In Part I, you were introduced to the basics of magical work and have been given the tools and instructions to put those lessons into practical use. Part II is dedicated to the actual working of magic; it is in essence a spell book. All of the primary forms of magical work are included in these chapters: candle magic, charms, witch bottles, poppets, cords, magical rituals, and miscellaneous magic. The most important quality that each of these forms of magic share is that they all are a means of utilizing magical power and programming it with your intent.
Magical Power
Magical power is spiritual energy. It is the power behind all things, the energy from which everything is created. This energy has the ability to absorb thoughts and feelings; this is how magic works. When creating a charm or poppet for example, you are essentially creating a packet of programmed energy that is focused to carry out a desired effect. Spiritual power can reach any distance or goal as long as there is a psychic link; the energy then makes contact through the link to the target.
In quantum mechanics, an effect has been discovered called “entanglement” in which particles that share similar properties can affect one another without having any direct contact. In fact, they can be moved to opposite sides of the world and still influence one another. Some scientists, such as Albert Einstein, were troubled by this and called this phenomena “spooky action.” They sought to disprove it, but were unsuccessful. Rather than calling it spooky, a witch would call it magical, a manifestation of spiritual power. In essence, this is the scientific truth behind the ancient concept of using personal items from the target of a spell (such as hair or fingernail clippings) in magical workings. The personal items are the “particles” that still have influence over whom they were once in contact; when combined with other spell ingredients and programmed with magical intent, they send their power directly to the target of the spell regardless of the distance between the target and the spell caster. The magical energy makes direct, instant contact.
In order to make sure that all the energy of your spell is properly tuned, it is necessary to “charge” each of the ingredients of the spell with the correct quality of energy and intent. To magically charge an item means to fill it with magical power and intent so that its own energies are enhanced and match the goal of your spell. In order to charge an item, herb, tool, incense, etc., the following rite is performed.
The charging will need to be done according to an appropriate moon phase for the type of charge desired (see moon phase information under Timing on page 10 and page 14).
Items needed:
Procedure
Begin by gathering all the tools and items necessary, arranging the altar as usual and taking a cleansing bath. Next, go into a meditation and reflect on your goal for the ritual, i.e., the type of charge you want the item to hold. The next step is to cast a circle and begin the rite.
When the circle has been cast, settle yourself before the altar and hold the item to be charged in your hands (if the item is too large, place it on the altar and hold your hands above it). Close your eyes and see the item in your mind while at the same time, sweeping your dominant hand over the item in your other hand (or on the altar). Say, “I neutralize energy not in harmony with me and fill you with [state intention] power! For the good of all and by land, sky, and sea, as I will, so shall it be!”
Repeat this chant three times and then pass the item over the incense smoke. The charge has been made. The rite can now be concluded and the circle opened. After the circle is opened, wrap the charged items in natural black cloth or fabric in appropriate colors (see Appendix Two) until you use it in a spell. This keeps the item clean, safe, and fully charged until needed.
Dabbling
If you ask any experienced witch or other magical practitioner about the safety of “dabbling” (sampling from various magical systems or only practicing part time), you will frequently receive an eye roll, a shake of the head, and a long lecture about the hazards of being a dreaded “dabbler.” The criticism of practicing magic part time or taking bits and pieces of different philosophies and magical systems and attempting to integrate them into a single practice (which can indeed be dangerous) is somewhat justified. Learning to use magic is a lifelong study, practice, art, and craft. One really cannot approach it as a part-time endeavor. A great many people think that if they just “read the right book” and “cast the right spell” the whole world will simply bend to their will and their life will be perfect. On one hand, I wish that were true; on the other hand, if it was true, we wouldn’t need to learn or grow as people in this life and most of life’s deeper meaning would be lost.
Any system of magic—whether it be ceremonial, eastern, witchcraft, or any of the myriad forms of magical practice—should be learned, understood, and practiced individually at least until one has gained both sufficient experience and the desire to move on to a new system. Each system of magical practice, though perhaps similar on the surface, can contain a vast amount of ritual, lore, and wisdom that is exclusive to that path. If an inexperienced person goes about happily “blending” bits of practice from various parts of the world, blissfully unaware that they might not fit together well, it is a potentially dangerous act. Why? First of all, if the person is a part of American culture, for example, and they choose to mix Santeria ceremony with Buddhist philosophy, their own understanding of each of those systems will be limited, not to mention that Santeria and Buddhism may not blend well together. Conflicting practices, when thrown together, will not work according to plan; this failure of action can create doubt and future roadblocks in the mind of the practitioner. There are many different cultures and spiritual practices with widely varying beliefs, ethical boundaries, and spiritual focuses. For example, in some religions, releasing attachment to material things is a goal; in others, some material objects are prized as sacred. More importantly, the views on deities, life, destiny, and magic can greatly differ. The disharmony created by trying to blend too many belief systems together can diminish the magical effect you are trying to create.
If you focus your energies on creating magical systems instead of practicing tried-and-true methods of magic that have existed for generations, your magical skills will be rudimentary at best. One must gain a certain level of practical experience before knowing what works best on an individual level. You cannot go about randomly discarding ancient wisdom in the belief that somehow you have greater knowledge. Some practices will work better for others than for you (and vice versa). That doesn’t invalidate a practice’s overall use, just the usefulness for your personal magical efforts.
Secondly, there is another and much greater danger in being a dabbler. This danger is less about magical acts and more about the spiritual side of being a magical person. Many religions, particularly those of a Pagan slant and including Pagan witchcraft, call on various deities during rites of worship and rites of magic; this is known as “invocation.” Some people feel drawn to different deities from separate pantheons. The danger in this is that you have to be absolutely certain the deities you call upon are in harmony, not only with you but with one another. If you call on Apollo from the Greek traditions because you want help with a spell for growth and harmony during winter and you also call on Cailleach from the Irish tradition because winter is her domain and you seek her protection and help, you are asking for trouble. In the first place, gods should never be treated as mere ingredients to a spell. To belittle them in such a way is insulting and deplorable behavior. Apollo is a sun god, bright and energetic; Cailleach is a goddess of the dark half of the year and winter’s decline. Their energies are totally incompatible, and chances are they are not going to get along very well. To call powerful beings who don’t get along with one another can have disastrous consequences for the poor magician. If you wish to invoke chosen deities into your life and into your magic, be very careful about calling on more than one at a time; always make sure that if you do call more than one, they will be happy to see each other.