.: August 2010

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."

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.