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).

Candle Correspondances

White: Most known for Protection & Peace. Use for finding truth, sincerity and use in all workings and blessings

Black: Most known for absorbing negativity and evil. Use to help when you are feeling at a loss or confused; when banishing illness; breaking hexes and for exorcism

Red: Love, Passion and Courage

Blue: Understanding, Health/Healing, Patience, Meditation, Tranquility and Peace

Yellow: Clairvoyance, Charm, Attraction, Divination, Studying, Confidence, Learning, Intellectualism, Persuasion, and Mental Powers.

Green: Healing, Money/Finance, Prosperity, Luck and Fertility

Purple: Power, Ambition, Tension, Healing deadly diseases, Business improvement and To boost your own magickal powers

Orange: Strength, Adaptability, Encouragement, Authority, Attraction, Stimulation and Luck

Pink: Emotional love, Friendships, Honor, Goodness, Love and Affection

Lavender: Soothing, Calming, Rest, Dream, Dream Interpretation, Intuition, Dignity and properties of Purple & White.

Silver: Telepathy, claivoyance, caliraudience, psychometry, intuition, dreams, astral energies, female power, communication, the Goddess.

Gold: Wealth, the God, promote winning, safety and power of the male, happiness, playful humor.

Light Brown: Influence friendships, special favors, grounding, animal magick, earth magick

Creating A Faery Circle

Creating a Faery Ring

This is best done outdoors where Faeries can be found, whether under a tree, near water or in your garden. After you have set up your altar, you then create a faery ring. To do this, you tie a loop on each end of your 9 ft cord (that is if you have one, if not, use a 9ft length of string) Slip the point of your athame through the loop & stick it into the ground where the center of the Circle is to be. Put the index finger of your power hand through the loop opposite end of the cord & gently stretch it out. Holding the cord, walk deosil around in a circle, digging your heel to mark the outline of the circle. Then walk deosil around the circle, laying flowers or herbs on top of the circle outline. You now have created a Faery Ring.

Creating a Faery Magick Circle

The Faery Magick Circle protect you from harmful energies when doing magick. It acts as a vortex of light, bridging the mortal & faery worlds. Each time you do magick, you create the magick circle. First, sprinkle water from your cup deosil all around the inside of the Faery Ring to purify the area. Then hold your athame (or wand) in your power hand with the point outward, face in the direction of North of your Faery Ring & slowly spin in a deosil circle. As you do this, imagine a blue-white light shooting out of its tip. Trace a deosil circle of light with you athame over the Faery Ring you have created. You are basically drawing a double circle. Next, face the altar & say"

"I consecrate this Circle of power
To the generous & helpful Faeries
Of Earth, Air, Fire & Water.
May the bless this circle with thier presence.
So be it! Blessed Be!"

~"Faery Magick" by Sirona Knight
Pgs 102-103

A Simple Protection Spell

Do you remember as a kid when you were being teased and you used to say, "I'm rubber & you're glue. Whatever you say, bounces off me & sticks to you."?? Well, that can be used as a simple protection spell. Just light a black candle and change up the words to suit your needs. I like to say, "I'm rubber & you're glue. Whatever working you cast, bounces off me & goes back onto you." I repeat it 3 times, while visualizing the negativity being bounced off my shield

It does work, I have used it. It's a simple as modifying a simple childhood rhyme.

)O(
Rowan

Casting A Solitary Circle

I hope this helps you if you are new to the Craft or want a little different take on a basic ritual.

Casting the Circle: Place white or appropriately colored candles at the compass points, the altar may be at the center of the circle. A small white or beeswax candle, two larger candles, the censer with unlit incense, the Athamé, a dish of salt, a goblet of water, small cakes or cookies for "cakes and ale," a goblet of wine, an offering dish and any items for work to be done within the cast circle.

Take a short moment, eyes closed, to become "At peace" before standing before the altar.

Light the small candle and walk toward the east. Light the yellow or white candle from the small candle, saying

"Here I call forth the powers of air from the east, that I may be like the air, unfettered and pure."

Take a moment to remember the air visualization, and to contemplate the meaning of the east, air and freedom before continuing onward.

Light the red or white candle to the south with the small candle saying.

"Here I call forth the powers of fire from the south, that I may be like fire, enduring all hardships to become strengthened."

Recall your own "trials by fire" and contemplate the possibility of more, the meaning of the words spoken is thought on, and the caster continues.

Light the blue or white candle to the west, saying,

"Here I call forth the powers of water, that I may be like water, supporting and protecting all that I encounter,"

Contemplate the water visualization and the meaning of the west in your life.

Move on to the North, lighting the green or white candle, saying

"Here I call forth the power of Earth, that I may be like earth, grounded at all times."

Here ground and think before moving to the east to say.

"Welcome Air, Fire, Water, Earth, shine your light and lend your strength to this my circle to night/day."

Still moving clockwise, return to the altar, and light the incense saying.

"Negative forces begone, you are not welcome here."

Breathe deeply of the incense and banish away negative forces within before circling clockwise thrice with the censer, visualizing hate, jealousy and the like fleeing from the smoke.

Returns to the altar, pick up the Athamé and pick up a measure of salt with its tip. Inserting the tip of the blade into the water saying.

"As man to woman so blade to chalice, I purify this water with love, light and power."

Walk around the circle, sprinkling the salted water about the circle thrice. Returning to the altar, raise the Athamé to the sky and visualize a beam of blue light filling it, walk once around the circle, using the Athamé and its light to "cut" a space between the worlds.

This done, move to the altar and light the two candles.

"Lord and Lady, I invite you to this my worship, that you may look upon my devotions and celebrations and be heartened and strengthened by them."

Turn toward the west and announce.

"Now is my circle cast, unbreakable and without harm. Thus is sacred space decreed, and no act goes unnoticed. So mote it be."

Closing the circle: Thank the Gods for their attentions, snuff their candles. Dismiss individually each element and thank it for lending its strength, Walk around the circle, drawing the blue light back into the Athamé, breathe deep, and take some of the power back. A closing statement usually follows, ending in,

"The Circle is open, but ever unbroken...So mote it be."

How To Make A Scrying Mirror

Samhain is a time to do some serious divination - it's the time of year when the veil between our world and that of the spirits is at its thinnest, and that means it's the perfect season to look for messages from the metaphysical. Scrying is one of the best known forms of divination, and can be done in a variety of ways. Basically, it's the practice of looking into some sort of reflective surface -- such as water, fire, glass, dark stones, etc. -- to see what messages, symbols, or visions may appear. A scrying mirror is a simple black-backed mirror, and it's easy to make one yourself.

To make your scrying mirror, you'll need the following:

• A clear glass plate
• Matte black spray paint
• Additional paints (acrylic) for embellishment

To prepare the mirror, first you'll need to clean it. Use any glass cleaner, or for a more earth-friendly method, use vinegar mixed with water. Once the glass is clean, flip it over so that the back side is facing up. Lightly spray with the matte black spray paint. For the best result, hold the can a couple of feet away, and spray from side to side. If you hold the can too close, the paint will pool, and you don't want this. As each coat dries, add another coat. After five to six coats, the paint should be dense enough that you can't see through the paint if you hold the glass up to a light.

Once the paint has dried, turn the glass right side up. Use your acrylic paint to add embellishments around the outer edge of the plate -- you can add symbols of your tradition, magical sigils, or even your favorite saying. The one in the photo says, "Thee I invoke by the moonlit sea, the standing stone, and the twisted tree." Allow these to dry as well. Your mirror is ready for scrying, but before you use it, you may want to consecrate it as you would any other magical item.

If your tradition normally requires you to cast a circle, do so now. If you'd like to play some music, start your cd player. If you'd like to light a candle or two, go ahead, but be sure to place them so that they don't interfere with your line of vision. Sit or stand comfortably at your workspace. Begin by closing your eyes, and attuning your mind to the energy around you. Take some time to gather that energy.

When you are ready to begin scrying, open your eyes. Position yourself so that you can look into the mirror. Stare into the glass, looking for patterns, symbols or pictures -- and don't worry about blinking, it's fine if you do. You may see images moving, or perhaps even words forming. You may have thoughts pop spontaneously into your head, that seem to have nothing at all to do with anything. Perhaps you'll suddenly think about someone you haven't seen in decades. Use your journal, and write everything down. Spend as much time as you like gazing into the mirror -- it may be just a few minutes, or even an hour. Stop when you begin to feel restless, or if you're getting distracted by mundane things.

When you are finished gazing into the mirror, make sure you have recorded everything you saw, thought and felt during your scrying session. Messages often come to us from other realms and yet we frequently don't recognize them for what they are. If a bit of information doesn't make sense, don't worry -- sit on it for a few days and let your unconscious mind process it. Chances are, it will make sense eventually. It's also possible that you could receive a message that's meant for someone else -- if something doesn't seem to apply to you, think about your circle of family friends, and who the message might be meant for.

**About.com: Paganism/Wicca**

Make A Witch Bottle for Samhain

The witch bottle is a magical tool that has been reported in use for centuries. In early times, the bottle was designed as a way to protect oneself from malicious witchcraft and sorcery. In particular, around the time of Samhain, homeowners might create a witch bottle to keep evil spirits from entering the home on Hallow's Eve. The witch bottle was usually made of pottery or glass, and included sharp objects such as pins and bent nails. It typically contained urine as well, belonging to the homeowner, as a magical link to the property and family within. In 2009, an intact witch bottle was found in Greenwich, England, and experts have dated it back to around the seventeenth century.

Around the Samhain season, you may want to do a little bit of protective magic yourself, and create a witch bottle of your own. The general idea of the witch bottle is to not only protect yourself, but send back the negative energy to whoever or whatever is sending it your way. You'll need the following items:

• A small glass jar with lid
• Sharp, rusty items like nails, razor blades, bent pins
• Sea salt
• Red string or ribbon
• A black candle

Fill the jar about halfway with the sharp, rusty items. These were used to deflect bad luck and ill fortune away from the jar. Add the salt, which is used for purification, and finally, the red string or ribbon, which was believed to bring protection. When the jar is halfway filled, there are a couple of different things you can do, depending on whether or not you're easily repulsed.

One option is to fill the remainder of the jar with your own urine - this identifies the bottle as belonging to you. However, if the idea makes you a bit squeamish, there are other ways you can complete the process. Instead of urine, use a bit of wine. You may wish to consecrate the wine first before using it in this manner. In some magical traditions, the practitioner might choose to spit in the wine after it's in the jar because -- much like the urine -- this is a way of marking the jar as your territory.

Cap the jar, and make sure it's sealed tightly (particularly if you used urine - you don't want any accidental spillage), and seal it with wax from the black candle. Black is considered handy for banishing negativity. If you're having trouble finding black candles, you may want to use white instead, and imagine a white ring of protection surrounding your witch bottle. Also, in candle magick, white is typically considered a universal substitute for any other color candle.

Now - where to stash your bottle? There are two schools of thought on this, and you can decide which one works best for you. One group swears that the bottle needs to be hidden somewhere in the home - under a doorstep, up in a chimney, behind a cabinet, whatever -- because that way, any negative magic aimed at the house will always go straight to the witch bottle, avoiding the people in the home. The other philosophy is that the bottle needs to be buried as far away from the house as possible, so that any negative magic sent towards you will never reach your home in the first place. Whichever one you choose, be sure that you're leaving your bottle in a place where it will remain undisturbed permanently.