Book of Witchery by Ellen Dugan

more than he appears.
    Is that a jacket or is it, in fact, a cloak? Is it merely decorative, or is it well worn and battle stained? Are those boots or sandals on his feet? What is that tucked under his arm—a fur-covered, horned helmet or a bronze battle helm? Now that you think about it, you are having a hard time focusing on his overall appearance. Every time you think you make out what he has on, it subtly shifts. Blinking your eyes, you see that now he is wearing a tartan and has flowing, long hair and a blue-painted body like a Pict warrior of old. Then that image shifts as well, kaleidoscoping from one image to the next. Look at him carefully, and let him show you what he wishes you to see.
    What is your idea of the perfect warrior? Does he appear as a samurai, graceful, disciplined and silent, or does he seem to embody a Native American warrior, one who is resourceful, instinctual, and in tune with the land? Is this deity appearing to you in modern battle gear, the fatigues of a twenty-first-century soldier in a flak jacket and camouflage, or is it an old-style Norse leather tunic with a fur vest and pants? Is he appearing to you as a Spartan soldier with a plumed bronze helmet, or do you see more of a medieval knight in well-used chain mail and metal armor? What do you envision? What does this god have to teach you?
    His hair appears light, then dark; short and martial, then long and untamed. He is both clean shaven and bearded, and his features and coloring shift constantly from ebony to bronze complexions, to golden and then to pale skin tones. His eyes are round and blue, then almond shaped and black, next a warm brown, then a striking hazel. Those eyes change to stormcloud gray and then a brilliant green. He appears elegant, tall, and lean one moment, and the next he is rough, stocky, and brawny. He is all of these images of a male warrior in his prime, and dozens more. Your mind races to keep up with the various types of soldiers in different cultures and times that he presents to you. Feeling a little overwhelmed, you shake your head to clear it. Then you take a deep breath, lift your chin, and in a challenge, you meet his gaze square-on.
    â€œWho are you?” you ask.
    Wow. He does not seem to care for that question; he sputters and swears in an exotic language and stalks around the road. He levels you with a furious look and begins waving his arms in a fine temper at your audacity for having asked for his name. Well, good grief. Leave it to you to go on a meditation and to confront a god with an attitude. You let him wind down and wait him out. You stand silently and put a respectful expression on your face and consider him for a moment. Hmmm . . . it really should come as no surprise that a god of battles would be hot tempered, after all.
    Suddenly, he stops and takes a deep breath. He appears to be struggling to hold back his impatience and his temper, and he turns quickly and marches up, into your face. “I am many, I am one.” He thumps a fist on his chest and announces, “I am the spirit of battle and the soul of the warrior. I have countless names.” He glowers down at you for a moment, and then you nod your head in acknowledgement, and he appears to settle down a bit.
    He regards you intensely for a moment longer, and then he smiles slightly. “Take this,” he demands, and then he hands you a weapon. Look carefully at this gift. It may be a sword, a spear, an axe, or another type of weapon. Respectfully, you take the weapon and close your hand firmly around it. It vibrates in your hand, and you feel the energy run up your arm, across your chest, and rush down to your toes. He explains to you that this astral weapon is for you and you alone. He informs you that if you have need, he will answer your call and gift you with courage and strength. All you have to do is to visualize the psychic weapon you now hold in your hands, and then his courage, cunning, valor, and strength