Growing Riches: Reaping What You Sow

The San Francisco Bay Area is magical in spring and summer, with its profusion of poppies growing along the highway and in every available crevice. No wonder California is one of the wealthiest places in the world: Pagans revere poppies for their money magic. If you have a yard, meadow, or any strip of ground you can garden, buy poppy seeds and simply toss them all around. Two months later, you will have a wealth of wildflowers.

Harvest the dried seed pods and store some for replanting next winter. Place the rest in a tiny green to gold cloth bag.

Bless the bag with these words:

Poppy, gold like the sun, Thank you for the new luck I’ve won.

Sow the seed bag shut and carry it in your pocket, purse, or wallet.

Pagan Feng Shui for Money Magic

If you want to bring more money into your home or office, place a big chunk of citrine on the left side of your desk, and the money will begin to flow! If you have a dark hallway that feels spooky or an area in your home or office in which the energy feels very static or low, place an obsidian ball there, perhaps on a pedestal, to absorb this negative energy. If you want your bedroom to be a place of bliss and unconditional love, rose quartz will create this all-important atmosphere. Not only will these tips add to the buoyancy and joy of your home, they will also make it more striking and serene.

Place these crystals around your home or workspace for their many benefits:

-Citrine: stronger communication skills

-Lace agate: happiness and joy

-Lapis lazuli: mental brilliance

-Moonstone: self-love and self-expression

-Red coral: good health and physical strength

-Rose quartz or opal: make you appealing to others

-Turquoise: calmness and protection from the earth

Magic Amplified: Prayer for Pagan Partnership

Perhaps what you need most is a partner to support, encourage, and collaborate with in your magical workings. On a waxing moon Friday night, this spell will bring your partner to you.

Gather together

    * 1 lemon

    * 1 orange

    * 2 rosemary sprigs

    * 1 orange candle

    * a fireproof clay or glass dish

Group the fruit and rosemary around the orange candle. Light the candle and intone:

    On this night

    I do invite

    new energy to bring delight

    Under this lunar light. So mote it be.

Now, using the candle flame, light the tip of the rosemary sprigs and set them in the fireproof dish. Rosemary has a very powerful cleansing smoke. It was used as an incense by ancient priests and priestesses in Greek and Roman times and by prophets and seers. It cleanses the aura and paves the way for major magic. Soon your partner in spellwork will appear.

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.

Walking the Pagan Path: Stepping Stones

For centuries, in group rituals and solo spells, witches have walked specific paths in the form of symbolic shapes that hold potent spiritual meaning. All you need for this ritual is a stone that brings you special inspiration.

Maybe it is your birthstone; perhaps it is your jade talisman or calming quartz or intuition-boosting amethyst or labradorite. Put the stone in your pocket and you are ready. You may find one walking pattern to be especially enriching for you. I recommend walking the figure eight, the “eternity” symbol from the magician card in the tarot deck. Otherwise, choose from among the universal shapes below. I suggest always walking sunwise, or clockwise. It can be a distance of your choice, in your living room, a bigger shape in your own backyard or whatever feels right to you, intuitionally. For the more complicated patterns you can draw them on paper and place it where you can see it to use as a guide:

    * Oval: The shape that designates the spirit and divine being.

    * Circle: The shape of the sun and moon, designates the whole, the complete, that which never ends and     encompasses all.

    * Cross: The form of a human figure with arms outstretched from the center. The importance of this             symbol predated Christianity by millennia.

    * Hexagram: In the Jewish tradition, the beloved. It is two triangles intersecting, the meeting of heaven     and earth.

    * Five-pointed Star: This resembles the human form with arms and legs outspread—Leonardo Da             Vinci’s favorite.

Prepare for your pagan pilgrimage, your walking meditation, when the moon is in Sagittarius, Aquarius, or your natal moon sign. These prayer walks represent a journey to our own center and back again out into the world, some of the inner work we witches need to do now and again. Keep your eyes closed for the first step, then open your eyes and pray aloud:

    Guide my steps; help me to walk in wisdom.

    What I seek on this day, I shall find as I go

    With an open heart and mind.

    Today, I receive the blessings of the sun.

Money Flow: Feng Shui Fountain

Water fountains are good feng shui and can enhance your prosperity quotient. For those of us who can’t pull off a fountain in our home or garden, this works just as well to get the money flowing.

Gather together

    * at least 8 small, smooth river rocks

    * a large green bowl or tall vase

    * enough water to fill the container

    * your prosperity wand

Stand in the front door area of your home and identify which is the far-left corner. This is the prosperity area and, therefore, the perfect place for this ritual. Place the smooth river rocks in the bottom of the bowl or vase and carefully pour in the water so you avoid spilling any. Take up your wand and speak aloud:

    In the name of the Goddess, I dedicate this space.

    Peace and prosperity flows throughout this place.

    Everyone here will enjoy abundance and grace.

    With harm to none. So mote it be.

Gently stir the surface of the water with your wand so it swirls and circles. Repeat the spell, then bow and say thank you to the energies of abundance.

Remove the stones from the vessel and pour the water onto the roots of the nearest tree or one of your larger potted plants, ideally right outside your home. Keep the stones in the far left corner of your home for continual good feng shui. This will keep the flow of abundance in your personal space.

Pagan New Year: A Solo Ritual for Samhain

Samhain, also known as the Celtic New Year, is the most profound, important, and best known of all pagan sabbats. Samhain is perhaps the favorite Celtic high holiday of all. After all, it is the witches’ New Year celebration and the time to honor and commune with your elders and family members who have passed on to the other side, as well as the time to celebrate the passing year and set intentions for new blessings in the new year to come.

Supplies:

• Altar space
• 8 candles
• Powdered incense
• Bread
• Salt
• Wine

1. Prepare for this most holy night and rite by setting up an altar. Place three candles on a stone altar to represent the Triple Goddess and five to represent the points of the pentagram. The star of the pentagram should be drawn with powdered incense of the self- lighting variety to be lit later. Gather together bread, salt, and wine for the sacrament.

2. After you have made your preparations for the altar, ready yourself by bathing and meditating. Anoint your body before dressing in a robe or gown befitting this night when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest. As you ready your body, mind, and spirit, consider what has taken place in the preceding year. Cleanse your mind and heart of old sorrows and most especially of angers and petty resentments. Bring only your best into this night. After all, this is New Year’s Eve for witches, and you want to truly connect with those who have gone on to the other side.

3. Walk alone to the place of the ceremony and kneel before the altar. Before lighting the candles on the altar, say aloud:

    This candle I light for the Maiden’s brightest glory.

Light the candle and bow to the Maiden.

    This candle I light for the power and passion of the Lady, the Queen.

Light the candle and bow to the Queen.

    This candle I light for the unsurpassable wisdom of the Crone.

Light the candle and bow to the Crone.

4. Light the incense, and then gazing at the candles on the altar, say:

    These do I light in honor of the Triple Goddess

    on this sacred night of Samhain.

    I create this holy temple

    in honor of the Goddess and the God

    and all the ancient ones.

    From time before time,

    I pay my tribute and my devotion

    In love and greeting to those beyond the veil.

5. Now light the candles that represent the power of the five-pointed pentagram. Rap three times on the altar with your hands or with your wand. Then say:

    This is a time outside of time

    in a place outside of any place

    on a day that is not a day

    between the worlds and afar.

6. Pause and listen to your heart for thirteen beats, then hold your hands in benediction over the bread, salt, and wine. Now say:

    For this bread, salt, and wine,

    I do ask the blessings

    of our Maiden, our Queen, and our Crone

    and of the God who guards the Gates of the World.

7. Take the bread and sprinkle a bit of salt over it, saying:

    I ask that I and all whom I love

    have health and abundance and blessings.

Eat the bread, and hold up the goblet of wine, saying:

    To a spirit that remains strong and true!

Drink the wine and declare:

    By the Triple Goddess and her godly consort, so mote it be!

8. At this point, a danse macabre to any dark folk or Gothic music of your choosing can end the ritual—I suggest any music by the band Dead Can Dance. You should also spend time meditating or allowing yourself to ease into a trance state to communicate with your beloved dead. Hear the messages they have for you and let them know you.

9. When you feel the ritual has ended, quench the candles, and then say:

    Though these flames

    of the material world

    be darkened,

    they shall ever burn

    in the world beyond.

    This rite is ended.

Saturn-Day Soul Tribe Gathering

It is very important to gather your soul tribe and just celebrate each other from time to time. Here is a pagan ritual I have performed on weekends—I call it “Saturn-day night fever.” Over the years, I have added many embellishments, such as astrological or holiday themes. The basic ritual of cakes and ale, however, is a timeless and powerful classic.

Gather a group of friends either outdoors under the moon or in a room large enough for dancing, drumming, and singing. Have the guests bring a cake of their choice as well as a cider, mead, beer, or juice to share. (Note that the cake can be of any style, so it does not have to be an iced sheet cake; banana bread, Irish soda bread, or a braided honey bread will do just as well.) Place the offerings in the center, on an altar table. Then light green and brown candles for home and hearth.

Once everyone is seated, the host or designated leader intones:

    Gods of Nature, bless these cakes,

    that we may never suffer hunger.

    Goddess of the Harvest, bless this ale,

    that we may never go without drink.

The eldest and the youngest of the circle rise and serve the food and drink to everyone in the circle. Last, they serve each other. The ritual leader pronounces the blessing again. Then everyone says together, “Blessed be.”

The feasting begins, ideally followed by a lot more ale and lively dancing. A wonderful way to keep a group of friends connected is for a different person to host the circle one Saturday each month.

Handfasting Ritual: A Traditional Pagan Wedding Ceremony

The priest or priestess speaks:

    May the place of this marriage be consecrated,

    for we gather here in the ritual of love and bliss

    with two who would be wedded.

    [Bride’s name] and [Groom’s name], please step forward and

    stand here before your friends and family and before the gods and

    goddesses of the world.

    Be with us here, O spirits of the air

    and with your swift fingers tie the bonds between these two

    who would be married, and tie them closely and securely.

    Be with us here.

At this point, tie the two symbolic gift rings together with blue ribbon, then loop them over the willow wand and replace it on the altar.

    Be with us here, O spirits of fire

    and light their love and passion

    with your fiery ardor.

Light the incense from the candles and place it on the altar, then say aloud:

    Be with us here, O spirits of the earth

    and ground deep the roots of their love.

Pick up the willow wand and tie the gardenia to it. Then say:

    Be with us here, O spirits of water

    and let joy flow forever for [Groom’s name] and [Bride’s name],

    for as long as they are married,

    blessed goddess and merry god.

    Give to [Groom’s name] and [Bride’s name], who stand before us in

    the light of their love, your love and protection.

    Blessed be!

Here the audience responds:

    Blessed be.

Hold the willow wand with the rings and gardenia tied to it out to the bride and groom, instructing them:

    Place your right hand over this wand and the rings of this rite

    of marriage.

    Above you are the stars,

    below you the stones.

    As time passes, think upon this:

    like the eastern star, your love shall remain constant.

    Like a rock, your love will stand firm.

    Possess one another, but always be understanding.

    Have patience at all times,

    for stormy times come and go, but they leave upon the wind.

    Give each other love as often as possible

    of the body, the mind, and the spirit.

    Be not afraid and do not let the ways of others dissuade you from

    your path.

    The gods and goddesses are always with you,

    now and forever.

After a short pause, ask the bride:

    [Name], is it your wish to become one with this man?

She answers.

Ask the groom:

    [Name], is it your wish to become one with this woman?

He responds.

    Does anyone here today say nay?

Say to the bride and groom:

    Place the rings on each other now, [bride] and [groom].

    Before the gods, goddesses, and everyone here as witness,

    I now proclaim you husband and wife!

Now the bride and groom kiss. Next, they speak any words they have prepared for each other. Finally, it’s time for them to exchange their symbolic gifts. At the end, say:

    Now we ring the bells and it is proclaimed—this ritual is done!

Halloween Altar

On October 31, the veil is thinnest between the two worlds of the living and the dead. It is of vital importance to honor the dead. One way to do this is to create a special altar for this day, a tradition that comes down to us from the Celts among others. Create a new shrine just for this occasion with a chest or table in your home where people will see it and acknowledge your ancestors. On the altar, place photos, letters, and any mementos that will bring the energy of your late loved ones close.

Place candles on the altar and light them during twilight. While it may seem uncomfortable at first, talk to your ancestors and tell them about what is going on in your life. Share memories and speak about whatever you feel inspired to speak of—grief, hopes for the future, troubles, all you need to share. Take as much time as you need with this. Place the bowl of water with white flowers—gardenias are an excellent choice—on the altar and leave it overnight.

In the morning, say good morning and goodbye until next year. Then take the water and pour it in your front yard or outside near the front door of your home. You have communed with your beloved dead, and they are now free to leave and return to you next year. The water contains all the blessings and love from your ancestors whom you have honored and with the special altar, and you will receive their blessings and love every time you walk through your front door. 

Beltane Brew

Honeyed mead is revered as the drink of choice for this sexy Pagan holy day. It is an aphrodisiac, and with its sticky sweetness, it is perfect for dribbling on your lover’s body and then licking it off. This is my special recipe for honeyed mead, handed down through generations of Celtic witches. You will need:

• 1 quart of honey
• 3 quarts of distilled water
• 1 packet of yeast
  
• Herbs to flavor

1. Mix the honey and water. Boil for five minutes. You can add the herbs to your liking, but I prefer a teaspoon each of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice

2. Add a packet of yeast and mix. Put in a large container. Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to rise and expand. Store the mixture in a dark place and let it sit for seven days.

3. Refrigerate for three days while the sediment settles to the bottom. Strain and store in a colored glass bottle, preferably green, in a cool, dark place. You can drink it now, but it is even tastier after it has been aged for a period of at least seven months.

Inspiration Altar: Unleash Your Creative Powers

Your personal altar is the ideal environment to incubate your ideas and can be a touchstone for daily conjuring and contemplation. By preparing your home and sparking your inner flames, you can clear away personal blocks and invite in friendly spirits who will aid you in personal pursuits, no matter what your line of work is.

On a low table or chest, place an orange or gold scarf and the following elements: yellow, orange, and gold candles for stimulating intelligence and clarity; bergamot oil for energy; and vanilla incense for mental power.

In an amber or clear glass bowl on the altar, place cloves and sage leaves or bundles. Next, add items that symbolize your personal creativity—perhaps a poem you wrote, a figure you sculpted, or a photograph you took of the altar.

Place benzoin, an herb for all-around mental strength and clarity, in your incense burner; it will bring inspiration from the psychic realm. Add any gifts from nature that inspire you— luminous shells, chunks of quartz, or feathers. Arrange your altar in a way that pleases you and stimulates your senses. Now, anoint the candle with bergamot essential oil while you meditate to clear your mind of any distractions. This is an essential step in opening the mental and spiritual space necessary to create, whether your intention is to create a ritual of your own design or an art project. Once you feel focused, light a sage leaf and wave it gently around so the cleansing smoke permeates your altar space. Light the anointed
candles and the incense with a candle. Now set and speak your intention:

By my hand,
And by the blessing of the spirits,
The fire of my creativity
Burns bright,
Burns long,
Burns eternal.
Blessings to me and all who create!

Consecrating Your Ritual Tools

You should design a personal consecration ritual for your magical tools. Use the following ritual as a simple “temple template” to build on. In essence, in this ritual you are dedicating yourself and your tools for the betterment of all and setting a foundational intention for your good works. Every time you acquire a new tool or treasure, perform this rite. As you grow in experience, you can embellish the ritual. Refer to your Book of Shadows. Is there a certain phase of the moon that brings you more clarity? Should you use corresponding colors, crystals, essential oils, incenses, and herbs for your own astrological sun and moon sign? Is there a specific deity with whom you feel an affinity? Use these correspondences to begin designing the rituals of your dreams. The more associations you learn and use, the more effective your power will grow. Keep good notes of your ritual work in your BOS, and soon you will become a “maestro of magic."

Keep Your Muse Close

 

Any time an imaginative person feels her creativity is blocked, or if she feels uninspired, she can call upon a muse. Whether you’re passionate about growing plants, painting, or writing music, you can stay in touch with your muse by using a special tool that will draw her to you with sweet-smelling smoke of sage.

Sage is hardy and sun-loving, so keep a pot of it on the windowsill. There are very simple steps to take to create a sage wand to use when you need inspiration. First, you will want to create a tight braid of materials. This braid will consist of a long fennel stalk, a twisted bundle of sage, long sticks of incense (I prefer cinnamon), and purple (for power) and gold (for money) string or thread. When you are about to embark on an artistic activity, simply light one end of your wand and gently wave it around your head to clear your environment. Your mind will be cleared in the process, freeing the way for creative ideas. A little sage smoke goes a long way, so you will not want to burn the entire wand at once. Keep a cup of water or a small bowl of earth on hand to extinguish your wand when you are done.

Miracle Mint Foot Therapy

After a long day at the office, hiking, or even dancing at your drum circle, our feet get “dog tired.” This pagan pick-me-up will soon have you out and about, feeling fresh and fabulous.

You need:

• Mortar and pestle
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil, softened in a small bowl
• 1 teaspoon vinegar, either white or apple cider vinegar
• 3 drops mint essential oil
• Handful of fresh mint leaves, crushed

Place the coconut oil paste in the bowl and fold in the crushed mint leaves. Grind the mint leaves into the coconut thoroughly with your mortar and pestle. Add in the vinegar and the essential oil. Stir those in, then spoon the mixture into a small jar and place it in your freezer for five minutes. Sit in the side of the tub and gently massage the mint mix into your feet, giving every toe and heel lots of loving attention. Take your time, as your feet do so much work all day, every day. When you are satisfied, rinse your feet clean in the shower, carefully making sure not to slip on the coconut oil. Now, you deserve to put your feet up and just enjoy life. 

How We Lost Our Connection to Nature and How We Can Get It Back

On woodland walks, my Aunt Edie pointed out nettles, wild mint, Queen Anne’s Lace, and other herbs which grew by creek beds near my home. We picked, steeped, and sipped concoctions we made together as she imparted her homely wisdom. Little did I know at the time I was being gently schooled as an apprentice kitchen witch. Lately, I have been called upon to craft spells for peace of mind; so many of us are overwhelmed due to the fragmented lifestyles requiring long hours at work, zillions of emails, texts, tweets, and all the demands that don’t stop coming.

How often do you see a panicky pagan or stressed out herbalist? Rarely, I assure you.

We all have to keep pace with the modern world, but our connection to the earth and the cycles of nature help maintain balance and harmony, despite the hurly-burly of these tech-driven times. This chapter is aimed at conjuring wellness so you can stay centered, grounded, and healthy. When our grandmothers and elders who came before us tended cuts, bruises, colds, flus, fevers, and other illnesses their family suffered, they didn’t have a corner drugstore. Instead, these wise women relied on simple wisdom, common sense, and pantries well-stocked with herbal remedies. These preparations were made from plants that grew in the kitchen garden or wild weeds gathered in the fields and woods surrounding their homes. This stash of kitchen cupboard cures combines the wisdom of our elders with a modern sensibility. Yes, you will save money, but more importantly, you will begin to learn what works for you and master the art of self-care as you bring much comfort to your loved ones.

Iron Pyrite—Fool’s Gold

Iron pyrite was supreme in early Mexico, where it was polished into mirrors for shamanic scrying, a method of looking into the future and the past. These people also carved sacred symbols into these vessels of inter- dimensional viewing. 

An Integrative Approach

I believe one of the primary reasons crystals populate our planet is for healing. I was a bit oblivious to this wonderful gift from the universe until I faced a serious health crisis of my own. Now, I am keenly interested in the healing power of crystals, and I am quite amazed at the extensive array of curatives crystals offer. However, do not ever replace traditional medicine with a crystal-only approach. If this sounds like a disclaimer, it most certainly is. I believe in a combination of Easter and Western medicine, inclusive of gem and crystal healing, is the best way to cover all of your bases for health and wellness. I believe that gem-healing magic can be the difference between feeling okay and feeling GREAT. And, who doesn’t want to feel wonderful.

New-Moon Lover’s Spell

On the next new-moon night, take the two pieces of rose quartz and place them on the floor in the center of your bedroom. Light two red candles and use this affirming chant:

“Beautiful crystal I hold this night,
Flame with love for my delight.
Goddess of Love, I ask of you,
Guide me in the path that is true.
Harm to none as love comes to me—
This I ask and so shall it be!”

Ambition Amulet

Fill a little pouch of muslin or cotton with pieces of tiger’s-eye, cedar, and carnelian. Carry it in your pocket or purse to give you that extra little push of motivation to jump over any hurdles or difficult tasks at work.