Where should I start practicing magick?

February 3, 2017 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

chimecandles

Working with candles provides a great way to ease into magick. Such work can be simple yet powerful. Wiccans often use Chime candles for spellwork. These candles are specifically used for candle magick. Although spellcasters can use other candles, I suggest that you start with Chime candles. You can find them in metaphysical shops or online.

So, once you have some Chime candles, you can use the color guide below to select a color that is appropriate for your spell.

(Here is an excerpt from my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess)

*****

Colors and Candle Magick

Let’s begin with the meanings of the different candle colors.

Note that the following list is not the final word on color. For instance, the color blue may have another meaning to you than the one listed here. Remember that your mind is your greatest tool. Trust your instincts when your feelings about a specific color differ from what others may advise you.

Here is a list of colors and a brief summary of their general attributes.

Red: sex, desire, vitality, strength
Orange: charm, confidence, joy, jealousy, persuasion
Yellow: intellectual development, joy, intellectual strength
Green: prosperity, abundance, fertility, money matters
Blue: healing, protection, spiritual development
Purple: the occult, power, magick
Pink: love, friendship, compassion
White: purity, innocence, peace, tranquility
Black: decrease, death, revenge, retribution, contacting the dead

Note: I strongly recommend that you never use a black candle. The exceptions are at Samhain or when talking to the dead. Remember the Law of Three [Avoid doing things that harm others].

A candle that has been used for a specific purpose should never be used for a different purpose. Also, it is preferable to burn down the candle all the way. Try to do this in one session. Otherwise, it is acceptable to use the same candle again—but only for the same spell.

*****

Charging Your Candle

After you choose the candle with an appropriate color, you will then cleanse and consecrate your candle.

(Here is an excerpt from my blog: GoddessHasYourBack.com)

Using Holy Water

After Casting Circle, you hold the object and sprinkle holy water upon it (the process of asperging). Say: I cleanse you by Earth and Water

Using Smoke Arising from Incense

Waft the object through the smoke arising from Blessed Incense. By the way, wafting the object through smoke is the process of charging the object.

As you waft the object through smoke three times, say: I bless and consecrate you by Fire and Air

You have made the object suitable for use in your spellwork.

*****

Now it is time to dress your candle. You can use olive oil or a specific oil that helps your spell. For example, you can use Money Drawing Oil for a money spell.

How to Dress a Candle

What do I mean by dress a candle? This is when you rub the candle with oil.

You can use many different types of oils, available at your local metaphysical shop or online. If you don’t know which oil to use, simply start with virgin olive oil.

How to Rub the Oil on Your Candle

If you’re trying to draw something to you, rub from the tip (wick end) to the base of the candle. This motion draws what you want towards you. To push something away from you (like getting rid of a cold), rub the oil from the base to the wick.

*****

Now place your candle in an appropriate candle holder on a heat proof surface (usually on an altar). Focus on what you want the candle to do for you. Hold your hands over the candle as you do this. Next, either express a chant for your spell or light the candle. Meditate on your desire as you watch the flame. Stay with your candle until it burns itself out. It is important to let the candle burn out completely. This seals the spell.

May candle magick bless your days.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

As a Wiccan I found this an inspiring read. Written in a way that makes it accessible to everyone irrespective of their current knowledge. – Shona Cathro

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

I don’t generally write reviews on books I’ve read…but this time i feel lead to. This book spoke volumes to me, as if the author knew exactly where I’m coming from and what I’m struggling with. It’s not often a book can make me cry, but this one did by making me see the many blocks I’ve put up in my life. I knew they were there, but I’ve gotten skilled at pretending they’re not. Thank you for helping me see I’m not some freak because of circumstances throughout my life that have caused the blocks, and that i need to stop hiding from or burying them and face them one step at a time. – Crystal Sparks

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

This book is a must have for all of those starting out on the spiritual path of Wicca and for all of those who are just looking for some light and love in their life. MoonWater SilverClaw uses her knowledge of Wicca and her personal experiences to not only teach the Law of Attraction in a clear manner but to help you use the Law of Attraction to better your life.

Through simple guided meditations and tips on living a happy healthy life this book takes you on a journey that will teach you how to love yourself, better your self image, and rid yourself of the negative energies that prevent you from reaching your goals.

This book covers many wonderful topics that will teach you basic magical practices as well as the theory and idea of “like attracts like” From setting up an alter to casting a circle and how to perform and find the magick that you are seeing in your life this book has so much to offer.

MoonWater SilverClaw is truly an inspirational writer for a newer generation of Wiccans and those seeking to use the natural energies of the earth to make changes in their life. Her writing style speaks from the heart because she has been where the reader is, she has used these techniques and steps to better her own life and now she is helping the reader use the Law of Attraction to better theirs – Amazon Customer

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

This is an absolute gem for the witch with issues. Rituals for things like self-esteem are something i have never seen before. Moonwater’s writing is engrossing and draws the reader in. I am a witch with PTSD M.S. and other issues and this book made me feel hopeful and capable. – t’air

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Ms. SilverClaw has written a book that is really great for the beginner wanting to learn about Wiccan or wants to start practicing the art of Wicca. I found this book wonderful, easy to read, and extremely helpful and informative. It covers everything from what Wicca is, the history of Wicca and how Wicca became misassociated with evil, along with how Wicca can help/save people’s lives. Ms. SilverClaw also discusses practicing Wicca either in a Coven or Solo, and all the things you need in order to have in order to perform your ceremony, and she explains what each item means. She explains how to create spells and gives examples to use, and explains the pitfalls of creating certain types of spells. Ms. SilverClaw has truly created a book that is a cast all net the seems to cover everything that I needed to know to begin practicing Wicca. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for their first book on the topic and wants to start practicing the art of Wicca or is just curious about the topic. This is truly a Must Have book. – Tamra L. Shipman

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

This is a terrific book! It is like talking to the author over a cup of tea like one of the bloggers says. – Kitri

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Money, Prosperity and Wiccans Enjoying Life: A Money Spell

February 19, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

moneystack

In a gathering of friends, some conversation about money arose. You could see it. Some of the people gathered bristled.

I like to talk about prosperity which includes an abundance of love, friends, things we need and the ability to be generous.

For example, just last night, a homeless man stood outside a 7-Eleven convenience store. He asked, “Could you buy me something to drink?”

“Sure,” I said. I was buying a Big Gulp, and I bought him one, too.

“Thank you,” he said, quietly.

I was grateful that I had the cash in my pocket to buy something for both of us.

Sometimes, we simply need cash to buy something for another person or to pay our bills.

In light of that, here is a Money Spell.

Money Spell

You will need:

A green candle
“A check to yourself from the Universe”*
Cauldron
Money drawing oil
- Money Oil (add drops of essential oils together)
  3 parts ginger
  2 parts orange
  4 parts pine
  2 parts cinnamon
  1/2 part chamomile
  1 part cedar wood
  5 parts jasmine (optional)
matches or a lighter

* We create a check from the Universe by writing the amount we want and writing “from the Universe for the Good of All” in the memo section on the check.

Warning: ONLY work this spell during the waxing moon.

Cast Circle in the usual manner.

Dress the green candle properly. (That is, dab your finger in the money oil and rub the candle repeatedly from wick to base—until the whole candle is covered in money oil.)

As you dress the candle, envision money flowing into your life.

Light the candle and chant the following out loud:

As I light this candle so,
Make my money grow and grow,
Let it flow without rhyme or reason,
Each and every turn of season,
Filling up my pockets so wide,
Let me enjoy this happy ride,
Make me stronger than the ocean tides,
Manifesting my will to coincide,
With no malice, woe or hitches,
May there be no mess or jinxes,
With no need of fear of ruin,
Let it rain money, bless my journey.
An it harm none, so mote it be!

Now hold the “Check from the Universe.” Light the check via the candle and place the check in the cauldron to burn safely.

Watch the flame as it burns the check.

Meditate while focusing on the flame of the green candle.

When you are ready, place the green candle in a safe place and let the candle burn completely out. [Do NOT leave an untended candle. Stay safe.]

Close the Circle.

Enjoy the Cakes and Wine Ceremony

The above spell has worked for me. I had difficulty receiving appropriate checks and things cleared up. I was grateful!

May your journey be prosperous and happy.

Blessings,
Moonwater

P.S. Often, we Wiccans like to customize our spells. For more information about this, sign up for my E-Newsletter because I’m going to be sharing information about customization in my next installment of my E-newsletter.

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

How to Raise Your Low Self-esteem Through Wicca

January 29, 2016January 30, 2016 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

“How can I let go of the feelings of sadness and low self-esteem?” Alexandra asked.

I’ve talked with many people who, like me, suffer from times of low self-esteem.

Here is a meditation to help those of us who need to raise our self-esteem.

Find a nice quiet spot, somewhere you will not be disturbed. Light a candle and burn some incense if you like. Turn off all of your electronics, and get comfortable.

In the below meditation, you will identify a worn, harmful belief. Then you will represent such a Harmful Belief as one “difficult-word.” For example, if your word is “can’t”—soon you will place it in the fire (in your mind’s eye). It will transform. For example, “can’t” can transform into “I CAN learn what I need to learn.” This is a New Belief.

Meditation to Raise Your Self-Esteem

Close your eyes. Be aware of the light that is in the room through your closed eyelids.

Breathe in and out deeply … Relax.
Keep breathing deeply. In … and … Out.
Breathe out the stress of the day.
Breathe in relaxation and peace.

(Pause)

You are still aware of the light that is in the room.
Now the light begins to fade.
As it fades you feel total comfort. You feel safe and secure in the darkness.

(Short Pause)

Now, a new form of light blossoms around you.
You look down and see a cauldron.
Flames are fluttering from within the cauldron, and they rise to about four inches above the lip of the cauldron.

Pick one thought or memory of sadness or “I can’t do it.”
Now identify a word that represents the difficult thought.
See how the “difficult-word” appears to break down.

The difficult-word is now old and worn out.
You know in your heart that you no longer need the word.
It is time to let it go.

(Pause)

See your difficult-word. The flames in the cauldron
are flickering behind your difficult-word.
Now with your mind, push the difficult-word into the flames.
The difficult-word catches fire, and the fire completely consumes the difficult-word.

(Pause)

The difficult-word disappears and soon a green colored smoke rises from the cauldron.
It starts to form your New Belief—which is in the form of a sentence.
This New Belief helps you and supports you.
Breathe in deeply and absorb the green, supportive New Belief.

(Pause)

The New Belief is now part of you, and you have gained its attributes.
Feel it. Know it is so.
You now return to the physical world, and you always know you have that positive attribute no matter what anyone says.

(Pause)

Coming back is a gentle transition as the light begins to fade around you once more.
Slowly at first, it gets darker and darker.
As it fades you feel total comfort. You feel safe and secure in the darkness.

(Short Pause)

Then a familiar light returns, the light in the room where you started.
It gradually gets brighter and brighter.
You are back in the room. You have brought the feelings of higher self-esteem and happiness back with you.

(Short Pause)

Now, gently open your eyes.

Use the above meditation as often as you need to. With a lot of practice, soon all of the bad thoughts about yourself can transform into the green smoke of renewal and higher self-esteem.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

How to Bless and Consecrate an Object

January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Offerings: picture by David O.

How to Bless and Consecrate an Object

“I have this cute statue I just bought, and I am going to place it on my altar,” my friend Lisa said.
“Have you blessed and consecrated it yet?” I asked.
“No.” said Lisa.
“It’s vital to bless and consecrate an object to make it safe to use,” I emphasized.

Witches often Bless and Consecrate an object, space or person. We use this process every time we cast circle.

Use holy water to Bless and Consecrate an object and thereby remove bad energies and entities. You avoid having other energies mix with your intentions. Leaving in bad energies and entities would have created chaos and undesired effects.

Below I’m going to give two highlights from the blessing and consecrating processes.

Using Holy Water*

After Casting Circle, you hold the object and sprinkle holy water upon it (the process of asperging). Say: I cleanse you by Earth and Water

Using Smoke Arising from Incense

Waft the object through the smoke arising from Blessed Incense. By the way, wafting the object through smoke is the process of charging the object.

As you waft the object through smoke three times, say: I bless and consecrate you by Fire and Air

You have made the object suitable for use in your spellwork.

(*Witches make their own holy water with three pinches of salt.)

Blessed Be,
Moonwater SilverClaw

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble.

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

How You Can Manifest Prosperity in 2016

December 31, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Happy calendar New Year to all my readers!

Many of us want to start off the calendar New Year right. We tend to make New Years resolutions. Many of us want to manifest more prosperity in our lives. Let’s avoid the first mistake in prosperity magick: tending to focus on one’s outer environment verses the inner self.

Yes, you can ask for prosperity to flow to you. But the better way I have found is to empower yourself to create more income. In this way you’re not just asking for a handout.

Instead, you place energy into yourself to create inner change. That’s where the real magick happens, and this creates the most benefit for you.

Why do I say this? To change yourself is to change your world.

We perceive the world around us. We can see a world of roadblocks or we can see opportunity. It’s our choice.

Below I’ll share a ritual called New Years Prosperity/Opportunity Ritual, in which you’ll be able to exercise your choice.

About Bathing Before Doing a Ritual

Always bathe before doing a ritual. Some ask, “Can I take a shower?” If you do not have a bathtub and only have a shower, you can still soak the herbs (I specify them below) in a large bucket of warm water.

If you take a shower, you can clear the debris of the day off first. Then, you have a choice: a) you can pour the herbs-water of the bucket upon yourself or b) you can use a cloth and wash your body with the herbs-water.

Let’s Talk About Herbs For Your Ritual Bathing

Shampoo* and soap* preferably herb-infused form the best choice. Wiccans use lavender to help sooth and calm themselves to get their head in the right space.

(* Prior to your ritual bathing, Cast Circle and then cleanse and consecrate your shampoo and soap. Only use these specific items of shampoo and soap for ritual bathing.)

For a Ritual Bath, Prepare a Sachet

To prepare a sachet, begin with a 4×4 inch square piece of cheesecloth and some string to close it. Use these Bath Herbs: Basil, Ginger and Pomegranate. Place the bath herbs into the middle of the cloth. Then pull up the four corners of your cloth and tie them together using the string. If you don’t have cloth, you can also use a clean sock or stocking that hasn’t been used before.

Next draw the water for the ritual bath and place the sachet in the water. If you desire, light some candles and burn some incense.

Soak in the bath while meditating on the blessings you want to manifest in the calendar New Year. (Avoid getting stuck in thinking that you don’t know how you will accomplish your desires in the everyday world.) Imagine the spiritual strength building up in you to manifest the blessings while envisioning any negative energy being soaked up by the herbs. Know you have the power to accomplish your dreams. Again, never mind the how. The Gods will provide “the how.”

Do your part and invite the Gods to guide you in how you can make a bigger and/or better contribution and thus expand your income.

The New Years Prosperity/Opportunity Ritual

What you will need:

Three Candles (one each: yellow, green, purple)
Candle dressing oil (Virgin Olive oil that has been blessed and consecrated will do fine.)
Working tools
Altar
Cakes and Wine

Cast circle in the usual manner.

Light the yellow candle as you say:

My eyes were once shut,
I now make them open.
Eyes that did not see,
I now have vision.
I call upon you,
the four elements of Wicca

Make the sign of the pentagram on your body [by touching your forehead followed in order: the left breast, right shoulder, left shoulder, right breast and back to forehead].

Light the Green candle and say:

Earth for fertility of my own mind
Air for new beginnings in rapid time
Fire to move the direction I must go
And
Water to birth new opportunities for me to grow

Finally light the Purple candle and say:

I call upon the Earth and Sky
I call upon the Sun and Moon
May the power to change my fate be my boon

Make the sign of the pentagram again and say:

By year’s end may this take place,
for the good of all, I now claim my space.
I charge myself, my life, by the Gods’ grace;
Fill me with light so my desires take place.

Do the Cakes and Wine Ceremony

Close Circle

* * *

May you and the Gods manifest the best for you in this calendar New Year.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble.

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

The Witches Pyramid – Fire

April 11, 2015April 11, 2015 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

“I feel stuck,” my friend Amy said. My first thought was that it might help for her to do a ritual related to the element Fire.

In the previous post, we talked about Air in the Witches Pyramid. In this post, we will discuss Fire, an element (related to South) that is part of the foundation of the Witches Pyramid.

Fire represents To Will on the Witches Pyramid. Will is that fire to get things done. Will is the intensified-desire that creates change and allows us to manifest our thoughts into reality.

Fire is energy. And still, we begin with the element Air which creates the idea of what you desire. Fire helps manifest what Air created.

Without Fire things stagnate. Nothing gets done. We need to Will to change ourselves and forge forward to accomplish the fulfillment of our needs.

Fire is a transformative element. Fire is a force (or energy) to change, which transforms you into something new

Change is something we strive for in Wicca. We want to transform ourselves into newer and better states of being so we can grow spiritually.

So how do we enhance the element of Fire in our lives?

Consider something you want to change or to get better in your life. Do you want to get a better job or do you need a better living situation? A quiet desire is not enough. You need to apply Fire so you Will something into being.

One of the best ways to empower yourself with Will is to do a ritual focused on Fire. Begin a meditation on Fire by first lighting a candle. Focus your eyes on the flame. Breathe deep. Soon you will close eyes and do the following visualization.

Your visualization will now be quite specific. Visualize a symbol of a current situation that you do NOT like. Now imagine that what you really want is inside the symbol.

Now apply the power of FIRE to the symbol which is like a false shell around what you want.

This false shell burns away and you are left with what you really want!

You have applied the power of FIRE.

To build up your To Will power, you may need to do a series of Fire-related meditations.

Remember, your mind, properly harnessed, has terrific power to improve your life.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

And

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

And

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Talking to Claudia

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Opening up to New Ideas

“I don’t want to make a mistake. I’m new to spellwork,” Claudia said.

Shifting the phone to my other ear, I thought, “I can empathize with this because I went through it, too.”

Years ago, when I first began with Wicca, I was really concerned about doing Wicca correctly from the start. It was very important for me to honor the God and Goddess appropriately.

Claudia asked, “How do I do dedication ceremony? It seems like there are a lot of ways to do it, depending on what kind of Traditions [Trads] are out there.”

“It’s true that there are many different types of dedication ceremonies,” I began. “Many have valuable parts and there’s no one and only way to do a dedication ceremony.”

Wicca includes various rituals that a practitioner may do. Rituals can be incredibly complex to quite simple depending on your tastes. Do you like complex and complicated or do you prefer the more simple types of rituals? The best thing that I can say is whatever you do, do it from your heart. That is what pleases the Gods.

I continued by sharing my own journey and how I chose one of the oldest Trads for learning the basics.

Consider Which Witch is Which to get an overview of the different Trads out there.

Claudia then asked about casting of a circle and why people enter from the East and leave from the West. I answered, “We start in the East, in the direction of the sunrise. Then you walk around deosil (clockwise or sun-wise) untill you end up back in the East. West is the direction of Death so you exit that way. When you make a circle starting in the East, it comes around to the East again, making a ‘door.’”

Think of the cycle of life and death. We are born just like the sun each day. And then the wheel turns untill we end up at death, when the sun goes down or “dies.”

Then Claudia asked about which colors are appropriate to use for your circle. You can use white. Or you can use colors that correspond to the four directions:

North – green or brown
South – red
East – yellow
West – blue

For more information about rituals, consider my blog article “Why do Wiccans Do Ritual?”

If you want even more information, I have lots of good info for beginners in my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess.

“How do I find a good mentor?” Claudia asked and I shared with her information found in my blog post: Finding the Right Wiccan Mentor for You.

Another way to find a mentor is attending PantheaCon, a Pagan conference that takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area each February. Many different practitioners of Paganism (including Wicca) attend. You can then check out and ask about the different Trads, and learn from the practitioners themselves. You can check out the website of PantheaCon It would be fun to talk with you if we meet there. I often attend.

You can also find local mentors through Covenant of the Goddess.

I hope you find the above resources to be useful.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

And

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

And

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Invoking and Banishing the Elements

December 29, 2013December 29, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

The Pentagram and the Five Elements

Invoking and Banishing the Elements

When we begin a ritual and call in the Elements, we are inviting them to protect us and help us with something we want in life.

For example, if I’m doing a ritual related to love, I may invoke Water because it focuses on emotions.

I may want to bring passion to some situation in my life, and I would then invoke Fire.

How do we invoke an Element? It involves moving your hand in the air according to that which is indicated in the below diagram.

Proper invoking is easy. All you need to know is where to start. Here is a good rule: To invoke, go towards the element you’re invoking.

What this means is: you move your hand in the air (according to the diagram) in the direction of the desired Element.

At the end of your ritual . . .

At the end of the ritual, you will want to banish the element. I’ve shared with a student that if you don’t banish Water after you invoke it, you might end up with plumbing problems. If you don’t banish Fire, you might have a fire start in your home. Don’t let this happen! Be sure to banish the element.

To banish the element, move your hand in the direction away from that element you wish to banish. You can see this in the diagram below.

When do I use the elemental invoking and banishing pentacles? One of the most common ways to use these pentagrams is casting and later taking down a circle. The other most common use is when you work with specific elements.

Elements can be a powerful part of your spiritual practice.

Handle with care.

And watch positive outcomes happen.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

How to Cast a Circle

March 3, 2013 / Moonwater / 6 Comments

Casting Circle

How to Cast a Circle

Casting a circle involves several steps. The following lays this out for you in detail. Please see the post on Alter Setup for the placement of the tools on your altar, also see what is a magick circle if you are wondering why you need to do this in the first place.

Setup

Before you begin, you will need:

1) A table for the altar.

2) Candles and candle holders for the four directions in the colors that represent each (red for south, blue for west, green for north, yellow for east.)

3) A red candle for the god and a green candle for the goddess. These candle colors are preferable but not mandatory. You may also use white candles if that is all you have.

4) A working candle to represent the element Fire.

5) A cup or chalice.

6) An athame.

7) A sword. If you don’t have one, use the athame to cast the circle.

8) Incense and incense burner.

9) A dish of salt, preferably sea salt.

10) A bowl of water.

11) A bell or chime.

12) An altar cloth to keep wax and the other things off the table.

13) Wine or juice and some sort of cake.

14) A lighter.

Next, locate the four directions. Place the quarter candles in their respective corners: green in the northern-most corner, yellow in the east, red in the south, and blue in the west. Below is a simple graphic to show you where to place the quarter candles.

Circle Setup Graphic

The Script

Before you begin, ground and center. This will help to clean out and balance your energy. This step is important to help you get into the right frame of mind before you start.

Next, you need a script to cast a circle or temple for conducting harmonious rites. Don’t worry if the rites you perform don’t flow easily at first. You just need practice. Consider writing a script yourself to follow. This may make it less confusing for you.

The following is an example of a script you can use. The parts you say out loud are in bold. This makes it easier to be seen by candlelight.

Note: This script is written for someone who is casting alone.

Knock three times on the altar. Ring the bell three times.

Light the working candle with the lighter.

Light the charcoal if you are using it from the working candle.

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.

5) Trace a pentacle over the flame. Pick up the candle and raise it up above you and imagine your energy and the gods’ energy filling the 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) 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) 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) Trace a pentacle over 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 three blades of the salt. You may also use your finger. Put the three pinches of salt into the water and mix it with the blade of your athame to make holy water. Pick up the bowl of holy water and raise it up above you and imagine your energy and the gods’ the energy filling it.

13) Take the holy water (the salt and water mixture) and dip your fingers into it. Dab some of it on your 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 holy water (salt water mixture) and use your fingers to asperge (sprinkle with the holy water) the circle. Starting with north and moving clockwise, walk a complete circle around the parameter, asperging each corner as you go. When finished, place the bowl back on the altar.

16) Pick up the censer filled with the burning incense. Use your hand to wave the incense smoke around the circle. Starting with north and moving clockwise, walk a complete circle around the parameter, 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 sword/athame. Envision energy being channeled from you up from the earth or down from the sky and coming out the tip of your sword/athame. Starting with north and moving clockwise, walk a complete circle around the parameter. 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 and trace a pentacle in the air with sword/athame.

(Now it’s time to call the quarters.)

19) Take 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) 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!

(At this time you can do any working you need or communicate with the gods through meditation.)

You would then do the cakes and wine ceremony at the conclusion of your work.

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 using the sword/athame, 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!

Generally, that is how to cast and close a circle. However each coven or practitioner may have slightly different variations on wording, but the process remains the same.

The Direction South

January 21, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

The Direction South

South

Fire represents South, which is the spark of life and the energy that gets things done. Fire is associated with the will. (The will is defined as: “The mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action.”)

To represent fire, place in the South corner one of these things: a lit candle, dragon figurine, or a hot chilly pepper.

South associates with noontime, the peak of the day’s hustle and bustle. Many people and animals are most active and awake at this time.

Summer represents South. It’s the growing season and hottest time of the year, when things flourish.

South represents the adult phase of the life cycle. We can take care of ourselves and take on more responsibilities. Our lives are at the peak of health and strength.

Blessed Be

Moonwater SilverClaw