Category: Our History

Witchcraft 101: Drawing Down the Moon

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Witchcraft 101: Drawing Down the Moon

Okay, nobody actually expects you to draw down the moon. For one thing, think of the tidal waves! Drawing down the moon is a term that Witches use for an act of ritual magick during which a high priestess channels the essence of the Goddess, inviting her into the circle.

This is a ritual that has been around for a long time; there are references to drawing or calling down the moon in ancient Greek and Roman writing, and the rite itself can be seen on pottery from that era. But as old as it is, the ritual is a meaningful today as it ever was.

One of the basic tenets of Witchcraft that makes it different from the religions that most of us were raised in is that each of us has a personal connection to the divine. We all contain the spark of deity within us. So it is not such a stretch to think that anyone of us could, if so moved, provide a temporary vessel for the Gods to speak through.

This is what happens during the ritual of drawing down the moon. The high priestess, sometimes after fasting and meditation, opens herself spirituality so that the goddess may enter her and speak, well, whatever it is the goddess has to say at the time. Traditionally, the high priest of a coven called upon the goddess as the high priestess stood ready. These days, if there is no high priest, the high priestess will invoke the goddess herself, often through the use of a magickal poem called the Charge of the Goddess.

There is also a male counterpart called drawing down the sun or drawing down the Horned God, but it is not used nearly as often. And, of course, if you are a Solitary Witch, you can simply draw down the moon by yourself.

Either way, should you decide to invite the goddess in, remember to do so with reverence and appreciation. And don’t be surprised if you are never quite the same again….
 

Source

Every Day Witch A to Z
Deborah Blake

The Water Element

Water element

 

WATER

Ah water, the symbol of our emotions. Water imbibes all life forms and in us we flow with the “tide” of our feelings. It involves intuition, insight, conception and pregnancy, fertility, the womb, health, beauty and divination. A low water person would appear as a cold calculating one, one who is indifferemt and unresponsive. On the other hand, a high water person may seem as though at the slightest touch the well is opened and can be over emotional and over dramatic in all areas of life. A good balance of water here is needed to keep the flow running smoothly.

Its feelings are cold moisture, its season is Fall, direction is West/ Emotion and its colors are Blue, Light Grays, Sea Greens and Whites.The symbols are the cup or chalice. The Moon phase is the Full Moon and its time is Dusk.

Some Water Magick can involve the use of the beach and its sand, shells, animals and seawater. Especially good for love spells and too, when you need to “get a grip” or clarify your own emotions. The use of shells in the practice is widely used. These can hold appropriate herbs or be used as a symbol of Water Magick.

One old tradition is using that of well water. A lot of gems and stones are exposed to this for a period of time and used at night, in full moon or the waxing phases, for Water Magick. Be careful though to know your stones, as some do not react well in water for long periods of time. This type of magick can give you insights to how others think of you, what others are doing and how well they are and to find the truth within yourself. Be careful when using this type also, if there is an intent of maliciousness or control of another, all you will get is a reflection back unto yourself.

Water spells can involve the use of Scrying bowls. This is a bowl of clear or colored water in which you are able to “see” the future and future events or get a clear direction on decisions. Widely used in certain meditations and visualizations.