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

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Past Lives Information Spell

To help you get a clearer view of your past lives, cast this spell on the day of a new moon. Repeat it once each week for a month. Take a small White onion and soak it in a bowl of mineral Water for half an hour. Then dry it thoroughly with
a clean cloth.

Meditate for a few minutes while you hold the onion in your hands. Then peel off the first and Second layer while repeating:

"Memories of the distant past, come forward into the light."

Place the layers you have peeled off into a plastic bag. Put that under your bed and keep the rest of the onion in the fridge to use next time.

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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

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Magical Theory And Tradition

Book: Magical Theory And Tradition by Marcus Cordey

The theories and principles of magic are as diverse as the theories and principles of science. Indeed, the two fields were once one and the same only to diverge into Natural Philosophy and Occult Philosophy in the later Middle Ages. But unlike science, there are no concrete laws of magic. After all, science deals with the known and tangible where magic deals with the unknown and intangible.

Herein is proposed one collection of such principles as they are believed to govern the nature of magic. These principles have been derived from those described by Isaac Bonewits in his book Real Magic, as well as The Golden Bough of the 19th century anthropologist Sir James George Frazer, but have been further simplified and organized to embody their meaning as clearly as possible. It should also be remembered that these rules are only meant to help guide and direct a
student of the Occult arts, and are most likely represent only the smallest fragment of the greater laws underlying the true nature of reality.

Download Marcus Cordey's eBook: Magical Theory And Tradition

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Marcus Cordey - Magical Theory And Tradition

Personal Development With Help Of Magic

"Spiritual progress" is an important concept to me but I find its meaning elusive.

I am not drawn to traditional ideas of initiation. In systematized magic or mysticism spiritual progress is divided into initiatic levels, or numbered stages of progress. I can't accept these scales of development, including the binary scale of enlightenment or non-enlightenment. People are not numbers and if you tell me "so-and-so is a third degree" you have told me exactly nothing about them. These systems and distinctions are too impersonal, and too many people seem to be hurt by them rather than helped. No one is more unenlightened than those who are convinced of their enlightenment.

A similar scale is that of salvation, where a person is saved (1) or unsaved (0). To me there is entirely too much emphasis on redemption in traditional scales of progress whether they use the words "redemption" and "salvation" or not. The "first matter" or non-initiate in traditional magic is held to be utterly worthless: blind, fettered, desperately in need of the system to show him or her the light. Obviously this is insulting and serves the purpose of maintaining hierarchical social structures. Just as obviously, though, there is some metaphorical truth to it. Relative to the later and developed state, the earlier and undeveloped person is burdened by blinders that look like glasses, and hobbled by chains that feel like shoes. More than how we look at others, this is how we look back at ourselves.

The problems for me in the black-and-white version of the metaphor are that this conflates different people's relative states, and requires self-loathing on the part of the initiatory candidate. If we had a way to measure someone's illumination - which we don't - I think we would find that many perfectly ordinary uninitiated people are less deluded than many seekers who have been strenuously applying themselves to the mystical path for years. A confident and healthy person would find little appeal in being superior to everyone else because of initiatory ceremonies, but among "initiates" one constantly encounters just this demeaning attitude. Similarly, a healthy person who found that a system demanded abject self-abasement to questionable "superiors" would probably select themselves out in short order. These hierarchical formulae appeal most strongly to people who - to be blunt - already hate themselves, find their negative self-image confirmed by being treated as the worthless "first matter" of the art, and achieve comfort in having the onus of their low self-esteem displaced onto "uninitiates."

I find better company in people who are not plagued with unreasonable self-doubt and who recognize and work with their strengths. I wish our spiritual systems selected for them instead of weeding them out. American hatha yoga instruction has gone in this direction, though once one moves on to more spiritual limbs of yoga the old demeaning hierarchies tend to reassert themselves. More needs to be done in reforming the teaching of meditative practices.

I am only describing a general trend and not tarring all initiates with this brush. I am an initiate myself, though once again it is not the axis of my life. I simply want to express that I would be more comfortable with spiritual systems that start with the basic strength and insight the person already has and develop that, rather than starting with the need for redemption. A better metaphor than removing a blindfold would be teaching the initiate how to make binoculars. I think groups starting without the "original sin" of the "first matter" would be less likely to attract neurotics and exagerrate their neuroses, and so less prone to the infighting that wracks magical groups.

So I will move on to my personal idea of my progress. Although it is tangible to me, I have a hard time saying exactly what it is. I know it has resulted from psychotherapy, from yoga, and from re-examining and redefining my assumptions, especially assumptions about relationships with others and with the external world in general. There is an aspect of self-knowledge and self-acceptance, a willingness to express myself spontaneously and embrace my feelings rather than trying to manipulate myself, an emergence of a mental quiet space, a recognition of personal patterns which previously were unconscious or denied, and a number of specific personal advances that result from being freed from unexamined patterns and from a distaste for myself. There's a long way to go and there may not be any end to the path, or it may be that the path is longer than I could walk in this one lifetime (so far as I know, the only one I have), but I know I am on this path and have come a certain way so far.

Magic in the sense of ritual has not been all that useful to me in this kind of progress and I have come to distrust it as affording a scope for acting out and for compensatory ego-inflation. That is, the intentional nature of ritual may unconsciously enact a neurotic pattern while rewarding limiting patterns I would do better to transcend. When I do ritual now, on the other hand, erosion of my mental blocks and acceptance of my aspirations have made ritual more effective in transforming my consciousness than it used to be. So Ritual Magic is related in some way to spiritual progress and may at some future time become more of a vehicle of my development than it is for me now.

I am attracted to an exercise model of development, in contrast with grandiose conceptions of redemption and ascension through spiritual degrees. Concentration, imagination, steadiness, even power are useful things to have. My analogy to physical exercise is deliberate: there is value to "spiritual bodybuilding" so long as it doesn't degenerate into vain self-admiration. Where a traditional conception would hold, for instance, that "by ascending the Ladder of Lights the devout seeker may be admitted into the innermost Mystery that maketh man God," under the exercise model one would say "by practicing mental disciplines one strengthens, balances and cleanses mental faculties." Yoga obviously fits this model, even in its highest limbs; classical yoga scripture depicts the ultimate goal pragmatically as the stilling of thought-waves. Psychotherapy is also a fairly good match, where the faculty exercised is spontaneous introspection. Ritual magic exercises the abilities of concentration and visualization, as well as the ability to transform perceptions of space, and a host of others. This too is a kind of progress.

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My Spiritual Practice In Magic

My interest in magic is not from the armchair, at least not exclusively. I meditate, I do yoga, I attend and perform various rituals by myself and in groups, as well as reading voraciously in occult, pagan, and philosophical subjects and in general religious studies. Why would anyone spend time on such apparently futile activities? From the outside it's all a lot of mumbo-jumbo.

One of the popular answers among ceremonial magicians these days holds that "I'm a trance junkie," or "I'm a ritual junkie," or words to that effect. The meaning is "I derive pleasure from the effects that ritual practices have on me and so I seek them out." This formula would be part of my answer, but I wouldn't characterize myself as a "junkie": I like to modify my consciousness but it's not the central axis of my life and I don't depend on it (at least, I don't think I do).

Many traditional mystics would be appalled at the "ritual junkie" idea. It contrasts with traditional ideals of redemption through spiritual practice and says simply, "it feels good, so I do it." However, many traditionalists also hold out ideals of redemption that fall onto the reward-punishment spectrum, such as eternal bliss or perfect happiness. The simple rewarding nature of spiritual practice, the fact that it induces pleasurable mental states, is the Great Unspoken (or Nietzschean pudenda) of mystical theory. It's a motivation that mystics have always had but wouldn't admit to, or that they held at arms' length by issuing stern warnings against it. If the pleasure principle turns spiritual practice into a kind of masturbation, I would answer that we're no longer so opposed to the art of self-pleasure.

Still I think there is more to spiritual practice than pleasurable diddling. When I first got involved with magic in my mid-teens it had a lot to do with psychedelic drugs. My goal in magic and meditation was to trip without chemicals, and I still enjoy that when it happens (say, from a good hatha yoga session), but I've also come to share the concern that this can be a kind of "spiritual materialism," to use Chogyam Trungpa's term. Getting off is good but it's distinct from and may sometimes even be in opposition to spiritual progress. Even with drugs there's more going on than direct reward through bliss. Basic assumptions about the world and the self are thrown into a different light from which they may be re-examined, where before they were not even recognized as assumptions, but thought to be facts. The process by which we create our personal image of the world is illuminated and the limits of our consciousness are shown to be self-imposed; we are exposed to "other forms of consciousness completely different," as William James wrote of his nitrous oxide experiences. This has the potential to broaden our mental scope, just as travel broadens our social ideas.

Another Great Unspoken about spiritual practice is ego. Just as it's pleasant to one's self-image to be distinctly strong of body, so it is to be strong of mind. The self-esteem benefits of exercise are desirable but they often go too far. I've grown tired of "magic jocks" who measure their self-worth by the intensity of their ritual power. The size of one's muscles is no measure of physical health, and "roaring like a blast furnace" in ritual is no indication of mental health. In fact people can seriously hurt themselves by going ruthlessly for maximum strength. Some strength is good; for some people a lot of strength is good; but health is more a matter of overall balance, flexibility and tone than of ultimate capacity in one area. When someone is devoted heart and soul to a particular system of spiritual symbols there may be a tremendous ritual power in that, but perhaps the system itself becomes one of those unexaminable assumptions, Blake's "mind-forg'd manacles we bear," that spiritual practice ought to be helping us deconstruct. Quietism is a bit namby-pamby but to be a mighty dragon ever thundering also has its problems.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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Everyday Magic Spells And Rituals For Modern Living

Book: Everyday Magic Spells And Rituals For Modern Living by Dorothy Morrison

Is it time for a change? Is it time to improve your life with a better job, a happier home, or more romance? Then you need Everyday Magic by Dorothy Morrison! This is magic for modern Wiccans, and for everyone regardless of their religious affiliation. It is filled with hundreds of spells, chants, rituals, charms and formulas for incenses and oils. Every one is tested and powerful yet easy to use.

Everyday Magic is a well written book and it fit into my everyday living just as if it had been written for me personally. The modern day methods of dealing with the "old ways" of the craft amazed me. To go to a thrift store and pick up a cheap blender instead of trying to do so many herbal blends with the mortar. I was so mermerized with so many of Dorothy's modern gimmicks. Being able to improvise has always been big with me, Dorothy seems to do the same in her book.

Sure, there are spells for romance and prosperity. Those are as important today as they were a thousand years ago. But this book also presents magic that deals with today's problems. Speed up your computer's modem. Make sure your luggage arrives safely; ease labor pains; free yourself from anger; find a parking spot. These are all things we need and that you can do by following the simple instructions in this book!

One of the roadblocks to successful magical workings that many people face is finding the proper oils and incenses. Morrison's solution: Make them yourself! But don't use the old techniques that take hours, days, or even weeks to accomplish. Instead, you'll learn how to use common appliances such as a drip coffee maker, a blender, and a crock pot to create your own powerful incenses, oils, washes, brews, and more. What a practical timesaver!

And saving time in today's world is what this book is all about. Of course, if the spells, charms, rituals and techniques weren't practical and effective, saving time would be meaningless. Well, what you'll learn here is powerful -- and is presented by a woman who has been a Witch for more than 20 years and taught on two continents!

Dorothy Morrison has a daring point of view that magic is not just compatible with technology--the two can actually help one another. Since technology has made our lives more productive, surely it can enhance our magic too. (Have you ever thought of making your herbal infusions in an automatic-drip coffeemaker?) Technological assistance with magic is only part of the story. Morrison has filled a grimoire with charms that protect from car trouble and ensure the safe and timely arrival of luggage while traveling, and spells to keep a computer from crashing, which makes life in the 20th century a little less harrowing. Rather than fighting the progress of the electronic age, Morrison has tapped into the wealth it has to offer, and she shares her discoveries with anyone adventurous enough to try them.

The spells and rituals in here are all based on today's available materials. Trying to find something called dragon's blood was not easy for me. In this book, Dorothy makes it all so simple and still so effective. Spells of interest to the modern twentieth century housemate and businessperson. Spells and rituals that make so much sense and are so easily adaptable for my and others active lives.

I recommend, as I have many times, reading this book. I have read many and find this one to my liking on a high rating of "Way to go, Dorothy Morrison"
Excellent book and will keep an eye and ear open of reports of others from D. Morrison. Age, gender, and type of path are not even a stoppage point here. For all and then some.

Find Dorothy Morrison's book in amazon.com:
Everyday Magic Spells And Rituals For Modern Living

Suggested free e-books to read:

Lady Sabrina - Exploring Wicca The Beliefs Rites And Rituals Of The Wiccan Religion
Richard Alan Miller - The Magical And Ritual Use Of Herbs
Talismagick - Love Spells And Rituals For Love And Relationships

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

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

Food Magic

Taste, touch, feel, aroma, shape and color. What do your senses tell you about food? Do some foods feel more powerful than others? For example, what do your senses tell you about a lemon? Powerful? If so, what power do you find? Imagine how many hours it spent soaking up the sun's energy over an entire season before turning into brightly colored sour citrus fruit.

Garlic? Garlic has held a wide variety of magical uses by cultures all over the world. (But it doesn't take magic to tell us that garlic is something powerful!) Besides its powerful aroma, garlic is unlike most foods in our kitchen or herbs in our jars -- because garlic is still alive! If left alone in the back of the refrigerator, it will sprout new life. If planted, it will take root and grow. Perhaps one magical energy in garlic is its own life force. And like any living creature, whether animal or vegetable, this life should be treated with respect. Honor it briefly before making it part of your magical dinner. Be thankful for its gifts.

Hot peppers -- powerful? To this day, wreaths of hot peppers are hung on doors as protective charms to bless homes in Arizona and other places in the American southwest.

What do your senses tell you about sweet foods? Powerful? Remember, the text book definition of a "calorie" is a unit of energy. Can this energy be used magically? Perhaps it is no accident that high-calorie sweets like cakes or honey were often used long ago as offerings to Deities.

Besides our senses, we can better understand food by looking at the specific function it performs in nature: roots absorb, stems transport, and flowers are reproductive organs! What about milk? Milk is a gift from "The Mother." What about seeds? Who gives their seed as a gift? Do seeds still hold a tiny spark of life? Is a seed a catalyst that joins with the fertile Earth to help Her bear new fruit? Think of this the next time you enjoy a wedge of cheese made from milk, or a cup of coffee, made from beans. Perhaps food brings "nutrition" on both a physical and metaphysical level because, like us, food has both body and spirit. Remember this as you plan your balanced diet.

What about the color of your food? Do tomatoes, red meat and strawberries all have something in common? What about aroma? Are some foods powerful enough to actually "radiate" their energy throughout the entire room via their aroma? What about shape? Perhaps my favorite "magic circle" is the one formed by a tasty pizza. (And cut in eight slices, it can even become a mini Wheel of the Year!)

Can we learn things from nature's food chain itself? Plants soak up sunlight, and through photosynthesis they build themselves from the moist soil. It takes both Sun and Earth to birth new life; through our food we take in a balance of both. And when we eat from our own garden, we are taking in and growing closer to the land upon which we live. The "Earth" can be a very vast place -- or our own back yard.

The food we eat, and the energy it brings, stay with us for a period of time. Within each of us is the water we drank today, the protein we ate last week, and maybe even the minerals we took into our teeth and bones decades and decades ago. It all becomes part of us; we carry it around with us like a magical charm, charged with the energies shared at mealtime. Remember this as you share a special dinner with a loved one, or nurse your hungry child. Try to make each meal become a happy, positive moment.

We often say that one food is for healing, and another is an aphrodisiac, and yet another works magic for a different purpose. If you recognize the very basic power in food, perhaps you can channel it anywhere you wish, similar to the way your home's electrical current can run a variety of appliances. (You decide what appliance to "plug in" according to your needs.)

We try so hard to develop a "sixth sense" when dealing with magic or spirituality. When developing your sixth sense, just remember not to ignore your other five! They too are a special part of your spirituality - not something separate. Food is only one example of this lesson. Let your daily surroundings speak to you on a variety of levels, including your everyday senses. You may be quite surprised with what you find!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual

Book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual by Denise Alvarado

Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the Voodoo and hoodoo rich culture of New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural anthropologist, psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and cultural consultant.

Denise Alvarado writes plenty of books and her success is mostly due to the demand on Nawlins or Louisiana Voodoo heritage being way more than the books that are being written and distributed. The best publications on Voodoo aren't even published. The best history books on Louisiana aren't even published mostly due to a movement by the Government to hide Creole History From America, being that having a class of people of color, that lived on the same or almost the same status as whites during slavery takes away from the American Narrative.

Alvarado states that in 1804, Napoleon invaded Cuba, driving out Hispanics from Cuba into Nawlins and this is how Voodoo came about in the city. That's simply untrue. Creoles were always in Louisiana since the founding of the state and Africans were being imported up the Mississippi River from the Congo and Angola, so Africans were already there and being allowed to worship on Sundays in Nawlins Congo Square. Now, where Creole Voodoo came in, was during the Haitian Black Slave Revolt, which didn't just drive out the white French Creole but a huge population of mixed race or mulattoe Creoles, who fled into Nawlins, during the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. In the entire French Quarter of Nawlins, during the 1800's there was only one Cuban Creole businessman who owned a cigar shop. The mixed race Creoles of middle class status, who monopolized the commerce, publications and businesses were the keepers of Creole Voodoo and not the one of two that came from Cuba. So Creole Voodoo in Nawlins predates her 1804 starting point.

Spain and Spanish heritage is not a huge part of Nawlins except for some of the architecture but many Creoles of Color from Cajun Country or Lower South West La. State keep trying to make Louisiana some Spanish colony when it was dominated by the French (99.9%)-so saying that Cubans ushered in Creole Voodoo couldn't be further from the truth. And just to be real about it, Voodoo dolls aren't really a staple to La. Voodoo but more of a creation of whites and Hollywood. I know plenty of people who practice Voodoo, like almost all of my ancestors, and dolls are definitely over hyped up but she is selling a book even though many of her attempts to lay out the history of dolls in Voodoo are shaky and her history on the practice of Voodoo isn't well connected to any legit history.

You can use dolls but Voodoo stems from the practice of ancestor worship, which predates Ancient Egypt and goes back to Cush or Ethiopia, which had an empire that stretched into the Southern U.S.-which many Creoles are of Choctaw or Cherokee mixed, herbal remedies and conjuring of spirits that one can learn to control and even keep. Being from South of Nawlins, in a Parish that has been destroyed by Oil Companies (BP)-Bush/Obama and the U.S. Army Corp, all of the Creoles did Voodoo and I can even recall shape-shifting rituals but of course I didn't write any of this down-YET!

For the first time anywhere, explore the history, mystery, and magick of Voodoo Dolls in this fascinating new book. Tracing the Voodoo doll's roots back in history, author Denise Alvarado provides an intriguing account of the most provocative and mystifying icon of the African-derived healing tradition, dispelling stereotypes and myths, while at the same time showing how to make and use Voodoo dolls to enhance every day living. Learn how to make three kinds of Voodoo dolls, find over 30 spells and rituals to find love, attract wealth, offer protection, and promote healing and happiness. Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the Voodoo and hoodoo rich culture of New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural anthropologist, psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and cultural consultant.

I hope complete idiot's do not buy this book because then they will become very dangerous idiot's. Excellent book one of a kind, and on it's own is a Complete Occult system. Southern Voodoo Dolls remain a living art and powerful medium. You get all the 'bang for you buck' with this buy.

Buy Denise Alvarado's book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual

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Lynn Thorndike - A History Of Magic And Experimental Science
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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

Magic It Is All In Your Head

Whenever I'm asked if magic is real, I feel the need to determine what is meant by "magic." More often than not, those who ask are referring to the magic they've seen in Harry Potter or Charmed ... the type where magic words and a magic wand or amulet give a person the power to fly or transform someone into something outrageous. While words and objects can certainly have power, for the most part, it's the user giving these things their power, and not the other way around.


There is real magic in everything around you, and you already have within you the ability to create a magical life for yourself. Wands, amulets, and especially words, are simply used to help you focus your thoughts. One of the best definitions of magic I found, was in "The 21 Lessons of Merlyn" by Douglas Monroe. The training of the WILL seemed to be the very heart of Merlyn's teachings. He tells his young student "The true definition of Magic, little one, does not center around spells or incantations, or the mysterious waving of arms... no. As is recorded in the Blue Book of our forefathers, true Magic is 'The art and science of changing states of mind at will.' And as we have learned by experience, action follows thought."


The bottom line is that YOU make it happen. Use tools such as relaxing sounds and music, fragrance or aromatherapy, and candles, stones, pendants or even wands, to help you focus your thoughts. But always remember, these are ONLY tools, and not the true source of magic. Real magic is all in your head!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Solomonic Grimoires - The Emerald Tablets Of Hermes
Thomas Voxfire - What Was Aleister Crowley
Michael Prescott - Darklore
Marian Green - A Witch Alone

Magical Ethics

There's a saying among the contemporary pagan community that "black magic is whatever works, White Magic is anything else." This stems in part from a misconception that black equals bad, white equals good, and that there are no gray areas at all. However, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Let's look at the word black itself, and figure out why it connotates evil. A big part of that is thanks to pop culture -- after all, in popular shows like Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the good guys are the "white light" people. The bad guys are surrounded by darkness. Another part of the whole black = bad concept is because of people who can't let go of their Christian upbringing, in which those who are righteous are surrounded by the light of God, and those who are damned will dwell in darkness.

The problem with this logic is that darkness in and of itself doesn't have to be bad at all. After all, how beautiful is a quiet night out in the country, miles away from the lights of a city? Have you ever walked in the woods at midnight, embracing the comfort of the shadows? Darkness is what lies in the soil, below the earth, before a plant grows in the spring. It is the long nights of winter, when we are drawn into our homes to embrace our families and count our good fortune. It is the inside of the womb, warm and nurturing. Even the darkness of the grave, of death itself, may be seen as welcoming.

Once we accept that dark isn't all that bad, it's a lot easier to look at the concept of "black magic" vs. "white magic." Even if we replace the words "black" with "negative" and "white" with "positive", we're still in a bit of a pickle, and here's why: because it is the intent that matters as much as the action. In other words, if someone performs magic that others might see as "negative," but does it for what they believe is an honest and just reason, then is it really negative magic?

To do magic is to say that you want to bring about change in the Universe -- after all, if everything were perfect, there'd be no need for magic at all. Any magic capable of causing change is also magic that can harm, simply by its very nature. Magic isn't some Super Spooky Power that we have -- it's a tool we can use to precipitate changes. Any tool can be used for helping or harming -- if I have a hammer, I can use it to build a house. I can also use it to whack people in the head. It's not the hammer that's "negative", but what I choose to do with it.

Case in point: in the early nineties, a serial rapist was terrorizing the women of a coastal city in the Carolinas. His reported victims, over two years, numbered at least two dozen, including a teenage girl who later committed suicide. A group of witches got together one night, and did a working calling for this man to be stopped by the Universe. A couple of weeks later, the prime suspect -- who was later convicted -- led police on a high-speed chase and wrecked his car, nearly dying from his injuries. He has lived since then severely handicapped, but he never raped another woman.

Negative magic, or no?

There are people within the wiccan and Pagan community who feel that any magic that affects other people at all is unethical, and they have the right to not perform any magic on, against, or for others. However, there are an equal amount of people who believe that change brought about by magic is acceptable, just as change brought about by mundane methods is acceptable. Chances are, the two camps will never agree, but what you can do, as an individual, is respect the beliefs of those who may disagree with you, whichever side you may happen to fall on.

Look at magic as a way to improve your life. You can use it to bring love to you, to gain financial abundance, to eliminate problems from your life. You can use it as a method of growth and self-empowerment. It can be used to help you fulfill your dreams, desires and goals. Can you use magic to help other people? Sure -- if they ask you to. If they haven't asked -- or if they've specifically told you NOT to do anything on their behalf, then don't.

Ultimately, only you can decide which forms of magic fall into your personal system of ethics. If you feel a particular course of action is wrong, then avoid it. If you feel it is ethically acceptable, and you're willing to accept the results of your actions, then so be it.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Jarl Fossum - Seth In The Magical Texts
Margaret Alice Murray - God Of The Whitches
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Witch Warlock And Magician Historical Sketches Of Magic And Witchcraft

Book: Witch Warlock And Magician Historical Sketches Of Magic And Witchcraft by William Henry Davenport Adams

The following pages may be regarded as a contribution towards that 'History of Human Error' which was undertaken by Mr. Augustine Caxton. I fear that many minds will have to devote all their energies to the work, if it is ever to be brought to completion and, indeed, it may plausibly be argued that its completion would be an impossibility, since every generation adds something to the melancholy record "pulveris exigui parva munera". However this may be, little more remains to be said on the subjects which I have here considered from the standpoint of a sympathetic though incredulous observer. Alchemy, Magic, Witchcraft — how exhaustively they have been investigated will appear from the list of authorities which I have drawn up for the reader's convenience.

They have been studied by adepts and by critics, as realities and as delusions ; and almost the last word would seem to have been said by Science — though not on the side of the adepts, who still continue to dream of the Hermetic philosophy, to lose themselves in fanciful pictures, theurgic and occult, and to write about the mysteries of magic with a aimplicitj of faith which we may wonder at, but bound to respect.

It has not been my purpose, in the present volume, to attempt a General History of magic and alchemy, or ii scientific inquiry into their psychological aspects. I have confined myself to a sketch of their progress in I England, and to a narrative of the lives of our principal magicians. This occupies the first part. The second is devoted to an historical review of witchcraft in Great Britain, and an Examination into the most remarkable Witch-Trials, in which I have endeavoured to bring out their peculiar features, presenting much of the evidence adduced, and in some cases the socalled Confessions of the victims, in the original language. I believe that the details, notwithstanding the reticence imposed upon me by considerations of delicacy and decorum, will surprise the reader, and that he will readily admit the profound interest attaching to them, morally and intellectually. I have added a chapter on the 'Literature of Witchcraft', which, I hope, is tolerably exhaustive, and now offer the whole as an effort to present, in a popular and readable form, the result of careful and conscientious study extending over many years. (W. H. D. A.)

Download William Henry Davenport Adams's eBook: Witch Warlock And Magician Historical Sketches Of Magic And Witchcraft

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

George Lincoln Burr - New England Place In The History Of Witchcraft
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William Henry Davenport Adams - Witch Warlock And Magician Historical Sketches Of Magic And Witchcraft Ocr Version
William Henry Davenport Adams - Witch Warlock And Magician Historical Sketches Of Magic And Witchcraft

Uc African Magic Traditional Ideas That Heal A Continent

Book: Uc African Magic Traditional Ideas That Heal A Continent by Heidi Holland

This book, like no other, provides an excellent Understanding of how magic is a part of peoples everyday lives, in everyday language without the anthropological speak. In it, you will see magic from the eyes of an african. Africa's traditional beliefs, including ancestor worship, divination and witchcraft, continue to dominate its spirituality. Readers in search of a better understanding of the continent will be enriched by this book's timely Exploration of sub-Saharan Africa's natural philosophy.

I cannot recommend this book more. I am surprised this book is not more readily available.

Buy Heidi Holland's book: Uc African Magic Traditional Ideas That Heal A Continent

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Medieval Grimoires - Arbatel Of Magic Or The Spiritual Wisdom Of The Ancients

Candle Magic

Candle magick is probably one of the simplest forms of magick to get started with. You need nothing but the candle and fire to light it with. Candle magick can also be seen to be complete within itself, as the body of the candle is made up from the elements of Earth, Air and Water. To complete you need fire and spirit. Fire is easy, and Spirit can be represented by the wick of the candle, as the wick is where the potential of the candle lies and will be unfolded with. With the candle lit, the flame of your intent will burn.

CANDLE MAGIC have been used for centuries for magick and ritual. We light candles at holidays, a practice that takes place in many different religions, cultures and traditions. Candles invoke the divine, they create a sense of ceremony and they are facinating to look at. Candles can be purchased anywhere, by anyone without anyone blinking an eye or suspecting magick and witchcraft!

Through their ability to help you to focus on your wishes they make your heart's desire come true. Try it next time you want to make something happen in your life! Below is a few simple guidelines for using candles in magick!

Unwittingly you probably performed your first act of Candle Magick when you where very young on your birthday, blowing out the candles on your cake and making a wish!

This tradition is based on the three principals of magick; being concentration, will power and visualization. You have to concentrate to blow the candles out, wish and see your dream coming true - absolute magick!

Important pointers on choosing a candle:

1. Choose a plain candle, of uniform shape. Having unusual or large candles can be distracting and is therefore not suitable for magickal use.
2. Candles used for magick should always be Virgin (unused) at the start of the ritual. Using secondhand candles or other materials in magick can have disastrous effects as they might have picked up vibrations from previous use, even if it was just on a dinner table!
3. It is a very good idea to make your own candles if they are for magickal use. It will increase the magickal potency of the candle many times.
4. It is very easy to make your own candles, simply heat the wax until liquid and pour it into a mould which is treaded with a wick. The wax should now be left to cool, after which the mould can be removed. Oils and colours can be added to the Wax for extra effects.
5. Charge your candle before using it in ritual. This can be done by annointing it with oils associated with the ritual or magick you intend on performing, or by simply touching it and charging it with your own energy.
6. Whilst charging the candle, visualixe the North and South Poles - rub the oil into the candle starting at either the North or South end and always brush in the same direction.
7. The oils used in the annointing of your candle should where possible always be natural fragrances.
8. Try to colour the candles according the the colour associations below.

There are many factors that play into the art of candle magic. As we know any type of magic that is performed will return to you three fold, whether it be positive or negative. Always keep The wiccan Rede “An harm to none do what thou wilt” in mind when considering your work. Always keep in mind that magic effect’s the entire world around you. Be very careful what you ask for, for it may well come true. The wording in any type of magic must not be taken lightly, be very careful, concise , and precise, make sure you have covered all possible bases.

Keep in mind that some Candle Magic has to be repeated over a period of days. Therefore, you will want to place them in an area that will not be disturbed. Do not choose a place where there is a tv, radio noise or disturbances of any kind. Keep in mind to not put candles near curtains and such, as you would not want to burn your house down. Candle magic should always be performed in a low traffic area. That is why a bedroom is really nice for such work.

Your Altar:
You may use anything that has a flat top.. I use an old trunk with a piece of plywood on it. Be creative.. As for a cover I use white because of it’s kind of a multipurpose color. Although some magic specifies a color then what ever color is specified should be used. Again, be creative... Keep in mind that candle magic is usually done in condensed areas so keep things as simplistic as you can, especially your candlesticks and censors.

Incense:
There are some who believe that incense is unimportant in candle magic. I cannot imagine performing candle magick without the incense. The type that you use may be specified in a specific spell, if that is the case by all means use that. Generally, I use three kings incense as well as vervain. Vervain gives the spell working a little umph. But then again nothing is set in stone.. Be creative.

Incense symbolizes Air... as the smoke rises our thoughts are carried up into the universe.

Preparing of the Practitioner:
Prior to your spell working prepare yourself a nice relaxing bath. Add a hand full of sea salt to get your charges set where they need to be. Light a few candles, turn off the light and relax. Clear your mind of the junk you have picked up through out the day. Visualize the water washing all the negativity away from you. It is very important that your mind be at ease and clear prior to any spell working.

Types of candles:
Any type of candle can be used for candle magic as long as it has been cleansed and consecrated prior to use. Although beeswax candles are higher in price than store bought candles, they are more powerful because they are produced from nature. As with any other tool, the candle made by the practitioner for a specific purpose captures the energy of the practitioner. Many experienced Witches will use only candles they have crafted themselves because of this.

Cleansing & Consecrating:
This is a very important step and should not be omitted. Cleansing removes all the negative energies that the candle has picked up along the way. As with all supplies you want your candles to to be as free of psychic debris as possible. Submerge the candle in sea salt and the ask The Lord and lady to bless it. I could give you the phrasing but I think it is better when it comes from your own heart.

Dressing Candles:
Dressing the candle with oil is as important as any other step. Use whatever oil you prefer or what a specific spell asks you to use. Personally, I use lotus a lot... but again that is my preference. what is important is the direction you dress the candle. To bring something to you, rub oil on the candle in a downward motion from the top to the middle and then from the bottom to the middle.

To send something away from you...you rub the oil from the middle of the candle out to the ends. Never make a back and forth motion as this defeats the purpose. Dab the remaining oil from your fingers onto your third eye and on your breast bone. Then say the following:

“I cleanse and consecrate this candle in the name of the Lord and the Lady. May it burn with strength in the service of the light.”

Then state your intent or the purpose of the candle.

Astrological Associations for Candle Magick

* Aries -Red
* Taurus- Green
* Gemini -Yellow
* Cancer- Silver
* Leo -Orange
* Virgo -Yellow
* Libra -Pink
* Scorpio- Red
* Sagitarius -Purple
* Capricorn -Black
* Aquarius- Any Colour
* Pisces -Mauve

An absent coven member can be represented by a candle representing their sunsign, or if you are doing a spell for someone you can represent that person with a candle representing their sunsign.

Candle Colors

White

* The Goddess
* Higher Self
* Purity
* Peace
* Virginity
* (substitutes any other color)

Black

* Binding
* Shapeshifting
* Protection
* Repels Negativity

Brown

* Special Favors
* To Influence Friendships

Silver

* The Goddess
* Astral energy
* Female energy
* Telepathy
* Clairvoyance
* Intuition
* Dreams

Purple

* Third Eye
* Psychic Ability
* Hidden Knowledge
* To Influence People in High Places
* Spiritual Power

Blue

* Element of Water
* Wisdom
* Protection
* Calm
* Good Fortune
* Opening Blocked Communication
* Spiritual Inspiration

Green

* The Element of Earth
* Physical Healing
* Monetary success
* Mother Earth
* Tree and Plant Magic
* Growth
* Personal Goals

Pink

* Affection
* Romance
* Affection
* Caring
* Nurturing
* Planetary Good Will

Red

* Element of Fire
* Passion
* Strength
* Fast action
* Career Goals
* Lust
* Driving Force
* Survival
* Blood of the Moon

Orange

* General Success
* Property Deals
* Legal matters
* Justice
* Selling

Copper

* Professional Growth
* Business Fertility
* Career Maneuvers
* Passion
* Money Goals

Gold

* The God
* Promote Winning
* Power of the Male
* Happiness

Yellow

* The Element of Air
* Intelligence
* The Sun
* Memory
* Logical Imagination
* To Accelerate Learning
* To Break Mental Blocks


Recommended books (Free download):

Kenneth Grant - Magical Revival
Julian Wilde - Grimoire Of Chaos Magick
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Aristotle - Metaphysics
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love