There are hundreds of GateKeepers around the world. I personally have heard from many, many people who call themselves "GateKeepers". For years, this was just a solitary tradition. It is a valid tradition however, due to the fact that the idea sprang up in various places around the world somewhat simultaneously, without a "meeting of the minds" to bring it into existance.
If you will study the history of the Goddess of Willendorf, or "Venus", you will find that her myth AND FORM emerged the same way: in various places around the Earth.....and in such a way that those who perceived the goddess as such, had no physical contact with each other.
Because this path was not 'organized' as a tradition several hundred years ago, or even 50 years ago for that matter, it gleams with ecclectic attributes. OGW stumbled onto it in 1993, and we thought that we had a new 'exclusive' idea....and then mysteriously to me, many others have sent me letters stating that they had also been GateKeepers....and merry meet !
The "ecclectic attributes" of this path allow the practioner to develope their own method of ritual application and definative belief system, but all have so far seemed to agree upon the priciples that there are portals in the Earth to other co-existing realms. These portals are like 'Gated Communities" that we humans have created in the physical world : referring to residential developements that have a gated entrance.
The ideas that humans have for gates is interesting to consider.
When a human thinks of a gate, ideas of 'events' come to mind. All of us have stood in line for events such as concerts, festivals, movies, sporting events, ect. The gate for us is an external concept. It is a popular meeting place for travellers that arrive at the events via seperate vehicles of transportation, and alternate routes. It is the starting place for events. The concept is thought of as it relates to beginnings, rather than endings. At an ending, the gate as an exit is viewed without concious thought of qualifications or possible resistance. It is related more to an escape than a gate. It is interesting that the gate opens in FRONT of you, and closes BEHIND you. This shows that it takes more of a concious effort to enter a gate, than to exit.
The GATE itself, as applied to this path is on an etheric and astral level of awareness. Gates are positioned in the physical, Earthbound plane as well.
Making ones' way to the edge of the forest, forward progress is slowed or halted to search for an entry point. This is the entrance to the astral gate, then, the point of entry is selected, and the forest is physically entered. Immediately, there is a change of perspective. With the change comes a feeling, due to the physical surroundings. The changed perspective provides the possibility of a change in perception.
Indulge me for a moment, and I will further illustrate this idea.
The spirit of a human occupies a specific space in the physical world: usually, a human body. The body has mass on the Earth. The spirit is not limited to the physical body, but lives upon the astral as well. The spirit creates other physical masses in the physical world through use of the body, but since the body needs the spirit to make it exist, the spirit cannot be fully in two physical places at one time.....so it can leave a part of it's energy in one place while it goes to another with the body. When many spirits come together on the physical plane in body, they can create a larger physical space with energy attributes from each spirit combined for greater creativity.
Trees and foliage, animals and insects, and a whole host of bacteria, fungus, microbes, ect. are alive as well. This kind of life exists upon the astral level too. The 'whole' life of the forest combines to create space in the etheric astral levels, and just as in the physical realm, the spirit travelling in the body passes through the astral projection created by the forest.
'Places' in the astral realms are not limited to forests. Mountains, valleys, meadows and fields also give a projection into the astral. Basically, any Natural Place does this. Man-made places in Nature project a weaker astral space, and this is due to the changes made within nature. Over a period of time, Nature adds the components necessary to protect various life forms, and the man-made place gains in astral quality.
When life is in a perfect Natural balance within a specific physical area, the Elementals become attracted to it. Elementals are balanced forms of existence. It takes less to balance a basic component than it does to balance a complex one in the physical world. Yet, the reverse becomes true as a component evolves. Look at the beginning of the computer era. It took huge physical space for the most powerful computers, and alot of programming time. Today, this power sits on your desktop. The astral level is easier to perceive today through the internet. As the internet becomes more complex, and begins to balance more efficiently, Elementals are becoming attracted to it. No, the internet is not the astral plane, but it now projects into the astral level with a powerful signal. When organic components are added to this realm, life will be different, and perhaps this will become the new Earth, and eventually, the new heavens. Or maybe, that technology already exists on other planets ? Do you think ?
Back to the subject !
The GATE is the physical condition or location that produces entry to the astral plane. Currently, Elementals reside in the Natural Forests, Mountains, Valleys, Streams, Ect. in what we humans have left as natural places. These are disappering, and those who understand this and are sensitive to it either sit in the corner and cry about it, or live their life in harmony with the Elementals through doing things that help to preserve and protect these places. We stand at the Gate through perception. Our perception causes connection and appreciation of these realms. We recycle when we can, we plant and nurture the land, we choose to keep the land healthy however we can. We seek balance between ourselves and Nature in the physical world, so that we are balanced upon the astral as well.
Outer Gate Wicca somewhat organizes the Path of the GateKeeper, for our own practice. To organize this path for the world is not totally desireable. What we do, hopefully promotes this knowledge. Organization of this path is for knowledge, and never for governing action of its practioners. Anyone who chooses to organize a governing body for this path now or in the future does so against the principles of the path itself. No one person can claim the exclusive 'rights' to the founding of this path, for it has arisen simultaneously around the world in many peoples minds.
We at OGW wish only to promote the idea for knowledge and connection, for a greater signature on the etheric astral levels. Behold, the GATE. Enter with perfect love and perfect trust. To have perfect love and trust, is only attainable through experience, and does not come with one revolution of the Earth around the Sun. The Wheel of the Year is the great spiral antenna that takes us through the GATE and boosts our signal in the astral planes. Attunement of oneself to the cycle of the Earth through ritual experience of her seasons brings balance to life, and understanding through connection, and wisdom through understanding, a greater life through ritual experience. We are a circle, witin a circle.
Being a GateKeeper is just a realization that several of us have had. Some of us have gone to greater lengths to define it. For me, it arose out my displeasure of being called an ECCLECTIC. I see that word as a generic term applied to those who follow no perscribed path. To my mind, it brings ideas of chaos. Many tell me that I should not feel that way, but I do. I am an extremely systematic person, but I do appreciate and need frequent changes, as long as the changes bring progress in the right direction.
I think of myself as just that : a GateKeeper. I strive to protect the natural area where I live, and all the other creatures both physical and etheric, complex and elemental. I see a division between the mundane world that humans have created, and the natural formations that our Mother has provided for ALL LIVING THINGS to sustain existence. There is often an over-lapping of these divisions, but I tend to draw the line to see how both sides are affected by anything that is done to change something natural.
Someone must stand up for those whose voices have been silenced to deaf ears. I call this Stand that I make The Path of the GateKeeper.
Being a GateKeeper is not limited to the liason between physical and astral realms however. Humans also break off into groupings, and often square off between each other. Yes, even pagans do this....as pagans have not been able to escape what sadly seems to have become human nature. I Stand for preservation of the old ways, yet I am ever-learning new ones for expansion and evolving. This process needs stewards. It is a difficult task. We cannot fear change from young and new ideas, but we CAN guide these energies into greater wisdom through experience. That is why I am sooooooo involved in teaching new wiccans/pagans. I learn a great deal through this myself, but my main concern is to insure that good choices based upon the theory of HARM NONE remain in the forum of 'what is to be' within the world pagan community. I can only do what I know to do. Many pagans are unconcerned about newbies, but I see them in my own future, and wish to do all that is within my power to ensure that when I am old, there are still groups, gatherings, and Natural Places that I can go to and commune with the forces of nature and the old gods.
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