Witchcraft 101
I was asked to make a post about some basic information for beginners. This post covers a lot of information to start you off on. :)
I suggest you pick out a topic and start there by studying it and practicing it, and don’t forget that it’s your journey and you decide what you believe to be most important and don’t have tunnel vision ; feel free to expand your horizons.
Some subjects:
Symbols,
Animal magic,
History,
Sacred geometry ,
Herb magic,
Crystal magic,
Spells,
Potions,
Amulets/charms/talismans,
Animal spirits,
Deities ,
Elemental magic,
Esoteric,
Angle magic,
Numerology,
Poison path ,
Hexes,
Alchemy
I do have a list of great beginner books that I suggest . :)
Candlelight spells
-dunwitch
Spells for the solitary witch
-Holland
Mrs Bs guide to household witchery
-Kris Bradley
The way of the green witch
-Murphy-Hiscock
Cunninghams book of shadows
-Cunningham
Practical Protection Magic
-Dugan
2. Don’t be afraid to read about ‘taboo’ topics.
3. Libraries are great places (if you can’t find a book your looking for , you can get one shipped from another library for free).
4. Their are many magical subjects to study.
5. You don’t need any tools.
6. You can work magic in the kitchen with everyday ingredients.
7. You can write your own spells.
8. Don’t do anything your not comfortable doing.
10. Don’t forget to Take notes (book of shadows)
A book of shadows is a book that one uses to wright about there experiences, there path, and anything they feel is important to add.
Some info for your Book of Shadows
(BOS) and you can put anything you’d like in it. :) few subjects you can go over in the book:
Recipes
Notes from your craft
You can wright about anything in your book as each book is individual to the owner who wrights it. You can also have many BoSs and it’s ok to keep your old ones. :)
~THE BASIC TOOLS OF A WITCH~
**tools do not need to be used but make casting easer and this is not a complete list, as different paths have there own lists.
THE CHALICE
the chalice is often made of silver, tho it can be made of any material. It is associated with water, and feminine energies.
THE CAULDRON
A tool of fire, often used to burn offerings , fire magic, or mixing potions. Many use cast iron cauldrons as cooking vessels.
DOWSING RODS
A divination tool often used to find lost objects or find underground water for well making.
MAGICAL JOURNAL
A magical journal often called a book of shadows due to pop culture , often used to keep a log of magical experiences, practices and recipes.
Many believe the power of the written word, I personally believe that there’s more power in writing down it all by hand. You can use you book any way you want and name it what you want. It’s supposed to be personal and over the years you may have a series of books written by you.
THE WAND
A can be made with a verity of materials as well, many use certain woods and crystals while others use copper. They have masculine energies and considered tools of fire/ air. They are used to direct magical energies.
WILLOW: lunar magic
OAK: fire magic
APPLE: love magic
To name a few woods and magical uses.
THE ATHAME
A double sided blade that is never to be used to cut any physical surface. The Athame is usually considered to be a tool of air/fire. Used to direct energy , it is masculine
THE BESOM
A broomstick it combines both masculine and feminine energies, used to “sweep away unwanted energies” never to be used for mundane but only for the magical, or else you risk loosing any magical power stores in it.
THE SMOKE FAN
Used to move magical energies in a space, a tool of air as it can be used in combination with sage for a cleansing ritual.
~BASIC TOOL CONSECRATION~
Prior to consecration I rub the wand with fresh lavender ,eucalyptus or mint leaves.
When I consecrate my tools I hold the tool (wand) in my hand and visualize it absorbing my energies, then I purify the tool( wand) from its old energies with the elements , I choose to use the smoke method. While I smoke cleanse the wand I usually say aloud a blessing of the elements.
Elemental blessing:
I HOLD IN MY HANDS THE (tool), WHICH I DEDICATE AS A TOOL OF THE (name of element) ELEMENT. I DEDICATE IT TO POSITIVE USES AS I WALK THE PATH OF THE WISE
A list of tools and ingredients that you may be interested in.
BASIC HERBS
BASIL (Ocimum Basilicum)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Deities: Krishna , Vishnu
Basic powers: purification,protection, exorcism, love
CAMOMILE (Anthemis Nobilis)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Prosperity, meditation, money, induces sleep when burned
CATNIP( Nepeta Cataria)
Gender: cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Deity: Bast
Part used: leaf
Basic power: love, animal connection, relaxation
HONEYSUCKLE
(Lonicera Caprifolium)
Gender: hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: earth
Part used: flowers
Basic powers: prosperity, clairvoyance
LAVENDER(Lavendula Officinal)
Gender: hot
Planet: mercury
Element: Air
Part used: flowers
Basic powers: love, protection, purification
MUGWORT( Artemisa Vulgaris)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Deities: Artemis, Diana
Part used: herb
Basic powers: protection, clairvoyance
THYME ( Thymus Vulgaris)
Gender: cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Part used: Herb
Basic powers: clairvoyance, purification
YARROW(Achillea Millefolium)
Gender: cold
Planet: Venus
Element: water
Part used: flowers
Basic powers: love, clairvoyance, exercisum
Via:Scott Cunningham
BEGINNERS OIL APOTHECARY >
Almond oil
Gender: masculine
Planet:mercury
Element:air
Powers: love, prosperity, wisdom
Bergamot oil
Gender:masculine
Planet:mercury
Element:air
Powers: prosperity, protection
Eucalyptus oil
Gender:feminine
Planet:moon
Element:water
Powers: cleansing, healing, Protection
Frankincense oil
Gender:masculine
Planet:sun
Element:fire
Powers:Peace, protection,exorcism, spirituality
Jasmine oil
Gender:feminine
Planet:moon
Element:water
Powers: love, sexuality, goddess
Lavender oil
Gender:feminine
Planet:Venus
Element:water
Powers: cleansing, purification, relaxation, healing
Patchouli oil
Gender:feminine
Planet:Saturn
Element:earth
Powers: love, healing, passion
Sandalwood oil
Gender:feminine
Planet:Venus
Element:water
Powers: dreams, divination, enhancing psychic abilities
Via Phyllis curott , Scott Cunningham
QUARTZ CRYSTAL
planet: sun, moon
Element: fire, water
Powers: protection ,healing,power, lactation
AMETHYST
planet: Jupiter , Neptune
Element: water
Powers: dreams ,overcoming alcoholism ,health, healing ,psychic abilities ,peace ,love ,protection, happiness
TURQUOISE
planet: venus, Neptune
Element: earth
Powers: protection, courage, money, love, friendship, healing, luck
TIGERS EYE
planet: sun
Element: fire
Powers:
money ,protection ,courage ,energy ,luck ,
divination
SUNSTONE
planet: sun
Element: fire
Powers: protection,energy, health ,sexual energy
MOONSTONE
planet: moon
Element: water
Powers: divination ,psychism, sleep ,gardening, protection, youth, dieting
ONYX
planet: Mars, Saturn
Element: fire
Powers: protection, defensive magic ,reducing sexual desires
APACHE TEARS
planet: Saturn
Element: fire
Powers: protection, luck
OBSIDIAN
planet: Saturn
Element: fire
Powers: protection, grounding ,divination ,peace
MALACHITE
planet: Venus
Element: earth
Powers: power, protection ,love ,peace, business success
JET
planet: Saturn
Element: earth
Powers: protection, anti-nightmares, luck , definition ,health
FLUORITE
Powers: mental powers, calming
CARNELIAN
planet: sun
Element: fire
Powers: protection, peace , eloquence, healing, courage
CANDLE COLORS
WHITE
All purpose, unity, purity, cleansing, peace, balance, spirituality, healing, innocence, rain, magick involving young children, truth, consecration, balancing the aura
RED
Passion, vitality, strength, survival, fertility, courage, sexual potency, mercy, action, danger, war, fire element, conflict, sports, independence, assertiveness, competition
BLUE
Communication, will power, focus, forgiveness, good fortune, weight loss, truth, fidelity, patience, domestic harmony, organization, removing bad vibrations, sincerity, astral projection, water element
YELLOW
Masculine divinity, great fortune, abundance, prosperity, male energy, understanding, divination, fast luck, solar/sun energy, positive attitude, justice, health, attraction, luxury
GREEN
Prosperity, abundance, money, physical & emotional healing, growth, luck, marriage, tree/plant magick, acceptance, weather, counteract envy/greed/jealousy
PURPLE
Wisdom, influence, spiritual power, contact with spirits, drive away evil, change luck, independence, government, break habit
PINK
Love, compassion, nurturing, femininity, friendship, romance, partnership, spiritual & emotional healing, protection of children, domestic harmony, self-improvement, maturity
ORANGE
Creativity, self-expression, intellectual matters, overcoming addiction, legal matters/justice, joy, business success, ambition, vitality, fun, action, opportunity, celebration, investments
BROWN
House blessing, animal/pet magick, earth magick, concentration, material goods, stability, locating lost objects, earth element, real estate, construction, food, financial crisis
BLACK
Grounding, wisdom, learning, protection, safety, reversing, uncrossing, unhexing, repelling black magick, banishing negativity, releasing, shapeshifting, defense, scrying, pride
— Casting circles
Using an athame draw a circle around your working area , and then invoke the elements and chosen deities ( optional) then proceed eith your magical workings. There are may ways of casting a circle, everybody does it there own way.
-Invocation of the Elements
Via Cunningham’s book of shadows
Air,Fire,Water,Earth
Elements of astral birth;
I charge you now; attend to me!
In the circle, rightly cast,
Safe from psychic curse and blast;
I charge you now; attend to me!
From cave and desert, sea and hill
By wand, blade cup, and pentacle
I charge you now ; attend to me!
This is my will, so mote it be!
-Dismissal of the elements
Earth, Water ,fire and Air
Elements both strong and fair,
Return to your abodes now; Flee!
This is my will, so mote it be!
Centering ritual
To be centered means it balanced physically spiritually and then all the set-top bodies as well this concept is a bit intangible most simply know the feeling when we reach it. to use stones to aid centering like those Used in meditation ,stimulate the mind and is recommended for spirituality clear fluorite is a good choice for this task, and restaurants are that are good for both sending and grounding hold the stone hearthstones while the meditate practice breathing exercises are use this out and like music or bells you can also gaze at the stones and practice centering this way in addition using prayer beads can help one become centered and focused.
Chant:
Body mind and spirit now align
center focus on this goal of mine
subtile bodies balance to the core
clear and strong I’m ready to explore
-Chan can help create a sense of connectedness
To the sky spirit , rise
with my voice Lift my eyes,
see the sun, moon, and stars
touch them all, mine and ours
Via Book of Crystal spells
by Amber Grant
Circle of protection incense
Designed to protect a person, home, or place of business from evil influence.
1 oz powdered sandalwood
1/2 oz powdered 5 finger grass
1/4 oz. powdered frankincense
1/4 oz grated orange peel
1/4 tsp. saltpeter
1 dram of gardenia oil
2 dram tincture of benzoin
1/8 Fl. Oz =1 dram
1/4 Fl. Oz = 2 dram
Tincture of benzoin
2 oz powdered benzoin
4 oz water
12 oz alcohol
Keep this mix in a bottle for 2 weeks and shake daily, then strain the liquid for use.
— Ray T. Malbrough
Grounding ritual
You’re well grounded you’re cleared of excess energy you’re probably connected so any excess energy flows to their lack of grounding during Ritual is Dangerous, there are symptoms and nervousness ,short temper, fatigue ,illness other symptoms may be exhausted at your immune system my weekend so that should does may include dizziness and unbalanced feeling ,being confused ,chakra balances and chakra energy disturbances in the aura or subtle bodies.
Select stones to ground and think heavy especially talk Ors Load Stone Scalia and Hematite, bronze and Brett are less commonly used that are both heavy and also good choices aground. Dark Colors like black tourmaline, smoky quartz and Onyx can also be used. experiment, with everyone to fill which one works for you. hold the stone your hand cupping one palm over the other. Popular visualization for grounding it’s imagine yourself as a tree roots digging into the soil, you can also visualize yourself a stone.
Chant:
To The ground I am bound
see my roots reaching down
to the weight of the stone
one with earth, flesh and bone
Via The book of Chrystal spells
by Ember Grant