Athame an Athame (Pronounced: Ath-Uh-May) Is Cauldron a (Usually) Black Handled, Double Sided the Cauldron Is a Symbol of Rebirth, the Blade, Ritual Knife

Personal Tradition Tools

Athame An athame (pronounced: ath-uh-may) is Cauldron a (usually) black handled, double sided The cauldron is a symbol of rebirth, the blade, ritual knife. Its purpose is strictly hearth, of abundance and of well being. symbolic. The blade is usually strait and Ancient Celtic tales dull. It represents the male aspect of di- tell of cauldrons that vinity and can be used to cast and cut a that no one ever went circle during ritual as well as to direct away from hungry and energy in much the same way as cauldrons that, when a wand. the dead were thrown into them, would bring Besom the dead back to life. A besom is a ceremonial broom. It These days, cauldrons is used to clear an area of nega- represent the female aspect of divinity, tivity, to establish sacred space the womb, and are used thusly in con- and for blessing and protecting junction with rods, wands, swords and the home. It is also used in mar- athames (depending on their size and the riage and other ceremonies to symbolize tradition) in symbolic representation of the end of one thing and the beginning The Great Rite. of another. Censer Boline A censer is a vessel that is used to hold A boline is a functional ceremonial blade. smoldering charcoal (from a fi re or self- It is usually kept sharp only on one side igniting disks) upon which one burns the of the blade, which is often curved. You incense..be they herbs, resins, barks etc will sometimes see a hand scythe or small sickle called a boline. The boline is used Incense for cutting herbs, carving and inscribing Incense is a resinous base, often mixed words into candles and other things. with additional herbs or essential oils Tools and burned to release fragrance. sachet designed to protect against harm while travelling may be hung from a rear Poppet view mirror. A sachet to protect against More commonly known as the Voodoo theft may be tucked into a purse. Or a Doll, poppets can be used for various sachet to bring good luck may be carried sympathetic magic in someone’s pocket when they visit the spells. Poppets can casino. be made out of wax, cloth, plant material, Scourge clay or paper mache. The scourge is a It’s always best to ceremonial whip. make them out of It may be used something burnable during ritual to so they can be destroyed when you are demonstrate hu- done with them. Poppets can be used for mility before the curses and spells to control the will of Gods, but more another, but most often they are used in often it is used healing and love spells. as a tool to aid in achieving altered Sachet states of consciousness. A sachet is a small cloth bag that is either stitched or tied closed at the top Scrying mirror and contains herbs, crystals or other A scrying mirror is usually (but not al- small items carefully selected by a magi- ways) a black refl ective surface, rather cal practitioner to bring about a desired than a silvery one. As its name would change in the area the sachet is kept or suggest, a scrying mirror is used for scry- for the person who carries it. For exam- ing. It is used as a focal point for medita- ple, a sachet stuffed with items to draw tive scrying and sometimes just for medi- money may be kept in a cash register. A tation. Sometimes the practitioner will Tools see images in the mirror itself, but most Wand often the mirror aids the practitioner A wand, or a rod, is a stick that has been into settling into a meditative state and carefully gathered and prepared to be answers and images come to the practi- used for ritual work. They are associated tioner’s mind aided by the relaxed state. with masculine energy and the element of air Staff or fi re The staff represents the mas- depend- culine aspect and is associated ing on with air or fi re depending on the the tra- tradition. It is used to direct en- dition. ergy, to establish sacred space, to tap out Wands are used for pointing and focus- hypnotic rhythms and for leaning on. ing energy, and for stirring. a full moon night Literature

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Ritual Groundwork Sacred Space Altar Arrangements Elements of Circle Casting Basics of Circle Casting

1. Purify the place where you will cast your circle. Purify physically (clean up) as well 4. Represent the elements in the as spiritually (take your hands, or four quarters of your circle. Place broom, athame or wand and direct something that represent Earth in positive energy into the area, to push the north, Air in the east, Fire south away negative energy). You could and Water west. Bless (or ask for try using witch hazel to cleanse the consecration of) these things. Be area - a couple of drops in each cor- sure to have some food and drink to ner of the room and round the perim- share with the spirits, to thank them eter of the circle should be sufﬁ cient. and to replenish your energy.

Call up the circle. 2. You may physically determine 5. Take your the bounds of your circle. Do this by magick weapon, whether it be hands, drawing a circle on the ﬂ oor, sprin- a broom, athame or wand, and walk kling salt water in a circle, or by lay- round the spot where your circle will ing a cord in a circle (make sure you be thrice, clockwise: “Cast the circle tie it). Some traditions say the circle thrice about, to keep the evil spirits is usually as wide as you are tall. out.” State the purpose of the circle. Many people have different ways of calling up the circle, mine is in the 3. Place all the objects you will “Casting” section. be using in your ritual inside the circle. If you have a list, check them off as you go. Basics of Circle Casting

6. Invoke the elements. spirits 8. Do whatever it is you want to and deities you wish to work with. do in your circle. Remember: “An it Call them to the objects that repre- harm none, do what ye will.” If you sent them. Take each of the objects must leave the circle before you are that represent the elements around done, cut a doorway (quite literally, your circle, ﬁ lling it with the power envision a doorway being cut from of each of them. the edge of the circle, up, to the side, then down again). Reclose the circle once you’re back in. 7. Meditate for a while now. Meditation or astral projection might be the main act, or it serves 9. Close the circle when you’re just to shift your consciousness. done: pay respect to whatever deities you invited, thank the elements before you remove their representa- tive objects, and ﬁ nally undo the casting by casting in reverse. Casting Casting

Before you begin: consider every- one’s bathroom needs. Sounds silly, urify but it is very distracting. P Physically tidy the area before you begin any work. This creates a healthy work environment because just as you can change your feelings by changing your behavior, you can change your inner state by changing your outer state. Next, you will spiritually clean the space. Many traditions call for a besom sweeping around the area of the circle three times clockwise (deosil). As you walk around the perimeter, imagine all negative inﬂ uence being swept from the area. etermine D You may wish to mark the outline of your circle, especially if you are new to casting circles. Over time you will be able to tell where your circle’s boundaries are, but until then it is a good practice. It is also a good idea for others to see - and therefore not stumble into - your circle. Casting

lace P All items you need for your spellwork or ritual within the circle. Though this seems a bit mundane, it is a very crucial step. This helps eliminate the need to leave the circle once it has been raised. Leaving the circle weakens its structure. Use a checklist if that will help you remember.

Some say that cats can enter and exit a circle without damaging the structure at all. This would be a big reason why a lot of witches tend to keep cats as pets. ilence S Your phones, watches, clocks, anything that would disturb you during your ritual. If you have people over, or dependants, you should take timing into major consideration before working your spell. Always give yourself more time than you think you need, because time is fl uid in the circle. It is as they say, “Time fl ies when you’re having fun.” Casting epresent R the elements in the four quarters of your circle. Place something that represents Earth in the north, Air in the east, Fire south and Water west. Bless (or ask for consecration of) these things. Be sure to have some food and drink to share with the spirits, to thank them and to replenish your energy. Some do this after calling their circle. all C up your circle. My favourite way to do this is to stand where you want to end up in the circle with your arm outstreched. Point your fi nger (wand, athame) at the ground, along the line you want the circle to be and walk in a circle three times deosil. As you do this imagine a stream of blue light forming a circle around you and your space. Picture the light expanding upwards and beneath you, forming a single sphere. If you have a hard time thinking of what it would look like try watching the animated Atlantis: The Lost Empire in the fi rst 5 minutes when the city falls, or Glenda’s bubble in the Wizard of Oz . When you reach where you started clap once and say: “This Circle is sealed!”

See:First Steps To Solitary Witchcraft: Ins Practice and Life Beneﬁ ts . By Marie Bruce Casting nvoke I the elements. spirits and deities you wish to work with. Call them to the objects that represent them. Take each of the objects that represent the elements around your circle, ﬁ lling it with the power of each of them. I like to think of each element coming to the circle one by one from where I sit in front of my tools - I do not have a lot of room to work with. Do whatever feels right to you. erform P ` Meditate for a while if you wish. Some people choose to meditate before invoking and some choose not to meditate at all. It is all up to you. Do what you need to do in the circle. If you need to leave at any time, remember to cut a door and reseal it once you’re back in. lose C the circle by moving three time around the circle widdershins. Imagine the blue light being drawn back into you (your wand/athame). Esbats Lore Rituals Sabbats Imbolc Ostara Beltane Litha Lammas Mabon Samhain Yule Rites + Rituals Crafting a Spell Days of the Week

Sunday Thursday Health or healing, success, prosper- Legal matters, business, politics, ity, creativity, conﬁ dence, hope, employment, bartering, honors, good physical strength. fortune, logic, material and ﬁ nan- cial wealth. Monday Psychic development, dream work, Friday intuition, visions, emotional bal- Love, friendship, partnerships, fer- ance, women’s mysteries, karma, re- tility, sensuality, money, artistic incarnation, home and hearth, beau- pursuits, hamony, new projects, ty. beauty, soulmates.

Tuesday Saturday Passion, courage, destiny, goals, Protection, neutralization, binding, strength, action, sexuality, swift manifestation, discipline, family, movement, energy. duty, completion.

Wednesday Communication, writing, education, public speaking, wisdom, intellect, motivation, prediction, memory. Colours

Red Purple energy, strength, passion, love, ca- spiritual power, psychic ability, am- reer goals, courage bition, third eye, success, independ- ence Orange business goals, career goals, justice, Silver success, ambition, energy telepathy, clairvoyance, intuition, dreams, astral energy Yellow learning, breaking mental blocks, Black conﬁ dence, persuasion protection, repelling, binding, banishing, meditation Pink romantic love, peace, nurturing White peace, purity, spirituality, higher Green self, consecration, divination, clair- ﬁ nances, luck, physical healing, voyance, healing abundance, growth, fertility

Blue wisdom, protection, calm, creativity, patience, astral projection, prophetic dreams Colours by Purpose

Protection with pink or red), purple (spiritual love) green, white, red, blue, silver, black, brown (for pets) Truth whtie, yellow, silver, green (for wisdom), Purification dark blue (for justice and legal matters) white, light blue, silver, black (for banishing unwanted energies) Banishing black, dark red Healing and Health green, white, red, blue, purple (for men- Binding tal aspects) black, white (for a more gentle effect)

Blessing Stop Gossip white, light yellow, silver, green (for red, black, dark green (use with black) mother earth), light blue Power Book Blessing red, bright blue, orange (for vitality) white, silver, light yellow, purple Beauty Money pink, yellow (conﬁ dence and charm), red green, silver, gold, white (use with green (courage and attraction), purple (for fem- or silver), red (mainly for success) inity)

Love Psychic Powers pink (sweet love/affection), red (passion- purple, white (for wisdom), green (for ate love, sexuality, and lust), white (use divination work), dark blue (for intuition) Herbology Spells, charms, and more Recipes + Potions Terminology Terminology

ALTAR Forms, facets, or personas of Deity: for A raised structure (as a square or oblong example, Brighid, Iseult, Eos, and Kore erection of stone or wood) on which the are all aspects of the Maiden, and the various tools of witchcraft are placed Maiden is an aspect of the Goddess. and candles and incense burned to a deity. ASTRAL PLANE The invisible “other” world that is un- ANIMISM seen from our material/temporal world, Belief that a spirit or force residing in another dimension of reality. every animate and inanimate object, every dream and idea, gives individuality to ASTRAL PROJECTION each. The related Polynesian concept of The process of separating oneself from man holds that the spirit in all things is the physical body in trance states in order responsible for the good and evil in the to visit other planes, times or locations. universe. ATHAME or RITUAL KNIFE ANKH The Athame is charged with the energy Egyptian “Cross of Life” which repre- of the owner and is used as a pointer to sents the union of male and female and deﬁ ne space (such as casting a sacred cir- was regarded as a universal life charm. cle) and as a conductor of the owner’s The symbol is a cross with a looped, oval will and energy. top. Also called the Key of the Nile. BANE ARCHETYPES An archaic word for bad, evil, destruc- Universal symbols that speak in the lan- tive. guage of the subconscious. They are the ideal images of deities and other powers. BANISH To magically send away or repel nega- ASPECTS tive energies or entities from the person, Terminology home, or ritual area. BOLINE A white handled knife used by a Witch BESOM for Craft tasks such as carving can- The witches’ broomstick. Often used to dles, making tools, chopping herbs, etc. sweep away negative energies from a Though it is not as sacred as the athame, space before casting a circle there. it is reserved for Craft work exclusively.

BALEFIRE BOOK OF SHADOWS The traditional bonﬁ re of the Sabbats, A book of spells, rituals, recipes, and still used in many pagan celebrations. other guides and materials written by a witch or coven. Also called the Book of BELTANE Lights and Shadows or grimoire. An ancient Celtic Fire Festival celebrated on May 1. The modern version still cel- BURNING TIMES ebrates the marriage of the Goddess and a term used by some Witches for the peri- the God, and the passage of the Goddess od of persecution in the Middle Ages and from Maiden to Mother. Fertility rituals later. It is in fact a misnomer in some are commonly a part of this Sabbat. places, as Witches were only burned in Scotland, and on the continent of Eu- BIND rope. In England and the U.S., they To magically restrain something or some- were hanged. one.

BLOOD OF THE MOON CALL UP A woman’s menstrual cycle and her most To invoke divine forces, as when one powerful time, especially if it occurs on a calls the Guardians of the Watchtowers Full or New Moon. before casting a circle. Terminology

CARDINAL POINTS therefore does not enjoy a particularly North, South, East, and West, often good reputation. marked by candles of green, red, yellow, and blue. CHARGE OF THE GODDESS Originally written by Doreen Valiente, CAULDRON the charge gives the story of the message A favorite tool of witches, this three-leg- from the Goddess to Her children. The ged cooking pot has many uses. It may High Priestess often recites the charge at be used to cook potions, for SCRYING, the Full Moon Esbat. and as a censer. On an altar, the cauldron symbolizes the Goddess. CHARMS May be a gemstone, amulet, talisman or CHARKAS other object that has been charged with Seven major intersections of energy lo- power for a speciﬁ c task. cated on the vertical axis of the body. Each is associated with a color and an CIRCLE area of the body. Within this sacred circle, two main activ- ities occur: celebration, and the practice CHALICE of magic. Celebration is most important A witch’s tool, which can be used to rep- at the major seasonal holy days, the Sab- resent the element of water and may also bats. At these times, the myths of that be used to hold the juice or wine for the particular holiday are enacted in ritual offering. drama, and dancing, singing, feasting, and revelry are all part of the festivities CHANNELING A New Age word for mediumship, chan- CONE OF POWER neling involves allowing a spirit entity Energy or power raised within a circle by to speak through the channeler. The pro- either an individual or group for a spe- cess is virtually impossible to prove and ciﬁ c purpose. After the power is raised Terminology and visualized it is released to work the DEDICATION magick. A ritual in which a Witch dedicates herself to the Craft and vows to remain CLEANSING steadfast to the path he/ she has chosen. The process of removing negative energy from an object or place. DEGREE Levels of achievement in a particular CONSECRATION tradition. Many traditions have three The act of cleansing and blessing an ob- degrees. ject or place by charging it with positive energy. DEOSIL Clockwise or sunwise movement of ac- COVEN tions in a ritual. A congregation of Witches, traditionally limited to 13 members or less. DIVINATION The use of magical tools and means to COVEN STEAD seek information on events, people and The meeting place for a coven. situations in the past, present and fu- ture. COWAN a non-Witch. Formerly used in a very de- DRAWING DOWN THE MOON rogatory manner. Still used in Masonic A ritual used during the Full Moon in Ritual to indicate the non initiate and/ which Witches invoke the power of a or pretender to “real craft”. Not often Moon Goddess to increase their power. used today among most Witches. EARTH MAGICK CROSS QUARTERS A form of magick in which the powers The modern name for the Celtic Fire Fes- of the Earth are sought and used to con- tivals duct ritual and magical workings. Terminology

transformed the object into an instru- EARTH RELIGION ment of its desires. A religion whose main tenet is that the worshipper is in harmony with the Earth GREAT RITE and with all life. Such religions oppose Part of the third degree initiation as well the idea that the world is a resource to be as some festivals, the Great Rite sym- subdued and exploited. bolizes the union of the God and God- dess. It is usually performed by placing ELEMENTS a knife into a chalice, though it may be Earth, air, ﬁ re, and water, plus spirit. performed by the physical union of a man and woman. EQUINOX One of the two times a year when the GUARDIANS sun crosses the equator Ceremonial magicians and some Witches call the Guardians of the Watchtowers FAMILIAR to guard the sacred circle during rituals. An animal, either a pet or a spiritual entity, who serves the Witch as a magical HAND FASTING helper. A Wiccan or Pagan marriage ceremony.

ESBAT IMBOLC Monthly meeting of a coven, usually Celtic name for Candlemas. held at full moon. There are about 13 full moons each year. Some groups also meet INVOCATION at the dark of the moon. A ritual to call energies into oneself from FETISH outside, sometimes in the form of a deity. Inanimate natural or cultural object be- lieved to have magical power, either from INVOKE a will of its own or from a god that has To call energies into oneself from outside, Terminology as in calling a Goddess or drawing down which symbolizes new beginnings and the Moon. creation.

KABALA METAPHYSICAL Mystical teachings from the Jewish- Pertaining to realities which are outside Gnostic tradition that formed the basis those of science, such as cosmology and of ceremonial magick and the Alexandri- ontology. an tradition. An elaborately structured Tree of Life is central to the system of MYSTICISM study. Also Qabalah and Cabala. The belief that one can achieve direct consciousness of God or truth through medi- KARMA tation and intuition. In mystic practices, In Hindu belief where the term originat- one attempts to merge with God or the ed, it is the idea that the good and evil a source of creation. person does will return either in this life or in a later one. Among Pagans, the the- OLD RELIGION ory is that whatever negative or positive Another name for Wicca. Also, Old Path energies one sends out will come back to or Old Ways. the sender in like kind. The “Three Fold Law” is a version of this belief. OSTARA The Sabbat celebrated at the Vernal LEFT HAND PATH Equinox, the second festival of spring. Also known as the Dark Path, this is the Symbolized by the egg, it is a time to cel- path taken by those who would oppose ebrate new life and sexuality. nature. Satanists are considered follow- ers of the left hand path. PENTAGRAM or PENTACLE A fi ve-pointed star (pentacles are sur- MAIDEN rounded by a circle). It is often used to The fi rst aspect of the Triple Goddess, symbolize Earth and its properties— Terminology stability, material wealth, the body, and practical affairs. Each point represents REDE an element, with the topmost one repre- Rule or law. The Wiccan Rede is tradi- senting Spirit. tionally stated as ‘An it harm none, Do as thou wilt’ stating that as long as you PAGAN harm no one (this include physical, men- A practitioner of an Earth Religion; tal, emotional, spiritual, ect. Harm) you from the Latin a country dweller. Also may do what you want. considered any religion that is not Chris- tianity. REINCARNATION The belief that one has lived before in PROJECTIVE ENERGY another lifetime, and that one will live The energy that one sends out either in- again after physical death. tentionally or unintentionally. In magick, it is the energy that is put into an RUNES object or thought-form to achieve one’s A set of symbols that are used both in goals. It is also the energy of power ob- divination and magickal workings. These jects that repel negative forces by send- symbols may be engraved in small pieces ing out positive energy. of wood for divination purposes. Runes that fi t one’s magickal goals are often QUARTERS carved into candles for candle magick. The North, East, South, and West parts of a magickal circle or other ritual area. MAGIC(K) (See also“Watchtowers”) A conscious direction of will to accom- plish a goal. RECEPTIVE ENERGY The energy that attracts or is magnetic. NEO-PAGANISM Gemstones carried to draw in love or A modern Earth Religion which borrows wealth have receptive energy. and adapts from the best of pre-Chris- Terminology tian Pagan religions, sometimes with trance states through drums, dancing, additions from contemporary religious ingesting hallucinogens, self-mutilation thinkers. and deprivation and virtually any means by which one might achieve an altered SABBAT state of consciousness. While in such a One of the eight seasonal festivals equal- trance, the shaman crosses over into an- ly spaced during the year, celebrated other world to get information for his by individuals and covens of Witches. people such as the cause of illnesses and Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, other misfortunes. The shaman is the Midsummer, Lughnasa, and Mabon. peoples’ link to the spirit world.

SAMHAIN SIGIL The Sabbat now celebrated on Hallow- A symbol with some occult meaning that een (October 31). This celebration marks may be used in magickal workings. Often the New Year and is a time for remem- a seal, sign or other drawing, it may be bering the dead and honoring the Crone carried or otherwise used to control the Goddess. It is also the ﬁ nal festival of power symbolized. the harvest season. SKY CLAD SCRYING The act of doing magickal workings or A method of divination in which one rituals in the nude. It is common in some gazes at an object (crystal ball, water, traditions such as the Alexandrian, as candle) until prophetic visions appear. well as among many solitary practitioners. Working sky clad does not imply an- SHAMAN ything sexual, but rather is an attempt A word derived from the Tungas lan- to remove all barriers to the energies with guage of Siberia, it is a generic term for which one is working. healers and spiritual leaders in tribal societies. Traditional shamans induced Terminology

SPELL A magical working directed toward the TOTEM achievement of some goal such as obtain- An object, usually an animal or plant, ing, banishing, changing a condition, revered by an individual or a particular etc. Sometimes refers to the verbal part social group. A group totem represents of the ritual. Very similar to a Chris- the bond of unity and is often considered tian prayer, but using herbs, candles and the ancestor or brother of the group’s other assorted objects to strengthen and members; marriage between those of one focus the “prayer” or spell. totem is often prohibited as incest. The group’s symbol and protector, the totem TALISMAN may be pictured on the body or masks, or An object carried for protection or oth- carved on totem poles. er goals that has been charged for that purpose. Examples are gemstones, shells, WARLOCK drawings and virtually any small object Derogatory term for a Male Witch. It’s that one may carry. original meaning, derived from the Old English “waer logga,” is “oath breaker” TAROT and it was used in reference to a traitor A set of 78 cards with pictures and sym- to the Craft during the Burning Times. bols that are used for divination by con- necting the reader to the subconscious WATCHTOWERS mind. The origin of the cards is unknown. Originally from the Enochian branch of Some guesses on the origin are from the Ceremonial Magick, now incorporated Romany (Gypsy) people, but that is un- into many “Traditions” of Wicca, these supported so far. are the four elemental “directions” or “quarters” (corresponding to the appro- TRIPLE GODDESS priate points on the compass) called to The one Goddess that encompasses three protect the Circle during its establish- aspects, the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. ment. Each of them have a correspond- Terminology ence between the compass point, an el- WITCHCRAFT ement, and (varying amongst different A magical path with many diverse tra- traditions) color associated with them. ditions derived from various cultural sources around which covens and indi- WHEEL OF THE YEAR vidual practitioners base their practices. The Pagan calendar that symbolizes the eternal cycle of time. It usually begins THE CRAFT with Samhain. Another name for Witchcraft.

WICCA WITCH A modern tradition of witchcraft based One who worships the Goddess, and on the old earth religions of Europe. The sometimes also Her Consort, the God; term comes from an Old English word practices magic; and considers her/him- meaning “to bend” or “to have wisdom.” self to be following the spiritual path of Witchcraft. WIDDERSHINS Counterclockwise motion used in magi- YULE cal workings or ceremonies. It means to The Sabbat celebrated on the Winter go backward and is sometimes used in Solstice, the shortest day of the year. In banishing magick. some traditions it celebrates the birth of the God and in others the coming birth.