Days 241–270
Magical Items to Gather:
Here are the items you will need during the next month of your training.
Day 243
• Simple sweet cakes, such as muffins, scones, or sweetbreads
• Wine (alternative: juice or fruit nectar)
Day 244
• A bowl of hot water in which you infuse dried hyssop
• An asperges (a ritual device Witches use to sprinkle a mixture of salt and water; the asperges is usually a bundle of either fresh or dried herbs; the best herb choice is rosemary)
• Lavender, rosemary, or hyssop essential oil
Day 245
• A 5–6 inch blue-green taper candle
Day 248
• Fire incense (of if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense)
• Fire oil (or one of the following essential oils: cinnamon, bergamot, clove, orange, or pennyroyal)
Day 249
• Air incense (if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense or white copal)
• Air oil (or one of the following essential oils: bergamot, sage, star anise, or lemon
Day 250
• Water incense (if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense or sandalwood)
• Water oil (or one of the following essential oils: apple, jasmine, rose, or water lily)
Day 251
• Earth incense (or if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense or oak)
• Earth oil (or one of the following essential oils: patchouli, honeysuckle, tulip, or lilac)
Day 261
• Percussive music
Day 265
• A quartz crystal with at least one terminal (or pointed, beveled end)
Day 267
• Dragon’s blood ink (most new age/magical shops carry dragon’s blood red ink) or
• A red ink pen
• Rosemary essential oil
Day 268
• A round mirror (at least 5 inches in diameter)
• A bowl of water steeped with the herb hyssop
• A dark blue candle of any size/shape (this color is good for dispelling evil)
Day 269
• Cheesecloth
• A sprig of fresh rosemary and at least a teaspoon of dried rosemary
• 12 inches of red cord
• A 5–6 inch red taper candle
• Red thread and a needle
Day 270
• An empty, clear-glass jar
• Old razors, rusty nails, pins, needles, and tacks (enough to fill the jar)
• Vinegar
• Dried white sage (also called desert sage) or
• A self-igniting charcoal
• Dragon’s blood resin
Day 241
Calling the Quarters: North
As you continue with building the magic circle, you will call the northern quarter, the dwelling place of the gnomes and the element of water.
First, practice drawing the invoking and banishing pentagrams for earth:
Invoking Earth / Banishing Earth
What You’ll Need:
• Your dish of salt and bowl of water
• Fire candle
• Air incense
• Four quarter candles
• Self-lighting charcoal
• A thurible
• Your unconsecrated athame, wand, chalice, and pentacle
To Begin:
Complete the circle-casting steps you’ve learned so far:
• Set up your main altar at the center of your ritual space
• Set all of your magical tools in their ritual positions on the altar
• Set out the four quarter candles and light them, saying,
Fire flame in the Old One’s name
• Light your charcoal and set it in the thurible
• Consecrate each of the four elements (water, earth, fire, and air) on your central altar
• Consecrate yourself and anyone else present with each of the elements
• Cast the first layer of the circle with water and earth
• Cast the second layer with fire and air
• Cast the circle with your natural athame, drawing the final perimeter of the circle
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of air
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of fire
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of water
Once you have completed these steps, walk to the northern edge of your circle. Outstretch your natural athame and draw the invoking earth pentagram before you. Start at the topmost point of your pentagram and draw the blade down to the bottom-most left point. Draw the blade up to the rightmost horizontal point. Then draw across the horizontal line to the leftmost horizontal point. Continue drawing the blade back down toward the bottom-most right point. Finish the pentagram by drawing the line back up to the topmost point, where you began. As you draw the pentagram, imagine that you leave a bright green aura suspended in midair. As you draw the pentagram, say:
I summon, stir, and call thee up,
Mighty Ones of the North, Powers of Earth,
To witness my (our) rites and to seal this circle!
Stand and sense the earthy energies you have summoned. Close your eyes and imagine this earth energy sealing the northern quarter of your magical space and simultaneously linking with the elemental energies of the western quarter. Imagine, too, the western energies linking with the southern energies and the south joining to the east. Now imagine that the eastern energies link with the north, completing the energetic chain. Each element now links with its neighboring elemental energy.
After a few moments, it is time to banish the elemental forces. Again, face the north and draw the banishing pentagram with your natural athame. This time, start at the bottommost left point and draw the blade up to the top. Draw the blade back down to the bottommost right point. Then draw the blade up to the leftmost horizontal point. Draw the blade across the horizontal line to the rightmost point. Then continue drawing the blade back to the bottommost left point, where you began.
As you banish the northern powers, imagine the iridescent green aura fading away, and say:
Hail ye mighty ones of the North,
We thank thee for attending.
Before ye depart for your lovely realms,
We say hail and farewell!
Now, kiss the athame blade (your index and middle fingers) and point it toward the north.
Steps to Banish the Circle You Have So Far:
• Stand in the west and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of water.
• Stand in the south and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of fire.
• Stand in the east and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of air.
• Close the three layers of the circle you have cast; stand in the east, hold your hands outward; walk widdershins around the perimeter of the circle, imagining the energies subsiding; as you walk, and say:
Earth will crumble my circle,
Water will cause it to fall,
Fire will burn what’s left in the urn,
And the winds will scatter them all!
When you arrive in the east, face outward, toward the eastern quarter, and say:
The circle is open, but unbroken!
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet
again!
Day 242
Summoning the Gods
The final step in erecting the magic circle is inviting the gods into your sacred space. Summoning the gods involves traditional hand gestures that Wiccans call the triangles of manifestation.
What You’ll Need:
• Your dish of salt
• Your bowl of water
• Fire candle
• Air incense
• Four quarter candles
• Self-lighting charcoal
• A thurible
• Your unconsecrated athame, wand, chalice, and pentacle
To Begin:
Complete the circle-casting steps you’ve learned so far:
• Set up your main altar at the center of your circle
• Set all of your magical tools in their ritual positions on the altar
• Set out the four quarter candles and light them saying,
Fire Flame in the Old One’s name.
• Light your charcoal and set it in the thurible
• Consecrate each of the four elements (water, earth, fire, and air) on your central altar
• Consecrate yourself and anyone else present with each of the elements
• Cast the first layer of the circle with water and earth
• Cast the second layer with fire and air
• Cast the circle with your natural athame, drawing the final perimeter of the circle
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of air
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of fire
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of water
• Draw the invoking pentagram for the powers of earth
Once you have completed these steps, stand at your altar in the center of your magic circle and face the south. Allow your arms to hang at your sides naturally. Open your hands so that the fingers all point down. Open the thumbs away from the fingers so that they create a 90-degree angle. Bring your hands together now at your pelvic level so that the tips of your thumbs meet and the tips of your index fingers meet. This should form a triangle with the point down. The palms of your hands should be facing your pelvis.
The Triangle of Manifestation.
Take several slow, deep breaths. Imagine sacred energies from the earth climbing your legs and filling your body. When you sense this energy, separate your hands and slowly bring them up in an arc along the sides of your body so that they meet above your head to form a second triangle—thumbs and tips of index fingers touching. This time, the point of the triangle is up, and the palms of your hands are facing away from you. Now imagine a white-hot energy penetrating the crown of your head, filling you with divine energy. Imagine this energy mingling with the energies of the earth.
Tilt the top point of the triangle away from you and point it down, bringing the triangle back to the place where you began, in front of your pelvis. Imagine the energies of earth and sky meeting within you. Now say:
You who have been from beginning to end,
Our rites and mysteries now attend.
Most ancient of Maidens, Mothers, and Crones,
Lord of the Hoof, of antlers and bones,
Where fire meets earth, and wind meets sea,
Harken our call; so mote it be!
You have successfully cast a complete circle! Take some time to sit in the center and feel its energies. If you have some magical rite to perform, such as that of the full moon, a sabbat, or a divination, now is the time for you to engage in the core of your ritual working. Since there is no core magical working beyond the circle casting itself, take a few moments to rest and then it is time to dismiss the circle.
At the close of each circle you must thank the gods for attending and dismiss them from the circle. To do this, stand at the center of your circle and say:
Witches all, our rites conclude
In merriment, the earth renewed.
The cock doth crow the end of night,
We thank the gods who’ve joined our rite.
(Pause in silence, thanking the gods for attending and bidding them farewell.)
To all I charge thee lock away,
Our magics and our mystery play.
Then raise a toast, a hearty draught,
To bid the gods preserve the Craft!
Now it is time to close the circle. You have so far been learning how to dismiss the quarters/elements in the same order that you summoned them. However, this was only for the sake of practice, to keep things simple. It is important to know that the dismissal of the quarters occurs in the same order as their summoning. That is to say, in both the summoning of the quarters and in their banishing, you always begin with the east, then go to the south, west and north.
Here are the steps to banish the circle:
• Stand in the east and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of air
• Stand in the south and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of fire
• Stand in the west and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of water
• Stand in the north and draw the banishing pentagram for the powers of earth
• Close the three layers of the circle you have cast. Stand in the east and hold your hands outward; walk widdershins around the perimeter of the circle, imagining the energies subsiding; as you walk, say:
Earth will crumble my circle,
Water will cause it to fall,
Fire will burn what’s left in the urn,
And the winds will scatter them all!
When you arrive in the east, face outward toward the eastern quarter and say:
The circle is open, but unbroken!
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet
again!
Day 243
Cakes and Wine
After the central working of any ritual, just prior to ending the rites, Witches engage in the custom of cakes and wine. (Some traditions within Wicca call this custom cakes and ale.) In this practice, the officiating priest/ess blesses sweet cakes and wine, ale, or some other sweet fruit drink. The attendees then share the food and drink. This rite may appear simple, but it contains layers of symbolism.
Cakes are a link to the earth through grain, which is a symbol for the fruition and bounty of the harvest. In pagan theology, the earth itself is the mother; grain is her offspring. How can we not recognize that although earth and grain appear as separate manifestations, they are unified, as are a mother and her child?
Wine is an old-world symbol for the earth’s life essence. In ancient Europe, the spirit of the grape-vine was wine. Through cakes and wine Witches can recognize a vast, interconnected network of sun, moon, rain, sky, circling planets, seasons, and human beings. The purpose of consuming cakes and wine is to cultivate an appreciation for this interconnectedness of life, to develop a deep reverence for nature and for each other.
While circle participants consume cakes and wine, it is traditional for them to discuss their experiences during the body of the ritual. It is a time to explore what worked and what didn’t. This process of eating and talking assists Witches in restoring their mundane sensory functions in order to transition from the magical mind to everyday consciousness.
Today’s practice can be done outside of the magic circle. Later you will incorporate this rite as part of your usual circle format.
What You’ll Need:
• Simple sweet cakes (muffins, scones, sweet breads)
• Wine (as an alternative, use juice)
• An empty bowl (for libations)
To begin, pour some wine into your chalice and set it on the altar. Hold your natural athame with the blade pointed to the sky and say:
Now we’ll feast in the Old Ones’ names,
Then fetch thy besom and hie thee hame.
To north, to west,
To south, to east,
Blessed be the sacred feast!
Now turn the point of the natural athame down, hold it just above the wine-filled chalice, and say:
Gracious goddess, lend thy hand,
Gentle lady of the land,
From seed to leaf, from bud to vine,
Mystic Mother, bless this wine.
Dip the blade of your natural athame into the cup and say:
Blade and vessel so combined,
The lovers’ limbs are thus entwined.
Blend and merge divine duet,
Where the blade and cup have met!
Next, place the cakes upon your pentacle and touch the tip of the natural athame to each, saying:
Lord of living, lord of dead,
King of field and grain and bread,
Of this life we must partake,
Horned Hunter, bless this cake.
Pass cakes to each group member, saying:
May you never hunger.
Pass the chalice around for each member to drink, or fill each participant’s chalice with wine, saying:
May you never thirst.
You will now libate (offer) a portion of whatever it is you have eaten or drank into the empty libation bowl. When the circle is opened, empty the libation bowl upon the bare earth.
Casting the Circle:
Putting It All Together
Today’s practice consists of completely casting the circle, conducting the cakes and wine rite, and then banishing the magic circle. The entire circle-casting/banishing script that is contained on the following pages is the one that you will use whenever you hold an esbat or sabbat, do a divination, or cast a spell.
Circle Casting/Banishing
Although the order of putting the circle together is similar to that which you’ve learned over the past days, you will notice some differences in the completely integrated circle.
What You’ll Need:
• A bowl of hot water in which you infuse dried hyssop
• Your dish of salt
• Your bowl of water
• Fire candle
• Air incense
• Four quarter candles
• Self-lighting charcoal
• A thurible
• Your unconsecrated athame, wand, chalice, and pentacle
• An asperges—a ritual device Witches use to sprinkle a mixture of salt and water; the asperges is usually a bundle of either fresh or dried herbs; the best herb choice is rosemary
• Anointing oil (which can be any essential oil you choose, but for best magical effect try lavender, rosemary, or hyssop essential oil)
• Simple sweet cakes (muffins, scones, sweet breads)
• Wine (or as an alternative, fruit juice)
• A libation bowl
Prior to beginning a full circle casting ritual, heat a cup of water. In the hot water, steep two teaspoons of dried hyssop. Sprinkle this infusion all over your body to cleanse it magically prior to the ritual. Another method of magical body cleansing is to bathe in an entire bathtub full of the hyssop infusion.
When you are finished with ritual cleansing, wear your robe or other magical clothing. You may also choose to engage in this rite skyclad—which means ritually disrobed.
Set all of your magical tools on the central altar. Lay out the quarter candles at each of the four compass points and light them.
Begin the circle casting by standing in the eastern quarter of your circle. Face the circle’s perimeter, hold out your arms and say:
I awaken the Power to Know!
Repeat this at the southern edge of your circle, saying:
I awaken the Power to Will!
Repeat this in the west, saying:
I awaken the Power to Dare!
Repeat this in the north, saying:
I awaken the Power to Be Silent!
Return to the central altar and say:
The Powers of the Elements have been summoned, and the circle binds them as one.
Bless the elements of water and earth. Hold your natural athame over your bowl of water and say:
I consecrate thee, O creature of water,
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned Lord.
Hold your natural athame over the dish of salt, saying:
I consecrate thee, O creature of earth,
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned Lord.
Use your natural athame to place three scoops of the salt into the water and say:
Water and earth I cast thee ’round,
By thy essence, life be bound.
Flowing vision, holy birth,
Blessed be by water and earth.
Take the bundle of herbs (your asperges) and your bowl of water to the eastern perimeter of your circle. Walk the perimeter deosil, using the herb bundle to sprinkle your salt/water mixture. When you return to the east, bless yourself with the water and salt mixture. While doing so, say:
I am blessed with the elements of water and earth.
If you want to bless someone within your circle, dab some of your water and salt onto their heart, saying:
You are blessed with the elements of water and earth.
Bless the elements of fire and air. Hold your natural athame above the lighted red candle, saying:
I consecrate thee, O creature of fire,
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned Lord.
Hold your natural athame above the incense, saying:
I consecrate thee, O creature of air,
In the names of the Great Mother and the Horned Lord.
Sprinkle some of the loose incense over the lit charcoal. Once it begins to smolder, say:
Fire and air, I cast thee ’round,
By thy essence, life be bound.
Knowledge of thy true desire,
Blessed be by air and fire.
Take the incense to the eastern edge of the circle. Hold up the incense burner in an offering gesture and walk deosil around the perimeter. Once you return to the east, bless yourself with fire and air (use the incense burner with incense in it, since the lighted charcoal and the incense together represent the blended elements of fire and air), saying:
I am blessed with the elements of fire and air.
If you want to bless someone within your circle, fan some of the incense across the person’s heart, saying:
You are blessed with the elements of fire and air.
Bless yourself in the names of the god and goddess with the anointing oil (such as lavender, rosemary, or hyssop essential oil). In this part of the ritual, you can feel free to insert the names of specific deities where I have written “great mother” and “horned lord.” If you are not working with specific deity names, simply recite the text below.
Dab a bit of your blessing oil onto your forehead or your heart with your middle finger, drawing a small earth-invoking pentagram. While doing so, say:
I am consecrated in the names of (the great mother) and (the horned lord).
Bless other attendees of your circle similarly.
Go to the eastern edge of your circle, point your natural athame outward, walk deosil, and say:
I summon the Circle, the Circle I summon.
Power, peace, and protection will come in
And bind to the womb of our spiritual birth,
Through air, fire, water, and earth!
Return to the east. Draw the invoking air pentagram, saying:
I summon, stir, and call thee up,
Mighty Ones of the East, Powers of air,
To witness my (our) rites and to seal this
circle!
Continue to the southern quarter. Draw the invoking-fire pentagram and say:
I summon, stir, and call thee up,
Mighty Ones of the South, Powers of fire,
To witness my (our) rites and to seal this
circle!
Continue to the western quarter. Draw the invoking-water pentagram and say:
I summon, stir, and call thee up,
Mighty Ones of the West, Powers of water,
To witness my (our) rites and to seal this
circle!
Continue to the northern quarter. Draw the invoking-earth pentagram and say:
I summon, stir, and call thee up,
Mighty Ones of the North, Powers of earth,
To witness my (our) rites and to seal this
circle!
Stand at your central altar, facing the south. Hold your hands in the triangles of manifestation positions, then say:
You who have been from beginning to end,
My (our) rites and mysteries now attend.
Most ancient of Maidens, Mothers, and Crones,
Lord of the Hoof, of Antlers and Bones.
Where earth meets sun, and wind meets sea,
I (we) summon you forth, so mote it be!
If you have a magical working or a sabbat/esbat celebration, this is where you would practice it. At the conclusion of your magic or celebration, you would proceed to the circle closing. For today, sit for a few moments in silence within the circle you have cast and regard this sacred space as an extension of your own life. When you feel ready, proceed to closing the circle, which begins with cakes and wine.
To begin, pour some wine into your chalice and set it on the altar. Hold your natural athame with the blade pointed to the sky and say:
Now we’ll feast in the Old Ones’ names,
Then fetch thy besom and hie thee hame.
To the north, to the west,
To the south, to the east,
Blessed Be the sacred feast!
Now turn the point of the athame down, hold it just above the wine-filled chalice, and say:
Gracious goddess, lend thy hand,
Gentle lady of the land,
From seed to leaf, from bud to vine,
Mystic mother, bless this wine.
Dip the blade of the athame into the cup and say:
Blade and vessel so combined,
The lovers’ limbs are thus entwined.
Blend and merge divine duet,
Where the blade and cup have met!
Next, place the cakes upon your pentacle and touch the tip of the athame to each, saying:
Lord of living, lord of dead,
King of field and grain and bread,
Of this life we must partake,
Horned Hunter bless this cake.
Pass cakes to each group member, saying:
May you never hunger.
Pass the chalice around for each member to drink, or fill each participant’s chalice with wine, saying:
May you never thirst.
Place a small portion of your food and drink into the libation bowl as an offering to the deities present. After you have eaten, stand at the center of the circle facing south and say:
Witches all, our rites conclude
In merriment, the earth renewed.
The cock doth crow the end of night,
We thank the gods who’ve joined our rite.
Pause in silence, thanking the gods for attending and bidding them farewell.
To all I charge thee lock away,
Our magics and our mystery play.
Then raise a toast, a hearty draught,
To bid the gods preserve the Craft!
Take your athame to the eastern perimeter of the circle and face outward. Draw a banishing-air pentagram, saying:
Hail, ye Mighty Ones of the East!
We thank thee for attending,
And ’ere ye depart for your lovely realms,
I (we) say hail and farewell!
Take your athame to the southern perimeter of the circle and face outward. Draw a banishing-fire pentagram, saying:
Hail ye Mighty Ones of the South!
We thank thee for attending,
And ’ere ye depart for your lovely realms,
I (we) say hail and farewell!
Take your athame to the western perimeter of the circle and face outward. Draw a banishing-water pentagram, saying:
Hail, ye Mighty Ones of the West!
We thank thee for attending,
And ’ere ye depart for your lovely realms,
I (we) say hail and farewell!
Take your athame to the northern perimeter of the circle and face outward. Draw a banishing-earth pentagram, saying:
Hail, ye Mighty Ones of the North!
We thank thee for attending,
And ’ere ye depart for your lovely realms,
I (we) say hail and farewell!
Return to face the east. Hold your athame out and begin to walk widdershins around the perimeter of the circle, saying:
Earth will crumble our circle,
Water will cause it to fall,
Fire will burn what’s left in the urn,
And the winds will scatter them all!
Return to the east and face inward toward the altar, and say:
The circle is open, but unbroken.
Merry meet, merry part, and
merry meet again!
This concludes the ritual. Quickly and silently store away all ritual tools and artifacts. Flush ritual salt, water, and used incense in running water. Empty the libation bowl on the bare earth.
Day 245
Contemplative Day:
Sacred Balance
Meditative Question: Where do you find sacred balance?
Candle: Blue-green
Direction: Northwest
Looking for balance is not easy. Many of us search for it in our daily lives. Do we find balance at our work? How about at home? Is it in the sacred life or in secular activities? Moreover, what is balanced and what isn’t? The spiritual search for balance can produce deep insights.
To begin, find a comfortable meditative sitting position in a quiet space while facing the southwest. Light a blue-green candle and sit approximately two feet away from the flame. Next, cast your gaze upon the flickering candle and hold the question firmly for 20 to 30 minutes.
You may not arrive at a magically satisfactory conclusion in one sitting alone, so to manifest a greater depth of answer, it will be important to see this question as it actualizes in each of your activities. Become one with it in each of your tasks. Allow your body, mind, and spirit to become this question as you eat, sleep, work, and play. Over time, a shift in your perception will take place and you will realize your own answer.
Day 246
Devotional Day:
Honoring Cernunnos
Table of Correspondences: Cernunnos
Symbols: Antlers, animal figures, animal pelts, serpents, pine cones, fire, the erect phallus, the sun
Tools: The athame, the sword
Magical Essences/Herbs: Musk, benzoin, and frankincense
Direction: South
He Rules: Strength, agility, assertiveness, decisiveness, wild animals, sexuality, and knowledge of all earthly things
Animal Symbols: Stag
Sacred Foods: Wild meats and whole-grain breads
Magical Stones: Amber, tiger-eye
Cernunnos (pronounced ker-NOO-nos) is a Celtic god who is the archetype of pure, active male energy. He is the male divinity that Witches most commonly invoke in their rites. Scholars first identified his name when they discovered it inscribed on various shrines and altars found throughout excavations of Old European sacred sites. Cernunnos is the horned god of the animals and his name appears to be closely related to the Italian word corno, which is related to horns. There also appears to be a link between the gods Cernunnos and Herne. Celtic artists depicted Herne/Cernunnos on the Gundestrup caul-dron, sitting in a meditative position and surrounded by animals. It is from this image that contemporary mythologists derive his association with the animal world. Cernunnos traditionally governs animals and the wild hunt; he is the archetype of men in their full strength.
The energies that Cernunnos brings to you are physical agility, assertiveness, decisiveness, the powers of wild animals, and knowledge of all earthly things. Cernunnos’ sacred symbols are antlers, animal figures (especially horned or antlered ones), animal pelts, serpents, pinecones, fire, and the sun. Cernunnos’ magical colors are brown, black, woad-blue (navy), and gold. His magical essences and herbs are musk, benzoin, and frankincense. The time of the day that you can easily evoke the presence of Cernunnos is noon. Wild meats and harvest-grain breads are Cernunnos’ sacred foods.
Cernunnos Practice
Make an altar honoring Cernunnos that includes his sacred symbols. Light appropriately colored candles and intone his name slowly, one syllable at a time (pronounced: ker-NOO-nos) until you feel his presence surrounding you. Once he has arrived, spend time contemplating how you might serve this deity. Take time to ask Cernunnos what it would mean to live life through his energy, and listen for his answer. Contemplate how you might live your life if you were an expression of unfettered wildness.
Spend the day honoring this god by attending to your wild instincts.
Day 247
Day of Silence and Review
As you observe silence today, focus your attention on your sense of smell. This may be difficult to do for extended periods of time, so throughout your day, find 10 to 20 minute intervals during which you will be able to focus your attention on what it is you smell in your immediate environment. Do you smell your body? Do you smell other people? Do you savor the smell of your food? When the day is complete, answer these questions:
• What was it like to focus my attention on my sense of smell?
• Am I a person who reacts strongly to environmental smells?
• In what way did my sense of smell impact my thoughts, emotions, or spirit?
• How does what I smell affect my physical energy?
Review
• For today’s practice, take time to ask yourself the following:
• Of the information I have learned up to now, what stands out most as vital?
• What information seems least relevant to my spiritual development?
• Which of the practices seemed to move me spiritually, and which had little impact?
• Of the information I have learned so far, what would be best to review? (Take time to review it now.)
Day 248
Consecrating Your Athame
Now that you have learned how to cast the circle, it is time to consecrate each of your magical tools. Consecration involves both blessing the tool and dedicating it to the gods. If you were trained with an established coven or an initiated priest/ess, most likely you would have consecrated your tools under their direction immediately after you obtained or made them. However, since this book supposes that you are learning on your own, your tool consecration is occurring after you have learned how to forge your own circle.
The athame is always the first tool that the Witch consecrates.
What You’ll Need:
• Your usual circle-casting tools and sacred object
• Fire incense (or use frankincense)
• Fire oil (or one of the following essential oils: cinnamon, bergamot, clove, orange, or pennyroyal)
• A deep bowl of earth
To begin, prepare a small altar at the southernmost point of your sacred space. Cast your magic circle (see Day 244). Once the circle is cast, transfer your pentacle, incense burner, incense, fire candle, essential oil, and water, and salt bowls from the central main altar to the altar you have prepared in the south of your circle. Set the athame on your pentacle, kneel before the altar with your arms open to the sky, and say:
Lady and lord, god and goddess,
I bring before you this athame, ready to
Receive your blessing, that it may ever
Be guided by your hands—in the ways of
nature.
Sprinkle water on the athame from hilt to blade-point and say:
Consecrated are you with the element of water.
Take a small portion of salt in your hand and rub it onto the hilt and blade, saying:
Consecrated are you with the element of earth.
Place a small amount of the fire incense onto the hot coals of your censer. Hold the athame over the smoke and say:
Consecrated are you with the element of air.
Hold the tip of the athame in the flame of the fire candle for 10–15 seconds. While it is there say:
From fire, fire is made. Consecrated are you with the element of fire, your brother.
Plunge the tip of the athame into the bowl of water and hold it there until the blade is completely cooled.
Finally, hold the athame between the palms of your hands and imagine that you fill it with your own life energy.
Rub the blade with fire oil, saying:
Consecrated are you in the art magical.
Your athame is now consecrated. Plunge the blade into the deep bowl of earth and allow it to stay there for twenty-four hours. Close your circle as usual, and use the athame in your ritual work from now on.
Day 249
Wand Consecration
What You’ll Need:
• Your usual circle-casting tools and sacred objects
• Air incense (or if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense or white copal)
• Air oil (or one of the following essential oils: bergamot, sage, star anise, or lemon verbena)
To begin, prepare a small altar at the easternmost point of your sacred space. Cast your circle as usual. This time use your newly consecrated athame to cast the circle. Once the circle is cast, transfer your pentacle, incense burner, fire candle, incense, essential oil, water, and salt bowls to the altar placed in the east of your circle. Set the wand on your pentacle, kneel before the altar with your arms open to the sky, and say:
Lady and lord, god and goddess,
I bring before you this wand, ready to
Receive your blessing, that it may ever
Be guided by your hands—in the ways of
nature.
Sprinkle water on the wand and say:
Consecrated are you with the element of water.
Take a small portion of salt in your hand and rub it onto the wand, saying:
Consecrated are you with the element of earth.
Place a small amount of the air incense onto the hot coals of your censure. Hold the wand over the smoke and say:
From air, air is made. Consecrated are you with the element of air, your brother.
Hold the wand above the flame of the fire candle. While it is there, say:
Consecrated are you with the element of fire.
Finally, hold the wand between the palms of your hands. Close your eyes and imagine that the energies of your body, mind, and spirit channel through your hands and enter into the wand. Rub the wand with air oil, then hold the tip of the athame blade to the wand and say:
Consecrated are you in the art magical.
Your wand is now consecrated. Close your circle as usual.
Day 250
Chalice Consecration
What You’ll Need:
• Your usual circle-casting tools and sacred objects
• Water incense (if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense or sandalwood)
• Water oil (or one of the following essential oils: apple, jasmine, rose, or water lily)
To begin, prepare a small altar at the westernmost point of your sacred space. Cast your circle as usual. Once the circle is cast, transfer your pentacle, incense burner, fire candle, incense, essential oil, and water and salt bowls to the altar in the west of your circle. Set the chalice on your pentacle, kneel before the altar with your arms open to the sky, and say:
Lady and lord, god and goddess,
I bring before you this chalice, ready to
Receive your blessing, that it may ever
Be guided by your hands—in the ways of
nature.
Sprinkle water on the chalice and say:
From water, water is made.
Consecrated are you with the element
of water, your sister.
Take a small portion of salt in your hand and rub it onto the cup, saying:
Consecrated are you with the element of earth.
Place a small amount of the water incense onto the hot coals of your censer. Hold the chalice over the smoke and say:
Consecrated are you with the element of air.
Hold the cup above the flame of the fire candle. While it is there, say:
Consecrated are you with the element of fire.
Finally, hold the chalice between the palms of your hands. Close your eyes and imagine that the energies of your body, mind, and spirit flow through your hands and enter into the cup.
Rub the chalice with water oil. Hold the tip of the athame to the cup and say:
Consecrated are you in the art magical.
Your chalice is now consecrated. Close your circle as usual.
Day 251
Pentacle Consecration
What You’ll Need:
• Your usual circle casting tools and sacred objects.
• earth incense (or if you do not have that prepared, use frankincense or oak)
• Earth oil (or one of the following essential oils: patchouli, honeysuckle, tulip, or lilac)
To begin, prepare a small altar at the northernmost point of your sacred space. Cast your circle as usual. Once the circle is cast, transfer your pentacle, incense burner, fire candle, incense, essential oil, water and salt bowls to the north altar. Set the pentacle in front of you, kneel before the altar with your arms open to the sky, and say:
Lady and lord, god and goddess,
I bring before you this pentacle, ready to
Receive your blessing, that it may ever
Be guided by your hands—in the ways of
nature.
Sprinkle water on the pentacle and say:
Consecrated are you with the element of water.
Take a small portion of salt in your hand and rub it onto the pentacle, saying:
From earth, earth is made. Consecrated are you with the element of earth, your sister.
Place a small amount of the earth incense onto the hot coals of your censer. Hold the pentacle over the smoke and say:
Consecrated are you with the element of air.
Hold the pentacle above the flame of the fire candle. While it is there, say:
Consecrated are you with the element of fire.
Finally, hold the pentacle between the palms of your hands. Close your eyes and imagine that the energies of your body, mind, and spirit flow through your hands and enter into the pentacle.
Rub the pentacle with earth oil. Touch the tip of the athame to the pentacle, saying:
Consecrated are you in the art magical.
Your pentacle is now consecrated. Close your circle as usual.
Day 252
Magic
The early twentieth-century mystic Dion Fortune stated that magic was “the ability to change consciousness at will.” This definition contains a central Wiccan axiom, that of changing consciousness—or changing your mind. That definition represents a big shift in awareness for many readers who are new to the magical arts, and who may believe some of the more popularized notions of the magical arts. In the popular mind, magic is a practice aimed at getting the things that you want from the world, and while magic may start for many newcomers as a practice through which they can focus on and achieve their personal goals, it is ultimately a process through which they align with the whole of nature. When one aligns with nature, the whole of life, nature yields its bounty. When the Witch shifts consciousness from the personal mind to the universal mind, the infinitesimal thing that the Witch focused on attaining fades quickly into the background. What comes to the fore is the understanding that people and things are not separate; that all is interconnected. The thing you want is already a part of you and there is nothing that impedes your attainment.
The most appropriate term that defines Wiccan magic is transformation. Magic transforms your position to the world through altering the mind. In other words, once you change your mind, you transform how you interact with the world. If you have an angry mind, you will interact with the world in one way. If you have a grasping mind, you will interact in another way. If you have thoughts of loneliness, you act in yet another way altogether. When you change your position to the world, then the world, your environment, changes how it interacts with you.
Wiccan magic is not grandiose, sparkling, and flamboyant. It is not about miraculous quick fixes in your life. Instead, Wiccan magic is a modest, measured, quiet, and natural practice. Wiccan magic works as subtly as the sun rising and setting. It is difficult to know when exactly the shadow of a tree shifted from east to west during the course of a day. The sun’s progress is natural, smooth, and understated—just as it may be difficult to know when exactly a plant bud becomes a leaf and then a flower. In nature, in magic, and in your own life, the final outcome is not as important as the process. Magic is the process that shifts your consciousness and then shifts the circumstances of your life.
Witches engage the powers of magic through spells. A spell is an act that symbolizes a Witch’s desired change. Symbolism is key to Wiccan magic. Symbols bridge the worlds of the conscious and unconscious minds. The conscious mind is the part of you that knows language and is able to think in linear, sensible ways. It knows and respects the learned rules and traditions of a culture. The unconscious is the deeper, more powerful realm of the mind. Dreams, nonlinear and nonverbal thought, and creativity spring forth from the unconscious. The unconscious knows only the rules of the cosmos, the rules of unfettered nature. Magic takes root here in the fertile ground of the unconscious mind. Because the unconscious mind is nonverbal, spells rely on symbols. Because this realm of mind is nonlinear, the most powerful spells are those that a practitioner improvises using symbolic objects and tools that come into hand at any given moment.
In preparing for a spell, a Witch collects symbols that she feels confident will harness the energies of her mind, body, earth, and spirit. Many Witches create their own magical symbols for their spells; however, there is a great body of magical lore surrounding traditional symbolic correspondences. These correspondences include stones, fragrances, potions, colors, numbers, plants, times of day, and special images. As you learn about many of these traditional correspondences, keep in mind that a magical symbol is anything that holds meaning for you. It needs to speak to and open the contents of your deep, unconscious mind. Your magical symbols should help you feel connected in some way to your desire.
The next step of Wiccan magic is when the Witch directs spiritual energy through her collected symbols. Finally, the Witch should take practical action in order to obtain her goals. Magic is not about lighting candles and mumbling a chant, hoping that these symbolic acts will in and of themselves cause change. They won’t. You must act practically in order to produce discernible change.
The three components of Wiccan magic that you will learn over the next days include:
1. Gathering symbols that will attract a desired goal
2. Timing the spell to coincide with influential planetary and lunar tides
3. Raising and directing spiritual energy
It is important for you to know that there are entire books devoted exclusively to the subject of magic, and ours is only a brief introduction to the topic. The magical arts are a discipline in and of themselves. They take years of training, contemplation, and steady practice before one masters the art fully.
It is common for first-year Witches to expect dramatic change, and to experience something else altogether. When your magic appears not to have taken effect, keep reminding yourself that magic is equivalent to the changing of seasons; it is slow and organic. First comes the planting of seeds, then tiny roots form, tender shoots appear, and gradually blossoms appear. For today’s practice, contemplate the following questions:
• Is magic what you thought it would be?
• What were you hoping you would be able to do with magic?
• What influences do you think might have shaped your ideas about magic?
Day 253
The Law of Threefold Return
& The Wiccan Rede
Did you know that magic has its own law? It most certainly does. The law of magic emerges from the principle of karma. For readers new to this term, karma is a principle that emerges from the mystic practices of India. The principle of karma is old enough to predate Buddhism and one can find its roots in the earliest of yogic practices, in the religion of the Jains and in the Upanishads. Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action.” The law of karma is plain and pragmatic: for each action there is a reaction. Nothing could be simpler.
Since the rebirth of Witchcraft in the 1950s, contemporary Witches have adopted the principle of karma and they have incorporated it into magical practice. Not only that, but Witches take the concept of karma a step further than originally intended and believe in the Law of Threefold Return. This spiritual law holds that whatever forces one magically sets in motion will return to its original source threefold. Naturally, Witches direct magic toward positive ends. Healing, blessing, bringing about positive change are all workings of the Witch. These same energies return to the Witch and empower her life. Witches avoid harmful practices because they know that harmful magic harms everyone. Harmful magic usually centers around controlling people in some way, or forcing nature to comply with the individual will.
Some decades ago, due to popularized versions of Witchcraft, it was fashionable to classify the forms of magic by color. In Wicca’s earliest days, Witches called constructive forms of magic “white magic” and they called the destructive forms “black magic.” The hierarchies implied by these terms (racial and otherwise) have caused people to abandon their use.
There also exists a third category of magic that is neither constructive nor destructive. Witches call these more neutral workings “bindings” and they practice this form of magic in order to stop people from harming themselves, other people, animals, or the environment.
The Wiccan Rede
The Wiccan Rede is the Witches’ code for both living life and for working magic. The Rede states, “An it harm none, do as ye will.” The Rede, although only a few short words, presents Witches with complex issues that require careful consideration. The central issue that stirs the Witches’ cauldron of questions concerns the sentiment of “harming none.” At first blush, the statement seems simple enough. We are bade to work magic and to live without creating harm. However, as we consider the rede deeply, it becomes a puzzle. How, in fact, do we live without harming? As we had learned at Lammas, one of the central mysteries of living is that life feeds upon itself. But is our life condition itself a state of perpetual harm? Is it possible for us to live without causing harm to anything or anyone else? At its most basic level, we can see that life consumes itself at every turn. The key to unlocking this riddle is in our conceptualization of harm. When we consider the ultimate reality—that we are all part of the same unit, we are “one”—harm is impossible. Nothing ever lives and nothing ever dies ultimately, simply because there never was anything “individual” or separate that could live or die. Yet even as we keep this one rather “ultimate” aspect of reality in mind, we also find that we live in a temporal reality where life and death do exist. The Rede reminds us to bear in mind both aspects of reality, and to therefore be mindful of our intentions, our words and our actions as we live our lives in each moment.
• Describe a time when you wished for something either positive or negative and your wish came true. What were the results on your life?
• An old Gypsy saying warns, “Be careful of what you wish for; it may come true.” Why might this saying be important for us to consider?
• Spend time today considering a positive spell you would like to cast. Consider all of the possibilities and outcomes of this spell. Is this spell truly positive for all concerned? Is there an element of “controlling” in this spell? How might this spell advance you spiritually?
• Can you think of a time where a negative magical working would be necessary? Why? What would it be? What might be the result?
• How might you rework the negative spell in a positive way?
• Do ethics belong in magic? Why?
Practice: Theban Alphabet
Witches often inscribe candles and parchment paper for spiritual work using magical alphabets. The Theban alphabet is one channeled by Honorious in the sixteenth century. The alphabet was then transcribed by Francis Barrett in his work The Magus.81 For today’s practice, learn the alphabet and use a red pen to inscribe your name. Inscribe words for the things you would like in your life or in the world, such as love, peace, prosperity, etc.
Day 254
The Moon and Magic
As you have learned so far in your year and a day’s study, timing is an important part of Wiccan practice. Witches pay heed to the seasons, the time of day, and the position of the sun and moon, since these directly affect their calendar of spiritual celebrations and rituals. In magical work, this is no less true. The moon plays a significant role in the timing of magical operations. Not only does the phase of the moon carry a symbolic quality that influences magical operations, but it exerts tangible energetic influences on our bodies and upon the earth itself. Because the moon affects the body, it also affects human consciousness. Whatever ripples one feels in consciousness are also sent like waves into the field of magical energy.
But how does the moon affect magic? Each phase of the moon holds specific symbolic and energetic influences that can aid in the success of your spells. Here are the important lunar phases and their magical significance.
Waxing Moon
The period from a dark moon (no visible moon in the sky) to a full moon is best for spells concerning birth, beginnings, foundation, increase, gain, construction, creation, accomplishment, progress, development, commencement, growth, improvement, expansion, and flourishing.
Full Moon
Although almanac listings state only one night of the full moon, Witches believe that there are three full moon nights. These three nights include the day prior and the day following the actual almanac listing. The full moon is suited for spells concerning achievement, triumph, victory, success, conquest, realization, command, control, influence, authority, attainment, fulfillment, power, strength, psychic ability, and magical prowess.
Waning Moon
The period from when the moon is full to when it is no longer visible is the waning cycle. The waning moon is the tide for spells concerning ending, concluding, inhibiting, hindrance, transformation, hold-ing, returning, stopping, internalizing, loss, defeat, failure, blocking, interrupting, dwindling, diminishing, collecting, altering, and replenishment.
If you own a computer with a modem and know a bit about accessing the Internet, the following is a web page where you can find the current lunar phase, as well as the time of sun and moon-rise for any day of the year: http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/almanac/. If you prefer, check the almanac section of your local newspaper.
• This evening, go outside to observe the moon. Lie on your back and gaze into the sky. Allow the lunar light and energy to pour down upon you. What effect does it seem to have on you?
• What is the moon’s current phase?
• What kinds of magic could you do on a night like tonight?
Day 255
The Ingredients of Magic
Like attracts like” is one of the key axioms of Witch magic, meaning that if you can symbolize your desire, you personify its essence. Magical theory says once you have personified the essence of your desire, you can attract the desirable situation itself.
The key to success in magical operations is in gathering together the symbols that subtly, vibrationally attract your desire. There are many traditional symbols (and items) that correlate to specific magical outcomes. Many of these symbolic items include stones, herbs, colors, and herbal essences. Gathering together just the right symbols can make or break a spell and Witches take great care to choose their symbols wisely. Our task over the next days is to learn the traditional symbols of magical practice and to commit them to memory.
The Colors of Magic
The chart on page 262 contains a list of magical colors that Witches commonly believe to possess both symbolic and occult, vibrational power. Through the correct color selection of candles, robes, room lighting, and so forth, Witches can highly influence their magical operations. Along with each color, I have noted traditional magical correlations. Again, your task today is to review this list and commit it to memory.
Choosing Colors for a Purpose
• Think of a specific magical working you would like to do. Which color would be most appropriate for the working?
• What planetary association goes with that color?
• Wear a specific color today for its magical effect. Did the color affect anything?
Ways to Use Color in a Spell
• Choose a candle of the color that represents your goal
• Write your goal in an ink of a corresponding color
• Wear clothing of the color that represents your goal
• Write your goal on paper of the color that represents your goal
• Visualize yourself surrounded by an energy field of the color that represents your goal
|
Color |
Traditional Correlations |
Planetary Influence |
|
White |
Purity, spirituality, honesty, spiritual cleansing, virtue, goodness, perfection, unity |
All Planets |
|
Yellow |
Knowledge, communication, the arts, mental acuity, charm, confidence— |
Mercury |
|
Orange |
Happiness: joy, stimulation, adaptability, resilience, tolerance |
Jupiter |
|
Red |
Physical energy, passion, strength, vitality, motivation, sexuality, movement, men’s power, men’s mysteries, anger, intensity, drive, ambition, achievement |
Mars |
|
Pink |
Friendship, love, warmth, kindness, morality, forgiveness, affection, the heart, tenderness, intimacy, marriage, relationships |
Venus |
|
Purple |
Psychic power, attainment, divinity, worldly power, influence, accomplishment, fulfillment |
Uranus, Pluto |
|
Blue |
Peace, tranquility, soothing, cycles, moods, emotions, balancing, healing, comfort, sleep-inducing, calming |
Neptune |
|
Green |
Growth, fertility, money, finances, prosperity, healing, hope, women’s power, women’s concerns, birth, midwifery, sharing, bonding, the earth |
Earth, Venus |
|
Black |
Binding, holding, returning, stopping, ending, internalizing, loss, blocking, interrupting, dwindling, collecting, changing, renewing, transforming |
Saturn |
|
Brown |
Solidity, manifestation, grounding, business, work, strength, stability, honor, endurance |
Earth, Saturn |
|
Gray |
Neutralizing, counterbalancing, canceling, confusing |
All planets in retrograde (or reversed movement) |
|
Gold |
Solar power, success, power, generosity, material wealth, the god |
Sun |
|
Silver |
Lunar power, money, psychic ability, magic, change, spirituality, the goddess |
Moon |
Day 256
Days of the Week and Magic
An important element for you to consider in your magical timing is the day of the week. Each day of the week corresponds with a planetary influence. Each planetary influence carries attributes that can help with specific magical outcomes. On page 264 is a chart of the days of the week that describes how they correspond with the planetary influences and the types of magical work that would be successful on each day.
• What day of the week is it today? Considering only the day of the week, determine what kinds of magical workings would be successful if employed today.
• Think of a magical effect you would like to have. Now consider: 1) Which day of the week would best suit the magic? 2) Which phase of the moon would best suit the magic? 3) Which color would best suit the magic? Research when the moon phase coincides with a day of the week that can aid in your magic.
• Create flash cards to help you commit the weekdays and planetary glyphs to memory. (A glyph is a symbol that represents or embodies certain spiritual or magical principles.
Ways to Use Planetary Glyphs in a Spell
• Inscribe a candle of the color that represents your goal with its corresponding planetary glyph.
• Draw a planetary glyph that represents your goal on paper and carry it with you.
• Visualize the planetary glyph glowing inside of you or someone else.
Magical Correspondences to Days of the Week
|
Day of the Week |
Planetary Alignment |
Planetary Glyph (or symbol) |
Magical Workings |
|
Monday |
Moon |
|
Purity, spirituality, honesty, spiritual cleansing, virtue, goodness, perfection, unity, lunar power, money, psychic ability, magic, change, spirituality, invoking the goddess’ aid, childbirth |
|
Tuesday |
Mars |
|
Physical energy, passion, strength, vitality, motivation, sexuality, movement, men’s power, men’s mysteries, anger, intensity, drive, ambition, achievement |
|
Wednesday |
Mercury |
|
Knowledge, communication, the arts, mental acuity, charm, confidence, change, adaptability, acceptance |
|
Thursday |
Jupiter |
|
Luck, expansion, growth, honor, attainment, worldly power, influence, accomplishment, fulfillment |
|
Friday |
Venus |
|
Fertility, money, prosperity, healing, hope, women’s power, Earth women’s mysteries, sharing, bonding, the arts, grace, charm, appeal, goodness |
|
Saturday |
Saturn |
|
The law, limitations, binding, holding, returning, stopping, ending, internalizing, dwindling, blocking, interrupting, loss, collecting, changing, renewing, transforming |
|
Sunday |
Sun |
|
Solar power, success, personal empowerment, generosity, material wealth, immortality, spirituality, health, vitality, invoking the god’s aid |
Day 257
Magical Stones
Witches believe that certain precious stones possess specific magical powers. Hermeticists of the Middle Ages believed that stones were conduits of planetary energies. Ancient alchemists worked with these influences in a highly specialized manner in order to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone. This was a key substance that was alleged to enable alchemists to spiritually transform one material into another (such as turning lead into gold). The practitioners of these arts developed elaborate tables of correspondence that classified stones by their occult powers. It is from these traditions that contemporary Witches trace their magical practices with stones. In Wiccan magic, a Witch can incorporate stones in specific spells, or she can carry them for their vibrational influences, set them into jewelry, ritual tools, or altar decorations.
Below is a list of the stones that Witches use most commonly in their spells. There are many other stones with magical influences. Your task today is to review this list and commit as much of it to memory as possible.
Adamant: Brings joy in all things
Agate: Protects against venomous bites, improves vigor, calms storms
Amber: Soothes the disposition, prevents disease, improves sight
Amethyst: Pleasant dreams, psychic powers, maintains chastity or celibacy
Aquamarine: Courage, nimble mind and actions, stops procrastination
Azurite: Meditation, divination
Bloodstone: Wisdom, recognition, long life, place under pillow for prophetic dreams
Carnelian: Stimulates the conscious mind, movement, stops negative energy, solar power
Chalcedony: Protects against spells, home protection, healing
Copper: Conducts/directs energy, stabilizes energy
Coral: Protection against evil, promotes true love
Diamond: Truth, loyalty, protection from spirits, helps troubled relationships, wisdom
Emerald: Channels power, fulfillment, peace, calming, exposes deceit and evil
Garnet: Love, sex, friendships
Gold: Accomplishment, wealth, achievement, immortality, attunement with the god
Jade: Gives one a “green thumb,” helps with kidney ailments, aids plant growth
Jet: Banishes evil spirits and evil forces
Lodestone: Attracting desires, draws off energy that causes illness
Lapis Lazuli: Bounty, alchemy, psychic protection, protection by Mother Earth
Lead: Grounding, centering, reality
Moonstone: Dreams, psychic visions, invokes the aid of the moon goddess
Obsidian: Control over magical forces
Onyx: Neutralizes negative energy; depending on use, creates or breaks friendships
Opal: Raises magical power
Pearl: Peace, wisdom, acquired knowledge
Quartz (clear): Divination, transmits/receives energies, draws desires
Rose Quartz: Love, beauty, positive energy
Tourmaline Quartz: Astral projection
Amethyst Quartz: Directs magical power
Ruby: Health, strength, peaceful heart
Sapphire: Truthfulness in speech, spiritual attainment
Silver: Moon magic, balance of feminine energy
Topaz: Promotes physical beauty, joy, happiness
Turquoise: Protection from all harm, protection from evil magic, banishes negativity
Ways to Use Stones in a Spell
• Choose a stone that represents your goal and carry it around with you
• Paint a planetary glyph on a corresponding magical stone and place it somewhere prominent
• Wear jewelry embedded with magical stones that represent your goal
• Lying down, place the stones that represent your magical goal on each of your chakra points
Consider a magical working you would like to do. Name the following symbols you might use for this working:
• Moon phase
• Day of the week
• Color
• Planetary glyph
• Magical stone:
• What keyword would you write in Theban on a candle or other magical object?
Exploring Magical Stones
• Have you ever experienced the magical influences of a stone? Discuss it in writing or with a friend.
• How might you use one of the stones listed here today?
In a small pouch, place one or two stones that hold a magical influence that you desire. Place the pouch on a string and wear it around your neck, or place the pouch somewhere that allows it to have close bodily contact. Monitor the effects of the stone and journal about your experiences.
Day 258
Magical Herbs
Herbs play an important role in magical work, as you have come to learn throughout your training. Herbs form the basis of many magical incenses, oils, and potions. Witches believe that herbs are living vibrational representations of specific magical influences. Because they are living, they carry great strength and hold their own spiritual power. From time immemorial, Witches have used herbs to heal and to create magical change. Below is a list of some traditional Wiccan herbs and their magical uses. Perhaps it was the Witch names for herbs that gave rise to the many dark fantasies of Inquisitors regarding the practices of Witches during the Witch hunts of sixteenth-century Europe.82
• Select an herb from the chart on page 267–268 for its magical influence. Hold it in your hands during meditation, or place it somewhere near you during the day. What effects do you note?
• What herbs do you eat in your food? Do they have any magical effect that you can note?
• Start a magical garden and plant herbs that will aid you in your magical work.
Ways to Use Herbs in a Spell
• Choose an herb that represents your goal and carry it with you in a small sachet pouch
• Steep the herb in water and bathe in the water
• Make a potion of the herb by steeping it in a cup of hot water. If the herb is not poisonous, you can drink it for the magical effect, or sprinkle the potion around your home
• Burn the herbs as “incense on hot coals to release their magical influence
Note: In the following chart I discuss only briefly the various herbs and their magical properties. In the coming days you will learn more about herbs in depth
Magical Correspondences and Uses of Herbs
|
Common Name |
Other Names |
Witch Name |
Magical Uses |
|
Aconite |
Wolfsbane, Blue Rocket |
Monkshood, Friar’s Cap |
Magical prowess, creates illusion, magical flight, returning, diminishing |
|
Agrimony |
——— |
Church Steeples |
Produces sleep, deep dreaming |
|
Angelica |
Masterwort |
——— |
Carried to market to obtain fair dealing, protection from evil |
|
Anise |
Chinese Anise |
——— |
Preserves youthful appearance, safety, restful sleep |
|
Basil |
St. Josephswort |
——— |
Love, romance, initiation |
|
Bay Laurel |
Bay |
Daphne |
Honor, visions, prophecy |
|
Benzoin |
——— |
——— |
Inner strength, visions, strong mind |
|
Blessed Thistle |
——— |
Holy Thistle, Witch-Thorn |
Invokes Pan, sexuality, removes curses |
|
Chamomile |
Plant’s Physician |
Maythen |
Healing, curing, invokes solar power |
|
Cinnamon |
——— |
——— |
Purification, energy, strength, awareness |
|
Cinquefoil |
Five-Finger- Grass |
Five-Fingers |
Used in flying ointments, enhances all spellwork |
Magical Correspondences and Uses of Herbs, Cont’d
|
Common Name |
Other Names |
Witch Name |
Magical Uses |
|
Clover |
Trefoil |
Hare’s Foot |
Luck, consecration |
|
Comfrey |
Healing Herb |
Ass’s Ear, Blackwort, Knitbone |
Placed in shoes to assure safe journeys |
|
Elder |
——— |
Elder-Tree- Mother |
Invokes the Mother Goddess, protection against lightning, divination |
|
Eyebright |
Euphrasia |
——— |
Psychic balance, visions, clairvoyance |
|
Fennel |
Fenkel |
Strength, virility, fertility |
|
|
Ferns |
——— |
——— |
Invisibility |
|
Foxglove |
Fairyglove |
Bloody Fingers, Fairy-Caps |
Communing with elemental spirits |
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Hops |
Marrubium |
——— |
Dreams, sleep |
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Horehound |
——— |
——— |
Opens up creative channels, inspiration |
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Hyssop |
Azob |
Holy Herb |
Spiritual protection, spiritual cleansing |
Magical Correspondences and Uses of Herbs, Cont’d
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Common Name |
Other Names |
Witch Name |
Magical Uses |
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Ivy |
Ground Ivy |
Cat’s Paw |
Worn to prevent drunkenness |
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Juniper |
——— |
——— |
Invites spirits, tree magic, justice |
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Lavender |
——— |
——— |
Calms the nerve; love, honesty |
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Mandrake |
——— |
Duck’s Foot, Satan’s Apple |
Aids in all magical endeavors, brings the sight, protection |
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Mistletoe |
——— |
Druid’s Herb |
Fertility, immortality, prophecy |
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Mugwort |
——— |
——— |
Sleep, dreams, prophetic dreams, astral projection |
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Pennyroyal |
Tickweed, Squawmint |
Run-by-the- Ground |
Consecration, brings spirits of the departed |
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Pomegranate |
Grenadier |
——— |
Women’s mysteries, cycles |
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Rosemary |
Incessier |
——— |
House protection, aids memory, eternal youth |
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Rue |
Garden Rue |
Herb of Grace |
Dismisses evil forces, breaks dark spells |
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Sage |
——— |
Sawge |
Prolongs life, common sense, wisdom, insight |
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Saint John’s Wort |
John the Conqueror |
High John |
Success, power, attainment |
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Tansy |
——— |
Bitter Buttons |
Secrets revealed, underworld journeys, meditation |
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Yarrow |
Bloodwort |
Devil’s Plaything |
Burned for success in tarot or other divination methods |
Day 259
Magical Essential Oils
Below is a listing of essential oils that correspond with various magical goals. Commit the list to memory and anoint your clothing or your skin with one of the oils today to benefit from its magical properties. (The type of oil is followed by what it influences.)
Oils and Their Influences
Apple: Love, peace, friendship, spiritual joy
Basil: Energy, passion, physical strength
Bay: Purification, protection
Bergamot: Sleep, control, commanding
Chamomile: Sleep, dreams, prophecy, purification
Cardamom: Sex
Carnation: Magical strength, love, health, transformation
Cedar: Invokes spirits, protection by spiritual forces
Cinnamon: Compelling, drawing, changing, prosperity
Clove: Memory, protection, courage, strength
Clover: Protects animals, summons animal spirits and powers
Cypress: Healing, money, prosperity
Eucalyptus: Purification, business
Fennel: Change, magic, sexuality, communication, the arts
Frankincense: Spiritual understanding, spiritual awareness
Gardenia: Lunar power, emotional strength
Geranium: Happiness, writing, acting, singing, dancing
Honeysuckle: Stability, growth, solidity, slow steady change
Hyssop: Spiritual cleansing
Jasmine: Love, sexuality, sensuality, universal love, dreams
Juniper: Healing, protection, strengthens all magic
Lavender: Health, love, magic, insight, clarity, focus
Lemon: Happiness, energies of the crone, consecration
Myrrh: Meditation, enlightenment, healing sorrow or depression
Nutmeg: Psychic visions, spiritual aid, animal powers
Orange: Joy, energy
Patchouli: Grounding, sexuality, weight control, gain, wealth
Pennyroyal: Protection, reversal of negative energies
Peppermint: Healing, soothing, balancing
Pine: Healing, longevity, youth, strength
Rose: Love, protection from evil, attracts fairies, goddess energies
Rosemary: Improves memory, stimulates and energizes
Sage: Purification, wisdom, mental health
Sandalwood: Meditation, divination, and trance induction
Spikenard: Enables one to learn from karmic circumstances, clears karma
Thyme: Enables one to see the elementals, protection from evil and wild animals, communication with the dead
Yarrow: Banishes anger and hostility, grants one’s wishes
Ways to Use Essential Oils in a Spell
• Choose an oil that represents your goal and anoint yourself with it daily, or until you obtain the goal
• Place a few drops of the essential oil in water and sprinkle this around your home
• Anoint a candle of a color that represents your goal with the oil. Then burn the candle
• Mix the essential oil into herbs that correspond to your goal and burn this to release its magical influences
• Anoint a stone or an herb sachet with the oil and carry these with you for an intensified magical effect
• Anoint your chakras with an essential oil that represents your goal
• Place a few drops of the essential oil in bathwater and then bathe in the scented water
• Using the middle finger of your dominant hand, smear the oil to form a planetary glyph or other symbol onto a candle, yourself, or another person
Day 260
Hours of the Day and Magic
Each hour of the day resonates with specific magical energies. In hourly intervals, the planets take turns imparting their specific virtues. Once you know the repeating sequence of planetary hours, you will find it easy to calculate the time of day that might best suit your magical purposes. The repeating pattern of planets is as follows:
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Sun |
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Health, wealth, success, joy, luck, healing |
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Venus |
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Love, friendship, relationship, compassion, the arts |
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Mercury |
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Magic, knowledge, communication, writing, speech |
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Moon |
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Psychic ability, spirituality, goddess energy, divination |
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Saturn |
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Work, stability, attention, reversals, impeding, stopping |
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Jupiter |
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Luck, expansion, prosperity, money, empire |
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Mars |
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Strength, vitality, health, sex, anger, passion |
The first hour of each day is ruled by the planet that rules the entire day. Then the sequence of seven planets follows. For example, let’s say that on Monday the sunrise will be at 6:30 am. The planetary influence governing the first hour on Monday (from 6:30 to 7:30) is the same as the planetary ruler for that day of the week, namely the moon. The following hour from 7:30 to 8:30 am is ruled by Saturn. The hour between 8:30 and 9:30 am is ruled by Jupiter, and so on. On Tuesday, the hour of sunrise is governed by Mars, then the sequence continues with Sun, then Venus, Mercury, etc. The pattern of seven repeats itself again and again until the twenty-fourth hour of the day. The best source of information regarding the hour of your local sunrise is your newspaper.
Planetary Influences of the Hours
Below is a chart to help you determine the planetary influence of the hour during sunrise to sunset. The chart begins with the first hour of each day and ends with the twelfth hour.
Magical Hours 1 through 12:
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Tue |
Weds |
Thur |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
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Here are the hours and planetary influences from the thirteenth hour to the twenty-fourth hour of each weekday.
Magical Hours 13 through 24:
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Hour |
Mon |
Tue |
Weds |
Thur |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
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• What hour of the day, since sunrise, is it right now?
• Find out the time of sunrise from your newspaper. Consider the day of the week and calculate the magical hour you are in right now.
• What types of magic are best suited for this planetary hour?
• Check the newspaper for tomorrow’s sunrise time. What is the planetary influence at this same time tomorrow?
Day 261
Raising Power
Once you have your spell ingredients and you have selected the proper day, moon phase, and hour, it is time to raise power. You will produce only minimal (if any) magical results if you merely gather raw spell ingredients (candles, oils, incenses, etc.) and rely on magical timing. Raising power is how Witches give their spell ingredients life, energy, and movement.
Contrary to popular notions, raising power does not entail tapping into forbidden or uncontrollable forces. Witches work with nature and the spiritual essences of wind, sea, soil, sun, and moon. Witches also harness the natural energies inherent to the human mind and body.
There are many traditional methods that Witches use to raise natural magical power. However, only four of the methods are useful to readers who are just starting out in Wicca. These four methods are dance/movement, breath control, chanting, and drumming. During the next several days you will learn these methods. It is important to note that no method is better than another; each has its own merits and at least one method will resonate closely with your personality and spiritual style. Through practice, you will discover which methods are most and least effective for you.
Dance and Movement
Although all varieties of dance can facilitate the movement of magical energy, Witches use primarily shamanic forms. One shamanic technique involves the evocation of spontaneous body movement. One traditionally shamanic method that facilitates spontaneous body movement is allowing the mind to follow the metronomic effects of drums. Witches call this drum/dance technique trance dance. The wild, unchoreographed, and often primitive trance dance usually leads a participant into a state of consciousness that anthropologists call ecstasy. In this heightened state of mind, the dancer loses the sense of self and becomes one with sound and movement. Within this magical state of consciousness, Witches harness spiritual power. When transitioning back from the ecstatic to the ordinary realm of consciousness, a Witch is able to magically use her harnessed power for some desired end.
Practice: Trance Dance
What You’ll Need:
• Loose clothing
• Percussive music (preferably with no vocals), or
• Someone to play a percussive instrument while you dance
Warning: It is extremely important that you avoid trance dancing if you have heart ailments, high-blood pressure, or other restrictive bodily disorders that might result in physical injury. If you are not certain of your condition, consult your physician first.
To begin, take time to stretch your body and limber up. When you are sufficiently warmed up, stand in the center of an open space. Be sure that the floor is clear of furniture and objects over which you might trip.
Turn on some percussive music, or have a friend begin drumming for you with a steady beat. As you stand in the center of your space, begin by listening to the drumbeat. Close your eyes. Without editing your movements, allow your body parts to move to the sound of the percussion. Begin by allowing your feet to express the essence of percussive beat. Move only your feet. Then move up to your knees and move only them. Isolate each of these body parts, allowing each one to move as it will in response to the drum beat. Move up to hips/thighs, then stomach, torso, arms, hands, and head.
After isolated body parts have moved to the beat, begin to combine the parts. To do this, I recommend that you half-open your eyes. Open them just enough so that you can see your environment, to prevent injury. Begin by moving your feet. Then add your knees, your thighs, hips, stomach, torso, arms, hands, and head. When complete, you should be moving freely and wildly to the drumbeat. Continue with this dancing until you sense the energy levels within your body beginning to increase. Some practitioners say that they see lights or feel heat when they are ready to harness magical power. Once you feel you are ready, imagine that you gather power with your hands from the air around you. Actually scoop the air around you, imagining that you form large balls of energy. When you feel you have created an energy ball, place it physically within your chest. Continue the process until you sense that you have gathered enough energy for your spell.
After you have gathered enough energy, drop yourself physically to the floor. Lie on your back and feel the energy swirling around inside of you. After you have sensed this energy, allow it to flow into the ground beneath you. Close your eyes and imagine the energy melting away from your body, into the ground, where it is neutralized. To further ground this energy, turn over so that your stomach is on the floor. Now curl up into a ball, pressing the palms of your hands, your knees, and your forehead all to the floor until you feel that you are returning to your normal sense awareness.
Day 262
Raising Power: Breath Control
In earlier lessons, you learned about the importance of breathing in the magical process. Correct breathing directly affects the Witch’s vitality and therefore, her magic. Another component of effective magic is one’s emotional state, which is directly affected by one’s breathing patterns. For example, states of anxiety and anger can be calmed through deep rhythmic breathing, or states of lethargy and depression can be altered with specific patterns of quick, forceful breaths.
In ordinary breathing, inhalations and exhalations are generally shallow, and they occur without conscious exertion. Magical breathing focuses on conscious awareness of expanding the abdomen, lungs, and rib cage on the inhalation, and full emptying of the lungs upon exhalation. Patterns are typically involved in magical breathing, such as in the technique you will learn today. Many of the patterns upon which breath control is based link to the discipline of numerology. In general, this means that the number of breaths one takes in a pattern has symbolic numerical significance.
Practice: Power Breathing
The following power-breathing technique comes from the ancient Polynesian system of magic called Huna. The word Huna is similar to the English word occult; both mean “secret.” The benefits of using this technique to raise energy include:
• It is silent, so you can practice it anywhere
• It involves a completely internal process, so you don’t need candles, drums, incense or anything else to aid you
To begin, find a quiet place to sit with your feet planted solidly on the ground. Close your eyes. Imagine that you hear soft, rhythmic drumming in the distance. Begin to inhale. Using the imaginary drumbeat as a metronome, inhale on an even count of four. Hold the breath for another even count of four. Exhale the breath to an even count of four. Hold in that exhaled position for another even count of four. That entire cycle of inhalation-hold-exhalation-hold is counted as one breath in this magical technique. In order to create power, you must complete forty magical breath cycles. This may take about fifteen to twenty minutes to complete.
To further enhance this technique, use the following visualizations:
• As you inhale, imagine that you breathe in pure, raw energy
• As you hold the breath, imagine that this energy transforms in color to a deep blue
• As you exhale, imagine that you aim the blue energy to the area just above your head; while you continue on with all forty cycles, imagine that the pool of blue energy increases in size
The Polynesians believe that this energy you first inhale is unrefined. They say that the human body converts this energy into a useable form. The pool of energy that gathers above your head does not dissipate; it remains intact until you use it.
When you are finished with this technique, be sure to ground and center yourself by pressing the palms of your hands, your knees, and your forehead to the ground.
Day 263
Raising Power: Chanting
Much like trance dance, chanting is a technique that helps the Witch bypass the analytical mind. Magical chanting usually involves the rhythmic repetition of phrases and couplets. This process occupies the conscious mind, thus freeing the unconscious with all its psychic power. The technique of magical chanting involves careful awareness of the pace and the pitch (or voice level) of your recitation. You should intensify both the pace and pitch as the chant progresses so that you can feel the energy of magic building up inside you.
In today’s practice, begin by choosing one of the chants provided below. Take time to commit the chant to memory. As you recite the chant, visualize energy building up as you gradually increase the chanting intensity and speed. Once you have sensed the buildup of energy inside you, stop your chanting and lie with your back to the floor. Then imagine that the energy you built up projects out of you, downward into the ground, where it is neutralized.
When you are finished practicing this technique, be sure to ground and center yourself by pressing the palms of your hands, your knees, and your forehead to the ground for a few moments.
Magical Chants
The Witch’s Rune
The Witch’s Rune is one of the most well known and frequently used chants among contemporary Wiccans. Remember to practice building up speed and volume during the chant until you sense that you have raised energy inside you.
Darksome night and shining moon,
Harken to the Witches’ Rune,
East and south, then west, to north,
Here come I to call thee forth!
By all the powers of land and sea,
Be obedient unto me,
Wand and pentacle and sword,
Harken ye unto my word.
Cords and censer, scourge and knife,
Waken all ye unto life.
Powers of the Witches’ blade,
Come ye as the charge is made.
Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,
Send your aid unto the spell,
Horned hunter of the night,
Work my spell by magic rite.
By all the powers of land and sea,
As I do say, “So mote it be.”
By all the might of moon and sun,
As I do will, it shall be done.83
The Eko Eko Chant
This chant enlists the aid of angelic forces to assist in the magical working.
Eko, eko, Michael (pronounced mee-kai-el)
Eko, eko, Gabriel (pronounced gab-ree-el)
Eko, eko, Raphael (pronounced rahf-eye-el)
Eko, eko Samael! (pronounced sam-ay-el)
A Goddess Chant
Chant this whenever you want to tap into the energies of the divine feminine.
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate,
Demeter, Kali, Innana!
A God Chant
Chant this whenever you want to tap into the energies of the divine masculine.
Janus, Cernunnos, Dumuzi, Iacchus,
Apollo, Hermes, Anubus!
An Elemental Chant
Use this chant to empower your spells through the elementals.
Sylph, Undine, Dragon, and Gnome,
Come ye forth, from where ye roam.
Build your power; lend it to me,
Bless this magic, blessed be!
Day 264
Directing Power
Raising the power you intend to use in a spell is the first portion of the magical process. Next comes directing the energy you have raised. Wiccans use several methods that direct magical energy to a desired end. Each method requires your focused attention and visualization ability. In directing energy, you first create what Witches call the cone of power, which is a vortex of magical energy. Using your powers of visualization, you then project the raised energy into the symbols you collected for your spell (such as your stones, scents, planetary glyphs, images, etc.).
The Cone of Power
Most Witches practice raising the cone of power within spiritual communities, although solitary practitioners use this method with great success. The technique involves a combination of raising magical energy and guided visualization. As the Witch dances, chants, or magically breathes, she visualizes energy gathering and swirling deosil around her magic circle. She continues collecting power, visualizing the energy as it gradually forms an apex, or cone shape, far above the center of the magic circle. She then releases her hold on the energy and visualizes it either leaving the sacred space to manifest her desired outcome, or projecting through her collected magical symbols (candles, glyphs, incense, etc.), to manifest her desire.
Calling the Drop
One of the key components of the cone of power is in sensing when it is time to release the energy you have collected. There is no set rule for when you should release the cone of power; however, the optimal timing coincides with the climax of your energy buildup. While you engage in raising the cone of power, it will be important for you to concentrate on your psychic sensing. Although the energy buildup process usually lasts between ten and twenty minutes, you will need to take note of when you feel the energy reaching its highest point of tension.
At the moment of this crescendo, you call the drop, which is the instant at which you project your magical energy toward a goal. The drop is named so because, in practice, Witches physically drop to the ground when they direct their collected energy.
Practice: Cone of Power
What You’ll Need:
• Your usual circle-casting tools
Begin by casting a circle. Select one of the power-raising methods you have learned over the past several days (dancing, breath control, or chanting) and use it to generate magical energy. As you build this energy, visualize a cone of power forming within your circle. Hold your athame in your stronger hand while you build energy. In the moment you sense the highest point of magical tension, physically drop to the floor and point your athame toward the sky. Visualize the cone of power leaving the circle and dissipating in space.
Day 265
Directing Power: Crystals
Directing magical energy through a quartz crystal is another powerful technique. To begin this practice, choose a crystal that has not had its shape altered in any significant way. The crystal should look as natural as possible. Highly polished crystals or ones that artisans have shaped in some way seem to yield unpredictable results. Use quartz crystals that have at least one natural terminal or pointed (beveled) end. It is through this terminal end that you project the energy you’ve raised.
The size of the crystal does not ultimately matter, although many Witches who use this method choose crystals that are the length of their palm (about 3 to 4 inches, or 8 to 10 millimeters in length). What is most important is that you choose a crystal that you can hold comfortably in your stronger hand.
Witches believe that quartz crystals intensify the vibrations of anything in the vicinity and therefore they require continual grounding until their intended use. Before you use any crystal for magical work you should cleanse (or clear) it of any inadvertent, environmental vibrations. To clear a quartz, lay it lengthwise (on its side) in a container into which you have poured a 1-inch layer of rock salt. Once the quartz is lying on the first layer of salt, pour more rock salt over the crystal until it is completely covered. Prior to first-time use, keep the crystal in the salt for at least one hour.
Practice: Using a Quartz
What You’ll Need:
• Your circle-casting tools
• A cleared quartz crystal with one terminal end
Begin by casting a circle. Select one of the power-raising methods you have learned over the past several days and use it to generate magical energy. As you raise magical energy, visualize a cone of power forming within your circle. Practice sensing when the cone is at its greatest power. At that moment, drop to the floor and grip the quartz crystal in your stronger hand. Extend your index finger down the length of the crystal and point it toward the sky. Once you point the crystal, use your imagination to visualize the cone of power projecting through the terminal point of the crystal toward your intention.
Depending on your intent and your magical goal, you might choose any number of directions to point the crystal. If, for example, your goal is to heal someone within the circle, you can point the crystal directly at the individual and imagine that the cone of power enters his or her body, or if you direct the energy toward someone at a distance from your circle, aim the crystal in the general direction of the person, imagining the cone of power filling the individual with energy. If you are directing energy toward some goal and not toward a person, you might choose a compass direction that best corresponds to your magical intent. For example, if you cast a spell for environmental awareness, you might point the crystal toward the north, the direction of earth. If you cast a spell for peace, you might point the crystal toward the west, the direction of water and emotions.
When you are finished with directing power, place the quartz back in rock salt.
Practice: Other Tools for Directing Power
Raise the cone of power several more times. Each time, use a different magical tool to help direct the cone up and out of the magic circle. If you are simply practicing this technique and you have no specific intent toward which you are aiming the cone of power, imagine the cone leaving the circle and dissipating in space.
For directing the cone of power, try using:
• Your wand
• Your pentacle
• Your cup
• Your hand
• What effect did each tool have? Which tool do you prefer to use in your own magical practice for sending the cone of power?
Day 266
Practice: Your First Spell
Today’s working is a bit unusual since you will be starting without an intent, or magical goal. Instead, you will first consider the following:
• Today’s moon phase
• The magical day of the week, the planetary associations and corresponding glyph
• The current planetary hour and glyph
Now consider what magical working you might be able to do at this time. Make a list of potential ideas and then consider what additional magical aids you might need, including:
• The candles of a color that would suit your magical goal
• The magical stones that would suit your magical goal
• The herbs that would suit your magical goal
• The essential oils that suit your goal
• The way you could raise and direct power that might be best suited for this goal
Once you gather the appropriate magical correspondences/symbols, decide which techniques you might use with each magical object (based on what you have learned in previous lessons). Once you have your plan in place, cast a magic circle, raise the cone of power, and then direct your power through the symbols you have collected. Close your circle as usual and keep any symbols that you can (such as herbal sachets or stones) with you until you have attained your goal.
Day 267
Magical Attack and Protection
Before you learn about what Witches call magical attack, it is important to first understand several points about energy. Always keep in mind that energy is neutral; it is neither inherently harmful nor beneficial. How we use energy is what determines its outcome. For example, there is neither harmful nor beneficial electricity. An exposed current can cause death, but a channeled current can empower entire cities in a myriad of ways. This same tenet holds true for magical power.
Witches do not have exclusive access to magical energies; these are natural forces that form the universe and all of life. It doesn’t take much for someone unskilled in the ways of magic to set psychic energies in motion.
Surprised? High emotional states are good conduits of energy, and whether or not we are trained to direct magical power we can do so when we feel intensely. Love and joy are emotions that can effectively mobilize energy patterns that result in one set of outcomes, but jealousy, hate, anger, and sadness can also marshal psychic force. Whether or not we know it, emotions can become the focal point for sending the energies of magic. When someone sends these energies in an undisciplined manner, there can be unexpected results.
Luckily, Witches have developed techniques to shield themselves from these unexpected energetic patterns, which constitute a magical attack. But before you learn any techniques, take time to study and learn some of the warning signs of attack.
Warning Signs of a Magical Attack
Yourself: Watch for signs of inexplicable lethargy, sadness, or anger, unexplained illnesses or multiple injuries in a short time span; look for unexplained mood swings, confusion, swift changes of heart, or a run of bad luck
Family: Watch for multiple, inexplicable arguments, estrangement, tantrums, illnesses and injuries, or romantic affairs
Home: Watch for an inexplicable sensation of heaviness or oppression in your home, a feeling of being watched, unexplained noises, odors, or
images
Pets: Inexplicable, unusual behavior in pets, inexplicable illness in pets
If you sense that you might be influenced by negative spiritual vibes, it is time to use a magical protection. Today, create the SATOR charm as your first magical defense.
Practice: The SATOR Charm
What You’ll Need:
• A blank piece of white paper, at least 8 x 8 inches square
• Dragon’s blood ink (you can purchase this ink made from dragon’s blood reed from most New Age/magical shops.) or
• A red ink pen
• Rosemary essential oil
• Your circle-casting tools
Cast a circle as you normally do. At the center point of your ritual, work this magic. On a blank piece of paper, use your red ink pen to write the following words in a square.
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S |
A |
T |
O |
R |
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A |
R |
E |
P |
O |
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N |
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T |
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S |
Anoint the edges of the paper with rosemary essential oil. Raise energy and then direct it into the charm, using your powers of visualization to imagine that this charm takes on a silvery glow. When you are done, close the circle as usual. Hang the SATOR charm above your front door. If you would like extra protection, create several of these charms. Charge them magically (all together) and then hang them above each door and window of your home.
Day 268
Practice: A Mirror Protection
If you’ve got the heebie-jeebies and the prickling hairs on the back of your neck seem like little antennas picking up unfriendly vibes, try this traditional technique to dispel the dark clouds hanging over you.
What You’ll Need:
• A round mirror (at least 5 inches in diameter)
• A dark blue candle of any size/shape (this color is good for dispelling evil)
• Salt
• A bowl of water steeped with the herb hyssop
Cast your circle as usual. Bless the candle by holding it between the palms of your hands while saying:
Blessed be this creature of magic.
May it be purified and consecrated
To bring me magical aid.
Light the candle and set it in a holder. Set the candle and the holder on top of the reflective surface of the mirror. Dab your fingers into the bowl of hyssop water and rub this into each of your chakra points. Sprinkle the remaining hyssop water around your sacred space.
Hold the mirror in your left hand and the candle in your right. Stand at the eastern perimeter of your circle. Turn the mirror’s reflective surface so that it faces the east—away from you and the circle. Hold the candle in front of the reflective surface so that the mirror reflects the light away from you. Slowly moonwalk deosil three times around the circle without making a sound. During your first circumambulation, imagine that the perimeter of the circle becomes itself a reflective surface, a mirror that deflects unwanted energies. During the second circumambulation, imagine that your body becomes a mirror that deflects unwanted energies. On the third lap, imagine that your home becomes a mirror that deflects unwanted energies.
Now return to your central altar and set down the candle. Pour salt over the reflective surface of the mirror until it is completely covered. Hold your hands over the salted mirror and say thrice:
Creature of earth, you take away
This curs’ed evil sent my way!
Pour the salt into an empty dish, making sure not to spill a single grain. Close your circle as usual. Take the salt far from your dwelling and bury it. The negative vibes should vanish.
Day 269
Practice: A Rosemary Protection
What You’ll Need:
• Cheesecloth
• A sprig of fresh rosemary and at least a teaspoon of dried rosemary
• 12 inches of red cord
• A 5–6 inch red taper candle
• Red thread and a needle
• Your circle-casting tools
• Scissors
Wait until nearly midnight on the night of a full moon, and then gather together your ingredients. Cover all the mirrors and windows in the room in which you create this charm. Cast a magic circle, then use a pin or a white-handled knife to inscribe the red candle with the planetary glyph for Saturn (
). Cut a 3-inch square out of the cheesecloth. Thread the needle with the red thread. Dip the sprig of fresh rosemary in the salt and then in water. Pass it briefly through the red candle flame. Sprinkle the dried rosemary over the coal and then hold the sprig of fresh rosemary over the smoke. Place the sprig in the center of the cheesecloth square, fold the fabric in half, and then sew it closed with the red thread and the needle.
Once you have this completed, hold the cheesecloth bag in between the palms of your hands. Stand in the west of your circle and moonwalk widdershins three times, chanting:
Thrice I walk the edge of time,
Protection come at midnight’s chime!
After you have walked the circle thrice, stand facing the west. Hold the charm in front of you as you would a shield, and say:
To bane, to bane!
Begone! Begone!
Thrice take ye back from whence ye came!
Repeat this final incantation in the south, east, and north of your circle. Now tie the bag with the red cord so that you can wear the bag around your neck. Close the circle when you are done and wear the amulet, making sure that it comes in contact with your body.
Day 270
Quick House Protections
Here are two more techniques to try today for protection against unwanted energies.
The Witches’ Bottle
What You’ll Need:
• An empty clear-glass jar
• Old razors, rusty nails, pins, needles, and tacks (enough to fill the jar)
• Vinegar
You won’t need to cast a circle to prepare this magical object. After dark, fill an empty, clear glass jar with razors, nails, pins, needles, tacks, and any other small, sharp, metal object. If any of the items that fill the jar are rusty, that is all the better. Now pour vinegar into the jar until nearly full. Men who prepare this bottle can add semen for additional strength. Women can add menstrual blood for added potency. Close the jar and seal it tight.
Traditional Witches claim that it is best for you to bury the jar beneath the front steps of your home. However, in actual practice, it is just as effective for you to bury the Witch’s jar anywhere in the vicinity of your dwelling.
As long as the bottle is buried, evil sent to you will be deflected.
Vibrational House-Clearing
When you want to clear your dwelling of unwanted energies and you don’t have time to cast the circle, try this technique. It only involves censing the home with one of two excellent aura-cleansing herbs.
What You’ll Need:
• Dried white sage or
• Dragon’s blood resin
• A self-igniting charcoal
• A censer or a simple ceramic dish filled with sand
Light the charcoal and set it in the censer. Crumble the dried sage (or the dragon’s Blood resin) onto the charcoal. Take the smoldering incense to the front door of your house. Walk clockwise around the inner perimeter of the house, renewing the dried sage (or resin) when you need more smoke. Return to the front door and use the censure to draw a banishing-earth pentagram in smoke.