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.

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.

Hermetic Laws

1. The Law of Mentalism: The Universe is mental or thinking. We exist in the mind of the All. We are the All. We are the Universe.
*Some call it deity, others call it God and a few of us call it the Great Spirit. Another terms used: the All, Goddess or the Grand Illusion.

2. The Law of Correspondence: We exist in all planes, astral, physical, casual, akashic, mental, buddhaic, messianic and so-on. Another way to say this is: We live in other planes/realms not just the physical.

3. The Law of Vibration: Everything is in motion and vibrates with its own rate of the vibration. All vibrates nothing is left out.

4. The Law of Polarity: Polarity = Power. All things are dual, everything contains its opposite. Male-Female, Day-Night, Good-Bad, Left-Right, Black-White, Sun-Moon, Yin-Yang = All follows this law.

5. The Law of Rhythm: All things are in some way circular, spiral, cyclic, and oval. We have to learn to 'dance' with the rhythm of nature; of life. Pagans are very familiar with the spiral while Christians are more apt to understand the circular... It is all the same - something we all need to understand.

6. The Law of Gender: The law of polarity, applied. Everything has both masculine and feminine components and energies. Get in touch with your opposite or opposing side to balance the inner being.

7. The Law of Cause and Effect: There are no coincidences, nothing happens by chance. Everything is a cycle. For every effect, there is a cause, and every cause is an effect in something else.

Spell to Save the Rainforest

This spell is for Preservation of the Rainforests.



Cast a circle

Invoke elements by calling upon them in protective aspects (for example, you might invoke Watchfires or Beacons in the South).

Chant the names of the Earth Goddess, beginning with your personal favorites, then naming as many as you can think of.

Take a piece of green string. Begin to tie knots in it, while chanting:

"Tying the Cord,
Renewing the Earth;
We are Her Children,
bringing Rebirth."

(The knots may be simple or elaborate, but leave enough string to tie together at the end.) As you chant, see the world as a network of connected systems. Breathe the air that comes from the jungles of South America. Feel the living fire of an ocelot's power. Taste the rain on the leaves at the tops of the trees. Feel the delicate structure of the soil at the forest floor.)

Tie the cord together in a loop; hold it up, strung around your two hands, and begin chanting:

"We are the Flow and we are the Ebb;
We are the Weavers,
we are the Web."

As you chant, see yourself standing guard over the borders of the rainforest. See yourself with others, protecting rainforest as you would protect yourself, because that's what you're doing.

Bury the cord in a container of earth. Earth the power; thank the Deities and elements; open the circle. Later bury the cord in the forest if possible.

(If circumstances make the above impossible):
Sit quietly and see: the network of ecosystems that make up the world; the rainforests thriving; plants and animals breeding; the Earth, green and filled with life; yourself, standing guard. Breathe, and know that the air comes from the sea and the jungles of Brazil. Drink and know that the water has been around the world, and circulates through you as it does through the air, land, and sea. Stand up and stretch; the strength of your body is the Earth's strength.

[Author Unknown]

Garlic vs Evil...... The Power of Garlic...

Garlic vs Evil...... The Power of Garlic...

Garlic (Allium Sativum) has been used as a charm against evil and dates back to Ancient times. the ancient Egyptians believed in a Vampire-like ghost that killed sleeping children by sucking up their breath. The protection that was used against the attacks of this murderous monster was a wreath of garlic.

The use of garlic is known all over the world, not only as a tasty accent to foods, but also as a charm against evil spirits. Even in places such as China or Malaysia, people smear the forehead of their children to protect them from Vampires, and in the West Indies too, garlic is used as a means of protection against the evil practices and Magical Spells of Witches and Sorcerers.

In Romania, garlic is also a weapon of importance in the everlasting battle against Vampires. Romanians used to make certain that they ate garlic every day for their protection. They also smeared garlic on the windows and the doors of their houses, on the gates to their farmyards, and even on the horns of their cattle. They believed that these Vampires had a great fear of garlic. If a deceased person was thought to be in danger of becoming a Vampire, one common protective measure was stuffing some pieces of garlic into the orifices of the corpse, especially the mouth. This was done in order to prevent evil spirits from entering the dead body. At the same times it served the purpose of preventing the soul of the deceased from re-entering its body. Another anti-Vampire practice that we can find in Romania is the anointing of the corpse, especially the heels, with a mixture of oil, fat, incense, gunpowder and garlic.

In some cultures people would simply wear a necklace of garlic cloves for protection against evil. Any way you look at it.... garlic is believed to be a major source of protection from evil.

Now I am going to tell you about my experiences with garlic. For me.... I take odor free Garlic tablets every night before I go to bed. I take 2 - 1,000mg tablets at a time. Also the reason I take it at night is so I do not worry about burping up garlic during the day. Garlic has boosted my immune system immensely... to where I never ever get sick any more.... never. To hell with vitamin C Tablets.... they just don't compare. Also my cholesterol has dropped big time. Plus... the bad spirits stay away from me.

Garlic has some extremely great health benefits. It will lower your cholesterol and unclog your arteries. It will shrink cancerous tumors and keep cancer out of your body. It will also boost your immune system greatly. Now don't wait till you get sick or have cancer to start taking it..... start now! And see you life improve.





Here are the benefits that are shown from studies:

* Garlic lowers blood pressure a little.

* Garlic lowers LDL Cholesterol a little.

* Garlic helps reduce atherosclerotic buildup (plaque) within the arterial system. One recent study shows this effect to be greater in women than men.

* Garlic lowers or helps to regulate blood sugar.

* Garlic helps to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the possibility of strokes and thromboses (It may not be good for hemophiliacs).

* Garlic helps to prevent cancer, especially of the digestive system, prevents certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors.

* Garlic helps to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body.

* Raw Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic and, while far less strong than modern antibiotics, can still kill some strains of bacteria that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics.

* Garlic has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.

* Garlic dramatically reduces yeast infections due to Candida species.

* Garlic has anti-oxidant properties and is a source of selenium.

* Garlic probably has many other benefits as well.


[Author Unknown]

3 Uses for Vinegar

Herb Vinegar

One of the simplest recipes for using herbs is this 19th-century
hint for making flavored vinegar: Pour plain vinegar over herbs in a
bottle and let it sit for a month in the sun. What could be easier?

A more refined vinegar can be made by taking approximately 1 cup of
fresh herbs (basil, tarragon, or thyme, for example) and placing
them in a clean quart jar. Heat vinegar just to the boiling point
and pour it over the herbs, filling the jar to the top. Seal and
store in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks for the fullest
flavor. Strain the vinegar into 2 pint bottles and add a fresh sprig
of the herb. (Use decorative bottles if you're planning to give
these as gifts.)

You can use a single herb in plain white vinegar, or try a medley of
herbs in other vinegars (such as cider vinegar or red or white wine
vinegar). Here are a few suggestions to get you started, but feel
free to experiment and invent your own blends: white vinegar with
tarragon leaves, basil leaves, and peeled shallots; sherry vinegar
with fresh rosemary leaves, minced horseradish, or chopped dried
chilies; red wine vinegar with sage, parsley, and shallots.



Raspberry Vinegar

Add a bit of raspberry vinegar anytime you're baking something
chocolate. It will boost more than just the flavor – though it does
that too! To make raspberry vinegar - fill a bottle ¾ full with
fresh raspberries (okay, frozen works also) then add a good apple
cider vinegar to the top. Set this in a sunny windowsill for 2 weeks
(besides the warmth helping to "cook" the concoction, the light
streaming through the ruby red potion is beautiful!). Strain; add
more raspberries and set it back for another couple of weeks.

Add about 2 or 3 Tablespoons to a chocolate cake batter or a batch
of brownies; a teaspoon or two to frosting, hot cocoa etc.

Sweetened & combined with sparkling water, this also makes a
refreshing, old fashioned summer drink. Fresh mint leaves (slightly
bruised) added to this also taste wonderful! – but don't use them if
you are making "the Potion". Mint does nothing for the libido -
it's more "cerebral".



Chest Cold Vinegar

1 Large onion (sliced)
1/2 Cup Dried Mullein Flowers
7 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 Tablespoons (Crushed or grated) Horseradish
2 Tablespoons Fresh Grated Ginger
2 Tablespoons Honey
Apple Cider Vinegar

Fill jar with layers of these ingredients until full. Then top with
Apple Cider Vinegar Refrigerate and use after 24 hrs. Take 2-3
teaspoons of the juice 2-3 times daily. Keeps for 6 Weeks.

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.