Posted on January 26, 2012 by Mama C

This newsletter is a continuation of the one last week, Clearing Negative Energy,  that began the series on the Magical Household. Once you have cleared your home or office, it is important to take the next step – protecting it from further intrusion by negative energy.  Hardly a day goes by that I don’t receive an email from someone that needs help designing a ritual or writing a spell for protection. A nasty divorce, a child being bullied at school, being targeted for religious beliefs, jealousy, gossip….the reasons are many and varied. We have all been vulnerable at one time or another to the negative energy of others.

Protecting yourself magically involves building a field of energy around you, your property, and your loved ones that keep destructive forces away. The more steps you take, the stronger this field will be. There are dozens of different ways to protect yourself magically. This newsletter is meant to cover a few of the basics of general protection magic, using easily obtainable ingredients and simple to use steps.  As in last week’s newsletter, I will touch on both obvious, as well as more discreet, magical protections.

A simple and basic form of protection magic is by using oils. There are numerous different types of protection oils, from blended  ‘condition’ oils used in hoodoo and voodoo practice to the essential oils favored by hedge-witches. Common ones include Peace & Protection, Benzoin, Coconut, Devil’s Shoestring, Dragon’s Blood, Jinx Removing, Lilac, and Snake oils.

To use oils for protection:
• Anoint or dress candles during spellwork
• Add a few drops to incense, charm bags or sachets
• Anoint magical tools and altars
• Add a capful to bathwater, or use as a perfume oil
• Add to laundry or cleaning waters (mop or scrub water)
• Burn in an oil warmer or diffuser
• Add to inks for magical writings or journal entries
• Anoint walls, doors, car tires, door jambs, windows and thresholds

Incense is also an excellent way to add a protective aura to your environment. There are as many protection incense as there are oils, and they come in a multitude of forms, including sticks, cones, and powders. To make your own protection powder incense, mix together 3 parts clove, 1 part garlic, and 1 part copal. Crush in a mortar and pestle, then sprinkle with several drops of Dragon’s Blood oil. When you are ready to use it, drop some on a hot charcoal block to release the protective properties throughout your environment.

Gemstones and crystals emit potent energy for protection. They serve as a shield, deflecting negative energy and influences away from you and your environment. Agate has strong protective properties when it comes to health matters, and bloodstone is used when dealing with legal matters and business. Blue chalcedony and selenite absorb negative energy. Fluorite is an excellent stone for empaths and mediums, protecting from negative influences of the mind and psychic vampires. Garnet, especially when worn as a necklace, will reverse any jinx, hex, or curse.  Protective jewelry can range from a simple stone bracelet such as onyx or dZi, to a pentagram amulet charged specifically for protection.

A more complex, but enormously effective, way to use crystals for protection is to build a crystal grid in your home (see photo below). Using specifically shaped crystals such as hearts, pyramids or animals, or using hanging crystal prisms makes them look like charming decorations,  with only you knowing that they have a much higher purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charm bags are an excellent source of general protection. They can be carried in a pocket or purse, work around the neck on a cord, or placed in backpacks or a vehicle. To make a powerful charm for protection, do the following:

On a Saturday night during the waning moon, draw a pentagram in black ink on a small piece of parchment. Roll the parchment towards you and place it in a black drawstring bag. Add to the pouch a pinch of sage, a pinch of wormwood herb, a small piece of lead (fishing sinkers are perfect for this), and a strand of hair of the person who will be carrying the bag. Tie the drawstring of the bag using three knots. As you tie each knot, say “Keep all evil away from me, as I will so mote it be.”

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The Magical Household – Clearing Negative Energy

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Mama C

Being who I am and doing what I do, both personally and professionally, I am surrounded by the tools of magic and spirituality all the time. It is not necessary for me to hide or disguise any of the representations of my faith or my craft. I have a large working altar, used daily, right in my office.  My home is full of crystals, statues, brooms and other quite bold evidence that A Witch Lives Here.  I understand that this is a blessing, and not everyone has that freedom, so in these newsletters I will cover the readily apparent as well as the more discreet versions of the Magical Household.

Smudging is always my first recommendation to clear away the residual negative energy that comes from an argument with a spouse, dealing with a disobedient child, or any other negative emotional situation. It is also excellent for clearing away negative residue from extended illness or injury. Even without any of these, negative or stale energy simply builds up over time, so making a point to do a spiritual cleansing regularly is just simply a good idea. Doing a full spiritual cleansing doesn’t just consist of lighting a sage wand and waving it around for a moment….you should open all the doors and windows, and make sure that the sage smoke gets into every corner of every room. This takes a bit of time and focus, so I tend to do this when no one else is around to interfere.  If you are new to this practice, go to the blog to read the November newsletter on sage and smudging. There are many different types of smudge sticks – just choose the one that fits your situation and personal preference best. For instance, Sage and Copal is a ‘super-cleanse’ combination, and my personal favorite. Sage and Lavender is excellent for those who are dealing with anxiety and stress, and Sage and Dragon’s Blood invites increased power, so is excellent before ritual and spellwork.  Burning part of a Sweetgrass braid after your smudging invites positive energy in to fill the places where the negative has been dispelled.

Sage, cedar or copal incense is also a good cleanser, but works best for small spaces such as a single room. For  those with allergies or health concerns that don’t allow for the thick smoke of incense or burning sage, I recommend using Clearing Mist, Frankincense Mist, or Sage Mist. It works the same way as the burning sage, but without the smoke. Since burning sage leaves a strong residual odor, the sprays are also an excellent alternative for those who need to be more discreet about space clearing. Sage oil can also be used on doors, windowsills and mixed with mop water to help dispel negative energy. It can also be mixed with water in a diffuser, or added to boiling water on the stove, which can then be carefully carried around the house in place of smudging. Let the steam waft through rooms just like the smoke would – the residual odor is not as strong, and it doesn’t aggravate those with asthma or other health problems as much.

In the ancient art of Feng Shui, bells, chimes and gongs are the preferred tools of clearing a space, and for those that need it, utterly discreet. Some bells and chimes, such as the Feng Shui Gather & Protect Bell, have symbols that attract wealth or protection. Chimes and bells can be hung indoors or outdoors, or placed on mantels, shelves or tables to be used at will. When clearing is needed, simply walk through your home ringing the bell, focusing on driving way all negativity. Windchimes do this all on their own – just clean and move the chime to another location from time to time to keep them energetically active.
Candles, especially white candles, are often used to clear negative energy from a space. Since candles are so common, this is also a very discreet way to keep your home free of negative energy. Any type of white candle will work, and anointing the candle with sage, cedar or copal oil gives it extra cleansing power. Inscribing the candle (use a toothpick or candle scribe) with your desire before anointing it will help focus the cleansing properties also.

Selenite and onyx crystals are great deflectors of negative energy. Little bowls of these crystals, mixed with white sage and lavender can be placed around the home or office. Refresh them monthly with sage, lavender, or purification oil. They simply look like lovely decorations, but the combination of these herbs and stones packing a powerful cleansing punch. Use a stone or ceramic bowl, preferably black or white. Do not use metal – it can react with and become discolored by the oil.

In the October newsletter about Defeating the Negative, several situations were discussed that tend to create and pool negative energy. The most common of these is clutter. Clutter is a world class receptacle for negative energy. It grabs it (along with dust and detritus) and holds onto it like a child does a lollipop. Getting rid of clutter opens up your space for positive qi (universal energy). If you have a lot of dust and clutter, simply set a certain amount of time a day to deal with. Say “I will take 30 minutes a day to clear out my space.”, and stick with it. If you only have a little clutter, just take one whole day or weekend to deal with it….say, “I am going to deal with all of this at once.” You will feel the energy of your space to begin to change almost immediately. Do not let the clutter re-appear, as it simply defeats the strides you have already made.

Have a marvelous, magical, and prosperous week!

mama C

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The Cancer Full Moon

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Mama C
The full moon has long had an aura of mystery and magic about it. It is tied to the ebbs and flows of the tide, as well as the cycle of women’s’ bodies….the Maiden, Mother and Crone. Full moon mysteries  cross every culture and continent, and celebrations and ritual involving the  full moon go back beyond recorded time.
In many cultures, the full moons each month are  named, and the names often correspond to important events. In January, we see  what is sometimes called the Cold Moon travel through the sky. This month the
Full Moon is in Cancer, and occurs this upcoming Monday, January 9 at 2:30 AM  (CST).
Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, embodied by the Crab (or crayfish in some cultures) and is associated with domestic security, and balance in relationships. Use this Moon to work on bringing harmony and security to your  home and marriage or partnership. Protection and warding spells  for family and home are in order, as well as spellwork for peace and harmony between family members.
This is the first Full Moon of 2012, so it is also a  good time to do a full clearing and cleansing of your home and altar or sacred  space, such as smudging, burning   white candles, cleaning your  altar, and renewing  supplies. New tools and amulets or crystals may also be cleansed  and dedicated during this moon.
The full moon is always an opportune time of the  month for purging and cleansing, and since Cancer is ruled by the moon, it makes  this month’s full moon exceptionally powerful for these type rituals. The light  the full moon offers illuminates those things that are interfering with our  spiritual development. Once we have become aware of the things that are blocking  us, the easier it is to let go of them. Since Cancer also represents  stubbornness and indifference, this moon also is a perfect time for releasing ourselves from relationships or other parts of our lives that no longer serve
us, such as friendships or family ties that have become unhealthy, for relinquishing the pain of a hurtful or ended relationship, and for discharging physical and emotional pain.  This full moon is also ideal for rituals releasing or ridding ourselves of the other things in our lives do not serve us well, such as addictions to food, drugs, or sex, a problem
with dirt or clutter in the home or workspace, and an attitude of negativity.
Correspondences for the full moon:

 

Gemstones: Obsidian, amethyst, tourmaline
Colors: Purple, white
Candles: White, silver
Trees: Apples and yew
Gods: Herne, Apollo, Cernunnos, Mercury ,Khonsu, Sin
Goddesses: Artemis, Diana, Heng-O, Mawu, Selene
Herbs: Apple blossom,pennyroyal, mint family, catnip, Sweet Annie
Element: Air
A Full Moon Releasing Ritual:
This ritual is written for releasing the pain of a broken heart, but can easily be modified to help fight an addiction, deal with physical pain or grief, or rid oneself of something else. Just change the candles and the crystals to suit your purpose. I wrote it myself, so feel free to share as you wish.
This ritual takes a bit of time, so plan to have several uninterrupted hours before beginning. Make sure the moon will not be in Void of Course during the time you plan to perform your ritual. The VOC on Monday January 9 lasts from 8:25 pm to 10:35 pm CST.
You will need:
Smudge stick - sage & lavender is especially appropriate, but any type will do
Rose Salts or rose oil suitable for bathing in
A reversing oil, such as Double Action, Reversing, or Reversible
One red candle, one white candle, one black candle, one yellow candle, and a toothpick or candle scribe to write in the wax.
Note: 6″ taper or 4″ chime candles are typically used. If you are dealing with something particularly difficult, and really
struggling to recover, you might wish to use seven day pillar candles and burn them for at least an hour a day for seven days, while focusing on your goal.
A small piece of rose quartz or rhodonite, and a small clear quartz
A pinch of the following herbs – pennyroyal or catnip, flax seed, and any herb of the
mint family (spearmint, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, sweet basil, thyme, horehound, sage)
A small red or white bag made of cotton, flannel, or other durable material
Rose or lavender incense
Set your altar as your tradition or personal preference dictates, with the supplies and candles ready. Place the herbs and
crystals in a small dish in front of the candles. Open as many of the windows and doors (including closets) in your home as the weather or location allows.
Light the smudge stick and fan it until it is producing a good bit of smoke. Facing the north, move it around you in a clockwise direction, from your head to feet, while visualizing the smoke carrying away all of your pain. As you focus, chant these words three times:
Give me positive thoughts this day
Let all endeavors go my way.
Keep all negativity far away,
And that which harms completely at bay.
I set these words three times three,
As I will, so mote it be.
Walk around the house, getting as much sage smoke as you can in every nook and cranny. Let the smudging whisk away all residual negative energy from arguments, emotional distress, and any separation or break up. Make sure to thoroughly smudge every room, and even the inside and outside of your car and garage if it was exposed to any of the negativity. When you are done, carefully put out the sage.
Run a tub full of water as warm as you can stand it, adding in the rose salts or a few drops of the rose oil. Soak in the tub until the water begins to cool, focusing totally on the infused water soaking away all of emotional distress. Visualize yourself at peace and emotionally whole, and releasing the pain caused by heartbreak.
After your bath, return to your altar. On the red candle, starting at the bottom, carve your name, and “I release my pain.”.
Anoint the black candle with the reversing oil. If you wish, you may carve the name of your former lover or the situation you wish to end on it to symbolize the end of the relationship. On the yellow candle, from top to bottom, carve
your name, and “My happiness does not depend on outside things or people.” On the white candle, from top to bottom, write your name and “I begin anew.”
Light the incense stick, and light each candle in order (red, black, yellow, white).
While you light them, chant the following:
It is time for me to let you go
And give my heart some peace.
All the pain I carry now,
I will at once release.
Everything that we once shared
Is gone like yesterday -
So as of now I set you free,
And go my separate way.
The future now will bring me joy,
And I will begin anew
With open heart and happy mind,
And to myself be true.
After the candles have burned down, do the following:
Bury any leftover wax and wick from the red candle on the north corner of your property. Dispose of any leftover wax and wick from the black candle in a garbage receptacle off your property. Take any leftover wax and wick from the yellow and white candles, and add them to the charm bag. Add the herbs and crystals. Carry the charm bag with you in a pocket or purse until the next full moon.

Photo courtesy of Astrology Weekly

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Magical Symbols & Sigils

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Mama C

Sigils, signs and symbols have been used since the beginning of time, and cross all cultures and religions. They can be found everywhere from ancient cave paintings to modern temples. Before mankind had written language, he had meaningful symbols, and used them to draw power, mark a place or thing as sacred or dangerous, and to protect from dark forces.

Many times a spell will direct for a particular sign, symbol or sigil to be carved into a candle, written on parchment, or used in some other particular way. For instance, when doing a  money spell, a dollar sign might be carved into a candle. During a banishing spell, an X might be carved through a name or bad habit. Runic and tarot symbols are used to foretell the future.

Magical jewelry such as  amulets and talismans often have particular symbols on them to strengthen their power. The same can be said of altar cloths, chalices, cauldrons, and almost any other magical tool.  Signs and symbols can be used to identify a person, place or object as sacred or magical, and can identify herbs and potions as poisonous or flammable. People are ruled by signs as well – those of the astrological influences under which they were born.

Every different magical practice and religion uses different symbolism. Some of the basic symbols, though, cross many different traditions, though they might be used in a different manner in each.  These are:

The circle – Perhaps the best known of the basic magical symbols, the circle is a symbol of eternity and protection. The circle is simple, yet powerful – casting a protective circle is often one of the first things learned by or taught to the novice witch.

The square – Squares are used extensively in kabbalistic magic, numerology and in the making of talismans. Cards laid in squares are often used in Tarot reading to show the relation of one card or event to another. Crystals are often used in squared grids for healing and magical work.

The triangle – Triangles are another of the simplest and most recognized, but most powerful magical symbols….just think of the Egyptian pyramids, or a witch’s pointed hat! Triangles and points are used to draw or conduct power. They are also used to represent the elements, such as in the elemental pentagram below.

 

The pentagram – A pentagram is a five pointed star, and represents different things to different cultures. The pentagram isn’t just a star shape, it always includes the interior lines used to form the center and surrounding triangles. It was often worn by medieval knights, as well as Pythagorean philosophers, and has also been used in Christianity, Bahai, eastern religions and Judaism. For Wiccans, it is the most common symbol of our faith, and represents the four elements, with the top most point representing the ‘fifth element’, spirit. When the pentagram is surrounded by a circle, it is called a pentacle, and is most often used as jewelry or a talisman, such as an altar paten. Historical texts differ on the etymology of pentagram and pentacle, but many Wiccans view the symbols as interchangeable. Many people confuse the reversed pentagram with evil or Satanism, but in Wicca, it is most often used to represent the symbol of a second degree practitioner, or one who has been elevated from initiate.

The hexagram -  Sometimes called the Star of David, the hexagram is composed of two equal triangles, one pointing upward, and the other downward. It is often used to represent the balance between masculine and feminine, light and dark, and the elements (fire and water, earth and air). It can also be used to represent positive and negative, and the basis of spiritual or cosmic balance, as in the Hermetic saying often quoted in occult and magick, “As above, so below.”

If you haven’t before incorporated or studied magical symbols, there are a great deal of excellent books and websites that go into far greater detail. A few I recommend are:

The Signs & Symbols Bible
by Madonna
Gauding

Book of Celtic Symbolism
by Joules
Taylor

Secrets of Magical Seals
by Anna Riva

Signs, Symbols & Omens: an Illustrated Guide to Magical & Spiritual Symbolism by Raymond Buckland 

Have marvelous, magical, and wondeful holiday weekend -
mama C

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A New Year’s Eve Wishing Spell

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Mama C

A New Year’s Eve Wishing Spell

The New Year is always a time of reflection….a time to think about what we want to improve about ourselves and our life going forward. It is a time to ‘clean the slate’….a time to break bad habits, rethink goals, and renew faith. Even those who don’t practice magic look at the turning of one year to the next as a special, mysterious time. It is almost as if anything is possible!

The following ritual was inspired by a Birthday Wish spell sent to us by one our dear friends, Rosemary, who is a spiritual counselor and Wiccan teacher.

NEW YEAR’S EVE WISH SPELL

You will need:
one white candle
a cauldron or censer
a clean piece of unrecycled paper or parchment (use non-recycled so that nothing previously written on it affects your spell)
an envelope

On a clean piece of paper or parchment, write your resolutions or goals for the New Year. Ask for only those things that you really need and which you can reasonably obtain without harm coming to anyone. Things such as wealth or a new car are reasonable, but if you need to quit smoking, get healthy, or take better care with your finances, those things should come first.

Prepare your space and cast your circle as you normally would. Prepare your candle by carving your name on it, and anointing it with any oils or herbs that correspond to your desires. This spell is designed to be done at sundown on New Year’s Eve while the sun is going down and the moon is rising, but if that is not a good time, it can be done at sunrise on New Year’s Day when both can still be seen.

Speak the following:

I ask in the name of (whichever deity that you invoke) that, I (your name) be granted:

Turn to the North and read your wish list. After reading the list, say:

While Father and Mother are in the sky,
I ask, o wise ones, hear my cry!
These wishes that I give to flame,
Manifest to me by name.
Give to me this blessed power,
To succeed by day, and by hour.
I set this spell, three times three
As I will, so mote it be.

Light the list from your altar candle and drop it into your cauldron or censer.

Place the ashes in an envelope, and keep them in a safe place. On New Years’ Eve of the following year, bury those ashes, and repeat the spell as above. This way, the goals will continue to grow year after year, and manifest themselves fully.

Thank you all so very much for your patronage and friendship over the last year. Have a marvelous, prosperous, and magical 2012!

Blessings,
mama C

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