Words of Aradia: Concerning the Grigori

These words are taken from Italian Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi:

Before the people walked upon the world, there dwelt those beings which we call the Grigori. Some have called them spirits or gods. Some have spoken of them as powers and forces.

The old legends tell us that the Grigori were once physical beings, but that they are no longer. It is said that they dwell among the stars.

They are the Watchers of the Worlds, and the entrance and exits to the Worlds. Once is was said that the stars were the campfires of their armies, ever watching over us.

The Grigori have set their towers at the four quarters of the world and stand vigil over the portals which lay between the worlds.

Once they were called the powers of the air, and so did they come to be linked to the winds. Then were they known by the Latin names of Boreas, Eurus, Notus and Zephyrus. Yet these are but their titles. Know now their ancient names of Tago, Bellaria, Settrano, Meana.

The Old Ones come to our rituals to witness our rites, for we have a covenant with them. So do they watch over our works and help us. Our covenant with them was established at the end of the Second Age, and from this time do we mark the years of our ways.

The Grigori observe our rites, protect us, and escort us to the Moon Worlds when we pass from the Physical World.

The Grigori, The Watchers

I was doing some websurfing today and ran across this very interesting rumination on another blog. The author has some interesting insights into the Grigori based on his readings in Journey of Souls, by Michael Newton. His insights are in keeping with my own personal experiences with the Grigori.

Binding, a definition by Raven Grimassi

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaVecchia/message/7850

Rodney D'Armand wrote:
>>The Words of Aradia speak of us having a covenant with the Grigori.
Nevertheless, I still feel funny about considering other entities, and
especially of the stature of the Grigori, being bound to do anything for
me.<<

In the sense of binding an entity, from a metaphysical perspective we
are essentially talking about oaths and fellowship obligations. On a
mundane level, we bind people all the time. We bind them to expected
behaviors of frienship, lover, co-worker, countrymen, law enforcement
officer, politician, and so forth. In any society, we ourselves are
bound as well. It is an agreement of consciousness.

>>Commitments are one thing, but binding ... seems contrary to what I
understand of love. Marriage partners aren't even to be considered
bound.<<

Committed relationships are actually a binding in the oath/agreement
sense, for any healthy relationship exists and continues by agreement
and adherence to what is acceptable and what is not. Even an "open
marriage" in which the two indivuduals see other people, is an
agreement.

>>I would love to replace "conjure" with "call," but I'm not sure this sort of
change is permitted if one is to remain within the tradition.<<

Tradition has its roots, and in the case of "conjure" the roots are in
fellowship. A tree is nourished by its roots, and the roots keep the
tree in place. Here the "winds" and "storms" of adversity keep the tree
from being ripped away and destroyed. This is why the Old Religion
survived the violent persecution inflicted by Christianity. I do not
advise cutting away any of the roots.

Ciao - Raven