Altar - A special, flat surface set aside exclusively for magickal workings or religious acknowledgment. Things to keep in mind when selecting an altar. 1. What type of altar do you prefer? Will you make it, buy it, or use something you already have? 2. Where will you place your altar? Inside the house, outside, what room, which corner, etc.? 3. What will you use for altar cloths? 4. ALTAR CLOTHS: Some Wiccan traditions prescribe a specific color altar cloth for use on the altar. Certain designs (such as pentagrams) may be embroidered or painted onto these cloths. Many traditions, however, don't use them. 5. What type of illumination will you work by? 6. What tools & representations of the deities would you like to put on your altar? Asperger aka Aspergillum - A device used to sprinkle water for purification at the beginning of rituals. Some are constructed of brass or silver, but a spray of evergreen, a pine cone, or fingers will do as well. Athame AKA: Air Dagger - Pronounced: a-THA-may NOT A-thame (that rhymes with a-frame house). A ritual knife with a black handle and a double-edged blade which is traditionally engraved or etched with various magickal and/or astrological symbols. It represents the ancient and mystical element of air, is symbolic of the Life Force, and is used by Witches to draw circles, to exorcize evil and negative forces, to control and banish elemental spirits, and to store and direct energy during magickal rituals. An athame with a white handle is used only for cutting wands, harvesting herbs for magick or healing, carving the traditional Samhain jack-o'-lantern, and carving runes and other magickal or astrological symbols on candles and talismans. Bell - A consecrated brass or crystal bell is often used by Witches to signal the beginning and/or close of a ritual or Sabbat, to summon a particular spirit or deity, and to awaken meditating coven members. Bells are also rung at many Wiccan funeral rites to bless the soul of the Witch who has crossed over to the realm of the dead. Book of Shadows AKA: Black Book, Grimoire - A secret diary in which a Witch records his or her personal spells, invocations, rituals, dreams, recipes for various potions, and so forth. Some traditions say it must be hand-written, others say it doesn't matter. A Book of Shadows may be kept by an individual witch or by an entire coven. In the event of a Witch's death, the Book of shadows may be passed down to his or her children or grandchildren, kept by a High Priestess & High Priest of the Coven (if the witch was a member of one at the time of her death), or burned in order to protect the secrets of the Craft. whichever course of action is taken, of course, depends entirely upon the customs of the particular Wiccan tradition and/or the Witch's own personal wishes. A magickal journal kept by each wiccan initiate, in which spells, invocations, ritual notes, herbal recipes, dreams, divination results and material from the coven book can be recorded. Some people write in Thesbian script or in other alphabets. Sew into the cover of the Book leaves of the sacred herbs vervain, rue, bay, willow or others, if you wish. They should be well-dried & secretly placed by the light of the moon. The covers of the Book of shadows should, of course, be covered with cloth. Book of Shadows Outline Book Blessing Favorite Quotes & Magickal Rules Index Magickal Information <DIR> <DIR> <DIR> <DIR> <DIR> <DIR> Alphabet (Magickal) Research </DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR> Astral Projection Research Astrological correspondences Alantean Wand Instructions Bi-Location Research Biofeedback Research Candle Magick Research Chakra Research Crystal Research Color Magick Research Compass Point Research Divination Research Dowsing Research Druidic Research Earth Magick Research Egyptian Magick Research Elemental Tables Emotions (Human) Research Ethics Gem Research Ghosts & Talking to the Dead God/Goddess Research Graphology Herb Magick Research Magickal Correspondence Tables Magickal Definitions t Moon Magick Research Power Research Psychic protection Research Sensitivity Research Shamanistic Research Spell Casting Research Symbol & Sigil Research Tarot Research Telepathy Research Time Research Vision Questing Research Webweaving Guide Women's Spirituality Research </DIR></DIR> Spells, hands-on information, working information, rituals, healing herbs, formula & other Basic instructions. Broom AKA: Bossume, Bossom, Besom - Cleanse the ritual area with the broom before rituals. Some witches name theirs. Can he fashioned from an Ash staff, Birch twigs and a Willow binding. Brush the broom with Chamomile, willow, Lemon Balm, Elder or Mallow stalks and branches, then bury these with due solemnity. Carve a crescent Moon upon it's handle if you wish. Burin - An engraving tool, used by many Witches (and Ceremonial Magicians) to mark sacred names, numbers, runes and various magickal and/or astrological symbols ritually on their athames, swords, brass altar bells, metallic jewelry and other tools of magick and ritual. Cauldron - Some Wiccans utilize cauldrons as symbols of the Goddess, and they can be the center of religious rites. Fires are sometimes lit within them. WARNING: SALT corrodes METAL!!! ALWAYS thoroughly was the cauldron after using. Chalice or Cup - Symbol of Emotion and fertility. This holds wine, water or other liquids for use during rituals. Anoint the base with Gardenia, Rose or Violet oil & fill with 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 cup & invoke the Goddess to bless it. Also may take it outside at night, filled with water & catch the moon's reflection within it. Charcoal - Often incense is burned in a charcoal briquet, placed in an incense burner which is made of metal (sometimes called a thurible) or on a stone. Cords - Can be either a heavy string used in binding & releasing magick, or it can refer to the piece of apparel circling the magician's waist. In many covens and magickal lodges, the color of the cord indicates the wearer's degree of attainment. Another Tradition says that cords are of importance in initiate groups, in which cords often symbolize the bond of love and responsibility shared by the members. Cords are also used in some initiation rites. Cords can certainly be used by the Solitary wiccan, but needn't be constantly on the altar. The cords are truly tools of coven working. Images of the Goddess and God - Many traditions place them on the altar. The nature of these images are of great variety. Some simply use candles; others natural objects representative of the Goddess & God. Still other Wiccans use hand-crafted sculptors or drawings. Genuine clay is available that, when dried in a normal oven, becomes quite hard. It can be used to create your own interpretations of the Goddess & God. Incense Burner AKA Censer, Thurible - In it, incense or herbs are burned to invite the presence of the Goddess and God, and to cleanse the ritual space. (A small box, bowl or bottle to contain the unburned incense is also used.). To Consecrate, Fume pure rosemary, frankincense or copal within the censer prior to it's first use for about an hour. Lamps of Art - These are the two candles on the altar which provide illumination, made preferably of beeswax, although paraffin will do. Chose, write, or use colors based on the seasons or on the nature of the magick being done. Pen of Art - A special pen which is reserved only for entries into a Book of Shadows, or for other ritual uses. This can he an old-fashioned dip pen or quill pen, but any writing implement may be assigned to this role. Pentacle/Pentagram - A circle surrounding a five-pointed, upright star (known as a pentagram). Worn as a symbol of a Witch's belief and used in magickal workings and ceremonies. Each point on the star has a specific meaning: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Pentacles are never worn inverted in the Craft. Witches consider this blasphemy of their faith. However, an inverted pentagram is used in some second degree initiations, not to indicate evil, but to fulfill a function of growth. Yet Another Definition: A flat disk or plate bearing, at the least, the symbol of a five pointed star, which most traditions say is to remain 1 point up, never being inverted. To consecrate, Place on bare Earth. Lay upon dried Parsley, Patchouly, Mistletoe, or fresh Jasmine or Honeysuckle flowers. Sit before it, facing the North for several seconds, visualize the pentacle absorbing the earth's energies, then pick it up & scatter the herbs or flowers to the 4 Quarters, Beginning and ending in the North. Robes - Many covens - and certainly the vast majority of Solitary Witches - work naked... referred to, in the Craft, as skyclad - "clad only by the sky". This certainly seems a preferred and recommended practice. But there are times when, perhaps due to temperature, you may wish to be robed. It may even be that you just prefer to be robed most of the time anyway...that's all right. Robes can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Here are instructions for making a simple one. Any type of material will do, the choice is up to you - polyester (if you must!), silk, cotton, wool. Consider, though, its weight: will it he too heavy and hot, or too light and cool? Also consider how easily it creases and wrinkles. Will it stretch too much? Is it washable? Will it itch? Since Witches wear nothing under their robes, this last is a serious consideration! Measure yourself from wrist to wrist, with arms outstretched, then from the nape of the neck to the ground. You will need to buy material of A width by twice B length. Take the material and fold it in half. If th material has an "outside" and an "inside", fold it inside out. Now cut out a piece from each side. You will be left with a more-or-less T shape. The exact dimensions of the cuts will depend on you. Leave enough for a full sleeve at "X" but don't take it up to make it too tight under the arm at "Caf é". At "Z" cut an opening for your head. Sew where indicated: along the bottom of the sleeves and down the sides. All that remains is to turn it right side out again, try it on and hem it at a convenient length (e.g. an inch or so above the ground). It you wish to add a cowl-hood there will he plenty of material available from that initially cut off. Either a pointed or a rounded hood is appropriate. Think carefully about the color of your robe. It used to be that most Witches wore white robes, but more colors are appearing at festivals. In Saxon Witchcraft, the priestess wears either white, purple or deep green and the others wear greens, browns, yellows and blues. Though this is not a hard and fast rule. Combinations of colors can be attractive, of course, as can a basic trimmed with silver or gold, or with a second color. Some few Witches do wear black but, while acknowledging it to be a very "powerful" color (in fact noncolor). Buckland personally thinks that it plays up to the misconception of equating Witchcraft with Satanism and, if only for that reason, should be avoided. We are a religion of Nature, so let's use the colors of Nature.. the bright and the somber earth colors (there is actually very little black to be found in nature). But again, in the last instance it is your choice. Robe Colors YELLOW is an excellent color for those involved with divination. PURPLE is favored for those who work with pure divine power (magician's) or who wish to deepen their spiritual awareness of the Goddess & God. BLUE suited for healers & those who work with their psychic awareness or for attuning with the Goddess in Her Oceanic aspect. GREEN empowers herbalists & maqickal ecologists. BROWN worn by those who attune with animals or who casts spells for them. WHITE symbolizes purification & pure spirituality, & also is perfect for meditation and cleansing rituals. It is warn for Full Moon celebrations or to attune with the Goddess. ORANGE or RED robes can be worn to Sabbats, for protective rites or when attuning with the God in his fiery solar aspect. BLACK robes are quiet popular. Contrary to popular misconceptions, black doesn't symbolize evil. It is the absence of color. It is a protective hue & symbolizes the night - the universe & a lack of falsehood. When a Wiccan wears a black robe, she or he is donning the blackness of outer space - symbolically, the ultimate source of divine energy. Salt and Salt Bowl - Generally used for circle casting, consecration of tools & for other purposes. Rock salt symbolizes Earth, & is mixed with water & sprinkled over things to purify them. It is placed on the altar to hold the salt. Sea Salt, which symbolizes water, may also be used. Sword - The sword is not essential; the knife can always substitute for it. But while every individual Witch has an athame, many covens like to have a coven sword - one for the whole group. The sword is usually used for marking the Circle at the start of the meeting; being used by the Priest(ess) or whoever casts the Circle. It can be made in the same way that the knife is, or you can purchase one. There are certainly many companies that offer replicas of ancient swords, these days. If you decide to get a ready-made one, again do some work on it yourself. In fact, since it is a coven tool, it is nice if the whole coven either get together to make one or join in engraving and decorating it. To Consecrate, Rub blade with fresh rosemary or Oak leaves, at sunrise, outdoors where you will be alone. Lay the sword on the ground with it's point to the South. Walk clockwise around it thrice, scattering bay leaves over it. Take up the sword, stand facing East & holding it upward but with arms lowered, invoke the God to infuse your knife or sword with His strength. Point it to the sky, invoking the Goddess to charge your blade with Her love & power. Wrap in Red cloth and take it home. It may be stored in the cloth, If desired. Bolline or White-Handled Knife - A curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal purposes such as cutting. For instance, the knife can be used to harvest herbs, cut a branch for a wand, inscribe candles, etc.
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