Boudicca Andarta November, 2010

This month you get two-for-one-special; two spells for the price of one.  That’s because there are two sacred days for the goddess emis/Diana; the Night of Nicnevin and Saint Cecilia’s Day.  Nicnevin and Cecilia are “versions” of the Goddess of the Hunt.  Most likely, these are aspects of the goddess that you have not heard of before, and that is why I am sharing them with you now.

November 9^th and 10^th: Night of Nicnevin (Scotland)

After the Greek huntress emis was adopted by the Romans and renamed Diana, Queen of the Faeries, she was taken with the Romans wherever the Romans went, including Scotland.  There she was renamed again, this time as Nicnevin or Nicnevan, Queen of Elphame and the Queen of the Faeries, and her new name meant “divine” or “brilliant”.  As Mother Nicnevin, she was not only the Queen of the Faeries but also the Queen of the Witches, and linked to the Dark Moon and the Crossroads, just like the Greek Hecate and The Roman Diana.

She had a festival on November 9^th and 10^th which was later claimed by the Church and called Saint Martinmas Eve.  But, back in the Pagan days, it was said that Nicnevin, along with her entourage of followers, rode through the night hours at the end of the festival of Samhain (Halloween).  Her ride begins at dusk where she rises form the Underworld or Water-World of the Tree of Life.  Nicnevin passes through the realm beneath the sea to our world; the Mid-world.  Then, she opens the Otherworld Gate so the spirits of dead may pass through.  If you wish to speak with the dead or travel in a Shamanic fashion to the Underworld, Nicnevin is the one to evoke beforehand for the purposes of protection.  You can also call upon her when traveling in this world at night.

Because of her association with Samhain, Nicnevin was a Crone goddess, and like most crones or goddesses associated with Samhain, she was “demoted” to an “evil witch” or an “evil Faery” with the advent of Christianity.  Sometimes in Scottish Faery tales she was called Habetrot, a Crone who was adept at the arts of spinning, weaving and cloth-making.    And, in the Middle Ages, Nicnevin was also called Satia, Bensozie, Zobiana, Herodiana, Abundia and Dame Habonde.

• Abundia, Abondia or Abundantia was a minor Roman fertility goddess.  She was the personification of abundance to the Romans, who brought her to what we now call France.  There, it was said that she entered houses at night, bringing prosperity to those she visited.
• Habondia (pronounced hahb-OEN-dee’uh),  or Habonde, descended from a Germanic earth goddess, was the Anglo-Celtic goddess of abundance and prosperity.  During medieval England, she, like Nicnevin, was “demoted”, this time as a “water witch”.  This was so the rural Pagan would no longer depend upon her for her help with their herds and crops.
• Herodiana is a variation of the name Hera-Diana, and is Herodias from the Bible.

She can appear as a young woman or an old crone, but either way, she is dressed in gray and holds a white wand.  White geese are her sacred totem animal and if you hear them, she may not be far behind.  Nicnevin is also associated with the Germanic Underworld goddess Hel, the Queen of the Underworld and the leader of the Hunt.  Another Crone goddess is the Celtic Cailleach and Nicnevin is the darker half of her.  Nicnevin’s names shows her as the Cailleach’s daughter because “nic” means “daughter of” and “nevin” refers to the Cailleach’s seat of power.

If you wish to possess magical powers, say divinatory skills for example, you can ask for them from Nicnevin.  Spend the night at a crossroads or in a locale sacred to the ancient Celts; where sea, sky and land meet.  Bring her an offering at dusk; whiskey, cider, mead or ale is preferred, and if she appears, do not flee or yell or else your gift will not count.  If she does not arrive, you may try again the next night, up to nine nights total.  If she doesn’t appear after nine nights, the magical power that you seek is not meant for you.

Yule is another day sacred to Nicnevin.  Women would ensure that all their spinning was completed before then so that they would not endure Nicnevin’s wrath.  Her punishment would be to empty their distaffs.

THE SPELL

Due to her Roman roots in abundance, prosperity and fertility, this spell is to call upon Nicnevin’s aid in manifestation.

Supplies: cauldron or black bowl, white candle, lighter or matches and white feathers.

Either cast a magick circle in the manner of your tradition, or create Sacred Space.

Place the cauldron on your altar and say:

“Queen of the Witches,

Dark of the Moon,

Bring to me riches,

I ask for this boon.”

Place the candle inside of the cauldron, light it and say:

“Queen of the Faerie,

Wand shinning white,

Worries I bury,

My future is bright.”

Sprinkle the white feathers around the cauldron in a clockwise circle and say:

“Goddess Nicnevin; brilliant, divine,

Abundance and prosperity is now mine.

My prayers fly to you upon white wings,

And my life turns around as the New Year rings.”

In your own words, tell Nicnevin which of your needs you wish to be met in the next six weeks.  Also, make a plan as to how you can work on these goals on the physical plane.  If you need to, make sure to scrawl some notes so you don’t forget later.  If you so desire, meditate to receive messages of wisdom and guidance form Nicnevin.  When finished, be sure to thank her:

“Sweet young Maiden,  wise old Crone,

In this venture I am not alone.

My thanks to you for aiding me,

In bringing about prosperity.

For the good of all and harm to none,

So say I, so shall it be done.”

If possible, let the candle burn out.

November 22^nd: Saint Cecilia’s Day (emis Calliste)

November 22nd, the Feats of emis, is set aside for emis Calliste, or emis the Fairest, in the form of Saint Cecilia.  Saint Cecilia is an aspect of emis Calliste, the Lily of Heaven, the Goddess of Nature and the mother of ekklesia; which is an assembly of worshippers.  In the language of the Greeks, the assemblies of the Ephesian emis were called ekklesias, which we in English would call “churches”.  It is a combination of the Greek word “ek” which means “out” and the Greek word “kaleo” which means “to call”.

In honor of emis, this is an ideal day to care for wild life, natural areas and communing with wildlife.

Cecilia was the name for emis/Diana to the ancient Irish.  She was the patroness of music and therefore musicians as well.  As a Roman deity, Cecilia was virginal, the patroness of the blind and to musicians as well as the inventor of the organ.  She was brought to Northern Europe by the Romans and there, her musical reputation was well established during the Middle Ages.  Guilds of musicians adopted her as their “patron saint” and in 1683, the musical Society was founded.  Each year on November 22^nd, to keep Saint Cecilia’s Day worthy, the Society attended a religious service in London that defended Cathedral music.

THE SPELL

If you have any musical instruments, this would be an ideal day to cleanse and consecrate them as well as to ask for the blessings of the Goddess; either emis Calliste or Saint Cecilia.

Supplies: saltwater, incense

Sprinkle the salt water onto the instrument and pass the incense smoke around the instrument to cast out all negativity with the four elements.  NOTE: if the salt of the saltwater will harm your instrument, take extra care.

Hold the instrument high overhead and say:

“By the power of the Lily of Heaven,

I ask for blessings as a musician;

I devote this musical instrument to you,

May its music be as fair as you.”

Sources:

• Encyclopedia of Gods by Michael Jordan
• Moon Magick: Myth & Magic, &

• Recipes

  • Airmid’s Cauldron
, Rituals & Spells by DJ Conway
• Pagan Book of Days: Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year by Nigel Pennick

Tags: magic, magick, spells

• Spells & Rituals

Heather Obrien September, 2010

Writing Out Intent in Prose

Objective: explain in detail what you want and how you plan to attain it.

In this class, I would like you to think of yourself as an architect. Last month, we discussed what our intents were. These are the blueprints to our spells. Now, we are going to begin the building process, starting with a sturdy foundation. We will mold our intentions into prose, adding as much detail as possible. The more detail we have, the sturdier our foundation and the easier it will be to write our poetic spells later.

For your assignment, please take the intentions you wrote- the ones you will be casting a spell for- and write them in paragraph form.

Example:

(Example from last month: My intent is to go to grad school

What do I want- I want to go to grad school. I want to deepen my knowledge of my field and expand my knowledge into other fields to incorporate them into my career.

Why do you want it- Going to grad school will challenge me in a positive way. I will be learning something new which I can apply to my everyday now. I want to give myself as many opportunities for growth as possible both in my current career and other fields.

How will this result affect your life- Grad school will make my life intriguing because I will be starting something new. It will make my life more hectic because I will be adding to my current workload. In the end, it will lead to more money coming into the house. And knowledge is never a waste of time.

Grad school will provide more opportunities for mental and financial growth. I will be casting this spell.)

I want to go to grad school at NCSU and get my MA in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on Deaf Culture. I want to deepen my knowledge of Deaf culture and expand my knowledge into the field of anthropology to incorporate it into my career as a teacher of the Deaf. Going to grad school will challenge me in a positive way. I will be learning something new, anthropology, which I can apply to my everyday now as a ToD. I want to give myself as many opportunities for growth as possible both in my current career and other fields. My job as a teacher, while enjoyable, is not easy. I do not want to burn out so quickly that I lose my passion for Deafness completely.  Going to grad school at NCSU will teach me better time management skills since I will be balancing my current career, school, and home life. It will also, however, make my life intriguing because I will be starting something new which I have been wanting to try for a long time. It will make my life more hectic because I will be adding to my current workload but I will be forced to find a balance in life, which I desperately need. This aspect will help me grow personally in an insurmountable way. In the end, getting my MA will lead to more money coming into the house, which will lead to more opportunities for further growth. And knowledge of any kind is never a waste of time.

Tags: magic, magick, spells

• Classes

Heather Obrien July, 2010

What are spells?

Objective: define spells; what constitutes a spell; why have a spell

Lesson:

According to the dictionary, a spell is “a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power”. If we look at the definition, we learn something interesting about spells: they really are not all that complex. They are actually quite simple. “A word or phrase…supposed to have magic power”. Any word or phrase which you give power to becomes a spell: a wish before taking a test, a hope that the meeting with your boss is positive, a curse to someone who just cut you off on the highway. They are all spells because when you say them, you give power to them. Anything, everything, you do can be considered magickal. So, if life is magick, daily living is the spells that make the magick happen.

Based on this definition, everything is a spell. But, we are going to get more specific. Spells are our intentions, given life with our words. We use them to manipulate energy around us to change for our benefit. Many pagan scholars group the spells together into categories labeled with colors: white, red, green, purple, and black. White magick includes healing, protecting, unhexing, and blessing. Red magick is anything involving love, fidelity, and marriage. Green magick involves money and luck including gambling, prosperity and wealth. Purple magick is to change the will of others to gain the outcome that you want. By now, we can all see where the thoughts of Black magick being evil and White magick being good. Each of the color classifications goes with intent, which we will be discussing with the next lesson.

When you go searching for spells, many of the ones you will find both on websites and in spell books will list important things to include in you spellcasting environment: colors, oils/incense/herbs, stones, time of day, day of the week, moon phase, candle burning time, rune stone, zodiac phase. Each of these environmental enhancers are nothing more than ways to help you set the energy, center yourself to get ready to use powerful magicks. These are nothing more than recommendations; use the ones you are comfortable with and don’t waste time worrying about the ones you aren’t. If you know a lot about color, use color. Or stones. Or astrology. Stick with what you know; using things you don’t know may give you unwanted results or tap into things you are not capable of handling. The most important part is not necessarily the tools you use to assist you in manipulating energies, but the intent behind it. Again, we will be focusing on intent next month.

Some spells which are not categorized and are very hard to locate are spells of gratitude. Walking through a park on a beautiful day, taking in the scenery and feeling the elements surround you. It can be a very magickal experience if you allow it to be. A common practice in the East, but one that has been all but lost in the West, is charging food. This is a simple act of gratitude to the Gods of your choosing for the sustenance you receive. When you charge your food, you are sending energy back to the farmers who grew your food and to the spirits of the plants and animals who gave themselves so you can continue to live. A daily spell to have a good day each morning, and gratitude for the chance to live and breathe another day, can set energy right through your day. Before you go to bed, a spell to sleep peacefully through the night, followed by the gratitude spell in the morning, makes for a great cycle of life.

The need for spells is quite simple. Spells are why a painter paints and a musician plays. They are manifestations of what is in your heart. They are words from deep in your soul, which you express to the divine.

Activity: After reading this lesson, please write a reflection about what spells mean to you. What do you/would you use spells for (money, health, love, healing, friendship gratitude, etc)? What experience do you have with spells?

Tags: spells

• Classes

Kerry Morgan April, 2010

Oils and Spells

Oils can be extremely useful for spells. It is actually one of my personal favorite ways to include the power of the scent or plant, in the working. Some would say that an Essential oil works better for magical purposes. I will agree to some extent. If you are using the power of Rose the flower, the scent, the color, everything about “Rose” then you will probably want the actual essence of rose. Blends and synthetics are good for their purposes as well but they are created by taking other scents and a base oil being mixed together so there would technically be other vibrations mixed in with your rose scent.

Essentials should be diluted if you plan to wear it on your person as they tend to be extremely strong. Other ways of using an oil in spell work might be, drawing a ritual bath, and using a drop or two of your essential there. That would count as diluting the oil obviously. Other times the practitioner will rub the oil on a candle. This is called ritualizing the candle.

Other times an oil will be used to consecrate a magical tool, or alter piece. By rubbing the piece with the oil, the magical properties of the plant used in the oil, will fuse with the tool, thus giving it the vibration and other metaphysical properties to the tool. This action would be repeated for continued use or need of the plant, or changed by using a different oil the next time, depending on the work being done.

Oil burned can give the same qualities to the air thus within you by breathing in the scent. If you are doing meditation or transcendental work, burning the scent can be extremely helpful in reaching the most relaxed state for visualization or enlightenment.

The next few articles will include different scents for different spells. If you have a favorite oil for working a certain type of spell, I would love to read about it, and will include your recipe with the others, giving you credit for your recipe/blend. Sends suggestions to km@kerryamorgan.com with “oil blend” in the subject line.

Tags: magic, magick, oils, spells

• Articles

Aurora December, 2009

“Triumph Over Troubles Rite”

We have all experienced times when we are overcome with worry or doubt about something very important to us. This rite is designed to help you move through your worry and start working on a solution.

Supplies

Bowl of water

Bowl of salt

Worry stone

Worry dolls (5)

Pentacle paten

2 small pieces of mirror

Mica and unakite

Strand of silver cord

Two white candles

Incense burner, trivet, and charcoal tablet

Incense of your choice

Chalice with drink

Plate with food

Offering bowl

Altar Set-up

Gather all the materials and place on the altar. The two white candles should be across from each other, as they represent the God and the Goddess.  The God-side of the altar should be on the left and also include the bowl of salt and the plate of food for the offering. The incense burner with charcoal tablet should be on top of the trivet and placed on the left side of the altar. The pentacle paten should be in the middle of the altar. The right side of the altar should have the bowl of water, incense, and chalice with beverage. The offering bowl, silver cord, two mirrors, mica, unakite, worry dolls, and worry stone should be off to the side of the altar.

Rite

Ground and center yourself in your traditional way. Cast a sacred circle and call the powers of the Elements to balance your circle. Light the charcoal tablet and add some incense to it. Light the God and Goddess candles and invite them into your circle to offer their support for your workings tonight.

Hold the mica out in front of you and state your worry out loud into the stone. Encase the mica between the two pieces of mirror and tie them all together with the silver cord. Place the bundle on top of the pentacle paten on the altar. Place the unakite on top of the bundle.  Repeat the following:

I am captive no more in a place of nowhere,

Lingering aimlessly in my self-pity and despair.

I am taking control and lead from this day forth,

Finding strength within myself – the original source.

Place one of the worry dolls at each of the five points of the pentagram surrounding the bundle. Pick up the dolls, one-by-one starting this the top point and moving widdershins, and state to each doll one thing that you can do to help you move past this worry.  When you are done, say:

The will, the voice, and the movement are mine.

I will carry onward as I design,

New hope and new paths I walk on from here,

Banishing doubt, worry, sadness and fear.

Pick up the worry stone and hold out in front of you. Repeat:

But if new worries creep into my daily life,

And I find myself consumed in ongoing strife,

I will keep this token by my side,

And hold it close by so to it I can confide.

Dip the worry stone in the bowl of salt, pass it carefully through the smoke of the incense, and then dip it into the water. Then, carefully pass it over the flames of the God and Goddess candles.

In the name of the Mighty Ones,

This token is blessed.

May it serve its’ purpose well,

Doubt, fear and worry it will quell.

Make an offering of drink and food in honor of the God and Goddess. Thank them for the presence. Dismiss the Elements and open the sacred circle. This rite has ended.

Notes

When the issue is resolved, break the mica into two parts and bury them in the ground separately.

Tags: magic, magick, Rites, rituals, spells

• Spells & Rituals

Blacksun April, 2009

Felix the Cat had his bag-of-tricks, Batman had his utility belt, and witches have spells.

Hollywood tells us that all a witch really needs is a good book of spells and they’re in business.  Hot, diggity-dang!  I’ll run right out and get me one of those.  Except, aren’t there any useful modern books of spells?  The ones that I can find are kind of out of date and a lot of those spells aren’t of much use any more.  I mean, who needs a spell to keep your yams from wandering over the fence into your neighbor’s yam patch at night?  Or one to get rid of boils on your bum?  (My health plan covers that, unless it’s a pre-existing condition.)

Of course, there are modern spells for love charms and making money.  In fact, that seems to be the main focus of most of the spell books on the shelves these days.  I guess if you want to have a spell for some other purpose, you’ll just have to work it out yourself.  If you’re not an old hand at crafting spells, that might seem an intimidating task.  But, trust me; it’s as easy as pie.

First off, let’s be clear what we’re talking about.  A spell is actually nothing more than a plan that involves magic to get something done.  Most spells are subtle ways of injecting magic into a process so as to make it more successful.  And magic, as we all know, comes in a wide variety of forms.  Most magic workers find they are more adept at one or two forms and tend to stick with them for most of their spells.  This isn’t surprising since specialization happens in every art form.  Magic works in direct proportion to the amount of will power put into it, so most magic requires a good deal of mind work and motivation.  Spells commonly use what most would consider to be psychological tricks.

For instance:  A few years back, a fellow came to me and said he was suffering from writer’s block.  He just couldn’t seem to write anything useful and he was getting frustrated over how long it had been going on.  By the way, this guy was a die-hard typewriter user.  Why, I’ll never know.  But I made use of the fact in my spell.  After a little questioning, I created a spell that got rid of his writer’s block in one week.  Here were my instructions to him:

1. On day #1, sit down at your typewriter.  Clear everything off the desk with the exception of the typewriter and a stack of blank paper.
2. Insert a sheet of blank paper into the roller and put your fingers on the keyboard.  But do not type anything.
3. Sit like this for precisely one minute.
4. Take out the paper and burn it.
5. On day #2, sit down and repeat steps #2 through 4.
6. On day #3, put the paper in the typewriter and sit for two minutes without typing anything on it.
7. Then, type one key, any key.
8. Take out the paper and burn it.
9. On day #4, repeat #6.
10. Then, type a complete sentence… anything.
11. Remove the paper and burn it.
12. On day #5, repeat #6.
13. Type the same sentence that you typed for step #10.
14. Then type, “I am a GOOD writer.”
15. Remove the paper and burn it.
16. On day #6, roll in the paper but don’t type anything.
17. Look at it for ten minutes.
18. Leave the paper in the roller and exit the room.
19. Do not return to that room until the next day.
20. On day #7, type anything you want.

I had no assurance that this spell would work but I thought it would because of what I knew about the man and his habits.  He was what I would call a compulsive writer.  By forcing him to go ‘cold turkey’ about his writing but giving him a specific ‘cure’ for his writer’s block so he’d be motivated to follow my instructions, I felt he would bottle up so much writing energy that it would nearly explode from him on the seventh day.  And it did… right on cue.  He called me up that night and told me he’d written twenty-two pages and wanted to do more but was too tired.  He thanked me profusely and then hung up.  I learned the next day that he’d gone back to finish a paragraph and ended up writing another five pages.

The magic in this spell is obvious.  I relied upon the person’s own compulsions to break the barriers down that his mind had put in place.  I knew that most so-called writer’s block was because the unconscious was telling the writer that they had to change something in their lives and/or story before the creative juices would flow again.  I just gave him the time necessary to make those changes while providing something that he believed would make that change for him.  The spell didn’t actually make those changes; he did.  But while he was doing that, I gave him a reason to accept a change in his normal routine.  I gave him a distraction as well as making him hopeful that the change he wanted, the breaking of his writer’s block, would happen and happen at a specific point.  Just an old Jedi mind trick.

A lot of spells are like that.  They use the predictable changes and energies around a situation and give them purpose and direction.  How was I able to come up with this particular spell?  Well, the formula is actually something I learned years ago when reading The of War.  The solution to a problem usually lies within the proper description of the problem.  Remember that the so-called ‘writer’s block’ was something that the man was producing himself.  And I knew that most of the time, a ‘writer’s block’ is nothing more than the unconscious trying to adjust things so the natural creativity of the person can work better.  All I did was use that knowledge and make up a spell that gave his unconscious enough time to do its thing without the guy feeling frustrated all the time (which undoubtedly would have hampered his unconscious from doing what it was supposed to do).  In other words, I used what I knew about his condition and provided a reason for him to allow the problem to take care of itself.  And it worked.  I found out later that he’d taken the time he would have normally used for writing and spent a good deal of it with a lady he’d met a few weeks before his ‘writer’s block’ had appeared.  Their relationship blossomed and actually turned into an intense romance that lasted well after he was done with the book.  He told me that one of his female characters had to be rewritten so she acted more like his girl friend and that had been what the story really needed.

A good part of most spells relies on psychology.  Understanding how people think and what kinds of things motivate them is a key factor.  But also knowing how other things function is necessary in making successful spells.  Much of the time, spells appear not to have anything that connects them to the purpose or goal of the spell.  How would burning a candle help find a lost pet?  Why would white rose petals worn in your right shoe help you find a lover?

As magic users, one of the first things we learn is that everything is connected.  Simply because something appears not to be connected doesn’t mean that it won’t make a difference in how things work down the line.  Just as every parent knows, what is done with a child at the age of two has a great deal to do with how they behave at the age of twenty-two.  Knowing how a small change here can make a big change there is the kind of thing needed to craft a good spell.  Of course, such knowledge requires a good deal of education.  Witches (and, for that matter, all magic workers) are always curious… about everything.  But I believe the biggest thing that sets magic users apart from others is that one concept, everything’s connected.  Anyone who works magic believes that concept is true.  And because of it, we see the world differently from how much of the population sees it.  For us, thinking that there is a connection between the rose petals and finding a lover is not outrageous.  We can’t always justify or explain how something is connected or how it influences things, but there is no doubt in our minds that it is so.  For us, this is not bad science or crazy thinking; we like to think of it as ‘wisdom’.  Whether it is wisdom or just a different way of viewing the world, it works for us.

Hollywood and the entertainment media in general tend to portray spell crafting as some super mysterious way of causing fantastic events.  While that might sell movie tickets or books, the truth is that most spells are rather bland.  No big flashes, no swirling smoke, no freezing time… sorry.  Just getting stuff done.  But I don’t discount the importance of mystery.  Sometimes it’s necessary for things to work properly.  Take the spell mentioned above about getting rid of the writer’s block for instance.  If I’d told the guy, “Hey, give it a rest for a while; get out a little more and have some fun,” he probably wouldn’t have taken the advice and certainly wouldn’t have found some needed distraction so his unconscious could work out the kink in the story.  I purposely camouflaged what I was doing so it would work better.  Like I said: old Jedi mind trick.

Remember that many people ascribe powers and attributes to us that are absolutely untrue.  They may think we’re strange (well, that might be a little true), some think we’re even evil.  They might believe we can fly on broomsticks.  Then again, they might think we’re totally bonkers.  But they also believe… or at least want to believe… that we can twitch our nose and make things happen.  (I’ve tried for years to learn how to twitch my nose that way, but so far…)

Anyway, a bit of drama or skillful misdirection can be useful sometimes, especially with non-magic workers.  It could be argued that this doesn’t help dispel (Get it…dis + spell?  Ha, ha.  Well, anyway…) the idea that we are aligned with ‘evil forces’ but I think that is another whole subject.  It’s a way of using the person’s own energies for empowering the spell.  They can’t expect us to do everything.  Besides, many who come to us for spells are frustrated and don’t know or believe that they have the power to make the desired changes in their own lives.  Having them be the source of the spell’s power is one way to give them a sense of ‘ownership’ that will help them in more than just that one instance.

Crafting spells is an art, and a very useful one at that.  Learning how to do it for others is part of our bag-of-tricks.  But remember that whatever you create, you are responsible for.  Whether you work magic for yourself or for others, the rules are the same:

1. Be careful what you invoke.  (You just might get it!)
2. Don’t make something you can’t un-make.  (If you made that mess, you might have to clean it up!)
3. What you do will always come back to you.  (If you’re lucky, it will only be threefold!)
4. Do good.  (Don’t be mean, nasty, ugly,… or stupid!  See #3!)

Finally, just a word about doing spell work for others:  Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.  You are under no obligation to do something just because somebody asked you to.  In fact, the only obligation you have is to be a responsible magic worker (see the above rules).  Always, always be mindful of what your own spirituality tells you and be true to it.  The best spell is the one that you do on yourself to make you into a better child of the gods.  Blessed be.

Tags: magic, magick, spells, spellwork

• Articles

Michele Burke March, 2009

Over the years I have read a vast array of books aimed towards teaching our pagan youth the practices and principles of our craft, but I must say this is the most awe inspiring of them all.

Charm Spells is an ingenious easy to read literary guide for both young and old witches alike. Teaching the basic tools every young witch needs Ileana Abrev has created a grimoire like no other. Instructing white magick from the very start not only is the right path to take, but it sets young practitioner on the path to lifelong success in their lives as well as their practice. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this book and forwarded it on to my daughter; that there is just one thing left to say go out and get a copy today it is one book we all should ready regardless of our age.

Tags: book, charm, Ileana Abrev, review, spells

• Reviews

IndigoRainbow February, 2009

We come to that time of year when many lonely souls come to us and ask us to do our magik and a spell to bring love into their lives. Most only need a ‘charm’ or ‘crutch’ in order to help their own self esteems and to bring them out of their shells. There have been times I have been so caught up with helping others bring love into their lives that I have forgotten and neglected my own. Forgotten to even do the little things for those I love.

This month in The Witch’s Cupboard, I want to explore a few of the herbs that have historically been used for love. I want to share ideas to help, enhance, and nurture the loves in our lives, not help others to find it. This column is geared to make our Valentine’s and February a little more special for the ones we love.

There are many, many herbs that have been used throughout time to bring love, enhance sexuality, and woo others. I could write a book on the oddities and spells alone. We are going to go to the cupboard and pull out just a few that are common which can strengthen your love and also bring lasting health benefits. So come into the kitchen, open your cupboard, turn on the stove, and bake some magik with love.

We begin with a very common yet under rated herb, Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, synonym C. zeylanicum).  In Chinese Herbology, it is said Cinnamon are twigs and bark from large tropical trees that warm the body, invigorate the circulation, goes to all 12 channels (meridians) of the body, and harmonizes the energy of the upper and lower body. Cinnamon also reduces allergy reactions. The herb is usually cooked together with other herbs to make tea that regulates the circulation of blood. Cinnamon has also been used for appetite loss, bronchitis, colds, cough, fever, indigestion and other digestive problems, sore throat, diarrhea, and some cancerous tumors. Eastern herbal remedies suggest Cinnamon for heart problems, dental pain, and urinary problems. For those you who use and enjoy medical and therapeutic grade essential oils, cinnamon oil can be used as a sexual stimulate, beneficial for colds, coughs, flu, rheumatism, and circulation. I have also heard it can aid in controlling sugar and certain types of diabetes. But in our magical world, Cinnamon is highly recommended as purification incense prior to sacred work, and increases focus and concentration, while enabling a peaceful mindset for ritual work or divination. With our theme for Valentine’s, Cinnamon is known as an aphrodisiac. When used in spells of sexuality and passion it deepens any meditations on love.

Another common herb in our cupboards is Ginger. Since ancient times, Ginger has been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions.  Ginger may decrease joint pain from arthritis, and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease. Ginger is mostly known for its properties to help treat upset stomach and nausea. It is also believed to help the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods. Magically Ginger is known as a powerful herb/spice. Ginger essential oil is useful in sexuality; love; courage; and money. Eating Ginger before performing spells will lend them power, since you have been “heated up” by the Ginger; this is especially true of love spells.

Since we are in our kitchens and at our cupboards, Something simple that can be done using the herbs/spices above to bring a smile to your loved ones faces is to bake cookies. You can make these simple recipes by adding your own special magical spells that are dear to you while you prepare the dough.

Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for 30 seconds.  Add the 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar.  Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.  Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended.  Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer, and stir in remaining flour.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Combine the 4 tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon.  Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.  Place balls of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until edges are beautifully golden.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Soft Ginger Cookies
Ingredients

* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup margarine, softened
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 tablespoon water
* 1/4 cup molasses
* 2 tablespoons white sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, and then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Next month’s edition of the Witch’s Cupboard will fall upon the Ostara/Spring Equinox rituals and will introduce you to preparing growing your own herbs for the coming Spring/Summer seasons. One I would like to follow along with is lavender because of the many health benefits of its oil. Until next time, happy baking to a healthier you.

Blessed Be,

Namaste Iammu,

Indigo Rainbow

Disclaimer:

Please note that we are not advocating that people stop using their normal medication, but would like to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very effective to help treat problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital you. Also, it is not recommended to use most herbal supplements during pregnancy, or during breast feeding, or for small children. But then again, although these warnings must be provided, we must ask if the warnings come from experiences using herbs or from a medical community which is afraid we will cure ourselves.

Tags: herbs, love, magic, magick, Recipes, spells

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Witch1979 December, 2008

In the Realm of Magic

For many of us who enjoy a good Harry Potter book or the fairy tales of childhood, there is a special word that draws us to the study of Wicca: magic.  That one mysterious word conjures up a euphoria of wonder and excitement that feels alien in comparison to our daily lives.  Suddenly, anything is possible, and we become more than mere mortals bracing against the tides of fate.  These are certainly the types of emotions the idea of magic can inspire, but daily we are told to keep such notions in the realm of fiction where they belong.  There is the world of reality and the world of the imagination, through which a clear and distinct boundary is drawn.  But is this division as clear as some say?  Is there really a division at all?  These are some of the questions Wiccans open themselves to and ask, allowing for a faith which embraces what others may not even consider possible.

One way to begin to explore these questions is to establish: what do we mean by “reality?”  Many would name the physical world around us as the foundation of the real world.  This is the area accessible to our senses, and we experience it everyday in a reliable manner that gives us little reason to doubt its existence.  Not every aspect of this world can be sensed, which we know through scientific instruments that go beyond our human limitations.  This is the only way we know of ultraviolet light, microwaves, or dark matter for instance.  Even though we cannot see these things ourselves we know they are real when we observe their effects.  Before each of these things was discovered by scientists they most certainly existed, we simply did not have technology suitable to view them.  It is therefore wise to have a healthy dose of open-mindedness alongside skepticism when deciding whether magic may or may not be “real,” as today’s unknowns can always become tomorrows discoveries.

Now let us go back to the separation between reality and imagination.  We have established that reality in common thought corresponds to the material world, both seen and unseen.  Imagination is something altogether distinct.  It is the collection of our thoughts, dreams, and hopes as to what reality should or might be.  I can see a horse and imagine a unicorn.  I can see a problem and imagine its solution.  Our thoughts and mind are our primary way of creating change in the physical world by envisioning what can be instead of what is.  A thought may not be a material object in the way that a chair is, but its effects on the world around us are real and profound in the form of our actions.  This blurs the definition a bit on what constitutes reality.  Is a thought only real if I create it in the material world?  Or is it real because of its affect on my decisions and actions?  A hopeful person may in reality have nothing to look forward to based on the way events play out, but the effect the hope has on the person changes what they do and how they act regardless of the physical reality around them.  Imagination is separate from reality only in that it does not have to conform to the physical world to be real or have an effect, and this is the key to understanding what magic is.

Someone who practices magic in our world does not have lightning bolts shooting from their fingertips and may or may not wear a pointy hat.  There is a certain aspect of romanticism in modern witchcraft that plays to the fantastical and whimsical natures of many of its practitioners.  What all magic shares, regardless of the outer forms, is a disciplined focus of the mind and thoughts aimed to produce an effect.  To believe in magic is merely to believe that thoughts can affect reality, and to practice and hone the craft of doing so.  To a skeptic this may only go so far as to acknowledge that if a person focuses their thoughts with great intensity towards a goal, it would at the very least affect the actions of that person.  If my goal is to find love and I wish to use magic, all of my concentration and focus on that goal would undoubtedly affect what I do and move my actions in line with it.  Most practitioners take it a step further and say that the thoughts you put out affect the energy around you, and that true magic is when that energy is affected enough to bring about your intentions.  That is a harder gap to bridge for those new or foreign to the Craft, but as with all of its aspects Wicca values experience over belief.  It does not require you to believe in magic but rather invites you to experience it and judge for yourself.  As with hope, there is nothing to lose, and everything to gain by choosing to suspend one’s disbelief.  And that is when the boundaries to the realms of reality and imagination blur, uniting to create a truly magical whole.

Journal for the Month of November:

I cannot say that I have yet had a successful experience with a spell.  On the other hand I have had a direct experience with another form of energy work known as Reiki.  A few months back I attended a Reiki attunement for levels I and II.  During this process the student is said to be opened to the flow of universal energy in order to channel it for healing.  I went into the experience very skeptical, but with an open mind.  During one of the guided meditations I experienced a strange sensation, almost as if energy were coursing through my spine at a rapid pace.  The sensation heightened and intensified to the point where I felt as if some torrential waterfall were coursing through me unhindered.  After a time the feeling faded, and as I came back into my regular awareness I learned that our instructor had been focusing on opening our chakras during those moments before.  There was no way I had imagined the experience, and I could not explain it away in rational terms.

Why do I mention this experience here?  For me, it was pivotal in giving the concept of magic a chance.  I firmly believe in the power of the mind and that amazing things can be accomplished through its discipline, but I had a hard time accepting the idea of energy work and its implications.  Magic and Reiki are two very different things, most especially because in Reiki the practitioner never tries to control the flow the energy, and instead focuses on being a clear and open channel for it.  But I can now say that I have literally felt energy working within me, and it has opened my mind to a vast sea of possibilities I may never before have considered.  To anyone else I would say, don’t just believe in something, know it from your experience.  And at the same time you can take the knowledge from others that such things are possible, as long as we are willing to open ourselves to them.

Until next month, blessed be! )O(

Tags: magic, magick, New, newbie, reiki, Spell, spells

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Administrator May, 2006

This month, I am posting more spells on the darker side. Sometimes it is what is needed in our lives. One thing I like to tell witches: You dont have to practice all magick, but learn as much as possible as you never know when you will need it.

THE KARMIC CURSE OF PAIN


This curse shall be layed on the victim while burning an image of the victim in the flame of a black candle or while burning a black image candle inscribed with their name and containing personal affects of theIrs. If possible,do this in a graveyad at midnite under a waning moon.

As the candle or image burns, say:

"There has been unfaireness done unto to me.

I ask that vengenace be brought down upon my tormentor.

I envoke the karmic forces of the universe.

I conjure them to do my bidding.

There shall be fear & guilt.

There shall be submission and compliance.

I point the law of karma against thee,

unto thee it shall be brought forth with much speed.

Retribution be the cost for my anger and pain.

You are now cursed by me,

To feel what thou has wrought upon me one hundred fold.

Let thee feel no relief from your guilt & pain until I let it be so!

Throw the remains of the candle at the front door of your tormentor and do not look back.



**source unknown**

The Caracious Curse


(this is scary so do not attempt it alone or unexperienced.)

Take two black candles and two white and set them at your altar in this

pattern:

b w b w

wand or athame

cast the circle and call upon the death crone and the hunter.

Use your own words to call them to the circle, as they are there, when you

can feel their presence light the white candles and concentrate on what

the person you are trying to hex has done wrong to you. You may like to

sing about it or just run it through in your head. Then light the black

candles and think of or sing about what that person looks like and their

personality. Then sit in your circle and think about your hurts caused by

them, whatever you do, do not lie or exaggerate. Then grasp your athame or

wand and use the tip to extinguish the black candles with

"You are gone from
no more will you hurt her/him

You have deserved of this

You are gone from her/his life,

Crone and Hunter have seen

You are gone from
no more hurt will you cause her."

**source unknown*







Bats Blood



*One of the black arts oils which creates discord, tension and havoc

wherever it is used.

*Sprinkle on enemies, but NOT on yourself.*

*Use it to anoint parchment paper on which evil pacts or wicked desires

have been inscribed.*

*A black Voodoo doll, labeled with a foe’s name, and sprinkled with

this oil will almost surely cause distress.*

* Place the doll at the enemy’s doorway so that it will be discovered

as he enters or leaves the house or apartment.*



4oz herbal base



1/2 oz Magnolia



2dr. Peppermint



Color: murky red

***

author bio:

I am an ordained minister and have taken the title of priestess rather than minister, as I feel rev. or minister is too christian. I consider myself LHP, a pagan dark witch. I have been practicing for approximately 8 years. Being LHP, I tend to gravitate towards the dark gods and goddesses. I consider Hecate my mother, Ariadne my sister and Lilith my best friend. I find the gods that I feel closest to Lucifer and Cernunnosand am now being told that Anubis is calling. And for some reason, I have been chosen also as a lightworker. Now, try mixing that with the LHP. lol But, there it is. People come to me for help all the time and I feel like I need to help them. I am a 39 yr. old widow, mom of two and gramma of three. I read anything on paganism and witchcraft that I can get my hands on, to continue learning. I have a tendency to dress hippy, gothic, witchy and happily mix it all up. I read tarot, wolf and faerie cards. I’m intuitive and psychic and have had visions since I was a child.



Owner of Witches_of_the_Dark@yahoogroups.com

One of the facilitators of South Suburban Pagan Association,

Tarot reader/Intuitive

Email:

SacredDarkFire@aol.com

Tags: dark, spells

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