Altar Setup

Setting Up Your Altar

There are many ways for one to set up their altar. I, personally, change my altar according to the season. The Altar in the top left picture is my current Fall altar. The altar in the top right was around Imbolc, and the altar on the bottom was during the spring/summer time. Some people like to change their altar up like I do while others keep theirs exactly the same year round. 

When you are preparing to set up a permanent altar, clean the space thoroughly – the carpet, wood, furniture, etc. You may also want to think about the direction in which your altar is laying. Generally in ritual, the altar is facing North. If you can’t face the altar in that direction for certain reasons, choose a space that feels the most comfortable to you. 

Altar Cloth – You can choose to have one or not. This is a cloth that sits under your ritual tools. You can coordinate the color and/or symbols on your cloth with your ritual or spell work to enhance your magick.

Pentacle – This is one of the main altar tools. It can be made of wood, glass, ceramic, metal, etc, and usually has a pentacle upon its surface painted or carved. Your pentacle can have any symbol that you wish upon it such as the tree of life, the triquetra, or the triskele. This tool typically represents Earth and has grounding properties. It is feminine.

Athame – Not everyone has an athame but I like to keep mine on my altar. The athame is a ritual knife used for ceremonial purposes only. It is generally used to focus and direct energy. It is also considered one of the four main ritual items to have. This item can represent Fire or Air depending on your tradition. It is masculine

Wand – Another of the main ritual tools, the wand is used similarly like an athame. I tend to use my wand when working with elemental energies and spiritual work. This tool can represent Fire or Air, and in some circumstances, Earth, depending on the tradition. It is masculine.

Chalice – This is the last of the ritual tools and usually represents Water and the feminine aspect. The Chalice is used in Cakes and Ale.

Representations of the Elements – I like to place representatives of the 4 elements around my pentacle and cauldron. I use a bowl of salt for Earth, a red candle for fire, a bowl of water for water, and an incense holder with incense for air.

Cauldron – This is probably my most beloved tool. It represents all the mysteries of the feminine divine and Witchcraft. I have my cauldron placed upon the center of my pentacle as a representation of the spirit and its fathomless depth. I burn herbs and my intentions within the cauldron during ritual and spell work.

Crystals – I like to place crystals that are representative of the season upon my altar to enhance my spiritual work. They can also represent the Earth.

Herbs – I tend to infuse my water with herbs to enhance my spell work. I also like to burn them upon coal within my cauldron.

Sage Bundle – I like to keep a bundle of Sage nearby for quick cleansing.

God/Goddess Candles – If you worship deities, you may want to have them represented on your sacred altar. I keep a God and Goddess candle – with respective colors – upon my altar. My Goddess candles lays to the left which represents mystery and the feminine aspect and my God candle lays to the right which represents power and the masculine aspect.

Charge Box – I place my Charge Box upon my altar every so often when I feel that I need secrecy and something to enhance my spell work. This box holds certain items that need to be charged with power.

Statuary – Some people prefer to have statues upon their altar that represent their deities.

Decorating Your Altar:

Here is a list of some extra decorations you can place upon your altar with intention:

• Tarot cards
• Rune stones
• Candles
• Herbs
• Crystals
• Pictures
• Scrying Mirror
• Jewelry
• Talismans
• Charms
• Seasonal Decorations

Familiars

What are Familiars?

The concept of Familiars can be found in European Folklore dating back to the early Medieval period. Familiars have appeared throughout history in multiple forms but often being in the form of an animal such as cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Some cases even describe them in human form or humanoid form. Others even describe them as being faeries.

Familiars are described as being companions to witches and assist them in their magickal work. In early times, familiars were feared to be lesser demons that fed from the blood of witches and assisted in malevolent magic. They were even considered to be imps, bestowed upon witches by the Devil. Many cats were killed around the time of the Black Plague which only brought more death in Europe. The cats would eat the mice and rats carrying the fleas that spread the Plague. The mass murder of cats caused an increase in the flea population leading to more deaths. Almost poetic justice.

How do you choose a Familiar?

Familiars are not chosen; they choose the person. Typically, a strong link or connection is felt between the person and their Familiar. This can be with any animal the person feels an affinity to but in modern times, is typical a household pet. These pets are treated as a member of the family and are often considered magickal partners.

However, some people do not discover their Familiar in the physical realm but instead accumulate pictures, statuary, or other research of an animal or creature that they feel strongly drawn to. This can be a Familiar that has reached out to you from the astral plane.

You may also have more than one Familiar. It is not uncommon to have a connection to multiple Familiar Spirits as they all may have a different function in your life to better assist you.

Magickal Workings with Familiars:

As partners in the Craft, Witches tend to treat their Familiars with respect, love, and wisdom. You can learn a lot from having a Familiar, such as patience, love, understanding, partnership, respect, and gratitude. These creatures can not only teach us about ourselves and our own Craft but also about nature and the Universe.

They can assist you in ritual or with spells by bringing with them a certain mood or tone you wish to set within Circle. They are able to enter and exit the Circle without breaking the energy surrounding you. Sometimes, they allow you to use their fur, scales, and nail clippings within your magickal work.

Familiars are beneficial mentally and emotionally. They provide stress relief and help keep people emotionally balanced. They tend to know our moods and will often act on a course of judgement to put their partners (us) in the right frame of mind so that we can continue with our path.

Familiars can also assist us on the astral plane. Since they live between worlds, they can enter with us on our shamanic journeys. In this plane. They may appear in a different form or even be able to speak. They can guide us to the answers we seek in our Craft.

Honoring Your Familiar:

Familiars are our partners, not our servants. The idea of a Familiar and their role in the Witch’s Craft has greatly changed over time. At first, Familiars were believed to be servants to Witches, doing their bidding without hesitation. Since the New Age, that thinking has changed. It is accepted that we show our gratitude towards our guides and honor them. This can be as easy as giving them love and attention during the day.

I, personally, spend time with my Familiar every morning and every night. I give him love and affection, I brush his fur, I brush his teeth, I keep him fed and healthy, etc. I also keep a small statue on my altar just for him. You can even work with Familiar Magic which helps strengthen your bond. Brown is the traditional color for Familiars if you wish to use candle magic. There are also stones and herbs that show your appreciation. Go out and buy your kitty a new toy or some catnip. Or you can get your dog a new rawhide.

Protecting your Familiar:

Most people look at the Familiar as their protector. They are protectors but they also need it too. You can place protective amulets or charms on their collar. I actually enchanted my Familiar’s collar so he would be protected even when I’m not home. I also have a certain space for him in the house where he can go to a be protected. You can do this by enchanting their bed.

Protection Enchantment

Materials:

• Collar (blank or with symbols)
• Brown Candle
• Salt
• Bowl of Water
• Incense such as mugwort or St. John’s Wort for protection and calming
• Markers (optional)

Begin by creating a salt and water protection Circle around you (and your Familiar if present). You may cast any Circle you wish. At this time, state your intention within the Circle and light your candle and incense. If you have chosen a blank collar, you may wish to draw your own protection sigils upon it or you can simply proceed with the next step.

Pass the collar through the four elements. Sprinkle the color with the Salt of the Earth and state your intention.

Pass the collar over the flame, but not too closely, and state your intention

Sprinkle the collar with the water and state your intention.

Pass the collar through the smoke of the incense and state your intention.

The collar has no been imbued with the power of protection from the four elements and is ready to be worn by your Familiar.

I would like to introduce my own Familiar as I find him quite the character. His name is Salem, a 2 year old Tuxedo who rescued me from the animal shelter. 

Recognizing The Goddess Within

"Thou art God/Goddess" is not just a phrase one says in greeting another at a Pagan gathering or festival. It is a saying that gives recognition to the God/Goddess within each and every human being, creature, and plant. It acknowledges divinity within all of the Universe's creations and thus, respect should be given to all you encounter. When in ritual or ceremony, this phrase has ultimate power and can bring out the divinity showing that person that the Divine is not just attainable but is ever present within you.

I've been reading a book recently with the Goddess School entitled Casting the Circle by Diane Stein which is all about recognition of this divinity in all women (and men). There is one paragraph that strikes a real cord with me that I feel must be shared with everyone:

Abuse of another is abuse of the Goddess, and since Goddess resides within, it's also abuse of the self. Abuse of the earth is abuse of the Goddess and the self, and abuse of perfection. Every woman is Goddess, a Be-ing to honor and worship. Every living thing is Goddess. In worshiping deity as female, a woman worships her own divinity, herself as Goddess-within. 

Let that resonate with you for a moment. I find the choice of using the word 'abuse' to really hit the message home in this as a lot of people don't look at what they do to themselves as abuse. For example: withholding food as punishment for indulging in a small cup of ice cream and believing yourself to be, by societies standards, as "fat"; or perhaps hurting yourself because you feel unworthy of your life; or even just looking in the mirror in the morning and mentally telling yourself that you are pathetic, unintelligent, or unlovable.

Stop it. Stop it right now and look at this paragraph above. To abuse yourself is to abuse the Goddess because she is within you.  You are the Goddess. Each and everyone of you possess the power, the strength, the passion, and the love of the Goddess and you can deal this out to everyone you meet and they can give it back to you.

Abusing others, the earth, or creatures is also abuse of yourself because everyone is connected through the divinity of the Goddess. They are you, you are they, and we are all She. I know it may be difficult for people to connect to the Goddess within because the patriarchal layout of religion has beaten us to believe that God, that Divinity is some figure looking down on us from far above, something that we cannot attain without direction from a Church and those appointed to facilitate the teachings of this unattainable figure to you.

In the Craft, this is simply not so. The Goddess and God are all around encompassing us and within us. We can reach the Divine simply by living our life and feeding our souls with knowledge and compassion. We can see the Divine every time we look into the mirror in the morning on the way to work, when we pass our friends in the hallway, when we gather around a bonfire to drum up the Earth. She is with us always.

This is one of the many beauties of Wicca and the Craft. I want to outline a mini-ritual for people to do in order to get in touch with their Goddess.

Recognizing the Goddess: Mini Ritual

You do not need any tools to do this for the most powerful tool is yourself. You may not even consider this a ritual but all things done with intent are, in fact, rituals. When you wake up each morning, take a look at yourself in the mirror before and after you are finished getting ready for the day. Say at least one positive thing about yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Example: "I am beautiful. I am intelligent. I am in tune with the Earth."

You may not believe these at first but eventually your conscious will begin to shift and you will hear the truth in your words. For that is the purpose of ritual, to shift the conscious mind.

Divine Divination

The book that I'm currently engrossed in had a very long chapter dedicated to just talking about divination, the divination tools, divination techniques, and how to connect yourself to the Divine through divination. I wanted to make a post about this because I rarely use divination for myself unless it's during spellwork such as scrying or having a tarot card image or rune stone that goes along with what I'm doing. Before reading this chapter, I had just sat down with a friend and talked about how I feel really disconnected with divination.

This book put a lot of things into perspective for me. So first off, what exactly is divination? Divination is a form of magic and prophecy that helps us make practical decisions in our every day lives by revealing truths about our past, present, and future. It aids in our personal growth as Witches by explaining how our past shapes us and clarifies what we are going through in the present. Phyllis Curott in her book Witch Crafting explains it this way:

The word divination comes from the Latin word divi, which means deity. Divination is the means by which you engage in dialogue with the Divine. Communication with deity provides proof that you are not alone, that the Universe is alive, and that it is aware of your presence, your longings, fears, needs, wounds, gifts, and truest self. As you craft yourself as a Witch, you will find that divination provides divine guidance when you most need it.

Divination is a very unique tool that helps us know thyself. These words were inscribed over the entrance to the temple at Delphi. Before you were to enter to see the oracles, every visitor had to receive their own vision of themselves first. In order to know your future you must first become self-aware. You don't have to by psychic in order to work with divination; the tools help you with this second sight.

There are many divination tools to assist you on this journey such as rune stones, tarot cards, I Ching, pendulums, astrology, and even tea leaves! When starting out, you may wish to start with tools that you have heard of before and are somewhat familiar with such as tarot cards. Take some time and meditate on which deck is right for you or which tool calls to you more strongly. You don't have to immediately understand how to use the tool. Many tarot decks come with books that already have the meanings of each card, layouts, and how it all works. Try meditating on one card a day or one rune stone a day to become more familiar with the deck or stones. Even highly experienced practitioners do this technique to stay in tune.

You can even use your practices with divination as a daily devotion to your deities. Since divination is strongly connected to your own inner power and connection with the Divine, try seeing this time as strengthening that bond. By doing this, readings may be clearer. If you don't understand a reading you can always ask for clarification as well. Be weary and don't ask the same question over and over again expecting a different answer because you didn't like the first one you got. They only tell you what you need to hear. You don't have to limit your divination abilities to just when you are using tools. Observe the world around you. There are signs and symbols all throughout nature.

Animals are very instinctual creatures and we can learn a thing or two from them. My familiar assists me quite frequently when I'm needing some spiritual guidance. He knows when I should be devoting my time to my deities and tells me so. He also helps me pay attention to other things in life. He's a very skittish but intelligent cat and probably the best judge of character I've ever known. As I'm writing this, he's laying on me right now purring comfortably with content. He knows that I'm setting out on what I need to do by spending this time being reflective about my own studies.

Another form of divination that I have always paid attention, but never really considered it divination, are dreams. I have very vivid dreams and much of it is lucid dreaming, which is something you can train yourself to do over time. A couple of nights ago I had a dream about my friend who runs the Grove with me. In the dream I was at her house after a ritual and needed to leave or at least felt the urge to leave although there was a terrible storm outside. She had provided me with a place to sleep but I chose to leave and embrace the storm instead. This dream can have several meanings and I invite my readers to interpret it as they wish (a little dreamscaping exercise if you will). Dreams like this and all dreams should be paid attention to because our subconscious is directly in connection with the Divine and we receive messages all the time and all around us.

Keep practicing and devoting yourself to your Craft. The outcome may mean a better and brighter future for you.

Goddess Rosaries

Some people have an aversion to using the word rosary as it can signal to a person memories of Christian faith and other negative associations that they tend to place upon it. However, the word rosary comes from the Latin word rosarium which means garland of roses. The garland of prayer beads is symbolic of a portable sacred Circle that can go with you everywhere.

The rosary is used as a grounding tool to aid in trance and meditation through keeping track of mantras, prayers, and recitation of deity names. As you say each mantra or line of a prayer, you touch each bead imbuing them with that statement and giving them power. This power will remain within the bead and build over time as you continue this process.

Rosaries come in all different colors, beads, and stones. You can choose to string the beads together in a line or you can hook them together through metalcrafting work. If you have a specific prayer or mantra in mind, you can make your rosary to match it. You can place breath beads or heart beads along your rosary to signify when the mantra needs to be repeated.

You can also wear your rosary as a necklace that has power enhancing properties such as for protection or healing. You may also wish to place the rosary upon your altar as a reminder of your faith or by your bedside to aid it dreaming. Be conscious of the number of beads you would like to place. Nine is traditionally a Goddess number and you could choose to make your rosary with three sets of nine or five sets of nine, or so on. Do what feels right for you!

Created by Gilliauna

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Getting To Know Your Athame

An athame (ath-a-may) is a ceremonial double-edged dagger used to direct energy. Usually, it is black handled which defines it from the boline which has a white handle. The edges are blunt as this dagger is not used for cutting like the boline and is for strictly ceremonial purposes. Typically, it is created from steel but it can be made from different elements such as wood or bone. The handle may be inscribed with any symbols the barer wishes or symbols associated with their Coven or Grove. These symbols can represent deities, runes, elements, or whatever is desired.

The term "athame" is said to be suspected from the Latin term "artavus" which means a kind of quill knife. This knife was described in "The Key of Solomon" as a sickle shaped knife which is in line with the shape of the boline.

This tool is used for magical and ritual purposes only. It is used to direct energy especially when casting a Circle. It can be used for charging and consecrating items as well. The athame, in most traditions, is representative of the element of fire and is one of the 4 elemental tools in witchcraft along with the pentacle, the chalice, and the wand. In the other traditions it is associated with the element of air and the wand represents fire. The athame is also usually the main tool that's representative of a phallus and used in the symbolic version of the Great Rite.

When choosing your athame, take your time. This is a very important tool and to me is the most important tool. Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.

Basic Types of Magick

Last night, I taught a class that focused on the different types of magick most commonly used by Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches. These categories were rather broad covering all the sub-types such as Rune Magick, Candle Magick, Cord Magick, etc. These are the several types of magick that encompass just about everything we do.

Imitative Magick - This type of magick, also sometimes referred to as sympathetic magick and vice versa, involves advanced visualization and meditation to bring about the fruition of the intended desire or spell. During your meditative state, you may wish to draw symbols and write out what you are trying to achieve with your spell. These symbols can be pagan symbols of deities, elements, zodiac symbols, sigils, runes, etc. This type of magick is usually used to enhance spells and can be used in conjunction with any other type of magick.

Sympathetic Magick - Also referred to as imitative magick, it employs the use of symbolic items that represent the intention of the spell. It also helps focus the direction of the spell. You may wish to use colors, candles, poppets, statues, and anything else that represents your spell. For example: I'm casting a spell in which I'm seeking financial prosperity. So I decide to use a green candle to represent money and wealth into which I carve money signs into. I meditate over this candle visualizing the smoke as it rises from the candle as money flowing towards me.

Contagious Magick - In this type of magick, you use personal belongings to bring about a goal. These belongings also link you to the spell or a person to the spell for which the spell is intended. These personal items can be blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, small amulets, trinkets, and charms. You can use anything that has been touched by you or the person you are doing the spell for...or on. This type of magick is notorious in curses and hexes because it physically links the curse to that person specifically.

Personal Magick - This is magick specifically directed at oneself to help in healing or any other personal work.

Active Magick - This magick is directed outward to bring about a certain event for oneself or for another person. For example: My job spell is intended to help me land a job by getting an interview.

Passive Magick - These are qualities that one possesses that can also bring about change in a subtle way. These qualities are psychic abilities such as premonitions, lucid dreaming, astral projection, etc. Example: Premonitions help me see future outcomes. Because of this, I am able to change my future without having to perform a spell.

Effectiveness of Protective Circles

Protective Circles have been around for centuries from the Druids, to the Celts, to the Greeks, to the Egyptians. You can find remnants of Circles throughout history and stories told about them being used to ward off evil. These Circles are a projection of one's will power and personal boundaries to keep out negative energies. You can make the protective circle as strong as you wish for it to be; you are only limited by your imagination.

There are multiple ways to create a Protective Circle, however, this post isn't to focus on those ways but to talk about the mechanics of how they work. You can cast a Protective Circle with the elements or with simple salt and water, or by smudging your space. All of these ways are effective at keeping out negative energies, however, their degrees of strength vary. You would want to cast a stronger Protection Circle when doing full rituals involving spellwork versus just doing a simple meditation.

However, no Protection Circle will protect you if you are willingly summoning entities that could cause you harm such as demons, imps, faeries, etc. Some of these creatures can be helpful such as Fae folk but not all, and I would dare to say not even most, are here for your highest good. Even calling the Guardians of the Directions when you cast a ritual circle are considered you summoning them to your space. Unless you are specific and clear about what you are calling them for, then they will bring in all that you have allowed them too. Example:

If I am casting a ritual circle and calling upon the Guardians of the East, the powers of Earth, to come inside my circle without stipulations such as calling them for strength or grounding, then I am essentially letting them bring whatever they have to offer and that includes earthquakes and landslides. Same for if I am calling upon the West and the element of Water. Water may decide to bring in overly emotional baggage and drippy psychic influences along with hurricanes and tsunamis. This may seem extreme to some but don't underestimate the power of magic and the forces that you are dealing with.

If I call in the Fae folk to assist me with a spell and I don't tag on the phrase, "all those who are dedicated to my highest good" or something to that affect then I am inviting all the Fae of the world to come into my circle, the good, the bad, and the downright nasty. Be clear and specific about what you want. Negative energies are masters at finding loopholes in your wording and trust me, they will find them.

Protection circles, as I said, are extensions of your Will. If your Will involves you summoning anything into you space then you are using yourself as a gateway to allow those entities entrance past your protective barrier into your sacred space. Protective circles are only as strong as you are and are as effective as you allow them to be. Don't be flimsy with your magic otherwise your protection will be a reflection of that.

Ancient History of the Lyre

I've been very musically inclined recently. Music has an important part in Wicca and the Craft. It has been used to invoke, to heal, and to aid in raising energy. In this post, I would to list a couple of instruments that help invoke the elements before moving on to the lyre, an instrument that I am highly drawn to because of its immaculate history in mythology.

Instruments that invoke the Earth include the drums. All types of drums can be used in doing this. Drums symbolize the rhythm of the heartbeat and help tie or ground all the other instruments together. It's low vibrations are attuned to the heartbeat of the Earth Mother; the music soothes her and heals her.

Fire is invoked through the harmony of string instruments such as the guitar and lyre. This is fitting considering that Apollo, the Sun God, was said to be the master of the lyre. By strumming the strings with your passionate hands that you use to touch others intimately, you are invoking the element of fire.

Instruments that invoke water have deep emotional sounds such as the gong and bells. Bells are traditionally used in invoking the Watchtowers of the directions to be present within the sacred Circle. They are also used to signal the beginning and the end of raising energy, meditations, and signal other ritual work. These bells have rich tones invoking emotion in relation to water.

Air is invoked through wind instruments such as the flute. Our breath fills these instruments to incite wonderful high pitched sounds that can create a beautiful orchestra of sounds. Use these instruments to invoke air with the breath you offer through these instruments.

So now, finally, the lyre. The lyre is a string instrument played by the ancient Greeks and is possibly one of the most important instruments to them. Hermes is credited with creating the lyre that was meant to help him steal cattle from Apollo. When Apollo discovered the theft from his sacred herd, Hermes traded him the lyre to appease him. He eventually became a master at playing the lyre and was said to have taught the great musician, Orpheus.

Other to be seen with the lyre include Eros, the God of Love, and the muses. Most players of the lyre were male as it invokes a masculine element but there are mentions of female players. Achilles was also taught to play the lyre by the centaur Cheiron. Plato also considered the lyre to be the only instrument suitable for musical education.

So as we can see, the lyre is definitely an instrument of nobility and charm!

Wand Woods and Their Meanings

There are many other woods out there other than the ones listed above that can be used to craft wands such as Yew. Depending on the intention of the wand, you may want to craft several as different woods possess different abilities. You wouldn't use a wand made from Black Walnut for healing as that type of wood would not be efficient (Black Walnut trees kill everything around them; plants can't grow around the tree). You would want to use a wood such as Rowan for that. You want to be conscious of this when making your wand selection this year!

Wand Crafting

It's beginning to be that season where it's time to go out and make a new wand. Wand's are ritual tools used in the craft to direct energy sort of like an athame. I tend to use wands for specific rituals that have to do with heavy elemental or healing magic as they belong to the element of Air. Wands are heavily used by the Druids and it's considerably their most valuable tool in ritual. I for one, believe that wands should be handcrafted as the materials are quite easy to find and they hold a very personal power.

The best time to harvest a wand is in the spring when saplings are coming to life with energy from the sun and the energy of the Earth is feeding through the tree up to its tall branches which will be budding. This energy can be harvested in your wand. Some people prefer to pick up fallen branches from the grounds as not to harm the tree it came from and also in an effort to remain eco-friendly which is absolutely acceptable and understood. However, most Druids prefer to cut a branch from the tree so they know exactly what type of wood it is and from what specific tree it came from as location can be very important when discerning the type of energy it is giving off or being used for. When harvesting your branch you want to make sure to seal the cut on the tree with some beeswax and to leave an offering for the tree it came from such as a libation of spring water, herbs, stones, or a small talisman.

A wand can be as long or as short as you wish it to be, however a good estimate would be from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger for length and about as wide as your finger. You will need to let the wand dry in the sun for at least 3 days or longer. You want to choose a branch on the tree that is mature. After the wand has dried, you can begin by stripping the bark from it. Some people choose to keep the wand in i's raw form or may wish to keep some of the bark on it. I like to take the bark off and use it later in my ritual to purify and charge it.

Once the bark has been stripped, seal it with beeswax. You may then begin to decorate your wand however you please, with stones, or wire, or leather. I prefer to decorate within the Circle so then I may purify and charge it at the same time. The best time to do this would be upon a Full Moon. There are many ways to purify and charge a wand, so choose the best way for you!

Wands can be made from materials other than wood such as stone, bone, clay, or metal. Of course, you don't have to make your own wand but it may not have the same personal touch to it as when you create your own. It's always good to have several wands available because different materials and especially different woods give off different energy. Choose what is best for you.

Initiations

So, since Imbolc is a traditional times for initiations whether with a Coven or for self-initiations, I thought I would talk a little bit about them. Initiations are meant to be a very special and wonderful moment in a Witch's life. It signifies all the hard work and dedication you have to your Craft, your deities, yourself, and your Coven (if with a Coven.) These can be considered awakening to your spiritual aspects.

Initiations can be as simple or as intense as you want them to be. If you are with a Coven, you may be initiated with other initiates or endure your very own. These can be physically, spiritually, and mentally demanding of the initiate and may need to be prepared weeks in advance. Depending on you, or your Coven it can feel like a simple dedication to your deities as well. In the end, an initiation should always be a beautiful thing.

I would also like to caution those who feel obligated to do certain things in order to be initiated into a Coven. You should never feel forced to do something you don't want to do such as endure a sex magic ritual in order to be initiated. If a Coven expects you to preform an initiation skyclad, or use sex magic to be initiated and you are uncomfortable with this then please, find a Coven who does not require this. Usually, a Coven will divulge this information before you train with them if they practice skyclad or perform sex magic and will ask if you consent to this. There is nothing wrong with skyclad rituals or sex magic, however, if the Coven does not divulge this information prior to training with them and coerces you to continue to get initiated then please understand you are under no obligation and that Coven is NOT a true Coven. This is information that should always be divulged to the seeker prior to any sort of training.

So to everyone going through initiation on Imbolc, I want to congratulate you and your accomplishments!

In Light and Love, everyone!

Sympathetic Magic

I, for one, love using this technique as I find it to be very effective for myself. Other people may prefer a different method but this is my go-to method for me in spellwork. Sympathetic Magic is defined as:

noun

1. primitive or magical ritual using objects or actions resembling or symbolically associated with the event or person over which influence is sought.
2. 
   

*As defined by Google

Sympathetic magic encompasses a lot of things: poppets, candle magic, the Great Rite can all be examples of sympathetic magic. To use this type of magic you will need tools other than your intentions (which of course, are just as powerful). Whenever you are creating a spell, look at what you are trying to achieve. Don't immediately go to websites trying to copy spells because these spells don't have anything personal to you in them. Think about it first.

For example: Let's say you were creating a spell to help fill your life with financial abundance. What does this abundance entail? A promotion? A raise? Both? If so, what do you associate with this? What colors represent abundance to you? Which element? What God or Goddess? What herbs? What crystals? What actions?

These are just a few of the questions you should answer for yourself and then create a spell around it. Let's say you want to have a raise. You associate with money with the color green and therefore with the Earth element. You associate this with the Goddess and her ever flowing womb so you wish to incorporate your matron Goddess. Pretty soon you're encircling yourself with salt and meditating on a green candle while envisioning yourself with money and love your Goddess.

Don't be afraid to make your own spells. No matter how simple they seem, or how over the top, do what works for you. Put your heart in it and things will happen for you!

The Grimoire

The Grimoire, a Witch's Book of Shadows, is one of the most valuable tools of information a Witch possesses. Typically, this book is not shown to anyone or may be shown only to Coven members of the highest trust. Some Covens have a community Book of Shadows that is continuously written into by the High Priest/Priestess and possibly by Coven members depending on the Coven Laws or it may be copied from for Coven members to write into their individual Book of Shadows. Solitary Witches tend to keep their Grimoire private.

My Grimoire is for my eyes only as of now. I love my Book of Shadows and I intend to pass it down to my future children when I decide to have them. If and when I decide to create a Coven of my own I may show it to my members but I will most likely keep it to myself and simply teach from it. I think it's better for people to develop their own ideas about spells/rituals rather than copy it from me. 

Your Book of Shadows can be as fancy or as simple as you like. It can be anything from a leather bound journal to a simple notebook. The way your Book of Shadows is set up is personal to you. The way you set it up is very important to your Craft. I keep my organized and I hand write everything neatly. I even color in my book because I think it makes it look better than simple black and white (and because I believe magick comes in all colors). Some people choose to do theirs differently such as it being messy and chaotic. Both of these ideas are completely fine. It all depends on you and how you wish to portray your magick.

I keep my Grimoire close to my altar and it is locked when not in use. So what exactly do you write in them? They contain a plethora of magical information along with practical information that the owner deems necessary to write. They can contain secrets, dreams, goals, spells, rituals, basic information regarding the Craft and Wicca, divination, charts, definitions, tools and how to use them, etc. I regard this blog as a type of online Book of Shadows that I don't mind sharing. Other things I reserve for my personal one.

You can put anything and everything in your Grimoire. It is entirely your choice and your right. This is my personal Grimoire.

Candle Colors and Correspondence

Candle magick is a very simple yet powerful type of of magick. It can be used for a multitude of things such as healing, meditative journeys, success, protection, and anything your heart desires. The color of your candle can mean a lot as well, not to mention the scent, design, stones and herbs that are held within them. Choosing a candle is choosing your path. Choose them wisely for the purpose you wish them to serve. Treat them with respect and they will bring wonderful things to you.

Here is a list of colors for your candles and what they represent. Find the one that calls to you for your needs.

Green - Healing, Earth, Grounding, Success, Money, Growth, Peace

Blue - Calmness, Stress Reliever, Emotions, Fluidity, Tranquility, Meditation

Purple - Psychic, Journey, Trance, Intelligence, Spiritual

Yellow - Enlightenment, Wisdom, Happiness, Communication, Friends, Clarity

Orange - Warmth, Energy, Confidence

Red - Vitality, Sexuality, Fertility, Passion, Anger, Desire

Pink - Friendship, Relationships, Love, Sensuality

Gray - Balance, Neutrality, Stability, Maturity

Black - Protection, Mystery, Releasing Negativity

White - Purity, Cleansing, Positive Energy, Protection

This is just a brief description of of the colors and their correspondences. Of course I encourage those who feel that a certain color means something different to them than what's listed above to go with their heart's desire. It's not wrong, for example, to think of the color blue in relation to money.  If that is what your deities are telling you then you should do what you feel is right.

How To Do An Offering

I've  never thought about trying to explain to anyone how to make an offering to the God and/or Goddess that the person is worshipping. I feel like it's a very personal thing and something that comes straight from the heart of the individual who is performing the ritual. However, I was asked this question by a friend of mine and did not realize that maybe people needed some inspiration about how to give an offering to their deity.

Here are a couple of ideas on how to do an offering for those who may need a little inspiration. These ideas are based on similar offerings that I have performed in the past. I'm leaving these ideas in a brief format so people can place their own personal touches on them without being influenced too heavily by my words. I do believe these are very personal gestures.

1.) Burning incense, candles, and/or herbs.

2.) Offering water, wine, milk, or other substance to the Earth.

3.) Offering pure intentions, thoughts, and/or your love.

4.) Offering food such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.

You may even wish to offer food, herbs, or other symbols that represent the Sabbat or deities you are worshipping. These are just a few ideas to offerings you may wish to make but your offerings don't always have to be tangible. They can simply be your loving thoughts.

History of Samhain

In Paganism and Wicca, Samhain is celebrated as a major Sabbat on the Wheel of the Year. It is from October 31st to November 1st and is marked as the time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest making it an opportune time to connect and contact ancestors that have passed on. It is also seen as the Witches' New Year because it marks the final Harvest and the beginning of winter where the Earth slips into darkness and things begin to die so they can be reborn. The term "Samhain" comes from the Gaelic word "Samhuin" and is pronounced "sow-in" or "sow-ween" (sow rhyming with cow).

The festival itself signifies the old saying "out with the old and in with the new." It's time to set new goals for the New Year and to cast spells to bring those goals to fruition. I suggest to make a list of goals and list solutions to reaching those goals to help put you on the right track. Invoke the God and Goddess to assist you on the path to reaching your goals or any other spirits, faeries, animal guides who are allies to you.

It's also a good time to honor your ancestors on this date and remember them. One of the main aspects of this festival was to invite ancestors who have passed into your Circle to aid you with your upcoming goals. I usually end the ceremony with a Feast of the Dead to use as offerings to those souls and since it is the last Harvest I believe it to be appropriate to show your bounty and your appreciation for it.

For more about the History of Samhain, which truly is extensive in many countries, try visiting these links:

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/p/Samhain_History.htm

http://www.paganspath.com/magik/samhain-history.htm

http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm

Wheel of the Year

So I thought it would be easier to show the Wheel of the Year rather than trying to explain it, dates, and so on. There will be information on each of these Sabbats, both major and minor, when the time approaches.

Banishing and Invoking Pentagrams

This is something that I always get mixed up with even though I've been practicing the Craft formally for about 4 years. So here's a chart for everyone. Of course, in different traditions there's bound to be different ways of doing this. This is one of the most common ways. Some traditions don't use a different invoking and banishing pentagram for each element. These traditions would have only one way of doing so. In my tradition we use the fire invoking pentagram for all invocations and the banishing earth pentagram for all banishings. We use the technique based on movement -- it's not based on elements.

When invoking, visualize blue flames coming from the tip of your wand, athame, sword, or from your fingers. When banishing, visualize the flames going back to where they came from.

http://www.llewellyn.com/blog/2011/10/magick-101-6-3-1-understanding-the-formulation-of-the-pentagrams/

Releasing Karmic Debt

I'm currently reading a book on Kindle on my phone. Actually, I'm in the process of reading three different books. The book I'm reading on Kindle is called Spirit Guides by Raym. If you haven't read it, I would suggest reading it if you're interested in meditation techniques, healing energies, and philosophy. It has a lot of really good meditation exercises and breathing exercises that are very detailed.

Anyway, one of the chapters has a meditation exercise/affirmation about releasing yourself from karmic debt and about forgiving others. I think this is a highly important and noteworthy subject as you can't reach full spiritual enlightenment when you have a huge debt that you owe to Karma. Here is my own suggestion in learning how to forgive others and releasing your own karmic debt.

You can repeat this affirmation as many times as you wish.

"I, (name here), call upon the Guardians of the East, South, West, North, Above, and Below to witness and assist me in my Karmic Cleansing. I call upon the God and Goddess to help release me from any karmic debt that I may have incurred directly and indirectly through my speech or actions. I release all karmic debt that is owed to me as I forgive all those who have wronged me. I ask this of all the spirits and deities who are present within this sacred space with love and trust in my heart. So mote it be."

You may change this affirmation to suit your needs as well. At this point you may wish to light a candle to signify that you are finished and as the candle burns itself out all your karmic debt is released with it.