What Makes People Believe?
When I first started doing magick it was really hit or miss, most often mess. My spell work was just not as effective as I wanted it to be. What was I doing wrong?
If you have wondered the same thing, you have probably done similar mistakes. For example, I’d do a money spell, but I’d just get new problems!
The real problem was, like many people, I just wanted a big payday. What I didn’t know was that this is really the wrong way to approach a lack of money.
Many, if not most, spells written today are focused on the external opportunities or even requesting gifts from the Gods. Focusing on just the external can create new problems.
What if I could tell you a Secret of how to do magick – in a way where your avoid ethics issues about money?
I have mentored a number of people about this Secret. Now I will share with you this Secret.
A phrase from the poem by Doreen Valiente entitled The Charge of the Goddess tells us how to do magick well. But many of us, like my younger self, just don’t see it. The line I’m talking about is: “…that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee.”
This line invites us to look within as we approach our magickal work.
Instead of focusing on how to get money from outside sources, focus within. How? Instead of asking for a handout from the universe, ask, “How I can create more energy in myself to obtain my desire? How can I make myself open to more prosperity?”
Let’s get more specific. You have been laid off and need a new job pronto! Bills are pilling up fast.
Let’s use a sigil for this purpose. (You can learn more about sigils in my sigils post.) Remember the Gods are here to help. You can call on them for inner strength.
How to phrase a sentence for a sigil to get a job:
Here are phrases for those who have an interest in an entrepreneurial path:
Can you see how each sentence or phrase focuses on inner change, not the external “give me, give me”? With these phrases you are not looking for a handout. You are creating the abundance by changing you.
This can be applied to the rest of your magick as well. Another example is love spells. Focus your magick on being more loving, or more open to love. Never do love spells upon a particular person. Instead do a spell to attract love to you in whatever form is appropriate by creating yourself as more loving.
By focusing on inner change and developing our inner strengths, we can achieve our desires.
Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw
Hope everyone has a Happy Litha. Don’t forget to greet the sun and gather herbs at this time.
For more about the seasons and cycles of Wicca, get your copy of my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess. Here is an excerpt about Litha from the book:
The Summer Solstice, Litha, also known as Midsummer, represents when the God is at the height of his power and fertility. The sun now takes its longest path across the sky, and we experience the longest day of the year. This completes the sun’s waxing cycle and marks the beginning of the waning part of the solar year. The days become increasingly shorter until the Wheel of the Year returns to Yule when the days once again wax with the sun.
Wiccans enjoy collecting and drying herbs during Litha. Many take nice walks out in nature to harvest these herbs. Herbs harvested during this period have greater magickal powers than herbs gathered at other times of the year. Herbs reach their peak of strength and potency during Litha.
Once again, the bonfire holds a prominent place. The God rises to his peak as his power and strength expand at Litha.
Not all covens have access to open places that permit bonfires, but that doesn’t mean these groups can’t celebrate the summer Sabbats. They just need to develop their own symbolic representations. For example, when my coven meets for Litha, we do a barbeque. Meat and fire form a good combo for this Sabbat! Yum!
Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw
The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book
I didn’t know what to do. When I first started on the Wiccan path, I read some books and it appeared that I needed a bunch of tools—which I could not afford! What was I to do? Like many young people at that time, I didn’t have a lot of money.
Many books don’t tell you something important: You probably already have all the tools you need. You don’t need all the fancy trappings and trimmings to practice the Craft. Using something simple is just as effective as employing some store-bought, fancy item. Tools encrusted with gems and other trimmings don’t make for a better tool.
In fact, the most powerful tools are ones we make ourselves.
Why? As you make the tool, the tool absorbs your energy and so holds more power.
But do not fear if you’re not skilled with arts and crafts. You will do just fine with simple things you gather from within your home.
Which household items can you use for your tools of Wicca?
First, avoid items that are made of plastic.
Now, here’s a list of things you can use:
Altar: Any table will do.
Altar Cloth: A large square scarf (or even sarong) will work. Just remember that the altar cloth helps to keep wax from damaging the altar. So if you do not want wax on your cloth, find some other material.
Athame: You can use a butter knife. Generally an athame is a black-handled, double edged knife. But a butter knife will work just fine. An athame doesn’t need to be sharp. It cuts energy not material things.
Bell: Any bell will work. You can even use a utensil to strike a wine glass. The bell on a cat collar will also work.
Boline: The traditional boline is a white handled knife often with a curved blade, but a steak knife will work well. This knife, unlike the athame, is used for cutting physical things like herbs. You’ll also use the boline to carve runes and names on candles.
Candles: Any kind of candles will do. Further, any inexpensive tea lights would work.
Cauldron: Any fireproof container will do. A pot works well.
Censer: A simple bowl of sand will work just fine.
Goblet or chalice: Any glass will do. A wine glass will work well. Originally, the traditional goblet was made out of wood.
Incense: You could use fresh herbs from your garden if you don’t have regular incense.
Offering Dishes: The bowls from your kitchen cabinet will work just fine.
Pentacle: A simple plate painted with a pentagram works. Pentacles were often made out of carved wax, which could thrown in a fire and melt into nothing. That’s one way that witches employed to stay hidden from the wrath of persecutors.
Salt: It’s nice to have sea salt, but the table salt will do.
Wand: A branch from a tree in your garden will work. Make sure it does not touch the ground as this would cause the loss of the power the tree gave it.
Water: You don’t need to have spring water. Tap water works fine.
As you can see, most if not all of the tools you need reside in your home already. If you can make your own tools, that’s even better. However, most of us are not metalsmiths, nor do we have a forge handy. That’s okay, since I shared handy substitute-items above.
Wicca can be done on a budget. All you need is your imagination.
Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw
I found a great list on the Hedge Magick blog. Enjoy.
Right now, you can control:
1. How many times you smile today.
2. How much effort you exert at work.
3. Your level of honesty.
4. How well you prepare.
5. How you act on your feelings.
6. How often you say “thank you.”
7. When you pull out your wallet for luxuries.
8. Whether or not you give someone the benefit of the doubt.
9. How you interpret situations.
10. Whether or not you compete with people around you.
11. How often you notice and appreciate small acts of kindness.
12. Whether you listen or wait to talk.
13. When you walk away from a conversation.
14. How nice you are to yourself in your head.
15. Whether you think positive or negative thoughts.
16. Whether or not you form expectations of people.
17. The type of food you eat.
18. When you answer someone’s question—or email or…
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I really like this guy. Can you do a love spell for me? Wiccans are faced with this question a lot.
Love spells can be quite sticky. There’s a right way and a wrong way to approach them.
The Wrong Way to Do a Love Spell
Janet really likes Mark. So she buys a book on love spells from the local book store. She finds one she likes and performs the spell that night on Mark.
The next day she sees Mark. There’s something different about him. Soon he asks Janet for a date. During the date Mark can’t keep his eyes off Janet.
In the next days, Mark can’t get enough of Janet. At first she quite enjoys the attention. He calls every night.
Then he follows her to the gym, grocery store, a movie theater. He shows up at her house unexpectedly, at all hours of the day and night.
Now, every time she sees Mark, Janet jumps, startled.
Janet wanted love; she now has fear.
Do you see what happened? Janet made her own stalker by casting a love spell upon him. Two terrible details arise when you impose a love spell on someone. First, it’s unethical to mess with someone’s free will. Second, one could create a pattern in which a stalker may become violent.
The Right Way to Cast a Love Spell
Ellen hasn’t been on a date in quite a while. At an evening class she attends each week, she likes three guys, but she’s not sure about them.
She wants to find the right fit and someone who truly loves her. So Ellen decides to do a love spell. Ellen first decides to make the love spell about herself—that is, she seeks to become more accepting of love. During her ritual, she writes down what she’d prefer to find in a mate. She asks the Gods to guide her and that special person to meet.
A few days later, a guy named Sam arrives at the evening class. Sam is meeting one of the other three guys who attend the evening class. Sam strikes up a conversation with Ellen. Some days later, Sam asks Ellen out on a date. They really hit it off.
Do you see the difference?
Janet did a love spell on Mark, and such an imposition should never be done.
On the other hand, Ellen did a love spell to make her more accepting of love and to be able to see the one she was looking for. She also asked the Gods to help guide both her and her right match to find each other.
That’s a big difference.
Love Spell
What you will need:
The Basic Circle Script
Note: This script is written for someone who is casting alone.
1) Knock three times on the altar. Ring the bell three times.
2) Use the lighter to ignite the working candle. Place the lighter down on the altar. (The other candles will be lit later when you use the taper.)
3) Light the charcoal (if you are using it) from the working candle. (The incense will placed on the charcoal later.)
4) Take your athame and place its tip into the flame of the working candle. Say:
I exorcise* you o creature of fire. And I consecrate and bless you in the names of the Goddess and the God that you are pure and clean.
(*Note: When we speak of exorcise here, we are purifying the item by driving out any negative energies.)
5) Trace a pentacle (a five-pointed star) in the air above the flame. Pick up the working candle and raise it up above you and imagine the Gods’ energy filling the candle’s flame. Place the candle back on the altar.
6) Take your athame and place its tip into the bowl of water. Say:
I exorcise you, o creature of water. And I consecrate and bless you in the names of the Goddess and the God that you are pure and clean.
7) Using the athame, trace a pentacle in the water. Pick up the bowl of water and raise it up above you and imagine your energy and the Gods’ energy filling the water. Place the bowl back on the altar.
8) Take your athame and place its tip into the salt. Say:
I exorcise you, o creature of salt. And I consecrate and bless you in the names of the Goddess and the God that you are pure and clean.
9) Using the athame, trace a pentacle in the salt. Pick up the bowl of salt and raise it up above you and imagine your energy and the Gods’ energy filling the salt. Place the salt bowl back on the altar.
10) Take your athame and place its tip into the incense. Say:
I exorcise you, o creature of Air. And I consecrate and bless you in the names of the Goddess and the God that you are pure and clean.
11) Using your athame, trace a pentacle in the air above the incense. Pick up the incense and raise it up above you and imagine your energy and the Gods’ energy filling the incense. Place the incense on the lit charcoal.
12) Take your athame and scoop up a blade of the salt. (Or you could your finger.) Place this pinch of salt into the water. Repeat this step two more times. Now, with the athame, mix the salt into the water and finish making consecrated water. With the athame, trace a pentagram over the bowl. Now, pick up the bowl of consecrated water and raise it up above you and imagine your energy and the Gods’ energy filling it.
13) Take the consecrated water (the salt and water mixture) and dip your fingers into it. Dab some of it on your inner wrists and forehead. Say:
I bless myself with Earth and Water.
14) Take the censer filled with the burning incense and wave the smoke over you. Say:
I bless myself with Air and Fire.
15) Take the consecrated water and use your fingers to asperge (sprinkle with consecrated water) the circle. Starting with north and moving clockwise, walk a complete circle around the perimeter, aspersing each corner as you go. When finished, place the bowl back on the altar.
16) Pick up the censer. Use your hand to wave the incense smoke around the circle. Starting with north and moving clockwise, walk a complete circle around the perimeter, waving the smoke as you go. Be careful not to burn yourself or anything else. When finished, place the censer back on the altar.
You have just cleansed the space and yourself. Now let’s continue by casting the circle.
17) Take the athame. Envision energy being channeled from you and coming out the tip of your athame [You point the athame outward, away from you as you create the circle.] Starting with north and moving clockwise, walk a complete circle around the perimeter. As you walk, say:
I conjure you, o circle of power, that you be a boundary between the seen mundane world and the spirit world, that you protect me and contain the magick that I shall raise within you! I consecrate and bless you in the names of the Goddess and the God. So mote it be!
18) Finish at the east quarter (direction).
Now it’s time to “call the quarters.” (This refers to the four directions.)
19) Pick up the athame and the taper from the altar. Light the taper from the working candle. Go and stand in the east corner of where your circle boundary is. Starting with the east candle, say:
I summon, stir, and call you up, o mighty ones of the East, element of Air. Come guard my circle and witness my rite.
20) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame. Then light the quarter candle for east. Say:
Hail and welcome!
21) Move clockwise to the south candle. Say:
I summon, stir, and call you up, o mighty ones of the South, element of Fire. Come guard my circle and witness my rite.
22) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame. Then light the quarter candle for south. Say:
Hail and welcome!
23) Move clockwise to the west candle. Say:
I summon, stir, and call you up, o mighty ones of the West, element of Water. Come guard my circle and witness my rite.
24) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame. Then light the quarter candle for west. Say:
Hail and welcome!
25) Move clockwise to the north candle. Say:
I summon, stir, and call you up, o mighty ones of the North, element of Earth. Come guard my circle and witness my rite.
26) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame. Then light the quarter candle for north. Say:
Hail and welcome!
27) Return to the altar. Using the taper, light the Goddess candle, saying:
Welcome, my Lady!
28) Using the taper, light the God candle, saying:
Welcome, my Lord!
You have now completed casting your circle.
The Spell:
Take up the pink candle and sprinkle some of the blessed water on it and say:
You are cleansed by water and earth.
Next wave the pink candle over the burning incense and say:
I charge and consecrate you by fire and air.
Do the same process with the rose oil and the lodestone.
Next, take your now cleansed and consecrated pink candle and carve your name on it with the word love.
Next dress the candle with the rose oil and say:
Little candle, I name you (your name) you now represent the love I attract to me.
Place the pink candle into the candle holder and place on the pentagram. Put the lodestone at the base of the candle.
Take the taper and light it from the working candle and light the pink candle saying:
I am love and love comes to me.
As the candle burns sit and concentrate on the candle flame, seeing love flowing in the form of light. When the candle has burned halfway down, take the candle and drop three drops of wax on the lodestone. Return the candle to its original place.
Continue to see the love radiating from the candle, and now also see the lodestone pulling love to you.
Watch the candle until it burns completely out. Carry the stone with you to help attract love to you.
Cakes and Wine Ceremony
After any ritual, it is important to replenish and ground your energy. Begin with wine or juice.
1) Take the cup from your altar and pour the wine or juice into it. Then take the athame and dip its tip into the wine or juice. Say:
As the athame is to the male, so the cup is to the female, and so joined bring union and harmony.
2) Pour some of your blessed wine or juice into the offering bowl or plate on your altar. Say:
To the Gods!
You can now partake of the beverage.
3) Take your athame and point it over the cake. Say:
Blessed be these cakes that they bestow health, peace, joy, strength, and that fulfillment of love that is perpetual happiness.
4) Take one of the cakes (or just a piece) and place it in the offering bowl or plate. Say:
To the Gods!
You can now partake of the blessed cakes.
So, what do you do with the blessed offerings in the offering dishes? You certainly don’t just throw it into the garbage! They are gifts to the Gods. Take them outside to your garden where you can leave it on the ground to help nourish the Earth.
If you do not have a garden at your home, you can take the offerings out into the woods and leave them there. Some Wiccans who live in the city set the blessed offering out on their porch for local animals to partake. Be sure to only leave biodegradable food. Avoid wrappers or containers that will not decompose.
Closing Circle
It is very important to dismiss the energies you have called for your circle. Be sure to take down the magick temple (the circle) you erected. And certainly, dismiss the quarters!
To close your circle:
1) Take your athame and hold it up and stand facing the east. Say:
Hail mighty ones of the East, the element of Air. I thank you for guarding my circle and witnessing my rite. May you depart to your fair and lovely realms. I bid you hail and farewell.
2) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame.
3) Continuing, moving in a clockwise circle, stand facing the south. Say:
Hail mighty ones of the South, the element of Fire. I thank you for guarding my circle and witnessing my rite. May you depart to your fair and lovely realms. I bid you hail and farewell!
4) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame.
5) Moving clockwise around the circle, stand facing west. Say:
Hail mighty ones of the West, the element of Water. I thank you for guarding my circle and witnessing my rite. May you depart to your fair and lovely realms. I bid you hail and farewell!
6) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame.
7) Moving clockwise around the circle, stand facing north. Say:
Hail mighty ones of the North, the element of Earth. I thank you for guarding my circle and witnessing my rite. May you depart to your fair and lovely realms. I bid you hail and farewell!
8) Trace a pentacle in the air with your athame.
9) Return again to face east. While walking the boundary of the circle, say:
Fire seal the circle round,
Let it fade beneath the ground,
Let all things be as they once were before.
The circle is now no more,
Merry meet, merry part,
And merry meet again!
So mote it be!
In the post, I have shared with you the wrong way and the right way for doing a love spell. Take care in how you go about doing a love spell.
A proper love spell will build you up and attract the right match for you.
[If you’re interested in prosperity spells and other spells, please see my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess and Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace.]
Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw
My muscles ache and I’m wobbly on my feet. My Dad and I walk on a wooded trail in Pinecrest, California. My only thought is: Can I make it to the car?
On the drive back to our campsite, I think, I really need to go hiking more often. My muscles are just not in the condition I’d like them to be in.
Without enough hiking I lose valuable muscle mass and tone. And, without enough vigorous exercise, I’ll lose bone mass or even get a “flabby” heart, a cause of other health problems.
How does this connect with Wicca? We see something similar: without enough practice, you can lose your competency in the Wiccan path. Just as muscles become weaker due to lack of use, so does your proficiency in Wicca.
Out of practice in Wicca, your spells will not be as effective. They can even go bad because you’re failing to channel your energy to your desired goal. Such errors can cause undesired effects.
Fail to practice your faith and you may separate from nature which Wiccans hold so sacred. If you don’t pay attention to the cycles of nature (the cycles of life and the seasons), you may lose compassion for others who are going through personal cycles of growth and sometimes personal pain. Human beings live in a cycle of puberty, aging and other personal challenges.
Separating from nature, you may even lose compassion for yourself.
On the other hand, you can be diligent in your practice. You can exercise your Wiccan muscle just as you would support your body through physical exercise.
When your “Wiccan muscles” are in tune, you’ll take good care of yourself and stay aware of the Three Times Law.
Be good to your spirit like you’re good to your body through exercise.
Keep a diligent practice. Then you can avoid many situations of unintentionally hurting someone else. Through diligent practice, you are stronger and calmer. You have more patience.
So let’s flex all of our muscles to be both spiritually and physically healthy.
Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw
Do you fear death? Do you wonder what lies on the other side?
Several years ago, in the hospital, I was at death’s door. I had Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). ITP is a bleeding disorder which can cause a person to bleed out simply by bumping into furniture. I could hemorrhage in my brain at any time and die instantly. When my dentist saw bruising inside my mouth, he told me to immediately go to the Emergency Room.
ITP creates the death’s door situation by having the immune system destroying platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. The first night I stayed at the hospital the next morning I had bruises all down my body from lying on the bed. I had to remain sitting even while I slept. Because my brain could have hemorrhaged and killed me, I got to know death’s call intimately. Death was there everyday, sitting by my side waiting with me.
I had to accept that death could take me at anytime.
At first I was afraid. But then I realized that death is just a transition, not an ending.
Death is a transition to the Summerlands, a wonderful place of comfort and peace. Your family and friends who went before are there. Who could fear that?
When I first heard of the Summerlands, a complete knowing came to me. And, I also realized that that this place of comfort and peace is where we came from. So you don’t need to fear returning to where you came from. When we die, we go home.
And, once you return home, you can choose to be born again. Wiccans know this as reincarnation.
So as you connect with the idea and reality of the Summerlands, you can let go of fears about dying. Death is simply a transition to a place of rest, loved ones and renewal to prepare you for the next life, if you so choose.
Understanding that now, I do not fear death.
Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw
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