Tag: Ritual

Dragon of Fire Chant

The following call or brief ritual are meant to be included in your other rituals, within a cast and sealed circle. They are used to add greater power to any spell working because they specifically call the elemental dragons of Spirit. This taps into a vast reservoir of power current which can amplify any other power raised within the magical circle.

Dragons of Fire

 

In your dance and singing, imitate the movement of flames. If you have ever closely watched a wood fire, for instance, you become aware that fire dances and sings in its own manner. Choose music that helps you to reflect this mental imagery.

Note: Use candles or other objects of a pure red color. Choose herbs and oils that are listed as of the element of Fire.
Repeat this chant three times:

In your cavernous, fire-filled hall,

Echoes the Name that I now call.

Fafnir(faf’-near)! (Ring gong twice)

Stir my blood with will power bold.

Create new changes from the old.

Fafnir! (Ring gong twice)

Dragon of Air Chant

The following call or brief ritual are meant to be included in your other rituals, within a cast and sealed circle. They are used to add greater power to any spell working because they specifically call the elemental dragons of Spirit. This taps into a vast reservoir of power current which can amplify any other power raised within the magical circle.

Dragons of Air

Choose music that represents to you either storms or light, breezy conditions, depending upon the atmosphere you wish to create. Your dancing and singing should make you think of wind blowing across the land, stirring the plants, whistling over the mountain tops, pushing the clouds through the sky.

Note: Use candles or other objects of a pure yellow color. Choose herbs and oils that are listed as of the element of Air.
Repeat this chant three times:

Dragon Ruler of Wind and Cloud,

I call your secret Name aloud.

Sairys (sair-iss)! (Ring gong once)

Quicken my mind, renew my Life.

Grant me joy free from strife.

Sairys! (Ring gong once)

Calling The Dragon

Calling The Dragon

I do not know a practitioner who is not interested in calling a spiritual or astral entity who will project their presence with such clarity that there is no question of knowing the being is there. Dragons are such fascinating entities, how could a true practitioner not want to feel the unquestioning presence of such a creature?

There is also a greater reason for calling a dragon into stronger presence. The stronger the auric vibrations of such a creature within your ritual circle, the stronger the ritual and power sent into your motivation for the ritual. Practitioners perform rituals for praise and enjoyment; they perform them for special intentions. I know of no true practitioner who does rituals for no purpose whatsoever. To perform a ritual properly, a great amount of time and energy are expended, a complete waste if one has no specific goal in mind.

When you use the dragon call and feel the presence of one or more dragons about you, treat them with respect. Take time to make their acquaintance before asking their help. Most dragons are beneficial and helpful, but all draconic temperaments are extremely sensitive; treat them with the greatest respect.

Note: Perform during bright noon or the waxing Moon for increasing magic, with the Full Moon being strongest; during evening hours or the waning Moon for decreasing magic, with the New Moon being strongest. Use in conjunction with any ritual. This ceremony is primarily to summon the dragon for manifestation. The manifestation may be the rare physical type or, more likely, it will be the sharpening of your inner sight.

Supplies: Pentacle disk; dragon pentacle; water chalice with a little fresh water in it; dish of salt; wine chalice; black (left) and white (right) altar candles; sword; wand; incense burner; appropriate incense; dragon’s blood and mugwort; dragon mirror; gong or bell; staff. Paper and pen to write down any messages.

Use the Basic Dragon Ritual up to the point where you insert the necessary chants for specific spell workings.

Hold the sword in your power hand, the staff in the other. Stand facing the altar and tap the staff three times on the floor while holding the sword pointed at the dragon pentacle. Chant in tones that vibrate through your body:

COME, DRACONIS!

BY YOUR ALL-CONSUMING BREATH, I SUMMON YOU.

(tap staff three times)

BY YOUR PIERCING GAZE, I SUMMON YOU.

(tap staff three times)

BY YOUR MIGHTY STRENGTH, I SUMMON YOU.

(tap staff three times)

BY YOUR WISDOM ANCIENT AND CUNNING, I SUMMON YOU.

(tap staff three times)

BY YOUR MAGICK DEEP AND OLD, I SUMMON YOU.

(tap staff three times)

COME, DRACONIS, TO MY CALL!

You will feel power sent to you from all sides by the half-seen dragons. Listen for any messages that they may give you. You may feel their presence by a sudden temperature change, a prickly feeling between the shoulder blades, unusual currents of air, and other phenomena. If dragons are pleased with you, they often sound a deep vibrating rumble, almost like an enormous cat’s purr.

Basic Dragon Ritual

Basic Dragon Ritual

This is the basis of all Dragon rituals in the practice of Dragon Magick. The
practicing magician can insert his / her own music, dance, meditation, or
personal rituals that they have written in appropriate places without disrupting
the flow of energy. When you read through this ritual you will see that certain
things are to be done at certain times other than that the Magician can do what
feels right to her / him. It is important that you have all the appropriate
tools and materials you will need before starting. Make any preparations so
that nothing disturbs you. If you are practicing decreasing Magick it is
important to remember that anywhere in the ritual that it says “circle
clockwise” ,you should circle counterclockwise. Another way of doing this is to
cast a clockwise outer circle with a counterclockwise inner circle.

Setting up Ritual :

Begin the ritual by going to the East, with sword in power hand “draw” Magickal
circle on floor around ritual area. This is done by pointing sword at the floor
and seeing great flames shooting from it. Move clockwise around the circle with
this flame ; end by overlapping it in the East. While drawing the circle, say:

By Dragon Power, This Circle is Sealed.

Return to the altar. Point the Sword at Dragon Pentacle and say:

Dragons of Spirit, Highest of Dragons and Most Powerful, Bless This Altar With
Your Fire. Let Us Be One In Magick, O Dragons Great and Wise.

Set the Water Chalice on the pentacle. With the wand in power hand, circle the
chalice three times clockwise with the wand and say:

Air, Fire, Earth, Bring Power Forth. Water Of Land and Sea, Purified Be.

Hold the Chalice high and say:

Draconis! Draconis! Draconis!

Sprinkle the water lightly around the circled area beginning and ending in the
East. Set the dish of salt on the Pentacle. Circle it three times clockwise with
the wand and say:

Water, Air, Fire, Hear My Desire. Salt of Earth and Sea, Purified Be.

Sprinkle a few grains of salt to each corner of the altar. Circle the incense
burner three times with the wand, say:

Fire of Dragons, Fire of Earth, You Are Purified. Bring Power Forth.

Circle the Incense and Herbs three times clockwise with the wand, say:

Incense Magickal, Incense Bold, Awake The Dragons, As Of Old. I Call You
Purified.

Put a small amount of incense onto the burning coals. Lift the burner by the
chains and touch it lightly to the Pentacle. Lift it high over the altar, say:

Draconis! Draconis! Draconis!

Then carry it clockwise around the circle, beginning and ending in the East.
Return the burner to the Altar. Take up Sword in both hands and kneel before the
Altar. Mentally dedicate self to the study of Dragon Magick. Project your
interest and love for Dragons as strongly as possible. Continue doing so for
several minutes, then rise and point the Sword at the Dragon Pentacle and say
with power and confidence:

Behold, All Dragons and Rulers of Dragons, I am (magickal name), a Magician Who
Seeks Dragon Magick. With (name of Sword) In My Hand, I Enter the Realm of The
Dragons, Not For Physical Battle, But For Knowledge and Power. I Greet You, O
Dragons Ancient and Wise, and Await Your Blessing and Guidance.

Continue holding the Sword outstretched until you feel the blessing of the
Dragons. It is for this reason that a light sword is best used in ritual. When
the flowing power of the Dragons Blessing has lessened, lower the sword. Still
holding the sword in Power hand, take up the Dragon Pentacle in the other and go
to the East. Point the sword at the Eastern position and hold the Pentacle
facing outward. Draw a Invoking Pentagram with the Sword,
say:

From Sairys (sair’-iss), Ruler Of The Eastern Dragons Fair, Comes Now The
Wondrous Power Of Air

Invoking Pentagram

Feel the power of Air entering body with sword outstretched. When the flow
stops, go to the South. Hold up the Dragon Pentacle again , draw an invoking
Pentagram with the Sword, say:

From Fafnir (faf’-near),Ruler Of Dragons Of The South, Comes Cleansing Fire
From Dragon Mouth

Note: Feel the power of Fire entering body and when it stops go to the next
direction. Repeat the process of Holding up the Dragon Pentacle and drawing a
invoking pentagram for each of the directions. Go to the West, say:

From Naelyan (nail’-yon) Ruler Of Dragons Of The West, Comes The Power Of Water

Draw into the body the power of Water. Go to the North and say:

From Grael (grail), Ruler Of Dragons Of The North, The Power Of Earth Does Now
Come Forth

Draw into oneself the power of Earth. When it stops return to the Altar, lay
aside the Sword and Dragon Pentacle. Add the appropriate herbal incense to the
incense burner according to the ritual you are performing. At this point insert
the appropriate chants and workings for the particular spellworking or
meditation to be performed. If there is a problem that is unsolveable by
physical means or by magic then now is also the time to ask the Dragons for
advice on how to solve it. The Dragons are able to give new insight into ways of
solving it. Continue to feel their power and direction as their directions are
written down. When finished with the spellworking, tap staff three times and
chant:

I Thank You, Dragons Old And Wise, Of Earth And Fire, Water, Skies, For Sharing
Wisdom Here With Me. As We Will, So Shall It Be

Always approach the Dragons as Equals not as a force to be ordered or conquered.
Set the Wine Chalice on the Pentacle. Circle it three times with the wand, say:

Cup Of Power, Cup Of Might, Dragon Magick, Be Here This Night

Drink the Wine (apple cider or grape juice may be substituted if unable to drink
wine), saving back some to be poured outside on the ground later as an offering
to the Dragons. If it is not possible to pour the offering outside then leave it
on the Altar for about an hour, after closing your ritual. Now is the an
excellent time to chant and use free-form dancing and invite the Dragons to
share in the raised energy and joy of being a Magician. Talk to them about hopes
and dreams, listen to see if they have suggestions or words of encouragement.
This is an opportunity for close friendships to be forged.

Closing the Ritual

To close the ritual, take the sword and go to each of the directions draw a
banishing pentagram and say the appropriate words for that
direction.

Banishing Pentagram

To the East, say:

Go In Peace, Dragons Of The East, And Return Again In The Ritual Hour

To the South, say:

Go In Peace, Dragons Of The South, And Return Again In The Ritual Hour

To the West, say:

Go In Peace, Dragons Of The West, And Return Again In The Ritual Hour

To the North, say

Go In Peace, Dragons Of The North, And Return Again In the Ritual Hour

Return to the Altar. Raise both arms, say:

Farewell To You, O Dragons Fair, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Together We Make
Magick Well By Power Deep and Dragon Spell. In Peace Go Now. Return Once More To
Teach Me Magick and Ancient Lore. Draconis! Draconis! Draconis!

Cut the circle with a backward sweep of the Sword across the boundary line.
Extinguish the candles. Clear the Altar of all tools except any offerings to the
Dragons if unable to pour outside.

This ritual is the basis of any and all rituals of Dragon Magick. Any specific
spellworkings need to be placed within this framework at the appropriate times.

The Dragon Altar

The Dragon Altar 

An altar can be any table, chest or microwave cart that is large enough and of a comfortable height to stand and do magic. If you find it impossible to stand during ritual, choose an altar that is a comfortable height while you sit. Colored scarves coordinated to the elements of various dragons can be used to cover the altar. For magicians who are hampered in movement, whether by a broken leg, physical disability, or confinement to a wheelchair, do not despair. Sit at your altar and visualize yourself going through each moving step of the ritual as if you were physically doing it. I known one magician who, while flat in bed for a time, meticulously visualized her way through rituals and got excellent results, although she was unable to do so much as light a candle.

To illuminate the altar, use a black candle on the left end and a white candle on the right. A knowledgeable magician knows that using black candles is not evil magic. The color black is merely the opposite of white; it balances the energies. If you feel you cannot use black, use a very dark blue, purple or indigo.

However, if you do have an aversion to the color black, it signals a need for you to do some intense work on the programming you have accumulated in your subconscious mind. All of us have, at one time or another, received and accepted undesirable programming from others, whether it be from parents, teachers, friends, colleagues, a religious group or simply society in general. Unfortunately, much of this programming is give to us at a very impressionably age when we are not aware enough to reject it. What we acquire at an older age is accepted because we want to fit with a special group, et. Although it take determined effort to undo this programming, it can be done.

Doing What the Book Says: A Cautionary Tale

Doing What the Book Says: A Cautionary Tale

Author: Bronwen Forbes

I was young, I was a shiny new Pagan, the Internet – which made contacting my fellow religionists as easy as calling my mom – was about ten years away from being invented, and by gosh I was going to perform this solitary sabbat exactly as The Book told me to! (And no, I’m not going to tell you which “The Book” it was. It would only embarrass me further and wouldn’t do the now-deceased author’s reputation any good. Okay, okay I’ll give you a hint somewhere below) : By the time I’d finished my ritual, I’d nearly burned the house down – a house that included my dog, four cats, and my born again Christian (now ex) husband.

But I learned a valuable lesson that night, a lesson that I see more and more new Pagans ignoring these days:

Books (and now the Internet) are no substitute for practical, hands-on experience with a group of like-minded people. But allow me to continue my illustration:

The Book said I needed a cauldron for this ritual, so I found a really cute brass one at Pier One – it even had soldered-on brass feet which I thought was particularly important – it’d be up off the hideous pumpkin orange shag carpet in my den because Gods forbid I scorch the hideous pumpkin orange shag carpet. The Book said to pour about an inch and a half of rubbing alcohol into the cauldron. And light it.

And, Gods help me and my now ex-husband who was sleeping – oblivious to the ritual and the fire – in the next room and the dog and the cats, I lit it.

The Book didn’t say (or maybe I missed that part) that this ritual had been designed to be performed outside. Outside where, theoretically, a six-foot column of flame shooting out of a brass cauldron wouldn’t be quite so much of an issue. Naturally, The Book didn’t say anything about having a pot lid or sand nearby to smother the flames, so I had no way to douse the tall bonfire that was pretty much the same shade as the hideous pumpkin orange shag carpet.

The Book also didn’t say that the cauldron would, ideally, be cast iron, and not soldered brass bits. Any intelligent, experienced ritualist could have told me that, but I didn’t know any other ritualists yet – intelligent or otherwise – so I was on my own. And it finally dawned on me that I was in big trouble when the solder attaching one of the cauldron legs melted from the heat, causing the pot to tip sideways.

I now had about four feet of flame at about a forty to forty-five degree angle from the floor. I’m just damn lucky it didn’t tip so far that the alcohol poured out onto the aforementioned lovely orange shag carpet. As it was, some of the individual threads were a little black and crunchy if you examined them too closely.

Eventually, the inch and a half of rubbing alcohol burned itself out. Subdued, I finished the rest of the ritual as quickly as possible, put my things away, and crawled into bed beside my still-sleeping spouse. All that was left to deal with was the interesting conversation the next day.

Him: How did that black stuff get on the ceiling in the den? It looks like soot.

Me: I have no idea, dear.

Him: And the carpet looks like it’s singed or something.

Me: Really? I hadn’t noticed.

Funny? Yes. Stupid and potentially lethal? You betcha. However, the incident made me understand the contemporary wisdom of the old phrase, “You cannot be a witch alone” and I started circling and studying with the nearest group before the next sabbat. (Nice to know I’m not as dumb as I look!)

I am not saying that being a solitary practitioner is a bad thing. Far from it, whether you choose to be so for personal or geographical reasons. I am saying, don’t leave your common sense in the back pocket of your other pants whenever you open a book of Pagan rituals or click on a Pagan how-to website. It’s not common sense to wear a short, sleeveless tunic at an outdoor ritual in January. In Wisconsin. It’s not common sense to fast if you have any sort of blood sugar issue. And it’s sure not common sense to try to set your den on fire just because The Book said to do something a certain way. If I’d been thinking, instead of slavishly following, I’d have had one heck of a less exciting evening – to my benefit. And yes, these are all examples of bad advice I’ve seen in books and online.

If some faceless Pagan authority (me included) writes that you should do something and your gut tells you it’s a bad idea, listen to your gut. Better yet, go find someone who’s actually been in ritual with other people and ask them – and their friends. If, through Witchvox, you can’t find someone in your neighborhood, well, it’s better to go online and ask around rather than suffer frostbite – or burn your house down. Better yet, see if you can spend a few holidays in ritual with them, ask questions, learn how rituals are — and are not — supposed to go.

I’m on a lot of online Pagan forums, and I can’t even begin to count how many posts go something like, “I tried this ritual with my friends last night and now I feel sick and I have the worst headache. What did I do wrong?” Well, did you ground and center beforehand? “No, the ritual didn’t say to.” Did you check to see if you might be allergic to whatever you burned as incense? “Um, no.” Did you eat anything beforehand? “Um, no.” Five minutes asking about these sorts of basics beforehand, either online or at a local Pagan meet up would stop most, if not all, of these sad posts.

I’m also a print journalism major, and my professors are always cautioning me that if something, no matter how preposterous, is written down, people will believe it. This includes you. So we future newspaper reporters need to be extra careful about making sure our stories are as accurate as possible. How do we do that? We confirm through other sources anything we’re told as “fact.”

I cannot advise you too strongly to do the same.

Closing the Circle

Closing the Circle

There are two ways to close the circle:

Draw a banishing pentagram while standing in the center of the circle. Say: “Guardians of the East, South, West and North. Powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water I thank you for joining in my circle and I ask your blessings are you depart. May peace be between us now and forever. Blessed Be!

Once the rite is ending, face North, hold the wand up and say: “Farewell, Spirit of the North. I give thanks for your presence here. Go in power and love.

Repeat this at each point. When done, take your athame and go to the North. Pierce the energy field of the circle and bring the power into the athame. When you return to the North, the circle is no more.

It is important to close the circle properly. The energy you raise during the ritual is trapped in the circle. When you release the circle, the energy is released into the universe. Never leave a circle unopened.

Psychic Protection

 

 Psychic Protection

Finally comes the all-important issue of protecting yourself psychically while your cast spells or carry out rituals.

Casting a circle and/or a magical square offers you a great deal of psychic protection as does the process of grounding yourself after a spell.

Also doing spells only for positive purposes and with good intent is in itself protective. There is no point in standing within circles, squares or triangles if you are summoning up dark forces or playing about creating elemental thought forms. If what you are doing makes you uneasy or you couldn’t tell your best friend, mother or sister (if they are generally sympathetic towards magick) what you are up to, don’t. That is the basic rule. The following may also help.

Set an earth crystal, an air crystal, a fire crystal and a water crystal that you have sprinkled with a sacred water mix that you have sprinkled with a sacred water mix at the main direction points around a room or an area where you are working. As you set each one, ask for the protection of light and goodness(or dedicate each to a special deity).

Alternatively, use an ordinary round dark brown stone for the north, a white one for the east, a reddish one for the south and a pinkish grey for the west. The north and west stones should be round or diamond shape and the others pointed.

Wash the crystals or stones in running water after the spell or ritual.

You can designate the four traditional archangels to the four watchtowers, external direction points around the room, your outdoor circle of your altar.

Light four angel candles and place them halfway along each actual or visualized line of magick square or round your circle at four main direction points.

Even if you don’t cast a circle for a simple spell you can picture the four angels or substitute angels of nature for the four archangels. Though the conventional element archangels do have ecological foci, you may prefer to choose a nature angel for each element especially for out door magick and use his herbs, crystals and candle colour to complete your protection.

Internalizing Natural Magick

Internalizing Natural Magick

 

In Natural Magick, you can borrow elemental qualities, taking into yourself spiritually the power of the elemental forces – for example, the power of the wind when you add the air element to the symbol in a spell.

For example, you might say the following as you add incense power to your symbol that represents the purpose of the spell.

I am that mighty wind that blows through time and take away inertia. And so I empower_________ and myself to bring change. 

You can use the crashing of the sea, the wind in the trees or the falling rain on your tent to amplify and give your words rhythm. You may find it helpful to hold a symbol as a focus while you speak.

It is quite possible to carry out a spell or indeed a ritual just by using words. Taking it one stage further, the ritual or spell can be visualized, using both words and actions in your mind. In order to stimulate your psychic senses you may choose to carry out this visualized spell while sitting on the seashore or in a glade. Once you are experienced at visualization, you can bring that glade on to a crowded train or into an airless office as you weave your spell.

The beauty of inner spells and rituals is that there are no limits. Your air element really can be shooting stars, your water element a sparkling waterfall or tropical blue ocean. Then next time you carry out a spell externally you will still be able to feel and see those shooting stars or that sparkling water, and so you work is enriched and more powerful.

Even if you are quite experienced in magick these spoken or internalized spells are a very good way of aligning your mind with powerful external forces and thus bringing them together in your rites. They are also useful if you are in a special place but circumstances means that you are not able to start chanting or dancing. You may be in a sacred place or one of outstanding beauty, but accompanied by a tourist party or your in-laws.

By working on this astral or spiritual plane, as you speak the word in your mind you can carry the purpose of the spell though the barrier on to the earth plane of actuality.

Ritual the Wiccan Way

Ritual the Wiccan Way

Most, if not all religions have some form of ritual. Ritual helps to remove you from the mundane and more you closer to your deity. Under Wiccan ritual we create a sacred space in which to work. Within this space we feel comfortable, just as those going to Church feel a comfort within the walls of the Church.

When to Do and Not Do Ritual

Wiccan do ritual for the Eight Sabbats and all Esbats. There are certain times when you would want to avoid doing ritual. When you are sick, sharing is nice, but not that nice. When you are hungry. a growling stomach can really distract from ritual. When you are tired, proper ritual takes time and energy. When you are Angry, bad energies will be developed; definitely wrong.

Ritual can be done either as a solitary or a coven. The format can be changed to fit the situation.

Ritual

When doing ritual there is a loose structure to follow:

Cast the circle

Call the quarters

Call the Lord and Lady

State the purpose of the ritual.

Do your workings

Share wine and cakes

Enjoy the company of each other within the circle.

Release deity and the quarters

Take down the circle

 

REMEMBER

Once the circle is cast you can not leave. Take care of necessities before the circle is closed. Animals can, and will enter an leave the circle, this shows no disrespect nor will cause any harm.

If a Ritual is to start at 7:30 P.M.; be there at least ten minutes early. Once the circle is cast you will not be permitted to enter.

If you have been asked to bring the candle, wine cake, etc.; for the ritual – do not forget them. It can really rune a ritual.

You are working with a group, remember to show courtesy at all time.

If you have been invited to join a coven for ritual make sure you know what is required of you.

Your BOS

When the ritual is over you will want to record it in your BOS. There are exceptions to this rule. If you were a guest at a ritual check with the High Priest/ess to see if you can record their ritual. Many covens hold their ritual to be sacred and will not permit you to record them. What you can then do is record what the ritual was about and how you felt. As a solitary, record your ritual for future reference.

Remember to keep you BOS is a safe place when not in use. Like a diary, you have recorded many intimate items in it that your really do not want made public on CNN.

Big Wrap-up

Ritual is one way to commune with the Lord and Lady.

Prepare yourself before you do ritual

Record your rituals

Use a BOS to record your magickal doings and the results of them.

A BOS is “eyes only” material – don’t leave it where others can see it.

The Use of the Pentacle In Dragon Magick

The Use of the Pentacle In Dragon Magick

A pentacle disk is necessary for consecrations and other ritual work. This is usually a metal or wooden disk with a pentagram (five-pointed star, one point upwards) painted or etched on it. However there is no reason that the pentacle cannot be made out of cardboard. The pentacle is of the element of both Spirit and Earth and helps to control and balance all the other elements. When used as an element of Earth, the pentacle grounds Spirit in the ritual.

 

The dragon pentacle can be used as either a picture or disk. It is presented during specific rituals as a means of establishing your authority to call upon the dragons, and is also of the element of Spirit.

 

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

The Magickal Personality (Dragon Magick)

The Magickal Personality

(Dragon Magick)

Every magician begins building her/his magickal personality as soon as she/he begins to seriously work with ritual. The magickal personality is the subconscious way the magician perceives her/himself as magician. We create these types of images all the time by the way we think of ourselves; shy, too thin, fat, not pretty enough, whatever. What we image ourselves to be, and tell ourselves mentally we are, eventually comes to pass.

Others, to whom we give power over us, can do the same thing. This programming can be quite open, with others or ourselves constantly harping on our appearance, our behavior, or our beliefs. Most people, however, are adept at the art of subliminal programming. This is a very insidious thing to do, either to ourselves or to others. It is like drops of water constantly wearing away at a stone. The single drop seems like nothing of importance, but with time the water wears a groove in the rock so that it becomes a different shape.

A magician needs to learn to choose friends and acquaintances with great care. Life is tough enough without surrounding yourself with people who belittle what you believe and do. Oftentimes it becomes necessary not to share your practices and ideas with family and friends. If they are not in agreement with your goals, they can consciously or subconsciously undermine all your efforts.

If you find yourself being self-critical too often, it is a signal that you need some inner work. Everyone has received negative or derogatory programming at some point in their life. Success comes when one can recognize it for what it is and work at weeding it out of the subconscious mind. Unfortunately, there are no instant solutions to this problem. A conscientious magician soon learns that inner work is an on-going task. It is never really finished. However, the biggest advance is made when the magician catches those programmed thoughts as they surface, recognizes them, and rejects them.

If you desire to work in the magickal field, you need to have a long talk with your inner self, not only at the beginning of your career, but at various times throughout your life. Your inner self needs to be firmly convinced that you have the right to practice magick, that it is not wrong or evil unless you have negative intentions. Even more than this, you need to feel that you can do magick. If you believe you can’t do magick, or you believe you can, you’re right! Whatever you believe, you become.

One way to convince your inner self, and your subconscious mind, that you are a magician is to assume what is called the magickal personality each time you enter your ritual area. This is first accomplished by firmly believing that you can do magick and that you have the right to do magick. You reinforce your image of your magickal self by laying aside ordinary life and donning a special robe for the ceremony. Your jewelry and ritual tools, the casting of the circle, the actual working of the ritual, all strengthen the image you build of yourself as a magician. Last, but by no means least in importance is the choosing and assuming of a magickal name.

Your magickal name is an important part of your tools and your magickal personality. The use of this name within your ritual area is a signal both to your subconscious mind and to any entities with which you work that you are prepare to switch from the everyday mode of thinking to magickal workings. The name may come to you during meditation or dreams or simply be one that appeals to you and perhaps describes your desires, attitudes, or aspirations. As with any of your magickal tools, this name can be changed at a later date if you decide you have outgrown it.

Since this special name is a key to your magickal self, share it only with those you can trust. Sharing it indiscriminately with people may place power in the wrong hands, you could find yourself under psychic attack, either to limit your magickal manifestations or to control your life. This type of attack does not necessarily have to be by another magician. Orthodox religionists are experts at using what they call prayer to control and manipulate others.

Your magickal name can be anything you want. It does not have to be the name of a deity or even belong to the history of a particular culture. The name can be made up of syllables whose sounds appeal to you and only has meaning to you alone. The Magical Name by Ted Andrews is a book published by Llewellyn (1991) that goes into a number of ways to choose a magickal name.

If you are already into the practice of magick, you very likely have such a name. You might continue to use it, or decide that you need a special one for working with dragons. Dragon magick names might be: Firebright, Flame Dancer, Wind Rider, Storm Walker, Golden Eyes, Cloud Shadow, or anything else that reminds you in some way of dragons and their attributes and activities.

Some people like to use the study of numerology to choose a name. They use either the number of their birth date or their common name to select a magickal name with the same numerical value.

To determine the numerical value of your birth date, add the numbers of the month, the day, and the year together. For example, February 10, 1961, would have a final value of 11. Some numerologists would break this down further, giving it a value of 2, but I was taught that the numbers 11 and 22 should be left ass they are.

In determining the numerical value of your name or a chosen magickal name, add together the values of all the letters. This gives you the final number or numbers as the case of 11 and 22. You must use your entire name to come up with the correct value.

1 — A person with great individuality, but can become a dictator if not careful. This person seldom if ever follows the dictates of the crowd. More often they are trend-sitters, for good or bad. Works best alones.

2 — A cooperative, sympathetic person who delights in group projects and solving problems. The diplomat who must beware becoming static through not making decisions for fear of hurting someone.

3 — Inspiration and optimism are expressions of this type of person. Also has creative and artistic abilities in some form. Beware of talking too much and doing nothing.

4 — The slow but steady builder of a career, business, relationships, whatever. Works best in a capacity of serving others. Penny-pinching and nitpicking are the extremes of this number.

5 — This person thrives on change and new things. This person can become such an advocate of new ideas that they become a pain in the neck to everyone else.

6 — Home, family, truth, and justice are very important to number 6 people. They will do whatever is necessary to have a stable life. However, they sometimes tend to be worry-warts.

7 — These people often get off to a rock start in life with many trials and tests, especially in learning to see deception. The reward for working their way through these messes is great understanding and sympathy, tempered by high spiritual ideals.

8 — This number person has the strength and talent to be an effective business and financial organizer. Although they like to acquire money and position, they should also involve themselves with charitable events.

9 — If this person disregards the responsibilities of her/his life, a career of disappointments can result. Compassion, love, and service must be their keywords. Works best where human understanding and kindness are needed.

11 — These people are happiest when they are pursuing a life or career which expresses their religious ideals in some way. A few of them choose to withdraw from the world and pursue their goals inwardly, but most of them work in areas where they can directly help others.

22 — These are the innovators on an international, community, or national scale. They are efficient organizers and communicators. Watch out for too much pride in ability.

Having a so-called numerically correct name is not necessary to magick. What you choice of name means to you inwardly is more important. Your magickal name is a vital part of the maigickal personality that you create, the image that you become when you enter your ritual area. This magickal personality is the one to which the dragons respond. As astral beings this is the real you as far as dragons are concerned.

However, the very first creature you must convince that this magickal personality exists is yourself. When you have chosen your magickal name, prepare your altar with lighted black and white candles, perhaps a sweet-smelling incense, and your dragon mirror. Dress in your robes and jewelry as if you were going to do a full dragon ritual. As with regular dragon ritual, it is important that you not be interrupted or disturbed during this time. Instead of the usual ritual proceedings, sit comfortably on a chair or stool so you can look directly into the mirror. Look straight into your reflection and say: “I am (your magickal name). I am a magician and friend of dragons.”

How did you feel as you faced yourself and spoke your name? Did the name itself make you feel uncomfortable, or was the uncomfortableness just the normal reaction of speaking to your reflection? If the name itself truly does not seem to fit, seriously consider choosing another one.

In the beginning, most magicians have to do a lot of work on themselves so that they feel at ease when putting on their magickal personality. They learn that time and ritual practice makes it easier to think of themselves as actual magicians with power.

Weed out any negative past programming that arises from the subconscious mind to tell you you are unworthy, that you cannot do magick, that magick is not real, that magick is evil. Every time a negative thought such as these arises, look straight at your reflection in the mirror and answer it out loud. Take as long as necessary to squash these negatives. You may find yourself having a one-sided conversation with a person who has put you down in one way or another throughout your life. If yelling at that person while looking into your mirror works, then yell! The important thing is to get a clear picture of the negatives hiding within you, those subtle little and not so little pieces of programming that make you doubt yourself in more than just the field of magick.

The ultimate goal is to reach a point in your mirror talk where you can tell yourself that you can, and will, rise above this type of control placed upon you by others. Rise above it, and release it. You may find that your immediate most damaging enemy is yourself. Like Pogo said, “We have met the enemy, and they is us.” Stop setting personal goals which are based on comparing yourself with someone else. You are a unique individual with your special needs, desires, goals and dreams.

When you are comfortable with your personal mirror work and speaking your magickal name, it is time to present yourself as that magickal personality to your dragons. When your ritual area is prepared, when you are dressed in your robes and stand at the center of your circle, call out your name to your dragon co-magicians as you greet them. By trusting your dragon allies with this secret name, you are strengthening the trust you hope to build with them. As you share with them, so they will share with you. Dancing with dragons is an experience of friendship built on trust and caring.

“Dancing With Dragons”

D. J. Conway

The Dragon Altar

The Dragon Altar

An altar can be any table, chest or microwave cart that is large enough and of a comfortable height to stand and do magic. If you find it impossible to stand during ritual, choose an altar that is a comfortable height while you sit. Colored scarves coordinated to the elements of various dragons can be used to cover the altar. For magicians who are hampered in movement, whether by a broken leg, physical disability, or confinement to a wheelchair, do not despair. Sit at your altar and visualize yourself going through each moving step of the ritual as if you were physically doing it. I known one magician who, while flat in bed for a time, meticulously visualized her way through rituals and got excellent results, although she was unable to do so much as light a candle.

To illuminate the altar, use a black candle on the left end and a white candle on the right. A knowledgeable magician knows that using black candles is not evil magic. The color black is merely the opposite of white; it balances the energies. If you feel you cannot use black, use a very dark blue, purple or indigo.

However, if you do have an aversion to the color black, it signals a need for you to do some intense work on the programming you have accumulated in your subconscious mind. All of us have, at one time or another, received and accepted undesirable programming from others, whether it be from parents, teachers, friends, colleagues, a religious group or simply society in general. Unfortunately, much of this programming is give to us at a very impressionably age when we are not aware enough to reject it. What we acquire at an older age is accepted because we want to fit with a special group, et. Although it take determined effort to undo this programming, it can be done.

Ritual Tools and Dragon Magick

Ritual Tools and Dragon Magick

 

Every sincere, dedicated magician is always searching for new ways to amplify her/his magical powers so that her/his manifestations will be more accurate and consistent. Using the elemental-type power of dragons to help in your rituals is an excellent method of increasing the flow of energy within the cast circle.

There are certain ritual tools that you will find helpful for dragon magic. If you are already practicing magic, you will have some of them. If you are just beginning to work in magic, acquire your tools slowly and with care. Tools do not have to be elaborate or expensive to work magic. For example, I have never found that a little silver wand (these are really expensive!) could do more than a piece of dowel lovingly decorated by the magician. And the tools do not have to be acquired at once or before you can start your magical workings.

If you budget does not allow any purchases at the moment, do not put off beginning your practice of dragon magic. Start off with the kitchen table or the nightstand in the bedroom as an altar. One white candle in a fireproof holder is better than none; however, if you cannot have a candle, substitute an electric candle or small light. A paring knife will work as a ritual dagger for carving script onto the candle. A pleasant cologne or aftershave can become an emergency incense. A glass can be chalice. Use your imagination and inventiveness until you can manifest enough prosperity to purchase better tools. Ritual manifestations have been successful with some of the most outlandish equipment in a pinch. But it does work better and more efficiently when you have special ritual tools. I think this has to do with budding magician’s subconscious mind and the development of the magical personality.

Dragon Fire

Dragon Fire

 
 
Almost all dragons breathe out a type of energy we humans call fire. This fire-breathing from the nose and mouth was and is usually employed as a warning or a protective measure. However, there are a number of stories of dragons who, after being hunted and/or provoked to extremes, burned up all the houses and crops of a town as punishment and a warning to leave them alone.
 
A great many dragons are attracted by physical fire, which produces a form of energy. Burning candles in a ritual way is certain to attract dragons. If the magician does not have the time, opportunity or energy to perform a complete dragon ritual, candle burning is a quick, effective form of magick. It is the quickest ritual to learn and to do.
 
Do not become lazy, however, and substitute candle burning for every magickal occasion. If you are new to the field of magick, begin with candle burning and work up to the other, more involved rituals. A good magician constantly seeks to expand his/her field of knowledge and expertise.
 
This is a candle burning ritual using dragon magick. To increase the potency of the candle, time the burning to the correct lunar and/or solar phases. For increasing and obtaining desires, burn during daylight or the waxing Moon (from after the New Moon until the Full Moon), with the Full Moon being strongest. For banishing or cursing, burn during evening hours of the waning Moon (from after the Fulll Moon until the New Moon), with the New Moon being strongest.
 
A cast circle is not imperative with this ritual. Choose appropriately colored stones to draw the attention of the dragons with which you desire to work: arrange them about the altar. With your ritual dagger, carve your exact wishes on the candle. Dragon script is very good for this, but if it proves too difficult to carve into the wax, use your ordinary language. Then anoint the candle with an appropriate oil. For moving something away from you, anoint from the end up to the wick. For obtaining something, anoint from the wick down to the end. To further strengthen the spell, roll the candle in crushed herbs chosen to further correspond to the spellworking. Either tapers or votive candles can be used.
 
To further concentrate the appropriate power into a candle burning, make a wide circle of your robe-cord around the candle on the altar. For safety, choose a metal or non-flammable holder and set it in a safe place.
 
With your wand, circle the candle three times clockwise for increasing magick (three times counterclockwise for decreasing magick). Hold the dragon pentacle facing the candle and say:
 
Draconis! Draconis!Draconis! Hear my call.
Three times I hail You, Listen, All!
This candle’s flame is like Your fire.
Dragons, bring my heart’s desire.
Dragon Power, come to me!
Hear my words. So Mote It Be.
Draconis! Draconis!Draconis!
 
If you have been given a dragon’s name and particularly want to call upon him/her, use this name instead of the word “Draconis” at the end of the Call in this ritual.
 
Visualize the dragon power and fire streaming from the dragon pentacle and entering the candle. After several moments, light the candle. For the fullest benefit, the candle should be allowed to burn completely out after the ritual is ended.

Water Magick – The Importance of Sea Salt

The Importance of Sea Salt

 

In maritime lore, seawater was thought to cleanse a person thoroughly, absorbing any bad luck, due to the salt content of the water. Throwing salt into a fire for nine consecutive days was thought to break any chain of bad luck, while throwing salt at a person was sure to bring her grief.

Dragons of the Zodiac

Dragons of the Zodiac 

As there are dragons of the planets, so are there dragons of each zodiac sign. Some magical systems look upon these dragons as devic in nature and therefore not as powerful as element dragons. I have not found this to be so. I leave it to your own personal experience to decide the situation.

Sometimes we need to enhance the good qualities of the sign under which we were born, sometimes lessen the negative qualities. Many times we need the qualities and energies of other signs for a short period. By using the chant under each zodiac sign, the magician can add to her/his magical energies, particularly when she/he must face a sticky situation or deal with difficult people. However, no magician should work with the powers of one sign too long or she/he may develop too much of a particular power, thereby overbalancing.

As with planetary dragons, indeed all dragons, the magician should extend a mental invitation to join the ritual. Choose music that reflects to you the zodiac sign with which you are working. Steven Halpern has recorded some very beautiful New Age music specially for the zodiac signs, but these may not appeal to you. Response to music is a very personal thing. Your responses can even change from time to time, depending upon your emotions, physical health, and environmental situation. What feels right one time may not be appropriate at another.

Like the planetary rituals, these zodiac rites use candles, herbs, and oil of the appropriate sign to connect with dragon energy and draw on it.

Use the basic dragon rituals as a foundation ritual, adding the appropriate colors, herbs, etc. Insert the chants in the place where spell working is called for. Dance with your dragons; sing with them; chant vowel sounds with them. At the end of whichever zodiac chant you decide to use, meditate on absorbing the energies and qualities for which you have asked. Listen inwardly for suggestions.

Dancing with Dragons

D. J. Conway

Dragons of the Planets

Dragons of the Planets

 

 

The dragons representing the planets are used basically for performing ceremonies or rituals on certain days and in certain hours, to acquire certain physical or personality traits. If this is to be part of your ritual methods, I suggest you carefully read a chart for both day and night planetary hours. Remember to adjust for daylight savings time.

 

Some magicians feels that planetary dragons are only elemental energies and not specific beings of any kind. That has not been my experience. That is like saying there are only gnomes and no faeries. I suppose it is all in one’s perception of other levels of being.

 

The idea behind using planetary days and hours is that you are connecting with a stronger energy for use in your rituals. As the elements are the substance of the universe, the planets are more concerned with action and process. Only seven astrological bodies were used by the ancients: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. These correspond to the days of the week and the hours of each day. To use this system find the planet that correspond to the type of ritual you plan to do . Then select the proper day and hour in which to do it.

 

The waxing or increasing Moon is the time for spells of increase, building and growth, while the waning or decreasing Moon is the time for decrease, destruction, removal, and binding. For the Sun the bright daylight hours are used for increasing magick, with noon being strongest. For decreasing magick, perform during the evening hours, with midnight being strongest. Each planet has a dragon ritual chant for the physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual aspects of growth. These chants are to be used in conjunction with candles of the appropriate color. Consider carefully the reason behind your choice of planet characteristics before you do these rituals. And never go to extremes by constantly performing the same rituals for the same characteristics. You can get overloaded and create worse problems for yourself if you do. An example would be using the planet Mars too much; this would eventually produce negative aspects, such as an explosive temper and impatience.

 

Carve your desire into the candle with your ritual dagger. Anoint the candle with a planetary oil, from the wick to the bottom to bring something to you, from the bottom to the wick to move something away from you.

 

Also part of each ritual should be the choosing of planetary herbs as an offering to the dragon of that planet. You can enhances the power more by surrounding the candle with stones chosen for their specific energies. All planetary candles should be left on the altar to burn completely out.

 

Use the Basic Dragon Ritual as a foundation ritual and insert the chant for your chosen planet in the proper places. Invite the dragons of that planet to join you in dance and ritual; if you do not extend an invitation, why should they bother to join you? Chose music that reflects what you feel about the chosen planet. Let your feelings be sensitive to the atmosphere around you so that you will be aware of the dragons’ arrival and participation.

 

When you reach the part of the ritual where you insert specific spell workings, carve your desire into the candle; anoint it with the oil. Light the candle and surround it with stones. Say the planetary chant. Finish by chanting the Charm of Making:

 

“By the glow of Sun the power’s begun, by Moonbeam’s light the spell is right, to create desire by Earth and Fire, Water, Air, make magick fair. Powerful Charm of Making, Creative magick undertaking. Be Formed!”

When finished with the spell working, complete the Basic Dragon Ritual.

Calendar of the Sun for Thursday, Feb. 16th

Calendar of the Sun
16 Solmonath

Victoria- Day of Nike

Color: Red
Element: Fire
Altar: On a red cloth sewn with outstretched wings lay a naked sword and a helmet, and one large red candle.
Offerings: Victories, personal or for the world.
Daily Meal: Red-colored food.

Invocation to Nike

Failure is a part of life.
It is an inevitability
That we shall fail
More often than we shall succeed.
Yet if this truth stops us in our tracks,
We will never triumph
And we will never break through.
It is these failures,
These errors and defeats,
That make the touch of Nike’s wings
Even more valuable to us.
Lady of Victory,
Winged one who flies high
In the throes of ecstasy,
Do not allow us to fall
Into discouragement,
For only through perseverance
Can we come to know you
And your most precious gift.

(The ritual ends in a loud drum circle.)

SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM A PROBLEM/PERSON

SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM A PROBLEM/PERSON

Small issues can be handed in a magic circle, larger issues may need a full ritual.
Think carefully about which is best for the situation.
Needed : 2 black candles, a long black ribbon, black gloves, scissors,
cauldron containing small amounts of alcohol and a silver bell.
Cleanse and consecrate all the items, and dress the candles
(to send negative energy away from you), then light the candles.
Hold each end of the ribbon and name the ends.
Pass the silver bell over the alter several times until you feel you are in tune with the
Universal energies of love and peace. Anger is not a luxury afforded to you in the situation.
Put the black gloves on and say:
‘I call upon the energies of Universal balance
I call upon the ancient energies of my people
I call upon the living energies of the Morrigan
Underworld and heaven
Land and sea, I awaken these energies unto me.
Witness now that I renounce and sever
Break bonds and connections with ________
By all the powers that are One Power
May the great sisters of Karma now weave anew
and separate me from you
As I will, so mote it be’
Cut the ribbon and say: ‘It is so.’
Light the cauldron, and burn both the pieces of ribbon.