Book of Shade
Where where you? let's move on, eh?

Beginnings

Adapted by Magus Thomas Potter, 1999; from the Hebrew with Additions.

When Elohym began the Heavens and the Earth, the Earth had become empty and chaotic. Darkness was slow upon the abyss. Elohym soared above the face of the waters.

Elohym said, “Let there be sound.” So it is. She closed her eyes and listened to the rhythm of Her heart, then began to sing. She could hear, for the sound is good.

So, Elohym said, “There should be light.” So, He opened His eyes, and there was the light. Elohym saw, because the light is good. Elohym distinguished between the light and the darkness and proclaimed the light “day” and the dark “night.” The darkness came and the light returned, day one.

Elohym said, “There should be lights in the Heavens to distinguish between the Heavens of the day and the Heavens of the night; to name signs and appointed times; and for seasons and enlightenment. These should be guides in the Heavens to brighten the Earth.” This is good.

So, Elohym made two of the lights - the greatest luminary to govern the day and the smaller luminary to govern the night: also there are the stars. They have accounted these gods for lights in the Heavens for enlightenment upon the Earth. They are to rule in the days and in the nights, and to discern between the light and the dark. Elohym honored this as good. The darkness came and the light returned, day two.

Elohym said, “There should be — in the Heavens, in the midst of the waters — a partition between this water and that water.” So, Elohym formed the skies — in the midst of the waters above and in the midst of the water bellow — that which uplifts toward the Heavens. So it is. Elohym announced to those in the Heavens, “Sky!” The darkness came and the light returned, day three.

Elohym said, “Let the waters from below the skies be gathered into one place.” So they revealed the dry land, and it is good. Elohym declared the dry land, “Earth,” and they have called the reservoir of water, “Sea.” Elohym esteemed this as good. She said, “Let the earth grow plants of grains out of seeds: and fruit trees for us that produce fruit by means of seed upon the Earth.” This is good. For as a result, grains are planted out of seed to their varieties and fruit trees grow by means of seed to their varieties. Elohym honored this as good. The darkness came and the light returned; day four.

Elohym said, “The waters should be filled with living things. Let birds fly upon the Earth in the face of the Heavenly skies.” Elohym began for these children their growing — every breathing animal: the teeming vermin who swarm in the waters, toward their kind, together with every winged bird, in their kind. Elohym honored this as good.

As Elohym began, She told them who fill the waters in the sea, and the birds, “Be fruitful, increase and multiply in the Earth.” The darkness came and the light returned; day five.

Elohym exclaimed, “Look! The Earth is bringing forth breathing animals with voices of their own: and vermin teeming alive on the Earth of their own.” So it is. So, Elohym made life on the Earth of their own, in their voice, and for all their kind and the vermin teeming are on the soil. Elohym esteemed this as good.

She said, “Humanity is to be made in our image and our form: so they can manage from among the fish, and the birds that sing in the skies, and among the animals through all the Earth, even among the reptiles and teeming vermin upon the Earth.”

So! Elohym began humanity in Her image and likeness: Elohym began them as masculine and feminine. She blessed them, saying to them, “Be successful and multiply, bring order upon the Earth. You may rule among all life, even the vermin upon the earth.”

And Elohym said, “How good is it? This will be a gift to you; this is food, all the grains that sow their seeds upon the face of the earth, and the trees who begin in the seed that is sown; For your life on Earth, the birds in the skies, the teeming vermin upon the earth, among whom are the breath of life, and all the green grains are for nourishment.” Elohym highly regarded all who were produced. And see! This is exceedingly good. The darkness came and the light returned; day six.