Category: Wicca

WOTC Extra – Casting the Circle

Casting A Circle

 

A circle is cast before you perform spell-work. The circle forms two purposes – it protects you from negative energy and it provides energy for the spell being cast.

Face the north quarter and point at it, either with you finger or your athame, while saying, “Hail and welcome.” Light the candle that represents that quarter, if applicable. Repeat this for each other quarter, moving in a clockwise direction to form a complete circle.

When you get back to the beginning again, ask the God or Goddess for their blessing and ask them to seal the circle and protect those working within it.

After you have finished the spell-casting, you will need to close off the circle properly. This is done by the same person who originally cast the circle. Thank the God and Goddess and face each quarter again – this time pointing towards the ground. This will safely disperse the energy.

 

 

Witchcraft: The Ultimate Bible: The Definitive Guide on the Practice of Witchcraft, Spells, Rituals and Wicca

Justin Kase

 

WOTC Extra – Belief, Faith and Doubt

Belief, Faith and Doubt

 

While I do use these words and concepts from time to time, I’d like to explain their place in Spell crafting. ‘Faith’ I tend to use to describe a religion or religious/ spiritual path. Belief and faith (in other usages) are like opinions in that they’re an idea you have about something. The use of the words suggest that there is a truth that you don’t know but this is what you think it is. “I believe in a higher power but I have faith in humanity”.

Belief and faith are a lot like hope, you hope it will work, you believe it will work, you have faith that it will work, but you don’t know for sure. In Spell crafting, you need to have an almost arrogant attitude of knowing your magic is going to work. There is no room for doubt. Belief and faith removes the absolute certainty of knowing which will lead to doubt.

Doubt destroys any magical working. Doubt becomes failure. As you are the magic and it comes from you, any doubt will first weaken your resolve and then suggest other possible outcomes. This happens in everything, not just magic. You attract what you think about so if you’re busy thinking, “this might not work, it could cause more bills to arrive” then this is most likely what will happen. That nagging voice of doubt quickly becomes all that you are able to focus on. It wears away at your purpose until it becomes the purpose.

The Common Sense Spell Book
Debbie Dawson

Let’s Talk Witch – The Ethics of Witchcraft/Wicca

The Ethics of Witchcraft/Wicca

Much has been written about magical ethics. Usually a list of clear dos and don’ts and thou shalts. The Wiccan Rede—“ An it harm none, do as thou will”— and the three-fold law—“ what you do comes back to you three-fold”— get bandied about as being the ethical pillars of Witchcraft. As I’m not Wiccan I don’t subscribe to these ideas. In the 1950s Doreen Valiente wrote a lovely poem called The Wiccan Rede. It drew on many sources including a poem from Aradia: Gospel of The Witches by Charles Leland, some Aleister Crowley material and older teachings. The last part, often referred to as the Rede is the well-known “an it harm none, do as thou will” although the whole thing is often reworded to mean “do whatever you like as long as you’re not hurting anybody”. I believe that in a time when witchcraft was being redefined and made out to be something nice and benevolent, it may have been important to defuse outside ideas about what witches do and make them appear “good” by instilling a moral code of sorts. The Wiccan Rede only applies to Wiccans however, not all witches or magicians.

Many following the Rede try to never think ill about anyone or use it as a reason to become vegetarian. The problem I see is that “harm none” includes yourself. Some blood and body types aren’t suited to a vegetarian diet. In addition every breath or step you take on the earth may be harming small creatures and organisms. Does this mean that we only apply “harm none” to those creatures we choose? If so, who decides what can or cannot be harmed? What is the criteria for a bug or organism to be added to the “none” category?

Harm None is also the wrong part of the rede to be focused on. Of the eight word shortened version, Harm None is the least. Will is the important part, this is discussed further later on.

The other thing about the Rede is that the word ‘rede’ means advice. Not rules, not law and not even guidelines. Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Code has more credence. The Rede is more akin to your Auntie pulling you aside to talk about boys (or girls). She’ll tell you what she thinks you should do, she may even tell you some of her horror stories. Her advice may be valid and sound but in the end the decision to act on her advice is all yours.

The three-fold law is, in some form or another, the golden rule in every culture. In Christianity the Bible states “as you sow, so shall you reap” and “an eye for an eye”. The Hindu and Buddhist faiths know it as Karma. Although Karma is not the cosmic instant reward and punishment system that New Age thought promotes it as, if you want to understand Karma, learn about it from the Hindi. Modern colloquialism expresses it as “what goes around, comes around”. However it is referred to, by whichever culture, it speaks of a consequential result for what you do in life.

In Witchcraft the three-fold part is often misunderstood. I read a blog post about how you should give money to a witch because of their three-fold law. If you give them $ 10, you’ll get $ 30 back. In the same vein if you do something bad it will be three times worse for you. The mistaken belief is that the three fold will come back at you three times when for those who believe in it, it’s on three different levels— Mind, Body and Spirit. I’ve found that there is often (but not always) a backlash. In physics— every action has an equal and opposite reaction, in Witchcraft it’s not necessarily as simple as it’s made out to be. There is also a theory that the threefold law was introduced as a way to keep beginners and learning witches safe from themselves.

It’s frequently stated that you shouldn’t interfere with another’s will. That you can’t or rather shouldn’t do a spell that will affect another without their permission. This is often said by people who then send healing energy all around the place without being asked for it and don’t see their own hypocrisy. I personally believe that it’s rarely a good idea to cast a spell regarding another person. Even if it’s “for their own good”. Who are you to decide what is best for another person? Who died and made you a God? They may have a life lesson going on, something that they need to learn from or learn how to cope with in order to grow. By ‘helping’ them you may in fact be harming them by preventing their own personal growth. It’s also a slippery slope, once you start ‘helping’ people, you can’t stop and it’s a short step away from interfering. This is different from binding and cursing but we’ll delve into that later.

Unless you belong to a faith that has its own ethics, you need to figure out what is ethical or not for yourself. Many people will assume that as a witch, you follow their system, or that witches are automatically Wiccan or Pagan and that you must subscribe to their own personal moral code in order to call yourself that. When it comes down to it, you need to ignore all the “know-it-alls” and be true to yourself. If you do ‘bad’ things there may be a backlash, but sometimes it’s worth it. Only you can know that for sure.

The Common Sense Spell Book
Debbie Dawson

Let’s Talk Witch – Holding On or Letting Go of Spells

Holding On or Letting Go of Spells

 

Some esotericists advise that we should saturate our lives with the desire for what we want, that we should visualize it, believe it, expect it, tell ourselves it is on its way for every waking moment it occurs to us. Some advise the opposite – do the spell and forget it. This isn’t the same as letting go of the spell energy, which you must do. It is about general attitude. Personally I am mainly in favour of the ‘letting go’ approach. Do the spell and rest in happy expectation, but get on with life. It isn’t that either approach is ‘wrong’ but that the holding of an idea in your mind usually leads to obsession and frustration because it is hard to maintain a positive attitude. If you start to have doubts it will not do your purpose any good. Of course, if you want something very much it is also hard not to think about it! The best approach is to say, each time the thought comes into your head ‘Yes, I want that. It is coming’ and consciously blow it into the ether, while you get on with what is possible. My advice is to put all you have into the spells you do and meanwhile enjoy other things.

Occasionally there are things we want that are not ‘meant to be’. This isn’t intended as an easy way out, or cold comfort to anyone who doesn’t achieve something they very much wanted, but it is a hint to ‘go with the flow’. As you become used to doing spells, you will find that the ‘tuning in and turning on’ necessary for magical workings puts you in touch with universal reality, and you get a feeling for what you should work for and what is best left. If you get the strong feeling that something is not intended, leave it alone or you could make matters worse. Alternatively, doing a spell may make you feel more sure.

 

Spells and Rituals: A Beginners Guide To Spells And Rituals
Gabby Benson

Let’s Talk Witch – The Right State of Mind


Celtic Comments & Graphics The Right State of Mind

I have always believed that acquiring the right state of mind is an important part of any ritual, because it opens the pathways to the ether, so to speak, besides expanding the spirit. Much of any ritual is devoted to changing the state of consciousness of the practitioner anyway. However, spells sometimes work when the practitioner doesn’t believe in them, or when little effort is actually put in, such as my ‘blessing’ of the water. Something strange and mysterious is indeed at work here. However, I do not advocate a careless approach, because these things deserve to be taken seriously, if playfully – ‘mirth with reverence’. Nor do I recommend doing a spell in a spirit of experiment, ‘just to see’. The universe has a sense of humour and the laugh could be on you. Most likely, nothing will happen, and nothing will be proved.

Getting in the right state of mind is mostly the point of magical ritual. It starts with relaxation, and total relaxation, while a most simple thing, is hard to achieve. If you wish to become proficient at rituals then daily practice of conscious relaxation is a good start and will benefit you generally, into the bargain.

Choose a time of day to practice your relaxation and decide that you will do it every’ day, Five minutes spent daily is better than an hour, once a week. Morning or evening may be best, and devote as much time as you can to it without getting bored and without overstretching your schedule. The most important thing is that you keep it up, for this is a ritual in itself and will be strengthened by habit. I suggest that you start with ten minutes and work up to half an hour, or more, if you wish. Try not to miss a day. If you do, forgive yourself, start again, and tell yourself you won’t miss any more. Or, if you must, take one day off a week, then limit yourself to that.

Settle yourself on your bed, for that will suggest relaxation to your unconscious mind. As you become more adept you may wish to move to a chair, so you do not fall asleep. Concentrate on your body, using whatever means most appeal to let go of tension. Some people favour the tensing of each muscle in turn to unbearable intensity, and then relaxing. I think that’s a good way to get cramp. Just allow all the tenseness to flow out of you, as if a river of light is passing through you, or you are rocking on the waves of an unseen ocean. If you prefer, you could imagine that all your muscles are powered by little people who now, in response to your command, are downing tools and walking out. Whatever your preferred method, go through your whole body slowly, either from head downwards, or feet upwards, spending special time with the altitude of tiny facial muscles. Check, and check again, gently and lovingly rooting out any pockets of tension and liberating them.

When you feel that you are successful in relaxing you may progress to rhythmic breathing; in a 2/ 4 sequence, breathe in to a count of four, hold for a count of two, breathe out to a count of four, hold for a count of two. Use your abdominal muscles, not your throat, and do not strain at any time. After a while your mind will associate this rhythm with relaxation and the process will become effortless. This, in itself, is a ritual that can be of great benefit to you, for when you receive a shock, or are in a state of strain, you can turn on your rhythmic breathing and it will calm you down. I have found that this does work in many life situations, if you can separate yourself for a while from the stressor.

Having achieved this relaxed state, you can now progress to visualization, pathworking or shamanic journeying, if you so wish. These are outside the scope of this book. However, I do suggest two things you may concentrate upon while you are in this state of relaxation. One is building an ‘astral temple’ – a sanctuary made of mind-stuff, where you may retreat inwardly when you relax. This is a safe base on the subtle planes for any other visualizations or inward journeys you may choose to undertake. Build a place that feels right, don’t have a hut on an exotic beach just because it is somewhere you would like to go for a holiday. Often if you ask your inner self. while you are in a state of relaxation, to provide an image of a safe and beautiful haven, one will spontaneously arise for you and might not be as you imagine. Go into your astral temple each time you are in a relaxed state. This will reinforce and strengthen your temple.

Alternatively, an obvious use of your relaxed and open state is the simple visualization of your wishes. If you have a purpose in life such as a job, relationship, travel, then imagine that this is now real. Imagine in delightful detail how it is to receive the letter, get the keys, step off the plane, be in a loving relationship. (Steer clear of erotic imaginings, because you will get distracted’) Affirm to yourself that this is real in your life, not ‘going to come’ but actually manifesting. Doing this regularly is a powerful tool for progress. If you do these visualizations, don’t forget to ground yourself before resuming daily life. This is explained in the step-by-step ritual description. For the purposes of ritual, this relaxation is of great benefit for it breaks down some of the barriers that we erect against the vast ocean of spiritual power that is available. Having learn to relax, you may choose to adopt this process before embarking on ritual. Or having perfected the association between breathing and relaxing, you can use it as a short cut, to unwind you, and get you closer to the required state.

Having relaxed, ‘ritual’ consciousness is well within your grasp, for it is more or less similar to that ‘floaty’ state we all go through twice a day, as we fall asleep and as we wake up. Attaining this drifty state paradoxically makes you more aware of subtle reality.

Another aspect to state of mind is whether or not you ‘feel good’ about the whole process. If you do not, I would strongly recommend that you leave it well alone. Remember, magic works in the direction of belief, not intent. If you really do not believe that you can possibly get that job, don’t do any spells for it. Choose, perhaps, a general spell for luck and prosperity that you can do with conviction, or just don’t do anything and get a good night’s sleep, instead. Of course, a negative state of mind may be something you need to address in yourself, but that will need to be done in a general manner, not forced on an issue, for in a battle between the will and the imagination, imagination always wins. Perhaps this particular job is not for you, anyway. Only you can distinguish between negative thinking and true intuition.
 
Spells and Rituals: A Beginners Guide To Spells And Rituals
Gabby Benson

 

Let’s Talk Witch – Energy Play

Egyptian Comments & GraphicsLet’s Talk Witch – Energy Play

 

The energy and magickal powers at work in Wicca are real. They aren’t of some astral plane. They’re within the Earth and ourselves. They maintain life. We daily deplete our store of energy and replenish it through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the powers that stream down from the Sun and Moon.

Know that this power is physical. Yes, it’s mysterious, but only because so few investigate it in magical ways. Following are some exercises to help you do just that.

Calm yourself. Breathe deeply. Rub your palms together for twenty seconds. Start slowly and rub faster and faster. Feel your muscles tense. Feel your palms grow warm. Then, suddenly, stop and hold your palms about two inches from each other. Feel them tingling? That’s a manifestation of power. By rubbing your palms together and using the muscles in your arms and shoulders you’re raising energy-magical power. It’s flowing out from your palms as you hold them apart.

If you don’t feel anything, practice this once or twice a day until you have success. Remember, don’t force yourself to feel the power. Trying harder won’t accomplish anything. Relax andallow yourself to feel what’s been there all the time.

After you’ve actually sensed this energy, begin to fashion it into shapes. Use your visualization to do this. Directly after rubbing your hands, while they’re still tingling, visualize jolts of energy-perhaps electric blue or purple-passing from your right (projective) palm to your left (receptive) palm. If you’re left-handed, reverse the directions.

Now envision this energy slowly swirling in a clockwise direction tion between your palms. Form it into a ball of glowing, pulsating magical energy. See its dimensions, its colors. Feel its force and heat in your palms.

This is a bit of energy which you’ve released from your body. There’s nothing supernatural about it. Cup your hands around the ball. Make it grow or decrease in size through your visualization. Finally push it into your stomach and absorb it back into your system. This is not only great fun but is a valuable magical learning experience. When you’ve mastered the art of energy spheres, go onto feel energy fields.

Sit or stand before any plant. Herbs and plants in bloom seem to work best. Ina pinch, cut flowers can be used as well. Breathe deeply for a few moments and clear your thoughts. Hold your receptive (left) palm a few inches above the plant. Pinpoint your consciousness to your palm. Do you feel a dull throbbing, a hum, a wave of heat, or simply a shift in the energies within your palm? Do you feel the inner force of the plant?

If so, good-you’ve felt energy. After you’ve accomplished this, try sensing the energies of stones and crystals. Place a quartz crystal, say, on a table and pass your receptive hand over the crystal. Stretch out with your feelings and become aware of the non-visible but viable energies that pulsate within the crystal.
All natural objects, remember, are manifestations of divine energy. With practice we can feel the power that resides within them.

If you have difficulty feeling these powers, rub your palms lightly together to sensitize them and try again.

This energy is the same power we’re filled with when we’re angry, nervous, terrified, joyous or sexually aroused. It’s the energy used in magic, whether we pull it from ourselves or channel it from the Goddess and God, plants, stones and other objects. It is the stuff of creation which we utilize in magic.

Now that you’ve felt the power, use visualization to move it around. You needn’t rub your palms together to raise energy-you can do this simply by concentrating on doing so. One of the easiest methods is to tighten up the muscles-tense your body. This raises energy, which is why we must relax in meditation. Meditation lowers our energy and allows us to drift from this world.

When you feel yourself bursting with power, hold out your right (projective) hand and direct energy from your body, through your arm and out your fingers. Use your visualization. Really see and feel it streaming out.

For practice, stand in your home. Build the power within you. Direct it into each room, visualizing it sinking into the cracks and walls and around doors and windows. You’re not creating a psychic burglar alarm but a magical protectant, so visualize the energy forming an impenetrable barrier across which no negativity or intruders can cross.

After “sealing” the house, halt the flow of energy. You can do this by visualizing it stopping and by shaking your hand. Sense your protective-powered energy resting within the walls. A secure, safe feeling should flood through you as you stand within your now guarded home.

Yes, you’ve done this with your mind, but also with power. Energy is real, and your ability to manipulate energy determines the effectiveness of your circles and rituals.

Work with feeling and directing the power daily. Make this a sort of magical play until you reach the point where you won’t have to stop and think, “Can I do it? Can I raise the power?”

You’ll know you can.

 

 

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Scott Cunningham.

 

WOTC Extra (b) – Visible Circles

WitchVisible Circles

Visible circles aren’t necessarily more effective, however, their clear boundaries may provide additional peace for the mind of the person within as well as security. You’re less likely to accidentally venture outside the perimeter if you can see it. It is crucial that the circle be unbroken.

Powerful protective circles may be cast from the following:
Absinthe
Amber chunks or beads
Chalk
Charcoal
Coral
Cornmeal
Fiery wall of protection powder
Flour Henna powder
Jet
Lava
Pemba
Red brick dust or Red Ochre
Rice flour
Rum
Salt
Sand
Tobacco
Turquoise
Vervain
Vermilion
Whiskey
 
Jane’s Pocketbook of Spell: Cleansing, Banishing, Protection and other various Remedies

Alicia (juju j.a.n.e.) Hill

WOTC Extra – Simple Connection Ritual

witchWOTC Extra – Simple Connection Ritual

This ritual is a good way to put out a call to like-minded people to come into your life. It is one you can do daily, until you reach your goal. For the ritual, you will need wool or embroidery thread in three colors— one that you feel represents you, one to represent your path, and one to represent others. I have found that charity shops and yard sales are great places to pick up affordable balls of wool or thread.

Sit somewhere comfortable and take a long length of each of your colored threads so you have three strands. With them laid out in front of you, knot the strands together at the top and start to braid them together carefully. (I have found this is easier if you work at a table away from helpful cats’ paws!) Do each braid slowly and deliberately, from right to center and then from left to center. As you braid, say some simple words over and over as a chant, something like:

Connections for me, so mote it be!

Braid the strands together a little every day for nine days. At the end of the nine days, knot the two ends together to form a circle. Place the circle of braided thread on a safe surface and light a tea light in the center. Say:

The circle’s complete, new friends I will meet!

Allow the candle to burn down safely if you can. Once your spell’s complete, bury your circle of thread, returning your spell to the earth for recycling. Your energy and call have been sent. Look out for new opportunities and situations that present themselves to you, and be active in following leads to connections. Remember, magic will only work if you are the driving force behind it!

Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Mandy Mitchell

Let’s Talk Witch – Connecting With the Outside World

witchConnecting With the Outside World

Working as a Solitary Hedgewitch is an extremely rewarding path. You work as a single energy with the world around you, quietly making each day magickal for you and those around you, for the greater good of all. But sometimes, it can be a lonely path, with no one to talk to about your magic or beliefs, no one to connect with or even to exchange ideas with. On the other hand, a coven or group may not necessarily be the way you want to go. Because we are all human, groups have a tendency to get a bit cliquey. You know what I mean— he said/ she said stuff. Groups that manage to maintain a balance are rare, but they do exist. So if you are after a group setting for your rituals and magic and you find a good one, hold on tight to it!

In general, however, we Hedgewitches like to work alone. So how do we connect with others to share all our magical stuff ? Well, if you have a local shop where you get your witchy supplies, chances are others like you will frequent the same shop— so get chatting with them. If someone notices your pentacle necklace and asks a question— chat! Welcome interest in what you believe and practice, and have confidence in your own path. I know, however, that not everyone is as fortunate as I am to live somewhere where alternative beliefs are accepted. If this is the case for you and you want to meet like-minded people, you may need to travel farther afield to a witchy fair or a solstice celebration. People with the same ideals tend to gather together to honor the festivals, so head to your nearest monument or hilltop. If you’re there, chances are others will be too.

By far the most popular way to connect with others is now online. We are so fortunate to have the Internet, and we should all make use of this modern technology if we can. The online world opens the doors to a world of Hedgewitchery that our ancestors could only dream of! Facebook and social networking sites can provide links to others with interests similar to yours. They are meeting places for like-minded folks to chat and interact. I have met so many wonderful people through my site— they are my online family! There are so many ideas that have now been put online by people sharing with others that the Internet should be celebrated and not feared.

Of course, you should never place yourself in harm’s way. Always follow safe online practices. Research and check any groups or communities that interest you and remember, you don’t have to give out any information you don’t want to. Online, you can exchange ideas and thoughts, get involved in celebrations and forums, and feel a part of something. You may still be working alone, but there is a wealth of knowledge there at your fingertips. There is much to be gained by sharing knowledge in any way we can, and online is a great way to do it— a bit like reading a book and then having a chat about it at a book club.

Remember, it’s not just about connecting with other people on your path; it’s also about your connection to the world in general. Everything around us has a connection to us all. The elements, plants and animals, the earth, sky, ocean, and fields— all are part of our shared reality. So we need to reinforce our connection to them every single day. Touch base with what is around you; help where you can; heal whenever it is needed; volunteer if you have the time; make a difference. Make a mark on the world. Become at one with everything and everyone. Seeing all aspects of the world and acknowledging your connection to other things and other people will strengthen your magic.

Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Mandy Mitchell

Principles Of Wiccan Beliefs


Witchy Comments & Graphics
Principles Of Wiccan Beliefs

 Council of American Witches

  1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarter.
  2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
  3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called supernatural, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
  4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity – as masculine and feminine – and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.
  5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. – and we see in the inter-action of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
  6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
  7. We see religion, magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it – a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft – the Wiccan Way.
  8. Calling oneself “Witch” does not make a Witch – but neither does heredity itself, not the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.
  9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal roll within it.
  10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be “the only way” and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.
  11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.
  12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as “Satan” or “the Devil”, as defined by the Christian traditions. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
  13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
The aforementioned principles are from the Council of American Witches circa 1974

The Wiccan Way


Witchy Comments & Graphics

The Wiccan Way

Recognizing that there is more than one path to spiritual enlightenment and that Wicca is but one of many, and that Wicca holds within itself the belief that there is more than one type of step set to the spiral dance, find here listed common denominators of the Craft.

That there is above all the Goddess in her three-fold aspect and many are her names. With all her names we call her Maiden, Mother and Crone.

That there is the God, consort and son, giver of strength and most willing of sacrifice.

That and it harm none, do what ye will shall be the law.

That each of her children are bound by the three-fold law and that whatever we create, be it joy or sorrow, laughter or pain, is brought back to us three-fold.

That as she is the mother of all living things and we are all her children, we seek to live in harmony not only with each other, but with the planet earth that is our womb and home.

That life upon the earth is not a burden to be born, but a joy to be learned and shared with others.

That death is not an ending of existence, but a step in the on-going process of life.

That there is no sacrifice of blood, for She is the mother of all living things, and from her all things proceed and unto her all things must return.

That each and everyone of the children who follow this path has no need of another between themselves and the Goddess, but may find Her within themselves.

That there shall not by intent be a desecration of another’s symbols of beliefs, for we are all seeking harmony within the One.

That each person’s faith is private unto themselves and that another’s belief is not to be set out and made public.

That the Wiccan way is not to seek converts, but that the way be made open to those who for reasons of their own seek and find the Craft.

And as it is willed, so mote it be.

 

Source:
Pagan Library

Let’s Talk Witch – Get Ready for The Long-Lost Secrets of Wicca

BLESSED ARE THE WITCHESGet Ready for The Long-Lost Secrets of Wicca

Get ready for an exciting journey that will take you through the long-lost secrets of Wicca, the inner workings of your magical power, the best ways to cast spells, the history behind the broomstick, the cauldron, and the magic wand, how you can easily start performing spells and rituals of your own…and so much more.

Are you ready?

Because you’re about to access the secrets that the most powerful witches have held for centuries.

And there’s a reason that these things have been kept a secret for so long—they are extremely powerful.

Throughout history, people have tried to suppress this ancient knowledge. The Church and other religions all believe that Wicca and witchcraft are the work of Satan, and that they are evil.

But that is simply not true. They do not understand the true nature of what Wicca is all about.

Let me explain to you the real truth about Wicca and how it works in your life.

The practice of Wicca and witchcraft is very often misunderstood.

Magic is not supernatural. Magic is actually one of the most natural forces out there. But because people don’t understand it, or because they are afraid of it, they call it supernatural, or freaky, or fake.

But magic is real, it’s perfectly natural, and it has very real results–when you do it the right way.

Now let’s define exactly what we mean when we talk about magic. Magic is the projection of natural energies to produce needed effects.

Energy is flowing all around us. Magic spells and rituals, when done with the proper concentration, allow us to harness that energy to attract what we desire.

There are three main sources of energy in the Universe. It’s important to know what kinds of energy we are talking about when we start to practice spells.

The first kind is personal energy. This is our own personal life force. We take in energy from the sun, water, and food, and we release it through exercise, movement, and even as we exhale.

The second type of energy is earth energy. This is the energy found within our planet. Each natural element has its own power which can be used in magic: earth, trees, stones, wind, fire, and crystals are some examples of earth energy.

The third, most powerful type of energy is divine power. This is the energy that makes up the entire Universe. This is higher power energy, life force—whatever you want to call it. It’s the universal power source, and it’s what we tap into when we perform magick.

 

Wicca Power Spells
Aurora Rede

WOTC Extra – Magick for Others

Native American Comments & Graphics

WOTC Extra – Magick for Others

If you make your magickal activities known, others will come to you and ask for spells to be performed. You will have to make a decision whether or not to do the magic for them, and this decision must be based upon a few factors.

There is only one hard and fast rule when it comes to working magic for others: if it feels good, do it. If not, don’t.

People can be quite cagey when asking for magic to be performed. Often they’ll color their explanations, or openly lie, to convince you to work.

Even good friends may fail to see the truth in some matters, or might blow one incident out of proportion. Based on such evidence, you might well tackle a problem magically that doesn’t even exist, thereby wasting your time and energy.

People will also want you to accomplish something by magic that they could do themselves if they rolled up their sleeves and went to work.

With all these unsaid thoughts, hidden truths, lies, and deception, what can you do?

In magic, it is best to perform an act of divination to get some answers.

Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic
Scott Cunningham

Let’s Talk Witch – Magick for the Self

Native American Comments & GraphicsLet’s Talk Witch – Magick for the Self

Magick performed for yourself is not selfish, for it betters the world. Many people seem to think it is fine to cast a spell for a friend but would never do anything for themselves.

This is regrettable idea, and should be exorcised as soon as possible. Only if you are healthy, happy, and financially sound can you help others, just as you must love yourself before you can expect others to love you.

Part of the confusion comes from techniques used. Magic that aids you but harms another should be avoided, for it is not in keeping with magical morality.
Usually there is a way to improve yourself or your life without harming others, and this is the magic that should be utilized.

Never feel greedy when performing magic for yourself, as long as it harms none.

Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic
Scott Cunningham

Let’s Talk Witch – The Important of Instinct in Magick

 

 

Gothic Witch!

THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTINCT

Trust your gut instinct at all times. You might not be able to find the proof in a book, but if you’re strongly pulled to it, use it. Your own ethical system exists as a form of barometer to warn you when something’s not quite right. Rely on it. The human mind and body are an astonishing set of partners. They take in information and act upon it without our conscious mind being aware of it. The rapidity with which we evaluate a situation and navigate through it, while multitasking on the phone, driving in a car, or walking down the street while listening to music, is simply amazing. We pick up information through the standard five physical senses of touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. We also have what is often referred to as a sixth sense, an undefined sense, which accesses information the other physical senses cannot. It is this sense that alerts us to knowledge we cannot possibly have acquired through standard acceptable methods.

Your intuition is part of that sixth sense. Although your conscious mind might not be able to put its metaphorical finger on the necessary knowledge at the time, your intuition turns you in the correct direction and guides you to the information you require, all without you quite understanding how or why. It can be remarkably disconcerting to discover that you “knew” the correct answer without knowing it in a traditional fashion. You might ask yourself how you knew. It’s not important. The point is, your intuition is a valuable tool in the art of spellcraft.

Intuition is what tells you to add a pinch of a certain herb to an herbal blend designed for something, even though you have no recorded correspondence anywhere connecting that herb and that goal. What happens is that your intuition grasps the bigger picture and somehow understands that adding this herb will have a beneficial action.

Intuition can be annoying, especially if you are used to working by the book. You can draft an entire spell to heal a broken heart, including flowers and soft music, only to discover, when you actually get to the moment of performing the spell, that your intuition is insisting on loud rock and roll and ice cream. It can be quite a struggle. Trusting your intuition means that you roll with it. At first it might feel awkward. I suggest a compromise: meet your intuition halfway. Stick with your original draft, but allow your intuition to toss in a couple of suggestions. Just because you can’t prove it doesn’t mean that it’s wrong.

Trusting your intuition means allowing yourself to believe that you know what you’re doing. Think back to the concept of the web of energy covering the planet. If you believe in that web, then you can also believe that information can travel to you from a variety of directions in a variety of ways.

Power Spellcraft For Life: The Art Of Crafting And Casting For Positive Change

Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Song of the Goddess

Egyptian Comments & Graphics
SONG OF THE GODDESS

(based on an invocation by Morgan*)

I am the Great Mother, worshipped by all creation and existent prior to their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal.

I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all magic. The winds and moving leaves sing my name. I wear the crescent Moon upon my brow and my feet rest among the starry heavens. I am mysteries teries yet unsolved, a path newly set upon. I am a field untouched by the plow. Rejoice in me and know the fullness of youth.

I am the blessed Mother, the gracious Lady of the harvest. I am clothed with the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the fields heavy with grain. By me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all things come to fruition according to my season. I am refuge and healing. ing. I am the life-giving Mother, wondrously fertile.

Worship me as the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth. I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon. I rule the tides of women and men and give release and renewal to weary souls. Though the darkness of death is my domain, the joy of birth is my gift.

I am the Goddess of the Moon, the Earth, the Seas. My names and strengths are manifold. I pour forth magic and power, peace and wisdom. dom. I am the eternal Maiden, Mother of all, and Crone of darkness, and I send you blessings of limitless love.

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Scott Cunningham

The Nature of Our Ways

Egyptian Comments & Graphics

The Nature of Our Ways

• As often as possible, hold the rites in forests, by the seashore, on deserted mountaintops or near tranquil lakes. If this is impossible, a garden or some chamber shall suffice, if it is readied with fumes or flowers.

• Seek out wisdom in books, rare manuscripts and cryptic poems if you will, but seek it out also in simple stones and fragile herbs and in the cries of wild birds. Listen to the whisperings of the wind and the roar of water if you would discover magic, for it is here that the old secrets crets are preserved.

• Books contain words; trees contain energies and wisdom books ne’er dreamt of.

• Ever remember that the Old Ways are constantly revealing themselves. Therefore be as the river willow that bends and sways with the wind. That which remains changeless shall outlive its spirit, but that which evolves and grows will shine for centuries.

• There can be no monopoly on wisdom. Therefore share what you will of our ways with others who seek them, but hide mystic lore from the eyes of those who would destroy, for to do otherwise increases creases their destruction.

• Mock not the rituals or spells of another, for who can say yours are greater in power or wisdom?

• Ensure that your actions are honorable, for all that you do shall return to you three-fold, good or bane.

• Be wary of one who would dominate you, who would control and manipulate your workings and reverences. True reverence for the Goddess and God occurs within. Look with suspicion on any who would twist worship from you for their own gain and glory, but welcome those priestesses and priests who are suffused with love.

• Honor all living things, for we are of the bird, the fish, the bee. Destroy not life save it be to preserve your own.

• And this is the nature of our way.

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Scott Cunningham

WORDS TO THE WISE….

Egyptian Comments & Graphics

WORDS TO THE WISE….

O daughters and sons of the Earth, adore the Goddess and God and be blessed with the fullness of life.

Know that They have brought you to these writings, for herein he our ways of Wicca, to serve and fulfill the keepers of wisdom, the tenders of the sacred flame of knowledge. Run the rites with love and joy, and the Goddess and God will bless you with all that you need. But those who practice dark magics shall know Their greatest wrath.

Remember that you are of the Wicca. No more do you trod the ways of doubt. You walk the path of light, ever climbing from shadow to shadow to the highest realm of existence. But though we’re the bearers of truths, others do not wish to share our knowledge, so we run our rites beneath moon filled skies enwrapped in shadows. But we are happy.

Live fully, for that is the purpose of life. Refrain not from earthly existence. From it we grow to learn and understand, until such time that we are reborn to learn more, repeating this cycle ’till we have spiralled up the path of perfection and can finally call the Goddess and God our kin.

Walk the fields and forests; be refreshed by the cool winds and the touch of a nodding flower. The Moon and Sun sing in the ancient wild places: The deserted seashore, the stark desert, the roaring waterfall. We are of the Earth and should revere Her, so do Her honor.

Celebrate the rites on the appropriate days and seasons, and call upon the Goddess and God when the time is meet, but use the Power only when necessary, never for frivolous ends. Know that using the Power for harm is a perversion of Life itself.

But for those who love and magnify love, the richness of life shall be your reward. Nature will celebrate.

So love the Goddess and God, and harm none!

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Scott Cunningham

WOTC Extra – Top 5 Reasons We Don’t Get What We Want in Life

Nature Comments & Graphics

Top 5 Reasons We Don’t Get What We Want in Life

 

#5: We Think We Have to “Make it Happen”

Having to “make things happen” is difficult— it involves long hours, hard work, and lots of worry. Thinking about making things happen makes most of us tired, so we just stop trying.

As children, we learned early and often that we have to physically create whatever we want, starting with getting good grades in school so we can get into a good college, get a good job, and live happily ever after. We’ve got phrases like, “You’ve got to pull yourself up by your bootstraps“ and “If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.”

The truth is that we do make some things happen, but most of the time we create with the Universe’s help. It’s like we’re sitting in the Universal restaurant and ordering off a menu: “I’d like the new job for an appetizer, the red car well done as an entrée, and a fabulous soul mate for dessert.” The Universe takes our order and serves it up— and the only thing we have to pay at the end of the meal is our appreciation and gratitude. Now that’s a cheap date!

Did you know that there is an angel, guide, totem, and helper for just about everything in life? Whether you want a new job, a new mate, or just a shift in your life (“ three degrees to the right, please”), there is a Universal being just waiting to help you. All you have to do is ask.

Daily rituals remind us that we’re just doing the asking, and the Universe (and all its helpful beings) is handling the delivery. These rituals remind us to relax and just ask!

#4: We Are Afraid of Failure

Because we are not taught in school how to attract what we want, and because we don’t get a lot of practice, most of us feel that we are failures when it comes to getting what we want. We hate failure, so we give up on our desires and just accept whatever meager servings life puts on our plate.

The truth is that we are all fabulous co-creators in collaboration with the Universe, and we never fail. Sometimes we don’t create what we want, but we’re always creating— we can’t help it. Humans are born to create, all the time. What’s more, most of the time we do create what we want in life. We just become impatient and move on to our next desires before our first creation has manifested. As a result, we end up settling for less, and never see the results of our original creations!

Rituals of magic and witchcraft bring that creative process up to the conscious level, making us aware of the actual creation sequence. We begin to see the connection between what we ask for and what we get as a result.

Once we are aware of this creation process, we become much more confident creators and we pick up those old dreams and desires we abandoned long ago.

#3: We Are Hypnotized by Daily Life

As a society we have become so hypnotized by the hum of daily life that we forget to create consciously. If you want to see how hypnotic daily life is, check in with your thoughts first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Chances are, your thoughts will be about all the things you have to do during the coming day, or all the things that happened during the past day. Your big desires and dreams probably don’t even figure in those thoughts!

Between day planners, smart phones, and tablets, we are sunk up to our eyebrows in the concerns of daily life. We become so engaged in making our daily lives “work“ that we forget everything else. We are transformed from humans to robots.

A magical or witchcraft practice can help us create contact with Spirit, and maintain that contact throughout the day. Our Spirits are the keepers of our dreams, desires, and life lessons. When we are in touch with Spirit, we remember ourselves and why we are in body on this planet. Spirit keeps us in touch with our Spirit path, and helps us walk through our daily lives with purpose and meaning. When we are Spirit-led, we are no longer hypnotized by daily life, but use the tools of daily life to achieve our Spirit dreams.

#2: Negativity is Popular

If you’ve been around the metaphysical community at all, you’ve probably heard about the principle that we attract into our lives what we focus on. In other words, the sum of our thoughts and feelings (both positive and negative) create the events and people in our lives. So if you want to create your desires in life, all you have to do is think positive thoughts and feel positive vibes. Sounds simple, right?

Unfortunately, in our society it’s easier said than done. Negativity is so popular in our society that we’re often branded as “Pollyannas” if we’re too upbeat and popular. Just turn on the TV and watch any news program or sitcom. The news programs report mainly on disasters or gloom and doom predictions, while the sitcoms are all about characters insulting each other with sarcastic remarks.

We’ve become so accustomed to these negative forms of communication that it actually feels odd to think, feel, and act in a positive way. Being positive means we have a hard time fitting into the gossipy conversations that have become the norm in daily life.

The good news is that witchcraft rituals, done regularly, move us out of the negative spheres of influence and attract similarly positive people and events into our lives. These rituals give us the extra courage and confidence to stand in the positive flow of consciousness rather than the negative. Plus, they help us remember our dreams, and to think and feel in alignment with those dreams.

#1: We Don’t Believe We Can Be, Do, and Have Everything We Want

With phrases like, “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too,” who can blame us for giving up on our dreams? We’re taught that whenever we want something, we have to give up something else.

The truth is that this Universe is limitless from the human perspective. We can ask for and create anything and everything we want, and there is still enough left over for everyone else. We live in a continuously expanding Universe, where we are all creating more and more and more. As humans, we can’t ask for enough creation to exceed the Universal limit.

Our job as humans is to create. We are here to experience the process of creation, of being, doing, and having everything we want. Rituals of witchcraft or magic connect us with Universal helpers who can assist us in the process. These rituals also connect us with the understanding that the Universe is limitless, and we can keep asking to our heart’s content!

Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands

Alan G. Joel


WOTC Extra – Important things to consider when casting a spell

Celtic & British Isles Graphics

Important things to consider when casting a spell

 

Timing. The moon phase, time of day, day of the week, season, astrological position, weather, etc., can all be symbolic and significant in spellcasting. For example, if you were to do a spell to help you succeed in a new endeavor, you might like to cast it on the day of the new moon, as this moon phase represents new beginnings. Then the moon growing full can symbolize your success increasing. Do some research to see what different times and occurrences mean, if you want to incorporate their significance.

Symbolism. Magic relies heavily on symbolism. Everything used in spellcraft — herbs, tools, colors, actions, etc. — symbolize something. By being aware of what certain things mean and using them in accordance with your intentions, you can add meaning and significance to everything you do, which can aid your mentality and make your spells more effective. Be sure to use symbols that you find meaningful and that make sense to you.

Effort and intention. Spells are fundamentally based on feeling, desire, and will. You could perform a spell exactly as it’s written, with no mistakes or fumbles, but it still won’t be effective if you don’t push your energy and intention into your work. It’s not the tools you use, the words you say, or the actions you perform that make magic work — it’s whatyou put into the spell that’s important. You can use visualization, energy raising, and other techniques to put energy into your spells. Do everything you do in your spells purposefully and with intention. It’s my opinion that, when using magic to make an effect happen, the most important thing is to want it intensely and to will it to happen.

Your experience and level of knowledge. It’s easy to understand that a beginner will be less adept at magic than an experienced practitioner. As you learn and practice, you’ll grow to be better at the skills used in magic, such as meditation or visualization. You’ll also learn what works best for you.

Your state of being. If you are mentally, physically, or emotionally tired, distracted, distressed, or otherwise not in an optimal state for spellwork, spells tend to be less effective. Many people like to do some sort of pre-ritual to get themselves in the right state of mind. In general, be sure that you get enough sleep, eat well, manage stress effectively, and otherwise keep yourself healthy.

 

 

Source:
The Witch’s Spellbook