Solitary or Tradition: The Right To Be Called Wiccan

Author: Ryan Hatcher

I have read many articles in which the authors state that those who follow traditions are true Wiccans and that solitaries cannot abide under the label ‘Wiccan’. However, Wicca, and most pagan branches had to have been created from somewhere and someone had to have created these branches, be it Gardner, Sanders, Buckland, an ancient Druid or an ancient Native American Shaman.

These ideas must have been created in the minds of these individuals, and with the more modern individuals, the pooling of ideas from other sources would have been a great start, (as with Gardner, pooling the rituals of Dorothy Clutterbuck’s coven, with those relayed by Alistair Crowley, as well as some of Crowley’s Thelema practice and procedures and techniques portrayed in the Greater Key of Solomon).

I’m all for traditions, and I agree that being taught by an experienced individual is far better and more beneficial than being self-taught, but I do strongly feel that solitary eclectic practice is just as valid and creditable as traditional practice.

If a witch is self-taught, they must research and study as much as possible and as thoroughly as possible, checking and double checking things through as many sources as the individual has available.

From then, the Solitary Witch will be able to make an educated evaluation on how to practice, and will then be able to decide which areas of their new spirituality they wish to master, ‘student of many master of none’ need not apply if the student has researched thoroughly, and is then selective of the areas they study and therefore master them.

I fully understand that mixing traditions can damage the authenticity of the traditions that are mixed. However, if individuals are still drawn to these traditions then they will be kept alive and authentic and a mystery by those who are oath bound to them.

It is easy enough to say that in order to be a true Wiccan, you need to join a traditional coven, but not every person has a traditional coven available to him or her. Does this mean that they can never become a true Wiccan and must search for another path, though it would not feel right to them? Of course not! If there is no other option, then the path of the solitary may be the way to go.

As a solitary though, eclecticism my not be necessary. There are some traditional texts available to the public, for example Janet and Stewart Farrar have made the practices of the Alexandrian tradition widely available in their many books (I have A Witches’ Bible open in front of me as I write this), also the Gardnerian Book of Shadows has become available, whether in extracts or in its entirety.

This searching for traditions to become part of has become easier due to the birth of the internet. But, how does one become par of a tradition without being part of a coven? The simple answer is Self-Initiation.

Some may seem shocked or appalled at this idea, but Doreen Valiente herself endorses it, in a sense anyway, in that she published a self-initiation rite in her book Witchcraft for Tomorrow and other tips that can be applied to a solitary practitioner as do The Farrars in their book A Witches’ Bible (p.244) , whom follow the Alexandrian tradition. They themselves have said, “We no longer believe, at this stage of the Craft’s history, that it should be inflexible. Moreover, insistence on it is unrealistic; a large section of today’s Craft (and by no means necessarily an inferior section) either is self-initiated or stems from people who were self-initiated.” This was stated in the mid 80s, and we now are in 2008, nearly 28 years from that point, so why is there still such conflict between solitaries and traditionalists? Therefore, those who seek tradition, yet cannot find a nearby coven, self-initiation into that tradition is an available option.

But what of eclectic witches? Many individuals have a thirst for knowledge, and they may find being restricted to the ritual structure of a specific tradition is stifling and doesn’t allow for growth in knowledge and experience of the wider world of Witchcraft. And so, such a solitary witch seeks out as much information and knowledge on practicing their beliefs and then develops their own structure.

But I have to ask, how is this process any different to the development of the older ‘more valid’ traditions? In essence, the eclectic practitioner, providing they don’t change them, is able to keep the traditional techniques authentic, so long as they acknowledge the tradition that they came from. Sadly however, it is a natural process to adapt the pieces to fit the puzzle so the traditional procedures will become changed.

Who’s to say that in the future there won’t be an eclectic tradition, that is open to people from all magickal backgrounds and traditions that won’t discriminate against other traditions or paths of paganism, a tradition that will truly see every path, solitary, traditional, every path, as equal in the eyes of divinity, with none being superior to others, and with no sense of inferiority of fear of not being a valid, accredited Witch or Wiccan.

Therefore, I put forward that Solitary practitioners, and eclectic practitioners have as much right to be classed as Wiccan if they wish to be, so long as they truly believe in their hearts the ideals of Wicca as a religion.

As the late — and most definitely great — Doreen Valiente, the woman who helped Gerald Gardner give birth to the beautiful religion of Wicca, said in Witchcraft for Tomorrow (p.22): “You have a right to be a pagan if you want to be….So do not let anyone browbeat you out of it” and I agree with the Farrars who say that this presumably includes “pedantically minded pagans”.

Brightest Blessings to all

**) O (**

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Footnotes:
A Witches’ Bible – Janet and Stewart Farrar
Witchcraft for Tomorrow – Doreen Valiente

The Magick and Power of Words

Author: Luna

As I’m currently writing this, it’s Christmas. We’ve passed the Winter Solstice (and the supposed end of the world—guess the Mayans didn’t know everything, no offense to them) and are moving through the parade of winter holidays. And I’ve noted something about these winter holidays—regardless of tradition or religion, these holidays center around two things. These two things are reflection and togetherness. We reflect on the year we’ve experienced, both in terms of happenings within and happenings without, and contemplate how they will affect the year to come. With regards to togetherness, we take this time to come together as family, friends, colleagues and lovers. By so doing, we remind ourselves of how much we cherish their company, no matter our differences, and wish nothing but peace and love for the rest of world.

So, should you care to oblige me, I’m going to combine these two things—to reflect on togetherness, with regards to the current state of the world.

Let’s face it: the world is going through some hard times. The true state of affairs is probably more serious than my words can convey, but this is what I see around me. We’re doing what we can to get through these times, make the future brighter for ourselves as well as future generations. We’re trying, but there are a number of things holding us back. Some of these we may overcome quickly, while others will take more time. But, with regards to the spirit of these holidays, there is one aspect of our problems as the human race that has come to the forefront of my mind. It’s the fact that, for whatever reason, conflict drives us apart around the world.

Let’s take the political situation within the United States of America for example. I live here in the US, so it makes the example much more personal and easier to relate as I’m more aware of it that the political situation of other areas of the world. I want it to be noted that this isn’t because I don’t think other political conflicts in other areas of the world aren’t important. On the contrary, I wish I knew more of what goes on outside the small part of the world where I live. But I feel this will serve as a great example, as most of us will likely be aware of the political happenings of the United States.

Okay, let’s dive in headfirst, shall we?

In the United States, there has always been a political system that has allowed for multiple political parties to exist, voicing their opinions and concerns as well as pressing forward on issues that concern them. It’s one of the things I appreciate about our government, regardless of how I feel about the actions we take as a nation (or as people of a nation) . However, in recent years especially, two parties, the well-known Republican and Democratic parties, have barged to the forefront of the political scene and began a storm of relentless arguing and bickering over various issues. And I include both arguing and bickering in that statement because they’ve both happened. There have been times where they’ve engaged in polite, rational and respectful discussion. And there have been other times where they’ve just gone at each other simply because one side hates the other’s guts. It’s come to the point these days where people on either side (not everyone, but some people) are not willing to hear the other side out simply because it’s the other side and, in their minds, it’s trying to destroy the fabric of our country.

On the one hand, the Democratic party sees the Republicans as stubborn and delusional, trying to hold onto an America that no longer exists and not only failing to comprehend the situations at hand but refusing to compromise where necessary. On the other hand, the Republicans see the Democrats as trying to impose new and foreign values on America, using the wrong methods to fix our economic problems and trying to drive us down the proverbial drain. Now, this obviously isn’t the case for every Democrat or every Republican. I know there are multiple exceptions to these stereotypes. But these trends in both parties have emerged strongly in recent years, particularly during our elections, and these more radical voices have many times drowned out more moderate voices that would be willing to sit down and discuss the issues in a more respectful manner. There is a common theme to each side: not everyone on one side is always willing to hear the other side out on what it has to say.

So what drove me to think about this? Well, it was two things, both of them easily found on TV or the Internet. The first was the 2008 animated film, “Horton Hears a Who, ” based on the well-known Dr. Seuss story. Sour Kangaroo’s refusal to believe Horton drove the population of the Jungle of Nool to madness, and their actions nearly caused the destruction of Whoville. And yet, once the situation became clear and the Whos became heard by those that only saw their speck of a world, Horton didn’t reject Kangaroo. He made amends with the offer of a cookie, possibly knowing that she had better intentions when she first began to move against him.

The second was yet another episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Hey, pony stuff has been popping up all over the Internet—if it’s finally ready to be discussed here on the Witches’ Voice, I’m willing to be the first to talk about it) . In fact, it was the thirteenth episode of season two, named after the ponies’ own winter holiday, “Hearth’s Warming Eve.” Within the episode, the main characters put on a production of their nation’s beginning. Within that production, a disagreement between the three tribes (the pegasi, the unicorns and the Earth ponies) spiraled into all out conflict that drove them further apart. It also caused beings called Windigos to feed off their hatred, driving their world further and further towards a world-ending blizzard (yeah, that kind of stuff shows up in a kid’s show) . And yet three ponies, one from each of the tribes, came together and realized not only their seemingly inevitable fate but also that each bore no hatred towards the other two. As one of them put it, “No matter what happens, we’re all ponies.” And at that moment, a magic flame born of their friendship burned the Windigos to death and began to thaw the world and the rest of the ponies, both in body and in spirit. Their new respect for each other and banding together of all three tribes led to the founding of Equestria… at least, according to the pageant.

So both the movie and the episode got me thinking about our situation. Perhaps it’s time we all (or at least as many of us as are willing) take a moment in our conflicts and say to each other, “Hey, I know we don’t see eye to eye, but I know we both have the best intentions. I want to understand why you take the position you do, and I’m willing to listen to what you have to say. If you want to hear me out, I am more than willing to share with you why I think the way I do. Let’s resolve our conflict peacefully and come to a better understanding.” If you think about it, our world could definitely use more of that. Too often, I see arguments flare up and conflicts spiral out of control because neither side is willing to understand the other, and I think we can all agree that simply taking the time to listen respectfully and with intent to understand will mend many of the fences in our world.

Will it happen overnight? Of course not. Discussion like this will take time, and not everyone will want to participate in this initially. It may take a while for this to really take hold. Will we reach universal peace and harmony between all peoples through this? I have no idea. If we do, it likely won’t be in my lifetime (and I’m 23 years old) . But I know this is the right path for us, and it is due in part to this very community.

Yes, I’m talking about the Witches’ Voice, and the Pagans and others who make this possible. I include both those who share their words every week and those who merely stop by every so often to read what essays are up on the home page. The fact that you are even taking time to read my essay (which I’m grateful for) is a sign that we are willing to take the time to listen to someone else’s words. And I really mean this, especially to the many of you who’ve read my essays this last year and who’ve even contacted me via email to share your thoughts.

When I first came to this site, I was just a college student studying Wicca on her own, not even sure if I’d be able to find others to befriend and learn from, much less considering what impact my essays would have on your lives. And here we are, a year later. I’ve gotten the chance to share my thoughts with so many of you without fear of being laughed at or rejected, and I’ve gotten the chance to hear from many of you. Many of you have given me suggestions, others of you have simply praised my words, and still others of you have extended a friendly hand (metaphorically speaking) and asked me for friendship and guidance. I want you all to know that, even though I haven’t been able to get back to you all, I’m thinking of you constantly and the fact that you’ve taken the time to at least glance at what I have to say. It’s more than I could’ve ever hoped for, and I thank the God and Goddess for this blessing. It’s meant more to me than I’m sure you all know.

But let’s take this willingness to listen and consider another’s words, thoughts and positions beyond the Witches’ Voice to other areas of our lives. Let’s sit down with our friends and families, with our lovers and colleagues, and even with those we might not like. Let’s take the time to hear them out on what they have to say and help them understand our own positions and peaceful, rational and respectful manner. I know we can do it. You want to know how I know this? Because I’ve seen us as a community. The Pagans, Witches, Wiccans and others who make up this community are a testament to the power of understanding, and I only have to see the total read count on one article on this site to know that.

The late Scott Cunningham said, “Mock not the rituals and spells of another, for who can say yours are greater in power or wisdom?” I’d like to add the words of another to this statement, for words are just as important as spells and rituals, regardless of the time of year. Please consider what I’ve said here and how you can apply it to situations in your own life. It will take time, perhaps many lifetimes, but I know that every little step will help. The world isn’t over just yet, and we’re still here. Let’s work towards a brighter future, where, anywhere in the world, one can share their thoughts with the knowledge that what they say will be respected and could even spark a thoughtful discussion.

And to all of you, I wish a holiday season full of the brightest blessings and brighter futures.

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Footnotes:
“Horton Hears a Who, ” 2008, directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, starring Jim Carey and Steve Carrell.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Season 2, Episode 13. “Hearth’s Warming Eve.” First aired December 17, 2011.

The Importance of Daily Magical Practice

Author: Taylor Ellwood

One attitude that I find to be odd in some magical practitioners is the attitude that you don’t need to do a daily practice of magic. It seems that instead you just cast your spell and sigil whenever you really need it and the rest of the time magic is put to the wayside until needed again. This approach has always puzzled me, mainly because it treats magic as a tool, much like a shovel. I’ll grant that you don’t need to use a shovel everyday of your life (unless you work at a job where it’s an essential tool). Also a shovel is used for a specific set of jobs and won’t fit every circumstance in your life.

Perhaps that’s the case with magic as well. Perhaps for some people it really is just a tool and only applies to when they need it. The rest of the time magic goes into the shed, until it’s needed again. But I think such an approach ignores some realities of magic that sometimes are glossed over in favor of obtaining results first and asking questions later. Some of these realities are practical, while others fit into the spiritual aspect of magic, but all of these realities are important and shouldn’t be taken for granted.

The first reality involves the practical application of magic, not just to a situation, but also to life. Magic is a process, not a result. Even the results that are obtained in magic end up feeding into the process of magic. You get a result for situation and that situation is resolved, but what about the impact of that magic on your life, on the relationships you have with other people, events, your environment, or your job?

These factors and many others are impacted every time magic is done, even if that impact isn’t overt. And the result of that impact is that inevitably magic draws you back into the process because some other situation needs to be addressed or explained or mediated or dealt with and magic can provide an answer.

The second reality is a spiritual reality. For many people magic is a form of spirituality, a way of meaningfully connecting with each other and also with forces large and small, seen and unseen. Such an interaction isn’t one that can just be discarded when you don’t need it.

I was recently reminded of this when I did a ritual to help me locate work in Portland. The spirits informed me they’d be happy to help me out, but that they also felt really neglected, because I hadn’t done any of the usual rituals I’d usually do with them. I prayed each day, but there hadn’t been a major ritual done just for them, with nothing being received on my end, other than the satisfaction of having connected with these beings that I identify as meaningful in my life.

I could easily provide excuses, including my current living arrangements, but the truth is that I had to acknowledge that spiritually I felt a bit devoid lately with my magical practice. Actually doing the ritual to get their help to find a job helped a lot in connecting with them, but it was easy to perceive why they felt used, because that ritual was about a purpose and goal, but it wasn’t a celebration of the bond between us. The spiritual component of my magical workings had been ignored and magic, at least for a short while, had been more of a tool and result and less of a process and spirituality for me. I’d taken the connections I had for granted, even with daily prayer. Fortunately for me this could be rectified with rituals and a willingness to recognize the importance of those spirits in my life.

We all stumble from time to time on the path of our individual spiritualities. In stumbling we are forced to look at where we are going and actually cultivate an awareness of what’s important right now, as opposed to what’s far ahead. That cultivation can take many forms, but one of the most notable ways to manage it is to actually hold yourself to a daily practice of magic.

Now I know some people will say, “But I don’t have the discipline to do that” or “You don’t really need to do a daily practice to make magic work.” Sadly, I must disagree with these statements, for these are the kind of statements that most often engender an approach to magic that is primarily results based and only sees magic as a tool to be put aside when it isn’t needed.

I also believe that just as muscles atrophy without use or exercise, so can a person’s ability and talent to work magic fade if s/he doesn’t maintain a consistent practice. Without regular practice you can’t build your relationship with magic or test the limits of what you can do. And while there’s always the possibility that daily practice leads to a plateau, where nothing new seems to happen, varying your routine, or more importantly just sticking it out and doing the work will inevitably attract change in your life (sometimes much more than you want).

On the other hand, if you do incorporate a daily practice into your life it will allow you to flex those magical muscles. In turn this will increase your ability to handle magic and even allow you to build reserves of energy that you can draw on when you really need them. My daily practice mentally and spiritually refreshes me. I always feel more energized after meditation and other exercises I do.

Make no mistake though, daily practice is work. It involves making time each day to do that work, not just when it’s convenient for you. There are days where I don’t want to wake up at five thirty in the morning to do my daily exercises, but I know when I don’t do those exercises I always feel less centered and focused. The result is found in the work, in my choice to renew my spiritual commitment to magic, myself, and the spirits I work with everyday. The result is the process, and so I’m not obsessed with getting to the end of the journey. There is no end, but the journey itself is a multitude of beginnings and endings, which my daily practice connects me to.

To really appreciate the impact of magic in your life, make the time to incorporate it into your life. Walk with magic everyday in your heat and mind and be open to all of its manifestations. But don’t treat it like a tool to be cast aside when the need is no longer apparent. While you might get the results you want now, you may find at a later time that just when you need something to happen it won’t, because you don’t understand what you’re working with. And that brings me to my final point.

A daily practice allows you to experience magic, and through that experience come to understand the dynamics that inform how magic works. When you understand the dynamics, then you know that what you’re working with isn’t a tool. The dynamic involves living magic and your daily practice is just a tiny fraction what it means to live magic. But living magic will bring you experiences that you might otherwise miss out on.

So open yourself to cultivating a daily practice and from there let that show you how to manifest magic into your life.

Why Magic Works: The Key Component

Author: Scott A. Johnson

So here we are, Witches, Wiccans, Pagans, and the like, with one tie that binds us: Magick. Whether you perform rituals aimed at a particular set of Gods or practice as a “Kitchen Witch, ” Magick is one of those parts of the Craft that seems at once to be the most wonderful, and most maligned, aspect of our lifestyle. The most often-asked question, in many forms, is simply “does it work?”

Don’t believe me? Join one of the thousands of online communities and lurk for a while. You’ll find post after post from fluff-bunnies and new practitioners alike that ask for “spells that really work” and whether or not we really believe all this hooey is real. While some generously send along simple recipes for successful spells along and others scoff at the doubters, there are two things that must, in all cases, be addressed.

First, Magick does work. Second, the primary ingredient for it to work is pretty universal.

No, I’m not going to tell you the one Magickal herb that makes everything suddenly have amazing powers. It doesn’t exist.

I’m talking about a single ingredient that can exist in every person, no matter his or her religion, creed, race, sexual preference, or hairstyle: Belief, or faith, if you will.

Let’s look at the person who asks spells that really work. Typically, these people are asking for something that can prove to them that Magick is real. Give this person any spell, and charm, or any ancient wisdom, and chances are it won’t work. Why? Because they initially do not believe it will work. More to the point, they believe it won’t, therefore it doesn’t.

My personal best spells are useless in the hands of a person who doesn’t believe in them, or Magick, because it is my belief in them, my faith if you will, that makes them work. When I speak the words “My will be done, so mote it be, ” I truly believe that what I will shall come to past because it must be so.

There are no hard and fast rules that state that any single word is the only way to get any given desired result. If there were, we wouldn’t have so many solitaries and covens that create their own rituals. Their rituals work for them because they believe in them. They have faith in them.

But why does that make such a difference?

To answer that, we have to take a look at what’s going on in the process of spell casting. At its most base level, almost all spells deal with the manipulation of energy. Whether it’s shielding, influencing, or empowering, we as Witches are dealing with energy. Every Pagan will tell you that we draw energy, release energy, ground energy, etcetera, etcetera. We pull it from the four elements, from the deities, from ourselves. We put ourselves into altered trance states to raise more energy. Many times, people don’t consider that energy other than from where it comes or for where it’s headed. But consider that energy for a moment.

The human body, as well as all living things, gives off an energy field. Scientists have proven that this field expands and contracts, intensifies and wanes, in accordance to several factors, the largest one being emotion. There is a marked, measurable difference in the energy sphere that a person emits when he or she is happy as opposed to when he or she is sad.

One of the most powerful influences on that energy field is simply defined as faith or belief. The stronger the faith, the more powerful the energy that comes out of a person’s body. It stands to reason, then, that if a person truly believes in something, their energy in working with it will be high. For example, in medicine, there is the “placebo” test, in which half the test subjects are given a sugar pill in place of some new experimental wonder drug without knowing. In every case of placebo, there are at least a few subjects that have the desired effects of the drug, simply because they believed they were taking the real thing.

Take also into account the “faith healing” phenomenon. Thermal cameras and electro-meters have recorded marked rises in the energy pouring out of the healers (and I’m talking the real faith healers, here…Not the charlatans) when they use their faith.

It isn’t coincidence, nor is it superstitious mumbo-jumbo; it’s science.

Now, take this into your own rituals and spell-casting. When you cast, are you constantly muttering, “I hope this works?” In the back of your mind, does a nagging voice tell you that you’re being stupid and living in a fantasy world? If so, you’re not going to get results. If you find a spell online and begin to enact it, all the while doubting it and saying “I hope this works, ” though somewhere inside you know it won’t, then guess what. It won’t.

You may have raised power, you may have all the crystals, candles, and bells in the world, but if you doubt your abilities, if you doubt your own intent, and if you do not have faith in your Craft, you will not have the desired effects. Just as faith projects powerful energy, doubt creates a block inside that won’t let that energy come out. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You do not believe it will work, so it doesn’t, that sort of thing.

When you perform a ritual or cast a spell, you have to commit yourself to it, mind, body and spirit. You have to believe to your core that it will work and that your will alone can influence the world around you. You cannot go into a ritual with half a faith. If half is all you have to offer, maybe you should practice more before deciding if the Craft is really what you believe.

If it is to be your faith, embrace it, follow it, and live it in your everyday life, but most importantly, believe in yourself and what you are doing. It doesn’t matter whether you practice in a coven or by yourself, skyclad or clothed, or even the trappings of the ritual. Without your own belief and faith, none of the above matters.

Believe in the words “so mote it be.” Because you will it, so must it be, and that is true Magick.

Who is Afraid of the Big Bad Spell?

Author: Lady Nikata

Once upon a time in the land of far, far away there was a young witch who was interested in performing a spell for her family. The witch looked up lore and tales about several spells that would suit her purpose. She performed them at the witching hour under the old clock tower and in the dale under a misty vale, but she could just not conquer the big bad spell.

Now how many magickal practitioners do you know, or it could be yourself, have tried to perform a spell for anything, money, love, health, beauty, and it did not turn out as you had planned. What could possibly be going array with your work? I hope this informative essay will clear some of those questions up for you.

In essence, a spell is a prayer or a focusing of energy on a particular idea. You need to think this idea through from start to finish. Books and websites will inform you that you need to be careful what you wish for because it has to come from some place. While this sentiment is true, the universe has an abundance of energy that can be formed into anything someone desires; however, there are consequences for conjuring these desires. Thus, you need to think the spell through and be specific on what you ask for.

Let us say you are performing a spell for money. If you only say you need money, then the universe will provide you with money it could be a penny, one hundred dollars, or you could be one of the lucky people to win the power ball jackpot. All of these things are money, but if you needed a specific amount or you wanted your income to grow at a certain rate then you need to ask for that detail. This brings us to the details in the planning of your spell craft.

There are thousands upon thousands of spells out in the world that use candles, runes, oils, incense, stones, dead languages, and more. Much like the antidotal witch above she toiled and studied these spells, but she did not think for herself. Everyone who practices magick is different, so their magicks attune differently with certain items. Personally, I use a bit of everything in my spells and rituals. I do primarily use candles and energy work as the two primary items/ideas in my spell craft.

I am not saying you cannot get or use spells that you find on the Internet or in a book. I find these very inspirational, but not particularly personal. I draw my ideas for a spell from these areas. Here is an example of my spell crafting process:

1. Decide what type of spell to use for the desire.
2. When to perform this spell (moon or sun phase, the day, planetary hour.) ?
3.What items will I need for the spell (candles, incense, poppets, boxes, salt, etc) ? What properties do these items possess and will they strengthen or weaken the spell?
4.Visualize what this spell will achieve in my life or someone else’s life.

Step 1 is, basically, why do you want to perform this spell? Is it for you or someone else? If it is for someone else, what are you receiving in return for the spell? Your energy and time should not be free as there is a cost on you for doing the spell. The person asking you to work your magick should make a sacrifice as well, such as money, time, or trade.

Step 2, when to perform this spell? The times of the year, phases of the moon and sun, day of the week, and planetary hours are all a factor in the timing of a spell. For example, you want to perform a love spell or growing love. I would choose to perform it during the waxing moon to full moon on a Friday or Monday, during the hour of Venus. If you are growing love, you should perform it during the time the moon is growing full (waxing) or during the full moon.

The moon rules over the element of water, which is the gateway to emotions. Friday is the best choice of day for a love spell with Monday coming is a close second. Friday is named after the Norse Goddess of love Freya and Monday is named after the moon. Perform this work during the planetary hour of Venus, the Greek Goddess of Love, during either the day or night. I prefer the night because I am more connected with the moon and nighttime energies. Keep in mind you can do the spell whenever you want; this is just the best time to focus your energy on that subject. I do not know a witch who will not perform an emergency spell when needed; it just will not be as strong as it could be given the correct timing.

Step 3, what items will I need for a spell? Some spells require no items, just your energy and focus. Other spells can feel like you are in potions class with Professor Snape by adding a drop of dragon’s blood to tincture then allowing it to dry on a parchment for three days. In truth, objects are a way to get you to focus your energy on your idea. These objects typically have a particular color, herb, oil, etc that fit the theme of the spell. All of these things help you work your energy into the spell.

If you are making a poppet or doll you are placing your focus on creating that object for a specific purpose. Just like when people say the secret ingredient in baking is love. Imagine that little old granny whipping up a batch of cookies for her grandkids. She is probably visualizing how much she loves her family and that they are going to love the special treat she is cooking for them. That energy goes into the spoon and down into the dough that will later be chewy delectable desserts. The same principal goes with your spell work. When you make the incense, oil, or inscribe a candle you need to visualize what this object will help you accomplish with the spell.

This brings us to the final step in my spell crafting process. Step 4, visualize what this spell is going to achieve. The spell is only as good as the energy and focus or sacrifice that is put into it. This is why in step 2 you choose the times that will give your energy a boost. Also your confidence level is a huge part of the spell as well. If you believe your spell will work, it will work. A large portion of this is the visualization. Let’s say you are doing a spell for weight loss. You will need to see yourself getting thinner, exercising, eating healthy, and doing what you need to do to make yourself obtain this goal. Imagine your life as the new you. All this will help focus your attention on the spell. Also, do not get discouraged if the spell does not work right away.

Sometimes things need to settle and line up to make the spell happen. Doing another spell right away will void out both spells and show that you do not trust yourself. In my opinion, if you work a spell and nothing happens within 6 months then you can try again. If nothing happens after that, the universe is trying to tell you something or you might not have done the work outside of the magickal realm to bring the idea to fruition.

Just take another peek at the statement above. Sometimes no matter how much we desire something, the Gods and/or the Universe do not want us to have this particular fixation for whatever reason. There is nothing saying that you will not obtain the object of your desire, just not at this time. On that other hand, you may need to do some post or prep work for your spell to take root. If you would like to obtain a particular job, you cannot just sit around and hope it comes to you. You need to fill out applications, write resumes, take certain tests, and set up interviews. In other words, the Universe will not do everything for you; you need to do your part as well.

The one major thing that you need in spell craft is confidence. If you do not believe in your power as an individual or as a witch, you cannot even hope to perform the simplest of spells. If you have never done spell work before, start out with small things such as raising energy, then work up to more complex spells. With self-confidence, the right energy, items, and knowledge, there is no reason you cannot be successful with spells. So who’s afraid of the big, bad spell?

Not you, not me.
So mote it be.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2015 May 15

Jupiter, Ganymede, Great Red Spot
Image Credit & Copyright: Damian Peach/SEN

Explanation: In this sharp snapshot, the Solar System’s largest moon Ganymede poses next to Jupiter, the largest planet. Captured on March 10 with a small telescope from our fair planet Earth, the scene also includes Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, the Solar System’s largest storm. In fact, Ganymede is about 5,260 kilometers in diameter. That beats out all three of its other fellow Galilean satellites, along with Saturn’s Moon Titan at 5,150 kilometers and Earth’s own Moon at 3,480 kilometers. Though its been shrinking lately, the Great Red Spot’s diameter is still around 16,500 kilometers. Jupiter, the Solar System’s ruling gas giant, is about 143,000 kilometers in diameter at its equator. That’s nearly 10 percent the diameter of the Sun.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

Mars

Mars represents those qualities we commonly associate with the male/yang persona. Mars traits include raw energy, ambition, aggression, confidence, passion, and a sense of adventure. The occurrence of Mars denotes the dominating presence or need of the qualities listed above. Martian influence may have a negative impact unless it is balanced with an influence that can blunt the brashness and impulsiveness of Mars.

As a daily card, Mars suggests you would be well served by allowing your more aggressive side take control for at least for a short while. Now is a time for you to act with confidence and decisiveness. However, keep in mind that the qualities associated with Mars can do more damage than good if allowed to run free for too long.