Category: Pagan Craft Making

Make Beeswax Votives to Manifest Your Desires

Make Beeswax Votives to Manifest Your Desires

by Sylvana

When I first began in the Craft, you couldn’t just go down to Larry’s Market or Fred Meyer’s and buy spell candles, as you can now. Neither could you find witchy stores like Edge of the Circle, Travelers or Odyssey Books. In those days, we made our own spell candles, oils, incenses and tools, or we had things handed down to us and given to us as gifts by our high priest and priestess or coven mates. We also sometimes converted everyday items to our magickal purpose, like the silver dinner bell I still use in ritual today and my antique trivets that serve as wards for our covenstead.

Sometimes, I am glad to have the luxury of purchasing ready-made seven-day candles, like the green “Money Drawing” or “Protection” or the blue and white “Harmonious Home.” But I fondly remember the days when all of us witches made our own candles. This time of year is traditional for the making and blessing of candles, and my coven still gets together at Imbolc for celebration, feasting and to make and bless candles for our coven and personal use. Making them yourself imbues them with your own energy and purpose, as well as making them a more powerful tool for your magick — besides, it’s fun!

If you’d like to create your very own spell candles and don’t have a coven or group to make candles with, this article will tell you how, with a little effort, you can construct and bless your very own magickal spell candles. The instructions following discuss making short spell votives, but you can easily adapt the approach for bigger candles.

You will need:

* A sharp knife or craft knife

* A metal-edged ruler or straight edge

* Small pieces of paper in various colors

* Pens, colored pencils or crayons

* Beeswax sheets in various colors

* Wicking

* Herbs and flowers

* Oils

* Small tokens, coins or stones

* Wax paper

* Cutting board

* Scissors

You can purchase the beeswax in craft stores or candle supply shops; it generally comes in 6-x-9-inch sheets. Look for colors that correspond to your magickal purpose:

* Red: Lust, passion, health, animal vitality, courage, strength

* Pink: Love, affection, friendship, kindness

* Orange: Sexual energy, earth energy, adaptability, stimulation

* Brown: Earth energy, animals

* Yellow: Intellect, mental energy, concentration

* Green: Finances, money, prosperity, fertility, growth

* Blue: Calm, healing, patience, peace, clairvoyance

* Purple: Spirituality, the fey, meditation, divination

* Black: Waning moon, release, banishing, absorbing and destroying negativity, healing

* White: Waxing or full moon, protection, purification, peace, awareness; good for most workings

One sheet of each color wax that you want to use should be enough to begin with, as it will make about four votive-size candles. Fresh beeswax should have a distinctive scent and be soft and pliable, not brittle. Fairly thick cotton (not lead) wick is preferable as beeswax burns fairly fast. Ask the store for recommendations if you’re unsure what exactly to get.

Assemble all of your ingredients and tools, with plenty of room to work. Choose a sheet of beeswax and some herbs or flowers and maybe an oil that are all in accordance with your purpose. To learn more about the associations for herbs, flowers and oils, check tables of correspondence such as are found in many basic books on the Craft. You’ll need only tiny amounts of the herbs and flowers, because if you add too much, your candle will turn into a torch! Also, if you like select an appropriate token or write the candle’s purpose on a tiny piece of paper to add to the candle.

To create a candle, lay a sheet of beeswax onto a sheet of slightly larger wax paper on top of your cutting board. Measure in 2-inch increments down from the top of the beeswax sheet along the edge of the long side, and make a mark on both sides of the wax (see Figure 1). Lay the straight edge along both marks, and cut so that you have about four wax pieces, each about 2 by 6 inches. This will be enough to create at least four votives per sheet of wax, depending on how large the sheet is and how small you cut the pieces. Next, cut a piece of wick about 2&fraq12; inches long, and lay it onto the beeswax along the edge of one side (see figure 2) so that the wick is flush with what will be the bottom of the candle and is protruding from the top by a bit.

Begin rolling the candle by folding the very edge of the wax over the wick and pressing down gently to stick the wax in place (see figure 3)

Then begin to roll the wax firmly around the wick so that it creates a tight roll; once you have one layer of wax around the wick, stop. Sprinkle a tiny amount of herbs or flowers evenly down the length of wax next to the wick roll (figure 4). Place your paper or token inside the candle, near the bottom. Then roll some more, sprinkle some more, brush a tiny bit of oil on at about the middle of the roll and continue until the candle is completely rolled and is about the size of a regular votive candle (figure 5). Seal the wax edge by pressing it down firmly against the candle, while not smashing the candle.

Once you have finished all of your spell candles, do a ritual and raise energy to bless and consecrate them to your purpose. I like the simple blessing following.

A Candle Blessing

Set up an altar with your usual tools, where you can easily move around it. Place your candles on the altar, along with a small amount of wine or juice and a few cookies or pieces of bread. Cast your circle in your customary way. Call whatever elements, gods, quarters and so on that you normally call. When you are ready, raise your athamé or wand to the eastern sky, draw it down in an arc to point toward your pile of candles and say the following:

“Element of air, imbue these candles with magick! Let them carry my intention on the winds and back to me. Infuse them with inspiration and the strength of my will. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”

Draw the athamé to the southern sky and down toward the candles, saying:

“Element of fire, energize these candles to my purpose! Bring your warmth and light to me. Let your heat turn reality to my will. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”

Turn now to the western sky, and draw the athamé down toward your candles, saying:

“Element of sacred waters, heal my magick. Make my purpose clean, and let my magick flow free. Cleanse all for the best; heal all I touch. Let your healing power flow. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”

Turn finally to the northern sky, and draw the athamé toward your candles, saying:

“Element of earth, bring my magick into being. Bless these candles, and let them burn true. Bring grounding and practicality to me. With your deep power please imbue them. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”

Ask the god and goddess of your choice (and any other beings that you work with) for their blessings.

Then chant the following, slowly and softly at first, then picking up energy as you go:

“Candles burn oh so bright, bring my desires every night and day. Candles light my magick spell, now draw success my way.”

When the energy has reached its peak, direct it into the candles. Ground out any excess energy. Have cakes and wine, and offer a libation to the elements and gods for their participation. Then close your circle.

Now your magickal spell votives are ready for you to use for your spells or whenever you need them. Have fun, and may all of your magick be wondrous!

Caution: When burning candles, make sure to always place them on something nonflammable and do not ever leave one of these candles burning alone, even for a second, as they sometimes flare up or fall over and can easily ignite anything in range. Be careful also of wearing flammable clothing around these candles!

An Earth Wand

An Earth Wand

 

For an earth-oriented magickal wand, it is best to use a fallen branch from a maple, ash or rowan tree. Take the branch, strip the bark, and lightly sand the surface. Carve the alchemical symbol for earth into it. Add any other personal carvings you would like. Use a malachite stone for the tip. Anoint the wand with cypress oil and bless it under a full moon. Allow it to charge under the moon all night. When not in use, store it in a green silk wrapping cloth to which you have added a teaspoon of dirt.

Making A Family Candle

Making A Family Candle
by Patricia J. Telesco
“A Charmed Life: Celebrating Wicca Every Day”

For this activity you will need a fair amount of candle drippings,
preferably from candles you’ve used in magick for peace, joy, unity and
other similar qualities that you’d like to see manifest in your family.

You’ll also nee a piece of wick two inches in length, something to
weight it with, such as a button, a cleaned out quart-sized milk carton,
and a pencil that’s long enough to go across the top of the milk carton.

Also gather some finely powdered herbs that symbolize your wishes for
the
family ( each person should choose one.) Examples include lavender for
joy, nutmeg for health, rose for love and luck, violet for peace, mint
for protection, and sandalwood for spirituality.

Wait until the moon is full if possible. Secure one end of the wick to
the pencil and the other end to the button, so that the button touches
the bottom of the milk carton and the length in between is fairly taut.

Put the wax cuttings into a non-aluminum pan in a pan of water over a
low flame and gather everyone around the stove, which represents the
warmth and the love of
your household.

Each person should take a turn stirring the wax clockwise and sprinkle
in his or her herb, while verbalizing the wish it represents.

Let this mixture cool slightly before pouring it into the milk carton to
set. Release the wax mixture from the mold by quickly dipping it in a
sink full of hot water. Light this candle any time tensions or anger
begin saturating your home, or for family spells or rituals.

Sweet Herbal Air Freshener Formula

Sweet Herbal Air Freshener Formula

Combine the following in a clean, glass jar with a lid:

20 drops sweet orange essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Mix well. To use, add 4-8 drops of this base to one cup of purified or
distilled water in a spray bottle, shaking to mix. Store in a cool,
dark place.

~Herbal Musings~

For Those Long, Snowy Winter Days…….

Witchy Comments
Make Your Own Besom  Items needed:

* Stick for the handle; diameter one inch (1″) or less
* Nine to eleven (9-11)  stalks of broomcorn
* Four to five yards (4-5 yds.) strong twine
* One long, large eyed needle or wire
* One three quarter inch (3/4″) nail (or drill)
* Eighteen inch (18″) piece of twine tied to form tie-off loop
* Six feet (6′) of twine, cut into two foot lengths
* Hammer, Tying block, Sharp knife
——————————————————————————–

The Method:

Gather your materials. Make a ‘tying block’ by whittling the middle of a foot
long, (12″) (very straight and smooth) limb. This should look rather like an
hour glass, when finished.

Start by preparing the handle. Drive the nail or drill a three quarter inch
(3/4″) hole through the handle, some three inches (3″) from where the broomcorn will be attached to the handle. Fasten the twine to this nail or hole. Wrap the other end of the twine around the center of the tying block, leaving a few feet of  twine stretched between the block and the handle. Traditional besoms had a ‘knob’ on the broomcorn end.

Broomcorn has three sections: stalks, brush and knurl. (The knurl is the
junction between the stalk and brush.)

Trim the stalks to six inch (6″) lengths. Place the broomcorn, (stalk down) into hot water, covering both the stalks and knurls. Let soak for ten minutes. (10 min.) Remove the broomcorn from the water, drain off the water. Place the tying block on the floor.

Place your feet on the tying block and pull the twine taut. (Use both hands on the handle.)

Place a stalk of broomcorn next to the handle, next to the nail or drilled hole.
(Have the knurl directly under the twine.) Twist the handle so that the twine
binds the   broomcorn to the handle. Pull rather hard, so that the twine forms a V-shaped depression in the stalk of the broomcorn.

Roll the handle back slightly. Place a second stalk of  broomcorn next to the
first one. Twist to bind both stalks with the twine. Pull to for a V-shaped
depression. Continue with the broomcorns, until you have covered the handle. Be sure to use an odd number of stalks, so that the weaving will come out properly.

After all of the stalks are bound to the handle, pull and wrap the twine around the stalks five times.

Begin the weaving of the stalks by placing your thumb on the twine and releasing pressure on the tying block. Raise one stalk, run the twine under it. Skip the next stalk and run the twine under the stalk after that. Remember to pull the twine taut. Continue all the way around, and as far up the stalks as you desire. (Leave an inch or so, to turn under.)

With the eighteen inch (18″) long piece of twine, fashion a ‘tie-off loop’. Do
this by tying the ends together.

If you are going to turn under the stalk ends, do it now. To tie off the twine,
place the tie-off loop next to the last stalk that the twine went under. Turn
and wrap the   stalks five more times, being sure to go over the loop, leaving
the loop end free, Use your thumb to maintain pressure on the twine. Cut the
twine loose from the tie-off block, about six inches (6″) from the broom. Thread the cut twine through the tie-off loop. Pull the loop to bring the twine end under wraps on the broom, and to pull the tie-off loop free.

If you did not turn under the stalk ends, take the knife and trim the stalks to
about a quarter inch above the twine.

To make the ‘spread’, wrap twine, about midway around the brush, four times. Do not pull too taut. Do this again, about an inch above, and then a third one, an inch above that.

Thread the large eyed needle with a length of twine. (You can make a ‘needle’
out of a length of wire, looped at one end.)

Knot the free end to the top ‘spread’. Thread the needle through the brush
(about an inch from the edge, pass it over the front spreader twine, go over the broom three quarters of an inch, and thread the needle back through. Do it on both sides. At the end, reverse and do the same going the opposite direction. (Forming X stitches.)

Tie off. Do the other two spreaders the same way.   
~Magickal Graphics~

Prayer Bowls

Prayer Bowls
 
What is a prayer bowl? A Prayer bowl is used to listen to your prayers, wishes, and thoughts, and carry
them into the other dimensions (the astral). They can be used to make any room more spiritual, without
causing to much attention. They are good for the workplace, because to co-workers, it is just a decoration,
and for you, it is a magical tool. The feather would be one that means something to you, perhaps a feather
of your power animal, and a feather of a power animal that you relate to. The crystals can be anything, from
clear quartz for focusing energy, to hematite for healing. These things can be looked up in various books.
A Prayer bowl is a fairly simple object to make. Take a small bowl that you like, a feather that means
something to you, some crystals, and some dirt. Put the dirt into the bowl, put the crystals on the dirt,
and place a feather in it.
After it is put together, empower it to listen to your prayers. In a dim light room, preferably candle lit, gaze
into the feather. Concentrate on what this prayer bowl is going to do for you. Think about the bird that it came
from, the views of the world that it must have seen. Thank that bird for giving of itself so that you may have this
prayer bowl. Next, think about the crystals, and what they mean for you. Visualize them in there natural
environment, deep in the Earth, and thank them for coming to you for this prayer bowl. In the Americas, they
are known as “stone people”.
After it is empowered, place it in an appropriate spot. I like to have mine near a window, so as they get a little
sun now and again. Also, the feather can hear the calls of the birds.
 
Pagan Hearth Recipes

2 Winter Solstice Projects

2 Winter Solstice Projects

  • Cait Johnson

Each solstice falls upon the ecliptic midway between the equinoxes, when the sun reaches that midway point, generally about June 21 and December 21. Winter Solstice on December 21 is the shortest day of the year. After Winter Solstice each day becomes longer until the longest day of the year arrives around June 21st. The solstices have been observed and celebrated by cultures throughout the world.

A central aspect of the winter solstice rites observed by many Native American tribes includes the making and planting of prayer sticks. Prayer sticks are made by everyone in a family for four days before the solstice. On the day named as the solstice, the prayer sticks are planted – at least one by each person – in small holes dug by the head of the household. Each prayer stick is named for an ancestor or deity.Here’s how to make a prayer stick; they are usually:

  • Made out of cedar and are forked;
  • Are equivalent to the measurement from the maker’s elbow to the tips of
    their fingers; and
  • Are taken from a tree that the maker feels connected to.
  • Tobacco is offered to the largest tree of the same species in the area and
    permission is asked to take a part of its relative.
  • The bark can be stripped.
  • The bark can be carved on the stick.
  • One feather should be added to the prayer stick; traditionally this is a
    wild turkey feather.
  • A bit of tobacco is placed in a red cloth and tied onto one of the forks.
  • Fur or bone from an animal that the maker wishes to honor is tied onto the
    stick.
  • Metal or stones should not be tied to the stick.
  • It is also customary to say prayers silently as one makes the prayer stick.

Winter Solstice Project II: Discover Stones

All matter whirls at incredible speed, atoms in constant, breathtaking motion. But the rock people are seemingly still. We are all of us surrounded by the stillness of stone; if you dig in any patch of earth, you are likely to find bits and pieces that are unimaginably old and likely to outlast us by countless lifetimes.

Just as trees may be intuited to have individual spirits and personalities, so the humble rocks beneath our feet may be known and their energies felt in ways that have much to teach us.

Children are inveterate rock collectors, often seeing unique power and beauty in a rock that looks plain and nondescript to us. By seeing with the open inner eyes of our children, we can share their fascination for the magic of stone. And when we surround ourselves with rocks that are special to us, when we take time to hold one in our hands or stroke its weighty smoothness or striation, we make a bodily connection with the oldest matter on this planet and with the element of winter.

Particularly at this often harried time, building a relationship with rocks–allowing them to permeate our consciousness in quiet and stillness–is a great gift of peace for the entire family.

 

First, find some. This shouldn’t be hard to do, but you may be surprised at the variety of rocks you and your children can come up with, and you may notice that particularly varieties attract some children more than others. Take small trowels or large spoons outdoors with you to help pry things loose. After al of you have brought your finds inside and thawed your numbed fingers, you may want to wash the rocks in warm water to remove loose dirt and bring hem to room temperature.

Now spread them out so everyone can look at them. Pick them up one at a time and really examine them, turning them slowly to savor the complexity or simplicity of their shape and color. Do any rocks remind you of something else? Are there shapes hidden in the stone?

Try this simple exercise: Ask your children to close their eyes and choose a rock at random, and then hold it in their hands without looking. Allow them to sense the rock–does it feel light? dark? heavy? Does it make you feel anything in your body? tingly or slow? energetic or relaxed? Then put the rock aside; choose another and repeat the process, making sure to notice any similarities or differences. Then ask the children to open their eyes. Look at the two rocks and compare them.

Rocks that make your children feel a particular way may be utilized to help relax and ground them, or to energize them when needed. A rock that your child experiences as slow and soothing may be placed near her or his bed to be held before sleep. A small bright-energy stone may be worn in a pouch or carried in a pocket to school.

We have found that keeping special rocks all around the home is a wonderful way to stay balanced and grounded: simply seeing the stones becomes an inner reminder of stillness and serenity.

The stone project is an excerpt from Celebrating the Great Mother, by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw.

Dieter’s Magickal Bath

Dieter’s Magickal Bath

 
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Fennel
1 part Lavender
1 pinch Kelp
 
For best results, repeat this bath morning and night. While in the tub, visualize yourself as possessing complete control over your eating habits. See yourself eating sensible foods in sensible quantities. For symbolic associations, begin this bath regime two days after the Full Moon and continue until the New Moon. On the last day of the two-week period, visualiz yourself as you wish to be-slim, fit, healthy.

“Break The Habit” Bath

“Break The Habit” Bath

 
2 parts Rosemary
1 part Lavender
1 part Lemongrass
1 part Lemon Verbana
1 part Sage
 
To rid yourself of negative, baneful habits as well as their root causes: Place the sachet in the tub. After it has colored the water, step into it. Lie back in the water and visualize yourself happily avoiding the habit or other negative condition–smoking, drinking, drugs, depressions, obsessions and so on. Visualize the water absorbing your desire and need for the habit. See in your mind’s eye all the energy you’ve been giving to this negative condition seeping out into the water. When you’ve visualized all that you can, pull the plug and sit in the tub until the water has drained out. Splash fresh water onto your body, washing away all traces of the taint. Repeat daily.

Protection Bath – Tormentil

Protection Bath

Tormentil
 
Tormentil tea is used to keep malevolent magick far away. Althought its identity is often confused with the root charm High John the Conqueror, they possess no herbal relationship. Tormentil, a frequent component of European magick is actually closely related to another Hoodoo herb charm, five-finger grass(cinquefoil). Those five fingers are used in gambling magick to draw luck and money, however five fingers also create a potent sign of protection.
 
Pour boiling water over tormentil to make an infusion. Add this to a tub filled with warm water and then soak in the water.

Protection Bath

Protection Bath

Wodaabe
 
 
The Wodaabe are the nomadic people of Niger, living amidst settled neighbors. Their herbal knowledge is renowned throughout the region. The Wodaabe recommendation for fighting the influence of sorcery is derived from what they call the tanni tree or Balanites aegyptic. Millennia ago, the Ancient Egyptians favored oil produced from this tree for perfumery. The Wodaabe recommend bathing the body with water containing crushed tanni bark.
 
1. Add the crushed bark to a cauldron or pot of simmering water.
 
2. Allow this to simmer for at least one hour, and then allow it to cool until a comfortable temperature is reached.
 
3. Add to a bath filled with warm water or, for maximum strength, dip a clean cloth into the cooked decoction and bathe the body using downwards, outwards movements.

Hex-breaker Bath

Hex-breaker Bath

Agrimony Reversing
 
The herb, agrimony, is prized in magick circles for it ability to repel and return a hex.
 
Make an infusion by pouring boiling water over angelica, agrimony, chamomile blossoms, hydrangea flowers, lovage and either tormentil or five-finger grass. When it cools add everything to your bath.

Insomnia Bath

Insomnia Bath

 
This bath provides the soothing equivalent of milk and cookies before bedtime. Its power is proportionate to the quantity of milk used.
 
1. Gently warm goats’ or ideally sheep’s milk as in counting sheep.
 
2. Blend true almond extract and several drops of essential oil of lavender into the warm milk so that the fragrance pleases you.
 
3. Add to a tub filled with warm water before bedtime.

Mother Holle’s Cleansing Bath

Mother Holle’s Cleansing Bath

Mother Holle, Germanic Queen of Witches, leads the Wild Hunt. These herbs are traditionally gathered on Midsummer’s Eve and used for intensive cleansings between winter solstice and January 6th.
Blend the following herbs:
Avens
Chamomile
Elder
Elecampane
Heartsease
Mint
Mugwort
Mullein
Saint John’s Wort
Southernwood
Vervain
Yarrow
Sage
Make an infusion by pouring boiling water over the herbs. Let it steep, then strain and add to the bath. For maximum spiritual cleansing and happiness, float heartease(wild pansy) blossoms in the water.

Nine Flowers Bath

Nine Flowers Bath

 
1. Place three white roses, three white carnations and three white lilies in a dish and pour hot water over them.
 
2. Strain out the liquid, reserving the flowers and bring them to the bathtub or shower.
 
3. Scrub from head to foot with one flower at a time until that flower falls apart.
 
4. When all nine flowers have been used, get out of the water and air dry.
 
5. Dress in clean clothes, don’t clean the bathtub immediately. Wait several hours or have someone else do the job.