An ocean witch vessel is a magical tool that is used by witches who work with the energies of the ocean and its elements. It is believed to hold the power and essence of the ocean, connecting the witch to the vast depths and mysteries of the sea. The ocean witch vessel can take many different forms, depending on the preferences and practices of the witch. It can be a bottle, a jar, a bowl, or any other container that can hold items that represent the ocean and its energy. The vessel is often filled with items such as seashells, sea salt, seaweed, sand, and water collected from the ocean. These items are chosen for their symbolic meanings and connection to the sea.
Traditional pagan songs
This was a hard list.
Thanks to an explosion in pagan folk groups at home and abroad, and mainstream rock bands dabbling in folk sounding tracks, I could have easily done a top 20 or top 50.
I've limited myself to one track per artist, and disqualified Jethro Tull, Nightwish and the Waterboys for being technically rock not folk-rock, and have had to miss out Telling the Bees, Skyclad, Druidicca, The Dolmen, Mad Magdalen, The Moon and the Nightspirit, Jim Faupel, Wendy Rule, Cernunnos Rising, Seize the Day and Paul Gill (who's Whisper on the Breeze is the best song to come out of the 1990s road protest movement) and many more. Sorry guys.
But what I'm left with are six songs I really love. Curiously only half are by artists that describe themselves as Pagan, which just shows how the zeitgeist works.
You just can't stop a folky being pagan.
You can debate exactly how pagan the Arthurian legends are, but this song about a magical hunting horn, written by John Renbourne, contains the sort of allusions that make the Arthurian tales so enchanting. It is also a fantastic song by one of the great pioneering folk acts at the height of their powers.
Bert Jansch, I hope you're strumming this now in the Otherworld.
For some people Eroll Flynn is the only true Robin Hood, but I suspect for people of my age it's Michael Praed.
Well made, well acted and dark and pagan enough to enrage Mary Whitehouse, it was essential viewing for any teenager who played Dungeons and Dragons. This song, dedicated to Herne the Hunter, sums up the whole thing.
And Clannad's music was sublime. A band from Donegal steeped in Ireland's Trad. scene, at some point they stopped being folk, but it's not entirely clear when, so I'll count them as folk act.
Along the way they lost some of their creative spark and departing member Enya eventually eclipsed them with her own solo career, but they remained a terrific live act up until their eventual semi-retirement.
Saruman the White, alias Count Dooku, alias Christopher Lee thinks The Wicker Man had the best use of music of any film he knew. Not the best music, he qualifies himself, but the best use of it.
Certainly Paul Giovanni sets the tone of Summerisle perfectly. The best song is Gently Johnny, but as it's basically just about shagging its the Maypole song gets the nod for being slightly more pagan.
Really this soundtrack is what started the whole Pagan-folk thing in the first place, and if they'd gone with different music we may now all be Goths instead.
'cos they're Dutch I've never had any close connection with Omnia, who seem to be a bunch of heavy metal headbangers who've forgotten to plug their instruments in.
They certainly take the Pagan thing seriously - perhaps someone should tell them it's only a laugh really?
The only problem with putting them in this list is choosing a favourite track.
Just to show that the Old World doesn't have the monopoly on music for the Old Religion, at number two we have from the land of AC/DC, Spiral Dance.
They've been around for a while and, amongst other songs they have my favourite version of Burning Times - a historically inaccurate but quite catchy tune.
This is the best though, a rare foray into Greek myths.
Well there could only be one winner couldn't there?
What can we say about our greatest living Pagan songsmith?
Well not a lot, but as I'm fairly sure it was him who woke me up one morning years ago at a PF mid-west bash by playing a medley of Fairport Convention songs when I was trying to sleep off a hangover, I suppose I should say I forgive him.
The only problem though, is what song to pick. Sons and Daughters of Robin Hood is the best pagan protest song of this century whilst Pagan Ways pretty much sums up why Romantics like me take up Wicca. Then there's Taliesin's Song, or Green and Grey or numerous others.
But whilst any of those would make a good runner up, there can only be one winner - the Pagan National Anthem, Spirit of Albion.
Beltane / May Eve
Beltane is on April 30th. In this time of abundant growth, we dance around the maypole and crown the May Queen and May King. The Crow Women love Beltane! Our first Beltane composition, Song of Beltane, expresses that joy. Beltane Spirits Come to Us depicts scenes at a Beltane festival. We have two songs about the balefire, a sacred fire pagans leap over on Beltane. Those are I Am Flame and Nine Sacred Woods. Our handfasting songs, Join Together and Chalice to Blade were written for handfastings that happened on Beltane, but could be used for a handfasting at any time of the year.
Check out our Beltane playlist on Spotify
Beltane blog posts:
These items are chosen for their symbolic meanings and connection to the sea. The ocean witch vessel is not just a physical object, but a representation of the witch's connection to the ocean and its energies. It is charged with the witch's intention and energy, making it a powerful tool for spells, rituals, and meditation.
Celebrating Beltane with Pagan Music
April 27, 2023For thousands of years, people have been celebrating life’s cycles by honoring the coming of spring and the start of summer with the Pagan holiday of Beltane. But what does this have to do with music? Well, it turns out that pagan music has been an integral part of Beltane.
The vessel can be used to channel the energy of the ocean, to connect with water deities and spirits, and to enhance the witch's intuitive abilities and psychic powers. Working with an ocean witch vessel requires a deep respect and understanding of the ocean and its elements. The witch must be aware of the power and unpredictability of the sea, and act responsibly when working with its energies. It is important to approach the ocean witch vessel with reverence and a sense of awe, acknowledging the vastness and ancientness of the sea. In conclusion, the ocean witch vessel is a magical tool used by witches who work with the energies of the ocean. It represents the witch's connection to the sea and its elements, and is filled with symbolic items that enhance the witch's intuitive and psychic abilities. This vessel is a powerful tool for working with ocean energies and connecting with water deities and spirits..
Reviews for "The Ocean Witch Vessel: A Portal to Another Era"
1. John - 2/5 stars - The Ocean Witch Vessel was a total disappointment for me. The plot seemed promising, but it quickly became convoluted and confusing. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect or care about them. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and underdeveloped climaxes. Overall, it felt like a poorly executed attempt at a fantasy novel.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I couldn't finish the Ocean Witch Vessel. The writing style was incredibly pretentious and filled with unnecessary metaphors and flowery language. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to sound profound, but it just came off as forced and irritating. The dialogue was unrealistic and the characters were insufferable. I found myself rolling my eyes at almost every page, unable to engage with the story or care about what happened to the shallow and unrelatable characters.
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - The Ocean Witch Vessel had potential, but it fell flat for me. The world-building was confusing and inconsistent, with rules and explanations being introduced haphazardly. The pacing was uneven, dragging in some parts and rushing through others. The romantic subplot felt forced and cliché, adding nothing to the story. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed with this book.