Category: Pagan Craft Making

How To Make a Priapic Wand for Imbolc

How To Make a Priapic Wand

By

Priapus was a god of fertility, and was always depicted with an erect phallus. In some traditions of Paganism and Wicca, a Priapic wand — phallus-like in appearance — is made, and used in ritual to bring forth the new growth of spring. You can easily make one out of a few outside supplies and some bells. This is a simple project for children as well, and they can go outside at Imbolc and shake the bells at the ground and the trees, calling for spring’s return.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 30 minutes

Here’s How:

  1. First, you’ll need the following items:

    • A stick
    • An acorn
    • Craft glue (hot glue works fine as well)
    • Ribbons or yarn in brown, green, yellow, and gold
    • Small bells (get little jingle bells at your local craft store)

    Strip the bark from the stick, and create a small notch on one end. Glue the acorn to the end of the stick.

    When the glue is dry, wrap the stick in the ribbons or yarn beginning at the acorn — leave extra ribbon at the end to hang down like streamers. Tie the bells on to the end of the streamers.

  2. Use the wand by going outside around the time of Imbolc. Explain to children that the wand symbolizes the god of the forest, or whatever fertility god exists in your tradition. Show them how to shake the bells, pointing the wand at the ground and trees, in order to wake the sleeping plants within the earth. If you like, they can say an incantation as they do so, like:

    Wake, wake, plants in the earth, spring is a time of light and rebirth. Hear, hear this magical sound, and grow, grow, out of the ground.

What You Need

  • A stick
  • An acorn
  • Ribbons or yarn
  • Small jingly bells

 

About.com

Enhanced by Zemanta

Yule Soap

Yule Soap

1 cup grated unscented soap

1/4 cup hot water

1 tbsp. apricot oil

1 tbsp. chamomile

1/2 tbsp. rosemary

1/2 tbsp. ginger

6 drops frankincense oil

6 drops myrrh oil

3 drops cinnamon oil

Place grated soap in a heat-proof non-metallic container and add the hot water and apricot oil. Leave until it is cool enough to handle, and then mix together with your hands. If the soap is floating on the water, add more soap. Leave to sit for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally, until the soap is soft and mushy. Once the soap, water, and oil are blended completely, add the dry ingredients. Once the mixture is cool, then add the essential oils (essential oils evaporate quickly in heat). Enough essential oils should be added to overcome the original scent of the soap. Blend thoroughly and then divide the soap mixture into four to six pieces. Squeeze the soaps, removing as much excess water as possible into the shape you desire, and tie in a cheesecloth. Hang in a warm, dry place until the soap is completely hard and dry.

Recipe adapted from Kate West’s The Real Witches’ Kitchen Sabbat Soap recipe.

Winter Solstice Ritual Potpourri

Winter Solstice Ritual Potpourri

Recipe by Gerina Dunwich

20 drops musk oil

25 drops pine oil

1 cup oak moss

2 cups dried mistletoe

1 cup dried poinsettia flowers

1 cup dried bayberries

1/2 cup dried rosemary

1/2 cup dried holly leaves and berries

3 crushed pinecones

Mix the musk and pine oils with the oak moss, and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container.

(The above recipe for “Yule Ritual Potpourri” is quoted directly from Gerina Dunwich’s book “The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch’s Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions and Recipes”, page 162, A Citadel Press Book, Carol Publishing Group, 1994/1995)

 

The Witches Magick for December 19th – PURIFICATION OF SELF SPELL

PURIFICATION OF SELF SPELL

The purification of self is a way to remove the accumulation of all negative things that happened during the day and to prepare for the work to come. Before ritual work, you have
to change your frame of mind from the everyday mundane world. Here are a couple of ways to do this.


Incense:
You may use incense in the common stick form or in what is called a smudge stick. This is a small bundle of incense. The incense is lit and is passed around the body, but not too close to the hair (fire hazard). As you pass the incense around your body, concentrate on the smoke passing through you. Invision all the negativity and the excess baggage of the day leaving you as the smoke rises around you. When you feel cleansed, put out the incense. You will need a container to put out the smudge stick. A terra cotta saucer filled with sand is ideal.


Ritual Baths:
A ritual bath is a great way to shed the day and concentrate on the ritual to come.
Supplies:
–White candles, for Spirituality and Higher Self, Salt, Herb or Herbs for Purification, Candle Snuffer.
Run a bath of very warm water. As the water is running light the white candles. Use as many as you wish. Three is an appropriate number as it represents the three aspects of the Goddess. As you light a candle think or recite aloud: “I light this candle in truth and peace”.
Repeat with each candle.
While the water is running, add a small amount of salt into the water, then add the herb or herbs of your choice. Step into the water and slowly sink down into the tub. Relax and feel the water covering your body. Let the day and all negativity be drawn into the water. Concentrate on letting go and moving to the positive. Wash slowly. Turn the bath into its own ritual. Think or say aloud :
” All negativity is flowing out of me into the water. I am pure for the work to come.”
Dry yourself slowly, deliberately. As you snuff out the candles, think or say aloud: “I leave this bath in truth and peace.” You are now ready for the ritual to come.

How to Make Ice Candles

How to Make Ice Candles

By , About.com

Ice candles are a lot of fun and easy to make during the winter months. Since February is traditionally a snow-filled time, at least in the northern hemisphere, why not make some ice candles to celebrate Imbolc, which is a day of candles and light?

You’ll need the following:

  • Ice
  • Paraffin wax
  • Color and scent (optional)
  • A taper candle
  • A cardboard container, like a milk carton
  • A double boiler, or two pans

Melt the paraffin wax in the double boiler. Make sure that the wax is never placed directly over the heat, or you could end up with a fire. While the wax is melting, you can prepare your candle mold. If you want to add color or scent to your candle, this is the time to add it to the melted wax.

Place the taper candle into the center of the cardboard carton. Fill the carton with ice, packing them loosely in around the taper candle. Use small chunks of ice — if they’re too large, your candle will be nothing but big holes.

Once the wax has melted completely, pour it into the container carefully, making sure that it goes around the ice evenly. As the hot wax pours in, it will melt the ice, leaving small holes in the candle. Allow the candle to cool, and then poke a hole in the bottom of the cardboard carton so the melted water can drain out (it’s a good idea to do this over a sink). Let the candle sit overnight so the wax can harden completely, and in the morning, peel back all of the cardboard container. You’ll have a complete ice candle, which you can use in ritual or for decoration.

Finger Painting Magick

Finger Painting Magick

 You will need your lover, one ounce of olive oil, nine drops of vanilla scented oil and three drops of jasmine-scented  oil.
Just before you make love, take a warm bath with your beloved. Decide what you both want to direct your sexual and orgasmic  energy toward. Keep it simple and be specific. Next, mix the oils together, and paint words of endearment on your lover’s naked skin. Finger-paint one  word on your lover’s skin, then ask your lover to paint a word of love on your skin. After you paint each word, use your fingers and your imagination to  rub the oil gently and sensuously into your lover’s skin. See how many words you spell before you fall passionately into the throws of lovemaking. Direct  your lovemaking energies toward a shared goal or dream.

Let The Love Flow Shower

Let The Love Flow Shower

This is a shower best taken by two people.

You will need a cup of fine mud and a cosmetic mud mask.

Begin by standing in the bathtub and applying the mud to one another. Rub the mud all over your partner’s body, taking delight in the way it feels. Press your bodies together, exchanging mud in slippery skin movements. The Earth Goddess and God merging together as One. In unison call out:

Goddess and God of the sacred earth
Mother and father of creation
Let the light be our guide
And love our mantra
So be it! Blessed Be!
 

Step into the warm shower and wash the mud from each of your bodies while whispering loving thoughts to one another. Tell your lover how much you love them. End the shower by toweling each other dry.

Lovers’ Moon Dream Bath

Lovers’ Moon Dream Bath

This bath is for two people who are very into one another. Enjoy it together to empower your love, bring good health and divine abundance.

You will need your lover, three drops of lavender oil, three chamomile tea bags and two glasses of your favorite wine (or sparkling cider).

After dark, with your love, fill the bathtub with warm water. Then add the drops of lavender while saying:

Fragrant beauty of the lavender flower deva

Please bless this bath with your divine energy.

Add the three bags of chamomile tea to the bath. As you and your beloved bathe, you can take moist tea bags and rub them on each other’s skin. Both chamomile and lavender are soothing and moisturizing to the skin.

As you sip your glasses of wine, toast the Goddess and God by saying:

Blessed be the Goddess

Blessed be the God

Please continue to bless our life

With your divine, love, health, and abundance.

Let’s Get Crafty – Making a Smudging Stick

Making a Smudging Stick

Be aware of any dangerous chemical reactions or allergies to the plants being used. If you intend to burn a plant in a smudge stick do your research into the plant first to ensure that what you are burning is not dangerous to your health. Always find out if you are allergic first, and have another person on hand or ready to help you if something goes wrong. Call 911 or the appropriate telephone number if a dangerous condition occurs.

Always be careful of how you burn your smudge stick, ensuring that you do not burn yourself. Always use proper fire preventative measures; place burning objects within or upon the appropriate fire burning apparatus. Be aware that holding the smudge stick within your hands can result in burning your hands.

When wrapping the bundle, you should be careful to wrap tightly enough to hold the stems and leaves in place, but not to cut them.

Humidity is a factor in dry time, ensure that your bundle has dried fully before attempting to burn it.

Ensure that there is no mold/mildew growth upon your bundle before burning it.

~Ingredients~

  • Herb(s) appropriate for the smudging
  • String that will safely burn, such as jute line or cotton string

~Process~

  1. Select your fresh herb from the plant (unless you can get long stems of plants elsewhere).
  2. Cut the plant according to size. Plants which are more leafy should be cut in smaller sections, and those that are less leafy can be cut in larger sections.
  3. Cut the string to a good length, such as five to six feet.
  4. Place the pieces according to like, stems to stems and leafs to leafs.
  5. Wrap string around the base, leaving a few inches of string loose.
  6. Wrap up from stems to leafs, then back again in a crisscross pattern.
  7. After returning to the base, tie the few inches from before to the end of your string.
  8. Trim if necessary to give a uniform look.
  9. Place your bundle in a place where it shall dry.

Magickal Tip 387 – 'Leave It To The Leaves'

pagan19

Leave It To The Leaves

Looking for a low-cost way to make your living space more stylish and magickal this fall? Add a few leaf-inspired touches to your décor and let Nature’s autumn beauty shine indoors. Fill a glass bowl with colorful leaves chosen for their magickal attributes and use as a table decoration to bring a special atmosphere to your gatherings. Tuck fresh autumn leaves into napkin rings to add pizzazz and natural power to your dining room. To make an autumn-themed altar cloth, dip leaves in paint and drop them onto a large piece of fabric to create a pattern; carefully press the leaves flat then slowly peel off.

—Melanie Marquis

Mabon Crafting – The Corn Baba or Dolly

Mabon Comments & Graphics

The Corn Baba or Dolly

To make a Corn Baba, strip the husks from a dried ear of corn and soak them in water until pliable. Drain the strips on a paper towel and press flat with a warm iron. Take one strip and wrap around a cotton or foam ball to for the head. Attach the head to the cob with tape or glue. Use several long strips to cover the head and body. Cut a narrow strip of husk for arms and roll into 7″ length. Tie off at the ends with strings. Attach to cob and then fashion dress from strips of corn husks. Finish the doll using the silk or yellow yarn for hair. Embellish with colored ribbon, buttons, hats, and a basket.

Honey Hair Conditioner/Treatment

Honey Hair Conditioner/Treatment

Ingredients

½ cup of honey

2 tablespoons to ¼ cup olive oil, depending on how dry/damaged your hair/scalp is.

Combine together, mix well and saturate hair and scalp. Put on a shower cap on (or use a towel wrapped around your head, if you dnn’t have a shower cap)keeping the treatment on for 30 minutes. Then shampoo, and rinse as usual.

Smell Good Tea Hair Rinse

Smell Good Tea Hair Rinse

Boil two cups of water on the stove, in a small pot. Add two of your favorite tea bags and turn burner to low, the lowest setting you can put it on, allowing tea to steep for at least a half hour. Remove tea bags and make sure that the water is still warm…but not hot! You don’t want to get burned. In the shower or over your sink, slowly pour the water right from the pot over your hair, massaging scalp as you do so. Allow the tea bags to dry and then tear the packets open, using the tea in your potpourri or in your compost!

~Glowing Hair Coffee Rinse Recipe~

~Glowing Hair Coffee Rinse Recipe~

This is another recipe that I have not tried, but it looks interesting. Supposedly, this really works for great hair, after just one application. Make a strong brew of coffee, as strong as possible and then allow it to cool until it is warm…not hot. Apply to dry hair and keep it on for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

~Hair Mousse~

~Hair Mousse~

I have seen this next recipe, all over the Internet for years and have even seen it in books. I will admit that I have never used it before, but for those of you who would like an all-natural hair mousse, I hope you find this one enjoyable if you don’t mind the time it takes to make it.

Ingredients

2 egg whites

Beat the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks and then rub into hair, allow hair to dry, and then style as usual. From what I understand, this makes one treatment and being as you are dealing with eggs; that’s really all you need. One treatment at a time is probably your safest bet.

~Old Time Castile Soap Shampoo~

~Old Time Castile Soap Shampoo~

This shampoo method works best only when using re-batched Kirk’s Soap. I use nothing but Kirk’s soap due to its gentle nature, nice fragrance and the ability to re-batch it once you’ve used all of it. This recipe works best, when you have used the bar of soap down to where it is starting to break or it has broken. Here is a more detailed version of the above recipe for re-batching/liquefying it. Cut it up into small pieces into a stovetop safe pot, turn the burner on medium-low (you’ll better be able to see what temperature you need it at, once you start cooking…have it too high and it will burn) and add enough water to make it a liquid.

Though it is soap, you don’t really want it to be soupy, so don’t add too much water. Just add slowly, until the mixture is a nice consistency.

Stir, stir, stir. Yes, you will need to stir it. I would suggest using a wooden spoon, if you have one. If not, just use something sturdy. This may take a while…patience, patience, patience. Once you have it the consistency you like, allow it to cool a bit and then pour it in a bottle and seal it up. It should remain liquid (if you added enough water) for as long as you use it. However, I would advise giving it a good shake before each use.

Magickal Relaxing Peace Bath

Magickal Relaxing Peace Bath

Draw a bath for yourself.
Pour a tablespoon or so of milk into a large bowl of water and say:
‘Water ripples on the breeze…’

Add several rose petals (fresh or dried) to the bowl of water and milk.
Say: ‘Thistledown flies through the air…’

Stir the water, milk, and rose petals with the index finger of your right hand. Say:
‘Silent as the mighty seas…’

Gently pour the mixture that you have created into the bath. Say:
‘Peaceful here without a care.’

Step in. Bathe for as long as you wish.
Let the water absorb negative thoughts and worries.
Allow yourself a few moments of healing peace.

Things To Do Today – Make Your Own Scrying Mirror

Scrying Mirror

Items Needed:

Photo frame with a removable back and removable glass at least 8×10 inches

High gloss, black paint (non aerosol)

Paint thinner (if recommended for clean up on the paint can directions)

Paint brush

Newspaper

Remove the glass from the frame and place it on the newspaper. Using long, smooth strokes, paint one side of the glass. It is imperative that there are no unpainted areas (no matter how small). Wait until the paint is dry, and replace it with the glass-side facing out.

How to use your scrying mirror

Scrying mirrors are used to induce visions, and answer questions. Before starting, make sure the room your in is as dark as possible. Some people like to place a small votive candle behind the mirror in a pitch black room. If you have a specific intention, chant it in your mind, or whisper it out loud over and over until you’re mind is completely focused on nothing else.

The way to use the mirror is to not look at, but through the surface of it. Gaze into its blackness. Images, colors will soon begin to appear. If this method doesn’t feel right for you, I suggest skipping the candle and using a dark cloth to make a kind of tent covering yourself and the mirror.

Some people may experience difficulty getting results at first. It can take some people weeks to get results from scrying, so you may have to practice this a number of times. Be patient with yourself, make sure you are grounded and completely focused. Also, don’t just hope for visions to appear, expect them. Enjoy your journeys in this fascinating form of divination.

 

The Witches’ Library

Magickal Tip – Spelling on a Budget

Magickal Tip

Spelling on a Budget

As kids stock up on new supplies for back to school time, take advantage of all the broken crayons, old erasers, and short pencils that would otherwise be tossed aside or left on a shelf to collect dust. Melt and recycle broken crayons into customizable effigies and magickal candles to boost energy and creativity, and crumble up old erasers to use in diminishing, curse-breaking, and banishing powders. Keep a few short pencils in your car to use for written spells on the go, or grind the graphite into an energy-boosting dust to use in your wandcraft.

—Melanie Marquis