Hall-11

This chapter contains a compendium of enjoyable Halloween magick that you can try, designed and tested by myself and the members of the Black Forest Clan. Magick is defined as the art and science of changing circumstances to conform to your will—and, like any other skill, the more you work magick, the better you will become. Anyone can perform real magick, as long as you believe.

Love Apple Lights

You can tailor the apple spell for prosperity, protection, or spiritual prayer—or you can simply use the apple candles to decorate the table at your next Halloween party.

1 fresh apple, as large and glossy as you can find

An apple corer (sold in local grocery or kitchen supply stores)

1 white taper candle

At fifteen minutes before midnight on Halloween Eve, hold the apple in your hands and ask Spirit to bless the fruit. Hum to yourself, thinking of bringing love into your life (but don’t think of a specific person—that’s a no-no). Continue to hum until the apple gets warm in your hands. Insert the apple corer into the stem of the apple and take out the core. Make sure not to make the hole bigger than the circumference of the candle. Hold the candle in your hands and hum again, thinking of bringing love toward you until, like the apple, the candle gets warm in your hands. Put the candle in the apple, and say:

Great Mother Goddess

Sweet, divine

Bring love to this heart of mine.

Allow the candle to burn until it goes out, but keep a watchful eye on the apple to be sure no accidents happen.

The Love Apple Potion

Whip up some Halloween allure with this little potion. To add an extra little boost to this alluring potion, wrap the candle end in the red napkin and carry with you so you can be the most alluring person at that special Halloween party!

7 apple seeds

Mortar and pestle

1 red candle

Spring water

1 favorite clean decorative glass, chalice, or cup

1 square red cloth (a red napkin works well)

Cheesecloth or a coffee filter

On a piece of paper, determine what love is to you. Double-check what you have written to be sure that you have not written words that would be against another’s free will. If you have, please change the wording. Do not list any person by name. Warning: Your spell will backfire if you don’t follow the rule of free will.

The day before Halloween Eve, crush the apple seeds into a fine powder using the mortar and pestle, chanting the following:

Love, love, love, love

All I want to be is loved.

Hold the red candle in your hand and think about giving and receiving love in your life. Concentrate for a minute or two, then light the candle, saying:

I invoke Venus, lady of love

I invoke Cupid, man of love

I invoke Aphrodite, lady of love

I invoke Spirit for universal love.

So mote it be.

Pass the mortar over the candle flame, saying:

I cleanse and consecrate this powder in the name of Spirit.

So mote it be.

Pour the spring water into a favorite clean decorative glass. Pour the powder into the cup, envisioning love and respect coming toward you from everyone in the universe. As you stare at the liquid, envision a blue flame of loving energy hovering over the cup, and then descending into the cup, infusing the liquid with universal love. Seal the energy over the cup with an equal-armed cross in the air.

Cover the cup with the red cloth. Let the powder steep for twelve hours. Let the candle burn until you have one inch left.

On Halloween, remove the red cloth from the top of the cup. Set the cloth aside. Strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter.

Add potion to your favorite perfume, or use alone. Dab at pulse points on neck, wrists, and behind knees. Imagine yourself surrounded by universal love. Sprinkle a little of the potion on your Halloween costume.

Healing Love Pumpkin

To send healing love to someone over Samhain, try this little spell.

1 small pumpkin, hollowed

1 small piece white parchment

1 red pen

3 red roses

3 drops rose oil

1 green candle

1 green ribbon

On Samhain, cut off the top of the pumpkin. Hollow out the pumpkin and save the top. Write the person’s name on the piece of parchment paper with the red pen. Roll up into a little tube. Place the tube at the bottom of the pumpkin. Fill the pumpkin with the rose petals, and add the rose oil.

Hold the green candle in your hands and say:

Samhain night, holy night,

send loving energy from the dawn of tomorrow
To the sunset of forever.

So mote it be.

Light the green candle and wave it around the pumpkin in a clockwise direction seven times, repeating the charm. Set the candle behind the pumpkin.

Hold your hands over the pumpkin and repeat the above charm until your hands get warm (or tingle) and you feel good inside. (Note: You can also perform this spell with an apple on any full moon for the same purpose.) Place the top on the pumpkin, then tie the green ribbon around the stem with the intention of sealing the spell.

Leave the candle burning until it is gone. You can also turn this spell into a seven-day ritual, beginning the evening of the full moon and continuing for six more days, lighting the candle for seven minutes every evening and allowing the remainder of the candle to burn on the night of the full moon.

Bury the pumpkin seven days after you perform the spell, or give your friend the pumpkin as a get-well Halloween gift.

Passion Pumpkin Dinner

Plan a romantic evening around a passion pumpkin. Prepare before your date arrives.

1 large pumpkin

Heart cookie cutter

Red felt-tipped pen

Pumpkin cutting tools (the kind you can buy at the grocery store)

Patchouli oil

Take-out Italian or Chinese food

Pink tablecloth

1 red votive candle and holder

Red roses and white baby’s breath (if you don’t live on a rose budget, use red and white carnations)

Rose petals

2 red taper candles

Hollow out the pumpkin. Use the cookie cutter and the red pen to trace hearts all over the pumpkin. Use the pumpkin cutting tools to cut out the hearts. Wrap the hearts in cellophane and put them in the refrigerator. Coat the inside of the pumpkin lightly with patchouli oil. One hour before your date arrives, pick up the take-out food (or better yet, have it delivered if you can). Keep the food warm in the oven.

Set the table with the pink tablecloth, putting the pumpkin in the center. Put the rose petals in the pumpkin holder, then drop in the votive, or scatter rose petals on a white linen napkin that covers your lover’s plate. Light the votive candle and drop both the votive and holder into the pumpkin. Put patchouli oil lightly on the back of the pumpkin hearts from the refrigerator. Put the carnations or roses around the base of the pumpkin, arranged with the pumpkin hearts. Oil the candles lightly with patchouli oil. Set them on either side of the pumpkin. Hold your hands over the centerpiece, and say:

Heart divine and flowers of love

Pumpkin power and Spirit above

Turn and swirl

Bring me happiness, joy, and love.

Hold your hands over the centerpiece until your palms tingle or grow warm and you feel good inside. Light the red candles, repeating the words “divine union.” The rest, of course, is up to the two of you.

Pumpkin Abundance Lights

These are great for magickal party favors and will cost you very little.

6 miniature pumpkins

6 tea lights

Knife or pumpkin carving tools

Cut off the tops of the little pumpkins and clean them out (save those seeds!). Cut happy faces into the pumpkins. Insert tea lights. Hold your hands over the pumpkins and chant:

Gold and silver

Coins galore

All are coming

To your door.74

Keeps your hands over the pumpkins until your palms tingle or grow warm. Give them to your friends with a smile, and repeat the spell to them. Tell them to light the candle in the pumpkin at midnight on Halloween to activate the spell.

Magick Harvest Seed Picture

Here’s a great harvest project for the kids. It’ll keep them busy for hours and help them to learn how to focus on a specific goal.

Orange cardboard

Pencil

School glue

An old paint brush

Dried seeds and beans in different colors:

Pumpkin (abundance)

Corn (protection and luck)

Beans (charming)

Mustard (fertility)

Apple (love)

Peas (money)

Sunflower (wishes and wisdom)

On the first day of October, draw a picture of your goal on the cardboard with the pencil.

Brush the glue onto one section of the picture. Place the seeds in any pattern on that section, as your desire here is more important than the pattern itself, though you could use magickal sigils if you so desired. Think about your goal and bringing it to fruition.

Each day complete another section of the picture, thinking about bringing the goal to fruition.

On Halloween Eve, hold your hands over the completed picture and ask Spirit help you to obtain your goal. Hold your hands over the picture until your palms tingle or become warm.

Hang the picture where you can see it every day. As long as you feel positive about the goal, keep the picture out. If you feel negative, like it isn’t coming fast enough, put the picture away. Every time you look at the picture, ask Spirit help you manifest your goal.

When your goal has come to fruition, thank Spirit and burn the picture.

Morgana’s Blessing Incense

This wonderful incense comes from Morgana, of Morgana’s Chamber in New York City. You can use this recipe to enhance any magickal working or ceremony. Works well in sachet magick as well.

¼ cup sea salt (cleansing)

1 tablespoon finely powdered cinnamon (raises spiritual vibrations)

½ tablespoon finely powdered benzoin resin (purification)

1 teaspoon finely powdered dragon’s blood resin (adds power)

1 teaspoon dark musk oil (passion)

1 teaspoon slightly crushed lavender buds (love)

1 teaspoon finely crushed rose petals (love)

Put sea salt in a glass bowl. Add ingredients, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add small amounts to charcoal and burn. Keep extra incense in a tightly covered jar.

Jack-o’-Lantern Protection Totem

We’ve used this great idea for the last several years at our house (ever since someone ran away with a rocking chair and scarecrow on Mischief Night). These carved pumpkins of your design will keep those drifting fingers away from your Halloween decorations!

3–5 pumpkins of various sizes with flat bottoms (be careful that your pumpkin isn’t overripe)

Pumpkin cutting tools

A design for each pumpkin (except the base pumpkin)

A metal fence post or broom handle

1 (5-pound) bag kitty litter

1 ounce angelica or other herb known for its folklore protection properties

Cut the top off of each pumpkin and scoop out the insides. Save the seeds for your Halloween party, pumpkin seed divination (page 81), toasted pumpkin seeds (page 109), the magick harvest seed picture (page 132), or the the prosperity pumpkin spell (page 157).

Cut a hole in the bottom of each pumpkin the same size as the pole or broomstick.

Carve the designs you have chosen on each pumpkin. As you carve, think about scaring away negative energies, mean people, and other things that go bump in the night. Do not carve the base pumpkin.

Drive the metal fence post or broom handle down into the ground. Slide the base pumpkin down the post. Empty the bag of kitty litter into the base pumpkin. Hold the angelica in your hands and empower for protection and blessings. Sprinkle the angelica on top of the kitty litter.

Add the next smallest pumpkin. Continue in this order, from largest (base) to smallest. You may have to trim the pumpkins so that they set securely.

Stand back from the pumpkin totem, hold your hands over your creation, and ask Spirit to bless your totem and protect your home.

You can add nonflammable pumpkin lights on Halloween Eve or even attach electric Halloween blinking lights if your totem is near an outlet. Surround with cornstalks for an extraspecial effect!

When it is time to tear the pumpkin totem down, be sure to once again hold your hands over the totem and thank Spirit for the protective energies. Imagine that energy seeping out from the pumpkins and into the ground. Take apart the totem and dispose.

If you don’t feel like carving all those faces, use the same idea to make a scarecrow. Stack pumpkins and carve only the head. Glue some straw to the pumpkin head and add an old hat!

Halloween Reversing Negativity

If you have been experiencing a lot of negativity around your house (frequent arguments, depression, general unhappiness, and so on), you might want to try this spell.

1 medium-sized pumpkin

A VERY scary pumpkin face that you have designed yourself

Pumpkin carving tools

1 white votive candle

A small, heat-resistant glass plate that will fit inside the pumpkin

7 black pillar candles

1 black votive candle

The day before Samhain, carve your scary face in the pumpkin while humming:

Scary face and monster wiles

Goblin glint and Witches’ smiles

Repel the evil with pumpkin eyes.

Candles black and orange sun

Send all evil on the run!

Hold the white votive candle in your hands, saying:

I cleanse and consecrate you

In the name of Spirit.

Put the white candle on the plate, and put the plate in the pumpkin. Do not put the top on the pumpkin. Burn the white candle for one full evening in the pumpkin. On Samhain Eve, hold each black pillar candle and the black votive candle (one at a time) in your hands and say the same verse again:

Scary face and monster wiles

Goblin glint and Witches’ smiles

Repel the evil with pumpkin eyes.

Candles black and orange sun

Send all evil on the run!

Set the pillar candles around the pumpkin in a circle. Replace the white candle in the pumpkin with the black votive candle.

Light each pillar candle, saying the same verse. Light the black votive candle in the pumpkin (be very careful not to burn yourself). Hold your hands over the pumpkin (but not so close that you burn your arms on the pillar candles) and continue to chant the verse until your hands grow hot or tingle, and you feel good inside. Let the candles burn until 3:00 a.m. Do not leave candles unattended. You can use the pillar candles for future repelling negativity spells. Set the pumpkin outside, facing away from the house, to continue to act as a negativity repellent. Allow to rot (if you can).

Halloween Defense Spell

If you know someone has purposefully set out to hurt you, then you might wish to try your hand at this defense spell. Be careful, though, because you could be subconsciously attacking yourself. Take a good, hard look at the situation to determine if you may be the cause. You might be reaping the rewards of your own actions. If this is the case, rather than casting a spell, begin working toward changing your lifestyle and attitude.

A piece of orange construction paper

A black felt-tipped pen

1 black candle

2 pieces straw, tied together like an equal-armed cross with black thread

Morgana’s incense (page 133) or sandlewood incense

On the Saturday closest to Halloween, gather the above supplies. Cut the orange paper in the shape of a pumpkin. On the paper, draw the figure of the person who is attacking you, then write their name underneath. (Artistic talent is not an issue.) If you don’t know who is causing you so much difficulty, then write “Whoever is attacking me” on the orange pumpkin.

Hold the black candle in your hand and think about negativity moving away from you. Take a minute or two to concentrate. Say:

In the name of Our Mother

Whose delicate hand can raise the seas to a raging surf

Whose brilliant eyes can see the truth in all that is

Whose source of strength can match that of a thousand lions

I call thee forth to turn the tides of this negative tempest

To protect and heal the victim

To send back the evil experienced here.

Come, O Great Mother

And hear the petition of the faithful.

Hold the pumpkin paper over the flame (do not burn the paper) and say the attacker’s name aloud. Use your finger to write the person’s name in the air above the candle. Do this three times.

Burn the cross and the paper in a fire-safe dish, and say:

Three angels came from the north

Bringing water and fire.

Three blows hast the enemy dealt me

By head, by heart, by tongue.

The first angel said, “These same blows I return.”

The second angel said, “This is the reward you have earned.”

The third angel said, “You reap what you sow.”

By fire and water, earth and air

The angels return the evil there.

Draw a upright star in the air over the candle. This is called banishing.

Mix up a batch of Morgana’s incense (or use prepackaged sandlewood incense). Light the incense and walk around your house, saying:

I banish all negativity resting here.

I cleanse this area in the name of the Great Mother.

So mote it be.

Give the ashes to the winds. Allow the candle to burn until nothing is left. If the candle end should remain, bury the end off your property or dispose in a living body of water.

The Pumpkin Separation Spell

Unfortunately, we all get into predicaments in which we feel trapped. This pumpkin spell has never failed us.

2 miniature pumpkins

A black felt-tipped pen

⅛ teaspoon black pepper

⅛ teaspoon red pepper

⅛ teaspoon salt

14 tea candles

Seven days before Samhain, hollow out both pumpkins. Write your name on the bottom of one pumpkin and the situation (or person) you wish to be removed from on the bottom of the other pumpkin. Sprinkle the two peppers and salt in the bottom of the pumpkin of the other person or situation. Vent both pumpkins with a small carved design (your choice). Set the tops of the pumpkins in an open plastic bag in your refrigerator.

Set the pumpkins three inches apart on a table where they will not be disturbed. Hold your hands over the pumpkins, and say:

Pumpkin light, Witches’ fright

Send (name the situation or person) away this night.

Keep repeating the charm until the palms of your hands become warm or tingle. Put a tea candle in each pumpkin and light them. (Don’t burn yourself.) Let burn for one hour. Do not leave unattended.

Each evening, change the candles, move the pumpkins another inch apart, and repeat the charm. On Samhain Eve, repeat the spell at midnight. Let candles burn until 3:00 a.m. Do not leave candles unattended. Put out the candles. Close up both pumpkins with their respective lids. Bury one pumpkin on one side of a river, creek, or railroad crossing (please do not go on the tracks). Bury the other pumpkin on the other side of the creek, river, or railroad crossing. If you can’t bury them, then throw the pumpkins into a living body of water (not near each other). Do not throw the spent candles in the water. You can throw them in a dumpster away from your house.

Note: If something strange happens with the pumpkins that would cut your spell short (like if the pumpkin collapses), don’t worry about it. This means that the spell has been activated and you don’t need to continue. Dispose of both pumpkins in the manner listed above. When my daughter does this spell, invariably one or the other pumpkins disintegrates in less than two days (which is why I warn you not to leave the little pumpkins unattended).

Samhain Protection Powder

Powders, for whatever reason, carry an association with Voodoo practitioners, but I’ve found them used extensively in early American Witchcraft by Pow-Wow Doctors/Artists. In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, practitioners sometimes used corn meal as a base ingredient to hide the essence of the powder. Where Voodoo practitioners want you to know they are cooking magick, Pow-Wow Doctors/Artists didn’t want you to find out.

The simple act of making a powder won’t automatically pull the magickal essence into the mixture. Just as you activate other magickal tools, you must activate the powder through some sort of spellworking, chant or whispering magick, or ritual. Take into consideration the elements you used to create your powder. Earth and air are always present in a magickal powder, but if you add it to a liquid, then the water element gets equal billing. If you plan to burn the powder, then you need to set the magickal stage for the fire element as well.

This powder is designed to work on Halloween Eve and can be used in spellwork or alone. You will need equal parts of the following:

Chili powder (protection and exorcism)

Black pepper (protection and exorcism)

Angelica (protection and exorcism)

Rosemary (protection)

Basil (protection)

Pumpkin spice (protection)

Cloves (protection)

Black talc, optional

This powder is best made on Saturday during a full moon. Use a mortar and pestle to slowly grind ingredients into a fine powder. You can add orris root as a preservative if you plan to make a large batch to give some to your friends. Hum the word “protection” as you mix the powder. Store in a dry place until Halloween Eve.

At midnight on Halloween Eve, hold a black candle in your hands and ask Spirit to move all negativity away from you, from the present and throughout the coming year. Light the candle. Put the powder into a clean bowl. Hold your hands over the powder, and say:

Witches’ lair and spirit-wolf night

Ancient Ones bring second sight

Blood and bones of those before

Help me with this little chore.

Herbs and talc and natural things

At my bidding, safety bring.

North for earth, and east for air

I summon Spirit to help me here.

Sprinkle some of the powder around the black candle. Allow the candle to burn completely. Bury the candle end off your property. As long as the powder lasts, you can sprinkle it in the corners of a room to overcome feelings of irritation and anger (even at the office). The mixture helps to avert future fights and will cleanse the mind of all evil thoughts, and helps clear the head when you are experiencing negative emotions.

Porch Protection Turnips

If you have a front porch, these lanterns will shine protective light on your home Halloween Eve or Trick-or-Treating Night.

13 large turnips

A sharp paring knife

13 tealight candles

A hand drill

Picture-hanging wire

A black felt-tipped pen

Cut off the tops of the turnips. Discard tops. Hollow out enough of the turnip to drop in the tealight candle and protect the flame from the wind. With the hand drill, drill a hole on each side of the turnip an inch or so from the top (so you’re cutting into the hollowed-out section), so the wire can loop through the hole. Secure, then loop through the opposite hole. Secure and cut wire. This will serve as the handle or hanger for your turnip. You can make the wire as long as you desire. Decorate the white area of the turnip with magickal symbols of protection, such as the rune Algiz (). Hold your hands over the finished project, and say:

From dusk till dawn

Ancient protection I call hither

Blessings of those beyond the veil.

Hold your hands over the turnips until your palms grow warm or tingle and you feel good inside. When you are ready to use the turnips, light the candles, saying:

Blessings of Vesta upon this house.

Hang outside (or inside). Do not leave unattended. Bury on your property seven days after Samhain to continue the magickal protection of your property.

Autumn Conjuration

This spell requires a trip to the park or a walk in the woods. Take a plastic bag and collect all the large, beautiful leaves you can find (not the dry, crumbly ones). When you get home, you will need the following:

An iron

Glue

Spread the leaves on a table. Hold your hands over the leaves, and say:

My life is filled with abundance

And all my needs are met—and more.

Keep repeating this chant until your hands grow warm. Finish by saying:

Autumn harvest, bring to me
Abundance, joy, and laughter.

So mote it be.

Put the iron on the lowest setting and smooth out the leaves.

Glue the leaves together in circles or ovals to create autumn place mats. If you are very industrious and would like to make an altar cloth out of the leaves, glue the leaves together in squares, then press the squares on fusible webbing, following the instructions on the package. One warning, however: These leaves are flammable, therefore do not burn candles directly on them.

Another variation of this spell requires:

1 block paraffin

Colorful leaves you have collected

An old pot that you will never use again

A large clear brandy snifter or other glass bowl

Follow the same procedures of empowerment with the leaves as listed above. Iron the leaves to flatten them. Heat the paraffin over low heat on the stove. When the paraffin has completely melted, dip the leaves by their stems into the pot, covering them with paraffin, then lift the leaves out, allowing excess wax to dribble back in the pot and the wax to harden on the leaf. When the wax is sufficiently cool, place the leaf carefully on a hard, smooth surface. Allow to dry thoroughly. When the leaves are totally dry, arrange in the snifter or bowl. They will last several months.

Halloween Pleasant Dream Sachets

These dream sachets are a wonderful idea for Halloween party favors, however, you must plan ahead and make them a few weeks before your Halloween party, depending on the moon phase you wish to use (full moon for protection, new moon for pleasant beginnings).

Halloween-design material to make small sachet bags (or you can buy premade sachet bags from a craft store and decorate)

Orange and black ribbons

4 tablespoons dried lavender buds (love, protection, restful sleep)

20 whole cloves (love and protection)

4 tablespoons dried rosemary (protection and love)

½ teaspoon dried orange peel (love)

1 sunflower seed for each sachet (wisdom)

Mix lavender, cloves, rosemary, and orange peel together in a small bowl. Hold your hands over the bowl of herbs and say:

From mother moon and father sun
From autumn breezes carrying angel prayers
I empower these herbs to bring protection and love
To whoever holds them between clasped hands

And prays for restful sleep.

Hold your hands over the herbs until your hands grow warm. Fill the sachet bags, then empower the sunflower seeds, saying:

From mother moon and father sun
From autumn breezes carrying angel prayers
I empower these herbs to bring protection and love
To whoever holds them between clasped hands

And prays for restful sleep.

Tie up sachets, reaffirming with each sachet:

From mother moon and father sun
From autumn breezes carrying angel prayers
I empower these herbs to bring protection and love
To whoever holds them between clasped hands

And prays for restful sleep.

This recipe will make approximately 7 to 10 small sachets.

Samhain House Blessing Potpourri

You should make this mixture approximately six weeks before your Samhain celebration on a full moon.

4 cups dried rose and other flowers of your choice (love)

1 cup dried lemon verbena leaves (purification and joy)

1 cup dried lavender buds (protection and love)

1 tablespoon dried rosemary (protection and love)

1 tablespoon basil (protection and love)

1 tablespoon marjoram (protection and love)

2 tablespoons cloves (protection)

2 tablespoons cinnamon (protection, love, and psychic powers)

2 tablespoons nutmeg (health)

1 vanilla bean, crushed (love)

1 tablespoon grated orange rind (love)

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind (protection)

2 tablespoons orris root (this is a preservative as well as a psychic correspondence)

6 drops lavender oil

Place the first ingredient on the list in a very large bowl. Hold your hands over the ingredient and begin humming the words “love” and “protection.” Repeat until your hands grow warm. Add each ingredient in the same way, mixing lightly with your hands while chanting/humming. Add lavender oil last. Seal mixture in a jar and place in a warm, dry place (not too warm). Shake the jar each day, humming the words “love” and “protection.” This mixture needs six weeks to cure, so remember to start early. The night of your Samhain party, open the jar and pour contents into a pretty bowl. Carry the bowl around the entire house, humming the words “love” and “protection.” Ring a bell in every room to clear out any remaining negative influences. Leave the bowl in the room with the most traffic. If you are having a Halloween party or Samhain ritual, you could use the potpourri as a centerpiece. Discard around your house before Yule, then make a new batch for the Yule season.

Halloween Wish Candle

Wishes can come true and this simple little spell is designed to assist you in manifesting your wishes. Be careful, though—you may get what you wish for, so wish wisely!

1 (8-inch) candle in a glass container

Tissue paper in different colors

Scissors

Reversible collage glue

Cut the tissue paper into Halloween shapes (cats, pumpkins, brooms, stars, moons, and so on). Coat the glass candle with the glue and lay the tissue paper shapes on the glue. Coat the tissue paper with another layer of glue. Let dry thoroughly.

Empower your candle by holding it in your hands and thinking of your wish. Say:

Creature of fire

Lend your will to my desire.

Hold the candle in your hands until your palms tingle or become warm. On Halloween Eve, light the candle. Let the candle go out naturally. Soak container in hot water to remove all wax. If your goal has not manifested by this time, draw a picture of your original wish and place it in the container. Hold your hands over the container, and say:

Creature of air

Lend your will to my desire.

Blow seven times into the container. Put the container in a safe place until your wish comes true. After your wish comes true, be sure to thank deity for making it happen.

Corn Husk Magick

Corn husks are the outer foliage that protect the ear of corn. You can buy already cleaned and bleached husks from hobby suppliers, or you can do this procedure yourself. The tradition of making corn husk dolls came from the Native American Indians. Today, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and the Southern Appalachians, corn-husk-crafted dolls remain part of the American culture.

There are lots of things you can do with corn husks, once you let your imagination take hold. To prepare corn husks, shuck the husks carefully, trying to not tear the leaves. You can cut off the base of the corn to make this an easier process, and peel from the top down. Spread on newspapers or paper towels and let dry in a warm place until shriveled and creamy in color. Depending on your spell, you can bleach the husks, as they tend to discolor. Place the husks in a bowl of water with ½ cup of household bleach and allow to sit for 15 minutes, or until discoloration has disappeared. Be careful, though, because if you let the husks sit in the bleach water too long, they will disintegrate. Rinse the husks in clear water. You can dye corn husks by using ordinary household dyes and following the directions on the dye package.

Corndollie%201.tif

To create shapes with corn husks, work with them damp, using string tied to the center of the husks, then bend the tops over. You can design corn husk flowers or other unusual shapes, including a corn dolly, in this manner. (See page 149.)

Corndollie%206.tif

If this technique takes too long for you, not to worry! Cut out a female shape or male shape from thin cardboard. Glue corn husk pieces to the cardboard. Trim. Empower the corn person with your desire. If you are working for someone who is ill, say his or her name three times, then say:

I forge a link between (person’s name) and this corn dolly.

As the sun rises and sets each day until All Hallows Eve

You will get better and better.

Total good health will be yours.

Party guests can burn their wishes on Halloween Eve by writing, with a black marker, what they wish for on a piece of dry corn husk. Feed to the Samhain fires, saying:

Corn husk will give way to flame

The essence of the word remains

Fire destroy and fire create

Let what’s written be my fate!75

The group can chant the word “change” while each person burns their corn husk.

Corn Husk Dolly

As we learned earlier in this book, the significance of the corn dolly is to bring health, wealth, and general prosperity to the land or property owner. Here are instructions on how you can make a small dolly for your home.

Dried corn husks

Straight pins

Ruler

Scissors

Button or carpet thread

Pipe cleaners or wire

White glue

Small styrofoam ball or wooden bead for head

Rubber band

Dip dried husks in warm water to make them pliable, about 15 minutes. Drain and wrap in a damp towel until ready to use. If you can’t complete the doll in one sitting, you can redampen and finish later.

To make the head, take a corn husk piece (3 by 7 inches) and fold right over left. Insert a piece of wire in the styrofoam or wooden bead, cover with white glue, and place in the middle of the husk (the husk wraps right over left around the styrofoam). Tie tightly just above the bead, then bring the top of the husk down over the head and tie again at the neck. (see Illustration 1)

For the arms, put a 4½-inch length of wire along the grain of a strip of husk that is 5½ inches long and 3½ inches wide. Roll to form a tight cylinder. Trim the ends so that the total length is about 5 inches. Tie (or wire) each end at the wrists. (see Illustration 2)

Gather a 3-inch by 3½-inch piece of husk around one arm about ½ to ¾ inches above the wrist and tie securely, overlapping the ends. Pull this husk back toward the center to form a puffed sleeve and tie near the center. Repeat this process for the other arm. Insert the arms between the neck pieces and tie below the bust. (see Illustration 3)

Select two strips of dampened husk about 1½ inches to 2 inches wide and 5 inches long, and place them in front of and behind the head. Tie just above the arms and pull the back husk down to the waist. Lay a small piece of cotton at the bust, pull the front husk down, and tie front and back strips at the waist. (see Illustration 4)

For the bodice, lay two ⅝-inch by 5-inch strips to form an X across the bust. Bring these strips down and across behind the doll, and tie at the waist. (see Illustration 5)

Bend the arms up and lay a number of poorer quality husks around the body. Tie firmly at the waist, then pull the tops of the strips down to form the underskirt. Trim to ¼-inch shorter than the desired skirt length. Secure with a rubber band. (see Illustration 6)

Cut a strip for the apron and lay at the waist, extending upward. Choose 4 clean husks about 5 inches wide (use more if the strips are narrower) and place one in front, one in back, and two on the sides. Pull these layers down carefully, bringing the apron down last. Trim to desired length. Tie a narrow strip around the waist. (see Illustration 7)

Encircle skirt loosely with a rubber band to hold in place until the husks dry. Add hair, features, and accessories as desired. (see Illustration 8)

Halloween Charm Bags

Many magickal people make charm bags and employ them as talismans to attract positive energies. This little bag is carried on the person, either in a pocket or around the neck, until the desired outcome manifests. The bag and its contents help you to focus and, once empowered, aid in pulling the desired energies to you. Here are three Samhain recipes.

Charm Bag for Drawing Money

7 pumpkin seeds

¼ teaspoon dried, ground pumpkin rind

¼ teaspoon dried mint

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 silver coin

1 small orange flannel bag with 17-inch red ribbon

Black felt pen

On the new moon before Halloween, mix herbal ingredients together. Hum:

East and west, south and north

Prosperity, I bring thee forth.

Draw a dollar sign on both sides of each pumpkin seed with the black felt pen. Add the pumpkin seeds to the mixture. Pour into orange bag. Hold the coin in your hands until it gets warm, humming the same chant. Put the coin in the bag and tie it up. On the following Thursday, hold the bag in your hands and repeat the chant until the bag becomes warm in your hands. Add seven knots to the ribbon around the bag: one for beginnings, two for money, three for abundance, four for stability, five for protection from blocks, six for luck, and the seventh knot to seal the spell. Put in a special place until Samhain. On Samhain, hold the bag in your hands over the need-fire and repeat the chant until the bag warms in your hands and you feel good inside.

Keep on your person or in your purse or wallet. Good for one full year. You can rework the spell on a new moon to keep the bag at its peak. Replace the following Samhain. This makes a very nice gift for that special friend in your life.

Charm Bag for Healing

3 pumpkin seeds

¼ teaspoon allspice

¼ teaspoon dried eucalyptus

¼ teaspoon dried, ground lime rind

¼ teaspoon dried, ground pumpkin rind

1 dried ivy leaf

The sick person’s name written on a small piece of paper

Small green felt bag with 17-inch green ribbon

On the full moon before Halloween, mix herbs together, saying:

Spice and rind, leaf and love

Bring Spirit healing from above.

Hold your hands over the mixture, saying the same chant, until the palms of your hands get warm or tingle. Add the herbs and the person’s name written on a small piece of paper to the charm bag. Tie the bag. Repeat the chant. On the following Sunday, add five knots: one for healing, two for love, three for Spirit, four for stability, and five to seal the spell. Hold the bag in your hands and repeat the chant until the bag grows warm in your hands. On Samhain, hold the bag over the need-fire and repeat the chant again until the bag grows warm in your hands and you feel good inside. Give the bag to the ailing person as a Samhain gift. Tell him or her to carry the bag with them until they get better.

Charm Bag for Luck

1 small guardian angel pin or Miraculous Medal medallion

7 small white feathers

1 small piece white cotton

¼ teaspoon rose petals

¼ teaspoon dried, ground pumpkin rind

¼ teaspoon dried, ground orange peel

¼ teaspoon dried, crushed straw

7 pumpkin seeds

Small orange felt bag with 17-inch orange ribbon

On the new moon before Samhain, mix the herbs together in a bowl, saying:

Guardian angel, peace and love

Bring me luck on wings of dove.

Hold your hands over the mixture and say the same chant until your palms grow warm or tingle. Hold the medallion or pin in your hand and repeat the chant. Pour the mixture in the bag. Add medallion. Tie the bag with the orange ribbon. Repeat the chant, holding the bag in your hands until the bag grows warm. On the first Thursday after the new moon, hold the bag in your hands and repeat the chant until the bag grows warm. Tie nine knots in the ribbon: one for beginnings, two for partnership with your guardian angel, three for luck, four for stability, five for removal of all blocks, six for love, seven for change to better circumstances, eight for swift luck. and nine to seal the spell. On Samhain, hold the bag over the need-fire and repeat the chant once again, until the bag grows warm in your hands and you feel good inside. Keep the bag with you. Should last one year if you remember to renew the bag every new moon. Make a new bag the following Samhain.

Prosperity Pumpkin Spell

If you need to harvest a little money this Samhain season, try this spell.

1 small (not miniature)-sized pumpkin

The amount of money that you need, written on a piece of plain white paper in green ink (if you don’t know how much you need, give a rough figure, but don’t make the request outrageous—the universe works on our needs, not necessarily on our wants)

1 bag fresh dirt

7 dimes

7 pumpkin seeds from this pumpkin

7 ounces rain water or water from a stream (no tap or bottled water)

Pencil

Lodestone, optional

Cut the top of the pumpkin off in a scallop design (to aid in the flow of money to you). Clean out the pumpkin. (Save the seeds for other magickal work.) Remember to keep seven seeds for this spell. Place the pumpkin in the refrigerator until Halloween Eve.

One-half hour before Halloween Eve (not after), bring out the pumpkin, the piece of paper with the dollar amount you need written on it, the dirt, dimes, seeds, and the water. Place the paper in the bottom of the pumpkin. Pour in the dirt. With the end of a pencil, make seven holes in the dirt in a circular pattern (keep the holes at least one inch apart). Hold the first dime in your hand and think about the amount of money you need. (Important: do not think negative thoughts about the money you need, no matter how desperate you are.) Keep the dime in your hand until it grows warm and you feel good inside. With the pencil, push the first dime in the hole that coincides with 12 o’clock. Follow the same procedure, going clockwise, with the other six dimes. (If you happen to have a lodestone hanging around, bury it in the middle of the dirt.)

Now, starting at 12 o’clock and going clockwise, pour 1 ounce of water into each hole. Think of your prosperity as you pour the water into each hole. When you are finished, hold your hands over the pumpkin and say:

One dime for beginnings

One dime for drawing

One dime for growth

One dime for stability

One dime for banishing negativity

One dime for luck

One dime to seal the spell.

So mote it be!

Bury the pumpkin outside on your property the following night one-half hour before midnight (no later).

Solitary Harvest Moon Ritual

I designed this harvest ritual for an individual of any faith—just replace the listed deity with the one you worship. There is no reason on this planet why you cannot thank deity for the abundance you have received in the past year and request additional love, fruitful harvests, and protection for the coming year.

1 straw bale

1 large, flat stone

2 orange pillar candles (Spirit candles)

A plate with one slice of homemade bread

1 cup filled with cider

A white cloth (the size of a white linen napkin)

1 small charcoal incense tab

Incense burner

Morgana’s blessing incense (page 133)

Symbol of your deity (statue, picture, drawing, and so on)

Fruits of the local harvest

Offerings for the quarters:

A bowl of flowers for the north

A bowl of water for the west

A bowl of small gourds and pumpkins for the east

A bowl of corn or Indian corn for the south

Harvest decorations of your choice

1 pledge (not too difficult) written on a piece of paper (for example: “I will be more loving to others in the coming year”)

1 bowl

One hour before sunset on Samhain Eve (or another night during the month of October if you like), set up the straw bale outside (straw bales tend to leak bits of straw in case you have a neat fetish). Be sure to place it so that you will be facing the sunset. Place the flat stone on top of the bale. Put the two pillar candles on the stone near its farthest edge from you. Place the bread and cider to the left of the stone, and cover with a white cloth. Place the charcoal in an incense burner on the right side of the stone. Add incense. Place your statue or picture between the candles. Place the fruits of the local harvest in the center of the stone. Put the decorations at their appropriate compass points: flowers at the north, water at the west, and so on, around you. Now add the harvest decorations, the pledge, and the bowl either on the bale or directly below it, within easy reach.

Take a shower or bath and ask Spirit to cleanse your body. (Don’t take too long, you don’t want to miss the sunset.)

When you are ready to begin the ritual, hold your hands over the straw bale and ask deity to bless the items on the straw and to bless the room (or out-of-doors area where you are standing). Close your eyes and allow deity to be with you—nothing will grab you or hurt you. You aren’t calling anything but the god or goddess you believe in.

Light the Spirit candles, and say:

I light these candles in the name of Spirit

(or in the names of the Lord and Lady, or whomever you desire).

Take a few moments to contemplate those things in your life this year that have turned out well for you. No action or issue is too small. After each thought, thank Spirit for that opportunity and watch the sun set. Enjoy the beautiful colors, the smell of autumn, the gift that you are alive.

Hold your hands over the harvest items on the straw bale and thank deity for the harvests you have reaped this year. Ask for continued good will and fruitfulness in your life for the coming year.

Hold your hands over the cider, and say:

From the sun to the root

From the root to the vine

From the vine to the berry

I bless this cider in the name of (name your deity here).

May I never thirst.

Drink from the glass. Pour the contents onto the ground (or into a bowl you have placed on the floor by the straw), and say:

In offering to (name deity).

Hold your hands over the bread, and say:

From the moon to the root

From the root to the stalk

From the stalk to wheat

I bless this bread in the name of (name your deity here).

May I never hunger.

Eat a portion of the bread. Drop the remaining bread onto the ground (or into the bowl with cider), and say:

In offering to (name deity).

As you watch the sun set, say your favorite prayer, sing a song, and become one with the universe. When the sun sets, once again thank deity for your gifts and close your eyes. Thank deity for being with you today.

The ritual is finished. You can take the straw bale apart and use it to cover some of your favorite perennials in your garden or use it on your mulch pile.

Summary

Magick is the art and science of using your focus and universal energies to change your circumstances for the better. If you found this chapter interesting, and would like to delve further into either the practice of Wicca or general magickal applications, please review the suggested reading list on the next page.