MEANING: The phrase “blessed be” is found in many modern magical paths including Pagan, tradtional Wicca (Gardnerian and Alexandrian) and NeoWicca with roots tracing back to Thelema, ceremonial magic and hermetic mysticism. It’s a traditional greeting, and to say “Blessed be” to someone indicates that you wish good and positive things upon them. In it’s usage today, the greeting or farewell confers a blessing upon the hearer and also the person speaking. It is an acknowledgement of their connection, offering familiarity and belonging, they are glad you are here and blessed to be connected. Blessed Be is part of a longer ritual which is included in some Gardnerian initiation ceremonies and the “Drawing Down the Moon” ritual. The High Priestess or High Priest delivers what it known as the Five Fold Kiss, and recites, Blessed be thy feet, which have brought thee in these ways, Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar, Blessed be thy womb/phallus, without which we would not be, Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty/strength, Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names of the gods.
The phrase also appears in the King James Bible in the verse, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
THE CARVING:
Our carvings are single pieces of western red cedar, designed and carved to be wall hangings. Each carving begins as a 1 X 12 inch cedar board. While we use power tools (Scroll Saw, Rotary shaft Tool, handheld detail sanders etc.), we use no laser’s, CNC machines or computer operated cutting machines. All work is done with our hands and eyes…
We cut the 2 dimensional blanks with scroll and jig saws (double-sized custom orders have to be cut with jigsaw). Carving is done with rotary shaft tools and disc grinders. The 80 grit sanding is the final phase of the carving process, removing the nicks and gouges from the carving tools, and finishes the shaping of the weave. The next 2 sandings with 120 then 220 grit finishes the smoothing and polishing. They are finished with Clear Danish Oil to seal the piece, bringing out the grain and the color.
SIZE: One picture has the piece on a quilting board, lined up on the 1 inch marks. The quilting board, at its simplest, is a one inch grid. So with the piece on the board, you look at the top and follow the line to the left and look at the right side at the widest point and follow the line to the bottom and you have height by width...but wait! It's not that easy! The way this board I have is laid out, if I lined it up on the zero points it would cover up the numbers and on some pieces you wouldn't be able to see them...so, I line it up on the 1 inch marks which means when you get the numbers, you have to subtract 1 inch... TA DA! Measurements may vary slightly from piece to piece.
