by Cyril Korolev
In Russian folklore an Igosha is a household sprite, a handless and legless monster. Legends say that an Igosha is the spirit of a new-born baby who died without being christened. Igoshas lives here and there and are very fond of cruel pranks. To appease one, people should acknowledge his presence loudly, give him a spoon and a loaf of bread at the table – or a hat and mittens for the winter.
There are a great number of holy wells elsewhere and a local map will often mark the sites. On seeing a well it may at once be apparent if it is either disturbed, polluted or interfered with. Often they are lost in a field but then there can be the problem of cattle or sheep or chemicals from farming which seep into the water table. It is important to find one that still has pure water and that will probably mean going to high ground. Common sensitivity will make a good choice.
Chris Olmstead
As for Altar set ups…
1. I once read Crowley’s remarks on how he contrived his stuff while he was out wandering the world or climbing mountains. He found ways to just use the simple things from his kit…cook knife became Athame, tin cup became the Cup…etc.This sort of ‘kitchen witch’ working is accepted by lots of folks. You can set an altar up and take it down as fast as you can set a table.
2. I also have noted the “Porto-Pagan” set-ups at some of the Pagan Fests I’ve attended. Carry the stuff in a cardboard box that can be up-ended for an altar, or even placed on it’s side for a rain-proof ‘shrine’.
The ancient Germanic/Norse year was divided into two seasons: Summer and Winter. Summer began at the festival of Eostre, close to the Spring Equinox, and Winter began at the festival of Winternights, close to the Autumn Equinox. Between these two festivals was the festival of Midsummer ( Lithasblot ) at the Summer Solstice, and the festival of Jul ( Yule ), at the Winter Solstice. There are other minor festivals that are celebrated in between these four major ones, listed below in the table.
by Brian Edward Rise
Lancelot (Launcelot) — named du Lac (“of the Lake”). Undoubtedly the most famous of the Knights of the Round Table. While outwardly a model of chivalry, he is an internally torn and ultimately flawed being. He does not appear in any Welsh material nor in Geoffrey of Monmouth and no convincing model is evident. He may have derived from Irish or Breton myth. He is first introduced by Chrétien de Troyes and substantially enlarged by the Vulgate cycle. Malory furthers his prominence.
by Brian Edward Rise
The original name of Lancelot’s castle. The knight winds up here after being placed under an evil enchantment.
Inside, Lancelot finds his name inscribed upon a tomb and realizes that is to be his home and resting place. He renames the castle Joyous Gard after settling his household but it reverts to it’s old name after Lancelot breaks with Arthur and brings about the doom of the Round Table.
by Brian Edward Rise
Lancelot’s cousin. Though hindered by unchaste acts in his past, he is one of the more successful Grail-knights and travels to Sarras with Perceval and Galahad where the Quest of the Sangreal is achieved. Bors is welcomed to Camelot after his return to Britain where he reports of Galahad’s attainment of the Supreme Vision and subsequent death. He is made king of Claudas’s lands He warns Lancelot in vain about Agravain and Mordred’s plot to catch him alone with Guinevere and he eventually sides with Lancelot in the scandal that splits the Round Table. He fights Mordred with the king and, according to Malory, after Arthur’s death Bors takes religious orders and joins his cousin at a Glastonbury hermitage. However, Bors eventually dies in the Holy Land in the Crusade to Jerusalem.
Witch's Well 