FIVE
SPELLS AND MAGICS
Whilst magic does not have to take place within an elaborate Circle, you still need to invoke the elements, invite the Goddess and the God, and Cast a Circle to contain the energy you raise and raise that energy to make your magic work. For this reason you do need to understand these concepts and actions before you can simplify them.
In this chapter I shall be looking at the magic worked within the Sacred Space, whether it be formal or created mentally. As detailed in Chapter 3, the following are the steps involved in a working Ritual, those marked # are essential, the others are added when needed. ‘The Magic or Spells’ is the step we will be looking at in this chapter; it presupposes that you have looked at and mastered the other steps and that you understand their purpose.
DEFINE THE PURPOSE, AND WHERE YOU ARE WORKING IN A GROUP COMMUNICATE IT#
PREPARE THE AREA#
SET THE ALTAR#
CREATE THE SACRED SPACE#
BANISH UNWANTED INFLUENCES
SELF-BLESSING
PREPARE THE MAGIC OR SPELLS
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON
RAISING POWER#
THE MAGIC OR SPELLS#
REMOVING THE SACRED SPACE#
GROUNDING#
TIDY AWAY#
Magic can be used to help in every sphere of life, but it would not be possible to cover every eventuality in anything short of an encyclopaedia! However, I have tried to cover those problems I am most frequently asked about and in Chapter 10 I will look at ways of devising your own spells. In each of the following spells you will find a list of the things you need on your Altar in addition to the usual tools, and a note of the best time to work your magic, together with any preparation you may need to do. Everywhere you see an asterisk (*) look back to Chapter 3 for details.
RELATIONSHIPS
Relationship magic is an area which is always fraught with difficulty. If you work magic to attract an individual, how will you know whether they really like you or whether it is just the magic? If you work a similar spell for someone else, will they blame you every time they argue, or when they become just plain bored with their partner’s devotion? However, if you phrase your wishes carefully, and mean them, then you will be able to work effective and successful magic to enhance relationships.
TO FIND A PARTNER
Prior to your working you will need to give some thought to the characteristics you seek in a future partner. It is a good idea to write these down so that you can check you are not trying to describe a specific individual and so that you do not miss something important.
On a Friday at the New Moon, or in the first five days after, take:
I WHITE CANDLE
I NEW PIN
Whilst raising power, focus on the attributes you are interested in; you can even chant them aloud or in your head. Now consecrate the candle through the elements.* Next, heat the tip of the pin carefully in your Altar candle and insert it through the white candle at the centre. Light the white candle from the Altar candle and, visualizing the Goddess and the God, say,
‘I call upon Venus and Aphrodite, upon Eros and Adonis, bring to me a man/woman who I can care for and who will care for me. Let him/her be … (read the list you have prepared). Let us be friends and companions and, if it be right, true partners in life. As this flame burns let him/her come to me, as the pin drops let him/her be drawn to me. As is my will, so mote it be. Blessed Be.’
Stay and meditate a few minutes on the characteristics you seek. The candle should be allowed to burn all the way down, but remember, as you should never leave a burning candle unattended you need to have planned for this time in advance.
TO APPEAR ATTRACTIVE TO OTHERS
This is not to say you are not attractive in your own right, but we can all do with a little extra help from time to time. I have written extensively about this in The Real Witches’ Kitchen, but here’s a short spell to be going on with.
In advance of your Ritual:
TAKE ONE TABLESPOONFUL FRESH ROSEMARY AND STEEP FOR ½ HOUR IN ½ PINT (3OOML) HOT WATER. STRAIN, BOTTLE AND LABEL.
TAKE A PIECE OF GOLD (IT CAN BE JEWELLERY) AND STEEP IN RAINWATER FOR 3 NIGHTS OVER THE FULL MOON. STRAIN, RETURN THE JEWELLERY TO WHENCE IT CAME, BOTTLE AND LABEL THE WATER.
You will also need:
¼ PINT (15OML) ROSE WATER (OBTAINABLE FROM MOST CHEMISTS)
I SMALL PIECE OF CITRINE
I SMALL PIECE OF AMBER
The Ritual should be performed on a Friday close to, or at, the Full Moon.
Place the rosemary water, rose water, ‘gold’ water, and gemstones on your Altar. Whilst raising power, focus on your ‘best points’ increasing, and visualize your ‘bad points’ diminishing and fading away. Consecrate the waters and gemstones through the elements* in the usual way but additionally asking each element the following:
‘May this Rosemary water purify me and drive out all imperfections. May this Rose water bring me confidence in myself. May this gold water make me appear as gold to those around me. May this Amber make me appear fair of face. May this Citrine make me fair of self.’
Once all have been consecrated, put them away safely until the time comes when you need them.
On the day(s) when you feel most in need of a boost to your appearance add some of the Rosemary and Gold waters and the gemstones to a cool bath, bathe for at least 15 minutes whilst visualizing the Rosemary driving away imperfections, the Gold making you appear attractive, the Amber making you fair of face and the Citrine, fair of self. Carefully retrieve the gemstones before you pull the plug! After your bath, perform a Self-Blessing* anointing yourself with the Rose water. Carry the gemstones in your purse or pocket.
Of course if you are in a real hurry to use this then you may need to time it so that your gold is steeped for three nights preceding the Full Moon in order that all is in readiness for working on the Full Moon. Alternatively, you can prepare and consecrate the ‘ingredients’ in advance, although the Rosemary water will only keep for one month in a cool place.
MEETING AND MAKING FRIENDS
You will need:
A PIECE OF PAPER, YOUR BEST OR FAVOURITE KIND
A PEN OR PENCIL, PREFERABLY ONE GIVEN TO YOU BY A FRIEND OR YOUR FAVOURITE ONE
A SHALLOW FIREPROOF DISH; AN OLD SAUCER IS FINE
This Ritual is best performed a day or so just before the Full Moon, preferably on a Friday.
In the Preparing Magic* part of your Ritual, take the piece of paper and divide it into two columns. On the left-hand side write a list of the personal attributes you can bring to a friendship: kind, witty, caring, etc. On the right-hand side write a list of the things you like to do: walking, dancing, watching videos, etc. Ensure that you include ‘meeting and making friends’. On the reverse draw a sketch of yourself surrounded by people of both genders, having fun. If you’re no good at art, draw stick men and women but make sure they all have smiling faces.
In the Working Magic* part of your Ritual, consecrate your paper through the elements.* Then, holding it up over the Altar to the North, say,
‘I call upon the Old Gods to aid me. As the Goddess and the God walk together hand in hand they are not alone. I ask that you bring companions and friends into my life that, likewise, I am not alone. Blessed Be.’
Then take the paper and set light to it in the Altar candle, place it safely in your fireproof dish and watch it burn. As it does so say,
‘May the winds of Air carry my request. May the flames of Fire give it life. May the fluids of Water spread it even as the rains fall. May the Earth receive it and give it flesh. Blessed Be.’
Wait until the paper has completely turned to ash before moving on to the next step in your Ritual.
After you have tidied away, take the ashes outside and scatter them in the winds. Your magic will start to work at the next rainfall. Be aware, however, that it will not work as quickly or as well if you remain secluded in your home as it will if you make a point of being out and about!
RECONCILING DIFFERENCES
You will need:
I STONE FOR EACH PERSON YOU SEEK TO RECONCILE. MAKE THEM OF EASILY RECOGNIZABLE SHAPES, SIZES OR COLOURS. YOU CAN USE GEMSTONES RELATED TO PEOPLE’S CHARACTER OR BIRTH SIGN, OR YOU CAN JUST USE PEBBLES FOUND ON THE GROUND.
3 SMALL STICKS (USED MATCHES WORK FINE) TO BE PLACED BETWEEN EACH OF THE PARTIES. IF THERE ARE 3 STONES YOU WILL NEED 9 STICKS.
This should be performed on the night of the Full Moon.
Name* each of the stones for one of the people concerned. Also Name* the sticks (as a bunch, not individually) as ‘obstacles to reconciling differences’. At the point where you Name the sticks, say to the Goddess and God,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to know that these are the obstacles which stand between … and … (names of the parties) I ask them to lend their power that these obstructions to clear thought, communication and understanding might be removed even as these tokens are removed. I ask them to lend their aid to bring … and … (names of parties) together for the good of all. Blessed Be.’
Place the stones in a pattern with the sticks between them, somewhere where they will be undisturbed by others, for three days and nights. Complete your Ritual as usual.
On each of the three nights following your Ritual remove one of the sticks from between each pair of stones, and move the stones closer to each other. Say,
With the energy and love of the Goddess and the God, I remove this obstacle to bring … and … (names of parties) closer together. Blessed Be.’
You do not need to perform a Ritual on these nights, simply perform the above action. Once all the sticks have been removed the stones should be touching; either keep them like this or tie them in a cloth and keep for one full Lunar cycle. The sticks should be burned in a fire or buried in the ground.
Do not expect miracles from this spell – if two parties have been warring for some time, it may take equally long for them to reconcile their differences. Similarly, do not expect this to reunite a divorced couple, but you should be able to expect them to be able to communicate in a friendlier manner. If you are one of the parties you are working for, make sure that you are also prepared to make the first overtures towards repairing the relationship. There is little point in working magic to make others more reasonable if you are not prepared to put something of yourself into the mix!
STAYING IN TOUCH
Sometimes life separates us from those we care for, for example, work or family may cause them to move away, temporarily or long term. This is an adaptation of spell which, from ancient times, has been used to ensure the safe return of husbands sent off to war. I have altered it so that it can be used at any time when someone you care for has to be away.
You will need:
2 GEMSTONES; FOR A PARTNER OR LOVER USE AQUAMARINE OR MOSS AGATE, FOR A FAMILY MEMBER USE HAEMATITE OR SMOKY QUARTZ, FOR A FRIEND USE ROSE QUARTZ.
A CLOTH OF A COLOUR YOU BOTH LIKE, OR A GREENY-BLUE ONE
SOME VIOLET THREAD
Again, this should be performed on a Friday during the Waxing Moon.
Name* one of your stones for yourself and the other for the person you wish to stay in contact with. Place the stones together in the cloth and tie it tightly with the thread. Hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God. As these stones which are myself and … (name of the other) are bound together, let the bonds of our friendship know no distance. Blessed Be.’
Then pass the bundle through Air and say, ‘Let Air speed our thoughts and messages’, pass it briefly through the candle flame and say, ‘Let Fire keep us in each others’ hearts,’ sprinkle it with water and say, ‘Let no river or ocean stand in the way of our love,’ and sprinkle with salt, saying, ‘Let the Earth itself be no barrier between us. Blessed Be.’
Close your Ritual as usual.
After your Ritual, place the stones in their cloth in a safe place, and don’t forget your side of staying in touch: phone or write regularly!
MAKING A CLEAN BREAK
It would be nice to think that you only need to work magic to bring people closer, but sometimes you may also want someone out of your life. This is a spell for making parting a swifter and less painful process. Do be aware that the spell does work, so if you have any doubt or have only just had an argument, it would be better to wait a while until your feelings cool and you are sure that you are not doing something you may later regret. I usually counsel waiting a full lunar cycle or more before using this spell.
In advance of the Ritual devise a sigil for the person you wish to part from. This could be a combination of their initials entwined with the sigil of their sun sign, or something more complex of your own devising. Whatever it is it should represent that person as honestly as you feel you can be, so try not to do it with a head full of anger! Draw this sigil in rough as you will need to copy it during your Ritual.
On your Altar you will need:
THE DRAWING OF THE SIGIL
A PIECE OF THIN TISSUE PAPER
A PEN WHICH WILL WRITE ON TISSUE WITHOUT TEARING IT
A SMALL PEBBLE
SOME BLACK THREAD
This Ritual is best performed on a Saturday during the Waning Moon, at least five days after the Full Moon, but not at the Dark of Moon.
While you are Preparing to work Magic* draw the sigil onto the tissue, and place it in the centre of the Altar. Whilst raising power focus on the person and on the reasons you wish them out of your life.
In working Magic,* Name* the tissue through the elements, being careful not to set it alight! When naming it before the Goddess and the God say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to know that this is … (name). Our friendship is over, what was shared is separate, what were bonds need to be severed. I seek no harm to him/her but rather that he/she should turn and prosper elsewhere. Blessed Be.’
Wrap the tissue around the stone and tie it with the thread saying,
‘As I wrap this stone with … (name) my heart is heavy with sorrow. As I tie these knots I stand firm in my belief. When I cast these from me I sever all bonds and set him/her free. As I do will, so mote it be. Blessed Be.’
Set the bundle to one side and conclude your Ritual in the usual way.
Within three days of completing your Ritual take the stone to a stream, river or the sea and throw it as far as you can into the waters saying,
‘I cast thee from me, as tissue melts and threads unravel, so may you be gone from my life. May both you and I find happiness elsewhere. Blessed Be.’
Once the tissue has dissolved and the threads worked loose, the person will move out of your life. Note that the threads need to be tight enough to hold the tissue around the stone until it enters the waters, but not so tight that they will never come undone.
There are many difficulties associated with family life; here I have covered but a few. However, there are many things which can create tension and disorder within the household, which are related to other spells in this chapter. If family tension is caused by ill health look at the healing spells; where it is caused by a shortage of money look in the section on study, work and career, and so on. Also be very careful that you do not fall into the trap of deciding what is best for your near and dear, regardless of what they wish. For example, it is easy from the perspective of a parent to want your youngster to go to college, to get a highly paid job and so on, but they may be happier doing a vocational course and having a poorly paid career which they find satisfying.
Equally, it can be tempting to work magic to bring two people back together when they have decided to split up. Whilst you can work to increase communication, or even for the resolution of problems, to actively work to bring them back together, regardless of the feelings of one or both, would be to interfere with their personal freedom and may well make matters worse for both of them.
GETTING PREGNANT
Think very carefully about performing this spell; this is a new life you are attempting to bring into the world, one for which you are, to an extent, morally responsible even if you performed the magic for another. Secondly, especially when working for someone else, you must ensure that you are totally focused. Otherwise, should the spell backfire you could be left literally carrying the baby! Additionally, try never to work this unless you are sure that both parties to the pregnancy really want a child.
You will need:
SOME QUICK DRYING MODELLING CLAY (THE KIND FOUND IN TOY STORES IS IDEAL)
A BOLINE OR OTHER TOOL FOR INSCRIBING IN THE CLAY
A BOARD OR PLATE ONTO WHICH YOUR IMAGE CAN BE PLACED UNTIL IT IS FULLY DRIED
A CLOTH OF A COLOUR WHICH REMINDS YOU OF PREGNANCY: IT COULD BE RED FOR THE MOTHER, BUT BLUE IS ALSO A FREQUENT CHOICE
This Ritual should be performed at the Full Moon. When calling upon the Goddess ensure that you invoke her as Mother and invoke the God as All Father.
Prior to working this spell you should perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences* so that your mind is as focused as it can be.
In Preparing the Magic* you need to make an image of an overtly and heavily pregnant woman. She needs to have exaggerated breasts, belly and hips. If you can make her in the likeness of the woman you are working for that is excellent, you can even glue a photograph of her face onto the head of your image, but otherwise focus on the pregnant aspects. Ancient images such as this have been found in several lands and many periods throughout history; in the Craft they are often called fith-faths.
Whilst Raising Power* focus on pregnancy, on the sperm entering the egg, the growth of the foetus, the swelling of the woman’s body, and any other positive aspects of pregnancy you can envisage.
Once energy has been raised take your Boline and inscribe the initials of the woman into the back of the image, then Name* the image in the usual way.
Take the image and place it carefully on your board or plate. Once it is fully dry, usually a couple of days, wrap it in the cloth and put it in a safe place, or give it to the woman to keep safely.
This spell is invariably successful, but just occasionally, however strong your magic, it does not happen quickly or at all. In these cases you can try a second time, but if that is not successful it may be better to leave things in the hands of the Goddess as she may have her reasons.
SAFE PREGNANCY
Magic alone will not guarantee a safe pregnancy. The mother-to-be needs to take care of herself, to eat, rest, sleep, exercise sensibly; this is personal responsibility in action. However, as Witches we can aid this process.
You will need:
THE FITH-FATH YOU MADE FOR THE ABOVE SPELL, BUT ONLY IF THIS IS FOR THE SAME PERSON, OR THE TOOLS TO MAKE ONE AS DETAILED ABOVE
A CLOTH AS ABOVE
ALSO YOU WILL NEED 3 LENGTHS OF RED THREAD, ABOUT 3 FEET IN LENGTH. IF YOUR IMAGE IS OVER 6 INCHES IN LENGTH YOU MAY NEED LONGER THREADS
Again this should be performed at the Full Moon.
When preparing your magic*; knot the three threads at one end, and secure it so that you can plait the threads. Whilst plaiting, visualize the threads becoming a mental chain of strength and security designed to protect the unborn child and its mother. Once you have plaited them knot the other end of the threads.
Where you have worked the above spell for getting pregnant you, or she, will already have a fith-fath, otherwise you need to make one in a similar way to the above spell.
Raise energy focusing on the growth of the pregnancy, omitting conception. Name* the image through the elements and inscribe the initials on its back as before. Next hold it up over the Altar and visualize the Mother Goddess fully pregnant, and say,
‘Oh great Mother of us all, bringer of all life and fruitfulness, I beseech thee to bring strength to … (name of woman) and her womb. May her child grow safe, strong and healthy within her, may she bring forth life, even as you bring forth life eternal. I call upon you, intercede with the God your Consort and mate, to cast his strong arms around her and her unborn child, to keep them safe until the time is right for her child to join the world. Bless her that she too may experience the joys of motherhood. Blessed Be.’
Now take your plaited threads and tie them around the fith-fath thus: place the centre of the plait at the back of the neck, bring it over the shoulders and cross it between the breasts. Take it around the back, cross over and return to the front, under the pregnant bulge, and knot it three times. As you tie it say,
‘I tie this thread to secure this child in love and safety, to ward all ills from mother and child. It is a hairier of protection, created by the love of the Mother Goddess and the All Father God. May its strength hold until the time is right. Blessed Be.’
This can be done on a fith-fath which is not yet dry, in which case you need to set the image aside until it is dry before wrapping it.
For this spell you should retain the image until the time is right, unless you can be sure that the mother will have it to hand when the time comes. Furthermore, try to ensure that you will be told when she goes into labour. It is important that when labour commences, or should the birth become overdue, you cut and remove the thread to prevent it impeding birth. Do not worry if there is some confusion over ‘dates’, cutting the thread will not actually induce labour.
CHILDBIRTH
Magic to ensure safe childbirth should ideally take place about a month before the child is due. Don’t worry if nature then expedites things, it is not your magic which has caused it!
You will need:
A SMALL PIECE OF AMBER, GROUND IN A PESTLE AND MORTAR AND ADDED TO YOUR INCENSE, OR AMBER-SCENTED INCENSE
A PIECE OF AMBER WHICH IS ROUNDED, WITHOUT ROUGH EDGES
A GOLD OR ORANGE PIECE OF CLOTH
WHERE YOU HAVE A FITH-FATH FOR THIS PERSON IT SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE ALTAR
This Ritual should be performed in the three days immediately after the Full Moon.
Mix the ground Amber well into a little of your incense, and burn as usual. Invite the Goddess as Mother and the God as All Father. Consecrate,* but do not name, the piece of Amber through the Elements, asking that it be a talisman for the safe birth of the child. Next raise energy* whilst holding the piece of Amber. Instead of directing it out towards your intent, focus on pouring the energy you raise into the Amber. Next hold it up towards the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Mother Goddess and the All Father God to add their strength to this token, that she who it is made for might be delivered safely of a healthy child.’
Visualize the Goddess and the God reaching out to touch the Amber and adding their power. When you feel sure that this has happened, say,
‘May the might of the Old Ones protect and strengthen both. May the love of the Goddess and the God be with them in the time to come. May they be safe and whole and brought swiftly to health and strength, home and family. Blessed Be.’
Wrap the Amber in the cloth, to be given to the mother-to-be.
Ideally the Amber would be worn or held by the mother during the birth. However, these days most births take place in hospital and the medical staff tend to remove jewellery and to discourage the ‘patient’ from holding or carrying anything. In this case, the Amber can be held by a ‘birthing partner’, who can keep it near to the mother-to-be, or it can be placed in the ‘hospital bag’ with all the other things considered necessary.
If the woman who you are working for cannot for any reason be given the Amber then either place it on the fith-fath or keep it safe for her.
Obviously, where you performed the spell for safe pregnancy, you will also need to cut the thread on the fith-fath at the time the baby is due or when labour starts. This does not need to be done as part of a Ritual, or in Circle, but should be done with the intent in mind. Interestingly, the morning I started labour the first thing I noticed was that the thread had fallen off my image of its own volition.
TO STRENGTHEN BONDS
WITH BABIES AND CHILDREN
When there is a new arrival it can often take time for family bonds to become strong. Also, even in the closest of families there can come a time when the links between family members seem less close than desirable. There may be friction, quarrels and disagreements. These are the times when it can be necessary to strengthen family ties.
This is a ‘kitchen Ritual’ so you will not be creating your Sacred Space in the same way as usual. Instead you should mentally invoke the elements and invite the Goddess and the God, perhaps in a short meditation which you perform before you start.
At, or just after, the New Moon you will need to make a cake or something similar which can be divided to share amongst the family. Select a recipe which will be enjoyed by everyone, although very small babies will not, of course, be actually eating it. Into this, in addition to the usual ingredients, you will need to add a pinch of saffron, 3 drops of rose water and a silver or gold ring which has been carefully washed and rinsed under running water (don’t worry, you get this back later!). If you are concerned that someone may bite or even swallow the ring then place it at the bottom of your cake tin so that it can be removed after cooking but before eating.
Whilst making the cake you should think about each of the family members in turn and focus on them relating to one another with tolerance, love and happiness. As you blend the ingredients be sure to only stir, beat or whisk, in a clockwise direction. Once the recipe is complete add the pinch of saffron saying,
‘This is the golden Sun of the fields which brings strength and fertility to the land. May it bring warmth of feeling to us all, even as the Sun God brings his love to us. Blessed Be.’
Then add the 3 drops of Rose water, saying,
‘These drops are as the rain which falls on the land for the growth and fertility of all life. May they refresh our love, bring tolerance and enhance wisdom for each of us, even as the aspects of the Triple Goddess give their love to us. Blessed Be.’
Stir your cake three more times clockwise, saying,
‘Even as the ingredients in this dish become bonded together may the bonds in this family be strengthened. As we eat of it may it sustain our love each for the others. Blessed Be.’
Just before placing the mixture in the tin put the ring into the centre of it, saying,
‘This ring is as the Circle of our family. It is placed at the bottom, for it is as the base from which we spring, and in the middle, for it is as the centre of our hearts where we care for one another. Blessed Be.’
The cake should then be cooked according to its recipe, and then the ring removed if you prefer not to leave it until the cake has been eaten.
Where possible, gather the whole family together to eat the cake. As you cut it say (I would suggest in your head unless everyone is aware of why you are doing this!),
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to strengthen our bonds and our love for each other. May all who share this be united. Blessed Be.’
Then eat and enjoy!
Very small babies cannot, of course, eat cake, so take a little and wrap it in a tissue and place it under the baby’s mattress, where he or she cannot get at it, and leave it overnight. Remember to remove it in the morning!
FOR INCREASED PATIENCE!
As a mother, and also as a daughter and sister, I am only too aware that patience is one of those essentials for a happy family which can often be in short supply. Our lives are busy and often we bring home attitudes which, whilst fine in the workplace to get the job done, treat our near and dear with less consideration than we would hope for. It is one thing to expect a fellow worker to only need telling once, it is quite another tiling to expect your toddler to spring into action when they feel that playing is far more important and interesting than cleaning their teeth! Similarly, a fascinating event on your favourite TV programme can make you less than enthusiastic about doing the washing in order that everyone has a clean shirt.
The following Ritual is in two parts; one where you are working for ‘now’ and the second so that you can tap into the spell whenever you need to. If you are going through a particularly trying time, you might want to refresh the magic every month by repeating the whole Ritual.
In advance of your magic you will need to collect some rainwater and leave it on your windowsill in the light of the Full Moon for one night.
You will also need:
I WHITE CANDLE
SOME YLANG-YLANG OIL
I LENGTH OF WHITE THREAD, ABOUT I FOOT (30 CM) LONG
SCISSORS
I CLEAR CRYSTAL ON A THREAD – THE KIND SOLD AS WINDOW CRYSTALS OR RAINBOW MAKERS ARE EXCELLENT. THOROUGHLY CLEANSE* BEFORE USE
THE PREPARED RAINWATER
TWO BOWLS OR DISHES
This Ritual should be performed at, or just after, the New Moon for preference, but you can do it at any phase of the Moon except the last quarter.
Once your Sacred Space* is created, use some of the rainwater and perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences* and focus on your impatience draining away into the bowl.
Next, using a separate dish of the rainwater, do a Self-Blessing.*
Now consecrate* your candle and anoint it with one or two drops of the oil, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bring me strength of purpose. Let me have patience with those I love, send me a listening ear and time to hear with it, give me a sympathetic mind and a tolerant heart. Above all let me see more clearly the good things I have, the kindness and love of those around me. Blessed Be.’
Take the white thread and tie it once around the candle about one third of the way down from the wick. Knot the thread three times saying with each knot,
‘This first is my ears, let them hear clearly. This second is my eyes, let them see clearly. This last is my heart, may it ever be open to those I love.’
Cut the thread close to the knots, leaving only a single thread tied around the candle, and say, ‘Blessed Be.’
Next, light the candle from your Altar candle and say,
‘As this flame burns let it cleanse and purify. May it bring light to illuminate and warmth to heal. Blessed Be.’
Place the candle in a safe place and be sure to keep a careful eye on it to ensure that the thread burns through safely.
Now consecrate* the crystal through the elements and hold it up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to lend me their aid. Let this shine as a symbol of my love for my family, may it remove all obstacles to our happiness, and may it give me the strength to be patient and understanding. Blessed Be.’
After the Ritual hang the crystal in one of the family rooms of the house, preferably in a south-facing window so that it will catch the light. Whenever you feel yourself becoming impatient go to your crystal and (in your head) ask the Goddess and the God to bring you calm and to strengthen your control. Please remember to polish the crystal regularly to keep it shining brightly.
PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION I
As with the above spell, even in the best of families there are times when communication goes wrong, or ceases to happen at all! It can sometimes be helpful to remember that when talking to strangers we are careful to be clear and concise about what we say, but within the family we often talk in a kind of ‘domestic shorthand’ which can lead to misunderstandings. Also, within the family we often let our manners slip and ‘forget our Ps and Qs’. Whilst you don’t want to be overly formal in family life, you might sometimes want to consider whether you would treat a stranger as badly as you sometimes do your near and dear!
This is another spell in two parts; the first is to work for yourself and the second to work on the rest of the family.
You will need:
5 BEADS WITH REASONABLY LARGE HOLES, ONE IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING COLOURS: YELLOW, RED, BLUE, GREEN AND PURPLE
SEVERAL LENGTHS OF THREAD ABOUT 3 FEET (I M) IN LENGTH; ONE FOR EACH PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY, IN COLOURS WHICH REMIND YOU OF THE INDIVIDUALS. PLAIT OR TWIST THE THREADS TO MAKE A SINGLE STRAND
A SMALL PURSE, POUCH OR OTHER ‘CONTAINER’ WHICH YOU CAN CARRY AT ALL TIMES
SEVERAL FEATHERS, THE SAME NUMBER AS THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Consecrate the beads as follows:
Take the yellow one and pass it through the incense smoke and say,
‘I do consecrate thee with Air, that my thoughts and words be clear. Blessed Be.’
Thread it onto your combined strand (you may find that dipping the end into some melted wax and rolling it between your finger and thumb makes it easier to pass through the beads).
Pass the red one through the candle flame and say,
‘I do consecrate thee with Fire, that my passions not rule my mind and tongue. Blessed Be.’
Add to the thread. Dip the blue in the water and say,
‘I do consecrate thee with Water, that my emotions be clearly expressed. Blessed Be.’
Add to the thread. Sprinkle the green with salt and say,
‘I do consecrate thee with Earth, that I might remain grounded in reality. Blessed Be.’
Add to the thread. Hold the purple up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I ask the blessing of the Goddess and the God that their Spirit might be with me and bring me balance. Blessed Be.’
Add this last to the thread and then knot it into a circle.
Hold the whole ring of beads up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘These threads are as us, linked together by the elements, which unite all. As Earth and Air, Fire and Water are in balance, so are they awakened by the Spirit. Let the Goddess and the God awaken the Spirit in each of us to bring us closer in unity and understanding. Blessed Be.’
Place it into your pouch and carry it with you at all times.
Now take the feathers, consecrate* them in the usual way, asking that, as representations of air and thought, they might improve communication.
After your Ritual place one feather in the bedroom of each person. When placing objects of this kind I find that the best place is either over the doorway, so that the effects will be reinforced every time someone passes under it, or close to the head of a person’s bed so that it can work during sleep.
Whenever you feel that there are problems in communication take hold of your circlet of beads and, by running your fingers over the beads, invoke the elements whilst focusing on the people represented by the threads.
COMMUNICATION II
A second way to address problems of communication is rather more direct, but no less ‘Witchy’ for that. If you and another have an issue which you feel needs to be addressed, then you need to get together to talk about it. One of the better ways to do this is to arrange a meeting between you. Ask them when would be a suitable time for a chat, a time when both of you can expect to be undisturbed and when neither will be in a hurry to be somewhere else. Give them some idea of why you wish to talk, after all, you’ve had time to prepare your thoughts. Ensure that you are prepared, give thought to what you feel the problem is and how you would like it resolved. Make sure that you use ‘I’ statements rather than ‘you’ ones; for example, ‘I feel sad when you talk to me like that,’ rather than, ‘You make me upset when …’.
To aid you in your discussions make up a magical oil to aid communication:
3 DROPS LAVENDER, FOR HEALING
2 DROPS NEROLI, FOR A TRANQUIL ATMOSPHERE
2 DROPS SANDALWOOD, FOR EXPRESSION
2 DROPS YLANG-YLANG, FOR CONFIDENCE
Blend these together and then, in a Sacred Space, consecrate* them as an aid to communication. The oil can be used in an oil burner, if you are sure both parties will find that acceptable, or you can wear it.
As has been said many times before; you should be careful what you wish for and it is never a good idea to work magic for money. Money is not a concept found in nature and therefore not one on which natural magic will readily work. If you work magic for money you could find that you inherit it from a loved one, or that you obtain it through insurance and need it to replace the damaged object. Similarly, it can be risky to work magic for success in an exam or a job interview, for there is no use in a qualification you cannot support with knowledge or in a job which subsequently turns out to be one you are unhappy in. However, there are other ways of addressing these areas:
STUDY
This is not just limited to exams at school and college. As we go through life there are many times we may need to understand and learn new subjects. It could be related to work, perhaps towards a promotion, or home life; setting up a new computer or even programming an unfamiliar heating system. It could even be understanding a new area of the Craft. At any time when you need to be able to dismiss distractions, focus with a clear mind, understand new concepts and retain information, use the following which can be prepared in advance.
You will need to collect some rainwater, about ¼ pint (150 ml), and then place this in a clear, spotlessly clean jar overnight in the light of the Full Moon. Add a handful of clean, crushed Rosemary leaves, fresh is best. Label and store in a cool dark place. If you are using fresh Rosemary then you can use the stems from which the leaves came to make an Asperger (see Appendix 2, Terms and Definitions).
For your Ritual you will need:
THE ROSEMARY WATER
THE ASPERGER
A SPRIG OF FRESH ROSEMARY
Your Ritual should take place at, or within the week following, the New Moon, preferably on a Wednesday. If possible, perform the Ritual in the area in which you would normally study.
First, perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences.* If you have not already done so consecrate* your Asperger. Then consecrate* through the elements both your Rosemary water and sprig of Rosemary, focusing on driving out distractions, bringing a clear mind, and on having a strong memory. (Not for nothing is the saying ‘Rosemary for remembrance’.) Note that when consecrating liquids it is perfectly acceptable to keep them within their container! Next, hold each up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to aid me in my study of … (name the subject/s). Bring me a fresh and focused mind, aid my understanding and my memory. Blessed Be.’
This can be made in advance and stored, in a cool dark place, for up to three months in which case you might prefer to ask the Goddess and God to aid you in all studies rather than naming a specific subject.
If you have been able to create your Sacred Space in your study area then use the Asperger to lightly sprinkle some of the Rosemary water around the outer edges of the area before removing your Sacred Space, being careful to move Deosil at all times. Whilst Aspersing, say,
‘I cleanse this area from all distractions that it might be a place of focus and concentration, a place of understanding and of knowledge. Blessed Be.’
Be very careful not to sprinkle any electric outlets or equipment! If you cannot perform your magic in your study area then complete the Ritual in the usual way and then Asperge your study area. Alternatively you can Asperge books, writing implements, etc. which you take to study elsewhere. Repeat the Asperging each time you are about to commence learning, or once a day, whichever is less. Each time you start studying, place the consecrated sprig of Rosemary on your desk, wear it or carry it about your person.
Remember, magic can never replace real work in the real world, it can only enhance the effort you are prepared to put in.
EXAMS AND TESTS, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
Just like study, exams and tests go on into our adult lives. Even if you never take up a formal area of study after school you may find there are other times when you know your knowledge is going to be tested, perhaps in Rites of Initiation to the Craft! There may also be occasions when you are called upon to display your knowledge and, however accustomed or well prepared you may be, you may feel the need to ensure that your knowledge and confidence are boosted.
For this Ritual you will need:
A SMALL POUCH OR BAG TIED WITH, OR MADE OF A MATERIAL CONTAINING, GOLD THREADS
A SMALL SPRIG OF ROSEMARY (IF YOU PERFORMED THE ABOVE SPELL THEN YOU CAN USE THE SAME SPRIG)
A SPRIG OF BASIL, OR A FEW LEAVES
A SUNSTONE
This Ritual should be performed at, or just before, the Full Moon, and preferably on a Sunday.
When Creating the Sacred Space,* invite the Goddess in all her aspects as Maiden, Mother and Crone, invite the God as the Sun King. Whilst raising energy* ensure that you focus only on success, do not allow even the tiniest thought of failure to enter your mind. Consecrate* the herbs, stone and pouch through the elements, then place the herbs and stone within the pouch and secure. Now hold the pouch up to the Goddess and the God saying,
‘I call upon the Triple Goddess, I call upon the Sun King, bring clarity to my mind, let me recall all that is needful to succeed in … (name the test/event or whatever). May my work be as a testament to my love for them and their support of me. Blessed Be.’
Keep the pouch in a safe place until you need it, then take it with you. Whenever you feel you need help, touch it and recall the Ritual you performed.
Just before any test or examination perform a Self-Blessing.* If you do not have the time or space to do this in full, simply close your eyes and visualize yourself performing the Rite.
FINDING A JOB
Bearing in mind what I said at the start of this section you really shouldn’t work magic for a specific job, but rather for one in which you will be happy and in which you can succeed. I can say this with some authority as I did once do just that and found myself doing work I hated under circumstances which made me seriously unhappy and at times quite ill! So, the first thing to do is to rid yourself of any preconceived ideas about which job you want and focus instead on which things you enjoy in your working life.
Prior to your Ritual take a sheet of paper and make two lists, one of the things you like or want in your working life, the other of the things you want to avoid. Try to remember the peripheral things which can make or break; colleagues you can get on with, ease of travel, meeting people, shift patterns, overtime, etc. Take your time over this, perhaps doing it over several days. Once it is completed, write it out neatly onto a single sheet with two columns: likes and dislikes. It’s not essential, but I always find it helpful to place something like this under my pillow for a night as it can often help to prompt the mind.
In the week preceding your Ritual collect two or three ‘Situations Vacant’ pages from the magazines or papers which cover your general field of interest.
You will need:
YOUR SHEET OF LIKES AND DISLIKES
THE ‘SITUATIONS VACANT’ PAGES YOU COLLECTED
A SHORT LENGTH OF THREAD
A PURPLE CORD ABOUT 3 FEET IN LENGTH
SOME ANOINTING OIL
This Ritual is best performed on a Thursday during the Waxing Moon.
After creating the Sacred Space* take the cord and, starting at one end, place a series of single knots in it saying,
For the first knot: ‘With this knot I will hear of the work I seek. Blessed Be.’
For the second knot: ‘With this knot I will make a good application. Blessed Be.’
For the third knot: ‘With this knot my application will bring an interview. Blessed Be.’
For the fourth knot: ‘With this knot my interview will bring an offer. Blessed Be.’
For the fifth knot: ‘With this knot the offer will be acceptable. Blessed Be.’
For the sixth knot: ‘With this knot the job will be mine. Blessed Be.’
For the seventh knot: ‘With this knot the work will be all I hope for. Blessed Be.’
As you make each knot take a moment to visualize that step actually taking place. The knots do not need to be evenly spaced, indeed you should be left with a long unknotted ‘tail’ so that you can identify which end is which.
Take your sheet of likes and dislikes and the ‘Situations Vacant’ pages, roll them into a tube and secure with the thread. Wrap the cord around the papers, do not knot it again.
Now consecrate* the whole in the usual way. Place it in the centre of the Circle and raise power* whilst, once again, visualizing each of the steps taking place. When you feel that enough energy has been raised, hold the papers with the cord wrapped around them up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bring me success in my enterprise, may they grant me work in which I can be happy and successful, as well as rewards from that work which will meet my needs. As is my will so mote it be. Blessed Be.’
After your Ritual put this in a safe place. As each of the steps come to pass, take it out and untie the knot which relates to it, starting at the end without a long tail. When you actually start work, you can take the papers and cord and dispose of them by burning or burying.
INTERVIEWS
Whilst the above spell contains a step relating to interview you still might like to reinforce your magic at this time.
You will need:
A SUNSTONE
A PIECE OF AMBER
3 YELLOW CANDLES AND HOLDERS
SOME BASE OIL, ALMOND OR SIMILAR
ESSENTIAL OILS OF SANDALWOOD, FRANKINCENSE, ROSEMARY AND JASMINE
A SMALL BOTTLE (TO PLACE YOUR BLENDED OILS INTO)
This Ritual is ideally performed at the Waxing or Full Moon, but you may find that you don’t always get enough advance notice for this to be possible. In this case perform the Ritual anyway but when you Cast the Circle* visualize the Full Moon as strongly as you can. If the Waxing or Full Moon occur after the interview but before you find out how you did, repeat the Ritual at that time. The first part of the Ritual needs to be performed in the bathroom, the second part can be done anywhere (within a Sacred Space), but you may as well do both in the bathroom. This is a Ritual bath, not one where you need to wash or perform other acts of personal hygiene or physical maintenance!
Having secured undisturbed use of the bathroom, gather your Altar equipment, tools and the above ‘ingredients’, and create your Sacred Space* as usual. Run a moderately warm bath, add 3 drops of each of the oils, the Sunstone and the Amber. Light the three candles and place them as best you can around the bath. Draw an invoking Pentagram (see Appendix 2, Terms and Definitions) over the water and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bless and consecrate these waters that they bring me confidence and allow me to give of my best. Blessed Be.’
Undress and get into the water, immerse yourself completely (head under the water too) three times, saying,
‘May the Goddess and the God watch over me, may they guard, guide and protect me in the ordeal to come. Blessed Be.’
Now spend a little longer in the water and meditate on the forthcoming event, visualize yourself entering the room, meeting the interviewer(s), answering and asking questions, and making a good impression. When you feel that you have fully rehearsed a successful interview get out of the water, dry yourself and move on to the next step.
NB: remember to remove the stones before pulling the plug to stop them disappearing down the drain!
Into the small bottle place 2 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Rosemary, and 1 drop Jasmine oils. Add approx. 20 ml of the base oil. Seal the bottle and shake well to mix. Consecrate* the oil and put to one side.
On the morning of your interview perform a Self-Blessing* using the oil you consecrated in the above step. Use only a few drops otherwise you will smell too strongly! If you are, or may be pregnant do not apply this oil to the skin, place a drop on a tissue and keep it in your pocket.
PROMOTION
Before you set out to try to achieve a promotion give careful thought to whether you really do want the added responsibility and associated grief, as well as the extra money and recognition of your ability! Also give serious thought to whether you really are doing as well as you would like to think. Sometimes it can be easy to let your desire for something cloud your judgement as to whether it really is your due. If, however, you honestly feel that you have been overlooked, or that the time is overdue, then use the following.
In advance of your Ritual list all the qualities required for the position you seek; try to put yourself in the shoes of the person in charge of giving the promotion. Write these out neatly on some gold paper or card. Review the list to see which skills, abilities and attributes you possess, and which you need to work on. Make a separate note of the things you need to work on and place it where you can read it every morning. Don’t just put it there, make a point of reading it every morning, and of trying, during the day, to achieve the things you have written!
You will also need to make your own incense from:
2 PARTS FRANKINCENSE
I PART BASIL
I PART CINNAMON
I PART NUTMEG
A PINCH OF SAFFRON
Grind these together in a pestle and mortar and place into a jar with a piece of real gold (a ring or other piece of jewellery is fine). Leave on a windowsill day and night for a full Lunar cycle (29 days), then remove the gold and store it in a cool dark place until you need it.
Your Ritual should take place on a Sunday during the second quarter of the Moon, that is, in the week before the Full Moon.
THE LIST OF REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES ON GOLD PAPER
I GOLD CANDLE
I GOLD COIN (TAKE A ‘COPPER’ ONE AND SHINE IT UNTIL IT GLEAMS LIKE GOLD)
YOUR INCENSE (SEE ABOVE), SELF-IGNITING CHARCOAL AND A THURIBLE
A FIREPROOF DISH
During your Ritual use the incense you have made, ensuring that it is burning from beginning to end of your working. Once your Sacred Space has been created, take the paper and consecrate* it through the elements, then hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bring about these skills, attributes and this knowledge in me. May they strengthen and enhance all that is needful. Blessed Be.’
Consecrate* the candle in the usual way and light it, saying,
‘Gold is the colour of the Sun. May this candle draw the strength and fire of the Sun to me. May the Sun God who brings life and warmth to the land shine his light upon me that my skills might likewise shine and be seen. Blessed Be.’
Now take the paper and light it with the candle. Place it in the fireproof dish to burn away completely. Keep the ashes.
Next, take the coin, consecrate* it through the elements using both the Altar candle and the Gold candle when you get to Fire. Hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bless this coin, a token of success. If I am ready, may the Goddess and the God lend their power to draw success to me, to bring me closer to that which is rightfully mine. Blessed Be.‘
Remember to allow the Gold candle to burn all the way down, but keep the stub.
After your Ritual carry the coin with you until the Full Moon. On the night of the Full Moon take the candle stub and bury it in the ground, saying,
‘From Fire to Earth do I return thee. As is my will so mote it be. Blessed Be.’
Take the coin and cast it into running water (a river, stream or the sea), saying,
‘From Earth to Water do I return thee. As is my will so mote it be. Blessed Be.’
Take the ashes from your burnt paper and throw them into the wind over the water and say,
‘From Earth through Fire to Air and Water I send thee. As is my will so mote it be. Blessed Be.’
DIFFICULTIES WITH EMPLOYERS
Aside from feeling overdue for promotion there are other difficulties you can experience with your employers, particularly individual supervisors or managers. These may be due to your actions and/or behaviour, in which case the solution lies in personal honesty, responsibility and change. However, some problems are not solely down to the individual, but rather other factors. These might include ingrained prejudice, previous bad experience, pressure from above, problems at home, and so forth. In most cases the root of the problem lies in the manager not seeing the worker clearly, and indeed vice versa.
You will need:
A SMALL MIRROR WITH A HANDLE
A BLACK CANDLE
A CLOTH OR DUSTER THAT YOU WILL NOT NEED TO USE AGAIN
This Ritual is best performed on a Waning Moon before the Dark of the Moon.
Place the black candle in the centre of the Altar and light it, saying,
‘Black is the colour which covers all. Black is the dark which obscures. Black is darkness in which nothing can be seen clearly.’
Take the mirror and hold it over the candle in such a way that soot from the flame forms on the glass; keep doing this until the mirror glass is covered. Try to avoid burning your fingers! Name* the mirror describing it as the unclear vision that both parties have of each other.
Take the cloth and, whilst visualizing grey gauzy veils dropping from sight, clean the mirror with the cloth. Start at the centre and, using a Deosil circular rubbing action, work towards the outer edges. Whilst you are cleaning chant over and again,
‘Away with shadows. Bring clear sight.’
Once you are sure that the mirror is thoroughly clean, name* it again, this time calling it the clear sight of both to see one another truly.
If it is possible, take the mirror to work with you and place it at your work station. If that is not acceptable then keep it at home near the door so that you can touch it every day as you leave for work.
GOSSIP AND RUMOUR
Sometimes it is not so much a question of not knowing enough about someone, but of being told too much. The workplace is often a place where rumour and gossip abound and it can be difficult to sort the truth from the information. The first step towards this involves giving it some really serious thought; are you reacting to what is, or to what you have been told? For example, if John says he dislikes the way you speak to him, then that is most probably the way he feels, but if Annie told you that’s what John feels you have no way of knowing whether that is the way she perceives how he feels or whether he really does feel it. Put it another way; when the car doesn’t start you might say, ‘Oh I hate this car,’ when you really mean, ‘I wish the wretched thing would start’! Someone reporting your comment might well place the emphasis on what you said, rather than on what you meant. Many problems between individuals are caused by another ‘helpful soul’ adding their two-pennyworth! As it is often difficult to work out exactly who is the root cause of this sort of problem, you are better off working to stop the gossip rather than trying to influence an individual.
You will need a piece of polished Haematite. As you will be taking this to your workplace you might like to find one in a piece of jewellery, on a key ring, or in some other form convenient to carry.
This Ritual takes the form of a meditation within the Sacred Space and should take place at the Full Moon.
After creating your Sacred Space* perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences,* visualizing all difficulties draining into the water. Then perform a Self-Blessing.*
Consecrate* the Haematite in the usual way. Sitting in the centre of your Circle take the Haematite in your weak hand and place your strong hand over it. Close your eyes and visualize your workplace with everyone in it. It can help if you pick a recent day and run through the events in your mind. Now add to the scene by visualizing thoughts and words as small grey shadows flitting around the room. Next add yourself holding the stone to the scene, and picture the stone working as a magnet in reverse, driving the shadows away from you towards a window or door. Visualize this as strongly as you can, and hold the image for a couple of minutes. Now picture the people behaving well towards you, smiling and being friendly. Concentrate on this image for a few minutes. When you feel sure that the magic has taken effect, place the stone on the Altar and complete your Ritual.
Remember to take the Haematite into work with you every day. As magic rarely works instantly, you will need to be careful not to react to, or in any way encourage by paying attention to, any further instances of gossip or rumour.
Contrary to the view of some people, we do not live in a world full of hidden demons, psychic attacks and vengeful black magicians bent on making life uncomfortable. If you are silly enough to have really upset a fellow Witch they are more likely to simply ignore you, or give you piece of their mind, rather than set out on a course of revenge. They too will follow the Rede and be aware of the Law of Threefold Return! However, some things do leave residual traces of negativity which can affect you and your magic. For example, extreme passions, violent tempers, and so on. In addition, life itself can be fairly hazardous and there is certainly no harm in taking the time and energy to give yourself a bit of magical protection against potential harm.
HOUSE (AREA) CLEANSING
Whenever you move into a new home it is a good idea to thoroughly cleanse it of all energies. You can never be sure of the lives of previous occupants and the energies they may have left behind them. If you can, perform this Ritual before you move your possessions in, as it makes it easier to cover all the ground. Otherwise, perform it as soon as you can. You may also like to use this Ritual to cleanse your home, or a room, if something highly emotional, like a serious argument, has taken place.
In advance of your Ritual collect about a pint of natural water: rain-, river- or seawater. Place this in the light of the Full Moon for three nights.
You will need:
YOUR NATURAL WATER
AN ASPERGER
SOME SALT (UNLESS YOU COLLECTED SEAWATER)
A BESOM OR NEW HOUSEHOLD BROOM
This Ritual can be performed at any phase of the Moon.
Create the Sacred Space* in the usual way but do not cast a Circle. First, take your broom and from the centre of the house sweep outwards, moving Deosil. As you sweep, visualize the broom sweeping not just dirt and dust, but also old thoughts and feelings and any energies left behind.
Next, mix a teaspoon of salt into the natural water (unless it is seawater). Take the Asperger and sprinkle the salted water around the house, again starting at the centre and moving Deosil outwards. Try to lightly sprinkle the whole floor area, but without soaking any carpets! As you go keep repeating,
‘Pure salt and pure water, drive all negativity away. Pure salt and pure water, purify this home today.’
After you have done all the floors, take the Asperger and sprinkle a few drops on each windowsill and the doorsteps of any external doors. Any leftover water should be poured away just outside the main entrance to your home or, if you are in a flat, the main entrance to the building.
You might like to combine this Ritual with the next, for household protection.
HOUSE PROTECTION
The purpose of this Ritual is to protect your home, everyone and everything in it, from harm and also from the intrusion of external influences, such as other people’s negative thoughts.
You will need:
SOME IRON FILINGS (IF YOU CANNOT GET THESE THEN USE ROCK SALT CRYSTALS)
This Ritual is best performed at the Full Moon.
If you are performing this immediately after the above Protection spell then the next step is to Cast your Circle.* If you are doing this on its own then Create your Sacred Space* as usual.
Once the Circle is Cast, stand in the centre and visualize the Circle expanding and growing until it envelops your whole property: home, garden and any other external areas. Mentally anchor the Circle at the edges of your property. Now take the iron filings (or rock salt crystals) and, walking Deosil, sprinkle them around the edge of your property. If you live in a home adjoining another, then you will have to use the internal walls for some of your boundary. Where you have to go back on yourself to pass through a doorway, do not sprinkle until you resume the external boundary. Oh, and don’t climb through the windows, you’ll only look foolish!
When you Take down your Circle,* visualize part of the Circle detaching itself and remaining on the boundary. Every Full Moon spend a few minutes, not as part of any other Ritual, mentally strengthening the Circle on your boundary, by visualizing yourself walking it and sprinkling the iron filings (or rock salt).
TRANSPORT (CARS, BIKES, ETC)
An extension of our homes which cannot easily be included in the above is our personal transport, whether it be car, bike or motorcycle. A fairly common mistake is to perform a general spell of protection, but unfortunately this can result in a kind of invisibility which means that other road users simply do not see you as well as they should! If you find yourself wanting to scream, ‘What’s wrong with you? Can’t you see me?’ at other road users, then you should make a point of cleansing your vehicle with salt and water as in the House Cleansing spell. It may be that you, a previous owner, or even a kindly disposed friend has wrought the wrong kind of spell by mistake.
You will need:
A CIRCLE OF VIOLET CLOTH
A VIOLET CORD
I½ TSP ROSEMARY LEAVES
I TSP JUNIPER BERRIES
I TSP BASIL LEAVES
½ TSP FENNEL SEEDS
½ TSP ROCK SALT CRYSTALS
2 DROPS OF PEPPERMINT OIL
This spell should be worked at the Full Moon.
Take all the herbs and salt and place in the centre of the violet cloth, then add the oil. Gather the edges up and tie the bundle with the cord. Consecrate* this in the usual way, asking that it bring security and safety to all who travel in (or on, in the case of motorcycles and bikes) your vehicle. Also ask that it might bring security and mechanical health to your vehicle.
Place the bundle in your vehicle or, if on two wheels, carry it on your person whenever you travel.
TRAVEL AND RETURN
Since mankind began to move from one place to another, Witches and their counterparts have been creating Talismans for protection. Even the Christian church, which claims to eschew magic, has its Saint Christopher! And it’s not just protection – there are many quaint customs performed to ensure the safe return of loved ones from their travels; from the stones kept by the wives of sailors, to pieces of a loved one’s hair worn in a locket.
You will need:
A DARK PURPLE OR INDIGO CLOTH
A WHITE CORD
½ TSP BASIL LEAVES
½ TSP FENNEL SEEDS
½ TSP ROSEMARY LEAVES
½ TSP MUSTARD SEEDS
I LARGE PINCH COARSE SALT
I SMALL CLEAR QUARTZ CRYSTAL
Make this Talisman up in the same way as the above Ritual, and carry on your travels or give to your loved one. To ensure their safe return to you, add a lock of your hair to the bag.
To ensure someone’s safe return home, place a lock of their hair (this need not be cut but can be taken from their hairbrush) under the doormat. Say as you do so,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bring … (person’s name) safely home to this place. Blessed Be.’
INDIVIDUALS
Regrettably, we live in a time when it is not always safe to walk the streets. Now magic is no substitute for common sense, so don’t forget to take sensible precautions, or advise your near and dear to do so, in addition to the following.
You will need:
A PIECE OF JEWELLERY BELONGING TO, OR TO BE GIVEN TO, THE PERSON YOU ARE WORKING FOR. IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE RECIPIENT WILL WEAR OFTEN. YOU COULD EVEN USE A SAINT CHRISTOPHER!
ESSENTIAL OILS OF BLACK PEPPER, JASMINE AND FRANKINCENSE
This is best performed at the Full Moon.
Consecrate* the jewellery as a token of protection, then anoint it with the oils and hold it up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bless this Talisman of protection. May it keep … (name) safe and well in all they do. May the Goddess and the God watch over them, guard them, guide them and keep them from all trials and dangers. Blessed Be.’
UNDER ‘ATTACK’/NEGATIVE INFLUENCES
As I said above a person is extremely unlikely to be under any kind of ‘psychic attack’, although it does seem to be an increasing perception, probably because of the availability of dubious information on the subject. However, negative influences can have a very real effect on our lives: at its simplest, if someone tells you repeatedly that you are clumsy you will drop things in their presence, even if you otherwise wouldn’t. Less obviously, if you sense that someone dislikes you, or perhaps is envious, this negativity can have an effect; even if you are not overtly aware of their feelings your subconscious mind may pick up on it.
It is worth mentioning that, as a practising Witch, you may be approached to perform this sort of magic for another. Please be very wary, as feelings of being under attack can sometimes indicate mental or physical imbalance and you do not want to aggravate someone’s condition. If you are at all in doubt, gently refuse on the grounds that you do not work this kind of spell, and as tactfully as possible suggest that they see their doctor as there are many physical conditions which can give rise to a feeling of being overlooked.
Here are two spells which can be performed; the first for general negativity, the second where you know who is thinking negatively about you. Please remember in the latter case to make sure that you address any problems between you. If this is, say, because of a boundary dispute, then whilst the magic may mitigate the effects of negativity, the feelings will still remain until the dispute is resolved.
TO COUNTER GENERAL NEGATIVITY
You will need:
A NUMBER OF SMALL MIRRORS, SUFFICIENT TO HAVE ONE FACING EACH DIRECTION THAT THE WINDOWS OR DOORS OF YOUR HOUSE FACE
This Ritual can be performed at any phase of the Moon, but will work best at the Full or Waning Moon.
First, perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences.* Next consecrate* the mirrors through the elements asking that they might reflect all negativity. Then hold them up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bless these, that they might deflect and reflect all negativity. I also ask that the Goddess and the God might make me aware of any way in which I might have attracted this negativity, and that I might be able to set right any wrongs. Blessed Be.’
After your Ritual place each mirror, facing outwards, in a window facing each direction. For most houses this will be a maximum of four.
WHERE YOU SUSPECT A PARTICULAR PERSON
You will need:
A PICTURE OF THAT PERSON (DRAW ONE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PHOTO)
TWO MIRRORS OF EQUAL SIZE
A BLACK CLOTH, LARGE ENOUGH TO WRAP BOTH MIRRORS
A BLACK CORD, LONG ENOUGH TO TIE AROUND THE BUNDLE
This Ritual should be performed at the Waning Moon, preferably just before the Dark of the Moon, and on a Saturday.
Perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences.* Consecrate* the mirrors that they might deflect all negative thoughts. Name* the picture for the person you feel is thinking negatively of you. Place the picture between the mirrors with their reflecting surfaces facing inwards. Wrap the mirrors and picture in the black cloth, making sure there are no gaps, and tie in both directions with the cord. Hold the whole up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bind all negativity generated by … (name). I ask them to ensure that … (name) cannot harm my family, friends, or me, in thought or word or deed. Blessed Be.’
After your Ritual put the wrapped mirrors safely away and keep them until you feel sure that the person no longer harbours any ill will towards you.
Healing forms the major part of the work of the Witch. Barely a day goes by without my being asked to heal someone or something. At most of our Esbats we will have a list of two or three people to work healing for, and occasionally the whole of the international Witch community will work synchronously for healing. Healing can be done generally, but is far better done with as much information as possible, so that you can determine exactly how to direct your magic.
In physical healing, if you know the nature of the illness then you can work directly on the causes and to enhance the body’s natural healing processes. In emotional healing, perhaps after a bereavement, then understanding the stages of recovery will enable you to work on these. Each of the following spells says ‘visualize the healing process’. If you have done your ‘homework’ you will be able to actually think through and see each step required. If you cannot do this, then focus on making the patient whole, rather than removing the illness.
Note that it is not a good idea to work to remove all pain. Pain is nature’s way of indicating that there is a problem, so if you remove it further damage could be caused. Also magic is not a substitute for more conventional medicine, so you or the person who comes to you should also seek medical advice. Having said that, it can sometimes be better to work healing magic before a condition is diagnosed, e.g. when awaiting the results of tests, as the magic can often have the effect of meaning that a less serious cause is identified than that which was feared. Because of this it is best to work your magic as soon as a problem is identified rather than waiting for a particular Lunar phase, hence I have not put suggested times of working.
PHYSICAL HEALING FOR YOURSELF
One of the dilemmas of the Witch is that whilst you can and should work magic for yourself, you shouldn’t work when you are really unwell. This is because it is hard enough to bring your elements into balance when well, it is far harder when ill. It is also because raising energy when you are under the weather is counterproductive, as the more energy you raise the weaker, and hence more likely to feel ill, you become. So you need to judge very carefully whether working this simple spell is likely to make you feel worse or better. As a rule of thumb, anything systemic or which gives you a raised temperature is probably best passed to a trusted fellow Witch. However, physical injuries or localized problems can usually be tackled on your own behalf.
You will need:
3 LILAC CANDLES AND SECURE HOLDERS
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
This Ritual takes place in the bathroom. As you will already be feeling poorly it is better to Create the Sacred Space* by visualization rather than setting up an Altar and going through the more formal steps.
Run a comfortably warm bath and add 10 drops of the lavender oil. Place the three candles around the bath and light them. Create the Sacred Space* in your head before you undress and get into the water. If you can, immerse your whole body briefly three times; if a part of you cannot go under the water (perhaps because of a wound or bandages) then immerse as much as you can. Whilst in the water ask the Goddess and the God to take away your ill health and visualize your symptoms draining away into the water. Then ask them to bring you healing and good health, strength and energy. When you have finished be sure to dry yourself and wrap up well before you remove the Sacred Space,* again in your head.
You can repeat this daily until you feel you have recovered. If you do so then you can reuse the candles, otherwise you will need to place them safely until they have burned all the way down.
PHYSICAL HEALING FOR LOVED ONES
If you feel that you can persuade your near and dear to take part in the above, all is well and good, and they will bathe whilst you perform the Ritual. However, when someone is feeling poorly is probably not the best time to announce that, not only do you practise Witchcraft, but that you want to practise it on them! In this case the following is somewhat more tactful.
You will need:
I LAVENDER CANDLE
A BOLINE, OR OTHER TOOL FOR ENGRAVING THE CANDLE
LAVENDER OIL
I AMETHYST STONE (IF YOU STUDY GEMSTONES OR HAVE A REFERENCE BOOK YOU MAY BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHICH GEMSTONE IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE ILLNESS IN QUESTION, OTHERWISE AMETHYST IS A GOOD ALLPURPOSE HEALING STONE)
Before your Ritual create your own sigil to represent the person you are working for, perhaps their entwined initials or the initial of their forename coupled with something which brings them to mind (I have a friend who I could represent with a cat sitting on top of a J) and look up the sigil of their sun sign.
Once you have Created your Sacred Space,* consecrate* the candle and the stone in the usual way. Carve both the sigils into it, together with the caduceus (this international symbol of healing consists of a staff with two snakes twined about it in the form of a DNA spiral). Next take the oil and anoint the candle, starting in the centre and working out towards the ends. Now hold the candle up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God, upon the healers of all. As this candle burns bring health and strength to … (name). Blessed Be.’
Light the candle and, whilst looking at the flame, visualize the person and visualize the healing process taking place. When you feel sure that your magic has started, take the stone and anoint it with a drop of the oil. Hold this up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God, upon the healers of all. Lend your strength to this token to bring health and healing to … (name). As she/he carries it may she/he grow daily in health and strength. Blessed Be.’
Put the stone safely to one side.
After your Ritual make sure you give the stone to your loved one as soon as possible. If they are not prepared to carry it, then place by the side of their bed.
PHYSICAL HEALING FOR OTHER PEOPLE
Sometimes you may be asked for healing for someone who you hardly know, or who is too far away for you to give them a stone or any other token.
In this case, perform the candle spell above but with the addition of a pin placed halfway down. After the candle has completely burned and the pin is cool, take the pin outside and bury it in the garden. Whilst burying it, say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to take the illness from … (name), to bring them health and healing and strength. Blessed Be.’
PHYSICAL HEALING FOR ANIMALS AND PETS
Our pets are just as much a part of our families as people, and sometimes you may also feel moved to work magic for other animals, perhaps something you have heard about on the news or something you yourself have rescued. Additionally, many Witches have favoured forms of wildlife, often endangered, for which they will work magic.
You will need:
I BROWN CANDLE
A BOLINE OR OTHER INSTRUMENT FOR CARVING THE CANDLE
SOME LAVENDER OIL
IF WORKING FOR A PET, SOME OF ITS FUR (BRUSHED OR STROKED OUT, NOT CUT!)
IF WORKING FOR ANOTHER ANIMAL, A PICTURE
Consecrate the candle as in the above spell for Healing Loved Ones, carve into it the name of your pet or a rough picture of the animal you are working for. Anoint it with the oil and present it and then light it as before.
Take the hair or picture and hold it up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bring healing to … (name). As Mother and Father of all nature and all living things I ask that they bring health and strength to … (name). Blessed Be.’
After your Ritual take the hair or picture outside and bury it as you did the pin in the preceding spell.
EMOTIONAL HEALING
The most common cause of the need for emotional healing is bereavement. The loss of a loved one is extremely traumatic and can be very hard to get over. Whilst we cannot and should not stop the processes of grief we can work to alleviate the emotional pain. It is worth mentioning that in addition to working magic there are many other things we can do to help in these circumstances; practical things like making meals, helping with the housework, etc. Most importantly we can give time, company and a listening ear. One of the worst parts of bereavement can be the fact that no one knows what to say so they avoid the sufferer, who can end up feeling isolated and unloved. Grieving relatives and friends often need to talk about the one they have lost, they do not need to be made to feel a nuisance or social leper!
You will need:
A PINK CANDLE
BOLINE OR OTHER CARVING TOOL
ESSENTIAL OILS OF NEROLI, FRANKINCENSE AND ROSE
A SMALL BOTTLE OF UNSCENTED BUBBLE BATH (OR SHOWER GEL IF THE PERSON SHOWERS MORE OFTEN THAN THEY BATHE)
AN ATTRACTIVE BOTTLE WITH A SECURE STOPPER, CAPABLE OF HOLDING AT LEAST 25ML
In your Sacred Space consecrate,* carve, anoint, present and light the candle as you did in the physical healing for loved ones spell above.
Still in Circle, place 3 drops of each of the oils into the empty bottle and top up with bubble bath. Replace the stopper tightly. Consecrate the blend through the elements in the usual way, then hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God, from whom all life proceeds and to whom all life returns … (Name of deceased) has moved from this world and walks now in the Summerlands. But behind is left … (name of bereaved) whose sorrow is great. Grant them healing and peace. Give to them the joy of life once more. Blessed Be.’
As soon as you can, give the blended oil and bubble bath to the bereaved as a small gift.
Remember that the grieving process has many natural stages, which need to be allowed to take place before healing can be complete. As Witches we are seeking to lessen the pain and ease the process, not to prevent it happening. So please do not expect the person to suddenly feel ‘over it’ and revert to ‘normal’ after your magic. If the person is of the Craft, or sympathetic to it, you might like to suggest they take part in a Rite of Withdrawal (see here), but do be tactful about this. Give them plenty of time to get over the worst of their grief first; the Rite of Withdrawal is better performed later rather than too soon.
Remember also that we do not choose who or what we grieve over, it might be a family member or a close friend, but it could just as easily be a pet, a work colleague, the sudden loss of a pregnancy, or even the end of a woman’s fertility.
HEALING THE SPIRIT
When someone is feeling sad, low or depressed without a definable ‘cause’, then the magic we work is for healing the spirit. As with physical healing it is important not to neglect conventional treatment, especially if the feeling interferes with daily life, causes physical neglect or is prolonged. But where we are talking about a general or low level lack of lustre then the following may be enough on its own.
You will need:
I ROSE QUARTZ GEMSTONE
I CITRINE GEMSTONE
I PINK CANDLE
ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSE, LAVENDER AND CLARY SAGE
Consecrate* the candle through the elements in the usual way. Anoint it with the oils and present it to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Great Mother and the Lord of the Forest to aid me … (Name) is feeling down. Assist me to raise their spirits, to bring them energy, and help than to see the good that is all around and is within them. Blessed Be.’
Light the candle. Now take the stones and consecrate them, anoint them with the oils and present them, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to empower these stones that they may take away all negativity. May they lift the spirits and bring the joy of life. Blessed Be.’
Place to one side.
After your Ritual, give the stones to your subject. They may carry them or simply keep them about their home.
There are also several more practical things you can do to lift your spirit. For example, take a walk somewhere you can observe and appreciate the seasons. Any kind of exercise releases endorphins which make you feel better. Seek out light-hearted company and entertainment, and stay away from doom and gloom for a couple of days. Treat yourself to a couple of hours off, and that includes the domestic chores, and do something which you know will bring you pleasure.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING
As Witches we are concerned about the environment, we hear news of the latest oil spill, the decimation of the forests, or of species threatened by the destruction of their habitats. Whilst we may feel that there is little we can individually do to affect these issues, every bit of magical help directed at them does go towards improving them. Perhaps if enough people add their energy we can make a real difference.
It is important that you are specific in the way you ask for help: to simply seek ‘to heal the planet’ is not only too broad a statement but could result in nature deciding that the best way to heal the Earth would be to remove all the people! It is also important that everyone in a Circle focuses on the same problem, so this can only be performed for one issue in one Ritual.
This Ritual takes the form of a meditation in Circle and is best performed at the Full Moon. If you are working in a group then get one person to read the visualization whilst everyone else follows it in their mind.
Create your Sacred Space* and perform a Self-Blessing.*
When you are ready sit, or lie down comfortably, close your eyes, breathe deeply and evenly and visualize the following:
Picture the Earth, a small blue-green plant, revolving in space. See the land and the waters, see the clouds across its surface. See it sparkling like a jewel in the depths of space. Let your mind see below the surface of the planet a great blue-green dragon coiled around the Earth, its nose and tail touching. Take time to visualize it clearly, see its wings and scales. See its noble head. See how the dragon sleeps, see it breathing low and slow. Now reach forward with your mind, touch the dragon, gently wake it from its slumber. See it stir, call out to it. As it wakes see the dragon turn to look at you. See its great golden eyes gaze at you, full of understanding and compassion for the land. Tell it of the problem you are working on, see the tears glisten in its eyes as it nods in comprehension. Now with your mind call to the dragon, ask it to rise, to take wing to put its energy into resolving the problem. See it rise from the land and take flight, see it circle the Earth three times, moving Deosil. Now with your mind direct it to the part of the Earth where the problem is. See it swoop down to touch the Earth with its great claws, see it move through the surface of the Earth and coil up tightly at the spot you have indicated. When you are certain that the dragon has settled firmly, bid it farewell and withdraw your mind from contact. Once again, visualize the planet as seen from space. Now return to the here and now, remember where you are. Open your eyes.
After this, or any other, meditation it is important to make sure that you are grounded before going on to do anything in the mundane world. So at the end of the Ritual you should make a point of having something to eat and drink.
All magic should be paid for, not in money but in returning something to the natural world, and nowhere is this more appropriate than in environmental healing. You could take part in a tree planting programme, clear litter from a local natural area, make a point of shopping in a more environmentally friendly way – perhaps by buying your vegetables loose rather than pre-packed, or by recycling, and so forth.
Divination is the art of finding out that which would otherwise be hidden. It is one of the key skills of the Witch, and one we are frequently asked for. There are many techniques which can be used, like Tarot, Runes, Crystal Ball, tea leaves, Pendulums, and so on. It’s not possible to describe all the techniques and skills involved here, but I have given a few examples. Divination does not have to take place in a Sacred Space, nor as part of a Ritual, but when it does it is that much easier to perform and tends to be more accurate. Be aware, however, that it is almost impossible to divine accurately for yourself. Most of us have far too many inner feelings and desires to make accurate predictions for our own lives.
Generally speaking, divination is usually more accurate during the Waning Moon, when the Crone, the Wise One, presides. It is also traditionally practised in the dark part of the year, mostly from Samhain to Yule. Having said that, divination can be performed at almost any time, although the time around Litha is usually avoided as it is the time of the trickster Gods and results can be somewhat misleading.
Try to avoid ‘testing’ your tools of divination, or asking spurious questions. Whatever technique you use will ‘know’ and you may find that it will affect your results when you really need to know.
Any kind of divination can be aided by the use of Divination Oil. Make your own from 2 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Lemongrass, 2 drops Nutmeg, 2 drops Clary Sage, 1 drop Bay and 1 drop Rose oils. This can be worn, applied to your tools of divination or burned in an oil burner. Do not use this oil if you are, or may be, pregnant.
FINDING THINGS
The most common use for this is, obviously, when something has been lost. However, this technique can also be used where you are trying to locate an object or a place. Perhaps you are looking for an outdoor working site, or the best town to look for a certain kind of shop.
You will need:
A MAP OR PLAN. IF YOU HAVE LOST AN OBJECT IN THE HOUSE, THEN SKETCH OUT THE WHOLE HOUSE LAYOUT AND SEPARATE ROOM LAYOUTS TOO. WHEN LOOKING FOR A LOCATION YOU NEED BOTH A BROAD-SCALE MAP AND THEN ONE OR MORE SHOWING GREATER DETAIL
A PENDULUM (YOU CAN USE DIVINING RODS IF YOU HAVE MASTERED THEM)
A PENCIL AND PAPER, SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A NOTE ON YOUR PLAN(S) OR ON THE PAPER
Perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences.* Consecrate* the Pendulum or divining rods whilst focusing on what you seek.
Now you need to ‘set’ your Pendulum: take it in your strong hand and holding it steady over your other hand, focus as hard as you can on the word ‘yes’. Wait a few moments then note the movement of the Pendulum. Repeat this, focusing on the word ‘no’, and again note the movement. If the two movements are the same, you will need to start over, including the consecration.
Spread the maps or plans out in your Circle, starting with the large-scale one.
Hold your Pendulum in your strong hand over each area in turn, focusing on the object and the question ‘Is it here?’ Where it indicates yes on the large-scale plan or map then you can move on to a small-scale one. Use the pencil and paper to note your results as you will need to complete your Ritual and remove your Sacred Space before setting off to find that which you seek.
At the end of your Ritual, cleanse* the pendulum so that it is clean in readiness for next time.
Note that a pendulum should be ‘set’ every time you use it, and that it will only answer yes/no questions.
DETERMINING THE GENDER OF AN UNBORN CHILD
This is another technique which uses the Pendulum, and in the same way as above, i.e. by asking a yes/no question. The reason I have given it a separate sub-heading is that many people make the mistake of assuming you can ask is it a boy or a girl. Also it is important to note that this technique is not reliable before about the fourth month of pregnancy as the gender of a child is not fully determined until about that time. It is also not a technique which should be performed by either parent of the unborn child, as most people have some kind of preference, however minimal, which can influence the results. It’s also quite a good idea to ask the mother to relax and think of something different so that she cannot subliminally influence the outcome!
ASCERTAINING DATES/DURATIONS
This technique can be used to determine when something will happen, or the duration of something. For example, you can ask ‘When will my promotion come?’ or ‘How long do I have to wait before my promotion comes?’ Make sure that you phrase your question clearly as you can get two different answers to what is essentially the same question.
You will need:
A PACK OF PLAYING CARDS. ORDINARY ONES CAN BE USED, BUT IF YOU PREFER TO USE THE TAROT REMOVE THE MAJOR ARCANA
Perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences.* As you will be laying the cards down in three piles you need to decide whether your answer is likely to be in terms of days, months, years, or in other segments of time. Take the cards and shuffle them whilst focusing on the question. If you are doing this for someone else you will need to focus on them also.
Start laying the first pile of cards down face upwards. Keep going until you reach an ace or you have dealt 31 cards (as there are a maximum of 31 days in the month), at which point you take up the remaining cards, re-shuffle them and start the second pile. Stop when you reach an ace or 12 cards (for the 12 months of the year). Finally, repeat for the third pile, stopping at an ace or 5 cards (it is unreasonable to expect results more than 5 years ahead).
Were you to be working with hours, days and weeks, you would be looking at piles with up to 24, 7, and 10 cards respectively.
You now need to interpret your results:
Say your first pile has an ace as the sixth card, your second has an ace as the eleventh card and your third has an ace as the second card. This would indicate that you can expect your result in 2 years, 11 months and 6 days.
FUTURE – GENERAL
There are books and books written about determining the future, some from the Craft perspective, others treating ‘fortune telling’ as a kind of party game. If you treat divination lightly then the results you get will be at best very general. If, however, you treat it seriously, and apply your Craft to it, then you can get detailed and accurate results. As with all the Craft the tools you make yourself are the ones with the strongest energy.
In advance of this you will need to make your own set of Witches’ Runes.
You will need:
8 PEBBLES OR STONES. THEY SHOULD BE OF SIMILAR SIZE AND OF A SHAPE WHICH HAS TWO CLEARLY DEFINED SIDES. ENSURE THAT THEY ARE CLEAN AND DRY, AND IF PURCHASED OR GIVEN BY ANOTHER, CLEANSE THEM
A FINE PAINTBRUSH
PERMANENT PAINTS IN RED, WHITE, YELLOW, BLUE, BLACK, GOLD AND SILVER. YOU CAN BUY THE OTHER COLOURS MENTIONED BELOW BUT YOU CAN JUST AS EASILY BLEND THEM WITH THE ONES MENTIONED HERE
A BAG OR POUCH OF NATURAL FABRIC (NOT MAN-MADE FABRIC) BIG ENOUGH TO CONTAIN THE STONES
The following gives the symbols you should paint onto one side of each stone, and some of their meanings for later interpretation:
THE SUN – GOLD. THE GOD, SUN, MALE PRINCIPAL, HONOUR, GLORY
THE MOON – SILVER. THE GODDESS, MOON, FEMALE PRINCIPAL, DREAMS
TWO CROSSED SPEARS – RED. FIRE, MARS, CONFLICT, ATTACK
A BRANCH WITH LEAVES – GREEN. EARTH, FERTILITY, GROWTH, MONEY
A SNAKE – BLUE. WATER, JUPITER, LUST, AMBITION, CAREER
THREE BIRDS – WHITE. AIR, MERCURY, FLIGHT, TRAVEL, COMMUNICATION, KNOWLEDGE
TWO LINKED RINGS – PINK. VENUS, UNITY, PARTNERSHIP, FRIENDS, LOVE, ROMANCE
PAINT ONE STONE BLACK AND WHEN IT IS DRIED, ADD A WHITE #. SATURN, FATE, ENIGMA, UNKNOWN FACTORS AND INFLUENCES
As you paint each stone, focus on the meanings above and any other associations which come to your mind. You might like to note these down as you go, for later reference. Once painted, the stones should be set aside to dry and then placed in the light of the Moon for three nights before the Full Moon. From the night of the Full Moon you should place them in a bag under your pillow for three nights. After this, do not allow anyone else to handle them. The Ritual then takes place at the start of the Waning Moon, the time of divination.
You will need:
YOUR WITCHES’ RUNES AND THEIR POUCH
DIVINATION OIL
Create your Sacred Space.* Take the Witches’ Runes from their pouch and consecrate* them. Anoint them with the oil and hold them up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to guide my divinations. May they bless these stones that I might see clearly and truly. May they guide my understanding and give me the wisdom to use them well. Blessed Be.’
Your Runes are now ready for their first use. (If you are not going to use them immediately, put them away safely in their pouch.)
Still in Circle take your Runes in both hands and shake them gently. If you have a question or topic in mind, focus on it, otherwise focus on the question,
‘What is to happen?’
Cast your stones gently in front of you. Put to one side any which are face down, these do not come into the reading. Then clear your mind and look at the stones.
Those nearest to you are the ones with the most immediate influence. Those near to each other influence one another, with those nearer to you having the stronger influence. Any on top of another (even if only partly) will cancel out the lower one. You can ask further questions, but only up to a maximum of three in any one session.
The Witches’ Runes can be used to answer many different questions. Once you have made your own you can experiment to see how they work for you.
COMPATIBILITY
Another one of the more frequently asked questions is, ‘Are we compatible?’ Whilst this is a question which can be answered, it is not, as some hope, the ultimate indicator that a relationship will last. This is because there are many outside factors which can influence a relationship. Having said that, it is probably the best question to seek to answer, as anything more definitive may result in either one party taking things for granted, or in them abandoning a perfectly good relationship because the ‘omens’ say it will not last forever!
Prior to your Ritual you will need to first determine the true names of the two parties. A true name is not necessarily the one they were given at birth, nor even the one they are commonly known by, it is the name of who they are, their chosen name. For example, someone may have been called Joanna Sarah Smith by her parents, her friends call her Joss (because of her initials), but to herself she is Jo Smith. So the latter is the name you need to use because it reflects the way she sees herself, and that is the personality she will put into a relationship.
Having done this for both parties you then need to work out the numerological number for each. This means applying numbers to each letter to work out a number for each name. In numerology A=l, B=2, and so on, until Z=26. The letters in each person’s true name are thus calculated and added together. They are then reduced to a single digit number. Hence Jo Smith would be 10+15+19+13+9+20+8 = 94, 9+4 = 13, 1+3 = 4, so Jo’s number is 4. You also work this out for the other person.
You can get a rough and quick idea of how compatible they are, from the numbers themselves. Where both numbers are the same, these people are alike, but may clash. If both numbers add up (bear in mind you still need to reduce to a single digit) to 1, 3, or 6, these people are very compatible. Where both numbers are odd, or both are even, these people are somewhat compatible, but they must be prepared to work at any relationship. However, this is only the first step.
YOUR WITCHES’ RUNES
THE NUMBERS OF THE TWO PEOPLE
A SHEET OF PAPER DIVIDED INTO 9 BOXES: 3 ROWS AND 3 COLUMNS
PENCIL FOR MAKING NOTES
This Ritual is best performed during the Waning Moon.
Create the Sacred Space* as usual. Take your Runes in your strong hand and focus on the first person. Cast them (in much the same way as you would throw or roll dice) onto the paper the same number of times as the person’s number, so for Jo Smith you would read the fourth cast. As before, discard the face down stones, and also any that have landed off the paper. Mark the positions and signs of the remaining stones on the nine-square chart, identifying them as belonging to Jo Smith.
Repeat this for the other person, ensuring that you can tell which stones belong to which person.
You should now have notes on your paper indicating the positions of the stones of both parties. This is what you base your reading on.
As before, those nearest to you are the ones with the most immediate influence. Those near to each other influence one another, with those nearer to you having the stronger influence. Any on top of another (even if only partly) will cancel out the lower one.
Stones in the centre column indicate general personality traits, those in the right-hand column indicate attitudes to home and family, those in the left are attitudes to work, business and the outside world. If both parties have the same stone in the same box it indicates a high level of compatibility in that area. Where both have the same stone in the same column it indicates a similar approach or outlook. In the same row, they both place a similar emphasis on that subject, even though they may have differing opinions. Where one person’s stone covers that of the other, it indicates that, although they share the same views, the stone which overlays belongs to the person who will dominate in that area. This is not necessarily bad; my partner and I have similar thoughts about things technical, but he dominates (it’s also his job). We also have similar thoughts about things decorative and artistic, but I dominate because of my skills. By the way, if all the stones from both parties end up in the same box it indicates you did not cast them properly!
By careful study of the Runes you should be able to build up a picture of each person and how they will relate to one another, and from there you can determine how compatible they really are.
Once you have completed your divination and interpretation replace the stones in their bag and destroy the paper. Do not keep it for reference outside of the Circle as subsequent viewings will not be assisted by the magic of the Circle.
It’s a constant source of amazement to me that most Witches forget to use magic to aid them in their Craft work. I am frequently asked how to find a Coven, yet whenever I say ‘Have you asked the Goddess?’ the answer is invariably ‘No’. Yet this should be the most obvious area of life to apply magic to.
FINDING A COVEN AND/OR MENTOR
As mentioned above, I get a lot of requests from people seeking either a Coven to work in or an experienced Witch to act as mentor to guide them in their Craft work.
You will need:
A LARGE (NOT ENORMOUS) WHITE CANDLE, THE KIND SOLD AS ‘CHURCH CANDLES’ ARE FINE
A PLATE OR OTHER FIREPROOF DISH TO STAND THE CANDLE ON
A BOLINE OR CARVING TOOL
This Ritual should be performed at the Full Moon.
Create your Sacred Space* and perform the Rite of Self-Blessing.* Take your candle and inscribe in it a Pentagram (five-pointed star within a circle) and place your initials in the centre. Offer it to the Goddess and the God saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God. Mother and Father of all Witches, I seek knowledge and understanding, guidance and companionship within the Craft. Aid me in my search for a Coven/mentor, give me the knowledge to find one and the wisdom to select one which is right for me. Blessed Be.’
Light the candle and place it safely in the centre of the Circle then sit facing it and the Altar (if your Altar is in the North, this will mean you are in the southern portion of the Circle). Look first at the candle, then, starting at the North, send your gaze Deosil around the Circle. As you do so visualize the boundary of the Circle glowing brighter and brighter, visualize it growing upwards and becoming a cone (this is the cone of power and is thought to be the origin of the pointed hat). Continue visualizing and make this cone of light spin. When it is revolving steadily and seems to be coming to a point, direct your energy to the peak and mentally release it. When you are sure that you have released all the pent-up energy, relax and take a few deep breaths to steady yourself. Place the candle in a safe place and burn it down over the next three nights.
The spell will start working after the third night, but do be aware that you still need to take sensible precautions about meeting strangers and in choosing a Coven which is right for you. Additionally, take a look at the section on contacts towards the back of this book.
FINDING COVENORS
Occasionally, a Coven finds it is having difficulty finding members, especially if they don’t wish to advertise, although these days the problem is rare.
Perform the same Ritual as that for finding a Coven with the following small changes:
Place the Coven’s initials within the Pentagram, and around it carve arrows pointing inwards.
When you present to the Goddess and the God, say,
‘I call upon the Goddess and the God. Mother and Father of all Witches, we seek others to share knowledge and understanding, guidance and companionship within the Craft. Aid us in our search for Covenors who will make our Circle whole, who will be an asset to the Craft and who will bring honour to You. Give us the knowledge to find them and the wisdom to select those who will be right for both Coven and Craft. Blessed Be.’
Where there are several of you, the cone of power can be best raised by Circle dancing.*
Again, remember that a spell to attract the right people does not guarantee that one or two less right ones won’t find you, so take the usual precautions.
FINDING AN OUTDOOR SITE
When it comes to locating an outdoor working site which is legal, sufficiently private and safe, there is no substitute for local knowledge and a few visits to check it out. However, if you are new to an area, or don’t know of a good location, you might want to apply magic to the problem. The first step is to use the spell for Finding Things to locate potential places, but unless only one presents itself then you will need to take things a step further.
Prior to your Ritual, use a combination of divination, local knowledge and a good map to identify somewhere between three and six potential sites. Visit each site in turn and, assuming it still looks and feels good, take from it one fallen leaf, preferably from the centre of your likely Circle. Mark each leaf so that you know which site it came from. Place the leaves somewhere safe to dry out thoroughly.
You will need:
YOUR MARKED LEAVES
A THURIBLE
SELF-IGNITING CHARCOAL
TONGS FOR HOLDING THE CHARCOAL TO LIGHT IT
This Ritual should be performed at the Full Moon.
Name* each leaf for the location it came from. Light the charcoal around all the edges so that it will burn evenly and place it in the centre of the Thurible. Now place each leaf around the charcoal in such a way that each only just touches it. You need to do this quickly so that no leaf has the advantage! Focus your mind and watch the leaves carefully whilst chanting over and over,
‘Lady show us the way, Lord show us the place.’
The last leaf to burn (or smoulder if they are damp) away is the best site to choose.
Note that when you first visit each of your potential sites it is a good idea to look out for signs that other Witches might be using it; even better would be to visit at the Full Moon or an Esbat. Otherwise you could find that the ‘best’ site is already taken.
COMING OUT
There comes a time in most Witches’ lives when they wonder whether they should be making their beliefs known to friends and/or family and perhaps even to neighbours and colleagues. Generally speaking, I advise against it. However tolerant and understanding you think people are, there is always the chance that someone may turn out to biased, prejudiced, upset or offended, and once the secret’s out you can never take it back. Furthermore, once you have told one person you have no control over who they might deliberately or accidentally tell.
I know this sounds strange coming from an extremely ‘public’ Witch, but I am fortunate in having a lifestyle which is not affected by it and a family who, having been sounded out thoroughly over a number of years, turned out to be supportive and accepting, rather than negative. However, I do know many others who have not been so lucky. Before you make your final decision I suggest the following:
Prior to your Ritual write a long list of everyone who may be affected by this: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, your children (and those you may have in the future) and their teachers, friends, colleagues, employers, customers, clients, neighbours, people who work in local shops and stores, and so on. Alongside these names make notes indicating the best and worst outcomes you can envisage happening. Take a couple of days to do this until you feel you really cannot add any more.
You will need:
YOUR SHEET OF NAMES AND OUTCOMES
ESSENTIAL OILS OF LEMONGRASS, BAY AND NUTMEG
A SMALL DISH TO BLEND THE OILS IN
A DARK BLUE OR DARK PURPLE CANDLE
A FIREPROOF DISH
This Ritual should take place during the Waning Moon, preferably on a Monday. Try to do it so that you can retire to bed as soon as you have finished.
Create your Sacred Space,* inviting the Goddess in her aspect of Wise One. Consecrate* the candle, asking the Goddess for wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Blend the oils in the dish using 4 drops Lemongrass, 2 drops Bay and 1 drop Nutmeg. Anoint the candle and present it to the Goddess and the God saying,
‘I call upon the Goddess as Wise One and the God as Hunter to bring me wisdom and understanding. Guide me in this so that I choose aright, protect me and mine that I bring neither sorrow nor harm. Blessed Be.’
Light the candle. Now take the paper and draw over it an invoking Pentagram, and then anoint with the oil each of the five points of the star as you go. Light the paper and place it in the fireproof dish to burn away.
Perform a Self-Blessing* using the blended oils, again asking the Goddess to bring you understanding and wisdom. Remain and meditate for a few moments. Now clear away and retire to bed, do not wash the anointing oils off until the morning.
As you should not go to bed leaving the candle to burn away, extinguish it and put it to one side. If you are still unsure the next day you can burn it for a further two evenings. You may find that the right choice comes to you during the Ritual, but you should still wait until morning before making your decision.
If after the Ritual, and considering the problem for three days, you are still unsure, then the answer is that you should keep quiet. As I’ve said, once a secret is out it cannot be taken back, whereas little harm can come from remaining private in your beliefs.
STAYING HIDDEN
For many Witches a prime consideration lies in keeping their beliefs to themselves, especially if they feel that someone else may be likely to let something slip. I have been challenged in the past in terms of, ‘If you do nothing wrong why should you need to keep it secret?’ In many cases I feel the question is rhetorical, as it is usually asked by someone who has just suggested that Witchcraft is some kind of evil! All I can add here is that many Witches choose to keep their path secret because of the problems it may cause for those near to them, perhaps their children at school, their elderly relatives in church, or perhaps themselves or their spouse at work. However, to help to keep your path hidden from those who have no need to know, try the following.
You will need:
A REASONABLY LARGE PIECE OF POLISHED HAEMATITE, PERHAPS AN INCH OR TWO ACROSS, WHICH HAS BEEN CLEANSED
A BLACK CLOTH LARGE ENOUGH TO WRAP THE STONE
This is best performed during the Waning Moon. However, if you feel the Ritual is urgent, then work it at any phase of the Moon and repeat it at the next Waning Moon.
Perform the Rite of Banishing Unwanted Influences.* Consecrate* the Haematite through the elements. Hold it up to the Goddess and the God, saying,
‘I call upon the Old Gods, upon the Goddess and the God, to bless and consecrate this stone; to make it a sanctuary, a place of safety and privacy for my Craft. May it keep my secrets safe, and protect me from the curiosity of others. Blessed Be.’
Now take the stone in your strong hand and place your weak hand over it. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly. One by one visualize each of your Craft tools, until you can see it clearly and then, mentally, shrink it and place its image within the stone. Do this also with any books, notes and records you may have kept on the Craft. Lastly, visualize yourself as you are, working a spell, and place that image also in the stone. When you are sure you have included everything, hold the stone up again and say,
‘I call upon the Old Gods, upon the Goddess and the God, to seal this stone, to make it a place of concealment that only I can access. I call upon them to seal it securely from the eyes, ears and minds of all, so that only when it is in Circle will its secrets be open, and then only to me. Blessed Be.’
After your Ritual wrap the stone in its cloth and place it in a safe place. Every time you wish to celebrate a festival, or to work magic, you will need to make sure that you place the unwrapped stone onto your Altar, so that you can properly use all the things you placed within it.
Remember, the best way to stay hidden and to keep secret is not to tell anyone, either verbally or by leaving your tools, equipment, books, etc. on view. Don’t go in for loud chanting or strong incenses, as these will permeate even the thickest of walls. If you are careful, there is no reason why anyone need know that you work Witchcraft.
There are as many potential spells as are there are events and changes in your life, or that of the person who comes to you for help. Therefore, there is no way I can list them all! You may by now have noticed that whilst some of the above spells talk in terms of working them for another, most are written as though you will be working them on your own behalf. This is because in the early days of magical working most of your magic will be either directly or indirectly for yourself. To change a spell which is written as though for you into one intended for another, you need to focus on that person and on the magic working for them. Similarly, most of the above are written as though you will be working on your own. Where you are working in a group everyone needs to focus on the intent and to add their energy, either by actually taking a role in the Ritual or by taking part in the raising of energy. Chapter 10 gives guidelines and ideas for ways you can adapt spells for other people, for group working and also ways of writing new spells and Rituals.
The next chapter, however, is concerned with the tools you use in spells. This does not mean the Altar equipment which was covered in Chapter 3, but the candles, oils, stones and other items you use to make the magic work.