Zelda_of_Arel asked this question on 5/4/2000:

Merry Meet!

I'd like to ask 3 things.

1.) I've been going through a lot or Wicca sites and I noticed something. The Elements attributed to South and West are sometimes mixed up. South - Fire West - Water or South - Water West - Fire Are these different ways? Then why? Or maybe they're just mistakes?

2.) What's purification and how's it done?

3.) What do the degrees mean?

Thanks, I'll rate all answers.

Merry Part! Zelda

Choalayna gave this response on 5/4/2000:

1) South-Fire, West-Water is the basic understanding. The vice-versa is usually found in the Kaballah systems or the Egyptian. However, magick being highly personalized, it may just be what they have found works best for them. 2) Purification, or "cleansing" involves all types of things: herbs, bathing, incense, stones, etc., etc. to achieve a clearing away of negative or bad influences, vibrations, and/or energies from self, area, tools, stones, etc. Used in healings, before a ritual, as a bath prior to ritual, new tools, new stones, after a ritual, new home, all kinds of ways. The tradition of "Smudging" includes this. 3) Degrees are various stages of learning and advancement within a coven. Initiate, Intermediate and High Priest/Priestress. Some covens may have their own other degrees but that is the basics.

hope this helped!

Choalayna EnchanteD EncounterS http://www.enchantedencounters.com Ye Olde Magick Shoppe http://www.enchantedencounters.com/shoppe.htm

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