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My Book of Shadows
Welcome to my Book of Shadows
These entries are in my own personal Book of Shadows and I thought you might like to add them to yours I hope they are helpful for you
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An Act Of Faith In The Infinity Of Godhead
There are many paths, and mine is but One.
I will follow it as best I can.
I will not say that I am right and others wrong,
Only that I will try to do what is right for me.
The Light of the Sun falls on the Whole Earth;
It does not shine exclusively for my benefit.
If I can see it from where I stand,
So others can see it from where they are.
But, if there are others who wish to walk beside me,
I will help them if they ask.
If there are others who do not see a way,
I will offer mine.
If my path is theirs, I will rejoice...
But if it is not, I will not sorrow.
For the Universe is Infinite...
And it is only the handiwork of What is Much Greater.
I cannot define and set boundaries
On What I am not big enough to perceive.
~author unknown~
Witches' Holidays
Samhain - October 31. Samhain (pronounced sow - en) is considered the beginning of the Pagan Year. It is thought that the veil between the living and the dead is weakest on this night. It has been known as Ancestors Night or The Feast of The Dead. It is the most publicized of the Witches Holidays. Most reports from Christians claim it is a celebration for the "demon" Sam Hain (?), it is not. It is a time of reflection on the past year and coming to terms with death. Some Wiccans set a place at their dinner table this night for departed ancestors.
Yule - Around December 22. The Winter Solstice, a good calendar will give you the exact date each year. Yule is the celebration of the rebirth of the God. Yule was not stolen from Christians, rather they adopted it for their use in 273 AD, to celebrate the birth of "The Great Teacher"; which incidentally was originally celebrated in January. Yule has long been thought to be the time of divine births. The God is associated with the sun after this, the longest night of the year, since the days begin increasing in length.
Imbolic - February 2. Is a festival of purification. This is when most dedications come. It is a celebration of the recovering of the Goddess after giving birth to the God.
Ostara - Around March 20. The Spring Equinox, night and day are the same length, once again a good calendar will give you this information. The Goddess blankets the earth in fertility.
Beltane - May 1. This is the time for love. A time of two becoming one. I always think of the song "The Lusty month of May" from Camelot in connection with this holiday. A time to honor house guardians.
Litha - Around June 21. The Summer Solstice another name for this Sabbat is Midsummer. It is longest day of the year. A time of passion and success.
Lammas - August 1. Celebrates the beginning of the harvest season.
Mabon - Around September 23. The Autumn Equinox, once again the day and night are the same length. A time of rest after the rigors of harvest.
Suggested Reading: The Sabbats by Edain McCoy, Llewellyn Publications.
THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR
(AN ORAL TEACHING OF THE FAERY TRADITION OF WITCHCRAFT)
In love, the Horned God, changing form and changing face, ever seeks the Goddess. In this world, the search and the seeking appear in the Wheel of the Year.
She is the Great Mother who gives birth to Him as the Divine Child Sun at the Winter Solstice. In spring, He is sower and seed who grows with the growing light, green as the new shoots. She is the Initiatrix who teaches Him the mysteries. He is the young bull; She the nymph, seductress. In summer, when light is longest, they meet in union, and the strength of their passion sustains the world. But the God's face darkens as the sun grows weaker, until at last, when the grain is cut for harvest, He too sacrifices Himself to Self that all may be nourished. She is the reaper, the grave of earth to which all must return. Throughout the long nights and darkening days, He sleeps in her womb; in dreams, He is Lord of Death who rules the Land of Youth beyond the gates of night and day. His dark tomb becomes the womb of rebirth, for at Midwinter She again gives birth to Him. The cycle ends and begins again, and the Wheel of the Year turns, on and on.
Esbats or Full Moon Rituals are a time of celebrating the Goddess and working. The Full Moon is seen as a source of energy from which Wiccans pull to aid their magic. Luna, Selene, Ishtar. Names that are synonymous with beauty and mystery, all names we have given to our Lady the Moon. For thousands of years, we have told stories and woven legends around her. Her endless cycle is woven into our blood and bone, sea and life itself.
Historically, each moon month has had its own significance:
January - Wolf Moon - Plan protection around your home and family.
February - Storm Moon - Plan to ask the Old Ones for help in planning your future.
March - Chaste Moon - Plan to plant your desires.
April - Seed Moon - Plan to physically plant your seeds of desire in Mother Earth.
May - Hare Moon - Plan to reaffirm your goals.
June - Dyad Moon - Plan to balance your spiritual and physical desires
July - Mead Moon - Plan to decide what you will do once your goals have been met.
August - Wort Moon - Plan to preserve what you already have.
September - Barley Moon - Plan Thanksgiving for all the Old
October - Blood Moon - Plan another Thanksgiving.
November - Snow Moon - Plan to work on ridding yourself of negative thoughts and vibrations.
December - Oak Moon - Plan to remain steadfast in your convictions.
To protect your home from burglaries, get up before sunrise and put a pinch of pepper on the threshold of one door and the sill of one window. As you place it there say,
"Pepper sting rogue, knave or thief;
Whoso breaks this bond finds grief.
I mean it for this sill and door,
And all through this house forevermore."
Blessing Household Items & Appliances
To start the blessing ritual, clean the item thoroughly. Next measure out a teaspoon of olive oil and add to it a pinch of salt and a pinch of your favorite spice. Anoint the object by allowing a drop of the oil mixture to fall on it. (The oil is likely to stain, so choose a hidden area) Rub the rest of the mixture on a light blue candle, working from the center to either end. Then burn the candle all the way down.
For use of this ritual in the kitchen to bless your stove and oven, light the burners and the oven; then dab a drop of the oil mixture on each while saying:
"Cook food well and serve us long.
Bring us health and make us strong"
To keep the spell in effect, sprinkle a little salt on a lit burner each Monday morning.
Blessing a new broom
Place a new broom in the middle of your home. Melt the bottom of a white birthday candle; fasten it to the broom's handle; light the candle and say:
"Broom sweep clean. Sweep out evil.
Sweep out discord. Sweep out anger.
Broom sweep clean. Sweep in joy.
Sweep in harmony. Sweep in prosperity"
When the candle burns out, sprinkle a pinch of salt on each of your doorsills. Take the broom and sweep the salt into your kitchen, and out the back door,.If you don't have a back door, dump the sweepings into the garbage pail and empty it immediately!
To lose weight
This mixes a little magic and a pinch of psychology
Outline the figure you want to have on a full length photo of yourself. Place the photo in a spot where you will see it often. On the first night of the full moon, snip a fragment of your excess weight from the photo and say:
"As the moon wanes, so may I decrease"
Repeat the procedure each night until the new moon appears.(And of course you are watching what foods you are eating)
If you still have weight to lose at the end of the allotted time, start the spell again, with a new picture, at the next full moon.
Restful Sleep
If you a too nervous to sleep one night, brew a tea from thyme and basil leaves. One tsp. each of the leaves steeped in a cup of boiling water. Drink it, piping hot before going to bed. This tea relieves the cares of a troubled mind.
The Prophets Pebbles
"I used to use this when I was young and unable to afford my first deck of Tarot cards. These stones can become quite powerful the more you use them."
Select three small stones or pebbles of approximately the same size and shape, but of very different colors. (Semiprecious stone work particularly well) You may use any stones you feel gives off good vibrations to you and can mark them accordingly. From these, choose one stone to represent the Indicator, one for Yes and one for No. Your stones will keep their meanings you assign them.
Next, ask a question that can be answered yes or no. Shake the stones like dice and throw them. The stone nearest the indicator is the answer. The closer the stone is to the indicator the more definite is your answer.
When you become adept at interpreting the positions, you can add another stone to represent maybe. If the maybe stone is between the indicator and either the yes or no stone, the answer is probably yes or probably no.
Keep your stones in their own pouch or container. You may use them to answer questions for other people, but allow no one else to handle them.
Stones and metals - their beauty has a power all its own; the power to enchant, to dazzle the senses. We ascribe other powers to these creations of divinity; power to heal, power to destroy, to enrich life or diminish it by their presence or lack thereof. Ancient cultures believed that different stones corresponded to different birth months; below are the currently accepted birthstones and their corresponding months.
Month Stone
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Moonstone
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Topaz
December - Turquoise
Jewels in Heraldry
The topaz represents "or" (gold), or the planet Sol.
The pearl or crystal represents "argent" (silver), or the planet Luna.
The ruby represents "gules" (red), or the planet Mars.
The sapphire represents "azure" (blue), or the planet Jupiter.
The diamond represents "sable" (black), or the planet Saturn.
The emerald represents "vert" (green), or the planet Venus.
The amethyst represents "purpure" (purple), or the planet Mercury.
Jewels for the Months
Each month is supposed to be under the influence of some precious stone -
January: Garnet. Constancy.
February: Amethyst. Sincerity.
March: Bloodstone. Courage.
April: Diamond. Innocence.
May: Emerald. Success in love.
June: Agate. Health and long life.
July: Cornelian. Content.
August: Sardonyx. Conjugal fidelity.
September: Chrysolite. Antidote to madness.
October: Opal. Hope.
November: Topaz. Fidelity.
December: Turquoise. Prosperity.
Jewels for Signs of the Zodiac
Aries: Ruby.
Taurus: Topaz.
Gemini: Carbuncle.
Cancer: Emerald.
Leo: Sapphire.
Virgo: Diamond.
Libra: Jacinth.
Scorpio: Agate.
Sagittarius: Amethyst
Capricornus: Beryl.
Aquarius: Onyx.
Pisces: Jasper.
GEMSTONES
Agate, Botswana
Eases stress and pain of a loss. Reduces anxiety.
Agate, Green Moss
Restores energy and health, bring wearer happiness, emotional balance, wealth, health, and long life
Amber
Fossils from pine tree resin, they add strength to magick and spells, attract love and increase beauty.
Amethyst
Increases spiritual awareness, used in all workings for peace, love, happiness and protection, used in divination and psychic work
Apache Tears
Carry as a good luck charm.
Aventurine
Increases mental powers, perception and creative insight, gambler's stone
Bloodstone
Increases physical strength and courage, brings victory in the courtroom, used to banish, exorcise
Carnelian
Promotes self-confidence and peace, eases depression
Fluorite
Reduces emotional involvement, used to gain perspective, increase mental power
Garnet
Enhances strength and endurance, protection, healing, enhances self-esteem and encourages success in business
Hematite
Used for grounding, stabilizing, focusing, brings emotional balance
Jasper, Red
Sends back negativity to it's source, reversing, used for stres
Lapis Lazuli
Stimulates wisdom, truthfulness, psychic awareness, healing
Lepidolilte
A calming stone, this is carried for peace, spirituality and to drive off negativity.
Lodestone, Green
Draws money, employment, strengthens loyalty, used in bindings
Lodestone, Red
Draws love, friendship, strengthens loyalty, used in bindings
Malachite
Draws money and protection, guards wearer from danger
Moonstone
Draws love, hope and protection, promotes unselfishness and helps settle disputes, induces prophetic dreams
Mother of Pearl
Draws money, wealth and protection, relates to the ocean, depth and movement
Obsidian
Used for grounding and centering, divination, and increasing spirituality
Petrified Wood
Good for past life work, nervous conditions, and grounding
Quartz, Rose
Draws love and happiness
Quartz, Smoky
Mood elevator, overcomes negative emotions and depression
Quartz, Yellow
Draws protection, mental awareness. Used in magick to improve visualization
Rock Crystal
Draws protection, psychic ability
Sodalite
Used for meditation, brings wisdom and calms inner conflicts
Tigereye
Draws wealth and money, protects travelers, increases clarity of thought
Tourmaline, Black
Used for grounding and absorbing negative energy
The Chakras
The following charts were sent to me by SilverSkye, she thought it might be helpful to those who use stones for healing work. The original work is from an unknown source.
First Chakra: The base of the spine. This Chakra is associated with all red stones - Ruby, Coral, Garnet, red Jasper, and Bloodstone.
Second Chakra: The spleen and genitalia This Chakra is associated with all orange stones - Carnelian, Fire Opal, and orange Jasper.
Third Chakra: The Solar Plexus. This Chakra is associated with all yellow and golden stones - Topaz, Citrine and Amber.
Fourth Chakra: The Heart. This Chakra is associated with all green stones - Emerald, green Tourmaline, Malachite, Jadeite, Chrysoprase, Dioptase, Peridot, Aventurine, Moss Agate, and green Jasper.
Fifth Chakra: The Throat. This Chakra is associated with all blue stones - Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli, blue Topaz, Aquamarine, Turquoise and Chrysocolla.
Sixth Chakra: The Third Eye. This Chakra is associated with all indigo stones - Sapphire and Azurite.
Seventh Chakra: The Crown. This Chakra is associated with all violet stones - Amethyst, and Fluorite.
Cleansing of Stones
Wash Quartz crystal in water to which sea salt has been added.
Other stones: Place in running water for six to eight hours, or cleanse them with fire, or place them in a large cluster of Quartz for several days.
Place all stones in direct sunlight from time to time.
Stone Substitutions
Crystal Quartz - Diamond
Garnet - Ruby
Lapis Lazuli - Blue Sapphire
Sodalite - Blue Sapphire
Turquoise - Aquamarine
Chrysocolla - Aquamarine
Citrine - Topaz
Carnelian - Fire Opal
Rhodochrosite - Rubellite
Malachite - Emerald
Chrysoprase - Emerald
Azurite - Indigo Sapphire
Laying of the Stones
Quartz Crystals: Place on all Chakras for 20-20 minutes. Removes negativity. Clears the Chakra.
Green Stones: Place on all Chakras for 20-30 minutes for overall nourishing, harmonizing. Malachite is excellent.
Birthstones
A word about birthstones: As you will note, the current list of birthstones, at least as used in the U.S.A, was created by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912. This suggests that birthstones are stones that are costly and/or stones that jewelers can easily find. And sell. Thus, the meaning of a current birthstone is money to a merchant.
On the other hand, if astrology has any meaning, then the meaning of astrological stones makes more sense. Even so, there are problems with them, too. The astrological signs were determined several thousand years ago. But, due to the way the universe works, the relationship between the the signs and the date have shifted. The constellation of Virgo, for example, is no longer totally within the August 22 - September 21 timeframe. I don't know which, but it starts and ends a few days earlier or a few days later. Futher, it is said by some that one should only use the cleanest - most flawless - stones, and that to wear a flawed stone will bring bad luck. Who says this? Is it those who would sell you a more expensive stone? And then they tell you that "clean" or "flawless" means as seen by the unaided eye because the ancients did not have microscopes. Whose eye? Did he need glasses? Also, slightly flawed stones that would pass the eye test are more common than flawless stones.
Gems as Birthstones
Following are the stones associated with one's birth month by the cultures, times and sources listed below.
January
Garnet (Arabian, Centuries, Jewelers, Jewish, Polish, Roman Russian),
Hyacinth (Isadore, Russian)
Jacinth (Italian, Revelations)
Onyx (Exodus)
Beryl (Exodus II)
February
Amethyst (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Arabian, Polish, Russian, Italian, Centuries, Jewelers, Revelations)
Jasper (Exodus, Exodus II)
Hyacinth (Centuries)
Pearl (Centuries)
March
Jasper (Jewish, Isadore, Russian, Italian, Centuries, Revelations)
Bloodstone (Roman, Arabian, Polish, Centuries, Jewelers)
Aquamarine (Jewelers)
Sardius (Exodus)
Carnelian (Exodus II)
April
Sapphire (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Arabian, Russian, Italian, Centuries, Revelations)
Diamond (Polish, Centuries, Jewelers)
Chrysolite (Peridot) (Exodus II)
Topaz (Exodus)
May
Emerald (Arabian, Polish, Russian, Centuries, Jewelers, Exodus II)
Agate (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Italian, Centuries)
Chalcedony (Jewish, Revelations)
Carnelian (Jewish)
Carbuncle (Exodus)
Ruby (Exodus II)
June
Emerald (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Italian, Exodus, Revelations)
Agate (Arabian, Polish, Russian, Centuries)
Chalcedony (Arabian, Polish, Russian)
Pearl (Arabian, Jewelers)
Turquoise (Centuries)
Cat's Eye (Centuries)
Moonstone (Jewelers)
Ruby (Exodus II)
July
Onyx (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Italian, Centuries)
Ruby (Polish, Russian, Jewelers)
Sardonyx (Russian, Revelations), Carnelian (Arabian)
Turquoise (Centuries)
Sapphire (Exodus)
Lapis Lazuli (Exodus II)
August
Carnelian (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Italian)
Moonstone (Arabian, Polish, Centuries, Jewelers)
Topaz (Centuries)
Alexandrite (Russian)
Diamond (Exodus)
Peridot (Jewelers)
Onyx (Exodus II)
Sardius (Revelations)
September
Chrysolite (Jewish, Isadore, Arabian, Russian, Italian, Centuries)
Sardonyx (Roman, Polish)
Sapphire (Jewelers, Exodus II)
Ligure (Exodus)
Chrysolite (Revelations)
October
Aquamarine (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Arabian, Polish)
Beryl (Russian, Italian, Centuries, Revelations)
Opal (Centuries, Jewelers)
Agate (Exodus, Exodus II)
Tourmaline (Jewelers)
November
Topaz (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Arabian, Polish, Russian, Italian, Centuries, Jewelers, Revelations)
Amethyst (Exodus, Exodus II)
Pearl (Centuries)
December
Ruby (Jewish, Roman, Isadore, Arabian, Italian, Centuries)
Turquoise (Polish, Russian, Jewelers)
Chrysoprase (Russian, Revelations)
Bloodstone (Centuries)
Lapis Lazuli (Jewelers)
Beryl (Exodus)
Topaz (Exodus II).
Astrological Birthstones
Aquarius
Garnet , Sapphire , Blue Sapphire
Pisces
Amethyst , Jade , Aquamarine, Diamond , Yellow Sapphire
Aries
Bloodstone, Ruby , Jasper, Coral
Taurus
Sapphire , Emerald , Coral, Golden Topaz, Diamond
Gemini
Emerald, Aquamarine, Crystal , Agate
Cancer
Agate, Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl
Leo
Ruby, Onyx
Virgo
Sardonyx , Carnelian, Turquoise , Jasper, Zircon, Emerald
Libra
Chrysolite, Diamond ,Beryl , Aquamarine
Scorpio
Opal, Garnet, Topaz , Beryl , Aquamarine, Coral
Sagittarius
Topaz , Amethyst, Yellow Sapphire
Capricorn
Turquoise , Ruby, Smoky Quartz , Beryl, Blue Sapphire
Certain stones should not be worn together unless they are in specifically designed talismans such as the Nava-Ratna:
Red stones should not be worn with blue, colorless, orange ir Cat's Eye stones.
Pearl-colored stones should not be worn with orange or Cat's Eye stones.
Yellow stones should not be worn with green or colorless stones.
Orange stones should not be worn with red or pearl-colored stones.
Green stones should not be worn with Coral or yellow stones.
Red, pearl-colored and yellow stones should not be worn with clear stones..
Cat's Eye stones should not be worn with red, pink or pearl-colored stones.
Blue stones should not be worn with red, including Red Coral, or pearl-colored stones.
Red Coral should not be worn with green or blue stones.
The following stones are equivalents in terms of power:
Rubies = Red Spinel, Red Garnet and Red Tourmaline (rubellite)
Pearl = Moonstone
Yellow Sapphire = Yellow Topaz, Yellow Beryl (Heliodor), Yellow Tourmaline and Citrine
Hessonite (Orange Garnet) = Orange Zircon and Spessartite
Emerald = Tsavorite, Green Tourmaline, Green Diopside, Green Jade and Peridot
Diamond = White Sapphire, White Topaz, Zircon and Quartz
Cat's Eye = Cat's Eye Beryl, Cat's Eye Fibrolite and Cat's Eye Tourmaline
Blue Sapphire = Tanzanite, Blue Spinel, Cordierite and Amethyst
Pink Coral = Cornelian and Bloodstone
