Chant to Bless your Book Of Shadows

BOOK OF SHADOWS BLESSING
Listen as the Witch’s word,
Calls the All, a gulf to ford.
Bridge the vast realities,
An it harm none, do as ye please.
Elements watch and guard this book,
From wandering eyes and prying look.
In this right and ready hour,
Fill it with thine ancient power.
Powers of North! Earth below,
Show us to live, to learn, and grow.
Lend us your strength and stability,
To practice with love and set ourselves free.
Powers of East! Wind and the Sky,
Watch o’er these pages with thine eye.
Your wisdom and knowledge, for these do we ask,
That this book be worthy – the Craft and it’s task.
Powers of South! Fire and the Hearth
Help these Shadows to prove their worth.
Infuse and uplift with your healing and passion,
So only good comes from the Works that are fashioned.
Powers of West! Waters and Sea,
Transformation and growth are granted by thee.
Bless herein pages with all that you know,
That all righteous readers may learn and may grow.
In winter, in spring, in summer and fall,
In our Shadows we ask for the aid of the All.
To practice the Craft of the wise as we must,
With truth, perfect peace, perfect love, perfect trust.
We ask for the blessings of Lady and Lord
As we hold up Her chalice and brandish His sword.
All that we know is infused with their power,
From sun and from moon, from rock and from flower.
Guard us Earth Mother and teach us your lore,
From silvery moon to the earth’s inner core.
When working our magick, please help us not fear it,
We know you will guide us and strengthen our spirit.
Grant us Sky Father your wisdom and strength,
To complete all our Workings, to go the full length.
You smile down upon us, the light of the sun,
Rejoicing in life, with you we are one.
Guardians from the four directions,
Lady and Lord, it’s your protections,
And your love for which we look,
To inspire and lead as we write this book.
Yet to the unschooled eye let see,
Confusing words and sophistry.
Lead them from these sacred pages,
On blessed ways throughout the ages.
Yet to the Witch, this book shall stay,
Plain and truthful, clear as day.
Direct and show, guide and teach,
their dreams and goals, please help them reach.
For free will of all
and harm to none
as I have willed it
It now is done
So mote it be!

Charge Of the Goddess

The Charge of the Goddess

Blessed be, and blessed are,
The lovers of the Lady.
Blessed be, and blessed are,
The Mother, Maiden, Crone.
Blessed be, and blessed are,
The ones who dance together.
Blessed be, and blessed are,
The ones who dance alone.
She’s been waiting, waiting.
She’s been waiting so long.
She’s been waiting for her children
To remember, to return.

The Charge of the Goddess is attributed to Doreen Valiente, a student of Gerarld Gardner. The poem, originally found in the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, is now loved by all wiccans as a statement of reverence for the Goddess and Nature. Valiente used materials from the Gospel of Aradia by Charles Leland (1901), and Aleister Crowley’s writings to compose the piece and it is commonly used to invoke the “Goddess” during Esbats and Sabbats.

Herbs & How They Relate to Zodiac Signs

Herbs of the Zodiac

Aries-Garlic * Hemp * Marjoram * Mustard seed * Angelica root

Taurus-Colts foot * Dandelion * Sage * Thyme * Patchouli * Cedar

Gemini -Caraway seed * Lavender * Mandrake * Vervain * Hazel * Mugwort * Wormwood * Spearmint

Cancer -Lemon verbena * Marigold * Geranium * Apple * Catnip

Leo -Anise * Bay leaves * Dill * Mint * Oak * Clove

Virgo -Fennel seed * Valerian * Scullcap * Cypress

Libra -Penny royal * Thyme * Lemon Verbena

Sagittarius -Red clover * Berdock * St. Johns wort * Tobacco

Capricorn-Comfrey * Slippery Elm * Thyme * Jasmine

Aquarius -Frankincense * Myrrh * Valerian * Sandlewood * Peppermint

Pisces-Irish moss * Seaspirit * Hyacinth * Lovage* Willow

Moon Magick

New Moon Magick:   New moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three and a half days after.  Magick should be performed between dawn and sunset. Good for: beauty, health, self-improvement; farms and gardens; job hunting; love and romance, networking.  Protection & creates a shield for the beginning of the cycle.

Crescent Moon Magick:  From three and one half days after the new moon through the 7th day. Magick worked as the moon rises at mid-morning and sets after sunset.
Good for animals, business, change, emotions, matriarchal strength. Represents the zest of life with the aid of stability. Helps bring forth courage & optimism.

Waxing Moon Magick:  From seven to ten days after the new moon. Work at sunset.  Good for courage, elemental Magick, friends, luck, motivation. Gives vitality, courage & strength.  Stimulates the heart.

Gibbous Moon Magick:   From ten to thirteen days after the new moon. Work around 10:00 to 11:00 pm.  Good for patience.  Purity & protection.  Creates atmosphere for meditation, centering. Innocence.

Full Moon Magick:   Fourteen days after the new moon.  Prime time is midnight.  Good for artistic endeavors, beauty, health, fitness, change and decisions.  Children, competition, dreams, families, health and healing, knowledge, legal undertakings.  Love and romance, money, motivation, protection, psychism and self-improvement.  Light of the sun. It starts to enlighten inner wisdom.  Provides clarity, alertness and optimism. Aligns the right use of will.

Disseminating Moon Magick:   Three to seven days after the full moon.  The time of souls is at 3:00 a.m.  Good for addictions, decisions, divorce, emotions, stress, protection.  Builds knowledge, sharing, calming, vocal expression and communication. Aids in meditation and enhances inner attunement.

Waning Moon Magick:   From seven to ten days after the full moon. The waning moon rises at midnight and sets at noon.  Good for addictions, divorce, health and healing, banishing disease, stress protection. Transformation from negative vibrations to positive.  Balances the energy with in the body and helps the mind and body flow more easily with life.

Dark Moon Magick:  From eleven to fourteen days after the full moon.  Timing is best at 10:00 a.m.  Good for addictions, change, divorce, enemies, justice, obstacles, quarrels, removal, separation, stopping stalkers and theft.  Universal love of self and others.  Draws love to you and removes sorrows and past hurts.  Calming, protective, serene. Improves relationships.

How to Perform a Self-Dedication Ritual

If you are a solitary practitioner you may think it’s time to dedicate yourself to your Goddess and God.

Ritual Of Self Dedication

First, a list of things you will need for this Self Dedication
Two candles
One silver candle
Four elemental candles

One athame or wand
Broom
Pentacle
Chalice
Plate
Cakes
Drink
Bell
One red candle
One dedication gift
Four items to be placed on the altar to represent the four elements
Robe (optional)
Rope to make the magick circle
One mat or rug (to kneel on should you add meditation to your ritual)

First, cast the circle and invoke any deities you you would like, usually the Goddess. (You can use the ones found on the Invocation and Circle Casting Pages here)
I cast this circle this night to perform the act of dedication of my mind, body and spirit to the Lady, Her Consort, and to the religion and science of Witchcraft.
From this day forward, I will honour and respect both the Divine and myself. I will hold two perfect words in my heart: Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
I vow to honour the path I have chosen, the Divine and myself.
Pick up your wand or athame and say:
I vow to hold the ideology of the Craft in my heart and in my mind for the totality of this lifetime, and beyond.
Point the wand at your feet and say:
Blessed be my feet, may they always walk the path of the eternal and Divine light.
Point the wand to your knees and say:
Blessed be my knees as I kneel at the altar of my faith, not in supplication, but in thanksgiving.
Point the wand to your groin and say:
Blessed be my womb/phallus that holds and produces the creation of the human essence. I vow to guide, protect and teach the children of the world.
Point the wand to your chest and say:
Blessed be my heart that it may beat steady and true. May the warmth of my love spread throughout the galaxy.
Point the wand to your lips and say:
Blessed be my lips that they shall utter truth and purity of mind and soul. May wisdom flow for the benefit of all humankind.
Point the wand to your third eye area and say:
Blessed be my astral sight, that I may see through the veil of life with the truth of the Divine.
Ring the bell seven times. Take a white cord and wrap it firmly around your hand, with the knife handle in your palm. Now say:
I, (your name), in the presence of the Universe, do of my own free will and mind, most
solemnly swear that I will ever abide by the religion and science of The Craft. I shall neither harm my fellow human with the secrets that I learn, nor shall
I flaunt my beliefs or power before them. Henceforth, from this day, I shall be reborn as (your magickal name) and shall honour, respect and cherish this oath I have taken.
Unwind the cord and place it on the altar. Ring the bell nine times.
Hold the chalice in your left hand and pour from the decanter with your right. Dip your dedication gift into the goblet and place it on your body. Hold the chalice in both hands aloft and say:
With the partaking of this wine I take into my body that of the Goddess, and seal my oath…forever.
Drink half of the wine and hold the half-filled goblet up to the God/dess. Say:
I accept this wine as my offering of thanksgiving.
Hold the plate up and say:
As grain is the bounty of the Goddess, and the eating of it denotes the sacrafice of the Lord and his rebirth, I seal my oath forever as I take into my body that of the Consort!
Thank the deities, then close the circle.

Excert taken from: Silver RavenWolf. To Ride A Silver Broomstick. St. Paul: Llewellyn WorldWide, 1993.

The Nine Fold Law

The 9-Fold law (also called the 3x3x3 law) is also practiced by some Craft
traditions. The concept is the same, however, the return is a little
different. In these traditions, the essence of the mind
holds within itself the energy of mind, body and spirit. The essence of the
body holds within itself the energy of it’s own mind body and spirt. And so
for the essence of the spirit. When energy is returned, it comes back 3
times to the Mind, 3 times to the Body and 3 times to the Spirit.

Totem Animals

What animal do you most relate to?

Find your totem animal.

Adder/Snake – wisdom, cunning, striking ability in defense

Badger – facing down larger adversaries with unyielding courage

Bat – out only at night moving at great speed

Bear – solitary, defensive when protecting it’s young

Bee – works in cooperation and coordination

Blackbird – has it’s own distinctive song and sings for the joy of singing

Boar – cunning and ferocious; sly and agressive

Bull – strength and potency; protection

Butterfly – carefree; yet able to defend itself against predators; able to camouflage itself

Cat – independent, competent; can fight its way out of a bad situation, but knows when it should retreat from overwhelming odds

Cock – confident

Cow – loving; comfortable with others

Crane – dignity

Crow – cunning and bold

Deer – shy, inconspicuous, swift

Dog – devotion

Dolphin – intelligence, communication

Dragon – knowledge, riches

Eagle – wisdom, longevity, quick to attack

Eel – quick, fluid

Fox – intelligent, loving, playful

Frog – still, invisible, able to take large leaps

Hare/Rabbit – peaceful, defensive

Hawk – keen sight, swift to strike

Hedgehog – able to curl up with sticky spines to deter enemy

Heron – slow and methodical; dignified

Horse – freedom, friendship, stamina, defense

Lizard – able to camoflage itself; quick to move

Lynx – travels over any type of ground and any type of weather; playful

Mouse – shy, fast

Otter – playful, friendly, curious, enjoys life

Owl – knowledge, wisdom, protects itself with talons and beak

Pig – ferocious when attacked; otherwise, peaceful and content

Rat – sly, invisible, silent

Raven – intelligent, noisy when disturbed

Salmon – wise, magickal, will travel in rough water to get where it wants to go

Seagull – knows when to take advantage of a situation

Sow – unpredictable

Squirrel – diligent worker; evasive

Swan – stately, beautiful, defensive

Turtle – slow, methodical, withdraws from danger

Unicorn – links physical and spiritual realms

Wolf – cunning, intelligent, free, invisible

Wren – musical, joyous, yet able to swoop down on intruders

Wiccan 3 Fold Law

The 3-Fold Law

In magik this is often called the Law of 3-fold, meaning what you put out
will be returned to you 3-times over. So be careful what you wish for, YOU
will get it!
What Is The 3-Fold Law?
A belief that any energy put out into the divine universe will return to
the sender three times.
Ancient beliefs state the energy will return to the senders mind, body and
spirit, thus the threefold concept.

13 Goals of A Witch

THIRTEEN GOALS OF A WITCH

A few goals to keep yourself focused

1.Know thyself
2.Know the craft
3.Learn
4.Apply knowledge with wisdom
5.Achieve balance
6.Keep thy words in order
7.Keep thy thoughts in good order
8.Celebrate life
9.Attune with the cycles of the Earth
10.Breathe and eat correctly
11.Exercise the body
12.Meditate
13.Honor the Goddess and the God

Wiccan Rede

Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about,
To keep the evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time,
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing moon,
Chanting out the Witches Rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful Rune.
When the Lady’s moon is new,
Kiss the hand to her, times two.
When the moon rides at her peak,
Then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the North wind’s mighty gail,
Lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West,
Departed souls will have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady’s tree,
Burn it not or cursed you’ll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltane fire’s burn.
When the Wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the Log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye Flower, Bush, and Tree;
By the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you’ll know.
When ye have a true need,
Hearken not to other’s greed.
With a fool no season spend,
Lest ye be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow,
Wear the blue star on they brow.
True in Love ever be,
Lest they lover is false to thee.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An’ ye harm none, do what ye will
Follow this with Mind and Heart
Merry ye Meet and Merry ye Part