Magick

A heavily charged place of magic.

The Greek goddess of witchcraft, Hecate, was also the goddess of the crossroads, and animals were sacrificed to her at such locations.

It was believed that Hecate appeared at crossroads on clear nights, accompanied by spirits and howling dogs.

Offerings were placed there to propitiate her and ask for her intercession in cases of madness, which was believed to be caused by departed souls.

In Ireland and Wales, it was traditional on Samhain (All Hallow’s Eve), the Druidic new year, to sit at a crossroads and listen for the howling of the wind, which would prophesy the year to come.

During the witch hunts, sorcerers and witches were said to frequent crossroads to conjure the Devil or his demons or make sacrifices to them.

In the sixth century, the sorcerer Salatin conjured the Devil for theophilus at a crossroads.

In 1324 Dame Alice Kyteller, an accused Irish witch, was said to sacrifice cocks to her familiar at a crossroads.

According to Carl G. Jung, a crossroads is a mother symbol; in that respect, it corresponds to the emphasis placed on the Mother Goddess in contemporary witchcraft.

The crossroads also represents the intersection of positive, neutral and negative forces. It is a place of fluxand of change.

Alot of practitioners of magick will say there is no color in magick and that’s true to some extent.

But that doesn’t mean the idea of black, white or nature magick doesn’t exist in today’s vocabulary.

Black Magik is typically known as magickal practices with negative intent.

That means doing harm or trying to control others.

Most practitioners of Witchcraft do not associate with these kinds of practices, seeing them as non-productive and producing negative karma.

It goes against the spiritual aspects of the religion and in most cases is considered to be spiritual rape (as in forcing someone to do something they might not normally do).

White Magick focuses on positive intent or actions.

Even with positive intent, white magic can be used to control the will of others.

Because of that, it holds a similar accountability as those actions conducted under the concepts of black magic.

Think of it this way.

Conducting healing for a relative dying of cancer in order for that person to continue living is admirable.

But the consequences are you could be forcing that person to live longer in immense pain and suffering for your own selfish need.

Just because White Magick is intended to be helpful doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea to cast.

White witchcraft is essentially the process of drawing on ancient wisdom and powers via the collective mind that we as individuals can spontaneously but unconsciously access in our dreams and
visions.

In magick, we can use rituals and altered states of consciousness to access this cosmic memory bank at will and in doing so, some believe, draw on the accumulated powers of many generations, especially in healing magick.

This cosmic consciousness – or Great Mind or akashic record, as theosophists call it – is perhaps what made it possible for pyramids to be built at almost the same time in lands as far apart as Egypt and South America, and for shamanism to follow similar patterns in unconnected continents.

By accessing this source of power, we may create a ritual or use certain crystals without consciously knowing their significance, only to find out that our invented spell closely resembles one from another time or culture; we know how to heal without being taught.

Gaining such knowledge has been described as ‘inner-plane’ teaching and if you can trust your own deep intuitions, you need very little formal teaching about magick.

If you scry at the full moon or during one of the ancient festivals, by looking into water and letting images form, this deep wisdom will offer solutions to seemingly impossible dilemmas.

The practice of witchcraft demands great responsibility, for you are handling very potent material when you deal with magick.

The benefit is that by focusing and directing your own inner powers and natural energies you can give form to your thoughts and needs and desires and bring them into actuality.

The more positive and altruistic these focuses are, the more abundance, joy and harmony will be reflected in your own world.

For some, magick isn’t something to be contained into back room rituals and secretive assemblies in the dark depths of the forest, it’s something to be celebrated daily and integrated into the most mundane aspects of our lives

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Magick, intention, energy can be harnessed and used to make your life better, keep yourself grounded and provide spiritual enlightenment and growth.

Performing small acts of magick daily increases your power and knowledge.

Here are four small ways to make simple daily tasks and actions magickal:

1.The power of herbs, roots and minerals for consumption similar to using potions.

When you cook, be conscious of the magickal properties of the ingredients you’re using, use them with proper intent and focus your magickal intention to get results.

Keep a few crystals in your kitchen for protection, love, good intentions.

2. Walking and chanting, similar to saying spells, creates kinetic energy which powers your magick.

Repeating a phrase or mantra or spell when walking, especially in a natural, forest or rural setting, can ground you, focus your energy and multiply your magickal intention.

3. Music is another example of everyday magick.

Songs, words, instrumentals all offer power and energy both through the music itself and in the movement of your body.

As you dance and connect with the message of music, you amplify your emotions and magickal intention.

4. Cleansing, purifying and grounding magickal tools and yourself is an important part of any ritual.

Focusing in on the elements of cleansing; washing away negative energy, renewal and purity; when you clean your home or in the shower can bring magick to everyday life and take that small piece of ritual and normalize it to make everyday life more magickal and connected to supernatural energy and power.

Integrating small acts of magick into daily life preserves your power, energy and intention and creates a lifestyle promoting your paganism and spirituality.

One of the parts of strolling the Crooked Path that is once in a while tended to in books is the feeling of being an untouchable.

What we’re discussing is this feeling of being separated, of being distant from everyone else notwithstanding when you’re in a group, notwithstanding when inside a horde of Pagans, you’ll sit separated from them.

You feel like there’s something among you and them that prevents you from being a piece of it.

You feel especially alone.

Furthermore, it tends to be extremely unsettling, particularly when you don’t know what standpoint it’s maintaining.

So what causes this, since it is by all accounts an extremely widespread ordeal that individuals have as they get further into a Pagan or otherworldly way.

Also, there are some exceptionally viable purposes behind why this ought to happen.

The first of these is that in case you’re following a mysterious way, you’re experiencing encounters that must be imparted to other people who have just been there before you since no one else would truly get it.

There are likewise encounters that you simply don’t have the words to clarify, that even another person who’s been there you can’t truly talk about either, in light of the fact that you can’t discover the words.

You simply need to trust that they’ve been there enough that they realize what you’re attempting to state and get the substance of it that way.

And after that obviously, on the off chance that you have companions who aren’t Pagan, on the off chance that you converse with them about your encounters, they’re going believe you’re somewhat flaky.

Indeed, even the individuals who are Pagan amicable may not by any means comprehend what you’re discussing and may downplay it, or make you feel like uneasy here and there — without importance to, obviously.

What’s more, this can get super discouraging.

I’ve realized individuals who’ve had a horrendous time, and this isn’t something that leaves.

Indeed, even individuals who are Pagan don’t generally comprehend it, on the off chance that they’re not going into it as profoundly as you may be.

Our way is custom fitted to us. We tailor it to suit our very own requirements, so notwithstanding when we’re in a coven or some other sort of gathering; it’s still extremely only a group of people who happen to go a similar way for some time.

It’s somewhat similar to caravanning or carpooling on an excursion.

You didn’t begin with these individuals.

You may not wind up with these individuals.

However, at this moment all of you happen to go a similar place in the meantime.

Thus you travel together for comfort. Be that as it may, you’re still particularly an individual going along your very own way.

There is a long tradition of using herbs for healing, but they have many other uses.

As well as healing rituals, you can place dishes of charged herbs near a bedside in a sickroom or on your healing altar next to a symbol, photograph, or the name of the person to be healed.

However, they are also excellent for emotional support and spiritual empowerment.

For example, if you get stressed on a regular car journey through heavy traffic or on motorways, you may well benefit from a healing or protective herbal sachet in the glove compartment of your car.

In fact, herbs may be used to add their strength to almost any kind of ritual and spell.

As they have such a wide variety of uses in magick, you will probably need quite a large supply.

Fortunately, herbs are, for the most part, very easy to grow – and very ornamental.

If you have a garden you can set aside a small area specifically for cultivating herbs.

Alternatively, you can create an indoor garden of herbs grown in pots, so that you have a ready supply of growing energy.

Once picked, all your herbs can be used either fresh, for example on your altar, or dried, in healing sachets and poppets.

Each herb has its own natural properties and strengths and they also have the benefit of offering dual purposes.

If, for example, you use allspice for a person with digestive or throat troubles, as a bonus both you and the person you heal may experience a gradual upturn in fortune, one of its magical meanings.

Though most of the traditional uses of herbs apply to physical and emotional ills and so are most commonly applied to people – and animals, of course – you can also use them for spells concerning places; for example, herbs for soothing wounds, such as lavender, are equally potent in rituals for healing the Earth or reversing the effects of pollution.

Although magically forcing your loved one to remain faithful is violating one of the precepts of magic (harm none), there are herbs which can be used to gently remind him or her of you, and to guard against unwanted temptations.

Use them with love and care.

Magick cannot be practiced successfully without belief, respect, ethics, and responsibility.

If you do not believe in magick, you will not be able to make magick.

If you do not believe in yourself, and in your ability to work magick, you will not be able to make magick work for you.

If you do not believe that you deserve the blessings that magick can bring, you will not be able to accept blessings—even when they make themselves available to you.

It is possible to faithfully follow the instructions for these or other spells and still not have them work.

You have to believe in magick, believe in yourself, and believe in your ability in order to work magick successfully.

It is dangerous to attempt to use magick unless you have respect for it.

Failure to respect magick can result in having your spells go horribly wrong.

To prevent this from happening, you must respect yourself, respect others, and respect the elements and the Universe, as well as respecting magick.

Do whatever inner work is needed to get to really know yourself, to like and appreciate yourself, before you try to cast spells.

Self-respect gives you the confidence you need to have in order to get spells to work.

To meddle magickally in someone’s life is to disrespect that person.

No matter how good or honorable our intentions may be, we should not cast spells for people unless they ask us for magickal help.

To do otherwise is to invite interference in our own lives and affairs.

Successful magick requires a healthy respect for the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water).

This is especially true of Fire.

If you leave candles, incense, or anything else burning unattended, you will learn this lesson the hard way.

Respect the Universe by living an honest, ethical, useful life.

Be a good citizen of the Universe.

Try to be of service to others, instead of focusing solely on yourself and your needs.

Protect children, animals, and all who cannot protect themselves.

Be a producer as well as a consumer, and do what you can to help Mother Nature.

We were given a gorgeous planet, but its precious natural resources are dwindling because of human use, abuse, and overuse.

Acknowledge that fact. Respect it by trying to live gently upon the Earth.

Recycle. Be kind to creatures.

Make ethical choices.

Educate yourself about the environment.

Consider it when you buy a car or do anything else that affects the environment.

Everything is connected, so the kind of life you live influences your ability to work magick.

If you respect the Universe, you will find it more responsive to you than if you did not respect it.

Use magick judiciously.

Don’t cast spells for every little problem or issue.

Try ordinary solutions first.

Don’t disturb the gods unless it’s important.

Be responsible for yourself, instead of expecting them to solve your problems for you.

Try to serve magick instead of asking it to serve you.

If you respect magick, it will respect you.

What goes around, comes around.

This means that when we work magick that is kind, positive, and beneficial, blessings will be returned to us.

It also means that if we work magick that is negative, mean-spirited, or harmful, it will rebound upon us in unpleasant ways sooner or later.

Spells are powerful.

They can do great good, but they can also do great harm.

Spells cast in anger, envy, hatred, or any other negative frame of mind are more likely to backfire than they are to work as intended.

Ethics provides a framework in which to safely practice magick. Keep that in mind, and your spells will not hurt you.

To work magick successfully, you must be responsible for yourself and your actions.

This includes accepting responsibility for the results of your spells.

Approaching magick with this in mind helps to keep us on the right path.

It prevents us from casting spells that we later regret.

To rely on magick alone would be unrealistic and irresponsible.

If you cast a spell to find a job, for example, you must also list yourself with employment agencies, send out résumés, go on interviews, and take other appropriate nonmagical actions.

If you do not take those steps, even the best job spell has very little chance of working.

We help our spells to succeed by taking concrete real-world actions to support them.

Luck is simply the knack for being in the right place at the right time, saying the right things, and acting on instinct.

If a person is not naturally “lucky” such an ability can be acquired through the use of herbs.

How this “luck” will manifest is left unstated, but luck herbs are usually utilized when a person has had a run of “bad” luck—and wishes to change this to good.

Luck herbs give you the power to make your own “good” luck.

This is a convenient heading for a variety of short topics, as evidenced by the diversity of material below.

When possible, bathe before performing magic.

A sachet of purification herbs added to the water can be a great help, also.

Dress in clean, comfortable clothing, or nothing at all, as you wish. Some practitioners wear robes and jewelry but this isn’t necessary.

It is also not necessary to abstain from sex, food, or liquids prior to magic.

Do so if you wish, but it simply isn’t a requirement.

There are many herbs that aid the body’s healing processes.

Some of these are multi-purpose and others specific.

All can be mixed into sachets which, when carried, help the body’s healing powers.

Some are used in incense form, others added to the bath.

Having said this, when a serious condition or severe symptoms occur, obtain medical attention immediately.

Herb magic as with all magic must be backed up with appropriate and timely actions in the physical world.

For example, you cannot perform a spell to pass a test and expect to do so without studying.

Similarly, don’t expect magic to heal you unless at the same time you take care of yourself physically.

This means getting medical help when needed.

1. Magic is natural.
2. Harm none—not even yourself—through its use.
3. Magic requires effort. You will receive what you put into it.
4. Magic is not usually instantaneous. Spells require time to
   be effective.
5. Magic should not be performed for pay.
6. Magic should never be used in jest or to inflate your ego.
7. Magic can be worked for your own gain, but only if it harms none.
8. Magic is a divine act.
9. Magic can be used for defense but should never be used for attack.
10. Magic is knowledge—not only of its way and laws, but also of its
    effectiveness. Do not believe that magic works—know it!
11. Magic is love. All magic should be performed out of love. The
    moment anger or hatred tinges your magic you have crossed the
    border into a dangerous world, one that will ultimately con

This ancient form of magic comes in handy today—not necessarily to drive demons from people or buildings, but to clear away the negativity that daily living so amply provides.

Purification herbs are simply less-powerful exorcism herbs and usually do not rid a place of evil entities.

These are cornerstones of magick, because no spell can be cast without them.

A spell’s purpose, or intent, is what that spell is meant to accomplish.

A spell will not work properly unless you are very clear, in your mind and in your words, about what you mean the spell to do.

Focused intent is crucial in spell-work,

Intensity is the power, passion, and energy that you pour into casting a spell.

If you are ambivalent or uncertain about a spell, it is not likely to be fulfilled.

The more intensity you put into it, the more successful that spell is likely to be.

Keep this in mind when you raise power.