kinvention north

The Invocation of the Seven-Pointed Star

Introduction:

When I was asked to do the closing ritual at Kinvention North 2004, I put a great deal of thought into the undertaking.  As most people know, I have my own Kheprian system, and while I have ties to the ‘kin, I am foremost involved with the vampyre subculture.  Kheprian rituals have their own unique energy, and vampyre rituals are almost completely inappropriate in context with the Otherkin.

What I needed to do was design a ritual that was completely Otherkin in energy – and this would mean running ritual in a fashion that isn’t exactly normal for me.  I’ve run both Wiccan and Pagan rituals very successfully, and so I knew this wasn’t beyond me as a ritualist.  In general, writing a ritual in any tradition just requires the ritualist to tap into the unique energy that is the heart of that tradition.  Each system has its own symbols, its own language, and its own archetypes.  So to successfully design and run the KinNorth ritual, I had to essentially travel to the source of these in the mythic imagination and allow what I found there to flow through me.

To tap into this essence, I started with the symbol of the Otherkin: the Seven-Pointed Star.  As I understand it, this symbol is recognized by the majority of the Otherkin, and it serves as an expression of Otherkin diversity.  Because Otherkin by nature draw from a wide variety of races, traditions, and points of origin, the Star is one of the few common elements shared by all the Otherkin.  As the archetypal common ground, the Star provided a point of entry into the vibration or “flow” of the ‘kin.

Prior to designing the ritual, I did some meditation with the Seven-Pointed Star.  These were basically pathworkings where I approached the symbol of the Star as an archetype, and allowed it to speak to me.  It soon became clear that there were several voices within the Star – one for each of its points.  These were essentially Avatars of elements and races unique to the ‘kin.

To design this ritual, I let the Star Avatars speak to me.  All Seven appeared in succession revealing their forms and sigils for invoking.  They each told me their Names and the symbols of office they wished to be represented by.  They told me what elements, colors, and concepts they are associated with (although several were associated with common elements, they were never as simple as one element and one concept – the avatars are multifaceted beings, each as diverse as the ‘kin they embody).

Some came forward and spoke right away.  These had bold voices that were hard to mistake. A few were less direct with me, even hesitant in their contact.  The last one to come forward was the hardest to understand, for s/he was most unlike my own nature and anything I had a context for.  But it was contact with this one (called Illana) that convinced me beyond a doubt that I was dealing with essences both unique and outside of me, as s/he was totally alien to anything I previously had known.

The Avatars each have many shapes and many Names, and during our conversations, they frequently shifted from one face to another while still retaining their overall “feel.”  I’ve come to associate such flux with the ‘kin, so it really didn’t come as a surprise when it was a fundamental part of the Avatars.  The complexity and diversity of the Avatars was also in keeping with what I understand such avatars to be – which is essentially an embodiment of a higher emanation, a fragment of divinity that is more complete and closer to the Source than you or me.

As I had originally planned to only invoke the Avatars like Watchtowers at the Quarters, I asked the directions they were associated with — and in a few cases, the answer came as a surprise.  The traditional Pagan directions are abandoned in favor of what the Avatars themselves declared.  The least traditional of any of them, of course, was Illana, who seems to embody the most “other” element of all of them.

The Avatars had their own idea of how the ritual should proceed, and they didn’t hesitate in telling me so.  As I had already agreed to serve as a channel in this and not impose my own expectations or traditions upon it, I let them speak freely.  The resulting rite gives a great deal of time to the Avatars of the Star, and I have been assured that they will fill in the blanks when the time comes.  During our interactions, they had made a number of other statements, which mysterious at first, later proved to be true – so I’ve definitely learned to trust them.

The whole experience has been fascinating for me, as I don’t usually go talking to so-called “higher powers.”  For my own rituals, I draw everything from my Self, and Kheprian rituals also draw only upon the Selves of those involved.  But this is not a Kheprian rite I am running, and the ‘kin do not function by Kheprian rules.  My role in this is purely as an intermediary and mouthpiece.  I’m fairly certain that the things I tapped into were already there, and I’ve done my best to be a clear channel for them, allowing the information to come through with as little distortion as possible.

What I see before me is a very powerful rite — one that I think will be profoundly inspiring for those who participate in it.  As we are dealing with Avatars and giving them each a chance to speak, the real outcome and message of the ritual is an unknown and can only be experienced.  I’ve built the framework, but the Avatars themselves will tell us what needs to be known.  They’ve been very interesting to work with, and I look forward to future interactions with their energy.

Finally, because I know there will be a widespread interest in it, I am making this ritual available to the general community.  Others who wish to experiment with contacting these Avatars are encouraged to do so.  I am very curious about how they might manifest to other people and how harnessing their energy might serve to help and empower the community of Otherkin.

[Site admin note: While not explicitly explained here there were seven other ritual participants of the appropriate kin types for the avatars. They embodied the avatars for the ritual, and spoke when it was their turn]

 

The Gathering:

First, I want you all to join hands and gather energy.  Each of you draw from the essence of what you are, where you come from, all of the elements and forces that feed your soul.

Now, as a group, cycle, refine, and combine these.  Weave these varying energies into something that is greater than the sum of its parts.  As you refine it, focus it here, in the center of our circle.

What we are building now is a Between-space, a place of crossing-over.  You can envision it as a temple, or simply a glowing, sacred sphere.  It is in this Space that I will invoke the Seven-Pointed Star.

As we work with the Star of the Otherkin, I shall serve as intermediary.

I am Seth, Setem-Ansi, Sem-Asa.  These are my Names.  I am a Walker-Between, and in this rite, I shall be both Priest and Shaman, serving as the intermediary between you and the Avatars that we Call.

In this space we will have communion with beings greater than ourselves.  I will not call them gods, for I do not recognize gods as most people understand them. We are all emanations of Divinity, and therefore all beings are gods in their own right.

And yet there is a hierarchy of emanation, and some beings are closer to the Source than others.  Avatars such as these I shall call among us today.  Now:

 

The Calls:

To the West, I Call thee, Fenecai, Lord of Fire: dragon and phoenix, who burns and renews.

To the East, I Call thee, Neride Eyooli, Lady of Waters: healer and seer who flows with the tides.

To the North, I Call thee: Sephiriel Storm-Singer: quick-witted angel whose sword is the Word.

To the South, I Call thee: Gwidorian of the Wilding: Earthshaker, therian and animal lord.

Above, I Call thee: Elerian, of the Shining Host: guardian of magick, beauty, and song.

Below, I Call thee: Hss’tah Feliss: soft-footed huntress and priestess of night.

And Within, I Call thee: Illana of the Dreaming: shaper of worlds and Awakener of souls.

 

West and East,

North and South,

Above, Below, Within.

I Call you here before me:

 

Stand with us now

as our Guardians and our Guides.

 

The Time of Changes:

Now my friends: The world is changing and we stand at the crux of it. We have longed for an Awakening, and now it rises around us like a tide.  But as the veils slip away, our true nature is revealed.  There is a crossroads here, and we must soon make a choice.

We can stay in the shadows and hope to hide, or we can raise our voices and show the world our souls.

By revealing ourselves, we take a great risk, but understanding and acceptance also lie along that route.

We can choose the path of caution and remain hidden among humanity.  But even in hiding, our safety is not guaranteed.

This is our quandary: caution or risk?  And if we risk revelation, do we have the strength and wisdom to succeed?

 

Guardians of the Races; Watchtowers, Avatars all!

We call on your power and wisdom to guide us in this time of change.

 

Invocations:

Fenecai:

Lord of the Sweeping Flame; Mighty-Winged One:

Ye who stand on the right hand of Destruction,

Tearing apart worlds so creation begins.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Fenecai speaks)

 

Neride Eyooli:

She of the Flowing Veils; Mutable One:

Lady whose deep wells and healing waters

Reveal Future, Truth, and Consequence.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Neride speaks)

 

Sephiriel Storm-Singer:

Angel of Action; He of the Swift Wings:

Keen-witted Judge and Guardian,

Who sunders illusion, captivity, and deceit.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Sephiriel speaks)

 

Gwidorian:

Lord of the Wild Places; Primal One:

Ye who call us back to our beginnings,

Hearkening to instinct and the lusty flow of life.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Gwidorian speaks)

 

Elerian:

The Beautiful; Fair Scion of Light:

Ye whose music delights and inspires,

Gifting the worlds with magick and joy.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Elerian speaks)

 

Hss’tah Feliss:

Walker of Shadows; Lady of the Silent Strike:

Keeper of all things hidden,

Whose mysteries may empower or destroy.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Hss’tah speaks)

 

And Illana:

The Many-Souled; They Who Exist Within and Between:

Whose glamour is both madness and revelation,

Throwing wide the gates of consciousness and worlds.

We seek your guidance: what can you give us that will help us succeed?

 

(Illana speaks)

 

The Avatars have spoken.  Let us take their counsel and their gifts.  Let us each carry these things within, so we may draw upon them when next in need of wisdom, strength, and guidance.  Armed with these things, let us walk boldly forward toward the future we have conceived.

 

Dismissal:

Avatars! Watchtowers! Guardians of the Star!

We thank you for your guidance,

And for joining us in this space.

Depart now freely and in peace.

 

Fenecai and Neride:

Peace, and depart.

 

Sephiriel and Gwidorian:

Peace, and depart.

 

Elerian, Hss’tah Feliss:

Peace, and depart.

 

All you who are Illana:

Peace, and depart.

 

This ritual now is ended.

Peace, and depart.

 

 

Avatars of the Seven-Pointed Star:

 

Fenecai (FEHN-nuh-kye)

Title: Lord of Fire.

Gender: dark/destructive masculine.

Element: Fire.

Direction: West.

Color(s): Red, orange, black.

Symbol: Rod of Kingship or pole-arm.

Metal: Brass

Planet: Mars

Races: the fierce dragons of the heights, phoenixes, stonewings, and sons of the forge.

Essence: destruction and renewal; cataclysmic change.

Appearance: Big, broad-shouldered Draconian warrior with outspread wings.  Wears armor and carries a halberd-type weapon.  Shifts occasionally to a phoenix of flame.  Sometimes in his draconian form, his wings and talons trail fire.  Moves ponderously but then lashes out in sudden, powerful strikes.  An alternate form is the Forge Lord, a fierce dwarven warrior with flame-red hair and beard.

 

Elerian (ay-LAY-ree-ahn)

Title: Lord of the Shining Host.

Gender: feminine androgyne.

Element: Light.

Direction: Above.

Color(s): White, yellow, silver.

Symbol: Musical instrument

Metal: Platinum or gold.

Planet: Sun

Races: elves and all fey.

Essence: (positive) magick, beauty, creativity and song.

Description: Lithe and fine-boned elf with pale skin and long, reddish-blond hair.  Wears a long, flowing robe that is an almost luminous white shot through with gold and silver thread.  Wears a collar or torque of gold.  Carries a lyre, lute, or flute.  Dreamy, flowing movements — exceptionally graceful.

 

Hss’tah Feliss (huss-TAH feh-LEESS)

Title: Huntress-Priestess.

Gender: dark/destructive feminine.

Element: Darkness.

Direction: Below.

Color(s): Gray, black, indigo.

Symbol: Small curved blade.

Metal: silver.

Planet: Moon

Races: felines, and all who are children of darkness and shadow

Essence: (dark) magick, night, shadows, mystery — that which is hidden or obscured from view.

Description: A petite, wiry felinoid whose short, soft fur is the color of deep shadow rippled with true black.  Wears bracers of soft leather inscribed with designs.  Minimal clothing, also of leather — deep brown or black.  Carries at least one small, curve-bladed knife.  Sometimes appears covered head to foot in a soft black cloak. Moves gracefully, but in an almost threatening way — like she is constantly stalking something and just about ready to pounce.  Has a dark sexual allure and this is visible in the way she moves as well.

 

Gwidorian (gweh-DOHR-ree-ahn)

Title: Lord of the Wilding.

Gender: positive/generative masculine.

Element: Earth.

Direction: South.

Color(s): Brown, green, earthtones.

Symbol: Living Staff (wooden staff entwined with green vines/leaves).

Metal: Iron.

Planet: Earth.

Races: Therians, animal-kin, hybrids: centaurs, satyrs, etc.; all children of the woodlands, wilds, and earth.

Essence: vitality, sex, nature, all primal things.

Description: Variously a centaur, a stag-man, and a man-wolf.  Ithyphallic (ie, he’s hung and he’s happy).  Has a distinct Dionysian aspect, and I keep seeing him with a wreath of grapevines (complete with dangling bunches of grapes) in his hair.  If he’s wearing clothing, he wears a long, flowing cloak the reddish-brown color of both dried blood and rich earth.  Beneath that, he wears a tunic of deep green (usually with his privates exposed).

 

Sephiriel (seh-FEER-ree-el)

Title: Storm-Singer.

Gender: masculine androgyne.

Element: wind (air).

Direction: North.

Color(s): Light blue, gray, silver.

Symbol: writing quill or sword.

Metal: Quicksilver.

Planet: Jupiter (he says Mercury is not a planet)

Races: Celestials, angels, Nephilim, children of air and winged ones.

Essence: thought, Will, judgment, the Word.

Description: Tall, thin, and sharp-faced with shoulder-length pale (gray?) hair.  Wears either a loose-fitting tunic of grayish-white material or the tunic with a breastplate of some non-lustrous gray metal that is neither silver nor steel. Also wears bracers, greaves, and a thin circlet of the same strange metal (which is at once amazingly light and virtually unbreakable – titanium, maybe?).  A little haughty and detached.  Economical but swift movements.

 

Neride Eyooli (neh-REED ee-YOOL-ee)

Title: Lady of Waters.

Gender: positive/generative feminine.

Element: water.

Direction: East.

Color(s): blue, green, purple.

Symbol: scrying bowl or sphere.

Metal: Copper.

Planet: Venus.

Races: the wise dragons of the depths, nagas, undines, naiads, asrai, and all children of the tides.

Essence: healing, emotion, vision, flow.

Description: Long flowing hair with beads and shells tied to the strands.  Kohled eyes.  Wears nets or veils of many colors.  Lots of jewelry.  Moves fluidly, sensuously.  She is also a dancer.

 

Illana (ehl-LAHN-nah)

Title: We of the Dreaming.

Gender: plural.

Element: dream/magick/glamour.

Direction: Within.

Color(s): all and none.

Symbol: sphere of crystal or a mirror.

Metal: glass/crystal.

Planet: The multiplicity of worlds.

Races: all, the many-souled.

Essence: glamoury, magick, Awakening.

Description:  Veiled in iridescent, translucent colorless material that looks like it’s been spun from rainbows and spiderwebs.  Almost completely covered head to toe.  All you can clearly see are her hands.  Everything else keeps shifting — and even this form is a compromise, for otherwise they keep cycling through a multiplicity of forms and faces almost too rapidly to see.  The most uncanny and “other” of all the Avatars.

Posted by Michelle Belanger in General, 0 comments

Dragons and Faeries and Elves, Oh My!

Dragons and Faeries and Elves, Oh My!

The fascinating world of the Otherkin

 

When I was first introduced to the Otherkin community a few years ago, I admit that I was skeptical.  I myself hold some extraordinary beliefs, so I try to be accepting of the diverse beliefs of others.  However, there are some traditions which push the limits even for me.  At the time, the notion of Otherkin seemed a little too far-fetched to accept without an entire salt lick, never mind a single grain.

Otherkin, as I was informed, are individuals who believe that they are somehow “other” than human.  While they walk around in human bodies, that is not the nature of their souls. Some Otherkin believe in a genealogical difference that separates them from ordinary people while the vast majority take a reincarnational stance that hinges upon the different lives – and bodies – they have held in the past.

Otherkin are not to be confused with extraterrestrials.  There are certain portions of the New Age movement which accept that “greys” and “Nordic type” aliens have visited Earth in the past and continue to visit in the present.  Within this ufological worldview, many people accept that these aliens have either helped to genetically engineer humanity or have interbred with humans outright.  These beliefs are typically explained within a scientific, or a pseudo-scientific paradigm.

Otherkin, on the other hand, approach the explanation of their nature from a distinctly magickal perspective.  Rather than identifying with aliens and extraterrestrials, Otherkin identify themselves with creatures of magick and myth.  As inherently magickal beings, the vast majority of Otherkin are also Pagan, as this religion, with its acceptance of magick, best accommodates their worldview.

Races and Diversity

The word “Otherkin” is really a blanket term which encompasses a vastly diverse collection of individuals.  To even call the Otherkin a community sometimes seems a bit of a stretch, because frequently those who identify themselves as Otherkin have very little in common with one another beyond their inherent otherness.  Among the various types of ‘kin I have met and interacted with, there have been elves and faeries, dragons, dryads, cat-kin, wolf-kin, and some ‘kin that have defied definition entirely.

Each different type of ‘kin typically has their own subculture and often their own worldview.  Frequently, there are many sub-groups within a general type, such as the elves, which include Listari and Elenari, to name but a few.  Some Otherkin remember entire histories of their previous races.  Others just feel their difference like a nagging itch on their soul.

Limits of Language

Almost across the board, the ‘kin will acknowledge that the words they use to describe themselves are limited and often misleading.  To say that one is a dragon is really to acknowledge that the qualities attributed to a mythological dragon come closest to embodying how that ‘kin feels inside, while many differences remain. To put it another way, an Otherkin dragon has about as much in common with Tolkien’s Smog as a psi-vamp has with Lestat.

For those trying to understand why someone who obviously has two legs, two arms, and no wings or tail would describe themselves as a dragon, try approaching the concept in terms of an archetype or totem animal.  Many Pagans have a particular god or goddess that they relate to strongly, and part of that relation usually includes having traits in common with those traditionally attributed to the deity.  Totems, likewise, serve to express aspects those who follow them embody also in themselves.  For the Otherkin, the archetype is just more immediate and personal and serves as an integral expression of their soul.

Despite how it may at first sound, an Otherkin dragon does not believe that they are a real, literal dragon in this body now.  However, like a transgendered person, they feel somewhat cheated by their current form.  There is an overwhelming sense that at one time he or she did indeed possess this longed-for form, and that body-memory is so real that it makes them uncomfortable in their current form.

Reality vs. Delusion

If all of this sounds like utter madness, don’t worry.  Even the Otherkin admit that their beliefs are far-fetched.  A lot about this community would have been really hard for me to swallow had it not been for the ‘kins’ own acute awareness of how crazy they can sound, especially to outsiders.  Almost all statements made by the Otherkin are prefaced with disclaimers like “I know this is going to sound strange, but …” or, “I have no way of proving this, but I believe I’m a …”

Most Otherkin also submit their beliefs and experiences to a rigorous amount of personal skepticism.  They are very aware that there is a fine line between a belief in the fantastic and succumbing to fantasy.  Articles on various Otherkin sites, as well as numerous presentations at Otherkin gathers address this issue, and most community leaders offer tips to help inexperienced ‘kin separate reality from delusion.

Like all groups, they have their share of clearly delusional people, wannabees, and hangers-on, but over the years I have met a number of very articulate, intelligent, and credible people who also just happen to be Otherkin.  These have included a youth counselor who was also an elf, an angel who worked on the New York police force, and a dragon who worked as a system administrator.  The angel, appropriately enough, worked valiantly throughout September 11 and its aftermath.

Not Quite Human

Being Otherkin is not easy.  Nor is it really a choice.  While an Otherkin’s nature is often accompanied with a predilection for magick and spirituality, “Otherkin” is neither a religion nor a spiritual path.  It is simply a state of being.

Being Otherkin means never quite feeling comfortable in your own skin and never quite feeling like you belong in the reality around you.  Imagine being born into a foreign world yet remembering all the rules of behavior that you had learned in your previous existence.  Furthermore, imagine knowing at the core of your very soul that you were once something very different from what you are now, but being unable to really prove this to others – or even to yourself.  That is the essence of Otherkin.

The legitimate Otherkin that I have met did not have an easy childhood or young adulthood.  What they were was always there, but they did not always have an adequate explanation for it or even a word they could put to it.  Many strove to repress their sense of something different about themselves and their reality, and quite a few reluctantly accepted their natures only after all other possibilities had been exhausted.

Even once acceptance has been achieved, their lives are not easy, especially because an awareness of magick and energy is a fundamental part of their being.  In today’s distinctly non-spiritual culture, this can make it very difficult to blend, let alone relate with “normal” people.

Many ‘kin seek solace in Paganism, but that hardly means they are any better accepted or even understood. While many Pagans deal with magickal beings in their workings, this is typically in a spiritual context alone.  I know a lot of Pagans who leave offerings in the garden for the faerie-spirits, but how many can accept that a faerie might be born in a human body and is in fact riding the subway in the seat next to them?

Seeing is Believing

I’ll be honest.  When I first started working with this fringe aspect of the Pagan community, I didn’t really believe in Otherkin.  I accepted their beliefs as they were presented to me, and I accepted that these beliefs were sincerely held by the people who explained them.  I was able to rationalize the whole schema to myself in terms of archetypes and totems, and this is how I approached the whole subculture. But even though I reluctantly accepted that these people believed these things, I would never have admitted to another Pagan that I was traveling six hours to attend a weekend of lectures and seminars where most if not all of the speakers believed themselves to be elves, dragons, or fey.

Then I attended the event.  What I felt and saw there, more than anything else, made a believer out of me.

Once you have seen them, and have known what you are looking at, there is no arguing that Otherkin wear their otherness outside as well as within.  While a number of Otherkin sport fashions influenced by various subcultures, from punk to Goth to SCAdian, this “other” feel has nothing to do with their chosen style of clothes.  If you lined the Otherkin up side by side with a group of mundanes, and everyone was wearing Abercrombie & Fitch, you would still be able to spot the ‘kin.

Aside from the ineffable sense of otherness that always clings to them – and I can attest that this goes down to the level of their very energy – most Otherkin have distinctive physical quirks that present the most eloquent argument for their not-quite-human nature.

The elves might not look like Legolas, but in general they are all tall individuals, with thin, long limbs.  They’re frequently blond and have distinctive aquiline features.  Some even have subtle yet noticeable points to their ears.  Cat-kin exude feline sensuality and grace, and faeries are small, fine-boned people, with delicate features that can only be described as fey.  After a short time among the Otherkin at the convention, I could pretty much identify the main types by sight, because their characteristics are that marked, even across the boundaries of gender, ethnicity and race.

Strange Reality

It’s very easy to play it safe like I did and respect the ‘kin’s right to believe while quietly assuring yourself that those beliefs are utter poppycock.  It’s even easy to accept that someone who just so happens to strongly resemble an elf from myth is very likely, once he gets into magick and mysticism, to adopt an elven archetype.  Yet it’s a little unnerving to consider that there really might be more to the ‘kin than all that.  At this point, I personally have to acknowledge that there are things about them that I cannot explain, and there are certainly things I have both seen and experienced which I cannot rationalize away.

If you’re still finding all these notions of humans running around with non-human souls a bit hard to fathom, consider this: if you believe in a soul, you probably believe that the soul is immortal.  However, if you just take a few moments to look around this world, you know that cities and cultures and even races of beings are not.  In time, all physical things fade and die.  Even this world, as long-lived as it may be when viewed from our scope of things, is finite and it will ultimately become a burnt-out cinder, consumed by the sun.

So where do all the souls go when there are no bodies to incarnate within?  What will become of those spirits born into humanity when humanity is a distant dream?

Given that the soul is immortal, that time is infinite, and worlds are not, it only follows that each of us has been many different things.  In a sense, perhaps we are all Otherkin, as we have undoubtedly lived as something else before, however remote this might be in our memory.  The only thing that distinguishes them from us is the immediacy of the recollection.  The foreign past still clings palpably to them, and they recall a form not quite as prosaic as the mortal flesh we all now wear.

There are so many things in this vast Universe that cannot be known, who is to say that somewhere, in some half-remembered reality, beings like dragons didn’t own the skies?  And what a wonder if they walk among us now, remembering an existence many people cannot even conceive.

–Michelle Belanger © 2003

 

Posted by Michelle Belanger in General, 0 comments