Lesson 9: Sympathetic Magic

Using Candles
Using Poppets
Offerings

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Using Candles
Candles are used in almost all spells and rituals. All candles should be cleansed and consecrated before they are used. Afterward, you should dress the candles using oils and herbs.

Candles are usually dressed before they are used. I do not usually use this method, however and I have found that I get the same results by just rubbing the candle. Oils must be consecrated before they are used. Use oils to dress the candles by finding one that coincides with the spell you want to perform from the table of correspondences. Rub the candle with the oils. Later, if you like, you may roll the candle in herbs that also will help with the type of spell you wish to perform.

-To draw something toward you, rub the candle in a downward motion from the top to the middle. Then rub from the bottom up to the middle as well.

-To repel something, reverse by rubbing from the middle to the ends.

-NEVER RUB IN A BACK AND FORTH MOTION: it negates the entire process.

-When finished, dab some of the remaining oil on your third eye and then in the center of your breastbone. Speak words of power over the candle such as:

I cleanse and consecrate this taper in the name of the God and Goddess. May it burn in strength in the service of light.

Continue by stating the purpose of the candle.

-When inscribing a candle, use the same directional procedure. To bring things toward you, write from the top to the middle, then from the bottom to the middle. If you are repelling something, reverse the procedure. The athame is used to carve the inscription.

-Light all candles with a lighter or a birthday candle. Do not use matches, as the sulphur is not compatible to your working.

-To extinguish, do not pinch it, as you pinch out the desire. Do not blow it out, as you blow the desire away from yourself. Use a candle snuffer, or wave your hand over the top of the candle to create enough draft to extinguish it.

-If you plan to use it again, store it carefully. If the spell calls for a virgin candle, bury it off of your property for spells involving the movement of things away from you and on the property if you wish to draw something toward you.

-Keep candle drippings from all rituals, except those where you are repelling. You can add drippings to healing pouches (if the spell was for healing). Remelt them on a talisman consecrated and empowered during the same ritual, or keep them simply in the bottom of a purse or coat pocket for good luck, fertility, romance and fortune.

-To construct a dream pillow for prophetic dreams, throw in some wax from a full moon ritual along with select herbs.

Candle Chant:

When you are ready to light the candle, chant something like:

Candle of power, candle of might,
Create my desires here on this night.
Power, stream from this candle's fire.
Bring to me my heart's desire.
My words have strength, the victory's won.
So say I, this spell is done.

-When candles are molded into shapes, it is called sympathetic magic.

-To assist in finding a familiar, burn a candle in the shape of the animal you desire

-Fertility spells can be cast with a phallus-shaped candle. Healing uses human-shaped candles or skull candles. White ones are for healing, black ones for reversing spells and warding off negativity.

-Another type of candle magic uses pins. Stick a pin in as close to the top as you can without breaking the wax. As you insert it, say:

When this candle burns to the pin,
The process of (name the desire) will begin.

Insert a secont pin close to the first and say:

When this candles burns to this pin
The process of (name the desire) will come to a successful completion and end.

-You can use birthday candles or very small candles for a spell that needs to be done quickly. You can also put drops of colored oil or food coloring into small tealite candles which also burn quickly.

Meaning of Candle Colors:

RED - health, energy, strength, passion, element of fire, career goals, fast action, lust, Moon Blood, driving force, survival, sexual potency, fertility, courage, will power
PINK - love, affection, romance, emotional healing, peace, affection, partnerships, caring, nurturing, spiritual awakening, healing of the spirit, togetherness.
YELLOW - the sun, intelligence, accelerated learning, memory, logical imagination, breaking mental block, selling yourself, intellect, imagination, power of the mind, creativity, confidence, gentle persuasion, action, attraction, concentration, inspiration, sudden changes.
ORANGE - selling, action, business goals, property deals, ambition, career goals, success, legal matters, encouragement, adaptability, stimulation, attraction, sudden changes, control, power, draw good things, change luck.
GREEN - earth mother, physical healing, monetary success, tree and plant magic, growth, personal goals, generosity, abundance, fertility, good fortune, generosity, money, wealth, success, renewal, marriage, balance.
BLUE - good fortune, opening blocked communication, weight loss, wisdom, protection, inspiration, calm, reassurance, water elements, truth, inspiration, wisdom, occult power, protection, understanding, good health, happiness, peace, fidelity, harmony in the home, patience.
PURPLE - success, idealism, influence people in high places, third eye, spiritual power, self assurance, hidden knowledge, higher psychic ability, wisdom, progress, protection, honors, spirit contact, break bad luck, drive away evil, divination.
BROWN - influence, friendships, special favors, attract money and financial success, influence Earth Elementals, concentration, balance, ESP, intuition, study.
BLACK - reversing, uncrossing, binding negative forces, discord, protection, releasing, repel dark magic and negative thought forms.
WHITE - purity, spirituality and greater attainments in life, truth, sincerity, power of a higher nature, wholeness, the Goddess, peace, a substitute for any other color,
MAGENTA - very high vibrational frequency that tends to work fast, so usually burned with other candles; quick changes, spiritual healing, exorcism.
INDIGO - meditation, neutralize another’s magic, stop gossip. Lies or undesirable competition, balance out karma.
GOLD - wealth, the horned God, winning, safety and power of the male, happiness, playful humor, good fortune, fast luck, great fortune, intuition, understanding, divination, fast luck, financial benefits, attracts higher influences, male deity powers.
SILVER - removes negative powers, telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychometry, intuition, dreams, astral energies, communication, the Goddess,  victory, stability, meditation, develop psychic abilities, female deity powers.
COPPER - passion, money goals, professional growth, fertility in business, career maneuvers.

 Using Poppets
Poppets are a form of what is called "sympathetic magick." Sympathetic magick is magick that uses the likeness of someone or something to achieve a desired effect. Poppets are a very popular form of sympathetic magick that has been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Remember that the doll itself has no power. The power is in you and in your spell. Never treat a doll as though it had powers of its own. 
You can create dolls out of any material. Traditional materials come from nature: wool, cotton, wood, straw, apples, etc. Today, most witches use cotton dolls stuffed with batting, straw, grave dirt, or soil. The color of the cloth can be any color, depending on the type of spell you want to perform. You can add hair that is the color of the person and draw on eyes of the appropriate color. Add as many things to the doll as you can to link it to the person it will be used for. These can be: birthdates, names, colors, hair, eyes, glasses, sun sign, jewelry, etc. You can also use parts that belong to the person such as a fingernail or lock of hair. Add gemstones and herbs to coincide with the type of spell you wish to perform. Sew the doll up and chant a spell over it to bind it to the person it coincides with:

Joined are you
for magick true
separate, not
but whole again
now to make the spell begin.

If you do not have the materials and absolutely cannot make a doll, it can be drawn on a piece of paper. Try to draw the person to the best of your ability using different colors, words and symbols. You can also glue on bits of hair, gems or herbs. Roll it up and tie a bit of ribbon or string around it and chant the chant over it. Do not destroy your poppets. If they are to be used for binding, it is said that they must be buried. Otherwise, they must be kept safe by the person they were created for.

Offerings
Many different cultures practice the giving of offerings or sacrifices in order to get what they want. Offerings are given in exchange for wishes granted, as thanks for a bountiful harvest, or as offerings to ensure a plentiful harvest. Some witches use offerings to the gods, plants, animals or fairy folk in exchange for wishes, harvest, food or help. There all types of offerings suitable for many occasions.
Some Native Americans make little bundles of tobacco in squares of red cloth. These little bundles, about the size of a dime, are hung in trees or buried in the ground as offerings to the spirits. Spirits and fairy folk are fond of the sweet-smelling tobacco and it can be used to entice the little people or sprinkled around the home to attract money and good fortune.
Fairies especially favor sweets as offerings. Cookies, cakes, bread and honey, milk, candies, and liqueur are special favorites of the little people. Leave sweets, brandy, wine, bright shiny coins or objects and other treats to entice the fairies to help you in your magick. If you have lost an item, I have found a particular practice works better than any other at finding what you have lost. My family members that are not witches often use this trick from time to time. If you have misplaced something, leave a wealthy offering outside for the little people. As you place the treats on the ground, ask aloud that you wish the fairies to help you find your ______. Then go back inside. Sit down in a comfortable chair and completely clear your mind of everything. Forget what you are looking for and calm down, even if you are in a hurry and trying to find your keys. Let your mind go blank and the n let it wander. The first picture to flash in your head is the place where you left the item. This may not work on your first try. Practice by closing your eyes and envisioning yourself flying through the house. You will stop in the place where the item likely will be. If you check and it is not there, then try again. You probably did not mean to leave your mind blank. On the other hand, the little people may have hidden it to protect you from something.
Sometimes we must take from plants, whether in our gardens or in the wild. Usually, if the plant is in our garden we do not need to leave an offering or ask the plant for what we wish to take from it. The plants should have an understanding with you that you give them shelter, care and fertilizer in exchange for what you need, so both of you gain from the experience. Plants in the wild, however, do not need you to help them and should be thanked with an offering of fertilizer and perhaps some water. Likewise, if you take an item from the earth, such as a stone or a twig which has remained for a good while, the best way to keep from tracking any of the energies back with you is to leave behind a gift for the earth. Seed offerings such as beans, corn or rice can serve as the sacred grain and can be used to fill the hole from which you pried the stone.

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