Preface

h.epsave you ever wondered about magick?

Not stage magic; not clever illusions with doves and rabbits and colored scarves; not lissome blondes in sequins disappearing from locked cabinets, but magick, the ancient skills and powers of the adepts who sought to transform themselves and their world. Magick chanted under the full moon by circling Witches, or performed by solemn robed wizards in candlelit ceremonies, or conjured by a skinclad shaman deep in a virgin rain forest. . . .

For magick, true magick, can change your life. With magick’s aid, you can have vibrant health, prosperity, a new career. You can enhance your relationships and bring new ones into your life. With magick, you can reach deep inside yourself to find what you despaired of ever having—confidence, courage, tranquillity, faith, compassion, understanding, humor. It’s not a miracle, and it’s not easy, but magick works. And it can work for you.

If you’re curious, you will find answers in this book. I am a high priestess of the Wiccan religion and an experienced practitioner of magick, and in this book I explain not only the history and lore of magick, but also its major varieties in the world today—from the Brujos of Mexico and the United States, to the temples of the Order of the Golden Dawn, to the sacred groves of Wiccan covens.

And if you want to practice magick to grow, to change, to heal with tools of the mind and heart and spirit—then this book will start you on the path. I will explain how to prepare yourself, how to find or create your ritual tools, how to establish a temple in your home, how to plan a ritual and cast a spell—and how to do it ethically and safely. No demons, no black masses, no hexes. Simply divine power flowing through you, intelligently applied for beneficial purposes.

Whether you are just curious, or whether you are already an aspiring magick worker—read on.

A Note about Terminology

First, I have capitalized “Pagan,” “Witch,” and “Wicca.” Proper nouns relating to other religions are capitalized, and Paganism deserves the same respect as any other religion.

Second, throughout this book I have used “God/dess,” “Goddess,” or “God” to refer to the Ultimate Divine Source, and “god/dess,” “goddess,” or “god” to refer to certain facets or aspects of the Divine, such as Athena, Odin, or Cerridwen.

And third, I do not believe in the “generic masculine” (the sexist notion that “he” refers to people of both sexes) and have tried to avoid it. Unfortunately, it is awkward to include both genders in every sentence, such as “He or she is fortunate if he or she can design an excellent ritual for every magickal purpose.” Instead, I have often used “they” and “their” to indicate the indeterminate singular as well as the plural. For example, “If a magician wants to learn magick, they had better be prepared to practice often and be willing to take risks, sometimes be disappointed, take responsibility for their mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes.” I know perfectly well that this is ungrammatical by conservative standards, but it is becoming increasingly common in actual usage—and it’s not sexist.