From personal empowerment comes a flow of energy; in that gentle current, the heart, the mind, and spirit work as one, and from that oneness grows contentment. No matter what the situation, the religion of Wicca urges you to take action rather than stare helplessly into the abyss. Don’t stew, pout, or moan if things don’t go your way. Instead, put that wonderful, creative brain of yours to work and consider solutions to whatever problem you may have encountered. Do magick! Do ritual! Actively seek to conquer and overcome. Like Einstein said, “Within every difficulty, there is a solution.” Use magick, meditation, and ritual to help you find the resolution that feels right to you.
Helpful Magickal Tips
to Start Anything
• If you really need to pump it up, begin a spell or do a ritual when the moon is new (to begin) or full (more power).
• Use a red candle to add a little extra vroom to your magickal work.
• Add drumming to your desire.
• Using your almanac, choose a day to begin your work when the moon is in the sign of Aries, or in a Mars hour (see part 3, planetary hours, under Astrology) or on a Tuesday (Mars’ day).
• Add either of the following herbs to your magickal work: dragon’s blood (for more power) or vervain (to make the work go faster).
• Start any spell at dawn to pull in the birthing energies of earth, sea, and sky.
• Inscribe the birth rune, Birca (
), on your candles or other magickal supplies.
• Place the Magician Tarot card under your altar to enhance your ability to meld thought with Spirit to enhance the manifestation of your magick.
• Cast your spell during a thunderstorm (this really works!) or on a windy day.
• Cast a spell over moving or rushing water, or to match the tides of the sea (if you are lucky enough to live by the ocean).
Sometimes it isn’t the “getting moving” part that is so frustrating, but finding the right direction in which to move. Remember to perform all magick in a cast circle and check your divination tool before casting any spell.
General Spell for Action
In the Craft, Witches may call upon the natural powers of the elements (see part 4, Elements) to speed the manifestation of a desire. In this spell, we are keeping the following in mind:
• Earth moves by the natural acts of decomposition.
• Air moves by the natural act of dispersion.
• Fire moves by the natural act of combustion.
• Water moves by the natural act of evaporation.
To help you learn these four basic types of movement, look through some of your spell books (or visit a local bookstore or library) and read the spells to determine what type of basic action is called for. Sometimes spell books do not include elemental associations, so it will be up to you to choose which element(s) you feel will best do the job to give your chosen spell a little more oomph.
Supplies: A red plastic dinner plate; a tomato (earth); incense of your choice; a fan or large feather (air); red candle and lighter (fire); a red bowl filled with holy water; 4 red ribbons, 7 inches long; a piece of red paper; a black indelible marker.
Instructions: Think of what you want to move in your life. Spells work best if they are specific, so take the time to think about what you want, why you want it, and how you will word your intent. Write down your desire on a piece of red paper. Choose one of the three ritual formats given in this book as the outline of your spell. Follow the ritual format, then include the spell as listed below.
Place the red dinner plate in the center of your altar. Write your intent on the tomato with the black marker, and place the tomato on the center of the plate. Lay the ribbons over the tomato. Light the red votive candle and place the candle holder next to the tomato. Set the red bowl beside the plate. Light the incense. Pass the incense over all the items on your altar, saying:
Air disperses, moves and flows,
mighty Spirits make it go.
Pass the red candle over all items, saying:
Fire crackles, changing form,
flame to heaven, change is born!
Pour a little of the holy water onto the plate, saying:
Moonlight water moves the tides,
moisture travels to the skies.
Hold your hands over the tomato and say:
Fruit of north will rot away,
sending magick on its way.
State the intent of the spell (what you wrote on the tomato). Allow the candle to burn completely. Seal the spell by burying the candle and tomato outside. If someone would get suspicious of what you are burying (if you are on campus), place near a dumpster. Tie the ribbons to a tree. If there are no trees nearby, a bush will do. If no bushes, hang from windowsill of your room. Note: If you can’t bury the tomato, you may wish to write your intent using a magickal alphabet (see page 452).
Just as the elements can be used to activate a situation, they can also be used to stall, slow down, or stop something that has gotten out of control. If we view the elemental energies in this way, we have the following:
• Earth buries and seals, such as a cave-in or the grave.
• Air can stall or push down, as when a weather front stalls over an area or the wind sheer pushes down and creates a tornado.
• Fire can hold, as the burning embers in a fireplace hold the heat.
• Water can capture, as the sea ensnares her treasures in her watery depths.