Category: Our History

WOTC Extra: Faeries Believe in Them Or Not?

The Witches Circle
Faeries

Are there really any such things as faeries? Many Witches believe in them whole-heartedly. Others are convinced that they don’t exist except in stories told to children. So are there indeed faeries at the bottom of your garden?

To be honest, I tend to lean toward the dubious group on this one…or at least I doubt faeries look or at least I doubt that faeries look or act much like our ideas of them. On the other hand, there are a whole lot of things that I didn’t think were real until I found the witchy life many years agao, so I try to keep an open mind.

Let’s face it—there are many more things that we don’t know for certain about this fabulous universe that we live in than those we do.

So let’s just assume for a moment that the “yes, Virginia, there really are faeries” bunch are right–now what?

Well, for one thing, it is a good idea to play nice with the little people. After all, you can’t see them, and they can see you. And if they are around, they have been with us for a very long time. And they were probably there before us.

So why not put out the occasional treat for them, and plant a few extra pretty flowers in the garden with them in mind. Whenever my group gets together for a ritual outside, we always leave the last few “cakes” from our cakes and ale for the faeries…just because.

And maybe when you plant your seeds down there at the bottom of your garden, it might not be a bad idea to ask the faeries for a little boost. Who know, you might just get it!
 

Source

Everyday Witch A to Z
Deborah Blake

A Very Beautiful & Blessed Sunday To All Our Brothers & Sisters of the Craft!


Witchy Comments & Graphics
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 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
Thirteen silver moons in a year are, thirteen is the coven’s array.
Thirteen times at Esbast make merry, for each golden year and day.
The power that was passed down the age, each time between woman and man,
Each century unto the other, ere time and the ages began.
When drawn is the magical circle, by sword or athame of power,
Its compass between two worlds lies, in land of the shades for the hour.
This world has no right then to know it, and world of beyond will tell naught.
The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the Greatest of magic is wrought.
For the two are mystical pillars, thatstand at the gates of the shrine,
And two are the powers of nature, the forms and the force divine.
The dark and the night in succcession, the opposities each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess: of this our ancestors teach.
By night he’s the wild wind’s rider, the Horn’d One,
the King of the Woodland, the dweller in green forest glades.
She is youthful or old as she pleases, she sails the torn clouds in her barque,
The bright silver lady of midnight, the crone who weaves spells in the dark.
The master and mistress of magic,That dwell in the deeps of the mind
Immortal and ever-renewing, with power to free or to bind.
And Do What You Will be the challenge, so be it love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment. By Magic of old, be it done!

—-Author unknown

 

Witch 101: Deosil or Widdershins?

gothic witch
Witch 101: Deosil or Widdershins?

I love the use of archaic(that is, really darned old and not in common use anymore) terms in practice of Witchcraft – I think it gives us a feeling of connection to the Witches who have gone before us. But it can get confusing, too. Two of the most apt-to-befuddle terms are deosil and widdershines(also sometimes seen as windershins). These are both used to tell us which direction to turn in when we are moving in circle. Deosil means to turn clockwise or sunwise. Widdershins is the opposite, or counterclockwise.

Almost all movement inside a magickal circle is done deosil. We cast the circle moving to the right, and once in circle we continue to move in that direction–so that if you get up to go to the altar, for instance, you then continue moving all the way around the circle until you come back to your place. Widdershins is only used to undo things, so it may be used at the end of a ritual to open the circle space or in doing any magick for undoing(such as unbinding spells).
 

Source

Everyday Witch A to Z
Deborah Blake

WOTC Extra – A Word About Magic

Spring Goddess

A Word About Magic

If the only reason that you’re considering making this change is to perform magic and cast spells, then you’re making a mistake. Yes, Witches and some Pagans work positive magic, but magic is only a small part of our faith. As I said, Paganism should be a total lifestyle, which includes respecting nature and all living creatures and honoring the earth and the seasons.

As you begin walking your new path, take comfort in knowing that many have gone before you. They’ve left their footprints for you to follow, and in turn you’ll leave footprints for others to follow. Who knows, the day may come when you’ll hold your hand out to someone walking this same path behind you, and you can say, “Here, let me help you. I know the way.”
 

About the Author

James Kambos is a solitary. He enjoys researching the folk magic traditions of Appalachia, where he lives. He has a degree in history and geography from Ohio University.

Llewellyn’s 2016 Witches’ Companion: An Almanac for Contemporary Living

 

Let’s Talk Witch – The First Steps in Changing Your Faith

Nature
The First Steps in Changing Your Faith

The First Steps

If you’re considering changing your faith— not just to Paganism, but to any faith— you must feel that you’re moving toward something. If you feel you’re running to get away from something or someone, then the time isn’t right. And don’t do it out of anger.

Don’t become a Witch because your dad is so conservative and you think he doesn’t understand you, so you feel that by becoming a Witch you’ll shock the hell out of him. Don’t change your faith just to prove something to someone else. This new path should be about you and only you.

Also, never, ever feel that Paganism is better than any other way. Don’t let anyone think that you feel their religion is wrong. If you do, you’ll alienate people you’ve always loved.

Next, read. Read anything you can about Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft, and mysticism. There are wonderful sources online as well as books. Check out authors such as Raymond Buckland, Scott Cunningham, Marion Weinstein, and Doreen Valiente. Read about Native Americans and mystical orders such as the Whirling Dervishes, too. Try to include authors from races and cultures different from your own.

The amount of reading material available today to someone new to the Old Religion is so much greater than what I had. Do you know what was the first book about Witchcraft that I bought? It was a Dell twenty-five-cent paperback titled Everyday Witchcraft that I purchased in a grocery store checkout line when I was in college! I’m not kidding. Oh sure, it was just a “pop” witchy sort of book, but I had nowhere else to turn.

If you have a mentor who can guide you when needed, you’re fortunate. However, like the reader I mentioned, many of us don’t, so books will help fill that void.
 

About the Author

James Kambos is a solitary. He enjoys researching the folk magic traditions of Appalachia, where he lives. He has a degree in history and geography from Ohio University.

Llewellyn’s 2016 Witches’ Companion: An Almanac for Contemporary Living

WOTC Extra – A Little Earth Magick, Spells & More (by Scott Cunningham)

A Little Earth Magick, Spells & More

(by Scott Cunningham)

To heal

Healing with the earth works through the process of transference. The wound or disease is transferred magically to another substance, usually an organic one, which is then buried. As it rots, it releases the wound or disease.

To remove a disease or heal a wound, rub the afflicted part with an apple or potato. Then, as quickly as possible, dig a hole in the ground, put it in, and cover it over with earth. It is done.

One note here might be wise. Healing magic should always be used in addition to conventional medicine and never as a replacement. Doctors are the only people qualified to help your body heal itself.

By all means perform healing magic for yourself or friends, but not in place of qualified medical attention. The medicine of today was the magic of yesterday.

The earth bed

If you are sick, find a spot where the earth is bare, uncovered by concrete, plants, and leaves— pure fresh soil.

Sit or lie down on the earth. Mentally see your wound or disease sinking into the earth. Feel the pain and anguish, the physical and emotional effects of the problem running down into the ground beneath you.

Sense the rhythm of the earth— feel the steady beat of nature pounding away. It should pulsate in tune with your heart, pounding until you feel your whole body undulating with energy.

Then feel it coming— cool, deep, soft energy rising from the ground up into you.

Rise, dust yourself off, and check to see if you feel different.

If you are bedridden or otherwise cannot do this, have a dish or pot of fresh soil in your sickroom. Earth gives off healing vibrations and its presence will aid your recovery.

A simple method would be to place a potted plant in your sickroom. Not only will the plant lend its own healing energies (ivy is great and will cause no strange looks) but the soil in which it is placed will aid you as well.

To lose your troubles

Take a handful of earth and gaze into it; pour into it all your problems. Outline, in minute detail, all of those problems plaguing you.

When you are finished, throw the dirt behind you and walk away from it, not turning back.

An earth charm

Tie up in a small green square of cloth some fresh, rich soil.

Firmly tie this so no earth can escape.

Carry this with you if you have troubles with stability, security, and self-control. If you are apt to let your emotions rule your life or if you are constantly angry or nervous, this amulet of earth will help.

Earth scrying

Fill a small flat vessel at least seven inches in diameter with earth. Sit relaxed and gaze not only at, but into the soil. You will eventually begin to notice symbols staring up from the earth.

An earth protection bottle

Into a long, small bottle pour fresh, clean soil. Fill it to the top and cap it. Place this bottle near the entrance, preferably in a window, to guard against evil entering into your home.

In past ages earth was thought to confound evil spirits and demons, who had to count every grain of earth in the bottle before entering the dwelling.

Today, evil spirits are seen as negativity that floats around the earth in large quantities. This negativity can enter your home. This earth protection bottle can, therefore, be useful in blocking negativity from entering your house.

A long-term earth spell

This spell is ideal if you are a good gardener, and if you have a need that you don’t mind waiting several months before it manifests.

Take a seed from a plant that is symbolically related to your need. Over a pot of soil or a special plot of land, hold the seed in your power hand and visualize your need strongly.

Speak to the seed. Tell it why you need its help to make your need come to fruition.

Then plant the seed, giving it loving encouragement and water.

Tend to the seedling when it appears and be sure that the plant doesn’t die due to your own neglect or carelessness. If this happens, your need won’t manifest. At least not until you do another spell.

If the plant grows up healthy and happy, expect your need to arrive. Once it has, take very good care of your magical plant, for it not only represents your need, but it also is now a growing, living thing, which you brought to life in order to fulfill your need.

You are responsible for the plant. Take care of it and it will sing to you alone all the secrets of earth magic.
 

Source

Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic
Scott Cunningham