In respect to Imbolic and Valentines day I decided to add this little spell I made. This was the first spell I ever wrote, and the one with the most affect. It is a love spell, and not even a week after doing this spell I met someone who I dated for two years. The wording is a little akward, but love is akward in the begining.
Venus Love Spell
Tools: Small candle (any color)
Bell
Picture of Venus (opt.)
Steps:
1) Prepare body, area, and materials. Call Circle and Quarters.
2) Invoke Venus for love.
a. “I call upon the Goddess Venus for aid in this spell.” Hold image of Venus in your head or hold hand over picture of her, then ring bell once.
3) Ask Venus to search for a lover for you as you light a candle in her name.
a. “I call to the Goddess Venus, and ask her to search for a (male/female) human who would be a good (boyfriend/girlfriend) for me at this time in my life. As I light this candle Venus sees my future lover and when this candle goes out she brings us together.”
b. Light candle and picture yourself with your wish granted.
4) Say “So mote it be and blessed be with harm to none. May this spell not reverse or place upon me any curse.” Thank Venus.
5) Close quarters and circle. Clean area and record.
Note: Venus can be tricky. If you have read the mythology you know that she likes to play games with mortals' hearts sometimes. I use her but if you are uncomfortable with it you can change it to another goddess.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Chapter 11: Some Spells
About half of the Wiccans I know write their own spells, and the others get them from other Wiccans (sometimes in books or on-line). Which ever way you want to do it is fine. Sometimes beginners find it easier to start with pre-written spells though. Here are some of my easier spells to give you a start. Though it is not written in, cast a circle and call the quarters for each of these spells. Also it is good to end all spells by saying “So mote it be and blessed be, with harm to none.”
Protection (Tuesday is a good day for this one)
- You need a necklace and a candle for this one.
Carve a sacred spiral backwards to banish bad energy and light your candle. Ring a bell and say “I invoke you lord to protect me, your companion. I invoke you lady to protect me, your child. May this necklace be empowered with your protecting and your blessings.” Then hold the necklace over the flame and let the light touch it all over. Lay the necklace on the altar if it can get sunlight and moonlight there. If not put it in the window sill. Leave it there for twenty for hours so it can soak up the power of the lord through the sun and the lady through the moon. Then when you wear it you will carry their protection with you.
Money (Thursday is a good day for this one)
- You need a box, a green, gold or silver cord (or all three) and some money.
Invoke the lord and say, “This box is to hold and protect my money, may it always be full.” Then take the cord and start tying strong knots, saying “When I tie one my work will be done, when I tie two I am blessed by you, when I tie three money comes to me. I tie a knot for luck. I tie a knot for wealth. I tie a knot for my future, my family and my health.” You should have six knots. Repeat this as many times as you can/want to, repeating the same words. When you are done put the string and the money in your box and put the box on your altar. Every time money comes your way add a bit to the box. When it is full take some out. That way you are always filling it.
Love (Friday is a good day for this one)
-You need a red apple, a athame (or knife) and a candle for this one.
Go to your altar and light a white candle (pink and/or red can be sued as well). Rind a bell and invoke Venus, which is sometimes easier if you have a picture of her. Ask Venus to bring you love, and in your mind picture what kind of person you want to attract. Now take the apple and cut it in half, saying “As I cut this apple with my knife, bring a love into my life.” Eat the apple when you are done.
Family and Friend Relationships (Monday is a good day for this one)
- You need a candle, cooking skills, a kitchen and sweet basil.
If you are having problems with family and friends, or if you just want to maintain your relationships with them do this spell. Invite them over for lunch or dinner and serve them this – a classic kitchen witch thing to do. First light a candle and put it in the window or somewhere near the kitchen. You need to know how to cook something warm with basil – I can be a stir fry, pasta, soup, meat, or anything you can think of. Hold the basil before you add it and say this: “Given life from below and life from above, may you fill our hearts with love. Let us be as sweet as you, and give each other comfort anew.” Add it in, cook and serve.
Health (Sunday is a good day for this one)
- You need a bit of sunlight for this one.
This should be done in the day time, preferably outside. Invoke the lord and say “I ask for you to fill me with your light, to keep me warm through the cold of night. I ask to be blessed through the life giving sun, and be completely well when I am done.” You should then meditate in the sunlight for half an hour, letting as much of your skin feel the sunlight as possible. Thank the Lord when you are done.
Protection (Tuesday is a good day for this one)
- You need a necklace and a candle for this one.
Carve a sacred spiral backwards to banish bad energy and light your candle. Ring a bell and say “I invoke you lord to protect me, your companion. I invoke you lady to protect me, your child. May this necklace be empowered with your protecting and your blessings.” Then hold the necklace over the flame and let the light touch it all over. Lay the necklace on the altar if it can get sunlight and moonlight there. If not put it in the window sill. Leave it there for twenty for hours so it can soak up the power of the lord through the sun and the lady through the moon. Then when you wear it you will carry their protection with you.
Money (Thursday is a good day for this one)
- You need a box, a green, gold or silver cord (or all three) and some money.
Invoke the lord and say, “This box is to hold and protect my money, may it always be full.” Then take the cord and start tying strong knots, saying “When I tie one my work will be done, when I tie two I am blessed by you, when I tie three money comes to me. I tie a knot for luck. I tie a knot for wealth. I tie a knot for my future, my family and my health.” You should have six knots. Repeat this as many times as you can/want to, repeating the same words. When you are done put the string and the money in your box and put the box on your altar. Every time money comes your way add a bit to the box. When it is full take some out. That way you are always filling it.
Love (Friday is a good day for this one)
-You need a red apple, a athame (or knife) and a candle for this one.
Go to your altar and light a white candle (pink and/or red can be sued as well). Rind a bell and invoke Venus, which is sometimes easier if you have a picture of her. Ask Venus to bring you love, and in your mind picture what kind of person you want to attract. Now take the apple and cut it in half, saying “As I cut this apple with my knife, bring a love into my life.” Eat the apple when you are done.
Family and Friend Relationships (Monday is a good day for this one)
- You need a candle, cooking skills, a kitchen and sweet basil.
If you are having problems with family and friends, or if you just want to maintain your relationships with them do this spell. Invite them over for lunch or dinner and serve them this – a classic kitchen witch thing to do. First light a candle and put it in the window or somewhere near the kitchen. You need to know how to cook something warm with basil – I can be a stir fry, pasta, soup, meat, or anything you can think of. Hold the basil before you add it and say this: “Given life from below and life from above, may you fill our hearts with love. Let us be as sweet as you, and give each other comfort anew.” Add it in, cook and serve.
Health (Sunday is a good day for this one)
- You need a bit of sunlight for this one.
This should be done in the day time, preferably outside. Invoke the lord and say “I ask for you to fill me with your light, to keep me warm through the cold of night. I ask to be blessed through the life giving sun, and be completely well when I am done.” You should then meditate in the sunlight for half an hour, letting as much of your skin feel the sunlight as possible. Thank the Lord when you are done.
Chapter 9: Ceremonies for Birth, Dedication, Initiation, Weddings, and Death
When a baby is born it is traditional to do a ceremony to bless it and insure a happy future and health for the child, this is called a Wiccaning or Saining ceremony. When the child is twelve they can decide if they want to be Wiccan or not. If they want to be Wiccan they can have a dedication ceremony, which is a ceremony they do by themselves dedicating themselves to the Wiccan spiritual path and choosing a Wiccan name. If they choose to join a Coven there will be an initiation ceremony that makes them part of the Coven. When they wish to be married there will be a handfasting ceremony. When they die there is another ceremony but it doesn’t have a specific name. Here are some simple versions of these big events in a person’s life, as a guideline. The only one not included is the initiation ceremony since it depends on what Coven you are joining.
Wiccaning Ritual
Tools: 2 candles (one white), holy water, lighter, bell, basic altar, anointing oil, and (optional) whatever officers need.
People: baby, parent(s)/guardian(s) which will be referred to as the adults, a person of choice to say one of the blessings, goddess/god parent, Priestess or Priest performing the ceremony, and (opt.) guests.
1. Prepare space and altar devotion
- Cleanse, consecrate and bless items and people gathered there. Priestess says “I cleanse, consecrate and bless these items in the name of the lord and lady, so mote it be and blessed be with harm to none.”
- Altar devotion: Priestess kneels at altar, lights white candle saying “Little fire do my desire” and draw banishment pentacle. Then say “I cast out all negativity here, may the lord and lady fill us with positive energy and happiness.”
- Bless and cleanse individuals participating in ritual, anointing with holy water and saying, “May you be blessed, and all negativity be washed away and replaced with goodness and joy. In the name of the lord and lady so mote it be and blessed be.”
2. Cast circle and call quarters
- Have participants walk in a circle (make sure your circle encompasses everything) in a clockwise direction while the priestess says, “I conjure thee, great circle; to be a meeting place of love, trust, and peace containing the power we raise within thee. Thus I conjure thee in the name of the lord and lady, so mote it be and blessed be with harm to none.” Priestess pounds the ground with her hand saying, “as above so below, this circle is closed.”
- Officers (or people of choice) call the quarters using whatever method they choose saying, “I call to the (animal) and the (element) and ye guardians of the watchtowers of the (direction). I summon thee to watch over this Wiccaning.” Should be said in the order north, east, south, west (south-fire, north-earth, west-water, east-wind).
3. Wiccaning/Saining
- Light the candle and have the maiden hold the baby.
- The maiden holds the baby, raises it to the sun/moon and the priestess says a blessing and anoints the baby with holy water or oil.
- The adults, in turn, anoint the baby with holy water and say a blessing.
- Priestess asks the gods to bless the child, anointing with holy water each chakra (hands, feet, crown, third eye, throat, heart, navel and groin). Ex: When blessing chest ask for a good heart.
4. Declaring Goddess/god parent
- Adult holds baby and priestess says, “Dear Lord and lady, we bring someone who is to be the goddess/god parent.”
- Adult (not holding baby) asks goddess/god parent, “We have chosen you to be the goddess/god parent to our child and you have agreed. Will you promise now to help care for (child’s name) and help this child understand his/her spirituality as best you can?”
- When goddess/god parent responds the affirmative have the maiden take the child from the adult and place it into the goddess/god parent’s arms. Then one of the adults say, “I declare that as of this moment (goddess/god parent’s name) is the goddess/god parent to (child’s name) and shall fulfill his/her responsibility as such.”
5. Present and close quarters
- Maiden takes baby to each quarter and officers (or people of choice) in turn (reverse order) say, “Guardian of (direction, element, animal), we present to you (child’s name) and thank you for watching over this Wiccaning. We ask for your blessings on this child. Go if you must, stay if you will. So mote it be and blessed be with harm to none”
6. Blessing by person of choice
- Speak to child and say, “May the goddess/god bless you and love you as I do.” After this is said anoint with oil and draw the pentacle on the child.
7. Close the circle
- Priestess says, “This circle is open but never broken. Merry meet and merry part until we merry meet again.”
8. Record, commence in merry making, and clean
Dedication Ceremony
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area – pick an area where you can be alone, probably your sacred space but you may want to do it outside
Prepare body – take a bath and cleanse negative energies as well as washing yourself
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Ring a bell and ask for the lord and the lady or the all to come into your circle.
D. Statement of Purpose – this part comes from your heart and it why the ritual is so personal. Talk from your heart to the lord and lady. Tell them why you want to be Wiccan, what you want from this religion; tell them how you are feeling and your hopes for the future. Also tell them what your Wiccan name will be. Your first name is one you choose, your last name is that of your coven. Some people choose a middle name that you never tell anyone but the gods.
E. Actual working of Act of Honor
1. Working
a) Start by lighting a candle to guide you. Then do a short meditate to center yourself.
b) Raise power/energy – whatever method you find appropriate
c) Focus power/energy – use the energy you raised to fill yourself with the blessings of the lord and lady.
d) Ground power/energy – put all the extra energy into the ground, letting it go back to its source.
2. Honoring
a) Honor the lord and lady in whatever way you feel is appropriate.
b) Dedicate cakes and wine or cider. (offer them to the lord and lady)
c) Partake of cakes and wine or cider after a little while.
F. Meditation – this should be a longer meditation than the first one.
G. Thank the lord and lady or the all
H. Closing the circle
1. Mentally and verbally closing the circle
2. Physically close the circle
I. Cleanup and Record
Handfasting
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area
Prepare body
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Usually just the Lord and Lady are invoked, sometimes with a bell and lighting of a candle (by the priestess/priest).
D. Statement of Purpose: Here the Priestess/priest should give a short blessing for the couple being married.
E. The Marriage
1. The parents of those being married light candles and give them to those being married. The couple then both us their candles at the same time to light a mother candle between them.
2. The couple should each have vows written for each other, and should say them now. And as each finishes their vows they should give the other one the ring.
3. The Priestess/Priest asks “do you take this man/woman to be your husband/wife?” and the person says “I do”. As they are doing this the Priestess/Priest should tie a cord around their hands that have the rings on them The Priest/ess should then say “You are now bound together, to share with each other perfect love and trust. So mote it be and blessed be, with harm to none.”
F. Closing the circle
The Priest/ess should then close the circle and thank the quarters.
When the ceremony is over the cord may be untied and the candles may be snuffed out. Usually these are kept or disposed of in a special way, not just thrown out with the trash.
G. Celebrate!
Death Ceremony
*Wiccans do not have any beliefs about the correct way to dispose a body that has died. There are also many versions of this ceremony, so change it as you will.
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area
Prepare the body of the one dead (or the ashes) and prepare whoever is holding the ceremony.
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Align self with deity
1. Invoke deities. Include any you want, but make sure you address the Crone who will take the deceased to the Summerland.
D. Statement of Purpose: Give a speech about the deceased and what their life.
E. Actual working of Act of Honor
Working
a. Raise power/energy: Use a song to raise energy.
b. Have people come up and say what they want about the deceased. When each person comes up they should light a candle.
c. There should be a concluding speech, and thanking everyone who came and the lord and lady for the person’s life. Light an incense as an offering to the Crone, asking for an easy journey.
F. There should be a moment of silence (like a minute meditation).
G. Closing the circle
Mentally and verbally closing the circle
Physically close the circle
H. Serve food (usually breads, meat and cheeses. No sweets.)
I. Cleanup and Record
Wiccaning Ritual
Tools: 2 candles (one white), holy water, lighter, bell, basic altar, anointing oil, and (optional) whatever officers need.
People: baby, parent(s)/guardian(s) which will be referred to as the adults, a person of choice to say one of the blessings, goddess/god parent, Priestess or Priest performing the ceremony, and (opt.) guests.
1. Prepare space and altar devotion
- Cleanse, consecrate and bless items and people gathered there. Priestess says “I cleanse, consecrate and bless these items in the name of the lord and lady, so mote it be and blessed be with harm to none.”
- Altar devotion: Priestess kneels at altar, lights white candle saying “Little fire do my desire” and draw banishment pentacle. Then say “I cast out all negativity here, may the lord and lady fill us with positive energy and happiness.”
- Bless and cleanse individuals participating in ritual, anointing with holy water and saying, “May you be blessed, and all negativity be washed away and replaced with goodness and joy. In the name of the lord and lady so mote it be and blessed be.”
2. Cast circle and call quarters
- Have participants walk in a circle (make sure your circle encompasses everything) in a clockwise direction while the priestess says, “I conjure thee, great circle; to be a meeting place of love, trust, and peace containing the power we raise within thee. Thus I conjure thee in the name of the lord and lady, so mote it be and blessed be with harm to none.” Priestess pounds the ground with her hand saying, “as above so below, this circle is closed.”
- Officers (or people of choice) call the quarters using whatever method they choose saying, “I call to the (animal) and the (element) and ye guardians of the watchtowers of the (direction). I summon thee to watch over this Wiccaning.” Should be said in the order north, east, south, west (south-fire, north-earth, west-water, east-wind).
3. Wiccaning/Saining
- Light the candle and have the maiden hold the baby.
- The maiden holds the baby, raises it to the sun/moon and the priestess says a blessing and anoints the baby with holy water or oil.
- The adults, in turn, anoint the baby with holy water and say a blessing.
- Priestess asks the gods to bless the child, anointing with holy water each chakra (hands, feet, crown, third eye, throat, heart, navel and groin). Ex: When blessing chest ask for a good heart.
4. Declaring Goddess/god parent
- Adult holds baby and priestess says, “Dear Lord and lady, we bring someone who is to be the goddess/god parent.”
- Adult (not holding baby) asks goddess/god parent, “We have chosen you to be the goddess/god parent to our child and you have agreed. Will you promise now to help care for (child’s name) and help this child understand his/her spirituality as best you can?”
- When goddess/god parent responds the affirmative have the maiden take the child from the adult and place it into the goddess/god parent’s arms. Then one of the adults say, “I declare that as of this moment (goddess/god parent’s name) is the goddess/god parent to (child’s name) and shall fulfill his/her responsibility as such.”
5. Present and close quarters
- Maiden takes baby to each quarter and officers (or people of choice) in turn (reverse order) say, “Guardian of (direction, element, animal), we present to you (child’s name) and thank you for watching over this Wiccaning. We ask for your blessings on this child. Go if you must, stay if you will. So mote it be and blessed be with harm to none”
6. Blessing by person of choice
- Speak to child and say, “May the goddess/god bless you and love you as I do.” After this is said anoint with oil and draw the pentacle on the child.
7. Close the circle
- Priestess says, “This circle is open but never broken. Merry meet and merry part until we merry meet again.”
8. Record, commence in merry making, and clean
Dedication Ceremony
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area – pick an area where you can be alone, probably your sacred space but you may want to do it outside
Prepare body – take a bath and cleanse negative energies as well as washing yourself
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Ring a bell and ask for the lord and the lady or the all to come into your circle.
D. Statement of Purpose – this part comes from your heart and it why the ritual is so personal. Talk from your heart to the lord and lady. Tell them why you want to be Wiccan, what you want from this religion; tell them how you are feeling and your hopes for the future. Also tell them what your Wiccan name will be. Your first name is one you choose, your last name is that of your coven. Some people choose a middle name that you never tell anyone but the gods.
E. Actual working of Act of Honor
1. Working
a) Start by lighting a candle to guide you. Then do a short meditate to center yourself.
b) Raise power/energy – whatever method you find appropriate
c) Focus power/energy – use the energy you raised to fill yourself with the blessings of the lord and lady.
d) Ground power/energy – put all the extra energy into the ground, letting it go back to its source.
2. Honoring
a) Honor the lord and lady in whatever way you feel is appropriate.
b) Dedicate cakes and wine or cider. (offer them to the lord and lady)
c) Partake of cakes and wine or cider after a little while.
F. Meditation – this should be a longer meditation than the first one.
G. Thank the lord and lady or the all
H. Closing the circle
1. Mentally and verbally closing the circle
2. Physically close the circle
I. Cleanup and Record
Handfasting
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area
Prepare body
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Usually just the Lord and Lady are invoked, sometimes with a bell and lighting of a candle (by the priestess/priest).
D. Statement of Purpose: Here the Priestess/priest should give a short blessing for the couple being married.
E. The Marriage
1. The parents of those being married light candles and give them to those being married. The couple then both us their candles at the same time to light a mother candle between them.
2. The couple should each have vows written for each other, and should say them now. And as each finishes their vows they should give the other one the ring.
3. The Priestess/Priest asks “do you take this man/woman to be your husband/wife?” and the person says “I do”. As they are doing this the Priestess/Priest should tie a cord around their hands that have the rings on them The Priest/ess should then say “You are now bound together, to share with each other perfect love and trust. So mote it be and blessed be, with harm to none.”
F. Closing the circle
The Priest/ess should then close the circle and thank the quarters.
When the ceremony is over the cord may be untied and the candles may be snuffed out. Usually these are kept or disposed of in a special way, not just thrown out with the trash.
G. Celebrate!
Death Ceremony
*Wiccans do not have any beliefs about the correct way to dispose a body that has died. There are also many versions of this ceremony, so change it as you will.
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area
Prepare the body of the one dead (or the ashes) and prepare whoever is holding the ceremony.
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Align self with deity
1. Invoke deities. Include any you want, but make sure you address the Crone who will take the deceased to the Summerland.
D. Statement of Purpose: Give a speech about the deceased and what their life.
E. Actual working of Act of Honor
Working
a. Raise power/energy: Use a song to raise energy.
b. Have people come up and say what they want about the deceased. When each person comes up they should light a candle.
c. There should be a concluding speech, and thanking everyone who came and the lord and lady for the person’s life. Light an incense as an offering to the Crone, asking for an easy journey.
F. There should be a moment of silence (like a minute meditation).
G. Closing the circle
Mentally and verbally closing the circle
Physically close the circle
H. Serve food (usually breads, meat and cheeses. No sweets.)
I. Cleanup and Record
Chapter 8: Spells, Rituals and Daily Devotions
Spells
We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life, but spells are to reach a goal. To start you have to do ritual purification, which means first cleanse and consecrate everything being used (even yourself). This is where you physically clean and then clean the energy off an object, saying “I cleanse and consecrate this item in the name of the lord and lady, so mote it be and blessed be with harm to none.” Then cast a circle and call the quarters (at the end of the spell you shall undo these). At the end you will record the spell (and later record the results).
In a basic ritual you: Do the altar devotion, create the sacred space, cast a magical circle, call the quarters, invoke deities, close quarters, release the circle, and ground and center. If a spell is written badly you won’t get proper results, and since most people write their own spells they have to record what they did so as to improve upon it later if they wish. To invoke the gods (invoke means to invite the all into your circle) you have to ring a bell and call out their names or have a picture. You have to build energy as well. To think a thing is to create a thing. The different types of spells let you do different ways of raising energy. There is candles, meditation, dancing, chanting, singing, weaving or cord magic and much more (magick is a different spelling so we know that we are not talking about stage magic). Everything needs visualization and concentration. You can use Planetary hours (a system of hourly division associated with planetary energies) and moon phases to time your spell. Magical correspondences such as colors, herbs, and stones can be used to focus the intent of the spell.
To cast a circle start with yarn, star walking clockwise laying the yarn down as you go and say, “ I conjure thee, o great circle of power so that you will be a boundary between the world of men and mighty spirits, a meeting place of perfect love, trust, peace and joy containing the power I/we will raise within thee. I call upon the guardians of the North, East, South, and West to aid me in this concentration. In the name of the lord and lady thus I do conjure the, o great circle of power.” When completed, at point where the string connects say, “As above, so below, this circle is sealed!” and he pounds on the ground with your fist 3 times. Then you or the officers of the elements call the quarters by saying, “I call to the (animal) and the (element) and Ye Guardians of the watchtowers of the (direction), I summon thee to watch over this ritual.”(Example: South-fire-snake*north-earth-wolf*east-wind-blue~jay*west-water-dolphin).
Rituals are the same as spells, just more elaborate and you are doing it to honor the gods just as much as asking for something. Rituals are usually done on holidays and only ask for general health and happiness. Spells are done any time and ask for something specific, like a job promotion. Rituals are usually group while spells are solitary, and rituals usually include food while spells do not. There is an outline for a ritual on the next page.
Daily Devotions
The things a Wiccan should be doing every day are called daily devotions. Here is a typical example:
Morning – Write down any dreams you can remember. Then do stretching or take a bath and focus on your body. How does it feel when you do that stretch or how does the water feel on your back? This should last ten minutes. This is to center yourself in your body and to take care of yourself.
Afternoon – Meditation is encouraged any time of day, but at least once a day for twenty to fifty minutes. Prayers before each meal are also encouraged but not always practiced.
Night – This is the most important one. Go to the altar and light a candle. Give an offering, like incense or a flower, to the lord and lady. Say whatever prayers you have. Use this time to talk to the Lord and lady about whatever you feel like talking about. At the end thank them. When you are done with that write in your journal about your day, or whatever thoughts/pictures are in your head. Some people draw instead of write in their journals. When you get into bed say a prayer. This is the one I use “Day is done, time for bed. Goddess bless my sleepy head. Air Water Earth and Fire, bring sweet dreams as I desire. As the morning sun does rise, may the lord bless my sleepy eyes.”
Basic Outline of a Ritual for a Solitary
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area
Prepare body
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Align self with deity
2. Invoke deities
D. Statement of Purpose
E. Actual working of Act of Honor
1. Working
a) Complete preliminary/visual task
b) Raise power/energy
c) Focus power/energy
d) Ground power/energy
2. Honoring
a) Complete preliminary manual/visual tasks
b) Dedicate cakes and wine
c) Partake of cakes and wine
F. Meditation
G. Thanking the Deities
H. Closing the circle
1. Mentally and verbally closing the circle
2. Physically close the circle
I. Cleanup and Record
We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life, but spells are to reach a goal. To start you have to do ritual purification, which means first cleanse and consecrate everything being used (even yourself). This is where you physically clean and then clean the energy off an object, saying “I cleanse and consecrate this item in the name of the lord and lady, so mote it be and blessed be with harm to none.” Then cast a circle and call the quarters (at the end of the spell you shall undo these). At the end you will record the spell (and later record the results).
In a basic ritual you: Do the altar devotion, create the sacred space, cast a magical circle, call the quarters, invoke deities, close quarters, release the circle, and ground and center. If a spell is written badly you won’t get proper results, and since most people write their own spells they have to record what they did so as to improve upon it later if they wish. To invoke the gods (invoke means to invite the all into your circle) you have to ring a bell and call out their names or have a picture. You have to build energy as well. To think a thing is to create a thing. The different types of spells let you do different ways of raising energy. There is candles, meditation, dancing, chanting, singing, weaving or cord magic and much more (magick is a different spelling so we know that we are not talking about stage magic). Everything needs visualization and concentration. You can use Planetary hours (a system of hourly division associated with planetary energies) and moon phases to time your spell. Magical correspondences such as colors, herbs, and stones can be used to focus the intent of the spell.
To cast a circle start with yarn, star walking clockwise laying the yarn down as you go and say, “ I conjure thee, o great circle of power so that you will be a boundary between the world of men and mighty spirits, a meeting place of perfect love, trust, peace and joy containing the power I/we will raise within thee. I call upon the guardians of the North, East, South, and West to aid me in this concentration. In the name of the lord and lady thus I do conjure the, o great circle of power.” When completed, at point where the string connects say, “As above, so below, this circle is sealed!” and he pounds on the ground with your fist 3 times. Then you or the officers of the elements call the quarters by saying, “I call to the (animal) and the (element) and Ye Guardians of the watchtowers of the (direction), I summon thee to watch over this ritual.”(Example: South-fire-snake*north-earth-wolf*east-wind-blue~jay*west-water-dolphin).
Rituals are the same as spells, just more elaborate and you are doing it to honor the gods just as much as asking for something. Rituals are usually done on holidays and only ask for general health and happiness. Spells are done any time and ask for something specific, like a job promotion. Rituals are usually group while spells are solitary, and rituals usually include food while spells do not. There is an outline for a ritual on the next page.
Daily Devotions
The things a Wiccan should be doing every day are called daily devotions. Here is a typical example:
Morning – Write down any dreams you can remember. Then do stretching or take a bath and focus on your body. How does it feel when you do that stretch or how does the water feel on your back? This should last ten minutes. This is to center yourself in your body and to take care of yourself.
Afternoon – Meditation is encouraged any time of day, but at least once a day for twenty to fifty minutes. Prayers before each meal are also encouraged but not always practiced.
Night – This is the most important one. Go to the altar and light a candle. Give an offering, like incense or a flower, to the lord and lady. Say whatever prayers you have. Use this time to talk to the Lord and lady about whatever you feel like talking about. At the end thank them. When you are done with that write in your journal about your day, or whatever thoughts/pictures are in your head. Some people draw instead of write in their journals. When you get into bed say a prayer. This is the one I use “Day is done, time for bed. Goddess bless my sleepy head. Air Water Earth and Fire, bring sweet dreams as I desire. As the morning sun does rise, may the lord bless my sleepy eyes.”
Basic Outline of a Ritual for a Solitary
A. Ritual Preparation
Gather tools and cleanse and consecrate them
Prepare area
Prepare body
B. Open circle
1. Cast a circle
2. Call the watch towers/elemental quarters
C. Invocation of deities
1. Align self with deity
2. Invoke deities
D. Statement of Purpose
E. Actual working of Act of Honor
1. Working
a) Complete preliminary/visual task
b) Raise power/energy
c) Focus power/energy
d) Ground power/energy
2. Honoring
a) Complete preliminary manual/visual tasks
b) Dedicate cakes and wine
c) Partake of cakes and wine
F. Meditation
G. Thanking the Deities
H. Closing the circle
1. Mentally and verbally closing the circle
2. Physically close the circle
I. Cleanup and Record
Chapter 7: Correspondences and Healing
Correspondences
Correspondences are charts that Wiccans make to show what magical properties different things have. For example, a color correspondence chart will say things like “red- passion, lust, anger, strength” and you can use red in a spell for one of those things. It is usually best to make your own correspondence chart for colors, but for everything else there are established ones. There are books that are complete Correspondence charts of gems, rocks, crystals and plants. Healing correspondences should not be changed since most of it is actually real medical uses for herbs.
Here is a Correspondence sheet of five common stones:
•Amber: protective, useful to safeguard children, can represent orgasms, enhances
beauty, worn by priestesses.
•Amethyst: drives off nightmares, encourages peace, protective, good for meditation
and divination (especially prophetic dreams).
•Bloodstone: health, helps athletes, blood and cardiovascular diseases
•Jasper: Red – defensive, promotes grace, cures fevers.
Green – body healing, helps with mental illness
•Moonstone: attracts love and resolves lover’s quarrels, restful, if held in the mouth
helps with divination, helps people to lose weight.
Healing
If others are being healed they must want to be healed and they must believe in the magic you are going to perform. It is important to examine their body (without them getting naked) and to ask lots of questions about the problem and their lifestyle (it might help their cough if they stopped smoking). Also modern medicine is encouraged and believed in just as much as magic. But magic should be used as well since it will help with spiritual sickness as well.
When doing healing make sure you start like you would any spell (in chapter 8). The first thing to do is check their Chakras. Chakras are points of power on the body. They are: crown (green), between eyes/third eye (purple), throat (blue), hands and feet (orange), heart (pink), navel (yellow) and groin (red). These should look like faint lights on these parts on of the body. Check to see if there are blockages, making the lights dim or possibly black. Clear these by having the patient and yourself breathe at the same time (this can be done on yourself as well with the same method, and this can be done for healing or meditation). Pull the good energy (the light colors) towards wherever needs help or the navel with each in breath. With each out breath push the black parts out of the body. Keep doing this until the good energy is focused as small as possible in one part of the body and all the blockages are gone. Then call whatever deity you prefer to bless the sick person.
White healing light should fill the circle you have cast around you. Now lay your hand on some area of skin that the person fills comfortable with you touching. You can simply lay yours hand on them or massage them. If you don’t know them well simply massage their hands. As you touch them guide the energy that is in the circle into them, let it fill every part of them. Have them concentrate on their breath still. When you are done ground yourself by pushing all the extra energy, the black as well as the light that isn’t in the person, into the ground.
The next part is not as long. A simple spell can be done where they are given teas, herbs, amulets, candles, poppets, talismans or just prayers. Dreamwork can be done as well. Some people, who call themselves kitchen witches, believe in doing all their spells with food since then the magic goes right into you and is absorbed in you. This can make a lot of sense when healing.
5 Basic herbs and their healing uses:
•Cayenne: headaches, depression, blood problems and bleeding
•Cinnamon: indigestion
•Ginger: cramps and nausea
•Garlic: parasites
•Chamomile: helps you sleep and relax
Correspondences are charts that Wiccans make to show what magical properties different things have. For example, a color correspondence chart will say things like “red- passion, lust, anger, strength” and you can use red in a spell for one of those things. It is usually best to make your own correspondence chart for colors, but for everything else there are established ones. There are books that are complete Correspondence charts of gems, rocks, crystals and plants. Healing correspondences should not be changed since most of it is actually real medical uses for herbs.
Here is a Correspondence sheet of five common stones:
•Amber: protective, useful to safeguard children, can represent orgasms, enhances
beauty, worn by priestesses.
•Amethyst: drives off nightmares, encourages peace, protective, good for meditation
and divination (especially prophetic dreams).
•Bloodstone: health, helps athletes, blood and cardiovascular diseases
•Jasper: Red – defensive, promotes grace, cures fevers.
Green – body healing, helps with mental illness
•Moonstone: attracts love and resolves lover’s quarrels, restful, if held in the mouth
helps with divination, helps people to lose weight.
Healing
If others are being healed they must want to be healed and they must believe in the magic you are going to perform. It is important to examine their body (without them getting naked) and to ask lots of questions about the problem and their lifestyle (it might help their cough if they stopped smoking). Also modern medicine is encouraged and believed in just as much as magic. But magic should be used as well since it will help with spiritual sickness as well.
When doing healing make sure you start like you would any spell (in chapter 8). The first thing to do is check their Chakras. Chakras are points of power on the body. They are: crown (green), between eyes/third eye (purple), throat (blue), hands and feet (orange), heart (pink), navel (yellow) and groin (red). These should look like faint lights on these parts on of the body. Check to see if there are blockages, making the lights dim or possibly black. Clear these by having the patient and yourself breathe at the same time (this can be done on yourself as well with the same method, and this can be done for healing or meditation). Pull the good energy (the light colors) towards wherever needs help or the navel with each in breath. With each out breath push the black parts out of the body. Keep doing this until the good energy is focused as small as possible in one part of the body and all the blockages are gone. Then call whatever deity you prefer to bless the sick person.
White healing light should fill the circle you have cast around you. Now lay your hand on some area of skin that the person fills comfortable with you touching. You can simply lay yours hand on them or massage them. If you don’t know them well simply massage their hands. As you touch them guide the energy that is in the circle into them, let it fill every part of them. Have them concentrate on their breath still. When you are done ground yourself by pushing all the extra energy, the black as well as the light that isn’t in the person, into the ground.
The next part is not as long. A simple spell can be done where they are given teas, herbs, amulets, candles, poppets, talismans or just prayers. Dreamwork can be done as well. Some people, who call themselves kitchen witches, believe in doing all their spells with food since then the magic goes right into you and is absorbed in you. This can make a lot of sense when healing.
5 Basic herbs and their healing uses:
•Cayenne: headaches, depression, blood problems and bleeding
•Cinnamon: indigestion
•Ginger: cramps and nausea
•Garlic: parasites
•Chamomile: helps you sleep and relax
Chapter 6: Tools -symbols, magical cabinet and the altar
Symbols
There are a few symbols that have special meanings. These can be used in spells or worn. They are hard for me to draw on the computer, so I will describe them only (sorry). The pentacle is five pointed star within a circle. This represents the four elements and the spirit. The circle represents many things, such as the circle of life or a sacred circle that is used to do spells in. When drawn the pentacle can be used to invoke spirits, and when drawn backwads can banish. The same thing is done with the sacred spiral, which actually just looks like a spiral. It represents the continuation of life. The equal armed cross, which looks how it sounds, is used for healing, seals and invokes power. Sometimes it is worn by men. Women usually wear the goddess symbol, which is a circle (the full moon) with a crescent moon on either side, so that their rounded side is touching the circle. This represents the three faces of the Goddess. The last important symbols are the ones representing the elements. For air it is a circle with a dot in the very center. Earth is a square. Fire is a circle with a triangle inside. Water is a circle that is divided by a line going straight across the middle horizontally. All these symbols can be worn, tattooed, or used in ceremonies and spells.
Magical Cabinet
A Magical Cabinet is a storage space (not necessarily a cabinet) where magical tools are stored. There are many magical tools. Common ones include musical instruments, rocks, gems, crystals, candles, herbs, plants, incense, scented oils, bells, an offering plate, divination tools (tarot cards, yes/no stone, runes), wand, athame, Bolline, chalice and any things made in spells (talismans, amulets, cords, ect). A wand is made with wood from a tree and a gem stone, usually made by someone else for you. If you would like to make one simply choose a tree, ask its permission and take some wood. Do a blessing for the wood and gem and clean them, and then attach them to each other and finally cleanse and consecrate them and dedicate them to their purpose. An Athame is a religious knife. It usually looks like a dagger and is decorated. It represents males. A chalice is a cup shaped like a red wine up, usually made of a silver colored metal and decorated. This represents the water element and women.
The Altar
An Altar is created in a sacred space. It is where you practice your spirituality. The sacred space is a safe place where you are comfortable enough to practice your religion. There is no ceremony to create a sacred space, you just pick it. If there is no physical space for you to occupy you can create a spot in your mind, so when you close your eyes you can go there. In the sacred space is your altar, which is more complicated to make and is your most important tool.
Pick a flat area for your altar and put an altar cloth on it. The altar cloth and the altar itself should be cleaned at each holiday, and some people change the altar and altar cloth to reflect the season. The altar must have the following: a pentacle, a representation of each of the elements, something to represent your spirit and a mother candle. A mother candle is a tall white candle that represents all of the spirit.
It is extremely rude to touch someone’s altar. Children are the exception, since the young are learning and are attracted to magic; even if they do something improper with the altar they are forgiven because the lord and lady love children. Never use the altar as a shelf or set non-religious stuff on it (like your cup of juice or your mail). The altar should be decorated and can have many different items on it, such as:
- Compass - Divination Tool - Working Spells (spells in progress, ex. cord magic)
- Amulet - Mirrors - Runes
- Cauldron - Rocks - Sigil
- Plants - Tarot Cards - Offerings
- Symbols - Athame - Affirmations
- Bell(s) - Yes/No Stone - Wand
- Pictures - Bolline - Charms
*These are not the only things you can put on your altar!
If you'd like to see what an altar looks like, I have some pictures of my altar here.
There are a few symbols that have special meanings. These can be used in spells or worn. They are hard for me to draw on the computer, so I will describe them only (sorry). The pentacle is five pointed star within a circle. This represents the four elements and the spirit. The circle represents many things, such as the circle of life or a sacred circle that is used to do spells in. When drawn the pentacle can be used to invoke spirits, and when drawn backwads can banish. The same thing is done with the sacred spiral, which actually just looks like a spiral. It represents the continuation of life. The equal armed cross, which looks how it sounds, is used for healing, seals and invokes power. Sometimes it is worn by men. Women usually wear the goddess symbol, which is a circle (the full moon) with a crescent moon on either side, so that their rounded side is touching the circle. This represents the three faces of the Goddess. The last important symbols are the ones representing the elements. For air it is a circle with a dot in the very center. Earth is a square. Fire is a circle with a triangle inside. Water is a circle that is divided by a line going straight across the middle horizontally. All these symbols can be worn, tattooed, or used in ceremonies and spells.
Magical Cabinet
A Magical Cabinet is a storage space (not necessarily a cabinet) where magical tools are stored. There are many magical tools. Common ones include musical instruments, rocks, gems, crystals, candles, herbs, plants, incense, scented oils, bells, an offering plate, divination tools (tarot cards, yes/no stone, runes), wand, athame, Bolline, chalice and any things made in spells (talismans, amulets, cords, ect). A wand is made with wood from a tree and a gem stone, usually made by someone else for you. If you would like to make one simply choose a tree, ask its permission and take some wood. Do a blessing for the wood and gem and clean them, and then attach them to each other and finally cleanse and consecrate them and dedicate them to their purpose. An Athame is a religious knife. It usually looks like a dagger and is decorated. It represents males. A chalice is a cup shaped like a red wine up, usually made of a silver colored metal and decorated. This represents the water element and women.
The Altar
An Altar is created in a sacred space. It is where you practice your spirituality. The sacred space is a safe place where you are comfortable enough to practice your religion. There is no ceremony to create a sacred space, you just pick it. If there is no physical space for you to occupy you can create a spot in your mind, so when you close your eyes you can go there. In the sacred space is your altar, which is more complicated to make and is your most important tool.
Pick a flat area for your altar and put an altar cloth on it. The altar cloth and the altar itself should be cleaned at each holiday, and some people change the altar and altar cloth to reflect the season. The altar must have the following: a pentacle, a representation of each of the elements, something to represent your spirit and a mother candle. A mother candle is a tall white candle that represents all of the spirit.
It is extremely rude to touch someone’s altar. Children are the exception, since the young are learning and are attracted to magic; even if they do something improper with the altar they are forgiven because the lord and lady love children. Never use the altar as a shelf or set non-religious stuff on it (like your cup of juice or your mail). The altar should be decorated and can have many different items on it, such as:
- Compass - Divination Tool - Working Spells (spells in progress, ex. cord magic)
- Amulet - Mirrors - Runes
- Cauldron - Rocks - Sigil
- Plants - Tarot Cards - Offerings
- Symbols - Athame - Affirmations
- Bell(s) - Yes/No Stone - Wand
- Pictures - Bolline - Charms
*These are not the only things you can put on your altar!
If you'd like to see what an altar looks like, I have some pictures of my altar here.
Chapter 5: History and Traditions
The beginnings of Wicca are somewhat unknown/debated. Most of the core beliefs and practices are drawn from ancient pagan faiths. Some people think Wicca comes from "the old ways" being passed down and practiced in secret by small numbers of people in secretive covens (the "Witch Cult Hypothesis"), and while that may or may not be true the real reason we have Wicca as it is today is largely creditted to a man named Gerald Gardener and his contemporaries. He claimed he had been initiated into one of those covens and tried to publicize the religion during the 50's to encourage more to join the faith. Some people think that Gardener made everything up, but no matter how it started it soon spread and new Wiccan traditions started developing in Britain, the United States and elsewhere.
Wiccans have the same core beliefs, but different traditions practice their beliefs in different ways. To be clear, a “Pagan” is not the same as a “Wiccan”. Pagans are any religion that is not Judeo-Christian. The following traditions are Wiccan, not Pagan. There are many traditions, but these are the biggest five.
•Electric – This is the type of Wicca that this little book is about. It is best defined as Wicca that is non-traditional, as in it doesn’t focus on the European based roots of the religion and does not fall under any of the other traditions of Wicca. Many of the smaller traditions start as Electric and then when they get enough of a following they choose a name and become a new tradition in their own right.
•Alexandrian - Traditionally, they work with and worship the Old Gods of Europe, primarily focusing on Our Lady of the Moon and her Consort, the Horned One. Alexandrian initiates may work with other deities on a personal or group basis as well. They aim for a personal connection with and an understanding of deities and ancestors, as well as the rhythms and tides of nature. They have no laity, only Priests and Priestesses. They use both traditional and experimental magical techniques. To become an Alexandrian initiate one must be initiated by a properly prepared and authorized Alexandrian High Priestess or Priest in a cross-gendered Initiation. Most rituals are performed skyclad, which means naked.
•Gardnerian – This was the first tradition that really brought back Wicca. Since Wiccans and witches had been persecuted for so long many people were not openly practicing this religion and the old knowledge was dying out. Gerald Gardenia brought it back in the 1950s. There is a stress on action instead of words in this tradition. It is an oral tradition that consists of rituals and practices that are used by its initiates to understand the “Craft Mysteries”. They use a spiritual system to gain a non-conceptual understanding of the age old questions of life, death, eithics and so on. Sometimes this is referred ot as British Traditional Wicca.
• Pow-wow – This is simply Wicca combined with Native American Traditions, with an emphasis on drums, singing, and animal spirits.
• Dianic – This is powered by the woman’s movement. Only women can be in these covens, and only women who were born women. Men are only seen as creations of women, since there are only women and their children. The Goddess represents the whole web of life, birth and death. Instead of praying they focus their energies on different parts of the female energy, like different strands in the web of life. They emphasize creativity and the sacredness of sex. It is named after the Goddess Diana, which represents females and the moon.
Wiccans have the same core beliefs, but different traditions practice their beliefs in different ways. To be clear, a “Pagan” is not the same as a “Wiccan”. Pagans are any religion that is not Judeo-Christian. The following traditions are Wiccan, not Pagan. There are many traditions, but these are the biggest five.
•Electric – This is the type of Wicca that this little book is about. It is best defined as Wicca that is non-traditional, as in it doesn’t focus on the European based roots of the religion and does not fall under any of the other traditions of Wicca. Many of the smaller traditions start as Electric and then when they get enough of a following they choose a name and become a new tradition in their own right.
•Alexandrian - Traditionally, they work with and worship the Old Gods of Europe, primarily focusing on Our Lady of the Moon and her Consort, the Horned One. Alexandrian initiates may work with other deities on a personal or group basis as well. They aim for a personal connection with and an understanding of deities and ancestors, as well as the rhythms and tides of nature. They have no laity, only Priests and Priestesses. They use both traditional and experimental magical techniques. To become an Alexandrian initiate one must be initiated by a properly prepared and authorized Alexandrian High Priestess or Priest in a cross-gendered Initiation. Most rituals are performed skyclad, which means naked.
•Gardnerian – This was the first tradition that really brought back Wicca. Since Wiccans and witches had been persecuted for so long many people were not openly practicing this religion and the old knowledge was dying out. Gerald Gardenia brought it back in the 1950s. There is a stress on action instead of words in this tradition. It is an oral tradition that consists of rituals and practices that are used by its initiates to understand the “Craft Mysteries”. They use a spiritual system to gain a non-conceptual understanding of the age old questions of life, death, eithics and so on. Sometimes this is referred ot as British Traditional Wicca.
• Pow-wow – This is simply Wicca combined with Native American Traditions, with an emphasis on drums, singing, and animal spirits.
• Dianic – This is powered by the woman’s movement. Only women can be in these covens, and only women who were born women. Men are only seen as creations of women, since there are only women and their children. The Goddess represents the whole web of life, birth and death. Instead of praying they focus their energies on different parts of the female energy, like different strands in the web of life. They emphasize creativity and the sacredness of sex. It is named after the Goddess Diana, which represents females and the moon.
Chapter 4: Rules and Covens
Morals/ Rules
We have just as many morals as anyone else. But our big rules have to do with the rule of three. All that basically means is anything you do comes back to you. So do something nice and you get nice reflected back at you times three. If you do something bad same thing, what you gave out times three. This isn’t exact math though; if you give someone a hundred dollars don’t expect three hundred dollars to come back at you. There are no good witches or bad witches, just people. One other big thing to remember if you start doing spells though is you can suffer consequences if a spell backfires or you don’t ask permission to cast it onto someone. The only rule we have is to not harm others, so we don’t cast “evil spells” or anything like that.
We do not believe in Satan, but respect other religions. The only problem we have with other religions is their idea that their way is the only right way. God/the all is like a diamond – there are many faucets (faces) to it and no matter which one you choose to look through you are seeing the same center. This is how religion is, you just have to find the religion that works with your perspective. There is no right way to practice your spirituality, and there is no right way to practice Wicca. A witch is just a Wiccan who has studied and has done their dedication ceremony; a witch seeks to control the forces within themselves, they live wisely, and are in harmony with nature. They also know mind, religion, spirit, and magical applications function together and it is important to have an open mind.
We have an “official” moral code called the Reed. It is basically a poem that instructs you what you can or can not do. It reminds you to share perfect love and trust, to merry meet and merry part, blessed be, cast circles for spiritual safety, and listen more than you speak. It has many little rules in it but most people don’t follow it word for word because the last line is “Eight words the Wiccan Reed fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will.” This basically means that it doesn’t matter if you follow all the little rules in the poem as long as you follow the last and most important one of not harming anyone.
The Wiccan “Church”: Covens
Instead of “churches” we have covens. The Wiccan religion has no central government and anyone can create a coven. Each coven has Ordains (rules) and a way of doing things, as well as a B.O.S. (a B.O.S. is a Book of Shadows which is a reference book every Wiccan and every coven makes for themselves). You can become a member of a coven by being initiated. A coven is a group of four or more Wiccans helping each other along a spiritual path. If you do not want to be part of a coven right away you can be a solitary. To do that you have to have a dedication ceremony where you dedicate yourself to the lord and lady and to your study of the craft. This can be done at age twelve or older.
There are different positions in the coven. Temple summoner (or maiden) is a skilled person who assists the High Priest and High Priestess. The Officers of the Quarters are the people (one for each direction) who are responsible for a certain element in a ceremony. A Priest/Priestess is a person who dedicates themselves to helping others and to the path of the lady/lord. A High Priest/High Priestess is a Priest/Priestess that has certain responsibilities in a coven and is the leader in some of the coven ceremonies. Usually the elders or the people mentioned above decide democratically what the coven will or will not do and what rules they will have, with all ties being broken by a decision between the High Priestess and High Priest. The Ordains are a set of spiritual and practical coven laws, and are decided when the coven is formed but can be modified later.
There are youth covens, ran and including Wiccans from age 12 to 17. There are adult covens limited to 18 years of age and above, and family covens which include people of all ages. A good way to find a coven is through networking, like the website Witch’s Voice (http://www.witchvox.com).
We have just as many morals as anyone else. But our big rules have to do with the rule of three. All that basically means is anything you do comes back to you. So do something nice and you get nice reflected back at you times three. If you do something bad same thing, what you gave out times three. This isn’t exact math though; if you give someone a hundred dollars don’t expect three hundred dollars to come back at you. There are no good witches or bad witches, just people. One other big thing to remember if you start doing spells though is you can suffer consequences if a spell backfires or you don’t ask permission to cast it onto someone. The only rule we have is to not harm others, so we don’t cast “evil spells” or anything like that.
We do not believe in Satan, but respect other religions. The only problem we have with other religions is their idea that their way is the only right way. God/the all is like a diamond – there are many faucets (faces) to it and no matter which one you choose to look through you are seeing the same center. This is how religion is, you just have to find the religion that works with your perspective. There is no right way to practice your spirituality, and there is no right way to practice Wicca. A witch is just a Wiccan who has studied and has done their dedication ceremony; a witch seeks to control the forces within themselves, they live wisely, and are in harmony with nature. They also know mind, religion, spirit, and magical applications function together and it is important to have an open mind.
We have an “official” moral code called the Reed. It is basically a poem that instructs you what you can or can not do. It reminds you to share perfect love and trust, to merry meet and merry part, blessed be, cast circles for spiritual safety, and listen more than you speak. It has many little rules in it but most people don’t follow it word for word because the last line is “Eight words the Wiccan Reed fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will.” This basically means that it doesn’t matter if you follow all the little rules in the poem as long as you follow the last and most important one of not harming anyone.
The Wiccan “Church”: Covens
Instead of “churches” we have covens. The Wiccan religion has no central government and anyone can create a coven. Each coven has Ordains (rules) and a way of doing things, as well as a B.O.S. (a B.O.S. is a Book of Shadows which is a reference book every Wiccan and every coven makes for themselves). You can become a member of a coven by being initiated. A coven is a group of four or more Wiccans helping each other along a spiritual path. If you do not want to be part of a coven right away you can be a solitary. To do that you have to have a dedication ceremony where you dedicate yourself to the lord and lady and to your study of the craft. This can be done at age twelve or older.
There are different positions in the coven. Temple summoner (or maiden) is a skilled person who assists the High Priest and High Priestess. The Officers of the Quarters are the people (one for each direction) who are responsible for a certain element in a ceremony. A Priest/Priestess is a person who dedicates themselves to helping others and to the path of the lady/lord. A High Priest/High Priestess is a Priest/Priestess that has certain responsibilities in a coven and is the leader in some of the coven ceremonies. Usually the elders or the people mentioned above decide democratically what the coven will or will not do and what rules they will have, with all ties being broken by a decision between the High Priestess and High Priest. The Ordains are a set of spiritual and practical coven laws, and are decided when the coven is formed but can be modified later.
There are youth covens, ran and including Wiccans from age 12 to 17. There are adult covens limited to 18 years of age and above, and family covens which include people of all ages. A good way to find a coven is through networking, like the website Witch’s Voice (http://www.witchvox.com).
Chapter 3: Holidays
•Yule (Dec. 21 or 22) is when the lady gives birth to the lord and he is reborn. Everything is being reborn and can be remade. Christians adopted many of the traditions of Yule for their holiday of Christmas, so some of this may sound familiar. Red, green and gold are traditional colors. Mistletoe is used to decorate doorways to bring love through the door, and an evergreen tree is put up and decorated with colors and lights. Everyone gets one gift, which is wrapped, and they go under the tree. Cookies and warm treats are made, and there is usually only a small meal for this holiday, traditionally with ham, apples and root vegetables. Songs are sung through the night and candles are put in the window to bring us light through the longest night. The Yule log is the most important part of this day. A log is picked out and burned in the fire, which must burn all night. In the morning the ashes and whatever remains of the log should be buried or scattered in the yard. How well the log burns determines how well your family will do in the coming months. Sometimes a play is also performed that shows the battle between the oak king (the god in death) and the holly king (the god being reborn), with the holly king overcoming death. Also, the goals or resolutions you made between Samhain and Yule come into affect on this day.
•Imbolic/ Candlemas (Feb. 2) is a holiday of young love where the maiden and the lord are courting. This holiday is about banishing winter to welcome something new. This is a good time for cleaning, usually with a flower like lavender. Burn white candles after or as you clean to clear the energy and bring positive light into your area. This holiday is great for opening new paths and using creativity.
•Spring Equinox/ Ostara (Mar. 21 or 22) is when spring comes and the lord and lady experience a more steady mature love. Sweet cakes are served at dusk. This is a time when light and dark balance. Baskets are made the night before by children and in the morning they are filled with decorated eggs, candy, flowers and sometime something to plant. The baskets are "hidden" by the kids, who then have to wait for the bunny to come (they can't check too often or it'll scare the bunny away!).
The story of Ostara:
It was long ago, on the last day of winter. Snow covered the ground. There was a little girl who was lost and alone in the woods. She was cold, tired, and afraid. In despair, she dropped down in the snow and began to cry. Just then she saw a bird laying in the snow, it was covered in ice and snow. She picked up the dying bird. She held it close to herself; wrapping it tightly in her coat. She tried to warm the bird and thaw its frozen wings, but it was too cold. She cried out for help! "Help! Help this bird to live", she cried.
The Goddess of Spring, Eostara, heard her and found it unusual that this girl was calling on her to help the bird instead of asking for help for herself. She decided to go to the girl. She floated over the snowy landscape. In her wake flowers bloomed and sweet-scented blossoms burst open as colors blazed into view. Spring followed in her path and the sound of laughter and gentle breezes could be heard on her breath. She was glorious to behold. Rebirth and new life radiated about her. The girl was astounded. She jumped up and thrust the bird at Eostara. "Save it!” she cried.
Eostara reached out her hand and touched the bird with one delicate finger. Light flowed through her, warming the bird. Its eyes opened suddenly. Its foot twitched. It hopped out of the girl's hand. The girl squealed with delight.
"But wait," the girl said, "its wings are still frozen to its body. It can't fly, it will surely die!”
Eostara reached over to the bird and touched it again gently with her hand, turning it into a bunny. "There!” she said to the girl, "Now it has no need of its wings".
Eostara had to leave to start spring, but before she left she made a trail for the girl to follow out of the woods. The trail was made of flowers and candies. The girl saw it, and thanked the goddess. As she followed the trail she put the gifts in her basket. When she got home she left her basket on the windowsill and went inside to warm up. The bunny wished to thank the girl for saving it, so it went to her house. When it saw the basket it thought it looked like a nest, and the bunny jumped into it. Forgetting that it was a bunny now, it laid eggs in the nest! These eggs were colored with the magic of spring that had saved it. When the girl went out in the morning to get the basket, she found the eggs.
To this day, when the snow begins to melt, and the flowers begin to bloom, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of blossoms and warmth, the bunny begins to lay its eggs. And in thanks to the child that saved it, the bunny gives its eggs to good children all over. These eggs tell of color, of spring, and of Eostara and her gift of renewed life and release from winter's chill. They are tokens of recognition and gratitude to the Goddess Eostara for the gift of spring.
•Beltane/ May Day (May 1) is when the lord and maiden consummate their love and the maiden becomes the lady. This is a big day for festivals and going out to have fun. There are dances, art projects and everything is decorated with flowers. This is a great time to drink and be merry. Bonfires are traditionally burned as well. If there is a festival they erect a May pole with ribbons, usually red or rainbow, coming down. A May queen is selected; usually a young girl who symbolizes youth, beauty and creativity. Then everyone participates in a dance around the pole, the men holding the ends of the ribbon. By the end of the dancing the ribbons will be wrapped the pole. The pole is obviously a phallic symbol, and the whole holiday has a sexual nature. Sex can be used to celebrate this holiday as well.
•Summer solstice/ Midsummer (June 21 or 22) is when the lord and lady are in their prime. The lady realizes she is going to have a baby by winter, and the lord starts to foresee his own death and accept it. Much of what is being celebrated here is the sun and the bounty of the summer. Usually sunflowers are cut and put in the house and wreaths are made of ivy and flowers and hung on the doors. This is the best night to see fairies. Sometimes the great rite is performed. The great rite is a ritual where one person calls down the goddess into themselves and one person calls down the god into themselves and then they have sex. Sometimes the sex is only symbolic, such as putting the athame (ritual knife) in the chalice (cup).
•Lammas (Ag. 1) is the first step towards death when the lord gives his body to the land to feed the world. We are encouraged to reap the bounty he has given us through his sacrifice. This is one of the harvest holidays. Breads are served and feasts are held to honor this day.
•Fall Equinox/ Mabon (Sept. 21 or 22) is when the lord gives us his blood to drink (from vines ect.). This is another harvest festival, usually corn and other vegetables are harvested. This is a time to give thanks (like thanksgiving if you live in the U.S.). Cornbread is a traditional food, and cider is served to those who don’t want red wine. Another tradition is to put fallen leaves on jars and drip wax or use paraffin to stick the leaves to the jar. These ensure that what good things also come out of death – the leaf is dead but what is inside, like herbs or canned food, is good and life giving. The jars are also lucky and can be sued to store things other than food. This is a good time to decorate for fall. This is an equinox, which means day and night are equal, so balance is usually emphasized.
•All Hollow’s Eve/Samhain (Oct. 31) is our “new years” and the time in which the crone takes the lord to the summer land to wait so as he can be reborn on Yule. Commonly known as Halloween, we go out at night because the veil between the worlds is thin. This means the dead, the fae, and other spirits will be roaming through the night as well. Usually a ritual is performed and the rest of the night is devoted to merry making, traditionally not going to sleep all night. There is a large feast, alcohol and many sweets since this is the last harvest festival. Back in the day, it was like the last hurrah before winter. Marigolds are a good flower for this time, and black and orange are the traditional colors. Candles are burned for those who died. This is a time to reflect on the past year, much as death is a time for reflection on your past life. In preparation of Yule, when the god is reborn, you will use what you learned this past year and will make goals for the next year. This is not a one night thing – you do not start pursuing your goals until Yule.
The exact dates depend on the year because they follow the sun. All the holidays are either related to farming (harvesting) or to the sun. Our holidays are called Sabats, not to be confused with Esabats (which are full moons sometimes used for magic). Some people consider Esabats holidays too but they are really just special days that you are encouraged to do spells and rituals on.
•Imbolic/ Candlemas (Feb. 2) is a holiday of young love where the maiden and the lord are courting. This holiday is about banishing winter to welcome something new. This is a good time for cleaning, usually with a flower like lavender. Burn white candles after or as you clean to clear the energy and bring positive light into your area. This holiday is great for opening new paths and using creativity.
•Spring Equinox/ Ostara (Mar. 21 or 22) is when spring comes and the lord and lady experience a more steady mature love. Sweet cakes are served at dusk. This is a time when light and dark balance. Baskets are made the night before by children and in the morning they are filled with decorated eggs, candy, flowers and sometime something to plant. The baskets are "hidden" by the kids, who then have to wait for the bunny to come (they can't check too often or it'll scare the bunny away!).
The story of Ostara:
It was long ago, on the last day of winter. Snow covered the ground. There was a little girl who was lost and alone in the woods. She was cold, tired, and afraid. In despair, she dropped down in the snow and began to cry. Just then she saw a bird laying in the snow, it was covered in ice and snow. She picked up the dying bird. She held it close to herself; wrapping it tightly in her coat. She tried to warm the bird and thaw its frozen wings, but it was too cold. She cried out for help! "Help! Help this bird to live", she cried.
The Goddess of Spring, Eostara, heard her and found it unusual that this girl was calling on her to help the bird instead of asking for help for herself. She decided to go to the girl. She floated over the snowy landscape. In her wake flowers bloomed and sweet-scented blossoms burst open as colors blazed into view. Spring followed in her path and the sound of laughter and gentle breezes could be heard on her breath. She was glorious to behold. Rebirth and new life radiated about her. The girl was astounded. She jumped up and thrust the bird at Eostara. "Save it!” she cried.
Eostara reached out her hand and touched the bird with one delicate finger. Light flowed through her, warming the bird. Its eyes opened suddenly. Its foot twitched. It hopped out of the girl's hand. The girl squealed with delight.
"But wait," the girl said, "its wings are still frozen to its body. It can't fly, it will surely die!”
Eostara reached over to the bird and touched it again gently with her hand, turning it into a bunny. "There!” she said to the girl, "Now it has no need of its wings".
Eostara had to leave to start spring, but before she left she made a trail for the girl to follow out of the woods. The trail was made of flowers and candies. The girl saw it, and thanked the goddess. As she followed the trail she put the gifts in her basket. When she got home she left her basket on the windowsill and went inside to warm up. The bunny wished to thank the girl for saving it, so it went to her house. When it saw the basket it thought it looked like a nest, and the bunny jumped into it. Forgetting that it was a bunny now, it laid eggs in the nest! These eggs were colored with the magic of spring that had saved it. When the girl went out in the morning to get the basket, she found the eggs.
To this day, when the snow begins to melt, and the flowers begin to bloom, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of blossoms and warmth, the bunny begins to lay its eggs. And in thanks to the child that saved it, the bunny gives its eggs to good children all over. These eggs tell of color, of spring, and of Eostara and her gift of renewed life and release from winter's chill. They are tokens of recognition and gratitude to the Goddess Eostara for the gift of spring.
•Beltane/ May Day (May 1) is when the lord and maiden consummate their love and the maiden becomes the lady. This is a big day for festivals and going out to have fun. There are dances, art projects and everything is decorated with flowers. This is a great time to drink and be merry. Bonfires are traditionally burned as well. If there is a festival they erect a May pole with ribbons, usually red or rainbow, coming down. A May queen is selected; usually a young girl who symbolizes youth, beauty and creativity. Then everyone participates in a dance around the pole, the men holding the ends of the ribbon. By the end of the dancing the ribbons will be wrapped the pole. The pole is obviously a phallic symbol, and the whole holiday has a sexual nature. Sex can be used to celebrate this holiday as well.
•Summer solstice/ Midsummer (June 21 or 22) is when the lord and lady are in their prime. The lady realizes she is going to have a baby by winter, and the lord starts to foresee his own death and accept it. Much of what is being celebrated here is the sun and the bounty of the summer. Usually sunflowers are cut and put in the house and wreaths are made of ivy and flowers and hung on the doors. This is the best night to see fairies. Sometimes the great rite is performed. The great rite is a ritual where one person calls down the goddess into themselves and one person calls down the god into themselves and then they have sex. Sometimes the sex is only symbolic, such as putting the athame (ritual knife) in the chalice (cup).
•Lammas (Ag. 1) is the first step towards death when the lord gives his body to the land to feed the world. We are encouraged to reap the bounty he has given us through his sacrifice. This is one of the harvest holidays. Breads are served and feasts are held to honor this day.
•Fall Equinox/ Mabon (Sept. 21 or 22) is when the lord gives us his blood to drink (from vines ect.). This is another harvest festival, usually corn and other vegetables are harvested. This is a time to give thanks (like thanksgiving if you live in the U.S.). Cornbread is a traditional food, and cider is served to those who don’t want red wine. Another tradition is to put fallen leaves on jars and drip wax or use paraffin to stick the leaves to the jar. These ensure that what good things also come out of death – the leaf is dead but what is inside, like herbs or canned food, is good and life giving. The jars are also lucky and can be sued to store things other than food. This is a good time to decorate for fall. This is an equinox, which means day and night are equal, so balance is usually emphasized.
•All Hollow’s Eve/Samhain (Oct. 31) is our “new years” and the time in which the crone takes the lord to the summer land to wait so as he can be reborn on Yule. Commonly known as Halloween, we go out at night because the veil between the worlds is thin. This means the dead, the fae, and other spirits will be roaming through the night as well. Usually a ritual is performed and the rest of the night is devoted to merry making, traditionally not going to sleep all night. There is a large feast, alcohol and many sweets since this is the last harvest festival. Back in the day, it was like the last hurrah before winter. Marigolds are a good flower for this time, and black and orange are the traditional colors. Candles are burned for those who died. This is a time to reflect on the past year, much as death is a time for reflection on your past life. In preparation of Yule, when the god is reborn, you will use what you learned this past year and will make goals for the next year. This is not a one night thing – you do not start pursuing your goals until Yule.
The exact dates depend on the year because they follow the sun. All the holidays are either related to farming (harvesting) or to the sun. Our holidays are called Sabats, not to be confused with Esabats (which are full moons sometimes used for magic). Some people consider Esabats holidays too but they are really just special days that you are encouraged to do spells and rituals on.
Chapter 2: Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the belief that when a person dies they are reborn. Even though you probably know what reincarnation means it is slightly different in most religions. The Wiccan belief is that when you die the Crone (discussed in Chapter 1) comes to guide you to the Summerland. It is called the Summerland because it is a place with abundance, much like the land in summer time, and you will not experience physical pain there. In the Summerland you can watch over the people you loved that are still living and you can talk with loved ones who have died and are still in the Summerland. It is also a place for contemplation and reviewing your life. You are your only judge, there are no Gods frowning upon you. The Gods are in Summerland though, just as they are in every part of life.
From each life you learn a lesson or many lessons. Every life you live teaches you something. When you are ready you are reborn and experience a new life. Your spirit remembers the lessons you learned but not your past lives. With each passing life your spirit becomes more compassionate and wise until you are as perfect as you can be. By perfect I mean that you will exemplify all the desirable qualities of a person. Because everyone is being reborn everyone else is also learning from their lives and eventually everyone will be as perfect as they can be. In this way Summerland is not the Wiccan equivalent to the Christian Heaven, instead is a place between tomb and womb. Our Heaven will be this world once everyone has learned all they can. Because we all are working towards that, every day this world we are in is more like Heaven.
Unlike the Hindu version of Reincarnation, what you are born as is not a punishment or reward for how you lived your previous life. Every living thing, from a snake to a tree, has a spirit and will be reincarnated. Each life can teach a new lesson. You may be reincarnated as a frog or as a human, or as a dung beetle. What you do in this life does not determine what your next life will be. Any pain, suffering or good fortune you are experiencing is not from a past life – it can either be teaching you something or it may be a result of the Wiccan version of Karma, the rule of three (in Chapter 4).
From each life you learn a lesson or many lessons. Every life you live teaches you something. When you are ready you are reborn and experience a new life. Your spirit remembers the lessons you learned but not your past lives. With each passing life your spirit becomes more compassionate and wise until you are as perfect as you can be. By perfect I mean that you will exemplify all the desirable qualities of a person. Because everyone is being reborn everyone else is also learning from their lives and eventually everyone will be as perfect as they can be. In this way Summerland is not the Wiccan equivalent to the Christian Heaven, instead is a place between tomb and womb. Our Heaven will be this world once everyone has learned all they can. Because we all are working towards that, every day this world we are in is more like Heaven.
Unlike the Hindu version of Reincarnation, what you are born as is not a punishment or reward for how you lived your previous life. Every living thing, from a snake to a tree, has a spirit and will be reincarnated. Each life can teach a new lesson. You may be reincarnated as a frog or as a human, or as a dung beetle. What you do in this life does not determine what your next life will be. Any pain, suffering or good fortune you are experiencing is not from a past life – it can either be teaching you something or it may be a result of the Wiccan version of Karma, the rule of three (in Chapter 4).
Chapter 1: Gods and other spirits (ghosts, fairies)
The story of how the world began is as follows: Long ago there was nothing. But then there was a spark of life, the spirit. The spirit divided itself in half. Half was the lady, and the other half was the lord. The lady took parts of herself and shaped them into the planets and moons, and she made water. The Lord took parts of himself and made them into the stars and he made fire. They were so happy with their creations they danced, and in dancing started they set the world into motion. The sun formed and the Earth and other planets were drawn to it and started to dance around it. As the universe formed and changed the lord and lady watched their creations grow and change, and they continued to dance. As time went on the lady realized the Earth was ready for life, and she put little bits of herself (the spirit) and made them into plants. The Lord also wanted to make living things and he took bits of himself and made them into animals. They were overjoyed and loved their creations. They continued to dance, and to watch over their creations as they grew and changed. When one of their creations died it came back to be a part of the spirit, and was released again to have another life.
I tell you this story first so that you can better understand the lord and the lady. God is male, and therefore only half of us are represented. So there is also the Goddess, who is female. For whatever God is the Goddess is his opposite and when they are together they encompass everything. When they are together they are called the spirit or the all. We are all part of them and they are part of us.
When we do a spell, ritual or pray we often refer to a specific spirit or God/Goddess. A religion’s set of spirits, Gods and Goddesses is called their “pantheon” and each being in the pantheon is called a “deity” (pronounced de-ity). When a Wiccan prays to Athena, they are praying to an aspect of the spirit – the aspect that has the characteristics of Athena. We use the pantheons and their deities to narrow down what energies we are calling to help us. If we pray for love and only invoke The All then we get all the energy that exists – which may sound good at first, until you realize that compassion and cruelty are trying to find you love. The way some of the dark parts of the spirit work may bring you a love that will hurt you in the end. This is why you may instead ask the lady or any deity that you feel would do a good job assisting you.
Because of this you may ask; do Wiccans believe in every god and goddess from every religion? Yes and no. Using Athena as an example still, we can say that Wiccans don’t believe Athena is a real Goddess. Instead, we believe that Athena is a part of the lady. We only use deities as a way to channel our energy. It is hard for many people to picture the lady and describe all of her characteristics. For that reason we use Athena and other goddesses to try and picture the female goddess better. For example, the lady is to Athena as the ocean is to a specific beach. It is much easier to understand and deal with one beach rather than the whole ocean. In the same way it is easier to understand and deal with one goddess rather than the whole female spirit (the lady).
That said, there are three forms of the lady and eight of the lord. The lady’s forms are also called “faces” since they correspond with the three main faces of the moon. When the moon is waxing (getting larger) it is called the maiden. This represents youth, new love and new beginnings. When the moon is full it is the lady in her prime, sometimes called the mother. This is the best time to do most spells, and symbolizes bounty, fertility, mature love and motherhood. When the moon is gone, the new moon, it is called the crone. The crone is an old woman and symbolizes wisdom and death. The lord’s forms correspond with the Sabbats (holidays) and are therefore discussed in chapter three.
Now that you understand our gods and goddesses it will be easier for you to understand the spirits and other magical beings we believe in. The three big ones are ghosts, guardian angels and fae (fairies). Ghosts are people who have died but have not accepted their death or have something that is stopping them from moving on. The best thing to do if you see one is to talk to it to try and help it cross over. If this does not work and it is not bothering you just leave it alone. Ghosts can travel from place to place through mirrors, but most of the time they stay near a place that is important to them (where they died, were born, lived or where loved ones live). Guardian angels are actually similar to ghosts, but they have accepted their death and crossed over. If a person dies they can choose to guard over someone before they are reborn. They usually guard over someone with something in common with their last life.
The fae, commonly called sprites or fairies, are complex beings. Like the deities, we use them as a tool to understand the little bits of spirit that move the natural world around us. There is tons of folk lore to go along with them though. They are thought to be in charge of things like frost, leaves turning in fall, when flowers bloom and little things like that. They are beautiful, intelligent, cunning and very easy to offend. They fly and are like tiny little people, usually living in an outside setting with lots of plants. They are very hard to spot as well. Usually you have to be careful to be extremely polite and call them fair ones or fae, don’t use their nicknames. The only time beginners should deal with fae is if they come to you first or if you need help with a garden. You can leave them gifts of honey and milk. Usually they are only around at night and early morning. They also live in another realm (the land of the fairies) and can trick you into following them there, which will lead to your eventually going crazy.
I tell you this story first so that you can better understand the lord and the lady. God is male, and therefore only half of us are represented. So there is also the Goddess, who is female. For whatever God is the Goddess is his opposite and when they are together they encompass everything. When they are together they are called the spirit or the all. We are all part of them and they are part of us.
When we do a spell, ritual or pray we often refer to a specific spirit or God/Goddess. A religion’s set of spirits, Gods and Goddesses is called their “pantheon” and each being in the pantheon is called a “deity” (pronounced de-ity). When a Wiccan prays to Athena, they are praying to an aspect of the spirit – the aspect that has the characteristics of Athena. We use the pantheons and their deities to narrow down what energies we are calling to help us. If we pray for love and only invoke The All then we get all the energy that exists – which may sound good at first, until you realize that compassion and cruelty are trying to find you love. The way some of the dark parts of the spirit work may bring you a love that will hurt you in the end. This is why you may instead ask the lady or any deity that you feel would do a good job assisting you.
Because of this you may ask; do Wiccans believe in every god and goddess from every religion? Yes and no. Using Athena as an example still, we can say that Wiccans don’t believe Athena is a real Goddess. Instead, we believe that Athena is a part of the lady. We only use deities as a way to channel our energy. It is hard for many people to picture the lady and describe all of her characteristics. For that reason we use Athena and other goddesses to try and picture the female goddess better. For example, the lady is to Athena as the ocean is to a specific beach. It is much easier to understand and deal with one beach rather than the whole ocean. In the same way it is easier to understand and deal with one goddess rather than the whole female spirit (the lady).
That said, there are three forms of the lady and eight of the lord. The lady’s forms are also called “faces” since they correspond with the three main faces of the moon. When the moon is waxing (getting larger) it is called the maiden. This represents youth, new love and new beginnings. When the moon is full it is the lady in her prime, sometimes called the mother. This is the best time to do most spells, and symbolizes bounty, fertility, mature love and motherhood. When the moon is gone, the new moon, it is called the crone. The crone is an old woman and symbolizes wisdom and death. The lord’s forms correspond with the Sabbats (holidays) and are therefore discussed in chapter three.
Now that you understand our gods and goddesses it will be easier for you to understand the spirits and other magical beings we believe in. The three big ones are ghosts, guardian angels and fae (fairies). Ghosts are people who have died but have not accepted their death or have something that is stopping them from moving on. The best thing to do if you see one is to talk to it to try and help it cross over. If this does not work and it is not bothering you just leave it alone. Ghosts can travel from place to place through mirrors, but most of the time they stay near a place that is important to them (where they died, were born, lived or where loved ones live). Guardian angels are actually similar to ghosts, but they have accepted their death and crossed over. If a person dies they can choose to guard over someone before they are reborn. They usually guard over someone with something in common with their last life.
The fae, commonly called sprites or fairies, are complex beings. Like the deities, we use them as a tool to understand the little bits of spirit that move the natural world around us. There is tons of folk lore to go along with them though. They are thought to be in charge of things like frost, leaves turning in fall, when flowers bloom and little things like that. They are beautiful, intelligent, cunning and very easy to offend. They fly and are like tiny little people, usually living in an outside setting with lots of plants. They are very hard to spot as well. Usually you have to be careful to be extremely polite and call them fair ones or fae, don’t use their nicknames. The only time beginners should deal with fae is if they come to you first or if you need help with a garden. You can leave them gifts of honey and milk. Usually they are only around at night and early morning. They also live in another realm (the land of the fairies) and can trick you into following them there, which will lead to your eventually going crazy.
Introduction: Is Wicca right for you? (Choosing a path)
Wicca is a religion, and the people who believe in it are called Wiccans (or sometimes Witches and Wizards). When choosing a religion it is important to ask yourself what beliefs you already have, and if the religion matches those beliefs. Some religions change your mind and then you believe something new. But it is important to not use religion as a buffet, where you can pick and choose the parts you believe and the parts you don’t. So if you read this and find it resonates with you and you believe in it then this may be the right path for you.
What is Wicca? Wicca is a nature based religion, focusing on attuning ourselves to the natural rhythm of life. We use prayer, spells, rituals and meditation to better ourselves and to help others. We believe in reincarnation and in Gods. Wicca does not discriminate based on race, sexual orientation or class. In fact we do not forbid any activities unless they cause harm to yourself or another. Our holidays are based on the seasons and the celebrations usually include food and beer. We have “church” groups that are called Covens, but some people are not in a Coven and are referred to as solitaries.
How can Wicca improve your life? Wicca does not make you feel guilty or judged and does not promote hate of any kind. In Wicca there is a lot more freedom to find your own path and focus on things you need to focus on. Many people find meditation and other spiritual practices relieve stress and promote health. Some people find it easier to work on themselves and "find themselves" when practicing Wicca. Many people who convert to Wicca do so because they believe in a higher power but don’t like many of the rules and constraints put on them by other religions. The only rule in Wicca is "Harm None", though some people like the longer version called the Wiccan Rede.
Whatever your reason for reading this, I hope you find a path that is right for you. If you look at the other chapters I have written (the subjects are listed on the right) you can read about all the different aspects of Wicca.
Merry meet and merry part, until we merry meet again.
What is Wicca? Wicca is a nature based religion, focusing on attuning ourselves to the natural rhythm of life. We use prayer, spells, rituals and meditation to better ourselves and to help others. We believe in reincarnation and in Gods. Wicca does not discriminate based on race, sexual orientation or class. In fact we do not forbid any activities unless they cause harm to yourself or another. Our holidays are based on the seasons and the celebrations usually include food and beer. We have “church” groups that are called Covens, but some people are not in a Coven and are referred to as solitaries.
How can Wicca improve your life? Wicca does not make you feel guilty or judged and does not promote hate of any kind. In Wicca there is a lot more freedom to find your own path and focus on things you need to focus on. Many people find meditation and other spiritual practices relieve stress and promote health. Some people find it easier to work on themselves and "find themselves" when practicing Wicca. Many people who convert to Wicca do so because they believe in a higher power but don’t like many of the rules and constraints put on them by other religions. The only rule in Wicca is "Harm None", though some people like the longer version called the Wiccan Rede.
Whatever your reason for reading this, I hope you find a path that is right for you. If you look at the other chapters I have written (the subjects are listed on the right) you can read about all the different aspects of Wicca.
Merry meet and merry part, until we merry meet again.
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