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mentioned the Elements Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells and how there are a lot of good spells in there, ranging from old, out of date hexes to general everyday spells.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(

How to Dress A Candle for Spell Working

1. Carve symbols into your candle based on your spell’s intent. This can be ancient symbols or runes that have been passed down through the ages, or modern symbols such as a dollar sign for money. The symbols you choose should be meaningful to you. You may also wish to carve in your name, or the name of the person you are casting the spell for. If the spell is for a specific event, such as luck for a night out gambling or a court case, carve in the date for it.

2. Prepare oils for anointing your candle. Put about 1/8 cup of olive oil into a pot as a base oil. Put the heat on low. Add 20 to 40 drops of essential oils that coordinate with your intent. You can use more than one kind of oil; just research the oil’s properties. If you are trying to draw something toward you, stir the oil clockwise. If you are trying to repel something, stir the oil counter-clockwise.

3. If you do not have essential oils, you can infuse the oil with herbs from your kitchen. As with oils, herbs should be researched for their magical properties so that the energy aligns with your spell’s intent.

4. Allow the olive oil to warm but not simmer. Take it off the heat and allow it to cool. Strain it if you used herbs. You will only need a little of the oil for dressing a candle, so you can put it into a container and store it in a dark, cool place for future use.

5. Sit with your candle and your anointing oil, preferably at your altar. Hold your candle and meditate a few moments on your intent. Place some oil in your hands and begin to rub the oil on your candle. If you are trying to attract something, rub from the top of the candle to the bottom. If you are trying to repel something, rub from the bottom to the top of the candle.

6. Start rubbing slowly while thinking of your intent. Gradually pick up speed. Feel the energy you are raising be absorbed into the candle. Continue thinking of your intent. When you feel the candle tingling and pulsing with energy, it is ready.

7. Set your candle into the holder until you are ready to cast your spell. When you light the candle, the energy that you have poured into it will be dispersed into your circle to aid your magic.

~~Courtesy of eHow.com~~