Category: Pagan Craft Making

Making Your Own Wand

Making Your Own Wand

One neat way to make a wand that is very popular is to get a piece of copper tubing and a crystal that fits in the end of it or even one for
both ends of it. Then you can decorate the tube in various ways.
SOME people solder small chips of gemstones on it, while others wrap
it in black leather (crazy glue keeps this on the pipe!) and then
braid various colors of embroidery thread about this or attach
feathers to it or whatever. You can fill the tubes with herbs sacred
to your purpose/goal in life too.

Some folks have more than one of these wands for various purposes in
their lives.

You can solder the crystal/s in the end/s or you can fashion prongs
out of the end of the tubing and stick it in in much the same way a
jeweler sets a diamond in a ring. Again, if you do this, you may find
a touch of crazy glue keeps it in better.

Of course a wand doesn’t have to be this complicated. Another nice
wand is the ceremonial Magick – type “lotus wand” that some witches
have adopted as their own. Take a branch from a tree that is fairly
straight and the right length for a wand. Preferably this should be
one you find, but it can also be taken from a living tree if you
psychically “ask the tree’s permission” – if you get a strong feeling
this is wrong and that you shouldn’t cut that tree, don’t do it. THIS
SHOULD BE DONE ON THE WAXING MOON. All ritual tools you make should be made and/or consecrated ONLY on the Waxing moon. The waxing moon is the time from one day after the new moon up to and including the
night of the full – moon.

Either way, leave an offering of thanks afterwards. If you are into
the Native American traditions, an ounce or so of tobacco (PURE – the
kind used in the sacred pipe) or cornmeal is appropriate. If you are
in Wicca / NeoPaganims, a libation of apple juice is most fitting – as
is some home-baked cakes (unfrosted plain cupcakes, some corn muffins,
oatmeals or cornmeal cookies or cornbread, a loaf of home-made or
all-natural whole wheat bread, etc – NATURAL stuff, please NO TWINKIES
AND JUNKFOOD) or even a few small charged crystals can be implanted in
the ground for the trees growth. In Santeria it was traditional when
taking anything from nature to leave a specific number of copper
coins, perhaps with specific foods, depending upon the Deities/Orishas
or other entities being invoked according to a very strict tradition
of what Beings ruled what places. (for example, 5 is the number of a
river or fresh water, 7 is the number for the ocean, 4 or 6 for a
mountain, 2 for the forest, etc.)

Then you strip the bark, sand it down, mark it in 7 segments and paint
them each in these colors of the rainbow from top to bottom. Red,
Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.

Some celtic traditions put a steel rod through the middle of any
wooden wand – a tricky business, but effective to make it a channel of
the energy. To do this you MUST be sure your branch is of a certain
thickness or it will split as you try to do this. This channels the
energy in a simillar way to the copper tubing in the crystal wand.
They also wrap a coil of thick steel wire around it’s handle, like a
snake, for 4-5 times which makes a grip and is also said to contribute
to the energy flow.

Another way to paint a wooden wand is half black and half white or
half gold and half silver, to express the balance of the polarities.
If you are into Kabbalah, some folks also use Red and Blue as these
are the colors usually associated with Chesed and Geburah in magick
which are the central spheres on the masculine and feminine pillars of
the tree of life, respectively.

And some people leave the wooden rod plain, allowing the natural
beauty of the wood to come through.

ALSO, some people make their wands out of a wooden dowel rod bought at
a local lumber supply house.

I do, however, suggest that if at all possible, you still go into
nature and make a small offering to mother earth for the materials
used. Even a purchased dowel or a crystal bought from a rock shop or
a copper tubes are all gifts from Mother Earth and Father Sky and it
is important to show our gratitude for what they have given us.

Ultimately, you should make the wand be what you FEEL. A simple stick
wrapped with embroidery thread that has some feathers tied to the ends
of the thread works well for one friend of mine in MASS.

Gentle Arthritis Bath

Gentle Arthritis Bath

15 drops Lavender
5 drops Clary Sage
10 drops Geranium
3 drops Ylang Ylang

Place oils in bath under running water.Warm is sometimes better than hot…. Rinse thoroughly when finished. Light a candle and make sure you can relax with no interruptions.

Protection Bath

Protection Bath

Bath Salt Base
3 parts Rosemary Oil
2 parts Frankincense Oil
1 part Lavender Oil

Bathe in this mixture daily to strengthen your psychic armor and to stave off all manner of attacks-physical, mental spiritual, psychic and emotional.

Honor Loved Ones: Make a Memory Candle

Adapted from By Candlelight, by Diana Rosen (Storey Books, 2002).

If you want to remember a departed human or animal loved one, the simple act of making a Memory Candle can bring great relief and healing. You can also do this to celebrate someone living, or to mark an important event like a graduation. Either way, the Memory Candle is a beautiful way to honor someone important to you.

1. Decide who you would like to honor in this way: it could be a deceased relative, friend, or companion animal, or someone with whom you have lost contact but still want to remember.

2. Choose a clear glass candle holder-a water tumbler or glass works well.

3. Find a photograph of the person you wish to honor in this way and make a photocopy of it, enlarging or reducing it to fit the height of the candle holder. If you don’t have a photo, you could do a simple drawing or make a photocopy of a memento you associate with that person or animal.

4. Wrap the photocopy around the glass and tape it securely. Place a nontoxic beeswax or soy wax candle in the glass. Place the Memory Candle in a special safe place and light the candle.

4. The soft glow of the candlelight will illuminate the photograph in a very beautiful and special way.

5. You can also pay homage to the living by naming this an “Honor Candle” and using a photograph to celebrate a graduation, marriage, birthday, retirement, anniversary, or other accomplishment of note.

Make Your Own Eco-friendly Dog Food

Make Your Own Eco-friendly Dog Food

by

Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients: 1lb ground chicken (or lamb, beef, liver or tuna) 2 cups brown rice fresh spinach fresh carrots

Method:

Brown and cook the meat. Boil the rice Finely chop the vegetables in a food processor and combine.

*Editor’s Note: Always check with your veterinarian to ensure your pet’s diet is healthy and nutritionally complete.

Tips/Additions:

Most Important: Always consult your veterinarian when you are changing your pet’s diet to make sure you pet gets proper nutrition.

Dogs don’t chew like humans, so vegetables must be finely chopped for them to get valuable nutrients.

You could add bone meal or powdered milk to ensure your pet gets calcium.

Small amounts of garlic can help prevent tape worms.

Add cod liver oil in small amounts for Omega 3’s and a shiny coat.

This recipe was featured on the Big House Big Waste Episode of Wa$ted!

Homemade Dog Bones

by Annie B. Bond

By making your own dog bones you are providing your pet with wholesome food and are assured that you are not feeding them animal byproducts of unknown origin. Keep your eyes out for dog bone cookie cutters; they are frequently
sold in kitchen supply stores.

(Adapted from Rodale’s Book of Practical Formulas)

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/3 cup corn meal
  • 1/2 cup soy flour
  • 1/2 cup ground seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon linseed oil (available in health food stores)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix to blend. Add the liquid ingredients.

Stir, adding more milk if necessary to make a ball that can be kneaded and rolled out on a cutting board. Roll out dough, and cut out dog bone shapes using a cookie cutter or knife. Place on a well-greased baking pan, and bake at 350 F for 25-35 minutes, or until browned.

Saxon Wands

Saxon Wands

The Saxon Wands are very good for obtaining a direct, prompt answer to a question. In a way they are similiar to the Oriental I-Ching, though far less complicated.

Seven wands are needed. These are made from wood dowel. There should be three, each nine-inches in length; and four, each twelve-inches in length. One of the twelve-inch wands should be marked, or decorated in some way, as the WITAN wand. Actually, you can decorate all of the wands with runes and symbols, if you wish, but make sure the Witan wand stands out from the others.

Kneeling, lay the Witan wand on the ground before you; horizontally “across” you. Take the other six wands and hold them out over the Witan wand. Close your eyes, and holding them between you two hands, mix them together while concentrating on your question. Keeping the eyes closed, grip the wands in your right hand (left hand if left-handed); take hold of the tip of one wand with the fingers of the other hand; concentrate for a moment longer on your question, then open your right hand. All of the wands will fall to the ground except the one held now by the fingers of your left hand. Open your eyes.

i: If there should be more LONG wands that short
wands on the ground, then the answer to your
question is in the affirmative.
 
ii: If there are more SHORT wands than long wands
on the ground (excluding the Witan wand) then
the answer is in the negative.
 
iii: If any wand(s) touch the Witan wand, it means
the answer will be a very definite one, with strong
forces at work.
 
iv: If any wand(s) are off the ground (resting on
others), circumstances are such (forces still work-
ing) that no definite answer can yet be given-
regardless of (i) or (ii).
 
v: If all the wands point towards the Witan wand,
then you ( or the person for whom you are asking)
will have a definite role to play in the determina-
tion of the question.
 
vi: If none of the wands point towards the Witan
wand, then the matter will be determined without
your (the Querant’s) interference.
 
As with the crystal and the tarot cards, don’t let anyone else use your wands. They are your personal instruments. Keep them wrapped in a black cloth.
 
Buckland’s Complete Book Of Witchcraft
Raymond Buckland
ISBN 0-87542-050-8

Money Simmering Potpourri

Money Simmering Potpourri

 
If money is a problem rather than a pleasure, when you’re faced with unexpected financial obligations, when the money you earn doesn’t seem to come in fast enough, brew up one of these and set money-attracting energies into motion.
 
2 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
4 tablespoons whole cardamom seeds
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (or two whole nutmegs)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
 
With your fingers, mix these ingredients in a small bowl, while visualizing increased prosperity. As you mix them, say these or similar words:
 
Money simmer in the air;
money simmer everywhere!
 
To use, simmer according to the instructions above.
 
Spell Crafts
Creating Magical Objects
Scott Cunningham
& David Harrington
ISBN 0-87542-185-7

The Witch’s Ball

The Witch’s Ball

A witch ball is a very interesting item. Powerful and simple to make.

It requires a glass jar, I use a jar about the size of a baby food jar, with the lid….

 

You fill it halfway with sharp items. Broken glass, needles etc.

 

You then fill it with a liquid. Some use oils some vinegar others use their own urine. That seems to be a personal choice.

 

You then bury it in your yard. It “cut’s” any “evil” or bad, negative things “pointed” at your home. They are good for a year and then it is time to replace them.

 

I have also heard of witch balls being made with glass and then filled with string or yarn. You place them in a window and they “tangle” negative or evil as it comes to your home. For myself, I place mirrored balls in my windows to reflect out any bad energy from the outside. I make a point to sand off the tops of the jars and to remove any labels.

Stress Relief Bath

Stress Relief Bath

Ingredients Needed:

3 tablespoons chamomile flowers

1 tablespoon oatmeal

1 tablespoon hops

1 tablespoon comfrey leaf

2 tablespoons Calendula

1 tablespoon comfrey root

Place the ingredient in the filter cup of the coffee maker and add a full pot of water. While the mixture brews, draw a warm bath. Pour the infusion into the bath water and chant:

Herbs into the water flow,

Soothe me now from head to toe.

Dissolve all stress and ease all tension,

Wash away woes an all dissension.

Cleanse me well with all your strength,

So I may now relax at length.

Soak in the tub for at least thirty minutes.

Making Gemstone water

Making Gemstone water

Making gemstone water is actually very simple, you will need the following ‘ingredients’ for this:
* a glass vessel
* a gemstone
* bottled spring water or boiled (and cooled) tapwater
* a windowsill

Before you start making gemstone water you will have to make the choice whether you wish to use the energies of the sun or the energies of the moon. The sun will charge your gemstone water with soothing, soft and warm energies while the various moon phases will give a different result.

The Moon phases:
Waxing Moon: The energies of the waxing moon are suited for new projects, new relations and to plant new ‘seeds’.
Full Moon: The Full Moon is the symbol of positive magick, blessing, creativity, healing and reinforcement.
Waning Moon: The energies of the waning moon are connected to get rid of bad habits, negative thoughts and to build down things, to purge yourself from all negativity from the outside world, but also from within yourself.
New Moon: The New Moon is the time of death, a time to stop and look inside yourself and to realize that you can always start again, no matter what happened to you. It is the time to halt an illness or a pattern of thoughts and give it a positive spin.


It is therefore important to ask yourself for which purpose you wish to use the gemstone water before you start.

Put the stone in the glass vessel and fill it up to 3/4 with spring water or the cooled down tapwater. Put the vessel with the stone in it on your windowsill for 12 hours and leave it to ‘charge’ there without interruption. If you have decided to make use of the energies of the sun, you should take into account that certain stones may discolour in direct sunlight.

You can enhance your immune system by drinking a few glasses of gemstone water every day, but you may also use it to wash your face and/or hands, especially for skin disorders it is advisable to use Aventurine water to wash yourself. Next to that it is also possible to give your plants this water, the stones that are highly suited for this are Jade and Moss Agate.

…
Text © copyright Branwynn Annwn. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. No portion of this issue may be reproduced and/or disclosed publicly in any way, shape or form without the written permission of the editor/author Branwynn Annwn. Feel free to share with a friend.

Healing & Uplifting Body Soak

Healing & Uplifting Body Soak

2 cups dead sea salt (can improvise with sea salt)
2 cups of fine sea salt (crushed not the large granules)
2 cups epsom salt
1/8 cup pulverized orange rinds
1/4 cup crumbled peppermint (the leaves not the candy)
2 tbsp of these: Myrrh, sweet orange, and sandlewood essential oils (easy to get and pretty cheap)

Begin on a Friday during the waning moon. Mix salts in large nonreactive bowl. Recite:
“Precious gift from the Mothers of river and sea,”
Grind orange rinds and say:
“Uplift my spirits with your blessed fruit.”
Add to salts and mix well. Stir in crushed peppermint saying:
“In honor of Mother Earth, please hear my plea.”
In seperate bowl blend essential oils, then pour over salt mixture. Put into a screw top container, mixing well. Shake all ingrediants for three days, mixing them well. Do you have a crystal ball or something like one? Try to find something to concentrate on, a mirror, or maybe a shiny object. Focus intently on conjuring up healing power as you mix the soak.
Use two cups per bath. Use cool water. If possible place a gardinia petal or plant on silver or white silk cloth by window or table. Take bath in the evening of the Friday of a waning moon. Burn soothing incense in a sea shell over a hot charcoal.
Now, open your spirit and release your grief, sorrow, despair, whatever you are feeling into the water and into the smoke. As you watch the tub drain when finished, visualize your anguish, pain, sorrow leaving along with the water.

Change Your Luck Nutmeg Bath

CHANGE YOUR LUCK NUTMEG BATH

6 tsp. ground Nutmeg 1 cup warm Water Coffee filter
Place the nutmeg in the coffee filter.
Pour the one cup of warm water into the coffee filter and let the tea brew.
When the liquid is cool, draw a warm bath and pour the tea in the bath water.
Soak at least ten minutes. This bath will cleanse the aura and negativity within you
that draws bad luck. It also makes others more accepting of your ideas, whims, and wants.
Use before important discussions or meetings with those you feel may be unresponsive to you.

Monday Morning Motivating Splash

Monday Morning Motivating Splash

Use this body splash on Monday morning, or any other time you need an extra bit of motivation. Simply splash it on after your bath or shower and let it dry. Meditate on having the motivation to make it through the day or to get through any kind of problem you are having.

1 cup yarrow flowers

1 cup heather flowers

1 cup rose flowers

1 cup bergamot leaves

¼ cup chicory root

¼ cup lemon peel

¼ cup lime peel

¼ cup orange peel

¼ cup peppermint leaves

4 cloves