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. Perhaps the most misunderstood of all the Lunar Phases, though the Dark Moon is a very powerful and strong aspect, this energy is not well suited to magickal workings. At this time the force of the Moon’s energy is lessened so attempts to utilize it to one’s goal rarely pan out.
However, though the energy is less, the effects are still just as great: the diminished amount and momentary absence causes its own sort of reaction, greatly different from that of its counter the Full Moon. These effects can be felt, on the one hand, as a feeling of restlessness and unease, anticipation and expectation. But on the other hand, the effects of the Dark Moon can manifest in us as tenuous emotions, heightened aggravation, and general impatience. It is during the Waning Moon, as the Lady grows smaller, that we are confronted by the energy of the Crone. But, come the Dark Moon, the Hag turns Her face away, and we are left to confront our shared destiny; the Dark Moon is a reminder of endings, of release, and of death. This is an in between time, a time of transition and change, of leaving one aspect behind us and preparing to enter another. Beneath a Dark Moon our Lady takes pause and so, too, should we. Now is the time for reflection and careful consideration, now is the time to turn inwards and confront the shadows. Midwinter, the longest night of the year. Light a candle in every window, beacon for the soon to be reborn Sun. Celebrate a bounty at this time when things are at their bleakest.
Common Yule Traditions Many contemporary Christmas traditions have their roots in ancient Winter Solstice celebrations. Here are a few common Wiccan and Pagan ways to celebrate this Sabbat:
The Wheel of the Year refers to the eight Sabbats, or Holidays. These are days of power, when there is a definite switch in the energies of the Earth and Nature, a "changeover." For example, with the "first" of the Sabbats (there is no "true" first, for this is a cycle, forever spiraling on, without beginning or end,) the Winter Solstice, the switch is apparent in the amount of sunlight in the day. This is the shortest day of the year, the darkest day. But, after this long night, the amount of sunlight in the day will increase, until Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, after which the night will begin to overtake the day.
Beginning at the Solar New Year, the eight Sabbats are: Winter Solstice (aka Yule, Midwinter;) Imbolc (aka Imbolg, Candlemas, Lady Day, Purification Day;) Vernal Equinox (aka Spring Equinox, Ostara, Eostara;) Beltain (aka May Day, Beltane;) Summer Solstice (aka Midsummer, Litha;) Lughnasadh (aka Lammas;) Autumnal Equinox (aka Fall Equinox, Mabon;) and Samhain (aka Halloween, All Hallows Eve.) There is much that can be said about these days of power (and much has been,) but the best source of information as to what these Sabbats are truly about is to just be outside, to feel what's going on. If you're calm, if you're quiet, you'll notice the change. However, as the Wheel turns, we will go into each Sabbat, covering dates and times, common traditions, and general background for each of these Holidays. Noticing these changes and living your life in tune with this cycle and the rhythm of the Earth and Nature is referred to as "Walking the Wheel." Most simply, because all cycles are depicted as circles, but more so for what a circle stands for: unity and continuity. This Wheel traces the course of the Sun through the Stars. This Wheel then symbolizes the unity of all things under the stars and, in accordance with one of the Laws of the Universe (also known as the Laws of Magick,) "As Above, So Below*," in all of the Universe, as well. This also implies a set order to things, hinting at the existence of the Laws of the Universe. *The entire Law is "As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without," and originally comes to us from Alchemy. A relatively simple psychic skill for any Witch to master, Scrying is the art of gazing at an object in a manner that calms the mind and body, allowing the subconscious to come forth and reveal messages. These messages may present themselves as full on visions, complete with sights, sounds, smells, and sensations, or they may be just pictures, like watching a movie.
Virtually anything can be used to Scry with; it is truly a skill available to anyone as fancy tools really aren’t necessary. Common things to Scry with are Fire (i.e. a candle flame, bonfire, or glowing coals,) Water (e.g. a bowl filled about an inch with water, the water may or may not be darkened,) Smoke (as from incense,) a Mirror (any will do,) a Speculum (aka Dark Mirror,) or a Crystal Sphere. Despite what you use, the process is the same: calm and center, then gaze at the object. Do not stare. Staring is a purposeful concentrated “looking” and that is not the point of Scrying. You want to gaze, to relax yourself, quiet your mind, and allow any messages from your intuition or Gods to come forth. Scrying doesn’t always work the first time and many people find that their first visions are nothing more than colored clouds; the color of these clouds can be interpreted and read if a specific question was asked prior to Scrying. Eventually, these clouds will pass and a picture is revealed. With increasing practice, you will find yourself able to achieve full visions simply by gazing at a blank wall in a dark room. Or, as many a kitchen witch knows, by gazing at your streak-free oven door. Our lives are comprised of a series of rituals. From birth to death, there is not one moment that is not sacred, one moment in which we cannot revere the driving force behind the cosmos. All acts, not just of love and pleasure, are rituals to the Gods. The key to making them truly sacred is the attitude in which we go about them.
It’s easy enough to relegate ritual to 21 holidays (8 Sabbats, 13 Full Moons) and the odd spell, but integrating the perspective of sacred to all aspects of life is what truly makes it a magickal life. If we view every act as a devotional act honoring our Gods, we render that act sacred ritual. For example: cleaning your house can be just another obligation, or it can be rendered sacred by viewing it as an act to make your home a beautiful place for your family and the Divine to interact. You clean because you love your family and they deserve it, and through this act you honor your Gods. There are so many aspects of living that can thus be rendered sacred Rites of Passage. Birth, puberty, marriage, death, these are all obvious. But what of the other things that though aren’t religious in nature, truly are sacred and make up the very fabric of our lives? Why not a sacred rite when our kids learn to walk? Doesn’t this, as much as puberty, mark their entrance into a new stage of life? Why not a ritual to commemorate our first love? Doesn’t this, as much as childbirth, leave us forever changed and new? The possibilities are endless. All it takes is the right perspective. These are very simple to use and as such, are quite popular. You simply hold aloft the small end so the larger end can swing freely.
For divination, you must first ask the pendulum to show you which way it will swing for "yes" and which way for "no." Then, concentrate on your question. The pendulum should begin to swing, slowly at first, but then faster. Which way it swings indicates your answer. But, pendulums are easily influenced by the conscious mind, so for more accuracy, it is advised to suspend the pendulum, a "banana tree" (that snazzy little plastic or wooden device in your kitchen that you hang your bunch of bananas from) works well for this, that way you won't be touching it at all. Now, your subconscious , your Higher Self, is free to move the pendulum, without the conscious mind interfering, via the aura. Pendulums can also be useful for communication with spirits, finding haunted locals, healing, and realigning chakras. pronounced "sow-ain"
The third and final Harvest Holiday: the Harvest of root vegetables. The veil between the worlds is thin, Spirits and faeries are easily seen. Jack o' Lanterns and offerings of food help to avoid their tricks. Common Samhain Traditions These are some common traditions that many use as part of their Samhain celebrations.
The season starts on a somber note. Preparations have been made; supplies are put away, at the ready. Now comes the time when we seal ourselves indoors. All life retreats. The Earth pull in on itself and everything, everyone, rests, waits, slumbers.
This is a time of introspection and contemplation. The physical work of the year is done, we wait now for the Sun to return and warm the land, for life to resume. Till then, the work we do is soul work. We analyze ourselves, our faults, our virtues. This is a time of taking stock and planning, of rationing and rationalizing. The days continue to lessen till we think we can no longer stand it; there is so much darkness. But, then comes the Solstice. The Sun is reborn and begins to claim its birth rite: the days lengthen, darkness is slowly pushed back. Hail the return of the Sun! Surely, as the Sun returned, so to shall life return to the land. Until then, we can only wait, and think. This season corresponds to the Dark Moon and to the end of life. 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:
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