Photo by Chad Harder,
Missoula Independent
About Raven & Estha
Raven and Estha, both Montana natives, came together in 2003, finding unique common interests in NeoPaganism, Wicca, Witchcraft, Occultism, and Eastern spiritual philosophies. Drawing on Estha’s training in British Traditional Wicca (and studies in Hinduism) and Raven’s training in Georgian Traditional Wicca (and studies in Buddhism), the two merged to create both a “shadow magick” tradition (or ’system’) of disciplined-eclectic Witchcraft and occult study, which was born on June 6th, 2003. Raven and Estha offer a variety of services to the public, including regular open rituals to honor seasonal shifts, both externally and internally.
Visit Estha McNevin’s MySpace page here!
Opus Aima Obscuræ
OAO Objectives:
Opus Aima Obscuræ
OAO Objectives:
1) The Revival of Tribal Consciousness
i. Awaken history
ii. Explore all cultures
iii. Become modern shamans
2) Achieve a Balance of Ritual & Prayer in our daily lives.
i. Make all acts of love and pleasure ritualistic devotions to the gods, Spiritual Will, and The Great Work (including daily prayer and spiritual alignment)
ii. Study all deities and further devote the Self to the gods with each Mark (”degree”) of purification (these Marks pertain only to the inner training system of OAO; not the celebratory public group), simultaneously discovering patron and matron deities, spirits, and individual pantheons
iii. Invoke and channel Deity
3) Live our Individual Will
i. Focus on and commit to giving back by developing social consciousness through community service, fundraising for progressive nonprofit groups, and volunteering our time to preserve and maintain both public and wild lands
ii. Organize public events to promote Pagan and occult awareness to inspire progression in others, the greater group, and oneself
iii. Manifest both individual and group Will (spiritual destiny) with proactive magick, meditation, and mindful action
***NOTE: The following information pertains to the inner-circle/initiatory aspect of OAO. The Outer Court/outer circle gatherings, which are hosted by initiates, are open community events for everyone!! A link to a current ritual schedule can be found at the following WitchVox location:
www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_ev.html?a=usmt&id=50847
These include lunar Esbats, solar Sabbats, and particular genderized (tribal-structure) Mens’ and Womens’ ritual events based on seasonal alignments.***
Opus Aima Obscuræ (a combination of Latin & Hebrew, meaning “Work of the Great Dark Mother”) is a “disciplined-eclectic” or “Eastern Hellenistic” system of shadow magick founded by Estha McNevin and Raven Digitalis. The OAO structure or spiritual system was primarily channeled and aligned by Estha McNevin. It was formally born on June 6th, 2003 and has been growing and evolving ever since as a ‘living tradition.’ OAO borrows from a multitude of sources (particularly Witchcraft, Thelema, Hermeticism, Esoteric Qabalah, and global shamanism) but retains the idea that disciplined devotion, self-sacrifice, intense study, and self-reflection serve as extreme mechanisms for Actual Spiritual Development. OAO is a tradition focused on both Inner and Outer Work. It can be considered a Binah path, and attuned to Saturn. OAO works to benefit oneself and the community, and its ‘outer court’/public circle group has held benefit projects for nonprofit groups such as Ars Terra, Greenpeace, and various civil rights organizations.
Aligning to one’s spiritual potential can be an agonizing and often sorrowful process. For æons, mystics have recognized the mental depths of objective self-searching, and the immeasurable power of humility. As humans surviving in a paradigm of constant information intake, we naturally construct barriers, walls, personas, and masks for self-preservation. Stepping into spiritual alignment, in whatever path it takes, necessarily includes an examination of these devices in order to redevelop, trust, and get to know the True Self, shrouded to some extent beneath self-constructed walls. We all know that Nothing Is As It Seems, but must extend this piece of knowledge to our own Beingness… Who are we and what are we doing Here?! No one can answer but ourSelves, and the OAO tradition is concerned with each person finding this answer for themSelves, no matter how difficult it can be. All we have is Now. Opus Aima Obscuræ’s goal is, above all things, Awareness, and the cultivation of self-responsibility. Additionally, Love and Compassion are keys to our consciousness, and serve to be the greatest guides.
Discovering answers to life’s Great Mysteries is a lifelong process. We all exist to assist one another in our development as spiritual beings. More than a tradition in the traditional sense of the word, Opus Aima Obscuræ serves as a support system and initiatory structure for those who the path resonates with. OAO is not a cult, nor is it a fundamentalist or rigid ascetic system. Its practices and requirements may seem foreign to those who have not had exposure to multicultural spiritualism. In no way does OAO claim to be better or more advanced than other training modules, as OAO recognizes that the tradition may work as a compliment to other dedicatory systems, covens, or orders. OAO also recognizes that everyone—most certainly including the founding Priest and Priestess—have “flaws,” wounds, and spiritual hindrances that require devoted attention to heal, and that everyone on this planet is a spiritual being in the process of awakening to the Truth of Reality.
***TRAINING*** (NOTE: this does not concern the public ceremony/Outer Circle group; only those seeking direct training from OAO.)
OAO asks that Neophytes and initiates learn to prioritize spiritual progression above physical attachments and desires. A necessary step in this process is opening the Self to the universal vibration of Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. We encourage students to excel by exploring the True Self. This entails Crossing the Abyss: examining the mind, pushing the limits of “regular” modes of operation within Reality, and doing away with the heavy burden of shame/guilt/fear/etc. at the cost of comfort.
For those seeking training/deeper involvement:
* Year 1: Aspirant Year: Attend all rituals for a year and a day in order to familiarize yourself with OAO’s structure. You will be required to clean up after ritual (as the “Walla”) and be a ‘bridge-builder’ between the Inner and Outer community. As with all levels, Tarot and counseling from the Inner Circle is available at any time at no cost. This year is centered on getting to know the community and learning the operations of OAO as a ceremonial and social group.
* Year 2: Community Service Year. One is required to attend all rituals, vending, and public events now that they are part of the Inner Coven. One is required to give 3 weekly hours of Community Service to any nonprofit organization (not including OAO) . One is required to act as “Chaiwalla,” grabbing tea, answering the door, and highly interacting with people at events (keeping spiritual focus on conversation, etc.). Weekly Coven meeting attendance is required every Monday evenings.
* Year 3 & 4 are the Neophytic years, into which one gains Initiation: (The first Neophytic year studies world history, while the second explores magickal operation and occultism) One is required to attend weekly OAO meetings and Neophytic lessons, to assist the Inner Coven as needed (”Walla/Chaiwalla” work continues, without required Community Service).
* Years following are the “Year and a Day” Marks or Initiatory levels. The year-and-day commitment pattern is drawn specifically from British Traditional (Gardnerian) Wicca and is used in conjunction with occult training principles which incorporate Astrology and Tarot. OAO is a series of year-and-a-day “marks” rather than “degrees, ” which are aligned to a number of ancient metaphysical patterns; these are revealed to the initiate who completes both his or her Neophytic years and the First Mark (entering the second) , which is meant to align one as a Priest or Priestess upon entering the Second Mark. One obtains “High” Priesthood or “High” Priestesshood upon completion of the 10th mark, for a variety of synchronistic and spiritually-aligned reasons. Each Mark is aimed at mastering a certain facet of one’s Reality. For example, during the Neophytic year, Neophytes draw a sacred, personally-attuned symbol on the tops of their hands and feet (each morning) and are expected to uphold a high number of various prayer, ritualistic, and research-oriented tasks.
The first Mark centers on a tonsure: Female initiates are to shave ear-to-ear, doing away with the bangs, while Male initiates are to shave a 4-inch diameter on the crown of the head. All individuals must shave the head upon waking each day as an act of devotional Alignment, and must draw a certain sacred symbol on the area for all to see, and draw it as well on the feet. This dedication, along with other sacrifices in the system and its accompanying weekly training, have direct spiritual significance that allow a person to adjust their focus in Reality and expand their perceptions and further uncover their True Will. Further marks explore sexual magick, fasting, channeling, consciousness alteration, and much more.
In-person training is mandatory; we cannot assess or guide a person as accurately as possible over the phone or via written correspondence. Aspirants must be at least 21 years of age. Neophytes (and above) are expected to cover costs of materials personally used through the year (s) , for which we charge a $150 flat yearly fee. For those interested in aligning to this system, more information is available by contacting Estha or Raven. Please also note that we are not accepting sexual offenders into our system at this time because we haven’t the healthcare network in the community to accommodate those needs; however, wrongly-accused offenders are welcome to appeal with a proof of consent submitted by their alleged victim(s). Additionally, sexual relations between those in the neophytic/initiate roles and those in the teacher/guide roles are not permitted.
Do contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss personal specifics; we are happy to answer any questions, and we thank you for reading about Opus Aima Obscuræ! We hope to see you at public events!
***NOTE: The following line, which we feel summarizes an aspect of our approach, is taken from Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone’s Coven statement. For those seeking online training (which is, again, not 101), we would like to refer you to Janet & Gavin’s Progressive Magic 7-month online course (which is different from their Coven and Coven Statement, from which this quote originates) … “We do not actively seek members. Becoming a member of the coven is a lengthy process and not for those who are not willing to dedicate themselves completely to divinity and the process of learning - we turn away more than we take on - and it may take several years before being accepted as a member. Coven standards are high and we do not take beginners, only those with at least a basic understanding of what witchcraft and paganism is.”
There Is No Part Of You That Is Not Of The Gods;
Attain Perfection Through Diligence;
Every Man And Every Woman Is A Star, *
~OakRaven & Estha McNevin~
Neophytic Year (0˚=0):
:::Required to own & read fully:::
The Witches’ Bible ~ Janet & Stewart Farrar
The Thoth Tarot Deck ~ Aleister Crowley & Lady Frieda Harris
The Complete Dictionary of Symbols ~ Jack Tresidder
The New Encyclopedia of the Occult ~ John Michael Greer
Emotional Alchemy ~ Tara Bennett-Goleman
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs ~ Scott Cunningham
Love is in the Earth ~ Melody
Opus Aima Obscuræ training material ~ Estha McNevin
:::Required selections (Fac-Pac):::
Classical Mythology ~ Stephen Harris and Gloria Platzner
A Witch’s Guide to Life ~ Kala Trobe
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft ~ Christopher Penczak
The Circle Within ~ Dianne Sylvan
(each Mark has 6-8 required books, plus a hefty Fac-Pac, and various required activities, assignments, prayers, meeting days, required activities, devotions, etc.)
*Quotes: First line from the Gnostic Mass; second a quote by the Buddha; third a quote by Aiwass (via Aleister Crowley)
DEFINITIONS:
AIMA ELOHIM (AMA ALHIM) ~ OAO utilizes AIMA ELOHIM as the matrix and creatrix of the tradition, and a central figure of our dark moon divination practices. AIMA ELOHIM is a Semitic deity of Mesopotamian origin, and a principle figure associated with the Matriarchal lineage upheld within Judaism. In Hebrew, the term AIMA means ‘Mother.’ This was adopted within Græco-Roman and Coptic cultures as well, and applies archetypally to Mother Nature. ELOHIM, a Hebrew name of God, combined with AIMA, deifies this maternal principle as the Mother of all Gods. Within occult/esoteric branches of Qabalah, AIMA is the name of the Supernal Mother who rules BINAH. The history of AIMA is obscured as a result of the tribal Diaspora of the Mesopotamian Fertile Crescent during the 6th century BCE. As Jewish tribes pushed North and South, various deities were adopted and syncretized into the Semitic tradition. AMA of the North—a Phonecian virginal deity of war and raw aggression—became closely linked with the Jewish tribal peoples’ fight-for-survival in a changing political landscape of Imperial powers. The Sumerian and Persian AIMA, associated with Astarte and Ishtar (as well as Aphrodite and Venus) was adopted as a more benevolent and nurturing feminine aspect. Over time, these merged into the greater theme of BINAH within Jewish Orthodoxy and the Rabbinical school. On the Qabalistic (Kabbalistic/Cabalistic) Tree of Life, the sphere BINAH is ruled by the planet SATURN and the element WATER, and represents not only the womb of life, but the throne from which all governance and political power are executed. (BINAH’s balancing opposite is CHOKMAH, of whom ABBA (not the band), NEPTUNE, and FIRE oversee.) She is the ultimate understanding of the blood connection of all living beings to one another. AIMA, in gematria, equates to 52 and is often said to represent the “bright and fertile” aspect of the Holy Mother. AMA, on the other hand, equates to 42 and represents the “severe and sterile” aspect of the Holy Mother. The name AIMA is chosen within this training (and community) structure to represent light and fertility, whereas AMA would carry destructive or desolate connotations. However, Obscuræ is used as a representation of Divine Paradox: not only is the word Latin rather than Hebrew, but places a shadow upon the “light” of AIMA. Our Opus is to manifest personal empowerment within the duality of these forces. In all ways, OAO is a system of both shadow and light, understanding the importance of all Paradox. Within our tradition, we would say that our Will is driven by AIMA, and our initiations reflect the empowerment of AMA. As we strive to receive the purification and understanding of BINAH in our daily lives, we also work a path of consciousness, education, and manifestation for others as an enactment of our vows to the Universe.
EASTERN HELLENISTIC NEOPAGANISM ~ OAO, as a training system and community group, strives to follow an Eastern Hellenistic Neopagan approach to our magickal and spiritual pursuits. This approach attempts to use the unifying philosophies and principles of the Hellenistic Greeks to unite various Western, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Asiatic traditions to the seasonal Wheel of the Year and modern Pagan structures of worship. Combining Græco-Roman planetary deities with the gods of the zodiac and other Egyptian and Asian deities, this approach views all gods as valid and worthy of proper veneration. The term Hellenism refers to the ideology present in the Hellenistic Period of world history in the fourth to first century BCE. The process of Hellenization was marked by the conquests of Alexander the Great, an aristocratic Greek general and political strategist who conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, and even extending to the Punjab regions of India. As a result of the cultural sensitivities taught to him by his tutor and mentor Aristotle, Alexander approached the lands and cultures of the people he conquered in a whole new way, adopting foreign gods and ritual practices in an effort to aid him in global conquest. The principles of the Hellenistic period reflect this open cultural expansion and shared symbolism under unifying archetypal principals. As the Greeks attempted to spread their gods and culture throughout the world, they absorbed many foreign principles into their own practice under these themes of cultural and religious syncretism. For example, it is during the Hellenistic period that we begin to see the fusion of multiple deities such as Hermes (Greek), Mercury (Roman), and Thoth (Egyptian) as ubiquitous archetypes recognized in different cultures. Eastern Hellenism, in our view, does away with a strictly-Western approach to the Hellenistic ideology. Instead, it carries forth the idea of Hellenism to apply to Eastern pantheons and schools of thought including branches of Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism. The spiritual philosophies of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, India, and the Mesopotamian Fertile Crescent are integrated and validated, and a particular importance on archetypes is emphasized. This East-meets-West ideology necessarily considers and upholds many ideas of proper worship, prayer, and veneration to any given deity being worked with. At the same time, we don’t consider Eastern Hellenism to be a type of Reconstructionism, seeing as no particular pantheon (including Greek) is upheld above another. Instead of following a singular or non-inclusive path, the Eastern Hellenistic approach blends the brilliancy and beauty of the world’s cultures to fit the 21st century: the unique moment we find ourselves in.
Post-ritual; a mud cleansing/ritual/pathworking! See, we’re not all dark! ;D
(L to R: Me, Estha, Datura)
