These colors can be used for altar clothes, candles, clothing, Sabbat, and other things. Some of the colors also correspondence to a specific day and/or month. 
Category: Our History
Witchcraft Bare Basics Part 8 – The Witches Creed, Witches Rede and the Threefold Law
I was given permission to share the Witches Creed and Rede with you.
The Witches Creed
By Doreen Valiente
Click here for more information on the Witches Creed
Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny’s pathway,
That now we bring forth into light.
Mysterious water and fire,
The earth and the wide-ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
And will and keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of all nature,
The passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.
Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve and old Hallowe’en.
When day-time and night-time are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
And Witches gather in feast.
The Wiccan Rede
This was first written in 1964 by Doreen Valiente
Click here for more information about the Witches Rede
(Full Version)
Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.
For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.
Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.
Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God’s insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady’s tree burn it not or cursed you’ll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it’s now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows, watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn, soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas, night power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it’s height, time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you’ll be.
Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you’ll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.
Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
“An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will”
Threefold Law
Not all traditions of witchcraft believe in the Threefold Law. Personally, I do because it keeps me from straying into the dark aspects of witchcraft such as hexes or curses or other negative things that are possible to do.
The Threefold law is simple it says you should be careful of the spells you cast or rituals you do as whatever the spell is can come back at you three times as strong. If you cast a dark, negative spell be prepared for something or some things in your life to go bad three times worse than whatever you casted on the other person.
If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.
Copyright by Lady Carla Beltane 2015 All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged or copy and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for commercial purpose without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. It may be printed out for personal use only.
What are Wiccan ethics, the “Wiccan Rede” and “three-fold law?”
What are Wiccan ethics, the “Wiccan Rede” and “three-fold law?”
Wiccan ethics are seldom codified in a legalistic way, but may be informed by some common expressions such as the “Wiccan Rede” and the “three-fold law.” According to most versions of the three-fold law,
whatever one does comes back to one thrice multiplied, in amplified repercussion. One short, rhymed version of the Wiccan Rede states “Eight
words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An it harm none, do what you will.” Often “none” is interpreted to include the doer themself in analogy to the “golden rule” of other faiths. There are no universal proscriptions
regarding food, sex, burial or military service and Wiccans, as a rule, discourage proselytization (attempts to convert others to a different
religion).
The Full Wiccan Rede
The Full Wiccan Rede
Bide within the Law ye should To keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.For tread the Circle thrice about In perfect love and perfect trust.
Live ye must and let to live
Fairly take and fairly give.
Light of eye, and soft of touch
Speak you little, listen much.
Honour the Old Ones in deed and name
Let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the waxing moon
Chanting out the Wiccan Rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon
Chanting out the Baneful Rune.
When the Lady’s moon is new
Kiss the hand to her times two.
When the moon ridesat Her peak
Then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the Northwinds mighty gale
Lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind blows form the East
Expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South
Love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers form the West
All hearts will find peace and rest.
Nine woods in the Cauldron go
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes
To represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might
In the fire it brings the God’s insight.
Rowan is a tree of power
Causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand
Ready to help us to the summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to puify
And to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel – the tree of wisdom and learning –
Adds it’s strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of the Apple tree
That brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine
Giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen
To represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady’s tree
Burn it not or cursed you’ll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark
In the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane
The new begin; it’s now Samhain.
When the time for Imblolc shows
watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn
Soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lammas night
Power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall
Use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule
Light the log The Horned One rule.
In the spring, when night equals day
Time for Ostara to come our way.
When the sun has reached it’s hight
Time for Oak and Holly fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all
When the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush and tree
By the lady Blessed you’ll be.
Where the rippling waters go
Cast a stone, the truth you’ll know.
When you have and hold a need
Harken not to others greed
With a fool no season spend
Or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Law you should
Three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow
Wear the star upon your brow
Be true in love this you must do
Unless your love be false to you
Eight words the Rede fulfil
“An it harm none, do as ye will”
Witch 101: “Witches’ Rede of Chivalry” c 2016
Witch 101: “Witches’ Rede of Chivalry”
The Witches’ Rede of Chivalry can be found in Ed Fitch’s book Magical Rites from the Crystal Well, containing work published in a popular Pagan magazine in the 19602 and ’70s. The Crystal Well featured writing based primarily on Central and Eastern European magickal traditions.
The Witches’ Rede of Chivalry may be written in somewhat archaic language, but it covers a number of important points, and I think it is worth taking a peek at. Here’s an example to show you what I mean: “A Witch’s word must have the validity of a signed and witnessed oath. Thus, give thy word sparingly, but adhere to it like iron.” Can’t argue with that, can you?
Source: Everyday Witch A to Z By Deborah Blake
How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween
After the Romans conquered ancient Celtic realms, pagan traditions were adopted into a holiday honoring Catholic saints.
Halloween may be a secular affair today, dominated by candy, costumes and trick-or-treating, but the holiday is rooted in an annual Celtic pagan festival called Samhain (pronounced “SAH- wane”) that was then appropriated by the early Catholic Church some 1,200 years ago.
The ancient Celts were an assortment of tribes and small kingdoms once scattered across western and Central Europe with distinctive languages and culture, explains Frederick Suppe, a historian specializing in Celtic and medieval history at Ball State University in Indiana.
Even after the Romans conquered their realm, Celts continued to survive and thrive in places such as Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales.
Halloween Inspired by Samhain
Samhain, the Celtic festival that is the ancestor of Halloween, was related to the Celts’ way of looking at the world. “All the Celtic peoples conceived of a fundamental dichotomy between light and dark, with the former representing positive, lucky, fruitful values and the latter representing negative, threatening, destructive values,” Suppe explains.
The Celtic year began at sundown at the end of the autumn harvest, continued through the… Click here to read the rest of this article about How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween
Samhain (Sow-en) – The Celtic roots of Halloween
As millions of children and adults participate in the fun of Halloween on the night of October 31st, few will be aware of its ancient Celtic roots in the Samhain (Samain) festival. In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago, Samhain was the division of the year between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter). At Samhain the division between this world and the otherworld was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through.
The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits and thus avoid harm. Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal fire, household fires were extinguished and started again from the bonfire. Food was prepared for the living and the dead, food for the ancestors who were in no position it eat it, was ritually shared with the less well off.
Christianity incorporated the honouring of the dead into the Christian calendar with All Saints (All Hallows) on November 1st, followed by All Souls on November 2nd. The wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits survived as Halloween customs. The Irish emigrated to America in great numbers during the 19th century especially around the time of famine in Ireland during the 1840’s. The Irish carried their Halloween traditions to America, where today it is one of the major holidays of the year. Through time other traditions have blended into Halloween, for example the American harvest time tradition of carving pumpkins.
Two hills in the Boyne Valley were associated with Samhain in Celtic Ireland, Tlachtga and Tara. Tlachtga was the location of the Great Fire Festival which begun on the eve of Samhain (Halloween). Tara was also associated with Samhain, however it was secondary to Tlachtga in this respect.
The entrance passage to the Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is aligned with the rising sun around Samhain. The Mound of the Hostages is…
Spell for Today – OCTOBER FULL MOON MEANING | HOW TO CELEBRATE THE BLOOD AND HUNTERS MOON
Mabon (Autumn Equinox) Folklore and Traditions
Source: learnreligions.com
Interested in learning about some of the traditions behind the celebrations of the autumn equinox? Find out why Mabon is important, learn about the legend of Persephone and Demeter, the symbolism of stags, acorns and oaks, and explore the magic of apples and more!
Wondering where the word “Mabon” came from? Was it a Celtic god? A Welsh hero? Is it found in ancient writings? Let’s look at some of the history behind the word.
Mabon falls around September 21 in the northern hemisphere, and around March 21 below the equator. This is the autumn equinox, it’s a time to celebrate the season of the second harvest. It’s a time of balance, of equal hours of light and dark, and a reminder that the cold weather isn’t far away at all. If you’ve got kids at home, try celebrating Mabon with some of these family-friendly and kid-appropriate ideas.
Autumn Equinox Around the World
At Mabon, the time of the autumn equinox, there are equal hours of light and dark. It is a time of balance, and while summer is ending, the winter is approaching. This is a season in which farmers are harvesting their fall crops, gardens are beginning to die, and the earth gets a bit cooler each day. Let’s look at some of the ways that this second harvest holiday has been honored around the world for centuries. Read more about the Autumn Equinox Around the World.
Gods of the Vine
Grapes are everywhere in the fall, so it’s no surprise that the Mabon season is a popular time to celebrate wine-making, and deities connected to the growth of the vine. Whether you see him as Bacchus, Dionysus, the Green Man, or some other vegetative god, the god of the vine is a key archetype in harvest celebrations. Learn more about the Gods of the Vine.
Pagans and Renaissance Festivals
Renaissance Faires and Festivals aren’t specifically Pagan, but there are a few reasons why you’ll see a lot of us there. Let’s look at how this counterculture institution of the sixties and seventies turned into a place where you can almost always find other Pagans.
The Celebration of Michaelmas
In the British Isles, Michaelmas is celebrated on September 29. As the Feast of St. Michael within the Catholic church, this date is often associated with the harvest because of its proximity to the autumn equinox. Although it’s not a Pagan holiday in the true sense, Michaelmas celebrations often included older aspects of Pagan harvest customs, such as the weaving of corn dolls from the last sheaves of grain. Read more about the Michaelmas Celebration.
Nutting Day
Around the middle of September, the nut season starts. Hazelnuts ripen in the hedges, and they have long been connected to folklore and legends. Hazel is associated to the Celtic tree month of Coll, from August 5 to September 1, and the very word Coll means “the life force inside you.” Hazelnuts are connected to wisdom and protection, and are often found near sacred wells and magical springs.
The acorn is a symbol of strength and power. In the fall, these tiny yet hardy little nuggets drop from the oak trees to land on the ground. Because the acorn only appears on a fully mature oak, it is often considered a symbol of the patience needed to attain goals over long periods of time. It represents perseverance and hard work. In many cultures the oak is sacred. Read more about Acorn & Oak Folklore.
Pomona, the Apple Goddess
Pomona was a Roman goddess who was the keeper of orchards and fruit trees. Unlike many other agricultural deities, Pomona is not associated with the harvest itself, but with the flourishing of fruit trees. She is usually portrayed bearing a cornucopia or a tray of blossoming fruit. Learn more about Pomona, the Goddess of Apples.
Although they haven’t always looked the way they do now, scarecrows have been around a long time and have been used in a number of different cultures. From the farms of ancient Greece to the rice fields of Japan, scarecrows are often used for a variety of purposes. Learn more about Scarecrow Magic & Legends.
Can You Balance an Egg on the Equinox?
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There’s a very popular story that circulates on the Internet twice every year at the spring and fall equinoxes, and it’s about eggs. According to legend, if you try to stand an egg on its end on the vernal or autumnal equinox, you’ll be successful, because of the polarity and balance of the earth. Let’s explore the legend of Egg Balancing on the Equinox.
Source:
Wigington, Patti. “Mabon (Autumn Equinox) Folklore and Traditions.” Learn Religions, Sep. 5, 2021, learnreligions.com/mabon-folklore-traditions-4590167.
(One Person’s View Point) New Moon Spells and Rituals for Tomorrow
(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY)
Click here for more New Moon Spells and Rituals Source: Spells8.com
The New Moon is a lunar phase that happens when the Moon is located exactly between the Earth and the Sun. Because its bright side cannot be seen from our planet, some people also call it a “Dark Moon“.
A collection of spells for the new moon, including an easy spell that you can cast right now.
In this article, you’ll find:
Animal Spirit Guides Associated with the Element Air c 2018
Air Element
BAT: transition; rebirth; at home in the dark. End of a way of life, beginning
of the new. Gracefully allowing the old to leave one’s life. Finding a way through the process of change. Navigating through dark times. Knowing that dark timesnbring new opportunities. Facing one’s shadow side. Healing old, unresolved issues. Ability to see hidden things. Trusting one’s ‘other’ senses and intuitions.
BLACKBIRD: finding one’s voice, clear communication. Singing. Using sound and voice to heal or to clear energy. Calls one to wake up and see the magic around one. Noticing the spiritual in the mundane. Increases connection with nature. Ability to remain grounded whilst walking a spiritual path. Aids in shamanic journeying and channelling. Pathfinder to the middle and lower worlds.
BUTTERFLY: going with the flow; joy; lightening up. Not taking life too
seriously. Graceful and joyful change. Realizing change does not have to be heavy and traumatic. Transmutation. Moving on. Not being bogged down. Lightening ones load. Enjoying the dance of life. Keeping moving and changing. Trusting to the winds.
CONDOR (VULTURE): death; rebirth; purification. Transformation.
Transmutation and renewal. Making new life out of the old. Clearing out what is dead and finished. Trusting that we will be provided for. Knowing how to use what is provided. Going with the flow. Resourcefulness and patience. Effortless movement. Working with the environment. Calmness. Soaring above our limitations and everyday life.
EAGLE: higher perspective, soaring above earthly concerns. Gaining clarity
and perspective. Transcending the mundane. Rising above attachments and petty concerns. Seeing the bigger picture. Focusing on what is really important in a situation, and in life generally. Rising above judgements and prejudices. Piercing through to the truth of a situation. Spiritual vision. Connecting with Spirit. Awakening to ones spiritual nature.. Patience and acceptance.
FALCON: effective action, perfect timing. Mental quickness. Speed. Agility.
Decisiveness. Precision. Grace. Control of speed and movement. Watching.
Waiting. Patience. Recognizing opportunities. Knowing when to strike. Success through quick, decisive and well-timed action. Seeking out and obtaining the things that you need and desire. Clarity of mind.
GOOSE: finding one’s way; direction and purpose. Call to search out new
worlds and dimensions. Spiritual quest and journeying. Breaking free from home and the familiar; setting off on one’s quest. Travel – either in body or in mind. Expanding one’s horizons. Cooperation and group exploration. Togetherness. Companionship and fidelity. Looking out for others. Compassion. Knowing when to lead and when to follow. Taking one’s place in the community. Harmony with seasons and cycles.
GROUSE: return to the spiritual centre. Travelling to the Still Centre of all
things; returning revitalised and with insights. Seeing the energetic and spiritual nature of all things. Seeing through the illusion of separation. Clarity of vision. Healing through (spiral) dance and movement. Joyful reconnection to: others; community; real self; spirit. Creative union of opposites. Sacred marriage. Fertility.
HAWK: clear vision and perspective; spiritual integrity. Seeing the overview. Awakening to one’s higher truth and spiritual consciousness. Ripping out what does not honour one’s integrity. Movement between the realms. Ease of travel to the upper worlds. Alertness to messages and omens. Mental and spiritual strength, clarity and energy. Discrimination. Seeing with clarity. Piercing through illusions. Prophetic insight.
HERON: patience; dignity; self-esteem. Self-reliance. Maintain balance and
focus. Moving with slow, deliberate action. Persistence when others would give up. Waiting patiently for what one needs. Taking the time necessary to reflect. Seeing through emotions (water), picking out what is important. Refusing to be hurried. Enjoying own company. Independence. Ability to stand alone. Being clear about boundaries. Knowing the right time to act. Decisive action. Assertiveness. Claiming what is ours. Strength of convictions.
HONEYBEE: sweetness; abundance; productivity. Fertility. Remembering to
enjoy the sweet things from work and life. Making one’s lives fertile and
productive. Fulfilment from pursuing one’s dreams. Purpose and motivation. Knowing one has to go out and get what one wants. Knowing when to move on without lingering or regret. Finding one’s ‘honey’.
HUMMINGBIRD: joyful living; finding magic in life. Wonder and delight.
Celebration of life. Seeing the magic and beauty around one. Lightening up. Finding the joy in situations. Ease in facing unresolved issues. Clearing away heaviness, emotional residues, and unfinished business. Space clearing. Ease during transitions and travel. Understanding the use of flowers in healing. Connection to nature spirits and the fairy realms.
MOTH: Finding one’s way in the dark; messages from the otherworlds.
Comfortableness in the dark. Ability to find a way from the darkness back to the light. Ability to go into the unconscious and other realities to bring back messages. Psychic sensitivity and abilities. Telepathy. Intuition. Ease with solitude. Camouflage. Lack of ego. Discretion in speech. Working behind the scenes. Hidden beauty and talents.
OWL: accessing and acting upon one’s highest wisdom. Navigating through dark times. Finding one’s way through to wisdom and light. Facing things that need attention. Clairvoyant and clairaudient. Enhances intuition. Ability to know things that are hidden to others. Hearing not just what others say, but the meanings behind the words. Enhanced clarity of mind. Seeing and knowing the truth. Speaking truth with a compassionate voice.
PEACOCK: confidence; self-esteem; knowing one’s beauty and worth.
Authenticity and authority. Walking with dignity. Comfort in the spotlight. Ensuring one is heard and noticed. Finding one’s voice. Getting the recognition we deserve. Clairvoyance. Seeing things clearly. Voicing one’s own truth and viewpoint.
PIED WAGTAIL: reassurance and comfort; soothing. Protector of lost
children, of the lost inner child, and of those who care for children. Letting go of fearful thoughts. Keeping grounded and close to the earth. Connection to earth and ancestral kin. Healing one’s relationship to family and the earth. Knowing one belongs, and is loved and cared for.
ROBIN: optimism; recovery from trauma. Rebirth and renewal.Springtime, new growth and beginnings. Sowing new seeds for the future. Changing areas of life that are stagnant and outdated. Making changes with joy in our hearts. Letting go of one’s personal dramas. Growing up. Being able to be a loving parent, to oneself or others. Joy and new hope. Restoring faith within one’s heart. Moving forward with self belief, confidence and courage.
RAVEN: knowledge of the other realms. Understanding the deeper significance of signs, signals and synchronicities. Exploring the unconscious and hidden areas. Developing awareness by making the darkness conscious. Mysticism and magic. Death of the old self. Rebirth. Shapeshifting. Seeing through the illusion of surface appearances. Understanding how the self and the universe are multidimensional. Stepping outside time. Moving between the realms. Transmutation. Waking up to spiritual reality.
SPARROW: joyfulness; optimism; self-esteem. Knowing your innate own self-worth. Not being intimidated by authority. Pride in just being oneself. Nobility in simplicity. Celebrating one’s ‘ordinariness’. Pluckiness. Happiness. Taking joy in everyday life. Friendliness. Optimism. Spiritedness in adversity. Freedom From worry. Trust in own abilities. Knowing one will survive. Knowing that things will be alright.
WREN: knowing that small is beautiful. Self-esteem in one’s smallness.
Discovering the power of one’s voice. Fearlessness. Not being intimidated because one is small. Brings gift of song and cheerfulness. Being able to get on quietly with one’s own life. Being able to be unobtrusive when one wants. Slipping easily through obstructions. Mythical…
AIR DRAGON: clarity; insight and awareness. Clarifies thoughts and ideas.
Uncovers hidden thoughts, buried messages and denied knowledge. Frees the mind from dogma, delusion, judgements, prejudices and faulty thinking. Liberates imagination. Stimulates the intellect. Frees the breath.
PEGASUS: humility; wisdom; spiritual perspective. Ability to fly over any
situation. Rising above one’s stuff (ego, prejudices, anger, fears, judgments, attachments etc). Spiritual inspiration. Purity of thought. Right action. Seeing the spiritual and goodness in situations and in all beings. Bridges the mundane and the spiritual realms. Aids travel in to the upper worlds
SOURCE
Power Animal Essences, A new approach to ancient healing PDF
Animal Spirit Guides Associated with the Element Fire c 2018
Fire Element
BLACK PANTHER: sensitivity to energy; shapeshifting. Ability to see the light hidden in the dark. Understanding of the energy behind forms. Ability to transmute energy. Shape shifting. Healing on a molecular level. Understanding death and rebirth. Sensitivity to touch and vibration. Embracing sexuality and sensuality. Penetrating sight and insight. Complete control of one’s body. Suppleness and swiftness. Ability to be still, silent and move unseen. silent. Perseverance. Ability to draw others to one. Reclaiming one’s power. Comfort with solitude.
CAT: independence; inquisitiveness; getting what one wants. Healthy
balancing of independence with love and affection. At home in the darkness. Moving through fears. Seeing the unseen. Exploring new vistas. Knowing how to rest and relax. Patience. Ability to observe and wait before acting. Protection. Ability to absorb and neutralize negative energy. Fearless. Ability to fight when cornered.
CHEETAH: speed; efficiency; focus. Accomplishing tasks. Overcoming
procrastination and stuckness. Moving on. Getting going. Acting on decisions. Efficient use of time, resources and energy. Flexibility. Ability to respond and adapt quickly; to move with speed and precision and modify plans quickly. Knowing when to put effort in, and when to stop and rest. Recovery after bouts of hard work and activity. Comfort with solitude.
DOG: loyalty; companionship; spiritedness. Willingness to serve. Working well with people and in groups. Devotion. Faithfulness. Ability to give and receive love. Protection and defense. Protection of loved ones. Guide to safety. Ability to find things and sniff things out. Unbreakable spirit.
FOX: independence of thought and action. Discretion. Confidence in one’s own ideas. Clever solutions for difficult situations. Breaking out of conditioning. Finding one’s own path and solutions. Making wise decisions. Claiming one’s own authority. Thinking for oneself. Independence without drawing unwanted attention. Ability to go unnoticed. Getting out of unpleasant situations quietly and without aggression. Camouflage. Shape shifting. Moving between the realms.
FERRET: ‘Ferreting out’ what is hidden. Tenacity. Ingenuity. Intelligence. Keen observation. Focused and centered on goals. Incisiveness. Stealth. Not giving up. Ability to see hidden reasons behind things. Discovering hidden parts of the self. Agility. Flexibility. Creating safe haven for the self.
LION: Strength through cooperation. Benevolent leadership. Using power well. Inner authority. Respect for others. Living in harmony in group situations. Dealing with group conflicts with grace and efficiency. Working cooperatively. Resolving anger, jealousy and selfishness. Patience. Contributing to group well-being. Courage to do what is right and best for others as well as for self. Allowing help from family and tribe. Doing one’s part to help group relationships. Take pride in family and ancestors. Caring for the young with gentleness and patience. The good parent. Clear boundaries. Fearless protection of the group. Knowing how to relax in the group.
LIZARD: Evaluating the present. Changing when needed. Moving on when
needed. Attention to intuitions and subtle messages. Paying attention to
messages from dreams. Understanding dream meanings. Listening to one’s own inner self and knowing. Objective detachment. Letting go of what is no longer serving one. Leaving the old self behind. Knowing how to break from the past and separate from others when needed. Moving on with confidence and purpose.
LYNX: knowing the truth. Seeing through lies, deceptions and facades. Keenness of sight. Divination. Developing psychic senses. Keeper of secrets and mysteries. Movement through time and space. Patience. Willingness to wait to achieve goals. Independence. Ease with solitude. Protection from psychic attack, invasions and intrusions.
MONKEY: self-acceptance; shamelessness. Freedom from self consciousness, shyness and social inhibition. Ease with social gatherings.
Self-expression. Valuing one’s self, as one is. Harmonious community. Playfulness. Curiosity. Inquisitiveness and great inventiveness. Lively intelligence. Connection with ancient wisdom. Openness to change and new ideas. Agility and adaptability.
MOUNTAIN LION: integrity; walking the talk. Decisive use of personal power, intention and strength. Manifesting goals. Asserting self without aggression. Purity of heart and purpose. Staying true to ones ideals and aims. Focused action. Self-confidence. Teaching, leading or facilitating wisely and without ego. Quietly taking control of situations. Freedom from shame.
SNAKE: deep transformation; embracing change. Shedding old ways and
habits. Death of the old self. Unwavering willingness to face changes. Rebirth. Renewal. Awakening to spiritual energy. Initiation. Spiritual wisdom and insight. Transmutation. Sexual power. Sexuality as a spiritual path. Creation. Fertility. Awakening kundalini. Cellular regeneration. Deep healing. Sexual healing.
SPIDER: integration; connection; unity; transmutation. Understanding the
web of life. Seeing the energy behind surface forms. Sensing underlying
connections and patterns. Making a whole of the parts. Piecing things together. Understanding the threads. Knowing how the past shaping the present, and how the present shapes the future. Understanding how one weaves one’s own reality and destiny; how to weave the web one wants. Empowerment. Becoming the weaver, not the fly. Mending the past. Healing the future.
TIGER: independence and confidence. Fearlessness. Comfort with solitude.
Supreme confidence in being able to act alone. Focus, patience and surprise. Unwavering focus on the present. Great awareness of the here and now. Utter belief in one’s own strength and power. Fearing nothing and no one. Regeneration and vitality. Quick healing. Passion. Vigour. Sensuality. Mastery of one’s body. Sharpness of all senses.
WOLF: healthy relationships. Balance between independence and being with others; between honouring own needs and those of others. Loyalty without losing personal integrity. Faithfulness. Capacity to bond. At ease both in a group and when alone. Finding freedom in relationship. Friendliness and sociability. Sense of community. Cooperation. Keeping clear boundaries with others, whilst still honouring commitments and relationships. Truthfulness. Sincerity. Joyfulness. Strength of character and spirit. Stamina. Determination.
Mythical…
FIRE DRAGON: vitality; courage; power. Guardian of the fire element. Gate
keeper of the fire chakra. Guardian of powerfulness and anger. Protector from shame. Protector from over-expansion. Empowerment and self-protection. Assertiveness. Liberator of energy, confidence, drive, leadership and enthusiasm. Clarity of vision, purpose and direction. Accomplishing tasks. Ability to digest things and transmute toxins.
GRIFFIN: combining strength with discretion. Penetrating to the truth. Ability to look deep into one’s soul to find answers. Ability to feel with every bit of the soul. Ability to look deep into one’s soul to find answers. Soaring above the fray. Knowing of the balance within nature. Protector of the natural realm. Making daring leaps of faith. Connection to Fire. Physical protection. Protector of young children.
PHOENIX: transformation; renewal and rebirth. Overcoming impossible odds. New life from apparent desolation. Hope from the midst of despair. Strength when facing trials and when feeling ‘burnt’. Reincarnation, death and rebirth. Rising from the ashes. Cleansing energy of fire. Burning off of the past, and becoming purer. Spiritual growth and regeneration.
Animal Spirit Guides Associated with the Element Water c 2018
Water Element
CRAB: protection; at home in oneself, wherever one is. Being aware of all
that is around one (not only what is straight ahead). Expanding perceptions. Able to shift direction quickly. Dancing. At home in the water element (emotions). Working with the ebb and flow of emotions. Staying grounded with emotions. Grounding self in emotional environments. Protection in emotional storms. Feeling at home in one’s body. Protection of home space and one’s body.
DRAGONFLY: emotional clarity and spiritual perspective. Traveling between the dimensions. Seeing through the mists of illusions, to the spiritual. Open up to spiritual energies. Balancing emotions with thought (moving between air and water). Seeing through emotional ‘fog’. Changing habits that need addressing. Transformation. Letting go, relaxing, calming down and resting after busy or emotionally-charged times.
DOLPHIN: knowing the value of play. Inquisitiveness. Joyfulness. Not taking things too seriously. Enjoyment of movement. Delight in the company of others. Laughter and humour. Sociability. Compassion for others. Empathic communication. Telepathic communication. Working with breath and sound. Being able to call what you want to you.
DUCK: ease with emotions in self and in others. At home in the water
element (emotions). Heightened awareness of emotions, and emotional
sensitivity. Seeing clearly through emotions. Gentle release of emotions.
Honouring emotions. Being gentle with self. Empathic. Affectionate. Community oriented. Sociable. Fertility and abundance. Nourishing self adequately.
FROG: new beginnings; metamorphosis. Ability to transform self. Evolution,growth and regeneration. Refreshing and renewing. Easy transition through stages. Being able to let go of the old and move on. Ease with change. Courage to accept change. Leaping swiftly from one level of consciousness to another; from this world to the Otherworlds. Sensitivity to others.
NARWHAL: clarity of purpose and direction. Moving through feelings without being lost in them. Cutting through distractions, addictions or compulsions. Always moving forward. Purposeful movement. Empathy with others feelings. Telepathic communication. Awareness of where others are. Ability to be sensitive to others without losing one’s own focus and direction. Moving forward harmoniously as a group.
OCTOPUS: ability to recover deep memories. Prising open and absorbing
locked in emotions, memories and knowledge. Utterly at home in the water element. Moving easily and comfortably through deep feelings. Peacefulness. Ability to reach goals. Tenacity. Gentle persistence. Fluidity. Lack of rigidity. Flexibility. Intelligence. Emotional intelligence. Evading danger when needed (by movement, camouflage or smoke screen). Association with Water Dragon.
OTTER: laughter; playfulness; curiosity. Interest in everything. Taking joy in
what is around one. Enthusiasm for life and exploring. Approaching life a joyful game. Playing with others. Accessing one’s inner, playful child. Nurturing and joyful parenting. Delight in company. Lightening up. Letting go of worries. Knowing how to turn work into play. Going with the flow. Gliding through emotional ups and downs with ease.
SALMON: courage to face the past; determination. Gaining Spiritual wisdom by returning to our beginnings – history, childhood, heritage and lineage. Recapitulation – recovering one’s past to become free and reborn. Finishing unfinished business. Absolute, unwavering determination to face whatever needs to be faced; to overcome whatever needs to be overcome to achieve the goal. Death of the old self. Freedom from the past. New cycles and beginnings.
SEA EAGLE: retrieving lost soul parts and memories. Overseeing soul retrievals. Piercing insight through emotions. Ability to penetrate emotions and grasp what is needed. Ability to rise out of emotions. Emotional perspective. Soaring spirit. Freedom of spirit. Able to move with ease between all the worlds. Psychic awareness. Spiritual awareness.
SEA HORSE: flexibility; freedom from rigid gender roles. Embracing one’s
inner feminine side if male, and one’s inner masculine if female. Teamwork, communication and cooperation between the sexes. Sharing r responsibility. Respect between the sexes. Willingness to be flexible and compromise. Lack of ego. Being content with where one is, and secure with who one is. Monogamy and commitment. Good parenting. Patience. Gentleness. Being aware of what is around one. Intelligence. Balance between effort and letting life flow. Moving through live with ease and grace. Enjoyment of one’s body. Positive body image. Releasing worries. Working with the flow. Enjoying life. Ease in exploring one’s emotional life and inner world. Comfortableness with one’s emotional ebbs and flows. At home with feelings. relationships. Honouring commitment to partner. Enduring love. Owning one’s projections. Relationship as a path of personal development. Relationship as a mirror. Harmony. Balance. Self-reflection. Self-awareness. Understanding and processing emotions. Tranquility. Moving gently and gracefully through life. Purity of spirit. Integrity. Slow but steady. Tirelessness when pursuing goals. Fidelity.
TURTLE: slowing down; sense of calm and safety. Taking one’s time.
Calmness. Being unperturbed. Knowing it will be alright. Navigating through emotional waters. Safety and protection when facing stormy situations and environments. Focusing on the present. Slowing down. Carrying with one a deep inner peace and sense of safety. Wisdom of age and experience. Older, wiser, calmer head. Ease with solitude.
WHALE: expanded consciousness; communication over distance.
Transcending limitations of perception. Expanded consciousness – planetary, interspecies, and inter-dimensional. Awareness of the vastness of existence. Experiencing all existence as being alive. Communication with other beings and entities. Expansion of perception of space and time. Meditative awareness.
Mythical…
WATER DRAGON: guardian of memories and feelings. Protection from
overwhelming feelings. Awareness of emotions. Remembering and facing deepest feelings. Seeing through the denial or suppression of feelings. Resolving unfinished emotions and sexual issues. Freedom from compulsions and addictions. Releasing guilt. Embracing sexual energy. Emotional depth. Releasing toxins from fat and fluids.
Animal Spirit Guides Associated with the Element Earth c 2018
Earth Element
ANT: team work; persistence; focus. Order, Discipline. Industrious. Tireless.
Planning and seeing future needs. Seeing plans bear fruit slowly over time. Not being discouraged or daunted by the task. Patience. Knowing how to work with others. Community-minded. Co-operation. Working for the common good. Not letting one’s ego get in the way of the group. Being patient with one’s own and others’ efforts. Appreciating being in a team. Looking out for others.
BADGER: safe base; determination; assertion. Persistent working towards
achieving goals, especially in creating a home and safe base. Digging in. Getting down to it. Getting the job done. Overcoming apathy. Organizing one’s home. Orderly environment and day-to-day living. Managing time efficiently. Protecting privacy. Protecting the home. Self defense. Not being overawed by others; standing one’s ground. Willing to fight for what one wants. Knowledge of healing herbs. Persisting to find a cure.
BEAR: introspection; protection whilst healing. The energy of the cave; going deep within to renew and heal. Ability to hibernate. Healing oneself, or nursing others. Grounding and protection whilst one heals. Knowing that time heals. Knowing the value of silence and solitude. Finding the answers within oneself. Inner resources. Caution and reflection. Knowing when to withdraw and when to fight.
BEAVER: building one’s dreams; making it happen. Remembering what one wants. Believing one can do it. Acting on one’s plans. Being able to create the environment one wants. Using the resources that are available. Getting what one wants without aggression. Gentle persistence. Teamwork. Industrious energy. Taking on big jobs in bite-sized chunks. Living and working in harmony with the environment.
BUFFALO: gratitude and abundance. Overcoming poverty-consciousness and feelings of isolation. Appreciating how the earth supports and provides. Giving thanks. Feeling part of the herd, tribe and ancestors. Clearing the path for our success and prosperity. Appreciation of the sacred. Feeling connected to (mother) Earth and (father) Sky. Grounded spirituality. Respect for all life. Living in harmony with nature and spirit. Generosity of heart.
DEER: gentleness and sensitivity. Knowing how to be gentle with others. Open hearted. Loving kindness. Empathic understanding. Emotional sensitivity. Compassion. Appreciation of the wounded child. Vulnerability. Humility. Building trust. Moving with great peacefulness, calmness, care and patience. Keen perception. Clairvoyant and clairaudient abilities.
DONKEY: shouldering responsibility; knowing when to say ‘no’. Perseverance. Determination. Tireless work. Willingness to accept
responsibilities and burdens when necessary. Carrying burdens with ease.
Willingness to help others when needed. Knowing when to not take on too much, or be led against one’s will. Strong sense of self and boundaries. Not allowing oneself to be pushed beyond one’s limits. Knowing when we can or cannot handle something.
ELEPHANT: ancient wisdom; connection to kin and ancestors; grounding. Strength. Power. Recovering memories and ancestral wisdom. Knowledge of lineage. Respect for elders. Telepathic communication over distances and across time. Communication with ancestors. For remembering what
is important. Inclusive leadership. Concern with the welfare of all. Loyalty.
Affection. Respect for others. Concern for others welfare, especially the elderly, vulnerable and children. Right action. Responsibility.
GIRAFFE: perspective on the past, present and future: dignity. Being able
to sense what lies over the horizon. Farsightedness. Clear sense of where one is going, where one has come from, and where one is now. Realising how far one has come. Setting sights on the path ahead. Taking stock of one’s life from all angles. Grounded, yet spiritual, perspective. Holding ones head high. Moving forward with grace and poise. Calmness. Serenity. Gentleness. Not stooping to gossip.
GORILLA: strength; gentleness; groundedness. Accepting responsibility.
Caring for family and friends. Loyalty to loved ones. Respect. Empathy.
Selflessness. Generosity. Compassion. Sensitivity. Using one’s strength and power only for the good of the group. Defending the family. Good parenting. Nobility. Intelligence. Knowledge of plants and herbs.
HEDGEHOG: healthy balance between openness and defence. Knowing
when to withdraw and when to be vulnerable. Caution when needed; being open when appropriate. Overcoming prickliness and unapproachablness. Being completely safe in oneself when under attack. Being open but knowing when to draw boundaries. Defending self without being aggressive. Knowing how to honour and protect one’s personal space. Psychic protection.
HORSE: freedom: travel; friendliness; joyfulness. Exploring new directions.
Moving on. Overcoming constrictions and limitations. Courage to break free. Getting to where one wants to be. Running free. Sense of adventure. Safe and confident traveling. Free-spiritedness. Self-empowerment. Stamina. Individuality. Big hearted. Warm hearted.. Sociability. Enjoying connection with others. Loving contact. Sense of belonging and connection. Open-heartedness.
MOLE: exploring hidden parts of the self. Skilfully moving and
exploring below the surface of things. Unearthing what is hidden in the subconscious that keeps one from being truly happy and well. Getting to
the root of problems or issues. Guardian of the lower realm. Caretaker of the earth. Profound ease with, and understanding of, the earth element. Knowledge of, herbs, roots, seeds and minerals. Introspection. Keeping to oneself. Pathfinder and path maker. Finding ways round obstacles.
Sensitivity to touch and vibration. Healing touch. Clairsenscience.
MOUNTAIN GOAT: climbing over obstacles; scaling the heights. Surefooted. Independent. Diligent. Knowing pathways to new realities. Sticking to life challenges. Reaching for the stars whilst staying grounded. Bringing dreams into reality by perseverance and keeping focused on the prize. Establishing resources needed to attain goals. Keeping momentum going even when things seem difficult or impossible. Protection in difficult times. Flexibility. Scaling the heights, spiritual, mental, emotional or material. Ability to land on one’s feet. Receiving rewards and recognition for ones life’s work.
MOUSE: attention to small details; scrutiny. Understanding details.
Discovering things that may otherwise be overlooked. Thinking out a strategy before acting. Making a journey step by step. Attaining large things by working on the little things. Always assessing the environment. Moving extremely quickly when needed. Organizing things. Ability to be unseen and unheard. Quietness. Ability to hide in times of danger. Cycles of 4 to 6 weeks.
RABBIT: gentleness; abundance; fertility; bounty. Creating abundance in life. Sense of bounty and plenty. Confidence in one’s ability to manifest what one needs. Taking advantage of opportunities. Knowing the earth will provide. Trust in gentle ways. Non-violence. Thriving without aggression, ego, or drawing attention to self. Not being paralyzed by fears. Knowing where safety lies. Contact with the fairy realms.
SALAMANDER: power of regeneration and healing. Cellular re-patterning.
Renewal and re-growth. Help with transformation and transmutation. Delving below the surface. Finding what needs to be changed. Restructuring old patterns, and ways of being, from the unconscious. Shape shifting. Being able to move between the worlds. Help through dreams. Lucid dreaming.
SQUIRREL: preparing for the future; integrating work and play. Storing
resources. Putting things in order. Being prepared. Foresightedness. Being
productive. Gathering only what is needed. Discard the unnecessary. Discovering new things. Resourcefulness. Balancing work with socializing. Ability to solve puzzles. Awareness of surroundings. Quick changes of direction. Knowing when to run. Ability to hide.
WILD BOAR: finding a way through; making a path. Finding a way through
difficulties, breakdown or madness. Fearless guide through trials and tribulations. Knowing that one can face life-problems and emerge triumphant. Ferocious self protection when needed. Discovering self-reliance and spiritual strength. Connection to the earth and nature. Fertility and abundance. Tapping into one’s wild, primal power.
TORTOISE: grounding; patience; slowing down. Staying centered despite
distractions. Moving with slowness, deliberation and focus. Calmness. Focus. Refusing to be hurried or flustered. Efficiency and economy of movement. Patient persistence. Perseverance. Self-reliance. Stability. Knowing that true stability lies within oneself. Inner security. Feeling at home and safe wherever one is. Strong connection to the earth.
ZEBRA: transcending preconceived ideas; tolerance: open-mindedness.
Overcoming, rigid, black-and-white thinking. Questioning group beliefs and prejudices. Seeing the truth beyond social or family conditioning. Letting go of projections. Being comfortable with shades of meaning and ambiguity. Integration of complexity and contradiction within oneself. Ability to balance opposites. Maintaining individuality in group settings. Tolerance of other views and opinions. Harmonious social interaction. Togetherness, positive regard and cooperation.
Mythical…
EARTH DRAGON: feeling safe and at home on the earth. Guardian of riches and abundance. Self-discovery. Discovering the riches at one’s core. Discovering one’s deepest power and true inner beauty. Awakening one’s latent possibilities. Finds the parts of the soul that have been hidden. Self-actualisation. Taking one’s rightful place in the world. Self-worth. Becoming fully-grounded. Manifesting one’s potential in the world. Being at home with earth. Knowing the power of the land. Bridge to elders wisdom.
GREEN MAN: The power of regeneration, renewal and rebirth. The spirit,
energy, presence, life-force, that is inherent in every cell of the plant realm. Transmitted to the animal/human realms through the foods we eat, the flowers we smell, the grass we walk on, the trees we hug, the herbs we use. Being able to take energy from the sun. Strong connection with the plant world. Re-growth after too much ‘civilization’. Reconnecting with the wild. For city-dwellers, and those who have lost touch with the natural world
Disposal of Ritual Offerings c2016
Disposal of Ritual Offerings
A common question that comes up is the matter of how to dispose of offerings made during a ritual once the ritual has concluded. Disposal methods may vary, depending on a few things. For instance, does your particular magical tradition require you to dispose of offerings in a certain way? Also, what is the offering? Organic materials can be disposed of in different ways than non-organic offerings. Finally, does the spell or ritual itself include a method of disposal? Consider all of these factors when you’re deciding on how to dispose of a magical offering.
Let’s look at some of the different ways that you can get rid of an offering you’ve made:
Earth & Water
If your offering is an organic item, such as blood, fruits and vegetables, tobacco, or other plant material, you may want to consider burying it. A garden is a good place to do this, particularly if you have a compost bin, because the nutrients will go back into the soil as the offering biodegrades, continuing the cycle of life.
Some people choose to bury non-biodegradable items as well, such as candle stubs and incense remnants, but if you do this, you should make sure you do it in your own yard. Disposal of organic items into a moving body of water, such as a river or the ocean, is acceptable in many traditions as well – make sure, though, that you’re not putting any non-organic materials in the water. Use your best judgment here.
The Power of Fire
Nearly any ritual offering can be disposed of by burning. In some hoodoo traditions, burning an offering is considered part of the ritual itself – for example, Cat Yronwoode says that to destroy an item’s influence, it can be burned in the ceremony. You can also burn ritual offerings such as meat, bread, and other foods.
Sharing With Wildlife
Got a pile of seeds and nuts you used in your ritual? As long as they haven’t been tainted with anything toxic, you can feel free to scatter them outdoors for the local critters to snack on. One Indiana Pagan named Apollonia says, “My coven does a lot of rituals that make offerings to grain gods, so we always have a lot of bread left over. Typically, the day after the ritual, I’ll take it to a local pond and leave it out for the ducks and geese. They consume it, and the life cycle of the grain continues on.”
Also, don’t discount the science of nature itself. Some offering items can be left out until they go away on their own. For instance, if you make an offering of consecrated water in a bowl, eventually it’s going to evaporate. If you do an outdoor ritual and you’ve offered herbs and flowers, those are going to blow away at some point, and find their way to a new home.
What About Icky Things?
Sometimes, let’s face it, we do a working that involves something negative. Maybe you’re trying to banish a pesky former lover, or you’re trying to get that crazy fundamentalist lady down the street to leave you alone. In cases like this – particularly if you’ve created a poppet – you may want to get the item as far away from you as possible. In cases like this, simply because of the nature of the ritual, you may want to go ahead and find a place such as a landfill, a port-a-john, or some other foul place to be rid of the items. Just make sure you’re not putting anything into the ecosystem that is going to cause damage down the road.
In the matter of spell components, you may not always want to permanently dispose of the items right away. Depending on the purpose of the spell, you may choose to hide the item in someone’s home, bury it in your own yard, or tuck it into a tree. Obviously, your disposal methods are going to vary depending on the ritual or working itself, and on the nature of the ritual offerings that you need to be rid of. Use common sense, think outside the box, and find a way to adapt to each situation as needed.
Source: Article originally published on & owned by About.com by Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Offerings to the Air Element c2016
Offerings to the Air Element
When we make offerings to the air we are thanking the universe for our breath. Each moment we are held by this element and at the moment of death it’s our last breath, which heralds our departure from the mortal body.
The air is also our First breath when we are born so honour this element by getting outdoors and spending time in high places, feel the wind on your body and rejoice with song, laughter and dance, which are all part of this element. The air is what carries sound, music is what nurtures our soul and we can see that the two combined into one exceptional union. Music has the power to heal and transform us. Think about how many times you have put on your favourite tracks to change your mood. Mellow music chills us out and reduces our stress and more uplifting music gets us into a place when we want to move and express ourselves. All this is the expression of the air element and by being aware of such things brings a greater clarity to our daily activities.
Simple offerings can be thrown into the air or left tied to trees so that they Flutter in the winds. But make sure whatever you leave in nature can be broken down easily such a paper, incense, cotton or silk cloth, food and liquids, things found such as feathers and rocks. Never leave anything that will affect the flow of the natural world, to do that will only create blocks and hinder your path towards growth.
Offerings to the Fire Element c 2016
Offerings to the Fire Element
Without a beating heart we have no Gire within us, it is the blood that pumps around our bodies that generates heat and gives us the power to illuminate. Deep within our heart is a place that is eternal, an inner sun that burns with a light so bright it connects us to the very core of infinity. It is our innate nature that burns with wisdom and allows us to embrace life. When we align ourselves with the gods and with the path of The Craft we burn with fire, we burn with a yearning to know our soul’s destiny. That is what drives us on towards the source of all knowledge, it allows us to heal bits of ourselves and others because when we get just one single glimpse of the fire within the heart it is enough to illuminate the entire universe.
Although we have an inner fire there is nothing more beautiful to be sat round a camp fire, how many times have you looked deep into the flames and let them speak to you, they lull you to a place which allows visions to arise, transporting us inwards to the deep seat of knowing. The Craft has always been the place where those who follow it’s path burn with the passions of nature. To be alive with the fire of wisdom means that you have opened yourself up to the face of creation and allowed yourself to become enfolded in the arms of the Gods. They burn with the same fire, which is in your heart, they are made from the same seed fire that you have within. The Gods burn with the same eternal flame that illuminates our own being and to know the flame within means you come to know the face of the Gods. Fire burns away ignorance just like it clears the dead wood of the forest allowing new shoots to germinate bringing forth new growth. We all have dead wood within, our internal struggles and our ever-‐conflicting emotions are what keep the fire from burning bright. But when we get a glimpse of the fire we fan the f flames and they start to burn, they burn so bight that they produce a source of all light, without fire there would only be darkness and with total darkness no life would exist. Fire is the source of all life, without our sun this earth we live on would be a dead rock floating around a burnt out sun. Devoid of any life there would be no consciousness to illuminate itself. We are the universes knowing itself, and it’s through this element we come to understand these wisdoms.
Offering to fire can be anything that can be consumed by flames or even a simple votive candle.
Offerings to the Water Element c2016
Offerings to the Water Element
Water is a vital element for our survival, we are within water while we are in the womb of our mother and we die very quickly without it. Because water is in such abundance on our planet we have little attachment to it. Water is fluid and free and over time it can reduce the hardest material into dust. It cuts through valleys like a knife through butter and bursts forth from the ground in healing springs. It is the lifeblood within our bodies and upon the earth it is abundant and Glowing, unfortunately we pollute it with toxins that are now bringing us close to poisoning all life.
We should always try to keep our waters pure, they are what carry the trace nutrients that our body needs for survival. There is nothing more stirring that to sit next to crashing waves on beach or more restful than laying next to a babbling brook. Water out of all the elements has the most power to heal. Our ancestors knew this knowledge and dedicated many springs to cures. Even in our modern world we prefer bottled water to that from the tap thinking it has a purer quality to it. It’s our internal emotions that draw us close to water as a source of all healing and I often wonder if it’s because we floated for nine months in the waters of our mothers womb. There we felt safe and secure, it was a primordial state before they burst issuing us into the world of duality we know as life. How many of us enjoy the relaxing comfort of a bath or the invigorating power of a shower. Both these daily functions connect us deeply to the element of water and draw us close to its energetic qualities. I love nothing better than swimming outdoors in the summer in open pools and rivers, feeling the power of nature enfold me in the waters of life.
A daily offering of water can be made on your own personal shrine; it is something very easy to do and connects us to a source of connection many take for granted. Water is the best substance as a daily offering because it’s one of the things we have no attachment to, we don’t in any way covet it because it seems to be around us in abundance. That way we give it freely and that’s the spirit which should be nurtured when making any offering. To be able to give without any attachment at all allows the offering to have the purest quality within it and becomes a great source of connecting us to the source of creation. Items you can offer include water, milk and wine.
You could even collect different waters to offer such as Sea Water, Lake Water, Spring Water, Rain Water, Snow Water and Dew, be guided by your intuition and may the hand of the gods always lead you towards your souls purpose.
Offerings to the Earth Element c 2016
Offerings to the Earth Element
When we make offerings to the earth element we are honouring our body, without this vehicle we would not be able to experience the world in all its beauty. It gives us the chance to find happiness and joy. It is the very vessel that is filled with the light of creation and inhabiting it for a lifetime means we have a chance to awake to that inner light. It’s incredible when you stop to think about it, but that’s the problem, few do. When we walk a spiritual path it allows us to move forward on a journey upon the earth, this planet is a living body like our own. But how many people actually treat it as such?
Because we have disconnected from the earth we have become disconnected from our bodies and look at the amount of self-‐loathing we see in western cultures. The Craft has always told us to love our bodies, they are sacred and that’s why from time to time we take off our clothes and walk into nature. When we meet nature naked, we are free, we are totally beyond the trappings of culture because, once again, we have entered paradise. The Craft has always held ritual nudity to be a profound act, unfortunately because of our modern culture few these days feel comfortable disrobing. This is because we live in a highly sexualized society that has used sex and sexual images to sell almost everything, the images which have been used have been very limiting and exaggerated leaving many with a sense of inferiority about their own bodies. Remember we are born into this world naked and when we are free from the trappings of clothes we also have the opportunity to free ourselves from our ridged identities.
Offerings to the earth can include stones, salt, soil and food, go into nature, take your clothes off in the warmer months and feel the sun on your body, feel the wind caress you like a lover and embrace the natural world. Make your offerings to this element and thank it for giving you such a beautiful gift, your body the vehicle of your awakening.
(One Person’s View Point) Witchcraft 101: Naked c.2016
Witchcraft 101: Naked
There is a simple word that can strike fear into the heart of the bravest Witch: skyclad.
Skyclad is the word we use to mean, well, nude. As in, “This month’s full moon ritual will be done skyclad.”
Starkers, as the Brits say. In your birthday suit. Sans clothing. In your altogether. In short, buck-naked. Or as my dad used to say, “stark, nuked nade.”
Either way, it means you are out there under the moon with the breeze blowing through your, er….everything.
Some Witches are very comfortable practicing skyclad. Others wouldn’t do it on a bet. Still others save such dedication for their solitary rituals and prefer to wear garb when gathering with their fellow Witches.
All of the above is fine. There is no rule that says you have to perform Witchcraft naked (thank the Goddess), although there are some traditions where that is the norm. And although in the Charge of the Goddess it says “ye shall be naked in your rites,” this doesn’t mean that you have to stand outside at midwinter freezing your whatsits off.
As with most things witchy, you should use your own judgment and do what feels right to you. If you’re comfortable being naked, by all means do your rituals skyclad. If you’re not, you would probably find your nakedness so distracting that you wouldn’t be able to concentrate on your magick anyway, so there’s not much point to it.
The important thing to remember is that in the case of group rituals, you should discuss such things ahead of time and make sure that everyone agrees. There isn’t much that is more disconcerting than showing up at a ritual to find out that you are expected to disrobe when you weren’t planning on it.
Source: Everyday Witch A to Z Deborah Blake
Witches Of The Craft® 
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