). Also, Ms. Magliocco has a
wonderful article on Aradia which, while originally aimed at dismissing our claim to survival, ends up
implying (without saying) that a possible Cult branded by outsiders as Witches may have very well been
formed around female divinities, trance journeys, ecstatic dance, and the Dead may have certainly
developed among the peasantry given the climate and culture in medieval Southern Italy.