Magickal Tools Weapons of the Craft

Consecrating Other Working Tools


Place tool on pentacle, and lay right hand(s) on it, saying:
"Aradia and Cernunnos, deign to bless and to consecrate this White-Hilted knife (or whatever) that it may obtain the necessary virtue through you for allacts of love and beauty."

Magus sprinkles, Witch censes. Then say:

"Aradia and Cernunnos, bless this instrument prepared in yourhonour." (if Scourge or Cords, add "... that it may serve for a goodcause and end and for your glory.")

Again Magus sprinkles and Witch censes. (Hand tool to new owner as you would asword or Athame, with a Fivefold Salute.)

All these weapons should be presented to the new owner with Salute. If a WitchQueen, the downward pointing triangle as in the First Degree Initiation. End ceremony with Fivefold Salute. The new owner should immediately use the new instruments, i.e. form Circle with Sword, then Athame, incise something withWhite-Handled knife, exhibit Pentacle to Four Quarters, cense to Four Quarters,use Cords and Scourge; and should continue to use all of them in a Circle as often as possible, for some time.

To mark out a new Circle, stick sword or Athame in ground, make a loop in cord,and slip over; then, using cord, mark out a circle, and later mark it with apoint of sword or Athame. Always renew the Circle with sword or Athame whenabout to use, but have it marked so that you always retrace it in same place. Remember the Circle is a protection, a guard against evil influences, and to prevent power created from dispersing; but the Witch, not being evil, may enterand leave freely. But in Art Magic, it is a barrier against forces raised, andwhen once in the Magus may not leave without great danger. If any great danger is manifested it would be advisable to take refuge in the Circle; but ordinarily sword or Athame in hand is perfect protection against anything. Those who make these tools must be purified, clean and properly prepared. When not in use, all tools and weapons should be put away in a secret place; and itis good that this should be near your sleeping place, and that you handle them each night before retiring.

The Working Tools

There are sometimes magical supply shops, so unless you are lucky enough to begiven or sold tools, a poor witch must extemporise. But when made you should beable to borrow or obtain an Athame. So having made your circle, erect an altar.Any small table or chest will do. There must be fire on it (a candle will suffice), and your book. For good results incense is best if you can get it,but coals in a chafing dish burning sweet-smelling herbs will do. A cup if youwould have cakes and wine and a platter with the deigns drawn into same in ink,showing a pentacle. A scourge is easily made (note, the scourge has eight tailsand five knots in each tail). Get a white-hilted knife and a wand (a sword is not necessary). Cut the marks with Athame. Purify everything, then consecrate your tools in proper form and ever be properly prepared. But ever remember, magical operations are useless unless the mind can be brought to the properattitude, keyed to the utmost pitch.

Affirmations must be made clearly and the mind should be inflamed with desire.With this frenzy of will you may do as much with simple tools as with the most complete set. But good and especially ancient tools have their own aura. They do help to bring about that reverential spirit, the desire to learn and developyour powers. For this reason witches ever try to obtain tools from sorcerers,who being skilled men make good tools and consecrate them well, giving them mighty power. But a great witch's tools also gain much power; and you should ever strive to make any tools you manufacture of the finest materials you can obtain, to the end that they may absorb your power the more easily. And of course, if you may inherit or obtain another witch's tools, power will flow from them.

Making Tools

It is an old belief that the best substances for making tools are those tha tonce had life in them, as opposed to artificial substances. Thus, wood or ivory is better for a wand than metal, which is more appropriate for swords orknives. Virgin parchment is better than manufactured paper for talismans, etc. And things which have been made by hand are good, because there is life in them.

Athame & Sword

Consecrating an Athame or Sword

Lay Athame (or sword) on pentacle preferably by and touching another consecrated weapon. The man asperges them with consecrated salt and water, whereupon the woman picks up the weapon to be consecrated and passes itthrough the incense smoke and replaces it on the pentacle. Both lay their right hands upon the weapon and press down, saying:

Both: "I conjure thee, O Athame (Sword), by these names, Abrahach, Abrach,Abracadabra, that thou serves me for a strength and d efense in all magical operations against all mine enemies, visible and invisible. I conjure thee anew by the Holy Name Aradia and by the Holy Name Cernunnos; I conjure thee, O Athame (Sword), that thou serves me for a protection in all adversities; so aid me now!"
Again the man asperges, and the woman censes, and the weapon is returned to the pentacle, saying:

Both: "I conjure thee, O Athame (Sword) of Steel, by the Great Gods and Gentle Goddesses, by the virtue of the heavens, of the stars and of the spirits who preside over them, that thou mayest receive such virtue that I may obtain the end I desire in all things wherein I shall use thee, by the power of Aradiaand Cernunnos."

The Partner gives the Fivefold kiss unto the owner of the weapon. If the owneris not present, or if the weapon is jointly owned by them both, the man willgive the Fivefold Kiss to the woman. For the final kiss upon the mouth, theweapon is suspended between their breasts, held there by the pressure of theirembrace. As they separate, the owner of the weapon immediately uses it torecast the Circle, but without words.

Notes: If possible, lay sword with an already consecrated sword or Athame. I tshould, if possible, be consecrated by both a man and a woman, both of whom are initiated, and both naked as drawn swords. During consecration, press down on sword/Athame hard with consecrated sword/Athame. If possible, partake of Cake sand Wine first, then Magus should sprinkle with water, Witch should cense in First Conjuration, then sprinkle and cense and conjure again with Second Conjuration. If true sword and Athame are available, a sword and Athame can be consecrated at the same time in which case Magus should press with sword on sword, and Witch with Athame on Athame, and new sword and Athame should touch .In any case, when finished the weapon should be handed to new owner with Fivefold Salute, and should be pressed against the body for a time to get the aura; and it should be in as close connection as possible to the naked body forat least a month, i.e. kept under pillow, etc. Do not allow anyone to touch or handle any of your tools until thoroughly impregnated with your aura; say six months or as near as possible. But a pair working together may own the same tools,which will be impregnated with the aura of both.

Yule & Winter Solstice

Yule Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: ~ December 22nd; Southern Hemisphere: ~ June 21st)

Preparation:

Let all be properly prepared and purified.
In the centre (or just south of the centre) of the Circle stands the Cauldron of Cerridwen wreathed about with pine boughs, holly, ivy and mistletoe and therein is laid a balefire of nine woods: rowan, apple, elder, holly, pine,cedar, juniper, poplar and dogwood.
The altar is decorated as is the Cauldron and bears two red candles as well asan unlit red candle or torch for each covener present. There should be no otherlight except the altar candles and those about the Circle.


HP casts the Circle, calling forth the Ancient Ones to bear witness.
HP draws down the moon upon the HPS and then lights the balefire.
HP then moves to the north, before the altar, as the HPS stands in the south with the coveners in a circle, alternately man and woman, about the Cauldronbetween them.
The Circle now moves slowly deosil once about the Circle. As each passes the HPS they kiss her upon the cheek; as they pass the HP, he hands each one acandle which is lit from the balefire.
Coveners dance slowly deosil as the HP calls:

HP: "Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Sun,
Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the Stars,
Queen of the Waters, Queen of the Earth,
Bring to us the Child of Promise!
It is the Great Mother who gives birth to Him;
It is the Lord of Life who is born again.
Darkness and tears are set aside when the Sun shall come up early.
Golden Sun of hill and mountain,
Illumine the land, illumine the world,
Illumine the seas, illumine the rivers,
Sorrows be laid, joy to the world!
Blessed be the Great Goddess,
Without beginning, without ending,
Everlasting to eternity.
Io Evoe! Heh! Blessed be!"

All raise their tapers high and repeat twice the last line.

HPS joins the dance, leading it with a quieter rhythm.
The burning cauldron is pushed into the centre and the dancers jump over it inman and woman couples. The last couple over the fire should be well purified,three times each, and may pay an amusing forfeit as the HPS may ordain.

Cakes and wine follows and, after the Circle has been closed, much merriment, feasting,dancing and games

Samhain

Samhain Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: October 31st; Southern Hemisphere: April 30th)

Preparation:

Balefire in centre
Two black candles upon the altar
A red candle in each of the Quarters
A wreath of autumn flowers and the crown of the Horned One are upon the altar.
All Coveners are properly prepared, naked and bound.
All are purified by the scourge.

HPS erects the Circle. The HP says:
HP: "Oh Gods, beloved of us all,
bless this our Sabbat that we,
thy humble worshippers,
may meet in love, joy and bliss.
Bless our rites this night
with the presence of our departed kin

Facing north with arms upraised, coveners hand-linked in a semicircle behind him, the HP invokes the Horned One.

HPS bearing a priapus wand then leads the Coven in a meeting dance, slowly, to the Witches' Rune. HP gives each an unlit candle and brings up the rear of thedance. The candles are each lit from the balefire before the outward spiral.
When it is done, the HPS assumes the Goddess position saying:

HPS: "Dread Lord of the Shadows, God of Life and Bringer of Death !
Yet as the knowledge of thee is death, open wide, I pray thee, the gates through which all must pass.
Let our dear ones, who have gone before, return this night to make merry with us.
And when our time comes, as it must, O thou the Comforter, the Consoler, theGiver of Peace and rest, we will enter they realms gladly and unafraid; for we know that when rested and refreshed among our dear ones, we will be reborn again by thy grace, and the grace of the Lady Cerridwen.
Let it be in the same place and the same time as our beloved ones, and may wemeet, and know,
and remember, and love them again ! Descend, we pray thee, on thy High Priestand Servant, N..."

HPS goes to the HP and, with wand, draws the five-point star upon his breast and upon the crown of the Horned God. HP kneels and HPS places the crown uponhis head. Fresh incense is cast into the crucible. HPS strikes the bell and HPsays:
HP: "Here ye my witches,
Welcome to our Great Sabbat.
Welcome we the spirits
Of our departed kin."

HPS strikes bell. Witches walk slowly around the Circle.
HPS fills chalice with wine and hands it to HP who drinks and then says:
HP: "In humility, as the Horned One asks,
I beg my witches drink."
HP takes chalice to first witch, giving it with his right hand whilst takingthe taper with his left (kiss), then extinguishing the taper before acceptingback the chalice. Repeat with each witch present. HP then says:
HP: "Listen, my witches, to the words of the Horned One,
Drink, dance and be merry in the presence of
the Old Gods and the spirits of our departed kin."
Coveners partake of cakes and wine.
Dances and games follow closing of Circle.
Great Rite, if at all possible, by High Priestess and High Priest if no other.
Merry meet, merry part.

Mabon

Mabon Ritual (Autumn Equinox)

(Northern Hemisphere: September 21st; Southern Hemisphere: March 21st)

The altar is decorated with the symbols of autumn: pinecones, oak sprigs ,acorns, ears of grain, etc.
After the Circle has been cast, the coven stands in a ring facing inwards, men and women alternately. The High Priest stands to the west of the altar and the High Priestess to the east, facing each other.

The High Priestess recites:

HPS: "Farewell, O Sun, ever-returning Light,
The hidden God, who ever yet remains,
Who now departs into the Land of Youth
Through the Gates of Death
To dwell enthroned, the Judge of Gods and men,
The horned leader of the hosts of air -
Yet even as he stands unseen about the Circle,
So dwelled he within the secret seed -
The seed of newly-ripened grain, the seed of flesh;
Hidden in earth, the marvelous seed of the starts.
In him is Life, and Life is the Light of man.
That which never was born, and never dies.
Therefore the wise weep not, but rejoice."

HPS hands HP the wand, and picks up a sistrum; they lead the dance three timesaround the altar.
The Candle Game is played, followed by cakes and wine and any other games theHigh Priestess decides on.

The Candle Game

The men form a ring facing inwards, either sitting or standing. The women standin a ring outside them, standing on something if too short. The men pass alighted candle from hand to hand, deosil, while the women lean forward and tryto blow it out.
The man who holds it when it is blown out gets three flicks of the scourge fromthe successful blower, and must give her the Fivefold Kiss in return. Thecandle is relit and the game proceeds.

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh (Lammas) Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: August 2nd; Southern Hemisphere: February 2nd)

Poles should be ridden in a ring dance about the Coven stead.
And sing the Ancient Call. The casting of the Circle follows.
HPS traces the Five Point Star before the Coven, saying:
HPS:"O Mighty Mother of us all, Mother of all things living,
give us fruit and grain, flocks and herds and children
to the tribe, that we may be mighty. By thy Rosy Love, do thou descend upon thy servant and priestess here."
HPS draws down the Moon upon herself and all salute Her.
After a brief silence for contemplation, the Ceremony of Cakes and Winefollows.

Midsummer

Summer Solstice (Midsummer) Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: ~ June 21st; Southern Hemisphere: ~ December 22nd)

The cauldron, filled with water and decorated with flowers, is placed before the altar. HPS casts the Circle and then stands before the Cauldron, wandupraised. HP stands in North behind the altar; coven is in a circle, facinginwards, alternately man and woman.

HPS says:
HPS: "Great One of Heaven, Power of the Sun,
We invoke thee in thy ancient names -
Michael, Baalin, Arthur, Lugh, Herne;
Come again as of old into this thy land.
Lift up thy shining spear of light to protect us.
Put to flight the powers of darkness.
Give us fair woodlands and green fields,
Blooming orchards and ripening corn.
Bring us to stand upon thy hill of vision,
And show us the lovely realms of the Gods."
HPS traces an invoking pentagram upon the HP with her wand. He comes deosilabout the altar, picking up his own wand and the scourge. He plunges the wandinto the cauldron and holds it up, saying:

HP: "The Spear to the Cauldron, the Lance to the Grail,
Spirit to Flesh, Man to Woman, Sun to Earth."
Saluting HPS with wand, he joins the Coven in their circle. HPS picks up asprinkler and stands by the cauldron, saying:

HPS: "Dance ye about the Cauldron of Cerridwen, the Goddess, and be yeblessed with the touch of this Consecrated water; even as the Sun, the Lord ofLife, arises in his strength in the sign of the Waters of Life."
HP leads a slow circle dance deosil about the Cauldron. As each passes, HPSsprinkles them with water from it.
Cakes and wine follow and dances, rites and games as the HPS shall direct. Abalefire may be lit and leaped.

Beltane Ritual

Beltane Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: May 1st; Southern Hemisphere: October 31st)

Preparation:
Two white candles are on the altar with a wreath of spring flowers.
Quarter candles are green.

HPS leads the coven, riding poles if possible, about the Coven stead with aquick, trotting step, singing:
All: "O do not tell the priests of our Art,
For they would call it sin;
But we will be in the woods all night,
A-conjuring summer in.
And we bring you good news by word of mouth,
For women, cattle and corn,
For the sun is coming up from the south
With oak and ash and thorn."
A ring dance follows after which the HPS casts the Circle.
HP draws down the Moon upon the HPS.
All are purified in sacrifice before Her.
She then purifies the HP at her own hands.
All partake of Cakes and Wine, followed by feasting and dancing and singing,and the Great Rite, if at all possible, in token or truly.

Imbolc

Imbolc

Candlemas Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: February 2nd; Southern Hemisphere: August 2nd)

The HPS, carrying the Wand, leads the coveners with a dance step to the chosen site.
The Volta Dance follows; in other words, lively dancing in couples.
HPS casts the Circle in the usual way.
HP then enters the Circle, with a Sword in his right hand and a Wand in his left. He lays these on the altar.
HP now salutes the HPS with the Fivefold Kiss.
She says 'Blessed Be' and gives him the Fivefold Kiss in return.
HP assumes the God position before the altar as the HPS invokes:
HPS: "Dread Lord of Death and Resurrection,
Of Life, and the Giver of Life;
Lord within ourselves, whose name is Mystery of Mysteries;
Encourage our hearts,
Let the Light crystallise itself in our blood,
Fulfilling us of resurrection;
For there is no part of us that is not of the Gods.
Descend, we pray thee, upon thy servant and priest."

Any initiations to be done are done at this point.
The ceremony of Cakes and Wine follows.
The Great Rite is done if at all possible.
Feasting, dancing and games follow the closing of the ritual

For the Initiate

For the Initiate

O Thou who hast declared intent to become one of us,
hear then that which thou must know to do:
Single is the race, single of men and of Gods,
from a single source we both draw breath
but a difference of power in everything keeps us apart
for we are as nothing by the Gods stay forever.

Yet we can, in greatness of minds,
be like the Gods.

Though we know not what goal by day or in the night,
Fate has written that we shall run beyond all seas,
and earth's last boundaries.

Beyond the Spring of night and the Heaven's vast expanse
there lies a majesty which is the domain of the Gods.

Those who would pass through the Gates of Night and Day to that sweet place,
which is between the world of men and the domains of the Lords of the OuterSpaces,
know that unless there is truth in thy heart,
thy every effort is doomed to failure.

HEAR THEN THE LAW:
That thou love all things in nature.
That thou walk humbly in the ways of men and the ways of the Gods.

Also it is the law that contentment thou shall learn, through suffering,
and from long years, and from nobility of mind and of purpose.

FOR THE WISE NEVER GROW OLD.
Their minds are nourished by living the daylight of the Gods
and if among the vulgar some discoveries should arise
concerning some maxims of thy belief in the Gods so do thou, for the most part,keep silent.

For there is a great risk of those who straightaway vomit up that which theyhast not digested.
And when someone shall say to thee, thou knows naught and it bites thee naught,
then knows thou that thou hast begun the work.

And as sheep do not bring their food to the shepherd to show how much they have eaten
but digesting inwardly their provender do bear outwardly wool and milk,
even so, do not display the maxims to the vulgar,
but rather the works that flow when they are digested.

Third Degree Initiation

Third Degree Initiation

HPS sit upon the altar, facing South, in the Osiris position. (See diagram for the correct god forms below Osiris in the X of the LVX), HP kneelsbefore her, kisses both knees, extends arms along thighs, and adores. HP then fetches filled chalice and celebrates Wine and Cakes. HP again kneels before HPS, kisses knees and extends arms in adoration as before. Both rise.
HP: 'Ere I proceed with this sublime rite, I must beg purification at thy hands.'
HPS takes up a red cord and binds his arms, then taking up the cable-tow, leads him once about the Circle.
HP kneels facing altar

HP rises and is unbound whereupon he binds HPS as she bound him, leads herabout the Circle and scourges her as she kneels before the altar.

HPS rises and HP takes her by the cable-tow to each Quarter in turn, saying:
HP: 'Here ye, Mighty Ones of the East [South/West/North]: the twice consecrated and holy N..., High Priestess and Witch Queen [High Priest and Magus], is properly prepared, and will now proceed to erect the Sacred Altar.'
HP unties HPS and says:
HP: 'Now again I must beg purification'

HPS binds him, leads him about the Circle and scourges him kneeling before the altar, as before.
He stands and is unbound and says:
HP: 'Now I must reveal a great mystery.'
HPS stands before altar in God position.
HP gives her Fivefold Salute [After he kisses feet, HPS opens into Goddess position, still holding scourge and Athame].
HPS then sets scourge and Athame aside and lives in the middle of the Circle with her head to the East and her womb in the shekinah point. HP kneels beside her facing North. [At each point marked (s) below he kisses her womb unless instructed otherwise]. HP says:
HP: 'Assist me to erect the ancient altar,
At which in days past all worshipped,
The Great Altar of all things;
For in old times, Woman was the altar.
Thus was the altar made and placed;
And the sacred point was the point within the centre of the Circle.
As we have of old been taught that the point within the centre
is the origin of all things,
Therefore should we adore it. [S]
Therefore whom we adore we also invoke,
by power of the Lifted Lance. [touch phallus]
O Circle of Stars [S]
Whereof our father is but the young brother [S]
Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space,
Before whom time is bewildered and understanding dark,
Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love. [S]
There by seed and root, by stem and bud,
by leaf and flower and fruit, Do we invoke thee,
O Queen of Space, O dew of light,
Continuous one of the heavens [S]
Let it be ever thus, that men speak not of thee as one, but as none;
And let them not speak of thee at all, since thou art continuous.
For thou art the point within the circle [S]
which we adore, [S]
The fount of life without which we would not be, [S]
And in this way are erected the Holy Twin Pillars. [kiss breasts, left thenright]
In beauty and in strength were they erected,
To the wonder and glory of all men.'

[If the Great Rite is to be actual, non-participants leave, sealing gate behind.]
HP: 'O Secret of Secrets,
That art hidden in the being of all lives,
Not thee do we adore,
For that which adored is also thou.
Thou art That, and That am I. [S]
I am the flame that burns in the heart of every man,
And in the core of every star.
I am life, and the giver of life.
Yet therefore is the knowledge of me the knowledge of death.
I am alone, the Lord within ourselves,
Whose name is Mystery of Mysteries.'
HP now kisses HPS in the Sigil of the Third Degree
SEE BELOW FOR SIGIL DIAGRAM
and then lays his body gently over hers, saying:
HP: 'Make open the path of intelligence between us;
For these truly are the Five Points of Fellowship -
Foot to foot,
knee to knee,
Lance to Grail,
breast to breast,
lips to lips.
By the great and holy name Cernunnos;
In the name of Aradia;
Encourage our hearts,
Let the light crystalise itself in our blood,
Fulfilling of us resurrection.
For there is no part of us that is not of the Gods.'
HP rises and goes to each Quarter in turn saying:
HP: 'Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East [South/West/North];
the thrice consecrated High Priestess greets you and thanks you.'

Formula of LVX in Godform

The Sigil of the Third Degree

The badge of the Third Degree

Invocation to Cernunnos

Invocation to Cernunnos

HPS and HP turn to salute altar with the Horned God's salute as HP says:
HP: "Great God Cernunnos, return to earth again!
Come at my call and show thyself to men.
Shepherd of Goats, upon the wild hill's way,
Lead thy lost flock from darkness into day.
Forgotten are the ways of sleep and night -
Men seek for them whose eyes have lost the light.
Open the door, the door which hath no key,
The door of dreams, whereby men come to thee.
O Mighty Stag, O answer to me!"

Both: "Akhera goiti - akhera beiti!" (lowering their hands)

The Descent of the Goddess

The Descent of the Goddess

Roles:
* Narrator (N)
* Goddess
* Lord of Death (D)
* Guardians

Needs:
* Veils, jewellery
* Horned Crown
* Sword
* Scourge

She who will portray the Goddess removes her necklace and places it upon the altar, donning veils and jewellery in its stead.

He who will portray the God dons the Horned Crown and stands before the altar with scourge and blade in the God position.

(S)he who portrays the Guardians bears the Sword.

Each will act out their parts as the Narrator reads:

N: "In Ancient times, our Lord, the Horned One, was as he still is, theConsoler, the Comforter, but men knew him as the dread Lord of Shadows -lonely, stern and just.
Now our Lady the Goddess had never loved, but she would solve all theMysteries, even the mystery of Death; and so she journeyed to the Underworld.

The Guardians of the Portal challenged her:
"Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels;
for naught mayest thou bring with thee into this our land."

So she laid down her garments and her jewels, and was bound, as are all who enter the Realms of Death, the Mighty One.

Such was her beauty, that Death himself knelt and kissed her feet, saying:
"Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways.
Abide with me; but let me place my cold hand on thy heart."

She replied:
"I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all things that I love and takedelight in to fade and die?"

Death replied:
"Lady 'tis age and fate, against which I am helpless.
Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I givethem rest and peace, and strength so that they may return. But thou! Thou artlovely. Return not; abide with me!"

But she answered:
"I love thee not!"

Then said Death:
"An thou receives not my hand upon thy heart, thou must kneel to Death's scourge."
"It is fate - better so,"
She said. And she knelt, and Death scourged her tenderly.
And she cried:
"I feel the pangs of love."

And Death raised her, and said:
Blessed be!"

And he gave her the Five-fold kiss, saying:
"Thus only mayest thou attain to joy and knowledge."
And he taught her all his Mysteries, and they loved and were one.
And she taught him her mystery of the sacred cup which is the cauldron ofrebirth.
And he gave her the necklace which is the circle of rebirth, and taught her all the magic’s.
For there are three great events in the life of man: Love, Death and Resurrection in the new body; and Magic controls them all.
For to fulfill love you must return again at the same time and place as the loved one, and you must meet, and know, and remember, and love them again. Butto be reborn, you must die and be made ready for a new body; and to die, you must be born; and without love, you may not be born; and this is all the Magic’s."

it may be prudent to understand the legend of Persephone

The Witches Rune

The Witches Rune

Darksome night and shining moon,
Hearken to the witches' rune.
East, then south, west then north,
Here I to call them forth.
Earth and water, air and fire,
Work ye unto my desire.
Wand and Pentacle and Sword,
Hearken ye unto my word
Cords and Censer, Scourge and Knife,
Waken all ye into life.
Powers of the Witches' Blade,
Come ye as the charm is made
Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,
Lend your aid unto the spell.
Horned Hunter of the Night,
Work my will by magic rite.
By all the power of land and sea,
As I do will, so mote it be.
By all the might of moon and sun,
Chant the spell and be it done.

Casting a very basic circle

Casting a Circle Basic Witchcraft

You will need:
* Altar
* 2 x Altar candles
* Water bowl
* Salt dish
* Pentacle
* Censer
* Athame
* Bell
* Presence Lamp
* 4 x Quarter candles
* Sword (optional)
* Candle snuffer (optional)
Additionally, you will all need to be fit to enter into the presence of the Gods; you will need to start in the dark.
The Ritual Leader (RL) will wait until it feels like time to begin, then rises:

i. Lighting of the Candle
RL: "I light this Candle (lights Presence Lamp)
in the name of that ancient presence,
which is, was, and ever shall be
male, female, all-knowing, all-powerful
and present everywhere.
And in the names of the four Mighty Ones,
the rulers of the elements,
may power and blessing descend
in this hour upon this place
and those gathered here."
RL lights the two altar candles, the charcoal, and the four quarter candlesfrom the Presence Lamp.

ii. Exorcism of the Water
RL kneels before the altar and places the Water bowl upon the Pentacle.
RL purifies the water by plunging the tip of his/her Athame into the water,saying:
RL: "I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water, that thou cast out from
thee all the impurity and uncleanliness of the world of phantasm.
In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen"

note that salt is not consecrated or exorcised as it is already a consecrated creature

iii. Blessing of the Salt
RL sets the Water bowl aside and in its place sets the Salt dish upon the Pentacle.
RL touches salt with tip of Athame, saying:
RL: "Blessings be upon thee, O Creature of Salt; let all malignity and
hindrance be cast forth from thee, and let all good enter within.
Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee, that thou mayest aid me.
In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen."
Using the tip of the Athame, RL takes three measures of salt and puts them into the water, then stirs deosil three times with the Athame, saying:
RL: "But ever mind that as water and salt purifies the body,
so the scourge purifies the soul. So mote it be!"

iv. Casting the Circle
RL draws a circle, continuous from north deosil unto north with the Sword (orAthame), saying:
RL: "I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou be
a boundary between the world of men and the realms of the Mighty Ones;
a meeting place of love and joy and truth;
a shield against all wickedness and evil;
a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain
the power that we raise within thee.
Wherefore do I bless thee, and consecrate thee,
in the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen."
(If others are without, a gate is opened, and they are now brought into theCircle with a kiss, and the Circle is resealed.)

v. Consecration of the Circle with the Four Elements
RL takes up the consecrated water and asperses the Circle with his/herfingertips, from north deosil unto north; and then touches each person withinwith the water, being touched in turn by his/her working partner (or another ofthe opposite sex to RL, if available). Water bowl is returned to altar.
RL Then takes up the censer, and likewise censes the Circle from north unto north.
Lastly, RL takes around the Presence Lamp (or a candle lit from the Presence Lamp and returned to it).

vi. Calling the Mighty Ones
All stand and salute the East. RL stands in front of group facing East. Maiden(M) stands at back of group with the Bell. M rings Bell.
With Athame, RL draws three deosil circles and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying:
RL: "Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air;
I, N..., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard theCircle!"
All turn and face South. RL and M move to corresponding positions; others just turn in place. M rings bell.
With Athame, RL draws three deosil circles and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying:
RL: "Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire;
I, N..., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our
rites and guard the Circle!"
Similarly, in West:
RL: "Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water;
Lords of Death and Initiation;
I, N..., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our
rites and guard the Circle!"
And in North:
RL: "Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth;
Boreas, thou Guardian of the Northern Portals;
I, N..., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our
rites and guard the Circle!"
All turn back to the East and salute.
Now all turn to North again. M rings Bell.

RL says:
RL: "Ye Mighty Ones,
Lords of the Watchtowers of the Universe,
Dread Lords of the outer spaces,
Thou powerful God, thou gentle Goddess,
We invite you to our meeting.
(pause)
O thou Loving Cerridwen,
O thou Mighty Cernunnos,
we gather (or 'I stand') before you
to ..." (state intent)
The Circle is now cast and Perfect.

Closing the Circle Basic Wicca

When the Circle's work is done, the Ritual Leader (RL) goes to the East, Athame in hand, salutes, and draws a banishing earth pentagram, saying:
RL: "Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air, we thankyou for attending our rites; and ere ye depart to your beauteous realms, we bidthee Hail and Farewell..."
All: "Hail and Farewell!" (RL extinguishes Quarter Candle)
Repeat for the remaining Quarters, addressing each with the titles by which itwas invoked.
RL thanks and says goodbye to the God and Goddess (Words to be Decided, andextinguishes the altar candles.
RL then thanks and dismisses any spirits who have gathered.
RL: "The Circle is open but unbroken. Merry meet, merry part and merrymeet again."
RL extinguishes the Presence Lamp, saying:
RL: "This rite is ended!"
All: "So mote it be!"

Revisiting the Laws of Witchcraft of the Auld Wyrd

I have edited this from a previous post: Please note while I am able and have been through the formal initiation's process; I ask you to Do as you will, Love is the Law, Love Under Will, Will under Art. Perfected Love.

Further I have deliberately avoided references to Wicca which is a new format of Witchcraft

The Law was made and ordained of old.

The Law was made for the Witchcraft, to advise and help in their troubles.

The Witch should give due worship to the gods and obey their will, which they ordain, for it was made for the good of Witch as the worship of the Craft is good for the gods. For the gods love the brethren of Witches.

As a man of the past aeon loveth a woman by mastering her, so should the Witch love the gods by being mastered by them.

And it is necessary that the Circle which is the temple of the gods, should be truly cast and purified. And that it may be a fit place for the gods to enter.
And the Witch shall be properly prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the gods.
With love and worship in their hearts, they shall raise power from their bodies to give power to the gods.
As it has been taught of old for in this way only may men have communion with the gods, for the gods cannot help man without the help of man.

High Priestess & High Priest

The High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative of the Goddess.
And the High Priest shall support her as the representative of the God.

And the High Priestess shall choose whom she will, be he of sufficient rank, to be her High Priest.
For, as the God Himself kissed Her feet in the five-fold salute, laying His power at the feet of the Goddess because of Her youth and beauty, Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and justice, Her humility and generosity.

So He resigned all His power to Her.

But the High Priestess should ever mind that the power comes from Him.
It is only lent, to be used wisely and justly.
And the greatest virtue of a High Priestess be that she recognise that youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess.
So she will gracefully retire in favour of a younger woman should the Coven so decide in council.
For a true High Priestess realises that gracefully surrendering pride of place is one of the greatest virtues.
And that thereby she will return to that pride of place in another life, with greater power and beauty.

Security.

In the old days, when witchdom extended far, we were free and worshipped in all the greater temples.
In these unhappy times we must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret.
So be it ordained that none but the Witch  may see our mysteries, for our enemies are many and torture loosens the tongue of man.
So be it ordained that no Coven shall know where the next Coven bides.
Or who its members be, save only the Priest and Priestess and messenger.
And there shall be no communication between them, save by the messenger of the gods, or the summoner.
And only if it be safe may the Covens meet in some safe places for the great festivals.
And while there, none shall say whence they came nor give their true names.
To this end, that if any be tortured, in their agony, they may not tell if they do not know.
So be it ordained that no one shall tell anyone not of the craft who be not a Witch, nor give any names or where they bide, or in any way tell anything which can betray any of us to our foes.
Nor may he tell where the Covendom be.
Or the Coven stead.
Or where the meetings be.
And if any break these Laws, even under torture, THE CURSE OF THE GODDESS SHALL BE UPON THEM, so they may never be reborn on earth and may remain where they below, in the hell of the Christians.


Disputes

Let each High Priestess govern her Coven with justice and love, with the help and advice of the High Priest and the Elders, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of the Gods if he cometh.
She will heed all complaints of all Brothers and strive to settle all differences among them.
But it must be recognised that there will always be people who will ever strive to force others to do as they will.
These are not necessarily evil.
And they oft have good ideas and such ideas should be talked over in council.
But if they will not agree with their Brothers, or if they say,
"I will not work under this High Priestess",
it hath ever been the Old Law to be convenient to the Brethren and to avoid disputes.


New Covens

Any of the third may claim to found a new Coven because they live over a league away from the Coven stead or about to do so.
Anyone living within the Covendom and wishing to form a new Coven, shall tell the Elders for their intention, and on the instant avoid their dwelling and remove to the new Covendom.
Members of the old Coven may join the new one when it is formed. If they do, they must utterly avoid the old Coven.
The Elders of the new and old Covens should meet in peace and brotherly love to decide the new boundaries.
Those of the craft who dwell outside both Covendoms may join either but not both.
Though all may, if the Elders agree, meet for the great festivals if it be truly in peace and brotherly love, however splitting the Coven often means strife, so for this reason these Laws were made of old and may the CURSE OF THE GODDESS BE ON ANY WHO DISREGARD THEM. So be it ordained.

Grimoire

If you would keep a book, let it be in your own hand of write. Let brothers and sisters copy what they will, but never let the books out of your hands, and never keep the writings of another.
For if it found in their hand of write, they may be taken and arranged.
Let each guard his own writings and destroy them whenever danger threatens.
Learn as much as you may by heart and, when danger is past, rewrite your book,an it be safe.
For this reason, if any die, destroy their book an they have not been able to.
For, an it be found, 'tis clear proof against them.
And our oppressors know well "Ye may not be a witch alone".
So all their kin and friends be in danger of torture.
So destroy everything not necessary.
If your book be found on you, 'tis clear proof against you alone, you may be arraigned.

Persecution

Keep all thoughts of the craft from your mind.
If the torture be too great to bear, say "I will confess. I cannot bear this torture. What do you want me to say?"
If they try to make you speak of the Brotherhood, do not.
But if they try to make you speak of impossibilities such as flying through the air, consorting with a Christian devil or sacrificing children, or eating men's flesh, to obtain relief from torture say, "I had an evil dream, I was beside myself, I was crazed".

Not all magistrates are bad, if there be an excuse, they may show mercy.
If you have confessed aught, deny it afterwards, say you babbled under torture,say you knew not what you said.
If you are condemned, fear not.
The Brotherhood is powerful and will help you to escape if you stand steadfast, but if you betray aught there is no hope for you in this life or in that to come.
Be sure, if steadfast you go to the pyre, drugs will reach you, you will feel naught. You go to death and what lies beyond, the ecstasy of the goddess.

Tools

To avoid discovery, let the working tools be as ordinary things that any may have in their houses.
Let the pentacles be of wax so they they may be broken at once or melted.
Have no sword unless your rank allows it.
Have no names or signs on anything.
Write the names and signs on them in ink before consecrating them and wash it off immediately afterwards.
Let the colours of the hilts tell which is which.
Do not engrave them left they cause discovery.


Conduct

Ever remember ye are the hidden children of the Goddess so never do anything to disgrace them or her.
Never boast, never threaten, never say you would wish ill of anyone.
If any person not in the Circle, speak of the craft, say "Speak not to me of such, it frightens me, 'tis evil luck to speak of it".
For this reason, the Christians have their spies everywhere. These speak as if they were well affected to us, as if they would come to our meetings, saying"My mother used to worship the Old Ones. I would I could go myself".
To such as these, ever deny all knowledge.
But to others, ever say, "'Tis foolish men talk of witches flying through the air. To do so they must be as light as thistledown. And men say that witches all be blear-eyed old crones, so what pleasure can there be at a witch meeting such folks talk on?"
And say, "Many wise men now say there be no such creatures".
Ever make it jest, and in some future time perhaps, the persecution may die and we may worship our gods in safety again.
Let us all pray for that happy day.
May the blessings of the Goddess and God be on all who keep these Laws which are ordained.

Valuables

If the craft hath any appendage, let all guard it and help to keep it clear and good for the craft.
And let all justly guard all monies of the craft.. And if any Brother truly wrought it, 'tis right they have their pay, and it be just. An this be not taking money for the art, but for good and honest work.
And even the Christians say, "The labourer is worthy of his hire.",but if any Brother work willingly for the good of the craft without pay, 'tisbut to their greater honour. So be it ordained.

Quarrels

If there be any dispute or quarrel among the Brethren, the High Priestess shall straightly convene the Elders and enquire into the matter, and they shall hear both sides, first alone and then together.
And they shall decide justly, not favouring one side or the other.
Ever recognising there be people who can never agree to work under others.
But at the same time, there be some people who cannot rule justly.
To those who must ever be chief, there is one answer.
"Void the Coven or seek another one, or make a Coven of your own, taking with you those who will go".
To those who cannot rule justly, the answer be, "Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you".
For none may come to meetings with those with whom they are at variance.
So, an either cannot agree, get hence, for the craft must ever survive. So be it ordained.


Curses

In the olden days when we had power, we could use the art against any who ill-treated the Brotherhood. But in these evil days we must not do so. For our enemies have devised a burning pit of everlasting fire into which they say their god casteth all people who worship him, except it be the very few who are released by their priest's spells and masses. And this be chiefly by giving monies and rich gifts to receive his favour for their great god is ever in need of money.
But as our gods need our aid to make fertility for man and drops, so is the god of Christians ever in need of man's help to search our and destroy us. Their priests ever tell them that any who get our help are damned to this hell forever, so men be mad with the terror of it.
But they make men believe that they may escape this hell if they give victims to the tormentors. So for this reason all be forever spying, thinking, "An I can catch but one of these Witches, I will escape from this fiery pit".
So for this reason we have our hides, and men searching long and not finding,say, "There be none, or if there be, they be in a far country".
But when one of our oppressors die, or even be sick, ever is the cry,"This be witches' malice", and the hunt is up again. And though they slay ten of their own to one of ours, still they care not. They have countless thousands.
While we are few indeed. So be it ordained.

That none shall use the art in any way to do ill to any.

However much they may injure us, harm none. And now times many believe we exist not.
That this Law shall ever continue to help us in our plight, no one, however great an injury or injustice they receive, may use the art in any way to do ill, or harm any. But they may, after great consultations with all, use the art to restrain Christians from harming us Brothers, but only to constrain them and never to punish.
To this end men will say, "Such a one is a mighty search out, and apersecutor of old women whom they deemed to be witches, and none hath done him harm, so it be proof that they cannot or more truly there be none".
For all know full well that so many folk have died because someone had a grudge against them, or were persecuted because they had money or good to seize, orbecause they had none to bribe the searchers. And many have died because theywere scolding old women. So much that men now say that only old women are witches.

And this be to our advantage and turns suspicion away from us.
In England and Scotland'tis now many a year since a witch hath died the death. But any misuse of the power might raise the persecution again.
So never break this Law, however much you are tempted, and never consent to it's being broken in the least.
If you know it is being broken, you must work strongly against it.
And any High Priestess or High Priest who consents to its breach must immediately be deposed for 'tis blood of the Brethren they endanger.
Do good, an it be safe, and only if it be safe.
And keep strictly to the Old Law.

Payment

Never accept money for the use of the art, for money never smeared the taker. 'Tis sorcerers and conjurers and the priests of the Christians who ever accept money for the use of their arts. And they sell pardons to let men escape from their sins.
Be not as these. If you accept no money, you will be free from temptation to use the art for evil causes.
All may use the art for their own advantage or for the advantage of the craft only if you are sure you harm none.
But ever let the Coven debate this at length. Only if all are satisfied that non may be harmed, may the art be used.
If it is not possible to achieve your ends one way, perchance the aim may be achieved by acting in a different way so as to harm none. MAY THE CURSE OF THE GODDESS BE ON ANY WHO BREAKETH THIS LAW. So be it ordained.

'Tis judged lawful if every any of the craft need a house or land and none will sell, to incline the owner's mind so as to be willing to sell, provided it harm him not in any way and the full price is paid without haggling.
Never bargain or cheapen anything whilst you buy by the art. So be it ordained.

Law of the Land

'Tis the Old Law and the most important of all laws, that no one may do anything which will endanger any of the craft, or bring them into contact with the law of the land or any persecutors.
In any dispute between Brethren, no one may invoke any laws but those of the craft.. Or any tribunal but that of the Priestess, Priest and Elders.

Discussion of Witchcraft

It is not forbidden to say as Christians do, "There be witchcraft in the land," because our oppressors of old make it a heresy not to believe in witchcraft and so a crime to deny it which thereby puts you under suspicion.
But ever say, "I know not of it here, perchance there may be but afar off,I know not where".
But ever speak of them as old crones, consorting with the devil and riding through the air.
And ever say, "But how many ride the air if they be not as light as thistledown".
But the curse of the Goddess be on any who cast suspicion on any of the Brotherhood.
Or who speak of any real meeting-place or where they bide.

Wortcunning

Let the craft keep books with the names of all herbs which are good, and allcures so all may learn.
But keep another books with all the Bales and Parchments and let only the Elders and other trustworthy people have this knowledge. So be it ordained.
And may the blessings of the gods be on all who keep these Laws, and the curses of both the God and the Goddess be on all who break them

Use of the Art

Remember the art is the secret of the gods and may only be used in earnest and never for show or vain glory.
Magicians and Christians may taunt us saying, "You have no power, show us your power do magic before our eyes, then only will we believe", seeking to cause us to betray the art before them.
Heed them not, for the art is holy and may only be used in need, and the curse of the gods be on any who break this Law.

Most mages of the western traditions will be favourable towards the craft and some indeed hold power.

Resignations

It ever be the way with women and with men also, that they ever seek new love.
Nor should we reprove them for this.
But it may be found a disadvantage to the craft.
And so many a time it has happened that a High Priest or a High Priestess,impelled by love, hath departed with their love. That is, they left the Coven.
Now if the High Priestess wishes to resign, she may do so in full Coven.
And this resignation is valid.
But if they should run off without resigning, who may know if they may not return in a few months?
So the Law is, if a High Priestess leaves her Coven, she be taken back and all be as before. Meanwhile, if she has a deputy, that deputy shall act as High Priestess for as long as the High Priestess is away.
If she returns not at the end of a year and a day, then shall the Coven elect anew High Priestess,
unless there is good reason to the contrary.
The person who has done the work should reap the benefit of the reward. If somebody else is elected, the deputy is made maiden and deputy of the High Priestess.

Training

It has been found that practicing the art doth cause a fondness between aspirant and tutor, and it is the cause of better results if this be so.
And is for any reason this be undesirable, it can easily be avoided by both persons from the outset firmly resolving in their minds to be as brother andsister or parent and child.
And is it for this reason that a man may be taught only by a woman and a woman by a man, and women and women should not attempt these practices together. Sobe it ordained.


Punishment

Order and discipline must be kept.
A High Priestess or a High Priest may, and should, punish all faults.
To this end all the craft must receive correction willingly.
All properly prepared, the culprit kneeling should be told his fault and his sentence pronounced.
Punishment should be followed by something amusing. The culprit must acknowledge the justice of the punishment by kissing the hand on receiving sentence and again thanking for punishment received. So be it ordained.

The above is the basis for laws within a coven.

Tuath - Airt - Deas - Iar

Occultists of olden times regarded the spirits of nature as being divided into 4 groups, according to the 4 elements of life. The spirits of earth were called gnomes, those of water were undines the unseen inhabitants of air were called sylphs and the spirits of fire were known as salamanders. These names were traditional however, gnome seems to derive from the Greek "gnoma" meaning "knowledge". So the gnomes are the knowing ones.



Undine is from the Latin "unda", a wave, they are creatures of the waves.



Sylph is from the Greek "silphe", a butterfly, they are depicted world wide as delicate human forms with wings, those of butterflies or dragon flies.



The word salamander is less certain in origin but it may be connected with the Greek word "salambe" " a fire place".



The salamander was visualised as being a like a jewelled lizard or a small dragon having the colours of the flame of fire. All the above elementals may take on the form within your own subconscious racial heritage, that which they assume will be more pleasing to you.



Friendly elementals are believed to assist us in our magical work if asked in the correct manner. The sign of the pentacle is potent to control elementals.



It should have one point upwards when used for this purpose, because then it represents spirit ruling over the kingdom of the elements. Some magical practitioners regard the four elemental elements as being literally kingdoms and they give their names as Paralda the king of the Sylphs, Nixa the king of the undines, Djinn the king of the salamanders and Ghob the king of the gnomes.



The 4 powers of the magus are also related to the elemental kingdoms. The 4 ancient Latin names for the 4 powers were: noscere, audere, velle and tacere. It is believed that to be balanced, all these powers had to be present in the magic user, there is also a correspondence between the 4 elements and the 4 powers. Noscere to know corresponds to air, audere, to dare, to water, velle, to will to fire. Tacere, silence to earth. A 5th power ire to progress or evolving is spirit, the mid-point in circle or mid- point in the pagan cross of the elements.



To know means to gain the knowledge to do ritual magic.



To dare is to practice magic.



To will the manifestation through visualisation and personal power or energy.



To keep silent, to be silent about what you are doing. This last part is especially important as talking about the ritual or spell diffuses the energy flow. Silence also keeps unsympathetic people from directing negative energy or thought forms towards your efforts.



The ancient Celts saw the 4 quarters as being controlled by winds and called them the 4 airts. This is a Gaelic term for the 4 points of the compass, north, south, east, and west within the magic circle. In western tradition air is east, fire is south, water is west and earth is north. This attribution is based on the prevailing winds in Britain. The south wind brings heat and dryness, while the west wind brings warm rainy conditions, the wind from the east is cold, dry and bracing. The north wind is cold and freezing and brings snow. The Gaelic airts had a traditional association of colours attributed to them. East the crimson of dawn. South the white light of high noon. The west the grey of twilight and the north the black of winter.



The Scots Gaelic words for the cardinal points are: north / tuath, east / airt, south / deas, west / iar.



In modern neo pagan and Wicca the aspects are as follows:



East

Yellow Air Spring Sunrise



South

Red Fire Summer Noon



West

Blue Water Autumn Sunset



North

Green Earth Winter Midnight



Types of elementals, where they dwell and what the do for us.



Fairies and elves: forests, groves, fairy hills and rings, fields and wild places, they are also attracted to rose and herb gardens. These folk have the knowledge and magical secrets of herbs, stones and animals.



Gnomes, trolls and dwarfs: found in caves, mines, under bridges and hollow hills, they know the location of precious gems and metals and how to forge and form them.



Brownies, pixies, and kobolds: found in homes, cottages, stables, barns in fact any place where people live, frequent or gather in groups or where domestic animals live, the are also found in attics, cellars and wine cellars.



They will often protect the home and belongings and the live stock of people they care for and will do small chores at night. These folk are called by various names in different countries, here are some of the many names found in folk tales and mythology.



English: the gentry, the wee folk, faeries.

Irish: sidh.

Cornish: pixies, piskies, puck.

French: fee, fey.

Germanic: elves and trolls.

Arabic: djinn, spirits, genie.

Hawaiian: menehune.

Greek and italian: imps, fauns, sprites and dryads.

Ukrainian: blazhenni.



In egypt the elemental rulers were the children of horus.



South = amset or kestha or mestha. [All the same god.]



East = taumutef a jackal headed god.



West = quebsenuf a hawk headed god.



North = hapi a ape headed god.



To the Cabalists the archangels ruled the quarters, Michael was fire south. Gabriel was water west. Auriel was earth north and Raphael was air east.



To Wiccans who use astrology the south is represented by the lion and Leo, the west by the eagle and Scorpio, the north by the bull and Taurus, and the east by man and Aquarius.



The masonic teaching is that the eagle of fire represents the spiritual side of mans nature, the bull is the astral body and water, the beast with the face of a man stands for the physical body and earth, and the lion is a symbol of will or mental body in the east. Which is said to relate to the key to the mysteries written by Elipas Levi which was translated by A. Crowley.



To know, to dare, to will, to keep silent are the 4 cabalistic words which corresponds to the 4 letters of the tetragram and the 4 hieroglyphic forms of the sphinx and its riddle. To know is the human head, to dare the claws of the lion, to will the mighty flanks of the bull, to keep silent the mystical wings of the eagle and this is the answer to the riddle of the key to the mysteries of the universe so the kabalists say.



In wicca the magical aspects of the elements are:



Earth: money, wealth, prosperity, fertility, health, healing, employment are all related to using the magic of earth and its elementals.



Air: mental powers, study, writing, visions, psychic powers, wisdom and knowledge are related to working with air elementals.



Fire: love, lust, courage, strength, exorcism, protection, banishment of disease is related to the element of fire.



Water: sleep, astral projection, purification, prophetic dreams, healing, love and friendships, fidelity are related to working with water elementals.

A a Magick

Magick has been defined as "The art and science of causing change to
occur in conformity with will *" which could be put more simply as making
desired change happen; or as "energy tending to change"; a definition I use
is "magick is conscious evolution through directing energy". This does not
really explain magick though, so I will try to elaborate on these phrases
without jargon.

An aim of magick is to train the mind by harnessing and making more
consciously accessible such higher faculties as intuition, inspiration and
the creative imagination, and by drawing on the power of the unconscious -
to try and use more than the 10% of our brain's capacity that we do.

Magick assumes belief in, or rather experience of, subtle energies. We can
only see about one seventieth of the light spectrum, yet what we cannot see
still affects us - such as x-rays and ultraviolet light. Similarly, magick
is about focusing more subtle, non-physical energies, and directing them to
create change. To go about this requires experience, and training to improve
the power of the mind, and specifically, the will.

Acts such as meditation, breath control, voice work, body work,
visualization, drama, ritual, and others, are all designed to improve our
body and mind, to better sharpen us and balance us, and to enable us to
perceive and wield more subtle energies.

In the same way, an individual is as strong as their will, and the more
balanced and integrated a person is, the stronger their will (note, this is
probably one of the main reasons why so many magicians have experience of
counselling and/or psychology, recognising the help these processes can
give, both through training and experiencing them. This also acts as a
removal of farcical social stigma often attached to these processes).

Practising magick tends to act as a deconditioning mechanism and can be a
subtle process, the longer you practice, the more you change and the
unnecessary inhibitions, stigmas, guilts and sin complexes that society
builds in are removed. This has the effect of releasing their energy into
the psyche, where it can strengthen the individual.

The more physical side, such as yoga, bodywork, dance and massage, also
removes the tension held in the body as body armour, and releases this and
removes energy blockages which impair full efficiency and may result in
illness.

Possibly the major difference between magick and many of the religious paths
to spiritual growth is that magick is more dynamic, and places the emphasis
on you to work for change - there are no gurus in magick, rather there are
fellow students with different perspectives and experiences - we learn from
each other, as in other areas of life.

Magick tends to work a lot with symbols, as these are the language of the
unconscious, and this is an area of tremendous power to tap. Symbols have
many functions, and one of these, released through magick, can be the
ability to confound the ego and the censor mechanisms, and enabling us to
perceive more subtle truths, or experience direct revelations. Although we
may not be able to fully explain how symbols work, we know from experience
that certain symbols seem harmonious with certain types of energy.

For example a magician may tell you that if you want to attract love you
should wear green, and rose perfume, perhaps wear copper, like a bracelet or
necklace, etc. These are all things attributed with Venus, who is associated
with love, and so the principal is one of contagion - sympathetic magick, or
making something happen by working with items linked to it. This is one of
the oldest and most commonly practised forms of magick. Working with the
symbols of a type of energy does seem to attract that energy.

A cautionary word here, magick is often seen as a way to hidden powers, and
entered for the wrong reason, the "I want sex, power and lots of money"
syndrome. Now there is nothing wrong with these things in themselves, but
when you do magick you will discover that you tend to get what you need
rather than necessarily what you want.

When you do magick you generally use techniques to alter your state of
consciousness and raise energy, and then direct that energy to create a
desired result. The channel that energy takes as directed by your altered
state of consciousness is not necessarily the path you might expect in your
normal everyday state. Magick does bring you power, yes, but it is power
over yourself, not other people. It is the power that is important, to grow
and to create positive change.

This does not mean there is anything wrong with using magick to gain more
physical things, there is nothing wrong with doing a ritual or spell to get
a job, whereas trying to make a specific individual go to bed with you would
be wrong. Magick is very much about intent, and if your intent is to get
work, you are not imposing on people, whereas if you were trying to make
somebody do something that they would not naturally do, you are imposing on
their will.

If you did a ritual to attract love without specifying a person, but opening
yourself to the opportunity to meet someone where love may arise, and to
feel more attractive and better about yourself, you are not imposing, you
are trying to create positive change.

Magick is a commitment to yourself, and it requires determination,
perseverance, strength, openness to change and absence of rigidity, a love
of life (including yourself), and a desire to grow and fulfil your
potential. It may be that you already have all these qualities and do this
already without calling it magick - magick is not about labels, and those
who think and talk as if it is unfortunately put some people off. Magick is
learning about the natural flows of energy in the universe, and working in
harmony with them to effect positive change, both in yourself and in your
environment.

Some people ask why magick is spelt with a 'k' on the end. This is to
distinguish it from magic, associated in the popular mind with illusionism
and prestidigitation, stage magic. Magick is not about illusion, it is about
creating real change, and the 'k' signifies this. K is the eleventh letter
of the alphabet, i.e. the one beyond ten. Symbolically this is very
powerful, as we work in base ten, and eleven represents the unseen, or
hidden energies - the subtle energies of magick, eleven is considered to be
the number of magick.

Magickal training and experience bring forth the energies of the
unconscious, and so it is no surprise to see that symbols become more
important as you develop, providing not only the language of dream and the
unconscious, but also helping create a more flexible perception grid of the
universe. To grow spiritually, it is vital that you remain flexible and do
not become dogmatic, rather that you are open to experience and willing to
question your ideas and beliefs as a result of those experiences.

Magick can be a painful process. It is not easy to maintain the discipline
and honest self-critical approach all the time. It can also be hard work
dealing with the energy released without being knocked off balance
sometimes. The important thing in these cases is to remain honest and keep
at it. Nobody said magick was easy! It takes a lot of practice and hard work
and pain, but the rewards are spiritual and mental growth, the joy of life
and the beauty of unconditional love. Beyond the limits there are no limits!

*Aleister Crowley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magick

Powering a Spell

Some believe that Witches say a few magic words and do a ritual and then a spell is created and performs its function.

There is a metaphorical plane, a plane where all the psychic energy of both the living and the dead exists. We draw from this energy when we are being creative. It can also be psychically tapped to energize one's will and envision the spells casting and release and intent.
The metaphysical plane acts like a battery. Psychic energy is alive and can be given a will of evil or good. Good psychic energy can heal and make good things happen. The evil energy creates a negative field around the person the spell was cast on, Some evil spells can cause someone to lose health etc.

It will effect random chance and make bad or negative things happen, causing luck and other factors to be reduced and depending on the nature of the spell and the psychic skill of the Witch. The spell could take years before it begins to lose its energy and effects.

There are several ways to create a psychic battery. Covens are great for this. A spell cast by a coven is much more powerful then one cast by a single Witch. There are also places in the world where there are rips in the psychic energy layer of the metaphysical plane. These places are ideal for Witches because the psychic energy leaking out of the metaphysical plane is very powerful and very easy to tap. One can also tap a person and use them as a psychic battery to cast spells, but learning to channel and draw psychic energy from the metaphysical plane is the first thing any Witch should learn.