New Book

Ok, so the other night I was listening to a new (to me) podcast called, New World Witchery. On one of the podcasts they were talking about witchcraft & media, namely what books, TV shows, movies have a bit of the Craft in them disguised by the fake stuff. When they were talking about books, the mentioned the Elements Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells and how there are a lot of good spells in there, ranging from old, out of date hexes to general everyday spells. This book is for most spell workers, not necessarily those who practice the Wicca religion, as there are spells included that go against their Threefold Law. The author, Judika Illes, gathered spells from all over, from different religions of the world, different cultures, etc.

This book does contain hexes, love spells, curses and there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book explaining that some of the spells should not be used without proper knowledge of the ingredients used, your intent & the outcome of doing some workings. Yes, some of you Wiccans will have issue with this book, but it's sourced from many other religions that don't follow Gardner's law of 3. There's a bit of Hoodoo, Voodoo, Pennsylvania Dutch, Powaqa, Pagan, Neo-Pagan, Santeria, Christian magic contained in this book. There's herbal magic, animal magic, food magic, magic baths, aromatherapy, etc.

When I was out the other day looking for it, but at the time I couldn't afford the price, as I was on a budget to get other things, as well. So, I purchased the sister book, Elements Encyclopedia of 1,000 Spells, which contains other spells not in the larger book as well as some from it. Now, my belief in spell books is that if you can find a few spells in it that work, than you got your money's worth. Also, a general rule of thumb when purchasing spell books is to remember that most of them don't tell you to visualize your intent or the final outcome to aid in the power of the spell. Most spells don't require using an altar to do it and you can use whatever supplies you have on hand to make due if there's a spell you really need to do. In this book, there are no magical correspondences or telling you what day of the week to perform the spell. Most other cultures don't need to wait til the moon was right, or the proper day of the week to do a working, they just do it, to borrow from Nike.

I am currently still reading this book and I do find it fascinating to read. I get to learn about how others from around the world do things, new things I never before considered doing. So far, it is a good read. And hey, if some spells don't work for me & some do, I got something out of it. Tomorrow, I'll be getting the bigger book to add to my library.

Blessings,
~Rowan
)O(

Protection Charm

Ingredients:

Basil

Dill

Mint

Star Anise

Small cotton or velvet pouch

Incense ( I like sage for this)

Directions:

With a mortar & pestle, grind the equal parts of 1st three ingredients into an almost powder, grinding in a clock-wise direction. Think of your intent as you grinds the herbs, putting your energy into the herbs. When ground to a somewhat fine consistency, scoop the herbs into a small black (or whatever color you choose) pouch. Add the Star Anise last (whole) Tie the pouch closed and light the incense. Bless the pouch by waving it through the smoke, saying a blessing for protection. Carry the pouch with you when you feel the need to be protected ( I use mine to help with other people's negativity).

Mabon Balance Mediatation

Mabon is one of those times of year that affect people in different ways. For some, it's a season to honor the darker aspects of the Goddess, calling upon that which is devoid of light. For others, it's a time of thankfulness, of gratitude for the abundance we have at the season of harvest. No matter how you see it, Mabon is traditionally a time of balance. After all, it's one of the two times each year that has equal amounts of darkness and daytime.

Because this is, for many people, a time of high energy, there is sometimes a feeling of restlessness in the air, a sense that something is just a bit "off". If you're feeling a bit spiritually lopsided, with this simple meditation you can restore a little balance into your life.

Setting the Mood

Now that fall is here, why not do an autumn version of Spring cleaning? Get rid of any emotional baggage you're dragging around with you. Accept that there are darker aspects to life, and embrace them, but don't let them rule you. Understand that a healthy life finds balance in all things.

You can perform this ritual anywhere, but the best place to do it is outside, in the evening as the sun goes down. Decorate your altar (or if you're outside, use a flat stone or tree stump) with colorful autumn leaves, acorns, small pumpkins, and other symbols of the season. You'll need a black candle and a white one of any size, although tealights probably work best. Make sure you have something safe to put them in, either a candle holder or a bowl of sand.

Light both candles, and say the following:

A balance of night and day, a balance of light and dark Tonight I seek balance in my life as it is found in the Universe. A black candle for darkness and pain and things I can eliminate from my life. A white candle for the light, and for joy and all the abundance I wish to bring forth. At Mabon, the time of the equinox, there is harmony and balance in the Universe, and so there shall be in my life.

Meditate on the things you wish to change. Focus on eliminating the bad, and strengthening the good around you. Put toxic relationships into the past, where they belong, and welcome new positive relationships into your life. Let your baggage go, and take heart in knowing that for every dark night of the soul, there will be a sunrise the next morning.

~Source

Mabon Incense

• 2 Parts Frankincense
• 1 Part each: Sandalwood, Cypress, Juniper & Pine
• 1/2 Part Oakmoss* (or Oakmoss oil instead)
  
• A pinch of Oak Leaf

*Oakmoss is the greyish/white lichen that grows on the trunks of oak trees and is used in perfumery.

Burn incense on a charcoal disk or in a heat-resistant dish during your Mabon Ritual. It smells divine, Earthy.

A Beautiful Chant

I have this chant 3 times (by 3 different artists) on my iPod. It is a chant that regularly sticks in my head & I am constantly humming it.



"Earth my body
Water my Blood.
Air my breath
and Fire my Spirit."

A Post Script

I've seen a lot of debate over my previous post, both on here & on Facebook (where I also posted it). It wasn't me who was saying that how you cast a circle & where you place the elements is wrong. It was the author of the book I was reading. I agree with it, because it makes sense to me and it works for me when I changed the way I do things. I wasn't telling you that the way you do things is wrong. If you have a particular way of doing things, go with it.

I think Mike Nichols was just letting us know that when things were changed years ago (as Paganism grew more popular) to keep things secret, people forgot to change things back when they were teaching/mentoring newbies to the Craft. That would also include authors who still write methods that haven't been put back and they haven't clued in to it. It's like when I post spells/workings on here, I will deliberately leave something out or switch it up, as a means to protect the integrity of the spell/working. I think a lot of Pagans out there who post in cyberspace do that, 'cuz sometimes things don't make a lot of sense 'til I look at it again & realize that something has been omitted, or changed.

Also, for the record, I am not Wiccan. I have had people think that I am, but no, I do not subscribe to that particular path. I have too many issues with it & with Gardner & Sanders.

A Common Mistake

I was recently reading a book called "The Witches' Sabbats" by Mike Nichols and he stated in it something that totally made sense. Most Pagans, when casting circles do it wrong. Wrong, you ask?? How??

When casting circles, in particular, assigning elements to the quarters, we have been taught/told that Earth goes in the North, right? He states that when he was a young novice witch back in the 60's, he was copying info out of his coven's BOS and that things weren't corresponding from each time he added to his. He asked his HP why the elements were different from one person's BOS to another. She told him that in order to keep the craft secret (mind you this was back when practitioners of the craft were still in the closet) things got changed to protect the craft. This is sometimes still done when putting things online for everybody to see. Unfortunately, the directional elements got changed and no one ever questioned it.

Wondering what the heck I'm talking about?? It only affects 2 elements: Earth & Air. They are switched around. Air should be in the North and Earth in the East. But we've been doing it the other way for years, you say. I know, but this is the way it should always have been. Say, you practice Celtic magick, for example. Picture looking at the map of the UK with the north on the top. To the East is land (Earth), so the South, warmer lands (Fire), to the West is the ocean (Water) and to the North is the cold Arctic with the winds (Air). Make sense?? No, want more?? Ok:

• We all know the the 4 elements are divided into masculine & feminine. Air & Fire are masculine, whilst Earth & Water are feminine. When you cast a circle in a group situation, men & women are alternated, like the elements are in the circle.



• Native American & First Nations place Air in the North, symbolized by the Eagle, and we all know the Natives are no slouches when it comes to ceremonial magic.



• The seasons are associated with the directions: winter with the North (icy winds); spring with East (new life bursting from the Earth); summer with the South (fiery heat of the sun) and autumn with West.



• The elements are often associated with Yin/Yang properties. Air & Fire are masculine (Yang) and Earth & Water are feminine (Yin).



• When you associate cardinal points of a single day to the 4 compass points. Midnight is North; noon is South; sunrise is East; sunset is West.



• You place your 4 main altar tools according to the directions: the Pentacle (Earth) is place on the East side of your altar, the Cup is placed on the West side (Water), the Wand is placed in the South (Fire) and the Athame is placed in the North (Air)


These are a few examples of how we have the Earth/Air is mixed up and why it makes sense to have them switched back. I sourced the book, "The Witches' Sabbats" by Mike Nichols. His 13 reasons are listed in chapter 12. So, before you debate with me over this, try to come up with something to debate this about instead "This is how we always did it" That really isn't a reason.

~Brightest of Blessings,
Rowan
)O(