Tag: Gatherings
Egyptian Art
In 1986, the band “The Bangles” sang about “all the old paintings on the tombs” where the figures they depict are “walking like an Egyptian.” Though he was neither an art historian nor an Egyptologist, songwriter Liam Sternberg was referring to one of the most striking features of ancient Egyptian visual art — the depiction of people, animals and objects on a flat, two-dimensional plane. Why did the ancient Egyptians do this? And is ancient Egypt the only culture to create art in this style?
Drawing any object in three dimensions requires a specific viewpoint to create the illusion of perspective on a flat surface. Drawing an object in two dimensions (height and breadth) requires the artist to depict just one surface of that object. And highlighting just one surface, it turns out, has its advantages.
“In pictorial representation, the outline carries the most information,” John Baines, professor emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Oxford in the U.K. told Live Science. “It’s easier to understand something if it is defined by an outline.”
When drawing on a flat surface, the outline becomes the most important feature, even though many Egyptian drawings and…
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Familiars In Witchcraft and Paganism
Familiars are an often talked about and highly debated topic in the witchy world.
As with most things, I don’t personally believe there is a “right” or “wrong” way to think about them, but there are definitely many options. I’ll share a few of them and let you know what I believe!
Familiars Throughout History
Familiars have made appearances for a variety of purposes and in a variety of ways throughout time.
Some perspectives view them as demons that inhabit the bodies of small animals like cats, dogs, rats, birds, and toads. They are there to help a witch with their workings.
In some cases familiars have even said to exist in human form!
Some accounts describe inheriting familiars through family members, covens, or mentors, usually around the time of an initiation. Witches were also thought to be presented with a familiar after making a deal with the devil.
Others say a witch’s familiar will appear to them out of the blue during mundane activities.
During the European witch hunts, animals believed to be familiars were often used as evidence of witchcraft. Even the presence of a fly or bee was enough to convince some witch hunters of an accused witch’s guilt!
Familiars Today
Today, familiars are not seen as something negative and Click here to finish reading this article about familiars on apaganmess.com
Spell for Monday – Simple Hoodoo Spells for Protection
To Keep Someone From Using Foot Track Spells Against You
Ingredients:
– Red Pepper
– Your Right Shoe
Place the red pepper inside your right shoe to prevent foot track spells from being able to latch on to you.
Silver Dime to Prevent Hoodoo
Ingredients:
– Silver Dime
– Drill
– Leather Throng
Drill a hole into the silver dime and string it with the leather throng. Wearing this amulet will protect you from others attempting to Hoodoo you.
Rattle Snake Skin For Protection Against Bewitchment
Ingredients: – Shed Rattle Snake Skin
Carry the shed rattlesnake skin on your person to prevent others from bewitching you. (If you kill the snake it will not work the reason being that any bewitchment cast on you will rebound to the snake.)
To Protect Against Evil Forces
Ingredients: – Horseshoe
Place the horseshoe over top your front door to keep evil forces from entering the home.
Cinnamon Bath for Protection Against Evil Forces
Ingredients:
– Cinnamon
– Bath
Tub Run a bath sprinkling in ground cinnamon. Make sure to fully submerge yourself to wash away any negative influences that may have attached themselves to you.
Source
Gray’s Pocket Book Of Hoodoo Protection Spells: (Gray’s Pocket Books Series Book 3)
Deran Gray
Summer Solstice: The Meaning and History Behind the First Day of Summer
The summer solstice sets off the official start of summer as the Northern Hemisphere angles itself at the point in its orbit closest to the sun, causing the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year.
Many cultures, both ancient and modern, celebrate the sunlight with rituals and holidays.
What is the summer solstice?
The term solstice comes from the Latin words “sol” (sun) and “stitium” (still or stopped). It is used to describe the exact moment when the poles are tilted at their maximum toward or away from the sun.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, which is the circle marking the latitude 23.5 degrees north, and which runs through …
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Spell For Thursday – Silver Spell for Money
(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)
Silver Spell for Money
(This ritual takes a week to perform)
Situate a small bowl of any material in a place of prominence in your home, somewhere you pass by every day. Each day for seven days put one dime in the bowl. Next, obtain a green candle, any shape or kind.
Before you begin, fix in your mind the idea that you are a prosperous person. See money as being no problem. Imagine money coming to you, as you need it. Place the bowl of dimes or pennies, the candle and a candle holder on a flat surface. Hold the candles in your hands and feel the power of money.
Feel the avenues that open to you when you have it. Sense the energy within money which we as human beings have given to it. Place the candle in the holder. Pour the seven dimes into your left hand. You will create a circle surrounding the candles with the dimes. Place the first dime directly before the candle. As you place it say there or similar words:
“Money flow, money shine
Money grow, Money’s mine.”
Repeat this 6 more times until you’ve created a circle around the candle with seven gleaming pennies (or dimes.) As you say the words and place the dimes, know that you’re not just reciting and fooling around with pieces of metal. You’re working with power – that which we’ve given money as well as that which is within yourself.
Words too have energy, as does the breathe on which they ride.
When you’ve completed this, light the candle. Strike a match and touch its tip to the wick. As it puts up the fire, sputters, to a shining flames, see money burning these. See the power of money flowing out from the seven dimes up to the candle’s flames and then out to the atmosphere. Blow out the match and settle down before the glowing candle and money.
Sense the feeling of money in your life. Visualize a life with money to spare – a life in which bills are quickly paid and money will never again be a problem. See yourself wisely spending money, investing it for your future needs. See money as an unavoidable and beautiful aspect of your life. Kill off any thoughts of debt, of taxes, of doubt that you can achieve this change.
Simply see what will be. After ten minutes or so, leave the area. Let the candle burn itself out in the holder. Afterward, collect the dimes, place them back in the bowl, & “feed” it a few coins every day from then on. Add words to ask that the money comes with harm to none…. and money will come to you.
The Proper Timing for Magick c. 2017
Author: Taliesin McKnight
Timing is one of the most important things to consider when doing magick. Astrology can be likened to a great cosmic clock. It reflects the cycles and rhythms of nature. The proper alignment of the stars, the sun, the moon, and the planets should all be taken into consideration. Does this sound complex? I assure you it is not as complicated as it may sound. In fact, this may reduced to two things: the days of the week and the cycles of the moon.
The seven planets rule the seven days of the week. The names even derive from the planets in many different languages. In English these come from the names of the Norse planetary deities. Sunday is the day of the Sun; Monday is the day of the moon; Tuesday is the day of Tue (Mars) ; Wednesday is the day of Wodan (Mercury) ; Thursday is the day of Thor (Jupiter) ; Friday is the day of Freya (Venus) ; and Saturday is the day of Saturn. Therefore, for maximum astrological benefit, a love spell should be done on Friday, the day of Venus (planet ruling love) . In the same way, magick involving education may be done on Wednesday, which is ruled by Mercury. The planetary correspondences are as follows:
The Sun rules Sunday and is good for Success, luck, spirituality, knowledge, and healing. The moon rules on Mondays. This is a good time to do spells for intuition, dreams, astral travel, and communication with spirits. Mars rules on Tuesdays. It is a good time for effective magick involving battle, conflicts, protection, strength, overcoming adversity, and binding.
Mercury is the planet presiding over Wednesdays. This is a time for rituals for education, knowledge, divination, communication, and healing. Thursday is the day of Jupiter, and governs success, prosperity, luck, and leadership. Venus dominated on Fridays and can bring love, romance, heal relationships, and grant new friends. Saturday is governed by the baleful influence of Saturn. This planet grants protection, destruction, binding, curses, purification, and overcoming weakness.
In addition to the seven days of the week, the seven planets also rule the hours in the day. There are several different methods to calculating the planetary hours. One of these involves following the hours from sunrise to sunrise; another divides the hours between sunrise and sunset and divides them into 12 sections and the same is done for the period between sunsets. To avoid all the math and difficulty, a very simple and effective system omits this and simply uses the 24 hours from midnight to midnight. This has worked wonderfully for me and I see no reason to list the other methods. If you would like to examine other methods for calculating planetary hours, that information is readily available online or in other books on magick. For simplicity, just know that the planet for the day also rules the hour at 6 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm.
Now, to illustrate this, let us take an example. If you wanted to do a love spell, it would be a good idea to do this on Friday (the day of Venus) at 8 pm (the hour of Venus) . This acts as a magickal doorway in which the proper astrological conditions are right. In this way the magus moves with the cycles and the rhythms of nature. If one were to bind (or restrict) someone from causing harm to others, Saturday at 6 am would be a good time. The days and hours should be at least partially memorized. The easiest way to do this is to simply memorize which planets rule each day and to simply remember that the planet for that day also rules at 6 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm. In this way, it will not be necessary to look this up every time one wishes to do a spell!
The phases of the moon also have an important impact on the effectiveness of magick. The waxing (growing) phase and the full moon are good from creative magick and bringing things into your life; the waning (decreasing) phase and the new moon are used for destructive spells and getting rid of things in your life. This is the most stressed point in ritual timing in the Wiccan tradition.
The concept of moving with the phases of the moon is very ancient and is found in many different cultures. This can be seen as a more important element in timing than anything else. It is much better to go with the phases of the moon on the wrong day than to do it on the right day of the week and the wrong lunar phase. This aspect of magickal timing should not be over-looked. The full and new moons are peaks of the creative and destructive cycles. The mid-way points (the half moons during increase and decrease) are also times of great magickal power.
The last aspect of ritual timing is the moon sign. The moon passes through the 12 signs of the zodiac, remaining in each sign only for a few days. This is not as important a consideration as the other 2 timing concerns. Nonetheless, this can lend power to rituals and spells. When the moon is in an Earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are good for financial concerns; when the sign is in an Air sign (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) are ideal for education and spells consistent with the characteristics of the element of Air. When the sign is in a Water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) it is a great time for spells that are connected to the Element of water and to emotions, artistry, and relationships; While the moon is in a Fire sign (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) it is a good time to do rituals of a fiery nature.
The individual characteristics of the sign (rather than just the element) should also be considered. This is not a very important aspect to magickal timing, so don’t stress too much over it. As I said before, though, utilizing this can only help and never hinder!
There are other lesser aspects to astrological timing. These would include the weather and the current Sun sign. The reason Sun signs are rarely considered is not so much that it is a weak influence, but rather that it is not practical to wait months just to do a spell, when it will probably no longer even be needed or be too late. This could also be a great aid if followed.
Weather is an issue as well. Storms are usually great for magick because it is a time of great elemental power. Furthermore, if one is doing a ritual involving the Sun, this should be done during the day and when it is sunny. One would assume this would go without saying. On the contrary, however, many people fail to recognize this simple concept. After all, it is only common sense. Thus, weather and the Sun sign can lend a lot of extra power to spells, if you would only harness that power with the use of correct ritual timing.
Now that this has all been laid down and explained, let us take another example to make sure these concepts are well understood. Let us say that someone is looking for a new job and decides to do some magick to help the job search. The moon should be waxing (this is for bringing things into your life) and the spell may be done on a Thursday (the day of Jupiter) at 1 pm (the hour of Jupiter) on a cloudy day because Jupiter is a sky god. The moon should also be in the sign of Capricorn. This would be an extremely good time for such a spell. The conditions are perfect.
Does timing have to be followed? Of course not! In the preceding example, the job is probably needed immediately. It would be foolish to wait for the right conditions during such an emergency. Do spells whenever they are needed. However, WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT, the astrological conditions should be considered. If a spell can wait for the perfect conditions, then great. If they spell can wait a few days for the right day ruled by the proper planet, that is good too. But if the spell can’t wait that long, then do it now. The spell can be repeated when the stars, sun, and moon are aligned right if needed. The spell will still work. The point is lending extra power to your spells. That’s it.
Following the cycles and rhythms of nature is also another way of aligning oneself with the universe. In the ancient Mystery Traditions, from which magick derives, Man was seen as a reflection of the cosmos. One is moving in accordance with the universe. We are moving with the tides of nature. Can magick be done against these cycles and still be effective? Sure. But it is like swimming against a current. Why not “ride with the tide”? It may even carry you a ways if you would only let go and let the currents of the Great Mother take you. Thus, in magick we try to follow the ways of Nature. Magick is merely using Her ways.
Remember, that which separates the initiate from the vulgar is simply that the occultist is aware of the laws of the universe and uses them to his or her advantage while others do not use this power that lies in their hands.
A Thought for Today
Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Honored Guests welcome to WOTC!
If you would to see some information on any tradition of witchcraft please put it in the comment section. I will try to find some information to post about it.
May your life be filled with all things positive!
A Thought for Today
A Thought for Today
Have a spectacular Saturday!
Hexing the Enemies of Women and Peace
Some women shirk from fighting back. Too many years have passed since the heroic age of the seventies, when everything new started. We used to have self-defense classes, repair our own cars classes, women’s studies about who we are as women and what have women done in Herstory that we are not aware of. Gathering our treasures and our tears.
Still we live in male centered societies. Males often rule by violence and rape, and the everlasting wars. Not by law. Too many rapists have gone free, too many murderers as well. White-collar thieves live long and hardly ever fall into the hands of justice.
But something has happened here in the San Francisco Bay Area that tripped the “that’s enough!” wires for me as a witch. A lesbian was viciously gang raped by four men. Then they kidnapped her, and continued their assault for another 45 minutes. She was brutally beaten to within an inch of her life for being a woman, for being a lesbian. Then, they stole her car and left her naked in the chilled winter winds and pounding rains, daring her to survive.
She did.
I have not hexed anybody since the Trailside Killer (still in jail) in the 80’s, but something turned inside me when the crime came this close to my life. I’m much older now at 68 and somewhat incapacitated with artificial hips. I gathered enough courage to call to arms all those women who considered holding a hexing circle in defense of our lives a worthwhile effort.
13 women answered the call. It was a magical number. I went ahead.
As always we document all hexes, so there could be NO doubt we are not calling on the devil.
I contemplated the situation and carefully chose the Lady of Guadalupe as our Queen of all Americas to be the center. I asked a friend to get me some large banners of the Lady. She sent us two large banners, glorious in her appearance, the Lady in her full queenly glory. Thank you, Karen!
Next I gathered the all-important occult supplies. Yes you can cast successful spells without anything, just praying but when you are up against a rape culture, violence of this hate crime magnitude, it’s good to have some mandrake root with you, and other secret baneful herbs to burn in your cauldron.
I represented the lives of the rapists with red thread, and over the smoking cauldron, praying to the Queen, I cut their luck into many small pieces. The only man who came to our hex, Lez, helped to put them all into the burning cauldron of change. This was important. Men must stop rape. Men must come over to the women’s side and fight for us.
Rarely ever happens.
To the Queen who we invoked as grandmother (her old name used to be Tonatzin) , we asked her to help us and to bring these men, and ALL rapists down with Unluck. We cut their luck into tiny little pieces, their luck now gone.
Next I hexed them so nobody would hide them. Hexed them that their own family would give them up. Hexed them that they would turn on each other. Hexed them that the youngest one would talk.
Video of parts of this hexing ritual are on my DU website: http://wicca.zbudapest.com and on my blog: http://blog.zbudapest.com
Then we went home. I lie down on my couch and let the new year arrive. Thought it would be a little while that this spins out its necessary wheels.
By Wednesday, the news was on the front pages of the SF Chronicle. Three of the men were arrested. The younger one’s family gave him up! And then he talked as the hex had requested. They arrested two more and by Thursday the fourth criminal turned himself in. Blessed be Tonantzin!
Sisters of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One participated with us globally in this incredible fast Justice. In Orange County in Southern California, and elsewhere, the women gathered to support this hex. All could see the success of their labors. Enough is enough!
On the same day the arrests began here, a serial rapist was caught in Columbus, Ohio … No luck for rapists! Justicia rules! So now I have allowed myself a little victory toe-dance. Yeahh!
What I hoped would result from this experience is a nation wide hex on ALL rapists and similar gender initiated violence. This would take place annually, on the dark moon at the end of every year.
But the real change can only come from a change of consciousness. A mind change that would see women differently. Not as meat, not as holes, or whores, but as sisters and mothers and citizens with rights.
Male gods’ religion didn’t help at all. Thousands of years and the societies are still not civilized. The male gods remain the Lords. They have holy books full of violence and trashing of women. Switching back to Goddess culture and appreciation of life is what would help see women in the loving light.
After all we are the doors of life. We birthed everybody.
Where is the gratitude? Why the rage against us?
I hope that women ‘grow a pair’ and learn not to be fear driven, to stand up for themselves and each other. Learn SISTERHOOD again! (SIDE NOTE: Lady Rhiannon says women just have chestnuts. So, they are bigger than men’s lets flex them ladies)
Maybe it’s time that the ‘Take Back the Night Marches’ that I started back in the 70’s, becomes an annual hexing ritual done by sisters and brothers alike. A hex on all enemies of women and peace. Maybe that will make the difference! It has to begin somewhere!
Good Day WOTC Family and Friends! What is On Your Mind Today?
Always remember the Law of Three – whatever you send out will come back to you three times over whether it is white or gray or black magick
Spell – White magic Jupiter spell
(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)
White magic Jupiter spell
by Tina Caro
This white magick spell is well known and is a simple ritual to obtain money, thanks to the help of the force of the planet Jupiter.
If we want to give more strength to the ritual, the Thursday that must be chosen should be in a period of the new moon shortly after midnight.
Ingredients:
- A new copper container
- A ten dollar banknote (or one of any other currency)
- Nine green candles
- Nine white candles
- Coarse salt
- Wooden matches
How to perform it:
Take the banknote and fold it into four parts.
Now place it in the copper container.
Create an ideal circle with the green candles around the copper container.
Now arrange the white candles in a circle around the green ones as well.
Then draw a circle with the coarse salt that encloses everything.
You will then have the copper container in the center surrounded by the green candles, which in turn are surrounded by the white candles, which in turn are enclosed by the circle of salt.
This composition is a powerful catalyst for positive energies and is also used in other propitiatory rites.
Now, light the candles, starting with the green ones, and moving clockwise.
While lighting the candles, repeat as if it were a chant the following formula several times and always in a multiple number of three (three, six, nine…).
Leave a certain amount of time between the lighting of one candle and the other.
“Sun, cover me with gold,
dress me in silver, Moon,
give me riches, great Jupiter”
Let the candles burn out completely. Then take the copper container and put it in a safe place away from prying eyes (obviously you have to leave the banknote inside).
It can be used again to repeat the ritual as often as you need it, always in the new moon period, always on Thursday.
Spell – 2 Finding Spells
CHARM TO FIND LOST ITEMS
Bound and Binding
Binding Bound
See the Sight
Hear the Sound
What was lost now is found
Bound and Binding
Binding Bound
A FINDING SPELL
Light a green candle for luck and prosperity.
Charge a small green stone with your desire to find your “property” that eludes you.
Chant the following 3 times:
I Pray to the Moon when she is round
Luck to me shall then abound
What I seek for shall then be found
In sea or sky or solid ground
Remember, like energies attract, think of positive times spent with this lost treasure
and mentally/emotionally call the lost one home.
Samhain Correspondences – Printable
A Laugh for Today
Spell for Today – 3 Sleep Spells
A Spell for While you Sleep
You will need the following items for this spell:
Four lengths of appropriately coloured ribbon
which can be easily tied
Four pins
Your bed
Knot magic has a particular effect in ‘binding’ or fixing a spell in place and with the addition of colour it is possible to use ribbons to bring about a desired outcome. By using your own bed as a focus, your magical work can be done while you sleep. This is a very personal way of working and one which can bring particularly positive results.
If your bed has bedposts, simply knot a length of the correct colour ribbon for your purpose around each post.
Each time you do this, say:
With this knot of coloured ribbon
Bring to me the power hidden. Grant me that right Throughout this night.
If your bed has no posts then carefully pin the knotted ribbon to each corner using the same words.
Each night for two further nights touch each ribbon knot in turn and repeat the words above.
Leave the ribbons in place until you no longer feel the need for them. You can expect to have some fairly vivid dreams over the following three nights, which may help you to develop the qualities you seek. This spell allows your unconscious self to work in a protected space without the chatter of day to day matters.
To Protect a Sleeping Mind
You will need the following items for this spell:
Voice
Sleep is the time of dreams and visits. The following incantation repeated aloud at one’s bedtime will aid in the discouraging of unwanted visitors in the dreaming mind.
Before retiring for the night, repeat the following incantation aloud:
”Spirits of the night, I beseech thee,
Find favor with mine call and plea,
Draw close and circle round
Mine mind I clear and lend to sleep.
That sleep will use to rest the weary world
Let not the world and those unfavorable things within it
Visit upon mine mind unheralded
Uninvited visitors be sent away
Turned back
Turned back to the dark depths
Turned back to the sender whose name is never spoken
That thus he may gain strength
Gain strength and threaten those unable
Unable or unknowing
Unknowing or innocent
Innocents in the world
Sleeping as I sleep
Spirits of the night, I beseech thee,
Find favor with mine call and plea
Find favor and protect mine mind
Find favor and protect the innocents”.
This is best repeated nightly so as to protect ones mind and allow peaceful sleep and promote quiet dreams.
To Drive Away Bad Dreams
You will need the following items for this spell:
Bowl of warm water
Salt
Your chosen sprigs of herbs
String
This spell uses herbal magick and correspondences to clear the bedroom of negative influence. It is often a good idea to use material that is easily available, so you might use sprigs of rosemary, sage, Lady’s bedstraw, maize silks or broom-corn. Since you want something taken away you should perform this magical working as the Moon wanes.
Dissolve the salt in the warm water.
Tie the herbs together.
Dip the sprigs in the water and sprinkle the corners of the room with the water.
Use the sprigs to sprinkle the salt water on your bedclothes, and particularly round the head and foot of the bed.
When you have done this, place the herbs under your pillow, or if you prefer, under the middle of the bed.
The next morning, discard the herbs at a crossroads if you can, either by burying them or allowing them to disperse to the four winds. Otherwise ensure that you have carried them well away from your home.
This carries all negativity away from your bedroom and bed. This spell uses rosemary which brings clarity, sage for wisdom, ladies bedstraw which is said to have lined the manger at Christs birth, and broom corn, which is used in worship of the Mexican goddess Chicomecohuatl. All these herbs bring cleansing, not just of the room but also of the occupants aura or subtle energy. On the basis that one should always replace negative with positive, you may like to use the following technique to bring about positive dreams.
Having prepared your environment, this next technique is of most use when there is a strong, deeply felt association with the issue or request being considered in magical terms, ideal conditions for spell working. It is like being able to consult an encyclopedia that contains a wealth of information in fact, the Higher Self.
Reference
A Witch’s Week of Spells and Activities
Helga C. Loueen
Spells:
Spells of Magick
A Laugh for Today
Along with a virtual hug
Spells for Today -Help Me Find Spell
(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)
Find Spells – Help Me Find Spell
Items you will need:
1 small white candle
1 small blue candle
1 lighter or match
Set the two candles in front of you, close your eyes and think about what you have lost and how much you want it returned. Light both candles and say this chant three times:
“Blue candle is my love and devotion for ____________.
And how much I need ____________ back,
Safe and sound. _____________ was lost,
But I hope ________________ will be found.
White candle is for _________________’ s safe return,
While heading on my track.”
When you are done, blow out the candles. You may wake-up one morning and be shocked by the return of your lost item.
A Witch’s Week of Spells and Activities
Helga C. Loueen
Spell for Today – Candle Spell for Employment – Printable
Witches Of The Craft® 
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