(^48) A Wiccan Bible
The Second Order of Life—Animals
With Earth and Sky set spinning around the Sun, so did the second Great Rite of
Earth and Sky take place. In that union was conceived all the animals that we have ever
known. Thus, the two lines became that of Plants and Animals, the difference being the
knowledge of the first mystery, that we are separated for the sake of union.
And so it came that the order brought forth by the union of Earth and Sky, the
animals, were driven to both union and division in the way that Earth and Sky were
driven to union. Being driven towards union and division, the line of Earth and Sky did
unite, and oh, how they divided. Within no time at all, it became clear that the line of
Earth and Sky (animals) would greatly dominate the line of Summer and Winter (plants).
The First Generation of Humanity—The Third Order of Life
Between 169,000 to 148,000 B.C.E.—About 7000 generations ago
With so many wondrous lives found in both the first and second order of life who
would never know the full message of Sun and Moon, Earth and Sky realized that
although they indeed loved their children and their children’s children, they needed
assistance. So Earth and Sky created the third order of life—Humanity—as caretakers
of all animals brought forth by the union of Sky and Earth and the plants of Winter and
Summer.
Because these caretakers understood the value of the first order of life, it was de-
cided that they would come from the first order of life, knowing those things that the
body of a plant can know. Looking at the many children of Summer and Winter, they
saw three that stood above the others, not looking down upon them but over them.
These three were Ash, Elm, and Citron.
Taking the tallest of these children of Summer and Winter whose name was Ash,
Sky formed it into his image, the first man, in the image of all animals male. As he did,
so did Earth take the slightly shorter Elm and fashion it into her image, the first woman,
in the image of all animals female. This creation of those who have already been born
was not in the visual image, but in the image that is soul. For unto Humanity was given
the soul that is distinctly male and unto woman the soul that is distinctly female, some-
thing found in the second order of life but not the first.
The Forbidden Fruit and the First Ascension of Humanity
This is the first ascension of humanity. To the first man and woman, Sky and Earth
made a present the fruit of that third tree, telling them as they offered it that this was
the Forbidden Fruit—forbidden because it is for humanity alone, but only should they
take it of their own will. For, in the eating of this fruit, they would become more than
plant or animal.
Upon eating that fruit, both man and woman did fall to the ground with much pain,
for fruit of the citron brought with it both blessing and curse: empathy. This is the pain
h WB Chap 01.p65 48 7/11/2003, 5:48 PM
barré
(Barré)
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