A Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magic Spells

By
Cassandra Eason
Contents:
Book Cover (ront!
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$ntroduction % &he Po'er of White Witchcraft
( % &he )rigins and Practice of Witchcraft
* % Creating Spells and +ituals
, % Beginning Magick
- % Gods and Goddesses
. % Candles/ Colours and the 0odiac
1 % 2er3s in Magick
4 % )ils and $ncenses in Magick
5 % Crystals and Protective Magick
6 % 2ealing Magick
(7 % +itual Magick
(( % Moon Magick
(* % Planets and Angels
(, % Seasons and estivals
(- % Magick for 8ou
Spell &e9plate
Glossary
urther +eading (+e9oved!
:seful Contacts (+e9oved!
$nde; of Spells (+e9oved!
$nde; (+e9oved!
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or9at: v(=. (P+C % for Mo3iPocket +eader % pictures included!
Genera: Wicca " Wiccan " Witchcraft
E;tra@s: Pictures $ncluded (for all versions!
Copyright: *77(
irst Scanned: *77*
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%Sal9un
$ntroduction % &he Po'er of White Witchcraft
@Merlin/ give 9e the strength to carry on=@
$ found this prayer not in so9e 9edieval 3ook or carved on the 'all of an ancient castle 3ut 'ritten in
3allpoint pen on a page torn fro9 a diary and left % along 'ith scores of si9ilar pleas % on an ancient
pile of stones in the orest of Broceliande in Brittany=
Archaeologists say that this is the grave of a #eolithic hunter/ 3ut local tradition says that in this forest
d'elled <ivien/ the ?ady of the ?ake of Arthurian legend/ and that here/ having seduced Merlin in
order to learn his secrets/ she ensnared hi9 'ith his o'n spells= &he stone pile is kno'n as Merlin@s
to93/ and each year hundreds visit the site to thank the 'iAard or to ask for his aid= When $ visited the
to93/ prayers % 'ritten on scraps of paper or card % 'ere sFueeAed into gaps in the stones or pinned to
the tree that shelters the to93=
Whatever the origins of the to93/ it has 3een transfor9ed into a source of po'er= or this 3adly
signposted spot/ a short 'alk up a 9uddy track fro9 a cra9ped/ rough car park/ had a tranFuil/
spiritual air that you 9ight e;pect at a great cathedral or far 9ore i9pressive stone circles= Such spots
unleash the 9agick inside us= But even if you never visit Brittany or Stonehenge at sunrise on
Midsu99er@s >ay/ you can still 9ake use of your o'n 9agick=
&his is a 3ook a3out 'hite 9agick and 'itchcraft as sources of 'isdo9/ healing and positivity= ?ike
#ative A9erican spirituality/ to 'hich true 'itchcraft is akin (so9e say 3oth 'ere carried 3y the
people of Atlantis!/ the practice of 'hite 9agick is 3ased on the 3elief that that all life is sacred and
interconnected in an un3roken circle= or e;a9ple/ every fully gro'n 3irch tree % defined in 9agick as
a tree of ne' 3eginnings and regeneration % 3reathes out enough o;ygen for a fa9ily of four and
a3sor3s the car3on dio;ide that 'e e;hale/ transfor9ing it again to life%giving o;ygen= And this
sacred spark of a co99on source of divinity is contained not only 3y trees/ 3ut also the stones/ the
ani9als/ the people and everything else on the Earth and in the 'aters and the sky=
)ur higher selves/ our souls/ are influenced 3y the cycles of the Sun/ the Moon/ the stars and the
natural 'orld on a deep spiritual level= We can dra' do'n their energies into ourselves to a9plify and
replenish our o'n/ like tapping into a cos9ic energy supply rather than having to recharge our po'ers
fro9 our o'n/ separate dyna9os= &hrough the9 and through us courses the universal life force/
kno'n as ch@i to the Chinese/ and prana in 2indu philosophy= $t is a source upon 'hich 'e can dra'
not only nor pri9arily for specific needs/ 3ut also for energy/ har9ony and connection 'ith others/ the
'orld and the cos9os= $t is an energy that can per9eate every aspect of our 3eing=
A <ery Special Spirituality
Witchcraft and Wicca (one of the 9aGor for9s of 'itchcraft! 3oth derive their na9es fro9 the Anglo%
Sa;on 'ords for 'isdo9H @'itch@ is fro9 the old English 'ord 'ita/ 9eaning @'ise@ and the Wicca
'ere the 'ise ones= Witchcraft is said to 3e the oldest religion in the 'orld= $t is the indigenous
sha9anistic religion of Europe that has/ in spite of ferocious persecution fro9 the fifteenth to the
seventeenth centuries/ survived in the folk tradition of 9any lands and through fa9ilies 'ho kept
alive the old 3eliefs and 'orship of the Earth and the Moon Mother=
#ot so 9any centuries ago/ our ancestors 3urned yule logs at Christ9as as a sy93olic gesture to 3ring
light and 'ar9th 3ack to the 'orld on the 9id%'inter solstice at the darkest ti9e= &hey danced around
the 9aypole on May 9orning/ the 3eginning of the old Celtic su99er/ to stir into life the Earth
energies in a sacred spiral pattern= &hese rituals go 3ack into the 9ists of ti9e and appear in si9ilar
for9s in 9any different cultures and ages= &oday/ ho'ever/ too 9any 9odern societies have lost the
sacred connection and scorn such gestures as superstition/ treating the skies/ the Earth and the seas
9erely as a larder/ fuel store and gar3age can= )nce/ things 'ere very different/ as Black Elk/ the
Siou; sha9an/ e;plained:
@$n the old days 'hen 'e 'ere a strong and happy people/ all our po'er ca9e fro9 the sacred hoop of
the nation and/ so long as the hoop 'as un3roken/ the people flourished= &he flo'ering tree 'as the
living centre of the hoop and the circle of the four Fuarters nourished it= &he East gave peace and
light/ the South gave 'ar9thH in the West/ thunder 3eings gave rain and the #orth 'ith its cold and
9ighty 'ind gave strength and endurance=@
And so the Earth 'as respected as the sacred 9other/ giver of life and crops/ to 'hose 'o93 the dead
returned= $t is no accident that the Siou; Medicine Wheel and the Celtic Wheel of the 8ear are so
si9ilar in for9ation and purpose/ linking all life to the cycles of nature= So if 'e are to use 9agick in
a positive 'ay/ 'e 9ust re9e93er that it 3rings responsi3ility along 'ith 3enefits=
Magick And Ino'ledge
White 'itchcraft is essentially the process of dra'ing on ancient 'isdo9 and po'ers via the
collective 9ind that 'e as individuals can spontaneously 3ut unconsciously access in our drea9s and
visions= $n 9agick/ 'e can use rituals and altered states of consciousness to access this cos9ic
9e9ory 3ank at 'ill and in doing so/ so9e 3elieve/ dra' on the accu9ulated po'ers of 9any
generations/ especially in healing 9agick=
&his cos9ic consciousness % or Great Mind or akashic record/ as theosophists call it % is perhaps 'hat
9ade it possi3le for pyra9ids to 3e 3uilt at al9ost the sa9e ti9e in lands as far apart as Egypt and
South A9erica/ and for sha9anis9 to follo' si9ilar patterns in unconnected continents= By accessing
this source of po'er/ 'e 9ay create a ritual or use certain crystals 'ithout consciously kno'ing their
significance/ only to find out that our invented spell closely rese93les one fro9 another ti9e or
cultureH 'e kno' ho' to heal 'ithout 3eing taught=
Gaining such kno'ledge has 3een descri3ed as @inner%plane@ teaching and if you can trust your o'n
deep intuitions/ you need very little for9al teaching a3out 9agick= $f you scry at the full 9oon or
during one of the ancient festivals/ 3y looking into 'ater and letting i9ages for9/ this deep 'isdo9
'ill offer solutions to see9ingly i9possi3le dile99as=
&he practice of 'itchcraft de9ands great responsi3ility/ for you are handling very potent 9aterial
'hen you deal 'ith 9agick= &he 3enefit is that 3y focusing and directing your o'n inner po'ers and
natural energies you can give for9 to your thoughts and needs and desires and 3ring the9 into
actuality= &he 9ore positive and altruistic these focuses are/ the 9ore a3undance/ Goy and har9ony
'ill 3e reflected in your o'n 'orld=
Magick And Giving
$t is said that if you s9ile in ?ondon in the 9orning/ the s9ile 'ill have reached &okyo 3y evening=
&his principle/ 'hich lies 3ehind all 'hite 9agick/ has 3een na9ed 9orphic resonance/ and has 3een
investigated for several years 3y the Ca93ridge 3iologist >r +upert Sheldrake/ author of a nu93er of
e;cellent 3ooks 3ased on his e;tensive research into psychic pheno9ena= >r Sheldrake suggests that
as ani9als of a given species learn a ne' pattern of 3ehaviour/ other si9ilar ani9als 'ill su3seFuently
tend to learn the sa9e thing 9ore readily all over the 'orldH the 9ore that learn it/ the easier it should
3eco9e for others=
So if 'e carry out positive 9agick and spread good'ill/ then 'e really can increase the 3enign
energies of the Earth and cos9os= Even 3anishing or 3inding 9agick can have a creative focus/
diverting or transfor9ing redundant or negative energy/ for e;a9ple 3y 3urying a sy93ol of the
negativity or casting her3s to the four 'inds=
Magick And +esponsi3ility
&rue 9agick is not like a cake in 'hich every3ody 9ust vie for a slice or 3e left 'ith none: it is 9ore
akin to a never%e9ptying pot= ?ike the legendary Cauldron of :ndry in Celtic 9yth/ the 9ore
goodness that is put in/ the 9ore the 9i;ture increases in richness and Fuantity= &he Cauldron of
:ndry/ one of the four 9ain Celtic treasures/ provided an endless supply of nourish9ent/ had great
healing po'ers and could restore the dead to life/ in either their for9er e;istence or a ne' life for9=
?ocated on the $sle of Arran/ it could 3e accessed 3y 9agical 9eans or through spiritual Fuests/ and
9any scholars 3elieve it 'as the inspiration for the 2oly Grail= But 'hen using 9agick/ you should
take only as 9uch as you need and perhaps a little 9oreH you should not de9and riches/ perfect love/
eternal 3eauty/ youth/ a fa3ulous Go3 and a lottery 'in or t'o=
So/ 9agick does not provide a help%yourself ti9e in the s'eetshop= &he results could 3e like eating
three ti9es 9ore chocolate than you really 'ant and then feeling very sick= 8ou cannot give the gods
or goddesses your shopping list and then sit 3ack and 'ait for Christ9as: the divinity is 'ithin you to
3e kindled/ and so you need to de9and of yourself far higher standards than so9eone 'ho 3elieves in
the forgiveness of sins=
$f you do 'rong/ you cannot Gust say sorry to the godhead and carry on 'ithout putting right the
9istakes or at least learning fro9 the9= Confession 9ay 3e good for the soul/ 3ut 9agick de9ands
9ore than that: you@ve got to live 'ith the conseFuences of your deeds/ 'ords and thoughts 3ecause
the po'er of a 3lessing or curse 9ay 3e even greater on the sender than on the intended recipient= 8ou
9ust also ensure that you cannot har9 anyone in the process of getting 'hat you 'ant= $f you do
spells for revenge/ then the effects 'ill re3ound on you threefold=
Effort And Will%Po'er
Magick is not like the 9agic a conGuror uses to 3ring a ra33it out of a hat: that kind of 9agic is Gust a
trick/ 'hich relies 9erely on the art of illusion= White 9agick is 9uch 9ore than that= $t is intensely
e;citing 3ecause it 9eans that 'e can e;tend the 3oundaries of possi3ility/ recalling the psychic
po'ers of childhood 'hen 'e could span di9ensions as easily as Gu9ping across a puddle= We can
increase our personal 9agnetis9 to attract love and luck and regenerate the innate healing a3ilities
3oth of the hu9an 3ody and the planet=
What 9agick does not do is provide Fuick fi;es 'ith a t'inkling of Stardust= $t does not produce a
faerie god9other/ 'ho turns up 'ith a shi99ering frock and a platinu9 credit card to pay the ta;i
fare ho9e if the handso9e prince is short of 9oney and the faerie coach has cru9pled into a
pu9pkin=
After the candles and incense have 3urned through and 'e sit/ e;hausted 3ut e;hilarated after sending
our 'ishes to the cos9os through dancing or chanting/ 'e then have to use every effort/ every talent
at our disposal/ to 9ake those 'ishes co9e true on the earthly plane= &he psychic kick%start provided
3y the 9agick 9ust 3e used to translate the 9agical thoughts into actuality= So 'e 9ust 'ork
overti9e 'ith ne' enthusias9 and inspiration to get that proGect finished/ send off to the pu3lisher
that typescript that has 3een gathering dust/ do 'hatever it takes to help ourselves to get the results 'e
desire=
My late 9other 'ould al'ays say if $ asked for e;tra funds/ @Money doesn@t gro' on trees@H and this
holds true even in the 9agical 'orld= Money/ success and opportunities have to 3e generated and
earned= We need to add our o'n 'ill%po'er to the po'er 'e have dra'n on=
What is 9ore/ under the cos9ic profit%and%loss sche9e/ if 'e ask for a psychic overdraft/ 'e 9ust
give 3ack/ if not i99ediately/ then at a later date= So 'hen your finances are 3etter or your i99ediate
trou3les are passed/ you should 9ake a s9all donation or give ti9e to a 'orth'hile cause connected
'ith the area of the spell= &his 3alances up the account 'hose cos9ic energies you tapped into=
Many sha9ans or 'itches de9and so9e sort of pay9ent for services/ and this is not fro9 avarice/ 3ut
3ecause all too often if so9ething is not paid for/ it is not valued= So 3e sure that you pay the sha9an %
especially the cos9ic one= &his is grass roots 9agick/ 3ut it 'orks=
Magick or 8our #eeds
@Enough for 9y needs and a little 9ore@ is another of the 9a;i9s of this incredi3ly 9oral craft/ as $
9entioned earlier= 8ou 'ould 3e a9aAed the nu93er of ti9es $ a9 asked: @)kay/ if you are a 'itch/
ho' co9e you can@t predict the lottery nu93ersJ@ &he ans'er is that it all co9es do'n to need: and do
$ need a 9illion poundsJ &rue/ like any 9other of five children $ lurch fro9 one financial crisis to the
ne;t and 'hen things get really dire/ perhaps $ could 9agically 3ring for'ard an anticipated pay9ent
or attract an une;pected 'indfall fro9 a3road= But $ don@t really need a 9illion pounds= And 'hat
a3out the negative effectsJ $f $ 3eca9e incredi3ly rich/ $ 'ould al9ost certainly lose the incentive to
'rite= Credit card 3ills are a po'erful focus for creativity= And/ of course/ 9y kids 'ould never get
out of their satin%sheeted 3eds=
?otteries are generated 3y hu9an hands pri9arily for the purpose of 9aking 9oney for their creators=
&hey really are rando9 affairs and so it often happens that it is the 'ealthy people 'ho 'in even
9ore 9oney % although that does not necessarily 3ring happiness=
Casting your needs into the cos9os and trusting they 'ill 3e 9et does 'ork/ 3ut not if you are
e;pecting 9agick to co9pensate for an unnecessary shopping 3inge= #or/ after a period of overeating
and no e;ercise/ can you e;pect a 9iracle diet to 'ork so that you shed a stone in t'o days 'hile still
eating chocolate= Spells tend to 'ork 3est 'hen there is a genuine need/ generated 3y real e9otion
and linked to deter9ination on a practical level=
&he +ules )f Magick
Magick is not 3eyond or a3ove life/ 3ut a natural though special part of your 'orld= $t is a3out not
leaving fate/ your fate/ to any guru or deity/ 3ut shaping it 'ith your o'n innate po'er/ the po'er that
e9anates fro9 so9e higher 3eing/ goddess or god/ energy source/ 'hat you 'ill % the divine spark
'ithin us all= &here are no a3solutes in 9agick/ there is only 'hat 'orks for you and enhances your
innate 'isdo9 and spirituality= 8ou should use this 3ook as you 'ould any other >$8 guide and adapt
its suggestions to suit 'hat is right for you= Choose 'hatever you feel are the 9ost appropriate her3s/
crystals or even entire rituals for your specific purpose=
&here are provisos/ ho'ever= 8ou 9ust al'ays re9e93er that the for9/ the 'ords and even
ulti9ately the associations of particular oils/ incenses and planetary hours are not 'hat really 9atters=
&he truly i9portant thing is that you should keep to the 3asic rules of 'itchcraft that are Fuite as strict
and t'ice as hard as any conventional religion= &hese are rooted in 'isdo9/ co9passion/ honesty/
honour and co99on sense and are su99ed up in one short phrase: @An ye har9 none/ do 'hat ye
'ill@= Put in 9odern%day language/ this 9eans/ Fuite si9ply:
@>o 'hatever you like as long as you don@t hurt anyone=@
Si9ple/ did $ sayJ $t is in practice incredi3ly hard to har9 none/ especially if you are seeking
pro9otion/ fighting against an inGustice or struggling to survive= But it 9ay help you if you re9e93er
the other eFually vital la' of 'itchcraft/ the &hreefold ?a'= &his states that everything you do to
others/ 3oth good and 3ad/ 'ill 3e sent 3ack to act on you 'ith three ti9es its intensity and strength=
So/ if you act al'ays and only 'ith positive intent to help and heal/ you 'ill auto9atically receive all
9anner of good things and you should 3eco9e truly 'ise and happy=
According to the rules of 9agick/ as $ said earlier/ you cannot 3e angry/ 9ean or cruel and then e;pect
to say sorry to a deity and have the slate 'iped clean= Magick is a3out taking responsi3ility for your
o'n actions all the ti9e and that is incredi3ly onerous= But/ on the positive side/ the results are
eFually potent/ and if you can learn to tap into the source of light and life and Goy/ you 'ill a9aAe
yourself and others 3y 'hat is possi3le= &hus 'ill your psychic po'ers also spontaneously unfold and
guide you in your everyday 'orld/ increasing your spiritual po'er and 'isdo9=
&he 9agick is 'ithin you/ so let it flo' and 9ake the 'orld a 3etter place=
( % &he )rigins and Practice of Witchcraft
A 2istory )f Witchcraft
Witchcraft pro3a3ly originated a3out *./777 years ago in the Palaeolithic era= At that ti9e/
hu9ankind and nature 'ere seen as ine;trica3ly linked= People ackno'ledged every rock/ tree and
strea9 as deities in the life force/ and the Earth as 9other/ offering 3oth 'o93 and to93=
Prehistoric Witchcraft
Early 9an used sy9pathetic/ or attracting/ 9agick % in the for9 of dances/ chants and cave paintings
of ani9als % to attract the herds of ani9als that provided for the needs of the group/ and to 3ring
fertility to hu9ans and ani9als alike= 2unters 'ould re%enact the successful outco9e of a hunt and
'ould carry these energies into the everyday 'orld= )fferings 'ere 9ade to the Mistress of the 2erds
and later to the 2orned God/ 'ho 'as depicted 'earing horns or antlers to display his sovereignty
over the herds= Ani9al 3ones 'ould 3e 3uried so that they/ like hu9ankind/ 'ould enGoy re3irth fro9
the Earth Mother@s 'o93=
Where hunter%gatherers today continue the un3roken tradition that stretches 3ack thousands of years %
for e;a9ple/ a9ong the ?apps in the far #orth of Scandinavia and the $nuits % these rites continue/ led
3y a sha9an/ or 9agick 9an/ 'ho negotiates 'ith the Mistress of the 2erds or ish in a trance for the
release of the ani9als=
)ne of the earliest recorded e;a9ples of sha9anis9 is the >ancing Sorcerer= Painted in 3lack on the
cave 'alls of ?es &rois reres in the rench Pyrenees/ this sha9anic figure/ 'hich portrays a 9an in
ani9al skins/ dates fro9 a3out (-777 BC and stands high a3ove the ani9als that are depicted on the
lo'er 'alls= )nly his feet are hu9an and he possesses the large/ round eyes of an o'l/ the antlers and
ears of a stag/ the front pa's of a lion or 3ear/ the genitals of a 'ild cat and the tail of a horse or 'olf=
By the #eolithic period/ 'hich 3egan around 4.77 BC and lasted until a3out ..77 BC/ the
huntergatherer
culture had given 'ay to the develop9ent of agriculture/ and the god evolved into the sonconsort
of the Earth Mother= 2e 'as the god of vegetation/ corn/ 'inter and death/ 'ho offered
hi9self as a sacrifice each year 'ith the cutting do'n of the corn/ and 'as re3orn at the 9id%'inter
solstice/ as the Sun God=
&he #eolithic period also sa' the develop9ent of shrines to the &riple Goddess 'ho 3eca9e
associated 'ith the three phases of the Moon: 'a;ing/ full and 'aning= &he Moon provided one of the
earliest 'ays 3y 'hich people calculated ti9e= Since its cycles coincided 'ith the fe9ale 9enstrual
cycle/ 'hich ceased for nine 9oons if a 'o9en 'as pregnant/ the Moon 3eca9e linked 'ith the
9ysteries first of 3irth/ then of death as it 'aned/ and finally 'ith ne' life on the crescent= Because
the Moon 'as re3orn each 9onth or/ as it 'as thought/ gave 3irth to her daughter each 9onth/ it 'as
assu9ed that hu9an e;istence follo'ed the sa9e pattern and that the full 9oon 9irrored the 9other
'ith her 'o93 full 'ith child=
&he full 9oon 'as also associated in later ages 'ith ro9ance and passion/ originally 3ecause this
coincided 'ith peak fe9ale fertility= Moon 9agick for the increase of love and fertility is still
practised under the auspices of the 'a;ing 9oon= $t 'as not until a3out ,/777 years ago that the 9ale
role in conception 'as fully understood in the West/ and only then 'ere the Sky ather deities a3le to
usurp the 9ysteries of the >ivine Mother=
A trinity of huge/ carved stone goddesses/ representing the three 9ain cycles of the Moon/ and dating
fro9 3et'een (,777 and ((777 BC/ 'as found in rance in a cave at the A3ri du +oc au; Sorciers at
Angles%sur%l@Anglin= &his 9otif continued right through to the &riple Goddess of the Celts/ reflecting
the lunar cycles as 9aiden/ 9other and crone/ an i9age that also appeared throughout the classical
'orld=
Witchcraft And &he Early Christians
After the for9ation of the Christian church/ the 'orship of the old deities and the old 'ays 'ere
3anned and the nature festivals supplanted 3y Christian ones= &he Christians 'ere prag9atic/
ho'ever/ and Pope Gregory/ 'ho sent St Augustine to England in A> .64/ ackno'ledged that it 'as
si9pler to graft the Christian festivals on to the e;isting festivals of the solstices and eFuino;es= So/
Easter/ for e;a9ple/ 'as cele3rated on the first Sunday after the first full 9oon after the spring
eFuino;/ 'hich is 'here it re9ains today=
$n the sa9e 'ay/ the crosses on the hot cross 3uns that 'e eat on Good riday 'ere originally the
ancient astrological signs for the Earth/ and 'ere eaten to a3sor3 the po'er and fertility of Mother
Earth= 2ot cross 3uns 'ere still thought to retain their 9agical Fualities until the early decades of the
nineteenth century and 'ere said to offer protection against dro'ning= or this reason/ hot cross 3uns
'ere hung fro9 the roofs of coastal churches 'here their re9ains can still 3e seen= &he old 'ays did
not die Fuickly/ ho'ever/ and so for centuries the t'o religions co%e;isted as people gradually
transferred their allegiance fro9 the Earth Mother/ or Mother Goddess/ to the <irgin Mary and the
fe9ale saints=
&he Persecution )f Witches
But in 9edieval ti9es/ t'o largely political issues 3rought a3out the persecution of 'itches/ especially
'o9en= &he religious e9phasis on the sin of Eve and the 3elief in the inferiority of 'o9en had
e;isted since the ti9e of St Paul/ 3ut 'ith the rise of an organised 9ale 9edical profession/ 'o9en
healers 'ho had acted as her3alists and 9id'ives 3eca9e a threat= &his 'as not least 3ecause their
skills ensured less painful child3irth/ 'hich 'as considered contrary to the curse of God that the
daughters of Eve should 3ear children in sorro'= So 9id'ives 'ere a pri9e target for the ne'
persecutions and 'ere often accused of sacrificing 3a3ies to the >evil= Given the high rate of infant
9ortality/ this allegation 'as hard to refute/ and a grieving 9other 9ight easily 3la9e the 9id'ife for
the death of her infant=
At a ti9e of appropriation of co99on land and the enclosure of s9allholdings/ especially in Europe/
such accusations 'ere a popular 'ay of re9oving peasants/ particularly elderly 'ido's or spinsters/
reluctant to give up their land rights/ since 3eing found guilty of 'itchcraft carried the penalty of the
seiAure of land=
So9e researchers have suggested that as late as (16, in Sale9/ Massachusetts/ the desire to
appropriate land 'as 3ehind at least so9e of the 9ass accusations of 'itchcraft 9ade at the ti9e= )ne
lando'ner/ Giles Corey/ 'as apparently an innocent 'itness at the trials at first= 2o'ever/ he hi9self
'as accused of 'itchcraft and 'as pressed to death % a torture in 'hich heavy stones 'ere placed on
the victi9@s chest and 'hich took three days to kill the9 % rather than confess/ for if he had/ his
property 'ould have 3een taken fro9 his descendants=
2igh%ranking practitioners of 9agick 'ho atte9pted to conGure de9ons 'ere usually 9ale/ and
included 3oth popes and royalty= &hey generally escaped censure/ ho'ever= &he folk religion of the
countryside 'as an easier target=
$n >ece93er (-5-/ the Bull of Pope $nnocent <$$ 'as pu3lished/ appointing 2einrich Ira9er and
Kako3 Sprenger as inFuisitors against 'itchcraft and heresy= &hese t'o clerics 'rote the Malleus
Maleficaru9/ the notorious 2a99er of the Witches/ 'hich descri3ed in lurid detail the tortures that
could 3e used to o3tain confessions fro9 suspected 'itches= $n it/ they adopted the policy that it 'as
3etter to kill an innocent person 'ho 'ould 3e re'arded in heaven 3y God than to allo' a guilty
person to re9ain unpunished=
&his 3ook 3eca9e the 3est%seller of its ti9e and 'as Fuoted to Gustify the atrocities practised against
'itches in 9ainland Europe and Scandinavia= Although torture to o3tain a confession 'as not
per9itted in England e;cept 3y royal assent/ 9any inFuisitors 'ere very cruel even to young victi9s/
'ho 'ould eventually confess in the hope of having their interrogation 3rought to an end=
#o one really kno's ho' 9any people have 3een put to death for 'itchcraft= &he 'orst period for
'itch 3urnings and hangings in Europe 'as 3et'een the 9id%fifteenth and late seventeenth centuries/
'hen the nu93er Gudicially e;ecuted as 'itches during this period is generally accepted to 3e a3out a
Fuarter of a 9illion people= $n addition/ 9any 9ore 'ere lynched or hanged unofficially 3y 9o3s
eager to find a scapegoat to 3la9e for 3ad harvests or dying cattle= &his unhappy era ca9e to 3e
kno'n as the Burning &i9es=
Matthe' 2opkins/ 'ho died in (1-4/ 3rought a3out the e;ecutions of at least *,1 accused 'itches= 2e
styled hi9self as Witchfinder General and/ 'ith four hired assistants/ instigated a reign of torture and
terror especially in the eastern counties of England/ a9assing a huge fortune for hi9self in the
process=
$n the colonies of A9erica/ the 9ost notorious trials 'ere those at Sale9/ held 3et'een (16* and
(16,= >uring this period of 9ass hysteria/ (-( people fro9 the to'n and i99ediate area 'ere
arrested/ and (6 'ere hanged= Even a dog 'as hanged= >orcas Good/ a four%year%old child/ 'as the
youngest victi9 to 3e accused of 'itchcraft and i9prisoned= She 'as released on 3ail after her 9other
'as hanged/ 3ut her younger si3ling died in prison= >orcas 'as driven insane 3y her e;perience=
A3out three%Fuarters of all those killed as 'itches in Europe and Scandinavia 'ere 'o9en/ 9ainly
lo'er%class older 'o9en/ fe9ale healers/ village her3alists/ 'ise 'o9en and 9id'ives= With the
death of so 9any e;perienced healers and 'ise 'o9en/ 9uch kno'ledge 'as inevita3ly lost/ and for
a ti9e infant 9ortality increased as 9ale physicians took over the roles of the deposed 9id'ives= But
anyone 'ho 'as different in any 'ay % eccentric/ senile or physically defor9ed % could 3e accused=
Any old 'o9an living alone 9ight 3e 3la9ed for the deaths of ani9als/ the failure of crops and
out3reaks of disease that 'ere in reality caused 3y poor hygiene and diet/ 3ad 'eather/ hu9an neglect
or si9ply 3lind ate=
)f course/ this occurred to so9e e;tent 3efore the Burning &i9es= &he difference 'as that no' the
Church and State 'ere legalising and even encouraging this persecution= Even faeries 3eca9e
associated 'ith 'itchcraft= &he Bean%&ighe/ a faerie housekeeper/ popular in the 9ythology of $reland
and Scotland/ 'as said to reside 'ith the village 'ise 'o9an and assist her 'ith choresH in the 'orst
of the 'ave of hysteria over 'itchcraft/ if an old 'o9en had an i99aculate house/ it 'as clai9ed she
had faerie help % and so 3y i9plication 'as consorting 'ith the >evil=
:nder torture/ even the innocent 'ould ad9it to the vile deeds suggested 3y their inFuisitors= Many of
the confessions no' appear to 3e re9arka3ly unifor9 and co9e straight fro9 the pages of the 'orks
on de9onology/ 'ith 'hich the 9e93ers of the $nFuisition 'ould 3e fa9iliar= Si9ple village circle
dances perfor9ed at the ti9e of the full 9oon and the old rituals perfor9ed to 3ring fertility to 3oth
fields and people % 'ith a figure dressed as the 2orned God and couples 9aking love in the fields or
leaping over a 3onfire % 3eca9e all too easily translata3le into evidence of satanic covens= Although
the last person e;ecuted for 'itchcraft in England 'as Alice Molland at E;eter in (4(*/ it 'as not
until (6.( that the Witchcraft Act of (4,1 'as repealed and replaced 'ith the raudulent Mediu9s
Act=
&hose 'ho continued to practise the @old 'ays@ 'ere usually fa9ilies 'ho could 3e trusted not to
3etray the secrets/ although the fires of the ?ughnassadh (the first corn harvest! continued in re9ote
areas until 'ell into the late nineteenth century and are 3eing revived 3y pagans as co99unity
cele3rations/ especially in the :SA= &he secret fa9ily covens 'ould pass the traditions do'n through
the 9atriarchal line/ usually 3y 'ord of 9outh= &hose 'ho could 'rite/ recorded their spells and
rituals in @Books of Shado's@ % so%called partly 3ecause of the secrecy reFuired to 'rite and protect
the9= &hese 'ere usually 3uried or 3urned 'ith the 'itch on her death/ or on rare occasions 'ere
handed on to the eldest daughter=
Witchcraft $n Modern &i9es
By the late t'entieth century in the :SA/ 'itchcraft had 3een recognised as a valid religion 3y the
A9erican Supre9e Court and accepted 3y the A9erican ar9y/ 3ut other countries/ including the :I/
are not so tolerant= What is 9ore/ in 9any lands/ especially a9ong s9aller co99unities/
9isunderstanding and preGudice still persist= $n the :I/ for e;a9ple/ Wiccans 'ho practise openly
and have children are so9eti9es regarded 'ith suspicion 3y so9e health professionals=
My dear friend ?ilian/ a 'hite 'itch and healer/ recalls ho' one 'o9an passing her ho9e 'ould
al'ays cross herself and 'alk on the other side of the street= $ 9yself once volunteered to read the
runes at the local school fete to raise 9uch%needed funds= $ 'as told in no uncertain ter9s 3y a
9e93er of the Parents@ Co99ittee that the chair9an of the school governors 'ould not have any
truck 'ith the occult= $ 'as asked to 3ake Easter ra33it 3iscuits instead/ 3ut since 9y do9estic skills
are far 3ehind 9y divinatory ones/ $ declined=
My )'n Witchery
People started calling 9e a 'itch long 3efore $ adopted the title/ 'hich $ did as a result of a 3ook $
'rote in (661 called Every Wo9an a Witch (though it 9ust 3e said that 9en as 'ell as 'o9en can
harness 'hat are entirely natural po'ers!=
When the 3ook 'as pu3lished/ so9e people in the 9edia Goked a3out 9y childhood in England@s
industrial Midlands % not considered a place 'here 9agick or spirituality can flourish= $t see9ed that
they could not accept the fact that 9y spells focused on the 9undane issues of ho' people 9ight
o3tain the 9oney to 9end a leaking roof or find their o'n inner har9ony a9idst the clutter and noise
of a fa9ily/ rather than on 9ore ethereal rituals cele3rated 3y fey 9aidens 'afting around in
flo'erfilled
gardens=
But/ in fact/ if $ 'ere to 9ake any clai9 at all to authenticity (not that authenticity 9atters as 9uch as
sincerity of purpose!/ it 'ould 3e through those Midland roots/ 'hich are connected to 'hat is said to
3e the 9ost ancient order of 'itches kno'n= At the turn of the t'entieth century/ 9y father@s fa9ily
'ere canal people and 9y father gre' up at a ti9e 'hen the 3oats 'ere still a 9aGor for9 of transport
for coal and iron= So9e of these Midland canal people 'ere kno'n as @'ater 'itches@ 3ecause they
practised a religion 3ased on the sacredness of Water and Earth= &heir sy93ol 'as the si;%spoked Sun
'heel/ painted on their 3oats= &his sign 'as once thought to 3e a ship@s 'heel/ 3ut this is i9pro3a3le/
since canal 3oats have large rudders=
:nlike the +o9any gypsies/ the Midland 'ater 'itches 'ere descended fro9 the riesian seafarers of
the #etherlands and (541 a 3ook entitled )er ?inda 'as pu3lished/ na9ed after the fa9ily 'ho had
3een custodians of the 'isdo9 since the si;th century BC= So9e insist the 9anuscript is a forgery and
that the e;isting version dates only fro9 the thirteenth century= But the authentic 'ater gypsies kne'
their lore 3y inheritance rather than fro9 a 3ook/ and the si9ilarities are re9arka3le= +itual 'as
practised 3y the canal people 'ithin a triple 9agical sFuare/ each sFuare Goined 3y four lines and
constructed fro9 'ood kno'n as @the 9ill@=
)nly the 'o9en entered the sacred area/ under the leadership of a senior fe9ale 'ater 'itch/ though
the chief 9ale/ kno'n as the Master/ su99oned the entity to assist in the ritual= $f you 'ould like to
read 9ore a3out this/ you 'ill find so9e reco99ended 3ooks listed in urther +eading/ page ,7(=
Certainly/ $ can recall t'o terrifyingly s'arthy aunts 'ho co99anded the fa9ily/ and 9y father
recounted 9any superstitions and 9uch canal lore 'hen $ 'as young= &his included the tale of a
terrifying character called Iit Cre'3ucket/ 'hose ghostly for9 'ould appear on a 3oat or 3e seen in
the 'ater 3efore it 'ent through a dark tunnel= Canal life has a 'hole 9ythology/ 9uch no' lost as
the old 'orking 3oats have 3een replaced 3y 'eekend leisure traffic= 8ou 'ill find 9ore on the details
of these old superstitions in 9y 3ook Ghost Encounters (Blandford/ (665!=
Wicca
Wicca/ as it is perfor9ed today/ is not 9odern 'itchcraft per se/ 3ut a conte9porary neo%pagan
religion= $t is/ ho'ever/ one of the 9aGor for9s of 'itchcraft= $t 3egan in its 9odern for9 'ith the
teachings of Gerald Gardner after the repeal of the Witchcraft Act in (6.(/ though its descent can 3e
traced to the ancient nature religions= &his traditional 9ethod of Wicca is Fuite for9al/ 'ith covens
using ritual tools and learned invocations e9phasising the Goddess and her representative/ the 2igh
Priestess/ as their head= &he Goddess is the archetype or source energy of the ulti9ate fe9inine po'er
or principle= All the na9ed goddesses represent aspects of particular Fualities of the Goddess in
different cultures= 2er consort is the 2orned God and his representative in the coven is the 2igh
Priest= &hough each coven is autono9ous/ for9al Wicca follo's a syste9 of degrees of learning and
does not per9it self%initiation= &he 2igh Priest initiates the fe9ale 9e93ers and the 2igh Priestess
the 9ale= &hey cele3rate eight sa33ats/ or seasonal cele3rations=
&here are/ ho'ever/ nu9erous for9s of Wicca and of 'itchcraft/ 9any of 'hich dra' on ancient
traditions= or e;a9ple/ the fe9inist >ianic Wicca/ founded in the (647s/ is spiritually descended
fro9 the nature religion of the $talian 'itches 'ho 'orshipped >iana as the &riple Goddess of the
Moon fro9 a3out .77 BC=
Since the (647s/ less for9al practices and covens have evolved/ 'hich 9ay or 9ay not have a
structured learning syste9/ and these create their o'n spells and cere9onies/ rather than using an
e;isting syste9/ such as that recorded in Gardner@s o'n Book of Shado's/ revised 3y his 2igh
Priestess >oreen <aliente= &hese individual cere9onies are recorded in 3ooks created to reflect the
evolving rituals of each coven and its o'n e9phases= &his 9ethod is 9uch 9ore conducive to solitary
practitioners 'ho can incorporate 9agick into their do9estic and 'orking lives=
Wiccan +ituals And Ethics
Wiccans 3elieve in polarity rather than a single godhead/ 3oth in 9agick and in life= Evil is therefore
not a separate de9onic force to 3e eradicated/ and the darker aspects of life e9anate as a result of
alienation fro9 the natural order of things= 2o'ever/ even those things that are 3ad can act as
catalysts for changeH death and endings are as 9uch part of the cycle of life as are 3irth and
3eginnings= >ark and light/ night and day/ positive and negative/ destruction and creation are t'o
sides of the sa9e coin/ a principle that finds e;pression in Eastern &aois9 and underpins the ancient
Chinese " Ching (&he Book of Changes!/ often used for divination= #egativity can 3e transfor9ed into
healing energies through positive ritual=
&he Goddess is the source of all creation/ fro9 'ho9/ in the original virgin 3irth/ her son%consort/ the
2orned God/ ca9e= &he 2orned God and the Goddess are the creative 9ale and fe9ale principles that
act and react/ not in opposition to each other/ 3ut as co9ple9entary and necessary parts of a 'hole=
&here are variations on this idea 'ithin the teachings of Wicca= So9e traditions consider the Goddess
to 3e of greater significance than her 9ale counterpart=
)thers regard the9 as eFual/ assu9ing different aspects according to the season and ritual: she as the
Earth or Moon deity/ ruler of the su99er 9onths/ he as the Sun or Corn God/ ruler of 'inter and ?ord
of the :nder'orld after his death=
Along 'ith other nature deities/ the 2orned God 3eca9e de9onised 'ith the advent of Christianity/
and the Goddess 'as either depicted as a 'icked 'itch or do'ngraded to the status of a faerie= &hus
the Celtic 'arrior goddess Maeve 3eca9e the faerie Ma3/ descri3ed thus 3y Mercutio in
Shakespeare@s +o9eo and Kuliet:
She is the fairy@s 9id'ife/ and she co9es
$n shape no 3igger than an agate%stone
)n the fore%finger of an alder9an=
Contrary to popular 3elief/ Wiccans do not @he;@ (cast curses! or seek revenge/ although so9e >utch
and Pennsylvanian 'itches consider that it is Gustifia3le to @3ind@ those 'ho har9 children or ani9als
or actively pro9ote evil or corruption= Wiccans prefer to rely on the principles of natural Gustice that
under kar9ic principles 'ill redress the 3alance/ either in this lifeti9e or the ne;t=
&he chief 9oral codes are the Wiccan +ede and the &hreefold ?a'= &he Wiccan +ede states si9ply:
@An it har9 none/ do 'hat you 'ill@= &his deceptively straightfor'ard state9ent refers to the self as
'ell as others= $ have already 9entioned the &hreefold ?a' 'here3y 9agical intent % and/ 9any
3elieve/ actions and thoughts % return to the sender 'ith three ti9es the intensity=
Because people are responsi3le for their o'n actions/ everyone %'itch and non%'itch alike % can
choose to do good or evil= Many 'itches and Wiccans 3elieve that they are reincarnated in so9e for9
and also that the results of past deeds can follo' a person fro9 one life to the ne;t=
8ou can co9pare this to the concept of kar9a found in 2induis9 and Buddhis9/ 'hich says that the
thoughts and deeds 'e accu9ulate in our lifeti9e 9ay either progress us to'ards spiritual perfection %
if good % or indicate/ if 3ad/ that 'e need to learn lessons in su3seFuent lives to right our 9istakes or
attitudes= )ther 'itches say there is an afterlife/ spent on another plane of e;istence= Ino'n as
Su99erland/ Avalon or <alhalla/ and akin to &ir na n@)g/ the Celtic )ther'orld of eternal youth/ it is
a place 'here Goy and light are e;perienced=
+eincarnation/ on the other hand/ is a for9 of 3odily transfor9ation= So9e 9ay choose to 3e re3orn in
another 3ody/ perhaps as an ani9al or 3ird/ so9eti9es to teach or to co9plete unfinished 'ork= or
e;a9ple/ Merlin/ the 9agician/ 'as 3elieved to have 3een incarnated in several lifeti9es and to have
entered 'illing 3odies/ including the si;th%century 3ard &aliesin=
Wiccan rituals are held at es3ats and sa33ats= An es3at is a 9onthly coven 9eeting/ traditionally held
(, ti9es a year during each full 9oon= &he eight sa33ats are descri3ed in the chapter Seasons and
estivals (see page *-.!/ and cele3rate the eight 9aGor divisions of the Celtic year on the solstices/ the
eFuino;es and the old ire festivals= &hese festivals 9ark the co9ing of early spring/ the start of the
Celtic su99er/ the first corn harvest and the start of the Celtic 'inter=
&here are also 9any lovely cere9onies to 9ark the transitions in the life cycle/ such as handfastings/
or 'eddings/ and rites of passage to 'elco9e recently deceased Wiccans to the fa9iliar circle
'henever they 'ish to dra' near=
Solitary Witchcraft
&here are 9any reasons for perfor9ing 'itchcraft alone: your personal circu9stances or the location
of your ho9e 9ay 9ean that you cannot travel to a group/ or you 9ay live in an area 'here there are
fe' others 'ho share your interests= Many 'itches like 9yself choose to practise alone/ dra'ing in
9y fa9ily and close friends to cele3rate 'ith 9e on the festival days= Most solitary 'itches initiate
the9selves/ though so9e traditions/ such as the Sa;on Seat Wicca founded 3y +ay9ond Buckland in
the :SA/ do ad9it solitary 'itches=
$ndeed/ solitary practitioners are said 3y so9e to have 3een 'itches in seven previous lifeti9es and to
possess 'ithin the9 all they need to kno' a3out the Craft= &ruth or 9yth/ no one should
underesti9ate the nu93er of private practitioners 'ho do 'ork alone/ so9e co9ing together
occasionally in s9all/ infor9al groups=
Solitary 'itches can use cere9onial 9agick very successfully/ 3ut 9any do follo' the less for9al
folk 9agick/ linked to the land and the seasons/ that 'as practised 3y our ancestors in their ho9es=
or this reason/ so9e call the9selves hedge%'itches/ fro9 the ti9es 'hen a hedge/ often of ha'thorn/
3ounded the 'itch@s ho9e/ and it is so9eti9es said that they are 'alking on the hedge 3et'een t'o
'orlds= Such a 'itch 9ay 3e in the tradition of the village 'ise 'o9en 'ho kne' a3out her3s and
a3out the cycles of nature and used the i9ple9ents of their kitchens rather than cere9onial tools=
She 9ay also 3e gifted in divination/ in spell%casting and in astral proGection= :sually a 'o9an/ 3ut
occasionally a 9an/ the solitary 'itch practises eclectic 9agick dra'n fro9 a variety of traditions= $n
the urther +eading section on page ,7(/ you 'ill find so9e suggested 3ooks in 'hich you can read
a3out so9e of these different traditions=
&hose e;pert in 3re's and potions are also called kitchen 'itches= $ndeed/ 9any of our grand9others
and great%grand9others 'ho possessed a re9arka3le intuition/ read the tea leaves and 9ade her3al
concoctions/ 'ere Gokingly called 'itches 3y their o'n fa9ilies % and 'ere Gust thatL
All the rituals in this 3ook can 3e carried out 3y a lone 'itch= 8ou have your choice of groves/ stone
circles/ the ocean shore/ your garden or 3alcony/ 'here you can connect 'ith the po'ers of nature and
'ork uno3trusively= Whether you are 'orking alone/ or in a group/ or coven/ you 'ill share the sa9e
ai9s and 'ill need 9uch the sa9e eFuip9ent=
&ools And &reasures
8ou 'ill need to collect so9e 3asic tools for your spells and rituals= $f you are 'orking in a group/
these can 3e kept either 3y different 9e93ers or in a safe place and 3rought out at 9eetings= &hey
need not 3e at all e;pensive= Magick 'as traditionally carried out 'ith the eFuip9ent of the ho9e: the
3roo9 for s'eeping the 9agical circle 'as the 3eso9 used for s'eeping dirt (and negativity! out of
the door and 'as stored 'ith its 3ristles up'ards to protect the ho9e=
&he cauldron 'as the iron cooking pot on the 3lack kitchen range that served to heat the ho9e as 'ell
as for cooking= $te9s often can 3e gathered fro9 around your ho9e: for e;a9ple/ a silver 3ell/ a
crystal 3o'l or a large 'ine glass= Attractive scarves or thro's 9ake ideal altar cloths= Car 3oot sales
are an e;cellent source of 9agical eFuip9ent= Ieep your 9agical tools separate fro9 your everyday
household eFuip9ent in a large 3o; or chest/ so that you can keep the9 charged 'ith positive energies
for 9agical and healing 'ork=
So9e ite9s/ such as the pentacle (see page (56!/ you can 9ake fro9 clay/ and her3s can 3e gro'n in
pots or in gardens and chopped in a 9ortar and pestle= resh her3s have 9ore i99ediate energies than
dried/ though the latter are 3etter in sachets and poppets=
Al'ays 3ear in 9ind that the 9agick is in you/ not in your tools/ and a 'and cut fro9 a fallen haAel or
'illo' 3ranch in the right hands can 3e 9ore 9agical that the 9ost ela3orate crystal%tipped one
purchased fro9 a #e' Age store=
Spell Casting
Spell casting is part of so9e/ 3ut 3y no 9eans all/ Wiccan activities= Most spells are carried out 'ith
the purpose of changing so9eone@s life for the 3etter or sending healing energies to others= or
e;a9ple/ love 9agick could/ if you 'ish to 3ring love into your life/ 3e focused on increasing the love
in the 'orld/ there3y attracting love in its 9any for9s/ and not Gust ro9ance= More specifically/ you
9ay 'ish to attract one special person/ to deepen an e;isting relationship or 3ring 3ack a straying
partner= or this/ ho'ever/ you 'ould need to 3uild into the ritual a proviso that this happening should
3e right for that person as 'ell as for yourself=
Modern 'itchcraft is all too a'are of the need not to infringe on the free 'ill of others= As $ have
9entioned/ 3inding or 3anishing spells 'ork 3y lessening a negative influence or 3y protecting
potential victi9s/ rather than 3y attacking a person/ ho'ever destructive they 9ay 3e=
A Book of Shado's
Whether you are 'orking alone or in a coven/ you 9ight like to start a Book of Shado's/ a record of
rituals that have 'orked 'ell/ na9es of those 'ho need healing and her3al 3re's and incenses that are
especially evocative= $n ti9e/ this 'ill 3eco9e a source not only of reference 3ut also of inspiration to
you= Books of Shado's are so%called 3ecause early 'itches kept the9 secret for fear of persecution=
&hey 'ere often 3urned or 3uried 'ith 'itches 'ho died=
8ou 9ay decide to have t'o Books of Shado's/ one as a per9anent record/ traditionally copied out
3y hand/ and the other an ongoing 'orking al9anac in 'hich you note 9oon phases for the 9onth= $f
you are 'orking in a group that includes so9eone 'ith a 9athe9atical 3ent/ they can calculate and
note here the ti9es of the day at 'hich particular planets and angels hold s'ay (see the ta3les on
pages *,. and *,6 for 9ethods of calculation!= 8ou can also note the phases of the Moon= $ find a
diary section of a ilofa; serves 'ell/ 3ut if this infor9ation is kept on co9puter/ then copies can 3e
printed out if reFuired for other 9e93ers=
So9e covens keep a single 9ain Book of Shado's in a safe place= ro9 this/ 9e93ers % especially
ne' ones % can copy rituals and 9agical lore in their o'n s9aller Books of Shado's/ 'hich can then
3e handed do'n in future ti9es to any 9e93er of their fa9ily 'ho sho's an interest in such 9atters
as they reach adulthood=
Apart fro9 the suggestions $ have 9ade for possi3le rituals and 3ooks you can read/ there are
countless Books of Shado's on the $nternet that can act as inspiration= &here are no rules set in stoneH
rituals carried out in love and even laughter/ perhaps 'hen a candle 'ill not light/ are far 9ore
effective than the 9ost ela3orate cere9ony in 'hich everyone is so focused on getting it right=
$f the ritual rather than the intent is all/ the po'er 3eco9es dissipated and an;iety 3locks the innate
9agick 'e all e;perienced as children= Magick 'orks 3est 'hen 'e can leave 3ehind our innate
de9ands for precision and order= &he 9ore for9al and lengthy rituals 9ay act as a po'erful aid to
focus/ 3ut they 9ay/ eFually/ ignore the i9portance of learning through e;perience and the heart=
Witchcraft Within Covens
A coven is a group of 9e93ers of a unit of 'itchcraft and/ in fact/ can nu93er anything fro9 t'o to
(,/ or even 9ore= &he nu93er (, is traditionally designated 3y the (, 9oon cycles that 9ake up one
year/ and (, is the nu93er of the Goddess (hence it 3eca9e unlucky under Christian influence!=
Gardenerian covens generally nu93er (,= So9e covens are affiliated for9ally or infor9ally to
specific traditions/ 3ut they increasingly unite for organisational as 'ell as legal and political strength/
particularly in Australia and parts of the :SA= )n%line covens are also springing up and they are an
e;cellent 'ay for solitary practitioners to gain support and infor9ation= +elia3le/ 3ona fide covens
'ill offer the sa9e safeguards as any ordinary coven (see page ,71!/ 3ut of course the nor9al
restraints you should sho' on contacting any $nternet site 'ill apply=
&he 3eginning of the path to learning a3out Wicca 'ithin a for9al coven is usually 9arked 3y a
dedication= $nitiation/ after a year and a day/ or a si9ilar recognised 9agical period/ 'ill confer for9al
entry= urther different levels of kno'ledge and responsi3ility 9ay also 3e involved/ for e;a9ple
elevation to a second or third degree/ so that eventually initiates can 3egin their o'n covens if they
'ish=
Starting 8our )'n Coven
8ou can start a coven 'ithout su3scri3ing to any particular for9 of Wicca or 'itchcraft= So9e of the
9ost spiritual covens are those that do not have anyone in the role of 2igh Priestess or Priest/ 3ut
instead take it in turns to organise the 9eetings and rituals and take responsi3ility for any events=
2o'ever/ if you do 'ant to follo' a particular tradition=
2ave a preli9inary 9eeting in 'hich you can plan for a3out si; 9eetings ahead/ deciding on the
topics/ the different venues and eFuip9ent you 'ill need to 3uy= :sing a good al9anac and Moon
diary/ you can arrange to 9eet on the crescent 9oon so9e 9onths to light candles and 9ake 'ishes as
'ell as on the full 9oon and on the 9aGor festivals= 8ou 9ay arrange a special evening also for
healing 'ork/ especially if this is an area that you 'ould like to develop collectively=
8ou can hold separate 9eetings for planning/ 3ut if you 'ish to 9ake practical decisions at a 9eeting
3efore an es3at/ al'ays carry out a ritual to strengthen har9ony after such discussions as Earthly
issues can intrude on even the 9ost spiritual gathering= Another good ti9e is after'ards 'hen you are
eating and drinking and so are rela;ed and full of good feelings= Even then/ have a short collective rite
3efore you separate=
8ou can decide 'hat eFuip9ent you need to 3uy at these planning 9eetings and one person can act as
co%ordinator= Set up a Goint fund for candles/ crystals/ incense/ etc=/ and appoint one person to check
and replenish supplies= ?arge super9arkets have an a9aAing array of candles/ incenses and oils/ as do
gift shops and her3al phar9acies/ 'hile on the $nternet there are a vast nu93er of #e' Age 9ailorder
outlets= $ have also listed so9e in the 3ack of this 3ook=
Appoint one person to organise a specific festival and to act as 2igh Priest or Priestess for that
occasion= 2ierarchies rarely 'ork in less for9al groups of friends= +e9e93er/ too/ that so9eti9es the
9ost reticent 9e93er 9ay prove the 9ost dyna9ic at singing chants and raising energies=
8ou 9ay discover that particular 9e93ers have special gifts %perhaps for leading the dancing or
creating spontaneous rituals % 3ut it is i9portant that the 9ost for'ard 9e93ers do not take all the
leading parts/ leaving others to polish the chalice and s'eep up the incense=
When you ad9it ne' 9e93ers/ you 9ay decide to allo' an initial ti9e 3efore the person decides to
co99it the9selves %so9eti9es even the nicest people can 3ring personality 9is9atches that can
9ake har9ony difficult/ even 'hen dealing 'ith rituals and 'ith good'ill on all sides= 8ou 9ay also
find that one personality auto9atically assu9es leadership and if this does not prove 3eneficial/ it
needs to 3e tackled 'ith hu9our and sensitivity if you are not to have a Fuasi%deity in your 9idst=
8ou 9ay 'ish to choose a particularly 'ise 9e93er to look after ne'co9ers/ e;plain 3asic rituals
and suggest reading 9aterial and 9editations and visualisations that can 3e done at ho9e= )ther
9e93ers 9ay undertake to research aspects of the Craft that interest the9/ or collect infor9ation
a3out deities and then run infor9al teachings sessions perhaps on a special evening= )ne person 9ay
undertake to update the Book of Shado's regularly=
Koining A Coven
Before Goining a coven/ consider 'hat you are looking for= So9e covens e9phasise set ritual and
cere9ony and a learning path that can take years rather than 9onths/ along 'hich you progress in an
orderly fashion/ gradually 3uilding up a great store of 'isdo9 and e;perience and allo'ing your
psychic po'ers to unfold slo'ly % is that 'hat you 'antJ $t is i9portant also to esta3lish 'hat you
9ay 3e a3le to give to the coven= Can you devote the necessary evenings for the coven/ or do you
have a packed schedule and 9any co99it9ents/ 'hich prevent you fro9 setting aside a regular ti9eJ
Perhaps you 9ay 'ant to e;plore 9agick 9ore infor9ally 'ith like%9inded people 'here the
e9phasis is on spontaneity= $t is i9portant that you choose a coven that operates in a 9anner 'ith
'hich you feel co9forta3le=
So9e 9odern covens do practise sky%clad/ or naked/ 3ut $ 'ould advise you to avoid this/ as this can
9ake so9e people feel very self%conscious and needs very strong para9eters to prevent cere9ony
fro9 spilling into everyday relationships= $t can also detract fro9 the spirituality of the ritual= $f se;ual
attraction or spontaneous se;ual fantasies are allo'ed to arise 3et'een 9e93ers of a group/ this can
9ake ritualistic contact very difficult/ especially 'here 9e93ers are in relationships 'ith people
outside the coven=
&he Sacred Marriage/ 'hich involves ritual se; 3et'een God and Goddess/ is an i9portant part of
seasonal cele3rations= 2o'ever/ 9odern covens often cele3rate the ritual coupling of Earth and Sky
3y plunging a knife into a chalice of 'ater/ or 3y the use of physical se; carried out in private/ 3y an
esta3lished couple/ out of sight of the coven= $n this 'ay/ any very hu9an co9plications 9ay 3e
prevented fro9 creeping into the ritual=
$t is also possi3le to co9e across 'ell%9eaning 3ut totally ine;perienced groups 'ho atte9pt to
practise the kind of 'ork that a 9ediu9/ 'hite 'itch or healer 'ould take years even to approach=
:nfortunately/ it is all too co99on for lovers of occult 9ovies to set the9selves up as gurus and
'reak unintended havoc on the psychological and psychic 'ell%3eing of others=
8ou should 3e sure/ 'hen you choose a coven/ that its 9e93ers are kind and gentle and do not
indulge in spirit su99oning or spirit possession/ even for trance purposes/ unless under the
supervision of an e;pert leader 'ho has 3enefited fro9 a very long training= $f these 'arnings sound a
little dire/ it is 3ecause 'itchcraft involves very personal and spiritual e;periencesH it is also/ 3y
nature/ a very hidden practice/ and this 9eans that it 9ay 3e hard to tell the genuine fro9 the
charlatans=
Be'are also of strangers or acFuaintances 'ho regale you 'ith supposed Wiccan practices or offer to
do spells for you/ usually for 9oney= &rue Wiccans are a9ong the 9ost tolerant of people and 'ould
never seek to i9pose their 3eliefs on others and are usually incredi3ly reticent 'ith people they do not
kno'=
$n the 9eanti9e/ it is 'ise to follo' an indirect route to find your coven/ perhaps through @green@
organisations and reputa3le #e' Age stores/ or 3y attending 'orkshops and cele3rations arranged 3y
pagan federations and healing organisations/ and talking to people there= 8ou can also visit healing
festivals and 3uy esta3lished pagan 9agaAines= &ake your ti9e until everything feels right and you
have ans'ered all the Fuestions you need to ask=
#o reputa3le coven 'ill 3e in a hurry to sign you up % the reverse is usually the case= 8ou certainly do
not 'ant to find yourself signing in 3lood/ 3eing initiated 3y having se; 'ith the 2igh Priest or
Priestess or pro9ising to fall on a s'ord should you leave the coven or 3etray their secrets= #or
should you pay huge su9s of 9oney in advance for trainingH for 9e93ership of an esta3lished pagan
organisation/ yes/ 3ut these tend to ask for re9arka3ly little= Even a full >ruidic or Goddess training/
for e;a9ple/ costs no 9ore than a fe' hundred pounds over several years= Most covens and healing
groups e;pect you only to pay for your e;penses=
$ hope that/ one day/ Goining a coven 'ill 3e totally open/ like Goining any other organisation/ and then
the nasty ele9ents 'ho hide 3ehind the na9e of 9agick 'ill 3e e;posed for the frauds they are=
Children And Wicca
Many people are suspicious of 'itches and all the 9ore so if the practitioner has young children= &hey
see9 to fear that 'itches 'ill e;ert so9e kind of evil influence on innocent 9inds= $n 9y e;perience/
nothing could 3e further fro9 the truth= Children of Wiccans are al9ost invaria3ly kind to ani9als
and a'are of environ9ental issues=
So9e groups have fa9ily cele3rations and no responsi3le parent 'ould introduce their children to any
e;periences 3efore they 'ere ready/ least of all Wiccans to 'ho9 life is sacred and children the
3lessing of the Goddess=
?isa/ a Wiccan fro9 Berkshire/ descri3es ho' her daughter has gro'n up:
@Beco9ing a 9other has touched 9e 9ore deeply than $ could ever have i9agined= $ a9 sure that
every 9other/ pagan or other'ise/ has felt and appreciated the 9agical connection 3et'een 9other
and child: eyes and hearts locked together during a 3reast feedH 'aking to silence in the 9iddle of the
night/ only to hear the 3a3y 'ake and cry out 9o9ents laterH 3eing a3le to recognise one@s o'n child@s
cry in a roo9 full of noisy 3a3ies=
@Being a pagan has 3rought all of these e;periences into a spiritual focus that has 3rought 9e closer to
the Goddess in a 'ay that $ don@t think could have happened if $ hadn@t chosen to 3eco9e a parent= $t
has allo'ed 9e to e;perience the Mother aspect first%handH it gave ne' 9eaning to the 9oon cycles
of a 'o9an/ it allo'ed 9e to 3eco9e the 9icrocos9 of the great Earth Mother as $ 'atched 9y o'n
3ody gro' and give 3irth to a ne' life= $t gave 9e the protective instinct of Sekh9et Mthe lion%headed
Egyptian goddess of fertilityN/ 'hen $ realised that $ 'ould fight to the death to protect 9y child= $t
sho'ed 9e the true and profound po'er of the fe9ale 3odyH to create and sustain life 'ithin the 3ody/
to 3ring forth that life and nurture it 'ith a perfect food 9ade 3y the 3ody=
All of these are precious gifts to 9e as they are all a reflection of 9y deepest spiritual 3elief and faith=
When 9y daughter Skye is older/ $ 'ill share 'ith her 'hat $ have learned= or no'/ 'e Gust 'alk in
the forest or along the river and 9y partner Ki9 and $ give her the opportunity to e;plore her
environ9ent= She already has an i9age of faeries/ elves and other 9agical 3eings and 'e try to
encourage her to see the spirit in the tree or in the running 'ater= We collect stones and leaves Gust to
look at and ad9ire their colour or shape= So9e 'e take ho9e/ 3ut 9ost 'e leave 'here 'e find the9=
Skye loves these adventures and $ a9 so happy to 3e part of her e;perience=
@)n the sa33ats/ 'e and our friends cele3rate 'ith seasonal ga9es/ activities/ 9yths and feasts/ and the
children in our lives are al'ays eager and e;cited to Goin in= Skye is still a 3it young for 9uch of it/
3ut even a t'o%year%old can dance around a 9aypole/ pick 3erries/ plant seeds and help 3ake 3read or
3iscuits= $t@s e;citing to think that the Wheel of the 8ear 'ill have deep significance to herH that
Sa9hain and Beltain 'ill hold the sa9e e;cite9ent that Christ9as held for 9e as a child=
@$ don@t kno' if Skye 'ill ulti9ately choose Wicca as her spiritual path/ 3ut $ feel that gro'ing up in a
pagan ho9e 'ill give her the 3est tools for 9aking choices in her life= She 'ill learn to 3e a'are of
her environ9ent and 'ill feel a part of it/ not a3ove or outside it= 2opefully/ this 'ill inspire her to
care for it and for others around her/ and to encourage others to do the sa9e= Wicca is self%governing/
and $ hope that Skye 'ill have integrity and confidence in herself=
@2aving a goddess as 'ell as a god in her life 'ill certainly give her a 3etter spiritual 3alance than
either Ki9 or $ had as children= $ 'ish for her to 3e strong and sure of her self/ and not to 3e afraid to
challenge or 3e challenged= Paganis9 certainly provides a fra9e'ork for this/ and regardless of the
spiritual path she chooses/ $ 3elieve that gro'ing up 'ith these values 'ill help her i99easura3ly in
her life=
@She is a perfect child of the gods: unspoiled and innocent of the li9itations hu9ankind have created
for the9selves= $ 3elieve that 9y greatest gift to her 'ould 3e to teach her to stand 'ith one foot in
each 'orld/ the 9agical and the 9undane/ so that she 'ill live her life fully and in true happiness/ and
perhaps inspire others to'ards the Craft=@
* % Creating Spells And +ituals
$ have said that 9agick co9es fro9 'ithin the individual/ as a spontaneous e;pression of a higher
force= &his is not to suggest that it is entirely haphaAard/ ho'ever= $n this chapter 'e shall look 3riefly
at so9e general aspects of its theory and practice= At the end/ $ have included a si9ple ritual to
illustrate so9e of these points=
olk Magick And +itual Magick
Whether you are casting a si9ple spell/ using ite9s fro9 your kitchen cup3oard/ or perfor9ing a
co9plicated group cere9ony/ the source of the po'er 3ehind it is the sa9e= Every spell or ritual
involves channelling the life force that runs through all for9s of e;istence and transfor9ing it into
higher spiritual energies= &hese spiritual po'ers include our o'n evolved self/ 'hich so9e say is
for9ed through 9any lifeti9es/ and the higher divine cos9ic energies/ such as a supre9e god or
goddess/ or/ 9ore a3stractly/ so9e sort of divine light/ spirit and goodness=
Magick for healing/ it 9ust 3e said/ is not so far re9oved fro9 the prayers of conventional religions/
'hose positive influence is 'ell docu9ented= &he sa9e effect can 3e created 'hatever the focus or
faith/ and $ kno' fro9 personal e;perience that positive results can 3e achieved 'hen a Wiccan coven
sends healing light to a sick 9e93er or a friend=
or hundreds of years/ angels have 3een invoked in 9agick/ Gust as in religion/ 3oth for protection and
to act as vehicles for healing or positive energies= Practitioners of 'hite 9agick 9ay focus on
particular aspects of a god or goddess figure/ or 3enign po'er/ personified through different deities
fro9 9any age and cultures=
When $ 3egan practising 9agick ten years ago/ $ found it very artificial to invoke a goddess 'ho
3elonged to another ti9e and culture= 2o'ever/ $ have since found that such sy93ols do hold a great
deal of po'er and therefore can concentrate specific energies= $ have listed in Chapter - a nu93er of
deities that see9 to 3e especially potent in ritual or as a focus for 9editation= But if you do not find
the9 helpful/ there is no need to use the9=
Most rituals are related to the 3asic hu9an needs for health/ love/ fertility and prosperity= $n Chapter
(,/ Seasons and estivals/ $ descri3e the 9aGor solar/ lunar and agricultural festivals that for9ed a
focus for attracting a3undance and increase to the land/ ani9als/ crops and people/ tapping into the
life force that connected the9 all=
$n past ti9e/ the 'ell%3eing of the planet 'as considered to 3e the responsi3ility of peasant as 'ell as
king through paying tri3utes and enacting age%old cere9onies to invoke the necessary energies for the
Wheel of the 8ear to turn= So individual prosperity or fertility 'as attained 3oth through private spells
and char9s and 3y sending positive energies to the Earth and the cos9os and/ in a sense/ receiving
3ounty as those 3ea9s 'ere a9plified and returned to the sender=
olk or do9estic 9agick 'as an i9portant part of people@s everyday lives right up until the nineteenth
century= $n rural areas/ the i9ple9ents used in and around the ho9e and garden could 3e easily
adapted for use in 9agickH and for to'n%d'ellers/ flo'ers and her3s could 3e gathered on a day in the
country or gro'n on allot9ents or in ur3an 3ack gardens=
$n the days 3efore central heating syste9s/ the focus of the ho9e 'as the fa9ily hearth= ocus is ?atin
for @hearth@ and fro9 Ancient +o9e to China/ the household deities have al'ays had their place/ 3eing
offered 9orsels of food/ nectar and flo'ers and consulted on fa9ily happenings=
$t 'as 3elieved that the ancestors as 'ell as the living gathered around the fa9ily hearth/ and so it
3eca9e a natural focus for 9agick= &he 'itches@ cauldron started off as the iron cooking pot that hung
over the fire (such pots are still used in country regions of Europe % $ sa' one for sale Fuite recently in
the 9arket in +ouen in rance!=
2er3al 3re's 'ere not only created to cure coughs and colds 3ut also/ 'ith 9agical 'ords spoken
over the9/ transfor9ed into potions to 3ring a desired lover/ e9ploy9ent or an une;pected helping
hand in ti9es of sorro'= A grand9other 'ould put any s9all coins she could spare into a 9oney pot
and 'ar9 it near the fire to @incu3ate@ the 9oney into sufficient to 9end the roof or 3uy ne' coats for
the 'inter=
A young 'ife eager to 3e pregnant 'ould secretly prick a fertilised hen@s egg 'ith a needle on the
night of the full 9oon i99ediately 3efore 9aking love= Such actions 'ere Fuite a nor9al part of life/
a 'ay of tapping into the sa9e energies that 9ade the cattle fertile and the corn set seed=
ar9ers 'ould leave 9ilk for the faeries that they 9ight 3ring good fortune/ young girls recited love
char9s 'hile planting her3s in soil e93edded 'ith a 'ould%3e lover@s footprint= )n 2allo'e@en/
house'ives opened their 'indo's and placed garlic on the 'indo' ledge so that only the good fa9ily
dead 9ight enter and take shelter fro9 the cold=
&his si9ple folk 9agick/ rather than cere9onial 9agick/ for9s the 3asis for the 9aGority of spells= As
a3ove/ so 3elo'@/ the 'ords of the se9i%divine father of 9agick/ 2er9es &ris9egistos/ 9ay originally
have evolved fro9 popular 9agick that is practised in 9any different cultures around the 'orld to this
day= &hey are certainly as applica3le today as they ever 'ere=
Whatever the ai9 of your 9agick 9ay 3e/ if you look around your ho9e/ garden/ 'orkshop or even
office/ you have the necessary tools for the spells you reFuire= What is 9ore/ rooted as they are in
do9esticity and the daily 'orld/ these i9ple9ents could not 3e safer: fruit/ vegeta3les/ salt/ sand/
seeds/ flo'ers/ coins/ pots and Gars/ together 'ith your crystals/ candles/ incense and oils/ and perhaps
a fe' coloured scarves or ri33ons to tie knots= Whether your spell is s9all and personal/ or vast and
universal/ 'hether you are 'orking to attract love/ har9ony in the ho9e/ prosperity or fertility for
yourself or loved ones/ for people in the 'ider environ9ent or the planet/ these are all you need=
&horoughly Modern Magick
#ot everything you use for 9agick 9ust 3e of ancient origin/ ho'ever= Even your co9puter can 3e a
9agical tool/ used to dra' 9agick circles= 8ou can dra' figures to represent lovers/ estranged fa9ily
9e93ers or yourself and a 3a3y you hope to conceive and dra' the9 closer 'ith your 9ouse until
they Goin= 8ou can dra' a sFuare on the screen and enclose in it anything you 'ish to 3ind fro9
har9ing you/ perhaps the na9e of a destructive ha3it or a 9alicious person/ and send it to the recycle
3in 'here the energies 'ill 3e transfor9ed=
Alternatively/ you can reduce the siAe of a 'ord or i9age sy93olising so9ething you 'ish to rid
yourself of/ and as you 9ake it disappear fro9 your co9puter screen/ create sy9pathetic 3anishing
9agick to re9ove it fro9 your life= 8ou can attract o3Gects or people 3y filling your screen 'ith the9/
then print out the i9ages on the screen and 3urn the paper in a candle fla9e to get the energies
9oving= 8ou can even e%9ail e9po'er9ents to yourselfL
>ifferent Iinds )f Magick
What is certain is that 'hether folk custo9s or 9ore for9al cere9onies are used/ the underlying
principles of all types of 'hite 9agick are the sa9e throughout the 'orld/ and can 3e categorised
under the follo'ing headings=
Sy9pathetic Magick
&his involves perfor9ing a ritual that i9itates 'hat you 'ould desire in the outer 'orld/ so 3ringing
on to the 9aterial plane a desire or need or 'ish fro9 the inner or thought plane= &his is done using
appropriate tools and sy93ols= So in a spell for the gradual increase of 9oney/ for e;a9ple/ you 9ight
gro' a pot of 3asil seedlings (a her3 of prosperity! and light a green candle=
Contagious Magick
&his involves transferring and a3sor3ing po'er directly fro9 a creature or an o3Gect/ such as an
ani9al/ a 3ird/ a crystal/ a 9etal/ the 'a; of an e9po'ered candle or even the Earth itself= &his
principle is central to the potency of talis9ans and a9uletsH for e;a9ple/ traditionally/ hunters 9ight
'ear the pelt of a lion to 3ring the9 the 3east@s courage and ferocity= So/ 3y the sa9e token/ if you
'ished to 3eco9e pregnant/ you 9ight 9ake love in a ne'ly ripening cornfield (near the edge so as
not to da9age the crops!H alternatively/ you 9ight try one of the ancient po'er sites of Earth/ close to
the phallus of the chalk Cerne A33as fertility giant that is carved in the hillside at Cerne in >orset=
Attracting Magick
&his type of 9agick e93races 3oth sy9pathetic and contagious 9agick to 3ring you so9ething you
desire= or e;a9ple/ you could scatter pins across a 9ap 3et'een the places you and a lover live and
'ith a 9agnet collect the9/ 'hile reciting:
Co9e love/ co9e to 9e/ love to 9e co9e/ if it is right to 3e=
8ou 'ould then place your pins in a silk/ heart%shaped pincushion or a piece of pink silk/ also in the
shape of a heart/ and leave it on the 'indo' ledge on the night of the full 9oon/ surrounded 3y a
circle of rose petals=
Banishing And Protective Magick
&his involves driving a'ay negative feelings/ fears and influences 3y casting a'ay or 3urying a focus
of the negativity= or e;a9ple/ you 9ight scratch on a stone a 'ord or sy93ol representing so9e 3ad
9e9ories you 'ished to shed/ and cast the stone into fast%flo'ing 'ater= Alternatively/ you could
3ury it/ together 'ith Fuick%gro'ing seeds or seedlings to transfor9 the redundant into ne' life=
Binding Magick
Binding 9agick has t'o functions/ one to 3ind a person in love or fidelity and the other to 3ind
another fro9 doing har9= &his 9ay 3e done in various 'ays/ using knots in a sy93olic thread/ or 3y
creating an i9age of the o3Gect or person and 'rapping it tightly= But all 3inding can 3e pro3le9atic
in ter9s of 'hite 9agick/ for 'hatever 9ethod you use/ you are very definitely interfering 'ith the
person@s kar9a/ or path of fate=
2o'ever/ it is te9pting to think that if so9eone is hurting ani9als/ children/ the sick or elderly/ you
9ay 3e Gustified in 3inding the9= And 'hat if your partner has deserted you on the 'hi9 of passion/
taking all the 9oney and leaving you and your children pennilessJ &hese are very real dile99asH in
dealing 'ith the9/ $ have al'ays perfor9ed such rituals adding the provisoO=== if it is right to do so=@
$ 3elieve that it is essential to include that phrase in all 3inding 9agic rituals=
My friend ?ilian/ a 'hite 'itch and healer/ used to 'rap the perpetrators of cri9es in a 9antle of pink
and visualise the9 in a sea of tranFuillity so that they 9ight 3e diverted fro9 a destructive course of
action= 2o'ever/ $ usually cast a protective 3arrier around the victi9s and $ think this is the 3est
ans'er to a very difficult pro3le9= We 9ust har9 none/ not even the evil/ hard though it is/ and 'e
should leave the punish9ent to natural Gustice=
$n 9y o'n e;perience/ fe' 'ho find happiness at the e;pense of others achieve 9ore than te9porary/
superficial pleasure/ and in ti9e they do see9 to end 3adly= We should never use 9agick in order to
act as Gudge and Gury= After all/ so9e 'ho do act 3adly do so only out of unhappiness or ignorance=
What Are SpellsJ
&here is a clear difference 3et'een spells and rituals= @Spell@ tends to 3e the ter9 used for the less
for9al folk 9agick that/ unlike cere9onial 9agick/ is not so rigid a3out such things as circle casting
and the use of specific tools/ though it 9ay 3e 3ased in for9s and use 'ords that date 3ack hundreds
of years= )ur kitchen 'itch ancestors s'ept clean their 9agical areas and danced in circles under the
Moon or round sacred fires on one of the old festivals to 3ring fertility to land and people/ 3ut 9ost of
their 9agick 'as done 3y firelight or the light of s9oking tallo' candles in a cra9ped living roo9 or
in 9uddy fields=
$t is a serious 9istake to regard infor9al spells as inferior to the kind of 9agick in 'hich the
appropriate planetary hour is carefully chosen/ incense is 3urned/ the tools laid out in the correct
position and the na9es of all the archangels recited 'ithout a 9istake= Both have a place and even if
there 'ere an actual deity 'atching the 9inutiae of the ritual/ he or she 'ould 3e less interested in
'hether a correct ele9ental pentagra9 'as dra'n than if the intent and the heart 'ere pure and the
need 'as genuine=
&he Purposes )f White Magick
&here are three distinct and yet related types of 9agick/ all of 'hich can 3e used infor9ally/ in spells/
or for9ally/ in cere9onial rituals=
Personal Magick
As $ have already said/ it is Fuite per9issi3le to use 9agick to e9po'er your personal needs/ though
this does not 3ring lottery 'ins or the o3Gect of your ro9antic fantasies delivered gift%'rapped to your
door= Magick has traditionally enco9passed 9aterial needs/ and spirituality is very difficult to achieve
at a ti9e 'hen there is a crisis of physical need or e9otional shortfall in your life= or e;a9ple/ in
days 'hen having sufficient food and heating 'as an ongoing concern/ a3undance for the co9ing
'inter 9onths 'as a pri9e focus of Ma3on/ the harvest festival at the autu9n eFuino;= Many kitchen
'itches 'ould carry out private spells using the eFuino; energies/ to e9po'er talis9ans and cast
spells to ensure their o'n fa9ily 'ould survive the inhospita3le 9onths of 'inter=
$n the 9odern 'orld/ concerns are different/ 3ut no less urgent/ and for 9any of us still centre on the
ho9e/ fa9ily and e9ploy9ent= We need 9oney to fulfil o3ligations/ help for a child 'ho is studying
for e;a9s or perhaps suffering 3ullying/ a partner to share Goys and sorro's/ 3etter health for
ourselves and our loved ones= &here are su3Gects for spells for yourself/ your partner or lover/ your
children/ close relatives and friends= &hey are usually the strongest in ter9s of e9otion and so can 3e
very si9ply carried out at ho9e/ in the garden or on the 3alcony/ often 'ith everyday ite9s=
Magick or )thers
8ou 9ay/ ho'ever/ 'ish to carry out rituals for people or groups 'ith 'ho9 you are less inti9ately
involved/ 'ho are vulnera3le or to 'ho9 you relate in a caring/ social or a professional capacity=
&hese 9ight include the people in your 'orkplace/ a sick neigh3our/ or a colleague you kno' is
unhappy or 'orriedH or perhaps it could 3e an ani9al park or environ9ental proGect that is under
threat or needs help financially/ legally or practically or even a local disaster=
As you send out loving or healing energies/ so you 'ill receive the9 in return/ often in une;pected
'ays or perhaps at so9e future ti9e 'hen you yourself are vulnera3le= &his is part of the cos9ic
3anking syste9 and in practice there is considera3le overlap 3et'een this and personal spells=
Magick &o $ncrease Positivity
&hese are the least focused kind of spells= &hey are used to send out energies to 'hoever needs the9/
for e;a9ple of love/ happiness/ health or a3undance= &hey 9ay 3e for an endangered species/ a 'artorn
land/ a country in need of 'ater or the planet itself= $f a large nu93er of people do send positive
energies either to a large%scale proGect or into the cos9os/ follo'ed 'here possi3le 3y practical help
or support/ then this can really 9ake a difference= Again/ 3y sending out healing you 'ill receive in
return threefold healing in indirect 3ut po'erful 'ays=
&he our Stages )f Magick
Although there are 9any different kinds of 9agick/ in practice all spells and 9ore for9al 9agical
rituals tend to follo' four stages/ though infor9al spells 9ay co93ine one or 9ore steps=
&he ocus
&his defines the purpose of the ritual or spell and is generally represented either 3y a sy93ol or a
declaration of intent= &hese could take the for9 of a candle etched 'ith the na9e or Aodiacal glyph of
a desired lover/ a little silver key char9 or an actual key in a spell to find a ne' ho9e/ a picture of an
ideal holiday location/ and so on=
$n a sense/ this part of the spell 3egins 3efore the actual rite and involves ver3alising the purpose= As
you define it in a fe' 'ords or a sy93ol/ you 9ay realise that 'hat you are really seeking lies 3eyond
the i99ediate e;ternal purpose= Spending ti9e at this stage is Fuite vital as it is said 'e tend to get
'hat 'e ask for/ so 'e should take care to ask for 'hat 'ould truly fulfil our potential/ rather than
'hat 'e think 'e need i99ediately=
$f you are 'orking alone/ hold the sy93ol 'hile speaking 'ords that su99arise the purpose of the
9agick= 8ou 9ay 3e surprised to discover that it is your 'ise psyche speaking/ guiding the intention
to'ards 'hat you truly need or desire % and after'ards you realise it could have 3een no other 'ay=
$f you are 'orking in a group/ a declaration of intent/ created 3y the group collectively 3efore the
ritual/ is a good 'ay of focusing the energies= After the initial circle is cast/ the sy93ol can 3e handed
round 'hile the person leading the ritual speaks the intention= Alternatively/ each person can add his
or her special interpretation 'hile holding the sy93ol and so the declaration is 'orked as part of the
ritual= As others are holding the sy93ol/ visualise it 'ithin your o'n handsH this provides the
transition to the ne;t stage of the ritual=
Concentration is the key to this first stage=
&he Action
&his is the stage 'here you use actions to endo' the sy93ol 'ith 9agical energies= &his is part of the
continuous process of translating your 9agical thoughts and 'ords fro9 the first stage/ the inner plan/
to 9anifestation as the i9petus for success or fulfil9ent in the everyday 'orld= &hese energies
a9plify your o'n= or e;a9ple/ passing incense/ representing the Air ele9ent/ over the sy93ol
activates the innate po'er of rushing 'inds that cut through inertia and 3ring 'elco9e change/
harnessing the energies of 'ide skies in 'hich there are no li9its/ soaring like eagles/ carrying your
'ishes to the Sun= 8ou can unite other ele9ental forces 3y using the appropriate tools and su3stances=
Si9ilarly/ you 9ight 3egin a chant/ a 9edley of goddess na9es or a 9antra of po'er linked 'ith the
the9e/ or a slo' spiral dance around the circle= 8ou could try dru99ing or tying knots either on
individual cords or in a group/ creating a pattern 'ith the longer cords of fello' 'itches/ perhaps
looped around a tree=
&he action of the 9agick is li9ited only 3y the environ9ent and your i9agination= 8ou 9ay find that
i9provisation enters Fuite spontaneously as the energies unfold and spiral=
Move9ent is the key to this stage=
+aising &he Po'er
&his is the 9ost po'erful part of the 9agick/ as the 9agical energies are a9plified and the po'er of
the ritual carries you along Goyously= Ecstasy for9s a 9aGor part of sha9anic cere9ony and the old
9ystery religionsH it is akin to the e;hilaration you e;perience riding on a carousel or running 3arefoot
along a sandy shore 'ith the 'ind lifting your hair=
8ou 9ight repeat a chant of po'er/ dance faster/ dru9 'ith greater intensity/ 3ind your cords in ever
9ore intricate patterns or add 9ore knots if 'orking alone/ visualising a cone of spiralling/ coloured
light/ rising and increasing in siAe and intensity as this stage progresses=
Stretch your ar9s and hands vertically as high as possi3le to a3sor3 po'er fro9 the cos9os= $f you
are in a group and have 3een linking hands/ as the po'er increases to a great intensity/ this is the ti9e
to loose the9=
As the po'er 3uilds/ you 'ill create 'hat is kno'n as a cone of po'er= &he cone%shaped hats
traditionally associated 'ith 'itches and 3ishops@ 9itres reflect the concentration of spiritual potency=
&he purpose of the cone/ like the sacred pyra9id/ is to concentrate energy in a narro'ing shape so that
it reaches a pinnacle of po'er/ 'hich can then 3e released at the end of the ritual to carry your 'ishes
or desires into the cos9os= $n order to create a cone of po'er in 9agick/ you can visualise these
energies as coloured light or as gold=
Alternatively/ you can visualise different rain3o' colours to create a cone of every colour that 9erges
to 3rilliant 'hite at the ape;= $n healing 'ork/ so9e people see this as silver 3lue light that 3eco9es
3rilliant=
Whether 'orking alone or in a group/ as you 3uild up the po'er/ 3reathe in pure 'hite light and
e;hale and proGect your chosen colour/ seeing it 3eco9e ever 9ore vi3rant and faster%9oving as the
intensity increases= After you have 3een practising 9agick for a 'hile/ you 'ill notice that the cone of
colour 3uilds up Fuite spontaneously/ 'ith no apparent effort= $t has also 3een descri3ed as a cloud of
energy= At the point 'hen the cli9a; is reached/ co9es the release of po'er=
#ote that for so9e people the cone concept interferes 'ith their o'n natural 9agical a3ilities % so9e
of the 9ost skilled 'itches and healers see circles of light/ shi99ering golden 3ea9s or rain3o's
'ith their psychic eye= So9e see nothing at all/ 3ut instead feel po'er pushing their feet al9ost off the
ground=
Gro'th is the key to this stage=
+elease )f Po'er
When you release the po'er in the final stage/ you 9ay see the cone e;ploding and cascading as
coloured stars or light 3ea9s/ 'hich surge a'ay into the cos9os and 3reak into 3rilliant rain3o'
colours=
$f you 'ish/ you can direct the energy after the final release of po'er 3y pointing 'ith your hands/ or
a 'and or knife/ so that the energies cascade horiAontally and do'n'ards/ for e;a9ple into her3s on
the altar that you are e9po'ering to 9ake into her3 sachets= )r you can direct the cascading energies
in a specific direction/ perhaps to'ards a person 'ho is ill or in need of 9agical strength=
+elease is the key at this stage=
&his release 9ay take the for9 of a final shout/ a leap/ or 'ords= As you e;tinguish your candle of
need/ you 9ay shout:
$t is free/ the po'er is 9ineL
)r/ at the point of release/ you 9ay thro' your e;tended hands 'ide in an arc a3ove your head= $f the
cere9ony is for9al and you are using an atha9e/ you can at this 9o9ent 3ring it in front of you to
9ark the invisi3le cutting of the knot holding the po'er= Pull your visualised or actual knots tight/ cut
the9/ leap into the air/ shouting:
&he Po'er is freeL or $t is doneL So9eti9es there is Gust a sudden stillness/ as the po'er leaves=
After'ards/ you need to ground the energies 3y sitting or lying on the ground and letting e;cess
energies fade a'ay into the Earth as you press do'n 'ith your hands and feet=
&he our Ele9ents
$ have 9entioned the use of the ele9ents in rituals= $n 9agick/ there are four ele9ents % Earth/ Air/
ire and Water= &hey all contain sy93olic Fualities and po'ers that together for9 the energies used in
rituals= Each ele9ent controls a Fuadrant in the 9agical circle=
Earth/ in the #orth/ represents the sta3ility/ security and strength of old stone circles/ 9ighty castle
'alls/ tall craggy rocks and 9ountain peaks= $t is also associated 'ith the ti9e of 9idnight and 'inter=
Salt is often used to represent Earth in spells and rituals=
Air/ in the East/ is action/ freshness and po'er for change/ the 'inds 3lo'ing across plains/ vast/
cloudless skies stretching endlessly/ stor9s and 'hirl'inds stirring stagnation 3ut also 3ringing
destruction of the old= Air is also associated 'ith the da'n and spring= $ncense is often used to
represent Air in spells and rituals=
ire/ in the South/ is the Fuicksilver/ inspirational energy and clear light of the Sun/ the lightning
flash= $t is the hearth fire that 'ar9s/ the ritual fire that cleanses/ the forest fire that s'eeps all a'ay= $t
represents the full po'er of the Sun and light at noon and in su99er= Candles are used to represent
ire=
inally/ in the West is Water/ that falls as refreshing rain/ tides that e33 and flo'/ 'atercourses al'ays
finding a 'ay/ 9oving ever on'ards/ never 3ack'ards= Water is associated 'ith autu9n and sunset= $t
represents the changing responsive/ hu9an e9otions of life cycles/ and personal e33s and flo's of
energies= Water is used to represent its o'n ele9ent=
Magick $n &he Southern 2e9isphere
$n 9agick/ ti9e and direction have an i9portant place and it is necessary to understand that there 9ay
3e differences according to 'hich he9isphere of the glo3e you are 'orking in= $n the northern
he9isphere/ 9agical circles are cast clock'ise/ or @deosil@/ 'hich 9eans @in the direction of the Sun@=
$n the southern he9isphere/ ho'ever/ practitioners casting their circles deosil should nor9ally cast
the9 anti%clock'ise/ 3ecause that is the direction of the Sun in that he9isphere=
or this reason/ $ have used the ter9 @deosil@ (and its opposite/ @'iddershins@! throughout this 3ook
'hen referring to the direction of circles= &hese ter9s are clearer than clock'ise and anticlock'ise/
3ecause as long as you think in ter9s of the direction of the Sun/ the ter9s can 3e applied 'herever
you are standing on the glo3e=
Practitioners in the southern he9isphere 'ill also need to alter the dates $ have given= or the9/ for
e;a9ple/ the 9id%'inter solstice is cele3rated on or around *( Kune and the su99er solstice/ 'hen the
Sun is at it 9ost po'erful/ is around *( >ece93er=
$n the sa9e 'ay/ the t'o annual eFuino;es/ 'hen there is eFual day and eFual night/ 9ove round so
that the spring eFuino; falls around *( Septe93er and the autu9n eFuino; around *( March= $t is
perhaps 3etter to think in ter9s of the Wheel of the 8ear/ rather than our 9odern%day calendar/ for
'hat 9atters is not the date 3ut 'hat is happening 'ith the cycle of gro'th and fruition= So the
autu9n eFuino; is the ti9e of harvest/ 'henever that 9ay 3e in your part of the glo3e=
&hings are a little 9ore co9plicated/ ho'ever/ 'hen it co9es to the use of the Fuadrants of your
9agical circle and the directions/ #orth/ South/ etc= $ e;plained on page -( that #orth is the direction
of Earth and 'inter= 2o'ever/ in the southern he9isphere since the eFuator/ the area of 9a;i9u9
heat/ is to the #orth/ this direction 'ill 9ore naturally 3e regarded as ire= &o face the colder direction
of 'inter/ you 9ust turn a'ay fro9 the eFuator/ to'ards the Antarctic % the South=
&his 9eans that 'hen follo'ing the instructions in this 3ook practitioners in the southern he9isphere
should su3stitute the opposite for each direction= So/ for e;a9ple/ 'here $ have said you should set up
your altar in the #orth/ and enter your circles fro9 the East/ you 'ould set up your altar in the South/
and enter fro9 the West=
$f you find this too co9plicated/ don@t 'orry= So9e practitioners in the southern he9isphere follo'
the northern traditions/ especially if they have ancestors fro9 colder cli9es= $t really is a 9atter of
preference and all this diversity actually has a very positive effect/ 3ecause it 9eans that you can
'eave the natural forces into your personal creation of 9agick= &he only i9portant thing is that you
are consistent in your attitude=
A +itual :sing ?ight And Cos9ic Po'er
&he follo'ing ritual can 3e carried out any'here at all/ as direction is not i9portant= $t is 9ost
po'erful 'hen perfor9ed standing 3eneath a tree that perhaps has stood for hundreds of years= $f
sunlight is filtering through the leaves/ so 9uch the 3etter= 8ou can 'ork alone/ 'ith a group of
friends/ or in a 9ore for9al coven= 8ou 9ay 'ant to decide in advance on a focus for the po'er/ for
e;a9ple healing a particular place or a person you kno'= Alternatively/ you can let the energies find
their o'n target as they cascade though the cos9os/ increasing the positivity of the universe=
P Stand 'ith your feet apart and your ar9s outstretched a3ove your head like the 3ranches of a tree=
&hrough your feet/ dra' up rich/ golden light fro9 the Earth and let it flo' up'ards/ 3eco9ing lighter
and 9ore golden as it rises to your fingertips= eel the light fro9 a3ove flo'ing do'n'ards to 9erge
'ith it=
P $f you are 'orking alone/ then/ holding a long/ silk scarf in either hand/ 9ove around the tree 'ith
your hands rising and falling in a spiral path to create s'irls of energies/ the 9ost ancient of the
Mother Goddess sacred geo9etric for9s/ 'hile chanting and dancing= $f you are 'ith friends/ Goin
hands around the tree and pass the light and energy 3et'een you fro9 hand to hand/ deosil/ until you
can feel the circle of light (you 9ay even see lu9inous energy transferring fro9 hand to hand!=
P Begin to circle the tree deosil/ reciting faster and faster:
&ree po'er/ Earth po'er/ Sun sho'er and light/
Encircle 9e/ enfold 9e/ Goddess radiance 3right=
$f you do not 'ant to use the Goddess as a focus for your 9agick/ you can su3stitute the 'ord @god@ or
say @golden radiance 3right@= 8ou can also create your o'n chant/ if you prefer/ that 9ay change fro9
line to line/ or use a si9ple 9antra/ such as:
&ouch 9e/
enfold 9e/
enclose 9e=
P When you feel the po'er reaching a cli9a;/ cast the scarves high into the air and hug the tree/
pressing your feet do'n hard to ground your energy and receive healing light fro9 the trunk= $f you
are 'orking alone/ you 9ay feel that in a sense you are not alone 3ut are Goining 'ith the tree spirits
and >evas/ the higher forces of nature 'ho 'ill dance 'ith you as you spiral= 8ou 9ay even see their
lu9inous outlines=
P $f you are 'orking in a group/ 'hen you feel the po'er has reached a cli9a;/ unclasp your hands
and 'ith a final call/
A3oveL
raise the9 straight a3ove your head and allo' the energies to spiral through the cos9os=
P &hen sink do'n so that your hands and feet are pressing the ground and let any e;cess golden
radiance and po'er return to the Earth= ($f you do not do this/ you 'ill 3e 3uAAing all day and night as
though you had 3een drinking too 9uch coffee=!
, % Beginning Magick
8ou can create 9agick in all kinds of 'ays and you can use it for an al9ost infinite variety of
purposes= 8our 9agick can 3e solitary or group%3ased/ self%centred or entirely altruistic= $t can 3e
personal and infor9al/ or it 9ay 3e fra9ed in rigid cere9ony= But 'hatever kind of 9agick you 'ish
to practise/ you 'ill need to create a special place to 'ork in/ a personal area at ho9e for your private
healing and personal develop9ent 'ork=
A Magical Place
When you 'ere a child/ you pro3a3ly had a special place/ perhaps a tree house/ a den under a ta3le
'ith a curtain draped over/ or a corner of the garden hidden 3y 3ushes that only you and chosen
friends visitedH in this place you 'ove your drea9s and played 'ith your treasures= &he 9agical place
$ a9 descri3ing in this section is Gust such a special place/ an e;tension of and/ in a sense/ a return to
that ti9e of enchant9ent/ for you are once again 9aking an area separate fro9 the everyday 'orld/
'here you can set up your special artifacts=
But it 'ill also 3e very different fro9 your childhood place/ 3ecause as an adult you can learn to
control and direct the energies that then ran free and unstructured= 8our i9aginings can 3e refined as
visualisations/ your daydrea9s as altered states of consciousnessH you can 9ake 'ishes and drea9s
co9e true/ not Gust in faerieland 3ut in the here and no'=
$f you have sufficient space/ you 9ay set aside a roo9/ perhaps a conservatory/ attic or 3ase9ent/ or a
sheltered spot in the garden for your special 9agical place= Alternatively/ you 9ay need to use a
corner of your 3edroo9 or dra' a velvet curtain across an area of a roo9 'here you can 3e Fuiet and
private= $n the su99er/ $ like to 'ork out of doors at 9y caravan and go do'n the 'inding track to the
3each for 9y sea rituals (and puff and pant up again!= $n 'inter/ $ 'ork either round the hearth that is
the focus of the s9all/ dark fa9ily roo9 'here $ 'rite/ or high in the attic 3edroo9 of 9y narro'
house overlooking the hills=
Altars
8our special place 'ill need to contain an altar= &o 9any people/ the 'ord @altar@ su99ons up i9ages
of vast churches 'ith golden crosses or B%9ovies 'ith dark%ro3ed figures sacrificing da9sels on a
stone sla3 in the 9iddle of a deserted 9oorland= But in 9agical ter9s an altar is si9ply the ter9 for a
sacred 'ork space on 'hich you place your tools/ candles/ incense and sy93ols for rituals=
$n practice/ 9any people use their altar every day/ as a focus for Fuiet 9editative 9o9ents/ perhaps at
the end of a 3usy day or early in the 9orning= Such use does not 9ake it any less special= $ndeed/ 3y
3eco9ing a part of your daily 'orld/ it 3eco9es charged 'ith your o'n essential 9agical Fualities/
and provides a repository of 9agical and healing energies/ even if you only spend a fe' 9o9ents
each evening in personal/ infor9al 'ork=
$t is your place and the rituals you hold there are li9ited only 3y your o'n desires and ingenuity=
Setting :p 8our Altar
8ou 'ill need a large/ flat surface for your altarH a ta3le or a cup3oard 'ill do % you can use the
dra'ers for storage and cover it 'ith a cloth= $t does not really 9atter 'hat shape the surface is %
circles and sFuares are 3oth sacred shapes and easy to divide into Fuadrants for the four ele9ents/
Earth/ Air/ ire and Water/ that are central to traditional 9agic and play a part even in infor9al rituals=
A round altar/ the shape of the sacred circle/ 'orks especially 'ell=
$f you do not have a suita3le piece of furniture/ a piece of uncut stone or unpolished 'ood/ such as
haAel/ ash/ ro'an or oak supported on stones or 3ricks 'ill do= Ensure that it is high enough/ so that
you are not constantly stooping=
$n good 'eather/ if you have a sheltered private place in your garden or 3ack yard/ you can adapt a
tree stu9p or tall/ flat rock as your 'ork space= But perhaps the 3est altars of all are those i9pro9ptu
ones you 9ake % such as the top of a standing stone 'ith a circle of your favourite crystals/ or a rock
on the 3each 'ith a circle of sea'eed and shells to 9ark the directions=
&he altar need not 3e large 3ut you 'ill need to have roo9 to 9ove all the 'ay round it= Many rituals
de9and that you 9ove in a circle 'ith the altar in the centre/ although so9e place the altar in the
#orth of the circle and you stand to the South/ facing #orth=
&he central position of the altar"circle represents the real9 of Spirit/ or Akasha= Akasha is the na9e
given to the fifth ele9ent for9ed 3y the co93ination of the four ancient ele9ents of Earth/ ire/ Air
and Water that 'ere considered in classical ti9es to 3e the co9ponents of all life and 9atter= $t is
greater than the other four=
$n for9al 9agic/ artefacts and lighted candles are kept on an altar 3ut this is not vital= $t is Fuite
possi3le/ even if you are using a co99unal roo9 in an apart9ent or house/ to leave your altar partly
prepared/ although ite9s such as salt and 'ater are 3est added i99ediately 3efore a ritual so they 'ill
3e fresh= A garden altar can 3e set 'ith an outdoor candle or torch and stone figurines/ perhaps shaded
3y 3ushes=
Ieep pot pound or living plants on your indoor altar 'hen it is not in use to keep the energies fresh
and 9oving= $f it feels stagnant/ sprinkle an infusion of le9on or pepper9int 'iddershins/ to re9ove
negativity that has co9e in fro9 the activities of the day/ and then deosil/ to charge it 'ith po'er=
8ou can also cleanse it 'ith incense/ creating a protective circle of pine or 9yrrh/ again 'iddershins
and then deosil=
Each night/ or 'henever you have ti9e/ you can e;plore your inner psychic po'ers at your altar= or
e;a9ple/ you can gaAe into a candle or scry into a 3o'l of 'ater on the surface of 'hich you have
dripped coloured inks= &ry holding the different crystals that you place on your altar and allo'
i9pressions to pass through your fingertips/ 9anifest as i9ages/ sounds or feelings= &his psychic art is
called psycho9etry and is one that 'ill e9erge spontaneously=
8ou 9ay/ ho'ever/ have a 9ore specific ai9 in 9ind= or e;a9ple/ to i9prove your finances/ place a
pot of 3asil her3s/ surrounded 3y golden coloured coins and light a green or golden prosperity candle
'hile visualising golden coins sho'ering upon you= $f you have a friend 'ho is sick/ and 'ish to send
healing thoughts to the9/ place a photograph of the9 on the altar/ and surround it 'ith pink flo'ers/
pink rose FuartA crystals and a circle of tiny pink candles= Send your 9essage of healing or visualised
golden light/ then 3lo' out the candles deosil/ sending the energies to 'here they are needed=
When you are not carrying out for9al 9agick/ keep on the altar any crystals that are of personal
significance to you (see page (.,!= 8ou 9ight 'ish to have a clear crystal FuartA for pure energy/ a
3lue lapis laAuli flecked 'ith gold for 'isdo9/ a purple a9ethyst and rose FuartA for healing and
har9ony/ or a glea9ing/ golden%3ro'n tiger@s eye for grounding= 8ou can also keep different her3s
there according to your current focus=
E9po'ering 8our Altar
8ou can further e9po'er your special place as a reflection of the positive aspects of your changing
life 3y placing on it other s9all ite9s that carry happy 9e9ories for you= &hese 9ight include stones
or shells found on an enGoya3le outing/ presents fro9 friends or fa9ily/ a letter or even a printed e9ail
'ritten in love/ pictures or photographs of places and people that are endo'ed 'ith e9otional
significance= 2olding these can restore the pleasure of the 9o9ent and fill you 'ith confidence/ so
they are 9agical o3Gects 3ecause they are endo'ed 'ith the po'er of good feeling=
So9e practitioners keep a 3ook/ for e;a9ple a 3ook of poetry/ a copy of the psal9s/ the 'orks of
Shakespeare or the $ Ching= Whenever you lack inspiration/ close your eyes and open your 3ook % the
page 'ill 3e chosen apparently at rando9 3ut in fact your deep unconscious 9ind has chosen the 9ost
appropriate ans'er 3y a process akin to psychokinesis=
)ccasionally/ gently energise these personal artefacts 3y 3urning a candle scented 'ith cha9o9ile or
lavender= &he do9estic altars of 9any lands 'ere originally the fa9ily hearth and an unused hearth
'ill serve 'ell as an altar= &hey depended for their po'er on her3s and flo'ers gathered fro9 the
'ayside in the days 3efore petrol fu9es= Many 'itches 'ho have a hearth do still keep it 'ell s'ept
and fresh 'ith flo'ers or seasonal greenery=
Bet'een your altar candles you 9ay like to place statues/ a god and goddess figure fro9 either your
o'n spiritual 3ackground or fro9 a culture that see9s significant to youH this 'ill 3alance the yang/ or
9ale/ energies 'ith the yin/ or fe9ale= &he god figure 9ay 3e represented 3y a horn/ and the goddess
3y a large conch shell=
&here are a great variety of deity figures in 9useu9 shops as 'ell as #e' Age shops and those selling
goods fro9 particular areas of the 'orld= 8ou 9ay/ ho'ever/ feel 9ore co9forta3le 'ith a cera9ic
ani9al/ 3ird or reptile for 'hich you feel an affinity: a tiger for courage/ an eagle for vision/ a cat for
9ystery and independence/ a snake for regeneration= &his is 'hat #ative A9ericans call our personal
tote9 or po'er creature= 8ou 9ay find so9e of these are/ in so9e cultures/ the sy93ols of divinities=
&here is/ for e;a9ple/ Bast/ the cat%headed Egyptian goddess 'ho protected 'o9en % especially in
pregnancy and child3irth % the ho9e/ pleasure and Goy= Bast 'as originally a lion goddess 'ho
sy93olised the fertilising rays of the Sun=
Casting A Circle
All spells and rituals/ ho'ever for9al or infor9al/ are 3ased on a 9agical circle= &his 9ay 3e large
enough for an entire group of practitioners to stand in/ or it 9ay 3e s9all enough to fit on your
personal altar= $ have kno'n practitioners 'ho have only a s9all area create a circle on a ta3le%top and
sit facing #orth/ physically outside it 3ut spiritually 'ithin/ 9anipulating the sy93ols 'ithin it= $ have
also kno'n 9odern 'itches 'ho 'ill create an instant circle on paper or even on a co9puter screen=
$f you have the space/ you can keep a 9agick circle 9arked out 'ith stones in a corner of your garden
or painted on the floor of a roo9 covered 'ith a large rug= Attics are especially good since you are
nearer the sky= $f you are a3le to keep a special area for your circle/ scatter dried lavender or pot pourri
on it 3efore each use/ and s'eep it in circles 'iddershins to re9ove any negativity=
Whatever the for9 or siAe of your circle/ 9ark the four 9ain co9pass directions 'ithin it= $n the
9arker positions/ you can use stones/ lines on the floor/ four crystals hanging on cords on the four
'alls or candles in the appropriate ele9ental colours=
)nce you kno' your directions/ you can 9ark out your circle/ 3eginning in the #orth (although so9e
practitioners 3egin in the East!/ and 'orking deosil= >ra' your circle in one s'eeping 9ove9ent=
8ou 9ay 'ish to chant as you go=
$f you are 'orking in a group/ or if this is a circle for a 9ore for9al ritual/ you 9ay 'ish to add
god"goddess%po'er for9s as an interspersed chant/ 'ith the voices of the group e33ing and rising in
'aves= 8ou 9ay 'ish to 'elco9e the Archangels/ or Guardians of the our Watchto'ers at the four
co9pass points as you cast your circle= (&he Archangels represent the celestial 3eings that feature in
the cos9ologies of the three 9ain religions of the Western 'orld %Christianity/ Kudais9 and $sla9=
or 9ore infor9ation/ see pages *77 and *,1!= Alternatively/ you 9ay 'ish to call upon po'erful
goddess for9s:
$sis/ $shtar/ Cerrid'en/ $nnana/ Shakti/ 8oru3a/ >anu/ Iali and Aine/ protect/ e9po'er and inspire
this 9agical endeavour=
8ou can e93ellish the casting cere9ony as 9uch as you like/ perhaps dra'ing pentagra9s in the air
at the four 9ain co9pass points/ and co93ining this 'ith lighting the four ele9ental candles=
So9e practitioners like to cast a circle and then 'elco9e other 9e93ers of the group to enter/ sealing
the circle 'ith a diagonal up%and%do'n slashing 9ove9ent of their po'er hand (the one they 'rite
'ith!/ or a 'and or an atha9e= (An atha9e is a dou3le%edged knife used in for9al rituals= $t represents
Air and is placed in the East of the circle=
As 'ell as dra'ing circles/ it 9ay 3e used to conduct 9agical energies into a sy93ol=! But $ think it is
9ore po'erful if one person actually 'alks around the outside of a circle of people/ enclosing the9 in
light= $n this 'ay/ the circle is created in hu9an di9ensions and is as large or s9all as is reFuired 3y
the actual for9ation= &he circle 9ade to fit the group is far 3etter 9agically than the group 9ade to fit
the circle/ for the group is the circle=
$f you 'ant to visualise a circle/ use a clear/ pointed FuartA crystal/ or 'and/ or the forefinger of your
po'er hand/ and dra' an outline/ in the air at chest level or on the ground= &he circle e;tends
'herever you dra' it fro9 the ground up'ards to a3ove your head like a 'all of gold= Again/ 3egin in
the #orth/ and continue in an un3roken/ circular 9ove9ent=
+e9e93er/ the circle is created 'ith your o'n po'er/ a9plified if you 'ish 3y the sacred Guardians
or po'ers you 9ay invoke= or this reason/ creating a light 3ody and thus dra'ing energy fro9 the
ground (see page (*-!/ 3efore casting the circle/ is a po'erful preli9inary= So9e practitioners/ having
dra'n the light/ e;tend then%hands up'ards so that light fro9 the cos9os can also enter= >o this
3efore Goining hands if you are creating the circle as a group=
$n a conventional coven/ the 2igh Priestess casts and uncasts the circle/ 3ut you 9ay prefer to allo'
the person leading the ritual to cast the 9agical 3oundaries=
Casting A >ual Circle
8ou can create a dual circle if you 'ish=
P irst consecrate the salt sy93olising the Earth ele9ent in the #orth of the altar 3y stirring it three
ti9es 'ith an atha9e/ 'and or crystal/ and visualise radiance pouring into it=
P Stir the 'ater/ also three ti9es deosil 'ith the atha9e/ 'and or pointed crystal/ asking the light and
the Goddess to enter it=
P Add a fe' grains of salt to the 'ater and stir it/ saying:
May po'er thus 3e dou3led/
thus increased/
as life Goins life
to create a greater force
even than these=
P Stand either Gust 'ithin or 3eyond the first circle peri9eter=
P Walk deosil round the circle/ sprinkling the circle line/ physical or envisaged/ 'ith your salt 'ater=
$n for9al rituals/ the 2igh Priestess consecrates the salt and the 2igh Priest the 'ater and they 9ingle
the9= &he 2igh Priestess then creates the first circle and the 2igh Priest the second=
Casting A &riple Circle
&hree is a sacred nu93er in 9agick and for special cere9onies you can create a triple circle of 3oth
po'er and protection= &he nu93er three represents the three aspects of the god figure in 9any
religions: the 2oly &rinity/ the &riple Goddess/ the three aspects of the Moon %9aiden/ 9other and
'ise 'o9an or crone % the trefoil or triple god of the Celts/ and the even older Egyptian trinity of $sis/
)siris and 2orus/ the young Sky God= &his triplicity is still cele3rated 'hen 'e turn our 9oney over
and 3o' three ti9es to the Moon for good luck=
P Create your first t'o circles of light and salt 'ater=
P +eturn to the place 'here you 3egan=
P Place the 3o'l on the altar and light your incenseH you can either light a stick in a secure holder or
sprinkle incense on a charcoal 3lock 3urning 'ithin the censer=
P Make your final circle 'ith incense/ Gust 3eyond the lines of salt and 'ater=
&here are other variations of this/ including creating your outer circle of light 3y 'alking 'ith your
candle in a 3road%3ased holder/ follo'ed 3y the salt 'ater and the incense=
:ncasting &he Circle
When you have co9pleted your spells or rituals/ you should close the circle= &his is done 3y si9ply
reversing the casting process=
P &hank the Guardians and send the light of the ele9ental candles to 'hoever needs it=
P E;tinguish the ele9ental candles in reverse order of lighting= <isualise the light fading and say/
together 'ith any present:
?et the circle 3e uncast 3ut re9ain un3roken= Merry 9eet and 9erry part and 9erry 9eet again=
P ?eave the altar candles to 3urn do'n=
Preparing 8our Mind or Magick
As 'ell as preparing the physical area for 9agick/ you also need to prepare your 9ental state=
$t is universally agreed that 'e have t'o he9ispheres of the 3rain %the left/ logical/ and the right/
intuitive/ side % and that generally in the everyday 'orld the left 3rain predo9inates= &his 9ay 3e no
3ad thingH after all/ 3uying golden sunflo'ers and oils pressed fro9 fragrant her3s 9ay lift the spirits/
3ut they 'ill do little for us if 'e are so disorganised that 'e fail to re9e93er the cereal and cat food %
and the yo'ls of hungry children and cats ringing through the early 9orning air are not conducive to
rela;ation=
&hese de9arcations 'ithin the 9ind have not al'ays 3een so clear= Kulian Kaynes/ in his 3ook &he
)rigin of the Consciousness in the Breakdo'n of the Bicar9el Mind/ suggests that self%a'areness in
hu9ans has e;isted for only a3out ,/777 years= $n stating this/ he 'as defining self%a'areness as the
a'areness of our o'n separateness and our private thoughts=
&his state of 9ind/ nor9al in adults/ is very different fro9 the 9ore pri9itive state of 9ind of s9all
children/ 'ho keep up a running co99entary on their actions= But young children are also incredi3ly
skilled at 9ind%hopping and reading the thoughts of others= &his is precisely 3ecause they do not have
the adult@s strong sense of the individual and private self=
$n so%called pri9itive societies/ the individual does not have the sa9e i9portance: it is the collective
responsi3ility that 9atters= So the rituals that are carried out to ensure the fertility of the crops and
ani9als and the co99unity are perfor9ed in a group=
$n a sense/ 9agick is a3out using the 3icar9el 9ind/ placing the 3rain@s right he9isphere in the
driving seat/ taking concentration/ focus and deter9ination fro9 the 9ore logical side as fuel and a
9ap/ and reconnecting our unified self 'ith the undifferentiated universe=
8ou can carry out 9agick a3solutely any'here as long as you are in a positive fra9e of 9ind= But
9any practitioners 3elieve that 3y entering an altered state of consciousness/ you re9ove all the
conscious 3locks and allo' the intuitive 3rain free access to the unconscious 9ind and 'ith it the
repository of hu9an and cos9ic 'isdo9= &his 3rings a3out a state of 9ind in 'hich energies can flo'
3et'een the di9ensions=
8ou are in your 9ost rela;ed state 'hen your 3rain is generating alpha 'aves= &hey oscillate a3out
ten ti9es per second (the range is eight to (, cycles per second! and are less co99on in our 9odern
stressful lives= But they are naturally generated/ for e;a9ple/ 'hen you daydrea9/ or sit 3y a fountain
and let the rushing 'ater fill your 9ind/ or gaAe into a candle fla9e/ or have a lavender% or rosescented
3ath= Co9pare these 'ith the traditional routine preparations of fasting and ritual 3athing of
practitioners of the craft and you 3egin to see 'hy these are i9portant=
$nvoking your protective angels to stand at the four corners of your 9agical circle/ perfor9ing the
rituals of preparing your 9agical tools and/ in 9ore for9al 9agick/ casting a circle % these are all
'ays of 9arking the li9its of the everyday 'orld and the entry into this 9agical space in 'hich all the
nor9al la's are suspended= &here are 9any 'ays of reaching this state/ techniFues to still inner
tur9oil and outer de9ands that 3lock the easy access to the deeper psychic states=
At ti9es 'hen you feel unhappy/ tense or an;ious/ you 9ay need tranFuillityH alternatively/ there 9ay
3e ti9es 'hen you need an infusion of po'er to 9eet a challenge/ restore confidence or gain energy
'hen all you feel like doing is sleeping=
Breathing in light and colours is a 9ethod of creating a cone or vorte; of po'er/ that can 3e released
as 9agical energy or healing po'er in the cos9os= $n addition/ 3y a3sor3ing the light of the Moon or
Sun you 9ay take in either tranFuillity or energies for those 9o9ents 'hen you are particularly in
need= Perhaps you 'ill find yourself in an artificially lit 3uilding/ cra99ed on a co99uter train or
rushing to get the children to school and go to 'ork= At such ti9es you 9ay feel like one of the hags
fro9 Mac3eth/ ready to turn the entire carriage of co99uters into toads % that@s 'hen good 9agick is
'hat you need=
A Moon Magick +itual or Cal9
P Wait until the Moon is 9oving to'ards full/ and is Fuite 3right in the sky=
P ind so9e'here as dark as possi3le so the light is undiluted and slo'ly @inhale@ the light through
your nose/ looking at the Moon and dra'ing its light to'ards you=
P 2old your Moon 3reath for a count of @)ne and t'o and three@= +e9e93er to say the @ands@ to stop
yourself rushing % this is rela;ing/ not a race=
P Close your eyes and e;hale the darkness of your panic/ frustration or unhappiness=
P Continue alternately inhaling 'ith your eyes open and e;haling 'ith your eyes closed until you feel
that you are filled 'ith silver light=
P #o' gently e;hale a little of that light in a single 3reath/ this ti9e 'ith your eyes open/ directing it
in your vision to'ards so9eone you kno' 'ho is also feeling stressed or an;ious=
P $nhale 9ore 9oonlight and continue to e;hale/ still 'ith your eyes open/ continuing to direct the
healing light=
P ?et the Moon shine into a silver or crystal 3o'l of 'ater= Before 3edti9e/ tip the 'ater into your
3ath so you can a3sor3 the Moon energies through your pores=
Whenever you feel stressed/ visualise the Moon/ close your eyes and gently inhaleH peace 'ill co9e to
you 3ecause you gave it out to others=
8ou 'ill find 9ore detail on Moon 9agick in the chapter on Moon energies=
A Sun Magick +itual or Energy
Because it can 3e dangerous to look directly at the Sun/ catch your sunlight close to noon in a large
crystal or in 'ater in a 3rass dish=
P As 3efore/ @inhale@ the sunlight via the crystal or 'ater 'ith your eyes open= 2old the Sun 3reath/
counting @)ne and t'o and three@/ then close your eyes and e;hale the darkness of your dou3t/ anger or
lack of confidence= With practice/ this 'ill 3eco9e a single 9ove9ent=
P Continue until you are filled 'ith light and energy/ then e;hale a Sun 3reath/ directing it to so9eone
'ho is e;hausted/ frightened or ill=
P $nhale the Sun and again e;hale it to'ards a person or people in need=
P +inse your face in the Sun 'ater/ then tip the rest into the ground to energise a plant=
Whenever you feel tired/ recall the Sun and inhale its light in your 9ind@s vision=
+epeat 3oth these intakes of po'er once every 9onth= $f you have a particularly stressful or
challenging ti9e/ hold a 9oonstone for your Moon energies in your po'er hand= 2old a sparkling
crystal FuartA for the Sun in the other (receptive! hand to 3oost the flo' as you visualise the natural
sources= $n this 'ay/ you can 3alance the energies in 3oth spheres of the 3rain for integrated 9ind and
soul flo'=
- % Gods and Goddesses
&he Mechanics )f Witchcraft
Magick takes place at 'hat &S Eliot in &he our Quartets called the @still point of the turning 'orld@/
that 9o9ent of ti9elessness that ena3les thought to 3e turned into reality on the 9aterial plane=
$t operates on the principle As a3ove/ so 3elo'@= &his phrase co9es fro9 the 3eginning of &he
E9erald &a3let/ attri3uted to 2er9es &ris9esgistos (thrice%3lessed 2er9es!/ thought to 3e a po'erful
first%century Egyptian sorcerer 'ho 3eca9e 'orshipped as a god after his death=
&his ta3let is said to contain all 9agical kno'ledge as 'ell as the principles of alche9y/ and states
that hu9an action and events reflect 'hat occurs in the heavens= And so 3y releasing 9agical
intentions into the cos9os/ as $ said earlier/ they 'ill 3e reflected 3ack as actuality=
Since ti9e i99e9orial/ hu9ans have called upon the po'er of higher 3eings to help the9/ 'hether it
3e to deliver the9 fro9 ene9ies/ to 3ring rain for their crops or to cure their children@s illnesses=
Every religion and every culture 3elieves in a divinity of so9e sort/ 'hether it 3e god/ goddess or
spirit/ good or evil=
Evocations 'ere perfor9ed 3y 9edieval practitioners of 9agick to su99on up angels (and
so9eti9es de9ons! and 3ind the9 to perfor9 tasks/ rather like the Middle Eastern dGinn/ or genie/
'ho/ in faerie tales/ 'ould appear fro9 a 9agick la9p or corked 3ottle and grant 'ishes= $ncense
'ould 3e used to give su3stance to the etheric for9 of the angel or de9on concerned= (Mode9
9agick tends to 3e a little 'ary of calling up spirits/ ho'ever/ 'hose 9alevolent energies 9ay cause
har9=!
$n contrast/ invocations 'ere used to endo' the practitioner 'ith the po'er to carry out 9agical
purposes through a for9 of possession/ 'ith the angel or god acting directly fro9 'ithin the
practitioner@s 3ody=
Ele9entals have also 3een associated for hundreds of years 'ith 9ore for9al 9agical traditions=
Ele9entals/ rather than having a per9anent for9 the9selves/ are the forces or energies that give
shape to living things= &hey also 3ring thoughts and desires into actuality/ invoked 3y sy93ols=
&hus 9edieval occultists sought 9astery over the ele9ental 3eings that they fashioned 3y their
incantations= So9eti9es/ if practitioners used the ele9ental forces for negative purposes/ they 'ould
create a tulpa/ or thought for9/ that 3eca9e an ele9ental de9on= &his 'as hard to 3anish/ even
though the 9agicians 'orked 'ithin a sFuare enclosed 3y t'o 9agick circles %hence the origins of
'arnings a3out 9agical effects co9ing 3ack threefold=
&he Goddess And &he 2orned God $n Wicca
#either evocation nor invocation is part of 9odern 'itchcraft/ ho'ever/ and 'hite 'itches do not
recognise any de9onic figures in their religion= When 'e refer to the Goddess and her son%consort/
the 2orned God of Wicca/ 'e are referring to the archetype or source energies of the fe9inine and
9asculine aspects of ulti9ate po'er= &hey are the creative fe9ale and 9ale principles/ acting not in
opposition to each other 3ut as co9ple9entary and necessary parts of a 'hole= All the na9ed
goddesses and gods in 'itchcraft represent the different Fualities of these supre9e for9s/ for e;a9ple
the goddesses of the hunt/ or specific for9s in different cultures=
&here are/ of course/ variations 'ithin WiccaH so9e traditions e9phasise the i9portance of the
Goddess/ 'hile others regard the 2orned God as her eFual/ 'ith each assu9ing different aspects
according to the season and ritual= or e;a9ple/ the Goddess 9ay appear as the Earth or Moon deity/
and her 9ale counterpart as the Corn God or the Sun=
+eaching Gods And Goddesses $n &rance
Modern Wiccans call into the9selves the energies of the Goddess to a9plify their o'n innate divine
spark and at ti9es 9ay 'ork in a deep trance/ uttering 'ords of prophecy or profound teaching= &his
is said to increase the po'er entering the 3ody/ like turning up the current fro9 a po'er source= But
until you have practised 9agick for 9any years/ $ 'ould advocate 'orking only in light trance and
then only in the controlled situation of a very spiritual group= 8ou can think of this as opening a
channel 3et'een your o'n higher energies and the Goddess or po'ers of light=
$ said Gust no' that the po'er of a trance can 3e co9pared to an electric current= &he analogy can 3e
taken further: Gust as sending a sudden surge of electricity can cause a po'er failure/ deli3erately
inducing a deep trance can 3e dangerous= &hose 'ho use drugs to induce such e;periences are/ in 9y
opinion/ playing 'ith fire and 9ay in fact 3e 3locking their innate 'isdo9 in return for an artificial
9ind%3ending e;perience=
Most people Fuite rightly shy a'ay fro9 the idea of possession 3y a force/ ho'ever 3enign/ preferring
to 'ork 'ith the energies indirectly % and this is 'hat $ 3elieve is safest and 9ost effective= or even if
you are 'orking 'ith an e;perienced group in healing 9agick and do 'ant to allo' po'er of light or
the Goddess to 9anifest in you directly/ it is pretty heady stuff= So go cautiously/ 'ork only in the
9ost positive of 9inds for the good of all/ and for trance 'ork have other e;perienced 'itches or
9ediu9s to guide you and help you to centre=
&he gods the9selves can offer protection 'hen you are perfor9ing rituals= $n for9al 9agick/ the
Guardians/ or >evic ?ords of the Watchto'er/ are invited to guard the four directions of a 9agical
circle= &he ter9 deva in Sanskrit 9eans @shining one@/ and the >evas represent the higher for9s/ akin
to angels/ 'ho 'atch and direct the natural 'orld=
&hey co99unicate 'ith people 3y psychic @chanelling@ and rule over the 3eings associated 'ith the
four ele9ents/ ire/ Air/ Water and Earth= $n less for9al practices/ either archangels or pillars of light
9ay 3e visualised in the corners of the roo9 to offer protection at a ti9e 'hen a person is opening
then%psyche to the cos9os/ to keep out all negativity/ earthly or other'ise= But the greatest protection
is a pure heart and pure intent/ 9uch harder to attain than learning any co9ple; ritual=
&he Goddess as ocus
Many 3eliefs e9phasise the polarity of the fe9ale"9ale/ Goddess"god and ani9a"ani9us energies=
&he 3ringing together of these t'o po'ers/ the Sacred Marriage that is cele3rated sy93olically in the
Great +ite of the union of Earth and Sky/ is a ritual that per9eates all cultures=
$n Egyptian 9ythology/ $sis/ the sister%'ife of )siris/ sought and reasse93led his 3ody after his
9urder and dis9e93er9ent 3y his 3rother Seth= $n this connection/ she took on the role of the
goddess of re3irth/ the Bone Goddess/ and restored hi9 in a 9ore evolved for9= &he annual
cele3rations of this event coincided 'ith the rising of the dog star/ Sirius/ 'hich heralded the flooding
of the #ile and the restoration of fertility to the land and sy93olically to the people=
As the Sky Gods gained supre9acy/ they 9arried the Earth Goddesses 'ho slo'ly evolved into
patronesses of 'o9en/ 9arriage and child3irth= So/ for e;a9ple/ )din the #orse All%ather 9arried
rigg/ goddess of 'o9en/ 9arriage and 9otherhood=
But in 'itchcraft/ though the Sky athers and their 'ives are used for the focus of specific rites/ the
Goddess retains the earlier for9 as the creative principle= As the &riple Goddess % 9aiden/ 9other and
'ise 'o9an or crone % she is freFuently central to coven 'ork=
Generally in 9agick the Goddess is recognised as the pri9e 9over of e;istence/ 3ringing forth fro9
herself in the first virgin 3irth the ani9us/ or 9ale/ principle= or this reason/ it is often the 2igh
Priestess 'ho casts the circle/ though in so9e covens the Goddess rules over the spring and su99er
and the 2orned God over the autu9n and 'inter=
)ther Gods And Goddesses
&here is a vast selection of gods and goddesses fro9 9any different cultures that you 9ay choose to
for9 a focus for particular energies in rituals= $ have given a list of these later in this chapter/ 3ut $
have not given 9uch detailed description/ as it is i9portant 'e create our o'n deity i9ages= &here are
9any e;cellent sites on the $nternet/ illustrated 'ith paintings and statues of the deities/ 'here you can
read their 9ythical stories=
Because the deities co9e fro9 so 9any cultures and ti9es/ it is i9portant to invoke only the positive
Fualities you need and to re9e93er that so9e did reflect dark as 'ell as 3enign aspects of divinity=
or e;a9ple/ >iana/ the goddess of the Moon and the hunt/ is thought 3y 9ost to 3e a sy9pathetic
soulH 3ut you 9ight 3e surprised to learn that she 'ould/ according to 9yth/ have her reGected lovers
torn apart 3y her hounds= So/ 'hen setting up your icons/ read a3out the9 first/ and decide 'hich are
the attri3utes that 'ill assist your 9agical 'orkings= So9e deities fit into 9ore than one category/ so $
have listed the9 under their 9ost significant one=
>eities )f ?ove And Passion
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Cretan and Greek goddess of love and 3eauty= 2er na9e 9eans @3orn fro9 the foa9@=
She can 3e invoked for the gentle attraction of ne' love as 'ell as for se;uality and passion (hence
the ter9 @aphrodisiac@!= Aphrodite is especially potent in candle and 9irror spells/ ro9ance and for
love rituals involving the sea=
Arte9is
Arte9is is the t'in sister of Apollo/ the young Greek Sun God/ and is goddess of chastity/ virginity/
the hunt/ the Moon and nature= Although a virgin goddess/ she also presides over child3irth= Because
of her connection 'ith the hunt/ she is altogether a 9ore active goddess than Aphrodite if you are
seeking love or/ perhaps/ trying to encourage a reluctant lover of either se; or 'in love under difficult
circu9stances= She is perfect for outdoor love spells and for casting your love net 'ide to attract an as
yet unkno'n lover=
reyGa
reyGa is the <iking goddess of love and se;uality and can 3e invoked for rituals to increase
confidence in inner 3eauty and 'orth/ for the increase of passion and for fertility in every aspect= A
'itch goddess/ she is potent for all 9agick/ especially astral proGection and crystal and ge9 9agick=
<enus
<enus/ the goddess of love/ is the +o9an for9 of Aphrodite and 3y her liaison 'ith Mercury gave
3irth to Cupid= Although she had 9any lovers/ she 'as the goddess of chastity in 'o9en and is a
Goy3ringer/
and so represents not only se;ual pleasure/ 3ut also innocent love and especially love in the
springti9e= 2er planetary associations 9ean she is the focus in all kinds of love rituals= As the
evening star/ <enus takes on a 'arrior aspect and so can 3e invoked in fighting for one@s lover or
tough love in relationships=
>eities or Po'er
&hese deities 9ay 3e invoked for strength/ success/ energy/ inspiration and increase=
Apollo
Apollo/ the Greek Sun God/ 'as t'in 3rother of Arte9is/ the Moon Goddess= As god of the solar
light/ Apollo 9ade the fruits of the Earth ripen/ and at >elos and >elphi 'here he sle' Python/ the
first crops 'ere dedicated to hi9=
(Python/ the great lightning serpent/ 'as the son%consort of the Mother Goddess in her for9 of
>elphyne/ the Wo93 of Creation/ fertilised 3y Python= Python in this sense predated all other gods
and 'as later called the >ark Sun/ Apollo@s alter ego= &he Ancient Greeks rededicated his shrine to
Apollo=!
Apollo 'as god of prophecy as 'ell as 9usic/ poetry/ archery/ healing and divination= 2e is very
strongly ani9us and is good for all rituals of po'er/ a93ition and inspiration/ as 'ell as those areas
under his patronage= Men tend to 'ork 3etter 'ith hi9 than 'o9en=
Aine
Aine is daughter of Manananann/ Celtic Sea God and ruler of the $sle of Man and goddess of the
cycles of the solar and lunar year= Even during the t'entieth century/ she 'as re9e93ered on the 2ill
of Aine in $reland/ 3y torchlight processions and 3urning stra' at 9idsu99er and also at the old corn
harvest/ ?ughnassadh/ at the 3eginning of August= She is also linked 'ith love/ fertility and healing=
A9a%terasu )9ika9i
A9a%terasu )9ika9i is the Ancient Kapanese Sun Goddess= 2er na9e 9eans @Great August Spirit
Shining in 2eaven@ 3ut she is also called Shin9et/ @>ivine +adiance@ and )%hiru%9e%no%9uchi/ @Great
e9ale Possessor of #oon@=
She is good for fe9ale%focused Sun rituals and for cere9onial 9agick=
2elios
&he Greek god 2elios/ kno'n to the +o9ans as Sol/ 'as regarded as the Sun itself= 2e ascended the
heavens in a chariot dra'n 3y 'inged sno'%'hite horses to give light and in the evening descended
into the ocean= 2o9er 'rote:
@>ra'n in his s'ift chariot/ he sheds light on gods and 9en alikeH the for9ida3le flash of his eyes
pierces his golden hel9et/ sparkling rays glint fro9 his 3reast and his 3rilliant hel9et gives forth a
daAAling splendour= 2is 3ody is draped in shining gauAe/ 'hipped 3y the 'ind=@
2e is especially associated 'ith the life force and rene'ing health and energy=
2orus
2orus 'as the Ancient Egyptian Sky God/ represented as a falcon or a falcon%headed 9an= 2is eyes
'ere the Sun and Moon and his 'ings could e;tend across the entire heavens= 2e 'as freFuently
associated 'ith the 9orning aspect of +a/ the Sun God/ and 'orshipped as +e%2arakhte= &he son of
$sis and )siris/ he is often depicted as an infant on his 9other@s lap and together the parents and child
for9 a trinity=
2orus 3rings clarity of 9ind and purpose and the a3ility to seiAe upon an opportunity/ and is effective
for uncovering secrets/ deception and illusion=
?ugh
?ugh/ the Celtic @shining one@/ 'ho gives his na9e to ?ughnassadh/ Celtic festival of the first harvest/
'as the young solar deity 'ho replaced the >agda/ father of the gods/ as supre9e king= 2e 'as
associated 'ith sacrifice/ as the Sun Iing 'ho 'as re3orn each year at either the 9id%'inter solstice
or the spring eFuino;=
?egend has it that 'hen ?ugh arrived to Goin the &uatha de >anaan/ he 'ent to the palace of &ara and
asked for a position in the court= (&he &uatha de >anaan 'ere the ancient $rish gods and goddesses/
literally @the tri3e of >anu@/ 'ho 'as the creatri; goddess=! 2e said he 'as a carpenter/ 3ut 'as told
that the co9pany of gods already had one=
?ugh then declared he 'as a s9ith 3ut again 'as told that the deities possessed such a crafts9an= 2e
then announced that he 'as a poet/ then in turn a 'arrior/ historian/ hero and sorcerer= Each position
'as filled= ?ugh then de9anded 'hether any one person could perfor9 all these tasks as he could= As
a result/ he 'as ad9itted to the &uatha de >anaan and eventually 3eca9e their leader=
8ou can invoke ?ugh especially at the ti9e of ?ughnassadh/ for the reaping of 3enefits so'n earlier
in the year/ 3ut also at any ti9e for adapta3ility/ versatility/ innovation and originality=
>eities )f &he Moon
$nvoke these for gentle increase/ po'er and 3anishing energies/ fertility/ intuition/ 9agick and drea9s=
Arianrhod
Arianrhod is a Welsh goddess of the full 9oon and also of ti9e/ kar9a and destiny= She ruled over the
real9 of the Celtic )ther'orld/ called Caer edd'idd/ the ort of Carousa= 2ere a 9ystical fountain
of 'ine offered eternal health and youth for those 'ho chose to spend their i99ortality in the
)ther'orld= She 3rings inspiration/ rene'al/ health and reGuvenation/ and is a focus for all 9agick/ as
she is a 'itch goddess=
>iana
>iana is the +o9an counterpart of Arte9is/ and 3ecause of her strong association 'ith the Moon in
all its phases/ is a goddess of fertility as 'ell as love= ?ike Arte9is/ she is goddess of the hunt and a
virgin goddess/ 3ut can 3e invoked in her role as an Earth goddess and as protector of 'o9en in
child3irth= 2er 3eauty and hunting skills 9ake her a perfect focus for the pursuit of love/ especially
fro9 afar=
Myesyats
?ike the lunar goddesses/ Myesyats/ the Slavic Moon God/ represented the three stages of the life
cycle= 2e 'as first 'orshipped as a young 9an until he reached 9aturity at the full 9oon= With the
'aning phase/ Myesyats passed through old age and died 'ith the old 9oon/ 3eing re3orn three days
later= As he 'as the restorer of life and health/ parents 'ould pray to hi9 to take a'ay their children@s
illnesses and fa9ily sorro's= )ther sources have a fe9ale version/ Myesytsa/ a lovely Moon 9aiden
'ho 'as the consort of >aAh3og the Sun God/ and 3eca9e 9other of the stars=
Myesyats 3rings healing and fa9ily har9ony=
Selene
Selene is the Greek goddess specially associated 'ith the full 9oon/ so9eti9es for9ing a triplicity
'ith >iana and 2ecate/ the t'in sister of 2elios the Sun God= Selene rises fro9 the sea in her chariot
dra'n 3y 'hite horses at night and rides high in the sky in her full 9oon=
At the ti9e of the full 9oon/ she is invoked 3y 'o9en for fertility and 3y all 'ho seek the po'er of
intuition and inspiration=
Mother Goddesses
Mother Goddesses are for fertility/ a3undance of all kinds/ fe9ale po'er and all rituals for 'o9en=
Astarte
Astarte is the supre9e fe9ale divinity of the Phoenicians/ goddess of love and fertility/ associated
'ith the Moon and all nature=
$nvoke her for po'er and 'isdo9/ seduction and passion as 'ell as fertility=
Cerrid'en
Cerrid'en is the Welsh Mother Goddess/ the keeper of the cauldron and goddess of inspiration/
kno'ledge and 'isdo9= She is a natural focus for rituals involving all creative ventures and for
increased spiritual and psychic a'areness= $nvoke her for divination and especially scrying and for all
rituals of increase=
Ceres
Ceres is the +o9an goddess of the grain and all food plants= 2er daughter Proserpina 'as taken into
the :nder'orld for three 9onths of the year 3y Pluto/ causing Ceres to 9ourn and the crops to die=
&his 'as the origin of 'inter=
&hrough this/ she is seen as goddess of fertility and a3undance/ as 'ell as a deity of the natural cycles
of the year= She represents loss and is a focus for rites concerning grief and 9ourning/ 'ith the hope
of ne' Goy ahead for 'o9en and especially for 9others= 2er Greek counterpart is >e9eter=
>e9eter
>e9eter/ the Greek Corn Goddess or Barley Mother/ 'as the archetypal sy93ol of the fertility of the
land= >e9eter is often pictured as rosy%cheeked/ carrying a hoe or sickle and surrounded 3y 3askets of
apples/ sheaves of corn/ garlands of flo'ers and grapes=
?ike Ceres/ she 9ourns for her lost daughter Persephone for three 9onths of the year and so is
another icon for those 'ho are feeling sorro' or loss and for 9aternal sacrifice= But she can 3e
invoked for all 9atters of a3undance/ for reaping the 3enefits of earlier 'ork or effort/ for all
9othering rituals and as a protectress of ani9als=
$nnana
$nnana 'as a Su9erian goddess/ kno'n as the Queen of 2eaven/ 'ho evolved into the Ba3ylonian
goddess $shtar= $nnana 'as goddess of 3eauty/ a3undance/ fertility and passion/ fa9ed for her
loveliness and her lapis laAuli necklaces= She 'as the first goddess of the 9orning and evening stars/ a
legacy that has passed to Aphrodite and <enus=
?ike 9any of the Mother Goddess icons/ she descended into the :nder'orld annually to face and
overco9e 9any trials/ to 3ring 3ack to life her shepherd god consort >u9uAi=
$shtar
$shtar/ the Ba3ylonian version of $nnana/ also descended into the :nder'orld each year to restore her
consort &a99uA to life= She 'as a fierce goddess of 'eapons and 'ar= $n Ancient Ba3ylon/ a sacred
9arriage took place each year 3et'een &a99uA and $shtar= &his 'as cele3rated at the festival of
Akitu/ or 0ag%Mug/ 'hich 9arked the rising of the 'aters of the &igris and the Euphrates and the
co9ing of the spring rains/ to 3ring fertility/ at the spring eFuino;=
?ike $nnana/ she is a goddess of fertility/ restoration/ rene'al/ 3irth and the life cyclesH she also
represents po'er 'ith responsi3ility and necessary sacrifice for future gain/ 3ut a3ove all
transfor9ation=
$sis
&he Egyptian goddess $sis is the 9ost po'erful and freFuently invoked goddess in for9al 9agick=
She is 9other/ healer and the faithful 'ife 'ho annually restored her consort )siris to life/ thus
9agically causing the #ile to flood and fertility to return to the land= She is the patroness of 9agick
and spell%casting/ having tricked +a the Sun God into giving her his secrets= So9e accounts say she
'as taught 3y &hoth/ god of 'isdo9 and learning=
2er cult spread throughout the +o9an E9pire and she re9ained in Mediterranean lands in her guise
as the Black Madonna/ holding her infant son 2orus/ until the Middle Ages= She is so9eti9es
represented as a vulture/ in 'hich for9 she appears on a9ulets (protective char9s! 'ith an ankh/ the
sy93ol for life/ engraved on each talon= $sis de9onstrated the po'er of 9aternal protection 'hen she
hid 2orus in the 9arshes fro9 his evil uncle 'ho 'ould have destroyed hi9=
>eities )f Marriage
&hese deities can 3e invoked in rituals concerning the fa9ily and the ho9e=
rigg
rigg 'as the <iking Mother Goddess 'hose Ge'elled spinning 'heel for9ed )rion@s 3eltH as
patroness of 9arriage/ 'o9en/ 9others and fa9ilies/ she can 3e invoked for all rituals concerned 'ith
fa9ilies and do9estic happiness= She invited devoted hus3ands and 'ives to her hall after death so
that they 9ight never 3e parted again and so is goddess of fidelity=
As )stara/ goddess of spring/ she 'as kno'n a9ong the Anglo%Sa;ons and is re9e93ered in the
festival of Easter as a fertility goddess and 3ringer of ne' 3eginnings=
$n her role as <alfreya/ the ?ady of the Battlefield/ rigg recalls the #orthern tradition of 'arrior
goddesses and offers courage to 'o9en=
2era
2era/ the 'ife%sister of 0eus/ is a the supre9e Greek goddess of protection/ 9arriage and child3irth
'hose sacred 3ird is the peacock= She is a po'erful deity of fidelity and is called upon 3y 'o9en
seeking revenge upon unfaithful partners=
2estia
2estia is the Greek goddess of the hearth and ho9e/ all fa9ily 9atters and peace 'ithin the ho9e=
She is a 3enign/ gentle goddess and so can 3e invoked for 9atters involving children and pets=
Kuno
Kuno/ the 'ife%sister of Kupiter/ is the +o9an Fueen of the gods/ the protectress of 'o9en/ 9arriage
and child3irth and also 'ise counsellor=
&ogether 'ith Kupiter and Minerva/ the goddess of 'isdo9/ she 9ade up the triu9virate of deities
'ho 9ade decisions a3out hu9ankind and especially +o9an affairs= 2er 9onth/ Kune/ is 9ost
fortunate for 9arriage and/ like 2era/ her Greek eFuivalent/ her sacred creature is the peacock= She is
invoked in se; 9agick as 'ell as for all 9atters concerning 9arriage/ children/ fidelity and 'ise
counsel=
Parvati
Parvati is the 3enign and gentle 2indu Mother Goddess/ consort of the god Shiva and the goddess
daughter of the 2i9alayas= 2er na9e 9eans @9ountain@ and she is associated 'ith all 9ountains= She
and Shiva are often pictured as a fa9ily in the 2i9alayas 'ith their sons Ganesh/ god of 'isdo9 and
learning/ and si;%headed Skanda/ the 'arrior god= She is invoked for all fa9ily 9atters and those
concerning children and 3y 'o9en in distress=
<esta
<esta is the +o9an goddess of do9esticity and of the sacred hearth at 'hich dead and living 'ere
'elco9ed= &he <estal <irgins of +o9e kept alight the sacred fla9e in <esta@s te9ple and this 'as
rekindled at the #e' 8ear/ as 'ere household fla9es= <esta can 3e invoked in rituals centred around
the ele9ent ire=
ather Gods
&he ather Gods represent authority/ channelled po'er/ 3enevolence and altruis9/ no3ility of
purpose/ e;pansion and li9itless potential=
>agda
>agda/ the ather God in the Celtic tradition/ 'as also called Eochaid )llathair (ather of All! and
+uadh +ofessa (the +ed )ne of Ino'ledge!= 2e 'as the first Iing of the &uatha de >anaan/ the $rish
gods/ and it 'as 3elieved that he perfor9ed 9iracles and sa' to the 'eather and the harvest=
>agda 'as lord of life and death and the pri9ary god of fertility= With his huge clu3/ he 9ade the
3ones of his people@s ene9ies @fall like hail 3eneath the horses@= With one end of the clu3/ it 'as said/
he could kill nine 9en 'ith a single 3lo' and 'ith the other could instantly restore the9 to life=
2is great cauldron 'as handed on to his daughter Brighid (Cerrid'en in the Welsh tradition!= $n so9e
legends/ >agda is associated 'ith Balor/ the Sun deity of the or9oiri/ ene9ies of the gods/ 'ho 'as
slain 3y ?ugh/ the young solar god/ at the Battle of Moytura/ thus representing the ascent of the ne'
Sun=
&he death of the old order/ as a necessary reFuire9ent for the ne'/ is a central 9otif in spirituality and
so >agda can offer a focus for rites of passage 'here change is necessary/ 3ut not necessarily
'elco9ed=
)din
)din is the <iking ather God/ kno'n as the All%ather/ god of inspiration/ 'isdo9 and poetry as
'ell as 'ar= )din 'as desperate to acFuire the 'isdo9 and kno'ledge of the older order of giants= 2e
traded one of his eyes for 'isdo9 and o3tained the kno'ledge of the runes/ the ancient sy93ols of
spiritual kno'ledge/ 3y sacrificing hi9self on the World &ree=
)din can 3e invoked for 9agic and divination/ especially for casting runes/ for inspiration 'ith 'ords
and oratory/ for e;pansion of horiAons and for 9ale po'er 9agic= $f rigg is also invoked/ the
energies are 9ore 3alanced=
>eities )f Change
&hese deities 9ay 3e invoked in rituals involving not only change 3ut also good fortune=
)ya
)ya is the African goddess/ also kno'n as 8oru3a/ 'ho rules the 'inds and so controls the 'inds of
change= She oversees trading and the 9arketplace/ and 3rings good fortune to all honest traders and
those 'ho 'ork 'ith finance= She is very po'erful/ descri3ed as an A9aAonian 'arrior and life%giver
'ith do9inion over the stor9s= She can 3e invoked at ti9es of change and for all 9atters of
e9ploy9ent/ co99erce good fortune and taking control of one@s destiny=
A Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magick Spells=
?aksh9i
?aksh9i is the 2indu goddess of 'ealth/ 3eauty/ Goy/ pleasure and good fortune=
At >ivali/ the 2indu autu9n festival of light/ la9ps and candles are placed in 'indo's so that
?aksh9i 'ill look in and endo' prosperity upon the fa9ily= +angolis/ or coloured patterns/ are
painted on floors and 'alls to attract her= +ituals to invoke her usually involve candles and use gold or
Ge'ellery as a focus for her 3enevolence=
>eities )f Po'er
&hese gods and goddesses 3ring psychic self%defence/ protection/ righteous anger against inGustice/
also change/ regeneration and survival=
&hese deities are very po'erful and should only 3e invoked in their 9ost positive aspects for the
purpose of defending the 'eak and never for revenge or personal anger= E;perienced 'itches call on
the9 only rarely and 'ith the purest intent under the la' of threefold return= &he e;ception is Bellona/
'ho is a 3enevolent and effective focus for fe9ale po'er and courage=
Bellona
Bellona is the +o9an goddess of 'ar/ the fe9ale counterpart of Mars 'hose chariot she drove into
3attle= She is especially good for 'o9en@s assertiveness and self%confidence rituals= She carries a
s'ord and 'ears a hel9et=
Iali
Iali/ the dark side of the 2indu Mother Goddess/ ca9e into 3eing 'hen Shiva/ the hus3and of the
Mother Goddess Shakti/ taunted her for her dark skin= $n fury she carried out rituals until her skin
3eca9e golden inside= Shakti then shed her 3lack outer skin like a snake and it for9ed the avenging
destroying persona of Iali= Iali is depicted 'ith her four ar9s holding 'eapons and the heads of her
victi9s/ her tongue lolling out/ and covered in 3lood/ signifying her po'er over life and death= She is
often pictured dancing on Shiva 'hose 3ody she tra9pled on/ destroyed and then danced on once
9ore to restore hi9 to life=
Iali is invoked to re9ove fear and/ it is said/ to 3ring 3liss to her devotees/ and so she 3rings
protection and regeneration after sorro'=
Persephone
Persephone is the Greek 9aiden goddess of transfor9ation/ daughter of >e9eter and goddess of
spring and flo'ers= She 'as a3ducted 3y 2ades/ God of the :nder'orld/ and 3eca9e Queen of the
:nder'orld for the 'inter 9onths/ returning to the Earth as the light%3ringer in spring and so
representing the cycle of death and re3irth= She is especially po'erful in rituals 3y or for young
'o9en/ especially those 'ho have suffered loss or a3use/ and also for 9other%daughter relationships=
She is so9eti9es regarded as a sy93ol of grain=
Proserpina/ daughter of Ceres/ is the +o9an for9 of Persephone=
Sekh9et
Sekh9et is the Ancient Egyptian solar and lion goddess created fro9 the eye of +a= She is so9eti9es
pictured as a 'o9an 'ith a lion@s head and so is a good to evoke for courage/ righteous anger/
protection of the vulnera3le/ psychic protection and the correction of inGustice= As an avenging
goddess/ she should 3e used only as a focus for positive rituals/ for/ like fire/ her innate po'er can
3laAe out of control=
Shiva
Shiva/ or Siva/ is the 2indu god of 3oth creation and destruction/ good and evil/ fertility and
a3stinence= With <ishnu and Brah9a/ he for9s the trinity of the 9odern 2indu gods= 2e is the ?ord
of the >ance 'ho/ it is said/ 'ill one day 3ring a3out the destruction of the 'orld=
2is sy93ol is the phallus/ representing creative po'er/ and 9any 2indus regard his 3enevolent/
creative aspect as predo9inant= Shiva has three eyes/ represented 3y the Sun/ the Moon and ire= 2is
third eye allo's hi9 to see in'ards and also to destroy 'hatever it looks on= 2e 'as not one of the
original <edic deities 3ut 3eca9e one of the supre9e gods/ according to legend/ at the ti9e 'hen the
universe consisted only of 'ater=
<ishnu and Brah9a 'ere arguing a3out 'ho 'as the greatest god 'hen a great pillar of fla9e
appeared 3et'een the9= Shiva appeared fro9 'ithin the fla9ing pillar/ 'hich 'as sy93ol of his
9asculine po'er/ and the other gods 3o'ed 3efore hi9=
$nvoke Shiva for ani9us po'er/ potency/ survival and 9ale rituals=
Shakti
Shakti/ or Matahdevi/ is the fe9ale energy or po'er of Shiva= 2er na9e is also used for the 'ife of
any 2indu god= She is the Mother Goddess and/ like Shiva/ creator and destroyer in her different
aspects=
Shakti provides the energy that activates Shiva@s 9ale divine po'er/ and her life%giving force ani9ates
other gods in difficult tasks= Although there are several other 2indu fe9ale goddesses/ they all for9
aspects of Shakti and often their identities 9erge= )ne of Shakti@s for9s is as Parvati/ the gentle
9other= Shakti is potent for all rituals of 'o9en@s po'er/ especially 'hen they 9ust take the
initiative/ and she is easier to 'ork 'ith than Iali=
&riple Goddesses
&he &riple Goddesses are for lunar 9agic and 9oving fro9 one stage to another in the life cycle=
Brighid
Brighid/ the Celtic &riple Goddess/ is patroness of s9iths/ poets and healers and has the longest
enduring cult in $reland/ 'hich 9erged into that of the Christian St Bridget of Iildare= 2er na9e
9eans @high one@ and she is so9eti9es seen as three sisters/ daughters of the god >agda/ the >ivine
ather/ or as the triple%aspected 9aiden/ 9other and crone= She is invoked in fertility and healing
9agick and also for creativity/ especially involving the 'ritten 'ord= &here are a nu93er of sacred
'ells throughout England/ Wales and $reland dedicated to her or her Christian counterpart=
>eities )f &he Environ9ent
$nvoke these deities for rituals involving all aspects of the environ9ent and for healing the planet=
Gaia
Gaia is the all%e93racing and all%nourishing goddess of the Earth= $t is said that she supplies in her
3ounty all the necessary plants to cure any disease and/ in spite of hu9an pollution/ she constantly
heals and rene's the planet= She is also a goddess of 9arriage=
She is the natural focus for all green rituals=
&ellus Mater
&ellus Mater 'as the Earth Mother of the +o9ans/ the alter ego of Ceres/ the grain 9other/ and
guardian of the fertility of people/ ani9als and crops= 2o'ever/ &ellus Mater is also the 9other 'ho
receives the dead in her 'o93 to co9fort and restore and so/ like Gaia/ she is a e;cellent goddess for
all green 9agick and rituals for healing pollution or deforestation=
Wophe
Wophe/ or White Buffalo Calf Wo9an/ is the sacred creator 'o9an of the ?akotas and other peoples
of the A9erican Plains= ?egend says she fell fro9 a 9eteor and as she 3egan her Earth 'alk/ she 'as
discovered 3y t'o young ?akota scouts 'ho 'ere hunting for 3uffalo=
She 'ore a pure 'hite 3uckskin dress/ her long hair flo'ing 3ehind her like a sea of corn= She sang
into the souls of the 9en that each should act on his thoughts= Eagerly the first/ not recognising her
sacred nature/ hurried to'ards her and a 'hite 9ist covered the9= &he sound of rattlesnakes 'as
heard and 'hen the cloud lifted/ there 'ere only the 3ones of the young 9an= She told the other to
infor9 the elders of the tri3e that she 'ould co9e to the9 ne;t 9orning 'ith a great gift for the
people=
A huge ornate cere9onial tepee 'as erected and in the 9orning she entered/ carrying a special 3undle
on her 3ack and singing a holy song= &he 9en kept their eyes lo'ered 'hen she entered/ as she had
instructed= She unfastened the 3undle and took fro9 it the 3uffalo calf pipe/ 'hich is still the 9ost
sacred religious o3Gect of the ?akota today=
&he 'o9an instructed the 9en in ho' to s9oke the pipe/ 'hich in its s9oke sy93olised the visi3le
Spirit/ in the 3o'l Mother Earth and in the ste9 ather Sky/ so that it 9ight 3e used for prayer
offerings to her and for 3ringing peace to divided nations= )n her visits she also taught sacred
cere9onies for restoring 3alance and healing to 3oth Earth and people= She then set off to leave the
ca9p/ 'alking to'ards the West=
When she reached the outskirts/ she rolled over on the ground and 'as transfor9ed into a 3uffalo/
changing colours several ti9es= inally/ she changed into a 'hite 3uffalo calf/ rarest of the species/
pro9ising that 'hen she 'as seen again she 'ould restore har9ony to a trou3led 'orld= &he people
follo'ed her teachings/ the corn gre'/ the seasons continued to flo' in succession and they 'ere
hungry no 9ore/ as 3uffalo 3eca9e plentiful=
By the end of the nineteenth century/ ho'ever/ there 'ere in reality fe'er than *77 3uffalo left/ 'here
only years earlier it 'as esti9ated there had 3een several 9illion= $n the su99er of (66-/ a 'hite
3uffalo calf 'as 3orn in Ka9esville/ Wisconsin= As the prophecy had told/ the 'hite 3uffalo has
changed its colours since 3irth/ going fro9 'hite to 3lack to red to yello' and 3ack to 'hite= Since
each colour represents one of the four directions/ the 3uffalo is seen 3y 9any #ative A9ericans as a
sy93ol of the re3irth of hope= )ne visionary interpreted the 3irth of the 'hite 3uffalo calf as
signifying that the hu9an race 'ill 3e united/ in spite of differences in creed and colour/ and Goin
together in peace=
Wophe is therefore an i9portant sy93ol not only of the revival of the #ative A9erican 'isdo9/ 3ut
also of healing and reconciliation of all people and of the land and all its creatures=
>eities )f &he Male Principle
&hese deities are for the hunt/ instincts/ 'illing sacrifice and ecstasy=
Cernunnos
Cernunnos/ 9eaning @horned one@/ 'as a generic ter9 for the various 2orned Gods of the Celtic
tradition= &he god dates 3ack to the sha9anic figures portrayed on cave 'alls= Cernunnos 'as lord of
'inter/ the hunt/ ani9als/ death/ 9ale fertility and the :nder'orld/ and 'as so9eti9e portrayed as a
triple or trefoil god/ an i9age later assi9ilated 3y St Patrick 'ith his e93le9atic sha9rock=
)ther for9s of the 2orned God include 2erne the 2unter/ the Greek Pan/ god of the 'oodlands/ and
>ionysus/ Greek god of vegetation and the vine/ 'hose ecstatic 9ystery cult involved ritual
dis9e93er9ent and resurrection=
Cerunnos@ i9portance has 3een in his continuing presence as the 2orned God/ the 9ale principle in
'itchcraft through the ages/ in 9odern Wicca and other neo%pagan faiths= 2e is also invoked for
prosperity/ fertility/ instinctive po'er and kno'ledge of 'hen it is necessary to hunt/ 'hether to find
e9ploy9ent or a ho9e/ and as protection against predators of all kinds=
>ionysus
>ionysus/ so9eti9es depicted as a 2orned God/ 'as a god of the grain/ 'ho died and 'as re3orn
every year as a child in a 3asket/ representing the seed corn= 2e 'as the Greek god of fertility/ ecstasy
and 'ildness/ 'ho 3esto'ed great a3undance on his follo'ersH his cult perfor9ed savage rites at
Eleusius 'here hu9an flesh 'as eaten as the 3read of life= #ot an easy deity to use/ 'ithout great
e;perience and restraint/ as the e;cesses carried out under his na9e need to 3e kept in check 'hile
invoking the free spirit and the rene'al of life= 2e is potent for 3reaking a'ay fro9 destructive
situations or/ ironically/ 3ad ha3its such as alcohol=
)siris
)siris 3eca9e one of the 9ost i9portant and popular gods in Ancient Egypt/ 9ainly 3ecause he
pro9ised non%royal 3elievers that resurrection and salvation fro9 death 'ere for everyone/ poor as
'ell as rich= )riginally he 'as identified 'ith each dead pharaoh/ and his son 2orus 'as identified
'ith the reigning successor=
)siris 9arried his sister $sis/ and his 3rother Seth 9arried $sis@s sister #ephthys= According to legend/
)siris 'as at first 9ade an earthly king 3y his father Ge3/ the Earth God= )siris ruled 'isely/ teaching
his people a3out agriculture and the arts= But )siris@s 3rother Seth 'as Gealous and vo'ed to kill hi9=
Seth invited )siris to a feast and sho'ed the guests a fine coffer/ pro9ising that 'hoever fitted inside
'ould 3e the o'ner= )siris stepped inside the coffer and it fitted perfectly= Seth sla99ed the lid tight
and he and his follo'ers thre' the chest into the #ile=
$sis searched for her hus3and and at last discovered the chest at By3los on the Phoenician coast= She
3rought )siris@ 3ody 3ack to Egypt and conceived a son 3y her dead hus3and/ hiding herself in the
rushes of the 9arshes of the delta 'hile a'aiting the 3irth=
Seth discovered the 3ody of )siris/ hacked it into pieces and scattered the9 throughout Egypt so that
he could never 3e restored to life= But $sis searched once 9ore and/ assisted 3y #ephthys/ re9odelled
the 3ones into )siris@ for9 and restored her hus3and to life once 9ore=
When their son 2orus/ the Sky God/ 3eca9e a youth/ he fought to avenge his father against Seth= &he
divine Gudges/ including &hoth/ god of 'isdo9/ 9et in the Great 2all of Kudg9ent and decided that
)siris should 3eco9e not a living king once 9ore/ 3ut eternal Iing and Kudge of the :nder'orld=
)siris 'as also god of vegetation/ the fertile/ flooding #ile and the corn/ and so represented the annual
dying of the land and re3irth 'ith the flood= 2e is nor9ally pictured as a 9an/ 3ound in 9u99y
'rappings=
)siris is an i9portant icon of the annual cycle of sacrifice and resurrection 3ut/ as 'ith all the
sacrifice gods/ it is the fe9ale po'er that causes the resurrection= ?ike other sacrificed and restored
gods/ )siris there3y represents the integration of ani9us and ani9a and sacred se; 9agick= 2e can 3e
used in rituals for the 3alance of 9ale"fe9ale energies or 'here the fe9ale in the 2igh Priestess role
takes the lead= 2e is also good for any 9agick that relies on a cycle of regeneration follo'ing a
natural ending=
>eities of fire
Agni
Agni/ the 2indu god of fire/ is said to 3e 9anifest as the vital spark in 9ankind/ 3irds/ ani9als/ plants
and life itself= 2e appeared in lightning/ in celestial sun flares/ in the sacred 3laAe rising fro9 the altar
and in household fires=
Agni 'as the divine priest and acted as 9essenger to the gods/ interceding 'ith the9 on 3ehalf of
9ankind= &he priest 'ould chant:
@Agni/ the divine 9inistrant of the sacrifice/
the great 3esto'er of treasure=
May one o3tain through Agni/
'ealth and 'elfare=@
Agni is still i9portant as the god of do9estic and ritual fire and for spells for the increase of 'ealth/
9aterial goods/ creativity and do9estic protection=
2ephaestus
2ephaestus/ Greek god of fire and 9etal%'ork/ 'as thro'n fro9 Mount )ly9pus 3y his father 0eus
3ecause he took the part of his 9other 2era in a FuarrelH as a result of the fall/ he 3eca9e la9e= 2e
created ar9our/ 'eapons and Ge'els for the gods in his 'orkshop 3eneath the volcanic Mount Etna/ in
Sicily/ and as a re'ard 'as given Aphrodite as his un'illing 3ride= 2e 'as a9ong the least
charis9atic of the gods/ 3ut his +o9an counterpart/ <ulcan/ fashioned Kupiter@s thunder3olts=
2ephaestus is patron of 9etal%'orkers in 9uch of the Western 'orld and in the Middle East fro9
'here his cult originated= 2e is effective in all rituals for crafts9anship/ for the acFuisition of 'ealth
and treasures/ for the develop9ent of skills and precision and for controlled po'er for a particular
purpose=
>eities )f 2ealing
Aesculapius
Aesculapius 'as a healer/ son of Apollo and the 9ortal Corona/ 'ho lived during the eleventh century
BC/ and 3eca9e a god after 0eus killed hi9 'ith a thunder3olt for raising the dead=
&he first shrine dedicated to Aesculapius 'as 3uilt in Athens in the fifth century BC 3y Sophocles=
)ther shrines follo'ed in rapid succession/ the 9ost fa9ous at Epidaurus/ 'hich 3eca9e a 9aGor
healing centre= Many 'ere sited at sacred 'ells and springs= &hese shrines 'ere dedicated to healing
and drea9s/ and 'ere the principle vehicle for o3taining relief or cure of illness of all kinds=
When Aesculapius appeared to the drea9ers/ he 'ould tell the9 the 9edicine they should use and any
treat9ent that should 3e follo'ed= 2e can 3e invoked for healing and 9eaningful drea9s/ for good
health and for divination=
Ganga
Ganga is the 2indu 'ater goddess 'ho is 9anifest as the sacred river Ganges/ daughter of the
9ountain 2i9alaya= She is a natural focus for healing rituals/ as 'ell as for happiness/ fertility and
prosperity/ and for Water 9agick=
$duna
$duna is the <iking goddess of eternal youthfulness/ health and long life= As goddess of spring/ she
possessed a store of golden apples that endo'ed i99ortality/ fertility and healing and so she can for9
a focus for healing rituals/ and for spells for 3eauty/ health and the granting of 'ishes/ especially those
using apples as a sy93ol=
Panacea
Panacea is the +o9an goddess of healing/ 'ho takes a'ay pain= >aughter of Aesculapius/ she and her
sister 2ygeia assisted in healing the sick in their drea9s at the drea9 te9ples=
She is good for healing rituals for 'o9en/ children and especially teenage girls=
Sulis
Sulis/ or Sulevia/ is the Celtic goddess of healing and especially of healing 'aters= 2er na9e is
derived fro9 the Celtic 'ord for the Sun and her 9ost fa9ous site is the hot 9ineral springs that have
for at least (7/777 years poured fro9 the ground in Bath/ in south%'est England= ro9 Celtic ti9es/
perhaps even earlier/ the springs 3eca9e a for9al centre of healing=
Sulis 3eca9e Sulis Minerva under the +o9an occupation and she 9aintained her role as a healing
deity= &he significance of the sacred springs continued and Edgar/ the first king of England/ 'as
cro'ned there in A> 64,= $n 9edieval ti9es/ the springs 'ere still a focus for healing pilgri9ages and
in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Bath 3eca9e a fashiona3le resort 'here the 'ealthy 'ould
co9e to socialise and take the 'aters=
Sulis is potent for all healing 'ater rituals= Because curse ta3lets as 'ell as offerings have 3een
retrieved fro9 the 'aters/ she is also associated 'ith Gustice through kar9a and the 3anishing of
sorro's=
>eities of 'isdo9
As 'ell as 'isdo9/ these gods and goddesses are for kno'ledge/ truth and Gustice=
Athena
Athena/ or Athene/ daughter of 0eus/ is goddess of 'ise counsel/ 3oth in peace and 'ar/ of
intelligence/ reason/ negotiation and all for9s of the arts and literature= &he o'l is her sacred 3ird and
the olive her sy93ol representing peace/ healing and nourish9ent=
2athor
2athor is the Ancient Egyptian goddess of truth/ 'isdo9/ Goy/ love/ 9usic/ art and dance and
protectress of 'o9en= She is said to 3ring hus3ands or 'ives to those 'ho call on her and she is also a
po'erful fertility goddess= Also 'orshipped as a Sky Goddess/ 2athor is freFuently sho'n 'earing a
Sun disc held 3et'een the horns of a co' as a cro'n=
She 'as once entrusted 'ith the sacred eye of +a/ the Sun God and her consort/ through 'hich she
could see all things= She carried a shield that could reflect 3ack all things in their true light= ro9 her
shield she fashioned the first 9agical 9irror= )ne side 'as endo'ed 'ith the po'er of +a@s eye to see
everything/ no 9atter ho' distant in 9iles or ho' far into the future= &he other side sho'ed the gaAer
in his or her true light and only a 3rave person could look at it 'ithout flinching=
2athor can 3e invoked for all for9s of 9irror 9agic and is also associated 'ith gold and turFuoise
and so Ge'ellery 9ade of these can 3e a focus for her po'ers= $n the 9odern 'orld she is guardian of
3usiness'o9en= iercely protective in defence of her o'n/ she is especially potent against physical
and psychic attack=
Ma@at
Ma@at/ the Ancient Egyptian goddess of truth and Gustice/ 'as responsi3le for 9aintaining the correct
3alance and order in the universe= She 'as daughter of +a 'ho created her to esta3lish unity and order
in the 'orld= Ma@at is pictured as a 'o9an 'earing a single ostrich feather as a headdress=
She 'as all%po'erful/ even over the king/ 'ho had to rule 'ith truth and Gustice to attain eternal life=
After death/ a person@s heart 'as 'eighed on the scales of Gustice against the feather fro9 her
headdress to see if it 'as free fro9 sin= She can 3e invoked for all rituals of Gustice/ uncovering
secrets/ truth and trust'orthiness=
2er9es
2er9es is the Greek 9essenger god 'ho travelled 3et'een di9ensions= 2e is associated 'ith the 'ise
Ancient Egyptian god &hoth and the later +o9an Mercury= 2e is credited 'ith great kno'ledge/
healing po'ers and 9edical kno'ledge=
&he dou3le ent'ined snake of 2er9es@ and Mercury@s caduceus/ or 'and/ 'hich is often a living
gro'ing staff/ is a sy93ol 3oth of healing and of po'erful co99unication= &he snake for9s t'o
circles/ the interlinked cycles of good and evil/ life and death/ light and darkness= &he 'ings on the
caduceus are for 'isdo9/ guarding against gossip and 9alicious 'ords as 'ell as illness=
A9ong 2er9es@ 9any patronages 'ere 9oneylenders and thieves and so he can protect against
poverty and trickery/ as 'ell as helping you to speak the truth that is in your heart=
2er9es can also 3e invoked for all 9edical and co99ercial 9atters/ for good fortune of all kinds and
for peaceful sleep=
Minerva
Minerva is the +o9an goddess of 'isdo9/ 'ho ruled 'ith Kupiter and Kuno as the triu9virate of
Gustice and 'ise po'er= She also controlled co99erce and all crafts and is credited 'ith the invention
of 9usic= She is often depicted in ar9our=
Minerva/ 'hose creature is the o'l/ can 3e invoked in e9ploy9ent rituals and for the develop9ent of
skills/ retraining and 9usical a3ility as 'ell as for truth and Gustice= :nlike Bellona (see page 47! and
the 'arlike gods/ 3oth Athena and Minerva are used in rituals for using legal 9eans or oratory and
persuasion/ rather than direct action/ to overco9e inGustice=
&hoth
&hoth 'as the Ancient Egyptian god of the Moon/ 'isdo9 and learning= 2e 'as also god of ti9e/
languages/ la' and 9athe9atical calculations/ 'ho invented the calendar and hieroglyphic 'riting=
2e is often depicted 'ith the head of an i3is although he 'as 'orshipped as a 3a3oon in 2er9opolis=
Appeal to hi9 for all 9atters of 9agical 'isdo9/ learning/ intellectual pursuits/ e;a9inations and
3etter ti9e 9anage9ent=
Wise Wo9an >eities
&hese goddesses are for transfor9ation rituals/ for endings that 3eco9e 3eginnings and for accepting
'hat cannot 3e changed=
Cailleach
Cailleach/ 9eaning@ the <eiled )ne@/ is the Celtic na9e for a nu93er of hag goddesses= &hese are
po'erful crone goddesses/ 'ho have retained their early associations 'ith the 'inter= or e;a9ple/
the Scottish Cailleac Bhuer/ the Blue 2ag/ 9anifested herself as an old 'o9an 'earing 3lack or dark
3lue rags 'ith a cro' on her left shoulder and a holly staff that could kill a 9ortal 'ith a touch=
She roa9ed the 2ighlands 3y night during 'inter 'hen her po'er 'as at its greatest= Cailleac Bhuer
is credited 'ith creating the 9ountains 3y flying through the sky dropping stones/ and so is said 3y
so9e folklorists to 3e the origin of 9egaliths and stone circles and the nursery rhy9e/ &here 'as an
old 'o9an tossed up in a 3asket@=
2ags are e;pert shapeshifters and as 'ell as appearing as old 'o9en/ they 9ay assu9e the for9 of
lovely 9aidens/ hares/ cats/ stones and even trees=
2ecate
As 'ell as 3eing a crone goddess/ 2ecate is a goddess of good fortune/ especially 3ut not only of
sailors and hunters= As goddess of the crossroads/ 'here offerings 'ere traditionally left to call up her
3lessings/ she is regarded as the supre9e goddess of 'itches and 'itchcraft and is akin to the Bone
Goddess 'ho transfor9s death into ne' 9ore perfect life= She can 3e invoked for all 'aning 9oon
9agic and for rituals for 3anishing sorro's and 3ad ha3its=
Charges
Charges are declarations of the po'ers of the gods or godesses involved in the ritual/ and are in
the9selves e9po'ering and a 'ay of linking the practitioner@s o'n divine spark 'ith that represented
3y the >ivinity= &hey are si9ilar to creeds in a Christian religious service=
&he Charge of the Goddess
&he Charge of the Goddess is a po'erful 'ay of focusing on cos9ic energies= &he Goddess is
considered to 3e 3oth @transcendent@/ or a3ove and 3eyond the created universe (like the traditional
idea of God on a cloud/ looking do'n and Gudging creationL!/ and also @i99anent@/ or 9anifest 'ithin
every natural o3Gect/ 3e it flo'er/ stone/ ani9al or person= &he t'o concepts are co9ple9entary rather
than contradictory=
So9e practitioners feel that charges are an atte9pt to for9alise energies that are 3eyond definition
'ithin a 9ore conventional spiritual fra9e'ork and that they are therefore artificial and restricting= $f
you have not used the9 3efore/ $ suggest you try 'orking through the 9editation given later in this
chapter/ to see if it is right for you=
&he first and 9ost popular version of the Charge of the Goddess 'as created 3y Gerald Gardener@s
2igh Priestess >oreen <aliente/ herself one of the 9ost influential people in for9al 9agical
traditions= 2er version of the state9ent of the unifying principles of the Goddess is 'idely Fuoted and
often 9e9orised and so9eti9es adopted as a focus for trance 'ork= (See page ,77 for 3ooks
descri3ing her 'ork=!
2o'ever/ so9e practitioners/ 3oth solitary and those in less for9al groups/ create their o'n charges
and 9ay alter the9 as their confidence and e;perience of 9agick increase= 8ou can create your o'n
charge at the 3eginning of so9e rituals/ or use an e;isting one/ even if you do not ackno'ledge the
Goddess as central to your personal spirituality=
8ou 9ay vie' the divine force as a 9ore a3stract source of light and 'isdo9/ 3ut even so it can 3e
helpful to personify it as a fe9ale (ani9a! and at the sa9e ti9e 9ale (ani9us! for9= &hough the
<aliente charge includes na9es of deities of 3oth 9ale and fe9ale for9s/ unless these 9ean
so9ething to you/ you 9ay 'ant to e;clude the9 or use na9es to 'hich you personally relate=
8ou can refer 3ack to the 3eginning of this chapter/ 'here $ listed a nu93er of god and goddess
for9s/ co99on to 9agick and dra'n fro9 different cultures/ that e9phasise specific strengths or
Fualities of the >ivinity= 2o'ever/ your o'n list/ dra'n fro9 9ythology or perhaps your o'n
3ackground/ 9ay 'ork 3etter for you= &he follo'ing is a version $ have developed using three
goddess for9s fro9 the Celtic tradition/ 9y o'n favourite/ 'hich $ have adapted for the three phases
of the Goddess=
So spoke the Great Mother 'ho has 3een kno'n in 9any for9s and 3y 9any na9es in countless ages/
3ut is and al'ays 'ill 3e one and the sa9e= As the Maiden/ she is the Celtic Brighid 'ho in early
spring softens the Earth 'ith her 'hite 'and of fire and so a'akens the spring and restores fertility to
land and people= As Mother/ she is Cerrid'en 'hose 9agical cauldron of 'isdo9 and inspiration
overflo's to all 'ho seek and call in needH finally she is Cailleach/ the <eiled )ne/ 'ise 'o9an/
healer and 3ringer of drea9s/ 'ho in the 'inter of life transfor9s the old and out'orn into ne' life to
3e 3orn 'ith the Maiden in the spring=
@When the Moon is full/ you can call on 9e/ goddess/ 9other/ sister/ friend/ daughter and grand9other
of all ages and all places/ in Goy/ for $ 3ring love and plenty= 8ou 9ay also 3ring 9e your hopes 'ith
the 'a;ing 9oon and your sorro's on the 'ane/ for $ a9 'ith you in all states and stages/ 'hen you
call and 'hen you are silent/ 'hen you turn to 9e as an eager child and 'hen you 'eep solitary tears
in your pillo' 'hen your drea9s have dissolved into ashes=
@$ hold the key to the 9ysteries of e;istence and the universe/ 3ut these $ 'ill share 'ith all 'ho co9e
'ith 'illing heart and open 9ind= or they are not hidden fro9 you/ 3ut are all round you in every
season= $ a9 in the Moon as she passes through the sky/ in the fertile Earth and the 9ighty 'aters/ for
$ a9 the9 as $ a9 part of you/ and you of 9e/ and you too are of the sa9e divine fa3ric as the Moon
and the fertile Earth and the 'aters/ the stars/ the sunshine and the life%giving rain=
@$ do not ask sacrifice or 'orship/ for $ co9e to you in love as a gentle 9other/ 'ith co9passion/
understanding and forgiveness of those things in your heart that you fear to look on in yourself= $ a9
fierce/ defending 9y young and 9y green places and creatures fro9 all 'ho 'ould do the9 har9/ 3ut
$ 'ould rather teach than avenge/ restore and regenerate=
@$ a9 the great healer of sorro'/ pain/ loss and dou3t= &hrough 9e and through 9y her3s/ oils/ crystals
and sacred 'aters/ you can spread 9y healing 'isdo9=
As $ give life/ so in death all return to 9e to 3e transfor9ed/ rene'ed and 3orn again= $ 'as 'ith you
in the 3eginning and 'ill 3e 'ith you in the end=
@$f you 'ork 'ith honour/ love/ hu9ility and for the highest good/ then you 9ay realise your o'n
divinity and spread light and fertility throughout the Earth= or 'hat you give/ 'ill $ restore to you
threefold and 9ore/ ti9e 'ithout ti9e and for ever9ore=@
We are of the circle and 'e are the circle= May the circle 3e uncast 3ut never 3roken=
$f you are 'orking in a group/ you can each recite different parts of the charge/ 3ut 3est of all/ through
9editation/ alone or as a group/ you can 'ork to create your o'n= $f you are a solitary practitioner/
you can read or recite your charge into a candle fla9e or in a 'ild/ open place/ and feel the energies
resounding 3eyond and 'ithin you= 8ou can also use it 3efore divination or as an introduction to a
cere9ony for healing or greater understanding=
Meditation can last fro9 five 9inutes to half an hour or 9ore= $n these initial stages/ allo' your o'n
psyche to guide you as to 'hen the e;perience is done= $f other 9e93ers of the group are still
'orking/ this is not a sign that their e;perience 'as 9ore profound= Sit Fuietly or lie do'n/ enGoying
the silence and allo'ing the i9ages of your 9editation to develop Fuite spontaneously=
$f you are 'orking 'ith a group/ re9ain in the circle and pass round a 3o'l or chalice of pure 'ater=
$f you are 'orking indoors 'ith candlelight/ arrange the candles so they reflect on the 'ater= As each
person gaAes into the 'ater/ they can contri3ute a series of i9ages a3out 'hat the Goddess represents
to the9/ 'hich 'ill 3e sti9ulated 3y the 9editation= 8ou do not need to use a 3o'l of 'ater/ 3ut it is
a 'ay of directing inner i9ages e;ternally to find e;pression= So9e people prefer to pass round a
crystal 3all or a large piece of uncut crystal= A crystal is helpful if you find it difficult to retrieve
i9ages fro9 9editation or if you find 9editation unproductive/ as the living energies provide a direct
route to your unconscious 'isdo9=
After your 9editation/ if you are 'orking alone/ surround a clear 3o'l of 'ater 'ith 'hite candles
and/ looking into it/ 3egin to speak= 8ou 9ay like to record your 'ords on cassette to 9ake the9
easier to recall= $f you do not consciously try to for9ulate poetic e;pressions/ profound poetry and
rich i9ages 'ill e9erge al9ost fro9 another place= &his is the deep pool of collective 'isdo9
speaking=
$f you are in a group/ the i9ages can 3e set do'n 3y your scri3e as a collective charge that can 3e
changed over the 9onths= Working on your charge can 3e a fruitful activity every si; 'eeks or so as it
reflects and sti9ulates the group consciousness=
Copy a version of your charge into your Book of Shado's= $t is good to read if you feel afraid or
alone at any ti9e 'hen you are not doing 9agical 'ork=
&he Charge )f &he God
or so9e practitioners/ this charge is less i9portant/ 3ut $ 3elieve that the 9ale polarity or energies
are an integral part not only of the seasonal Wheel of the 8ear/ 3ut also of hu9an e;perience/ 'hether
you are 'orking alone or as part of a coven= $t is one $ have found helpful/ 3ut you can create your
o'n through a god 9editation 3y visualising a god for9 that see9s relevant to you= Again $ have used
Celtic god for9s:
&hese are the 'ords of the ather/ 'ho is son and consort of the Great Mother/ 3orn in the 3eginning
of She 'ho created the universe fro9 her o'n 3ody/ fro9 her s9iles and tears and ever%fertile 'o93=
@$ a9 2e/ the 'ild unta9ed po'er of the hunt/ the horned 3easts and the 'oodland/ that offers food/
shelter and protection to people of all races/ clans and creeds= $ a9 Cernunnos/ horned ?ord of WinterH
as Master of the Ani9als and ?ord of the Corn/ $ offer 'illing sacrifice for the land and peopleH as
Iing of the >ark Places 3eneath the soil/ in the nurturing 'o93 of the Mother/ like all creatures 'ho
have entered the gentle Earth/ $ gro' strong again/ resting 3ut never slu93ering/ until $ hear the call at
the darkest and coldest hour to 3e re3orn as ?ugh/ radiant sonH at that hour $ 3ring the pro9ise that the
Sun 'ill not die/ 3ut as the 'heel turns 3ring lighter days and the pro9ise of spring as the 9id%'inter
yoke is conFuered once 9ore=
@$ 3ring po'er/ strength/ courage and no3ility to defend the 'eak and the vulnera3le/ and to give of
9y life 3lood to 9aintain 'hat is of 'orth and Gust and lovely= Mine is not the path of ease/ 3ut of
ecstasy in the 'ild 'ood 'here the unta9ed instincts 3o' only to natural la' and natural GusticeH as
the fruit of the sacred vine/ ?ord of the >ance/ the young stag 'ho 9asters the oldH as the Barley
Iing/ $ dance and laugh and sing of the spirit that never can 3e 3roken/ of the potency of the life force
coursing through 9y loins to 3ring increase and a3undance/ as fields and the ani9als and hu9ankind
are 9ade fertile 3y the sacred coupling 3eneath the 9ay 3o'ers and 3losso9ing trees=
@Birth follo's death/ plenty follo's dearth/ creation follo's necessary destruction/ and so rene'ed/ $
dedicate 9yself to the sanctity of all life ruled 3y the highest of intent and in hu9ility in the hour of
9y greatest triu9ph=@
A Goddess Meditation
8ou can use this to create your personal or group Charge of the Goddess=
ind a Fuiet/ safe place for 9editation 'here you 'ill not 3e distur3ed and can fall asleep 'ithout
co9ing to any har9/ if you naturally drift fro9 a 9editative to a sleep state= Choose a ti9e 'hen you
are not too tired and 3efore you 3egin/ have a 3ath to 'hich a fe' drops of sandal'ood or ylang ylang
oil are added for heightened psychic a'areness=
or the 9editation/ use a focus/ for e;a9ple a 3u33ling fountain or 'ater feature/ fragrant her3s or
flo'ers/ such as lavender or roses/ or a scented candle of Gas9ine/ apple 3losso9/ lilac or neroli= (8ou
can easily 9ake a 'ater feature 3y setting up a very s9all electric pu9p in a deep container in 'hich
you place crystals/ greenery/ perhaps a tiny statue and so9e plants=! 8ou can 'ork either alone or as a
group/ sitting in a circle round the focus/ so that you can see it 'ithout 9oving your neck or head=
E;peri9ent until you get the height of the ta3le and the distances right= or group 'ork/ you can light
a circle of candles=
$f you are 'orking indoors/ and there is no natural har9onious sound/ such as the 'ater/ you 9ay like
to play softly a C> of rainforest or ocean sounds/ 3irdsong or dolphin calls=
P ?ight incense sticks of frankincense or 9yrrh=
P Sit either cross%legged on the floor on a rug or 3lanket 'ith your hands supporting your knees/ in the
lotus position if you are skilled in yoga/ or on a chair 'ith 3oth feet flat on the floor= $f you 'ish/
support your 3ack 'ith a pillo' and have ar9 rests on the chair for your el3o's= +ela; your ar9s and
hands/ 'ith pal9s upper9ost= $t is i9portant to 3e co9forta3le and not to 3e distracted 3y 'orrying
a3out keeping in a particular @approved@ position=
P <isualise yourself surrounded 3y a circle of 'ar9/ protective light or/ if you are using a candle/
gaAe into the fla9e=
P &ake a slo'/ deep 3reath through your nose/ inhaling the light= 2old it for a count of @)ne and t'o
and three@ and slo'ly e;hale darkness through your 9outh=
P ?et the circle of light e;pand and enfold you so that you are 3athed in the light= 8ou 9ay find it
easier at this point to close your eyes and to see the light 'ith your inner vision=
P Within the sphere of light/ allo' the goddess for9 to 3uild up Fuite naturally= $t 9ay 3e a fa9iliar
figure or a co9posite of 9any different fe9ale po'er icons of 3eauty/ 'isdo9 and grace= She 9ay 3e
old/ young/ 'ise or challenging/ according to the Fualities you are attracting to 9eet your as yet/
perhaps/ unfor9ulated needs= $n different 9editations you 9ay see different goddesses and so adapt
the charge accordingly to e9phasise particular strengths and Fualities they evoke=
P ?et 'ords flo' a3out the Goddess and her relationship 'ith the 'orld/ nature and the cos9os=
P >o not atte9pt to hold or recall the9/ 3ut allo' the9 to e33/ for9 again and disperse/ like 'aves or
ripples on a pond=
P 8ou 9ay e;perience colours/ lights and fragrances unconnected 'ith the sti9uli: sounds of 'ild
ani9als or the 'ind through the trees/ a sensation of 'ar9th or coolness=
P When you are a'are of the sounds of the 'orld 3eginning to return and the light fading/ gradually
9ove a'ay fro9 the goddess for9/ letting the i9age fade=
P +econnect 'ith your 3reathing and allo' gentle pink or purple light to radiate 'ithin you/ leaving
you cal9 and in a deep pool of inner silence= $f you have closed your eyes/ open the9 slo'ly/
3linking and stretching slo'ly/ like a cat uncurling after sleep=
. % Candles/ Colours and the 0odiac
$ said earlier in the 3ook that you 'ould reFuire tools for your 9agick= &hat is not Fuite true: in fact/
you could practise 9agick 'ith nothing 3ut a candle= A candle is a self%contained 9agical syste9/ for
although it represents the ire ele9ent/ it also containing the other three 3asic ele9ents of 9agick:
Earth is represented 3y the un3urned 'a; of the candle/ Air is the s9oke/ ire the fla9e and Water
the 9elted 'a;= &hus is created Akasha/ or Spirit=
or 9ost spells/ ho'ever/ you should have one or t'o altar candles in 'hite/ crea9 or natural
3ees'a;= A single central candle can 3e good for ti9es of Fuiet 9editation/ 3ut for 9ore focused
rituals you 9ay prefer to light one candle to represent the Goddess on the right and another for the
god polarity/ on the left of the altar=
Any tools and ele9ental su3stances that you 'ish to use/ such as salt % 'hich represents Earth in the
#orth %can 3e set at the four 9ain co9pass points around the9 and any sy93ols set 3et'een and in
front of the9=
&hese 'ill 3e the first candles lit in any ritual/ either 3efore or i99ediately after casting a circle= $
prefer to light the9 first/ to 9ark a 3eginning and an e9po'er9ent to the 9agick and to avoid casting
an e9pty circle/ 3ut there are no hard and fast rules=
&here is de3ate over 'hether you should 3lo' or pinch out candles that you do not 'ish to 3urn
co9pletely a'ay= &he act of 3lo'ing out a candle is itself a 9agical release of po'er/ for/ rather than
holding the light in a snuffer/ you can send it to'ards all 'ho need it= &his is an e;cellent 'ay of
releasing and directing po'er at the end of a rite=
$f you 3uy candles 'ith t'o or three 'icks/ a ne' one can 3e lit each day in a three%day ritual= ?arger
candles can have up to seven 'icks and if you need a lot of po'er/ you can light all the 'icks during a
single ritual= Candles vary considera3ly in their 3urning ti9es % the 3etter%Fuality ones 9ay state the
nu93er of hours/ 3ut 'ith practice if you al'ays use the sa9e type of candles/ you 'ill 3e a3le to
assess ho' long they 'ill last=
&hen you can choose one to 9atch the occasion % either one that 'ill have 3urned through 3y the end
of an evening in a dusk ritual or one that 'ill last for up to (* hours for an all%night vigil candle/ for
e;a9ple on one of the solstices=
Practitioners of strict cere9onial 9agick say that you should never use a candle that has 3een lit for
another ritual or purpose and should not use these after'ards for household illu9ination= 2o'ever/
since candles are so e;pensive and since you 'ill only 3e perfor9ing positive 9agick/ there is no
reason 'hy ritual candles should not 3e adapted for everyday use= Candles fro9 har9ony and healing
spells 9ay 3e used in Fuiet areas of the ho9e/ and candles for energy and success in 'ork or study
areas=
)n the other hand/ candles for 3anishing 9agick should 3e left to 3urn do'n and any re9aining 'a;
3uried/ or the unused candle 3e disposed of in an environ9entally friendly 9anner= 8ou can/ if you
'ish/ place your 3anishing candle on a 9etal tray etched 'ith a sy93ol of 'hat you 'ish to re9ove
fro9 your life and 3ury that=
Both for ritual 9agick and for your infor9al candle spells and 9editations/ you 'ill need a supply of
candles in a variety of colours= $ 'ill list here astrological significances/ the 9agical colour 9eanings
and the ele9ental correspondences/ so that even if you are ne' to 9agick you can 3egin 'ork at once=
$f you are an e;perienced practitioner/ so9e of the ideas 9ay suggest ne' directions for your personal
and coven 'ork=
&he Ele9ental Candle Colours
Each of the four ele9ents % Air/ ire/ Water and Earth % is represented 3y a single candle colour %
yello'/ red/ 3lue and green= A coloured candle representing each of the ele9ents can 3e placed at the
four 9ain co9pass points around the circle to 9ark the Fuarters % East/ South/ West and #orth= 8ou
can place the ele9ental candles either on the edge of the circle in sturdy floor%standing holders/ or on
s9all ta3les or plinths at the co9pass points= &hough each ele9ent is represented 3y a single candle/
you can use a second to increase a particular ele9ent in its o'n Fuadrant of the circle or use the
ele9ental colour in all four Fuadrants= So/ for e;a9ple/ if you 'ere carrying out a ire spell/ you
could use four red (or gold or orange! candles and 3egin the ritual facing South=
So9e practitioners invoke ire to conFuer floods and Water to conFuer drought 3ut $ 3elieve that each
ele9ent can 9ost effectively counter e;cesses of itself=
?ight ele9ental candles after the altar candles/ after you have cast the circles 3ut 3efore lighting any
'ish or astrological candle= Begin in the #orth/ 'ith a green candle=
Green
Green is for Earth and the #orth/ 9idnight and 'inter= A green candle is placed at 'hat 'ould 3e the
(* o@clock position on a clock/ aligned 'ith 9agnetic or a sy93olic #orth=
Earth is the ele9ent of order/ 3oth in nature and institutions such as the la'/ politics/ finance/ health
and education= $t also represents yin/ the fe9ale/ nurturing goddess aspect/ Mother Earth/ the ho9e
and fa9ily/ as 'ell as 9oney and security/ and is a good ele9ent to invoke 'hen you have 9atters of
property or 9oney that need attention= $t is also a focus for all rituals against fa9ine/ deforestation and
land pollution and devastation through un'ise industrialisation or 3uilding/ and for caring for ani9als
and their natural ha3itats=
Surround your green Earth candle 'ith grains/ 3erries/ fruits/ coins or pot pourri= Bro'n candles 9ay
also 3e used as Earth candles=
8ello'
8ello' is for Air and the East/ da'n and spring= A yello' candle is placed at the three o@clock
position=
Air represents life itself/ logic/ the 9ind/ co99unication/ health/ ne' 3eginnings/ travel/ learning/
yang and the 9ale god in the for9 of Sky deities= $t is a good ele9ent to invoke if you are seeking
change or 'hen co99unication is proving difficult 'ith either an individual or an organisation/ and to
clear stagnation of thoughts=
$t is also a focus for spells against air pollution/ technological devastation and stor9s/ and for the
protection of 3irds/ 3utterflies and insects=
Surround your Air candles 'ith feathers/ thistledo'n/ tiny heliu9 3alloons/ 9odel planes and cera9ic
or 'ooden 3irds=
+ed
+ed is for ire and the South/ noon and su99er= Place your red candle in the si; o@clock position=
ire represents light/ the Sun/ lightning/ fertility/ po'er/ Goy/ a93ition/ inspiration and achieve9ent
and also destruction of 'hat is no' no longer needed=
?ike Air/ ire represents the yang/ 9ale god in the for9 of the Sun deities= ire rituals are good 'hen
you need po'er or you have an i9portant issue that needs energy= &hey are effective against drought/
glo3al 'ar9ing/ all pollution caused 3y 3urning fuels or che9icals/ forest fires and the @slash and
3urn@ policy in rainforests=
Surround your ire candle 'ith golden sunflo'ers or chrysanthe9u9s/ tiny 9irrors that reflect the
light and clear crystal FuartA/ 'hich is called in the )rient @the essence of the dragon@=
Blue
Blue is for Water and the West/ dusk and autu9n= A 3lue candle is placed in the nine o@clock position=
Water represents love/ relationships/ sy9pathy/ intuition/ reconciliation/ har9ony/ healing and the
cycle of 3irth/ death and re3irth/ natural cyclical evolutions fro9 one stage to another as opposed to
changes 9ade consciously under the auspices of Air= $t is also potent for fighting floods/ cleansing
seas/ lakes and rivers of pollution/ in ca9paigns to provide fresh 'ater in arid places/ in all initiatives
to'ards 'orld health and the care of 'hales/ dolphins/ seals and endangered sea creatures=
?ike Earth/ Water represents the yin/ fe9ale goddess in the for9 of the Moon Goddesses=
Surround your Water candles 'ith silver o3Gects/ sea shells and pieces of coral or/ for the lunar
goddesses/ 9other of pearl and 9oonstones that gro' 3righter as the Moon 'a;es=
0odiacal Candles
Candles etched 'ith Aodiacal signs 9ay 3e used to represent people 3orn during a particular Sun
period= &hey 9ay then 3e 3urnt in rituals for different purposes= or instance/ you can 3urn your o'n
Aodiacal candle at a ti9e 'hen you need confidence or to assert your identity= Alternatively/ you 9ay
3urn any astrological candles 'hose strengths you need at a particular ti9e/ perhaps the courage of
Aries 3efore a confrontation or travelling to an unfa9iliar location= 8ou 9ight also use the9 in a love
ritual=
#ote also the influence of particular groups of signs of the Aodiac= &he cardinal signs % Aries/ Cancer/
?i3ra and Capricorn % are so%called 3ecause 'hen the Sun 9oved into these signs/ it 9arked the
3eginning of a ne' season % spring/ su99er/ autu9n and 'inter= People 3orn under a cardinal sign
9anifest this as a desire to initiate and to take co99and of people and situations= &he fi;ed signs %
?eo/ &aurus/ AFuarius and Scorpio % are signs entered 3y the Sun in the 9iddle of a season= People
3orn under the9 e;hi3it sta3ility and a tendency to continue in a predeter9ined path= &he 9uta3le
signs %Sagittarius/ Ge9ini/ <irgo and Pisces % 9ark the ti9e 'hen the seasons are a3out to change=
&hose 3orn under the9 are correspondingly versatile and ready to co9pro9ise=
0odiacal Colours And Associations
Aries/ the +a9: *( March to *7 April= Colour: red= A cardinal ire sign/ for all 9atters of
the self and of identity/ for rituals of innovation/ courage assertiveness and action= +uled 3y Mars=
&aurus/ the Bull: *( April to *( May= Colour: pink= A fi;ed Earth sign/ for rituals
concerning all kinds of 9aterial 9atters and security/ also for patience and caution if the 'ay ahead
see9s haAardous= +uled 3y <enus=
Ge9ini/ the 2eavenly &'ins: ** May to *( Kune= Colour: yello' or pale grey= A 9uta3le
Air sign/ for spells concerning co99unication/ learning/ choices/ adapta3ility and short%distance
travel= +uled 3y Mercury=
Cancer/ the Cra3: ** Kune to ** Kuly= Colour: silver= A cardinal Water sign/ for spells
concerning the ho9e and fa9ily/ especially for protection and for gentle love and friendship= +uled
3y the Moon=
?eo/ the ?ion: *, Kuly to *, August= Colour: gold= A fi;ed ire sign/ for rituals for courage
and leadership/ sensual pleasures and love affairs= +uled 3y the Sun=
<irgo/ the Maiden: *- August to ** Septe93er= Colour: green or pale 3lue= A 9uta3le Earth
sign/ for spells to increase efficiency/ for 3ringing order to a chaotic situation/ for self%i9prove9ent
and for healing= +uled 3y Mercury=
?i3ra/ the Scales: *, Septe93er to *, )cto3er= Colour: 3lue or violet= A cardinal Air sign for
rituals concerning Gustice and the la'/ for 3alancing options and priorities relationships/ har9ony and
reconciliation= +uled 3y <enus=
Scorpio/ the Scorpion: *- )cto3er to ** #ove93er= Colour: 3urgundy or red= A fi;ed Water
sign/ for increasing second sight/ for passion and se;/ secrets/ inheritance and for clai9ing 'hat is
rightfully yours in any area of life= +uled 3y Mars in the ancient syste9/ no' 3y Pluto=
Sagittarius/ the Archer: *, #ove93er to *( >ece93er= Colour: orange or yello'= A 9uta3le
ire sign/ for opti9is9/ fresh perspectives/ long%distance travel and house 9oves/ creative ventures
and e;panding horiAons= +uled 3y Kupiter=
Capricorn/ the Goat: ** >ece93er to *7 Kanuary= Colour: 3ro'n or 3lack= A cardinal Earth
sign/ for a93itions/ perseverance/ 9atters concerning officialdo9/ loyalty and for the acFuisition of
9oney= +uled 3y Saturn=
AFuarius/ the Water Carrier: *( Kanuary to (5 e3ruary= Colour: indigo or dark 3lue= A fi;ed
Air sign/ for independence/ friendship/ creativity and for detach9ent fro9 e9otional 3lack9ail= +uled
3y Saturn in the ancient syste9/ no' 3y :ranus=
Pisces/ the ish: (6 e3ruary to *7 March= Colour: 'hite or 9auve= A 9uta3le Water sign/
for spells to develop spiritual a'areness and intuition/ and for divination/ especially involving 'ater
and the fulfil9ent of hidden drea9s= +uled 3y Kupiter in the ancient syste9/ no' 3y #eptune=
$n 9agick/ it tends to 3e the old rulerships that are used in spells (see Planets and Angels!=
Colour Correspondences
Colour is of great significance/ 3oth in healing and 9agick/ and colour sy93olis9 is used freFuently
'ith candles/ and also 'ith crystals/ flo'ers/ foods and coloured 'ater/ as a 'ay of focusing on and
activating the different Fualities inherent in the colours=
White
$n 9agic/ 'hite represents light/ the life force and clear vision and so is helpful 'here a ne'
3eginning or a sudden 3urst of energy and enthusias9 is needed= White is a good colour for 'ork
involving rites of passage/ especially for 3irth/ 9arriage and 'elco9ing ne' fa9ily 9e93ers 3y
9arriage or adoption=
:se 'hite also for protective 9agick/ for replacing darkness 'ith light/ in 9editation/ for
Goddessfocused
rituals/ for increasing spiritual a'areness and contact 'ith spirit guides/ angels and the higher
self=
White contains 3oth solar and lunar energies and is often used for altar candles= 8ou can su3stitute
'hite for any other colour=
White candles can 3e used on any day of the 'eek/ though they are associated 'ith Monday in the
Goddess aspect and Sunday and the Sun for life force 9agick=
+ed
+ed/ the colour of Mars/ the planet and god of 'ar/ represents action/ po'er/ deter9ination/ physical
energy and health/ courage and deter9ination/ se;ual passion and potency/ survival and change/ for
careers 'here danger is involved and the ar9ed forces= $t is used as a focus for rituals calling on the
po'er of the gods and for sti9ulating righteous anger against inGustice and inertia=
Because it is a very po'erful candle colour/ red should 3e lit for 'orthy ai9s only and 'hen you are
in a positive fra9e of 9ind=
+ed candles are 9ost effective 'hen used on a &uesday=
)range
)range is the colour of the Sun/ of fertility % 3oth physical and 9ental % and of creativity 'ith 'ords=
Gro'th/ self%estee9/ confidence and a3undance of all kinds are related to orange/ as are independence
and asserting your identity if it is under threat or 3eing eroded 3y the de9ands or unfair criticis9 of
others= )range also relates to careers involving people and the arts=
A3ove all/ orange is the colour of Goy and also the successful integration of all aspects of the
personality into a har9onious 'hole=
)range candles are 3est used on a Sunday=
8ello'
8ello' is the colour associated 'ith Mercury/ the 'inged 9essenger of the +o9an gods= &hrough his
skill and de;terity/ he ca9e to rule over co99erce and 9edicine and also 3eca9e patron of tricksters
and thieves=
8ello' candles therefore encourage clear co99unication and activity of all kinds/ i9proving
9e9ory/ concentration and learning/ and are good for overco9ing 9ental stagnation and 3locks in
ideas or assi9ilation of facts=
:se the9 in rituals 'hen you 'ish to gain another person@s confidence and approval or to 'in
so9eone round in 3usiness or intellectual 9attersH to sharpen logicH for succeeding in e;a9inations
and testsH also for good luck/ for short Gourneys or to initiate a house 9ove 'ithin the sa9e area=
8ello' is also a healing colour/ especially for conditions needing surgery or concerning the 9ind=
8ello' is good for careers in 3usiness/ 9edicine/ technology/ co99unication or the 9edia and also
for Go3 changes=
8ello' candles are 3est used on a Wednesday=
Green
Green is the colour of <enus/ goddess of love/ and so is good for all love and relationship 9atters/
especially partnerships and ro9anceH it is also potent for rites involving the natural 'orld/ her3s/
gardening and tree 9agick/ for healing the planet and especially the forests and the land=
Green is for peace and har9ony/ especially 'ithin the self= When green candles are used in rituals for
'ealth/ they tend to encourage a gradual increase in profits or resources= As the faerie colour/ green is
also potent for spells for good luck and increasing 9agical a3ilities=
Green candles are 3est used on riday=
&urFuoise
&urFuoise is the colour of 2athor/ Egyptian goddess of 'isdo9/ 9usic and dance/ 'hose 9agical
9irror reflected 3ack the true person of all 'ho looked in it (scary stuff if you 'ere Gust checking your
hair!=
&urFuoise rituals are for integration of heart and 9ind/ feelings and thoughts and the synthesis of
'isdo9 and e;perience= &urFuoise is used for successfully co93ining different aspects of life or t'o
different career strandsH for co9passion and altruis9H for increasing healing a3ilitiesH for 9aintaining
i9partiality 'hen 9aking difficult decisions and Gudge9entsH and for seeing other di9ensions= $t is
the colour of artists/ sculptors/ dancers/ 'riters and poets/ and can 3ring inspiration and originality
increasing artistic a3ility=
&urFuoise candles can 3e used effectively on &hursday or riday=
Blue
Blue is the colour of the ather God and other Sky deities in their e;ternal roles as 'ise Gudges and
rulers and so can 3e used for this aspect of the god and as a protective colour=
$n 9agick/ 3lue can e;pand the 3oundaries of possi3ility and 3ring success/ confidence and po'er
9ingled 'ith altruis9/ no3ility and idealis9= Blue is also used for prosperity rituals 'here this
involves advance9ent or for 9a;i9ising opportunities/ for pro9otion and e;pansion of 3usiness=
Blue is the colour of long%distance travel and house 9oves/ legal 9atters and dealing 'ith
officialdo9= $t is also for careers involving Gustice and leadership= A3ove all/ 3lue 3rings cal9 and the
a3ility to solve pro3le9s in the 9idst of crisis=
Blue candles are 3est used on &hursday=
Purple
Purple is the colour of Kupiter in his role of 'ise teacher and keeper of hidden kno'ledge/ and of
)siris/ the Ancient Egyptian ather God and ?ord of the :nder'orld/ 'ho died each year and 'as
resurrected 3y his 'ife $sis= $t represents unconscious 'isdo9 and is used for all things of a psychic
and spiritual nature and for divination= Purple provides a link 'ith higher di9ensions and can 3ring
happiness for all 'ho yearn for so9ething 3eyond the 9aterial plane=
Purple candles aid 9editation/ 'ork 'ith past lives/ scrying 'ith candles and 9irrors/ and astral
travel= &hey are good for psychic protection and preventing night9ares= Purple can also 3e used for all
rituals 'here the facts are not clear/ for clearing secrecy/ for healing the spirit and for 3anishing 'hat
lies in the past/ especially failure/ and for re9e93ering departed loved ones= Belo'/ $ have given
su3divisions
for different shades of purple/ 3ut in practice they are interchangea3le=
$ndigo
$ndigo is for spiritual healing/ for psychic a'areness and kno'ledge of past lives and 'orldsH it is the
colour of the seer=
?avender
?avender is for drea9s and connections 'ith others/ on a telepathic level/ for a'areness of >evas and
other higher nature spirits and for her3 'isdo9=
<iolet
<iolet is for clairvoyance/ 9ediu9ship/ spirituality and contact 'ith the evolved self/ angelic guides/
9ysticis9 and peak e;periences=
Purple candles are 3est used on &hursday=
Pink
Pink is the colour of <enus in her gentler aspects/ for fa9ily relationships/ affection/ friendship
9atters/ children and for the gro'th of ne' love and trust/ especially after 3etrayal or a set3ack= Pink
rituals are e;cellent for restoring self%estee9 and healing 'ounded e9otions/ for letting go of past
hurts involving fa9ily or childhood/ for Fuiet sleep and for the 9ending of Fuarrels=
Pink candles are 3est 3urned on riday=
Magenta
Magenta represents the path of service to others/ especially for older 'o9en and 9en in the role of
'ise counsellor= $t can help all in the caring professions and 'ill help anyone transfor9 e;periences/
3oth positive and negative/ into 'isdo9 that can 3e offered to guide others=
Magenta candles are 3est used on riday=
Bro'n
Bro'n is a colour of Saturn/ the +o9an for9 of Cronus/ god of ti9e= >eposed 3y his son Kupiter/ he
'as sent to $taly 'here he taught the far9ers/ agriculture and engineering and there esta3lished a
golden age of peace and plenty=
Bro'n is good for protection/ for 9agick concerning ani9als and especially household pets/ for
locating lost o3Gects/ learning ne' skills/ for the ho9e/ property/ practical 9atters/ security and having
enough resources for one@s needs= $t is also the colour of all 'ho 'ork 'ith their hands=
Bro'n is also the colour of Mother Earth and the Earth spirits and so is good for environ9ental
9atters and conservation/ especially as an i9petus for practical conservation proGects= Bro'n is good
for grounding rituals=
Bro'n candles are 3est used on Saturday=
Grey
Grey is ruled 3y Saturn and 3y Mercury/ so9e say/ 'hen he 3eco9es invisi3le in the sky=
Grey is used pri9arily for neutralising or erasing negative energies or feelings= $t is the shade of
co9pro9ise and adapta3ility/ of lo'ering one@s profile in ti9es of danger/ and offers protection
against 3oth physical and psychic attack= $t is a colour for keeping secrets and for s9oothing do'n
potential conflict and keeping one@s counsel 'hen to do other'ise 'ould 3e un'ise=
Grey candles are 3est used on Wednesday 'hen Mercury cannot 3e seen and on Saturday=
Black
Another colour of Saturn and also the kings of the :nder'orld % the +o9an Pluto/ the 3esto'er of the
hidden 'ealth that lay 'ithin the Earth/ and the Greek 2ades/ 'ho a3ducted Persephone (Proserpine!/
thus causing 'inter=
Black is the colour not only of death/ 3ut also of regeneration= &his 3elief goes 3ack to Ancient Egypt
'hen the annual flooding of the #ile carried 'ith it 3lack silt/ 'hich 3rought ne' life to the land each
year=
$n 9agick/ 3lack is the colour of endings that carry 'ithin the9 seeds of ne' 3eginnings= $t can 3e
used for 3anishing negativity/ for leaving 3ehind old sorro's and redundant relationshipsH for
ackno'ledging grief/ for rituals of partings/ for 3reaking he;es and for psychic protection= So9e
people do not like using 3lack candles 3ecause of their associations 'ith 3lack 9agick= $f you feel that
these associations are too strong for you/ su3stitute dark 3lue/ dark purple or 3ro'n candles in rituals=
$n a positive sense/ 3lack/ like 3ro'n/ is a colour of acceptance/ 'hether of a restriction or of the
frailties of self and others/ and so it is a candle colour of forgiveness=
Black candles are 3est used on Saturday=
Silver
Silver is the colour of the Moon and all lunar goddesses such as >iana/ the +o9an counterpart of
Arte9is/ 'ho/ 3ecause of her strong association 'ith the Moon in all its phases/ 'as a goddess of
fertility as 'ell as love=
$t is also used on so9e altars to represent the Goddess/ 'ith a gold candle for the 2orned God= Silver
is potent in all for9s of divination/ 3ut especially for candle divination/ for a'akening clairvoyant
po'ers/ telepathic and psycho9etric a3ilities/ astral proGection/ for rituals to invoke ani9a (fe9ale!
po'er/ for intuition and 9ysticis9= $t represents drea9s/ visions and a desire for fulfil9ent 3eyond
the 9aterial 'orld=
$n ti9es of stress and sorro'/ silver candles can re9ove negativity/ pro9ote inner sta3ility and 3ring
to the fore your hidden potential= Silver candles are e;cellent for scrying/ especially 3y the full 9oon/
and for all 9agick involving the fe9ale life and for fe9ale fertility=
Silver candles are 3est used on a Monday=
Gold
Gold is the colour of the Sun and is associated 'ith the solar deities/ for e;a9ple/ the Egyptian +a= $n
Ancient Greece/ 2elios/ the Sun God/ 'as 'orshipped each da'n as he e9erged in the East and drove
his chariot of 'inged horses around the Sky 3efore plunging into the ocean in the West at sunset=
Gold is potent for 'orldly achieve9ent/ 'ealth and recognition/ for long life/ a93itious sche9es and
9oney%9aking rituals that reFuire an instant or su3stantial return= &he colour of 9ale potency and
fertility/ it represents ani9us (9ale! po'er/ energy and change and all rituals 'ith no3le or altruistic
purpose=
Gold is 3est used on a Sunday=
:sing Colour $n +ituals
8ou can also use coloured candles as a focus for 'ishes in a particular area of e;perience represented
3y the colour= So you 9ight 'rite a 'ish for a 3etter 9e9ory on yello' paper and 3urn it in a yello'
candle/ the colour of Mercury= 8ou could then collect the ash in a heatproof cera9ic pot or 9etal
3o'l 3eneath the candle and scatter it to the four 'inds= or 3anishing an inGustice/ you 9ight 'rite
a3out the event on dark 3lue paper/ 3urn it in the 3lue candle of Kupiter and 3ury the ashes=
Around the ho9e/ different coloured candles can 3e 3urned for different purposes= Scented candles
can also a9plify the colour energies= See pages (*5 and (,6 for the 9eanings of different perfu9es=
A Black And White Candle +itual
&his is a ritual for a ne' 3eginning after sorro' or loss= 8ou can carry out this ritual for yourself or
so9eone you kno' 'ho is grieving or unhappy after a 3etrayal= $t is especially healing if you are
feeling angry over unGust or cruel treat9ent/ 3ecause it can stop any guilt/ 3la9e or pain turning
in'ards and slo'ing the healing process= 8ou 9ay need to repeat the e;perience 9any ti9es= &his is
an essentially private ritual/ 3ut if you are doing it on 3ehalf of so9eone else/ then you 9ight like to
invite the9 to share the e;perience=
&he 3est ti9e to use this 9agick is to'ards the end of the 'aning 9oon cycle/ late in the evening
3efore the Moon has risen=
P &ake a s9all 3lack candle and a large 'hite one and place the9 side 3y side in your cauldron/ on a
9etal tray or in a sand%filled/ heatproof 3o'l=
P )n the 3lack candle/ etch a sy93ol or 'ord to represent your sorro' or anger a3out a third of the
'ay do'n the candle= As you do so/ send all the negative feelings into the 'a;=
P ?ight the candle and say:
Burn/ 3urn/
sorro' turn/
9elt a'ay/
do not stay=
Go in peace/
trou3le cease=
P Burn pieces of 3lack 'ool/ cut fro9 a large 3all 'ith a knife/ not scissors/ na9ing each aspect of
your grief and 'atching it 3u9 a'ay/ piece 3y piece=
P When you have finished na9ing the sorro's/ sit Fuietly in the candlelight/ seeing the negativity
flo'ing a'ay in the strea9 of 3lack 'a;= Make positive plans for the future and 'rite a list of daily
actions or short 3reaks fro9 'ork that 'ill 9ake you happy= Even if these are of necessity very s9all/
the cu9ulative effects of a nu93er of 9inor pleasures can change the 3alance of your life for the
3etter once a 9oon cycle has passed=
P )nce the sy93ol has 9elted a'ay/ use a taper to carry the fla9e fro9 the 3lack candle to the 'hite
one= &his is i9portant/ for ne' 3eginnings do not co9e out of nothing/ 3ut fro9 the transfor9ation of
endings into positive energies=
P )nce the 'hite candle is alight/ 3lo' out the 3lack candle and dispose of it in an environ9entally
friendly 'ay=
P Sit for a fe' 9o9ents/ looking into the fla9e of your 'hite candle/ letting thoughts and i9ages
appear 'ithin either the fla9e or your 9ind@s vision=
P Carry the candle carefully into the 3athroo9 and add to your 3ath 'ater a fe' drops of essential oil
of rose or lavender for self%love and let the light 9ake pools in the 'ater= ?ie in the 3ath until you feel
rested=
P When you feel co9pletely rela;ed/ get out of the 3ath and s'irl the 'ater as it rushes do'n the plug
hole/ saying:
lo' far/
flo' free/
flo' in peace and har9ony=
P Spend the rest of the evening in Fuiet 3ut pleasura3le activity/ until your 'hite candle is 3urned
do'n=
P inally/ etch in the 'a; a ne' sy93ol of hope and keep it in your special place until it cru93les/ 3y
'hich ti9e it 'ill hopefully no longer 3e needed=
$f the pro3le9 is really deep%seated/ you can repeat the ritual 9onthly/ each ti9e using a s9aller 3lack
candle and a larger 'hite one until there are no 3lack energies left=
A Candle +itual or ?ove
P Scratch the Aodiacal glyphs for yourself and a lover on candles of the appropriate colour (see page
6-!/ then light the candles=
P Move the9 closer to each other over a period of three days 'hile speaking 'ords of love and desire
to increase the love energies=
P or the first t'o days/ 3lo' out the candles/ sending the light to 'herever your lover is= )n the third
day/ leave the candles to 3urn do'n/ allo'ing the 'a; fro9 the t'o candles to 9erge=
P $n the 9elded 'a;/ cut the shape of a heart and on this scratch your ent'ined Aodiacal glyphs= Wrap
the sy93ol in 'hite silk and leave it on a 'indo' ledge fro9 the 'a;ing to the full 9oon=
A Candle +itual &o 2eal &he Polluted Seas And )ther Bodies )f Water
&his is a ritual to 3e carried out after dusk= $t also has the effect of clearing old hurts and regrets that
can hold us 3ack fro9 e;periencing Goy= A 'onderful selection of garden torches and candles are no'
availa3le/ that can 3e placed in the ground for 'orking out of doors= As you are taking a'ay pollution/
'ork at the ti9e of the 'aning 9oon= Blue is the ele9ental colour of 'ater=
P Place four 3lue candles at the four 9ain co9pass points in a roo9 or any outdoor area= &he four
3lue co9pass candles can act as sentinels of light/ protecting the four Fuarters of the circle=
P $n the centre/ place a cauldron or pot= (A three%legged iron pot or any cera9ic pot 'ill do= &hese can
often 3e found in antiFue shops/ at car 3oot sales or garden centres/ as 'ell as in #e' Age shops= $t
need not 3e very large=!
P ill the cauldron 'ith 'ater and float 3lue candles on the surface=
P ?ight a large 3lue candle to the West of the cauldronH light the candles in the cauldron fro9 this
candle/ using a taper=
P Surround the cauldron 'ith sy93ols of the sea/ shells and 'hite stones= Prepare a 3o'l of
9oonstones/ s9all 3lue lace agate stones or 3lue glass nuggets to cast in the 'ater=
P Set a tall Gar holding 'a; tapers at each co9pass point=
$f you are 'orking alone/ you 9ay need to keep the siAe of the circle and cauldron Fuite s9all/ 3ut
you can use as 9uch space as you 'ish= $f you are 'orking in a group/ four people can light the
candles in the four Fuarters and the scale of the 'hole ritual can 3e 9uch larger=
&he group can sit or stand in a circle around the cauldron/ Gust inside the four direction candlesH
traditionally/ a 9agical area e;tends to a circle a3out nine feet (three 9etres! in dia9eter= 2o'ever/
this can 3e larger or s9aller/ according to the siAe of the group= Circles are usually 9easured in an
odd/ rather than even/ nu93er of feet/ 3ut unless you are casting the 9ost cere9onial of circles/ you
can esti9ate the space you 'ill need to 'ork or dance and cast your circle accordingly= (>eities in the
cos9os 'ith 9easuring tapes are re9arka3ly rare=!
P :sing a taper lit fro9 the candle you placed to the West of the cauldron/ light the candle in the West
of the circle= $f 'orking in a group/ this should 3e done 3y the person standing 3y the West candle= As
you light the candle of the West say:
$ call upon the guardians of
the 9ighty oceans/
the inland seas/ the straits and
the channels 3et'een land
to protect 9y"our undertakings
and to create this circle of light=
May the circle 3e un3roken
to keep all 'ithin fro9 har9=
P +e%light the taper if necessary fro9 the West candle= Carry the taper of light to the candle in the
#orth/ creating an arc of light= ?ight the candle in the #orth= ($f 'orking in a group/ the taper is given
to the person sitting nearest the #orth candle/ 'ho co9es for'ard as the first person returns to sit in
the circle=! As the candle in the #orth is lit/ say:
$ call upon the guardians of
the rushing rivers/
the 'atercourses and
the canals to protect 9y"our
undertakings and to create this circle of light=
May the circle 3e un3roken
to keep all 'ithin fro9 har9=
P +e%light the taper if necessary and carry it in an un3roken arc to the East (pass it to the ne;t person/
if 'orking in a group! and light the East candle/ saying:
$ call upon the guardians of
the lakes/
the still pools/
ponds and 9arshes
to protect 9y"our undertakings
and to create this circle of light=
May the circle 3e un3roken
to keep all 'ithin fro9 har9=
P +e%light the taper once again and in the sa9e 'ay 9ake an arc of light to the South/ and light the
final candle/ saying:
$ call upon the guardians of
the 'ater that flo's through or near our ho9es/
the sacred 'ells and strea9s/
the ditches and the 'atercourses
to protect 9y"our undertakings and
to create this circle of light=
May the circle 3e un3roken
that $ no' 9ake co9plete=
P Carry the final taper to co9plete the circle in the West and Goin it to the 3urning West candle/
saying:
ire to fire/
'ater to 'ater/
so does po'er increase=
P &ake a crystal fro9 the dish and cast it into the cauldron/ saying:
So ripples the po'er to cleanse/
to heal and to restore life
to the 'aters of the planet/
fro9 'hence it has departed=
P Say a fe' 'ords of healing/ perhaps na9ing special 'aters you kno' and care a3out/ and areas
'here there is no clean drinking 'ater= $f 'orking in a group/ each person can take it in turns to cast a
crystal and add a fe' 'ords of their o'n=
P Blo' out the four ele9ental candles in the reverse order in 'hich they 'ere lit/ saying:
May the circle 3e uncast
3ut re9ain un3roken=
&he floating 3lue candle and the one ne;t to the cauldron can 3e left to 3urn do'n=
After'ards/ have a si9ple 9eal and drink= $f you are 'orking in a group/ this 9ay 3e a good ti9e to
plan a ca9paign for furthering your efforts for clean 'aters in the daily 'orld=
1 % 2er3s $n Magick
&here is a long tradition of using her3s for healing/ 3ut they have 9any other uses= As 'ell as healing
rituals/ you can place dishes of charged her3s near a 3edside in a sickroo9 or on your healing altar
ne;t to a sy93ol/ photograph or the na9e of the person to 3e healed= 2o'ever/ they are also e;cellent
for e9otional support and spiritual e9po'er9ent= or e;a9ple/ if you get stressed on a regular car
Gourney through heavy traffic or on 9otor'ays/ you 9ay 'ell 3enefit fro9 a healing or protective
her3al sachet in the glove co9part9ent of your car= $n fact/ her3s 9ay 3e used to add their strength to
al9ost any kind of ritual and spell=
As they have such a 'ide variety of uses in 9agick/ you 'ill pro3a3ly need Fuite a large supply=
ortunately/ her3s are/ for the 9ost part/ very easy to gro' % and very orna9ental= $f you have a
garden you can set aside a s9all area specifically for cultivating her3s= Alternatively/ you can create
an indoor garden of her3s gro'n in pots/ so that you have a ready supply of gro'ing energy= )nce
picked/ all your her3s can 3e used either fresh/ for e;a9ple on your altar/ or dried/ in healing sachets
and poppets=
Each her3 has its o'n natural properties and strengths and they also have the 3enefit of offering dual
purposes= $f/ for e;a9ple/ you use allspice for a person 'ith digestive or throat trou3les/ as a 3onus
3oth you and the person you heal 9ay e;perience a gradual upturn in fortune/ one of its 9agical
9eanings= &hough 9ost of the traditional uses of her3s apply to physical and e9otional ills and so are
9ost co99only applied to people % and ani9als/ of course % you can also use the9 for spells
concerning placesH for e;a9ple/ her3s for soothing 'ounds/ such as lavender/ are eFually potent in
rituals for healing the Earth or reversing the effects of pollution=
E9po'ering 2er3s
$n addition to their natural properties/ you can further e9po'er the her3s/ defining their purpose/ and
adding to the strength they display spontaneously= E9po'ering her3s can 3e done in one of t'o 'ays=
&he first 9ethod is to use an e9po'er9ent ritual/ such as the one descri3ed on page (76H this is good
for her3s to 3e used in poppets and healing her3al sachets (see 3elo'!= Alternatively/ you can use the
9ethod descri3ed on page (4* for charging colour%infused 'ater= &his is particularly effective for
adding e;tra healing po'er to a pot of her3s to 3e placed on your healing altar/ as a focus for the need
of a particular person=
2er3al Poppets And Sachets
&raditionally/ e9po'ered her3s 'ere used to fill either sachets or featureless dolls called poppets=
&hey 'ere 9ade for love/ protection/ prosperity/ fertility/ healing and success and could contain either
a single her3 or a 9i;ture/ depending on the purpose=
Poppets/ 'hich are used 9ainly in love or healing or occasionally in protective 9agick/ are generally
kept in a safe place/ such as a dra'er/ rather than carried around= So/ for a love spell/ t'o poppets
'ould 3e tied together and placed in a dra'er in a 3edroo9 or left out on the 'indo' ledge in the
9oonlight/ especially around the ti9e of the full 9oon= or fertility/ a 9iniature poppet 9ight 3e
placed in a tiny 'oven cradle on the 'indo' ledge fro9 the ne' to the full 9oon= $t 'ould then 3e
'rapped in silk until the end of the 9oon cycle and kept in an enclosed space/ for e;a9ple/ a large
painted egg 9ade of pottery or 'ood= &he 'ould%3e father 'ould 9ake the cradle and the 9other
'ould se' and fill the doll=
So9e practitioners attach hair fro9 the person to 3e healed or the o3Gect of the love spell to the
poppet/ 3ut $ consider that this is an intrusion of privacy= $nstead/ $ 'ould suggest that if you 'ish to
add e;tra po'er/ you 9ake your featureless dolls in an appropriate colour=
2er3al sachets are particularly versatileH s9all ones can 3e carried around in a 3ag/ pocket or pinned
to undergar9ents/ and large ones can 3e hung over a 3ed or near the door or in a dra'er at 'ork=
&raditionally/ sachets of e9po'ered her3s 'ere tied 'ith three/ si; or nine knots of ri33on or t'ine/
these 3eing 9agical nu93ers= $f you do this/ choose ri33on of a colour appropriate to the need % or
9ore than one colour if you 'ish to add a secondary colour 9eaning= &he nu93er of knots depends
on the intensity of the need as knots are a po'erful 'ay of concentrating energies= 8ou can/ of course/
3uy ready%9ade dra'string purses in different colours/ 'hich 9ake instant e;cellent her3 pouches/
3ut 9aking her3al sachets is very straightfor'ard=
+ather than giving you set for9ulae for her3 poppets and sachets/ $ have listed a 'ide range of her3s
so that you can 9i; and 9atch the9 to your o'n special needs= $ have also given the planetary
associations/ so that you can/ for e;a9ple/ 9ake a <enus sachet 3y using all her her3s/ e;cellent for
healing a 3roken heart/ encouraging the gro'th of trust/ increasing loving energies around you and at
the sa9e ti9e strengthening the heart/ chest and lungs= Practitioners tend to 9ingle t'o or three
different her3s to increase the strength of the sachet and you can add a fe' drops of essential oil for
e;tra fragrance and po'er=
&he key is to e;peri9ent and 3e inventive= Ieep a note in your healing Gournal or Book of Shado's of
co93inations that are especially effective/ together 'ith the rough proportions you used= or e;a9ple/
if you 'ere creating a sachet for so9eone 'ho had suffered a loss in love or a 3ereave9ent/ you
'ould 9ake a love sachet that e9phasised gentleness/ using t'o parts Cha9o9ile flo'ers to one part
rose9ary= &he Cha9o9ile is for gentle love/ affection and tolerance/ and the rose9ary 'ould
encourage fond and happy 9e9ories= #ote that so9e 3ooks give other planetary associations/ as these
do vary under different syste9s=
&he associations for healing and 9agick are the sa9e 'hether you use incense/ essential oil or the
her3al for9 of a su3stance= &hese are Gust different 'ays of releasing the energies= $ncense/ for
e;a9ple/ is the 3est choice if you 'ant an instant responseH oil gives a slo'er 3ut 9ore enduring
fragranceH and if your healing spell needs to take effect over days or 'eeks/ then her3s in a sachet
'ould 3e 3est= &he sachet 'ould act as a9ulet of protection/ 3ut 3ecause it 'as e9po'ered it 'ould
also 3e a talis9an/ attracting health/ a3undance or love/ according to its co9position=
&he divisions 3et'een healing 'ork and other 9agical purposes are very slight since every positive
ritual auto9atically releases healing energies= or this reason/ $ have listed the e9otional and psychic
as 'ell as the physical healing properties of each her3=
Making Coloured Sachets or +ituals
Making sachets is very si9ple= $f you are good at se'ing/ fold a rectangle of cloth and stitch the sides
together/ using a running stitch= Alternatively/ Gust place the her3s in the centre of a sFuare piece of
cloth/ gather the corners together and tie 'ith three/ si; or nine knots= &he colour of the cloth should
3e appropriate to the healing need= or a sachet to carry 'ith you/ your sFuare of fa3ric should 3e
a3out (7 c9 3y *. c9 (- in 3y (7 in!=
Make it larger if you 'ant to hang it at ho9e or keep it in a dra'er= :se a natural fa3ric/ such as felt/
'ool or cotton= E;peri9ent 'ith different siAes % you can 9ake really tiny sachets to hide in a corner
of your 3ag or in your undergar9ents or in the lining of a coat/ and the siAe of the sachet has nothing
to do 'ith the potency= Even a teaspoon of 9i;ed her3s can 3e endo'ed 'ith positive intent to
protect/ heal and give hope=
ill your sachet 'ith her3s that have 3een e9po'ered= or e;tra po'er/ add a s9all crystal of the
sa9e colour as the cloth= $f you do not add essential oil in the e9po'er9ent/ you 9ay 'ish to add a
drop or t'o of an appropriate fragrance 3efore tying the sachet= 8ou 9ay 'ant to include a her3 of
protection in sachets 9ade for other purposes/ although 9ost her3s do have a protective property
along 'ith their 9ain 9agical use=
Carry sachets until they lose their fragrance= $f the sachet represents a long%ter9 o3Gective/ replace the
her3s regularly= )pen the sachet/ scatter so9e of the old her3s to the four 'inds/ 3urn a fe'/ 3ury
so9e and dissolve the rest in 'ater=
A sachet for a pet can 3e hung a3ove its 3ed= $f you are healing a3sent people/ ani9als or places/ then
you can 'rap the her3 sachet 'ith a picture or sy93ol in 'hite silk and keep it in a high place or put it
in a s9all 'ooden 3o; on your healing ta3le= +eplace the her3s regularly/ e9po'ering ne' ones as
3efore=
8ou can 9ake her3al sleep pillo's containing lavender/ hops and aniseed and if you charge the her3s
you can drive a'ay 3ad drea9s=
Making Poppets
Poppets are a little 9ore co9plicated to 9ake= &ake a piece of 'hite cloth/ prefera3ly silk or cotton/
and dra' the outlines of t'o doll figures as sho'n opposite= &hey should 3e a3out (. c9 (1 in! high %
any s9aller and they 3eco9e difficult to fill 'ith her3s=
Cut out the t'o shapes and se' the9 together using thread of a colour appropriate to the purpose of
the spell= ?eave a gap at the top of the head so that you can fill the poppet= $f the poppet is 3eing used
in a group ritual/ you 9ay 'ish to share the se'ing/ 'ith each 9e93er adding a fe' stitches 3efore
passing it on=
ill the poppet 'ith the her3s/ adding a fe' drops of an essential oil if you 'ish/ and co9plete the last
fe' stitches to close the gap=
Make a health%giving sachet or doll/ e9po'ered 'ith love and good 'ishes/ as a personalised present
for a 3ride or ne' 3a3y=
A +itual or E9po'ering 2er3s or 2ealing
All healing her3s 9ust first 3e e9po'ered= 8ou can use ready%dried and po'dered her3s or chop your
o'n and grind the9 in a 9ortar and pestle= &his 9ethod is particularly suita3le for her3s to 3e placed
in a healing sachet=
P Place your chosen her3s in a s9all cera9ic or glass 3o'l and run the9 through your fingers into a
cera9ic or 'ooden 3o'l/ repeating an appropriate i9precation/ for e;a9ple/
@ennel/ fennel/
give 9y infant
peaceful sleep @/
until you can feel the po'er rising= (ennel is e;cellent 9agically and 9edicinally for curing 3a3ies@
colic and a sachet of fennel and Cha9o9ile hung a3ove the cradle is a great soother=!
P Add a chant for each her3 in the sachet as you put it in the 3o'l= &he chant 'ill 3eco9e longer until
you are na9ing all the ingredients:
@ennel/ fennel/
give 9y infant Fuiet sleep/
Cha9o9ile/ Cha9o9ile/
3ring her s'eet drea9s===@=
P $f you 'ish/ add at this stage any essential oil you are using/ na9ing it as part of the cu9ulative
chant=
P Place a3out a ta3lespoon of the her3 or her3s in your ready%stitched sachet/ or in the centre of the
cloth to 3e tied= :se 9ore for a larger sachet/ 3ut re9e93er that it is 3est to under% rather than overfill=
As you add the her3s/ repeat your chant a3out the energies you are invoking in the her3s=
P Close the sachet or tie the 9aterial in three/ si; or nine consecutive knots of a natural t'ine or
ri33on/ seeing your energy and healing 3ound in the knots= As you tie your 3ag/ visualise yourself % or
the person/ ani9al or place that the sachet is intended to heal % fully restored/ as you chant:
&hree knots $ 3ind/
three knots $ 'ind/
love/ health and tranFuillity=
&hree 9ore $ tie/
to Earth/ Sea/ Sky/
for days and nights of har9ony/
&hree knots to heal/
these her3s $ seal=
$n po'er and Goy/
so let it 3e=
(Adapt the chant to the nu93er of knots you are using=!
2er3s or E9otional And Spiritual E9po'er9ent And 2ealing
Agri9ony
Agri9ony is good for the digestive syste9/ cuts/ 3ruises and throat pro3le9s=
$t is also effective for psychic protection/ to return negative energies to the sender and for peaceful
sleep= :se in protective sachets and as part of a sleep pillo' for ti9es 'hen you are totally e;hausted
3ut cannot rest=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
Allspice
Allspice is a her3 of healing for all aspects of life/ 3ut it is particularly used for the digestive organs/
rheu9atis9 and neuralgia=
$t is freFuently 3urned as incense to pro9ote good luck and to attract 9oney=
+uled 3y Mars=
Aloe vera
Aloe vera soothes 'ounds and 3urns/ and is effective in treating lack of appetite/ 3o'el and 9enstrual
pro3le9s=
As a protective plant/ it is popular in the house/ since traditionally it 3rings luck and prosperity=
+uled 3y the Moon=
Angelica
Angelica is so%na9ed since it is said to have 3een revealed 3y an archangel to relieve plague during
the Middle Ages= $t is a natural energiser and is good for respiratory and liver pro3le9s and for
i9proving circulation=
$t is protective/ especially for children/ 'hen 'orn as an a9ulet/ and can 3e gro'n in the garden to
protect 3oth garden and ho9e= $t is also 3elieved to give long life and protection against illness=
+uled 3y the Sun=
Anise (aniseed!
Anise cal9s the nervous syste9 and relieves coughs and lung pro3le9s= $t is a very gentle her3/
e;cellent for skin pro3le9s=
$t protects against all negative influences/ especially in the ho9e/ including e;ternal hostility/ 3ad
drea9s= A sachet on the 3edpost keeps the sleeper young=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
Apple
Apple is good for fevers and nausea= $t has all%over po'ers of reGuvenation and fertility and so is
especially used for healing 3a3ies and children=
$t 'ill also heal relationships/ restore youthful opti9is9 and the increase of hope= $t increases inner
3eauty and helps self%estee9/ especially if a person is 'orried or 3eing teased a3out their appearance=
$t enhances all for9s of ne' gro'th and so 'ill restore fertility to gardens and areas of land that have
3een 9ade 3arren or ur3anised=
+uled 3y <enus=
Ash
Ash 'as a sacred tree to the Celts (as late as the nineteenth century/ in Iillura in $reland/ a descendant
of the original sacred ash of Creevna 'as used as a char9 against dro'ning!= $t 'as used to cure
rickets/ hernias or 'ounds that 'ould not heal and toothache (a folklore re9edy for toothache 'as to
ru3 your gu9 'ith a ne' nail until it 3led/ then to ha99er the nail into an ash or oak tree 'hich
'ould take a'ay the pain!= &he leaves and po'dered 3ark are very effective for all healing and for
endo'ing lasting good health=
$t is also effective for protection at sea/ 'hile sailing or s'i99ing= +uled 3y the Sun=
Aspen
&he aspen 'as kno'n as the shiver%tree/ 3ecause the leaves shook even 'hen apparently there 'as no
3reeAeH 3y sy9pathetic 9agick it 'as 3elieved that @like cures like@ and so the aspen 'as said to have
the po'er to cure fevers/ agues and illnesses involving shivering or e;tre9ities of cold= $t is also good
for eloFuence=
As a protective her3/ it can 3e used in anti%theft and 3urglary sachets hidden in houses or cars=
+uled 3y Saturn/ in his 9ost positive aspects=
Basil
Basil reduces stress and clears the 9ind= $t can 3e used for 9enstruation pro3le9s and sto9ach
disorders including ulcers= $t also re9oves to;ins/ so is good for anti%pollution rituals= Basil also
repels har9ful insects and encourages peaceful sleep=
$t is a her3 of love and fidelity and also attracts a3undance and prosperity= As a protective her3/ it is
good for overco9ing fear of flying=
+uled 3y Mars=
Bay
Bay can 3e used for all digestive disorders/ for stress and psychoso9atic illness=
$t offers psychic protection and 'ill heal sorro'= $t purifies all for9s of pollution and negativity/
endo's strength and endurance and encourages fidelity=
+uled 3y the Sun=
Bistort
Bistort is potent in relieving 'ounds of all kinds/ e9otional as 'ell as physical/ also throat/ 9outh and
tongue pro3le9s/ especially 'hen 9i;ed 'ith echinacea/ 9yrrh and goldenseal= $t aids fertility/ so can
3e carried 3y 'o9en 'ho 'ish to 3eco9e pregnant=
$t 'ill repels those 'ho co9e to a ho9e 'ith 9alice or ill intent= Bistort also increases a3undance and
prosperity and psychic a'areness=
+uled 3y Saturn=
Black Cohosh
&his her3 is particularly associated 'ith older 'o9en= or this reason/ it is good for pro3le9s
associated 'ith the 9enopause=
As a protective her3/ it 3rings courage and love/ especially in late%flo'ering relationships/ and the
po'er to 9ake positive change=
+uled 3y the Moon=
Borage
Borage is good for lung pro3le9s/ for lo'ering te9peratures/ for relieving pro3le9s 'ith the adrenal
glands and for speeding recovery after any illness= $t 'as used in +o9an ti9es/ infused in 'ine/ to
relieve depression and on its o'n to help rheu9atis9 and 'eak hearts and to purify 3lood=
$t is a her3 of courage and protection that can 3e used in sachets/ especially out of doors/ or in
potentially haAardous places=
+uled 3y Mars=
Burdock
Burdock relieves chronic skin conditions and rheu9atis9 and restores 3alance to 3odily energies and
organsH it supports the liver and kidneys/ especially 'hen 9i;ed 'ith dandelion=
Burdock deters negativity 'hen used in protective a9ulets and offers protection against negativityH it
enhances passion and se;uality and heals loss or 3etrayal in love=
+uled 3y the Moon=
Cara'ay
Cara'ay relieves 9enstrual pro3le9s and nourishes nursing 9others= $t is effective for all digestive
disorders/ coughs and 3ruises/ and helps to i9prove 9e9ory=
$t is protective against all sources of negativity/ especially against theft and vandalis9 (hide a tiny
sachet 'ith valua3le ite9s!= $t is also an aphrodisiac that can kindle or rekindle passion=
+uled 3y Mercury=
Catnip
Catnip 'ill help influenAa/ prolonged fevers/ viruses and respiratory pro3le9s/ especially 'hen 9i;ed
in sachets or poppets 'ith elder and yarro'= $t is very effective for children (and cats/ 'ith 'ho9 it
forges telepathic links!=
$t 9akes a potent love sachet 'hen 9i;ed 'ith rose petals= Around or near a ho9e/ catnip attracts
good fortune and 3enign forces= $t also enhances inner 3eauty and do9estic Goy=
+uled 3y <enus=
Cha9o9ile
&he 9ost gentle and soothing of her3s/ Cha9o9ile 'as 3eloved of Peter +a33it in Beatri; Potter@s
tales= $t has 9any uses/ including soothing an;iety/ relieving inso9nia/ and cal9ing hyperactivity in
children= $t is e;cellent for all digestive pro3le9s/ especially in the young (no nursery should 3e
'ithout its Cha9o9ile/ fennel and lavender sachet as a gift for a ne' infant!/ and relieves eye
pro3le9s in adults and children=
Cha9o9ile is used in char9s to attract a3undance and prosperityH it is good for 9editation and for
attracting ne' love/ fa9ily happiness and the gro'th of trust after 3etrayal and loss/ and it is
protective and deters those 'ho 'ould do har9=
+uled 3y the Sun=
Cloves
Cloves are e;cellent for relieving tooth pains/ circulation pro3le9s/ 3ack and lung pro3le9s and
nausea in pregnancy=
As part of an a9ulet or sachet/ cloves 'ill prevent gossip/ 9alice and envy against the 'earer and
help the user to learn ne' skills= Cloves are a natural aphrodisiac that 3oth attracts love and a'akens
se;ual feelings= or those 'ho have suffered loss/ cloves offer co9fort=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
Coltsfoot
&his is perhaps the 3est her3al re9edy for respiratory pro3le9s/ especially persistent dry coughs/ also
3ronchitis/ asth9a/ and even e9physe9a= $t also soothes the sto9ach and co93ats fluid retention=
$t is traditionally used in love rituals and sachets/ and to induce peace of 9ind= $t also offers protection
to all 'ho travel/ and to horses=
+uled 3y <enus=
Co9frey
Co9frey relieves 3urns/ cuts/ coughs and asth9a and speeds healing=
$t offers protection 'hile travelling and if placed in a suitcase 'ill guard your 3elongings fro9 loss or
theft= $t is a natural 3ringer of luck and 9oney/ and so can 3e added to a3undance sachets if a person
has suffered financial or 9aterial loss=
+uled 3y Saturn=
>andelion
>andelion helps to clear o3structions and so is good for the liver/ spleen/ gall 3ladder and kidneys= $t
relieves fluid retention and pre9enstrual tension/ deto;ifies the syste9 and encourages circulation=
$t pro9otes psychic a'areness/ carrying thoughts 3et'een lovers= $t is co99only used in country love
divination to ans'er Fuestions concerning a lover@s fidelity and intentions=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
>ill
&his is a her3 for the 'ell%3eing of infants and nursing 9others/ 3ringing ease and Fuiet sleep to
colicky/ fretful 3a3ies and assisting lactation=
$t is a her3 of love and passion and can also 3e used in love and protection sachets/ especially for
ho9es= $t 'ill repel intruders and 9alice fro9 the ho9e so is a sachet to keep near entrances= Add it to
nursery sachets=
+uled 3y Mercury=
Echinacea (purple cornflo'er!
Echinacea is a natural anti3iotic that also triggers the i99une syste9= $t increases the production of
'hite 3lood cells/ and aids the effective functioning of the ly9ph glands and so is effective for
3uilding up resistance in a person 'ho has 3een ill or is physically vulnera3le= $t also heals 'ounds/
9outh sores and gu9 disorders=
Echinacea is a her3 of spiritual gro'th and a'arenessH it is used 'here altruis9 and idealis9 are to
the fore= $t also pro9otes spiritual drea9s=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
Elder
Elder is 3eloved of the +o9any gypsies as a 3asis for 9any different re9edies= $t is effective as an
antiseptic and can 3e used to treat sprains/ 'ounds/ rheu9atis9/ influenAa/ respiratory co9plaints/ hay
fever and sinusitis= $t prevents inso9nia and 3rings peaceful sleep=
Elder offers protection fro9 hostility to the user/ and to the ho9e fro9 stor9 da9age and other
e;tre9es of 'eather= $t 3rings health/ 'ealth and happiness/ and especially 9arital Goy to a ne' 3ride
or groo9=
+uled 3y <enus=
Eleca9pane (elf'ort!
Eleca9pane is effective for all coughs and respiratory co9plaints/ especially in childrenH it helps
asth9a and 3ronchitic asth9a/ loss of appetite and general failure to thrive=
As its na9e suggests/ it is associated 'ith elves and faeries and is a natural love char9/ potent in love
sachets/ a9ulets and rituals for attraction= $t is protective against all for9s of hostility and increases
psychic a'areness=
+uled 3y <enus=
ennel
ro9 +o9an ti9es/ this her3 has 3een reno'ned for its effects on courage/ sta9ina and rene'ed
strength and energy= $t is good for i9proving a sluggish 9eta3olic rate/ for reducing all s'elling/
especially fluid retention/ for pre9enstrual tension/ for aiding 3reastfeeding and for easing an infant@s
colic and restlessness= $t also helps sore eyes and coughs and i9proves 9ental alertness=
ennel 3rings protection fro9 un'anted visitors and all for9s of e;ternal hostility=
+uled 3y Mercury=
Ginger
Much priAed in the East/ ginger is still used in China to aid potency and ensure long life= $t 'ar9s the
3ody/ re9oving pain/ especially rheu9atis9/ and it strengthens and heals the respiratory syste9/ as
'ell as 3oosting the i99une syste9= $t is good for throat co9plaints/ and for all sickness and nausea/
especially in pregnancy and 'hile travelling/ so should 3e added to travel sachets=
Ginger is also often carried po'dered in a tiny sachet in a pocket or purse to attract 9oney/ success
and also love= $t acts as a physical and e9otional energiser=
+uled 3y Mars=
2oly &histle
2oly thistle is effective for treating all liver/ gall%3ladder and spleen pro3le9s/ even helping livers
da9aged 3y alcohol or hepatitis= $t counters appetite loss and relieves 9enopausal sy9pto9s=
$t is/ ho'ever/ 9ainly a protective her3/ used to keep a'ay all negativity= $t is an aid to any spiritual
'ork or contact 'ith the higher self and angels or spirit guides= $t encourages altruis9=
+uled 3y Mars=
2ops
A gentle/ safe 3ut po'erful sedative/ hops are also used in treating inso9nia and nervous tension/ and
internal spas9s triggered 3y stress= 2ops 'ill cal9 the entire nervous syste9 and so can 3e used to
treat coughs/ 3ladder and liver pro3le9s aggravated 3y stress/ 3o'el disorders 'ith an an;iety
co9ponent/ for e;a9ple irrita3le 3o'el syndro9e/ and skin pro3le9s 'ith an e9otional cause=
As a protective her3/ hops 'ill drive a'ay dark thoughts/ dou3ts and fears=
+uled 3y the Sun=
2yssop
>erived fro9 the 2e3re' eso3/ hyssop is 9entioned 9any ti9es in the Bi3le for its a3ility to cleanse
the 3ody of illness= $t relieves coughs/ 3ronchitis/ painful throats and viruses/ tension and stressrelated
conditions/ 3urns/ and ear pains and pro3le9s/ especially in children=
$t is pri9arily a her3 of purification and 'ill help to 3anish sad thoughts/ despair and dou3ts/ and
leave a positive approach= 2yssop re9oves negativity fro9 the ho9e and fro9 o3Gects that have
un'elco9ing or sorro'ful vi3rations=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
Kuniper
Kuniper is a natural antiseptic= $t relieves digestive and gastrointestinal infla99ations/ arthritis and
rheu9atis9/ Goint and 9uscle pain and infla99ation= $t also increases 9ale potency=
Kuniper naturally purifies the ho9e fro9 past negative influences and future 9isfortune % use it
especially at #e' 8ear= $t also acts as an a9ulet against accidents/ theft and illness=
+uled 3y the Sun=
Inot'eed
Inot'eed is a natural antiseptic that helps to heal infected 'oundsH it 'ill cal9 nerves and prevent
an;iety developing= $t relieves tendon pro3le9s and is good for general health and i9prove9ent of
conditions that cause i99o3ility=
A her3 to increase e9otional co99it9ent and encourage fidelity/ it can 3e used for ensuring pro9ises
are kept and for all rituals involving knots=
+uled 3y the Moon=
?avender
Add lavender to any healing sachet/ for it has cal9ing and restorative properties and pro9ises a
gradual and gentle i9prove9ent in health= $t is an anti%depressant/ a natural sedative and a painreliever/
especially for tension%related headaches and 9uscle or Goint pains= $t also helps digestion= A
pillo' filled 'ith dried lavender flo'ers induces peaceful sleep= $n a roo9/ it 'ill encourage gentle/
positive interactions and reduce hyperactivity in children=
?avender is a her3 of loveH it attracts gentle and kind lovers/ especially for 'o9en= $t is good for 'ish
9agick=
+uled 3y Mercury=
Marigold
Marigold is a good/ all%purpose ingredient for healing sachets/ especially for all skin co9plaints and
infections= $t is effective in the treat9ent of 3leeding/ 3urns/ headaches/ eye and gall%3ladder pro3le9s
and sto9ach ulcers= $t protects against internal and e;ternal infections=
Marigold increases positivity in the ho9e/ 9akes a lover 9ore affectionate/ pro9otes fidelity and
helps in all legal pro3le9s=
+uled 3y the Sun=
Mullein
Mullein is effective for the relief of any respiratory condition/ such as 3ronchitis/ hoarseness/ asth9a
and harsh coughs= $t can also 3e used for acidity/ skin infla99ation and pains of all kinds= $t acts as a
sedative and a cure for inso9nia/ guarding against night9ares=
$t 3rings courage and prevents accidents/ so is good in travel or 'orkplace protectionH it is also very
protective against any negative forces=
+uled 3y Saturn=
Myrrh
A po'erful antiseptic/ 'ith anti%fungal and astringent properties/ 9yrrh is good for all 9outh and
throat pro3le9s and for 'ounds=
$t is one of the oldest protective and purification her3s/ associated 'ith all healing of 9ind and spirit
as 'ell as 3ody= Myrrh is a good her3 to 3urn as incense for protection and for healingH it pro9otes
higher states of consciousness and so is good for all spiritual 'ork=
+uled 3y the Moon=
Parsley
parsley can 3e used for enriching the 3lood and helping all skin conditions such as ecAe9a and acne=
$t is also good for anae9ia and relieves pre9enstrual tension/ kidney/ 3ladder and urinary tract
infections/ gout/ Gaundice/ and 9enstrual and 9enopausal disorders=
A divinatory her3/ parsley is said to encourage fertility/ love and passion= $t is also protective % a
poppet or sachet filled 'ith parsley is a gentle 3ut po'erful defence against psychological or psychic
attack= Plant it on Good riday=
+uled 3y Mercury=
Pepper9int
)ne of the 3est re9edies for travel sickness and all for9s of nausea/ pepper9int is therefore a good
her3 for anyone 'ho travels regularly= Add it to car sachets for children (9ake one in the shape of a
3ear or favourite toy and hang it over a car seat!= $t is also e;cellent for all digestive disorders/
especially ulcerative colitis and Crohn@s disease= $t can 3e helpful in relieving coughs/ head and throat
pains= Mi; 'ith Cha9o9ile for inso9niaH in larger Fuantities/ it acts as an energiser=
Pepper9int can 3e used for healing and purifying/ at ho9e or in sickroo9s/ to drive a'ay all
negativity and illness=
+uled 3y <enus=
+ose
An essential ingredient in healing sachets/ rose is potent in fighting infections and viruses of all kinds/
relieving physical and e9otional e;haustion/ skin pro3le9s/ 9enstrual disorders and hyperactivity=
:se it in love rituals/ to attract love and to give 9eaningful and prophetic drea9s= +ose is also a
sy93ol of courage/ especially the 3lood red rose=
+uled 3y <enus=
+ose9ary (elf leaf!
+ose9ary relieves headaches/ depression/ liver and gall%3ladder pro3le9s/ sciatica and 9uscular pain=
$t aids digestion/ i9proves circulation/ helps 'ith hair and scalp disorders/ i9proves 9e9ory/ focuses
thoughts and increases energy levels= Put a s9all handful/ chopped/ in a 9uslin 3ag and add to a 3ath %
this is a 9edieval prescription for energy and clarity of thought=
A her3 of protection/ rose9ary can drive a'ay 3ad drea9s= :se in love sachets to attract lovers and
3ring healing to destructive or confrontational relationships= +ose9ary is also a her3 of re9e93rance/
especially of love/ and can 3ring a3out reconciliation=
+uled 3y the Sun=
Sage
Sage is a popular culinary her3 'ith 9any 9edical applications and healing po'ersH according to
tradition/ it prolongs life and health= $n 9edieval ti9es it 'as said: @Why should a 9an 'ho has sage
in his garden ever dieJ@= Sage 'as called her3a sacra (@the holy her3@! 3y the +o9ans and 'as used 3y
the Ancient Egyptians to cure 9ale infertility and 3y the Chinese to sti9ulate 3oth yang and yin
energies=
$t is especially good for strengthening the lungs and it 3oosts the i99une syste9/ helping to 3uild up
resistance to illness and to speed recovery in cases of de3ilitating or chronic conditions= Sage eases
9ental e;haustion and increases the a3ility to concentrate/ so is ideal in sachets for people under
pressure fro9 e;a9inations or at 'ork/ especially 'ith rose9ary= $t lifts depression and soothes
an;ieties=
Sage increases psychic a'areness and allo's gli9pses of past and futureH it attracts good health/
9oney and offers protection for the ho9e and fa9ily=
+uled 3y Kupiter=
St Kohn@s 'ort (hypericu9!
St Kohn@s 'ort relieves depression/ an;iety/ neuralgia/ headaches and irrita3ility during the
9enopause= $t is good for relief fro9 pain/ helping 'ith fi3rositis/ sciatica and rheu9atis9= $t is an
anti%infla99atory/ and so speeds the healing of 3urns and 'ounds=
St Kohn@s 'ort is the golden her3 of 9idsu99er and sy93ol of the longest day/ the su99er solstice
and the full po'er of the Sun= $t offers fertility and po'ers to attract love/ especially if picked on the
Eve of St Kohn/ *, Kune/ at 9idnight= &raditionally/ it 'as 'orn in 3attle for courage/ and it can also
3ring decisiveness= :se it for protection/ especially if co93ined 'ith dill and vervain=
+uled 3y the Sun=
&arragon
A 9ild sti9ulant/ tarragon helps the nervous syste9 to overco9e restless e;haustion that can stand in
the 'ay of rela;ation/ 'hile also soothing an;ieties so sleep co9es easily= $t is also good for
sti9ulating the kidneys and is a traditional re9edy for toothache and digestive pro3le9s=
)nce associated 'ith dragons and serpent goddesses and the a3ility to cure snake%3ites/ tarragon has
no' 3eco9e associated 'ith rituals and decisions involving shedding 'hat is redundant/ as a snake
sheds its skin= $t is good for regeneration and helps the user to focus on ne' targets=
+uled 3y Mercury=
&hy9e
&hy9e 3rings good health/ i9proves 9e9ory and 9ental a3ilities and has po'erful antiseptic
properties=
$t is said to aid recall of the past and allo' gli9pses into the future and to give courage and strength=
$n a sleep pillo'/ it keeps a'ay 3ad drea9s and 9ay 3ring happy/ prophetic ones=
+uled 3y <enus=
<alerian
<alerian is a rela;antH it reduces tension/ an;iety/ all stress%related conditions and inso9nia/ and
offers effective pain relief for tension%related conditions including 9igraines=
A her3 of reconciliation/ it can 3e placed in poppets/ 'hich are then tied together to 3ring har9ony to
a relationship or reunite those parted 3y anger or circu9stance= $t 'as used 3y the Ancient Greeks to
keep a'ay all har9 and is still pri9arily regarded as a her3 of protection and peace=
+uled 3y <enus=
<ervain
<ervain is a natural strengthener of the nervous syste9/ reducing tension and the effects of stress= $t
eases depression/ especially after illness=
$t also offers protection against all negativityH a sachet hung a3ove an infant@s 3ed drives a'ay
night9ares/ and 3rings 3oth happiness and intelligence to the very young= A sprig can 3e e;changed
'ith a friend or lover as a pro9ise of truth at all ti9es=
+uled 3y <enus=
8arro'
8arro' lo'ers 3lood pressure/ slo's the heart3eat/ speeds the healing of 'ounds and reduces fevers=
A her3 of love/ yarro' is said to keep a couple together for at least seven years/ and so should 3e
given to ne'ly%'eds and used in love char9s= Married couples keep the her3 in a special sachet and
replace it Gust 3efore seven years is over/ continuing to do so throughout 9arried life= &his can 3e
9ade into a cere9ony of rene'al= $t also repels hostility and 3anishes fear=
+uled 3y <enus=
2er3al $nfusions
As 'ell as 9agical sachets/ you can 9ake her3s into infusions= Add one level teaspoon (. 9l! of
coarsely chopped dried her3s or t'o level teaspoons ((7 9l! of freshly chopped leaves or flo'ers to a
cup of 3oiling 'aterH leave it for five 9inutes and strain= )nce the liFuid has cooled/ you can sprinkle
it round roo9s/ furniture and personal property or add it to a 3ucket of 'ater for 'ashing floors=
&he roots and 3ark of so9e plants can 3e used to 9ake a decoction= Crush and po'der t'o
ta3lespoons (,7 9l! of the her3 and add to one pint (.77 9l! of cold 'ater= Si99er the 9i;ture until
the Fuantity of 'ater is reduced 3y half and then strain the 9i;ture=
resh her3s or flo'ers can 3e added to your 3ath in the follo'ing 'ay: place the9 in a net or a piece
of 9uslin % you could even use an old pair of tights % and hang the9 under the hot tap 'hile you run a
3ath= Alternatively/ allo' the 3ag of her3s to float in the 3ath for (7 9inutes or add a strained infusion
to the 'ater=
)f course/ you can al'ays drink her3s as tea or 3urn her3al incenses or oils= All these are valid 'ays
of getting the 9edicinal as 'ell as 9agical properties fro9 her3s/ though you should still charge the9
9agically= 2o'ever you use the9/ al'ays 3ear in 9ind that her3s are very potent so 3efore you 3egin
you should seek the advice of a trained her3alist or ho9eopath or read carefully a relia3le her3al 3ook
(see page *66 for a list of those $ 'ould reco99end!= Pay particular attention to any Fuantities and
9edical contraindications that are given=
Cautions
$t is inadvisa3le for anyone to use any her3 in large Fuantities or over prolonged periods 'ithout first
taking 9edical advice to ensure that it is safe= &his applies particularly if you are pregnant or
3reastfeeding/ 'hen $ 'ould reco99end that you avoid the follo'ing in any for9/ including 3aths/
inhalation and teas:
Aloe vera/ angelica/ anise/ autu9n crocus/ 3ar3erry/ 3asil/ 3ay/ 3lack cohosh/ cara'ay/ cayenne/ elder/
fennel/ feverfe'/ golden seal/ hyssop/ Guniper/ 9ale fern/ 9andrake/ parsley/ penny royal/ poke
rose9ary/ root/ rue/ sage/ southern'ood/ tansy/ tarragon/ thuGa/ thy9e/ 'intergreen/ 'or9'ood/
yarro'=
&his is not co9prehensive list and during pregnancy you should check 'ith a trained her3alist or
phar9acist 3efore taking any her3al preparation % as you should 'ith any 9edical preparation at all= $t
is advisa3le to avoid all her3s during the first three 9onths of pregnancy=
&here are 9any 9edical conditions that preclude the use of certain her3s= &hese include asth9a/
dia3etes/ high 3lood pressure/ epilepsy and heart disease= Generally/ of course/ it should 3e safe to use
your her3s in sachets or poppets/ 3ut you 9ust avoid inhaling the her3s= Mild her3s/ such as rose/
lavender and Cha9o9ile or hops/ are safe options for use in sleep pillo's= 2o'ever/ in all cases/ you
should consult a Fualified 9edical practitioner 3efore using her3s in any for9=
A 2ealing +itual or An A3sent Person
&his si9ple healing ritual is for so9eone 'ho has a virus or other de3ilitating condition= &he virus
9ay 3e affecting the 'hole 3ody and not responding to treat9ent= &he ritual incorporates the four
9ain stages of a spell descri3ed on page -7 and can 'ork eFually 'ell for a solitary practitioner or a
group of 'itches= As the ritual is intended to sti9ulate the 3ody@s i99une syste9/ it is 3est done on
the gentle early 'a;ing 9oon energies (see page *,. for the 3est hours and day of the 'eek!=
&hrough 9agick/ a concentrated dosage of healing po'er is offered/ 3ased on a particular healing
her3 charged 'ith the energies of the sender/ 3ut 'ithout any a3sorption of the actual su3stance= So/
rather than 9aking a tea or tincture/ you use e9po'ered her3s= &his is a 'ay of sending her3 po'er to
any person or creature 'ithout the need to 'orry a3out 9edical e;clusions and correct Fuantities=
Place so9e echinacea in the centre of your altar in a 9ortar and pestle= Echinacea/ or purple
cornflo'er/ is a her3 that is taken 9edicinally to relieve viral conditions= 8ou 'ill also need a readycut%
out doll shape in 'hite 9aterial and a needle and pink thread=
P Place on the altar sy93ols of health: fruit/ flo'ers/ seeds and nuts are all full of prana/ or life force=
P ?ight t'o 'hite candles/ the god candle on the left/ then the Goddess candle on other side= $f you
are 'orking as a group/ the person leading the ritual can light the candles=
P Call on the person 'ho is 3eing healed/ 'herever they are/ to visualise the9selves in a cone of 3lue
light at the ti9e you 'ill 3e carrying out the ritual=
P With feet apart/ dra' up light through your feet/ let it spread through your legs/ up your 3ody/ your
ar9s and though the cro'n of your hand (this process is so9eti9es referred to as raising a light
3ody!=
P &hen cast the circle= Koin hands if you are in a group and/ 3eginning 'ith the person in the #orth of
the group/ pass the po'er deosil fro9 hand to hand/ chanting:
May the circle 3e un3roken=
P $f you are 'orking alone/ 'alk around the outside of a visualised circle of light a3out five feet in
dia9eter/ pointing to'ards the ground 'ith your po'er finger (the inde; finger of the hand you 'rite
'ith! or a 'and 9ade of 'illo'/ haAel or ro'an or ash sharpened at one end= Chant:
Circle of light/
circle of healing/
protect 9e 'ithin
and aid this 9y 'orking=
P E9po'er the dried her3s 3y 9i;ing the9 in a 9ortar and pestle 'ith a fe' drops of laurel or
eucalyptus essential oil % these are also good for viral infections= As you 9i;/ chant a 9antra/ such as:
2eal and restore/
strength once 9ore=
$f you are 'orking as a group/ one person should 9i; the her3s on the altar 'hile the others chant the
na9es of healing deities (see page 44! in ever%rising intensity and pitch/ for e;a9ple:
Brighid/ Ganga/ 2er9es/ &hoth/ 2ygeia/ Panacea/ Sulis/ $dunaL
As you do so/ you raise a cone of healing energies over the 9ortar and pestle/ 3reathing in life fro9
the living fruits and flo'ers and proGecting it as 3lue healing light that 9ay 3e 9ingled 'ith the green
of the her3s=
8ou can adapt the chant if you do not 'ish to use specific na9es/ for e;a9ple:
Goddess/ Mother/ healer/ restorer/ hear our plea=
P #o' that you have raised the cone of 3lue po'er/ it can 3e directed to'ards the person to 3e healed
3y pointing in the direction of their ho9e/ 'ith either your po'er finger or a 'and/ and uttering a
final cry:
2eal and 3less=
+ather than no' grounding the re9aining po'er/ you can use it to fashion a slo'er/ 3ut eFually
potent/ talis9an that 'ill continue the 'ork=
P Sit Fuietly in front of the altar/ facing north/ and se' a doll%shaped 3ag/ to 3e filled 'ith her3s (see
the te9plate on page (76!= $f you are 'orking in a group/ pass the doll/ or poppet/ and a needle and
thread around the group= Each person can 9ake a fe' very rough stitches/ endo'ing each 'ith a
spoken hope or prayer for the sick person and visualising the stitches filled 'ith light= When only the
head is open/ the person 'ho 9ade the last stitch should take it to the altar and fill the poppet 'ith the
charged her3s/ speaking 9ore healing 'ords/ and then se' up the head=
P Place the poppet 3et'een the altar candles 'here the light can shine on it=
P #o' uncast the circle 'iddershins/ either fro9 hand to hand or 'ith your po'er finger or 'and/
seeing the light returning to the ground and repeating:
May the circle 3e uncast
3ut re9ain un3roken=
Any re9aining energy can 3e grounded 3y sitting on the ground and pressing do'n'ards or standing
and returning the po'er 'ith a sta9p of your feet=
P ?eave the altar candles 3urning and eat the fruit and seeds and nuts to a3sor3 the 9agical life force=
P Blo' out the altar candles (in a group/ this should 3e done 3y the person leading the ritual! and send
the light to the sick person= &he person receiving the healing 9ay notice an intensity of 3lue light
'hen the cone is released=
As soon as possi3le/ give the poppet/ 'rapped in 'hite silk/ to the person to 3e healed/ for the9 to
keep close to their 3ed=
4 % )ils and $ncenses in Magick
)ils and incenses/ like her3s/ are very versatile= &he easiest 'ay of attracting all the good things you
'ant not only for yourself 3ut also for those you love and for those in need/ is to 3urn oils and to
release the appropriate fragrances and let the9 'ork in their o'n 'ay=8ou can choose the appropriate
oil for health/ happiness/ love/ success/ prosperity/ confidence and protection/ to na9e 3ut a fe'=
)il Magick
8ou can use oils as part of a ritual= $n traditional 9agick/ oils are placed in the West of the altar for
the Water ele9ent/ or the East/ if lit/ to sy93olise the fragrance rising on the Air= But they can eFually
for9 the focus of any spell/ each oil 3eing charged 'ith its particular purpose 3efore use=
&here are 9any 'ays you can use oils 9agically as 'ell as therapeutically: for e;a9ple/ you can 3urn
the9 in special holders (these are availa3le every'here fro9 phar9acies/ hard'are shops and
super9arkets!H you can sprinkle a fe' drops on an open fire or on cotton 'oolH you can pour a little
into a saucer and place it a3ove a radiatorH you can dispense the9 in sprays or in any of the variety of
condensers and diffusers that are availa3leH or you can dilute the9 and use the9 as floor 'ashes=
Cautions
)ils are very potent and should only ever 3e used in accordance 'ith instructions inside the 3o; fro9
the 9anufacturer= &here are also a nu93er of good 3ooks on the 9arket and $ have listed a fe' at the
3ack of this 3ook that 'ill advise on correct dosage=
Generally/ oils such as lavender/ Cha9o9ile/ rose/ rose'ood and geraniu9 are so 9ild that for an
adult you can use up to ten drops Fuite safely in a 3ath full of 'ater= 2o'ever/ do not add 9ore than
three drops of pepper9int/ le9on or Cedar'ood/ and no 9ore than four or five drops of other
astringent or potent oils such as orange/ pine/ rose9ary/ tea tree and thy9e to a 3athful of 'ater and
follo' instructions carefully= 8ou can also put a drop or t'o of the 9ilder oils on a handkerchief or
inhale fro9 the 3ottle/ 3ut again follo' instructions to the letter=
or children/ use no 9ore than four drops of 9ild oil (lavender/ Cha9o9ile/ rose/ rose'ood or
geraniu9! in total in a 3athH for s9all children/ do not use 9ore than t'o drops and use only gentler
fragrances such as lavender or Cha9o9ile (this is e;cellent for cal9ing children!=
So9e conditions preclude the use of certain oilsH this applies for use in 3aths/ and for inhalations and
9assage= As 'ith her3s/ $ reco99end that you should al'ays check 'ith your doctor 3efore using
any oils=
Epilepsy: Avoid s'eet fennel/ hyssop/ sage/ and rose9ary=
2igh 3lood pressure: Avoid cypress/ hyssop/ rose9ary/ sage and thy9e=
Pregnancy: $t is 3est to avoid the follo'ing oils during any stage of pregnancy=
Angelica/ 3asil/ 3itter al9ond/ Cedar'ood/ clary sage/ clove/ fennel/ hyssop/ Guniper/ 9arGora9/
9yrrh/ pepper9int/ rose9ary/ sage/ tarragon/ thy9e/ 'intergreen/ yarro'=
Photo%&o;ic )ils
Certain oils/ particularly citrus oils/ can irritate the skin if they are e;posed to the light/ and a3out half
of the nor9al a9ount of other oils should 3e used in 3aths and 9assage= Avoid direct sunlight for si;
hours after use= &hey include:
Angelica/ 3erga9ot/ ginger/ le9on/ li9e/ 9andarin and orange= 2o'ever/ they are ideal for 3urning
and are all energising=
Skin $rritants
So9e can 3e an irritant to the skin and so should 3e used sparingly and 'ell%diluted= &hey include:
Allspice/ 3asil/ cinna9on/ clove/ fennel/ frankincense/ le9on/ le9ongrass and pepper9int=
)ils should never 3e taken internally and e;cept for pure rose and lavender should not 3e applied
undiluted to the skin=
:sing )ils
)ils and $ncenses in Magick
&o avoid repetition/ $ have only given a 3rief reference for those oils 'hose properties $ descri3ed in
the previous chapter/ for the Fualities of a su3stance are the sa9e in any for9=
BenAoin: BenAoin reduces tension/ stress/ and 9elts a'ay tension/ anger/ resent9ent/ e9otional pain
and frustrations= Positively/ 3enAoin increases self%confidence and attracts prosperity/ 3oth 9aterial
and spiritual=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith rose/ pine and lavender=
Berga9ot: Berga9ot soothes irrita3ility and lifts depression or apathy/ encouraging gentle 3ut honest
co99unication and the 9anifestation of a person@s true potential and inner self=
A citrus oil/ 3erga9ot 9i;es 'ell 'ith frankincense and ylang%ylang=
Cedar'ood: Cedar'ood is a sy93ol of 3oth spiritual and se;ual a'akening or rea'akening perhaps
after a period of loss or stagnationH e;cellent in 9editation/ it is an oil of youthfulness and a long and
happy life=
$t 9i;es especially 'ell 'ith cypress/ Guniper and rose9ary=
Cha9o9ile: Ino'n as the children@s oil and the oil of kindness/ Cha9o9ile is effective for every
childhood pro3le9/ including hyperactivity/ general restlessness and sleeplessness % it is also good for
adults 'ith si9ilar pro3le9s=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith ylang%ylang/ geraniu9/ lavender and le9on=
Citronella: Citronella is an oil of identity and independence/ esta3lishing the 3oundaries of the uniFue
self and repelling those 'ho 'ould do9inate or intrude on privacy/ 'hether personally or
professionallyH it also creates invisi3le 3oundaries around the ho9e= Citronella i9proves 9ental
alertness and dispels e;haustion and inertia= $t 9i;es 'ell 'ith lavender and Gas9ine=
Clary sage: Clary sage cal9s and drives a'ay fears and 3ad drea9s in adults and children= $t is also
an oil of inspiration and positivity and/ 'hen pro3le9s loo9 large/ replaces dou3ts 'ith unconsidered
options and 'ith an assurance that all 'ill 3e 'ell=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith ylang%ylang/ rose9ary and lavender=
Cypress: Cypress is an oil of consolation after sorro' or loss/ 3ringing acceptance/ healing and the
po'er to 9ove for'ard= $t pro9otes understanding and co9passion to'ards distress of self and
others=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith le9on/ Guniper and geraniu9=
Eucalyptus: &his is an oil of purification of 9ind/ 3ody and soul/ driving out negativity and anger/ as
'ell as repelling deli3erate psychological and psychic attack= Eucalyptus 'ill provide the i9petus for
action and decisions/ especially 'hen people and proGects have reached an i9passe= &he oil also offers
clear focus and increased concentration=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith Cedar'ood/ clary sage and pepper9int= ennel: ennel is the oil of strength/
courage and perseverance= $t 9i;es 'ell 'ith Cha9o9ile and eucalyptus=
rankincense: rankincense is regarded as the 9ost no3le of oils/ used in cere9onies and for9al
cele3rations throughout the ages and considered in 9any cultures to 3e a gift fro9 the deities/
3ringing healing and po'er=
$t offers confidence to ai9 high/ attracting a3undance of all kinds/ 9oney and success/ 3ut also
granting access to higher di9ensions and contact 'ith angels and spirit guides=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith cypress/ sandal'ood and 9yrrh=
Geraniu9: Geraniu9 is a har9onising oil/ restoring peace and 'ell3eing to the ho9e or 'orkplace/
encouraging positive/ non%confrontational interactions/ reconciling Fuarrels and 9elting a'ay
e9otional coldness and indifference in encounters= $t relieves tension/ depression dou3ts and despair/
replacing the9 'ith gentle opti9is9=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith lavender/ rose/ ylang%ylang/ Cedar'ood and Cha9o9ile and indeed 9ost other
oils=
Ginger: Ginger is an enhancer of love/ passion and 9oney and encourages adventure and innovation=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith 3erga9ot/ Cedar'ood and Gas9ine=
Kas9ine: Kas9ine is an uplifting oil/ 3oosting 3oth physical and 9ental potency and increasing love
and passion= $t deflects potential hostility/ transfor9ing it into friendliness and a 'illingness to
co9pro9ise=
$t 9i;es 'ith 9ost other oils/ especially rose and ylang%ylang=
Kuniper: Kuniper is a purifying and cleansing oil/ protecting against hostility and re9oving 'hat is
redundant=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith rose9ary/ frankincense and cypress=
?avender: ?avender is a har9oniser and 3rings love/ kindness and reconciliation to any person or
place=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith al9ost every oil/ 3ut especially geraniu9/ Cha9o9ile/ 9arGora9 and ylang%ylang=
?e9on: ?e9on is the 3reath of life/ 3ringing energy/ clarity/ logic and integrity= $t is a light%3ringer/
cutting through secrecy/ dou3t and dishonesty/ and cleansing at9ospheres and attitudes=
A citrus oil/ it 9i;es 'ell 'ith Cha9o9ile/ eucalyptus/ lavender and 9yrrh=
?e9ongrass: ?e9ongrass 'ill clear a'ay negative e9otions a9ong fa9ily/ friends and colleagues/
and past resent9ent and feuds fro9 the past that no longer serve any purpose= $t re9oves also painful
9e9ories and helps to leave 3ehind destructive relationshipsH le9ongrass also enhances psychic
a'areness=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith frankincense and geraniu9=
?i9e: ?i9e 3rings health and 'ell%3eing to self and to fa9ily and ho9e= $t generates enthusias9 and
triggers self%healing and regeneration in 3ody and 9ind= $t is protective against psychological and
psychic attack and has natural restorative po'ers=
A citrus oil/ it 9i;es 'ell 'ith eucalyptus and lavender=
Mandarin: Mandarin oil restores confidence self%love and self%estee9/ offering protection against the
3ar3s of unfair criticis9/ spite and gossip= $t enhances inner 3eauty and radiance=
A citrus oil/ it 9i;es 'ell 'ith Cedar'ood/ geraniu9/ and ylang%ylang=
MarGora9: MarGora9 is an oil that relieves loneliness and a sense of isolation and alienation/ a'aking
e9pathy 'ith others= $t is an oil of enduring love and fidelity=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith lavender and rose9ary=
Mi9osa: Mi9osa is an oil of the night/ for secrets and secret love/ 3ringing love and friendship/
especially for older people=
$t cal9s an;iety and over%sensitivity to criticis9 and 3rings har9ony and happiness/ 9elting a'ay
opposition and hostility=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith 3erga9ot and Cha9o9ile=
Myrrh: &his is a sacred cere9onial oil/ like frankincense/ and is 3urned in healing and purification
rituals=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith 9andarin/ pine and patchouli=
#eroli: &his is orange%3losso9 oil/ sy93ol of 9arriage/ co99itted relationships and fidelity/ fertility/
sensuality and self%estee9= $t prevents 9oods s'ings/ crises of confidence and panic attacks=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith geraniu9 and Gas9ine=
)range: )range is the oil of a3undance/ Goy and fertility/ attracting happiness/ giving confidence and
individuality/ and cal9ing an;iety and restlessness in children and adults=
A citrus oil/ it 9i;es 'ell 'ith lavender and ylang%ylang=
Patchouli: Patchouli is the oil of prosperity and is used in 9oney rituals/ to 3ring e9ploy9ent and
increase 3usiness opportunities= $t is also freFuently used in cere9onies to heal the planet/ as it is a
natural restorer of 3alance=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith geraniu9/ 9yrrh and pine=
Pepper9int: Pepper9int offers protection against illness/ accident/ hostility and theft or da9age to the
ho9e and also attracts 9oney=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith eucalyptus=
Pine: Pine is a purifier of all for9s of negativity/ hostile at9ospheres and dishonesty/ protecting
particularly against e9otional 3lack9ail= $t is an oil of courage and perseverance under difficulty/ of
integrity and clear focus=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith Guniper/ le9on and 9arGora9=
+ose: &his is an oil of fidelity/ happiness/ partnerships and gentle healing/ love and especially selflove=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith al9ost every other oil=
+ose9ary: +ose9ary is an oil for enhanced 9e9ory/ concentration/ Gustice/ career and success=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith Cedar'ood/ frankincense and geraniu9=
+ose'ood: +ose'ood cal9s 9ind/ 3ody and soul/ creating a setting conducive to peace at ho9e or
'ork/ especially if there are difficult negotiations/ or potentially hostile visitors or phone callsH it 'ill
also clear a'ay e;isting conflict= +ose'ood soothes hyperactive or restless children/ and in adults
3rings acceptance of life as it is and the frailties of others= $t is good for energising all for9s of natural
9agick=
+ose'ood 9i;es 'ell 'ith Gas9ine/ neroli and geraniu9=
Sandal'ood: Sandal'ood is an oil of passion and sensualityH it also heightens 9editative a3ilities and
increases spiritual a'areness/ offering a path to 9ake contact 'ith the higher self and angelic or spirit
guides=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith 9any other oils/ especially Cha9o9ile/ le9on/ patchouli and rose9ary=
&ea tree: &ea tree is an oil of healing/ especially a3sent healingH it 'ill re9ove 3lockages in energy/
and 3anish negativity/ replacing it 'ith opti9is9 and channelling restlessness into positive aspects of
life=
$t 9i;es 'ith sandal'ood/ 3ut is usually 3est used alone=
8lang%ylang: &he oil of poets/ ylang%ylang is associated 'ith inspiration and love/ especially
selfestee9=
$t counteracts a sense of frustration 'hen things cannot 3e changed or achieved/ and increases
confidence and pleasure in possi3ilities that can 3e realised 'ithin the li9itations of the present
circu9stance=
$t 9i;es 'ell 'ith clary sage/ geraniu9/ le9on and Cha9o9ile=
An )il +itual &o $ncrease Prosperity
As $ have said 3efore/ 9agick is part of life and there is nothing 'rong 'ith carrying out rituals for
your personal needs and a little 9ore= 2o'ever/ you 9ust 9ake an effort/ 'hen you are financially
9ore secure/ to share your good fortune 'ith those 'ho are genuinely in need= As long as you 3ear in
9ind the cos9ic @3alance sheet@/ this 'ill ensure that there are sufficient energies to go round= 8ou
can/ of course/ pay in kindnesses and help/ as 'ell as in 9onetary ter9s=
$t is unlikely that you 'ill receive an une;pected cheFue in the post the 9orning after this spell
(though $ a9 getting rather good at 3e'itching one of 9y financial directors at a fir9 $ 'ork for!=
$nstead/ you 9ay suddenly find that you are given the opportunity to earn 9oney through e;tra
une;pected 'ork= )r you 'ill hear of so9eone 'ho 'ishes to sell a relia3le car or a servicea3le
co9puter in a hurry % Gust at the ti9e 'hen you need one=
$t 'ould 3e churlish to de9and a co9puter 'ith a 3uilt%in ><> player fro9 the cos9os/ 3ut under the
psychic e;change syste9/ all 9anner of good things that are no longer needed 3y one person can 3e
directed to so9eone 'hose old 9odel has Gust crashed= $t goes 'ithout saying that you should also
re9e93er to redistri3ute ite9s that are surplus to your reFuire9ents to keep the process 9oving=
+ituals for personal prosperity tend to 3e practised alone/ as group prosperity rituals tend to 'ork
3etter 'ith a 9ore glo3al focus=
irst/ you need to define the purpose of the ritual= $n this case that 'ill pro3a3ly not 3e difficult if you
have 3een lying a'ake at night/ panicking that you can@t pay for a school trip for your child or ne'
tyres for the car=
)ils and $ncenses in Magick
)nce you have esta3lished 'hat you reFuire for your needs/ find the right oils/ using the list a3ove/
together 'ith the list of her3s starting on page ((7 and the incenses that you 9ay also find in oil for9=
&he ritual is to 3e carried out over three consecutive nights= Work on the t'o days 3efore the full
9oon and the night of the full 9oon if you can/ as this is the 3est ti9e for energies of increase= $t is
also a traditional planting ti9e for her3s and vegeta3les that gro' a3ove the ground=
2o'ever/ if you need 9oney urgently you cannot sit around 'aiting for the 9oon to 3e right/ so 3urn
silver lunar candles on each of the three evenings and picture the lovely ripening Moon 'e see at this
period in the sky/ if the 'eather is clear=
8ou can carry out the ritual at any ti9e of day/ 3ut you should try to choose a ti9e that is Fuiet= $f you
can only 'ork during daylight hours/ allo' the natural light to add to the candle energies or dra' the
3linds=
8ou 'ill need:
P An oil 3urner/ the kind 'ith a s9all nightlight underneath=
P &hree prosperity oils= Good e;a9ples are patchouli/ pepper9int/ ginger and sage= $f you are
pregnant/ use frankincense/ orange and lavender= (#ote that lavender is an all%purpose her3 that can 3e
su3stituted for any other=!
P Sy93ols of prosperity/ such as Ge'ellery (golden%coloured for the Sun/ and silver for the Moon!/
and so9e copper%coloured coins for <enus/ planet of gro'th/ to add to your 9oney Gar=
(Ieep a collection of foreign currency left over fro9 holidays for such prosperity spells= 8ou can
often also 3uy fro9 garage sales or 9useu9 shops old or reproduction coins in the traditional 9etals %
such as the :S silver dollar % and these tend to have 9ore of the pure 9etal= ailing this/ even 9etal
discs 'ill do=!
P &hree candles/ 3ees'a;/ gold or rich 3lue=
P A s9all pottery Gar 'ith a lid to @incu3ate@ your 9oney= ($t is a good idea to collect a selection of
Gars/ s9all 'ooden 3o;es/ glass 3ottles and pots as 9any spells reFuire a container=!
P A s9all/ flat tray or open dish in a silver or gold colour= (Again these are often found a9ongst
un'anted 9e9ora3ilia= Alternatively/ cover an ordinary one 'ith gold or silver foil=!
P A crystal pendulu9 or any crystal pendant that 'ill s'ing freely=
When you are ready to start the spell on the first night/ have a 3ath/ 'ith a fe' drop of frankincense or
sandal'ood added/ to open your psychic channels= #o' prepare yourself for the spell=
P Sit in the South of your circle/ facing #orth/ the direction of 9agick and 9ystery=
P ?et your 3ody fill 'ith light fro9 your feet right through to your head=
P Breathe in the gold and silver colours of the ite9s you have asse93led and e;hale darkness=
$f you are in a hurry/ Gust set up your spell and sit for a fe' 9o9ents dra'ing up po'er light and
energy through your feet= E;tend your hands over your head in an arch/ stretching your fingers up so
that the po'ers of the cos9os also enter/ as you 3reathe slo'ly and deeply=
P Place your oil 3urner in the centre of your altar or on any flat surface/ together 'ith your three
chosen oils (or you can 'ork 'ith a single fragrance if you prefer!=
P &o the South of it/ set your 9oney pot 'ith the lid open and your coins=
P Place your sy93ols of a3undance on the tray to the #orth of the dish=
P Arrange your gold/ 3lue or 3ees'a; candles in a triangle (this sacred shape represents the &riple
Goddess/ the 2oly &rinity and the Egyptian $sis/ )siris and 2orus!= &he candle at the ape; of the
triangle should 3e in the #orth/ 'ith the other t'o for9ing the 3ase to the South/ so that the triangle
creates a protective enclosure= $f you have roo9/ set your candles in holders on the floor or in
candlesticks on s9all ta3les or chairs at each of the points and have the altar in the centre= &his is 9y
preferred 9ethod and 9eans that you are 'ithin the triangle and can 9ove all round=
P )n the first night/ 'alk three ti9es in circles around the outside of the altar (or the floor candles if
you are using the9!/ 9oving out'ards/ and pointing the inde; finger of your po'er hand 3ehind you
al9ost horiAontally= <isualise a strea9 of light e9anating fro9 your finger= As you circle/ chant:
Circle one $ cast for the light of the Earth
and her store of rich 9inerals/
gold/ silver/ copper s9elted in forges of volcanic fire=
Circle t'o $ cast for the 9oonlit seas/
for silver dolphins/ seals and
cascading rain3o' fish=
Circle three $ cast for the sunlit skies/
the clouds pure gold
and the gilt%tipped eagle soaring high=
P ?ight the candle in the #orth=
P Choose one of your three oils and/ holding it in your receptive hand (the one you do not 'rite 'ith!/
circle over it nine ti9es deosil the crystal pendulu9 or pendant=
P Say three ti9es/ faster and faster:
Star/ Moon/ Sun and candle 3right/
charge this oil 'ith radiant light/
po'er of ginger Mor na9e of oilN prosper 9e/
enter golden energy=
P After the third chant/ let your pendulu9 s'ing freely on its chain so it spirals round/ catching the
candlelight and/ perhaps/ the 9oonlight=
P Add the oil to the 3urner 'ith a little 'ater and light the nightlight under it=
P &ake three of the coins fro9 the dish % if possi3le these should 3e one gold/ one silver and one
copper= Place the9 in the 9oney pot and hold this 3riefly in the fragrance e9anating fro9 the 3urner/
saying:
<enus/ Morn and Evening Star/
Sun and Moon that shine afar=
$ ask in love and not in greed/
grant 9e only 'hat $ need=
P Place the lid on the pot and leave it in front of the 3urner/ sitting Fuietly and visualising 9oney
co9ing to you= At this point you 9ay 3eco9e a'are of 9oney%9aking possi3ilities you had not
considered=
P When you are ready/ 3lo' out the nightlight/ then the candle/ sending the light into the cos9os that
it 9ay return as 9oney%9aking energies=
P Walk round the circle three ti9es 'iddershins/ 3eginning 'ith the outer circle of light/ dra'ing the
circles 3ack like a thread into your fingers/ saying softly:
May the circle 3e uncast
3ut re9ain un3roken=
P ?eave everything in place e;cept for the pot/ 'hich you should put in a 'ar9 place to @incu3ate@/
traditionally on a kitchen shelf=
)n the second night/ return the 9oney pot to the south of the 3urner and re9ove the lid=
P Cast the triple circle as 3efore/ then light the candle in the #orth and also the one at the 3otto9
lefthand
corner of the triangle=
P &ake the second oil and charge it as 3efore= &his ti9e you have dual candlelight to reflect in your
pendulu9=
P Add your second oil and then the first one to the 3urner 'ith a fe' drops of 'ater= ?ight the 3urner=
P &ake si; coins fro9 the dish and add to the potH if possi3le there should 3e t'o golden%coloured/
t'o silver and t'o copper= +epeat the chant fro9 the previous night=
P Place the lid on the pot/ then sit and visualise the 9oney co9ing to'ards you and develop your
plans to increase your prosperity=
P Blo' out the candles and nightlight in reverse order of lighting/ sending the energies into the
cos9os=
P :ncast the circles as 3efore and return the pot to its 'ar9 place=
P )n the third night/ repeat the ritual/ 3ut this ti9e light all three candles and charge the third oil/
adding a fe' drops of each to the 3urner for the cu9ulative energies= Add nine coins to the pot/ again
three of each kind of 9etal if you have the9=
P :ncast the circle/ 3ut do not 3lo' out the candles= ?eave the9 and the oil to 3urn through/ and only
then put the lid 3ack on the pot and return it to the 'ar9 place=
P Add a coin to the pot every day if you can= &o e9po'er the spell even further/ you could also place
a pot of 3asil/ a her3 of 'ealth/ to the East of the 3urner during the ritual and after the three days/
place the charged her3s on a 'indo' ledge to attract 9oney=
>o so9ething positive to help a person/ ani9al or place on the day after the third ritual= $t need not
involve 9oney= 8ou can re%light the oils at any ti9e if energies see9 sluggish and repeat the 'hole
ritual a 9oon cycle later for as long as is necessary= &here 9ay 3e a lot of negative vi3es s'i99ing
the other 'ay/ so persevere and 3e patient=
$ncense Magick
$ncense has for9ed a central part of religious and 9agical cere9onies for thousands of years in lands
as far apart as $ndia and #orth A9erica= $t has 3een used for purification purposes/ to invoke angels
and to 3ind or repel de9ons 3y 9edieval 9agicians= $t is said to release specific energies contained in
its fragrance and to carry prayers and petitions to the god or goddess figure 3eing invoked=
Since the (617s/ incense sticks/ cones and 3urners have increased in popularity for ho9e use/ to create
an at9osphere of cal9/ to induce love and cleanse negativity= Many people use the9 for 9editation as
'ell as for rituals for confidence/ health/ love/ prosperity/ psychic protection and success=
$ncense is no' on sale in floral fragrances as 'ell as the 9ore traditional ones/ such as frankincense
and 9yrrh/ and these are lovely 3oth for ho9e use and folk spells= )ur ancestors 'ould have 3urned
flo'ers and leaves to create the sa9e effect=
?ike her3s and oils/ incense can 3e e9po'ered for specific purposes and can itself for9 a focus for a
spell/ as $ descri3e later in this section= $n for9al 9agick/ incense represents the Air ele9ent and is
placed in the East of the altar= $t is perhaps the easiest and 9ost accessi3le 9agical su3stance and yet
it can 3e a very potent for9 of 9agick= $ncense 3urning differs fro9 lighting essential oils/ in that the
fragrance is trans9itted al9ost instantly on the s9oke and so tends to 3e 9ore concentrated and
po'erful than the slo'er%3urning oils= $t is therefore very effective for rituals reFuiring i99ediate
action or the sa9e intensity of effort fro9 start to finish/ rather than a gradual increase/ perhaps of
love or prosperity=
&here are t'o kinds of incense= &he first is non%co93usti3le incense that is 3urned 3y s9ouldering it
on charcoal 3locks= &his is 9ade fro9 po'dered her3s/ leaves 3ark or even pine needles 9i;ed 'ith a
gu9 resin such as dragon@s 3lood and has the advantage of producing clouds of s9oke/ 3rilliant for
purification or for the cli9a; of a spell= 8ou can 3uy this type of incense prepared as loose po'der/
'ood chips/ granules or special paste/ to 3urn on charcoal 3locks or discs=
&raditional practitioners often 9ake their o'n non%co93usti3le incense/ 'hich can 3e very
e9po'ering/ 3ut it does take ti9e and can 3e 9essy= )n page ,77 $ have suggested an e;cellent 3ook
3y Scott Cunningha9 that descri3es the process step 3y step and there are 9any $nternet sites giving
recipes and instructions=
&o use this incense/ place the s9ouldering charcoal 3lock in a censer or thuri3le= :ntil you are
e;perienced you 9ay find it easier and safer to place it inside the censer first/ and then light it= (A
censer is si9ply a container for the charcoal= $t 9ay 3e a si9ple cera9ic pot or a 9uch 9ore ornate
vessel 9ade of gold or silver= $ 'ould not reco99end that you use the kind of incense censers on
chains used in church services as the incense tends to go every'here and can 3e Fuite dangerous=!
Add your incense gradually/ a3out half a teaspoon at a ti9e/ once the charcoal 3lock in the censer is
glo'ing 3ut not releasing sparks= With practice/ you 'ill learn to add the right Fuantity to ensure a
steady 3ut not choking strea9 of s9oke as part of the ritual= Many practitioners prefer to light it
3eforehand and Gust add a teaspoon of incense as part of the cere9ony or spell 'hen they need a
3illo' of fragrance= $ncenses 'ith a greater proportion of resin and gu9 'ill last longer % hence the
popularity of frankincense in religious cere9onies= When 'orking in a group/ you can ask one person
to top up the censer if necessary during a long rite= $f you are alone/ 9ake this part of your increasing
po'er actions in a private ritual=
Practise using non%co93usti3le incense 3efore rituals and in ti9e it 'ill 3eco9e as natural as lighting
a candle=
&he second type of incense/ 'hich 9any practitioners/ 9yself included/ prefer to use/ is co93usti3le
incense/ lit directly in sticks and cones= &hese are very difficult to 9ake at ho9e 3ut the co99ercially
produced versions are Fuick and easy to use and the fragrance of the sticks does not alter 'hen
3urned= So9e ho9e%9ade incenses 9ade fro9 apparently pleasantly scented flo'ers can s9ell foul
'hen they are litL
Sticks and cones are very safe to use: Gust light the tip/ and once it is glo'ing/ gently 3lo' out the
fla9e= &his 9eans there is no danger to children or pets 'ho 9ay 3e around=
$ncense is also sold as dhoops/ pure incense in cylinders attached to long sticky ropesH these co9e
fro9 $ndia and can 3e 3urned in a flat dish=
?ong/ 3road incense sticks can 3e carried 'hen alight if you are careful= &here are also 9any kinds of
incense holders availa3le= $f you have a holder that collects the ash/ you can scatter this to the four
'inds to carry your 'ishes on their 'ay=
Whatever type of incense you use/ treat it as you 'ould any other su3stance that is ignited: read the
instructions carefully 3efore use and take nor9al precautions=
Belo' $ have listed so9e of the 9ost co99on for9s of incense= So9e you have 9et 3efore in her3al
or oil for9 and so $ have kept the associations 3rief to avoid repetition= 8ou 9ay also find a nu93er
of these fragrances/ especially fruit and floral ones/ are availa3le as scented candles= 8ou can use
these in your spells to focus on a particular need or Fuality you 'ish to attract=
$ncenses or Magick
Allspice
Allspice is used in spells for 9oney/ strength and action=
Apple Blosso9
:se apple 3losso9 for love/ fertility/ opti9is9/ inner 3eauty and youthfulness= $t is particularly good
in rituals concerning 3a3ies and children=
Avocado
:se avocado incense for desire/ increase of 3eauty in oneself or the environ9ent=
Basil
Basil is used in rituals for fidelity and prosperity=
Bay
:se 3ay for healing/ prosperity/ protection and 9arriage=
BenAoin
BenAoin is used in rituals for 9oneyH it increases 9ental po'ers and concentration=
Blue3ell
Blue3ell is used for faithfulness in love and 3etrothals=
Carnation
Carnation is used for strength/ healing and fa9ily devotion=
Cedar"cedar'ood
Cedar and Cedar'ood are 3est for healing and cleansing redundant influences and negative thoughts=
Cha9o9ile
?ike its her3al counterpart/ Cha9o9ile incense 3rings 9oney/ Fuiet sleep and affection/ and is used in
spells to do 'ith all 9atters of the fa9ily=
Cinna9on
Cinna9on is for spirituality/ success/ healing/ psychic po'ers/ 9oney/ love and passion=
Cherry
Cherry 3rings ne' love and divinatory a3ilities=
Cloves
Cloves are used in spells for love and 9oneyH they repel hostility and i9prove 9e9ory=
Copal
:se copal for protection and purificationH it is especially good for cleansing crystals=
Cypress
Cypress is for ti9es of transition to a ne' phase/ letting go of sorro'=
>ragon@s 3lood
>ragon@s 3lood is used for love and protection/ passion and 9ale potency=
ern
An initiator of change/ travel and fertility/ fern 'ill also 3ring hidden 'ealth/ 9ay3e in ter9s of
potential=
ig
:se fig for 'isdo9/ creativity and creation/ fertility/ har9ony and 3alance=
rankincense
:se frankincense for courage/ Goy/ strength and success=
reesia
reesia increases trust/ especially after loss or 3etrayalH it also 3rings 3elief in a 3etter to9orro'=
Gu9 ara3ic (acacia!
:se gu9 ara3ic in rituals for drea9s/ 9editation/ psychic protection and develop9ent=
2eather
2eather is used for passion/ fidelity in love and good fortuneH it 9a;i9ises opportunities and is
particularly effective in 'eather 9agick/ especially rain%9aking=
2oneysuckle
2oneysuckle is used for 9oney/ psychic po'ers and protection=
2yacinth
2yacinth assists in overco9ing opposition in loveH it 3rings happiness and desire for reconciliation=
2yssop
2yssop is used for 9aking a love co99it9ent/ for healing and all for9s of protection/ especially
fro9 psychic attack=
$vy
$vy is effective for fidelity/ 9arried love/ per9anent relationships and constancy=
Kas9ine
Kas9ine is used in Moon 9agick and prophetic drea9s= $t 3rings sensuality/ 9oney and passion=
Kuniper
:se Guniper for protection fro9 psychic attacks and physical theftH for cleansing/ healing and house
9oves=
?avender
?avender is particularly good for love and reconciliation/
?e9on"le9ongrass
Both repel spite/ protect against 9alice and gossipH they 3ring passion and increase psychic a'areness
and are good for those 'ho travel=
?e9on ver3ena
?e9on ver3ena 'ill 3reak a run of 3ad luckH it 3rings love and protection against negativity=
?ilac
:se lilac for all do9estic 9atters/ acceptance of the frailty of self and others/ and to ease nostalgiaH
lilac cleanses negativity=
?ily
?ily is for purity and 3reaking negative influences in loveH it is freFuently used in Mother Goddess
9agick=
?ily of the valley
?ily of the valley increases 9ental a3ilities/ 3rings happiness and restores Goy=
Marigold
Marigold is used for drea9s and guarding against infidelity= $t is effective in rituals concerning legal
9atters/ luck and 9oney=
Mi9osa
:se 9i9osa for protection/ love/ prophetic drea9s and purification=
Mistletoe
Ino'n to the >ruids as the all%healer/ 9istletoe is for healing sorro's/ overco9ing inGustice and
finding 'hat is lost= $t is also good for 9ale potency=
Moss
Moss is used for good fortune/ prosperity/ 9oney and per9anence/ 'hether in 'ork or relationships=
$t freFuently appears in 'ater 9agick and divination (use 'ith candles on 'ater!=
Myrrh
Myrrh is good for healing/ peace/ protection and inner har9ony=
Myrtle
So9eti9es 9i;ed 'ith other fragrances/ 9yrtle is used in spells concerning fidelity in love/ 9arriage
and 9ature love= $t 9ay also 3e used in 9atters of property and security=
#ut9eg
:se nut9eg for fertility and healing/ especially of the environ9entH it 'ill also 3ring a gradual
increase of 'ealth=
)range Blosso9
Beneficial for 9arriage and per9anent relationships/ use orange 3losso9 also for restoring trust and
increasing confidence and hope=
Pine
:se pine for healing/ fertility/ purification/ protection and 9oneyH it also returns hostility to the
sender=
Poppy"opiu9
Poppy 9ay 3e used for divination/ fertility and 9aking oneself less visi3le in dangerH it also 3rings
luck and sleep=
+ose
+ose is for gentle love/ attraction/ drea9s of love and reconciliation= +ose9ary
+ose9ary is used for love and happy 9e9oriesH it also i9proves 9e9ory and concentration=
Sage
:se sage in rituals for health/ enhanced 9ental po'ers and 'isdo9=
Sandal'ood
Sandal'ood is effective for spiritual and psychic a'areness and healingH use it also in 9atters of
se;uality=
Stra'3erry
:se stra'3erry for innocent love/ friendship and happiness=
&a9arind
&a9arind is for love/ especially ne' love/ and the re3uilding of trust=
&hy9e
&hy9e is used in rituals for courage/ divination/ health/ love/ 9oney and purification=
<anilla
<anilla 3rings passion and enduring loveH it also increases 9ental po'ers=
<etivert
:se vetivert for love= $t can also 3reak a run of 3ad luck and 3ring 9oney= $t is protective against theft
and all kinds of negativity=
<iolet
:se violet for secrecy/ 9odesty and uncovering hidden talents=
Co93ining $ncenses $n +ituals
As 'ell as the single fragrances/ there are 9any co99ercial products that co93ine several 3asic
fragrances to evoke a particular 9ood/ for e;a9ple 9orning de'/ raindrops and e9erald= 8ou can
e;peri9ent 'ith these and find those that see9 right for your life or/ if you 9ake your o'n
nonco93usti3le
incenses/ you can co93ine a nu93er of single fragrances to your o'n personal recipes=
But it is Fuite possi3le 3y using a nu93er of individual fragrance sticks in the sa9e ritual to co93ine
their energies and/ 9ore i9portantly/ create e;actly the proportions of specific energies you need for a
ritual= or e;a9ple/ you 9ight 3urn a rose incense for love 'ith a cinna9on incense to add passion
and energy to that special/ loving relationship= &he a9ount of incense used for each Fuality
deter9ines your priorities/ so/ in this case/ if loving energies 'ere the pri9e focus/ you 'ould 3urn
t'o rose incense sticks or cones and one cinna9on= 8ou can also do this 'ith your oil 9i;es=
A Si;%$ncense +itual or ?ove
Si; is the nu93er of <enus in her 9orning star aspect of love= 8ou can use this ritual for attracting
love/ for deepening a relationship/ consu99ating it or strengthening it during a difficult period/
perhaps 'hen everything appears to have got into a rut= 8ou can alter the focus of the ritual 3y
varying the nu93er and type of each fragrance you use/ for e;a9ple 'hether your pri9ary concern is
to increase trust/ passion or encourage fidelity (use the incense list on page (,6!=
&his ritual is 3est carried out early in the 9oon cycle/ any ti9e fro9 'hen you can see the crescent in
the sky=
$n the ritual/ $ refer to a pentagra9/ a 9agical sy93ol that can 3e used for attracting energies or
closing the9 do'n in ritual 9agick= $ts uses can 3e varied according to the 'ay it is dra'n= 2o'ever/
in this ritual/ it is the shape that is i9portant/ so Gust i9agine the shape as illustrated overleaf/ 'ith its
single point at the top= Arrange five of your incense sticks as though on the points of this invisi3le
pentagra9 and put the si;th in the centre as the co93ination and synthesis of the different po'ers=
irst/ gather together the tools you 'ill need=
P A candle of the appropriate colour for the type of love you 'ish to focus on: pink for ne' love/
green for increasing co99it9ent and faithful love/ or red for passion and the consu99ation of love=
P A gold or silver ring or/ if you prefer/ one 9ade of copper/ <enus@s o'n 9etal=
P A s9all 'hite cushion or piece of 'hite cloth=
P Si; incense sticks of appropriate fragrances and separate holders to catch the ash=
P $vy or any green frondsH if you cannot o3tain any/ green ri33on 'ill do= ($vy is a plant associated
'ith fidelity and per9anent relationships=!
#o' 3egin your ritual=
P Place your ring in the centre of your altar/ on the 'hite cloth or cushion=
P &o the left of it (to'ards the West/ the direction of love and e9otions!/ place and light the candle=
P &ake your incense sticks one 3y one/ and light each in the candle/ reciting:
$ncense of love/ incense of po'er/ thus do $ charge thee/
no' at this hour=
$ncense of faithfulness/
incense of truth/ 3ring love
that 'ill last/ in age and in youth=
$n sickness and sorro'/ in health and in Goy/
in 'ealth and in dearth/ 9ay nothing destroy=
P Beginning at the single (top! point of your invisi3le pentagra9/ light your first incense/ saying:
$ light this incense
to 3ring love into 9y life
and the one 'ho is right for 9e=
P Moving deosil/ light and place the second incense on the ne;t point of the invisi3le pentagra9/
saying:
$ light this incense that $ 9ay give love 'here it 'ill 3ring Goy and 3ear fruit=
P Continuing deosil/ light and place the third incense at the ne;t invisi3le point/ saying:
$ light this incense for the increase of that love and for 9utual fidelity and respect=
P ?ight and place the fourth incense/ saying:
$ light this incense for the 9arriages of 9ind and soul as 'ell as 3ody/ in a union that is 3eyond any
legal 3onds=
P ?ight and place the fifth incense/ saying:
$ light this incense that love 'ill al'ays 3e 'illingly given and received and never 3eco9e possessive
or 9anipulative=
P ?ight and place your final incense to the East of the ring/ saying:
$ light this incense that love 'ill 3e co9passionate/ ever supportive/ accepting of frailties and 3ased
on love of the real person/ not 'orshipping the ideal of loving/ nor de9anding the perfect lover=
8ou can adapt the pledges according to the focus you give the ritual and even re'rite the9 entirely to
e;press your purpose=
P &ake the ring and pass it through the si; incenses in turn/ saying for each ring of faith:
?ove $ pledge/ truth $ offer/ care and kindliness= +ing of pro9ise/ love $ ask/ truth $ seek/ into eternity
if right 9ay it 3e=
P +eturn the ring to the centre/ and 3ind it 'ith si; loose knots of ivy or ri33on/ saying:
>o not 3ind/
Goin heart and 9ind/
2old safe 'e t'o/
till life is through/
?ove 'ithout end/
9y dearest friend=
$ call you % Mna9e the person/ or say @love unkno'n@N=
Again you can adapt the 'ords= A pledge of fidelity is actually a very potent 'ay of attracting a ne'
lover % perhaps so9eone 'ho 'orks close to you 'ho9 you have not thought of in a ro9antic 'ay=
P ?et the candle and incense 3urn through and then collect the incense ash in a pot or Gar 'ith a lid=
P Sleep 'ith the ring and ivy ne;t to your 3ed on the cushion and in the dayti9e surround it 'ith
'hite flo'ers=
P When you have ti9e/ take the ash to the top of a hill or any 'indy place and scatter it to the four
'inds/ saying:
Go ree $n ?ove And +eturn $n Koy=
8ou can carry out the spell on a larger scale 3y placing the ring/ the candle and one large incense stick
on your altar in the centre of the invisi3le pentagra9= Place the other large incense sticks on s9all
ta3les/ chairs or 3locks at the other points and 'ork 'ithin the pentagra9= 8ou could even use garden
incense and carry out the ritual in a sheltered spot out of doors/ 9ay3e even picking your ivy and
'hite flo'ers during the ritual=
A +itual or 2ar9ony
&his ritual can 3e used 'hen/ for e;a9ple/ a colleague/ fa9ily 9e93er or friend is intruding in your
life/ 3ut you do not 'ant to hurt their feelings= $t can 3e very successful if you have received one too
9any phone calls or visits at inconvenient 9o9ents fro9 a friend or neigh3our= $t 9ay help to 'ard
off constant interference in your proGects 3y your 3oss or a colleague at 'ork/ or possessiveness that is
not 9alicious 3ut co9es fro9 loneliness in a close relative/ a child or even your partner= 8ou can
carry it out 3efore going to 'ork or 'hen you anticipate the arrival of the person= $t is 9uch kinder
than a traditional 3inding spell as it preserves the positive aspects of the relationship=
P ?ight deosil a circle of lavender and rose incense sticks for love and kindness=
P ill a pot or a s9all cauldron/ or any heatproof dish/ 'ith sand and in it stand a single orange candle
for independence=
P &ake a long piece of red thread and tie nine loose knots around the 3ase of the cauldron to represent
the tangled e9otions/ saying as you tie the knots:
Bind and 'ind nine ti9es through/ 3onds that stifle/ tangle/ t'ine/ 3ind un'illing 9e to you=
P Cut through the knots one at a ti9e/ using a knife (not scissors!/ saying:
&ies so 3inding/
Cut right through/
Guilt un'inding/
reedo9 finding/
?oving you/
#ot 'hat you do=
P ?ight your candle/ saying:
?ight of self/ 3urning true/ $ a9 9e and you are you= ?ight of friendship/ light so kind/ free in heart
and soul and 9ind=
P #o' 3urn each of the knots in the orange candle so they drop into the sand/ saying:
ree to live in har9ony
Caring still/
3ut separately=
&his is also a good ritual if you are separating or divorcing fro9 a partner 3ut need to 9aintain
friendly contact/ perhaps 3ecause you 'ork together or have Goint fa9ily or financial responsi3ilities=
5 % Crystals And Protective Magick
Whether you are carrying out spells/ rituals or divination or are si9ply feeling an;ious/ vulnera3le or
under attack fro9 inner or e;ternal forces/ psychic protection can enclose you in light and keep out all
that threatens your har9ony= $t is a very positive for9 of 9agick that for everyday use reFuires a 3asic
ritual or visualisation that takes only a 9inute or t'o= So9e people carry out routine psychic
protection 'hen returning fro9 'ork and in the 9orning as naturally as taking off their 'ork clothes
and having a 3ath/ to shed the pressures of the day=
8ou can also 'ith practice learn to cast protection round those you care for: a child 'ho is 3eing
3ullied or an ani9al or 3ird that is endangered/ an area of natural 3eauty under threat fro9 developers
or a group of people 'ho are 3eing unfairly targeted=
)f course you can@t save a rainforest single%handed 3ecause there 'ill al'ays 3e a vast tide of
despoiling vi3es flo'ing in the opposite direction= But as has 3een sho'n 3y events such as World
>ays for Peace and the e;peri9ents on the po'er of prayer/ if enough individuals send out positive
intentions/ follo'ed 3y peaceful action/ then people po'er really does 9ake a difference= &here is/ as
ever/ Gust one proviso: you 9ust re9e93er the Wiccan +ede/ An it har9 none/ do 'hat you 'ill@/ and
apply it rigorously=
$ a9 often asked to carry out protective spells for people 'ho feel that they are the su3Gect of unfair
scrutiny/ Gealousy/ anger or resent9ent= &his 9ay 3e 9anifest as deli3erate 9alice/ a 9uttered curse or
a declaration of so9e vengeful intent= But 9ore usually the origins are 9ore o3scure/ perhaps co9ing
fro9 so9eone gossiping or lying in 3ed at night/ fu9ing over an achieve9ent or good fortune enGoyed
3y their supposed ene9y= A 'hole tradition of @evil eye@ superstitions and antidotes gre' out of such
envy and 3ad 'ishing= $f you are to help counteract this kind of 3ad feeling/ 'ithout causing har9 in
return/ it is 3est to resort to so9e kind of protection=
#ote that you do not have to identify the sender of 3ad vi3es in order to protect the victi9= 8ou 'ill
usually kno' 'ho it is/ as in 9ost cases there is a likely candidate/ and very freFuently the 'rongdoers
give the9selves a'ay as they cannot resist the satisfaction of checking the effect of their
unpleasant actions= >on@t 3e te9pted into direct retaliation/ ho'ever % re9e93er the &hreefold ?a'=
&he sa9e tools and 9ethods of protection can 3e used 'hether you are protecting a cat fro9 an
aggressive/ stone%thro'ing neigh3our or 'hales in a distant ocean fro9 9arauding fisher9en= &hese
include her3s/ oils and incenses/ 9ade into sachets and poppets used in rituals (see Chapters 1 and 4!=
Salt/ sacred 'ater and 'a; a9ulets 9ay also provide protection= )ne of the 9ost potent 9ethods of
protection is through the use of crystals=
Crystals
All crystals have innate protective Fualities as 'ell as healing and e9po'ering properties and so can
offer instant har9ony and energy even in the 9ost draining situations=
Collecting Protective Crystals
Certain crystals have/ over the 9illennia/ fro9 Ancient Ba3ylon/ Egypt and the )rient/ acFuired the
reputation of possessing strong protective Fualities and are also usually potent in strengthening and
healing= &hese include a93er/ 3lack agate/ a9ethyst/ 3loodstone/ carnelian/ garnet/ Gade/ 3lack and red
Gasper/ Get/ lapis laAuli/ tiger@s eye/ topaA and turFuoise= 2o'ever/ as you 'ork 'ith crystals and
stones/ you 9ay discover that a particular crystal or even a stone fro9 the seashore fills you 'ith cal9
and confidenceH if you carry or hold this at ti9es 'hen you feel vulnera3le/ it 'ill increase in po'er
the 9ore you use it=
Build up a collection of s9all protective crystals 'ith 'hich you can ring your 3ed for Fuiet sleep or
place around your ho9e or 'orkplace to a3sor3 the negativity of others= Buy or 9ake a dark silk or
natural fa3ric dra'string 3ag or purse in 'hich you can carry a single protective crystal/ or your
crystal pairs (see 3elo'!/ 'henever you leave ho9e= Place the9 in the four corners of a roo9 that
al'ays see9s dark or inhospita3le= Set crystals at the four corners of the ta3le 'here you are carrying
out divinatory or psychic 'ork to act as a psychic shield fro9 negativity or de3ilitating e9otions=
Balancing &he Energies
Crystals can 3e used in pairs to 3alance energies and restore eFuili3riu9 to a person or situation= &his
little piece of 9agick is particularly useful 'hen you are under stress= Si9ply hold a dark crystal/ such
as a s9oky FuartA or apache tear/ in your po'er hand and a clear crystal FuartA or a golden citrine in
your receptive hand/ and close your eyes= 8ou 'ill feel the adrenaline surge and panic flo'ing a'ay/
leaving you cal9 and protected/ a3le to deal 'ith any situation=
$ al'ays keep a couple of suita3le crystals in 9y hand luggage for difficult 9o9ents 'hen travelling %
cro'ded trains/ delays/ especially late at night 'hen $ feel very vulnera3le/ and even s9all enclosed
lifts/ 'hich $ hate/ having 3eco9e stuck in one 'hen $ 'as heavily pregnant= 8ou could also 3uy and
'ear a pair of s9all/ Ge'eled pins containing crystals/ or t'o lapel 3rooches fastening the t'o sides of
your scarf/ or odd cufflinks 'ith 3alancing crystals= (Who kno's/ you 9ay even find you start a
trend===!
E;peri9ent/ using the list on page (.,/ to find 'hich crystals offer 3alanced energies for youH you
9ay 'ell find so9e 'ork 3etter than others in particular situations= or e;a9ple/ 9y friend Kenny/ a
-7%year%old sales adviser/ found that gentle green Gade in her po'er hand and 9alachite/ a rich green
and 3lack stone good for strengthening teeth and 3ones/ in her receptive hand/ 9ade her feel protected
'hen her aggressive area 9anager visited her= Soft rose FuartA in her po'er hand and a glo'ing
reddish orange carnelian in her receptive hand helped her to avoid the loss of self%estee9 she al'ays
felt 'hen she 'ent ho9e to see her critical 9other=
Cleansing Crystals And Ge9stones
8ou should al'ays cleanse your crystals 3efore and after use in protection/ healing and
e9po'er9ent=
When you o3tain a ne' crystal/ cleanse it 3efore charging it 'ith your o'n personal energies= $n this
'ay you can re9ove all the energies/ not necessarily negative/ of those 'ho have prepared/ packed
and sold the stone= $f the stone 'as a gift/ ho'ever/ you 9ay 'ish to accept the loving energies 'ith
'hich it 'as offered and rely on your innate defensive po'ers to filter out any unconscious negativity
left fro9 the previous o'ner@s life=
8ou 'ill also need to 'ash your crystals/ and your crystal pendulu9/ if you use one/ regularly in
running 'ater to keep their energies clear=
$f you have 3een in touch 'ith a particularly negative influence/ first 'ash the stones/ then sprinkle
the9 'ith salt and pass over the9 an incense stick or oil 3urner in a fragrance such as lavender/ pine
or rose= inally pass the9 over the fla9e of a purple/ silver or pink candleH in this 'ay your crystal
a3sor3s the healing energies of all four ele9ents=
?eave the crystals to dry in natural light/ then 'rap the9 for a fe' days in a dark cloth 'ith a large
piece of unpolished a9ethyst 'rapped separately so it 'ill not scratch the s9aller crystals= A9ethysts
have great po'ers of healing for other crystals/ 3ut they need freFuently to 3e rested and anointed
very gently 'ith diluted lavender oil or a lavender infusion=
8ou can also cleanse crystals 3y leaving the9 in a rainstor9 or 3urying the9 in a pot of lavender/
sage/ Cha9o9ile/ rose9ary or other her3 of love and har9ony= ?eave the9 for *- hours and/ if
necessary/ 'ash off any re9aining soil 'ith running 'ater= &he result 'ill 3e a ne' vi3rancy/
especially in the case of rutilated FuartA/ Gade and 9oss agate (the last t'o are called the gardener@s
crystals!= or 9ore 9ethods of cleansing/ e9po'ering and crystal protection/ see 9y 3ook Psychic
Protection ?ifts the Spirit=
Charging 8our Crystals With Positive Po'er
All crystals contain po'er as 'ell as protective Fualities and cleansing is itself e9po'ering=
2o'ever/ if you are 3eing su3Gected to stress or harass9ent of any kind/ you 9ight like to charge your
crystal/ so that 'hen you touch or look at it/ you 'ill 3e enclosed in its radiance and sti9ulate your
o'n innate self%protective po'er= 8our charged crystal acts as an a9plifier for your o'n inner
radiance and self%confidence and 'ill repel any hostility=
My o'n favourite 9ethod is to 'rap the crystals in 'hite silk and take the9 to a sacred place of
ancient po'er/ such as a standing stone/ an old stone circle or one of the ancient healing 'ells= &hese
'ells 'ere for9erly dedicated to the Mother Goddess 3ut 'ere Christianised and rededicated to St
Bride/ the <irgin Mary or other Christian/ often Celtic/ saint=
Go as early in the 9orning as possi3le and place the crystals on a flat surface/ either on one of the
stones or close to the 'ater= Sit near to the source of po'er/ touching it 'ith your t'o hands so that
you create a circuit of energy parallel to that 3eing a3sor3ed 3y the crystals and so e9po'er your o'n
auric field (the area of psychic energy that e;ists around our 3odies!=
Auric fields contain different coloursH they can 3e seen spontaneously 3y clairvoyants 3ut anyone can/
'ith ti9e and practice/ interpret auras/ 'hich change according to a person@s 9ood and the influences
on it= After a3out ten 9inutes you 9ay detect a slight lu9inescence around yourself as 'ell as the
crystals= 8our crystals 'ill no' 3e charged and can 3e placed in their dra'string 3ag=
When under stress/ touch your chosen crystal for strength and protection= Ieep it on your desk at
'ork/ place it 3et'een you and an adversary or ne;t to your 3ed if you are trou3led 3y 3ad drea9s or
fear psychic attack or 9alevolence at night= People living in areas 'ith high rates of ro33ery and
violence 9ay 'ish to put a po'er crystal/ such as turFuoise/ red Gasper or carnelian/ as a protective
3uffer near e;ternal doors and 'indo's= $n less e;tre9e circu9stances/ charged rose FuartA and
a9ethyst are e;cellent for sleep and rela;ation pro3le9s/ for charging si9ply accentuates the innate
cal9 energies of the crystal=
With the gentle crystals (such as a9ethyst/ rose FuartA or s9oky FuartA!/ you 'ill e;perience a gentle
'ar9th and enclosing light of pink/ green or purple according to the colour of the crystal= But 'ith the
po'er crystals (such as clear crystal FuartA/ citrine or carnelian!/ you 9ay see 'ith your psychic
vision sparks of gold e9anating and enclosing you in a protective shell= Anyone 'ho approaches in a
confrontational 'ay 9ay stop and 3ack off= &he crystal is not hurting the9/ it is Gust strengthening
your o'n 3oundaries against intrusion=
$f you cannot visit an ancient site to charge your crystals/ hold a crystal pendulu9 up to 3right
sunlight/ or in front of a fi3re optic la9p/ and s'irl it so that it catches rain3o's= 2old your pendulu9
in your po'er hand= With your other hand/ hold the crystal 3eneath the pendulu9 so it catches the
light/ and turn your pendulu9 over the crystal nine ti9es deosil to a3sor3 po'er=
Another 9ethod is to take your crystal out into the light of the full 9oon (the t'o or three nights
leading up to the full 9oon are also po'erful!= 2old your crystal up so that the light of the Moon
shines on it= Alternatively/ fill a 3o'l 'ith 'ater and place it in the open air so that the Moon is
reflected in it= 8ou can then 3athe your crystal in e9po'ering 9oonlight and leave to dry=
8ou can also 3athe a crystal in sunlightH $ find the Moon 9ethod 9ore gently e9po'ering for crystals
that are pri9arily intended to act as guardians= But e;peri9ent/ as Sun 'ater 9ay 3e 3est for you=
As these are personal crystals/ ask the Moon or Sun in your o'n 'ords to lend their po'erH
alternatively/ you 9ay prefer to re9ain silent and let these ancient forces 'ork in their o'n 'ay=
8ou can also use this 9ethod for e9po'ering a9ulets and lucky char9s or St Christopher
9edallions= St Christopher is patron saint and protector of all travellers=
Protective Crystals
&he follo'ing crystals are those that $/ in 9y personal 'ork/ and people 'ith 'ho9 $ have held
healing 'orkshops or teaching sessions have found especially protective= &hey 'ill a3sor3 negative
energies e9anating fro9 3oth fears and dou3ts/ and repel e;ternal attack/ replacing darker feelings
'ith positive e9otions and intentions=
&o 3enefit fro9 the protective po'ers of a crystal/ you can carry or 'ear it/ or keep it close to you at
'ork/ at ho9e or 'hen you travel= 8ou can also add a crystal to your 3ath 'ater= Alternatively/ you
can soak it in pure spring 'ater overnight and drink the crystalline 'ater in the 9orning or carry it in
a s9all 3ottle to splash on your face and 'rists at stressful ti9es=
Agates
&hese 3ring sta3ility/ security/ e9otional and physical 3alance and acceptance of self and others as
they are= Agates are said to 3e good in all colours for reducing effects of har9ful rays/ pollution and
all for9s of psychic/ psychological and physical attack=
Black agate a3sor3s negativity/ repels psychic attack/ irrational thoughts and 'ords/ and pro9otes
acceptance and tolerance of differences in others=
Blue lace agate is a natural peace%3ringer and protects against harsh 'ords spoken 3y self or others=
Moss agate (clear 'ith green/ 9oss%like tendrils! is the stone for protecting against pollution and
deforestation= Plant a circle of the9 in the soil of a tropical plant and each day visualise healing rays
3eing sent to the rainforests= Moss agate also protects against food cravings and o3sessions=
A93er
Ino'n as the honey stone/ 3ecause of its great antiFuity and soft/ 'ar9 touch/ a93er is said to
contain the po'er of 9any suns and has the po'er to a3sor3 negativity and protect the user fro9
har9= $t 'ill also 9elt any e9otional or physical rigidity=
$n the Chinese tradition/ the souls of tigers pass into a93er 'hen they die and so it is also a ge9 of
courage in the face of unfairness or hostility= A3ove all/ it protects children/ especially fro9 falls and
3ullying/ and increases their self%estee9 (coral also does this!=
Brilliant for soothing an;iety and creating a golden shield of protection that 9ingles po'er 'ith
kindness and a sense of perspective/ a93er is said to protect 'earers fro9 pollution/ 3oth industrial
and technological=
A9ethyst
A9ethyst is one of the 3est healing and protective stones= Egyptian soldiers 'ore it in 3attle so they
'ould not panic in dangerous situations and so it is an ideal crystal to cal9 children and adults and to
keep a'ay night terrors= &he Greeks 3elieved that a9ethyst prevented the 'earer fro9 drunkenness %
a9ethystos 9eans @not drunken@ % and so it protects against e;cesses not only of alcohol/ 3ut of those
'ho seek to do9inate through greater strength or status/ at 'ork or socially= Worn during sleep/ it
prevents inso9nia/ and 'hen carried throughout the day/ it reduces anger and i9patience in self and
others=
Apache &ears ()3sidian!
&hese s9all 3lack glo3ules are so%na9ed after a tragic incident in AriAona= A group of Apaches 'ere
a93ushed 3y soldiers= Many 'ere killed and the rest thre' the9selves over a cliff/ rather than 3e
taken prisoner= &he 'o9en and 9aidens of the tri3e 'ept at the 3ase of the cliff for a 'hole 9oon
cycle and their tears 3eca9e e93edded 'ithin o3sidian crystals in the rock=
Apache tears protect against treachery/ deep sorro' and are especially potent in protecting persecuted
9inorities 'hether these are people/ endangered species or places= &hey ease and release physical and
9ental pain/ loss/ sadness and anger/ allo'ing the user to 9ove for'ard= Apache tears are particularly
po'erful for protection against one@s o'n fears of frailty/ 9ortality/ loneliness and loss of any kind=
Beryl
A crystal of the Sun/ 3eryl drives a'ay inner fears and repels e;ternal threats and 9alevolence/
increasing confidence and a sense of 'ell3eing= $n its golden for9 it is e;cellent for creating a shield
of golden sparks around you in difficult situations 'here there are too 9any factors or conflicting
de9ands to assi9ilate and you feel over'hel9ed=
>eep 3lue 3eryl is used for crystal 3alls= $t offers inner peace and the courage to stand against 3ullies
and autocrats/ 3ut allo's you to 3e generous to the petty%9inded=
Pink 3eryl (9organite! offers gentle protection for children and ani9als and encourages co9passion
to'ards our ene9ies=
Bloodstone (heliotrope!
&he red spots of 3loodstone 'ere/ according to legend/ for9ed fro9 the 3lood of Christ as it fell on
green Gasper at the crucifi;ion and so it is traditionally used in icons and religious carvings= $n Ancient
Ba3ylon/ 3loodstone 'as used in a9ulets for protection against ene9ies and has 3een carried 3y
soldiers in 9any cultures to overco9e fears/ to prevent 'ounds or stop 3leeding= $t is good for
deflecting cruelty/ spite and 9alice and for situations in 'hich the fears are real and the opposition
great= &ravellers 9ay carry this stone to protect against accidents or attack=
Carnelian
&hough 9ost usually a translucent/ vi3rant red or orange/ carnelians can also 3e yello' or 3ro'n= $n
any shade/ carnelians have traditionally 3een regarded as the stones of courage and self%confidence of
leaders/ and those 'ho 'ish or need to 3e leaders should 'ear one around the neck or in a ring= &hey
are po'erful against all for9s of 9alevolence and danger/ repelling envy in others= Most of all/
carnelians protect us against ourselves and our o'n 'eaknesses=
Coral
Coral is an organic ge9/ usually pink/ red or orange/ and is kno'n as the protector of children= Coral
has 3een a children@s stone fro9 the ti9e of the Ancient Greeks 'hen Plato 'rote that it should 3e
hung around children@s necks to prevent the9 falling and to cure colic/ and ru33ed on the gu9s to help
painless teething= $t is good for all children@s fears and against threat to their person or self%estee9= $t
is also protective for adolescent girls/ pregnant 'o9en and ne' 9others/ and invokes kindness and
gentleness in others=
Garner
:sually a deep/ clear red/ garnets are the ulti9ate protective stone= Eastern European peoples used the
garnet against illness/ night phanto9s and all for9s of 9anifest evil/ including the 9ythical va9pire=
$n 9edieval ti9es/ garnets 'ere engraved 'ith a lion@s head for health and safe travelH ho'ever/ 3eing
a 3rittle stone/ this 'as not easy and the fe' that did not shatter 'ere highly priAed= $t is still regarded
as a stone to 3e carried 3y travellers/ especially for protection against attack= ?ike the e9erald/ it 'ill
change colour if danger is near= Garnets also provide energy for difficult tasks 'hen rest is not
possi3le=
Avoid using garnet 'hen you are feeling angry/ as it 'ill a9plify these feelings=
Kade
A stone that protects against ill%health and poverty/ Gade is another very gentle stone that is said to
contain great deal of the undiluted life force= $t connects the user 'ith Earth energies and offers
protection fro9 inGury and accidents/ especially during travel= $t is a good stone for rituals to heal the
planet=
Kasper
Kasper is/ like agate/ a po'erful grounding and earthing stone and protects against fears as 'ell as
e;ternal danger=
Black Gasper is protective against all negative sources and especially the user@s o'n repressed feelings=
$t is good for a3sor3ing anger=
Bro'n Gasper offers sta3ility in tur3ulent ti9esH it is good to use after rituals=
Green Gasper protects against Gealousy/ increases e9pathy 'ith others@ difficulties and soothes 3ad
drea9s=
+ed Gasper is naturally defensive against e;ternal hostility and danger=
Ket
Ket is/ like a93er/ an organic ge9 of great antiFuity= $t is actually fossilised 'ood that has 3een turned
into a dense for9 of coal= &ravellers and fisherfolk 3enefit fro9 its protection % in past ti9es/ the
'ives of sailors 'ould keep a Get a9ulet safe at ho9e so that their hus3ands 'ould return safely fro9
the sea= $t protects all 'ho travel 3y night/ alone or in lonely places/ and older people in all aspects of
their lives= $t guards against 3ad drea9s and endo's the 'earer 'ith the e9otional strength to face the
ending of a natural phase=
?apis laAuli
Ino'n as the eye of 'isdo9 and the stone of the gods/ lapis laAuli Ge'ellery is 9entioned in an
Ancient Egyptian papyrus dating fro9 over ,/777 years ago as having healing po'ers= &he Su9erians
3elieved it contained the souls of their gods and goddesses and as such 'ould endo' the9 'ith
9agical po'ers/ and the goddess $shtar 'as fa9ed for her 3eautiful necklaces of this crystal= $n
Egypt/ lapis laAuli 'as first used in a po'dered for9 for eye 9ake%up as protection against the evil
eye=
?apis laAuli counteracts inso9nia and the ina3ility to co99unicate/ and is a po'erfully protective
stone against all pettiness/ spite/ inGustice and unfair officialdo9= $t offers the courage and clarity to
'in through/ ho'ever see9ingly po'erful the opposition/ 3ut it de9ands no3ility of purpose in its
users= ?apis laAuli is good for healing 3oth air and 'ater pollution and for 'orld peace=
Malachite
A purifier and energiser/ 9alachite 'ill replace negativity 'ith positive energies= $t cleanses the auric
field around people/ ani9als/ plants and places= Malachite 'ill a3sor3 pollution and/ it is clai9ed/
har9ful rays fro9 co9puters and televisions= $t is especially effective if a crystal is placed in the
corners of a roo9 'here 'hite electrical goods are 3eing used=
Because it is so po'erful/ 9alachite should 3e cleansed at least every t'o days=
+ose FuartA
+ose FuartA is the stone of gentle healing and protection= $t is kno'n as the children@s stone 3ecause it
is so gentle in soothing a'ay childhood ills and sorro's that 9ay haunt us into adulthood= $t is good
for protecting fa9ilies/ the ho9e/ pets and anyone 'ho is ill or vulnera3le=
$t pro9otes fa9ily love and friendship/ and 3rings peace/ forgiveness/ e9otional har9ony and the
9ending of Fuarrels= $t heals e9otional 'ounds and heart3reak/ grief/ stress/ fear/ lack of confidence/
resent9ent and anger= +ose FuartA 'ill keep a'ay night9ares and night%ti9e fears= Cleanse and
recharge it freFuently/ especially if the colour 3egins to fade=
S9oky FuartA
&his is traditionally associated 'ith re9oving negative influences on the user= $t can pro9ote physical
health and galvanise our shado' side/ transfor9ing anger and resent9ent into positive action/ rather
than leaving us to deny negative feelings or proGect the9 on to other people= $t is a po'erful stone to
use 'hen one@s survival/ either professional or personal/ is an issue= S9oky FuartA also counteracts
self%destructive i9pulses=
&iger@s eye
A 3ro'n or red translucent stone (the green and 3lue versions are cat@s/ falcon or ha'k@s eyes!/ tiger@s
eye co93ines the po'ers of the Earth 'ith the deep instinctive a3ility to survive life@s challenges=
&hroughout the ages/ tiger@s eye has 3een a talis9an against the evil eye= +o9an soldiers 'ould 'ear
engraved stones as protection fro9 death and 'ounding= &iger@s eye is also associated 'ith practical
aspects of life and enhances the five senses= &hus it can alert us to physical danger as 'ell as potential
9alice= $t is effective in tackling gossip/ 3ack3iting and spite in a fir9 3ut creative 'ay/ and is
perhaps 3est of all for creating a sparkling shield of protection=
&opaA
&opaA is the Sanskrit 'ord for @fire@= &opaA increases po'er as the Moon 'a;es/ 3eing at its greatest
potency at the ti9e of the full 9oon= Perhaps 3ecause of this/ topaA 'as said to 3e proof against
night9ares/ night terrors and phanto9s and 9alice of the night as 'ell as violent e9otions= Water in
'hich a topaA has 3een soaked is a cure for inso9nia if drunk an hour 3efore 3edti9e=
A natural energiser/ golden topaA is especially good for alleviating 'ork an;ieties/ especially in the
caring professions/ and should 3e kept in the 'orkplace=
&urFuoise
Mined 3y the Egyptians in Sinai 9ore than 1/777 years ago/ turFuoise and i9itations of it have 3een
discovered in graves fro9 around -777 BC= $t is the stone of horse9en/ 'arning the9 of danger/ and
'ill prevent horses fro9 stu93ling if placed in a saddle or on a 3ridle= So it is the stone of all
travellers/ especially those 'ho travel far 3y air or sea= $n 9odern ti9es/ a s9all turFuoise can 3e
attached to pets@ collars and to the 9irrors of 3irdcages to protect the9=
$t can also 3e plaited into horses@ 9anes to prevent their 3eing stolen or har9ed/ using the follo'ing
9ethod= Soak the turFuoise in sacred 'ater for *- hours/ then charge it 'ith po'er 3y sprinkling salt
on it and passing it through the s9oke of a po'erful incense such as cedar/ then through the fla9e of
a pink candle and finally 'ith the sacred 'ater= inally/ 3ind the turFuoise 'ith three hairs fro9 the
ani9al=
&urFuoise is a po'er stone and is good in glo3al rituals/ to protect persecuted groups and for healing
the sea and air= $t is particularly effective in 'hale and dolphin conservation 'ork=
A Protective Crystal +itual
&his ritual is particularly effective for anyone feeling an;ious a3out travelling or 9oving house= 8ou
'ill need a 9ap of the Gourney involved= 8ou 9ay like to 'ork 3y candlelight/ in 'hich case light a
yello' candle for a Gourney of a short distance or duration and a 3lue one for 9aGor travel= 8ou can
also adapt this ritual for a house 9ove/ 3urning a 3ro'n candle for a 9ove to or 'ithin a to'n or city
and green for a rural or 9ore isolated location=
P Spread five or si; protective crystals across the 9ap fro9 your ho9e to your destination=
P Prepare a circle of protective incense sticks or cones/ such as copal/ Guniper or le9on ver3ena/
alternated 'ith fern or frankincense incense for travel= :se holders or 3urners 'ide enough to collect
the ash= ($ncense co93ines the Fualities of the Earth in its su3stance and of the Sky 'hen lit and so is
a very 3alanced for9 of 9agic/ co93ining the Sky ather and Earth Mother/ ani9us and ani9a
energies/ or yang and yin in the )riental tradition=!
P As you light the incense/ say:
ar or near/ guard 9y ho9e/ guide 9e safe o@er hill and foa9/ $n darkest night/ though apart/ 9y
ho9e $ carry in 9y heart=
P While the incense is 3urning/ 9ake positive plans for your Gourney and focus on the 9ost
pleasura3le aspects=
P When the incense is 3urned through/ collect any ash and sprinkle a little over the crystals you placed
over your ho9e and destination=
P Wash the crystals in sacred 'ater or any source of running 'ater and allo' the9 to dry naturally=
P &ake your ho9e crystal on the Gourney 'ith you and give the destination crystal to a loved one= $f
you live alone/ 3ury it in a plant pot near the door to a'ait your ho9eco9ing=
P or a house 9ove/ 3ury the @ne' ho9e@ crystal near the front door of your present property to create
a happy at9osphere for the ne' o'ners or tenants= Bury the @old ho9e@ crystal in the ground near your
ne' front door 'hen you 9ove/ to transfer positive energies 'ith you and 9ake the ne' ho9e
instantly yours=
A9ulets
<ery potent protection can 3e provided 3y a9ulets= &hese are char9s that have 3een 9arked 'ith a
sy93ol to indicate the po'er they contain= &his could 3e a protective god or goddess/ or a sign of the
Aodiac or a planet that you feel has the po'er you need= Alternatively/ you 9ight si9ply 'rite the
na9e of the person to 3e protected and surround it 'ith a circle to keep out ill%'ishing= 8ou can 9ake
an a9ulet in any shape you 'ish/ out of candle%'a; or clay/ or you could use 'ooden discs/ cut fro9
an old 3roo9 handle= &he sy93ols 9ay 3e engraved/ using a sharp knife/ or painted on=
8ou can add decorations if you 'ish= A9ulets 9ay 3e carried in your pocket/ or you could drill a hole
and thread a ri33on through an a9ulet and hang it around your neck= &hey 9ay also 3e placed in a
house to offer protection against danger and illness= Protective crystals (see page (.,! also 9ake good
a9ulets and e9po'ered her3s of protection (see Chapter 1!/ carried in a purse or 3ag are potent in the
sa9e 'ay=
&raditionally/ the 'eek 3efore the 9idsu99er solstice is the ti9e for 9aking protective a9ulets/ so
that they can 3e passed through fla9e or held up to the Sun on the solstice day at noon=
Salt
Salt has al'ays 3een central to religious and 9agical practices 3ecause it is an a3solutely pure
su3stance= $t is po'erful for psychic protection 3ut also in 9oney%9aking and in healing rituals=
Centuries ago/ it 'as regarded as precious 3ecause it 'as the 9ain preservative of food through the
long 'inter 9onths for early settlers around the glo3e= $n for9al 9agick/ it represents the ele9ent of
Earth=
$n 9odern protective and 3anishing rituals/ a salt circle is created to keep out har9= Many of us still
adhere to the old practice of thro'ing a pinch of spilt salt over our left shoulder/ @into the eyes of the
>evil@= Salt 'as also added in the 9aking of 2oly Water to 'ard off evil and increase physical
strength as 'ell as po'ers of fertility= Salt is still added to 'ater in casting a triple circle in 9ore
for9al 9agick=
)n a less for9al level/ s9all Fuantities of salt can 3e e9po'ered and used for all kinds of do9estic
protection= &o e9po'er salt/ pass a clear FuartA or crystal pendulu9 over it deosil/ chanting the
purpose/ for e;a9ple/ @Salt/ salt/ protect 9e fro9 all danger@= Ieep the9 separate fro9 other
condi9ents in a 'atertight container and then you can 3uild in the specific need/ perhaps protection
for a traveller/ purification of a house or co9fort for a child unhappy at school= &'ists of salt in silver
foil hidden in the corners of a roo9 at ho9e or 'ork can offer protection/ as can salt in a dra'string
3ag carried 'hile travelling to guard against illness/ accident or har9= 8ou can also scatter a circle of
salt around a school3ag/ travel 3ag or 3riefcase/ around your desk or on the threshold/ to create a
protective shield=
8ou can charge pepper in the sa9e 'ay to 9ake a salt and pepper floor 'ash for floors (this is an old
Afro%Cari33ean tradition!= As you scru3 or sprinkle/ create the e9po'er9ent char9/ for e;a9ple @Salt
of Earth/ pepper of ire/ guard 9y ho9e and cleanse a'ay all har9@= Pepper also 'orks 'onders for
keeping a'ay the office va9p or Adonis and if you think your partner is at risk fro9 te9ptation/ add
the e9po'ered condi9ent to a salad and they 'ill a3sor3 the protection=
A Protective +itual With E9po'ered Salt
P Place the salt in a s9all cera9ic dish on your altar and light a pure 3ees'a; candle at the four 9ain
co9pass points around the edges of the altar= Bees'a; has a long tradition in 9agick: it 'as sacred to
the Mother Goddess and later the <irgin Mary= >e9eter/ goddess of the grain/ 'as called Queen Bee
and Aphrodite@s sy93ol at her hive%shaped shrine in Ery; 'as a gold honeyco93= 2er high priestess
'as al'ays called Melissa/ ?atin for 3ee=
P Beginning at the #orth of your circle/ light your ele9ental candles= At each Fuarter of the circle say:
>e9eter/ Aphrodite/ Melissa/ pure 9other 3ee/ charge 'ith thy light this salt/ to enfold 9y ho9e
('orkplace"Gourney! 'ith thy golden 9antle of protection=
8ou 9ay 'ish to leave out the goddess na9es or su3stitute a Mother Goddess or religious icon of
your o'n= Perhaps surprisingly/ 9any 'itches do ask the 3lessings of Mother Mary and $ 3elieve that
if you 'ork in love/ then you should use your o'n focus= $f you prefer/ Gust say:
Benign light/ charge 'ith honeyed fragrance this salt/ to enfold %Minsert the na9e of the person to 3e
protectedN=
P #e;t enclose your dish of salt in a sFuare of s9all protective crystals such as Gade or tiger@s eye and
one or t'o a93er if you have any in your collection= (+ose FuartA or glass nuggets in s9oky 3ro'n
and yello' 9ake good su3stitutes=! Begin in the #orth and 9ake sure the crystals are touching=
&he sFuare is a sacred geo9etric for9 sy93olising ti9e and space and so is good for all protective
rituals= &he sFuare should 3e Gust inside the candles= So9e practitioners create a sy93olic sFuare 3y
placing Gust t'o crystals in the centre of 'here each side 'ould 3e/ and you can do this if you prefer=
As you create the sFuare/ say:
Safe 'ithin/ nought to enter/ nought to har9/ nought 'ithin 3ut this 3enign light of love= &hus do $
3uild/ thus enclose % Minsert the na9e or place to 3e protectedN in light and protection=
P #o' create a circle of golden petals/ pollen/ leaves or pot pourri= &he circle should al9ost touch the
candles/ so that they can stand sentinel round it/ and should enclose the sFuare or crystals and the salt=
&he circle represents the spirit and so encloses the space and ti9e sFuare= As you scatter the petals or
pollen/ say:
Circle of gold/ shield fro9 9alice/ danger and stranger/ enter the salt and e9po'er this sphere 'ith a
shield of gold=
P ?eave the candles to 3urn do'n/ 9aking sure they are in 3road%3ased holders so 'a; does not fall
on the petals=
$f you are 'orking 'ith other people or 'ish to have a 9ore active ritual/ place the dish of salt in the
centre resting on the altar or on a rock= Set tall candles in floor holders a short distance a'ay and
9ake an invisi3le sFuare 'ith frankincense or sandal'ood incense 3y 'alking round the sFuare and
then scattering your golden petal/ her3 or pollen circle=
$f you cannot o3tain 3ees'a; candles/ use plain 'hite candles and place a tiny dish of honey to the
right of the salt= Since the honey 'ill also 3e e9po'ered/ you can a3sor3 the protective 9agick 3y
using it in a drink or sand'ich=
P When the candles have 3urned do'n co9pletely/ clear a'ay the crystals and 'ash the9 under
running 'ater=
Water
Because 'ater is vital for life/ it has 3eco9e associated 'ith re3irth and healing through the 'ashing
a'ay of sins and disease/ and so 'ith protection fro9 ills of all kinds=
Water for rituals 9ust first 3e consecrated= 8ou can use either pure spring 'ater or tap 'ater left for
*- hours in a crystal or clear glass container= Cover the 'ater 'ith 9esh in the 'a;ing or full 9oon
and then leave out of doors to a3sor3 the light of the Moon and the Sun for a full *- hours= &he full
9oon rises around sunset/ so you can follo' the old Celtic day (see the chapter on Planets and
Angels!= Even if you cannot see the light 3ecause of cloud/ the energies are still potent=
$n for9al 9agick/ consecrated 'ater is placed in the West in a special 3o'l= $n the ho9e/ it is good to
keep a supply of sacred 'ater ready for use at all ti9es: purify o3Gects and areas 3y sprinkling it/ add
it to your 3ath/ drink it/ put it in your pets@ 3o'l and use it to 'ater your plants=
)ne 'ay of uno3trusively a3sor3ing the protection of sacred 'ater is to keep so9e in a 9ineral 'ater
3ottle so you can da3 it on your 'rists and te9ples at ti9es of stress or take a drink if you feel 'orried
or under threat fro9 a person 'ho e;udes hostility=
Add a little to the cup 'hen 9aking tea or coffee for an adversary= 8ou are not giving a'ay your
po'er 3ut/ 3y the &hreefold ?a'/ creating har9ony in the source of the trou3le= Sacred 'ater can also
3e poured on earth that has 3eco9e 3arren or spoiled and into polluted seas and rivers=
A +itual or Consecrating Water
$f you are carrying out a special healing or protective ritual/ you 9ight 'ish to use this slightly 9ore
co9ple; 9ethod of creating sacred 'ater= $t is possi3le to 3uy or o3tain 'ater fro9 holy 'ells/
usually in return for a donation to'ards the upkeep of the 'ell/ and so9e co99ercially 3ottled spring
'ater co9es fro9 sacred 'ells= or e;a9ple/ the healing 'ater fro9 Pri9e@s Well/ in the Malvern
2ills/ 'here the hero in ?angland@s poe9 &he <ision of Piers the Plo'9an received his vision/ is no'
piped and 3ottled as Malvern Spring Water/ 'ithout 'hich Queen EliAa3eth $$ 'ill not travel=
:se the follo'ing ritual to consecrate your 3ottled 'ater/ or/ if you are in a hurry for your rituals/ pass
a pendulu9 nine ti9es 'iddershins over it to re9ove any influences added in the 3ottling and nine
ti9es deosil to energise it= (A pendulu9 is 9ade 3y hanging a crystal/ or a piece of 'ood or 9etal on
a chain and can 3e used to trans9it ans'ers to Fuestions 3y its 9ove9ents=
Crystal pendulu9s are also used to catch the light of the Sun or Moon/ thus adding the energies of
these light forces=! :se a crystal or clear glass Gug or decanter/ if possi3le/ in 'hich to keep your
'ater= &he kind used for 'ine/ 'ith a stopper or lid/ is 3est=
P Wash a clear/ round crystal FuartA (a stone used in 9any cultures to energise and purify 'ater!
under running 'ater to re9ove any i9purities introduced 3y the 9odern 'orld= Place it in the 3otto9
of your Gug or decanter=
P Pour 9ineral 'ater/ fro9 a sacred source if possi3le/ into the Gug= So9e practitioners/ follo'ing the
ancient Celtic tradition/ use 'ater that has 3een 3oiled 'ith nine FuartA crystals added=
P ?eave this 'ater out of doors in a circle of 'hite flo'ers or 3losso9s for *- hours/ 'here it 'ill
a3sor3 the co9plete light cycle= $f the Moon is not visi3le/ 3ecause of clouds/ 3urn a 'hite candle or
nightlight 3ehind it=
P Pass a t'ig fro9 one of the protective trees/ such as ro'an/ ash/ pal9/ thorn or olive/ over it nine
ti9es 'iddershins to re9ove any lingering negativity=
P inally/ pass the t'ig over it nine ti9es deosil to e9po'er it/ saying:
Water of the goddess/ flo'ing fro9 the Earth/ filled 'ith lingering 9oon3ea9s/ healing 3ring to 3irth=
Water filled 'ith sunlight/ crystal light e9po'er/ floral life force entering/ 3lessings on us sho'er=
Ieep your sacred 'ater on a special shelf in a cup3oard and 'hen it is al9ost e9pty pour 'hat is left
into a pond or lake and 'ash out the Gug or decanter under running 'ater=
+evitalising +ain'ater or :se $n +ituals
Before the days of acid rain/ practitioners of 9agick 'ould use rain'ater collected in a container
3efore it touched the ground as sacred 'ater= #o'adays/ you 9ay find it necessary to revitalise the
rain'ater you use 'ith a fe' drops of flo'er essence= &here are 9any 3rands availa3le: Agri9ony
fro9 >r Bach@s lo'er EssencesH Goat3eard fro9 the Pacific lo'er Essence +e9ediesH Coconut
Pal9 fro9 the African and A9aAonian EssencesH Alaskan soap 3erryH >eva ig &ree or Morning
GloryH and indhorn ro'an/ all of 'hich see9 to 'ork as purifiers for 9e= lo'er and tree essences
are created fro9 the living energies of the plant and this spirit 'ater is especially good for protective
3aths=
A Protective Water +itual
&his ritual is particularly effective for re9oving the effects of spite or unfair criticis9 or a destructive
encounter that has shaken your confidence=
$t is 3ased on an old custo9 'here3y a rag 'as dipped into a holy 'ell and the 'ater ru33ed on the
3ody part that 'as causing pain= &he rag 'as then left on a tree overhanging the 'ell to dry and take
'ith it the illness or pain/ after 'hich the rag 'as left to decay/ so ensuring a per9anent or long%ter9
cure= &hese 'ells/ called cloth or @cloutie@ 'ells in the north of England/ are still a focus for protection
and healing in 9any parts of the 'orld/ surrounded 3y ri33ons and flo'ers=
8ou 'ill need a large crystal or glass 3o'l for this ritual= Such 3o'ls/ freFuently used in 9agick/ are
often o3taina3le cheaply fro9 car 3oot or garage sales=
P Pour sacred 'ater into the crystal 3o'l so that it is a3out half%full=
P Pass over the 3o'l three ti9es deosil a silver coloured knife/ or a traditional tool related to Air/
saying:
)ne/ t'ice/ three ti9es/ 3y this 3lade of Air/ 3y the 9ighty 'inds and the 3oundless sky/ thrice thus
do $ charge this 'ater 'ith po'er and protection against all 'ho 'ould do or 'ish 9e har9=
P >ip a s9all piece of 'hite cotton or flannel into your sacred 'ater/ saying:
Wash a'ay the sorro'/ 'ash a'ay the pain/
ather Sky and Sister Water/ let 3ut peace re9ain=
P &ie the cloth to a healing tree/ such as ash/ 3irch/ aspen or 'illo' (failing this/ any tree or large
plant in your garden or ho9e 'ill do! and leave the cloth to dry naturally= As you tie it/ say:
As the sacred 'ater returns to the sky to fall as life%enhancing rain/ so 9ay 9y% Mna9e your
unhappinessN 3e dispersed and transfor9ed into Goy and reconciliation=
Place a coin in a special pot every ti9e you use your sacred 'ater/ so that 'hen it is full you can 3uy a
present for so9eone you love/ a person 'ho is lonely or ill or to give to a favourite charity=
6 % 2ealing Magick
2er3s have 3een used for healing since ti9e i99e9orial in cultures all over the 'orld= $n her3al
9edicine/ the her3s 'hose properties alleviate a particular illness or state of 9ind are taken internally
or applied to the physical 3ody e;ternally= 2o'ever/ in healing 9agick/ light and healing energies are
trans9itted through colour/ crystals/ her3s/ oils and incenses and used as a focus for transferring
healing energies to trigger the 3ody and 9ind@s o'n i99une syste9/ through visualisation and
telepathic 'aves= $n this 'ay/ healing 9agick is akin to spiritual healing=
By directing the natural restorative energies of the Earth/ nature and the cos9os to'ards a sick or
distressed person/ ani9al or place through 9ind or soul flo'/ 'e can sti9ulate and a9plify their
selfhealing
po'ers=
A nu93er of 'itches are for9ally trained in the healing arts/ using 3oth conventional 9ethods/ such
as surgery/ and alternative therapies/ such as chiropractic/ aro9atherapy and +eiki= Witches 9ay also
3e 9e93ers of healing associations/ and conventional 9edicine is increasingly recognising the value
of alternative and 9uch older 9ethods=
But 9any 'itches 'ithout any for9al training in either conventional 9edical treat9ent or spiritual
healing follo' the tradition of the 'ise 9en and 'o9en/ the Wicca= &hese practitioners passed their
craft do'n over centuries/ fro9 one generation to the ne;t/ 3ut 'e also all have an innate a3ility to
heal/ 'hich tells us ho' to soothe a loved one@s headache or a child@s distress= $f you do 'ish to learn
9ore of the craft see pages *66 and ,7.%4 'here $ have listed 3ooks on her3alis9 and aro9atherapy
and healing organisations=
:nlike so9e 9odern physicians or surgeons/ 'ho so9eti9es regard the prolonging of life as the
9aGor purpose of their 'ork/ regardless of the Fuality of that life/ 9any 'itch healers/ like other
spiritual healers/ accept that so9eti9es decline and death are inevita3le= So they 'ork to ease the
parting and the passing over/ kno'ing that this life is not the end= Magical healing has a very gentle
tradition=
8ou can carry out healing 'ith the sick person present/ 3y directing the light and energies to'ards
the9= &his can 3e done/ for e;a9ple/ through a candle fla9e set 3et'een you= Alternatively/ you can
circle a pendulu9 over their head/ 'iddershins to re9ove pain for 'hole%3ody healing or to ease a
painful place/ and deosil to restore energies= $f the su3Gect is a3sent/ you can visualise the9 and send
healing light across the cos9os= 2ealing 9agick can also 3e used 'ith your pets/ and for 9ore general
purposes/ such as healing a particular place or the planet=
>o note that $ a9 not clai9ing that the 9ethods of 9agick healing given in this chapter 'ill al'ays
effect a co9plete cureH if you suffer fro9 a chronic or acute condition that does not Fuickly i9prove/
you should consult your conventional doctor or registered alternative 9edical practitioner= 2o'ever/
9agick has successfully 3een used in speeding healing/ partly/ it 'ould see9/ 3y sti9ulating the
3ody@s o'n self%healing syste9/ operating through the close connection 3et'een 9ind/ 3ody and spirit
in a 'ay that the 9edical profession is only no' 3eginning to understand=
Creating A 2ealing Sanctuary
Many practitioners use their 9agical altar for healing 'ork and 3ecause each piece of 'ork is related/
this adds to the positive energies already concentrated there= 2o'ever/ if you have roo9/ you 9ight
like to set aside a corner specifically for healing=
8ou can use a ta3le or any flat surface for your altar= )n it/ you should keep a single/ pure 3ees'a; or
'hite candleH this is a sy93ol of the unity of all life and the one divine source that flo's through
every natural 3eing/ 'hether it is 9ale or fe9ale/ god or goddess/ ani9al/ 3ird/ fish/ tree/ plant or
stone= 8ou 'ill also need your special healing crystals/ perhaps arranged in a circle around the candle
and a clear crystal sphere or crystal pendulu9 for directing sunlight and 9oonlight=
&he crystals could include gentle rose FuartA and a9ethyst for healing all ills and 3ringing har9ony/
9oonstone for fe9ale and hor9onal disorders and for fertility/ citrine for energy and lifting
depression/ and agates for 3alancing energies= ?ater in this section $ have listed so9e healing crystals
$ use under their different colours/ as these are related to healing properties= 8ou can also refer to the
list of crystals in the previous chapter on psychic protection=
8ou can also keep here pots of healing her3s/ seasonal fruit/ flo'ers/ nuts and seeds that 'ill 3e
e9po'ered 3y the healing energies= &hese can regularly 3e given to anyone feeling tired or an;ious %
not forgetting yourself=
A covered Gar of e9po'ered salt and a 3ottle of sacred 'ater are also i9portant= 2o'ever/ you 9ight
like to 3less the9 3efore use/ in the na9e of the Goddess/ a healing deity or si9ply the po'ers of
goodness and light/ 3y passing the9 three ti9es over the healing candle fla9e=
8ou 'ill also need so9e'here to keep all you need for your healing 'ork that you can also use in
9ore general 9agical 'ork 'ith a healing focus= 8ou 9ight have a 3o; at the side of the altar/ or/ if
you adapt a cup3oard for your altar/ you could use the space inside it= $n this place you 'ould have
your dried her3s/ healing oils and incenses/ favourite flo'er essences/ coloured 3ottles containing
e9po'ered 'ater and s9all crystals or glass nuggets= 8ou could also collect t'igs or s9all carved
artefacts fro9 healing trees/ such as ash/ olive/ ro'an/ pal9 and aspen= (See page (,6 for details of
incenses and page (*5 for infor9ation on oils=!
)n the ta3le in front of the candle you could keep a special healing 3ook in 'hich you could 'rite the
na9es of people or places you kno' 'ho need healing= &hese could include pets/ a hospital or
hospice 'ith 'hich you have connections/ sanctuaries for inGured creatures/ threatened species and
places= $t is 3etter to have this separate/ rather than as part of your Book of Shado's/ 3ut if you prefer
you can use your Book of Shado's for 3oth areas of 'ork=
8ou 9ight also like to keep a special @?oving Connections@ section for the na9es of friends or fa9ily
9e93ers 'ho are a'ay fro9 ho9e and 9ay 3e feeling lonely/ and also anyone fro9 'ho9 you are
estranged=
A 3ound Gournal 'ith 3lank pages is good for this kind of 'ork or you could 3uy a leather loose%leaf
3inder and insert 3lank pages 'ith dates= $f you 'ork in a group/ one 9e93er can 3e responsi3le for
regularly updating the 3ook=
A +itual or Creating 2ealing Magick
Each evening or 9orning % or 'henever you have ti9e % light your healing candle and hold one of
your special crystals and your crystal sphere or pendulu9 and focus on of the na9es in your 3ook/
sending the candlelight reflected though the crystal to 'herever it is needed= &he traditional healing
hour is ten o@ clock at night/ 3ut 'hat is 9ore i9portant is that the ti9e is one 'here you can 3e Fuiet
and are not pressurised 3y other de9ands= Begin 3y holding a healing crystal and focusing the
energies through the candle fla9eH you can then e;tend this ritual for specific healing purposes=
8ou 'ill need a photograph/ ne'spaper cutting or sy93ol of the person/ ani9al or place to 'hich you
are sending healing energies=
P &ake a dish of sacred 'ater and place it near the candle=
P 2old the sy93ol of the person to 3e healed 3et'een your hands and speak a fe' 'ords of love and
reassurance as though they 'ere 'ith you= $f you have already created for the sick person a her3
poppet (see page (75! or sachet (see page (71!/ hold that 3et'een your hands and repeat the original
her3 e9po'er9ent or sit in silence recreating the ritual in your 9ind= 8ou can add 'ords of healing
as a3ove= $f the o3Gect of the healing is a place/ such as a lake or 'oodland under threat/ i9agine that
you are in that place=
P Circle your crystal pendulu9 or a pointed healing crystal over the sy93ol (or sachet or poppet! nine
ti9es 'iddershins/ saying as a 9antra:
Go/ pain and sorro'/ change to star or sun3ea9/ transfor9ed in Goy and in tranFuillity=
P Plunge the pendulu9 into the 'ater and hold it to the light so the drops of 'ater fall off and scatter
as rain3o' light 3ea9s all around the sy93ol= 8ou can also create the light 3ea9s 3y angling your
candle or hanging rain3o' crystals in your 'indo'= $t is not cheating/ 3ut directing natural forces for
a purpose and infusing physical light 3ea9s 'ith spiritual energies= Mirrors are another good 'ay of
reflecting light 3ea9s=
P #o' circle the pendulu9 nine ti9es deosil over the sy93ol/ saying:
Sun3ea9/ star 3ea9/ rays of light/ replace/ restore/ rene'/ reGoice=
P Blo' out the candle/ sending the light to the sick or sorro'ing person/ saying:
Go/ light of healing/ radiance of love and friendship/ to 'here you are needed 9ost this night/ 'ith %
Mna9e the person/ ani9al or locationN=
May 3lessings fall/ darkness and dou3ts recede into nothingness= So 9ay it 3e in the na9e of all that
is good and loving and pure Mor @in the na9e of the Goddess@/ if you preferN=
$f you are feeling ill/ 'orried or afraid you can go to your healing place and light the candle/ holding
your favourite crystal and e;pressing softly your needs and fears= 2o'ever/ the 9ore healing you
carry out for others/ the 9ore har9ony 'ill fall on you under the &hreefold ?a'=
$f you are 'orking 'ith friends or in a group/ after sho'ering it 'ith light 3ea9s/ pass the sy93ol
round to each person/ adding individual 3lessings= Give each person a s9all/ 'hite candle to set
3efore the9 so that they can personally send light and 3lessings=
&he 'ords can 3e spoken as a Goint 9antra or chant=
A Short +itual or A3sent 2ealing
&his can 3e carried out once a 9onth for those 'ho regularly need your help and support= :se natural
candles such as 3ees'a; rather than paraffin%3ased for this ritual if possi3le=
P ?ight your healing candle and 3urn rose or lavender incense or a healing oil/ such as Cha9o9ile or
rose'ood=
P +ead through all the na9es in your healing 3ook/ adding any ne' ones to the list and giving thanks
for any 'ho have recovered=
P Speak your o'n prayer or 9antra to your god/ the Goddess/ or any healing deities 'ho see9
appropriate= 8ou 9ay call upon an Archangel or the 3enign po'ers of ?ight and ?ove/ if this see9s
9ore 9eaningful= Each person present can again add 3lessings=
P ?eave the candle and incense to 3urn a'ay and 3ury any ash or 'a; after'ards in the earth 3eneath
a tree=
A 2ealing +itual With Sunlight And Moonlight
&his is a very 9agical for9 of healing and can 3e carried out either alone or as a group activity=
QuartA crystal 3alls 'ere traditionally used 9edicinally to concentrate the rays of sunlight upon a
diseased or painful area of the 3ody or in the direction of so9e internal organ=
&his clear crystal stone has al'ays 3een associated 'ith energising po'ers and 'ith healing= $n its
spherical for9 of co9pleteness/ it is perhaps the ulti9ate healing and 9agical stone= 8ou can 3uy tiny
spheres Fuite cheaply and these 'ork Gust as 'ell as a large crystal 3all=
Sunlight is good for energising and i9proving physical health and vitality/ encouraging re%gro'th and
regeneration/ and for 9atters of the 9ind 'here clarity and opti9is9 are needed=
Moonlight is potent for re9oving illness or pain and for all pro3le9s concerning e9otions/ hor9ones
or fertility and is especially effective in healing 'o9en/ children and pets=
P >irect the sunlight or the light of the full 9oon into your crystal sphere/ so that it shines on the
person you are healing/ or their photograph or other sy93ol= $f you are using sunlight/ 3e careful that
the crystal does not 3eco9e too hot and of course do not look directly at the i9age of the Sun=
P Stand in a circle in the open air and in the centre/ place a dish of pure spring 'ater= :se a golden
coloured 3o'l for sunlight/ and a silver 3o'l for 9oonlight=
P $nto the 'ater/ drop tiny clear FuartA crystals (if you are 'orking in a group/ each person adds one
crystal!= As you cast the crystals/ 9ake a 'ish for healing the sick or distressed person=
P 2old a crystal pendulu9 and s'irl it on its chain to catch 'ithin it either rain3o's or sun3ea9s/ or
the silver light of the Moon=
P Cast the 3ea9s into the 'ater/ calling:
Go forth 'ith love and healing= 8ou can/ if you prefer/ create your o'n 'ords=
P Pour the 'ater into a clear glass 3ottle 'ith a stopper and send or give it to the sick person= &hey
9ay drink it or use it in a 3ath=
P +eturn the energies to the cos9os 3y placing yello' flo'ers or seeds in a pot for the golden
energies if you used sunlight/ and 'hite flo'ers for the Moon=
Colour 2ealing
Colour has long 3een 3elieved to have the po'er to influence not only our 9oods/ 3ut our physical
'ell%3eing= &he Ba3ylonians called the healing po'er of light @the 9edicine of the gods@= 2ealing
colours have 3een used for thousands of years in Chinese treat9ents and in Ayurveda/ an ancient
$ndian 9edicine= &he Ancient Egyptians 'ore a9ulets of coloured stones: red to treat disease/ yello'
for happiness and prosperity/ and green for fertility=
Colour healing is not Gust a fancy: 'e kno' for a fact that each 3ea9 of coloured light has its o'n
'avelength and is a3sor3ed 3y the 3ody through the skin and the optic nerves= &his triggers co9ple;
3ioche9ical changes= Each of the seven pri9ary 'avelengths or vi3rations of light visi3le to the
hu9an eye focuses on different parts of the 3ody/ evoking in the9 3oth a physiological and
psychological response= +ed has the longest 'avelength of visi3le colour and violet the shortest= &he
colours that 'e can see 9ake up only a very s9all seg9ent of the electro9agnetic spectru9 and lie
3et'een the infra red and ultra violet rays=
Methods )f :sing Colour or 2ealing
8ou can use specific colours to charge 'ater 'ith 9agical healing energies= 8ou can then drink this
'ater or pour it into your 3ath/ to a3sor3ing the essence of the colour= 8ou can also place one of the
appropriately coloured healing crystals listed 3elo' in 'ater for a fe' hours to increase its life force=
Coloured candles 9ay also 3e used: light a candle in the appropriate colour/ then 3reathe in the
specific colour energies and e;hale the darkness= &his can 3e practised alone either for your o'n
3enefit or to direct the colour energies to'ards a sick person=
Colour 3reathing/ 'hich is used to create a cone of po'er (see page -7! is another healing 9ethod=
8ou can also co%ordinate healing 3reathing 'ithin a group/ again directing the energies to 'here they
are needed=
2ealing With Crystals And Colour
&he healing colour associations listed here are dra'n fro9 a variety of traditions and 9y o'n
e;perience= 8ou 9ay find that for you the colour correspondences are different % this is the reason
there are so 9any alternative syste9s= $ have included the key colours here/ 3ut you can also refer
3ack to the colour correspondences that $ 9entioned fro9 page 67 on'ards in the section on candles=
White " Clear
White is for li9itless potential/ clarity of vision/ the life force/ integration/ seeking 'hat is of 'orth=
White can for9 a focus for all kinds of healing since it is the synthesis of all other colours= $t
pro9otes health and healing/ integration of 9ind/ 3ody and soul= White light is a natural pain%reliever/
and can help to protect against cere3ral disorders/ increase 3reast 9ilk in nursing 9others/ speed the
9ending of 3roken 3ones and relieve calciu9 deficiency and toothache=
Clear crystals include dia9onds/ clear crystal FuartA/ Aircon and pure 'hite stones/ especially those
fro9 the sea=
+ed
+ed is for po'er/ courage/ energy and vitality=
+ed restores energy levels and is good for raising 3lood pressure and i9proving circulation/
pro9oting cellular gro'th and activityH red crystals are used in healing 3lood ail9ents/ especially
anae9ia= +ed light is linked to reproduction and fertility and relieves se;ual dysfunction especially
i9potenceH it also helps 'ith pains in feet/ hands and 3ones= +ed crystals include agate/ Gasper/ pyrites
and garnets=
)range
)range is for confidence/ assi9ilation of kno'ledge and e;perience/ personal desire and needs/ the
3oundaries 3et'een self and others=
)range/ like red/ is a colour of energy and 'ar9th/ easing arthritis/ rheu9atis9 and increasing the
pulse rate/ relieving gall%3ladder and kidney pains and stones/ 9enstrual and 9uscle cra9ps and
allergies/ and lifting e;haustion= )range is also used to strengthen the i99une syste9=
)range crystals include a93er/ agate/ coral and carnelian=
8ello'
8ello' is for happiness/ the 9ind/ intellect/ co99unication and 'illpo'er=
8ello' sti9ulates the nervous syste9/ i9proving 9e9ory and concentration/ easing ecAe9a and
other skin pro3le9sH it also pro9otes a healthy 9eta3olis9 and cal9s an;iety and stress%related
ail9ents that 9ay affect the digestive syste9 adversely=
8ello' crystals include Gasper/ topaA/ calcite and citrine=
Green
Green is for the heart/ e9otions/ peace and 3alance and all gentle re%gro'th=
Green lo'ers high 3lood pressure/ acting as a restorative for the heart/ lungs and respiratory syste9
and fighting infections and viruses/ especially influenAa/ 3ronchitis/ fevers and colds= $t also counters
panic attacks/ addictions and food%related illnesses= Green is a good healing colour 3ecause it
sti9ulates tissue and cell gro'th and general 3ody regeneration=
Green crystals include Gade/ 9alachite/ olivine (peridot!/ e9erald and cat@s eye=
&urFuoise
&urFuoise is for tranFuillity/ e9pathy/ altruis9 and 'isdo9=
&urFuoise strengthens the i99une syste9/ soothes infla99ation and cal9s the nerves= $t helps to
relieve asth9atic and general respiratory difficulties and skin co9plaints such as ecAe9a/ s'ellings
and thyroid pro3le9s=
&urFuoise crystals include aFua9arine/ 9alachite/ opal and turFuoise=
Blue
Blue is for ideals/ the e;pansion 3oth of perspective and physical horiAons and authority/ and for
allo'ing 'hat is not of value to 3e gradually replaced 3y higher purpose and direction=
Blue is called the healing colour 3ecause a 3lue aura is often seen around healers= $t is a soothing and
cooling natural antiseptic/ relieving 3urns/ cuts/ 3ruises/ inso9nia/ infla99ation of the skin and
9outh/ sore throats and childhood rashes and teething painsH 3lue also lo'ers high te9peratures and
high 3lood pressure= All shades of 3lue/ such as violet and indigo/ reduce 9igraines and headaches=
Blue crystals include sodalite/ lapis laAuli/ sapphire/ 3lue lace agate and turFuoise=
Purple
Purple is for inner vision/ psychic a'areness and spirituality/ the colour of the evolving soul=
Purple is cleansing and uplifting/ counteracting dou3ts and negativity=
Within the range of purples/ specific shades are good for certain areas of the 3ody/ though in practice
they are usually interchangea3le=
$ndigo helps to ease eye/ ear/ nose and skin pro3le9s and 9igraines/ and soothes the nervous syste9=
$t aids healing of deep tissue and 3ones and is a natural sedative=
?avender increases the po'er of all her3s/ oils and flo'er and tree essences used in healing=
<iolet is effective for treating allergies/ asth9a/ sleep disorders and stress%related illnesses=
Purple crystals include a9ethyst/ sugilite/ sodalite/ peacock@s eye (3ornite! and purple kunAite=
+ose
+ose (or pink! is for unconditional love/ reconciliation and gentleness and for soothing loss=
+ose is the gentle healer/ pro9oting restful sleep/ pleasant drea9s and opti9is9= Ear/ eye and gland
pro3le9s/ head pains and psychoso9atic illnesses fall under its auspices/ as do disorders relating to
children and 3a3ies/ especially fretfulness and hyperactivity=
+ose crystals include pink kunAite/ rose FuartA/ tour9aline and coral=
Magenta
Magenta is for spirituality e;pressed in the everyday 'orld/ for originality of vision and for a path of
service to others=
Magenta is good for all 9atters concerning the 9id%life crisis/ 9enopause and anything that 3locks
physical or spiritual fertility=
Magenta crystals include sugilite/ rhodonite and rhodoschrite=
Bro'n
Bro'n is for nurturing po'ers/ for acceptance of frailty in oneself and others/ and earthing po'er=
Bro'n heals stress/ restores physical energy and gives the strength to go on under difficulty= $t aids
the healing of the feet/ legs/ hands/ skeleton and large intestine= $t also heals the Earth and its ani9als=
Bro'n crystals include rutilated FuartA/ tiger@s eye/ fossilised 'ood/ desert rose and leopardskin
Gasper=
Grey
Grey is the colour of co9pro9ise/ adapta3ility and the a3ility to 9erge into the 3ackground/ and keep
one@s o'n counsel=
Grey is good for healing the i99une syste9 and for cal9ing stress and fears/ giving peaceful drea9s
and helping the su3conscious 9ind to 'ork though conflicts= $t is also good for 3ones=
Grey crystals include s9oky FuartA/ apache tears and grey%3anded agate=
Black
Black is for transitions/ regeneration/ acceptance of life as it is/ the positive confrontation of 9ortality
and an a'areness that 'e are all ulti9ately alone=
Black heals the feet/ legs and 3ones/ and helps to heal trau9a and leave 3ehind old stresses and
an;ieties= $t encourages rest/ cures inso9nia and assists in 'orking through loss= $t is used only rarely
in healing/ follo'ed 3y the infusion of light as/ unless used carefully/ it can 3ring out dor9ant
depression= Breathing out 3lack and darkness and 3reathing in light and colour is very restorative=
Black crystals include Get/ apache tears/ s9oky FuartA and ony;=
Silver
Silver is for 9eaningful drea9s/ visions/ a desire for fulfil9ent 3eyond the 9aterial 'orld and hidden
potential=
Silver alleviates hor9onal pro3le9s in 9en and 'o9en/ regularises and heals the fe9ale 9enstrual
and reproduction syste9 and assists in all 9atters of fertility= $t eases 'ater retention and night9ares=
Silver crystals include 9oonstones/ 'hose colour deepens as the Moon 'a;es/ hae9atite/ 9other of
pearl/ sno' and 9ilky FuartA and rutilated FuartA=
Gold
Gold is for perfection/ i99ortality and peak e;periences/ visions and the achieve9ent of 9aGor life
goals/ especially those that change the 'orld=
Gold is especially potent for overco9ing addictions/ o3sessions and co9pulsions and relieving
depression= Gold is the 9ost po'erful healing colour of all/ associated 'ith long life and i99ortality/
and 'ill give a surge of healing energy in any chronic or de3ilitating illnesses=
Gold crystals include a93er/ golden tiger@s eye/ topaA and citrine=
A Colour 2ealing +itual With Candles
Candles of specific colours can help in the healing process= $f you are not certain of the root of a
pro3le9/ you can use a 'hite or pure 3ees'a; candle/ plus/ if you 'ish/ one for the perceived area of
pain= or your 9onthly 9aGor healing sessions/ this ritual can 3e used after the na9es have 3een read/
'orking 'ith pink or 'hite candles to include everyone in the 3ook 'ho is sick or sad= $t is especially
good for chronic conditions or 'hen healing 9ay take so9e ti9e= &his is a gentler 9ethod than
creating a cone of colour= Early evening Gust after dusk is a good ti9e to 'ork=
P Choose a candle of the appropriate colour= E;tinguish all other lights=
P $f the person to 3e healed is present/ they can 'ork 'ith you in 3uilding up the energies= Sit on
cushions on either side of the candle/ allo'ing roo9 for 9ove9ent=
P Place a dish of s9all dish of dried rose9ary or lavender for general healing ne;t to the candle= $f the
healing is for yourself or for so9eone 'ho is a3sent/ light the candle= $f you are 'orking as a group/
sit in a circle/ each person holding their o'n coloured candle (you can 9ake rain3o' 'ith different
colours round the circle if you 'ish!/ 'ith a large 'hite candle in the centre= Each person 'ill also
need a s9all dish of her3s=
P GaAe into the fla9e and if there are others present/ ask the9 to do the sa9e/ gently dra'ing in the
coloured light and e;haling darkness or pain=
P Breathe in and take in the light/ as you do so saying in your 9ind:
Welco9e/ light=
P 2old the 3reath 'hile you 9entally count @)ne and t'o and three@/ then send out the healing
energies/ saying silently:
are'ell/ pain Mor sorro'/ darkness/ etc=N=
P Continue to 3reathe and visualise the colour entering and radiating and the darkness or pain fading
a'ay= $f you are 'orking in a group/ one person can sit near the central candle and speak the 'ords or
dru9 the rhyth9 of the 3reathing= 8ou 9ay hear clairaudiently (in your 9ind! the collective voices
rising and falling= After a ti9e/ you 'ill see 'ith your 9ind@s eye that the sa9e colour 3reath is 3eing
inhaled and e;haled 3y each person/ and at this stage the healing energies are 3alanced=
P Gently circle your ar9s over your head and s'ay fro9 side to side/ either sitting/ kneeling or
standing/ 'hile scattering gently your healing her3s like a gentle sho'er of rain (your hair 'ill shine
'onderfully 'hen you ne;t 'ash it!= At the sa9e ti9e/ chant softly:
Go forth/ increase and 9ultiply/ cos9ic light intensify/ healing Earth and Sea and Sky=
P When the energies feel right/ add to the last chant a final long 9elodious @2ealL@ and e;tinguish the
candle(s!/ letting the light and sound fade into the silence=
P Press your hands and feet gently to the ground and let the energies flo' 3ack into the Earth/ saying
softly:
We thank you/ Mother Earth/ for healing 3lessings soon to 3e received=
2ealing With Water And Coloured Glass
Spring 'ater placed in glass 3ottles of the appropriate colour 'ill a3sor3 the colour energies and can
3e used in rituals of all kinds/ 9agical as 'ell as healing= &hey can 3e further e9po'ered 3y adding
crystals of the sa9e colour as the 3ottle to the 'ater= $f possi3le/ 'ork out of doors=
8ou can use this 9ethod for endo'ing living energies into any sy93ol of healing/ such as an a9ulet/
popper/ sachet or even a photograph of the person to 3e healed= :se 3ottles 'ith stoppers or corks
(these can 3e o3tained fro9 9ost household shops or fro9 antiFue stalls!= Build up your collection so
that you have a 3ottle of the correct colour for every need= Although the 'ater retains its clear colour/
so9e people are a3le to detect a faint glo' of the colour=
As 3efore/ the 'ater can 3e drunk or added to a 3ath/ in order to 3enefit fro9 the energies= 8ou can
also add 'ater to an ani9al 3o'l or a place in 'hich 'ild 3irds co9e to drink/ use it for plants that
are failing to thrive or pour so9e in a polluted 'ater source or on 3arren land=
8ou 'ill re9e93er/ for e;a9ple/ that 'ater fro9 a pink or indigo 3ottle 'ill 3ring har9ony and
gentle healing cal9= But 9ore specifically/ a drink in a teenager@s lunch 3o; 9ade 'ith pink 'ater
'ill heal any hurts and fears a sensitive youngster e;periences in the outside 'orld= Clear 'ater to
'hich a FuartA crystal has 3een added is an instant energiser/ trans9itting the life force in
concentrated for9=
8ou can use the colour%infused 'ater in rituals to send healing to a species/ people or place far a'ay
3y sprinkling a circle of 'ater around a picture or sy93ol=
8ou can e9po'er a larger Fuantity than you i99ediately need/ and pour it into s9all 3ottles of
different colours/ preserved in your fridge for future healing 'ork 'hen they are needed= By
co93ining the 9agical and healing colour associations of the different colours/ you can adapt your
e9po'ered 'aters for al9ost any need=
Water 9ade in a soft 3lue 3ottle e9po'ered 'ith a 3lue lace agate softens harsh 'ords: use it for
9aking coffee if difficult relatives co9e to call= A darker 3lue/ perhaps e9po'ered in a deep 3lue
3ottle 'ith a sodalite crystal/ is cal9ing and so the infused colour 'ould help to alleviate panic
e;perienced 'hen flying= Kust 9oisten a s9all cloth 'ith it/ take the cloth on to the aircraft and da3 it
on your te9ples and pulse points on take%off and landing or at other ti9es 'hen you feel panic rising=
2ealing the 3ody is only one s9all part of health and so you should e;peri9ent and note any uses you
find for your infused 'aters= &ake so9e colour%charged 'ater to 'ork or to a difficult social event in
a 9ineral 'ater 3ottle= $n 9y on%going struggle 'ith 9y 'eight/ $ have found that orange 'ater in
'hich a carnelian has 3een soaked is 'onderful for restoring 3alance and self%estee9 and so
preventing food 3inges=
A 2ealing +itual With Coloured Glass
&his 9ethod of healing is one of the oldest in traditional folk 9agick/ using the eFuivalent of the
cere9onial ele9ental su3stances that $ 'rote of in Chapter 1= olk 9agick 'as originally 3ased on
su3stances that have co9prised the diet of ordinary people for thousands of years= &hey are all infused
sy93olically as 'ell as actually 'ith the life force=
P E9po'er your 'ater/ if you 'ish/ and pour it into the chosen coloured 3ottle= Close your 3ottle and
surround it 'ith a circle of fruits/ unprocessed food/ flo'ers or crystals of the colour to 3e used= ?eave
space 3et'een the 3ottle and the edge of the circle=
P $nside the circle/ to the #orth of the 3ottle/ place a large golden/ 'hite or orange vegeta3le/
prefera3ly gro'n under or close to the ground= &his represents the fruits of the Earth/ 3orn of the
Earth Mother=
P $n the East of the circle/ place so9e seeds or nuts that represent the source of ne' life and potential=
P $n the South/ set a s9all dish of honey/ 'hich is considered as sacred as salt in 9any traditions and
is especially associated 'ith healing=
P inally/ in the West/ place a seed roll or 3read/ representing the cutting do'n of the corn/ so
co9pleting the cycle=
P &ake a t'ig or a 'and fro9 a healing tree/ such as ash/ or a long frond of greenery and 'alk round
the circle deosil= $nfuse each of the 9agical foods in turn 'ith circles of the 'and deosil/ saying:
ruits of the Earth/ 3orn fro9 the 'o93 of the land/ give life and healing/ health and Goy fro9 your
ever%replenishing store=
P &ouch the vegeta3le 'ith the 'and and then lift the 'and in a high arc 3efore lo'ering it to touch
the 3ottle of 'ater in the centre=
P #o' 9ove to the East and circle the 'and deosil over the seeds/ saying:
Seeds of potential/ fro9 the loins of the ather/ give gro'th and po'er/ possi3ility and regeneration
fro9 your li9itless treasury=
P &ouch the seeds 'ith the 'and and raising it in a high arc as 3efore/ proGect the energy into the
3ottle=
P Go no' to the South and circle the 'and deosil over the honey/ saying:
Melissa/ Mother Bee/ 3ring a3undance/ 'ar9th/ s'eetness and nourish9ent fro9 your
everreplenishing
hives=
&ouch the dish and transfer the energies as 3efore to the 'ater=
P inally/ go to the West and circle the 'and over the 3read/ saying:
Corn ather/ 'illing offering of the life%sustaining 3read/ 3ring an ease to sorro' and suffering and
the peace and fulfil9ent of healing harvest ho9e=
P &ouch the 3read 'ith the 'and and transfer the energies as 3efore to the 'ater=
P inally/ pass the 3ottle of 'ater over the vegeta3le/ seeds/ honey and 3read/ saying:
ruit and seed/ nectar and corn/ enrich/ e9po'er and endo' this 'ater 'ith your healing po'ers and
the life force that flo's though our lives and through all creation=
Eat the e9po'ered food to 3oost your o'n energies and to spread cal9 or healing=
(7 % +itual Magick
+itual 9agick is no different fro9 any other activity that you 9ay carry out in a syste9atic 'ay= 8es/
it is true/ it is 9ore for9al than folk 9agick: you are using special tools and follo'ing a series of
preordained steps 3ased on traditional practice= But this does not 9ean that it has to 3e so co9plicated
as to 3e 3eyond the capa3ilities of any nor9al person= 8ou do not need special po'ersH and the
preparation is Gust the sa9e as you 'ould do if you 'ere redecorating a roo9/ servicing your car or
preparing your annual accounts=
When you decide to do any of these tasks/ you set out the necessary eFuip9ent in advance/ so you are
not constantly dashing off to find 'hat you need= 8ou check that it is all in 'orking order and you
pro3a3ly consult a relia3le reference 3ook/ co9puter soft'are or calculator to clarify the necessary
stages and finer points of the 9ethod= And that is e;actly 'hat preparing for ritual 9agick is like=
irst/ you need to collect any relevant infor9ationH for e;a9ple/ you 9ust find out 'hich tools/ her3s/
candle colours/ etc= you 9ay reFuire= &hen you 9ust check that your 9agical tools are charged 'ith
po'er= 8ou 9ust check 'hether the hour and the day are 'ell chosen to 3enefit fro9 the energies and
are 9ost aligned to the focus= $f you are 'orking 'ith a group/ you 9ust decide in advance 'ho is to
carry the salt and other ele9ental su3stances round the circle/ 'ho 'ill perfor9 particular parts of the
ritual/ such as 'elco9ing the Spirit Guardians=
&his preparation is i9portant/ although/ as $ have previously said/ 9any of the 'ords and actions in the
3est rituals re9ain spontaneous 'ithin the 3asic fra9e'ork= 8ou do not even need to 3elong to a
coven to create 3eautiful rituals= $ndeed/ practising alone/ you 'ill find that as you increase in
confidence/ the natural rhyth9 of the ritual cycle 'ill a9plify your o'n innate po'ers and you 'ill
feel angelic or devic forces Goining 'ith you as you 'alk around the circle and hear their voices
9ingling 'ith your chants=
8ou should not allo' yourself to 3e overa'ed/ as $ have 3een in the past and still occasionally a9/ 3y
3ooks and practitioners 'ho vaunt their kno'ledge of o3scure 9agical phrases/ 9easure their circles
do'n to the last 9illi9etre and insist that only their for9 of 'orking is authentic=
What 9atters is the actual connection you 9ake in your ritual 'ith the storehouse of natural and higher
energies % and that can 3e done 'ith a kitchen candle if the need is great and the intention pure=
:lti9ately/ the po'er is 'ithin you/ and as you 3eco9e skilled 'ith 9agick/ you 9ay find that the
e;ternal for9 3eco9es less i9portant=
2o'ever/ for9al 9agick does have its place/ for a special need or for raising spiritual a'areness/ or
for focusing 9agical energies through the accu9ulated po'er of tools charged and regularly used for
positive purpose= So9e people 3elieve also that in ritual you tap into the energies of all those 3efore
you 'ho have created circles of po'er and protection/ and 'ithin the9 have raised and called upon the
ele9ental Fualities to 3ring desires and needs fro9 the thought to the 9aterial plane=
&he Ai9s )f or9al +ituals
+ituals and spells at all levels cause a positive change or effect/ 'hether for oneself/ a loved one or the
'hole ecosyste9/ as they 3ring healing/ peace/ reconciliation or 'hatever is needed in the spell%caster@s
life= But over and a3ove all these is the purpose of raising one@s o'n levels of a'areness so that
perhaps for a fe' 9o9ents you feel connected to a higher po'er/ perhaps even the source of divinity/
and this is 3est e;pressed though the 9ore cere9onial for9s of 'ork= &he a'areness you attain 9ay 3e
e;perienced as a sense of deep peace/ of 3eing filled 'ith golden light/ of floating through clouds or a
certainty of 3eing loved and protected/ perhaps even as a gli9pse of a >ivinity=
or9al rituals do not have to 3e focused on a particular ai9/ ho'ever= So9eti9es/ you 9ay 'ish to
carry out a ritual 'ithout having any specific purpose in 9ind= $n this case/ you can si9ply cast a circle
and raise the energies gently through a natural focus of her3s/ flo'ers or fruit/ allo'ing 'isdo9 to 3e
channelled through you and then giving thanks for 3lessings received as you close the circle=
&he &ools )f +itual Magick
or9al ritual 9agick reFuires its o'n special tools= &hese 9ay 3e real or sy93olic=
&he list $ give here is intended only as a guide: so9e of these 9ay not 3e relevant to your o'n 'ay of
'orking= $ have listed the areas of the circle in 'hich each tool is traditionally placed= &here are 9any
sources of 9agical tools and/ as $ 9entioned in the section on spells/ you 9ay already have a nu93er
in your ho9e= 8ou do not need to spend a great deal of 9oney unless you 'ish/ 3ut $ 'ould suggest
that you take ti9e in finding the right ite9s= Even if you 'ork in a group/ you 9ay like to 3uild up a
set for your o'n personal 'ork=
So9e people prefer to 9ake their o'n 9agical tools and this certainly does endo' the9 'ith energies=
$ have suggested 3ooks that tell you ho' to 9ake your o'n candles for special cere9onies and even
your o'n knife= Woodcarvers are an e;cellent source for s9all staves suita3le as 'ands and 'ill often
9ake ite9s to order= $n ti9e/ you 'ill 3uild up a collection of ite9s and 3y personalising and charging
the9/ you 9ake the9 not only po'erful/ 3ut also your o'n=
Ieep your 9agical tools in a special place/ separate fro9 your everyday household ite9s/ 'rapped in a
natural fa3ric= 8ou can 3uy e;cellent hessian 3ags and 9ay 'ish to keep fragile or ite9s that 'ill
scratch in separate ones= 8ou can also use silk= Secure your 3ags 'ith three protective knots=
8ou 9ay have heard various 'arnings a3out needing to destroy charged tools on the de9ise of the
o'ner/ and the dire conseFuences of their 3eing touched 3y any outsider= &his is real late%night%cine9a
stuff= But co99on sense dictates that you should not leave knives/ sharp 'ands/ etc= 'here children
9ight har9 the9selves and on the 'hole it is 3etter to keep 9agical ite9s a'ay fro9 the curious and
the sceptical=
&here is really no reason 'hy you should not use your kitchen knife for cutting vegeta3les and then/
after a Fuick purification in 'ater or incense/ chop her3s in an i9pro9ptu spell/ or open your circle
'ith it= But on the 'hole it is 3etter to keep a separate knife for your special cere9onies=
$ 3elieve that even for9al tools are like electrical devices that are lying unplugged and unused: they
contain the potential to help or har9 only if 9isused= What is 9ore/ 'ithout your personal vi3es/
'hich act as your pass'ord/ the po'er cannot flo'H you have not created an independent life for9=
&he follo'ing tools are co99only used in for9al 9agick=
&he Atha9e
An atha9e is/ Fuite si9ply/ a cere9onial knife= $t is one of the ritual tools that entered the tradition
through the influence of 9agicians and 'itches 'ho set out the 'isdo9/ 9ainly at the 3eginning of the
t'entieth century and in the upsurge of covens during the (6.7s= Gerald Gardener/ one of the founding
fathers of Wicca/ considered ritual knives and s'ords of pri9e i9portance in 9odern for9al
'itchcraft=
8ou can o3tain an atha9e fro9 a specialist 9agical shop/ 3ut as $ said 3efore/ any knife % even a
letteropener
% 'ill do/ although it should prefera3ly have a silver%coloured 3lade= Atha9es are traditionally
dou3le%edged and 3lack%handled/ 3ut a single%edged 3lade is 3etter if you are ne' to 9agick/ to avoid
unintentional cuts=
&here is a vast array of scouting and craft knives availa3le/ 'ith 3lack 'ooden handles on 'hich you
can engrave 9agical sy93ols such as your Aodiacal and planetary glyphs 'ith a pyrographic set
o3tained fro9 an art shop= 8ou can also paint 9oons/ stars/ spirals/ suns/ or crosses 'ith silver paint= $
use a curved%3laded knife 'ith a silver engraved sca33ard/ 'hich $ 3ought fro9 a souvenir shop in
Spain=
&he atha9e is set in the East of the altar and represents the ele9ent of Air= ?ike the s'ord/ it is
traditionally used for dra'ing 9agical circles on the ground and directing 9agical Air energies into a
sy93ol= When you are casting a circle/ you can point your atha9e diagonally to'ards the ground/ so
that you do not need to stoop to dra' ('hich is not very elegant and 3ad for the 3ack!= With practice/
the 9ove9ent 3eco9es as graceful as 'ith a s'ord=
&he atha9e can also 3e used as a conductor of energy/ especially in solitary rituals/ 3eing held a3ove
the head 'ith 3oth hands to dra' do'n light and energy into the 3ody= &his uses the sa9e principle as
that of arching your ar9s over your head to create a light 3ody as descri3ed on page (*-= )ne 9ethod
of releasing the po'er is then to 3ring the atha9e do'n 'ith a s'ift/ cutting 9ove9ent/ horiAontally at
'aist level/ then thrust it a'ay fro9 the 3ody and up'ards once 9ore to release this po'er= $f others
are present/ direct the atha9e to'ards the centre of the circle= After the ritual you can drain e;cess
energies 3y pointing the atha9e to the ground=
An atha9e 9ay 3e used to invoke the ele9ental Guardian Spirits 3y dra'ing a pentagra9 (see page
*7,! in the air and for closing do'n the ele9ental energies after the ritual= With its cutting steel of
Mars/ it is effective in po'er/ 9atters of the 9ind/ change/ action/ Gustice/ 3anishing 9agick/ protection
and for cutting through inertia and stagnation= &he atha9e is so9eti9es also associated 'ith the ire
ele9ent=
$f you don@t like the idea of a full%siAed atha9e/ there are so9e lovely paper knives in the shape of
s'ords or 'ith ani9al or 3irds@ heads=
So9e covens give each of their 9e93ers a tiny atha9e/ to 3e used for dra'ing do'n energies during
cere9onies= &he 9ain atha9e is used 3y the person leading the ritual 'ho 9ay dra' the circle/ open
all four Fuarters and close the9 after the ritual=
An atha9e 'ith a 'hite handle is used for cutting 'ands/ harvesting her3s for 9agick or healing/
carving the traditional Sa9hain Gack%o@%lantern/ and etching runes and other 9agical or astrological
sy93ols on candles and talis9ans= So9e practitioners 3elieve that you should never use 9etal for
cutting her3s 3ut instead pull the9 up/ shred the9 and pound the9 in a 9ortar and pestle/ kept for the
purpose= Pearl%handled atha9es are considered to 3e especially 9agical=
&he S'ord
?ike the atha9e/ the s'ord stands in the East of the circle as a tool of the Air ele9ent= S'ords are the
suit sy93ol of Air in the &arot and are also one of the Christian as 'ell as the Celtic Grail treasures=
Each of the &arot suits and the 9ain ele9ental ritual ite9s in 9agick/ represented 3y these four suits/
is associated 'ith one of the treasures of the Celts= &he treasures 3elonged to the Celtic ather God/
>agda/ and are said to 3e guarded in the )ther'orld 3y Merlin= &here 'ere (, treasures in total/ 3ut
four have co9e into pre%e9inence in 9agick and &arot reading=
&hese four 9ain sacred artefacts % s'ords/ pentacles/ 'ands and cups/ or chalices % have parallels in
Christianity and 'ere associated 'ith the legendary Fuest of the knights of Iing Arthur/ 'ho
atte9pted to find the9= &he Grail Cup 'as the 9ost fa9ous of these= &he Christian s'ord of Iing
>avid/ identified in legend 'ith Arthur@s s'ord E;cali3ur/ appears in Celtic tradition as the s'ord of
#uada 'hose hand 'as cut off in 3attle=
With a ne' hand fashioned fro9 silver/ he 'ent on to lead his people to victory= According to one
account/ the Christian treasures 'ere 3rought in A> 1- to Glaston3ury in England 3y Koseph of
Ari9athea/ the rich 9erchant 'ho caught Christ@s 3lood in the chalice as 2e 'as on the cross and took
care of 2is 3urial after the crucifi;ion=
So9e present%day/ peace%loving 'itches/ 9yself included/ do not really like the concept of using
s'ords/ even though they are pretty spectacular for dra'ing out a circle on a forest floor/ and s'ords
are rarely used in ho9e ritual 9agick= $f you do 'ant to use one/ ho'ever/ you can o3tain reproduction
cere9onial s'ords=
&he s'ord is the 9ale sy93ol to the fe9ale sy93ol of the cauldron/ and plunging the s'ords into the
'aters of the cauldron can 3e used in love rituals and for the union of 9ale and fe9ale/ god and
goddess energies as the cul9ination of any rite= 2o'ever/ the chalice and the atha9e/ or 'and/ tend to
3e used for the sa9e purpose/ unless it is a very grand cere9ony=
&he Bell
&he 3ell stands in the #orth of the circle and is an Earth sy93ol= $t is an optional tool and can 3e 9ade
fro9 either crystal or protective 3rass= Best for 9agick is the kind that you strike=
&he 3ell is traditionally rung nine ti9es at the 3eginning and close of each ritualH the person ringing the
3ell should stand in the South of the circle/ facing #orth= (#ine is the 9agical nu93er of co9pletion
and perfection=! $t is also rung to invoke the protection of angels or the po'er of a deity and in
cere9onies to 'elco9e departed 9e93ers to the circle= 8ou can also sound the 3ell in each of the four
ele9ental Fuadrants/ 3efore creating the invoking pentagra9/ to reFuest the presence of each ele9ental
guardian= $t can also 3e sounded as you pass your chosen sy93ol around each Fuadrant of the circle=
2o'ever/ you should not use the 3ell to e;cess % it is 3etter under%utilised=
&he Broo9
&he 3roo9/ or 3eso9/ 'as originally % and still is % a do9estic artefact= $t represents 9agically the
union of 9ale and fe9ale in the handle and the 3ristles and so is a tool of 3alance= Broo9s have
several uses in 9agick= A 3roo9 is so9eti9es rested horiAontal to the altar to add protection/ and
couples Gu9p over one in their handfasting cere9ony= Most i9portant/ you should use your 3roo9 to
cleanse the ritual area 3efore every ritual=
Broo9s are easily o3taina3le fro9 any garden centre (you 'ant one in the traditional @'itches@
3roo9stick@ shape/ not an ordinary 3rush!= Broo9s 9ade 'ith an ash handle and 3irch t'igs 3ound
'ith 'illo' are traditionally recognised as 3eing especially potent/ 3eing endo'ed 'ith protective and
healing energies= So9e practitioners carve or paint a crescent 9oon at the top of the handle/ others
decorate theirs 'ith their personal ruling planetary and 3irth sign glyphs ent'ined=
When cleansing the area for rituals/ you 9ight like to scatter dried lavender or pot pourri and s'eep it
in circles 'iddershins/ saying:
)ut 'ith sorro'/ out 'ith pain/
Koyous things alone re9ain=
8ou can also s'eep areas of your ho9e such as uncarpeted floors/ patio paths and yards to cleanse the
ho9e of negativity= +e9e93er to s'eep out of the front door/ a'ay fro9 the house and eventually into
the gutter/ or if in you live in a flat/ you can collect the lavender and dust in a pan and send it do'n the
'aste disposal unit=
8ou 9ay also 'ish to cleanse the area further 3y sprinkling salt and pepper dissolved in 'ater after
s'eeping= $f you are 'orking on carpet/ you can use a very soft 3roo9 (so9e 9odern 'itches even
hoover in circles 'iddershins and sprinkle the area 'ith 'ater in 'hich a fe' drops of a cleansing
flo'er essence/ such as Glaston3ury &horn/ has 3een added!=
&he 3roo9 is an Earth artefact=
&he Cauldron
&he cauldron is the one ritual tool that is positively charged 3y 3eing the centre of do9estic life and
can replace the altar as a focus for less for9al 9agick spells= $f you can o3tain a fla9eproof cauldron
'ith a tripod/ you can/ on special occasions such as 2allo'e@en/ light a fire out of doors and heat up a
3re' of her3s and spices in the cauldron= When not in use/ you can keep your cauldron filled 'ith
flo'ers or pot pourri=
$f your circle is large enough/ you can place your cauldron in the centre= &hen/ if you are 'orking in a
group/ for9 your circle of po'er around it/ so that the altar is 'ithin the outer consecrated circle and
you 9ake a hu9an inner circle 'ith the cauldron as the hu3= $f you are 'orking alone/ you can have
your altar in the centre 'ith the cauldron in front of it= Alternatively/ you can have a s9all pot or
cauldron in the centre of the altar=
E;peri9ent 'ith the different positions 3oth for group and solitary 'ork and 'alk or dance your 'ay
around to 'ork out the logistics= So9e practitioners do not use a cauldron at all=
$n your rituals/ you can light a candle in front of the cauldron/ fill it 'ith sand in 'hich to stand
candles/ or surround it 'ith a circle of red candles to represent ire= Wishes 'ritten on paper can 3e
3urned in the candles= Water darkened 'ith 9ug'ort 9ay 3e placed in the cauldron/ especially on
seasonal festivals such as 2allo'e@en and May Eve/ and 'hite candle 'a; dripped on the surface to
create divinatory i9ages that offer insights into potential paths=
8ou can cast flo'er petals into the cauldron 'ater to get energies flo'ing= or 3anishing/ add dead
leaves and tip the cauldron 'ater into a flo'ing source of 'ater= 8ou can also 3urn incense in the
cauldron if this is the focus of a ritual=
&he cauldron is a tool of Spirit or Akasha/ the fifth ele9ent=
&he Chalice
&he chalice/ or ritual cup/ used for rituals is traditionally 9ade of silver/ 3ut you can also use crystal/
glass/ stainless steel or pe'ter= &he chalice represents the Water ele9ent and is placed in the West of
the altar= ?ike the s'ord/ it is a sacred Grail treasure and is a source of spiritual inspiration=
&he Grail cup is 9ost usually represented as the chalice that Christ used at the ?ast Supper/ in 'hich
2is 3lood 'as collected after the crucifi;ion= As such/ it signifies not only a source of healing and
spiritual sustenance/ 3ut also offers direct access to the godhead through the sacred 3lood it once
contained= &radition says that the original Grail cup 'as incorporated 3y +o9an crafts9en into a gold
and Ge'elled chalice called the Marian Chalice after Mary Magdalene= $n Celtic tradition/ it 3eca9e the
Cauldron of >agda=
$n rituals/ the chalice can 3e filled 'ith pure or scented 'ater 'ith rose petals floating on top= $ have
also 9entioned its ritual use 'ith the atha9e in 9ale"fe9ale sacred rites/ as the sy93olic union of god
and goddess that has in 9any 9odern covens replaced an actual se;ual union (that no' tends to occur
in privacy 3et'een esta3lished couples only!=
&he chalice is also central to the sacred rite of cakes and ale that occurs at the end of for9al
cere9onies % the pagan and 9uch older eFuivalent of the Christian holy co99union= &he offering of
the 3ody of the Corn God is 9ade in the honey cakes on the pentacle/ or sacred dish/ and the 3eer or
'ine in the chalice is fer9ented fro9 the sacrificed 3arley 'ine= $n pri9aeval ti9es/ actual 3lood 'as
used to sy93olise the sacrifice of the Sacred Iing at ?ughnassadh/ the festival of the first corn harvest=
&he rite goes 3ack thousands of years=
&he cakes and ale are consu9ed 3y the people acting as 2igh Priestess and Priest in a dual energy rite
or 3y those initiated in those roles= Cru93s and 'ine are first offered to the Earth Mother or poured
into a li3ation dish (a s9all dish for offerings!= &hen the priestess offers the priest a tiny cake and then
takes one herself and he offers her the 'ine 3efore drinking hi9self= &he dual roles 'ork Gust as 'ell in
a single%se; coven= &he cakes and ale are then passed round the circle and each person partakes of the
3ody and 3lood of the Earth/ offering a fe' 'ords of thanks for 3lessings received=
$n so9e groups each person has an individual chalice set 3efore the9/ 3ut everyone still drinks one
after the other/ offering thanks/ unless there is a co99unal chant of 3lessing 3efore drinking=
&he chalice can 3e filled 'ith 'ine or fruit Guice or 'ater/ depending on the needs and preferences of
the group=
&he cakes and ale cere9ony and the 9ale"fe9ale chalice rite can 3oth 3e easily incorporated into a
solitary ritual=
&he Pentacle
&he pentacle is a sy93ol of the Earth and is fa9iliar to users of &arot packs= $t is placed in the #orth of
the altar=
$t consists of a flat/ round dish or disc/ engraved 'ith a pentagra9 'ithin a circle= &he pentacle has
3een a 9agical sign for thousands of years= &he five%pointed star of the pentagra9 'ithin it is a sacred
sy93ol of $sis and the single top point is considered 3y 9any to represent the &riple Goddess=
8ou can place crystals or a sy93ol of the focus of the ritual or charged her3s on the pentacle to endo'
it 'ith Earth energies= $t can then 3e passed through the other ele9ents or e9po'ered 3y passing over
the pentacle incense for Air/ a candle for ire and 3urning oils or 'ater itself for the Water ele9ent=
&he pentacle can 3e 9oved to the centre of the altar once the sy93ol on it has 3een fully charged=
$t is very easy to 9ake a pentacle of clay/ 'ood/ 'a; or 9etal/ and on it 9ark a pentagra9 'ith the
single point e;tending up'ards= &his is 'hat you 9ight call the all%purpose pentagra9 % dra'n this
'ay it al'ays has a positive influence=
8ou 9ight also like to 9ake a larger pentacle for holding the tiny cakes for the cakes and ale
cere9ony= 8ou can find special recipes for these cakes in 3ooks $ have suggested on page ,7(/ 3ut any
tiny honey cakes 'ill serve 'ell=
&he Wand
&he 'and is a sy93ol of ire and should 3e placed in the South of the altar=
&he 'and is so9eti9es represented 3y a spear= Both the 'and and spear/ like the atha9e and s'ord/
are 9ale sy93ols= &he spear/ another ire sy93ol/ is not used in 9agick/ e;cept occasionally in the
for9 of a sharpened stick in sacred se; rites/ 'hen it is plunged into the cauldron or the chalice as a
sy93ol of the sacred union of Earth and Sky/ Water and ire=
&he 'and is traditionally a thin piece of 'ood a3out .7 centi9etres (*( inches! long/ prefera3ly cut
fro9 a living tree (so9e conservationists disagree unless the tree is 3eing pruned!= After a strong 'ind
or in a forest 'here trees are 3eing constantly felled/ it is often possi3le to find a suita3le 3ranch fro9
'hich the 'and can 3e cut= $t should 3e narro'ed to a point at one end and ru33ed s9ooth=
8ou can 9ake a series of 'ands fro9 different 'oods for your cere9onies=
Ash is a 9agical 'ood/ associated 'ith healing and positive energies=
Elder 'ands are sy93ols of faerie 9agick and so are good for any visualisation 'ork=
2aAel co9es fro9 the tree of 'isdo9 and Gustice and is linked 'ith the 9agick of the Sun= &he 'and
should 3e cut fro9 a tree that has not yet 3orne fruit=
+o'an is a protective 'ood and so is good for defensive and 3anishing 9agick=
Willo' is the tree of intuition and is said to 3e endo'ed 'ith the 3lessing of the Moon=
8ou can also use a long/ clear FuartA crystal/ pointed at one end and rounded at the other/ as a 'and= $n
its crystalline for9/ especially/ the 'and is used for directing healing energies fro9 the circle to
'herever they are needed=
&he 'and is used for directing energies and for 9aking circles of po'er in the air % hence the i9age of
the faerie god9other 'aving her 'and % deosil for energies to attract energies and 'iddershins for
3anishing= $t can 3e used to dra' pentagra9s in the air at the four Fuarters and it can also 3e used for
dra'ing an invisi3le circle 'hen you are 'orking on carpet or another fa3ric that cannot 3e physically
9arked=
$n so9e traditions/ the 'and is a tool of Air and so this and the atha9e/ or the s'ord/ are fairly
interchangea3le= 2o'ever/ the 'and see9s 9ore effective for casting and uncasting circles/ invoking
Fuarters and closing po'er= $t is also particularly good for directing energies in rites of love/ healing/
fertility/ prosperity and a3undance=
Sy93ols )f Magick
Although you can carry out rituals using a3solutely anything/ you 9ay like to create a special set of
sy93ols for a variety of rituals= &hese you can keep in a separate 3o; 'ithin your 9ain store of 9agick
artefacts so they do not get scattered or 3roken=
8ou 9ay include a thi93le to sy93olise do9estic affairs/ a tiny padlock for security at ho9e/ a
'ooden toy 3oat for travel/ a silver locket for fidelity/ a key char9 for a house/ tiny painted 'ooden
eggs for fertility in any venture % Gust to suggest a fe'= 8ou can also use s9all fa3ric dolls to represent
people/ for e;a9ple in a love spell=
&arot cards also provide e;cellent sy93ols for 9agick: the E9peror for po'er/ the E9press for
fertility/ the &en of Pentacles for prosperity/ the ?overs for ro9ance/ the World or the Eight of Wands
for travel/ &e9perance for har9ony/ Kustice for 9atters of la'/ etc= Even if you do not use &arot cards
for divination/ a 3rilliantly illustrated pack/ such as the +ider Waite or the Morgan Greer/ 'ill 3y their
pictures suggest all kinds of i9ages for your 'ork= My 3ook &arot &alks to the Wo9an Within
(Quantu9/ *777! contains 9any e;a9ples of &arot spells and in spite of its title/ the 3ook is very 9ale
friendly= &he &arot is also very porta3le=
8ou 9ay also find a supply of 'hite clay useful for creating i9pro9ptu sy93ols and if the clay is soft
you can e9po'er it 'ith 'ritten 'ords or sy93ols= $ a9 not suggesting you create 'a;en i9ages of
the kind you see in B%9ovies/ and $ certainly don@t 'ant you to collect nail clippings or hair in an
atte9pt to har9 anyone in any 'ayH this is 9erely a representation of a person or desired o3Gect= $t 9ay
3e possi3le to find a natural source of clay=
A 3each near 9y ho9e provides 9e 'ith an a3undant supply= 8ou can also 3uy the natural/ untreated
potters@ 9aterial= After using the clay in a ritual/ you can return it to the soil= Clay is especially good in
3inding spells or 3anishing spells 'hen the actions to 3e 3ound or the destructive ha3it are to 3e
rea3sor3ed
3y the Earth= $t is also e;cellent in group rituals as a nu93er of people can 9ould into it their
collective energies=
&he Su3stances )f Magick
&he su3stances of 9agick for for9al rituals are the sa9e as those used in infor9al 9agick= $ have
already descri3ed their 9agical associations in infor9al spells and in ritual 9agick the
correspondences in colour and fragrance are e;actly the sa9e= Each is set in its o'n Fuarter of the
circle and used to charge the focus of the ritual 'ith po'er= &hey can also 3e used for e9po'ering and
cleansing your ritual tools=
$f you 9ake your o'n candles or incense for your rituals/ you can endo' energies 3y chanting the
purpose for 'hich they are 3eing 9ade= So9e practitioners prepare their ritual su3stances the day or
the evening 3efore the cere9ony/ at the right planetary or angelic hour for its purpose= But you do not
need to do this % the days of apprentices and long hours devoted to a single ritual are gone and even the
9ost co9ple; cere9ony need take no 9ore than an hour/ 9any 9uch less=
Salt
Salt rituals are a9ong the oldest for9s of 9agick and salt can for9 the focus of 9agick for health and
prosperity cere9onies as 'ell as for psychic protection= &he kind used is 9ost usually sea salt and
represents the Earth ele9ent= $t should 3e kept covered and separate fro9 do9estic salt and it 9ust 3e
e9po'ered 3efore use=
&he salt should 3e placed on the altar to the left of your Earth ritual tools/ in a s9all cera9ic dish 'ith
a silver spoon= :se ne' salt for each ritual and tip any re9aining into flo'ing 'ater/ 'atching it
carrying a'ay your 'ishes to fruition=
A very si9ple crescent 9oon ritual for attracting 9oney involves piling 9agically charged salt in a
central cone/ surrounding this 'ith coins and filling the9 all 'ith po'er= &hen take the e9po'ered
coins and leave the9 in an open Gar in the 9oonlight until the full 9oon= )n the day after the full
9oon/ spend the9 on giving happiness to others=
After the ritual/ dissolve the salt in sacred 'ater and tip it into a flo'ing source of 'ater to get the
9oney energies 9oving=
$n a for9al ritual for the sa9e purpose/ focus the energies 3y casting a for9al circle/ inviting the
guardians of the ele9ents (see page *77! to lend their po'er to the endeavour= Pass the ele9ental
tools/ incense/ candles and 'ater over the salt and 9oney/ thus concentrating the energies= >issolve
and tip the salt a'ay in a tu3 of 'ater that has 3een s'irled nine ti9es to get the po'er flo'ing as the
cli9a; of the ritual= &he difference is one of degree of intensity=
$ncense
$ have already descri3ed in detail the different kinds of incense and ho' to use the9/ starting on page
(,6=
$ncense is placed in the East of the altar to the left of the ritual tools=
$ncense is/ as 'ell as an ele9ental su3stance/ an easy 3ut po'erful 'ay of 9arking the 3oundaries
3et'een the everyday 'orld and the 9agick= rankincense/ 9yrrh or sandal'ood is so9eti9es 3urned
on the altar 3efore a cere9ony to purify the area/ especially if the roo9 is used for other purposes/ and
to raise the vi3rations fro9 the 9undane to the 9ore spiritual= $f you are using the granular kind you
3urn on charcoal/ you 'ill need a censer/ 3ut a 3o'l containing sand 'ill serve for incense sticks or
cones=
As the incense is 3urned/ so the energies are released=
Candles
All rituals and spells use a nu93er of candles 3ut they are particularly significant in for9al 9agick= $
'ill repeat very 3riefly the 3asic infor9ation you need for a for9al ritual/ 3ut you 9ight like to read
through again Chapter ./ as candles are such an i9portant part of 9agic=
8ou 'ill need one or t'o altar candles in 'hite/ crea9 or natural 3ees'a;= ro9 the altar candle(s!/
you 'ill light all the other candles used in your rituals= $f you have only one/ it 'ill stand in the centre=
$f t'o/ they are usually placed sy99etrically to the right and left of the altar/ the god candle on the left
and the goddess candle on the right=
8ou 'ill also need four ele9ental candles/ to represent ire/ Air/ Water and Earth/ in appropriate
colours/ though if you are carrying out a cere9ony in 'hich the po'er of one ele9ent predo9inates/
you could use four candles of this sa9e ele9ent= $f you are 'orking entirely on the altar/ these can 3e
s9all candles/ placed in a line nearer to the peri9eter= More usually/ ho'ever/ the candles 9ark the
outer peri9eter of the circle at the four co9pass points= 8ou can/ place these on s9all ta3les or plinths/
or have floor%standing candle%holders=
Green is for Earth/ 9idnight/ 'inter and the #orth= Place the candle at the (* o@clock position on a
clock/ aligned 'ith 9agnetic #orth (use a co9pass if necessary!=
8ello' is for Air/ da'n/ spring and the East= Place the candle at the three o@clock position=
+ed/ orange or gold is for ire/ noon/ su99er and the South= Place the candle in the si; o@clock
position=
Blue is for Water/ dusk/ autu9n and the West= Place the candle in the nine o@clock position=
?ight ele9ental candles after the altar candles if they are 'ithin the circle/ 3ut 3efore any 'ish or
astrological candles/ and 3egin in the #orth= $f you 'ish/ you can light each candle as its Guardian of
the Quarter is invoked (see page *77! and thus called in the ascending fla9e=
8ou 9ay also use a candle to represent the petitioner in the ritual= &his 9ay 3e yourself or the person
for 'ho9 you are perfor9ing a ritual= &he candle should 3e in the appropriate Aodiacal colour
according to the petitioner@s 3irth date and one the colour of the need=
$n love rituals/ light t'o candles/ one for each lover/ and place the9 slightly in front of the altar
candle(s!: the 9ale lover@s candle should 3e placed ne;t to the goddess candle and the fe9ale@s 3y the
god candle/ if applica3le=
$f you have a central cauldron/ you can stand any candles of need or petitioners@ candles in it=
E9po'ering Candles
:sually candles are so po'erful that they are already full of 9agical energies/ 2o'ever/ in 9ore
for9al and ela3orate 9agical cere9onies/ you 9ay 'ish to inscri3e or anoint those candles
representing a need or person 'ith either olive oil or a ready%prepared/ fragrant/ anointing= $n 9y 3ook/
Candle Po'er (see page *65!/ $ have 'ritten in detail a3out 9aking your o'n candle oils and 'ays of
inscri3ing candles 'ith 9agical alpha3ets=
$nscri3ing Candles
Carving your 'ishes and intentions into a candle endo's the candle 'ith your special energies and as
you etch each letter or sy93ol/ these energies 3eco9e concentrated=
$f you anoint a candle/ you should engrave it after'ards/ although you 9ay feel that inscri3ing it is
sufficient= Engraving candles is not difficult/ 3ut you 9ust use a very light touch and choose
goodFuality
candles= Bees'a; is not so easy to inscri3e/ 3ut 3ecause it is very 9allea3le/ you can push tiny
sy93ols/ such as coins/ etc=/ into the 'a; or you can 3uy sheets of 3ees'a; and even if you do not
fashion your o'n candles/ you can add tiny 3ees'a; sy93ols= 8ou can also 3uy 3ees'a; candles % and
so9e ordinary ones % in different shapes/ for e;a9ple ent'ined lovers for a love ritual/ or a 3eehive for
a3undance=
Anointing Candles With )il
8ou can anoint/ or dress/ candles 'ith scented oil or use candles that have fragrance already added=
When you anoint candles 'ith oils/ they 3eco9e 9ore fla99a3le/ so you need to 3e e;tra cautious
a3out sparks= or safety/ stand your candlesticks on a fireproof tray=
Generally/ the anointing is perfor9ed in silence= 8ou can use virgin olive oil for dressing candles for
any need= So9e people add a pinch of salt for purification and life%giving properties=
Before 3eginning/ pour a s9all Fuantity of the oil into a clear glass or cera9ic dish and gently s'irl it
nine ti9es deosil 'ith a cera9ic or glass spoon/ visualising light pouring into it and endo'ing it 'ith
healing and 9agical energies= 8ou need use only a s9all Fuantity as the anointing action is sy93olic=
+u3 the oil into the candle in an up'ard 9otion/ starting in the 9iddle of your candle= :se a
previously unlit candle as this 'ill not have a3sor3ed any energies apart fro9 those 'ith 'hich you
endo' it= +u3 in only one direction/ concentrating on the purpose of your ritual= See the Fualities of
your oil and your need entering the candle=
&hen/ starting in the 9iddle again/ ru3 the candle do'n'ards/ again concentrating on your goal= A fe'
practitioners 'ill ru3 fro9 3ase to top for attracting 9agick and fro9 top to 3otto9 for 3anishing
9agickH it is also usual to use a 'hite candle for attracting energies and a 3lack for 3anishing=
By physically touching the candle 'ith the oil/ it is said that you are charging the candle 'ith your
personal vi3rations so that 'hen it is lit/ it 3eco9es an e;tension of your 9ental po'er and life energy=
$f the candle represents another person and they are present/ ask the9 to anoint their o'n candle=
$f you light a candle for a for9al ritual on successive days/ you should re%anoint the candle each ti9e/
visualising the partial co9pletion of the goal=
Water
Water represents its o'n ele9ent and stands in the West in a dish to the left of the chalice= See page
(1, for instructions on ho' to 9ake and e9po'er sacred 'ater= 8ou can also use 'ater to 'hich rose
petals have 3een added or you can float lavender or rose essential oil on top (this 'ater should not 3e
consu9ed internally!=
Charging And Cleansing 8our &ools
)nce you have prepared your ele9ental su3stances/ you can charge your tools ready for use= $f they
have 3een 3ought/ 'hether ne' or second%hand/ you 9ight also like to cleanse the9 first= 8ou can also
cleanse the9 after a for9al ritual or 'hen their energies see9 depleted=
$f the ritual is i9portant or arduous/ you can recharge the tools 3efore each use/ 3ut usually this is not
necessary/ as the cleansing fro9 a previous ritual 'ill auto9atically restore the energies= 2o'ever/ as
you polish your candlesticks or atha9e 3efore putting the9 on the altar/ you 9ay 'ish to focus on the
intention of the cere9ony and visualise light entering the tools=
Charging With Po'er
8ou can charge your tools separately as you o3tain the9= Alternatively/ group the9 together on a ta3le
3efore their first use in ritual and create a circle of light around the9 'ith s9all purple candles at the
eight 9ain co9pass points (#orth/ #orth%east/ etc=!= Start at the #orth candle and end 'ith the
#orth'est
candle=
P irst create a circle of salt round the tool(s!/ 3eginning in the #orth/ to offer the tool(s! the protection
of the ancient Earth ele9ent/ saying:
Mother Earth/ charge 'ith the po'er of the ancient stone circles and the 'ise 'ays of the ancestors
this % Mna9e the tool(s!N of 9agick and healing/ that 9y 'ork 9ay 3e rooted in 'hat is possi3le and
help create a3undance and prosperity for others and the land/ as 'ell as for 9y o'n needs=
P #e;t/ dra' a circle of s9oke deosil in the air around the9/ using a frankincense or 9yrrh incense
stick/ saying:
ather Sky/ charge 'ith the po'er of the 9ighty 'inds and the li9itless potential of the cos9os this %
Mna9e the tool(s!N of 9agick and healing/ that 9y 'ork 9ay 3e focused/ filled 'ith energy and 3ring
positive change to ever%'idening horiAons=
P #o'/ using a golden or scarlet candle in a 3road%3ased candle%holder/ 9ark an inner circle of fire in
the air/ around the artefact(s!/ saying:
Brother ire/ charge 'ith the po'er of ancient ritual fires and the 3rilliance of the Sun/ this (these!
tool(s! of 9agick and healing/ that 9y 'ork 9ay 3e filled 'ith light and inspiration and purged of all
self%seeking and negativity=
P finally/ sprinkle sacred 'ater or rain'ater that has not touched the ground 3efore collection on top of
the circle of salt saying:
Sister Water/ charge 'ith the po'er of 9ighty oceans/ 'ide rushing rivers and deep still pools this
(these! tool(s! of 9agick and healing/ that 9y 'ork 9ay release stagnation and 3ring fertility and
peace/ not only to 9yself and 9y loved ones/ 3ut to people 'hose lives are 3lighted 3y polluted places
and/ especially/ 'ater=
Cleansing :sing &he orces )f #ature
?eave your artefact(s! on a piece of 'hite silk in a sheltered/ safe place out of doors or near an open
door 'here children/ pets or the curious cannot reach the9= Begin at dusk 'here they can a3sor3 the
light of the Sun/ the Moon and the stars/ for *- hours= &his 'ill 3e effective even if you cannot see any
of these heavenly 3odies in the sky=
Charge at the ti9e of the 'a;ing 9oon to the full 9oon if possi3leH if not/ let the9 stand for -5 hours=
$f the Moon is 'aning and so not good for energising/ create a circle of alternate 9oonstones and
crystal FuartA for the po'ers of the Sun and Moon/ and leave the tools 'ithin this circle for the full -5%
hour cycle=
Sprinkle the tools 'ith nine drops of sacred 'ater that 'as collected under the full 9oon or rain'ater
that has not touched the ground/ saying a variation of this old 9agical rhy9e 'hose origins are
unkno'n:
)ne for Goy/ t'o for gladness/
&hree and four to 3anish sadness/
ive and si; do life rene'/
Seven/ eight/ nine 3ring po'er ane'=
e' of these old chants are great poetry/ 3ut that 'as not their purpose % they 'ere created in the days
3efore 'idespread literacy as a 'ay of re9e93ering 9agical rituals= $f you prefer/ you can su3stitute
your o'n/ co9posed 3y you or a coven 9e93er 'ho 9ay have a gift for such 'ork= &he rhy9es
served like si9ple 9antras to 3uild up po'er % so9e people recite the chant several ti9es/ very fast/
'hile sprinkling the 'ater slo'ly=
Cleansing :sing A Crystal Pendulu9
2old a clear crystal pendulu9 over the tool(s! and 9ake nine circles 'iddershins=
Plunge the pendulu9 in cold running 'ater to cleanse it/ shake it dry and circle it nine ti9es deosil
over the tool(s! to restore energies= 8ou 9ay need to repeat this several ti9es if a tool see9s lifeless or
after you have 3een carrying out a 3anishing ritual=
&he our Ele9ents
&he four ele9ents % Earth/ Air/ ire and Water % play an i9portant part in all kinds of 9agick= Plato/
the Greek philosopher 'ho lived around ,17 BC/ 'as the first to identify these ele9ents as the
co9ponents that 9ade up the 'hole universe and right until EliAa3ethan ti9es people still 3elieved
that our nature 'as influenced 3y our ele9ental co9position=
$ndeed/ Kung/ the t'entieth%century psychoanalyst/ used this concept in his personality types/ rena9ing
the9 as Earth"sensations/ Air"thinking/ ire"intuition and Water"feelings= Kung also thought that 'e
each had a predo9inant ele9ent/ a secondary one and a shado' one that 'e denied or proGected on
other people 'ho9 'e then unconsciously disliked 3ecause they 9irrored our faults=
$n for9al 9agick/ the four ele9ents are seen as providing natural energies for transfor9ing 'ishes into
reality= &ogether they co93ine to for9 the fifth ele9ent % Ether/ or Akasha % that represents pure Spirit/
or perfection= Medieval alche9ists atte9pted to create this elusive su3stance/ called the philosopher@s
stone= $t 'as said to turn 3ase 9etal into gold and/ as an eli;ir according to the Eastern tradition/ to
cure all ills and offer i99ortality=
&hese ele9ents for9 the 3asis for raising po'er in for9al 9agick and in less for9al spells too and are
represented 3y >evas/ the Guardians of the Watchto'ers or the four 9ain Archangels=
Earth
Earth represents 9idnight/ 'inter and the Fuarter and direction of the #orth= $t is the 9ost 9agical of
directions=
Earth is the real9 of the actual and 9aterial/ 'here 9agical 'ishes and intentions find e;pression and
so it is very i9portant= $t is also the ele9ent invoked for a3undance and in prosperity rituals/ as 'ell as
9atters concerning your ho9e and fa9ily= $t is also used for 9agick concerning ani9als/ all 'ho 'ork
'ith their hands/ especially in agriculture/ horticulture and environ9entalis9/ in finance or
9aintaining la' and order/ for 3anks and financial and legal institutions= Earth can there3y for9 a
focus for rituals 'here Gustice and authority are an issue=
$ts ele9ental creatures are gno9es/ 'ith their stores of hidden treasure/ 'isdo9 and/ a3ove all/
co99on sense= &hey are a re9inder that 'hat is of 'orth does not necessarily offer e;cite9ent or
instant results=
Earth@s colours are green or 3ro'n= $ts Aodiacal signs are &aurus/ <irgo and Capricorn=
Air
Air represents da'n/ spring and the Fuarter and direction of the East= So9e practitioners open their
circles facing this direction/ rather than the 9ore usual #orth=
Air is the real9 of potential of ne' 3eginnings/ change/ action/ travel/ house or career 9oves/
kno'ledge and learning/ co99unication/ the 9edia and technology= $t can therefore 3e used for
9agick concerning all 'ho 'ork in co99erce/ 9edicine/ teaching/ the retail trades/ the 9edia and
science and all 'ho are studying= $t also can 3e used in rituals for health=
$ts ele9ental creatures are sylphs/ gentle spirits of the air 'ho can 3e seen fleetingly as 3utterflies/
offering ideas/ ideals and a re9inder to enGoy happiness 'hile you can=
Air@s colour is yello' and its Aodiacal signs are AFuarius/ Ge9ini and ?i3ra=
ire
ire represents noon/ su99er and the Fuarter and direction of the South=
ire is the real9 of light/ the Sun and lightning/ and so for9s the focus of 9agick for fertility/ po'er/
Goy/ a93ition/ illu9ination/ inspiration/ achieve9ent/ all creative and artistic ventures/ poetry/ art/
sculpture/ 'riting/ 9usic/ dance/ religion and spirituality/ psychic po'ers and 9ystical e;periences/
passion and se;uality=
$t can 3e invoked 3y those 'ho 'ork in the arts and those 'ho seek or are reFuired to 3e leaders and
for those in all dangerous professions/ especially involving fire/ furnaces or 9etal'ork= $t is also potent
for destruction of 'hat is no' no longer needed/ for 3inding and 3anishing and so for protection=
Because it is the 9ost po'erful of the ele9ents/ it 9ust 3e used only 'ith care in a pure/ cal9 fra9e of
9ind and for a positive purpose=
&he ele9ental creature of ire is the sala9ander/ the 9ythical liAard that lives 'ithin ire (the na9e is
no'adays given to a species of a9phi3ious ne'ts!= &he sala9ander offers an understanding of
9ystical processes and visions to inspire future paths and ventures=
&he colour of ire is gold/ orange or red and its Aodiacal signs are Aries/ ?eo and Sagittarius=
Water
Water represents dusk/ autu9n and the Fuarter and direction of the West=
$t is the real9 of love/ relationships/ sy9pathy/ intuition/ healing and the cycle of 3irth/ death and
re3irth= Water can for9 the focus for rituals of purification/ healing/ all 'ater and sea 9agick/ Moon
9agick/ reconciliation and peace/ har9ony in oneself and 'ith others/ restoring 3alance/ unconscious
'isdo9 and divination/ especially scrying= $t is also potent for overco9ing stagnation and inertia and
for 9oving for'ard after an i9passe/ for friendship and for travel 3y sea= $t is linked 'ith 'ork in the
caring professions and all healers/ 'ith those 'ho 'ork in the psychic arts/ sailors/ people 'ho live or
'ork on or near 'ater and for those in the hospitality industry=
Water@s ele9ental creatures are undines/ spirits of the 'ater= &he original undine 'as created 'ithout a
soul/ 3ut gained one 3y 9arrying a 9ortal and 3earing hi9 a child= 2o'ever/ she also lost her freedo9
fro9 pain and her i99ortality and so she is a re9inder that love 9ay have a price/ 3ut that 'ithout it
life does not have 9eaning=
&he colour of 'ater is 3lue and its Aodiacal signs are Cancer/ Scorpio and Pisces=
&he our Quarters )f &he Circle
Every 9agical circle is divided into four Fuarters that are in cere9onial 9agick called the
Watchto'ers= &he higher essences 'ho protect the Fuarters are invoked as the Guardians/ 'ho control
and direct the ele9ental po'ers= So9eti9es they are called Iings/ so9eti9es >evas/ or they 9ay 3e
pictured as the four 9ain archangels/ Michael/ Ga3riel/ +aphael and :riel=
2o' you perceive your guardians in the ritual circle is up to you= As 'ith all 9agick/ there are
disagree9ents a3out 'hich archangel represents each ele9ent= &his is 3ecause angels are found in a
nu93er of different traditions and religions and so 9ay serve different functions under si9ilar na9es=
Previously/ $ have associated +aphael 'ith the #orth and :riel 'ith the East/ seeing +aphael in his
aspect as a healer and protector/ and :riel as the fiery da'n in the East= 2o'ever/ recently $ have
started to use a 9ore traditional association of +aphael as the 9essenger in the East and :riel as
sentinel of the #orth and $ have found that this 'orks 3etter= >o read a3out angels and e;peri9ent to
see 'hat suits you= $ have listed source 9aterial on pages *7(%* and you can find 9ore infor9ation on
the $nternet= :se the ele9ental candle colour to represent the angel you 'ant= 8ou can also use angels
in the four Fuarters to invoke protection in less for9al 9agick 3y lighting candles in the four Fuarters
'hen you feel afraid or alone=
$ have also seen Michael listed as archangel of the da'n and East/ 3ut $ think he is 3etter placed as
archangel of the Sun in the South= $f you feel uncertain/ si9ply refer to each guardian as Archangel of
the #orth@/ etc=/ then the celestial 3eing can reveal itself in the for9 that is right for you=
&he angelic colours $ have given vary slightly fro9 the ele9ental ones and if you are carrying out a
personal angelic ritual of protection or 9editating on the archangels/ you can use the archangel colours
for your candles=
So9e practitioners do not greet the Guardians of the Watchto'ers at all/ 3ut instead light each
ele9ental candle in turn/ visualising golden energies pouring fro9 each direction into the circle=
:riel
:riel/ 'hose na9e 9eans ire of God/ is associated 'ith earthFuakes/ stor9s and volcanoes and is the
archangel of salvation= 2e is so9eti9es linked 'ith the courage of Mars= 2e 'arned #oah of the
i9pending flood and led A3raha9 out of :r= Believed to have given alche9y to 9ankind/ he also
i9parted the 'isdo9 of the Ia33alah/ the 3ook of sacred 'ritings/ to 2e3re' 9ystics= 2e stands as
'ise protector and keeper of the sacred 9ysteries/ hence representing the direction of 9agick and
initiator of all 'ho seek the 9ysteries=
:riel stands in the #orth and his colour is the deep 3lue or purple of 9idnight=
+aphael
+aphael is the healer and travellers@ guide and is often associated 'ith Mercury/ the 9essenger of the
da'n= 2e is the angel 'ho offers healing to the planet and to 9ankind and all creatures on the face of
the Earth and in the skies and 'aters and the pro9ise that to9orro' really is another day=
2e is also guardian of the young= 2e is depicted 'ith a pilgri9@s stick/ a 'allet and a fish/ sho'ing the
'ay and offering sustenance to all 'ho ask=
+aphael stands in the East and his colour is yello'=
Michael
Archangel of the Sun and ?ight/ Michael is the 'arrior angel= 2e appeared to Moses as the fire in the
3urning 3ush and saved >aniel fro9 the lions@ den= As co99ander of the heavenly hosts/ Michael/
'ith his fla9ing s'ord/ drove Satan and his fallen angels out of the celestial real9sH as Angel of
Kudge9ent/ he also carries a scale for 'eighing the souls of the dead= According to the Ioran/ the
cheru3i9 'ere created fro9 Michael@s tears=
2e offers po'er to overco9e any o3stacles and challenges/ and 3rings 'isdo9 and illu9ination as to
the right path=
Michael stands in the South and his colour is gold=
Ga3riel
Archangel of the Moon/ the 9essenger archangel and the heavenly a'akener/ Ga3riel appears 9any
ti9es in the Bi3le= 2e visited the <irgin Mary and her cousin EliAa3eth/ 9other of Kohn the Baptist/ to
tell the9 that they 'ere to 3ear sons 'ho 'ould lead 9ankind to salvation= $t 'as Ga3riel 'ho parted
the 'aters of the +ed Sea so that the 2e3re's could escape fro9 the Pharaoh@s soldiers=
Ga3riel is usually pictured holding a sceptre or lily= &o the follo'ers of $sla9/ Ga3riel is the spirit of
truth 'ho dictated the Ioran to Moha99ed=
Ga3riel 3rings 'ise 'ords of truth and the clear voice that speaks of hope and a ne' purpose in life/
3ut also co9passion and the acceptance of the 'eaknesses of oneself as 'ell as others=
Ga3riel@s protection can 3e felt 'ith each ne' 9oon/ especially on the day 3efore the crescent is
visi3le in the sky=
Ga3riel stands in the West and his colour is silver=
Pentagra9s
&he pentagra9/ as $ have already 9entioned/ is one of the 9ost sacred geo9etric for9s in 9agick=
So9e 'itches 'ear a gold pentacle/ a pentagra9 in a circle (see page (56!/ on a chain as a sign of their
craft=
Each of the five points of the pentagra9 represents one of the five ele9ental po'ers/ so that the
upper9ost single point is sy93olic of Spirit/ or Akasha or Ether= $t is dedicated to the Goddess in her
triple aspects= $t is the real9 of spirituality and the divine spark 'ithin all life=
&he top left point of the pentagra9 sy93olises Air and the fi;ed sign of AFuarius/ representing logic/
intelligence and the conscious a'areness that ena3les us to reach 3eyond the 9aterial and follo' steps
to kno'ledge of 'hat is hidden=
&he top right point is the ele9ent Water and the fi;ed sign of Scorpio= $t represents the feelings that
endo' 9agick 'ith purpose/ desire 'hether for love or spiritual develop9ent and the co9passion and
e9pathy that 9ake us care a3out ourselves/ others and the 'orld 'e live in= $t for9s the
interconnectedness of all life=
&he 3otto9 left point of the pentagra9 sy93olises the ele9ent Earth and the fi;ed sign of &aurus= $t
connects 'ith the Earth Mother/ ecology and the 3asis fro9 'hich 'e e;plore spirit and also the
9aterial plane in 'hich ideas are 9anifest=
&he 3otto9 right point in the pentagra9 sy93olises ire and the fi;ed sign of ?eo/ fla9ing ever
up'ards/ the i9petus and illu9ination that transfor9s thought into action and ena3les us to see
potential/ not least our spiritual potential=
&hese positions correspond 'ith the Aodiacal positions on an astrological 'heel=
)n another level/ the pentagra9 is seen as representing the hu9an 3ody 'ith the four li93s
outstretched and the head touching the clouds=
>ra'ing A Pentagra9
Pentagra9s are re9arka3ly easy to dra'= &hey are created in one continuous line/ 9oving fro9 point
to point/ and ending 'here you 3egan= $n ritual 9agick/ pentagra9s are dra'n in the air at each of the
four co9pass directions of the circle/ either 'ith an atha9e/ a 'and or the inde; finger of your po'er
hand= $t is 3est to dra' really 3ig/ strong pentagra9s=
Pentagra9s can 3e dra'n either to attract the ele9ental guardians (invoking/ or attracting pentagra9s!
or to close their energies (3anishing pentagra9s!=
&here are various rather co9plicated 'ays of dra'ing pentagra9s/ 3ut $ suggest you use the 3asic
9ethods given on the previous page for attracting 'hen opening your four Fuarters and 3anishing
'hen closing= $f you 'ish to find out 9ore/ $ reco99end you read >ion ortune@s Applied Magick= $f
you do not 'ish to dra' pentagra9s at all in your circle 'ork/ you can instead call the Guardians in
the candle fla9e=
Preparing or +itual
Preparation for ritual is i9portant= >espite this/ even 9agick has to confor9 to the needs and custo9s
of the 9odern 'orld/ and so 'itches today often do not fast for *- hours or a3stain fro9 se; for the
sa9e period= But you should try to slo' your activities do'n in the hours 3efore a for9al cere9ony/
eat only a light 9eal and turn off all phones/ fa;es and co9puters if you are 'orking fro9 ho9e=
Make sure you have all the 3asic tools and ingredients for the cere9ony and that the roo9 is ready=
A3out an hour 3efore the ritual/ prepare yourself/ 3y having a 3ath in 'hich a sprinkling of sacred salt
and a fe' drops of cleansing oils/ such as pine or eucalyptus/ have 3een added= ?ight purple or pink
candles in the 3athroo9 and allo' all your daily concerns to flo' out of your 3ody into the 'ater/ to
3e transfor9ed 3y the candlelight= When you are ready to get out of the 'ater/ s'irl the reflected light
three ti9es 'iddershins and as you take out the plug/ say:
Go in peace/ flo' in har9ony to the sea of eternity=
Wear so9ething light and loose for the ritual= 8ou 9ay like to keep a special ro3e for your 9agical
'ork/ ready 'ashed and pressed= &hough so9e 'itches 'ork skyclad/ in groups this can result in
selfconsciousness
and so9eti9es unnecessary e9otional co9plications that can detract fro9 the 9agick=
Also/ in #orthern cli9es it is usually too coldL But the choice/ of course/ is yours=
#e;t s'eep out and cleanse the area you 'ill 3e 'orking in and set up the altar/ either in the #orth or
the centre of your circle= Practitioners 'ho 'ork fro9 the East of the circle 9ay 'ant their altar there=
&he position of the altar really does not 9atter= (See also page -* for 'orking in the southern
he9isphere=!
$f the altar is placed centrally or in the #orth/ you follo' the tradition/ as $ do/ of 'orking fro9 the
#orthH this 9eans that you cast the circle fro9 the #orth and enter the circle fro9 the South so you are
facing the #orth= $f/ ho'ever/ you 'ork 'ith the altar in the East/ you 'ill cast fro9 the East and enter
fro9 the West/ facing the East= A central altar 'ill 'ork for either direction and it also 9eans a group
can easily circle it= After all/ for 9ost of us space is at a pre9iu9/ and so9eti9es it is a Fuestion of
9arrying 9etaphysics 'ith logistics=
Creating A &e9ple
Before you 3egin a for9al ritual/ you 9ust cast an astral or spiritual te9ple a3ove and surrounding the
circle and the location= $n your 9ind@s eye/ visualise your o'n te9ple/ perhaps one fro9 the ancient
'orld/ resplendent 'ith gold and Ge'els/ 'ith a statue of a deity in 9ar3le/ gold or silver= &he roof of
the te9ple 9ay for9 a crystalline pyra9id or 3e open to the stars= (+eaders of the late >ion ortune@s
occult novels 'ill have no difficulty in for9ing i9ages of such splendid edifices=! )r you 9ay create a
grove of oak or olive trees or one of the ancient stone circles as your 'orking place or a castle roo9
'hose 3attle9ents are lashed 3y a stor9y sea=
&he altar in your te9ple 9ay 3e pure gold/ ornate stone or 3eaten copper/ and the candles 9ay 3e set in
ancient la9ps= With practice/ you 9ay find that a particular te9ple for9 auto9atically creates itself in
your 9ind@s vision/ 3ut if this is not helpful/ then concentrate on the 9agick that e;ists your o'n very
special 'orking place=
?et us go through a for9al ritual= $ have created this one for a solitary practitioner/ 3ut it adapts 'ell
for a group=
A or9al +itual &o +estore Prosperity
Such a ritual could 3e used/ for e;a9ple/ to 3oost e9ploy9ent in a to'n that has 3eco9e an ur3an
'asteland=
P Set four floor candles in the ele9ental colours in the four 9ain co9pass points of 'hat 'ill 3e the
circle= &he altar is in the centre=
P Place a single large 3ees'a; candle in the centre of the altar= Arrange your tools and the four
ele9ental su3stances/ also on the altar/ to for9 a sFuare around the central candle: salt in the #orth/
frankincense/ fern or cinna9on incense in the East/ a gold candle in the South/ for a3undance/ and a
Gug of 'ater and t'o s9all dishes in the West=
P Set the pentacle containing a honey cake in the #orth/ and place the atha9e in the East/ the 'and in
the South and the chalice of Guice or 'ine in the West=
P Place a 3all of clay or dough 'ithin the ele9ental sFuare/ on a dish in front of the candle so that light
shines on it=
P acing #orth/ light the altar candle=
P &ake the salt fro9 the #orth and stir it deosil 'ith your atha9e/ saying:
Po'er of ne' life/ po'er of healing/ po'er of regeneration/ enter this salt/ $ ask/ 9other and father of
light and love=
8ou can su3stitute the na9es of gods and goddesses associated 'ith success/ prosperity/ fertility and
rene'al into the ritual if you 'ish=
P &ake ne;t the 'ater fro9 the West and pour so9e into one of the dishes= Stir it deosil/ saying:
Po'er of gro'th/ po'er of fertility/ po'er of prosperity/ enter this 'ater/ $ ask/ 9other and father of
a3undance and increase=
P #o' take the salt to the 'ater and tip a little in it/ stirring it once 9ore 'ith the atha9e/ saying:
>issolve and disperse/ flo' far and free to attract re3irth to %Mna9e the to'nN and its inha3itants=
P #o' cast the circle around the ele9ental candles/ 'ith your 'and/ starting fro9 the #orth in a single
un3roken 9ove9ent/ visualising as you do a strea9 of light e9anating fro9 it that encloses you a3ove/
around and 3eneath= ($f you are 'orking 'ith a group/ they can stand or sit 'ithin a circle 'hile you
cast around the9= &his is 3etter than slo'ing the cere9ony 3y having people entering the circle
separately after it is cast and then having to close the circle after each one=! Say:
$ cast this circle of light/ of po'er and of protection= May the circle that is cast al'ays 3e un3roken=
Bless 9y 'orkings this night Mor dayN/ ) 9other and father of re3irth and rene'al/ unified and yet t'o/
and all that is and has 3een and shall 3e/ creative spirit of the universe/ the cos9os and the s9allest
3lade of grass=
Pick up the 3o'l of salt 'ater and sprinkle a second circle deosil around the peri9eter of the first/
saying:
Salt and 'ater/ enclose/ 3less and protect you 'ho have sustained life fro9 the 3eginning and 'ill so
to the end=
$f others are present/ a second 'itch or the 2igh Priest then sprinkles all present individually 'ith the
'ater/ saying @Bless and protect@=
P ?ight the incense in the East (or add to it if it 'as lit 3efore the ritual!=
P Create a third circle around the peri9eter/ saying:
Breath of life/ 3ring purity/ clarity and focus/ force of life itself that flo's alike 'ithin plant/ tree/ 3ird/
ani9al/ hu9an and stone= Bless and protect=
8ou are no' going to light the ele9ental candles/ and as you do so invoke the Guardians= +e%light the
taper fro9 the central candle as necessary=
P ?ight a taper fro9 the central candle and carry it to the #orth/ saying:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the #orthern Watchto'er/ $ call upon your strength and persistence to restore the
prosperity and sta3ility to this to'n 'here ne' industry and invest9ent are so 3adly needed=
P ?ight the green candle of the #orth=
P Go to the East/ saying:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the Eastern Watchto'er/ $ call upon your s'iftness and clarity of purpose/ to 3ring
technologies and opportunities into this to'n to attract ne' kinds of 'ork/ perhaps fro9 overseas=
P ?ight the yello' candle of the East=
P Go ne;t to the South and say:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the Southern Watchto'er/ $ call upon your cleansing fire and spirit of inspiration to
purge 'hat is redundant and corrupt and to 3ring hope and energy to this to'n 'here decay and
despair have taken root=
P ?ight the red candle of the South=
P Go finally to the West and say:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the Western Watchto'er/ $ call upon your healing and restoration to heal 3itterness
and divisions 3et'een the people 'ho have e;perienced such hard ti9es and 'hose to'n has 3eco9e
ravaged and neglected=
P ?ight the 3lue candle of the West=
#o' you are going to e9po'er the clay= $f 'orking as a group/ once the clay has 3een e9po'ered
'ith the ritual su3stances/ you could pass it round for each person to fashion it and add their energies=
P &ake the salt and sprinkle a fe' grains on the clay/ saying:
Make ne' 3uildings rise/ ne' industries gro'/ ne' houses and parkland/ schools and health centres
3e created/ that this to'n 9ay 3e a 'orthy ho9e to those 'ho 'ork in it=
P &ake the incense and circle the clay nine ti9es/ saying:
Bring retraining/ ne' invest9ent/ govern9ent grants/ ne' technology and ne' eFuip9ent so that the
to'n 9ay 3eco9e a hive of activity and generate ever 9ore opportunities into the ne;t century and
3eyond=
P ?ight the gold candle in the South (in this case it 'ill 3e different fro9 the candle of the southern
'atchto'er! and pass it over the clay so that single drop of gold 'a; falls on it/ saying:
Bring gold of prosperity/ gold of a3undance/ fire of inspiration and creativity so that this to'n 9ay3e
rich in opportunity/ in the arts and in culture/ as 'ell as in 9aterial 'ealth=
P inally/ sprinkle the clay 'ith a single drop of 'ater fro9 the Gug or a second dish/ saying:
May the life3lood of the to'n 3e restored and fertility course through the veins of the people that their
children and grandchildren 9ay kno' happiness and lives unclouded 3y sorro' and an;iety for their
livelihood and their d'ellings=
P &aking the clay 3et'een your hands/ 3egin to 9ould it/ using a 9arking tool if you 'ish/ to 9ake a
tool/ such as a 'heel/ or a figure/ a 3ridge/ a loaf/ a house or a flo'er/ or any a3stract sy93ol that
represents the re3irth of the to'n through its people= Endo' it 'ith your 'ishes/ visualising the place
gro'ing and prospering/ perhaps reciting:
Go forth/ increase and 9ultiply/
or
+ise again fro9 the ashes/ rise ane'/ rise glorious/ rise/ rise again=
Chant faster and faster until at last you toss the 3all into the air and catch it/ sayingH
Go far/ go free/
3ring life to thee=
$n a group/ you could pass the endo'ed clay round a second ti9e/ tossing it fro9 person to person
'hile chanting=
P +eturn the clay to the altar and take your honey cake on its dish=
P 2old it over the central candle/ saying:
Bring a3undance to those 'ho need it/ enough for their needs and a little 9ore/ Goy and hope=
P Bite into the cake and scatter a fe' cru93s on the clay/ instead of in a li3ation dish=
P &ake the atha9e and plunge it into the chalice/ saying:
God to goddess/ Goin thus thy po'er and give po'er to thy people 'ho are in need this hour=
P >rink fro9 the chalice and instead of dropping so9e 'ine in the li3ation dish or on the ground/ let a
drop fall on the clay/ saying:
ruit of the vine/ harvest gathered and transfor9ed/ transfor9 like'ise 'hat is 3arren to 'hat is
fruitful and living=
$f you are in a group/ you can pass the cakes and 'ine round and each person can contri3ute a positive
thought or perhaps voice any personal 'orries they 9ay have a3out e9ploy9ent and ask for 3lessing=
P Sit in the candlelight/ seeing the ne' to'n rising fro9 the old/ and if you have any special fear a3out
your o'n Go3 security or those of loved ones/ let these too flo' a'ay as the released energies 9ultiply=
Allo' any e;cess energies to drain 3ack into the Earth/ 3y pressing 'ith your hands/ feet and 3ody=
P Beginning in the West/ 3lo' out the candle/ saying:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the Western Watchto'er/ $ thank you for your healing and your har9onising light=
Go no' in peace=
P Move ne;t to the South= Blo' out this candle/ saying:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the Southern Watchto'er/ $ thank you for your inspiration and your cleansing light=
Go no' in peace=
P Move ne;t to the East= Blo' out this candle and say:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the Eastern Watchto'er/ $ thank you for your clarity and your life%restoring light=
Go no' in peace=
P Move finally to the #orth= Blo' out this candle and say:
?ord Mor ?adyN of the #orthern Watchto'er/ $ thank you for your grounding po'er and your protecting
light= Go no' in peace=
P &ake again your 'and and/ starting fro9 the #orth and 'orking 'iddershins/ close the circle Gust
once/ saying:
May the circle 3e uncast 3ut re9ain un3roken/ 9ay light and love and healing still re9ain and fall on
'hoever needs their 3lessing=
P ?eave the clay and allo' the central and ele9ental ire candle and the incense to 3urn a'ay= When
they are 3urned through/ clear the9 a'ay and 3ury the clay 3eneath a living tree or in a large plant of
lavender or 3asil=
&here are 9any other things you can add to a for9al ritual/ for e;a9ple/ ringing the 3ell or dra'ing
pentagra9s= $n this ritual/ you could also have passed the ele9ental tools over the clay to give it
additional po'er= Cere9onies are really a glorious 9i; and 9atch and this is Gust a sa9ple of ho' you
can co93ine the tools and the for9s to create the cere9ony you 'ant=
8ou 9ay like to record in your Book of Shado's those rituals that 'ork 'ell and others that did not
see9 so potent/ together 'ith any reasons 'hy you think this is so= $n ti9e/ you 'ill develop perhaps
three or four 3asic ritual @te9plates@ for coven or personal 'ork/ and 'ith practice the preparations and
stages 'ill 3eco9e al9ost auto9atic= As your energies ever 9ore creative and spontaneous/ they 'ill/
'ithin a for9al fra9e'ork/ 3eco9e incredi3ly potent=
(( % Moon Magick
Moon 9agick is one of the oldest for9s of ritual/ rooted fro9 the earliest ti9es in the o3servations of
hu9ankind/ of the changing phases of the Moon= &hese associations have passed into 9odern 9agick
and it is 3y reconnecting 'ith the natural energies that 'e can use the e33s and flo's of the lunar
cycle/ not only to a9plify our o'n po'ers for 9agical purposes/ 3ut also to har9onise 'ith the9/
rather than fighting against our 3odies and spirits in our everyday lives=
+ituals throughout the ages have tapped into the prevailing lunar energies that/ like the tides/ are
affected 3y the different cycles= $n this 'ay/ 9agical intentions can 3e carried on either the outflo'ing
or inflo'ing psychic tide to give the9 the i9petus to 9anifest the9selves in the physical 'orld=
&o go against the Moon cycles in 9agick or in life is a 3it like s'i99ing against the flo': Fuite
possi3le 'ith practice/ 3ut involving unnecessary effort=
&he Moon Mother
&he Moon 'as regarded as the 9other of all long 3efore 'ritten records e;isted/ for she 'as seen to
give 3irth to a ne' 9oon every *6 days= Because the old 9oon apparently died/ it 'as 3elieved that
that she took the souls of the dead 3ack into her 'o93 and gave the9 ne' life= $n the sa9e 'ay/ the
three 9ain lunar phases gave rise to the concept of the &riple Goddess 'ho has 3een 'orshipped in
cultures fro9 palaeolithic ti9es 'here early cave art displayed crescent 9oons that have 3een
identified as Goddess sy93ols= &he evolved &riple Goddess of the Celts/ 'hich reflects the lunar
cycles of 9aiden/ 9other and crone/ is an icon also seen throughout the classical 'orld=
Moon &i9e
&he earliest calendars 'ere 3ased on the lunar cycle and Moon ti9e is still used in the 9odern 'orld
in 3oth pagan and religious rituals: the Chinese #e' 8ear is a lunar festival and the Chinese ritual
year follo's the Moon and the #ative A9ericans calculate their 9onths 3y the Moon= &he Coligny
Calendar of the Gallic >ruids/ 'hich runs fro9 full 9oon to full 9oon/ 'as na9ed after the place in
rance 'here it 'as discovered in (564/ engraved on 3ronAe= Si9ilar calculations 'ere inscri3ed in
stone at Ino'th/ one of the sacred ancient 9egalithic sites in $reland=
Many of the original lunar calendars 'ere 3ased on the natural and agricultural 'orld and helped in
esta3lishing an agricultural calendar/ noting ti9es in the cycle 'hen crops 'ere planted and ripened
and 'hen 3irds 9igrated/ as 'ell as the co9ing of the herds a9ong hunting peoples= @Blue 9oons@/
'here 9ore than one full 9oon occurs in the sa9e calendar 9onth/ have al'ays 3een regarded as
especially potent= $n the urther +eading chapter/ $ have listed sources 'here you can find these older
calendars=
$n 9odern 9agick/ old Moon na9es are a good 'ay of connecting 'ith the po'ers of nature that/
unlike seasonal energies operate on a 9onthly 3asis/ 3ut 9agically are strongest on the actual eve and
night of the full 9oon and the days 3efore and after the full 9oon= So Moon na9es can give a focus to
9agical purposes at the right ti9e in the yearly cycle/ as they e9phasise the prevailing energies that
different peoples have interpreted according to their o'n seasonal trends= Sadly/ 'e no longer top up
our psychic 3atteries in the sa9e 'ay/ and the further 'e 9ove fro9 nature/ the harder it gets to
access these helpful po'ers=
&he night of the full 9oon is good for solitary practitioners and groups as 'ell as for9al covens/ to
tune into the full force of the 9onthly energies= $f you have coven 3usiness/ leave it to another night %
it is a sha9e to 'aste all that ti9e on 9undane 9atters/ 'hen you could 3e riding high on the
cascading po'ers= 8ou can carry out 9ore than one full 9oon ritual on the sa9e night/ opening the
circle and perhaps follo'ing an energetic spell 'ith a gentler rite/ or vice versa/ 3efore closing the
circle= &he one $ have suggested on page *** 'ould easily for9 part of a 9ore co9ple; full 9oon
rite= Alternatively/ you could perfor9 it privately/ perhaps the evening 3efore or after the full 9oon=
8ou can/ if you are 'orking alone/ spread your full 9oon rituals over three nights/ 'ith the 9aGor one
on the night of the full 9oon and the others on the preceding and follo'ing nights=
$ have started the full 9oon calendar on page *(- 'ith the 9oon that is nearest to the Celtic #e' 8ear
on * #ove93er/ the 9oon that the Celts called Sa9nios/ the @falling of the seeds@= $n #ative A9erican
lunar calendars/ the full 9oon around this period 'as often kno'n as the @hunters@ 9oon@ or the
@trading 9oon@/ 3ecause the trading of goods 'as carried out in preparation for the needs of the
co9ing 'inter= 8ou 9ay find that each of the full 9oons corresponds 'ith a personal event or
prevailing 9ood in your o'n yearly life cycle= 8ou 9ay even give it a personal na9e and create your
very o'n Moon calendar or devise one 3ased on your o'n region= &he passing of the ur3an year can
eFually 3e a focus or you can use goddess"god na9es to reflect the different 9oon energies=
&here is a great variety of translations of the Celtic and #ative A9erican na9es= or e;a9ple/ $
al'ays call Sa9nios @Going 2o9e for the Winter@ 3ecause this is the ti9e of year that coincides/ like
the Celtic herds9en returning fro9 the hills/ 'ith the closing of the s9all caravan site 'here $ spend
so 9any of 9y spring and su99er days/ 'orking and taking 9y youngest child to play 3y the sea= $t
is for 9e a ti9e of sorro'/ 3ut also of realisation that the site has 3eco9e 9uddy and cold and $ a9
spending 9ore and 9ore ti9e huddled 'ithin over the s9all heater= $ kno' that it really is ti9e to put
a'ay the picnic 3ench outside the van 'here $ eat/ read and carry out rituals in the sunnier ti9es=
&o the Celts/ this 9oon carried the hope of seeds that 'ould take root to 3urst through in the early
spring= As $ close the van/ $ too look for'ard to returning in spring/ 9ay3e having 'eathered the
stor9s $ kno' are gathering round 9e e9otionally as 'ell as physically=
$ have listed the (* 9oons that correspond to the (* 9onths of the year= 2o'ever/ 3ecause so9e years
have (, 9oons and lunar 9onths vary slightly in length/ a thirteenth 9agical 9onth/ Ciallos/ the
9onth of no ti9e/ is added every t'o and a half years= &here are fairly co9ple; rules for its insertion/
3ut a good lunar al9anac 'ill keep you on track % you can follo' its instructions or use Ciallos rather
like a Goker in a playing card pack/ 'hen you need it=
As you 'ork 'ith the Moon and plot her daily path over years you 'ill 3eco9e naturally in tune 'ith
the prevailing energies=
$ have 3riefly listed the 9oons and the kind of 9agick you can perfor9 either on the full 9oon itself
or the day that precedes or follo's it/ and on page *(1 $ have given a 3asic full 9oon cere9ony to use
for your special 9oons= 8ou 9ay not 'ish to cele3rate every full 9oon this 'ay/ Gust the significant
ones in your year= &he na9es are a synthesis of lunar na9es $ have gathered and used over the years=
8ou 'ill see the echo of these the9es throughout the seasons=
Moons )f &he Coligny Calender
Sa9nios/ Seed all
#ative A9erican na9e: 2unter@s Moon/ &rading Moon
ull 9oon date: )cto3er"#ove93er (April"May in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Making an end to 'hat is not fruitful/ dra'ing up realistic plans for the co9ing year
>u9annios/ the Co9ing of >eep >arkness
#ative A9erican na9e: irst Sno's or rost on the Grass Moon
ull 9oon date: #ove93er">ece93er (May"Kune in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Bringing light into the darkness/ seeking inner as 'ell as outer illu9ination and inspiration
+iuros/ the &i9e of the ?ong Coldness
#ative A9erican na9e: When Wolves 2uddle Close Moon
ull 9oon date: >ece93er"Kanuary (Kune"Kuly in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Material security/ the ho9e and fa9ily
Angantios/ Staying or 2o9e
#ative A9erican na9e: Gna'ing on Bones Moon
ull 9oon date: Kanuary"e3ruary (Kuly"August in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Acceptance of life as it is/ seeking Goy in 'hat one has/ not fretting for 'hat one has not
)gronios/ the &i9e of Shining $ce
#ative A9erican na9e: When the Geese irst ?ay Moon
ull 9oon date: e3ruary"March (August"Septe93er in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: &he stirring of ne' hope and trust/ releasing potential that has 3een froAen
Curios/ the &i9e of the Winds
#ative A9erican na9e: Purification or Eagle Moon
ull 9oon date: March"April (Septe93er")cto3er in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Change/ clearing a'ay stagnation and inertia
Gla9onios/ Gro'ing Green Shoots
#ative A9erican na9e: rog or Blosso9 Moon
ull 9oon date: April"May ()cto3er"#ove93er in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: #e' horiAons and opportunities/ fertility
Si9iuisonnos/ Bright &i9e or the &i9e of >ancing
#ative A9erican na9e: lo'ering or ull ?eaf Moon
ull 9oon date: May"Kune (#ove93er">ece93er in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Koy/ per9anent relationships/ 9a;i9ising opportunities
EFuos/ the &i9e of the 2orse
#ative A9erican na9e: Stra'3erry Moon When the Buffalo Are Calling
ull 9oon date: Kune"Kuly (>ece93er"Kanuary in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: &ravel/ 9oves of all kinds/ house or career e;pansion
Ele93iuos/ Clai9 &i9e
#ative A9erican na9e: +ipe Corn Moon/ Moon When the 8oung Geese &ake Wing
ull 9oon date: Kuly"August (Kanuary"e3ruary in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: Kustice/ pro9otion/ recognition and financial gain
Edrinios/ the &i9e of Ar3itration
#ative A9erican na9e: 2arvest Moon/ >ark Butterfly Moon
ull 9oon date: August"Septe93er (e3ruary"March in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: +eaping 'hat has 3een so'n/ a3undance/ assessing life and resources 'ith a vie' to shedding
'hat cannot 3e used
Cantios/ the Song Moon
#ative A9erican na9e: #ut Moon/ Moon When the Birds ly South
ull 9oon date: Septe93er")cto3er (March"April in the southern he9isphere!
+itual: inal 3urst of energy for tasks undone/ salvaging relationships and 9issed opportunities
A ull Moon +itual or Energy
:se this ritual to 3ring specific lunar energies into your life= $t should 3e carried out on the evening of
the full 9oon or as close as you can=
$ choose Cantios/ 9y favourite full 9oon of the year/ 'hen calling for help to finish things $ have left
undone/ 3ut you can use the sa9e 9ethod and 9uch of the ritual for any of the full 9oons= 8ou can
also use this ritual 'ithout focusing on a specific full 9oon/ for 3ringing plans to fruition or for an
e;tra surge of energy 'hen you need it to overco9e an o3stacle or seiAe an opportunity=
P ?ight a ro' of three silver candles/ t'o of the sa9e siAe for the 'a;ing and 'aning phases and one
9uch larger in the centre for the full 9oon=
P ?ight three sticks of Gas9ine or 9i9osa incense=
P &ake a 3ranch fro9 a 'illo' or any other tree or plant that gro's near 'ater/ and on it hang three
silver 3au3lesH one should 3e very large= $f you have no 3au3les/ 9ake discs fro9 silver foil= Silver is
the colour and 9etal of the Moon= Add nine tiny/ silver%coloured 3ells/ hung 'ith thread=
P $f the full 9oon is visi3le/ use a hand 9irror/ silver if possi3le/ to direct its light to'ard the tree or
plant/ saying:
$sis/ 9other of the Moon/ your po'er this night 3ring to 9e soon= 8our silver radiance on 9e shine/
your fertile light no' strengthen 9ine= ull 9oon/ full glory/ fill 9y heart/ your loving 'isdo9 to 9e
i9part= Mother $sis/ your child $ call/ uplift and guide 9e lest $ fall=
(8ou can/ instead of $sis/ choose your o'n Moon goddess if you prefer or Gust invoke the Moon
9other=!
P #o' 'ith silver thread or ri33ons/ 3ind the tree and the 3au3les 'ith nine loose knots/ saying:
$ 3ind your tree 'ith tasks undone/ Maiden/ Mother/ not yet Crone= $ 3ind your strength 9y race not
'on/ $ take the po'er and it is done=
P Moon Magick
P Pull all your knots undone/ one after the other/ and shake the tree
P so the 3ells ring and the energy is released=
P ?eave the candles to 3urn do'n in a safe place=
?eave the 3ranch or plant still hung 'ith silver 3au3les and 3ells throughout the 'eek of the full 9oon
and use the 'eek to focus on your specific Moon the9e= Sit/ if you can/ for a fe' 9inutes each night
3y silver candlelight and see yourself surrounded 3y an or3 of silver light= Ma;i9ise the possi3ilities
in your everyday 'orld=
8ou can adapt the 'ords to suit the different 9onths and/ if you 'ish/ rest an appropriate sy93ol in
the 3ranch/ tied on 'ith silver ri33on/ for e;a9ple/ a toy horse during the 9onth EFuos/ for travel and
the e;pansion of horiAons/ 9ental as 'ell as physical=
&he Cycle )f &he Moon
As $ 9entioned earlier in the chapter/ as 'ell as the 9onths/ the phases of the Moon offer scope for
different kinds of 9agick during the individual 9onthly 9oon cycles= 2o'ever/ pro3le9s in
interpretation of these energies can arise 3ecause astrono9y and astrology are no longer regarded as
the sa9e thing= or e;a9ple/ to our ancestors/ the astrological >ark of the Moon 'as the sa9e as the
astrono9ical dark % the first t'o and a half days of the cycle 'hen the Moon is not visi3le at any hour
of the day or night=
&o this 'ere added the preceding three days of the old 9oon/ 'hen it did not rise until the early hours
of the 9orning= So 'hen 3ooks of 9agick speak of the ne' 9oon/ they 9ay 9ean the ti9e 'hen the
crescent first appears in the sky= But if you prefer/ you can/ as so9e 9odern practitioners do/ count
the >ark of the Moon only as those three last 'aning days and start ne' 9oon 9agick fro9 the literal
calendar day= $t@s a 3it like deciding e;actly 'hen a chicken co9es to life: you don@t actually see it
until the chicken pops out of the egg 3ut you kno' it@s alive even 'hen it@s invisi3le/ inside the shell=
$ prefer to 'ait for the crescent 3ecause to 9e those last days of the old 9oon are still very precious= $
can re9e93er 'aking 3efore it 'as light in Spain and seeing that last 'aning crescent 'ith its
acco9panying star/ shining like a Ge'el in the 'ar9 sky= &he ans'er/ as al'ays/ is to do 'hat you
feel is 3est for you=
Working With &he Phases
&here are eight astrono9ical phases of the Moon/ 3ut 9agick generally focuses on three that are
considered to 3e particularly significant=
&he 'a;ing 9oon: As the Moon is increasing in siAe/ it is said to 3e 'a;ing= &he light increases/
appearing to spread fro9 right to left/ and this phase lasts right until the 9o9ent that the Moon
3eco9es co9pletely visi3le % the full 9oon= &he 'a;ing phase is the ti9e for 9agick for increase or
to attract good things= &he 9ore the Moon increases in siAe/ the 9ore po'erful 3eco9e its energies to
attract a3undance=
&he full 9oon: &he full 9oon phase/ 'hen the 'hole of the Moon is visi3le/ is the ti9e for the 9ost
potent 9agick/ 3ut it lasts for only *- hours % although/ as $ have said/ 9ost practitioners allo' a day
on either side=
&he 'aning 9oon: ro9 the second follo'ing the *- hours of the full 9oon/ the Moon is 'aning= &he
light decreases as the Moon shrinks fro9 right to left and the energies too start to 'ane until the Moon
is no longer visi3le at all= &he 'ane is the ti9e for 3anishing and for decreasing influences= &he 9ore
it decreases/ the 9ore the potency decreases/ so the pull that keeps any destructive influences in you is
also decreasing= 8ou can/ ho'ever/ use the 'aning 9oon like an e9ptying 3ath and 'ash a'ay all the
3ad things into the cos9os or the earth as the energies s'irl a'ay/ to 3e restored and refor9ed into
positivity=
Moon Phases And 8ou
?ike the Moon/ you and everything around you % children/ pets/ plants and/ of course/ crystals % 'ill
3eco9e 9ore dyna9ic and charged as the Moon increases= &his is especially noticea3le 'ith
9oonstones and topaA= &hen/ as the Moon 'anes/ everything loses energy and enthusias9=
$t@s the spirit and 3ody@s 'ay of telling you to slo' do'n and regenerate= $ a9 convinced that a great
deal of the stress/ pre9enstrual tension and irrita3ility that 'e all suffer is 3ecause 'e are running
counter to those energies= )f course/ you can@t ring into 'ork and say that you are not co9ing in
3ecause the Moon is seriously 'aning/ 3ut you can cut do'n on non%essential tasks=
$/ for e;a9ple/ 'ould certainly not take children to pleasure parks on the 'aning 9oon 'here they
'ill 3e 'hirled upside do'n on dangerous rides and tears and fights 9ay occur= $nstead/ save the
Action Man"Super'o9an stuff for the full 9oon and go for a 'ander instead in 'oods and gardens
and 3y gently flo'ing strea9s=
&uning Magically $nto &he ?unar Phases
&he cycle fro9 ne' 9oon to ne' 9oon lasts *6=. days 3ut 3ecause the Moon has an irregular or3it/
the ti9e of its rising and setting 'ill vary each day= or this reason/ phases can vary in length 3y a day
or so each 9onth= &he 3est 'ay to understand the Moon is as our ancestors did/ 3y studying in the
sky= :se an al9anac or a diary that contains Moon phases or consult your daily paper to identify the
phases to start you off on the right day= &he 'eather section of your paper also gives you precise
ti9ings and there is usually a chart so you can adGust for ti9e Aones and su99er ti9e differences=
Each day/ look to see 'hether the Moon is in the sky or/ if it is cloudy/ calculate 'here it ought to 3e=
)n clear nights you 'ill see ho' it rises diagonally= 8ou can use a tree in your garden or the roof of a
house or even a tall fence to note the position at a specific ti9e of the night and 9onth= Each 9onth it
'ill 3e slightly different/ 3ecause of that irregular or3it= >on@t 3e fooled in the 'aning phase % in the
later part/ you 9ay see in the early 9orning yesterday@s Moon that has not yet set=
Children love keeping a @Moon 'atch@/ and you 9ay like to 3uy a sky glo3e or 9ap or lunar soft'are
for your co9puter so that you can all track its progress=
Most i9portantly/ note 'hat effect the Moon has on your e9otions= >oes it 9ake you feel like
lighting a candle/ 9aking love/ dancing in the garden/ cleaning out a cup3oard/ having an argu9ent %
or doing a3solutely nothingJ $f you 9onitor these feelings for three or four 9onths or so/ you 'ill find
your o'n Moon pattern e9erging= Soon you 'ill 3e a3le to understand 'hy you feel the 'ay you do
(and 'e all kno' that it 'ill see9 Fuite irrational so9eti9esL!= Most i9portantly/ you 'ill 3e a3le to
9a;i9ise your 3est 9oon ti9es for action= Make full 9oon 'ater 3y catching the full 9oonlight in a
silver%coloured 3o'lH drink it or add it to your 3ath=
$n addition/ if you 'ant to understand the 9echanics as opposed to the 'orkings of the Moon/ read a
3ook on astrono9y rather than astrology to learn a3out or3its and the eight phases=
8ou 9ight also/ even if you do not read horoscopes/ keep an eye for 'hen the Moon enters your 3irth
sign % this happens for a3out t'o and a half days each 9onth % and 9onitor the effects over a period of
several 9onths= >oes it 9ake you 9ore Gittery/ less cautious ('hich 9ay or 9ay not 3e a good thing!/
9ore intuitive/ 9ore fa9ily%orientated/ reverting to out%9oded patterns of reactionJ Again/ you can
9a;i9ise positive effects if you are a'are of the9/ like anticipating a 'ave and riding it/ rather than
3eing su39erged 3y the surge of po'er=
+ituals And Moon Phases
$f possi3le/ al'ays 'ork out of doors or near an open 'indo' so that you feel connected to the lunar
energies= 2o'ever/ do not feel that you 9ust freeAe if the 'eather is cold: in spite of the superstitions/
it is not unlucky to look at the Moon through glass= $ have suggested a ritual for each phase and listed
the 3est kinds of 9agick for each ti9e=
&he Wa;ing Moon
&his is the ti9e for ne' 3eginnings and long%ter9 goals and you can repeat the sa9e spell during each
'a;ing 9oon period for proGects that 'ill take 9onths or even a year or 9ore to 3ring to fruition= &he
closer to the full 9oon/ the 9ore intense the energies 'ill 3e/ and a spell lasting over three days/ up to
and including the full 9oon/ is e;cellent for an urgent proGect or one 'ith a necessarily short ti9e
scale=
&he 'a;ing 9oon is good for spells to i9prove health/ the gradual increase of prosperity/ for
attracting good luck/ for fertility 9agick/ for finding friendship/ ne' love and ro9ance/ for Go3
hunting/ for 9aking plans for the future and increasing psychic a'areness=
&he <irgin Goddesses ruled the 'a;ing 9oon=
A Wa;ing Moon ertility Spell
$ get asked for fertility spells perhaps 9ore than any other kind/ as the 9odern 'orld 'ith everything
running *- hours a day/ including lighting and heating/ thro's our 3odies out of sync= Certainly/
people no longer 9ake love in tune 'ith the rising energies of the Earth= While physiological
pro3le9s need 9edical input/ fertility spells practised over a fe' 9onths are good for 'o9en 'ho
co9e off the Pill and feel an;ious if they do not 3eco9e pregnant in the first t'o or three 9onths=
&hey 'ill counter the an;iety that 3uilds up and 3locks the natural rhyth9s= $t has 3een scientifically
sho'n that pleasura3le se; increases the chances of conception=
But for 9en and 'o9en 'ho do have difficulty conceiving/ 'ho use $< or artificial inse9ination/
fertility spells do see9 to help to create spiritual and 9ental cycles and conception 9ay prove easier=
$t is certainly 'orth trying as $ kno' a nu93er of people for 'ho9 fertility spells have 'orked % and
even 'here they do not/ they have restored Goy to love9aking=
&his ritual should 3e carried out 'hen the crescent 9oon is visi3le in the sky and if you live near the
sea/ you 9ay 3e a3le to coincide your love9aking 'ith the high tide (a secluded 3each is 3rilliant if
the 'eather is good/ although $ have kno'n people do this hundreds of 9iles fro9 the sea!= But if the
tide is out of sync/ then you still have lunar energies aplenty= 8ou could even plan an overnight stay in
a hotel 'ith a roo9 overlooking the shore so you can hear the sound of the 'aves=
P &ake an egg and carefully 'ith a needle 9ake a hole in it to drain out all the fluid= 8ou can cook
this and eat it or feed this to an ani9al to avoid 'aste= $f you do not 'ant to use a real egg/ you can
3uy painted 'ooden or even agate ones in t'o halves that slot together=
P Cut your shell in half and in one half place either a 9oonstone or a tiny crystal egg=
P Place 3oth halves open on your 'indo' ledge=
P Make love 'hen you 'ish=
P )n the night the full 9oon is in the sky/ take a tiny paper knife and gently prick the crystal still
inside the shell saying:
God to Goddess/ thee to 9e/ grant increase/ if @tis right to 3e=
P Make love in the full 9oonlight if it is shining or at any ti9e that night even if it is not/ so that you
can see the egg on the 'indo' ledge or if you are outdoors on a near3y rock=
P As you reach orgas9/ repeat/ silently if your partner is nervous of 9agick:
God to Goddess/ thee to 9e/ grant increase/ if @tis right to 3e=
P ?eave your egg in the 9oonlight=
P &he ne;t 9orning/ place the t'o halves together and 'rap the egg 'ith the crystal inside/ together
'ith the knife/ in a 'hite silk scarf in a dra'er in your 3edroo9=
P +epeat/ using a fresh eggshell each 9onth= 8ou 9ay find your 9enstrual cycle 9oves slo'ly to
synchronise 'ith the Moon= $f possi3le/ 9ake love 'hen you 'ish/ rather than 3y the chart/ for a
9onth or so=
&he ull Moon
$f you look in your Moon diary/ you 'ill see the e;act ti9e the full 9oon rises in your area= &hat is
the 9ost po'erful 9o9ent of all and if you can ti9e the cli9a; of a spell for that ti9e you 'ill touch
the stars= &he ti9e 3et'een rising and setting is also very potent and can do 'onders for love9aking
that has 3eco9e routine=
ull 9oon 9agick is good for any i99ediate need/ for a sudden 3oost of po'er or courage/ for a
change of career/ location or for travel/ psychic protection/ healing acute 9edical conditions/ for a
large su9 of 9oney needed urgently/ the consu99ation of love or for 9aking a per9anent love
co99it9ent/ for fidelity spells/ especially if a relationship is looking shaky/ for Gustice/ a93ition and
pro9otion=
&he full 9oon is ruled 3y the lunar Mother Goddesses=
A +itual or >ra'ing >o'n &he Moon
&here are 9any versions of this goddess%focused ritual and it can 3e used to dra' po'er into yourself
and/ if you 'ish/ to channel 'isdo9 fro9 a higher source (see also the Charge of the Goddess and the
Charge of the God on pages 5, and 51!= 8ou can use it either for a specific purpose or for increasing
your spiritual a'areness and it can 3e used 3y 3oth 9en and 'o9en=
8ou 9ay 'ish during this ritual to focus on a specific lunar goddess for9 in her full 9oon aspect= &he
9ost fa9ous one still central to 9odern Wicca is >iana/ +o9an goddess of the Moon/ the hunt and
fertility= &hough/ like her Greek counterpart/ Arte9is/ she 'as 'orshipped originally as the 9aiden
aspect of the Moon/ in ti9e she ca9e to represent the full 9oon also=
So9eti9es the &riple ?unar Goddess of 9odern Wicca is represented 3y the classical deities/ >iana
(the Greek Arte9is!/ Selene and 2ecate/ 3eing 9aiden/ 9other and 'ise 'o9an or crone=
$sis/ the Egyptian goddess 'ho 'as 3oth Moon Goddess and 9other of the Sun/ is also a potent focus=
$f you are going to use a specific goddess for9/ study i9ages of her in the days 3efore the ritual or if
you have a favourite statue hold it for a fe' 9inutes 3efore 3edti9e= $ have a 'ooden figure of the
Moon Mother Goddess sold to 9e 3y a Moroccan guy 'ho said she 'as a patroness of his village=
Whether that 'as a sales pitch or not/ $ still associate her 'ith pal9 trees and a 3rilliant Moon in a
cloudless sky= 2o'ever/ you 9ay prefer to tune directly into the physical light of the silver Moon as a
source of po'er=
8ou can carry out this ritual either alone or 'ith a group= &hough traditionally it is the 2igh Priestess
'ho dra's do'n the Moon into herself and then channels 'isdo9/ each 9e93er can a3sor3 the
po'er in his or her o'n 'ay and e;perience the connection 3et'een the individual divine spark and
the collective >ivinity= &he ritual $ have given can easily 3e adapted for either a lone practitioner or a
group= $f there is no Moon visi3le 3ecause of adverse 'eather conditions/ you can use 9irrors and
candles to dra' do'n the po'er=
P Surround 'hat is to 3e your circle 'ith silver candles= $n the centre/ place a 9irror flat on a ta3le or
the altar so that the Moon is reflected 'ithin it= 2ave a single/ large/ silver candle near the centre of
the circle so it can also shine 'ithin the 9irror= $f you cannot position the 9irror so that the Moon is
seen 'ithin it/ place additional silver candles close to create a light 'ithin it (3efore the ritual
e;peri9ent 'ith 'hite candles that you can use around the ho9e after'ards!=
P $f you are 'orking in a group/ each person in the ritual should stand in front of (3ut not too close to!
their personal candle=
P ?ight the central candle and then take a lighted taper fro9 it to the northern9ost candle and light it/
saying:
&hus do 'e light the circle of the Moon=
($f you are 'orking in a group/ pass the taper to the person standing at the candle/ 'ho 'ill light it and
say the 'ords=!
P Continue in this 'ay/ re%lighting the taper if necessary fro9 the central candle/ until the entire circle
of candles is alight=
P #o' focus on the 9irror and the light of the Moon or candle and say:
Goddess of the Moon/ Mna9e one or 9oreN/ Silver Mother/ co9e to full increase/ enter no' those 'ho
seek your inspiration and healing light=
P Chant:
Co9e do'n/ ) Mother/ fill the sky 'ith thy or3/ co9e no'/ co9e/ co9e 'ithin=
&his 9ay develop into a song or a slo' rhyth9ic circle dance around the 9irror/ as you 'hisper the
'ords on the 'ind=
P ProGect the 9oonlight/ actual or visualised/ so that it fills the 9irror and creates a 3rilliant sphere of
light around/ over and 3eyond the candles/ so that you (or the group! are 'ithin the sphere of the
Moon=
P As the po'er 3uilds/ circle and chant:
Within the Moon/ 'ithin the po'er/ 'ithin the Moon/ no' at this hour/ 'e are the Moon=
P At this point there is silence and stillness= &hen/ one 3y one if you are in a group/ speak 'ords of
'isdo9/ inspired 3y the light=
P When this is done/ sit Fuiet in the light of the Moon or candle=
P Working 'iddershins fro9 the last candle to 3e lit/ the candles can 3e e;tinguished slo'ly/ saying at
each one:
May the light re9ain 'ithin as the circle is uncast 'ithout=
P ?eave the central candle 3urning as you 'rite and 3urn 'ishes in it/ 'ritten 'ith a silver pen on
dark paper=
P inally/ light a s9all/ silver candle on a cake and if you are 'orking in a group/ 'ish everyone
present a happy Moonday= $t is said that the first 3irthday candles 'ere lit on 9oon%shaped cakes on
the festival of the lunar goddess Arte9is and as they 'ere 3lo'n out/ 'ishes 'ere sent to her that they
9ight 3e ans'ered=
&he Waning Moon
&his is for 3anishing 9agick and for re9oving pain/ sickness and o3stacles to success and happiness=
$t 'ill lessen negative influences/ addictions/ co9pulsions/ negative thoughts/ grief/ guilt/ an;iety/ the
envy and 9alice of others and destructive anger that is 3est let go= $t can also 3e used for gently
ending relationships and stages 'here there are regrets 3ut still good'ill= A gradual 3inding spell to
divert a person fro9 a place or person can 3e effective/ though 3inding spells are often done 'ith the
po'er of the full 9oon= &he Crone Goddess rules the 'aning 9oon=
A Banishing +itual
&he e33 tide is very good for carrying a'ay 'hat is no longer 'anted/ 3ut if you do not live near the
sea/ you can use any do'n'ard%flo'ing 'ater/ even a drain=
P &ake either a dying flo'er or a long frond of sea'eed to represent 'hatever it is you 'ish to 3anish=
P >ra' a sFuare around it/ in the sand or in the earth or using chalk on a paved area= Say:
&hese are the li9its of your po'er/ these are the li9its of your s'ay/ thus you lose your thrall/ a'ay/
no'/ a'ay=
P +u3 out the sFuare/ saying:
See/ even this your po'er is gone/ leave 9y life/ your day is done=
P Cast the sy93ol on to the e33 tide= 8ou 9ay need to 'ade out to 9ake sure it does not co9e 3ack to
shore= Alternatively/ cast it into flo'ing 'ater 'ith a final:
A'ay/ no 9ore stay=
P >o so9ething/ ho'ever s9all/ to 9ake yourself happy for the rest of the day/ so that it has happy
9e9ories=
8ou 9ay need to repeat the spell for a nu93er of 'aning 9oons if the 9atter or person has a strong
hold=
$f the co9pulsion or person returns 3efore the ne;t 'aning 9oon/ try this short ritual=
P +un a 3ath and add a drop or t'o of eucalyptus or pine and lavender=
P )n a tiny sFuare 3ar of soap/ 'rite a sy93ol to represent the pro3le9/ dra' a cross through it and
leave it to 9elt in the 'ater 'hile you enGoy your 3ath=
P Get out of the 3ath 'hen you are refreshed and 'hen the soap has co9pletely 9elted/ pull out the
plug/ saying:
Sorro' grievous/ flo' to sea/ never 9ore to trou3le 9e=
P >o so9ething positive 'hile the soap is 9elting= $f you do not have ti9e for a 3ath/ you can 9elt
your soap in a 3o'l or 3ucket and pour it do'n a drain=
(* % Planets and Angels
>ifferent days of the 'eek and hours of the day and night are associated 'ith specific energies and
each
particular ti9e is ruled 3y a planet and an archangel= &hough these 'ere pri9arily centred on
cere9onial
9agick/ they can also 3e used to give focus and potency to infor9al spells=
&he planetary and angelic hours can also 3e applied to the everyday sphere/ for e;a9ple 3y choosing
the
appropriate day and even hour for 3eginning a 9oney%9aking sche9e or a first 9eeting 'ith a
potential
3usiness partner or lover= 8ou can further a9plify the salient Fualities and strengths of these ti9es 3y
using oils/ incenses/ coloured candles and crystals linked 'ith the specific planets and angels=
&here are also strong connections 3et'een the planet and angel of the day/ though angelic 9agick tends
to
3e used/ not surprisingly/ for rituals 'ith a 9ore spiritual and ecological or glo3al focus= As you
discover
particular co93inations that 'ork 'ell/ you can add the9 to your Book of Shado's=
Planetary Magical >ays )f &he Week
&hough $ have 'ritten pri9arily a3out the significance of the different days/ $ have also listed the
effects
of the planetary hours=
&he planets have had a special place in 3oth ritual 9agick and astrology/ since the Ancient Ba3ylonians
and Chaldeans first o3served the9 'andering across the sky (the 'ord @planet@ derives fro9 the Greek
planetes/ 9eaning @'anderer@! against the fi;ed constellations of the Aodiac=
&he ancients kne' of only five planets % Mercury/ <enus/ Mars/ Kupiter and Saturn= :ranus/ #eptune
and
Pluto 'ere discovered only after the invention of the telescope and so have not assu9ed the i9portance
in
9agick that they have in astrology= What is 9ore/ the first astrono9ers also counted the Sun and the
Moon
as planets and credited the9 'ith certain Fualities that have 3eco9e 'oven into the Western
astrological
and 9agical traditions=
Astrologers 3elieve that the positions of the planets in the Aodiac at the ti9e of an individual@s 3irth can
influence and indicate that person@s fate= $n 9agick/ the planetary strengths can 3e applied to any
purpose
under the As a3ove/ so 3elo'@ principle that stresses the interconnectedness of the 'hole universe=
8ou can create your o'n spells 3y using the associations/ 9uch as you create recipes 3y kno'ing the
Fualities and 3lending po'er of individual ingredients= And Gust as in cookery/ those spells or recipes
'here you 3reak a'ay fro9 the set for9ula are often the 9ost successful=
or e;a9ple/ if you 'anted to do 'ell in an intervie' for a Go3/ you 9ight 3urn a 'ish in a candle of
the
colour 3lue % for careers % on &hursday/ the day of Kupiter/ 'ho is associated 'ith e9ploy9ent and
'orldly
success and all 9atters of increaseH for e;tra potency/ the candle could 3e surrounded 'ith s9all 3lue
sodalite or lapis laAuli/ Kupiter@s special crystals= 8ou could also 3urn cedar/ one of Kupiter@s incenses or
sandal'ood oil=
$f you needed 9ore general career success/ you could 9ake or 3uy an a9ulet of tin/ the 9etal of
Kupiter/
perhaps a coin fro9 a 9useu9 shop that you charged 'ith po'er every &hursday 3y sprinkling it 'ith
salt/ passing it through cedar incense/ a 3lue candle fla9e and the fragrance of 3urning sandal'ood oil=
$f your proGected Go3 'as to do 'ith co99unication/ technology or the 9edia 'hich are ruled 3y
Mercury/
you could carry out the spell on t'o consecutive days/ 3eginning 'ith the co99unicative po'er of
Mercury on his hour/ the third after sunset on a Wednesday= 8ou could light yello' candles and use a
Mercurian crystal/ such as yello' Gasper or a yello'%3anded agate/ and 3urn dill incense and fennel
essential oil= )n the second day of the spell/ the &hursday/ carry out the spell again at the third hour
after
sunset/ 'hich on this day is Kupiter@s evening hour/ to add his authority and opportunities for e;pansion=
Planetary >ays And &heir Applications
$n this section $ have listed the particular strengths of each planet/ together 'ith their 9ost po'erful
ti9es=
+e9e93er that/ in addition/ the sign you are 3orn under 'ill e;ert its influences on you at all ti9es=
&he Sun
Sunday/ the day of the Sun/ is for spells for personal fulfil9ent and a93ition/ po'er and success/ for
increasing the flo' of the life force/ asserting or strengthening your identity and individuality/ for
innovation of all kinds and ne' 3eginnings= $t is potent also for energy/ Goy/ health prosperity/ spiritual
a'areness/ self%confidence/ for 3ringing 'ealth and prosperity if there is poverty and failure/ for
3reaking
a run of 3ad luck/ and for all 9atters concerning fathers= $ have listed various solar deities in Chapter -=
&hough there are po'erful Sun goddesses/ the Sun@s focus is 9ainly 9ale"ani9us" yang in 3oth 9en
and
'o9en=
Sun hour spells 3ring a surge of energy and vitality and so are e;cellent for personal e9po'er9ent and
rene'al=
Ele9ent: ire Colour: Gold
Crystals: A93er/ carnelian/ dia9ond/ clear crystal FuartA/ tiger@s eye/ topaA
$ncenses: Cloves/ cinna9on/ frankincense
&rees: Bay/ 3irch/ laurel
2er3s and oils: Kuniper/ rose9ary/ saffron/ St Kohn@s 'ort
Metal: Gold
&he Sun rules ?eo/ *, Kuly%*, August/ and is 9ost po'erful for those 3orn under this sign=
&he Moon
Monday/ the day of the Moon/ is for spells concerning the ho9e/ fa9ily 9atters and the influence of
the
fa9ily/ especially the 9other/ children and ani9als= $ts pri9e focus is fertility and all the e33s and
flo's
of the hu9an 3ody/ 9ind and psyche= $t is also potent for protection/ especially 'hile travelling/ for
psychic develop9ent/ clairvoyance/ secrets and 9eaningful drea9s/ all sea and garden rituals and for
her3
9agick and healing=
Although there are Moon Gods/ lunar energies are pri9arily yin"fe9ale"ani9a in 3oth 9en and 'o9en=
Moon hour spells are good for 3ringing unconscious po'ers to the fore and thus also for gaining
9agical
insights and for 3ringing 'ishes into actuality=
Ele9ent: Water
Colour: Silver or 'hite (although so9e 9agical traditions that use the &riple Goddess in ritual dress
sho'
the Maiden in 'hite/ the Mother in red and the Crone in 3lack!
Crystals: Moonstone/ 9other of pearl/ pearl/ selenite/ opal $ncenses: Kas9ine/ 9yrrh/ 9i9osa
&rees: Willo'/ alder
2er3s and oils: Cha9o9ile/ lotus/ poppy/ 'intergreen
Metal: Silver
&he Moon rules Cancer/ ** Kune%** Kuly/ and its spells are particularly potent during that period and for
all
'ho are 3orn under Cancer=
Mars
&uesday/ the day of Mars/ is good for spells for courage/ taking the initiative at ho9e/ independence
and
separateness fro9 others/ and change= $t also represents aggression/ co9petitiveness and anger/ all
Fualities that can 3e used positively for altruistic purpose/ for e;a9ple/ standing out against inGustice
and
protecting the vulnera3le and loved ones under threat= &his is the life3lood planet and so can 3e used to
overco9e see9ingly i9possi3le odds/ to defeat opposition/ to survive and thrive= $t is also for physical
health and vitality and so its rituals are al'ays dyna9ic=
Mars rules passion and the consu99ation of love= ?ike ire 9agick/ the energy of Mars is very
po'erful
and so spells should al'ays 3e for positive purpose and 'ith a circle that can after'ards 3e closed
do'n=
Mars 'as the +o9an Warrior God/ and legendary father of +o9ulus and +e9us/ the founders of
+o9e=
As god of 3oth agriculture and 'ar/ he represented the ideal +o9an/ first as a far9er and then as a
conFueror and so the agricultural ire festivals are linked 'ith his po'er= 2e is the +o9an eFuivalent
of
the Greek Ares and the <iking &yr/ the altruistic Warrior God 'ho sacrificed his s'ord ar9 to save the
other deities (the 'ord &uesday derives fro9 his na9e!=
&he hour of Mars is especially good for psychic self%defence and for courage in a crisis=
Ele9ent: ire
Colour: +ed
Crystals: Garnet/ 3loodstone/ ru3y/ Gasper
$ncenses: >ragon@s 3lood/ ginger/ 9int/ thy9e
&rees: Cypress/ holly/ pine
2er3s and oils: Basil/ coriander/ garlic/ pepper/ tarragon
Metal: $ron or steel
Mars rules Aries/ March%*7 April/ and is the co%ruler of Scorpio/ *- )cto3er%** #ove93er= $n 9agick/
it
is 9ost potent during these t'o Sun sign periods and for those 3orn under Aries and Scorpio=
Mercury
Wednesday/ the day of Mercury/ is good for spells to assist 9oney%9aking ventures/ for clear
co99unication/ persuasion/ adapta3ility and versatility/ for i9proving 9e9ory and sharpening logic/
for
learning/ e;a9inations and tests/ for 9astering ne' technology/ for short%distance or 3rief 3reaks/ and
for
conventional 9ethods of healing/ especially surgery= $t is also potent for 3usiness negotiations/
overco9ing de3ts/ repelling envy/ 9alice and spite and those 'ho 'ould deceive= or this reason/
Mercury
spells 9ust al'ays 3e used 'ith honest intent= Wednesday is also traditionally associated 'ith
divination=
Mercury/ the planet nearest the Sun/ co9pletes its or3it in only 55 days and so is na9ed after the
fleetfooted
9essenger god 'ho/ like his Greek predecessor/ 2er9es/ carried the healing caduceus= 2e is also
linked 'ith the Anglo%Sa;on god/ Woden/ after 'ho9 Wednesday is na9ed=
Mercury hour spells are good for finding a Fuick 'ay out of difficulties and for 9elting rigid opinions
in
others=
Ele9ent: Air
Colour: 8ello'
Crystals: Agate/ citrine/ falcon@s eye/ Gasper/ 9alachite/ ony;
$ncenses: ?avender/ le9ongrass/ 9ace
&rees: 2aAel/ ash
2er3s and oils: >ill/ fennel/ parsley/ valerian
Mercury rules Ge9ini/ ** May%*( Kune/ and also <irgo/ *- August%** Septe93er= $n 9agick it is 9ost
potent during those periods and particularly so for those 3orn under Ge9ini and <irgo=
Kupiter
&hursday/ the day of Kupiter/ is good for all for9s of increase and e;pansion/ 'hether i9proving
fortune
or career prospects or 3ringing pro9otion/ po'er/ a93ition and Goy through fulfil9ent of o3Gectives=
Kupiter@s influence 9ay 3e personal or 9ore usually socially orientatedH it is also potent for leadership/
for
conscious 'isdo9/ creativity/ for e;tending one@s influence in the 'ider 'orld/ for idealis9/ 9atters of
Gustice and the la'/ authority and altruis9= Kupiter increases 'hat already e;ists/ so can 3ring greater
prosperity and a3undance or success and good fortune= $t rules 9arriage/ per9anent relationships (3oth
3usiness and personal!/ fidelity/ loyalty and 9ale potency in 3oth the hu9an and ani9al kingdo9=
$ronically/ Kupiter can lead to e;cesses/ including greed/ addictions and o3sessions/ so it can also 3e
used
for 3anishing these=
Kupiter/ kno'n as the Sky ather/ 'as the supre9e +o9an god/ ruler of the universe= ?ike 0eus/ his
Greek
counterpart/ Kupiter controlled the thunder3olts/ 'hich 'ere carried 3y his eagle/ the no3lest of the
3irds=
2o'ever/ he ruled not despotically/ 3ut as the chief of a triu9virate of gods: the other t'o 'ere Kuno/
his
consort/ and Minerva/ goddess of 'isdo9/ 'ho 9ade up the fe9inine principle of deeper/ 9ore
instinctual
'isdo9=
:se the hour of Kupiter to profit fro9 an opportunity to upgrade your life=
Ele9ent: Air
Colour: Blue"purple
Crystals: AAurite/ lapis laAuli/ sodalite/ turFuoise
$ncenses: Agri9ony/ cedar/ sandal'ood/ sage
&rees: Beech/ oak
2er3s and oils: Borage/ cinFuefoil/ coltsfoot/ hyssop/ 9istletoe
Metal: &in
Kupiter rules Sagittarius/ *, #ove93er%*( >ece93er/ and is co%ruler of Pisces/ (6 e3ruary%*7 March=
Kupiter spells are therefore especially potent in the period of Sagittarius and Pisces and at all ti9es to
those
3orn under these Sun signs=
<enus
riday/ the day of <enus/ is associated 'ith love and all for9s of love 9agick/ especially to attract love=
Because <enus rules har9ony and peace/ ho'ever/ if the success of a love spell depends on ruining
another person@s happiness and security/ it tends not to 'ork 'ithout repercussions on the spell%caster=
<enus is also invoked for 3eauty/ the arts/ crafts and 9usic/ relationships/ friendships/ 3losso9ing
se;uality/ the acFuisition of 3eautiful possessions and the slo' 3ut sure gro'th of prosperity/ for <enus
rules all 9atters of gro'th= ?ike the Moon/ she can 3e invoked for horticulture and the environ9entH
3ecause she can 3e associated 'ith e;cesses of un'ise love and ro9ance/ spells can 3e created in her
na9e to reduce the influence of destructive lovers and possessiveness= Also like the Moon/ the spells of
<enus are potent for fertility and for 9atters of 'o9en@s health=
<enus is so9eti9es kno'n as the 9orning or evening star and at her 3rightest she is the 9ost 3rilliant
o3Gect in the sky 3esides the Sun and Moon= or this reason/ in 9any cultures she took the na9e of the
goddess of 3eauty= She 'as $shtar to the Ba3ylonians/ Aphrodite to the Greeks and her <iking
counterparts are the goddess rigg/ the Mother Goddess/ and reyGa/ 9aiden goddess of 3eauty and
love/
after one or 3oth of 'ho9 riday is na9ed=
Spells at the hour of <enus are especially good for ne' love and the gro'th of self%love/ for if 'e do
not
love ourselves 'e cannot love others creatively=
Ele9ent: Earth
Colour: Green/ pink
Crystals: A9ethyst/ e9erald/ Gade/ 9oss agate/ rose FuartA
$ncenses: Geraniu9/ rose/ stra'3erry/ vervain
&rees: Al9ond/ apple/ 3irch
2er3s and oils: everfe'/ 9ug'ort/ pennyroyal/ ver3ena/ yarro'
Metal: Copper
<enus rules &aurus/ *( April%*( May/ and also ?i3ra/ *, Septe93er%*, )cto3er= <enus spells are
especially potent during these Sun sign periods and for those 3orn under &aurus and ?i3ra=
Saturn
Saturday/ the day of Saturn/ is potent for spells concerned 'ith unfinished 3usiness/ and 'ith endings
that
lead to 3eginnings= $t is therefore a good day for all slo'%9oving 9atters and for accepting li9itations/
as
'ell as for overco9ing o3stacles that are long%standing or need careful handling= $t also aids lifting
depression or dou3ts/ 9editation/ long%ter9 psychic protection/ locating lost o3Gects/ ani9als and
people
and regaining self%control 'hether over 3ad ha3its or e9otions= $t is also the planet of 9ystical
e;periences and of e;ploring the unconscious depths of the individual and collective psyche and for
pastlife
'ork=
Saturn can 3e used to slo' do'n the out'ard flo' of 9oney and to encourage repay9ent 3y those 'ho
o'e you favours or 9oney= $t helps 3anish pain and illness and 3rings acceptance of 'hat cannot 3e
changed=
Saturn is the shado' side of Kupiter/ and offers the reality factor/ the constraints of fate/ ti9e and space/
3ut also turns challenge into opportunity/ effort and perseverance= 2e represents the Goy of Kupiter
te9pered 3y e;perience/ the e;pansiveness of Kupiter held in check 3y caution= Saturn 'as the +o9an
for9 of Cronus/ Greek god of ti9e/ 'ho 'as deposed 3y his son Kupiter/ after he had refused to allo'
natural change and progression= But even this led to Goy/ 3ecause Saturn 'as sent to $taly 'here he
taught
the far9ers agriculture and engineering and he esta3lished a Golden Age of peace and plenty=
Saturn hours are especially good for 3ringing patience and for dealing 'ith long%ter9s o3stacles and
difficulties=
Ele9ent: Earth
Colour: Black"grey
Crystals: 2ae9atite/ Get/ lodestone/ o3sidian/ s9oky FuartA
$ncenses: Aconite/ cypress/ patchouli
&rees: Blackthorn/ ye'
2er3s and oils: Aspen/ 3istort/ co9frey/ horsetail/ Solo9on@s seal
Metal: ?ead or pe'ter
Saturn rules Capricorn/ ** >ece93er%*7 Kanuary/ and is co%ruler of AFuarius/ *( Kanuary%(5 e3ruary=
&hese Sun periods are 9ost potent for Saturn spells and for those 3orn under these signs at all ti9es=
Magical 2ours
&he hours of the day are also influenced 3y the planets= &o choose the 3est ti9e for a spell/ you should
consult first pages **4%,* on the planetary days and then page *,. 'here $ e;plain the planetary hours=
or e;a9ple/ if you 'ere carrying out a love spell in 'hich you 'anted rapid results/ perhaps for a
special
9eeting/ you could 'ork on a riday/ <enus@s day/ on 3oth her hours % sunrise and the third hour after
sunset=
$f you 'anted courage in love/ you 'ould use a Mars hour on a riday= $f you needed to co99unicate
your feelings/ 3ut found it difficult/ you could add the energies of a Mercury hour to a riday love
spell= $f
you 'anted a 3anishing spell for shedding e;cess 'eight/ you could use the last days of the 'aning
9oon
cycle 'hen it is in the sky during the 9orning 3efore it sets= &he 3anishing lunar energies should take
a'ay the co9pulsion to 3inge that is keeping you fro9 a healthy lifestyle and if you use the9 at the
hour
of <enus/ this 'ould increase your inner 3eauty and help to 3ring you to a state of self%love= +e9e93er
that the 3eginning of the hour is al'ays the 9ost potent=
&he ti9es of sunrise and sunset are different each day= Calculate the precise ti9ings fro9 true sunrise/
'hich is the first hour of the 9agical day= Alternatively/ for a less for9al spell/ you can 9ake an
appro;i9ation= Any good diary 'ill have the sunrise and sunset for each day/ 3ut choose one also 'ith
the
9oonrises and 9oonsets= 8ou 'ill need a calculator if you decide to use the e;act planetary hours=
8ou can calculate a 'eek or even a 9onth ahead if there is a period in 'hich you intend to do a lot of
9agical 'ork= $n this 'ay you can 9a;i9ise the energies of specific hours and choose a good ti9e for
anything fro9 asking for a rise at 'ork to sorting out the 3udget 'ith a reluctant partner= Enter the
planetary and angelic hours in your diary or the appropriate section in your Book of Shado's= &hese
calculations can also keep 3ored children a9used on rainy afternoons % Gust tell the9 stories a3out the
angels and planets first= Children also adapt Fuickly to angelic ti9e % after all/ it@s far 9ore fun if you
change sad old 3edti9e into St Michael@s hour and have a 3edti9e story 3y the light of his golden
candle=
&o calculate the 9agical hours/ you need to divide the ti9e fro9 sunrise to sunset and then the ti9e
3et'een sunset and sunrise 3y (*= At the height of su99er/ the days are 9uch longer than the nights/
so
each @day@ hour 'ill 3e longer than the @night@ hours= At the spring and autu9n eFuino;es/ 'hen day and
night are eFual/ day and night hours 'ill 3e of the sa9e length=
As a short%cut/ 'hen you need instant 9agick/ you can use the ti9es of sunrise/ noon/ sunset and
9idnight
and the day of the 'eek energies/ 'ith appro;i9ations of hours if you 'ish= Co93ine the day energies
'ith the po'er of solar 9agick/ 'hich tends to 3e 9ore i99ediate than lunar= So if you are seeking a
ne'
3eginning/ go for da'n= or full po'er or realising your potential/ carry out your rituals at noon/ the
height
of the Sun/ and for 3anishing spells/ try sunset= 8ou 'ill kno' instinctively if it@s a solar or lunar issue
and
'hether you need a 3last of Sun po'er or clarity/ or 9ore su3tle Moon 3indings or unravellings=
Angelic Correspondences
8ou can/ if you 'ish/ use angelic rulers instead of planetary ones for the 9agical hours/ or co93ine the
energies of 3oth= $n practice/ if your 9agick has a spiritual focus or is concerned 'ith healing or glo3al
or
ecological 9atters/ angels 'ork 3etter than planets= $f you have calculated your daily planetary hours/
your
angels 'ill correspond e;actly=
As 'ith the planets/ each archangel rules the first hour after sunrise of his o'n day= &hough 9any
people
do regard the Archangels as 9ale/ they are androgynous and so $ have called the9 @he@ 9erely for
convenience=
Many 9agicians fro9 the Middle Ages on'ards have used angels as part of for9al rituals and they
have
long 3een a potent for9 of psychic protection 3oth for guarding the four corners of the ritual circle and
as
personal guides in less for9al 9agick=
Belo' $ have given the association for each of the daily and hourly angels= Since angels are a very
personal for9 of e9po'er9ent and protection/ $ have not 9ade the descriptions too precise/ ho'ever=
&o
learn 9ore a3out the9/ see the section in urther +eading on page *64/ or try entering angels on your
'e3
3ro'ser= $9ages can 3e do'nloaded and for9 a focus for 9editations/ through 'hich you can invoke
each
angel using your o'n higher self or consciousness= $n this 'ay/ the protective angel dra's on your o'n
spiritual po'ers=
Archangels And &heir >ays )f &he Week
Michael
Michael is the archangel 'ho rules the Sun= Michael@s day is Sunday=
Michael/ the $nitiator/ 3rings illu9ination and inspiration in 9any spheres of life/ through the efforts of
our
individual creative spirit= Michael is the guardian of all 'ho stand alone 'ith their uniFue vision for
3ettering the 'orld and are not prepared to co9pro9ise their ideals for hu9anity/ purely for 9oney or
fa9e= &his archangel can 3e invoked in ritual for all creative ventures/ for original ideas and
individuality/
contact 'ith the >ivinity and the Spirit Guides/ for reviving 3arren land despoiled 3y industrialisation/
and
for cleansing air pollution=
Colour: Gold
Crystals: Citrine and pure crystal FuartA
$ncenses or oils: rankincense and orange
Ga3riel
Ga3riel is the archangel 'ho rules the Moon (see page **5!= Ga3riel@s day is Monday=
Ga3riel/ the $ntegrator/ 3rings increased spiritual a'areness/ 9ystical e;periences/ astral travel and
significant drea9s/ as 'ell as connection 'ith the 'orld soul and 9ind through the unconscious 9ind/
especially in prayer and 9editation and in 3eautiful/ natural places close to 'ater= 2e 3rings deepening
spirituality 'ithin the fa9ily and 'ork environ9ent= 2e can 3e invoked for protection against
incle9ent
'eather/ for travel across 'ater/ for taking a'ay sorro' and for di9inishing self%destructive tendencies
and replacing the9 'ith the gentle gro'th of ne' hope= Ga3riel also rules rituals to protect 'ater
creatures
and to cleanse polluted seas/ lakes and rivers=
Colour: Silver
Crystal: Moonstone and opal
$ncenses or oils: Myrrh and Gas9ine
Sa9ael
Sa9ael is the archangel 'ho rules the planet Mars (see page **6!=
Sa9ael@s day is &uesday=
2e is so9eti9es called the Severity of God and as such is an angel of cleansing and of righteous anger=
)ne of the seven regents of the 'orld and said to 3e served 3y t'o 9illion angels/ he is also called the
>ark Angel 'ho in the guise of the serpent te9pted Eve= &his is a very ancient concept in 'hich kings
and
rulers 'ere constantly tested to prove 'orthy of their sacred trust and so he is not an angel to invoke
lightly=
Sa9ael is also the avenger 'ho offers protection to the 'eak and vulnera3le and cleanses dou3ts and
'eakness/ replacing the9 'ith spiritual courage to stand against 'hat is corrupt/ especially those 'ho
a3use po'er= 2e can 3e invoked for rituals to relieve those in 'ar%torn lands/ 9inorities 'ho are 3eing
oppressed and endangered species
Colour: +ed
Crystals: Garnet and 3loodstone
$ncenses or oils: Allspice and dragon@s 3lood
+aphael
+aphael is the archangel of the planet Mercury= +aphael@s day is Wednesday=
+aphael/ the 2ar9oniser/ offers healing of all kinds/ protects children/ 3ringing guidance and
sustenance
to all 'ho are lost 'hether physically/ e9otionally or spiritually= 2e can 3e invoked in all health
9atters/
for spiritual kno'ledge and insight and for alleviating the 'orries of daily lives that keeps us 3ound to
the
Earth= Most i9portantly he sho's us ho' to teach others our spiritual insights= 2e heals technological
and
che9ical pollution and the adverse effects of 9odern living=
Colour: 8ello'
Crystals: Citrine and yello' Gasper
$ncenses or oils: ?avender and clover
Sachiel
Sachiel is the archangel of the planet Kupiter= Sachiel@s day is &hursday=
Sachiel/ the >ivine Benefactor/ is the angel of charity 'ho says that only 3y giving freely to others 'ill
our o'n needs 3e 9et= 2e 'orks constantly to help others and to i9prove the lives of hu9ankind= 2e
can
therefore 3e invoked for all rituals to 3ring 3etter harvests/ 3oth physical and e9otional/ and for
increasing
a3undance and prosperity/ not Gust for a 9inority 3ut the good of all= 2e restores rundo'n areas or
cities
'here une9ploy9ent has 3een lost/ 3lending ne' skills 'ith traditional kno'ledge=
Colour: Blue
Crystals: ?apis laAuli and turFuoise
$ncenses or oils: Sandal'ood and sage
Anael
Anael is the archangel 'ho rules over <enus= Anael@s day is riday=
Anael/ the +egenerator/ is one of the seven angels of creationH he is Prince of Archangels and controls
kings and kingdo9s= 2is is pure/ altruistic love/ love of one@s fello' 3eings and of all creatures in the
universe= 2e can 3e invoked for all 9atters of forgiveness/ 3oth to'ards ourselves for 'hat is past and
to'ards others that 'e 9ay 3e free fro9 their thrall=
Anael 3rings har9ony to places and people= 2e restores natural 3alance/ healing rainforests/ 3ringing
'ildlife ha3itats to the city and greenery every'here= or his fertility is that of the 'hole Earth/ rich in
fruit/ flo'ers/ people and creatures of all kinds/ 'hether living in the 'ild or in sanctuaries=
Colour: Green
Crystals: Kade and rose FuartA
$ncenses or oils: <alerian and rose
Cassiel
Cassiel is the archangel of Saturn= Cassiel@s day is
Saturday=
&hough Cassiel/ the Conservator/ is the angel of solitude and te9perance/ he 'as traditionally invoked
for
invest9ent and speculation= $n a sense/ this is not inco9pati3le/ for true speculation is 3ased not on
rando9 selection/ 3ut on deli3eration and an al9ost intuitive scanning of any situation= 2e 3rings
9oderation in actions and dealings and develop9ent of inner stillness and conte9plation=
Cassiel can for9 a focus for rituals for the reversal of 3ad fortune and for conserving resources and
places
in their natural state= $nvoke hi9 for conserving history and tradition as a legacy for future generations=
Colour: Purple
Crystals: )3sidian and Get
$ncenses or oils: Cypress and thy9e
A +itual With Seven Angels
&his 'ould 3e a suita3le ritual for 'elco9ing a ne' 3a3y or child into a fa9ily 'hether in 3irth/ 3y
adoption or through the Goining of t'o e;isting fa9ilies= $t 9ay also 3e used for sending a teenager out
into the 'orld= 8ou can also adapt the ritual to 'elco9e adults into a fa9ily or help the9 to 9ove on to
a
ne' phase or place=
8ou 9ight like to use a seven%3ranched candlestick/ like the Ke'ish 9enorah/ and light a candle on
seven
consecutive hours throughout the day= 8ou could carry it out on the 3a3y@s christening or na9ing day or
on a Fuiet day 'ith the teenager= Alternatively/ you could perfor9 the ritual for seven days at the sa9e
hour of the day on the 'eek 3efore the christening or departure and 9ake this a special fa9ily
orientated
hour=
$t does not 9atter in 'hich order you invoke the angels= Start at the hour that suits you 3est= $f you keep
to
the sa9e hour/ you 'ill 'ork 'ith the energies of each of the archangels over a seven%day period=
Ale;andra/ a friend 'ho carried out the ritual for her son Sa9 'ho 'as going a'ay to college/ 3egan
on
the first hour at sunset on Wednesday/ 'hich 9eant the ritual used the energies of the archangel
Michael=
&he final ritual on the &uesday 'as Sa9@s leaving party= Sa9 Goined in the final candle%lighting Gust
3efore
his party and later said that 'hen he 'as lonely or scared at college/ he re9e93ered the candles and
felt
protected=
$f you cannot o3tain candles of the right colour/ use 'hite= $f you cannot find the right angelic
fragrance/
su3stitute lavender or sandal'ood % these are all%purpose= or angelic crystals/ use any of the colours
associated 'ith the angel/ if the specific ones you 'ant are not availa3le= &he crystals need only 3e tiny=
$ have set this out as a seven%day ritual 3ut if you are instead holding the ritual on seven consecutive
hours/
then consult the ta3les a3ove for the order of angels/ as this 'ill 3e different= 8ou can start at any day or
hour as long as you use the fragrances and candles or their su3stitutes of the ruling angel=
P &ake your seven angel candles and place the9 in holders=
P ?ight a golden candle as the hour 3egins and then light your frankincense incense=
P &ake a s9all/ clear crystal FuartA for Michael and pass it through the candle fla9e/ saying:
la9e high/ ) po'er of illu9ination/ enter 9ight of Michael@s s'ord/ inspiration/ life%3ringer=
P Pass the crystal through the s9oke of the incense/ saying:
Enter through this fragrance the clear vision of Michael/ fire of the Sun/ light%3ringer=
P 2old the crystal high in the air and circle it deosil/ over the child/ if present= $f they are a3sent or
'ould
3e self%conscious/ use a photograph or personal ite9 3elonging to the child/ saying:
Endo'/ ) Michael/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay have the po'ers of originality and the creativity
to
9ake the 'orld a 3etter place 3y his"her presence here=
P Place the crystal in a clear dish in front of the candles and 3lo' out the candle/ sending the light to
the
person= ?eave the incense to 3urn through and spend the rest of the hour in a pleasura3le 'ay 'ith the
focus of the ritual or in a fa9ily%orientated activity=
P )n the second day at the sa9e hour/ light the Michael candle and the silver Ga3riel candle/ plus so9e
9yrrh incense=
P &ake a 9oonstone/ or other crystal of Ga3riel/ and pass it through the fla9e of the silver candle/
saying:
la9e high/ ) 9ystical guardian/ 'ith thy 9ighty sceptre/ ruler of the 'aters of the Moon and the
oceans/
3ringer of drea9s=
P Pass the crystal through the incense/ saying:
Enter through this fragrance/ the co9passion and understanding of Ga3riel/ truth%3ringer and clarion of
hope=
P 2old the crystal high in the air over the child or their sy93ol and circle it deosil/ saying:
Endo'/ ) Ga3riel/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay speak al'ays 'ise 'ords and gentle counsel/
dra'n
fro9 the depths of the universal 'ell of 'isdo9=
P Place this crystal in the dish 'ith the crystal FuartA and 3lo' out first the Michael and then the
Ga3riel
candle/ sending the light to the child= ?eave the incense to 3urn= Again/ spend a Fuiet 3ut Goyful hour=
P )n the third day at the sa9e hour/ light the first t'o candles and then the red Sa9ael candle and so9e
dragon@s 3lood incense=
P &ake a 3loodstone and pass it through the Sa9ael candle/ saying:
la9e high/ ) protective spirit/ dispelling danger and darkness/ 'arrior of fla9e/ 3ringer of faith=
P Pass the crystal ne;t through the incense/ saying:
Enter through this fragrance/ the courage and deter9ination of Sa9ael/ defender of the 'eak and
oppressed=
P 2old the crystal high in the air over the child or sy93ol/ and circle it deosil/ saying:
Endo'/ ) Sa9ael/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay never falter fro9 a challenge and fear none 'ho
seek to oppress or inti9idate 'ith harsh 'ords or unGust deed=
P Place this crystal in the 3o'l 'ith the others and 3lo' out the candles/ ending 'ith the Sa9ael
candle/
sending the light to the child and leaving the incense to 3urn through=
)n the fourth day at the sa9e hour/ light the first three candles and then the yello' +aphael candle and
lavender incense=
P &ake a citrine and pass it through the +aphael candle/ saying:
la9e high/ great 9essenger/ 'ith thy pilgri9@s staff/ 3ringing safety to travellers far fro9 ho9e/ )
guide
and keeper of all=
P Pass the crystal ne;t through the incense/ saying:
Enter through this fragrance/ the healing and nurturing po'ers of +aphael/ teacher and uplifter of the
spirit=
P 2old the crystal over the child or sy93ol and circle it deosil/ saying:
Endo'/ ) +aphael/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay pass 3et'een the di9ensions and 3e as at ho9e
in
the 'orld of spirit as of 9atter=
P Place the crystal in the 3o'l 'ith the others and 3lo' out the candles/ ending 'ith the +aphael
candle/
sending the light to the child and allo'ing the incense to 3urn through= Again/ spend ti9e in a positive
fa9ily 'ay=
P )n the fifth day at the sa9e hour/ light the four candles/ then the 3lue candle of Sachiel and so9e
sandal'ood incense=
P &ake a lapis laAuli and pass it through the 3lue candle fla9e/ saying:
la9e high/ lord of all a3undance/ 3ringing increase of all that is good and no3le and Goy%giving=
P Pass the crystal ne;t through the incense/ sayingH
Enter through this fragrance/ the 3enign and all%enco9passing po'ers of Sachiel/ 3ringer of kno'ledge
and understanding of the universe and its creatures=
P 2old the crystal high over the child or sy93ol and say:
Endo'/ ) Sachiel/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay kno' prosperity of spirit as 'ell as of 9aterial
3lessings/ and share 'illingly 'ith others the fruits of good fortune 'on 3y endeavour and application=
P Place the crystal in the dish and 3lo' out the candles/ ending 'ith the Sachiel candle/ sending its
light to
the child and leaving the incense to 3urn through=
P )n the si;th day at the sa9e hour/ light the five other candles and the green Anael candle and so9e
rose
incense=
P &ake a rose FuartA crystal and pass it over the green candle/ saying:
la9e high/ gentle peace%3ringer/ spreading har9ony and good'ill even 'here there is division=
P Pass the crystal ne;t through the incense/ saying:
Enter through this fragrance/ the love and fertility of Anael/ 3ringer of reconciliation and connections
3et'een souls as 'ell as 9ind and 3ody=
P 2old the crystal high over the child or sy93ol and circle it deosil/ saying:
Endo'/ ) Anael/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay love all creatures/ 9an/ 'o9an/ child/ 3ird/
ani9al/
plant and all sacred places/ 'hich is the 'hole 'orld=
P Blo' out the candles/ the last 3eing the Anael candle/ and send the light to the child= ?eave the
incense
to 3urn through=
P inally/ on the seventh day at the sa9e hour/ light a purple candle and cypress incense for Cassiel=
P &ake an o3sidian crystal and pass it through the purple candle fla9e/ saying:
la9e high/ you 'ho 3ring silence and conte9plation to a noisy 'orld/ spreading stillness and
detach9ent in 'hich the spirit 9ay thrive=
P Pass the crystal ne;t through the incense/ saying:
Enter through this fragrance the patience and perseverance of Cassiel/ 3ringer of 'ise caution and
preserver of all that is of 'orth in our heritage=
P 2old the crystal high over the child or sy93ol/ saying:
Endo'/ ) Cassiel/ % Mna9e the childN that he"she 9ay turn o3stacle into challenge and 9a;i9ise
opportunities 'ithin the constraints of 'hat is possi3le/ rather than la9enting 'hat is not/ and 3uild on
the foundations of the old 'orld a ne' and 3etter place=
P &his ti9e/ leave all the candles and the incense to 3urn through and if the child is present e;press in
your
o'n 'ords/ even to a tiny 3a3y/ ho' 9uch you treasure the9 in your life and ho' they have enriched
your 3eing= Give the crystals to the child=
(, % Seasons And estivals
$t 'as the day 3efore 2allo'e@en and 9y caravan site 'as closing for the 'inter season= As al'ays/ $
had left the packing and cleaning to the last evening/ reluctant to 3elieve that as Sa9hain/ the Celtic
na9e for 2allo'e@en/ recalls/ it really 'as su99er@s end= &hen the 'orst stor9s in the :I since the
(654 hurricane 3le' up and suddenly there 'as total darkness= ortunately $ have a nu93er of candles/
3ut the light 'as not great enough to continue 'orking (at least that 'as 9y e;cuse!= All round 'as
total 3lackness 'ith only the sound of the 'ind and crashing sea and the centuries slipped a'ay= &i9e
'ithout the clock 'as no' 9easured 3y the 3urning do'n of the candles and took on another
di9ension= &hough it had 3een 3arely five o@clock 'hen the po'er cut occurred/ it 'as already dark=
$t truly 'as ti9e out of ti9e and the rhyth9s of the 9odern 'orld that had ruled even 9y country
haven suddenly ceased to e;ist= $t 'as not possi3le to read/ 'ork/ 'atch television/ listen to 9usic or/
9ost i9portantly/ keep an eye on the clock in order to kno' 'hen to s'itch to the ne;t period of
activity or to 9eet e;ternal de9ands= $ could not drive ho9e 3ecause the roads 'ere closed=
Suddenly/ seasonal 9agick 9ade a great deal of sense/ for if you do live 3y natural light/ then in
'inter/ 'ith its long and cold nights/ your 3ody 'ill slo' do'n and your priorities 'ill 3eco9e food/
rest and 'ar9th/ needs e;pressed 9agically in the ancient festivals of 'inter=
?iving By &he Seasons
$t 9ay 3e that our very early ancestors 9ainly 9ade love in the late spring"early su99er 'hen the
energies of the Earth 'ere rising and the days getting longer and 'ar9er= $n this 'ay/ the ne'ly
pregnant 9other could 3enefit fro9 an a3undance of fresh food in the su99er and autu9n and give
3irth at a ti9e 'hen she 'ould naturally 3e resting for the 'inter 'ith the dark nights= &his 'ould
ena3le her to spend ti9e 'ith the infant 3efore returning to the fields or to tend the herds in spring=
&his pattern is reflected in the old 9yths of the <irgin Goddess/ 'ho 3eca9e pregnant at the spring
eFuino; and gave 3irth to the ne' Sun on the 9id%'inter solstice that 3eca9e christianised as our
Christ9as=
So in these earlier and 3y no 9eans idyllic ti9es/ everything % Earth/ cattle/ corn/ hu9ans and ani9als %
'as in har9ony/ not only physically/ 3ut spiritually= ertility spells and the rituals 9arking the passing
of the year 'ere a natural part of popular folk 9agick and of the everyday 'orld and 'ith the
cele3ration of the harvest/ so 3lessings 'ere called do'n on every hearth and ho9e=
#o'adays/ even if you live in rural areas/ it is very easy to 9iss the passing of the seasons= With
artificial lighting/ central heating/ cars and the availa3ility of once seasonal and localised foods no'
flo'n around the 'orld to 9eet an all%year%round de9and/ 'e can lose touch 'ith our o'n rhyth9s
and the natural fluctuations of our spiritual as 'ell as 3odily energies= 2o'ever/ as you 'ork 'ith the
seasonal divisions of the Wheel of the 8ear (see 3elo'!/ so you 'ill har9onise into your o'n natural
cycle= )f course 'e can@t stay at ho9e all 'inter/ 3ut 'e can rearrange our priorities so that slo'er
activities centred on self or fa9ily co9e to the fore= We 9ay even/ perhaps/ try to spend at least a day
a 9onth 'hen 'e live 3y the sky and not the clock/ and sleep and 'ake 'ith the light=
SA>/ or Seasonal Affective >isorder/ the recently recognised condition that see9s to cause depression
and inertia through lack of sunlight/ 9ay occur 3ecause 'e need to operate at full peak in the 9odern
'orld at a ti9e 'hen our 3ody clock is telling us to rest in our cave= Even in 'ar9er lands/ the a3sence
of light can indicate a ti9e for talking Fuietly 'ith friends 3y candlelight/ rather than seeking 3right
lights and 9usic= )n 9y visits to Andalucia/ $ have o3served that/ especially in country places/ older
people keep 9uch 9ore to the cycles that have deter9ined the rural 'ay of life for 9any centuries=
&he Wheel )f &he 8ear
&he Wheel of the 8ear/ or Eightfold Wheel/ is a 9agical and spiritual division of the year that 9ay
date 3ack to the first agricultural societies= $t 'as for9alised 3y the Celts/ although so9e historians
3elieve that it 'as predated 3y an earlier threefold division that cele3rated the 3eginning of 'inter/
9id'inter
and 9idsu99er/ and 'as perhaps linked to the 9ove9ent of the herds=
&he Wheel of the 8ear co%e;ists 'ith the 'ider seasonal divisions of the year and incorporates the four
solar festivalsH these fall on the solstices and the eFuino;es/ the astrono9ical 9arker points of the e33s
and flo's of cos9ic energies= Bet'een each of these solar festivals/ 'hich are kno'n to 'itches as the
?esser Sa33ats/ is one of the four great ire festivals that are 9aGor rites in the Wiccan and neo%pagan
calendar/ as they 'ere to the Celts=
$t is interesting to note that the Wheel of the 8ear is 9irrored al9ost e;actly in the Medicine Wheel/ or
Circle of Po'er/ that is central to all the 9agick of the #ative A9erican $ndians= &he spokes of the
Medicine Wheel link the celestial/ hu9an and natural cycles= &he Medicine Wheel 'as 9ade of stones
and could 3e created 'herever a tri3e ca9ped= So9e 'ere 67 feet in dia9eter/ 3ut research suggests
that so9e 'ere 9uch s9aller and 'ere placed around cere9onial tepees to 3e used not only 3y the
sha9an 3ut also 3y anyone seeking a spiritual path= >epicted around the 'heels are tote9/ or po'er/
ani9als/ representing each 3irth 9onth and season/ the four 9ain directions and 'inds= &he tote9s
vary according to each tri3e@s 9ythology= &here are 9ore than .77 different syste9s in #orth A9erica
alone=
$n the southern he9isphere/ as $ e;plained on page -*/ practitioners can re%ti9e the 9agical
associations so that/ for e;a9ple/ the 9id'inter solstice falls in 9id%Kune/ rather than >ece93er=
2o'ever/ so9e parts of the 'orld do not have four seasons= or e;a9ple/ parts of Australia and other
lands in the southern he9isphere have Gust t'o/ the 'et and the dry/ and others have three or si;
seasons= $n parts of the :S too/ there are not such definite seasonal variations/ 'hile in #orthern areas
of Scandinavia and Canada/ it 9ay still 3e sno'ing and icy on May >ay/ so the S'edes/ for e;a9ple/
have their eFuivalent of 9aypole dancing round then: 9idsu99er tree=
$n practice/ 'herever you are/ you can either carry out the sy93olic rituals at the ti9es $ have
suggested or adapt the9 to your o'n cli9e= 8ou 9ay/ indeed/ find that if your ancestors ca9e fro9
another land or continent/ your seasonal energies resonate 9ore 'ith theirs= Even if you live in Sydney
or lorida/ it 9ay 3e that co9e #ove93er you instinctively hi3ernateH in this case/ you 9ay find the
Celtic pattern right for you no 9atter 'hat the 3aro9eter says=
Because the solstices and eFuino;es are astrono9ical 9easures % that is they depend on the 9ove9ent
of the planets and stars % the dates 'ill vary 3y a day or t'o depending on the year=
$ have 'ritten in several of 9y 3ooks a3out the folk and religious lore 3ehind seasonal festivals and
there are 9any other good 3ooks on this su3Gect= $n this chapter $ 9ainly focus on the 'ay they a9plify
the positive energies of the universe and provide a personal connection to the e33s and flo's of the
cos9ic cycle of e;istence= &he rituals can 3e either private or group cele3rations of po'er=
&hey 'ill also vary 3ecause they originate fro9 9any different 9yths/ so that different gods and
goddesses 9ay appear in a variety of aspects= &his 9ay give rise to 'hat see9 to 3e contradictions/ 3ut
in the co9ing together of 9yths this is inevita3le and the god and goddess for9s are a po'erful
9etaphor for the energies of each era= )ne the9e co99on to all/ ho'ever/ is the 3elief in a cycle/ or
'heel/ of 3irth/ 9aturity/ death and re3irth/ 'hich underpins nature and/ so9e 3elieve/ all creation=
&he energies of the eight 9aGor festivals of the Eightfold 8ear reflect glo3al as 'ell as personal
concerns/ and our ancestors linked their o'n fortunes 'ith those of the herds/ the soil/ the trees and the
crops= &his is a very valid principle of 'hite 9agick and one that $ have returned to 9any ti9es in this
3ook= $f our spells focus/ for e;a9ple/ on increasing general a3undance at the ti9e of the harvest/ our
o'n needs 'ill 3e 9et as part of the cos9ic process of regeneration=
What is 9ore/ the responsi3ility felt and still e;pressed in ritual 3y so9e indigenous peoples/ for the
co9ing of the rains or the annual re3irth of the Sun/ is not 9erely an unlearned response as so9e
anthropologists suggest= $t ackno'ledges the interconnectedness of universal and personal life forces
and the responsi3ility hu9ans have for care of the Earth= As an ancient Malaysian prover3 says: @We
have not inherited the Earth fro9 our forefathers/ 3ut 3orro'ed it fro9 our descendants@=
:sing &he Seasons $n Magick
8ou can add e;tra depth and significance to your rituals 3y carrying the9 out using the associated
candles/ crystals/ her3s and incenses 'hen the particular seasonal energies are at their height= Such
seasonal e9po'er9ents 'ill 3ring the related Fualities into your life/ to 3e stored for ti9es 'hen you
need their strengths in your everyday 'orld/ perhaps at a ti9e of change or crisis= After a year or so of
tuning into the seasonal cycle/ you 'ill 3uild up a repository of energies for every occasion/ like an
inner harvest ready for 'henever you need the9=
)n the other hand/ if an urgent need suddenly arises in your life/ you can at any ti9e of the year repeat
the seasonal ritual 9ost representative of the necessary strengths you reFuire/ to a9plify the po'ers
'ithin you=
8ou can enter the Wheel of the 8ear at any point= So9e people 3egin at the Celtic #e' 8ear in
#ove93er/ 3ut it 9ay 3e easier in 9odern life to 3egin as $ have 'ith the rituals of the early spring/
'hen stirrings of ne' life first appear= &he Celtic day is calculated fro9 sunset to sunset and so the
festivals 3egan on the eve/ usually the 9ost i9portant ti9e in the festival/ and continued for three
days= &he first 'e shall 'ork 'ith is the festival of $93olc (9eaning @in the 3elly of the 9other@/ and
also kno'n as )i9elc @e'e@s 9ilk@!=
&he estival )f $93olc
&i9e: Sunset ,( Kanuary%sunset * e3ruary (,( Kuly%* August in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: #e' gro'th/ 9elting the ice/ 3ringing light into the darkness/ the return of the Maiden Goddess
&his 'as the festival of early spring 'hen e'e@s 9ilk 'as first availa3le after the long/ cold 'inter and
the first shoots 9ight 3e seen in the still%froAen fields= )ne of the Celtic na9es for the pagan festival
'as Brigantia/ na9ed after Brighid/ the Celtic &riple Goddess/ here in her 9aiden aspect ending the
rule of the old hag of 'inter= She 'as christianised as St Bridget of Iildare/ 'hose day is ( e3ruary=
Brigantia 'as also the na9e of a Gallic Earth goddess=
BlaAing torches 'ere carried deosil around the still%froAen fields and sacred fires 'ere lit on hilltops to
attract the ne' Sun= $t is said that Brighid 'ent around the fields 'ith her 'hite 'and of fire/ 9elting
the sno's and stirring ne' life/ so it is pri9arily a festival of light= $n 3oth pagan and Christian
traditions it has involved the lighting of candles and torches/ to restore 'ar9th and light into the 'orld=
&he 9aiden goddess Brighid in 9yth 9ated 'ith ?ugh the young god of light and so/ traditionally/ a
virgin 'as chosen to 9ate 'ith the chief of the tri3e to ensure the co9ing of ne' life to the land= $t is
said that/ like ?ugh/ he e93raced Cailleach/ the old hag of 'inter 'ho 'as thus transfor9ed in his
ar9s into the Maiden Goddess=
$n 9edieval ti9es/ a girl representing Brighid 'ould 3e 3rought to the door of the 9ain house or
far9stead of a village 'ith co's and a cauldron/ sy93ols of plenty= 2er stra' 3ridal 3ed 'ould 3e
created close to the fire/ adorned 'ith ri33ons and 3lessed 'ith honey= Milk/ the first availa3le after the
'inter/ 'as central to the festival as a sy93ol of rene'ed fertility= $t 'as poured on the 3ed of stra'=
Workers fro9 the far9s and villages 'ould approach the 3ride 3ed/ and in return for a coin/ a posy of
flo'ers or tiny gift 'ould receive her kiss/ 3esto'ing 3lessing on their trade and ho9es=
$n churches/ the candles that 'ere to 3e used for the co9ing year in cere9ony 'ere purified on the
feast of Candle9as on ( e3ruary= Each person 'as given a 3lessed candle that acted as protector of
the ho9e against stor9s/ fire and flood and defended cattle and crops against evil=
&he energies of this seasonal festival are good for the regeneration of any areas devastated 3y neglect
or pollution/ for 9elting rigid attitudes that 9ay have led to conflicts 3et'een counties or ethnic
groups/ and the isolation and alienation of disadvantaged groups through preGudice= &hey are especially
helpful for the 'elfare of infants/ s9all children and ani9als=
)n a personal level/ these gentle rituals can 3ring 9ental/ e9otional and spiritual regeneration/
especially if you have 3een hurt or lack confidence= $f you carry the9 out/ 3y Easter you 'ill 3e filled
'ith ne' opti9is9 and a sense of direction and hopefully any ne' relationships/ 'hether for love or
friendship/ initiated at $93olc 'ill 3e slo'ly 3ut gradually developing=
&raditionally/ those cele3rating this festival 'ould light candles and place the9 at each 'indo' of
their houses on ,( Kanuary or Candle9as #ight/ ( e3ruary/ and leave the9 to 3urn do'n co9pletely=
or safety reasons/ no'adays/ ho'ever/ 9any people use the type of electric candle sets that are
popular in 'indo's in S'edish ho9es 3efore Christ9as=
A single/ large/ 'hite candle 'as also lit in or near the fa9ily hearth as a centrepiece for the fa9ily
feast on the sa9e evening to 'elco9e 3ack the Maiden energies and to 3ring 3lessings on ho9e and
fa9ily= &he traditional Brighid stra' and 3eri33oned crosses 'ere 'oven and passed though the
candle fla9e/ thereafter serving as a9ulets to keep ho9es/ ani9als and 3arns fro9 har9= &hese
crosses/ 'hose four ar9s e;tend at different points around a sFuare centre/ are still dedicated to St
Brighid and are still kept in ho9es for protection=
Associations
As 3efore/ if you 'ish to carry out a si9ilar ritual/ choose candles/ crystals/ incenses/ etc= of the correct
associations to strengthen your cere9ony=
Candle colours: White/ crea9 and pink or any pale colour % these are associated 'ith innocence and
gentleness
Crystals: Garnet and 3loodstones/ also a9ethysts/ rose FuartA and gentle 9oonstones for a'akening
fertility and feelings
Sy93ols: $ce/ 9ilk/ seeds/ first sno'drops or very early%3udding leaves or flo'ers
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Angelica/ 3asil/ 3enAoin/ celandine/ heather and 9yrrh
A +itual &o +elease &he roAen ?ife orce
Work after dusk on the eve of ,( Kanuary or on the follo'ing evening/ ( e3ruary/ and perhaps
incorporate the ritual into your Candle9as party= With close supervision/ even children can Goin in the
ritual= Place the candles in a deep holders and 9ake the 9iniature stra' 3ed perhaps in a deep 9etal
3o'l or even the fa9ily hearth/ if it is no longer used for fires=
P )n a ta3le/ your altar or the hearth/ create a s9all 3ride 3ed of stra' or dried grasses/ decorated 'ith
coloured ri33ons and any early flo'ers= #ear it place a tiny fa3ric doll or any s9all doll to represent
the Maiden Goddess=
P Encircle the 3ed 'ith seeds and ne'ly 3udding flo'ers or greenery and 3ehind it/ at a safe distance
to avoid the danger of fire/ place a single/ tall/ 'hite @3ride@ candle=
P )n a tray in front of the 3ride 3ed/ place an earthen'are Gug of 9ilk/ a s9all dish of honey and a dish
containing an ice cu3e or s9all a9ount of ice= +ound these/ again 3eing careful to avoid fire risk/ set a
circle of s9all pink and pastel candles=
P ?ight first your @3ride@ candle/ saying:
Bride/ 3ride/ enter your 3o'er/ your reign 3egins at this hour=
&he old hag her s'ay is done/ 'inter@s gone/ ne' spring has 'on=
P Place the doll in the 3ed and then light the candles surrounding the Gug deosil/ saying:
&he 9aiden@s 'and of fire does 9elt the sno'/ $ce depart and spring flo'ers gro'=
P >rop the ice or ice cu3es into the Gug of 9ilk/ stirring it deosil 'ith a 'ooden spoon or 3irch t'ig/
repeating the chant=
P Add a teaspoon of honey to the 9ilk and again stir your Gug deosil/ saying:
lo'/ life ane'/ through 3ud and flo'er/ the thrall of 'inter has no po'erH lo'/ love and Goy and
gro'th and light/ ice and sno' 3egone fro9 sight=
P ?eave the ice to 9elt 'hile you and any others present can place coins/ flo'ers and ri33ons on the
3ride 3ed/ 9aking 'ishes for the co9ing spring/ for the land/ the creatures/ for others and for
yourselves=
P When the ice is 9elted/ stir the Gug and very carefully pour a single drop on the 3ride 3ed/ sayingH
See/ 3ride/ $ 3ring the first 9ilk/ sy93ol of nourish9ent and fertility/ honey fro9 the 'ar9 South/
heralding fertility and a3undance and a3ove all the life force no' released that can transfor9 'ish
into reality and sustain us through the days of cold and 'et still to co9e=
or 'e have seen the spring and so $ send you light/ that light 9ay 3e shed throughout the 'orld=
P Blo' your tiny candles out 'iddershins/ na9ing for each a 3lessing that you ask for the 'orld=
P ?eave the @3ride@ candle to 3urn through and the 3ride 3ed in place for the rest of the festival=
$f you are 'orking in a coven/ you can create a real/ full%siAed 3ride 3ed and choose the youngest
9e93er to 3e the 3ride= $ once carried out the ritual on television/ in 'hich all the cre' ca9e to kiss
the 3ride/ played 3y Becky/ the presenter/ and ask her 3lessing= $n spite of their over%enthusias9 and
the 9ale presenter Carl@s generosity in spreading honey on all 'ho ca9e near/ the festival 'as 'ell and
truly a cele3ration of the return of life=
)stara/ &he Spring EFuino;
&i9e: ro9 sunset on or a3out *7 March for three days (fro9 sunset on or a3out *( Septe93er in the
southern he9isphere!
ocus: &he triu9ph of light over darkness/ resurrection/ ne' 3eginnings and opportunitiesH spring
cleaning and casting out 'hat is no longer of 'orthH fertility and conception/ the 'inds of change=
At the spring eFuino;/ the Sun rises precisely in the East and sets precisely in the West/ giving e;actly
(* hours of daylight and so heralds the longer days and shorter nights= As is so often the case/ 9yth
and religion are intert'ined in the sources of their festivals that share the sa9e dates= $n the old Celtic
tradition/ ?ugh/ the god of light overca9e his t'in/ the god of darkness/ and at Easter/ the Christian
spring festival 9ost closely associated 'ith the spring eFuino;/ the resurrection of Christ is associated
'ith the restoration of light to the 'orld=
&he first eggs of spring 'ere painted and offered on the shrine of Eostre/ the Anglo%Sa;on goddess of
the spring= 2er #orse counterpart 'as )stara/ the 9aiden aspect of rigg/ the Mother Goddess/ to
'ho9 the hare 'as sacred (this is the origin of the Easter ra33it!= At the spring eFuino;/ 3onfires 'ere
lit and the corn dolly of the previous harvest (or in Christian ti9es a Kudas figure! 'as 3urned on the
Easter fires= &he ashes 'ere scattered on the field for fertility=
Wake at da'n on EFuino; 9orn or Easter Sunday and/ it is said/ you can see the Sun or in the
Christian tradition/ angels/ dancing in a strea9 or river= &he Green Man is another central figure that
features in rituals at this ti9e in southern and eastern Europe and especially a9ong +o9any
co99unities= &he Green Man/ or Green George/ as he is so9eti9es kno'n/ 'as the spirit of plants/
trees and vegeta3les/ fruit and vegetation/ the 9ale spring deity/ consort of the Earth Mother and an
early forerunner of 3oth +o3in 2ood and St George=
&he Mother Goddess in her 9aiden aspect 9ated 'ith the ascended Sun God or/ in popular folk
tradition the Green Man/ so that the conceived infant 'ould 3e re3orn as the ne' Sun at the ne;t
'inter solstice/ thus ensuring the Wheel of the 8ear continued to turn= $n the Christian church/ *.
March is the east of the Annunciation of the Blessed <irgin Mary 'hen Ga3riel told her she 'as 'ith
child=
&he energies of this festival are good for cleansing the seas and air of pollution/ for ne' peace%9aking
initiatives of all kinds/ for 3eginning reforestation and regeneration proGects/ the recla9ation of
'ildlife ha3itats and 'ork to restore the indigenous trees and 'ildlife to an area= &hey 'ill also support
9aGor attitude changes to'ards international/ national and local issues=
)n a personal level/ this is the ti9e for clearing e9otional and spiritual clutter and 'iping the slate
cleanH for life changes/ ne' 3eginnings/ so'ing the seeds for ne' proGects that 'ill 3ear fruit in the
future/ for her3 gardening/ for all 9atters of fertility and for putting ne' ideas into practice= Matters
concerning children and young people and ne' flo'ering love are specially favoured=
Associations
Candle colours: 8ello' and green for the clear light fro9 the East and the 3udding vegetation
Sy93ols: Eggs/ any spring flo'ers or leaves in 3ud/ a pot of sprouting seeds/ pottery or china ra33its/
feathers
Crystals: AFua9arine/ Gade/ tour9aline/ fluorite
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Celandine/ cinFuefoil/ crocus/ daffodil/ honeysuckle/ pri9roses/
sage/ tansy/ thy9e and violets
A Spring EFuino; Cleaning +itual
:se this ritual to 'elco9e the 'inds of positive change= 8ou can perfor9 it on any of the three days of
the rising eFuino; energies that precede the eFuino;= Alternatively/ it can 3e adapted for cleansing
a'ay negativity and sorro's at any ti9e= $ give an alternative version in 9y 3ook Psychic Protection
?ifts the Spirit=
8ou can Goin 'ith fa9ily or friends in a co99unal spring cleaning of a collective living area or
'orkspace= Alternatively/ you can use it alone to help you to clear out not only physical clutter 3ut also
e9otional and spiritual stagnation in those areas of your life and relationships that 'ould 3enefit fro9
the 'inds of change=
&his spell is another that $ perfor9ed on &< and though it involved a lot of laughter and dancing % as
all good rituals should % 9any deep sorro's and an;ieties 'ere anony9ously placed in the cauldron=
)ur ancestors pro3a3ly took such folk 9agick a lot less seriously and so 'ere a3le to tune into the
natural Goyous energies of the season=
Begin your ritual in the 9orning= )pen the 'indo's and doors of the place in 'hich you are carrying
out the ritual= Alternatively/ 'ork in a yard or on a patio=
P Place your cauldron % a large pot/ 'ide%necked vase or Gug 'ill do % on the floor=
P Each of those taking part in the ritual should no' 'rite or dra' on a piece of paper a representation
of every redundant issue or 3ar to happiness and fulfil9ent that they 'ish to 3lo' a'ay on the 'inds
of change=
P >ra' a cross through the 'ords or i9age/ then tear it into pieces and drop it in the pot/ saying:
$t is done/ it is gone/ no 9ore to trou3le 9e= Banished 3e=
P When all the papers are in the cauldron/ you (or the 'hole group! tip the paper into the centre of the
floor and scatter dried lavender on top/ chanting:
)ut 'ith sorro'/ out 'ith pain/ Goyous things alone re9ain=
P &hen take your 3roo9/ a traditional 3eso9 if possi3le/ and hold it horiAontally= $f you are 'orking
'ith others/ everyone should take the 3rush%head of the person to their right and the 3roo9%handle of
the person to the left/ holding the9 horiAontally at a co9forta3le height for all of you=
P >ance nine ti9es deosil round the paper and lavender/ s'irling faster and faster/ and chanting:
&hree ti9es three/ the po'er $ " 'e raise/
Bringing 'ith it happier days=
P &hen s'eep the paper and lavender out of the 3ack door= $f you are 'orking out of doors/ s'eep it
through out of the 3ack gate into a gutter (you can clear up after'ards!= As you s'eep/ say:
>ust to dust/ a'ay you 9ust= #e' life 3ring/ 'elco9e spring=
P After the ritual is over/ try to leave enough ti9e in the re9ainder of your day to go to the top of a
hill= &ake a kite (9ade fro9 a 3iodegrada3le fa3ric if possi3le! and in your 9ind/ tie any lingering
dou3ts/ fears and concerns to the kite@s tail and let it fly a'ay= $f you don@t have a kite/ use a feather for
each of your 'orries and thro' the9 into the air= 2opefully/ a child 'ill find the kite/ cleansed 3y the
'inds/ and it 'ill 3ring Goy=
$ kno' of a group of 'o9en 'ho carried out a si9ilar s'eeping spell in the 'arehouse 'here they
'orked/ using 'ood shavings for the negativity/ and then s'ept out right through the yard into the
packing 3ins 'hich 'ere later taken a'ay 3y lorry= &hey co99ented that after'ards everyone 'as
9uch 9ore energetic and positive and the internal fighting and 3ack3iting/ 'hich had 3een Fuite
serious/ 9elted a'ay=
A +itual &o Wash A'ay #egativity
$nfusions can 3e 9ade/ using le9on/ pepper9int/ pine or tea tree oil/ to 'ash a'ay negative feelings=
:se (* drops of essential oil to a 3ucket of hot 'ater= Alternatively/ add t'o pepper9int tea 3ags to a
cup of 3oiling 'ater and leave to infuse for five 9inutes= :se your essential oil infusion to scru3 or
9op floors/ yards/ 3alconies/ doorsteps or patios=
P Work in circles 'iddershins/ saying:
)ne for Goy/ t'o for gladness/
&hree and four to 3anish sadness/
ive and si; flee useless anger/
Seven/ eight/ nine/ linger no longer=
#ine/ eight/ seven/ si;/ five/ four/ three/ t'o/ one/
>arker days no' 3egone=
P Alternatively/ strain and use the cooled pepper9int liFuid to sprinkle around roo9s/ to inGect the
freshness of spring e9otionally and spiritually=
P After'ards/ place a vase of spring flo'ers/ gro'ing daffodils or hyacinth 3ul3s on a ta3le in the
centre of the roo9 to increase the life force=
Beltain/ &he estival )f ire
&his Celtic festival of su99er is also called Bel%fire/ the festival of Belenus/ Celtic god of light=
&i9e: Sunset ,7 April%sunset * May (,( )cto3er%* #ove93er in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: &he fertility of the Earth/ creatures/ crops/ people and ani9alsH the instinctive energies that can
3e 9anifest as passion 'hether in se;ual ter9s or for any causeH the interconnectedness of all e;istence
and the 9utual dependency of one life for9 on another=
Beltain/ 'hich has survived as our 9odern May >ay festival/ 9arked the 3eginning of the Celtic
su99er 'hen cattle 'ere released fro9 3arns and driven 3et'een t'in fires to cleanse the9 and to
invoke fertility as they 'ere released into the fields=
Sundo'n on May Eve heralded the signal for >ruids to kindle the great Beltain fires fro9 nine
different kinds of 'ood 3y turning an oaken spindle in an oaken sockets= &his 'as carried out on top of
the nearest 3eacon hill/ for e;a9ple &ara 2ill/ County Meath/ in $reland/ ho9e of the &uatha de
>anaan/ the hero gods of old $reland= Every village 'ould have its Beltain fire/ 'hich 'as attri3uted
'ith 3oth fertility and healing po'ers=
Winter 'as finally dead at 9idnight on May Eve/ 'hen Cailleac Bhuer/ the old hag of 'inter/ cast her
staff under a holly 3ush and 'as turned to stone= She 'ould 3e restored si; 9onths later on
2allo'e@en=
8oung 9en and girls 9ade love in the 'oods and fields on May Eve to 3ring fertility to the land as
'ell as the9selvesH they gathered flo'ers and 3losso9s fro9 the 9agical ha'thorn tree to decorate
houses and to 9ake into 9ay 3askets 'hich 'ere left as gifts on doorsteps= &his custo9 lasted 'ell
into <ictorian ti9es and is recalled in +udyard Iilping@s poe9 )ak/ Ash and &horn/ 'hich 3egins:
>o not tell the priest our plight/
or he 'ould think it a sin/
or 'e have 3een in the 'oods all night/
Bringing su99er in=
&his echoes the 'oodland 'edding of the Goddess/ the first May Queen/ 'hose na9e ca9e fro9
Maia/ the Greek goddess of flo'ers/ 'hose festival occurred at this ti9e and 'ho also gave her na9e
to the 9onth of May= She 9arried Kack o@ Green/ the god of vegetation %another for9 of the Green Man
% and the deity of the green crops as yet unripened= 2e 3eca9e +o3in 2ood to her Maid Marian= )nce
again/ there is also a Christian connection here: the na9e Marian is a for9 of the na9e Mary/ and St
Bridget 'as called Mary of the Gaels=
&he 9aypole/ 'hich 'e still recognise today/ once sy93olised the ancient cos9ic tree and 'as the
focus of fertility dances 'hose origins are unkno'n= +ed/ 3lue/ green/ yello' and 'hite ri33ons/
representing the union of Earth and Sky/ 'inter and su99er/ Water and ire/ 'ere ent'ined and the
spiralling dance stirred up the life force and fertility of the Earth= &he 9aypole for9ed a central phallic
sy93ol that could 3e -7 foot high and echoed the rising potency of the Sun/ or Corn/ God and the
gro'ing corn= ires 'ere lit and it 'as 3elieved that the height the young 9en could leap over the fires
'ould indicate the height the corn 'ould gro' and/ since for safety reasons this deed 'as perfor9ed
'ithout clothes/ the festival 'as one of Goyous/ un3ridled se;uality=
$n 9odern ti9es/ this festival has a glo3al significance and survival issues are to the fore= &hese 9ay
concern endangered species or the fight for the rights of indigenous peoples/ for freedo9 of speech/
action and 3elief every'here= Also involved are the struggle to discover 9ore natural for9s of
9edicine and Earth%friendly products 'ith fe'er side effects/ and all 9atters of the countryside=
)n a personal level/ Beltane is a festival potent for fertility 9agick of all kinds/ 'hether to conceive a
child or aid financial or 3usiness ventures to 3ear fruit= $t is good for an i9prove9ent in health and an
increase in energy as the Sun@s light and 'ar9th also gain intensity/ and for enthusias9 and creative
ventures of all kinds= $t 'ill assist the consu99ation of love 9atches/ travel and Go3 9oves and all
9atters concerning young adults/ especially those 9aking co99it9ents=
Associations
Candle colours: >ark green/ silver and red
Sy93ols: resh greenery/ especially ha'thornH any flo'ers that are native to your region/ placed in
3asketsH de' gathered on May 9orning (girls should 3athe their faces in it!/ coloured ri33ons/ t'igs
fro9 the three trees sacred to the festival (oak/ ash and thorn! or any other 'oods fro9 your o'n area
Crystals: Clear crystal FuartA/ golden tiger@s eye/ rutilated FuartA and topaA
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Al9ond/ angelica/ ash/ co'slip/ frankincense/ ha'thorn/ lilac/
9arigold and roses for love=
A Beltain +itual or ertility And Earth Energies
Such a ritual can 3e used to encourage creativity and gro'th of all kinds= $t 9ay 3e perfor9ed either
alone or in a group/ 'ith everyone present Goining in the chants=
:se as 9any kinds of 'ood as possi3le in the kindling for your fire= &raditionally the 9agical trees
'ere oak/ ash/ thorn/ 'illo'/ 3irch/ ro'an/ alder/ holly and ye'/ 3ut you can use 'ood indigenous to
your region= An ar3oretu9 'ill offer a variety of fallen t'igs=
P ?ight a s9all fire= (&his 9ay 3e either a s9all 3onfire out of doors/ or a fire in a hearth indoors=
Bar3ecue pits are easily adapted=! $f you are 'orking in a group/ each person can ignite the fire at a
different place= $f you cannot light a fire/ choose a really large/ fat/ dark green candle as your focus=
Place it on a 'ide/ deep fireproof tray/ secured in sand=
P $f you are in a group/ stand in a circle around it/ 'ith each person holding a taper= &he first person
lights their taper/ then the fla9e is passed fro9 one taper to the ne;t until the person holding the final
taper lights the central candle= Each person can say the chant/ 'ith one voice after another Goining in=
P As you 3uild and light your fire or candle/ say:
fire of Bel/ fire of the su99er Sun and the ascending light/ fla9e in 9y heart/ 9y soul/ 9y loins/ that
9y life and light 9ay3e kindled and flare up'ards to greet the su99er Sun=
P &ake a t'ig/ if possi3le oak/ ash or thorn/ and circle the fire or candle deosil/ saying:
fires of healing/ fertile fires/ 3ring 'hat is needed/ not desired= 2eal the planet/ 3less the corn= ?ord of
?ight/ 'e greet your da'n=
P Carefully light the t'ig and allo' it to s9oulder and then hold it 9o9entarily up'ards/ saying:
fire of Bel/ Goin 'ith 9y fire and 'ith all fires in all places on this day at this hour/ rise in a 'e3 of
glorious fla9e to e9po'er the Sun/ to 3e e9po'ered and to fla9e 'ithin 9y heart forever=
P Cast the t'ig into the fla9es/ then leap high in the air/ crying: Ascend and 3ring fertility/ po'er and
creativity=
$ do not suggest you try to e9ulate our ancestors and leap across the fla9es/ as presu9a3ly the
casualty rate 'as horrendously high=
P $f you are using a candle/ each person can in turn hold the end of the t'ig in the fla9e until it
s9oulders/ then rest it on the tray and allo' it to 3urn slo'ly do'n or go out=
P End the ritual 3y taking scarlet ri33ons and spiraling round the fire or candle/ 'aving the9 like
fla9es/ as you chant= inally thro' the9 into the air/ a'ay fro9 the fla9e=
P Allo' the fire or candle to 3urn do'n= After'ards/ 9ake up s9all posies of flo'ers to leave on the
doorsteps of people 'ho you kno' 'ould appreciate the9 % perhaps the ill or lonely=
?itha/ &he Su99er Solstice
&i9e: &hree days 3eginning fro9 sunset around *7 Kune (*7 >ece93er in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: ull potency/ illu9ination/ 9ysteries revealedH healing/ the height of Goy/ fulfil9ent/ the need to
seiAe the 9o9ent=
&he su99er solstice has 3een cele3rated in cultures as far apart as +ussia and #orth A9erica/ 'here
Sun dances 'ere an assertion of po'er and courage and in a ne' for9 still 3ring healing to the nations
and the Earth=
&he height of the festival is the first light falling on the 9orning of the solstice/ like a shaft of gold
across standing stones and stone circles/ linking the di9ensions= Many circles throughout Europe and
Scandinavia/ such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire/ are aligned to the su99er solstice sunrise/ as are a
nu93er of stone 9edicine 'heels in A9erica and Canada=
&hese places/ 3uilt on centres of great po'er/ have accu9ulated not only the po'er of the thousands of
9idsu99er suns that have shone on this day since their creation/ 3ut the hopes and prayers of those
'ho have and still gather at such places= &hese include priests/ >ruids/ healers/ 'arriors/ 9onarchs and
ordinary 9en and 'o9en 'ho connect 'ith fusion of Sky and Earth energies/ the sacred and
cere9onial 9arriage of god and goddess on this 9ost 9agical of days=
&here is a long%standing pagan tradition of lighting 3onfires on 3eacon hills to strengthen the po'er of
the Sun 3efore it 3egan its decline= )n Midsu99er >ay/ fire 'heels 'ere rolled do'n the hillsides/
fla9ing tar 3arrels 'ere s'ung on chains and 3laAing torches tossed in the air= $n S'eden/ they still
hold a 9idsu99er 'eekend 'ith a 9idsu99er tree/ or pole/ decorated 'ith greenery and flo'ers
for9ing the centrepiece of 9usic and revels= &here is feasting in to'ns as 'ell as the countryside in
'hat is a national event and thousands of people gather as they have for centuries at focal points such
as the $sland of )land on the Stockhol9 archipelago=
St Kohn@s 'ort/ the golden her3 of 9idsu99er and sy93ol of the su99er solstice/ 'as said to offer
fertility and po'ers to attract love if picked at 9idnight on *, Kune/ the eve of St Kohn@s >ay/ or the eve
of the actual solstice= 2opeful lovers 'ould carry it or place it under a pillo'=
&he po'er of the su99er solstice can 3e harnessed for tackling see9ingly insolu3le pro3le9s and
3ringing light and life and hope to those 'ho are depressed or 'ho have 3een una3le through
circu9stances such as poverty to fulfil their potential= $t can help to tackle glo3al 'ar9ing/ fa9ine and
disease/ and to prevent oppression of people and cruelty in intensive far9ing 9ethods 'here livestock
suffer for hu9an greed=
)n a personal level/ su99er solstice rituals are for courage/ 9ale potency and fertility/ for
achieve9ent/ success/ confidence/ health and happiness/ for fulfilling potential and providing
evere;panding
opportunities 3oth physical/ 9ental and spiritual= &hese spells are especially potent for
9aturing adults approaching 9iddle age=
Associations
Candle colours: Gold/ orange or red to 9irror the Sun at its height
Sy93ols: Brightly%coloured flo'ers/ oak 3oughs/ golden fern pollen that is said to reveal 3uried
treasure 'herever it falls
Crystals: A93er/ carnelian/ citrine/ golden 3eryl/ sunstone
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Cha9o9ile/ dill/ elder/ fennel/ frankincense/ lavender/ St Kohn@s 'ort
and vervain
A Su99er Solstice Stone +itual
&his ritual can 3e used to a3sor3 the courage/ po'er and Goy of the season= 8ou can carry out this ritual
at any ti9e during the three%day period= 8ou 9ight like to perfor9 it at dusk on the eve of the solstice
or at one of the other traditional ti9es/ such as 9idnight/ the da'n of the solstice day or noon=
Alternatively/ you 9ay prefer to 'atch the actual solstice sunrise fro9 a hill or an open place or even
close to one of the sacred sites at da'n=
P &ake eight large/ long/ rounded stones/ one for each spoke on the Wheel of the 8ear=
P Arrange the9 around the edges of a circle= &he eight points correspond 'ith the 9id%'inter solstice
in the #orth/ $93olc in the #orth%east/ the spring eFuino; in the East/ Beltain in the South%east/ the
su99er solstice in the South/ ?ughnassadh in the South%'est/ the autu9n eFuino; in the West/ and
Sa9hain in the #orth%'est= ($n the southern he9isphere/ they 'ill all 9ove si; 9onths so that the
su99er solstice is in the #orth/ etc=!
P $n front of each stone/ place a yello' 3ees'a; or gold candle and set a large gold candle in the centre
of the circle= $f you have a cauldron or large pot/ you can set the central candle in that= Surround the
central candle 'ith flo'ers and her3s of 9idsu99er/ if possi3le freshly picked fro9 an outside source/
and any greenery=
P $f you are 'orking in a group/ 9e93ers can stand around the circle/ one at each of the points of the
year/ 'ith the rest of the coven standing in the #orth/ in a line/ facing the South= $f you are alone/ you
9ay 'ish to adapt the ritual so the stones and candles are s9aller= Place the central candle on your
altar/ 'hich 'ill on this occasion 3e standing in the #orth/ facing the South/ and 9ove round the altar
in a circle=
P Enter the circle at the 9id%'inter solstice (#orth!/ the position of the 3irth of the Sun/ and light the
central candle/ saying:
Sun/ sacred centre of 'ar9th/ light/ light and fertility/ $ greet you on this your ti9e of glory=
P Behind the candle/ light a se9icircle of frankincense sticks/ saying:
Sun 'ho has 3een fro9 the 3eginning/ Iing/ God/ ather/ or3 of inspiration/ $ greet you no' at this
your ti9e of glory=
P ace the #orth and light the 9id%'inter candle/ saying:
&he Sun is 3orn ane'/ see light gro's/ light fla9es to illu9inate the darkness and pro9ises rene'al as
the Wheel turns too=
P Move round the Wheel to face the #orth%east= ?ight the $93olc candle/ saying:
&he Sun increases and the 9aiden fla9es the 'hite fields= 8ou clai9 her as your o'n and so the year
turns and life and light 'a; as day returns=
P Move ne;t to the East and/ facing this direction/ light the spring eFuino; candle/ saying:
)nce 9ore you overco9e the darknessH the throne of light is yours to ascend and longer days are 'on=
P Move to the South%east and/ facing this direction/ light the Beltain candle/ saying:
8our 'ar9th 3rings green gro'th once 9ore to the 3arren Earth= $ kindle fires to dra' your healing
strength and the corn 'ill gro' high=
P Move to the South/ face the direction of the su99er solstice/ light the candle and say:
&he Sun is at its height and all nature filled 'ith po'er= &he ?ord and ?ady of the :niverse/ Sky and
Earth/ are Goined on this day=
P Around the su99er solstice candle/ scatter a circle of dried or fresh dill/ St Kohn@s 'ort/ vervain and
clover (trefoil! % these are the her3s that 3loo9 at this ti9e and 'ere used to e;orcise har9 and 3ring
protection to ho9e and people= $f you cannot get any of the9/ use rose9ary or any of the her3s of the
Sun=
P As you scatter the her3s/ say one of the variations of the old 9idsu99er chant that can 3e found in
folk legend in Europe= My favourite is:
&refoil/ vervain/ Kohn@s 'ort/ dill/
>rive off darkness at your 'ill=
&refoil/ vervain/ Kohn@s 'ort/ dill/
May the su99er sunshine fill
All 'ith life and hope % and keep
2earth and ho9e safe 'hile $ sleep=
Scoop up so9e of the her3s in a tiny purse or dra'string 3ag= Ieep it and place it 3eneath your pillo'
3efore sleep= 8ou 'ill/ it is said/ drea9 of the person 'ho can 9ake you happy and also/ if you add
so9e golden pollen to the sachet/ of 'ays of increasing your 'ealth=
P ?ight the final three candles in turn/ saying:
Wheel turn/ though light fro9 henceforth falls/
&urn year/ till spring and ne' life calls=
P ?eave your solstice 'heel of candles to 3urn do'n=
P &he follo'ing day/ 'hen daylight co9es again/ plant golden flo'ers and spend the day in the open
air if at all possi3le/ enGoying every 9o9ent of light until you 'itness the Sun setting in the West=
?ughnassadh/ &he estival )f &he Corn 2arvest
&his festival accords 'ith 9any of Wiccan principles/ especially the &hreefold ?a'=
&i9e: Sunset ,( Kuly%sunset * August (,( Kanuary%* e3ruary in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: Willing sacrifice for the greater good/ natural Gustice and kar9a/ trusting the cos9os to provide
3y giving 'ithout seeking i99ediate returnH also spiritual transfor9ation/ rene'al of the life force 3y
a3sor3ing the po'ers of the spirit of the corn through food and drink=
&his is the festival of the corn harvest/ called ?a99as or ?oaf9ass/ 'hen on ( August the first loaf is
3aked fro9 the harvested 'heat= $t corresponds to the Christian harvest festival 'hen in so9e churches
corn is still offered on the altar/ 3ut the concept of offering up the first fruits to the deities in return for
a3undance throughout the year is a very ancient one=
&he ?a99as loaf/ 9ade in the pagan tradition fro9 the last sheaf of corn to 3e cut do'n/ 'as regarded
as sacred 3y very early agricultural societies on'ards= Before Christian ti9es/ it 'as 3elieved to
contain the spirit of the cornH the 3arley fer9ented 3y the autu9n eFuino; 'as the 3lood of the Corn
God/ or the spirit of the crops/ 'ho in popular folk song 'as called Kohn Barleycorn= &his is pro3a3ly
the origin of the Wiccan cakes and ale cere9ony= &his last sheaf 'as cut 3y a nu93er of people casting
their sickles si9ultaneously/ so no one 'ould kno' 'ho killed the Corn God/ though he offered
hi9self 'illingly so that there 'ould 3e a3undant future harvests=
As 'ell as 3eing used to 9ake the harvest loaf/ so9e of the corn 'as 'oven into corn dollies/ sy93ol
of the Earth Mother/ decorated 'ith the scarlet ri33ons of rigg/ the #orse Mother Goddess= &hese
corn dollies 'ould 3e hung over do9estic hearths throughout 'inter= So9e 'ere 9ade into the shape
of a Corn Mother or a cornucopia/ or horn of plenty/ and others 'ere tied into knots that 3ound in the
po'er and protection= &his art continues today in rural places=
&he old na9e for this 9onth in the Celtic Coligny calendar 'as Clai9%ti9e/ 'hen de3ts 'ould 3e
collected and contracts 'ere arranged= &rial 9arriages for a year and a day 'ere freFuently set up at
?a99as/ 3y young couples si9ply Goining hands through a holed stone % they could rene' the contract
annually if they 'ished=
?a99as evolved over the centuries into an occasion for craft fairs and festivals/ 'ith people travelling
fro9 9iles around to sell their 'ares= &here 'ere also parades 3y the trade guilds/ and hiring fairs
'here 'orkers 'ere found to help in the fields for the su99er 'eeks=
#o'adays/ the festival energies are good for fighting inGustice for oppressed people or creatures/
especially for 9aking sure that 'orkers in &hird World countries are not e;ploited financiallyH for
teaching ne' skills so that people in poor lands and deprived areas 9ay have a chance to create their
o'n prosperity/ and for all acts of unpu3licised charity=
)n a personal level/ ?ughnassadh is potent for rituals concerning Gustice/ rights/ contracts/ 3usiness
affairs/ regularising finances and seeking advance9ent in careerH for personal and legal co99it9ents
and partnerships of all kindsH also for learning ne' skills and trades and for 9ature people in their
forties and fifties=
Associations
Candle colours: >ark orange and yello' candles/ to reflect the co9ing of autu9n/ and purple for
Gustice
Sy93ols: Ears of corn/ corn dollies/ anything 9ade of stra'H 3read/ cereals of all kinds
Crystals: Bro'n agate/ desert rose/ fossilised 'ood/ leopardskin Gasper
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Cedar'ood/ cornflo'ers/ Cha9o9ile/ cinna9on/ fenugreek/ ginger/
9yrtle/ rose'ood and sunflo'ers
A ?ughnassadh +itual or +ene'ing &he Sacred E;change With &he Earth
8ou can 'ork around dusk/ either alone or in a group or perhaps invite a friend or fa9ily 9e93er to
share the ritual=
P Bake or 3uy a round loaf of 'holegrain 3read and a s9all 3ottle of 3arley 'ine/ organic ale or a fresh
fruit Guice=
P Place the 3read in a stra' 3asket and surround it 'ith ears of grain or dried grasses and pour the
'ine/ ale or Guice into a pottery Gug=
P ?ight first a large/ orange candle on a very large/ fireproof tray and place it so that light falls on the
food and drink=
P Burn gentle Cha9o9ile/ Cedar'ood or rose'ood oil or incense/ saying:
Spirit of the corn/ $ thank you for your 3ounty for giving your life for the life of the land and the
people= $ offer in return 9y crafts and skills=
P &ake an ear of grain/ stra'/ or a dried grass and pass it through the oil vapour or incense s9oke and
then 3egin to 'eave a knot/ saying:
$ offer === M9ake a pledge/ ho'ever s9all/ of so9e 'ay you can use your a3ilities for the good of the
fa9ily"'orkplace"co99unity or any proGect dear to your heartN=
P #o' take a second grass and pass it through the candle fla9e/ then 'eave it into the first/ for9ing a
second knot/ this ti9e asking for so9ething you or your loved ones need=
P Place your 9iniature corn knot in a stra' 3asket/ continuing to 9ake a dou3le knot of pledges and
needs/ until you have e;hausted your ingenuity= Pass each through the incense and the candle= ($f you
are 'orking 'ith others you can take it in turns to 9ake and na9e your corn knots and place the9 in
the 3asket= $f you have a Goint goal as a coven/ you can 'ork on a large knot to represent the collective
energies and needs/ 3y 9aking individual knots and 3inding the9 together 'ith red ri33on=!
P &hen take the 3read and raise it a3ove the candle/ saying:
$ give thanks for this the 'illing gift and offer the first fruits to the Earth Mother 'ho transfor9s and
restores all in the ever%turning Wheel=
P Cru93le so9e 3read either on to the ground if you are 'orking out of doors or into a large 'ooden
or cera9ic dish=
P Break the 3read in its dish and offer it to anyone present 3efore eating yourself=
P &ake the 'ine or ale and raise it a3ove the candle/ saying:
We give thanks and offer this free%flo'ing life force to the Earth Mother 'ho refor9s and rene's all in
the ever%turning circle of the year=
P Pour so9e of the 'ine either on to the ground or into the dish 'ith the cru93led 3read and pour the
'ine into a glass= ($f you are 'orking in a group/ pour it into individual glasses and hand the9 round
3efore serving yourself=!
P After drinking/ 3lo' out the candle and say as a rising chorus:
Po'er to the Sun=
P )n the final 'ord/ 3lo' out the candle=
P Bury your cru93led 3read and 'ine in a hole in the garden or a large plant pot/ saying:
Gro' ane'/ co9e forth in the spring and keep your pro9ise as $ 'ill 9ine=
P $f you poured the offerings directly on to the ground/ plant flo'ers close 3y=
Ieep your dish of knots= &ake the9 out one 3y one and as you fulfil your pledges cast each into
flo'ing 'ater or fro9 the top of a hill on a very 'indy day= Before long/ your needs should 3e 9et/ in
a 'ay that should 3ring you ne' opportunities/ though perhaps not e;actly as you planned=
Ma3on/ &he Autu9n EFuino;
&i9e: or three days fro9 sunset on or around *( Septe93er (*( March in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: A ti9e of a3undance/ reaping the 3ounty of the Earth and of cele3ration for life and its giftsH
'elco9ing the 'aning/ darker part of the year/ the god in the :nder'orld or 'ithin the 'o93 of the
Earth MotherH for letting go and if necessary grieving for 'hat is not fulfilled
&he autu9n eFuino;/ or ti9e of gathering/ 'as traditionally cele3rated as the 'ild or green harvest/ a
ti9e of cele3ration for the fruits and vegeta3les of the earth and the Earth Mother= &his eFuino; is the
second ti9e of the 3alance 3et'een day and night in the Wheel of the 8ear/ and sees ?ugh/ the god of
light/ defeated 3y his t'in and alter%ego/ Goron'y/ the god of darkness= Goron'y 'as associated 'ith
the 2orned God as ?ugh 'as 'ith the Green Man/ god of vegetation=
Ma3on/ or Maponus/ 'as another for9 of ?ugh/ and 'as regarded as the son of the Earth Mother and
kno'n as the li3erator%prisoner= &he Corn God lies fallo' in the 'o93 of the Mother= But 3ecause his
sacrifice 'as 'illing/ >eath has no do9inion over hi9 and he gro's stronger=
&his is the ti9e of the second harvest of vegeta3les/ fruit and re9aining crops/ the harvest ho9e that
pre%dates Christianity= )n the day 'hen eFual night and day heralded 'inter/ the feast for9ed a
sy9pathetic 9agical gesture to ensure that there 'ould 3e enough food during the 'inter/ 3y
displaying and then eating in cele3ration the finest fruits of the harvest= >ruids traditionally cli93 to
the top of a hill to take leave of the su99er Sun as the nights 'ill get longer= Michael9as/ the day of
St Michael/ the Archangel of the Sun/ is cele3rated on *6 Septe93er= St Michael 'as patron saint of
high places and replaced the pagan Sun deities in Christianity=
&oday/ glo3al rituals concentrate on positive steps to ensure enough food/ shelter and resources for
vulnera3le co99unities and individuals/ relief of flood and fa9ine/ protection of endangered 'ater
creatures/ dolphin/ 'hales and fish 'hose death involves great sufferingH they also look for peace
especially 'here initiatives are already in 9otion=
)n a personal level/ autu9n eFuino; rituals are potent for the co9pletion of tasks/ for a3undance in all
aspects of your life/ including security for the future 'hich 9ay involve issues of e9ploy9ent or the
need to consolidate financesH reconciliation/ the setting do'n of unresolved anger and FuarrelsH all
9atters concerning retire9ent and older people/ especially those 'ho are turning their e;perience to
ne' fieldsH the resolution of chronic health pro3le9s and all Water 9agick=
Associations
Candle colours: Blue for the autu9n rain and green for the Earth Mother
Sy93ols: +ipe fruit and vegeta3les/ autu9n leaves/ 3erries and nuts
Crystals: Blue lace agate/ aventurine/ 9alachite/ la3oradite
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Chrysanthe9u9/ geraniu9/ le9on/ parsley/ pine/ sage and
Solo9on@s seal
A alling ?eaf +itual
&his ritual of the autu9n eFuino; 9ay 3e perfor9ed to shed fears and regrets and 'elco9e the co9ing
of 'inter= Anyone 'ho has seen a profusion of s'irling 3rilliant red/ yello'/ orange and vi3rant 3ro'n
leaves 'ill understand that this is a ti9e of great energy as the light 3attles 3ut finally su39its to the
darker days=
As the 'inds 3le' at the spring eFuino;/ 3ringing ne' life/ no' they and the autu9n rains carry a'ay
all that is fulfilled and unfulfilled/ leaving roo9 for the Fuieter conte9plation of a ti9e 'hen the Sun
still shines and the fruits of the harvest are all around= $n this 'ay 'e can say good3ye to the su99er
'ith Goy=
P Collect a 3asket of autu9n leaves or any dying greenery and surround it 'ith the fruits/ vegeta3les/
seeds/ and nuts of the harvest=
P Place 3lue and green candles alternately at the four Fuarters/ 3eginning 'ith green in the West/
9arking out a sFuare that holds 3oth the Goys and sorro's of the year that has passed= Make the sFuare
large enough so you can 'ork 'ithin it=
P ?ight first the 3lue candle of the #orth/ follo'ed 3y the green candle in the East and the 3lue candle
in the South/ saying:
&he light is 3orn/ increases/ fla9es and flares/ and 'ith it our lives increase/ intensify/ 'e plough and
plant/ create and tend/ travel far and seek our destinies=
P ?ight finally the green candle of autu9n and the West/ the Celtic direction of endings and the
direction of the )ther'orld/ to 'hich souls go for rest and regeneration/ saying:
&he harvest is gathered and the fruits of our endeavours 9ade great 3y the 3ounty of Mother #ature=
P &ake no' a large 3o'l (or your cauldron! filled 'ith 'ater and place it to the West of the leaves and
the circle of the harvest fruits=
P &ake a leaf to sy93olise an ending/ an unfulfilled hope or plan and another for one that 'as achieved
or a pro3le9 no' resolvedH na9e first the sorro' and then the gain and drop the leaves into the 3o'l
of 'ater/ saying:
What is lost and 'hat is gained are 3alanced and one and the sa9e/ as the 'aters of life flo' on=
P Eat a nut or seed or a sliver of fruit/ saying:
$ take 'ith thanks the a3undance of the harvest and $ 3id fare'ell to the su99er 'ith Goy and not 'ith
sadness=
P Continue to na9e and float leaves and eat nuts and seeds until your repository of regrets is e9pty=
P Move the candles closer to the container of 'ater and look into the 'ater and see/ either in your
9ind@s vision/ or on the surface i9ages in the light and shado's= $f you 'ish/ drop 3lue and green 'a;
fro9 the candles on to the surface of the 'ater to create i9ages that 9ay suggest 'ays in 'hich you
can 9ake the darker days ahead rich and fulfilling=
P When ne;t you go out of doors/ scatter your unused leaves into the air/ saying:
ly free/ fly Goyous/ not in sorro'/ to return rene'ed in the spring=
:se the re9aining fruit and vegeta3les for a 9eal for fa9ily and friends=
Sa9hain/ &he estival )f Wisdo9
&i9e: Sunset ,( )cto3er%sunset * #ove93er (,7 April%* May in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: Ancient 'isdo9/ 9oving 3et'een the di9ensions/ the intersection 3et'een past and future and
so a present that is not li9ited 3y ti9e and spaceH 'elco9ing the ancestors/ confronting and
overco9ing fears of ageing and 9ortality
&his festival/ recalled in the 9odern 'orld as 2allo'e@en/ or All 2allo's Eve/ 9arked the 3eginning
of the Celtic year that officially 3egan at sunset on ( #ove93er= $t 'as an occasion for 'elco9ing
ho9e fa9ily ghosts to the fa9ily hearth 'here their favourite food 'ould 3e left= &his custo9
continues today in Me;ico and to so9e e;tent in strongly Catholic countries/ such as rance and
Spain/ and in rance/ All Saints@ >ay/ ( #ove93er/ is a pu3lic holiday=
$n earlier ti9es people in 9any lands 'ould put garlic on West%facing 'indo's and open the shutters
to allo' the good fa9ily dead to enter $t 'as also the ti9e 'hen the cattle 'ere 3rought fro9 the hills
for the 'inter and either put in 3yres or slaughtered for 9eat/ having 3een driven 3et'een t'in fires to
purify the9= &hese fires also served to drive a'ay 3ad spirits 'ho 'ere 3elieved to lurk at the
transition of the year= ood 'as stored for the 'inter and so it is a ti9e of housekeeping/ spiritually as
'ell as physically and 9entally=
ears of the unkno'n and evil have 3eco9e focused around this festival: our ancestors proGected their
an;ieties on to 3ad 'itches and 9alevolent faeries 'ho 9ight 3e kept a'ay 3y a Kack o@ ?antern/ a
candle in a pu9pkin or turnip= &he na9e derives fro9 a legendary Kack 'ho escaped fro9 2ell and
'as ever after forced to 'alk in li93o carrying a hot coal=
$n the 9yth of the Wheel of the 8ear/ the descended god no' guards the gate to the )ther'orld and on
this festival he holds s'ay= $n so9e 9yths/ the Goddess enters the :nder'orld to 3e reunited 'ith hi9
and returns to Earth on the third day to prepare for the 3irth of the ne' Sun/ the ascended god/ at
9id'inter=
&he year too is dying and 'ill 3e also re3orn on the 9id%'inter solstice/ so there is a cross%over of
energies as the ne' year 3egins on the 'ane of the tide at a period of decline and darkness= Kust as the
Celtic day 3egan at sunset/ 'ith the darkest part of the night still to co9e/ the Celtic year 3egins in
darkness=
&his is a ti9e for charities and initiatives to aid the fa9ily/ the elderly/ the sick and dying/ to
encourage e;perience to 3e valued in a culture that 'orships youthH also for the preservation of ancient
sacred sites and the cultural heritage of the 'orld/ including the 'isdo9 of indigenous peoples=
)n a personal level/ rituals are potent for fa9ily concerns/ especially those a3out older 9e93ers of the
fa9ily or any 'ho are sick or need constant careH for psychic protection/ overco9ing fears/ for laying
old ghosts/ psychological as 'ell as psychic/ and for 9arking the natural transition 3et'een one stage
of life and the ne;t/ for re9e93ering the fa9ily dead and linking the young to the traditions of the
pastH also for increasing divinatory skills=
Associations
Candle colours: Black/ navy 3lue or deep purple/ for letting go of fear/ and orange for the Goy of
i99ortality that is pro9ised at this ti9e
Sy93ols: &he pu9pkin/ or Kack o@ ?antern/ apples % these are sy93ols of health and feature in
2allo'e@en love divination/ a custo9 dating fro9 >ruidic ti9es % photographs and Gournals of
deceased fa9ily 9e93ers/ to for9 a focus for happy 9e9ories/ favourite foods/ flo'ers and sy93ols
of deceased relatives
Crystals: S9oky FuartA/ apache tears (o3sidian!/ very dark a9ethysts/ 3oGi stones
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Any seasonal yello' flo'ers %Me;icans scatter yello' flo'ers fro9
the ce9eteries to the ho9es on ( and * #ove93er/ their >ays of the >ead % cypress/ dittany/ garlic/
9arGora9/ 9ug'ort/ nut9eg/ rue
A Sa9hain +itual &o Move Beyond &he Constraints )f ?inear &i9e
:nusually/ this is a solitary ritual/ so that you can 9ake connection 'ith your personal ancestors/
though you 9ay 'ish to share it 'ith close fa9ily 9e93ers= Perfor9 it on 2allo'e@en Eve/ as it gets
dark=
P ?ight an orange candle=
P Cut the top off a pu9pkin or large turnip/ to 9ake a lid/ and scrape out the inside and place the flesh
in a 3o'l in front of the candle=
P When the skin is Fuite e9pty/ do not dra' a scary face 'ith grinning teeth/ 3ut instead 9ake eight
large/ regular/ round holes in it to let in the light=
P Place a s9all/ orange nightlight or tiny candle inside and leave off the lid=
Beginning any'here in the circle of holes/ look into each hole in turn/ asking a Fuestion a3out your
future life path and saying:
Kack o@ ?antern 3urning 3right/
let 9e pass through ti9e this night/
Seeing not a future set/
3ut possi3ilities that yet
$ can seiAe as paths unfold/
Kack/ guide 9e to ne' Goys untold=
P Shut your eyes/ open the9/ 3link and 'rite do'n the first i9age that co9es either in your 9ind@s eye
or in the circle of light=
P Continue until you have e;plored each of the eight 'indo's of the future and have eight i9ages=
8ou can either interpret the i9ages as referring to the eight ti9e points of the Wheel of the 8ear/
3eginning 'ith Sa9hain/ or integrate the9 into a story a3out eight steps on your unfolding path
throughout the co9ing year=
P Cook and eat the pu9pkin or turnip flesh to a3sor3 the 9agic=
P ?eave the candle to 3urn do'n as you 9ake plans for the future=
Al3an Arthuran/ &he Mid%Winter Solstice
&i9e: or three days fro9 sunset on or around *7 >ece93er (*7 Kune in the southern he9isphere!
ocus: +e3irth/ the return of light/ the triu9ph of life over death/ spiritual a'akening/ light in the 9idst
of darkness/ faith that the Wheel 'ill turn and the life cycle 3egin ane'=
&he 9id%'inter solstice pre%dates organised religion= When early hu9ans sa' the Sun at its lo'est
point and the vegetation dead or dying/ they feared that light and life 'ould never return= So they lit
great 3onfires fro9 yule logs/ hung torches fro9 trees and decorated caves and ho9es 'ith evergreens
to persuade the other trees to gro' again= So this really is a ti9e of faith and hope and also an
a'areness once 9ore of the responsi3ility of individuals to ensure 3y ritual and 3y giving hospitality to
fa9ily/ neigh3ours and strangers that at this lo'est point (the yoke or yule of the year! life 'ould 3e
rekindled= &his is a long 'ay fro9 the present co99ercial and consu9er e9phasis that has overtaken
our Christian festival of Christ9as=
&he na9e Al3an Arthuran 9eans @light of Arthur@/ na9ed after Iing Arthur 'ho in legend 3ore the
title Sun Iing= 2is round ta3le represented the great solar Wheel of the 8ear=
&he co99on the9e of the festival that spans 9any ages and cultures is that the Mother Goddess/ under
one of her 9any na9es/ gives 3irth to the Sun itself/ the Sun God= $t is the sa9e the9e as the <irgin
Mary giving 3irth to the Son of God in a cave or sta3le at the darkest hour of the year= &he virgin 3irth
features in several cultures and traditionally a candle (or other fla9e! is left 3urning all night on this
longest of nights/ to persuade the ne'3orn Sun to rise again on Christ9as Eve to light Mary on her
'ay= &he feasting of Christ9as 'as another 9agical gesture to ensure there 'ould 3e food again in the
spring and good harvests the follo'ing year=
Glo3ally/ this is a ti9e for rituals of rene'ed faith in the face of despair and cynicis9H for 'ork to
provide ho9es and shelter for people/ 3irds and ani9als/ 9ore efficient and hu9ane 'elfare servicesH
the regeneration of fa9ine or 'ar%torn landsH rekindling goodness even in 'rongdoers/ i9proving
conditions in all institutionsH also individual charita3le endeavours=
)n a personal level/ the 9id%'inter solstice is a good ti9e for 9atters concerning the ho9e and
practical fa9ily 9atters/ for 9oney spells as 'ell as a3undance in less 9aterial 'aysH for relieving
depression and an;ieties for all 9atters 'here i9prove9ent/ relief or success 'ill co9e after patience
and perseveranceH also potent for rituals concerning the very old/ un3orn children/ 9others%to%3e/
nursing or ne' 9others and ne'3orn infants=
Associations
Candle colours: White/ scarlet/ 3rilliant green and gold
Sy93ols: Evergreens/ Christ9as trees adorned 'ith lights/ oak/ ash or pine/ 3rightly coloured 3au3les/
gold/ holly/ ivy and 9istletoe/ nuts
Crystals: Any precious stones/ especially ru3ies/ dia9onds and e9eralds/ a9aAonite/ garnets/ Aircons/
spinelsH you can also su3stitute glass nuggets in rich red/ green and 'hite
lo'ers/ her3s/ oils and incenses: Bay/ cedar/ holly/ Gu9per/ 9istletoe/ orange/ rose9ary/ and
frankincense and 9yrrh in golden%coloured holders
A Mid%Winter +itual &o Cele3rate &he +e3irth )f &he Sun
&his ritual should 3e perfor9ed on the solstice eve= &o prepare/ decorate a 3ough of evergreen 'ith red
and gold 3au3les and 3o's of ri33on and surround it 'ith a circle of five long%3urning/ pure 'hite
candles or a single candle 'ith five 'icks= &he first candle 'ill need to 3urn for *- hours/ the second
for a3out (5 hours/ the third a3out (* hours/ the fourth and fifth for shorter periods/ although you can
al'ays replace a candle 3y lighting another=
We are keeping to the Celtic ti9e and so our ritual 'ill end 'ith the 3eginning of the ne' day at sunset
on the actual day of the solstice=
2o'ever/ if you prefer/ you can cele3rate *- hours later or at a 'eekend 'here you can 3e at ho9e for
a longer period= So9e fa9ilies 9ove the ritual to the Christian festival and 3egin on Christ9as Eve=
Alternatively/ you can 'ork for a shorter period/ co93ining the stages and using fe'er candles=
&his is a ritual you can share 'ith fa9ily and friends or 'ith your coven/ or practise alone/ as an
antidote to the 3ustle and so9eti9es frayed te9pers of Christ9as=
P Kust 3efore dusk/ e;tinguish all lights e;cept a tiny one so you can see 'hat you are doing/ saying:
&he light is gone fro9 the old Sun/ 3ut 'e kno' it 'ill return/ pure and true/ and 'ith it the re3irth of
our hopes=
P Sit for a fe' 9inutes in the darkness/ avoiding conscious thought/ 9erging 'ith the energies=
P At dusk/ light your first 'hite candle/ saying:
&he light returnsH 'e offer our light to Goin 'ith those kindled around the 'orld that the darkness 9ay
3e no 9ore=
P ?eave the candle 3urning and spend an evening a'ay fro9 all the frantic preparations that 'ill 3e
there to9orro'H share a 9eal/ listen to seasonal 9usic/ talk a3out Christ9as past/ its highlights and
disasters=
P When it is 9idnight or Gust 3efore you are ready to go to 3ed/ light the ne;t candle/ saying:
&he light increases/ as the ne' Sun strea9s forth 'ithin the cave/ soon to herald the ne' dayH 'e offer
this light/ Goining 'ith our ancestors and those as yet un3orn to call forth radiance=
P ?eave the candles in a safe place and 'hen you a'aken/ even if it is not fully day/ light the third
candle/ replacing and re%lighting the others if they are al9ost 3urned do'n/ saying:
&he Sun co9es forth fro9 the cave/ in Goy and glory and pro9iseH 'e Goin our light 'ith the rays of the
ne' 9orning=
P Spend the 9orning out of doors/ if possi3le/ collecting greenery/ or 9aking tiny clay figures of the
#ativity figures/ santons as they are called in rance/ to create a personalised nativity/ including
figures to represent your fa9ily and friends=
P At noon/ light the fourth candle/ again after replacing any that are 3urned through/ saying:
$ reGoice that the light surrounds usH the Sun lives and thrives and 9ultiplies in a thousand cascading
sun3ea9s=
P $f possi3le/ enGoy a festive 9eal 'ith fa9ily and friends and 9ake a phone call or perhaps take a
s9all present to so9eone 'ho is alone at Christ9as and 9ight appreciate a visitH if they 'ill not 3e
offended/ invite the9 to Goin your fa9ily ta3le=
P inally at dusk/ light the last candle/ saying:
Ever 3urn 3right and 'ar9 on fields and sea and sky and all the creatures 3orn of the Mother= We give
thanks=
P At 3edti9e/ e;tinguish your re9aining candles/ 9aking 'ishes and saying:
Go in happiness/ 3ring Goy and peace and plenty to all in need= Blessings on this 8ule and on you all=
(- % Magick or 8ou
Creating 8our )'n Spells
Spells for glo3al causes/ such as cleansing the oceans/ regenerating areas of high une9ploy9ent and
3ringing peace to 'arring factions are i9portant/ and/ as $ have said/ 3y focusing on 'ider ai9s you
can attract a3undance or har9ony into your o'n life under the &hreefold ?a' of 9agick= But
so9eti9es you 9ay feel you 'ant to concentrate on a specific personal drea9 or need= And as $ have
also said 9any ti9es in the 3ook/ if you are 'orried or unfulfilled in your o'n life/ you are hardly
going to have energy to spare to 'orry a3out rainforests= So in this chapter $ have listed (* of 9y o'n
favourite rituals for a variety of purposes that can easily 3e adapted for your o'n opportunities or
dile99as=
8ou can also create your o'n spells very si9ply for any personal need/ using the relevant colours/
crystals/ oils/ incenses and her3s listed throughout the 3ook= 2aving arranged any candles/ crystals or
incenses that can help to strengthen your o'n inner po'ers/ you 9ust first focus on your 'ish or need
3y stating 'hat it is you 'ant/ perhaps in the for9 of a chant or po'er 9antra/ gradually increasing its
speed and intensity= At first this 9ay see9 strange 3ut as you can get caught up in the rhyth9/ so9e
people find they like to dance or dru9H then/ finally/ you can send the accu9ulated energies out into
the cos9os=
&his can 3e done in a variety of 'ays/ for e;a9ple 3y leaping in the air if you are dancing/ giving a
final shout if you are chanting/ 3lo'ing out a candle or casting your sy93ol into fast%flo'ing 'ater=
8ou can also 3ury it or 3urn it in a candle fla9e or on a 3onfire= $f you are 3anishing so9ething fro9
your life/ you can 'rite it in chalk and ru3 it out or cut it up and dispose of the pieces=
8ou can use a3solutely anything as a sy93ol for 9agick: a flo'er/ a leaf/ a feather/ 'ords or i9ages
'ritten or dra'n on paper/ candles to represent people or o3Gects/ &arot cards/ photographs/ related
9iniature versions of the desired acFuisition % a key for a ne' ho9e/ a toy car for transport/ a postcard
for a holiday destination=
At the end of your spell you 9ay like to finish the ritual 3y saying so9ething like &he 'ish is 9ine@/
or &he po'er is 'on@/ or &he spell is done@/ or even @So let it 3e/ god and goddess 'illing@= Many
practitioners add @$f it is right for 9e@= Wiccans often say at the end of the ritual/ @So 9ote it 3e@=
A &hree%>ay Candle Spell or +econciliation
P )n the first night/ light t'o pink candles (pink is the colour of <enus in her gentle aspect!/ one for
yourself and the other for the person fro9 'ho9 you are estranged=
P Set the candles apart at opposite ends of the ta3le and into the one you designate for the a3sent
person/ speak the 'ords you 'ould like to say if he or she 'ere present/ 'hether regrets or
forgiveness or 3oth=
P &hen/ into your o'n candle/ recall aloud the good Fualities of the other person=
P Blo' out your o'n candle/ sending a 9essage of love to 'herever the other person is=
P Blo' out his or her candle/ a3sor3ing positive feelings fro9 all the good ti9es you shared=
P )n the second night/ set the candles so that each has 9oved a Fuarter of the 'ay across the ta3le
to'ards the other=
P Again light the candles in turn/ this ti9e speaking into the other person@s candle thanks for the
kindnesses sho'n to you in the pastH into your o'n candle/ e;press 'hat you 9iss 9ost a3out the
relationship and 'ould like to rekindle=
P As you 3lo' out your candle/ send positive 'ishes for the other person@s happiness and a3sor3 the
light fro9 his or her candle as healing of unfair or harsh 'ords spoken in anger=
P )n the final evening/ place the candles so that they are al9ost touching and as you light your
candle/ e;press your hopes for happy ti9es together once 9ore=
P $nto the second candle/ 9ake pro9ises to try to 3e 9ore tolerant and understanding in future/ even if
you think the disagree9ent or estrange9ent 'as not your fault=
P &his ti9e/ leave the candles to 3urn do'n and sit in the candlelight/ looking at old photographs/
reading poetry or listening to 9usic you 3oth enGoyed=
P When the candles have 3urned do'n/ plan a si9ple non%confrontational gesture of friendship %
sending a postcard of a place you 3oth visited/ an e%9ail recounting 9utually pleasura3le ne's a3out
a Goint friend or fa9ily 9e93er/ or a s9all 3unch of favourite flo'ers= Even if the gesture of
reconciliation is refused/ you have freed yourself of 3itterness/ though you 9ay need to repeat the
ritual several ti9es if the hurt is deep=
A Spell or $ncreasing Self%Confidence
So9eti9es people around us % perhaps a critical relative/ a spiteful e;%lover or a thoughtless colleague
% can da9age our self%estee9= We look at 9edia ideals of loveliness and feel 'e are far fro9 the
i9age of perfection created 3y a society that 'orships youth= But if 'e can only 3elieve in ourselves
and love ourselves/ hey presto/ 'e radiate our o'n uniFue 3eauty and others are dra'n to us/ 3ecause
of this po'erful 3ut indefina3le personal 9agnetis9= &his spell is designed to 3oost that self%3elief=
P Around your 3athroo9/ light purple candles/ placed safely so that they cast pools of light on the
'ater 'hen you fill the 3ath=
P ?et the 'ater run and then turn off the taps and add five drops of rose essential oil and five of
ylangylang/
dropping the9 into the pools of light=
P Place a rose FuartA or a9ethyst crystal in the 'ater to strengthen self%love and approval=
P ?ie in the 'ater and s'irl the light pools in turn/ 9aking an affir9ation for each one/ for e;a9ple:
$ e;ist/ $ a9 uniFue/ la9 of 'orth/ $ have 9any gifts Mna9e the9N/ $ value 9yself/ 2ove 9yself/ $ a9
co9plete in 9yself/ $ treasure 'hat $ have and 'hat $ a9/ as $ a9 right no'=
P Continue to s'irl the light/ visualising it flo'ing 'ithin you/ 9aking you a 3ody of light and
loveliness=
P inally/ 9ake a 'ish for yourself in each light pool=
P When you are ready/ 'rap yourself in a soft to'el or ro3e and take out the plug/ saying:
>ou3ts and sorro'/ flo' fro9 9e/ 'hat $ 'ish/ $ can 3e=
P ?ook at yourself in the 9irror fra9ed 3y light and you 'ill see ho' your inner radiance creates true
3eauty that cannot fade=
P Carry the candles into your 3edroo9 or living roo9 and spend the rest of the evening reading a
special 3ook/ listening to 9usic or Gust drea9ing of golden to9orro's as you gaAe into the light=
A Spell &o +epel Spite/ Gossip )r Psychic Attack
&raditionally/ 'itch 3ottles filled 'ith rusty nails/ sour red 'ine (or even urine! and sprigs of
rose9ary 'ere 3uried under the doorstep of a house as an age%old 9ethod of keeping a'ay spite=
P &ake a dark 3ottle 'ith a cork and into it pour sour 9ilk/ old red 'ine and so9e dried rose9ary/
saying:
<iciousness and veno9/ 9alevolence and 9alice/ feelings turned sour/ envy and spiked tongues/
3egone=
P Close the 3ottle 'ith a cork and shake it over a sink/ saying:
Curdle and coil/ serpents of spite/ hiss and 9iss 9e/ spit 'here you 'ill do no har9=
P :ncork the 3ottle and run it under the cold tap until the 9i;ture has flo'ed a'ay and the 3ottle and
sink are clean=
P Add a fe' drops of tea tree oil to the 3ottle and pour so9e into the sink drain and rinse the 3ottle
again= Saying:
Anger cease/ go in peace=
#ote that you have neither attacked anyone nor even returned the spite= 8ou 'ill pro3a3ly find that
the other person 9ay 3e 9ore positive on the ne;t encounter= $f you are suffering fro9 an e9otional
va9pire 'ho drains you e9otionally/ add po'dered garlic to the 9i;= $t really 'orks=
A Binding Spell or Protecting Children Against Bullying
P Create a featureless i9age of clay to represent your child (or anyone you 'ish to protect % this could
3e your partner 'ho is 3eing 3ullied at 'ork 3y an over%critical 3oss!=
P Cover the i9age 'ith tiny/ clear FuartA crystals % these are e9po'ering as 'ell as protective=
P Set a ring of pink candles around the i9age=
P Gently 3reathe in the light and 3lo' it out around the i9age/ creating a protective pink sphere as
you e;hale=
P When you have done this/ e;tinguish the candles one 3y one/ sending the light into the clay/ saying:
Stand sy93ol for 9y child Mor partnerN= Protect hi9"her 'ith love and light fro9 all 'ho 'ould do
har9=
P Wrap the i9age in soft cotton 'ool or pink cloth and 'ith a pink ri33on tie the cloth 'ith three
knots/ saying:
$ 3ind thee in security/ fro9 all 'ho 'ould 3ring har9 to thee/ cocooned in peace and har9ony=
P Ieep the i9age very safely in a dra'er 'ith soft/ fluffy clothes= $f the pro3le9 still persists 'hen
the clay cru93les/ 9ake another i9age and carry out the spell again/ if necessary using golden
candles for stronger protection=
A +ainy >ay Spell &o Banish Sorro' )r A Bad 2a3it
P )n a large piece of dark paper/ 'ith either 'hite chalk or 'asha3le paint/ 'rite or dra' 'hat it is
you 'ish to lose=
P >ra' a sFuare round the 'ord or i9age to 9ark the li9itations of its po'er/ follo'ed 3y a diagonal
cross through the 'ords or i9age=
P Put the paper on paving stones as it 3egins to rain and standing in the rain 'atch the 'ords or i9age
3lur and disappear=
P When the paper has disintegrated/ say:
$t is gone/ it is done= #ought left of pain/ $ thank the rain=
P Scoop up the soaked paper and dispose of it in an outside 3in=
A Spell &o Attract &he +ight Person $nto 8our ?ife
$ have used this spell for people 'ho 'ish to call a current lover 'ho is 3eing over%reticent/ 3ut people
have told 9e after $ de9onstrated it on television that it 'orks Gust as 'ell for an unkno'n loverH so $
have 9odified it=
P &ake a 9ap either of your local area or country or a 'orld 9ap if you 'ant a lover fro9 afar=
P Scatter five roses across the 9ap/ saying:
#ear or far/ o@er land and sea/ a lover true $ call to 9e=
P ?ight a pure 'hite candle and taking a si;th rose (si; 3eing the nu93er of <enus and love!/ pluck
fro9 it in turn five petals and 3urn each in the candle fla9e/ saying:
Burn a path'ay to 9y door/ five rose petals no' are four/ our to three in candle fire/ 3ringing closer
9y desire= ro9 three to t'o $ 3urn the rose/ love no hesitation sho's/ ro9 t'o to one till there is
none/ the spell is done/ co9e/ lover/ co9e=
P Place the 9ap and the roses/ the candle and a vase 'ith the rose fro9 'hich you plucked the petals/
in a safe place near an uncurtained 'indo' until the candle has 3urned do'n=
P &hen put all the roses in the vase in your 3edroo9 and 'hen they die repeat the spell if necessary=
A Inot +itual or Making A Wish Co9e &rue
P #a9e your 'ish=
P &ake nine scarves or nine pieces of cord/ each a3out the length of a 3ootlace=
P Place the9 on a ta3le and slo'ly tie a loose knot in each so you secure the nine together in a circle/
saying 'ith increasing intensity:
By the knot of one/
the spell@s 3egun/
By the knot of t'o/
this drea9 co9e true=
By the knot of three/
the po'er@s in 9e/
By the knot of four/
$ 9ake it 9ore=
By the knot of five/
the spell@s alive/
By the knot of si;/
9y fate@s not fi;ed=
By the knot of seven/
9y cause is leaven/
By the knot of eight/
9y ai9 is straight=
By the knot of nine/
the 'ish is 9ine=
P &oss your scarves or knotted cords into the air and spiral round/ 'aving the9 and chanting/
My po'er rene'ed/ the drea9 is true/ &he 'ish is free/ so shall it 3e=
P Gradually/ slo' do'n and reduce your chant to a 'hisper until you are Fuite still=
P Sit and 9ake a nine%day plan for 9aking your 'ish 9aterialise and each 9orning untie one of your
knots as you repeat the chant=
A ertility Spell
P When the crescent 9oon is in the sky/ take a hen@s egg and paint or colour it 'ith per9anent 9arker
pens and decorate it 'ith Mother Goddess sy93ols/ such as spirals/ 3utterflies/ 3ees and 3irds=
P Place it on the 'indo' ledge of your 3edroo9 and leave it there until the night of the full 9oon=
P )n this night/ prick the egg gently 'ith a silver pin or paper knife=
P &he ne;t day/ early in the 9orning/ sprinkle it 'ith a fe' drops of al9ond or pure olive oil for
added fertility=
P Place the egg in one half of a coconut shell (the coconut is the 9ost potent fertility fruit! or a tiny
stra' 3asket/ and set your little 3oat sailing on a river or the outgoing tide= $f you cannot sail it/ 3ury
your egg and coconut shell 3eneath a 'illo' or alder tree and 'ater the soil 'ith Moon 'ater ('ater
that has 3een collected 'hen the full 9oon shines on it!=
P Make love 'henever you 'ish during the 9onth/ 3ut if possi3le on the night of the full 9oon=
&his spell 'ill not overco9e gynaecological pro3le9s/ 3ut can relieve an;iety and stress/ 'hich see9
to 3lock fertility=
A Spell &o Attract Money
P >uring the 'a;ing 9oon phase/ prepare a circle of si; green prosperity candles on a tray 9ade of
3rass or any shiny 9etal= :se s9all/ 3road%3ased candles so that the 'a; can flo' on to the tray=
P 2eap nine coins in the circle=
P ?ight the candles/ starting in the #orth/ saying:
?ight of increase/ sho'er on 9e 9oney and security= Bring/ $ ask/ prosperity=
P ?eaving the coins in the centre/ push the candles so that they are al9ost touching and the 'a; flo's
on to the coins= Allo' the candles to 3urn do'n=
P When the 'a; has hardened/ cut a disc containing the coins and sprinkle dried 3asil on the 'a; for
added prosperity=
P ?eave your coin a9ulet 'here it can catch any light/ day and night/ fro9 the 'a;ing to the full
9oon and 'hen the Moon 3egins to 'ane/ keep it 'rapped in silk in a dra'er= $f necessary/ repeat the
spell 'hen the crescent 9oon is in the sky/ turning it over three ti9e on the crescent=
A Spell &o Pass An E;a9ination )r A &est )r Succeed $n An $ntervie'
P &ake three s9all dishes of dried sage/ rose9ary and thy9e/ the her3s of 9e9ory and concentration=
P Choose a 3ook/ a 9anual or notes you have 9ade/ to sy93olise 'hat you need to kno' or
re9e93er=
P Scatter in turn a circle of each her3 round the 3ook/ 3eginning 'ith sage as the inner9ost circle/
then rose9ary and finally thy9e/ saying:
Sage/ rose9ary/ thy9e/ let this kno'ledge no' 3e 9ine/ $n the circles three/ 9e9ory increased 3e=
P Gather the three circles of her3s into a s9all purse or sachet= Ieep it 'ith you 'hile you study and
place it under your pillo' at night so you 9ay learn 'hile you sleep= 8ou can also take it to an
e;a9ination=
A Spell &o Get A Ko3
P ind or 'rite an advertise9ent for a Go3 you have seen in the ne'spaper or e9ploy9ent agency or
for one you 'ould like= $f you are creating a hypothetical position/ 3e specific a3out salary/ location/
etc= &he 9ore focused you are/ the 9ore po'erful the energies you generate fro9 'ithin/ 3ut keep a
'eather eye on reality/ so that you are not asking the i9possi3le of the cos9os=
P ?ight a really 3ig/ deep 3lue candle (3lue is the colour of Kupiter and e;cellent for Go3%hunting! and
place it in a holder on a 3road 9etal tray=
P +ead the advertise9ent several ti9es so you 9e9orise it and then for9 it into a taper and slo'ly
3urn it in the candle fla9e/ allo'ing the ash to fall on the tray=
P When the paper is 3urned/ gather the ash in a s9all 3o; or 3ag= ($f it goes out/ don@t 'orry % Gust
Orelight
it/ sho'ing your persistence and deter9ination to get the Go3=!
P Bury it 3eneath a po'er tree/ such as the oak or ash/ if possi3le on land near to your chosen place of
e9ploy9ent= $f you cannot find a tree/ 3ury the ash in a pot of 9int (9int is a po'erful energiser!=
A Spell or When 8ou Wish &o &ravel
P ind four dandelion clocks 'ith full/ 'hite seedheads/ and carry the9 in a s9all neck or 'aist
pouch to the top of a hill=
P :sing a co9pass/ find the direction of your chosen destination and/ facing it/ say:
#orth/ South/ East/ West/ take 9e 'here $ love the 3est % Mna9e the placeN=
P Spin round nine ti9es deosil/ saying:
far fro9 ho9e/ 9ay $ roa9/ ar to fly/ o@er sea or sky=
P #o' open your purse and 3lo' the dandelions clocks/ one for each direction/ 3eginning 'ith your
chosen one/ saying:
ly far/ fly free/ @cross land and sea/ With you $ go/ ?et it 3e so=
P inally/ run or 'alk fast do'n the hill/ reciting the na9e of your chosen destination as a 9antra=
P When you get ho9e/ 9ake a step/ ho'ever s9all/ to'ards planning your trip=
A Spell or Moving 2ouse
Whether you are stuck at the 3uying or selling stage/ this spell can get the energies 9oving to
conclude the deal= $f you are trying to sell your house/ use a door key fro9 your present property/ 3ut
if you are trying to 3uy a house/ use a 3rand ne' key=
P ind an estate agent@s picture of your present house or the one you 'ish to 3uy= )n top of it/ place
four frankincense or fern incense sticks/ to represent the sides of an invisi3le sFuare= $nside this
sFuare/ place the key=
P ?ight the four incense sticks/ saying for each:
May the 'inds of change 3lo' a'ay stagnation=
P &ake the incense set in the centre top of the sFuare and pass it three ti9es deosil round the key and
picture/ saying:
&hus $ re9ove one 'all and/ 'ith its po'er transfor9ed/ 9ove for'ard=
P Plunge the incense stick into a 3o'l of cold 'ater= &he end 'ill harden so that you can 'rite on
paper 'ith it like a pencil= Without thinking/ let 'ords for9 fro9 your 9agic pencil/ advising the ne;t
step you should take to 3ring closer the house 9ove=
P +epeat this for the other three sticks until you have 'ritten four steps 'ith the four incense sticks=
8ou 'ill find that the solutions you 'rote offer ne' avenues that you had not considered=
P Place the key and picture near an open 'indo' or door 'here the air can circulate round the9=
P Each evening/ place your key and picture on the ta3le and light a single frankincense stick to keep
the energies 9oving/ 'afting it round in three circles deosil/ saying:
May the 'inds of change 3lo' a'ay stagnation= $f you hit another i9passe/ repeat the ritual=
A Sea +itual or &he +eturn )f What $s ?ost
&his is 3ased on a very old custo9H 'ives of sailors 'ould keep a 3ottle of sea 'ater and then tip it
3ack into the 'aves Gust 3efore their hus3ands 'ere due ho9e= $f you cannot go to the shore/ use any
pond/ lake/ river or strea9= &he spell can 3e used for finding lost or stolen o3Gects/ pets/ or even
straying partners/ though 'ith the latter you 9ay decide not to 3other=
P Go to the seashore Gust 3efore high tide and/ in a 3ottle/ collect so9e sea 'ater/ saying:
?ady )cean/ Mother Sea/ $ take of yours/ not 'illingly/ 3ut as a token of 'hat $ lack/ $ ask your help
to 3ring hi9"her"it 3ack=
P Wait until the tide turns and tip the 'ater 3ack into the sea/ saying:
?ady )cean/ Mother Sea/ $ return 'hat is yours/ send 9ine 3ack to 9e=
P Cast flo'ers on the 'ater/ sending a silent 9essage to the person you have lost or 'hoever no' has
your 9issing ite9/ asking for its safe return % if it is right to 3e=
Spell &e9plate
&his guide can 3e used to help you create spells for every occasion=
$t lists all the 9aterials/ tools and stages that 9ay 3e included in a spell 3ut you 'ill not need to use
every ite9 every ti9e % so9e you 'ill only use for for9al rituals=
Preparation
P Choose the su3Gect 9atter of your spell/ 3earing in 9ind the &hreefold ?a'=
P #ote do'n the purpose of the spell and the order in 'hich you intend to 'ork= >ecide 'hether it
'ill 3e divided into phases/ such as invoking the four ele9ents/ raising and releasing the po'er (see
pages -7%(! or 9erge into one=
P Plan 'hat you are going to say and 'rite it do'n= (8ou 9ay of course let the 'ords co9e to you
spontaneously=!
P Choose the ti9e for your spell= Check the follo'ing influences:
&he seasons
&he eFuino;es
&he phase of the Moon
&he day of the 'eek
&he hour
P Check any ti9e li9its (for e;a9ple/ @May this spell hold s'ay until the Moon has e33ed a'ay@! and
ensure that you can adhere to the9=
P Choose the place for your spell= $f you are 'orking out of doors/ and it is a spell that 'ill last over
several days/ 3ear in 9ind any possi3le changes in the 'eather= Make sure you have enough roo9 for
the circle you intend to cast= Set up your altar in advance/ if you can=
P Choose candles for the altar/ to 9ark the Fuadrants of the circle and to represent people= Check they
are the right colour= Choose ele9ental candles=
P $nscri3e your candles=
P Anoint your candles=
P Choose your associated sy93ols that 'ill act as a focus for the spell=
P Choose your ele9ental tools=
P Choose your her3s= >ecide if you are going to e9po'er the9 3efore or during the cere9ony and
'rite do'n the 'ords if necessary= Make any sachets or poppets you intend to use=
P Choose your oils=
P Choose your incenses=
P Choose your crystals=
P Choose your ritual su3stances=
P Consecrate the ritual su3stances=
&he Cere9ony
P Cast your circle=
P $nvoke the ele9ents and angels=
P ocus on the sy93ol of the spell and declare your intentions=
P Endo' the sy93ol 'ith 9agical energies/ chanting if appropriate=
P +aise the po'er to a3sor3 energy fro9 the cos9os/ creating a cone of po'er=
P +elease the po'er/ sending it out into the cos9os=
P Close the energies do'n= P :ncast the circle=
P Ground the energies=
After &he Cere9ony
P >ispose of 9aterials % so9e 9ay need to 3e left out in the light of the Moon/ or 3uried or thro'n to
the 'indsH others 9ay 3e kept/ 'rapped in silk/ or sent to the person for 'ho9 the spell is intended=
P Blo' out all the candles/ unless they are to 3e left to 3urn do'n= $f this is the case/ 9ake sure there
is no risk of fire=
P Cleanse and recharge your tools=
Glossary
Akasha: &he fifth and greatest ele9ent/ for9ed 3y the co93ination of the ancient ele9ents of Earth/
Air/ ire and Water that 'ere considered in classical ti9es and 3y alche9ists to 3e the co9ponents of
all life and 9atter= Also so9eti9es called Spirit or Ether=
Akashic records: &he collective 9e9ory 3ank on the spirit plane said to hold the e;periences of all
people/ past/ present and future=
Al3an Arthuran: &he festival of the 9id%'inter solstice/ na9ed after Iing Arthur/ the legendary Sun
Iing/ 'hich takes place on or a3out *( >ece93er in the northern he9isphere=
Alpha 'aves: Brain 'aves/ cultivated in psychic 'ork/ that are associated 'ith a very rela;ed state of
9ind in 'hich it is possi3le for intuitive faculties to find e;pression=
A9ulet: A char9 carried on a person or placed in a house to offer protection against danger and
illness= When charged 'ith healing energies/ it 3eco9es a talis9an and can attract health and good
fortune=
Ani9a: &he ter9 coined 3y Carl Gustav Kung to represent the fe9ale po'er 'ithin 9en as 'ell as
'o9en=
Ani9us: Kung@s ter9 for the 9ale po'er 'ithin 'o9en and 9en= Ankh: An Egyptian sy93ol of
eternal life=
Archangels: 2igher orders of angels/ celestial 3eings featuring in the cos9ologies of the three 9aGor
religions of the Western 'orld/ Christianity/ Kudais9/ and $sla9/ as 'ell as 9any other 'orld
religions=
Atha9e: A dou3le%edged knife used in for9al ritual 9agick=
Auric field"aura: &he personal energy field around all ani9ate life/ visi3le to clairvoyants=
Beltain: &he Celtic festival of su99er/ 3eginning on ,7 April and lasting for three days=
Bicar9el 9ind: A 'ay of thinking that uses 3oth he9ispheres of the 9ind/ the logical and the
intuitive/ rather than the left (logical! he9isphere predo9inating as is nor9al in adults=
Book of Shado's: A 3ook of reference containing 9agical spells/ her3s/ flo'ers/ incenses and 9oon
phases/ etc=
Caduceus: &he staff of the classical 9essenger of the gods (2er9es to the Greeks and Mercury to the
+o9ans!/ shaped like t'o snakes/ ent'ined in a dou3le circle=
Cardinal: Principal/ as in the four cardinal directions set round a circle % #orth/ South/ East/ and
West= Also a ter9 applied to the astrological signs of Aries/ Cancer/ ?i3ra and Capricorn/ 3ecause
'hen the Sun 9oved into these signs it 9arked the start of a ne' season= &hose 3orn under a cardinal
sign 9anifest this Fuality as a desire to initiate and to take co99and of people and situations=
Cauldron of :ndry: A 9agical cauldron/ one of the original four Celtic treasures/ that could provide
an endless supply of nourish9ent and had great healing and restorative po'ers= Believed 3y so9e
scholars to 3e the inspiration for the 2oly Grail=
Censer: A container for granular incense that is 3urned on charcoal= Also called a thuri3le=
Chalice: A cup or go3let 9ade of glass/ crystal/ pottery or 9etal/ traditionally silver/ used in
cere9onies to represent the Water ele9ent and to hold 'ine/ Guice or 'ater=
Charge: A declaration of the po'er and 3enevolence of the Goddess (or god! in Wicca/ si9ilar to the
Creed in other religions= $t is spoken usually in the first person and is so9eti9es 3elieved to 3e the
'ords of the Goddess channelled through the speaker=
Ch@i: &he invisi3le life force/ the flo' of positive energy through everything/ pro9oting gro'th/
health and vitality=
Clairaudience: A natural psychic a3ility to hear sounds 3eyond the range of the physical sounds and
the physical ear/ so9eti9es fro9 other di9ensions= Mediu9s often co99unicate 'ith spirits 3y
hearing their voices and so can convey 9essages to relatives or friends in 'ho9 the a3ility is not so
developed=
Coven: A 9eeting of any group/ nu93ering fro9 t'o to (, practitioners/ 'ho 9eet together to
perfor9 9agick=
>eosil: Clock'ise/ or/ literally @in the direction of the Sun@= &he direction used in creating a circle/ in
all for9s of attracting 9agic and for giving healing energies= See also Widdershins=
>evas: &he angelic 3eings 'ho 'atch and direct the natural 'orld= $n for9al 9agick/ one >eva rules
over each seg9ent of a 9agical circle and one of the four ele9ents of ire/ Water/ Air and Earth= Also
kno'n as the >evic ?ords of the Watchto'er=
>hoop: An incense stick like a slender rope/ fro9 $ndia=
&he >ivinity: Generic ter9 for the ulti9ate source of goodness/ light and creation=
>Ginn: An invisi3le/ shapeshifting creature of fire and air/ originating in the Middle East= $n $sla9ic
tradition/ dGinns live in a parallel universe and so are invisi3le/ created/ it is said/ 3efore 9ortals fro9
s9okeless fire=
>ruids: Celtic high priests and 'ise 9en (and 'o9en! 'ho preserved a co99on culture/ religion/
history/ la's/ scholarship/ healing/ 9agic and science a9ongst the disparate Celtic tri3es= &here is
historical evidence of >ruids in $reland/ England/ Wales and Gaul and it 'ould see9 that they also
held s'ay in the Celtic settle9ents of Spain/ $taly/ Galatia and the >anu3e valley/ although under a
different na9e=
Eightfold Wheel of the 8ear: An ancient 9agical and spiritual division of the year/ for9alised 3y
the Celts/ though possi3ly dating 3ack to the first agricultural societies=
Ele9entals: &he forces or energies that in nature and 9agick give shape to living things and 3ring
thoughts and desires into actuality=
EFuino;: &he t'o ti9es of the year 'hen day and night are eFual %na9ely/ the spring eFuino; around
*( March (*( Septe93er in the southern he9isphere! and the autu9n eFuino; around ** Septe93er
(** March in the southern he9isphere!= $n Celtic 9yth these 'ere the ti9es 'hen the t'in gods of
light and darkness fought each other for control=
Es3at: A 9onthly coven 9eeting traditionally held (, ti9es a year during each full 9oon=
Evil eye: A 'ay of trans9itting negativity to another person/ not as a deli3erate curse/ 3ut through
feelings of envy/ Gealousy or resent9ent=
Evocation: &he su99oning%up of angels (and so9eti9es de9ons! in order to 3ind the9 to perfor9
tasks=
i;ed: $n astrology/ a ter9 applied to the signs of ?eo/ &aurus/ AFuarius and Scorpio 3ecause the Sun
enters the9 in the 9iddle of a season= &hose 3orn under these signs e;hi3it sta3ility and a tendency to
continue in a predeter9ined path= See also Cardinal/ Muta3le=
&he Goddess: &he archetype or source energy of the fe9inine ulti9ate po'er or principle= All the
na9ed goddesses are aspects of particular Fualities of the Goddess in different cultures=
Grail: &he chalice that Christ used at the ?ast Supper/ in 'hich 2is 3lood 'as collected after the
crucifi;ion=
Grail guardians: #ine 9aidens/ so9eti9es associated 'ith the guardians of sacred 'ells or 'ith the
nine priestesses of the $sle of Avalon 'ho included Morgan le ay/ Arthur@s half%sister/ and <ivien/
the ?ady of the ?ake in Arthurian tradition 'ho acco9panied Arthur on his funeral 3arge= $n so9e
Grail legends/ the Inights &e9plar 'ere the traditional guardians of various holy relics/ including the
Grail Cup/ that 'ere 3rought 3ack fro9 the Crusades=
Grail treasures: &he 9ain ele9ental ritual ite9s in 9agick/ associated 'ith the treasures of the Celts/
and having parallels in Christianity=
2andfastings: A popular 9arriage rite a9ong Wiccans/ na9ed after the focal point of the rite in
'hich a couple@s right hands are loosely Goined 3y a cord to sy93ol the uniting of the t'o people/
3ody/ 9ind and soul=
2edge 'itches: ?one 'itchesH the na9e co9es fro9 the practice of village 'ise 'o9en surrounding
their ho9es 'ith a hedge of ha'thorn/ a 9agical tree that afforded privacy fro9 the curious=
&he 2orned God: &he 9ale principle in Wicca/ ?ord of the 2unt/ the 2erds/ Winter and the
:nder'orld= Ino'n to the Celts as Cernunnos/ the generic na9e for @horned one@=
$93olc: &he Celtic festival of early spring= A ire festival/ christianised as Candle9as on ( e3ruary=
Also kno'n as )i9elc=
$99anent: :sually refers to a god or the GoddessH indicating that they are 9anifest 'ithin the o3Gect
of their creation/ as the divine spark 'ithin people= See also &ranscendent=
$nner%plane teaching: Contacting through 9editation or rituals the cos9ic 9e9ory 3ank or Akashic
records in order to tap into the great e;isting 9agical syste9s and 'isdo9 'ithout e;ternal for9al
teaching=
$nvocation: &he process 3y 'hich the 'isdo9 and 3enign po'ers of the natural 'orld and of higher
planes of consciousness/ associated 'ith the evolved self and divine po'er/ are dra'n into oneself=
Medieval 9agicians 'ould invoke spirits to take over their 3odies %dangerous and 9ind%3lo'ing=
Iar9a: &he concept that the good and 3ad deeds and thoughts accu9ulated in an individual lifeti9e
9ay either progress us for'ards to spiritual perfection or 9ean 'e need to learn lessons in su3seFuent
lives in order to right our 9istakes=
?itha: &he Celtic festival of light/ held around the 9idsu99er solstice on *( Kune=
?ughnassadh: &he Celtic festival of the first corn harvest/ held fro9 ,( Kuly to * August in the
northern he9isphere= Christianised as ?a99as (@loaf 9ass@!/ the day on 'hich loaves of 3read 'ere
3aked fro9 the first grain harvest and placed on the altar to sy93olise the first fruits=
Ma3on: &he second Celtic harvest festival of the autu9n eFuino;/ around ** Septe93er=
Medicine Wheel: A concept central to all #ative A9erican 9agick= &he 'heels link the celestial/
hu9an and natural cycles= Also kno'n as the Circle of Po'er=
Morphic resonance: &he spreading of good'ill and positivity/ through 9agick and good deeds/ to
increase the 3enign energies of the Earth and cos9os=
Mother Goddess: &he giver of all life and fertility and 9other of the ani9als/ 'orshipped 3y
huntergatherer
societies since paleolithic ti9es= $n the sha9anic religions in Si3eria and ?apland/ the Mother
of the 2erds is still a central icon of po'er= >uring the neolithic period/ the Mother Goddess 'as the
3ringer of fertility to the land as 'ell as to ani9als and hu9ans= Gradually/ she ca9e to 3e seen as the
'ife of the great Sky Gods= She survives in the for9 of Mary in the Christian religion=
Muta3le: &he 9uta3le signs of the Aodiac are Sagittarius/ Ge9ini/ <irgo and Pisces/ as 'hen the Sun
enters the9 the seasons are a3out to change= &hose 3orn under the9 are correspondingly versatile and
ready to co9pro9ise=
)i9elc: See $93olc=
)stara: &he Celtic festival of the spring eFuino;=
Pentacle: A ritual ite9/ sy93ol of the Earth/ consisting of a flat/ round disc/ engraved 'ith a
pentagra9=
Pentagra9: A five%pointed diagra9/ one of the 9ost sacred geo9etric for9s in 9agick= Each of the
five points represents one of the five ele9ental po'ers= &he upper9ost/ single point is sy93olic of
Spirit/ or Akasha=
Poppet: A featureless doll 9ade of cloth that is filled 'ith her3s and used in healing or as a talis9an
to attract love or fertility= $t 9ay also 3e 9ade of clay and used as a focus for positive 9agick to 3eing
health or happiness to the person represented 3y it=
Po'er hand: &he hand you 'rite 'ith/ used to trans9it assertive and creative energies= See also
+eceptive hand=
Quarters: &he four seg9ents of a 9agical circle= Each is associated 'ith specific archangels/ colours/
crystals/ her3s/ incenses/ ritual tools/ etc=
+eceptive hand: &he hand you do not 'rite 'ith= :sed for receiving energies= See also Po'er hand=
+ede: A rule or 9oral code= &he Wiccan +ede states: An M$fN it har9 none/ do 'hat you 'ill@/ and so
ensures all 9agick has a positive intent=
Sa33at: )ne of eight special days of the year on 'hich Wiccan cele3rations are held % the solstices/
the eFuino;es and the Celtic ire festivals=
Sa9hain: &he Celtic ire festival of the ne' year/ cele3rated at the end of su99er=
Scrying: Seeing 9agical i9ages in a reflective 9ediu9/ such as a crystal 3all/ 9irror or a natural
9oving source of inspiration/ such as fire/ 'ater or clouds= &he 'ord @scry@ co9es fro9 the Anglo%
Sa;on 'ord descry/ 'hich 9eans @to perceive di9ly@=
Sha9anis9: Possi3ly the oldest spiritual practice in the 'orld/ continued today in co99unities as far
apart as $ndia/ Australia/ Kapan and China/ Si3eria and Mongolia/ in Africa/ a9ong the Bedouins in
the Middle East and in #orth/ Central and South A9erica=
Sky%clad: #aked=
Sky Gods: &he po'erful patriarchal gods of the classical and <iking 'orld/ for e;a9ple 0eus of the
Greeks/ Kupiter of the +o9ans/ )din of the <ikings and &hunor of the Anglo%Sa;ons= &hey gained
supre9acy over the Earth Mother 'ho appears as their 'ife%consort/ full of hu9an foi3les=
Solstice: )ne of the 9ain astrono9ical points of the year= &he su99er solstice (*( Kune/ or *(
>ece93er in the southern he9isphere! 9arks the Sun at its height and greatest po'er= &he 'inter
solstice (*( >ece93er or *( Kune! is the shortest day 'hen the Sun is at its 'eakest and it 'as feared
3y early hu9ans that the Sun 'ould die=
Spirit guides: Guardians fro9 another di9ension 'ho advise and protect hu9ans= &hey 9ay 3e
deceased relatives/ 'ise teachers/ for e;a9ple #ative A9ericans/ angels or evolved essences 'ho
never assu9ed 9ortal for9=
&alis9an: A char9 or a9ulet that has 3een charged 'ith specific healing or 9agical energies to
9ake it po'erful and to attract health/ 'ealth or luck= $t tends to 3eco9e 9ore po'erful the 9ore it is
used=
&arot: A pack of 45 highly illustrated cards often used in rituals to represent people or Fualities that
are 3eing sought in a spell=
&hreefold ?a': A la' in Wicca that states that 'hatever you do or send to others/ good or 3ad/ 'ill
3e returned to you threefold % a great incentive to positive thought and action=
&huri3le: See Censer=
&ranscendent: &er9 used of god for9s to e;press the 3elief that their e;istence e;tends 3eyond and
is separate fro9 creation= See also $99anent=
&riple Goddess: A concept of a deity found in 9any cultures= May represent the three 9ain phases of
the Moon % 9aiden/ 9other and crone % or/ as in Celtic tradition especially/ three sisters=
&ulpa: A thought for9 created 3y 9edieval occultists seeking 9astery over the ele9ental 3eings that
they fashioned 3y their incantations= $n e;tre9e cases a tulpa 9ight destroy its creator %hence the
'arnings of the &hreefold ?a'=
Wheel of the 8ear: See Eightfold Wheel of the 8ear=
Wicca: A conte9porary/ neo%pagan religion that regards the divine life source as a part of nature/ not
a force 3eyond creation= &his divine source of life is 9anifest as the god and goddess 'ithin
everything living/ 9ale and fe9ale/ ani9al/ 3ird/ tree and flo'er= So9eti9es regarded as the oldest
religion on the 'orld=
Wiccan +ede: See +ede=
Widdershins: Anti%clock'ise/ 9oon'ise/ or against the Sun= &he direction used in closing a circle/
3anishing or re9oving pain and in 3anishing 9agick generally= See also >eosil=
8in and yang: &he co9ple9entary co9ponents of everything in life/ according to ancient Chinese
philosophy= 8ang is the original Sun concept of light/ po'er/ 9asculinity/ assertiveness/ logic and
action= $t controls heaven and all things positive= $t is 3alanced 3y 8in/ the original Moon concept of
darkness/ receptivity/ fe9ininity/ intuition/ acceptance and inaction= 8in controls the Earth and all
things negative=