Introduction to Witchcraft

This is a serious of posts that I am going to be making about Witchcraft and a tutorial on it as a beginners guide.

Witchcraft is a broad term that covers a large and expansive set of practices. There are a few misconceptions about witchcraft that I would like to cover first. First, Witchcraft has nothing to do with the Christian versions of "satan" or the "devil". In fact in most cases Witchcraft and Christianity have no connections at all. The second most common misconception is that if you are a Witch you are automatically a "Wiccan" which is also not true at all. Wicca is a religion that follows a set of guidelines and religious beliefs. Witchcraft is a Spiritual practice. Witchcraft is about finding your own personal power and following whatever spiritual or religious believes that fit the best for you. What sets Witchcraft apart from other spiritual practices are as follows: 

• A Witch is someone who uses the power of Magick, the spirits, their own energy. They are guardians of power and work with the inherent abilities of all living beings on the planet. They direct and control the natural forces of energy and the Spirits to direct a certain intent.
• Witches believe in Magick (spelt with a 'k' to differentiate from stage show magicians). Magick is basically the existence of an underline current of energy that is present in all of life on our plane of reality and the ability to control that energy. It is an inherent ability of ALL witches to be able to use this 'energy' to direct will and create results
• Witches do not have to work with gods. However, if they do they choose the gods that they feel most comfortable or connected with. Since witchcraft is about that individuals spirit there are many witches that believe that they are their own creators of power and choose to affiliate themselves with no gods. 
• Witchcraft can require certain tools to represent certain energies. These are things like Candles, Ritual daggers called Athames, incenses, totems or statues representing a certain type of energy the witch wants to call on, staves, swords,  animal totems. The list of tools that a witch can use in their craft is completely up to that witch. If it feels right to them, they use it. This book will explain many of those tools.
• Witchcraft is NOT just for girls. The term Witch is for both male and females. Because a "Witch" is a completely different thing than a "Wizard", "Warlock", or "Druid". 
• For me, Witchcraft is about uncovering and using your personal power and intent to affect or create certain outcomes. 

Witchcraft is not simply defined by the things above, because it is a personal journey and the journey of each person will be entirely different. Witchcraft is truly about the person who practices it, and they will use it however they see is a benefit to themselves. Everyone has the inherent ability to be a witch, because being a witch is about being alive. Some are more open to it than others, and it comes much easier to certain people than others. It is true that there are people who are simply born witches, and by themselves have this ability unlocked already. But if ever someone wants to unlock their own personal power Witchcraft will come easily to them. It is not a craft to be trifled with, because out of all the crafts named previously, it is one of the most powerful. It can be used with helpful intent or darker intent depending on the wielder of the power.

Another thing about Witchcraft is that it is truly an ancient craft. It is as old as the awareness of ourselves. It is something to not fear, but also to not be taken lightly. Your power and how you use it defines you. Having power can be a good thing but also poisonous if you are not careful with the knowledge that is given to you. Being a Witch truly means that the ancient powers are with you, you walk in a world much older than you can even believe, and if that does not frighten you, then I bid you welcome and merry meet....

Personal Power

I think that this is relevant for other women as it is for me. We all have to come to terms with a few serious issues as we grow into adult hood. The main issue being what exactly do we want out of life? I know that this is something men do too, but some woman have the habit of being incredibly giving to other people. I just finished a two year relationship. While I cherished and loved the time that was spent together when it was over the dust settled I was left feeling like I had just crawled out of the long dark of Moria. Who was I? Or better yet, who did I want to be? My life had become all about him and in that I completely lost myself.
            One of the things, that a lot of Goddess’s whom represent change and personal power tell us is that before anything new can happen the old has to come to an end. That to become ourselves we must travel through the dark of the forest to come back into the light of the day. This is something that I have always preached but I don’t think I had much self-practice. The forest can be a dark and scary place if we look at everything as a challenge. Yet instead of seeing it as a challenge we can look at it as an opportunity to find out new things about ourselves.
            Putting our ideals into alignment with this train of thought can yield tremendous results. Even at the utter and complete end of something you can come out feeling new and refreshed knowing that you have taken a step for yourself. All too often women and healers get wrapped up in taking steps for other people. We forget to love ourselves and to take care of our needs. We so often put the needs of others before our own. Is this a bad thing? No. One of the good qualities of the feminine is its devotion and loyalty to others. I believe that this is part of the great divinity of the feminine. By nature people who are feminine love to give their energy and love to other people. This is an exceedingly necessary part of the cycle of life. However, if this is also not tempered with self-reliance and concern for ones own self we can give to much of ourselves away. Sometimes that is not a problem but what happens when the people or person that we have given ourselves to is no longer in our lives? Now we’re trapped in the dark with no idea what to do.
            The practice of personal power is a relatively new idea, but at the same time an ancient concept. The huge spiritual wave of enlightenment in the early 1900’s brought with it women’s rights. Yet, in ancient times these things were commonplace. Married women in Rome had rights to everything the husband owned and could sue him for it in court if he divorced her. The Priestess’s of Ancient times were often held in high regards. In some places they even consulted in politics and held council positions to men in power. Wise women around the world were revered over the male chieftains or tribal leaders. The power of the women in these places was not feared or restricted but revered. With time and change the personal power of women was taken away until at one point they were no more than property of men.
            As I come into adulthood I am faced with the real world. A place where personal power is thought little of and where men and women alike are simply told what is expected of them.  That doesn’t make it any more important, in fact I think it should make it more. When we loose ourselves in what other people expect when those people move on (as people do) we are left not knowing what it is we should be doing. The answer to this question is “What do YOU want to be doing?”. When I came out of the forest, there was only one thing I had in my head that I wanted to do. Write. Write so much and bleed my heart and soul out onto paper. I know that not only will it help me find myself but it will give me a chance to do something I love more than anything.
            For myself personal power is about know and not being afraid of the real things in life you want. Simply knowing who you are and what you want gives you a firm sense of solidity in your life. I don’t think you will ever know exactly everything about yourself because our realities are so vast and different from one another we are always learning and changing. Though you should at least try to know enough about yourself where you can be comfortable within your own skin. Know what you want to expect from people, know how you’d like to be treated and don’t take any other treatment besides that. Know what makes you happy, and then see yourself making positive strides towards it.

Personal Power: Pages from a Witches Cabinet
Correspondences: Red, Orange, Gold, Black
Number: 1 (your OWN power)
Astrology: Aries is a deity of Power, any days or associations to Mars, During the Waxing/Full Moon
Hera, Hecate, Maeve, and other goddess of power can all be used for Personal Power invocations.
Daily affirmations are a good way to declare Personal Power: “I AM!!” is a good simple affirmation
Make lists or journal about the things that you want out of your life, write or about the things that make you happy or sad if you want to find out who you are. Actively see yourself taking steps to better your life and put yourself in a position that makes you happy.

Page from a Witches Book: Cleansing, Consecrating, and Empowering

Cleansing, Consecrating, and Empowering Magickal Tools
A Magickal Blessing and Binding.
By Faewynn Lunaise Evenstar

Witchcraft can be a very tool heavy practice, and then sometimes require very little tools. Either way you should always cleanse consecrate and empower your magickal tools. Even if you are 100% sure of where they come from. Here are some CCE Tips:

·         The Phases of the moon are important for various types of Cleansing and Consecrating. Before CCE, leave your new objects or stones out in the light of the moon (Or lack there of). Sprinkle a mixture of blessed water on the tool as well

·         Perform CCE on Full Moon for Light Aspect Tools, and on the Dark Moon for Dark Aspect CCE. You can also perform on the proper Waxing or Waning of the moon.

·         You may want to write a specific blessing that binds the tool to you. Or you may want to write a specific spell to charm the object with an enchantment (I.e like protection or healing) You can write a general all encompassing blessing or make a specific blessing.

·         If you choose, once a year you can rebless and CCE all your tools.

·         After you CCE for the fist time you can then inscribe any magickal symbols you desire, including your magickal name.

Light Aspect Cleanse Consecrate and Empowerment Spell.
To be used for CCE spells for any Light Aspect Magick

Any magick with positive intentions or things that benefit you or someone else

Such as: healing, courage, protection wisdom, knowledge, strength, or love.
 Also use the Light aspect Empowerment for all your regular tools.

Perform this spell after the Circle Casting is Complete and at the appointed time during Ritual/Esbat

***You will need***

·         A white altar candle

·         Representations of the four elements

·         Sage

·         A Pentacle (Can be drawn)

·         Optional: A tool-specific blessing

Set up and place the materials on the altar. Place the Pentacle on the middle of the altar the white candle above it and in a half moon shape place the four elements around the pentacle. To The left of the white candle Water, Then Fire. To the Right of the white candle Earth, then Air.

Sage the object fully.

Cleansing and Consecrating

      If you have not done so light the Altar Candle, and the incense and the Fire Candle. Place the Tool to be blessed on the Pentacle, and raise your hands above you.

“By the might o’ gods above,

And in thy names o’ trust an love

By thee words of Witches Rune,

And by thee light o’ fair moon”

Pick up the tool, and cover it in blessed water.

“Cleanse this too, for mine own use,
By ebb of tide as ocean moves,

Pas the tool over the Earth and take some salt in your hands

And smudge the tool with it

“Pass to thee, they strength of earth,

Grace of tree and use of worth,”

Pass through incense

“Float with will, by magick thought,
assist in the work that I may wrought

Final move through the flame of the fire candle

“By Passion of Fire, doth I imbue,
in thy light I maketh new.”

Empowering

      Return object to the Pentacle. Close your eyes and breath as if you were grounding and centering. Draw Energies from the earth and the universe for a few seconds. Now Open your eyes, place your hands above the tool and channel this energy into the object.

“Hear thine words, by witches wise

Empower this tool before my eyes

Give to thee, strength, power, and will

So it may no longer lie still.

Give to thee Divine Power

On this, thy sacred witches hour

Work for me, and my own,

My clan of heart, hearth, and home.

Bound in love trust to thee,

And as I will so shall it be.”

Exstinquish  white altar candle, incense and fire, before opening the circle transcribe any magickal symbols or names. Then, say Item Blessing.