Lucky Lists!

If prosperity is your real concern, write your wishes on little paper scrolls and bury them in soil. Every time you water the tree, you will be bringing the wishes closer to fruition. If luck, happiness, or general goodwill are your aim, make wishes and hang charms on your tree: colored ribbons, crystals, anything that strikes your fancy. This should also be a custom with friends and guests.  Every time you add an ornament, you must also take one down. Only when your charm has been removed does your wish come true.

Support from Afar

We all have friends and loved ones who live many miles away but who need our support. Long-distance magic can be quite effective so, on a Thursday, try this ritual with your group. It has worked really well for my spiritual circle.

Gather together

    * a photo of the friend in need or other symbol to represent that person

    * a small hand bell or chime

    * a vase of yellow flowers

    * a piece of paper and a pen

Take the photo of your friend or the symbol that represents him or her, for example a gift he or she has given, or even a business card, and place it on a pedestal or table. Surround it with a small hand bell or chime and a vase filled with one or more of these “flowers of fortune:” nasturtiums, golden poppies, daisies, yellow roses, or your friend’s favorite happy posy.

Take a piece of parchment and write your friend’s full name. Speak the following spell:

    On this earth and under these stars, I call upon the gods and goddesses to bring great help and good        fortune to ______ [your friend’s name].

Ring the bell or chime.

    In this air and through these waters, speed here in the name of _____.

Ring the bell or chime again.

    Through the fire and through the rain, bring aid, goodwill, and bright blessings to _____ now.

Ring the bell or chime again.

As a group, send the positive energy to your friend across the miles by saying, “We love you, ____”, and ring the bell vigorously one last time.

Communing with Your Coven

The path of Wicca can often feel solitary, but it doesn’t have to be. Witchcraft, which is in itself highly creative, is even more so when practiced in a supportive circle. Wednesdays are wonderful for getting together with like-minded folks. Invite four of your fellow pagans over.

Gather together

    * a censer or incense burner

    * 2 green candles

    * 2 yellow candles

    * palo santo incense

Place the ritual elements on a table that will serve as an altar. Stand in a circle near the altar, holding a censer or incense burner. Ask each of your guests to represent one of the four directions: north, east, south, and west. Give the people representing north and south green candles and east and west get yellow. Light the incense and bless each candle with the sweet-smelling smoke.

Bless the candle of the East, saying:

    Inspired by air.

Bless the candle of the West saying:

    Burnished by fire.

Bless the candle of the North, saying:

    Cleansed by water.

Bless the candle of the South, saying:

    Strengthened by earth.

Together, everyone chants:

    Blessed be.

After the ritual, sit in a circle and share your ideas and creative vision. Talk about how you can support each other in realizing your full potential.

Prosperity Intention

I had a very scary financial situation in 2008, right before the “credit crunch,” which became known as The Great Recession. I had moved in with my fiancé and we bought a home together at the very edge of San Francisco with a teeny Pacific Ocean view. He worked in tech and his earnings were much more than mine but we never gave it a second thought. It was a modest home but we loved it and I threw myself into gardening, sowing herb beds, arranging sacred shrines and all the lovely aspects of Wiccan nesting.

He passed away unexpectedly before our marriage and before the shock of that even subsided, I was hit with bills for funeral arrangements, house payments, hospital bills, and myriad unforeseen expenses that left me close to broke and going underwater on the mortgage. I was deep in grief but knew I had to get myself out. I needed to sell the house as quickly as possible, find an affordable place to rent in the San Francisco Bay Area, pack up and move and also earn more money.

In times like these, group magic is called for. I asked a group of girlfriends who had been very supportive during all the “travails if they would meet with me once a week for Intending. They were happy to help and curious, too. The first time we met, we all set an intention for a desired outcome or need—I couldn’t help but notice that all their intentions were more achievable than mine—and brought potluck food to share.

We began our group ritual by going round the circle and stating our gratitude for all we do have in our lives.

Next we each set our intention regarding our desired need or outcome. Kara said, “I need a free bookcase for my baby’s books and toys. I ask this for the good of all. And so it is.”

Our circle was a small and loving group of five women so it took less than 5 minutes for us to set our individual intentions. Afterward, I spoke my deep thanks for their support and we shared the food.

The next morning, I got a call from Kara. She said, “You are not going to believe this but I walked outside of our apartment building and there was a bookcase. It looks new and it’s white and exactly what I had in mind. Wow, that intending stuff really works!” Kara is exactly right. The group magic of setting intentions that are good for you and also for everyone on the planet really does work. It took a month but I got everything on my list, too. Goddess is good. Friends are great.

The Crown of Cronehood: A Ritual of Honoring

Women should feel good about aging. They should celebrate long, full lives, and be respected and honored for the wisdom they bring to the community. Croning rituals, such as this one, are the signal to the group that a woman has ascended into a new role of service and leadership to the family, the tribe, the village, and the sisterhood. Elders say this coming of age occurs at the woman’s second Saturn return, which is at age 58 to 60, but modern women now often decide for themselves.

While this ritual can last as long as is needed, the actual crowning lasts for 5 very magical minutes.

Gather together

    * a flowering branch

    * a crown or tiara (you can easily obtain one at any costume shop), placed on the altar table

    * enough candles to represent every year of the crone’s life

Upon the arrival of the soon-to-be-crowned crone, the eldest woman present should take a flowering branch, dip it in water, and sprinkle it on the crone’s head, just a few drops, and speak this blessing:

    I bless you in the name of the Goddess.

    I bless you in the name of Mother Earth.

    I bless you in the name of every woman.

    Sister, do you accept the role of teacher and leader as crone?

The crone responds. If she accepts the title, then the eldest woman says:

    She is crowned.

The eldest woman places the Crown of Cronehood upon the new crone’s head. Now everyone should speak together:

    We gather together to celebrate that [new crone’s name] is entering the Wise Age.

Now the eldest woman and the youngest woman present light the candles. After everyone has spoken her tribute to the crone, she can speak her thanks. When the newly crowned crone has spoken from her heart, she ends with “Blessed be to all.” Food is then served, and it should be a birthday party to remember for a lifetime.

Coven Welcoming Ceremony

In your witchy community, a new name is an important signifier. It is a marker of your initiation and progress on your pagan path, and it lets the world know your intention and identity. When you are ready to take this step or induct a new witch into your community or coven, this ritual is a beautiful way to mark the occasion ceremoniously. Ideally, the high priestess or leader selects the name, but we witches can also choose what expresses our spirituality best. The greeting and welcoming of the newly named coven member is 5 minutes of pure magic.

Gather together

    * firewood and kindling

    * a sage wand for blessing with smoke

    * “gifts of wisdom” for the newly ordained witch

    * drums

Timing: This ritual is best performed on the night of the new moon.

Gather together the tribe, start the fire, and form a seated circle around the flames. Pass the sage wand around for the blessing of smoke.

Present the new name with the explanation of the name. For example, “I greet you ‘Lady Silverlake,’ so named because you are brilliant and reflective; because you shine.

The group should welcome the newly christened witch by going around the circle and speaking their blessings and hopes for the new pagan’s future. “Lady Silverlake, may you see the world and find the place that speaks most deeply to your heart.”

Next, the group should present the newly named tribal member with the gifts of wisdom. We are not speaking here of pricey prizes but perhaps a book that changed your life and the reason why, or an amber amulet for protection.

Drum and sing on this new-moon night, as an important new member of the tribe has just come into being!

Rite of the Wise Age: A Ceremony to Bestow the Crown of Cronehood

The essential elements for this ritual are enough candles to represent every year of the crone’s life, flowers, silver wire, crystals, water, flowering branches, silver moon-shaped paper cutouts, and potluck food. The potluck food served at the party after the ritual will be even more special and good for all if they emphasize “women’s food” such as estrogen-filled yams, calcium-rich broccoli, and yogurt. Soy is recommended as well, and chocolate is essential. 

The first part of the ritual takes place before the honored guest, the new crone, arrives. Working together, women should take the silver wire and form a round crown. Glue semiprecious crystals to this crown, attach charms and amulets, and affix the silver crescent moons. Make it beautiful and meaningful. The silver moon is a sign of the Goddess, and the new crone is a representative of the Goddess’s third aspect. The crystals, which are the stones and bones of Mother Earth, add power and the beauty of Gaia. Charms and amulets are for health, protection, good luck, and good life. As you make it and place the jewels and charms on the crown, state your intentions and hopes for the new crone. When the crown is complete, place it on a beautiful purple pillow or on the altar.

Upon the arrival of the soon-to-be-crowned crone, the eldest woman present should take a flowering branch and dip it in water and sprinkle it on her head, just a few drops, and speak a blessing, such as:

    I bless you in the name of the Goddess.

    I bless you in the name of Mother Earth.

    I bless you in the name of every woman.

    Sister, do you accept the role of teacher and leader as crone?

The crone responds. If she accepts the title, then the eldest woman says:

    She is crowned.

Now the elder places the Crown of Cronehood upon the new crone’s head. Go around the circle and have each woman speak of the gift she added to the crown; here are examples:

    I give you amethyst to represent the healing power of the planet.

    I give you silver, sacred to the moon.

    I give you roses, the flower of desire.

    I give you a sacred heart charm to represent the mysteries of love.

    I give you a blue star because you are a star.

    I give you an abalone shell because you are powerful like the ocean.

    I give you moonstone because you are wise and reflective.

    I give you an angel pendant because you are so beautiful in body and in soul.

Now everyone should speak together:

    We gather together to celebrate that [new crone’s name] is entering the Wise Age.

Now the eldest woman lights one candle, and then each woman present in turn lights a candle until all fifty-six (or the appropriate number equaling this crone’s age) candles are lit.

Singing and chanting now take place with the circle holding hands:

    [Crone’s name], Lady Mine,

    We now honor you; we will never forsake you.

    [Crone’s name], we listen to your wisdom with the love of our hearts.

    We accept your teachings with ears and hands.

    Blessed be the new crone! Long life and good health! Happiness

    and joy!

After everyone has spoken her tribute to the crone, she can speak her thanks. At this point, the crone assumes her leadership role. Leadership is best handled with great gravity and lightness at the same time. “Benevolence” and “wisdom” are the watchwords. The crone should speak anything she is holding in her heart. Doubtless, she will want to speak her gratitude for the support of the sisterhood, but she should also speak forth any concerns she has. The concerns can be specific to her world, which is now her domain—her family, her group of friends, her spiritual circle, her community, or even the planet. The crone can choose to ask a pair of disputing friends to make up and work it out. She can request that a healing garden be made for her people. Whatever comes to her mind that will be helpful and essential to the group and the greater good is what she should speak. I know a cronewho has asked people to help her build a community center, and it is happening.

I know another crone who quit her high-powered corporate job to study the medicine wheel and become a shaman. Still another elder has taken up the brush and is painting beautiful art after years of working for the defense department; this is my mother, Helen, who is a wonderful example of the power of cronehood. When the crone has spoken from the wisdom of her heart, everyone should again hold hands. The eldest woman who inducted the new crone again holds out the flowering branch and hands it to the new crone. The crone speaks her blessing to everyone present, touching everyone’s heads with a few drops of blessing water and saying words from her heart to each person. When she is done, she says: This circle is now open. Blessed be to all.

Now the food is served, and it should be a birthday party to remember for the rest of the crone’s life.

Sealed in Friendship: Soul Mate Spell

If you are fortunate enough to have a soul mate, here is a special bit of sorcery to seal your fate together.

Take a white candle for purity, a red candle for deep affection, and two long-stemmed roses complete with thorns. Light the candles and hand each other a rose. Anoint the candles with honey to seal your bond with sweetness and rose essential oil for the sweet connection of friendship. Witchcraft was originally nurtured by groups of friends passing on herbal remedies and working spells together in covens.

Use red ink and a white feather to write a vow of friendship to each other on a piece of parchment. First, each of you should dip the feather in the red ink and write the name of the other on the paper. Both of you should then take a thorn from each other’s rose, prick the ends of your pinkies on your left hands, and squeeze a drop of blood onto the paper atop each other’s names. As each of you completes this, speak aloud:

    Friend so dear,

    friend so near,

    our blood is mingled forever.

    Our bond is true, together forever,

    soul mate true blue.

    So mote it be.

Now your friendship is consecrated, both in the eyes of the gods, and most importantly, to the two of you. Afterwards, bury the parchment, the roses, the candles, and the feather outside in a safe place you choose together. If you don’t bury these things, you risk having your friendship interfered with.

A Lovely Night for a Moon Dance - Saturn Day Night Fever

Here is a pagan party plan which is wonderful for weekend evenings. You can add many embellishments such as important astrological or lunar happenings, but you should gather your friends or coven and celebrate life any Saturday night of your choosing. If the weather is warm enough, have the festivities outside. Otherwise, make sure to choose an indoor space with enough room for dancing, drumming and major merriment. Ask each of your guests to bring cake, cookies and sweets of their choice along with their favorite beer, wine, mead, cider or ale and sitting cushions. Place the offerings on a center table altar and light candles of all colors. Once everyone is seated and settled, the host or designated circle leader chants:

Gods of Nature, bless these cakes. 
That we may never suffer hunger. 
Goddess of the harvest,
Bless this ale,
That we may never suffer thirst. Blessed be.

The eldest and the youngest should serve the food and drink to all in the circle. Lastly, they serve each other and the leader chants the blessing again. Let the feasting begin!