A traditional witch’s words to live by

There are many wiccan versions of the ’13 words to live by’ for wiccans, but these systems would not make sense nor sit well with a traditional witch so I thought I would write a traditional witches version for you all! Here goes…

1. It is not sufficient to just say you are a witch or to ‘dabble’ in witchcraft. You must live as a witch. Do not look for excuses for why you cannot follow the path. Embrace your journey, even if it twists and turns.
2. Accept responsibility for your failures as well as your successes. We all make mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
3. Celebrate each day, the Moon and the changing of seasons but do not act on them because it is part of a ritual calendar or a certain phase is due. The seasons and the moon are special no matter where they are in the year and what phase they are in. Don’t wait for a special day, moon phase or season to do a spell: do it when you feel you need to. Every day is special and magical.
4. Honour your ancestors and recognise that all spirits, entities and those you honour are all equal.
5. Honour nature, honour the Earth. Only leave footprints, never leave litter, dangerous items, graffiti or vandalise. Give nature your full respect because without it, we are nothing. Responsibility toward the environment and the Earth’s inhabitants should be evident in the activities of your daily life.
6. Do not take more from the Earth than you need to live. We are mere visitors here; the Earth is eternal. Wealth and fame are not necessary ingredients for a magical life.
7. Know that the joy of life is a gift. Look after yourself and love yourself.
8. Embrace both your light and dark sides. There is light and dark within you just as there is in nature. Learn to use both sides of your power with intent. Learn when to use both sides and be wise in the fact that sometimes you need to be darker to actually protect the ones you love.
9. Power is a sacred gift and must be used wisely and with humility. Power should never be used to prove your ability or in any form of competition with others.
10. Be certain of your intentions when performing any act of magic. Magic is neither good nor evil, the intentions of the witch determine the path it will take.
11. Act always with honour and accept responsibility for your actions. It is honourable to protect your loved ones, but be willing to accept the consequences of your actions with honour as well.
12. Words are sacred, use them wisely. There is honour in truth.
13. Do no harm, but take no shit…

Every witch, whether traditional, wiccan or any other type of witch, is always on their own path. So whatever your path, walk it and live it every single day with authenticity....<<<Read More>>>...

Law of Threefold Returns

The Law of Threefold Returns is a concept most often followed by Wiccans but some other traditions of witchcraft also observe it.

This law simply states a theory of how magickal energy functions in our universe:

Whatever energy you send out (good or bad),
returns to you times three.

This admonition has generated a great deal of support not to mention comparable criticism over the years. Those who support the concept feel it helps outsiders understand why witches who have the power to hex anyone who crosses them generally don't. It also prevents errant witches from committing harmful acts of which the witchcraft community does not approve.

Negative energy breeds negativity according to the Threefold Law of Returns....read more>>>....

Deities of the Spring Equinox

Spring is a time of great celebration in many cultures. It's the time of year when the planting begins, people begin to once more enjoy the fresh air, and we can reconnect with the earth again after the long, cold winter. A number of different gods and goddesses from different pantheons are connected with the themes of Spring and Ostara. Lets take a look at some of the many deities associated with spring, rebirth, and new life each year ... read more>>>...

Eostre - Spring Goddess or NeoPagan Fancy?

Pagan Wiccan: Every year at Ostara, everyone begins chatting about a goddess of spring known as Eostre. According to the stories, she is a goddess associated with flowers and springtime, and her name gives us the word "Easter", as well as the name of Ostara itself. However, if you start to dig around for information on Eostre, you'll find that much of it is the same. In fact, nearly all of it is Wiccan and Pagan authors who describe Eostre in a similar fashion. Very little is available on an academic level.

So where does the Eostre story come from?...read more>>>...

The Wiccan Triple Goddess

The Goddess represents the feminine, nurturing side of Deity -intuitive, creative, and magical. She is the inner nature of Deity -the origin of the external Universe.

Thus the Goddess is the Creator, the Source - the God emerges from Her, when She sets the Universe into motion. The God is the Goddess’ Divine Child, formed from Her inner nature, Her “Other Self” as the Vangelo delle Streghe puts it. The God is also the Divine Consort, Whose union with the Goddess describes existence as we know it.

In this sense the Goddess and the God are the polar forces also termed Yin and Yang. Yin, the Feminine, spiritual, emotive aspect of Deity which is within all things and Whose presence gives all things life. Yang the Masculine, physical, volatile aspect of Deity which manifests in motion and action and Whose permutations build up the outer form of things.

In Wicca the Goddess is primarily revered through Her form as the Triple Goddess. As the God is often represented by the Sun, the Goddess is often represented by the Moon, and its three phases are taken as instructive as to the nature of Her being; the Waxing Moon representing creation and inspiration, embodied in the Maiden Goddess. The Full Moon representing fruition and sustenance, embodied in the Mother Goddess. And the Waning Moon representing fulfillment and endings, embodied in the Crone Goddess...read more>>>...

A Word On 'Magical Potions'

Spells and Magick: Also known as a Philtre, a form of a Magickal Charm, a concoction of herbs and and extracts of or excretions of animals including animal parts. More intense forms of this practice were used in Alchemy. Sorcerers, Witches, Evil and Good doers of the Occult Arts engaging in the art of Magickal Potions. Intended use being to cause Love or Lust of one they desire, or perhaps make one fall asleep or maybe even bring the end to ones life. One can easily visualize the Being standing by the Cauldron mixing away the brew to is soon to slew...read more>>>...

Ritual - Expression of Will, Art and Creativity

Real Magick: Most of our lives involve traditions, regular observances. These might relate to annual or seasonal holiday, it might just be meeting a friend every year at a particular time to go shopping, or have a beer and catch up. The main thing these informal activities do is to provide a comfort, a richness, a regular rhythm within our lives.

Within the Wiccan religion, we also have ritual. But, this is ritual that not only relates to seasonal and holiday observances, but that can also be celebratory,
transitional, energy working, spell working, divinatory or deeply moving interaction with those forces we value in our spiritual lives.

Why do you do ritual? You do ritual because you need to. Mainstream religion does not provide for it, so we have chosen to reclaim and create a religion that does. Ritual is a combination of reaching out to those powers, claiming powers from our Gods, making changes within our selves and our world, and creating our world rather than simply bathing in its occurrences.

It is both an expression of our will, our world view and an understanding that we are obligated to participate in creating that world and its events. What precisely is ritual?...read more>>>...

Wiccan Or Witch?

Psychic Revelation: What is the difference between the terms "Wicca" and "Witchcraft"? They are sometimes (often) used interchangeably but are not necessarily the same thing. The confusion comes because both practitioners of Wicca and practitioners of Witchcraft are called witches. To further complicate matters many, but not all, Wiccans practice witchcraft and vice versa.
Wicca refers to the religion; the worship of the God & Goddess (or just Goddess), and the Sabbat and Esbat rituals. Witchcraft, on the other hand, is considered a craft, and is sometimes called "The Craft." Witchcraft usually refers to the casting of spells and the practice of magic (the use of the "k" is to separate the term from stage magic).

Practicing witchcraft requires no belief in specific gods or goddesses and is a learned skill, not a spiritual path. There are also Pagan Witches, Christian Witches, Buddhist Witches, etc. who also practice witchcraft.

The distinction between Wicca and Witchcraft is not clear cut. There is a crossover between the Pagan/Neo-pagan religions and Witchcraft. However, the differences mentioned above are the general distinctions made between the two terms...read more>>>...

Power Objects

Llewellyn Worldwide: It has been said, power is effective energy. In the shamanic philosophy all aspects of the universe have energy, which has potential use and power. Developing a relationship with objects in Nature, or in Spirit, to use their energy is called developing a totemic relationship. Power objects are totems for the shaman. It is important to remember that power is not confined in an object. The power of any totem comes from the trusting, interactive relationship between the object and the shaman. Of all power objects, the shaman knows that the Self is the most sacred. Totems provide a symbolic link between the shaman and the highest aspects of Self, Nature, and Spirit. Power objects are found in a variety of ways. Most often, objects such as rocks, feathers, herbs, or other items from Nature appear in a way that seems special, unusual, or meaningful to the follower of the shamanic path. An object that has potential as a totem will make you feel strongly attracted to it. Like people of kindred spirits, the shaman and the totems are drawn together....read more>>>....

Law Of Three

What you do for good or for ill shall be returned to you threefold. As ye sow so shall ye reap. But three times more...

The "Threefold Law of Return" or "Law Of Three" is essentially a natural law of cause and effect. The Goddess charges all witches to take great care in all that they do, say, or think. The Goddess charges us to exercise great care in all that we, as Witches, do and say and even think.

This law appears to act as a prohibition (which it does at surface level) but it is also a blessing. Witches seek to help and heal all life and when working for good the good will be returned to you, only threefold. Quite a bonus! Work with bad intentions and that too is returned to you threefold.

It would be very easy, as a witch, to take measures to exact revenge on someone who may richly deserve it. But justice, not revenge, is the Witches' way. Rather than exact revenge yourself (and have it returned threefold to you) simply ask the God and Goddess for justice to be done.

Wiccan beliefs assure that what is merited by a persons actions will come to pass. You need only to ask the God and Goddess for "justice to be done". This is in line with natural laws and the promises of the Ancient Ones. Once you have asked in the correct manner you can rest assured that the situation will be taken care of. The issue can then be released and you can go about your normal business. (Psychic Revelation)

Sacred Fire

The Llewellyn Journal: 'The two most popular deities of the ancient Celts were Brighid/Bride/Brigantia and Lugh/Lugus/Llew. Both were deities of brightness and fire. Lugh was not a Sun God as is popularly supposed; he represented brilliance in craft and in thinking and was called "master of every art." Similarly, Brighid was a Fire Goddess, mistress or patroness of arts. She was a Goddess of Healing, Smith Craft (a magical art in ancient times), and Poetry, and also a patroness of mothers (because to be a mother was to be a mistress of every art to at least a small extent). Brighid was the Goddess invoked at Imbolc, the great Fire Festival of February 1 that celebrated the lactation of the ewes. Lugh gave his name to the festival of Lughnasad, the Fire Festival of the first fruits of the harvest, originally funeral games in honor of Lugh’s foster mother. In Irish tradition the Sun was also known as "Áine Clair," or Áine the Bright. She could appear to mortals as an old woman, a young princess, a mother, or a mermaid. "Áine Chliach" lived in a hill (Cnoc Áine). At Summer Solstice bundles of straw, or "cliars" were tied to poles, lit on fire, and carried around her hill. The cliars were then carried through the fields, around the cattle herd, and along boundaries to bless the land with Áine’s fire...read more>>>...

Happy Witches New Year Everyone!

Pagan Wiccan: Samhain is known as the Witch's New Year. Samhain is a night when the veil between our world and the spirit world becomes very thin, and it's a good time to do some divination! Samhain falls on October 31 every year in the Northern Hemisphere, although in some traditions it may be celebrated on November 1. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is on May 1. Unlike solstice and equinox celebrations, this date does not change from year to year in most NeoPagan traditions. However, it's important to note that in some branches of Paganism, sabbats are celebrated based upon the astronomical calendar rather than the specific date. If you're part of one of these traditions, your Samhain celebration may need.

Wicca & Witchcraft - Circle

Psychic Revelation: 'The Circle is without one of the most important elements of Wicca and witchcraft. Almost everything takes place within this area. You will find various different ways to cast or open a circle. No one way is THE way. This is the way that many of our Wiccan members cast their circle. It is important when you are ready to do spell work that you cast a circle, or create a Sacred Space, to provide protection and keep out undesirable energies. This also contains the power which you will raise until it is time to release it to the Universe...read more>>>...

A Word on 'Four Elements'

Psychic Revelation: 'The four basic elements are Earth, Air, Fire, and Water and are considered in metaphysics as the four basic components that make up life itself. These elements all have different vibrations which, when properly aligned, can help to produce the desired results in your magic. The following list will give you information relating to each of the four elements and their correspondences...read more>>>...

A Word on 'Wicca & Witchcraft'

Psychic Revelation: 'The exact origin of Wicca is unclear. Wicca is a belief system as well as a way of life. Wicca requires a belief in the God and Goddess (unlike Witchcraft which requires no belief in God or Goddess but is simply a learned craft and is often referred to as "The Craft"). As practitioners of both Wicca and Witchcraft are called Witches there is understandably a lot of confusion to the uninitiated. Male Witches incidentally, are still Witches and are not referred to as Warlocks. Wicca itself has its roots as a very simple "homegrown" religion the origins of which date back several thousand years long before the term Wicca came into being. It was a faith for those who not only lived close to the earth but knew it intimately. Practitioners were wholly in tune with its ebb and flow. Most practitioners of that time were solitary Witches, who from choice, chose to do their worship and spell work on their own. Others worked within their close-knit family groups. Magick was usually performed with simple items that were readily available. The approach back then was far more simplistic than it is nowadays. Gathering many herbs and using elaborate or complex tools to perform a particular spell was just not practicable' ... read more>>>...

The Use of Spells/Magick in Modern Times

Spells are works of creativity to protect a person or persons from impending unpleasantness. As Meya Deren wrote in The Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti, London, 1953, "Magic is an individual action, undertaken because the cosmos is not believed to be benevolent by nature, or at least, not benevolent enough to that person.“ This excerpt was taken from Judika Illes' book Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Anything that occurs naturally on earth can be considered magic, and any action taken using what the earth offers us, can be considered a spell. The spelling of magic or magick does not alter the meaning. The usage of the spelling magick is to differential between optical illusion magic and the spell magic. A mother in her kitchen adding peppermint to her baby’s bottle for colic can be considered using spell magic to heal her baby, for example. Spells were developed long ago as a means to heal or as a dance to bring rain. Many cultures have used spells in one way or another as a means to bring about a desired effect. Many traditions are built around a spell, and many may not even realize that they are practicing a spell...read more>>>...

MJ's Mystic Bazaar - "The Heritage Collection"

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Owl Totem Animal

I had a Barn Owl manifest itself before me recently. It was a momentary visitation, but it was at a significant moment. So much so it made me stop and take stock of the situation. Therefore with a Spirit Owl as a totem at this time, I needed to 'delve' at little further to understand what Mother Nature was trying to intuit for me. What I found was very interesting and so relevant at this time! - Matthew James:-


"Owl medicine can help a person to extract secrets, to see that which is hidden in the darkness and is very powerful for soul retreivals for this reason. Many shamans, psychic healers and mediums have owl medicine either as a primary totem or can call upon one as needed. They can see clear through to the core reason for any type of imbalance and then they can spot the proper medicine needed to heal the imbalance. Owls are also fabulous at keeping rodent populations under control. In Eastern Oregon for example farmers have begun encouraging Barn Owls to nest on their property because of their ability to out do the family cat in keeping rodents under control! So Owl medicine can also help us to keep the pests in our own lives at bay and keep them from becoming overly destructive." (Source - Morningstar)

Reclaiming the Witch's Pentagram

The so called 'inverted' pentagram will be familiar to everyone as the ubiquitous symbol of evil, common to Hollywood movies and satanic societies alike. The ‘upright’ pentagram is also a common and well known occult symbol, which can be found in many diverse spiritual traditions. One religion in which this symbol is particularly prominent is the modern Pagan practice of Wicca.

The association between witchcraft and the five pointed star is a long one, reaching back towards the obscure origins of the craft itself. In the past it is known that the inverted version of the pentagram was used as a symbol of witchcraft. Most witches today, however, seem to prefer using the symbol in what is generally called the upright position. Whether this switch happened due to a feeling that the inverse symbol was just a Christian slur and an attempt to condemn the practice of witchcraft with what is, in truth, a symbol of evil, or whether the strong association of the symbol with evil in the public imagination simply made it too distasteful to use is not at all clear to me. But what does seem clear to me is that this change was a mistake...read more>>>...

Wicca

Wicca” is the name of the contemporary Neo-Pagan (neo pagan means new pagan) religion, largely made popular by the efforts of Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant . The word Wicca comes from the older word ‘wicce’ which means either ‘the wise’ or ‘to bend’ In the last few decades, Wicca has spread largely due to its popularity among feminists and others seeking a more woman-positive, earth-based religion. Like most Pagan spiritualities, Wicca worships the sacred as immanent in nature, drawing much of its inspiration from the non-Christian and pre-Christian religions of Europe. In general most Wiccans are Neo-Pagans but not all Pagans are Wiccans. Wiccans value balance with a respect for diverse complexity, seeing sexuality and embodiment as essentially positive, spiritual gifts. There is a sense of personal connection to the divine life source, which is open to contact through “psychic power,” mysticism or “natural magic.”...read more>>>....