Thursday, September 5, 2013

How to Write a Spell

Because of the very nature of Magick, each working should be highly individualized and personal. Even if following a traditional spell, it should be tailored to your specific needs to be most effective for you. Understanding the basics of Spell Construction will enable you to formulate your own specific, effective spells for any purpose you desire.

Preliminary planning is necessary. The very first step is to decide precisely what your desired end result is to be. Before you can start, you must decide where you are going. You must be very explicit.

It is important, also, that you choose your time carefully. You should take into consideration all Astrological implications, energy currents and Moon phases.

The Moon is the astronomical body closest to us and, therefore, has a profound influence upon us. Witches often prefer to choose a time when the Moon is in an astrological sign which is appropriate for their working. For example:

Aries/Action - Enthusiasm

Taurus/ Renewal - Sensuality

Gemini/Communication - Curiosity

Cancer/Emotion - Nurturing

Leo/Vitality - Determined

Virgo/Organizing - Studious

Libra/Balance - Cooperation

Scorpio/Sexual - Philosophical

Sagittarius/ Strength - Humor

Capricorn/Authority - Ambitious

Aquarius/Innovation - Social

Pisces/Sensitivity - Idealistic.

Bear in mind that magickal workings for gain, increase or bringing things to you, should be initiated when the Moon is Waxing (from New to Full). When the Moon is Waning (from Full to Dark), it is time for magickal workings of decrease or sending away.

The highest energy occurs at the Full Moon and, therefore, this is the most powerful time for magickal workings. The New Moon is the next most powerful time for Magick.

Whenever possible, follow Nature's natural Energy Currents. There is a natural time for starting things (a planting time), for maturing things (a growing time), for reaping things (a harvest time) and, of course, a time for rest and planning.

Flowing with these currents will make your magickal work much easier.

Remember to plan your project for a time of uninterrupted privacy. It is important that you have no distractions. Generally speaking, it is best to work as late at night as possible. A time when there is less frantic energy is most appropriate. You might consider Midnight or later.

In choosing a place to do your magickal working pay particular attention to your needs, for you must be comfortable. Your place should be private, quiet and secure. If at all possible, set aside a special place for this purpose only. An unused room, a special corner of your bedroom, a quiet, secluded spot in your garden. A place that is yours. A place that you can come to whenever need arises and that is as free from intrusion of others as possible.

Prior to the night of your magickal working, gather together the things that you will need. All of the things used are tools. They have no inherent magick. They are to help you create a mood. If correctly made and used, they will trigger primitive responses from deep within you. They should be chosen with care. Consider the purpose of your ritual and choose your tools accordingly. If your magick is to be sexual, your candles, oils, incenses and so forth, should bring forth a sexual response. If the desired result of your Magick is Tranquility, then the tools should make you feel calm, peaceful and serene. Any candles you might use should not have commercially added fragrances as these may not be appropriate for your working.

Prior to your ritual, prepare yourself and your equipment by any means necessary to clean and purify. Historically, people have fasted, followed meticulous and detailed bathing practices, practiced chastity and used many other methods.

Most often a Ritual Bath is the preferred method. A bath frequently utilizing candlelight, fragrant herbs, bath salts or sensuous oils. A sumptuous hot bath, special bathing preparations and appropriate lighting, combined, can create the soothing effect which will help in the very important step of relaxing and clearing the mind completely of all mundane thoughts and experiences of the day. Your ritual Bath should, also, begin to set the specific vibrations conducive to your purpose into motion. You must not only cleanse and purify but must, also, begin to create the type of energy necessary.

Once your purification process has been accomplished, you are now ready to begin. Proceed to the special place you have previously chosen in which to perform your magick. If at all possible, you should make use of the primitive responses set into motion by a well chosen piece of music. Your music should start slowly and build to a rousing climax.

As you use your oils, light your candle or incense (or utilize any other tool you have chosen), you should begin to further intensify the energy that you have set into motion around you. A high degree of intensity is vitally important.

The Altered State of Consciousness that you must reach is not a meditative state. Anything that interferes with your ability to concentrate upon, reach and control the high energy state necessary to perform magick should be avoided. Such as, screaming children, a sink full of dirty dishes, use of alcohol or drugs, etc.

Do not scatter your energy by attempting to do more than one magickal working at a time.

Remember that Magick is the manipulation of energy, a thought is a form of energy and a visualization is an even stronger form of energy. Your visualization can be a method used to intensify further and direct your will. Your visualization can be the method by which you control the magickal energy you have produced. You must know what you want. You must see it. You must feel the high energy flow. You must direct it.

One of the most important elements in the practice of any form of Magick is the Universal Law of Cause and Effect. This means that whatever you do (or don't do) you cause something to happen.

The most important consideration is the Universal Law of Retribution. This means that no matter what you do, it comes back to you in like kind.

It is the nature of things that as you send something out it gains momentum, so that, by the time it comes back to you, it is three times stronger. If you do something nice for someone, someone will do something nicer for you.

"As you weave and spin your spell, Three fold return the tale will tell."

Friday, July 12, 2013

Give Your Gemstone Wand a Tune-Up!

The gemstone wand is one of the most powerful tools that can be used in ritual. The wand may be used for ritual spells or healing help. It is used primarily to focus the intention of the spell or healing.

Choose the wand of a stone that is the basis for ritual. For example:

An aventurine wand is ideal for anything that involves luck
An amethyst wand, or sodalite wand is best for intuition or psychic abilities.
Use a rose quartz wand when you want to attract love
A moonstone wand will increase passion in your love life.
A natural quartz crystal wand makes an excellent channel for power and healing.
An angelite wand or selenite wand will facilitate connection with your angel companions.
Focus the energy by adding stones
To make the wand an even more focused tool, add other stones to it by wrapping these onto the wand with silver wire. Remember, the wand is the primary focus and the additional stones adjust the power as a secondary element.

Let's say I want to attract a new love in my life. I would take a rose quartz wand to attract love and wrap a moonstone onto the rose quartz wand to increase the passion factor. Perhaps I would add an amethyst to this rose quartz wand in order to keep a nice balance with love and passion.

Now, suppose I have been married for several years and I love my spouse, but there isn't much passion any more. In this case, I would start with a moonstone wand for passion; add an emerald to keep my marriage partner faithful and mahogany obsidian for more sensuality. I would advise to do this only on a weekend or vacation.

To become intuitive you may use an amethyst wand with amber for grounding. To get more money, an aventurine wand with a citrine stone wrapped to it works very well.

Here are a few stones that are good to add to the wand and their meanings.

Amber - Grounding
Amethyst - Balance
Ametrine - Protection in astral travel
Aquamarine - Long and happy marriage
Bloodstone - Abundance
Carnelian - Get rid of negative feelings
Citrine - Get motivated; attract money
Emerald - Keep your love faithful
Fluorite - Communication with fairies & spirits
Hematite - Strength and courage
Jasper - Stability
Mahogany Obsidian (Sunstone) - Sensuality
Moss Agate - Healing of all kinds
Rhodochrosite - Staying with your true purpose in life
Rose Quartz - Love
Turquoise - Safety in travel

The above is only a partial list of stones and some of their meanings. Get to know your gemstones by reading more about gemstone meanings to get more information.

Clean Your Wand

Before using or wrapping your wand it should be cleaned. Place the wand in a glass container and completely cover the wand with sea or Kosher salt. Leave the wand in the salt for 6 hours (it can be longer). After the 6 hours, gently rub the wands with the salt. Now place the wands in a window where they will receive the light of the next full moon. Put the wand in the window the day before the full moon and leave them until the day after the full moon. Pour the salt down your kitchen drain, while the hot water is running.

Clean the stones before you wrap them onto the wand. After the wand has been wrapped it is good to pass it in sage incense smoke. Do not allow other people to touch your wand, if they are touched, clean them again as above. If you use your wand more than once a month it should be cleaned again.

When not in use, keep your wands on your altar or wrapped in silk in a safe place.

Original Post from Emily Gems
Click the links to navigate to the original pages please! :)

Saturday, June 8, 2013

To Charge and Consecrate a Scrying Mirror

Make an infusion of mugwort, while it's still warm, strain it and then bathe the mirror or stone in the infusion, while softly whispering this chant 9 times:

(As you do so, invision the mirror or stone awakening to you and your own psychic abilities)

"Lovely oracle of magic worth,
Fair creature of psychic light,
The truest answers, you shall bring forth,
You shall be my eyes, my sight."

Creating a Book of Shadows

A Book of Shadows (B.O.S.)or Grimoire is used to store magickal information, including Spells, Rituals, Poems, Redes, Recipes and Correspondences. Traditionally the B.O.S. was handwritten but in this technological age many pagans now use their PC or similar device.

It is important to remember that a B.O.S. is a sacred tool, it is an item of power and ought to be consecrated along with other magickal objects. Writing down spells and rituals by hand will help you memorise and learn the content, whilst at the same time you transfer energy and personal power into the pages.

If you prefer to make your Book of Shadows, begin with a blank notebook, nowadays there are many beautiful B.O.S.'s and Journals which can be purchased from pagan shops if preferred. The title page ought to include your name, magickal or otherwise. Decorate the cover with protective symbols to guard the works within. Many new witches start off using a ring binder for their notes - copying them into a new B.O.S. once the information has been gathered. Write clearly so that you will understand the words when reading or conducting a ritual at a later date.

The contents of a B.O.S. will usually include some, part or all of the following sections:

Book Blessing: Misplacing or losing a book can be a frustrating time, more so with a B.O.S. as this contains personal information and power. Many witches write a blessing spell into the book to help protect it from loss, theft or damage.

Correspondences: Correspondence tables are an invaluable tool to aid your magickal workings. One method employed by many pagans is to write their tables according to spell type, e.g. Love Spells, Prosperity, Protection, Friendship, Healing, Blessing, Cleansing, Banishing, Happiness, Justice, Employment, Peace, Psychic Development etc - and then include that spell's correspondences. Correspondences for each spell type include Colours, Crystals, Herbs, Moon Phases, Astrological Signs, Days, Symbols, Numbers, Planets and Elemental Rulers.

Gods and Goddesses: Depending on your chosen pantheon you may have one, or in the case of eclectic practitioners, many deities with whom you feel an affinity. Use this section to record details of their stories, correspondences, sacred days, artwork and prayers.

Herbs: Herbalism pays an important role in magick, before the advent of the Pharmaceutical industries and the Health Care System communities used to see their local wise-woman for herbal remedies. Herbs are powerful in both their medicinal, holistic and magickal properties. Include information on the various herbs that you work with, making note of their Common Names and safety information.

Recipes: Include recipes for festival food, granular incense, anointing oils, baths, washes and sachet powders.

Redes and Rules: There are hundreds of different Pagan traditions, and thousands of Solitary practitioners, like all groups each person or coven will have set rules and codes of ethics. Writing redes and codes into your B.O.S. will help you set your own standards and ethical viewpoint. Examples include The Wiccan Rede, or 13 Goals of a Witch (Scott Cunningham).

Rituals: Rituals are formalised spells, they are often performed as a rite of initiation or passage. Examples include Drawing Down the Moon, Self Initiation.

Spells: Include your favourite spells, make notes of their effectiveness and any other manifestations and end results.

Wheel of the Year: The Wheel of the Year marks eight seasonal markers which are often celebrated by Pagans, these include Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas and Mabon. If you wish to observe these festivals then your Book of Shadows is an excellent place to store information on the dates and meanings, associated rituals and spells, recipes for food, incense and oils, and any other important information.


Other Sections can include:


  • Book Dedication
  • Crystal Correspondences
  • Divination
  • Dreams 
  • Sacred Texts

Annointing

To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil, or other substances, a process employed ritually by many religions and races. People and things are anointed to symbolize the introduction of a sacramental or divine influence, a holy emanation, spirit, power or god. It can also be seen as a spiritual mode of ridding persons and things of dangerous influences.

Use of Anointing Oils for Magickal Purposes:

Tune in to your surroundings. Choose an oil that attunes you to your ritual, Sabbat, deities or spells. To attune with a group, dab anointing oil on those around you so that your energies attune to each other.

Bless or consecrate people and objects using your anointing oil. Anoint the person or the object with the oil while saying your consecrating prayer or blessing.

Attract money with anointing oils. Select oils with money-attracting properties to enhance any prosperity magic or rituals you do.
Wear anointing oil with protection properties. Choose an oil based on whether you want to banish negative energies or you want general, overall protection.

Choose anointing oils with beneficial scents. Anointing oils provide the health benefits associated with aromatherapy. Decide the health benefit you want to achieve. Then, pick a corresponding oil.
Use anointing oils to enhance the atmosphere of whatever you\'re doing. In this way, you bring some magic into your everyday life.

Candles: Bless the anointing oil to be used, appropriate to ritual. State and engrave (if you wish) what the candle is to represent. Anoint the candle with oil and focus on desire (purpose of ritual).

For ritual of achievement: anoint oil from the top of the candle to the middle in a downward motion, then from the bottom of the candle to the middle in an upward motion.

For ritual of banishment: anoint oil from the middle of the candle to the top in an upwards motion and then from the middle to the bottom of the candle in a downwards motion.

Anointing oils are for external use only. If you have sensitive skin, test the oil on a small patch of skin before using it. Always get the permission of people who you are working with before anointing them with oil.

Charging an Item

After you have consecrated a tool or item, you should charge it.

Hold the item above your head. Take a moment to feel the swirls of energy around you. You should be able to feel them tug at you like a current in a river.

In a clear voice, say:

Let the sacred powers of the Universe unite and fill this (item name) with energy.
By the Moon, the Sun, the Earth and the Stars, I charge this (item name) to do my will.
So Mote it Be!

Close your eyes and envision an energy bolt striking the item and causing it to glow. You should feel a subtle vibration while you hold the item.

Your tool is now charged.

Consecrating an Object

Items needed:

Incense - myrrh or patchouli preferably
A white candle
A bowl of water
A bowl of salt
The object to be consecrated

Light some incense, preferably myrrh or patchouli and a white candle. Take the item, cover it with salt, place your right hand over the bowl (unless your left handed, then use your left) and envision a white light leaving your palm and passing through the bowl, washing away all negative energies. Then say:

"Blessed Lord and Lady, with salt and smoke I consecrate this tool in your name. Let it serve me well."

Remove the item from the salt, shaking off the salt as you do so, then pass it through the incense smoke, sprinkle it with water, then pass it through the candle flame.

Your item is now consecrated.

Casting and Closing a Circle

If you have one, set your altar in the center of a clean area. If not, simply sit/kneel/stand on the floor in the center of a cleared area.

  Casting the Circle Light one white candle. Envision a circle of white light around you (and your altar). Face North and say: Hail to the guardians of the North, mighty earth who feeds us, our home and mother, welcome to the circle. Next, face East and say: Hail to the guardians of the East, blessed air who cools us, the breath of life in all, welcome to the circle. Next, face the South and say: Hail to the guardians of the South, sacred flame that sparks life in all, our protection and father, welcome to the circle. Finally, face the West and say: Hail to the guardians of the West, Waters of life, where all are cleansed and reborn, welcome to the circle. Proceed with your ritual.

  Closing the Circle At the end do the following: Face the West and say: Hail to the guardians of the West, thank you for attending this circle. Go in peace and know you are always welcome here. Face the South and say: Hail to the guardians of the South, thank you for attending this circle. Go in peace and know you are always welcome here. Face the East and say: Hail to the guardians of the East, thank you for attending this circle. Go in peace and know you are always welcome here. Face the North and say: Hail to the guardians of the North, thank you for attending this circle. Go in peace and know you are always welcome here. The circle is now broken and your spellwork complete. At this time, snuff your candles and do any parts of the spell that require you to leave the circle (burying an item, scattering the ashes etc.)

To Begin...

To begin, I will be posting necessary topics to cover for beginning a ritual. Then I will add spells, charms, stories, recipes, etc. at random to the page. They will all be clearly labeled for easier finding.




All or most of these have been collected from other sources. Don't try to make me remember where from, I have a very large collection. If something is strictly mine, I will say so, if it isn't, All rights go to those who respectively hold them. Also, if you know of where a particular entry comes from, let me know and I will link the original page in the entry.