15

Getting
Started

You need a place to conduct your magical workings. A bedroom or the living room in your home is fine.The place itself isn’t important; just make sure that you can work without being bothered by family members or roommates. It’s always better to do your magical workings alone and in private, unless you specifically want or need someone else to be there. The reason is very simple: some people don’t understand, and they judge without knowledge. Their judgment can be very detrimental to any magical working, and could scatter the energies you wish to send out to the universe. Another’s negativity about what you are doing and trying to achieve will affect the direction of your energies, and your thoughts will not reach the desired destination.

Once you have found a place to conduct your magical workings—let’s call it your sacred site or altar—you should set up a small table. (A card table is good, as you can fold it up when it’s not in use.) There is no right or wrong way to set up your sacred site; just do it according to your tastes, faith, and beliefs.

There are numerous items needed, and energies used, to conduct spells. It’s always good to have all the items that you might need at hand, or at least to know what these items are—and to be able to understand why they are used.

Altar Supplies

Candle holders

Sometimes, you will be using a few candles at the same time, so it’s always good to have many candles around. You can purchase inexpensive candle holders, there’s no need to go to great expense. Brass candle holders can tarnish and look disagreeable; and if your candle holders look bad, you might not remain focused on your magical workings.

Candles

The colors of candles are very important in any type of magical workings. Each color has a magical meaning and is used to promote and enhance that particular desire. When you purchase a candle, make sure that the candle colors described on the outside of the box are the same as the actual colors of the candles inside. Also, if a spell requires a blue candle, you should ensure that the candle burns all blue—and not white in the middle and blue on the outside.

Candles need to be dressed if you are using them for a magical purpose. For any type of magical intent, the candle is divided into two parts. From the middle of the candle up toward the wick is called the North Pole, and from the middle down to the end is the South Pole.

When a spell indicates that you should dress the candles, you must rub each candle with the oil specified in the spell. Rub a bit of the oil in both of your hands. Encircle the candle with your right hand and bring that hand from the center of the candle up the North Pole of the candle. Next, encircle the candle with your left hand and bring that hand down from the center of the candle along the South Pole of the candle. Never rub both of your hands simultaneously in an up-and-down motion.

You can dress the candles with olive oil, unless the beginning of the spell specifies differently. Always visualize the task at hand when you are getting the candles ready for magic.

There are also astral-colored candles you will use when a spell requires a candle in a specific person’s astral color, according to his or her star sign.

Astral Colors
Aries	March 21–April 19	White
Taurus	April 20–May 20	Red
Gemini	May 21–June 21	Red
Cancer	June 22–July 22	Green
Leo	July 23–Aug. 22	Red
Virgo	Aug. 23–Sept. 22	Black
Libra	Sept. 23–Oct. 22	Black
Scorpio	Oct. 23–Nov. 21	Brown
Sagittarius	Nov. 22–Dec. 21	Gold
Capricorn	Dec. 22–Jan.19	Red
Aquarius	Jan. 20–Feb. 18	Blue
Pisces	Feb. 19–March 20	White

Candle snuffer

Candle snuffers are a must. Candles should never be blown out because, in doing so, a spell immediately loses its intent. And let me tell you: it’s no fun extinguishing ten candles with your fingers. Invest in a candle snuffer. Believe me, the money will be well spent.

Vase for flowers

A vase is optional. I like to have fresh flowers on my altar at all times, as they keep the room fresh and full of love. It’s good to have fresh flowers on your altar, even if just for your daily meditations or positive visualizations.

Mortar, pestle, and herbs

You should have a mortar and pestle to use in your kitchen to blend herbs together. In magic, the mortar and pestle are also used to mix and crush different herbs together to cause a desired effect. Herbs are very important in magic. For example, rosemary leaves are not only for garnishing your lamb roast; in magic, rosemary can also be used for protection, intellect, and love. The best mortars are those made of wood.

Censer and charcoal tablets

You can use a small bowl for your censer, or a tiny cauldron with three legs; it doesn’t matter if it’s made of metal or glass. You can burn dry herbs on their own by lighting a match to them. Or to get more out of your dry herbs or resins, just fill the bottom of the censer with either dirt or sand—even rock salt—to insulate the container, then place a charcoal tablet on top. It’s better to light it outside the house as it initially gives off a not-so-pleasing gray smoke. Then, when it becomes red hot, you can add your herbs on top of the charcoal. Be aware that the charcoal tablets are a fire hazard and should be treated with care. Do not drop them on the floor or use them around small children—the burns are very painful.

Oil burner and essential oils

An oil burner is not just used in aromatherapy for medicinal purposes or to alleviate stress. Essential oils are often used in magical workings as well, and their strength is concentrated to focus on an intent or to dress candles for magic. Oil burners are usually ceramic, and you should choose one based on your own individual tastes. You may even already have one in your cupboard.

The pentagram

The pentagram is a five-pointed star used at times for protection, and while working with and representing the elements.

Elements

In some of the spells, you will utilize elemental forces for strength and wisdom to aid with the spell. The elemental forces are earth, water, air, and fire. The elements are embedded deep within the soul of every single one of us. They keep us in touch with the self and function in unison with each other to calm the storms in our hearts, and to help us to grow spiritually, to make the right choices, and to have the firepower to fight for what we believe is right.

Earth (green)

Earth is the grounding force of our needs. It allows us to accept what we have until we reach our desired goal.

Water (blue)

The emotions are controlled by this element. It puts us in touch with past hurts in order to transform that pain into knowledge. It can wash away the deepest hate, and turn it into love and understanding. But most of all, the water element shows us how to forgive.

Air (yellow)

Air lights the light that is deep in all of us. It strengthens our ideas to make them realities. It is the air that we breathe. Without air, we cease to exist.

Fire (red)

The fire element is the driving force behind making everything that we need or want come to be. The fire element gives us strength and reason to fight for what we believe and that which we wish to achieve.

Color

Color is an essential part of any type of magical workings and should be used whenever possible to enhance that need.

Follow the chart on the next two pages and use color to promote peace, health, happiness, wealth, and protection. You can also wear a color to enhance any actual spell. In doing so, you will be showing the universe what you need.

Color	Meaning
Amber	Develops psychic abilities and communication with spirits and guides. Provides a deeper meditation state.
Black	Wards away negativity, removes hexes, protects against evil workings, and promotes truth in magic.
Blue	Brings peace and tranquility, banishes anger, gives protection against others’ negativity and unwelcome thought patterns.
Gold	Strengthens the mind. Can be used in money spells and in communicating with the higher realm.
Green	Luck, used for money and self development spells. Heals emotional pain. Helps spiritual growth.
Purple	For third-eye workings and meditation.
Lavender	Peace, spiritual development, and restful sleep.
Orange	Encouragement, fertility spells.
Pink	Attracts friendship, brings love within to be able to love others and be loved in return.
Red	Strength, power, protection, and courage needed to fight against negative forces.
White	Peace and purity, protection for children and your home. Brings justice, and helps you to work and communicate with your spiritual guide.
Yellow	Understanding, communicating with others, and learning. Sparks the intuition and warns against dangerous situations.

Chakras

The chakras are the healing life force in our bodies and the source of our survival. Chakras can be used in magic to protect or enhance a particular life point. There are seven main chakras; beginning at the base of the spine and finishing at the top of the head, they are:

Root (red)

Located at the base of the spine.

Abdominal (orange)

Located in the lower abdomen.

Solar plexus (yellow)

Located under the breastbone.

Heart (green)

Located at the center of the chest.

Throat (blue)

Located at the center of the throat.

Third eye (purple)

Located in the center of the brow.

Crown chakra (pink)

Located above the head.

Crystals

Crystals also play a big part in magic and are an excellent tool to use with your spells. There are hundreds of crystals out there. If you are unable to identify one, just visit your nearest lapidary association; they will be more than happy to find or identify what you need or have. When crystals are worn, they amplify the etheric body and in turn strengthen your aura field by acting as a coat of steel to protect your sacred space. Crystals need to be cleansed before being used, even if a particular spell does not specify cleansing. The best way to cleanse a crystal is to place it in a mixture of water and a teaspoon of salt. Leave the bowl containing the crystal, salt, and water in your backyard or on your front porch for three days and three nights, after which your crystal will be ready to use and program.

Calendar with lunar phases

Most calendars note lunar phases; make sure your calendar does so as well. The phases of the moon are frequently used in magical workings. When the moon is full or new, you can do any type of magical working. You should perform positive spells when the moon begins to wax (increase), and when the moon starts to wane (decrease), you will want to perform spells to get rid of negativity, bad influences, negative workings, and even your own negative energies.

Meanings of days of the week,
planets, and colors

Each day of the week has a meaning; if you do a spell on a specific day of the week, using the assistance of the planets to guide you and help direct your intent, you will be totally focused and will work in conjunction with the forces of the universe.

Day	Planet	Color	Meaning
Sunday	Sun	Yellow	Protection, healing the self and illness, money spells
Monday	Moon	White	Psychic abilities
Tuesday	Mars	Red	Courage, leadership, strength
Wednesday	Mercury	Purple	Communication
Day	Planet	Color	Meaning
Thursday	Jupiter	Blue	Money, legal problems, and personal goals
Friday	Venus	Pink	Love, relationships
Saturday	Saturn	Black	To get rid of opposing negative forces

Now you are ready to start! It is very important to include your positive attitude and visualization to any of the spells you do, as well as to add all the tools already mentioned. Visualizing your needs to the universe is a required part of any magical work. The more you visualize, the stronger the possibility is that the intended desire will reach its destination. Don’t confuse protection or defense with manipulation of others; if you do, you will need to answer to karma. Always remember that what goes around comes back around.

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