Summer is filled with beautiful flowers...everywhere. Some are cultured flowers, others are weeds. They each have beauty and value in the magickal lifestyle. What should you do with flowers?
Cut flower heads off once they are spent (dead). Keep each kind of flower in a separate jar. If you are collecting roses, keep the unbloomed buds on one jar, and the petals of opened roses in another. You might even wish to keep different colors of rose petals in different jars as well.
What do you do with these different flowers? Each flower type has a magickal meaning. As you look up the meaning for each kind of flower, write it down and keep the notation in each jar, or glue it to the glass.
When you need the cast a spell, go to your dried flower storage jars. These make wonderful additions for spells.
But make sure you dry them out first. Once the flowers are dried out, you can add incense to them, or scented oil. They smell good and make a nice addition to a mojo bag, where you can also place a gemstone or other kind of amulet.
You can also glue dried flowers into your Spell Book - each page of the Spell Book can have a different spell written in it, and be accompanied by the flowers and herbs that make the spell gain energy - just glue them into the book and you won't have to go seeking out the ingredients again. Everything you need to perform for the spell can be glued into the pages of your spell book as pressed flowers, herbs and minerals.
You can also use dried flower buds in natural necklaces. Although they are somewhat fragile, they are beautiful, delicate and filled with energy. Have you ever worn a necklace made from rose buds? They are just gorgeous. Have you ever saved seeds from a squash? dry them out and string them into a necklace as well, they have power too, and are quite pretty.
Summer is a wonderful time of year, and it deserves some preservation, for when winter comes, it's that summer magic we need in our spells, when the sun was at its height and happiness was carefree and easy going. This is the energy that summer flowers bring to other times of year.
In each season, there are natural things to collect, and keep in jars for spells. In a previous article, I explained how to make spell jars. As you come up with empty food jars, make them into spell jars, and label them with the names of the flower petals and buds you have collected. When fall comes, do likewise with seeds, pods and fallen leaves from different trees. You can also use a spell jar for the pits from summer fruit...these also have special energy. Using a fruit pit in an amulet bag is very powerful. Such pits can also be glued to a 'soda can' tab and worn as a necklace. But to make it beautiful, you will need to use an epoxy glue to attach the soda can tab to the back of the fruit pit, and then, when it is dried, spray it over with a high-gloss, clear spray paint. Wearing fruit-pit jewelry can be very interesting, very beautiful and very powerful. Inside the pits of different fruits is an entire tree, full of life and magick. So please do not throw away the pits of fruit. Save them in spell jars as well. They can be used in spells and amulet bags just as gemstones can be used.
Pet hair and human hair from hair cuts can also be kept in spell jars, and be used to radiate the energy of that kind of personality - a pet may have certain characteristics one may wish to obtain through a spell; Human hair contains the attributes of that person, such as the power of their zodiac sign, or the strengths of their personality. As long as you charge the human hair such that no one can us it to bring harm to that person, it is ok to use a clipping of human hair in a mojo bag to gain the energy that person has naturally. Perhaps you are a Taurus, and don't have the strengths of a Scorpio. By obtaining a little but of a hair clipping from a friend who willingly gives you their hair, you can obtain his or her strong points to enhance your personality, without bringing that person harm. This can be done likewise with pet hair.
If you know you will be making spells for other people, you can keep such things in spell jars and organize these beautiful jars on shelves. Not only do they add wonderful energy to your home, they also make great conversation pieces as well as memories, as you think about where you collected such things with family and friends, as well as who you made a mojo bag for.
Part of your path is inter-connecting to people. You do this by experience. By collecting things for spell jars, and making mojo bags for others, your path is always a memory you have made with others. This adds meaning to your life.
Right now, it is summer. Summer flowers are still growing, and blooming. Soon they will not be. It's time to collect those petals and buds and keep them in spell jars. If you have not made a spell jar, collect them anyway, and keep them in zip-lock baggies after they dry. Then, when you have time to make a spell jar, you can transfer them into their jars.
If you have a particular spell combination, which calls for several flowers, several herbs and so forth, you can make a mixture of these and keep them in a spell jar that is labeled for that spell. When someone needs that combination of flowers and herbs, you will have it ready for them. Then you can place 1-2 Tablespoons of the spell mixture in a mojo bag for them. What a wonderful way to connect with others.
If you do this, you will enjoy it. What a way to connect with the natural world of beauty that surrounds us all!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Make A Spell Jar...
What is a 'Spell Jar'? It is a jar that you put spell ingredients into, and then seal it. As long as the seal remains in tact, the energy from the combined ingredients and your initial intention will radiate that intention at a low frequency, fulfilling that spell's intention for years to come.
Some 'Spell Jar' themes might include:
*Attracting Romance
*Making Sex Better
*Managing Your Money Better
*Protection From Incoming Negative Energy
*Helping A Good Relationship to Remain Intact
*Removing Depression
*Getting Ghosts To Move On
In fact, the list is as long as the individual's needs. You might want to make a 'Spell Jar' for each of the Celtic Witchcraft Feasts, or for the Esbat. You might have a personal need, like having a better relationship with your neighbor, or family member. Whatever it is, here is how to make an elementary 'Spell Jar'.
1. Wash out any food jar that you recently emptied, and then dry it. Get the label off of it along with any glue. You may need to use 'goo-gone' to get the sticky label-glue off of the glass. If you don't have access to 'goo-gone' try immersing the jar in a pot of boiling water and keep scrubbing the glue off, but take care not to burn your hands.
2. When the jar and lid are completely washed, free of labels and glue and dried thoroughly, you can do a few different things to it:
a. Fill it up as it is. this way you can see what is in it. Set the jar where you need it to be.
OR...
b. Make 'dots' all over the interior with 'glowing' craft paint - they come in many colors, then...
c. Pour acrylic paint on the inside of the jar and 'swirl' it around until the interior is fully covered in paint, then pour the rest of the paint back into the paint jar (recently used house paint works well for this);
d. Let the interior of the jar dry completely; THEN GLUE A LABEL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE JAR. Do this with normal 'Elmer's Glue', or mod-podge type glue. You can make a label by printing a Victorian or even a 'Halloween' Themed label off of the web, or you can tear a white piece of typing paper into a label shape, so the edges are torn-looking. Put a thin layer of blue over the back of the label, or just draw the glue all over the label back with the nozzle of the glue bottle tip. Put the label on the jar, and then, using a wet paint brush, gently paint over the front of the label so it is 'wet-ish' (not soaking wet!). Wetting the label's front helps the label dry flat. Your label can say anything, like "Witch", "Believe", "Fairies", "Spell", or more specific things like "Exorcism", "Add Romance" and so on, whatever pertains to your spell.
e. Once the label is glued on well, use craft paint off many kinds and varieties to paint flowers and vines all over the outside of the glass jar; use the paint in the squeeze bottles that makes '3-D' designs, puffs, or is tropical or 'hot' colors (like 'hot' pink). But make sure you use a color theme, so it looks like it 'goes together'. Some color themes are: black and orange; mossy green and lavender; yellow, pink and tangerine; antique white and ivory; If you can't figure out a good color theme, go shopping for clothes and use your camera phone to take pictures of clothes you like, then match the colors in one clothing item up to paints at the craft store - designers have already professionally matched up these colors to 'go together' for you, why not take advantage of their knowledge?
e. Paint the jar lid the SAME color as the jar interior, it looks more unified.
f. You can glue gem stones, seeds, buttons, ribbon, lace or other tings to the jar lid if you want to; use epoxy (thick) glue for this purpose; super glue doesn't work as well, and school glue takes to long to dry.
g. Once the jar is finished, fill it up with the things you would use in a spell you want to cast. In fact, you should actually go on and cast the spell, and as you cast it, fill the things from the spell into the spell jar. When your jar is full, 'if' you like, you can use the epoxy glue to glue the lid on tightly, which takes on a couple of seconds, just run the epoxy around the inside of the lid and screw it on tightly, then use a tissue to wipe off any excess glue.
9. use the candle from your spell to 'seal' the spell jar, by pouring wax over the jar lid so it dribbles down the jar sides.
10. When the wax is hardened, place the jar in the room where you want the energy of the spell to radiate through the room on a low level. The energy will radiate full time, and it will build up in the room over time, so don't move the jar a lot. If you find you do move the jar, give it 24 hours to 'get settled' and begin to radiate energy again.
Some 'Spell Jar' themes might include:
*Attracting Romance
*Making Sex Better
*Managing Your Money Better
*Protection From Incoming Negative Energy
*Helping A Good Relationship to Remain Intact
*Removing Depression
*Getting Ghosts To Move On
In fact, the list is as long as the individual's needs. You might want to make a 'Spell Jar' for each of the Celtic Witchcraft Feasts, or for the Esbat. You might have a personal need, like having a better relationship with your neighbor, or family member. Whatever it is, here is how to make an elementary 'Spell Jar'.
1. Wash out any food jar that you recently emptied, and then dry it. Get the label off of it along with any glue. You may need to use 'goo-gone' to get the sticky label-glue off of the glass. If you don't have access to 'goo-gone' try immersing the jar in a pot of boiling water and keep scrubbing the glue off, but take care not to burn your hands.
2. When the jar and lid are completely washed, free of labels and glue and dried thoroughly, you can do a few different things to it:
a. Fill it up as it is. this way you can see what is in it. Set the jar where you need it to be.
OR...
b. Make 'dots' all over the interior with 'glowing' craft paint - they come in many colors, then...
c. Pour acrylic paint on the inside of the jar and 'swirl' it around until the interior is fully covered in paint, then pour the rest of the paint back into the paint jar (recently used house paint works well for this);
d. Let the interior of the jar dry completely; THEN GLUE A LABEL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE JAR. Do this with normal 'Elmer's Glue', or mod-podge type glue. You can make a label by printing a Victorian or even a 'Halloween' Themed label off of the web, or you can tear a white piece of typing paper into a label shape, so the edges are torn-looking. Put a thin layer of blue over the back of the label, or just draw the glue all over the label back with the nozzle of the glue bottle tip. Put the label on the jar, and then, using a wet paint brush, gently paint over the front of the label so it is 'wet-ish' (not soaking wet!). Wetting the label's front helps the label dry flat. Your label can say anything, like "Witch", "Believe", "Fairies", "Spell", or more specific things like "Exorcism", "Add Romance" and so on, whatever pertains to your spell.
e. Once the label is glued on well, use craft paint off many kinds and varieties to paint flowers and vines all over the outside of the glass jar; use the paint in the squeeze bottles that makes '3-D' designs, puffs, or is tropical or 'hot' colors (like 'hot' pink). But make sure you use a color theme, so it looks like it 'goes together'. Some color themes are: black and orange; mossy green and lavender; yellow, pink and tangerine; antique white and ivory; If you can't figure out a good color theme, go shopping for clothes and use your camera phone to take pictures of clothes you like, then match the colors in one clothing item up to paints at the craft store - designers have already professionally matched up these colors to 'go together' for you, why not take advantage of their knowledge?
e. Paint the jar lid the SAME color as the jar interior, it looks more unified.
f. You can glue gem stones, seeds, buttons, ribbon, lace or other tings to the jar lid if you want to; use epoxy (thick) glue for this purpose; super glue doesn't work as well, and school glue takes to long to dry.
g. Once the jar is finished, fill it up with the things you would use in a spell you want to cast. In fact, you should actually go on and cast the spell, and as you cast it, fill the things from the spell into the spell jar. When your jar is full, 'if' you like, you can use the epoxy glue to glue the lid on tightly, which takes on a couple of seconds, just run the epoxy around the inside of the lid and screw it on tightly, then use a tissue to wipe off any excess glue.
9. use the candle from your spell to 'seal' the spell jar, by pouring wax over the jar lid so it dribbles down the jar sides.
10. When the wax is hardened, place the jar in the room where you want the energy of the spell to radiate through the room on a low level. The energy will radiate full time, and it will build up in the room over time, so don't move the jar a lot. If you find you do move the jar, give it 24 hours to 'get settled' and begin to radiate energy again.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Kinds of Witchcraft...
The following article comes from a websight about different types of Witchcraft (link is listed at the end of this article). the one thing it does not acknowledge is that in the Elizabethan era, Witchcraft was part of many lives, including those who practiced the Christian faith, and refused to renounce their Christianity - these people were called 'Cunning Folk' and were a 'blend' of both Christian and Witchcraft. Witchcraft can be Pagan, but it does not necessarily have to be. Traditional Witchcraft is not connected to religion at all in its philosophy, although members or adherents can certainly prescribe to the religion of their choice. It can certainly be classified as Green Witchcraft, since we often make our own tools from the wild, and enjoy connecting to the Divine by going out doors into nature. It is certainly Traditional Witchcraft, except that instead of contacting spirits in nature, we view that which we contact as 'natural energy' stored in the elements, which makes our type of Witchcraft more 'Elemental' in nature, where we define the Elements as 'raw materials' which are unconscious resources we can use in our art of magick, using metaphysical science to discern what category of energy to use in our spells. We are similar to Appalacian Folk Witchcraft because we have similar origins - the Applacian mountain region is filled with Celts who came to the Americas in the late 1600's-early 1700's. The 'hillbilly' language still spoken in many Appalacian regions is a 'frozen-in-time' example of Elizabethan English, with a very southern drawl, that developed over time, of course. Like them, we also blend Christianity with Witchcraft, from our beginnings when Bessie Dunlop first was initiated, of course, and this was passed down through the family until today (we don't expect our adherents to do such, but because of how history unfolded, this is how things progressed through history. We are certainly not Wiccan, as we are not a religion, but instead a philosophy. We also uphold our Celtic Culture, but include our Germanic aspirations as well, because of the blend of the Germanic with the Celtic through the Anglo-Saxon invasions, which brought our people close in contact. Ours is an Historical Coven that has come down to us in an unbroken chain. We are happy to share COVEN 1658 with those who are interested in learning and helping us to bring our history into today. The following article explains a bit about the 'types' of Witchcraft that are practiced...
COVEN 1658 is a combination of a few kinds of Witchcraft: it is Heredetary: not only has the tradition been passed down through the family, but the gifts of the craft have been inherited by many in the family from birth. It is also Kitchen Witchcraft - it is largely practiced at home, by the High Priestess and Hierophant, as well as the adhering Witches of our Coven.
Modern Witchcraft
Witchcraft is a pagan religion. Pagan religions worship multiple deities rather than a single god. Paganism is one of the oldest religions and includes all religions that are not Christian, Muslim or Jewish, meaning Paganism includes the Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and American Indian religions as well as all other nature-oriented religions. According to the 1998 Cambridge Fact Finder, Paganism accounts for 50 percent of all religions.The word "Pagan" actually stems from the Latin Pagini or Paganus, words meaning "hearth" or "home dweller" or, more simply, "country person" -- those labeled as Pagans were considered inferior to those living in cities. It didn't, however, mean those people were "bad." It wasn't until the 1450s that fear of witchcraft became more prevalent, and people began associating witchcraft and paganism with devil worship, evil hexes and spells.
Types of Witchcraft
There are many types of witchcraft, many of which overlap and all of which can be defined in different ways by different people, but here are some rough guidelines for their designations:- African witchcraft: There are many types of witchcraft in Africa. The Azande of central Africa believe that witchcraft causes all types of misfortune. The "gift" of witchcraft, known as mangu, is passed from parent to child. Those possessing mangu aren't even aware of it and perform magick unconsciously while they sleep.
- Appalachian folk magic: Those who practice witchcraft in the Appalachian mountains see good and evil as two distinct forces that are led by the Christian God and Devil, respectively. They believe there are certain conditions that their magick cannot cure. They also believe that witches are blessed with paranormal powers and can perform powerful magick that can be used for either good or evil purposes. They look to nature for omens and portents of the future.
- Green witchcraft: A Green witch is very similar to a Kitchen/Cottage witch (see below) with the exception that the Green witch practices in the fields and forest in order to be closer to the Divine spirit. The Green witch makes his or her own tools from accessible materials from outdoors.
- Hedge witchcraft: A Hedge witch is not part of a group or coven. This witch practices magick alone and works more with the green arts, herbal cures and spells. In the early days, Hedge witches were local wise men or women who cured illnesses and gave advice. They can be of any religion and are considered traditional witches (see below).
- Hereditary witchcraft: Hereditary witches believe in "gifts" of the craft that are with a witch from birth, having been passed from generations before.
- Kitchen/Cottage witchcraft: A Kitchen witch, or Cottage witch, practices magick around the hearth and home. The home is a sacred place, and the use of herbs is used often to bring protection, prosperity and healing. Kitchen witches often follow more than one path of witchcraft.
- Pennsylvania Dutch hexcraft or "Pow-wow": When the Germans first arrived in Pennsylvania, Native Americans were there, so the term "pow-wow" to describe this practice may come from observations of Indian gatherings. Pow-wowing includes charms and incantations dating back to the Middle Ages, as well as elements borrowed from the Jewish Kabbalah and Christian Bible. Pow-wowing focuses on healing illnesses, protecting livestock, finding love or casting or removing hexes. Pow-wowers consider themselves to be Christians endowed with supernatural powers.
- Traditional witchcraft: Traditional witchcraft often follows science, history and the arts as its foundation. While sharing the same respect for nature as the Wiccan witch (see below), traditional witches do not worship nature nor the god or goddess of Wicca. They contact spirits that are part of an unseen spirit world during rituals. Magick is more practical than ceremonial and focuses greatly on herbs and potions. This sect of witchcraft also has no law of harming none, but does believe in responsibility and honor. Hexes and curses, therefore, can be used in self-defense or for other types of protection.
- Wicca: Wicca is one of the modern Pagan religions that worships the Earth and nature, and it is only about 60 years old. It was created in the 1940s and '50s by Gerald Gardner. Gardner defined witchcraft as a positive and life-affirming religion that includes divination, herblore, magic and psychic abilities. Wiccans take an oath to do no harm with their magick.
A Basic MONEY Spell....
Money can be tight. We all know it. Should we cast a spell to gain money? There are pro's and con's to this question. On the one hand, if you are in dire need, it may be ok to cast a money spell, provided you have already tried all other means to gain the money in a natural way. Before casting a money spell, ask these questions of yourself:
*Am I casting a money spell for personal gain, or greed issues?
*Do I really need the money?
*Have I tried getting an extra job, even if it is a small, one-time job, like mowing a neighbor's yard, to get the extra money I need?
*Am I a good steward of my money, or am I wasting it on things I don't need, only to come up short when I have an emergency?
If you are not taking good care of your money, asking for money by casting a spell may not be a very good option, because, well, there is 'negative' energy floating around the spell before you even begin it. If you are greedy, this energy may affect the spell negatively. If you are lazy, and haven't tried to gain the money in an honest, natural way, this energy may also effect the spell negatively. If you have wasted your money on things you do not need, and then go asking for money in a spell, you are being irresponsible, and this kind of energy may also affect your spell negatively. So don't be hastey in your plans to go out and perform a money spell just yet. Sit down and be fully honest with yourself. Get out some paper and make out a list - of things you can do to earn a few extra dollars, or, if you need a lot of money, consider switching careers, or moving your hours up from part time to full time and so on. Consider what you can sell, pay off, or do without for a while. Maybe you wish for money, but the money will be spent on something you don't really need, a situation which will erase your 'need' for money altogether. Your first 'homework' assignment is to really make a sincere effort to repair your money problem yourself - naturally. If all else has failed and you really, truly need to work with energy to gain money, you can try this spell. If it does not work, you may have to 'tweak' it to suit your needs and I will give you some tips on this. Anyway, here is the spell.
CRAFT THE SPELL:
*1 green candle
*1/4 teaspoon olive oil; speak over the oil saying, "I ask that this oil be blessed with the ability to draw money to me for a sincere need."
*1 nail
*1 piece of light green paper
*1 ink pen, crayon or colored pencil (green)
*1 tablespoon of edible dill weed
*1 tablespoon of 'dollar weed' (it grows out in the yard in Texas...it is a weed and is not edible, so do not eat it if you can obtain it. If you can not obtain it, use the greenery from carrot tops instead, which would eventually grow into Queen Ann's Lace, and represents great wealth and money. You can use the carrot top greens whole or you can chop them up
*1 green gemstone pendent (fake or real emerald is fine), dangling from a chain or string.
*1 small dish containing a few coins (if you only have one penny, that's enough; If you don't have a penny, draw a picture of a penny)
*1/4 cup of normal table salt
Upon the piece of green paper, and using the green pen, write this incantation:
Dollar Weed, Dill, and coins in a dish, I ask for money, this is my wish. The Emerald so green, drawing up from the light, the money I ask for by day and by night. I'm only inclined to ask for this lot, because I am needful for what I haven't got. Dollar Weed, Dill and Coins in a dish, I ask for money, this is my wish...I am thankful in advance for that which I ask to receive, which is $___.__ to be used for _________ and I need it by ______ (date), So Mote It be.
CAST THE SPELL:
1. Gather everything and take it all to your Escritoire to set it up.
2. Take the nail and use it to write on the candle the exact dollar amount you need, and what you need it for.
3. Hold the candle so the base is touching your chest at your breast bone, and so that the wick is pointing away from you. Take care not to get oil on your clothes (you can use a napkin to protect your clothes if you wish)
4. Dipping your fingers into the olive oil, gently wipe the candle from the top (which is far away from you) to the base (which is near to you/touching your chest); rotate the candle until all of the candle has been anointed with the blessed oil. As you do this, say, "May this candle be blessed to draw money toward me. So Mote It Be." Notice that you are wiping the oil toward you as you say this, to draw things toward you.
5. Set the candle in its candle holder
6. Set the dish of coins next to the candle
7. Sprinkle the dill weed around the candle base and the dish of coins; do the same with the dollar weed or the carrot top greenery. DON'T FORGET TO POUR THE SALT AROUND YOUR SPELL IN A PROTECTIVE CIRCLE. At this time, make a salt circle where you are standing, and then ask for the protection of All-Good over your spell and over yourself, such that no stray, interfering energy can push the spell's energy off course or affect you negatively in any way.
8. Light the candle
9. Dangle the green gem stone over the candle and the dish of money as you speak the incantation
10. Speak the incantation out loud, 3 x 3 (9 times). Speak the incantation, slowly, clearly and really concentrate on it. You can read it. Say it exactly. As you say it, visualize the money you are asking for to be in your hand. See it in your hand very clearly. Try to feel it in your hand from the perspective of your mind's eye.
11. When you are done with the incantation, fold the paper of the incantation up neatly.
12. Place the dish at a window near your front door (front door is for what comes 'in'; back door is for what goes 'out'), with the folded incantation beneath the dish - this will attract money 'into' your home.
13. Put everything away. the spell is done. Stop worrying about it, and go and do everything you can to get through your financial crisis - this continues to add positive energy to the spell. If the money is meant to come to you it will come. Do NOT speak about this spell to anyone. Keep silent.
Remember that spell casting has about 80% odds of success. Sometimes what you are asking for is not meant for you at the time you ask. Later you may recognize why and say to yourself, "If I had gotten what I asked for, look what would have gone wrong..." Therefore, accept what comes to you.
Tweak the spell: If the spell does not work...try a few things: Cast the spell on a waxing (growing) moon; re-assess your genuine need for the money; did you concentrate on the spell or did your mind wander to other things more important to you? If your mind wandered did you see any change in that part of your life, in regard to money? Are you allergic to any of the ingredients? If you are, this may 'repel' the spell's energy subconsciously. Do you have malevolent plans for the use of the money? If you do, you may not get what you ask for. Does someone you know need the money more than you? If they have a greater need, then maybe you are actually greedy, but do not realize it, so re-assess your request. If you try the spell again, then, ALSO, light the candle every night for 9 nights and say the incantation 3 times. Yes, you may blow out the candle when you are finished with the spell...
*Am I casting a money spell for personal gain, or greed issues?
*Do I really need the money?
*Have I tried getting an extra job, even if it is a small, one-time job, like mowing a neighbor's yard, to get the extra money I need?
*Am I a good steward of my money, or am I wasting it on things I don't need, only to come up short when I have an emergency?
If you are not taking good care of your money, asking for money by casting a spell may not be a very good option, because, well, there is 'negative' energy floating around the spell before you even begin it. If you are greedy, this energy may affect the spell negatively. If you are lazy, and haven't tried to gain the money in an honest, natural way, this energy may also effect the spell negatively. If you have wasted your money on things you do not need, and then go asking for money in a spell, you are being irresponsible, and this kind of energy may also affect your spell negatively. So don't be hastey in your plans to go out and perform a money spell just yet. Sit down and be fully honest with yourself. Get out some paper and make out a list - of things you can do to earn a few extra dollars, or, if you need a lot of money, consider switching careers, or moving your hours up from part time to full time and so on. Consider what you can sell, pay off, or do without for a while. Maybe you wish for money, but the money will be spent on something you don't really need, a situation which will erase your 'need' for money altogether. Your first 'homework' assignment is to really make a sincere effort to repair your money problem yourself - naturally. If all else has failed and you really, truly need to work with energy to gain money, you can try this spell. If it does not work, you may have to 'tweak' it to suit your needs and I will give you some tips on this. Anyway, here is the spell.
CRAFT THE SPELL:
*1 green candle
*1/4 teaspoon olive oil; speak over the oil saying, "I ask that this oil be blessed with the ability to draw money to me for a sincere need."
*1 nail
*1 piece of light green paper
*1 ink pen, crayon or colored pencil (green)
*1 tablespoon of edible dill weed
*1 tablespoon of 'dollar weed' (it grows out in the yard in Texas...it is a weed and is not edible, so do not eat it if you can obtain it. If you can not obtain it, use the greenery from carrot tops instead, which would eventually grow into Queen Ann's Lace, and represents great wealth and money. You can use the carrot top greens whole or you can chop them up
*1 green gemstone pendent (fake or real emerald is fine), dangling from a chain or string.
*1 small dish containing a few coins (if you only have one penny, that's enough; If you don't have a penny, draw a picture of a penny)
*1/4 cup of normal table salt
Upon the piece of green paper, and using the green pen, write this incantation:
Dollar Weed, Dill, and coins in a dish, I ask for money, this is my wish. The Emerald so green, drawing up from the light, the money I ask for by day and by night. I'm only inclined to ask for this lot, because I am needful for what I haven't got. Dollar Weed, Dill and Coins in a dish, I ask for money, this is my wish...I am thankful in advance for that which I ask to receive, which is $___.__ to be used for _________ and I need it by ______ (date), So Mote It be.
CAST THE SPELL:
1. Gather everything and take it all to your Escritoire to set it up.
2. Take the nail and use it to write on the candle the exact dollar amount you need, and what you need it for.
3. Hold the candle so the base is touching your chest at your breast bone, and so that the wick is pointing away from you. Take care not to get oil on your clothes (you can use a napkin to protect your clothes if you wish)
4. Dipping your fingers into the olive oil, gently wipe the candle from the top (which is far away from you) to the base (which is near to you/touching your chest); rotate the candle until all of the candle has been anointed with the blessed oil. As you do this, say, "May this candle be blessed to draw money toward me. So Mote It Be." Notice that you are wiping the oil toward you as you say this, to draw things toward you.
5. Set the candle in its candle holder
6. Set the dish of coins next to the candle
7. Sprinkle the dill weed around the candle base and the dish of coins; do the same with the dollar weed or the carrot top greenery. DON'T FORGET TO POUR THE SALT AROUND YOUR SPELL IN A PROTECTIVE CIRCLE. At this time, make a salt circle where you are standing, and then ask for the protection of All-Good over your spell and over yourself, such that no stray, interfering energy can push the spell's energy off course or affect you negatively in any way.
8. Light the candle
9. Dangle the green gem stone over the candle and the dish of money as you speak the incantation
10. Speak the incantation out loud, 3 x 3 (9 times). Speak the incantation, slowly, clearly and really concentrate on it. You can read it. Say it exactly. As you say it, visualize the money you are asking for to be in your hand. See it in your hand very clearly. Try to feel it in your hand from the perspective of your mind's eye.
11. When you are done with the incantation, fold the paper of the incantation up neatly.
12. Place the dish at a window near your front door (front door is for what comes 'in'; back door is for what goes 'out'), with the folded incantation beneath the dish - this will attract money 'into' your home.
13. Put everything away. the spell is done. Stop worrying about it, and go and do everything you can to get through your financial crisis - this continues to add positive energy to the spell. If the money is meant to come to you it will come. Do NOT speak about this spell to anyone. Keep silent.
Remember that spell casting has about 80% odds of success. Sometimes what you are asking for is not meant for you at the time you ask. Later you may recognize why and say to yourself, "If I had gotten what I asked for, look what would have gone wrong..." Therefore, accept what comes to you.
Tweak the spell: If the spell does not work...try a few things: Cast the spell on a waxing (growing) moon; re-assess your genuine need for the money; did you concentrate on the spell or did your mind wander to other things more important to you? If your mind wandered did you see any change in that part of your life, in regard to money? Are you allergic to any of the ingredients? If you are, this may 'repel' the spell's energy subconsciously. Do you have malevolent plans for the use of the money? If you do, you may not get what you ask for. Does someone you know need the money more than you? If they have a greater need, then maybe you are actually greedy, but do not realize it, so re-assess your request. If you try the spell again, then, ALSO, light the candle every night for 9 nights and say the incantation 3 times. Yes, you may blow out the candle when you are finished with the spell...
30 Tips for Witchy, Natural Beauty
Witches are nature-lovers. This is true for beauty treatments as well. In your kitchen right now, you may well have a slather of beauty treatments that you have not considered. Your neighbor or co-worker may have pestered you to 'buy' beauty products that will 'turn back the clock' or otherwise correct a beauty problem you have been identified with by someone else, or have been conscious of for a while.
I'd like to propose that what is sold in a bottle may not be all that 'miraculous'. Major beauty suppliers want you to believe that you will not be able to achieve true beauty unless you buy their product. This is false.
For one thing, a major talk show host ran a program on television a few years back, explaining how all make-up and beauty supplies manufactured in the United States come out of two factories in New Jersey. All of them. From dollar store make-up, to the kind you have to buy from your neighbor's home business as a sales associate for a beauty company that has no store front. From the expensive products at the mall, to those you buy at the grocery store. All these products are manufactured in the same factory in New Jersey, have approximately the same formula, and have different shaped bottles and labels. Some have a 'richer' grade of ingredients, as they should since they cost more.
Further, when it comes to skin emollients there are only a few kinds. There are those moisturizers made from vegetable oil. There are others made from animal fats. And there are those made from petroleum based oils. that's it. No matter what 'recipe' they use, manufacturers only have a few emollient ingredients to use.
Then there are 'miracle' cosmetics - those that remove wrinkles and remove skin discoloration. These products actually use chemicals not put into other kinds of make-up. Wrinkle removers operate by only one means - they have a chemical that 'pulls' moisture up from the skin to fill in the wrinkle. Once the chemical wears off, the wrinkles come back. These things are not permanent. They are just chemicals that wear off in a few hours, like Cinderella's carriage turned into a pumpkin at midnight. they have their place, but they don't work permanently. Likewise, there are products that even skin tone, in the event you have freckles, blotches, or age spots. These work in two ways - they incorporate strong sun blocks so that your freckles and blotches fade out over time. They may also have chemicals that help to fade out the darker areas of your skin. If you have dark skin, some of these products have 'more' of the chemical so that your skin lightens up overall.
Finally, there are over-the-counter acne medications. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. If you struggle with acne and an over-the-counter remedy doesn't work, a trip to the dermatologist will provide you with an antibiotic to cure the acne from the inside out.
So what 'natural' remedies and beauty treatments can be employed, and when should you use 'chemistry'? Here is a basic natural beauty routine, that's natural, easy, and fun.
1. Color your own hair. While this is a chemical, it's cost effective. There are many varieties of hair color you can use, and you can save money. You may prefer that your hair turn silvery, but if not, there are even natural colors you can get from a health-food store.
2. Give your own hair a 'hot oil treatment', with olive oil that has been warmed up in the microwave or on the stove top. Measure about 1/4 cup of olive oil and heat it up. Be very careful not to burn yourself. Massage the hot oil into your hair and then put a plastic shower cap over your hair for about an hour, taking it off every 20 minutes to massage it in again. At the end of the hour, wash your hair with a higher quality shampoo; wash it twice to get all traces of oil out of your hair. then style as usual. Do this every month.
3. Do your own eyebrow grooming, and use a hair bleach to lighten facial hair. Again this is a chemical, but you can save money doing this yourself.
4. Use Sea Salt to give your whole body a good scrub down to exfoliate old skin cells off, which will make your skin very smooth and silky. Do this by putting about 1 Tablespoon of Kosher or Sea Salt in the palm of your hand, and then adding the liquid bath wash of your choice (shampoo or even dish soap is about as good as anything expensive for this purpose!)
5. Slice and chill cucumbers, and then lay them all over your face, neck and chest. The natural chemistry in cucumbers prevents wrinkles and refreshes your skin. It's cooling on a sunburn as well.
6. Use citrus slices on a sunburn - vitamin C reduces swelling of a sunburn, and nourishes the skin.
7. Use fresh coffee grounds on the face to reduce skin-pour size. They also exfoliate the face and leave it fresh and beautiful, while working very gently.
8. Use a 'pea' size drop of olive oil to smooth over the skin of your entire body, just after you get out of a hot bath - it holds in moisture and keeps your skin smooth, especially after you have exfoliated using the kosher salt/liquid soap mixture.
9. Use chilled tea bags on tired eyes. The tannins in the tea help refresh the eyes, and may remove dark circles in some cases.
10. Eat properly - eat a high protein diet for hair and finger nail growth; check with your doctor about the best diet for you. Some people increase problems with gout by a high protein diet, others get diabetes with a high carb diet. Diet is very tricky and must be managed by a physician. Try to eat 'natural' foods and avoid processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
11. Take vitamins and minerals, as prescribed by your doctor. ask to have deficiencies checked, and ask your doctor to help you determine what vitamins you should be taking - calcium, and a daily multivitamin may be all you need, or not enough for your needs.
12. Drink more water. Water hydrates the skin, and keeps hair and nails healthy, as well as helping to clear out the bowels, removing toxins. Beauty isn't skin deep, its system wide. Water keeps your whole system in check. Ask your doctor how much water you should be drinking.
13. Cut out the use of alcohol, smoking, and recreational drug use (if you use such things) - these ruin your mind, body, metabolism and your general health.
14. Exercise - check with your doctor to find out what kind of exercise you should get, and if it is safe for you to exercise. If you are allowed to exercise, walking is a safe choice, as is using a jump rope on your own drive way. Both are very inexpensive and promote cardio. Healthy people who get clearance from their physician, are often permitted to engage in 30 minutes of cardio exercise every day by walking, and can work up from one minute using a jump rope, if they are healthy. Use stairs to engage in 30 minutes of 'step-up' type exercise at home as well. If you map out a 'route' in your neighborhood you can measure out a 1/2 mile route, starting at your own front door, you can take a break from just about anything and go for a walk in the same amount of time it would take you to drive over to a health club.
15. Take time to connect with the Divine every day. 15 minutes is enough. Read, pray, or meditate. If you are not religious, no matter. Take time to focus on positive thinking instead, for a 15 minutes session every day. Do things that promote serenity - light a candle, listen to relaxation music, or sit out in nature and enjoy the wild. Taking a break from the hustle of the real world will refresh you inside and out.
16. Maintain friendships. We all work to much and see other people to little. It may be refreshing to call up a friend (not through texting), and go have a bite out, or see a film, or just wander around the mall and chat. Real friendship is better than virtual friendship any day.
17. Have a physical every year, and go to the dentist. Keep your body and teeth in working order - it goes a long way for health and beauty.
18. Add more cooking herbs to your cooking. Fresh herbs have great benefits against cancer, diabetes, and other health problems - ask your doctor to make sure the herbs you select don't interact with any medicatiosn you have been taking by prescription or over the counter.
19. Create something. Do some art. Glue something, paint something, sculpt something, sew, knit or crochet something. It doesn't have to be very well done. But it gets your mind off of over-eating, lack of friendship, anxiety or depression.
20. Work, but keep your work in balance. Work is healthy. It gives you a purpose. If you don't like your job or career, plan out a way to achieve a different job or career to bring you greater daily success.
21. Buy make-up in the smallest packaging - it has an expiration date, and you will use it up in time if the packaging is smaller. Fresh make-up of any brand is better than old make-up.
22. Use pure soap products, not the kinds will lots of perfumes and chemicals.
23. Get some sun exposure every day, but only a few minutes. Your skin needs sunlight. Just not very much.
24. If you want to avoid getting freckles, use some sunblock on the skin below your eyes - using sunblock on your forehead can get into your eyes if you are active and sweat, and it BURNS!
25. Wear sunglasses and a hat - avoid getting sunburn at all costs.
26. Do your own manicure and pedicure in the bathtub. After soaking in a nice hot tub, use an 'orange stick' to push back and trim cuticles,, then remove old nail polish and trim your nails. After you get out, nourish your nails with olive oil, and then apply a coat of finger nail polish. If you are short on time, clear is the easiest to apply because if you 'mis-aim' no one will notice.
27. Wear gem stone jewelry - it does have energy that can empower you, protect you, shield you from negative energy.
28. Go barefoot sometimes - your feet need to be 'let out'. It's healthy to be barefoot and it feels good, especially if you can walk through green, soft grass!
29. Wear loose clothing in the evenings - your body needs to rest from being constricted in clothing. Sometimes its even good for you to be free of underclothing for a while; Loose pajamas are a great way to let your body reest from constrictive clothes.
30. Get away from electronics for the weekend, and give yourself a break from electronics for at least one hour every day. Electronics are nice but they take away from a healthy mind and spirit, as well as interfere with real inter-personal relationships. Stop with virtual and get real.
30.
I'd like to propose that what is sold in a bottle may not be all that 'miraculous'. Major beauty suppliers want you to believe that you will not be able to achieve true beauty unless you buy their product. This is false.
For one thing, a major talk show host ran a program on television a few years back, explaining how all make-up and beauty supplies manufactured in the United States come out of two factories in New Jersey. All of them. From dollar store make-up, to the kind you have to buy from your neighbor's home business as a sales associate for a beauty company that has no store front. From the expensive products at the mall, to those you buy at the grocery store. All these products are manufactured in the same factory in New Jersey, have approximately the same formula, and have different shaped bottles and labels. Some have a 'richer' grade of ingredients, as they should since they cost more.
Further, when it comes to skin emollients there are only a few kinds. There are those moisturizers made from vegetable oil. There are others made from animal fats. And there are those made from petroleum based oils. that's it. No matter what 'recipe' they use, manufacturers only have a few emollient ingredients to use.
Then there are 'miracle' cosmetics - those that remove wrinkles and remove skin discoloration. These products actually use chemicals not put into other kinds of make-up. Wrinkle removers operate by only one means - they have a chemical that 'pulls' moisture up from the skin to fill in the wrinkle. Once the chemical wears off, the wrinkles come back. These things are not permanent. They are just chemicals that wear off in a few hours, like Cinderella's carriage turned into a pumpkin at midnight. they have their place, but they don't work permanently. Likewise, there are products that even skin tone, in the event you have freckles, blotches, or age spots. These work in two ways - they incorporate strong sun blocks so that your freckles and blotches fade out over time. They may also have chemicals that help to fade out the darker areas of your skin. If you have dark skin, some of these products have 'more' of the chemical so that your skin lightens up overall.
Finally, there are over-the-counter acne medications. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. If you struggle with acne and an over-the-counter remedy doesn't work, a trip to the dermatologist will provide you with an antibiotic to cure the acne from the inside out.
So what 'natural' remedies and beauty treatments can be employed, and when should you use 'chemistry'? Here is a basic natural beauty routine, that's natural, easy, and fun.
1. Color your own hair. While this is a chemical, it's cost effective. There are many varieties of hair color you can use, and you can save money. You may prefer that your hair turn silvery, but if not, there are even natural colors you can get from a health-food store.
2. Give your own hair a 'hot oil treatment', with olive oil that has been warmed up in the microwave or on the stove top. Measure about 1/4 cup of olive oil and heat it up. Be very careful not to burn yourself. Massage the hot oil into your hair and then put a plastic shower cap over your hair for about an hour, taking it off every 20 minutes to massage it in again. At the end of the hour, wash your hair with a higher quality shampoo; wash it twice to get all traces of oil out of your hair. then style as usual. Do this every month.
3. Do your own eyebrow grooming, and use a hair bleach to lighten facial hair. Again this is a chemical, but you can save money doing this yourself.
4. Use Sea Salt to give your whole body a good scrub down to exfoliate old skin cells off, which will make your skin very smooth and silky. Do this by putting about 1 Tablespoon of Kosher or Sea Salt in the palm of your hand, and then adding the liquid bath wash of your choice (shampoo or even dish soap is about as good as anything expensive for this purpose!)
5. Slice and chill cucumbers, and then lay them all over your face, neck and chest. The natural chemistry in cucumbers prevents wrinkles and refreshes your skin. It's cooling on a sunburn as well.
6. Use citrus slices on a sunburn - vitamin C reduces swelling of a sunburn, and nourishes the skin.
7. Use fresh coffee grounds on the face to reduce skin-pour size. They also exfoliate the face and leave it fresh and beautiful, while working very gently.
8. Use a 'pea' size drop of olive oil to smooth over the skin of your entire body, just after you get out of a hot bath - it holds in moisture and keeps your skin smooth, especially after you have exfoliated using the kosher salt/liquid soap mixture.
9. Use chilled tea bags on tired eyes. The tannins in the tea help refresh the eyes, and may remove dark circles in some cases.
10. Eat properly - eat a high protein diet for hair and finger nail growth; check with your doctor about the best diet for you. Some people increase problems with gout by a high protein diet, others get diabetes with a high carb diet. Diet is very tricky and must be managed by a physician. Try to eat 'natural' foods and avoid processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
11. Take vitamins and minerals, as prescribed by your doctor. ask to have deficiencies checked, and ask your doctor to help you determine what vitamins you should be taking - calcium, and a daily multivitamin may be all you need, or not enough for your needs.
12. Drink more water. Water hydrates the skin, and keeps hair and nails healthy, as well as helping to clear out the bowels, removing toxins. Beauty isn't skin deep, its system wide. Water keeps your whole system in check. Ask your doctor how much water you should be drinking.
13. Cut out the use of alcohol, smoking, and recreational drug use (if you use such things) - these ruin your mind, body, metabolism and your general health.
14. Exercise - check with your doctor to find out what kind of exercise you should get, and if it is safe for you to exercise. If you are allowed to exercise, walking is a safe choice, as is using a jump rope on your own drive way. Both are very inexpensive and promote cardio. Healthy people who get clearance from their physician, are often permitted to engage in 30 minutes of cardio exercise every day by walking, and can work up from one minute using a jump rope, if they are healthy. Use stairs to engage in 30 minutes of 'step-up' type exercise at home as well. If you map out a 'route' in your neighborhood you can measure out a 1/2 mile route, starting at your own front door, you can take a break from just about anything and go for a walk in the same amount of time it would take you to drive over to a health club.
15. Take time to connect with the Divine every day. 15 minutes is enough. Read, pray, or meditate. If you are not religious, no matter. Take time to focus on positive thinking instead, for a 15 minutes session every day. Do things that promote serenity - light a candle, listen to relaxation music, or sit out in nature and enjoy the wild. Taking a break from the hustle of the real world will refresh you inside and out.
16. Maintain friendships. We all work to much and see other people to little. It may be refreshing to call up a friend (not through texting), and go have a bite out, or see a film, or just wander around the mall and chat. Real friendship is better than virtual friendship any day.
17. Have a physical every year, and go to the dentist. Keep your body and teeth in working order - it goes a long way for health and beauty.
18. Add more cooking herbs to your cooking. Fresh herbs have great benefits against cancer, diabetes, and other health problems - ask your doctor to make sure the herbs you select don't interact with any medicatiosn you have been taking by prescription or over the counter.
19. Create something. Do some art. Glue something, paint something, sculpt something, sew, knit or crochet something. It doesn't have to be very well done. But it gets your mind off of over-eating, lack of friendship, anxiety or depression.
20. Work, but keep your work in balance. Work is healthy. It gives you a purpose. If you don't like your job or career, plan out a way to achieve a different job or career to bring you greater daily success.
21. Buy make-up in the smallest packaging - it has an expiration date, and you will use it up in time if the packaging is smaller. Fresh make-up of any brand is better than old make-up.
22. Use pure soap products, not the kinds will lots of perfumes and chemicals.
23. Get some sun exposure every day, but only a few minutes. Your skin needs sunlight. Just not very much.
24. If you want to avoid getting freckles, use some sunblock on the skin below your eyes - using sunblock on your forehead can get into your eyes if you are active and sweat, and it BURNS!
25. Wear sunglasses and a hat - avoid getting sunburn at all costs.
26. Do your own manicure and pedicure in the bathtub. After soaking in a nice hot tub, use an 'orange stick' to push back and trim cuticles,, then remove old nail polish and trim your nails. After you get out, nourish your nails with olive oil, and then apply a coat of finger nail polish. If you are short on time, clear is the easiest to apply because if you 'mis-aim' no one will notice.
27. Wear gem stone jewelry - it does have energy that can empower you, protect you, shield you from negative energy.
28. Go barefoot sometimes - your feet need to be 'let out'. It's healthy to be barefoot and it feels good, especially if you can walk through green, soft grass!
29. Wear loose clothing in the evenings - your body needs to rest from being constricted in clothing. Sometimes its even good for you to be free of underclothing for a while; Loose pajamas are a great way to let your body reest from constrictive clothes.
30. Get away from electronics for the weekend, and give yourself a break from electronics for at least one hour every day. Electronics are nice but they take away from a healthy mind and spirit, as well as interfere with real inter-personal relationships. Stop with virtual and get real.
30.
A Day In The Life Of The Average Witch
Today. What did I do today. Well, I got up at 10:30 a.m., but that's because I go to bed late. I ate breakfast and went on some errands with my family, some of whom were home today. Home again, I am writing on this blog. I'm also thinking about what I 'should' be doing and what I 'want' to do. I 'should' be cleaning and re-organizing my Reliquary - it's a real mess. I have collected a lot of wonderful, magick supplies, and I enjoy looking at all these things that have come to me over the years. I especially like looking at these things because I know they have worked magick before. These things really do connect me with the energies that combine with my intentions to create transformation. These many things are also pretty. I have two large, red-glass goblets and a red-glass floral vase that I use in Love incantations of many kinds. Love always comes with these beautiful things when combined with the right incantations, and sometimes heartbreak is healed as well. I also enjoy looking at my several decks of Tarot Cards. I have a deck that is designed with a 'wizard' theme and the pictures are just beautiful to me. I also should work on making my new Besom. I found a wonderful, somewhat crooked tree branch that's just the right diameter and height. I had cut some wild, dried grasses and wrapped them around the base of the limb. Perhaps I should take it apart again and finish the broom stick...but it does look nice as it is, right out of the wild. Still, it would look lovely if the bark were removed, it was sanded and stained, and if I etched some wonderful words of magick into it. I also need more wild grasses to make it's 'skirt', and maybe some dried flowers. I wonder what color of ribbon I ought to decorate it with? Should I wind the ribbon up and around the broomstick? Or should I just make a huge bow for the front of it. I will have to remember to get some spray on glitter so that when it is finally finished, I can spray the skirt of the broomstick so it has that feeling of magick.
I'd have to say that I love glitter. Some witches are 'natural' witches, but I'm more of a glitter witch. I like chandeliers, and formal gowns, swanky buffets, and formal flower bouquets. If I'm out in the wild, please, do set me up a striped tent, and bring me my lunch on a silver tray! There's no reason to be out in the wild and live like a wild-thing. Not me. (Well...sometimes...), but I am just that kind of personality. Just like everyone, Witches too have personalities. Some are very 'natural', others very cultured. Some are very liberal, and others very conservative. Witchery doesn't necessarily change who you are, it just may enhance it instead.
I have a few acquaintances who are Witches. They are really nice people. One owns a store. A 'witchy' store and it's beautiful. This person is 'all business'. Another friend I have is very 'Middle Earth' and the wild just seems to continue growing right into her house. she's an extremely cool person and completely different from who I am. I also know a witch who is very dedicated to cooking and has a lovely home. I myself am an artistic, glamour-puss witch. That's just me. My Reliquary is filled with things that have energy in them, from things that have happened. Books with spells I have used that actually have worked, and worked well. On my Escritoire, I have Spell Books in the making, as one page after the other dries, as the days go by, and I glue things into these special pages. I make spell jars, and wishing jars, and mojo bags, and tarot card bags, but also baby blankets, and crochet hats, and I try to sew things - outfits, and craft items. And I have made a quilt as well.
I love to fry chicken. I just learned how to do it right. I had to watch Youtube to learn how. It came out pretty nice! I wonder if I should take a room apart and clean it thoroughly, or go ride my bike for the sake of exercise. Or maybe I should enjoy a cup of coffee out in my back yard, which backs up to a wild life reserve, where the neighborhood happens to be located. It's so beautiful in there. A pleasure to just sit and hear the birds chatter.
But for just a few minutes, I will sit in the family room with my loved ones and watch old sit-com T.V. programs, and rest for a few minutes before I continue on with my busy day. Perhaps someone will need a Tarot Reading, or need me to work a spell for them. I always welcome this. I love to hear the results of how their reading or spell went, and people come to me weeks or months later, and let me know all the details, which I LOVE. I also need a manicure and a pedicure, I need to take a day for 'beauty'. That reminds me that I will write a post on Witch Beauty soon. It's an interesting procedure. You may enjoy some natural, Witchy beauty tips. But that's next time. Oh. the commercial break is now over. I'm going to finish this show and then on with my day.
I'd have to say that I love glitter. Some witches are 'natural' witches, but I'm more of a glitter witch. I like chandeliers, and formal gowns, swanky buffets, and formal flower bouquets. If I'm out in the wild, please, do set me up a striped tent, and bring me my lunch on a silver tray! There's no reason to be out in the wild and live like a wild-thing. Not me. (Well...sometimes...), but I am just that kind of personality. Just like everyone, Witches too have personalities. Some are very 'natural', others very cultured. Some are very liberal, and others very conservative. Witchery doesn't necessarily change who you are, it just may enhance it instead.
I have a few acquaintances who are Witches. They are really nice people. One owns a store. A 'witchy' store and it's beautiful. This person is 'all business'. Another friend I have is very 'Middle Earth' and the wild just seems to continue growing right into her house. she's an extremely cool person and completely different from who I am. I also know a witch who is very dedicated to cooking and has a lovely home. I myself am an artistic, glamour-puss witch. That's just me. My Reliquary is filled with things that have energy in them, from things that have happened. Books with spells I have used that actually have worked, and worked well. On my Escritoire, I have Spell Books in the making, as one page after the other dries, as the days go by, and I glue things into these special pages. I make spell jars, and wishing jars, and mojo bags, and tarot card bags, but also baby blankets, and crochet hats, and I try to sew things - outfits, and craft items. And I have made a quilt as well.
I love to fry chicken. I just learned how to do it right. I had to watch Youtube to learn how. It came out pretty nice! I wonder if I should take a room apart and clean it thoroughly, or go ride my bike for the sake of exercise. Or maybe I should enjoy a cup of coffee out in my back yard, which backs up to a wild life reserve, where the neighborhood happens to be located. It's so beautiful in there. A pleasure to just sit and hear the birds chatter.
But for just a few minutes, I will sit in the family room with my loved ones and watch old sit-com T.V. programs, and rest for a few minutes before I continue on with my busy day. Perhaps someone will need a Tarot Reading, or need me to work a spell for them. I always welcome this. I love to hear the results of how their reading or spell went, and people come to me weeks or months later, and let me know all the details, which I LOVE. I also need a manicure and a pedicure, I need to take a day for 'beauty'. That reminds me that I will write a post on Witch Beauty soon. It's an interesting procedure. You may enjoy some natural, Witchy beauty tips. But that's next time. Oh. the commercial break is now over. I'm going to finish this show and then on with my day.
What Religion Were The Ancient Celts, Anyway?
The question of religion is an interesting one. What 'is' religion, what is its function for the individual, for a group, and for different people groups in different times and places. Your idea of what 'religion' is may be very different from someone else's. We can argue all day long about what religion is, what one should believe in, where one goes after death, and so forth and never come to a conclusion. Religion, ultimately, is a matter of faith, isn't it.
But when we want to know about a group of people in antiquity, and what their religion was, then 'our' opinion must be put on hold. Our opinion does not count any more, because we want to gain facts, and facts can not be 'colored' by what we 'wish' those people were doing, to suit our own needs and practices today. Anthropologists and Historians operate this way. They don't care if their findings support a particular religion in question. Instead, they want the facts...'just' the facts.
In regard to what religion the Ancient Celts were, let's look at their history and see if we can find the 'facts'.
"Developing out of the late-Neolithic (proto-Celtic) Beaker peoples, the diverse cultures of the Celts covered most of Europe from during the Ancient era before, but by tenth century AD they had evolved and merged with others so much there were no 'Celts' left." (http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/celts/Celts.htm)
Between 10,000 B.C. to around 2,000 B.C, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic), the Celts existed across Europe but had various cultures, which were different from one another, much like English culture is different from American culture. They were the 'same' people, but did things 'differently'. While they most certainly had a religion, Archeologists and Historians have little information on what that was. Of course we know certain things based on their funerary sights, but we have no written documents to tell us exactly what they celebrated (holidays), what kind of religious rites they performed (such as baptisms, or bar-mitzvahs in our modern world), or what moral restrictions they may have honored (dietary restrictions, required rites of passage, etc.). In other words, we know almost nothing about the Ancient Celts in regard to their religion. This is further complicated by the fact that even if a whole culture has a majority of individuals who claim to adhere to a particular religion, we still do not know how any one individual thinks about certain things about it, or what particular details they observe at home. Compared to our own culture, we might look at the Yule Tide season, a.k.a. Christmas. Most people put up a tree, decorate it, and put wrapped gifts under it. Why people do this is very individual. Some believe in Christianity; Some believe in Paganism - two very different faiths. Some wrap the gifts, others do not. Some cook big, festive meals, others travel and don't bother to decorate their own homes. And then there are those who would never dream of setting up a Christmas tree in their homes - some Christians believe it's 'to Pagan'....some Jews and Muslims might give the tradition a try, but most will not observe this regularly, and some Pagans will participate, but with very different religious sentiments than their Christian neighbors. In our large culture, we have great diversity. As we can see, observing even one aspect of a modern cultural and religious observance, where we 'can' ask the people who celebrate and observe such a thing, can vary greatly from house to house. The Celts also had a very expansive culture that lasted for several THOUSAND years. Thus to put 'one' label on what they did or believed is impossible. Over this much time, there must have been many different beliefs systems that came into and out of their culture. And those who adhered to one belief system or another, often would have observed their beliefs in individualized ways. Just look around our modern world - the 'western' world of Europe, Canada and America. Its a large region where 'western' people live. Can we say that everyone in 'western' culture is the same religion? No. If they were, would we be able to say they practice this religion 'the same way'? Absolutely not. Just take your care out and drive around your own neighborhood, and look for different churches, synagogues, and temples. The first thing you will notice is that, in regard to just the Christian religion, there are many 'takes' on it - Catholic, and several kinds of Protestant, ranging from Presbyterian, to Baptist, from Methodist to Mormon. Ever denomination has a drastically different idea of what the one religion should mean, how it should be practiced, and even severe differences in how to interpret different portions of that one singular faith. If Celtic peoples living 10,000 years ago and on to around 2,000 B.C. were 'thinking people' (and they must have been), they certainly would have formed groups that disagreed with other groups. Did they have massive, cultural religions? They may have, since they built huge burial mounds and the remains of temples seem to tell us so. Did they argue over doctrine as we do today? If they are people, they did. It's human nature to do so. Further, we do not know what or who influenced different groups of Celts in regions where they lived.
We don't know much about the ancient Celts. But what we 'can' know we gain from pre-Christian Roman writers about them. We know they believed in 'transmigration of the soul' (reincarnation), and in an afterlife. We know they may have believed in a human-sacrifice type system. We know they honored their dead, and that their culture observed the solstices and equinoxes as most cultures in the ancient world also did.
When did the Celts 'stop' being Celts? apparently, they had been inter-mixed with other people groups beginning around 2000 B.C. across Europe and the only Celtic people groups that remained were those in upper Britain - Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc. And we do have specific cultural activities, religious ideals, and festivals that we honor. Of course the greatest and most well known of our fests is Samhain, (a.k.a. Halloween). See here for a History Channel documentary on Halloween, which is much better said than I can type it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CWZsH9Wras
Modern people 'want' to restore Celtic antiquity. This is a noble desire, and a difficult task. By continuing on with the 'one' Feast Day that we all 'know' is of Celtic Origin, we are carrying on a very ancient Feast Day. We must never let this day cease. It is 'our' day. It is our Culture. It is the only things we know, for certain, that the Celts going back into deep antiquity, celebrated. It is the only Feast we have that we know the ancient beliefs, and can also the modern transformation to our current culture. In Halloween, is ensconsed our religious beliefs, and whether a Celtic person is a Christian or a Witch, or something in between (or a combination of both), matters not. Halloween envelopes all these beliefs into one. This really is the night of the Celts. It is the night of Traditional Witches. It is 'our' day. Related to this day are Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh - these are the four Traditional Celtic Feast Days. (The others were brought in from the Germanic culture). To be 'purely Celtic' one would only observe these four days.
How shall we observe these days together as a people, when we are so far from one another? Light a candle. Remember our people. We may not know what they did in times past, but we can connect with them by this simple rite.
To observe these days simply, try this out:
HALLOWEEN/SAMHAIN SEASON: Put up a display of 13 black candles surrounded by a wreath of orange-y autumn leaves. Keep them lit from October 31st, until the end of November when they should be burned out.
IMBOLC SEASON: Put up a display of 1 white candle surrounded by a branch wreath, which has been sprayed with silver-glitter spray. This represents how new life and new chances sprouts from winter's earth.
BELTANE SEASON: Put up a display of brilliant colored candles the colors of fruits and flowers. Surround them with a wreath of beautiful flowers as well. Represents that what was planted finally comes to be.
LUGHNASADH: Put up a golden and wine colored candles surrounded by a wreath made from shafts of wheat and grapes. This represents that what the fields gave us are now for our use, and fallow fields will prepare to bring forth our sustenance again in the future - it is a time to look forward, just as Lugh's mother did when she died preparing the grain fields for the future.
We need to remember as well that the Celts were and are a diverse people when it comes to considering the many religions that the Celts embraced over their/our long history. Instead of drawing a line in the sand to say, "He's Pagan, She's Christian", we need to remember, we are all Celts, cut from the same cloth, and our religion is only a little part of our culture. We are still family. As the Celtic world moves forward in time, we must remember to remain true to ourselves and our Celtic heritage, and not let religion divide us. Because up to now, it has not.
But when we want to know about a group of people in antiquity, and what their religion was, then 'our' opinion must be put on hold. Our opinion does not count any more, because we want to gain facts, and facts can not be 'colored' by what we 'wish' those people were doing, to suit our own needs and practices today. Anthropologists and Historians operate this way. They don't care if their findings support a particular religion in question. Instead, they want the facts...'just' the facts.
In regard to what religion the Ancient Celts were, let's look at their history and see if we can find the 'facts'.
"Developing out of the late-Neolithic (proto-Celtic) Beaker peoples, the diverse cultures of the Celts covered most of Europe from during the Ancient era before, but by tenth century AD they had evolved and merged with others so much there were no 'Celts' left." (http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/celts/Celts.htm)
Between 10,000 B.C. to around 2,000 B.C, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic), the Celts existed across Europe but had various cultures, which were different from one another, much like English culture is different from American culture. They were the 'same' people, but did things 'differently'. While they most certainly had a religion, Archeologists and Historians have little information on what that was. Of course we know certain things based on their funerary sights, but we have no written documents to tell us exactly what they celebrated (holidays), what kind of religious rites they performed (such as baptisms, or bar-mitzvahs in our modern world), or what moral restrictions they may have honored (dietary restrictions, required rites of passage, etc.). In other words, we know almost nothing about the Ancient Celts in regard to their religion. This is further complicated by the fact that even if a whole culture has a majority of individuals who claim to adhere to a particular religion, we still do not know how any one individual thinks about certain things about it, or what particular details they observe at home. Compared to our own culture, we might look at the Yule Tide season, a.k.a. Christmas. Most people put up a tree, decorate it, and put wrapped gifts under it. Why people do this is very individual. Some believe in Christianity; Some believe in Paganism - two very different faiths. Some wrap the gifts, others do not. Some cook big, festive meals, others travel and don't bother to decorate their own homes. And then there are those who would never dream of setting up a Christmas tree in their homes - some Christians believe it's 'to Pagan'....some Jews and Muslims might give the tradition a try, but most will not observe this regularly, and some Pagans will participate, but with very different religious sentiments than their Christian neighbors. In our large culture, we have great diversity. As we can see, observing even one aspect of a modern cultural and religious observance, where we 'can' ask the people who celebrate and observe such a thing, can vary greatly from house to house. The Celts also had a very expansive culture that lasted for several THOUSAND years. Thus to put 'one' label on what they did or believed is impossible. Over this much time, there must have been many different beliefs systems that came into and out of their culture. And those who adhered to one belief system or another, often would have observed their beliefs in individualized ways. Just look around our modern world - the 'western' world of Europe, Canada and America. Its a large region where 'western' people live. Can we say that everyone in 'western' culture is the same religion? No. If they were, would we be able to say they practice this religion 'the same way'? Absolutely not. Just take your care out and drive around your own neighborhood, and look for different churches, synagogues, and temples. The first thing you will notice is that, in regard to just the Christian religion, there are many 'takes' on it - Catholic, and several kinds of Protestant, ranging from Presbyterian, to Baptist, from Methodist to Mormon. Ever denomination has a drastically different idea of what the one religion should mean, how it should be practiced, and even severe differences in how to interpret different portions of that one singular faith. If Celtic peoples living 10,000 years ago and on to around 2,000 B.C. were 'thinking people' (and they must have been), they certainly would have formed groups that disagreed with other groups. Did they have massive, cultural religions? They may have, since they built huge burial mounds and the remains of temples seem to tell us so. Did they argue over doctrine as we do today? If they are people, they did. It's human nature to do so. Further, we do not know what or who influenced different groups of Celts in regions where they lived.
We don't know much about the ancient Celts. But what we 'can' know we gain from pre-Christian Roman writers about them. We know they believed in 'transmigration of the soul' (reincarnation), and in an afterlife. We know they may have believed in a human-sacrifice type system. We know they honored their dead, and that their culture observed the solstices and equinoxes as most cultures in the ancient world also did.
When did the Celts 'stop' being Celts? apparently, they had been inter-mixed with other people groups beginning around 2000 B.C. across Europe and the only Celtic people groups that remained were those in upper Britain - Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc. And we do have specific cultural activities, religious ideals, and festivals that we honor. Of course the greatest and most well known of our fests is Samhain, (a.k.a. Halloween). See here for a History Channel documentary on Halloween, which is much better said than I can type it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CWZsH9Wras
Modern people 'want' to restore Celtic antiquity. This is a noble desire, and a difficult task. By continuing on with the 'one' Feast Day that we all 'know' is of Celtic Origin, we are carrying on a very ancient Feast Day. We must never let this day cease. It is 'our' day. It is our Culture. It is the only things we know, for certain, that the Celts going back into deep antiquity, celebrated. It is the only Feast we have that we know the ancient beliefs, and can also the modern transformation to our current culture. In Halloween, is ensconsed our religious beliefs, and whether a Celtic person is a Christian or a Witch, or something in between (or a combination of both), matters not. Halloween envelopes all these beliefs into one. This really is the night of the Celts. It is the night of Traditional Witches. It is 'our' day. Related to this day are Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh - these are the four Traditional Celtic Feast Days. (The others were brought in from the Germanic culture). To be 'purely Celtic' one would only observe these four days.
How shall we observe these days together as a people, when we are so far from one another? Light a candle. Remember our people. We may not know what they did in times past, but we can connect with them by this simple rite.
To observe these days simply, try this out:
HALLOWEEN/SAMHAIN SEASON: Put up a display of 13 black candles surrounded by a wreath of orange-y autumn leaves. Keep them lit from October 31st, until the end of November when they should be burned out.
IMBOLC SEASON: Put up a display of 1 white candle surrounded by a branch wreath, which has been sprayed with silver-glitter spray. This represents how new life and new chances sprouts from winter's earth.
BELTANE SEASON: Put up a display of brilliant colored candles the colors of fruits and flowers. Surround them with a wreath of beautiful flowers as well. Represents that what was planted finally comes to be.
LUGHNASADH: Put up a golden and wine colored candles surrounded by a wreath made from shafts of wheat and grapes. This represents that what the fields gave us are now for our use, and fallow fields will prepare to bring forth our sustenance again in the future - it is a time to look forward, just as Lugh's mother did when she died preparing the grain fields for the future.
We need to remember as well that the Celts were and are a diverse people when it comes to considering the many religions that the Celts embraced over their/our long history. Instead of drawing a line in the sand to say, "He's Pagan, She's Christian", we need to remember, we are all Celts, cut from the same cloth, and our religion is only a little part of our culture. We are still family. As the Celtic world moves forward in time, we must remember to remain true to ourselves and our Celtic heritage, and not let religion divide us. Because up to now, it has not.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Why Wiccans Cast A Circle... And Why We Don't
Wiccans. Casting circles. Why do they do this? When a person in the Wiccan religion casts a circle, it is for a religious reason. They create 'sacred space' where they feel they are protected from negative energy forces that may come to attack them while they are engaging in their worship. Thus, before they worship, they cast a circle, by using a ritual. This ritual involves calling up the guardians of each direction, and asking that guarding to stand guard. As they do this, they point their wand, and visualize the drawing of a circular shape on the ground. Once this is done, (and the procedure depends on what group is casting the circle), then those in attendance may begin to commence at their worship time.
Traditional Witches do not gather for religious reasons. Instead, COVEN 1658 encourages you to find the religion of your choice if this is important to you, provided that it is a religion that embraces good only. This religion's duty is to teach you how to remain protected from the forces of spiritual evil. If you follow the instructions of your religious faith, then only you can know for sure if you are protected from unseemly spiritual forces.
COVEN 1658, instead teaches you to place yourself under the protection of the force of 'All-Good'. You can do this by stating such, and asking for protection before you work any kind of spell. You can also pour a salt circle around your standing area whenever you cast a spell, or you can bless salt to the purpose of protecting you in the name of 'All-Good', and then, wrap this salt in a square of fabric and keep it on you.
when evil comes your way, you can tell it that it must be bound and cast away from you in the name of 'All-Good', and order it into the presence of the Highest Divine, who will know what to do with this negative entity. You yourself must never interact with any force of evil. these forces are very dangerous. Send this entity or entities away from you and into the judgment of the only force that can manage it, the 'Highest Good'.
Further, whenever you cast a spell, after you set it up, create a salt circle around it. This can be done with actual salt, or by allowing a long cotton string to lay in salt water until it absorbs up all the salt and dries. the string can then be laid around the spell as a salt circle. Further, you can add salt to water and boil it with a special prayer added to the boiling water, asking for protection from the Highest Good, and then sprinkle that water around yourself and the spell.
Finally, put yourself under the protection of the Highest Good every morning and every evening. This is a simple prayer you ask for in common words. You can also do this at any time. If you do this, you will be inside a sphere of protection at all times, and this sphere will be endowed over you by the Highest Good.
As you can see, the reason Wiccans cast a circle is to set up a religious worship area. COVEN 1658 does not teach religion, thus, there is no reason for us to do this. We do, however, take the reality of evil entities very seriously, and we protect ourselves at all times from all evil forces with the powers of the Highest Good. We further encourage our members to investigate the specific instructions of the religion of their choice to further protect themselves from evil and harm.
Traditional Witches do not gather for religious reasons. Instead, COVEN 1658 encourages you to find the religion of your choice if this is important to you, provided that it is a religion that embraces good only. This religion's duty is to teach you how to remain protected from the forces of spiritual evil. If you follow the instructions of your religious faith, then only you can know for sure if you are protected from unseemly spiritual forces.
COVEN 1658, instead teaches you to place yourself under the protection of the force of 'All-Good'. You can do this by stating such, and asking for protection before you work any kind of spell. You can also pour a salt circle around your standing area whenever you cast a spell, or you can bless salt to the purpose of protecting you in the name of 'All-Good', and then, wrap this salt in a square of fabric and keep it on you.
when evil comes your way, you can tell it that it must be bound and cast away from you in the name of 'All-Good', and order it into the presence of the Highest Divine, who will know what to do with this negative entity. You yourself must never interact with any force of evil. these forces are very dangerous. Send this entity or entities away from you and into the judgment of the only force that can manage it, the 'Highest Good'.
Further, whenever you cast a spell, after you set it up, create a salt circle around it. This can be done with actual salt, or by allowing a long cotton string to lay in salt water until it absorbs up all the salt and dries. the string can then be laid around the spell as a salt circle. Further, you can add salt to water and boil it with a special prayer added to the boiling water, asking for protection from the Highest Good, and then sprinkle that water around yourself and the spell.
Finally, put yourself under the protection of the Highest Good every morning and every evening. This is a simple prayer you ask for in common words. You can also do this at any time. If you do this, you will be inside a sphere of protection at all times, and this sphere will be endowed over you by the Highest Good.
As you can see, the reason Wiccans cast a circle is to set up a religious worship area. COVEN 1658 does not teach religion, thus, there is no reason for us to do this. We do, however, take the reality of evil entities very seriously, and we protect ourselves at all times from all evil forces with the powers of the Highest Good. We further encourage our members to investigate the specific instructions of the religion of their choice to further protect themselves from evil and harm.
How Does COVEN 1658 Operate As An Organization?
COVEN 1658 operates in a 'Traditional' sense, instead of after the degree system characteristic in Wicca. This is because we are not Wiccan.
Instead, we have a 'covenstead' which is the 'headquarters' where the High Priestess and/or Hierophant operate from, write this blog, make decisions about what to teach, make decisions about other educational things, and so on.
We Initiate Witches world wide through our written information, given through this blog - FOR FREE.
We offer information to our Witches so they can learn how to acquire and use their magic for the purpose of benevolence and healing.
Covens that originated after 1950 are specific to offering 'degree' systems of learning, where the student has to 'earn' his or her levels of knowledge. Often times, earning a degree in Wicca costs a seeker money to take their course.
Lots of people want to know what these Wiccan degree systems teach. In brief, here is the 'run down' of many Wiccan degree systems (but not all):
1st Degree - History of Witchcraft from a Wiccan perspective, resting on Gerald Gardner's perspective, which has been heavily questioned by scholars for many reasons. Required reading in a 1st Degree Wiccan system often includes reading requirements: books by Gerald Gardner, or Margaret Alice Murray, as well as more modern Wiccan writers who follow the Gardnerian Wicca philosophy. Because the basis of their philosophy centers on what Gardner taught, the entire philosophy of these writers may be said to stem from Gardnerian Wicca. but Gardner did not necessarily follow Traditional Witchcraft, instead incorporating modern ideas in his establishment of the religion of Wicca, as well as borrowing ideas from non-Wiccan and non-Witchcraft fraternal organizations of his own era. This is not to invalidate Wicca, but only to point out the differences between Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft. A person seeking to become a Wiccan may, in some cases, be asked to read and study these many texts on Gardnerian philosophy for one year and one day, before becoming initiated into the 1st Degree of Wicca. Because Wiccan history post-dates (comes after) Traditional Witchcraft, a Traditional Coven of Witchcraft can not possibly teach the Wiccan philosophy as their own history or ideal. Instead we can only mention Wicca as a diversion away from a much more lengthy history of what and who we really are and have been going back in time several centuries. When Wicca is viewed against several hundred years of Traditional Witchcraft, taking us back to the Burning Times, the modern movement of Wicca, which originated in the 1950's is very brief. Further Wicca teaches several things that were never taught at all in any philosophy of or related to Traditional Witchcraft (for example, Wiccans are taught that Witchcraft can only to be regarded as a religion; this is historically inaccurate). We can not realistically teach things that have nothing to do with us as Witches, or to teach about a movement that took some of our teachings and went in a different philosophical or religious direction than we have always been directed in. This is what 'their' first degree is often (not always) about. We cannot teach this because it does not pertain to us. And when we look back in history we must study the Witch Trial Era in Europe, the British Isles, and North America as our primary focus, for our kind of Witchcraft is Celtic, British and Germanic, exclusively. Although we acknowledge that other forms of witchcraft exist around the world, our only focus is Celto-British, which must include Germanic, since the Anglo-Saxons (Germans) came into England and had influence in the culture prior to the Witch Trial Era, bringing with them their own ideas about our craft. Of course we also study backwards in time to discern much about the Bronze Age people who lived in Celtic and European lands. This discipline of study of our own people will continue to expand as more knowledge is discovered by archeologists. But our main knowledge comes from our own Traditional knowledge base as well as the court record confessions of accused witches - what they did, what they claimed to have seen or done, who accused them and why, and so forth. These people reveal, in their accounts, the types of things they did in many cases, and while it is a well known fact that they did not worship the Christian Devil, even though they may have been forced to confess such, they did explain much about what they actually were doing, or others disclosed what they had observed them doing. These historical accounts are very important to us, for they help us to continue practicing as we always have.
2nd Degree -
How to actually practice Wicca is then disclosed to an initiate of Wicca in their 2nd year. This includes setting up and celebrating for all eight of the Sabbats (Feasts), understanding how the pantheon system of many deities that are important to them can be understood, how to worship the Lord & Lady properly according to the Wiccan faith, as well as what should take place at a Full Moon Rite in the Wiccan religion. As you can see, Traditional Witches cannot teach this, since it simply does not pertain to us - remember that Traditional Witchcraft is 'not' a religion; hence teaching our students to believe in or worship something is not our duty. We are not against our students embracing a religion of their own choice, we just don't teach them to do this. But because Wicca is a specific theology, with defined deities, as compared to Traditional Witchcraft, which is a philosophy that focuses on the Art, Science, Vocation and Culture of Witchcraft as a discipline, the two are very different. Traditional Witches are not interested in the religious aspects of Wicca (Witches may indeed be religious, but this may not pertain to the practice of our craft as an official stance); rather we are interested in how to use energy to make positive transformation in every day life 'no matter what our religion is'. Let's change the subject for a moment. Suppose you sign up for a college art class. Every week, you go to the class where other students meet together. These students learn from a teacher, and as the class wears on, different students discuss how and why they are using certain art techniques to make their paintings come out the way that they do. The students learn from one another about the particulars of one student's techniques as compared to their own, while also learning the formal aspects of art from the teacher. But no one is learning religion. Yes, art can be spiritual, and it certainly has been used to depict very specific religious activities in many cultures, but it does not necessary have to be about religion, although it can be. Witchcraft is like this - it is an art, a science, a vocation and a culture. It can be 'religious' for you if you want this. But as a formal teaching, it cannot be, because to many other people with different beliefs also want to know how this art works and are willing to share what they have learned. For Witches, the 'highlight' Feast is on October 31st - Samhain, also known as Halloween. And do you know why it is called Halloween? For one siginificant reason - our own Scots-Irish ancestors brought this feast to American shores in the 1600's and then again in the 1800's, and 'they' called it this. This is 'our' feast. Yes, the Catholic Church may have instituted that name (Halloween) over our original name (Samhain), but for us it is all the same. Yes there are 8 Feast Days in the 'Wiccan Wheel of the Year', which really is a combined Feast system of the Celts and the Germans, and because the Celts and the Germans 'converged' in central England culturally, we honor these dates. But we recognize that historically, these days were cultural, not religious, and that everyone in Elizabethan England kept these days, not 'just witches' - EVERYONE celebrated these days...everyone! These are Celto-British Feast days that track the planting and harvest seasons, and made wonderful cultural feasts for the entire community, hence this is 'our' CULTURE. We LOVE these feast days, but we don't emphasize them as 'religious'. Instead we invite everyone from EVERY religion to celebrate these wonderful Celtic Feasts. Here is our list of these dates and their meanings 'for us':
HALLOWEEN - (10/31) - Feast of Final Harvest; End of the Celtic Year: Trick-or Treating
SAMHAIN - (11/1) - Celtic New Year; Ancestor Memorial: Memorial Supper for our Ancestors
YULE - 12/21 to 12-25 - Feast of Light; Birth of the Sun/Son: Yule Tree, Yule Log, gift exchange
IMBOLC - 2/1 - Feast of Seed Time & Germination: Uncovering the hidden/wrapped foods
OSTARA - 3/21 - Feast of Sprouting: Easter Baskets, Formal Dinner
BELTANE - 5/21 - Feast of Flowers: May Pole, Decorate a May Bush with Fairies & flowers
LITHA - 6/21 - Feast of Fruit: Strawberry Feastival
LUGHNASADH - 8/1 - Feast of Grain & Wine: Sharing of quick breads and Fruit beverages
HARVEST HOME - 9/21 - Feast of Ingathering: Celtic Thanksgiving Feast
ESBAT- Monthly - Feast of the Full Moon (Initiation and/or Re-empowerment Rite for all Coven 1658 Witches and their tools): Share refreshments, hold a lecture or demonstration, study a book together
While Wiccans have specific rituals they perform at these dates, Witches may or may not, depending on the particular Coven or individual. COVEN 1658 uses these Feast Times exclusively as true holidays, where we invite others to gather with us for seasonal foods, decorations, gift exchanges, spell casting and divination practices, and the wearing of Celtic Garb (not our normal black gown type vocational wear, but rather, festive clothing from our Celtic culture.)
This information is often what the 2nd Degree entails in some Wiccan groups.
The 3rd Degree in Wicca often focuses on teaching an individual to run their own group, such that when the original group becomes to big, it can split (they term this split as 'hiving off'). When a new group of Wiccans form, they need a person to be responsible for it - to hold and lead the meetings, and someone who knows how to conduct the rituals important to their group. But this 'ritual system' at feast times is a modern institution. Traditional Witches have not usually had such ritual attached to our workings. We gather to feast and enjoy our culture, and spend the rest of the year working at our vocation - Witchcraft, the art and science of spell crafting, casting and divination. Thus the 3rd degree is also not pertinent for us. Because we don't have intricate worship rituals associated with the Celtic Wheel of the Year, we look forward to the wheel turning towards another holiday - a feast when we gather to make merry. It is us, the Traditional Witches, who originated the phrase 'Merry Meet', and we meant it. As far as holding a feast goes, most people know how they hold a holiday at their own home. Just as you would at any holiday, decorate your home for the season, plan a special meal, invite in friends and family, exchange special gifts having to do with the season or the feast's meaning, and if needed, cast a spell or use divination (or not). And finally, wear Celtic attire. The holiday is as specific as your family makes it. A lot of people 'need' a central focal point for their celebration, because most people are used to a large decoration such as a Christmas Tree as the main focus of a major holiday. Wicca has answered this need by directing their members to decorate an altar, which is a religious structure. We of course, don't mind if you do this as well, it is up to you. But for 'us' we instruct to set up a main decorative object on your entry way table that pertains to the holiday in question. For example:
Halloween: Any Halloween decorations and candles you like, Trick-or-Treating, Autumn foods
Samhain: Pictures of your immediate ancestors, and things they enjoyed, which the family can share in their memory, a festive meal of the favorite foods of your ancestors
Yule: A decorated Pine Tree, wrapped gifts, filled stockings, and a festive meal
Imbolc: A clear glass bowl of flower bulbs that begin to sprout; Foods that are 'wrapped' such as Asian Spring Rolls, Burritos, anything wrapped in a wonton wrapper. any kind of filled dumpling. the idea is to wrap a surprise food up in an edible wrapper in the same way a seed is wrapped under the ground - this helps us see the potential of the unsprouted seed as it begins to germinate; its also fun to be creative with this, and shows us how our undiscovered creativity needs to 'sprout'
Beltane: Decorate a (fake) willow tree with pastel 'Christmas' lights, Fairy ornaments, flower garlands, and beautiful insect ornaments such as butter flies, dragon flies, lady bugs and so on. In the old days, people competed for prizes on their decorated May Bushes, and often whole communities helped decorate the May Bush; Setting up a May Pole and doing the traditional 'dance' around it until it is fully wrapped. If you can not set up a large one, try to set up a miniature one; You can even decorate a cake with a miniature May-Pole, or create spinning 'toys' that depict a May Pole. Spring time foods are served at this time.
Litha: Where would anyone be without a summer Strawberry Festival? Invite friends over and ask them to bring their favorite Strawberry dessert! Remember that what you planted is now coming to fruition. Making summer lanterns of any kind is especially appropriate now.
Lughnasadh: The Celtic hero, Lugh is honored on this day, and his story is retold. the Sharing of bread and fruit beverages is appropriate to celebrate the first harvests of grain and wine, as well as fruits and vegetables that come in in bounty from the summer garden.
Harvest Home: The Celts Celebrated this version of "Thanksgiving' in September. If you are more comfortable waiting until American Thanksgiving in November, that's just fine. The sentiment is the same. You may also wish to celebrate this lovely holiday twice. Set a formal table, invite guests, ask everyone to bring a harvest themed potluck dish, dress up and enjoy a wonderful day of togetherness.
Gift exchange is always appropriate at any Celtic Feast Day, but not necessary, depending on the finances of the family. And small gifts are just as nice as large one. Because families may not be able to put on a 'Christmas' type holiday every 6 weeks, it is perfectly fine to give only one small gift to each family member, or exchange cards, or promise to do tasks for one another. Try to make your gift giving meaningful, and related to the holiday's theme in some way.
So as you can see, the things one learns in the religion of Wicca just don't pertain to Traditional Witchcraft practices; we do 'other' things than Wiccans do, and we always have.
How do we regard the advancement of our member Witches, if not by 'degree'? Instead of giving out degrees, COVEN 1658 regards member Witches by year of affiliation. While the High Priestess and/or Hierophant make decisions about how to teach the particulars of our magick, the members do not have to worry about attaining to greater and greater degrees, or doing so in a particular number of months or years. Instead, your 'degree' is the number of years you are affiliated with COVEN 1658. Thus, one would refer to him or herself as a 1st Year Witch, 2nd Year Witch, 5th Year Witch, and so on. In a way this is a very good means to describe one's self in our Coven. While individuals can learn a lot in a degree system, there is always much more to learn beyond that, and no real way to express your status beyond the reference of '3rd Degree' in such a system. But in COVEN 1658, your knowledge grows along with your years of learning, and thus a 15th Year Witch knows a great deal more than a 4th Year Witch. This means of calculating your knowledge and experience helps you monitor your progression in learning about our Craft as you carry on through time.
Our Witches are quite welcome to hold meetings in their own home when they are comfortable to do so, and not based on their status or knowledge. If you have an open heart and a gregarious personality and want to learn along with others, your home is a privilege for COVEN 1658 to be represented in. Because leadership is something that some people learn best by doing, we don't mind if you 'jump right in' and just do it. On the other hand, if you don't want to ever work with a group, or don't like the idea of leadership, you never have to do this either. And, if you don't get along with someone (which often happens in any group), you can always continue on your own at your own home, and at your own pace, without fearing you will 'miss' something. Sometimes, life is so busy, that it's hard to be faithful to attend a group, and during those seasons of your life (which may last longer than just a year) you should keep learning on your own. We just want you to be comfortable and happy on this journey with COVEN 1658.
Instead, we have a 'covenstead' which is the 'headquarters' where the High Priestess and/or Hierophant operate from, write this blog, make decisions about what to teach, make decisions about other educational things, and so on.
We Initiate Witches world wide through our written information, given through this blog - FOR FREE.
We offer information to our Witches so they can learn how to acquire and use their magic for the purpose of benevolence and healing.
Covens that originated after 1950 are specific to offering 'degree' systems of learning, where the student has to 'earn' his or her levels of knowledge. Often times, earning a degree in Wicca costs a seeker money to take their course.
Lots of people want to know what these Wiccan degree systems teach. In brief, here is the 'run down' of many Wiccan degree systems (but not all):
1st Degree - History of Witchcraft from a Wiccan perspective, resting on Gerald Gardner's perspective, which has been heavily questioned by scholars for many reasons. Required reading in a 1st Degree Wiccan system often includes reading requirements: books by Gerald Gardner, or Margaret Alice Murray, as well as more modern Wiccan writers who follow the Gardnerian Wicca philosophy. Because the basis of their philosophy centers on what Gardner taught, the entire philosophy of these writers may be said to stem from Gardnerian Wicca. but Gardner did not necessarily follow Traditional Witchcraft, instead incorporating modern ideas in his establishment of the religion of Wicca, as well as borrowing ideas from non-Wiccan and non-Witchcraft fraternal organizations of his own era. This is not to invalidate Wicca, but only to point out the differences between Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft. A person seeking to become a Wiccan may, in some cases, be asked to read and study these many texts on Gardnerian philosophy for one year and one day, before becoming initiated into the 1st Degree of Wicca. Because Wiccan history post-dates (comes after) Traditional Witchcraft, a Traditional Coven of Witchcraft can not possibly teach the Wiccan philosophy as their own history or ideal. Instead we can only mention Wicca as a diversion away from a much more lengthy history of what and who we really are and have been going back in time several centuries. When Wicca is viewed against several hundred years of Traditional Witchcraft, taking us back to the Burning Times, the modern movement of Wicca, which originated in the 1950's is very brief. Further Wicca teaches several things that were never taught at all in any philosophy of or related to Traditional Witchcraft (for example, Wiccans are taught that Witchcraft can only to be regarded as a religion; this is historically inaccurate). We can not realistically teach things that have nothing to do with us as Witches, or to teach about a movement that took some of our teachings and went in a different philosophical or religious direction than we have always been directed in. This is what 'their' first degree is often (not always) about. We cannot teach this because it does not pertain to us. And when we look back in history we must study the Witch Trial Era in Europe, the British Isles, and North America as our primary focus, for our kind of Witchcraft is Celtic, British and Germanic, exclusively. Although we acknowledge that other forms of witchcraft exist around the world, our only focus is Celto-British, which must include Germanic, since the Anglo-Saxons (Germans) came into England and had influence in the culture prior to the Witch Trial Era, bringing with them their own ideas about our craft. Of course we also study backwards in time to discern much about the Bronze Age people who lived in Celtic and European lands. This discipline of study of our own people will continue to expand as more knowledge is discovered by archeologists. But our main knowledge comes from our own Traditional knowledge base as well as the court record confessions of accused witches - what they did, what they claimed to have seen or done, who accused them and why, and so forth. These people reveal, in their accounts, the types of things they did in many cases, and while it is a well known fact that they did not worship the Christian Devil, even though they may have been forced to confess such, they did explain much about what they actually were doing, or others disclosed what they had observed them doing. These historical accounts are very important to us, for they help us to continue practicing as we always have.
2nd Degree -
How to actually practice Wicca is then disclosed to an initiate of Wicca in their 2nd year. This includes setting up and celebrating for all eight of the Sabbats (Feasts), understanding how the pantheon system of many deities that are important to them can be understood, how to worship the Lord & Lady properly according to the Wiccan faith, as well as what should take place at a Full Moon Rite in the Wiccan religion. As you can see, Traditional Witches cannot teach this, since it simply does not pertain to us - remember that Traditional Witchcraft is 'not' a religion; hence teaching our students to believe in or worship something is not our duty. We are not against our students embracing a religion of their own choice, we just don't teach them to do this. But because Wicca is a specific theology, with defined deities, as compared to Traditional Witchcraft, which is a philosophy that focuses on the Art, Science, Vocation and Culture of Witchcraft as a discipline, the two are very different. Traditional Witches are not interested in the religious aspects of Wicca (Witches may indeed be religious, but this may not pertain to the practice of our craft as an official stance); rather we are interested in how to use energy to make positive transformation in every day life 'no matter what our religion is'. Let's change the subject for a moment. Suppose you sign up for a college art class. Every week, you go to the class where other students meet together. These students learn from a teacher, and as the class wears on, different students discuss how and why they are using certain art techniques to make their paintings come out the way that they do. The students learn from one another about the particulars of one student's techniques as compared to their own, while also learning the formal aspects of art from the teacher. But no one is learning religion. Yes, art can be spiritual, and it certainly has been used to depict very specific religious activities in many cultures, but it does not necessary have to be about religion, although it can be. Witchcraft is like this - it is an art, a science, a vocation and a culture. It can be 'religious' for you if you want this. But as a formal teaching, it cannot be, because to many other people with different beliefs also want to know how this art works and are willing to share what they have learned. For Witches, the 'highlight' Feast is on October 31st - Samhain, also known as Halloween. And do you know why it is called Halloween? For one siginificant reason - our own Scots-Irish ancestors brought this feast to American shores in the 1600's and then again in the 1800's, and 'they' called it this. This is 'our' feast. Yes, the Catholic Church may have instituted that name (Halloween) over our original name (Samhain), but for us it is all the same. Yes there are 8 Feast Days in the 'Wiccan Wheel of the Year', which really is a combined Feast system of the Celts and the Germans, and because the Celts and the Germans 'converged' in central England culturally, we honor these dates. But we recognize that historically, these days were cultural, not religious, and that everyone in Elizabethan England kept these days, not 'just witches' - EVERYONE celebrated these days...everyone! These are Celto-British Feast days that track the planting and harvest seasons, and made wonderful cultural feasts for the entire community, hence this is 'our' CULTURE. We LOVE these feast days, but we don't emphasize them as 'religious'. Instead we invite everyone from EVERY religion to celebrate these wonderful Celtic Feasts. Here is our list of these dates and their meanings 'for us':
HALLOWEEN - (10/31) - Feast of Final Harvest; End of the Celtic Year: Trick-or Treating
SAMHAIN - (11/1) - Celtic New Year; Ancestor Memorial: Memorial Supper for our Ancestors
YULE - 12/21 to 12-25 - Feast of Light; Birth of the Sun/Son: Yule Tree, Yule Log, gift exchange
IMBOLC - 2/1 - Feast of Seed Time & Germination: Uncovering the hidden/wrapped foods
OSTARA - 3/21 - Feast of Sprouting: Easter Baskets, Formal Dinner
BELTANE - 5/21 - Feast of Flowers: May Pole, Decorate a May Bush with Fairies & flowers
LITHA - 6/21 - Feast of Fruit: Strawberry Feastival
LUGHNASADH - 8/1 - Feast of Grain & Wine: Sharing of quick breads and Fruit beverages
HARVEST HOME - 9/21 - Feast of Ingathering: Celtic Thanksgiving Feast
ESBAT- Monthly - Feast of the Full Moon (Initiation and/or Re-empowerment Rite for all Coven 1658 Witches and their tools): Share refreshments, hold a lecture or demonstration, study a book together
While Wiccans have specific rituals they perform at these dates, Witches may or may not, depending on the particular Coven or individual. COVEN 1658 uses these Feast Times exclusively as true holidays, where we invite others to gather with us for seasonal foods, decorations, gift exchanges, spell casting and divination practices, and the wearing of Celtic Garb (not our normal black gown type vocational wear, but rather, festive clothing from our Celtic culture.)
This information is often what the 2nd Degree entails in some Wiccan groups.
The 3rd Degree in Wicca often focuses on teaching an individual to run their own group, such that when the original group becomes to big, it can split (they term this split as 'hiving off'). When a new group of Wiccans form, they need a person to be responsible for it - to hold and lead the meetings, and someone who knows how to conduct the rituals important to their group. But this 'ritual system' at feast times is a modern institution. Traditional Witches have not usually had such ritual attached to our workings. We gather to feast and enjoy our culture, and spend the rest of the year working at our vocation - Witchcraft, the art and science of spell crafting, casting and divination. Thus the 3rd degree is also not pertinent for us. Because we don't have intricate worship rituals associated with the Celtic Wheel of the Year, we look forward to the wheel turning towards another holiday - a feast when we gather to make merry. It is us, the Traditional Witches, who originated the phrase 'Merry Meet', and we meant it. As far as holding a feast goes, most people know how they hold a holiday at their own home. Just as you would at any holiday, decorate your home for the season, plan a special meal, invite in friends and family, exchange special gifts having to do with the season or the feast's meaning, and if needed, cast a spell or use divination (or not). And finally, wear Celtic attire. The holiday is as specific as your family makes it. A lot of people 'need' a central focal point for their celebration, because most people are used to a large decoration such as a Christmas Tree as the main focus of a major holiday. Wicca has answered this need by directing their members to decorate an altar, which is a religious structure. We of course, don't mind if you do this as well, it is up to you. But for 'us' we instruct to set up a main decorative object on your entry way table that pertains to the holiday in question. For example:
Halloween: Any Halloween decorations and candles you like, Trick-or-Treating, Autumn foods
Samhain: Pictures of your immediate ancestors, and things they enjoyed, which the family can share in their memory, a festive meal of the favorite foods of your ancestors
Yule: A decorated Pine Tree, wrapped gifts, filled stockings, and a festive meal
Imbolc: A clear glass bowl of flower bulbs that begin to sprout; Foods that are 'wrapped' such as Asian Spring Rolls, Burritos, anything wrapped in a wonton wrapper. any kind of filled dumpling. the idea is to wrap a surprise food up in an edible wrapper in the same way a seed is wrapped under the ground - this helps us see the potential of the unsprouted seed as it begins to germinate; its also fun to be creative with this, and shows us how our undiscovered creativity needs to 'sprout'
Beltane: Decorate a (fake) willow tree with pastel 'Christmas' lights, Fairy ornaments, flower garlands, and beautiful insect ornaments such as butter flies, dragon flies, lady bugs and so on. In the old days, people competed for prizes on their decorated May Bushes, and often whole communities helped decorate the May Bush; Setting up a May Pole and doing the traditional 'dance' around it until it is fully wrapped. If you can not set up a large one, try to set up a miniature one; You can even decorate a cake with a miniature May-Pole, or create spinning 'toys' that depict a May Pole. Spring time foods are served at this time.
Litha: Where would anyone be without a summer Strawberry Festival? Invite friends over and ask them to bring their favorite Strawberry dessert! Remember that what you planted is now coming to fruition. Making summer lanterns of any kind is especially appropriate now.
Lughnasadh: The Celtic hero, Lugh is honored on this day, and his story is retold. the Sharing of bread and fruit beverages is appropriate to celebrate the first harvests of grain and wine, as well as fruits and vegetables that come in in bounty from the summer garden.
Harvest Home: The Celts Celebrated this version of "Thanksgiving' in September. If you are more comfortable waiting until American Thanksgiving in November, that's just fine. The sentiment is the same. You may also wish to celebrate this lovely holiday twice. Set a formal table, invite guests, ask everyone to bring a harvest themed potluck dish, dress up and enjoy a wonderful day of togetherness.
Gift exchange is always appropriate at any Celtic Feast Day, but not necessary, depending on the finances of the family. And small gifts are just as nice as large one. Because families may not be able to put on a 'Christmas' type holiday every 6 weeks, it is perfectly fine to give only one small gift to each family member, or exchange cards, or promise to do tasks for one another. Try to make your gift giving meaningful, and related to the holiday's theme in some way.
So as you can see, the things one learns in the religion of Wicca just don't pertain to Traditional Witchcraft practices; we do 'other' things than Wiccans do, and we always have.
How do we regard the advancement of our member Witches, if not by 'degree'? Instead of giving out degrees, COVEN 1658 regards member Witches by year of affiliation. While the High Priestess and/or Hierophant make decisions about how to teach the particulars of our magick, the members do not have to worry about attaining to greater and greater degrees, or doing so in a particular number of months or years. Instead, your 'degree' is the number of years you are affiliated with COVEN 1658. Thus, one would refer to him or herself as a 1st Year Witch, 2nd Year Witch, 5th Year Witch, and so on. In a way this is a very good means to describe one's self in our Coven. While individuals can learn a lot in a degree system, there is always much more to learn beyond that, and no real way to express your status beyond the reference of '3rd Degree' in such a system. But in COVEN 1658, your knowledge grows along with your years of learning, and thus a 15th Year Witch knows a great deal more than a 4th Year Witch. This means of calculating your knowledge and experience helps you monitor your progression in learning about our Craft as you carry on through time.
Our Witches are quite welcome to hold meetings in their own home when they are comfortable to do so, and not based on their status or knowledge. If you have an open heart and a gregarious personality and want to learn along with others, your home is a privilege for COVEN 1658 to be represented in. Because leadership is something that some people learn best by doing, we don't mind if you 'jump right in' and just do it. On the other hand, if you don't want to ever work with a group, or don't like the idea of leadership, you never have to do this either. And, if you don't get along with someone (which often happens in any group), you can always continue on your own at your own home, and at your own pace, without fearing you will 'miss' something. Sometimes, life is so busy, that it's hard to be faithful to attend a group, and during those seasons of your life (which may last longer than just a year) you should keep learning on your own. We just want you to be comfortable and happy on this journey with COVEN 1658.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
COVEN 1658 WITCHES TOOLS LIST
As stated in prior posts, Bessie Dunlop was given a wand, and a besom (broomstick) by the Fairies for her initiation.
In your initiation you were asked to acquire a wand, and two AMULETS -a triskele, and the numerals '1658' on a necklace, which were charged at your initiation.
You were also asked to use common household objects in your initiation - a mirror, a goblet of apple juice, a plate of circle-shaped, white cookies, a mirror.
But do witches have any official tools? Indeed they do! Because Wicca (the religion) is a very popular topic right now, many, many Witches Tools are currently being factory created in CHINA. These tools are beautiful, well designed products that you can find in many metaphysical book stores. but they lack two things - THEY ARE NOT TRADITIONAL and they are not HAND CRAFTED.
Traditional witches tools are 'traditionally' hand crafted. Factory-created tools are a lot of fun and everyone purchases such things, but this is not necessary; and further, these things may not work very well at attracting energy. This is because natural objects contain energy, but man-made objects have to acquire it from the person who owns it, thus a new, factory-created object may not have very much energy in it, if any. It will acquire energy over the months and years and when it is finally handed down to someone else, it will have a lot of energy in it. But natural objects, antique, or used objects have natural energy in them, and this energy works as a 'magnet' to draw in more energy.
If you are wondering what kinds of things a Traditional Witch owns, here is a list of Traditional Witches Tools and how to make or acquire them:
ESCRITOIRE - an 'Escritoire' is an old French term for writing desk. It is the 'main' work table of a Witch. In the Elizabethan era, witches did not have 'altars' because witchcraft was not about 'worship'. Certainly pagan peoples had religions and religious altars, and this is not disputed - but ones religious beliefs had little to do with practicing witchcraft in the Elizabethan Era; instead, Witchcraft was about herbal knowledge for healing, but also 'leaked' into using herbs to create circumstantial change, such as drawing in romance, money, or other needs, as well as divination practices like finding lost objects for clients. Court documents of the day show that witchcraft was not about religion, and lists many people who were accused of and confessed to practicing witchcraft who also adhered to the mainstream religion of their community. Witchcraft was about using energy as an art form, exploring it as a metaphysical science, it was about helping others with it as a vocation, and it was about participating with others as a community and culture...today, Traditional Witchcraft still is about these values.
When you go to the mall, you are with many people - all of them are different religions, but they have the same 'quest', and it is not a religious quest. Even though they are in the same place, going through the same 'ritual', and appear to be ding the same thing at the mall with the same goal - shopping, they may be doing it for different reasons. At a Traditional Witches Coven, the same sentiment exists - it is not a religion, just like a mall is not a church. People come to a traditional coven to learn about energy, in the same way students attend art class to learn about painting and making sculpture. And they pursue this quest for various reasons. 'Some' people pursue this interest for religious reasons, but many do not. Magic is an ART FORM. Not a religion. Therefore, Traditional Witches do not have 'altars' dedicated to witchcraft, although they may have altars dedicated to their religion of choice. But Traditional Witches do have an ESCRITOIRE, a work table upon which to perform their work of crafting and casting spells; they do use tools and divination devices, and lot casting practices to help others. Witchcraft is a JOB, a vocation. Witchcraft requires imagination and special skills that must be practiced every day. These thing are done at the ESCRITOIRE - the witches work area. It is important that you set up an ESCRITOIRE exclusively for your Witchcraft practices. You may have a desk to pay bills at, or a coffee table to set up decore objects. You may have an entry way table where you toss your keys into a bowl, or where you position a flower vase to greet guests, and you may have a kitchen table where you serve meals at, and sometimes sew at, do homework at or write letters at. Likewise, you may have an altar upon which you place religious objects, memorial objects and special reminders. But you may not have an ESCRITOIRE. If you do not have one, you can not do your work required in the vocation of Witchcraft, which can be at times a messy business, and also a space-taking endeavor. Thus one of the first tools you will need is your ESCRITOIRE. It need not be fancy. It can be a folding table. It can be purchased at the thrift store or from a garage sale. But it must be exclusively used for your vocation of witchcraft and it must be blessed as one of your witches tools with your wand - the wand you charged at your initiation and then re-empowered at the next and subsequent Esbats. Every month, you must re-empower your wand when you re-empower yourself, and then hold your charged wand over all your Witches tools and re-charge them after you get back from your re-empowerment rite at the Esbat/Full Moon. This is a simple task - just wave your wand over the tools you have and say, 'charge'. This includes your Escritoire. Never use the Escritoire for any other purpose except Witchcraft, no exceptions. And no, do not display statuary, religious articles, millions of candles and so on at this table. It is to be kept clean so you can work on it, making your Witches tools, spell kits, a place where you cast divination tools out such as Tarot Cards and Rune Stones, and a place where you craft and cast spells. If your Escritoire is cluttered up, you will not have a place to do your duties as a Witch. the French word 'Escritoire' was used to describe a witches work table, just as the term 'Esbat' is a French word meaning 'diversion'. In fact a lot of old French terms are used in witchcraft, because they were imported into England during the Elizabethan era. At that time, French was a very 'happening' language. If your Escritoire is a folding table, you may put it away when you are not using it, just don't use it for any other purpose than your Witchcraft.
RELIQUARY. A RELIQUARY is a cabinet where your witches tools are kept - out of sight from curious eyes. Any genuine, hereditary witch who has received his or her witchcraft from past lineage will 'not' be displaying his or her tools and religious articles out for the public to look at - this is because we have learned what it means to be accused of practicing witchcraft and are not that willing to share this visual privilege with those we do not trust. Once you trust someone, you can show them your collection of tools. But your things must be kept out of sight, as is a traditional practice, since the BURNING TIMES. Often times, an armoire is used as a proper Witches Cabinet. But armoirs are expensive. You may not have the money for one. In this case a linen closet, trunk, dresser cleared empty for the purpose of storing your witches tools, or other cabinet is a great place to use as your Reliquary. Store your tools neatly so you can access them easily. A lot of metaphysical shops sell 'witches cabinets' that are actually very small, and almost remind me of the larger jewelry boxes that have several drawers and are about the size of a night table, but a little taller. This is a good start for your tools as well, however, be warned...you can collect enough tools to fill up a room. If you don't keep you things together, they can get lost all over the house, making them difficult to use when you need them. It's so easy to get out your Tarot Cards to give a friend a reading and leave them lying on the coffee table, only to have someone else move them when they dust the coffee table...and then you loose track of things. You should always use your Witches tools and then return them to your Reliquary immediately, attempting to keep it organized. This can be a hard task - sometimes you collect lots of stuff and it gets... yes! MESSY!!!!! You have to keep your witches tools maintained, and neat. The term 'reliquary' indicates a place to store relics - antique items of great importance. It is used as a term to describe a storage place for Withes Tools because many tools witches use originated in antiquity and are 'relics' of the past, even if the specific item you own is actually a brand new item. Other items are true antiques, either given to you by a dear old aunt, or purchased as a good used product or antique item. Determine where your Reliquary will be and get in the habit of placing your Witches Tools in it at all times. Then commit to keeping the doors closed so wandering eyes do not suspect the contents of your Reliquary.
CAULDRON. Many web sights sell 'tiny' cauldrons to burn incense in. These are very expensive incense burners. Real witches use real camping cauldrons, which are called 'dutch ovens'. They can usually be purchased at camping stores, and are cast iron, have 3 legs, a very heavy metal lid and a heavy wire handle to hang them over a camp fire. Indeed, they are actually used to hang over a fire when you go camping. The reason it is important to get a large cauldron is because you may use it for many reasons. you may cook in it - prepareing soups, teas, herbal remedies, or brews. All these things really are prepared by Witches, who love to cook as well as make healing remedies for everyone. Further, a large cauldron can hold a large amount of liquid - it can be filled with black coffee for scrying. It can be filled with water for water spells. It can also be used to burn spell parchments in, and is big enough to contain a fire safely (please have a fire extinguisher near by and never set a fire that is burning in it near fabric draperies!) A cauldron can also be used to light fire works in (but only outdoors) - sometimes fireworks are an ingredient to spells - colored smoke bombs, sparklers...such things add to spells and their visual power. A large cauldron can also be used to store things in such as tarot cards, candles and other witches tools. It is heavy and will not blow away outdoors. It can also be used decoratively. There are many uses for cauldrons. If you can not afford to buy, or cannot find a 'dutch oven' type 3-legged, cast iron camping cauldron that is big enough to hold a large pork or beef roast, you may have better luck with a glass punch bowl, or large glass serving bowl. You can use it for many of the same purposes as the cast iron cauldron, however glass has the potential to break easily. If you are practicing Traditional White Witchcraft, you will need a large cauldron to work with, not a teensy-weensy little incense burner that costs a fortune. While these are very nice, they are often to small to do the job.
BESOM - if you wish to acquire a witches broomstick, please MAKE ONE. you will need a tree branch that has a lovely shape to it about 4-5 feet tall and no larger in diameter than 2 inches. You will also need dried field straw or fine twigs, and any kind will work fine. Traditionally, besoms are made of birch wood - both the handle as well as the broom-skirt. However these were sold to be used for yard work in past eras, and still are hand-crafted in certain parts of England for this type of work. Thus a true besom represents WORK...'hard' work; hard work with nature, as the human being forced nature to comply with culture on a physical level. This is why Witches Besoms are important - they represent the will of a human being to change nature. They are not just symbols of cleansing out 'negative' energy, but represent real work with natural energy, and the difficult task of unlocking this energy and combining it with your will to create circumstantial change in your life situation. Broomsticks may be the 'clichet' flying transportation device of a witch, but they really represent our work in totality, as human will and natural forces come together to create the ideal of good and beauty, as that which is undesirable is removed. You need to take a pair of scissors out into the wild and cut long grasses, or shrubberies of your liking. Please be aware of wildlife, such as snakes or other animals that can bite you and bring you harm, and never go into a remote area alone. This can endanger your life. Instead go to a nearby field inside your community, or offer to help groom up a neighbors shrubs, or take their shrubbery clippings off their hands, to use to make your besom. If you do not live near a field, visit a department store that carries dried flowers and see if you can use any of the dried floral types for your broom's bottom. Because a besom is now a ceremonial object for witches, its 'skirt' can be made from beautiful dried flowers of many kinds, and you can even add to it over the years so that it becomes layered with flowers and herbs of great meaning and beauty. The natural energy the besom will radiate will only grow stronger over time, especially if you add to it. Some people have been known to purchase a normal grocery store broom, and cut off the straw from it to use on their home-made besom/broom. but if you are going to spend money on a store bought broom, keep it in tact and decorate it instead - why waste money? In this case, spray paint the broom's handle in a color you like, and then when it is dry, glue things to the handle such as faux gem stones, or even letters spelling out something important to you. Wrap the handle in ribbon, and create a big beautiful ribbon for the broom-skirt, and hang it up for display. If you are making your own broom rom scratch, you can prepare the broom handle by stripping the bark off of it, and sanding it, or by leaving it natural. You can finish the wood any way you like, and use wood-finishing lacquer on the handle. If you want to add a 'touch' of 'magic' to the broom handle, you can add some fine-ground, silver glitter to the lacquer before applying it to the broom handle. You can carve your name or other important symbols into the handle as well. When you are finished decorating and finishing the broom's handle, attach the floral and herbal or grassy broom-skirt using cotton string, or some kind of sturdy twine: hold the grass at the broom bottom and begin winding the cord around it, winding the grass in place. Do this until all the broom grass is attached, and then tie it off. you can always add more grass, flowers, or herbs to it as you go along. In fact, you can add different kinds of grass and dried flowers to this until you have a very special and beautiful besom. Then wind ribbons around the handle and tie dried flowers on the broom part. You can use it to clean out negative energy from a space, step over it to symbolically move from one place in your life to another place in your life, or you can use it to indicate when a stranger will visit (it will fall over when strangers are due to arrive, 'if' it is charged with the energy put into your wand your wand). Old English besoms were made with scruffy twigs and were used to rake leaves up in the yard. But witches broom sticks are used to cleanse negative energy away and therefore the 'skirt' of the broomstick is heavily graced with dried flowers, and grasses you have cut from local wild areas and fields. Make your besom to reflect 'you', and make it as beautiful as you can. Just like your magic, your besom is always a work in progress. Once you finish a besom to your liking, start another one. Having a collection of besoms hanging on your wall, or having one in every room is beautiful. Giving a besom to a friend also makes a very nice gift.
DIVINATION TOOLS. There are so many divination tools around. The 'main' Divination tools a Traditional Witch may own are Tarot Cards (which must be store purchased), Rune Stones (which can be hand made), and a scrying pendulum (which can be hand made), and a crystal ball, which must be purchased. I strongly suggest the 'Rider-Wait' Tarot deck. Its the 'standard' and is the easiest to learn how to use. Once you learn how to use the Tarot Deck (and I will explain all about this later), then you can purchase many other beautiful Tarot Decks. You can never have to many Tarot Decks, but be cautioned, each Tarot Deck you purchase must be studied carefully, because the symbolism in each deck may yield different shades of meaning to a reading. I myself, use the Druid Craft Tarot Deck for myself alone. I never let anyone else use it and I never use it to discern anything for anyone else except my own concerns. I also have a Rider Wait deck, and several others, such as a 'Wizard's' deck which is very beautiful, and an Italian type deck, and a few other less spectacular but very nice decks. To make Rune stones, you need a bag of smooth stones about 2 inches in diameter. Of course they will not be even all the way around, because they are natural objects. You can get such stones at places like Walmart, and I even saw some at Petsmart, in the fish section, recently, for only $4.00 USA. You will need craft paint in a 'paint pen' or 'sqeeze bottle' type product. Black is the color that shows up the best, but any color is fine. Look up the Runic letters and just paint them on to the rock surfaces, and then let them dry fully (72 hours, so the paint is not sticky). You may want to practice writing the Runic letters before painting them on your stones, so you don't mess them up, but if you do, just wash off the rock and start over. When the pant is dry, you can spray paint them with clear, high gloss paint. Give them a couple of coats and let them dry again. It is the drying that takes time. When they are fully dry, keep them in a little bag, which you can make rom fabric, or purchase. If you don't have a bag to keep them in, a pretty little dish works well. to make a pendulum, use floral wire or a metal 'twisty-tie' from a bread bag, to tie a large nail to a jewelry chain, so it is secure. If you do not like a nail, you can use any other object that has weight and will swing well. I have found interesting pendulums at hardware stores in the lighting section: the weights that are used on the bottom of ceiling-fan chains work very nicely. they come in a variety of shapes and are just heavy enough to swing well, and usually come on a chain. they aren't very expensive either, ranging between $5-$15.00 USA. Of course you can always buy a natural pendulum from a metaphysical store, made from stone or crystal, and these are also very beautiful. The pendulum only works after you charge it, so it really doesn't matter where you get it; once its charged it will work, and before its charged it wont work very well. Obtaining a crystal ball can be an investment. They can cost $50.00 USA, or more. Save up for one, and until you do, use your cauldron to perform the same type of scrying, by pouring black coffee into it. This works very effectively and is not that expensive. If you haven't purchased a cauldron, you can always use a black or dark colored coffee cup to hold the coffee. Scry first and then enjoy the coffee later!
AMULETS AND TALISMANS. An talisman is a man-made object, while an amulet is a natural object or collection of several small objects. A talisman is usually charged with power to give you a special skill or power that is very specific; meanwhile an amulet is a collection of small stones, herbs and even personal objects designed to ward off evil and harm. These type things are the real origin to jewelry worn today. The fact is, any jewelry item can be either a talisman (charged to give you special power), or an amulet (charged to ward off certain harms). If you own any jewelry, purchase very small jewelry zip-lock baggies to keep each jewelry item in, and charge that jewelry item with a task to either give you a certain power, or to protect you from a certain harm. Write down this information on a small slip of paper, and enclose this information in the zip-lock baggie with the jewelry item. Keeping your jewelry this way also keeps it from getting scratched or damaged. You can also make amulets and talismans that have specific tasks, but you must write down what they do, or you will forget. By placing herbs and special crystals and stones in a small square of fabric, you can tie them into the fabric with basic sewing thread, and then hang them around the house, or wear them. They can be created to keep away evil, illness, or to attract love, harmony, or friendship. they can also be created to give you courage, strength, or patience. Because of the nature of an amulet or talisman, pretty much 'any' object can be charged with a task. Even large objects. Thus, you can charge your Witches Besom with Fairy Magic, which must be re-empowered every month at the full moon, but you can also charge it to warn you of a stranger's visit, by falling over when impending company will visit, and it will do its task. You can charge a goblet with the emotion of joy, or a particular blessing such that when someone drinks from it, they will receive that blessing.
WITCH BALLS. Hand blown, glass 'Witch Balls' can cost up to $100.00 USA. They are beautiful and very special. They are designed to hang up in the windows to attract good energy and at the same time push negative energy away. But you may not be able to afford such things. Instead, you can purchase a box of larger sized, clear glass Christmas ornaments. Take off the 'hanger' and pure a bit of craft paint into them, one at a time, and swirling the paint around inside to make an interior design, create your witch ball. Use several colors of paint if you like. Let the paint dry fully, and then stuff herbs and hand-written incantations inside. Replace the 'hanger' by gluing it on with super-glue, or a craft glue. Then hang the witch balls in windows around the house. Not only are they beautiful, they help attract positives, and deflect negatives. They can be holders for long-term spells as well, such as money-attracting spells. If you use glowing paint first, and then let it dry, and then go back and use other colors of paint in them, they will also glow at night. If you can find clear, plastic ornaments, you can also hang them out side in your garden, from trees. Put them up with healing spells and intentions to draw good fairies to your dwelling. When you look outdoors, they will have a beautiful, ethereal glow to them that will last for a long time. If you do use them outside, you will want to take care to make sure the 'hanger' blocks out any incoming water from weather. If you want, you can also use plastic bottles for the same purpose outside. Begin by removing the label of the plastic beverage bottle, such as a sports drink bottle. Wash it out well and let it dry completely. Pour glowing paint inside, one color at a time (glowing craft paint comes in several colors), and 'swirl it around so that it makes artistic 'streaks' all over the plastic bottle. Once one color of glow paint is dry, use other colors. Then for daytime beauty, use neon or pastel colors that you enjoy. When all the paint is dry inside, fill the witch 'bottle' up with hand written incantations, herbs, small stones, dried flowers and anything you like. Finally, wind some floral wire around the mouth of the bottle, in such a way that you can attack string or fishing wire through the floral wire and then glue the lid onto the bottle. Hang it in trees around your yard. By day, the bottles will make interesting visual decorations, but by night, the glow paint will create am ethereal, glowing display that everyone will enjoy. This little craft will not only add magic to your yard, but will help the environment.
BOOK OF SPELLS. COVEN 1658 does not use the term 'Book of Shadows'. This is because the term is of modern origin. Gerald B. Gardner borrowed the term from a book title he found in the news paper. It seemed a good term at the time. But long before the 1950's Witches were using a Book of Spells. And today there are many varieties, including on-line versions, and professionally made types, which you can, of course, purchase. There are a few 'rules' to using a Book of Spells. The first 'rule' is that you don't just write in it. It's not a 'journal'. You can have a journal of your personal experience, but your Book of Spells is not for journaling, it is for spells. The second 'rule' is that you do not write a spell in your Book of Spells until you have worked the spell more than once, and there are no more 'kinks' in the spell. You know this spell works, and works well. Only then are you allowed to write it down in your Book of Spells. If you hand write it, use your best hand writing. Be sure to write down exactly how the spell is to be crafted, and what items can be substituted if the particular item you are using can not be acquired. Include the incantation and the casting instructions, and other specifics. It is perfectly find to print out a typed copy of the spell and glue it in your Book of Spells. When you get through filling up one book of spells, make another one. Now, some of these 'Books of Shadows' cost a fine penny. Is there any way to get around this? Yes... you can 'up-cycle' an old book. You will need a larger book such as an out of date text book. The first thing you will need to do is to glue the pages together, at their top and bottom edges only. This will make two pages into one page with its own 'pocket' where you can store things that may pertain to the spell, or articles, and recipes you have found that go with it. This 'gluing' process may take some time. But that's ok, just glue away every day. Eventually, you will have all the pages glued together such that two pages have become one page, with a 'pocket'. You can also make three pages into one, and have a page with '2' pockets. As long as the things you store in these pockets are fairly flat, the pockets make great places to store or even 'hide' things that are important to you. Once this is accomplished. Go back to the beginning of the book. You can do a few things to the pages, depending on how you want the book to look.
1. you can use acrylic craft paint or old house paint to paint over the pages. Do one page at a time and let it fully dry over night, because acrylic paint sticks together. Then, you will want to use 1/2 sheet of regular typing paper to glue in the center of each page. To make the typing paper more 'interesting' you can finger-tear the paper around the edges so they are rough and have interest. spread the back of each 'torn' sheet of typing paper to a book page, and then using a wet paint brush, get the front of the typing paper wet as well - this will help it not bubble. If you like you can use water where you have rinsed your brush off, and the typing paper will absorb the color, and not be plain white. Take care not to paint the typing paper with full-strength acrylic paint or it will be the same color as the background of the book page. Let this dry. Then glue around the edges of the page things that are important to you, such as broken jewelry bits, faux gem stones, and magazine pictures of things that represent that page. You can also use tissue paper to give the background of the pages 'texture' before gluing on the half sheet of typing paper. If you work on this every day, the text book will soon be a 'Book of Spells'. Once it is complete you can hand-write spells in it to your liking. To 'finish' the outside, close the book and the spray the exterior with black spray paint, giving it 2-3 coats. Then go over it with another color, such as purple or green, orange or red spray paint. Then if you can find it, you can use a kind of paint that gives a 'crackle' effect to the top coat of paint, and the bottom color will show through. (Take care to read the directions to the crackle paint carefully before you use it, as each product works differently). Once the exterior of your Book of Spells has been created, you can use Three-Dimensional fabric paint to write 'Book of Spells' on the exterior in an outstanding color, such as gold or silver. You can glue faux gem stones on the cover as well, or a picture. These books take a lot of time to make. They are very special. Further, they are a piece of history. Make sure that when you finish making this 'Book of Spells', you sign your name in it as the artist who created it, because this book is not only a spell book, it itself is art. From then on keep it in a cool, climate controlled place.
You can treat the text book in a different manner as well. You can mix acrylic paint, the color of your choice, with water, and 'wash' over each page with this color, permitting them to dry, but allowing the words to shine through. Then glue in your hand written spells, and any herbs, or other objects that pertain to the spell. While the background is not 'blank', it adds interest. As you glue in things that are important to you, the words of the text book will 'fade' into the background and become more 'design' than 'focus'.
GARB. COVEN 1658 instructs our female Witches to wear a plain black gown. Male witches in our Coven wear business attire - dark slacks, a white business shirt and a tie. It is important to wear your garb when you practice your craft as well as when you help others. When you work in the capacity of Witch, especially representing Coven 1658, it is important that you look the part. We selected the most recognizable attire for a Witch, so that your vocation is immediately recognizable. This style gown is best seen on the character 'Morticia Addams' in the original American sit-com, 'The Addams Family", from the 1960's. It's a classic look. Of course you can have other styles of garb to represent you when you work your craft. But this is the simplest, easiest to wear, easiest to acquire, least expensive means to acquiring your Witches Garb. Along with your initiation amulets, you will look just fine!
OUIJA BOARD. Coven 1658 does not recommend the use of a Ouija Board at any time. It opens a portal for any type of entity to come in, and some of these are certainly harmful. It is like leaving your front door open for anyone to enter in. Ouija Boards are dangerous because of the vortex they open. Do not use one. Further, because Coven 1658 is dedicated to 'not' disturbing the deceased, and also never has to do with any form of spirit entity, this act actually is in violation of our Tradition. We do not engage in necromancy at any time. It is disrespectful to the deceased, and it can bring great harm to you. Instead we work with earth energies that have been designed by the Divine for our use. We have plenty of power from what we do use, and really do not need to work with such things as the Ouija Board. Because we know using such can pose danger to those we instruct, we strongly forbid use of this tool. It is not witchcraft that is performed by use of the Ouija board, but rather 'sorcery' (conjuring of the dead and of demonic spirits), and it is indeed dangerous. Using one is like opening up Pandora's Box, and you do not know what will come through that vortex to bring you harm. Don't. Don't use one.
There are many other Witches tools which you can purchase, or make. As you research what you would like to use, your Reliquary will fill up fast.
In your initiation you were asked to acquire a wand, and two AMULETS -a triskele, and the numerals '1658' on a necklace, which were charged at your initiation.
You were also asked to use common household objects in your initiation - a mirror, a goblet of apple juice, a plate of circle-shaped, white cookies, a mirror.
But do witches have any official tools? Indeed they do! Because Wicca (the religion) is a very popular topic right now, many, many Witches Tools are currently being factory created in CHINA. These tools are beautiful, well designed products that you can find in many metaphysical book stores. but they lack two things - THEY ARE NOT TRADITIONAL and they are not HAND CRAFTED.
Traditional witches tools are 'traditionally' hand crafted. Factory-created tools are a lot of fun and everyone purchases such things, but this is not necessary; and further, these things may not work very well at attracting energy. This is because natural objects contain energy, but man-made objects have to acquire it from the person who owns it, thus a new, factory-created object may not have very much energy in it, if any. It will acquire energy over the months and years and when it is finally handed down to someone else, it will have a lot of energy in it. But natural objects, antique, or used objects have natural energy in them, and this energy works as a 'magnet' to draw in more energy.
If you are wondering what kinds of things a Traditional Witch owns, here is a list of Traditional Witches Tools and how to make or acquire them:
ESCRITOIRE - an 'Escritoire' is an old French term for writing desk. It is the 'main' work table of a Witch. In the Elizabethan era, witches did not have 'altars' because witchcraft was not about 'worship'. Certainly pagan peoples had religions and religious altars, and this is not disputed - but ones religious beliefs had little to do with practicing witchcraft in the Elizabethan Era; instead, Witchcraft was about herbal knowledge for healing, but also 'leaked' into using herbs to create circumstantial change, such as drawing in romance, money, or other needs, as well as divination practices like finding lost objects for clients. Court documents of the day show that witchcraft was not about religion, and lists many people who were accused of and confessed to practicing witchcraft who also adhered to the mainstream religion of their community. Witchcraft was about using energy as an art form, exploring it as a metaphysical science, it was about helping others with it as a vocation, and it was about participating with others as a community and culture...today, Traditional Witchcraft still is about these values.
When you go to the mall, you are with many people - all of them are different religions, but they have the same 'quest', and it is not a religious quest. Even though they are in the same place, going through the same 'ritual', and appear to be ding the same thing at the mall with the same goal - shopping, they may be doing it for different reasons. At a Traditional Witches Coven, the same sentiment exists - it is not a religion, just like a mall is not a church. People come to a traditional coven to learn about energy, in the same way students attend art class to learn about painting and making sculpture. And they pursue this quest for various reasons. 'Some' people pursue this interest for religious reasons, but many do not. Magic is an ART FORM. Not a religion. Therefore, Traditional Witches do not have 'altars' dedicated to witchcraft, although they may have altars dedicated to their religion of choice. But Traditional Witches do have an ESCRITOIRE, a work table upon which to perform their work of crafting and casting spells; they do use tools and divination devices, and lot casting practices to help others. Witchcraft is a JOB, a vocation. Witchcraft requires imagination and special skills that must be practiced every day. These thing are done at the ESCRITOIRE - the witches work area. It is important that you set up an ESCRITOIRE exclusively for your Witchcraft practices. You may have a desk to pay bills at, or a coffee table to set up decore objects. You may have an entry way table where you toss your keys into a bowl, or where you position a flower vase to greet guests, and you may have a kitchen table where you serve meals at, and sometimes sew at, do homework at or write letters at. Likewise, you may have an altar upon which you place religious objects, memorial objects and special reminders. But you may not have an ESCRITOIRE. If you do not have one, you can not do your work required in the vocation of Witchcraft, which can be at times a messy business, and also a space-taking endeavor. Thus one of the first tools you will need is your ESCRITOIRE. It need not be fancy. It can be a folding table. It can be purchased at the thrift store or from a garage sale. But it must be exclusively used for your vocation of witchcraft and it must be blessed as one of your witches tools with your wand - the wand you charged at your initiation and then re-empowered at the next and subsequent Esbats. Every month, you must re-empower your wand when you re-empower yourself, and then hold your charged wand over all your Witches tools and re-charge them after you get back from your re-empowerment rite at the Esbat/Full Moon. This is a simple task - just wave your wand over the tools you have and say, 'charge'. This includes your Escritoire. Never use the Escritoire for any other purpose except Witchcraft, no exceptions. And no, do not display statuary, religious articles, millions of candles and so on at this table. It is to be kept clean so you can work on it, making your Witches tools, spell kits, a place where you cast divination tools out such as Tarot Cards and Rune Stones, and a place where you craft and cast spells. If your Escritoire is cluttered up, you will not have a place to do your duties as a Witch. the French word 'Escritoire' was used to describe a witches work table, just as the term 'Esbat' is a French word meaning 'diversion'. In fact a lot of old French terms are used in witchcraft, because they were imported into England during the Elizabethan era. At that time, French was a very 'happening' language. If your Escritoire is a folding table, you may put it away when you are not using it, just don't use it for any other purpose than your Witchcraft.
RELIQUARY. A RELIQUARY is a cabinet where your witches tools are kept - out of sight from curious eyes. Any genuine, hereditary witch who has received his or her witchcraft from past lineage will 'not' be displaying his or her tools and religious articles out for the public to look at - this is because we have learned what it means to be accused of practicing witchcraft and are not that willing to share this visual privilege with those we do not trust. Once you trust someone, you can show them your collection of tools. But your things must be kept out of sight, as is a traditional practice, since the BURNING TIMES. Often times, an armoire is used as a proper Witches Cabinet. But armoirs are expensive. You may not have the money for one. In this case a linen closet, trunk, dresser cleared empty for the purpose of storing your witches tools, or other cabinet is a great place to use as your Reliquary. Store your tools neatly so you can access them easily. A lot of metaphysical shops sell 'witches cabinets' that are actually very small, and almost remind me of the larger jewelry boxes that have several drawers and are about the size of a night table, but a little taller. This is a good start for your tools as well, however, be warned...you can collect enough tools to fill up a room. If you don't keep you things together, they can get lost all over the house, making them difficult to use when you need them. It's so easy to get out your Tarot Cards to give a friend a reading and leave them lying on the coffee table, only to have someone else move them when they dust the coffee table...and then you loose track of things. You should always use your Witches tools and then return them to your Reliquary immediately, attempting to keep it organized. This can be a hard task - sometimes you collect lots of stuff and it gets... yes! MESSY!!!!! You have to keep your witches tools maintained, and neat. The term 'reliquary' indicates a place to store relics - antique items of great importance. It is used as a term to describe a storage place for Withes Tools because many tools witches use originated in antiquity and are 'relics' of the past, even if the specific item you own is actually a brand new item. Other items are true antiques, either given to you by a dear old aunt, or purchased as a good used product or antique item. Determine where your Reliquary will be and get in the habit of placing your Witches Tools in it at all times. Then commit to keeping the doors closed so wandering eyes do not suspect the contents of your Reliquary.
CAULDRON. Many web sights sell 'tiny' cauldrons to burn incense in. These are very expensive incense burners. Real witches use real camping cauldrons, which are called 'dutch ovens'. They can usually be purchased at camping stores, and are cast iron, have 3 legs, a very heavy metal lid and a heavy wire handle to hang them over a camp fire. Indeed, they are actually used to hang over a fire when you go camping. The reason it is important to get a large cauldron is because you may use it for many reasons. you may cook in it - prepareing soups, teas, herbal remedies, or brews. All these things really are prepared by Witches, who love to cook as well as make healing remedies for everyone. Further, a large cauldron can hold a large amount of liquid - it can be filled with black coffee for scrying. It can be filled with water for water spells. It can also be used to burn spell parchments in, and is big enough to contain a fire safely (please have a fire extinguisher near by and never set a fire that is burning in it near fabric draperies!) A cauldron can also be used to light fire works in (but only outdoors) - sometimes fireworks are an ingredient to spells - colored smoke bombs, sparklers...such things add to spells and their visual power. A large cauldron can also be used to store things in such as tarot cards, candles and other witches tools. It is heavy and will not blow away outdoors. It can also be used decoratively. There are many uses for cauldrons. If you can not afford to buy, or cannot find a 'dutch oven' type 3-legged, cast iron camping cauldron that is big enough to hold a large pork or beef roast, you may have better luck with a glass punch bowl, or large glass serving bowl. You can use it for many of the same purposes as the cast iron cauldron, however glass has the potential to break easily. If you are practicing Traditional White Witchcraft, you will need a large cauldron to work with, not a teensy-weensy little incense burner that costs a fortune. While these are very nice, they are often to small to do the job.
BESOM - if you wish to acquire a witches broomstick, please MAKE ONE. you will need a tree branch that has a lovely shape to it about 4-5 feet tall and no larger in diameter than 2 inches. You will also need dried field straw or fine twigs, and any kind will work fine. Traditionally, besoms are made of birch wood - both the handle as well as the broom-skirt. However these were sold to be used for yard work in past eras, and still are hand-crafted in certain parts of England for this type of work. Thus a true besom represents WORK...'hard' work; hard work with nature, as the human being forced nature to comply with culture on a physical level. This is why Witches Besoms are important - they represent the will of a human being to change nature. They are not just symbols of cleansing out 'negative' energy, but represent real work with natural energy, and the difficult task of unlocking this energy and combining it with your will to create circumstantial change in your life situation. Broomsticks may be the 'clichet' flying transportation device of a witch, but they really represent our work in totality, as human will and natural forces come together to create the ideal of good and beauty, as that which is undesirable is removed. You need to take a pair of scissors out into the wild and cut long grasses, or shrubberies of your liking. Please be aware of wildlife, such as snakes or other animals that can bite you and bring you harm, and never go into a remote area alone. This can endanger your life. Instead go to a nearby field inside your community, or offer to help groom up a neighbors shrubs, or take their shrubbery clippings off their hands, to use to make your besom. If you do not live near a field, visit a department store that carries dried flowers and see if you can use any of the dried floral types for your broom's bottom. Because a besom is now a ceremonial object for witches, its 'skirt' can be made from beautiful dried flowers of many kinds, and you can even add to it over the years so that it becomes layered with flowers and herbs of great meaning and beauty. The natural energy the besom will radiate will only grow stronger over time, especially if you add to it. Some people have been known to purchase a normal grocery store broom, and cut off the straw from it to use on their home-made besom/broom. but if you are going to spend money on a store bought broom, keep it in tact and decorate it instead - why waste money? In this case, spray paint the broom's handle in a color you like, and then when it is dry, glue things to the handle such as faux gem stones, or even letters spelling out something important to you. Wrap the handle in ribbon, and create a big beautiful ribbon for the broom-skirt, and hang it up for display. If you are making your own broom rom scratch, you can prepare the broom handle by stripping the bark off of it, and sanding it, or by leaving it natural. You can finish the wood any way you like, and use wood-finishing lacquer on the handle. If you want to add a 'touch' of 'magic' to the broom handle, you can add some fine-ground, silver glitter to the lacquer before applying it to the broom handle. You can carve your name or other important symbols into the handle as well. When you are finished decorating and finishing the broom's handle, attach the floral and herbal or grassy broom-skirt using cotton string, or some kind of sturdy twine: hold the grass at the broom bottom and begin winding the cord around it, winding the grass in place. Do this until all the broom grass is attached, and then tie it off. you can always add more grass, flowers, or herbs to it as you go along. In fact, you can add different kinds of grass and dried flowers to this until you have a very special and beautiful besom. Then wind ribbons around the handle and tie dried flowers on the broom part. You can use it to clean out negative energy from a space, step over it to symbolically move from one place in your life to another place in your life, or you can use it to indicate when a stranger will visit (it will fall over when strangers are due to arrive, 'if' it is charged with the energy put into your wand your wand). Old English besoms were made with scruffy twigs and were used to rake leaves up in the yard. But witches broom sticks are used to cleanse negative energy away and therefore the 'skirt' of the broomstick is heavily graced with dried flowers, and grasses you have cut from local wild areas and fields. Make your besom to reflect 'you', and make it as beautiful as you can. Just like your magic, your besom is always a work in progress. Once you finish a besom to your liking, start another one. Having a collection of besoms hanging on your wall, or having one in every room is beautiful. Giving a besom to a friend also makes a very nice gift.
DIVINATION TOOLS. There are so many divination tools around. The 'main' Divination tools a Traditional Witch may own are Tarot Cards (which must be store purchased), Rune Stones (which can be hand made), and a scrying pendulum (which can be hand made), and a crystal ball, which must be purchased. I strongly suggest the 'Rider-Wait' Tarot deck. Its the 'standard' and is the easiest to learn how to use. Once you learn how to use the Tarot Deck (and I will explain all about this later), then you can purchase many other beautiful Tarot Decks. You can never have to many Tarot Decks, but be cautioned, each Tarot Deck you purchase must be studied carefully, because the symbolism in each deck may yield different shades of meaning to a reading. I myself, use the Druid Craft Tarot Deck for myself alone. I never let anyone else use it and I never use it to discern anything for anyone else except my own concerns. I also have a Rider Wait deck, and several others, such as a 'Wizard's' deck which is very beautiful, and an Italian type deck, and a few other less spectacular but very nice decks. To make Rune stones, you need a bag of smooth stones about 2 inches in diameter. Of course they will not be even all the way around, because they are natural objects. You can get such stones at places like Walmart, and I even saw some at Petsmart, in the fish section, recently, for only $4.00 USA. You will need craft paint in a 'paint pen' or 'sqeeze bottle' type product. Black is the color that shows up the best, but any color is fine. Look up the Runic letters and just paint them on to the rock surfaces, and then let them dry fully (72 hours, so the paint is not sticky). You may want to practice writing the Runic letters before painting them on your stones, so you don't mess them up, but if you do, just wash off the rock and start over. When the pant is dry, you can spray paint them with clear, high gloss paint. Give them a couple of coats and let them dry again. It is the drying that takes time. When they are fully dry, keep them in a little bag, which you can make rom fabric, or purchase. If you don't have a bag to keep them in, a pretty little dish works well. to make a pendulum, use floral wire or a metal 'twisty-tie' from a bread bag, to tie a large nail to a jewelry chain, so it is secure. If you do not like a nail, you can use any other object that has weight and will swing well. I have found interesting pendulums at hardware stores in the lighting section: the weights that are used on the bottom of ceiling-fan chains work very nicely. they come in a variety of shapes and are just heavy enough to swing well, and usually come on a chain. they aren't very expensive either, ranging between $5-$15.00 USA. Of course you can always buy a natural pendulum from a metaphysical store, made from stone or crystal, and these are also very beautiful. The pendulum only works after you charge it, so it really doesn't matter where you get it; once its charged it will work, and before its charged it wont work very well. Obtaining a crystal ball can be an investment. They can cost $50.00 USA, or more. Save up for one, and until you do, use your cauldron to perform the same type of scrying, by pouring black coffee into it. This works very effectively and is not that expensive. If you haven't purchased a cauldron, you can always use a black or dark colored coffee cup to hold the coffee. Scry first and then enjoy the coffee later!
AMULETS AND TALISMANS. An talisman is a man-made object, while an amulet is a natural object or collection of several small objects. A talisman is usually charged with power to give you a special skill or power that is very specific; meanwhile an amulet is a collection of small stones, herbs and even personal objects designed to ward off evil and harm. These type things are the real origin to jewelry worn today. The fact is, any jewelry item can be either a talisman (charged to give you special power), or an amulet (charged to ward off certain harms). If you own any jewelry, purchase very small jewelry zip-lock baggies to keep each jewelry item in, and charge that jewelry item with a task to either give you a certain power, or to protect you from a certain harm. Write down this information on a small slip of paper, and enclose this information in the zip-lock baggie with the jewelry item. Keeping your jewelry this way also keeps it from getting scratched or damaged. You can also make amulets and talismans that have specific tasks, but you must write down what they do, or you will forget. By placing herbs and special crystals and stones in a small square of fabric, you can tie them into the fabric with basic sewing thread, and then hang them around the house, or wear them. They can be created to keep away evil, illness, or to attract love, harmony, or friendship. they can also be created to give you courage, strength, or patience. Because of the nature of an amulet or talisman, pretty much 'any' object can be charged with a task. Even large objects. Thus, you can charge your Witches Besom with Fairy Magic, which must be re-empowered every month at the full moon, but you can also charge it to warn you of a stranger's visit, by falling over when impending company will visit, and it will do its task. You can charge a goblet with the emotion of joy, or a particular blessing such that when someone drinks from it, they will receive that blessing.
WITCH BALLS. Hand blown, glass 'Witch Balls' can cost up to $100.00 USA. They are beautiful and very special. They are designed to hang up in the windows to attract good energy and at the same time push negative energy away. But you may not be able to afford such things. Instead, you can purchase a box of larger sized, clear glass Christmas ornaments. Take off the 'hanger' and pure a bit of craft paint into them, one at a time, and swirling the paint around inside to make an interior design, create your witch ball. Use several colors of paint if you like. Let the paint dry fully, and then stuff herbs and hand-written incantations inside. Replace the 'hanger' by gluing it on with super-glue, or a craft glue. Then hang the witch balls in windows around the house. Not only are they beautiful, they help attract positives, and deflect negatives. They can be holders for long-term spells as well, such as money-attracting spells. If you use glowing paint first, and then let it dry, and then go back and use other colors of paint in them, they will also glow at night. If you can find clear, plastic ornaments, you can also hang them out side in your garden, from trees. Put them up with healing spells and intentions to draw good fairies to your dwelling. When you look outdoors, they will have a beautiful, ethereal glow to them that will last for a long time. If you do use them outside, you will want to take care to make sure the 'hanger' blocks out any incoming water from weather. If you want, you can also use plastic bottles for the same purpose outside. Begin by removing the label of the plastic beverage bottle, such as a sports drink bottle. Wash it out well and let it dry completely. Pour glowing paint inside, one color at a time (glowing craft paint comes in several colors), and 'swirl it around so that it makes artistic 'streaks' all over the plastic bottle. Once one color of glow paint is dry, use other colors. Then for daytime beauty, use neon or pastel colors that you enjoy. When all the paint is dry inside, fill the witch 'bottle' up with hand written incantations, herbs, small stones, dried flowers and anything you like. Finally, wind some floral wire around the mouth of the bottle, in such a way that you can attack string or fishing wire through the floral wire and then glue the lid onto the bottle. Hang it in trees around your yard. By day, the bottles will make interesting visual decorations, but by night, the glow paint will create am ethereal, glowing display that everyone will enjoy. This little craft will not only add magic to your yard, but will help the environment.
BOOK OF SPELLS. COVEN 1658 does not use the term 'Book of Shadows'. This is because the term is of modern origin. Gerald B. Gardner borrowed the term from a book title he found in the news paper. It seemed a good term at the time. But long before the 1950's Witches were using a Book of Spells. And today there are many varieties, including on-line versions, and professionally made types, which you can, of course, purchase. There are a few 'rules' to using a Book of Spells. The first 'rule' is that you don't just write in it. It's not a 'journal'. You can have a journal of your personal experience, but your Book of Spells is not for journaling, it is for spells. The second 'rule' is that you do not write a spell in your Book of Spells until you have worked the spell more than once, and there are no more 'kinks' in the spell. You know this spell works, and works well. Only then are you allowed to write it down in your Book of Spells. If you hand write it, use your best hand writing. Be sure to write down exactly how the spell is to be crafted, and what items can be substituted if the particular item you are using can not be acquired. Include the incantation and the casting instructions, and other specifics. It is perfectly find to print out a typed copy of the spell and glue it in your Book of Spells. When you get through filling up one book of spells, make another one. Now, some of these 'Books of Shadows' cost a fine penny. Is there any way to get around this? Yes... you can 'up-cycle' an old book. You will need a larger book such as an out of date text book. The first thing you will need to do is to glue the pages together, at their top and bottom edges only. This will make two pages into one page with its own 'pocket' where you can store things that may pertain to the spell, or articles, and recipes you have found that go with it. This 'gluing' process may take some time. But that's ok, just glue away every day. Eventually, you will have all the pages glued together such that two pages have become one page, with a 'pocket'. You can also make three pages into one, and have a page with '2' pockets. As long as the things you store in these pockets are fairly flat, the pockets make great places to store or even 'hide' things that are important to you. Once this is accomplished. Go back to the beginning of the book. You can do a few things to the pages, depending on how you want the book to look.
1. you can use acrylic craft paint or old house paint to paint over the pages. Do one page at a time and let it fully dry over night, because acrylic paint sticks together. Then, you will want to use 1/2 sheet of regular typing paper to glue in the center of each page. To make the typing paper more 'interesting' you can finger-tear the paper around the edges so they are rough and have interest. spread the back of each 'torn' sheet of typing paper to a book page, and then using a wet paint brush, get the front of the typing paper wet as well - this will help it not bubble. If you like you can use water where you have rinsed your brush off, and the typing paper will absorb the color, and not be plain white. Take care not to paint the typing paper with full-strength acrylic paint or it will be the same color as the background of the book page. Let this dry. Then glue around the edges of the page things that are important to you, such as broken jewelry bits, faux gem stones, and magazine pictures of things that represent that page. You can also use tissue paper to give the background of the pages 'texture' before gluing on the half sheet of typing paper. If you work on this every day, the text book will soon be a 'Book of Spells'. Once it is complete you can hand-write spells in it to your liking. To 'finish' the outside, close the book and the spray the exterior with black spray paint, giving it 2-3 coats. Then go over it with another color, such as purple or green, orange or red spray paint. Then if you can find it, you can use a kind of paint that gives a 'crackle' effect to the top coat of paint, and the bottom color will show through. (Take care to read the directions to the crackle paint carefully before you use it, as each product works differently). Once the exterior of your Book of Spells has been created, you can use Three-Dimensional fabric paint to write 'Book of Spells' on the exterior in an outstanding color, such as gold or silver. You can glue faux gem stones on the cover as well, or a picture. These books take a lot of time to make. They are very special. Further, they are a piece of history. Make sure that when you finish making this 'Book of Spells', you sign your name in it as the artist who created it, because this book is not only a spell book, it itself is art. From then on keep it in a cool, climate controlled place.
You can treat the text book in a different manner as well. You can mix acrylic paint, the color of your choice, with water, and 'wash' over each page with this color, permitting them to dry, but allowing the words to shine through. Then glue in your hand written spells, and any herbs, or other objects that pertain to the spell. While the background is not 'blank', it adds interest. As you glue in things that are important to you, the words of the text book will 'fade' into the background and become more 'design' than 'focus'.
GARB. COVEN 1658 instructs our female Witches to wear a plain black gown. Male witches in our Coven wear business attire - dark slacks, a white business shirt and a tie. It is important to wear your garb when you practice your craft as well as when you help others. When you work in the capacity of Witch, especially representing Coven 1658, it is important that you look the part. We selected the most recognizable attire for a Witch, so that your vocation is immediately recognizable. This style gown is best seen on the character 'Morticia Addams' in the original American sit-com, 'The Addams Family", from the 1960's. It's a classic look. Of course you can have other styles of garb to represent you when you work your craft. But this is the simplest, easiest to wear, easiest to acquire, least expensive means to acquiring your Witches Garb. Along with your initiation amulets, you will look just fine!
OUIJA BOARD. Coven 1658 does not recommend the use of a Ouija Board at any time. It opens a portal for any type of entity to come in, and some of these are certainly harmful. It is like leaving your front door open for anyone to enter in. Ouija Boards are dangerous because of the vortex they open. Do not use one. Further, because Coven 1658 is dedicated to 'not' disturbing the deceased, and also never has to do with any form of spirit entity, this act actually is in violation of our Tradition. We do not engage in necromancy at any time. It is disrespectful to the deceased, and it can bring great harm to you. Instead we work with earth energies that have been designed by the Divine for our use. We have plenty of power from what we do use, and really do not need to work with such things as the Ouija Board. Because we know using such can pose danger to those we instruct, we strongly forbid use of this tool. It is not witchcraft that is performed by use of the Ouija board, but rather 'sorcery' (conjuring of the dead and of demonic spirits), and it is indeed dangerous. Using one is like opening up Pandora's Box, and you do not know what will come through that vortex to bring you harm. Don't. Don't use one.
There are many other Witches tools which you can purchase, or make. As you research what you would like to use, your Reliquary will fill up fast.
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