Category: Witchcraft Basics

(My View Point) Witchcraft Bare Basics Part 4 – Casting a Simple Sacred Circle and Calling the Watchtowers/Directions

I understand that all witches do not believe in the Law of Three, but I suggest as you are starting out to keep it in mind.

LCB works with clients one on one writing and casting spells and/or doing some type of ritual for them. She also writes spells for clients that they can cast themselves. Before writing a spell for anyone else to cast LCB will ask them questions to know if the spell will be casted safely or not. If LCB will not be casted responsibly she will not write the spell for you. While working with some clients she has become aware that some of the spells and rituals I or Lady Abyss and others have posted are not safe for people who know nothing about how to safely practice witchcraft or have only pick out some book(s) to read and think they can cast spells and/or do rituals without any consequences or safety measures. Because of this there will be no books on witchcraft recommend on this website that LCB or someone she fully trusts, is practicing The Craft safely, have read. This post is definitely direct at those new to dabbling in (which no one should ever just dabble in The Craft) or are serious about learning how to practice The Craft through any tradition safely.

If you have not read on here or another reliable source on how to cast a sacred circle and what its purpose is, do so as quickly as you can! To me and most other practitioners doing spellwork or rituals outside of a sacred circle is dangerous for many reasons. Casting a spell and/or doing a ritual raises energy that if you do not ground it or send it out to the Universe for positive use will just bounce around your home or wherever you have done your magick. This energy builds up with every spell and/or ritual you do. The energy will build up causing strange things to happen which can be anything from a light turning on and off by itself to one or more of your electronic things to quit working properly or at all to entities manifesting usually ones that would mean harm you and anyone else living in your home including pets or someone outside of your home to be hurt to… well the list is endless.

Just about everything in The Craft needs to be done three times for the most potency do come out of what you are doing.

You may not know or have read an unreliable source on how to cast a simple circle with or without Watchtowers/Calling the Directions to cast your spell or do your ritual in this Part 1 post LCB will explain a very simple circle and how to call the Watchtowers/Directions with explanations of the reason behind both to LCB’s understanding and how she does them. She is not saying this website, or the books that are recommended are the only reliable sources on how to practice The Craft safely only that everything she, Lady Abyss, and others has posted on this website has been thoroughly vetted for safety and proper knowledge.

Never cast a spell or do a ritual for someone else without their permission even a healing spell unless it is to break a spell or hex or curse you may think has been put on you. LCB recommends never casting a love or friendship spell on another person as you will never know if the person you cast the spell on is only with you or befriends you because of the spell you cast as you are taking away the person’s free will. Controlling someone else’s free will in any way is to LCB is on the side of dark/black magick.

CASTING A SIMPLE SACRED CIRCLE

(Casting a sacred circle should be done for all spellwork and/or rituals.)

The best way I have found to make sure my sacred circle is big enough: I stand about 6 inches away from the longest or widest part of my altar than put either my wand, atheme, or finger of my power hand (normally this is the hand that you write with) pointing outwards at arms length as I walk around my altar. If you are using a circle surface for your altar still stand about 6 inches away from it. I always start my sacred circles in the East. Why? Because that is what feels right for me. You can start your circle at any point that feels right for you. After you have been casting a sacred circle for a while you will know where the perimeter of your circle should be. I suggest to try walking around your altar at different distances until you find the right one for you.

I do not just cast my circle at floor level. I do the first time around I cast the circle above my head. The second time around I cast the circle at waist level. The third time I cast the circle towards the floor. I do, do more intricate circles when working alone and with my coven.

For something to come to you will cast your sacred circle in a clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere. (The reason for opposite directions in the hemispheres is because of the direction the Sun and Moon rise and fall in. East to West in the north hemisphere and West to East in the southern hemisphere.) Make sure you overlap the ends of your circle so no energy can escape it. Make sure your circle is large enough to include your altar (A simple altar will be Part 2) and for you to walk around in. If you do not make it big enough and cross the circle at any point while inside of it the circle it will shatter allowing any energy and unfinished spellwork or ritual to go out into your home and basically the Universe at large and there is no telling what it might do.

Casting the Sacred Circle

For the northern hemisphere turn clockwise. For the southern hemisphere turn counterclockwise.

First time around: I cast this circle for protection

Second time around: I cast this circle to contain all energy I raise

Third time around: I cast this circle to contain the spell I am casting

Calling the Watchtowers/Directions

When I call the Watchtowers I start in a different direction for each of the four seasons in the northern hemisphere. The suggestion below is for Summer. In the Spring I start in the South, Fall is West, and Winter is North. You should start calling your Watchtowers/Directions in which ever direction seems the right one to you. I stand at he side of my altar for the Watchtower I am calling. I have always used a compass in any new home I move into so I know where each compass point is before doing any circles and calling of the Watchtowers.

This part will have two different ways of calling the elements for each Watchtower/Direction. The first one is for the northern hemisphere and the second on is for the southern hemisphere again because of the direction the Sun and Moon rise and fall.

Northern Hemisphere

Turn clockwise to each watchtower/direction

I call Air into the Watchtower/Direction of the East to help power my spell and to protect me.

I call Fire into the Watchtower/Direction of the South to help power my spell and to protect me

I call Water into the Watchtower/Direction of the West to help power my spell and to protect me

I call Earth into the Watchtower/Direction of the North to help power my spell and to protect me

Southern Hemisphere

Turn counterclockwise to each watchtower/direction

I call Air into the Watchtower/Direction of the East to help power my spell and to protect me.

I call Earth into the Watchtower/Direction of the South to help power my spell and to protect me

I call Water into the Watchtower/Direction of the West to help power my spell and to protect me

I call Fire into the Watchtower/Direction of the North to help power my spell and to protect me

Do the Spell and/or Ritual

Ground or send the extra energy raised to the Universe

Dismiss the Watchtowers/Directions

 Opening the Sacred Circle

When you are ready to open your sacred circle the Watchtowers/Directions are dismissed first than you will open your circle. You will walk counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere to face each Watchtower/Directions and uncasting your sacred circle. Start dismissing your Watchtowers/Directions from the watchtower/direction in the North for both hemispheres.

Northern Hemisphere

I dismiss Earth from the Watchtower/Direction of the North with my thanks for helping to power my spell and protecting me.

I dismiss Water from the Watchtower/Direction of the West with my thanks for helping to power my spell and protecting me.

I dismiss Fire from the Watchtower/Direction of the South with my thanks for helping to power my spell and protecting me.

I dismiss Air from the Watchtower/Direction of the East with my thanks for helping to power my spell and protecting me.

Southern Hemisphere

You will walk clockwise to face each Watchtower/Directions and uncasting your sacred circle. Start dismissing your Watchtowers/Directions from the watchtower/direction in the North.

I dismiss Fire from the Watchtower/Direction of the North with my thanks for helping to power my spell and for protecting me

I dismiss Water from the Watchtower/Direction of the West with my thanks for helping to power my spell and for protecting me

I dismiss Earth from the Watchtower/Direction of the South with my thanks for helping to power my spell and for protecting me

I dismiss Air from the Watchtower/Direction of the East with my thanks for helping to power my spell and for protecting me

Opening the Actual Sacred Circle

First time around: I thank this circle for its protection

Second time around: I thank this circle for containing all energy I raise

Third time around: I this this circle for containing the spell I am casting. I let the spell go out to the Universe to do what I casted it for

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright 2021 by Lady Carla Beltane All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged, copied and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for any purposes without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. Any violation of copyright laws will be dealt with through legal means.

Witchcraft Bare Basics Part 8 – The Witches Creed, Witches Rede and the Threefold Law

I was given permission to share the Witches Creed and Rede with you.

The Witches Creed

By Doreen Valiente

Click here for more information on the Witches Creed

Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny’s pathway,
That now we bring forth into light.
Mysterious water and fire,
The earth and the wide-ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
And will and keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of all nature,
The passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.
Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve and old Hallowe’en.
When day-time and night-time are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
And Witches gather in feast.


The Wiccan Rede

This was first written in 1964 by Doreen Valiente

Click here for more information about the Witches Rede

(Full Version)

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart’s desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God’s insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady’s tree burn it not or cursed you’ll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it’s now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows, watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn, soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas, night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it’s height, time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you’ll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you’ll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
“An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will”

Threefold Law

Not all traditions of witchcraft believe in the Threefold Law. Personally, I do because it keeps me from straying into the dark aspects of witchcraft such as hexes or curses or other negative things that are possible to do.

The Threefold law is simple it says you should be careful of the spells you cast or rituals you do as whatever the spell is can come back at you three times as strong. If you cast a dark, negative spell be prepared for something or some things in your life to go bad three times worse than whatever you casted on the other person.

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright by Lady Carla Beltane 2015 All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged or copy and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for commercial purpose without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. It may be printed out for personal use only.

Witchcraft Bare Basics Part 3 – Simple Altar Set-Up

Simple Altar Set-Up

Many people think that to set up an altar for anything witchy that you need a lot of things. Let me bust the stereotype to say to begin you only need 5 candles or something to represent each of the 5 elements and a personal taper candle. You can add whatever else you want as time goes by such as individual items to represent a Goddess and God, an Atheme (ceremonial knife), Wand (there are many choices for what a wand is made from I will go into this more in Part 3), etc. The items on an altar should always reflect the person whose altar it is and what the altar is for. Always keep in mind that a person private spiritual journey is one they have chosen to walk and the only limit on your ceremonial items is what that person decides to use. A cloak is not a necessary item for a witch either it is a personal choice to wear one or not. When I work alone, I rarely wear a cloak and with my coven it is up to the apprentice leading the Sabbat gathering whether we wear them or not.

It is strongly suggested and not just by me that any bowl or dish or whatever kind of container you decided to use to hold your water and earth is kept solely for your ritual usage. (How to cleanse your magickal tools will be in another post in this series.)

 

The picture illustrates where each item representing each element should be placed in the northern hemisphere. In paraeneses will be the placement of each element for the southern hemisphere)

Above Spirit when not using a candle larger than a tealight one is where I prefer my personal candle to be. (More on this topic in another post in this series.) If I am using a larger candle for Spirit, I place my personal candle to the right of the element of Water. I have seen left-handed witches place it to the left of the element of Air. This is a safety thing as most people will be less likely to get burned by or knock over their personal when placing it in one of these locations.

At the top for Spirit, you can use a white candle or whatever represents Spirit to you. Spirit to me is a representation of the Universe as a whole and my spiritual path. I usually use one of these a white candle or angel statue or a clear quartz crystal.

Going around clockwise: For Water (Air) you can use a blue candle or a bowl of water or seashell(s) or a figure of a fish or whatever will represent Water for you. I usually use a bowl of spring water with seashells in it.

For Fire (Earth) you can use a red candled or a small figurine of a fire or whatever represents Fire for you. I usually use a tealight size red candle.

For Earth (Fire) you can use a green or brown candle or bowl with dirt or table salt without iodine or stones or pieces of wood or whatever represents Earth for you. I usually use twigs I have picked up in my yard or a walk through the woods or stones (I gather stones from many places I go because as an Earth witch they call to me) or prettified wood.

For Air you can use a yellow candle or incense or feathers or a figurine of a bird or butterfly or anything in nature that flies. I usually use feathers with an incense burner also going.

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright 2021 by Lady Carla Beltane All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged, copied and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for any purposes without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. Any violation of copyright laws will be dealt with through legal means.

Witchcraft Bare Basics – Part 2 – Cleansing Your Magical Tools

Anything you use for spells, rituals, and any other magickal workings should be cleansed before using it so anyone that has touch the item energy is removed. You only want the energy of what the item is mad from before you dedicate as your own magickal tool.

The simplest way to do this is either use a white sage bundle or using the 5 elements. The 5 elements in most witchcraft traditions are Spirit, Air, Fire, Earth, and Water.

To Do a White Sage Cleansing:

You Will Need:

1 White Sage Bundle ( you can buy these at new age stores. On Amazon.com you can buy this complete kit is approximately $22.46 USD if you have Amazon prime White Sage Smudge Kit Other kits are available)

1 Large Bowl or Abalone Shell ( you can buy these many different places)

6 to 8 inch/15.24 to 20.32 cm Feather – If you can find one a Turkey or Goose Feather work great

Lay your tools out in a row including everything from the white sage kit or large bowl or abalone shell

Light the white sage bundle so it is smoking well. You will not want to use it until the flames go out.

Take your white sage bundle starting a the bottom of the feather going all the way to the top while saying” Please remove all energy from this feather except the bird it came from. I thank the bird for this precious gift”

*With your feather swipe white sage smoke over all your tools while saying:

“I ask that all energy be removed from these objects except for what they are made from.” Repeat this three times.*

Than turn all your magickal tools over and repeat from * to *

To Do an Elemental Cleansing:

This is my preferred way of cleansing not only my magickal tools but any jewelry I am given and basically anything else I buy or am given. To me it is quick and easy. (Unless I set the object in the middle of my home altar where I have the elements laid out. A basic altar layout will be part Magickal Basic Part 5. I do consider this way more for an experienced witch than a beginner.) Do this type of cleansing on a sunny day

Fill a spray bottle with bottled water preferably with spring water (you can buy this at most grocery stores). Ask Poseidon or Neptune or any other Water God or Goddess. After the bottle is filled and before you close it with the spray attachment ask the God or Goddess to bless the water and take all energy from the bottle except for the water they have blessed for your magickal usage. Do this every time you fill the same bottle as this bottle is now one of your magickal tools.

+Spray each tool 3 times say I ask Water (this is the element not the physical water in the bottle) to cleans all energy off this  (name of tool) except for what it is made from. Do this for each of your tools 1 time.+ After you have finished with the last tool turn them all over and repeat from + to +

Lay your tools out in a row outside in the Sun.

After they are laid out say = I ask Fire (the Sun is a symbol of the element of Fire) to remove all energy from these objects except for what they are made from.= Repeat from = to = 3 times.

Leave your tools where they are and say – I ask Air to remove all energy from these objects except for what they are made of-. Repeat from – to – 3 times.

For Earth you can use table salt without iodine or dry dirt. While sprinkling a small amount of salt or dirt on each objects say ^I ask Earth to remove all energy off of these objects except for what they are made from^. Repeat from ^ to ^ 3 times.

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright 2021 by Lady Carla Beltane All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged, copied and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for any purposes without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. Any violation of copyright laws will be dealt with through legal means.

Witchcraft Bare Basics – Part 1 Obtaining Magickal Tools

Your magickal tools are a physical way to help you to manifest the intentions of your spell and/or ritual. They do not have to be expensive or fancy. They just have to be what you feel right using. Do not use any item for a magickal tool until you have cleanse it. ( A simple cleansing method will be in the next post.)

I have gotten my magickal tools from many places over the years without spending a fortune to obtain what I want. My tools have been gifts, bought at thrift stores, new age shops, garage sales, dollar stores, clearance sales at a hardware store, collected on walks through the woods and even from my own yard plus other places I cannot remember right now. What I use on my altar to represent the elements reflects what spell I’m casting or ritual I am doing or which Sabbat I am celebrating.

Book of Shadows/Grimoire/Magickal Journal

Your BOS/Grimoire is your most personal item of all your magickal tools. It can be a fancy leather covered book or spiral notebook or a 3-ring binder or whatever you choose to use. I suggest you use something that you can add pages to over time.

To me it is your magickal journal where you write down every spell and ritual you do for future reference. Your can also add herbs you use, readings you have done, Goddesses and/or Gods you work with or anything that pertains to your witchcraft and spiritual path.

When I started practicing almost 50 years ago I us a spiral notebook than I had to keep transferring everything written in it to a bigger spiral notebook and transfer it again and again as I did more spells and ritual. Now I use a 3-ring binder because it gives me a lot of room to add things to it. I have dividers in it so I can find spells, rituals, herbs, readings I have done for me, dreams I feel I need to write down, and a miscellaneous section that I add whatever I feel should be in my grimoire to find what I am looking for a little easier.

Personal Candle

This is a representation of you on your altar and the most personal item on it. It is used to light anything else that needs to be on your altar. You will lightly crave your name into it with your atheme. The name can be either you given one or a name you choose to use when practicing magick and in the community or both. You can add runes, a personal sigil, ogham symbols or whatever else you want to, to make the taper candle yours.

I use a white 12 inch taper candle inscribed in ogham symbols with my name and some runes for protection and guidance. After I cast my sacred circle and call the Watchtowers I light my personal candle first thing.

Elements:

For Spirit which for me represents the Universe, my Patron God or Goddess, Archangels. You can use whatever would represent Spirit to you. Suggestion to start out with White tealight, volte, taper, 7-day candle. Some of my choices are – Angel Tree topper, Statue of Mother Earth/Gaia or Luna or RA,

For Water which for me represents any water way on Mother Earth. You can use whatever would represent Water to you. Suggestion to start out with Blue tealight, volte, taper, 7-day candle.  Some of my choices are – a bowl of spring water or river water or lake water, seashells, a statue of a dolphin or any fish or Neptune/Poseidon, a dish with Sea Salt (Sea Salt comes from under the water not from a land mass)

For Fire which for me represents an actual fire or the core of Mother Earth. You can use whatever would represent Fire for you. Suggestion to start out with Red tealight, volte, taper, 7-day candle.  Some of my choices are – a “statue” I made that looks like a tiny campfire (I picked up real small twigs from my yard, glued them together in a teepee style them put “flames” cut out from red, orange, and yellow craft foam. then spray watered down glue over the entire thing and sprinkled it with gold and red glitter.), statue of RA (the Egyptian Sun God – the Sun is made of fire), a medallion of the Sun

For Earth which for me represents any type of land on our planet. You can use whatever would represent Earth to you.  Suggestion to start out with Green tealight, volte, taper, 7-day candle. Some of my choices are – A wooden dish of dirt or sand or salt (if I use table salt, I make sure it does not contain iodine. I also do not use Sea Salt as that comes out of the water not from a land mass), Stones (I have gathered from many places since I was a young child), Sand, Dirt from my yard, Statue of Mother Earth/Gaia

For Air which for me represents any type of land on our planet. You can use whatever would represent Earth to you.  Suggestion to start out with Yellow tealight, volte, taper, 7-day candle. Some of my choices are – Incenses, Feathers, Wind Chimes, Bird or Butterfly or Bee or Dragonfly statue

Wand

In place of a wand you can use the pointer finger on your power hand. Your power hand is normally the hand you write with. If you can use either hand to write with than which ever hand is more dominate.

This is definitely what you feel comfort using as a wand. The can be made of wood, a crystal, stone, metal, wood and crystal. You can decorate your wand or not. Combine different things or not. The length and diameter are a personal choice I suggest it is a size that you can fit comfortably onto your altar when it is not in your hand.

Personally I have 4 different types of wood, a clear quartz crystal, and a bloodstone wand. All my wood wands are just like they fell from the tree for the type they are bark and all.

If you choose to use a wood wand I suggest you pick one from a tree you feel a connection to and is on the ground by it. Always ask the trees permission to use the branch and leave a thank you offering. When I am out looking for a new wand I carry a bottle of  water and empty it at the base of the tree that has gifted me the branch.

If you choose to use another type of wand I strongly suggest you do not order it online as your wand needs to connect with you and feel like an extension of your arm and fingers. Instead go to some flea markets or fairs or new age store or a rock shop. Pick up a few different types of stones or crystals than see how the feel to you metaphysically. In other words does it feel like it should go home with you or do not feel anything from it (this should be done with any stone or crystal you find or buy). As a rule if you do not feel anything than it is not suppose to be yours but there are exceptions to every rule so if you feel you should have it than take it home and the connection will usually come in time.

Atheme

This is your ceremonial knife used to cut herbs and many other metaphysical things such as cords.

You can use a rarely used kitchen or pocket or straight blade (hunting knife) knife or even a letter opener. You can also go out hunting flea markets, thrift stores, any place that sells knives that you can handle before buying. This is another thing that you feel more than a physical attachment to. The knife should have a metaphysical connection to you and be easy to handle inside your circle plus fit comfortably on your altar when not in use.

I have three different athemes and non of them are fancy in anyway. One is a letter opener my mother gave me many years ago, another is a hunting knife I bought on a whim several years ago and just starter using it magickaly about fifteen years ago, the last one was a gift from Big Dwag from a group of knives we bought, the handle and blade have a pattern in it that looks like it was cut from a tree.

Chalice and Offering Plate

Neither the chalice or offering plate need to be fancy or ornate. The chalice can be a cup or mug or glass or metal or whatever feels right to you. I do not recommend it be made from wood unless the inside has been treated in a way that does not allow liquid to seep into it. The offering plate has endless possibilities that it can be made from such as ceramic or glass or wood.

A chalice is usually used to hold a beverage that you drink part of it and the reminder is an offering to whatever Goddess or God you are working with at the time.

I have a tea mug that has a cover (I use the cover as an offering plate), a plain wine glass that was a gift from one of my cousins that she picked up at a thrift store, another wine glass that when held up to light looks like the glass is made out of rainbow I picked up at a flea market when I was a teenager, a plain plastic glass that I use when working outdoors.

An offering plate is used to hold something edible that you eat part of and leave the rest as an offering to which ever Goddess or God you are working with at the time. This can be made from many different types of things such as wood, glass, ceramic, etcetera.

As mentioned above I have a ceramic one that is the cover for a tea seeping mug, a wood dish that I do not remember where I got it from, a saucer from an old set of dishes. I have a couple of other things I use as well but cannot remember right now what they are made from.

Cloak

Many witches use a cloak to go from the physical everyday world to what they refer to as the witchy world. It is a symbol that you are ready to practice magick. It is also a way to hide your face if it has a hood in case you are practicing somewhere outdoors or doing some type of banishment and do not want to be recognized.

A clock can be made out of whatever material you choose or you can buy one either online or a new age store or renaissance fair. I have not seen one at a garage sale or flea market or thrift store yet. This item is definitely made from whatever type of material you feel it should be made from. You can decorate it however you want or just leave it plain.

I have two cloaks I have not felt the need to decorate them in anyway ye. One made from very dark purple velvet that I use in the colder weather that was a gift from a dear fried who no longer used it and an emerald green one that is made from a light weight material that I use in the warmer weather I bought this one online because I love the color.

Conclusion

There are many other things you may decide to place on your altar such as a sword, Goddess and God statues just to name a couple. To me these are the bare basic items that can help channel your energy into a spell or ritual and help rise power/energy in a circle.

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright 2021 by Lady Carla Beltane All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged, copied and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for any purposes without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. Any violation of copyright laws will be dealt with through legal means.

Witchcraft Bare Basics – Overview of the 8 Part Series by Lady Carla Beltane

All of these posts and more will be in the book I am writing on Witchcraft Bare Basics. I will hopefully be done and ready to publish by this time in 2026. The book will be published as a PDF with extra blank pages so you can put them all in some type of binder as your first Book of Shodow/Grimoire or an addition to your current BOS/Grimoire.

The bare basics of witchcraft to me will be able to give those new to witchcraft a.k.a. The Craft (do not mistake this as a reference to a movie of the same name) a quick tutorial on how to cast a sacred circle, cast spells and/or do rituals in a safe manner. How to obtain and cleanse a person’s magickal tools, making a Book of Shadows/Grimoire (Referred to as BOS throughout this series), dedicating the person’s tools and BOS. If you have any questions or suggestions for these posts please leave a message in the comment section as others may have the same question as you.

They will also be a peek into WOTC’s School of Witchcraft’s Novice Course more information can be found on the course by clicking on the topic in the main menu. I have realized that I have been adding to the unsafe practice of The Craft by not doing specific posts to help those new to The Craft to practice safely. These articles are copyrighted and can not be printed out without express permission from Lady Carla Beltane. Any usage including but not limited to posting to another website or on any social media or in any book will be considered a violation of copyright laws.

Some seasoned witches read the spells and rituals that are posted and know how to cast them safely. They always cast their spells and/or do their rituals fully understanding the consequences or gains of what they are doing. This post is not directed at you unless you are looking for some new ideas.

I work with clients one-on-one writing and casting spells and/or doing some type of ritual for them. I also write spells for clients that they can cast themselves. Before writing a spell for anyone else to cast I will ask them questions to know if the spell will be cast safely or not. If I think it will not be cast responsibly and safely I will not write the spell for you.

I flatly refuse to do any type of spell for anyone that will mess with another person’s free will as to me this black/dark magick. I also will not invoke a Goddess or God to ask them to do something for a stranger. I do believe in The Law of Three aka Threefold Law and follow the Wiccan Rede the best that I can. I am an eclectic/Earth witch which means I use things from different pagan traditions. I hold myself to a high moral standing especially when casting spells and doing rituals.

While working with some clients I became aware that many of the spells and rituals I or Lady Abyss and others have posted are not safe for people who know nothing about how to safely practice witchcraft . Many people have only picked out some book(s) to read and think they can cast spells and/or do rituals without any consequences or safety measures. Because of this, there will be no books on witchcraft recommended on this website that I, or someone I fully trust and who is practicing The Craft safely, have read. This post is definitely directed at those new to witchcraft and who are serious about learning how to practice witchcraft responsibly and safely.

I strongly suggest that you who are just beginning your witchcraft/pagan path check with someone with more experience before reading any book. Ask them if they have heard about the book or the author’s name. If you do not know an experience witch to ask write a comment and I am pretty sure one of the WOTC’s family members may have heard of one or the other or both.

I sincerely thank those who are new here and/or The Craft for choosing witchesofthecraft.com to help you in your journey.

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright 2021 by Lady Carla Beltane All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged, copied and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for any purposes without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. Any violation of copyright laws will be dealt with through legal means.

Some Ideas for Office Witchcraft

Spell for Sunday – Ra Egyptian God of the Sun

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY OF THE SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)

Set Up An Altar for Ra Egyptian God of the Sun

Setting up an altar for the god Ra is a great way to invite him into your spiritual practice and life. It creates a meeting place for you and your god to connect and communicate. Any flat surface will work such as a table, nightstand, bookshelf, counter, etc. Then add things to represent Ancient Egypt and the god Ra to your altar including: crystal pyramids, a statue of Ra, the Eye of Ra symbol, candles, incense with an incense burner, sun decor, a bowl of water, etc. Cleanse and bless your Ra altar before use.

Wearing Ra Amulets Source: otherworldlyoracle.com

Traditionally, amulets were worn by Ra worshipers to invoke their beloved deity and to show their dedication. Select an amulet that means something to you, but also reminds you of the sun god’s unique qualities. Perhaps a stone the Egyptians revered such as lapis lazuli, quartz, turquoise, or onyx. More appropriately, a sunstone would make a great Ra amulet. Cleanse your new amulet, then ask Ra to imbue his power into it. I like to set my amulets on my gods’ altars to really soak up their energy. Then wear the amulet daily or during special sacred rituals in honor of Ra.

2,700-year-old temple with altar overflowing with jewel-studded offerings unearthed on Greek island

2,700-year-old temple with altar overflowing with jewel-studded offerings unearthed on Greek island

Archaeologists in Greece have discovered a 2,700-year-old temple that houses a horseshoe-shaped altar overflowing with offerings.

Constructed of bricks, the temple is 100 feet (30 meters) long and is located next to the Temple of Amarysia Artemis, a sanctuary dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, which researchers found in 2017 on the island of Evia, according to a translated statement from Greece’s Ministry of Culture.

During excavations in 2023, archaeologists found the second temple.

Related: 2,800-year-old figurines unearthed at Greek temple may be offerings to Poseidon

“One of the peculiarities of this temple is the significant number of structures found inside it,” the researchers wrote on Jan. 9 in a translated Facebook post detailing their finding.

Those structures included several hearths located in the temple’s nave, including the ash-caked altar stacked with offerings such as pottery; vases; Corinthian alabaster, or the carved mineral gypsum; gold and silver jewelry studded with coral and amber; amulets; and bronze and iron fittings. The altar also contained several pieces of charred bone.

Some of the pottery pieces predate the newfound temple and were fired during the late eighth century B.C., leading researchers to suspect that the altar may have once resided outside the temple and was later moved indoors.

In the sixth century B.C., brick partitions were placed at the sanctuary’s heart for added support, leading researchers to think that the temple was “partially destroyed” by a fire, according to the statement.

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Beneath the temple, archaeologists found several dry stone walls from a different building that once stood at the site, along with several bronze figurines shaped like bulls and a ram. They also unearthed remnants of buildings from the eighth and ninth centuries B.C. next to the first temple, as well as a fortification system dating to the more recent early Copper Age, or roughly 4000 to 3500 B.C.

Some Ideas for Inviting Fairies into Your Garden to Go With Today’s Spell

Fairies. How has it taken me this long to cover these amazing magical beings? As a hedgewitch, working with the spirits of the land is just one of the many things I do, and fairies are a pretty important one. I’m not going to go into too much detail about fairies in this post, but if you are interested in learning more about fairies, please refer to W. Y. Evans-Wentz’s book The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. This amazing piece of literature is just one of several texts on which Traditional Witchcraft, including hedgewitchery, is based and is a must read if you wish to work with fairies or even understand the history of witchcraft and folk magic. But I digress! Today we are going to look at how you can invite fairies into your garden to help it grow and add a bit more magic to it.

Grow Specific Flowers

There are several ways you can attract fairies to your garden. They are pretty picky creatures, so making them happy is the key to keeping them in your garden once you have invited them. First, make sure you have the flowers they love. Anything bell-shaped will attract fairies to your garden, as well as hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Not sure what to include? Try adding these plants to your garden:

  • Lamb’s ear
  • Yarrow
  • Coneflower
  • Rosemary
  • Lavender
  • Rose
  • Lilac
  • Morning Glory
  • Foxglove
  • Thyme

I planted almost all of these in my garden. I’m only missing coneflower (which I will plant next year) and lilac (which I will likely plant next year too). The best part of these particular plants is they are also ones you will often use in magical workings, recipes, and herbal remedies. Foxglove and morning glory are toxic, so don’t use those, but the others are safe!

Set up a Fairy Altar

Have all the flowers but want something more? Try setting up an altar specifically for fairies and make regular offerings. You can include a fairy statue, tea lights, electric fairy lights, and crystals such as quartz, rose quartz, or moonstone on a flat rock or surface in your garden. Once your altar is set up, be sure to leave offerings on the altar or in small walnut shells. Offerings include:

  • cream or milk
  • beer
  • wine
  • cider
  • honey
  • nuts
  • chocolate
  • flowers (see above)
  • shiny objects like coins and jewelry

Sacrificial altar among 13,000 relics unearthed at Sanxingdui archaeological site in China

A turtleshell-shaped box and a sacrificial altar are among a treasure trove of 13,000 relics dating back over 3,000 years discovered by archaeologists in southwest China.

The relics – many made of gold, bronze and jade – were unearthed in six sacrificial pits at the Sanxingdui archaeological site, near Chengdu, Chinese state media reported Monday, June 14, 2022.

Historians know relatively little about the Sanxingdui culture, which left behind no written records or human remains, though many believe it to be part of the ancient kingdom of Shu. It’s hoped the latest finds will shed light on the kingdom, which ruled in the western Sichuan basin along the upper stream of the Yangtze River until it was conquered in 316 BC.

A joint team of archaeologists from Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, Peking University, Sichuan University and other research institutions have been excavating the six pits at the site since 2020.

In the most recent excavation, archeologists found 3,155 relatively intact relics, including more than 2,000 bronze wares and statues, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.

New finds from the past

Researchers described a turtleshell-shaped box made of bronze and jade as among their more intriguing finds, saying it was the first time they had uncovered such an item.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the vessel is one of a kind, given its distinctive shape, fine craftsmanship and ingenious design. Although we do not know what this vessel was used for, we can assume that ancient people treasured it,” Li Haichao, a professor at Sichuan University, told Xinhua.

A bronze altar nearly 3-feet tall (0.9 meters) was also found in one of the pits, where people of the click here to read the rest of this article

Some of the Color Correspondences for Magickal Workings – Printable

These colors can be used for altar clothes, candles, clothing, Sabbat, and other things. Some of the colors also correspondence to a specific day and/or month.