Author: ladyoftheabyss
Astral Travel Training
Astral Travel Training
This article was written by Douglas De Long
Man, tree, and flower are supposed to die; but the fact remains that God’s universe is spiritual and immortal…
~Mary Baker Eddy, Treasury of Spiritual Wisdom, p.270.
The human soul is eternal and linked to God or The Creator. A person on a spiritual path knows this, and understands that he or she is a soul with a body and not a body with a soul. Astral travel is a marvelous experience that allows you to travel anywhere. Some of the places you can visit exist in either the earthly realm or in the heavenly realm. You can travel to the homes of friends and loved ones while in your soul form. Astral travel can also take you to healing temples and beautiful gardens that exist in Heaven. You can even visit the Akashic Records (or universal library); this is a magical place where all knowledge, wisdom, and information is stored. It is located on a higher field or plane of the Heavenly Fields.
Everyone travels astrally while sleeping. Many people recall these events as lucid dreams or “flying dreams.” These dreams will feel very real to the individual. Unfortunately, few people can remember their astral travel dreams, but there are methods available to recall astral travel during sleep. These same methods or techniques can be used to astral travel while in a waking-but-altered state of consciousness, or in a near- or light-sleeping state.
The body, the soul, and magnetism
Before we discuss some of these techniques, let us digress for a moment. The Law of Magnetism is involved in astral travel and sleep. When you fall asleep, this natural law takes over. Your body enters into a relaxed mode and your brain wave patterns slow down dramatically. This changes the magnetic polarity of the human body. Normally, the body has a more negative charge or polarity. But during sleep, your body takes on a positive charge.
The human soul, on the other hand, has a naturally positive polarity at all times. As brain wave patterns alter during sleep, both the body and soul have a positive charge. Therefore, the soul has a natural inclination to leave the body at this moment. Under the Law of Magnetism, positive and negative charges attract while positive and positive repel. This is the same situation in regards to the soul and the body. The soul (which is naturally positively charged) and the body (which becomes positively charged during sleep) start to push or repel each other. This then makes it easier for the soul to slip out of the physical form.
Prior to attempting astral travel, certain preparations are necessary in order to give you a better chance of success. These preparations involve diet, breathing, and water.
Diet
Diet can influence astral travel in many situations. This is especially true regarding astral travel in altered waking states. Once again, the Law of Magnetism comes into play. Most foods have either a positive essence or a negative essence. The consumption of positively or negatively charged foods can affect the body’s polarity.
Vegetables and many fruits tend to have a more positive essence. These foods should be considered as having a lighter or higher vibration. They are sometimes referred to as “spirit foods” due to the high frequency and the more positive essence they contain. Eating these foods will aid in attempted astral travel.
Breathing
The breath of life is important for astral travel training. When you draw in breath, you bring Chi (or universal energy) into your lungs. This energy has an extremely high vibratory rate and can be found in the air we breathe and the water we drink. It originates from the Heavens above. If you hold this breath in your lungs for a few seconds, this energy will flow via the circulatory system to the entire body charging all the organs with this powerful Chi. This raises your vibrations and allows the body to become lighter, and to carry a more positive essence.
Deep breathing exercises can be taken one step further when attempting astral travel. Try taking in deep breaths and holding the air in your lungs for a period longer than five seconds. The longer the breath is held, the more positively charged the body becomes. Also, the vibrations of the body become much higher. Be careful and reasonable, though, and don’t hold your breath for longer than is comfortable.
Water
Anyone considering astral travel should drink a large amount of water during the day. This has a tendency to flush the body and remove unwanted wastes and poisons (which carry a very low vibratory rate). The release of these undesired substances helps the physical form to maintain healthy energy within.
Additionally, there is an exercise called the “Glass of Water Technique” that teaches you how to magnetize or “charge” water in a glass, thereby giving it a higher vibration of energy. (See below for full instructions on this technique.) This has great potential when used in astral travel training.
The combination of spirit foods, deep breathing exercises, and the charging of water can all be used together in the following manner. This will ensure that you have a better chance of success when attempting astral travel.
For seven days prior to attempting any astral travel, adhere to the following regimen. (A week is normally the required time necessary for the desired energy changes in the body and the soul to manifest.) Remember that this is only a temporary situation and these guidelines are not written in stone. Try to find a balance that works for you. It is simply easier to learn to astral travel if you can make these changes during the preparation stage.
During this week, you may need to adjust your diet. If you are a vegetarian and do not have a sweet tooth, then you probably won’t have to make massive changes in your food intake. However, if you normally eat substantial amounts of red meat, then you should try to cut down during this week. If you love sweets, limit your intake of these delicacies for the seven days. Both of these types of foods possess a more negative essence and a lower vibratory rate.
Green leafy vegetables have some of the highest vibratory rates of all of the spirit foods. They possess an abundance of positive essence. This is especially true of lettuce and spinach. If you can eat large amounts of these vegetables over the seven days, the benefits may be felt during astral travel attempts.
You can also practice longer deep-breathing exercises during the preparatory week. The deep breathing should be done twice a day, in the morning and then again in the evening prior to sleep.
Begin each morning by taking a deep breath into the lungs. Hold it, and count to twelve slowly in your mind. As you do this, feel the lungs as they start to pulse. You will begin to feel pressure in the chest. Avoid the urge to rush it out. Expel all your air slowly. Then repeat the exercise in the same manner. Do the same deep breathing a third and final time that morning. Return to normal breathing and return to your everyday activities. In the evening, do the deep breathing exercise three times in the exact same way that you did in the morning. Follow the same deep breathing regimen for six more days.
As the week progresses, you may start to notice that your body feels as if it is vibrating. This is a normal occurrence. Your body is becoming more positive, and allowing your soul to begin slipping out. Actually, your soul is moving slightly out of the physical body – into the aura and back again.
During the week you should practice the Glass of Water Technique at least once every other day. If that’s not possible, try to do this technique a minimum of three times during your period of preparation.
The Glass of Water Technique
The right hand possesses a naturally positive essence, while the left hand has a negative essence. As mentioned earlier, under the Law of Magnetism, like repels like but opposites attract. Therefore, the positive essence of the right hand attracts the negative essence of the left hand. When these two essences are sent through opposing sides of a glass of water, eventually, the water will be magnetized or charged, and have a higher vibratory rate. The positive polarity will be the dominant essence in the water.
To begin, fill a glass with water and find a quiet place to sit. Place your hands in a comfortable position around the glass, making sure that you maintain contact with the surface. This will ensure that the healing energy and Chi flows into the water where it will be absorbed.
Now, feel the warmth and energy moving through your wrists and into your hands. Concentrate on this for a few moments until you feel a pulsing sensation in your hands, thumbs, and fingers. Let this pulsing get stronger.
Allow your focus to move to the glass of water. Sense your hands pulsing against the surface of the glass. Feel this pulsing getting stronger until it feels like a throbbing emanating from the glass of water. The water will begin to feel different to you. Continue to hold the glass for about five minutes. When you feel as if the glass is trying to push your hands away from it, the water has now been fully magnetized.
Drink the glass of water quickly. You might feel a pleasant warm sensation in the tummy. This is a sign that the charged water is having a positive effect upon the body. The vibratory rate of the body has been raised and contains more of a positive essence within.
The next steps
By the end of the seven day period of preparation, the combination of diet, deep breathing, and water will give you the necessary changes to your vibratory rate to allow you to astral travel. You are now ready to begin.
On the eighth day you can attempt the following technique. This exercise can be used on a regular basis. It is simple and easy.
Situate yourself in a fairly quiet room. Sit down in a comfortable chair with a full glass of water placed nearby. Make you sure that you are relaxed – all negative emotions such as anger or fear should be put aside. Take in one deep breath, hold if for a few moments, and then release it slowly through your nose. Repeat this a second and third time. Then return to normal breathing.
Pick up the glass and do the Glass of Water Technique again. This time you might notice an improvement while performing this technique. Your hands may begin to pulse faster and stronger than previous attempts. As before, drink all of the charged water.
From this point you can either stay seated or lie down in a comfortable position. This is up to you. However, if you practice this technique just prior to bedtime, then the latter position would probably be the best one. For the sake of simplicity, these instructions will assume you are lying in a bed.
As you rest on the bed, visualize a white light encircling the inside of the walls of your bedroom. Then, visualize another white light encircling you and your bed. You will have an inner and an outer circle of light surrounding you while you attempt to astral travel. This is a measure of protection that helps you to keep negative entities from bothering you. These white lights also attract angels, spirit guides, and other heavenly beings towards you. You should always ask for your angels and spirit guides to enter into the room and protect you during meditation and astral travel.
By this time you may be feeling some warmth in the pit of your stomach. You might also experience the sensation that your body is vibrating either side to side or back and forth. This is the result of the magnetized water and indicates that your soul is trying to slip out.
Now, longer deep-breathing techniques will be used. You will do the longer deep-breathing or breath-holding techniques twice, in the same manner as before (breathe in, hold for twelve seconds, release). The third deep breath will be done differently. After releasing all of your breath the second time, wait for about four seconds. Let your eyes look towards the foot of the bed and imagine that you are standing here looking back at your prone body. Shut your eyes and picture this in your mind.
Now take in the third breath and hold it for the slow count of twelve. Then, release your breath in a forceful fashion. Expel all your breath quickly. As you do this feel as if you are pushing yourself out of the physical body. If you’re lucky, you might slip out of the body and end up at the foot of the bed staring back at your reclining form. Or you may not notice any change when you try this for the first time. You are likely to have some positive results, even if you don’t succeed in pushing your soul out of your body completely. For instance, you may feel as if you are vibrating within your body in a very powerful way. Perhaps you might be aware of moving out of the body a few feet for a second or two. You may even feel pleasant sensations throughout and some lightheadedness.
The secret to successful astral travel is to keep practicing this technique on a regular basis until you become more adept. Eventually, you will be able to consciously astral travel. This can be done in a light altered state or in a near-sleep state. If you are interested in learning more about these techniques, check out Ancient Teachings for Beginners.
When you travel astrally you can meet and work with angels, spirit guides, and other light beings. Answers you need, knowledge and wisdom you seek, can be obtained from these beings. You can find peace of mind and contentment through astral travel. As an eternal soul you can maintain your connection to the Creator through this process. Allow the light within you to shine.
Author Information
|
Douglas De Long (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a spiritual/personal counselor, past life therapist, and chakra master. He has studied and developed his own psychic abilities and spiritual growth for over twenty-five years.
Born with the ability to see human auras, chakras, spirit guides and angels, Douglas was always reading books about psychic and metaphysical subjects. But due to the nature of his stepfather’s profession, he and his family traveled for many years and his psychic abilities started to close up from lack of use. It wasn’t until after a near death experience at the age of nineteen that he reawakened his childhood gifts. Through numerous life lessons and years of metaphysical studies, Douglas was able to enhance his abilities and create a unique course that he has been teaching for more than fifteen years. In the past 25 years, he has regressed close to 1,500 individuals and students. He has been guided to put his knowledge and channeled teachings into book form in order to help human kind open up and develop their innate abilities. Douglas De Long and his wife, Carol, reside in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where they own and operate the De Long Ancient Mystery School. For more information please visit http://www.douglasdelong.com. |
COPYRIGHT (2013) Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. All rights reserved
Direct link to article: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1875
Spell for Today – The Penny Spell
You can tweak this spell to use it for many different things.
The Penny Spell
Items needed for this spell:
2 pennies
Your hands
Take two pennies in your hands and shake them, fairly hard. While doing this, say this chant three times:
“Penny, Penny, Penny.
I’m shaking these pennies.
And all is fun. In a snap,
I need this done.
Sending this out in a run.
I will slap
These, two pennies, down, into one.”
After this chant, throw the pennies on-top of each other, on the ground. The hardness of the throw and the clanking of the pennies will send out the serious urgency of your spell.
A Witch’s Week of Spells and Activities
Helga C. Loueen
Spell for Today – For A Good Night’s Sleep
For a Good Night’s Sleep
Wynken, Blynken and Nod sail away,
Bringing me rest at the end of the day.
I close my eyes, then sweet dreams will come.
Sleep through the night, to slumber I succumb.
–The Power of Positive Witchcraft: Daily Incantations & Enchantments: A Spell a Day for 30 Days
Garden Summerland
A to Z – A Wiccan Glossary (Flashback from Lady Abyss)
A to Z – A Wiccan Glossary
AKASHA: the spiritual ether (or Aether); the omnipresent fifth occult element which embraces the other four-earth, air, fire, and water; and from which they stem. This is the realm of “pattern” or causality, from which the realm the normally thought of “five senses manifests. Some define it is the “other” of the “two worlds” that the witch or magician walks between.
ARADIA: Daughter of the Goddess Diana, and a name for the Goddess used by Italian Witches or Strega, commonly used in many Wiccan traditions today.
ASPECTING: Any advanced magickal activity in which a practitioner manifests a particular aspect of the Goddess or God, in thought, feelings, behavior, appearance, etc.; Often as a direct result of a “Drawing Down”. Often a minor variation of this phenomena occurs with the selection of a “Magical Name”, of Craft Name.
ASPECTS: Forms, facets, or personas of Deity: for example, Brighid, Iseult,Eos, and Kore are all aspects of the Maiden, and the Maiden is an aspect of the Goddess
ATHAME: black handled, double edged dagger. Principally used to cast and dissolve the circle, for which purposes it is interchangeable with the magic sword. A tool of the “Element” of Fire in the Georgian Tradition and some others.
BELTANE: May Eve festival. One of the Ancient Celtic “Fire Festivals.” on this night, the cattle were driven between two bonfires to protect them from disease. Couples wishing for fertility would ” jump the fires” on Beltane night. Also the traditional Sabbath where the rule of the “Wheel of the Year” is returned to the Goddess. This Festival also marks the transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from those of Maiden to Mother.
BOOK OF SHADOWS: Traditionally hand copied book of rituals, recipes, training techniques, guidelines, and other materials deemed important to a Witch or a coven. Each tradition has it’s own standard version of the Book and each Witch’s book will be different as he or she adds to it with time from many different sources. Only another Witch can see your book of shadows. Also, traditionally, it may never leave your hands or possession until death, when it should be destroyed, or (in some traditions) returned to the coven to be disposed of.
BURNING TIMES: a term used by some Witches for the period of persecution in the Middle Ages and later. It is in fact a misnomer in some places, as Witches were only burned in Scotland, and on the continent of Europe. In England and the U.S., they were hanged.
CANDLEMAS: Festival held on Feb. 1. One of the 4 Celtic “Fire Festivals. Commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden. Celebrates the first signs of Spring. Also called “Imbolc” (the old Celtic name). This is the seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the return of the sun are noted, i.e. the first sprouting of leaves, the sprouting of the Crocus flowers etc. In other words, it is the festival commemorating the successful passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural year.This Festival also marks the transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from those of Crone to Maiden.
CARDINAL POINTS: North, South, East, and West, marked in the Georgian Tradition by candles of green, red, yellow, and blue, respectively. The Circle is drawn to connect these four points.
CHALICE: one of the tools of the Witch. Placed on the altar to represent the element of Water.
CHARGE OF THE GODDESS: The Traditional words of the Goddess to her followers, or “hidden children”. Normally declaimed by the HPS at every coven Circle.
CIRCLE: the area in which the magickal worship and spells takes place. Can also be used to designate a particular group of Witches or Pagans such as “Silver Acorn Circle”.
CONE OF POWER: power raised in the circle by the Witches assembled, and sent out into the world to work magick, is usually visualized as being retained and built in the form of a “cone” prior to release.
COVEN: an organized group of Witches, led by a High priestess and/or a High Priest who meet regularly for worship and fellowship. The traditional membership is 13, but in fact most covens number considerably less. 3 is the minimum in the Georgian Tradition. In Middle English, “Covin” a group of confederates; In Old French “Covine” a band or group with a single purpose; Latin “Com”-together, “Venire”-to come or move.
COVENSTEAD: regular meeting place for a coven. Usually the home of the High Priestess or High Priest.
COWAN: a non-Witch. Formerly used in a very derogatory manner. Still used in Masonic Ritual to indicate the non initiate and/or pretender to “real craft”. Not often used today among most Witches.
COYOTE ENERGY: trickster energies. Named for the American Indian Trickster, Coyote, who tricks man into learning what he needs to learn. Applies to one who constantly jokes and clowns. Also applies to the concept of “Holy Fool” in many traditions.
CROSS QUARTER DAYS: The modern name for the Celtic Fire Festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Abracadabra- A word from the Jewish mystical tradition of Qabala. Its root is the name of the Gnostic deity Abraxas, meaning “hurt me not”. It is said to possess magickal powers, especially of protection from illness.
Adept- An individual who through serious study and accomplishments is highly prficient in a praticluar magickal way.
Aeromancy- Divination by the stars.
Aisling– Ireland: Dream or Vision. In the many Irish tales having this title, the person who dreams sees a speir-bhean or vision-woman from the Otherworlds, pronounced “ash-leen”.
Aka- The cord between the astral body and the physical body, most likely this concept is derived from the biblical reference to a “silver cord” connected the body and the soul
Akashic Records- Edward Cayce’s concept which states that somewhere there is a universal hall of data about past lives, magic, healing, and spirituality. It does not exist on the physical plane but rather on a more psychic level. Some believe it can be accessed on the astral plane, others feel it can only be accessed through a visualization journey in the mind.
Alba– The Isle of Skye; Scotland
Alchemist- One who practices alchemy.
Alchemy- A form of high magick which stems from the middle ages noted by the attempts of alchemists to make lead turn into gold.
Alexandrian Tradition– A form of Garderian Wiccan practice developed by Alex and Maxine Sanders in Britain in the 1960s.
Alignment- Synchronization of mental and spiritual vibrations with a god, goddess, or astronomical body. Often the complete balance and centering of the chakras is called an alignment.
Altar- A small working area and shrine many pagans maintain, where they perform most of their ritual and spell work.
Amulet- An object charged with personal energies through ritual or meditation often used to ward off a certain force or person.
Aradia- The Italian goddess Diana’s daughter, said to be the origin of all witches. The book “Aradia, Gospel of the Witches” was written by Leland about Aradia and the practice of witchcraft
Arcana– The two halves of the tarot deck.The major arcana consists of 22 cards showing dominant occurrences in our lives.The minor arcana consists of 56 suit cards (commonly called the lesser arcana) that assists the major arcana cards,or shows smaller influences in our lives.
Archetype- Symbolic imagery seen in visions, dreams, meditation, and mind quests. Used to interpret the meaning of the vision thereby betting understanding and communicating with the subconscious.
Arthurian Tradition- A Welsh tradition of paganism based on the lore of King Arthur (the “Once and Future King”), Merlin the Magician, and Guinevere.
Asatru- Modern worship of the old Norse gods.
Aspecting- An advanced magical practice which is seen most commonly in a coven as opposed to solitary. The practitioner attempts to manifest an aspect of the Goddess or the God. This is seen in the pagan ritual of Drawing Down the Moon as well as in other pagan religions such as Vodou, where the priest often allows the deity to speak through his or her body.
Asperger- A bundle of fresh herbs either carrying dew or dowsed with spring water, used to sprinkle the water during ritual purification.
Astral– Another dimension of reality.
Astral Plane- A plane parallel to the physical world, traveled through by the astral body during projection.
Astral Projection/Travel– The proccess of separating your astral body from your physical body to accomplish travel in the astral.
Astrology- The practice of revealing the future by interpreting the arrangement of stars and planets in relation to astrological theory and the zodiac.
Athame– A Wiccan ritual knife. Generally double edged with a black handle, but not always. This knife is seldom used for physical cutting, if at all, and need not be sharp. It is *never* used to draw blood and Wicca do not draw blood or use blood in ritual. Its primary use is as an energy directing device, much like the wand, though with different common uses. compare: Boline, Wand
Attune- To bring different psyches into harmony.
Augury- Divination based on “signs” or omens.
Aura- An energy field which surrounds living beings. An aura is most often visible only to those born with the skill to see it, or those who developed this ability. A visible aura contains various colors and tells about the spiritual and emotional persona of the plant, human, or creature surrounded by it. However, an aura can also be felt, heard, or sensed through other means.
DEOSIL: clockwise, or sunwise. Traditional direction for working “building” magick.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON: Ritual invocation of the spirit of the Goddess into the body of the High Priestess by the High Priest.
DIVINATION: magical method of exploration or inquiry into a situation via such methods as Tarot cards, runestones, I-Ching, etc.
ELEMENTS: Earth, air, fire, and water, plus spirit, which includes them all. These are regarded as realms or categories of nature (both material and non-material) and are not to be confused with the physicists table of elements, which the modern witch, of course, accepts.
ESBAT: weekly or biweekly meeting of a coven. Traditionally held either on the full moon or the new moon.
FAMILIARS: Either a Witch’s pet animal which has been trained to be a magickal helper, or an artificially created “elemental” which performs the same functions as the animal friend.
FIVEFOLD KISS, FIVEFOLD SALUTE: The Witches’ ritual salute, with kisses; (1) on each foot, (2) on each knee, (3) above the pubic hair, (4) on each breast, and (5) on the lips-really 8 kisses in all. It is only used within the Circle, but the words that go with it are the origin of “Blessed Be.”
GARDNERIANS: Tradition of Witchcraft descended from the teachings of Gerald Gardner
GNOMES: an “entity” or “elemental” that dwells in the plane of Earth or is associated with the EARTH Element.
GREAT RITE: The rite which is the main feature of the third degree initiation, and which is also laid down for certain festivals. It is sexual in nature, but may be `actual’ (and private to the couples concerned) or symbolic, as the participants wish.
HALLOWS: name used by some traditions for Samhain, or Halloween
HANDFASTING: Wiccan equivalent of a wedding. It can be made legal if the Priestess and/or Priest are registered as clergy with the local authorities, or it may only be considered binding within the coven.
HIGH PRIEST/ESS: Technically speaking, a Witch who has received the 3rd. degree initiation. More usually, the male and female leaders of a coven.
IMBOLC: Celtic name for Candlemas.
INVOCATION: The ritual “calling-in” of an entity (or energies) higher than human, either for communication with the caller through a medium or by visible manifestation or else to enter into a human body as in the Drawing Down the Moon. In some traditions, a Prayer
LAMMAS: August 1st. Witch Festival. The Old Celtic name for this festival is Lughnassadh. It is the Festival of the First Fruits, and is the first of the 3 harvests. This festival also marks the change of the Threefold Goddess energies from that of Mother to Crone.
PENTACLE: a disc shaped talisman; in particular, the metal disc which represents the earth element among the witch’s working tools.
PENTAGRAM: The five-pointed star. With a single point uppermost, it represents the human being. Inverted, with two points uppermost, it can have Satanist associations; but not necessarily. Some traditions of Wicca use the inverted pentagram to signify an initiate of the second degree.
QUARTERS: The North, East, South, and West parts of a magickal circle or other ritual area. (See also “Watchtowers”)
REDE: rule or law
SABBAT: one of the Eight festivals or high holy days of Wicca.
SALAMANDER: an entity that dwells in the realm of Fire.
SAMHAIN: The festival of remembrance for the dead, held on the eve of Nov. 1st. It is the last of the three harvests. This festival also marks the transition of rulership of the “Wheel of the Year from that of the Goddess to that of the God.
SCRYING: divination, usually using such methods as crystal gazing, or divination via incense smoke, or water as opposed to tarot or other manipulative means.
SPELL: a prayer, or verbal direction of magickal energies toward the accomplishment of some goal.
SUMMONER: The male officer of the coven who corresponds to the Maiden. He is the assistant High Priest
SYLPH: an “entity” or “elemental” that dwells in the plane of Air or is associated with the AIR Element.
TRADITIONS: any of the various “sects” of Wicca such as Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Georgian, Seax, etc.
UNDINE: an “entity” or “elemental” that dwells in the plane of Water or is associated with the WATER Element.
WAND: A rod or staff that is prepared so that it may be used for magickal or psychic purposes, usually to project some form of power
WARLOCK: a term coined in the Burning Times . It was used to denote a traitor to the Craft, or one who had betrayed the followers of the Old Religion. It’s origin is Scottish. Because of the negative connotations, it is not used by most Wiccans today.
WATCH TOWERS: Originally from the Enochian branch of Ceremonial Magick, now incorporated into many “Traditions” of Wicca, these are the four elemental “directions” or “quarters” (corresponding to the appropriate points on the compass) called to protect the Circle during its establishment. Each of them have a correspondence between the compass point, an element, and (varying amongst different traditions) color associated with them.
WICCA: the name most modern day Witches use for the Craft. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Wicce, meaning to bend or to shape. This is the root word from which we get wicker.
WIDDERSHINS: counter clock wise. Used for “tearing down” OR BANISHING magick.
WHITE HANDLED KNIFE: the working knife of a Witch. It is used to carve candles, and for fashioning the other tools. Traditionally, it can only be used in a circle.
Deosil and Withershins
When casting, dancing or chanting in a circle for ritual purposes. Wiccans refer to the direction described as either “deosil” or “Withershins.” When “deosil” (comes from the Irish Gaelic meaning, “turn to the right) is specified, this means clockwise, the direction in which the Sun apparently moves in the Northern Hemisphere, and in which circles are usually cast for positive magick. “Withershins” (or widdershins”) whose roots are embedded in the German words wider (“against”) and Sinn (‘sense’), means counterclockwise, and this is the banishing direction used for negative magick.
Sunny Days
Maximize the power of a spell cast during Leo’s reign by practicing it on a Sunday, the weekday whose dedication to the Lion’s planetary ruler remains enshrined in many modern European languages, including English.
Spell for Today – Knot Healing Spell
Knot Healing Spell
This involves tying and untying the string.
Tie seven knots in a string
Visualize the illness and suffering as you tied the initial knots (you are not wishing the illness – in fact the opposite. You are transferring the illness into the knot)
Make it into a bracelet for the patient
Untie one knot each day – visualizing the relief as the knots are untied, as the illnesses negative energy is allowed to dissipate into the atmosphere.
On the last day, unravel the thread and throw everything into running live water, flowing away from the patient’s location.
Flashback 2010 – Printable Basic Spell Template – Casting The Spell
Casting The Spell
-
Set up
-
Purify
-
Dedicate the space
-
State your purpose
-
Raise and release energy
-
Ground
-
Release the dedicdate space
-
Record the experience
-
Reinforce the spell with action
Flashback 2010 – Printable Basic Spell Template – Recording Spell Notes
RECORDING SPELL NOTES:
*It is a good idea for someone new to the Craft to print several of these till they get the hang of what they are doing and feel comfortable doing it*
*Name of Spell:
*Date and time performed:
*Moon phase:
*Location:
*How long it took to cast the spell:
*Weather:
*Your state of health:
*Purpose of the spell:
*Deities/Elementals invoked:
*Tools and ingredients required:
*The full text of the spell or ritual:
*Your immediate reaction:
*Short term results:
*Long term results:
History of Ostara, The Spring Equinox
History of Ostara, The Spring Equinox
The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21. The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring. Of course, it’s also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season.
Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
According to History.com,
“At the ruins of Chichen Itza, the ancient Maya city in Mexico, crowds now gather on the spring (and fall) equinox to watch as the afternoon sun creates shadows that resemble a snake moving along the stairs of the 79-foot-tall Pyramid of Kukulkan, also called El Castillo. On the spring equinox, the snake descends the pyramid until it merges with a large, serpent head sculpture at the base of the structure. While the Maya were skilled astronomers, it’s unknown whether they specifically designed the pyramid to align with the equinox and create this visual effect.”
A New Day Begins
A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz, which means “new day.” It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism.
In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz.
Mad as a March Hare
Spring equinox is a time for fertility and sowing seeds, and so nature’s fertility goes a little crazy.
In medieval societies in Europe, the March hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol. This is a species of rabbit that is nocturnal most of the year, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. The female of the species is superfecund and can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with a first. As if that wasn’t enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, and bounce around erratically when discouraged.
The Legends of Mithras
The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature’s body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras’ cloak became the night sky. Where the bull’s blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.
Spring Celebrations Around the World
In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth.
His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar (between March 22 and March 25).
The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its “western face…is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid’s northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent.” This has been called “The Return of the Sun Serpent” since ancient times.
According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of a Germanic goddess called Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox–almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west.
There is very little documented evidence to prove this, but one popular legend is that Eostre found a bird, wounded, on the ground late in winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But “the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs…the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre.”
Modern Celebrations
This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near.
Many modern Pagans mark Ostara as a time of renewal and rebirth. Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature–walk in a park, lay in the grass, hike through a forest. As you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you–plants, flowers, insects, birds. Meditate upon the ever-moving Wheel of the Year, and celebrate the change of seasons.
Author
Patti Wigington
Published on ThoughtCo.com
OSTARA LORE
OSTARA LORE
A traditional Vernal Equinox pastime: go to a field and randomly collect wildflowers [Thank the flowers for their sacrifice before picking them, using a collection formula such as can be found in “An Herbal Grimoire”]. Or buy some from a florist, taking one or two of those that appeal to you. Then bring them home and divine their magickal meanings by the use of books, your own intuition, a pendulum or by other means. The flowers you’ve chosen reveal your inner thoughts and emotions.
It is important at this time of renewed life to plan a walk (or a ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green places. This is not simply exercise, and you should be on no other mission. It isn’t even just an appreciation of nature. Make your walk celebratory, a ritual for nature itself.
Other traditional activities include planting seeds, working on magickal gardens and practicing all forms of herb work – magickal, medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic.
Foods in tune with this day (linking your meals with the seasons is a fine way of attuning with nature) include those made of seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine nuts.
Sprouts are equally appropriate, as are leafy, green vegetables. Flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes also find their place here. [Find a book of flower cooking or simply make spice cupcakes. Ice with pink frosting and place a fresh carnation petal on each cupcake. Stuff nasturtium blossoms with a mixture made with cream cheese, chopped nuts, chives and watercress.]
Eleven Things Every Witch Should Know
Eleven Things Every Witch Should Know
1. Magic is what happens when you open yourself to the Divine. All real magic is
a manifestation of the Divine – it is how you co-create reality with deity.
2. The Divine is within you and is everywhere present in the natural world. And
everything is interconnected by this sacred energy.
3. Wicca is not about information — it’s about transformation, so practice,
practice, practice — and do it as much as possible in Nature! Witchcraft
enables you to commune with divinity and to manifest your destiny, your desires
and your highest and sacred self.
4. The real ethics of how Witches live and practice magic are simple: Witches
live in a sacred manner because we live in a sacred world. We therefore treat
all of life with reverence and respect.
5. Because all magic flows from our connection to the Sacred, our lives and our
magic, must be guided by the sacred nature of the energy with which we work.
6. The energy Witches work with is not neutral — it is divine love.
7. Magic often works in unexpected way because it is not a mechanical process,
and the Universe is not a machine. You are living and making magic within a
divine, organic, living reality.
8. Witches don’t command and control — they commune and co-create.
9. The real secret of successful spellcasting, as with all of magic, is your
connection to the Divine power that dwells within you, and surrounds you. And
spells do work so be careful what you ask for!
10. Nature makes the Divine tangible. By working, living, and practicing your
magic in harmony with Nature, you are in harmony with the Divine.
11. The ultimate teacher is the God/Goddess inside you and in the world of
Nature all around you.
Author unknown
Spring House Blessing
Spring House Blessing
To encourage the return of Spring, tie a bunch of snowdrops with green ribbon and hang over the main entrance of your home as you repeat:
Candlemas Bells, snowdrops so white,
Cast away shadows, bring forth the light.
Casting A Circle
Casting A Circle
Purify yourself first. You can do this by meditating, or taking a ritual bath. One way is to, try to keep the water flowing, possibly by leaving the bath plug half in, or by having a shower. This reinforces the idea of washing away any impurities so you are not sitting in your own psychic rubbish. (Scent your bath water with your selection of a sacred or special herb or oil.) Ideally, your towel – if you choose to use one – should be clean and used only for the purpose of your ritual bath.
• • Wear something special if you can, something that you only wear during a ritual or working. You can always add a pretty scarf or a throw in the correct color for your working. This sets apart spell working from everyday confusion.
• • Decide on the extent of your circle, which should be formed in front of your altar. Purify this space by sprinkling the area with water followed by salt – both of these should have been blessed.
• • Sit quietly for as long as you can inside the area that will become your circle.
• • Imagine a circle of light surrounding you. This light could be white, blue or purple. If you are in a hurry and cannot purify and cleanse fully, reinforce the circle of light by visualizing it suffused with the appropriate color for your working.
• • Circle the light around, above and below you in a clockwise direction, like the representation of an atom. Feel it as a sphere or as a cone of power. Sense the power Remember to leave a ‘doorway’ through which your magic energy may exit. You should always feel warm and peaceful within your circle.
• • Use your own personal chant or form of words according to your own belief system to consecrate your circle and banish all evil and negative energy, forbidding anything harmful to enter your space. Remember, you are always safe within your circle if you command it to be so.
• • If appropriate, invite the Gods and Goddesses to attend your circle and magical working.
• • Relax and be happy.
If you wish, you can use objects on the ground to show the boundaries of the circle, such as candles, crystals, cord, stones, flowers or incense. The circle is formed from personal power. This may be felt and visualized as streaming from the body to form a bubble made of mist, or a circle of light. You can use the athame (ritual dagger) or your hands to direct this power.
The cardinal points of the compass may be denoted with lit candles, often white or purple. Alternatively, place a green candle at the North point of the circle, yellow candle at the East, red candle at the South and blue candle at the West. The altar stands in the centre of the circle, facing North in the direction of power.
Casting a Circle
Casting a Circle
I cast a circle
flowing out from deep within
circling me in pale blue flame
power
I see it stretching before me
growing out to spread for miles and miles hours
and days
I see the joined hands of my grandmothers my
mother my daughter
my systers
I see it encompassing all which I love all that is
will be
I see faces new and dear
long forgotten
smiling
Making it grow making it stretch
forming a perfect ring of light
and hope and love
protection
Illuminating the room the night
the house the sky
my soul
I see the circle going on and on
girdling the earth
embracing her
I feel it stretching out from my heart and soul
Flowering from my blood my womb my breath
Spinning stretching dancing out on and on unbreakable
and unbroken eternal.
Seasonally Defective: Poetry for Goddesses and Mortal Women
Aly Sebastian
Moon Signs
Just as the sun does, the moon travels through the constellations of stars that we call the zodiac; or astrological signs. Whereas the sun take a year to travel through them all, spending approximately thirty days in each sign, the moon usually spends two and a half days in a sign, thus passing through the whole zodiac in approximately one lunar month. Does the moon actually travel through these signs? No, of course not. It appears to do so from our vantage point on Earth, however.
Each sign has a different personality that affects the lunar (or solar) energy when the luminary is passing through it. For example, if your spell is to help you meet new people, then you might choose to cast it when the moon is in the sign of Libra, the sign associated with social issues. The lunar energy you use to power your spell will be enhanced with Libran energy. Here’s a list of correspondences for the signs of the Zodiac. The correspondences are applicable to the moon, and of course to the sun as well:
-
Aries energy is good for new beginnings and action
-
Taurus energy is good for manifestation
-
Gemini energy is excellent for communication and intellectual pursuits
-
Cancer energy is associated with family and the home
-
Leo energy is good for success
-
Virgo energy is organized and practical
-
Libra energy is terrific for social issues
-
Scorpio energy is passionate and just
-
Sagittarius energy is associated with study
-
Capricorn energy is stable and good for business issues
-
Aquarius energy is excellent for issues involving groups of people
-
Pisces energy is associated with mysticism and spiritual evolution
Altar, Incense and Candle Magick
Your Altar
You may use anything that has a flat top.. I use an old trunk with a piece of plywood on it. Be creative.. As for a cover I use white because of its kind of a multipurpose color. Although some magic specifies a color then whatever color is specified should be used. Again, be creative… Keep in mind that candle magic is usually done in condensed areas so keep things as simplistic as you can, especially your candlesticks and censors.
Incense
There are some who believe that incense is unimportant in candle magic. I cannot imagine performing candle magic without the incense. The type that you use may be specified in a specific spell, if that is the case by all means use that. Generally, I use three kings incense as well as vervain. Vervain gives the spell working a little umph. But then again nothing is set in stone.. Be creative.
Incense symbolizes Air… as the smoke rises our thoughts are carried up into the universe.
Moon Phases Simplified
Moon Phases Simplified
It’s probably easiest to understand the moon cycle in this order: new moon and full moon, first quarter and third quarter, and the phases in between.
As shown in the above diagram, the new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun. The three objects are in approximate alignment (why “approximate” is explained below). The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see.
At a full moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in approximate alignment, just as the new moon, but the moon is on the opposite side of the earth, so the entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view.
The first quarter and third quarter moons (both often called a “half moon”), happen when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and sun. So we are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow.
Once you understand those four key moon phases, the phases between should be fairly easy to visualize, as the illuminated portion gradually transitions between them.
An easy way to remember and understand those “between” lunar phase names is by breaking out and defining 4 words: crescent, gibbous, waxing, and waning. The word crescent refers to the phases where the moon is less than half illuminated. The word gibbous refers to phases where the moon is more than half illuminated. Waxing essentially means “growing” or expanding in illumination, and waning means “shrinking” or decreasing in illumination.
Thus you can simply combine the two words to create the phase name, as follows:
After the new moon, the sunlit portion is increasing, but less than half, so it is waxing crescent. After the first quarter, the sunlit portion is still increasing, but now it is more than half, so it is waxing gibbous. After the full moon (maximum illumination), the light continually decreases. So the waning gibbous phase occurs next. Following the third quarter is the waning crescent, which wanes until the light is completely gone — a new moon.
Witches Of The Craft® 
You must be logged in to post a comment.