Tag: Esoteric and Occult

General Guidelines for Casting Spells

General Guidelines for Casting Spells

Set aside a room for your magical work. Decorate it with things that
put you in a magical mood. Remember to use things that stimulate all
five of your physical senses. Some obvious things would be the use of
appropriate colors for sight, incense for scent, music for hearing,
wines for taste, and textures for feel.
If you do not have a room you can set aside exclusively for your
magical work, then choose a room that can be locked while you do your
work. This will allow you to work undisturbed. In any case, you
should clean your work area periodically with a purifying
powder/floorwash to keep away negative vibrations.
Set up an altar to be used as your worktable. It’s size and shape
should be those that appeal to you. Placing candles and other items
that assist you to concentrate on the work at hand is a good
practice. Some people like to cover their altar with a white cloth
and place fresh cut flowers on it every day.
Always use the best candles, oils, and incenses that you can afford,
or make your own, for scrimping on materials has a negative effect on
the subconscious. Don’t forget that the subconscious is very good at
making do with raw materials that it can shape to its own use.
Never cast a spell until you have a clear and concise picture of what
it is you wish to accomplish. This ties in with the saying “Be
careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”
Always ground out any extra energy you raise for the spell, and bind
the spell so that it expires within the pre-determined amount of
time. Once you have cast the spell, do not discuss it with any one
until after it has worked. Most spells peter out because the person
who cast it boasts about it to so many people, that the spell is
robbed of power before it has a chance to work. The ancient bond
placed on the magician was to dare, to know and to keep silent.
Above all, at all times, remember the Rede: “An ye harm none, do what
you will.” You do not know all the effects of your spell, therefore,
use magick sparingly, if at all.

Theory of Spellcasting

Theory of Spellcasting

Spells are an important aspect of magical training. They require the
use of the combined faculties of relaxation, visualization,
concentration and projection. The casting of spells provides practice
in coordinating these skills and developing them further. Spells are
extremely sophisticated psychological tools that have subtle, but
important, effects on a person’s inner growth. Spells may highlight
otherwise hidden complexes of the person casting the spell.
A person who has conflicts about success will find great difficulty
in concentrating on a money spell, for example. Many times the
practical results of a spell are far less important than the
psychological insights that arise during the magical work, for
discovering our inner blocks and fears is the first step in
overcoming them. Spells also go one step further than most forms of
psychotherapy, in that they allow us not only to listen to and
interpret the unconscious, but also to speak to it in the language it
understands.
Symbols, images, and objects used in spells communicate directly with
Younger Self, who is the guardian of our emotions and who is barely
affected by the intellect. We often understand our feelings and
behavior but find ourselves unable to change them, but through
spells, we can attain the most important power – the power to change
our lives.
Spellcasting also forces us to come to terms with the material world.
Many people attracted to the spiritual path of the Craft find
themselves uneasy with using magic for practical or material goals.
Somehow it seems wrong to work magic for oneself, to want things and
to get things. This is an attitude which is a holdover of the Judeo-
Christian world view that sees spirit and matter as separate and that
identifies matter with evil and corruption.
In the Craft, flesh, the material world, none of what is commonly
thought of as matter is separate from spirit. The universe is made up
of the Goddess who is manifest in all things. Union with the Goddess
comes through embracing the material world and all the gifts that She
has placed in it for us. Our major task on this plane of existence is
to become masters of this realm of manifestation. We do not fight
self-interest; we follow it, but with an awareness that transmutes it
into something sacred

Magickal Living for the Witch for August 15th – Magick & You – Where To Begin

Magick & You – Where To Begin

Magick Starts with You

Magick is natural. Magick requires effort. You will only receive what you actually place into it. Magick is usually not instantaneous. Spells require time to be effective. Magick is a divine act. Magick is knowledge – not only of its ways or laws, but also of its effectiveness. Don’t believe magick works. Know it does. Magick is Love. The moment anger, hate or jealousy enters your magick, you endanger yourself and thouse around you. Love yourself and others, always considering free will. For to take the free will of another way, is to control – and magick is about love, free will and freedom, not control. Better yourself, bring good things to you, but consider the consequences before casting. Use the magickal energy that the universe is made up of for good. And be sure that it harms none – not even yourself!

To KNOW – Know yourself, know your craft. Research your spells, apply all your knowledge.

To WILL – Focus your mind, your power and inner being.

To DARE – Believe in your spells and all you do with Positive thought and intent. All this is energy you place in the universe.

To REMAIN SILENT – Speak not of your spells….For every thought placed into your magick, affects it.  (We don’t want other people’s thoughts in our magick, do we?)

With all that being said, Magick – can be as simple or complex as you wish it to be. It isn’t always about how you perform the spell, but what you actually place into it. And magick isn’t always about casting a spell either. Remember all thought is energy, all energy is in motion, so every thought in one form or other will push energy to condition. So, positive thoughts lead to positive actions, which lead to positive results. Don’t get all tied up in charts and graphs. It can be quite confusing and disheartening when trying to place a spell together and you find that you have to wait 20 days to the new moon, or a year and a day to ask a tree for a wand….Simplify your life and magick – and you will see greater results and find peace of mind.

The answers lie within…..

Excerpt from

Spellbound’s Book of Spells

A Collection of Simple Spells

Volume 1

By Kelli James Klymenko

The Witches’ Magickal Thought for Friday, August 10th

Magickal Places – Crossroads

Crossroads are interesting magickal places, for in order to understand their significance and power, you need to get outside of yourself and imagine looking at them from above, as if you are hovering over them in the air. The most magickal crossroads of all are five roads that come together to make a star shape. Admittedly, these are somewhat rare, and if you do find one that is not too heavily trafficked and built up, by all means make use of it.

There is a five-pointed star crossroads near my home here in Italy, made up of unpaved country roads, with an eleventh-century chapel and cemetery on one corner – a very powerful magickal place, indeed for working all kinds of magick.

Simple crossroads, which form a cross, are good places for protective magick.

Always be certain that you can work your spells undisturbed by possibly negative outside influences. To this end, look for very quiet crossroads where few, if any, cars pass, and preferably away from human habitation. Special old or unusually shaped trees, cemeteries, wells, bodies of water, rock formations, or even a statue or monument on one or more of the corners will increase the crossroad’s power.

The meeting of three roads in a T or Y shape is also powerful, as these shapes signify the meeting of male and female energies. All crossroads signify and actually offer, a choice of paths to take and magick worked at the point where various paths of lines intersect will generate energy that goes iin the direction of your chosen path.

Incidentally, crossroads are also the best places to dispose of leftover, used, or finished spell casting or magickally charge objects such as burnt-down candle stubs, used mojo bags, bit of cloth, cords, dried herbs, flowers, berries, and other biodegradable items. You can take these things to a special crossroads at night and bury them, or safely burn them. Any remaining magick powers in them will discharge, becoming available for future use at that same crossroad intersection.

Excerpt from

Llewellyn’s 2012 Magical Almanac

Magical Places

By Suzanne Ress

Lighten Up – Safe Witch Kit

Safe Witch Kit

Want to be a Witch, yet don’t want dangerous items in your home? We’ve assembled this comprehensive kit to meet the beginning Witch’s needs, without compromising safety.

Includes:

1 Rubber Athame. Painted black handle, silver blade. Very flexible. You can swing this about in Circle with no fears about hurting anyone!

Exclusive! The incredible Collapse-a-Wand! Hand-wrought of authentic wood-grained expanded foam, with a special adhesive patch for attaching the Power Stone of your choice (see below).

2 Battery-operated Candles (1 black, 1 white). No more concerns about flowing gowns catching fire.

1 package Glade Stick-ems. Fresh, floral scent, without the concerns of burning incense. No messy ash to clean up!

1 shaker Mrs. Dash. Get all the flavor and zip of salt, without the sodium!

1 Quality Fold-a-Cauldron. Easy-to-assemble, genuine simulated cast iron corrugated material. Complete instructions.

1 Fabric Rainbow Disk. No sharp corners to be concerned about. The perfect centerpiece for your own Altar. No worries of offending anyone, as could happen with those misunderstood pentagrams.

3 Assorted colors soft vinyl “Power Stones.” Focus the energy of crystals. Perfect for attaching to your Collapse-a-Wand!(Choking hazard. Not recommended for children under 3 years of age)

1 Booklet, “How to Be One with the White Light, Because There Is No Dark Side, Luke” subtitled: “The Absolutely, Completely Comprehensive Guide to Everything Possible that a Witch Needs to Know to cast Any Spell at All”

BONUS! Order now, and we’ll send you our exclusive Fill In The Blanks Book of Light! All the spells you’ll ever need, and YOU fill in the names and dates! Quality softcover binding.

All packaged attractively in a lovely carry-case, which unfolds to become your altar cloth.

Rush out and get yours today!

— by René Friberg, aka RaeVynn Sands

Good Sunday Morning To Ya’! Sunday Is Ruled By The Sun

 

Sunday Is Ruled By The Sun

Archangel:  Michael

Candle color:  Gold

Incenses:  Frankincense or orange

Crystals:  Amber or clear quartz

Use Sundays for spells for new beginnings, for worldly success, to achieve ambitions, and to reverse bad luck, especially financial and for health.

Where possible, use an open space in sunlight for sun spells, such as a sunny beach or shimmering plain.

Theory Of SpellCasting

 

Theory Of SpellCasting

 

Spells are an important aspect of magical training. They require the

use of the combined faculties of relaxation, visualization,

concentration and projection. The casting of spells provides practice

in coordinating these skills and developing them further. Spells are

extremely sophisticated psychological tools that have subtle, but

important, effects on a person’s inner growth. Spells may highlight

otherwise hidden complexes of the person casting the spell.

A person who has conflicts about success will find great difficulty

in concentrating on a money spell, for example. Many times the

practical results of a spell are far less important than the

psychological insights that arise during the magical work, for

discovering our inner blocks and fears is the first step in

overcoming them. Spells also go one step further than most forms of

psychotherapy, in that they allow us not only to listen to and

interpret the unconscious, but also to speak to it in the language it

understands.

 

Symbols, images, and objects used in spells communicate directly with

Younger Self, who is the guardian of our emotions and who is barely

affected by the intellect. We often understand our feelings and

behavior but find ourselves unable to change them, but through

spells, we can attain the most important power – the power to change

our lives.

 

Spellcasting also forces us to come to terms with the material world.

Many people attracted to the spiritual path of the Craft find

themselves uneasy with using magic for practical or material goals.

Somehow it seems wrong to work magic for oneself, to want things and

to get things. This is an attitude which is a holdover of the Judeo-

Christian world view that sees spirit and matter as separate and that

identifies matter with evil and corruption.

In the Craft, flesh, the material world, none of what is commonly

thought of as matter is separate from spirit. The universe is made up

of the Goddess who is manifest in all things. Union with the Goddess

comes through embracing the material world and all the gifts that She

has placed in it for us. Our major task on this plane of existence is

to become masters of this realm of manifestation. We do not fight

self-interest; we follow it, but with an awareness that transmutes it

into something sacred

Altars and Shrines

Altars and Shrines

by Erika Ginnis

One of my dear friends, who I was married to at the time, made a comment about me once that has stayed with me over the years.

We were getting ready to move into a new house, and we were having some kind of conversation about decorating style. From out of the blue, he said, “Oh yeah, your decorating style is Early American Shrine.”

I stopped what I was doing. I turned around and was actually silent for a moment (anyone who knows me can attest to the rarity of this action). I thought about it for a minute and then broke out laughing. I realized he was totally right. I had just never thought of it in quite that way before.

I asked him to elaborate, and he was more than glad to do so! He said “Given the opportunity, you will make anything into a shrine or altar. Look around at all your stuff and tell me if that isn’t true. You put candles on either side of everything, you add flowers and incense whenever you possibly can. They are all altars. It’s cool. I like it. It’s just what you do to anything that will sit still long enough.”

I took a look around, and I had to admit he was right. It cracked me up. Since that time, I have come to accept with amusement this tendency to create altars wherever I go. I have even used to it to my advantage, being a witch and a healer and a creator of spaces both private and public where people congregate.

define a shrine or altar

Before I go any further, I want to look at some definitions. I sometimes use shrine and altar interchangeably. They are, however, slightly different things, according to Encarta World English Dictionary 2001:

Shrine [shrin], noun (plural shrines)

1.         Holy place of worship: a sacred place of worship associated with a holy person or event

2.         Container for holy relics: a case or other container for sacred relics, for example, the bones of a saint

3.         Tomb of holy person: the tomb of a saint or other revered figure

4.         Niche for religious icon: a ledge or alcove for a religious icon, for example, in a church

5.         Something revered: an object or place revered for its associations or history

(Pre-12th century. From Latin scrinium, “a case for books or papers,” of uncertain origin. First used to denote a container.)

Al·tar [áwlt?r], noun (plural al·tars)

1.         Raised ceremonial religious structure: a raised structure, typically a flat-topped rock or a table of wood or stone, or raised area where religious ceremonies are performed

2.                        Communion table: the table or other raised structure in a Christian church on which the bread and wine of communion are prepared

(Pre-12th century. From Latin altare, from altaria, “burnt offerings,” from, probably, adolere, “to burn up.”)

By these definitions, I have a working altar and many shrines. Since I sometimes use the shrines to do magickal work as well, the meanings get less clear; thus, I use both words. In general, for me a shrine is to something or someone, and an altar is for doing workings.

Now that I have touched on some definitions, I want to set them aside and say that what I really hope you get out of this article is permission to explore and develop what works for you, call it what you will.

why place shrines  and altars?

It makes sense to me to recognize the divinity in us and our surroundings. I love arranging things to add that quality of the sacred. I believe it does many things for us. It speaks to a deep part of us that is below the conscious mind, to the deep ocean of the soul. It calms and delights the prehistoric part of us that is, at this moment, still sitting by a fire and telling the mythic stories that run in our blood — the part of us that is in awe and fear of the dark night, the bright moon and the workings of the world, no matter what we do for our living in the modern day to day.

Shrines and altars also speak, at least to me, of beauty. I feel more connected to a sense of grace and loveliness when I am setting things out in a specific way. It puts me in a place of being mindful and honoring, rather than the place of rushing. It helps to remind me that I am spirit. It gives me a place to focus.

My head has sometimes been known to harass me and say; “Hey, what the heck does it matter that you are placing these things thus and so? They are just things, physical objects; how can that affect anything?” In case you also are plagued by this type of inner dialog (or perhaps outer dialog with spouse, partner or roommate), I will say this: I think there are at least two things at work here. (I will warn you that I spend a lot of time seeing things in pairs of dichotomies. I look at a paradox and get really giddy, since I often see both opposites as simultaneously true, and that is where I often find Spirit.)

First, when I take the time to pay attention, when I have an intention and dedicate a space (regardless of the size) to something, it changes me internally. The altar exists inside of me somehow. It creates a mental and spiritual and energetic shift inside of me. This is nontrivial. Some would say that all our experience is really our perceptions of our experience and therefore all reality is actually inside of us. Changing something within us, then, can have a tremendous impact. Whether or not you subscribe to this line of thought, it is easy to see how much our inner stance colors our outer experience.

Second, I think that everything is energy and that when you place your intention and direction onto physical objects you do indeed change them on some level. One way of looking at the world says that everything is part of One Thing, and that everything is just arrangements of energy. So the very act of arranging things with sacred intention is by its very nature divine and imbues an even “greater” concentration of sacred energy into the act and by extension the objects acted upon.

a shrine or altar for  a deity or spirit

Now, there is the added aspect for an altar or shrine of the energy of a particular god or goddess, or perhaps the fey; as pagans, we may have direct interaction with all of these as real and tangible. When you create an altar or shrine for a particular energy, being or archetype, you are going to be working with yet another layer of interaction and experience, and I should add, opinion. I know from my own personal experience that I created an altar for Yemayá with all the various things that she would find sacred. The “odd” thing was that I did this prior to even knowing who she was, what her name was and what she would traditionally have on an altar. She was just very clear in telling me what was supposed to be there (see “She Moves in Mysterious Ways: My Relationship with Yemayá,” under the pen name Iris WaterStar, Widdershins, volume 2, issue 2).

If you know that you want to create a shrine for a specific god or goddess, I think it is always wise and also great fun to do research before you begin. Find some reference books about the deity you are working with, and find out what kind of colors, objects and symbols are sacred to that deity. You may even find pictures of specific shrines and altars that will give you some ideas. Take the time to meditate on the god or goddess. I believe if you allow yourself to get internally still, you can connect with something within that can guide you in your creation. It can be an amazing experience.

One word of caution: If you get really good at this, please remember that you may not want to or be able to provide every single thing the god or goddess might “suggest” on the altar. Some of them might ask for actual living lions or precious gems, or something else that might not be feasible. The phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” can come in really handy here. Statues, photographs, artwork, all of these things can give the energy you are looking for without breaking your lease or your budget. Work with the energy gently, and allow it to be an inspiration.

Your space does not have to be dedicated to a particular god or goddess. Choose whatever you want your intention to be. It can be a place of prayer, or meditation. It can be a creative expression, or even an altar to creativity. It doesn’t always have to be specific. It can be general, such as a shrine containing items that bring a sense of calm or peace. It may be a fountain or a place in your backyard. You may use your altar for magickal workings or for contemplation.

we create shrines  every day

Granted, I look at the world through altar-colored glasses. But I believe we create shrines all the time, even if we are not conscious of it. Sometimes they are for things that we would not really choose to honor. That pile of bills we are ignoring in the corner looks a lot like a shrine to a sense of lack. The television that we arrange our living rooms around is certainly a focus of energy. Is there a mantra in our heads that is saying things that don’t really serve us? These “accidental” creations are very powerful uses of energy. I am a proponent of doing as much of what we do on purpose as possible. If not that, I propose we become aware at some point of what the heck we are doing, so we can make choices about how we direct our energy. I believe that we are each spirit. We are part of the divine. We have power. We can create. What kinds of altars do you see around you? Are there ones in your life you would change?

For me, the act of making an altar is part of reclaiming my own power to create or identify sacred space. I grew up with a lot of messages that said that someone else had that power, not me. The first altars I made were difficult for me. I had an internal fear that someone was going to smite me down since I wasn’t “qualified,” that there was this perfect blueprint I had to follow (which I didn’t have) in order to do it “right.”

Over time, I have found many powerful traditions with very specific ways to create and bless a shrine or altar. Such ways come from all religions. They are spiritually valuable to people and as such deserve to be honored and respected. I use many of them. The information has been handed down for centuries because it works. However, keep in mind that these traditions are not the only ways to create sacred space. Get still and go deep inside of you; find the perfect expression of a shrine or altar that is unique just for you. You don’t need someone else’s permission. It may draw from a particular tradition or from several, or from none. The act of finding this part of you can be incredibly freeing and validating.

Some altars are transitory for a day or a season or a specific ritual (some would argue that all things in form are transitory, but that is a separate conversation!), and some altars are a more permanent fixture.

When you have a personal altar or shrine that is more or less permanent, it will collect and hold energy — not only from you, but also from the energies you work with and people who see it. This can be a great thing and a powerful element to draw from. Stonehenge comes to mind. Alternatively, a personal altar or shrine can be something you might want to clear out now and again. I often suggest people occasionally take their altar or shrine objects down and clean or dust them or rearrange them. Doing this can keep the energy clearer and more current. It can also simply make room for change on a personal level. It can feel really good to redo an altar and bring it up to date with where we are at in our lives.

This rearrangement may happen with or without prior planning. A few months ago, I got two fabulous cats. One of them appears to love feathers to the exclusion to all else in the material world. This love has prompted me to shift some things on my main altar, for reasons that became obvious each time I had to replace various items from the floor when I would return home. Also, my fountain shrines needed to be moved to a higher altitude so they would not become drinking bowl shrines. Thus, I have learned firsthand something I have often told students in my altar outline from one of my classes: “If you have children or pets, it is wise to consider what the best placement of your altar should be.”

I am going to conclude this article with that very outline. It presents a few things to consider when creating an altar or shrine. Please use it if you find it valuable. Please do not take it as a set of rules. There are more than enough of those to go around.

I do have suggestions, however. I would suggest approaching this activity from a grounded and centered place so that you will bring more of yourself, and therefore more of the divine, to it. Bring beauty to your creation; let it shine. I would suggest having fun with it. See what you can do when you add a candle or two to the top of a bookcase, or place some flowers in front of a picture. Perhaps we can start a whole new decorating style.

an altar or shrine can be many things

1.        Place of prayer

2.        Place of gratitude

3.        Focus of meditation or magick

4.        Reminder of self

5.        Dedicated be to a specific deity

6.        Place of peace

7.        Expression of beauty

8.        Creative expression

9.        Sacred space

10.     Ever-changing

it’s nice to have a reminder space

*         Helps to calm you and remind you that you are spirit

how to start if you don’t have one

1.        Choose a space.

2.        Define the area using cloth, table, rocks, other. It doesn’t have to be flat; it can be a wall shrine (this might be good if you have children or pets).

3.        Be conscious of your attention and intention.

4.        Start to gather and arrange some objects that have meaning for you, that remind you of your highest, best soul-self, that make you feel good or smile. For example:

*         Pictures

*         Photos

*         Plants

*         Shells

*         Candles

*         Incense burner and incense

*         Statues

*         Rocks

*         Crystals

*         Feathers

*         Water

if you already have one

1.        Clean it.

2.        Add to it.

3.        Keep your journal there.

4.        Make new room for changes in your self.

5.        Recommit to creativity or to the deity.

6.        Make a new shrine somewhere else.

7.        Enjoy!

Erika Ginnis offers spiritual counseling and coaching, psychic reading, healing and classes though her practice “Inspiration is the In-Breath of Spirit.”

Daily OM for July 21 – A Special Goodnight

A Special Goodnight

Creating A Nightly Ritual

At the end of the day, as the sweet, dark stillness of night beckons us to lay down our bones and rest, we find ourselves at a clear transition point: Behind us lies the previous day and all that has come before; ahead of us, dawn heralds the unfolding of all that is yet to be. While many of us have morning rituals that connect us with our center and help us to set intentions, we may want to explore the magic and power of nighttime ritual as well. It holds for us a beautiful chance for self-appreciation and blessing. Before you go to bed each night, you can send gratitude, compassion, and healing to the being you have been up until this moment. And you can send lightness and love into the future for the one you are in the process of becoming.

Though simple, this action honors the journey you have taken thus far, while opening you to the wonderful possibilities still ahead. When you consciously engage with your own evolution this way, you may find that your sleep gets sweeter, filling your night with a deeper sense of trust and relaxation. As you rest, you can surrender to these peaceful hours, knowing that the road behind you has been seen and acknowledged with respect and kindness, while the path ahead now holds your own benevolence and well wishes.

This bedtime ritual empowers you as the only one who can determine the meaning of your own past and the hopefulness of your future. By setting this special time aside each night, you can begin to orient yourself on your path of growing. It allows you to let the past have its place, to trust that the future is taken care of, and to simply rest yourself in the graceful arms of the present moment.

Casting A Magickal Square

Casting A Magickal Square

The square is a very powerful symbol of protection. Even if your work within a circle you can still  designate as outer square as an additional protective enclosure. If you can’t have a permanent altar outdoors, your magick square can designate the  smaller space where you regularly set up your magickal tools.

It is also very protective of the home, even more so than a circle, and is an easier shape to cast  in many gardens than the circle. I draw one around my caravan with small stone makers if the site is very quiet or if I have to leave the caravan unoccupied  for a while.

It is effective also for keeping children or animals temporarily off lawns or flower beds you are  trying to grow.

You can visualize a protective square of any size, from a small one around a precious artifact to  one around a sacred site where you have organized a seasonal ritual.

They are very protective around natural circles such as groves where you would not draw a  circle.

Indeed, you can create a temporary square if you are working in a public spot and don’t want  your magick area invaded by dogs and curious coach parties. In modern times where working in isolated places may be less safe, you can visualize one around  the beach or forest while you are working or around yourself (as well as your protective circle) on a deserted station platform or taxi  tank.

Stand in the center of your designated square, which may also be the center of your projected magick  circle.

Hold out your arm as far as you can with your palm upright and outwards and say:

“Enough and no more, I draw my square of protection. Preserve this space as  sacred.”

Picture a line of light forming the top horizontal (west to east). Keep turning, making next the  vertical north-south line along the right east side as you face north. Speak and visualize till you have all four lines in place and can see a shimmering  outline to your square of light.

You can also walk your square from the furthest away top left-hand corner, moving clockwise and  ending at the nearest, bottom left corner. Use your wand in front of you and put a small dark stone at each corner and one halfway along each line. You can  align with a compass or estimate north in the middle of the top line furthest from you as you face north.

You can assign your midpoints, the main directions, to archangels or to the lofty Landvaetir, the  tall brown guardians who in Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany and eastern part of the UK are cognized as protecting land and all who live on it. You  can further protect the corners with the traditional taller dark stones if you are setting up a permanent magickal square.

Bless your square as you would a circle the first time you create it.

The Magick Square

The Magick Square

Squares have a strong folk magick traditions; a magickal square would be marked in a field with  hoes, takes or other agricultural implements. In times of persecution squares could be consecrated as a magickal space, but were much easier to disguise a  magickal workings than circles. Some were undoubtedly use to mark as sacred as magickal workings than circles. Some were undoubtedly used to mark as sacred  land where a former sacred Roman temple stood, just as a circle of stones or tree stumps beneath a church or cathedral might mark a former sacred Druidic  grove.

In Scandinavia, the magickal square formed the outline for a grid of nine squares, three by three.  These were made by the seior, the witch seers of the Norse world who channeled wisdom from the spirit world, specifically from Helheim where the crone  goddess Hel cared for the deceased. The seior sat on raised thrones within the grids and traveled astrally to Helheim to talk to the ancestors and receive  advice for the living. Only later did the goddess Hel become demonized and in recent years there has been a revival of seior craft.

The water witches of the West Midlands also used a magickal square, or mill as they called it, for  magick. They were people who came from the Netherlands to live and work on the Midland canals in the 1800s. They practiced an ancient form of folk magick  that did not die out till the mid-1900s and there are still a few practitioners remaining. Rituals were practices by these canal people on a square of land  adjacent to the canal bank within a triple magickal square. Each square was joined by four lines and constructed from wood and was known as the Mil. Only  women entered the sacred area under the leadership of a senior female water witch, through the chief male, known as the master, standing at the edge,  summoned a spirit entity to assist in the ritual.

In modern Iceland, the Landvaetir or Land guardians often have particularly sacred square fields  that cannot be built on, where offerings are left in order to bring protection to the homes and farms around.

Lighten Up – Circle Etiquette

Circle Etiquette

Never summon Anything you can’t banish.

Never put asafoetida on the rocks in the sweat lodge.

Do not attempt to walk more than 10 paces while wearing all of your ritual jewelry, dream bags and crystals at the same time.

When proposing to initiate someone, do not mention the Great Rite, leer, and say, “Hey, your trad or mine?”

Never laugh at someone who is skyclad. They can see you, too.

Never, ever set the Witch on fire.

Looking at nifty pictures is not a valid path to mastering the ancient grimoires. Please read thoroughly and carefully from beginning to end so that your madness and gibberings will at least make some sense.

A good grasp of ritual and ritual techniques are essential! In the event of a random impaling, or other accidental death amongst the participants, (see next rule) a quick thinker can improvise to ensure successful completion of the Rite. Make them another sacrifice, Demons like those.

Watch where you wave the sharp pointy items.

Avoid walking through disembodied spirits.

Carry an all purpose translators dictionary in case the ritual leader begins talking in some strange and unknown language.

Avoid joining your life force to anything with glowing red eyes.

If asked to sign a contract or pact and you are experiencing doubts or reservations, sign your neighbors name. Malevolent entities rarely ask for photo ID.

Blood is thicker than water. Soak ritual garments an extra 30-45 minutes.

While drunken weaving may be mistaken for ecstatic dancing, slurring the names of Deities is generally considered bad form.

Magickal Correspondence for Wednesday, July 11

Magickal Correspondence for Wednesday, July 11

Each day is ruled by a planet, whose influence takes on great importance in your Spellcrafting and Ritual work. This is the most straightforward way of organizing the time at which to practice your Magick.

Wednesday

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

Archangel:  Raphael

Candle Color:  Yellow

Incenses:  Lavender or Fennel

Crystals:  Citrine or Yellow calcite

Use Wednesdays for spells for money-making ventures, learning new things, passing a examinations and tests, house moves and travel, overcoming debt, and repelling envy, malice and deceit.

Where possible work in a windy place or when the clouds are moving fast across the sky.

Magickal Correspondence for Tuesday, July 10th

Magickal Correspondence for Tuesday, July 10th

Each day is ruled by a planet, whose influence takes on great importance in Magick rituals and spells. This is the most straightforward way of organizing the times in which to practice your Magick.

Tuesday

Tuesday Is Ruled By Mars

Archangel:  Samael

Candle color:  Red

Incenses:  Dragon’s blood or cinnamon

Crystals:  Jasper or garnet

Use Tuesdays for spells for courage, change, independence in home or business life, for overcoming seemingly impossible odds and for passion.

Where possible work near a fire or bonfire or with a huge red beeswax candle as a focus; alternatively work next to a flowerbed or large vase of red, orange and yellow flowers.

Lighten Up – Circle Etiquette

Circle Etiquette

Never summon Anything you can’t banish.

Never put asafoetida on the rocks in the sweat lodge.

Do not attempt to walk more than 10 paces while wearing all of your ritual jewelry, dream bags and crystals at the same time.

When proposing to initiate someone, do not mention the Great Rite, leer, and say, “Hey, your trad or mine?”

Never laugh at someone who is skyclad. They can see you, too.

Never, ever set the Witch on fire.

Looking at nifty pictures is not a valid path to mastering the ancient grimoires. Please read thoroughly and carefully from beginning to end so that your madness and gibberings will at least make some sense.

A good grasp of ritual and ritual techniques are essential! In the event of a random impaling, or other accidental death amongst the participants, (see next rule) a quick thinker can improvise to ensure successful completion of the Rite. Make them another sacrifice, Demons like those.

Watch where you wave the sharp pointy items.

Avoid walking through disembodied spirits.

Carry an all purpose translators dictionary in case the ritual leader begins talking in some strange and unknown language.

Avoid joining your life force to anything with glowing red eyes.

If asked to sign a contract or pact and you are experiencing doubts or reservations, sign your neighbors name. Malevolent entities rarely ask for photo ID.

Blood is thicker than water. Soak ritual garments an extra 30-45 minutes.

While drunken weaving may be mistaken for ecstatic dancing, slurring the names of Deities is generally considered bad form.

Calendar of the Sun for June 27

Calendar of the Sun

27 Lithemonath

Day of the God of Walls and Ditches

Colors: Brown and black
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of brown and black place the figure of a Chinese mandarin, flanked on each side by a horse-demon and an ox-demon, and a man in black and a man in white, both bearing lanterns, and much incense. Lay also on the table any books of accounting for the House, such as financial logs, car maintenance and mileage logs, etc.
Offerings: Put the House and its boundaries in order, especially the yard and surroundings. All work today should be in repairing walls, doors, windows, plumbing, etc.
Daily Meal: Simple workman’s sandwiches, eaten while working.

Invocation to the God of Walls and Ditches

O great Cheng-Huang,
God of Walls and Ditches,
Lord of Boundaries,
Keeper of the public peace,
We all too often forget that we are not alone
In this world; that each community
Has edges that brush against each other.
Remind us to keep those edges neat and courteous
And our walls and ditches well maintained
Lest floods and creatures stray
Where they are not wanted.
Remind us that courtesy is no mere luxury,
But can be the coin with which one pays those
Who have no choice but to be reminded of your presence.
May you look favorably upon our House!
May your Horse-head Demon and Ox-head Demon
Find nothing to anger them within our domain!
May your watchmen, Mr. Black and Mr. White,
Remind us that sometimes one must
Pay attention to what it black and white,
And not always be distracted by the many shades of grey.
In your honor we toil today,
Lord of Boundaries,
That our own walls shall keep in what should not be seen
And keep out all that may harm us.

(There is no song or chant today; all go straight to their work. Singing and chanting may be done while working, however, and the work need not be done in a solitary fashion.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Lighten Up – Circle Etiquette

Never summon Anything you can’t banish.

Never put asafoetida on the rocks in the sweat lodge.

Do not attempt to walk more than 10 paces while wearing all of your ritual jewelry, dream bags and crystals at the same time.

When proposing to initiate someone, do not mention the Great Rite, leer, and say, “Hey, your trad or mine?”

Never laugh at someone who is skyclad. They can see you, too.

Never, ever

set the Witch on fire.

Looking at nifty pictures is not a valid path to mastering the ancient grimoires. Please read thoroughly and carefully from beginning to end so that your madness and gibberings will at least make some sense.

A good grasp of ritual and ritual techniques are essential! In the event of a random impaling, or other accidental death amongst the participants, (see next rule) a quick thinker can improvise to ensure successful completion of the Rite. Make them another sacrifice, Demons like those.

Watch where you wave the sharp pointy items.

Avoid walking through disembodied spirits.

Carry an all purpose translators dictionary in case the ritual leader begins talking in some strange and unknown language.

Avoid joining your life force to anything with glowing red eyes.

If asked to sign a contract or pact and you are experiencing doubts or reservations, sign your neighbors name. Malevolent entities rarely ask for photo ID.

Blood is thicker than water. Soak ritual garments an extra 30-45 minutes.

While drunken weaving may be mistaken for ecstatic dancing, slurring the names of Deities is generally considered bad form.

Putting The Dirt To Work

Putting The Dirt To Work

When working with dirt, there is no need to cleanse it, charge it or do anything else you might do when using another ingredient in your spells or rituals. Why? Because the Earth is very old, ancient in fact, making it very stable. The Earth has collected all the consciousness of those who have walked here before us. The Earth has collected their knowledge and their power. If you had collected the dirt from a cemetery, it would contain all the energies and qualities of the person whose final resting place you got the dirt from. Altogether, you have already made a magickal operation. Now to apply it.

There are several ways you can do this, but they all start out the same. You just need to decide which dirt samples to combine. You can mix as many or as few as you like, the only rule being that the combination must be to your benefit and not harm you in any way at all.

Once you’ve decided this, the only left is to figure out exactly how you intend to apply the dirt. There is no right or wrong way and that you can’t mess it up.  Just be comfortable with the method you choose and let the dirt go to work.

Here are a few ideas on applying your dirt:

Sprinkling:  The easiest and quicest way to incorporate the dirt’s energies into your life is to sprinkle it along the bottom of your walls, under your throw rugs, along the outside of your house and then at the end of your property. Be sure to include all door mats and around the front porch. The only problem with its presence inside the house is the vacuum cleaner. Just be aware that you’ll have to replace the dirt every time you clean.

Charm Bags:  The bag can be made out of the traditional red flannel, leather, beadwork or any material that you prefer. The dirt is combined with snippets of your hair and fingernail clippings. By doing this, it indicates that you are the person to benefit from the spell. You can also include any other items that you might consider important to your spell working. The mixture is then placed in the bag, which is then worn around the neck or placed some where on the body. The bags can contain nail and hair clippings from other family members also. If you decide to do this, the bag should be buried rather than worn and rest close to the front step of the home as possible.

Good Luck Bottles:  Some knows these as Witches’ Bottles, which means you will have to have a jar with a tightly, secured lid.  The dirt mixture is placed in the bottom of the container and sprinkled with herbs that vibrate to good fortune (cinnamon, basil, lavender, as excellent herbs to use, the combination brings love, money and spiritual protection.)  Fish hooks are also added to hook good luck for you, as are nine dimes in payment to the spirit world for its protection and rewards.  Once the jar is at least half full, it should be filled to the top with your urine, capped tightly, and buried on your property.  Again bury this close to the front door as possible.

Which Dirt Is Which Dirt – Or – Do I Really Need To Use Graveyard Dirt

Which Dirt Is Which Dirt – Or – Do I Really Need To Use Graveyard Dirt?

With so much about graveyard dirt, most us assume that nothing else will do in our Voodoo, Hoodoo, curses or hexes. But that is not the truth. There are lots of places where you can gather dirt: places that are easy to access and depending on your intention, may even suit your needs better.

To collect your ordinary dirt, begin by looking around your surroundings, check to see what is normal around you. If you are in town, around the City Hall, you will find people walking, sitting, eating lunch, and just basically wondering around. All you have to do is blend in with them. You can sit down on the ground, pick up a stick and proceed to scratch and dig up some Earth. Or you can pretend you dropped something on the ground, if you are carrying a pencil, use it to scratch up some dirt. You can get your dirt quickly and no one will be the wiser.

Below you will find a few location where you can collect dirt. Also included is what you can use the dirt for after you collected it at these locations:

Bank:  Collect and use this dirt to bring money into your hands or to receive payment of a long overdue debt.

Church:  This dirt is wonderful when used to invite the assistance of positive spiritual forces. It also goes a long way toward protecting against the intrusion of evil spirits.

The Courthouse:  Use this dirt for anything even remotely involving legal matters. This could include contracts, court cases, general justice, and even money that’s owed to you. If your intent would benefit from the discerning eye of the Law, this is the dirt for you.

School, College, etc.: Whether it comes from a school yard or a college campus, this dirt is fantastic for efforts involving knowledge acquisition and retention. It can also be used effectively in magick to help you study.

Your Enemy’s Home:  Gathering this dirt might take great skill on your part and involve some sneaking around to collect it. There is no better way to cut your enemy off at the knees than to use dirt from his own home against him. Be very careful, you could cause possible harm to everyone living there. So you have to be extremely careful in wording your spell. Be specific as to who your enemy is.

Your Home:  Collect this dirt to protect everyone in your home and also provide a safe return for them. To protect your family members, sprinkle dirt in their shoes (every pair they own). Now if you really like someone to return to your home and visit you again, sprinkle dirt in their shoes too.

Hospital, Clinic, Doctor’s Office, Anywhere Medical:  Gathering dirt from any of these places for your efforts that involve healing. Keep in mind, no magick in the world should be substituted for good medical care or medicine. Also be certain that healing is what you have in mind when you add dirt to magick especially if it is a serious illness or possibility death. You are probably scratching your head over this one. But healing and staying alive are two different things entirely. If a person is in severe pain and you know deep down in your heart there is no chance for recovery, then death is often the best way to heal that person.

Garden or Flower Shop:  This dirt is often used in Love spells. It does make love sprout and grow. But if you are serious and perhaps your magick would interfere with a person’s free will, then don’t add this dirt to your magick.

Shopping Malls:  As you can imagine a shopping mall has an excellent reputation for attracting huge sums of money. For this very reason, obtain this dirt and use it well when seeking employment or increasing your cash flow.

Police Station:  Dirt from this area is collected and sprinkled along the baseboards of the home and along the edges of its structure to keep the family safe from harm. It’s not a good idea to use this dirt if you’re involved in any sort of illegal dealings, because you will probably be bringing the police to your very door.

Workplace:  There are lots of uses for this sort of dirt. It works well when included in an effort for getting a promotion or raise. But that’s not all. It can also be used to foil a co-workers or getting the dirt on the company, no pun intended!

Altar Pentacle

The Pentacle is a Magickal tool that some folks do not use. Their reasoning is
sound since it is obviously an adaptation from ceremonial Magick, as is the
athame. These people use only the wand and the chalice in their work. But I
like the use of the pentacle and athame because Wicca has always been quite ecclectic and drawn from several Pantheons and systems. So it doesn’t make any
sense to me to say we can draw on all systems EXCEPT the Kabbalah as used in
Ceremonial Magick. Also I like the way using all 4 of these main tools that
most traditions and practitioners share brings correspondences to the 4 suits of
Tarot cards and to the 4 elements.

The Pentacle is a flat disk, traditionally inscribed on copper and coated with a
clear finish of some type to prevent corrosion after it has been inscribed with
the continuos 5-pointed star or pentegram. This is not an open pentacle like
many witches wear. It is ENGRAVED on the disk. The reason being you put SALT
on this disk in circle and if it was open all the salt would be on the altar, on
the floor, everywhere but where you need it.

I have also, recently, seen some pentacles inscribed on slices of agate put out
by cauldron Crafts in Maryland that are JUST GORGEOUS. Since the pentacle is
feminine and relates to earth either the copper or the stone is appropriate.
However brass I find less so as it is usually considered a solar metal and
masculine. That is why I also prefer to avoid brass chalices. Copper chalices
are avoided because they give off a metallic residue that is poisonous into the
liquid, if they corrode – and alcohol in wine or ale and acid in wine or juice
WILL do this. But copper is perfect for the pentacle.

What you engrave on your pentacle is entirely up to you. The NeoGardnerian and
NeoAlexandrians (as well as the originals of these traditions) have very
specific symbols that they always use. Other traditions sometimes have specific
symbols they require as well. But others just use a plain pentacle, or tht
pentacle with runic symbols of their choosing or whatever has meaning to them.
I have seen beautiful pentacles – in fact our distributor of jewelry carries
them – that are pentegrams surrounded by inscribings of Celtic knotwork.

I have also seen some gorgeous stained glass altar pentacles – my favorite of
these was one where the points where the colors of the elements. The 4 lower
points were the Red, Yellow, BLue and Green my tradition ascribes to the
elements and the top one was silver for Spirit/Divinity. The center and
background were a lovely violet color. Obviously SOMEONE put a lot of work into
it.

One note – a specific coating I have found to work well on copper pentacles so
that the salt doesn’t destroy them is CLEAR NAIL POLISH. This has to
periodically be reapplied however.