Sacred Texts Index Previous Next
Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
THE
STANDING STONES
BOOK OF SHADOWS
by Scott Cunningham
excerpted from:
WICCA A Guide For The Solitary Practioner
PP. 111 - 187
1989, Llewellyn Publications
ISBN 0-87542-118-0
1011
WORDS TO THE WISE ....
O daughters andsons of theEarth, adore theGoddess and Godand
be blessed with the fullness of life.
Know thatThey havebrought youto thesewritings, forherein lie
our ways of the Craft, to serve and fulfill the keepers of wisdom, the
tenders of the sacred flame of knowledge. Run the rites with love and
joy, and the Goddess and God will bless you with all that you need.
But those who practice dark magicks shall know Their greatest wrath.
Remember thatyou are ofthe Craft. No moredo you trodthe ways
of doubt. You walk the path of light, ever climbing from shadow to
shadow to the highest realm of existence. But though we're the
bearers of truths, others do not wish to share our knowledge, so we
run our rites beneath moon filled skies enwrapped in shadows. But we
are happy.
Live fully, forthat is the purpose of life. Refrain not from
earthly existence. From it we grow to learn and understand, until
such time that we are reborn to learn more, repeating this cycle 'till
we have spiralled up the path of perfection and can finally call the
Goddess and God our kin.
Walk the fields andforests; be refreshedby the cool windsand
the touch of a nodding flower. The Moon and Sun sing in the ancient
wild places: The deserted seashore, the stark desert, the roaring
waterfall. We are of the Earth and should revere Her, so do Her
honor.
Celebratethe riteson theappropriate daysand seasons,and call
upon the Goddess and God when the time is meet, but use the Power only
when necessary, never for frivolous ends. Know that using the Power
for harm is a Perversion of Life itself.
But for those who love and magnify love, the richness oflife
shall be your reward. Nature will celebrate.
So love the Goddess and God, and harm none!
1012
THE NATURE OF OUR WAY
* As often as possible, hold the rites in forests, by the
seashore, on deserted mountaintops or near tranquil lakes. If this is
impossible, a garden or some chamber shall suffice, if it is readied
with fumes of flowers.
*Seek outwisdom inbooks, rare manuscriptsand crypticpoems if
you will, but seek it out also in simple stones and fragile herbs and
in the cries of wild birds. Listen to the whisperings of the wind and
the roar of water if you would discover magick, for it is here that
the old secrets are preserved.
* Books contain words;trees contain energies andwisdom books
ne'er dreamt of.
* Ever remember that the Old Ways are constantly revealing
themselves. Therefore be as the river willow that bends and sways
with the wind. That which remains changeless shall outlive its
spirit, but that which evolves and grows will shine for centuries.
* Therecan be no monopolyon wisdom. Thereforeshare what you
will of our ways with others who seek them, but hide mystic lore from
the eyes of those who would destroy, for to do otherwise increases
their destruction.
* Mock not the rituals or spells of another, for who can say
yours are greater in power or wisdom?
*Ensure that your actions are honorable, for all that you do
shall return to you three-fold, good or bane.
* Be waryof one who would dominate you,who would control and
manipulate your workings and reverences. True reverence for the
Goddess and God occurs within. Look with suspicion on any who would
twist worship from you for their own gain and glory, but welcome those
priestesses and priests who are suffused with love.
* Honorall living things,for we are ofthe bird, thefish, the
bee. Destroy not life save it be to preserve your own.
* And this is the nature of our way.
1013
BEFORE TIME WAS
Beforetime was, therewas The One;The One was all,and all was
The One.
Andthe vast expanseknown asthe universewas TheOne, all-wise,
all-pervading, all-powerful, eternally changing.
And space moved. The Onemolded energy into twin forms,equal
but opposite, fashioning the Goddess and God from The One and of The
One.
The Goddess and God stretched and gave thanks to The One,but
darkness surrounded them. They were alone, solitary save for The One.
So They formed energy into gasses and gasses into suns and
planets and moons; They sprinkled the universe with whirling globes
and so all was given shape by the hands of the Goddess and God.
Light aroseand the sky wasilluminated by a billionsuns. And
the Goddess and God, satisfied by their works, rejoiced and loved, and
were one.
From theirunion sprang the seedsof all life, andof the human
race, so that we might achieve incarnation upon the Earth.
TheGoddess chose theMoon as Hersymbol, and theGod the Sun as
His symbol, to remind the inhabitants of Earth of their fashioners.
All areborn, live, dieand are rebornbeneath the Sunand Moon;
all things come to pass thereunder, and all occurs with the blessings
of The One, as has been the way of existence before time was.
1014
SONG OF THE GODDESS
I am the GreatMother, worshipped by all creationand existent
prior to their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless
and eternal.
I am thechaste Goddessof the Moon,the Lady ofall magick. The
winds and moving leaves sing my name. I wear the crescent Moon upon
my brow and my feet rest among the starry heavens. I am mysteries yet
unsolved, a path newly set upon. I am a field untouched by the plow.
Rejoice in me and know the fullness of youth.
I amthe blessed Mother,the gracious Lady ofthe harvest. I am
clothed with the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the
fields heavy with grain. By me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all
things come to fruition according to my reason. I am refuge and
healing. I am the life-giving Mother, wondrously fertile.
Worship me as theCrone, tender of the unbrokencycle of death
and rebirth. I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon. I rule the
tides of women and men and give release and renewal to weary souls.
Though the darkness of death is my domain, the joy of birth is my
gift.
I amthe Goddess of theMoon, the Earth,the Seas. Mynames and
strengths are manifold. I pour forth magick and power, peace and
wisdom. I am the eternal Maiden, Mother of all, and Crone of
darkness, and I send you blessings of limitless love.
CALL OF THE GOD
I am the radiant King of the Heavens, floodingthe Earth with
warmth and encouraging the hidden seed of creation to burst forth into
manifestation. I lift my shining spear to light the lives of all
beings and daily pour forth my gold upon the Earth, putting to flight
the powers of darkness.
I am the master of the beasts wild and free. I run with the
swift stag and soar as a sacred falcon against the shimmering sky.
The ancient woods and wild places emanate my powers, and the birds of
the air sing of my sanctity.
I amalso the lastharvest, offering upgrain andfruits beneath
the sickle of time so that all may be nourished. For without planting
there can be no harvest; without winter, no spring.
Worshipme as the thousand-namedSun of creation,the spirit of
the horned stag in the wild, the endless harvest. See in the yearly
cycle of festivals my birth, death and rebirth - and know that such is
the destiny of all creation.
I am the sparkof life, the radiantSun, the giver of peaceand
rest, and I send my rays of blessings to warm the hearts and
strengthen the minds of all.
1015
THE CIRCLE OF STONES
The Circle of stonesis used during indoor rituals,for energy
raising, meditation and so on.
First cleanse the area with the ritual broom.
For this circle you willneed four large, flat stones. If you
have none, candles can be used to mark the four cardinal points of the
circle. White or purple candles can be used, as can colors related to
each direction - green for the North, yellow for East, red for South
and blue for West.
Placethe first stone(or candle) tothe North, torepresent the
Spirit of the North Stone. In ritual when you invoke the Spirits of
the Stones you're actually invoking all that resides in that
particular direction, including the elemental energies.
After setting theNorth Stone(or candle), placethe East,South
and West Stones. They should mark out a rough square, nearly
encompassing the working area. This square represents the physical
plane on which we exist - the Earth.
Nowtake a long purpleor white cordand lay it outin a circle,
using the four stones or candles to guide you. It takes a bit of
practice to smoothly do this. The cord should be placed so that the
stones remain inside the circle. Now you have a square and a circle,
the circle representing the spiritual reality. As such, this is a
squared circle; the place of interpenetration of the physical and
spiritual realms.
The size of the circle can be anything from 5 to 20 feet
depending on the room and your desires.
Next, set up the altar. The following tools are recommended:
* A Goddess symbol (candle, holed stone, statue)
* A God symbol (candle, horn, acorn, statue)
* Athame
* Wand
* Censer
* Pentacle
* A bowl of Water (spring, rain or tap)
* A bowl of Sea Salt (it can also be placed on the pentacle)
* Incense
* Flowers and greens
* One red candle in holder (if not using point candles)
* Anyother tools ormaterials requiredfor the ritual,spell or
magickal working
Set upthe altar accordingto theplan shown hereor accordingto
your own design. Also be sure to have plenty of matches, as well as a
small heat-proof container in which to place them when used. A
charcoal block is also necessary to burn the incense.
1016
Goddess God
Symbol or Symbol or
Candle Candle
Censer
Bowl of Red Bowl of
Water Candle Salt
Pentacle
Cup Incense
Cauldron,
or Spell
Wand Materials Knife
Bell Boline
Suggested Altar Layout
Light thecandles. Set theincense smoking. Lift theathame and
touch its blade to the water, saying:
I consecrate and cleanse this water
that it may be purified and fit to
dwell within the sacred Circle of Stones.
In the name of the Mother Goddess and Father God,
I consecrate this water.
As you do this, visualize your athame blasting away all
negativity from the water.
The salt is next touched with the point of the athame while
saying:
I bless this salt that it may be fit
to dwell within the sacred Circle of Stones.
In the name of the Mother Goddess and Father God,
I bless this salt.
Now stand facing North,at the edge of thecord-marked circle.
Hold your athame point outward at waist level. Walk slowly around the
circle's perimeter clockwise, your feet just inside the cord, charging
it with your words and energy. Create the circle - through your
visualization - with the power flowing out from your athame's blade.
As you walk, stretch the energy out until it forms a complete sphere
around the working area, half above the ground, half below. As you do
this say:
Here is the boundary of the Circle of Stones.
Naught but love shall enter in,
Naught but love shall emerge from within.
Charge this by Your powers, Old Ones!
1017
When youhave arrived backat the North,place the athameon the
altar. Take up the salt and sprinkle it around the circle, beginning
and ending in the North, and moving clockwise. Next, carry the
smoking censer from the altar, and finally sprinkle water around the
circle. Do more than carrying and walking; sense the substances
purifying the circle. The Circle of Stones is now sealed.
Holdaloft the wand atthe North, atthe edge ofthe circle, and
say:
O Spirit of the North Stone,
Ancient One of the Earth,
I call You to attend this circle.
Charge this by Your powers, Old Ones!
As yousay this,visualize agreenish mistrising and writhingin
the Northern quarter, over the stone. This is the elemental energy of
the Earth. When the Spirit is present, lower the wand, move to the
East, raise it again and say:
O Spirit of the East Stone,
Ancient One of Air,
I call You to attend this circle.
Charge this by Your powers, Old Ones!
Visualize theyellowish mistof Airenergy. Lowerthe wand,move
to the South and repeat the following with your upraised wand,
visualizing a crimson Fire mist:
O Spirit of the South Stone,
Ancient One of Fire,
I call You to attend this circle.
Charge this by Your powers, Old Ones!
Finally, to the West, say with the wand held aloft:
O Spirit of the West Stone,
Ancient One of Water,
I call You to attend this circle.
Charge this by Your powers, Old Ones!
Visualize the bluish mist, the essence of Water.
The circle breaths and lives around you. The Spirits of the
Stones are present. Feel the energies. Visualize the circle glowing
and growing in power. Stand still, sensing for a moment.
The Circleof Stones is complete. The Goddess and God may be
called, and magick wrought.
1018
CUTTING A DOORWAY
At times you may have to leave the circle. This is fine, of
course, but as previously mentioned, passing through the circle
dissipates it. To prevent this from occurring it's traditional to cut
a doorway.
Todo this,face Northeast. Hold yourathame pointdownward near
the ground. See and sense the circle before you. Pierce its wall of
energy with the athame and trace an archway, tall enough to walk
through, moving counter-clockwise along the circle for about three
feet. Move the point of the athame up at the arch's center and down
the other side until it is near the ground.
As you're doingthis, visualizethat area ofthe circle'senergy
being sucked back into the athame. This creates a void, allowing
passage in and out of the circle. Pull the athame out of the circle's
wall. You're free to walk outside.
Onceback inside, close the door by placing the athame at the
lower North-Eastern point of the archway. With your athame trace the
circle's perimeter clockwise, as if redrawing that portion of the
Circle of Stones, again visualizing blue or purple energy flaring out
from the blade and converging with the rest of the circle. It is
done.
RELEASING THE CIRCLE
Once the rite is ended, face North, hold aloft the wand and say:
Farewell, Spirit of the North Stone.
I give thanks for your presence here.
Go in power.
Repeat this same formula to the East, South and West,
substituting the proper direction in the words. Then return to the
North and hold the wand aloft for a few moments.
Lay the wandon the altar. Take up theathame. Standingin the
North, pierce the circle's wall with the blade at waist level. Move
clockwise around the circle, visualizing it's power being sucked back
into the athame. Literally pull it back into the blade and handle.
Sense the circle dissolving, shrinking; the outside world slowly
regaining its dominance in the area.
When you arrive at the North again, the circle is no more.
1019
VISUALIZATIONS FOR THE CIRCLE OF STONES
If you wish, you can back up the circle casting with the
following visualizations as you form the circle itself:
Prepare asusual. Approachthe Northand set theNorth Stone(or
the candle) on the ground. Then, visualize a stone slab standing
upright two feet to the left of and behind the North Stone. Visualize
this as being bluish-grey, two feet wide, two feet thick and six feet
tall. This stone represents the Goddess.
When thestone is really there- in your visualization- create
another stone of the same size and color two feet to the right of and
behind the North Stone. This represents the God.
Now visualize a capstone resting on top of the two upright
stones. It is about two feet by two feet by six feet. This
represents The One before the Goddess and God, the source of all power
and magick. The Northern Trilithon is now complete.
Thestones form anarchway, a symbolof the gatewayto the realm
of the element of Earth.
Firmlyvisualize this, then gazethrough the archformed by the
stones. See the greenish haze of the Earth energy.
Repeat the entire procedure to the East, South and West.
Visualize the appropriate elemental color within each trilithon.
Now purify salt and water,cast the circle as usual, andcarry
around the salt, censer, candle and water.
As youapproach each quarterto callits Spirit ofthe Stone,see
the trilithon firmly in your mind. Visualize it in all its Pagan
splendor. See the elemental hazes within them, boiling and writhing
in unmanifestedness. Stretch out with your feelings; sense the
arrival of the spirit of each stone, then go on to the next.
With practice this comes easily, but such visualizations are
never necessary.
THE BLESSING CHANT
The Blessing Chant can be said at the beginning of any type of ritual
as a general invocation. Separate invocations of the Goddess and God
may follow.
May the powers of The One,
the source of all creation;
all-pervasive, omnipotent, eternal;
may the Goddess,
the Lady of the Moon;
and the God,
Horned Hunter of the Sun;
may the powers of the Spirits of the Stones,
rulers of the elemental realms;
may the powers of the stars above and the Earth below,
bless this place, and this time, and I who am with you.
1020
THE SIMPLE FEAST
Hold up a Chalice of wine (or some other liquid) betweenyour
hands to the sky, and say:
Gracious Goddess of Abundance,
Bless this wine and infuse it with your love.
In your names, Mother Goddess and Father God,
I bless this wine (or brew, juice, etc.).
Hold upa plate ofcakes (bread,biscuits) with bothhands tothe
sky and say:
Powerful God of the Harvest,
Bless these cakes and infuse them with your love.
In your names, Mother Goddess and Father God,
I bless these cakes (or this bread).
CONSECRATION OF TOOLS
Lightthe candles. Set the incensesmoking. Castthe Circle of
Stones. Place the tool on the pentacle, or a plate of salt. Touch it
with the point of your athame (or your projective hand) and say:
Iconsecrate you, O Athame of steel(or wand of wood, etc.) to
cleanse and purify you to serve me within the Circle of Stones. In
the names of the Mother Goddess and Father God, you are consecrated.
Send projective energy into the tool, cleansing it of all
negativity and past associations. Now pick it up and sprinkle with
salt, pass it through the incense smoke, through the candle flame and
sprinkle with water, calling upon the Spirits of the Stones to
consecrate it.
Then hold the tool to the sky, saying:
I charge youby the OldOnes: By theomnipotent Goddess andGod:
By the virtues of the Sun, Moon and Stars: By the powers of the Earth,
Air, Fire and Water, that I shall obtain all that I desire through
you. Charge this by your power, Old Ones!
The toolshould immediately beput touse to strengthenand bind
the consecration. For example, the athame can be used to consecrate
another tool; a wand to invoke the Goddess; the pentacle to act as a
resting place for a tool during its consecration.
1021
THE FULL MOON RITE
Perform this at night,in the view ofthe Moon if possible. It
is appropriate for crescents, white flowers, silver and other lunar
symbols to be present on the altar for this ritual. The quartz
crystal sphere can be placed on the altar as well. Or, if you prefer,
use the cauldron (or a small white or silver bowl) filled with water.
Place a piece of silver into the water.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Stand beforethe altar andinvoke the Goddess andGod, with the
Blessing Chant and/or any other invocations (see Prayers, Chants and
Invocations in this Book of Shadows).
Now gaze at the Moon, ifpossible. Feel its energies sinking
into your body. Feel its cool Goddess energy wash you with power and
love.
Now say these or similar words:
Wondrous Lady of the Moon
You who greets the dusk with silvered kisses;
Mistress of the night and of all magicks,
who rides the clouds in blackened skies
and spills light upon the cold Earth;
O Lunar Goddess,
Crescented-One,
Shadow maker and shadow breaker;
Revealer of mysteries past and present;
Puller of seas and ruler of women;
All-wise Lunar Mother,
I greet your celestial jewel
at the waxing of its powers
With a rite in Your honor.
I pray by the Moon,
I pray by the Moon,
I pray by the Moon.
Continue chanting"I pray bythe Moon" foras long asyou will.
Visualize the Goddess if you so desire, perhaps as a tall, robust
woman wearing silver jewelry and white, rippling, draped clothing. A
crescent Moon may rest upon Her brow, or She may toss a glowing
silvery white orb in Her hands. She treads the starfield of eternal
night in an eternal round with Her lover, the Sun God, spreading
moonrays wherever She goes. Her eyes laugh, Her skin is white and
translucent. She glows.
Nowis the timefor magick ofall types, forthe full ofthe Moon
marks the height of its powers, and all positive spells cast then are
powerful.
FullMoons arealso excellenttimesfor meditation,mirror magick
and psychic workings, for such are often more successful within the
circle. Crystal-scrying is particularly recommended; flood the
crystal with moonlight prior to the ritual. If you have no crystal
sphere, use the cauldron filled with water and the piece of silver.
Gaze at the water (or at the Moon glinting on the silver) to awaken
your psychic awareness.
1022
Lunar liquids such as lemonade, milk or white wine can be
consumed during the simple feast that follows. Crescent cakes are
traditional as well.
Thank the Goddess and God and release the circle. It is done.
YULE (circa December 21)
Thealtar isadorned withevergreens suchas pine,rosemary, bay,
juniper and cedar, and the same can be laid to mark the Circle of
Stones. Dried leaves can also be placed on the altar.
The cauldron, resting onthe altar on a heat-proofsurface (or
placed before it if too large), should be filled with ignitable spirit
(alcohol), or a red candle can be placed within it. At outdoor rites,
lay a fire within the cauldron to be lit during ritual.
Arrange the altar, lightthe candles and incense, andcast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the cauldron and gaze within it. Say these or
similar words:
I sorrow not,
though the world is wrapped in sleep.
I sorrow not,
though the icy winds blast.
I sorrow not,
though the snow falls hard and deep.
I sorrow not,
this too shall soon be past.
Ignitethe cauldron (or candle),using long matchesor a taper.
As the flame(s) leap up say:
I light this fire in Your honor,
Mother Goddess
You have created life from death;
warmth from cold;
The Sun lives once again;
the time of light is waxing.
Welcome,
ever-returning God of the Sun!
Hail Mother of All!
Circle the altar andcauldron slowly, clockwise, watching the
flames. Say the following chant for some time:
The wheel turns; the power burns.
Meditate upon the Sun,on the hidden energies lyingdormant in
winter, not only in the Earth but within ourselves. Think of birth
not as the start of life but as its continuance. Welcome the return
of the God.
1023
After a time cease and stand once again before the altar and
flaming caldron. Say:
Great God of the Sun,
I welcome Your return.
May You shine brightly upon the Goddess;
may You shine brightly upon the Earth,
scattering seeds and fertilizing the land.
All blessings upon You,
reborn One of the Sun!
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
YULE LORE
Onetraditional Yuletidepractice isthe creationof aYule tree.
This can be a living, potted tree which can later be planter in the
ground, or a cut one. The choice is yours.
Appropriate Pagandecorations are fun to make,from strings of
dried rosebuds and cinnamon sticks (or popcorn and cranberries) for
garlands, to bags of fragrant spices which are hung from boughs.
Quartz crystals can be wrapped with shiny wire and suspended from
sturdy branches to resemble icicles. Apples, oranges and lemons
hanging from boughs are strikingly beautiful, natural decorations, and
were customary in ancient times.
Many enjoy the custom of lighting the Yule log. This is a
graphic representation of the rebirth of the God within the sacred
fire of the Mother Goddess. If you choose to burn one, select a
proper log (traditionally of oak or pine). Carve or chalk a figure of
the Sun (such as a rayed disc) or the God (a horned circle or a figure
of a man) upon it, with the Boline, and set it alight in the fireplace
at dusk on Yule. As the log burns, visualize the Sun shining within
it and think of the coming warmer days.
As to food, nuts, fruits such as apples and pears, cakes of
caraways soaked in cider, and (for non-vegetarians) pork are
traditional fare. Wassail, lambswool, hibiscus or ginger tea and fine
drinks for the Simple Feast or Yule Meals.
1024
IMBOLC (February 2)
Asymbol ofthe season, suchas arepresentation ofa snow flake,
a white flower, or perhaps some snow in a crystal container can be
placed on the altar. An orange candle anointed with musk, cinnamon,
frankincense or rosemary oil, unlit, should also be there. Snow can
be melted and used for the water during the circle casting.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Say such words as the following:
This is the time of the feast of torches,
when every lamp blazes and shines
to welcome the rebirth of the God.
I celebrate the Goddess,
I celebrate the God;
all Earth celebrates
Beneath its mantle of sleep.
Light the orange taper fromthe red candle on the altar(or at
the Southern point of the circle). Slowly walk the circle clockwise,
bearing the candle before you. Say these or similar words:
All the land is wrapped in winter.
The air is chilled and frost envelops the Earth.
But Lord of the Sun,
Horned One of animals and wild places,
unseen you have been reborn of the gracious Mother Goddess,
Lady of all fertility.
Hail Great God!
Hail and welcome!
Stop before the altar, holding aloft the candle. Gaze atits
flame. Visualize your life blossoming with creativity, with renewed
energy and strength.
If you need to look into the future or past, now is an ideal
time.
Works of magic, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
IMBOLC LORE
It istraditional uponImbolc, atsunset or justafter ritual,to
light every lamp in the house - if only for a few moments. Or, light
candles in each room in honor of the Sun's rebirth. Alternately,
light a kerosene lamp with a red chimney and place this in a prominent
part of the home or in a window.
If snow lies on the ground outside, walk in it for a moment,
recalling the warmth of summer. With your projective hand, trace an
image of the Sun on the snow.
1025
Foods appropriate to eat on this day include those from the
dairy, since Imbolc marks the festival of calving. Sour cream dishes
are fine. Spicy and full-bodied foods in honor of the Sun are equally
attuned. Curries and all dishes made with peppers, onions, leeks,
shallots, garlic or chives are appropriate. Spiced wines and dishes
containing raisins - all foods symbolic of the Sun - are also
traditional.
OSTARA (circa March 21)
Flowersshould belaid onthe altar,placed around thecircle and
strewn on the ground. The cauldron can be filled with spring water
and flowers, and buds and blossoms may be worn as well. A small
potted plant should be placed on the altar.
Arrange the altar, lightthe candles and incense, andcast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God in whatever words please you.
Stand before the altar and gaze upon the plant as you say:
O Great Goddess,
you have freed yourself from the icy prison of winter.
Now is the greening,
when the fragrance of flowers drifts on the breeze.
This is the beginning.
Life renews itself by Your magick,
the Earth Goddess.
The God stretches and rises,
eager in His youth,
and bursting with the promise of summer.
Touch theplant. Connect with itsenergies and, throughit, all
nature. Travel inside its leaves and stems through your visualization
- from the center of your consciousness out through your arm and
fingers and into the plant itself. Explore its inner nature; sense
the miraculous processes of life at work within it.
After a time, still touching the plant, say:
I walk the Earth in friendship,
not in dominance.
Mother Goddess and Father God,
instillwithinme throughthis plantawarmth forall living
things.
Teach me to revere the Earth and all its treasures.
May I never forget.
Meditate uponthe changing of theseasons. Feelthe rousing of
energies around you in the Earth.
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
1026
EOSTRA LORE
A traditional VernalEquinox pastime:go to afield andrandomly
collect wildflowers [Thank the flowers for their sacrifice before
picking them, using a collection formula such as can be found in "An
Herbal Grimoire" elsewhere in this Book of Shadows]. Or buy some from
a florist, taking one or two of those that appeal to you. Then bring
them home and divine their magickal meanings by the use of books, your
own intuition, a pendulum or by other means. The flowers you've
chosen reveal your inner thoughts and emotions.
It isimportant at thistime ofrenewed life toplan a walk(or a
ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green
places. This is not simply exercise, and you should be on no other
mission. It isn't even just an appreciation of nature. Make your
walk celebratory, a ritual for nature itself.
Other traditionalactivities include plantingseeds, workingon
magickal gardens and practicing all forms of herb work - magickal,
medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic.
Foods intune with thisday (linkingyour meals withthe seasons
is a fine way of attuning with nature) include those made of seeds,
such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine nuts.
Sprouts are equally appropriate, as are leafy, green vegetables.
Flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes also
find their place here. [Find a book of flower cooking or simply make
spice cupcakes. Ice with pink frosting and place a fresh carnation
petal on each cupcake. Stuff nasturtium blossoms with a mixture made
with cream cheese, chopped nuts, chives and watercress.]
BELTANE (April 30)
If possible,celebrate Beltanein a forestor neara livingtree.
If this is impossible, bring a small tree within the circle,
preferably potted; it can be of any type.
Create a small token or charm in honor of the wedding of the
Goddess and God to hang upon the tree. You can make several if you
desire. These tokens can be bags filled with fragrant flowers,
strings of beads, carvings, flower garlands - whatever your talents
and imagination can conjure.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the altar and say, with wand upraised:
O Mother Goddess,
Queen of the night and of the Earth;
O Father God,
King of the day and of the forest,
IcelebrateYour unionas naturerejoicesin ariotous blaze
of color and life.
Accept my gift,
Mother Goddess and Father God,
in honor of Your union.
1027
Place the token(s) on the tree.
From Your mating shall spring forth life anew;
a profusion of living creatures shall cover the lands,
and the winds will blow pure and sweet.
O Ancient Ones,
I celebrate with You!
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
BELTANE LORE
Weavingand plaiting are traditionalarts at thistime of year,
for the joining together of two substances to form a third is in the
spirit of Beltane.
Foods traditionally come from the dairy, and dishes such as
marigold custard (see recipes - food) and vanilla ice cream are fine.
Oatmeal cakes are also appropriate.
MIDSUMMER (circa June 21)
Before the rite, make upa small cloth pouch filled withherbs
such as lavender, chamomile, St. John's Wort, vervain, or any of the
Midsummer herbs listed in "An Herbal Grimoire." Mentally pour all
your troubles, problems, pains, sorrows and illnesses, if any, into
this petition as you construct it. Tie it shut with a red string.
Place this on the altar for use during the rite. The cauldron should
also be there or nearby. Even if you use candles to mark the
quarters, the red candle in a holder should also be on the altar. For
outdoor rituals, light a fire - however small - and drop the pouch
into this.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the altar and say, with wand upraised:
I celebrate the noon of summer with mystic rites.
O great Goddess and God,
allnaturevibrateswith YourenergiesandtheEarth isbathed
with warmth and life.
Now is the time of forgetting past cares and banes;
O fiery Sun,
burn away the unuseful,
the hurtful,
the bane,
in Your omnipotent power.
Purify me!
Purify me!
Purify me!
1028
Lay thewand onthe altar. Take up theherbal petitionand light
it in the red candle on the altar (or, if outdoors, the ritual fire).
When it is burning drop it into the cauldron (or some other heat-proof
container) and say:
I banish you by the powers of the Goddess and God!
I banish you by the powers of the Sun,
Moon and Stars!
I banish you by the powers of the Earth,
Air,
Fire and Water!
Pause,seeing thehurts andpains burninginto nothingness. Then
say:
O Gracious Goddess,
O Gracious God,
onthis night of Midsummermagick I pray that You
charge my life with wonder and joy.
Help me in attuning with the energies adrift on the
enchanted night air.
I give thanks.
Reflect upon the purification you have undergone. Feel the
powers of nature flowing through you, washing you clean with divine
energy.
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
MIDSUMMER LORE
Midsummeris practically theclassic time toperform magicks of
all kinds. Healings, love magick and protections are especially
suitable. Herbs can be dried over the ritual fire if you're
celebrating outdoors. Leap the fire for purification and renewed
energy.
Fresh fruits are standard fare for Midsummer.
1029
LUGHNASADH (August 1)
Placeupon the altarsheaves of wheat,barley or oats,fruit and
breads, perhaps a loaf fashioned in the figure of the Sun or a man to
represent the God. Corn dollies, symbolic of the Goddess, can be
present there as well.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the altar, holding aloft the sheaves of grain,
saying these or similar words:
Now is the time of the First Harvest,
when thebounties ofnaturegive ofthemselvesso thatwemay
survive.
O God of the ripening fields,
Lord of the Grain,
grant methe understanding ofsacrifice as Youprepare to
deliver Yourself under the sickle of the Goddess and journey to the
lands of eternal summer.
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
teachmethe secretsofrebirth asthe Sunlosesits strength
and the nights grow cold.
Rub theheads of the wheatwith your fingers sothat the grains
fall onto the altar. Lift a piece of fruit and bite it, savoring its
flavour, and say:
I partake of the first harvest,
mixing itsenergieswithmine thatImay continuemyquestfor
the starry wisdom of perfection.
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
gracious ones before Whom the stars halt their courses,
I offer my thanks for the continuing fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose its seeds to be buried in the
Mother's breast,
ensuring rebirth in the warmth of the coming Spring.
Consume the rest of the fruit.
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
1030
LUGHNASADH LORE
It is appropriate toplant the seedsfrom the fruit consumedin
ritual. If they sprout, grow the plant with love and as a symbol of
your connection with the Goddess and God.
Wheat weaving (the making of corn dollies, etc.) is an
appropriate activity for Lughnasadh. Visits to fields, orchards,
lakes and wells are also traditional.
The foods of Lughnasadh include bread, blackberries and all
berries, acorns (leached of their poisons first), crab apples, all
grains and locally ripe produce. A cake is sometimes baked, and cider
is used in place of wine.
If youdo make afigure of theGod from bread,it can beused for
the Simple Feast.
MABON (circa September 21)
Decorate the altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress
cones, ears of corn, wheat stalks and other fruits and nuts. Also
place there a small rustic basket filled with dried leaves of various
colors and kinds.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Standbefore the altar, holdingaloft the basketof leaves, and
slowly scatter them so that they cascade to the ground within the
circle. Say such words as these:
Leaves fall,
the days grow cold.
The Goddess pulls Her mantle of the Earth around Her as You,
O Great Sun God,
sail toward the West to the lands of
Eternal Enchantment.,
wrapped in the coolness of night.
Fruits ripen,
seeds drop,
the hours of day and night are balanced.
Chill winds blow in from the North wailing laments.
In this seeming extinction of nature's power,
O Blessed Goddess,
I know that life continues.
For spring is impossible without the second harvest,
as surely as life is impossible without death.
Blessings upon You,
O Fallen God,
as You journey into the lands of winter
and into the Goddess' loving arms.
1031
Place the basket down and say:
O Gracious Goddess of all fertility,
Ihave sownandreapedthe fruitsofmy actions,goodandbane.
Grantme the courageto plantseeds of joyand lovein the coming
year,
banishing misery and hate.
Teach me the secrets of wise existence upon this planet,
O Luminous One of the Night!
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
MABON LORE
A traditional practice is to walk wild places and forests,
gathering seed pods and dried plants. Some of these can be used to
decorate the home; others saved for future herbal magick.
The foods ofMabon consistof the secondharvest's gleanings,so
grains, fruit and vegetables predominate, especially corn. Corn bread
is traditional fare, as are beans and baked squash.
1032
Samhain (October 31)
Placeupon thealtarapples, pomegranates,pumpkins, squashesand
other late autumn fruits. Autumn flowers such as marigolds and
chrysanthemums are fine too. Write on a piece of paper an aspect of
your life which you may wish to be free of; anger, a baneful habit,
misplaced feelings, disease. The cauldron or some similar tool must
be present before the altar as well, on a trivet or some other
heat-proof surface (if the legs aren't long enough). A small, flat
dish marked with an eight-spoked wheel symbol should also be there.
[This is just what it sounds like. On a flat plate or dish, paint a
large circle. Put a dot in the center of this circle and paint eight
spokes radiating out from the dot to the larger circle. Thus, you
have a wheel symbol - a symbol of the Sabbats, a symbol of
timelessness.]
Prior toritual, sit quietlyand thinkof friends andloved ones
who have passed away. Do not despair. Know that they have gone on to
greater things. Keep firmly in mind that the physical isn't the
absolute reality, and souls never die.
Arrangethe altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the
Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Lift one of the pomegranates and, with your freshly-washed
Boline, pierce the skin of the fruit. Remove several seeds and place
them on the wheel-marked dish.
Raise your wand, face the altar and say:
On this night of Samhain I mark Your passing,
O Sun King,
through the sunset into the Land of the Young.
I mark also the passing of all who have gone before,
and all who will go after.
O Gracious Goddess,
Eternal Mother,
You who gives birth to the fallen,
teach meto know that inthe time of the greatest
darkness there is the greatest light.
Taste the pomegranate seeds; burst them with your teeth and
savour their sharp, bittersweet flavour. Look down as the
eight-spoked symbol on the plate; the Wheel of the Year, the Cycle of
the Seasons, the End and Beginning of all Creation.
Light a firewithin the cauldron(a candle isfine). Sitbefore
it, holding the piece of paper, gazing at its flames. Say:
Wise One of the Waning Moon,
Goddess of the Starry Night,
I createthis firewithin Your cauldronto transform
that which is plaguing me.
May the energies be reversed:
From the darkness, light!
From bane, good!
From death, birth!
1033
Light thepaper in thecauldron's flames anddrop it inside. As
it burns, know that your ill diminishes, lessens and finally leaves
you as it is consumed within the universal fires. [The cauldron, seen
as the Goddess.]
If you wish, you may attempt scrying or some other form of
divination, for this is a perfect time to look into the past or
future. Try to recall past lives too, if you will. But leave the
dead in peace. Honor them with your memories but do not call them to
you. [Many Pagans do attempt to communicate with their deceased
ancestors and friends at this time, but it seems to me that if we
accept the doctrine of reincarnation, this is a rather strange
practice. Perhaps the personalities that we knew still exist, but if
the soul is currently incarnate in another body, communication would
be difficult, to say the least. Thus, it seems best to remember them
with peace and love - but do not call them up.] Release any pain and
sense of loss you may feel into the cauldron's flames.
Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.
SAMHAIN LORE
It is traditional on Samhain night to leave a plate of food
outside the home for the souls of the dead. A candle placed in the
window guides them to the Lands of Eternal Summer, and burying apples
in the hard-packed earth "feeds" the passed ones on their journey.
Forfood, beets,turnips,apples, corn,nuts, gingerbread,cider,
mulled wines and pumpkin dishes are appropriate, as are meat dishes
(once again, if you're not vegetarian. If so, tofu seems ritually
correct).
1034
A RITUAL OF GESTURES
Stand in the ritualarea. Stillyour thoughts. Breathedeeply
for half a minute or so until composed and calm. Turn your mind to
our Deities.
Face North. Lift bothhands to waistheight, palms down. Press
your fingers together, creating two solid, flat planes. Sense
solidity, foundation, fertility. Invoke the powers of the Earth
through the gesture.
Moments Later, turn toward the East. Raise your hands a foot
higher, your palms facing away from you (no longer parallel with the
ground), and elbows slightly bent. Spread your fingers and hold this
position, sensing movement and communication. Invoke the forces of
Air through the gesture.
Face South. Lift your handsfully above yourhead. Keepingthe
elbows straight, grasp your fingers into tight fists. Feel force,
power, creation and destruction. Invoke the forces of Fire through
the gesture.
Turn to the West. Lower your hands a foot or so. Bend the
elbows, turn your palms upward and cup them, pressing the thumbs
against the forefingers. Sense fluidity, the ocean, liquidity.
Invoke the forces of Water through the gesture.
Face Northagain. Throw yourhead back and raiseboth hands to
the sky, palms up, fingers spread. Drink in the essence of The One,
the unknowable, unapproachable ultimate source of all. Sense the
mysteries within the universe.
Lower your projective hand (your writing hand) but keep your
receptive hand high. Pressing the third, forth and fifth fingers
against the palm, lift the forefinger and thumb to create a rough
crescent shape. Sense the reality of the Goddess. Sense Her love,
Her fertility, Her compassion. Sense the powers of the Moon in the
gesture; the force of the eternal seas - the presence of the Goddess.
Lower your receptivehand; liftyour projective hand. Benddown
the middle and forth fingers toward the palm, and trap them with the
thumb. Lift the forefinger and little finger up to the sky, creating
a horned image. Sense the reality of the God. Sense the power of the
Sun in the gesture; the untamed energies of the woodlands - the
presence of the God.
Lower yourprojective hand. Laydown flat. Spread yourlegs and
arms until you've created the pattern of a pentagram. Sense the
powers of the elements running through you; merging and coalescing
into your being. Sense them as emanations from The One, the Goddess
and God.
Meditate. Commune. Communicate.
When finished, simply stand up. Your rite of gestures is over.
1035
THE LAW OF THE POWER
1. The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure or
control others. But if the need rises, the Power shall be used to
protect your life or the life of others.
2. The Power is used only as need dictates.
3.The Power can be usedfor your own gain, aslong as by doing
so you harm none.
4.It is unwiseto accept money forthe use ofthe Power, for it
quickly controls its taker. Be not as those of other religions.
5. Use not the Power forprideful gain, for such cheapens the
mysteries of the Craft and magick.
6. Everremember that the Poweris a sacred giftof the Goddess
and God, and should never be misused or abused.
7. And this is the Law of the Power.
INVOCATION OF THE ELEMENTS
Air, Fire, Water, Earth,
Elements of Astral birth,
I call you now; attend to me!
In the circle, rightly cast,
Safe from psychic curse or blast,
I call you now, attend to me!
From cave and desert, sea and hill,
By blade and wand, cup and pentacle,
I call you now; attend to me!
This is my will, so mote it be!
[This invocation may be chanted while moving or dancing around the
altar to raise elemental energy for magickal workings.]
PRAYERS, CHANTS AND INVOCATIONS
OF AND TO
THE GODDESS AND GOD
These prayers can be used toinvoke the Goddess and Godduring
ritual, just after the circle casting. Of course, any which you
compose or are inspired to say and be used as well.
A fewchants arealso includedto raise energyor tocommune with
the deities.
Someof theseinvocations rhyme, andsome donot. But recall the
power of rhyme - it link our conscious mind to the unconscious or
psychic mind, thereby producing ritual consciousness.
Some of these are related to specific deities but, as Dion
Fortune wrote: "All the gods are one god; and all the goddesses are
one goddess, and there is only one initiator."
1036
INVOCATION TO THE GODDESS
Crescent One of the starry skies, Flowered One of the fertile plan,
Flowing One of the ocean's sighs,
Blessed One of the gentle rain;
Hear my chant 'midst the standing stones,
Open me to your mystic light;
Waken me to your silver tones,
Be with me in my sacred rite!
INVOCATION TO PAN
O Great God Pan,
Beast and man,
Shepherd of goats and Lord of the Land,
I call you to attend my rites
On this most magickal of nights.
God of the wine,
God of the vine,
God of the fields and God of the kine,
Attend my circle with your love
And send Your blessings from above.
Help me to heal;
Help me to feel;
Help me to bring forth love and weal.
Pan of the forests, Pan of the glade,
Be with me as my magick is made!
ISIS INVOCATION
Isis of the Moon,
You who are all that ever was,
All that is,
And all that shall be:
Come, veiled Queen of Night!
Come as the scent of the sacred lotus
Charging my circle
With love and magick.
Do descend upon my circle,
I pray,
O Blessed Isis!
PRAYER TO THE HORNED GOD
Horned One of the wilderness,
Winged One of the shining skies,
Rayed One of the spen'drous Sun,
Fallen One of the Samhain cries-
I call amidst the standing stones
Praying that You, O Ancient One,
Will deign to bless my mystic rites-
O fiery Lord of the Blazing Sun!
1037
NEW MOON CHANT TO DIANA
Waxing, waxing, growing, growing-
Diana's power is flowing, flowing.
(repeat)
CALL TO THE GOD
Ancient God of the forest deeps,
Master of beast and Sun;
Here where the world is hushed and sleeps
Now that the day is done.
I call You in the ancient way
Here in my circle round,
Asking that You will hear me pray
And send Your Sun force down.
INVOCATION TO THE GODDESS
Gracious Goddess,
You who are the Queen of the Gods,
The lamp of night,
the creator of all that is wild and free;
Mother of woman and man;
Lover of the Horned God and protectress of all the Craft:
Descend, I pray,
With Your Lunar ray of power
Upon my circle here!
INVOCATION TO THE GOD
Blazing God,
You who are the King of the Gods,
Lord of the Sun,
Master of all that is wild and free;
Father of woman and man,
Lover of the Moon Goddess and protector of all the Craft:
Descend I pray,
With you Solar ray of power
Upon my circle here!
GODDESS CHANT
Luna, Luna, Luna, Diana
Luna, Luna, Luna, Diana
Bless me, bless me, bless me, Diana,
Luna, Luna, Luna, Diana
(repeat)
1038
EVENING CHANT TO THE GOD
Hail fair Sun,
Ruler of day;
Rise on the morn
To light my way.
(to be said while watching the sunset)
EVENING CHANT TO THE GODDESS
Hail fair Moon
Ruler of night;
Guard me and mine
Until the light.
(to be said while Moon-gazing at night)
GODDESS CHANT
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah
Oooooooooooooh
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Eeeeeeeeeeeeee
Iiiiiiiiiiiiii
[These are obviously, the vowels of the English language. Pronounce
them as: A-"Ah," O-"O," U-"Oo," E-"E," I-"Eye." Extend the vowels as
you vocalize them, stretch the sounds. This produces Goddess
awareness, and rouses the psychic mind]
1039
THE LORE OF NUMBERS
To be used in ritual and magickal workings. In general, odd
numbers are related to women, receptive energy and the Goddess; even
numbers to men, projective energy and the God.
1. The universe; The One; the source of all.
2. The Goddess and God; The perfect duality; projective and
receptive energy; the couple; personal union with deity;
interpenetration of the physical and spiritual; balance.
3. The Triple Goddess; the Lunar phases; the physical, mental and
spiritual aspects of our species.
4. The elements; the Spirits of the Stones; the winds; the
seasons.
5. The senses; the pentagram; the elements plus Akasha; a Goddess
number.
7. The planets which the ancients knew; the time of the Lunar
phase; power; protection and magick.
8. The number of Sabbats; a number of the God.
9. A number of the Goddess.
13. The number of Esbats; a fortunate number.
15. A number of good fortune.
21. The number of Sabbats and Esbats in the Pagan year; a number of
the Goddess.
28. A number of the Moon; a number of the goddess.
101. The number of fertility.
The planets are numbered thus:
Saturn 3 Venus 7
Jupiter 4 Mercury 8
Mars 5 Moon 9
Sun 6
1040
THIRTEEN GOALS OF A WITCH
I. Know yourself
II. Know your Craft (Wicca)
III. Learn
IV. Apply knowledge with wisdom
V. Achieve balance
VI. Keep your words in good order
VII. Keep your thoughts in good order
VIII. Celebrate life
IX. Attune with the cycles of Terra
X. Breathe and eat correctly
XI. Exercise the body
XII. Meditate
XIII. Honor the Goddess and God
RECIPES FOR FOOD
CRESCENT CAKES
1 cup firmly ground almonds
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 drops almond extract
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg yolk
Combinealmonds, flour,sugarand extractuntil thoroughlymixed.
with the hands, work in butter and egg yolk until well-blended. Chill
dough. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Pinch off pieces of dough
about the size of walnuts and shape into crescents. Place on greased
sheets and bake for about 20 minutes. Serve during Simple Feast,
especially at Esbats.
1041
BELTANE MARIGOLD CUSTARD
2 cups milk
1 cup unsprayed marigold petals
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
1 to 2-inch piece vanilla bean
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. rose water
whipped cream
Using a cleanmortar and pestle reservedfor cooking purposes,
pound marigold petals. Or, crush with a spoon. Mix the salt, sugar
and spices together. Scald milk with the marigolds and the vanilla
bean. Remove the vanilla bean and add the slightly beaten yolks and
dry ingredients. Cook on low heat. When the mixture coats a spoon,
add rose water and cool.
Top with whipped cream, garnish with fresh marigold petals.
SOFT MEAD
1 quart water, preferably spring water
1 cup honey
1 sliced lemon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Boil together all ingredients in a non-metallic pot. While
boiling, scrape off the rising "scum" with a wooden spoon. When no
more rises add the following:
pinch salt
juice of 1/2 lemon
Strain andcool. Drinkin placeof alcoholic meador wineduring
the Simple Feast.
BEVERAGES
If you wish to avoid the use of wine, which has long been
utilized in religious and magickal rites, there are many other
beverages that can be used to toast the Goddess and God. These
include (but certainly aren't limited to):
Sabbats: apple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice,
orange juice, pineapple juice, black tea, soft mead,
guava nectar, cinnamon coffee, ginger tea, hibiscus tea
Esbats: lemonade, apricot nectar, mango nectar, pear
nectar, papaya nectar, peach nectar, jasmine tea, peppermint
tea, rosebud tea, milk
1042
RECIPES FOR INCENSES
To make incenses, simply grind the ingredients and mix them
together. As you mix, sense their energies. Burn on charcoal blocks
in the censer during ritual.
CIRCLE INCENSE
4 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
2 parts Benzoin
1 part Sandalwood
1/2 part Cinnamon
1/2 part Rose petals
1/4 part Vervain
1/4 part Rosemary
1/4 part Bay
Burn in the circle for all types of rituals and spells.
Frankincense, myrrh and benzoin should definitely constitute the bulk
of the mixture.
ALTAR INCENSE
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Cinnamon
Burn as a general incense on the altar to purify it and to
promote ritual consciousness during rituals.
FULL MOON RITUAL INCENSE
2 parts Sandalwood
2 parts Frankincense
1/2 part Gardenia petals
1/4 part Rose petals
a few drops Ambergris oil
Burn during Esbats or simply at the time of the Full Moon to
attune with the Goddess.
SPRING SABBAT INCENSE
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Benzoin
1 part Cinnamon
a few drops Patchouly oil
Burn during spring and summer Sabbat rituals.
1043
FALL SABBAT INCENSE
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Rosemary
1 part Cedar
1 part Juniper
Burn during fall and winter Sabbat rituals.
RECIPES FOR OILS
To create oils, simply mix themin a bottle. Wear for ritual
purposes.
SABBAT OIL #1
3 parts Patchouly
2 parts Musk
1 part Carnation
Wear to the Sabbats to promote communion with the deities.
SABBAT OIL #2
2 parts Frankincense
1 part Myrrh
1 part Carnation
1 part Allspice
Use as the above formula.
FULL MOON OIL #1
4 parts Gardenia
2 parts Lotus
1 part Jasmine
Anoint the body prior to Esbats to attune with Lunar energies.
FULL MOON OIL #2
3 parts Sandalwood
2 parts Lemon
1 part Rose
Another like the above.
1044
GODDESS OIL
3 parts Rose
2 parts Gardenia
1 part Lemon
1 part Lotus
1 part Ambergris
Wear to honor the Goddess during rituals.
HORNED GOD OIL
2 parts Frankincense
2 parts Cinnamon
1 part Bay
1 part rosemary
1 part Musk
Wear to honor the Horned God during rituals.
ALTAR OIL
4 parts Frankincense
3 parts Myrrh
1 part Galangal
1 part Vervain
1 part Lavender
Anoint thealtar withthis oilat regularintervals topurify and
empower it.
1045
OF GATHERING FLOWERS, HERBS AND PLANTS:
Before cutting with the Boline, attune with the plantthrough
visualization. Feel its energies. As you cut, say these or similar
words:
Olittle plant of (name, such as hyssop, etc.) I ask
that you give of your bounty that it may aid me in my work. Grow
stronger by my stroke, stronger and more powerful, O
plant of (name)!
If it isa tree, substitute theappropriate word (tree ofoak).
Gently cut only what you need, and never from very young plants or
more than twenty-five percent of the growth. At the base of the plant
leave an offering: a silver coin, a bright jewel, a bit of wine or
milk, grain, a quartz crystal and so on. Cover the offering and it is
done.
OF THE CIRCLE
The magick circle may be fashioned with garlands of flowers
sacred to the Goddess and God. Alternately, flowers can be scattered
around the perimeter of the circle.
The point stones may be ringed with fresh flowers and herbs
suitable to the elements, such as:
North: corn, cypress, fern, honeysuckle, wheat, vervain
East: acacia,bergamot,clover, dandelion,lavender,lemongrass,
mint, mistletoe, parsley, pine
South:basil, carnation, cedar,chrysanthemum, dill, ginger,
heliotrope, holly, juniper, marigold, peppermint
West: apple blossoms,lemon balm,camellia, catnip,daffodil,
elder, gardenia, grape, heather, hibiscus, jasmine, orchid
Fresh flowers may be present on the altar or, if none are
available, greens such as ferns may be used.
When casting the circle around a tree, youcan use the fruit,
leaves, nuts or flowers of that tree to mark out the circle, if
desired.
All of these can be used in addition to the cord and stones.
1046
OF THE BALEFIRE:
If you wish to build a fire for an outdoor ritual, it can be
composed of all or any combination of the following woods:
Rowan Dogwood
Mesquite Poplar
Oak Juniper
Pine Cedar
Apple
If these are unavailable, use native woods. Rites run on the
seashore can be illuminated with balefires of dried driftwood
collected prior to the rite.
OF THE HOME CIRCLE:
Magickal plants growing outside the home incontainers can be
placed around the circle or on the altar during ritual. If you
primarily work indoors, choose an odd-numbered selection of sacred
plants and grow these in your ritual area. If they need more
sunlight, simply move them outdoors and bring inside during ritual.
Give them energy and love, and they'll aid you in your worship and
magick.
Though anybut poisonousplants canbe used,such plantsas these
are recommended:
African Violets Red Geraniums
Cacti (all types Rose
Ferns (all types) Rose Geranium
Holly Rosemary
Hyssop Ti (Cordyline terminalis)
Palms (all types) Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)
OF THE CELEBRANT:
Wearfresh flowers and herbs in yourhair and on your body, if
you prefer, during the rites. Crowns or caplets of flowers are always
appropriate for spring and summer rites. Wear oak and pine during the
winter rituals.
You may wishto wear anecklace ofherbs and seeds,such astonka
beans, whole nutmegs, star anise, acorns and other seeds and nuts,
strung on a natural fiber. Strings of small pine cones may also be
worn.
For Full Moon rituals held at night, wear night-blooming,
fragrant flowers to suffuse yourself with Lunar energies.
1047
OF THE TOOLS:
These are suggestions for dedicating the tools prior totheir
first use or formal consecration, if any. Perform these with proper
visualization and ritual intent.
The Athame or Sword:
Rub the blade with fresh basil, rosemary or oak leaves, at
sunrise, outdoors where you will not be disturbed or seen. Lay the
sword or Athame on the ground with its point to the South. Walk
clockwise around it thrice, scattering bay leaves (preferably fresh)
over it. Take up the sword or Athame, stand facing East and, holding
it upward but with arms lowered, invoke the God to infuse your Athame
or sword with His strength. Point it to the sky, invoking the Goddess
to charge your blade with Her love and power.
Wrap yourAthame or swordin red cloth andtake it home. It may
be stored in the cloth, if desired.
The Bolline:
Early in the morning, goto a forest (or park, garden,or your
indoor garden). Choose the most beautiful and vibrant plants. Touch
the point of the Boline gently to these in turn, forging a connection
between your Boline and the plants (and, thusly, the Earth).
Next, siton the Earth. Ensuring thatyou are quitealone, draw
a pentagram with the Boline's point on the ground. It is done.
The Wand:
If the wand is of wood, take it outdoors at sunsetand rub it
with fresh lavender, eucalyptus or mint leaves. Raise it in the air
toward the East (or the Moon if it is visible) and invoke the Goddess.
At sunrise, take it again outdoors, rub with the fresh fragrant leaves
and invoke the God by raising it to the East.
The Pentacle:
Place the pentacle on bare Earth. Lay upon itdried parsley,
patchouly, mistletoe, or fresh jasmine or honeysuckle flowers. Sit
before it facing North for several seconds, visualizing the pentacle
absorbing the Earth's energies. Then pick it up and scatter the herbs
or flowers to the four quarters, beginning and ending in the North.
Ifthis must bedone indoors, filla small dishwith fresh Earth
and place the pentacle on this. Proceed as above, saving the herbs or
flowers to be scattered outdoors at a latter time.
1048
The Censer:
Fume purerosemary, frankincenseorcopal withinthe censerprior
to its first use. Do this for about an hour.
The Cauldron:
Takethe cauldron toa stream, river,lake or ocean. Gather the
leaves of some plants growing nearby (at the sea, perhaps seaweed).
Dip the cauldron into the water to fill it. Place the leaves in the
cauldron, then set it on the water's edge where it is on both water
and sand. Place your hands on the cauldron and dedicate it to the
Goddess in any words you like.
Emptyand drythe cauldron, andreturn home. Thecharge has been
made.
Ifperformed inside, placethe cauldronin alarge basinof water
or the bathtub, in a candle-lit room. Add a bit of salt to the water,
which should be cold. Proceed as above.
Salt water corrodes metal. Thoroughly wash the cauldronafter
immersion in sea or salk water.
The Chalice:
Anoint the base withgardenia, rose or violetoil and fillwith
pure spring water. Then set afloat a sprig of ivy, a small rose, a
fresh gardenia or some other appropriate flower or herb. Gaze into the
Chalice and invoke the Goddess to bless it. You might also wish to
take it outside as night, filled with water, and catch the Moon's
reflection within it.
The Broom:
It canbe fashioned from anash staff, birch twigsand a willow
binding. Brush the broom with chamomile, willow, lemon balm, elder or
mallow stalks and branches, then bury these with due solemnity. You
might also wish to carve a crescent Moon upon its handle.
The Crystal:
Onthe night ofa FullMoon, rub thesphere with fresh(or dried)
mugwort, then take it outside. Hold it up so that it drinks in the
light and energies of the Moon. Gaze at the Moon through the crystal
by holding it before your eyes. Repeat at least thrice yearly for the
best benefits.
The Book of Shadows:
Sewinto the cover of the Bookof Shadows leaves of the sacred
herbs vervain, rue, bay, willow or others, if you wish. They should
be well-dried and secretly placed by the light of the Moon. The
covers of the Book of Shadows should, of course, be covered with cloth
for this purpose.
1049
The Robe:
If you choose to wear one, lay it among sachets filled with
lavender, vervain and cedar when not in use. Sew a bit of rosemary or
frankincense into the hem while fashioning it, if desired (and if the
resulting stains won't show after washing).
OF THE HERBS OF THE SABBATS:
Tobe used asdecorations on thealtar, round thecircle, in the
home.
Samhain:
Chrysanthemum, wormwood, apples, pears, hazel, thistle,
pomegranates, all grains, harvested fruits and nuts, the pumpkin,
corn.
Yule:
Holly, mistletoe, ivy, cedar, bay, juniper, rosemary, pine.
Place offerings of apples, oranges, nutmegs, lemons and whole cinnamon
sticks on the Yule tree.
Imbolc:
Snowdrop, rowan, the first flowers of the year.
Eostara:
Daffodil,woodruff,violet, gorse,olive,peony,iris, narcissus,
all spring flowers.
Beltane:
Hawthorn, honeysuckle, St. John's wort, woodruff, all flowers.
Midsummer:
Mugwort, vervain, chamomile, rose, lily, oak, lavender, ivy,
yarrow, fern, elder, wild thyme, daisy, carnation.
Lughnasadh:
All grains, grapes, heather, blackberries, sloe, crabapples,
pears.
Mabon:
Hazel, corn, aspen, acorns, oak sprigs, autumn leaves, wheat
stalks, cypress cones, pine cones, harvest gleanings.
OF THE HERBS AND PLANTS OF FULL MOON RITUALS:
Placeupon thealtar allnocturnal, whiteor five-petaledflowers
such as the white rose, night-blooming jasmine, carnation, gardenia,
cereus, lily, iris; all pleasingly-scented flowers which shall call
forth the Goddess. Camphor is also symbolic.
1050
OF OFFERINGS:
To the Goddess:
Allwatery and earthy flowersand seeds suchas camellia, lily,
water lily, willow stalks; those flowers used in Full Moon rituals;
white or purple blooms such as hyacinth, magnolia, heather and lilac;
sweet-scented herbs and flowers; those dedicated to Venus or to the
Moon; rue, vervain and olive; or others that seem suitable.
To the God:
All fiery and airy herbs and flowers such as basil,
chrysanthemum, snapdragon, clover, lavender, pine; strongly-scented,
clean or citrusy herbs and flowers; those ruled by Mars or the Sun;
yellow or red blooms such as sunflower, pine cones, seeds, cacti,
thistles and stinging herbs; orange, heliotrope, cedar, juniper and so
on.
1051
OF THE SACRED HERBS OF THE GODDESSES:
Aphrodite: olive, cinnamon, daisy, cypress, quince. orris
(iris), apple, myrtle
Aradia: rue, vervain
Artemis: silver fir, amaranth, cypress, cedar, hazel, myrtle,
willow, daisy, mugwort, date palm
Astarte: alder, pine, cypress, myrtle, juniper
Athena: olive, apple
Bast: catnip, Vervain
Bellona: belladonna
Brigit: blackberry
Cailleach: wheat
Cardea: hawthorn, bean, arbutus
Ceres: willow, wheat, bay, pomegranate, poppy, leek, narcissus
Cybele: oak, myrrh, pine
Demeter: wheat, barley, pennyroyal, myrrh, rose, pomegranate,
bean, poppy, all cultivated crops
Diana: birch, willow, acacia, wormwood, dittany, hazel, beech,
fir, apple, mugwort, plane, mulberry, rue
Druantia: fir
Freya: cowslip, daisy, primrose, maidenhair, myrrh,
strawberry, mistletoe
Hathor: myrtle, sycamore, grape, mandrake, coriander, rose
Hecate: willow, henbane, aconite, yew, mandrake, cyclamen, mint,
cypress, date palm, sesame, dandelion, garlic, oak, onion
Hekat: cypress
Hera: apple, willow, orris, pomegranate, myrrh
Hina: bamboo
Hulda: flax, rose, hellebore, elder
Irene: olive
Iris: wormwood, iris
Ishtar: acacia, juniper, all grains
Isis: fig, heather, wheat, wormwood, barley, myrrh, rose,
palm, lotus, persea, onion, iris, vervain
Juno: lily, crocus, asphodel, quince, pomegranate, vervain, iris,
lettuce, fig, mint
Kerridwen: vervain, acorns
Minerva: olive, mulberry, thistle
Nefer-Tum: lotus
Nepthys: myrrh, lily
Nuit: sycamore
Olwen: apple
Persephone: parsley, narcissus, willow, pomegranate
Rhea: myrrh, oak
Rowen: clover, rowen
Venus: cinnamon, daisy, elder, heather, anemone, apple, poppy,
violet, marjoram, maidenhair fern, carnation, aster, vervain,
myrtle, orchid, cedar, lily, mistletoe, pine, quince
Vesta: oak
1052
OF THE SACRED HERBS OF THE GODS:
Adonis: myrrh, corn, rose, fennel, lettuce, white heather
Aesculapius: bay, mustard
Ajax: delphinium
Anu: tamarisk
Apollo: leek, hyacinth, heliotrope, cornel, bay, frankincense,
date palm, cypress
Attis: pine, almond
Ares: buttercup
Bacchus: grape, ivy, fig, beech, tamarisk
Baldur: St. John's wort, daisy
Bran: alder, all grains
Cupid: cypress, sugar, white violet, red rose
Dagda: oak
Dianus: fig
Dionysus: fig, apple, ivy, grape, pine, corn, pomegranate,
toadstools, mushrooms, fennel, all wild and cultivated trees
Dis: cypress
Ea: cedar
Eros: red rose
Gwydion: ash
Helios: oak
Horus: horehound, lotus, persea
Hypnos: poppy
Jove: pine, cassia, houseleek, carnation, cypress
Jupiter: aloe, agrimony, sage, oak, mullein, acorn, beech,
cypress, houseleek, date palm, violet, gorse, ox-eye daisy,
vervain
Kernunnos: heliotrope, bay, sunflower, oak, orange
Kanaloa: banana
Mars: ash, aloe, dogwood, buttercup, witch grass, vervain
Mercury: cinnamon, mulberry, hazel, willow
Mithras: cypress, violet
Neptune: ash, bladderwrack, all seaweeds
Odin: mistletoe, elm, yew, oak
Osiris: acacia, grape, ivy, tamarisk, cedar, clover, date
palm, all grains
Pan: fig, pine, reed, oak, fern, all meadow flowers
Pluto: cypress, mint, pomegranate
Poseidon: pine, ash, fig, bladderwrack, all seaweeds
Prometheus: fennel
Ra: acacia, frankincense, myrrh, olive
Saturn: fig, blackberry
Sylvanus: pine
Tammuz: wheat, pomegranate, all grains
Thoth: almond
Thor: thistle, houseleek, vervain, hazel, ash, birch, rowen,
oak, pomegranate, burdock, beech
Uranus: ash
Woden: ash
Zeus: oak, olive, pine, aloe, parsley, sage, wheat, fig
Asthe Craft, wewill takeonly that whichwe need fromthe green
and growing things of the Earth, never failing to attune with the
plant before harvesting, nor failing to leave a token of gratitude and
respect.
1053
SPELLS AND MAGICK
PROTECTIVE CHANT
Visualizea triplecircle ofpurplish lightaround youbody while
chanting:
I am protected by your might,
O gracious Goddess, day and night.
Another of the same type: visualize a triple circle and chant:
Thrice around the circle's bound,
Evil sink into the ground.
A MIRROR SPELL OF PROTECTION FOR THE HOME
Compose analtar: place acenser inthe center beforean imageof
the Goddess. Have a twelve-inch (or so) round mirror there as well.
Ring the altar with nine white candles. Burn a protective incense
(such as sandalwood, frankincense, copal or rosemary) in the censer.
Beginningwiththe candlemost directlybefore theGoddess image,
say these or similar words:
Lunar light protect me!
Repeat as you light each candle until all are glowing.
Now,holding the mirror, invokethe Goddess inHer lunar aspect
with these or similar words:
Great Goddess of the Lunar Light
and Mistress of the Seas;
Great Goddess of the Mystic Night
and of the Mysteries;
Within this place of candles bright
and with Your mirror nigh;
Protect me with Your awesome might
while ill vibrations fly!
Standing before thealtar, holdthe mirror facingthe candlesso
that it reflects their flames. Keeping the mirror toward the candles,
move slowly, clockwise, around the altar, watching the reflected
firelight bouncing off your surroundings.
Gradually increaseyour speed,mentally invoking theGoddess to
protect you. Move faster and faster; watch the light shattering the
air, cleansing it, burning away all negativity and all lines along
witch the ill energies have traveled into your home.
Charge your homewith the protectivelight of theGoddess. Race
around the candles until you've felt the atmosphere change, until you
feel that your home has been cleansed and guarded by the Great
Goddess.
When finished, stand once again before the image. Thank the
Goddess in any words you wish. Pinch out the candles one by one, bind
them together with white cord and store them in a safe place until
(and if) you need to use them again for this same purpose.
1054
A SPELL TO BREAK THE POWERS OF A SPELL
Ifyou believe that a spell hasbeen cast against you, place a
large black candle in a cauldron (or a large black bowl). The candle
must be tall enough to extend a few inched above the cauldron's rim.
Affix the candle to the bottom of the cauldron with warmed beeswax or
the drippings of another black candle so that it will not tip over.
Fill the cauldron tothe rim with fresh water,without wetting
the candle's wick. An inch or two of the candle should remain above
the water. Deep breathe, meditate, clear your mind, and light the
candle. Visualize the suspected spell's power as residing within the
candle's flame. Sit in quiet contemplation of the candle and
visualize the power flowing and growing with the candle's flame (yes
the power against you). As the candle burns down, its flame will
eventually sputter and go out as it contacts the water. As soon as
the flame has been extinguished by the water, the spell will be
dispersed.
Break your visualization of the spell's power;see it explode
into dust, becoming impotent.
Pourthe water intoa hole inthe ground,a lake orstream. Bury
the candle. It is done.
TO PROTECT AN OBJECT
Withthe firstand middle fingers(or yourAthame, ifyou have it
with you), trace a pentagram over the object to be protected.
Visualize electric-blue or purple flame streaming from your fingers
(Athame) to form the pentagram. Say this as you trace:
With this pentagram I do lay
Protection here both night and day.
And to the one who should not touch
Let the fingers burn and twitch.
I now invoke the Law of Three:
This is my will, so mote it be!
CRYSTAL MAGICK
Crystals andstones are gifts ofthe Goddess and God. They are
sacred, magickal tools which can be used to enhance ritual and magick.
Here are some of the ways of Earth magick.
1055
PREPARING THE CIRCLE:
The magick circlecan be laid out withcrystals and stones, if
desired, rather than with herbs.
Beginning and ending in the North, lay 7, 9, 21 or 40 quarts
crystals of any size around the circle, either inside the cord or in
place of it. If the ritual to be conducted within the circle is of a
usual spiritual or magickal nature, place the quartz crystals with
points outward. If of a protective nature, place with points facing
inward.
If youuse candlesto markthe four quartersof themagick circle
rather than large stones, ring each candle with any or all of the
following stones:
North: Moss Agate, Emerald, Jet, Olivine, Salt, Black Tourmaline
East: Imperial Topaz, Citrine, Mica, Pumice
South: Amber, Obsidian, Rhodochrosite, Ruby, Lava, Garnet
West:Aquamarine,Chalcedony, Jade,Lapis Lazuli,Moonstone,
Sugilite
A STONE ALTAR:
Tomake this altar, searchthrough dry riverbeds and seashores
for a variety of smoothly-shaped stones. Or check rock shops for
appropriate pieces.
Create thealtar itself ofthree large stones. Two smallerones
of even size are used as the base, while a longer, flat stone is
placed on top of these to form the altar itself. On this place one
stone to the left of the altar to represent the Goddess. This might
be a natural, river-rounded stone, a holed stone, a quartz crystal
sphere, or any of the stones related to the Goddess which are listed
below.
Tothe right of the altar, placea stone to represent the God.
This might be a piece of lava, a quartz crystal point, a long, thin or
club-shaped rock or a God-symbolic stone such as those presented
below.
Between thesetwo stones placea smallerstone with ared candle
affixed to it to represent the divine energy of the Goddess and God as
well as the element of Fire.
Beforethis, place a flat stone to receive offerings of wine,
honey, cakes, semi-precious stones, flowers and fruit.
A small,cupped stone (ifone can befound) should be setto the
left of the offering stone. Fill this with water to represent that
element.
To theright of the offeringstone place aflat rock. Pour salt
upon this to symbolize the element of Earth.
Additionally, another flat stone can be placed before the
offering stone to serve as an incense burner.
1056
Use along, thin,terminated quartscrystal as awand anda flint
or obsidian arrowhead for the Athame.
Any other tools which are needed can simply be placed on the
altar. Or, try to find stone alternatives to them.
This can be used for all types of Craft rituals.
STONES OF THE GODDESSES:
In general,all pink, greenand bluestones; thoserelated tothe
Moon or Venus; Water and Earth-ruled stones, such as peridot, emerald,
pink tourmaline, rose quartz, blue quartz, aquamarine, beryl, kunzite
and turquoise.
Stones which are related to specific deities follow.
Aphrodite: salt
Ceres: emerald
Coatlicue: Jade
Cybele: jet
Diana: amethyst, moonstone, pearl
Freya: pearl
The Great Mother: amber, coral, geodes, holed stones
Hathor: turquoise
Isis: coral, emerald, lapis lazuli, moonstone, pearl
Kwan Yin: jade
Lakshmi: pearl
Maat: jade
Mara: beryl, aquamarine
Nuit: lapis lazuli
Pele: lava, obsidian, peridot, olivine, pumice
Selene: moonstone, selenite
Tiamat: beryl
Venus: emerald, lapis lazuli, pearl
STONES OF THE GOD:
Generally,all orange and redstones; stones relatedto the Sun
and Mars; Fire and Air-ruled stones, such as carnelian, ruby, garnet,
orange calcite, diamond, tiger's eye, topaz, sunstone, bloodstone and
tourmaline.
Stones which are related to specific deities follow.
Aesculapius: agate
Apollo: sapphire
Bacchus: amethyst
Cupid: opal
Dionysus: amethyst
Mars: onyx, sardonyx
Neptune: beryl
Odin: holed stone
Poseidon: beryl, pearl, aquamarine
Ra: tiger's eye
Tezcatlipoca: obsidian
1057
[Pearl and coral have been mentioned in these lists as "stones"
because they were anciently thought to be such. Our knowledge of them
as products of living creatures leaves us with the ethical question of
whether or not to use them in ritual. This must be a personal
decision. Beach gathered coral and shells (mother of pearl is from
shells) can be used without conflicting with the above statement
because the creature has already died by the time the item was found.
If you decide not to use them, just remember leather is also a product
of a living creature.]
CAIRNS:
Inearlier times, throughout the world,people built mounds or
piles of stones. These were sometimes formed to mark the passage of
travelers, or to commemorate some historic even, but such cairns
usually had ritual significance.
In magickal thought, cairns are places of power. They
concentrate the energies of the stones used to create them. Cairns
are rooted in the Earth but lift upward to the sky, symbolically
representing the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual
realms.
Duringoutdoor circles, a smallcairn, composed ofno more than
nine or eleven rocks, can be fashioned as each point of the Circle of
Stones. This can be done prior to creating the circle itself.
The nexttime you're insome wild, lonelyplace with aprofusion
of stones, clear a place among them and sit. Visualize a magickal
need. As you visualize, grasp a near-by stone. Feel the energy
beating within it - the power of the Earth, the power of nature.
Place it on the cleared ground. Pick up another stone, still
visualizing you need, and set it next to the first.
Stillvisualizing, continue toadd stones, buildingthem into a
small pile. Keep adding stones until you feel them vibrating and
pulsating before you. Place the last rock on top of the cairn with
firm ritual intent - affirm to yourself, to the cairn and the Earth
that with this final magickal act you're manifesting your need.
Placeyour hands oneither sideof the pile. Giveit your energy
through your visualization. Nurse it. Feed it strength and see your
need as being fulfilled.
Then leave the cairn alone to do its work.
1058
A QUARTZ AND CANDLE SPELL:
Have a candle of the color symbolic of your magickal need,
according to the following list (or as your intuition tells you):
WHITE Protection, Peace, Purity, Truth, Sincerity, Spirituality
RED Strength, Health, Vigor, Sexual Love, Passion, Protection,
Courage,Danger,Warning,Anger,Element ofFire,God
oriented, Male aspects
LIGHT BLUE Tranquility, Happiness, Understanding, Patience, Health,
Element of Water, Goddess oriented, Feminine aspects
DARK BLUE Impulsiveness, Depression, Changeability, psychism
GREEN Finance, Fertility, Luck, Growth, Employment, Element of
Earth, Goddess oriented, Feminine aspects
GOLD/YELLOW Attraction, Persuasion, Charm, Confidence, Intellect,
Study,Divination,ElementofAir,God oriented,Male
aspects, (Gold) The Great God, The Sun
BROWN Hesitation, Uncertainty, Neutrality, Healing Animals,
Poverty
PINK Honor, Love, Morality, Friendship
BLACK Protection from, absorption Evil, loss, discord &
Confusion,Lackofcolorandvibrations, Neutrality,
Element of Akasha, Spirituality, The Divine, The Void
PURPLE Relief from; Tension, Calming, Healing of severe Disease,
Spiritualism,Meditation,Protection,PsychicPower,
Element of Akasha, The Divine
SILVER/GRAY Cancellation, Neutrality, Stalemate,(Silver) The Great
Goddess, The Moon
ORANGE Encouragement, Adaptability, Stimulation, Attraction,
Energy
GREENISH YELLOW Sickness, Cowardice, Anger, Jealousy, Discord
With the tipof acleansed, terminated quartzcrystal, scratcha
symbol of your need onto the candle. This might be a heart for love,
a dollar sign for money, a fist for strength. Alternately, use an
appropriate rune or write your need on the candle with the crystal.
As you scratchor draw,visualize your needwith crystalclarity
as if it had already manifested. Place the candle in a holder. Set
the crystal near it and light the wick.
As the flame shines, again strongly visualize. The crystal,
candle and symbol will do their work.
1059
A SELF-DEDICATION RITE
Prepare yourself by doing the Ritual Bath and Self Blessing.
If you,reperforming this ritual at the sea or a river, bathe
there if you so desire.
As you bathe, prepare for the coming rite. Open your
consciousness to higher levels of awareness. Breath deep. Cleanse
your mind as well as your body.
After bathing, dry and dressfor the journey. Go to aplace in
the wild where you feel safe. It should be a comfortable spot where
you won't be disturbed by others, an area where the powers of the
Earth and the Elements are evident. It may be a mountain top, a
desert canyon or cave, perhaps a dense forest, a rocky outcropping
over the sea, a quiet island in the center of a lake. Even a lonely
part of a park or garden can be used. Draw on your imagination to
find the place.
Youneed take nothingwith you buta vial ofrichly scented oil.
Sandalwood, frankincense, cinnamon or any other scent is fine. When
you arrive at the place of dedication, remove your shoes and sit
quietly for a few moments. Calm your heart if you've exerted yourself
during your travel. Breathe deeply to return to normal, and keep your
mind free of cluttered thoughts. Open yourself to the natural
energies around you.
When you're calm, riseand pivot slowly on onefoot, surveying
the land around you. You're seeking the ideal spot. Don't try to
find it; open your awareness to the place. When you've discovered it
(and you'll know when), sit, kneel or lie flat on your back. Place
the oil on the Earth beside you, Don't stand - contact the Earth.
Continue deep breathing. Feelthe energiesaround you. Callthe
Goddess and God in any words you like, or use the following
invocation. Memorize these words before the rite so that they'll
spill effortlessly from you, or improvise:
O Mother Goddess,
O Father God,
Answers to all mysteries and yet mysteries unanswered;
In this place of power I open myself to Your Essence.
In this place and in this time I am changed;
From henceforth I walk the Paths of the Craft.
I dedicate myself to you, Mother Goddess and Father God.
(rest for a moment, silent, still. Then continue:)
I breathe you energies intomy body,
commingling, blending,
mixing them with mine,
that I may see the divine in nature,
nature in the divine,
and divinity within myself and all else.
O Great Goddess,
O Great God,
Make me one with your essence
Make me one with your essence
Make me one with your essence.
1060
You may feel bursting with power and energy, or calm and at
peace. Your mind might be in a whirl. The Earth beneath you may
throb and undulate with energy. Wild animals, attracted by the
psychic occurrence, might grace you with their presence.
Whatever occurs, knowthat youhave opened yourselfand thatthe
Goddess and God have heard you. You should feel different inside, at
peace or simply powerful.
After the invocation, wet a finger with the oil and mark the
symbols of the Goddess and God somewhere on your body. It doesn't
matter where; you can do this on your chest, forehead, arms, legs,
anywhere. As you anoint, visualize these symbols sinking into your
flesh, glowing as they enter your body and then dispersing into
millions of tiny points of light.
Theformal self-dedication is ended. Thank theGoddess and God
for Their attention. Sit and meditate before leaving the place of
dedication.
Once home, celebrate in some special way.
1061
THE DAYS OF POWER
In the past, when peoplelived with Nature, the turningof the
seasons and the monthly cycle of the Moon had a profound impact on
religious ceremonies. Because the Moon was seen as a symbol of the
Goddess, ceremonies as adoration and magick took place in its light.
The coming of Winter, the first stirrings of Spring, the warm Summer
and the advent of Fall were also marked with rituals.
The Witches,heirsof thepre-Christian folkreligions ofEurope,
still celebrate the Full Moon and observe the changing of the seasons.
The Pagan religious calendar contains 13 Full Moon celebrations and
eight Sabbats or days of power.
Four of thesedays (or,more properly, nights)are determinedby
the Solstices and Equinoxes, the astronomical beginnings of the
seasons. The other four ritual occasions are based on old folk
festivals. The rituals give structure and order to the Pagan year,
and also remind us of the endless cycle that will continue long after
we're gone.
Four of theSabbats - perhaps thosethat have been observedfor
the longest time - were probably associated with the agriculture and
the bearing cycles of animals. These are Imbolc (February 2), Beltane
(April 30), Lughnasadh (August 1) and Samhain (October 31). These
names are Celtic and are quite common among Witches, though many
others exist.
When careful observationof theskies led tocommon knowledgeof
the astronomical year, the Solstices and Equinoxes (circa March 21,
June 21, September 21 and December 21; the actual dates vary from year
to year) were brought into this religious structure.
Who first beganworshipping and raising energy atthese times?
That question cannot be answered. However, these sacred days and
nights are the origins of the 21 Craft ritual occasions.
Many of thesesurvive todayin both secularand religiousforms.
May Day celebrations, Hallowe'en, Ground-hog Day and even
Thanksgiving, to name some popular North American holidays, are all
connected with ancient Pagan worship. Heavily Christianized versions
of the Sabbats have also been preserved within the Catholic Church.
The Sabbats are Solarrituals, marking the points ofthe Sun's
yearly cycle, and are but half of the Pagan ritual year. The Esbats
are the Pagan Full Moon celebrations. At this time we gather to
worship She Who Is. Not that Witches omit the God at Esbats - both
are usually revered on all ritual occasions.
There are 13 Full Moons yearly, orone every 28 1/4 days. The
Moon is a symbol of the Goddess as well as a source of energy. Thus,
after the religious aspects of the Esbats, Witches often practice
magick, tapping into the larger amounts of energy which are thought to
exist at these times.
1062
Some of the oldCraft festivals, stripped of theironce sacred
qualities by the dominance of Christianity, have degenerated. Samhain
seems to have been taken over by candy manufacturers in North America,
while Yule has been transformed from one of the most holy Pagan days
to a time of gross commercialism. Even the later echoes of a
Christian savior's birth are hardly audible above the electronic hum
of cash registers.
But the old magick remains on these days and nights, and the
Craft celebrate them. Rituals vary greatly, but all relate to the
Goddess and God and to our home, the Earth. Most rites are held at
night for practical purposes as well as to lend a sense of mystery.
The Sabbats, being Solar-oriented, are more naturally celebrated at
noon or at dawn, but this is rare today.
THE SABBATS
TheSabbats tell osone ofthe stories ofthe Goddessand God, of
their relationship and the effects this has on the fruitfulness of the
Earth. There are many variations on these myths, but here's a fairly
common one, woven into the basic descriptions of the Sabbats.
YULE
The Goddess gives birth to a son, the God, at Yule (circa
December 21). This is in no way an adaptation of Christianity. The
Winter Solstice has long been viewed as a time of divine births.
Mithras was said to have been born at this time. The Christians
simply adopted it for their use in 273 C.E. (Common Era).
Yule isa time of thegreatest darkness and isthe shortest day
of the year. Earlier peoples noticed such phenomena and supplicated
the forces of nature to lengthen the days and shorten the nights.
Witches sometimes celebrate Yule just before dawn, then watch the Sun
rise as a fitting finale to their efforts.
Sincethe God is also theSun, this marks thepoint of the year
when the Sun is reborn as well. Thus, the Witches light fires or
candles to welcome the Sun's returning light. The Goddess, slumbering
through the Winter of Her labor, rests after Her delivery.
Yule is remnantof early rituals celebratedto hurry theend of
Winter and the bounty of Spring, when food was once again readily
available. To contemporary Witches it is a reminder that the ultimate
product of death is rebirth, a comforting thought in these days of
unrest
1063
IMBOLC
Imbolc (February 2) marks the recovery of the Goddess after
giving birth to the God. The lengthening periods of light awaken Her.
The God is a young, lusty boy, but His power is felt in the longer
days. The warmth fertilizes the Earth (the Goddess), and causes seeds
to germinate and sprout. And so the earliest beginnings of Spring
occur.
This is a Sabbat of purification after the shut-in life of
Winter, through the renewing power of the Sun. It is also a festival
of light and of fertility, once marked in Europe with huge blazes,
torches and fire in every form. Fire here represents our own
illumination and inspiration as much as light and warmth.
Imbolc is also known as Feast of Torches,Oimelc, Lupercalia,
Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival, Feast of the Waxing Light, Brighid's
Day, and probably by many other names. Some female Witches follow the
old Scandinavian custom of wearing crowns of lit candles, but many
more carry tapers during their invocations.
Thisis oneof thetraditional timesfor initiationsinto covens,
and so self-dedication rituals, such as the one outlined in this Book
of Shadows, can be performed or renewed at this time.
OSTARA
Ostara (circa March 21), the Spring Equinox, also known as
Spring, Rites of Spring and Eostra's Day, marks the first day of true
Spring. The energies of Nature subtly shift from the sluggishness of
Winter to the exuberant expansion of Spring. The Goddess blankets the
Earth with fertility, bursting forth from Her sleep, as the God
stretches and grows to maturity. He walks the greening fields and
delights in the abundance of nature.
On Ostara the hours of day and night are equal. Light is
overtaking darkness; the Goddess and God impel the wild creatures of
the Earth to reproduce.
Thisis a timeof beginnings, of action,of planting spells for
future gains, and of tending the ritual gardens.
1064
BELTANE
Beltane (April 30) marks the emergence of the young God into
manhood. Stirred by the energies at work in Nature, He desires the
Goddess. They fall in love, lie among the grasses and blossoms, and
unite. The Goddess becomes pregnant of the God. Witches celebrate
the symbol of Her fertility in ritual.
Beltane (alsoknown as MayDay) has longbeen marked withfeasts
and rituals. May poles, supremely phallic symbols, were the focal
point of Old English village rituals. Many persons rose at dawn to
gather flowers and green branches from the fields and gardens, using
them to decorate the May pole, their homes and themselves.
The flowers andgreenery symbolizethe Goddess; theMay polethe
God. Beltane marks the return of vitality, of passion and hopes
consummated.
May poles are sometimes used by Witches today during Beltane
rituals, but the cauldron is a more common focal point of ceremony.
It represents, of course, the Goddess - the essence of womanhood, the
end of all desire, the equal but opposite of the May pole, symbolic of
the God.
MIDSUMMER
Midsummer, the SummerSolstice (circa June 21), also known as
Litha, arrives when the powers of Nature reach their highest point.
The Earth is awash in the fertility of the Goddess and God.
In the past, bonfires were leapt to encourage fertility,
purification, health and love. The fire once again represents the
Sun, feted on this time of the longest daylight hours.
Midsummer is a classic time for magick of all kinds.
LUGHNASADH
Lughnasadh (August 1)is thetime of thefirst harvest, whenthe
plants of Spring wither and drop their fruits or seeds for our use as
well as to ensure future crops. Mystically, so too does the God lose
His strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the
nights grow longer. The Goddess watches in sorrow and joy as She
realizes that the God is dying, and yet lives on inside Her as Her
child.
Lughnasadh, also known as AugustEve, Feast of Bread, Harvest
Home and Lammas, wasn't necessarily observed on this day. It
originally coincided with the first reapings.
AsSummer passes, Witches rememberits warmth andbounty in the
food we eat. Every meal is an act of atunement with Nature, and we
are reminded that nothing in the universe is constant.
1065
MABON
Mabon (circaSeptember 21),theAutumn Equinox,is thecompletion
of the harvest begun as Lughnasadh. Once again day and night are
equal, poised as the God prepares to leave His physical body and begin
the great adventure into the unseen, toward renewal and rebirth of the
Goddess.
Nature declines, drawsback its bounty,readying for Winterand
its time of rest. The Goddess nods in the weakening Sun, though fire
burns within Her womb. She feels the presence of the God even as He
wanes.
SAMHAIN
At Samhain(October 31),the Craftsay farewell tothe God. This
is a temporary farewell. He isn't wrapped in eternal darkness, but
readies to be reborn of the Goddess at Yule.
Samhain, alsoknown as NovemberEve, Feast ofthe Dead, Feastof
Apples, Hallows, All Hallows and Hallowe'en, once marked the time of
sacrifice. In some places this was the time when animals were
slaughtered to ensure food throughout the depths of Winter. The God -
identified with the animals - fell as well to ensure our continuing
existence.
Samhainis a time of reflection, oflooking back over the last
year, of coming to terms with the one phenomenon of life over which we
have no control - death.
The Craft feel that on this night the separation between the
physical and spiritual realities is thin. Witches remember their
ancestors and all those who have gone before.
After Samhain, Witches celebrateYule, and so the Wheelof the
Year is complete.
1066
Surely thereare mysteries buried here. Why is theGod the son
and then the lover of the Goddess? This isn't incest, this is
symbolism. In this agricultural story (one of many Craft myths) the
everchanging fertility of the Earth is represented by the Goddess and
God. This myth speaks of the mysteries of birth, death and rebirth.
It celebrates the wondrous aspects and beautiful effects of love, and
honors women who perpetuate our species. It also points out the very
real dependence that humans have on the Earth, the Sun and the Moon
and of the effects of the seasons on our daily lives.
Toagricultural peoples, the majorthrust of thismyth cycle is
the production of food through the interplay between the Goddess and
God. Food - without which we would all die - is intimately connected
with the deities. Indeed, Witches see food as yet another
manifestation of divine energy.
And so, byobserving the Sabbats, Witches attunethemselves to
the Earth and to the deities. They reaffirm their Earth roots.
Performing rituals on the nights of the Full Moon also strengthens
their connections with the Goddess in particular.
It is thewise Witch who celebrates on theSabbats and Esbats,
for these are times of real as well as symbolic power. Honoring them
in some fashion is an integral part of Witchcraft.
THE ESBATS
When our earliest ancestors first painted images of their
religious rituals on the walls of sacred caves and understood all of
Nature to be inhabited by Spirit, there can be little doubt that they
first reckoned time by the waxing and waning of the Moon. The primary
reason for this is that the monthly cycles of the Moon are far more
visible than the slow and subtle changes in the position of the Sun,
even to someone who is not especially looking for repeated cycles.
One of the earliest calendars known (although its use is still a
controversy that may never be settled) is a 30,000 year-old piece of
bone from Europe. It is pierced with variously shaped holes in a
series of sevens, suggesting the quarters of the Moon, in a loop
design, which represents the Lunar cycle from New Moon to Full and
back to the New or Dark of the Moon. The artifact, just a few inches
across, describes three such Lunar cycles - three months or one
season.
Because there are 13 Lunar months in a year, and because the
first New Moon does not necessarily coincide with the first day of the
first Solar month, the Full Moon, midpoint of the lunar month, may not
always fall in the Solar month that is given here. And because there
are 13 Full Moons in a Solar year, one month will have two. The
second Full Moon to occur in a Solar month is popularly called the
Blue Moon.
1067
JANUARY
To each Lunar monththe ancients assigned a namein accordance
with the nature of the activity that took place at that time. The
Moon of deepest Winter is the Wolf Moon, and its name recalls a time
when our ancestors gathered close around the hearth fire as the
silence of the falling snow was pierced by the howling of wolves.
Driven by hunger, wolves came closer to villages than at any other
time of the year, and may have occasionally killed a human being in
order to survive.
The wolf innorthern countries wasat one timeso feared thatit
became the image of Fenris, the creature of destruction that
supposedly will devour the world at the end of time. The Christian
version of the myth would leave it at that, but the myth continues.
Like the wolf in the fairy tale of Little Red Ridinghood, which
preserves the full idea of the myth but is used only to frighten
children, the wolf is slain; and the grandmother, like the world, is
brought forth once more.
As the lightof the new-born yearslowly increases andthe Wolf
Moon waxes full, it is a good time to look back upon that which has
just ended and learn from our experiences. Bid the past farewell and
let it go in order to receive the year that has just been born.
Learning to let go of that which we would cling to is one of the
greatest secrets of magick.
FEBRUARY
The Moon followingthe Wolf Moonis the StormMoon. Whetheryou
meet with a coven on the night of the Full Moon, salute Her in a
solitary ritual, or simply blow Her a kiss, bear in mind the magick of
this night and the nature of the storms of February. Unlike the
boisterous storms of the light half of the year, which are accompanied
by the clashing of thunder and the flinging of lightning bolts, the
storms of February come in silence. They blanket the world in
coldness in keeping with the nature of the dark half of the Wheel of
the Year. But beneath the blanket of cold and silent snow, Nature
rests, as we do when in the realm of the Spirit that is called death;
and like those in the world of Spirit, Nature prepares for life anew.
1068
MARCH
The Moon following the Storm Moon is the Chaste Moon. Like
Diana, chaste Goddess of the Moon, all of Nature at this moment is
pure potential waiting to be fulfilled. The Goddess has many forms:
The maiden pure and lovely as the snow of February, the seductive
enchantress of the night, or the Crone ancient and wise. As the
Goddess can change Her form according to the Moon or according to Her
will, ever renewing Herself, ever beginning again, se can we, Her
children, always begin again by discovering new potential within
ourselves. When you cast the Circle of the Chaste Moon, when the
candles have been lit and the incense burned, look deep within
yourself to discover what potential lies there waiting, like the
Maiden, to be fulfilled.
As it is the time forthe planting of seeds on the material
plane, so may it be time to do so on the psychic planes as well. On
the night that the Seed Moon (another name for the Chaste Moon) of
March is full, cast your magick Circle. Then before the rite has
ended, select the spiritual seeds you would like to plant. They may
be seeds of wisdom, seeds of understanding, or seeds of certain
magickal skills. Then by an act of will, plant these seeds in the
fertile soil of your subconscious mind with the firm commitment that
they will be nurtured and cultivated in the months that lie ahead, so
that they will grow and flower and bear fruit.
APRIL
Asthe Hare Moonof Aprilwaxes full,observe therabbits leaping
and playing, carefree in their mating and joyful in their games, and
as you cast your Esbat Circle and joyfully dance the round, feel
within your heart the carefree nature of the wild creatures that are
also children of the Old Gods.
MAY
This time ofthe Sacred Marriage of the Godand Goddess is the
Dyad Moon, the time when the two become one, when all things meet
their opposites in perfect balance and in perfect harmony. As you
cast your Circle this night of the Dyad Moon, adorn it with apple
blossoms, and light candles of white. When the sacred round has been
danced, sit a moment and reflect. Seek harmony in all things. As the
dark half of the Wheel of the Year balances the light, as heat
balances cold, recall the words of the Goddess, "Let there be beauty
and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and
reverence, within you." And then before the rite is ended, if it is
appropriate, become one with your working partner, physically as well
as spiritually.
1069
JUNE
Afterthe spectacular flowers of May have passed and the bees
have gathered their pollen and nectar, the hives are filled with honey
that is waiting to be gathered. In ancient times much of this honey
was made into a drink called mead by a fermentation process similar to
that of making wine. The "Moon in June" is the Mead Moon. Mead has
been considered to have magickal and even life-restoring properties in
many of the countries of ancient Europe, and it was the drink of many
of the great heroes of legend.
Thelegendary figureRobin Hood, whois acceptedhistorically as
being a composite of several peasant leaders during the reign of King
Richard I, is also generally accepted by Pagans as being one of us.
One reason is that Robin was a popular Witch name, and also because he
was always described as being dressed in green, symbolic of the Green
Man of Sherwood Forest. Lincoln green, which is made from woad, the
dyestuff used by the Picts of ancient Britain and the Druid
priestesses, is also a color that symbolizes, historically, the Pagan
peasantry. Among the articles robbed from the rich by Robin Hood are
"met and met." This probably means "meat and mead." In the myth of
Odin, one of His quests is for the Poetic Mead of Inspiration, which
He returns to the realm of the Gods where it belongs, but a few drops
fall to Earth, and this may be had by anyone who can find them.
Onthe night thatthe Mead Moonwaxes full, afterthe Circle has
been cast and dancing done, fill the cup with mead (if it is
available), sweet wine, or an herb tea sweetened with honey. Sip the
sweet drink and sit quietly and make yourself a vessel ready to
receive the inspiration of the higher realms. Become a mead cup ready
to be filled, not with the brew of everyday life but with the clear,
bright liquid of illumination. Every time this ritual is performed,
even if there are no immediate results, you are becoming a more
perfect vessel for divine inspiration.
If the night of the Mead Moon is very close to the Summer
Solstice, the results of this exercise can be very powerful. If the
Mead Moon is full on Midsummer Night, then the priestess into whom the
Moon is Drawn should be prepared.
JULY
As the Wort Moon of July waxes full, this is the time for
gathering of herbs. The word wort is old Anglo-Saxon for "herb."
When the magickal herbs have been gathered and hung to dry, the time
of the Wort Moon is the time to give thanks to the spirits who dwell
in the herb garden, and to leave them an offering. Perhaps as you
place an offering in the moonlit garden, they will whisper to you
other secrets of herbal magick.
1070
AUGUST
One day atmid-month we realize that therobins and wrens that
were nesting nearby have simply vanished. Their lovely songs have
been replaced by the shrill calls of the bluejays, who were so silent
during the nesting season.
As August progresses the days are still hot but nighttime
temperatures are beginning to cool, and the late afternoon
thunderstorms that bring the cooler air also bring about the ripening
of tomatoes.
In thefields and meadowsand along roadsidesnow thereare wild
herbs to be gathered. There are goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace, and
milkweed - all awaiting the natural dyer who can extract from them
tan, green, and bright yellow respectively, for dyes and for natural
inks for talismans. Among the medicinal herbs to be collected at this
time is boneset, which does not help broken bones to heal but is a
febrifuge that was used as a remedy for "Breakbone Fever" in the
1840s. Milkweed pods with their silken fluff, goldenrod, and wild
grasses and grains gathered now will be dried in time to adorn the
altar at the Autumnal Equinox.
As thearomatic herbs begin tofill the rafters inthe dry heat
of the attic, and the braids of onions and garlic fill the cool
darkness of the root cellar, the golden grain and yellow corn ripen in
the fields under the waning August Sun.
Tothe Ancients thiswas the Barley Moon,a time to contemplate
the eternalness of life. Just as we are descended from the first
woman and the first man, who descended from the Gods, so is the grain
of the bread that we eat descended from the first grain ever gathered.
By ritually eating the Lammas bread we are participating in a chain of
events that stretches back through time to the Gods themselves. And
here before us in the ripening fields is the promise of the future.
Everywhere there is abundance -in herb garden, the vegetable
garden, the field, and the orchard. The pantry shelves are lined with
glistening glass jars that are filled with colorful fruits and
vegetables preserved for Winter days; quarts of red tomatoes,
cucumbers in slices or spears, dark red beets with cloves and cinnamon
sticks, the yellow of corn, the orange of carrots - a feast for the
eyes as well as the palate. The house is filled with delightful
aromas as pickling spices are added to crocks of brine and exotic
chutneys simmer on the stove.
But thetime of abundance isdrawing to a close. The fireflies
of June and July have given way to katydids, whose scratchy calls to
one another fill the evening air of August with the promise of frost
in six weeks.
1071
SEPTEMBER
Sincewine was, and is, such asacred fluid, the Pagans of old
naturally named this Lunar month the Wine Moon. As you celebrate the
night of the Full Wine Moon and dance the magickal round in the
moonlit Circle, pour some white wine in a silver cup. Before the rite
is ended, if possible, catch Her reflection in the liquid, then take a
sip. As the Moon-blessed wine casts its inner glow, sit quietly and
feel your own spirit, of which the wine is a symbol. As the body is
stilled and the spirit soars, feel on this night of magick a sense of
the kind of transformation that takes place during true spiritual
initiation.
Today the term HarvestMoon is appliedto the Full Moonnearest
to the Autumnal Equinox. This is because, it is said, in other times
when harvesting was done by hand, as the days grew shorter farmers
were able to work into the night in the brightness of Her light.
OCTOBER
Atthis timeof yearthe abundanceof fruit andvegetables begins
to slow. It is a time when our ancient ancestors gathered what they
could store and then supplemented their Winter diets either by hunting
wild animals or by slaughtering domestic ones. So this Lunar month is
called the Blood Moon. As you cast the Esbat Circle on this moonlit
Autumn night and fill the cup with blood-red wine, know that you will
be joined in the sacred dance not only by the unseen presence of
departed friends and family so close at this time of year, but also by
the spirits of animals as well, perhaps of those that have died so
that we may have food. In this age of assembly line slaughterhouses
and meatpacking plants, it is especially appropriate that on this
night of the Blood Moon we who are on the Pagan path ritually ask the
understanding of our animal sisters and brothers, bless them, and bid
them merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
1072
NOVEMBER
As theWinter Sun wanes andthe Snow Moon waxesfull, cast your
Circle in the warm glow of candlelight. Salute the Moon in Her snowy
whiteness and breathe in the coolness of Her light. Become as still
as this Winter night, and know that the activity of the warm light
months is behind us. Ahead are the dark months of the year. The
Spirit is most active when the body is most still.
DECEMBER
The Full Moon nearestthe Winter Solstice is the OakMoon, the
Moon of the newborn year, the Divine Child. Like the Divine Child who
is born to die and dies to be reborn anew, the ancient Oak has its
trunk and branches in the material world of the living, while its
roots, the branches in reverse, reach deep into the Underworld,
symbolic land of the Spirit. As the roots probe downward into the
grave-like darkness of the Earth, its branches grow ever upward toward
the light, to be crowned by sacred Mistletoe. At this most magickal
time of the year, as the light of the old dying year wanes and the Oak
Moon waxes to full, cast your Circle wearing Mistletoe in your hair.
Let this token remind you that like the Oak, we too dwell
simultaneously in two worlds - the world of physical matter and the
world of Spirit. As you invoke the Goddess of the Moon, ask that you
become ever more aware of the other side of reality and the unseen
forces and beings that are always among us.
1073