Unicorn Tradition Views?

[Kern]

Not sure if there are any Followers of the Unicorn Trad here or not. I am not a member but some of their views seem to make since to me.
I was just wondering if anyone else on here have similar beliefs, whether or not you belong to this Tradition or not and if not, what do you think about these views? Thanks!

The Title to each section has a link to their website page concerning that topic.

The Zodiacal Dating of the Sabbats (http://unicorntrad.org/info/sabbats.html)


We celebrate the Solstices, Equinoxes, and cross-quarter Sabbat days when the Sun reaches certain degrees within its astrological circuit. For the Solstices and Equinoxes this date rarely varies more than 24 hours either side of the calendar date. For the cross-quarters this often creates a week or more difference between the calendar date and the astrological date. According to our teachings, the Sabbat dates are as follows:

Samhain – Sun at 15° Scorpio
Yule (Winter Solstice) – Sun at 0° Capricorn
Imbolc – Sun at 15° Aquarius
Ostara (Vernal Equinox) – Sun at 0° Aries
Beltane – Sun at 15° Taurus
Litha (Summer Solstice) – Sun at 0° Cancer
Lughnasad – Sun at 15° Leo
Mabon (Autumn Equinox) – Sun at 0° Libra

The Elements and the Cardinal Directions (http://unicorntrad.org/info/elements.html)


In our Tradition we are taught that Earth belongs to the East, Fire to the South, Water to the West, and Air to the North. This places Spirit in the Center at the axis of the other four Elements. This is different than the majority of both Wiccan and Ceremonial Magick Traditions. There are several reasons behind this particular symbology.


Secondly, when starting in the East and going deosil (clockwise) around the circle, you alternate polarities (feminine, masculine, feminine, masculine) thereby creating a smoother and better flow of energy.


The Primary Tools and Their Correspondences (http://unicorntrad.org/info/tools.html)


Each of the five elements (Air, Fire, Earth, Water, and Spirit) has a primary tool associated with it. These elemental tools convey qualities of the element and are used to focus the energy of that element in circle and in other workings. One of the tenets held by the Unicorn Tradition is that a tool cannot be consumed by its own element. Therefore, in contrast to some traditions, wands represent the element of Air and swords the element of Fire. A wand, as part of the living tree, participates in the process of creating oxygen from carbon dioxide, and is therefore a fit representative of the element of Air. Swords and knives are forged and created in Fire, and therefore represent the process of the will and its tempering.

[aluokaloo]

umm i've never even heard of it.

[Kern]

umm i've never even heard of it.
They seem to be a large group, I believe they are members of the Covenant of the Goddess and are also associated with other groups.

[aluokaloo]

ah.

[Ivy Artemisia]

I'm not a member of their tradition, but I respect their views and -thanks to the explanations they provided- I understand the thought behind their elemental associations. Makes sense to me. My tradition differs from theirs, but I don't have any sort of knee-jerk WTH feelings like I have had in regards to other traditions' elemental associations.

Personally, I ascribe to the Earth-North, Air-East, Water-West, Fire-South school of thought. It not only suits my physical location, but I also like the thought of tapping into the thoughtform created by others practicing the same way.

[Kern]

I'm not a member of their tradition, but I respect their views and -thanks to the explanations they provided- I understand the thought behind their elemental associations. Makes sense to me. My tradition differs from theirs, but I don't have any sort of knee-jerk WTH feelings like I have had in regards to other traditions' elemental associations.

Personally, I ascribe to the Earth-North, Air-East, Water-West, Fire-South school of thought. It not only suits my physical location, but I also like the thought of tapping into the thoughtform created by others practicing the same way.

Same here Ivy, not a member as I mentioned, but their explainations do make alot of since.
Well from my location, Water could be South(the Gulf of Mexico) and Air North(cold air from the artic during winter),I suppose the east could be fire(the sun) and west land..but I dont have an issue with any of particular practice and like you mentioned the thoughtform created when others practice the same way, means alot.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Ben Gruagach]

The only Wiccan denomination I've heard of that used unicorn symbolism in their material is the Lothlorien tradition (yes, its name is drawn from Lord of the Rings) as described by Paul Beyerl in his book
"A Wiccan Bardo."

However, Beyerl uses the standard element-direction associations rather than the different ones listed.

Edited to add: at least I think it was Beyerl's Lothlorien tradition... I haven't read his book in years.

[brymble]

It was.

[Simply Puzzled]

The only Wiccan denomination I've heard of that used unicorn symbolism in their material is the Lothlorien tradition.

If you are referring to the people I think you are (they come from my neck of the woods), they don't claim Wiccan lineage since they have none.

[Astara Seague]

I must admit I havent heard of it other then the Lord of the rings thingy
but it does sound like an intresting traditon

[Ben Gruagach]

If you are referring to the people I think you are (they come from my neck of the woods), they don't claim Wiccan lineage since they have none.

I think it's a different group. Paul Beyerl started in Minneapolis, MN and Wisconsin, and then moved to Washington state.

Edited to add: his tradition is one of the legally-recognized ones, known as the Rowan Tree Church. There's more info about him and his work at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beyerl

[Ben Gruagach]

Paul Beyerl's Rowan Tree Church also has a website (of course!) It's at http://www.therowantreechurch.org

Their newsletter/magazine "The Unicorn" is apparently the oldest continuously published Pagan magazine in North America.

[Simply Puzzled]

I think it's a different group. Paul Beyerl started in Minneapolis, MN and Wisconsin, and then moved to Washington state.

Edited to add: his tradition is one of the legally-recognized ones, known as the Rowan Tree Church. There's more info about him and his work at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beyerl

Gotcha

[Kern]

Yeah Paul Beyerl's tradition is different than The Unicorn Trad. .UT was founded by Galadriel and Athanor in the early 80's I believe.

[trueseeker]

Oberon Zell Ravenheart says he has unicorns,and on wikipedia there is a page about that,but says something about a surgery..What is the truth?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon_Zell-Ravenheart

[Darth Brooks]

Oberon Zell Ravenheart says he has unicorns,and on wikipedia there is a page about that,but says something about a surgery..What is the truth?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon_Zell-Ravenheart

The truth is Oberon Zell-Ravenheart figured out a way to surgically remove the parts of skin on a goat's head where the horns grow, and he replaces only one on the foreheads of the little creatures, so they will look like unicorns. There's an interview with him here:

http://www.sideshowworld.com/interview-OZ.html

Personally, Zell-Ravenheart's Frankenstein experiments on goats have always left me in disgust. He even has the process patented.

[green aventurine]

Personally, Zell-Ravenheart's Frankenstein experiments on goats have always left me in disgust.

Yeah. Having looked at that link I would agree with that personally.

[~Belladonna~]

Never heard of them before. Thanks for sharing :) Though not something of real interest to me it's nice to know what different traditions are out there.

[David19]

Oberon Zell Ravenheart says he has unicorns,and on wikipedia there is a page about that,but says something about a surgery..What is the truth?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon_Zell-Ravenheart


The truth is Oberon Zell-Ravenheart figured out a way to surgically remove the parts of skin on a goat's head where the horns grow, and he replaces only one on the foreheads of the little creatures, so they will look like unicorns. There's an interview with him here:

http://www.sideshowworld.com/interview-OZ.html

Personally, Zell-Ravenheart's Frankenstein experiments on goats have always left me in disgust. He even has the process patented.


Yeah. Having looked at that link I would agree with that personally.

Very true, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart hasn't got a unicorn, he's got a goat with one horn stuck on its head, I remember seeing pictures of him and the "unicorn" in 'Drawing Down the Moon', and, I remember thinking "what a freak" (and that was even before I heard of him, or even knew much about Paganism).


Never heard of them before. Thanks for sharing :) Though not something of real interest to me it's nice to know what different traditions are out there.

Very true, learning about other traditions is always good, IMO.

[green aventurine]

Very true, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart hasn't got a unicorn, he's got a goat with one horn stuck on its head, I remember seeing pictures of him .... I remember thinking "what a freak" (and that was even before I heard of him)...

This is the first time I've ever heard of him and I pretty much had both these thoughts seeing him next to the "unicorn", if I'm honest.

I did think this was a cool thread though and I found it interesting looking at people's thoughts about justifying different ways of forming circles with the elements. I seem to remember someone like Leo Rutherford (with core shamanism) has the circle as: Earth -- West, Air -- North, Fire -- East, Water -- South, and that he mentions fire in relation to the rising sun.

[Louisvillian]

The Unicorn Trad.
Really? :toofless:


was founded by Galadriel and Athanor in the early 80's I believe.
The founders call themselves that? Seriously?
:giggle:

EDIT: Yeah, Timothy Zell's just a weirdo. There's no getting around it now. :hahugh:

[David19]

This is the first time I've ever heard of him and I pretty much had both these thoughts seeing him next to the "unicorn", if I'm honest.

I did think this was a cool thread though and I found it interesting looking at people's thoughts about justifying different ways of forming circles with the elements. I seem to remember someone like Leo Rutherford (with core shamanism) has the circle as: Earth -- West, Air -- North, Fire -- East, Water -- South, and that he mentions fire in relation to the rising sun.

I'm sure there are some cool things to it too, and it's good to get a good view of other traditions, to see how they do things, etc. It may even help you come up with ideas of your own. I'd say Oberon is quite wierd, but, there's some ideas of his I like (like the ones concerned with modern Mythologies).

[Dumunzi]

As far as I know there is no such large tradition.

[Kern]

As far as I know there is no such large tradition.

Which one?
http://www.unicorntrad.org/groves/

http://www.cog.org/