Book of Witchery (6 page)

Quartz crystal:
The quartz crystal is a powerful stone. It has both projective and receptive, or masculine and feminine, energies. The quartz crystal is associated with the elements of fire and water. Quartz crystals are often used to top wands, and there is good reason for that. Basically, a clear quartz crystal point is an amplifier. It intensifies, or multiplies, the powers of any other stones that it is in contact with. The crystal points will also amplify your personal power. If you carry it in your pocket or wear a quartz crystal point in your jewelry, it will increase your psychic abilities and your chances of success. A quartz crystal point may be used in healing and health spells as well. The crystal point is rubbed over the affected area to draw out the illness or the pain. Try holding a quartz crystal at the base of your skull or placing the stone on your forehead to help draw out a headache.

Amber:
Amber is associated with the goddess Freya (this Norse goddess of love and sexuality will be featured in Friday's chapter). Amber is associated with the sun and the element of fire, and it possesses all of the qualities that you would come to expect: healing, strength, fame, power, and success. Unlike many gems, amber is thought to be warm to the touch, because amber came from a living tree. This makes it a gemstone of vegetative origin as opposed to mineral origin like most gemstones. The ancient Greeks called amber
elektron
, which means “of the sun,” owing to the fact that if amber is rubbed against natural fibers, such as silk or wool, it will build up static electricity, holding an electrical charge. Perhaps it is for this reason that amber jewelry is traditionally worn by both high priestesses and priests.

Amber is a gorgeous and popular magickal “stone” (it's actually a fossilized resin). Baltic amber comes in a milky and golden tones, and is readily available in the natural shades of honey gold and orange. It may have bubbles, tiny bits of ancient bark, or even an insect within it. Amber may also come in the hues of white, red, brown, blue, and green. You should be aware, though, that much of the commercial green amber is heated to enhance its color and to make it appear sparkly and deep toned. Truly unenhanced green amber is very rare and expensive. Today, amber beads and amber jewelry, no matter what their color, are worn for healing purposes as well as to boost the power of any spells that you cast. Amber radiates a positive and sunny energy, making it perfect to incorporate into any Sunday spells. Also, this gemstone has the reputation of making the wearer irresistible.

Diamond:
Beyond being a girl's best friend, the diamond promotes spirituality and self-confidence. The diamond has the elemental correspondence of fire, and it has a projective energy. Due to the way that the stone flashes and reflects when direct light hits it, it is also considered a defensive stone. If you own any diamond jewelry, no matter what the size, it falls under the category of an associated stone of the sun. Diamonds are the birthstone for April. A diamond is also rumored to promote fertility and to keep your sexuality on track, as it is thought to cleanse and remove any blocks to the root chakra.

Empowering Your Magickal Stones

A great way
to empower any type of crystal or stone is to have the sun give them a little zap of energy. Similar to empowering your golden jewelry, hold the crystals or tumbled stones in the palms of your hands. Then lift up your hands toward the sun for a moment or two, quietly giving them a little shot of the sun's might and magick. (Try the sunny beach or meadow visualization if it will help.) Slip the tumbled stones in your pocket or place them around a spell candle, and you're ready to go!

Sunday Crystal Spell for Success

If you enjoy working with crystals, try this natural magick spell for ambition and success. Carefully look over the spell before performing it. Either set up this spell outside or facing a sunny window. Opportune times of the day to work this sunny spell are sunrise and noon.

Gather one each of the following: a small piece of amber, a tiger's-eye tumbled stone, and a quartz crystal point. With a safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell, place a yellow candle and a candle holder in the center, and arrange the stones in a ring around the candle. Have a lighter or matches handy to light the candle.

Speak the following spell three times:

Around a yellow candle I create a ring
Choose tiger's-eye, amber, and quartz, it's just the thing
I call the god Helios for drive and success
Today's ambitions and career goals he will bless.

Close the spell by saying:

For the good of all, with harm to none

By the sun and stones, this spell is done.

Allow the candle to burn out on its own. Please remember to not leave your burning candle unattended. Pocket the sun-kissed stones and keep them with you, in your pocket or purse, for a week.

Potions, Philters & Oils

I thought it would be interesting and fun to add another dimension to this Book of Shadows by including essential oils that coordinate with the day's magickal energies as well as a recipe or two for potions. Now, technically, it is generally thought that a magickal potion is to be brewed or steeped over heat, while a philter is mixed together like a potion but the ingredients are not brewed. Another definition of a philter is simply “a magickal liquid” (which says classic potion to me). Potion and philter recipes both typically contain the following: water or a base oil, various essential oils, and other magickal ingredients such as herbs, flower petals, shed animal fur, or even tiny chips of crystals.

The magickal philters featured in this Book of Shadows are not meant to be taken internally. These philters, or potions, if you prefer that term, may simply be used to anoint and to bless objects—for example, for consecrating a spell candle. Use a cotton ball or swab to apply the philter to the object or candle. Though the homemade philter and potion recipes in this book smell wonderful, they are not intended to be perfumes either, so be smart and safe. Because of the possibilities of allergies or other medical problems, I would not recommend applying these mixtures to bare skin. Also be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the philters to an object, and avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. These recipes are for charms and spells only, and are not to be ingested. If you wish to carry the scent with you, then I recommend applying the philter to a cotton ball and tucking it inside of a sachet bag.

When you look for bottles for your potions or philters, check the arts and crafts stores for small decorative bottles and jars. Make sure they will seal up and that the neck of the bottle will be large enough for you to pour the mixture into easily. You will probably want to invest in a few small funnels to make it easier. But when you are perusing the decorative glass bottles at the local stores, keep in mind that you want something that is affordable, small, sturdy, sealable, and easy to use. If you can find colors associated with the day's magick, that's even better. Look around and see what you can come across.

The charms that are suggested in all of the daily philter and potion recipes can be easily found in a jewelry-making section of the arts and crafts store. Look for a small package of celestial-themed charms in silver and gold tones.

Also keep in mind that the herbs, crystals, colors, and oils featured in this chapter give you even more information to experiment with. All of the featured items in this chapter are linked to the sun and solar magick. So take a good look at the recipes and other spells that are featured here to see how you can personalize them and make them uniquely your own.

Philter Recipe for Health, Wealth & Success

• A small decorative glass bottle with a lid or a stopper
  
• A clean dropper to easily add the essential oil
  
• A tiny golden sun charm
  
• 6 inches gold ribbon
  
• A label and a pen (to list the ingredients and
  to decorate and mark the bottle)
  
• 1
  ⁄
  8
  cup base oil like sunflower oil
  
• 9 fresh or dried sunflower petals
  
• Small chips or a tiny piece of carnelian
  
• 13 drops essential carnation oil
  

Pour your base oil into the bottle until the bottle is three quarters of the way full. Then add the tiny carnelian chip, the sunflower petals, and finally the essential carnation oil. Add the lid, hold your fingers over the top to avoid any spills, and then carefully shake up the mixture.

Hold up the mixture to the sunlight and allow the sun's beams to illuminate the mixture within. Wipe off the outside of the bottle and use the label to list the ingredients and the use of the potion. Finally, decorate the bottle by attaching the label and tying the gold ribbon around the neck of the bottle. Add the golden sun charm to the streamers of the ribbon so it is visible from the front of the bottle. Knot the charm into place. As you finish tying the bow, hold the bottle in your hands and repeat the charm below:

This philter carries the power of the sun

For health, wealth, and success, the charm is begun

The stone adds power and the element of fire

The sunflower brings fame and will grant my desire

Carnation oil to bring good health and to bind it fast

Now blend all together and make my witchery last

By the power and might of this day of the sun

This philter is magickally blessed, with harm to none.

Store the philter bottle in a safe, dry place that will be out of direct sunlight (try an upper cabinet). Make sure to keep all philters and potions well out of the reach of children and pets.

Essential Oils

All of the following essential oils are associated with the sun. I have specifically chosen oils that are easy to find in either health food, scent, arts and crafts, or local metaphysical/magickal supply stores.

• Bergamot
  
• Calendula
  
• Carnation
  
• Cedar
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Frankincense
  
• Orange
  
• Rosemary
  

Tarot Card Associations

The tarot cards that are linked to the fiery energy of the sun's day are the Ace of Wands (or Rods) for power and clout; the Major Arcana card the Sun, which symbolizes both joy and attainment; and another Major Arcana card, the Chariot, which signifies ambition, the drive to succeed, and the willpower to overcome any obstacles in your path.

Ace of Wands

The suit of Wands is classically associated with the element of fire. The Ace of Wands is a nice visual boost to job and career spells. In fact, the suit of Wands, or Rods, typically represents both your career and business life. This tarot card in particular corresponds to a successful career and business savvy; it can symbolize success, accomplishments, and moving to a new home or receiving a promotion. Basically, it symbolizes that you are moving up in the world. Work with this tarot symbol for help in obtaining your career goals and personal ambitions.

The Sun

The Sun symbolizes joy and personal achievement. This is the card to work with on a Sunday; its imagery is perfect for all of the magick that is associated with a Sunday. It can be used to help you focus on high ideals and may help encourage you to be strong as you pursue your ambitions. This card traditionally portrays a young blond child riding a white horse while the sun shines down upon him. The white horse is a traditional symbol of the sun, just like Helios's four white steeds. Work with this card to bring joy, enthusiasm, motivation, and movement into your life.