Book of Shadows:
•Tools of the Craft
•How To Write Your Own Spells
•Casting a Circle
•Calling of the Quarters
•Invocations
•Grounding Your Energy
•The Simple Feast
TOOLS OF THE CRAFT
From the book "Wicca" by Scott Cunningham
Athame: The magick knife (or athame) has an ancient history. It isn't used for cutting purposes in Witchcraft, but to direct the energy raised during rites and spells. The knife is often dull, usually double-edged with a black or dark handle. Black absorbs power. A sword is sometimes used in Witchcraft, as it has all the properties of the knife, but it can be difficult for indoor rituals due to its size. Because of the symbolism of the knife, which is a tool that causes change, it is commonly linked with the element of Fire. Its phallic nature links it with the God.
Bolline: The white-handled knife (or bolline) is simply a practical, working knife as opposed to the purely ritualistic magick knife. It is used to cut sacred herbs, inscribe symbols onto candles or on wood, clay, or wax, and in cutting cords for use in magick. It is usually white-handled to distinguish it from the magick knife.
Chalice/Cup: The chalice or cup is simply a cauldron on a stem. It symbolizes the Goddess and fertility, and it is related to the element of Water. Though it can be used to hold water (which is often present on the alter), it may also contain the ritual beverage imbibed during the rite.
Cauldron: The cauldron is the Witch's tool par excellence. It is the symbol of the Goddess, the manifested essence of femininity and fertility. It is also symbolic of the element of Water, reincarnation, immortality and inspiration. Ideally speaking, the cauldron should be of iron, resting on three legs, with its opening smaller than its widest part.
Pentacle: The pentacle is usually a flat piece of brass, gold, silver, wood, wax or clay, inscribed with certain symbols. The most common, and indeed the only necessary one, is the pentagram, the five-pointed star which has been used in magick for millenia. The pentacle was "borrowed" from ceremonial magick. In this ancient art it was often an instrument of protection, or a tool used to invoke spirits. In Witchcraft, the pentacle represents the element of Earth and is a convenient tool upon which to place amulets, charms or other objects to be ritually consecrated. It is sometimes used to summon the God and Goddess.
Wand: The wand is one of the prime magickal tools. It has been utilized for thousands of years in magickal and religious rites. It is an instrument of invocation. The Goddess and the God may be called to watch the ritual with words and an uplifted wand. It is sometimes used to direct energy, to draw magickal symbols or cast a circle. The wand represents the element of Air and is sacred to the Gods.
Censer: The censer is an incense burner. Burning incense cleanses and purifies your sacred space. The incense represents Air. While the charcoal (if you are using any) represents Fire.
Bell: The bell is a ritual instrument of incredible antiquity. Ringing a bell unleases vibrations which have powerful effects according to its volume, tone and material of construction. The bell is a feminine symbol and so it is often used to invoke the Goddess in ritual. It is also rung to ward off evil spells and spirits, or to evoke good energies. Bells are sometimes rung in ritual to mark various sections and to signal a spell's beginning or end.
Broom: Witches use brooms in magick and ritual. It is a tool sacred to both the Goddess and God. A Witch may begin a ritual by sweeping the area (indoors or out) lightly with the magick broom. After this, the altar is set up, the tools carried out, and the ritual is ready to begin. The sweeping is more than a physical cleaning. In fact, the broom's bristles needn't touch the ground. While brushing, the Witch visualizes the broom sweeping out the astral buildup that occurs where humans live. This purifies the area to allow smoother ritual workings. Since it is a purifier, the broom is linked with the element of Water.
Book of Shadows: The Book of Shadows is a workbook containing invocations, ritual patterns, spells, runes, rules governing magick, and so on. To make your own Book of Shadows, begin with any blank book -- these are available at most art stores and bookshops. Simply write in this book any rituals, spells, invocations and magickal information that you have either composed or found somewhere and would like to preserve. Remember -- all Books of Shadows are suggestions as to ritual, not "holy writ." Never feel tied down to these words. In fact, many Witches use three-ring binders, shuffling around pages, adding or subtracting information from their Book of Shadows at will. It is a good idea to copy your spells and rites by hand. Not only does this ensure that you've read the work completely, it also allows easier reading by candlelight. Ideally, all rites are memorized (there's nothing more distracting than having to read or glance at a book), or created spontaneously, but if you would read your rites, be sure your copies are legible by flickering firelight.
HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN SPELLS
From Ambrosia Knight's personal Book of Shadows
The thing to always remember is what exactly a spell is. A spell can be very elaborate with a lot of time and preparation. Paying close attention to choosing the correct colors, herbs, planetary hours, ritual tools needed, so on.
Or it can be as simple as a thought or a prayer. Here's an example: You really want someone to call you. You concentrate on this person and suddenly, the phone rings and it's the person you were thinking about. You have just casted a spell! Perhaps you did it inadvertently, but it was a spell none the less.
When you wish to cast a spell, the first thing you should think about is if it definately needs to be done. Let's take a money spell, for example. Ask yourself questions. Why am I casting this spell? Am I in a bad financial situation or do I have plenty of money already and just want more?
After you've found out what your motives are, you should write down exactly what you want. Specify everything! There is a saying, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." And you might not like how you receive it so write everything down like a little story. Beginning, middle, and ending.
If you are talented at poetry, make it a rhyme. If not, don't worry about it. A spell doesn't have to rhyme to work.
Next, decide if you want the spell to be elaborate, or simple. Simple can be reading aloud (or silently) what you have written, burning the ashes, scattering them to the wind or saving them in a special box until the spell works. Then you can dispose of them.
If you want to be elaborate, decide if you want to use certain herbs, candles, crystals, etc. You might also wish to purchase an Astrological Planner so you can find out what phase the moon is in.
Know that a more involved spell doesn't necessarily make it better. What really matters is you. You are the power that lends to the magick. By choosing the type of spell you are most comfortable with, you will have a higher rate of success.
CASTING A CIRCLE
1. Remove all animals and small children from the area and any furniture that you do not want to be inside your circle.
2. Set up your altar before you cast the circle.
3. Locate magnetic north with a compass and, holding the wand out from your body, go into alpha and see the wand's aura extending out from it, especially at the tip.
4. Visualize the tip of the wand creating a circle of light and energy, like a lazer, as you walk clockwise three times around the area. The circumference drawn by the wand's tip will be the edge of your circle. Project white light out from the wand to create the circle of energy. In your mind see the circle as geometrically perfect and say to yourself that it is.
5. Walk the circle the second time around and say out loud, "I cast this circle to protect me / us from all negative and positive energies and forces on any level that may come to do me / us harm. I draw into this circle only the energies and forces that are right for me / us and the most correct for my / our work."
6. Walk the circle the third time and say, "I create sacred space. So mote it be."
7. Invoke the four directions and the energies of the elements, angels, and powers that reside in them by using the athame, wand, sword, or index finger to draw an invoking pentagram as you face each direction. Use a ritual spell of invocation or one you write for yourself.
8. To open a circle hold the wand out over the circumference of the circle and, beginning at magnetic north, walk once around the circle counterclockwise as you say, "I send this circle into the cosmos to do my / our bidding. The circle is undone but not broken."
CALLING OF THE QUARTERS
Face East: I summon the forces of Air. Blow out the old and bring in the new on your winds of change.
Face South: I summon the forces of Fire. Burn away my / our regrets and shine your gentle rays upon me / us for growth.
Face West: I summon the forces of Water. Cleanse me / us of all negativity and purify my / our thoughts.
Face North: I summon the forces of Earth. Let your renewing strength bury all ills and open new paths before me / us.
INVOCATION OF THE GODDESS
From the book "Wicca" by Scott Cunningham
Gracious Goddess,
You who are the Queen of the Gods,
the Lamp of Night,
the Creator of all that is wild and free;
Mother of woman and man;
Lover of the Horned God and protectress of all the Wicca:
Descend, I pray,
with Your Lunar ray of power
upon my circle here!
Invocation to the God
From the book "Wicca" by Scott Cunningham
Blazing God,
You who are the King of the Gods,
Lord of the Sun,
Master of all that is wild and free;
Lover of the Moon Goddess and protector of all the Wicca:
Descend, I pray,
with Your Solar ray of power
upon my circle here!
GROUNDING YOUR ENERGY
After you have performed a ritual, you should ground your energy. You may ground your energy in two ways. Either place your hands physically upon the ground and feel the energy drain into Earth Mother, or imagine your energy as a force field around you, and quietly step back out of the skeleton of energy and watch it collapse in upon itself and melt into the ground.
THE SIMPLE FEAST
From the book "Wicca" by Scott Cunningham
Hold up a cup of wine or some other liquid between your hands to the sky, and say:
Gracious Goddess of Abundance,
Bless this wine and infuse it with Your love.
In Your names, Mother Goddess and Father God,
I bless this wine (or brew, juice, etc.).
Hold up a plate of cakes (bread, biscuits) with both hands to the sky and say:
Powerful God of the Harvest,
Bless these cakes and infuse them with Your love.
In Your names, Mother Goddess and Father God,
I bless these cakes (or this bread).
Thank the Goddess and the God and release the circle. It is done.
