Archive for Tools of the craft

The magic of colour

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Amazingly colour has always fascinated me, not only in magical purposes, but also in design, psychology and science. So what is colour? Well in the most scientific answer I can give, colour is the by-product of the spectrum of light, and is reflected or absorbed and is received by the human eye and processed by the brain. The colour spectrum itself consists of visible light, which can be seen by the human eye and light frequencies that are out of the range of human vision this spectrum, ranging from infrared through to ultraviolet and consisting of seven other base colours which are red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet, these seven colours are seeing rainbows, the colours of the seven chakras and contain the three primary colours, from which all colours are made. There are also non-colours. These are the sense and presence of colour, whites being the presence of colour and is created when the three primary colours are equal balance and we have black. The absence of colour. This is no colour or light waves are reflected or absorbed. Within Magic‘s and psychology and science. It is widely accepted that colour has an energy that can affect moods or environments, and we often attributed correspondences to these colours. When colours are used in magic. We attempt to harness the energies that correspond to our needs. We assign colour correspondences to candles symbols closed deities planets Zodiac signs. Days of the week we know from scientific tests that colours give us energy in the

Basic Set of Tables of Correspondence

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When it comes to Magicks and Witch Craft a good set of Correspondences are important, but like all things in magick personal input will help you create a set of correspondence that are personal to you improving your magickal skills. Below is a set of basic correspondences the days of the week, the planets and astrological influences i have also included the planetary hours which can be a little confusing but the easiest way to understand it is the number in the hour column relates to the hour after sunrise in day planet hours and the hour after sunset in night planet hours. Her is an example if you want the hour of mars on a monday and sunrise is 6.45 you can see that mars is in the 4th hour so add 4 hours to sunrise time for the start of the hour of mars (the hour would start at 10.45am) you do the same with night hours using sunset as your starting time. I have also included a table for spell craft correspondences no the tables below are nowhere nearly close to the number of different tables of correspondences but they are a starting point Table of Planetary Powers Table of Planetary Attributes Table of Planetary Daylight Hours Table of Planetary Night Hours Table Of Correspondences for Spellwork   Table of Planetary Powers Sun Power, riches, glory, success, honour Moon Maternal love, nurturing, female mysteries, travel Mars Courage, war, fighting, power, beating of enemies, men’s mysteries Mercury Healing, intelligence, divination, business Jupiter Money,

Finding Your Magickal Name

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Many Neo-Pagans and Wiccan adopt at least one new name as a sign of the new person that they have become and as a sign of their belief. A neo pagan and Wiccan will normally have at least 3 names their birth or legal name, the public pagan name that is a name used at public meetings and the final name is the private name a name only known to members of the coven or group that they belong to. The public working name is a name that a person chooses for himself or herself which can just be made up or contains the names of animals or crystals or magickal symbols or runes. The private name is normally given by the high priestess to a new member this name will contain information that that person must seek out, you are called that name for a reason sometimes to bring humility and understanding other times to inspire greatness. During the first few years a neo pagan may change the public name till they find a name that truly fits. I choose my public name “Draco of the Dragonstar” as I have a very close affinity to dragons and their magicks and I wanted to honour the great dragon who has been my guide for many decades now. Although I do shorten it to draco in letters and emails many people think that my name comes from Harry Potter. My Private name was given to me and I was a little disappointed that it was not something

Divining with colour

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This is an effective colour divination technique. You will need 12 objects of different colour such as felt tips, ribbon or cord, bits of wool or buttons you can use crystals but I suggest that you avoid them as they may effect your reading. You will also need a bag to hold the objects. With out looking remove an object repeat this 2 more time so you have a total of 3 colours. The first object relates to subject of the reading, the second relates to resistance internally or externally which is the cause of subject or what prevents you breaking out of it, and the final object relates to approach you need to escape the situation. Use the table below for colours to use and meanings :- Colours and Meanings Colour Subject Resistance Escape route White You or someone close is feeling restless and wants change   in their life Fear of upsetting the status quo or making those close to   you / them feel insecure Make the changes slowly the changes need to be made! Black Many things have been left unresolved Your own fears are holding you in this position Counteract all negativity with positive actions. Grey You feel indecisive or irresolute stuck in limbo and   hesitant about moving on Your indecisiveness is holding you back   Accept the situation has it is and adjust your plans so   get what you desire Red Your feelings of anger or resentment are related to an   issues of survival There is

Wedding, Hand Fasting & Ceremony Tiara

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It is common for Tiara’s and headdress’s to be worn by women at special time in their life. Through out history and through out the world both men and women have adorned themselves with decoration to honour special times. The tiara which comes from the Latin: tiara, Ancient Greek: ?????, Old Persian tiy?r? was a high crown used by the Cialis Online kings and emperors of some ancient peoples in Mesopotamia it was a often in the shape of a tube narrowed at its apex and made of fabric or leather, which was often highly decorated. The Assyrians would include of bullhorns as a symbol of authority and a circle of short feathers surrounding the tiara‘s top as decoration. The Persian tiara was more similar to a condensed cone conic-shaped at the tip, which where highly jewelled. In the catholic faith the pope wears the Papal tiara a triple crown supposedly of Byzantine and Persian origin which is in three-tiered and highly jewelled. In modern time the tiara as be come a circular or semi circular band often made from metal and jewelled and is worn in high society at special occasions. It is also common for contest winner to be present with a tiara in such events as beauty pageants. The tiara is often used in weddings and handfasting’s as part of the wedding gown to identify the importance of the bride in the ceremony a simple reminder that the bride is the queen for that day. The tiara has a strong link for

Tools of the craft

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Many neo pagan paths will use tools as part of their ritual work. Pagan ritual tools can be bought or made, although the majority of pagan tools will require a high degree of skill to construct. Although no witch or pagan needs tools to perform magicks, cast spells or for ritual work it is nice to have them. But what should you buy and for what reason, below is a list of pagan and craft tools, I have separated the tools in to primary, secondary and tertiary craft tools Primary tools of the craft These tools are use in a majority of neo pagan paths and are common tools of the craft. The Athame The Athame (pronounced ah-thah-may) is a double-sided dagger with either a straight or flame shaped blade with a black handle. The blade is blunt so it does not accidentally cut someone, if Athame blade comes in contact with blood would render it useless and polluted. The Athame is never used to cut only to direct energy and is used in casting a circle. The Athame is associated with the East and Air or South and Fire depending on which pagan path you follow. The Athame is also associated with the Male deity due to it phallic shape and is often used in conjunction with the Chalice and cauldron to symbolise the union of the god and goddess. Besom Or Bossume The traditional witches broom use to sweep away negativity and is used in Handfasting ceremonies witches are often depicted flying on

Poppets

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I have always loved poppets! I’m sure that my first experience of a poppet was from voodoo dolls! The idea of using an effigy for cursing or healing is using a form of sympathetic magick. Now I am sure that poppets feel out of favour due to the Voodoo doll but poppets have been around for centuries. The word poppet comes from the Middle English popet, meaning a small child or doll. A word still used today as a term of endearment. The poppet has many uses as they act as a physical representation of a absent person they become linked to the person by visualising and naming but the link can be made stronger by adding something from the person, hair (pubic, chest or armpit hair is better than head hair), nail clippings, fluids (tears, sweat, semen, urine, saliva or blood). Personal items from the subject should be given freely for good magicks or stolen for hexing and cursing. Since poppets are neutral tools they can be used for positives as well as negatives but remember the rule of three. Now poppets can be made from a number of substances carved root, grain or corn shafts, a fruit, paper, wax, a potato, clay, branches, or cloth stuffed with herbs although my favourite is cloth as they are easy to make and the amount of effort in creating them seem to be about just right for most spells. For simple spells then drawn on paper works and for complex healing and cursing wax or carving

How to Remove a Spell

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Sometime we cast spell which if done well will do their job sometime more quickly than we expected or the spell continues much longer than needed. Normally I would cast a spell with an end date where possible. But there are times when you have to physically break the spell. It is important for you to create your own way of doing it but you can use a standard version below are 3 common spell braking spells. To undo a Spell Items: One bead from a necklace – A small patch of black cloth – String Time: Any night after midnight, facing east. Best on waning moon. Ritual: Place the pearl/bead in the black cloth – add your angelica herbs – tie up tightly in the string until you have wrapped the pearl/bead entirely in the cloth. Dribble a bit of wax from the candles on your final knot you tie. Say the following: “I cast a spell asking, I now ask the favour of having the spell removed. I understand to take back a spell means giving up something of my own to show my spirit is true and my intentions are good, I give this pearl/bead from a necklace I own. I transfer the spell into the bead and render the spell dormant. No harm may come from the cancellation of this spell. No further power shall it have. This is my will -so be it.” Then throw the small package away far from your home. Spell 1 Items: 3 cloves of garlic

The school of eclectic witchcraft

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Lessons 13 for Cyber cauldron Since I am planning on turning the cyber cauldron into a school at the next new moon let have a look at the basic syllabus. Over the next few days / weeks I will be drawing together all the resources. This course will last for thirteen moons and each moon will cover an aspect of eclectic witchcraft. Lessons 1. History of witchcraft the history of witchcraft for cave man to modern day the burning times neo paganism wicca and other paths quiz 2. Ethics personal ethics spiritual ethics magickal ethics group ethics codes of ethics creating coven ethics quiz 3. Goddess history of goddess culture the aspects of the goddess luna and solar goddess Goddess of death and rebirth goddess as archetype Goddess’s and sex and sexuality Quiz 4. God history of the god the one god aspect of the god luna and solar gods god as consults to goddess Gods of death and creation God as archetype Gods and sex and sexuality quiz 5. Tools of witchcraft, clothing and names what are the tools of magick The book of shadows Wand Chalice Athama Cauldron Sword Pentacle Crystals sacred space quiz 6. Rites of passage Births Death Marriage Coming of age Anniversary quiz 7. Rituals and special days Sabbatts Esbats Days of feasting Days of fasting Goddess days God days quiz 8. Meditation and pathworking and visualising what is meditation what is pathworking Understanding the astral plane creating a mediation space How to write a meditation How to develop a

Five common ways of raising Power

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Many rituals call for power to be raised without saying how. This isn’t a failure to notice on anyone’s part. Raising power is so personal that the idea of “telling” a person or a group of people how to do it seems ridiculous. Their seems to be 5 basic ways to raise energy / power these are by no means the only or the “right” ways to raise power. The Five are flexible, and can be used together in any number of combinations.! 1: Drumming: Drumming is fairly easy to understand. Most people use a “heart” beat, which they increase in speed and complexity as they raise the power. Your own heart rate can increase with the drum, it can be very powerful. It takes training for many of us to become that rhythmic, and the idea that EVERYONE needs to be banging on something for drumming to work is insane. I’ve seen many circles use only one drummer to raise power. Increasing speed and complexity are a common part of power raising, as more power is raised, and the air begins to tingle with expectation, one would have to work harder to not speed up, and they’d diminish their usefulness, so relax and let it go. When the power has reached it peak, the drummers stop, often voicing a monosyllable which pushes the power. “Ra, Ma, Ha, Ho, and Ay” all have special meanings in different Traditions, but research or spontaneity are equally as acceptable. 2: Dancing similar to drumming, dancing is something not