I would like to thank several important people in my life who have stood by me year after year and helped me achieve the goals I wanted.
First and foremost Ziere and all my guides who have helped me make life changing decisions, they have guided me through many troubled times and shown me light and love beyond my dreams.
Two of the most loved women in my life, my mother Lynn and my sister Debra; they are truly goddesses in their own right.
The important men in my life, my father Frank, my brothers, David, Christopher & Jeremiah and my son, Joshua.
One amazing woman who have inspired me, encouraged me, listened to me complain and helped fill my life with laughter and love; Phyllis.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Chapter 18: Herbs and Their Properties
Below are some of the magickal properties for herbs and other plant materials found in essential oils and incenses. This list is by no means complete. Many herbs have additional properties such as therapeutic uses in alternative healing and aromatherapy. Many herbs also have unique characteristics when used in combination with other substances. Do not ingest any herb without completely researching it first. Do not replace medical treatment with herbs with out the consent of a professional.
Courage: Cedar, Musk, Sweet Pea, Yarrow Flower
Exorcisms: Angelica Root, Clove, Clover, Frankincense, Mistletoe, Myrrh, Pine, Rosemary, Sandalwood
Fertility: Geranium, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Musk, Patchouli, Pine, Rose Geranium
Healing: Allspice, Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Gardenia, Jasmine, Mugwort, Pine
Love: Apple Blossom, Catnip, Cherry, Cinnamon, Clove, Clover, Dragon’s Blood, Gardenia, Geranium, Ginger, Ginseng, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lily of the Valley, Lotus, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Orange, Orris, Peppermint, Plumeria, Rose, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Spearmint, Strawberry, Vanilla, Vervain, Violet, Wormwood, Yarrow Flowers, Ylang Ylang
Luck: Allspice, Bayberry, Catnip, Nutmeg, Orange, Rose, Strawberry, Violet
Money: Allspice, Almond, Bayberry, Cedar, Chamomile, Clove, Clover, Comfrey, Ginseng, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Mandrake, Nutmeg, Orange, Patchouli, Pine, Vervain
Peace: Amber, Bayberry, Gardenia, Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia, Narcissus, Pennyroyal, Vervain, Violet, Ylang Ylang
Prosperity: Almond
Protection: Acacia, Angelica Root, Anise, Blessed Thistle, Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Clove, Clover, Dragon’s Blood, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Hyssop, Juniper, Lavender, Lotus, Mandrake, Marigold, Mistletoe, Myrrh, Patchouli, Pennyroyal, Pine, Plumeria, Rose, Rose Geranum, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Vervain, Wormwood
Psychic Awareness: Acacia, Camphor, Cinnamon, Juniper, Lemongrass, Marigold, Mugwort, Peppermint, Rose, Yarrow Flowers
Purification: Anise, Blessed Thistle, Cedar, Hyssop, Lemon, Vervain
Self Confidence: Amber
Sleep: Chamomile, Jasmine, Lavender, Passion Flower, Rosemary
Spirituality: Frankincense, Gardenia, Lotus, Myrrh, Sandalwood
Courage: Cedar, Musk, Sweet Pea, Yarrow Flower
Exorcisms: Angelica Root, Clove, Clover, Frankincense, Mistletoe, Myrrh, Pine, Rosemary, Sandalwood
Fertility: Geranium, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Musk, Patchouli, Pine, Rose Geranium
Healing: Allspice, Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Gardenia, Jasmine, Mugwort, Pine
Love: Apple Blossom, Catnip, Cherry, Cinnamon, Clove, Clover, Dragon’s Blood, Gardenia, Geranium, Ginger, Ginseng, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lily of the Valley, Lotus, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Orange, Orris, Peppermint, Plumeria, Rose, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Spearmint, Strawberry, Vanilla, Vervain, Violet, Wormwood, Yarrow Flowers, Ylang Ylang
Luck: Allspice, Bayberry, Catnip, Nutmeg, Orange, Rose, Strawberry, Violet
Money: Allspice, Almond, Bayberry, Cedar, Chamomile, Clove, Clover, Comfrey, Ginseng, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Mandrake, Nutmeg, Orange, Patchouli, Pine, Vervain
Peace: Amber, Bayberry, Gardenia, Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia, Narcissus, Pennyroyal, Vervain, Violet, Ylang Ylang
Prosperity: Almond
Protection: Acacia, Angelica Root, Anise, Blessed Thistle, Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Clove, Clover, Dragon’s Blood, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Hyssop, Juniper, Lavender, Lotus, Mandrake, Marigold, Mistletoe, Myrrh, Patchouli, Pennyroyal, Pine, Plumeria, Rose, Rose Geranum, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Vervain, Wormwood
Psychic Awareness: Acacia, Camphor, Cinnamon, Juniper, Lemongrass, Marigold, Mugwort, Peppermint, Rose, Yarrow Flowers
Purification: Anise, Blessed Thistle, Cedar, Hyssop, Lemon, Vervain
Self Confidence: Amber
Sleep: Chamomile, Jasmine, Lavender, Passion Flower, Rosemary
Spirituality: Frankincense, Gardenia, Lotus, Myrrh, Sandalwood
Chapter 17: Crystals and Their Properties
Crystals have been used in magick since time began and now they are making a come back. They are very popular today among the teenagers for jewelry. Most crystals are very easy to come by and not to expensive. You can use them in your spells or to decorate your altar. We keep them scattered around our house for various reasons. Each crystal is used for a certain thing but most of them complement each other. Below is a basic list of crystal and their properties.
Agate, Botswana: Stress reducer
Agate, Green Moss: Energy restoring
Amazonite: Money
Amber: Strength
Amethyst: Spiritual awareness
Apache Tears: Luck
Aventurine: Mental awareness
Bloodstone: Physical strength
Carnelian: Self confidence
Fluorite: Stress reducer
Garnet: Strength
Hematite: Grounding
Jasper, Red: Protects from negative energy
Lapis: Wisdom
Lepidolite: Calming
Lodestone, Green: Money
Lodestone, Red: Love
Malachite: Protection
Mother of Pearl: Money
Quartz, Rose: Love and happiness
Quartz, Smoky: Mood elevator
Quartz, Yellow: Protection
Rock Crystal: Protection
Sodalite: Wisdom
Tiger-eye: Wealth
Tourmaline, Black: Grounding
Agate, Botswana: Stress reducer
Agate, Green Moss: Energy restoring
Amazonite: Money
Amber: Strength
Amethyst: Spiritual awareness
Apache Tears: Luck
Aventurine: Mental awareness
Bloodstone: Physical strength
Carnelian: Self confidence
Fluorite: Stress reducer
Garnet: Strength
Hematite: Grounding
Jasper, Red: Protects from negative energy
Lapis: Wisdom
Lepidolite: Calming
Lodestone, Green: Money
Lodestone, Red: Love
Malachite: Protection
Mother of Pearl: Money
Quartz, Rose: Love and happiness
Quartz, Smoky: Mood elevator
Quartz, Yellow: Protection
Rock Crystal: Protection
Sodalite: Wisdom
Tiger-eye: Wealth
Tourmaline, Black: Grounding
Chapter 16: Divination
There are several forms of divination available to today’s modern witch. You have a hundred different tarot decks to choose from, runes to cast, astrology, scrying mirrors, scrying goblets, crystal balls, reading sticks, reading tea leaves even reading clouds. Here are a few of the more commonly known ways of divination.
Tarot Cards.
We have all seen them some of us have even had our cards read. Tarot cards are easily available in most bookstores. The most common deck is the Raider Waite deck. It has been around for years and is the one you hear about most often. There are 72 cards in a deck. The deck is broken up into two categories the Major and Minor Arcana. They further divided into four sections, Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles. You can do several layouts but the most common is the Celtic Cross. Tarot is a good tool to know but it does take time to learn it.
The difference between all the decks is the interpretation of the creator. Each card holds a specific meaning. The pictures on the cards have several things that you need to know about in order to read that card correctly. Many decks use the basic Rider Waite definition for the cards and others have created their own explanation. Each deck will come with a book, be sure to read it completely in order to understand what you are reading. It was once thought that the only way to get a deck of Tarot cards was to be given it as a gift. If this were true, I would still be waiting for my first deck. Go to the store look at all the cards they have, research them and make the choice based on what you like.
Runes
Runes are an ancient form of divination and also an ancient alphabet. They date back to the first century and the alphabet was widely circulated until sometime in the Middle Ages. Each rune has a literal meaning and each one translates into a word or a phrase signifying concepts important to people whom used them. Runes were craved into tools, weapons, rocks, altars or other personal items. There were used by clergy as an alternative to the Latin alphabet. You read the runes by casting them on the ground and reading them in the order the lay.
Runes are very easy item to make and it only takes some creativity and time. You can make runes out of almost anything you like, stones, gems, crystals, pieces of wood, or clay. Carve, draw or paint the symbols of the runes on each piece and go at it. You can have several sets if you like and use them when you want. Just have fun, and be creative.
Scrying
Scrying is a form of divination where you look deeply into a reflective surface and look for a vision. You can use your cauldron or chalice filled with water, a Scrying mirror, crystal ball or the flames of a fire. Once you have your scrying source you simply meditate on the area and wait to see what is revealed to you.
Tarot Cards.
We have all seen them some of us have even had our cards read. Tarot cards are easily available in most bookstores. The most common deck is the Raider Waite deck. It has been around for years and is the one you hear about most often. There are 72 cards in a deck. The deck is broken up into two categories the Major and Minor Arcana. They further divided into four sections, Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles. You can do several layouts but the most common is the Celtic Cross. Tarot is a good tool to know but it does take time to learn it.
The difference between all the decks is the interpretation of the creator. Each card holds a specific meaning. The pictures on the cards have several things that you need to know about in order to read that card correctly. Many decks use the basic Rider Waite definition for the cards and others have created their own explanation. Each deck will come with a book, be sure to read it completely in order to understand what you are reading. It was once thought that the only way to get a deck of Tarot cards was to be given it as a gift. If this were true, I would still be waiting for my first deck. Go to the store look at all the cards they have, research them and make the choice based on what you like.
Runes
Runes are an ancient form of divination and also an ancient alphabet. They date back to the first century and the alphabet was widely circulated until sometime in the Middle Ages. Each rune has a literal meaning and each one translates into a word or a phrase signifying concepts important to people whom used them. Runes were craved into tools, weapons, rocks, altars or other personal items. There were used by clergy as an alternative to the Latin alphabet. You read the runes by casting them on the ground and reading them in the order the lay.
Runes are very easy item to make and it only takes some creativity and time. You can make runes out of almost anything you like, stones, gems, crystals, pieces of wood, or clay. Carve, draw or paint the symbols of the runes on each piece and go at it. You can have several sets if you like and use them when you want. Just have fun, and be creative.
Scrying
Scrying is a form of divination where you look deeply into a reflective surface and look for a vision. You can use your cauldron or chalice filled with water, a Scrying mirror, crystal ball or the flames of a fire. Once you have your scrying source you simply meditate on the area and wait to see what is revealed to you.
Chapter 15: Spells
Spells are one of the reasons people are attracted to Wicca and Witchcraft. The thought of being able to say a few words to make someone fall in love with you is a very enticing offer. However, spells are something that must be taken very seriously and never abused. Many will use the fact that we do spells as a way of making fun of us, but if you think about it there is really not much difference between a spell and a prayer. You are asking someone for help or something you need.
There are a few rules that go with spell casting, of course the main one being our own Rede and also you are never allowed to cast a spell to control another person. This rule includes, love spells and well as protection spells. Many do not realize that they are in fact, violating a person by casting a protection spell over them without their knowledge. If you feel that someone close to you needs a protection spell talk to her about it and see what she says. They may be scared to death by the offer if they do not know enough about it. Something you can do is offering a talisman that is created as a protection device. Then the person has the option of taking it or not.
Remember, that when you write a spell it is yours and yours alone. You want to make sure that you know exactly whom you give it to. I prefer not to give any spells that I have created out to other people. I have used spells that others have offered and they have worked okay, but my spells are very personal and I like to keep them close to me.
When you start to write a spell you want to take a few things into consideration. The spell will work best if it is done on the right day at the right time and when the moon is at the right phase. Your spell, like your ritual, should be very exact, with no room for doubt. Certain colors also help your spells to work properly.
The Moon Phases
When the moon is waxing (from dark to full) it provides good energy for growth or enhancement spells, beginnings, fresh starts, with things such as business or love. When the moon is full this is the time to do difficult spells. The moon is at its most powerful. The Waning moon (full to dark) is usually used for spells that are calling for peace in separation or eliminating something. When the moon is dark, it is called “void of course” and we do not cast spells. This is a time of relaxation and regeneration.
The Sun Phases
The sun can also help in your spell work. The sunrise is a time for spells that are for beginnings, changes and cleansing, it can also help with rejuvenation. The Morning Sun is strong and active this is good for any spell that is for building, growth or expansion. The Noon Time Sun is when the sun has reached its peak. The vibrations are great for spells for mental abilities, health and physical energy; you can also charge crystals, stones or metal tools during the Noon Sun. The Afternoon Sun is a receptive sun so any work that involves professionalism, business matters, communication and clarity should be done at this time. The Sunset removes stress and confusion and is for spells that require reduction or alleviation of stress.
Days of the Week
The day of the week also plays a part in the effectiveness of your spell.
Monday: Spells dealing with women, home and hearth, family, garden, travel and medicine.
Tuesday: Spells dealing with conflict, physical endurance and strength.
Wednesday: Spells dealing with inspiration, communication, studying, learning or teaching.
Thursday: Spells dealing with material gains.
Friday: Spells dealing with pleasure, comfort and luxury.
Saturday: Spells dealing with reincarnation, karmic lesson and mysteries of life.
Sunday: Spells dealing with business partners, work promotions, business ventures or professional success.
So what do you do after you take all of this into consideration, cast your spell and nothing happens. You feel cheated; you think the Goddess was not listening to you. Try to remember this is not something that happens instantly. Sometimes it takes awhile for you to see the results. Sometimes there are no results; the spell just did not work. These things happen. Spells take some practice; there is no instant gratification, you have to work at it. But over time as you become more comfortable and you are writing your own spells and adding your own energy you will see the results. Just be patient.
There are a few rules that go with spell casting, of course the main one being our own Rede and also you are never allowed to cast a spell to control another person. This rule includes, love spells and well as protection spells. Many do not realize that they are in fact, violating a person by casting a protection spell over them without their knowledge. If you feel that someone close to you needs a protection spell talk to her about it and see what she says. They may be scared to death by the offer if they do not know enough about it. Something you can do is offering a talisman that is created as a protection device. Then the person has the option of taking it or not.
Remember, that when you write a spell it is yours and yours alone. You want to make sure that you know exactly whom you give it to. I prefer not to give any spells that I have created out to other people. I have used spells that others have offered and they have worked okay, but my spells are very personal and I like to keep them close to me.
When you start to write a spell you want to take a few things into consideration. The spell will work best if it is done on the right day at the right time and when the moon is at the right phase. Your spell, like your ritual, should be very exact, with no room for doubt. Certain colors also help your spells to work properly.
The Moon Phases
When the moon is waxing (from dark to full) it provides good energy for growth or enhancement spells, beginnings, fresh starts, with things such as business or love. When the moon is full this is the time to do difficult spells. The moon is at its most powerful. The Waning moon (full to dark) is usually used for spells that are calling for peace in separation or eliminating something. When the moon is dark, it is called “void of course” and we do not cast spells. This is a time of relaxation and regeneration.
The Sun Phases
The sun can also help in your spell work. The sunrise is a time for spells that are for beginnings, changes and cleansing, it can also help with rejuvenation. The Morning Sun is strong and active this is good for any spell that is for building, growth or expansion. The Noon Time Sun is when the sun has reached its peak. The vibrations are great for spells for mental abilities, health and physical energy; you can also charge crystals, stones or metal tools during the Noon Sun. The Afternoon Sun is a receptive sun so any work that involves professionalism, business matters, communication and clarity should be done at this time. The Sunset removes stress and confusion and is for spells that require reduction or alleviation of stress.
Days of the Week
The day of the week also plays a part in the effectiveness of your spell.
Monday: Spells dealing with women, home and hearth, family, garden, travel and medicine.
Tuesday: Spells dealing with conflict, physical endurance and strength.
Wednesday: Spells dealing with inspiration, communication, studying, learning or teaching.
Thursday: Spells dealing with material gains.
Friday: Spells dealing with pleasure, comfort and luxury.
Saturday: Spells dealing with reincarnation, karmic lesson and mysteries of life.
Sunday: Spells dealing with business partners, work promotions, business ventures or professional success.
So what do you do after you take all of this into consideration, cast your spell and nothing happens. You feel cheated; you think the Goddess was not listening to you. Try to remember this is not something that happens instantly. Sometimes it takes awhile for you to see the results. Sometimes there are no results; the spell just did not work. These things happen. Spells take some practice; there is no instant gratification, you have to work at it. But over time as you become more comfortable and you are writing your own spells and adding your own energy you will see the results. Just be patient.
Chapter 14: Sabbats
The Sabbats are the holidays that a Wiccan celebrates. There are eight of them in a year Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon and Samhain.
I can sit for hours and tell you how the Christian took our holidays and made them their own but that would be just wasting time and telling you something you already know. It is a proven and known fact that Christians picked the day that their God was born to be next to the day the Pagan God was born. It was easier to keep the people converted if you gave them holidays to celebrate. And instead of making them change their habits they just took already existing holidays and used them and changed their meaning. Many of our Sabbats are still used today by farmers, whether they know it or not, they check their almanacs to find out when will be the best time to plant and harvest their crops. This is what the people did many centuries ago and being as it was the busiest and most celebrate time they would hold festivals to thank the Gods for their bounty or to ask for a bountiful harvest when planting.
Many of the traditions that existed back then are still used today. You still hear the word Yule used at Christmas time. Many just think it is a happy word. The mistletoe was a Pagan tradition that is still used today. Bringing in a Christmas tree was derived from the Pagan’s bringing in the Yule Log and lighting it. How many of you make sure your tree is down by New Years or it will be bad luck. This is a Pagan tradition as well, they felt that the Yule Log had to be complete by the twelfth night or the year would be bad. But, Yule is not the only holiday that was used to create modern day celebrations. Ostara is now Easter. Did you ever wonder what colored eggs and bunnies had to do with Jesus dying? Well nothing. But to Pagan’s the eggs and bunnies represented fertility and reproduction. Groundhog’s Day on February 2nd was Imbolc; Pagan’s took this time to look at the coming spring. Winter was behind them and the animals where starting to prepare to have their young. It was a time of hope of things to come. Now we use the Groundhog to tell us whether spring is coming or not.
So as you can see the holidays have been there all along they are just now being returned to the rightful owners again.
Yule
Date Celebrated: December 21
Also Called: Winter Solstice
History: Yule is the celebration of the rebirth of the God from the virgin Goddess. It is the shortest day of the year. The typical Yule celebration lasted 12 days and started the eve before the Solstice. This is where the song “12 Days of Christmas” got its roots. In ancient Egypt it was a time to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun God, Ra and to celebrate the creation of the universe.
Traditions: The Yule Log came from the Celts. It was from an Oak tree and brought into the home, decorated with holly, mistletoe and evergreens to represent the God and Goddess being reunited. Later in history 3 holes were added to the top of the log to represent the Goddess in her three forms. The Yule log is allowed to burn completely; however, a piece of it should be saved to light the next year’s log.
Known today as: Christmas
Imbolc
Date Celebrated: February 2nd
Also Called: Candlemas
History: Imbolc represents and honors the Goddess in her Maiden form. She is recovering from having given birth to the God. It is the 1st spring celebration and marks the moment when the beginning of spring can be seen. The word itself has different meanings depending on the culture. To the Celtics it means “the belly” referring to the pregnant livestock but to the Gaelic’s it means “in the milk” referring to the sheep that have given birth to the first offspring of the year.
Traditions: We celebrate this festival with lights, candles, and things that imitate fertility. Some create “Brid’s Bed” by making a female figure of straw and placing it into a basket where a phallic symbol wand is placed across the female to represent impregnation of the Mother. Evergreens from Yule are removed and burned to prevent hauntings of the home, as the corner into spring has been turned.
Known today as: Groundhog’s Day, St. Brigid’s Day
Ostara
Date Celebrated: March 21st
Also Called: Spring Equinox
History: The word Ostara is the name of the Virgin Goddess of Spring in ancient Germany. This is a festival of fertility and is the 2nd spring celebration. The Goddess has fully awakened from her sleep. This is the first day of spring, the God and Goddess and encouraging the animals to reproduce. This is the time of year when the days and nights are equal in length.
Traditions: Colored eggs and the Easter Bunny.
Known today as: Easter
Beltane:
Date Celebrated: May 1sat
Also Called: May Day
History: The 3rd Spring Celebration. Beltane is also a fertility festival. The young God has entered manhood. This is when the God and Goddess fall in love and she becomes pregnant. Everyone starts to prepare for the hotter months of summer. Beltane is associated with love.
Traditions: Dancing around the May Pole
Known today as: May Day
Litha:
Date Celebrated: June 21st
Also Called: Summer Solstice
History: This is the longest day of the year and exactly opposite of the Winter Solstice. The powers of nature have reached their highest point. Many find this to be the best day for magick.
Traditions: No traditional celebrations
Known today as: First Day of Summer
Lammas:
Date Celebrated: August 2nd
Also Called: Lughnassadh
History: Lammas is the time the harvest starts. The God is loosing strength while the Goddess watches as he is dying yet knowing he is already re-growing within her. The people are starting to prepare for the winter to come. This is the 1st harvest festival.
Traditions: Canning food for winter, and harvesting herbs to be dried.
Known today as: First Day of Fall
Mabon:
Date Celebrated: September 21,
Also Called: Autumn Equinox
History: This is when the harvest is completed. Day and night are once again equal in length. The Goddess has acknowledged the weakening Sun. This is the 2nd harvest festival.
Traditions: Completing the drying of herbs and plants for the winter.
Samhain:
Date Celebrated: October 31
Also Called: Halloween
History: Considered the Witches New Year. It represents one full turn of the seasonal year. We are saying goodbye to the God until his birth at Yule. This is the time when we look back over the year and thank the God and Goddess for the good things we have. Many believe this is the night when the veil to the other side is at its weakest. We reflect back on our ancestors that have passed over and remember them with fondness.
Traditions: Jack-o-Lanterns
Known today as: Halloween or All Hollows Eve
I can sit for hours and tell you how the Christian took our holidays and made them their own but that would be just wasting time and telling you something you already know. It is a proven and known fact that Christians picked the day that their God was born to be next to the day the Pagan God was born. It was easier to keep the people converted if you gave them holidays to celebrate. And instead of making them change their habits they just took already existing holidays and used them and changed their meaning. Many of our Sabbats are still used today by farmers, whether they know it or not, they check their almanacs to find out when will be the best time to plant and harvest their crops. This is what the people did many centuries ago and being as it was the busiest and most celebrate time they would hold festivals to thank the Gods for their bounty or to ask for a bountiful harvest when planting.
Many of the traditions that existed back then are still used today. You still hear the word Yule used at Christmas time. Many just think it is a happy word. The mistletoe was a Pagan tradition that is still used today. Bringing in a Christmas tree was derived from the Pagan’s bringing in the Yule Log and lighting it. How many of you make sure your tree is down by New Years or it will be bad luck. This is a Pagan tradition as well, they felt that the Yule Log had to be complete by the twelfth night or the year would be bad. But, Yule is not the only holiday that was used to create modern day celebrations. Ostara is now Easter. Did you ever wonder what colored eggs and bunnies had to do with Jesus dying? Well nothing. But to Pagan’s the eggs and bunnies represented fertility and reproduction. Groundhog’s Day on February 2nd was Imbolc; Pagan’s took this time to look at the coming spring. Winter was behind them and the animals where starting to prepare to have their young. It was a time of hope of things to come. Now we use the Groundhog to tell us whether spring is coming or not.
So as you can see the holidays have been there all along they are just now being returned to the rightful owners again.
Yule
Date Celebrated: December 21
Also Called: Winter Solstice
History: Yule is the celebration of the rebirth of the God from the virgin Goddess. It is the shortest day of the year. The typical Yule celebration lasted 12 days and started the eve before the Solstice. This is where the song “12 Days of Christmas” got its roots. In ancient Egypt it was a time to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun God, Ra and to celebrate the creation of the universe.
Traditions: The Yule Log came from the Celts. It was from an Oak tree and brought into the home, decorated with holly, mistletoe and evergreens to represent the God and Goddess being reunited. Later in history 3 holes were added to the top of the log to represent the Goddess in her three forms. The Yule log is allowed to burn completely; however, a piece of it should be saved to light the next year’s log.
Known today as: Christmas
Imbolc
Date Celebrated: February 2nd
Also Called: Candlemas
History: Imbolc represents and honors the Goddess in her Maiden form. She is recovering from having given birth to the God. It is the 1st spring celebration and marks the moment when the beginning of spring can be seen. The word itself has different meanings depending on the culture. To the Celtics it means “the belly” referring to the pregnant livestock but to the Gaelic’s it means “in the milk” referring to the sheep that have given birth to the first offspring of the year.
Traditions: We celebrate this festival with lights, candles, and things that imitate fertility. Some create “Brid’s Bed” by making a female figure of straw and placing it into a basket where a phallic symbol wand is placed across the female to represent impregnation of the Mother. Evergreens from Yule are removed and burned to prevent hauntings of the home, as the corner into spring has been turned.
Known today as: Groundhog’s Day, St. Brigid’s Day
Ostara
Date Celebrated: March 21st
Also Called: Spring Equinox
History: The word Ostara is the name of the Virgin Goddess of Spring in ancient Germany. This is a festival of fertility and is the 2nd spring celebration. The Goddess has fully awakened from her sleep. This is the first day of spring, the God and Goddess and encouraging the animals to reproduce. This is the time of year when the days and nights are equal in length.
Traditions: Colored eggs and the Easter Bunny.
Known today as: Easter
Beltane:
Date Celebrated: May 1sat
Also Called: May Day
History: The 3rd Spring Celebration. Beltane is also a fertility festival. The young God has entered manhood. This is when the God and Goddess fall in love and she becomes pregnant. Everyone starts to prepare for the hotter months of summer. Beltane is associated with love.
Traditions: Dancing around the May Pole
Known today as: May Day
Litha:
Date Celebrated: June 21st
Also Called: Summer Solstice
History: This is the longest day of the year and exactly opposite of the Winter Solstice. The powers of nature have reached their highest point. Many find this to be the best day for magick.
Traditions: No traditional celebrations
Known today as: First Day of Summer
Lammas:
Date Celebrated: August 2nd
Also Called: Lughnassadh
History: Lammas is the time the harvest starts. The God is loosing strength while the Goddess watches as he is dying yet knowing he is already re-growing within her. The people are starting to prepare for the winter to come. This is the 1st harvest festival.
Traditions: Canning food for winter, and harvesting herbs to be dried.
Known today as: First Day of Fall
Mabon:
Date Celebrated: September 21,
Also Called: Autumn Equinox
History: This is when the harvest is completed. Day and night are once again equal in length. The Goddess has acknowledged the weakening Sun. This is the 2nd harvest festival.
Traditions: Completing the drying of herbs and plants for the winter.
Samhain:
Date Celebrated: October 31
Also Called: Halloween
History: Considered the Witches New Year. It represents one full turn of the seasonal year. We are saying goodbye to the God until his birth at Yule. This is the time when we look back over the year and thank the God and Goddess for the good things we have. Many believe this is the night when the veil to the other side is at its weakest. We reflect back on our ancestors that have passed over and remember them with fondness.
Traditions: Jack-o-Lanterns
Known today as: Halloween or All Hollows Eve
Chapter 13: Casting a Circle
The circle is your safety zone, where you and everything you do is protected. The circle is created with personal power and encompasses the entire working area. The circle marks the ring where it touches the Earth and continues through to form the other half. You can use a marking on ground or floor for by placing a cord, or drawing it with chalk this may help you to be able to visualize it better.
The circle should be 9 feet in diameter. If you do not have that much space whatever you have will do. Use a compass so that you know where the exact directions are. You will start in the East where the sun rises each day and end in the North. Mark your directions with your candles choosing the color that is associated with that direction.
Direction: East
Tool: Censer
Element: Air.
Represents: The mind, communication, movement, divination and ascetic spirituality
Direction: South
Tool: Candle
Element: Fire.
Represents: Transformation, passion, change, success, health and strength.
Direction: West
Tool: Chalice
Element: Water.
Represents: Emotions, psychic mind, love, healing, beauty and emotional spirituality.
Direction: North
Tool: Pentacle
Element: Earth.
Represents: Fertility and nourishment
The circle is used to represent the Goddess and the Earth. Your circle can be one that you establish each time you need it or a permanent one. If you are going to have a permanent circle you will want to put it somewhere that is not used often, an extra bedroom, the attic or the basement. You do not want to have people walking all over it. If you are going to make a permanent circle you can paint it on the floor and mark your corners.
When you are ready to begin you need to gather all the tools and supplies you will be using in your ritual. Place all the items on the altar. Light candles around the room for some light, but not the candles that will mark your points. Once you have done this you can consecrate your circle. I will explain this in steps so that it is easier to read later. Once you are comfortable with this you can change it up to fit your needs. You can re-write the sayings and create your own.
1. Ring the bell three times, to clear any negative energy that may be in the room.
2. Using your athame or wand start at the East Point; visualize sending energy from your body into the East point with your athame or wand. Make a complete circle going from East, South, West, and North back to the East point.
3. Back at the East corner light the candle, then move to the South, West, North and then back to your altar. Finish by lighting the altar candle.
Your circle is now cast and you are ready to hold your ritual. There are various forms of circle casting, some are very elaborate and some are simple. I prefer the simple ones. But for the Sabbats you may want to be a bit more elaborate. You can find various versions of rituals on line if you are interested in seeing how others do it.
When you are done with your ritual you will need to close the circle, this is very important in order to finalize the ritual. Start by thanking the God and Goddess for the assistance with the ritual. To close your circle you simple walk the circle in the opposite direction you did casting it. Visualize the energy being returned to you.
Just a few simple pointers, when you are holding a ritual we refer to the God and Goddess as Lord and Lady. Some covens allow members that have reached a certain degree to refer to themselves as Lord and Lady. You will notice the saying “So Mote It Be” this is simply our version of amen. It states this is what we want so let it be.
If you were to hold a ritual or participate in one with a full coven there are several more things that are done. The High Priest and Priestess are the ones who lead the ritual; they will usually have a maiden and squire as their assistants. Many times depending on what the ritual is there are parts for members of the coven to play. You will have readings or you could be in charge of a direction and you would be responsible for everything that is done there. This is nice because everyone is a part of the ritual versus just watching.
There is not a time limit on your ritual; they can be as long or short as you want them. Just be sure they are exact and complete. Many people will hold a little festival meal afterwards and continue the celebration.
The circle should be 9 feet in diameter. If you do not have that much space whatever you have will do. Use a compass so that you know where the exact directions are. You will start in the East where the sun rises each day and end in the North. Mark your directions with your candles choosing the color that is associated with that direction.
Direction: East
Tool: Censer
Element: Air.
Represents: The mind, communication, movement, divination and ascetic spirituality
Direction: South
Tool: Candle
Element: Fire.
Represents: Transformation, passion, change, success, health and strength.
Direction: West
Tool: Chalice
Element: Water.
Represents: Emotions, psychic mind, love, healing, beauty and emotional spirituality.
Direction: North
Tool: Pentacle
Element: Earth.
Represents: Fertility and nourishment
The circle is used to represent the Goddess and the Earth. Your circle can be one that you establish each time you need it or a permanent one. If you are going to have a permanent circle you will want to put it somewhere that is not used often, an extra bedroom, the attic or the basement. You do not want to have people walking all over it. If you are going to make a permanent circle you can paint it on the floor and mark your corners.
When you are ready to begin you need to gather all the tools and supplies you will be using in your ritual. Place all the items on the altar. Light candles around the room for some light, but not the candles that will mark your points. Once you have done this you can consecrate your circle. I will explain this in steps so that it is easier to read later. Once you are comfortable with this you can change it up to fit your needs. You can re-write the sayings and create your own.
1. Ring the bell three times, to clear any negative energy that may be in the room.
2. Using your athame or wand start at the East Point; visualize sending energy from your body into the East point with your athame or wand. Make a complete circle going from East, South, West, and North back to the East point.
3. Back at the East corner light the candle, then move to the South, West, North and then back to your altar. Finish by lighting the altar candle.
Your circle is now cast and you are ready to hold your ritual. There are various forms of circle casting, some are very elaborate and some are simple. I prefer the simple ones. But for the Sabbats you may want to be a bit more elaborate. You can find various versions of rituals on line if you are interested in seeing how others do it.
When you are done with your ritual you will need to close the circle, this is very important in order to finalize the ritual. Start by thanking the God and Goddess for the assistance with the ritual. To close your circle you simple walk the circle in the opposite direction you did casting it. Visualize the energy being returned to you.
Just a few simple pointers, when you are holding a ritual we refer to the God and Goddess as Lord and Lady. Some covens allow members that have reached a certain degree to refer to themselves as Lord and Lady. You will notice the saying “So Mote It Be” this is simply our version of amen. It states this is what we want so let it be.
If you were to hold a ritual or participate in one with a full coven there are several more things that are done. The High Priest and Priestess are the ones who lead the ritual; they will usually have a maiden and squire as their assistants. Many times depending on what the ritual is there are parts for members of the coven to play. You will have readings or you could be in charge of a direction and you would be responsible for everything that is done there. This is nice because everyone is a part of the ritual versus just watching.
There is not a time limit on your ritual; they can be as long or short as you want them. Just be sure they are exact and complete. Many people will hold a little festival meal afterwards and continue the celebration.
Chapter 12: Rituals
Rituals are ways of celebration. It is our version of Sunday morning church service or mass. Except we do not have a specific day of the week we gather to hold our ritual. Our rituals are based around nature and her schedule not ours. There are two kinds of Rituals that we hold Celebration and Working. Rituals that are held on the Sabbats and the Esbats would be a celebration ritual, whereas Rituals where you are going to cast a spell or consecrate your tools would be working rituals.
Before holding a ritual there are a few basic questions you need to look at. When you doing a spontaneous ritual and do not have time to review the questions be sure to at least think them over before you conduct a ritual.
1. Why am I doing this ritual?
2. Is it in the best interest of everyone involved?
3. Does it follow the Wiccan Rede?
4. Who will I be inviting to this ritual? (Goddess, God, Deities, etc.)
5. Do I have everything I need to complete this Ritual?
6. Am I missing any information?
Once you have answered these few questions you are ready to start preparing to cast your circle. You should take extra care in preparing for it. Just like when you were a child going to church on Sunday you had special “church clothes” or your “Sunday Best”. It is the same with rituals.
Start preparing by taking a ritual cleansing bath. Here you are mentally and spiritually cleansing yourself. Put some nice relaxing bath salts (making your own ritual bath salt is recommended) into the water and just soak. When you are comfortable start meditating and relieving your mind and spirit of all the hassles from the day. Let everything leave your body. Listen to some music if it helps. Meditate on the ritual you are about to perform. Mentally ask the Goddess to be with you and help you accomplish your goals. Start putting positive energy into the air around you. This is a time for you to really focus on what you want to accomplish.
Now get dressed. Many Wiccans choose to wear special robes or clothes that are only worn during this time. You can have robes in different colors depending on the type of ritual you are going conduct. Some Wiccans prefer to hold their rituals skyclad or in the nude. This is a great way to be one on one with the Goddess. There is nothing artificial between you and her. You are coming to her as you were created. However, I do not recommend this if you have a lack of privacy. You do not want to startle the neighbors or your kids when they walk into the back yard and see you naked. If you are uncomfortable or your concerned about being nude that is fine. There is no “ritual law” that says you have to be buck-naked. But at least try it once and see if you like it.
It is important to remember that before you start any rituals you should be calm, relaxed and in the right frame of mind. You do not want to do a ritual when you are angry or upset. Those emotions will be incorporated into your ritual. Even though you may be asking for something nice if you are upset it will have negative emotions attached to it. And if you remember the 3-fold law, anything you do wrong will come back to you 3 times. So if you are having a bad day to start with you do not want to make it worse by having negative energy come back to you. So just be sure you are relaxed and ready before you start.
The next rule of thumb is make sure you are somewhere where you will not be interrupted by the phone, kids, television or anything else that will take your attention away. Once you start your ritual you want to be able to complete it. If you find that you have to stop mid way through be sure you come back and finish up as soon as possible.
Many believe that you have to use a ritual that has been handed down for generations or at least written and used by a previous witch. This is silly as far as I am concerned. I have used both; rituals created by other people and ones created by myself and others and they both work fine. However, I do prefer my own versus someone else. I find that a lot of times I want to put more specifics into the ritual and only I can do that.
For instance, I lived in a house that had been haunted with various spirits since I moved there. I enjoyed having them around and they were very pleasant to live with. After a while one spirit came in that was not nice and had a tendency to violate my space. I was in a turmoil, I could do a simple banishing spell or cleansing ritual but this would remove all the nice ones who were with me for years, when in fact I only wanted the bad one to leave. So I created a ritual on my own and used the specific words I wanted. The bad spirit was banished while all my previous friends were able to stay.
Remember that when you are creating a ritual you want to be specific. There should be no gray areas in what you are doing. You do not want any confusion put out in the universe, nor do you want to confuse the God or Goddess with what you are doing. Remember the old saying “the simpler the better” or “keep it short and sweet”. They may sound silly but until you get a handle on what you are doing this is a good way to go.
Before holding a ritual there are a few basic questions you need to look at. When you doing a spontaneous ritual and do not have time to review the questions be sure to at least think them over before you conduct a ritual.
1. Why am I doing this ritual?
2. Is it in the best interest of everyone involved?
3. Does it follow the Wiccan Rede?
4. Who will I be inviting to this ritual? (Goddess, God, Deities, etc.)
5. Do I have everything I need to complete this Ritual?
6. Am I missing any information?
Once you have answered these few questions you are ready to start preparing to cast your circle. You should take extra care in preparing for it. Just like when you were a child going to church on Sunday you had special “church clothes” or your “Sunday Best”. It is the same with rituals.
Start preparing by taking a ritual cleansing bath. Here you are mentally and spiritually cleansing yourself. Put some nice relaxing bath salts (making your own ritual bath salt is recommended) into the water and just soak. When you are comfortable start meditating and relieving your mind and spirit of all the hassles from the day. Let everything leave your body. Listen to some music if it helps. Meditate on the ritual you are about to perform. Mentally ask the Goddess to be with you and help you accomplish your goals. Start putting positive energy into the air around you. This is a time for you to really focus on what you want to accomplish.
Now get dressed. Many Wiccans choose to wear special robes or clothes that are only worn during this time. You can have robes in different colors depending on the type of ritual you are going conduct. Some Wiccans prefer to hold their rituals skyclad or in the nude. This is a great way to be one on one with the Goddess. There is nothing artificial between you and her. You are coming to her as you were created. However, I do not recommend this if you have a lack of privacy. You do not want to startle the neighbors or your kids when they walk into the back yard and see you naked. If you are uncomfortable or your concerned about being nude that is fine. There is no “ritual law” that says you have to be buck-naked. But at least try it once and see if you like it.
It is important to remember that before you start any rituals you should be calm, relaxed and in the right frame of mind. You do not want to do a ritual when you are angry or upset. Those emotions will be incorporated into your ritual. Even though you may be asking for something nice if you are upset it will have negative emotions attached to it. And if you remember the 3-fold law, anything you do wrong will come back to you 3 times. So if you are having a bad day to start with you do not want to make it worse by having negative energy come back to you. So just be sure you are relaxed and ready before you start.
The next rule of thumb is make sure you are somewhere where you will not be interrupted by the phone, kids, television or anything else that will take your attention away. Once you start your ritual you want to be able to complete it. If you find that you have to stop mid way through be sure you come back and finish up as soon as possible.
Many believe that you have to use a ritual that has been handed down for generations or at least written and used by a previous witch. This is silly as far as I am concerned. I have used both; rituals created by other people and ones created by myself and others and they both work fine. However, I do prefer my own versus someone else. I find that a lot of times I want to put more specifics into the ritual and only I can do that.
For instance, I lived in a house that had been haunted with various spirits since I moved there. I enjoyed having them around and they were very pleasant to live with. After a while one spirit came in that was not nice and had a tendency to violate my space. I was in a turmoil, I could do a simple banishing spell or cleansing ritual but this would remove all the nice ones who were with me for years, when in fact I only wanted the bad one to leave. So I created a ritual on my own and used the specific words I wanted. The bad spirit was banished while all my previous friends were able to stay.
Remember that when you are creating a ritual you want to be specific. There should be no gray areas in what you are doing. You do not want any confusion put out in the universe, nor do you want to confuse the God or Goddess with what you are doing. Remember the old saying “the simpler the better” or “keep it short and sweet”. They may sound silly but until you get a handle on what you are doing this is a good way to go.
Chapter 11: Consecrating and Cleansing Your Tools
Before you begin to work with your new witch’s tools you have to cleanse and consecrate them first. This is to remove any energy they may have picked up while sitting on the shelf in the store or waiting for you to find them in nature.
You will need to light some candles and have incense burning, as well as water and salt at your altar. Casting your circle, place your tools one at a time on either your pentacle or a plate of salt. Touch the tool with your projective hand and tell the God and Goddess that you are consecrating this tool to cleanse and purify it so that you may work with it in your circle. Visualize your pure energy going into the tool and feel the negative energy leave it and fall into the earth.
Next, take the tool and sprinkle a bit of salt on it; pass it through the flame of your candle and the smoke of your incense and last sprinkle a bit of water on it. Call upon the Spirits of the Elements to consecrate your tools
Once they are consecrated you do not need to redo that however, I do recommend that you cleanse them once or twice a year. They need to be recharged in order to continue working correctly. If you have a ritual that was particularly hard or full of negativity you can cleanse them after that.
As with anything you have and use, your “witches’ tools” have to be cleaned on a regular basis. I’m not talking about dusting them once a week; I am talking about cleaning them on a more spiritual level. Stop for a minute and think about the tools and what you are actually doing with them. You are moving energy around, dispersing negativity, conjuring up emotions, etc. All of these things get trapped inside of your tools and will collect over time. After awhile your tools will not work properly, like your car if you did not change the oil and filters regularly.
You will need to light some candles and have incense burning, as well as water and salt at your altar. Casting your circle, place your tools one at a time on either your pentacle or a plate of salt. Touch the tool with your projective hand and tell the God and Goddess that you are consecrating this tool to cleanse and purify it so that you may work with it in your circle. Visualize your pure energy going into the tool and feel the negative energy leave it and fall into the earth.
Next, take the tool and sprinkle a bit of salt on it; pass it through the flame of your candle and the smoke of your incense and last sprinkle a bit of water on it. Call upon the Spirits of the Elements to consecrate your tools
Once they are consecrated you do not need to redo that however, I do recommend that you cleanse them once or twice a year. They need to be recharged in order to continue working correctly. If you have a ritual that was particularly hard or full of negativity you can cleanse them after that.
As with anything you have and use, your “witches’ tools” have to be cleaned on a regular basis. I’m not talking about dusting them once a week; I am talking about cleaning them on a more spiritual level. Stop for a minute and think about the tools and what you are actually doing with them. You are moving energy around, dispersing negativity, conjuring up emotions, etc. All of these things get trapped inside of your tools and will collect over time. After awhile your tools will not work properly, like your car if you did not change the oil and filters regularly.
Chapter 10: Tool Description
One of the most important tools for a witch is the Book of Shadows or BOS. This is where everything that relates to your work will be put. All of your spells, rituals, notes, and anything that you consider important will go into this book.
It is said that the book should be black. It was easier to conceal it among other books that way. But the actual book is a personal choice for you. You can be creative and make the paper that you will write on along with the cover of the book or you can buy a journal from the bookstore. As long as you are happy it doesn’t matter what you use to write your magick in.
Some people believe that you have to actually hand write in your BOS believing that you are instilling your energy into the actual writing, But, lets face it this is the 21st century and computers dominate our lives. As I sit here at my desk writing this book I am doing it completely on the computer. I have a few notes scratched here and there but 90% of the writing has been directly on the computer. I do not feel that I have slighted anyone with my energy by writing this way. I have the same thoughts and feelings as if I were writing it by hand. So if this is how you are comfortable I say go ahead and type away.
Book of Shadows/BOS: The BOS is a personal book or your witches’ diary. It is tradition that no one is allowed to see the book besides you and if you are in a coven the High Priest and Priestess. Many witches put spells on their BOS to prevent people from reading them and stealing their thoughts. In the old days when you died your BOS was to be destroyed by the coven leaders so that nothing would be learned from it. So it is a bit saddening to go to the bookstore and see so many people who have turned their BOS into money making machine.
Athame/Sword: The athame is a double bladed knife also called the Black Handled knife. But, you can have any color you want. The athame is NEVER used to cut anything on the physical plane. It is a tool used to move and project energy. You would use the athame to cut on the spiritual plane. For instance it is used to cut a door in your circle if you need to leave it. The athame is used to invoke the quarters in your circle as well as to release them. Element: Fire and Air
Besom or Broom: With the besom you sweep away negative energy. It can lie on the ground as an entrance into your circle. The besom is best if you hand make them versus trying to buy one. They are readily available at renaissance fairs and you can get a basic one in most arts and crafts stores. Once you have it in its basic form you can decorate it and make it your own. Just a note this is not the same kind of broom you use to sweep the kitchen. Element: Air
Boline: This is the knife you use to cut things on the physical plane. You can use it to carve into your wand, candles or altar. It would be used when and if you ever harvest your own herbs. The traditional boline is with the curved blade; however you can use a straight bladed knife as well. Element: Fire
Bell: The bell is used to start and end a ritual. It will ring away negative energy, ward off evil spells and spirits. By ringing the bell you are causing vibrations that have very powerful effects. The bell is a feminine symbol.
Cauldron: The cauldron is used to create potions, oils or brews. You can use to scry into the water. It is representative of the Goddess and it is the symbol most associated with witches as well as the flying broom. We are taught that witches stand over their cauldron stirring up all kinds of evil. When in actuality the cauldron was used more often than not to cook that dinner. Most homes in ancient times had a cauldron. But today we have stoves so we do not need to cook in the cauldron. It would be difficult to find a full size cauldron now days; and besides how would you get it home. So here is the surprising twister on the cauldron. They now sell them in miniature size. You can buy a cast iron cauldron that is about 5-7 inches high; they usually come with a little lid and they run about $10. For modern city witches this is perfect.
Element: Water
Chalice/Goblet: This is the magickal cup you will use in ritual. It is the symbol of emotion and fertility and therefore represents the Goddess. They are usually long stemmed wineglasses. You can purchase one at the store or if you are more creative make your own at the ceramic shop. Most hobby stores sell paint that you use on glassware it is non-toxic and washable. Element: Water
Wand: The wand and the athame are interchangeable. They are both used to project and move energy around. The wand is a symbol of communication and business. You can make your wand as simple or elaborate as you wish. It should be made of either wood or crystal. If you are using wood you need to find a piece that is the length of your arm from elbow to fingertip. There are traditional woods that are used in wand making, willow, oak, apple, peach, hazel and cherry. If you are taking the wood from a tree, be sure and ask the trees permission before cutting the limb also take the tree a gift as a way of thanking it for the limb. Most of the wands sold in the stores are made of crystals and glass. These work just as well, remember you do not have to buy the most expensive wand in the store, as long as you are infusing it with your energy it will work just fine no matter if it was $5 or $500. Element: Air
Censer: The censer is nothing more than an incense burner. Some witches have the fancy kind you see in the Catholic masses. They hang from a chain and you swing them around, this type is called a thurible. I prefer the ordinary burner that you put the stick incense in. You can use any kind of incense you like they come in sticks, powder and cones. I like the sticks, you have more too choose from and you can usually buy them individually. This allows you to try them out without spending too much money. My only word of caution with incense is there is some that is very overpowering. If you are sensitive to strong odors you may want to be careful with how much incense you burn. Usually one stick will do for most rituals. Element: Air
Pentacle/Pentagram: The pentacle and pentagram is one of our main symbols as witches. We wear it on jewelry, carve it on candles and draw it in the air for protection. The pentacle or pentagram that you use on your altar can be made of many things. There are some die-hard traditionalists that tell you it has to be made of a certain metal or wood or clay. But I have seen altars that have used starfish as their pentacle. They were very in touch with the aquatic world and this was a perfect pentacle for their altar. I never felt that it took away from anything or made their ritual less of a ritual because of this. The pentacle is used in Wicca to represent the four elements, Fire, Air, Water, Earth and Spirit. But, it goes back centuries beyond centuries. Wiccan’s borrowed the pentacle from ceremonial magick so it was never really ours to place a claim on. Many people associate the pentacle and pentagram with Satan. However, Satanist has a version of the pentacle but it is upside down. It is important to not only know the difference but also be sure to point it out to anyone who may be confused.
In 1954 Disney made a cartoon called “Donald in Mathmagick Land.” In this cartoon Disney took on the brave role way back then to explain where the pentagram came from. So anyone who tries to tell you different you can tell them that if Disney says its okay, then it must be okay. This video is now used in many school and colleges across the country to teach math to students.
The difference between the Pentagram and Pentacle is the circle around it. Each tip of the Pentacle stands for an element with the upper most tip representing spirit.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Chapter 9: Basic Tools
As in many spiritual paths there are certain tools that are used in ceremonies or rituals. These tools are to be used by you and only you. Depending on your tradition and personal desires you will either use them in everyday life or keep them for special occasions only. Kitchen Witches believe in using their tools in their everyday basic life but the other traditions feel that they are to be used only when practicing a ritual.
It is not mandatory that you have tools but they do add an air of ceremony to your rituals. Tools can be obtained in many ways and you do not have to have the most expensive items in the metaphysical supply store. In fact you will have better success with much of you workings if you make as many of your tools as possible. Of course some, the cauldron for instance is hard for you to make. Raymond Buckland gives instructions for making an Athame. Now, I am a creative person with lots of crafty talent, but melting metal is not one of them. However, it is easy to make a wand or a besom. I have found that many of my tools have come to me over the years in different ways. My bell for instance was a gift from my son for Christmas when he was little. He found it at a neighbor’s garage sale and thought I needed it. For me this was a perfect bell, it was given out of pure love. My wand was a gift from my husband, before he was my husband as a birthday present.
One important thing to remember about your tools is they are a very personal item to you. They are not something you want the kids or friends playing with. Anyone who touches your tools will leave their energy on them. If your girlfriend argued with her family before visiting you that negative energy will still be with her and then transferred to your tools. This is something you do not want to add to your tools. In all reality it could cause a ritual to go bad if there is unknown energy attached to your tools. So it is best that you keep them somewhere away from wandering hands. If you have a permanent altar just explain to those visiting that you would prefer they not touch it. Most people will understand and if they don’t just move the items until they leave.
Chapter 8: Coven vs Solitaire
For the longest time I wanted to be part of a coven. A group of friends all my own, they believed the things I did, they practiced the way I did. But most of all I wanted a group of friends that I could share my everyday life with that understood what I was doing. I often went to Pagans Night Out events in Houston and it was fun, I met a lot of people who were into all kinds of things but there was no sense of connection there.
When my husband and I moved to the Southwest, I decided to make the jump and try to find a coven. Not knowing anyone in town I thought it would be a great way of meeting people and making some lasting friendships. So my journey began, I started working the web for prospects. I found the Witches Voice site that actually has listing of covens by areas around the country and world. There were a few listings for the Albuquerque area but most were not taking new members. I did find one that was; I checked out their website, emailed them a note expressing my interest in their group. I received a phone call from the coordinator for the coven and we chatted for a long time about different things and how we were lead to the Wiccan Path. Before hanging up she invited me to join them for a meeting where they would explain the rules and expectations of the coven.
I went to meet the coven members on a Saturday morning, it was at a park by the river, now remember I am from the city. I am a city girl through and through. So this was kind of fun to be in this setting but I was apprehensive a bit. But, the meeting went well; I met the High Priestess and listened to their presentation. I felt that with my background in Wicca this was a perfect match. So I accepted the invitation to join the coven. I was invited to the initiation ceremony a few weeks later.
The initiation was held on a nice sunny morning along the river. It involved me, the High Priestess and the High Priest. Everyone else is left at the gathering spot until called upon. The initiation ceremony was nice and peaceful and a very spiritual experience. What is said at the initiation is only for those involved so I will leave it at that.
Our group met about once a month, for a potluck lunch and chatting, we would hold rituals if one was needed but mostly it was just chatting about what we did. This time was used to get to know the other members of the coven in a more informal setting.
If you are interested in a finding a coven here are some general guidelines.
1. Good covens are very close knit, sometimes closer than families.
2. Do not expect to be a full coven member right away; many wait a year and a day before you are a full member.
3. The decision to accept a new member is made by all coven members not just the High Priest or Priestess.
4. Most covens keep a very low profile and avoid loud and flashy people seeking to be members.
5. A coven should NEVER require anything sexual of a perspective member.
6. If you ever feel uncomfortable while interviewing or meeting with a coven listen to those feelings.
There are some things that each coven does that are different from others. Some covens hold ritual skyclad, which is naked. This is not meant to be sexual. To them it is removing anything material out of the way. Most coven practice in robes though to keep everyone comfortable. There are some sexual rites in witchcraft. They are not required of anyone. In fact only those who are in serious relationships should participate in them and only in the privacy of their own homes and it is never in the company of the coven or group.
If you are truly interested in finding a coven there are several ways to increase your chances of making a connection. Some newspapers have a religious section that covens will place advertisements in; Witches Voice website has listings as well. The best place to start is networking in your neighborhood; go to psychic fairs, renaissance festivals or metaphysical bookstores. Most metaphysical bookstores have a community bulletin board with events going on around town.
One way I just discovered to attract other Wiccans and Pagans is by advertising yourself as a witch. Now I am not talking about walking around town in a flowing cape, pointed hat and a broom. But try wearing a pentagram necklace; it tells others of your interests and they can approach you about it. Since I started wearing my pentagram in public I have had several people comment on my necklace, three people have told me that admire my bravery for wearing it in public. I am not being particularly brave just wearing something I enjoy. When they ask about it or comment on it and the place and time is okay, I ask them if they are Pagan or Wiccan. Some are and some do not know. But, chances are if they know what it is and do not accuse of you dancing with Satan they know about Wicca.
Just remember to always be open-minded when looking for a coven, there are several traditions and they all have their own sets of rules. You may be surprised when you hear some of them. If you ever feel threatened or afraid, walk away. It is not right for you. Never meet anyone alone; always make sure you tell someone where you are going. Use the same rules you would for meeting a date for the first time when you meet a coven for the first time and you will be okay.
Chapter 7: How to Find Your Craft Name
Your craft name is something no one but you can pick. It has to be something you are comfortable with; something you just know is you. There are several ways to pick one but the best way is to just by allowing yourself to be open and let one come to you. Don’t go out and buy baby name books and look for something in there, you want a magickal name not an ordinary name. Here are a few guidelines to use when picking a name.
1. Think of an animal, flower, plant or tree you feel a close connection to.
2. Think of a word you feel describes your personality.
3. If you could name yourself any name out there what would it be?
4. Research the Gods and Goddess’ is there one that you feel close to?
5. Look at things around you everyday what catches your eye? Do you get amazed by the sunsets, moon, ocean or trees and never knew why?
6. What season are you happiest in?
7. Go on a vision quest.
8. Pay attention to your dreams, the right name can come to you in a dream.
These are some basic questions to look at. If you are mesmerized by the moon every night and you always want to have the scent of Lavender around you and your favorite color is purple, your name could be Lavender Moon or Moon Lavender or just Lavender.
Using Numerology
Numerology is one way to choose a name. First you must find your birth number. To do this you add up the digits of your birthday, for example my birthday is January 19, 1968 so it would be 1+1+9+1+9+6+8=35 now add that number together 3+5=8 and this is your birth number. Now find a name that has the same number as your birth number. The alphabet is made into numbers.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z
So if you want your new name to be Lavender Moon you would have to add all the numbers up and see if they matched your birth number:
3+1+4+5+5+4+5+9+4+6+6+5=57
add these numbers together: 5+7=12
add these numbers together: 1+2=3.
Being as you get a three and not an 8 this would not be the name for you according to numerology. However, if you are set on this name you could come up with other ways of spelling it or add letters to it to make up the extra numbers. If you add an extra ‘n” Lavender Moonn or and “e” at the end of Moone you would have the extra point to make it an 8. So there are ways to get the name you want.
Using a Pendulum
If you have never used a pendulum to scry for information you are missing out on a fun activity.
You will need to get something to use for a pendulum, there are several things you can buy at your local metaphysical store, such as; quartz pendulum’s, gold pendulums, glass, crystal, etc. I use my great grandmothers ring on a silver chain and my husband uses a small gold pendulum. Both of these work well, but you should use what you are comfortable with.
After you have gotten your pendulum you will need to create a way for the pendulum to communicate with you. The easiest way for me is to get a piece of poster board and create what I want on it. Below is an elaborate example of what one might look like. You can make it as easy and simple as you like.
The point of layout is to give you enough room to determine where the pendulum is pointing. There is nothing worse than being confused as to what it is actually pointing at, it is very frustrating.
Now that you are set up and ready to go, sit quietly and mediated on what you would like to ask the pendulum. If you are trying to pick out a magickal name start with that.
Relax and hold the pendulum over the board, keep your arm and hand relaxed. If you have a name picked out and want to know if you should use it, hold the pendulum in between the yes and no and ask clearly, “Should I use the name Lavender?” Watch as the pendulum starts to move it should move to either yes or no. If you are uncertain ask again. It can take a few minutes to get your answer but just wait and it will happen. If you get a no then go to the next name on your list. If every name you have comes up with a no then ask the pendulum to help you pick a name. This is where the alphabet comes in handy. Now, I must warn you that doing it this way can take some time. I tried to use the pendulum to help me pick lottery numbers and it took forever so I ended up frustrated. So if you do not have the time or patience you may want to go another route. But, if you want to play with it, give it a go. Start easy though and ask what letter your name should start with and maybe what letter your name should end with. Then see if you can come up with something on your own.
Chapter 6: Craft Names
In Romeo and Juliet there is the quote:
That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet."
Juliet is trying to let Romeo know that a name is just a name. She would still love him even if he were called something else. And this is a good point many people make when thinking of taking a craft name.
Do you have to have a craft name? No. It is up to you. But let’s look back at why witches have chosen to have a separate name from their given birth name.
In the old days, when they were hunting witches it was safer to be known by another name when practicing your craft. Many people who sought a witch for advice or care only knew her by her craft name. This protected her in the public eye. They were never able to connect the two names to one person.
In many cultures children are given a name with the full understanding that it will be changed as soon as they are of age. Some times it is changed several times before the child is an adult. It is changed to mark different accomplishments in life. When the child is grown he or she will take a name of their choosing. Many in centuries past would never allow their child’s given name to be known by anyone but the parents. They created a special name for the child. This was to protect the child from anyone or anything that was evil and would use their name to lure them away.
There are several reasons why you choose a craft name and they are all just as important as the others are. Many people like the idea of having a new name, something they have picked for themselves, something that describes them as a person. Some feel that they are better able to practice their craft using a different identity. When we can separate ourselves from the ordinary world without fear of being caught or judged we are able to set ourselves free. We will do more and experience more when we are free from society’s judgment. Many witches feel that by using another name they are another person, someone who does not have the responsibilities of everyday life. There are witches and Wiccan’s who have several names, one name for the public to know, one that they use in private that no one knows and then one they may use in their coven.
I personally do not have a craft name. I did for many years when I was in the “broom closet”; it was a name suggested to me by someone. It sounded nice and I liked the way it looked on paper so I used it. But when I came out in the open I dropped the name and resumed using my given name. This was a personal decision for me and I am very adamant about using my name and I feel very proud that my name is associated with me in all aspects of my life. Don’t think I did not look for a new craft name, I did. I wanted something cool and mysterious. But, nothing was ever right. It always sounded so silly or corny to me. Finally, when I decided to stop looking and accept that the Goddess was telling me my name was fine it was then that a close friend told me that my name has always been Cynthia in one form or another. In lifetime after lifetime it was always the same. This is why I have such a strong connection to my name.
Chapter 5: The Need for Secrecy
Many who choose to be Wiccan want the world to know; they are excited and want to share their new found religion with everyone around them. Unfortunately as modern as our society is there is the Wiccan religion is still thought of by some an evil devil worshiping cult. People are afraid of what they do not understand and therefore assume a lot of things that are not true.
It is estimated that there are about 750,000 Wiccans in America. That would make it the 7th largest religion in America today. If there are so many Wiccans in American how come you have never met one before? Well that is easy; it is safer to stay in the broom closet than to come out. Wiccans are much like homosexuals in the first half of the 20th century. You knew they were there, you may have thought you knew someone who was gay, but you did not know for sure. Then one day they came out and told everyone they were gay and you were shocked.
As Wiccans we are experts at hiding our religion from people, we know whom we can trust and whom we can’t trust. Unfortunately for many of us it is our own family that we cannot trust. I can tell you without a doubt that my Baptist parents would not understand my choosing the Wiccan path over the Christian path.
One of the hardest parts of trying to raise Wiccan children is telling them they have to keep their faith a secret. People do not take it well when they decide that one of their classmates is worshiping the devil. Schools have been known to expel students for wearing pentagrams, saying they are satanic or gang related. Many feel that their only real purpose on this planet is to convert others to their beliefs. They see nothing wrong with killing someone in the name of their God, they will taunt and terrorize someone in hopes they will see the light and convert over to their religion. There have been many cases where other churches have gathered and destroyed Wiccan places of worship because they felt they were evil. The law most of the time is on the other side. Even though Wicca is a recognized religion it is still not a supported religion. The law has a tendency to look the other way when things happen to our properties or protesters disrupt our gatherings.
So, because of this and because we seek to live in a world that is in harmony with the Universe we live in secrecy. Over time you will find others like yourself, those who believe in what you do and support you in your decision. You will find people in other religions that are open minded and will accept you for who you are. But until you are comfortable and know who you can trust you should be careful with what information you let others know.
Chapter 4: A Brief Witch Hunt History
Anytime you want to learn about a new subject, be it religion, science or history you start by looking into the past. The past is where everything started; mistakes were made and hopefully learned from. Wicca is no different. For the US witchcraft came into light in the last 1600’s in Salem, Massachusetts. We know this by the horrible injustice that occurred there. People were accused and murdered based on nothing more than gossip. I would love to tell you that as a country we learned from that mistake but I couldn’t. People are being arrested, tried and sometimes convicted for crimes they never committed, reputations are ruined, families and friendships are torn apart simply because of gossip.
The Salem Witch Trails are known through out the US. Children brush over it in history class; some even visit the museum that is now dedicated to the memory of those killed during the trials. However, the witch-hunts started long before Salem was ever founded.
The earliest record I found was in 1324 when Irish coven leader Dame Alice Kyteler was tried by the Bishop of Ossory for worshipping a non-Christian God. She was saved from death by her title; however her followers were all burned for heresy.
In 1484 the Papal Bull of Innocent the VIII unleashed the inquisition against the Old Religion. It was his was of combating the devil and saving mankind from his clutches. In 1486 Dominicans Kramer and Springer two of the inquisitors wrote the Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of the Witches).
It is estimated that 9 million men, women and children were tortured and killed as witches. This is a debatable number between many different groups today. People were convicted, tried and executed for not believing or practicing the way someone else thought they should. It still happens everyday all over the world; people are harassed for not being what society thinks they should.
The witch-hunts raged all over Europe. When the Bishop of Tier left Germany in 1585 there were only two villagers left. All but one woman remained; all others were executed as witches. In 1586 the Archbishop of Treves accused the local witches of causing bad weather and burned 120 men and women to death for interfering with the elements.
It was in 1692 that the witch-hunts found their way to the Colonies. Based on the stories and ramblings of children 19 men and women were accused of witchcraft. It did not matter how pious you were in the church or what an upstanding citizen you were, if you were accused you stood little chance of survival. Your best bet was to confess your sins and say the devil made you do it. Most of those who confessed were allowed to live so that they could point out other witches in the community.
Many people in the Colonies and the government disagreed with what was going on but were powerless or afraid to do anything about it. The law back then was very plain; anything could and probably would be used against you in court. If you made a comment to your spouse that was different or odd that was used against you, if you had trouble falling asleep at night you were probably a witch, because everyone knows witches come out at night.
When you hear the saying today “innocent until proven guilty” you may want to take that to heart, because in 1692 there was not proving your innocents. Even if the court found you innocent the judge would send them back to “reconsider their decision” and they would come back with the guilty plea he wanted.
If you want to learn more about the witch trials you can visit the official site created by the museum at: http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com
Chapter 3: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are you a good witch or bad witch?
The only place you will find a witch titled good or bad is on the Wizard of Oz and unless you claim to be the Witch of the North, South, East or West and you are not on television you are considered a good witch.
Think of asking this question to a Catholic, Baptist or Jew. What would they say? Chances are they would be highly offended or insulted and it is the same with Wiccan’s. We are all good, some just practice the wrong way and they do not put enough consideration into a spell or ritual. This does not make them bad, just mixed up. All Pagans believe and live by the rule of three. This simply states that if you do something bad, evil or harmful the universe will return that to you times three. This thought alone pretty much keeps us on the right track.
2. Do we worship Satan?
We in no way worship Satan. In order to worship something or someone you have to believe in their existence. We not only do not believe in his existence; we do not even acknowledge him. Satan was created centuries ago by the church leaders as a way to convince people they thought were “evil doers” to come to their side. They told them of the horrors of life after death if they were not with the church; they told them how Satan would burn them for eternity. Most of the people they were preaching to were uneducated peasants who did not know better than to believe this. But there were others who were educated who believed in this evil being just waiting to claim their souls. Many Pagans believe that the church used the Horned God as its prototype for Satan. It was easier to convince people that the God they honored and prayed to was really Satan when they looked similar.
3. Do we sacrifice animals or humans in our rituals?
Again we are drawn back to our basic law “if it harm none do as thou will.” This not only means people but every living thing. In order to sacrifice something you must harm it. So there is a simple answer to this question. NO!
4. Do witches have a bible?
No. There is no bible that we use to live by or work by. There is no true one form of Wicca, so it would not be possible to have a bible. There are hundreds of books on Wicca and each book is written from the author’s point of view and experience. They are meant for you to use as a tool or learning device not something to live by.
5. How do Witches feel about Jesus?
Wiccan’s believe in respecting everyone and their beliefs. Many Wiccan’s were raised in the Christian faith and therefore know about Jesus and his stories. I personally find them interesting. But, I have also learned that there were several people at the time of Jesus doing many of the same miracles. But, Christians truly believe in Jesus and for them this is their way of finding salvation and that is fine.
6. Is it wrong to teach minors about Wicca?
There is no straight answer to this. I was raised that you could not teach a minor that was not related to you about the craft. We felt that they were not mature enough to understand the consequences of their actions. Teenagers are having a rough time with life in general due to hormones and having them release that energy into the universe without knowing about the effects is not a good idea.
This does not mean that you cannot teach your children about the craft. My son has been working in the craft since he was a small child. He has not taken the craft as his one true path; he is experimenting with several different religious paths and that is a good thing. He can learn about other religions and their beliefs and make a more educated decision when the time comes. Just remember that if your child should choose another religion besides Wicca it is your job to support their decision not condemn them. It is a personal choice how you will practice it is not a decision you can make for someone.
7. How do we seek new member?
Wicca does not seek new members. Many covens are in hiding and you do not even know they are there. Many Wiccan’s are a solitary practitioner and work alone. Some of the larger cities have Pagan Night Out and that is a good place to meet other Pagans. But, remember just because they are Pagan does not mean they are Wiccan. Most cities have a Pagan Pride Day Festival that is held at a public location so that others can come and learn about the beliefs and ways of the Pagan life. But, again they are not trying to convert anyone they are just giving those who want it more information.
8. Do I have to live in the country to be Wiccan?
No. One of the things I have set out to correct is the misconception that in order to be a true Wiccan you must practice outside in nature. We do hold nature in the highest respect; however many of us live in the city where there is little or no nature available. Your backyard will do fine for many outdoor events. What better place to hold a ritual or celebration than inside your home, this is your personal sanctuary. The place you go to everyday to relax, meditate and enjoy life so why not hold your ritual there.
9. Do I have to hold a ritual every Sabbat or Esbat?
No. It would be great if we could do this, but let’s face it our lives are busy. Between work, family, home and kids we sometimes hardly have time to breathe much less set up an altar, cast a circle and hold a ritual. You will not be banished from the religion or looked upon poorly if you cannot celebrate every full moon or Sabbat.
Simply take a moment to look at the full moon and thank the Goddess for its beauty or on a Sabbat just stop to think about that Sabbat and what it means to you and your family. That is enough. But if you get the chance to celebrate make sure you enjoy it. That is what they are for, to remind us of what is passing and what is to come and to enjoy life to the fullest.
10. Do I have to have a Craft name?
No. This is a personal decision. I for one do not have a craft name. If you do not have a name don’t rush it. The right name will come to you when the time is right.
Chapter 2: Basic Principals of Wicca
In 1974 a group of 73 witches gathered together and came up with the idea of a nationwide definition for Witchcraft. The group was called The Council of American Witches. These basic rules have been used by witches all over America and are readily accepted by everyone. Even though the group broke up that same year the rules are still being taught and used almost 30 years later.
This is the excerpt from the meeting that took place in April 1974.
“The Council of American Witches finds it necessary to define modern Witchcraft in terms of the American experience and needs. We are not bound by traditions from other times and other cultures, and owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest through our own being.
As American Witches, we welcome and respect all life-affirming teachings and traditions, and seek to learn from all and to share our learning within our council. It is this spirit of welcome and cooperation that we adopt these few principles of Wiccan belief.
In seeking to be inclusive, we do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of our group by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies and practices contradictory to these principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origins or sexual preference. We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept these few basic principles:”
1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.
2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called "supernatural," but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity - as masculine and feminine - and that this same creative Power lives in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of Life and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds - sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, the Inner Planes, etc. - and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given to themselves in leadership.
7. We see religion, magick, and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it - a world view and philosophy of life, which we identify as Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way.
8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch - but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within him/herself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with Nature.
9. We acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness that gives meaning to the Universe we know and to our personal role within it.
10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the one true right and only way" and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practices and belief.
11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.
12. We do not accept the concept of "absolute evil", nor do we worship any entity known as "Satan" or "the Devil" as defined by Christian Tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.
13. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
The 13 principals are copyright free.
Chapter 1: What is Wicca?
To say that the Wicca you are learning about today is the oldest religion is wrong. The Wicca that pre-dates Christians, Jews, Hindu’s and Buddhists is barely alive anymore. The essence is still there but the religion itself has been re-born and re-manifested many times over. Wicca is the one religion that is allowed to grow and change with the times. There is not one true form of Wicca, nor is one tradition the “right” tradition. With every new person who is initiated into a coven or practices as a solitaire something new is added to Wicca.
Wicca is made up of many different traditions, the same as Christianity has several various denominations (i.e.: Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, etc). Wicca has several traditions, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, etc. Each branch holds similar beliefs and honors the same ethics they just have different views on the subject. Some traditions only focus on the Goddess. She is the main celebrant of their rituals. Some traditions believe you can only be a “true” witch if you can trace it back in your family for centuries. Both of these traditions are fine, however as a Wiccan our main reverence is for nature. Nature is held in the highest esteem for us. The Goddess and the God rule over everything on earth and in the universe. And as in nature there is duality. Wicca is a religion of duality, meaning there is male and female in everything. So to worship only the Goddess would be worshipping only half of nature. If there is no God then there can be no Goddess and vice versa. In Wicca the God and the Goddess are equals and so are Wiccan’s. There is not one Wiccan that is better than another; we are all just at different stages of enlightenment.
Wicca has been called the “religion of the witches”. How true this is depends on if you consider yourself to be a witch or not. A witch is defined as one who performs magick and magick is of nature. Not every Wiccan practices magick or does spells. Some only honor Mother Earth and her inhabitants; some just hold simple rituals and celebrates the cycles of the Earth. How you choose to practice will be up to you as an individual. Over time you will try many different things, some will work and some won’t. One ritual may feel perfect while another may be totally off. You are the creator of your own faith. In Wicca you are given the power to create your own form of celebration. There is no right or wrong in honoring the things around you.
Now, while we are discussing the magickal part of Wicca this would be a good time to point out a few very important things to you. There is one law or rule that we all honor, without hesitation and without thought. It is the Wiccan Rede and it states, “If it harms none, do as thou will”. Meaning, you can do what you want as long as you are not harming anyone or anything. You will learn more details about what spells are considered harmful and which ones are considered okay.
The word Witch is unisex. Men are Wiccan or Witches not warlocks. The work warlock means “oath breaker” so to call someone a warlock you are basically calling him or her a liar.
We do not seek new members. We do not go out and hand out pamphlets or sell things to lure others in. We allow people to come to us on their own. Many covens are still in hiding so it may take awhile for a new member to find what they are looking for.
We always respect the privacy of other Wiccans. Most covens have a rule within themselves that you are not allowed to reveal any details regarding members not even their names. And I ask this of all those entering the Wiccan faith.
So you now have a basic idea of what Wicca is. You are now ready to start your lessons. I ask that you have patience and come with an open mind. Some things may sound silly to you, but just listen and learn and you will be able to decide for yourself if this is the path you want to follow.
Wisdom of Wicca
You have chosen to learn and practice a religion that links back to before any existing religion today. The Wiccan path is one that is full of wonder and mystery. It is a path where you are the teacher as well as the student. You will ask questions that many have asked before you and seek out the answers to those questions.
Wicca is a way of life that has long been misunderstood and misrepresented. It is finally getting the breath of life that it has waited centuries for. People can once again practice without the fear of being put to death.
We are going to start your new journey at the beginning. I am going to answer the one question you have probably asked before and one that you will be asked by many in the coming years.
What is Wicca?
Introduction
I was raised, as many of my fellow Pagans and Wiccans, in a strict Catholic family. My entire childhood I would sit in Sunday Mass and wonder “What it this all about?” The more questions I asked the more penance I received. Until I finally decided to keep my mouth shut.
When I was 15 my best friend’s mother told me a secret that would change my life forever. You see, these were fellow Catholic’s and they did the same things I did every Sunday, went to confession, did their penance, went to mass, took communion, and tried to behave their selves for the next 6 days. One day while I was spending the afternoon with my best friend I noticed several things around the house that I was curious about. There were candles, incense, stars (which I later learned were Pentagrams) and lots of crystals and herbs. Being the nosy teen that I was I started asking questions, and was told these were all items that were used in their Wiccan ceremonies. She explained that she was in fact not Catholic but a Pagan Wiccan. I am sure that my eyes must have bulged out of my head, because she quickly assured me that there was nothing wrong with her path and she was quite happy doing what she did.
Well the more she talked about the Wiccan path, the Goddess, and the celebrations the more hooked I became. The thought that there was a religion that allowed women to not only participate but also be in charge was amazing to me. I started my training off with a small book she gave me, I was told to take the book home and read it and if I was still interested in knowing more she would start teaching me everything I wanted to know.
I read the book in a few hours; I was entranced with the newfound way of life. I immediately called her and told her I wanted to know everything, and so my training began. Probably the hardest part of all of it was not being able to discuss it with my family. I saw how crazy they got when my brother went to a Baptist service with a friend. You would have thought he danced with Satan himself.
Nonetheless, I prevailed and continued with my studies. The more I learned the more I saw myself change. I was no longer afraid to stand up for myself; I took over my own life and started to focus on making me happy. This is a huge deal for someone who is 15 to decide that happiness in life only comes from you.
The older I got and the more I delved into Wicca and Paganism in general I found that it was really hard to find a very basic book for beginners. I would talk to friends and they were interested in the subject but you hand them a book that is 300 pages and they turn away. This continued on through out my life, anytime I would talk to someone new about Wicca and try to recommend a book to him or her it was hard to decide what he or she should read. To me they are all good, but to someone who has never heard of Wicca or does not know anything about it they just want the basics. Just a taste to see if they are interested.
In 2002 I started teaching a basic Wicca class here in town. I needed to have information to present to those attending the class and the only way I knew to get it was to create it myself. So I started writing Wiccan Wisdom 101. I was stunned at the response to the book, people who attended the class would email me weeks later asking if they could have a copy for a friend. They all said the same thing, “It was so easy to read and yet informative.”
And so this book was written out of part necessity and my passion for the path I have chosen in life. As you read this book I hope you will too decide to further your own path and discover the wonders of Wicca and Paganism.
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