If you want to see information on any tradition of witchcraft, herbs, flowers, a Goddess or a God, or anything pertaining to any tradition of witchcraft, please put it in the comment section or email Lady Carla Beltane at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com. I will try to find some information to post about it.
Imagine a religion that celebrates the wonders of nature and embraces the ancient wisdom of our ancestors. Welcome to Wicca—a modern, nature-based pagan faith. Wicca empowers us to connect deeply with the world around us. We engage in rituals and practices rooted in reverence for the Earth. While often confused with witchcraft, Wicca stands apart as a distinct spiritual path. Contrary to media portrayals, people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds practice Wicca. Every human can find their own unique journey within this diverse tradition.
Keep reading to discover what makes Wicca a transformative spiritual path for many.
Click here to read the rest of this article Source: wiccaacademy.com
[Please note: For the purposes of this piece, the terms “Wicca” and “Wiccan (s) ” will refer to the British Traditional family of religious Witchcraft Traditions and those who follow them, the Traditions then including, but not limited to, such lines as Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Moshian, Blue Star, etc. “Neo-Wicca” and “Neo-Wiccan (s), ” then, indicate the perhaps more wide-spread and certainly more widely known Eclectic (and often Solitary) practices espoused by such authors as Scott Cunningham, Fiona Horne, Silver Ravenwolf, and others, the majority of them published by Llewellyn Books. I also use the term “Witch” interchangeably with “Wiccan, ” since nearly all Wiccans contend that they are indeed Witches.]
Anyone who’s been a part of the Wiccan or Neo-Wiccan communities for more than a week is undoubtedly aware of the schism between these two groups. The cause of much frustration for Wiccans is that some Neo-Wiccans misunderstand the distinction made between the practices. Wiccans contend that, while there is nothing wrong or bad or invalid or worthless about the practices of Neo-Wiccans, it is nonetheless a separate and distinct practice (or practices, as Neo-Wicca is Eclectic, after all) from Wicca; neither is better (except in a personal preference, subjective sense), but they are certainly different.
Many Neo-Wiccans, on the other hand, dislike that this distinction is made at all. Some are even offended by the use of “Neo-Wicca” or any classification other than “Wicca, ” but are yet very adamant that “we don’t do that, ” meaning that they find some aspects of Wicca ridiculous, unnecessary, or even offensive. It leads one to ask, if it’s all the same thing, then why isn’t it all… well, the same?
This piece is meant to serve as an outline of how much these two groupings of paths really do differ, and to explain some of the more controversial aspects of Wicca that draw much negative attention and criticism from some Neo-Wiccans. The biggest dividing factor, that then encompasses others, is the Wiccan practice of oathbound secrecy.
Many Wiccan Traditions are esoteric, oathbound practices. This means that there are certain things that are not to be revealed to non-initiates, and that initiates swear an oath to protect those aspects (an oath that they are then expected to keep for the rest of their lives, even if they choose to leave the Tradition at a later time). This is not meant to be used as an ego-trip or a form of elitism, but is instead in place to protect the experience of the Tradition and its rites and Mysteries. However, Wiccans do not contend that their path is the only way one may reach and experience the Mysteries, just that this is the way that suits them. What is usually kept secret, then, are the names of the Gods, the specifics of ritual, the identities (Magickal and mundane) of those who participate in the rituals, the tools used in ritual, and any other non-ritual contents of the Tradition’s Book of Shadows.
God-names are kept secret because They (the God and Goddess honored) are considered “tribal, ” wholly unique to the Tradition. In non-initiate training rituals, a Priest and Priestess may choose to utilize place-holder names of similar Deities, ones with compatible traits, qualities, and associations. However, some may choose to simply use the non-specific terms “God and Goddess” or “Lord and Lady” instead of proper names. That decision is left up to the Priest and Priestess of the ritual/group. If place-holder names are used, they are then a tool to help teach those in training about the God and Goddess they will meet and commune with during and after initiation, so that there will be some degree of familiarity once the initiate comes to face the Gods of their chosen Tradition.
The specifics of ritual, as was aforementioned, are not told to non-initiates to protect the experience. Think of it this way; you and a friend both want to see a newly premiered movie, and your friend gets the opportunity to attend a showing before you do. How impolite and improper would it be for your friend to not only tell you every single detail of the film (including the ending), but also the emotions it will evoke from you, and the impact it would have on your life in general? I’m betting anyone would be pretty darn upset.
This is the same reasoning behind Wiccan rituals being kept secret, so that each initiate who experiences them does so as “untainted” as possible. This explains secrecy in regards to those seeking initiation, but for those who do not, a similar analogy is appropriate; if you see a movie but your friend has absolutely no interest in it, regardless of your opinion of said movie, they probably won’t want to hear about it at all. The logic then is that, since those not seeking initiation are assumed to be uninterested in the Tradition all together, what reason do they have to concern themselves with its practices?
Additionally, this secrecy maintains the authenticity of the rituals, and also the integrity of the initiating line back to the Tradition’s founder. Thus, the rituals cannot be altered or misused, and only those experienced in the Tradition’s Mysteries can go on to teach them to others.
As far as participants’ identities go, that’s fairly self-explanatory on one level; “outing” someone as a Witch is not something taken lightly, regardless of where one counts one’s self on the spectrum Wicca has become. But there is another level to it, in that Wiccans tend keep their lineage oathbound as well. One’s lineage is the line of initiating High Priestesses that leads from one initiate back to the founder of the Tradition, be they Gerald Gardner, Alex Sanders, etc.
And lastly, the tools used and the other, non-ritual contents of the Book of Shadows (BoS) are oathbound because they are related to the specifics of Wiccan practice and experience, and so revealing them can take away from those elements, just as describing pivotal scenes from a movie can taint the enjoyment of the whole thing.
These levels of secrecy and occultism (where “occult” takes on its more accurate meaning of “hidden or secret; to be known only by the initiated”) are a stumbling block to some Neo-Wiccans; they cannot fathom the reasons other than to make Wiccans feel special or better somehow, but as illustrated above, there are very real and important reasons.
Some folks though cannot find it in themselves to abide by these guidelines, but still feel the desire to walk a similar path. Partly because of this, Neo-Wicca and its policy of openness and universality were born. Neo-Wiccans are free to follow any and all God forms that may call or appeal to them, regardless of cultural or religious origin. Neo-Wiccans are also more prone to share their ritual scripts and spells with others. Some even post the entirety of their BoSs online or otherwise make it available for public consumption, such as through published books, which then are a large part of Neo-Wiccan learning materials.
Conversely, learning Wicca involves a specified path that utilizes the repetition of form to facilitate function; the actual movements and words are the same at each ritual, however it is the experience that differs and is truly the most important. This is an orthopraxic approach, that of correct practices leading to Divine experience, rather than orthodoxic, that of correct belief.
While many of us have come to associate “orthodox” with meaning oppressive or outdated and referring specifically to Christianity as often as not, if one simply takes the word at its face value, then Neo-Wicca is in fact an orthodox practice; as long as one believes the “right” things, then one is Neo-Wiccan and then can practice it in whatever fashion one desires.
But what are the “right” beliefs? Is it the duality and balance of God and Goddess? Not according to those called Dianic Wiccans, who hold the Goddess superior to the God, if He is even recognized at all. Additionally, as stated before, Wiccan God names are specific to each Tradition and oathbound, so by default Neo-Wiccans do not and cannot honor the God and Goddess by those same identities, so neither does “right belief“ include the specific Deity forms.
Is it then following the Wiccan Rede? That’s not it either, since there are practitioners out there who discard the Rede all together and still lay claim to the “Wiccan title” (and yes, I’m aware that “rede” means “counsel or advice” and not “commandment, ” but I’ve yet to encounter a Wiccan who thinks its irrelevant).
What about celebrating the Sabbats? Well, okay, almost anyone along the Wicca/Neo-Wicca spectrum can agree that these eight points of the year are important, but what’s not agreed on is how one celebrates them, or even what they’re called (as far as I can tell, only Samhain, Yule, and Beltane are universally used names, the rest can vary). In some cases, the dates are even in dispute, since there are those who figure the Greater Sabbats relative to the Lesser Sabbats each year, marking them as the precise midpoints between the astronomical Solstices and Equinoxes rather than the “fixed” dates of the common calendar.
This final point segues nicely into another striking difference, that of ritual form and elements. Not all Neo-Wiccans cast a Circle in the same way nor include all the same components as others (in some cases, even the rituals for the same event differ each time they are performed) , and being that Wiccan ritual structure is oathbound, one can infer that Neo-Wiccan rituals bear little, if any, resemblance to their Traditional counterparts. If Wicca and Neo-Wicca was indeed the same thing, wouldn’t we all use the same rituals, honoring the same God forms in the same ways?
Wiccans also contend that only a Wiccan can make another Wiccan, that one cannot enter Wicca without someone to teach and guide them. A popular Neo-Wiccan counter to this comes from Scott Cunningham, and is something along the lines of, “but who made the first Wiccan? The God and Goddess. So who are we to be so bold and presumptuous as to usurp and appropriate Their power? Who has the real power to make a Wiccan?”
I can agree to a certain extent; the Wiccan Gods are responsible, to a degree, for Wicca’s existence, in that They provided the original inspiration, need, and desire for a way to honor Them. However, I also believe They intended for things to be done in just that way, else why would They have put the idea in a human mind? Why the need for rituals at all, if any way one honors them is acceptable?
Let me clarify – when I say “the Wiccan Gods, ” I mean those names, faces, forms, aspects, and attributes that are oathbound and specific to the Traditions of Wicca. If Gods other than those have different desires and requirements, then so be it, but then They are not the Gods of Wicca, and therefore need not be honored in the Wiccan way.
The Wiccan way is one practiced by humans to reach out to and commune with the Wiccan Gods, and therefore only one who knows that way can teach that way. A dentist, while a medical professional, cannot teach someone to perform open-heart surgery. So it follows that someone inexperienced in the Wiccan Mysteries, regardless of any other gnosis, knowledge, and experience they may have gained, cannot teach them to anyone.
To add to this, in Wicca the initiating High Priest and High Priestess are seen as representations and “substitutes, ” if you will, of the God and Goddess on this material plane. They are infused with Divine Will and Power at the time of initiation (and in all other rites), so in the realism of non-duality, it IS the God and Goddess who are making new Wiccans, not “merely” other humans. However, the HP and HPS are specifically chosen and trained to perform these duties using the structure and methods of their Tradition.
A Neo-Wiccan, or anyone else who is not HP or HPS even if he/she is a Wiccan initiate, has no such training, and so cannot perform an initiation rite as the representative of the Wiccan Gods.
Clearly there is great disparity between not only practice, but also belief, between those called Wiccans and Neo-Wiccans. All this points to Neo-Wicca being an outgrowth of Wicca, rather than a continuation of it, much like Buddhism was an outgrowth of Hinduism. Buddhism and Hinduism both include the ideas of Karma, Dharma, and Samsara, Yantras, etc., but they differ on the nature and application of these ideas.
Buddhists do not recognize a pantheon of Gods in the way Hindus do, and also do not perform elaborate rituals. The two paths do have commonalities, but are distinct and separate belief systems. It would be improper, inaccurate, and doing a disservice to both paths if one was to say they are the same.
This can also be applied to Wicca and Neo-Wicca; Wicca recognizes a specific set of Gods, while Neo-Wicca does not. Wicca includes much formality and formulary in its rituals, which is not necessarily true of Neo-Wicca. They are related practices, one springing from the other, but they are fundamentally different, and it is improper, inaccurate, and doing a disservice to both to try and say that they are the same.
Of course, it’s all very well and good for these kinds of things to be said by someone who prefers Wicca to Neo-Wicca, someone who is seeking to walk the Gardnerian path. I concede that it would be far more impacting and impressive had this article or one similar been written by a Neo-Wiccan, because there’d be less risk of accusations of elitism, or discrimination, or exclusion. If, however, any Neo-Wiccan found truth in what I’ve presented here, I encourage them to write a similar piece, putting the focus on their practices, revealing the value and beauty that perhaps stems from the differences, rather than in spite of them.
What are the benefits of Solitary work? How is self-study more fulfilling than working under another’s tutelage? How does the tapestry of cultures and customs enrich your practice; is the old adage, “student of many trades, master of none” inaccurate?
I’m not personally looking to be convinced, I’ve found my home and my path, but that kind of piece may go a long way to strengthening other Neo-Wiccans’ sense of identity and purpose. And anyone finding peace and feeling whole on their spiritual journey is a beautiful thing, regardless of what that path may be called.
What is Wicca? The answer to this question can vary, depending on who you ask, but below you’ll find a general introduction to this fascinating spiritual path.
Wicca is a modern, Earth-centered religion with roots in the ancient practices of our shamanic ancestors. Its practitioners, who call themselves Wiccans, honor the life-giving and life-sustaining powers of Nature through ritual worship and a commitment to living in balance with the Earth. Wicca is technically classified as one of many Pagan religions, though not all Wiccans would identify as Pagans—and plenty who identify as Pagans are not Wiccans.
In truth, Wicca is extremely dynamic and ever-evolving, so it’s difficult to make very many statements about it that every single person identifying as a Wiccan will agree with. However, it’s probably safe to say that when looking at the night sky, or the view from the top of a mountain, or the glassy surface of a lake, most—if not all—Wiccans will feel very much in the presence of the divine. So then, what is Wicca? What does it mean to be a Wiccan? And what are the core religious beliefs?
Click here to read the rest of this article Source: wiccaliving.com
Saturn. A restrictive energy.
Good for banishing spells and ridding old energies. Binding spells are also potent on this day.
Also good for focusing and developing patience (something a lot of witches don’t have).
Typically, I do not do spells on Saturdays unless it is to get rid of unwanted energies or desires.
Deriving its name from the god Saturn, this is a great day to use divination and psychic abilities. Furthermore, its energies will aid in magic concerning the elderly, end-of-life issues, death, and binding spells.
Color: Black, dark purple
Planet: Saturn
Deities: Hecate, Saturn,
Crystals: Apache tear, obsidian, hematite
Herbs: Thyme, mullein, cypress
Associations: banishing, protection, wisdom, cleansing, spirituality
The current moon phase for today is the Waxing Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 13.51 days old and 98.66% illuminated with a tilt of 149.772°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 404,776.10 km and the moon sign is Libra.
The Moon phase for today is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).
In the Northern Hemisphere, the right side will be illuminated, and in the Southern hemisphere it’ll be the left side that is illuminated.
The Waxing Gibbous phase, like all moon phases, will last for just over 7 days. The actual length will vary because of the elliptical shaped orbit of the moon. During this Waxing Gibbous phase the moon will rise in the east in the mid- to late-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset.
Assuming it’s a clear night, the Waxing Gibbous moon will then be visible through most of the night before setting just before sunrise.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon age: 13.51 days
Moon illumination: 98.66%
Moon tilt: 149.772°
Moon angle: 0.49
Moon distance: 404,776.10 km
Moon sign: Libra
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Gibbous phase. Visible through most of the night sky setting a few hours before sunrise. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon.
During a Waxing Gibbous the moon rises in the east in mid-afternoon and is high in the eastern sky at sunset. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.
Visit the April 2025 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.
The Waxing Gibbous on April 12 has an illumination of 100%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On April 12 the Moon is 14.46 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.
The current zodiac moon sign is Libra, positioned at 15.38° within the sign. The Moon entered Libra on Apr 10, 9:09 PM and will shift into Scorpio on Apr 13, 4:21 PM. The zodiac moon sign represents the position of the Moon as it moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each zodiac moon sign lasts about 2 to 2.5 days as the Moon travels through that part of the sky.
You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.
Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com
For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society
There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Libra.
5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult
*** Today the Moon is opposite your sign, which turns your attention to personal relationships. Loved ones and partners will be more important to you today. Unfortunately, any conflicts you might have will be more emotional. Stay chill. (You know who you are.)
*** You might have to put the needs or wants of someone else before your own today. Just accept this gracefully. It’s not a big deal. You might also use today’s energy to reorganize your personal affairs including arts, crafts and hobbies. Give it 15 minutes.
**** This is a good day because the Moon is in your fellow Air sign, which means you feel in harmony with yourself and everything around you. It’s a particularly good day for any kind of group activity. Relations with others are pretty mellow. You feel revitalized!
*** You’re making a great impression on others because the Sun is at the top of your chart. Nevertheless, today is an ideal day to pull in your energy and hide at home or relax among familiar surroundings. In other words, take this day to grab a breather and enjoy some time out.
**** You’re curious about many things right now. You have publishing plans in addition to travel. Today’s the perfect day to take a short trip, and enjoy appointments and visits with others because you need to communicate. You have something to say and you need to be heard.
*** Money is on your mind today. Do what you can to delve into your financial situation – check your bank and your bills and find out what you owe and what you own. This is because when it comes to money, information is power.
**** Today the Moon is in your sign as it is every month for 2 1/2 days. Although it will make you more emotional than usual, the good news is that it slightly improves your good luck. You might test this out by asking the universe for a favour? Why not?
*** You’ve been working hard. Let’s pull things in a little today. Keep a low profile. Work alone or behind the scenes. It’s also a good day to do research. Meanwhile, be extra patient with romantic partners as well as your kids. Easy does it.
**** Today you feel an inner equanimity, which is why this a good time to stop and take stock. You’ll feel better today. Meanwhile, relations with groups and friends are excellent. Look for ways to improve your life. It’s the small successes that make us feel good.
*** For 2 1/2 days every month, the Moon is at the top of your chart, which symbolizes that people notice you. In fact, some people will know personal details about your private life. Do be aware of this in case you have to do some damage control.
**** Today you have a strong urge to break free of your daily routine. Enjoy networking with others because you like to spend time with your friends. Travel would be a lovely option. Or you can be a tourist in your own city.
*** This is a good day to tackle red-tape details like taxes, debt, banking matters and anything to do with inheritances or shared property. You have the necessary frame of mind to look into these matters, and you’ll love yourself for it later if you make some progress and clean up loose ends.
TV broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson (1960) shares your birthday today. You are persuasive and diplomatic. You love to champion causes and you are forever optimistic. Service will be your theme this year, probably service to family. Therefore, take care of yourself first so you can be a resource to others. This year might be time for a makeover?
You are prone to create something or work with your hands this Friday and the more you prevent your impulses, the more frustrated you will feel.
There are things you can try and even groups you can adhere to but you need to keep an open mind. You are shutting down some good ideas before you even understand them properly.
You can also enjoy this special Aries Daily Horoscope.
A great day for exploration for all those natives who need a break from routine. But don’t imagine anything to exciting or some real travel because this endeavor will probably embrace a more humane side.
You might spend an evening out in the city or maybe get to know someone else in a different setting.
You can also enjoy this special Taurus Daily Horoscope.
You seem to let yourself easily influenced by those around and although you don’t necessarily follow exactly what you say, you tend to model your train of thought after them.
And you know that entourage often carries a big importance, especially to those young. Beware of embracing any ideas that might appear too exaggerated at a first glance.
You can also enjoy this special Gemini Daily Horoscope.
You seem to be happy with the way things are evolving at work but there are still aspects you can’t come to grips with.
Most of them probably pertain to the relationship you have with your colleagues and that fact that at times you just can’t feel as one of them. Other than this, this Friday might bring something new in the mix.
You can also enjoy this special Cancer Daily Horoscope.
You seem to start this Friday in quite a concerned mood but perhaps you have lost track of things and are not really paying attention to what is really important and prefer to agonize on matters that can easily be solved.
What you seem to lack at the moment is a sense of practicality. Look at what you can physically solve.
You can also enjoy this special Leo Daily Horoscope.
You are seeking ways to put into light something you have just learned or something you think you are good at but you leave yourself misguided.
It isn’t necessarily about what others are expecting as it is of how good you are in that area. If you want to play the role of the specialist you need to take it on a road that no one has tried before.
You can also enjoy this special Virgo Daily Horoscope.
It seems like this Friday starts under interesting auspices for you as the short term prospects actually bring you what you wanted.
And from that the way is open to do whatever you want. The only word of caution for you is to beware of those you are going to share this victory with as not everyone wishes the best for you.
You can also enjoy this special Libra Daily Horoscope.
Those natives who are romantically involved at the moment are going to benefit most from the current disposition.
But this doesn’t mean that the single natives are completely unhappy with their conditions. Everyone is charming in their way and some might be able to showcase this better than others, especially in the light of these events.
You can also enjoy this special Scorpio Daily Horoscope.
You must accept that some page of your life has turned and you have other responsibilities that you need to tend to at the moment.
And while you are still reminiscing those times when things were a lot easier, perhaps you should also turn your attention to the benefits you have at the moment and understand that these can only come with sacrifices.
You can also enjoy this special Sagittarius Daily Horoscope.
This is going to be a great day to put in practice something you have recently learned. And although the situation won’t test you directly and might not even be like you imagined it, there is enough occasion to show how far you’ve come.
Other than this, you seem to get along just great with people younger than you of all backgrounds.
You can also enjoy this special Capricorn Daily Horoscope.
The current disposition promotes a challenging couple of days and there are some changes you need to embrace before things can advance.
It might be that you need to spend some money to make new money. Also, you might see that you need to embark onto new responsibilities and also shine light on personal aspects you’ve kept hidden.
You can also enjoy this special Aquarius Daily Horoscope.
You really ought to delegate some of those tasks you have on your list or else you won’t be able to breathe easy for a second this Friday or the following week.
And although they might not solve them like you would, there isn’t a specific perfection to meet so you might as well settle with what you have. Concentrate your energy elsewhere.
You can also enjoy this special Pisces Daily Horoscope.
If you want to see information on any tradition of witchcraft, herbs, flowers, a Goddess or a God, or anything pertaining to any tradition of witchcraft, please put it in the comment section or email Lady Carla Beltane at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com. I will try to find some information to post about it.
The Elemental powers of the four directions or quarters are usually needed when we perform magick, particularly when we wish to achieve an import work. You will probably find that your own group or yourself has its own traditions in doing this. As we see elsewhere, the four worlds manifested in a certain order; Fire, Air, Water and finally Earth, and magickal procedures should strictly follow this for perfect manifestation. However over the years in different traditions, diverse methods have been put forward, so if working alone you must find which suits you best, and if working in a group you will follow given practice. We call the quarters clockwise, starting with the East.
The East represents the Elemental Air, helps give to us clarity of vision and purpose and represents intellectual power. You will appeal to this element principally in any working to do with the mind – when studying for exams perhaps of when you need inspiration for new projects.
The South is the realm of Fire, the most potent of all of the Elements. It signifies the purifying element in nature, that which consumes all others; through it, mastery of the other three is achieved. It is a dynamic force, purification and passion, and is perceived as the Inner Guardian of the Temple. You will use this element in your workings when you need creativity, cleansing or protection from malevolent energy.
The West stands for all those watery things like our psychi and emotional nature so, of course, it represents the element of Water, through it should be remembered that within that representation lies both depth and movement. The qualities are often see as passive, and feminine, but would be appealed to particularly when removing hexes and curses or when revitalizing is important.
The North give us the solidity of Earth which in turn allows us to manifest the results of our work. It nourishes and grounds us, giving a solid basis for which to create. While it is a complex element containing within it aspects of all the previous ones, it also shows simplicity to enable us to gain access to greater energy which comes from the Ultimate. You would use this Element to create tangibility and stability as well as for issues to do with fertility and productiveness.
Lastly, the Centre is called. This is the realm of Aether or Spirit and is both the synthesis of all four of the other elements and their progenitor. In calling on Spirit you are calling upon all that is, was and shall be and therefore an energy of high vibration. For this reason it is usually best that the centre is called by a high priest or priestess or at least by someone who has been properly initiated and trained. Spirit manifests in so many different ways that often only someone versed in the process will recognize what is happening.
Source:
Natural Magic: Spells, Enchantments & Self-Development Ball, Pamela (2002-11-20).Hopefully, by the time you reach the end of this book, you will be able to answer that question for yourself. In the meantime, the following is a short list of benefits you can gain from doing regular witchcraft spells and rituals.
Disrupt the Trance of Everyday Life
Your practice should shift you out of the well-worn mental pathways of your daily life. The spells and rituals you do should make you pause in your day, be conscious and aware of who you are, where you are, and what your aims are. Any spells, consciously performed, should prevent you from being a purely mechanical robot.
Connect You with Spirit
Staying connected to Spirit is essential to attracting what you really want in your life. You can connect with Spirit through any or all of the spells and rituals described in this book. Any spell that quiets the mind or puts us in touch with physical sensation will bring us into contact with Spirit.
Help You Access Powers and Beings
Creating what we want in life is much easier when we have help. A daily practice of witchcraft or magic that puts you in contact with angels, guides, totem Spirits, and other helpers can increase your ability to attract what you want in life. Remember that there is a helpful being for just about anything you want— don’t be afraid to ask!
Help You Remember What You Want
Many of us go through our days in a reactionary mode— we are not choosing our thoughts and actions so much as we are reacting to the stimulus around us. Daily performance of magical rituals and spells helps us remember what we really want in life, and keeps us from sabotaging ourselves with unwanted reactions. For instance, if your goal is to create peace and harmony in life, a daily witchcraft practice can keep you in touch with Spirit, reminding you not to react angrily to your co-worker’s insults.
Be in Accordance with Universal Principles
Doing daily spells and rituals that are designed with Universal principles in mind is much more effective than those that are not— plus, they are guaranteed to be safe. Sound spells follow Rules of the Road, principles such as “as above, so below,“ and four element principles. For instance, if you’re designing a ritual to help you gain knowledge, you want to work with the principles of the magical element Air. If you want a ritual that will help you act, you want to work with Fire.
Source: Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands
Alan G. Joel
Anyone can cast a powerful spell. If you think you’re not powerful enough or not magickal enough, or if you’re still a little skeptical about Witchcraft, don’t worry about it.
You will still be able to perform very effective magick, if you can follow some very simple rules. These rules are very important principles that will underlie in all magickal spells you ever perform.
Magick, using tools and words and spells, just enhances this natural ability that your mind has to attract.
Magick lets you powerfully attract what you want, and it works because of the Law of Attraction.
The key is to make sure that everything you do is in line with your goals. All your thoughts, all your actions, and everything you do should be in agreement with what you are trying to attract.
You must think positive and imagine the reality you wish to achieve with your spell.
Your spells will not work unless you put your entire being into achieving your goal.
Magic without the proper intention is just a bunch of rhyming words.
When you do magic, you want it work for you.
Always make sure that you avoid anything that contradicts or goes against the purpose of your spell.
Make negative statement will cancel out any positive energy created by your spell. The means that the spell won’t work.
When you cast a spell, you need to be confident that it will succeed. In fact, the more confident you are, the more successful you spell is likely to be.
When practicing Witchcraft the two most common elements that we all have in common are the magick circle and the altar.
Let’s talk about how to set up your own magick circle and altar.
The circle is a powerful Witch’s tool. It’s the space where your magick happens. It is a sacred space that only you can create for yourself.
The magick circle has been used by witches and other magicians of various cultures: American Indians, Babylonians, and many others have used the magick circle.
The magick circle protects the witch from the forces that he or she is raising. It’s also used to shut out any energy or forces from outside which will interfere with the ritual.
The circle also contains your own personal power while you are working magick, holding and channeling it or your purposes.
Essentially the circle creates the atmosphere for all the magick you will do. It is a sphere of energy that forms the boundaries of your magickal space.
You will need some kind of way of marking the boundaries of your circle.
You can use a long piece of cord, or if you are outdoors, draw a circle of chalk, or use other objects to mark the outside of your circle.
Traditionally, a magick circle is nine feet in diameter. If you have space constraints, make it as big or as small as you are able to.
As you set up your circle, try to feel its energy moving around you. Focus on creating your perfect magickal space, the place where you can access your true power.
Once you have your circle, it’s time to decide what will go inside it.
The altar is the space where your tools will go. It can be made of anything, but wood is the best choice. Your altar doesn’t have to be fancy.
It can be a cardboard box covered with cloth, two cinder blocks with a board on top, a small coffee table or even a large, flat rock.
Traditionally, the altar is set in the center of the circle, facing North.
But what items will go on your altar, and where should you place them?
On the left side of the altar you place items such as your crystal, your cauldron(if it will fit), and a silver or white candle.
Your broom also goes on the left side, next to the altar.
On the right side is the place for your magick wand and your incense.
You can be as creative as you wish with your altar. Make it personal, and choose items which are both powerful and meaningful to you.
In the middle you can place some flowers if you like, plus all the ingredients you will need for your spell. Don’t forget matches for the candles, and a place to put the used matches.
Make sure you have all your spell ingredients ready before you begin, so that you do not have to leave the circle once you have started your ritual.
The altar is where you will do your spell casting. That’s why it’s in the center of the circle—it’s the focal point of your ritual.
Again, how you choose to do this is up to you. There’s no one right way to set up an altar.
All that matters is that you choose items that are magickally powerful and that you feel a connection with.
The magick will do the rest.
The current moon phase for today is the Waxing Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 12.49 days old and 95.5% illuminated with a tilt of 155.322°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 403,021.93 km and the moon sign is Virgo.
The Moon phase for today is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).
In the Northern Hemisphere, the right side will be illuminated, and in the Southern hemisphere it’ll be the left side that is illuminated.
The Waxing Gibbous phase, like all moon phases, will last for just over 7 days. The actual length will vary because of the elliptical shaped orbit of the moon. During this Waxing Gibbous phase the moon will rise in the east in the mid- to late-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset.
Assuming it’s a clear night, the Waxing Gibbous moon will then be visible through most of the night before setting just before sunrise.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon age: 12.49 days
Moon illumination: 95.5%
Moon tilt: 155.322°
Moon angle: 0.49
Moon distance: 403,021.93 km
Moon sign: Virgo
You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Gibbous phase. Visible through most of the night sky setting a few hours before sunrise. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon.
During a Waxing Gibbous the moon rises in the east in mid-afternoon and is high in the eastern sky at sunset. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.
Visit the April 2025 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.
The Waxing Gibbous on April 10 has an illumination of 95%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On April 10 the Moon is 12.74 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.
The current zodiac moon sign is Virgo, positioned at 23.85° within the sign. The Moon entered Virgo on Apr 8, 3:12 AM and will shift into Libra on Apr 10, 9:09 PM. The zodiac moon sign represents the position of the Moon as it moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each zodiac moon sign lasts about 2 to 2.5 days as the Moon travels through that part of the sky.
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.
Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com
For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society
You answer the door before people knock.
Juan Valdez named his donkey after you.
You ski uphill.
You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
You haven’t blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
You lick your coffeepot clean.
You’re the employee of the month at the local coffeehouse and you don’t even work there.
Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
You chew on other people’s fingernails.
Your T-shirt says, “Decaffeinated coffee is the devil’s blend.”
You can type sixty words per minute… with your feet.
You can jump-start your car without cables.
No-Doze is a downer.
You don’t need a hammer to pound nails.
Your only source of nutrition comes from “Sweet & Low.”
You don’t sweat, you percolate.
You buy half-and-half by the barrel.
You’ve worn out the handle on your favorite mug.
You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.
You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it’s not plugged in.
You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.
Charles Manson thinks you need to calm down.
You’ve built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.
People get dizzy just watching you.
You’ve worn the finish off your coffee table.
The Taster’s Choice couple wants to adopt you.
Starbucks owns the mortgage on your house.
Your taste buds are so numb you could drink your lava lamp.
Instant coffee takes too long.
When someone says “How are you?”, you say, “Good to the last drop.”
You want to be cremated just so you can spend the rest of eternity in a coffee can.
Your birthday is a national holiday in Brazil.
You’re offended when people use the word “brew” to mean beer.
You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.
You can thread a sewing machine, while it’s running.
You can outlast the Energizer bunny.
You short out motion detectors.
You don’t even wait for the water to boil anymore.
Your nervous twitch registers on the Richter scale.
You think being called a “drip” is a compliment.
You don’t tan, you roast.
You can’t even remember your second cup.
You help your dog chase its tail.
If you want to see information on any tradition of witchcraft, herbs, flowers, a Goddess or a God, or anything pertaining to any tradition of witchcraft, please put it in the comment section or email Lady Carla Beltane at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com. I will try to find some information to post about it.
The current moon phase for today is the Waxing Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 10.43 days old and 83.99% illuminated with a tilt of 155.606°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 397,418.84 km and the moon sign is Virgo.
The Moon phase for today is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).
In the Northern Hemisphere, the right side will be illuminated, and in the Southern hemisphere it’ll be the left side that is illuminated.
The Waxing Gibbous phase, like all moon phases, will last for just over 7 days. The actual length will vary because of the elliptical shaped orbit of the moon. During this Waxing Gibbous phase the moon will rise in the east in the mid- to late-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset.
Assuming it’s a clear night, the Waxing Gibbous moon will then be visible through most of the night before setting just before sunrise.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon age: 10.43 days
Moon illumination: 83.99%
Moon tilt: 155.606°
Moon angle: 0.5
Moon distance: 397,418.84 km
Moon sign: Virgo
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Gibbous phase. Visible through most of the night sky setting a few hours before sunrise. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon.
During a Waxing Gibbous the moon rises in the east in mid-afternoon and is high in the eastern sky at sunset. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.
Visit the April 2025 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.
The Waxing Gibbous on April 8 has an illumination of 84%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On April 8 the Moon is 10.86 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.
The current zodiac moon sign is Virgo, positioned at 2.86° within the sign. The Moon entered Virgo on Apr 8, 3:12 AM and will shift into Libra on Apr 10, 9:09 PM. The zodiac moon sign represents the position of the Moon as it moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each zodiac moon sign lasts about 2 to 2.5 days as the Moon travels through that part of the sky.
You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.
Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com
For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society
After 10 AM EDT today (7 AM PDT) there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Virgo.
5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult
***** Another romantic day full of promise and for some of you, a thrilling proposal of marriage. (Oh my.) Surprise flirtations from unexpected sources might also catch you off guard. Similarly, a favourable financial offer that you didn’t expect might make your day. Socialize and schmooze!
**** This is a lovely day because your relationships with friends and members of groups will be warm and mutually receptive. In fact, for some of you, these relationships are so warm and cozy, a platonic relationship might turn romantic. Almost certainly, you’ll might someone unusual today.
**** It’s easy to make a great impression on bosses, parents, VIPs and authority figures today. People are impressed with your appearance and style; plus, whatever you propose will have a strong chance of catching their attention. In fact, for some of you, a flirtation or romance with a boss might begin.
*** Sudden opportunities to travel might fall in your lap today. Likewise, unexpected avenues might open in areas related to medicine and the law or publishing, the media and higher education. Either way, be ready to act fast because this window of opportunity is brief.
***** Financial negotiations will favour you today along with discussions about taxes, debt and inheritances. However, things are unpredictable. Sudden changes are likely. Meanwhile, passionate romance might also catch you off guard! (Be still my beating heart.)
**** A partner, spouse or close friend might do something unexpected that catches you off guard today. Fortunately, this will likely please you. It might even be a declaration of love! (Gasp.) Or perhaps you’ll be introduced to someone unusual or romantically appealing? (This is not a boring day.) Enjoy!
**** Today your relations with coworkers are so cozy, some of you will strike up a work-related romance or flirtation. Almost certainly, something pleasant but unexpected will occur today related to your work, your health or a pet. (Look your best to maximize all opportunities.)
**** This is another wonderful, romantic day full of surprising opportunities. Someone might declare their love for you? Or vice versa, you might boldly state your intentions regarding someone else? Meanwhile, enjoy unexpected invitations to fun events. Be ready to jump in either direction.
**** Stock the fridge because unexpected company might drop by today. For some of you, a surprise purchase, especially something that is high tech or modern that might improve your home in an interesting way. A romantic interest might appear? Get ready for anything. (Stay off your heels.)
**** A fast-changing day! Expect surprise invitations and opportunities to see new places, meet new faces and do new things. Perhaps a daily contact will become a saucy flirtation? Make time to enjoy the beauty of your daily surroundings. A pleasant day, indeed!
**** Keep an eye on your possessions and your money today because things are unpredictable. Fortunately, whatever happens will likely favour you. Sudden gifts of money might come your way. You might score a chance to pursue a better paying job. A surprise purchase might please you?
***** Something unusual might occur today that gives you a chance to improve your appearance. This could include an unexpected purchase or perhaps a new hairdo or a wardrobe change? (Your confidence always gets a boost when you’re wearing killer shoes and boots.) Meanwhile, a romance might suddenly flourish.
Actress Katee Sackoff (1980) shares your birthday today. You’re protective, compassionate and empathetic. You use your strong will to champion noble causes. This is a wonderful year to socialize and enjoy life because your creativity and zest for life are at a pinnacle. Have fun but remember your goals. Old friends might reappear to rekindle relationships.
Your emotions are acting up and some hidden feelings might be revealed this Tuesday. Perhaps this is happening because you don’t feel you have enough support at home or maybe because on the contrary, you feel overwhelmed by all the attention that is on you.
This new person in your life is probably going to bring a bout of fresh air.
You can also enjoy this special Aries Daily Horoscope.
This Tuesday should be all about saving and making use of any opportunities of this kind. You know how they say that you should think of these things during the good days so you don’t have to cry during the bad days.
Take advantage of the peace and quiet of the next couple of days and put some money aside as there isn’t much of importance you can do with it at the moment either.
You can also enjoy this special Taurus Daily Horoscope.
It appears that the current disposition favors negotiations and endeavors of this kind. You ought to be very eloquent with those around and although you might not be able to convince them entirely, it seems that the facts are still in your favor.
And whomever has eyes to see that will probably act upon this and in your favor.
You can also enjoy this special Gemini Daily Horoscope.
You might have to give up something you enjoy doing, either temporarily or for good, this Tuesday and although the break will be felt, you will be just fine.
Perhaps this is a slower period and this is why you are able to feel changes a lot more poignant than usual. Other than this, apparently you might get some free time this Tuesday as well.
You can also enjoy this special Cancer Daily Horoscope.
During some kind of social endeavor, you might come across someone who you will consider to be very special from the beginning.
Perhaps they are doing something you always dreamed of doing or they are a great specialist in your field. In any case, once you wake up from admiration and awe, you might get a chance to spend some time with them.
You can also enjoy this special Leo Daily Horoscope.
You shouldn’t be surprised by anything that is going on this Tuesday as it seems that the quirkier the day, the more opportunities for you.
Perhaps you will have the chance to showcase some talent of yours or maybe a situation from work will require exactly that kind of inspiration you have been practicing for a while now in other activities.
You can also enjoy this special Virgo Daily Horoscope.
You might be going through a rougher patch but there is no need to play the victim, especially since it seems that you don’t really have an audience for that either.
If you are really seeking for answers and advice, try to orient yourself towards those who are older than you, because, although you might think of them from a different era, they do own some general truths.
You can also enjoy this special Libra Daily Horoscope.
A day of memories for some natives, most of them who are going to reminisce of times that were a lot easier for them, most likely from their childhood.
This will not only bring a lot of melancholy in their lives but also a feeling of warmth and they might be put in the position to seek to be reunited with some relatives they haven’t seen in a while.
You can also enjoy this special Scorpio Daily Horoscope.
You tend to react with a lot of aggressiveness whenever you are being told something you don’t agree with and it seems that no matter the subject, your impulsivity knows of no boundaries.
You need to relax a bit and realize that not everything is as important and that you need to let some things go and also not regard yourself as so important.
You can also enjoy this special Sagittarius Daily Horoscope.
You seem to be carrying some kind of passive aggressive feud with your partner and unfortunately you are both right, because you both direct your ideas to the wellbeing of everyone around.
But perhaps you don’t know how to express your wishes and this is exactly where the misunderstanding rises. A good day for celebrations, even if it’s a Tuesday.
You can also enjoy this special Capricorn Daily Horoscope.
You might have some distant relative coming to you to ask for help in a financial matter and you are right to doubt whether to help them or not.
Whether they don’t inspire you too much confidence or have already disappointed you in the past, you shouldn’t feel guilty. You could help them with some advice and it’s up to them what they do with it.
You can also enjoy this special Aquarius Daily Horoscope.
You are too afraid that certain things you are too busy to get involved in might end up impacting you and you are stressing way too much about it.
If you can’t do anything about it than let it go and simply hope for the best. Or perhaps try to delegate the supervision of the matter to someone else, whom you can trust.
You can also enjoy this special Pisces Daily Horoscope.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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