Wicca Spirit Newsletter

Vol. I  Issue 5

In This Issue:

Samhain

Meet Our Columnists!:

   “Evn”

   “Lady Wystira”
   “Aura Elise”

Pagan Saints

Everything Herbal:

   “Herbal Teas”

Animal Medicine & Totems:

   “Native American Zodiac”

   “Ask Aura Elise - Q&A”

Element Correspondences
Magickal Glossary

Working With Chakras:

   “The Root Chakra”

Witch-Crafts

   “Corn Dollies”
Featured Article:

   "Recalling the Song:

   How Communicating
   with Animals will Change
   Our World”
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Text Box: Corn Dollies The last sheaf of the harvest, dressed in a woman's dress or woven into an intricate shape and decked with ribbons, is regarded as the embodiment of the spirit of the crop, the spirit of the growing grain itself. The safe-keeping of this corn dolly over the winter insures fertility for the following harvest, provided that some portion of it is given to cattle and horses to eat, and some portion of it strewn in the field or mixed with the seeds for the next crop. This practice of saving the spirit of the harvest is extensive throughout Europe. In Northumberland, the corn dolly is attached to a long pole and carried home to be set up in the barn. In some communities it goes home on the lastload. Sometimes it is fairly small. In parts of Germany, the heavier it is, the better. On the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, the corn dolly's apron is filled with bread, cheese and a sickle. In other parts of Scotland, the reapers hold races. The man who finishes reaping first designates his last sheaf the corn maiden; the one who finishes last makes his last sheaf into a hag. In some localities, the corn dolly is made by the first farmer who finishes his harvest and then passed from farm to farm as each farmer finishes his harvest, ending up with the farmer who finishes last. In this case, no one wants the dolly as it is a sign of procrastination. In Wales, others try to snatch the dolly from the reaper who carries it from the field. If he gets home safe, he gets to keep it on his farm for the rest of the year. French, Slavonic, and some Germanic regions use the last sheaf to create a Kornwolf, believed to hold a wolf-like spirit that resides in the last sheaf and provides the same life force for the next season. This is a fiercer version of the corn dolly and is sometimes used to scare children. Today, corn dollies are seen as emblems of abundance. Why corn? Historically the word corn was applied to the the small hard grain or fruit of a plant. It was used generically to refer to the leading crop of the district. In England, corn was wheat; in Scotland, oats; in the U.S., maize. How to make a Corn Dolly The best part of the stem is the top length from the ear (the seed head) down to where the last leaf leaves the stem. Leaving the ear intact, strip off the dead leaves and sort the stems according to size: thick, medium, and fine. Dry straw must be soaked flat in cold water for about 15 minutes and then stood upright to drain before plaiting. The Five-Straw Plait is the easiest to work with for a beginner: 1. Tie 5 straws together close to the ears. 2-5. Each time the straw being folded passes over two corners, it is then left and the one at the last corner is picked up and used in its place until the round is completed. The attractive spiral pattern grows as round succeeds round. 6. When completed, the ends are tied to the starting point below the ears, making a decorative circle. To feed in new straws, cut the old straw off after it has passed the second straw. The thin end of the new straw is inserted in the hole, making sure of a firm fit which is hidden under the fold of the straw of the next round. Simple corn dollies can also be made with the standard three-straw plait. More complex corn dollies involve multiple straws, intricate braids, and sometimes the creation of a straw core shape around which the outer straw is plaited. A Corn Dolly by any other name England: Harvest Queen Kern Baby Corn Doll Scotland: Hag Old Wife Old woman (Cailleac) Wales: Hag (Wrach) Brittany: Mother Sheaf. Germany: Kornmutter (Corn Mother) Harvest Mother Old Woman. Prussia: Grandmother Denmark : Rye Woman Barley Woman Poland: Baba (grandmother) Corn Dolly Watch her as she moves through golden waves Where ears ripen beneath the summer sun Now reapers move across the field, leaving swathes Binders follow making sheaves; a harvest won From the soil we have tilled. Grain that in winter can be milled. There's a gentle swish of sickles through the stalk John Barleycorn is falling to the ground The rig moves on; girls exchanging daily talk As carefully they bind each sheaf around Sweating children work to stook Where mothers have no time to look. At eventide the sun falls below the dripping brow Ceres' row still stands against the blackthorn hedge Her spirit to be beaten back where the oxen plough When winter's solstice comes they'll make a pledge Now its time for sing of joy and mirth Celebrate the bounteous Mother Earth Though the bedstraw beckons weary bairns for sleep And dreams of bitter ales beckon to parched lips At the centre of the field there's still a sheaf to reap The reapers face the stand with hands on hips Each takes his turn to throw His sickle at this final row. To reap the clyack sheaf as custom now demands Each man in turn the blindfold takes Thrice times three is turned around by other hands The sickle then cast forth to the fates The victor knows from others' cheer He shall claim the flowing jug of beer Rituals that have been passed down to us from ancient times As these last stalks are gathered up with care Straw woven with skilled hands to once forgotten rhymes A neck dolly crafted by young Cerys the fair 'Could this be Cybele, mother of gods ?' Her grandmother raises her eyes and nods. Neck dollies, drop dollies, Brigit's and kirn child Some dressed in gay ribbons, others in white Thin bodies, full bodies, some pagan and wild Carried home on the last of the wagons tonight Tokens to hang on each farmhouse wall To be raised in the spring, a spirit to call. Under late summer sun sheaves are ripened and dried The wagons are loaded until Baba remains Rigs of reapers make circles whilst she is untied Each takes a step forward and ears are claimed There's a bow to the centre from all around Each reaper touching an ear to the ground. When all have departed two strangers enter the field Oat man and oat woman with a dance to perform Beneath long purple cloaks their dolls are concealed A grim reaper beheaded, a spirit to enter the corn The rite of an old Phrygian sacrifice Crying the neck to bring next year's life. © David Hopcroft July 2001 Brigid's Cross Corn Dolly Below are three methods for making Brigid's Crosses. Hopefully, one will work best for you. Materials: Rushes are the traditional material for the St. Briget's Cross. All materials should be blessed before construction. If you use rushes be sure to keep them wet but not too wet as they will mold and rot. To avoid the mess ordinary plastic drinking straws left in their white wrappers are just fine. Use rubber bands to tie up the ends. Usually 9 straws and 4 rubber bands will suffice, however, any number may be used. Size does not matter. Generally crosses are made from pieces of rush that are about 8-12 inches long. Some jewelers, however, make them in the size of earrings. Method 1: How to make a Traditional St. Briget's Cross (In Gaelic: Cros Bhrighite) 1. Find 9 8-12 inch rushes, swizzle sticks or drinking straws and 4 small to medium sized rubber bands. 2. Hold one of the rushes/straws vertically. 3. Fold a second straw in half horizontally over and at a right angle over the center of to the first straw with the second straw projecting to the right. Snug the inside of the bend right up to the first straw at its center. 4. Grasp the center overlap tightly between thumb and fore-finger. 5. Turn the two straws held together 90 degrees counter clockwise (left) (the two ends of the second straw will be projecting upwards.) 6. Fold the third straw in half over both parts of the second straw horizontally from left to right and snug the inside of the fold up against the center and the second straw. Hold tight. 7. Holding the center tightly! Rotate all straws (the entire assembly) 90 degrees counter clockwise. (left) 8. This time the bottom half of the first straw will be projecting upward. Fold a new straw in half over and across all straws projecting upward. 9. Snug the straw tightly against the center and against the vertical straws. 10. Holding the center tightly rotate all straws (the entire assembly) 90 degrees Counter clockwise. 11. Fold a new straw in half over all vertical straws from left to right and snug up to center and to the right. 12. Repeat the process of rotating all straws (the entire assembly) 90 degrees to the left and folding the new straw over until all straws have been used. Remember: Hold tight to the center. 13. When the last straw has been used snug all straws to center being careful to hold tight to the last straw folded. 14. Secure the last arm of the cross with a rubber band or if using rushes platted straw or string. Then secure each other arm. 15. You may paint the drinking straws but be careful as wet paint will dissolve the thin paper covering. Place rushes on a flat surface to dry. You may wish to seal the rushes when dry with a paint of your choice. Method 2: This method produces a cross in a form which is much like the 'Eye of God' design and as such it brings to mind the antiquity of the Celtic Traditions of Ireland. Materials: Two sticks and either rushes or wire or paper twist. Heavy gauge electrical wire (I use green!) makes for a great re-usable cross which can be re-constructed for each session. 1. Secure two sticks together at right angles. (use string or tape). 2. Pull rush or wire from center attachment under the X in the top image over the top across the center to the left. 3. Then under the bottom left spoke then over the upper left spoke then curve back under it and continue in a clockwise direction (to the right). Ideally there should be a few inches of stick remaining exposed on each spoke. It should resemble a cross more than an eye of god. Method 3: This method produces a cross much like that of Method 1. For some reason this method seems to be more archaic than method 1. 1. Tie nine straws together at their ends. 2. Spread them as shown with the tied end facing down (three to the right and two each other direction). 3. Fold the front straw of the three under the other two. 4. Bring it up and over to be alongside the two at the nest corner.
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