A Day In The Life Of A Witch Mom
Tips For The Witch Mom
The Kitchen Cupboard
Allspice: Money, Good Luck.
Basil: Wealth, Good Luck.
Chives: Protection, Absorbing Bad Vibes.
Cinnamon: Prosperity, Happy Homes.
Cloves: Protection, Stopping Gossip.
Dill: Security.
Garlic: Protection, Purification, Exorcism.
Lemon Rind: Breaking Up Negativity, Healing.
Mace: Increasing Psychic Powers.
Parsley: Purification, Protection.
Rosemary: Healing, Love.
Sage: Wisdom.
Thyme: Promotes Good Health, Sleep, and Courage.
Think of all the quick and easy spells you could perform with these. You could tie the spices into a charm bag. Or you can try steeping the certain spices (for certain purposes) in water on the stove in an old teapot. The scent will fill the air and atmosphere in the home. You can also sprinkle a bit of the herb on to an unlit tea light candle. That way as you light the spell candle, you'll add extra punch of herbal magick to an otherwise simiple candle spell.
Tempest In A Tea Light
"Tea light burning warm and bright,
Lend your magick to me on this night.
Herbs and spices add strength and magickal power. Goddess bless my work this enchanted hour."
Backyard Magick
Begonias: Protection and Foresight.
Columbine: Courage and Devotion.
Daisy: Cheer and Simplicity.
Dogwood (Leaves and Blossoms): Protection of your property and family.
Elm: Fairy Work and Dignity.
Ferns: Protection and Fairy Magick.
Geraniums: (Red) Protection and Safety; (White) Harmony and
Fertility; (Pink) Love and Devotion.
Impatiens: Hurries Situations to a Conclusion.
Iris: Communications and Confidence.
Lilac: Keeps Ghosts at bay and Increases Psychic Abilities.
Maple: Use the leaves to "Sweeten Things Up".
Marigolds Wealth and Fame.
Oak: (Leaves) Bravery and Achievement; (Acorn) Fertility and Protection.
Pansy: Cheer and Consolation.
Pine: Prosperity.
Rose: Love (Its main correspondence); The Petals are also added to spells to "speed things up".
Snapdragon: Spell Breaking and Protection.
Violet: Protection From Bewitchment and Fairy Mischief.
Willow: (Leaves) Moon Magick, Love, and Emotion.
~MAGICKAL RECORD KEEPING~
One of the most important tools that a witch has in his/her arsenal
is the BOS (Book of Shadows). It is not something you buy in a store.
It is something completely personal to that person. In short, it is a
magical journal that is kept and added to through out your path.
Keeping accurate records of your magical workings is a discipline
that is completely necessary for a serious witch, and more
importantly for a solitary, as you do not have the support of a
circle/coven to help and guide you. In keeping records, good notes,
records and sometimes-even pictures are necessary. The reason for
this is simple. You can keep track of your progress, and even nail
down re-occurring problems that you might not notice then, but by
seeing it written down, you can isolate it and deal with it. It also
helps you develop rituals and spells that are more powerful, and
comfortable to you, or should I say, more fitted to your unique
energies.
Keeping notes also improves your memory of a given situation and
helps you clarify events after they have happened. It also enables
you to look back to determine WHY something went wrong.
The Dream Journal
There are three different types of journals that one might keep. My
personal favorite is "The Dream Journal." I cannot begin to tell you
how many times I made or cast a spell or ritual, and had something
not feel quite right, or perhaps even fail, only to turn to my dream
journal, and discover an interesting dream that happened around the
time I cast it. Keeping a loose-leaf notebook by your bed is a good
practice. Don't worry if your first couples of tries are barley
readable, simply looking at it later will bring up the dream to
memory, and the writing WILL get better. I would suggest a soft book
light by your bed to do this with, so you do not wake anyone when you
rise to write in it. After some time of writing in it, you can
actually begin to see things that are happening within you that you
did not even know existed. It is also a good place to write down your
experience during meditation or grounding and centering.
The Personal Journal
The second one is what I would simply call your "Personal Journal."
Simply, it is a recording of your day-to-day life. Writing the
weather at the top, believe it or not, comes in handy. Things like,
your family's goings on, world headlines, your thoughts on things
that you feel you should say. Even affirmations are good.
The Book of Shadows
Although it is not imperative that you keep one, it is VERY important
however, to keep notes. Especially when working spells. When one
works a spell, it is VERY good practice to jot down the following,
call it your Ritual Record Sheet. I personally have this in word
format, and have about 20 printed and on hand now granted, you will
learn ritual making in the second degree, but it is good to get you
exposed to it:
** Date, day and TIME that the spell was worked
** Phase of the moon
** Astrological correspondences (if necessary)
** Weather Conditions
** Your emotions at the time
** Your health, or physical condition at the time
** Type of Ritual
** Purpose of ritual
** Tools and other items used (i.e. special athame, herbs, special
candles or incense, etc.)
** Deities invoked (if any)
**The length of the ritual
** (to be written later) The results of the ritual
** Ritual composition
It is usually a good thing to take magical notes in a regular
notebook, and then later, lovingly transfer your new knowledge to
your BOS. While I was in a coven, I usually carried one with me, and
after Esbats or Sabbats, I would write things down and later transfer
them to my BOS, especially if we did something powerful or moving to
me personally.
Most BOS contain ritual outlines, poetry, recipes, artwork, songs,
chants, the Rede, information about Sabbats, Gods & Goddesses,
alphabets, symbols, correspondence charts, etc. These sections in a
BOS are included in the outline in the previous lesson regarding your
Spell Binder.
Here is a quote from a popular author that sums a lot of it up:
"...you may find, like I have, that it is almost impossible to
capture some rituals and energy-workings in words. I mainly use the
entries (in a Book of Shadows) to jog my memory."
~ Yasmine Galenorn in her book:
"Embracing the Moon"
What goes into a BOS?
Your Book of Shadows (BOS) does not need to contain specific spells,
recipes or rituals. You can put anything in it you wish to, however
even if you feel that you may not need a BOS, it is important to keep
at least a few notes. Most Witches find that their BOS in an
invaluable tool, particularly after being involved in the Craft for
many years.
BOS are sometimes prized possessions of covens and solitaries, and
are even becoming somewhat of a status symbol among Wiccans. This
might not be the best development in the Craft, but there are many
reasons that a BOS can instill pride. Calligraphy and illuminations
on parchment pages are a sign of the love and care a practitioner
puts into their work. Thus the reason for writing it down, and then
later transferring it to your BOS. Simply creating your presentation
book can be a form of meditation and a spiritual experience... and it
can help build self-esteem through your artistic or creative
achievement.
A BOS can also help create a ritualistic mood. There is much to be
said regarding 'props' in rituals, particularly group rituals. A
beautiful, intricate presentation book on the altar sets the mood of
respect and honor for an entire ritual. Set & Setting, you will find,
can influence many occasions.
What is Your BOS Like?
Imagine a wise elder who lives in a cabin out in the woods. On the
bookshelf of the cabin next to the fireplace, on the very tiptop
shelf, the elder keeps a treasured Book of Shadows. You to reach up
and take the book down from the shelf. What does it look like? This
is your BOS. You are the wise elder - the book is of your making.
You might think of your BOS as a direct reflection of your view of
Wicca, or as your gift to future generations. Of course, it is
certainly not necessary to create a formal BOS. You may find your
Spell Binder works perfectly for you and is flexible and casual. You
may also choose an ornate Spell Binder.
Creating Your Presentation Book
Transferring pages from your Spell Binder to your BOS can be either
very simple, or extremely difficult, depending on the format of
presentation book you use, and the amount of work you wish to
do. "scrap booking" has become very popular in recent years and
Witches can benefit from this popularity though the easy access of
custom papers, adhesives, inks, punches and binders.
In Summary:
Your BOS and Spell Binder may be one in the same, or you might be
more comfortable with having 2 separate ones, allowing you to create
a beautiful BOS. I personally think that the wooden ones Lady
StarFish sells are SUPERB for a BOS. You may find that your BOS
changes with you, for example you might start out with journals and
pre-bound books, change to a small and portable day-runner type
organizer, and then switch to simple notebooks. Whatever you decide,
the whole point of this section is for you to learn some of the many
ways to make your BOS special, unique and very much YOU. Because you
will grow and change, I recommend that you choose a flexible system
of some sort.
Keep In Mind When Designing Your BOS:
1. Find out what you really need to have in your BOS before
spending time creating it, and before spending much money. To do
this, keep a Spell Binder type system and find out what you use most.
2. Consider whether you need your BOS to be with you during
rituals or while making recipes. Do you need plastic sheet
protectors? Do you need your book to be angled on a bookstand? Does
your book lie flat? (many pre-bound books don't) There are easel
binders which are like a three ring binder, except the cover folds
out at the bottom to create its own easel. These are convenient, but
the hinges do eventually wear out.
3. How long will your chosen BOS system last? How long does it
need to last?
4. What appeals to you the most?
The point is, is that it is unique to YOU, it is a part of you.
Some information comes from paganpath.com
Deosil vs. Widdershins?
Deosil is clockwise movement. Widdershins is counterclockwise movement. When casting circles and performing other ritual or magical tasks, you will often be instructed to use deosil or widdershins movements.
In the Northern Hemisphere, Quarters are generally called beginning in the North or East and moving clockwise (deosil). For example, North, East, South, then West. Most of the books available about Wicca and Witchcraft use these correspondences.
In the Southern Hemisphere however, these correspondences may vary. Circles are still cast deosil, but to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, they would seem to be widdershins. (counter-clockwise). The equator is to the North in the Souther Hemisphere, so North is sometimes representative of fire.
| Copyright © 2007 by PaganPath.com, A. Minahan (Volute) and K. Minahan (AbaKus). This article is used with permission and may be freely distributed on the internet, provided no editing is done, and this unaltered notice is included with the article. Click here to read more articles and to learn more about taking online courses in Witchcraft, Tarot or Herbs |
What are the Four Quarters?
The 'Quarters' often refer to the elements of nature that are forces honored by Pagans and Witches. They are named many things, but you will often hear them referred to as corners, quarters, Watchtowers, elements, Elementals, etc. All of these related titles have different meanings and represent different forms of energy.
As with nearly everything in the Craft or in Paganism, these forces are seen differently by each individual. This is a general explanation of what they are and how they are 'called'. Above all else, research and explore all the opinions you can acquire, but remember that you are your own best teacher and there is no substitute for personal experience.
Many people feel that the pentacle represents the four elements, with the practitioner, the divine, 'spirit', ether, or akasha residing above the rest as represented by the top point. This demonstrates how the Witch, or the divine within the practitioner, guides the elements or forces. This is just one interpretation of the pentacle or of how elements are viewed in relation to the Witch.
The following excerpt, from a book we recommend highly "The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft" (Rosemary Ellen Guiley)explains briefly the difference between 'Elementals, Watchtowers, the elements, and the four quarters. Please refer to this book for further information about the history of the elements.
The elements are associated with the cardinal points of the magic circle and with a hierarchy of spirits- lower-level beings called elementals, who in turn are governed by higher beings, devas, also called the Lords of the Watchtowers, the Mighty Ones and the Guardians.
So from that excerpt we see that the elements are Earth, Air, Fire and Water
Elementals are said to be 'lower-level' beings, meaning very generallythat they are not God/desses.
Elementals are ruled over by higher beings, devas called by names such as the Lords of the Watchtowers, the Mighty Ones, and the Guardians.
The four corners refer to the four cardinal points of the compass, North, South, East & West.
In the movie "The Craft", the girls used a popular phrase "Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the _____(North, South, East, West) powers of _________(Air, Fire, Water, Earth)......" Hollywood of course spruced up the rite by adding the critters in jars, but don't be confused. This is only one of many ways to call the quarters. The phrase has been used by Witches and other practitioners, but the semi-sacrifice of the critters are pure Hollywood as far as our experience and research can relate. Most practitioners create their own evocations and convocations (to call, summon or command) or invocations (to invite, appeal to, or welcome) according to how they view the elements.
Here we must pause to explain that magic takes many paths. The occultist, or sometimes ceremonial magician, uses different techniques than a Witch might use. This of course is not an absolute for all Witches. Being very practical people, Witches will often utilize whatever techniques appear to work, so long as they are in line with the beliefs of the Old Religion. The occultist or ceremonial magician will generally evoke a spirit, often using the names of gods, angels and demons from the Judeo-Christian and Mohammedanism tradition. The magickal traditions of these paths are based in the Zohar (Quabalah), Hebrew based numerology, Notarikon, Gemetria, and are influenced by Egyptian, Chaldean and Babylonian magic. These sources have little to do with Witchcraft except that the techniques have been adopted by some Witches as being useful and that they may have been adapted by these sources from originally Pagan folklore. A Witch generally invokes an energy, using techniques gained through experience and learned from nature and intuition.
If techniques derived from other traditions prove effective and do not run counter to Wiccan (used in the sense that Witch=Wiccan) belief, it is proper to use them......the Witch uses the techniques in the service of the Old Religion, just as, let us say, a Christian doctor might utilize drugs which were discovered first by Indian shamans and used by them in the service of their religion" (from The Practice of Witchcraft, Robin Skelton)
Some Witches utilize the elements, seeing them as general energies that are inter-connected, that make up all of life. Often you will encounter an author or practitioner who feels the hierarchical division and labeling of particular energies of the elements are not Witchcraft, but rather are more ceremonial in nature. Others utilize the 'Guardians' or 'Guardians of the Watchtowers' or some similar title. These energies are called to the circle for many reasons, often to 'keep the element energies in line with the working'. Again, we can only speak in generalities because each practitioner has a different view of these things.
Because many of the rituals in the Craft have been lost through time and persecution, they are merely echoes of what the Old Ways may have been. In an attempt to reconstruct some of the old techniques which were probably more shamanic in nature, modern practitioners will 'borrow' from other magickal traditions. These more modern traditions of magic often consist of grand hierarchies of energies (angels, demons, etc.). Many Witches however, feel that these hierarchies are an over intellectualization of the energies of the universe and are too limiting.
As mentioned above, the elements correspond to the cardinal points. These again are up for interpretation. Generally:
North is Earth
East is commonly attributed to either Air or Fire
South is commonly attributed to either Fire or Air
West is Water
Even these correspondences are often altered according to a particular tradition or according to the area in which the practitioner lives. For example; if you lived on Long Island, you might consider East to be Water (Atlantic ocean) and West to be Earth (N. America continent). Others use different magickal references (grimoires and other books) to determine which is proper for them, or they follow what they were taught by their mentors. This is a difficult area in which to find a consensus and can cause tension in covens of Witches with varied or eclectic backgrounds.
Each of the elements is also associated with a magickal tool, or tools. These too vary according to tradition, training, or intuition. You may have noticed that these are the symbols represented on many tarot cards. Here are some general correspondences:
Earth is the pentacle, and often considered a female principle
Air is the wand, staff ( or sword or athame for some) considered a male principle
Fire is the sword or athame (or wand or staff for some) considered to be a male principle
Water is the cup, chalice or cauldron, considered a female principle
The combination of the 4 elements is also sometimes represented by the cauldron.
The spirits of Nature are sometimes seen as energies in the form of creatures, this is probably where Hollywood got the idea of critters in the movie "The Craft":
Earth=gnomes (Greek gnoma meaning knowledge)
Air=slyphs (Greek silphe, a butterfly)
Fire=salamanders (Greek, salambe, a fireplace)
Water=undines (Latin unda, or wave)
See "An ABC of Witchcraft" in the recommended reading list for more information.
An old Gaelic term for the four corners (directions of the compass) is 'Airts'. For further information, we strongly recommend pointing your research to the "four airts" of Celtic origin. Two introductory resources for this research may be Silver Ravenwolf's "To Stir a Magic Cauldron", which shows her own unique view of the Airts and utilization of them, and Doreen Valiente's "An ABC of Witchcraft" which explains them in more detail.
How are the Quarters Called?
Again, there is rarely a consensus on this topic in magickal circles. Generally, the circle is cast and invocations, evocations or convocations are utilized for the elements, Elementals, or Guardians. Usually the practitioner faces the corresponding direction (cardinal point) while invoking. These are some of the more popular invocations and convocations used. Please refer to the quoted source for more information about particular ones that interest you. Only one invocation or convocation is listed here from each source, for the remaining invocations, often the only variance is the element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) and the direction. (North, South, East, West)
Remember, research and study all the resources you can, but above all, use your intuition. Never use an invocation or convocation that contains words you do not fully understand. Try to develop your own style and make your practice your own. Blessed Be!
Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle. (Alexandrian, from A Witches Bible Compleat)
O Spirit of the North Stone, Ancient One of the Earth, I call You to attend this circle. Charge this by Your powers, Old Ones! (Wiccan, from Wicca; A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner)
Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, I do summon, stir and call you now to witness this rite and guard this circle. Powers of Air, move thy cool essence about me as I journey Between the Worlds. (from To Ride a Silver Broomstick)
Soft and whispering winds from afar, Greetings be unto thee in the Names of the Old Gods. Blow clear and fresh and free. In magickal presence here. Blessed Be! (from Magical Rites from the Crystal Well)
Blessings of the North upon us, Winds of strength, Bring us perfect peace and perfect trust. (from To Stir a Magick Cauldron)
Black spirits and white, Red spirits and grey, Come ye, come ye, come ye that may. throughout and about, around and around, The circle be drawn, the circle be bound. (from The Rebirth of Witchcraft, adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth", probably originally from Middleton's play, "The Witch" old Celtic. The 'Airts' of the directions of the compass in this example are represented as red=east, white=south, black=north, brown-grey=west. This is only one of many color correspondences for the Airts.)
Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Powers of Air! We invoke you and call you, Golden Eagle of the Dawn, Star-seeker, Whirlwind, Rising Sun, Come! By the air that is Her breath. (from The Spiral Dance)
Darksome night and shining moon,
East, then South, then West, then North;
Hearken to the Witches' Rune-
Here we come to call ye forth!
Earth and water, air and fire,
Wand and pentacle and sword,
Work ye unto our desire,
Hearken ye unto our work!
Cords and censer, scourge and knife,
Powers of the Witch's blade-
Waken all ye into life,
Come ye as the charm is made!
(by Doreen Valiente and Gerald Gardner together, from A Witches Bible Compleat)
You who surround us, Guardians, Watchers, the dead we were and are and the unborn, help us, guide and bless us, for we are at one and one in spirit and in life.
(from The Practice of Witchcraft)
| Copyright © 2007 by PaganPath.com, A. Minahan (Volute) and K. Minahan (AbaKus). This article is used with permission and may be freely distributed on the internet, provided no editing is done, and this unaltered notice is included with the article. Click here to read more articles and to learn more about taking online courses in Witchcraft, Tarot or Herbs |
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There are many beliefs based on the broom as it has made its metamorphosis from medicine staff to symbol of the hearth. Jumping over the wedding broom symbolized two souls joining together, and when a couple moved into a new home, a new broom was used to sweep something (usually grain) into the house to ensure prosperity. Today, we bring a new broom and a loaf of bread into a home before anything else is moved in for the same purpose.
Additional beliefs were:
And finally...
Blessings!!
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Magical Gardening
Formerly "A Crash Course in a Witch's Garden"
A Witch knows that when considering our health, we cannot separate it from our environment. The Earth's health influences and reflects our own. As Pagans, we are particularly responsible for caring for our environment because we understand this interconnectedness.
The garden is an excellent place to begin a ripple effect of healing by tending it in a sustainable manner. Responsible gardening will help lead to healing of the environment, and of ourselves. This healing can be seen by the increase of vitamins in the foods we've grown organically. Subtle healing effects will gradually become evident as gaps in life cycles are filled. All forms of wildlife and insects will return to the garden and renew the essential balance, eliminating the need for pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers.
The garden will also renew your life force and restore your inner balance. Tending the garden will tone your body, clarify your mind, and energize you Spirit. Other side effects of your healthy garden will become apparent in all aspects of your life. Healing formulas, spell components, and any other creations that incorporate plants grown in this magical manner will all have enormously magnified energy.
To understand this method, go to an undisturbed area like a woodland plot, secluded area of a park, or under a large, healthy shrub. Notice that when you're under a canopy of foliage the atmosphere is different. It smells fresh, moist, and soothing. Touch the soil. Generally, it will be soft and spongy, with layers of newly accumulated debris, and below that, humus rich soil in many stages of decomposition. The soil here contains microorganisms whose sacred names include fungi, protozoa, yeast, worms, and insects. These life forms are known collectively as edaphon. Life flows through everything here and you may begin to feel more balanced. This feeling is the essence of a Witch's method of gardening. (there's more to this than the standard gardening techniques, read on)
Good soil ('scientifically') consists of 93% mineral and 7% bio-organic substances. The bio-organic parts include: 85% humus, 10% roots, and 5%edaphon. The edaphon consists of : 40% fungi/algae, 40% bacteria/actinomycete, 12% earthworms, 5% macro fauna, and 3% micro/mesofauna. (1)
After a year of organic treatment, earthworms, or "tiny tillers", should flourish. Chemical fertilizers kill earthworms and other soil life that release carbonic acid (plant roots do too). This acid converts minerals in the soil to a form that plants can assimilate.
Soil nutrients are to plants what proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are to people. Air, (all gasses, including carbon dioxide or CO2) Water, Earth and Fire (sun) are essential to the plant world. Synthetic forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P, and K respectively) in chemical fertilizers are stated on packages like 15-30-15 or 10-5-5. These salt based fertilizers will readily wash out of the soil and into our water systems. Undines look out!
We must regularly replace non-organic forms of these nutrients because of this constant leeching. Salts accumulate in the upper soil surfaces and "burn" tender roots and soil life. Potted plants will show evidence of this build up with powdery white deposits on the soil surface or a ring on the pot. Most plants cannot tolerate this much salt in any form. This is a good reason to try not to use salt in outdoor rituals for circle casting or purification. Instead, use a truly sacred replacement such as compost or soil for the Earth element. (I've used soil from my birthplace, as well as soil from fellow Witch's gardens to help link with them when being together in person isn't possible)
Synthetic fertilizers cause plant cells to grow too quickly, developing thin cell walls. The spaces between each cell are larger too, causing the entire plant to be more suseptable to insects and disease. These plant predators hunt for the easiest path to lunch, and the thin cell walls and gaps between them are an open invitation. By invading your crops, these pesky predators are fulfilling an essential duty, that of restoring balance and eliminating problems.
A reader recently responded to the N, P, K theories. She stated it so concisely that her letter is reprinted here. The theories are flawed, yes, but they are a good starting point to understanding plants. It is because the theories are flawed that I emphasise the use of compost and an integrated system of energy exchange. Compost can (if made properly) contain everything plants need to be happy. Here, in the reader's words, are the primary reasons the NPK theories are to be kept in perspective:
I am also uncertain of the N,P,and K theory of of fertilization put forth by the oil and chemical industries, (as recently as the ninteenforties.) It was a byproduct of the war industries to promote their potassium nitrate production and apply it to crops. (My father was a farmer at that time, and described the sheds full of the white powder, so unstable that slapping a glove to dust it off could cause a lethal explosion.) Amending this chemical with phosphoric acid was supposed to provide plants with all that was needed. Well, to really make it work it was also necessary to come up with strains of plants that could better tolerate this "nutrition". Now we are trying to slowly build up the seed banks of open-pollinated, hardier species that don't have that chemical monkey on their backs. Know who owns the patents on the chemically dependant species? The oil companies.
My problem with the N, P, and K theory is that it reminds me of the drug industries' extraction of certain active elements of herbs, patenting them and then marketing them- or rejecting them if they cannot. Or riding the wave of a certain craze in herbal remedies (Ephedra and St. John's Wort come to mind), marketing misused and mispresented tabletized versions of living plants with no regard for the source or qualities of the actual plant. What I am trying to conjure is the sense of extraction from living systems in both cases. What they both need- the soil amendments and medicinal application of herbs- is an integrative approach rather than a simple theory. That's my objection. I suppose there is little harm in talking about a triaxial balance between N, P and K, but different plants need a different balance- unless these are provided by compost, which for some reason seems to always work with nearly every plant. Sometimes burying a fish with the maize seeds is enough, and no theory of N, P and K can quite provide such an elegant practice.
In this article, I've tried to propose an integrated approach to gardening that combines the intuition and knowledge of the Witch, with the knowledge that science has to give. All theories are just that, theories, but we can learn from each other. Unfortunately, some of the members of our society have selfish agendas so we must question their ideas and place them under the glass of scrutiny.
It is true, many hybrids are chemically dependant, but most will thrive under organic conditions and can be a Goddess-send for gardens with disease problems. Disease resistant cultivars can help you to avoid many of the problems that occur when you are switching from standard gardening practices to organic gardening Witchy style. Once your garden has been organic a few years, it is recommended that you seek out heirloom varieties that are often more nutritious, hardier, and contain a sacred gene pool that may soon be essential in saving agricultural crops. The enormous number of hybrids on the market have contributed to two major problems that can be avoided by growing open-pollinated heirloom varieties.
The first problem with hybrid growing is that it has narrowed the gene pool. If a disease attacks a crop of hybrid corn, all the plants are identical. If one of the plants has no resistance, none of them do. Essentially, these clones present a serious famine danger and force farmers (and gardeners) to resort to chemical 'antidotes' that only accelerate our environmental problems. With open pollinated varieties, each plant is just a little different. Much of a diseased crop may die, but the ones that survive are naturally resistant (and are often used to create resistant hybrids) This brings us to the second problem with hybrids.
The second problem with hybrid growing is that is takes power away from farmers and gardeners. Most hybrids you see (they might say F1 or F2 etc. on the label) are sterile mutants. This means that you as a home gardener cannot save seeds from your favorite plants, from the ones that survive diseases, or drought, or insect attacks, or the ones that are the biggest, the juiciest, the sweetest, the most magickally potent or whatever, and expect to have a similar crop from your saved seeds. The seeds you save from a hybrid will be mutants when they 'revert'.
You can clearly see from this, a kind of paranoid conspiracy theory happening. You cannot develop hardy strains in your back yard if they are hybrids, and you cannot develop hybrids without funding from major industries. The primary industries interested in funding this type of work, are the ones that create garden chemicals. Ok, so it is paranoid, but by seeking out the old varieties, you help yourself and the planet, and may some day prevent a major catastrophy by donating YOUR seeds to a weakened gene pool. What if you select the best of your corn over decades, then one year, 90% of the world's corn harvest is destroyed by a disease. Now, what if your corn survived?! You would be the super-corn-hero of the world by allowing your corn to be studied, and integrated into other corn varieties.
Sound far fetched? See the chicken section of the site! It has happened before, and may happen again!
So, you ask, how can I nourish my garden, self and planet? The following represents a basic outline of techniques to get you started:
Compost: Composting will unlock the nutrients from the components you put in the compost pile. Begin by making a four foot diameter place in your garden in part sun. Next, layer 4-6 inches of carbon materials, "browns," with 1-2 inches of nitrogen material, "greens." Mystical formulas of carbon to nitrogen ratios can be found in many superb garden grimmoires. Like all of Nature's magic, however, you will find that intuition, observation, and experimentation provide the best results. The following describes the basic compost cauldron components and guidelines for their use:
DO USE: "Greens" are sources of nitrogen, a plant nutrient that helps heat up a compost pile by activating the micro life in it. Sources include: fresh green weeds, kitchen scraps, manures, cottonseed meal, and blood meal. "Browns" are carbon materials like straw, hay, last year's garden debris, crop residue, chopped leaves, and sticks under a half inch in diameter.
DON'T USE: Oil, wax, meat (small, clean bones are OK), colored newspaper, weeds that have set seed, diseased or pest infested plants, and pet wastes or litters. (which can carry diseases, among other problems)
Invoke the powers of the microbial soil life with a half inch layer of garden soil sprinkled over each "green" layer. When the pile reaches about four feet high, water it well to the consistency of a wrung out sponge, and let it rot! It will slowly turn into fertilizer that feeds your plants and your soil without interrupting the symbiotic relationship between the two. When it is done, it will be brown and crumbly. This process can take from two weeks to six months. If you're in a hurry, you can speed things up by turnig it every week. To turn a pile, remove the top and outside layers and put them on the ground beside the pile. Then continue with the next layers until you've tuned it upside down while fluffing it to let it breathe. If the pile smells bad, or if flies are taking an interest in it, then turn the pile, incorporate more "browns," make sure it's not soggy (cover it in the rain), and cover the top of the heap with an inch of soil or hay to eliminate the problem and disapproving looks from neighbors. Finished compost is used as a fertilizer and mulch around and under plants.
Diseased plants and weeds with seeds require hot compost, one that reaches 140-165 degrees. This technique is best left for more experienced practitioners who are more adept at its mysteries. Use these plant materials as erosion control far from the garden, burn them, or if necessary, dispose of them in the regular garbage. Meanwhile, train yourself in hot compost magic through the recommended reading (2), intuition, and experience.
Nearly all organic forms of nitrogen, like those used in making compost, contain varying amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals. Composting ingredients that contain high percentages of these nutrients will improve your end fertilizer. Trace minerals can be derived from plants with literally rock breaking, carrot-like tap roots that explore 25 feet or more down into the Earth. These plants include dandelions, alfalfa, comfrey, and plantain. Harvest their leaves as a "green" and let the roots put forth new leaves for the next compost pile. The older the plant, the better the fertilizer, as the roots have probed even deeper into the Earth.
Phosphorus and potassium are present in most crop residues and manures, but you may need to supplement your soil or compost with additional sources. Your local extension service can provide information on soil tests that help determine what amendments will improve your soil's nutrient levels. These tests can be costly, but if problems arise they will guide you in restoring soil balance. Greensand, rock phosphate (not superphosphate that damages earthworms and other soil life), crushed granite and glacier rock are all good sources. You can apply them directly to the garden bed according to package directions, or to the compost pile with a handful between each layer. The amendments come in various packages and if you can't find them locally, sources are listed at the end of the article. (3)
Compost has nitrogen in it, but additional sources may also be desired. the same manures used in compost can be applied directly to the soil. Do this several weeks before planting to give the manure time to mellow. Cover crops are grown exclusively to feed the soil with nitrogen and other nutrients. When mature, they are tilled under, and the soil life transforms them into fertilizer. Life is provided for by death. Every cover crop has different amounts and types of nutrients. Wheat, oats, calendula, buckwheat, and legumes are all common cover crops. Legumes are most often used because they are a group of plants such as clover, beans, and peas that "fix" nitrogen. They have a symbiotic relationship with a type of soil life known as nematodes. These beneficial nematodes take nitrogen from the air and "fix" it to the legume's roots. They look like tiny white potatoes clinging to the root system. They release nitrogen to the plant, helping it thrive. When the crop of legumes is tilled into the soil, it becomes a time release fertilizer as plants and nematodes break down again.
The following tips will also help to create your bewitching garden. These methods can be used in any garden, in sun or shade, and can be started any time of the year with Spring and Summer being ideal.
Raised beds: Raised beds save water, compost and amendments that are only used where the plants grow and not in paths. Crops can be grown closer together which saves space. You do not need to use the "space between rows" recommendation from seed packets, since rows are not used. Only the "space between plants" recomendation is needed. (4) This provides a canopy of foliage that traps CO2 and soil moisture like a suspended mulch. The leaves shade the soil to further reduce weeding and watering chores. Make beds wide enough to reach across comfortably (4 ft. is standard) in order to save work from bending and straining. Raised beds drain well to allow plants to develop healthy root systems, and they solve rot problems in packed clay soil. They also warm faster in the spring for earlier planting and remain unpacked from foot traffic that would otherwise choke oxygen from roots and spread disease. If you use concrete blocks or railroad ties, your bed supports can provide a convenient resting spot. Concrete blocks may leach into the soil making it more alkaline and most railroad ties are treated with creosote or other preservatives that are toxic. There are saw mills (in our area anyway) that will supply you with untreated lumber. A better choice is to try a stone wall if possible. Make paths wide enough so that you can walk side by side with your friend or partner without breaking off plants.
Mulch: Weeding and water requirements are kept to a minimum by mulching. Use compost, straw, hay, woodchips, color-free newspaper, or special mulch papers. All of these sources will slowly decompose, conditioning the soil and slowly feeding plants. Mulch will also save your plants when you are low on compost.
Garden Sanitation: The garden is a sacred space and rain is its consecrated cleansing. It should have solitude during this purifying time. Mud on shoes or wet skin and tools, can spread diseases normally not as easily transported without moisture. If you wish to accompany the garden in this cleansing, do so quietly and meditatively. If you have urgent work to do, limit your areas of activity and avoid touching plants. Many of us enjoy spending time in the garden while it is recharging in the rain. This does not mean that you shouldn't connect with your garden friend at this time, only to do so in a respectful way. Being aware of the possibilities of disease transmission will help you to prevent it from happening when you join the rain festivities.
Your garden's first year of withdraw from chemical dependency may be severe, because the soil life is insufficient to transform its components into nutrients. However, after the first year, it will flourish and the trouble is worth it. While at first resisting the temptation to reach for a quick fix fertilizer is difficult, be persistent while the balance is being restored. Talk to and love your friends through it, touching them, especially the ones in the tobacco family. Members of this family have fuzzy feelers on their stems and leaves and touching them causes thickened cell structure and sturdier, disease resistant plants. Avoid this practice if you smoke tobacco. It is often poorly grown and may contain the tobacco mosaic virus that can spread to other family members including tomatoes, potatoes, flowering tobacco-nicotiana, and datura.
Plants grown with these methods will glow with a mystical aura and they will release their intoxicting fragrances to greet you on your daily visits. The garden will soothe and quiet people, perhaps because of an elusive awareness that something powerful and sacred is happening or because of its visual beauty.
Planting by the phases of the Moon, by Sabbat, or under specific planetary influences will also amplify the garden's energy. This kind of information can be found in most almanacs and I've recommended some at the end of this article (5). Planting in special patterns of Celtic knots, circles, pentacles, or any imaginative and magic(k)al design that you've created will also enhance and focus energy...
Are you still skeptical of the damaging effects of chemical fertilizers? Organic Gardening Magazine had a blurb in the January 1996 issue about Miracle Grow ® . Apparently, it corroded a one inch hole through someone's aluminum shelf! (6) Now that CAN'T be right?!
Good luck and happy growing! If you have any questions about gardening or if you just want to talk plants, feel free to write to me. I can also offer some advice (but mostly resources) about growing plants indoors organically.
Like all of the materials on PaganPath.com, this article was written by Volute (A. Minahan), and was first published under the title "A Crash Course in a Witch's Garden" in the Summer 1996 "Healing and Wellness" issue of Circle Network News (Now Circle Magazine). For more information on this excellent quarterly journal, see the great people who publish it at: Circle Sanctuary
Reference Notes:
1) Petrik, Vactav Sr. Excerpts from his work Understanding the Soil
2) Fern Marshall Bradley and Barbara W. Ellis (Eds.) (1992) Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. Rodale Press
3) New Earth Indoor/Outdoor Garden Center, 3623 East Highway 44, Shepherdsville, KY 40165; 1-800-462-5953 or 1-502-543-5933. Worm's Way Garden Supply, 3151 S. Highway 446. Bloomington IN 47401; 1-800-274-9676 or FAX 1-812-331-0854.
4) Jeavons, John (1991) How to Grow More Vegetable (than you ever thought possible on less land than you can imagine) A Primer on the Life-Giving Biointensive Method of Organic Horticulture. Ecology Action of the Mid-Peninsula. Published by: Ten Speed Press, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707.
5) Pepper, Elizabeth and Wilcock, John. The Witches' Almanac, P.O. Box 4067, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842. The Old Farmer's Almanac and The Farmer's Almanac are available at newsstands. Llewellyn's Magical Almanac, Moon Sign Book, and Organic Gardener's Almanac can be obtained by calling 1-800-THE-MOON or by checking at bookstores.
6) Organic Gardening Magazine, January 1996 issue, page 19. Rodale Press (link above-#2)
| Copyright © 2007 by PaganPath.com, A. Minahan (Volute) and K. Minahan (AbaKus). This article is used with permission and may be freely distributed on the internet, provided no editing is done, and this unaltered notice is included with the article. Click here to read more articles and to learn more about taking online courses in Witchcraft, Tarot or Herbs |
MAKING AN ASPERGER
By Kate West
An asperger is used to sprinkle oil, water, or even occasionally wine. Whilst it is in no way an essential tool for the Witch, as you can always use your fingers, it is a simple and effective tool to make.
The resting season is a good time of year to make an asperger, as you will be able to see and select the types of wood you need. If you have your own garden you can make this selection part of reshaping the tree or plant in question. Some plants which lend themselves to this are broom, rosemary, and sage (if you have a very well-developed plant). You will need to gather a few twigs about 20-30 cm long. Each should branch into several pieces about halfway down. If the wood is green (living) you will need to thoroughly dry it out. Tie the twigs together just above the point where they branch, binding the un-branched ends together with a fine ribbon so that the whole resembles a sort of mini besom (broomstick). Some people like to choose the colour of their binding ribbon or ribbons to honour the Gods: white, red, and purple for the Triple Goddess; golden orange for the Sun God, and so on. Alternatively, you might choose greens and browns to celebrate the fact that this has actually come from a living plant.
Before using your asperger in your rites, take it outside and practise with water until you can be sure that you achieve a light and even sprinkling, rather than sousing everything and everyone in sight!
"Trying and failing achieves far more
than not even giving it a go."
The Kitchen Goddess Manifesto
Do not cook if you are in a bad mood, lack the desire, or feel pressure from nagging obligation to another. Wise woman Brenda Ueland once said, "Do not do anything you don't want to do." Frame this mantra and hang it where you'll read it everyday. And remember--you can always go out, take out, or entice someone else to "put out."
Keep your life full of the freshest ingredients and at least once a week explore something completely new: A new recipe...a new book...an unfamiliar song...a new quote for your journal...dance outdoors...take a walk somewhere you have never been before...kiss a
baby...write to someone you admire and include a favorite recipe...talk to someone who doesn't speak your language...
Delighten up and play with your cooking! Read the recipe--close the book--then have fun! The more you play, the more you do what you love to do, the more you reconnect with your talents and power.
Always sit down when you eat; share most of your meals if you can.
Customize your creations and spice them with your own unique hallmark of delicious mystery. As the saying goes, "Don't be the best at what you do; be the only one who does what you do."
Take a deep breath and bless your kitchen before you cook; clean up all rampant clutter, light a candle, open a window, turn on music. When in the mood, pour your favorite drink, be it wine, water, whiskey, or an ice-cold root beer in a frosted mug.
When recipes are given to you, save the original in the handwriting of the person who shared the recipe; their energy and intent will be immortalized every time you see their writing. Create a beautiful binder of recipes in sheet protectors. If you want to frolic and improvise, rewrite your new recipe on a page next to the original.
Never, ever think that food will make you fat! Delete the words "fat-free" and "sugar-free" from your culinary vocabulary and replace them with "fear-free," "guilt-free," and "feel free! "
Always carry a nicely printed, personal best trademark trading recipe with you wherever you go. Whenever you taste something that sparks your spirit and your taste buds, ask for the recipe. Trade, beg, or borrow--but get it.
Trust yourself. Add your own ingredients to this list.
*
Armed with the Kitchen Goddess Manifesto, let your kitchen be a playground where culinary magick is shared and enjoyed, evolving with time and tastes. A goddess in the kitchen feels free to alter and enhance recipes and simply frolic while cooking; she knows that it is often the serendipitous approach that creates a masterpiece.
Now step into your kitchen and cook with a confident, inspired élan vital. If you sprinkle illuminated thoughts, wishes, and desires into your mixing bowl, you'll provide fertile nutrition for the spirit and mind as well as for the body and taste buds. As you begin to radiate a refreshing presence of enthusiasm, energy, and joy between the counter and the stove, the light will pour out into the world around you. Kids, friends, and mates will all want to join you in your domain.
Don't be afraid to create your own traditions--through the power of suggestion, your specialties will become legendary. You'll smile knowingly when you hear that people are still talking about that
Garden of Eden Apple Pie or Casablanca Cheesecake you brought to the party!
Kitchen play can serve as a lively springboard for exploring a multitude of talents and other goddess-given gifts...you have the opportunity to stir up your own brand of culinary magick. The Goddess is in every kitchen!
Source
Adapted from Margie Lapanja, Goddess in the Kitchen: 201 Heavenly
Recipes, Spirited Stories & Saucy Secrets
Below is a list of oil combinations that be worn, or used to annoint candles and other magickal equiptment.
If any of the ingredients for the oils are poisionous they will be marked with an astrick(*)!
To make the oils add the essential oils listed to 1/8 cup of a base oil, visualize as you mix and smell, and for best results don't use synthetics.
Here is the method for blending and making oils: assemble the essential oils (bouquets) called for in the recipie.
In a clean sterilized glass jar, add 1/8 cup of one of the following vegetable oil:
Safflower
Sunflower
Coconut
Apricot Kernel
Jojoba
Almond
Hazelnut
Grapeseed
Jojoba oil is the best to use beacause it lasts for long periods of time without becoming rancid, and it is really a form of liquid wax.
Using an eye dropper or the single drop dispensers which are included in virtually every bottle of true essential oil, add the recipies that follow. Swirl the essential oils into the base oil, don't stir. Gently rotate the oil clockwise.
Finally, store all oils away from heat, light and moisture (not in the bathroom) in airtigh, dark-colored glass bottles. Label and keep for use.
Astral Travel Oil
5 drops Sandlewood
1 drop Ylang-Ylang
1 drop cinnamon
Add these to the base oil as usual and mix. Anoint the stomach, wrists, back of the neck and forehead (but remember these essential oils are added to a base). Lie down and visualise yourself astrally projecting.
Moon Oil
1 drop Jasmine
1 drop Sandalwood
Wear to induce psychic dreams, to speed healing, to facilitate sleep, to increase fertility, and for all other Lunar influences. Also wear at the time of the full moon to attune with its vibrations.
Power Oil
4 drops Orange
1 drop Ginger
1 drop Pine
To attune yourself with additional power during potent rituals, anoint with power oil.
Sabbat Oil
2 drops Pine
1 drop Ginger
1 drop Cinnamon
1 drop Sandalwood
Add to an olive oil base and wear to Wiccan Sabbats.
Sacred Oil
3 drops frankincense
2 drops Sandalwood
1 drop Cinnamon
Anoint your body prior religious rituals to stimulate spirituality. Also anoit others during mystical and religious group rights.
Sleep Oil
2 drops Rose
1 drop Jasmine
1 drop Chamomile
Anoit the temples, neck, pulses of both wrists, and soles of feet.It brings on natural sleep.
Lunar Oil
4 parts Sandalwood
2 parts Camphor
1 part Lemon
Wear to invoke the Goddess within.
Hecate Oil
3 drops Myrrh
2 drops Cypress
1 drop Patchouly
1 dried Mint leaf
Mix the essential oils in a base of sesame oil. Add the dried mint leaf to the blend. Wear during rituals of defensive magick. Also wear during the waning moon in honor of Hecate, Goddess of the fading crescent.
Fast Money Oil
7 drops Patchouly
5 drops Cederwood
4 drops Vetivert
2 drops Ginger
Wear, rub on hands, or anoint green candle and burn to bring money. Also anoint money before spending to ensure its return.
Courage Oil
3 drops Ginger
1 drop Black Pepper
1 drop Clove
Wear to increase your courage, especially before introduced to new people, prior to public speaking, and other nerve recking situations.
Come and See Me Oil (don't you just love the title!)
5 drops Patchouly
1 drop Cinnamon
To attract the ideal mate, mix these true essential oils an olive base, smear on white image candle of the appropiate sex, and burn with visualization.
Energy Oil
4 drops Orange
2 drops Lime
1 drop Cardamon
Wear when feeling depleted, when ill, or just to strenghten your own energy reserves. Especially useul after heavy magical ritual to recharge your bodily batteries.
Altar Oil
4 drops Frankincense
2 drops Myrrh
1 drop Cedar
Anoint the altar with this oil at regular intervals calling your deity (deities) to watch over it.
Initiation Oil
3 drops Frankincense
3 drops Myrrh
1 drop Sandalwood
Use for mystic initation ceremonies and also to increase your awareness of the spiritual realm. Visions Oil
4 drops Lemongrass
2 drops Patchouly
1 drop Nutmeg
Anoint the forehead to produce psychic awareness.
Sun Oil
4 drops Frankincense
2 drops Cinnamon
1 drop Petitgrain
1 drop Rosemary
For healing vitality, strength, promotions and all Solar influences.
Temple Oil
4 drops Frankincense
2 drops Rosemary
1 drop Bay
1 drop Sandalwood
Wear during religious rites, those designed to promote spirituality,"temple workings", and so on.
Purifacation Oil
4 drops Frankincense
3 drops Myrrh
1 drop Sandalwood
Add to bath or wear to be rid of negativity.
Sexual Energy Oil
2 drops Ginger
2 drops Patchouly
1 drop Cardamon
1 drop Sandalwood
Wear to attract sexual partners. And please, SAFE SEX!!
Aries Oil
3 drops Frankincense
1 drop Ginger
1 drop Black Pepper
1 drop Petitgrain
Wear as a personal oil to increase your own powers.
~Making the Ritual Pentacle~
Types of ritual pentacles vary from practitioner to practitioner. Some folks like silver or copper and have theirs commissioned to a metalsmith. Others use wood and burn the pentagram into the center, or fashion theirs from ceramic. The possibilities are as endless as the practitioner's imagination.
If you know exactly what you want, go for it. If not, try the instructions that follow. The ritual pentacle is not only quick and easy to make, but will serve you well in your ritual endeavors.
Materials
3 packages bakeable clay (available at arts and crafts stores)
6-inch circular piece of wood or cork
3-4 tablespoons dried, crushed sage or lavender
Cookie sheet
Hot glue sticks and hot glue gun
Thoroughly mix the herbs and clay with your fingers while chanting:
Herb of protection, meld with clay
Combine your strengths as one today
Become the power of the Earth
With solid base and joyful mirth
Divide the clay into five equal portions, then rub them between your palms to form long rolls. Place them on the wood or cork to form a five-pointed star, trim if necessary, and join and smooth the ends together. Carefully remove the star and place it on the cookie sheet while chanting:
Star of herb and Earthly might
Bring manifestation into sight
Though magic flows around about
Bring it to reality within and out
Bake according to package directions and allow to cool. Then hot glue it to the wood or cork.
Bless and consecrate the pentacle.
~Ways of the Candle~
In dealing with Candle Magick, it is first and foremost best to learn about
candles and their ways so you can better understand just what the heck you
are doing. No two candles act the same way, no matter how or who made them,
or what they are made of. It is the personal act of our desires and our own
will that gives it life and we are able to perceive its ways. This will be an attempt to provide some insight on the candle itself and the ways in which the candle speaks.
The candle is made up of different elements and different parts which
respresent different things. The candle itself contains the element of water
air and earth. When lit, the elements of fire and the spirit are employed.
So a lit candle is then a full blown item incorporating all of the elements
and thus rendering it again, an extremely effective magickal tool. Down
throughout history, you will find many references to the use of candles in
many of our modern day activities. Fire was the ultimate tool used for
banishing, cleansing, destruction and worship, life and death. Such a simple
thing as an act of lighting a candle to hold within itself such
power.
The body of the candle consists of the elements of water, air and earth.
Made from a variety of ingredients from tallow to beeswax, it can include
herbs, scents or even gems or stones. The body consists of the top half which starts at the wick and down to the center. The bottom half is from the base up to the center.
The shape of the burned wax when left to flow on its own can also be very
revealing. Never realized that before huh? Check back and see if the candle
left you a message in the shape of the burned wax. You will have to take
into consideration your own circumstances and situation, but not only will
it tell you while it's lit, it just might give you a "PS" along with It.
Remember that each candle is different as our own personal wish. Use your
journal and learn the different ways in which it will speak to you. An
example: if your desire is to draw a new love, you might get a very soft or
muted pop or snap sound. This is the candle whispering your thoughts and
desires for the forces to take hold. If however, you are hiding something,
holding something back or in some way have a negative thought towards this,
you might hear some strong snaps, cracks and popping. If it is in between,
not quite so soft and not quite so loud, it may be telling you something.
Still you mind and let it speak to you, you may be surprised if you don't all
of a sudden have a new idea or suddenly learn that everything will be okay
and a peaceful feeling comes over you. Learn to listen to your candle.
In performing candle magick, this is a part of the steps when dedicating
your candle. In this process, you are adding the necessary element of your
will, or desire. The wick represents the human potential. A candle needs a
wick to be lit, a wick needs a human to light it. When lit, we are sending
off our human desires in hopes of manifestation.
The noises you hear from the burning candle or the shapes it leaves can
help you in communicating with your candle, speaking or acknowledgement of
your wish. The candle speaking happens especially in times when figure
candles are used, such as Male or Female, Skull, Cat or any other number of
symbolic figures you may use to enhance your will or desire.
The flame or halo of the candle is the life of the fire itself. Upon
lighting the wick, we have now included the elements of fire and spirit
along with the human will into the candle. It can speak to us if we are
watchful and aware. We can learn of its ways of acknowledging our wishes. It
casts a halo or aura outside of itself and is usually regarded as the state
of the highest potential of spirit. The resulting smoke is what carries our
prayers and wishes out to the forces, thus creating our simple act of magick.
Watching the actions of the flame, you will also see the candle speaking.
Again, no two candles are going to react the same way. Use your head and
think about what it is you have asked of the candle and apply it to the
actions. Write all of this down in your jounal, the first few times you try
this. You will soon learn automatically to see and hear the candle. Each
tiny movement of the flame will tell us something. This is the life of the
element of fire and it has the abity to communicate with us. If we are only willing to see and hear a strong tall flame will tell us that the energies we are using are inded
inherent in the candle and it is empowered by our desire or will. This is an
excellent sign of acknowledgement by the candle.
A leaping or jumping flame can indicate indecisiveness is along for the ride
make sure you are clear before you begin. It can also indicate instability
in emotions or actions or the problem or need, needs to be worked on.
A weak or small flame may mean there are just too many negative
energies at
this time and you may have to repeat the process again at a later time. It
could also indicate a communication problem, a smother of emotion, be it inyourself or the other.
Direction - Elements
The direction also of the smoke of the flame can tell us alot. Know the
elements and their directions for correct interpretation of this.
NORTH - if the smoke goes to the north with the element of earth, it can
indicate that true manifestation will be revealed, a physcial happening is
occurring. Physical labor can be indicated or a need for stability. If it
concerns a health question, you may want a second opinion or be cautious and
pay more attention to your health or even that a check up is indicated. If
it is about finances, be sure your checkbook is in order, make sure you are
not allowing frivolous spending habits to destroy your savings and make sure you
have balanced the checkbook within the last month.
SOUTH - a south direction to your flame is the direction of the element of
fire. This is an excellent sign. If it concerns health, a recovery will be
imminent. If it concerns love, a passionate love affair is on its way
shortly. If it concerns the home, you will find new ideas and the energy to
expedite these. If the concern is work, success is on the way. You must be
careful with this. As it all sounds wonderful, you must remember, fire can
burn if you get too close, so keep your head on your shoulders through this
whirlwind and you should be fine.
EAST - If the flame goes east, the element of air is involved and there will
be some mental as opposed to physical labor involved. It is telling you to
sit and follow your head in this situation. Practice logic and patience,
think before you speak. A waiting period, no rash decisions! If applied
correctly, success will be yours.
WEST - A west following flame, the element of water, you have emotions
literally flooding everywhere. It could indicate a period of intense
emotions in whatever you desire. A warning of excess could be indicated. You
could be too close to the situation and need to back off for a while. Or it
could indicate that you need to clariy this thing more. Ground yourself,
clear off the emotional sect of it and look more toward the
thinking part.
Conclusion
You must remember the desire when interpreting these signs and apply them to
the situation. Sometimes you may not get what you want to hear or see. Learn
to incorporate all of the signs you are given. Seperate them when searching
them out and then learn how they all interact together. You may get a
completely different answer when applied to another of the signs. Also, too,
step back then and do some more thinking. Did you clear and calm yourself
first? Have you got some leftover emotions hanging out there? Are you
willing the candle? Is your attention totally focused? Are you truly being
honest with yourself? These and many other things must be considered when
communicating with your candle. Use your jounal like a second skin and write
it all down and try again. Possibly on a different day or at a different
time. Notice the slight similarities and differences and apply them to the
desire and the way in which you approached it this night. You would be
amazed at what you can end up reading. Now make sure that you have a
nonflammable surface upon which your candle is resting and in an area that
children or your favorite pet can not investiage the pretty fire. Use your
head and common sense in safety here. This way you can let it burn all the
way down without any unfortunatte mishaps. Also be careful with your
clothing when using candles. A good idea is a small in home fire extinguisher near by incase of mishaps. Use your common sense and your journey into candle magick will be safe and
full of wonder!
~ Wax Magick ~
Divination by candle wax is just one aspect of fire magick. Fire magick illuminates the future. Techniques and preparations are simple and the results are surprisingly helpful.
There are two techniques of candle or wax reading. One is the drip and the other is the molten method. Each has benefits and draw backs.
Candle drip method is easiest but the results can be hard to interpret and practice is needed to do accurate readings.
The molten wax give good results but you have to melt the wax first. This can be very messy but also dangerous, you have to take precautions. Since wax (bees wax is preferred but petroleum based is fine) is very expensive right now, may make this magick cost prohibitive. The shape formed by the molten wax are very easy to read so may be worth the expense.
CANDLE DRIP DIVINATION
For this you will need a number of long tapers (8 inch or longer) of the four basic elemental colors -- green, yellow, red and blue. One of these is necessary for every reading. You will also need a large round or square vessel filled with cold water. This can be of any material, but pottery or glass is best, for they can withstand heat. Plastic is not recommended. Put the candles, a book of matches and the vessel of water on a table or other flat surface. You are now ready to begin wax divination. If you have a particular question you want answered, use the color candle related to your question, through the symbolism of the elements. If the question doesn't seem to be related to any of the elements, use a white candle. If you have no question but are simply desiring a glimpse into your own future, use a yellow candle, for this is the color of divination in general.
Light the candle and hold it upright over the water for a moment, thinking about your question or simply calming your mind. When the candle is fully flaming and has begun melting the wax, tilt it and hold steadily about an inch over the water's surface. The wax will begin dripping onto the water.
If the tiny drips (which harden into small droplets of wax, smooth on the top but round on the bottom) do not merge and create a pattern, you aren't concentrating on the question. Sweep everything from your mind.
The wax drops will form a pattern on the surface of the water.
If you have trouble achieving this, being moving the candle slowly, allowing the drops to touch one another and so form a line in the water. If this is done for a few minutes a definite shape will appear on the water.
When this happens quench the candle's flame with your fingers or a candle snuffer and set aside. Look at the shape. What does it look like?
Pick it up carefully so as not to break it and turn it over. Does it look the same or different? Study its thickness to see if it says anything to you symbolically.
Here are some shapes and patterns commonly found in the drip method and their traditional meaning. As you can see, this form of divination is rather limited.
SPIRALS:
The most common, because of the way the wax rotates on the surface of the water, spirals represent reincarnation, the universe, the world or perhaps a particular life. It could mean you need to evolve beyond it, or that it is something from a previous life. Perhaps, depending on the nature of the question, the problem (or its solution) is in the home. This is an excellent example of how interpretation must be a personal thing; no one else can tell you exactly how these symbols relate to you. Usually the first meaning that comes to your mind is the correct one.
CIRCLES:
Circles represent eternity and fertility, and both of these attributes can be interpreted according to the question asked. Fertility would perhaps represent a new activity, financial security, or even a new baby on the way! It may also signify the successful completion of a project. Eternity may mean just that -- it will be a long time before something is completed or comes to pass. Circles also represent religion and spirituality, and thus can be seen in this context during interpretation.
BROKEN LINES:
If the wax drops form into lines but they aren't connected, it represents a scattering of forces, or a lack of focus in your life, business or other pursuits. It can also signify forces working against you, but don't take this too literally -- such 'forces' may well be within your own being. This isn't a positive pattern to find, for it is a sign that changes must be made to bring order into your life.
DOTS:
Dots, unconnected wax drops, sometimes are the only thing you can get. As stated before, this sometimes signifies lack of attention on the divination, but it can also mean that the problem is too complex for an answer at this time. If you try wax divination several times with only dots coming up each time, you're either asking the wrong questions or, if you haven't asked one, you shouldn't be seeking a glimpse into the future at this time -- at least not through wax and water. It's probably best to let the candles and water rest, and to attempt a different method -- perhaps one mentioned elsewhere in this book.
MOLTEN WAX DIVINATION
This method is time-consuming, but as stated before is often found to be more effective.
You need a double boiler for this. If you don't have one, a coffee can placed in a large pot of water will do. Not glamorous, true, but it works.
In the top of the double-boiler (or coffee can, with label removed) place about one cup of crumbled solid wax. Sheets of wax are available at hobby and craft stores, and the paraffin wax used for canning (available at most grocery stores) is fine. Beeswax is best, but again is quite expensive.
The wax should be plain white. Coloring it not only adds to the expense, but also to the work involved. Fill the bottom pot about one-third with water and place the top or can into it. Heat the water until boiling. The wax should begin melting almost immediately. Next to the stove place a box of backing soda, just in case the wax catches fire. There is little danger of this when using a double-boiler, but be prepared just in case. While the wax is melting fill a vessel with water as directed in the first method. When the wax is melted, remove the can of double-boiler carefully from the pot with holders and take it to the vessel of water.
While concentrating on your question (or clearing your mind) quickly pour, all at once, half the wax into the water. Place the can or pot back in the double boiler and turn off the heat. Now return to the table and look at the wax image you've just created.
If it hasn't solidified yet, wait. Then gingerly dunk it completely under the water, to firm all the wax, and finally remove it.
The impact of the molten wax hitting the water and then suddenly hardening will have created a solid three-dimensional object. Sometimes it is little more than abstract, at other times it is sharply definite.
Look at the piece for a while, turning it over in your hands, searching for its identity. Once you have recognized a shape, interpret it.
As with any occult art, especially divination, you will improve with practice.
You left half of the wax in the double-boiler, right? Pour it into the water to make another shape. The two can be read together if the same question -- or lack of such -- was asked each time, and this will enrich your field of symbols.
How to Make Your Own Wicks for Candles*
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of table salt and 4 tablespoons of borax in 1
½ cups of warm water.
Soak a 1-foot length of regular cotton kite string or twine in the
solution for 15 minutes.
Hang each string with a clothespin for 5 days to be sure it is
completely
Use a paperclip to dip each string completely in melted wax 3 to 4
times, coating it completely. Hang it up to dry as before
Store wicks rolled up in a newspaper.
TIPS:
Add a teaspoon of one of these chemicals for coloured flames:
strontium chloride for a brilliant red flame, boric acid for a deep
red flame, calcium for a red-orange flame, calcium chloride for a
yellow-orange flame, table salt for a bright yellow flame, borax for
a yellow-green flame, copper
sulphate (blue vitrol/bluestone) for a green flame, calcium chloride
for a blue flame, potassium sulphate or potassium nitrate (saltpeter)
for a violet flame, or Epsom salts for a white flame.
WARNING:
Add ONLY one chemical for color variation.
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