Grounding is a fundamental term and practice within the art of Witchcraft and Magick. It is also a common part of Wiccan ritual, especially if any power has been raised or magick wrought.
However the term grounding is misleading, as it suggests that one is merely “earthing the power,” yet what is actually taking place is so much more than that.
Working with energy is fundamental to the practice of Witchcraft for it is the very basis of its practice. Magick involves feeling and recognizing the energies around us, then reaching out and making changes to that energy. This is done by raising the appropriate amount of energy and sending it out into the Universe, where it affects the goal and causes change to ripple outwards.
But, to be able to do this, one must first learn to recognize the energy that exists about and within us. Without being able to recognize energy, it makes it incredibly difficult, though not impossible, to work magick. Consider the act of casting a Circle, fundamental to Wicca and used frequently within Witchcraft. You can say all the Words you want, wave around some tools, but if you can’t feel the energy change or see the Circle cast about you, how are you sure you actually cast a Circle at all?
So, how does one go about learning to recognize energy? Thankfully, it’s really not that difficult. One of the simplest ways is by learning to first feel it. To do this, one needs a physical object that naturally has a strong vibration rate; trees are good to use, as are certain crystals like Quartz or Amethyst.
To start, it’s best to be calm: quiet your mind and try to be open to whatever may or may not come. Sticking with the above suggestions of a tree or crystal, lay your hand gently on the tree or hold your hand over, but not touching the crystal. Close your eyes and pay attention to any sensations you get in your hand.
You should start to feel something. What you feel may differ from what someone else feels, but, generally, you may feel warmth, cold, and/or a tingle that may spread all the way up your arm. That is the energy within your object. And that is the same type of energy that is used within the practice of Magick.
Once you know what energy feels like, you can begin to try to work with it and even see it. Raising energy is the next step, as it easiest to learn to work with your own innate energy before learning to work with external energies. A simple exercise to this effect is in the creation of energy balls.
Stand or sit comfortably. Relax. Hold your hands out in front of you, palms together, as if you were praying. Close your eyes and visualize a small ball of light forming between your hands. Move your hands about an inch away from each other. Open your eyes and gaze (do not stare!) at the space between your hands. Concentrate on that little ball of energy forming and existing there. Push more energy through your hands and into the little ball, feeding it and making it larger; move your hands apart a bit more to accommodate the size change. Continue to see and feel the ball of energy you created. Feel the warmth in your hands as the energy moves through you and to the ball and the warmth of that ball as well. You may see the ball as well, perhaps as a swirling ball of pale light.
Play around with the ball of energy you’ve created. Push more energy into it, making it larger, squish it to make the energy denser, or stretch out into a ball so large that it surrounds your entire being.
Exercises like these are a great start to building competency in working with Magick, but they are, of course, not the only ways that one can learn to work with energy.
Witchcraft on a Budget, #2
The witches of old knew well the powers inherent in the world around us. Branch, leaf, stone, wind, all were sources of unlimited power waiting to be tapped and used to one’s Will. Unlike witches today, those whom we base our traditions and practices upon had no stores from which to procure their materials. Rather, they relied upon that which could be found and made.
It is in that very same spirit, of innovation and practicality, that the Witchcraft on a Budget series of articles is founded.
One item, to which we all have access to, and which can be quite the magickal ally, is the simple found stone. Know it as that pebble that gets stuck in your shoe, the small stone that you nonchalantly kick down the sidewalk, or the sharp stone that you step on barefoot in your kitchen. Know it as the treasure you would stuff your pockets full of as a child and bring home to show your parents, and now, again, recall its worth and alluring pull.
The simple found stone, for all its ordinary appearances, is quite the treasure. Just as crystals do, the found stone possesses an energy that is well suited to magickal workings. And also like crystals, various types of stones are better suited to certain specific magickal goals. But, unlike most crystals, this inherent energy is much more malleable and is able to be utilized to a wide variety of purposes (though, naturally, some stones may be more inclined to certain properties.)
These common stones, be they found in a river bed, a forest trail, or from the street, can be used as protective charms, divination aids, and even in healing, either alone or with other crystals. Their uses truly are vast, as like clear Quarts, they can be programmed to any use. Here’s how.
Once you have found a suitable stone, preferably one that has jumped out at you and made its presence known (my favorite was gifted to me by a friendly Oak tree,) you want to make sure that it is physically clean. A light scrubbing in water will suffice, be it sink, pond, river, or ocean. At this point, you want to be open to any impressions you get from this stone; it may reveal to you what sort of magickal working it would be best suited for.
Now, if preferred, is the time to psychically cleanse the stone. This is more than likely not needed if the stone was found out in nature, but if the stone was found in the street or sidewalk, it may feel necessary to take the physical cleansing a step further. This is easily done while physically cleaning the stone: see an electric blue light emerge from your hands, washing over the stone, and removing all traces of energy that would be counterproductive to your goal. These energies will remain in the water leaving your stone clean and purified.
To charge the stone, and thus prepare it for magickal use, first make sure that you have clear in what you want to use the stone for. One specific goal is always best in magick, as anything more can get muddled up (the energy doesn’t know where to go.) Hold your stone firmly in your dominant hand. Close your eyes, exhale, and feel yourself calm and center. Say aloud what it is you want to use the stone for (e.g. “I charge this stone for protection,” or “This stone will radiate happiness and joy.”) Focus on this goal and push that goal into the stone. You will feel the energy rise in your hand, perhaps as a tingle or warmth. Hold tight to the thought of your goal until the energy you feel in your hand changes (the heat may reside or the tingle stop.) It is done. The stone can now be effectively used.
Carry it in your pocket, add it to a Charm bag, or use it in conjunction with Candle Spells. The found stone is very versatile and lends itself easily to a wide variety of magickal uses.
Virtually any item can be used in the practice of Witchcraft. The uses of the item depend upon its correspondences, that is, the properties or traits that that item naturally possesses. For example, dirt has a number of uses to a Witch. It is the ground beneath our feet, the foundation upon which all things are built; it is fertile, nourishing the plants and trees. So, a Witch might carry a bit of dirt on them when they need to feel grounded, stabilized, or when trying to conceive a child.
To figure out the correspondences of any object, first look at what it is and how it is normally used; this will give you hints to its magickal properties and how you can use it. Another example: a cat uses its whiskers to keep itself safe; they let the cat know whether or not it can fit into a tight place. So, cat whiskers can be used for protection, especially when traveling (in this or the Otherworlds; cats are said to “walk-between-the-worlds.”) Since they are quite thin and hard to spot when not attached to the cat’s face, they also have properties of luck and good fortune, since finding one can be difficult.
This next series of mini-articles will cover the various tools used within the religion of Wicca and the practices of Witchcraft and Divination. However, the tools mentioned are not the be-all-and-end-all that can be used to these ends. As previously stated, anything can be used –with the proper intent and focus.
The Elements are the metaphysical building blocks of everything that is. They are individual energies whose combination determines what the resulting form will be. In the Western view, there are four physical Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, as well as Spirit, the animating factor which is no less than that glowing little spark within all life that is nothing short of Divine.
While it is possible to work with these energies individually (this practice does, in fact, comprise a major part of a traditional Wiccan ritual: the Calling of the Elements and the Gods,) but it is important to remember that each of us is a compilation of these energies: one person is not one element (i.e. my Element is Earth, your Element is Water,) this is a huge misconception. However, it is possible to have an imbalance in the amount of a certain Elemental energy within you, but this is entirely different and does not mean you have any sort of affinity or correlation to that Element.
Each element has its own correspondences and association, which vary from one tradition to another as well as from culture to culture. The focus within this series of short articles will be on the Western view of the Elements, with traditional European based associations that many Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans are familiar with.
Spirit
This element is comprised of the other four elements yet it surpasses them all. It is divinity without the personification or implied sense of consciousness that we give to individual deities, for Spirit is all deities. It is the driving force behind the Universe. It is everything and it is nothing. It is the cause, the effect, and the affected. It is you, me, all animal life (no matter how large or small,) all plant life, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, everything (and nothing.) It is simultaneously the connection between all things and every individual thing -yet it is also that which keeps all things separate and it is the empty spaces in between.
As such, nothing can truly be attributed to it as all are its attributes (just as none are its attributes.) For more on this, I suggest a good cup of tea and a nice quiet spot outside, preferably in the shade of an old tree or a large rock, in which to sit and think away the day.
Water
Formless and life sustaining, the ebb and flow of Water is the very rhythm of our lives. It governs our emotions, movement and change, sleep, and psychic abilities. The lesson of Water is one of detachment, of letting go and moving on.
Just as the Earth is comprised of about 80% water, so too are we. Water is the very “blood of life,” without which we could not exist, and it is also the very blood within our bodies.
In Western Magickal Tradition, Water is most commonly associated with the West and the season of Autumn. Its colors are generally blues and blue-greens, but Water is also associated with grey, silver, and white by other cultures and traditions.
Water is also strongly tied to the Moon, as the Moon elicits great force upon Water, seen in the tides of both the Earth and of plants and animals, including humans (i.e. the Moon pulls on the waters of our being, physical and emotional, effecting sleep patterns, female reproductive cycles, mating habits, and emotional levels.)
Fire
By far, the most complicated of all the physical elements, not only is it the very spark of life, but Fire also has the ability to sustain life (it keeps us warm, cooks our food,) and the ability to destroy it. It is an element of transformation, for nothing it touches is able to remain the same.
The heat of this element lends itself to passion and lust, but not just the kind that pulls two bodies together but also to blood lust and war. As such, Fire is also the Element of protection, courage, and physical strength. In certain situations, it can be used for healing, to burn away disease.
In the Northern Hemisphere, Fire rules the direction of South; in the Southern Hemisphere it rules the direction of North.
The most common color attributed to Fire is red, but also appropriate are bright orange, scarlet, blood red, and black.
Air
More than just the wind rustling through the tree leaves, it is also the very breath within our lungs and the thoughts within our heads. It is that which inspires us to continue searching, imbues us with wanderlust, and gives us hope.
The lightest of all the Elements, Air is the Element of constant change, the mind, communication, and travel. It keeps things “fresh” and, as such, Air rules over new beginnings and the season of Spring.
In Western magickal tradition, it is most commonly aligned with the direction of East, as this is the direction from which the Sun rises and thus the direction from which the Day begins, however some may align it to the West as this is the direction from which the Jet Stream comes. Color association is commonly yellow, but other cultures and traditions do assign it white, blue, or gold.
Earth
It’s the very Earth beneath your feet, the bones within your body, and that feeling of safety and calm when everything is good and certain within your life.
The Element of Earth is the heaviest of all the Elements, lending itself to stability and all things that are “fixed” or “set.”
It can be cold and unmoving, harsh and intolerant. No wonder then that it is the Element governing Winter and, appropriately, in the Northern Hemisphere it rules the direction of North while in the Southern Hemisphere it rules the direction of South.
Yet, like the very Earth for which it is named, it is full of life. This Element encourages growth, fertility, expansion, and prosperity. Common color association in Western magick is green, like growing plants and paper currency. Other cultures color it black (as in fertile soil,) yellow, and brown.
Believe it or not, practicing Witchcraft doesn't have to be expensive. Granted, yes, nearly every book on the subject seems to have endless lists of materials and tools that are essential to being a good Witch, but you really don't need any of it!
Strip it down to the most basic aspect, and magick is the art of manipulating the energies present around us and within us as well: everything is energy. That's it. That's all it really is. All the fancy tools are just props to help you tap into this energy. And, like I said before, you really don't need any of them! All it takes to successfully work magick is focus and a strong will.
I firmly believe that two of the hallmark traits of any competent Witch are innovation and practicality. That means that when you don't have something you need for a particular spell, you can come up with an appropriate substitution with what you do have or simply work without that item without any problems.
Admittedly, being able to work magick takes practice, and working it without any tools at all takes even more. But, using what you have on hand is easy, and can add a lot of fun to your magickal practice. Excuse my kitchen witch, but everything you need for that perfect spell is right in your kitchen, either in your spice cabinet or junk drawer!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Pepper- Black, Cayenne, or whatever, Pepper is a powerful protective herb and is great for banishings or for lending you courage
Basil- great for when your confidence is lacking as it hands a bit of success to your working; also good for peace, protection, prosperity, and love magick
Parsley- eat it to induce lust, also useful for protection and purification
Garlic- great for all cleansings, banishings, exorcisms, or purification rites
Salt- a basic purifier and protector
String- useful for knot magick, making charms, can be laid on a flat surface in a particular shape to aid in meditation
Crayons- go ahead and steal them from your kids! they come in a plethora of colors and can be useful in crafting charms and wards
Glass Jars- save them from your pasta sauce, they're great for storing your herbs and finished herbcraft items in; useful for Witch Bottles as well
Pins/Needles- they correspond to Saturn and are great in Witch Bottles or for banishings and protective magick, pins with colored tops are especially useful
Sugar- it's fundamentally attractive, use it to draw things to yous, especially money
Yeast- a catalyst, it can be used to add that little "oomph" to your working
Despite the huge array of magickal and ritual tools available in every metaphysical shop, the best tools available for any Witch are those they make themselves. The entire process of creating a tool, from choosing the right materials for construction to the final consecration and first use, is a ritual act, fraught with magick and intent.
This process begins, like all magickal acts, when the idea first occurs to make the tool. The energy behind the idea then builds and grows, with further thoughts and inspiration occurring often in dreams and waking visions. Materials for the creation of the tool may appear surprisingly, such as the perfect branch for a wand being blown off of a tree during the night only to land in your yard, or a friend stops by because they felt compelled to give you some of the river stones they’d just collected.
As you craft your tool, you impart your energy upon it, thus creating a link between it and you. This increases the potency of all workings utilizing that tool as the tool is thus an extension of yourself, amplifying the energy sent forth and bettering your aim. This is why tools that one makes themselves are almost always superior to those that are made by another (although a tool made specifically for you by a dear friend can be quite the powerful instrument.)
And this is also why it is so often suggested to not let others touch your tools (and why you should never touch the tools of another without their expressed permission.) Doing so can disrupt the energies stored within that tool, making it necessary for the item to be cleansed or purified, and possibly even reconsecrated.*
However, often we have neither the talent nor the know-how to make our desired tool (do you know how to forge a good blade or cast an iron cauldron? Yeah, me too…) so it becomes necessary to procure an item made by someone else, or possibly even one that was mass produced. There is nothing wrong with this, however, it is highly suggested to personalize the item in some way, to create that link and truly make the tool yours. Metal items can be engraved at home with etching kits (available at most craft stores: they utilize an acid to make the desired effect,) wooden items can easily be carved into or, in the case of wands, crystals can be added to the ends with a sturdy craft glue (I like E6000, it’s suitable for metal, glass, wood, fabric, ceramic, everything,) and fabric items, such as robes, can be personalized by simply stitching a design somewhere, such as a bind rune or your sigil, or small crystal beads can be sewn on, or herbs sewn up in a hem, for example.
Regardless of whether you choose to make your own tools or to purchase them, you should never feel as if your tools are inferior to anyone else’s. It’s not about how pretty the tool is, or what strange and exotic materials it’s made of, what matters is how youfeel with it, how well you and your tool work together. Simplicity can be a powerful ally when it comes to magick and you just may find that that dried Dandelion Root makes a far better wand than that sterling silver wand encrusted with Moonstone and Amethyst. Or you may not. Either way, do what is right for you because it’s your tool and your magickal practice.
*This should only be necessary in the case of desecration, i.e. the tool has been damaged or used disrespectfully (perhaps ill-meaning fingers have broken your wand or turned your favorite cauldron into an ashtray…)
It’s something that the majority of us miss when we begin to practice Magick, and that is that the only distinction there is between the “magickal world” and the “mundane” is that which we create in our own minds. Magick is life; it is the act of living. And as anyone who has practiced for a while can attest to, trying to distinguish magick as a separate aspect of our lives quickly becomes impossible.
At the most fundamental level, the world in which we live is nothing more than energy. Everything, every last bit, you, me, that computer you’re sitting at, that tree outside your window: it’s all energy. And there are no distinctions: everything is connected.
It is these two basic principles that make magick possible. And because of these two basic principles, it is possible for anyone to work magick: it is our birthright as energetic beings who perceive themselves as being separate from it all. This view of separateness, of disconnection, is what grants us the ability to work magick; it is what allows one to consciously create changes within the world that may have otherwise seemed impossible or, at least, highly unlikely.
So, truly, all one needs in order to work magick is the ability to focus. Without being able to maintain concentration for any period of time, one cannot work magick, it is simply not possible. One must be able to recognize energy, to sense the variances of energy, the subtle differences that make things unique within the physical world. Once one is able to recognize this energy, be it in a tree, a rock, plant, or one’s own body, it is possible to then harness that energy, to manipulate it to a goal. From there, the possibilities are endless.
Magick can then be used to one’s benefit whenever and wherever the need becomes apparent. It needn’t be relegated to the Night or certain specific Days of Power. Working magick is as simple as taking a breath and holding a thought, and, as such, you may notice the most interesting things begin to happen once you truly realize there is no distinction, that living and magick really are one and the same.
One of the most commonly utilized, and possibly most important, tools for any Witch is their Book of Shadows. There are still a lot of misconceptions about just what a Book of Shadows is, some still perpetuating the idea that the only valid Books are derived from ancient manuscripts, or that their Book is a copy of a Book that is hundreds of years old and the only true Book of Shadows. On both cases, the answer is no. There is no one true Book of Shadows, having “ancient” passages in Latin, Greek, or some other language that you can’t read doesn’t make your Book any better, and for the Craft’s sake: there are no hundreds of years old Books of Shadows around! (and no this isn’t because they were all destroyed in the “Burning Times,” leave that myth alone.) A Book of Shadows is, quite simply, a magickal diary recording all information that that one Witch deems important and useful, or that they would like to reference again with ease. As such, each Book of Shadows is different. Even Books belonging to two members of the same coven, of a tradition that passes on a basic Book of Shadows, will be different. This is because each Witch will add to their book, and as we are all different people, what we deem worthwhile may be rubbish to someone else. So, no two books are the same. And that’s how it should be. So what kinds of things commonly go into a Book of Shadows: - Correspondences- the magickal properties of various things, such as crystals, herbs, the Elements, various Deities, colors, etc.
- Magickal Lore- this can include information on Sabbats and days of power, specific Deities, superstitions and folklore, the seasons, etc.
- Rituals and Spells- keep a record of your activities, what you experienced during them, the results of a spell, or jot down ideas for new spells and rituals
- Recipes- be they for potions, incense, powders, or soap, you need to keep that info safe somewhere and your Book of Shadows is a great place
- Dreams and Visions- the best way to tell if they are truly prophetic is to keep a record and make notes of any patterns you encounter in your life that fit
But basically, you put into your Book of Shadows whatever you want to: it’s your Book. Fill its pages with information that inspires you, that speaks to you, or that you just want to access easily in the future. Fill it with poetry, songs, and drawings. Your Book will change and grow with you, becoming a reflection of your practice and a record of your progress.
Years ago, when I first began to actively research Witchcraft, rather than relying entirely on intuition and common sense (which still both serve me well and I highly advise every Witch to consult,) I came across this statement, made in passing, that continues to influence my mindset and that I continue to find validation for:
“A Witch’s word must be as good as a signed contract.”
At first glance, it seems to be nothing more than some pseudo-Christian value, carried over into the New Age movement, that somehow got attached to the label of Witchcraft, but, hear me out: there is strong justification for this when it comes to your magick.
Here’s an example: say you made arrangements to meet a friend at 3pm, but you don’t show up until 3:30. She doesn’t mind, understands why you were late, after all you’re always late, and the two of you get on with your plans. No big deal, right? How could it possibly have any effect on your spellcrafting?
We continue with our example: so, some time has passed now, you’re in the middle of a prosperity spell, maybe rent is coming due but you can’t get the hours at work so this is truly a valid need. You light the candles, say the words, release the energy, and carry on with your life. And nothing happens. Not even a flicker. You sent out your request and the Universe sends it back to you, postage due.
The reasons for this are simple, it consistently not adhering to your word, not keeping your promises, you make it loud and clear to the Universe that you don’t actually mean what you say. You’ve created a pattern of energy that when you say one thing, something else happens. So when you cast that Circle and proclaim that you have the money to pay rent, the Universe/your Gods/etc. look back to these prior incidences (made manifest through this pattern of energy) and see that because you say that you have the money, the only possible outcome now is that you will not have the money.
Hate my example if you will, but the point remains: you are defined by your actions and words and magick and the mundane are not separate. Everything is connected, if it wasn’t your magick wouldn’t work in the first place. As such, there is no distinction made between you amongst your friends and you in front of a candle lit altar: you are the same person regardless. And consequences for actions taken under one “role” may easily bleed over into other areas of your life.
Walk your talk.
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