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I Want to Do Spells!
Well, I'm afraid you have come to the wrong
place. Magic is not like what you see on TV. There is no such thing as
"Buffy" or "The Craft" or "Charmed." These shows are made up by people who
have no idea what magic is. They just want to make something that looks
cool to get you to watch their television station. You are never going to
learn how to fly, or how to shoot lightning from your fingertips, or how
to light candles with your mind. These things do not happen in real life.
The first step to understanding magic is to understand that television is
make-believe.
That said, there are many things that witchcraft does
teach. Witchcraft teaches you to love yourself and others. It teaches you
the rhythms of nature and how to understand the language of the animals
and the trees. Witchcraft teaches people how to be kind and generous and
to see the good and the evil in everyone. Magic is not about getting what
you want. It does not work that way.
So Then, What is Witchcraft,
Really?
Witchcraft follows the rules of nature. Basically, if
something can happen, then you can make it happen. For example. Weather
changes, healing, speaking to animals (not actually speaking with words,
but with your mind), finding your true love, and feeling beautiful are all
things that you can make happen. Sometimes some of these things seem
unbelievable, like weather changes. Be advised, you won't be able to bring
down a tornado or suddenly create wind or a torrential downpour. Magick
works slowly, unlike the flashy crap you see on those cheesy TV shows. You
won't see any twinkle or lightning. And nothing is going to fly from your
fingertips.
Magic is the art of teaching your mind to make changes
subconsciously. The human mind is a powerful thing. It is strong enough to
make someone ugly or beautiful. It can even cause your body to heal itself
after severe physical and emotional trauma. Magic works on the same
premise as prayer and has everything to do with the mind. For example, you
have probably seen ways in which the mind can bring about change in your
everyday life. Sports players often use mind power to overcome obstacles
or push themselves to do things they could not otherwise do. Also when you
go to the doctor it can sometimes take a considerable amount of will-power
to get a shot or force your body to sit still for something painful. Have
you ever held back a gag reflex? Sometimes a person's mind power over
their body is so strong they can make themselves vomit just by thinking
about it. This willpower can help you to overcome obstacles in your life
and make changes within your body as well as without.
Why Won't Anyone Help Me?
Many teenagers find that on the road to learning about
paganism and witchcraft, few or no people are willing to help them learn
or to answer questions. There are two major reasons why teens are so often
ignored.
First and foremost, many pagans are afraid of the legal
repercussions involved in teaching witchcraft to minors. Whether we like
it or not, no one under eighteen years of age has any legal rights in the
United States. Parents have full control when it comes to shaping their
children and this also includes religious beliefs.
Unfortunately, many parents are also uneducated when it
comes to pagan religions. Even some non-religious families are disturbed
by the thought of their children learning witchcraft, even people who
claim not to believe in magic. Though it may not be the law, parents do
have the right to control what their children are reading, doing, and
learning on the internet. Fortunately for teens, there are ways of
overcoming these problems . Some teens host their own pagan websites and
are more than happy to teach others. Minors cannot be legally responsible
for anything until they reach eighteen years of age. Many teens also
prefer to learn from books. There are a number of good books that can be
purchased that are suitable for teens to learn from. A list of books and
websites suitable for teens is located at the end of this article.
The other reason teens find it difficult to receive
help, and the most important reason of all, is because most teens wanting
to learn witchcraft want to learn for all the wrong reasons. When teens
think of magic, they think of shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch
or movies like The Craft and Harry Potter. Television
producers know that in order to sell their product or boost their ratings,
they need to make something that will draw teens in. Because teens are so
vulnerable to what they see on television, they relate what they see to
real life. During this "midriff" stage, teens are generally still unable
to determine the difference between the TV world and the real world, a
problem that has become more defined since parents have relied on
television to baby-sit their children. As a result, lots of teens take
what they see on TV and look for someone to teach it to them, when TV
magic does not exist. Many witches find them selves inundated with emails
from teens wanting to achieve popularity, levitate, get rich, or force
someone to fall in love with them. I receive hundreds of e-mails every
month from teens who want to fly, shoot lightning from their fingertips,
or light a room full of candles with a thought. These things are
impossible to do. Never believe anyone who tells you that they can do any
of these tricks. They are lying. As a witch, believe me, I know. Don't you
think that if it were possible to do these things with magic, that
everyone would be rich, would be able to fly, and have the lover of their
dreams?
So, in retrospect, don't take it too harshly when you can't
get an answer for your e-mails. It may be that the person you are writing
to is just too afraid, or you are asking the wrong questions. If you are a
teen, your best bet is to study as much as you can from books and
websites. Once you have learned everything you can, you can begin asking
real witches questions you might still have on your mind.
Resources:
The Teen Spell Book: Magick for Young Witches - by Jamie Wood
Teen Witch:
Wicca for a New Generation - by Silver Ravenwolf
Southern Hemisphere Teens:
http://www.geocities.com/wiccaneast/
The Shadow's Scythe:
http://geocities.com/shadowofsalem2001/
So, What Can I Do With Magic?
Magic works as well as you believe it will. Some spells
will work better for some people than others. Unlike in the movies, there
are no ancient incantations that suddenly make magic work. Just like
prayer, it is best when you write your own spells. Magick should never be
used lightly, for fun, or to show off. Magic is sacred and should be
treated with respect (but, let's face it, you wouldn't be here if you
didn't want to know what it could do, right?). Most importantly, magic can
be used to heal and for protection. It can also help with money problems.
Magic won't make you rich or magically summon up a new sports car. Like I
said before, magic doesn't cause quick drastic changes. If it is an
emergency, however, magic can help you to get just enough money to get by.
If you are aching to get into a certain school, a little charm can help
you on your way. Sometimes simple things, like helping with chores,
keeping your garden healthy, and making your room feel comfortable, can be
achieved with a little magic. Remember, however, that you should never be
greedy using magic. Greed will cause spells to backfire on you, as will
hatred, anger, and the desire to harm another living being. Greed means
asking for money when you don't need it (getting something you want is NOT
a necessity), or trying to make someone do something you want using magic.
There is a big difference between need and want. People
need a home, food, love, safety, happiness, and good health. Wants
are things like popularity, material items, expensive clothing, and a
fancy house. Though it may be tempting to try and use magic for greed, it
just won't go your way. Test it if you like, but I promise you, the
repercussions will probably be more than you are willing to deal with.
Magic works on keeping things in balance and can be used to do so. You
must give in order to receive, kill to live, love to be loved, and do good
in order to receive good things. Always remember this.
How Do I
Tell My Parents?
You've read all about Wicca and you think you might be
ready to start really practicing it. Now, how do you tell your parents? Not
surprisingly, the biggest problem teens face when beginning witchcraft is
telling their parents about their beliefs and what they do.
The first thing you should remember is that no matter
how they may treat you, your parents DO love you. If your parents react with
anger, it is not because they hate you or want to punish you. It is because they
are afraid for you and fear that you might be doing something that will hurt
you. If your parents do react with anger, don't argue or lash out. Usually,
giving them some time and information about your new religion will warm them up
to it.
Obviously parents are all different, so there are
different ways of telling them. You Obviously would not walk up to your strictly
Southern-Baptist mother and say, "hey mom, just thought you'd like to know I'm
practicing witchcraft." Some parents are biased toward other religions because
anything else would make them feel as thought they are betraying their own
faith. If you know that your parents will disagree, no matter what, then you
should either break it to them more slowly and more gently, or you should think
about putting off practicing until you are older.
Many parents, on the other hand, are a little more open
than others to new ideas. You would be surprised how many parents will try to
learn more about something before saying no. Here is a good guideline for
breaking the news gently:
1. First, never use words like "witch" or "witchcraft." These words have a
history of negative meanings and they can give others the wrong idea about your
religion. Even the word "pagan" can give off negative connotations. Explain that
you are interested in "Wicca" as a religion and ask your parents if they have
ever heard of it. Because they will not know any of the lingo, you should call
sabbats "holidays" or "holy days." Stay away from words like "spells," "magic,"
and "voodoo." These words often frighten people who do not understand pagan
religions.
2. Never give your parents any reason to doubt you. If you act out or go against
what they ask of you, they will likely be unwilling to trust you with this new
"Wicca" thing. Do not lie, steal, or do drugs. Keep up your grades in school and
try to refrain from fighting with your parents about your beliefs. You should
set the best example you can. Wicca serves to better the people who practice it.
If your parents see that you are or have become a better person because of it,
they may be more lenient. If they think it is causing you to act out, or is part
of it, then they will be much less likely to take you seriously.
3. Do your best to let your parents understand that this is what you are
comfortable with right now and that you are serious about it. Parents like to
know that their children trust them and feel like they can come to them for
anything. Tell the truth about what you are doing without scaring them. For some
parents, it may take some getting used to. Just try to follow your parents'
rules and get them involved as much as you can so that they feel like they are a
part of your life and not ostracized from it.
You may want to print out the article at this link to
give to your parents.
How to Obtain Magical Tools
I often get letters from teens with no money wondering
how they can obtain the tools required for spells and rituals. These tools
are often costly and can leave young witches empty-handed when it comes to
supplies. Fortunately, there are several teen-friendly ways to obtain
tools aside from getting a part-time job.
First, you should realize that ancient witches did not
have money to buy fancy and ready-made supplies. Their tools were what
they had on hand. The entire practice, in fact, was based on making do
with what you have. To us, a cauldron is a somewhat arcane tool. To
ancient witches, it was just your regular run-of-the-mill cook pot. Wands
today are fancy crystal-encrusted metal centerpieces. Ancient Pagans used
plain wooden rods. Even the witches' broom was just a common household
tool. Here are some excellent alternatives for you to use in ritual:
--CAULDRON-- A cauldron need not be made of
iron. The symbolism of the cauldron is that of the womb of the Goddess. it
is also used to hold water for scrying and candles and herbs for spells.
The bowl will need to be a dark color such as black, blue, purple, or
brown. It can be a ceramic or glass bowl or a wooden salad bowl. I have a
beautiful wooden one I bought at a second-hand store for a dollar. Look
for bowls in thrift stores, dollar stores, and garage sales. You can paint
beautiful and magical symbols on the outside of the bowl or glue on glass
rhinestones and crystals.
--WAND-- Do some research on trees and wood
types before choosing the wood for your wand. Some witches say you should
wait for a wand to choose you, that is you find one on the ground and it
calls to you. While there have been quite a few instances of powerful
wands falling from trees and being found by their appropriate users, I
prefer to cut my own from the tree. There are a few reasons for doing
this. First, when you find a branch on the ground, you really have little
way of knowing what type of tree it was from, unless you know your trees
well or there is only one tree anywhere around it could have fallen from.
Second, branches which fall from a tree are usually dead when they fall.
They do not contain the life-force of the tree in any great quantity. They
also usually die from disease or infection, in which case, you do not want
to use this type of wand in magic. Branches cut directly from the tree
will retain their strength and the life-force from that part of the tree
before it was cut. To cut a branch, ask the tree first if you may cut it.
You will either get a positive or a negative feeling in response. If it be
negative, find yourself another tree to cut from. If it be positive, cut a
branch that is no wider than your finger. Traditionally, the branch should
be as long as your forearm (your elbow to your fingertips. It can be
shorter, but should not be longer. Always leave a gift for the tree or the
spirit guardians of the tree as thanks. This can be a crystal, sweet
cakes, a libation of juice, fertilizer for the tree, or some other gift.
Scrape the bark from your wand with your boline. If you do not have a
boline, use a regular pocket knife. Never use your athame to cut. If you
want to paint your wand, you can use natural dyes made from leaves,
flowers, or berries. Symbols can be painted on your wand using colored
paints. Runes and ogham are common decorations for wands and staffs. You
can add a quartz crystal to the end if you have one or leave it plain.
Boys can glue a pine cone to the end of their wand as a symbol of the God.
--ATHAME-- The athame must be a virgin blade.
That means that it can never have been used to cut anything. If you have a
pocket knife, you can whittle an athame from wood. Be sure to give it two
edges. It does not have to be sharp. Traditionally, the handle should be
black. If there is no way for you to get an athame, do not fret. It is not
a necessary tool and can be replaced by the wand, or your index finger in
spells and ritual.
--BOLINE-- This can be any knife that is
cleansed and consecrated for all ceremonial cutting. It can be as simple
as a pocket knife which can be found in many stores for only a dollar.
This knife traditionally has a white handle.
--CRYSTAL BALL-- You do not need a crystal
ball to scry. Filling your cauldron and gazing into it works best for
scrying. If you are crafty, you can take the glass out of a small picture
frame. Paint the back of the glass with thick black paint. Once it is dry,
you can place the glass back in the frame and you have yourself a scrying
mirror.
--PENDULUM-- I use a crystal pendant hanging
from a necklace chain. Nearly any necklace will work. You can even tie a
stone or other object from a piece of string, though a metal chain will
work best.
--CHALICES-- I bought my silver chalices at
the second-hand store for a dollar each. You can also use clay cups or
small bowls. Find something that appeals to you. You can find beautiful
wine glasses for a dollar or less in most grocery stores.
--INCENSE--Many parents do not allow teens to
burn things in the house. If you cannot burn incense inside or outside,
try using scented perfume oils or aromatherapy oils instead. It is the
smell that counts during ritual, since the incense represents the element
of air.
--CANDLES-- These are sold very inexpensively
in nearly every store anywhere. If you cannot burn candles, try writing
your spells without them. Instead of candles at the four quarters (or
watchtowers), use the actual item that the candle would represent. For
example: a stone at the north, a bowl of water or a seashell at the west,
a candle or a picture of fire, lightning, the sun, or a bowl of oil at the
south, and some perfume or incense at the east. If it is a particular
color of candle that you are looking for and cannot find, remember that
white contains all colors and can be used in place of any other color
candle.
--PENTACLE-- Make your own on a round piece
of wood. You can also try painting one on a piece of ceramic tile, a
mirror, or a piece of glass, or just sew or paint one onto your altar
cloth.
--WINE-- Substitute juice for wine.
--CRYSTAL BOWL-- If a spells calls for a
crystal bowl, just use a regular bowl or your cauldron.
--SPRING WATER-- Substitute rainwater.
--PENTACLE NECKLACE-- If you don't want
anyone to say anything about your jewelry, just wear a regular star
necklace. No one will think twice and it will mean the same thing - the
five elements - which will make it special to you.
--TAROT CARDS-- Make your own or use playing
cards.
--RUNES-- You can make your own by painting
the runes on anything: rocks, pieces of wood, sticks, glass, or shells.
--BOOK OF SHADOWS-- This can be a plain
notebook. It does not need to be a special leather-bound volume
(especially if you are just starting out). You will find that you want to
rip pages out, move pages, and make corrections, so start with something
like a three-ring notebook and decorate it with paints, stickers, or
colored rhinestones. If you do not want anyone to read your book of
shadows, write it in a secret language. My best friend and I made up our
own with symbols that are quick and easy to write. You can also try
writing in runes. Practice makes perfect.
--STATUES-- You do not have to have statues
for your altar. If you need an image of something there, use a photograph
or draw it on a piece of paper.
--SALT DISH-- This can be any small cup or
dish.
--BROOM-- This is rarely a necessary tool. If
you absolutely must have one, make your own by tying grasses around a
stick and letting them dry. The broom can be a small hand broom. You do
not need a big long broom.
--BELL-- The bell is also not a necessary
tool. If you absolutely must have one, just get one from the thrift store
or use a Christmas tree decoration.
--HERBS-- Grow your own herbs in a garden or
in pots on the porch. If you cannot have a garden, gather wild herbs that
grow in your area. Even grass has its magical uses.
--MIRROR-- You should not have any trouble
finding a magical mirror. Any mirror will do. I have one I popped out of a
make-up compact.
--RITUAL CLOTHING-- Robes are not necessary
if you cannot obtain them. Try, instead, to wear clothing all of the same
color or just go skyclad.
--SWORD-- Obviously not a necessary tool. I
can't say I know a single witch who owns one.
--STAFF-- Also not a necessary tool. This is
mostly used by advanced Shamans.
--ALTAR-- You can use any table for an altar.
Try your bedside table or just go without an altar. There is no rule that
says you cannot put your ritual items on the floor.
Creating Your
Sacred Space
It can be hard for teens to create a
sacred space of their own, especially when others do not understand your
religion or your family does not feel comfortable practicing your
religion. Here are some simple ways to create a sacred space for yourself
in your own room.
One thing you can do is set up an altar. The altar does
not have to be a special table. When I was a teenager, I set my altar up
on my dresser. You can also use a vanity for this purpose. Obviously, your
magical tools should not be out for all to see except during ritual, but
you can place other magical items on your alter. Candles are a great idea
for bedroom altars if you are allowed to use them. Be sure, however, that
there are no candles anywhere near anything flammable. You would be
surprised what they can catch on fire, even if they seem to be in a safe
place. Never place a candle anywhere where something will hang over it
more than four feet away. This also means you should NEVER place a candle
on a shelf if there is another shelf above it. My husband's roommate made
this mistake just a few years ago and burned down his apartment complex!
If you are allowed to burn incense, you can place a stick burner on your
altar. It will serve well enough for what you will be doing. The altar
does not need more than a few simple items. For a God or Goddess figure,
use statues, paintings, or pictures. One good idea is to print a color
picture from the internet. Frame it in a small decorative picture frame
and keep it on your altar. There are many fine art prints available that
you can copy for personal use. Your altar can be a place to lay
decorations based on the seasons. I used to also set a bowl in front of my
God/dess figure in which to place offerings during certain holidays.
Purify your sacred area using incense smoke and spring
water with sea salt. Sprinkling these items around the room, under
furniture, and in closets, will repel negative spirits and entities.
Create permanent watchtowers. In each corner, or on
each wall of your room, you can create a permanent watchtower. Determine
compass north of your room. Normally, you might have a piece of furniture
on each wall of your room where you can set up a tiny watchtower altar.
The simplest way to do this would be to hang a picture on each of your
four walls in the direction it belongs. You can hang a picture of a dragon
on the south wall for fire, a picture of a wolf on the north wall for
earth, a picture of a dolphin or whale on the west wall for water, and a
picture of a fairy or bird on the east wall to represent air. If you are
allowed to use candles, place a candle of the appropriate color on a piece
of furniture at each of the four quarters.
One important factor of creating sacred space is to
keep the area clean. Clutter outside will promote clutter in the mind and
will not be good for magical working. Remember, sacred space should be
just that - sacred. The idea is that your room will become your temple.
Care for it as you care for your beliefs.
How Do I Get Herbs?
For most teens, it seems difficult to get the herbs you need for spellwork.
What most teens don't realize is that there are plenty of herbs in your
kitchen and in your yard that you can use. Check your kitchen cabinets or
local grocery stores for these:
Allspice: This herb is often used in spells for money or luck. Can be burned as
an incense. Healing. Ruling Element: Fire. Used in health amulets. Place in a
room with a sick person to help them heal and uplift their spirits.
Promotes determination and energy.
Almonds: Money, prosperity,
wisdom
Apples and seeds: Love, Healing, Garden Magic, Immortality
Banana: Fertility, Potency, Prosperity
Basil: Primarily
used in spells for love or money, but can also be used for protection.
Best to carry fresh leaves in a sachet (red bag for love, green for
money). Ruling Element: Fire. healing relationships, courage,
fertility, exorcism. Add to money incense, put
a pinch of Basil in four corners of you home at the start of each season to
bring prosperity your way. It is said that if you grow Basil in your garden,
yell and scream at it, to make a strong plant.
Flying, Protection
Bay Leaf: protection against
evil and illness, stops interference. wisdom,
protection, psychic powers, purification, healing. Burn the leaves
to induce visions. Wear as an amulet to ward off negativity. Burn and scatter on
the floor to purify area. Make a dream pillow of Bay, and put under your bed
pillow to induce inspiration and prophetic dreams. For the best power do this with the
full moon in "Scorpio". Write a wish on a "bay leaf" with "dragons blood ink"
for a powerful outcome.
Healing, Purification, Strength
Bean: Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming,
Reconciliations, Potency, Love
Caraway: Protection, Passion. Add to love
sachets and charms to attract a lover (physical sense) Carry the seeds to
strengthen memory. Especially powerful to "Gemini's".
Protection, Lust, Health, Anti-theft, Mental Powers
Catnip: power,
courage, makes fierce and vengeful in battle, captures love and happiness. cat magic, familiars, joy, friendship, love. Incense is used in
consecration of tools. Chewed by warriors for fierceness in battle. Large dried leaves
are powerful markers in magical books. Give to your cat to create a psychic bond.
Cat Magic, Love, Beauty, Happiness
Celery: Mental Powers, Lust, Psychic Powers
Chili Pepper: Fidelity, hex Breaking, Love
Cinnamon: Use in money
drawing spells. Also aids in healing, esp. digestive problems. Ruling
Element: Fire. spirituality and healing,
cleansing. Spiritual quests, augmenting power, love, passion, success,
psychic work, healing, cleansing. Used in dream pillows o increase psychic
awareness and prosperity. Will
stimulate and excite the passions of the male. Mix with Myrrh for a good general
propose incense. Tie 3 Cinnamon sticks together with a green ribbon and hang on
front door of business to bring customers. Spirituality, Success,
Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust Protection, Love
Cloves: banishes
evil, gaining whatever is sought, clears the head, friendship. money
and protection, cleansing. Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money
Coconut: Purification, Protection, Chastity
Coriander: Primarily
used is love (& lust!) spells. Also, coriander seeds are often carried for
healing. Ruling Element: Fire. Protection of home, peace , good in
ritual drinks, incenses for longevity and love, security. Love, Health, Healing
Corn: protection, luck, divination. I use corn when
making offerings for taking things from the forest. If I find a particular
stone, stick, or herb I like, I give back an offering of corn I keep in a
pouch in my pocket.
Cotton: Luck, Healing, Protection, Rain, Fishing Magic
Cumin: Protection, Fidelity, Exorcism
Curry: Protection
Dill: Protection, Money, Lust, Luck
Garlic: warding off
evil, drawing customers to business, visions, healing. protection and healing. good weather, courage, exorcism.
Lust, Anti-Theft
Ginger: love, wealth, success and power.
Grapes: fertility, garden magic, mental powers, wealth
Lemon: Purification, love, blessings. Longevity,
Purification, Love, Friendship
Lettuce: Chastity, Protection, Love, Divination, Sleep
Marjoram: Brings
happiness and joy. Also, used for cleansing and protection. Before moving
into your new home, sprinkle marjoram in each room (to absorb negative
energy) and then sweep it away. Ruling Element: Air. protection,
love, healing. Used in dream pillows for peace and restfulness, reaching
into the depths to help us connect with our psychic selves. Protection,
love, Happiness, Health, Money
Mint: money, luck and travel,
healing, strength, love, lust augment power, protection
Mustard (seeds): Fertility, Protection, Mental Powers
Nuts: Fertility, prosperity, love, luck
Oats: (oatmeal) money
Onion: Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Money,
prophetic dreams, lust
Orange: Love, Divination, Luck, Money
Parsley: Love, Protection, Purification
Peas: Money, Love
Peach: Love, Exorcism, Longevity,. Fertility, Wishes
Pear: Lust, Love
Pecan: Money, Employment
Pepper: Protection, Exorcism
Peppermint: increase
psychic ability, visions, healing, sleep, love and purification.
Purification, Sleep, Love, Healing, Psychic Powers
Plum: healing
Potato: Image Magic, Healing
Rice: Protection, Rain, Fertility, Money
Rosemary: love, power, healing
sleep. Improve memory, purification, youth, protection, intellect.
A good
protective sachet for boat and ship passengers. Make a fresh wreath of rosemary
for protection, hang in the home. Burn Rosemary and Juniper for a recuperation
incense. Use for remembrance in Samhain rituals. protection, Love, Lust,
Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth
Tea: Riches, Courage, Strength
Thyme: A healing
herb. Use thyme in spells to promote good health, physical energy and a
good night's sleep. Ruling Element: Water. healing psychic powers, fairies, courage. A pillow stuffed with thyme
cures nightmares. health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage
Walnut: Health, Mental Powers, Infertility, Wishes
there are also a variety of useful magical plants you may find in your own
yard: Aloe: beauty, protection, success, peace. luck
Aspen: Eloquence, Anti-Theft
Aster: Love
Birch: cleansing. New
beginnings, birth, Protection, Exorcism, Purification
Cactus: Protection, Chastity
Cedar: purification and healing.
used in dream pillows to help with religious concerns and help one attain
a connection to the divine. Healing, Purification, Money,
Protection
Chestnut: Love
Chickweed: Fertility, Love
Clover: money, love and luck,
fairies. Protection, Money, Love, fidelity, Exorcism, Success
Crocus: Love, Visions
Cyclamen: fertility, Protection, Happiness, Lust
Cypress: Longevity, Healing, Comfort,Protection
Daffodil: Love, Fertility, Luck
Daisy: Lust, Luck
Dandelion Leaf: summons
spirits, dreams, clairvoyancy, purification. Divination, welcoming,
messages. Divination, Wishes, Calling Spirits
Dogwood: Wishes, Protection
Elder:
Flowers: Sacred to the "White Lady" and midsummer solstice. The Druids
used it to both bless and curse, Burn at "Beltane" to comfort the Fae. These
small tiny yellowish flowers carry a strong pungent smell. Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Prosperity, Sleep
Elm: Love
Fern: Rain Making, Protection, Luck, Riches, Eternal Youth, Health, Exorcism
Foxglove: (POISON) Protection
Gardenia: Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality
Geranium: Protection, Fertility, Love, Health
Grass: protection, psychic powers
Hawthorn: chastity, fertility, fishing, happiness
Hawthorn Berries:
Also known as the May tree. The small berries are wrinkled and red and perfect for adding to your
Beltane altar for May day offerings. Add to amulets for power & strength of the
ancient Druids.
Heather: Use in
protection spells, especially protection against violent crimes. Heather
flowers are also used in spells for aid in real estate transactions.
Ruling Element: Water. Protection, Rain Making, Luck
Hibiscus Flower: divination,
dreams, love, lust
Holly: anti-lightning, balance, dream magic, luck,
protection
Honeysuckle: money, protection, psychic powers
Hyacinth: happiness, love, protection
Hydrangea: breaks hexes
Iris: purification, wisdom
Ivy: chastity, fidelity, healing, protection
Juniper: Used in dream pillows
as an herb of purification and protection and helpful in spirit quests.
Anti-theft, exorcism, health, love.
Juniper Berries: On a diet?
Carry juniper berries to help you lose weight. Juniper is also used in
spells for protection from theft, and in love spells. Ruling Element:
Fire, a good incense ingredient. Used with Thyme in Druid incense for visions. Juniper berries
strewn at the door discourages thieves. The mature berries can be strung and
hung in the house to attract love. Crush berries in a mortar to release their
aroma, mix with cedar or pine needles for a wonderful Winter
Solstice incense: burn on charcoal tabs.
Lavender Flowers: A must for
love spells to attract men. Also, a sachet of lavender flowers will help
ease headaches, induce sleep and foster peace. Ruling Element: Air, love
and money spells, pain relief, attract good spirits. long
life, peace, wishes, protection, purification. Used in dream pillows for
calming, reaching the depths of the subconscious mind, health and love
concerns. Thrown into midsummer fires as a sacrifice to the gods. Put 2
handfuls of Lavender Flowers into a square of cheese cloth and tie with a
purple ribbon use this aromatic washcloth in place of your usual one. Lavender
was thrown into Midsummer fires by witches as a sacrifice to the ancient
Gods.
Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness,
Peace
Lily: Protection, Breaking Love spells
Magnolia: Fidelity
Maple: Love, Longevity, Money
Marigold: Prophesy, th
e psychic, seeing magical
creatures, love, clairvoyance, dreams, business or legal affairs and
renewing personal energy. Place the flower beneath the head at night to induce clairvoyant
dreams. It should be gathered at noon. Gather at noon. A fresh
Marigold flower can be worn to court for a favorable outcome of a trial.
If you place Marigold in your mattress, you will have prophetic dreams and if you place it under your mattress it will make
whatever you dream come true. Since the Marigold embodies the sun, it can make a
person more attractive and confident. Add Marigold to your bath water to make
this happen. A vase of fresh and bright Marigolds in a room brings a renewed
surge of life to those in the room. The leaves can eaten as a salad and a yellow
dye has also been extracted from the flower, by boiling. Protection,
Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers
Mistletoe:
(Poison) get back a
love who has deserted you, solve problems. protection, fertility, healing and psychic powers, fidelity, love. Wear as a protective amulet. A good
anti-lightning charm. Extinguishes fires.
Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Health, Exorcism
Moss: Luck, Money
Mulberry: Protection, Strength
Myrtle: Love, Fertility, Youth, Peace, Money
Oak: Protection, Strength, Wisdom, Health, Money,
Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck
Orchid: Love
Pansy: Love, Rain Magic, Divination
Pine: Attunement to nature, centering, cleansing,
healing, productivity, purification against illness. Brings one back into
balance, and enhances connection with the natural world. Healing,
Fertility, Protection, Exorcism, Money
Poplar: Money, Flying
Poppy: Fertility, Prosperity. Use the seeds in
prosperity amulets. Love, Sleep, Money, Luck, Invisibility
Rose:
love, psychic power and
divination. Used in dream pillows for warm and loving energies, and
enhancing beauty and love relations.
Rose is known as the herb of love. - Rose oil and Rose incense are both used in love spells. If
you wash your hands with Rose water before mixing love potions, the potions will
be stronger.
Red - I love you
White -
I love you not
Yellow - I love another
Moss - I admire you
from afar
Pink - My love for you is innocent
Orange - I love you vigorously
Purple - I will
love you forever
Wild - I love you because you are fair and innocent
Rose Hips: brings good
luck, calls in good spirits. you can wear Rosehips
as beads to bring love to you.
Rose Petals: Another
must for love spells. Use in sachets, potpourri, incense, teas, baths,
and so on. Use red petals for sexual love-magic, and pink petals for
family love-magic (to calm emotions, sooth stress). Ruling Element: Water.
friendship, luck, protection, psychic power and divination.
Add Rose bud petals to bath water to conjure up a lover. Put red Rose
petals in a red velvet bag and pin this under your clothes to attract love
Shepherd's Purse: healing,
childbirth.
Snapdragon: Protection
Straw: Luck, Image Magic
Tansy: Health, Longevity
Thistle: Strength, Protection, Hex Breaking, Healing
Violet: Spirituality and protection. Luck, Love, Lust,
Wishes, Peace, Healing
Willow: love and divination.
Protection, Healing
Starting Your Own Coven
Starting a group of your own isn't hard if you have the right people. One
person cannot start a coven. Get a group of like-minded friends
together and you can all discuss how you want your coven to be run. It is
important to remember that a coven cannot be run by one person's ideas
alone. Once you and your group have decide to get together
and create the coven, you can all pitch in some ideas for the name of the
coven. The name should include what the coven is about or something that
is important to all of you. Many coven names contain the location of the
coven: "Teen Bristol Coven," "Northwest Teen Coven," or "Salt Lake City
Teen Coven." Some covens choose names based on things that are sacred to
them: 'Green Man Coven," "Coven of the Trifold Law," or "Coven of One
Mind." Sometimes coven names touch on the type of magic they will focus
on: "Green Wicca Coven," "Coven of Three Shamans," or "Celtic Circles
Coven." Share everyone's ideas on coven names and make sure everyone votes
for their favorites. If you like, you can create a design
or a symbol for your coven. make sure it isn't too complicated. Everyone
in the group should be able to draw it with relative ease. Some covens use
designs such as a tree or a triple moon symbol. Decide what everyone in
your group likes best. A group book of shadows is sometimes
used, but I strongly encourage you NOT to keep a coven book of shadows.
Too often the group's bookkeeper will leave the group suddenly or lose the
book by accident and there is no way to replace it. Instead, everyone in
the group should have their own book of shadows and you can copy spells
and information from each other. One idea is for everyone to have matching
notebooks. You can all get together to decorate them during a group
meeting. Your group will need a set of rules that you all
agree to live by while in the group. These rules do not need to be
complicated at all. The list below outlines a few rules you may or may not
wish to implement in your group. Make sure everyone copies the list of
rules down in their book of shadows. Examples:
1) Anyone who wishes to join the group may join.
2) Each person may bring a guest if they like.
3) Each person is responsible for bringing one item to each meeting.
4) A member can only be removed from the group by a majority vote.
5) Each member will have a say in how rituals are created.
There are two ways to decide how member jobs should be divided. You can
have everyone perform the same job each time, or you may choose to rotate
at every meeting. In small groups , it is usually, but not always a good
idea if everyone does the same job each time. In larger groups, people
often like to rotate jobs and take turns doing each thing. I will outline
some fair ideas below that you may wish to incorporate in your group,
depending on the number of people you have. 2 members -
Both people take turns reading lines for rituals. Have one person read
each paragraph with both of you playing the role of priest or priestess.
3 members - same as with a two-person group 4 members -
each member is responsible for one of the quarter callings. Choose a
different person at each meeting to also play the role of the
priest/priestess. 5 members - one person takes a turn being
the priest/priestess at each meeting while the other four are responsible
for calling the four quarters 6 members - two members
alternate with the role of priest/priestess while the other four represent
the quarters. 7 members - four members call the quarters
while three alternate as the priest/priestess more than 7 -
each person can be responsible for a single job during the ceremony.
Multiple people may also be used for some jobs. It is very
important that everyone in the group votes for what structure to use. It
is not fair for one person to lead the group and make all of the
decisions. GROUP ACTIVITIES
At each meeting, you should have a list of activities prepared. This will
keep everyone busy and having fun. Here are some ideas you can use for
your own group meetings. LESSONS - Lessons are great for
each meeting. You can have one lesson per meeting, or require everyone to
bring something each time. Not everyone is comfortable with getting up and
speaking in a group. A good idea is to have everyone copy a lesson or
article they read in a book, magazine, or website. Have each person make a
copy of the article for everyone in the group and exchange them to add to
your books of shadows. This is fun to do while everyone is having their
refreshments. RITUAL - This one is rather obvious. This can
include a ritual for a holiday or a group spell for health and abundance.
COOKING LESSON - When meeting a someone's house, you may want to have one
person teach everyone else how to make their favorite recipe. Of course,
every meeting should include refreshments of some kind. Juice or tea with
cookies is great. CRAFTS - Group crafts are a lot of fun.
There are a number of crafts you can make for each season. Yule tree
ornaments, flower garlands, pomanders, blank books, jewelry, and wreaths
are several ideas. For your first group meeting, you may all want to
decorate binders to use as your books of shadows.
BOOK OF SHADOWS CRAFT:
A simple design for a book of shadows uses colored glass rhinestones which
can be found in any craft store. You will need: one three-ring binder in
black or your favorite color, one rhinestone in each of these colors: red,
yellow, blue, green, and clear (or purple), a silver or gold acrylic paint
marker, a pencil, hot glue or super glue, a round object, and a ruler.
First, find a round object to create a circle in the center of your book
cover. A small plastic margarine tub is perfect. Place it upside down on
the center of the binder cover and trace around it lightly with a pencil.
Check to make sure it is centered. If not, you can always erase it and try
again. Next, draw lines across the circle using the pencil and a ruler to
create a pentacle. Remember, you can always erase if you need to. When you
feel confident that your pentacle is straight, place the margarine tub
over the circle again. Hold it as still as possible and trace around it
with the paint marker. Let it dry completely (or it will smear) and then
draw the straight lines of the pentacle. Use the ruler to keep them
perfect. Once your paint is dry, glue your colored rhinestones to each
point on the pentacle. The clear (or purple) rhinestone goes at the top.
GAMES - Include some fun games for group members to play. You can have
prizes for the winners that you made yourselves, or just give out extra
items you have such as candles or gemstones. HERB GARDEN -
This is a fun idea for groups who like to meet at the same house each
time. You can create your own herb garden and care for it together.
Everyone helps care for it and when the herbs are harvested, everyone may
have an equal share to take home and use. Everyone should also help decide
which herbs will be planted and share in the cost of the materials. Be
sure to only get herbs that will grow well in your area.
CAMPING - Have an adult take everyone on a camping trip into nature. It
can be overnight or just a day trip. Make sure you have some outdoor
activities planned. DRUMMING - Drumming is very popular at
Pagan gatherings. Most drummers need little or no experience. Just bring
along a drum and do what feels right. Those who do not have a drum find
that they can use other percussion instruments or dance to the beat.
SINGING - Learning new songs is fun, especially around a campfire. Some
people can read music, but the easiest way to learn songs is to play them
on a stereo and print out the lyrics for everyone to sing along. Soon, you
will all know the words without needing to use the backup music. There are
many Pagan songs that are easy to learn. VOLUNTEER - Doing
volunteer work is a perfect group activity. Have everyone bring a plastic
bag and a pair of gardening gloves and pick up trash at a local beach or
park. COLLECTING DUES - It isn't necessary, but some
groups collect a little money from all members to help pay for some of the
things that the group needs. Make sure that everyone thinks this is a good
idea. Everyone needs to vote on who should be treasurer. Vote for who is
most honest or have an adult be in charge of the money. Everyone should
also be able to vote on what the money will be spent on. $1 (US) is a fair
price if meetings are once a month. Twenty-five cents per week is a good
price for teen groups. WHEN AND WHERE TO MEET?
Decide on where you would like to meet. Some groups like to meet at a
public park. Usually, group meetings take place in a group member's home.
Find out where everyone feels most comfortable and make sure your meeting
place isn't too far away for anyone to be able to get there.
Most groups meet once per month on the full moon. This may be hard for
teenagers, who usually have school during the week. Instead, try holding
meetings every other weekend or every three weeks. Be sure the meetings
are set for a time when everyone will be able to make it. Someone should
have a copy of everyone's phone number just in case last-minute changes
need to be made. |