Practising The Witchs Craft Real Magic Under A Southern Sky

Book: Practising The Witchs Craft Real Magic Under A Southern Sky by Douglas Ezzy

This book contains the stories of individual Witches, but it is much more than personal stories. It contains some spells, but it is much more than a spell book. It describes some of the theory and history of Witchcraft, but it is much more than a theory book.

Telling the stories of ordinary people who have discovered that life is enchanted, this exploration of witchcraft presents the leaders of the movement and experienced practitioners and delves into what it really means to be a witch. Describing powerful rituals and moving magical encounters, these witches discuss working with natural forces, including sexuality and the seasons, and how they craft spells and personal rituals, and use incense and herbs. With insights from many different traditions including Wicca and Paganism, this guide celebrates the pleasures and mysteries of contemporary witchcraft.
This is a book about the practice of Witchcraft. Are there different types of Witches? What is it like when you first experience magic? What do Witches believe? How do Witches perform spells? What are the aims of Witchcraft rituals? How do you find other Witches to work with? What are the dangers involved in Witchcraft? What is it like to be a Witch? Why are women so interested in Witchcraft? This book answers these questions. Witches with many years experience tell stories of their own journeys to explain the essence and variety of contemporary Witchcraft. This is a book about Witchcraft written by Witches. There are a large number of Witches in Australia, many of whom have been practising for decades. This book describes the experiences of modern Witches in their own words. I have written my contribution to this book as an academic. I have spent many years studying Witchcraft, but I did not want to write about Witchcraft.

Rather, this book is written with Witches. Witches speak for themselves. Television and film present stereotypes of Witches as either evil people on the margins of society, or gorgeous young women obsessed with fighting demons. Neither of these images of Witchcraft is accurate. Some of the people in this book have university degrees, whereas others have educated themselves. Many work in professional jobs in the media, education, health, information technology and businesses of various types. There are also Witches living in the country on alternative-lifestyle farms and some have written chapters in this book. However, Witchcraft is a religion of the city as much as of the country.

The contributors to this book are Witches who are typically Practitioners with years of practice and reflection. Many are leaders of the contemporary Australian Witchcraft movement. Others are relatively inexperienced in Witchcraft, describing it from the perspective of the newly initiated. The contributors represent the diversity of the contemporary Witchcraft movement, with representatives from most of the traditions and varieties of Witchcraft in Australia. I have usually found Witches to be generous people. I have been welcomed into their circles, and have shared many meals and warm cups of tea. I could not have put this book together without the support of these people, too numerous to thank, and who often prefer not to be named anyway. They know who they are. In particular, though, I would like to thank Ambriel and Hiraeth who first encouraged me to work on this book and suggested a list of chapter topics and contributors.

I would also like to thank Lewis, who was Practising the Witch’s Craft one of my first Pagan contacts and who has shown a sustained interest in my research. Witchcraft is a Spirituality that celebrates life. I hope that this book goes some way to correcting the many misunderstandings about Witchcraft that still prevail in our society. I, as an academic, remain convinced that the development of a contemporary spirituality is one of the central social issues of our times.

Buy Douglas Ezzy's book: Practising The Witchs Craft Real Magic Under A Southern Sky

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Damon Leff - A Pagan Witches Touchstone Witchcraft And Witch Hunts In South Africa
Kathryn Rountree - Embracing The Witch And The Goddess
Cassandra Eason - A Practical Guide To Witchcraft And Magic Spells
Douglas Ezzy - Practising The Witchs Craft Real Magic Under A Southern Sky

Finding Spell

When you have lost Something (this works great with keys, not so well with remote controls), first look everywhere you can think of, especially the last place you saw them (the Gods get pissed off if you use magic out of sheer laziness.) If you still can't find it, stand still, close your eyes and calm your mind. Breath slowly from deep in your stomach and with your mind, call to the thing your Looking for. Then open your eyes and begin to walk slowly around. The lost thing will call you to it. You must be aware and "feel" for it.

I once was looking for some seeds I wanted to plant and passed a shelf three times. I was sure I hadn't put them on the shelf but I kept coming back to the shelf and sure enough there they were Calling out to me. I've also used this to find car keys lost in a huge field. I walked right to them.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Kathryn Paulsen - Witches Potions And Spells
Leo Ruickbie - Halloween Spells
Anonymous - White Magic Spells
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Feeding The Flame

Stead Hallowing Spell Norse Tradition

This is a stead hallowing Spell in the Norse tradition.

.....
When Mostr's hairy Hrolf was led,
By mighty Thor, his Friend, Godspeed,
'Cross churning white-capped Ocean wide,
To Stafa's banks to Thorsa's side.
...
VingThor shewed Mostrarskegg the way,
Who Hymir's monstrous brood did slay,
Great Thor Who drove from Oeger's stead,
The Blasphemer Who fearful fled.
.....
T'was Thor by Grace and magic spell,
Led Hrolf to Holy Helgafell.
The godhi marked with burning brand,
The borders of his Godgiftland.
....
By Goddess-power and God's own might,
He hallowed thus the holy site,
That nought profane might e'er pollute,
Nor leet nor thing nor sacred Blot.
......
In manner like by Eordhe's Grace,
And Thor's hot power, I mark this place,
And in Thor's name, all bane and doubt,
By Magic Rune, I banish out.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised
John Dee - Enochian Magic Spanish Translation
Marcus Cordey - Magical Theory And Tradition
Ross Arthur - English Old Norse Dictionary
The Troth - Welcome To The Troth Honoring The Northern Tradition

Essential Steps In Magical Rituals

There is never going to be agreement about what is essential in a ritual and what is not, any more than there will ever be agreement about what makes a good novel. That doesn't mean there is nothing worth discussing. The steps I have enumerated below are suggestions which were handed down to me, and a lot of insight (not mine) has gone into them; they conform to a Western magical tradition which has not changed in its essentials for thousands of years, and I hand them on to you in the same spirit as I received them.

These are the steps:

1. Open the Circle
2. Open the Gates
3. Invocation to the Powers
4. Statement of Intention and Sacrifice
5. Main Ritual
6. Dismissal of Powers
7. Close the Gates
8. Close the Circle

Suggested free e-books to read:

Anton Szandor Lavey - The Satanic Rituals
Jarl Fossum - Seth In The Magical Texts
Benjamin Rowe - The Essential Skills Of Magick

Paganism And Magical Traditions

One of the most fascinating discoveries of my life has been that most of what we are accustomed to call spirituality would have been meaningless to our ancestors. By spirituality I mean the entire range, orthodox religion, New Age alternatives, and revival paganism and magical arts. This conclusion did not come easily, nor was it a sudden revelation: it crept up on me over the years, as a result of research, study, and inner experience. Many of my suspicions have been confirmed through long talks with elders from tribal cultures around the world, with whom it was possible to compare contemporary ethnic practices and shamanism to the modern artificial substitutes so widely sold . In Ireland, it seems clear that the traditional wisdom of the elders, handed down by word of mouth, through songs and stories, is often radically different to “Celtic revival” modern spirituality.

Most recently I have been impressed (though not always convinced) by the writing of Ronald Hutton, a British academic who has explored many aspects of both historical and revival paganism. Hutton challenges some of the basic modern assumptions about ancient paganism and old religions in a thought provoking manner. Thus he also challenges many of the foundations of revival paganism (His books include: The pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles : Their Nature and Legacy and The Triumph of the Moon : A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft).

In some my own books over the last 20 years or so, I have explored the practical, transformative, magical effect of working with the UnderWorld, the older spiritual traditions of the sacred Earth, and how to make such traditions vivid and contemporary for us today (These include:The UnderWorld Initiation; Earth Light; Power Within the Land; The Living World of Faery). In many ways I consider historic accuracy to be essential, but it need not be the ultimate goal. Historical accuracy in restoring old spiritual traditions is less important than effective inner transformation: if it works, well and good; if it don’t work, don’t do it.

Remember that some of the material in older traditions is totally unworkable and inappropriate; we do not have mate with a mare (as reported in the 12th century by Giraldus Cambrensis) to tap into an ancient Irish tradition of sacred kingship and fertility. We do not need to sacrifice a bull and wrap ourselves in the skin in order to gain prophetic visions (another ritual reported in the Middle Ages) . These old practices are historically significant, but invalid or inappropriate for 21st century people. I merely cite these dramatic examples as obvious methods that are historically reported, but not necessary today. Many other lesser examples could be discussed, but we do not have the space in a short article of this sort.

Yet we do need a consistent accuracy in our understanding of ancestral history, mythology, legends. If we do not do our homework, we can easily become lost in a morass of trivia and wishful thinking. What has happened, of course, is a series of fakes, fads, and fashions, from the 18th century to the present day. Today there is so much fantasy, falsehood, and fakery in publication on ancestral magic and pagan practices that we need rigorous application and research more than ever.

In my lifetime, and during my own career working and recording with Irish musicians, Celtic tradition and music has become ruthlessly emasculated and utterly pulverized by commercial interests. Finding accurate information is not an easy task, but the solid basics are defined in a small number of trustworthy reference sources…the rest is down to common sense and inspiration (in that order).

I should add one mildly uncomfortable fact about Celtic tradition (as the examples I quoted above come from Ireland and Scotland): there are many hundreds of ancient manuscripts, especially in Ireland, that have not been translated. There are far more medieval Irish and Latin Texts unassessed untranslated and unpublished than there are in print. A strong voice on this subject is the Irish writer John Minahane (The Christian Druids, on the filid or philosopher- poets of Ireland ), who, like Ronald Hutton, takes a fresh look at old material, and scoffs at many of the assumptions that we have inherited. Like most modern writers, I have used the trusted translations and sources, with a lot of individual research, retranslation, and so forth. But on dark storm tossed nights, I awaken suddenly and scream “ What if…what if…all those other Irish, Welsh, and European source materials, actually tell us something different ? What if they all say that the UnderWorld was the propaganda of only a few druids in a remote part of Kerry ?” I suppose we can always assert that these new translations are forgeries, or suppress them somehow. That’s the usual method.

Some of my own inspirations and insights have come through visions while living on a powerful sacred site: others came through my early teachers at a time when esoteric training was still hidden and secretive in Britain. And, as must always be the case, I have developed my understanding through long study, research, consideration and comparison. But ultimately, in spiritual arts or disciplines, it is only the doing that counts, not the reading about, writing about, or thinking about.

We do not have to accept everything in a religion or in an old tradition to respect its inner truths.

Like many other people in Western culture, I absorbed certain typical ideas in childhood: mostly of the kind that tell us that spirit is elevated, up there, in the light. Later I found that these ideas, so ingrained in our culture, were the decadent end of a propaganda program, started by political religions, by the various branches of Christianity, but also found in Judaism, and in Islam.

Now I am not going to waste your precious reading time bashing these religions, as many people have done this, often with justification. I think that there are truths and insights in all orthodox religions, Western or Eastern, and that these truths are good, valid, and trustworthy. But… and this is the big one, we do not have to accept everything in a religion in order to respect its deep inner truths. Indeed the deep truths are often in conflict with the politicized dogma, for the deep truths are eternal, unbound by time and history, and have no connection to human power plays or politics.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Konstantinos - Summoning Spirits The Art Of Magical Evocation
Malcolm Mcgrath - Practical Magickal Evocation
Jeffrey Spier - Medieval Byzantine Magical Amulets And Their Tradition
Marcus Bottomley - Nine Proven Magical Rites
Marcus Cordey - Magical Theory And Tradition

The Magic Ritual Of The Sanctum Regnum

Book: The Magic Ritual Of The Sanctum Regnum by Eliphas Levi

This Translation of a previously unpublished work by the late Alphonse Louis Constant, or, as he preferred to call himself, Eliphaz Levi, is published with the consent of its possessor, Mr. Edward Maitland, the eminent collaborateur of the late Dr. Anna Kingsford, to whom it was given by the Baron Spedalieri, so well known as the friend, disciple, and literary heir of Eliphaz Levi. The original MSS., which is in the handwriting of Levi himself, is written upon pages interleaved with the text of a printed copy of a work by Trithemius of Spanheim, entitled De Septem Secundeis: the edition was published at Cologne, and is dated 1567. This work of the Abbot Trithemius is a very curious and interesting dissertation upon the ruling of the world by the seven great Archangels, to each of whom in succession is alloted a period of 354 years and 4 months.

The ordinary reader who has made no special study of the magical writings of Eliphaz Levi, nor of the Kabalah, may consider that, however interesting the subject?matter of many of the following chapters, the Connection between the Tarot Trumps and the details given under each heading is but slight. It must be understood that there is in all cases a direct relation between the card and subject; but the keys which connect them are missing by intention of the author, and yet are obtainable by study of Levi other works.

"The Mysteries of Magic, a Digest of the Writings of Eliphaz Levi, by Mr. A. E. Waite, published by Mr. Redway in 1886, has had so large a circulation among English readers, that the editor anticipates a cordial Reception for this little volume. LONDON, February 1896.

Download Eliphas Levi's eBook: The Magic Ritual Of The Sanctum Regnum

You also may enjoy this free books:

Max Heindel - The Message Of The Stars
Aleister Crowley - The Heart Of The Master
Aleister Crowley - Liber 025 The Ritual Of The Star Ruby
Richard Alan Miller - The Magical And Ritual Use Of Herbs
Eliphas Levi - The Magic Ritual Of The Sanctum Regnum

Fidelity Spell

Choose a pair of your Partner's underwear and a pair of your own. Take two
nutmegs and write your partner's full name on one and your own on the other.
Bind the two nutmegs with a red cord. Wrap them in the underwear and place them
in a clean White envelope. Sleep with them under your pillow if your partner
is away, or embed them into a drawer where you keep your favorite or most
Sensual clothes.

You also may enjoy this free books:

Paul Foster Case - The Life Power
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - I Believe
Anonymous - The Ripley Scroll
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Tibetan Sage
Anonymous - White Magic Spells

Using The Seven Pins In Candle Magick

In Hoodoo and Voodoo, use of the seven-day candle, or "7 day vigil candle" is commonplace. The seven day candles are used in difficult cases and cases where concentrated energy is needed. The candle is burned over a period of seven days whereby the practitioner pays attention to revealing and divinatory signs from the candle.

To use your pins with a candle, you start with
a regular offeratory or large candle and seven pins of the seven colors. The candle is divided into seven equal parts by sticking the pins into the candle at seven equal intervals. The seventh pin goes into the top or bottom of the candle. Make sure the pins go all the way in the candle. Take a piece of parchament paper (best to start with a rather large piece of paper) and write down seven wishes. Fold the paper at a 90 degree angle and write your full name over your wish, then fold again and write your name again, proceeding with this process seven times. Dress your candle with the appropriate oil and place the folded paper under the candle. The candle is burned for seven nights, with the flame pinched out each time a pin falls. Save all of the pins and when the last needle falls, stick the pins into the paper so that it looks like the one in the picture. According to the law of attraction, bury the paper, pins and leftoverwax under your doorstep to attract your wishes to you. If your wishes are of the repelling type, throw the ritual remains in a crossroads, graveyard, or in a moving stream or river.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Thirteenth Candle
Julian Wilde - Grimoire Of Chaos Magick
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic

Black And White Magick

Witcraft magick is sometimes categorized as "white," "gray" or "black." Many of us believe magick is not black, white or gray. It is in the heart of the witch; meaning magick is magick and you send out whatever energies and intent that you choose. Negative energy attracts negative energy and the same goes with positive. That is for any soul, witch or not.

One of the most important reasons untrained/uninformed people should use EXTREME caution when performing a spell is due to interference. Reminds you of football, right? Well, it is actually the same concept. One must take the time to realize every single situation or person that may cause interference to your intent. Such an event can cause negative or even tragic results. Here is an example to clarify this. Say you do a spell to attract money into your life. Unless you specify in detail HOW you wish to obtain money, you may send out energies into the universe that may result in you receiving money due to an inheritance or insurance policy. Get it? Maybe your house will burn down or you wind up in a car accident. Also, regarding money spells, never ask for more than what you really need. Never be greedy. Don't do a spell to win the $20 million lottery. Besides, you are highly unlikely to be successful. Be realistic and fair. Always give something back to the universe when asking for something. Plant a tree, make a charitable donation or even simply be kinder to others in the world. We should all do things like that whether asking for anything.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Aleister Crowley - White Stains
Amber K - The Basics Of Magick
Anonymous - White Magic Spells

If You Think You Are Ready To Be Wiccan

you can "dedicate" yourself to Wicca in a simple, private Wiccan Circle. By tradition, you can then call yourself a Dedicant. You won't be an Initiate yet; that comes after you've reached a certain level of knowledge and maturity. Don't worry about when; it'll happen when it's time.

Gather about you symbols for Air, Fire, Water and Earth, to represent the balance of nature. Since the elements are already all around us, you can use whatever is handy, such as incense or a feather for air, a candle or an electric light for fire, a water dish or a picture of the ocean for water, salt or some backyard soil for earth. (If safety is an issue, you don't need to use real fire to represent fire.)

Traditionally we place Air in the east, Fire in the south, Water in the west and Earth in the north. You can, however, put them where you want to, so long as it feels balanced. You can also add statues, pictures, flowers, poems or just about anything else that has spiritual meaning for you.

Then either walk or swing your arm around in a deosil (clockwise) circle three times and say or think "thrice I cast this circle 'round, sacred is this holy ground." This is how you close a circle, creating a magical working area, which we call A World Between Worlds. It puts you in a separate place from your surroundings, yet also recognizes that all "places" on Mother Earth are sacred.

Then ask the Gods to listen to your dedication (don't worry, they'll hear you.) Read out a statement in your own words that you wish to study Wicca, why you wish to do so, and that you promise to follow the Rede. When you're finished, thank the Gods for their presence. Then open the circle by going three times widdershins (counterclockwise). This returns both you and your working area back to the "mundane" world.

Now you're a formal student of Wicca, learning in your own way, at your own pace. Some people study Wicca by reading and practicing alone, some by working with teachers, some by having experienced friends and some by combinations of the above. Do what's best for you.

If you have an interest in other religions, you can still attend Christian or other services, explore different faiths or even join other churches and still be a Wiccan. You can also stop studying Wicca anytime you wish. You're always the master of your own soul.

Some teachers have been known to charge a fee for formal classes in Wicca, and I won't pre-judge them, but some of us old-timers believe that the wisdom of the Gods should be shared freely, and that the honor of passing the flame to another seeker is the greatest reward that any Wiccan can receive.

Suggested free e-books to read:

Anonymous - Reaching Out To Wiccans
Everfool - You Know You Are A Chaote When

Family And Friends Of Young Wiccan

may be experiencing some problems accepting your new-found faith. After all, it isn't every day you tell your loved ones that you want to practice Witchcraft. But your situation isn't unique. Most of us have felt the sense of spiritual isolation that you're going through, so know that even when you feel like nobody understands you, you're never really alone. It's tough being a kid when your heart hears a different song, but remember that even if they don't understand you, they still love and care for you. So keep the lines of communication open; someday you may all be surprised at how close you really are.

My name is Bragi, I've been a Wiccan for over two decades, and believe me, my teen years had some pretty surprising moments of their own. I suddenly left Christianity behind me at the age of 13, in quiet and non-hostile way; every soul has its own path to follow, and I just didn't believe in Jesus anymore. At 18 my mother tossed me out of the house, not because of Wicca or Paganism (I was an agnostic at that time), but because her boyfriend and I didn't get along.

A year later I happened to run across a book about Wicca, and so discovered that there really were people in the Western world who still practiced the Paganism of our ancestors. It felt so right that I immediately "came home" to the Old Gods of nature and magic, and thereafter called myself a Pagan. Another year later I finally met up with some kindred spirits with whom I could study Wicca and worship. The rest, as they say, is history.

Five years later I returned home to see my mother again. You can imagine the mutual surprise when, in the same conversation, I came out to her as a Witch and she came out to me as Gay! Well, we knew that we both loved each other very much, so we chose to accept each other as we were and had a good laugh over it. After that we got along pretty well.

If your parents are reading this...

they may raise an eyebrow over words like "Witchcraft", "Golden-Horned" and "Gay". Like everybody else, we Pagans have families of our own, and share many of the same hopes and fears that your family does. The above story, for instance, is meant to illustrate how family members should accept each another despite their differences. Among us you will find almost as wide a range of opinions concerning relationship issues as among non-Pagans, but mostly we believe that people should act towards one another responsibly and with respect.

Also, Wicca neither believes in nor worships a "devil"; the Golden Horned God of the Hunt symbolizes life and the glory of nature. His worship comes from the rituals of stone age priests, who wore horned headresses during prayers and ceremonies to improve their tribe's luck in the hunt (by the way, some Wiccans are vegetarians.) This misconception comes from the Middle Ages, when the early Christian fathers sought to portray Paganism in a negative way by describing our Gods as demons, in order to frighten people into joining the Church.

Do other people call us Witches? Yes, and we make no apologies for it; to us it's an honorable word. Do we call ourselves Witches? Yes and no. Some call themselves both Wiccan and Witch, while some prefer to call themselves only Wiccan. There are also Witches who aren't part of Wicca, and their beliefs, traditions and practices are sometimes very different from ours.

The word "Witchcraft" was originally the Middle English pronunciation of the Old English word "Wiccacraft". "Wicca" in Old English literally means "to bend or twist". The early Wiccans were basically old Wise Women and Wise Men, schooled in herbal medicine and folk psychology, familiar with the ways of the local Gods and spirits, and skilled in the arts of spell-casting. You might say that they bent the forces of nature to their will.

Today our Craft is subtle and intuitive, found in forest groves and cyberspace, and guided by new visions and ancient wisdom. Our women and girls live confident and magical lives, for in the Goddess they now have a God made in their image, too. Our men and boys live by the twin horns of brave spirit and gentle heart; from such are born the heroes of legend.

Suggested free e-books to read:

Anonymous - Reaching Out To Wiccans
Keith Thomas - Civility And The Decline Of Magic

Three Definitions Of Magick

Starhawk says, “Any viable religion developing today will inevitably be concerned with some form of magic, defined as “the art of changing consciousness at will.” magick has always been an element of WitchCraft, but in the Craft its techniques were practiced with a context of community and connection. They were means of ecstatic union with the Goddess Self - not ends in themselves. Fascination with the psychic - or the psychological - can be a dangerous sidetrack on any spiritual path. When inner visions become a way of escaping contact with others, we are better off simply watching television. When “expanded consciousness” does not deepen our bonds with people and with life, it is worse than useless: It is spiritual self-destruction.

If Goddess religion is not to become mindless idiocy, we must win clear of the tendency of magic to become superstition. Magic - and among its branches I include psychology as it purports to describe and change consciousness - is an art. Like other arts, its efficacy depends far more on who is practicing it than on what theory they base their practice. Egyptian tomb painting is organized on quite different structural principles that twentieth-century Surrealism - yet both schools produced powerful paintings. Balinese music has a different scale and rhythmic structure from Western music, but it is no less beautiful. The concepts of Freud, Jung, Melanie Klein, and Siberian shamanism cal all aid healing or perpetuate sickness, depending on how they are applied.

Magickal systems are highly elaborate metaphors, not truths. When we say “There are twelve signs in the Zodiac,” what we really mean is “we will view the infinite variety of human characteristics through this mental screen, because with it we can gain insights”; just as when we say” there are eight notes in the musical scale,” we mean that out of all the possible range and variations of sounds, we will focus on those that fall into these particular relationship, because by doing so we can make music. But when we forget that the signs are arbitrary groupings of stars, and start believing that there are large lions, scorpions, and crabs up in the sky, we are in trouble. The value of magic metaphors is that through them we identify ourselves and connect with larger forces; we partake of the elements, the cosmic process, the movements of the stars. But if we use them for glib explanations and cheap categorizations, they narrow the mind instead of expanding it and reduce experience to a set of formulas that separate us from each other and our own power. “ ( The Spiral Dance, Starhawk, p 192,, Harper & Row: New York, NY, 1979)

Amber K uses the words of many to define the subject. “Stewart Farrar puts it this way: “The stage-by-stage development of the entire human being is the whole aim of magic.” According to Weinstein, magick can help “get your entire life in harmony - mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and psychically…. And what is the ultimate purpose of the work? To fulfill the self on an even higher level. To transform, uplift, and so fully develop the self that the whole Universe may benefit thereby.”

William G. Gray, another will-known occultist, says: “Magic is for growing up as Children of the Light. Sane, sound, healthy, and happy souls, living naturally and normally on levels of inner Life where we can be REAL people as contrasted with the poor shadow-selves we project at one another on Earth.”

Thus magick exists to expedite, guide and enhance change. wiccans might say it is the work of the God within: “Everything She touches, changes…”” In her book True Magick, Amber addresses the subject from a unique perspective. She sees all life and our endeavors as related to reclaiming a consciousness of our greater selves - the all-connected life form which we comprise as a whole. Only humans can make this journey. Perhaps because other life forms so effortlessly inhabit the whole without confusion, or perhaps because we, of all the creatures on Earth, have the capacity to analyze our selves. We have the capacity to change our thought processes, our behaviors and to make permanent change within and without our selves.

“We are part of All That Is. With magick we can experience existence from the perspective of the other parts, and know that we are One…Such a quest requires us to change, and magick is an effective tool for defining new goals and reaching for unknown limits and bring ourselves into new territory.

“Magick requires daring. It brings the “little death” [giving up oneself] which is part of rebirth. Not to change is to stagnate and die; but to willingly offer up the life we know, is to find a greater Life. To the conscious mind unaware of the immortal Spirit within, this kind of sacrifice, the loss of the isolated, little person-self. Seems terrifying indeed. Yet through it one regains the lost wholeness of the Greater Self, which is all of us, which is The God/dess.” (True Magick, Amber K, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN 1990.)

Raymond Buckland is emphatic that magick in the wiccan religion is secondary to the practice of wicca as a religion. However, magick is a large part of the religion and the practice of WitchCraft. “In itself, magick is a practice. If all you want to do is work magick, then you don't need to become a Witch to do it. Anyone can do magick, or, at least can attempt to do it. such a person is a magician. ….. But what exactly, is “Magick”?… Aleister Crowley defined magick as “the art or science of causing change to occur in conformity with will”. In other words, making something happen that you want to happen. How do we make these things happen? By using the “power” (for want of a better word) that each of us has within. Sometimes we must supplement that power by calling on the gods, but for most things we can produce all that we need ourselves.” (Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Raymond Buckland, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN 1989)

Books You Might Enjoy:

Will Herberg - The Writings Of Martin Buber
Israel Regardie - The Art And Meaning Of Magic
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Benjamin Rowe - The Essential Skills Of Magick
Melita Denning - The Foundations Of High Magick

The Creative Process In Magick

Each of us creates every moment of his or her entire life by sending out thoughts, feelings, emotions, prayers or declarations into the Matrix, being the energy weavings of the universe. We can send out new thougths that might change the energy patterns, or repeat old thoughts that will (re)create more of the old energy forms, or we may be influenced by the ideas and emotions of others and help so reinforce their energy patterns. We are not only sending energy, at the same time we are receiving the energy of the thoughts and feelings of others. If their thoughts and feelings contain truth for us, we might incorporate that energy as 'our own', what means that your thoughts don't necessarily have to be your own thoughts!

To understand the creative process we need to understand the basics of it:

* The power of belief
The more you believe that what you think and feel is true, the more certainty you add to the energy you send out, and the bigger the change that it wil take form in the physical world. Also the more you think the universe will grant it you, the greater the certainty that you will receive it. Be thankful on beforehand, knowing that it is already existing and will appear in the physical world.

* The power of united souls
The more persons think, feel or pray the same thing, the bigger the amount of a certain energy capable of causing changes.

* The power of repetition.
The more often you think or feel the same thing, the more belief and certainty about it you raise in your mind, so the more powerful your sent out energy becomes. Choose the same thing over and over again.

* The power of clarity of mind.
Make sure that you know what to choose; that way you send out equal messages to the universe.

* The power of similarity
Like attracts like! You will attract that what you send out, so if your thoughts contain a lot of fear of disease for instance, you will attract disease as a magnet. If you send out thoughts of love and kindness, you will suddenly notice that unknown people smile at you and greet you.
* The power of the basic emotions love and fear. At the base of every thought or emotion (or behind the conscious thought/emotion) lies one of these two emotions.
If the basis is love, you will have ideas like: there is enough for everyone, I am good enough to ask this, the Universe will grant it me, I am thankful for life and its treasures... You will feel self-trust, self-love and self-confidence, inner peace and union with the All. A basic thought of love will add enormous power to your creative force. If the basis is fear, you will think things like: there is never enough, I won't get it, I don't deserve it, I am not good enough, I have not done enough, I will lose it again, what if it does not work?You will experience fears and worries, doubts and insecurities, and you regard yourself as separate from the infinite Source. A basic thought of fear will severely diminish your power to create.

* The power of taking responsibility.
If you take responsibility for your life than you can find the strength to make conscious changes in it. If everybody around you has done it, or fate, and you consider yourself a helpless victim, then how could you even believe that you could influence your own life in a positive way? Of course you are not personally responsible for big events like wars, earthquakes or tornadoes; these occurrences are often called upon by our group-consciousness. Also many personal issues are often created by more persons than just you. But you surely are responsible for your reactions on and decisions towards all events. Do you try to find a positive solution or do you sit down effortless in self-pity? (Discourage creates the same thing over and over).

* The power of attention.
What you give attention to will be realized. This means that the love you feel for the things you like to realize will attract them to you.
This also implies that suppression of 'bad' or 'ugly' parts of our personality only contributes to their existence. After all you have to put quite some energy in the denial of these characteristics by trying to think them away. It is much more beneficial to accept that we all have our 'good' and 'bad' qualities, and that we choose whether we want to live as a sinner or a saint. Observe 'the horrible you' without judging it, decide what kind of person you want to be, and?think and act in a new way. Mind torturers like fears, worries, anger and grief can disappear if you simply let them be, accept them without putting energy in it. The feelings you dare to confront without holding on can pass through you like clouds.

* The power of thought control.
If you notice yourself thinking something that you don't wish to think, simply consider how you want to think over that subject or person and? send out the new thought. It is like copying out a page on a computer!

* The power of not-accepting-no.
Declare your truth completely, friendly, but determined. If people argue about it simply agree that you can understand their point of view, but... repeat your truth firmly and friendly... until you get what you want. This is the famous technic of assertivity trainings known as the 'broken gramophone record'.

In fact the creative process is a big personally adapted mind-control program. You'd better control your own mind then having it done by others!




Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - Basic Techniques Of Sex Magick
Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick

Religion And Worship

Religion and Worship. “Almost from their beginnings, magic and religion have been intermingled. ” (Believing in Magic The Psychology of Superstition, Stuart A. Vyse, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford, 1997) The root of the word religion means relinking. And as the pagan religions are the only religions that I know of that insist that the interaction of the worshipper with their deity be direct and personal, and that the rhythms of our world are the signals and timing for most interaction, we may well be the only religion that has a primary accomplishment of relinking our people with our selves, our Gods, our world, and Nature Herself. Most of the standard definitions for religion specifically refer to the Christian God, or another monotheist deity. Our dictionaries and encyclopedias are so inherently Christian it is difficult to find a non-Christian definition of religion or worship. Raymond Buckland insists that the first call of a Witch is the worship of the Gods. But there is little definition of that process of worship that is not also the process of ritual magick - it is hard to discern wherein the difference lies. I have read through many of these books looking for a concise answer. That answer seems to lie in the interactive responsibility of the Witch to focus their awareness and responsibility for the consequences of their magick on the entire system which is comprised of the Gods, Our world, our community and all the other Children of the Gods. This comprehension of their role within the entire scheme is in line with my definition of a Witch, “One who knowledgeably undertakes through their vows to their Gods the obligation to further growth and harmony.” What that definition also implies, yet does not outright state, is that that obligation also includes personal growth and development. The Witch never promotes growth and success in the system without offering themselves the same opportunities. There may be rare circumstances where a Witch will spend so much of their energy for a particular outcome, that they compromise their own success and health - but offhand, I cannot imagine what would demand such a sacred gift - sacrifice. It is not healthy or reasonable to demand things of any teacher, healer, priest/ess which lessen that person's own path and powers. We are not victims or martyrs because we have decided to enrich our entire community, we are simply responsible members of our community. And much like the goose that laid the golden egg, if you overtax those who have the gift, you will loose all that it offers. You must always prioritize your health and well-being, for if you are lost or in failing health, then what do you have left to offer.

This is also a religion, that by its very nature, would never demand you harm another. That is not the point. “I am the Mother of all things, and My loved is poured out upon the world.” And She who is the mother of all things, never demands that you harm any of her Children. (Charge of the Goddess)

Is this a Goddess religion? Do we have male Gods? Yes. I think the primary reason that we are considered a Goddess religion, is that all other religions have male gods. Thus, in explaining our differences, people take the prominent diverse feature, the female divinity, and focus on it when explaining our beliefs. But the male aspect of our world is a partner and consort of the Goddess. Without the God, we would not have the balance and creative interaction that allows for the Wheel of Life. Do we value men in this religion? Absolutely. We could not be who we are without male and female aspects to balance and provide all the parts to our Sacred World. Why is there any question about the importance of the God? “The image of the Horned God in witchcraft is radically different from any other image of masculinity in our culture. He is difficult to understand, because He does not fit into any of the expected stereotypes, neither those of the “macho” male nor the reverse-images of those who deliberately seek effeminacy. He is gentle, tender, and comforting, but He is also the Hunter. He is the Dying god - but his death is always in the service of the life force. He is untamed sexuality - but sexuality as a deep, holy, connecting power. He is the power of feeling, and the image of what men could be if they were liberated from the constraints of patriarchal culture.” (The Spiral Dance A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, Starhawk, Harper & Row, San Francisco, CA, 1979.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Kathryn Paulsen - Witches Potions And Spells
Robert Ambelain - Martinism History And Doctrine
Frater Fp - Sigils In Theory And Practice

Questions And Answers About Power Animals

Question: So, what does it mean to work with 'power' animals? Are we working with an individual animal, say the 'possum down the street or the wolf at the zoo?

Answer: Well, sorry to say, no.

When you work with a 'power' animal (I've got to find a better way to say that ~ the term "power' animals' makes me think of a bunch of buffed up critters doing sit ups and weight lifting at the local gym), you are either connecting with the A.) symbolic essence or B.) the spiritual power of the entire species. Take your pick of whichever description works best for you.

Question: What are you doing ~ playing Indian? Or are you one of those new age weirdos?

Answer: No. Working with 'power' animals is not 'new age' or limited to the North American Indians. Many people all over the planet use animal symbology in one way or another, including us. It's everywhere ~ even in our speech: 'Busy as a bee'; 'snake in the grass', 'he/she is a workhorse', 'hawk eyed', 'eagle eyed'.

Question: How do you know when animal energy trying to make itself known?

Answer: There are several ways. Sometimes, you just know. Other times, an animal can present itself to you four times (as in four deer, four tracks in the mud, etc.) If an animal appears during a dream, meditation or shamanic journey, it can do an 'act of power' which is something that the animal could not ordinarily do.

Question: Can mythic animals be power animals?

Answer: There is some debate about this. Some think that to be a power animal, it has to have a physical representative in the living world. Others say that the very fact that nearly every culture in the world have stories about 'mythic' animals (dragons and unicorns are good examples), then they must have either 1.)existed in the physical at one point, or 2.) exist now in realms that we can only access while on a journey, dreaming or in deep meditation. I tend to say that whatever ever animal has shown itself to you to be one of your power animals, then who are we to question whether it's valid or not? It's very appearance proves its validity.

Question: Is this for real?

Answer: As a teacher of mine said once, "If you're getting something good out of it, does it matter?"


Books You Might Enjoy:

William Wynn Westcott - Numbers Their Occult Power And Mystic Virtues
Austin Osman Spare - The Book Of Pleasure Or Self Love
Sri Swami Sivananda - Thought Power

Phone Magic

When you think about your favorite magical tools, do you ever consider the telephone? Here's a few ideas which may make a common household object seem very, very magical!

Focus and Direct Energy:

Focusing and directing energy is a basic principle of magic. That's exactly what you do when you make a phone call. You are sending your intent via waves of electricity going through copper wires. In some cases you are using pulses of light going through fiber optics. But in either case, you are directing energy exactly where you choose.

Bells:

Many use bells in magic to project energy through sound waves. Why not use the ringing of a telephone? When you call someone, you fill their home with the ringing of a bell. This could easily be used to send someone a house blessing. In fact, with their permission, you can "attach" virtually any kind of blessing to your phone call. A simple wake-up call could be a wish for a good day; a call to a sick friend could direct healing energies. You are limited only by your imagination!

Answering Machines:

Many spells involve "charging" an item, or storing energy within something to accomplish a specific purpose. Is this storage of energy all that different from recording sounds on a cassette tape? When an answering machine stores a message, it can also store the magical energy someone wishes to attach to their message. Callers are creating a charm of sorts. Ever sense something out of the ordinary before you play back a message? When a caller leaves their voice on your machine, they are charging a physical, tangible item located within your home with a bit of their energy. When you play the message, the energy is released. You can use this in several positive magical ways. For example, the message becomes a bit of that person, so it enables you to better touch them magically, the way a possession or piece of clothing would. You can also use your own message greeting as a protective device, stored within your machine to safeguard your home from incoming negativity.

Color:

Magic in color? Phones come in many colors. Own more than one phone? Which of the phones in your home best fits your intent for that specific call? Perhaps the red one? The white one? Another aspect of color in phone magic are the four colored wires that all phones use: black, yellow, red, green. Now that you know this, try using them to suit your need. Which one works best for you?

Cords:

Some people use cords in magic; they believe its knots & tangles store energy. Why not the phone cord? You could wrap it around an object you use in the spell. Or you could recognize the knots and tangles in your phone cord as a part of your own daily life. Over the course of the days, little by little, the cord slowly took its twisted shape. As you untangle the cord, you can untangle the tensions or knots in your own life.

Sympathetic Magic:

Is there a person you want to (literally) hang up on? Just disconnect them from your life? See this as a magical event the next time you slam down the phone!

Crystals, Gems and Metals in Magic:

Phone wire is made of copper. Its circuitry is made of tiny silicon chips; silicon is a mineral found naturally as a common stone, like quartz. Properties of these items can easily be found in magical reference books. How are these metals and minerals special? How do they work for you?

Numbers:

Some people use the magic within numbers. What could be more personal than your phone number? While many people share your birthday or your age -- your area code/phone number is never, ever, duplicated anywhere in the world! It is truly unique. You can even interpret a phone number as a means of divination. Does your spell involve a person? Use their phone number. Does it involve a place? Use its area code. Have a magical name or special magical word? You can now pick your own vanity number, using the new "500" area code, available for as little as three dollars per month.

Cordless and Cellular Phones:

Many use a wand or athame to direct the energy they send forth. Is this any different than the way an antenna works for a transmitter? For a receiver? A cordless phone fills the air with waves of energy radiating throughout your entire home. Cellular phone waves go for miles! Why not use their energy release as a means to carry your intent?

A Personal Touch:

Many use personal items to help in magic (like a lock of hair, a bit of clothing or photo) as a means to help their magic reach another person. The person's unique essence left within this item helps become an addressing mechanism to aim the intent of the spell directly at that person. This "address" helps direct your energy, like a blood hound hot with the scent! Why not have the person you are working with on the phone during the spell? A phone conversation is actually a two-way exchange of energy. Use their essence this way.

Linkage to All:

The phone network is the perfect analogy to how all things in the universe are connected and interwoven. It is a physical link connecting you to others. When you hold your phone in your hand, you touch your neighbor -- whether next door or around the world -- through a physical link of telephone cables, usually made of copper. Recognize this connection and use it to enhance your magic. (You may even notice that one major "Telephone & Telegraph" company even uses a logo that shows a round blue symbol of the Earth -- entirely linked by lines of communication.)

Other "Ordinary" Household Items:

A very accurate definition of magic calls it "things not understood by science -- yet." Remember that magic doesn't necessarily exclude the things that are understood, things that you touch everyday. Now that you see the phone in a new way, what other everyday items in your home can be magical tools? Can you see the pilot of your stove or furnace as your perpetual candle flame? Can pondering your electrical outlet help link you to new sources of energy? Can the hot and cold knobs on your faucet help you understand balance between opposites? Again, you are limited only by your imagination!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Aleister Crowley - Magick
Paul Huson - Mastering Witchcraft

Nature Of Chaos Magick

...all Nature was all Chaos,
The rounded body of all things in one,
The living elements at war with lifelessness...
The Metamorphosis, Ovid

Chaos magick is the fruit of Austin Osman Spare and Peter Carroll's rebellion against the traditional magickal systems which they deemed needelessly complicated, discriminatory and impotent.

Influenced by both Spare and Austin's scientific pursuits and interests, Chaos Magick is a 'non-system' focusing on the mechanisim of 'belief' as a means to achieve a desired end. Belief in anything, a force, a diety, will be adopted for the purpose of the magickal work at hand and then discarded after it has served its purpose. To do this magicians must become skilled in changing their beliefs at a moment's notice and 'believing' that "Nothing is True and Everything is Permitted" as Ray Sherwin wrote in 'The Theatre Of Magick' "The (Chaos) Magician believes nothing in the sense of having faith. He experiments practically to ascertain if there is any value in the postulates he has either originated or borrowed from elsewhere. It is a fact that we all must hold certain organic beliefs for the sake of convenience. You all believe that the chairs you are sitting in are real -- most of the time. This is not however a mental process, but rather an instinctive or organic one without which life would be impossible."

The path of Chaos is not one for the weak or fearful. You must realize that you are entirely on your own and free to do as you please, therefore you alone are responsible for the outcome of your actions. You will not find 'Karma' or 'The Law of Three' in Chaos Magick to comfortably set your limits for you. Chaos Magick is not black, white or gray, it is simply neutral energy which you will shape into your intention. Therefore, unless you have a solid code of ethics and know what you are doing, Chaos Magick is not for you, indulge in foolishness and you will quickly be on the way to self-annihalation.

In Chaos magick it is up to you to use or create whatever methods of ritual or magickal workings you desire, however there are three core practises that Chaotes commonly use and they are; gnosis, god-form/servitor work, and sigilization. Chaos magick relies on 'gnosis' an altered state of mind to achieve effects. It is a state of single-mindidness which can be achieved through yoga, drumming, chanting, dancing, sex and masturbation and through the use of certain drugs. You will know that you are in a state of gnosis once your mind stops rationalizing about your experience...it is the gateway into your subconcious.

Chaotes generally don't worship a 'god', but as mentioned above they will temporarily believe in any god-from required to make their magick work. Working with god-forms in Chaos Magick involves the same or similar invocation or evocation methods used in traditional systems. Unlike god-forms that already exist, servitors are magickal beings, created by a magician to perform a certain task. Servitors are created in a state of gnosis and stored in a material object such as sigil which then enables the magician to summon, communicate and affect it. There are mainly two types of Servitors; "Egregores" which are large servitors usually created by a group of magicians and remain in existance indefinetly , and "Independent Thought-Forms" which are usually active for the duration of the magickal working and then destroyed by the magician.

Sigil Magick was developed by Spare and involves the creation of an abstract image of the magicians written will or intent and absorbing the sigil into the subconcious in a state of gnosis. It then, should be forgotten and the material sigil destroyed, for it is belived that once the sigil is in the subconcious mind it will operate unaided.

Chaos magick is path of complete magickal freedom, make your choices carefully and be responsible. Above all, if such freedom makes you uncomfortable and you feel a compelling need to be goverened by dogmas, then steer clear from the path of Chaos or your sanity just might get swept away...

Books You Might Enjoy:

Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic
Aleister Crowley - Magick
Julian Wilde - Grimoire Of Chaos Magick

Contemporary Magick

1. magick today is a far cry from that of times past - although it may be that its most crucial element - belief - is still the crux of any working. However, the magick which we discuss as part of the Wiccan, pagan training is believed to be a natural part of almost anyone's abilities. With training and some sensitivity to the feel of the energies, almost anyone can work and use magick in their ritual, ceremonial, and daily life. In addition, we understand so much more about our lives and environment than those early witches did. It is particularly powerful to weave your magical and religious symbols into your professional and personal environment. Thus, you are always aware of your goals and values as you go about your daily endeavors.
2. In a last note, I will discuss the word Witch. Today we use this to indicate anyone who uses such power within a context of responsibility to their community and the world as a whole. I have defined the role of a witch as, “One who knowledgeably takes on the obligation to further harmony and growth for our world, our selves and our community.” I believe this obligation will be fulfilled by all power at that Witch's command, including personal talents, skills, strength and psychic power. It is important that all these personal endeavors be in concert, so as to maximize the effect of the working. In the past definitions for the word Witch were much less complimentary. Any rudimentary research into witchcraft from conventional publications will quickly discover that even in the 1970s and 80s, a witch was always considered an evil-doer. Even books which seem unbiased, include these biases - as well as a bias against women. Anyone who worked energy for evil was considered a witch, and was obviously a female. Anyone who worked energy for good or personal reasons was considered a sorcerer and in almost all the books I read, a male. The exception was healers - who could be male or female, but were classified as white witches.


Books You Might Enjoy:

Melita Denning - Mysteria Magica Book V
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Dion Fortune - Ceremonial Magic Unveiled
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Basic Candle Magick

Burning a candle has something magical; our unconsciousness recognizes the connection between earth and infinite creative heaven symbolized by the burning candle. No electric lamp can ever beat a simple candle when it comes to bringing a warm and cosy atmosphere in which we feel at home. Burning a candle for a beloved one in a church with a wish is a simple form of magick. Blowing out the candles on a birthday cake while making a wish in fact is candle magick. You may want to put a white candle at the positions north, east, south and west in the magickal circle. Or you may wish to position five candles in the form of a pentagram.

Candle magick works like this:

* Choose one or more candles in the color(s) appropriate to your magickal goal. ( See Color magick )

* Your candles have to be virgin, what means not used before. This is important, because used candles carry the energies of former use with them, what may disturb or diminish the effectiveness of your present ritual. Always use new candles for a ritual, even if you do two rituals of the same kind after one another, for instance a healing for person A and for person B. But if your ritual needs to be repeated several days then of course you can use the same candles for the same type ritual for the same person during successive days.

* Now you have to charge the candle for your purpose. By charging it you bring your own energies and magickal desires into the candle. By charging it you also mentally start the process of focusing on your goal and physically make contact with the representation of your aim. You make a psychic link with the candle. You charge the candle(s) by:
1.Carving the name of the person or your goal in it with a small knife. Do this concentrated.
2. You anoint it, what means that you rub it in with oil while visualizing your spell. This is also called 'dressing' the candle. You can dress the candle with pure olive oil or a suitable essential oil. In any magick that is 'calling' (attracting things, like money, health, love) you rub the oil from the top of the candle to the base. In 'banishing' magick (getting rid of things, like negative influences, addictions) you rub the oil from the base of the candle to the top.

* Put the candle in the holder and light it. Visualize your goal for as long as you can, or recite affirmations (one world or a sentence) for a time. Then put the candle out. Repeat this for several days, at least three, until you get results. Then let the candle burn all the way out.

* Another way of working is this: don't carve your message in the candle, but write it on a piece of paper while visualizing your goal, and burn it completely in the candle flame. Be careful: put the candlestick into a larger plate or chalice for this goal, for I know this will most of the time become a mess. While burning it concentrate completely on your goal. Then let the candle burn all the way out. (You don't need to stay around, but be careful: it is fire!)

* Always burn a white candle too, as purification and protection against negativity. This is your altar candle, which can be used any ritual until it is burned away. So in candle magick there will always be at least two candles: one altar candle and one anointed ritual candle.

Candle magick can be combined with other color magick, sex magick or other forms of magick.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - Basic Techniques Of Sex Magick
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Amber K - The Basics Of Magick
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Animal Magic

A Circle fills the room with its special glow. Fragrant herbs perfume the air; candles light the night. And two small eyes glow up at you, knowing that they too are part of the magic.

People and animals have worked magic together in many ways, some of which were a part of everyday life. In agricultural lands, animals worked the magic of providing our survival through the winter. They provided food and materials used in all facets of the community.

Imagine a time before cars, trains and planes. People were somewhat bound to their homeland since walking cross-country seemed an endless journey. But then, on horseback, people could easily explore. Some say that the use of horses led to the major shifts in political and spiritual history, as one tribe invaded another with mounted soldiers, forever society and religion. For better or worse, horses changed the course of history.

Even in industrial times, we've worked with animals. You've heard the expression "a canary in a coal mine." Miners used canaries to detect problems with the air quality, oxygen level, and presence of invisible poison gas. Canaries were more sensitive to these threats and could alert the workers.

Magical animals are not unfamiliar to the myths of Old. For example, Odin used two ravens to fly around the world and report back all that they saw. Could this symbolic tale be rooted in a form of divination used at the time? In ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle was a symbol of eternal life. This lore is based on the way beetles rolled a ball of dung in which to lay their eggs. The idea of life from dung must surely relate to the eternal cycles of nature. Even the Christians assimilated symbols like the dove and the lamb. Animals as mythic symbols cross a wide variety of cultures.

In understanding these mythic animals, we must know the context in which they were viewed. For example, thousands of years from now, historians might not understand the exact emotions we attach to symbols when we say someone is a deer, or a jackass. Remember that next time you read the myths of Bast, or Cerberus, or even the American Eagle.

Today, most magical people think of familiars as their household pets, the little ones who provide joy, insight and companionship -- not to mention shed all over black clothing and robes! Animals in general are closer to nature than we are. They remember their instinctual ways easier than we do. Why limit this to pets? The animals around us in the field can share our magical moments? Did we encounter a gentle and curious deer along our first walk in the woods? Did geese fly overhead and squawk their applause for our lovemaking? How do these animal events speak to you? You can merely visualize your magical animal, like a totem guide or imaginary friend. (And you'll never need to pay for a vet!)

Whether in myth or reality, an animal's unique traits can teach us specific lessons in nature. Can we learn by watching an animal hunt? Protect its young? Weave webs? Float from one flower to another, tasting a mix of sweet nectars? Or nest and lay the fragile egg of new beginnings?

Don't limit your familiars to just animals. Why not a plant? Plants teach us about laying roots, growing wild, turning to face the light. Plants show us new ways to branch out, bear fruit -- or wither, fall and provide a subtle new start for others. Are we any different?

Why not have an object as a familiar? Are not all things in nature alive? Can an old gray boulder show us anything about weathering the tests of time? Can Granny's old wristwatch teach us about cycles?

Perhaps the most familiar idea comes when you know that you already hold all these special qualities within yourself. We too have animal ways, branch out like plants, and live the lessons of solid tangible form no differently than Granny's watch. Familiar means family, being One with another. Knowing you are One with all things makes everything seem quite familiar. And everything will look to you, knowing that it too is part of the magic.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic
Pansophic Freemasons - Masonic Symbolism
Melita Denning - Mysteria Magica Book V
Aristotle - Metaphysics