Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness Home13 Goals for a Witch
Know yourself.
Know your craft.
Learn and grow.
Apply knowledge with wisdom.
Achieve balance.
Keep your words in good order.
Keep your thoughts in good order.
Celebrate life.
Attune with the cycles of earth.
Breathe and eat correctly.
Exercise the body.
Meditate.
Honor the Goddess and God.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeW.I.T.C.H
W is for the Wealth of Wisdom of the Ancients and the Blessed Old Ways
I is for the Inspiration that Magick brings to us all each and every day
T is for the Trust that we share with our Mother and among our own kin
C is for the Caring Ways and Collective Energies we share from deep within
H is for the Home we love and return to and where we know we are forever free
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomePagan Standard Time
Pagan Standard Time is a trait peculiar to Pagans, and ranges in length from being
late for a Circle, to not showing up at all. A Pagan who is less than two hours late
is considered "on time" just like the Long Island Railroad.
With nearly a million Pagans in the United States, and twice as many in the rest of
the world, we believe it's high time a clock was designed which would show time the
way Pagans are used to seeing it. And so, this proposal from the
Witches' Annual editors for:
It has these special features:
1.The seconds hand is eliminated, since no Pagan works on THAT tight a schedule.
2.Pagan Standard Time is measured by an extra hand,
which moves at about half the speed
of the hours hand.
3.There are 13 hours on the dial,
thus making two extra hours in the day for Pagans who
are always too busy to do anything.
4.Hours 5 through 8 have been eliminated, since any
Pagan at that time is a) alseep, b) just getting to sleep,
c) just waking up, d) too busy, or e) unavailable.
To be sure that a Circle will begin on the stroke of
Midnight, there are two extra Midnight hours.
6.For Pagans who begin Circles at 9 o'clock, there are two extra ninth hours.
Also two extra tenth hours for late arrivals.
7.Since there is no eleventh hour, there is no need for the Pagan to rush.
There are no deadlines to meet, there is no "last chance," and the consistent
goof-off will never have to face the music.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe 9 Basic Components of Wiccan Ritual
1. Purification of Self
2. Purification of Space
3. Creating Sacred Space
4. Invocation
5. Ritual Observance (On Sabbats and Esbats)
6. Energy Raising (during magick)
7. Earthing the Power
8. Thanking the Goddess and God
9. Breaking the Circle
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWhat A Witch Wants
Witches, like women in general, are not difficult to please, all you have to do is turn
your dreams into reality.
1. Forget about trying to convince us that kissing frogs or toads is an Olypmic Sport.
(We may be into skinny dipping ...although sometimes WE will make do with a handsome
prince who's wearing a Speedo thank you.)
2. A bit of bling just might be our thing, (and no, that fake Gucci bag you had in
mind for her birthday won't cut it, so try again!)
3. A rogue, rascal and rapscallion all rolled into one (preferably one who can
ride a steed and sweep us off our feet but never forget to take us out to the
racetrack for some fun...no betting on Feedlebaum!)
4. A dragon-lady we can be at times but we don't appreciate a man who slays her with
flowers (now a trip for two to Shangri-la, a bed of roses, a bottle of cold bubbly...
well that's a whole different matter...and bring along your valid credit card with no
spending limit!)
5. Ability to sing and/or dance is a definite must, (we can't countenance a
knight-in-shining armour with two-left or one who croons off key...after all,
making music and tripping the light fantastic are but two ways to tickle our fancy --
c'mon now, use your imagination for pity's sake.)
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Russian Witch Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga, does that sound familiar? Maybe not. She's an Eastern European,
particularly Russian, legendary or mythical creature, a wild old woman, a hag,
a witch, who lives in the forest in a cabin built on chicken legs.
Baba Yaga is rather frightening, as are all these strange women who
live alone in most cultures, at least until you get to know them and
then sometimes they're good sometimes bad!
Baba Yaga can indeed be dangerous, enslaving those who cross her path,
especially if they make her cross usually by asking the wrong question.
Mothers use the threat of Baba Yaga to warn their children to be good.
Other times Baba Yaga appears as a source of wisdom and guidance.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeGreen Man
The Green man's foliate image is found on many ancient buildings and churches.
His history is embedded in the tale of the Green Knight of Arthurian legend.
He represents rebirth, fertility and nature and is recognized as the Holly King,
or the King of the Waning Year - from Midsummer to Yule.
Feel his presence as you look up through the green leaves towards the returning sun after the
winter solstice. He provides a face and form that embodies the power we feel from nature -
see his verdant strength all around you in the grass, trees and feel his energy.
He symbolizes oneness between nature and humanity, and irrepressible life.
At Yule he fights with the Oak King and loses - this symbolizes the return and
rebirth of the sun. But he'll be back in the spring to take up the crown of
King of the May - the bringer of fertility and energy.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeSelf Dedication Rite ~ Scott Cunningham
Prepare yourself by doing the Ritual Bath and Self Blessing.
If you are performing this ritual at the sea or a river, bathe there if you so desire.
As you bathe, prepare for the coming rite.
Open your consciousness to higher levels of awareness.
Breath deep. Cleanse your mind as well as your body.
After bathing, dry and dress for the journey. Go to a place in the wild where you feel safe.
It should be a comfortable spot where you won't be disturbed by others, an area where the powers
of the Earth and the Elements are evident. It may be a mountain top, a desert canyon or
cave, perhaps a dense forest, a rocky outcropping over the sea, a quiet island in the
center of a lake. Even a lonely part of a park or garden can be used.
Draw on your imagination to find the place.
You need take nothing with you but a vial of richly scented oil. Sandalwood, frankincense,
cinnamon or any other scent is fine. When you arrive at the place of dedication,
remove your shoes and sit quietly for a few moments. Calm your heart if you've
exerted yourself during your travel.
Breathe deeply to return to normal, and keep your mind free of cluttered thoughts.
Open yourself to the natural energies around you.
When you're calm, rise and pivot slowly on one foot, surveying the land around you.
You're seeking the ideal spot. Don't try to find it; open your awareness to the place.
When you've discovered it (and you'll know when), sit, kneel or lie flat on your back.
Place the oil on the Earth beside you, Don't stand - contact the Earth.
Continue deep breathing. Feel the energies around you.
Call the Goddess and God in any words you like, or use the following invocation.
Memorize these words before the rite so that they'll spill effortlessly from you, or improvise.
Say:
O Mother Goddess,
O Father God,
Answers to all mysteries and yet mysteries unanswered;
In this place of power I open myself to Your Essence.
In this place and in this time I am changed;
From hence forth I walk the Paths of the Craft.
I dedicate myself to you, Mother Goddess and Father God.
Rest for a moment, silent, still.
Say:
I breathe your energies into my body,
commingling, blending,
mixing them with mine,
that I may see the divine in nature,
nature in the divine,
and divinity within myself and all else.
O Great Goddess,
O Great God,
Make me one with your essence
Make me one with your essence
Make me one with your essence.
You may feel bursting with power and energy, or calm and at peace.
Your mind might be in a whirl.
The Earth beneath you may throb and undulate with energy.
Wild animals, attracted by the psychic occurrence, might grace you with their presence.
Whatever occurs, know that you have opened yourself and that the
Goddess and God have heard you. You should feel different inside, at peace or simply powerful.
After the invocation, wet a finger with the oil and mark the symbols of the
Goddess and God somewhere on your body. It doesn't matter where; you can do this on your chest,
forehead, arms, legs, anywhere. As you anoint, visualize these symbols sinking into your
flesh, glowing as they enter your body and then dispersing into millions of tiny points of light.
The formal self-dedication is ended. Thank the Goddess and God for Their attention.
Sit and meditate before leaving the place of dedication.
Once home, celebrate in some special way.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWitchy Light
During times of need, give yourself, your family,
and your pets a daily protection by visualizing a light blue pentagram in the center
of your (or their) forehead. This may be visually renewed as often as needed.
It's also a good idea to place these pentagrams at the four corners of your dwelling.
Blue light like this is sometimes referred to as "Witchy light."
It is said to be psychic in nature, and to carry much power.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness Home12 Things About Relations6 Things to Weaken the Relations:
1. Misbehaving
2. Ignoring
3. Lying
4. Breaking Promises
5. Avoiding Contact
6. Doubting
6 Things Which Strengthen The Relations:
1. Good Attitude
2. Helping
3. Trusting
4 Respecting
5. Entertaining
6. Forgiving Mistakes.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Four-Fold Breath
The main purpose of pranayama is to relax the body and mind.
There are many kinds of pranayama,
but a simple one called the 'four-fold breath' works for most people.
This consists of four short quick inhalations, then four short quick exhales;
then repeat, continuing until the allotted time is used up.
It will take about 1 1/2 seconds for the four inhalations,
and about 1 1/2 seconds for the four exhales;
or about 3 seconds for the complete in-out cycle.
There should be no strain of any kind during your pranayama.
You will probably notice a slight dizziness, particularly at first,
since the effect of pranayama is to hyperventilate.
Try sitting back in a chair with your eyes closed when you do your pranayama.
Begin with a minute a day for the first week and gradually
increase up to about five minutes a day.
If you do the pranayama before your magical activity,
it will help you to get 'into the mood'.
It is also an excellent aid to relaxation,
tension release and centering yourself.
Pranayama should not be done during times when there is heavy air pollution
if you have allergies. Other exercises you might consider are hatha yoga,
calesthentics, walking or jogging.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Dedication of the Witch
All witches, even solitary practitioners, need to dedicate themselves to the craft,
and all that it means. This should be a ritual that is taken quite seriously,
but at the same time, should be joyful. Only you can choose what you will do for your ritual,
what offerings you will make to the Goddess, etc, but below, you will find a
dedication that can be used while you are performing the dedication ritual.
Say:
I call upon the Source of All Things to instill within me the power of magick,
through which I can draw down the moon, call upon the
Gods, and manifest my desire in accordance with my will.
I call upon the Source of All Things to instill within me the awareness called compassion,
through which I can discern true will,
call upon my higher nature, and manifest my desire with harm to none.
I call upon the Source of All Things to instill within me the wisdom of forethought,
through which I may harm no one, call upon my experience,
and manifest my desire to know, dare, will, and keep silent.
I am (name) – born of power, compassion, and wisdom.
Though born of this world, my race if of the stars, with harm to none,
I manifest my will and submit to my higher self.
To know, to dare, to will, and to be silent.
So Mote It Be!
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThird Eye Rite to Improve Psychic Powers
This ritual is to improve psychic powers three days before the moon is full,
and preferably when it is in either the astrological sign of Cancer, Pisces or Scorpio.
Begin by brewing a strong magical tea made from yarrow or mugwort
(herbs that stimulate the psychic senses)
and then light thirteen purple colored votive candles to help attract psychic influences.
Drink the tea and then gaze fixedly into a magic mirror, crystal ball, or crystal pyramid as you chant
the following incantation:
Say 3 times:
I invoke thee, O Asariel
Archangel of Neptune
And ruler of clairvoyant powers.
I ask thee now to open my third eye
And show me the hidden light
Let me see the future.
Let me see the past.
Let me perceive the divine
Kingdoms of the unknown.
Let me understand the wisdom
Of the mighty universe.
So mote it be!
After chanting, relax, breathe slowly and concentrate on opening your Third Eye.
Do not permit any negative thought to contaminate your mind.
The Third Eye, an invisible chakra located in the middle of the forehead above
the space between the eyebrows, is the human body's highest source of power,
supernormal sight and clairvoyant vision.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeCharging an Item
After you have consecrated a tool or item, you should charge it.
Hold the item above your head. Take a moment to feel the swirls of energy around you.
You should be able to feel them tug at you like a current in a river.
Say:
Let the sacred powers of the universe unite and fill this (item name) with energy.
By the Moon, the Sun, the Earth and the Stars I charge this (item name) to do my will.
So Mote it Be!
Close your eyes and envision an energy bolt striking the item and causing it to glow.
You should feel a subtle vibration while you hold the item.
Your tool is now charged.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeSmoke Scrying
Smoke scrying is best done while relaxing in front of a campfire.
You should be in comfortable visual range of watching the smoke rise.
Do not follow the smoke up but rather allow the smoke to forms patterns
within your spiritual gaze. In time you will see visions of many far off events.
I have generally found people who have natural artistic skill good at this form of scrying.
The American Indians practice a special type of smoke scrying.
It's called a sweat lodge. Water is poured over hot rocks in a tent to create steam.
Those who sit naked around the rocks inhale the steam.
The combination of temperature, humidity and elevated levels of carbon
dioxide produce a state in which visions can arise.
This form of scrying may be dangerous and should only be undertaken by experienced people.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeCharging An Herb For Your Use
Discovery of your interaction with it.
Charging is the act of mixing your own energy with that of the thing you are charging.
Anything used for magical work should be charged.
To charge an herb is a process of reverence.
You must acknowledge the gift of nature, understand that it will benefit your
work and be willing to take its own force into you.
Take a small portion of the herb in your dominant hand.
Cover it lightly with your other hand.
Close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply.
Calm all other thoughts in your mind.
Breathe in fully and breathe out completely.
Begin to focus in on the herb between your palms.
Visualize the energy from it as one color and your own as another.
Concentrate and picture the energies or colors slowly mixing,
swirling together and becoming one. Feel the pull of the mixed
energies enter you and move up your arms.
Color visualization is one of the easiest forms.
Focus all your thoughts on the colors blended together, moving throughout your body.
This will take some practice so don't be discouraged if the visualization is not
strong on the first attempts. Keep practicing and it will get stronger as you progress.
Note: To help with your visualization, take a small pinch of the herb, crush it between your
fingertips and release its scent.
Take in that aroma. Your mind will file it as information and you will be able to use
the scent to enhance your perception of the herb's vibrational energy.
Once the herb is charged (or fully fortified with your energy) it is ready for use.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeSpellworking Basics
Cleanse and consecrate poppet for workings of magic.
Stuff it with the herbs. Sew the opening closed.
Say:
Goddess of Opportunity Bring good things in life to me
I'll be alert to all you send Goddess be my helpful friend,
Repeat 3 times, envisioning the opportunities you wish to come to you.
Meditation and Chant to the Goddess
Sit with your spine straight, legs crossed, hands in your lap.
Close your eyes and visualize the Goddess, however she appears to you.
Feel her arms around you in a protective embrace.
When you have the vision firmly planted, chant softly..
Say:
Starry Goddess, full of light I honor you this Full moon night.
Repeat, feeling your energy grow. This energy will be used during the following spellworking.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeDangerous PlantsNEVER EAT OR INGEST ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:Avoid experimenting with ANY the following plants.
Some of them possess highly potent medical properties and should
only be used by the truly experienced witch or herbalists.
Many are poisonous in part or in whole and cause serious illness
or death if not used properly.
Aconite, Bittersweet, Black nightshade, Blue flag Burning bush, Calabar bean,
Calico bush, Camphor, Castor oil plant (seeds), Celandine, Christmas rose (root),
Cowbane, Daffodils, Deadly nightshade, Dog's mercury, Elkweed, Ergot,
Flag lily, Foxglove, Gelsemium, Hemlock, Hellebore, Henbane, Holly (seeds),
Honeysuckle (vine and fruits), Horse balm, Ilex, Impatiens pallida, Indian arrowroot,
Inkberry, Jack-in-the-pulpit (root), Jerusalem cherry, Jimsonweed, Laburnum (seeds),
Laulel (seeds), Mandrake, Mayapple, (roots, leaves, seeds),
Monkshood (fine as a rub - The smallest amount is deadly if used internally),
Mistletoe (seeds), Poisetta, Poison Dogwood, Flag, Hemlock, Ivy, Oak, and Sumac,
Poke root, Rosebay, Springle tree (seeds), Spurge, Swallow wort, Thorn apple,
Tobacco (Believe it! This IS a deadly poison if concentrated and eaten),
Wahoo, Wake-robin, Water dropwort, White hemlock, White bryony,
Winter rose, Wood anemone (seeds), Yellow jasmine, and Yew (seeds and berries)
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeFeel Your Strength
Remind yourself how strong you can be.
Then put that strength to good and meaningful use.
When you're tempted to think that circumstances have made you their victim,
stop and reframe that thought.
See the reality that those circumstances have given you immense opportunity.
Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, feel thankful for the purposeful strength that is yours.
Instead of running or hiding from the difficult challenges, let those challenges
bring your strength to life.
Feel your strength in action as you confidently step forward and do what must be done.
Feel the effectiveness of your strength as your efforts bring results.
Feel your strength as it becomes more present and apparent with each action you take.
Feel that strength grow even stronger as you infuse it with positive purpose.
See each effort not just as an effort, but as a reminder of what a difference you can make.
Feel your strength and feel the joy of using it to move life forward.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWitchcraft Spells
Wiccan Spells Spells are used in witchcraft to channel the power of the Wiccan God and
Goddess to initiate positive change and for resolution of problems. It is important
to know what phase the moon is in while practicing spells and witchcraft. For example,
it is best to do spells of a banishing or destructive nature in the waning of the moon,
when it is dark and the new moon is about to wane.
Examples of such spells are the banishing of negative energy, hope for the end of
illness and also agricultural rites, to ward off destructive insects.
Constructive spells Spells of a constructive nature should be performed
during the waxing of the moon, when the moon is full and bright.
Examples of constructive spells would be spells for luck,
fertility rites and protection spells.
In witch craft, all spells should be practiced while in a positive mood,
because this will achieve the best end for what you want.
Many things are used in the practice of witchcraft as aids in spells,
such as different herbs and leaves, as many of these things are believed
to have magical properties. An example is the bay leaf,
which is believed to have a lot of positive energy associated with it,
and used often in witchcraft to invoke positive energy.
Consecration/Purification in Spells Consecration is defined by the
dictionary as to dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.
Consecration must be practiced before any tool can be used in the practice of witchcraft.
Consecration is a form of purification, and is done with salt, water and incense,
which all stand for the five elements of nature, water, earth, fire, air and spirit.
It is important that consecration to be used for witchcraft be done in a
positive state of mind, as this incorporates the spirit part of the elements.
Consecration is used in witchcraft to gain the approval of the God and Goddess
for what they are about to practice.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWhy Do We Wear a Pentagram?
Why do we WEAR a Witches (Wiccan) Pentagram I feel it is important to wear a pentagram proudly.
It lets other Pagans know that you are one of the old ways.
It also lets the public know that you are proud of your beliefs and your faith.
It gives you ...the opportunity to educate others when they ask about your pentagram,
perhaps teaching the world the truth of it's meaning.
I am proud and I wear your pentacle proudly. For my own heart I have always felt that
to hide it was to say I knew that some people saw it somehow as something unacceptable
and perhaps that give power to those who would keep us in the shadows or keep us put
away from the world. The pentagram stands for the spirit ruling the world of matter...
also life, health, protection (especially against hostile energies)...
The points can represent the 5 senses, stages of life or states of consciousness.
When worn inverted, it can represent the horned God, male energy or the spirit hidden.
Most of us who will on occasion were it inverted do so to represent
that our energies are waning. This can be do to sickness, loss of someone we love,
or a personal struggles in our life. It is a sign that we need to keep our energy within.
I wore my inverted pentagram during my battle with cancer.
This was to let the rest of our communities know, that my spirit was weak
and my energy was to low to share or give to others.
The pentagram has never represented a devil or creature called satan within our
beliefs or the old ways. That is a modern idea put forth by those who do not know the truth.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeCutting A Doorway
At times you may have to leave the circle.
This is fine, of course, but as previously mentioned,
passing through the circle dissipates it.
To prevent this from occurring it's traditional to cut a doorway.
To do this, face Northeast. Hold your athame point downward near the ground.
See and sense the circle before you. Pierce its wall of energy with the athame
and trace an archway, tall enough to walk through, moving counter-clockwise along
the circle for about three feet. Move the point of the athame up at the arch's
center and down the other side until it is near the ground.
As you're doing this, visualize that area of the circle's energy being sucked
back into the athame. This creates a void, allowing passage in and out of the circle.
Pull the athame out of the circle's wall. You're free to walk outside. Once back inside,
close the door by placing the athame at the lower North- Eastern point of the archway.
With your athame trace the circle's perimeter clockwise, as if redrawing that portion of the
Circle of Stones, again visualizing blue or purple energy flaring out from the blade and
converging with the rest of the circle. It is done.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomePagan Family Protection Planter
For a part sun-afternoon shade spot, plant trailing ivy, snapdragons, allysum,
pink geraniums and dark purple petunias in a hanging basket or container by your front door.
Why these plants? Ivy is protective; snaps ward off negative spells, allysum expels charms,
pink geraniums are for love; and dark purple petunias add power and are very fragrant at night.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeEnhance Your ImaginationSay:
I command my mind , to have the best visions in my mind I send this commandment to the one
and only divine to grant this commandment to my mind so I may have excellent visions in my mind
as it is said so be it and so mote it be!"
Note:
The one and only divine means the christian god (sorry Wiccans)
also this will give you extreme visions in you're mind.
And visions doesn't mean psychic visions or anything just you
can image in more with you're eyes open and you're mind.
And it may seem useless but it is great!
Especially for making and casting spells since you need a lot of imagination for spells.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeCelebrating Births
Springtime is the time for birth, with Earth's renewal all around us.
This magical ritual makes a lovely accompaniment to Wiccanings, christenings,
or other infant welcoming ceremonies throughout the year.
Hold the new baby in your no dominant arm. Whisper, so only the infant can hear you,
“Not above you, not below you, but within you.” As you whisper, use your other hand
to gesture above and below the baby, matching the words you speak.
Finish by touching the baby's forehead and heart, or all seven chakras, if you prefer.
If you can't be physically present, make or purchase a baby blanket
(blue is ideal for health and protection).
Cradle it as if it was the new baby, and perform the above ceremony with the blanket-effigy.
You might print a rune of protection, such as Algiz ( z )or Thurisaz ( x ), into one corner.
Send the blanket to the new family, where it will serve as a power piece for the new child.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThirteen Powers of the Witch Blessing
Never heard of this before. Not sure who wrote it but one site gave credit to Silver RavenWolf.
I found it interesting both as a blessing and a listing of powers/abilities of a witch.
I think it is one of those things that the more you read it the more you get out of it.
"Thirteen powers do the Witches claim their right of lineage by Goddess's*
(insert name of Goddess you work with here) name.
Tie a knot and say the words
or hand on head - the blessing conferred.
Say:
A Witch can give success in love
curse or bless through God/dess above.
Speak to beasts and spirits alike
command the weather, cast out a blight.
Read the heavens and stars of the night
divine the future and give good advice.
Conjure treasure and bring fortune to bear
heal the sick and kill despair
This is my birthright to have and to share
blessings you, (the person's name),
may the spirits be fair.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeMagic Thoughtforms And Spirits
Whenever we concentrate our thoughts, we draw psychic energy together.
This is called a thoughtform. Usually the energy dissipates as soon as we break the
concentration, but it is possible to purposely concentrate energy in this way,
producing very strong thoughtforms. Such thoughtforms are vortexes or centers
of psychic energy.
They can exist as entities by themselves, at least for a while.
They are basically inanimate, non-thinking forces.
Talking to one is about as logical as talking to a chair.
In this way, thoughtforms are similar to elementals, ghosts, and spirits.
All of these psychic entities consist of a psychic energy vortex which could be described
as a localized field or as a discontinuity of the physical world.
Psychic entities respond to certain electrostatic and magnetic fields,
and to other energy vortexes. That is why they respond to Magick ritual.
Psychic entities are sometimes able to affect our thought processes.
Thoughtforms and elementals, are usually not very smart.
If they display any intelligence at all, it is limited.
They are the morons of the spirit world.
Their behavior is usually automatic, repetitive, robot-like (just like some people).
We see that artificial elementals are little more than astral robots.
Spirits and deities are more intelligent and volitional.
Directed Attention
Your mind follows your attention. Wherever you direct your attention,
there will your thoughts go too. By directing attention to a specific place or
purpose you focus mental energy upon it.
For example: you're having lunch in a cafeteria crowded with people.
It is a large place, and everyone there is talking at once, so that the room
is a constant jumble of noise.
You happen to notice a man across the room; he reminds you of someone.
All at once he drops his fork and you hear it hit the table.
But would you have noticed the sound of his fork if you had not been looking?
No. Only by focusing your attention there were you able to pick out that individual event
and associated sound. It is a dark night. You are walking and the only light you have is
from the flashlight you hold in your hand. As you move the flashlight around, the beam
of light from it directs your attention first one way then another. Now, the mind is
something like that flashlight in the dark. By directed attention, you point
the mind to one place or another.
As with that flashlight beam, you see where the mind is pointed; nothing more.
The rest is 'noise'. And so we could define mental noise as anything not focused upon.
In another way, noise could be considered as negative emotions, attitudes, and thoughts
which make it more difficult to direct the attention.
Your emotions follow your thoughts quite easily. Your emotions are not you,
but are rather reactions prompted by your model and ego --
like a performance or an act, while the real you watches.
In a similar way, directing your attention toward a specific
emotion will cause you to experience that emotion.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThirteenSay:
Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
Thirteen is the coven's array.
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry,
For each golden year and a day.
~ from the Witche's Creed
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeYour Magickal Name
Perhaps that is so, and if so, why all the fuss about choosing the right magickal name or
craft name? Indeed, why even bother to choose a name at all? What's wrong with just being
"Sue" or "Bill"?
Let's take the example of the rose. When you hear the word "rose" you get a definite picture
in your mind, you see a color, you see the flower, you know what scent to expect, and you also
know it will have thorns. Those are the attributes of a rose. So when I say "rose"
and you hear "rose" we may not be seeing exactly the same mental image,
but we will be talking about basically the same flower.
So it is with names, craft names and magickal names especially.
Not every "Sue" or "Bill" is alike, and when you hear that name,
it may not bring up any mental images for you at all. If you know
someone already with that name, you will naturally think of that person,
and compare them to this one. Magickal names, therefore, are to conjure
up a mental image of the attributes of the name itself, or the God or
Goddess associated with it. The same holds true with magickal names
that are of plants or animals. Each has attributes that are beneficial
and will bring those to mind when you hear that name.
People will take the name of an animal to encourage the good qualities of that
animal in their personalities, or to strengthen tendencies they already possess
towards those qualities. Not all qualities are desirable, however, and you need
to remember when picking this name that you will also get the less beneficial
ones along with the ones you are seeking.
For example, a rose has thorns. Many animals have sharp teeth and claws for
defense or attack. Some are carnivores and prey on creatures smaller than themselves.
Does this mean that if you take the name of a tiger (such as tigershadow) that you
will become a bully? Probably not, but why ARE you taking the name? Be clear just
what the attributes are, both the positive ones that you want, and also the ones
that you may not like very much.
Our tradition usually encourages people to take on God or Goddess names as a craft name,
especially for inner court working. This requires research in at least three different
sources to be sure that all sides of this personality are known. You see, these names
have been used for centuries, and myths have been told and retold, and there is
definite energy associated with these names on the astral plane.
The myths will give you clues as to how this Deity behaves,
and what are his or her attributes. Three sources are the minimum needed
because many books will give you slightly different versions or different stories.
I was researching my first degree name and I had almost chosen a Goddess,
when I came across a few stories where she was said to have eaten her children.
I took that to be selfishness, (myths are almost never literal)
and decided that as a mother of two, I didn't want to take on that much selfishness.
A little is necessary for your own survival, but I judged that story to illustrate
an attribute I didn't want to emphasize in my life. I kept looking and chose another name
at that time.
Another reason to choose a magickal name is to let your younger self out to play,
and to expand and allow your rational self to be the person you have always wanted to be.
You are not the mundane person who goes to work from 9 to 5 everyday - when you are in circle,
you let the magickal, spiritual, real you come out! A magickal name will assist you in this,
if you are careful and choose the correct one for you.
From time to time, a student may ask a teacher or close friend to aid them in choosing a name,
or in choosing between a few names that they like. That's fine if the person knows you well
and will be honest with you, but please, don't ask another person to name you.
This is too great a responsibility for another person.
It's up to you to decide how you want to grow in the Craft,
and what kind of person you wish to be. Others can help,
but only by doing the research and the actual choosing yourself can you be
certain that you have picked a name which will allow you to grow into it gracefully.
One last thought on names - when you are choosing this name,
know that it will not be the last name that you choose.
You aren't stuck with it for life! As you grow in the Craft and change,
your name can change with you. Try not to take on more than you can handle at first.
"Isis" is not a name to start with, as this Goddess is widely worshiped, powerful,
and has a lot of hidden mysteries. You can end up as Isis as you grow in the Craft,
but you will be much better off, and have less to deal with, if you choose a more local deity,
or one that is less complicated. That will give you smaller changes that are
easier to handle, and attributes that may be more smoothly integrated into your life.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeTo Be A Witch
To be a witch is to love and be loved.
To be a witch is to know everything, and nothing at all.
To be a witch is to change the world around you and yourself.
To be a witch is to share and give, while receiving all the while.
To be a witch is to dance and sing, and hold hands with the Universe.
To be a witch is to honor the Gods, and yourself.
To be a witch it to Be magick, not just perform it.
To be a witch is to be honorable, or nothing at all.
To be a witch is to accept others who are not.
To be a witch is to know what you feel is right and good.
To be a witch is to harm none.
To be a witch is to know the ways of the old.
To be a witch is to see beyond the barriers.
To be a witch is to follow the Moon.
To be a witch is to be one with the Gods.
To be a witch is to study and to learn.
To be a witch is to be the teacher and the student.
To be a witch is to acknowledge the truth.
To be a witch is to live with the Earth, not just in it.
To be a witch is to be truly free!
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWitchcraft Facts
Witchcraft means "Craft of the Wise Ones" and is also known as the "Old Religion".
Its practices can be traced to Neolithic ("Stone Age") cave paintings.
In early times, the Witch was the local lawyer, psychiatrist, and doctor.
The field of modern medicine can trace its origins to the herbal medicines of the Witch.
Witchcraft is a nature religion, not unlike the shamanism of the Native Americans.
As the concepts of male and female exist through-out life indeed,
are necessary to create it most Witches perceive Deity as male and female:
the Goddess and the God. Like the concept of the Trinity, these aren't "many" Gods;
they are aspects of the One Creator.
The Goddess is seen as Mother Earth and Mother Nature, and is represented by the Moon.
She is seen in the fertility of the plant, animal, and human kingdoms.
Her power is at a peak in the "fertile half" of the year, from May until October.
The God is seen in the woodlands, the Sun, grain, & the hunt.
Because most of the animals that prehistoric humans hunted had horns,
He is usually depicted as the "Horned One". His power is at a peak in the
"dark half" of the year, from October to May.
*Witches don't do evil. They believe in the Wiccan Rede,
which is "If It Harms None, Do What You Will". (In other words,
"Do whatever you want; just as long as it doesn't harm anyone including yourself").
Witches also believe in the "Three-Fold Law", which states that whatever you do --
be it good or evil -- comes back to you three times over, so (obviously)
there is no incentive to do evil.
Witches do NOT believe in or worship Satan, and do not perform any sort of
human or animal sacrifices. Satan is a relatively new concept that originated with
Christianity. Witches put the responsibility for our own actions squarely on whom it belongs:
ourselves. Witchcraft teaches us to be responsible people who take responsibility for our own
actions.
When the Christian Church decided to obliterate religions
that were a threat to its power (including Witchcraft),
they decided that their "Satan" had horns and that
Witches were actually worshipping the Devil.
This became the death warrant for millions of innocent people.
The Pentagram (a five-pointed star in an upright, one-point-up position) is the symbol
of our religion. The top point symbolizes Spirit (the Creator) being 'above', or ruling,
the Four Elements of Life -- Air, Fire, Water, & Earth -- which are the four lower points.
The Circle, being without beginning or end, symbolizes the Deity. It is completely
encompassing the Star within it (which represents the out-stretched human body,
reaching out in search of its connection with Spirit).
Together, they represent the Creator's Protection & Wisdom.
Inverting the Pentagram, as is done by Satanists, symbolizes that the Elements
(the "material world") are superior to the Creator. Unfortunately,
through misunderstandings that have been repeated by the media,
the Pentagram -- in whatever position -- has become wrongly equated with Satanism.
(Please note, though, that in England, there are several traditions that use
the inverted pentagram as a symbol for a second degree -- which obviously has
nothing to do with Satanism).
A male Witch is not a "Warlock". This is a Scottish term, meaning "traitor",
or "oath-breaker". (A male Witch is a "Witch").
*Witchcraft is a legal religion protected under the First and Fourteenth amendments.
We are non-proselytizing; we don't seek to convert anyone. We feel that all religions
are equally valid, and that you should be free to choose the one with which you are most
comfortable. No religion has the monopoly of God (despite what some may claim).
In our opinion, far too many religions place too much emphasis on the actual religion
(or it's leader), and seem to be worshipping that, instead of God. This, in our opinion,
is wrong thinking. As long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others,
we all have a right to our own method of worshipping the Deity.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Ten Commandments Of The Goddess
1. You shall adore (worship) my Spirit.
2. Your Adorations should be once a month and best when the Moon is full.
3. You shall gather in a secret place.
4. You shall worship naked before me.
5. You shall sing in the joy my freedom brings to thee.
6. You shall feast sharing the bounty of the earth I pour out unto thee.
7. You shall dance my dance of divine ecstasy.
8. Play music in Honor of She who is Queen of the Wise.
9. Make Love that thy Bonds with one another become sacred.
10. Place no sacrifice of any living creature upon my Altar
for I am the Mother of All Things Living.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Ten Commandments Version 2
1. Treat the earth an all that dwell theron with respect
2. Remain close to the Great Spirit
3. Show great respect for your fellow beings
4. Work together for the benefit of all humankind
5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed
6. Do what you know to be right
7. Look after the well-being of mind and body
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good
9. Be truthful and honest at all times
10. Take full responsibility for your actions
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWitchcraft is Not Evil
Witchcraft is not evil. At least not any more than lighting a votive candle,
praying for a sick friend, or carrying a lucky charm is. However,
there are some who do view witchcraft as evil.
This is only because organized religion (primarily the Christian church)
has conditioned them to fear anything which strays from their narrow condemning view.
After all, if you have the ability to fend for yourself, solve your own problems,
and choose your own method of spiritual expression, why would you need the confined
structure of a church?
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness Home25 Truths of Life
1. If you're too open-minded, your brains will fall out.
2. Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
8. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it!
15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
16. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
23. Thou shall not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
25. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeDifference Between Wizards And Muggles
1. They go to jail, you're going to Azkaban
2. They are afraid of ghosts, you are friend of them.
3. They believe that a Ferrari is faster, you prefer the Firebolt.
4. They believe that teleportation is impossible, you use it to go to Quidditch matches.
5. They see a sofa, you see the teacher at Horace.
6. They think it's science fiction, your documentary.
7. They see a tree, your the Whomping Willow.
8. They are ruined, your Hogwarts.
9. They are bathrooms, your entry into the ministry.
10. They see dogs, you Grim's or Sirius.
11. They see movies, you the live.
12. They see a stick, your a wand.
13. They believe that magic is fairy dust, you magically understand that you can change reality.
14. They see a wall, your entry into a fantasy world ...
15. They see a book, you see that is something more than that .. is your life!
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeTypes of WitchesAlexandrian:
This tradition was begun in the 1960s by Alex Sanders. Alex Sanders lived in England.
He used what are known to be slightly changed Gardnarian traditions and calls himself the
"King" of Witches. Covens involve both men and women.
British Traditional:
This is, according to Silver RavenWolf a "mix of Celtic and Gardnarian beliefs."
Covens involve both men and women. One can study acourse and receive a degree in
British Traditional Witchcraft.
Celtic Wicca:
Celtic Wicca focuses mainly on Celtic and Druidic gods and goddesses
(along with a few other Anglo-Saxon pantheon).
The rituals are formed after Gardnerian traditions with a stronger emphasis on nature.
Celtic Wicca also puts much emphasis on working with elementals and nature spirits such
as fairies and gnomes. Gods and Goddesses are usually called "The Ancient Ones."
Caledonii:
This was once know as the Hecatine Tradition. Traditional Scottish Witchcraft.
Ceremonial Witchcraft:
This tradition is very exacting in its ritual. All rituals are usually followed by the book,
to the letter and with much ceremony. Little emphasis is put on nature.
This tradition may incorporate some Egyptian magic.
Quabbalistic magic is often used in ceremonial witchcraft.
Dianic:
Dianic can incorporate nearly any magical traditions,
but emphasis is placed on the Goddess only with little or no mention of the God.
Known as the "feminist" types of witchcraft.
Druidic:
Neo-Druids are polytheistic worshipers of Mother Earth.
Very little is known today about ancient Druidism and there are many gaps in the
writings that have been found. Modern Druids practice their religion in areas
where nature has been preserved - usually wooded areas. Druidic ritual often
employs sacrifices to the Mother Goddess. These sacrifices often include grain,
sometimes meat. These ritual sacrifices are often accompanied by a verse not unlike
the following:"Earth Mother, giver of life we return to you a measure of the bounty
you have provided may you be enriched and your wild things be preserved."
Eclectic:
An eclectic witch mixes many different traditions together to suit their tastes
and will not follow any one particular tradition. Whatever seems to work best for
them is what is used, regardless of which magical practice it comes from.
This is one of the most popular types of witches found today.
Gardnerian:
Gardnerian witchcraft was begun in England and is Wiccan in nature.
It was formed by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s.
Gerald Gardner was the first to publicize witchcraft in an effort to preserve the "old ways."
Hereditary Witch:
A hereditary witch is a witch who is born into a witch family and brought up
learning about witchcraft. Many witches claim to be hereditary witches when in fact,
they are not. You must be brought up in a family of witches to be a hereditary witch.
Kitchen Witch:
A kitchen witch is one who practices magic having to deal with the home and practical life.
Kitchen witches use many spells involving cooking, herbs, and creating magic through crafts.
A kitchen witch is very much like a hedge witch.
Pictish:
Pictish witchcraft is nature-based with little emphasis on religion, Gods, or Goddesses.
It is much like Celtic witchcraft, only the traditions are Scottish.
Pictish witches perform solitary and rarely, if ever work in groups or covens.
Pow-Wow:
Here is a term I rarely hear when referring to witchcraft.
This tradition is based on old German magic.
Today, it is considered a system of faith healing and can be applied to most any religion.
Seax-Wicca:
This tradition was begun in 1973 by Raymond Buckland.
Buckland and works on Saxon principles of religion and magic.
Shaman:
It is arguable as to whether shamanism is or is not witchcraft.
I include this here because shamanism is a form of Paganism.
Shamanism puts no emphasis on religion or on pantheon.
Shamans work completely with nature:
rocks, trees, animals, rivers, etc.
Shamans know the Earth and their bodies and minds well
and train many long years to become adept at astral travel and healing.
Solitary:
Solitary witches can be practitioners of nearly any magical system.
A solitary works alone and does not join a group or coven.
Often, solitaries choose to mix different systems, much like an eclectic witch.
Solitaries can also form their own religious beliefs as they are not bound by the
rules of a coven.
Strega:
This type of witchcraft is said to have been started by a woman named Aradia in Italy in 1353.
Aradia is known in some traditions as the "Goddess of Witches."
Teutonic:
A Nordic tradition of witchcraft that includes beliefs and practices from many cultures
including Swedish, Dutch, and Icelandic.
Wicca:
Probably the most popular form of witchcraft. Wicca is highly religious in nature
and has a good balance between religion/ceremonial magic and nature.
Wiccans believe in a God and Goddess who are equal in all things,
although some may lean more toward the Dianic form of Wicca,
worshipping only the Goddess or lowering the God to an "assistant" status.
Wiccans commonly form covens and rarely work alone.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeHow Free Is Free Will?
We all know what free will means. It's what sets us apart from any other living,
breathing thing on earth. Free will allows us to make choices, to actively participate
in building our life's path. But are we totally free? Of course not. No one has absolute
free will. Not even America "the land of the free.". Physical limitations and psychological
conditioning restrict most of us from making choices that are harmful, or socially
and morally unacceptable.
For example, we have the freedom to jump off a cliff. But would you want to?
Also, we have the freedom to say just about anything. It's our constitutional right.
But would you want to? Do you really want to tell your best friend that you hate her new hairdo?
Do you really want to tell your spouse he or she is not your soul mate? We think not.
Clearly, our decisions in some measure reflect the belief systems of our parents, society,
and country. But our decisions are also influenced by our character or personality,
the part of us that is largely inexplicable. Some believe our fundamental character
is determined by our genetic composition. Some believe God or a Higher Power grants
us our innate character, talents, and circumstances. Then There's reincarnation,
the belief that cause and effect, or karma, determines the outcome of our lives.
Basically, reincarnation holds that we are continually reborn until we achieve
our full potential.
The Chinese believe that our destiny is a blend of fate and free will, a harmony of heavenly,
earthly, and human qi. They believe our character is a by-product of our fate.
Our fate is determined by the first breath we take. Literally, we inhale our destiny,
a composite of qi present at that exact moment.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeBehold The Witch
Behold the Witch...as strong as any man.
Know the Witch...as she walks upon the land.
Respect the Witch...her powers to beguile.
Admire the Witch...her understanding smile.
Honor the Witch...as pure as Mother's love.
Applaud the Witch...as destiny she moves.
Acclaim the Witch...as the future she designs.
Envy the Witch...her patience over time.
Reguard the Witch...her inspiration deep.
Commend the Witch...her family she keeps.
Approve the Witch...as standard she upholds.
Revere the Witch...her faith and will, extol.
Appreciate the Witch...as nature she appraises.
Eulogize the Witch...as children she raises.
Venerate the Witch...for she keeps the ancient lores.
Become the Witch...and these values will be yours
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeEffective Invocation Techniques
Invocation is a battery of magical techniques which, when used, allow the individual to
identify with a particular entity so passionately, that some quality or attribution
associated with that entity manifests in the person - such as enhanced oracular
perception or knowledge of 'hidden lore'.
While this ability may be developed by anyone who practises magick, most people
don't do it, and thus a shamanic practitioner may be asked to act as the incarnation
of a particular entity as part of an event - or to bring about a similar experience in
another person - 'invoking upon someone', as it is known.
An extreme degree of this type of trance is possession, which, while quite common in shamanic
cultures, is rarely found in modern approaches to ritual. It is not uncommon, for example,
for a Voudoun Houngan or Mambo to search out 'hidden lore' (i.e. knowledge) by allowing
themselves to be 'ridden' by entities (known as Loa) who speak through them, providing
the answer.
More common, in our culture, is the phenomena of overshadowing, where the individual's
awareness is partially submerged in that of the entity. This also happens to actors,
who sometimes find that, while playing a particular role, become so identified with that
role that they, while on stage, can perform tasks - such as singing or dancing - that are
associated with the character, but that they themselves are not usually able to do.
This is no different from magical invocation, and the techniques involved are
virtually the same - visualisation, speech, gestures, posture, and other senses -
particularly smell for example, with regard to incense or essential oils. For the moment,
though, I'm going to concentrate on voice technique.
Dramatic Awareness:
I use this term to emphasise the parallel already drawn between ritual and stage performance.
Together, the performers and audience of a masque or play can build up an atmosphere which
can be felt by all present. The audience listen to what is happening onstage, empathise and react.
This reaction is communicated to the actors, which in turn affects their performance.
Thus an atmosphere of "Dramatic Awareness" - a shifting of awareness towards the
mythic arena of experience - can quickly be generated.
If the audience is familiar with the myths or struggles being displayed onstage,
then the experience may be cathartic for all concerned. This is particularly important
with regard to voice - if you can successfully use your voice to project emotional tones -
such as awe, reverence or passion then those listening; both yourself and others,
will pick up on the emotive undertones and become drawn into the atmosphere you are generating.
I've noticed that as people enter different stages of trance, their voice pattern changes.
Others present pick up on this, if only unconsciously, and so the atmosphere of dramatic
awareness is generated. In a ritual sequence, all speech can be used to project appropriate
feelings which generate the group atmosphere. This is performed best when the people speaking
are confident and relaxed about what they are saying. Hence the problem with (a) reading from
textbooks and (b) using very long speeches.
If possible, I prefer to either learn a speech so that I don't need to look at bits of paper,
which tends to be bothersome - especially when reading someone else's writing in a dark room
or wind-swept moor; or improvise something at the spur of the moment. Like all practical
techniques, being able to do this is simply a matter of practice and confidence.
Unless you are doing something that is particularly stylised, simplicity is usually
the most effective approach.
Delivery:
The way we speak is a powerful way of projecting our intentions. The "delivery" of a
speech quickly transmits to both self and audience ones degree of confidence.
A fine invocation may be written, but can quickly be rendered ineffective if it
is read out in a deadpan voice and punctuated by ...ers and ...ums. Words can be paced,
so that speech can excite or relax the listener - which can be oneself or others.
A good delivery of an invocation serves to raise dramatic awareness in both self and others.
If you think of it in terms of a feedback loop, then the more enthralling the speech,
the more intense the degree of dramatic awareness, and the more people will become
'caught up' into the ritual atmosphere.
When one person, for example, is performing an invocation, others present may temporarily
become the 'audience' - and participants can shift between active and passive involvement
throughout a ritual. The key to remember is that, if such be your intent, then everything
that happens inside the ritual space can be used to enhance the atmosphere.
Try exploring the effect of pacing your speech, deliberately breathing louder,
and when reaching the climax of the invocation - becoming breathless and adding
a bit of tremble. You don't have to shout to be effective - a whisper or can be
just as effective (if not more so) than a loud voice.
Structure and Rhythm:
An invocation to a particular figure is often based on a resume of the qualities and
energies associated with them, or referring to legends or deeds associated with them.
The rhythm given to words when delivering an invocation can quickly generate appropriate
moods in those using or hearing them. An invocation to Pan, for example, might have a fast
and frenetic rhythm which leaves the speaker breathless, bringing to mind the wildness of
Pan; whilst an invocation to Cronus, God of Time might be slow and ponderous.
Remember, rhythms are known to have distinct physiological effects, serving to relax or
stimulate breathing and heartbeat.
You can create a powerful effect by stressing the same syllables throughout the entire piece,
or by repeating certain words or phrases - particularly keywords that are appropriate to the
subject of the invocation. Simple rhythms and jingles can be very effective, as they are easily
learnt and can be repeated over and over, becoming mantra-like. Many folk-spells are of this
nature. William S. Burroughs quotes such a spell in his "The Place of Dead Roads":
Say:
Trip and Stumble,
Slip and Fall,
Down the Stairs ...
And hit the wall!
There are different approaches to structuring invocations,
and one popular approach is to structure the invocation into 3 parts.
The first part is a description of the physical attributes of the Mythic figure being
invoked and is spoken in the third person; the second is a commemoration of the deeds
and powers of the figure, and is given in the second person; in the third part,
the person invoking asserts the merging of self with the figure, and speaks in the first person.
Thus, as the speech proceeds, you are moving from a position of describing that
figure as a separate being, and becoming identified with that figure to the extent that you
(for all ritual intents and purposes) become that figure. Following which,
for the rest of the group, you are the earthly avatar of a Mythic figure.
Having taken on the role, you can now act, using the power and attributes of that figure,
which can range from delivering an oracular speech to leading a frenzied dance.
In the western mystery tradition (such as it is), it is usual for one person to act as
vessel or channel for a mythic figure, and other participants to take on the role of
celebrants (or congregation). However, in other cultures, it is not unknown for
several people at once to become 'possessed' by the same deity.
In Haiti, there was once a celebrated case of about 300 people, all possessed simultaneously
by the God Legba, who marched in protest of the political situation to the presidential residence!
In western magick, people tend to stick to one approach - usually what they've been taught
in a group or coven. This is often a pity, because there are often good alternatives to
be found in, for example, the study of drama or oratory. Status shifts also ocuurr in
invocations, as noted by Aleister Crowley in his excellent essay on Bhakti Yoga, Liber Astarte.
During a vocal invocation, you might begin with the status position of a supplicant
reaching up to a deity, and eventually act with the status of that deity, whilst others will
(or should) regard you appropriately. This often leads to a confusion of roles, as some people
find it hard to distinguish between the role someone might take within a ritual setting,
and how they behave outside of it. Someone who becomes, within a ritual a goddess,
should not be treated like one in the pub afterwards!
Hence the prime danger in identifying ones self with Mythic figures is one of
blowing up one's ego to massive proportions. If you continually identify with a
figure who reinforces some idea which you have about yourself, all you will do
is imbalance yourself towards those particular tendencies.
I have known at least three people become quite seriously
disturbed because they worked exclusively with lunar,
oracular figures who accentuated their already-present
tendency to slip into passive, oracular trance states.
As in all practices, an understanding and continual assessment of one's self in
terms of strengths, weaknesses, and ego-identifications is necessary - especially
if you are working with others in a teaching or 'group leader' role.
I think it's fair to say that the more you put into an invocation, the more intense
the effect will be. There are more elements to consider, such as the use of gestures
to reinforce speech; the use of lighting and props; smell, taste, music and stage-setting.
Of course the absence of speech can be as equally effective, as can be the use of grunts,
howls and cackles. Having an infectious laugh can be a very useful skill, as well -
you can literally laugh your way out of some situations - the anti-hero
Thomas Covenant the unbeliever defeated his enemy Lord Foul by encouraging an assembly
of shades to laugh at him until he withered away. Humour is an important element of ritual,
which is often neglected by some of the ever-so-serious people one runs into occasionally.
One approach to experimenting with invocations is to assemble a variety of speeches
written by other people and try reading them aloud until you hit on a delivery that
feels effective. It can be useful to tape such experiments, and even use them as
background effects in ritual work. Using appropriate music can also be very productive.
While it's useful to look at other people's written invocations - so you can grasp the way
that structure and rhythm can evolve through the way lines are delivered, it's generally
considered better to use your own attempts at invocation.
Not only does this build confidence and give you a good 'feel' for what works and what doesn't,
but it allows you to build up a close 'contact' with the figure you are identifying with.
Generally, it's easier to invoke humanic figures than non-human ones.
Using the same principles as an approach to shape-shifting, it would be
appropriate for you to observe a particular animal - look at it's characteristic postures,
facial expression, its' vocalisations, and characteristic behaviours.
You would become the animal by close identification with its characteristics.
The intensity of trance would probably very much depend on the degree of abandonment
that you allowed yourself to have.
~ From: The Magical Use of Voice
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeMechanics of Spellcasting
Spellcasting is the lesser, not the greater magic; but the greater magic builds on the lesser.
The paradox is that in spellcasting we may start out working with the personal self,
but in order to work the magic we are forced to expand and recognize the Self that
moves through all beings.
Magic involves the deliberate self-identification with other objects and people.
For example, to do a healing, we must become the healer, the one who is healed,
and the energy that is to do the healing. To attract love, we must be able to love
ourselves and to become love its self.
Spells work in two basic ways. The first is through suggestion; symbols and images
implant certain ideas in Younger Self, or the subconscious mind, and we are then
influenced to actualize those ideas. Spells can also influence the external world.
The theoretical model that witches use to explain the workings of magic is a clear
one and coincides in many ways with the "new" physics. It is simply an elaborate but
extremely useful metaphor. The metaphor is based on a world view that sees things
not as fixed objects, but as vortexes of energy. The physical world is formed by the
vortexes of energy, and if we cause a change in the energy patterns they, in turn,
cause a change in the physical world. When our own energy is concentrated and channeled,
it can move the broader energy currents. The images and objects used in
spells are the channels. They are the vessels through which our power is poured,
and by which it is shaped.
As energy is directed into the images we visualize, it gradually manifests physical
form and takes shape in the material world. Directing energy is not a matter of simply emoting.
Emotion can be likened to a strobe light which provides a very inconstant light,
while directed energy is more like a laser beam. Even concentrated power is a small
stream compared with the vast surges of energy that surround us. The most adept witch
cannot be successful in all her spells, for the opposing currents are often too strong.
The craft teaches to first identify the flow of energy and then to decide whether or
not it is going where we want it to go. If it is not, then we can try to deflect it,
or we may have to change our own course. Sensing the energy climate is a matter of intuition
and experience. Some witches make a study of Astrology in an effort to plan their magical
workings at the optimal times, while others prefer to work when they feel the time is right.
Of all the planets, the Moon's influence on subtle energies is the strongest.
Subtle power increases as the Moon waxes, so the time of the waxing Moon is
best for spells involving growth or increase, such as money spells.
The power peaks when the Moon is full and that is the best time for workings of culmination
and love. During the waning Moon, power subsides and turns inward. The waning Moon's
period is used for banishings, bindings, and discovering hidden secrets. The
practical witch soon learns to adjust her spells to fit the time of the Moon.
If, for example, she needs to do a money spell during the waning Moon,
she would put a little 'English' on it and make it a poverty banishing spell.
Energy pursues the path of least resistance. Material results are more easily achieved
on this plane of existence through physical actions than through magical workings.
For example, it is simpler to lock your door than suffer the constant drain from
maintaining psychic seals on your doors and windows while you are away from home.
Of course, once you have locked your door, you might feel more reassured by placing seals on it.
No magic spell is going to bring results unless channels are opened into the material world.
For example, a job spell is useless if you are not willing to go out and interview for jobs o
r at least let potential employers know that you are in the market for one. In the same vein,
a healing spell is no substitute for medical care.
Most medicine today can be broken down into two broad categories, emergency medicine and that
which is not needed for immediate life-threatening situations. Emergency medicine has excelled
at stabilizing the body's condition so that it can repair itself at its own pace.
Most other forms of medicine consist of treatment through surgery or chemotherapy or
a combination of both. The procedures noted above work on the physical body and do not
take the other levels into consideration. Psychic healing works at healing the higher
levels of the person so that the physical heals itself or allows the person to let go
of their physical body if it cannot be repaired. In either case, the choice rests with
the person who is being healed and not the healer.
Visualization used in creating a spell should focus on the desired result,
not the individual steps leading up to the result.
We give the spell free rein in how it goes about achieving the results with
the understanding that it is not to bring harm to anyone or any being.
For this reason, spells have a habit of working in very unexpected ways.
To assure that the power we have unleashed does not inadvertently cause harm,
we bind the spell. This serves to 'set' the form we have created so that the energy
becomes fixed in the pattern we desire. The energy we project to others affects us
even more strongly than the other person. This is because we have generated the energy,
and thus we have become the object at which the energy is directed.
If healing energy is sent out, then the health of the person casting the spell is enhanced.
By the same token, any hex or curse that is sent out ALWAYS affects the person who sends it
no matter whether it affected the person it was sent at or not.
MAGIC IS NOT TO BE USED TO GAIN POWER OVER OTHERS. Magic is a technique used in developing
your own 'power from within.' Spells that are directed at gaining power over others weaken
the 'power from within.' Aside from the damage done to oneself, it is important for another
reason. Many people who do not understand the laws of magic are afraid of being attacked
magically and are given to paranoia. The witch's main stock-in-trade used to be removing
a competitor's hexes and preparing charms to protect their clients.
While true psychic attacks are EXTREMELY RARE, a person's guilt makes up for any lack,
and after using 'forbidden' help, their paranoia leads them to seek protection from
the same person they just turned to in desperation. Do yourself a favor, and resist
the temptation to 'help' these types. Most magical formularies consist of formulae
gathered and tested by witches as well as many charms to protect the
common man from those same witches who sold them their charms.
Times and Correspondences:
I mentioned earlier that timing and the right props are considered important in spellcasting.
Over the years, systems of Correspondences were developed which assigned certain attributes
and aspects to the seven ancient planets of Astrology. Each planet was assigned a God or
Goddess, who embodies the attributes the ancients wished to invoke.
Each of the Gods and Goddesses were assigned an hour of the day, color, incense, metal,
number, signature, plant, mineral, musical note, and animal or bird.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeGeneral Guidelines for Casting Spells
Set aside a room for your magical work. Decorate it with things that put you in a
magical mood. Remember to use things that stimulate all five of your physical senses.
Some obvious things would be the use of appropriate colors for sight, incense for scent,
music for hearing, wines for taste, and textures for feel.
If you do not have a room you can set aside exclusively for your magical work,
then choose a room that can be locked while you do your work. This will allow
you to work undisturbed. In any case, you should clean your work area periodically
with a purifying powder/floorwash to keep away negative vibrations.
Set up an altar to be used as your worktable. It's size and shape should be those that
appeal to you. Placing candles and other items that assist you to concentrate on the
work at hand is a good practice. Some people like to cover their altar with a white
cloth and place fresh cut flowers on it every day.
Always use the best candles, oils, and incenses that you can afford, or make your own,
for scrimping on materials has a negative effect on the subconscious.
Don't forget that the subconscious is very good at making do with raw
materials that it can shape to its own use.
Never cast a spell until you have a clear and concise picture of what it is you wish to
accomplish. This ties in with the saying "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."
Always ground out any extra energy you raise for the spell, and bind the spell so that
it expires within the pre-determined amount of time. Once you have cast the spell,
do not discuss it with any one until after it has worked. Most spells peter out
because the person who cast it boasts about it to so many people, that the spell is
robbed of power before it has a chance to work. The ancient bond placed on the magician
was to dare, to know and to keep silent.
Above all, at all times, remember the Rede: "An ye harm none, do what you will."
You do not know all the effects of your spell, therefore, use magick sparingly, if at all.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeChanneling
Channeling has become a popular phenomena in the last several years.
We see it featured in News-Magazines and on talk shows.
We read articles about it, and bookshelves everywhere now hold volumes of books
written by channeled entities, with more appearing every month. Some channeled
sources have gained a great deal of notoriety, drawing large crowds for seminars
and workshops, often at a steep price.
How can we better understand this sudden outpouring of information?
Webster defines "channel" as: "a means of access, a route".
In the context of New Age work, channeling provides an access-way through which
communication can be achieved between planes of existence.
Channeling is a route through which those who are NOT focused in physical reality
can give information to those who ARE focused in physical reality.
Though it may seem to be a fairly recent phenomena, channeling in various forms has
existed as long as humankind. The most common form of channeling, in fact, is
one we all have experienced: That sudden helpful insight that occasionally comes to us from
"out of the blue". This form of channeling has created many works of art and has helped us
find solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. Unlike other forms of channeling,
this inspiration is always available to us and whether we receive it rarely or often
may simply depend on our receptivity and openness.
Dreams are another avenue through which channeled information can reach us.
In the dream state we are open and spiritually attuned, creating an un-obstructed
gateway through which Universal knowledge can flow. While the dream channel and
inspiration are both valid routes of channeling, dreams, for many people,
are more easily ignored. We tend to respond to and use those insights which inspire us.
The most spectacular form of channeling is, of course, "Trance Channeling".
In this technique, the channel gives up the use of his or her body by entering
a trance state, allowing the "source" to speak directly to a third party.
Although most trance channels work with only one source, sources can be
a number of things or beings. Many believe that channeled "sources" reflect the channel's
subconscious mind or a "collective unconscious".
Channeled material may also flow from one's "Higher Self". Information communicated
to us through this Source definitely "counts" as channeled material, for our "Higher Selves"
are not focused in physical reality. Others may channel material from the Cosmic Mind or
from the God -Goddess-All-That-Is. . Most channeled material, however, comes to us from
spirit guides or Masters and, ultimately, it is the material which is important regardless
of who or what we believe our source to be. Another way of communicating with ones "source"
is through "Automatic Writing". In this form of channeling, the channel first meditates
then sits with a pen and paper or a typewriter and allows the source to write.
Meditation should be practiced each time before automatic writing since meditation puts
us at peace and makes us more receptive to true spiritual sources.
The technique for automatic writing is fairly simple: After meditating, sit in
a comfortable position holding a pad of paper and a pen, resting the point of the
pen on the paper. Keep the body relaxed and ask if there is a "source" present.
Stay relaxed and just wait for writing to begin.
At first the writing may be unreadable, just fine little scribbles that mean nothing.
After some practice, however, the scribbles will become readable words and phrases which
allow the source to identify themselves and discuss whatever subject we wish.
Success may not be achieved in the first few sessions.
It may take time and daily practice to develop a strong connection but it is well
worth the effort.
No matter what technique we use to channel our information,
it is very important that we not follow blindly.
Until we are satisfied with their believability,
each of our sources should be regarded with a certain amount of healthy skepticism.
We should examine all channeled material with a detached and questioning mind.
Although the material may vary in content,
there are certain qualities which will always be present in information
which is "channeled" by a true spiritual source.
Such information will be positive in outlook and will always direct us toward
the spiritual path. Since our sources will always try to help us as much as they can by
giving us sound and usable advice, sources who attempt to dazzle us with incomprehensible
garbage should be regarded with suspicion. A true source will not lie nor will they gossip.
Our guides will not tell us to do things, and they cannot predict the future because the
future is always changing.
When we attempt to channel our spirit guides, it is important to keep these points in mind.
Non physical entities have "personalities" just as physical ones do.
Someone whose attitudes were negative, or depressed, in LIFE, might carry remnants
of these qualities into spirit life. Edgar Cayce was once quoted as saying:
"The only difference between a LIVE Episcopalian and a DEAD Episcopalian is
that one is DEAD and one is ALIVE." . In reality, there is no such thing as
communication with the "dead". We tend to see life in physical terms but LIFE
is a SPIRITUAL reality which, for us, is presently housed in a physical form.
Though misguided entities can not harm you physically, their influence could
produce negative side effects which could make your experience of channeling
less fulfilling or pleasant, just as being around ANY negative personality
might tend to do. For this reason it is important to establish a secure system
of protection and awareness when attempting to channel.
Observing and following these giudelines can protect us from the inevitable
confusion which results from contact with these misguided "sources".
A certain amount of preparation is also necessary if we hope to be a clear
and responsible channel. With this as our goal, it is probably not advisable
that we attempt any form of channeling until we have attained some degree of
proficiency at meditation.
Meditation makes us more centered and loving. It also acts as a shield against
contact with negative spirit personalities.
Meditation should be practiced daily, for besides facilitating our ability to channel
clearly, it is the most important thing we can do to expand our spiritual lives.
Your spirit guides can become life-long friends and advisors as they have
a wonderful outside view of our lives and life in general.
They have access to information that we could not otherwise obtain.
They help to deepen our understanding of ourselves and help us through our times of crisis.
Contacting these spirit friends is not difficult.
There is no loss ofcontrol of our bodies and nothing to fear for we can quit any time we choose.
Spirit friends, just like our friends in the physical world, should always be treated
with respect. They should not be expected to entertain our friends or answer a lot of
trivial questions. (If it is important to us, then it is not trivial.)
Probably the most serious mistake we can make, however,
is to become too dependent on our guides as this is the one thing that will
cause us to lose them. Like any true friend, our guides do not want us to count
on them too heavily.
The process of channeling our spirit guides is truly a great adventure.
It may take weeks or months to develop but it is an amazing process and will bring
invaluable results to those who persevere. Good luck and happy channeling.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeHoney As A Magickal Ingredient
Ruler: Oshun, bee Goddess
Type: Food
Magickal Form: Any type
Use this sweet and sticky substance to attract good fortune, fertility, and love.
Dishes filled with honey beckon angels and other beneficial spirits.
For wealth, create an altar with coins drizzled with honey.
For a conception spell, cover a pumpkin with honey and offer it to a river.
For love, bathe in warm water and honey.
This is also a favorite offering for the love Goddesses.
The passion and fertility-enhancing properties of honey may owe that reputation
to the hexagons of the honeycomb, six being the sacred sexual number of Aphrodite.
Note: An assassination attempt was once made on the African love Goddess, Oshun.
The plot was to poison her with honey. In remembrance of this, always taste the
honey first before offering libations to any goddess.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeHow To Perform Ritual
Ritual has existed in our culture for thousands of years.
Evidence of ritual can be found in our everyday activities,
and our not-so-everyday activities as well. But what is ritual?
Ritual is a sequence of events aimed at reaching a certain goal.
To go a little further, one could add that it is a sequence of events aimed at
reaching a certain goal a certain way. The act of ritual is a highly personalized venture.
Not everybody does the same things the same that another does them.
Because of this, there exist many methods by which one may reach the same objective.
Despite the fact that there are certain requirements, both technical and personal,
one must meet before one can hope to achieve one's magical objectives,
the differences in magical style continue to grow, as does the number of people who practice.
In regard to the technical requirements, it can be said that there truly exists only one –
that being the assertion of will towards a defined goal. It can also be said that it is not
necessary to do anything other than assert one's will toward a goal for one to be successful,
either in magic or whatever one chooses to do. But for those of us who are not wholly privy
to that notion, there exists ritual, and though there is truth in that statement it
should be realized that other factors do apply.
One of these factors is the removal of self-doubt. Doubt undermines spells by negating
them with contrary energies. If one doubts that one has effectively performed a spell correctly,
then those feelings of doubt will be sent out along with the positive energies, countering them.
Then, it becomes a case of the best energy winning. Thus comes the value of thinking no more of
a magical act once it has been committed. One way that doubt may be quelled is through performing
ritual.
Through the aid of ritual, one can erase doubt by taking certain steps to ensure one's success.
These steps serve to put it in the mind of the operator that he or she has done everything in
his or her power, magically speaking, to see that the objective will be reached.
This point is where such steps such as banishment, purification, consecration, sacrifice,
and so on come in. All of these steps exist to ensure the success of the ritual as a whole,
as should all the steps employed by the operator.
The steps employed in ritual magic vary from person to person and system to system, and not all are used all of the time.
For example, not everybody consecrates the tools used in magic every time they use them. Also, not everybody calls upon
outside influences and energies to aid in their workings.
It is my desire to provide you with a basic framework by which you may design your own rituals.
A point to remember is that it is more difficult to contemplate ritual than it is to
simply go out and do it. In ritual, if what you're doing seems like what you should be doing,
then it probably is.
The following is the basic framework:
1. Banishment
2. Cleansing and purification
3. Consecration
4. Setting the circle
5. Invocation of the self
6. Evocation
7. Sacrifice
8. General working
9. License of departure
10. Banishment
11. Reclaiming of the self
Banishment is a very important process in ritual as it serves to neutralize all of the
standing and active energies in the work area. These energies may either be leftovers from a
previous working or simply brought about by daily living. Whatever the case, they need to be
rendered inert if they are not to interfere with the energies put forth by the operator.
If they do happen to interfere with energies of the operator, then the desired outcome of the
ritual could be compromised. Whether this occurs, of course, depends on the intensity of the
two energies, the potential and the resident the potential being the operator's immediate
expenditure, and the resident being the energy present before the ritual was commenced.
This interaction could be looked at like the act of drawing. If you draw a picture over
preexisting artwork, the previous work shall undermine, quite literally, the present endeavor.
If, however, you somehow remove said working before beginning anew, then the result will be
markedly different. The other way is to simply cover up the previous work tit for tat.
The acts of cleansing and purification can be either one and the same or completely different.
It really all depends on how you view it and how you do it. For me, cleansing is more of an
outwardly physical thing, whereas purification is more of a spiritual matter.
The cleansing is done to remove physical impurities, hence the word clean.
In contrast, the purification is done to purify the energies neutralized during the banishment.
'In effect, purification is another form of banishment.
But, besides this, it is middle ground between the banishment stage and the consecration stage,
completing one while beginning the other.
Just as the cleansing portion of this stage cleanses the thing undergoing the process
physically, the purification cleanses it metaphorically and in doing so prepares it to
become a sacred thing.
The processes of cleansing and purification are sometimes overlooked by certain magicians,
who would endeavor to eliminate the middle-man. While this may be entirely acceptable in some
cases, it should not always be considered to be so, as cleansing and purification can add to
the overall success of the ritual through the fortification of the banishment and the
consecration.
Consecration is equally important as banishment, for it gives the energy that was made
neutral during the banishment a direction. This direction is the goal of the ritual at hand.
This direction is created by dedicating an item or items to be used in the ritual.
That which is consecrated need not be only an item but can also be a person or place.
In fact, all things involved in a ritual should be consecrated.
This includes all tools, the operator and any assistants involved, and the work space.
By taking care to do so, you have essentially realigned all possible
influences to meet the intended goal of the ritual.
To simply sum up the first three steps of a ritual, you first neutralize the resident energies,
then filter out the impurities, and realign those same energies to fit the needs of the task
at hand.
The fourth stage of ritual, at least as I see it, is the setting of the magic circle.
Circle-setting entails the defining of boundaries. These boundaries are designed to
keep the useful energies in and the unuseful energies out. Within this circle,
the energies to be sent out to work the will of the operator are built up.
The circle should not be so big that the operator cannot easily manipulate the energies
within it, nor so small that he or she lights himself or herself on fire on one of the candles.
Remember, fire has the ability to incite certain emotions that may not be conducive
to the success of the ritual as a whole, especially when the operator has burst into flames.
The circle is the place where the operator is the prime creative influence.
It is his or her little universe inside of a larger universe.
One could say that in this space he or she is God; essentially this assertion is true,
but the terminology is stretching truth. As the creative force in this little universe,
it is basically up to the operator what is and what isn't.
But how what is affects the grand scheme of things, that is the question.
The artist can paint what is to him or her a masterpiece, but what is crap is crap.
Conditions will always place a damper on the efforts of the magician if he or
she endeavors to work against them. That's why, when letting somebody have it magically,
it's best to amplify an already existing condition. But that is another subject altogether.
In the next step, the invocation of the self, I am referring to the magical or sacred self
that little part of you that you pull out of the closet when you wish to do something
extraordinary. When I think of the invocation of the self, I think of the Havamal,
where Odin sacrifices himself to himself. That is essentially what must be achieved,
the metaphorical death of the mundane self for the birth of the magical self to occur.
I'm tempted to call it the higher self, but some of the selves out there can be pretty
low even in their more profound states.
The magical self has its roots in the elementary; in other words,
it is generated through the conscious or unconscious will of an entity
purposely or accidentally, embodied or no. The magical self, being as it is an energy
to be tapped, is invoked. The invocation of the self can be bypassed or substituted
with shape-shifting, providing of course you don't end up like me and become contrary
to your own goals when you shape-shift.
The next stage of ritual, should you choose this route, is evocation.
Evocation is the calling forth of a certain energy or entity.
This energy or entity called upon should be able to assist you in your working.
A spirit of a malignant nature is not a good candidate to assist you in a love spell,
at least not a nice love spell.
You should also consider that it is quite possible that the disposition of a conjured
spirit may be equal to that of a total stranger off of the street.
In essence, the position of the operator is that of the lowly beggar petitioning
for help in his or her workings. This attitude is a far cry from the operators of
the Middle Ages, whose workings resemble the more aggressive approach of,
“Give me you spare change or burn in Hell in the name of my loving god.”
(Well, everyone needs a hobby.) The main thing that I want to say is to look upon
yourself and your situation as another might see it before you conjure and to
determine then whether or not it would be worth it to petition for outside assistance.
But if you do get ready to do so.
Sacrifice, ahh, That's the stuff. I could write a book on this, but I won't.
I shall, however, grace you with the two types of sacrifice that exist as I see them.
The first is personal, and the second impersonal. The latter is the sacrifice of something
separate from the operator, such as somebody else's property or a life
force other than the person doing the sacrifice.
As this is not a method I subscribe to, I shall discuss instead sacrifice on the personal level.
First, what is sacrifice? The dictionary defines it as the destruction or surrender of
something for the sake of something else, or suffering the loss of something, and as a
verb to give up, to renounce, to injure, or to destroy, especially for an ideal, belief, or end.
But what is the value behind sacrifice? When you go out to dinner,
you get what you pay for; the same holds true for magic.
When you enlist the assistance of an outside influence,
it is best to give and not just take, take, take.
Call me shallow, but I have always held sacrifice as a medium of exchange.
Here, on the material plane, that which is given up is money.
Money has little value to those who have no use for legal tender,
so what instead shall we give? The answer is life force.
Now, before you go slashing your wrists, I would like to present an alternative.
The life force given up can be dispensed without the shedding of blood,
which in this day and age can be a dangerous thing. Instead,
one may give up one's own energies. Some people feel that we have only a
limited supply of energy that is irreplaceable,
but if that were so there would be a lot more dead or out-of-work magicians.
The trick is to find a receptacle such as an apple and charge it with your own energy.
That receptacle is then offered up to the power in question and your energy becomes
theirs to benefit from.
In the case of the apple being the receptacle,
an operation of this sort would go like this:
1. Obtain the apple
2. Obtain the knife
3. Carve the symbol of the power to which the sacrifice is being made
4. Commit the statement of dedication
5. Charge the apple with your own energies
6. Contemplate the action
7. Give thanks, make toasts, and so on
Sacrifice is an important subject and a facet of magic that may very well predate all other
forms, and it definitely deserves some looking into in regards to its process,
as well as the reasons it is performed.
I would like to close this section with the note that I do not condone the killing
of animals for the purposes of magic.
The next stage is that of the general working. At this point, the operator does what
he or she has gone there to do that is, unless you've already done that during the
evocation or sacrifice. The general working is basically the spell that is performed,
designed to carry out the will of the caster.
The license of departure is a polite way of saying go home. This process lets a conjured
entity know that the ritual is over, and that the entity can please go now so that you
can shut everything down. It is in a sense a lesser, more polite form of banishment.
I might compare this to when you are entertaining guests at your home. Time passes,
as it always does, and you find that you desire to bring the evening to an end.
Banishing your company would be bad manners for that matter, it might appear downright rude.
Instead, you pleasantly insist that you are done now.
The license of departure should contain a hint or two of congeniality,
along with the usual sternness required to maintain control of the situation.
I have found the popular line. Go now unto your places and be you ready to come when
you are called” to be effective, although I usually like to throw a thanks in there somewhere.
It should also be noted that this line can throw people off when used in a social environment.
The last banishment is done after the license of departure to make sure that everything
is back to a preconjuration state. One needs to take care not to undo all that one has done.
Therefore, this banishment is a selective one, directed at removing foreign energies rather
than neutralizing the resident and potential energies sent forth by the operator during the
general working. For the last banishment to be more than selective would be counterproductive.
The banishment of an entity can be a tricky thing, and sometimes it needs to be done more
than once. Attention needs to paid to the atmosphere of the work area when a banishment is
performed. If you still feel the presence of the entity in question, then you must banish
again and if necessary again and again until you get it right. There are plenty of spells
out there designed to do the trick, if you find that you are having difficulty.
Another thing to watch out for is when you feel nothing at all. Like people, spirits
cannot always be trusted.
The final stage, the reclaiming of the self, is the point at which one winds down the ritual,
takes off the mask and the robe and what not, and returns to an everyday state.
Energy that was put out to construct the circle and other such things is reabsorbed
by the operator. Candles are extinguished, and the oil used in their anointing is cleaned off.
The reclaiming of the self is a time when the operator goes back to being Bob, the normal
average everyday self. It can be a relaxing period of final contemplation and recording of
results, or it can be just a clean-up time. That really depends on the person.
But after this, one should think no more on what was done,
save for the process by which it was done and how it in the future can be done more effectively.
It would be premature to bring this article to a close without mentioning tables of
correspondence, which no one who practices magic should be without.
(Unless you feel you have risen above these,
in which case you don't need to be reading this anyway.)
For those of us still living on the material plane,
a table of correspondence can prove at times invaluable.
Such a table provides one with a great deal of basic knowledge and lore,
which one can use in the creation of spells and rituals.
Some of the things that can be found in tables such as these are the best days and hours,
weeks and months to perform a ritual or magical act.
They can also shed light on the proper colors, herbs, and stones that may be employed,
as well as certain spirits that can be evoked or invoked to assist in your operations.
There are many books out on the market today on the subject of magic and occultism
that may provide you with charts of this nature. Also, one can trudge through the
mythologies and folklore of the world finding bits and pieces of usable information.
It is important to cross-reference the information that is presented to you in books,
as it can vary greatly from author to author. All of the fun of compiling a table of
correspondence should not be left up to the experts, as they may leave you with too much
irrelevant information. The tables you construct are a testimony to your personal style.
I would like to say that it is important to have fun with the rituals you create,
but that really isn't the case. What is important is that you find a ritual style that
works well for you. Fun is optional.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Wheel Of The Year
The Wheel of the year is basically a calendar of the 8 festivals called Sabbats celebrated
by Wiccan's and some other pagan paths. The wheel looks like a cartwheel with 8 spokes
marking the sections of the year. The wheel is in 2 sections the first is the Quarters
know as “the lesser Sabbats or quarter days, these quarters mark the movement of the
sun through the year with the vertical spokes marking the solstices and the horizontal
spokes marking the equinoxes.
The second section represents the cross quarters "cross-quarter days, fire festivals,
or Greater Sabbats, these are a mix of Gaelic and Germanic festival but basically or from
my understanding the cross quarters are the cycles of life and death.
The truth be told the Wiccan Wheel of the Year as been made up and in fact at the very
starting of Wicca only the Cross quarters where celebrated online pharmacy without prescription
it was the Bricket Wood Coven that added the quarter days basically because the wanted more
meeting They did this while Gerald Gardner was away although he did not object to the
additions as this brought Wicca closer to Gardner's Long time friend Ross Nichols's Neo
druidism groups the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.
Although this Wheel has no historical value in terms of reclaiming the Craft it is a valued
addition to Wicca and in other pagan paths. For me the wheel is a great source of meditation,
understanding of life and death, a reminder of the cycles in life and most important reason
of them all 8 reasons to party and celebrate the divine source. But the Wheel is more than
that the symbology of the circle and it relation to the sun and moon a reminder that the
wheel is eternal it has no beginning and no end.
The solar aspect of the wheel relates to the God forms of the Oak and Holly kings,
twin gods sharing or battling for control The Oak King will rule the light Half of the
year he is born at the winter solstice and begins his rule in spring and dies in autumn
to be reborn again at the winter solstice.
Whilst the Holly King rules the dark half of the year he will take control at the death
of his twin and will rule until the re-birthed Oak Kings is strong enough to control and
then will step down and withdraw.
Although there are version of this story that state that the 2 twin are fighting for the
favour of the goddess, I see the Holly King as a wise and caring father figure Protecting
and helping his brothers and the earth he is a reminder that The God form is eternal,
While the Oak king is a reminder of how fragile life is we are born grow die and are
reborn with all that that entails.
The Luna Aspects of the wheel, which relate to the goddess aspect are easier to
identify the wheel turns as the moon turns with midwinter being the new moon the vernal
equinox the first quarter Midsummer the full moon the autumnal equinox the last quarter
and back to the new moon
Now for the eight spokes each of the spokes relate to a different festival in ancient times
these festivals where used to mark agricultural events such as planting and harvesting and
storing food as well as the solar events of the solstices and equinoxes.
Since different pagan paths and Wiccan groups and individuals have different names and
rituals on these date their no correct formula to the festivals in fact the festivals
change depending on what hemisphere your in.
If we take a quick look at the festivals and how I see them I will cover them in greater
detail in the future. For me the wheel starts a Samhain (Sowain) the Celtic New Year and
the Festival of the dead a time to remember friends family past and present.
But it a reminder to me that at the start of any thing you will face hardship
and you will need support, it also a reminder that in time passed this would be
a harvest your last one for a long while and what you have will have to last if you
did have enough to last you through the winter you could die. I celebrate this time by
having a feast where guest bring some raw food and a meal is created from the food gathered,
silly games are played and everyone has fun customers are often worn.
The Next spoke is Yule the winter solstice this to be is about the rebirth of the god and the
potential that is still hidden. Since Christmas is around this time I combine the both I send
Yule Cards to friends. I have my own Yule tradition that Mix the Christmas feel for the
Children in my life I buy tiny presents from the pound shop wrap them up and hang them from
the tree, these are what I call tree presents they are gift from the tree.
The Next is Imbolc this signifies the beginning of spring it a time of new beginnings
and the beginning of planting this is about preparing the food for the year to come.
I use Imbolc to plan what I am going to do in the coming year.
Traditional I would find a daffodil and just meditate on the story of Persephone.
The next is the Vernal Equinox or Ostara for me this is a time for fertility
rites and the creation a time of change this is also the time that the Goddess
and god are reunited as lovers. This is the time where I would work closely with
my partner on intimate rituals to strengthen our love and relationship.
Beltane is next this is a fire festival and has great focus on masculine energy and
Sex although there are many May day rituals that are still preformed today the may
pole is one of the most know, For me beltaine is a time for sacrifice and surrender
it is a time for me to accept what I need to give up to achieve what I planed to
achieve at Imbolc. This would be the time when I would choose to walk through the
woods charging myself with the potency of the God.
Now we are at Litha or Mid Summer the point where the Goddess is swollen which the
fruits of the earth the God are at his Full potential, for me it's a time to Enjoy
and celebrate a day where theirs nothing to do everything is in balance and as it
should be. It for me a day where I just enjoy the goddess and god.
Then we have Lammas the first harvest it's a time when I would go in to the garden and pick
my fruits and veg I would normally prepare a meal with what has been gathered and share with
friends and family. Sharing your hard work is a wonderful of honouring The God and Goddess.
And the final spoke before returning to the new year is the Autumnal equinox the final
harvest so back into the garden for the last harvest and clearing the garden ready for
next year again I would share this food with family and friends either as food baskets,
or as a meal depending on size of harvest.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeAwakening Your Magic
Find some time alone, where you have some peace and quiet in a room that you will be able
to make dark .(close blinds, drapes or place blankets over windows)?
Find a candle that you feel represents you. It could be one of your favorite colors...
or it could be the one that when you pick it up you feel something special -
it just ''feels'' right.?
Take the candle, and sit in a comfortable position on the floor. Put both of your hands
around the candle, and hold it in your lap. Clear your mind of all thought and slow your
breathing. Take long, deep, even breaths. Relax.?
Once you feel relaxed, think about your past and your present. As you recall it,
visualize each thought you have ''transferring'' it into the candle...if it helps,
you can visualize a white puffy jet stream flowing from your head, into the candle
in your hands...?
Focus on this for a few minutes (or longer), you'll know when you've put enough of
yourself into the candle. One?s true self, who you really are as a person.
Next, place the candle in a candle holder and set it on your altar in the room.
Light the candle and turn off the lights, close the curtains, and create a dark room.
This dark room represents the clarity of emptiness, and the candle represents
all that you are.?
Focus on the flame. Feel the magick filling the room and filling you.
Think of everything sacred and belive you are filled with magick.
Build the belief till you have no doubt about your ability.
When you are done snuff out the candle...?
You can repeat this process at any time you feel the need.?
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeBeginning Clairvoyance
A common mistake people make is assuming that 'seeing' involves the use of the eyes when in a
closed state. Do not strain to see. You do not have to have your eyes closed to access your
third eye however in the beginning it is recommend to shut out all distractions.
Finding Your Minds Eye:
Sitting comfortably, close you eyes
Remember where you were yesterday
What does it look like?
Realize that you have created a picture in your minds eye to recall this time
Notice where this image is projected within your body
This is your inner screen or minds eye
Exploring Your Clairvoyance:
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed
Notice the inner screen of your mind
Bring your attention to the space between your eyes at the center of your
forehead (your third eye)
Visualize your third eye expanding
Do you see anything shapes, colors, anything at all?
Do not judge yourself or expect to much of yourself
Just be aware of images of any sort that come to mind
If nothing comes don't be discouraged
Developing this skill may take some time
Know that by bringing your attention to your third
eye the skill of clairvoyance has already began to awaken
Like all skills the development or rather
the remembrance of it will involve persistence
Further Exploration:
Once you are feeling more confident and begin seeing images
in your minds eye you could try this
activity with a friend to test clairvoyance
Have a friend set up a room in the house
Change things about it, move things and add things
Have your friend sit in a certain position in the room
Remain in a separate room
Bring your focus to your inner sight
See the room in your minds eye
What do you see? Where is your friend sitting? What has moved?
Record what you see and than check with your friend
To test clairvoyance may make you feel pressured to get it right.
If it does try the experience of simply seeing what is happening at your friends
house through your third eye in your own time and then giving him/her a phone
call to see how they are and what they are up to.
Did you sense any of what was happening?
Eventually though it may be nice to measure your
success to see how far you have
come i.e. test clairvoyance
Free your 6th sense and begin to tune into your inner eye
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWiccan Greetings
These are some of the common greetings used by witches:
Merry Meet= A common Wiccan greeting, sometimes abbreviated mm.
Merry Part= A common Wiccan parting, sometimes abbreviated mp.
Blessed Be= A common Wiccan greeting and parting, sometimes abbreviated bb.
LL= New Age and Witchcraft greeting and parting, meaning love and light.
EM hotep= Is an Egyptian greeting. Translates into "in peace" or "in love".
93= Thelmic greeting. it's the Gematria (numerology) for the word thelma
(Will) and Agape (Love), used as a Thelmic greeting. 93 is the numeric
value of the Greek words for Love and Will. 93 is shorthand for. Do as thou
wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the Law. Love under Will.
Go to TopClassroom Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeImproving Intuition
If you want more intuition in your life you must enhance your mental capabilities.
Some tested and true types of items to add to your life to enhance your intuition are:
Use more color in your home. If you have all tan in your home, how boring would that be,
add color in accents, pillows, scarves draped over a chair, a bright new candle,
small things first.
Use music more often in your life, make or listen to music, feel the rhythm of the music,
sway to it, intone to the music.
Use aroma in your life, add scents, scent is the strongest of our memories, use incense
or oils with a burner or censor.
Open up your drapes, let the sunshine in, stand in the sunlight, feel the warmth on your
body, lay in the sunlight and challenge your cat to the sunny spot.
Drink more water, feel the water sliding down your throat, feel it quenching your thirst,
most times if you are hungry it is actually your body asking for water.
Breath deeply, learn to breathe from the belly, a good book on this is Breathe in, Breathe out.
Find your sleep cycle, note for a month when you wake up naturally,
if you use an alarm note on the weekends when you wake naturally,
write it down, don't rely on memory, then note when you feel tired at night,
get more sleep.
Take a walk, take notice of things around you, keep alert as you walk, listen to sounds,
take notice of animals in the area, most times we are so unaware of what is going on around us.
Move your body, dance to music, learn Tai Chi, or do yoga.
Start a journal, write your thoughts each day, even if it is a paragraph and go back
often to read your thoughts, you can learn from your own writing better than from
someone else's.
Keep your home clean and clutter free, find a place for everything,
if you are trying to find something and spend half the day looking for it,
you have wasted half the day. If you haven't used something in the last year,
chances are that you won't use it anytime soon, get rid of it, someone else may need it.
When you are with friends, listen more than you talk, if you are asked your advice,
think about your answer, is the answer what you want to hear, or what your
friend needs to hear. Watch people when you are out, watch their body language,
what are they saying with their bodies.
If you don't have one start an altar, it can be a family altar, or deity altar,
use it daily, even if you just ring a bell or put a flower on it, do it daily.
Be truthful, keep your word, if you promise to do something then carry it out,
don't let others down, once you are shown to be trustworthy others will trust you.
Listen to your body, eat what it wants, feel the digestions in your stomach,
feel the foods that are digested move through your bowels,
listen to the sounds your body makes.
Find time to meditate, even if it is just sitting and listening to your
house for a half hour or more, find the time to do so. If you want to
have a ritual the best place to start it is in your mind, visualize what
will be said, visualize what will happen, see the altar in your mind,
hear the words you want to say.
Simplify your home, if you have nicnacs all over get rid of them or put them in storage,
lessen your time dusting and spend that time doing more for you instead of taking care of
little dust collectors.
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