Basic Full Moon Ritual

The full moon is one of the most powerful times to cast spells and perform rituals. This is an example of a basic full moon ritual that requires very few tools, and not a lot of time. The things you will need are: A clear area to cast your circle, one candle for each of the five elements (red, blue, green, yellow, violet), a handful of white tea lights (optional), a lighter or matches, anything you would like to have charged with the power of the full moon, a clear mind and good intentions.

The first step will be of course to gather all your materials and set them up in the area you will be casting your circle. In a circle large enough to fit you (and anyone else who may be participating) place the five candles in the direction corresponding to their element: green to the north, yellow to the east, red to the south, blue to the west and violet in the center. If you are using tea lights, place a few between the outer four candles to connect them and make a more visual circle. Place any items you want charged in the center of the circle around the spirit candle.

Next call the elements to your circle:

Walk from north to west then center as you walk around the circle lighting the candles. Light the tea lights as you move from one candle to the next.

Face the north and light the green candle

"I call upon the element of earth

To bless this circle

May it bring forth bounty, beauty and stability

And protect us with your grounding force

As we perform our works tonight"

Face the east and light the yellow candle

"I call upon the element of air

To bless this circle

May it blow calm, fresh and free

And take our prayers to the God and Goddess

As we perform our works tonight"

Face the south and light the red candle

"I call upon the element or fire

To bless this circle

May it burn warm, bright and strong

And grant us insight and passion

As we perform our works tonight"

Face the west and light the blue candle

"I call upon the element of water
To bless this circle
May it flow calm, pure and swift
And grant us inner sight and reflection
As we perform our works tonight"

Face the center and light the violet candle
"Spirit filled with magic and sight
Whispering soul of the God and Goddess
Friend and stranger, mystery and knowledge
I call upon upon you to bless this circle
As we perform our works tonight"

Next is the ritual which can be said as you sit, stand, walk around the circle, wherever you are the most comfortable.

"Lady moon, bright and serene
Look down on us, Your children of Earth
Fill us with Your power
Your love and grace surround us"

Pause

"Power blessed to us by the Goddess
Rise in us for healing
To replenish and renew our beings
Surround us with strength
By the power of the Goddess
So mote it be."

Pause and hold up the item(s) you wish to have charged towards the moon

"Goddess and spirits
You have heard our voices
Grant us strength and health for the month to come
By the power of the moon
So mote it be."

When you are ready to end the ritual and close the circle, SNUFF each candle in the opposite order of calling. Spirit, water, fire, air, earth. Collect your items and be on your way.

Congratulations you have completed the basic full moon ritual. Carry your charged item with you for strength and protection.

Hail fair moon

Ruler of night

Guard me and mine

Until the light

The Code of Chivalry and Other Values

The Code of Chivalry:
Be true to your faith
Stand up for your beliefs
Defend the weak
Love your craft
Show courage against opposition
Oppose Evil
Speak true and keep your word
Be kind and generous to all

Tribal Values:
Honor: Keep your word
Loyalty: Faithfulness in the support of your own
Integrity: Walking your talk
Resourcefulness: Be prepared for every situation
Honesty: Don't lie, cheat or steal
Respect: Listen to others and consider their words
Reverence: Honoring that which is sacred
Fairness: Be just to all
Reciprocity: What ye send out comes back to thee, threefold
Interdependence: cooperate with all
Responsibility: Accept the consequences of your actions



A Witch or Wizard Should:
Be a constant student of life
See the divine in nature and nature in the divine
Not say a word and be clearly heard
Have a spirit that glows in the dark
Lead without force and teach without pride
See the God and Goddess within all
Open their inner eyes and really see
Speak to the God and Goddess and know they are heard
Maintain a calm center and clear mind in chaos
Call the plants and animals of the wild allies
Say "I don't know" and realize that is great power
Have compassion for all, but know when to be a witness
Never follow another blindly
Sense magic in the mundane, and open that window for others
Know that the secrets of magic are bestowed upon the openhearted
Know the power and strength of of a swift mind
Love the beauty of paradox, and see the cosmic humor in all
Stare into the infinity of the sky and feel it as an awesome source

Methods of Spell Casting

Just as there's an art to baking a cake, there's an art to casting a spell. When a witch performs a magic spell, they designs a series of thoughts and actions that will bring about a condition in the visible world. A spell might include images, words, movements, and/or objects, but the most important “ingredient” is the witch's will. When you cast a spell, you connect with the creative force that abides in the universe. You serve as a conduit for that force. You're the catalyst that produces a result. The basic steps to casting an effective spell are as follows:

1. Decide if it is casual or formal
2. Choose the appropriate moon phase
3. Assemble your equipment
4. Get in the right frame of mind
5. Create the right environment
6. Cleanse your ritual area
7. Cast your circle
8. State the intention of your work
9. Direct your power and cast the spell
10. Ground yourself and close your circle

Wiccan spell casting techniques always teach that one should clear his or her conscience before working with any kind of spells. You should not give shelter to any kind of negative vibes, desires or trepidation while working with the spells. Since Wiccan spells have got to do with positive energies, the workings of these spells get highly meddled if any of your negative emotions come in between. The results can never be satisfactory if the positive energies involved are disturbed.

To understand how spells work, it is necessary to understand the concept of “sympathy” and what's known as the Law of Similars. Sympathy, in a magical sense, means that a designated item, when properly used, has the power to affect something or someone because of the symbolic relationship between the item and the target of the spell. The Law of Similars states that there is a divine fingerprint in nature that gives clues to an item's spiritual function. For example, red plants can be used in magical cures for blood problems. A heart-shaped leaf might be a component of a love spell. A phallus-shaped stone could be utilized in a spell for male virility.

Wiccans subscribe to a few general guidelines that constitute morally responsible spells. Here are the basic spellcraft “don'ts.”

• Don't design a spell that might harm another person or interfere with his free will.
• Don't cast a spell that includes components or methods that violate your own personal taboos or ethics.
• Don't work with languages or symbolic items that you don't fully understand.
• Don't do spells if you are ill, angry, or otherwise off-center, as this can affect the outcome dramatically.

If you follow these simple guidelines, you'll avoid the problems, pitfalls, and unpleasant ramifications that can sometimes accompany spell-casting.

Lastly it is always advisable to prepare the appurtenances that are required for the spell by you to yield best results. By producing them all by you, will ensure that your true passions and feelings are playing a dominant role during the spell casting technique. If that is not possible then ensure that you are using fresh things, which have not been used by any other person before you.

Circle Form and Etiquette

• A ritual is not a spectator sport
• A ritual is like a religious service
• A ritual need not be solemn
• The best rituals are those that seem spontaneous
• Ritual objects and tools are infused with power
• Once the circle is cast, enter or exit only at great need
• Arrive on time. 
• When invited to attend a private ritual, it is not OK to bring along an uninvited person
• Turn off your beeper and cell phone.
• Do not take pictures.
• There is usually open flame at a Circle. Be aware lest you set yourself on fire. If someone else sets themselves on fire, it is not part of the ritual. Put them out.
• Stay till the Circle is opened. Do not crash out early.
• Afterwards, ask questions about the meaning of what you saw and did.
• Later, do not tell outsiders who else was at the Circle. Do not greet publicly someone you see again with reference to the Circle gathering. Respect their privacy. Persecution really does happen.

Now if you’re working as a solitary, you could argue that it doesn't matter about manners because you’re the only one in the circle. Well, let’s blow that idea out of the water straight away. You’re not the only one in the circle at all. The elemental quarters are there with you and even more importantly, so is the Lord and Lady. Why else are you holding the circle? Would you be on your best behaviour if someone important came to share your home with you? Probably. Well that’s exactly what the Gods and Goddesses are doing. They’re sharing your circle with you and in fact the main reason you should have cast it in the first place was to honour them, and that means being on your best behaviour and minding your circle manners.

During ritual there are two vital components to making sure the rite accomplishes its purpose; maintaining the right atmosphere and properly completing any special actions, recitations or dialogue that has been planned. A person who doesn't know the basic rules can easily do something that breaks the concentration of others, or may themselves miss a cue or instruction. The consequences of hampering the work vary depending on the group involved. The offender will annoy others and impair the enjoyment, satisfaction and resolution they might have achieved. If the ritual is being conducted for a specific magical purpose, the work could be thoroughly derailed and the intentions completely or partially fail. In some of the more serious forms of ceremonial magic and shamanic work, disruption could be downright dangerous.

Hopefully, anyone who is attending a circle respects the people who are conducting it and has reverence for the deities involved. Failing to observe basic etiquette is disrespectful to both. Whatever you may think of the words, images and actions chosen by the organizers they have undoubtedly put a lot of time and effort into them and it is only proper to acknowledge that. As for being rude to deities... this is not recommended!

Once the circle is cast, the line of the circle must be regarded as a temple wall. You can't walk through the walls of a church, and you shouldn't walk through the circle. Exceptions can be made in special circumstances, in which case the officiating priestess cuts a 'door' for a person to exit and enter, then closes it when their task is completed. Walking through the circle without this preparation is not just rude, it can seriously disrupt the concentration and energies of the other participants. In some rites it would be downright dangerous. So, once the circle is cast around you, you are committed to remaining in it for the duration of the ritual. It is not possible to enter a circle, and then leave whenever you feel like it. Leaving the circle without the priestess' permission and co-operation is not like sneaking out of the church door during a boring sermon, it is more like taking a sledgehammer and banging a hole in the wall in order to leave.

A Wicca Altar Is . . .

• A focal point and container for magical energies.
• A reminder of your ideals.
• An echo of your beliefs and wishes.
• A Home for the Divine.

A Wiccan altar is typically a piece of furniture (a tree stump is also used), such as a table or chest, upon which a Wiccan practitioner places several symbolic and functional items for the purpose of worshiping the God and Goddess, casting spells, and/or saying chants and prayers. Upon the altar typically rests a cloth, used to protect the surface from damage by candle wax, spilled liquid, or dust from burnt incense. This cloth is often adorned by a pentacle, or other spiritual symbol. An altar may be as simple or complex as you chose.

Simple altar

Complex altar

Common items on a Wiccan altar include:

• Athame- a ceremonial dagger, with a double-edged blade and usually a black handle
• Broom- used to cleanse the ritual area before circle casting
• Candles- used on the altar to represent the presence of the God and Goddess, and in the four corners and center of a ritual circle to represent the presence of the five elements: Fire, Earth, Air, Water and Spirit
• Chalice- is often used in combination with the Athame, combining the two evokes the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity
• Incense- is a powerful way to let your intent be known
• Pentacle- generally used to summon energies, also represents the joining of the five elements
• Wand- is used to channel and direct energy

Some of the items represent the Earth's five elements, but elements may be represented more literally, with gems, salt, water, plant material, etc.

Rules of Magic

The rules of Wicca vary from branch to branch, circle to circle and coven to coven. There is no specific set of rules that all Wiccans must obey and follow. The Rule of Three (also Three-fold Law or Law of Return) is a religious tenet held by some Wiccans. It states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times. Some subscribe to a variant of this law in which return is not necessarily threefold. The rules of magic according to my circle are as follows:

Magic is real- if you do not believe in the craft you will not be successful

Know yourself- you must know your strengths, weaknesses, fears…
The best way to predict the future is to create it- set your own path, do not expect others to do it for you, and never assume a futur is already laid out for you
Question everything- always ask why, who, what, when, and how
Magic is both an art and an experimental science- magic is art and science combined, so never focus on only one aspect of it or you are setting yourself up to fail
Intention controls result- keep in mind what you want to happen as to ensure the result you want happens
Be watchful of what you do not say- the things you say have a large impact, but the things that are not said can leave you wondering what could have been
Do not invoke what you cannot banish- NEVER attempt anything you do not believe you can end
Always consider the options- there is always more than one solution to every problem

The job is not done until you have put away the tools and cleaned up the mess- always clean up, it’s just not nice to leave a mess laying about
Keep silent regarding a magical work for 24 hours lest your analysis create doubt- it’s always good to reflect on a magical working before sharing it with others so that you can see what went well and what did not

Wicca and Other Introductions

What is this blog?

This blog in going to be to educate people about Wicca, to share my experiences with the craft and be my Book of Shadows online.

What is Wicca?

Wicca is a nature-based religion that believes in multiple deities. Most Wiccans worship both a God and a Goddess. There are different aspects of the God and the Goddess as well, so many pantheons are worshiped in Wicca. Wiccans work to bring back the ancient pagan religions, mostly of European origin. There are hundreds of Traditions of Wicca, such as Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Norse, Welsh, and Dianic. Wiccans either work in groups (called covens) or they work alone (solitary). This is all dependent on the witch. There is no centralized authority in Wicca, such as a governing church. Witches are left to themselves to maintain their ethics and morals.

What is a Book of Shadows?
A Book of Shadows is a book containing religious texts and instructions for magical rituals found within the Neopagan religion of Wicca. A Book of Shadows is a personal record of spells and beliefs, typical to Witchcraft and Wiccan traditions. Each one is individual, and most often very private. A Book of Shadows may contain: 1. Laws of your coven or your tradition: If you are a part of a coven, you can write down your coven’s rules and guidelines. If you are a solitary practitioner, you can write down your personal code, the Wiccan Rede and any other laws that you follow in your specific path.

1. A Dedication: You can write out what god/goddess you have dedicated yourself to and why. (Feel free to include pictures and drawing) If you have been dedicated into a coven, you can keep a copy of your initiation ceremony.
2. Gods and Goddesses: Depending you’re your path or tradition, you may follow several deities or just one. Either way you can keep myths, legends, and or pictures of your deity or deities in your BOS.
3. Correspondence Tables: You can keep a record of the phases of the moon; a list of herbs, stones, minerals, crystals, colors, candles and what they are used for.
4. Sabbat Rituals: You can keep a wheel of the year, a list of rituals for each of the sabbats that you celebrate.
5. Other Rituals: You can keep sections on how to Cast a Circle, Drawing Down the Moon, Invoking the god/goddess and any other rituals that you preform.
6. Divination: You can keep a section of the different forms of divination that you may use, Such as Tarot, Scrying, and Astrology.
7. Sacred Texts: You can keep certain texts that appeal to you. Such as The Charge of The Goddess, an old prayer, and or a chant that is meaningful to you.
8. Magical Recipes: If you are a kitchen with this might be your favorite section. Even if you are not a kitchen witch you may still have a few magical recipes that you would like to record in your BOS.
9. Spells: You may want to keep your spells divided into sections to help keep your BOS organized. Love, Luck, Prosperity, Home, Healing, Creativity, Travel, Personal Power, Protection

What is the Wiccan Rede?

The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the Neopagan religion of Wicca and certain other related Witchcraft-based faiths. There are many different versions, both long and short. The one  located in my Book is as follows:

 Bide the Wiccan law ye must

In perfect love and perfect trust

Live ye must and let to live

Fairly take and fairly give

True in love ever be

Lest thy love be false to thee

With a fool no season spend

Nor be counted as his friend

Soft of eye and light of touch

Speak ye little listen much

Ever mind the rule of three

What ye send out comes back to thee

This lesson well thou must learn

Ye only get what ye earn

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill

An it harm none do as ye will