Tag: Magic

Let’s Talk Witch – Candle Magick

goth114

Let’s Talk Witch – Candle Magick

It is important to know that you do not have to have elaborate spells prepared for most candle magick. If you have good visualization skills, or would like to add a candle spell to an existing spell you have prepare, it’s as easy as lighting the appropriate candle and stating your intent. What you do want to keep in mind, is that you should always combine as many elements as possible in your magick. Do your research — use the appropriate colors and herbs to enhance your magickal experience. Always be sure to set the mood in your magickal space. Be sure to have a clean and safe environment prepared when casting. All of this will contribute to your magickal experience, and help to effectively cast successful magick.

Another effective way to ensure added results is to always carve your name and astrological sign on the candle, to personalize it. Add as much detail to every spell you perform and create spells that are your own. There is no greater spell than the one you create. Meditate create and succeed. Magick is everything you are, and everything you place into it. Your energy and time, will create the perfect spell.

Always Remember

Gothic Comments

Always Remember

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, your magick is affected.

Banishing spell

Banishing spell

To be performed during the waning moon

Tools:
heatproof container or cauldron
black or white candle
basil and garlic (for uncrossing, protection)
paper/black pen

Cast the circle
Invocation of the God and Goddess
Statement of purpose

I am here to banish negative influences from my life.
Right now, (name) is exerting an extremely negative force upon me.
I ask for the God and Goddess to assist me in banishing these forces
and eliminating his/her destructiveness.

Consecrate the cauldron as follows
sprinkle with salt water
recite:

In the name of the Lord and Lady I charge you to serve me within this circle.
I clear you of all former influences and energies that you may be fit
for the workings of Magick herein.

Do the same with the candle

On a piece of paper, write full name of person to be banished.
Roll up and tie with black string. Sprinkle with salt water and recite

Thou creature of paper.
By paper made, by paper changed.
Thou art not paper, but thou art negative influences in
(person to be bound).
So mote it be!

Light the black candle.
Burn the paper in the candle, visualizing all negative power over you
vanishing in the flames and rising out of your world with the smoke
Sprinkle basil and garlic over the flames and recite:

Blazing force of cleansing fire
Help me in this rite.
By air and earth,
water and fire
So be you bound
With this rite,
Your power takes flight
Sky and sea,
Keep harm from me
Cord go round,
Power be bound
Your negativity will no longer come my way.
From henceforth, your power over me is banished.
So Mote it Be!

Let paper burn itself out while visualizing a healthy, positive relationship
with the person

Cakes and Ale
Thanking the God and Goddess
Close the circle, thank the watchtowers for their protection

Indications of What Type of Magic You Should Practice

Indications of What Type of Magic You Should Practice

Indications of White Magic:

  • Your practice uses White Light energies.
  • There is a tendency for self-purification before and/or during a spell.
  • You have an affinity to cleanse your area, target, and self.

Indications of Black Magic:

  • Dark essences are being used, primarily.
  • You find power in the emotional negativity of yourself and others.

Indications of Magecraft:

  • Your primary concern is in social politics or what people think.
  • You are constantly trying to understand what people think and feel.

Indications of Nature Magic:

  • Your practice tends to beckon you to nature and the use of natural forces.
  • You can feel a higher presence in things that most would call inanimate.
  • Your magic is an extension of the natural world, not a conflict with it.
  • You feel a different kind of power in nature and feel prone to harness it.

Indications of Necromancy:

  • Your practice centres around degrading health and physical well-being.
  • You find power in the physical suffering of yourself or others.
  • You use servitors but totally control all of their actions at all times.
  • You can sense if a person will die or if they are becoming ill/diseased.

Indications of Healing:

  • You can feel your own internal energies.
  • You can realign your internal energies if injured.
  • You can feel the aura of others and can realign it as well.

Indications of Celestial Magic:

  • You put your situations in the hands of a higher being.
  • You believe in a god or gods and want to, or know how to, communicate with them.
  • Your mystic practices incorporate the use of higher intelligences.

Indications of Satanic Magic:

  • Your power comes from yourself.
  • You are not interested in ever letting power out of your own control.
  • Your methods often include blessing/enchanting yourself.

Indications of Elemental Magic:

  • You are primarily concerned with physical manifestations.
  • Your art works heavily with controlling the environment.
  • It seems natural to you if you change the weather through mystic exertion.

Indications of Enchanting:

  • You are interested in the mystic potential of items.
  • You can sense mana in items that have been handled by another magician.
  • You try to magnify or nullify the powers put into objects.
  • You have skill in imbuing normal things with special powers.

Indications of Summoning:

  • You do not want to use higher powers to control summoned spirits.
  • Your power focusses on calling out to spirits, but not gods.
  • You see or work with demons, yet do not feel afraid.
  • You want servitors but also want to let them think on their own.
  • You can talk to spirits of the dead by feeling their thoughts.

Indications of Divination:

  • You frequently experience Deja Vu.
  • You see hidden meanings in atypical events.
  • You can predict events spontaneously with a high degree of accuracy.

Indications of Wizardry:

  • You tend to see “the big picture” where everyone else is worried about trifles.
  • You have the ability to move outside your body.
  • You use magic to change small things which drastically effect larger things by “domino effect”.
  • Your can project yourself or thoughts of your own design to manifest on this level.
  • Your art seems like a “pure” sorcery.

Indications of Sorcery:

  • You tend to see even mundane things from a mystic standpoint.
  • Your practices are fervent and full of emotion.
  • You step into a dark plane to practice your most potent skills.
  • Your art seems like a “dark” wizardry, or some form of “shadow magic”.

INDICATIONS YOU DO NOT YET FIT INTO A SINGLE ART:

  • You rely on a variety of mystic abilities.
  • You do not have a desire to commit to one path.
  • You feel confined rather than empowered by using a single discipline.
  • You see no need for devotion to extreme mystic abilities.

Note: This is not necessarily a reason to panic. There are times when the practitioner is legitimately not prepared to take on the discipline strains of studying through a single caste. At first, in fact, it is recommended that things be taken slowly and that all paths are given a fair trial to ensure that there is no reminiscing or regret in the future. This is not a problem, nor a sign of weakness. It is a reality that many casters face. Using whatever seems appropriate for a situation and recording it in a journal (Book of Shadows) will eventually reveal trends in your casting that will allow you to see where your talent or need lies.

INDICATIONS YOU DO NOT NEED MAGIC AT ALL:

  • There is a physical solution to your problems.
  • You couldn’t be bothered to study if there’s no immediately achievable results.
  • You already know of a few normal solutions to a problem without resorting to the occult.

Luna’s Grimoire

Witches Spell for July 19 – Poppet Prosperity Spell & Ritual

PROSPERITY SPELL AND THE RITUAL

Do this spell when the Moon is out and shining brightly.

Items you will need:

–poppet made out of green cloth, leave the head open

–chamomile for money

–rosemary for luck

–basil for success needle and thread

–Directional elementals (earth, incense for air, fire, water)

 

Altar Devotion, Casting the Circle

As you walk around the circle three times, imagine a green, soothing mist trailing

from your fingers, enveloping you and enclosing your magic circle.

“I conjure the magic circle I am safe within the Goddess’ womb  A sacred place, a world apart  Where enchantment births and magic starts With Air and Fire, Water and Earth  I circle round the Mother’s girth This circle is sealed”

Drawing Down the Moon

Stand holding your athame, legs slightly apart, arms at your side. Breathe deeply.

Raise the athame to your lips, holding it with both hands, and then point it toward  the moon. Feel the energy of the moon move through the athame, down your arms  and into your whole being.

Invocation to the Goddess

“Wondrous Lady of the Moon Mistress of all magic and protectress of all Wicca 

Life-giving mother I greet you at the waxing of the moon’s power I invite you to 

attend my Full Moon rite”

Invocation to the God

“Radiant King of the Heavens Master of beasts wild and free Horned stag I greet 

you at the waxing of the moon’s power I invite you to attend my Full Moon rite” 

Meditation and Chant to the Goddess

Sit with your spine straight, legs crossed, hands in your lap. Close your eyes and  visualize the Goddess, however she appears to you. Feel her arms around you in  a protective embrace. When you have the vision firmly planted, begin chanting softly:

“Starry Goddess, Full of Light I honor you this Full Moon Night”

Repeat, feeling your energy grow. This energy will be used during the following spellworking. Spellworking Cleanse and consecrate poppet for workings of magic.

Stuff it with the herbs.  Sew the opening closed.

“Goddess of Opportunity Bring good things in life to me I’ll be alert to all you. Goddess be my helpful friend”

Repeat 3 times, envisioning the opportunities you wish to come to you.

Reverse Lunar Draw

Raise the athame to the moon, then bring it to your lips and back down to your side,

releasing the energy you built during the Drawing. Thank the Goddess and God. Release the Circle. Walk back around the circle, pulling the mist back into your hands. Place the poppet in your closet, your car, your handbag or somewhere else close to you.  You can re-work this spell at the next full moon if you feel it’s necessary.

Good things will soon come.

Your Year & A Day Studies Should Include….

Your Year & A Day Studies Should Include….

  • Know what magick is.

  • Know different ways to raise, direct and ground energy.

  • Know how to cast a magick circle.

  • Know how to open a circle.

  • Know the basic outline of a spell.

  • Know the Intent or Purpose

  • What is it you are trying to do? Heal an illness? Increase your concentration? Bring love into your life? Sell a house? Celebrate a Sabbat? Before you begin any magickal working, you should have a firm grasp on what outcome you are seeking.

  • Know the Best Time to Work the Spell

  • Do you know what type of magick should be worked during the waning moon and what type during the waxing moon?

  • What type of magick is best worked on the full moon? The new moon?

  • What days of the week are best for what types of magick?

  • Learn how the moon phases and days of the week affect magickal workings so you will know when to work your spell.

  • Know Correspondences

  • Learn which colors will bring what results.

  • Learn a little about herbalism, which herbs can be used for what magickal purposes.

  • Learn about image magick and how it works.

  • Learn about elemental magick, which elements can be used for what types of magick.

How Do You Know A Magical Working “Took”?

How Do You Know A Magical Working “Took”?

Author:   Bronwen Forbes   

I ran across this question on a Pagan forum the other day, and it got me thinking back to when I was new at all this ritual and magic and witchcraft stuff – was that really half a lifetime ago? – and so unsure of my ability to do even a basic working. Fortunately for me, the Gods I chose to invoke were kind, patient, and tolerant of my novice fumbling, as were my teachers and fellow students.

There are actually several ways to know whether or not a ritual or a magical working “worked” or “took.” Some are immediate; some are long-term. In general, sabbat observances and celebrations don’t have the success bar set very high. If you feel like you’ve “done” Litha, or Mabon, then that’s good enough — whether you’ve participated in a three-hour ritual or simply prepared a satisfying barbecue in the back yard for your friends and family.

The first (and sometimes only) indication you have that your spell or ritual was a success is to ask yourself: How do I feel? Do you feel better than you did before the ritual started, or do you feel worse? If you feel better, i.e. less worried, less frightened, more confident, more energetic, calmer, happier or whatever then, at least on some level, the magical working was a success (I’m assuming no one is stupid enough to actually do a working to increase worry, fear, low self-esteem, lethargy, nerves, or sadness) .

Paganism and Witchcraft do have one thing in common with all other religions, and that is to offer comfort and a life raft to the practitioner in times of troubled waters. So if you’re done with your spell or ritual and you feel better, that should that tell you something.

Also, sometimes you just know. There’s almost an audible “click” that means, “Message received. Action forthcoming.” In fact, it sounds a lot like the “click” you hear when you meet someone for the first time and then say to an old friend, “I don’t know, we just clicked!” That click.

If you aren’t already, you should start keeping an informal log or journal of what magic and rituals you do when, and what result (s) you hope to achieve. For one thing, it’s a good idea to keep track of what happens. Say you do a magical working for an easing of financial difficulties. You write it down in your log and forget about it.

Three months later you look back and realize that, since you did that working, you’ve gotten a small raise at work, a nice tax refund from the federal government, and all of your Pagan 101 books that you posted for sale on amazon.com have actually sold! Does that sound like your spell was successful? It does to me!

Another good reason to keep a log or journal of the specifics of your workings is that, if the rite is a good one, and it works — two or three months down the road — you can re-create the working years in the future, if you find yourself in the same situation. Even better, you can share the basics with a friend who might, say, be in a dire financial situation just like you were and isn’t sure what to do, magically speaking, to fix it.

Sometimes, though, with big workings on big issues like, “I want to move to another part of the country, ” or “I want a child, ” one ritual or one spellcasting just isn’t going to have enough “oomph” to help you accomplish what you want. You may need to wait a few weeks (one lunar cycle is good) and do another one. And another one on the next major holiday. And another one on the next holiday after that…

For a big working, I suggest you vary the details slightly in order to cover all the different aspects of the issue. For example, if you want to move across the country, try doing one working to choose your new location wisely and help you get yourself and your stuff there safely, another working to get a job that will take you there (or be waiting for you when you get there) , and still another working to help you find good friends and a congenial community once you arrive. They are all rituals to help you move across the country, but each one focuses on a different aspect of the moving process.

How do you know whether or not you need to repeat the working more than once? Same way you get to perform on stage at Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice.

Unfortunately, when you’re talking about magic and ritual, there is no box you can check like there is on your email to indicate message received and read. And it really doesn’t matter how carefully you prepare and how well you execute your working. Some things just aren’t to be – at least right now. Does this mean that your time and effort and energy were for nothing? No. It just means that energy has been “banked” somewhere, and is waiting for more favorable conditions to act.

Patience is more than a virtue, here. It’s a necessity.

Let me give you an example: ten years ago, I was doing regular intense workings in order to find love, or for love to find me. But no matter how many losers I hopefully dated, the time was not yet right. But the day I woke up (and I don’t mean in the morning) and realized that one of my oldest friends was Mr. Right, all that energy that I’d sent out and the Gods had stored for me fueled one heck of an intense courtship!

Within 3 months I packed up and moved to where he was currently living. A year later we were married. As of this writing, we’ve been happily wed for over eight years.

When the time is right for the working to “take” – be assured, it will!

Life As The Witch – Destroying Packets, Poppets & Dolls

7rf%20W%2013

 

　The Poppet and Packet Racket

 

If the magick you worked involved the use of a poppet or a packet (a mojo or gris gris bag, or a collection of objects), feel fortunate. The good news is that it’s one of the easier types of magick to unravel. But don’t breathe that sigh of relief just yet. The bed news is that you’re going to have to retrieve the objects and destroy them. And if you buried them—or even worse, already destroyed them—that could present a problem.

But just for grins, let’s say that you haven’t destroyed the objects, you know exactly where they are, and you can put your hands on them. In this case, breaking the magick is only a matter of destroying the objects. You’ll only have one shot at this though, so you’ll need to do it correctly.

Destroying a Packet: While there are many techniques, I believe that the most thorough way to break the magick is to completely dismantle the packet. Start by removing the contents piece by piece. Set each piece on fire and allow it to burn to ash, then continue with any other pieces one at a time. When nothing else remains, burn the bag or packet dovering if there is one. Finally, toss the ashes into running water to disperse them.

Destroying a Poppet or Doll: Remember how you marked the object with the target’s name? Well the first order of business is to get rid of that. So, mark through it with a heavy, black permanent marker, and continue to work until none of the identifying name shows through. Once that’s done, remove any identifying marks if possible. Finally, burn the doll to ash and toss the remains in running water.

 

Reference:

Excerpt from:

Utterly Wicked, Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions
by Dorothy Morrison

 

Petition Magick

Petition Magick

This is the easiest form of magick. It requires a piece of paper, a sacred space, and an altar.

Petition magick is used for both minor and major problems, and can be used with other magickal applications without interference, as long as your focus and deity system remain the same. Petition magick is a very simple operation.

Go to your altar, write down the situation, burn some incense, ask for guidance, and put the paper in the middle of the altar. You will get an answer.

Petition magick is also good for problems in which you choose not to use any other type of magickal . Perhaps you feel that throwing magick at a problem will not solve it and seek the correction to move.

The petition should be burned after the answer is received and thanks given to the deity.

RITUAL MAGICK

RITUAL MAGICK

 

Ritual Magick could be said to be the halfway point between Ceremonial and Natural Magickal workings. It uses astrological alignments, colour correspondences, as well as moon phases and elements to achieve desired results. Singing and dancing are often used to help raise the energies, as well as drumming and trance-like states. Visualisation and incantations are used by the practitioner much the same as the Natural Magick practitioner, though elemental and astrological influences are taken into consideration. It may be performed by either individuals, or groups… as it is not as elaborate as Ceremonial Magick, though more complicated than Natural Magick. Because of the lesser complexities, it is not used for enlightment, but may be used to achieve mundane and spiritual results much the same as Nat

 

ural Magick. This genre of Magick can be classed within the same specifications as Ceremonial Magick- both are considered ‘high’ Magick, it does seem to be a meeting of both Ceremonial and Natural Magick.

GREY MAGICK

GREY MAGICK

Sometimes referred to as ‘middle’ or ‘middle path’ magick, it is basically the use of negative energy for good purpose. For instance…using a love or money spell to help another in dire need. Grey magick is performed with the hope for good intended results. Sometimes grey magick is the the use of both black and white magick- a practioner of the Craft who uses both aspects of magick (black and white) to achieve desired results. Some people within the Craft use grey Magick, as they personally believe that this balances the natural order of things…it balances Karma.

BLACK MAGICK

BLACK MAGICK

Sometimes referred to as ‘left hand magick’, is using energies to create a situation to benefit the practitioner This includes bending another persons will, causing confusion in others. Black Magick is usually self-concerning- in other words it is used by the individual, FOR the individual- for personal gain, whether that be emotional or physical gain- it is said to be used selfishly.It can be said that Black Magick works against the natural order of the universe- it bends the forces and energies against the natural way- forcing choas and misunderstanding. All Magickal workings have consequences other than the desired results…there are side effects to consider. Whereas the usage of white magick has naturally beneficial side effects, the opposite can be said for black Magick, and side effects may be dire indeed. Whether a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, it should be always considered that Magick can be dangerous either way

WHITE MAGICK

WHITE MAGICK

Sometimes referred to as ‘right hand magick’, white magick is catergorised (in general) as magickal workings used for the benefit of others. It is non-manipulative, and is not performed without the permission of whomever is involved. Healing and working towards finding the good within is all white magick, as is helping others with no dangerous or harmful side effects. White magick is concerned with peace and love, good luck and happiness- though not manipulating others to achieve the desired results. It does well to note here that White Magick is not often used for personal gain- it is used to benefit others; either individuals or groups- it is said to be magick used unselfishly. Consideration on the effects are taken very seriously.

BANISHMENT SPELL For LOVE GONE WRONG

BANISHMENT SPELL For LOVE GONE WRONG

 

This is a spell for love gone wrong, for ending a personal, family or business

Relationship  that you no longer wish to be in. It is a fire spell.  To work it, gather herbs of protection and an image of the person (photograph, poppet, etc.) Something written in their own hand, a lock of hair, a piece of clothing

or a personal object will also do. Put everything into a fireproof container – iron cauldron, marble mortar, whatever – and set fire to it as you perform the spell. Add the photograph or a piece of paper with the person’s name on it if you have trouble getting the fire going. It should make a very satisfactory blaze that reduces to ashes. The ashes can be buried or washed down a drain.

Flush them down a toilet if you are very angry. Dispose of all the objects that connect you to the person:  gifts, letters, photographs, etc. It is especially important to get rid of jewelry.   Move house if you have to.  Be careful with this spell. It’s permanent, so don’t use it unless you really mean forever. It’s also powerful. The person I used it against had a pregnant wife, and their child was born with a hole in its heart-lived about six months or so and died! . So be careful!

Recite with me here now, and then again if you decide to actually use this spell, but be forewarned is very POWERFUL and the outcome you so desire may not be the case unless you truly meditate and focus beforehand!

” By the crimson and the gold

By basilisk and bloodstone

By the garlic in the fields

By the poppies and what they yield

Invisibly I make my shield

To detect thee and deflect thee

And keep thy harm from me.

By dragon’s blood and salamanders

By horses when their hooves strike sparks

By the dragon breathing flames

From the Book of Life I erase thy names

I cut the cords and unlock the chains

I sever all the ties by which we were bound

And with impenetrable walls myself I surround

Against thy power and its source

Against thy evil and its source

Vesta, Pele, Lilith

Kali Kali Kali

I banish thee forever from me

And any harm from thee to me

Doubles back and tables turned

Thou shalt by thyself be burned

Lilith, Vesta, Pele

Kali Ma Kali Ma

By the power of three times three

I banish thee, I banish thee, and I banish thee

I am set free

So mote it be!”

To Bind Lover To You and Only You!

To Bind  Lover To You and Only You! Yes They WILL Be Faithful!

 

What you’ll need:

A pair of your clean underwear

A pair of your partners clean underwear

A red ribbon

Just a dash of nutmeg will do

One white envelope

An ink pen which writes black

A white candle

A red candle

Attraction oil-or favorite perfume

Bless and consecrate your equipment. If you have some attraction oil then you may anoint your candles with the oil. Light the candles and take the ink pen in your hand. Using the ink pen, write your initials on his pair of clean underwear and your partners initials on your clean pair.

Repeat:

“So Mote it be, Lover is bound to me, faithful true, will obey as instructed to do. Truth in all things pertaining to heart, four winds conveying we must never part. You are bound completely to me, thus sayeth Eros, Godvinda, and Great Spirit, so Mote it be!”

Repeat four times and then proceed, but concentrate as you chant, focus on what it is in your heart that you truly want.

For this IS ONE POWERFUL SPELL! Use Wisely!

Take the red ribbon and sprinkle with just a small dash of nutmeg, then tie into two knots . Place the ribbon with the sprinkled nutmeg  into  the pair of his underwear, and wrap around your pair of panties  then  place the underwear into the large envelope. Place 3 drops of attraction oil-or favorite perfume into the envelope. Seal the envelope, and repeat spell chant one more time.  Sleep with the envelope under your pillow anytime your partner is away from you or if you feel like they might be unfaithful.

This spell will  keep someone with you who doesn’t really want to be with you, so be very careful!  This spell will not only  encourage-but practically MAKE  your partner to keep you in his or her heart and mind!!!  This spell is very powerful, and effective. If you and your partner decide to end your relationship you should burn the envelope while releasing the energy. Give thanks and say,  ‘So mote it be’.

This spell to encourage your partner to be faithfully bound to you  should NOT be taken lightly. You can do this spell anytime and during the full moon for even more energy. Spend some time meditating on your desired outcome. Spend some time meditating before you perform such a powerful spell also! For even the Wiccan’s are leary of some of these such spells!

Life As The Witch – Things that Weaken or Ruin Spellcasting

7rf%20W%2013

Things that Weaken or Ruin Spellcasting

There are some circumstances that can weaken or even destroy the spell you have worked so hard to cast, so you want to be aware of and avoid the following:

Drug or alcohol use: You should never cast a spell with anything other than a clear head. For one thing, it is insulting to the Gods to come into sacred space under the influence of mind-altering substances. For another, it interferes with focus. (Yes, there are some folks who believe in the use of drugs to deepen spiritual practice; they are entitled to their opinions, and I would never argue with them, but it has been my experience that nothing destroys magickal concentration and focus faster than coming into circle high or drunk.)

Extreme emotional states: As I said above, you need to have a clear head in order to do your best spellcasting. Coming in to your sacred space filled with anger or fear or any other very strong emotion will not only stand in the way of clarity and focus, but you may cast a spell you later wished you hadn’t. This doesn’t mean that you can’t do spellwork when things are bad—sometimes this is when we need magick the most. But try to achieve as calm a state as possible before starting the work. Do some meditation, take a long bath or walk, repeat some calming affirmation. At the very least, take slow, deep breaths and concentrate on the light and love of the Gods until your head is in a better place.

Mixed feelings about the spellwork: If you’re not sure whether the spell you are casting is the right thing to do or not, that doubt may undermine the will you need to feed the spell. Never cast a spell unless you are certain of your path in that instance. This is also true of the times when you are uncertain of your goal. That confusion will sap your spell of strength, so it is better to wait until you have a solid goal in mind, and the will to back it up.

Negative intent: This is not to say that you can’t cast a spell that would have a negative impact on someone else; for better or for worse, free will allows for this. However, you should bear in mind that not only do the powers of the Universe often not allow these types of spells to work, it is not unusual for them to rebound on the one what casts them–either immediately or sometime down the line.

Lack of focus: This is the main reason for not coming into circle under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or heavy emotions; they will simply make it too difficult to maintain the focus needed to create a powerful spell and send it out into the world. But other things can get in way of focus, too. If you can’t find a quiet, private place to cast your spell (the kids are running around screaming, the dog is barking, the neighbors are arguing at the top of their lungs) you are better off waiting for a different time. It is almost impossible to get good results when you cast a spell in the midst of chaos.

Writing and casting your own spells can be a fun and empowering part of a well-balanced witchcraft practice. If you follow the few simple suggestions laid out above and sidestep the (easily avoidable) pitfalls that can stand in the way of successful spellcasting, all Witches can create spells to enhance and entrance their lives.

 

Reference:

Excerpt from

“Writing and Casting Spells for the Best Results”
by Deborah Blake
Lllewellyn’s 2013 Magical Almanac

C is for Cleansing Chant

C

 

CLEANSING CHANT

Uphold the rules of the Wiccan Rede.
Be high in spirit ye shall succeed.
Power of the Elements Five,
Will help Mother Nature stay alive.
From grains of Earth to the moving Air.
Past the burning Fire that magic flares.
Flow with Water, lakes, and streams;
Around the Spirit’s aura and dreams.

W is for Warding

W

 

Warding

 

Wards are magick raised and set into place to protect a space, object or person. The traditional Four Directions are warded, but one should ward “up” and “down” as well; “ooglies” and negative energies can “tunnel” over and under on the astral plane! For this reason, raise
a sphere rather than a Circle.

Obviously, in order to ward one must first learn to raise magic. Here’s a
simple but effective method. Stand erect and visualize roots growing from the
soles of your feet deep into the center of Mother Earth. Then, draw up magickal
energy into yourself until you feel filled with it. Don’t overdo it at first!
You can return unused magick the same way. Then, retract your roots. Don’t ever
leave leftover magick lying around. It will mutate and draw “nasties” that feed
on it like roaches feed on crumbs.

Why ward? For the same reason you keep your car and your house doors
locked: to protect yourself, your property, and your personal space. While
actual effective psychic attacks are quite rare (this is one of the hardest
magickal works to learn and the easiest to defuse; most people who can do this
sort of thing know that it is something that seldom should be done), other
things still need excluding: the negative energy of your mean, nasty, constantly
quarreling neighbors (especially in  buildings) and the fervent prayers
for the salvation of your soul (which to all intents and puiposes is an attempt
to force you into their mold by any means necessary and in my opinion borders on
black magick) which may be being offered up “for your own good” even as you read
this by your parents and their church! Also, magickal  increases levels
of sensitivity, and you just may feel the previously undetected energy of others
pressing in on you.

To ward yourself strengthen your aura daily by filling it with blue or
white magick. If you can’t assemble enough of it in your solar plexus to get the
job done (and don’t feel bad if you can’t; these things take time and work) draw
up some from Earth to “prime the pinup.” Some also visualize a helmet over their
heads with a protective symbol between the eyes and slightly upward (the
location of the “third eye”). If you do feel you are under psychic attack (its
symptoms can resemble those of the flu) and need additional protection, grasp
hold of cold iron. An old railroad spike works dandy. Consecrate it to Thor if
you like. Cold iron breaks hexes and dissipates psychic attacks. Or, it may just
be the flu you’re coining down with. Its treatment is somewhat different,
and beyond the scope of this article.

To ward an object (for instance, a trunk containing your magickal
supplies), put a protective sign on it. The Elhaz (Algiz) rune (the fifteenth
rune in the Elder Futhark) works just fine. To make one, get a peace sign, cut
off the circle around the edge, and  it upside down. It should look roughly
like a three-pronged antler. Or, you can just draw or paint it on. Cover the
object with a “chain link fence” of blue magick. Be sure some magick is in the
spaces between the -links. Anchor the wards to the protective sign. Visualize
them keeping others from touching the warded object Clean and maintain
periodically (at least once a month) to avoid your wards dying and perhaps
unpleasantly decaying. Also, don’t let others touch the object so it won’t give
them a nasty psychic shock You can make your car “invisible” (not readily
noticed) by putting magickal screens around it and willing that others not see
it. Be careful, or you might have a hard time finding it yourself when you
return, or find it’s been hit by another car even though in plain sight!

The “chain link fence” technique will also ward your house or apartment. I
advise homeowners to ward their homes around the walls, floors and ceilings
facing the outside of the building (not interior walls between rooms or the
floors/ceilings of multistory houses) and set up secondary wards around the
property lines. You’ll need something to anchor your wards to. I suggest driving
charged railroad spikes with the Elhaz nine painted on them at the corners (of a
square lot). White (clear) quartz crystal points work well for the corners of a
home as anchors. By the way, white quartz is the best “generic” stone for
general use, so don’t panic if some book says only the rare and costly Atlantean
Moonstone (available from the book’s publisher, needless to say) will do for
what you need to accomplish. White candles work well for most spells too. White
light contains all colors. That’s why sunshine can be broken up into a rainbow.
Clean those stones first Try to get some that haven’t been handled by a
bajillion people before you bought them. White quartz picks up and holds the
random charges of people who handle it. It picks up and holds a charge just
fine. That’s why you want it. My partner can’t stand handling white quartz
points in stores, so I get that job! I once pointed one at him and said “Zap!”
It was a joke, but it zapped him anyway, much to his chagrin. If you are
sensitive and need to handle, select and purchase them, try warding a pair of
gloves for the purpose! When you get them home, soak them overnight in cold salt
water. Take them out, rinse and dry them, send a wave of cleansing energy
through each one, and charge them one by one. You’ll need to do this
periodically in your ward cleansing, and should try to put each one back in its
proper corner each time. Then set your wards. Let them “jell” for an hour or so
before you go out, at least when you are initially setting them up. You’ll get
an extra bit of “Oomph!” if you do you warding on the Full Moon (and the
Full Moon will thereafter be a reminder to clean and recharge your wards). Be
sure to take down and ground your wards if you move!

Anything that can be done can at times be done just a bit too well. If
your wards are too tight, nothing can get in, but nothing can get out, either!
You might find the space difficult or impossible to sleep in, with an
increasingly heavy or oppressive feeling. In extreme cases, ghostly images of
people not currently there might be seen. These arise from personal energy that
cannot dissipate. A certain Lexington Pagan (not I) had this happen to her once!
In the unlikely event that this happens to you, turn the “volume” down on your
wards a bit and then do a basic magickal cleansing of the area. Use your magick
to sweep the area clean of accumulated magickal debris and trapped energy, and
take it as a sign that you can ward and ward well. Talk about beginner’s
luck!

A useful adjunct to your wards is a household guardian. Charge a small
statue. A frog dragon, cat or dog works well. Give it a name and decide its
gender. Fill it with magick, making it vigilant and friendly to you, your family
and friends but wary of and hostile to unwanted intruders, and finally and very
importantly, subject to your will. It is essentially an extension of your
will, a magickally ensouled thought form enshrined in the small statue. Feed it
regularly and tie it in to you. If you don’t, it will mutate, develop a will of
its own (probably a surly one) and create problems for you. You’ll have to
disassemble your creation, and it will be much harder to take apart than it was
to put together to begin with.

I recommend that every Pagan and magick user learn to ward. Wards are real
and wards work. I’ve seen psychic ickiness sliding off the wards of my apartment
when my partner and I let them get dirty. I once saw them repel a psychic attack
launched by some naughty local Pagans. I even sensed who was sending what was
tying to get through, and had the reality of the attack and identity of its
perpetrators confirmed by mundane means a few days later. When my partner and I
took down the wards in our old apartment right before we finished moving out (we
set the spell to take them down gradually) I saw curious little astral critters
move into space from which they previously had been excluded. Nevertheless,
there’s only so much warding can do! I once knew a magician who claimed only
Gods could get through his wards. Not surprisingly, two people independently got
through them without any problem, and one of them brought back unusual
information which was soon, without his inquiring, confirmed by “mundane” means.
Hubris will get you nowhere but into trouble.

Warding won’t protect you from the consequences of your own unethical
actions, nor from problems created by “getting in over your head.” With magick
as well as anything else, you’ve got to walk before you can run. If needed,
there are other things you can put into your wards. They can reflect negativity
or attacks (like a mirror) or even boost the strength of the attack and send it
home to bedevil the sender, potentially even killing anyone who can manage to
launch a very strong psychic attack against the warded individual. These are
techniques for the more advanced magician. Needless to say, don’t tell others
the details of your wards. Today’s friend may be tomorrow’s enemy in the all too
often dysfunctional world of the Heathen/Pagan Communities, so use discretion,
but avoid paranoia

 

Realmagick.com

W is for Wand

W

Wand

The wand is a tool that is long associated with magic and Witchcraft. It is primarily used in rituals and spells to channel and direct energy. It can be used much in the way an athame (ritual knife) is used. However, a wand may be safer in houses where there are small children, and can be brought and waved anywhere without fear that local authorities will confiscate it or arrest you. While you can spend a great deal of money at your local occult shop on a delicate crystal wand etched with obscure, unknown symbols, it is not necessary. In fact, some Witches would say it is not recommended. There is a strong belief that creating your altar tools  yourself imbues them with your own personal energies, making them more powerful  for your use than any store-bought item.

Wands have been made of many materials. I have seen some amazing wands crafted of various metals, crystals, and even of bone. But this article will focus on wood, by far the most common material for wand crafting, past and present. This is partly for practical reasons, as wood is sturdy, inexpensive, widely available, easy to work  with and beautiful. But there are magical reasons for using wood as well. Wood is an excellent conductor of energy, and, coming from nature, holds power all on its own.

Different trees are associated with different magical uses. When choosing the type of wood for your wand, you may wish to take into consideration the following correspondences between magical intent and type of wood:

ALL PURPOSE: oak, hazel, rowan.

BANISHING: birch, elder, juniper.

DIVINATION: cherry, fig, orange, pomegranate, willow.

FERTILITY: hawthorn, olive.

HEALING: apple, blackberry, cedar, eucalyptus, sandalwood, willow.

LOVE: apple, cherry, elm, willow.

PROSPERITY: blackberry, maple, pine.

PROTECTION: poplar, ash, elder, elm.

If you feel you will be using your wand for more than one type of spell or ritual, try using an all-purpose wood, or choosing a wood that falls into more than one category. Many Witches have several wands, each used for a different purpose, crafted from different kinds of wood. If there is a particular tree you feel a connection with, such as one that you spent much of your childhood sitting in, consider using a branch from that tree. The special bond you have forged with the tree will only lend to the wood’s power for any use.

There are several different beliefs floating around on the right way to obtain wood for a wand. Some people believe that a wand is only good if it is cut from a live tree rather than taken from “dead wood.” The thought is that the energy from a living tree will add to the wand’s power. If you are going to do this, it is best to ask the tree’s permission (a simple meditation under the tree should instill you with a strong feeling of the tree’s willingness). Leave an offering at the base of the tree, such as a coin or crystal. Another practical consideration you should make is to find out when the best time of year is to prune the particular tree you are cutting from so you will not damage the tree.

Some argue that once you take wood, it is physically dead anyway, so there is no need to impose upon a living tree for its wood. These people feel that the wood retains the tree’s power whether taken directly from the tree, or from the ground. In fact, it might even be considered better energy to take from the ground because the wood will lack any trauma that cutting may inflict. If this way of thinking makes more sense to you, obtain a wand by looking for a fallen branch. You can also, through meditation, ask a specific tree or group of trees to drop a branch for you to use, and then keep checking back in the area for the tree’s gift to you. Be sure to leave an offering in return.

Another way to obtain wood for a wand is to simply go to a hardware or craft store and purchase a dowel. The wood still comes from a tree and retains its energies, and is ready for you to begin working with it. While some purists may shun this idea, others of a more practical mind set see nothing wrong with it.

Since there is no rule or consensus on the best way to obtain the wood for your wand, you will need to trust your own instincts. However you obtain your wood, you will want to take a few things into consideration. First, make sure the wood you are using is healthy, and not rotted, soggy, or soft in any areas. Also ensure that it is not infested with insects. Second, you will want to find wood that is relatively straight. Make sure the wood section you are choosing feels good in your grip, well balanced, and that the length is satisfactory. A wand that is too long can be awkward and may cause you to knock things over as you are waving it around. A good length is from the crook of your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. Another option is to cut it to measure 13 inches; the number 13 is sacred to the Goddess as it represents the 13 lunar cycles in the year.

Once you have chosen your wood and cut it down to size, you are ready to begin your handy work. If the wood was from nature you should strip it of its bark and any leaves or twigs coming from it. You may wish to get some sand paper  to smooth the wood. If it is very rough, start with a heavy grade sandpaper until you have all of the nubs and edges smooth, then go over it with a fine grade.

How you decorate your wand will be entirely up to you. Some people choose to leave the wand completely in its natural state. Or, you can leave it partially natural, but add a few embellishments. One option is simply carving magical symbols or runes into the wand. Another option is to do the same using a wood-burning tool. You can also use leather or silk cords to tie feathers to a wand, wrap animal skins around the handle, or affix it with small gems and crystals using a hot glue gun. Another addition you can make to your wand is wrapping it with copper wiring, easily obtained at a hardware store. Copper is a highly conductive metal that will give the wand that extra “zap.”

If leaving your wand in a natural state, or partially natural state, you should oil it from time to time. This practice will keep the wood from getting too dry or brittle, and protect it from humidity. The best oil to use is mineral oil. You can give it a kick and empower the mineral oil with a few drops of essential oils before rubbing it onto the wand with a soft cloth or paper towel. When it comes to how often you should oil your wand, a good rule of thumb to follow is: once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, and once or twice a year after that.

Another option for decorating a wand is to paint it with craft paints. If you are handy with paint you can create a beautifully decorative, colorful wand. However, if painting the wand, don’t rub the mineral oil on it. The paint itself will seal the wood, and the rubbing could damage your handiwork.

While it is not necessary, it is common for people to add a special tip to a wand. This can be something such as a pinecone, acorn, or, more commonly, a crystal. Whatever you choose, you might want to take into  what purposes the wand will be for. If you are creating a wand out of pine to use specifically for empowering prosperity charms, you may want to choose a pinecone. If your wand is made of willow and will be used to draw loving energies into your life, you may want to consider a dried rose or rose quartz crystal. I find that for all-purpose wands the best tip is a clear, terminated quartz crystal. These easy to obtain stones can be used for any intent, and are like energy amplifiers. They are both projective (project energy) and receptive (receive energy), and the terminated (pointed) tip really helps to focus the energy.

To affix any item to your wand tip, you have several options. The first is to simply use masking tape, though most people are not satisfied with the appearance, or of using such an unnatural material. Another option (my personal favorite) is to wrap a piece of fabric or animal skin smeared with some glue so that it is half on the item and half on the wand. I have not had good results using glue alone without the skin or fabric, as it doesn’t hold well and repeated  leave you with a clumped-up tip full of glue. The final option is to use the copper wiring and simply wrap and loop it around the tip and then around the wand until it holds.

One thing to keep in mind at all times when you are crafting your wand is the positive magic and rituals for which it will be used. As you work on in, feel the energies of the wood mingling with your own power that you are pouring into it, and it will serve you well for years to come. You will find that your hand-crafted wand is more personal and more powerful for your own use than anything money could buy.

Witchcraft 101: The Rhythmic Practice Phase (part 3)

Witchcraft 101: The Rhythmic Practice Phase (part 3)
Author: Wren

Since its inception, the Witches’ Voice, has been barraged with email asking the simple question… “How do I become a Witch”? Although, it has never been the mission of the Witches’ Voice to actually teach Witchcraft we find ourselves constantly shocked at the aweful responses the Teenage Witch or new seeker receives from many that “claim” themselves “elders” of the craft. For this we apologize. We will never preach or claim to “have the answer”.There are indeed many paths and many ways, it is our goal to give you the tools to  and what to look out for.

Part #3…

The Rhythmic Practice Phase

How are you doing so far?

The first two lessons should have taken you about six months of study and practice to complete(if you worked at it diligently). You should now also be fairly comfortable doing the basic ritual from the previous lesson. Remember that you actually have to DO the ritual – not just read it, dream about it or visualize it. Get up on your feet, get your tools together, light those candles AND DO IT!

“Effort requires that you either answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

Teachers can always tell if someone who comes to them has done the work. The first time that a student will do a ritual or take part in one with others will clearly show his/her experience or lack of it.

If you have done the work, this does not mean that you will not be nervous your “first time out.” You will! But you will also be amazed at how quickly this nervousness will pass as the ritual progresses. Your spirit and inner child. (Him/her, again?) WILL remember all those practice sessions and soon you’ll be enjoying the whole thing immensely!

Along the way, DO Remember these four little things:

Life is always changing. Nothing stays the same.

To Know you have To Do. Experience requires action.

The quality of each experience – as you draw it forth and do it and live it – becomes the substance of your wisdom.

Yes, there will be a test on this. There is ALWAYS a test on this!

O.K., what’s next?

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters,
compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rhythms of Nature, Rhythms of Life:

The Neo – Pagan Paths that we are discussing – including Wicca and Witchcraft – are called “Earth – based” religions. The rituals and practices follow the seasonal changes of the Earth. Some Paths use the eight holidays of the Wiccan Wheel of Life; some adhere to the more traditional Four Fire Festivals calendar. Some groups have come up with their own cycles according to their belief systems. What calendar will you use?

When you have decided which Holiday calendar that you want to incorporate into your life – lesson, read all that you can about it. Take one Holiday at a time. Look for resources, descriptions and Myths about each Holiday. Think upon each one as both a special event and as a “marker” for the year.

During the Rhythmic Stage, you will explore the year through the cycles of Nature. And yes, this phase DOES last an entire year. There is no other way. You may begin to reach out a bit more during this time – exploring new contacts, taking some classes, attending public events – but the personal exploration of the Rhythmic Cycle of The Holidays should be your primary focus.

Why? It is in this cycle that you will learn much more about yourself and your place in the Universe. Everything that is exists as vibrational energy. Some things have a higher frequency, some a lower one. You will learn to “feel” the vibrational changes around you as the seasons come and go.( An essential skill to have in Magick! )

Do you get a little “spring fever” around April or May? Look at the earth. She is excited about this time of year, too! Buds are swelling on the trees and flower plants are poking their first leaves out of the ground as if to ask, “Is it safe to come out yet”?

Do you feel particularly invigorated in the Fall crisp air? Watch the squirrels run around and dig into the ground to hide their nuts. Hear the bees as they bob from plant to plant racing down the coming frost. “Hurry, hurry, hurry,” seems to rustle the drying leaves from the trees. (I’m sure you get the idea.)

There Are Patterns

“I learn by going where I have to go.” – Theodore Roethke.

Most Pagans have a  or transmigration of the soul. All things in Nature are born (germination), grow, mature, reproduce, and then decline and die. The cycle begins again. This is why reincarnation makes sense to most Pagans. By observing the Rhythmic Cycle, we reflect on this process and we may come to think that it just “seems right”. Not too surprising really. It’s “natural,” isn’t it?

You have a place in this cycle. You probably were not brought up to think in this way. Most aspiring Neo – Pagans weren’t. This year of study will show you not only where you fit into the cycle of Nature, but how your active involvement in these cycles can change your life. When you come to understand and work with the natural rhythms in the world around you, you will understand what it means to be Pagan.

Here are some reasons why “rhythmic learning” – and possibly reincarnation – works:

Effective experiential learning will affect the learner’s cognitive structures (action theories), attitudes and values, perceptions and behavioral patterns.

People will believe more in knowledge they have discovered themselves than in knowledge presented by others.

Learning is more effective when it is an active rather than a passive process.

Acceptance of new action theories, attitudes, and behavioral patterns cannot be brought about by a piecemeal approach.

It takes more than information to change action theories, attitudes, and behavioral patterns.

It takes more than firsthand experience to generate valid knowledge. Besides experience, there needs to be a theoretical system that the experiencer tests out and a personal reflection on the meaning of the experience.

(The above principles come from the work of Kurt Lewin, one of the important founding fathers of social psychology who influenced the development of the Group Dynamics movement in the early 1940’s.)

I’d add a seventh point – Make It Fun!

Hunt down seasonal objects for your altar. Think about colors for cloths and robes. Make a headpiece for each Holiday. Pick a mythic story and follow it throughout the year. Act it out! Dress the part! Dance! Sing! Write a poem! Cook up a recipe! Adopt a “totem” animal for each season. Make a special storage box for each Holiday’s special decorations. (Every Holiday will feel like Yule as you open your Holiday boxes next year. Add more goodies!)

“A man of faithful thought may feel in light, among the beasts and fields,
the turning of the wheel.” – Wendell Berry

WHY Are You Doing All This?

Transformation!

Transformation begins from within. Many people turn to a religion – or to magic! – in an attempt to change the things that they perceive to stand in the way of their ‘true happiness.” Many a love spell has been cast more to ease one person’s own inner loneliness than as a real desire for an equal relationship with the object of their current “affections.”

Inner transformational work is difficult, messy and anything but instantaneous. This explains the current nervous searching out of “just the right spell” by many a new seeker to the Craft. Hoping to somehow by – pass the true work involved in developing a magickal way of life, they hope for something in the order of a Hollywood special effect. “Just say the magic words…” and your insecurity problems, heartaches and financial worries are over! Uh – uh…it just doesn’t work like that. Sorry, Mr. Spielberg….

As you work through the year of The Wheel, you will learn a lot about yourself.

Such as:

Respect – Both for the interconnection of all Life and for yourself.

Thought – How you can change your life by changing your thoughts.

Examination – Looking within yourself for answers and solutions.

Release – Letting go of old habits and emotions that no longer work.

Synthesis – How an individual can also be part of a whole.

Creativity – Trusting your intuition to help you make viable choices.

Action – Learning how to act rather than re – act.

Love – Being able to give and receive healthy love.

Strength – Inner courage to overcome circumstances without harm.

Transformation! – The realization that only you can change what is not working in your life. Only you can make your life what you want it to be. And only you – through difficult, messy and lengthy work – can make your magickal Life one of Love, Light and Power!

 

“ The outstanding error of learners, in whom it is excusable, and of many teachers,
who teach without wisdom is that they associate Occultism with practices
rather than with PRACTICE. I teach the LIFE of concentration and meditation…”
– P.G. Bowen