Magic Metals: Silver

Aligned with the planet and the god Mercury, silver is about communication. Silver has been associated with the moon for thousands of years. As such, it is a stabilizer of any crystal or gem. Rather than adding to the energy of a stone, it secures the energy and supports the gem. 

Silver is a healing metal that should not be worn all the time; let your body tell you when it feels right. Silver offers a mirror of your inner spirit, and this should be given very special attention. Silver is a detoxifying agent and communicates with the body to alert you to raised levels of hormones and other chemical imbalances. The metal is good to wear as a necklace, as it is very beneficial to the throat and lungs. Your synapses even fire more efficiently because silver acts as an energy conductor. Consequently, silver is good for people encountering memory reduction, psychological issues, and diseases affecting the brain.

In olden days, women wore silver around their waists to improve fertility. Men can do the same—by wearing a silver belt buckle, perhaps—to treat impotence or other sexual dysfunction. 

Moonstones are wonderful in combination with the sacred moon metal. Amethyst is also great in a silver setting. Jaspers, agates (especially fire agate), and opals are very suitable in silver. Although diamonds are more often set in gold, they are also terrific in silver settings. The same holds true for sapphires. Lapis, jades, emeralds, and pearls set in silver are said to attract love. Here is a list of stones you should not set in silver: zircon, tourmaline, and amber. I see amber set in silver all the time, and it is unfortunate because amber is a hot stone and works better with any other metal.

In foreign countries, silver is used in a variety of customary ways. Parents in China, for example, give their children silver-locket necklaces to show love and offer protection and luck. In France, couples wear silver chains upon getting engaged.

Predictions for the New Year: Divination Conjuration

Gather a group of women together around a large table you can use as the altar. Ask them to bring feast books to share and offerings of fruit, flowers, or vegetables as altar offerings to the Goddess.

Gather together

    * 13 candles

    * a black bowl filled with water

Timing: January 1.

Place the offerings and the 13 candles on the altar around the bowl filled with water, which is to be used as a scrying mirror (to foretell the future). Light the candles and turn down the lights and say aloud:

    Fruit, flower, and Goddess’s herb,

    Perform for me enchantment superb.

    You give us grain and bread.

    Foretell for me the year ahead.

After placing the offerings on the altar, one at a time, each woman should kneel over the mirror and look upon the water. Some people may see images, but oftentimes the information comes as an impression, a thought, or meditative reflection. People should only share their visions if they feel the need to do so.

After each woman has had a turn, everyone should chant and sing together:

    Daughters under this sun

    Sisters under this moon

    Tonight we receive your blessings

    Goddess great and good—

    We thank you for the year to come.

Rite for Welcoming Spirits

We can all use more benevolent energy in our lives. Some angels may take human form, such as a friend who is always there in a crisis. Others are hovering above in the ether and can be invoked with a few words and a focused intention. Use this spell when you need a guiding hand and angelic assistance.

Gather together

    * 1 white and 1 blue candle (these are angelic hues)

    * rosemary essential oil

    * frankincense and myrrh incense

    * celestite, a sky-blue crystal associated with angel energy (amethyst can substitute)

Anoint both candles with the rosemary essential oil. Light the white candle and use it to light the incense. If you were unable to acquire any frankincense or myrrh incense, you can use rosemary incense or light a rosemary branch in a fireproof glass or clay dish. Now light the blue candle with the white one and place them on either side of the crystal. Breathe deeply and speak this spell aloud to invoke the celestial guardians.

    Guardians, I call upon you now

    To bring aid and angelic blessings

    By earth and sky, I invite you now

    To point me to all that is good

    And protect me from all that is not.

    With gratitude to the heavenly host.

    So mote it be.

Foretelling Your Future: Mercury Sortilege

The god Mercury prevails over communication, speed, prophecy, mental clarity, and fun. Traditionally, he also escorts the dead to the afterworld. All things yellow and citrus can bring forth Mercury’s bright presence, which will help you in all your interactions with others. Try these surefire ways to make contact with the god of swiftness and time.

Gather together

    * 3 yellow candles

    * lemon essential oil

    * neroli essential oil

    * a notebook and a pen

Timing: It is best to do this during the waxing moon.

When the moon begins to wax, burn all three candles. Anoint yourself and the candles with the essential oils. Look at the flames and meditate upon them. Breathe deeply, filling your lungs with the fiery citrus scent. Holding both hands out, palms up, say:

    Messenger of the gods,

    Bring me your news.

    Tonight, in this fire and flame,

    Tell me the place and the name.

    Mercury, messenger and god,

    I will listen for your word on the wing.

    Blessed be, to thee and me.

Now, you can either go to sleep with your dream journal nearby, or you can close your eyes and take up your pen for “automatic writing,” allowing your hand and wrist to relax until you see what words take shape on the paper. Carefully record symbols and images that show up in your dreams; they all have meaning. Often, the names of people you will soon meet appear here first.

Chains of Being

 

Chains represent links between people, the ties that bind you to others. Other mystical associations for chains are happiness and justice, prayer, reason and the soul, and communication and command. Plato referred to a chain of being, a golden chain linking the earth to the heavens above, a bond between humans and immortals. Socrates tied our human happiness to the concept of justice with a chain of steel and diamonds. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite compared the practice of prayer to an infinitely luminous chain going from earth to heaven. An astral cord, akin to a golden chain, binds the spirit to the psyche and binds reason to the soul. Because of this, gold chains are extremely powerful symbols.

Necklaces, Pendants, and Chokers

 

Perhaps you want to be a better communicator or vocalist or simply want to express yourself more freely. A blocked throat chakra can result in your feelings and ideas being blocked. So, in this case, you will want to focus on opening it up. A necklace or choker can serve this purpose. A strand of pearls not only looks timelessly elegant but also boosts your self-esteem and sociability. The best metals for this use are silver, copper, and gold. You will want to avoid aluminum entirely because it is considered to be a health risk.

Iron Pyrite

 

Fool’s gold! Some of my friends say I’m a magpie, because I am so attracted to shiny objects. Let’s count fool’s gold, or iron pyrite, among them. I don’t care if it is a hundred times less valuable than actual gold; it is very pleasing to my magpie eyes, and, every time I see it, I want to possess it. You’ll be happy to know that I have restrained myself (often with the help of friends) many times. Fool’s gold is usually the bright metallic yellow of its namesake but can also come in bright green and coppery colors, too. Found in North and South America, it is a crystal that has been mineralized and formed in shiny clusters.

Iron pyrite enables the skin to ward off contaminants. It is good for the respiratory system and is said to aid oxygen flow. It also has a strong connection to the iron levels in the blood and therefore benefits the circulatory system. Most people get relief from digestive aliments, too.

I treasure iron pyrite for its nearly unmatched support for personal mental workings. It boosts creativity, intelligence, logic, and the ability to communicate, while soothing fretfulness and angst. These crystal clusters radiate stability. Native Americans revered iron pyrite as a protective substance. This money-bringing and creativity- boosting stone is a must for the studios and workstations of artists, fashionistas, writers, and anyone whose artistry provides income.

Crystal Power

 

Here are some amazing, powerful crystals:

• Citrine for stronger communication skills
  
• Lace agate for happiness with your job
  
• Lapis lazuli for mental brilliance
  
• Moonstone for self-love and self-expression
  
• Red coral for good health and physical strength
  
• Rose quartz or opal to make you appealing to others 
  
• Turquoise for calmness and protection from the earth

Anointed with Almond: Candle Magic to Attract Wealth

Using almond oil is a simple way to attract money, and it can be employed to ease the discomfort of financial stress. Dress some green candles with a drop or two and burn them every day—this simple ritual will make a substantial difference. Almond oil works quickly because it is ruled by Mercury, the god of rapid change and communication, who operates in the realm of air.

While burning your almond-anointed candles, call upon Mercury:

    Winged one, bring with you better days.

    Blessed be to all,

    and may they share

    in the bounty to come.

While almond oil is a strong recommendation of mine, it is not the only oil you can use to enhance prosperity! Some floral essences that you can use to anoint your candles include:

• Carnation (a.k.a. Jove’s flowers), which contain the strength of Jupiter and can facilitate healing, power, and fortune.
• Chamomile, which is said to bring success in gambling.
• Cinnamon, sacred to Venus and known to help bring good luck.
• Honeysuckle, which can bring psychic powers and creative inspiration, is also one of the most effective of all oils in attracting money.

Days, Planets, Colors, and Goals

Day: Sunday
Planet: Sun
Correspondence: Exorcism, healing, prosperity
Color: Orange, white, yellow
Incense: Lemon, frankincense

Day: Monday
Planet: Moon
Correspondence: Agriculture, animals, female fertility, messages, reconciliation, voyages
Color: Silver, white, gray
Incense: African violet, honeysuckle, myrtle, willow, wormwood

Day: Tuesday
Planet: Mars
Correspondence: Courage, physical strength, revenge, military honors, surgery, breaking negative spells
Color: Red, orange
Incense: Dragon’s blood, patchouli

Day: Wednesday
Planet: Mercury
Correspondence: Knowledge, communication, divination, writing, business transactions
Color: Yellow, gray, violet, all opalescent hues
Incense: Jasmine, lavender, sweet pea

Day: Thursday
Planet: Jupiter
Correspondence: Luck, health, happiness, legal matters, male fertility, treasure, wealth, employment
Color: Purple, indigo
Incense: Cinnamon, musk, nutmeg, sage

Day: Friday
Planet: Venus
Correspondence: Love, romance, marriage, sexual matters, physical beauty, friendships, partnerships
Color: Pink, green, aqua, chartreuse
Incense: Strawberry, rose, sandalwood, saffron, vanilla

Day: Saturday
Planet: Saturn
Correspondence: Spirit, communication, meditation, psychic attack or defense, locating lost or missing persons
Color: Black, gray, indigo
Incense: Poppy seeds, myrrh 

Designing Your Own Air Rituals

Rituals using the element of air can be a daily energy cleansing such as smudging with a sage stick or incense. You can call forth the power of the four winds, invoke the spirits of the air to inspire you, to surround and support you, and to communicate your wishes to the world at large.

Air Deities

Invocation of the spirit of the air for ritual brings the powers of the heavens to aid your ceremonies and ritual work. Birds and insects as well as the four winds will abet your spells.

Winged Isis, the oldest of all Egyptian divinities, was believed to bear the souls of the dead to the place of eternal life.

Oya is the Yoruban orisha of the wind who gives us the breath of life.

Nut is the great sky goddess who covers and enwraps Geb, her younger brother the earth, with her body. She is the sky queen who is covered with stars, depicted as a lovely woman arched over the land in a constant posture of protection and service.

Norwan is a goddess of light and air of the Wintun Native American tribe who brought nourishment to the world. Known as “dancing porcupine woman,” she dances all day until sunset. 

The Element of Air

Air possesses the power of transformation. We often refer to the “winds of change.” Air also uplifts the emotions and the spirit. Air is the sound of the song as it travels on the breeze. A breath of air refreshes and renews both body and soul. Air is the element associated with communication and the arts. Mastery of communication occurs through correct use of the power of air. Singing, talking, chanting, and conscious breathing are all invocations of air.

Everyday Sacred: A Ritual Guide to the Days of the Week

Each day of the week has specific correspondences and meanings. Here is an at-a-glance guide to the days of the week, gleaned from the mythologies of centuries put to practice for different types of ritual. I do a money-enhancing ritual every Thursday, or “Thor’s Day,” which is the day for prosperity. Perhaps you want new love in your life; if so, try a “Freya’s Day” ritual on a Friday night.

Sunday is the day for healing and vitality, as well as creativity and new hope. It is a day of confidence and success. This is the day ruled by the Sun, so it corresponds to fire and the sun sign, Leo. The colors for this day are gold, orange, and yellow, and the sacred stones for this day are also in those colors, amber, citrine, carnelian, and topaz. Sunday’s herbs and incense are cloves, cedar, chamomile, frankincense, amber, sunflower, and heliotrope.

Monday or “Moon Day,” is a dreamy day for intuition, beauty, women’s rituals, and your home. Monday is associated with the element of water and the sign of Cancer. The clouds are shiny silvers, pearl, pale rose, white, and lavender, which are reflective like the moon. The gems and stones are similarly shaded moonstone, pearl, quartz crystal, fluorite, and aquamarine. The herbs and incense are night blooming jasmine, myrtle, moonwort, vervain, white rose, poppy, and camphor.

Tuesday is the day for action, as mighty Mars rules it. Now you can seek your passion, surge toward your goals, find your destiny, and be strong and courageous. “Mars’s Day” is the time for high energy in your career, for physical activity and sports, for aggression in meetings and negotiations, and for strong sexuality. Both fire and water come into play and the astrological assignations are Aries and Scorpio. Red is the day’s color, and the corresponding gems and crystals are ruby, garnet, carnelian, bloodstone, and pink tourmaline. Incense and herbs for Mars’s Day are red roses, pine, carnation, nettle, patchouli, pepper, and garlic.

Wednesday, or “Odin’s Day,” is when the planets of communication, Mercury and Chiron, rule. This is the optimum time for writing, public speaking, intellectual pursuits, memory, and all other forms of communication. It is also a day to recognize your karmic duties through astrology and your Chiron sign, an important asteroid placement in your chart. Through introspection, try to find your “sacred wound” and heal it so it does not hold you back in life, trapping you in old patterns and relationships. The element for Wednesday is earth and the sun sign is Virgo. Colors for this mercurial day are light blue, gray, green, orange, and yellow. The crystals are sodalite, moss agate, opal, and aventurine. The herbs and incense are cinnamon, periwinkle, dill, sweet pea, cinquefoil, and ferns.

Thursday is the day for business, politics, legalities, bargaining, good fortune, and material and fiscal wealth. In other words, it is money day! The elements that come into play are water and fire, and Jupiter, the planet of abundance is the ruler. Pisces and Sagittarius share this planet as ruler. The colors are blue, purple, and turquoise. As you might suspect, the crystals are turquoise, sapphire, amethyst, and lapis lazuli, so favored by the Egyptians. The herbs and incense for the day are saffron, cedar, nutmeg, pine, oak, and cinnamon.

Friday is doubtless everybody’s favorite day of the week, as it is ruled by Freya, the Nordic Venus, goddess of love. Friday is all about beauty, love, sex, fertility, friendships, and partnerships, the arts, harmony, and music, and bringing the new into your life—new energy, new people, new projects. Haven’t you met a lot of people on a Friday night out? Air and earth are the elements and the signs of Libra and Taurus are the astrological signs. Pale green and deep green, robin’s-egg blue, pink, and violet are the colors, and the crystals are emerald, pink tourmaline, rose quartz, as well as jade, malachite, and peridot. The herbs are incense for Fridays are apple, lily, birch, pink rose, verbena, ivy, rose, and sage.

Saturday is ruled by Saturn and connects the elements of air, fire, water, and earth. It is a time for protection, discipline, duty, binding, family, manifestation, and completion. The sun signs are Capricorn and Aquarius, with their colors of black, brown, and deepest blue, Saturday’s crystals are amethyst, smoky quartz, jet, black onyx, obsidian, and darkest garnet. The incense, plants, and herbs for this day are ivy, oak, rue, moss, myrrh, deadly nightshade, mandrake, hemlock, and wolfsbane. (Many Saturn herbs are poisonous; please exercise caution when using them.) How do we use these magical correspondences in ritual? You can create your own ritual simply by choosing candle colors, crystals, and incense from the list that matches your intent and go from there. I have included some sample rituals that draw from these magical correspondences. 

Tripods: Mobile Altars

Outdoor altars are usually of a temporary nature—the beach is a wonderful place to set up a one-day altar on driftwood with seaweed and shells. There, unless the beach is too crowded, you can commune with the water deities and seek your deepest reaches of spirit. Forest, farm, and meadow offer earth and sky and the sanctity of nature in which to build your altar.

In Athens during the classical period, the lane leading to the temple dedicated to the god Dionysus was called the Avenue of Tripods because it was lined with small tripod altars; this was a holy road indeed. Tripod originates in the Greek word meaning “three footed,” and these altars functioned as the sites of offerings. A three-footed altar is more practical for outdoor use than a regular four-legged table because it is stable on uneven ground. For your outdoor rituals, therefore, it’s best to acquire a tripod that will provide a steady surface for your ritual work performed out in the holy realm of Nature.

At Delphi, the revered oracular center, the Pythoness and her sisters prophesied from the sacred seat of power, a tripod. 

Making the Tools of the Magical Trade Part I

Just as you can design your own rituals, you can create your own ritual accessories and tools. Your intentions and personal energy are the driving forces behind the enchantments you create, and the same is true of crafting magical tools.

Charm Boxes

Native Americans, Greeks, Celts, and Egyptians all used magical boxes during ceremonies and for storing sacred objects. Christian religions followed suit—the famous biblical Ark of the Covenant was, in fact, a magical box. Spell work during medieval times involved boxes for love, health, fertility and home and in the fields, prosperity, and changes of luck. In more modern times, a young woman’s “hope chest” contained her wishes, intentions, and materials for a happy marriage.

You can make charm boxes, also known as spell boxes, very easily. A job spell box should contain aventurine or peridot stones, patchouli incense, green candles, and ferns. You can make a psychic spell box with cloves, rosemary, and amethyst and quartz crystals. A good love spell box contains a pink candle, rose petals, two pieces of rose quartz, and two copper pennies. These are just some of the examples; more suggestions are in the appendix in the back of this book.

Mirrors

Throughout time, people have been looking for answers in mirrors, gazing balls, pools, and even using bowls filled with ink to peer into another dimension. Primitive people used obsidian and other shiny rocks to communicate with spirits. Surfaces that are shiny, smooth, and reflective have always lent themselves well to scrying and other intuitive work. Because of their use in scrying, mirrors came to be seen as magical portals to promote psychic awareness to other worlds.

It is possible to create your own scrying mirror and empower it with energy and intention in a variety of ways. First, find
a round mirror with a frame that will make it easy to apply crystals or other objects with glue (I like to use wood or plastic). The frame should have a lot of surface area on which you can affix your magical objects. There are many objects that are suitable for your mirror. If you collect sea glass or shells and pretty rocks, those will suffice. If you don’t have any objects on hand, visit a rock shop or a New Age store. You can purchase seashells and fifty to a hundred small crystals. The crystals can be various quartzes and semiprecious stones of similar shape and small in size.

You can use a rainbow of colors or you can stick with just one kind of stone. I prefer to use all amethysts on my mirror; I feel more connected to this lovely purple gem because it is my birthstone.

Before applying the clear-drying glue to your frame, clean it with a soft, dry cloth. Take your crystals, shells, glass or other items and affix them one at a time, in any pattern you like. Some examples of mirrors I’ve come across featured concentric circles of color, following the spectrum from dark red garnet to clear quartz, and gorgeous spirals and paisley prints all across the frame.

Different kinds of questing and querying may call for several different magic mirrors. 

Different Gems to Use for Your Mirror

Peridot—Issues relating to self-image and matters centered upon you

Rough Rubies—Matters relating to love

Jade—Money matters

Sea Glass and Seashells—Effective for Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces), especially if gathered during a walk on the beach while searching for answers

Anyone who feels drawn to the ocean will benefit from a seashell magic mirror. Many of us go for walks along the water to think. Using seashells on your mirror can help you be twice as effective in finding your answers. 

Lazulite—Stone of Heaven

Lazulite, coming from the Arabic word for heaven, got its name for the lovely sky blue color. It also occurs in a pretty oceanic blue or green. This is another one of those stones that has yet to hit major, mainstream popularity, but it might not happen because it is fairly obscure and rare. Lazulite can be found throughout North America and in the diverse locations of Brazil and Afghanistan. It is a calming crystal and offers clarity in health matters, as well, in that it is a filtering and cleansing agent of the blood and the immune system.

I predict lazulite will become enormously trendy as soon as people find out that it is a great stone for organizing. It seems that the feng shui, decluttering, and organizing bug has really taken hold in our current culture. So, help me spread the word—get your act together with lazulite! Lazulite clears away blocks and helps line ideas up in your mind, so you can then replicate them in your outer world. While lazulite is an aid to getting structured, it also prevents compulsive or addictive personality behaviors. It is great for stopping worry.

Meditating with lazulite will help you increase your sense of self-worth. This same crystalline quality can also keep obstacles from getting in the way of your creativity and communication. Personally, I feel like I need to encrust my walls with lazulite. 

Blue Quartz

An uncommon stone found occasionally in Siberia, North America, and Brazil, blue quartz, also known as dumortierite, ranges from a grayish blue to pale blue to lavender in color. It is found only in very old rock formations because the process by which it gains its color is very slow and takes many millennia to be completed.

Blue quartz is best for the upper torso and is also a boost to the bloodstream and the body’s immune system. Blue is the color of spirit, and this is a wonderful meditation crystal for spirit work. It is a stone of hope, of calm, and of soul. Blue quartz is a mental stone, as well, and can help with self-discipline, organizational skills, and studying. This crystal aids the throat chakra and therefore aids in communication, helping you to speak your truth—and speak it well.

Iron Pyrite

Fool’s gold! Some of my friends say I’m a magpie because I am so attracted to shiny objects. Let’s count fool’s gold among them. I don’t care if it is a hundred times less valuable than actual gold, it is very pleasing to my magpie eyes, and every time I see it, I want to possess it. You’ll be happy to know that I have restrained myself (often with the help of friends) many times. Iron pyrite is usually the bright metallic yellow of its namesake but can also come in bright green and coppery colors, too. Minted in North America and South America, it is a crystal that has been mineralized, forming shiny clusters.

Iron pyrite enables the skin to ward off contaminants. It is a plus for the respiratory system and is said to aid oxygen flow. It also has a strong connection to the iron levels in the blood and therefore benefits the circulatory system. Most people get relief from digestive aliments, too.

I treasure iron pyrite for its nearly unmatched support to personal mental workings. It boosts creativity, intelligence, logic, and the ability to communicate and soothes fretfulness and angst. These crystal clusters radiate stability. Native Americans revered iron pyrite as a protective amulet. This money-bringing and creativity-boosting stone is a must for the studios and workstations of artistry provides income.

Tips ’n’ Tricks: A Rainbow of Uses For Fluorite

Violet—or amethyst—colored fluorite is especially good for the bones, including the marrow. It jogs the third eye and, best of all, imparts good old common sense! Green fluorite is favored for its ability to ground and center excessive physical and mental energy. Clear fluorite awakens the crown chakra and lets go of anything holding back spiritual development. Blue fluorite facilitates mental clarity, orderly thought, and the ability to be a master communicator. Yellow fluorite kindles the synapses and awakens memory. It will also make you smarter and boost your creativity a great deal. 

Any fluorite reduces electromagnetic pollutants and cleanses the aura. Get a big chunk of fluorite at your favorite metaphysical five-and-dime and put it right beside your computer to decrease stress. Those long hours of staring at the screen will cease to sap your energy. Look at your fluorite at least once an hour to reduce eye and brain strain, too!

Aquamarine

Beloved for its crystal-clear blue color, this gem is a worldwide favorite. It is a form of beryl, as is emerald. Found in the Americas, Brazil, India, and Russia. Aquamarine less frequently occurs in topaz-like yellow gold. Once upon a time, spectacles were made from aquamarine, but now it is cherished for the harmony it can bring. This stone is of particular use to physics for filtering information and sharpening the sixth sense.

Once used by sailors as a guard against drowning, it is an aid for the throat and communication, even helping to express what is most difficult. This beautiful blue gem is the birthstone for those born in March, thus most Pisceans and a few early Aries. Aquamarine will help you become more intuitive and bring balance into your life.