In Chapter 3 I talked about the equipment you might choose to have on your Altar, and how, whilst it is not essential to have a lot of tools and equipment, they do help to focus the mind, especially in the early days of working magic. The aids and tools I will talk about in this chapter are those which you use when working individual spells, for instance the candles, stones, etc. which you use to actually perform the magic, and how best to use them.
CORRESPONDENCES
The items used to work magic are not magical in themselves until you have worked on them, but they do have intrinsic energies of their own which can be used to enhance your working. These energies can be linked to colour, as in the case of candles, scent in incenses or the natural properties found in different crystals. In the Craft we call these links ‘correspondences’, meaning things which link, or correspond, with one another. There are correspondences associated with colour, sound, smell, shape, etc. There are also correspondences which relate to birds, fish, animals, plants, Deities, days, hours, astrological signs, Lunar phases and many more.
Correspondences are used to make it easier to work magic, but they are not magic in themselves. For example, a spell to increase self-esteem is enhanced by working at the Waxing or Full Moon, using a pink candle, Rose Quartz and Citrine, with scents of Sandalwood and Ylang-Ylang. But these stones and scents, and even the Lunar phase, do not make the magic happen; the focus and energy of the Witch, together with their ability to harness and balance the internal and external energies are what make the magic work. The stones and scents add to the energy of the spell. Put it this way: if you are rowing from A to B along the river, it is easier to row with the tidal flow and with the wind at your back than it is to row against wind and tide. But if you need to row against wind and tide you can still get there, you just need to put in more personal energy. As you work in the Craft, your abilities will develop (just like the muscles of the rower in the example) and so there will come a time when the use of correspondences is less needful to work effective magic.
In the Craft we place rather less emphasis on some correspondences than do other magical systems. This is because as Witches we work within nature rather than separate from it; we utilize the elements both within and without, to create the changes we seek. Having said that, the use of some correspondences can be helpful and enhance your magic.
Correspondences can be thought of as coming in three kinds:
* Timing. Those linked to the timing of your magic; particularly the Phases of the Moon and the Wheel of the Year which in turn are linked to the cycles and aspects of the Goddess and the God. Remember, however, that whilst most spells can wait, there are some magics which will need to be performed as soon as you can. You will need to work at your Craft before you can be confident that you can work effective magic without utilizing the stronger tides, especially those of the Moon which represent the three aspects of the Goddess. This is why many of the spells in the preceding chapter advise working at the time of the problem and then reinforcing that magic at the more propitious phase. Astrological data, days of the week and planetary hours could also be included in this category, although only some Witches will use days, and very few will use planetary hours and other astrological data as these are closer to the province of the ritual Magician.
* Identity. Those correspondences which you use to identify who you are working for and are used to link the magic to the person. The most obvious are the use of photographs, locks of hair, etc, or the making of a fith-fath. Here, Witches will often use astrological data, such as sun signs, as well as a person’s favourite colour, personal attributes, hobbies, etc. In the preceding chapter I have sometimes advocated using a sigil which you design for the purpose.
* Enhance the Magic. Those correspondences which you might use to enhance your magic, in terms of colours, scents, and so on, which correspond to particular types of magic. There are many tables of these available; here I have given some of the more useful examples. Some people feel that days, planetary hours and the position of all the planetary bodies are essential, but most true Witches would disagree. If you wish to use correspondences, and I would certainly suggest that you do so at first, then, whilst you can start with those given it is a good idea to work from these and to develop your own. Witches tend to use this category of correspondence sparingly. There are no formal guidelines as to which, or how many of these to use, but I would say that one or two in any spell is quite enough. If you find yourself trying to relate Moon phase, day, hour, astrological data, colours of candles, scents in incense and more to enhance any one spell then you are working in the realm of the ritual Magician rather than that of the Witch.
LUNAR PHASES – THE TIDES OF THE MOON
I have already talked in Chapter 4 about the phases of the Moon, but to recap briefly they are:
* New Moon. The time for magic which involves new things, fresh starts, new beginnings. The Rite of Naming, or Wiccaning, is often held at the New Moon.
* Waxing Moon. This is the time of growth, and for magic which involves growth and increase.
* Full Moon. This is the traditional time for magic and a particularly good time for magic and spells connected with healing, protection and fertility magic. The Full Moon is also associated with all kinds of divination. Handfasting and Rites of coming of age are often held at the Full Moon.
* Waning Moon. A time for sending things away: old habits, unwanted feelings. The late Waning Moon, a day or so prior to the Dark Moon, is often a time for holding the Rite of Withdrawal. Rites of Croning are also sometimes held at this phase.
* Dark of Moon. The three days when there is no Moon visible in the sky. It is better not to work Magic or spells at the time when the Moon is hiding her face, as the energies at this time can be confusing and it is easier for things to misfire.
THE ASPECTS AND FACETS OF THE GODDESS
As I have said before, the Goddess is seen in three aspects; Maiden, Mother and Crone, and these three aspects are reflected in the phases of the Moon. Hence they are a primary influence not just in our magic but in all aspects of the Craft.
* Maiden. The Maiden is represented by the New Moon. In times past a girl was considered a maiden until she actually gave birth to her first child, so the Maiden aspect continues well into the Waxing phase, until around three days before the Full Moon. The Maiden is the Goddess of youth, enthusiasm, new starts, fresh beginnings, of planning and preparing to bring into being.
* Mother. The Mother is represented by the Full Moon. She is the Goddess of growth, fertility, ripening, fruitfulness, caring, nurturing and developing.
* Crone. The Crone is represented by the Waning Moon and is also called the Wise One. In times past a Crone would be a woman past her time of childbearing, who therefore had the experience of life to know and understand her people, and to have learned the knowledge of herbs, plants, etc, so as to be skilled in healing. The Crone is the Goddess of knowledge and understanding, and hence all kinds of Divination. She is also the Goddess of reaping rewards for labours completed, and of rest.
Try not to see the three Aspects, or the phases of the Moon, as isolated individuals or times, remember that they blend into each other. Whilst the Goddess has many names, remember, they too are but facets of the whole. Having said that, it can be helpful to call upon different Goddess forms for different magics.
THE ASPECTS AND FACETS OF THE GOD
The phases of the God are less immediately obvious, as his cycles overlap in some respects:
* As Lord of the Forest he is Hunter from Samhain to Beltane, when he becomes the Hunted. In the former aspect his role is that of one who clears away all that has served its purpose and removes the old and outworn. As Hunted he is God of fertility, of fresh young life and growth.
* As Oak King he presides from Yule to Litha and then as Holly King from Litha to Yule.
* As the Consort of the Goddess, and her King, his aspects mirror hers through the seasonal festivals.
Like the Goddess, the God is also known by many names which emphasize different aspects, but are still part of the whole.
SEASONAL PHASES – THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR
Whilst the Sabbats are mostly times of celebration they have strong energies of their own. These energies can also be used to work magic, in tune with the phases of the Goddess and the God they represent, although it is preferable to reserve them as times for reflection and celebrating the Cycle of the Seasons where you can. There are Sabbat Rituals in Chapter 7.
* Samhain. The Goddess becomes Crone. The God becomes Hunter. This is the time for Divination and Scrying. A time for reflecting upon what we have achieved and giving thanks, as well as for remembering what, and who, has gone before.
* Yule. The Goddess is still Crone, and the God is still Hunter, but this is also the time of the Rebirth of the Sun and the time when Lord Oak takes over from Lord Holly. Whilst still the resting phase of the year it is a time for looking forward to what is to come.
* Imbolg. The Goddess becomes Maiden, and the God becomes the young Hunter, in search of his bride and Queen. Here are the first signs of Spring and this is a time of new beginnings.
* Oestara. A time of balance, to be rid of that which we no longer need and to take on the new.
* Beltane. The Goddess becomes Mother and the God takes his place beside her. This is the time of the marriage of the Goddess and the God and a traditional time for Handfasting.
* Litha. The Sun God reaches the height of his power before his decline into Winter. Lord Holly takes over from Lord Oak.
* Lughnasadh. The first of the Harvest. It is the time of the Sacrificial King, as well as a time of personal sacrifice.
* Madron. The height of the Harvest, it is also a time of balance, a time to assess whether we have paid for what we have been given, to redress the balance and to right wrongs.
The use of colour in magic is quite common, whether in candles, cloths, cords or stones, and the colours have many attributions, some of which are listed below.
* Red. Fire, south, passion, anger, dispute.
* Orange. Strength, confidence, health, honour, work.
* Yellow. Air, east, thought, understanding, memory, communication.
* Green. Earth, north, the physical, fertility, money.
* Blue. Water, west, emotion, things of the sea.
* Indigo. Inner knowledge, career, ambition.
* Violet. Dreams, divination.
* Pink. Affection, romance, self-respect.
* Lilac. Peace, tranquillity, healing.
* Brown. Animals and things of the land, grounding or bringing back down to earth.
* White. Illumination, purity, and when the ‘correct’ colour cannot be discerned or obtained.
* Black. Banishing, removing, concealing.
* Silver. The Moon, the Goddess.
* Gold. The Sun, the God.
Candles are probably the most frequent way in which colour is used for magic. However, there are certain things which should be borne in mind when using candles for magical purposes:
* When anointing candles, always start at the centre and work towards the ends. Do not apply too much oil, as it burns very easily!
* When carving or engraving candles, work in good light and on a secure surface so that you do not cut yourself. You do not need to make deep marks, just enough to imbue the candle with your intent.
* Candles should be ‘whole colour’, that is, the same colour all the way through, not white ones which have been dipped in coloured wax. This is because when they burn, the candle colour, and the strength of that correspondence, will be diluted.
* Where candles are scented you should ensure that the scent is that of an essential oil (in which case it may well not smell scented when burned) and not a created perfume. Created scents are rarely purely what they say on the label, so you cannot be sure what other influences you may be introducing. The scent should also be compatible with your intent.
* Candles which are used for a spell should be allowed to burn all the way down. However, as you should never leave a burning candle unattended (not even for a minute!) you will need to either sit with the candle until it finishes, or ensure that you can complete the burning over the next two nights to complete the spell.
* Candles which are used in Ritual but not for a spell or magic themselves, like Altar candles and quarter lights, can be re-used as their purpose remains the same from one Ritual to the next.
* Please, always use a proper, secure, candleholder, as balancing a candle on a dish or saucer is highly risky!
* Candles, magical or otherwise, should not be blown out, but extinguished with a snuffer or pinched out with your fingers, if you feel brave enough! This is because blowing can spray hot wax over everything and cause them to smoke, leaving soot on the walls and ceiling. If the candle is magical in intent, blowing it out will also negate or dilute the spell.
* Magical candles do not have to be tall and thin like those sold as dining candles, but try to avoid any really fancy shapes which might distract you from your purpose.
* The best candles for magical work are those which you make yourself. There are many candle kits available if you feel you would like to try your hand at this, and there is a wealth of information in The Real Witches’ Kitchen too.
ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS
The signs of the Zodiac, which most people call star signs, are in fact Sun signs, as they indicate which house of the zodiacal wheel the Sun was in at the time of birth. Their sigils (special marks used to abbreviate them) can be readily found in most papers and magazines. Sun signs are often used in the Craft to identify a person, or to define a period of time. If you are one of those people born close to a cusp (the end of one sign and the start of another), it may be worth getting your chart produced professionally in order to be certain which sign is actually yours.
OILS AND OTHER SCENTS
There is a world of difference between choosing a pleasant-smelling lotion or perfume for personal use and selecting something for magical work. The scents used in magic are chosen for their properties, rather than the way they smell, so don’t expect to enjoy everything you use in your magic. Furthermore, commercially produced scents are invariably blended with many other ingredients. For this reason you need to try to ensure that you get your scents from reliable suppliers. (Of course, you could make your own, but that is a science in its own right!) When buying oils try to find 100 per cent pure essential oils, and keep them in a cool dark place to prolong their life. When buying incenses look for those which burn without too much smoke – an indicator of poorer quality, or old stock. If using fresh plants or herbs, it is worth noting that the oil of a plant may have different properties from its leaves or stem, so be sure to read spells carefully and ensure you actually use that which is required. As there is a wealth of available scents, and I have written about them and their uses in some detail in The Real Witches’ Kitchen, here I have given a short list of some of the ones I use most frequently:
* Black pepper. Protection, empowerment, mentally stimulating and penetrating.
* Clary sage. Uplifting, balances the mind.
* Frankincense. Spirituality, cleansing, purifying, clearing.
* Jasmine. The Goddess. Love, peace, spirituality, expression.
* Lavender. Healing of all kinds.
* Lemongrass. Strengthening, purifying, stimulating.
* Neroli. Spirituality, purification, relieves stress and anxiety.
* Peppermint. Purification, mental stimulation.
* Rose. Peace, romance, friendship, love, self-acceptance, cleansing.
* Rosemary. Healing and strengthening. Promotes mental powers.
* Sandalwood. The God. Meditation, purification, healing.
* Ylang-Ylang. Peace, love, acceptance, promotes confidence.
Scents, whether oils, incenses, herbs or flowers, should be kept carefully sealed and in a cool, dark place. Loosely stoppered bottles, jars or bags will allow the ingredients to ‘contaminate’ one another; warmth allows their essential properties to evaporate, and damp will mean that dry ingredients can start to rot or mildew! If you can keep your ingredients carefully they will more than make up for their original cost.
STONES AND GEMSTONES
Gemstones are a useful magical aid, especially when you wish to keep or give a tangible reminder of a spell. They are inexpensive, unobtrusive and attractive. The stones have intrinsic magical and/or healing properties created by their own resonance, which can be utilized or amplified in magical working.
Having said that, it is as well to be aware of the origins of your stones; many are ripped out of the earth by explosives, gathered and processed by harshly treated and poorly paid workers. Some are even chemically or electronically treated to ‘improve’ their natural colour. These stones do not resonate; they are dead. If you can, find out about the origins of any stones before you buy. Bear in mind that for magical purposes, size is rarely important; small works as well as large and the smaller ‘low grade’ (in terms of colour, shape and inclusions) stones are often those which have been gathered in a more gentle way. At the very least they will be the by-product of mining rather than the cause of it.
A far more nature-friendly way to get the stones for your magic is to find small pebbles, perhaps on the beach, which resemble natural gemstones, and learn how to feel their intrinsic magic. I make a point on visits to the coast of picking up a few small stones which catch my eye, bringing them home and getting to know them for use in my magic. These stones I usually return to the sea when the spell is completed or the magic has worked.
As with scents there are far too many different kinds of stone to go into here, so I have given a few of the ones I find most useful:
* Agate. This comes in many varieties but all have links to hearth and home, strength, courage, love, healing (especially of rifts).
* Amethyst. Mental and physical healing, love, protection, courage, happiness.
* Citrine. Self-confidence, enhancement, protection.
* Haematite. Concealment, protection, deflection, defence, disperses.
* Obsidian. Concealment, protection, defence, divination.
* Clear quartz or crystal. Light, life, illumination, clarity, bonding, psychic powers.
* Rose quartz. Friendship, love, contentment, relationship, fidelity.
* Smoky quartz. Protection, defence, removes negativity.
* Sunstone. Success, honour, strength, energy.
* Amber. This is not a stone but a fossilized resin, but like any stone you should enquire as to where it came from. Healing, strength, beauty, attraction, love and protection (especially in childbirth).
In addition to checking the origins of the gemstones you use, you also need to ensure that you thoroughly cleanse them (see here) as they will almost certainly have been handled many times. If using stones you have gathered yourself then they only need cleansing if you feel they may have been handled, or cleaned if they are dirty.
CORDS AND THREADS
Cords and threads are used in magic involving knots, where they can be used to create a spell in several steps, like that for finding a job here, or where something needs to be tied to secure it, either magically or physically. The former is often termed cord magic and can also be used when you want to create a spell which will be used at a later date, as in the tradition of sailors buying knotted cords to bring winds when they are needed. The colour of a cord or thread will often be selected according to its correspondence(s). However, there are other factors which need to be borne in mind:
* Cords or threads should be made from natural fibres, cotton, hemp, wool or even silk. Man-made fibres do not work as well.
* Cords used in magic should not be knotted apart from the knots which make the magic work. This includes any cord which the Witch might use to tie their robes; the ends of this should be over-sewn to prevent fraying (using adhesive tape is lazy!).
TALISMANS
A Talisman is any object imbued with magical power, which is intended to be worn or carried. It could be an item of jewellery, a coin, a bead, or perhaps a piece of paper inscribed with sigils. Talismans (and no it isn’t Talismen!) are one of the forms of magic practised by a huge proportion of the population without even knowing it: engagement and wedding rings are not just tokens of love but are also designed to reinforce fidelity. Saint Christophers are given to ensure safe travel. Friendship bands are made by even the very young to bring about a continuing friendship. Even the crucifix is intended to avert evil and encourage goodness.
When working talismanic magic you can use whatever you feel will be most easily carried, so something which is already owned can easily be used for the purpose. The only thing I would add is that where someone asks you to prepare a Talisman for him or her, it is a good idea to get them to provide the object. Not only will you save the expense, but also it gives the person direct involvement in the spell.
The correspondences for the days of the week are a way of linking several types of correspondence together as not only do they relate to the planets which rule over them, but also to the Goddesses and Gods, the elements, scents, colours, jewels, animals, plants, and so on. The correspondences below are by no means a complete list of everything which links with each day, particularly not the names of Goddesses and Gods, but should give you enough to start working with.
* Monday. The Moon
Goddesses and Gods: Persephone, Diana, Hecate, Selene, Khonsu
Element: Water
Colours: white or yellow (New), red or blue (Full), black or purple (Waning). Silver
Scents: Jasmine, Poppy, Myrtle
Gemstones: Moonstone, Quartz
Magic associated with: dreams, fertility, illusion, divination, the feminine principle
* Tuesday. Mars
Goddesses and Gods: Anath, Morrighan, Ares, Mars
Element: Fire
Colours: red
Scents: Pine, Cypress
Gemstones: Bloodstone, Carnelian
Magic associated with: defence, discord, battle, opposition
* Wednesday. Mercury
Goddesses and Gods: Athena, Maat, Hermes, Mercury
Element: Air
Colours: Violet, indigo
Scents: Storax, Mace, Sandalwood
Gemstones: Agate, Opal
Magic associated with: communication, knowledge, exams, travel
Goddesses and Gods: Isis, Juno, Jupiter, Thor
Element: Air/Fire
Colours: purple, blue
Scents: Cedar, Nutmeg
Gemstones: Amethyst, Chrysolite
Magic associated with: ambition, career, wealth, the male principle
* Friday. Venus
Goddesses and Gods: Venus, Astarte, Eros, Adonis
Element: Water/Earth
Colours: green, rose
Scents: Rose, Jasmine
Gemstones: Amber, Jade
Magic associated with: friends, romance, beauty, self-respect, money
* Saturday. Saturn
Goddesses and Gods: Nepthys, Rhea, Cronos, Saturn
Element: Earth
Colours: black, dark blue
Scents: Myrrh, Cinnamon
Gemstones: Onyx, Obsidian
Magic associated with: position, title, binding, banishing
* Sunday. The Sun
Goddesses and Gods: Bast, Amaterasu, Lugh, Ra
Element: Fire/Air
Colours: gold, orange, yellow
Scents: Frankincense, Laurel
Gemstones: Topaz, Cat’s eye
Magic associated with: honour, power, glory, work
You will notice that some correspondences seem to differ: you might find one scent recommended in the Scents list which does not appear under the day of the week with the same attributions. This is because there is an almost unlimited range of scents, and not room to list them all here. Correspondences may also appear to overlap. For example, a colour appears in the Days of the Week section with more than one magical use, but under candles the nature of the magic seems more specific. It is important to remember that the correspondence which feels right to your magical sense is the one which will work. Tables and lists like those above will consist of the things which work for the people who wrote them. If you feel at all unsure just focus on your intent, close your eyes and ask the Goddess and the God to guide you. Don’t worry if the answer seems different from any list; work with what seems right to you.
In the next chapter I shall be looking at ways of devising your own Rituals and Spells and you may find it useful to be able to refer back to the tools, aids and correspondences here.