Aquamarine - Psychic Awareness

A gentle cleansing tincture can be made by placing an aquamarine in a
glass of fresh water. Let this sit in full moonlight outdoors, if possible,
for three hours. Retrieve the stone and drink the liquid for purification
and heightened psychic awareness.

New Pot Blessing

To bless a new pot and promote a healthy growth of plants therein, light your favorite incense. Draw a pentagram on the inside and outside bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon, saying:

Blessings of earth for abundance.

Pass the pot through the incense, saying:

Blessings of air for fragrance.

Turn on the burner of your stove and place the pot on the flame carefully, saying:

Blessings of fire for purity in preparation.

Stir in a little water, saying:

Blessings of water for love.

Prepare a favorite food and share it.

Thanks to - Cerridwen Iris Shea

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Emotional Upset - Amethyst

When emotionally upset, stressed to the point of severe mental problems,
or when in any unstable condition, go to a place outside where you can be
alone. Hold an amethyst in your left hand. Pour out all your feelings, your
emotions, from your body through your arm, out your palm and into the stone.
Feel every pain, every emotional low, every hurt. Send it into the stonewith all the force of your innate magical abilities.

When the stone is nearly bursting with negativity, throw it with as much
force as you can muster. Scream, howl, choke out a shout as you throw the
stone. As you hand releases the amethyst, release the hurt as well. Know
that it is in the stone, that it is outside you, that it is now alien to you.

Calm down, breathe deeply, meditate for a few moments. Thank the earth
for its help, then turn around and leave your problems behind you.

The earth will absorb the hurt, leaving the stone free, but never bring
that stone into your life again.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

To Safeguard the Cook and Kitchen

Aloe has long been considered a magical/medicinal plant. Grow one in your
kitchen, or as near your kitchen as you can, to safeguard you from nasty
kitchen accidents such as cuts and burns. Dab some aloe gel on your major kitchen
appliances, tools, doors and windows to safeguard them as well.

Garlic is well known for its protective qualities. Place a bulb of garlic on
your kitchen window, or hang a rope of garlic in your kitchen. Do not ever
use these for food--remember, they are there collecting negative energy.

Periodically, remove the garlic and bury in the earth. Remember to thank the
garlic and the earth for their service to you.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Amber Stone Spell

STONE SPELLS

There will be several entries for Different Spells. If you would like a specific one please post a comment.

Protection - Amber

If you feel you are being subjected to heavy negativity, light a white
candle and place it on the ground or floor. Sit before it with a handful of
small amber beads or pieces, and using them, create a circle around
yourself. Sit within the circle while restoring your energy and closing
yourself to any and all outside influences. Repeat as necessary.

Protection - Amber

Place nine small beads or pieces of amber into a bath of very warm
water. Soak in the tub until the water cools, then retrieve the amber,
towel off, and carry or wear one of the beads or pieces until your next
bath.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Kitchen Witch Bottle

A Kitchen Witch Bottle will protect your food from contamination or burning.
There are many ways of constructing these, but I like to put three needles,
three pins and three iron nails into a jar filled with salt. Seal it tightly
and shake it vigorously nine times. Place three dabs of red wax along the
seal. While you're constructing your Kitchen Witch Bottle, visualize your
kitchen as a peaceful, safe place, full of delicious aromas, and savory
food.

Place your Kitchen Witch Bottle on a top shelf of your cupboard where it
will not be disturbed.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Creativity And Dreams

Dream books are filled with stories about how a dream provided the missing piece of an invention, vital scenes in a novel, the finishing touches of a movie or some unique image in a painting. Dreams are so connected to creativity and to the creative process that to ignore them or to write them off as merely pleasant interludes is to cheat yourself.

Dreams provide fodder to each of us in unique ways. Some dreams are literal and some are symbolic. Some are bizarre while some are ordinary. They can be terrifying or fun, regardless of the particularities of the dream, it is our dream and intimately connected to the creative process that churns inside of you every day of your live.
Dreams are the conduit through which we connect to each other and to the deeper parts of ourselves. Dreams, by their fundamental nature are magick.
Here are a few guidelines to recall your dreams and how to enhance your creativity with them.
Before you fall asleep at night, say out loud that you would like to recall the most important dreams of the night. If you are trying to find a solution to something, then ask that the answer come to you in your dreams and that you will remember it in the morning.
Back up your request with a gesture. Put a notebook beside your bed or under your pillow so that when you wake you will be able to write down what it is that you recalled. You might even jot down your request and date it. Make any notes the next morning about what you remembered. Sometimes the act of trying to write down our dreams when you are sure you have not remembered any is enough to trigger some recall.
Pay attention, any dream fragment that you remember may be related to your request, even if it does not seem like it is. Do not judge it. Just write down the fragment and record it. Forget your left-brain censor!
Cliché – yes! – but if at first you don’t succeed keep trying! It is true! If you spent thirty or forty years forgetting the bulk of what goes on while you sleep, then you can bet the wheels of remembering are a little rusty! Keep making your requests and sooner or later you will have a powerful and significant dream and you will remember the characters, the nuances and the texture.
This might not sound like spell work but it is. You are bringing your will, emotions, intent and anything else you can muster to create a solution to your request. It is visualization in another form.
Judith Orloff writes “My safest place is in my dreams, there I become centered. I inhabit a form that feels more fluid and I effortlessly replenish myself with images, energy, tones that are a bigger stretch to accommodate otherwise.”
Each of us must befriend our dreams, they are like old friends who listen to us and offer a new perspective on what we are looking for or what we need.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Kitchen Witch Purification Spell

No time to cast a circle and perform a long purification ritual?

No problem!

Into a large enamel saucepan, add:

two minced large onions

five minced cloves of garlic

two tablespoons dried rosemary

two sliced lemons

two tablespoons of crushed black peppercorns.

Cover with three quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil. Let the steam permeate the
house, carry the pan carefully through the house into each room so that the steam can filter into every nook and cranny. When this is finished, open the windows and let the wind blow through to take away the last remnants of day-to-day tension and stress.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Fire Magick

Many a spell has been cast over a blazing hearth or candle flame. On a winter’s eve, a fire is the perfect focal point for divination or spell casting. To bring a wish into your life follow this spell:

To make a dream become real,
Upon the winter fire scatter
A pinch of clove and dried orange peel.
Bind together three twigs –
One oak, one hawthorn, one ash.
Think of your wish; it will come to pass.
Place the twigs upon the fire,
Watch them burn
And you will receive your desire.
As the winter fires burn, the seasons turn.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

In Praise of Dagda

Our thanks we offer to the Father God
Whose cauldron pours his plenty on the land,
A flood of fragrant beauty and rebirth.
He blesses seeds that lie in fertile sod,
And shelters us beneath his mighty hand.
Our thanks we offer to the God of Earth
Whose harping leads the seasons in the dance,
With measures bright and graceful, steps so grand.
He blesses all the minstrels in their mirth,
And beckons lads and lasses to romance.
We seek him as a ship seeks out its berth,
The beach grown thick with thyme and goldenrod.
The priests may whisper of such things in trance –
But Dagda is the one who shouts our worth.

- Elizabeth Barrette

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Holly

The holly was a deeply masculine symbol to the Celts, one that represented the God and his polarity with the Goddess. Its magickal and ritual uses are numerous, and so are its gifts.

Often we don’t know what it is we really need. We’re usually pretty sure we know what we want, but when we get it we end up reminded of the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for.”

During the Holly Moon, approach the holly as the embodiment of our father God, and ask if you may take a sprig of he plant. Place it under your pillow for the next seven nights. As you ready yourself to fall asleep, pray to the God for enlightenment. Look to your dreams for answers. During the day, be aware of things you haven’t noticed before or opportunities that present themselves unexpectedly.

- Edain McCoy

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Knot Magick

The simplest form of knot magick is to tie nine knots in a cord, alternating them from each end and working towards the center. Concentrate on what you wish to achieve, and then release it into the knot. There are several variations on this accompanying chant:

By the knot of one, the spell’s begun
By the knot of two, my wish come true
By the knot of three, the magick’s free
By the knot of four, my will be law
By the knot of five, the spell will thrive
By the knot of six, the magick fix
By the knot of seven, my words to heaven
By the knot of eight, the magick create
By the knot of nine, this thing be mine.

Put the cord somewhere safe and leave it as long as you wish the spell to work. When you wish to undo the spell, undo or cut the knots.

You do not have to use heavy cord for magick - thread or ribbon will work too. It doesn’t have to be nine feet long, but it does work best if the measurement is in some multiple of three: three inches, three feet, six inches, six feet, or centimeters for that matter, and so on.

You might use different numbers of knots for different purposes, according to the laws of numerology:

One: unity and wholeness, healing, Sun magick
Two: duality, choice, the emotions, Moon magick
Three: creativity, production, action, Mars magick
Four: foundation, wealth, communication, Mercury magick
Five: expansion, growth, joyfulness, Jupiter magick
Six: love, beauty, harmony, Venus magick
Seven: limitation, ending, binding, Saturn magick
Eight: dissolution, endings, beginnings, balance, Pluto magick
Nine: three times three, the number of the Goddess

You can enhance the magick by using a thread or ribbon of the appropriate color:

Red: life, vitality, health
Pink: love
Blue: healing, peace, spirituality
Black: endings, negation of ego
Green: growth, creativity, wealth
Orange: optimism, joy
Yellow: thought, mental activity
Purple: power, assertion, confidence
White: spirituality, protection

Use a little imagination and the uses of knot magick are unlimited.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Ogun Speaks

With hammer and with forge I come to you,
Bestowing tools for tasks that men must do.
I bring to you the magick of machines,
Concerned not with the ends, but with the means.
I come to civilize the wilderness,
And beat back all the jungle’s fetid press.
I speak to you of work and war and death
In whispers borne on brave ancestral breath.
So do not fix on me the solid blame
If you dislike the content of the news;
I gave to each of you the steel and flame,
But what you did with them was yours to choose.
As you are all my children, know my name…
And next time, take more care with what you use.

- Elizabeth Barrette

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Alder Tree

The alder tree is highly water-resistant, and as such was used by ancient Europeans to build edifices near or under water. Its power in magick is resiliency. It teaches us to bend but never break, to go with the flow and accept positive change.

If you find yourself in a rut, or if you are having trouble accepting that which you cannot change or control, alder can give you the courage to move forward.

Find, make, or buy yourself a simple alder limb and consecrate it as your wand of changes. When you find yourself resisting that which cannot be changed, take your wand and tap it on each of your chakra centers while saying:

Alder stronger than waters flow,
Help me learn that I must grow;
Not all things can be my way,
Let me learn this lesson today.

- Edain McCoy

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Testament to Anubis

Anubis is the night before the day,
The shadow’s hidden wisdom, and the light
Of lambent eyes reflecting moon and star.
Anubis is the one gods obey,
In grave respect for both his bark and bite,
The measured words and steadfast crushing jaws.
Anubis is the warden from afar
Who watches when the time has come to weigh
A soul, and judge its life s wrong or right.
Anubis knows us all for who we are
And neither loves, nor hates, nor yet gives pause
In his eternal reckoning of score.
His care id for the balance and the laws
For justice is the jackal’s sacred lore.

- Elizabeth Barrette

Oils are used in innumerable ways in magick. Remember; always use oils with visualization and with power.

Most often, they’re rubbed onto candles, which are then burned in ritual. The magickal goal determines the type of oil and the color of the candle used. The oil’s powers mix with that of the color and the candle flame. All these energies are further boosted by the Witch’s personal power and are sped toward the magickal goal through visualization.

Oils are also simply used to anoint the body to bring their energies within. Thus, rubbing a Love Oil onto the wrists, the neck, and over the heart infuses the Witch with love-attracting energies. Courage Oil similarly imbues her or him with the strength to forge ahead in the face of adversity.

A simple bath can be transformed into a ritual by adding several drops of oil to the water. Slipping into it and inhaling the fragrance, the Witch once again brings the oil’s energies inside.

As a general guideline, add 5 – 7 drops to 1/8 cup of base oil, such as jojoba. This dilutes the essential oil so that it will not irritate the skin, but you will still be able to smell it.

A recipe for SCORPIO OIL – wear as a personal oil to increase your powers.

3 drops Pine
2 drops Cardamom
1 drop Black Pepper

***Remember to mix with 1/8 cup of base oil.

For more oil recipes please send e-mail or leave comment with e-mail address and I will get it to you.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Snow Magick

Snow is nature’s purifier. It insulates plants and seeds against winter’s fury and cleanses the earth. Snow is the perfect element for winter rituals. To remove megativity from the home, try this snowball spell:

As the moon wanes, make a snowball and stand outside your home. Hold the snowball and visualize red light streaming from every window and door, collecting in the snowball. See the light changing from red to blue. Place the snowball on the ground as you say:

“I release all negative (or name a specific problem) and let it return to the earth.”

Let the snowball melt naturallly. If you live in an area without snow, use ice. Before winter purification rituals, place snow or ice in a white bowl and let it melt. Anoit your forehead, heart, feet and magickal tools with this water. Then proceed with your spell.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Pine Trees and Magick

Pine Trees and Magick

Pine trees were already ancient by the time our earliest ancestors gazed upon them. Against the frozen landscape the pines stood strong, silent, and majestic. Since they are ever green, they came to symbolize youth, strength and eternal livfe. We honor the pine at Yule, a custom later adopted by Christianity. To protect your health and youthfullness during winter, approach a pine tree when the Moon is new. Walk around the tree three times, chanting:

“As this circle is round, we are bound.”

Remove three green needles from the tree; give thanks and carry them home. Bind them with threads of red and green. In early spring, during a New Moon, release this little bundle into a running body of water. Repeat this spell again when winter comes.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

In Praise of Brigid

To Brigid we give thanks for hearth and flame,
That keep us warm through winter’s bitter cold,
An outward sign of inspiration’s light.
To Brigid we give thanks for fair acclaim,
That scholars value more than mead or gold,
A feast to sate the sharp mind’s appetite.
To Brigid we give thanks for forge and steel,
A wealth of metal terrible and bright.
To Brigid we give thanks for herbs that heal,
That calm the fever’s heat and banish blight,
A blessing that we welcome in her name.
We lift our praises to her sign and seal
Before her altar, in her candlelight.

- Elizabeth Barrette

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Ash

The ash wand has long been a favorite of many magickal people. The power of ash is in its ability to remain strong and unyielding, and yet appear to change and bend with our magickal desires. He ash can help us see things as they are rather than how we want them to e, and this can help us to plan our next step no matter what goals we seek.

Find, buy, or make a wand of ash and spend three nights in meditation over it, asking it to open your mind to the truths that you don’t wish to see. Take your favorite divination tool – tarot cards, runes, etc. – and wave the ash branch over it three times clockwise, saying:

I call on you, old ash, my friend,
Wood that seems unable to bend;
Strong as a butt, and stubborn as youth,
Help me to see in this the truth.

- Edain McCoy

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Wind Magic

The winter wind arrives in my vally like an untamed stallion. It whips about the eaves and sighs through the trees. It whistles down my chimney, setting the flames in the wood stove dancing. Traditionally, the winterwind was believed to bring messages from the spring realm. Following Celtic magical lore, try this form of divination. On a windy night, sit undisturbed at a little traveled crossroads. Ground and center. Listen: profhecies for the coming year can be heard. Weather permitting, working magic outdoors on a windy autumn or winter night will let you tap into the raw energy of the wind.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Salute to Sedna

You send us the fish and whales and seals.
Though far beneath the ocean tides you lie,
The shaman hears your low complaints and feels
The cool unshifting weight of your one eye.
Yes, Sedna, when the winds on wavecaps fly
Then we will send him down to comb your hear
And listen in compassion while you cry,
That you may make our wishes known down there.
Forget your sorrow, goddess, and your care;
Your people here on land know all you do
To keep us fed and happy in the air
Above the waters answering to you.
Your sacrifice supports the people well
And so we honor you with tales to tell.

- Elizabeth Barrette

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Herb Baths

A bag of herbs rests in a tub of warm water. As they soak, the plants emit tinted, scented water. The magickal bath begins.

Adding herbs to the bath is certainly one of the easiest forms of magick. In essence, a tub of water containing a bath sachet is little more than a huge pot of herb tea in which the bather brews. When herbs are placed in warm water they release their energies as well as their scents and colors. As such, baths are powerful tools in gaining psychic awareness, drawing love, speeding healing and granting personal protection.

To make the sachets, assemble all the ingredients in a bowl. Mingle the herbs with your fingers, poring your power into them and visualizing your magickal goal. When mixed, place about a handful or so into the center of a large square cheesecloth. Tie up the ends and add this to the bath. If you do not have any cheesecloth simply use and old wash cloth.

Bath sachets may be made up a head of time and stored in an airtight jar.

If you do not have a bathtub or if you simply prefer showers, make up a sachet in a washcloth and scrub your body with this after your normal shower, just before toweling.

As you step into the tub, feel the herb’s energies mixing with your own. Visualize your magickal goal. Do not make the herbs do all the work – invite their energies inside you and send them out to the universe(through your visualization) to bring your need into manifestation.

“BREAK THE HABIT” BATH
2 parts Rosemary
1 part Lavender
1 part Lemongrass
1 part Sage

to rid yourself of negative, baneful habits as well as their root causes: Place the sachet in the tub. After it has colored the water, step into it. Lie back in the water and visualize yourself happily avoiding the habit or other negative condition – smoking, drinking, drugs, depressions, obsessions and so on. Visualize the water absorbing your desire and need for the habit. See in your mind’s eye all the energy you’ve been giving to this negative condition seeping out into the water. When you’ve visualized all that you can, pull the plug and sit in the tub until all the water has drained out. Splash fresh water onto your body, washing away all traces of the taint. Repeat daily.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Imbolic

Celebrate this festival by draping the altar in white and silver. Keep the entire altar white – white candlesticks, white incense bowls, etc. Represent the Goddess with a figure of a horned cow. If you wear robes in ritual, honor Brigid in her guise as the goddess of the dairy by wearing white. With Neptune lending its glamour to the Sun at this time, add glitter to your robes with silver and “diamonds.” Let your imagination run wild.

Save snow from the last storm, or use crushed ice, and put it out in bowls on the altar. Scrub clean an old milk bottle or cream jar and fill it with fresh milk; freshly made mozzarella will round out your cakes and ale. Nestle all in the bowls of snow.

The planetary energies are particularly favorable this Sabbath for working magick for world peace. Place all the candles you’ll be using this year on the altar and start this ritual in the dark – this is, without lights. As your magick to strengthen the returning Sun. Dedicate and consecrate all your candles during this festival of lights, and consecrate your agricultural tools for use in the coming cycle of growth. This festival of new beginnings.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Finding Your Soulmate

Tools:
1 fresh rose
rosewood oil
sandalwood oil
1 pink candle
1 red candle
empty glass container

When:
On the new moon, preferably on a Friday

The red rose, which symbolizes the love you’re looking for, should be placed in a vase of water on your altar. Put several drops of rosewood oil and sandalwood oil in your burner. Place the pink and red candles in a shallow ceramic or glass bowl. Light the candle in your oil burner. As you light the pink and red candles, say:

Winds of love, come to me,
Bring my soulmate, I decree.
This I wish, so mote it be.

Imagine yourself with your soulmate. Be as detailed and vivid as possible in your imagining. Pour emotion into this visualization. Feel the potentiality of attracting this person forming in the air around you. Let the candles burn all the way down, so the pink and red wax flows together in the shallow bowl. While the wax is still warm, shape it with your fingers so the pink and red are fully commingled. Run cold water into the bowl so the wax doesn’t stick. Remove the pink and red wax, now newly shaped, and place near the door of your home.

On the night of the Full moon, toss the wax out, releasing it, and toss out the now dried rose.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Rowan

Rowan twigs and leaves have been used as talismans of protection for at least two thousand years. In Wales, rowan trees were planted in graveyards to protect the spirits of he dead.

With graveyard vandalism becoming a growing problem in cities, small towns, and along isolated country roads, you may want to use some rowan magick to protect the resting places of your loved ones.

Take a handful of rowan leaves, dry and crumble them, and scatter them about the cemetery, saying:

I call on the guardian of this keep
To allow all here in peace to sleep;
Standing watchful night and day,
Keeping harm and mischief away.
In peace and comfort sleep the dead
And spirits risen from the coffin bed;
Ward and guard this place of rest,
Rowan leaves protect the best.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Winter Magick

My dogwood tree has lost it’s blazing autumn color. Now the snow comering its branches, forming a lacy pattern of white. The little tree seems to blossom with woodpeckers and shickadees, who help themselves to the suet I hang there. As I refill the suet feeder, I see the first cautious tips of daffodils piercing the snow beneath the doogwood. Once again my faith in the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth is renewed. As the Earth Mother stirs, the quiet season melts into spring. Let the season of light begin.

Salute to Aningan

The northern sky is broad and flawless black,
A vast expanse from which most look away,
But Aningan the Moon is on the track
Of caribou and seals, and will not stray.
His barking dogs work hard to pull his sleigh,
Weighed down with fur, and ivory tusks, and meat.
Watch over us, Brave Moon. We pass your way
And come as brother hunters, on hushed feet.
We ask for your forbearance as we meet
The challenges laid out along the trail.
We brave the winter’s cold, the summer’s heat,
But know that with your wisdom, none shall fail.
Though harsh the path, your patience will not pall;
You serve as an example to us all.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

A Wiccan Blessing For A Newborn

"Blessed be your breath.
May your breathing be deep and relaxed.
May you breathe in power with every breath you take.
Blessed Be each breath you take.

Blessed be the fire inside you.
May your will be unbroken. And may it be as strong as fire, and as supple.
May your will be as strong as water, and as supple.MAy your passions burn truly and free.

Blessed be your fire, may it burn strong.

Blessed be the waters of your life.
May your blood be strong.
May the flow from your loin be joyful and fertile.

Blessed be all your life-waters.

Blessed be the earth of your body.
May your muscles be strong and fearless.
May your heart beat with love, soul, vigour and courage.

Blessed be your body which is the body of a God.

Blessed be your spirit.
May you always have health in spirit.
May you be whole.Blessed be your spirit.
May you always have community.
May you be prosperous in all ways.
May you love and be loved.
May your voice --both your complaints and your special offerings to the world -- be truly heard.
May you always be surrounded by the warmth of family & community. May you know the innate goodness of your being.

Blessed Be."

Blessed Be
Fairystar

Wiccan Food Magic

Use your imagination to do each of the following. You may find it more powerful if, at least for the first time, you do each rite in numerical order, before trying the next. This needn't be all in one sitting.

RITUAL#1
Everything in creation is made of the energy. Even something as seemingly lifeless as a rock is made of a living breathing -- yes, breathing -- dynamic energy. As you eat your meal, eat the food conscious of its raw power coming into you. Be specific: focus on just that most basic life force, nothing more sophisticated.

RITUAL #2
And\or eat the food conscious of its power specifically as a product of the earth. EG: feel the power of the earth in the food entering you as you eat it, then the power of the sun in it entering you, then the power of recycled stars in it entering you. You may want to try imbibing each of these three specifics one at a time, then any other traits the universe gives to all food.

RITUAL #3
A perfect mother, that's who the Goddess is. She does not judge us, nor condemn us. Her pleasure is to love us. Let your food fill you with Her love.

RITUAL #4
Food for battle: whatever traits you need for battle, imagine the food giving them to you as you eat.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

God Invocation

Our Sweet Lord, come to us.
You who were born worthy of her love,
just as she is worthy of yours,
Good God, come to us.
You who walk by her as her equal.
You who never leaves her side because of loveYOU who are her anointed one.
You who forever raises your head to bless and be blessed.
Good God come to us.
You whom we need not fearyet who is to be feared.
YOU who lead the spiral dance of ecstacy.
YOU who lead the spiral dance of ecstacy.
YOU who lead the spiral dance of ecstacy.
You who are the chosen onewhose dominion is like that of the sun over the land.
You whose green sap drives spring budding.
You who are the willow dancing and the willow dancer.
You who dies each year with the grain, and is living still in the loaf.
You who resides in us, as us.
Be with us now.
For we are your childrencome to you in love.
Bring us your pleasure, and share our joy.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Goddess Invocation

Mother of ALL things. Come to us.

You who it is a privilege and glory to fear. Come to us.

Bringer of grainBringer of rainCome to us.

Creator of motion, and of the spaces between all grains of sand.

Creator of culture Sorceress I summon you who was and are the first witch,

I summon you the sexual one I invite you who simply is.

Menstruating, you gazed into the dark curve of outer space, saw yourself, and saw yourself beautiful.

Fell in love with yourself.

I call you forth for when you bleed you create ALL things that cannot be created during birth.

I call upon you who loves and created God because HE is worthy of that love.

Fearsome one, child, Spring Dancer, hip swayer, You whose hot lust is tyrant, dragon, star dancer, star juggler, be here with us now.

Lady whose ecstacy brought forth God and all creation, be here with us now.

You, who when age deepens our wrinkles and wisdoms, reflect our hard won beauty back to us,

be here with us now.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

The Blessing Prayer

In the name of the Cosmic One, the Ancient Providence;

Which was from the beginning, and is for eternity;

Male, and Female, the Original Source of all things;

All-knowing, all-pervading, all-powerful;

Changeless, eternal.

In the name of the Lady of the Moon,And the Lord of Death and Resurrection.

In the name of the Mighty Ones of the Four Quarters,The Kings of the Elements.

Blessed be this Place, and this Time,And They who are now with us!

So Mote It Be!

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Witchcraft 101... So You Wanna Be a Witch? (part 1 of 4 )

by Wren Walker

Since its inception, the Witches' Voice, has been barraged with email asking the simple question... "How do I become a Witch"? Although, it has never been the mission of the Witches' Voice to actually teach Witchcraft we find ourselves constantly shocked at the aweful responses the Teenage Witch or new seeker receives from many that "claim" themselves "elders" of the craft. For this we apologize. We will never preach or claim to "have the answer".There are indeed many paths and many ways, it is our goal to give you the tools to get started and what to look out for.

Part 1... I Want To Be In A Coven. How Do I find One?

Many newcomers to the Craft begin to learn about Witchcraft/Wicca by reading a few books. It doesn't take them very long to discover that each author has a different slant on the subject. Information, even about the most basic elements such as history, circle casting or spellwork, can sometimes be not only different, but often conflicting. At this point, the newcomer may throw up their hands in despair and decide to find a real live person to help straighten all this out. And who can blame them?

When newcomers ask the question, "Where can I find a coven?", they are quite often taken aback by the response-or rather non-response- that they may receive to the inquiry. They are told to read more books, check out various websites and practice working on their own. This can seem like a 'brush off" to the seekers-sometimes it is!-and they may go away more frustrated than before. So how CAN the new seeker find some help- and perhaps eventually meet other Pagans?

STARTING OUT...So You Wanna Be a Witch?

There are some real issues that should be discussed right at the beginning of this section. The first thing that the seeker should know is that much of the "knowledge" that we possess today about Witchcraft and its origins is a combination of archeological data, the myths and legends that have been passed down and some historical documents that have been translated. The rest is conjecture and the "best guesses" of scholars who are working on "bringing it all together." In other words, no one can say for certain what the Ancestors really did or why.

That does not mean that we have NO knowledge-we certainly DO!- just that we do not have THE historical knowledge of the origins of the Modern Craft. Different interpretations will continue to abound both in written materials and in any teachings that you may encounter. There will never be only one Way of practicing Witchcraft. Get used to it. No one has the "one true answer"...and any teacher worth his or her salt will tell you this up front.

The above is your first introduction to what is involved in following the path of Witchcraft. You are expected to do a LOT of research on your own. This is actually a very healthy way to approach the beginning study of any Path you are considering. Read many, many books on the subject-both scholarly and those that some would consider in the "fluff' category. Why? Because this is your first foray into unknown waters. You should approach it with an open mind-ready to question and probe and ponder. I cannot overestimate how useful this first step will be. It can help you to formulate your own ideas about what this Path may mean to you.

Do not try to incorporate all that you read into one cohesive whole at the beginning. Look at whatever material that you are reading as a "theory" or "hypothesis" of Witchcraft. Some things will appeal to you right away. Others will seem "off the wall" or too fantastic to be of use. Accept or reject nothing at this stage; just keep on gathering information. You are doing "research". The more you read, the more a "coming together" of certain aspects will begin to form within yourself. Then you will have a foundation from which you can take the next step.

Part One-The INTEREST PHASE:You saw a movie (which shall remain nameless!), you read a few books, you stumbled onto a website, you talked to someone who said that he/she was a Witch-and now you want to know more! You have an "interest" in the Craft.
Many seekers at this point rush into the nearest message board area and cry out, "Teach me everything you know!" The reaction of others to this plea may range from the semi-helpful, "Do more research" to the out and out rude, "Those Wannbees!"
Either one of these responses will probably will leave you feeling unsatisfied (If not hurt!) and discouraged. Why can't you get the help that you are asking for? Well, perhaps you did not phrase your request in a way that would elicit the sort of assistance that you were really looking for.
Witchcraft is a Path with depth. It can not be summed up in "25 words or less". You need to learn how to ask SPECIFIC questions. This is where your previous research comes in. An intelligent and thoughtful question about a specific topic will generate an intelligent and thoughtful answer or opinion in return. Cite your sources. "This author writes that this is the way to cast a circle, yet this other author states it this way. Can anyone give me their opinion or experience on this? Does it matter?

"Interest Phase Do's and Don'ts...

DO... Read as many books on the subject as you can-on History, Myths, Poetry, Psychology and Science as well as books on Witchcraft or Magick.

DO... Make yourself a research library. Take notes or highlight passages that particularly interest you. If you have a question on what is written, place a question mark next to that passage. You should enjoy what you read at this stage-the enjoyment will actually help you to retain what you read better than struggling through dusty tomes on alchemy (unless you happen to love alchemy, that is!).

DO... start a journal. You can even call it a "Book of Shadows" if you want to. (It can just be a loose leaf notebook, These are handy for creating different sections.) Write down both the things that you have found to be of interest and the things that you would like to know more about.

DO... Look at Nature. Witchcraft and most other Pagan paths are called "earth or nature based" religions. What is Nature saying to you? Bring home rocks, sticks, leaves or other things you find that attract your attention. Now ask yourself-WHY did you bring that home? Write it down.

DO... get organized. Concentration is an important skill in Magic. Disciplining yourself to make regular entries into a journal and writing things down will help you to develop concentration.

DO... learn to ask SPECIFIC questions of other Witches or Pagans when you need help. And ask yourself some questions, too. "What do I think Witchcraft is? What do I find here that has meaning for me?"

DO... tell the truth. Can seasoned Witches tell if someone is "full of it"? Yes, they can and rather quickly, too! Be honest about what you know and what you don't.

DO... spend time alone to think carefully about how you feel and what you want for yourself. Some people think at the onset that Witchcraft will allow them to change other people or circumstances. But YOU will be the one who changes as you explore this Path. Do you really WANT to change?

DON'T... take it too fast. You have not made any commitments yet. You are doing research into a subject that interests you on a personal level. Jumping into a group situation at this point may hinder your development more than help it. You need to find out where YOU are going before you hit the trail with someone else.

DON'T... get discouraged. Sometimes it is very difficult to "go it alone." But the Craft is made up of individuals who bring something of value to the Path-as well as receive benefits from it. Many "old timers" have the "Grampa attitude". You know, the "When I was your age, I had to walk three miles to school every day...in the snow...with no boots...carrying my little sister...and a load of firewood..." Well, in a way that is true. It WAS much harder to be a Witch only a few decades ago. So be forgiving if they are not ready to hand you all their hand gathered "firewood" on a silver platter....you may have to walk a mile or two by yourself....in the snow...with no boots.....

DON'T... ask about joining a terraspace coven just yet. A coven is a close knit group working together. It is a difficult process to create an effective magickal unit. Most covens are not actively looking for new members, as each time a new person is added to the group, it takes time for the unit to re-adjust. There are some cyberspace "covens" that readily accept new members. If you look on it as a "training exercise", you could learn a few things. Ask around the Internet.

DON'T... be afraid because you are not part of a group. Many, many Witches find out after much trial and error that they actually PREFER to work alone. Traditionally the Witch WAS a loner...and many still are by choice. Often solitary Witches get together to talk and exchange information and then happily go back to their solitary practice. You CAN do a little bit of both.

Still "Interested"? Then you will probably want to go further...Keep Reading!

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Witchcraft 101...The Beginning Practice Phase (part 2 of 4)

by Wren Walker

Since its inception, the Witches' Voice, has been barraged with email asking the simple question... "How do I become a Witch"? Although, it has never been the mission of the Witches' Voice to actually teach Witchcraft we find ourselves constantly shocked at the aweful responses the Teenage Witch or new seeker receives from many that "claim" themselves "elders" of the craft. For this we apologize. We will never preach or claim to "have the answer".There are indeed many paths and many ways, it is our goal to give you the tools to get started and what to look out for.

Part 2...The Beginning Practice Phase... Greetings and Welcome Back to Witchcraft 101! Before you begin this next section, perhaps it will be helpful to do a little summation. If you have been working through the "Interest Phase" and the "Exploratory Phase", you will probably now be familiar with the following concepts and have some rudimentary knowledge in...
The basic history of Witchcraft and its cultural origins.

Some of the different Traditions and Ways that Witchcraft is practiced today.
The basic ethical guidelines, such as the Rede or Law of Three.
A basic overview of karma and reincarnation (or transmigration).
An understanding on how Magick works.
Deity Names and Aspects.
The Elements and correspondences.
Basic Tools of the Craft and their use in ritual work.
Some divination, visualization and meditation techniques.
Folklore and Mythology.

Great! This is the foundation from which your continuing studies will build and grow. Along the Way, you will stop often to ponder about new materials and visions. Remember to go slowly and to reflect much on what these concepts personally may mean to you. Again, it is very important to allow these new ideas to become integrated into your spirit. This is the only way that they can become "real' to you. They become a part of who you are and how you think and feel. One of the ways to help this process along is through "practice."

THE BEGINNING PRACTICE PHASE:

Chances are pretty good that you have already "dabbled' a bit with some of the techniques of ritual work. Even if you have only begun this in your mind, you are beginning to feel the stirrings of a desire to actually DO the workings that up until this point you have only been reading or hearing about. Where do you "begin"? Do you dig through your books and find a ritual that appeals to you? Do you have a specific need in your life right now? What have you put into your Journal or Book of Shadows that you have underlined as important or particularly relevant? What do YOU feel?

You will notice a lot of emphasis on "feelings" throughout these articles. What do "feelings" have to do with all of this? Well, Carl Jung said it much better than I ever could:
"Feeling informs you through its feeling-tones of the values of things. Feeling tells you for instance whether a thing is acceptable or agreeable or not. It tells you what a thing is WORTH to you....It is, like thinking, a rational function."

BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING:

Look for SYMBOLISM-The subconscious mind works through pictures and symbols. This is why the "inner" work that you do is the starting point of all Magick. Look over your magickal tools and objects. Choose one or two at random. Touch them. Hold them in your hands. Close your eyes. What are they "saying" to your inner self? What images do they bring up and what memories do they unlock?

You are using your IMAGINATION-You are not "making things up" when you are using your imagination. At least not in the sense that most of us have been lead to believe. If you have ever been reprimanded for "day dreaming" in class or at the dinner table, you may have to re-learn and "give yourself permission" to unlock this powerful tool again. Allow yourself some "flights of fancy" time each day.

Imagination is the ability to use your mind creatively. The word "creative" is linked with "creation". In a very real sense you are creating what you imagine. Just as a sculptor has an image of a work in his or her mind and then seeks to unlock the image from the physical materials at hand, so you create magick from the images that surface as a result of your meditations and desires. Have you used your imagination today?

Now put the symbolism and the imagination together. What symbols came into your mind and what did your imagination do with these images? Ask a question and see if the images change around or become more clear. Don't be surprised where you may end up. Your subconscious mind is a very rich and fertile place. It is the 'playground' of your spirit where anything is possible. And if you "wake up" with a start and realize that you have just spent 20 minutes in reverie, you are really getting the hang of it!

The next exercise will be your first step from the mental/spiritual into the physical/spiritual realm. This is where you begin to actually DO THE WORK. You will start slowly and build on each previous step. Do not rush this process. This is very important. Let me explain a bit.
Do you remember as a child a favorite story that you never grew tired of hearing? You knew the entire book by heart. Part of its "magic" for you WAS knowing the entire story by heart. And remember how you would correct the reader of the story if they tried to skip a part or changed the words? The story for you was a ritual. The retelling of it the same way over and over was important to you. Because there were no surprises or changes, you could relax and really get "into" the entire tale in your...gasp!...imagination. (Don't tell Grandma, but she was actually your first "Witchy" teacher!)

The gestures, tools and workings of your beginning ritual practice should be exactly the same each time that you do them during your Beginning Practice Phase. This repetition trains your subconscious mind to remember what is coming next. The subconscious is like the child who wants to hear that story the same way over and over. The "ritual"-repeated over and over- provides a safe and comforting setting for both your imagination and the symbolic elements to expand and grow. You'll have plenty of time to "get fancy" later on.

The Practice Phase Do's and Don'ts...

DO The BASIC RITUAL OUTLINE something like this:

Cleansing the Area.

Preparing the Altar.(nothing too elaborate, just a few of your favorite tools). Lighting the candles.

Casting the circle.

Welcoming the elements.

Welcoming the Deities.

Stating the Purpose of the ritual.

Magickal workings or devotions.

Raising the Energy. Releasing the Energy.

Grounding.

Thanking the Deities.

Thanking the elements.

Closing(or sometimes called opening) the circle.

Eating snacks!

There are many simpler or more elaborate ways to do a ritual. Many Traditions have their own formats as well. But if you know how to do this basic ritual, you will pretty much be comfortable in any open Circle that you may attend.

DO BEGIN! Start at the beginning of the above list. Make notes on each step in your journal as you begin to plan your ritual. How will you cleanse your working area? Salt and water? Besom (broom)? Incense? What will you place on your altar? (Making a list first insures that you will not forget something...."Matches, anyone?", is the most classical "oops"!).

DO... Take time to sit quietly and center yourself before you begin. Be honest about your feelings. Are you excited...scared....nervous? That is normal. This is important stuff and not to be entered into lightly. O.K.? Now you can begin, but...

DO... Tell the Old Ones that you are "practicing'. Although They already know this (and They are ready to help you), it will be reassuring to YOU to state this in case you end up feeling that you may have "done something wrong". You haven't. You are "practicing" and practice involves a certain amount of trial and error. No one 'upstairs' is laughing at you.

DO... Perform each step slowly and carefully. Let the symbols speak to your inner self. Take time between each step to feel how the ritual has affected you and changed your surroundings. As you ground, listen for answers...listen for advice...listen to yourself...listen to the phone ringing because you forgot to take it off the hook....

DO... Listen. We ask for things and then we often do not take the time to listen for the answers. Write everything down. Doodle impressions in the margins. These symbols may be important later.

DO... this same basic ritual over and over and over again. Rather than becoming boring, you will probably find that it becomes MORE meaningful each time that you do it. And your inner child's subconscious mind will be loving it! (Thanks, Grandma!)

DO... Continue to repeat the first Phases again. We are all constantly learning and going "back to basics" is always a good idea.

DON'T... worry about what you will say. Say what is in your heart. Use simple language-remember that "child" thing?-and DO remember to take deep breaths in between sentences. You want to 'alter your consciousness", not lose it!

DON'T... take any oaths or make lifelong dedications to the Old Ones. You have not made that decision yet. You are still trying to discover if Witchcraft is the right Path for you. This is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make in your life. Give it the respect and consideration that it deserves.

DON'T... be afraid. All those Hollywood movies may have made you a tad nervous about beginning actual ritual practice. Nothing like that will happen to you. You have done each step slowly and with much forethought. It is only when someone tries to go into places for which they are unprepared that the situation can get unpleasant. That is why teachers emphasize the NEED to go slowly. You HAVE taken the time to prepare yourself and done all the steps in order, haven't you?

DON'T... do the ritual either too often or too little. Formulate a regular schedule-say once a week- and stick to that for a while. If you really desire to do something on a daily basis, a simple candle lighting ritual in the morning or evening will do just fine. Begin to think about Moon phases, Holidays and other times to do ritual Work. Witchcraft is based on the "rhythms' of Nature and that will be the next step...

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Witchcraft 101 Part 3 of 4 The Rhythmic Practice Phase

Witchcraft 101: The Rhythmic Practice Phase

(part #3)by Wren Walker

Since its inception, the Witches' Voice, has been barraged with email asking the simple question... "How do I become a Witch"? Although, it has never been the mission of the Witches' Voice to actually teach Witchcraft we find ourselves constantly shocked at the aweful responses the Teenage Witch or new seeker receives from many that "claim" themselves "elders" of the craft. For this we apologize. We will never preach or claim to "have the answer".There are indeed many paths and many ways, it is our goal to give you the tools to get started and what to look out for.

Part #3...The Rhythmic Practice Phase How are you doing so far?

The first two lessons should have taken you about six months of study and practice to complete(if you worked at it diligently). You should now also be fairly comfortable doing the basic ritual from the previous lesson. Remember that you actually have to DO the ritual - not just read it, dream about it or visualize it. Get up on your feet, get your tools together, light those candles AND DO IT!

"Effort requires that you either answer 'yes' or 'no'."

Teachers can always tell if someone who comes to them has done the work. The first time that a student will do a ritual or take part in one with others will clearly show his/her experience or lack of it.If you have done the work, this does not mean that you will not be nervous your "first time out." You will! But you will also be amazed at how quickly this nervousness will pass as the ritual progresses. Your spirit and inner child. (Him/her, again?) WILL remember all those practice sessions and soon you'll be enjoying the whole thing immensely!

Along the way, DO Remember these four little things:

Life is always changing. Nothing stays the same.

To Know you have To Do. Experience requires action.

The quality of each experience - as you draw it forth and do it and live it - becomes the substance of your wisdom.

Yes, there will be a test on this. There is ALWAYS a test on this!
O.K., what's next?

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rhythms of Nature, Rhythms of Life:

The Neo - Pagan Paths that we are discussing - including Wicca and Witchcraft - are called "Earth - based" religions. The rituals and practices follow the seasonal changes of the Earth. Some Paths use the eight holidays of the Wiccan Wheel of Life; some adhere to the more traditional Four Fire Festivals calendar. Some groups have come up with their own cycles according to their belief systems. What calendar will you use?

When you have decided which Holiday calendar that you want to incorporate into your life - lesson, read all that you can about it. Take one Holiday at a time. Look for resources, descriptions and Myths about each Holiday. Think upon each one as both a special event and as a "marker" for the year.

During the Rhythmic Stage, you will explore the year through the cycles of Nature. And yes, this phase DOES last an entire year. There is no other way. You may begin to reach out a bit more during this time - exploring new contacts, taking some classes, attending public events - but the personal exploration of the Rhythmic Cycle of The Holidays should be your primary focus.
Why? It is in this cycle that you will learn much more about yourself and your place in the Universe. Everything that is exists as vibrational energy. Some things have a higher frequency, some a lower one. You will learn to "feel" the vibrational changes around you as the seasons come and go.( An essential skill to have in Magick! )

Do you get a little "spring fever" around April or May? Look at the earth. She is excited about this time of year, too! Buds are swelling on the trees and flower plants are poking their first leaves out of the ground as if to ask, "Is it safe to come out yet"?

Do you feel particularly invigorated in the Fall crisp air? Watch the squirrels run around and dig into the ground to hide their nuts. Hear the bees as they bob from plant to plant racing down the coming frost. "Hurry, hurry, hurry," seems to rustle the drying leaves from the trees. (I'm sure you get the idea.)
There Are Patterns

"I learn by going where I have to go." - Theodore Roethke.

Most Pagans have a belief in reincarnation or transmigration of the soul. All things in Nature are born (germination), grow, mature, reproduce, and then decline and die. The cycle begins again. This is why reincarnation makes sense to most Pagans. By observing the Rhythmic Cycle, we reflect on this process and we may come to think that it just "seems right". Not too surprising really. It's "natural," isn't it?

You have a place in this cycle. You probably were not brought up to think in this way. Most aspiring Neo - Pagans weren't. This year of study will show you not only where you fit into the cycle of Nature, but how your active involvement in these cycles can change your life. When you come to understand and work with the natural rhythms in the world around you, you will understand what it means to be Pagan.

Here are some reasons why "rhythmic learning" - and possibly reincarnation - works:

Effective experiential learning will affect the learner's cognitive structures (action theories), attitudes and values, perceptions and behavioral patterns.

People will believe more in knowledge they have discovered themselves than in knowledge presented by others.

Learning is more effective when it is an active rather than a passive process.

Acceptance of new action theories, attitudes, and behavioral patterns cannot be brought about by a piecemeal approach.

It takes more than information to change action theories, attitudes, and behavioral patterns.

It takes more than firsthand experience to generate valid knowledge. Besides experience, there needs to be a theoretical system that the experiencer tests out and a personal reflection on the meaning of the experience.

(The above principles come from the work of Kurt Lewin, one of the important founding fathers of social psychology who influenced the development of the Group Dynamics movement in the early 1940's.)

I'd add a seventh point - Make It Fun!

Hunt down seasonal objects for your altar. Think about colors for cloths and robes. Make a headpiece for each Holiday. Pick a mythic story and follow it throughout the year. Act it out!

Dress the part! Dance! Sing! Write a poem! Cook up a recipe! Adopt a "totem" animal for each season. Make a special storage box for each Holiday's special decorations. (Every Holiday will feel like Yule as you open your Holiday boxes next year. Add more goodies!)

"A man of faithful thought may feel in light, among the beasts and fields, the turning of the wheel." - Wendell Berry

WHY Are You Doing All This?

Transformation!

Transformation begins from within. Many people turn to a religion - or to magic! - in an attempt to change the things that they perceive to stand in the way of their 'true happiness." Many a love spell has been cast more to ease one person's own inner loneliness than as a real desire for an equal relationship with the object of their current "affections."

Inner transformational work is difficult, messy and anything but instantaneous. This explains the current nervous searching out of "just the right spell" by many a new seeker to the Craft. Hoping to somehow by - pass the true work involved in developing a magickal way of life, they hope for something in the order of a Hollywood special effect. "Just say the magic words..." and your insecurity problems, heartaches and financial worries are over! Uh - uh...it just doesn't work like that. Sorry, Mr. Spielberg....

As you work through the year of The Wheel, you will learn a lot about yourself.

Such as:

Respect - Both for the interconnection of all Life and for yourself.

Thought - How you can change your life by changing your thoughts.

Examination - Looking within yourself for answers and solutions.

Release - Letting go of old habits and emotions that no longer work.

Synthesis - How an individual can also be part of a whole.

Creativity - Trusting your intuition to help you make viable choices.

Action - Learning how to act rather than re - act.

Love - Being able to give and receive healthy love.

Strength - Inner courage to overcome circumstances without harm.

Transformation! - The realization that only you can change what is not working in your life. Only you can make your life what you want it to be. And only you - through difficult, messy and lengthy work - can make your magickal Life one of Love, Light and Power!

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

Witchcraft 101 Part 4 Integrity

Witchcraft 101:

Integrity... Making that choice! (part #4)by Wren Walker

Since its inception, the Witches' Voice, has been barraged with email asking the simple question... "How do I become a Witch"? Although, it has never been the mission of the Witches' Voice to actually teach Witchcraft we find ourselves constantly shocked at the aweful responses the Teenage Witch or new seeker receives from many that "claim" themselves "elders" of the craft. For this we apologize. We will never preach or claim to "have the answer".There are indeed many paths and many ways, it is our goal to give you the tools to get started and what to look out for.

Part #4 of 4

Integrity: Making a Commitment What? Are YOU Still Here? You have probably noticed -astute students that you are!- that I have made little mention of the Gods and Goddesses in this series. In fact, early on I cautioned you to NOT make a commitment to the Old Ones just yet. There is a real reason for this and it is now time to discuss it.

There has been a small but insistent clamor lately from those who wonder why no one is teaching the "deeper" things of the Craft. The first reason is that these are difficult issues to write about. The second reason is that they are even more difficult to actually work through. And the third reason? (I'm Celtic-I think in threes!) These are the issues that will determine if Witchcraft is really the religion for you.

You may think that you are sure already. "Of course, Witchcraft is for me! Why would I have been studying this for a year and a day if I didn't think this was my Path?", you may exclaim. Well, hold off on that impassioned vow. A few more moments will not make a difference...or will it?

What you have been DOING so far is studying and practicing. What you have been LEARNING is what all this study and practice means to YOU. You have been forming your own sense of...

INTEGRITY:

What is "Integrity"? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "integrity" means "The condition of having no part or element taken away or wanting; undivided or unbroken state; material wholeness; completeness; entirety." Or better still, "The condition of not being marred or violated; unimpaired or uncorrupted; a condition of soundness."

That is what you have been learning to do in the previous lessons. You have been doing exercises that have helped you to form your own 'faculty of judgment', your own 'condition of soundness'. You have been working on building your personal integrity. You have to know what it is that you believe before you can make a decision on what is right or wrong for you.
Many problems that now exist in the Pagan community would probably never have come about if more people had taken the time and made the honest effort to find out if Witchcraft really was for them BEFORE they made a commitment to it. Instead they find themselves in situations where they are forced to either, 1. admit that they made a wrong choice, or 2. try to change the religion to fit them. Instead of Witchcraft transforming them, some attempt to transform Witchcraft to suit their particular needs and desires. They are 'continually re-inventing' Witchcraft and Wicca to suit themselves!

"A PROMISE IS A PROMISE"...

If you have decided that Wicca is your religion of choice, you have committed yourself to following its basic principles. One of these principles is, of course, the Rede. If you are promising to abide by the precepts of "And It Harm None..", have you worked out what you would do if someone attacked you? Attacked your child? Does "harm none" mean you should become a vegetarian? Do you think that it is even possible to "harm none?" Well, that is what you are promising to do, isn't it?

Traditional Witchcraft may not have a "Rede" of its own, but Witches were known as the "Wise Ones" for a good reason. They were respected. They were fair. They were healers. They helped the community. They changed things. They made good decisions. They didn't promise what they could not deliver and they delivered what they promised. It is still the same today.
Too often folks make a promise in haste and then spend countless hours justifying why they had to break that promise "just this once" because of "conditions beyond their control." They have their reasons-lots and lots of reasons. Truth is, they just didn't give enough thought to their commitment BEFORE they made it. If you haven't given serious thought and reflection to both the results and obligations contained within a promise, do not make one! And most certainly not to the Gods...

"If someone turned your body over to just any person who happened to meet you, you would be angry. But are you not ashamed that you turn over your own FACULTY OF JUDGMENT to whoever happens along...'-Epictetus

INTEGRITY REQUIRES THREE THINGS:

1. The ability to discern what is right and what is wrong.

This requires reflection, time and effort. It is a difficult process but one which cannot be avoided by anyone who truly wants to be a spiritual person. How much easier it is to find someone else to tell us what to do, what to read, what to think and how to act! But then, who would actually be living your life? Who would be in control? Who is pulling the strings? If you don't think that you would enjoy being a puppet, then you simply must find out where your limits are, what you believe to be correct behavior and what you yourself are willing-and unwilling- to do.
Whether there is an "absolute" right or wrong is something that theologians and philosophers have been wrangling with for centuries. In fact the very thought that they could be wrong keeps many people from being willing to take a stand on anything at all!

The possibility that you may be wrong is lessened by careful study, investigation and thought. Of course, you may be honest about a belief. Later you may find out that you were honestly wrong! However, approaching each subject with an open mind; examining all the possibilities, answering all the 'what ifs" will help you sort this out. Make no mistake about it, this is the most difficult process that you will ever undertake.

Most people and societies do agree that some things are just "more" right than others. (See "Teachers and Magickal Ethics" at: http://www.witchvox.com/basics/teachers4w.html) You need to find out the measure of your own "rightness quotient". You need to do the work of creating your personal code of behavior and ethics. Then you can hold that as a standard for decisions on what religion, what group or what Path is correct for you. And you thought that just finding a coven was hard! Finding the right coven, the right place, the right religion can change your life for the better. The wrong choice can be devastating.

If you have not done this work, then you are basically leaving yourself open to follow anything or anyone -and to do anything that they tell you. Witchcraft and Wicca are religions of personal power and responsibility. If you are not willing to do the work of discernment and introspection-to formulate a set of integrated values for yourself-then Witchcraft and Wicca are probably not for you.

INTEGRITY MEANS DOING THE RIGHT THING:

2. Acting on what you have discerned even at personal cost.

Suppose the teacher that you have been studying with begins to introduce issues or behaviors that you just don't feel are "right'. Suppose that you now find that having sexual relations are a part of this group's workings? What if suddenly this loving coven wants you to do a death spell against someone who has given another covenmate a hard time? What about that "harm none' thing? What if you do not want to participate in this activity? But what if, by refusing to participate, you can no longer be part of this group? What will you do?

You may have put a lot of time and effort into a group. You may have even been initiated or attained a degree. These people are your friends-maybe you even think of them as your 'family." Now you face losing all this and starting over. The group may say bad things about you if you leave. You may lose your friends and their support. You have to decide- do you stay and compromise your own code of right and wrong? Do you leave? Where is your soundness, your faculty of judgment, your integrity now?

The truth is that most of us cannot say whether we really possess integrity until we are tested on it. Doing what we believe to be right-determined by the hard work of reflective discernment-even when it becomes personally painful tells us if we indeed have it or not. Didn't I tell you that there is ALWAYS a test? This is one. There will be others. Get used to it. Witchcraft and Wicca are religions that require that we as Witches and Wiccans are equal to the challenges that life brings our way. If you can easily compromise your ethical principles or can turn your back to what you know to be right action, then Witchcraft and Wicca are not for you.

INTEGRITY MEANS KEEPING YOUR COMMITMENTS:

3. You openly declare where you stand.

Now we finally get to the Gods and the Goddesses! Do you still think that you are prepared to stand before Them and pledge your life, your heart and your hands to Their service? For that is what the religion of Witchcraft and Wicca are all about-SERVICE.

It is not about gaining power-although that will certainly be a part of your magickal life! It is about enabling others to learn ways to empower themselves.

It is not about "getting more" for you-although you will benefit in untold ways. It is about "giving more" to others in Their Name.

It is not about changing others to suit or cater to you-although others will find you nice to be around! It is about changing yourself, so that you are better equipped to do the work of the Old Ones on this Earth.

It is not about fame-although others will seek you out. It is about being available to help those in need.

It is not about pulling others down-although what is not working will fall before you. It is about building others up and creating new and healthy systems.
It is not about financial wealth-although you will always feel "rich!" It is about sharing what you have with the rest of the community.

It is about keeping promises, going the extra mile, doing what is correct and for the good of all. It is about uprightness, honor, truth, healing, giving and service.

It is above all holding high the Names of the Old Ones, keeping to their Ways, honoring all Their children, caring for the Earth and being committed to carrying out whatever tasks that They have set upon you to do. It is about Integrity-Theirs, yours, ours.

Blessed Be

Fairy Star