My Typical Samhain Activities

	Those who are not Pagan or Wicca may wonder what we do on Samhain ~ Halloween. I though I'd share some common activities that I've participated in over the years and maybe you'll see some of the same things that you enjoy too.
	Go to circle at the beach during the sunset to wish those who will pass through this world good wishes as they find their way to Summerlands.  Join friends to drink apple cider warmed and spiced with cinnamon to honor the dead. Carve scary faces on pumpkins and squash to scare off bad spirits from those who search for Summerlands. Choose a spirit candle and place the light inside the carved out pumpkins and squashes. Bury late harvest fruits like apples, nuts or pomegranate in your garden as food for the spirits who will pass by to be reborn. (Reincarnated) Hold a Dumb Supper where everyone is mute and the spirits you know will visit you. This is the beginning of the New Year from the turning of the wheel. Have a party with friends and bob for apples. Make your New Year resolutions. When you finish writing them on slips of parchment, burn them one by one in the flame of a black candle inside your cauldron on the altar. Get creative and make a mask of your shadow self. Make a witches broom, a besom. You can carve it, paint it or just let it sit in the corner. Create a witches cord that will reflect what you hope to conjure in the coming year. Make, then wear a costumes that signifies/represents your spirit animal, the God or Goddess.
	Divinations can be conjured with dark mirrors, a crystal ball, Tarot cards, water or fire scrying. This New Year starts with the masculine God and the Crone energies. Divining your future with the aid of the Crone will garner you wisdom and more.
	Enjoy this time of year, with friends and family.
	Gather 'round the bonfire, burning so bright Watch the shadows dancing, in its flickering light As the music starts, and we begin to dance Just maybe, if we're lucky, ahhhhh perchance We shall see some kindred spirits, as they pass by On their way to the Summerlands, beneath the Samhain sky.   ~ Akasha ~

13 Goals of a Witch

The Thirteen Goals of a Witch

These thirteen goals were written by Scott Cunningham in skeleton form without added substance to explain their complete meaning. Scott wrote this list in one of my favorite books, "WICCA: A guide for the solitary practitioner." Inside, he includes his private Book of Shadows and other valuable writings for both a coven of witches and the solitary practitioner. I've fleshed out the meaning of his goals from his teachings and those of Buckland.

1. Know yourself
When you truly are in tune with your inner self, that will reflect to others. You'll be trusted, confident and sure of your path.

2. Know your Craft
Only through your understanding how to use the Craft for helping others and yourself, will you build your relationship with the God and Goddess, Lord and Lady. Respect the rights of others, and "ye do no harm, do what ye will."

3. Learn
The more you learn about Wicca, the Craft and becoming a witch, the more you'll understand that you know nothing. There is a vast amount of knowledge available for any who seek it.

4. Apply knowledge with wisdom.
 Though you know how to create and maintain a binding spell, does not mean you have the wisdom to administer the spell. Wisdom takes years of working spells, magick and communing with other witches to fairly and justly administer magick to those in need. Learn all the Craft you can, then learn to practice those skills wisely and with love.

5. Achieve Balance.
You will have other interests that seem to pull you away from the Craft or Wicca. You shouldn't feel obligated to stay within the boundaries of what you believe a witch or Wiccan should be every day. Feel free to express yourself with balance. Join a group to clean up the beaches to keep gaia clean and beautiful. Volunteer at a hospital to assist the elderly. Balance in your life will make you a better person and a better witch.

6. Keep your words in good order
"Speak little, listen much", "Think before you speak" are good goals for a learning witch. The elders have much to say and you should learn to listen as you grow in the Craft.

7. Keep your thoughts in good order.
There is no revenge, or evil intent in the Craft. When you're feeling overwhelmed by others, wish them great success. Remember the power of three will return to you when you send your white magick toward those who verbally abuse or have the desire to harm you. 

8. Celebrate life
Enjoy every moment that life brings to you, whether a brief moment of pain or joy. Take part in events and ritual to celebrate the God and Goddess, make new friends who share your enthusiasm. Surround yourself with those who emit a natural positive energy and bring a smile to your lips.

9. Attune with the cycles of the Earth
When the sun goes down, your body may say it's time to rest. Listen to the natural circadian rhythm of your body. You were born on this planet and when the moon is high and full, changes in gravity works on your bodies chemistry. Denying your animal instincts and inner self that recognizes gaia's cycles will work against you.

10. Breathe and eat correctly
Live where you can breathe in clean air and have access to food from natural sources. Treating your body as the multi-tasking, super-machine at work and play takes a heavy toll. Filling up with sugar, fat and massive amounts of alcohol will dull the senses and quite possibly make you ill.

11. Exercise the body
A strong healthy body at any age; maiden, maid or crone will serve you well.

12. Meditate
This is an important tool for the witch who wishes to divine or commune with the deities. To conjure or make your spells work, you must be able to reach deeply and connect with gaia, the Goddess and God.

13. Honor the Goddess and God
All things are possible when you embrace the feminine and masculine parts of the faith of Wicca. One is as necessary as the other in nature and so mote it be.

A Binding Spell

A binding spell is cast when you need to prevent someone from harming themselves or another. This white magic is a last resort when all other methods have failed. Never cast a binding spell when you are angry, hurt or seeking revenge ~ strong emotions will skew the results and NOT in a good way. Remember, "First ye do no harm, do what ye will."

What you will need:

1. A white candle
2. A small rag doll representing the person to be bound.
3. A nail clipping, hair from a brush, toothbrush or something that made contact with their body.
4. Salt
5. A container that will seal, filled with clean spring water.
6. A grey ribbon. (This neutral color is useful when pondering complex issues during meditation; in magic, this color can spark confusion; it can negate or neutralize a negative influence useful in binding spells.)


You must use a good representation of the individual you are binding. A photograph cut to show only the person to be bound is useful, or write the person's name on white fabric. The hair, nail clippings or other article of their person should be attached to the rag doll or whatever you have collected. Keep this all together with tape or glue.

Cast a circle and call the four elements of water, fire, earth and wind. You may also stand at your altar and pray that you wish no one to be harmed, then meditate to clear your mind.

Light the white candle and offer your desire for the person's recovery. "I shine my love and light on and around (person's name) so they may find their true path." Focus on why you found it necessary to do a binding spell.

Wrap a gray ribbon around the doll or bundle you've created to represent the person you're binding, nine times. Chant and focus on raising energy within yourself. You could say, "I bind you (person's name) from harming yourself or others, so mote it be." Repeat until you feel the energy drain into the grey ribbon that binds the person's future actions. Now LOOSELY tie a knot three times.

Visualize in your mind the person with light, peace of mine and clarity, with white light. Drip the hot wax from the white candle onto the knot to seal it. Re-affirm your intentions with, "(person's name), you are now bound by magic and will do no harm to yourself or anyone else."

Sprinkle salt three times into the spring water of the seal-able container and place the bound objects of the person into the container, saying, "Be cleansed of negative thoughts and purpose, be safe from harm and from harming others. So mote it be."

Seal the container and open your circle or end in prayer. Place the container in a freezer right away to finish the binding spell. If and when you release the person from the binding spell, thaw the ice, undo the knots of the ribbon and say, "I release you, (person's name). So mote it be."

2

Start your spell with whatever ritual you normally perform, such as casting a circle or calling the four elemental energies. If you prefer, pray that the outcome be the best for all and that no one be harmed, or simply meditate for to clear your mind.

3

Light the white candle and offer some affirmation of peace, such as "may the light of love surround (person's name) and help him find the way." Focus on the reason you are casting the binding spell.

4

Wrap the gray ribbon around his representation nine times, chanting to maintain focus and raise energy. Use a phrase such as "In the spirit of peace and safety, I bind you, (person's name), for the good of all, from harming yourself or anyone else." When you're done, tie a knot.

5

Visualize the person surrounded by peace, represented by a color, angels or white light. Drip wax onto the knot to seal it. Say an affirmation, such as "(person's name), you are bound by magic and will do no harm."

6

Sprinkle salt three times into the water and place the bound representation into the container, saying, "May you be cleansed of negativity and kept safe from all harm."

7

Seal the container and end your ritual as you normally would, or with a prayer. Place the container in the freezer immediately. Leave it there until you wish to unbind the person, at which time you can thaw it, undo the ribbon and release the person.

Read more: How to Cast a Binding Spell | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4778984_cast-binding-spell.html#ixzz0wvKlCvaN

A Wiccan Altar

Short History of Pagan Altars

   In many of the world's religions, practitioners reserve a place in their homes where deities are honored with prayers and offerings. Petitions are made to the gods of the home altar for things desired or needed: health, wealth, success, love, protection, and other blessings. This practice originated in ancient magickal ritual. Places of spiritual significance can be found in the dwellings of the earliest civilizations

Exactly what goes on the altar varies by Witchcraft tradition. Some common elements include: candles, a bowl of water, salt, incense (and incense holder or censor), a statue or picture of gods or goddesses (either gods or goddesses related to the specific ritual being performed, or gods or goddesses that are special to you). Flowers, berries, crystals and rocks, leaves, twigs, just about anything natural, wine glass (and ceremonial wine).

Representations of the elements (earth, air, water, and fire, for most Western traditions, or the five Chinese elements of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth), a ceremonial knife (called an athame), a wand, any ingredients for the rituals or spells to be performed, any special tools of your Witchcraft tradition, and anything that you feel helps connect you to the divine or to Witchcraft.

Whether permanent or temporary or some combination of both, the altar becomes a personal expression of your spirit, your spirituality, and your magick. Your altar should be both decorative and functional. Your altar should "feel right" to you.

Churches were frequently built over ancient sacred Pagan sites. The Christian altar was placed on the East side of the church, however, a Pagan altar was sometimes included and was placed by the North door.

Churches in as late as the 11th century had a Pagan altar. These north doors of most churches were walled over from the 1300's onward as Witches were less tolerated.  ~Taken from Squido~          

      Whether you're a lone practitioner or belong to a coven, you may want to create your own altar.

      Things You'll Need:

• A sturdy surface to build your altar
• Represent Air: try incense and censer, feather, wand or tarot cards
• Represent Fire: try a red candle, red scarves, athame, bolline, matches, or lighter.
• Represent Water: choose a chalice, cauldron, or seashell
• Represent Earth: anything from gaia, like salt, soil, stones, crystals, herbs, or pentacle
• Your personal Book of Shadows
• One silver or blue candle (Goddess)
• One gold candle (God)
• Various seasonal decorations for the altar.

1.  Choose a place without a lot of traffic. A sacred space will be for you and the Divine; working magick takes concentration. Somewhere with natural light, quiet for meditation and charged for raising energy

2.  Use a steady permanent surface like a night stands coffee table, and trunk. The God and Goddess won't be swayed by fancy or expensive, your devotion is more important. Some Wiccans choose to bind or roll their altar items in a cloth or rug for portability and storage.

3.  Using representations of the elements and deities will center your focus as you invoke or cast spells. The four basic elements are air, fire, wind, water and have a symbol and direction of either East, West, South or North.

4.  Burn incense for air in the East, try a feather, or use another air-related item to the far-right portion of the altar. Some choose to place their wand and divination tools here as well.

5.  Use a red candle, athame, or boline (white-handled knife for cutting/inscribing) for the South.

6.  Water (West) is represented by a chalice, a nice cup used in ritual to hold your wine (juice or herbal tea if you choose) for feasting, or a cauldron or water bowl to hold Holy Water. If you can't use water, try using a seashell or water-related gem. (aquamarine, turquoise, sapphire).

7.  Earth is the North Quadrant, use a dish of earth or salt, a coin, stones and crystals, or a pentacle (a round dish in which a five-pointed star (a pentagram) is inscribed) to consecrate and charge tools. Salt also can be used for purification and cleansing.

     Represent your deities however you want. Many Wiccans use a gold candle to represent the God along with his symbol and a silver or white candle to represent the Goddess with hers. You can choose to decorate your altar for each Sabbat to welcome in the new season. Sprigs of mistletoe can be displayed in a small glass vase for Yule, a tiny jack-o-lantern for Samhain, plastic eggs and silk flowers can adorn the altar for Ostara, and colorful corn husks can be used for Lughnasadh. Altar cloths, either made or purchased in natural linen or cotton are an easy way to dress up your altar.

Step 2

* A more permanent altar should be set up on some sort of table or surface. Night stands, coffee tables, trunks, and even cardboard boxes are all good candidates for an altar. The God and Goddess don't care about how fancy your choice of materials are. For portability, some Wiccans choose to use a small cheap rug and put their materials on top of that so that they can roll it up and store it safely when they're not using it.

Step 3

 

Wand Symbol

Most Wiccan altars have a physical representation of the elements and deities that they wish to invoke. The four basic elements (Air, Fire, Wind, Water) are each represented by symbol and direction. You can choose to represent Air in the East by burning incense (bought or made), obtaining a feather, or placing other air-related items in the far-right portion of the altar. Some choose to place their wand and divination tools here as well.

Step 4

 

Athame Symbol

For Fire (South), the obvious route would be to burn a red candle. However, this is not always the safest option, so you can use an athame (dull black-handled knife used for directing energy), matches or lighter. A boline (white-handled knife for cutting and inscribing) can be placed here as well.

Step 5

 

Chalice Symbol

Water (West) is represented by a chalice, a nice cup used in ritual to hold your wine (juice or herbal tea if you choose) for feasting, or a cauldron or water bowl to hold Holy Water. If you can't use water, try using a seashell or water-related gem. (aquamarine, turquoise, sapphire)

Step 6

 

Pentacle Symbol

The North Quadrant, Earth, is easy to represent with a dish of earth or salt, a coin, stones and crystals, or a pentacle (a round dish in which a five-pointed star (a pentagram) is inscribed) to consecrate and charge tools. Salt also can be used for purification and cleansing.

Step 7

 

Triple Moon Symbol Representing Mother, Maiden, and Crone

Represent your deities however you want. Many Wiccans use a gold candle to represent the God along with his symbol and a silver or white candle to represent the Goddess with hers.

Step 8

You can choose to decorate your altar for each Sabbat to welcome in the new season. Sprigs of mistletoe can be displayed in a festive pencil cup for Yule, a fake jack-o-lantern candleholder for Samhain, fake plastic eggs and flowers

Read more: How to Set Up A Wiccan Altar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4482918_set-up-wiccan-altar.html#ixzz0vWUzZWmW

Step 2

* A more permanent altar should be set up on some sort of table or surface. Night stands, coffee tables, trunks, and even cardboard boxes are all good candidates for an altar. The God and Goddess don't care about how fancy your choice of materials are. For portability, some Wiccans choose to use a small cheap rug and put their materials on top of that so that they can roll it up and store it safely when they're not using it.

Step 3

 

Wand Symbol

Most Wiccan altars have a physical representation of the elements and deities that they wish to invoke. The four basic elements (Air, Fire, Wind, Water) are each represented by symbol and direction. You can choose to represent Air in the East by burning incense (bought or made), obtaining a feather, or placing other air-related items in the far-right portion of the altar. Some choose to place their wand and divination tools here as well.

Step 4

 

Athame Symbol

For Fire (South), the obvious route would be to burn a red candle. However, this is not always the safest option, so you can use an athame (dull black-handled knife used for directing energy), matches or lighter. A boline (white-handled knife for cutting and inscribing) can be placed here as well.

Step 5

 

Chalice Symbol

Water (West) is represented by a chalice, a nice cup used in ritual to hold your wine (juice or herbal tea if you choose) for feasting, or a cauldron or water bowl to hold Holy Water. If you can't use water, try using a seashell or water-related gem. (aquamarine, turquoise, sapphire)

Step 6

 

Pentacle Symbol

The North Quadrant, Earth, is easy to represent with a dish of earth or salt, a coin, stones and crystals, or a pentacle (a round dish in which a five-pointed star (a pentagram) is inscribed) to consecrate and charge tools. Salt also can be used for purification and cleansing.

Step 7

 

Triple Moon Symbol Representing Mother, Maiden, and Crone

Represent your deities however you want. Many Wiccans use a gold candle to represent the God along with his symbol and a silver or white candle to represent the Goddess with hers.

Step 8

You can choose to decorate your altar for each Sabbat to welcome in the new season. Sprigs of mistletoe can be displayed in a festive pencil cup for Yule, a fake jack-o-lantern candleholder for Samhain, fake plastic eggs and flowers

Read more: How to Set Up A Wiccan Altar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4482918_set-up-wiccan-altar.html#ixzz0vWUzZWmW

Step 2

* A more permanent altar should be set up on some sort of table or surface. Night stands, coffee tables, trunks, and even cardboard boxes are all good candidates for an altar. The God and Goddess don't care about how fancy your choice of materials are. For portability, some Wiccans choose to use a small cheap rug and put their materials on top of that so that they can roll it up and store it safely when they're not using it.

Step 3

 

Wand Symbol

Most Wiccan altars have a physical representation of the elements and deities that they wish to invoke. The four basic elements (Air, Fire, Wind, Water) are each represented by symbol and direction. You can choose to represent Air in the East by burning incense (bought or made), obtaining a feather, or placing other air-related items in the far-right portion of the altar. Some choose to place their wand and divination tools here as well.

Step 4

 

Athame Symbol

For Fire (South), the obvious route would be to burn a red candle. However, this is not always the safest option, so you can use an athame (dull black-handled knife used for directing energy), matches or lighter. A boline (white-handled knife for cutting and inscribing) can be placed here as well.

Step 5

 

Chalice Symbol

Water (West) is represented by a chalice, a nice cup used in ritual to hold your wine (juice or herbal tea if you choose) for feasting, or a cauldron or water bowl to hold Holy Water. If you can't use water, try using a seashell or water-related gem. (aquamarine, turquoise, sapphire)

Step 6

 

Pentacle Symbol

The North Quadrant, Earth, is easy to represent with a dish of earth or salt, a coin, stones and crystals, or a pentacle (a round dish in which a five-pointed star (a pentagram) is inscribed) to consecrate and charge tools. Salt also can be used for purification and cleansing.

Step 7

 

Triple Moon Symbol Representing Mother, Maiden, and Crone

Represent your deities however you want. Many Wiccans use a gold candle to represent the God along with his symbol and a silver or white candle to represent the Goddess with hers.

Step 8

You can choose to decorate your altar for each Sabbat to welcome in the new season. Sprigs of mistletoe can be displayed in a festive pencil cup for Yule, a fake jack-o-lantern candleholder for Samhain, fake plastic eggs and flowers

Read more: How to Set Up A Wiccan Altar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4482918_set-up-wiccan-altar.html#ixzz0vWUzZWmW

Lughnasadh Harvest Celebration

Lughnasadh or as the more modern Celtic call the beginning of harvest season, Lá Lúnasa, is on August 1st. We welcome the harvest of grain, vegetables and berry fruit with traditional gatherings, festivals, farmer's markets and activities. This is a time for reunions of family and friends who may arrive in time for handfasting ceremonies.

In Celtic mythology, the Lughnasadh festival began as a funeral feast for the god Lugh. Physically punishing games commemorated his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. The Áenach Tailteann was a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favored time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. Peace was mandated at the festival, and the freedom to practice religious celebrations were enjoyed by all.

Traditional Gaelic tend to celebrate Lughnasadh at the time of first fruits, or on the full moon that falls closest to this time. In the Northeastern United States, this is often the time of the blueberry harvest, while in the Pacific Northwest the blackberries are often the festival fruit. Lá Lúnasa thanks the spirits and deities for the beginning of the harvest season, and to propitiate them with offerings and prayers to not harm the still-ripening crops. The god Lugh is honored by many at this time, as he is a deity of storms and lightning, especially the storms of late summer. Gentle rain on the day of the festival is seen as his presence and his bestowing of blessings. Many honor the goddess Tailtiu on this day, and may seek to keep the Cailleachan ("Storm Hags") from ruining the crops.

Lughnasadh or Lammas is one of the eight sabbats in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. It is the first of the three autumn harvest festivals, besides the Autumn equinox (also called Mabon by Wiccans) and Samhain. Both Beltane and Lughnasadh are best for handfasting. Some Wiccans may bake the figure of the "corn god" in bread, symbolically sacrificing the bread before eating it.

Traditional Foods Apples, Grains, Breads and Berries.

Herbs and Flowers All Grains, Grapes, Heather, Blackberries, Sloe, Crab Apples, Pears.

Incense Aloes, Rose, Sandalwood.

A Sacred Gemstone Carnelian.

Harvest Activities
Many Pagans celebrate the harvest bounty with a shared feast and Celtic games. If you've saved the seeds from the fruits consumed during previous feasts or ritual, now is the time to plant them. When they sprout, plant the tree or shrub with care to symbolize your love for the Lord and Lady. Spend time strolling through forests, fields and orchards, dip your feet into the springs, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes that nourish the Earth.


Here's a Blessing for Earth, Wind, Fire and Water
Blessed be the Earth for giving birth to this food
Blessed be the Sun for nourishing it
Blessed be the Wind for carrying its seed
Blessed be the Rain for quenching its thirst.
Blessed be the hands that helped to grow this food

The Triple Goddess

The Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone, symbolize the three separate stages in the female life cycle and a phase of the moon. Many Pagans of old and Neopagans are not Wiccan, but worship the "Triple Goddess" of maiden, mother, and crone. This practice goes back to mid-twentieth-century England and beyond. The belief is that, sexuality, pregnancy, breastfeeding — and other female reproductive processes — embody the Goddess, making the female physical body sacred.

The Great Goddess is vital to the health of humankind and stands for unity, cooperation, and participation with all creation, not just a selected few. Whether you choose to believe in the Goddess, her counterpart the Horned God and Paganism in general is a personal thing. The philosophy of a mother and father figure, who care for every living thing without exclusion is comforting to many.

• The Maiden represents enchantment, inception, expansion, the promise of new beginnings, birth, youth and youthful enthusiasm, represented by the waxing moon.
• The Mother represents ripeness, fertility, sexuality, fulfillment, stability, power and life represented by the full moon.
• The Crone represents wisdom, repose, death, and endings represented by the waning moon.

Here are a few Pagan Goddess names, but this list is in no way complete. As you join in your Circles, you've probably invoked many of these Goddesses at one time or another.

Aphrodite, Venus- Greek Goddess of beauty and love
Artemis, Diana - Greek/Roman Goddess virginity, hunt
Astarte - Greek Goddess of war, fertility, and sexuality
Athena - Greek Goddess of wisdom, defensive wars
Bast - (using a cat body) Egyptian solar and war Goddess
Baubo - Greek Goddess of mirth, jests, and bawdy humor
Brighid - Celtic Goddess of poetry, healing, and crafts
Cerridwen - Celtic Goddess of transformation, cauldron, prophecy
Cybele - Greek Earth Mother
Danu - Irish Mother Goddess
Eos - Greek Goddess of the dawn
Ereshkigal - Mesopotamian Goddess of darkness, gloom, death
Flora - Roman Goddess of flowers
Fortuna -Roman Goddess of fortune
Freya or Freyja - Norse Goddess of fertility, sexual liberty, war
Frigg - Norse Goddess of marriage, love, wife of Odin
Gaia, Gaea (Earth Mother) - Goddess of earth, mother of Titans
Hathor - Egyptian Goddess of the Milky Way, childbirth, death.
Hecate - Greek Goddess of witchcraft, magick, harvest moon
Hestia - Greek Goddess of the hearth and domestic life
Hera - Roman Goddess of the Hearth, of women, and of marriage
Inanna - Sumerian Goddess of sexual love, fertility, and warfare
Isis - Egyptian Goddess of nature, magick, creativity, underdog
Ishtar - Mesopotamian Goddess of sexual love, fertility, and war
Juno - Roman Queen of the Gods and Goddess of matrimony
Kore - Greek Maiden Goddess of bountiful Earth
Kuan Yin , Kwan Yin Ma , Quan Yin - Chinese Goddess of mercy
Luna Goddess - Roman Goddess of the Moon
Ma'at - Egyptian Goddess of truth, balance, justice, and order
Mary - Mother Goddess, Queen of Heaven, Goddess of Femininity
Maya - Hindu The Goddess of illusion and mystery
Minerva - Roman Goddess of wisdom and war
Morrigan - Celtic war Goddess
Pele - Hawai'ian volcano Goddess, Destroyer and Creatrix
Persephone - Greek Goddess, Queen of the dead, and grain
Rhiannon - Celtic Goddess of the Moon
Rosmurta - Celtic/Roman Goddess of abundance, business success.
Wisdom - Creatrix
Selene - Greek Goddess of Moon
Sol - Norse Sun Goddess
Sophia - Greek Goddess of wisdom
Tiamat - Mesopotamian dragon Goddess and primordial chaos
Vesta - Roman Goddess of the hearth
Voluptas - Roman Goddess of pleasure

The Mystery of the Cauldron

A Middle Iron Age cauldron, dating from around 200 BC. Only the rim is original and it was found in a ditch at the Iron Age settlement at Blackhorse Road in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire.

Almost every story that came from the ancient roots of European witchcraft, a cauldron was used for brewing potions, casting spells and as a holy vessel to the powers of the Night. The cauldron produces change and transformations, physically, spiritually and mentally. All cauldrons are a powerful symbol of the Great Goddess for her womb and rebirth. The vessel made with bronze, iron or steel, can bestow wisdom, inspiration and knowledge to the witch and coven.

Place a cauldron in the sacred circle and burn items that will be set alight during a ritual. Place water in a cauldron for scrying (a method of divining the future, see article on this website) or it can hold the ingredients necessary for a spell or incantation.

To understand The Mystery Teachings of Wiccans, you must go back to 500-600 A.D. to the Cauldron of Cerridwen. Cerridwen created a potion that was brewed for one year and a day before drinking. (This coincides with the tradition of training a witch by degrees of one year and a day). This brew was poisonous, but when ingested by initiates of Wicca, their bodies would fight the poison and each could retrieve the memories of their ancestors.

Generations ago, Wiccans understood without knowing about DNA, that the memories of our grandparents and far beyond was within our grasp. The elixir conferred Inspiration, like the nine Muses who gave inspiration to humans as early as 800 B.C. By subjecting the human body to intense stress, physical or mental, it was believed that greater psychic powers would be bestowed to the survivors.

Within many of us today, there lies an ancient Pagan with knowledge of the old ways. Some of us search and open ourselves to collect and activate these memories. Those of us who are lucky enough to trace our lineage for generations, or have the family Book of Shadows full of the old knowledge, protect our faith. The cauldron is an integral part of the blood mysteries and Pagan rites with Wiccan's today.

Wishing with Bird Seed

I found this old charming spell on a piece of paper, slipped into my families Book of Shadows. I believe it was written by my great grandmother, it looks like her handwriting. Helping her children and grandchildren to make wishes was one of Roselyn's favorite pastimes. We would gather in the unruly garden during the spring and summer after gathering our necessary implements.

1.  Green paper
2.  Pen or pencil
3.  Glass bowl (small)
4.  Bird Seed

Roselyn believed in making "the good wish", not for profit or fame, but for our family of loved ones. Our wishes were for one another, so I would ask beforehand what my cousins wanted that fit the criteria of a "good wish" and held that in my mind. Each of us chose from a jar, the name of the person we would wish for until the jar was empty. Sometimes I would have two or three names and make separate wishes.

As a sole practitioner, choosing a "good wish" can be for anyone, including yourself. First write the wish on the green paper, then fold the paper three times and place the written wish into the glass bowl. Now cover the paper with bird seed as you visualize what the wish could mean for you or the one you have chosen to receive the "good wish".

Set the bowl outside for the birds in a dry, covered area from the elements and you're wish should come true within two weeks. If you feel the wish needs more power, fill the bowl with bird seed and wait another two weeks. Difficult wishes take time and love, remember to allow for both. Blessed Be.

Spell for Lasting Friendships

When you feel a good friend slipping away from a misunderstanding or your lack of attention, here's a spell to recapture their good friendship.

1.  Put an acorn in your friends hand, create a necklace by gluing the acorn onto a rawhide tie or leave have them carry the acorn in their pocket. The important thing is for the acorn to be on their person, close to them.

My honor to the mighty Oak, I planted your seed
on my dear friend (name), through thought and deed
that our friendship still be heartfelt and strong
Let (name) return to me not take long
Blessed Be,
so mote it be.

This spell must be chanted thrice every day for three days. The longer your friend wears or carries the acorn, the stronger the bond between you will grow.

Casting the Ritual Circle

During a Wiccan ceremony or ritual, with great care, a circle is cast. Some may be as large as two hundred feet or more to accommodate the followers within the microcosm of the physical and spiritual world you've created. As protection and a means to bring the world between the worlds together. Once established, the circle contains both the metaphysical and magickal energies inside the sphere. Celebrants enter and exit the northeast point of the circle, the threshold. The north is the realm of the gods power, east is a realm of enlightenment. This is now the sacred womb of the mother goddess.

1.  Mark the circle out with lines in the dirt, sand or wherever you've decided to hold the ritual.
2.  Once the celebrants are inside the circle, the elements of the four quarters are called.
          a.  Earth is to the north, air is to the east, fire to the south and water to the west.
3.  As a group, you must visualize the sphere as a ball of energy everyone assists to create.
4.  Evoke the Watchers to each of the four quarters to magicakally guard the sacred area.
          a.  Watchers bear witness to the rites and can use great influence during the ritual.
5.  Movement in the Northern Hemisphere must be clockwise of all members. To dissolve the circle or when negating magickal energy move counterclockwise. This is reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.

When the circle is established the participants will stay in harmony, keeping attentive to the ebb and flow of the energy and magick. Feeling the natural flow of the Earth's energy will empower the witch/Wiccan to use their innate psychic ability, magickal powers and great insight.

REINCARNATION

Wiccans believe in the basic tenet of reincarnation--the soul or "essence" of a human being will pass through many lives before achieving release from the wheel of rebirth. There is a Wiccan theology where a realm exists called Summerland where souls rest, renewing for their next experience on Earth.

Reincarnation can be traced back to ancient Greece and the Roman Mystery cults, where great debates with the philosophers took place. Palingenesis was believed by Pythagoras 6th century BC and Plato 5th century BC. Julius Caesar when invading ancient Briton found that the Druids believed in reincarnation as well. Even the Christian Bible has references to reincarnation...Matthew 17:10-13 and John 9:1-3, lastly Matthew 11:14-15.

This "idea" that people are reborn is seen in many cultures like the Buddhist belief in the Group Soul and collective Karma. Witches with long hereditary bloodlines take the evolution of family souls very seriously. The metaphysical principle of reincarnation is strong among many Pagan families. Wiccans also believe in genetic memories carried within our DNA. Often times vivid dreams can be those of a relative--passing through you during sleep to be remembered.

This transfer of memory is found over and over again in Nature. Scientists have been looking for the key that will easily open these memories for the last twenty years. Steeped in the mysteries of the past, yet deeply rooted to the present, Wicca offers natural solutions to humankind's most pressing questions about where we've come from and where we are going as a race.

A Pagan Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice—Midsummer

The word “Solstice” comes from the Latin words, sol sistere – “sun stand still”. Indeed the sun does seem to stand still as the sun reaches it’s furthest point from the equator. Summer Solstice harkens the longest day of the year, when warmth spills upon the land and fruitful bounties are enjoyed by all creatures. In the northern hemisphere of our planet, the summer solstice occurs during June.

This year it is June 21^st and many pagans will be celebrating this one day with reverence and celebration.Long ago, pagans didn’t denote “midsummer” as the first day of summer—for it wasn’t then and isn’t now—save for our modern society deemed the day so. How ironic that after this longest day the daylight gets shorter! So our ancestors realized Summer Solstice is the beginning of the END of summer.

Our ancestors were not ruled by convention or committee—no, they were ruled by the seasons of harvest, sexual awareness in the Spring of all living creatures and the need to store for the winter months ahead. Survival depended on their sensitivity to abnormal weather patterns, bad harvest years, the swelling and receding ocean waves for good fishing days.

The summer solstice is often the time of the first harvest and hence a celebration of this bounty has been held for hundreds of years. The day lasts so long, the gaiety lasted well into night, with dancing, food, mead, wine and merriment. The sun, Sol, brings life to growing crops in the field and warmth to the bones of the workers who harvested. This is reflected in the midsummer rituals or plucking herbs, for this special day brings added vigor, potency to the herbs for medicine and spells.

When night approaches, the pagan fires will burn brightly in honor of the sun. This is a time to strengthen the bonds between the participants as they chant to Sol’s continued service to the earth and it’s creatures. Some sacred sites, around the world will draw huge crowds as the Summer Solstice is honored. Stonehenge has an entrance-way that was aligned with the solstice sunrise and is a popular gathering place for modern druids and others enthusiasts on midsummer’s day.

For Wiccans, Midsummer is one of the four “Lesser Sabbats” or “Low Holidays”. Some now call this day Litha, the day of the Lord of Light, the Oak King who sits solidly on a greenwood throne.  Across the world, many pagans will throw off the hooded robes and bath skyclad under the sun while honoring Sol. Gypsies will also honor this day in similar abandon to their hard work during harvest and their respect for Gaia.

So as the Celts & Slavs celebrate with dancing & bonfires to help increase the sun’s energy, the Chinese honor Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. One of the most enduring rituals of the Summer Solstice is were the Druids’ celebrate of the “wedding of Heaven and Earth”, that brought about our present day belief of a “lucky” wedding in June.

Pagan spirit gatherings or festivals are very common in June and I will festival, eat and drink all day with pagans. Women will wear braided circlets of clover and flowers on their hair, wrists and ankles. Men will wear chaplets of oak leaves and flowers around their heads in honor of the Oak King. On Midsummer’s Eve, I will join the group, assembling to light a sacred fire, then stay up all night to welcome the moon and the dawn.

For this year’s “Honey Moon” I will drink the mead made from fermented honey, leap through the edge of the bonfire flames and pick herbs to use in white magick throughout the remaining year. I will wear the protective garland made of herbs and flowers and little else as I bath in the moon’s glow, skyclad. Being Irish I will place yarrow under my pillow to dream of my next lover.

Life comes from Sol, we are all dependent on this magnificent ball of gas, and for one day I will be pagan and in awe. I will give respect and honor as would a child, bearing witness to the beginning of “dream-time” as visions of future events will unfold at nightfall. I will throw nine different types of herbs on the balefire. Just picked-Mistletoe, vervain, St. John’s Wort, heartsease, lavender, and others chosen from herbs typical of this season such as fresh yarrow.

I will swim in the lake as water is an important part of the Midsummer pagan ritual. Like in times past we will swim in waters, flowing toward the rising sun as it climbs in the Summer Solstice morning sky. This is healing, cleansing and protective. Gathering the dew of Midsummer bestows health to whoever drinks the elixir. Fetch running water of Midsummer morn and mix it with ashes from the bonfire that night. On the next day at home, sprinkled the mixture around the house, yard and on loved ones to bestow protection and luck.

May you have wonderful dreams, a fruitful harvest and find the love you search during this Summer Solstice.

The Craft of Conjuring

Wiccan magick is old, my family history goes back nine generations with hints of more, so much more. When I hear that Wicca is a new religion I smile, Wicca is the second oldest religion in the world. The first religion according to archaeological history was Shamanism. From Shamanism, the people of the earth moved into a time where they adored the planet, the bountiful harvests and beauty. That was 25,000 years ago, surely older than some want-to-be historian of Wicca will sell you in their latest novel. The druids came long before a best-selling book, instructing you on how to cast a spell or perform a ceremony.

I believe in tradition, in ancient rituals that cleanse the heart of evil and fill you with white magick. In this time of electronic gizmos, instant gratification and sexual abandon, sometimes it's wonderful to take a breather and get back to nature. In this frame of mind, I came across a very old entry in my families Book of Shadows that explains how to change a "Foe into a Friend" spell. I've used this when I was in high school and was very pleased with the results. Using pure, white magick is about bending, being flexible and respecting all other cultures/people. So try this to win over that office nuisance or offensive mother-in-law..."And you do no harm, do what ye will".

1.   Write your name on one side of a piece of wood. (try an ice cream stick)
2.   Write your enemy's name on the other side.
3.   Cut a five-pointed star out of pink cloth or paper.
4.   Place both items into a crockery jar. (I use a glass jar with a screw on lid)
5.   Fill the jar, half with sugar/half with stream water and cover.
6.   Shake the jar thrice times three for nine days as you say sweetly for the crows nine calls, with pure intent...

My sweet thoughts of thee, your sweet thoughts of me
Are in (enemy's name) mind constantly
I do thee no harm, I offer myself on one knee
Blessed be, so mote it be 

Tales of the Red Moon Clan by Chérie De Sues .wmv

My Family Book of Shadows

In high school I became re-acquainted with my families Book of Shadows rather abruptly. One day in the mail I received a large package from my grandmother Rose. She had sent me the thick wood and leather bound book that had been in the Hughes family for generations. Excited and eager to read the contents in full I hurried to my room. My mother had no time or need for the book, "gifts" had skipped a generation and the wonders of Wicca were mine. Life has taken me on journeys around the world, as half gypsy I have the travel bug in the worse way. But the Book of Shadows was never far away and I've used many of the spells, incantations, advice, recipes, etc. that were contained within. I will share what I can and hope that you enjoy the wonders of Wiccan Magick, Spells and Conjuring on these pages. My novels will reflect my knowledge and skills, be sure to look for "The Seduction of Simone", coming soon from Noble Romance Publishing.

No Broken Heart Spell

This spell is tricky, but if you do this well you'll gently rid yourself of the frog who refuses to remain a prince. You must be certain, this is not for the faint of heart.

1. On Saturday at midday, write your lover's name 3 times on blue paper.
2. Secure the paper around a small pebble.
3. Wrap white wool fabric approx. 10" X 10" around the pebble and paper and tie securely with a blue ribbon.
4. Light two white candles and repeat this incantation three times three.

Tis a bittersweet love that I release thee,
My mind is made, you may not hold me,
Blessed be your path as we do part,
May your life be free of a broken heart.

Slowly unwrap the wool fabric with a vision of your lover parting with a smile upon his lips with no regrets of your time together.

Conjure Prince Charming from Toad.

In the family Book of Shadows, I came across a couple of pages of spells to work on men who've become less than the prince charming you remembered. Just like my cooking, I like a spell that doesn't require exotic ingredients and too much time. I've used two of these spells that were spoken to me from my grandmother, so I was very excited to see them in print. Her seal is on each one but not the date and I think she may have been young when she conjured these spells. I remember Rose explaining how you must be the spell. In your speech, your manner and constitution, so that all may know that what you've created will come about.

As always you must practice white magick, but being naughty is not black magick, it is all done in good spirits.

Turning your frog back into a Prince!

1. Use a red piece of satin 10" X 10" approximately and sew up three sides with green thread, leaving one side open.
2. Use three tablespoons of sand and place inside the satin.
Place 5 rose petals inside the satin.
3. Place a handful of feathers inside the satin. (Old feather pillow will do nicely)
4. Write the man's name on a piece of paper and fold 3 times then place inside the satin.
5. Tie a green ribbon around the bag and place the bag with contents on a small mirror and repeat three times...

My prince charming for all eyes to see,
has become a toad, oh blessed be.
In the mirror's reflection come back to me,
your true self of mine, so be it, let it be.

A teaspoon of vanilla must be poured over the bag to sweeten the spell and please the goddess. Wait one day and if you're spell has succeeded, then throw away the bag. If you were unsuccessful, repeat the process for up to three days. Keep the bag in a cool, dry space.