Scrying

Your eyes focus as you enter a darkened room. Noticing the design of the dark wallpaper and have a seat on the overstuffed antique chair. Suddenly you notice a woman. She’s sitting there behind a round table. A silk scarf around her head, large hoop earrings in her ears and way too much makeup. As you stand and walk toward her you notice her hands waving over a clear sphere. “Sit….I have much to tell you!”, she utters as you cautiously follow suit and have a seat across the table.


Is this what you typically think of when you think of divination? Does the image of a mystical Gypsy enter your mind? If so, that is only one small minor aspect of divination and scrying.

WHAT IS A PENDULUM?

A Pendulum, in its strictest definition is an apparatus consisting of an object mounted so it swings freely under the influence of gravity. I, personally, think of a Pendulum as more than just an object that moves under the influence of gravity. I think of it as an object that can assist the Working Witch (or anyone that understands Pendulums or anyone interested in learning about scrying) in finding out about the future or looking for answers. I call this process scrying. However, if you want the literal, and actual, definition of scrying it consists of the following:

Scrying: Gazing into or contemplating a shiny, luminous, or reflective surface with the intent of seeing visions or representations of distant places, things, or times.

Not to say that when I scry with other objects that I’m not following the more “literal” definition; however, I add the following to the definition:

Scrying: Gazing into, watching, observing, or contemplating a shiny, luminous, or reflective surface (or object mounted to swing freely) with the intent of seeing visions, representations of distant places, things or times.

HISTORY AND ANCIENT METHODS OF SCRYING

The ancient Romans were renowned for pendulum scrying and their methods were detailed in the writings of Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus. It is also thought that Nostradamus used the same Roman method of scrying from a basin by means of a pendulum to produce individual letters that formed intelligible prophetic verses.

Historically, the bowl used was made of electrum. That is, an alloy of gold and silver. The worker would then tie a thread to their wand and tie a ring (or another metallic object) to the other end of the thread. Typically, the ring (or metallic object) was engraved upon as well as the 24 letters of the Greek alphabet were engraved into the flange of the basin. The basin was then placed in a tripod which was made of branches of laural.

Another option was to tie the ring to an end of a thin string and display inside a regular water goblet. This method included a typical “yes” or “no” question format whereby the ring would tap the side of the glass once for yes or twice for no. More than two taps indicates the spirit was uncertain of the response and for the questioner to ask again.

MODERN DAY SCRYING

Because this section is called “Modern Day Scrying” does not mean these old methods should be abandoned or that these “newer” methods are better. This section is merely to describe more recent methods aside from using a basin or goblet to get your answers.

In modern times we have become more aware of geomancy and use gems or crystals for our pendulums. However you choose to create your pendulum, you should purify it.



PURIFICATION OF PENDULUMS

Fill a clear bowl with fresh, pure water, light a white candle and light incense. Say a cleansing prayer. An example of which is as follows: “Clarify me, purify me, create in me a pure heart, renew my spirit within”. Imagine the water in the bowl as bright white light. Dip the pendulum into the water and leave it for a few moments. Sprinkle salt into the water and allow the salt to cleanse. Imagine the white light enveloping and filling the pendulum and the salt clarifying as the pendulum sits. After a few moments remove the pendulum from the water and pass thru smoke of your incense (I would recommend sage or hyssop to burn for their cleansing abilities). Say another prayer. Perhaps something like “Sage (or hyssop or whatever incense you are choosing to use) dance over, around and thru this pendulum adding your clarity, your renewal and your vision.” Lastly, pass the pendulum thru the flame of the white candle. Say something like “Candle of white, purity, light and energy add yourself to the pendulum and allow me to find the answers I seek, the clarity I crave and the purity I request.” On the night of a full moon place the pendulum and thread in the moonlight and leave for several hours. NEVER allow your pendulum to be placed in direct sunlight.



HOW TO BEGIN USING PENDULUMS TO SCRY

Once you’ve fashioned and purified your pendulum you’ll probably be quite anxious to begin using it. Sitting in a comfortable chair with your feet planted to the floor with your knees slightly apart, hold your pendulum in your dominant hand (the hand you write with). Dangle the pendulum above your dominant knee and ask for the pendulum to show you “Yes”. Observe the pendulum looking for a “spinning in a circle” motion or a “rocking forward and back” motion. This motion will be labeled in the affirmative. Dangle the pendulum between your knees and ask to be shown the “neutral” (or “unsure…ask again”) motion. NOTE: Typically, this is motionless. Moving neither in a circle nor back-and-forth. Moving the pendulum over your recessive knee ask to be shown “no”. You will observe that this motion is the opposite of the affirmative. Here is your beginning to using a pendulum!! Does this mean you cannot use your pendulum in your recessive hand? Absolutely not; however, to begin with I recommend using your dominant hand. MOST people have an ability to keep their dominant hand more motionless than their recessive hand.

In the next lesson I will include different methods of scrying with a pendulum as well as discuss other scrying methods themselves.

S/HE LOVES ME S/HE LOVES ME NOT

I titled this section this way because it seems to me that a lot of people who are novices to scrying (either with or without a pendulum) are seeking the affairs of the heart. In this section I’m going to provide insight on how to use a pendulum to get those “yes” and “no” answers.

METHOD 1:
Needed: Paper, Writing Instrument, Purified Pendulum
Fold a piece of paper in half and write “YES” and “NO” on opposite sides of the fold. Holding your Pendulum above the fold, ask your question. You can watch for your pendulum to swing toward the “YES” or “NO” side of the fold.

METHOD 2:
Needed: Wheel of Fortune Card, Tower Card, Purified Pendulum
Placing the two Tarot Cards next to each other in front of you, hold the pendulum between them and ask your question. Much the same as the Paper method above, watch for the Pendulum to move toward the Wheel of Fortune Card or the Tower Card. I chose these two cards for their definite opposite nature – even though the Tower Card does not have to have a negative connotation. Feel free to use the two cards that would be “opposites” to you.

There are many other methods to find “Yes” and “No” answers most based on the above principal of one side vs. the other. Try these two methods and invent your own. Most importantly, when you begin scrying you should begin a journal of your experiences. Include in this journal the time you began working with the pendulum, day, date, phase of the moon, any other astronomical anomalies, your feelings, your findings and your interpretation of your task.



MOON/WATER SCRYING

This method of scrying uses water in a bowl. I have found that an earthenware bowl with clear, spring water works the best with this method. Go outside (or if you need to stay in sit at a windowsill) and pour the water into the bowl. Begin relaxing with deep breathing exercises and by decreasing loud music and lights. Best would be to put some light music on and illuminate the area with white candles. Close your eyes, take a deep breath thru your nose, and exhale completely thru your mouth. Allow your body and mind to relax. Once you feel completely at peace you can add a few drops of ink into the water (if you so choose) to turn the water black. Sometimes when you are working with Moon/Water Scrying the darker the water is the more clearly you will see the images. Position the bowl so you can catch the reflection of the moon on the surface of the moon. Ask a question in your head or just gaze into the water looking for random images. The images that you see may appear hazy at first, but then become clearer. The larger the images appear the sooner those images will manifest themselves. Smaller images may take longer to appear, thus take longer to manifest themselves. You will be shown images and hear things (in your head) that day that you are meant to hear at this time.

FIRE SCRYING

This method of scrying is one that has been used by Witches for generations and generations. Fire scrying can be used to see events of the past, present and future. There are various methods whereby you can use fire scrying ranging from extremely elaborate to the most simple. Let us start with the most simple since that is what most will be able to do. In a darkened room, or outside, light a single pillar candle. You can choose to use any color candle; however, I use white candles when scrying just so the images come from a pure source. Light your candle and close your eyes. Use the same deep breathing, relaxing techniques discussed in the water scrying description. Once you feel relaxed open your eyes and look into the flame. Ask a question in your mind and watch for images. With practice and with time these images will appear clearer. The more elaborate method is burning pieces of driftwood by the sea once the sun has gone down. I’ve used this method back home in Scotland quite a few times with tremendous success. Once the driftwood has begun to burn, I throw in cedar chips and various herbs such as rosemary, sage, juniper and sandalwood and sit back watching the smoke and flame. The images here can appear quite large and quite powerfully; however, once the embers have died there is a completely different method of scrying which can be quite magickal. Normally I use a large, long fallen limb from a tree to move around the dying but hot embers and watch. I have had experiences where actual scenes will play out; however, more often there are symbols that appear in the embers that need further examination and interpretation. This method of scrying is more typically called “The Fire of Azrael”.

SMOKE SCRYING


Smoke scrying is a technique that can be quite useful and can be added to your Samhain celebrations. Before I discuss this technique, I feel it necessary to describe a scrying mirror or black mirror. This object is a mirror that has had the glass removed and painted black and replaced back into the holder. Often a silver backing is added to the mirror and a round or oval mirror is used; however, I have found that an inexpensive compact mirror with the glass painted black can work just as well. Black mirrors can be traced back over the centuries and were often made of obsidian. You do not want to look directly into the mirror for your scrying, lay it on a table and look from an angle. Spirits can show scenes, images, speak and even touch the scryer with this method. Now, back to smoke scrying. Lower the lights in the room, or better yet light two pillar candles on either side of you. Taking your favorite incense, light and allow it to smoke for a few moments. Position the black mirror so that the smoke dances over the surface easily while the mirror lies on a table. I find stick incense works best this way; however, cones do produce adequate images as well. Loose incense causes you to deflect your attention away from the mirror and the smoke too often to keep placing the powder or resin on the briquette. Once the incense has burned for a few moments, close your eyes to relax. When you feel centered, grounded and relaxed look into the black mirror lying on your table from various angles. Watch and interpret the images you see, hear, smell and feel.

As I said, you can use this technique on Samhain to help summon the ancient spirits or ancestors. I use red candles for this purpose and use sage incense. Once I’m feeling centered I hold my arms into the air and say something like, “O Great Spirit, Great Maiden, Mother, Wise One, you who created all. Bring to us the old ones, the ancient spirits, and the ancestors to celebrate with us, to teach us, to allow us to understand where we came from so we can understand where we are yet to lead the future”.

CRYSTAL BALL SCRYING

I love this method! This is what most people think of when they think of scrying. Crystal ball scrying and its popularity in things ranging from art to literature to television to movies attributes to the fact of the material creating an energy in the reader’s mind’s eye. How big does your crystal ball need to be? Do I have to have one as big as I have seen on televisions that are the size of a small child's head? Absolutely not! The best crystal balls (and easiest to hold, manipulate and work with) range from between 3 to 5 inches in diameter.

Relax, center and ground. Light one or two candles on your working space making sure that the reflections of the candles are not showing in the crystal ball. The ball should be placed on a blue or black cloth so as to assist in hindering the reflection from items in the room to be visible in the ball. You can either hold the ball while working with it, place it on the stand on the cloth or place the ball directly on the cloth itself. My crystal ball is quite heavy! I prefer to keep it on it’s crystal stand on top of the cloth, both because of it’s weight and because I don’t want to run the dropping it or having it roll off the table while I’m working with it.

Center yourself. Gaze into the crystal ball trying not to blink but do not just meaninglessly stare into the ball either. Relax your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and look into the center of the ball. As you begin doing this you should do this task for fifteen minutes each time you practice then increase in increments of 5 minutes until you feel like you have mastered how to look into the crystal ball. Eventually, with practice, you will begin to see a small “fog” in the center of the crystal ball. This is where your visions will appear. Gaze into the fog and watch for pictures, scenes, symbols. Oftentimes you need not even ask a specific question, the crystal ball will lead you to a scene that will greatly assist you.

Colors of objects you see can have specific meanings.
RED – Fire, Passion, Love, Ego, Courage, Strength
GREEN - Nature, Growth, Prosperity, Luck, Fertility, Changes, Envy
BLUE - Emotion, Mental, Calming, Tranquility, Loyalty, Purity, Protection
BROWN - Earth Energy, Grounding, Centering Consciousness, Soil
YELLOW - Thought, Mental, Sun, Sunlight, Memory, Creativity
GRAY - Neutral, Calm, Peace, Darkness with Light
GOLD - Fortune, Rich, Power, Strength, The Sun, Fire
WHITE - Purity, Protection, The Moon
PINK - Emotions, Creativity, Marriage, Friendship, Beauty, Compassion
ORANGE - Mental, Business, Legal, Problems, Ambition
SILVER - Purity, Protection, Ice, Heavenly, Stars, Potential
PURPLE - Justice, Royalty, Psychic, Meditation, Idealism, Divination
BLACK - Absorption, Quiet Power, Self-Control, Restriction, Changes

Shapes you see can be things you recognize or can be symbols of other things connected to yourself or the person your reading.

The larger the image appears the closer in time for it to manifest itself and the more important that information is.

Images can appear stationary or as in a movie. They can be flat or three-dimensional. It’s all in your experience, practice, willingness to see and the ability to try.

Everything you see and hear should be recorded in some manner. Something you may want to try the first few times is to record your sessions and play them back later. I have done this a few times and quite amazingly sometimes, you hear things that you do not recall hearing during your reading.


Scource: WitchSchool.com

Margaret Murray's Unlikely History

Much of the nonsense you might hear uttered about the history of Wicca and witchcraft started with an anthropologist named Margaret Murray. She first published a book on the subject of European witchcraft in the 1920s, despite the fact that her entire academic background was in Egyptology. You will see her name in the bibliographies of many, many books on Wicca, particularly older books. I generally take mention of her as a reason NOT to purchase a book. What the Wiccan books that cite her generally fail to mention is that her witchcraft theories were thoroughly discredited several decades ago due to a painful and unprofessional lack of evidence.

Was she a sham?
Murray never claimed to be Wiccan or Pagan or a follower of the Old Religion, so she had nothing to gain from deception. She probably honestly thought she was promoting historical truth, although her research methods ranges from ignorant to outright deceptive. For example, she provides several quotes from witch-trial documents which are taken completely out of context, and at least one in which she removed the middle of a paragraph, running the beginning and end of the paragraph together as if they made one complete thought, completely changing the meaning of the text.

What did she teach?
She believed, in short, that there was an ancient Old Religion in Europe far predating Christianity and that it secretly survived for centuries despite the Church's attempt to destroy it, culminating in the great witch-hunts, which Wiccans have taken to calling the Burning Times.

According to Murray, the witch-cult was the oldest religion in the world and was practiced by Stone-Age people. Her evidence is two cave paintings, neither of which, according to historian Ronald Hutton, depict what Murray claims they depict. Even if they did, the evidence is way too slight to make such a sweeping claim. One image is supposedly a group of people dancing in a circle. The second is supposedly a priest in animal skins with deer antlers on his head.

Murray's theoretical witch-cult worshipped a single horned god which priests emulated by wearing horned headdresses. Christians, trying to exterminate the cult, claimed this horned god was Satan. Stories of witch gatherings in which Satan was present can thus be explained by a priest wearing a headdress. She initially believed that this cult survived until the 17th century, when the witch-trials finally wiped them out, although Gerald Gardner got her to write an introduction for his Witchcraft Today in 1954.

She provided several "facts" about witches that are now embedded within Wicca. For one, she claimed that covens always had thirteen members. For another, she listed the four holidays we now accept as the Major Sabbats. She also linked the word coven specifically to witches, even though the word originally merely meant an assembly, not a witch assembly.

Why did people believe her?
In the 1920s, there simply were very few English-speaking academics who considered the witch-trials a subject deserving of study. The trials had ended in large part because people stopped believing in magic and witchcraft. If there is no witchcraft, then there could have been no witches, and trial victims were accepted to be victims of a hysteria, end of story. Very few people were familiar with the evidence Murray was using. Thus, very few people realized how selective she was being or how badly she abused it.

The English world's ignorance of witchcraft is highlighted by the fact that the Encyclopedia Britannica allowed Murray to write their definition of witchcraft in 1929, even though Murray had published only a single book on the subject. That was Britannica's idea of a witch expert! The definition was published for forty years.

The very bizarre members of Murray's witch-cult
One of Murray's theories was that this secret pagan cult practiced voluntary human sacrifice. Every nine years a believer had to die. She puts forward several such victims, including King William Rufus (William II) of England, Saint Thomas Becket, and Saint Joan of Arc. Yes, note the "Saint" in two of those names.

Rufus was a bore of a man and detested by nearly everyone during his life, so much so that his body was quickly secured and buried before anyone could defile it. He died on a hunting excursion, when a friend "accidentally" shot him with an arrow. Ironically, historians tend to think it really was an accident. Murray suggests that this friend was in fact a fellow pagan carrying out Rufus's wishes: they had already willingly separated from the rest of a hunting party and were therefore alone.

Similarly Becket's murderers were in fact fellow pagans, according to Murray, flying straight into the face of all accepted history of the saint. Becket was a personal friend of King Henry II, and Henry arranged for him to become archbishop of Canterbury, as the politics between Church and State were not at their healthiest at the time. But Becket had a change of heart. Perhaps it was simply a bit of a power trip for him, or perhaps he did indeed experience a religious reverie. Regardless, Becket began opposing the King much as his predecessor had, until one night, while drunk, Henry famously uttered, "Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?" Four knights took this to be an order, rode hard to Canterbury, and murdered Becket in his own cathedral. Henry was profoundly wracked by guilt, was censured by the Church, and submitted to a whipping by Church officers in penance.

The only odd fact of this whole story is that Becket had warning of the knights' arrival, and when his subordinates attempted to spirit him away, he refused. But instead of accepting this final act as submission to God's will (and one of the reasons why he was canonized), Murray spins this fantastical and quite illogical tale of secret religions and pagan sacrifice.

Joan of Arc's story is the most bizarre of Murray's fables. Instead of having her fellow pagans slaughter her, she allowed herself to be captured and burned at the stake at the hands of the Christian Church. What religious purpose can possibly be served at the hands of a nonbeliever? If this rather sophomoric religion that Murray depicts merely needed a death, then why did she not simply fall upon her sword, poison herself, even throw herself from a high wall? Instead, she was tortured, humiliated and possibly raped before suffering one of the most horrific and painful methods of execution possible.

To make such claims without a shred of evidence is just plain irresponsible. To take two great heroes of someone else's religion and claim they were, in fact, pagans is outright insulting. And even if this crazy religion did actually exist, why on earth would modern Wiccans want to be associated with it? I've never seen a Wiccan claim Joan or Becket as among our ranks, but the idea that we would associate ourselves at all with Murray's nonsense is depressing.

Source: Wicca: For the Rest of Us

The Ultimate Magic Garden

The Ultimate Magic Garden
By: Sam Stevens

Spring is the season to start planting seeds for the future. For me,
the ultimate Magic Garden would be planted using the Feng Shui bagua
as a guideline for the boundaries of the plot and incorporate
flowers herbs and plants that correspond to each signifigant
direction..

The first thing I would suggest, is to mark off your garden(or
balcony full of pots) as a square (or as close to a square as you
can get it) and determine the directions -- north, south, east and
west. Then use the rough guideline below, taking into account your
climate and seasons to know what to plant where to bring you health,
wealth, peace, guidance, happiness and protection. You don¹t have to
incorporate all the suggestions below of course -- just a couple of
touches here in there might do wonders.

The SOUTHERN corner of your garden governs recognition and fame. The
flowers you plant there should be predominantly red in colour. Red
and pinks should be main theme, although there well be flowers in
there included for properties besides colour. Flowers that bring you
fame: poppies, roses, bluebells,violets. Trees: Cherry, orange.
Foilage: Holly, hazel, heather and all ferns. Herbs: Star anise,
veviter. Trees: .Produce: strawberries, leeks, chili peppers. This
corner also represents the Fire element so it is a good area to
string up lights, put the barbeque or have a little hearth for fire.

The SOUTHWESTERN corner governs marriage prospects and marital
happiness.The predominant flower colour should be yellow. Flowers
for emotional security: daffodils, lillies, tulips, asters, bleeding
hearts, daisies, roses, gardenia, lavender, orchid, poppy, primrose,
periwinkle, hyacinth, trilliums, violet, geranium. Trees: Magnolia
Fig, Willow, Olive Elm, Plum,Foilage: Myrtle, rye, witch grass,
juniper, chickweed. Herbs: basil, marjoram, dill, mint, rosemary,
thyme. Produce: Ginger, endive, raspberries, tomatoes. This area
represents Big Earth so it is a good place to put a stone statue or
a large rock or boulder.

The WESTERN corner governs children and fertility. The predominant
flowers should be yellow and white. Flowers: Lavender, Cyclamen,
Lily of the Valley, Morning Glory Trees: Oak, olive, banana, apple
pine Foilage; Hawthorne Herbs: Mustard, catnip. Produce: Beans,
carrots, cucumbers, grape, mustard. This area is known as Small
Metal and would benefit from some windchimes or small silvery
objects that catch the sun.



The SOUTHERN corner of your garden governs recognition and fame. The
flowers you plant there should be predominantly red in colour. Red
and pinks should be main theme, although there well be flowers in
there included for properties besides colour. Flowers that bring you
fame: poppies, roses, bluebells,violets. Trees: Cherry, orange.
Foilage: Holly, hazel, heather and all ferns. Herbs: Star anise,
veviter. Trees: .Produce: strawberries, leeks, chili peppers. This
corner also represents the Fire element so it is a good area to
string up lights, put the barbeque or have a little hearth for fire.

The SOUTHWESTERN corner governs marriage prospects and marital
happiness.The predominant flower colour should be yellow. Flowers
for emotional security: daffodils, lillies, tulips, asters, bleeding
hearts, daisies, roses, gardenia, lavender, orchid, poppy, primrose,
periwinkle, hyacinth, trilliums, violet, geranium. Trees: Magnolia
Fig, Willow, Olive Elm, Plum,Foilage: Myrtle, rye, witch grass,
juniper, chickweed. Herbs: basil, marjoram, dill, mint, rosemary,
thyme. Produce: Ginger, endive, raspberries, tomatoes. This area
represents Big Earth so it is a good place to put a stone statue or
a large rock or boulder.

The WESTERN corner governs children and fertility. The predominant
flowers should be yellow and white. Flowers: Lavender, Cyclamen,
Lily of the Valley, Morning Glory Trees: Oak, olive, banana, apple
pine Foilage; Hawthorne Herbs:Mustard, catnip. Produce: Beans,
carrots, cucumbers, grape, mustard. This area is known as Small
Metal and would benefit from some windchimes or small silvery
objects that catch the sun.

The NORTHWESTERN corner governs helpful people or mentors. The
predominamt flower colour should be white yellow and orange.
Flowers: Passion flower, sweetpea, Sunflower, Iris, carnation Trees:
Lemon, peach, beech, walnut Foilage: Rowan, Myrtle, dogwod, clover
Herbs: Pennyroyal, lemon balm, sage Produce: peppers, fennel,
pumpkins, squash. This corner is called "Big Metal" so it is a good
place to put table and chairs to invite the help into your life.

The NORTH corner governs career prospects. The flowers here should be
predominately dark purple or blue. Flowers that boost career:
Camellia,
honeysuckle, jasmine, periwinkle, poppy, trillium, snapdragons,
dandelion.
Trees: Orange, elder, apple, oak, maple, poplar Foilage: bromeliads,
myrtle,
Irish moss (all mosses), ferns Herbs: dill, goldenseal, mint Produce:
cashews rice, grapes, onions, oats,peas, wheat. This direction
represents
water, so it is the ideal place to put a fountain or pool. Add fish
to it
and double your luck.

The NORTHEAST corner governs education and wisdom. The flowers here
should be predominatly yellow and orange. Flowers: jasmine,
marigold, roses, iris , sunflower. Trees: peach, bohdi, acacia
Foilage: bracken, all grasses,flax Herbs: borage, eyebright,
peppermint, saffron, thyme, rosemary, caraway, rue, savory, mint
Produce: celery, onons, grapes. This area is "Small Earth" so it is
good for a rock garden, a small alter or a birdbath.

The EAST governs family relationships and health. The foilage here
should mainly be green and filled with bush or trees. Flowers are:
loosestrife, meadowsweet, morning glory, violet, daisies, hostas
Trees: all trees especially pines and spruces, Magnolia, Elder
Foilage: Witchgrass, purslane, tobacco, hemp, hops Herbs: Lavender,
scullcap, vervain, linden, sage Produce: avocado, rhubarb, rye. This
area is called Big Wood which is why it is good to have at least one
big tree there or a tree house.

The SOUTHEAST governs wealth and prosperity and should be as green
and lush as possible. Flowers that bring wealth: Camelia, golden
rod, helorope, honeysuckle, trillum Trees: all fruit trees, pecan,
walnut, oak, pine Foilage: all bromelaids, mosses and ferns Herbs
basil, clover, dill, mint, vervaine Produce: lettuce, corn, peas,
oats, onions. This area is known as Small Wood and would be
augmented by windmills, a swing or another structure made of wood
(preferably one that moves to circulate energy.)


Part 2:

Planning Your Garden Spell

As days grow warmer and the Earth becomes fertile, our focus turns
toward our summer gardens, window boxes, and patio pots. As you
purchase your herbs and vegetables for planting, infuse each with
magical energy. Herbs contain practical and magical properties;
enhance these with your intention. Plant during the waxing Moon to
support growth and invite the power of each herb to flourish and
expand as you tenderly give it a new home. Add a coin or two to the
soil to invite plenty and to honor the earth element of pentacles.
Plants nurture us and support our growth, both physical and spiritual.
By recog-nizing the mystery within this green gift from Nature, we
become a more intimate part of life's cycle.

~Karri Allrich, Llewellyn

A Witches Cauldron of Chili

I thought I'd share a fun recipe with you today I found somewhere on the net a few years ago: A Witches Cauldron of Chili! It's still nippy outside in my area and cold in other parts of world... if you like chili then try this one out! :D

A Witches Cauldron of Chili

1 1/4 Pounds ground goblin gizzards (ground beef 15%
fat) *Vegans and Vegetarians leave out the ground goblin gizzards

1 Medium eye of Cyclops (onion)

1 15 Oz. Can soft shelled beetles (kidney beans)

1 28 Oz. Can blood of bat (V-8 juice)

1/8 Teaspoon pureed wasp (prepared mustard)

1/4 Teaspoon common dried weed (oregano)

1 Dash Redtailed hawk toenails (crushed red
pepper)

2 Teaspoons ground sumac blossom (chili powder)

1 Teaspoon hemlock (honey or sugar)

1/2 Cup fresh grubs (sliced celery)

1 Tablespoon eye of Newt (pearled barley)

1 Tablespoon dried maggots (uncooked rice)

Water from a stagnant pond (tap water)


Preparation :

Substitutions are in parenthesis. Best made during the last phase
of the moon, if that is not possible, just do the best you can in a
softly lighted kitchen after dark.

Brown the gizzards in an iron cauldron over a fire made from the
siding off of a haunted house, add chopped eye of cyclops and simmer
until the pieces of eye become translucent again, add blood of bat,
and soft shelled beetles, bring to a slow bubbling boil. At this time,
add the common weed, maggots, toenails, sumac,
grubs, hemlock, eye of newt and the pureed wasp.
As it cooks you may want to adjust the consistency with pond water.
You can tell it is done when the eye of newt swells and the vertical
tan colored 'cats eye' appears on one side.

Dark & New Moon: Combined Ritual

This ritual is meant to be done on the crux between the Dark and New Moons (see any farmers or witches almanac to find out when. I suggest the "Witches Calendar"). Many people would never think to put the two together. They have been combined here because we can both rid ourselves of negatives (the dark moon) and bring in the new (the new moon) all at one time. Some people like to keep them separate, but you may find time where this is very useful.Please remember that this is only a sample ritual, and that each one really needs to be personalized in order to develop your spirituality and further yourself down your own chosen path! It is also a solitary ritual and would have to be altered for coven use.


Create the magick circle. Quietly and sombrely trace the circle widdershins (counter clockwise, as opposed to deosil, this is a time of banishing) sprinkling some salt throughout the boundaries of your sacred space. Some like to circle this three times.

Stand directly in the center of the ritual space. Calm yourself and do a little deep breathing. When you are ready, proceed to the North and begin calling the elements to join you.

Facing the North, hold your arms straight down to the earth and say,

"Great Guardians of the North, holder of the element of earth, join me here in this circle for the observance of the crux of the dark to the new moon. Be the keeper of this, the first quarter of my circle on this night! I welcome you with open arms, and open mind, and an open heart. I thank you! Welcome and Blessed Be."

Slowly make your way to the West. Facing West, embrace yourself with your arms warmly and say,

"Great Guardians of the West, holder of the element of water, join me here in this circle for the observance of the crux of the dark to the new moon. Be the keeper of this, the second quarter of my circle on this night! I welcome you with open arms, and open mind, and an open heart. I thank you! Welcome and Blessed Be."

Again slowly make your way to the South. Facing South, raise your arms straight out to either side of you and say,

"Great Guardians of the South, holder of the element of fire, join me here in this circle for the observance of the crux of the dark to the new moon. Be the keeper of this, the third quarter of my circle on this night! I welcome you with open arms, and open mind, and an open heart. I thank you! Welcome and Blessed Be."

Finally, slowly make your way to the East. Facing East, raise your arms straight above you and say,

"Great Guardians of the East, holder of the element of air, join me here in this circle for the observance of the crux of the dark to the new moon. Be the keeper of this, the final quarter of my circle on this night! I welcome you with open arms, and open mind, and an open heart. I thank you! Welcome and Blessed Be."

Stand directly in the center of the circle, arms raised high above your head, and say,

"Holy Keepers of Balance, holders of spirit, the point between all elements, join me here in this circle for the observance of the crux of the dark to the new moon. This is very much your time, where the lunar month is perfectly balanced between cycles. Teach me your mystical ways on this very holy night, and help me to further know my own spirituality, and the mysticism which surrounds me. Welcome and Blessed Be."

At your altar, facing any direction and using a comfortable position, call upon the gods to join you.

"Holy God, father of our existence, I call upon you this night. This is the time you are making the very important transition from Sage, to Sun King! A transition needed to guide the world through each cylce of life. Show me your gifts so that I may fully learn from them. Teach me more about myself, by teaching me more about you. I thank you for your prescence this holy night, and I ask you to stay as I observe this holy lunar festival. I greet you with open arms, an open mind, and an open heart. Welcome and Blessed be."

Take a minute to calm/think before you go on. Take a second to feel the prescence of the God. When you are ready, call the Goddess, saying,

"Great Goddess, mother of all, I call upon you this night. This is the time you are making the very important transition from Crone to Maiden! A transition needed to guide the world through each cylce of life. Teach me more about myself, by teaching me more about you. I thank you for your prescence on this very holy night and I ask you to stay, so that we may celebrate this, your holy festival. I greet you with open arms, an open mind, and an open heart. Welcome and Blessed Be."

When you are ready (take a minute) sit in the center of the circle. Contempate the things in your life you wish to rid yourself of. Really concentrate about whether you should rid yourself of those things, and if perhaps there are other, more pressing concerns to rid yourself of. Focus on this deeply and draw a mental image of it. From this point you can either draw this image, and burn it, offering it to the gods to use and disperse among the universe, or some other action to help yourself be rid of this. Often a physical action, representing a wanted result, makes the result that much easier to achieve. It is called sympathetic Magick.



This is the time of introspection, and of learning from both the Crone and the Maiden. Gather your thoughts, calm yourself into a near meditative state. Standing in front of your altar, slowly light a black and a white candle and say,

"Great Hecate, holy Innana be here with me now. Grant me your wisdom, and teach me your holiest of secrets, saved only for the dedicated. Show me your true will, and reveal to me your many faces. Show me the time of balance between dark and light, life and death. Please teach to me the secrets of the great balance between the cycles, and grant me the wisdom of your very being"

Extinguish all other candles from the circle, let alone the two candles. Holding your arms above you, first allow Hecate's prescence to enter into your body slowly. DON'T rush this in any way! Feel her wisdom, feel the experience of death for renewal. Live the end of the cycle through her. Slowly, and quietly at first begin to chant,

"Great Hecate, show me your being, grant me the way"

until it builds up.

Next allow Innana's prescence to enter into your body slowly. Feel her playfulness and the life she brings. Feel through her the transition into life.Slowly, and quietly at first begin to chant,

"Great Innana, show me your being, grant me the way"

until it builds up. Build it up until you are ready (by this point you should feel dazed!) but remember not to over do it. When you are done, fall to the ground, place your hands there and allow the excess energy to run freely into the ground. Take some time, this is very important!

Take some time to focus on what you would like to begin in your life. Visualize it, work spellcrafting for it, etc. Be sure that what you want is also what you need. Be sure to thank the Gods when asking for anything. This is also a great time to dedicate yourself to some new path, or new venture.

Use this time to dance, sing, chant, and most of all play! This is a youthful exuberant time, use it to remind yourself of who and what you are. Learn to see the world around you as a child does. This is a great time for clay and crafts, instruments and drumming (and alone it can really be a blast). There is a story of one women, who every new moon, threw off her clothes and danced the circle skyclad, nearly in a frenzy. This was an important time, she said, to get in touch with her youthful, maiden, innocent side. To learn to love her body again. (She was 73! If we could all learn like that!)

Remember to celebrate and take some time to commune with the Gods. When you are done, meditate on what you have experienced and learned. Allow the Crone and Maiden to guide you through this meditation.

When you are ready, come out of the meditative state (take as long as you need). Slowly raise yourself (you will be tired!), and light a few illuminating candles. Extinguish the black and white candles, saying,

"Hecate and Innana, I thank you for the wisdom you have bestowed, and am forever grateful for your teachings. I hope to walk down this path with you again! Blessed Be."

Place your focus on your cakes and ale (substitutes are almost always required here, bread and juice or mild (for the moon) are excellent replacements). Taking the cakes in your right hand, say aloud,

"I bless this food, fruit of the earth, body of the goddess. Great God and Goddess, holy Guardians of the quarters, I ask you to partake in this feasting with me, on this night. Blessed be."

Eat some of the food, eat what you need. Leave some to later put outside for the animals (what we take from the earth, we must try to give back again). Take up the ale/wine in your right hand an say,

"I bless this drink, holy nectar of the earth, life blood of existence. Great God and Goddess, holy Guardians of the quarters, I ask you to partake in this feasting with me, on this night. Blessed be."

Drink some of the liquid, saving some for later. While you drink it, imagine the pure cleansing energy of it flowing into you. Take some time to truly appreciate your experience on this night. When you are ready take some time to personally thank and bid farewell to the elements, starting with North and ending with East. If you notice we begin by using acts of the dark moon, and end with acts of the new, and it can be quite confusing to close and open the circle in the same direction! After this is finished, thank and bid farewell to the God and Goddess, remembering that without them, you would not be here.

Slowly open the circle again. You have finished the ritual, and might want to take some "down time" recording what you can remember of the meditation, as well as any other feelings or teachings you gained from this night. Above all, RELAX!

*Author Unknown

Conjuring Spirits

One Method:

The "Triangle of Solomon" also known as the "Triangle of the Art"






First let me tell you that this information is not teaching you how to Conjure up a Spirit.... it is simply shedding some light on one of the tools used in the Art. So do not write me and try to correct me as to what crap you have read or believe. My knowledge comes from Experience and from a different plane of existence unlike that of yours.




Ah yes... the Triangle of Solomon.... the second most important tool for the Conjuring Magician next to the Magical Circle. The Triangle of Solomon is used in conjunction with the Magic Circle. It is to sit outside the Magic Circle just a few feet away.
What is it and what does it do, you ask?
It is used in the Conjuring of the Demonic or Celestial/Angelic spirits. It is in this Triangle that they will appear and are forced to obey. Why will it make them obey? Because it has 3 Sacred names of God - Tetragrammaton, Primeumaton, and Anaphaxeton one on each side and it has the name Michael (Archangel Michael) which is split into 3 sections MI - CHA - EL. This contains the spirit from escaping and compels them to obey. This does not mean in every case they are going to obey you... but it helps the process. Some Magicians such as the Great Crowley would use Fresh Blood of a Sacrificed animal in the Triangle to attract the Demon. For Blood is the Life force and Demons thrive on it. Crowley would Sacrifice three white doves and pour the Blood into each corner of the Triangle... the Demon would stay until the life force was exhausted, then Demon would leave. This is not something for you to be going out and trying. Those of you whom are reading this are not the experienced and you would only end up possessed or Dead. This is just for your interest and thirst for knowledge.

The Triangle can be found in the Manuscript "The Goetia" also known as "The Lesser Key of Solomon the King". Once again it is one of the most important tools in the Conjuring of Spirits. There are several ways of setting up this Triangle of the Art...
1. You can trace it on the ground in dirt or sand. This is not the greatest way to do it.
2. You can make one out of wood and and paint it. The Triangle and the letters should be black along with the black circle in the middle of it. The interior should be white. You can do it differently if you so choose just as I have in the above picture. The choice is yours. With this method you can set it on the ground and take it with you when you are done with your Magical operation.

These two methods are good for if you are trying to Conjure the Spirit into the Physical.
How big should it be? The best dimensions would be 36"x36"x36".

3.

Anyway... now you have a little more knowledge to save for a day when you are ready to use it.
Now... the other method is for Conjuring the Spirit into a Crystal Ball that is placed in the middle of the Triangle or using a Black Mirror in the middle of the Triangle. With this method... one Conjures the Spirit.... but one must Skry or see onto the Astral Plane where then Spirit is. The Mirror or Crystal Ball only acts as a focal point.
You can set up the Triangle on a small round table and place a Crystal Ball in the middle or you can prop up the Triangle so that it is standing up and Gaze into the Black mirror... just as you see in the picture above. Once again... you must be able to Skry or should I say, have Astral Vision... that is... to see onto the Astral Plane. Those whom have not developed this ability will have no success. This takes much practice of Crystal Gazing or Skrying with the Black mirror which is something you can do without conjuring any Spirit and develop your Astral Vision and Psychic Senses.

The Triskelion Rite Of Tea

Purpose: The purpose of this working is to pay homage to the Gods
and to reflect on Their blessings upon this your life.

Tools:

Herb(s) for tea
Container for herb(s)
Cup(s) and Tea Pot
Decanter of Pure Spring Water
Brewing dish with candle
Scrying Candle
Prepare By: Placing a small table or platform in the center of your
working space and arranging the Brewing dish, herbs, cup(s), Tea Pot
and spoon on the table. Also place the cauldron with scrying candle
within for use during the meditation. (Use the diagram, which
follows, as a guide for arranging of the tools.) Prior to casting
the Circle, light candle and fill the Brewing dish with Spring Water
from a decanter. Keep the Brewing Dish covered during the Casting,
as I have found this helps the water to heat faster and hotter.



The Blessing of the Herbs
With the tip of your Athame touching the Herbs, intone this blessing:

Thou has grown by favor of the Sun,
The Moon, and of the dew.
I make this intercession, ye herb:
I beseech thee to be of benefit to me and my rite,
For thy virtues are unfailing.
Thou art the Dew of all the Gods,
The Eye of the Sun,
The Light of the Moon,
The Beauty and Glory of the Sky,
The Mystery of Terra.
I purify thee so that
Whatever is wrought by me with thee may,
In all its powers,
Have a good and speedy effect with good success.
Be purified by my prayer and be powerful!

So mote it be!




When water is hot enough, place the herbs in the Tea Pot and add
water from the brewing dish, give it a couple of stirs.

While the tea is steeping, intone this Prayer.

Earth Mother
Giver of life
Strengthen me during my life-long strife.
Teach me Your ways of perfect love,
Peace, and wisdom true.
Spawn from my purest heart
These words to You
May this prayer help me to better
Myself in word and deed,
To a higher plane I shall succeed.
Beautiful Light of Goodness Fair
Lore of old we both do share
A Witch's brew, I drink to You
My love for You, by day, by night
In thought and in sight
Will my soul learn
The meaning of this life again.



Pour out a cup for all present, including one for the Gods, and
enjoy.

Sit before the table and meditate on the blessings that the Gods
have bestowed upon your life. You may use the scrying candle here to
focus upon for your meditation. If the Gods so choose They may give
you a Message or Vision through the blessings of the Sight.

You may relax now and finish off the pot. (Note: this rite is not to
take the place of The Feast, but is to be used as a time of blessing
and communing with the Goddess).

Why Are M&M's Wiccan?

MM = Merry Meet
Round shape for wheel of the year, cycle of seasons
Skins are different colors, but the inside is the same chocolate,
because we are all related.
Associations with the colors:
Red = South
Green = West
Dark Brown = North
Yellow = East
Orange = For the Solar God
Light Brown = For the Earth Mother (Copper Woman)
Blue = Sky Father
Rotate the M & M:
M = 13th letter of alphabet, and there are 13 witches in a coven
3 = Triple Goddess, three phases of moon
W = Witchcraft, Wiccan
E = Enlightenment, Enchantment of chocolate
"Melt in your mouth, not in your hand"--God/dess's love must be
experienced directly to appreciate. Also, God/dess will take care of
you.
Sweetness to remind us of how sweet the love of the God and Goddess
is!

~author unknown

Create A Spiritual Temple in Your Home

How To Create A Spiritual Temple:

Sacred space is perhaps something that few of us actually feel we
have the area to accommodate. We think in terms of a room or corner
of a room that, once cleansed, would feel perfect for our spiritual
work. However, sacred space is a "must have" for any who consider
meditation or spiritual work a part of daily life.

Life is busy, home space is full or in short supply. So what do you
do? Here are a few unique types of temples, all workable and all
designed for efficient use of the space you have. Construct your
temple, cleanse it and use the power it will draw. Temples have a
psychological effect as well as energizing our soul. We let the
mundane world drift into the background as we reconnect with the
power within us. Feed your soul. Give your soul the space it needs
to grow within you. Compliment your spiritual self by setting up a
sacred spot.

- The Corner Temple - usually constructed in the corner of a room,
using a triangular shelf set up for efficient space. The main shelf
should be roomy enough to accommodate a bowl of some kind or
chalice, a small container of salt and perhaps an incense burner and
pair of candles. Make absolutely sure the candles have plenty of
room above them for fire safety. Use a smaller shelf, mounted much
further up, for storage of magical temple items that you don't need
to display on the main temple altar, such as a bell, censor or
herb/parchment/ink storage



The Kitchen Temple - often if we try, we can make space in a
kitchen, on shelves, cabinets, microwave stands or windowsills.
Placement of candles, little pots of herbs, a cheer water container
and perhaps a small bouquet of fresh flowers can help convert a
tired old spot into a vibrant area of light and peace. Kitchens
naturally lend themselves to cheery and nature-based design. Make
sure to incorporate herbs of your choice, wheat as an earth
representation and water or tea. I use the most wonderful sun/moon
tea pot for my water container. It lends itself to my kitchen
magical area.

- The Temple Bath - nothing is such a treat as a long hot bath with
all of the surrounding atmospheric enhancements. To sink into the
water element, immerse yourself in the heat, inhale the lavender
aromatherapy candle and let your mind and soul relax entirely. Work
out something with the space around the tub itself. With a little
ingenuity you can do wonders with odd places. Incorporate hanging
shelves and use the three-tiered wire basket to place your sacred
items. I use one that I hang from the shower rod that surrounds our
tub. In the small top basket, I've placed a mesh pouch of herbs I
like. The steam from the bath rises and releases the herbs' scents.
In the second, I have bath items such as aromatherapy packets, body
washes and such. In the largest basket, I have a stoppered bottle of
purified water to rinse with, an incense cone holder and cones and a
spare unlit candle. The candles I do light are well away from any
material or overhead obstruction.

- The Window Temple - one space often overlooked is the window sill.
Along with the sill, you get light, both sunlight and (usually at a
specific time of year) moonlight. If you are lucky enough to have
four inch sills or more, you can place an altar nicely there. Hang
packets of herbs or stones from the window frames, use a long narrow
container to do a crystal garden and grow a plant or two in that
window. These lend the earth element as well as fresh oxygen for
maximum space cleansing. If you really want to fancy it up, use
stained glass or other semi-transparent hanging decorations for your
window. Prisms are wonderful and draw light in through magical
angles, creating rainbows in your home.

As you can see, temple space is not hard to achieve once you put
your mind to it. Using oddly shaped shelves, crates, nooks and
crannies, you can create a place of tranquility and escape for your
head, your heart and your soul.

Witches are Not Human

It is my belief that Witches are a different breed that evolved along side of of Homo Sapiens. Witches took the same path as Humans but broke off somewhere along the way. This is very similar to the ways Moneys and Apes broke off. I believe evolution had it's reasons for this yet not known to me.

Humans are more high-tech. Technology is their main interest. Witches on the other hand are more in tune with the Natural and Nature. A human would rather watch TV or play a video game verses a Witch that would rather Meditate or spend time in the Woods. This is not to say that Witches would never use technology - there are too many of us on the internet for that. And, a Human will spend time in nature... funny thing is it's usually on a speed boat or golfing at the local club.

It's plain to see there are more Humans than Witches. Humans grew in population while Witches grew in Knowledge. Witches now have a duty to enlighten the Human to understand why over-population is critical to Our World. Mother Earth is suffering from mankind's misuse of sex and the words: "Be fruitful and multiply".

A number of Witches are now failing and falling prey to the Homo Sapien - forgetting their roots and following the pathways of the Human. Some Witches are in constant danger because they are not aware of who they and what they are: they believe in their hearts and minds they are simply Human. Aware Witches are desperately trying to find them before society eats them up and they become worse off than before. Human society will teach the lost and unaware Witches their ways. All Witches have a duty find our lost sisters and brothers before it's too late. The Human Species is dominate ~ We don't need programmed Witches running wild in this World.