HOW TO PRACTICE WICCA WITCHCRAFT

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WHAT IS WICCA?

Wondering about Wicca? What is Wicca? What it means?

You are not the only one who is curious to know exactly what the Wicca religion is allabout. There are a lot of other individuals who have heard many tales about Wiccantraditions and beliefs, but now it's time to sort out fact from fiction.

The question about what is Wicca cannot be easily answered but it is definitely notwitchcraft. However there are many who naturally associate these two belief systems.

Those who do practice Wicca may have some traditions that are based on the sametraditions once used in witchcraft but this does not mean that Wiccans are witches.

What is Wicca? This question has many answers, and most of them may surprise you.

Actually Wicca is a spiritual and self empowering way to live life. Those who follow theWiccan traditions and beliefs strive to live in harmony with the universe. One of the keybeliefs is that your good deeds will be returned to you three times over, and the bad deedsare also repaid in the same manner. This is very similar to what a person is taught inmany other religions.

For Wiccans there is wonder in even the minute aspects of everyday life. The trees, sun,moon, sky and lakes all are connected to a person's spirit and each person's spirit isconnected to all of nature as well as to every other living being.

The Wicca religion, beliefs and traditions were established many centuries beforeChristianity came to exist. Wiccans practiced their beliefs in Europe, particularly inWales, Ireland and Scotland.

Although much of the history of the Wiccan community has been eradicated modern dayWicca followers have attempted to piece together as much of the past as they could. Thishas helped form the system that now governs the practice of Wicca in the modern world.

Although Wicca is often thought of as a religion, followers point out that there is nosingular person who is in charge. Most people who embrace Wicca practice their beliefsas they interpret them, and gatherings of like minded individuals are not scheduled on aregular basis.

There can be some groups of Wiccans that are formed and these are generally calledgroves or covens. Most of these groups have different ideas, different styles of practiceand different beliefs.

More than 35 years ago there was a meeting held and 73 Wiccans attended. This group of

individuals established a guide that contained the basic beliefs of the Wicca philosophy.Today these 13 guiding principles are often used by practicing Wiccans across the US asa way of defining what is Wicca. They called themselves the American Council ofWitches. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Council_of_Witches

Among the basic tenets of Wicca are the beliefs that one should be a good steward of theenvironment; a fundamental realization of the power of all nature and the rejection thatpure evil exists in the world. Other Wicca beliefs promote tolerance, love and a respectfor knowledge.

Much of the Wiccan tradition and practices actually have close ties to beliefs that are helddear by almost all other religions across the world

FIVE POINTS OF WICCAN BELIEF

Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of thinking and life whichpromotes oneness with the divine and all which exists. Witchcraft is a spiritual systemthat fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and anunderstanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things.Something we live by daily are:

1. The Wiccan Rede - harm none2. The Law of Return - (aka the karmic law) what you do affects what happens to you.3. The Ethic of Self-Responsibility - We make our own destiny, and set up most of ourown "trials and tribulations". With this ethic you are accepting the karma or "stuff" yougive yourself, good or bad.4. The Ethic of Constant Improvement - change positively, grow5. The Ethic of Attunement - Attunement, the act of becoming in-tune with divinity is thepurpose behind the majority of ritual. In Wicca, we believe in three groupings of divinity:

· The Self is divine.· The Gods/other powers are divine.· The Universe itself is divine.

We started a site that has incorporated our beliefs. Whether its aromatherapy, stones,crystals, tarot, sterling silver jewelry or helping hand of a spell we have it.

Performing rituals properly aligns the power of the universe to your aim and brings aboutthe changes you seek. But it is not instant, and performing magic does not substitute forhelping yourself in more mundane ways. You have to want what you're casting the spellfor and you have to act on that desire. It helps if you listen to your intuition as well. Whenpurchasing a spell we will also mail you a blessed stone that has been charged for you andan affirmation.

Stones possess energies that will enhance your life in many avenues. Use them inmeditation, spell casting, or just carry them with you. Bring money, prosperity, luck, love,protection or healing into your life.

AROMATHERAPY is a method by which the use of certain essential oils are either

combined or used alone to promote healing & well being by applying the oils directly toour body or by inhalation.

The power of aroma is something that cannot be denied, but a lot of the time it issomething that many of us seem to not take notice of. Certain smells have the ability topromote healing of our body, mind and spirit and also to help improve the general wellbeing of our mental outlook on life

A GUIDE TO WICCAN BELIEFS

Wicca is a neopagan nature based religion which has developed into several divisions, forexample Gardnerian, Alexandrian and Eclectic Wicca.

Wicca and witchcraft are often used synonymously without knowledge or understandingof wiccan beliefs. Wicca is the name that was adopted by nature based witches to distancetheir religion from the popular, much feared and persecuted view of witches in general.Wicca or Wica actually means wise. There is usually the practice of witchcraft within thereligion, but not necessarily so as it is for the individual to decide whether this particularaspect of the religion is right for them.

Witchcraft is not only practiced by Wiccans but by many other groups of people withvarious beliefs. It is successfully reconciled by people within the christian faith forexample. Other witches, such as Traditional and Hedge witches have their own codus(belief and views) as to how they practice their version of witchcraft.

Wiccan beliefs concentrate on the fundamental energies of nature on earth and in theheavens above.

Their belief is a highly spiritual one and they choose to practice good white magick forthe benefit and the betterment of all involved. Worshipping the divinities is at the core oftheir religion, the god and goddess, all they be and all they survey. The god of wiccanbeliefs is the horned god, who embodies the male part of this duothiestic religion and thetriple goddess being the three stages of female life; maiden; mother and crone. Thehorned god is not a satanic god or associated with evil or satan in any form. It is a veryancient benign and powerful symbolic Godhead predating christianity from which satanwas borne.

Wiccan beliefs state that the universe is in a neutral state of energy. There are neithergood nor bad supernatural forces in nature but how these energies are channelleddetermines whether white or black magick is the end product.

Wiccan beliefs recommend adherence to the Wiccan Rede, which are rules and a code ofbehaviour containing the tenet "do no harm and no harm will come to you." These rulesare reinforced by the Threefold Lawalso known as the Law of Return, which advises itsmembers "whatever you shall send out will come back to you threefold" and encouragesgood conduct and witchcraft practice.

Wiccans are always very generous in their good deeds and extremely cautious of any

wrong doing.

Wiccan beliefs do not allow the sacrifice of any living beings or the practice of blackmagic as this specifically contravenes their rede and law of three. Wiccan beliefsencompass healing techniques and bringing help and assistance through the use of goodmagick spells to those in need. An experienced practicing witch will be very well focusedon her craft and have a high level of self discipline, strong beliefs and knowledge.

Ritual worship is observed on special ceremonial days. Religious and moral freedom isone aspect of this religion which enables them to be very open to others of differentfaiths.

WITCHCRAFT FOR BEGINNERS

Do you like magic? For sure, you must be fascinated in magic and witchcraft. No wonderHarry Potter is known everywhere. If you are captivated by this eccentric type ofentertainment, then you are more likely interested to learn witchcraft for beginners too.

Some religious people are judgmental to witches without knowing that most of thepracticing witches and those that are learning witchcraft for beginners are actually goodpeople and have no bad intentions for doing so.

But before starting to learn about witchcraft, it is very important that you have the innerstrengths that you can use to your advantage throughout the learning process. Meditationcan be of great help for you to be in touch with your inner self. Remember that if youdecide to practice witchcraft, you need to dedicate yourself to the craft and everythingabout it. It requires a serious commitment to enjoy fully the benefits of witchcraft.

To start your journey on becoming a witch, read books and online resources on witchcraftfor beginners and just about anything about witches and witchcraft to give you the basicinformation that you should know about this practice. The usual practices that you canlearn as beginners are casting magic spells, chanting mantras, astrology, healing andmeditation.

In spell casting, you can use a spell that was written by someone else but a spell that youpersonally created is more effective than those written by others. Writing a spell is not ashard as you think even if you are just a beginner. You just need to have a good intentionand belief that your spell will really work and it won't harm anyone including yourself.

And as part of learning witchcraft for beginners and spell-casting, you have to learn moreabout candle colors, oils, crystals, herbs, and incenses. You can use all the informationyou know about these things in making different spells.

It is also recommended for beginners in witchcraft to have your own book of shadows, ora record or diary of your favorite spells and rituals and all other information you learnedabout witchcraft. You can add and change the information you put into it as frequently asneeded.

Another thing that you should learn about witchcraft is the eight holidays that Wiccans or

witches celebrate, which are called sabbats. Witches celebrate death and rebirth in eachsabbat by performing full moon rituals to mark the life and death of the God and honorthe Goddess.

Witchcraft for beginners may seem to be difficult to master but you can start by learningthe simple forms of meditation and just practicing them more often to help you master it.It would be helpful as well if you pay attention to the seasons, the animals, the plants, andeverything that surrounds you. Even matching up your menstrual cycle with the differentphases of the moon will benefit you in practicing this craft. Learning about any form ofdivination like tarot, palmistry, astrology, or numerology is also useful and studying theseforms of ancient arts will help you learn more about yourself and in practicing witchcraftwell.

Just always keep in mind to use witchcraft for good and not to harm others.

HOW TO LEARN WITCHCRAFT

Since witchcraft is considered a religion of nature, the first step on how to learnwitchcraft is to learn the religion itself. This will help you understand the basic dogmaand beliefs of this religious practice.

What comes next is to examine the magic of witchcraft. When exploring the magic, youneed to understand fully the key principles of casting circles, invoking God andgoddesses, raising the energies, and finally closing the circle.

Everyone can actually become a traditional witch for as long as you have an interest infinding a nature-based spirituality, studying magic and magical techniques, and practicingmagical skills to achieve mastery.

To increase your focus and concentration, you have to perform some visualization andmeditation exercises. Other important things that you should know on how to learnwitchcraft include learning to gain strength from the sun, moon, stars, and the earth and tobe calm and quiet when hearing the voice of God/goddesses.

You can start your basic spell with you own moon ritual. You do not really have to followthe rituals you read on the books word for word. You can join a coven or practice on yourown home. But some experts suggest to take a year of study first before joining a covenso you would have a chance to observe a full cycle of sabbats. In practicing witchcraft,you should not forget that the ethical aspect of this practice is not to harm others.

In joining a coven, there is usually an initiation. It is a way of acknowledging you as partof the group. It only means that you have the intention to follow the chosen path, andusually, the rituals involved in this are secret.

If you want to know more on how to learn witchcraft, you should also learn about thebook of shadows. It can be any book or notebook where you keep all the information youlearned about witchcraft. It is where you put the answers to all the questions on thepractice of witchcraft, herbal information, magic spells and even the history of witchcraft.It has been said that the Book of Shadows has more power when written by hand. But

nowadays, some Wiccans or witches have a so-called "Disc of Shadows."

Another tip on how to learn witchcraft is to read all the available resources you can haveto know more about the practice. When it comes to rituals, you have to design on yourown to make it more meaningful for you. In a dedication ritual, you have to dedicateyourself to the craft and decide to live in closer harmony with the earth and nature. In thisritual, you make a commitment not just to yourself, but to the Divine as well.

Moreover, before working with magic and spells, be sure to understand first what arethey, where they come from and what are the ethics involved.

You can also gain more help and guidance about witchcraft from seasoned witches. Youcan actually get more information on many available web resources about the practice ofwitchcraft.

MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT, WICCA

Magic is the practice of influencing energy to achieve a goal or to make dreams cometrue. It can improve your life and help you to overcome obstacles in your life path.Tapping into universal energy to bring about changes that one desires. Everyone has theability within them but to work powerful magic, you need to be in tune with the laws ofnature and firmly believe that you will achieve your desired end.

Wicca comes from an old English word which simply means - wise. Practicing Wicca orwitchcraft (known as the old religion and has its roots in paganism) is termed the craft ofthe wise. The old religion was a way of life based on a love of and respect for nature -plants, animals, stars, moon and planets were thought to have a magical consciousness.People structured their lives around the cycles of the seasons and monthly phases of themoon, worshiped various forms of the Goddess, the great mother of the earth anduniverse.

Really witchcraft was primarily a healing tradition thousands of years ago. In the pastpeople who were herbalists, midwives, counselors, protectors, healers and guides for theircommunity were highly respected and sought out to help people. This pre-datedChristianity, but when Christianity began the church actively discouraged such practicesand witch hunts began from 1542 - 1684.

Witchcraft laws were revoked in 1951, it was then that a modern branch of witchcraftemerged, known as Wicca, drawing on old pagan sources. Dr Gerald Gardiner was thekey person in this movement, which became known as the Gardinerian tradition. Otherforms of Wicca soon started to emerge branching off from Gardner, one being AlexSanders who founded Alexandrian witchcraft. There are many forms of witchcraft butmost witches today practice eclectic witchcraft which is a style they have made their ownincluding concepts from a wide range of traditional witchcraft. There are, of course a setcode of rules and laws that a witch must abide by but as long as their intent is pure andfrom a place of love and trust whatever feels right for them is perfectly fine.

Witches have and have always had a very close personal relationship with nature. Theycelebrate seasonal changes, Moon phases, practice magic (which can include healing,

doing rituals, spells & practicing divination). Wiccan rituals are held within a sacredspace or circle. Witches believe in the Goddess and the Horned God, the male and femaleaspects of creation - nature. They honour these two primary deities of witchcraft.

Witches fall into two working categories, solitary and coven. Solitary witches work alone.Some come together in small groups to celebrate the sabots but they are mainly happy towork on their own. Most new witches to the craft start this way. A coven (derived fromthe word covene meaning meet or come together) is a group of witches who meet andwork together regularly. There are teaching covens as well as open and closed covens.

But all practicing witches abide by the same law known as the Wiccan Rede. Wicca is thetradition of respect and tolerance and working for the highest good of all.

Bide the wiccan law ye must,in perfect love and perfect trust,Eight words the wiccan rede fulfil;an it harm none, do what ye will.What ye send forth comes back to thee,so ever mind the law of three.Follow this with mind and heart.Merry ye meet and merry ye part.

INTRODUCTION TO WICCA, MAGIC AND SPELLS

Magic spells have fascinated us for thousands of years. People are intrigued and obsessedin how spells could work for and against a person's interest and desires. Magic spells arenot only performed to achieve personal gain, they are also practiced as part of a religiousbelief system such as Wicca.

Wicca is deeply rooted to ancient pagan beliefs which emerged hundreds of years ago.Gerald Gardner claimed that the practices and beliefs of Wicca were based from asecretive group that had accepted him as a member. Wiccan spells are often referred to as"magick" rather than the common "magic." This differentiates real magic from commonconjuring and illusion tricks practiced by stage performers in shows.

When Wicca was first developed, the government and public society at large was scaredby it and so persecuted witches and wizards, putting them to death. Even now althoughwitch-hunting no longer occurs it is common for Wicca followers to practice their arts insecret so as to avoid scrutiny or ridicule from unbelievers. All Wiccans agree that Satan-worship is not part of their practices.

Nature and its elements: earth, air, fire, and water, are loved and revered in Wicca.Wiccans consider themselves "at one" with nature. Harming nature would cause nature toharm them back, so all Wicca spells are white magic and are intended for good purposesonly.

All who practice magic spells do so in strict accordance with "The Wiccan Rede." Thisdeep rooted law of Wiccan magic states, "do what ye will, harm ye none." This simplymeans that magic spells can be used freely as long as no one gets hurt in the process. A

related commandment is "The Law of Three" which states that "harm will be returnedthree-fold", further encouragement to only use magic for good.

Magic is similar to Christian prayers. Spells are part of Wiccan rituals although not allWiccans cast spells. Spells can be both used to help or hurt and manipulate other people,but Wiccan followers are strictly prohibited from using spells that will harm other peoplein accordance with "The Rede."

Before a Wiccan performs any magic spell, incantation or ritual, they first reflect on theirintentions and the consequences and repercussions of the act. All its possible effects arethoroughly considered to make sure the spell is good and pure. Most spells are followedprecisely as they are written, although there are times when the spells can be modified tofit the witch or wizard's power, personality and situation.

Some people may show wonder, disbelief, or even fear of the powers that Wiccanspossess. But understanding the basic beliefs and principles of Wiccans shows us that whatthey do is not against the fundamental principles of all moral and wise teachings forhuman beings, which is to share life and embrace nature without harming others.

INITIATION INTO WICCA

What is Initiation?

Do not assume the title of a witch lightly.

Some traditions believe that you can not be a witch unless you have been initiated by ahigh priest/ess. This is a little impractical as there just aren't enough high priest/esses totrain and initiate newcomers. Wicca is growing at a tremendous rate again and is evenestablishing itself into new countries and cultures.

If you feel entitled to call yourself a witch, then do so, unless you would prefer to markthis transition in your life by a ceremony within a coven. Being initiated within a coven isusual after successfully completing study and demonstrating the understanding of Wicca.It will often take 1 year and 1 day before initiation.

Being a solitary practitioner, it is often difficult to know when you will be ready to callyourself a witch. The best way is to read and practice what you read. Read 10 seriousbooks about Wicca and/or mythology.

Some excellent books are:

The Wicca Handbook by Eileen Holland

The Wicca Handbook is a tutorial for new witches and an excellent reference book.Includes the first steps to becoming a witch, explores Wiccan traditions, rituals andceremonies and spell casting.

Wicca - A Guide For The Solitary Practioner by Scott Cunningham

One of the most widely recommended books for anybody walking these paths. It is a

positive introduction to Wicca and designed so that you can learn and practice alone.Other books by Scott Cunningham include Earth, Fire & Water, Earth Power, MagicalAromatherapy, Magical Herbalism and Living Wicca.

The Earth Path by Starhawk

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

America's favorite Witch shows how to tap into the forces of Mother Nature.

The Witches' Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar

Includes two books, Eight Sabbats for Witches and The Witches Way. Comprehensiveand revealing work on the principles, rituals and beliefs of modern witchcraft. Janet andStewart Farrar are well known and respected, currently residing in Ireland and regularlytour the US giving lectures and workshops.

Teach yourself and set a period of time and some tasks to do. Learn how to make incenseor candles or even wands. Anything that you feel you need to know. Study herbalism isgood practice. Always keep a diary and a notepad handy. When you feel you have learnedenough are comfortable in calling yourself a "witch", then do so. Look at yourself in themirror and tell yourself "I am a witch!"

Some witches are born witches. Hereditary witches are raised in the family traditions.

Some people have a natural ability for magic. Some have natural psychic gifts. If youhave always thought you were different to other people, maybe you should look at yourfamily history. Maybe you are a natural witch by descent. If you suspect you are, youprobably are.

ESSENTICAL WICCAN SUPPLIES

The Athame

The athame knife is a ritual dagger that is used by Wiccans and Neo Pagans in rituals andspells as an extension of their body and is considered a very sacred tool.

The athame in Wicca is traditionally a male principal, or a male symbol representing thereproductive organ of the Horned God who impregnated the Goddess Gia to give birth tothe Earth and nature.

The athame knife is traditionally either black handled or wooden handled, with the blademade of steel.

Wood is often used in an athame blade because of it's representation of Nature and theEarth. A tree was either sacrificed or already dead, and the wood was recycled into theathame so that it may be continued to give life and energies once again, almost like asymbolic rebirth.

The ChaliceIn Wicca a chalice, as a feminine principle, is often used in combination with the Athame

(ceremonial black-handled knife), as male principle. Combining the two evokes the act ofprocreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. This is a symbol of the Great Rite inWiccan rituals. A chalice is also used in the Small Rite.

A chalice is a symbol of the element of water, a feminine element representing intuition,gestation, psychic ability, and the subconscious. The Cup also stands in as a symbol of theGoddess, of the womb, and the female generative organs. The chalice is sometimesinterchangeable with the cauldron.

Wiccan Altar BellBells are like the Voice of the Goddess. When you ring one, it brings the Divine'sattention to you. And your attention to the Divine.

A bell with a lovely tone will call beautiful, healing energy to you. Bells can also be usedto clear energy. At the end of a ritual is a good time for this, but if unwanted energy cropsup during a ritual, you can use the bell to disperse it. The purpose is that the clear tone ofthe altar bell will drive away negativity and keep evil spirits at bay. There are claims thatevil spirits cannot tolerate the sounds of a clear high pitched bell.

Using an altar bell to call upon the goddess will ensure you are more protected duringyour rituals, spells, and ceremonies.

Altar ClothsIn certain Neopagan faiths, Wicca in particular, the altar cloth is placed on the altar wheremagical workings are performed. Many altars are patterned with pentagrams, thetraditional symbol for Wicca.

Altar cloths prevent damage, dirt, and grime to form on your altar. It is always best tokeep your altar clean to ensure you appease the various gods or goddesses you may becalling upon in you rituals. Keeping ones altar untidy can show disrespect to the gods andgoddess, so be sure to clean your altar cloth often. Many altar cloths can be put into thewash with your other clothing whenever it is time for you to do laundry.

Altar TilesThe altar tile is also called a pentacle is used on a Wiccan altar as a focal point for ritualwork. It is commonly made of metal, wood, or clay stoneware. The tile itself is usuallyinscribed with the pentagram (five-pointed star) and sometimes with other symbols. Thestar symbol represents the four elements of earth, air, fire, water and a fifth element ofspirit, as represented by the Goddess and God. The tile is positioned with the spirit tippointing up to signify that the spirit rules over the elements.

Wands

A wand is used to project and direct energy to a specific area, object, person,or even dimension. It can be used for tasks like stirring a cauldron if itsconstruction allows this. In some traditions, it is used in calling the God and theGoddess to join a ritual. Although traditional wands are made of wood, you can findwands today in a variety of materials.

The ancient Druids held woods sacred and tools from wood were considered to carry the

spirit of nature. It is not suggested that wood from a living tree be cut to make a wand. Apiece of fallen wood is much more appropriate as it can be considered a gift fromdivinity. There are few rules about the size of the wand.

Some Wiccans believe wands should be the length of a persons forearm and hand, but ingeneral wands commonly range from as little as 10 inches up to 3 feet in length. Somepeople like to hold a wand that is more massive because they feel more powerful.

It is equally acceptable to use a wand that is compact and lightweight. A wand can be asornamental or as plain as desired. Anything from a wand fabricated of sterling silver andencrusted with gems to a piece of tree branch still covered in bark is acceptable for use.Each will serve well if the person wielding the wand is comfortable with it. The only realconcern is that it feels comfortable.

The Wiccan BolineThe boline is a white handled knife, which clearly distinguishes it from the black handledathame. In many cases the blade has a distinct curved shape. It is a simple working knifeused in ritual or ritual preparation for tasks like cutting herbs from a garden, inscribingcandles, cutting cords, etc. It is to be used for cutting purposes only for the materials anditems you need for your rituals and spells.

The Wiccan Boline is commonly the size of an athame. There are larger bolines that aremade, but these are normally called Druid Bolines and are common within paganismrituals and ceremonial use. Even though a larger boline can be used in Wicca, it is usuallyeasier to use the smaller versions of the blade.

The Besom(Ritual Broom)

A besom (ritual broom) is used in Wicca for the preparation of magickalspace. The magickal significance of a besom is twofold. First, as a magickal tool directingenergy for cleaning, and second in the heritage of ancient Druidic regard for the woodsfrom which a traditional besom is made. In Wicca, the besom is used to clear thenegativity and residual energy from space being prepared as sacred. The sweeping ofritual space is not to clear debris in the physical environment.

The besom does not even have to touch the ground at all. The sweeping motion in the aircombined with visualization clears the negative energies lingering from the mundaneworld. The traditional besom has many legends associated with it. It is said to have beenused in fertility rituals where it was ridden hobbyhorse style through the crops.

It is also said to have been used in handfasting ceremonies promoting fertility in a newlywed couple. Besoms are commonly made using an ash staff, birch twigs and willowbinding. The ash wood serves to protect, the birch is for purifying and the willow issacred and holy to the Goddess.

Cauldrons

The cauldron, like the chalice and bell, is also symbolic of the Goddess. InWicca, when a cauldron is used it is often central to the ritual, usually linked with fertilityor transformation. Some of the lore of the cauldron is based on the legend of Kerridwen's

cauldron.

Kerridwen is a goddess from the Celtic pantheon. The story begins where Kerridwen borea son who was the ugliest and most rotten tempered man in the world. She wanted to fixthis by brewing a potion to transform him into the Maiden Moon wisest man in the world.To do so she brewed a potion for a year and a day (a period still recognized as significantin Wiccan practice).

At the end of that time, there were three highly concentrated drops left. Kerridwen hired aboy to stir the potion and a man to stoke the flames. On the very day that the potion wasready, the 3 drops splashed out onto the boy's fingers. The boy fled knowing thatKerridwen would be very angry.

Kerridwen took after him in pursuit. During the chase, both the boy and Kerridwenchanged into several animals. When Kerridwen finally caught up with the boy, she atehim and became pregnant. She had planned to kill the child but when he was born, he wasthe most beautify boy she had ever seen, so she kept him and he grew to be Taliesin theBard, one of the most inspired poets. As you can see, throughout the story, the concept ofmagickal transformation (the symbology of the cauldron) isprevalent from beginning to end.

Cauldrons are usually made of iron and stand on three legs with the opening ofthe vessel being smaller than the inside. You can find cauldrons in a wide rangeof sizes from the very small altar top varieties to gigantic pots big enough for headhuntersto cook a few explorers in.

Crystal BallsWhile many forms of divination tools have been used, the crystal ball has beenthe longest surviving. When used for divinatory purposes, the practitioner gazesinto the ball and pictures are perceived either inside the ball itself or in themind's eye of the crystal gazer.

When used in Wiccan ritual, the crystal is placed on the altar to represent the Goddess.Some Wiccans use the ball during the ritual for scrying but it can also be used to storeenergy raised from the ritual. The crystal ball is often at the center of full moon ritualswhere it represents the Goddess in Mother form. Of all the tools, the crystal ball is oftenconsidered as one of the hardest to charge magickally.

Many recommend that the crystal be exposed to moonlight to increase its charge aftercleansing in a saltwater bath. This is seen as aligning the crystal and filling it with energyfrom the Goddess.

It is usually best for crystal balls to be as close and as pure to crystal as possible. Findingpure crystal balls however is not only expensive, they are hard to find. If you can chargethe standard crystal balls that are commonly available as much as possible, especially inthe full moon over night, they will work just as well.

CREATING A BOOK OF SHADOWS

Creating a Wiccan Book of Shadows is not as hard as many think. There isn't any one

way to make a book of shadows. One of the few times that they may be similar is if acoven has one general Book of Shadows that they use for their entire coven's needs. Moreseasoned believers normally will have multiple Wiccan Book of Shadows, as they usuallywill create one for teaching others, while a second is for their personal use only. The whatis known as Teaching Book of Shadows is normally reserved for use by neophytes thatmay have an interest in joining a ritual.

Dedication Section:Include any information on your "Year in a Day", and the dedication date to the WiccanBeliefs. Have both a start, and end day on your Year in a Day, and when the date ofcreation for your personal Wiccan Book of Shadows was created.

General Information:Tools- Description of every tool used, and the purpose of use within a circle:Invocations- Usually will include for both the Wiccan Goddess, and God.Divination- This area will include Stone Divination, Tarot Cards, scrying using a crystalball, along with different methods of divination.Symbols- Include every major symbol, along with meanings. There are many variousdifferent symbols, most of them will rarley be used but should still be included incasethey are ever needed.Preferred Book List- This could include your favorite books, or the best books for novicesto read.Recipes- Most love this section as the area where they put in personally created recipes,or ones that might be used frequently. This will make it so you do not have to remembereach, and every recipe might be used.

Sabbats & Rituals To Include:Full Moon RitualNew Moon RitualInvocationsCasting a Circle-How ToPreparing to conduct a circleSamhain Ritual - October 31stYule Ritual (Winter Solstice)- December 21stImboc Ritual information on Imboc- February 2ndOstara Ritual- March 21stBeltain Ritual- May 1stLitha Ritua (Summer Solstice)- June 21stLammas Ritual- August 1stMabon Ritual- September 21stOther sections may will include within their Wiccan Book of Shadows includes but notlimited to:AstrologyHerbalismPoemsSongsDancesChants

PrayersSpells- Both personal, and coven usage.Magic Journal- This is one of the most important sections of your Wiccan Book ofShadows. You will include your personal experiences and thoughts during, Meditation,ritual work, circle work, dreams, and anything else you wish to notate into your journal. Itis just that a journal relating to your religious beliefs.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR ALTAR BY KESTRA

So, you've decided to embark upon a path, and you're trying to figure out what all isnecessary to set up your Wicca supplies. You would like an altar, but you aren't quite surehow to go about it. There are lots of "instant altar and tools" kits you can find on theInternet. We have a few ritual tool kits ourselves, but where to start? What to include?Where to put it? How to set it up? With all the possibilities, how do you go aboutchoosing what is right for you?

An altar can be as elaborate as a custom carved church style massive affair with ornateritual tools placed in specifically measured positions. An altar can be a stump of wood ina forest, a tv tray in your living room, or anything in between.

One of the first considerations for your altar space is likely whether it can be displayedopenly, If you feel that your practices would bring unwanted scrutiny on you, you mightdecide that discretion is the better part of valor, and find a small cabinet you can hideyour altar tools and ritual supplies in, and close.

Kestra's altar is placed in an armoire with doors that close. Not because she wishes tokeep things "secret," but more that she feels it is more respectful for the altar tools andritual supplies to be kept for the eyes of those who would appreciate them rather thangawkers wondering if the athame is used to murder small animals.

Other possibilities for an altar can be just a regular table with an altar cloth, a nightstand,a bookshelf, a tree stump, or just about any other surface you desire. It can be as large oras small as you are comfortable with, that will hold your Wicca supplies, and where youcan work with them appropriately.

Once you have chosen your altar, then you can decide which ritual tools you wish to placeon it. Of course, you CAN choose the ritual tools first, THEN find an altar that will fitthem all, but in either case, you can modify the advice to suit your particular situation.See, that's the fun part about being Eclectic....very few instances result in the accusationthat you "aren't doing it right."

First comes the altar cloth. I always choose a cloth that is pretty, functional, AND not toodifficult to get wax off of. You know you're going to be dripping wax from time to time.It's inevitable. That's why I personally don't buy very expensive altar cloths, since I knowI am a clumsy witch. The altar cloth is generally used to protect the altar, and is not"necessary" but can be meaningful (depending on its symbology) or merely functional.

One of the things I always put on my altar is a statue of the Matron Goddess I am workingwith at the time, and, depending on the ritual I am about to perform, I may include my

patron God. Well, what if you don't HAVE a Matron or a Patron yet? That's perfectlyfine. You may always choose to exclude a statue, or to instead include a generic statue ofthe Spiral Goddess and/or the Spiral God. I place my statues in the top center of the altar,just because I like them there.

Next comes the candles. My personal taste is three candles, one white, one red, and oneblack signifying the Goddess in her maiden, mother and crone phases respectively. TheseI put in the top center right in front of the statues, making sure they are far enough awayfrom the statues not to drip wax on them or to set them on fire. There's nothing moreannoying during ritual than having things catch fire when you do not intend them to :-)

My cast iron cauldron with a chunk of charcoal in it goes in the center of the right handside of my altar. I prefer cast iron cauldrons and charcoal to stick or cone incense, butyour milage may vary and you can use what suits you best, of course. If you'd like to learnmore about the different kinds of cauldrons and how to use them, read About Cauldrons.You can also place it anywhere you like, as I am merely using my set up as an example.For more advice on incense, you can check out our article entitled Wiccan Ritual Incense

So we have our Fire (candles) and our Air (incense). Where's our Earth? For Earth, I usean offering bowl . And in said offering bowl, I place some sea salt . So why would seasalt signify Earth instead of Water? Well, to me it's a little of both. Salt comes from theearth and mixes with the water of the sea. You can, of course, put dirt in there, oranything else that signifies Earth to you. I put the Earth to the center left side of my altar.

And then, the either totally elaborate, utterly plain, or maybe even paper cup chalice .Anything that can hold water can be your chalice if it has that meaning for you. As wehave said, the chalice holds the element of Water that you can use for your ritual.Whether you add salt to it to purify it or not is up to the type of ritual you are doing andyour personal preference. I put the chalice in the center center part of the altar, in front ofthe candles and the statues.

That just leaves the athame and/or the wand. I like to use both, the athame to cast thecircle, "cutting" out a sacred space beyond time, and the wand to direct power. (If youwould like to read more about how to choose the appropriate wood for a wand, check ourarticle on magickal woods). I generally carry my athame on my degree cord around mywaist, OR in the center of the altar to the front, in front of the chalice. I put the wand nextto it.

So, that, in a nutshell, is the Kestra altar set up. If you feel that your correspondences (i.e.must put Earth in the East, etc.) do not agree depending on the position of your altar,that's all right. The important thing is that you understand WHY you are placing thingswhere you are placing them, not that you copy someone else exactly. If it doesn't havespecific meaning to you, the ritual itself will not be as meaningful or powerful.

BASIC PRACTICES AND BELIEFS IN WICCA

Wicca is a nature and magic based religion that is taken from the Pagan practices ofancient times. Wicca mimics other world religions with its own rituals, seasonal"holidays" and belief system. The beliefs of the religion can vary by region, since there is

no orthodox method of practice or central organization. There are, however, publishedteachings and works that most Wiccans adhere to.

The majority of Wiccans worship a God and Goddess who are considered to be equal,complimentary beings, and often are represented by the sun and moon. There is a trinityconcept in this religion, with the Triple Goddess having aspects of the "Mother", "Crone"and "Maiden". Many members of Wicca concede that the Goddess had to predate hercompanion since she is the giver of life.

It is believed that both the God and Goddess are able to take form in the body of theWiccan coven's Priests or Priestesses during ritual. Though they believe in deities, theconcept of an afterlife doesn't hold strong in the Wicca community. Reincarnation is afavored belief and traditional teaching.

Possibly the most adhered to text in Wicca is the Wiccan Rede, which states "and it harmnone, do what ye will". This is interpreted as meaning that as long as a person's actions dono harm to anyone else; they can consider themselves free to pursue them. There is alsothe concept of the Law of Threes (also known as the Law of Threefold Return) that sayswhatever positive or negative actions a person puts out into the world will returnthreefold.

The magic rituals of Wicca are performed within a coven or group of practitioners. Therituals are usually begun by casting a circle by invoking "guardians" of the elements andassociated cardinal points: North (earth), West (water), South (fire) and East (air). Thefour elements are thought to represent every action and being on earth. The five points ofthe pentagram worn by those practicing Wicca stand for the elements and the presidingspirit.

After the circle is cast, prayers are made to the God and Goddess and spells may be cast.If it is at the time of a seasonal holiday, a special ritual may be performed. Tools a covenmay have on hand for the ceremony include a book of spells (Book of Shadows), an altarcloth, cauldron, chalice, wand, broom, candles, crystals, athame (ritual knife) and incense.When the ceremony is finished, the God and Goddess are thanked for their participationand blessings and the coven closes the circle.

The Book of Shadows mentioned above is sort of a personalized religious text for either asingle practitioner or- more commonly- a coven. The contents are kept secret but oftencontain such public domain works as the Wiccan Rede. What type of book is actuallyused varies between Wicca practitioners.

There are many "holidays" or seasonal observances in Wicca. Full moons (and sometimesnew moons) bring about the ritual Esbat. There are also eight Sabbats- four of which, thecross-quarter days, are larger than the others and relate back to ancient fire festivals.These are named Samhain, Beltane, Lammas and Imbolc. The other, lesser celebratedfestivals are the Summer and Winter solstices and Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.

CASTING A WICCAN CIRCLE

In Wicca and Witchcraft, there is a practice referred to as "circle casting" that is largely

unheard of outside of The Craft. It is one of the very first things taught to those who arenew to Witchcraft, and is a practice that is often ingrained in the minds of those who havepracticed for a long while. So, what is circle casting? This article will address thisquestion, as well as the reasons witches do it and some of the different practices used.

Walking the CircleWhether it is referred to as "walking the circle," "casting the circle" or "preparing theritual space," it is all basically the same. The use of a ritual circle is twofold: It sanctifiesthe space that you are about to use for religious and magickal purposes, and it also offersyou a barrier of protection from any distracting or harmful influences from outside of thecircle. For a witch, the circle represents a place that is "between the worlds." It helps thewitch enter into a state of mind that enables them to interact with Deity, and to directpsychic, or magickal, energy.

Casting a magickal circle for a modern witch is not an overly involved process. To do it,the witch holds their athame or wand in their dominant hand, and while pointing this toolat the ground, they walk the perimeter of the area they intend to utilize for ritual purpose.While doing so, they will visualize energy of some type coming from their tool ordominant hand and creating a barrier around the perimeter of the ritual area. A commonvisualization of this energy is that of blue flame. Once they have completed a circuitaround their space, the witch will often recite a phrase such as:

"I consecrate this circle in the names of the Goddess and the God. The circle isconjured, and we stand between the worlds. The circle is sealed. So mote it be!"

There are many variables that can come into play during this process, yet they are allbasically a means of creating a space that is intended for ritual.

Triple Circle CastingWhile the above method of casting a circle will suffice for any witches who choose to useit, there is one means of casting circle that is much older. Triple circle casting is a meansof purifying and designating a ritual space that is a little more elaborate, and is good forthose who prefer more ritualistic actions in their ceremony.

When using this method, the witch will navigate around the ritual space three times. Eachtime, they will recite a different incantation, and may carry a purifying substance such asincense or holy water with them.

With the first pass, they may recite;

"In this place, this circle roundI consecrate the sacred groundWith golden light this place surroundAll power here contained and bound"

On the second pass;

"From Earth, the things that manifestFrom Air, the things of mindsFrom Fire, the things that motivate

From Water, the souls refined"

On the third and final pass;

"And yet no place or time there beBetween the worlds, my word and meWelcome, Ancient Ones, and seeThis place is sealed, So Mote It Be!!"

To compare the two methods, neither one is necessarily better than the other. They bothcreate a protected and effective ritual environment. However, it is the belief and strengthof visualization of the individual witch that determines how well the circle works. Aswith things, the strength of the circle will improve with practice and repetition.

Scientific minds out there always want proof of the effectiveness of such things. It hasbeen found through dowsing that these types of ritual preparations actually have an effecton the surround environment. With the use of dowsing rods or pendulums, it is possibleto actually determine where the actual barrier of the circle lies.

Every religion has its own days of power, reverence and celebration. Wicca is no differentin this regard. The holidays that Wiccans celebrate are referred to as Sabbats, or the EightHigh Holy days. They occur approximately every six weeks, and denote the changing ofthe seasons. The sun, as a representation of the God, is revered during a sabbat, and theceremony for a particular holiday is often performed at high noon. The other type of holyday that is more familiar to most people is the Esbat. The Esbat is a monthly occurrencethat generally coincides with the moon being full. It is the night when witches gather toperform ritual and magickal workings for the coming month.

This article will detail all of these holy days and hopefully shed a little light on whatwitches do throughout the year to honor their Deities.

The EsbatAs stated above, the Esbat is a ceremony that coincides with the cycles of the moon.Generally, the day that it is done occurs when the moon is full, though this is notnecessary. The full moon is significant because witches firmly believe that the power ofmagickal workings wax and wane with the phases of the moon. When the moon iswaxing, or becoming fuller, it is good to perform rites that are drawing things to you orincreasing positive influences in general. When the moon is waning, or diminishing, it isgood for banishing influences that are no longer wanted, or getting rid of negativity. Yetwhen the moon is full, the magickal workings are at their peak, and it is good for nearlyany rite that a witch may wish to perform. The new moon, or dark moon, occurs when themoon is not visible at all. During this time, the rites that are performed are either forextreme protection rites or negative magicks.

On whatever day the esbat is performed, it is done in the evening or at night. The reasonbehind this is that these rites are meant to be working with the Goddess, who representedby the moon.

The actual process of performing the esbat can be summed up very concisely. The witch

or coven will gather at a designated ritual space. There, they will cast a circle, andperform rites that will raise their magickal and psychic power, and then direct that powerat their desired goal. Since there are so many variables as to what a witch or group ofwitches may wish to direct their energy, it is difficult to offer up an example of what theserites may entail.

However, one of the things that is a common theme among esbats is that it is a time forconnecting and communing with Deity. This is often done by the reciting of The WiccanRede and The Charge of the Goddess while in circle. Afterwards, time may be spent ineither meditation or performing acts of divination with tarot cards, runes or other means.This is followed by a communion of cakes and wine, where the gathered witches willcelebrate their coming together and catch up on the previous month and make plans forthe coming one. Then the ritual circle is opened, the leftover cakes and wine are offeredup to Nature, and the witches will go their separate ways.

The Eight High Holy DaysThere are eight major holidays that Wiccans celebrate:- Samhain (pronounce saw-vin or sow-en)- Yule- Candlemas- Ostara- Beltane- Midsummer- Lammas- and Mabon

Each of the Holy Days represents a different turning of the seasons, and a different phaseof life. The common representation of these phases is the God, though many practitionersincorporate an aspect of the Goddess in some fashion as well. They are primarily Sunfestivals, and, unlike esbats, the rituals are often performed when the sun is at its highestin the sky.

Sabbats are usually large gatherings where entire families will come together andcelebrate with food and drink in addition to the religious rites.

SamhainSamhain is probably the most recognizable of all of the Wiccan Sabbats. It falls onOctober 31st and signifies the ending of one cycle of the year. While many view it as thebeginning of the next yearly cycle, that does not actually occur until Yule in December.

The main symbolism behind this holiday is death and honoring loved ones that havepassed on. It is commonly thought that on this night, the veil between the worlds is at itsthinnest, and witches take advantage of this opportunity to communicate with their familyand friends who have passed on.

Samhain is also the last harvest festival of the year, and the last opportunity for the covenand their families to come together to share their resources before digging in for thewinter. The period of time between Samhain and Yule is spent contemplating plans for

the coming year and remembering the year that has passed.

YuleYule is generally thought to coincide with the Christian holiday of Christmas. This is notprecisely so. Yule actually falls on the day of the winter solstice, which generally falls onor around December 21st.

The significance of this holiday is that of rebirth. This is the day where the days begin togrow longer, and the sun is making a comeback. The general representation of this is ofHolly King, a Dark God, passing and being replaced by the Oak King, or Sun God.Though the sabbat that signifies the beginning of the year may vary from tradition totradition, this is the one that is most popular in signifying the beginning of the year.

All of the sabbats represent a phase of life, and Yule falls into the fertility category. Thisis a time of conception, where the beginnings of life begin to stir. When covens andfamilies come together on this holiday, plans begin to be made for the coming year, aswell as preparations for the coming spring.

CandlemasCandlemas is also known by the name of Imbolc. It is well and truly the first fertilityfestival of springtime. The specific date that this day falls on varies from tradition totradition, but it can be anywhere from January 31st to February 2nd. At this time, we arebeginning to see the very first signs of spring, and the renewal of life.

The festivities for Candlemas all center on clearing out the old and making way for thenew. The Maiden aspect of the Goddess is honored at this time, as are any Gods andGoddesses that relate to love and fertility. This holiday is considered an especiallyauspicious time for a new marriage or relationship.

One of the traditional symbols of Candlemas is the plough. They are often decorated andincorporated into the festivities. Another tradition for the holiday is to create a besom, asimple broom constructed of twigs or straw, and use it to ritually cleanse the home. It isthen placed near the front, symbolizing sweeping out the old and welcoming the new.

OstaraAlso called Eostar, this High Holy Day falls on the spring equinox, on or near March21st. This is the second of the three fertility festivals. Springtime is coming on full forceat this time, and planting for the year's crops is well underway. New spring growth can beseen everywhere, and the Gods are petitioned for luck with the crops and the home.

Two of the traditional symbols for this holiday are the egg and the rabbit. The egg is anemblem of new life and new growth, and it is incorporated into many ritual workings andfestivities at this time. The rabbit, known for its prolific mating habits, is also a symbol ofgrowth and abundance. Both also symbolize change. The Christian faith has fully adoptedboth of these symbols into their celebrations that occur at near the same time.

BeltaneAlso know as May Day, this Holy Day falls on May first. It is the last of the fertilityfestivals for the year, and with it comes unabashed sexuality for many traditions. The May

Pole is one symbol of this holiday that is found throughout many traditions. It is a tallpole set in the ground, symbolizing the Sun God uniting with Earth. It is decorated withlong ribbons and fresh flowers, and, of course, maidens traditionally dance around thepole.

One of the traditional May Day activities for this holiday is to secretly leave baskets offlowers and goodies at the doors of your neighbors.

Generally, this is a holiday that celebrates and revels in the return of the sun.

MidsummerThis Holy Day celebrates the God, represented by the sun in all of his glory. It iscelebrated on the summer solstice, when the longest day of the year takes place.Midsummer is neither a fertility festival nor a harvest festival. In this way, it is similar toYule. On this day, rites often center on protection for the home and family for the comingyear, rites of divination, and celebrating the abundance of The Oak King in his prime oflife.

For those who work with faerie energy in their rites, Midsummer is an ideal time tocommune with them. It is a common tradition for witches to go out in the twilight andlook for faerie folk in stands of oak, ash and thorn trees.

LammasAnother name for this holiday is Lughnassadh. It occurs on August 1st, and it is the firstof the three harvest sabbats celebrated by witches. Attention turns now to harvest thecrops and gardens, and preparations begin for the coming winter. The days are beginningto grow shorter, and the Sun God begins to lose his strength as the days grow shorter.

As this is the time of year when we first begin to reap the bounties of harvest, it is often aholiday accompanied with feasting and celebration. Decorations and dollies are oftenmade from dried ears of corn, and used in rites and to decorate the home.

MabonMabon is the primary harvest festival, counterpoint to Ostara, and it occurs on theAutumnal Equinox. On this day, witches pay homage to retreating daylight, and preparefor the coming winter. This holiday symbolizes the God in old age and readying for hisimpending death and rebirth.

Though this holiday is a little more somber than the rest of them, it is also one whereWiccans are sure to give thanks for what they have received throughout the past year. It isa popular time of year for witches and pagans to give back to their communities, andgenerally share their bountiful harvests.

There are four quarters in circle casting for rituals. Ceremonial magic often uses the useof the four directions of the circles when casting magic. For centuries spell casters havedrawn upon the directions to help them to connect with the energy they are calling upon.The "Quarters" are honored by Pagans and Witches and often referred to as the elementsof nature as they represent Fire, Earth, Air and Water. You will also hear the "Quarters"referred to as the Watchtowers, elements, corners, quarters, etc.

Calling the Quarters:

Prior to calling the quarter you must know what your intentions are. 1- who are youcalling upon (inviting) and 2. What is the purpose of the calling, to aid? To join in? Toprotect?

When calling the quarters, you want to be certain that the reflection of your wording isproperly reflected.

You will then perform a chant, such as:

O spirits of the East-Air, South-Fire, West-Water or North-Earth (the direction of thequarter)Ancient one of Air, Fire, Water or Earth (the element)I call upon you to join this circleEnhance this with your powersHail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East-Air, South-Fire, West-Water or North-Earth (the direction of the quarter)Powers of Air, Fire, Water or EarthI invoke you and call upon youCome, be here now.

To the (direction- Fire, Air, Earth or Water) I ask for the element of (name) and (name ofdeity, totem or archangel) to be with me, to guide and to guard and to be witness to thismagic.

There are many elements in magic. Some practitioners strictly work with elementalenergy not relying upon the calling the angels. The elemental energies are visualized suchas for Air you might visualize the clear blue sky and so on. Some work with the sourcedirectly.

Quarter calls are used in spell casting to draw upon the energy and to create a circle ofprotection. The four quarters, Earth, Fire, Water and Air draws upon the four elementswhich are the powers of the universe.

Magic is a powerful energy and must be used wisely. There are both white and backmagic each being two very powerful forms of magic. While black magic is malicious,white magic is pure and strictly for the intent of good.

WHAT IS THE MAGIC RITUAL IN WITCHCRAFT?

In nearly all witchcraft traditions, the ritual is a type of ceremony or practice that isdesigned to invoke a magical God or Goddess. The ritual itself, creates a link between thephysical and spiritual worlds, calling on and harnessing the power of natural and spiritualenergies.

Therefore, in our magical work, the ritual is used as a way of connecting with the spiritualworld - to celebrate, ask for guidance, make requests or to simply give thanks. It isimportant to keep in mind, that the ritual always follows a recognized sequence of steps

each time (hence the term 'ritualistic'). It is vital that in parallel with following the stepsof the ritual, you make a real conscious effort to engage your mind, body and soul;without which, you will simply be 'going through the motions' of ritual and not truly'connecting'. This 'engagement' comes quite quickly, with a little practice and confidence.You'll be surprised how soon you can feel yourself connecting to the elements of natureand spirit entities.

In natural magic, the ritual is most often used to celebrate one of the main eight festivals(or sabbat's) of the year; such as 'Mabon' celebrating the second harvest, or 'Yule'celebrating the winter solstice. The main festival on the witchcraft calendar is Samhain(pronounced Sel-wain), which takes place at Halloween (31st October) and is generallyknown as the witches new year.

The magic ritual is not always linked to one of the main sabbats. Rituals are also done atother key times outside of the main festivals, particularly during a full moon, where thestrong lunar energy is harnessed to conduct the full moon ritual.

During such rituals, the main purposes is to focus your intent and energy on yourobjective. Therefore, for any ritual, you must clearly and precisely state the objective,whether working alone or within a group. Within a group ritual, everyone must be equallyclear and agree to the purpose of the ritual. It is worth mentioning at this point, that atfirst, many people can feel self conscious or embarrassed, particularly when working in agroup setting. Don't worry about this - it is quite normal - just persevere with it and in notime at all, you will feel much more confident and at ease working rituals and begin toreap the rewards of natural magic.

In natural magic, rituals are often designed to make you think about what it is in your lifethat is holding you back as a person - it could be a job, another person, or simply having alack of confidence in yourself. By releasing these issues that are holding you back throughthe ritual, you are creating space for newer and more positive aspects to come into yourlife. But it is well worth remembering, that what you release through this process may notjust disappear overnight; very often a situation that is dis-empowering us, is just anindicator of a situation that has a root cause further back in our life.

Rituals are used to create a time and space where you can switch off from the everydayand become connected to the bigger universal picture. Once connected to theses energies,you are then able to develop a greater understanding of them. They also help you todevelop a greater understanding of yourself and to bring change not only in a physicalway. i.e. more money - better job etc., but perhaps more importantly, to bring change toyour spiritual/inner self.

Natural Magic as a modern approach to witchcraft teaches our students how to access andharness these incredible natural energies that our ancestors did and teaches them, throughpractical easy lessons - how they too can harness these energies - empowering them toexperience a completely new, enlightening and liberating dimension to their life and howthey want to live it. Natural Magic has enabled them to tap into and release the previouslydormant but incredible magic spirit that resides in all of us.

Could Natural Magic be what you've been looking for?

Wiccan Invocations, Chants and Prayers

An Invocation is the calling of a God or Goddess. Wiccan witches work with the Godsand Goddesses for their universal energies to provide balance in the magical rituals. Thebalance is important with male and female, yin and yang, two energy sources to provideharmony and the correct direction of the channeled energy. Invocations can be as simpleor as complex as you desire. Gods and Goddesses can be invoked with herbs, numbers,colours even images, and at certain times of year corresponding to the lunar or solarcycle.

Invocation of the Elements

Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Elements of Astral birth, I call you now, attend to me.

In the circle rightly cast, Safe from psychic curse or blast, I call you now, attend to me.

From cave and desert, sea and hill, By wand, blade, cup and pentacle, I call you now,attend to me.

This is my will, so mote it be!

These prayers below can be utilized to invoke the Goddess and God during ritualfollowing the casting of the circle. You can change the words as you see fit. These arerelated to one specific deity but "All the Gods are one God; and all the Goddesses are oneGoddess, and there is one initiator." You could also use the chants to raise energy levels.

Invocation to the Goddess

Crescent One of the starry skies, Flowered One of the fertile plain,

Flowing One of the ocean's sighs, Blessed One of the gentle rain.

Hear my chant 'midst the standing stones, Open me to your mystic light.

Waken me to your silver tones, Be with me in my sacred rite!

Invocation to Pan

O Great God Pan, Beast and man, Shepherd of goats and Lord of the Land,

I call you to attend my rites, On this most magical of nights.

God of the wine, God of the vine, God of the fields and god of the kine,

Attend my circle with your love, And send Your blessings from above.

Help me to heal, Help me to feel, Help me to bring forth love and weal.

Pan of the forests, Pan of the glade, Be with me as my magic is made!

Isis Invocation

Isis of the Moon, You who are all that ever was,

All that is, And all that shall be.

Come veiled Queen of Night, Come as the scent of the sacred lotus,

Charging my circle, With love and magic.

Do descend upon my circle, I pray, O Blessed Isis!

Prayer to the Horned God

Horned One of the wilderness, Winged One of the shining skies,

Rayed One of the splen'drous Sun, Fallen One of the Samhain cries.

I call amidst the standing stones, Praying that you, O ancient One,

Will design to bless my mystic rites, O fiery Lord of the Blazing Sun!

New Moon Chant to Diana

Waxing, waxing, growing, growing, Diana's power is flowing, flowing. (Repeat)

Call to the God

Ancient God of the forest deeps, Master of beast and Sun,

Here where the world is hushed and sleeps, Now that the day is done.

I call You in the ancient way, Here in my circle round,

Asking that You will hear me pray, And send Your Sun force down.

Invocation to the Goddess

Gracious Goddess, You who are the Queen of the Gods,

the lamp of night, the creator of all that is wild and free,

Mother of woman and man, Lover of the Horned God and protectress of all the Wicca,

Descend I pray, With Your Lunar ray of power, upon my circle here!

Invocation to the God

Blazing God, You Who are the King of the Gods,

Lord of the Sun, Master of all that is wild and free,

Father of woman and man, Lover of the Moon Goddess and protector of all the Wicca,

Descend I pray, With Your Solar ray of power, upon my circle here!

Goddess Chant

Luna, Luna, Luna, Diana, Luna, Luna, Luna, Diana

Bless me, bless me, bless me, Diana, Luna, Luna, Luna, Diana. (Repeat)

Evening Chant to the God

Hail fair Sun, Ruler of day, Rise on the morn,To light my way.

(Said while watching the sunset)

Evening Chant to the Goddess

Hail fair Moon, Ruler of night, Guard me and mine,Until the light.

(Said while Moon gazing)

Goddess Chant

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, Ooooooooooooooooooh, Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu,

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

The vowels of the English Language. Pronounce A=Ah, O=O, U=Oo, E=E, I=eye. Thisrouses the psychic mind and produces Goddess awareness.

Thanks to Scott Cunningham for his Invocations, Prayers and Chants.