Getting Started

[SpiritTalker]

FAQ Where do I start? Quick-Witch Tips

A Supply Kit let’s you get going ASAP

💨- Air -💨 incense or aerosol mist use scent to cleanse sacred space; or use 🔔 sound
🔥 - Fire -🕯candles, holder & matches, heat-safe bowl
💦 - Water -🍷 potion cup holds & charges libations
🌎 - Earth -🧂Salt for protection & purification, 💎stones & 🌿herbs, 🍞 food as thanks offering

💎 Useful stones - all-purpose white quartz, healing red jasper, protective black hematite; the colors ⚪️🔴⚫️ represent the triple Goddess; green aventurine or jade for prosperity & the forest🌳God.

🌿 Useful herbs ‘n spice
. Basil - protection in spirit-travel, aids psychism, prosperity, romance
. Cinnamon - aids spirituality, success, vitality; use as incense
. Rosemary - use as incense; all-purpose; use as tea after trance to aid recall
. Sage - use as incense to clear cross-currents & banish spirits
. Thyme - Ancient temple incense to dispel harm & honor the dead; as tea aids Fae "Sight"
. Olive Oil - can be used in place of any scented oil; holds the psychic charge in a spell

🌜🌛 Print the current year moon-phase calendar free

📖 Free PDF Books
. Cunningham’s Solitary Wicca is available as a free pdf. https://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/relig ... tioner.pdf
. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft free pdf https://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/relig ... hcraft.pdf

🧮 Build skills
. Focusing - Hold your gaze on a candle flame’s colorful dance 🕯👀 & don’t let your mind wander
. Grounding - Think it to guide your energy-body down the spine to anchor into the earth for stability
. Centering - Breath carries power; draw power on the breath from Earth & Sky into the solar plexus to power-up
. Projecting - Push focused energy from the belly & out your hands 🙌🏽 ; shake your hands to clear energy

. Simple Arrangement -

🕯
🍷🧂. . . 💨⚱️
🍞

💫Simplify Ritual
. Put your kit in your work space
. Start at North if working with 🌎 energies, or at East if working with 🌙☀️ energies
. Walk widdershins 🔄 to sweep OR sprinkle salt-water; then walk deosil ↩️ to waft incense & 👉🏼 project the circle. There’s no summoning or dismissal needed. Do your meditation, divination, spells. Ground yourself to end the rite.
. Observe the full moons & seasonal holidays in sacred space. Use your subtle senses to greet the Spirit-of-the-Place. Charge🍷+🍞; place 1/2 of the libation on the earth & consume 1/2. Ground yourself to end the rite.

⚡️Spells
. Choose ingredients that support your goal
. Incantations tell the power what to do - don’t say what you don’t want, say only what you expect results to be
. Center, Focus & Project (load, aim & shoot) to charge a spell with intent 🙌🏽
. Methods - bag, bottle, candle, chant-trance, knots, grid/mandala, potion, sigil

Elemental Correspondences - Mini-Reference
- Element - - Tools - - - - Color - - - - Goal - - - Spell Method - - - - - Herbs - - - - - - - Other - - - - - - - Stone - — —
💨 E-Air - wand, incense/aerosol; 🟡, intellect; chant, sigils; marjoram, mint, sage; feather, bell, bubbles; tiger eye
🔥 S-Fire - blade,🕯, oil; 🔴; vitality, partnership; candle; bay, basil, rosemary, pepper; obsidian, garnet, red jasper
💦 W-Water - cup, bowl;🔵; emotions, psychism; potion, bottle; lemon, rose, chamomile, thyme; shells, lapis, turquoise
🌎 N-Earth - pentacle, stone; 🟢; home, prosperity; bag, knots, grids; grains , mugwort, patchouli, salt; hematite, aventurine, jade
✨ -Ether - measure cord; 🟣; spirituality; meditation, OOBE; angelica, cinnamon, frankincense; amethyst, fluorite, sugilite

Consider that …
. the 🪆Goddess & 🦌God represent Nature‘s duality and duality invites union
. the holidays represent nature's cycles -🌛Moon, 🎃Samhain,  🦔Imbolc,  🌺Beltane,  🍞Lamas
. the Elements manifest intentions - pacifying 💦 water & 🌎 earth and activating 💨 air & 🔥 fire
. texts “Charge of the Goddess“ & the full length “Wiccan Rede“ can serve as guidelines for practice
. altars use gear to represent deity, the elements & the intention

MAGIC-ENHANCING BETWEEN
1. Bridges are between one side and the other, neither here or there
2. 🚪Doors & Gates are neither inside or outside & allow passage between
3. 🪟Windows are between in & out and let us see the other side
4. Ladders🪜& stairs are between above & below
5. 1/2 a glass of liquid 🥃 is between full and empty
6. Swings glide between forward and back & the motion induces trance
7. The Circle 💫 is between time & space & you are the conduit between cosmic & underworld realms
8. Liminal hours of dawn, noon, dusk & midnight are between this day and the next
9. Spirit flight out-of-body is between dead & alive, known as the living dead
10. Eggs 🐣, tadpoles 🐸, cocoons 🦋are between being one thing and becoming another
11. 🌳Trees branches, trunk & roots extend between 3 worlds - cosmic, mundane & underworld
12. 🪞Mirrors reflect a reversed world & are passages between here and there
13. The 3rd eye 👁‍🗨 sees between the realms

End Quick Witch Tips


CONTENTS

Welcome. Following are a few suggestions to help beginners get going with a Solitary Wiccan practice. Missing Pieces of this Topic appear because I’ve condensed the former article with less chit-chat & added more info from traditional references.

Page 1 - how to’s
. About Wicca
. Getting Started
. Wiccan altars & ritual tools
. Wiccan Circle Casting & Days of Power
. Meditation
. Broom Closet
. Basic Spells
. Laying a Compass, Trad-Witchcraft
. Animal Guides and Familiar Spirits
. Working with Crystals

Page 2 - references
. The Charge
. Wiccan Rede
. Famous spell 😉
. Descent of the Goddess
. Aradia’s Descent to Earth
. Witchy Chants
. Intuitive Witchcraft
. Journaling Prompts

Page 3 - references
. Elemental Correspondences
. Goddess & God
. Elemental Nature Spirits
. Choosing a Path, various links & free PDFs
. The Pentagram
. LBRP - Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
. Hermetic Principles
. 🐝

🦋 LET’S BEGIN

A little About Wicca
Gerald B. Gardner and Doreen Valiente were main contributors to British Witchcraft in modern Wicca's beginning 1951. Modern Wicca is a reconstruction meant to give a common form to autonomous, regional coven practices. A coven's High Priestess and High Priest are their clergy. There is an initiatory, three degree advancement system in coven structure. Solitaires self-dedicate. Scott Cunningham published a guide for solitary practice in 1989. Lady Sheba (Jesse Bell) published coven rituals in 1971. Both actions were considered controversial in their time.

Nature is generally perceived as divine with two forces. The Goddess and The God go by many names (Diana🌙 & 🦌Cernunnos) that have evolved through several Indo-European cultures. Duo-deities are viewed as being symbols of Nature itself & as aspects of The Goddess & God force and as manifest Beings all at the same time.
. Some Goddess titles: Primordial Star Goddess, Mother Nature🪆, Triple Moon, Maid-Mother-Crone, Earth Maiden, Queen of Elphame, Lady of the Sea, Night Huntress, Queen of the Night, Mother Goose
. Some God titles: Horned Lord of Death & Rebirth, lord of the Wild Hunt, Green man-Lord of the Forest-the Elder, Lord of the Corn-the Younger, Lord of the Underworld, Oak King-Holly King, Santa Claus🎅🏽

As a Solitary Practitioner there’s no coven affiliation so it is not necessary to denounce any beliefs, or to worship a specific - or any - deity, or to be initiated/self-dedicated; you don’t need to do extensive rituals, you do not need specific ritual tools or an altar to practice magic; you can choose if you want to use the Wiccan structure & tools for guidance or not. That having been noted, it’s smart to start with a structure and adjust-to-fit once you know what you’re doing.

There are different styles of practice & finding one that meets your needs, fits your geographic location, is affordable & feels comfortable to you is a sane idea. Three basic styles are 🌿garden herbs & kitchen 🥐scones; 🌟🍷🗡🪄 full regalia & elemental thrones; ☠️shamanistic stang & bones.
. Cultural Paths vary by region. Some popular ones are 🗡🍷British Traditional Witchcraft with regional off-shoots; 🧙🏽‍♂️Celtic, 🐉Teutonic,🧚🏽‍♂️Faery, Sumerian, Egyptian, 🏛Greek, etc., & all have similar Nature-based foundations but each has its own deities & rituals. As a Solitary you don’t have to follow a cultural path unless you resonate to one.

Basic Supply Kit
We can worship and/or do magic with no tools or supplies at all - using just our heart, hands & mind but most of us need a little help ...

1. Use a plain notebook 📒 so that you can doodle & write your questions & thoughts
2. Know your location 🗺. Nature is a storehouse. Get to know about it's history & layout.

. Herbs, Oils and Incense communicate by their scent, ex. use sweet🌸 scents for love & peace, citrusy🍋 for purifying, woodsy🌲 for prosperity & spicy🌶 for protection.
. Candles come in different sizes that effect burn times: birthday candles 15 minutes, chimes 90 minutes, dinner table tapers an inch an hour. Tea lights vary 2-8 hrs, Votives 10-15 hours. Colors - white is all-purpose or use the elemental mini-reference above, or your own symbolism always takes precedence.
. Stones - Hag-Stones with a natural hole clear through are traditionally Goddess symbols & used as protective amulets. Stones are discussed lots further down. If you do not know the mineral then use a stone’s color as a guide. See the elemental mini-reference above. Any palm-size stone can be stroked in a spell & to relieve stress.

Add on Skills beyond basics
. Empathy - Use your natural empathic & “Clair-abilities” to sense the Genius Loci of a location. Leave 🍞 offerings.
. Third 👁‍🗨 - Noetic Science suggests psychism can be awakened by stirring the pineal gland with geomagnetic energies. Yoga uses the closed eyes to “look” upwards behind the lids toward the forehead to stimulate the pineal gland. Herbalism suggests eating blue/purple colored fruits & veggies 🍇🍆 & sipping thyme tea or rubbing turmeric paste on the brow (will stain).
. Spiritual Union💞 - deepen your meditation thru connection to your higher self; imagine entering a sky-scraper and taking the elevator to the office at the top; greet your HS. Notice surroundings.

Moon Timing
. Copy the current year's moon phase calendar dates for reference.
. The full moon rises in the east as the sun sets in the west. It reaches zenith around midnight.
. The Moon's influence is still there even when it's cloudy or day-time.
. The day before full, day of, & day after full have similar energy.
. Use a waxing moon 🌓 for gain, the full moon 🌕 for completion, and a waning moon 🌗 to banish.

BOS Suggestions 📖
. Charts & lists save writing things out; using color and illustrations 🍄 jogs memory
. Recitations - Charge of the Goddess, Wiccan Rede, Witches Creed, Witches Rune, Legend of Descent of the Goddess
. Rituals - Altars, Consecration, Circle casting, Full Moon, Dedication, LBRP, Hand Fasting, Wiccaning, Requiem
. Holiday themes - Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas, solstices
. Deities - names, powers, symbols, prayers, preferred offerings & celebration dates
. Recipes - seasonal food &' drink, incense & oil blends, sprinkling powders, potions
. Divination forms you like - pendulum, crystal or water gazing, Tarot-oracle-game decks, Runes, staves
. Spell methods - Bag/Bottle, Candle, Cord/knot, Petition, Potion, Sigil, Stone stroking & grids
. Incantations by intentions - banishing, cleansing, health, love, money, protection
. Elemental correspondences, herb & stone properties, Current year’s Moon phase calendar
. Misc Interests - personal experiences, Fae/Fairy, Moon garden plans, nature trail maps, WC supply websites, discussion boards & your password & user ID

Daily Practice ideas
. ↕️ Grounding . *️⃣ Centering. 🛡Shielding.
. Morning salutation; “Hail to Sol🌞, Gaia🌎 & Luna🌛, Hail to Boreas, Eurus, Notos, Zephyrus”– (N,E,S,W).
. Use your spidey-senses - listen to Nature - Go barefoot 👣 🐾 & dance in the rain ☔️, make snowgods ⛄️
. Greet trees by touching one; Ground your energy thru your feet to the tree’s roots and do a mind-meld
. Meditate 15-30 minutes in UV-rich sunlight to purify your physical body & charge your energy body
. Pick up & properly dispose of loose plastic trash whenever it’s found
. Collect local plants ☘️ in season or grow your own herbs 🪴 in containers to learn flora life-cycles
. Feed wildlife as a nature offering - 🍞🍿
. Make Lunar Elixir - Charge water in moonlight, add quartz crystal; both resonate to thought energies
. Use your hobbies to express your Craft, ex., draw✏️, paint 🎨 , make candles 🕯, wood-craft
. Read 30-min; work on one subject a month - spell craft, herbs, elements, altars & tools, spirit guides
. Look up pagan prayers or adapt other blessings you like

DIY Incense (from Annie's Mirth & Reverence You Tube)
Cut plain paper to a 3-inch square & roll it into a tube like a cigarette. Stand the tube upright in a bowl with about an inch of sand or salt to hold it upright. Use the back of a spoon '& a bowl or a mortar & pestle to reduce herbs to coarse powder. Fill the tube with an herb/spice mix of your choice. Light the top so the paper & herbs smoke.
. premixed "pumpkin spice" (aids psychism); mix your own recipes
. 3-inch Post It Notes work nicely & the sticky strip holds the tube’s shape

DIY Scent-Infused Oil 💙
Use a lite vege oil - olive for victory - as a base; make small batches as you don’t use much; place herbs into a jar & add oil to cover. Cap it. Swirl to mix. Let set 4-6 weeks. Strain; discard spent herbs/teabags. Decant. Label it - don’t skip that.
. Use for anointing to transfer and hold a psychic charge. Add a vitamin E oil capsule as a preservative.

DIY Potions 🍶
. Place herbs related to the goal into a pot, add water to cover. Stir & repeat incantation & magnetize it 🙌🏽 . Simmer until water is reduced by half. Cool. Strain. Decant. Label it - don’t skip that.
. Use potions as aerosol spritzer, as hand wash, or for anointing spells. Use commercial teas for drinking. 🤨

.

[smogie_michele]

I wish I had this advice when I first started practicing

[Bychan Wulf]

It's awesome that new members can have it all in one place now. It took me a few weeks to discover all these hehe

[moonraingirl]

This is a great post, ST. Very informative and simple are the same time

[SpiritTalker]

Thanx. I appreciate the kind words.

ALTARS AND TOOLS

Altars are meeting places between the mundane and the sacred. The divine speaks to us in symbols so we use symbols to say what we feel or what we want.

A Wiccan altar uses the tools & gear to represent Goddess & God plus the land, sea & sky, & fire is of the gods. How You do this as a solitaire witch is flexible.There is no rule that solitary altars have to copy the ceremonial-magician’s. Use any candle as "luminary" altar lights, even LED-candles are OK because a battery’s electricity is the Fire element & the visual symbolism is obvious. It's OK to replace incense smoke with another Air element symbol such as aerosol mist or reed oil diffuser as their functions are similar. A bell’s sound also serves. It's Ok to substitute some other pointer for a knife or wand - perhaps a laser pointer.

Do we need an altar? Realistically, of course not. Worship is in the heart & requires no tools and the same with working magic in the mind. However there are benefits to using tools as symbols for directing our thoughts & Ritual puts us in an altered state of consciousness. Just holding a pointer in the hand makes the mind-eye-hand-energy connection. Aromas deliver messages quickly to the brain. Magic works with Nature so we really can't neglect that recognition. Grounding our energy; centering the energy that we pull from the earth & sky; & linking to the 4-ways are acts of communing with Nature.
. Nature's forms of matter are Sky-Air=vapor, Sea-Water=liquids, Land-Earth=solids, Fire=plasma, Aether =un-manifest energy. Some witches call the aetheric “spirit” which should not be confused with “a” spirit or the Biblical Holy Spirit. The Elements are forms of matter that manifest intentions.

Where do we get magical tools? Gear does not need to come from specialty "Witch" shops. Many witches make their own tools & repurpose Nature-finds & household items, or shop thrift, variety & sporting goods, as well as new-age stores or on-line sites, or attend local Pagan fairs.

What can be used for an altar &' what size should it be? In ceremonial magic the table dimensions measure equal to the size of 2 stacked cubes about waist high to symbolize earth & cosmos. In folk-magic we use what we have so any furniture with built-in storage space is useful, a tray or folding table is portable or spread a cloth over a box for height or on the floor. Out-doors the Earth itself is sacred & working right on the ground is appropriate; tree stumps & flat rocks are convenient.

Where should the altar be placed? Place the altar in the center of your ritual space or along the edge if it's more convenient. A circle can be cast around it even if you can’t walk around it. When reasonably possible the Crafter faces north across their altar toward the star Polaris & the sky-hole around which the stars revolve, or toward the east where Sol returns each day at dawn. Both are considered energy gateways.

How do you prepare the magical work space? - Meditate in the planned location a few times before setting up your altar. Get to know the psychic feel of the space. Project balanced energy to set the intent of your work area.
. Cleanse the altar before initially setting up any gear by wiping down the surface with mixed salt & water (3 pinches salt in 1/2 cup H2O) & bless with incense smoke. Anoint the surface to hold a psychic charge with dabs of oil at the corners & center [:-:] (5 dabs represents the elements), spread & wipe dry. Magnetize the altar by holding your hands above the surface & projecting power to charge it with your energy. The altar is said to exist in both the physical & etheric realms. The ritual tools can be similarly prepared as you get them & each would be immersed in its’ associated element.

What if I can’t keep a permanent altar? A working altar is for ritual use & spell work. It only needs to be left in place for the duration of the task. Cleanse the table for each set up. Tools can be used without re-dedicating if no one but you handles them. If the table isn't needed for mundane uses you can leave it permanently.

Why are there different altar arrangements? The benefit of different arrangements is to shape, focus & direct energy for specific uses. Altar arrangements support our tasks when we match our layout to our purpose.

The polarity altar model was adopted from Ceremonial Magic by G.B.Gardner as guidelines for Wicca. Place a Goddess candle, passive earth & water items on the left; a God candle, active Air & Fire items to the right. This leaves working space in-between polarities & “between” has magical significance, and like a battery’spolarity, it makes energy. Passive Earth & Water pacify conditions and active Air & Fire activate conditions.

The 4-way is a popular arrangement with the elemental symbols placed at their corresponding true compass directions in the X instead of by (-/+) polarity. North in the layout should actually be at the real compass North to align with the planet's magnetic energy flow no matter what direction the Crafter faces across the table (so if you face east across your altar then north is on the left). The 4-way aids healing & self-mastery.

The pentagram layout is arranged with elemental associations placed at their assigned point of the star. The top-most point reps aether/spirit & then moving to the left arm and onward counter-clockwise in alphabetical order: air, earth, fire, water. The pentacle is recognized as a protective symbol.

The intuitive eclectic layout expresses the emotional energy of the Crafter & uses their gut-feeling in placing devotional, ritual & decorative items. It's a way to participate directly in a spell of personal transformation in that laying out the altar arrangement itself becomes an active spell, expressing the Crafter's energy & prompting changes within the Crafter's environment. A healing theme could be used, for example, to manifest good health, or a prosperity theme for attracting good fortune, etc. The eclectic layout can be used by default without making use of it's energy-shaping potential, just "because it feels right" at the moment.

A devotional altar set-up is an arrangement that focuses on honoring & expressing the Crafter's relationship with their deities, guardian or ancestors. It might include a perpetual light, incense, food/drink or flowers as offerings (which get changed out before going bad), an image or other artistic symbols associated with your deity(s) or guardian spirit or ancestral family mementos & any devotional texts or chants, prayer beads or musical aid to meditation. Devotional, ancestor & household spirit or saint shrines are often a permanent household feature but once setup they can be redone as wanted. Seasonal decor is appropriate.

An Elemental working altar can be a temporary feature that would be dedicated to a single element & can be set up when the Moon is astrologically in a sign associated with the desired element; & it is placed at the corresponding direction of your working space. The Crafter uses colors & any single element-specific correspondences that appeal to them. A word of caution: include on e item (or color) which is of the opposite on color wheel , , or the polarity opposite (-/+) you're focussing on. Water and Earth have (-) passive polarity while Air and Fire have (+) active polarity. Too much of one energy alone can have unexpected results by tipping the balance out of alignment. Nature has to correct the imbalance.

There are also terra-form models that mimic the night sky & draw power from layouts of seasonal constellations & the zodiac to the task being done. In times past whole villages & temple landscapes have been laid out to mimic the sky. Workings for The Bigger Picture can benefit from this layout. Spirals & crystal grids work well in these arrangements. The direction in which the Big Dipper’s handle points indicates the seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere Polaris is presently the north celestial pole star; but the south celestial pole coincides with no fixed star so the Southern Cross & stars in the constellation Centaurus are used to estimate the south celestial pole.

The Stang (forked staff or broom stick) serves as the altar in shamanic crafting; the horns represent male divinity & the staff reps the three realms: celestial-above, physical-mundane & unseen-world below. It is used to draw the compass/circle & stands upright for rituals. Seasonal decor is appropriate & it sometimes holds a lamp as the light betwixt the horns.. It represents the path to the celestial center and the broomstick represents spirit flight. While the stang wasn’t used in G.B.Gardner’s Book of Shadows, Doreen Valiente was sometimes photographed holding a forked staff introduced by Robert Cochran.

Whichever model you choose to use for any personal practice, it's best to be consistent & not mix signals within an individual ritual or spell casting. Secular Crafters need not feel compelled to include deity images. It's your expression. Altars absorb our energy &' resonate more over time. They can become our sanctuary where we go to connect to the depths of the Divine in Nature.

RITUAL TOOLS.

The tools can vary by path & personal choice as well. In the Western Occult model Gardner adopted for Wicca, tools are elemental symbols & extensions of the Crafter. The standard tools are Athame🗡, Chalice, Pentacle , Censer , wand, candle holders🕯, bell , measure-cord , a ritual scourge and cloth table cover. Tools direct, hold or shape energy.

The altar table represents the Cosmic realm & Earth . A simple altar cloth symbolizes the etheric plane above Earth & on which our magical energy performs. A decorated cloth can convey powerful sigils into the ethereal realm. A cup accumulates & shapes both fluid & etheric energy. A pentacle is protective and also balances elemental energy to empower spells; a bell's sound clears and opens ritual gateways. The scourge represents self-discipline & mustn’t actually hurt you.

The wand as a mini-staff is used to direct magical energy & to summon when the athame🗡 would be too aggressive. Held in the dominant hand, a wand both draws and projects energy whereas the athame commands & separates. Gardnerian tradition prefers a 2-edged blade to cut both ways without clumsily turning the hand. In Wiccan practice the blade is reserved to cut only etheric energy such as cutting a door in the cast circle & severing energy attachments. It does not need to be razor sharp. It never draws blood. A black handle is preferred to absorb & channel your energy. A white handle is used on the boline that's reserved for physical cutting (herbs & twine) & to tell them apart in candlelight. Black and White symbolize balanced duality (the pillars of the Cosmos). These are coven guide-lines. As a Solitary it’s the Crafter's choice, or simply use your pointing fingers .

The Measure is a braided cord of any 3 colors (often white, red, & black of the Triple Goddess) & is as long as the Crafter is tall. It's worn during rituals & spell work to reinforce the Crafter's magical identity. A beginning knot is tied & then the cord is measured from the bridge of the nose, over the crown of the head & down the back to the heel, & an ending knot is tied. These 2 end-knots hold the Crafter’s essence between them. Then measure around the head, chest & hips measuring from the 1st knot & tie individual knots to mark each section. They represent the Crafter's visionary 3rd eye 👁‍🗨, theIr ’s will & their procreative energy. Therefore a measure cord holds the Wiccan's personal psychic & creative energy signature & it can stand-in for the Crafter. The cord should be safely stored when not being worn. It also serves as a belt for a robe. The robe is optional in private practice. Putting on the ritual robe symbolizes donning the ritual attitude and magical persona.

The Broom and Cauldron are iconic symbols stemming from witches practical use of what they have on hand to use, and shows us that Witchcraft has been part of every-day living & not just reserved for Sabbats & Esbats. It’s part of the stew you had for supper, a cuppa tea brewed at break-time, the band-aid applied to a skinned elbow, a road trip to visit friends, etc.

The Crafter has options in a divination tool of choice. Reading Tarot, Oracle or gaming deck or tea leaves, Ogham staves or Rune-stones, a pendulum, Crystal, dreams, astrological chart, etc.

.

[Ashrend]

Thank you for this list. Its really helpful, feel like i skipped ahead a little so getting the basics done will really help

devon

[SpiritTalker]

CASTING A WICCAN CIRCLE & SAMPLE RITUAL
(Creating sacred space or Building the temple)

What does it mean to cast a circle and how do you do it? Essentially, casting a circle connects us to the Earth, our primary energy source. A circle can also symbolize the Cosmos & the Earth with multiple meanings: as devotion - to create sacred space set apart from mundane concerns; as consciousness altering - to unite the 3-realms of cosmic-above, mundane-here/now & unseen-below; as magical aid - to symbolize the functional Universe for staging fulfillment of goals.

The basic idea is load, aim & shoot energy to clear ground & form a circular foundation; to build a symbolic temple 🏛 within it. Within the Temple we are in touch with invisiable forces. Ritual acts-out or mimes temple construction from the elemental materials of Nature. We use ritual to ground ourselves into the power source of Earth’s energy. We raise that energy through our body - energizing the 👁‍🗨 pineal gland - & then shape it with our thoughts to achieve goals.

The 4 elements are called in sequence by density - moving from least to most dense: Air, Fire, Water, Earth to move the temple from the thought-plane & into the physical realm. Maybe you have noticed that the same Creation theme is enacted in the same sequence over & over; we just keep repeating the same formula with our circles, altar arrangements & spell casting.

First lay a foundation:
. Cleanse by sprinkling salted water which introduces pacifying (-) & elements; & removes stagnant energies
. Bless with smoldering incense which introduces activating (+) & elements; & stimulates propelling energies
. Raise & project Earth's energy in a circular form

And then construct the 🏛 Temple:
. Set the temple's corners to hold the circle in place by calling the powers of E-, S-, W- & N-
. Infill the temple with sacred presence by inviting the deities of nature

Do what you came for:
. Work in partnership with Deity (or familiar-spirits) to spell craft. Random spirits are not invited into the circle.
. Honor Nature by observing full moons & seasonal holidays; & honor the partnership with a shared meal offering.

Wrap-up & finish:
. Farewell the deities & release the 4 powers in reverse order (N,W,S,E) to dissolve the links.
. Ground your own residual energy for stability.

Should we always cast a circle? A circle connects us to the Earth, our power-source & supports magical efforts. It also unites us with the three realms, aiding travel between realms. You can decide when it's to your benefit to use it.

Do we "let in any bad energy" by not casting? A circle keeps out contaminants, which in our case are those natural frequencies & random emotional energies that might conflict with our intention like interfering radio waves crossing a station & scrambling the message. We live with these natural energies daily & don't want them skewing our magical pitch. Repeating this same procedure reinforces the psychic imprint over time.

A circle forms the base for a Cone of Power. This cone is shaped like a witch's hat with the brim intersecting the ground & pointy-end above. It's a revolving spiral of energy into which the intention is fed in the same way a spell is charged, & then at its highest point is released to target . Thus the circle aids both our ritual and magical workings. A nine-foot diameter circle is standard but realistically you work with the space you've got. Energy passes through walls & furniture so that’s not an obstacle except to our own mobility.

Emotions: When the energy is nicely balanced we tend to feel at-ease with a quiet assurance . When the circle energy is off-balance we can feel tipsy or buzzed . It’s not unheard of to be overly emotional when working with energies. Control the emotional effect with some steadying deep breaths and foot shuffling to redistribute the energy. If that’s not enough then hold your dominant hand, palm inwards, and lower it from crown-to-crotch to close the chakras (the body’s energy links) & wait until you’re calm to re-open by moving your hand from crotch-to-crown, and resume.

We should have all the necessary spell items present & set up the altar before casting circle. It interrupts the continuity to break the circle to retrieve forgotten items but, when needed, we can cut a door in the circle with the athame or lay the wand, staff or broom as a threshold to step across so the circle isn't broken. OK - so that's the what’s and why’s. Let’s get to how.


SAMPLE CIRCLE RITUAL

Preparation

. Wash up & put on your ritual garb, if any.
. Remove clutter & debris.
. Set up the altar.

. Ground & Center on the breath to draw energy from the Earth or pump-up juice with arm swings and press your hands to your belly.
. Light the altar candle(s)🕯.
. Bless the salt, water & incense. Say, ”I bless and charge you to purify this sacred space.“ & air-draw the invoking earth pentagram
. Mix salt and water. Light incense.

You can repeat any phrases as often as needed until you walk all the way around your space.

Make Sacred Space - Walk the circumference and:

1. Purify by sprinkling the (- pacifying) symbols of mixed salt+water as you make the 1st circuit. You might say Doreen Valiente's words as you go "Round, around 'n round about. All good in & all bad out."

2. Bless by wafting the (+ activating) elements of smoldering incense smoke around the rim to make the 2nd pass. Steps 1 & 2 together will introduce the 4 physical elements.
. Or mix a few drops of fiery cinnamon oil and airy lemon oil in 50/50 water & rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to use as an aerosol mist when smoke is an issue.

3. Cast circle in a 3rd pass by projecting Earth energy through 2-fingers, wand or athame to direct the power & charge the border. Say "As I walk the circle is cast, guarding all and holding fast."
. Seal it by air drawing the invoking earth pentagram .

4. Simply state the reason you have come so the Powers will be informed.

That is all there is to the casting of a circle in which no invocations are done. The Elemental (-/+) polarity battery exists. When using only the simple circle casting as in steps 1-4 above, just walking through the circle afterwards will dissipate it & re-grounding yourself is sufficient to disconnect from the links. A simple circle can be used for spells, divinations, meditation. A formal ritual for religious & magical trance use continues building the temple by adding layers as described below.

CONTINUING A SABBAT or ESBAT RITUAL

After purifying & the circle is cast you can place (or just show) a lighted candle or LED light at each direction. Start at the East quarter Air, and walk deosil

Calling Quarters - Face each direction in turn & illuminate it to open a door. Hold forth a light 🕯& say:
"(E) Air I call for power to Know; (S) Fire I call for power to Go; (W) Water I call for power to Flow; (N) Earth I call for power to Grow; (center)Aether I call to make it so. As above, so below.”

Calling Deity - Use names, if known, to greet the Deities at the circle's center, saying:
"Hail and be welcome here Lady and Lord of Nature.”

At full Moon Esbats we might Moon-light-charge & sip a chalice of drinking water to develop our psychism, &/or do divination & spell work as needed. Draw Down the Moon by saying,

I invoke and call upon thee Mighty Lady of the Night,
Bringer of tides, bringer of winds & bringer of the Sight.
Blessed Maiden, Holy Mother and Wise Crone
by perfect love & perfect trust I do intone
To invoke thee and call upon thee
to descend upon me,
Thy devotee.

Seasonal Observance - Thereafter the Sabbat's theme is observed (see Days of Power). Some preparation ahead of time is needed for a shared meal. It is a time to reflect on the passing of the seasons and to review your path's mythology; to attune to the cycles of the Earth &/or commune with The Divine. Write in your journal .

Cone of Power - Just as you would set your intention into any spell materials you would load the spiraling Cone with intent. See it in your mind as mist spiraling around you. Push your intent from the gut & into the mist. Then release the Cone of Power to fulfill the task:
" Around & around the power flows, upward the spiral The Power goes, to aid friends and vanquish foes, I command you now to GO."
.Push! Trust the system. Rest.

You will need to sit and catch your breath after any spell casting & may welcome some food & drink so logically blessing the Cakes & Ale follows. But 1st we acknowledge the Source of Life -

A celebration of life. Ring a bell thrice in salute as you say,
“I walk the Land that cradles the Sea, through which Life came forth and the Sky encompasses me. All that I see is Divinity . I welcome Life in joy, peace & harmony."
or
The Great Rite - Divine Union is symbolically honored at Beltane & Samhain wherein the athame is lowered into the chalice. Say,
"As the chalice is to the Goddess and the athame is to the God, let them now be joined for the joy of both and the Great Mystery that is Life"

Blessing the Meal - Bless food & drink with a simple phrase:
“In the names of the Lady and Lord of Na-ture, I bless this offering to bring good cheer, & thank you for this bread & beer."
. Eat & drink 1/2; put the other 1/2 into a bowl to distribute upon the Land.

Farewell all who were Called - release Deity 1st,
. "Lady and Lord, accept my thanks. If go thee must, be it in love & trust."

Then dismiss the quarters in reverse order, walking widdershins . Say,
. "Powers of the N, the W, the S, the E, with my thanks now go in peace. The rite is ended."
. Snuff any candles you might have placed as you go.

Re-Set - release any residue of the charged circle that remains with the earth banishing pentagram . Your ritual has concluded. Ground your self and clean up. Distribute your offering for the wildlife. It’s courteous to leave no sign of your activity behind other than the offering & any permanent structures.
.
.
WOWZA, you did it.
.


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[SpiritTalker]

DAYS OF POWER

The days of power vary by traditions. Not all standard 8 Sabbats have to be observed. We are free to choose to observe the dates that best enhance and express living in unity with our location & to not rigidly follow a calendar. It is customary to cast a full ritual circle & to welcome the Powers as part of the observance, as well as feasting and song & dance. Solitaires might consider sharing their abundance with pets & wild life.

The so-called lesser days are when the seasonal power is beginning. These solar dates are the summer solstice and winter solstice (Yule - when the God is born.) The Sun appears as if it crosses the Earth's equator, lengthening or shortening daylight hours; and the spring and autumn equinoxes when day and night hours are equal. Sunrise & sunset are the liminal, magical times between one season and the next. Times of transition summon power. It takes a bit over 365 days for the Earth to circle the Sun so the dates vary from the 20th to 23rd of every December, March, June and September.

The greater days are when the season's energies crest. The more familiar themes are Celtic. The dates are October 31/November 1, 🕯February 1-2, April 30/May 1, July 31/August 1. Midnight is the magic hour, the crest of the wave when the natural force breaks free.

All-Hallows-November Eve is the end of the old year & beginning of the new. Time & space return to their primordial state "between" & await regeneration. The veil between worlds is thin. The Lord of the Wild Hunt rides the night collecting souls of the departed. Death in the physical world is rebirth into the Otherworld. Imbolc , Groundhog Day or 🕯Candlemas is the February fire festival of light & renewal when the youthful Goddess emerges from winter retirement & the earth regenerates. Death in the Otherworld is rebirth into the physical world. Two main themes run through the Craft: the sacred marriage between Goddess and God on Beltane-May Eve which bestows fertility & abundance upon the Earth and hence upon the people; and the 1st harvest as a sacrifice of the God as Green Man (John Barleycorn) on Lughnasa-August Eve when the grain harvest begins & He is celebrated with sacred mead . His death manifests the annual cycle of life-death-rebirth. Just 2 concepts: fertility and death, and if you understand these in relationship to each other then you will understand the Wheel of the Year as everything dances around these two concepts.

Full Moons called Esbats occur every 29.5 days; it takes the moon 28 days to go around the earth, and another day & a half to get out of the Earth's shadow (because the Earth moves too) whence the Earth can reflect the sunlight that fully illuminates the Moon. The Moon's pull affects ocean tides, tree sap rising and falling, female menstrual cycles & male testosterone. It is a very real force. The waxing-day-before full, day-of-full, and waning-day-after-full have greatest strength. Use waxing for attractions & increase, full-on for completions and waning for banishings & decrease. There are 12 full Moon's annually & every 3rd year there will be 1 month that will hold 2 Full Moons within the same calendar month. The 2nd moon is popularly called a "blue moon" & is considered double-lunar power. Occasional Lunar eclipses are quickening with a full month’s lunar cycle passing in a few hours.
.

[SpiritTalker]

MEDITATION

We hear lots of recommendations to meditate, and beginners may not have a clue what this involves. And how does someone start taming their hamster-on-a-wheel thoughts? It starts with breathing.

BREATH carries the power. 🌬

The easiest breathing is slow, rhythmic in-and-out at a comfortable speed. Focussing on breathing is a simple way to alter consciousness. Inhale & hold, exhale & hold counting: in-2-3-4, hold-2-3-4, out-2-3-4, hold-2-3-4, repeat for a few minutes. Don't strain at it because straining is counter-productive. 4-count breathe as you gaze at a candle flame, observing the dance & colors until that's all you're aware of. When you wool gather return your attention to the flame.

A hand gesture (mudra) of holding the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger, like an OK sign , has been used to aid concentration.

THREE BODIES

There are various schools of thought that depict a multi-layered model of the construction of the body-mind-spirit but most agree on at least 3 components of a dense physical body, inter mingled with a less dense energy body and still lesser dense spirit body. There are many descriptions with more levels. The way I was shown it was that the energy-body connects at the solar plexus (belly) in our physical-body, and the spiritual-body connects with the physical- & energy-bodies at the forehead & crown. It's OK if you work with a different understanding.

GROUNDING

Grounding is a term that refers to Earthing the energy body to stabilize us. Grounding is basic maintenance as it connects us to the main energy-source we channel for our work. It's like being in touch with the pulse of Earth. While you're doing the four-count breathing is a good time to be grounding. Sit with your back straight. Imagine your tail-bone extending into the Earth like a tap root on a tree, sinking into the ground to absorb nutrients and vitality on the inhales, as well as to carry away distress and anxiety on the exhales. If it's easier to see a rod of light then do it. You control your visualization.

Some physical ways to aid grounding are to touch the Earth with your bare feet or lay flat on the bare Earth; hold & stroke any palm-sized stone with your thumb; eat root vegetables raw or roasted.

A hand gesture to aid grounding holds the tip of your thumb to the tip of your ring finger. If you make the hand gesture every time you ground, you will quickly train yourself to automatically ground whenever you make the thumb to ring finger gesture.

We can raise energy by pulling up from feet-to-crown to energize the chakras. Ground again at the end of the session.

CENTERING

Centering is pulling your energy into your gut on the breath, inhaling & holding, slowly exhaling. One way to picture centering is like locking in your position in space & time in the Here-&-Now like the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) mapping triangulates to pin down your physical location. Imagine the vertical line of the energy body extending along the spine reaching both as high as it is deep. This automatically combines grounding with centering in the same exercise. Then imagine a horizontal latitude line going left-to-right intersecting the 1st in the belly. Then add a longitude line passing through the others going front-to-back. All 3 lines connect at your center and move around with you. This positioning helps us to hold our power &' also aids returning from meditative states.

Experiences vary. You might experience your connection at the abdomen or the chest. You are already familiar with this location. Recall a time when you've been suddenly startled and felt like you dropped into your gut or felt punched in the chest. You momentarily have put all your senses on defense alert & instinctively pulled your power within you. That's where your energy body connects to the physical counterpart. In meditation we can work from within the same space. When we're not startled we know it as a quiet, still space within ourselves. We naturally pull our power into ourselves when we center. Trance-states can be safely entered into from our center.

A hand gesture to aid centering is to hold the tip of the thumb to the tip of the middle finger. If you do this gesture whenever you meditate, you will train yourself to center whenever you make the gesture.

We can use the center breathing to deepen our meditations, prayer, visualization, and communion with Deity, to our higher mind, guardian spirit and to other realms. When we center we are linked from the Mundane Center to both the Underworld Center and to the Cosmic Center.

When we center, we pull our power into ourselves. You know you're "getting it" when you are gently aware of being you, without letting physical-body sensations distract you. You know your body is there but it's not the focus of who you are at the moment.

PROJECTING ENERGY

Directing your Witch Power starts with grounding to link to your power source, then center on the breath to the belly & focus on the intention, stirring fire in the belly and push to release power to target ; connect, think it, feel it, let it go. You’re using the powers of earth, air, fire and water to shape aether.

SHIELDING 🛡🗡

Shielding is basic psychic protection from negative thoughts and energy-sucking people. Ground your tap root. Breathe into the belly. Imagine a golden glow radiating out from the belly to completely surround you and out-line your body. Every breath strengthens the shield. It stays in place and reinforces itself as you belly-breathe. To seal the aura, briefly see it hardened like bullet-proof security glass. Blue is also a good spiritual protection color.

STRAY THOUGHTS

Stray thoughts will wander in. Don't make an issue of it or give them energy. Just return to the breath. You decide if your meditation is worth interrupting. You flow out on the thought from the belly and you return through the belly. You'll always find your way back this way.

What does it mean if you feel a warm tingle? It means you have allowed your bodily sensations to distract you. Nothing more. Focus on your rhythmic breathing again and forge onward. Returning attention to the belly keeps us from going topsy-turvey. It pairs with grounding & stabilizes us. The woo-woo factor is whacky enough so stability helps a lot to keep our wits about us.

PROBLEM SOLVING

If you want to ponder a specific matter, breathe into the belly to center, then hold your position & ponder the matter from center. Pose a question. Breathe. Wait for a thought from within center. Listen to the voice of your soul & ignore mental chatter.This kind of breathing into an area works elsewhere as well, such as the heart and third eye areas, or crown at the top of the head by being aware in the other areas as we belly-breathe. Each area has it's usefulness but the belly is the starting place.

HEART TEMPLE EXERCISE
(A Rosicrucian exercise)

The temple can be any style you want. Your imagination will provide the images. You can put as much detail into it as you like such as texture & color variations, light and shadow plays. Your imagination gets involved. Relax and deep breathe for a few minutes. Then visualize ascending 7 steps to enter a temple. The only furnishing is a flame. Your imagination will design it. Go along with it.

Focus your imaginary gaze on the flame, and will the flame to raise higher and lower on command. Do this 7 times. Then return the flame to it's maintenance level. Depart the temple by descending the 7 steps. Return to your ordinary surroundings and ground your energy.

The Heart Temple is an astral realm thought-construct to develop visualization skills and psychic sensitivity. It forges a path to communicate with your true-will aka "higher self" consciousness. The will expresses through the heart center & via visualization thru the 3rd eye, so it aids these as well. The symbolism is meaningful to the subconscious. The temple is you as 7 is the number of the Temple & chakras. The flame is your heart-of-being. Don't worry if the whole visualization doesn't flow. It takes repetition to succeed. Sometimes you can't get all the steps. Just Keep Going. Sometimes the flame won't budge. Stick with it. Aim for the ideal. Practice.

SALUTATION
.
Face the East and stretch your arms above your head & say
. Hail to Sol, the Sun, bringer of light, warmth and life.
Bend over or stoop down & touch the ground & say
. Hail to Gaia, the Earth, our Mother, with thanks for all you give to us
Straighten up, take a few belly-deep breaths, & then say
. Greetings to the realm of vapor, Air, bringer of breath, of breezes & of inspiration.
Face toward the south
. Greetings to the realm of Fire, little brother of the Sun, and giver of vitality.
Face west
. Greetings to the realm of liquids, Water, soft mist & rains, rivers, wells & seas,
Face north
. Greetings to the realm of solids, Little Earth of wood, metal, stone & bone.
Extend your arms outward
. Greetings to my soul for through You I-Am. - I honor and salute you all.

Or greet Sol , Gaia , Selenaand the 4 winds Boreas, Eurus, Notos, Zephyrus – NESW

.

[SpiritTalker]

.
BROOM CLOSET 🧹

Discreet Altars won’t look witchy and can be simple & repurpose kitchen dishes & utensils. If candles are OK to use then a scented votive candle or a Glade air freshener candle can represent the divine light & Fire element by its flame, & the Air element by its scent. Or use LED candles and an aerosol mist with like symbolism. A stone in a bowl of water can represent Earth & Water. Add colored marbles for each Element. Trace a pentagram on the stone with the water. It discreetly evaporates. A room might be arranged with elemental themes assigned to the 4 corners using a table fan as 💨, a 🕯candle-garden for 🔥, a bowl of sea shells as 💦 & a rock🪨collection as 🌎. A potted plant’s🪴 life-force can represent deity, natural photosynthesis as air, potting soil & watering as earth & water. Calendar or printed photos can be framed for deity symbols. Christmas ornaments 🌟🦌 🔔 can be repurposed. Avoid flashy ritual regalia & use your hands 🙌🏽 and fingers 👆🏽to direct power. Everybody knows to look under the bed so give them a box of rocks to find.

Supplies -
. Candles 🕯- if flame is OK use Glade candles or substitute LED battery candles - the symbolism is the same
. Replace incense with aerosol mist or a reed oil diffuser
. Restaurant packets of salt 🧂, pepper, sugar are convenient
. Notebook 📒, pens🖌, crayons🖍, scissors ✂️ for making sigils & mandalas
. Mandala design kits are sold as toys
. Paper envelopes 💌 can make spell packets; they can be drawn on & are burnable & biodegradable
. Yarn or twine 🧶➰ for knot spells
. Repurpose 🍴utensils, 🥣bowls, 🌯kitchen herbs, 🥛🍸☕️ cups, 🧷📌pins, 🧹Broomstick
. Coffee & herbal teas, natural stones 🗿 all have magical use & are discreet

Discreet Rituals can be done without tools or candles & can be expressed through mimed gestures. Ground & center by tracing an X on your belly. Use see-hear-speak no evil hand gestures to purify personal space. Circle casting is a matter of pulling power to your belly to load-aim-&-shoot through pointing fingers to project a circular sanctuary. Greet each of the 4-ways with an inviting hand wave or dismissing wave when saying farewell. A hand-on-heart bow greets Deity. Leave an offering outside. The Moon's power is there even when it's cloudy or day-time so ritual can be done day or night, and working outdoors adds energy.

Sample Mime Ritual - no spoken words

Stand where the center of the circle would be, facing the North toward Polaris. Ground by passing your thumb👍🏼 from crown-to-crotch, as you imagine the vertical axis along your spine descending into the Earth. Center by tracing a ➕ on your belly as you imagine the 4-way intersection. Pull your power on the breath to your gut. Cleanse yourself and your aura with the see-hear-speak no evil gestures 🙈🙉🙊 . Breathe deeply & let it spread outward through your aura.

Face north, point 👆🏽& draw the Earth invoking pentagram ↙️⭐️. Think it & push power from the belly & out through your hand as you turn in a 🔃deosil circle to cast the circle's boundary. See it in your mind.💫

You now stand at the cross-roads sanctuary; cleansed, centered, balanced and at peace with the three realms: celestial, mundane & under-world. You can stop there without calling quarters or invoking deity and proceed to your task, or do a longer ritual that follows.

Greet the powers of the four directions by nodding to each & with an in-drawing hand gesture 👋.

Greet & and welcome The Lady with fig ✊🏽 hand sign & The Lord with the horns 🤘🏼hand sign; press hand-to-heart & bow from the waist to show respect. If you aren't working with a deity, then bow to Nature.

You can step right into meditation here, divination or the spell work you want to do.

No spell materials are needed.The Circle itself will carry your intention. Cast the circle. Imagine the rim as a blue mist rising from the Earth & 🌀 spiraling around you. Feel the fire 🔥 in the belly & feed your intention into the mist 💨. Whisper your incantation into the mist 💨. You know it-is-so, give thanks & then release the spiraling Cone of Power to fulfill the task; 👊🏼 Push! Trust the system. Rest.

An offering 🍞 for Nature can be made after the ritual has ended.

Thank and farewell the Deities with a bow. Dismiss the quarters 🔄 in reverse order with the banishing pentagram at each direction ↗️⭐️.

Standing in the center spot, ground the circle's residual energy as a gift back into the Earth. Do this by raising your arms straight above your head & then slowly lower your arms out to the sides & straight down as you visualize the circle sinking into the earth. And you're done.

Discreet Spells

. Sigils - write the intent in a few words, delete vowels (a,e,i,o,u) & duplicate consonants; draw a hieroglyph by rearranging the remaining letters; draw a circle around it;✂️ cut it out. This is your sigil. Anoint it & magnetize. Burn or shred at a liminal hour (dawn, noon, dusk, midnight) to release the power.
. Mandala designing - mandala coloring books & template kits are sold as toys. Focus on goal while coloring. Burning or shredding the finished design at a liminal hour releases the power..
. Knots - the incantation is spoken while tying knots in twine or your witch’s Measure cord. Untying the knots at a liminal hour releases the power.
. Uses for Herbs - burn as incense, add to packets, add to food, brew tea & use for aerosols, hand-wash or anointing.

Easy Peasy Spells

. Use Air & write a wish on the breeze. Lick your finger ☝🏽 so you feel the air as you write & set intent.
. Use Water & draw ↙️⭐️ with a 👆🏽finger on the surface of a glass of water. Set intent & drink it; & better still if the full Moon's reflection is caught in the glass of water & you drink the Moon's image & added a quartz crystal. Brew a cuppa tea ☕️with the crystal lunar elixir.
. Use Earth & pound a nail 🔨 into a dead tree stump or fence post to halt something unwanted. Set intent as you say something like “This is not a nail I fix to this post but is (xxx name or situation) that is stopped as still as a post”.
. Use Earth & gather pebbles to make a ✳️ design representing a challenge & then change or reverse the layout to change or reverse the situation. Focus & push as you say "The old is passed & gone, the new I call upon, I call (state desire) to come.
. Use Fire with🕯candle magic. “Dress” the candle with a dab of olive oil spread onto a candle to hold a psychic charge. Roll the candle between your palms as you draw power to your belly & push intent into the cold candle. Repeat your intention or rhymed incantation thrice. Stand the candle in a holder. Light the wick. Gaze at the flame for a minute knowing like a hunch that the task is done; thank the Powers & let the candle burn all the way down. Put any stubs in the trash 🚮. You can substitute a battery-LED 🕯. Instead of dressing the candle you will anoint & charge a sigil paper & place it under LED candles; set a timer⏲ & when it times out the spell is done; reuse the LED candle again and again.
.. You can cut long tapers in half with a sharp knife to make 2 shorter candles
.. Use birthday candles 🎂; standing in a bowl of sand for fire safety
.. Use tea lights

.

[SpiritTalker]

FOUR SPELLS - ”Earth, Water, Air, Fire; work now as I desire; X I now acquire by Earth, Water, Air, Fire.”

Tips - These are tried -‘n-true old spells and useful for every beginner witch as a framework to build on.
. Know your objective: to attract, to repel or to empower something; Center, think & feel it, & push it into the spell.
. Select materials related to the objective by element, how it’s used and/or suggestive appearance.
. Speak incantations in positive, present-tense. Don't say what you don't want. Say only the results you expect.
. Rhyming is not required but it aids memory and repetition aids focus.
. Do as you will but harm none.

The Spells:

Stone Stroking - can be used for remote healing. Sit & sway side-to-side while stroking a smooth stone & chant: “Stone to stone, bone to bone, flesh to flesh, vein to vein, (name) is whole again.” You could be seated on a swing or rocking chair, or just swaying your body. This repetitive motion can aid light trance. When you fade out mentally you can stop. Rinse stones in flowing water to reset the stone before another use. A single-banded stone has traditionally been used for wishes, and a “hag-stone” with a hole clear through has been a protective amulet since ancient times.


Witch’s Bottle - is a protection spell in which a small bottle or jar is filled with bent pins to deflect harmful intent, rusty nails to protect from psychic interference, a strand of protectee's hair as a tag lock, bits of tin foil confetti as mirrors to scatter ill-wishing, equal amounts of salt to protect & pepper to banish harm. Top it off with vinegar. Cap it or seal a cork stopper with wax. Set your protection intention. Then bury or hide the bottle near your most used entrance. Retrieving & dismantling the bottle cancels the spell. It can be adapted to a wish bottle by changing ingredients.


Witch’s Ladder - is a long-term spell. A chain of knots is tied in twine with twigs of oak, ash or thorn, feathers, small charms, or holed-stones tied into the knots. Use 5 knots for manifesting a wish, 7 for good fortune, 13 for protection. To activate it, swing the completed chain like a pendulum & lock on a witchy gaze as you set intention. Then hang it in a tree to allow the Air to dismantle it over time & thus release the long term spell. The tree carries the spell to the cosmos in it's branches, throughout the mundane realm in it's trunk, & into the underworld via the roots. Leave a bread or corn meal offering for the tree. Dropping the entire strand as-is into flowing water will cancel the spell.


Candle - Choose your candle size by how long you want it to burn; use any safe holder or bowl of sand.
. Dressing the candle 🕯 - Dab oil on the candle or five spots on your hand (:-:) & roll the candle between your palms as you repeat your incantation thrice to set intention. The five-spot represents the elements & oil seals your intention’s energy to the candle. Stand the candle in it’s holder. Add a sprinkle of relevant herbs around the base if you want to boost intent. Inhale their aromas. Air-daw the invoking pentagram .
. The spell - Light the candle and sit quietly while focussing on the flame for a few minutes until the flame is all you see. Think of the desired result you expect & feel it like a hunch. KNOWING is a slightly altered state of mind & is a witch’s power. Give thanks. Let the candle burn completely. It’s ok to snuff a flame and relight, repeating the incantation over a few days until the candle is spent. Discard any stubs in the trash.

To stop a spell already in progress you can adapt the candle spell: name a taper candle for the spell that must be cancelled, oil it & set the intention. Stand it upright - stuck in it's own wax - in a cup or bowl. Add water to cover the bottom of the candle & light up. Gaze at the flame for a minute knowing it is done & give thanks as above. When the candle burns down to water level it will be extinguished, bringing the unwanted spell to an end. This can also be used for un-hexing.

To re-use a candle - heat a pin in a match flame & push it into the candle at a point that marks how long you want the candle to burn. Dress just that portion with oil and charge it with your intent. When the pin drops as the wax melts the spell is done. Snuff the flame and use the candle & pin method again for another spell. Or cut long tapers in half & make 2 candles.

A candle poppet can be made by placing 5 pins Into the candle to represent the head, 2 arms and 2 legs. After the candle has melted, collect & take the pins to a friendly tree; push them into the ground beneath the tree as though burying the poppet; leave an offering for the tree. It’s roots burrow into the underworld, it’s trunk resides in the here and now, its branches reach to the cosmos.

LED candles - instead of anointing the LED candle place an anointed and magnetized petition or sigil under LEDs; set timer & when it times out the spell is done; reuse the candle again and again.

Petitions - on a 3-inch square of paper write the goal in a few words. Turn the paper 1/4 turn & over-write the goal with the initials of the recipient. Turn the paper 1/4 turn again and over-write both with your initials. Over-writing shows dominance over whatever is beneath it. Anoint (:-:) and charge the petition, then place it under the candle. Shred petition papers after the spell is done. Turn petitions deosil for attracting/increase and widdershins for banishing/decrease.

BONUS ADD-ON:

A WORD SIGIL is a spell made up of the letters of your written intention. Write the goal on paper in a few present-tense words to claim it so it's not forever In the "want-to-be" but IS. Cross out the vowels (a,e,i,o,u,y) and duplicate letters so only one of each consonant remains like a tx msg (text message). Rearrange the remaining letters artfully in any way - upright, reversed, exaggerated - into a hieroglyph. Draw a circle around it (to contain the power) & cut the sigil out or transfer it to clean paper. Dab with oil (:-:). Recite your incantation to set the intent. Fire & Air are the active elements so burn-&-scatter or shred-&-scatter (into a waste basket) to transform it. Transforming is a key step with word sigils as our words must be transformed to manifest.

NINE-KNOT SPELL can use your witch’s measure cord or a piece of cotton twine, thread, yarn or ribbon about twice as long as your forearm, to be tied with 9 knots. Don't pull so tightly that you cannot untie the knots. Use colors if their associations appeal to you. Say one phrase of the charm while forming a knot-loop then blow a breath of power through the loop, or peer through the loop at the moon to capture it, just as you pull the knot loosely closed. Repeat the process in sequence for all 9 knots. You are setting intent as you work. The knots are to be untied to activate the spell.

By knot one the spell's begun - By knot two it comes true - By knot three so shall it be
By knot four the power is stored - By knot five the spell's alive - By knot six the goal is fixed
By knot seven it is given - By knot eight it is fate - By knot nine it is mine

The knots can be untied at a liminal hour - Dawn, noon, dusk or midnight. Dropping the knotted strand into flowing water will cancel it.

A knot spell is also a binding spell & as long as the knots remain tied the intent is held in place. To hold/bind permanently you would burn or burry the string without untying the knots. The knots cannot then ever be undone & are thus bound. Rephrase the last line to "by knot nine (name, thing or deed) is entwined & confined". Binding is often used to prevent harm from being done.

CAULDRON SPELL
. Coat the pot with intention oil-of-choice to hold the charge
. Add the heavy items that take longer to “cook” like stones, roots, woods, cords, charms
. Add a few pinches of faster cooking leafy herbs, spices
. Add a splash of any relevant liquid potion
. Add the unique flavorings like photos, sigils, petitions
. To turn on the heat place a dressed candle either within the pot or alongside
. Speak the incantation & add the cheat-sheet to the pot
. Magnetize with power and let it be
. Note - you can wrap your witch’s measure cord around the pot and put the lid on it to “simmer“ over night; the cord reps your Will & keeps up the heat
. When the spell’s done, remove the non-burnable items like stones & metal (to cleanse & reuse) & then burn the rest
. The ash can be released on the wind to carry-on, buried to neutralize a condition or discarded, whichever seems appropriate

THE BEST TIMES TO DO SPELLS -

Moon phase might be a consideration. A waxing (increasing) moon aids gain & attraction. A full moon has the energy for completion of any task. A waning (decreasing) moon aids reduction & banishing.

Some folk magic takes advantage of the liminal hours of dawn for beginnings, noon for fulfillment, dusk for endings, and midnight for transitions. These hours are “between” day and night or one day and the next so exist within the etheric realm.

A popular option is to take advantage of weekday/planetary forces. The Weekday will pin down when to start a spell for best outcome. Associations are shown here by weekday, planet, color & purpose:

Sunday (Sun) yellow, leadership, health, advice
Monday (Moon) white, marriage, family, psychic endeavors, divination
Tuesday (Mars) red, conflict, legal matters
Wednesday (Mercury) light blue-aqua, communication, knowledge, divination
Thursday (Jupiter) blue, finances, job, prosperity, protection
Friday (Venus) green, love, allure, fertility
Saturday (Saturn) black, endings, banishing, protection

SPELL DESIGN
Use elemental correspondences to know which spell to do & spell materials to use related to intention.

AIR - trance, intellect; use sigils, chant or a witches ladder; sage, cinnamon stick, mint; citrine, tiger eye
FIRE - partnership, vitality; use a candle spell, sprinkle rosemary, bay, basil around candle; red jasper, garnet
WATER - emotions, psychism; use potion or witches bottle; thyme, chamomile, lemon, rose; sodalite, turquoise
EARTH - home, prosperity; use stone grids or stroking, 9-knot-cord; oats, patchouli; hematite, aventurine, jade
AETHER - spirituality; use crystal grids, mandalas, chants, sigils; cinnamon; sugilite, fluorite, amethyst

The Spell Crafter’s Compendium by Terri Paajanen is a straight forward list in a booklet with no fluff

https://www.amazon.com/Spell-Crafters-C ... 730&sr=1-1


THE FOUR POWERS: to know, to will, to dare & to be silent

. Knowing is knowledge of your craft plus the inner awareness that something just IS, and is of the element air
. Will is one’s mindful intent plus the inner fortitude to see the thing through, and is of the element fire
. Daring is courage to use the Craft plus the chutzpah to follow one’s inner guidance despite nay sayers, & is of water
. Silence is not speaking of the deed until it’s done plus a spiritual solitude to hear the inner voice, and is of earth ⏹

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[SpiritTalker]

LAYING THE COMPASS
A Traditional Witchcraft method of creating sacred space

There are folkloric Witchcraft methods to prepare a liminal area (a place between) in which to work, and I think beginners should know multiple ways of doing things. I've borrowed some procedures from Welshman, Peter Paddon's “Grimoire for Modern Cunning Folk”.

When working outdoors there is no consecration as the Land itself is sacred. There are no words to say or altar table to set up, but have a bottle of water , some bread , & a bowl with kindling & lighter set in the middle of your space. (Another tradition replaces open flame with a hearth stone). The broom handle or forked Stang is used to trace the compass (circle). Walk WIDDERSHINS to stir & summon the earth energy. This is Gaia’s energy & is drawn through the staff as a go-between Earth & body, resembling a caduceus. As with any circle, you are uniting the realms of cosmic-above, mid-earth and under-world below in a sacred space between.

Hold the staff in the left hand (left being the receptive hand & linked to the underworld and Sacred Land) which will put you outside the circle. Start at North & walk widdershins; drag the staff pressing down lightly as if to plow a furrow into the EARTH . Visualize the staff stirring and drawing up the vibrant, serpent-like land forces as you make 3 passes to draw the compass.

Make a serpent's hissing sound to induce light trance as you walk, deep breathing to hiss AIR

To enter the compass without breaking the circle, lay the staff cross-wise as a threshold to step across & then retrieve the staff. Stand it up in a prepared hole at the center of the compass to mark the place where the three worlds & the 4 compass directions meet at the "cross roads". The staff stands as the axis-mundi, the center of the world.

Rinse your hands and face with some of the WATER .

Light the FIRE in your burning bowl in the center.

The compass is made. The elements are present. It's appropriate to call a familiar spirit or ancestor spirit to share the rite. Use your own words. The Old Ones are invited with chanting & dance.

Paddon's Welsh custom is to pay a token coin to the Land Spirits in exchange for the use of the Sacred Land. Just flip a coin of any denomination over your shoulder and leave it there. State the purpose for which you've laid down the compass & then proceed with that purpose.

Then, after you've completed what you came for, offer thanks by breaking bread. Eat & drink half. Place the rest of the bread & pour water directly on the ground for the earth-spirits to partake.

When you are finished you ground the residual energy. If you invited anyone be sure to thank & farewell them. Leave the coin & food offerings on the earth. Gather up your belongings & walk away. It's polite to not look back so the land-spirits can have their share in peace.

The traditional tools are a Stang for the Horned God , a libation Cup for the Goddess, a cauldron used as a fire-pot (or hearth-stone) & your personal Measure cord is worn. The four direction's of the elemental associations vary by region. A common set are Air-White-North, Fire-red-East, Earth-black-South, Water-gray-West.

The concept of the "World Tree" defines the 3 realms of our world. It is symbolized by a staff or broomstick. The top branches of a tree represents the upper cosmic realm home of Divinity and our links to the divine within ourselves. The tree trunk represents the middle realms of daily life, all Nature & earth beings. The roots represent the underworld, the dead, the Fae and unseen, serpentine Earth forces of life-essence. Witches ascend or descend the tree (fly their broomstick) between worlds as they navigate levels of consciousness that can manifest as spirit travel.

At Gobekli-Tepe in Turkey (ancient ritual site with multiple stone circles dating back to about 11,000 BCE) the circle was oriented to the star Deneb in the constellation Cygnus, which was located in the "crotch" of a divide in an arm of our Milky Way galaxy & around which the night sky appeared to rotate. A holed-stone marked the northern altar & may have symbolized the birth channel of the Primordial Mother Goddess who birthed all that is & through which souls pass in birth and death.

It could be said that our earliest perceptions of deity derive from man's observations of the sky & earth. During the 1300-year ice age that followed a cataclysmic comet strike in North America, surviving mankind hunted by following the migrations of deer herds. Reindeer may be the earliest concept of a Horned God/dess - both genders of reindeer have horns. There are indications that the earliest forms of agriculture were first developed at Gobekli Tepi as the site was assumed to have been built by hunter-gatherers & the long-term work force & pilgrims had to be fed. It was 1000 years after the comet strike that Gobekl Tepi was deliberately buried and not seen again until the 1990’s. At the northern latitudes the wild forest re-emerged from what had been turned to charcoal by the comet. It brought forth the Forest Lord (the Elder) and the further development & spread of agriculture brought the The Lord of the Corn (the Younger). Always and ever-present has been the geo-centric life-force pulsing from the Earth's core & writhing serpent-like throughout the planet as if chasing the Sun. These forces are recognized in traditional witchcraft practices today.

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[SpiritTalker]

ANIMAL GUIDES AND FAMILIARS

There has been quite a lot of fictional pop-culture romanticism on the subject of familiars that has lead to fanciful misperceptions. Concepts of animal spirit guides come from the reconstructed paths of indigenous cultures. They are not pets.

The concept of familiar spirits comes from witchcraft trial records from the mid-1300-1800s. They were either the Fae working on the witch's behalf or were ancestral deceased spirits handed down over generations through a family. They are not pets.

Historical reports of animal shapes were believed to have been the visible astral-shapes taken by the witch themselves during out-of-body travel & the shapes most often recorded were described as resembling a hare or mouse. Additionally toads were kept for their bufadienolides secretion used in flying ointment.

Cats are naturally stealthy hunters & controlled vermin so made good pets. Dogs herded stock animals, protected their home &'made good pets. Parrots are very intelligent &' sailors brought them home as pets. Studies of historical records of familiars can be found in the writings of anthropologists Carlo Ginzburg’s Ecstacies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecstasies_(book) & Emma Wilby’s Cunning Folk & Familiar Spirits. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunning_F ... ar_Spirits

Animals can naturally hear different energy frequencies than their human friends & have a better sense of smell. They notice their human's chemical changes & can feel incoming weather changes. A familiar relationship places a heavy burden on an animal. Our domestic pet buddies will naturally be interested in the energies we manipulate in magical practice & we're wise to observe their behaviors that can alert us to danger. This doesn't make them familiars in the historical meaning of the word. If life were a Disney movie then every beloved household pet would qualify as a familiar. There are many true stories of family pets alerting their human companions to danger that saved lives.

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[SpiritTalker]

WORKING WITH CRYSTALS

The 6-sided structure of Quartz holds an electrical charge that can be coded to radiate healing energy, maintain an intention or to transmit information. Different minerals are associated with specific benefits & a few are listed here. The simplest way to use a stone is by it's color. The 7 rainbow colors of the visible light spectrum relate to the 7 vital energy centers of the body (called chakras) that support various Life functions. A stone of the appropriate color can be programmed to influence the chakra of the same color & purpose. The stone is placed at the chakra area, worn as jewelry or carried in a pocket or held & stroked during meditation.

To program a crystal it should be held in your hands & stroked to stir the energy. Stones aren’t big on conversation, so phrase the intent using only a few words to convey the instruction. As with setting intent into a spell you know it in your gut & push this knowing into the stone. Any stone will hold this "charge" until something else pushes it out & quartz crystal is very receptive.

We can clear stones of their prior programming before re-use by simply placing them on the ground, or on a bed of cleansing herbs like mixed sage & a few pinches ofdry salt, or holding stones in flowing water. Soft stones like selenite & kyanite can be damaged by water & iron rusts, so be careful. Stones with high copper (malachite) or mercury (cinnabar) content can be toxic so avoid them in stone elixirs.

Elixirs are one way to take the energy within yourself. Water has memory & can also be programmed with intent. Place a washed stone of the desired influence in a glass of water, charge with the intent, & set it in sun- or moon-light at least 15 minutes. Remove the stone before drinking the water!
See The Hidden Messages of Water by Masaru Emoto. https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Messages- ... 0743289803.

To use stones for meditation - sit quietly while stroking the stone or laying down with the stone resting on the relevant chakra. Placing 7 appropriately colored stones at the 7 chakras in color sequence would align our energy body with the physical body for healings.

Combining stones with herbs in pouches & placing crystals in geometric grid layouts can be used for spell casting. Crystals & stones can be rolled like dice & the combinations can be read for divination by using their metaphysical properties as guidelines.

Use a pendulum to determine if an ordinary stone is solar or lunar oriented. The Sun’s cycle repeats daily so use solar stones for a quick turn around & overcoming obstacles. The Moon’s cycle repeats monthly so use lunar stones for long term matters.

Crystal Color Uses
(Ref. Inner Light Resources, Crystal chart)

Crown -White or Violet - apophyllite, danburite, quartz, kunzite - Divine connection, higher self
Brow - Purple - amethyst, charoite, purple fluorite - psychic vision, spirituality
Throat - Blue - lapis, turquoise, sodalite - communication, all body areas
Heart - Green - aventurine, bloodstone, jade, rose quartz - abundance, life-giving, love
Stomach - Yellow - calcite, citrine, yellow jasper, gold tigers eye - intuitive-clarity, self-confidence
Belly button - Orange - aragonite, carnelian, gold-stone - rejuvination, tenacity, passions
Groin - Red - blood-stone, garnet, jasper, hematite - sex, stamina, grounding



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[Ashrend]

A lot of information but very VERY useful, thank you for all the information.

devon