The Modern Guide to Witchcraft (30 page)

Don’t come near.

By the dawn

Be you gone.

By this sign [with your athame or wand draw a pentagram in the air in front of you]

And light divine

Peace is mine.

I am strong

All day long.

My worries flee

Magickally.

I ring this bell [ring the bell]

To bind this spell,

And all is well.”

As you chant, see your fears disappearing into the darkness, losing their strength. When you’re ready, extinguish the candle and open the circle.

This is fun to do with children, but even if you’re a mature adult, you can still enjoy this playful magick spell. Let it bring out the child in you.

• 1 bottle of bubbles
  
• A power object (a special stone, charm, animal figurine, or other token)
  

• Any time, weather permitting, but during the full moon is best
  

On a breezy evening when the moon is full, take the power object and bottle of bubbles to a hill, field, or park—someplace wide open. Place the power object on the ground between your feet, then make a wish and blow the bubbles. Project your wishes inside the bubbles. Let your power object direct the bubbles as the breeze carries them high into the air, where the gods and goddesses will hear the wishes and grant them.

As the bubbles, with your wishes inside, rise into the moonlit sky, say the following incantation:

“My wishes travel

The whole night through

So that magick’s power

Can make them come true.”

Watch the bubbles float off into the sky, and trust they will make your wishes come true.

This spell might sound a little silly, but a lighthearted approach is sometimes best when dealing with everyday troubles. Don’t be put off by the playful quality of the spell—it can be quite powerful.

• Nail polish
  
• Polish remover
  
• Cotton balls and/or swabs
  

• Depends on your intentions
  

Collect the ingredients needed for this spell. Select one or more bottles of nail polish, in colors that correspond to your intentions: pink or red for love, green or gold for money, and so on. Cast a circle around the area where you will do your spell.

Assign an objective to each toe. You can give all ten toes the same intention or pick ten different goals—or any other combination. Begin painting your toenails in colors that are appropriate to your objectives. As you paint each nail, concentrate on your intention and see it already manifesting. If you like, also decorate your nails with symbols that represent your intentions: dollar signs for money, hearts for love, and so on. Have fun and be creative. If you make a mistake or change your mind, simply remove the polish and start over.

Allow the polish to dry, and then open the circle. For the next week or so, or for as long as the polish lasts, know that each step you take will bring you closer to your goals.

The average person drives about 12,000 miles each year. That exposes you to plenty of potential delays, accidents, and other problems. This spell protects you from harm whether you’re driving your car in your own neighborhood or cross-country.

• 1 white paper square
  
• Colored markers
  
• Amber essential oil
  
• Tape, glue, or other adhesive
  

• During the waning moon, preferably when the moon is in Gemini or Sagittarius
  

Cast a circle around the area where you’ll be working. Cut a 4" square of paper. Within this square draw a circle. Write the word
safe
or an affirmation of your choice in the center of the circle. If you wish, add other symbols that represent safety (such as a pentagram) and travel to you. The pattern you’ve created is your safety shield.

Dot the four corners of the paper with amber essential oil. Open the circle. Attach the shield to the dashboard or window of your car. Each time you get into your car, look at the shield and touch it to activate its protective energies. Visualize yourself and your car surrounded by pure white light, and know that you are protected wherever you go.

We all engage in daily rituals. Anything that you do each day with awareness is a ritual, from your morning shower to reading in bed before you fall asleep. These rituals provide a sense of stability and continuity in our lives. Now that you are walking a witch’s path, you’ll naturally want to include magick in your routine.

Part of your morning routine should be writing in your book of shadows as soon as you awaken. While your mind is still fresh, jot down your dreams, first thoughts of the day, your intentions, and so on. In addition to your writing, you may want to come up with a simple ritual that will color the rest of your day. Maybe it’s saying an affirmation or offering a blessing. You may only need a few moments of time to transform your morning into a more inspired experience. Here’s a suggestion you might want to try:

1. Set a small crystal, a cup or chalice of water, a stick or cone of incense, and an essential oil that you find pleasing on your altar. Take a moment to think about the types of energies that you would like to call upon to influence the unfolding day. Imagine your perfect day and try to form a very clear image of it in your mind. You may have a specific accomplishment in mind. See yourself achieving whatever your heart desires. Imagine yourself doing everything you do throughout the day in a state of joy and satisfaction.
   
2. Put a small drop of oil on your fingertip and touch your fingertip to your third eye. See yourself bathed in the lovely morning light.
   
3. Light the incense and let its scent waft over you. Say an affirmation or blessing and focus your intentions for the day.
   
4. Hold the cup of water up to “toast” the day. Then bring it down to chest level, close to your heart. Dip your fingers in the water, close your eyes, and place a drop of water on each eyelid. Ask that your perception expand so you can see with clarity in all situations.
   
5. Hold the crystal and project into it your intentions for the day. Ask it to help you stay focused on your purpose throughout the day and to give you strength and determination when you need them.
   

You may choose to carry the crystal with you throughout the day.

Twilight is a magickal time. Behind the setting sun’s brilliant colors, the mystery of night approaches. You are moving “between the worlds.” You’ll want to mark the end of the day’s activities and your entrance into the world of dreams with a well-crafted ritual. Here’s a simple four-element ritual you may wish to use:

1. Begin by reflecting on the day that has just passed. Contemplate the energies you experienced, the things that went as you had hoped, and those you would like to have changed if you had the chance.
   
2. Place a cup of water and a crystal on your altar. Light a candle. Ask that you receive insight and guidance while you sleep.
   
3. Light a stick of incense and ask that your prayers rise up with the smoke and be heard by whatever deity you choose.
   
4. Take a sip of water and affirm that you’ll enjoy a peaceful, restful night and awake refreshed in the morning.
   
5. Hold the crystal to your third eye. Trust that it will protect you throughout the night and anchor your spirit as it travels in the world of dreams. Place the crystal on your bedside table or under your pillow while you sleep.
   

Of course, these morning and evening rituals are merely springboards to get you started. In time, you’ll develop your own daily rituals that hold special meaning for you and that enrich your days and nights in countless ways. In the
next chapter
, we’ll discuss the eight special days of the magickal year and the rituals many witches and Pagans use to celebrate them.

For centuries, earth-honoring cultures have watched the sun as it traveled through the sky (at least so it seems from our vantage point here on earth). Rather than thinking of the year as linear, witches view it as a circle. You’ll often hear Wiccans, in particular, refer to it as the Wheel of the Year, and they divide that wheel into eight periods of approximately six weeks each. Each “spoke” in the wheel corresponds to a particular degree in the zodiac and marks a holiday (or holy day) known as a “sabbat.” These high-energy days bring special opportunities for performing magick spells and rituals.

The wheel has its roots in the old agricultural festivals that marked the beginnings, peaks, and endings of the seasons. Four of the eight holidays relate to the four great Celtic/Irish fire festivals. Called the “cross-quarter” days, because they mark the midpoint of the seasons, these festivals were known to Pagans as Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnassadh. The four solar festivals—Yule (winter solstice), Ostara (spring equinox), Midsummer or Litha (summer solstice), and Mabon (fall equinox)—celebrate the dates when the sun enters 0 degrees of the cardinal signs of the zodiac: Capricorn, Aries, Cancer, and Libra respectively.

Even before recorded time, our ancestors celebrated these holidays. The ancient stone circles of Great Britain, such as Stonehenge, and the passage tombs of Ireland, such as Newgrange, clearly show that the early people noted the changes in the sun’s position throughout the year. The Romans marked the winter solstice with the festivities of Saturnalia; the Greeks observed the Eleusinian mysteries during the fall equinox.

It’s no coincidence that many of our modern-day holidays fall close to the dates when the early Greeks, Romans, Celts, and Germanic peoples of northern Europe celebrated these special days. In fact, we still enjoy some of the same customs and festivities as our distant ancestors, as you’ll soon see. The Great Wheel is turning, and a magickal journey awaits you.

The most holy of the sabbats, Samhain (pronounced SOW-een) is usually observed on the night of October 31, when the sun is in the zodiac sign Scorpio. Better known as Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve, this is the holiday people usually associate with witches and magick. Most of the ways the general public marks this sabbat, however, stem from misconceptions—it’s a solemn and sacred day for witches, not a time for fear or humor.

Considered to be the witches’ New Year, Samhain begins the Wheel of the Year. Thus, it is a time of death and rebirth. The word
samhain
comes from Irish, meaning “summer’s end.” In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere the land is barren at this time. The last of the crops have been plowed under for compost, and the earth rests in preparation for spring.

For witches, Samhain is a time to remember and honor loved ones who have passed over to the other side. That’s why people associate Halloween with the dead. No, skeletons don’t rise from graves, nor do ghosts haunt the living on Samhain, as movies and popular culture tend to portray it. You probably won’t be annoyed by uneasy or vengeful spirits, and it’s highly unlikely that Grandpa’s bones will rattle about in your living room.

Witches may attempt to contact spirits in other realms of existence, however, or request guidance from ancestors or guardians. The origin of the jack-o’-lantern is rooted in the belief that wandering spirits and ghosts turn up on Samhain. The lantern’s glow was meant as a beacon so that the spirits of the dearly departed could find their way; the terrible faces carved on the pumpkins were meant to frighten away evil spirits.

Southwestern witches sometimes combine features from the Mexican Day of the Dead with Celtic Pagan customs on Samhain. People decorate their altars to mark the sabbat, often displaying photos of deceased loved ones. During the week before Samhain, they go house to house, visiting the altars of friends and relatives, saying prayers and paying respects. You, too, might wish to honor the memories of your deceased loved ones by placing photos, mementos, and offerings on your altar during Samhain.

Because the veil that separates the seen and unseen worlds is thinnest at Samhain, it’s easier to communicate with beings on the other side at this time. You might also want to pull out your tarot cards or crystal ball during Samhain, to see what lies ahead in your future.

What would Halloween be without colorful costumes? This practice stems from the early custom of making wishes on Samhain, similar to making New Year’s resolutions. Wearing a costume is a powerful magick spell, a visual affirmation of your goals. No witch would portray herself as a hobo or ghost! Instead, try dressing up as the person you’d like to be in the coming year in order to tap the magickal energies of this sabbat.