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Published by Delacorte Press Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

The Tishman Building 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10103 Copyright

O

1989 by Laurie Cabot with Tom Cowan

All rights

reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.

Design by Richard Oriolo

The trademark Delacorte Press

@ is registered Patent and Trademark Office.

in the U.S.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Power of the

witch

Cabot, Laurie. / Laurie Cabot

p.

with Tom Cowan.

cm.

rsBN 0-38s-29786-6 2. Magic. 3. Cabot, Laurie. Thomas Dale. II. Title. BF1566.C26 89-32465

l. Witchcraft.

1989 133.4'3-dc20

I. Cowan,

CIP

Manufactured in the United States of America Published simultaneously

in

Canada

Illustrutions @ by Lisa St. /ohn October 1989

1098765432 BG

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ACKNOWLEDCMENTS

Bentov, Itzhak, Stalking the WiId PenduLum, E. P. Dut-

ton, New York, 1977. Bradley, Marion Zimmer, The Mists of Avalon, Ballantine Books, New York, 1982. Campbell, |oseph, The Way of the Animal Powerc, Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1983. Capra, Fritja, The Tao of Physics, Bantam Books, New York, 1975. Cowan, Thomas, How to Tap into Your Own Genius, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1984. Davis, Elizabeth Gould, The First Jax, Penguin Books, New York, 1971. Evans, Arthur, The God of Ecstasy: Sex RoLes and the Madness of Dionysos, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1988.

Gittelson, Bernard and Laura Torbet, Intangible Evidence, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1987. The Kybalion: Hermetic Philosophy by Three Initiates, The Yogi Publication Society, Chicago, 1912. Martello, Leo Louis, Witchcraft: The OId Religion, Citadel Press, Secaucus, New |ersey, 1973. Murray, Margaret A., The God of the Witches, Oxford University Press, London, 1970. Peat, F. David, Synchronicity: The Bfidge between Matter and Mind, Bantam Books, New York, 1987. Starhawk, Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, and Politics, Beacon Press, Boston, 1982. Sidd, Monica and Barbara Mor, The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth, Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1987. Stone, Merlin, When God Was a Woman, Harcourt Brace fovanovich, New York, 1976. Thompkins, Peter and Christopher Bird, The Secret Life of Plants, Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1973. Walker, Barbara, The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1983.

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NOIIf NCIOUJ,NI

]

POWER OF THE WITCH

Witch friend of mine was recently fired from her f ob as a hair stylist because she wore her pentacle on a chain around her neck. Another friend was not allowed to put "Wicca" on the admitting form at a local hospital when he was asked to state his religion; the clerk refused to type it and left the line blank. These Witches were open about who they were. Many, however, are not. You can't tell most Witches by the way they dress or by their jewelry, which is often hidden beneath their clothes. You can spot them by their magic. As a young girl growing up in California, I didn't know that I was a Witch. I didn't really know what the word Witch meant or what a Witch was. I didn't even realize that my talents were any different from other people's. Today I would say they were not different. I simply retained those talents and developed them while other children lost them. The first "media Witch" I ever saw was in Walt Disney's film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Even though I was a small child, I sensed that it was not a true portrait of a Witch. I guess I accepted the fact that a wicked queen who had magical powers could turn herself into a hideous old hag, but I instinctively knew that there was more to it than that. I knew those powers could also be used for good. Wasn't the prince's kiss that woke Snow White from her sleep also magic? I resisted the notion that magic was the work of devils and evildoers. I knew a magic kiss could undo evil. Bible classes were confusing for me. We learned that we "should not suffer a Witch to live," but we also learned that it was wrong to kill. I was so worried about this command to kill Witches thar I actually thought I had some moral duty to hunt down and kill Witches. I remember asking my mother if it was my personal responsibility to kill all the eccentric old ladies in the

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NOITf,NCIOUJNI

POWER OF THE WITCH

running along the earth's ley lines moves in a similar manner. Coils, spirals, waves. It was science. But it was as serpentine and mysterious as the hidden life of snakes. Throughout my childhood I suspected that there was more information and knowledge than people were giving me, and by some ability that I did not at the rime understand I could sometimes pick up on that withheld information. For example, when I was four I overheard my father's friends discussing engineering and architecture. I sidled up to where they were sitting and wormed my way into the conversation with innocent questions. At first they humored me with childlike answers, but soon, I was asking rather penetrating questions. They were amazed at how much I knew about a subject that was new to me. They were astounded. Much later I realized how I was able to hold my own with the adults. I was drawing in information from those around me and possibly from a higher source. Once at a family gathering, when I was fi.ve, I heard my uncle talking about a valuable antique car that he and his brothers and sisters owned fointly. He stood tall, a drink in his hand, and told them that the car had been stolen from the storage garage. As I listened to his long story I could also "hear" him saying something else quite different, as if he were whispering secretly to himself-that he had sold the car and intended to keep the money! Being young, I could not distinguish between mental voices and spoken words, and so, being also naive, I asked, "But, lJncle, I heard you say that you sold the car." The room fell silent. My delicate mother grew nervous and softly scolded me. "Laurie, you shouldn't say such things!" I could tell both from my uncle's own nervousness and what was running through his clever mind that I had caught him in a lie. But who would listen to a fiveyear-old? I think that what kept my Witch soul alive was that I

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NOIJSNCIOUJNI

POWER OF THE WITCH As I think back over my childhood today I can recognize many incidents in which I discovered and used these unorthodox techniques of power and knowledge. Most people can do the same. Why then do most people forget them or repress them? The answer is rather simple: As children we listened to parents, teachers, and other adults disapprove of magic. In our desire to please them and be like them, we accepted their worldview that magical powers were wrong, dangerous/ or simply nonexistent. As the years went by those talents were "conditioned" out of us. Some fortunate children, however, escape this conditioning. They are born into families where psychic abilities are understood, accepted, and eyen encouraged. When they have "strange" experiences their parents reassure them that nothing is wrong with them. These children learn that the world, as the Yaqui sorcerer told anthropologist Carlos Castenada, "is stupendous, awesome/ mysterious, unfathomable" and that they "must assume responsibility for being here, in this marvelous world in this marvelous time." These children learn to expect the unexpected and not limit their knowledge to what can pass through the five senses. I wish someone had told me about precognition the year that old Mr. Bancroft died. One day Kenny, the boy next door, came running over to tell me that the man who lived in the old yellow Victorian house that I had always felt drawn toward when I passed it on the way to school each day had died of a heart attack. I immediately told my mother what Kenny had said, and she replied, "What? Mr. Bancroft hasn't died." She looked at me in a funny way. But she was right. Mr. Bancroft was quite alive. I felt confused and said nothing more about it. A week later Mr. Bancroft died of a heart attack. I waited after school for Kenny and asked him how he knew a week ago that Mr. Bancroft would die of a heart attack. He, too, looked at me in a puzzled way. "I don't

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NOIJf,NCIOUJNI

8

POWER OF THE WITCH

for me. I never shared their shock. Deep inside me these things made sense. Deep inside I was thrilled. The ancient power of magic is both spiritual and scientific. In recent years I have met many "New Age" people who ignore the need to ground themselves scientifically. It takes more than wishful thinking to be a competent, practicing Witch. I have come to call many of these people "white-lighters" because all they want to do is worship and be spiritual. I have nothing against worship and spiritual works. But many people forget that magical workings impose upon us the responsibility of knowing how our magic works. We must know both the physical and metaphysicai principles that underlie all magic and spiritual work so that we can use our powers correctly and for the good of all. When it comes right down to it, Witches are still human. We are not disembodied beings composed solely of white light; we don't live in a blissed-out state of astral happiness. We laugh, we bleed, we cry. We must know how to live m the world, not iust "between the worlds." I hope that the wisdom and knowledge that you learn from this book will ground you in both worlds and awaken your responsibility for both worlds. It is only by being responsible human beings that we can be responsible Witches. And only responsible Witches will survive.

-ur daqJ 'uBaq uurunq aql Jo s8urSuol aql 'uooru eI{} Jo sraru.od eql /qlrue er{r Jo star3es eqt rvrau{ daql 'spunou perces pur salduet pllnq puu 'staueld puu srBls Jo ecuonlJ -ur aq] 4cerl 'sqlnq tE lsrssu 'sdorc .r*or8 'spreq eql uotu -runs '4lrs eql IBeq ol l'roq aeul (aql 'scrls,{ru ro 'eldoad aurclpau 'se8es 'sesselseud 'slsarrd 'suetuuqs 'saqclt4 pellBc arer'r daqt reqroq/a 'scrlsrrslcBrBqc rBlrrurs pejBqs pue selor relrrurs peduld eABq ernllnc drala uI pur drnluec (rerra ur sra>1uru-cr8ew 'ruopsln lusrallun aql Jo lred sr ll-aqrrl ro '(lercos 'ern11nc euo ou ot sSuolaq cr8el4i 'r{uue aqt tcalord pue aldoed eg} qsrrnou ot rep -JO ur uorlBeJJ Jo 4ro1vr eq] ur alrdbtlred oq1v\ seuo esIA oql Suouru eru saL{t}IlA 'rueq} ruorJ saruot 'ueur asrzvr 8ut -ueeru 'r8nu pror'r qsrt8uE eql 'esrr* ueelrr qcF{1v\ soSout pue snSau sloor {eoJC puu uersJail eql tuorJ seuoJ euo sr ct8e141 'Surtsepala are s8utql UIB}reJ 11 'urar{} Jo

]IDVW {O UIMOd INiIIfNV iTHI +

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vented language, writing, metallurgy, law, agriculture, and the arts. Their rituals and ceremonies, their spells and incantations, their prayers and sacrifices were expressions of their oneness with the source of all life, the Great Mother of all living things. First and foremost the magic-makers were healers who could diagnose illness and prescribe the correct medicine and ritual to heal their patients. Always performed in a social context that included the family and relatives, the ancient healers' magic worked because it was holistic, drawing on the patient's own healing power and working with the elements and spirits of the patient's environment. It dealt with both the physical and spiritual causes of disease-the invasion of harmful spirits or substances and the debilitating effects of soul loss. Ancient healers could withdraw the harmful objects from the body and retrieve lost souls. Ancient magic-workers were also spiritual leaders and counselors who officiated at important rites of passage. They performed marriages, sanctified births, anointed the newborn, initiated young people into adulthood, and led the souls of the dying into the next world. Because they stood "between the worlds" of spirit and matter, they could serve as bridgers and mediators between the human and the divine. People came to them with their visions and dreams. Sometimes they alone could help an individual discover his or her guardian spirits and sacred names.

As compelling seers, prophets, and visionaries, they answered questions about the past and the future. They interpreted omens. They advised on auspicious times to plant, get married, travel, go on vision quests. Some of them had the power to raise storms, bring rain, and calm seas.

They were the Animal Masters, who understood our kinship with all creatures. They knew the minds and

cISBIu pue uopsrlv\ srprnrq peerds stle3 SurlBJBIur er{J 'drolsrq Jo stsru aql ur papnorris IIIIS ere sur8rro esoq,/vr of,Br crlla3 eql Jo sessalsarrd pue slsarrd aql 'sprnrq eql se peruedde deql adorn1 uretselA uI ']sEA alpplw oqt pue 'erreqrg 'laqlJ 'ersaudlo4 'secrraruy eql 'ecrr;y 'ecaer3 '1dd8g 'elpul 'a1ar3 'raurng to serrotsnl eqt ur tuaq] pug elA 'sarreuorsrl puB suurcr8eur sll puq seq arnllnc dre.tl1 ,,'spo8 qltl!\ pellg arr sSurq] 11y,, 's4aarC lualcuB eql plol oq./v\ 'se1uq1 raqdosollqd eql qlrrvr ear8e e./v\ slrueq Jo ]JBaq Jno uI 'lgrds ureluoc sernluarJ IIe IBI{1 'elqe sr Surqldrea.a leql '&11etrn luaogru8ulu E sureluoc uolleerc 'tsol l.11erot uaaq tou seq IIE teql l*ou>I l.1ea,r1cur1sur elA leq] eJnlBu qlrl\ sseupelcauuoc E asues Ills aIA 'asuos se>lBru s,qJlIIA eql '11 llupu lou III^\ IIIIS ^\ar^plrolv\ dueu q8noqrly 'ureqt Jo plr la8 raleu aldoad uroporu IIr,/v\ plrolv\ eql plo os sqln$ 'dpoqure crlsdru aql puE 'uerueqs eql 'qcl116 eq] rur{} sq}nr} deep eqr pu?}srepun elA 'srueerp rno ur 'a;q raqloue uI 'uotlBur8rrur ut 'l.to -rueru ur-rmaqi pasn aAoq aM $rll pue 'prnleu lnq IBrn -lruradns lou aJE sllDls aseql leq] rvrou>I e/v\ ssausnolosuoc 'slualrl pue sr;€ oseq] ssassod 'ool 'alr Jo le^el auos uO lEI{l 1v\oul al!\ asnBcaq ulaql ol e}uuosel a16 'srauIurlS sn aprsur Surqlauos 'pessessod sre>pon-cr8eru luelcuu esaqt lrril slualrl pue s1;t8 oql ]noqe >luql e^\ ueq1A 'spruq luur8uo eqt ore^\ deql 'sacro^ raql ;o cr8uru eql qlrl\ sreualsrl rraqt 8ul -zrJarrrsou 'erurl B tu sdep Jo srnoq ro; s8uos Surs pue sue -od alrcar plnoc deql 'urolsnc puB pua8e1 Jo suulpotsnc sy 'droruaru {lo} a^rloelloc Jreql peuru}uoJ ruqr sqldur luerJue peq saldoad luarJuB uale roJ-seldru luarJuu ar{l r*euT oq,l\ sJallaldrols ;alseu ere,l\ seuo esl/v\ aql puv 'uelsII ol 1v\or{ ./v\au{ daqf i1es1r ol opads uol}Bel3 qcrqa I{lI1v\ e8en8uul euBcrB eqt r'reu>I daql 'seculd parces ur y'rord pue stueld pue slBruruB qlr.ry\ aleJrunruruoc plnoc Leqa 'sSurql plr/v\ qlr,/v\ eruoq 18 erar\ puB slsBaq eql ]o suBaq

II

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from China to Spain. In mining and metalworking, sculpture and art, poetry and literature, law and social customs the Celtic peoples left an indelible stamp on European culture. From their scientific and spiritual customs the modern Witch derives much of her Craft. With a remarkable ability to blend both the practical and the metaphysical-the Celts developed the traction plow, rectangular field systems, and crop rotation, as well as theories about the immortality of the soul and reincarnation-the Druidic leaders of the Celts stand as shining models for the modern Witch. A Witch's knowledge is old. Her worldview is ancient. People who pride themselves on being modern often dismiss Witchcraft as fantasy, superstition, or make-believe. Biased accounts of ancient people, written by historians who were convinced of their own culture's superiority, have made our ancestors' civilizations look barbaric, ignorant/ and savage. But the truth about the ancient ways can't be suppressed. Witchcraft thrived in the so-called primitive cultures of the past, it thrived in the highly developed cultures of the past. It thrives today.

MACICAL CHILDHOODS What is true in the macrocosm is true in the microcosm. Many modern Witches trace their first encounters with magic back to very early times in their childhoods, when their innocence and abiiity to wonder paralleled that of our earliest ancestors. In fact, even when recognized later in life, magic fills us with a sense of awe as it breaks forth in our lives. Adults feel a kind of childlike wonder and surprise during their first magical experiences. |ust as the child loses its sense of oneness with the universe as it develops ego boundaries and learns how to

'enD eroru uela paueas e^?r{ (Eru daql 'aldual ro qcrnqc ur pEeJ aleq ,(uru nol. sarnldrrcs aql sB enD sP ero..v\ sqrdur plo eql no,( pue '1nos rnod ur deap Sutql ^\ou>l eAEq ,{eur sassappoc puB spoD -eruos qlr^\ petBuosar Jo selel luarcuV ']r{8ru aql ur rueq} preeq ro aldoad al}lrl ro slrrrds uees aaur{ deu notr 'srBls aq} uror; nol. o} Surruoc raru.od urBueo u 'slurld puu sleturue qlrl\ puoq e 'arnl -Eu r{lrlv\ drqsuq Suorts B }leJ e^Bq deu notr 'an4 aruu3 ]l puu qsr^\ alqeqordurr uB epuru 'lg peddernun nod aro; -aq luasard e aprsur su,/v\ ler{n lvreu>I 'slq8noq} s,auoauros pear nod sdeqre4 'd1elr1rn1u1 puu (lsnoaueluods aurec a8pe1,,*ou4 uaql\ uorsecco uu 'rvrou4 l,uplp sraqlo Sutql -eruos aeu>I nod ueqrvr lueprcur uE raquaurar dlqrqord /pooqplqc ,(1ree rno.,( olur {JBq {ulqt nol. ;1 lprvr nod 'llv aql ]o sraqlorq puB srelsrs sB tr olur ue^o..vr aJB a.tv\ puu 'sSuraq petceu -uorrelur ]o qe,r E sr aJrl 11y 'acua8rllalul aUIAI(I;o pasod -ruoc aru s8urqt Surrrrl IIE pue r{uue er{} /acro; e}rl orues er{} eruqs sSurql Surrrrl IIE pue qupa oqJ 're}lBru qunp '1raur 11 sr Jar{}rau /duraue fiio lou sr plJolv\ eqJ :uol}Berc tnoqe qlnrt crsrq er{l uatlo8ro} raaau e^eq seqr}r.AA }nB 'druaue eql sB lr /v\er^ ol eruBJ daqt ,(llentua^a 'eur^rp rou luaSrllelul reqlrau se arntuu;o rq8noqr daql arurt u1 'tr Suttroldxe '1r Surnpqns 'alnluu lsureSe Sur4rorw sallasueql puno; daqr 'ppor* IErruEu eql ruoq palorual eJorrr puB eJoru sarlelcos pel?elf, usruolrr pu? ueru sv 'eJnlBu urorl dur*e paAIoAe deql se dliun Jo esues lBr{l }sol ser}ercos uerunq 'ppor'r eqr ]o lser eqt uror; dpoq lf,urtsrp pue eleredes slr lcetord

8I

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POWER OF THE WITCH

A WITCH'S MACIC To me the word Witch is a delicious word, filled with the most ancient memories that go back to our earliest ancestors, who lived close to natural cycles and understood and appreciated the power and energy that we share with the cosmos. The word Witch can stir these memories and feelings even in the most skeptical mind. The word itself has evolved through many centuries and cultures. There are different opinions about its origins. In old Anglo-Saxon, wicca and wicce (masculine and feminine respectively) refer to a seer or one who can divine information by means of magic. From these root words we derive the word Wicca, a term many in the Craft use today to refer to our beliefs and practices. Wych in Saxon and wicce in Old English mean to "turn, bend, shape." An even earlier Indo-European root word, wic, or weik, also means to "bend or shape." As Witches we bend the energies of nature and humanity to promote healing, growth, and life. We turn the Wheel of the Year as the seasons go by. We shape our lives and environments so they promote the good things of the earth, The word Witch has also been traced back to the old Germanic root wit-to know. And this, too, gives some insight into what a Witch is-a person of knowledge, a person versed in both scientific and spiritual truths. In the origins of many languages the concept of "\ /itch" was part of a constellation of words for "wise" or "wise ones." In English we see this most clearly in the word magic, which derives from the Greek magos and the old Persian word magus. Both these words mean "seer" or "wrzard." In Old English the word wizard meant "one who is wise." In many languages Witch is

'crSBru

aql arB elrl Jo sarJals,(Iu eql roJ-uoour Jo sarJelsdu puB /r{uee 'uB(uolv\ yo suqrdqJ lernlru aq} ur punoJ arB leqt etII lo sarralsdru aql qlur ]Jauuocer 01 ueuo^\ pue ueru qloq Surpeal sr saurl ar{t Jo rlnds eq1 'tJBrf, eq} ur pelseralur Sururoceq erB uoru erour 'slueJur uroql\ou ro; Surrec Jo serlrlrqrsuodser eql uo e{81 puB r{}4qplqc ur ]srssB ueru eJoru sB lBql ecueprcuroc B lou sl lI 'uaiu arB uBql lr Surqsrrnou puu a;r1 Surcnpord ur pe8u8ue erour d11ecr3o1orq aJE ueruolv\ pue 'a;r1 rllrl\ sleap remod s,qcll/A V 'r;er3 s,urruo^\ E sE UErJr{r}rlA Jo Suqutql roJ uosBer poo8 e sr ereqJ 'esrr oql uo sr ueru Jo Jaq -unu eql q8noqrle 'uaruorv\ ere UBJJ eql jo srauorlrlcerd lsour depol ueAE 'uaruolv\ erel\ UErJqcU,A Surcrlcerd roJ patncexe era..v\ oqivr eldoed ;o suorllrlll aql Jo luac -red gg serurl Sururng eqt Suunq 'ser{rll/A pallec oslB eJE UEJJ or{} ur uetu }nq 'ueru uuq} raqleJ uaruolv\ r{ll,l\ palBrJossB uaaq ,(luouruoc sBr{ qullA prol\ aq} 'ctSeut ;o ra,r,rod erll effr{s uaruolv\ puE ueIII qtoq qSnoqrly 'lueql asn ol l\oq-Jaquaruar Jo-urBaleJ uBt sn Jo L{cpo puu 'sranod lnos ro srarvrod crqcdsd srq auodrall 'slBnpllrpur palnos-ue r{cua ere ei* 1U aABr{ IIE elA 'arBr lou sr UI8 aql 1nq 'ruopsr.l\ IBsJaArun srql olur del urc daq] esnecaq slrnpr^ryur erer pur pag€ Sureq se scrqcdsd 'aqc'{.sd sr roJ pro^\ >leer) ar{I Jo {ulql ueuo ala Inos 'sJnpue 'eArAJns IIIIV\ Inos aqr Jo uropsrlv\ sseleSu eqJ /lsrxe 01 SeSEeC 'UOrleUrrO;Ur Ilrlv\ InOS Oql ;O SaCard pUe slcrJ snourpnlrllnu sll qlr^\ 'urcrq aqt uer{i 'lBqt ueql radaap sao8 uropsr.AA 'puFu er{} ur dluo 11emp qorqrvr 'ssau -relelf, pue 'uorleturo;ur 'ecue8rlletur eJeru tuoJJ lueJeJ -JIp sI tI 'puru aql lsn{ tou '1nos eql ser{orrua ruopsrlA

,,'uBIIIo.lvt esl.lv\,/'arnrna/-a8os

sr (sarrlunoc Surleeds-qsu8ug uI p1p ,,esJnu dJ1unoc,, se lsn( ,,'r{J}l.dA,, lureru uelJo seere Iernr ur leql rurel r) a;tr*prur JoJ pJolv\ eqt qJuar{ uI 'Iuopsrlv\ roJ srrrra} drpdrerra 'uouluroc eql ur poleeJuoJ 'prol* uappq aql

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Magic is knowledge and power that come from the ability to shift consciousness at will into a nonordinary, visionary state of awareness. Traditionally certain tools and methods have been used to cause this shift: dance, song/ music, colors, scents/ drumming, fasting, vigils, meditation, breathing exercises, certain natural foods and drinks, and forms of hypnosis. Dramatic, mystical environments/ such as sacred groves/ valleys, mountains, churches, or temples, will also shift consciousness. In almost every culture some form of visionary trance is used for the sacred rituals that open the doorways to the Higher Intelligence or for working magic. From Neolithic times the practice of Witchcraft has always centered around symbolic rituals that stimulate the imagination and shift awareness. Hunting rituals, vision quests, and healing ceremonies were always performed in the rich context of the symbols and metaphors unique to each culture. Today a Witch's meditations and spells continue this practice. A Witch's work is mind work and utilizes powerful metaphors, allegories, and images that unlock the powers of the mind. The Huichol Indians of Mexico tell us that the mind has a secret doorway that they call tlne nierika. For most people it remains closed until the time of death. But the Witch knows how to open and pass through that doorway even in life and bring back through it the visions of nonordinary realities that give purpose and meaning to life. The images and symbols of Witchcraft have a mysterious and magical quality because they tap into something deeper and more mysterious than ourselves. They trigger the ageless truths that dwell in the unconscious, which, as the great psychologist and student of world religions Carl |ung suggested, merge with the instinctual responses of the animal kingdom and may even encompass all of creation. The deepest knowledge, just on the other side

lBr{l saSBrur eql erB aserlJ 'esra^run Iecrsdqd eql r{l9eueq aII lBrlt agpel./vrou>l Jo surellgd aI{1 IBaAer }Bq} saBBIuI eq} erB esaqJ 'ra^\od qll1vl pellg slsleru puB /slBrurue 'slueld per3Es ruoJJ apBlu Surqtolc puB slool parsBs ',suorplnec 'sdnc's1moq'spuurvr's11aqs'sreqlea;'srua8'stunrp :spuels -repun puu sazruSocar d1a.,rr1rn1ug pulur snorcsuocun deap aqr luqt sroqdeleru puB s1oqu,(s uI qclr saorlcerd pelearc aAEr{ aJnllnc drana }o uouo/!\ puu ualu dloq sautt ]sarlrBe eq] uorJ 1?q] pug e^\ os puv 'slua^e snoulul -nu pue lBnlrr ur pesuas pue sloqruds pue sa8uurt ut dluo ulv\ou>l eq uBc leql sarSraua leddteqrru ;o Luldralul eql ruorJ sllnser purru eql Jo ernlonrtrs aql lBI{} sn s11ar 8un{ 'duoruaral puu 'eruerp '1un1rr 'loqurds 'ql,{tu q8norqr passardxe lseq eq uec solusor eq] pulqeq rervrod aurn -1p eqt 1o 'ernteu ;o ';lasreq ;o e8pal.ttou>l s,qtlllA Y 'esre^run eqr Jo lseJ al{l o} lcauuoc ,(lleuosred nod rvroq pue are nod oq,u. Jo laJoes eql sI Suraq rnod ;o reluec eqt uI papJenC 'eptus nod ,(rrvr aql '(e1d nod r*oq 'ree; nod leqr* 'aqr1 nod s8utqt eql ,(q JIas lsadaap rnod;o sasdurrlS pue slurq e,r€ (1uo uec nod lsaq lv 'puBlsJepun ,/v\ou nod ueql osre^run oqi o] aJoru sI ereql r'rou>I nod se tsnl 'ssardxa Jo ees uec nod uuqt nod no 'auolB sprolv\ Lq Suraq uBrunq 01 aJorrr sr eJar{l ,/v\ou>l

reqloue ol de,ruoc Jeleu uec nod leql dllluepl Jo esues E sr Inos rno,( 1o reluac aq] uI eJal{./v\eluos 'lBnllr pue '8uos 'drleod sarrnber uelto ll lsprom ur passardxe aq sl.ervrp louuuc snorcsuorun aql ruorl e8pe1,/v\ouI rauur daaq 'urc8e >lceq sn Surrq pue Dyuaru aqt q8norql sn e{Bt UEO r1 'rq8uq pue dpeels sr'ro13 erueg alpuuo E erar{a 'lq8rluooru ]Ios aqt olur sn speel cfepa8payvrou4 ol sn se>lBl crSeu 1ng 'lqSquns Sutputlq puu rervrod Jo srulser deep asoql

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f,IDVW JO UT/AOd IN:II3NV IIHJ

l8 lead us

POWER OF THE WITCH

to the secret power hidden in the center of

things, including our own hearts. images,

moon."

With these rites

we can-as Witches say-"draw down

and

the

puB selBl eqt dldrurs tou-uorl8el' lnoqE sr uofrlar IIV ,,'uorSrleu plo aq},, iFt seqclr/a 18q^\ sr lI 's]erTaq l?nlrrds u1vlo l.ru Jo lrBar{ aql }3 arl selJelsl.Iu luerJuB aruBs eqJ 'secllcerd lBnlrfids ]uerJus ur uorsserdxe Jo dlrun E pug speeu eer{} eseq} pu? /ansap uBrunq eruBs aql Jo slrBd IIU erB puBlsrepun puB /drqs -ro.lvl /repuon ol paau eqJ 'redeep puB JaqcrJ 1vloJ8 dar{J 'JBaddBsrp Je^au sauals(u eql ]Bqf Je^ocsrp a,!\ spunu puB slrBeq rno olur pel8rodJoJur dlnrl erB SuruBaru puB Surpurlsrapun ueq/A 'qlnrl eqt tuorJ requnJ aq plnoc Surqlou lnq 'dralsdur acelder Sururaru puu Surpuelsrap -un IBI{I {ulr{l ueuo e,l\ setur} uJepou u1 'Surueeur aurec Sutpuetsrepun ruory pue 'SurpuelsJapun aurrc drqsror* puB Iepuolv\ o] paau aqr Jo lno 'seuelsl(ru ,{ueur s,a;r1 Jo aoBJ ar{l ur pedrqsror* pue perepuo^\ eleq ueuo^\ pue uaru '1aur1d sqr uo eJrl uetunq ;o sdep lserlree eql tuorJ

NOIDITiIU CITO IIHI

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legends of how a creator or creators brought forth the universe, but how living men, women, and children participate in the ongoing generation of the universe. Creation is never finished, it is an eternal process. In some native traditions people sing the sun up at dawn and chant it down at dusk. There is profound wisdom in this that cannot be repudiated by the contention that the sun could very well rise and set without human assistance. The turning of day into night and winter into spring should be human as well as divine activities. As followers of the Old Religion, Witches take an active part in what we call turning the Wheel of the Year and participating in the course of the seasons. We are co-creators of the universe.

OUR MOTHER THE EARTH Religion is about creation, and for that reason religion should be about the earth. To many people this comes as a surprise because modern religious thinking emphasizes salvation over creation and focuses on heaven and hell rather than earth. But pagans believed that biological processes are spiritual processes and that there is divine meaning in every natural event. As participants in the ongoing drama of creation our ancestors believed that the great mysteries of life were the mysteries of transformation: how things turn into other things, how things grow, die, and are reborn. Perhaps nowhere in their experience did they see these events more personally and intimately than in the transformations of woman. The ability to conceive a new human life, give birth, produce milk, and to bleed with the phases of the moon was awe-inspiring. The centrality of

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uo dlrroqlne paloadsar {HFH aql sV 'dep neql Jo lru srlora aqr ,(ldurrs lou arel\ 'sq8rql 1ryrer*od pue 'slsearq 1n1 'seqleq e8rel qllrvr 'serntBrurur IIBrrrs asaql '[e1c Jo lno padrqs Jo auols pue 'drolr 'euoq ur peArEJ 'ernt -Bu eulurural ;o ssauadrr eql puu pooqraqlou Jo sseullnJ aq] l\oqs 'slsrSoloaeqcre dq pellBc ere daql sE ,,'seuun8g snue1,, aseq] 'ecuJv uI puu adornE ssorJe IIB pareloc -srp pue 'U'f,'g 000'0I o] 000'gg 4ceq 8ur1eg 'sraqlotu Jo are sern8g uBrunq lcrdep ]Eqt uu Jo slro^/r lsarlrea er{J 'lce; lecrSolorq su/r U 'poor.{rar{}otu }o alor lear8 aql parBrls arnlBu pu? uBruol!\ qloq lBq} ecrlou sre^rasqo dpea aperu luq] 'dselue; lenlurds rou 'uor1l1sradns lou su.t\ U 'uooru eqt Jo seseqd dlqruoru aq] pue I{}rEe aql ;o sa8uuqc luuoseas aql palellered reqr saSurqc cqcdc eql req lnoqllla 'aJII palcauer uBrrro/a 'erp plno./r alrl ^rau ernlrnu pue ernpord ol rervrod eqi per{ auolu er{S 'pelu lou plno) dlrununuoc eqt Jo etrl eql uI ueluolv\ -ap eq

(sassappoS re^rg elrN

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NOIDIlAU

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CITO THJ

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POWER OF THE WITCH

world mythologies foseph Campbell emphasizes in The Way of the Animal Powers, "This definitely is not a work of naturalistic art, but a conceived abstraction, delivering a symbolic statement." From their positions in holy places and grave sites they represented something sacred. The female organs were clearly "numinous centers," as Monica Sjoii and Barbara Mor tell us in their comprehensive and inspiring study of the worldwide Goddess traditions, The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth. At a time when the male role in conception was not understood, or only vaguely understood, the mother's body was viewed as the only source of life, just as the earth was the only source of biological life. There are no similar depictions of men dating back this far. Indeed, the role of the male in conception is a rather recent discovery, dating back only about five thousand years. The father's role in conception was probably not widely understood until about 3000 B.C.E. The great pioneer anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski discovered twentieth-century Stone Age cultures in Polynesia that only dimly understood the male contribution. It is not surprising that the father's role should have gone unnoticed for so long. Since a woman does not become pregnant with every act of intercourse, nor does she know she is pregnant until days or weeks have passed, the con-

nection between conception and sexual activity with males is not immediately obvious. To our ancestors it appeared that the male "opened" the vagina but that the actual placement of the young life in the womb was the work of divine power, perhaps the light of the moon, maybe a spirit visitor. Or from the worldwide distribution of myths about parthenogenesis, perhaps the woman had the power to produce life solely on her own. At any rate, the concept of fatherhood and permanent mating developed rather late in human history. As anthropolo-

-cedsred lucoprlBru Suorls srl qll,tr. 'uo€qeg 'alBrueJ

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drerl lr pres eAEr{ JoW EJpqrEg puB oolg ecruow 'alBlu -aJ sB./r uorlBerc pulqeq rer'rod eur^rp aql lBr{} arunssB ol elqruosueJ lr punoJ sJolsecue rno 're.uod aurlrp qlr.r qlrue eqt pur 'qlree eql qll^\ uBtuo.lv\ SutdJttuapt dlasolo os dg 'uooru Surxer* eql a>lII rolln] pue rallnJ r*ar8 pue poolq slr peurBleJ qruon eql ueq^\ pesBo3 puB uoolu t{c80 perrnlco teql Surpaelq snoualsdu eql ur puB 'e;r1 uerunq r\eu E pacnpord lrql dcueuSerd qcra ut 'ueurorvt drela ;o alcdc a;r1 eql ur urr8e ralo pue relo peduld Wdru eqt su.u (suor3rler plro/v\ Jo relor{cs peu^\ou>ler aqt 'apetlg EacrIW ruoJ; eseJr{d 1n;rapuo,r aql esn ol) ,,urnlar luurela ol{l Jo l{}/tu,, lear8 aq1 'etn}Bu ;o se1c,(c luaJrncel eql palalered salcdc luerrncer s,uEIuo/A 'aJII io eJrnos aql sBlv\ usruo1!\.rar*od qlrBe puB rer'rod alBrua} ueollueq uorl -ceuuoc alBrurlur eql poolsJopun srolsecus rno lBql JBelc sr lr elarleq l-proo lecr1rqrun eql dq rar{ ol pe}cauuoo Ilrls uloq^\eu aql 'r{lrlq Surlr8 ueruo..v\ ;o s8urluted e,rec sseppoD-aJuaprle 1ect3o1od 'surolsnr lurrnq'senlels -or{tue puu '1ecuolslq 'lerfoloeuqore }o qllea^\ B lrror{ Jeqtow learC eql ol raqlou a18urs u tuor; 'qurorvr ol quo/r uioJJ-elrl ;o alcdr ateldruoc eql eq ot /v\eu>l srolsesuB e3y ac1 rno ]Br{lvr Surlalduoc snql ',raq ol paurnlar (lpcrloquds pur dlpral{ a^BI{ deqa 'reqroru erlr Jo poolq eqt qlr^\ par um8e ecuo arB daql 'qrree aqr Jo quo^\ eql peretuaar aAEr{ pasBacep aqr dllectloquds 'arr{Jo par q}r/v\ petured sauoq rraql 'uorlrsod lute; dn -palrnc E ur parrnq pBap naql qlrrvr 'eruuellur dueu 4ceq Surtep 'salrs arrer8 lequepueeN pug a^\ 'sernSg snue1 eql peAJEo lur{} saueroos uou3u141-oJJ ar{} ueql reIIJEe uel[ ,,'peqsrlqBlse eruBf,oq [dIurEJ pqcrerrted eqt] 1I leql perueuruoc uorlezrlrlrc paprc? -ar lrlun lou se..vl, lL, 'lI lnd ueSrow drueg surral lsrt

NOIDIlAU ClO :IHJ

POWER OF THE WITCH tive, was a religion of ecstasy. Archaeological evidence of primal religious experiences-cave drawings, pictures in tombs and on pottery-show human figures with large awestruck eyes, human beings dancing with wild animals, flying with birds, sharing the watery realms with fish and snakes. Religious practices and shamanistic rituals that have survived into our own time among indigenous peoples also indicate ecstatic religious experiences drumming, chanting, reenacting primal cre-dancing, ation myths, and inducing trance. From all the scattered evidence reaching through the centuries, it appears that ecstatic religious experiences were the norm for preChristian cultures. And so they should have been in religions that centered on woman's experience. The Great Coddess and her priestesses were living examples of the integration of body, mind, and spirit. For them there was no dichotomy between mind and body, between spirit and matter. Followers of the Old Religion believe the universe was created in ecstasy out of the body and mind of the Great Mother of all living things. The oldest creation myths from around the world recount the many ways that human beings have perceived this original birth of earth, sky, plants, animals, and the first human coupie. From northwest India we learn about Kufum-Chantu, the Divine Mother, who created the physical landscapes of the earth out of the various parts of her own body. A Pelasgian creation tale from the eastern Mediterranean explains how Euronyme, the Goddess of All Things, danced the earth into existence. From Venezuela comes the story of Puana, the Snake who created Kuma, the first woman, from whom sprang all living things and all the customs of the Yaruros people. A Huron story tells of the Woman Who Fell from the Sky, a divine woman, who with the help of Turtle, began human life on earth. The Fon people in Dahomey, Africa, revere Nan Buluku, the

'saJnleu eulufiue] pBI{ aAI}Eerc,, esoql ,,sllnds /elBueJ pue alslu Jo oruos lsBal lE lBr{} eunssu uBt al!\ qloq sr rotrPaJc er{l Jo ,,ssaua>lrl pue a8Btur,, eq} JL,'ruer{l palBar3 [i] aH alErual pue alEW 'sseue{rl puB aSBrur /no ur uBru e>lBru rn le'L, dEs lEr{} srsauac Jo spron eql tuorJ rualo sr eururrueJ dllerrred pue prnld sE^\ rurqolg tBqJ ,,'slurds aJnleu elrleerc,, sB polelsuuJl relleq eq plno,l\ srelor.{Js luollqlq auos ol Sutprocce pue 'unou 1ern1d e dllunlcu sl ,,/po),, reln8urs E sE pelBIsuBJ] pJo./rt aql 'uI{ -o1g 'slunocoe uorleerc olvU ar{l }o euo uI 'uorleoJc al{l lE ]ueserd aJea sorlrep reqlou leql suorlBclpul pug ea slse -uec ur ua^g 'lenxesrq ro snou,(Sorpue dlqtssod sB1vl ol{l!\ 'quaretr ',(llep uooru elruEEuEJ eql o] paleler ueeq oslB suq qe,l\qul arueu er{1.,'sseppo8 uuueurns aqr Jo }Eql ruorJ uolo]s,, sB/r 'xas $4{ aqJ uI sn sllal SI^BC pinoD qleqezrl1 se ']uql arueu e 'teuy,-nqEI sseppoC eql d11uu -r8rro ser* qe,l\r{E 1n;rar'rod-11u eql spua8al uI

^\erqeH 'rer{}our

-puerD pue rer{te}puurD rlloq uaql Suorue 'serueu duutu puq ol{,/v\ 'ratulog pug ra>{gw er{1 Jo selel ,(urru plot suedury luarcue aq1 'spo8 eq] ol qlrtq ele8 ,,'ssar1 -secuB eql 'raqloru eql,, pallBo 'ntutuu51 sseppoC ees aqr moq sureldxe qll.ur uerrerrrns y 'spo8 eql poleorc oq^\ '1eruer1 pue nsdy 'sreqlour aurlrp ar{l Jo drols eqt reaq aivr eruoldqBfl uI 'suBlr1drq8ru eql pelBerc uaql pue 'ua5 er{t puB ueAEaH qrro; rq8norq oq^\ pue pIoA ro soeq3 eql Jo lno peruaddu oq,tr 'qtrel eql 'etu3 Jo ]Bqt sI uoltB -arJ Jo sqr.(ur >leerC Luru aql Suoiuv 'n1 'uoruuduroc sq qlr1v\ uorlBarc Jo >uo1v\ 1ear3 eql SuruurSeq eroJeq uJoq aq o1 seSe roJ polru.r BorE-EJ araqn '33e leer8 e eprsut ur8 -aq elII ;o 4reds tsrg aql .roq salEIOr osle erdur uullrquJ v 'quBe eql pelParc oqrrr Sureq lsrg oql ',n; uuq4 Surrds luauuoJrlua aururue] srql tuorJ 'uroq lad pu Surql -auros snorralsLru u Surureluoc 33e s,uaq e ;o adeqs aql uI su,l\ esralrun eql ,l\oq ;o drols uorlraJc er{l setuoc EuIrlO luercue ruor{ 'plro,l\ eql pa}EaJc oqr* 'reqloW leer3

9Z

NOIDI'I:IU C]O :IHI

26

POWER OF THE WITCH

THE TRIPLE MOON CODDESS In many parts of the world the original

Goddess is re-

ferred to as the Great Moon Goddess, a triune deity. She trinity of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. And in many written accounts, as well as in the artwork that has survived, we see this triple nature-sometimes depicted as three faces-reflected in the three phases of the moon. Here, too, the earliest human worshipers understood that one and the same mystery or power operated in both woman and the moon. As |oseph Campbell put it, "The initial observation which gave birth in the mind of man to a mythology of one mystery informing earthly and celestial things was the celestial order of the waxing moon and the earthly order of the womb." So not only was the Goddess reflected in the three phases of the moon, but the biological cycles of every woman found expression there too. Every woman could identify with the Great Goddess by identifying her own bodily transformation with the moon's monthly waxing and waning. A Witch's spells and rituals are always performed in conjunction with the phases of the moon, and female Witches align their magical work with their own menstrual cycles. By observing the three lunar phases and meditating on the Goddess's traditions associated with them, we discover the special powers and mysteries of the moon and the unique wisdom it teaches us about the Divine Mother of the universe. is the great female

THE lllI.AIDEN The crescent moon, virginal and delicate, grows stronger and brighter each night, appearing

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puu /sleurrue Jo elol aq] /uE Jo eJnllnc e sel\ dtlurulnq a8y ec1 sn{} ler{} sn ol }no serrc relocsrp arvr Surtured pue anlBls trrarre,, 'selou uosdruoqa ur/rrl UBIIIII uerrol -srq sE 'rerr.ano11 'ueur puu 'relqSnuls 'acualorl ;o s4eads srelunq a8y ac1 1o 4uads o] pesn dlpuorlrpel oABq sue -Irolslq drerodureluor Jno a8en8uul eql 'dlpcruorl 'spraq pl.tr er{l Jo slueuelorrr puu sarra}sl.ru elerurtur eq} r*au>I 3qs uBluolv\ u sB asnEJaq lunq eq] uo ssesf,ns eInssB plnoJ uroq eqt qtl^\ uuruonl eqt ter{} se^\ poolsrapun dppear aldoad aBV auots lrril ,,'poolsrepun dppear ' ueaq eAEq plno^\ uroq pelu^ele eqr Jo eJuoraJar aqt,, lEql u1v\ou{ IIel\ os sE^\ eqs-uBrrrnq dlarau eq} spuacsuBJ} lpq] euoeuos yo a8uurl ss /'3'1-e8euosred cn{}diu B sB IEI{I tno slurod liaqdue3 qdaso{ ,,'ue lB^erurrd ;o eloq./v\ oql ur dpoq ueurni{ eq} Jo uorlBtuasardar parnldlncs dlsnoro8m ]soru er{1,, Jar{ slluJ uorpar3 peu;3rg uurrol -sII{ uB aq1 'qdunu} ur uroq Surlunq aql Surploq en{co peJ qlll\ pauruls ueruo.r u slcrdep 1I 'lessnuf Jo snuo1 eql peureu eleq slsrSoloeer{oJe ler{l acuer{ ur porelocsrp arn8g p1o-ruad-gg0'IZ eqt sr suorletuasardar tsorlree roq 'uooru luecsarc eqt alrl pedrqs sr uror{ ar{J 'sler.u Jo euo -rue pnads req eru reql sllnq pur sr\oc eql uorJ ue>lel 'uroq Surtunq eqt sploq eqs puer{ req uI 'spnlrr 3ur -lunq er{t reao saprserd pue s8urqa plliA or{t ;o dpel eqt sI ssappoC puu eeJJ srql sarntlnc otuos uI tuepuadapur 'asualsrxa olul qlnq dupauros IIr^\ eqs ter{i uerplrr{r eqt pue Jlesreq pue}ap ol surBal aqs 'uozeuly ro 'rorrre.&r ueruo/v\ 1n;remod e olur seJnlBlu eqs sV 'sIIueUV puE EUBI(I pellB3 sB,/v\ elol ssep -poc uBeuBrJalrpew ur or{1v\ 'ssarlunq puB e}elr{}E luap -uadapur 'arnd aql sl eqs 'dep Surssud qcee qll^\ re8uorls SurnorB pr8 Sunod eqt tuasardar ol uooru er{t Jo aseqd stql paierdrelur aABr{ uoruon puu uaru luarcuv 'sseu -llnJ retBerS ol seuroc ll sB d>ls aql ur req8rq pue raq8rq

IZ

NOICI]AU CIIO THJ

TI p

28

POWER OF THE WITCH

THE ltlI'OTHER The full moon, when the night sky is flooded with light, is represented as a mother Goddess, her womb swollen with new life. Witches and magicworkers everywhere have always found this to be a time of great power. It is a time that draws us to sacred places, like the hidden springs and caves that Neolithic women might have used as their original birthing places. In his fascinating study The Great Mother, Erich Neumann suggests, "The earliest sacred precinct of the primordial age was probably that in which the women gave birth." Here women could withdraw into the Great Mother and, in privacy and with fresh running waters nearby, give birth in safety and in a sacred manner. And so down to this day temples, churches, sacred groves, and sanctuaries have a womblike stillness and quality that suggest protection and safety from the world of men, warfare, and disruption. As we enter these places, often lit as by the light of the full moon, we feel born into a more sacred life, and we feel closer to the source of all life. In the mother aspect of the full moon, the Goddess of the Hunt also becomes the Queen of the Harvest, the Great Corn Mother, who bestows her bounty upon the earth. The Romans called her Ceres, from whose name the word cereal is derived. She is the same as the Greek Demeter, a name composed of D, the feminine letter delta, and meter, or "mother." In Asia she was called "the Doorway of the Mysterious Feminine the root from which Heaven and Earth sprang." In America she was the Corn Maiden, who brought maize to nourish the

people. In all her manifestations she is the source of crops and vegetation that become our food. When she departs in the winter months-as Demeter seeking her daughter Kore in the Underworld-the land lies barren. When she returns in the spring all turns green again. In many Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and ancient

er{} Jo irBd or{t uo epntrter8 ;o uorssardxa ue pue drotcrn ;o u8rs B se ruen ol lsBeq urels aqtr Jo sJellue ro suJor{ aqt uel€ puu porouoq sp^\ relunq InJssaccns aqt sarg IBqIrt punorv 'r{}Eep ot paldruerl ro paro8 ele,r sretunq LuepsnoreSuep selv\ IEruruE peuroq a8rel e 3ur1p4 pue Suqplg 'Lrntuac qtuealauru eqt olur dn der* eruus srql uI olugnq e qcuorddu ol 'suroq pue peaq qtlr* alaldruoc 'saqor olegnq peuuop suerpul uecrrauv 'de,,r,re ll Suupcs tnoqlrlv\ prer{ aqr qcuorddu plnoc eq luacs pue adeqs ueur -nq sH Suqearuoc Lg 'sseccns pue Llatrs roJ lsuaq er{} Jo eplq pue suroq dral aql aro^\ relunq aqr 'd1pcr3e1ur1g 'lunq InJsseccns P eJnssB ol lqSnoqt selv\ palunq eql qllr'r. uort?rgrtuepl erIJ 'derd srq ;o lrnds aq] parpoque eq lderd eqt e4l rq8noql eq rtrrr6 oql e{II po{ool all '}rrrds puu 'purur 'dpoq ut pe}unq oql elueteq Jelunq aql 'srellue puu suroq eqt Surrearvr Lq 'og 'dltap eql e{rl Surtcr puu '3ur1uads 'Surssarp (q pero -uoq Suteq sr oq,/v\ sseppoD ro po3 elqt s?uoraq uosrad B setu snor8rlar crlrlsre uI 'llH or pedoq aq IBruruE ar{l t{tl^\ ra}unq Sunod eqt pagrtuapl pue lerurue aqt ;o lrrrds eql parouoq sserppBaq pauror{ eql lBnlrr sv 'sn{} roJ suos -EeJ IBluauurJes pue cr8elerls eJe,/v\ aJeqJ 'suroq Surruar* pelrtdep ual;o 'po3 relunH e se spua8al uuadorng ur peqsllqBlsa 11arvr l.1nu1 sBlv\ Jeqlow aur^rc eql Jo uos aqr 'E'3'g 0001 dg 'lruqlsuodser ,selBlu eql auecaq slsuaq p1t1vr eqt 8ulpl pue Suqlurs ;o qo( snora8uep aq] 'uroq -^\eu aql qsunou puB r{]rq arrl8 plnoc deqr dluo ro; 'aqrrl aql Jo ISAIAInS eql ol IBIIA ale,/vl ueulolv\ esnBceg 'Suru8rp surolsnJ Iurcos pue qrdru luarouu pug e,t\ ereH ,,'arp lsnur poD,, Sunod aql dueu o1 Surproccy 'spua8el luarcuu 'suos u..v\or8 eru ueur 11e

pue 'sraqlour lurtuatod arp uaruon lle ,,'seddl pcrql(ru,, sE leql purru ur daa4 tsnru alr 'sree ulepou ol snonl -saJur puu drolcrpeJluoc punos deur srqt q8noqlly 'aleur puB re^ol Jer{ sauoceq otull ur or{1vt ra}unq Sunod B 'uos ol qurq sa,rr8 ssappoD raqlow aql suourperl uuadorng E

6Z

NOIDIISU C'IO :IHJ

POWER OF THE WITCH

tribe, for he had put his life in danger. In time this hunter-son of the Great Goddess was honored as a Horned God, and his willingness to sacrifice his life for the good of the community was celebrated in song and ritual. The hunter often met his death in the winter months, the season of the hunt when hides were thick with fur and meat was easily preserved in the cold, frosty air. This drama of a winter death was also seen in nature as the winter sun grew faint and weak, and everything appeared dead or sleeping, and when the long winter nights encouraged our Stone Age ancestors to retreat into the warm, womblike darkness of their lodges. It was the season of ice and death. |oseph Campbell tells us rn The Way of the Animal Powers that "the annual disappearances and reappearances of the birds and beasts must also have contributed to this sense of a general time-factored mystery," a mystery that all things have their times to die and be reborn. A religion based on the cycles of nature would make this a sacred truth. Those who followed that religion could celebrate even the season of death because they knew that it was to be followed by a season of rebirth. If the Son must die, he would be reborn, iust as the sun would return in the spring. The Earth and Woman see to it. These were the mysteries of the Creat Mother Goddess, the Great Womb of the Earth. In Britain and northwestern Europe, in Ohio and Mississippi, and in many other parts of the globe, Neolithic farming cultures constructed great earth mounds. According to Sioo and Mor, "the beehive shape of so many Neolithic earth mounds was quite intentional and symbolic. Beekeeping was a metaphor for settled agriculture, and for the peaceful abundance of the earth in those times. And the honeybee was like the full moon, making illumination in the night." Shaped like the full breasts of the Goddess of Milk, shaped like the beehive ruled by

'uoes 0q u?c ueasun s8uryl qclqrv\ ur 1v\ol3 crSBru E Surlsec 'arnleu ur*o s,uooru aq] seJBqs lqql palcegar drele ro; 'uooru egl uolsllue sn sdlaq ecrleqo aq] ur pelcel;ar elpuec a18urs E rO 'elcrrJ e ur Surpuels Lq ecueserd rno orur adrqs 11n; s,uoolu eql s8urrq uelof, Lur 'arg aql eJoleq uoor 3urrr.r1 du ur Surlaaur 'sreluuvr puelSug ,t\aN ploJ er{} ur sroop -ur ue^g '^\arq oql olur parrrls aq plnoc rqSll u/v\o s,ssep -po3 eqt os uooru IInJ B r{tBaueq uorplnrJ e ur suor}od Surmarq roJ pellec slpnlrr luarcuv 'lq8r1uoour ur rur.&\s a./v\ Ja^eueqa sarpoq Jno olur raAod req 11nd e a 'seol puE sra8ug rraqt q8norqt rervrod pelJeger s,uooru aql dn r'rerp ,{eqt 'uooru IInJ eql r{}Beuaq relB,l\ ;o lood Lue ro 'e4u1 u rreqt aceld seqr}IIA ueqlA B otur spuer{ ro 'puod }eeJ 'uooIII eq] pe^\ollBlv\s a^Eq I 'elu ulglllv\ ueql sI sseppoD eq1 ',{poq anlue dur rnoq8norql 3ur13ull 'leorql du unop oB 1r

Iae] I 'uooru er{} Jo d8raua puu raru.od eqr >lurrp 1 'dlsnorc -t1ap 'dy*o1g 'lersdrc Jo spreqs e4q 's1red rellurus dueru olur aSerur s,uooru aqt Surralteqs 'ralurvr oqt Surllrlds 'eor -lBr{o ar{} olur ra88ep IBn}rJ Lu a8unld 1 'luaruoru }reJJo3 eql lp 'ttqJ 'uorlJallar JaAIrs s,uoour eql ur ocEJ u1vro dur aas 1 dnc eqr otur aze? I sV 'spuer{ ,(ur ur plorl l re} -ervr Suuds JBelc Jo eJrlBr{c aql o}ur u1v\op rar*od s}r 1v\EJp 1 'uooru IInJ eql qlueueq elonJ cr8eru E lsur I ueq/A 'serpoq rleqt u1r{rlrvr rar*od

req Jo esnecaq Suorls aru sJeqtou IIe pue 'uoo141 pue r{uu[ Jo ssappoD ar{t tuorJ seruoc tueuqsrrnou 1p 'tr pug ruroJ re^elBq/v\ uI '{IIui s,erEru pue deuoq uo pal oq,ryt euor ecBJr{I puB BTTJJV ruou e1vl

sJorrrBlv\ ueruolv\;o spueSel

'uaan[ eqt uior] ,(auoq ueplo8 eqt 'sreqloru Jo >llru

eql-,,deuoq pue 4lrru qtL!\ Surrvrog spuel,, Jo selul eql sllecer dre8eur a^qaaq eql 'sseppo3 eql 1o d11aq puu slsBeJq percBs eql sB peJouoq aJa,/vl }Eql surBlunou puB sruq aql alqueser 01 r{upe aqt dn IIe^\s ol suoge uuurnq Jo sllnseJ or{l eraa spunou qlree 'aag uaan$ }eeJD eq}

I8

NOISI'IAU C]O THJ

32

POWER OF THE WITCH

THE CRONE At

some point in every woman's life the menstrual cycle ends. She ceases to bleed with the moon. She retains her blood forever, or so it must have seemed to our ancestors. She holds her power, and so she is power-full. She is an elder. She is the wise old crone. Like

the waning moon, her body shrinks, her energies wane, she eventually disappears into the dark night of death, iust as the moon disappears for three dark nights. At death her body is replaced into the earth, and at some point she will be reborn, fresh and virginal as the new moon on its first visible night, hanging like a iewel in the western sky at sunset. The Greek Goddess Hecate, Goddess of Night, Death, and Crossroads, embodied this Crone. Her rule during the moon's absence made the night exceptionally dark. The frightened paid her homage during these three nights, seeking her favor and protection. Wherever three roads crossed Hecate could be found, for here life and death were thought to pass each other. Even today Witches will leave cakes at crossroads or in the woods at the dark of the moon to honor her. At death Hecate was said to meet the departed souls and lead them to the Underworld. In Egypt the Dark Moon Goddess was called Heqit, Heket, or Hekat, and she was also the Goddess of midwives, for the power that leads souls into death is the same power that pulls them into life. And so Hecate became known as the Queen of the Witches in the Middle Ages, for the wise old country nurses, versed in the ways of the Goddess, were the midwives. From years of experience they acquired the practical skills for assisting at births and the spiritual insights that could explain the mystery of birth. And so from birth, to puberty, to motherhood, to old age and death, the eternal return of life is intimately bound up in every woman, no matter what phase of her

-ErdS pur sallrasruw 'ueeuBrtalrpew eq] Jo pua reqto oql lv 'sernllnc ssappoc lBcoJrrl?ru oslE ere^\ I{{EIBIV puB su.lv\ot aql (da4rn1 dep 'rupcr11 'ursre141 '>{n(nH IB}EJ Jo -tuesard) BrlolBuv uI 'eleJ3 uo ot uortezrueSro 1ec lrr{t -oJrJlBrrr JBlrrrrs B pare^of,un uaeq eaBq uEeu lcelJor lBr{l -EIIalIpeW urelsBe eql uI sulv\ol laqlo lng 'e>ln$ puDI B oq ol ater3 uo aJntlnc uuourw s1{t }q8noq} sreloqrs 'o tsrg 'snlBls ssBlf,-puocas pleq dlqurunserd pue luar^rasqns

lV

ara/r ueur erer{,t\ pue ranod pue rouoq ;o suorlrsod plaq ueurolv\ ereql\ eJnllnc 8urlo1-acead 'snonsues '1n;de1d 'sno(o( e lcrdap punoJ ar{ leq} s}ceJrtre puu s8urlured eqJ 'elar3 Jo puBlsr eql uo sossou)I Jo ul\ol eql }E ernl -lnc lsol E ]o surnr aq] perelocsrp sUBAI rnqllv 1si3o1o -eBr{cre ar{} drn}uec qloltue,lu er{t Jo sreed ,{pea eqr uI 'ueruolv\ punoJB pazrueSro seileicos oI{]II -oaN pug o,l\ lBql 'aro;ereql 'Sursrrdrns lou sr lI 'qlnrl Jo uorlou s,aldoad E lcager leql sernlcnJls lurcos oqt esIJB IEaJ sr luq/r ;o suorldacred pareqs eql ]o ]nO 'salrl rlaql ezluB8ro (aqr /er* aql ]nq sacrlcerd lenlrnds rraqt dpo 1ou adeqs aldoad E Jo sJerTeq pue senlg^ tsadaap aqa

SIUNJTNf, SSTCCOS 'd1oq a;r1 e{Bru pur sruot -snc plo aql enurluoc dupol saqrlllA sdum eseql uI puv 'salrl Jrer{} ro; Suruearu punoJ pue uor}BeJc ;o sarralsl.ur luer8 aqt ur eceld Jrar{l poolsrapun Leql sdu.tr esaqt ul 'pedrqsroivr puu peJapuolv\ sJolseoue rno sder* aseql uI 'suorlBrqalet t(1tea'( s,qcilia B ur pe{ool -relo sr leqi Ieaq.r eql uo turod ro eseqd ou sr ereql pue 'perces tou sr lBqr leaq^\ lear8 srql uo lurod ro eseqd ou sI oler{l puy 'rlllBe er{l Jo uosuas dre.te ur llo} puu uaas sl aJII Jo urnler leurela eqJ 'ul ,(ltuerrnc sr eqs a;rl u/v\o

89

NOI)I]EU CIIO flHJ

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POWER OF THE WITCH cuse were Goddess-worshiping centers, and perhaps the most famous of all was at Ephesus in Greece. What were these women-centered, Goddess-worshiping cultures like? Many scholars have noted their strong resemblances to the many European myths and legends about a Golden Age, suggesting that the myths arose as

latter-day accounts of what had once been reality. The of military fortifications and weaponry indicate that they were peace-loving cultures. There seems to have been no large-scale, organized warfare, only the minor, personal skirmishes and conflicts that arise in any human society. Weapons were small, personal instruments, which suggest they were used primarily for de-

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Goddess centers also lacked a bureaucratic political structure; people lived in clanlike extended families run by mothers. There was no slavery. Women functioned as priestesses, artists, agriculturists, and small-game hunters. Food was abundant and supplied by gathering, foraging, hunting, and later small-scale farming. In short, these Neolithic Goddess cultures seem to have laid the seeds for Western thinkers' fascination with Utopia, not as a future possibility, however, but a dream about a reality we have lost. It is not surprising that ancient life centered around mothers. Bloodlines, kinship, and property rights naturally descended through mothers because the motherchild relationship was always paramount. A child always knew its mother. Even after fatherhood was understood mothers and children did not always know who the father was. Matrifocal societies may indeed have had the characteristics of a Golden Age simply because the primary bonding was between children and mothers. As psychiatrist Eric Fromm has pointed out, children must win their father's love, usually by obedience and conformity. A rl

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ol paIIeJeI eje.r puB spunou alrlquo^\ elquesar ot ]lrnq dlluuortrpert era^\ sualo 'aru Jo reralorsrp 1eu€rro aql Suteq uBluo.lvt. lnoqe spua8al aleq sernllnc eseql ;o duuru pue 'sarg yo sradaa>1 pue sJeplrnq dreuud er{t II}s eru ueuron 'drnluec qlellue,t\l eql olur pelrlrns eABq leql sellorcos leqrri rnoJ-drq8re uI 'sorlercos pleurrd ur uorl -JunI IBII^ puu parces e 'sradaa4 arg drerurrd aql dlqeqord aIe,/v\ ueluolA 'Selllxel olul e^ol!\ Io IaqlBel uo palutud ueruo.lv\ leql suSrsap aql ueaq e^?q duur lre le slduret -tE tsrs aql Suoruy 'sepFl Suiadp puu Suruuet Jo tre eql puB sllDIs Surnear'r peurBal ueruol\ Surqlolc apl,rord o1 'senbruqcel a8erols pue'Suruesard'Surssecord peCole,rap eABq plnol!{ uoruo.lv\ uorteredard poo} eq} ;o lred sv 'sall -rpqrsuodser alerua] sder*1e ere^\ pooJ 1o uorterudard pur Surraqlu8 eql lurlt alecrpu suolsnc pue sql,(ur IEIcos pue 'pooJ ar{l ;o luacrad 99 apr,rord ueruolv\ ereH 'uoI}EcIpuI due arr (up ur*o Jno ur lsrxe llrls leql serlercos Surre -qle8-Surrunq aqi ;r 'sarlddns poo' oq] lo {lnq eqr papr^ -ord roqel s,ueruo yecuelpe o1 uorlBzrlrlrc JoJ ,(ressacau sllqs pue slre eqt ;o redolelep eql ueeq e^Bq pinoa ar{s 'dlerlos pue aJrl uerunq ur dlrprluac s,urruolvr Jo esneJ -eg 'arnllnc uerunq ;o sroleur8rJo eqtr eJe.n uoruolv\ lur{r pue arar{.l\l;ele leco;rr}Eru sBn 'seleurrlc eleradrua} ur dlprcadsa 'uorlezqrlrJ rrr{}rloeN tuqt lsaSSns o} srBloqcs e[uos pal seq drarrocsrp rreqJ 'plrolv\ er.ll Jo slred raqlo uI seJnllnr lrco;rrteu aql Jo elrleluesaJdar aru ueau -BJIelIpew eq] punorB para^oJsrp srelues ssappoc aql 'arn8g uBrJElrJor{}nE ue ot a3uarpaqo uuq} reqlpJ suorl -BIoJ lBrcos peluauec e^Bq plno.r plqc puB raqlou Jo sseuln;de1d lernleu aql uoJJ Sursrrr sanlea JrlsruerunH 'pa8ernocsrp Jorlur{aq alr}cnJ}sap'lualorl pue'passarls ueaq e^Eq plno,/v\ aJII IIB Jo sseupalcBs eI{I 'lsnrl uo pas?q sarlaroos Surrnlrnu-a;r1'Suro8dsea'1n;acead uaeq a,req plno.ry\ sseppoD reqtow eql punorB Surreluac salrr snor8 -11er dq pecroJurer pue e^ol reqlou uo peseq sernlln3 '1pnpoo8 speerq qclq^\ 'puorlrpuocun sr elol s,reqlou

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"Triple Goddess"

kind of belly or womb. Woman's role in the ritual maintenance of fire continued down through the centuries, as seen in the vestal virgins of Rome and the Irish nuns of St. Brigid at Kildare, who tended sacred fires until the time of Henry VIII. As fire keepers women would have been in charge of pottery, ceramics, and metallurgy. As the primary gatherers of herbs, grains, nuts, berries, and roots, women would in all likelihood have been the original herbalists and pharmacologists. With their knowledge of medicinal herbs and remedies, women rvere the first official healers and health-care providers. (The World Health Organization relates that 95 percent of all health care even today is provided by women.) Cataloging and explaining to their daughters the various parts of plants, and showing how to prepare them, pointas a

-Eeru pur rar{lour r{}oq suearu 'aldruuxa rc! 'raiDur prow loor uudry eql 'druouoJlsB pue 'scrleuraqluur 'ueurolvr Jo uouceuuo) srql roJ ecuepr^e oql Jo

Hffi;J::t""fi^

uorlrunluoc ur peleur8rro a,rerlaq sffloqcs qrrq./v\ spleg onl 'druouorlsr puu srrlrrrreqleru Jo srrrJot lsarlrce eql padola,rap ,(eqi 'sqlrrq lcrpard pue 'sarcuuu8ard alelnclBr 'salcdc lenJlsuoru lcurl ot euols Jo poo^/v\ oluo eurl-uooul paqclou ro p3r.{cle uaruolv\ a3y auotS sy 'dlalrlcedser uDqz2sonn pue q7osona ere ,(eq1 'uorlBcgrluepr esols sn{l lca$eI IIIfs IEpualBJ puB uol}EnI}sueul IoJ sploltl srla?D eqJ 'ssrpoq u^\o r0q1 uI palseJiuBru oslB r{}uoiu qJEe uoou eql uI palsaJIuBIII oq./v\ sseppoD 3q1 lBql uortBorpur ue-uoueruouaqd errrBs eql 1o stcedsu 1a11e -rrd Sureq sp olvu er{} pogr}uapr uele dlqeqord ,(aq1 'or*r aql ueealaq uor]reuuoc Suorls aql Surcrlou padecse elrq lou plnon ueruolvr 3rr{lrloeN-s}q3ll IBIOgIUB uror; dervru aAII ueuo^\ ueq./v\ depol op IIIIS pur-selcdc rBunl ly1ollot salcl.c lBnJlsuetu ecurs 'sarull urapou olut dn sEcIJeIuV aql ur aldoad pqur dq pasn osle arerw deql 'edor -na ssoJcB salrs cII{i{oeN 1B pera^ocslp ueeq eABq sJEp -uelBr Jeunl pur 'o8e sread puesnoql aertlt srrpuelec JEU -n1 padolarrap uatuo,t,\ asaurqJ 'rcat(.e ur suooru ueeun{l er{t pue uoou er{r Jo alcdc dep-rq8re-dluem} eqt uo pesuq sJepualec Jeunl aJe,t\ srepuelBc lsarlree er{J 'eturl yo tdac -uoc ,srolseouB rno pedeqs osle ecuerJedxa s,uauro11 'uorlBlrrul puB uorlE^rosqo lualrs ,(q palncaxe puB lqSnul tseq sr ?ur1un11 'xelduoc ro elrsuelxo sE ueaq aABr{ }ou plnoa ernl)nrls ecuelues pue drelnqucol acuaH 'uorleru -roJui;o SuiSolerBc pue Suurclep snoln3rlau qcns parrnb -er aaerl lou plnoa 'uorlcun; (reurud s,eletu aq] 'auu8 e8rul Surlunr{ }Eqt }no }urod droeql slqr rsaSSns oqrvr slsrSolodorqluv 'lI /!\oDI a,r sB a8unSuel;o tuaudolalap eql ol pel rBql uorlBsrunurruos ]o luauaugal ar{l ueeq a,req deu sluorulrB cgrcads qlrl\ uraql Surcuare;er-ssorJ 'snouosrod ara,l\ qorr{rvr lno 8ur

pur sqraq SurSoplec

lE

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POWER OF THE WITCH

surement. We see it in such English words as maternal, matron, matrix, metric, and material. In Chaldea astrologers were called "mathematici," or "learned mothers." Many of these terms begin with the syllable ma which seems to be a worldwide root for words meaning

"mother." If women and women's mysteries inspired astrology and calendrical sciences, then women's influence was most likely the inspiration for the stone circles and megalithic structures that were built all over the globe. Many of these were laid out to mark the passage of time by means of celestial events such as the appearance of certain constellations in the sky at appointed times of the year or the rising of the sun at the summer and winter solstices. In other words, Stonehenge and Avebury in the British Isles, and their counterparts in other areas of the world, were huge astronomical observatories. One of the most recently discovered examples is an Irish tomb outside Dublin built in alignment with the rising sun at the winter solstice so that the first rays at dawn on December 2l enter a small slit in the roof of the tomb and throw pools of light which illuminate designs carved on the floor in the inner chamber. This old Celtic tomb, erected 5,150 years ago, is older than Stonehenge and the pyramids.

In many of these stone circles, or "medicine wheels" as they are called in Native America, sacred rituals were performed in conjunction with solar, lunar, and stellar sightings. Even today astonishingly accurate observations can be made, using these structures even though the stones themselves look crude and clumsy. The mathematical precision with which they were laid out and constructed clearly indicates that these old tribespeople were sophisticated engineers and geometricians. It also indicates that they felt a powerful need to construct, by means of their own physical labor, earth structures that

uorlonpord aql /qurq'uorlrlsaS'uorlenrlsueru'uorlelnrro elurueJ elerurlur lsou eql 'aSrorua ol sur8 -sacuarradxe -aq urallud e 'r(rolsrq peprocererd ol sruad Jo spuesnoql 4Ceq Surrep puB plrolv\ 3ql punojB serrulnc uro;; pareqluS uorlBruroJul Jo sllq pereuecs eqr q8norqt slJrs euo sV 'sqluoru rrunl auru Jo luale^rnbe eqr slsel porrad uorlelsa8 uurunq eqr ruqr Surraprsuoc esues se{eu qclqa 'qtuoru eqt Jo eurl reqlo due Suunp uuqt uooru IInJ eql punorB rnc)o sqlrq erow 'uorlcun(uoc srq] padorls -ep ,(11etol lou sBq e1rl urepow 'uooru aau eqt qlla rol -1BI ar{r 'uooru IInJ eql qll^\ apiculoc reuroJ aq1 'saseqd Jeunl qlr/r uorlcun(uoc ur dpeln8ar rncco uorlBnJlsueu pue uorlulnlo 'uooru puu r{uea eqi io selodc IBrnlEu aql qll^\ eplculoc ,(]ur]cu Iersos puB aJII ueunq uerll 'slBruIJ percBs puB uorlBlrpeu uI s,(up asaqt pueds IIIIS ueulor sarru{nc snoue8rpur (ueru uI 'dlasuo}ur }solu uoour puE quEe eql uI ]ueraqur rarvrod eul^rp eql pecuarrad -xe ueruo,t\ uoql\ eurl B se pazruSocal uaeq oAEI{ plno,l\ poued dlqruou eql pup 'raqlaSol saurt lenrlsuetu roql arBqs plnoa ueluolv\ eql Jo lsolu ro IIB snI{I 'oJII IBqI4 uI rurou aql sB.,* sq} e^arlaq sfflor{cs 'rer{}o qree qltm u8tle pur azruourrq salc(c lunJlsuau 'raqla8ol Sur4rorvr ro 8urlr1 uaurolvr sdnor8 lleurs ur ler{l ul\oul IIe,/v\ sl U ;o ,,'uorleaJc Jo sarlnBeq puB seruoltrJBq eql ploqdn ot nod;r dluo eceds perces slqt relug 'ln] -eruf, efl,, sn ol^\oA des ol tuees deql 'srdacuoc perous sB IIe.r se seceld porcus Surprun? sleunues e4r1 readde slaar{^\ eurcrpeu puu sauols Suuuneq eql depol 'ornlBu Jo esue -leq eqt 'dorlsap uerre 'erou8r ol re.,'tod eql eAEq s8uraq uurunq 'sernleerc s,queo aqi IIE;o ro;-depo1 8ur,rr1 sn o1 dldde plnoqs erurs eq1 'tuoqt punore rvrrs daqt duourruq ;o surelled oql ot Surprocce e^rl pue sserdxa ol dll[q -rsuodsar Jreql se./v\ 1I leqr 'roleapue uerunq l.q parurgu eq ot peau aJuEIBq pur duourur{ reqt poolsrapun l.1a,r1l1 -nrul deql 'sluele lerlselao qlr.tr duorurBr{ ur eq plno./v\

6E

NOIDI]EX

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POWER OF THE WITCH

of milk-and the clocking of these experiences formed and shaped our ancestors' conceptions of time. And the way a people measure time determines the timing and nature of their important social activities and rituals which become the foundation for civilization. For these reasons, it is suggested by many scholars that women were the real culture bearers and founders of civilization in these prehistoric times.

Witches practice many of the same arts and skills that lie at the base of human culture and were once considered sacred to the Goddess. As we cook, sew, brew potions, prepare herbs, build fires, collect healing stones, set up altars, read the omens in the movements of earth and sky, perform healing rituals for the sick, we recite the prayers and chants that we hope are similar to those chanted by our Neolithic grandmothers. We continue to use the old names for the Goddess. In Crete, the place where Goddess culture flowered for the last time in all its purity, were worshiped the famous Greek Goddesses-all aspects of the one Goddess-whose names touch something deep and sacred in our unconscious, names that we invoke in many of our rituals: Aphrodite, Athene, Demeter, Persephone, Artemis, Hecate. Witches continue to honor the Great Goddess depicted in Cretan art as the Lady of the Beasts, the Lady in tune with the wild things of nature, the Lady who can pick up serpents and channel energy from the sky and the earth, the Lady who knows the secrets of herbs and plants. The sacred-bull rituals of Crete continue to inspire Witches' understanding of the Horned God. The sacred marriage between the Goddess and her Son, representing the sacredness of life in the eternal union of male and female, finds symbolic representation in our coven circles. Although modern Witches no longer practice sexual rites in mixed covens of men and women, the ancient

sB/v\ lr esneceq rouoq lBrceds ur eeJ] >lBo oql pleq sllef, eql Jo sasselsorJd puB slsarJd plruc er{J ,,'s{Bo paJsBs JO aAoJS E lsprruB usaco aql ur puBlsr uB uo sr qJrq/r [Lrenlcuus raq ot surn]or sseppoD er{t lrlun] seurl aseql le u,/rou>l are larnb puu acuad l>1co1 rapun sr uodearvr dre.r,a /surrB JEa/v\ ro alltuq ol oB ]ou op deql 'oB or su8tep eqs JaleJar{,tr su8rar dlr,rrtsal puu 'Surcro(ar ;o uos 'erE3 rsrl ur suorlBu eq] slrsr^ puB srrBUE -Bes B sr ]I ' uBrunq ur seua^ralur eqs lBr{} Jerleq eq} puB spoD eql ]o raqlow eq] Jo drqsrorvr uoruruoc E eAErI saqul [rl]laf,l erll IIE,, lBq] pelou snlrf,Pl uBuolsrq uBruou eqJ 'suorlrpErl uBrcqcllla ueedornE aql Jo sur8rro ar{l Jelocsrp e,/v\ uoI}BIuroJsuEJl puu IEArArns slr ur puu 'pa.rr.r,rrns uor8tleg plg aql seqlJl JIrleJ eql Suoury 'secrlcerd puB sJerlaq lenlrnds Surcua -nllur esoql puB ueluo./t\ Jo sruBls pu8 0lor eql ol palslar esoqr dllercodsa 'petsrsrad sl'er*>iloJ pue sruotsnc IBqcrE -rJleru aql Jo (ueur ]ng 'snelc .nor8 11rrvr nod 'reaq B ]qBS ol a^Eq nod ;r reql a8epu plo eql Jo qlnrt eql Surlord 'eru;run pazruu8ro Surldope olur parnssard araa'r s11a3 eqt 'saldoed sseppo3 rorlrea a4r1 'endrug uBruog eql Suraq 1n;rar'rod lsotu eql 'ueql punoJe uesrru per{ salrls leqcrerned elrlsoq 'drolsrq ur peprocal are serlarJos Jrlla3 etull eql dg 'luaurluoc uuadornA eql uo lsaSuol aql palrl -rns serlarcos lecoJrJleru puu dlrlenlrrrds sseppo3 ereql\ 'adorng uralsal\quou ]o sereJ crtle3 erll or 4cuq oB 'e8eluaq dlnue; du se IIel\ sE 'suorlrperl l;er3 umo dy11

SJT[f, !IHJ 'oJrl /v\eu ecnpord leqt 'eurrrrp pue uerrrnq ef,uo le 'sar8reua 1ryra.trod aql purur ol IIEJ leql drlaod puu dra8urul qtlr' sn aprlord ol enurtuoc pue8el puB uE ur petcrdep sredrqsror*. ssappoC Jo slJB lenxas

ft

NOICI]EU CI]O EHI

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POWER OF THE WITCH

sacred to the Goddess Dana. The Celts who settled

in the

British Isles were called the Tuatha de Danann, or "people of the Goddess Dana," a northern European variation of Diana, who was worshiped in groves of sacred oaks. In Celtic societies hereditary monarchies were matrilineal. Temporary male chieftains were elected. Women served as lawyers, judges, sages, physicians, and poets. Boys and girls studied together in the academies; the teachers were usually women. Women held the balance of power in tribai councils and often led armies into battle. In fact the proper training of male warriors included instruction by the famous women warriors of the day whose heroic reputations were won by their valor and bravery in battle. The great Irish hero Cu Chulainn, for example, studied for a year and a day with the warriorgoddess Skatha. Women taught the magical and sacred arts as well as the military. According to some traditions, Merlin learned his skills from the Goddess in the guise of the Lady of the Lake, or Viviane (She Who Lives). As Morgan le Fay, she was turned into an evil sorceress by Christian writers who hoped to discredit the Celtic belief in Merlin. From Roman observors we derive an interesting picture of the importance women played. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus wrote that "a whole troop of foreigners would not be able to withstand a single Gaul [Celt] if he called his wife to his assistance, who is usually very strong, and with blue eyes." |ulius Caesar noted that "the matrons decide when troops should attack and when withdraw." Women's dominance in society and military matters allowed Roman generals to use the Celtic male egos as military strategy. According to Tacitus, on one occasion the Romans gave the Celtic armies their choice of submitting to Rome or remaining independent under the rule of Celtic women. "The lower classes murmured that if [they] must choose between

ueruolv\ rpueqsnq rar{ Jo luepuedepur slcerluoc 1e3a1 e>lBru plnoJ uBruolv\ e rureql qlrl\ lue^\ lBql sellB eql puB salBlse llJaqul plnos ueluo..v\ tllla] 'ueluo.&r Jo snlels oql olur iqSrsur palrulep apvrord 'sarurl crrolsrqard ruor; dlarcos cplef, r{srJl ur u,/v\op passed 'srvrel uoqarg

:;U*r, raq dq ,,ecuelrs lBlluereler qlrrvr pepJeSer,, sen pue ,,reads B eroq,, eqs '>lceu req punoJe ,,plo8 Jo urerlc,, E per{ pue ,,'sroloc alqee8ueqc ;o urvro8 esool 8,, ero.lvr ,,'uos -rad ;o IIBI,, selv\ poorprog 'uorlducsap 3uua11rg erou e sluasard uorlulsuerl s,puBIIcrJlS sau8y ,,'rBeJ,, I{lI1v\ sdoorl raq dq papre8er se/v\ puB ,,ruads 3uo1 e padser3,, eqs ,,'ecBplcau ueplo8 pelsr/rl 1aer3,, E pue,,sroloc durur Jo crunl,, E eJoA\ ,,'lcedsu ;o SurL;rrre1 ,, ,,'auretl ;o e8nq,, sB,l\ eqs 'dalpnq 'U 'D uurrolsrq aluu dq pelelsuerl sV 'snrssB3 0161 dq lunof,ou urle1 E ur paqlrcs -ap sl 'serln qsrlrrfl de4 pernrdec puu sarurre urruoU palnoJ oqm 'urelug Jo srorJru,r ueruolvt. tsBI eqr Jo euo 'eacrpeog 'spro,/r Jo ecroqr rraqr Lq uaruon Jlllaf, esaql ;o sa8eurr rno edeqs UEJ surrJolsq /roq Surlserelur sr lI 'Surrdsgo apu .ra8rul Surcnpord ,(qereqr '1e,rurns ro] spueqsnq uodn tuepuadap eruuceq daql rat;e dllurcadsa 'salBru sB salBlrr re8rel aql pelralas uaruolv\ leqt dr111q1ssod eql puB selelu ;o lred aql uo ,frrelncsnru raluer8 pennber lur{t dlrrrqcr pcrsdqd Jo uorlrurqruoc E ol anp s?l\ sql leql tsaSSns sru -loqcs 'ueuo,/v\ uuql raSuorls puB ra8re1 (llecrsdqd eq or paAIoAe aABq uaru 'ralar*oq 'sarrnluef, ar{} JoAO '}q8real puu ezrs Jo sruJa] ur erues aql ]noqe eru salrs crrolsrqerd snorJBA le pere^ocsrp ueluo]!\ puB uoru qroq Io seuoq aql 'ozls ur lenba ueeq eAEq ol ruees ueruo./r puu ueru aroru eqt 'lsBd eql olur oB arvr {JBq requn} eqJ 'uaru sE plrnq pue rq8req aturs er{} }noqB araru. duetu (lpcrsdqd teql eleolpur slrodeg 'Uos Jo lou arel\ uaruolv\ JrlleJ {Bal\ ,,'lnBD JO UaIuO1v\ el{l uer{} [suBruog eq] esooqc reqler plnon daqt] 'sretseru

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could appear in court and bring suits against men; a woman could choose her husband (most neighboring peoples allowed only the male to select a wife); women did not legally become part of the husband's family; husbands and wives enfoyed equal status in marriage; rnarriages lasted for a year, at which time they could be renewed if mutually agreed upon; divorce required mutual consent, daughters inherited equally with sons. A divorced woman retained her property, plus the dowry, which in the Brehon legal system was required of both the husband and wife (it usuaily consisted of oxen, horses, shield, lance, and swords). The wife could also demand from one third to one half of her husband's wealth. Sex was not viewed in rigid moralistic terms: a woman was not " gtllty" of adultery if she had sexual relations outside of marriage; male homosexuality was common and accepted, especially among warriors. The Christian church challenged these laws and many other Celtic customs regarding women, in particular the right to divorce, inherit property, bear arms, and be physi cians.

The chief priests and priestesses of the Celts were the Druids. The word druid is related to the Greek dryad, a "nature spirit" or "oak nymph." The term was also applied to priestesses of Artemis, the Moon Goddess, called the Mother of All Creatures. One of her popular manifestations was as the great Bear Mother. (Artemis's Saxon name was lJrsel, the Bear, later assimilated into Christian mythology as St. Ursula.) The Celtic Druids and the Greek dryads were two phases of a long spiritual tradition among European peoples. Originally the priesthood was all female; later males were admitted. Druidical knowledge was taught orally and consequently there are no written accounts of their exact teachings, but contemporary scholarship suggests that there is a virtually unbroken line of magical practices from the early dryad

/ollodv 'erpu1 '>1npru141 :readde seruuu rvra51 ',(1rap dreru -trd aql seuoceq ruou 'uorlrsod elrurproqns E pleq sdu,r*1e reqlow luar3 oql ol uosuoc pue plrr{o sE or{,l\ 'rarrol /retunH/uos eq1 'spoC d4g aleu 1n;rar*od (q paceld -er dlmois ere sreed puBsnoql perpunq IEraAas roy 8ur1aa; puB rr{3noq} peteurruop oqrv\ sesseppo) Suorts er{J 'sarl -Irqrsues ur B arrlou a,v\ ''a'3'g 00gI ol 00gz punorB urrls peJcBs puu serSolor{ldru prer a,r* sV

uollrJ/r ernlerelrl

SCIOS AXS EHI {O ITOAIU THJ ,,'saqclrl\,, pellBs arar'r daql 'dlruer1srrq3 ;o Suruor eql qllla 'sseppoD eql ol percBs sellr lE sluBlsrssE puB stuB^res erervr deql 'se{rruBJ puB spuBqsnq reqt qtla ro saldruel eqt le reqtro pe^{ puu perrrcu sesselc o/vu req}o aql 'sunu se Bla uEIlsIJqJ eql olul pelEIIIuIssE arer'r ,(aqt pue 'sarg paJces s,ssappo3 ar{r pepual spooqle}srs asaql 'stueluoJ ur saleqrlao sE pa^rl ssrlc tsaq8lq ar{J 'sesselc eeql olul pap$p erea urBtrrg ul sesseprruc erlJ 'errunJ aql olur reed sr IIe/r sE 'sreqlo 1o s8urlaa; puu slqSnoqt eq] olur ees uuc 'oot 'aqg 'uropsrr* pur e8pay'rou{ perces s}r euru ol quea aqt olur drls urc aqs e>luus e se lsar4s eql ssorcr JEos UEJ sseusnorJsuoJ raq prq B sB :reryrr{sadeqs u sr 'oo} 'aqg 'ranod s,qclllA eqt Jo rarururlS e la8 ervr s1p4s pcr8eru osaql uI 'eruoc ol s8urqt dsaqdord puu slq8noql pBer plnoc pue se>leus pue sprrq Jo eduqs aql {oot uaryo daqJ 'slseroJ pue seen ur pelrl ler{r srat;rqsadrqs ere/v\ 'puellocg ur ,,sprup,, pue oteeJ3 ur ,,spu(rp,, pellBc 'slrnds ernleu luarcue eqJ ,,'saqJJr/!\,, ro,,'ueruo.lvr asl.lv\,, pellec eq ol eluoJ plno,lt oq/r\ esoql ]o s11ads pue suorleluBcur eqt ur dn 8uu*oqs dlpug 'sprnrq ralBl er{l q8norqr u,/v\op s{oerD eqr Jo serralsdru

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Zeus, Thor, |upiter, |ove, |ehovah-Sky Gods reigning

with the power of the sun, challenging the older Godof earth and moon: Ceres, Cybele, Athene, Diana, Artemis, Tiamat, Anat, Isis, Ishtar, Astarte, Minerva, desses

Dana.

The solar Gods became the heroes and the earth and moon Coddesses became the villains, and many of the old tales were rewritten and revised to reflect this shift in consciousness. In many of them the Goddess-or the feminine power-is identified with a serpent or dragon, both of which represent the primal powers of the earth and the watery regions subject to the pull and tug of the moon. In the new patriarchal religions these serpents and dragons are always presented as evil. Marduke slays Tiamat, Indra kills Danu and her son Vrta, Apollo slays Gaia's Python, Perseus decapitates Medusa with her serpentine hair. These stories persist even into Christian times, where we find St. George slaying the dragon in England and St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland. Sacred mythology began to reflect a dualism that was probably unknown in Neolithic times or that was certainly relegated to a minor role in the scheme of things. Sun and Sky opposed to Earth and Moon, Light opposed to Dark, Life opposed to Death, Male opposed to Female. Earlier, all things were part of the Great Mother, including the power to destroy, the mystery of death, and the darkness of night. Polarities were not viewed in moral terms. It was not a question of good versus evil. Each had positive and negative aspects, all necessary ingredients in the Great Wheel of Created Life. Death, for example, although it always elicits a certain fear of the unknown, was a vital part of creation. It was not "the wages of sin" or a curse for disobedience. Native Americans retained this healthy notion of death as part of the Great Circle of Life even into our own times, as expressed in the saying that "Today is a good day to die." This attitude totally

posrlsBqc oql!\ sserlBer] ar{l sBn Sur^rf IIV }o rar{}ow er{t teq} sur* s}arces rda{-lsaq s,dlruerlsrrq3 Jo euo,, 'stres 'statcas puo srpr{1tg /o orpadoyc,{ca7 s,uotuotry aqJ Io roqtnr 'ra41e16 ErEqrBg 's8uraq uerunq Jo luotut?eJl IOnrJ sIH ro; po3 saqsrund pue sesrlseqr eA[ suorsJel eruos uL,,'eur eprseq euou sr areql lpo3 ue 1,'prus aq l?qt reqtow slr{ Jo tuerou8r pue qsrloo} sp^\ aq asneoaq 'reqlow u1v\o slr{ Jo luurouSr ue^e selv\ eH,, sB/vr u 'spuet l1 'qeloqa{ sa}Earr dllenlce pur 3unr1 aqt IIV Jo roqlow eqt sr aAT lxet crlsouD r u1 ,,'e8palrvt.oul Jo pro.u eql atu lq8nel eqs,, 'rorJodns srq sr eAT teql sllrupe ruupv 'uoueo IBrcSo eql uorJ pelca(er dluertrqre eJe/v\ ler{l sernldrrcs uprlsrrq3-oapn{ aql Jo s{ooq aqt Jo eruos uI

'qtrlQ Sunr8 pue 'poo1q 'sqruon qtu* op ol 8uF{}ou sBq pue dlrlrlce eururrueJ E }ou sI uor}EeJJ leqr (13uor1s dral lurod aql se{Brrr r{c1t{n 'Surqlrrq ;o lcB eql uroJt elqrssod se qcnu sB poC ecuulsrp ol patuelv\ sIallIlv\ I?cllqlq eql lEI{l sluees U 'qll S,IIIEpV IIIoTJ e^A ueql puu ,,'spueq,, sF{ qtlm delc Jo }no urrpv se{Erir poD uorsrel srseue3 erl] uJ 'eldru uos/sseppoD lunsn aqt 3uuvro11o; 'eleu req tuni so>leru puu 'urepy 'a1eu

B selearo el1 pue8e1 uerurulodosew plo ue uI 'uorsJel Jeplo aql ur paruaddu ]r sE 'asJelar aql uur{r Jar{tEJ qrr s,tuBpv Jo uJoq sr eAA lrq] os uellrlrar 'e,rE pue ruupv Jo drots uuudssv plo eqt se/r suorsraer Luuru eql Suoruy

ispoD eluru Jo sq8rqr pue spear{ aqi IUoJJ SuiSurrds sesseppoC pug elA 'acJnos eurlnoseru E IUoJJ uorlBaJc aql Jo dprururrd a4ods sql,(ru ,l\au aql 's8ureq lenxesrq ro snoud3orpur dq lnoqr lq8norq squrq pue 'squrq cruaSouaqlred 'squrq ur8rrrr. Jo plol sarrols uoIlBeJ? rarlrBe sBerer{la 'Jer{row eur^rp B uBrl} req}Er poD Jeqlpg drelrlos E Jo {ron aqt uaeq per{ uor}Earc 1uu€uo aql teqr perurclc oslp suorsrlar er{t 'sseppoS aql parces remod IEruruE ar{t Jo 8url.u1s aq} qtr^\ 3uo1y

ol

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selels palrun eql puB serrBuorssrru leqcreuled peHBq

IV

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God." Witches find it interesting that the name |ehovah is formed by the four Hebrew letters Yod-He-Vau-He. The frtst, Yod, means "I," the next three, He-Vau-He, mean both "life" and "woman." The Latin version of these

three letters is E-V-E. In other words, the name of |ehovah is feminine and it means "I am wornarr; I am life." Today a popular chant among Witches is based on these ancient letters: "Io! Evohe!" As mythologies drifted further and further away from the original religious view of the Great Goddess, the dualism that has come to dominate so much of Western thinking grew stronger and stronger. Life was seen primarily as a struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil, rather than a dynamic dance of all things working together for the good. Life on earth became less important than the life to come. Everything associated with this life-earth, the body, sex, woman-became suspect if not outright evil. The folk saying that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" sums it up quite well: Earthiness is to be rejected as a religious concept, it is dirty and impure. Woman is to be rejected as a spiritual leader who reflects the image of the divine Feminine. She is dirty and impure. A curious thing happened to the male gods as they consolidated their hold over the human imagination. Although a few retained their shapeshifting power, most gradually lost their animal identities. We find only a few gods retaining the heads of animals and birds, such as Anubis, the iackal-headed God of Egypt, and the eagleheaded genie carved in a ninth-century palace in Mesopotamia. In the fewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, the male God also lost any hint of androgyny. In time God became completely human and completely male. As we will see in the chapter on Witchcraft as a science, this inability to shapeshift and transform oneself runs contrary to the nature of reality. The ability to transform

-nluluoc uerunquou erll pue 'slenxasotuoq 'ueruorw 'uer -pFIc :eleru u?un{ 't1npe '1n;rer*od-1le eqt ;o a8eurr eql lEt lou op oqlvr asoql sserddo dlqulrleul poD reqlBJ uur -Julrroqln? uE Jo uorlou eql punon dola,rap leq] sarnllnc 'aroturaqlrng 'c1e 's1ce(qo InJasn pue slool 8ur1;erc 'sra1 -1eqs Surppnq 'poo; Surssacord pue Surtcallo3 :,,{rolv\,, pellBc eq ot eluoo spq trr{.ry\ 'ssaurdduq pue '(ol puno; sald -oad retpee r{Jlr{rvr ur s{se} IEJn}Eu lsotu pup 'xas 'l.poq aql 'uuruor'r 'qlrre eql Jo uorleper8ep eql eruec spoD Jar{} -E{ Jo IEArrrE aq} q}llA 'uortBzrlrlrc SurcuerrpB Jo >lreru E se^\-uroJ alqrxagur'pr3rr st1 ur-8ur4urql cllsreqlouotu Jo IEAITJE er.{} }Er{t alqeuor}senb ,(1q8q st }t 'puoceg 'drrap apu'1n;re,r,t,od -llB euo 1sn( ur JaIIaq ,,ralleq,, e ot spo8 dueu uI JoII -eq aarru eruos ruoJJ sserSord ]ou saop rq8noqr snot8rlar ;o drolsrq aql sprolr raqlo uI 'spo8 rassal eqt Supnlcut 'Sutqldrala pulqaq sarl leql eJJoJ ro rar*od aurllp etuos ro 'raqto141-llv ro reqlu{-llv ro lrrrdg tBarD B ur Jerlaq Surprqe pue Suorls e uretal po8 auo ueql erou Jouoq ]Er{t sarn}lnc lsou }cBJ uI '8urag eruerdng B ur Jerlaq e apnlcerd tou seop spo8 dueru ur 1orleq e 'drnluec sn{} ur dlrea pervroqs urpEu 1ne4 lsrSolodorqlue se '1srrg 'slunoc olvU uo 3uor.l^ erarvr deqt 'la,re,rog 'po8 eluur 'e13urs B Jo ro^EJ ur sesseppo8 pue spo8 duetu ur Surrrerleq dols ot lueudola,rap uerunq ;o u8rs u sen U pres deql 'uorlezrl -rlrc pecuelpu ]o >lrrru E selr rusreqlouoru ol uisreqldlod IUoJJ uorlnlole aq] luql pen8rp senlpl luqcrurrlud uno rleqt Jo lq8rl ur lsed aql palardrelur oqr* uor8rler Jo sue -uolsrq eturl euo lV 'sarrulnJ rurlsnw puu 'uerlsrrr{f, 'r{sl -r*a{ ur prepuuls eueceq po3 ,,snoleal,, 'trte1t1os eql 'pepeaccns Laqt puy 'uorlpero ruor' Joleerc eqt 3ur -3uBlsrp pur Surlurudas uo tualur erai* sqldru plo eql ]o suolsleA t!\au eql lng 'uolleaJo i{}I1v\ auo sI poC asnmaq 's8uraq pelBerc uele 's8uraq Jer{to aruooaq uvl po7 so poD E lpr{t suuelu }l IO^ol lenlrnds eq} uO 'salerado asral -run eql durvr aql sr 'Esrel ecrl puu 'relleru olur d8reua

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nities of animal, plant, and mineral life with which we live and share our planet. In rigid patriarchal thinking these have no value in themselves except as they serve the male-dominated institutions, They are valuable only as far as they can be exploited for patriarchal purposes. What were the original patriarchal purposes? In what web of events did patriarchy originate? Goddess cultures thrived in warm, temperate climates where animal and plant life was abundant. Everyone had relatively equal access to the resources of life, and there was no need to create institutions of power or to submit to them for survival. Early European history recounts that these Goddess cultures were invaded by lighterskinned, fairer-haired peoples from colder, harsher climates to the north. These Aryan invaders worshiped male Sky Gods or Thunder Gods, who usually resided on mountaintops, aloof from the inhospitable earth, as the invaders perceived it. Historians have described several waves of these Aryan invasions in India, the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, and Crete. Most occurred between 2500 and 1500 B.C.E., the same era when the sacred myths were being revised. Why did they come? In less hospitable climates there was a greater incentive to acquire and stockpile food and resources. Survival depended on it. Groups that lacked the necessities of life raided other more fortunate settlements and took what they needed by force. In time this gave rise to a warrior class, and warfare became an essential institution for survival and growth in a way that it was not in the warmer cultures to the south. Interestingly, the patriarchal raids from the north coincided with important developments in metallurgy. Although exact dates aren't known, historians surmise that around 2500 B.C.E. the patriarchal Hittites developed the technology to smelt iron. From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, weapons were simple and crude-axes,

'a1uur-1p aqr pue 'senlel crlsrJBlrlru 'lualou uo peseq orea aIEJrBn puno,B pezrue8ro sarleroos tr.Tlliiil:$",

elBlu Jo qtdur aqt palcagar sruolsnc lurcos pue 'sanp.t 'srvrul'suorlnlllsul luqcreuted r{lpntuela pue'luuurruop dlluctrtlod pue ',{llecnuouooe 'dlprcos pa8raua uew 'uel -plqc req pue '/.]redord req IIB 'req paurvro d11e3a1 oqr* 'pueqsnq req ol ]uarlresqns eruereq ueruo.lv\ V 'rurou eql atuecaq serlrrueJ lBr{crrrrlud 'slql loagar o1 pe8ueqc surol -snJ IErJos puu 'selrls pue uarplrqc Jo ter{t ot IIaJ ueruolv\ Jo snluls aql etur] uJ 'srauosrrd ea,rlsue pue 'uarppqc pals 'uaurorvr eder plnoc sJorrrel\ elEW 'uerplrr{J pu? ueruo/v\ ore1v\ rBlv\;o slods aql SuoruB puy 'sIods roJ sB./v\ arBJrBlv\ pezruuSrg 'eJBJJB.lv\ l|\eu eql Jo ojnl?u drel aqr dq pepore era,,vr daql d1no1s lnq 'tqSrurano readdeslp lou prp sarnllnc Ier{JrErrtBW 'sJerleq snor8rler Jreql papuelq pur IIel\ reqler pelsrxeor seJnllnc o,tu eql saceld euos ur lnq 'slusraler eJervr ereql pue '1n;ssarf,ns selv\ auo (rarra 1o11 'serrnluec dueur relo peJrncJo suorsBlur IEqJrErJlEd 's1ca(qo Jllsotuop pue 'slueuruuro 'dr1er*a( pacnpord peq 'uaruorvr Lq l.luururrd unr 'saul -snpul JaAIrs pue 'p1o8 'ur1 Jerlffa eqJ 'relr ro; dn parea8 drtsnpul elBru E otul tl pauro;suerl d8rnlletau ur slueru -do1a,rep l\eu eql leqt asrruJns suurrolsrH 'arurl Jo sporrad 3uo1 ro; druec aql uor; dur*e aq ot progu plnoo pue rorr -JBn ,,lBuorsse;ord,, eqt auoraq ol aiull eql prq 'Surrear -pp{c pue Suueaqp1qc tuor; eerJ sr oqr* 'e1eru eql ef,urs sqnlc elBru-llu eruBceq sarlred SurpreA 'lunouurud aurc -eq-tuaqr dolelep ol aurrt eql pue-slpIs pue {r8uarlg 'suoduarvr re/v\eu eql esn 01 ,/v\oq uruel ol drussacau sen Sururerl 'peSueqc ereJrelv\ Jo eJnleu eql suodeal\ JarAEar{ 're8uorls arnlcBJnueur ol dllgqe eql qtrn lng 'saqsrrurDls leuosrad 'crperods Jo pelsrsuoJ ]I paJJncoo aoual -orl uar{,t\ t1n;ecued dlelrleler ere.M seln}lnc IBr{cJErr}uW 'aJeFE^.v\ Jo suBaru eql uo dlodouoru E pBr{ euo oN 'euodra ol alqEIrEAB slca(qo luuosrad-saplcalord 's8urls 'sqn1c -Ae

I9

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warrior ethic-and way of life-was legitimized by the pronouncements of a single, jealous, warlike Father God. Authoritarianism, discipline, competition, notions of "might makes right," "to the victor belong the spoils," and severe punishment for deviant behavior became mainstays in the male ethos. Since the Bronze Age these values have characterized Western politics, religion, economics, education, and family life. Ironically, since the patriarchal revolution of the Bronze Age coincided with written history, it appears that this is the way things have always been. But patriarchy is a rather recent development over the last four thousand years. It is still a new experiment when compared with the hundreds of thousands of years that human beings have lived in matriarchal societies. And a mere drop in the bucket compared to the 3.5 biliion years that other forms of life have existed on the planet.

01 lou lurq spuEruruos qrrr{1v\ 'scrqla Jo epoJ u,4to sn{ ol lueulnuuoc srq (lsnoues e>lBl ol pruq sB.,t\ lI 'eur lsuru8e atuerpne er{l esnoru o} pue lereua8 ur UEJcr{J}rlA pue eru lnoq? slueuelels eslBJ e>leru ol penurluoc ,,'elr1 ol qolriA E regns tou,, plnoqs euo tBqt uorlcun(ur IBJIIqIq eql qrr.r\ pessesqo pauees oq.& ]oleez snor8rlar e 'ralsrurtu srql 'peq sB^\ I eroJoreqt 'r{cllzlA E sBlv\ I 'peq ere^\ seqclllA IIE urlq oJ 'eru a^erleq ol pasnJar eq lnq /auo -due ureq 01 ro IrAe roJ UBrO eqt pesn raleu e^eq I lBqr urq IIel ol perrr I 'lllra Suteq seqs]IlA IIB ]noqu slueu -elels ]a{uu1q Suqeur ur pelsrsrad aq ,,'l1rv\ no( teqr* op 'euou ruJBq 1l puv,, sr apoJ ,seqf,lrlA er{l leql ruil{ ecurl -uoc ol suoge lsaq ,{tu ;o etrds uI 'uorleu aql ssorce IIaA\ puu elrlu IIps era^\ serurJ Sururng aqt pacnpord teqt sarl eql leql-sJ?al lsJo./v\ ,(u dn pern(uoc oq.{v\ Jelsrurru E noqs {le} uolspelal oSecrq3 e uo eru o} lxeu 3ul}lls sBlv\

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POWER OF THE WITCH "bear false witness against his neighbor." I was his neighbor on the program and he was making false statements about me. Finally, in desperation, and to lighten a rather tense exchange with a bit of humor, I turned to him and said, "You should be glad I'm not a bad Witch or you'd be in a lot of trouble right now." It baffied me how he could continue to antagonize me if he really believed that I had the power and will to inflict harm on him. He replied very glibly, "My fesus will protect me." So that was it, a showdown to see who had more power, me or "his |esus." What the minister never realized is that because I am a Witch, I can parry attacks without attacking back. I can protect myself and neutralize the harm that he would do without inflicting harm on him. In fact the Witches' law states that if a Witch does harm, it returns to her threefold. I think the difference between the minister and me is that he would do me harm given the chance. He was, in fact, inciting the audience to mistrust and fear me. This closed-mindedness reaches every corner of our society. I do not deny that Witches are human and consequently capable of harm, fust as Christians, Muslims, and |ews are capable of harm. Anyone's talents or skills can be perverted and used for the wrong purposes, but most Witches do not misuse their powers. Furthermore, Witches have the power to neutralize their enemies in ways that will not do the enemy harm. If the patriarchal religions of Christianity, Islam, and |udaism taught their peoples how to counteract evil without doing harm in return, without taking up the sword and brandishing nuclear weapons, for example, there would be a lot less violence and bloodshed in the world today and Western history might not have been the depressing story of war and persecution that it is. But unfortunately the man who attacked me on the show follows a long line of Witch hunters, inquisitors,

crlqnd ur seuecs ra8uptu dn Surllnd relo (rlunoc eql punorB su..v\ot ]uerasrp ur ldnre lBr{} selqqBnbs 1uco1 aql lseralul lear8 qlrm qctu^r l lr-at{. qcEA 'uortruSocar crlqnd IuoU seqclllA pue sr*a{ Surpnpxe snqt 'd1uo serulsuq3 sE uosBes ,{uprloq eql Surloruord ol {cBq }ua,r Ircunof, s,rodBru aql 'relenoq 'dlluacey 'rra( eql;o rq3ru lsa8uol eql 'actlslos relur..v\ er{l uo uns /v\eu B Jo rlrrq oq} Jo drats(ur qlrBe luercuu aql Surlerqalec are suor8rlar eerql IIB eculs 'urwol punoru srq8rl SurSuuls raqlaSol pe{rolrr sdnor8 aaql IIV 'eprlelnl rrtle3 rno puu r{B>{nueqf, qsmra{ q}oq pepnlour }Er{t turet Bllerqun uE ,,'s8ur -uaddeg depr1o11,, ue8ols eqt repun sarlrlrtse; reqruereq eql alBrqelac plnoqs u1l\ol aql tEql paprcep ecral'uluo] Jo requreqf, rualus aql o8r srued rrre; y 'sr*a{ pue suur}srrl{J ro; dluo peJces se/v\ eJrtslos ralurlv\ er{} JI se-apr}aln lB sn seJouSr puu uee./v\olleH lE sn slroldxa dlarcos 'pu1qeq reqlrnJ uale sr UerJqJtrlA 'slelrdsoq pue 'suosrrd 'slooqrs ur paldacce secrlcerd snor8rlar rraql le8 o1 3ur13 -3nrls IIIIs are daql depor uela puu 'suucrraruy aArlBN roJ 1cr uo€r1er Jo uropaarJ aql peu8rs reue3 tueprserd tBql o8e sruad ueerJg dluo servr t1 'suor8rler ruBerlsurBru or{l ;o lred lou erB teqt sdnor8 ro; dlraqq snor8rler Surrnces ur o3 ol davr 3uo1 E llrls sr eJer{} 'suezrlrc slr }o }soru sJego dlercos uucrrauv leq] stuopeerJ pue siq8rr eqt IIe ro{ 'pJo/v\s eql u/rop tnd ol '>1eeqo Jeqlo eql ujn] o1 'sreqlo qrrivr. d11n;acuad elrl ol su,l\ e8esseur osoq.M uuru e ;o s8utqcual aqt acrlcerd ,(lpasoddns oq/v\ srapeel snor8 -rler roJ {reru ratu^\-q8lri e lou Llurutroc selr srql 'uor8 -IeU plo eql pacrlcerd 1p1s oqivr aldoad Jo sertrunuuoc dueur Jo serrlcerd lunlrrrds pue sle[aq eql dortsep ot sen leo8 s,qrrnr{r aqa ('uor11rru uee}rql se q8rq su e8uer euos 'parp aldoad duuur r*oq dllcrxa 'aslnoc ;o selBrurlsa

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99

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Why can't our nation admit that it is a pluralistic iociety and provide space and money so that people of all faiths can celebrate their sacred days publicly without fear of reprisal from narrow-minded hate groups? In many cases peopie are well-meaning but uneducated iust don't know the facts. In other cases, how-they ever, people are guilty of outright bigotry, which I define *illfil ignorance: they choose not to listen to the ^t facts, or listening to them, they refuse to accept them' They blind themselves; they turn their hearts and minds to stone. They don't want to know the truth because it might upset their preiudices, which bolster their own miiguided positions. They appear on nationwide teievision and ra-dio talk shows to slander us. Our civil rights

places.

should safeguard us against such slander. The truth about European Witchcraft has not been well told until very recent times. With the repeai of the anti-Witchcraft laws at mid-century, the resurgence of interest in the Craft, and the personai accounts and studies that have been pubiished by courageous writers in the Craft, the truth is finally getting out. When the first books written by Craft members appeared in the 1950s, some Witches felt that the age-old tradition of secrecy and silence had been violated' It's true that Witches practiced in secret and kept their activities and identities hidd.tr. They were, after all, frightened. But I feel that so much has changed in our century, so much is now open and above ground in so many walks of life, that we would be letting a golden opportunity slip by were we not to speak openly and clearly about who we are and what we do. We must inform society about the truth of the Craft; we need to erase the gray area of myth and misconception that allows our detractors to say whatever they please about us. Although vows of secrecy were necessary in the past for individual Witches and covens to survive, they made it worse in the long run. No one

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srr dq pepullq 'soqle alBru eqt 'a1dls prouered pue aruerl -xe slr ur 'l.1ure1reJ ,,'uolqezrlrlrc uurunq Jo uorlezrurl -ncseru lenper8 eq],, sB.1vt 's(rs aq 'uorluzqrlrc ;o Lrol -sF{ eqJ '{cuqles leroru srqt roJ uosueJ aql sduqred lno palutod sBq >iuEU olio 'uaqi qrlm pear8e aAEr{ suBrJol -slq clloqluJ-uou l'uupuorlBzrlrlro uJalse/A roJ ,,>lceq -les IEIoIU E sBlv\ IuopuelslIq] IeAaryaw,, lBgl ualllI..v\ eAEr{ }uBrnq druy11 pue III/A suerro}srq palcedser aq1 'lnos B Sur,ruq 1ou dlqrssod puu 'po3 Jo e8eurr aql ur apetu lou 'ele1s B Jo uoqrsod (1mo1 eql ot s8uql 8urlr1 IIV Jo reqlow pur ssappoC leerS or{t Jo uor}cag -er IBrnlEu e Sureq tuorJ IIaJ uuruolvt 'sreqle; qcJnr{c aql ;o s8urqceet eqt dq oS ,,'seABIs se aq plnoqs pue 'spueq -snq reqt ot lJelqns eq plnoi{s ueruo.lv\ tuqt sq} ruor; ureld st lI 'po3 ;o e8eurr eql ur aperrr sr 'uBruorv\ lou lnq 'uBIN,, :drnluac qrlla,lu oql Jo redrvrel uouuc e 'uer1ur3 dq raqrrn; perJJBf, splv\ ]uerun8ru snorue;ul slriJ ,,'dpoq req Jo sB IIea sE puru raq Jo sssu>lBe^\ eql Jo asnBceq uetu ol lcelqns sr uBrrrolA 'eouelsruncJro ]o s1v\BI aql dq dluo aAEIs E 1nq 'ernleu Jo s./v\EI eql Jo osneceq uorlca( -qns ur sr ueluo71\,, 'elorrn eH 'seAEIs e>lrl uouo./v\ Surlearl roJ elBuorler E pelcnJlsuoc sBurnby suruoqa 'lg 'ra1e1 'aruof,

ol seFruuec JoJ uoruqlrnqc Ienprlrpur Suorue srelrod -dns pug o] panurluoc Eepr eql 'ssalaqlJeleN 'eurJlcop I{trni{c IBrcUo euocaq lou ptp tI snql 'r1 rsuru8e d11n; -ssoccns pen8re urelrJg ruor; sdoqsrq crllaf, pue 'drnluec qlxls aql ur uocuw l? Irruno3 eql lB perrqep ,(lpntuele survr droaql olqBurruoqP srqJ 'slnos eAEr{ lou prp ueluo1ll lrqt pan8re aurlsn8ny 'lg 'aldtuexe JoJ 'aur1ue1suo3 ra1;e drnlual er{} u1 'adorng IBAerpeW Jo sarn}cnrls e}Els -qcrnqc eqr q pezrpuorlnlllsul eruBceq uaruolt lsure8e sacrpn(erd luqcrerrtrd sruad puusnoql lxau ar{t JoAO 'seercep pdocsrda 11? ecJoJua ol sunoc eql palJnllsur aq pur 'slrnoc lr^rc er{r Jo sluaurSpn( o] dtlroqlne aql sdoqsrq orre8 all ',(larcos pla aprse tes

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'sa8pn( 's8ur4 'se1qo51 'ssoursnq 3rq servr Surlunq-qclr11 ,,'ernln] slr Jo urBlrecun os eq plnoqs srno su uoqnlrlsur ue drelnlus os letll,, 'elorlvr aq ,,'l.ltd p sI lL, 'r{}eap of tnd uaeq per{ scr}ereq qcu aqt IIE }Br{t peurrldruoc rotrsrnbur qcuer{ e g/gI uI 'sraaruJ rreqt tnoqe parrron srolrsrnb -ur qcrnqJ 'drnluac qluoet4ql eql ur tno paduruls ueaq puq sersereq uersueple A pue uersue8lqry eqt uaq^\ lBql uorlrstnbul eql ur peues oqr* slsaud (q eruapuodserroc uallrr.lv\ ruorJ rBelc sr 1I 'seqslll Jo uorlncesrad aql toJ e8els aqt les scrtrlod r{f,rnqo u1 lueurdole^ep Jeqtouv 'srauourlJerd uaruor* Jo uorlBurrurla eql lnq drecros ro cr8eur ]o uorleurr[r1e eql ]ou su./v\ roJ Sururre se,l\ qJrnqc eql ter{lA 'cr8eur sr cr8eu 'asrnoc ;o 'dlrpar uI 'lou ser'r cr8eur 'elqrldacce ser* dracrog 'cr8eru pry uaruolA 'dracros pauro;red uew 'reuollllcurd eq] Jo xes eql sBlv\ ecuele$Ip eql ietueleglp aql sBlv\ tEqlA 'snnueqtlra uqo{ roqqy ruor; cr8eur sil{ peurrel dllr -nlce 'drecros uo s{ooq perrordde Jo roqlnu auo 'ruraqsal -leN uo1 'plordde lBcrlserselcce qlr^\ ue^a qcrnqo erll ;o secrdsne oI{} Jepun paqsrlqnd ararvr dracros uo s{ooq tod puv 'cr8eu peroprsuoo ere.lvr oseql '1e8a1p suor}od elol pue 'uorleurlrp '8urrn(uoc operu selerf Jo IrJunoJ eql 'alduuxo roJ '0IgI uI 'cr3eru pue dracros uae^u -eq qsrn8urtslp ot ue8eq suurlsurl] eqr dlenper8 lnfl 'srelarlefl plo Jo ste4cod Suorls ereivr ereqt adorng tnoq8norql 'aldoad eqr Jo slerleq puu sruolsnr >llot eq1 ut pasrel seuo asuvt puu 'steas 'sarr.rlvtprtu 'sesrnu 'srepaq se suorlrsod pelcedser ploq o] penurluoo soqJiI/A 'qctnqc aql ulqtl^\ eldoad euros dq uarr.a 'papre8ar dlqerorrey uaoq eABq ol sueas crSeru sread ;o Jeqrunu E Jo] oS 'sJoAEJ lerceds ro uorlcelord ro; pesn sr leql tca(qo pesselq due pue alrqouolne JoJ senlels 'scrler 'ra1 'spreoqqsup -e.,* dloq 'spparu uroJ ar{} ur plron aql punore punoJ aq uBc cr8eur uerlsrJqO 'o Jo slueuruer depot ueAA '>Iro,lr ol rervrod ,sarlJlr/a eqt paMoID poc lBqr Surdus dq slql paureldxe srar1}EJ r{crnr{r aqJ 'asner rreqr dlaq plno^\

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bishops, local priests/ courts/ townships, magistrates, and bureaucratic clerks at all levels, not to mention the actual Witch-hunters, inquisitors, torturers, and executioners, profited by the industry. Everyone received a share of the property and riches of the condemned heretics. Should such a "salutary" institution go out of business? Pope fohn XXII thought not. He mandated that the Inquisition could prosecute anyone who performed magic. Soon inquisitors were finding magic-workers everywhere. The entire population of Navarre in France was suspected of being Witches! The word Witch has meant different things to different people in different periods of history. One of its acquired meanings in the late Middle Ages was "woman." Especially any woman who criticized the patriarchal policies of the Christian church. In the fourteenth century, for example, women who belonged to the Reforming Franciscans were burned at the stake for Witchcraft and heresy. Church literature grew increasingly strident in its teaching that women were a threat to the community because they knew magic. Over the years the campaign worked: In the popular mind women who knew the ways of the Craft were considered evil. The single most influential piece of propaganda in this campaign was commissioned by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484 after he declared Witchcraft to be a heresy. He instructed the Dominican monks Heinrich Kraemer and facob Sprenger to publish a manual for Witch-hunters. Two years later the work appeared with the title MaIIeus malificarum, or "The Witches' Hammer." The manual was used for the next 250 years in the church's attempt to destroy the Old Religion of Western Europe, demean women healers and spiritual leaders, and to create divisiveness in local communities in order to strengthen the political and economic factions that the church supported (and that in turn supported the church).

daqa :aro;eq serJnluoc eqt ur srvre{ eqrrcsep o} pasn puq qtrnr{J aqt rBqt sf,rtsrra}cerBr{c arues eql IIB qrln pelcrd -ap eJaa seqclliA IBnuBu s,ra8uerdg puB JarueBJX uI 'uBruo..v\ euo dluo qlll!\ tJel era,/v\ su,/v\o1 ueadorng aruos luql dlerrtlcege os ,,druaua,, lur{l lsure8e JElv\ paSeiu. daqr puy 'dureue uE olur 'ueruolr\ 'aJII Jo eornos aql paurnl deql 'a;11 uerunq ecuBquo teqt seorlcerd prr8eru IIB puB 'slre Surpaq eql IiB 'ecuerredxe dreuorsrrr, 1e azrlodouour ol sldrualle rreqt uI 'Suruelearq] ]l puno; srapeal qJrnr{J leqcruuted 'Surlro;uroc uorlou leql punoJ aireq eldoad eruos seareqiA 'sseppoD eql Jo sr rer*od s,ueruolA irer*od euIAIp o1 drqsuorlploJ slr rvres d1]carroc pue rer'rod eluuul s,uBulo/v\ peflnful sIalIJ/v\ elBlu asaql lBI{1 aq 1l plnof, ,r.e9

Iplvr ereql Uurcqclrlvr erou aql 'aru araql ueluo,l\ erolu er{J,, puu ,,Uurcqclrl\ o} pau{cur dlernleu erB ueluo \,, 'elorlvr pnruleJ er{} }o sJa}rJ,ry\ ar{J 'ueuron Jo uol}Eu -iuepuoo rroqt q euolB tou are,t\ d8relc uBrtsrrq3 aqJ ,,'duraua laJcas pue Suqpaer{l\ E sI uBIuoIA 'ernlBu dq req B sr ar{s,, }Bql spro,/v\ rroql ur dn peuurns sr uBruo.lv\ lnoqB epueSedord s,reSuardS puB reruoBJ)I 'uoqs

uL,'enp sr lBr{1v\ Jo esues B }noqlr,/v\ seslndurr u.'!\o reql ,/rolloJ ot lnq peurldrcsrp eq ot tou tueqt ur eorl IErnlEu 'uerplrqc E sr lr pue 'seuoureru re>leervr eABr{ ldeql] e{ll dlpnicallelur ere ueruo A ' ' ' 'dpoq puu pupu ur qroq relqee' ere daqa,, 'uatu ol rorraJur dlluntcallalur pue dlpcrsdqd Suraq ueruolv\ lnoqB luaurn8ru s,suurnby por{sBqar s{uou o1v\t eqJ (ispurqsnq rrar{} }o dlruap -uedapur eto^ puu {ulql rq8ru (aql-alol eql ueuo^\ duep ot drnluac luasard aqr Jo uJn] aql ]E pasn sulv\ leql 'dervr eqt dq 'luarun8rr uy) ,,'pla s{urq} aqs 'auo1u s>lulql u8ruo..v\ P ueqla,, 'srqSnoqr u,/v\o raq ol rq8r.r E sBr{ ueruon orf 'urnrDzt/tprn snaryory aql ol Surproc -cV 'lereueS ur uaruoA\ lnoqB sJeeJ lBr{crerrled ner{l Jo lno r*ar8 saqcrl/A lsureSe sluaurn8re s,re8uerdg puu reru peuearuep seqclllA Surueerueq -oer;1 roJ 'uaruo.l'\

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Sprenger even used the same descriptions for Witches that had been used for fews: horns, tails, and claws-i.e., the stylized images that artists had devised to depict the Christian devil. The motives that orchestrated and precipitated participation in the Witch-hunts were a tangled web of fears, suspicions, and sadistic fantasies. It's not always easy to discern logic or reason. But we can start with one of the major problems that church leaders faced regarding their conquest of European communities: it was never complete.

Throughout Europe there were people who continued to worship the old Gods in the old ways. The church's frustration over this led it to destroy sacred trees and groves, pollute healing wells and springs, and build their own churches and cathedrals on ancient power spots where people had communed with spirits and deities since Neolithic times. Even today many churches and Christian sites, such as Lourdes, Fatima, and Chartres, are

built on sites that were sacred to the Goddess and the old Gods throughout history. They will probably continue to be places of power and inspiration long after the Christian churches disappear. In many churches and cathedrals in Europe I was happy to find images of imps and dwarfs, the little people of Celtic lore, that the pagan artisans chiseled into the stonework to honor our ancestors. The little people are still there. Their power is still present. I have felt it. Where people continued to worship and live in the old ways sacred to the Goddess, church leaders whipped up fears and fantasies about their arch nemesis, Satan. They did this by twisting and distorting the time-honored archetypal images of divinity, namely that of the Great

aruocoq ser{ /suroql Jo u,/v\oJc srq q}r.t\ 'snsa{ '1no palurod qoue e^Er{ olletrew oef 'rC puu der3 'D TUEIIIIIA sE puv 'rolBl pue qt8uarls Jo loqtu,(s e su ftntuec qtuealrno; eqr ol dn slauileq rB,lt, uErlElI pue 'ueruog '4ear3 uo pesn osls eJel!\ suJoH ,,'suJocrun Jo suJor{ aql 0{rl suJoq sII{ puu '4co11nq slq Jo Surltsrg aq} e>Irl sr dro13,, s,sasow lBqt sn s11e1 duouorelna6l '(so1eq e4r1 qcnu) ueql ruorJ solerper tBql a8palaou>l eur^rp puE ruopsr./v\ yo rq311 eql Jo uortetuasarder lecrsdqd e eran suroH 's1ro1dxe rraqt ssalq ol peueas teqt ro,tuJ eurlrp eqt pue ssar*ord rreql ;o u8rs E sE suroq qtr^{ sre^\olloJ rraqi Suoure parouoq arar* 'spo3 dllenlce Jer{lrau 'sasoyg puu learC eq} rep -uEXelV 'srs1 uer1d,(39 eqt pue 'ssartunq aqt 'eurrq spr* se 'suroq Surree.r* palcrdap arar* snsLuorq puu ued spoD >laerD lueroue eqJ 'sartarcos Surlunq cqtrloeN ot peug -uoc lou ruolsns puardsaprr* B se.lv\ suJor{ Surrear* 1ng ,,'arp Jsnlu 3ut4 eqa,, erurcaq ,,arp tsnur uos-ratunq eq1,, 'aldoad aqr roJ eJrl sn{ u^\op prBI oqrvr 3ur4 er{} Jo lEri} ot pepuelxe sB./v\ eqr4 eq} roJ oJII slq u^rop prEI oq^\ relunq eql Jo uorlrpert e8y euolg ar{} rer{} lno poturod seq 'suorlrperl lenlurds uJelselA Jo JBIor{rs e 'f,eta'D UBIIIIIA '3ur4 ro ureryerqc Jo tur{i o}ur peAIoAo tlJlt{rv\ 'aqu} aq} ur elor palcadsar puB }ueunuord dpur -sEaJJur uE parunssr Jelunq InJssaccns l.lpaleadar B eJurs luerudolalap 1ec6o1 E selv\ srrlJ 'u./rorc pdor eql sB pazr -1d1s aureceq dlpnluale sserppueq peuroq aql 'seJnllnc Suuunq crqlrloaN ur 'ralduqc snorrrerd aql ur 1v\Bs e,v\ sE 'Surleur8rro 'ruolsnc peerdsaprm E se/v\ lcadser puB rouoq ;o loqurds e sB suJor{ Sur.rrer'r 'd11urruor1 'Jarr{tslu crue} -ES Jo sa8urur dn pa11uc arn8g peuroq due arurl uI 'uul -BS uurtsuqf, ar{} Jo uor}Bluesardar u sr 'po3 peuroH er{t eSsrur eq} pesn sarJeuorssrru 'uog auurrq er{l 'edornl Jo ur paqselc suor8rlar ernleu plo eql pur /lruerlsuqJ sV 'po) peuroH JIoS raqlo raq puB rer{}ow crurso3

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another image of the great Western archetype of the king who laid down his life for his people. Many customs and terms continue to reflect the importance that horns once held in local folklore. The word scorn comes from the Italian word that means "without horns," for to be without horns was a sign of disgrace, shame, or contempt. Holding up the index and little fingers in the form of horns was a gesture to ward off the evil eye. Today it means "bull." The lucky horseshoe is shaped like curved horns. And since it was the male animal that had horns, the horn easily became a phallic symbol. Leo Martello has called our attention to the fact that the contemporary adiective "hotny," which up until recently applied only to men, is also derived from these concepts. Among the old European nature religions the male deities (the goat-footed, Greek nature God Pan, the Roman Faunus, the Celtic Cernunnos) represented the Son of the Great Cosmic Mother. Together Mother and Son embodied the powerful, lusty, life forces of the earth. The priestesses of the Old Religion honored the Goddess and her Horned Consort by adorning their priests with horns and wearing the crescent, horn-shaped moon on their own foreheads. Against these old religious practices the church waged a bitter campaign. Among their weapons were the teachings that woman was evil, witchcraft was the work of the devil, and the horned representations of the God and Goddess were images of Satan. Underlying these attacks were the fears of women, sex, nature, and the human body. Official church doctrine, worked out over the centuries by an all-male, celibate clergy, preached that woman was the source of all evil (since Eve trafficked with the serpent), that the earth was cursed by God (as a punishment for that sin), and that sex and the body were dirty and vile. "The world, the flesh, and the devil" is the way it was-and is still-summed up.

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luqt slunlu dlercadsa 'sdup dloq oseql uo eceld 4ool leql Sut4erudrraru aql ]sure8e peqcuard oslr serluor{lne 'lulrlseJ ue8ed lecol E sB./v\ eregl relaueq.A\ reed aql lnoq8norql tue.r 1r os puv 'urBrpues 'ree1 ne111 JIllaJ erlr qltr'r deq ,slurug 11y 'ecrlslos reurruns aqt qlr^r tsndug aqr uqo{ '}S Jo tseeJ eqt 'xournbe Suuds eql q}r^\ ralsBg 'ecrlslos Jelurlvr er{} q}r/v\ itltuoc 01 peqsrlqB]se sB.lv\

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"fall from paradise" myth created a theology "that cannot deal with the holiness of sexuality." As he writes in Original Blessing, his plea for a more mystical, earthy, feminist Christianity, "It is no secret that the models of sanctity that the patriarchal period of Christianity has held up to us have rarely been laypersons." The ideal in the Catholic Church has always been celibacy, and an active sexual life outside of marriage has always been discouraged. A woman was allowed to express her sexuality only as a sex partner for a husband. In other words, a woman's sexuality must be limited to a patriarchal marriage, where it can be controlled by a man. Even within marriage, sex was suspect. It was still "the flesh," which traditional Christian theology tells us is weak. A celibate clergy and virginal nuns convey a pretty clear message (as does the message recently reaffirmed by the Vatican that women cannot be priests because they do not have male bodies!). Some Christian thinkers have long suspected that sex was the original sin and that eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge was a metaphor, which mercifully avoided the need to actually say "it" in a sacred book! It has been taught that Eve the temptress was a seductress, and that every woman is Eve. This argument was used during the Burning Times and up into our own era to create suspicion about women's motives. Clearly, the church could not tolerate the old earth religions of pre-Christian cultures. But the interesting question is: Why, after hundreds of years of "coexistence" between Christian communities and pockets of Old Believers, did such a venomous and bloodthirsty attack upon Witches begin in the late fifteenth century and continue for over two hundred years? The lack of action by the early medieval church has been attributed to its lacking the political machinery to carty out any widespread campaign against Witches. In the early Mid-

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indigenous societies here whose concepts of land and spirit stood in the way of what was called "progress." The enclosure movement, which began in the high Middle Ages and continued down into the nineteenth century, severely disrupted peasant life. By "enclosing" common lands to be run under their own jurisdiction, landowners deprived peasants of their age-old rights. The feudal concept of land as an organism shared by all elements of society was gradually eroded by a market economy. In the process entire villages were depopulated. Thousands of peasant families were driven farther into the unsettled areas or lured into the towns and growing cities to work as wage earners for the new industries. Village pagan life was disrupted, neighbors began to fear neighbors, and, as often happens, scapegoats were needed to explain the unsettled times. How easy it was for the church and wealthy interests to exploit this situation by launching Witch-hunts in local areas against individuals who believed in the old ways and fought for a way of life based on the oneness of the land and the sacredness of the earth. In addition to wealthy commercial interests and landowners eager to exploit the land, the medical profession also took an interest in the persecution of Witches and those healers who offered an alternative to the medical practices taught in the universities of the day. The effort to establish a professional medical community involved restricting medical knowledge to those who took formal courses of study. They, of course, could then set their own fees and exclude anyone they did not deem fit to practice. It is not surprising that they deemed women unfit to be healers. As the MaIIeus malificarum stated, "If a woman dare to cure without having studied, she is a Witch and must die." Simple as that. Witches had, of course, studied, but not in the universities. They studied in nature, learned from older women

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ro; lcedser s,uorssa;ord leclpaur eletu aql ullv\ ol elllll p1p ll,'suu4 ur roltop ro Jelselrr lseluar8 aql ueql eulc -lpatu puu dra8rns ]o uE or{} uI resl.rv\,, sr,l\ ai{s }Eqi palels trrprel aqr q8noqllv 'slred ;o dltsre,rrun eql le dllncul IpJlperu aqr dq peFl pue aulclperu Surcrlcerd roJ palsel -rE sBlv\ uBruolv\ e T,7,gI u1 'Suquaq te pooS ere,/v\ saI{J}Ila rBqt sE/v\ r{cmq3 er{} puB uotssa;ord IBcIpou eqi pa11e3 .(11ear lBqlA 'sallesrueqt sqreq pue slueld eql urorJ eJIApB pe{se 'u,u,o rroql uo peluarurredxe 'llruntuuroc eq} uI

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der the medical profession launched a campaign to eliminate midwives as a legitimate calling! It was a long campaign. It took until the twentieth century in America (and with considerable money and propaganda from the American Medical Association) to eliminate midwifery from the available options for childbirth. Fortunately, in the last couple of decades, Americans are once again asking for midwives and natural forms of childbirth. Many doctors are still against midwives, but I haven't heard any of them drag out the old sixteenth-century argument that if a midwife can provide a comfortable, safe, and easy birth, she must be in league with the devil. Women were denied professional status as healers by an all-male, medical-religious establishment eager to discredit natural healing techniques as being superstitious, ineffective, and even dangerous. We now know from anthropological studies of peoples in Africa, Polynesia, and North and South America that one of the most effective ways to destroy a culture is to destroy confidence in its healers and spiritual leaders. When these two roles are undermined, people become demoralized, their way of life collapses, and they are more easily assimilated into the value system of the invading forces, be they political or ecclesiastical. The rising professions, in league with church authorities, did precisely that all across Europe. They created the image of the Witch as a meddlesome, superstitious huckster of ineffectual and dangerous cures and remedies. And they said her Horned God was the Christian Satan. To fustify the millions of executions, the church created a systematic demonology around pre-Christian folk beliefs, practices, and holidays. To these were added the fantasies about pacts with the devil, bizarre and sadistic sexual rites, and obscene travesties of Catholic ceremonies. The worst Christian fears about salvation and eter-

-ees ur pelsarelur eJoru ueuo aJa.r oq^\ sro>looluo snorrnf, aroJaq Jrlqnd ur ,{llensn 'pelcnpuoc ueql selv\ dpoq arrlua s,ueruo.n eql Jo qcrues IEruroJ V 'pelcatepun oB plno^\ rl 13ql os palBecuoc ,(Felelc sBlv\ {JBrrr aq} lEr{} arunssp plnoo qcll/ E sE uBluo1\{ uelr8 e Surqsrlqrlsa uo lualul rolrsrnbur ue 'puno; eq ]ou plnoc ,,>lreru s,lrlap,, eqr JI 'sal{JerJ plnor se 'pnap eql Jo {rrru B se pagrlenb oslu lJeruri}nq ro 'a1our 'gervr y '(suq ueuo^\ aerqt Jo ]no euo ]noqr qJIq^\ 'alddru prrqt 'ra11erus e uaryo) ,,>lreru s,lrlop,, eql plp se'qclr6 B elEJ -Ipur ol lqSnoql eran sade anlq eled pue sade Jelrrurssrq 'qotllA B sB^\ eqs 'tueps peurBuer ar{s }I 'r{JtIlA B sB^\ aqs 'sruel paqs lou prp ro 'punor8 aql ol u1v\op pe>lool 'parel -lnlu uBruon e 'pasncce Suraq uo ;r 'alduBxe Jo{ 'parldde dluelaun pue '1ecr3o1p 'paue,r selv\ UercqJlllA Jo etuep -I^e pellBJ-os 'UErcrlJtlIA ]o sraqtourpuur8 ro srar{}oru Jrer{} asncce o} ueql e8ernocua ol s>lcuq errq rreql uo seqsel palpunq o.ru spr8 e8euael err,r8 ol selvr ruolsnc eurl -nor V 'peluprrurlur dpsue erem deql esnBceq sreuroJur tseq aql apuru uarplrqc teqt patsaSSns >looqeprn8 lurcgo aq1 'r{Jrues rraq} uuSeq puu stelrueq pue se8elprr pere}ue sralunq-r{3tly'urnncr/rpw snaryory eq} q}rrvr peulv il1lrep aqt lnoqe Suruuerp seqcrllA tnoqu peruBerp osle Llqeqord daqr puu 'plap eq] lnoqe perueerp oslB sralunrl-q3]IlA arns rrre I 'salrl rreql Jo qcntu os dn e4uru leqt sa8erul lernllno aqt lnoqe ruuarp ot eldoad roJ IEru -rou sr l1 '3uorm tuen leql IIE roJ patuulq pue 'palcrdap 'paree; 'lnoqu po{lel se,/v\ Irlep ar{J 'aJn]lnc acuussrBuag pue lelarpetu ur etuaql ro(eru e selv\ Irlap aqJ 'sal. prrs dueu 'll,rap eqt Jo peuuerp (aqt JI pa>Isu are..v\ ueruo/r ,,pasnJce,, eql ueq,r esrnoo y6 'drqsrom lr^ep lnoqe uBql xos lnoqB eroru ere.tl' slunq-r{f,}rla ar{] asues B uI 'euul -cop snor8rlar uo peseq uorssardar Iunxes aqi Jo llnser IEJ -€o1 e suraas saqclllA re,ro rrrelsdq eq] Jo arnl?u Ienxas eI{J 'll^ep eqr qrr^\ an8ual ur Sureq Jo pasnrcB era^\ or{1v\ aldoad ]uocouur oluo palJe(ord ararvr lueuqsrund pu

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ing the woman nude than in finding the mark of the devil. Searching a woman's body for signs of the devil led to such widespread cases of rape that bishops eventually wrote directives to discourage the "zeal" with which inquisitors pursued their quarry. The search might be conducted with a "Witch pricker," an instrument resembling an ice pick. professional Witch-hunters (who were paid only when they could convince the local authorities that they had captured a Witch) often used two prickers, a normal one and another with a retractable point that slid up into the handle. After drawing blood on various parts of the body rvith a regular pricker to establish its sharpness, the Witch-hunter could then secretly switch prickers and "plunge" the blade of the retractable pricker up to the hilt in the body of the accused woman. Feeling no pain rvas evidence of a Witch. The principle of "corpus delecti" was not necessary to establish the "crime" of Witchcraft. One did not need an actual victim or evidence of a bona fide crime. Hearsay, accusations, and bogus testimony of others in the community was sufficient. In Salem Village a common sign of Witchcraft was "mischief after anger." In other words, if r\ro women quarreled and the children of one of them got sick or her cow died, she could assume that this "mischief " was the work of the woman with whom she had quarreled. The mischief was "magic"; the woman was a Witch." Inability to recite the Lord's Prayer in public before an investigating committee without stumbling o\-er the words was considered a sign of Witchcraft. According to Barbara Walker's Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. a woman who lived alone was considered a Witch, especially if she resisted courtship. In England a woman was murdered by a group of soldiers r.'ho saw her surfing on a river. ". she fleeted on the board standing firm bolt upright," they reported, and so

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ters. Slow-burning charcoal can prolong the agony for an entire day. When the execution was over a public dinner was usually held to celebrate "an act pleasing to God."

THE SALEM TRIALS In my town no one was burned at the stake. We were hanged or crushed beneath heavy stones. The twenty

people executed in Salem have always seemed a small number when compared with the millions who suffered in Europe, but proportionally those killed, those still in jail, and those accused but not yet arrested were a sizable percentage of the population for a sparsely populated area. It was a true hysteria. People from all walks of life had been accused: a minister who had graduated from Harvard and owned a large estate in England; the wealthiest shipowner in Salem; Captain |ohn Alden, the son of |ohn and Priscilla, the legendary lovers of Plymouth Colon/; even the wife of the governor of the Bay Colony. No one was safe.

It all started in the Reverend Paris's kitchen, where Tituba, a slave woman from Barbados, entertained the Reverend's daughter and her girlfriends during the cold winter months of 1691, The girls asked Tituba, who knew methods of divination, about their future husbands, a normal concern of most young girls around puberty. In time the giris began to have fits, showed extreme moodiness, adopted odd postures and gestures, and had visions. (A generation later in Northampton, Massachusetts, the same type of behavior among young people would lead the Reverend fonathan Edwards to declare that a spiritual "quickening" was occurring and thus

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stones. And as the gruesome summer ended over a hundred people were still awaiting trial, and several hundred

others had been accused. Finally cooler heads began to prevail. Increase Mather preached in Cambridge that the issue of acceptable evidence for "Witchcraft" rested on very shaky ground, especially the notion of spectral evidence, or the devil's ability to take the shape of someone in the community. While not denying that the devil could assume the shape of a man or woman/ "proving" that he or she had made an initial pact with the devil was rather difficult. Could the devil not assume the shape of an innocent person as well? Some people were beginning to think so. Finally, Increase Mather argued that it would be better for one "Witch" to escape execution than to put ten "innocent" people to death. His arguments carried the day, and the Witch-hunt soon ended. A question that often comes up about the twenty people executed and the hundreds accused is: Were they reaily Witches? Historical evidence is sketchy. I am sure that some or many of them, like their counterparts in Europe, still retained many of the Old Religion's practices-herbalism, special potions, divination, natural healing techniques. Some may have even celebrated the old nature holidays. We know that Massachusetts settlers at Merrymount erected a Maypole earlier in the century. But the question of whether they were Goddess worshipers or not has never been proven. Surely there were Witches among their ancestors, but they themselves may not have been Witches in the sense that they were our co-religionists. Most were probably devout Christians. Nevertheless, I think we must claim them as Witches. Certainly they died for our freedom. They refused to admit that they had committed any crime. (Interestingly, not one of those who confessed to Witchcraft was hanged. They repented and were admitted back into the

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POWER OF THE WITCH picture beside the tombstone of fudge Hathorne, one of the magistrates who persecuted Witches in Salem and nearby towns in the seventeenth century. I agreed, and now whenever I look at that photo I say to fudge Hathorne and his cohorts, "We survived. We're still here.

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WITCHES TODAY Around the turn of our present century/ renewed public interest in spiritualism and metaphysics, encouraged in part by the new fields of psychology and anthropology, stirred up interest in the Craft once again, but this time among more sympathetic people. The occult (broadly defined to include metaphysical issues) was quite respectable among major writers and artists such as W. B. Yeats, Tames |oyce, William |ames, and Bernard Shaw. The rvorks of Sigmund Freud and Carl |ung discussed the powers of the unconscious, and fung's works argued a strong case that the collective themes, symbols, and images that have been part of the human mind since the beginning of time continue to survive in modern consciousness. Field studies in anthropology discovered the counterparts to European Witches among shamans, medicine people, visionaries, and native healers around the rvorld, and Westerners learned that these people are not threats to a community but actually its lifeblood. Without them the indigenous cultures could not exist. In 1921, Margaret Murray, a folklorist and anthropologist, published The Witch CuIt in Western Europe, followed by The God of the Witches in 1933. In these two books she argued that Witchcraft was the ancient religion of Western Europe, a pre-Christian religion that honored fertility deities, particularly a double-faced Horned

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the secrecy and silence that had surrounded the Craft. Gardner's description of the Craft became the standard approach for many Witches looking for a manual or guide for practicing the Craft. Today there are many Gardnerian Witches and covens that continue to practice more or less faithfully along Gardnerian lines. For them Gardner appeared as a herald of the Old Ways. (However, Witches brought up in family traditions assert that what they learned from their parents and grandparents did not resemble Gardner's version of the Craft.) Basically Gardner's version contributed much to modern Witchcraft: fertility oriented rituals to honor the Horned God of the Forests and the Triple Goddess with chanting, dancing, and meditation, celebrated on the eight sabbats and at the new and full moons. The ritual of drawing down the moon, reciting the Charge of the Goddess, invoking the Horned God and Goddess, performing healing ceremonies, and other works of positive magic are central to the Gardnerian tradition. Covens are led by a high priest and high priestess, who train and initiate others in the Gardnerian way, passing on their Books of Shadows to initiates who study them to learn the laws and liturgies of the Craft. Not all Gardnerian Witches follow Gardner's prescriptions rigorously. A cardinal tenet of Gardner's that has been discarded by most modern witches is the tradition of practicing "sky-clad," or in the nude. There is no widespread historical evidence for this practice prior to Gardner, who was a naturist even before discovering the Craft. In fact the oldest traditions seem to indicate that Witches preferred long black robes, especially during the Burning Times when they would be less conspicuous in the forest, where they went at night to do their rituals. Certainly the preference among most Witches today both in the United States and Britain is to wear robes, a practice that has always been an important part of magical

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vigor of pagan communities as well as the dedication of individual Witches. In modern times these more accurate pictures of Witchcraft are slowly reaching the general public, but there is still a great reeducation campaign that must be undertaken if we are ever to correct the inaccurate image of the Witch as an evildoer in league with the devil. Contemporary culture continues to reinforce the old images that come from the Burning Times.

THE WITCHES'LEACUE FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS When Warner Brothers announced that it would make a film version of |ohn Updike's novel The Witches of Eastwick, SaIem Witches decided to protest the inaccurate image it would present of Witches. This was the catalyst that led to the founding of the Witches' League for Public Awareness. I called Witches in the Salem and Boston areas and we met fifty to seventy-five strong/ with our babies and children, on the steps of the Massachusetts Film Bureau in Boston to protest its decision to allow the filming of the movie in the Commonwealth. The media, of course, turned out, and within days our protest was seen all across the country. We probably did the film some good by stirring up controversy over it, but we also did ourselves good by speaking out and not standing idly by while Hollywood created yet another film depicting the Witch as an evildoer. Witches all across the nation responded favorably to our taking a public stand, as they realized that Updike's so-called Witches-not real Witches but bored housewives with psychic abilities-would be taken as truth by the general public and fuel the myth that Witches do

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bills that deal with civil rights and religious liberties. We do not, however, take on personal cases involving infringement of civil rights in jobs or housing or violence. In those cases we suggest that a Witch contact the American Civil Liberties Union or the Witches' Antidefamation League, founded by Dr. Leo Martello. (See Appendix for addresses.) One of the Witches'League's major commitments is to counteract the misunderstanding that has come to surround one of our festive, joyous celebrations, Samhain, or Halloween as it has come to be called. Each year the feast is used to trot out all the inaccurate and degrading myths about the Craft. And now there are movements in some communities to abolish it, such as the New Hampshire town where a murderer dressed up like the ghoul in Friday the Thirteenth and actually killed someone. All across the country parents worry about their children on this special night, afraid they will do harm to others or destroy property and afraid that others will do harm to them. Is there any better proof that mental proiections become real? The lurid fantasies and misconceptions of a society now prowl the streets and neighborhoods doing evil.

In Salem we send letters to local merchants and shopkeepers in October reminding them that Halloween is the Witches' feast of Samhain, a high holy day and the old Celtic New Year. We encourage them not to decorate their stores and windows with images of repulsive-looking Witches with pointed hats, riding broomsticks, and cackling through broken teeth. (Witches go to dentists iust like everyone else.) We also discourage images of ghouls, ghosts, Dracula, vampires, Frankenstein, and people with their bodies ripped apart. We point out rhat there are plenty of colorful Halloween images that are not offensive and that do not play upon society's fears and pollute the minds of children and adults. Most Sa-

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him how we met. He said his mother was walking with him and she ran into me on the street and we stopped and talked for a few moments. I asked the young waiter how long ago that was, and he replied, "Twenty years ago." Then he added, "I always thought it would be nice to meet you again," and excused himself politely to return to his tables. And so we did meet again. It made me realize that an entire generation has grown up in the Salem area who know me. I'm sure some of them have heard the old lies and slanders from their parents. But then there is Randy, who knows that he lives in a community with a Witchactually a lot of Witches-and no harm has come. Randy must have seen me over the years on television or in the newspapers. I've taught the Science of Witchcraft at Salem College and lectured all over Salem and the United States. I get interviewed every year at Halloween by local and national television and radio stations. I sponsored the Salem Witches' Ball at Halloween for many years. I am on the board of the Salem Chamber of Commerce. I ran for mayor. On days when the lies and slanders about Witchcraft seem to be too much to bear, I think about Randy and others like him, and I know that having lived publicly as a Witch has been worth it. And yet I continue to wonder how many people were influenced by the nightmarish scene from Disney's Snow White where the evil queen turns herself into a hideous hag by drinking a potion. How can I say loud enough, how can my voice reach far enough, to assure people, and especially children, that that is not the way one becomes a Witch?

ueJ lsrpEs ,(uy 'xgrcnrc er{] op daql se lsn( epuluad aqt a4r1 sloquds Uerrr{c}riA {Joru stsrurtBs IBor er{J 'erurrc B ur slca(qo porcBs osn pue sanSo8uu,{s puu saqcrnqo ezIIEp -uBA UEJ lod4cerc duy 'saurn rleql ur uotSrlar ;o s8urd -derl eqt esn oq./r\ srepuego clroqcdsd roJ r{crgas rleql uI uaql osrlpe ol uorteu er{} punoru ruory s}ueutredep actl -od uror; s11ec auoqd palra3er eABq I 'selurrc arreztq ale8 -rtselur dlaq ol stuefe lfl{ qll/v\ pe>Uo1v\ e^EI{ seqc}IlA 'e3uapIAe

rno uI sroq}o duuur os a{II 'deql lng aq] esnJuor "{lalcos 'serlrcoJlu eJnlnJ luelard pue sluurrulrc eseq] puaqarddu ol IgJ aql puB slueurlrrdep acrlod ro1 luelrodrur s,11 's8ur -eq uerunq Jo saurleuos lnq slEIuIuE ;o dllunsn 'qteep puu eJnuol IBnlIr Suulorrut ue1;o 'sacrlcurd crlstpes puB Ieuc snorru,r ur dn pexru eJE lEqt sdnorS ro slBnpl^rpul dq peilnuuoc aq ol readdu lBgl setulro aJB eseql 'seurrJo ,,lln3oo,, 11ec deqr lel{/vt JoJ saurlaprn8 lutcods erreq drlunoc eql punorp sluarulredep ectlod aqJ 'lou sI oq.rr pue snore8uep sr or{1vr lnoqe uolsn}uoc qtn{u sI aral{J iUBrcl{clllA-se1v\ }I erel{} puv 'sllnJ cluBlsS t{}l^\ pa^lo^ -ur Surtla8 uerplrqc neql lnoqe drro.tr. deql jl ro; lno qclB1v\ o1 sluered ro; sSurqt Jo tsII B r{}I/v\ pepue uerSord aql 'suorlelnler8uoc Jo elou e urF{ ellJ/r\ pue uad dur dn a{E} o} }noqe sE^\ I se 1snl ueql lng 'r}ErJqc1t11 Sutuotl -ueru lnoqtr.t\ rnoq errtuo aqr qSnorqt te8 ot pe8uuetu 'qSnorqr der* eqr 11e or{ }Er{] eas ol sBlv\ I pa^erlar ^\oH qleerq du pleq I 'uolsllelal {ro.,w}au arurt-aurrrd ro} rusl -uEtBS uo ruerSord u pecnpord EraArU opleraD dltueceg

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POWER OF THE WITCH commit murder, rape, mutilate a victim, and then claim to be a Witch or a Satanist. It really isn't that difficult to distinguish the Craft from Satanism. Witches wear the pentacle with the point up. Satanists reverse it with the point down, f ust as they reverse the crucifix. Witches never use a crucifix for any purpose, upside down or right side up. We never use the numbers 666. We do not sacrifice animals for any purpose. We do nothing Christian backward. Specifically, we do not say the Lord's Prayer backward. We do not celebrate Black Masses or any other color of Mass. We use no Christian artifacts, and therefore we never need to break into Christian churches to steal them. Witches do not usa children in our rituals. When our own children participate in Craft ceremonies, they do so on the same terms as adults. We do no physical harm to anyone, nor do we project harm onto others. Furthermore, we do not recruit or proselytize. Cetting the record straight is difficult. The Witches' League for Public Awareness sends thousands of pamphlets and letters explaining the Craft to businesses, schools, religious groups, and law-enforcement agencies around the world. One of our latest projects is to convince the publishers of the maior dictionaries and encyclopedias to rewrite their definitions of Witches and Witchcraft to reflect the truth about us and leave out the business about "ugly old hags" and "pacts with the devil." We would like them to say that Witchcraft is an art and science that all peoples and cultures have practiced in one way or another. We would like our roots in the pre-Christian European nature religions to be taken seriously and discussed with respect. We would like definitions to stop equating us with evil. We are also trying to advise the producers of the daily soap operas, which are viewed by millions of people each day, to stop referring to wicked and conniving women as

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As I read through my Book of Shadows I am always reminded of how rich and varied the Craft is and always has been. My eye scans the pages; certain words, informed with memory and individual magic, loom up and nearly leap off the page: coven/ wand, solstice, crystals, love, vervain, poppets/ cats, chants-and the magical names of coveners I have known over the years. The early entries date back more than twent/ /ears; the more recent ones record rituals we did last year, potions I brewed a month ago, a dream I awoke from iust last night. In my personal iournal and commonplace book I record and catalog my life as a Witch. When I leave this book-actually many volumes now-to my daughters, |ody and Penny, they will have a full account of how I lived: my rituals, spells, recipes, meditations, practices,

sloquds clrletuoe8 lseplo aqt Jo euo aq ol elcBtued aql

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:drnl -uec qryIa^\t aqt ur r{c}II e dq uallrrn s^\opcr{S Jo >loog e ur drlue uB sr eJeH 'qruap pue uorlncesrad Surrq plnoo cr8eur Jo >looq e Surssassod lsn( ueq/r eurl B su./v\ aJegJ 'rJeJJ eql Jo sJaqruau asolc ol ldacxe 'sraqlo 01 saoper{S Jo >loo8 JOI{ 1v\ol{s of qcfT/A E JoJ uoluluoc }ou sI lI 'rJurf, al{t pecrtcerd pue plaqdn I r ot{ urBal daqr se8ed asaql uI 'elII dru ur sluele luelrodrur aql

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known to humans. It consists of a five-pointed star inside a circle. It is the key symbol in the Craft. It is the Witch's mandala, a geometric diagram of all existence, that encompasses both creatrix and creation. The pentacle has a rich history in the magical and spiritual customs of many cultures. In Greece it was the symbol of Demeter's daughter Kore, the Goddess of vegetation and the fruits of the field, because the apple contains a star composed of five seeds in its core. Today gypsies call the five-seeded pentacle in the apple "the Star of Knowledge." Pythagorean mystics honored the pentacle, which they called "Pentalpha," because it consisted of five interwoven alphas: the Greek letter "A,"

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ity of all intelligence. It is the sign for the God and Godof cosmic intelligence. The circle pulls in light and directs it toward the center along its many radii. Each time I see a pentacle I am reminded of the encircling power of the All that surrounds and protects us, assuring us that each human being is at the center of divine life. Our Divine Mother encloses each of us in her womb. No matter where we are/ what we do, in her we live and move and have our being. Other religious groups and even political bodies have instinctively understood the power and meaning of this sacred emblem. While traveling through Europe I was startled but overioyed to find the pentacle pieced into mosaics and stained-glass windows in Catholic cathedrals. The states of Oklahoma and Texas use the pentacle as a part of their state seals. To use a scientific metaphor (although as we will see in the next chapter, "metaphor" may be an understatement), the pentacle is a circuit charged with energy. The star reflects and refracts light, and light carries information (something else we will look at more closely in the next chapter). When made of silver it draws in light fust as the moon does, retaining all the rays except those reflected as silver. When made of gold it draws in and carries the strength of the sun. Metallurgists tell us that molecules of silver are crescent-shaped, like the moon, and molecules of gold have spires or rays, like the rays of the sun. By wearing a pentacle on our bodies we are constantly drawing down and in the moon power or sun power found in light. The circle is the never-ending, perfect intelligence that fills the universe and runs down the arms of the star, inward to the human body, uniting All That Is and the individual in perfect wisdom. Such is the ideal. Of course not every Witch fully realizes the ideal in her or his life. We must cooperate with the power of the pentacle, allowing its power to shape our consciousdess, the fullness

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felt so different from my friends and school acquaintances. I knew I was different, but I didn't yet know that I was a Witch. I hunted for books that would teach me

about metaphysical matters and explain the mysteries of nature and, if such books existed, how spirit and matter cooperate in sustaining the physical world. A very kind and knowledgeable librarian seemed to understand what I was looking for. She seemed to intuit my inarticulate yearnings. She sensed that my search was for more than fust book knowledge, that I was searching for my very self. I trusted her. In time I discovered that she was one of the wise, and that, in some undefined way, which I could not then put into words, she was like me. She directed me to books on nature, history, science, and religion, which collectively transported me back to a time before Christianity. I read Robert Graves's The White Goddess, Sir fames Frazier's The Golden Bough, Isis Unveiled by Madame Blavatsky, and many articles on sleep, dreams, parapsychology, and mythology. I read about eras when people accepted personal visions and experiences like the ones I was having as completely good and natural. I learned about societies where the search for truth was a shamanic, not a priestly experience. That is, where individuals seeking spiritual wisdom embarked, like troubadours and knights perilous, on lonely, often dangerous journeys; where quests for spiritual power required physical and psychological crises; where the hero was tested time and again by nature, human challenges, and his or her own deepest fears and longings. It was a search for the wisdom of the cosmos, not the doctrines of an ecclesiastical hierarchy. In short it was not a search for churches. It was a search for castles, hidden in the center of magical kingdoms. In the course of my reading and study I learned that the powers and longings that seemed so strong in me, and so different from everyone around me/ were once long

'uorlcnporlur Jraq] sE pa^Jes lEql s{ooq rq8rr eqi peer ro sdnor8 ro suosrad }q8rr eql letu daqt 'ryur3 aql 3u1u1o( ro1 .fuessacau ]uarudole^ep IBnl -rallelur ro lenlrrtds Jo Ia^el B peqcear peq Laql pue Iuaql ro1 (peer su,l\ arurl eql uaqlA 'sacuarredxe JBIIIUIS elular rJBrJ eqt ur aldoad tsow '$lro1v\ sseppoC aql den eqr s,lrql uaql lnq 'uraq] pepeou I ueqr\ ueluo.lvr InJJapuol\ aoql asaql ol pol eq o1 oluunuoJ drarr servr I IaeJ I 'pr8 Sunod eql selv\ 1 puu 'sreqlolu aJe..v\ olvu reqlo oql 'dpapla elrnb ser'r sraueloo el{l to euo roJ sn ur patsalruuur dllca;rad serrr sseppoD eI{} Jo eJnluu aldul aql 'saop auo Surqlaruos se 't1en e sB UEIJ aql cl uoll -cnporlu lsJg dur su./v\ JnoJ Jo ualoc tatnb 11erus luqa 'uBrJ el{l ro} srsBq cgl}uelts eqt puelsJepun ol drl ol eur pa8ernocue qcee puv'uoll -eraue8 txeu aql ot uo a8pelmou>1 luqt ssed plnoc oqlvr ralleldrots pue rerlceal B pur a8pelzvr.ou4 perces ;o radee4 E SB.lv\ qCea lSde,l,r. lualcuB ur pepunorS sarrlesueql eJa,/t rJErf, erlt au tq8nut oq./v\ sar{r}IIA aarql eqr teql pa8el -rrrrrd 1aa; 1 'drotsrq uBlunq ut deap seleurSrro ecrlcerd rno luql sn Surputtuel 'sn punor8 pue sn qlll\ dBls sdBIA plo aql-slentrr r*au Surluarc uI ellleur8etur disnouolou arp saqclrlA pue-uollulouul roJ Iuoor sdur*p sI eJeql q8noqtlv 'Uurf, aI{} uI qrnru q}llvr sr }I os puv 'elltrl dral pa8ueqc suq tl luql aes I s,/v\opeqs Jo >loog dru ur uru8e rolo tr prer I sy 'depor asn I euo eql IIIIs sr o8e sreed dlro; rerr.o pasn deql Isnlil uollrlllul eqa 'a8e11oc Iecol /urlf,rsnlu B sB,l\ eug 'lq8tr umo E 18 rosselord e raqlo eql Ieq uI uBluolv\ elqDlftIual E sBlv\ ueql Jo qce[ 'UBI] aql olur aru pal'rlru spuerrJ rer{ Jo

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Most people find the Craft (or it finds them) at the time in their lives when they need it. Others feel a calling to it for many years. They feel led. Some power or force larger than themselves enters their lives and opens windows for them. A voice calls; they feel challenged to discover higher states of consciousness that go higher and deeper than the social and cultural norms they have grown up with. In my Book of Shadows are the names of many men and women I have been privileged to introduce to the Craft over the years. Now that I am an elder in the Craft I can look back on those who came to me for instruction, and I am constantly reminded how wise the Goddess can be in selecting the individuals she wants to serve her in the Craft. Even now their individual names rekindle in me the same hopeful enthusiasm they once felt-that we all once felt-when the windows were flung open, shutters thrown back, and we saw for the first time the beauty and glory of the world through the eyes of a Witch. Or perhaps I should say the first time we knew that we were looking at the world with the eyes of a Witch. There are many ways to "become" a Witch-to discover your own Witch eyes, your own Witch soul. In olden times knowledge was passed from mother to daughter, from grandmothers to granddaughters. Learning the ways of the Craft was as commonplace as learning how to cook soup, birth a child, build a fire. Family traditions made up a great part of Witchcraft, and it is through them that most of our knowledge was preserved and passed down through the ages. Today there are very few Witches my age who learned the Craft from their mothers and grandmothers because Witchcraft was illegal in most places until the middle of the twentieth century. But we have moved into a new era. Since the Wiccan revival that followed the repeal of the antiWitchcraft laws, more men and women in the Craft are

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days short of a calendar month, so there are thirteen moons, not twelve, in every calendar year. Although it has been pointed out many times that |esus's "coven" consisted of thirteen (twelve apostles and himself ), this fact has little to do with a Witch's coven. The association with |esus was probably iust another attempt by the Inquisition during the Burning Times to draw unfavorable analogies between Christianity and paganism by creating

the myth that Witches peruert Christian customs.

Covens have nothing to do with Christianity. Rather they are living vestiges of the old lunar calendars that measured time and events around the twenty-eight-day menstrual cycle. Furthermore, thirteen is fust a good number of people in terms of simple group dynamics. Thirteen people stimulate creativity and provide a sufficient number of members for sharing tasks and responsibilities. A group of thirteen does not become unwieldy. It is small enough that everyone gets a chance to participate, speak out, be heard, and, most of all, be known as an individual. Because the coven of thirteen is so rooted in Craft traditions, it has become a widespread belief among Witches that thirteen people have more power than any other number of people. There is also a beautiful geometric aspect to a circle of thirteen people. Twelve is the number of spheres it takes to surround a thirteenth sphere, so that each of the twelve touches the surface of the thirteenth-a sphere enclosed by spheres! Being the three-dimensional form of a circle, the sphere is the perfect shape, all points equidistant from the center/ no beginning, no end, and only one smooth surface. In a sense that is the ideal coven: all members equal in the circle, tasks and responsibilities revolving among all coveners, the group continually replacing itself with new members as older members leave

-po3 er{r ueq}Suerls o} q}uolu r{cBe arurl slql esn plnos ,(aqt sdem eqt tnoqB alrlll lnq eruorpu,(s lenrlsuaruard lnoqe plot ere daql 'serlr,rrlce dpup (urru roI IBuoIl -cun;sdp pue dpooru ueqt srepuer ]Eql esrnJ B sr polr -ed pnrlsueu eql leql plot dlue4rlsnu ere Laql 'uaql ur acrld e>lel ]Bqt srapuolv\ aqt pur selpoq 4eq] ]noqe e1ltr1 drarr plor uer1o ere spr8 3unotr 'serralsdtu eseqt Jo drlenb perf,Es eqt Jo qcnu lsol e^Er{ ar* ,(epo1 'solusoc or{t ro; uuld lear8 eqt olur }g acuarradxe }Eqt /vtoq puB alBIuaJ Io elslu eq ol luBalu ll lBq/v\ pauJBal I{cBe selull prceds eseql lV 'seualsdru u,l\o reqt ecuarredxe pue re^ocsrp ol xes reqlo eql or slllull go ere^\ IBI{I slBn}Ir prceds pleq uetuolvr pue uaru qloq selull luercuB uI '{JOl| puE seAII rno o} ulnler ol d8raua pur qfuerls a?Jp upc e,l\ ueluo/vt Surirol ;o alJJrf, E u1 'dlarcos leqcrulud E lrrorJ selreter aqs spunoa ar{t IEaq pue 'suorluJ}snrJ esealar ';lesraq }noqe dllseuoq pue dluedo 4eeds UEJ ueruolv\ E ereqm pooqrelsls pue dru -nlf,uBs Jo puH eql saprloJd uarloc s,uetuo.t\-llp uV 'sens -sr s,ueuro.lv\ Surssncsrp roJ r.unrot elBs E puu lroddns pc -€oloqcdsd peeu uaruoi* 'uerppqc reqt pue srel{toru Jo d1a1os pesoduroo eJE sarlrrue; lsoru oreq/( 'plrorvl s,depol u1 'd8reua alriuaJ;o d1a1os pasodtuoc acuds parces JoAEJ 'sdnor8 lsru[ual ,(llercadse 'sueloJ s,uaurolv\ eruos ('reldeqc lxeu eqt ur srural lecrsdqdeleu pue lectsdqd qtoq ur repueS lo eldrcurrd sn{l le {ool IIr/r e11) 'de1d IIn} o}ul seluor esral -run eql ur Surqldre,r,a srervr.odrua lBql uorlBulqruoc 3uu( puu urd 1ce;red lEqI 'uorsserdxa IInJ pa.\\olle ere '1un1 -rrrds pue iecrsdqd qloq'sar8raue alurrreJ puu elBlu enbrun ar{} pue pezrlBer .(1rca;rad arour sr sseppoD puB poD eql ul\op Surr*erp Jo IBnlrJ aql luaserd eru sexes qloq uer{lA 'reqto eq} ro euo IIB ra;ard sueloc euos q8noqtlu 'ueloc arues ar{} or 8uo1eq uec ueruo/v\ puu ueur qlog 'ecuBIBq pue 'duoruruq 'lcadsar Ierunru uo paseq lprds LpruEJ pasrun E pue 'uo ssed ro 80r

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dess energy that oniy they can experience in their own bodies as part of the sacred mysteries unique to females. Young boys are introduced to manhood by competitive or violent rituals, often learned in school athletics, that do little in the way of placing their strength and passion in a sacred context. They are not taught the male mysteries that could produce strong spiritual warriors and hunters, men of knowledge and personal power. In other words, we become male or female adults in modern society with little understanding of how that fact, certainly one of the most important in our lives, serves the God and Goddess. All-male or all-female covens let their members work on these eternal mysteries iust as our ancestors did. They provide sacred space off-limits to the other sex. In the privacy and sanctu ary of the coven we can find the safety to explore the needs particular to our gender and discover the purpose and meaning of being male or female. These rituals are not about engaging in sexual activities but rather with exploring the power of gender in all things, the yin and yang elements that represent the female and male energy of the universe. In these rituals we learn how to deal with the male and female elements in each of us. Some gay Witches prefer working in all-gay covens to explore the blend of male/female energies that are unique to them. Gay men, for example, have reclaimed the "fairy" tradition of Celtic lore, which in recent years has played a stimulating role in discussions of gay spirituality. All-lesbian covens use meetings to study and explore the meaning and purpose of lesbian relationships in this same manner, some reclaiming the Sapphic mysteries performed years ago on the ancient Greek islands by priestesses of the Great Goddess. There is a lot of misunderstanding among people about the role of nudity and sex in Witchcraft. Several years ago, while I was visiting England, a very proper British

t(en e ul aJII rnod e8ueqr ot ro Suorr,r sr >lurql nod Surql -eluos op ol nod s{se ueloc e;1 'nod ruor; slcadxe ll }Eq/r puB iI 1r\ou>I ol le8 uorlrpErl ro ue^oc duu 3ur3pn( u1 'JerlJEe

peuorlueur 'uoo1y'r7 aql aMoO Surtvtotg s,JOIpV lo8rew sr 'ruaql ol palcBrllB ore ]Br{t aldoad ;o saddr eq} sB IIaa sE ',(epol setels pellun eql ur IIea puB elrle erB ler{t sdnor8 ue8ed-oau Jor{lo pue suor}rpeJl urrcrlA snorJBA ar{l }o dauns V 'dBp ,fiala ]eaur no'{ aldoed sselc-8ur4rol\ puu sselc-elpprur Jo sparpunq eqt uorJ luareglp ou aldoad IEUOTIUaAUOC eJOrU qlrrvr Suop 'l1er3 eql ur scrJluecce pug op nod lng 'rrreertsurcru aql uorJ pa8r8uasrp ',(ta -rcos Jo eSpa aqr uo ururuer ol uasorlc oslB elpq sesnrue8 pue slsrlJB lselear8 s,plrom er{} }o aruog ,,'aSurrJ Jr}eu -n1,, eq] eru deql uBeru dlrrrssacau ],useop qolqrv\ 'sed,(l luut3ruur llenle o] pepuel sur{ }I ',(lerlos ;o sur8reu eql uo stls ]JEIJqclIlA esneJeg 'qllrvl alqe$oJtuoc 1ee; nod luril lterrr{ctllA Jo eldrs eqr puu aldoad eqt pug ol epr{1v\E nod a4u1 deu tI pue 'eldoad ;o saddl tueregrp dueru pue UBrJ ar{} ur suor}rper} dueur are araql 'd11n;arec r a qlu o ." I pu B u eAoc t :,?"'J ltff : #"TJl' : i HL:tJi

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that does not seem appropriate, you are probably in the wrong group. Remember/ no respectable coven will ever ask you to do something dangerous or harmful. Neither will they ask you for a fee to ioin. (This is not the same as a fee charged for a class or workshop; in our capacities as teachers and instructors we have a right to charge for our time and expertise iust as an instructor in any other field or discipline.) You can usually iudge a coven by how comfortable you feel with the people in it. They will be evaluating you on the same terms and will require a period of the traditional "year and a day" before you are formally initiated. They will invite you to join them in some or all of their magic circles for that is where magic is taught. In the new- and full-moon circles you will share magic together. On the sabbats you will learn how the coven celebrates and observes the seasons and honors the Goddess and God. Some coveners may invite you to lunch or to go iogging with them to get to know you outside the circle. Most fellow coveners are like-minded individuals, sharing common interests, concerns, and values. Although each will have had her or his own unique path into the Craft, often similar experiences shaped each one's iourney: intellectual questioning, periods of spiritual shopping around, dissatisfaction with contemporary life in some way or another, trying other religious or philosophical belief systems, opening up to their own mystical or psychic experiences. Be on the watch for covens and coveners who seem to be interested only in power. Witchcraft is about personal power and can attract individuals who interpret power as a way to dominate others. I have seen many people over the years who wanted to become Witches only to satisfy their misguided egos rather than to develop their real selves. There is a difference between the ego and the self. When the self seeks power it is always power from

dlleuro; ,(eur deql 'suorluetur iq8rr aqr elrq pue 'e1qu -e8pay'ron1 'eJaf,urs arr nod lBr{l tuaql d;srtes o1 q8noua 3uo1 ueloc B r{trlv\ pe{ro1vt pue perpnts eAEq nod uaq11 'UercqltrlA sem lq8noql dlua -{Btslru aqs lur{n Bunrlrerd tou sr tcadsns plnoa I pue 'qo( pooS u puu uerpllqc IBreAas seq 'parrrru ,(lddeq rvrou sI aqs 'sn pauJoJur aqs ,,'o8erq ues,, 'eprsur polrus pue sI{lBeJq rno pleq IIE e/A 'l1pnord peJunouue oqs ,,'3ur -oB tu,1 eJer{./v\ ssen),, 'sread ue1es ur preer{ f,up3q eqs Irloq^\ uorJ BruroJIIBf, ul puau;l.oq E rrrorJ rettel e 3ur -^E1v\ ssBlc 01 peurnler Bpull ratel sdep a^g ro rnoJ 'lle Jo poo8 eqt roJ aq pur auou rurer{ plno.ry\ lI trql os uor}Bn}rs eql ,,a8ueqc,, ol 11ads E plp I 'ecuangur raq ezrleJlneu ol euop eq lsnru Surqlatuos lrql paproep a,l\ pue 'aueu peq e seqclllA rualus er{} IIE Sura.r8 ur8aq ror^Er{aq snol?puuts req dlpnlualE ,,'cr8eru,, req qlrl\ slsrrnol pue sra8uerls dez ot Surueluerql 'slaarls aql u,/v\op pue dn Surteog 'adec 4re1q e ur urales punoJu Suruunr uees se.lvt' or{s rel -Jperaqi dlrroqg 'pereaddesrp pue UerrqctrlA ur ssBlc tsrg dru 4ool eqs 'qctllA E aruooeq ot patue./v\ aqs rBql Surdes o8e sreed oluos eru ol errrBc EpuI'I peruuu ueruo.rv\ V "'1snrl lce;rad pup elol lca;rad,, Jo elnl eql repun eleredo pue dltlenprrrrpur s,reqlo qcee lcedser seqctrlA 'Jor{toue Io seol aql uo Ie^eu puB 10eJ o.tvU u./v\o lleql uo puBls lsnlu (aql elcrrc s,qctllA eqt ur tetqt eztleer deqr uer{^\ eleel dllensn suosBer Suorr* aqt roJ UBrO er{} uro( oqrvr esoqJ 'ueelse-Jles pue a8pel,,vroul r{lrn perar*odura aq ol sr euo -drarra ;o leo8 aql puv 'reqlouu relo rervrod suq euo oN 'peruqs err sarln6l 'snrn8 ueql Jeprsuoc lou op arw 'srep -le Uurf, lcadser a,r q8noqtlv 'ecuepguoc-Jles >lcBI oq^\ slenpr^rpu {Ea^\ o} nrn8 eql deld pue sraq}o etulndru -BIu ol 1u31v\ seAlasueql oIUv\ Io seAlesuaql UBI{I slBnpIA -rpur re8uorts dq paleuruop Suraq Jo peeu teer8 ur raqtra erB or{1v\ eldoed Sunod dueru dn par*o11u/rs eAEq sllno snot8tlar sa8e 11u uI 'sreqlo ralo rarvrod ralau 'urqluvr

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initiate you into their coven. Not every Witch is initi ated into 4 cov€D; some solitaries, for example, practice alone, and may even initiate themselves in a special ceremony to officially acknowledge themselves as practitioners of the Craft and followers of the Goddess. Some Witches may meet with a coven (or covens) on certain occasions without being formal members. For most people, however, formal recognition by other Witches is critical because identification with a particular coven strengthens one's personal identity as a Witch. A part of my initiation ritual is very similar to the dubbing ceremony in knighthood. In our coven each member brings a iar or bowl full of fresh earth from her garden or yard and pours it into the cauldron. A new Witch stands between the high priestess and the cauldron and is dubbed with a sword on the forehead and each shoulder while the priestess says, "I name you Witch. Return your knowledge and energy to Mother Earth and the cosmos." The initiate then takes the sword, holds it upright before her heart and head, repeats the phrase, and then plunges the sword point into the cauldron of earth. She is then an initiated Witch in my coven, the Black Doves of Isis. I can see in my Book of Shadows that it took me many years to organize my first coven. Until then I worked alone with my daughters, doing family magic. But the Goddess's ways are always right and correct for each person, and those years were important ones in my own growth as a practicing Witch. When the time was ripe, and the right individuals came together, the coven was born; its birth and growth was full of fun and intensity. Today only a few of the original members are still together. Others have moved away with their families or pursued careers that left them no time for coven work. However, many stay in touch and often align their own rituals to coincide with ours and in this way our work is

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urnler ol ueql Surdlaq puu 'sla4uelq qtlr!\ ueql Suualoc 'uaq] qrl^\ Suldrrs dq pof, ade3 uo selur{1v\ par{cueq tsrs -sB o] slJoge Jaalunlol peuro( eABr{ sJeqr[aru ueloc aruos pue 'arrqsdrueH A\eN ur lue1d rarvrod reelcnu >loorqees aql Sutlsetord ur paledrcrlrrd spuarrJ rno Jo sreqlo pue Iual?s ur eraq srsl Jo lrcuno] ar{} Jo sraquew 'sef,r^ras s,ueJpllqc puB rillBer{ q}p\ ro sretueJ tueuerlar }e Jo sselauoq s,L1rc rreql qlrl\ erurl reelunlol (eur seqctrll uBqrn 'slq8u Ieruruu Jo uortcetord aql JoJ >lro,/v\ aruos rpuel tsero; Jo uorlelresard eqt ro s1ue1d rarvrod rBalcnu Jo dlaJus eql sB qcns 'senssr IBlueuuoJrlue uo serlrlrlce lsel -ord pue suorlrrlsuouep m pellolur euocoq eruos 'elr -rolcele oql SurlBcnpe ro senssr lBrcos ro;8urdqqo1 ur eBuB -ua Leu sueloc elrlcB dllecrrryod eJoru eql 'dlrunrutuoc eql ur >lro^t\ eprslno Jo ruroJ Oruos ol se^lesueql llluruoJ sueloc duuur 'ryoru,3ur1uaq puu lentrnds ot uoqrppB uI 's,(oq dqeq eug ol!\1 esaql ol sa^r./v\pru lenlurds IIE ere.t\ e/a 'qruo,t\ eql ur llrls aran ,(aqt allqrv\ ueql arntrnu ot pedlaq sn Jo IIE puu 'selcrrc cr8uru Jno ]o lrud ararvl daql sqluou euru roJ 'ualoc rno ur uJoq ueaq a,req sdoq r(qeq or*r reaL lsul eqt uI 'paqcrrue ere selrl rno pue rer{lo r{Jea uor; qt8uerts raqleS e,l\ ueloJ er{r uI 'dlqeuosred puu rerv'od s,reqrueru qcBa r{lrl!\ ue^ol\relur qe,/v\ B sr 'crSBur Jno Jo gud aruocaq op e./v\ lBq/v\ puB eju e,t\ oq/a 'alcJrc crSrru aql ol sadoq pue sdol 'seurl] pellg-un] pue ser{crpraq 'ratq8nel puu sreal Surrq eIA 'raqlo r{cre roJ dpruuy puooes e puB dnor8 troddns E eJB alA 'salrl s,Jaqlo qcee ur pue {roa rno ur pellolur dlasualur auocaq a,t\ asnuoeq ueaoc E Jo req e^rlc' uB eq or lua."lr."*"r ol:irlilil:,Ti^r,1", _ruaru

sI lI Jelauar{,t\ sn uro( ol o}Els Jer{}ouu ruoJ} ruales ol sarlt reqrueu ueloc auo 'plro/r aql punoJe srar{}o dq pereqs 60r

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nize public rituals, such as Maypoie celebrations in city parks or winter solstice affairs at Yuletide. At Yule the Witches' League invites other Salemites to foin in our magic circle to celebrate the season and to contribute new toys for the local children's hospital and family centers. At Samhain, or Halloween, my coven meets on Gallows Hill and leads a candlelight march down to the harbor to commemorate all those who have died for our freedom and rights. Hundreds of marchers who join us do not belong to the Craft, nor do all those we commemorate. It is the spirit of those who died in Salem that moves us, and so we honor all men and women whose lives or deaths inspire others, such as Martin Luther King, |r., Gandhi, and all those put to death for religious or political reasons. Some Witches belong to more than one "circle" and may even say they belong to more than one coven. Belonging to more than one coven, however, is difficult because of divided loyalties. On the high sabbats we cannot all be in two places at once! Some Witches, however, will have their principal coven with which they celebrate the major sabbats and a second, more loosely organized "coven," or circle of friends, that meets once or twice a month for more specialized spiritual work. In this way a person can belong to a same-sex circle and still be part of a mixed coven. In some areas several covens may join together at the high holy days for a joint ritual or to offer public ceremonies for the larger community, or "gtove," in which they live. As I flip through my Witch's iournal I see the names of people who have blessed my life and my magic circles over the years. Some were fellow coveners/ some shared magic with us only on certain occasions. Some are gone now, but as I read each one's name I remember some priceless gift he or she contributed to our work: an en-

se puv 'aloJrc eql o] Surrq srequrou slr ler{} sanssr leuos -rad pue Ieuorloua alrldnrsrp eq] urorJ uorsecoo uo sJeJ -Jns uelor lerua8uoc E uaAA 'salrl Jreql;o sporrad urBuec uI tspal le 'euo1e ecrlcerd ot lseq tI pug eldoad euros 'raq e>lrl sar.{r}l/a orolu eq plnoqs ereqJ '&lllqe req Jo lseq eqt ot Surcrlcerd pue u.4\o req uo UEJJ aql 8ur -,(pnrs ueruo..v\ drrlrlos 'ellue8 rnq q8nor E-slvropurls Jo 4oog dur ur ,lou sr ecrue{ 'atu qlr,r dels sdurvrlu 11ur 'aur1 -tsEoc oUIBW ,{4cor aql uo cr8elu Surlueq pue 1ec€o1oca raq Surcrlcrrd pue Surlrl 'req ;o (rouraru eql lnq 'ure8e Jaq ees I eroJaq allq,/v\B aq deu tI 'Ieqle8ol uoouleue luB -sea1d E puq e/A 'srol luqreq pue s{ooq Surperl dn pepue e.t\ pue 'l;er3 eql tnoqe sBepr ereqs puu >llur ol lsn( euec eqs 'ue^oc e o1 pa8uoleq ra^eu pBq erls 'dpure; req Jo sJeqrueu dlaq ol dpruurrrd cr8eur raq Sursn 'euo1e pactl -curd pue eJil req IIB qcill E ueeq peq acrue{ 'dep reqr rarlree eroqs eqt Suop 3uq1ur* eru uaes per{ puu e8ellur Suqsg aqt ur pe^rl oqr'r'seda anlq Uos puB rreq der8 qlrivr 'selug dpee raq ul qclllA e 'errue{ petueu ueruolvr 3un1oo1 -ellue8 B se..v\ tI 'Joop aql uo der ryos B pJeeq 1 'puuvr aqt puu s11n8 eql ot Surualsrl pue Bat Sur4uup 'deg stodro4;o qtll^A er{]Jo aluoq raluroJ aI{} selv\ luqt aSulloc IIEIUS B ur lBs I sE uooureuB euo 'slsrJnol Io uorloluruoJ 0q] puE Joq -JEH rueles (srou eql uror; Lrrvre 'eurllsuoc lurnr 'ppm aqt ol resolc ta8 ot aurrw ur lEaJleJ sdup .tra; B >lool 1 dlruec -eU '/llllqlssod e sr sueloc qtl^\ 8ur{ro^qeu uaq^r\ uale euolB {Jolv\ ol asooqc saqc}llA euos 'q}IA\ acrlcerd o} auodue tnoqtr^\ auolB IIB Jlesrer{ pug III,V\ qcqiA E 'seere eloruar ur 'ual;g 'ueloc e ol sSuoleq qcillA drerre 1o11

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POWER OF THE WITCH

in a close family, one person's problems become

everyone's problems. One of the joys of coven work, however,

it provides a wonderful support group for each member. But there are times when someone may prefer to do magic unencumbered by group dynamics and interpersonal tensions that arise from time to time and unbalance the energies of a magic circle. This is fine, and a Witch who prefers to work aione should not feel like a second-class citizen. We make no demands or write up rules that coerce every Witch to ioin a coven. My daughter Penny prefers to do all her rituals and spells alone, but she has a wonderful creative knack for devising new magic that helps her in her career and personal life. The absence of a coven in her life does not impede her development as a Witch. My daughter |ody, however, is a member of my coven, and all our members benefit from her direct, powerful, businesslike approach to magic. There will always be loners in the Craft, just as there are loners in all walks of life, and the Goddess needs solitary magic as much as group magic. One of the commendable qualities of the Craft is that it accepts and honors those individuals who prefer to practice on their own. We do not force people to attend rituals or "worship services" or "prayer meetings." A solitary's full-moon sabbats raise power and play an important role in balancing the earth's energies and working for the good of society, just as those rituals performed by full covens. And when all is said and done I think every Witch should, at some time, face the moon alone, feet planted on the ground, with only his or her voice chanting in the stary night.

is that

ssousnonsuoc ereql\ selcrlf, eseq] uI 'solusoc aql pulqeq esodrnd puB Suluueru aql dpealc erolu ees uec al* 1pa1e,r -ele sr uerunl{ aq1 'peJaiuac-po8 orotu soluoceq ssauoru.t\e rno pue sulqs sseusnorosuoc druurpro rno 'Sururrunrp crurqldqr ro 'Surcuep 'Surtueqc Lg 'tueql eluooaq os e/v\ sle pue ssappoC pue po3 aql;o raiwod aql u^\op ^\erp -nlrJ aruos ur pue-alp releu leql seJJoJ leddlaqcre eq]spoS aqr teelu a^\ elcrlc B uI 'spulru pecuuluq pue pesncoJ rno qSnorql s^\og d8raue IIE pue 'd4s pue qlree l{loq surBluor serpoq rno Jo Surr eql 'seqcuerq puu sloor lsEA sll qlr.ry\ splrolv\ reddn pue 'elpptru 'rarvrol aql sallun ]Bql plro A aril Jo aarl lect8etu eq] ro; alueu s,aldoad asroN eqt '1rsurp33l a>ltt 'reqlow rlueil eqt unllllv\ urorJ elII Jo slvrog lsBA eql dn /v\BJp ro 'slels pue 's1euu1d 'uoour eqr Jo eql u.tt.op 1v\EJp ueJ ervr aJeH '4ror* 8ut sar8raua lellseloc -leaq ro; saceld 1n;rar*od are salcrl3 Surop pue lunlrrds 'oJII ]o alcnc luar8 aqt ulqll^\ luls eq] aJE e,/v\ 'elculued aql aII'I 'Sn JOJ eSJaAIun eql Jo IelueJ eqt seuoceq 1I puB elcllc Ino uI{}I1v\ leelu saoeld IIB puu serurl IIV 'd1r1uer ,fueutprouou pue dreu -IpIO JO ,,splro./v\ aI{} Ueal!\}eq,, eI8 e,/v\ pU? 'SpUeq SUtplOq '8ulr u ur puBls e/A ,,'plrolv\ aql Surddols,, sllec cr8uur rnb -8,\. Jo uonducsap sII q Bpruetse3 solre3 leqr* acuaued -xa elA,,'arulr e uodn ecuo,, IIEJ e/'r lueluoru eql'ue8eq esrellun eqt ueql\ lueruolu eql lE puBls a1'r salet drrc; 'plro.lr aql Jo SuruurSaq er{i lE pelsl 1o e8un8uel aq] uI -xe lBqt erult luuarp er{} Jo arutl leur8uo eql Surre}uaer

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POWER OF THE WITCH

is sharply attuned, spells are very powerful. The magic works. The results are spectacular. In casting a magic circle we first purify the space we will use with the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water. We walk around the area that will become the magic circle carrying a bowl of salt and water (for earth and water) and an incense burner (for fire and air). As we walk the path of the circle we say, "By water and earth, by fire and air, by spirit, be this circle bound and purified as we desire. So mote it be." Then the high priestess, carrying her wand, walks clockwise around the circle three times saying, "I cast this circle to protect us from all negative and positive forces and energies that may come to do us harm. I charge this circle to draw in only the most perfect, powerful, correct, and harmonious forces and energies that will be compatible with us. I cast this circle to serve as sacred space between the worlds, a place of perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be." Then we invite the animal powers and the spirits to oin us. From the south we invite the lion; from the west, f the eagle and the salmon; from the north, the boar, bear, wolf, and the white-horned ox; from the east, the birds of the air. We invite these creatures of power, strength, vision, courage, and magical wisdom to add their energies to our circle. Next we invite the Celtic Gods and Goddesses: Cernunnos, or Cerne, the Green Man; the Horned God; Brigit, Goddess of Fire, Family, and Fertilitl; Ceridwen, Goddess of the Moon, of Magic, and the Witch of the Gods; Gwyddian, God of Magic and Supreme Druid of the Gods; the Dagda, the Father of the Gods; and Anu, the Mother of the Gods. We ask that they give us the wisdom and understanding of our magical workings so that they will be for our good and for the good of all. Then we do our magic for the occasion. We cast our spells. We do healing and renewal rituals. We share our hopes and dreams with each other.

'elaldruoJ sr rel\od eur^rp Jo u1v\op Sutr*erp eql puB eruBqlp oql rllr,l\ retem ro eur./v\ eql Io aceJrns eql uo alcelued B securl uuru oqJ 's8ulqr 8urlr1 IIe Jo ecrnos eqt arB luql sar8raue olurrral pue elutu eql Io uorun aqt Surlceuaar d11ururr arr aldnoc aqr dnc eqr olul aluer{}e aqt saceld aq sV 'uortcalord pur d8raua eleur saztloqruds r{cqrvr 'pru.u,urrlop pa}Jarrp lurod aql 'spueq qloq ur 'ra33up lenlrr srq 'euruqte ar{} }o alpueq aql sploq uuru eqJ ']ueuqsunou puu 'ssau11n; 'qtuorvr aqr Jo loquds B 'ralB,l Burrds ro eur.rv\ ;o dnc eql sploq urruolv\ eql IBruIr lectddl u uI 'sturoJ alBuroJ pue eFIu sll rlloq ur rarr,r,od eurarp Jo acuasso arnd aqt serpoq reql olur /v\Erp puB sseppoc puB poD aql elo^ur ssalsarrd q8q puu tserrd qBH e uooru eq] u/v\op 8uv*erp ]o Ienlu eqt uI 'dnor8 aql qlr^\ ereqs ol qsIA eA\ lBt{l slueullues puB suot}t}ad Ienprllpur ecloa ro (717 e?ed eas) 11eds puosrad E puer ol reqlueu r{rea roJ areds puu eurl percrs slql asn osle e.& ueaoc Ltu u1 'quua aqt Suqeeq 'ernleu ur eJuEIEq 'dlrptre; 'uter e>1ty 'ens -sr IelueuuoJrlue ur ro 'dlayus crlqnd 'dlrredsord dtrunu -tuoc 'acuad sE r{cns luo8 lercos e '}uasard lou euoeruos JoJ Surpaq ro raueloc e yo Surpaq leuosred e eq rq8ru sq1 'lEnlIJ er{l Jo asodrnd ro leo8 eql rervrodrue pue uo snoo; ol uorlBlrperu dnor8 ro luBr{c dq sseusnonsuoJ ,sreqrueu eql strenp rapeel eqt olf,rn eql ur sesu l.Sreue sy '(slueurnrlsur tJ?rJ elrroleJ are srelrn8 pur 'sadrdued 'seuunoqruul 'surnrp 'sa1ng) sluarunJls -ur uorssnored ro '3uuls 'pulrur uo paduld crsnru ro '3ur -cuep '3ur1ueqc 'Sur8urs dq pauarq8raq sr d8raua crqcds4 'olJJrJ aql otur selrlur uelo3 eqr irqr sar8raua lrrrds eql qlr^\ {ro1v\ puB e>lo^ur o} dlIIIqB ar{} pue 'uorsPJco arll Jo rusersnqlue aql 'll ol s8uuq lentrr aql SurlJnpuoc uosred aql rrr{l Errrerp Jo asuas pue IIrIs aq} 'slurdrcr}red al{t Jo }rrrds alr}celloc puB lBnpr^rpur eql uo spuedap 1I '8uuoq pue IInp eru sreqto lsecueuadxe lnpor*od puu JIlBIrreJp are aruos 'perrrl ,(laruerlxe ere slunlrJ uelo3 9I I

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POWER OF THE WITCH

The presence of the God and Goddess incarnated in these two individuals is honored by all the members of the coven. The two celebrants then become vessels for the total intelligence of the All. Like oracles, or what today are popularly called "channelers," the two Witches can speak for the God and Goddess and convey knowledge and information to the group. They answer questions about personal issues in the lives of the coveners as well as impart insight and understanding about the spiritual realms. In these rituals the God and Goddess may teach us new rituals and new ways to work magic and do healing or they may advise the coven or individual members on new works and enterprises that they should undertake. In many rites coveners share the traditional "meal" of cakes and wine, breaking and sharing bread or cake and passing the cup of wine or juice to celebrate the fruits of Mother Earth. In this way we express with each other our common bond as creatures of the earth and sons and daughters of the Great Ones, upon whom we are dependent for food and nourishment. We also remind ourselves in this sharing that we are dependent upon each other as brothers and sisters, and that we must give of ourselves to each other and to society so that people might live and have abundant life. When the ritual is ended the high priestess walks counterclockwise around the circle with her wand, declaring that the "circle is now open, but not unbroken," and with that our collective energy goes out into the world to do our bidding. When the ritual is ended members usually socialize a bit before departing.

stuerqeleJ /spunou pue sllq uo tlnq ere^\ serl{ 'llIH arrg Surueeru 'lllH UEJ sB qcns 'seureu eceld qslllrg duutu ut depol lueplle IIIrs sI ,,'aule1,, ro ,,uel ,,'arg ro; pron

crlla] eql

'slBntrr erg ereM slB^IlseJ plo aql Jo lsow ,,'JOUIW BrSV UI

suorlezrlrlrf, Jo surBruar eql e>l11 rer{lo eql dole auo radel o] puel sdeprlog,, 'sdes 8uo{ BcIrI sV 'iq8tur dreltlttu lstu -nluulo] puB re>lro./v\ aql rouoq ol slar^os aqt ,{q paldopB /vrou pue 'ra4.ror* aqt qdaso{ '}S puB drr141 ul8rt^ aql Jo uorlurqeloc B olur peurnl eq o1 'slelrlseJ pooH ulqog eql Sururocaq relul 'auellag Jo tsueJ tltlef, aql se/v\ I dew 'uo Suro8 IIIts sI slB^ItseJ raplo 3ur1do-oc Jo ssacord aq1 'pezruerlsrrr{f, qcrnqc eq} }Bqt spAI}seJ ue8rd ro sl.ep -{or{ uer}srrq3-ard are^\ esaql 'eltsoddo aql tsn( ua.tord e^Br{ dSolodorqlue puB drolstq uI sruloqcs urepow 'salrr u1v\o Jroql roJ uaql palreuad saqclr/a tBr{} puu sdep -rlor{ uertsrrq3 s(en1u arar* Leql tur{} pelulelc uotltstnbul aq1 'sdorc yo Surlsea;ul{ pue Surlurld aq} ro slEIrrIuE Jo suosees Surpaarq eql punore paleut8uo aleq ,(uiu deqa 'aru slelrlse; ueadorng esoql plo ,/vroq s,l\ou>l euo oN '(16 requardaS pue IZ qlrew punore) saxournbe leuruntne puB IBuraA aql puB (67 aun{ puu ZZ requraceq punore) secllslos ratuuns pue Jelurl\ 0q] '(1 rsn8ny) seururul pue'(I dury) auerlag '(I drenrqeg) rloqtul '(19 raqolcA) urcqueg sdeptloq qtrBo rnoJ eqr Jo lslsuoo steqqBs aq1 'reed eqr Jo 'splusa; ro 'steqqes tear8 rq8ra eql uo pur qluou q3ua uooru IInJ eqt pue uooru aq] }E erB sarrrl IBnsn erIJ 'sraqueu sll roJ lueru ^\au -oluoo sr lr ]Eq} os leau o1 ererl,l\ pue ueq.u uo Surptcep ualoc qcea 'reed eql Surrnp serul] snoIJeA lB leeru sualoJ

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POWER OF THE WITCH

carried torches; participants often fumped across small fires or paraded between large bonfires. Fire gave light and warmth on cold nights and represented for preindustrial peoples the ultimate in pure energy. In a pantheistic worldview fire would not merely represent divine power but would incorporate it as well. Today Witches' rituals involve the use of candles, lamps, and fully built fires whenever practical. The concept of the Wheel of the Year is based on the insight that time and space are circular. (Modern physics seems to have only recently discovered this.) Hartley Burr Alexander's study of Native American worldviews, The World's Rim, explains how the concept of the four directions as marking off the great circle of the horizon follows a certain logic based on the upright structure of the human body. Our four-square frame reflects our sense of body and also our perception of the physical world. In other words, we naturally see space as divided into four parts: before, behind, left, and right. As spatial and visual form this scheme is a natural for understanding the earth and the passage of time. The four directions east, south, and west-parallel the four seasons -north, spring, summer, and fall, respectively. As Py-winter, thagoras and other Greek philosophers maintained, numbers are symbols of order; and so the Wheel of the Year, with its four major divisions easily subdivided by four corresponding points, yields the order of the eight great earth and sky holidays of the Witches' year. The Celts, however, perceived an even simpler pattern behind the Wheel of the Year: the two fundamental seasons of fire and ice, or summer and winter. In Celtic tradition the new year began on Samhain, October 31, now called Halloween, which for them was the first day of winter. This day was a very powerful time in Celtic spirituality, for it belonged neither to the old year nor to the new one. It stood between the years. It was a time

luEuodur os 'd8reue Jo e8uEqcxo lEeJS aqJ 'sauo pa^ol puE slolsecuB Jno qlIA eleclunlulllot ol pllo./v\ JIaI{} o}ul seBBroJ e>leru uBc a,/v\ pu? rellEru rasuap Jo plrolv\ rno lrsr^ UBJ slrJrds 'splrolv\ o1v\l aql uee.{rleq dlrsea aJoru s/rolJ aJII puB Orurl ur ]ueluolu srql lB pexu ssel ere JellBru puE ]ulds uee^Uaq serrBpunoq eq] lBql o^erleq IIIts seqctrlA 'splrolv\ eql uee^ueq IroA eq] patJrl 1l rnq '.tleu eql u€aq pur reod p1o aqt pue il plp dluo toN 'erurl ueealoq 'meJprll;ru lsnur rlagl aJarll utotJ 'ul Jalua ,laqt araryn '/LE'I il sFlt sagrlllt roJ pue iupuyiaq e q iugpua &aag

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in keeping the worlds of spirit, nature, and the human in balance, takes place at Samhain, as the old year flows into the new. Witches take advantage of this time to communicate with the other side, retrieve ancestral knowledge, and prepare for the coming year.

SA.III.I{AIN Samhain is the Celtic feast of the dead, honoring the Aryan Lord of Death, Samana (the Irish call it the Vigil of Saman). But it has developed into a festival celebrating the spirit world in general rather than any one god, as well as the ongoing cooperation between that world and our own of denser matter. Witches still leave offerings of "soul cakes" for the deceased ancestors, a custom that has been transformed into the giving of treats to the homeless and travelers who wander about on that night. In ancient times it was believed that if the right offerings and sacrifices were not made the spirits of the dead would take advantage of the opening in the seam between the worlds to come and do harm or mischief to the living. The night still retains that threatening air, but most Witches see it not so much as the threat of unhappy ancestors as the arrival of the powers of destruction: hunger, cold, winter storms. In the Wheel of the Year, Samhain marks the beginning of the season of death: winter. The Goddess of Agriculture relinquishes her power over the earth to the Horned God of the Hunt. The fertile fields of summer give way to the bare forests. To celebrate this magical eve fi.res were lit on the sidh, or fairy mounds, in which the spirits dwelled. Here resided the spirits of ancestors and vanquished gods from earlier periods of history and mythology. People who did not participate in these rites, but nevertheless feared the presence of hostile spirits in the land of the living, would attempt to frighten them away with grotesque faces carved on pumpkins and lit from within by a candle. Some of these frightening f ack-o'-lanterns appear to be

3ur(p eqt ezrloqruds ot e8uuro Jo tol B rBe^\ osp all 'ruad r'rou oql ur acuarradxe ro eruocaq ol e>l{ plnoa e,l\ }ut{./v\ ttel]aj o] seuntsoc ur dn Sursserp dq tr lca(ord er* 'ernln; eqt eunrp dpo lou a^\ tuelps u1 'lq8ru ptcads slql uo lue -redde eroru sI read Suturoc er{t Jo e}rl eq1 'sdep 3ut ^\au dq uaas Lllsee -ruoo aqt olur reed ot ,l\oDI ol{r'r esoql ^\oquoq^\ uollsul^Ip IoJ aiul} B oslB orolu eq uBc arnlnJ aI{} sr lq8ru eqJ 'aJII Jo quo^t luar8 eql Surluesardal uorp -lner aqt '1nos aqt ro; loquds u Sureq aldde eqr 'larruq ro uorplnur a?ru1 u ur saldde roJ qoq eldoed dueru depoa 'tlrtds pue arnleu Jo splron oql uaa^rleq a8uuqcxa leer8 aqt 1o ued E sr I{}Eep pur aJrl uurunq dralg 'Jelr{csnu op pue duld ot euoc deru etuos /1xau eql ralue pue plJo.,* rno eleel pelred -ap dlivrau aqr dleq IIIA auros 'ruadde deru ppon stql uI sseulsnq paqslugun eAEq IIIts oq./t\ slolsacue Jo slurds aqt 'sarrrey eql 'aldoad allrll eql Surssorc Jo luaruour slqt lV 'saAII ,l\eu raql ur8eq 1pr'r daqt erel{,l\ 'puupaurung ro 'p1ror* ltrrds aqt olur SurssoJc erolaq urcqrues III1 tre,r\ lsnru reaL qcee elp oq./v\ esoqr IIE lrql sr(rs uoltrpurl rnle3 'qlnqar pue qreep 1o rq8tu B l{toq sE^\ UIEqIUBS 'stq8tu Jo rse{oq sql uo atBrqolac seqc}llA lBr{} aJII pue qlrrqer ;o ecuatredxa Jal{}oue-ure8e leqleSol ^rau 4ceq rnd puu sltnds dlpuatr; dq perequaurslp aq 1l qsle^\ ol uela puu elels Lreuotsra. p uI ellqrvr uolele>ls slq ,,aas,, ol sBlv\ uBrrrBqs iaau eql ro] a3uouedxa uorlerllul cIssBIc E sarntlnJ f,IuEIuBrIs u1 'dpoq eqt sa^Eel ltrtds eqt ual{^\ IIE ro] puu aJuo pue lou seop ecuatslxe 13I{} SuttsaSSns 'qleap ra1;u lsa8uol aql lsEI let{./v\ eJe souoq aql esnroaq ((1r1e}rou Jno sE 11ar* sr) .(1t1e1rourul rno Jo JepuIIuaJ u rnq Suruelq8trl lou ere suolele>ls puu slln>ls saqclllA ure -poru oI 'suortulecxa luctSoloeel{crr uI pequBeun ueaq e^Eq slln>ls Io suortoelloc a8rel pue 'saqrrl 3rllef, Suoure IIn{s eq} Jo rlnc peardsepu* E selv\ ereql sBJe uruuac uI IJEJ uI 'tca{qo :ervrod pareleJ e tnq a8erur 8ut(;ura1 e 1ou eql slle3 lualcu? aql Suorur lnq 's4seru r{}Eep

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well as the traditional black to draw in and fill our bodies with light at this time of year when the days are growing shorter and there is physically less light and warmth. leaves and the dying fires of summer, as

YULE The next Wiccan festival is

YuIe, celebrated around the winter solstice. The old pagan trappings of holly, ivy, pine boughs, lighted trees, warm beer, and wine beverages (wassail), roasted pigs, enormous Yule logs, songs, and gifts are still part of our celebrations. In the northern hemisphere this is the time when the sun reaches its most southeastern position on its yearly journey. When ancient people noted this they knew that in a matter of weeks they would see it start to rise earlier and slightly farther north until six months later it would be rising in its most northeastern point. In spite of the fact that some of the coldest days and harshest weather still lay ahead, Yule was a time of merriment and gaiety.

IMBOLC On February l, Witches celebrate the feast of Imbolc, an archaic term for "in milk." This is the time when the ewes, if pregnant, began to lactate-an even firmer sign of the coming spring. Most agricultural peoples celebrate some similar sign that winter is almost over: the sap rising in the maple trees, the return of certain birds, the rising of a spring constellation in the winter sky, even the American groundhog looking for his shadow. The church honors St. Brigid around this time, the Christianized version of the Celtic Goddess Brigid. According to Christian lore, St. Brigid was the Virgin Mary's midwife, and of course midwives are a reminder of the new life growing within and waiting to be born. During the winter, when Stone Age people stayed bundled up and in their lodges or caves, they began to realize the need for purification in a more direct way than during the warmer months when life was lived outdoors,

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POWER OF THE WITCH

paint them bright colors, making talismans for fruitfulness and success in the coming season of summer. We begin our gardens of flowers, vegetables, and herbs that will play a part in our rituals, spells, and potions.

BEIJTANE On the first of May the Beltane fires are lit and the great fertility ritual of the God and Goddess is celebrated with Maypoles, music, and considerable frolicking in the greening countryside. May is a lusty month. The fifth month in the year expresses all the sexual and sensual meanings in the number five; the bodily fuices are recharged; we feel our own sap rise; and our five senses are exceptionally keen and acute. Nature celebrates the great fecundity of the earth in rituals of sex, birth, and new life. Men and women also share in the exuberance of nature as they yearn to unite and reproduce themselves. In old customs and rituals we reenact symbolically the coupling of the Goddess and her young Horned God. And we fall in love. At Beltane we wear green to honor the Celtic God Belenos. We become the "green people," the little pan folk with leafy masks, pointy ears, little horns representing the life force of nature, now more evident than ever in the greening countryside. We light fires (Beltane means the fire of Belenos) and leap over them to show our prowess and enthusiasm for the coming season. In agricultural societies May was the time to take the cattle to their summer grazrng grounds, and they would be driven between two large bonfires to purify them of winter ailments and to exorcise any evil spirits of winter. In ritual some of us will play the parts of the young king, the old king, and the queen of the magic woods. Our pageants retell the tale of how at this time of year the young king of summer slays the old king of winter to win the hand of his young wife, the Queen of the May. She is the Earth Mother, still young and fresh, but soon

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'sroloc elrlso1 ur elod aqt deru ,(aql se reqle8 -ol sa^lesllleql SurAEe/v\',suoqqrr paJoloJrllnru Sururr*lua 'arurp ueruolv\ pue ueru Sunod qcryr!\ punore 'sa1odde14i Suucara dq uosees er{t Jo se)roJ ar.{l ererqelec em d11ec -rloqudg ,,'3urde141-e oB e11,, '(es s8uos >lloJ aql sE pue 'a.req,ul.rarre punoqe aun]3uuds Jo secroJ Iunxas ar{J '3rnq1e11'raqlo141 IIUEE cruotneJ plo aqt Jo uorsrel pazruerlsrn{f, erlt 'u8rndp16 '}S Jo e^e aqt 'tr1cousr8tndp64 pellBr sr ala de141 'dueureC uI 'puEI pue eJrI qtr^\ IIa^\s ol

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POWER OF THE WITCH

rior God, Luh. In his honor we play games and hold sporting events. We engage in athletic contests to celebrate the fullness of life and the strength and good health that people enfoy more at the height of summer than any other time of the year.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX With only three

more months left in the Celtic summer, pagan folk work hard for the harvest yet to come, whether it be corn and hay from the fields or the personal proiects and goals that we planned for the summer months. When the sun crosses the equator and heads south at the autumnal equinox, we again celebrate the magnificent balance that the everturning Wheel of the Year promises. These equinoxes are great reminders that the bleak days of winter as well as the heady days of summer are temporary, that all things have their seasons, and that none will last forever. The law of polarity and rhythm require that all things be balanced by their opposites. On these holy days our ancestors aligned themselves psychically and spiritually and balanced themselves in the ebb and flow of life.

As winter, spring, summer/ and autumn pass by, Witches still reconnect with the ever-moving flow of life; we make our plans and watch them unfold. If some do not come to fruition, we try again. We pass through times of ioy and sorrow; little ones are born; the older ones die and pass into the next world. Every event in life is rich in purpose and meaning. Each day, night, and season has its own special character. Rituals connect us to both the big and little dramas of the year and of the greater life cycle. We unite with the character and spirit of each passing season and do magic to transform our lives, giving them a depth and an expansiveness that without ritual and celebration we'*.ould never achieve. Even the most humble ritual reaps the moment of power and change, and the

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POWER OF THE WITCH

of it in their own ceremonies. The moment we smell herbal incense, such as frankincense or myrh, something shifts in our attention and the distractions of the day begin to disappear and we can focus on the sacred work at hand. A sweet fragrance fills the room, purifies the air, creates sacred space. In time you will associate the scent with ritual, just as you may have associated it in the past with a church or temple. Candles are also important items on the altar. A candle contains all the elements: earth, air, fire, moisture. It is a simple yet powerful tool. Like incense, a burning candle alters the mood of a room. Some traditions say that a candle attracts good spirits. Candle magic allows us to begin a spell and leave a living, physical presence of it on the altar while we go about our business. The flame is alive, burning through the day and night, sending our intentions out as light that touches other light on all levels and travels to any designated spot or person. Catholics and Anglicans adopted this practice in their churches, and a candle is still a customary way for them to project their intentions long after they have prayed. A candle continues our vigil for us. We choose the colors of our candles according to a table of correspondences to bring in the correct planetary influences. We "dress" the candle by inscribing talismans, runes, or symbols into the wax with a knife, and then we anoint the candle with an appropriate oil. Then we charge it with our intentions. You can have as many candles on your altar as you wish to keep your magic working while you are off doing other things. As you pass your altar during the day the candle glow will draw your consciousness back to the purpose of your spell, and the light from the candle will act like a laser to concentrate the energy of your intentions. When charged properly a candle has its own energy to work magic.

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POWER OF THE WITCH

magical stones at each of the chakra points (power spots illustration) that align with the chakras of their -see own bodies.

Chakra Points

There is an ongoing debate in the Craft as to which is better, a wand that you find or make yourself or one that you buy in a shop. A friend of mine was going to a local mall to buy a wand, and after checking all the antique shops and gift boutiques where she thought she might be likely to find one, she gave up. Nothing suited her. When she got back to her car she noticed the door was ajar and remembered that when she had gotten out in a hurry and slammed the door behind her it sounded as if it had not closed tightly. Protruding from the car door r$

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eruos ur s>lcor pe{Jed prq I JI eru pe>lsr eJuo sJeAoW 'slqt Aqpepznd (1pnsn ararw deql's1e1sdrc pue s>lcor Itelloc ot e>lr1 dlpar lsnu I lBr{l >IJEIuer pue tsed srea( ur eruoq dur olur eruoc ol pasn a1doe4 ',(1r1un1rrrds Jo sIuJoJ lualc -uB erour pur scrsdqdeteru uI lseJelul pa..v\euar E ol enp a8rel te arrulnJ eqt uI sread dtuar'rt lsBI er{t ur rulndod auoteq eABq sacllcerd pue suolllpBr] UEJC auros 1v\ol{ ees ol s1v\opBqs Jo >ioog dru qSnorql ecue18 I sB pazEIuB ruB I

CNV STVJTW ,STVJSAUf, ,SfNOJS 'selols pueqpuo3as Jo spoolv\ eql ur sB IIe./v\ se slol Sur4rud IIBIU uI 'Sn oJ eluoc slool eqf lel ol pua] ell\ oS 'peeu atl\ 18I{./v\ s,/v\ou>l IIV eq} puB 'dur* lercads E ur esJallun eql ot pelceuuoc eJE seI{c}IlA 'uaqt ot lq8rr IeeJ r?r{} sdu.ntl.q pue sde11u ulvlop Suttunq 's1ool lecr8eur Supug uI slcurlsur rlaql ,/vrolloJ saqcll/A 'lsenb lool E uo Suro8 unJ eq uBc lI 'tuor; auoc ervr eJer{,l\ puB arB ea oq,/v\ Jo sropulurar pooS aru readralsad ;o slca(qo perces er{J 'elqeleuel pue plo sI 1uq.tr olcdcer o1 'elerlaq I 'l;er3 rno Jo lred st lI 'srauJnq esuatul Jo 'sef,r -pqc 'seureqle 'spuulv\ roJ sle{relu eag pue sdoqs anbrlue q8norqr lunq seqtltl6 duepsralsls puB sraqlorq Jno uoddns sdlaq ruaql 8uilnq puB sluelr InJrapuolv\ a>{?Iu rlerf, er{} ur stsrlrv 's1ool lucr8errr roJ dauoru Sutpueds ur Suorr* Surqtou sr arerlJ 'raduaqc qcnu ere spue.&\ lsotu rdoqs qu111 E uI 000'9$ ol 000'Z$ i{3nlu sB ro1 'slelsdn pue srue8 qlIA peppnls 'spueru, ea.rsuadxe dnq uuc noa ipuBn rqSu aql le8 nod rer{t 1I ot ees IIL/V\ ssoppoD eql ']ol Suqrud eqt uI tnq lletu aql uI punoJ aq o] lou sBlv\ JaI{ ol aluu3 13ql puElv\ aq} }eql 1sn( s,11 'lnJsseccns ueeq per{ ,,drrl Surddoqs,, raq rer{t peplJep aqs 'puBlv\ rar{ roJ Qi3ue1 pue azrs lcepad aq} >lll}s E sBlv\

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of the boxes they were loading on the van. I told them yes, and they shook their heads in disbelief. Today I think fewer movers would shake their heads. Now the same stones and gems that have lain on my altar have become the subiects of popular books, and many people are collecting them. It's gratifying to see this, and to realize that more people recognize that crystals are not just iewelry but conductors of energy, which was their traditional role in tribal cultures. Crystals have been important power obiects in every part of the world in which they are found. The crystal is probably the "white stone" the Druids used in Western Europe. In California quartz crystals have been found in archaeological sites that are thought to be prehistoric burial grounds dating back eight thousand years. Quartz crystals have a long history of being used by shamans and seers to enhance their ability to see spirits, divine the future, look into the past, and make contact with the other worlds. A classic Witch experience is to have a high priestess psychically insert crystals into her body for power and protection. In our magic circles, we psychically project crystals to enhance our power. In modern times we've discovered that because crystals contain electrical voltage, they are highly valuable in radio, electronics, and computers. You can experience their power for yourself by taking two crystals into a dark room and stressing them by tapping or striking them together with some force. If they connect in the right way, sparks will leap out from them. Crystals contain the electrical energy that can be tapped into for communication (remember the old crystal radio sets?), healing, expressing love, and preparing us for success in work or life. Many Witches put a crystal into their wands, which enhances the wand's ability to concentrate and direct energy. We also use them in potions and wear them on cords around our necks so they

'Jallaq IaeJ sn elrrrr dldrurs ro '1uaq 'lcelord UBJ seuols uI rar*od ro lrrrds eql IEI{I q}nrl puno;ord srqi ol 4ceq sao8 srrrJer{c ,,d4cn1,, Surdrrec Jo rrro}sno er{I 'peau lenlrrrds dlsnotcs ro pcrsdqd puosred aruos learu daqr ruql ^\ou>l -uocun al!\ esnBceq sauols ulBuec ol pelcBrllE eJE al!\ Ie^el redeep B uO ,,'ll pe4r1 sder*le eA,L, e>1t1 Sutqraruos des pue q8nel lsnl l.lpnsn er* 'euols E l{cns pue q3ns JoAEJ am dqr* pe>lsu aru e,l\ ueqlA 'ernlxol ro adeqs Jo roloc rraqt Jo esneoeq ua1;o 'srua8 ulBuac ol pelorrllu IIIIs sI sn Io qcee 'sauols ;o a8pe1,,'rou>{ snorJsuoc }noqlrl\ ualil 'saPlrnq lleq pue 'surd 's8utt 's1e1ece;q 's8urrrea 'sacel4cau JoJ suolt -ra1as lue8llletur arou a{BIu nod dlaq III/V\ seuo}s puB srua8 uo 4ooq poo8 y 'satlredord prcads rtaql ?ulpuaq -ardruoc (11ny lnoqtlA lnq uaql rBe.tr lprs aldoad dep -of 'seull lueIJuB iuorl dpoq aql to slred uo urolv\ uoaq s{e-rr1e eABq seuolslueD 'sallasJno Surleeq ur sn sdleq qrF{.\\ 'a^ol-Jlas roJ pasn sI puu snue1 dq palnr sr reddo3 'sBore palJIHE ar{} q}I,l\ lcu}uot o}ul eluo3 soluedord Surleaq srr uoql\ utud srltrquu selerlal 'eldurexe ro; 'red -do3 'ured alorler pue IEeq ol dttliqu aql aAEq sletelu pue sauors tuoreglq 'dpoq eql Jo slred snorrel ot serSraue slJerrp lr esnEseq urolv\ sr dr1a,r*a( qJllla '1eraue3 uI 'uBrJ ar{} Jo sie rr aql uI asllvl erE ol{.lv\ sreq}o pue nod tnq lt 3ur -1v\ou{ auo(ue lnoq}I^\ dpoq rnod uo rrSuur erreq ol der'r e sr drla-rral 'sra,,l\od lucr8eur eAEr{ }Eq} sauolsrua8 Jel{lo qrln 3uo1e '.(rlamel su slulsl.rc rre,l\ sel{f,1t6 '(uery 'serJalocer prder peqcluivt pue dpoq er{} Jo stred Suipe ro 11r ralo uraql pIEI el,elyuor]ca]ord roJ seruor{ rno Io sreuroc rnoJ el{l uI rueq} peceld el,e \ 'i*or3 salqetaSa.t dlreaq puu dqlluaq dllensnun paqclulv\ pue Surrds ut suapre8 rno uI ruaql paluuld eleq all 'splsdn qtr,\\ auop aABq seqctllA reqlo puB I tEI{l slueu -rradxe eAIo.\uI sl\oper{S }o loog dur ut seu}ua duury 'uosrad rgnads B pur asodrnd cgrceds E ro; pe]telas stil8 pooS aleru slulsdJ] 'Er{Eqc }rBer{ aq} a^oqP aII uar{/v\

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POWER OF THE WITCH

STONE

CIRCLES AND OTHER SACRED SITES Special stones and special arrangements of stones have always held a particular fascination for Witches and magic workers. In olden days Witches designated altars outdoors by a ring of stones around a mound of earth, located on a ley line if possible. Spirit mounds and fairy rings still dot the countryside in Britain and other countries, and even America has some places that have not been too disturbed since pioneer days, when the early settlers, bringing with them old Craft ways, built special mounds, or altars. Already here, of course/ were the medicine wheels and sacred mounds built by the indigenous peoples from whom the American Indian tribes descended. There has been a recent trend among Native Americans to build new medicine wheels for ritual and earth ceremonies, and non-native Americans have also picked up the practice in a joint efiort to reconsecrate ourselves and the earth. Witches also make stone circles or plant crystals in a ring in a wooded area or a backyard. On my altar I have many stones from various sacred sites around the world and from special places I have visited. The whole earth is sacred and has power, but certain places have been recognized from the earliest times as power spots, places of unusual concentrations of energy. Along ley lines and fault lines energy concentrates, and modern science has measured the concentration in the electromagnetic fields around them. Witches make pilgrimages to these sacred sites to do rituals in order to lift the veil between the worlds (often the veil of our own human blindness) and tap into the sacred energy present

'araql 3r8Biu pe4ro,t\ oqlv\ sJolsasuB rno qlrl\ Iteuuoc o1 pue \rorfendsur ro1 uragl lrsrl seqrlr1N '(3raue sseppoD qlll\ peJal\odrua os erB seceld eseq] osnuoeg 'r(3reue qluvr pa8ruqc IaaJ notr 'pue uo spuuls ,(1prerr1 rmq rnod ruaql q8norqr >11ur'r nol. ueqa pue 's>1ead urBtunoru punorr soluq ecnpord d8raue crleu8euorlcele Jo suorlurluecuoc qSrq seceld auos uI '8uraq ]o elBls crqcdsd rno uo lceJ -;a pcrsr(qd lJarrp B aAEr{ 'uorluxrlar pue dlr,rrleeJc qlll\ palercossu 'seaB/v\ urerq eqdp aql sE sarcuanbar; crlau8eru -ortcale eruBs aql eABq lBq] splel{ 'uraql qlIA ezluolurBq o1 ut3aq (aqt splag orteuSeurorlcala 8uor1s ur se^lesueql esJarurur aldoed ueq/!\ luqi Surpug oslr eJB slslluercs '8uteq-11er* Jo asues u uosrad u Surlr8 'rru eql ur suol olrl -e8eu;o uorlcnpord aql salplnulls qcrql\ 'aro runruern;o speol q8rq qll^\ s>lcor urpluoc setrs perces aruos 'spoou sez{rqe}s lBq} I?Jrtnaceureqdoqcdsd uJapou r 'unrqll ureluoc 'eldurexa ro; 'lser*qlnos uBcrreruv eql ur srele.av\ Surpeq pue s8urrds perces leuorlrperl lBr{t u1v\oqs eaeq suorle8rlselur luecaU '1erra1 pcrsdqdoqcdsd u uo :er'rod eABq selrs parcBs leq} ecuepr^e csrluercs sr e.IerlJ 'lq8tsut Pn1 -utds pur dlurleerc q8rq Surlulnrurls 'sarlrpqrsuas uerunq uo slau8eru a{rl tJE fineaq pue renod IBrruEu luar8 ;o saceld puu slods parces 'oraq] lJelloc osp d8raua uurunq Jo suorlerluacuoJ lear8 puu 'seuq tlne; uo }Irnq eJE >IJotr A\eN puu oosrJuer{ UBS e>lrl sarlrc }eer8 Lepol 'Elo>IEC qlnos ul slllH {rBlfl aq} ro EruroJrlBS ur ElsBr{s lunow ro eJearD ut qdlaq a4r1 'dlneaq olqrpercur ;o seceld ual;o are deql 'lou Jo luesard serlrep erll Jo aJBl\E arar* daql reqleqa 'sueurnq palcer]lB sdenp eler{-snoJe8uep pue eArlJE ,(lsnorrelsdu sr qlrBe eqtr ereq./v\ sacuid-seouBclo^ pue 'sauq }1ne; ',(3raue crleuSeur osuelur Jo splor{ 'ereql 981

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POWER OF THE WITCH

HERBAL MAGIC Herbs and plants are the basis for most of our medicines today and they have always played an important role in natural healing in every culture. Regretfully, human civilization is destroying the earth's rain forests and woodlands at an alarming rate before the vast maiority of medicinal herbs, roots/ barks, and flowers are even discovered and cataloged, much less before we can discover for which ailments and diseases they might provide a cure. Will our treatment of cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, and other serious illnesses be indefinitely postponed because we are pillaging, burning, and looting the cures before they are even found? Not to mention the dire efiects our rape of the forests has on the health of the biosphere! Although the medicinal and nutritional value of herbs has been much discussed in recent years/ a Witch's knowledge takes in another very important aspect of herbalism-the psychic power of herbalists to tap into the herb's unseen energy. Every plant has an aura, the invisible charge of energy that exists around all things. It is the refracted and reflected light from electrical impulses, heat, and vapor of the obf ect. Or put another way,

it is simply light dancing around, inside, and off all things. Each herb has an aura, or energy packet, that can affect people, places, and things in various and subtle ways. Ancient wisdom has always seen correlations between astrology and herbs, the planetary influence manifesting as color and light that interacts with the plant's aura. We say that the herb is "ruled" by a particular planet because the light that is reflected and refracted

uI acuepguoc pauIEB I dl,/v\ols 'seAII Jlagl m sonssl ]uBl -rodur lsolu eql Jo eruos lnoqB uorl?ruroJur Jo IeuuBr{c E s? sJeqlo olres ol acuarradxe Surlquinq E se/v\ tI 'sel{ puosrad reql ]noqe suorlsanb qlll\ eur ol aruBc oq,l\ uaruo./vt puB uaru qrll!\ IBOp ol 1v\oq pue Surpeal lorBJ Jo lrB aq] Surureal IIIIs se^r I 'pelle] ro pepeeccns daql rvroq 'llncgrp aJa/v\ qorr{1v\ 'dlqtoorus }uan s8urprar r{crq^\ Surlou 'sr'ropeqg Jo >loog dur ur sluarlJ r{ll,lt. suorssas aql paproJar I spruc lorpl

Surpeer

;o sl.ep dpue dru u1

NOIJVNIAICI 's11ads pue suorlod ur uaql asn pue ureql e8ruqJ ol /v\oq 'sqreq lnoqe eJoru ureel lprvr nod uaaes rerdeq3 u1 ,(poq ueunq aql ur uorlusues 3urlo1 'uue.1v\ r secnpord qc1r{1r\ 'EtnE s}t uI peurcluoc 1ala1 d8raue eq] ur serl lrsrq Jo terces IEar aql rng 'spooJ ,(uuur Jo roABU ar{t setuuqua pue secnBs uI JEI -ndod $ els?l pue EruoJE lueseald s11 'suorlod elol uI pesn sqraq u,l\oDl rsoplo eq] Jo euo sr 'uaqclr4 drarre lsour -lu ur punoJ pur 'eun1de51 pur snua1 dq palnr 'lseg

'seJnlEu

lenlurds rno dolarr.ap pue 'sacald q8H ul aldoad ecuenll -ur 'd8raua erols 'ssaJJns elarqcu 's1uo8 urelle sdleq 'rat -tdn{ dq pelnr sr qclqrv\ 'uorgeg 'slcalord ,,*au Suruur8aq ro1 snorcrdsnu sr pue 'dlrplra; '3urluu1d 'qlmor8 'dauour 'drqspuerr; 'alo1 lunxas suralo8 looJ {coprnq eruenl} -uI s,snua1 rapun 'auoaruos alourord ro Surqlaruos ezlc -Iqnd Jo eluorunrutuoc ol pesn eq UBJ lr snuuJn Jo ecue -ngur eql repun 'aundrcsrp roJ pesn eq uEf, tr urnles Jo acuenlJur eqt repun 'snue1 pue 'snuer11 'urnleg dq pelnr sI looJ >lcopJng 'uoJUes puB looJ {coprnq JaprsuoS ('xpuadde aag) 'qleq ler{} ur peurBluoc sr (slaueld ro) raueld leqr uror;

/EI

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POWER OF THE WITCH

my ability to read for others and learned how to present to them what I saw in the cards without alarming them about the bad things or getting them too excited about the good. We must alert the client to potential harm without prof ecting the information so that it comes true. Every Witch has a moral obligation to speak the truth and yet protect her clients from undue worry. When I think of the thousands of people who have come for readings, I am always humbled by the role a Witch can play in the lives of so many people. And I am keenly aware that I am just the current link in a chain of Witches that goes back through history to the Ice Age and even farther. People have always sought out the "wise" woman or man in the tribe or village when they were in trouble, when they needed knowledge, when they were filled with fear or doubt. We cast runes or dried stalks, read the omens in the patterns of clouds, heard answers to the questions in the rustle of wind in the trees or the sound of water falling over stones. With the ability to shift consciousness, Witches and seers have unlocked the mysteries of life for many people. Today the favorite tool for divination is the Tarot deck, which I think of as a computer key to the psychic mind. Although there are many kinds of decks, dating back hundreds of years, they each contain the archetypal images and patterns that speak from the collective unconscious. In spite of regional and cultural differencesand the unique style that each artist brings to the deck that he or she is designing-the Tarot is a collective tool. The meaning or significance of each card has built up over the centuries as it has acquired the collective wisdom of our culture in its many images, colors, and shapes. Today each card is an energy packet capable of tapping psychic realms of meaning that lie buried in the unconscious, where past/ present, and future all meet. Each card creates energy for the client and the reader.

stoalqo Jo uortBurquoc eql ]E Surlool puB rueq] qfl^\ Surdrcs (g 'luauour aql JoJ ,,1r13u,, urees tBr{l Jo snolJs -uocun reql ur tuelrodurr Surqtauros del reql stce(qo eqt sasooqc uosrad qceE 'slce{qo reqto pur 'auo1s }o }no polrec urBr{c e 'raddoc rrrer 'euolsuooru E '33e alrqcepur uaer8 u 'sqrrucs crrueJac 'suroc u8raro; 'splsdrc 's11aqs 'sda1 anbrlue Surureluoc 'slalnure Jo le>lseq e8rel u ruor; tceles sluerlc leqt slca(qo aql Surprer un8aq e^Bq I 'rereelJ aruocaq s8urueeru rraqt 'sltopeqg Jo {oofl B ur ruaq} uo atBllpetu pue sloquds aq} procer arvr sV 'uorlsanb ro 1uar1c qcee roJ ruaqt lardrelw ol l'roq pue roq Jo run{ o} uEeru sloqruds IBsre Iun aql rBq,/v\ suJBal uosred qcue 'esrnoc ;o 'arut1 u1 ':euut8aq B ro1 lnydlaq

ere lBql s8urueaur lesralrun rleql pue sloquds uo slooq aug dueu ele ererlJ 'dpnls errnber IIIIV\ tBql loquds e aq rqSru lI lu8rs ar{} Jo acuecgruSts oq} puBtsrepun (1ale -rparurur lou deru srauur8eg 'u8rs ro ualuo uB qll,l spuods -ar lca(qo Surdrcs eql IsJnJco lualualoru auros d11un1 -ue^[ 'pasn Suraq eJE tEql seruBIJ Jo re]B.lvr ro euols aq] uI

luerueloru ro u8rs

E JoJ seqrleru.

radrcs eql 'sseusnorJsuoo 'tce;rad o] dsue sder* ro; enbtuqcal aql 'rJErcqtllla

Jo elBls perallB d1tqft1s E uI elIqIA -lE lou lnq 'eldturs dra,r sr Surdrcs

Jo ecueros eqt Surcrtcerd dq 'sreed dueru ralo soruu -aruos '11 dolerrep tsnru sraqlo rlq8rs eql qtll\ uroq are e1d -oad aruog 'e{otus Jo t}rrp eq} 'sarueg Jo ra>lcrg aqr /llBq p1s(rc e ur lq8rl Jo uollcerJer aql 'pueq ar{1 Jo uled aqr ur seurl 'dnf, e Jo urolloq eql ur seleel ual 'reler* ;o lood r ur salddrr 'spnolc eqt 'auols e 'sprrq ;o rq8rg aql /sle -r{}BaJ 'op I11^ 3urqr,(uy 'l.rcs ol saunl;o 3eq E ro sprrc Jo {cep E paau lou saop auo ,,'lq8ts eql,, pelluf, sB-1v\ lr suol} -IpBJi clrla3 u1 '8ur'{tcs sr uorleulllp roJ pJolv\ reqlouv 'asJalrun aql lnoqe suorlsenb eql IIE eurllp pue serrelsdur aql IIB ellos o1 spaeu euo {ooq dluo aql 'e;t1 Jo >looq aqi s\ pue a8palmou{ Iusralrun sulBtuoc >irap lorul eqr tpql ureturrru sreqcuat pcrsdqdeleu atuos 68r

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POWER OF THE WITCH

while in a magical state of consciousness, I get very good of the important issues and questions on the individual's mind. Why do Witches make good readers? Anyone can "read" cards, but Witches have acquired a much-deserved reputation for it for several reasons. Historically, when the church forbad Christians to do divination work (because it threatened the authority of the clergy), only Witches and Gypsies continued to practice the art of divination. As outsiders to the general culture, their consciousness was not as conditioned by the mainstream categories of thought. Their thoughts transcended the commonplace. Oftentimes it takes a slightly detached perspective to see the deeper significance in the events of a person's life as they appear in the cards or runes or tea readings

leaves.

Another reason is that Witches are well trained in using symbols-in spells, rituals, magical tools, and spiritual practices. The basic talent required in reading cards or runes or the I Ching is a working knowledge of symbols. We believe that all knowledge is attainable because it manifests by means of symbols and metaphors that act as a kind of key to the vast realms of information and wisdom stored in the unconscious. There are many keys, and a Tarot deck is one of them. Witches are also adept at handling the flow of events through time. We know from our experiences in visionary states that past and future do not exist except in the present. (We will discuss the scientific reason for this in the next chapter.) Only the present has power for us. Reading Tarot cards is a way of concentrating the past and the future into a present moment and space where the clients' questions find their answers. When a client comes with questions about the past or future, we deal or spread the cards, confident that we can see the information the client seeks. We also know that the client al-

's>uo1v\ d11eer >lro7y\ rno dq,n pur /{oq nod .r*oqs 1pm 1 retdeqc txeu aql u1 'durvr u.&o rno ur r{JEa 'IrorlA tBor3 eqi Sutop IIE ere e A 'tJErJ eql ur sreqlorq puB sralsls dru ;o ureouoo pue a^ol aqt 'po5 puu sseppoC aql Jo suEIusIIEt pue sloquds 'cr8eur Jo slool dq pepunouns ruu I 'auole Jaleu IUB I leql sr 'smopeqs Jo loog dur q8norql Surpear dq paputurer sder*1e rrre I sp 'l;ur3 eqt Jo e8utuulpr aq1 'a13tnrls pue uoga qlrl\ sorrrr]eruos '1.11n;ssaccns pue dpsea setuueluos 'se,tq rreq] Surrrrl eldoed per sdemp sr UBIJ erlt slueluerl -nocor er{t IIB q}Eeurepun '1ad puy 'ra.uod puu crSuu ;o

adocsoprep4 8u€ueqc /lluelsuoc B sr osriA eql Jo rJErJ aqt-rBllB dur uo dllueps Sururnq elpuBc e 'tuaruqcred uo uellrjlv\ s11eds 'sqraq ;o sSuq 'salcrrc crSeu ',s1oo1

'ulv\ouI dlsnorcsuoc aQ ol SuIrIe^\ sarl ll eraq^\ 'p,rF,r redeep req ro sII{ Jo tno a8pelrvrou4 teql aBrp luarlo eqr dleq IF^\ rrqr stsdplec leqt pue 'oo1 'srerv\sue aqt sl\ou4 dpear eql dlereur

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THE SCIENCE

OF WITCHCRAFT

In the mid-1970s National Geographic sent one of their ace photographers, Nathan Ben, to shoot a story about summer on the New England coast. He stopped in Salem.

It

was |une, the time of the summer solstice. Nathan if we would allow him to photograph our coven's solstice ritual, something we had never allowed before. We told him he could provided he keep the camera outside the circle and shoot only from the perimeter. He agreed, and so it proceeded. At the conclusion he asked us to step back for a group portrait. So we opened the circle and he stepped into the area that we had charged with energy from the sun and the planet |upiter. The developed photos revealed a startling phenomenon. Each of the thirty-six frames shot during the ritual showed areas of blue light, increasing in scope and intensity with each frame. On the final group shot the blue asked

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tute was "Well, what are those Witches hiding under their robes?" Most people are very resistant to accepting magic because they have been conditioned from childhood by a rational, left-brain worldview in which the old ways of magic make no sense. At National Geographic's editorial offices a dispute erupted over whether to print the photo with the royal-blue light. One faction of editors argued against it on the grounds that the prestigious magazine should not validate what they called "black magic" and "satanic ritual." A second group carried the day, arguing that the photo was history and should go in, but to appease the skeptics the text for the photo included the usual media disclaimer: "The Witches claim that the light is in the room." Since then scientists have "discovered" that fupiter emits its own light. In time they will discover that it is blue.

LICHT I failed to convince the investigators from Kodak Institute-ironically an industry based on the principles of light energy!-that my coven works with the same principles. In fact much of what I said to them has been thoroughly discussed by physicists and science writers in such books as The Tao of Physics by Fritfof Capra and The Looking Glass (Jniverse and Synchronicity; The Bridge between Matter and Mind, both by F. David Peat. These are just three of the many excellent books dealing with the exciting new discoveries in subatomic physics and written for the average lay reader. One of the most valuable books on the subject, which I list as required

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is discovering that everything that exists is composed of light. Outside of light nothing exists. Another mind-spinning discovery by the twentiethcentury physicists is that the universe is a shapeshifter. According to quantum theory, subatomic energy exhibits the characteristics of both waves and particles but not at the same time. Although the two manifestations of energy seem to be contradictory, they are not. They simply indicate the shapeshifting nature of reality. As Fritiof Capra says, these "concepts of quantum theory were not easy to accept even after their mathematical formulation had been completed. Their effect on the physicists'imagination was truly shattering." I imagine it was! The results of their studies required a radically new definition of the universe. Einstein himself was stunned by the implications. He confessed, "It was as if the ground had been pulled out from under me, with no firm foundation to be seen anywhere, upon which one could have built." The bottom line is that solid matter does not exist as it appears to us. The particles of which obf ects are made do not behave like the solid objects of classical physics, like a chair or table, for instance. Subatomic particles are abstract entities, and the way they appear and behave depends on how we look at them. Sometimes they act like particles, and sometimes like waves. The determining factor is how our consciousness perceives them. And this dual nature is also exhibited by light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. An even more recent revelation is the quantum-field theory, which completely replaces the traditional notion that solid particles and the space surrounding them are separate and distinct. The quantum field, according to Capra, is "the fundamental physical entity: a continuous medium which is present everywhere in space." Solid objects, then, are only temporary condensations of energy that come and go in that field. This is very similar to

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physics has disproved Descartes's notion that has dominated scientific thinking since the seventeenth centurythat mind and matter are two separate and distinct realms. They are not. As Capra says, the universe is "a dynamic inseparable whole which always includes the observer in an essential way." There is no discontinuity between mind and matter, and no discontinuity between humans and nature. For these reasons the Witches'belief that thought can be proiected out into the universe and impact on external reality makes perfect sense. Thought prof ections can become external realities because there is no separation of mental reality and external reality. Our minds can draw in information from anywhere in the universe because all things emit light. Even black holes appear to emit particles of light, according to Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking. Although nothing can escape what is called the "event horizon" of a black hole, Hawking claims that there is light at the core of this seemingly utter darkness. And so as all things display their patterns of information and meaning as they radiate energy and give off light, we "observe" and we "participate," and as we participate we share the energy, the knowledge, the meaning inherent in every created thing. All things are interconnected, |ust as the sages and mystics in every religious tradition have been saying for thousands of years. By our active involvement in nature we determine what nature is; we take physical things and turn them into energy; we take energy and shape it into material things. In other words, we do magic.

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ples that parallel the principles of the new physics. They

have their origins in the teachings of Hermes, known to the Egyptians as Thoth, and to the Romans as Mercury. Neoplatonic philosophers referred to Hermes as the "Logos" or Word-of-God-Made-Flesh, and Christians applied images long associated with Hermes to |esus. Actually Hermes seems to have been a universal Indo-European god who taught astrology, alchemy, and the many magical practices that are at the heart of Witchcraft. He seems to have taught the universal truths everywhere, for he even pops up among Native Americans as the trickster gods Raven, Coyote, and Hare. From the intellectual seeds that he sowed in human consciousness so many centuries ago have grown the modern sciences of astrology, chemistry, and physics. Pythagoras was versed in Hermetic principles, as were the Druids. The Romans thought that the Druids had received their instruction in the Hermetic Laws from Pythagoras, but it was probably just the opposite. More recent evidence indicates that Pythagoras had been instructed by the Druid priestesses of Thrace. In the Middle Ages the God appeared as Hermes Trismegistus, the Triple Wise One, and it is through this incarnation that we derive the Seven Hermetic Laws. It is not surprising to me that modern physicists are verifying the old Hermetic principles because all Witches know that the relationships of earth, mind, and spirit, as taught by Hermes, are grounded in scientific fact. Scientists, who don't incorporate their psychic abilities into their work along with their rational skills, have had to plod along for centuries to rediscover in their own terms the laws of the universe that Witches know intuitively or have been taught by elders in the Craft. When I speak of Witchcraft as a science I use the word science in its strictest form. Witchcraft is a system based

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the Divine Consciousness. F. David Peat tells us that scientific discoveries now suggest something very similar, that "behind the phenomena of the material world lies a generative and formative order called the obfective intelligence." In Stalking the Wild PenduLum, Bentov says, "The universe and all matter is consciousness in process of evolving." Witches would say that this objective intelligence, this evolving consciousness, is the Mind of the Goddess.

Subatomic physicists have discovered in their laboratories that the basic "stuff" of the universe-matter and energy-is really information. It is what Peat calls "active information," or information encoded in the DNA structures that form and shape all created life. And so we find laws, principles, and information encoded in every crystal, plant, rock, drop of water, or flicker of candle-

light.

All knowledge exists in the Divine Mind, which constantly flows in and out of our own minds because our individual minds are not separate from the Great Mind that created us. Of course we are not aware of "all knowledge" at any given moment because it would be too much for us to handle. We would go berserk. The five senses and the human brain act as much as filters as they do as sources of information. They block out a great deal of daily stimulation to prevent us from being overwhelmed by all the knowledge that bombards us minute by minute. Without filtering out many of the sights, sounds, smells, even ideas, we would not be able to concentrate on the specific tasks at hand. But under the right conditions we can slow that filter process down or even turn it off, and in those moments of altered consciousness (explored in Chapter 6), universal knowledge becomes available. We open up to the Mind of the All. We let knowledge in. We let light in. We are enlightened.

aql /llerus rvroq Jallerrr ou 'sacard Jo Jeqrunu due olur ua{orq sI tI il }Br{l sr urerSoloq E Jo ernleeJ elqulruruar aq1 'lq8r1 parasel ;o deldrarur Suqrurs eqt ,(q peleert st ruerSoloq e 'spron roqlo uI 'suorsuaurrp aeJr{l ur srrad -de rca(qo Fur8uo aql 'ueaq resel prrr{} u dq peteurunlll sl urlg padolalap eqr uer{IA 'rulg uo parnldec sr srueeq olu esaql Jo ecuereJrelur eql 'tsrg eqr Jo 1r{3rr aqt Uo parunoq puocas aql 'paqderSoroqd eq ol tcelqo eqt 8ur -qlBq euo :sruBeq rasBl o1v\t ;o lq3r1 eqt dq pelBerc oroqd 'esrelrun eq] Jo erntuu cqderSoloq eqr e sr urerSoloq V uI acuopuodsarroc Jo 1v\EI aql Surrelocsrp eJB stsrcrs-(q4 'saldrcurrd pue sqlnrl crsBq eruBs er{} Jalocsrp e,/r 'salcrlrud cruolBqns uee.{ueq seceds reuur lsEA eql olur u.rop ro acuds relno Jo ser{cueJ lsBA eq} olur dn >lool a,l\ reqleqlA 'sarueqdrde eurlrp pur sla8ue Jo le^al lurds aqtr ro (8reue puB Jelteru Jo lelel crurolBqns eql il eq '1ale1 raqlo due uo splror\ 8uryrqr* eqr Suilpnls l'q serrlasrno rnoqB uJBal uec an 'dpulurrs 'salrl u1v\o Jno ur ]salruerrr laql .uoq Surlrasqo dq soursoc aql Jo sqlul tear8 aql ulBel uBc alA 'u1v\oDlun eql o1 u1v\ou>i Oql IuoIJ luopsllv\ pue a8pel,r*ou1 elelodurlxe uE3 elvr eroJeraqJ 'Bsrel ecIA puB rusocorJrru aql uo anJl oslB sr rusosorsBru eql uo anI] sr l3r{1v\ }Er{l sn sflel ecuepuodsarroc ;o aldrcuud eqJ 'sn punorB rrrsoJoJcBru esusrrrrur aql Jo OrE.e\Bun erB eA\ leq} lusof,oJcltu eql uo pasncoJ os ,{1pnsn sr uorluallB rno 'sn .rolaq pue eloqe sruleeJ Joqlo eql Surzrper tuorl sn sdaa4 ueqo e^llJadsrad punoq-quee rno 'sfi{} .ry\ou>l stsrc -rsdqd pue scrlsdru qlog 'asralrun pcrs,(qd eqt Jo tuap -uadepur ruleer sseleurl-ssalaceds E ur elrl oslB el* lnq 'aur1d lecrsdqd ssor8 eqt ur alracrod a^\ lur{l satrulprooc aun-aceds eql ur elrl elA'plrolv\ euo uBgl ororu ur olrl a,/r leqt sn spulurer lr esnBceq UErcqJlr/A ;o saldrcurrd luet -rodtur aql ouo sl slqJ os lsoru 'r*o1eq su /r*o1 ,,'eloqe Jo eql sr aldrcuud -eq os 'eloqe sV,, 'acuapuodserroc Jo /v\BI

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original picture is not shattered but duplicated rnto as many pieces as there are. Each hologram is smaller than the original, but it has not lost any details. Each part contains a complete but smaller whole. The new definitions of space and time derived by modern physics indicate that every particle of matter contains all others. As astounding as this may sound, it merely confi.rms the law of correspondence: in every particle (every microcosm) is the rest of the universe (the macrocosm). Thinking about holograms has led physicist David Bohm to suggest that at some deep level of reality, particles do not exist as separate entities but are merely extensions of the fundamental substance of the universe, which is holographic and indivisible. Mystics and some poets have intuited this long before modern physics. William Blake wrote: To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour. Holograms may eventually help us understand ghostly apparitions. A ghost may simply be a hologram-an image trapped in a particular place, like a mirage, without the physical substances that make it up. Once I was traveling in Death Valley and saw an old train go hurtling across the desert, coughing up big billows of black smoke. It was one of those old "iron maidens" that haven't been used for generations. What was more remarkable was that there was no set of tracks there. It was a ghost train. I know I wasn't hallucinating in the hot desert because the fifteen people I was with also saw the train. Somehow the image of a real train from years ago got caught in that particular time and place and became visible to us on that particular day. "As then, so now" is another application of the law of correspondence.

dq palnr eff repuelBl puu a1drn4 'tq31uns arrnbar leql slueulre sleeq d8raua slr puu 'uns eql dq pelnr ere sqreq Surrar*og .A\olletr 'sacuapuodserroc esoql Jo euo sr rolo3 'sesodrnd cgrcads ot puodsauoc ]Eql serlrlenb ro sluerp -ar8ur cgrcads ureluoc sqreq pue stueld urBuac 'eldruexa ro; 'ero1 luqreq uI 'pelurcosse .(1ern1eu are daqt qtlq,t\ qltr'r d8raue IqBII cgnads eqt etB^rlcB sloo] pue 'sar1 -IAIlcE 'seculd 'sure8 'sqraq urguec spJo,l\ raqto u1 'lrod -der prnleu e aABr{ deqr qcrqr'r ro; saculd esoql ur elBJt -uaouoc ol spuel rar*od cgrcads puB uorlBruroyur cgrcads 'l.es plnor* aIEIg su 'rer'rogt drala ur peureluoc sr dlrugur IIB pur 'eouelsrxe Jo slalal puu saueld IIE uo pacnpordar arB uorlBruroJur puB ,(3reue ellqla 's11ads Surlsec roJ puu ,,8uraes,, JoJ sluerper8ur pue s1oo1 aluudordde lsoru eql pre^\ol soqrll71A stJerrp osle eJuepuodsarroc Jo ,trBI aqJ 'erurl Jo sdrurvr Jer{}o ur pue plror* aql ;o slred reqlo ur Surrrdsurrl stuela ;o sa8eui arnldec uec a,al (lq8r1 slcerler pue slcel;er teql {unrperu Jor{lo due ro) Jorrrru ro plsdrc u olul Surze8 dg 'd8raua eql eleJluoruoc puB uorluellE s,Jees eql snsoJ 01 Jorrrru s,qcllia ro IIEq plsdrc ? sE r{Jns loo} B Sursn dllensn 'teql ,(lasnerd op uuo puru peururt eql ecucerd qlllA 'eserr{d iecrSrur e esn ol ,,dn parn(uoo,, ro 'palulrlcuar se/v\ d8raue tq31 pur8rro aq] arer{,l\ eculd duu ur ruaddear plnoc }uele due 'rauuuur rqderSoloq B ur saleJedo pue slsaSSns acuarJs urapou sr luapuedaprelur pue prng se sr esJalrun eql ;1 '1ods leur8rro raql ol punoq eq lou deu suortelsaJrueru teql elqtssod s,ll 'splegeltlBq plo ssorcB pe>llB./vr eq uaqr* o3e salrnluet tq8no; sal]teq reer{ pue ees plnor 'eldruexe ro; 'uotled 'g a8roa3 IErauaD 'paluudrur lsrg sBlv\ 1l eJaql\ rods aql ur srncar dSraua IqBII Jo uorlernSguoc erues eql ueq./v\ readdeer urc aceld puB erurl lBrll ur luo^e lBql ;o a8urur erll JoIBT 'spleg (3raua IEsJeArun eql ur 'e:e/w 1r se ,,'paqdurSoloqd,, ro ,,lq8nec,, la8 uuc luale puu 'acrds 'arur1 rulnclrred y 'ace1d e4er daqr qclqa ur spleg tunl -uenb eql w sellesueql lurrdur uB) sluele IEJrJolsrH 99r

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POWER OF THE WITCH

lJranus, rose and pink by Venus, red by Mars, and so forth. The powers associated with those planets can be activated by using the appropriate color. Witches use a table of correspondences to find the correct components (colors, herbs, gems, and other ingredients) for spells and rituals. (See table of correspondences, page 312.) But even without a table or list, we can discover the correct correspondences from nature herself. Plants can tell us their secrets because patterns of information are encoded in them. Information radiates outward from the plant in its aura or energy field. A sensitive Witch or herbalist can draw that intelligence into his or her mind. George Washington Carver could do this. He had an astounding rapport with plants and was renowned for being able to heal ailing plants. When asked how he performed his miracles, he answered, "All flowers talk to me and so do hundreds of little things in the woods. I learn what I know by watching and loving everything." Carver would get up at 4:00 A.M. to roam the woods, listening to the plants because he thought the "still dark hours before sunrise" the best time to dialogue with nature. Much of his technical knowledge as a horticulturist and chemist came from his ability to elicit the scientific truths from the plants themselves. One evening he asked the peanut plant, "Why did the Lord make you?" In a visionary state the answer flashed across his mind: "compatibility, temperature, and pressure." From this Carver went on to discover the many uses for the humble peanut plant. Once Carver was asked how he became such an astute student of nature. He answered, "The secrets are in the plants. To elicit them you have to love them enough." When asked "Who besides you can do these things?" he replied, "Everyone can if only they believe it." Carver understood the law of correspondence: in simple everyday things lie the wisdom and knowledge of the uni-

-ue^fl 'salcrrc rlrluecuos ]o dBur E uo esoql pelBcol ueq] pue sertrlcnb snorrerr ro; Surivrs plno,/v\ urnlnpuad E saqcur ,(ueru pelelncpc a8prrqqla'I 'J 'J res^\op qs113ug ^\oq snorueJ aq1 'dn Suqcrd sr ll uorlBruroJur Jo pur{ ter1lv\ uo Sutpuedap JJE ressal ro ralror8 e ur 3ur.&\s 1pr'r urnlnpuad e tBq] sauals'(14| ur sureldxa uoslrla UIIoJ ratrru qsrlSufl eqJ 'runlnpuad u qlln Sursnop Jo sureur Lq ur*o rleqt uo stueurrredxa eldrurs paiuro;red e.req eldoad du1 tnq 'surel -1ed uorlerper lcolep uec luqt sluelunJlsul allllsuas qlrl\ droleroqrl ar{l ur suorlerqll pernsuelu elerl slsrluarcs 'se)upp lI 'uorloru pue urqtdqr qtra ssellseJ lnq '1ela1 lerralpu aq] uo sn ot readdr dnu tl se 'ueur pue a,rrssed lou sr JallBW ,,'lueruuoJrlue neql Jo suollurqll IBrruaqt aql qira duorureq ur puB arnleredural rlel{l ol Surprocce elBllrf,so tnq sseluorlou pue pISIr rou are saJnlJnJls Jelnceloru ;o dlarrel snoruroue,, eql rBI{} puu sruolB Jo epBur are lueuruorrlue rno ;o slce(qo IEIJaIBIU aql IIE lrql sureldxe erdu3 ;ofttrg 'scrs'(.r1r1 /o ooa ar1a uI 'uorlou ur sr Surqtdrala 'salcrlred crruoleqns ol surel -sds relos uorJ 'lsar sr SurqloN 'uollurqrl Jo alBr u/(o 1u ]Bql selBls uoIlBJq :aoLprqtA /o no7 aqa slr qlr,/v\ selBJqr^ pu? se^oru Surqtl.rarra

-tr ;o aldrcurrd rrlaurreH

ar{J

'l!\oleq u.e\ou>I eq UEJ e^oqB unou{ sI }Eql!\ }Eql Surralocsrp 'asJa.A.run erqdurSoloq B pue punu crqderSol -oq B qlllvr >lJol\ deql 'sseusnolcsuoc olul ecEJJns ol uorlrruJoJur ro e8peyvrou>l1v\ollr 'rauu3 a4t1 'l.eqa :elues aql sr eldrcurrd cqderSoloq Surdpapun aql tnq 'esn ,(aql sloo] ]Eq,/v\ uo ra#Ip sreur^lp puB sJoes ipul,!\ aql ur Jeaq e^\ ecrol aqr rO isrBts eql r1 s1 isrueld ll sI iserrruJ lI sI ,,'serrrBt aql dn sllrr rer{r errol llBrus flrts tBr{t sr }I'plro^\ elqrsrlur eql ur sr lI 'erg ro pui/r 'arynbqlrra eql ur lou 'atrugul eql ol sl 1I 'lcBluoc pcrsdqd B lou sr slr{J ' >ll3l I re./v\ou eqr qSnorqJ ' ' ' 'drlugur Surqcnol uE L, 'prus acuo JoATEJ ,,'relrog luqi qrnol I uaq/A,, '{ool lnq plnoA\ al!\ JI sn /v\olaq puB sn eAoqB eJB sl{lnIl aqJ 'esleA

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POWER OF THE WITCH

tually he plotted the arc lengths for both material things and abstract concepts, such as love, hate, silver, sulphur, gold, even death and time. Wilson, too, suggests that events imprint themselves on a particular place and a skilled dowser will pick up the vibrations from those imprinted events or obiects even years later. Matter and energy not only emit vibratory motion but, according to modern scientists, they are vibratory motion. Because of this, electromagnetic rates for molecular structures can be calculated, including the brain waves in various states of mental activity. Brain waves correspond to various states of consciousness. Alpha, for example, represents a rate of fourteen to seven waves per second, which occurs when we dream, meditate, or do trance work. Beta waves correspond to states of alertness and intense mental activity. Theta waves occur during deep, dreamless sleep. We will look at the importance of brain waves in regard to Witchcraft in the next chapter. Kirlian photography is another way of measuring the vibrational field around obiects. The energy field around plants, rocks, even the human body, can be captured on specially developed photographs. Studies in Kirlian photography have revealed an interesting phenomenon about these auras. A plant that has recently been pruned will continue to emit the aura of the missing limb or leaf, which indicates that some vibratory disturbances in the field around an obf ect remain even after the physical obfect is gone. In other words the physical obf ect imprints its unique concentration of energy into the field that surrounds it. Perhaps this is why General Patton could hear and see clashing armies in empty battlefields and why a dowser's swinging pendulum will indicate fear and death in a spot that once witnessed violence. The intense emotional and physical energy expended in the course of slaughter imprints itself on the environment. No event is lost in the universe. The vibrations given off are eternal.

olBrodrocul 01 (lrlBar Jo uorlrugep neql {urqler or pBr{ oABq /eldoed ,(e1 su IIa,/v\ sE 'slsrluarcg 'uoueruoueqd sturs

eqr Jo stcadsu luareglp l.ldurts eJu reltElu pue d8reue pue rsnonulluocsrp puB snonurluoc qloq oq ol ]no surnl retlgru lalqrlcnrlsapur puB alqrlcnrlsep qloq ere salcrlred aqt Jo ,,sernlua;3ur1l Ie^el rruoteqns eqt uO 'drlpar ^\au -ruls lsotu or{t Jo euo,, selrsoddo ;o uor}Eogrun aq} slleo urde3 'aldrcurrd erues srqt qll.l s>lro,l esuarcs uJapow ,,'lUeql Uaer'rleq Seer8 -ep Surdrerr dueur qlu'r Surql aues aql Jo saurerlxa o,lu dluo d11uar err selrsoddg,, 'uoryoq'{y aqJ Io sprolv\ eql uI 'nod lsure8B Jo pBelsur nod ro; >lro.n esJalrun aql 3ur4eu or de>l eqt sr slqt 8uv*ou;1 'pelrcuooer aq uuc salrs -oddo 1o rmd drale pue /laeu seruerlxe /alrsoddo slr surel -uoc Surqldra,re /sqlnrl-Jluq are sr{}nrt 1e rpnp st Sutqt -drarra 'll slnd uotpq'{.y aqJ sv 'uralsds crleureH eql ur re.rl,od ot de>l eql sI dluelo4 :'hyto7o4 /o tvtoT arla 'se^e..vr lq3r1 alqrsr^ur BrA puilu 01 puru uror; eSpa -l/v\ou)l ]o /luaruaaoru ro 'ra;suer1 srql sr saSessaru crqlud -elel IIB Jo slsBq er{l }eq} r'roqs dllenlue^e 1p* dSoloqcdsd -ered ur serpnts ter{t a^orleq I 'e}BrpBr er* d8reua aql dq uorlBrrrJolur puu sa8ussau pues op oIA 'dsutueJ lsnl lou sBlv\ ,,Seqra poo8,, puB ,,seqr^ pBq,, Jo ldacuoc dddq p1o aqJ 'suorlEnlrs esuenltur puB sraqlo Jo serpoq puB spuru aqt sernB pur suorlurqrl alerlaq osp all 'd8ra IJoFB leqt -ue ea,r8 slcalqo u./v\ou{ sde.r'r1e oAEI{ seqclllA leql Uo 'uorssos Suueeq e Surrnp seg

-Isualul sJoleeq Jo spuBl{ aql punoJB EInE eql lBql s1v\oqs (qderSoloqd uurFrl 'eldurexe ro{ 'rl punore plag d8ra -ue eq] uo oaBr{ IIr,/v\ BrnB eqt tcedurr ralearS aql 'dSreue IEUOIIOIuA aq] aSUalUr eroru aql lBr{} esuepr^e eruos sr arar{J ,/'elrugur eql puB elrug eq} ueo/r}eq uorloru luBls -uoc ur esJalrun Surlerqu e ur s8uraq Surleslnd aJB eA\,, 'wn[npuad pUlA aW Sur4ptg ur sdrs Aoluag {ErIzlI sV 69I

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POWER OF THE WITCH

the fact that what appears to be irreconcilable can in fact be reconciled. Physicist Neils Bohr calls this the principle of "complementarity," which states that energy must be described as both particles and waves. Each description is corect but only partially correct, and both are needed for a complete picture of reality. Bohr himself often suggested that the concept of complementarity would be

physics. Certainly it has proven useful in expressing the great spiritual truths of the ages. Only by paradox have the great spiritual teachers been able to convey their profound insights. fesus said that the first shall be last and the last shall be first, and that only by losing your life will you save it. Lao Tzu

useful outside the field

of

wrote:

you will remain straight. Be vacant, and you will remain full Be worn, and you wiII remain new. Be bent, and

Witches use the principle of complementarity, or polarity , as it manifests in positive and negative charges. We know that the charge on anything can be altered. Nothing is fixed. All obf ects, moods, and states of mind have positive and negative poles, much like those in electrical circuits, between which energy passes. Many spells are nothing more than the transfer of positive and negative energies directed by consciousness. We are simply working with the laws of nature in the most intense and intimate way. It is liberating to know that life's energy flows on a continuum between poles of opposites and that you are never stuck in any one spot on the continuum. You have the power to advance or retreat, turn hate into love, fear into courage, doubt into faith. By learning to "walk in balance," as Native Americans say, we can keep our lives from being dominated by any extreme. In time we come

paqlBarq rolBoJs eql lEql sn serrols uorlEorc euos IIel ,,'Jaqlo eql ueqr puB alod euo tsrg prB,/v\ot re^a (s)Bul^rs ' Iuqtl.qr Jo uinlnpued eq},, 'sn s11a1 uorpq'{y aqJ sv ro; 'aa,arqcr ot preq sr ,,lurod IIqs,, eql lng ,,'plJor'r Sururnl aql go rutod Ilrts eqt,, 1I pellEJ lollg 'S 'J teod aq; ,,'se8ueqc ssolpua eq] ot Surpuodser elsrn eqt Jo reluer eql,, te satrsoddo eq ol eseao ,,srql,, aql puu ,,lEW,, aql ler{r lsBJ ar{r se.r oEI eq} Jo eruesse ,fial aqt luqt prus 'raqd -osoltqd asaurqJ er{l /nzJ 3uenq3 'setrsoddo ;o deldrar -ut crycl.c e ,,'3ururoceq,, Jo olBls lunurluoc B ur sr Surql -fiane 'a8ueqc lunladred ur sr SurqtdJela asnecag 'll lnd sntll)EreH raqdosopqd 4eer3 eqt sV 'elrsoddo slr Sururoc -aq dllenurluoc Surqtdra,re 'raqlo qree olur puu reqle8 -ol salrsoddo 11u 'qcral sa8us luluerJo eql sV 'setuerl -xa^rolJ uee.{ueq uorloiu pernsearu ai{l sr ruqldqg 'slunds '^\oU pue qqe deqa pur slear{^\ ur urn} osle Laql }ng 'lno pue ur 'u.rrrop pue dn 'qlro; pue {JBq aloru s8uqa iureas daqt se ]ou ere s3uq1 'salrsoddo ;o xopered eqr uru8y 'self,rrc ur Sururnl ralu,t\ ;o sdorp Ienprnrpur Jo suorllnu sureluoo dllentce aouBApE ol srrad -de teql luerualoru Jeeu{ aq} 'uraco eql ur sale.t\ o>lrl 'salJrrr ur eloru daqa 'errou selrsoddo asaql ,44o{ olur rqStsur tuulrodtur uB sn sarrrS urqldql Jo ,/v\BI er{J 'salrs -oddo;o pasodruoc sr dlrpar lrql puu luerueloru luBlsuoo pur a8uuqc ]uelsuoc ur sr SurqlLJele leql sl\Bf crlaruJaH aqr pue srrsdqd ruort elA :rarp,{.qy /o na7 arla ^aoul ']eqt uuqr ra8uorls sr Surqlop 's8urqt IIE qlr./v\ sseueuo aql Surcuarradxe o1 dur*a1e8 eq1 sI uorlBrlrcuocer pue 'secro; alrsoddo Jo uorlurlrJuocer eql ecuarradxe a.Ar aJaq.& sr lI 'salod qlog sureluo3 ]r asnpc -eq uorlrsod Suorls E sr elppru aqa 'qr8uerls suuau d11u -nlxe snurA pro^\ uilpI eql puE 'qrolord uBruou plo uE slus ,,enurl sr elppru aqt uL, 'sealasrno ecuEIEq pue rel -uec ol puB se{uaJlxa uaa/v\laq lurodprtu eql azruSocar o}

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POWER OF THE WITCH

the breath of life into matter and so life began. This is not iust a metaphor, for astrophysicists are now talking about the expansion and contraction of the universe. The entire universe breathes in and out, slowly, over aeons of time. Breathing is a circular process, measured by the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation. The law of rhythm assures us that each cycle seeks its completion, that the Great Wheel of Life, although forever turning, is always completing a cycle. Witchcraft trains us in finding our place in that flow and teaches us how to direct its energy. It is a cardinal tenet of Hermetic philosophy that the human will can override the forces around us, even as we work with them. The Kybalion says, "The pendulum ever swings, although we may escape being carried along with it." But the secret is to learn to direct our own energy and master ourselves first. To understand the three laws of vibration, polarity, and rhythm, an analogy might be useful. Consider the flow of blood through the human body. Vibration is the pulse or rate of flow measured by how much blood passes a given point every so many seconds. Polarity is the direction the blood flows at any given point, i.e., away from the heart or back to the heart. Rhythm is the cyclic nature of the flow that always assures complete cycles. Witches live intimately and in harmony with the great natural rhythms: the alternations of day and night, the ever-changing weather patterns, the gradual shift of one season into the next, the unending movement of life through birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth. Capra informs us that "the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter." The very essence of reality, we might add. As we live with the Great Wheel of Life and Death on the macrocosm, we know that it is also turning in the microcosm of each molecule. Since there

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and animus that Carl |ung and his followers have popularized, namely, that each person contains both masculine and feminine aspects regardless of his or her physical gender. No human being is totally masculine or feminine. Although developed as personality theory, these insights have proven enormously useful in other areas. The law of gender is really about force and energy. In all things there is a receptive or feminine energy and a proiective or masculine energy, which the Chinese call yin and yang. According to the law of polarity, all things contain their opposites, and according to modern physics, there is a dynamic vitality between those opposites. Therefore masculine and feminine energies are in a constant cosmic dance. We are not locked into a static gender role no matter what our sex or how hard we try to live up to culturally determined myths about "real men" and "real women." It is important for Witches (and all magic workers) who work in various states of consciousness to understand this fundamental polarity in the human psyche and factor masculine and feminine energies into their work as they are needed. Magic is creative work. Creativity studies indicate that androgyny is an important component in the creative individual. A person who recognizes and appreciates the androgynous nature of his or her personality, and can express it, stands a better chance to be creative than the person whose perspective is narrowed or limited by his or her physical gender. Creation legends from around the world attest to the importance of androgyny in the creation of the universe. Often they recount how an androgynous divine or supernatural being created the world, usually with the feminine or maternal aspect dominating and manifesting as a goddess or Great Mother. In some of these legends the original androgyne is split in two, and thus males and females in every species are destined to pursue each other

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everything else"! In a holographic sense the whole is in every part, and everything interpenetrates everything. So the old Hermetic principle that everything has a cause and is itself a cause of something in return is really more sweeping and exciting than it appears at first glance. The implications are truly astounding. We are not describing billiard balls bumping each other or rows of dominoes collapsing. We are not isolated individuals leading isolated lives except for the occasional encounter with someone or something else. We are literally and figuratively plugged into the entire universe. What happens on the other side of the globe afiects us. Our actions have cosmic repercussions. It is as humbling as it is awe-inspiring to rcahze the influence we possess and the incredible responsibility to use our powers wisely and for the good of all. The hard data behind the law of cause and effect is, as Capra puts it, that the universe is not a collection of physical objects (as it might appear to our limited vision) but rather "a complicated web of relations between the various parts of a unified whole." Or put another wayt a corollary to the theory that "everything causes everything else" is that everything can interface with every-

thing, everything can influence everything. What Witches call "projections"-thoughts and intentions directed from the mind to the external world-make a definite impact. They have an effect. They influence external events. From our brief overview of modern physics this should not be hard to understand. Of course the techniques for influencing others by mental projections must be learned and mastered. We must learn how to slip through the natural barriers that prevent our minds from continually running amok throughout the universe! If everyone could be in everyone else's mind all the time, it would be chaos! But similarly, because the human mind can take an

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In a banquet room on the ground floor of the Hawthorne Hotel on the Selem Common a Christian renewal group meets on a Sunday morning after their church services. On the second floor thirty people gather to learn the principles of Witchcraft. They are beginning their second day of my course, the Science of Witchcraft. They are a varied group: a mother and daughter from Australia, a mysterious woman from Michigan, a married couple from New |ersey, a young man from Maine, a poet who lives in the Hudson River Valley, individuals from New Hampshire, New York City, and the greater Boston area. Some are Witches and have been practicing alone or in their covens for years. Others are here out of curiosity, to see what it's all about. On this particular morning they will all do something they have never done before-they

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t70

Arms feel good. Wait a minute! One is broken. Susan then gives the agreed-upon response She says, "I don't have that information."

for "no."

"Are you sure?" Frank persists. Susan starts to say "yes," then stops. She remembers something. "Oh, well, she did break her arm ten years ago." FRANK: I thought Left arm?

so.

SUSAN:

Yes.

Letting his hands explore his image of Connie, Frank feels her back, checks out her legs, heart, lungs, and stomach. Nine out of ten times he gets a correct answer from Susan, or occasionally, when he misses a point, Susan will tell him to look "more closely" or "look again." He does. Often he sees what he missed the first time. FRANK: She has problems near her lower

SUSAN: Yes, keep looking.

stomach and pelvic area. It feels hot there. Frank pauses to explore that area further. He hesitates. A frown crosses his face. He knows that what he sees and

Iearns in alpha is correct, but he's still new at this. It's hard for him to trust himself, but he does. "She has cancer." "Yes, she does," confirms Susan. And around the room other pairs are finishing up their first cases with the same results. Bieeding ulcer?

Right.

Arthritis.

Yes.

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taught under such names as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Mariel Healing, to name only a few. The fascinating questions about psychic healing and parapsychology in general have led to academic programs and several chairs in parapsychology at a handful of research universities. Among them are Syracuse University, University of Vermont, University of California at Davis, City College of New York, and in institutions in Canada and overseas. Researchers like Lawrence LeShan, Stanley Krippner, Bernard Gittelson, and |ean Achterberg have written extensively on the visionary mind's ability to facilitate healing, even in cases of cancer. Psychic diagnosis and psychic healing can be done by most men and women, given the proper instruction and the right intention. Studies with a random selection of subjects who represent a cross section of the population indicate that, as Bernard Gittelson and Laura Torbet say in their survey of psychic phenomena, Intangible Evidence, "just about everyone has some measurable psi ability." My own classes and workshops confirm this. What amazes so many people is that psychic power can be controlled and directed, pulled out of your pocket, as it were, and used when needed. We have been led to believe that psychic power is elusive, coming and going on its own, temperamental and terribly unreliable. Certainly many investigations by skeptical scientists, who are often determined to prove it a hoax, have been unable to locate psi power or explain it adequately. It's quite possible, of course, that since experimenters always influence the results of their experiments, a skeptical attitude, picked up by the psychic being tested, interferes with a successful demonstration. Witches, however, firmly believe that psychic power is reliable. We use it in spells, divination, magic circles, and rituals. Psychic power-or magic-is based on science and can be taught to others. It has been studied and re-

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POWER OF THE WITCH

general underlying

principle

is an altered state of

consciousness . which allows us to function in realities that are normally not available to us." The reason information not ordinarily available becomes accessible in alpha is that the brain is itself a hologram. Stanford neurophysiologist Karl Pribram was the first to call our attention to this. His studies in the 1960s led him to suggest that the brain stores memories in a

holographic manner. Brain scientists had known for years that memories are dispersed throughout the brain,

but no one could explain the mechanisms that would account for the whole-in-every-part aspect of memory storage and retrieval. Pribram applied the concept of holograms to the brain and argued that nerve impulses web across the entire brain f ust as laser patterns web across an entire piece of film. Since all information in the universe is in our minds to begin with, it is simply a matter of putting the brain into the proper state to retrieve that information, much like retrieving a memory. Alpha is that state, and the trigger for retrieval is light energy. As Bentov says, "The universe is a hologram and so is the brain a hologram interpreting a holographic universe." Almost all cultures have used altered states of consciousness, such as alpha, for communal religious rituals, personal spiritual rites, divination, and healing work. The famous Oracle of Delphi, for example, entered a trance state before she could answer the questions presented to her by petitioners. In northern Europe priestesses of the Norse Goddess Freyia practiced a similar kind of spiritual counseling in which falling into a state of ecstasy was essential for receiving information. Only in the trance state could they answer a supplicant's questions. Among the Sami people of northern Scandinavia trance journeys to the other psychic realms or spirit worlds were taken in a state of ecstasy supported by ritual chanting by a choir of women. Among the Kung peo-

IBaurd eqf pelJegB lr{SrldBp }Bql 1v\au>I srer{rrBeser srEed dueu ro{ 'tqql elrecer ol peunq dldaep oo} oq ol ueas plno^\ puu13 relsBru srql oql ur auoq lselclql puB '11n4s re}uer aq} uI polBnlrs lseprBq er{} repun pBer{ eq} Jo 'sade aql eloqe re.,*od sn{l ?urzv?'prer*dn lods }B 11or 'uorluru /lurnleu sede s,uosrad e selels ecuerl auos uI -roJur Lrosuaserlxa eArecar daql ueq.r suorlusuos lecrsdqd acuarradxa daql des scrqcdsd dueu aJar{,l\ 'sr*orqada eql uae^\teq peeq erlt Jo raluac eql ur palecol 'ed1 prrqa ro 'puu13 aqt srelue tq8rl 'd8raua iq3r1 Jo slsrs leaurd -uoc (asrarrrun eql ur Bueruoueqd 1p pue) esrelrun aql ur uorlerrrJolur esnBcaq uqdp ur sn ol aruoc soouerradxe IIE Lreurprouou pue uorlururoJul du sr 1y rer{t IIB IIe }e{eq 'rqd1e ur Irolv\ lecrSeru rraql Jo tsoru op seqclrlA suosBar esaqt IIB rog 'saceld pue serurl regto ruorJ aJuarradxa ur A\BJp UEJ pue slrnJlsuoJ aceds-erurl esoq] uorJ pearJ ere e,t\ lBql os suorldacrad rno sJellu ur{dlV,,'eAII eA\ r{Jrq1v\ ur suorlrpuoc lou '{ulql a,rvr r{cq/v\ dq saporu ere aceds pue erurJ,, 'pres uralsurf sV 'ecue -rredxa ssecord ol esn e,lvr ler{} sarro8e}ec eceds-aurr1 eq} ]o ere,l\B ssal ere elA'rarBalc aru slq8rsul 'pesncoJ dldreqs eroru eJE sartrpqrssod ea,rleur8eurl'dlsnoaueluods rncco sa8erur pue slBrrelerrr snorcsuof,un qlrlvr lceluoJ tdppeer errroJ uorluuroJur ;o secard luaJa#rp uee,l\]aq suorlceu -uoc lalqrsseof,E eroru eJ? serJoruaru :du1d IInJ olul seruoc punu/urerq er{} }o lelruarod cqdurSoloq or{J 'lr^rlrns pue dlunras leuosred u1v\o Jno uBql raqlo surel ur uorl -Brurotur ssacord uuc e.,v\ luql os lueurruop ssel err so8a 'ece1d e{El se8urqo InJrepuo/v\ alets uqdle ue uI

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leuosred leos Jo saruorueJec Surleeq ruro;rad deqr apq,rl, elets eqdlu uE ur sseusnorcsuoo Jreql snco; ol Surluuqc pue Sururunrp IEnlrJ esn eldoad eurcrpeu uucrJaruv eArlBN ,,'slloq,, (3reua aql 'des (aqt se 'lllun ssousnorcs -uoc Jo elels paralle esuelur uE urelurutu ot Surtueqc pue Surcuep aAIoAur suorssos Surleeq rq8ru-1p EJTTJV ;o e1d

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glands of animals, regulating hibernation and estrus, for example, but they doubted whether light had any effect upon the pineal glands of human beings. But recent scientific research indicates that light does affect the human pineal gland, regulating on a daily basis its ability to secrete melatonin, a hormone that has an important eftect on the production of other hormones. In the fall of 1985 the first international conference on the pineal gland was held in Vienna to draw attention to the importance of light on this master gland, Furthermore, the term "Third Eye" is not iust a fanciful metaphor conjured up by Witches and psychics to sound mysterious. Anatomists believe that the gland is indeed a remnant of a third eye that never developed in the course of evolution. From the oldest times, sages, magicians, and Witches have spoken of the Third Eye as the doorway to all knowledge. Ancient peoples have intuitively understood the importance of this power spot and honored it in various ways. In the Orient it is one of the seven chakras. Egyptian monarchs wore a cobra-headed ornament at the center of the forehead. In India a red dot is placed over the Third Eye. Celtic priestesses painted the area blue. Cultures that use ritual face makeup often single out this area in front of the pineal gland for special attention. From the experiences of hundreds of people in my workshops, I believe that not only does the pineal gland draw in visual information, but that it also perceives sound that is undetectable to the ear. Both kinds of information travel as light energy. It is my belief that light and sound cannot be separated. When light arrives so does sight and sound. This is why the information we receive in alpha can be either visual or auditory. Some people are more prone to one than the other: some see visions, others hear voices. At the beginning of this chapter we saw how Frank received most of his information

'unl puB >llB./v\ plnoc a.t\ elo}eq l.reIc ol uIBal ol sn Jo qcEa roJ dressacau sEn lr sE lsnl 'reAalvroq 'eurrl a4u1 ,(uur 1I '1I esn ol ,/v\oq-Ieqlueluor lo-urBelel uBc sn Jo qcee pue 'tl seq auodralg 'erBr lou sr UI8 eqi lnq 'esrelrun eql Jo uopsrlv\ srql olur del uec deqt esnrcaq orBr pue paryr8 Suraq se scrqcdsd Jo {urqr ueryo elA 'sa^Iesuraql roJ erer o1 elqB ssel asoql alJes pue r{Jual 'qlr*or8 sarrnbar leq,/v\ ornl -rnu 'papaau sI ll areq./v{ dlaq rego uec o..r os sn o} tuBl -rodrur sr lerll oJrl uBrrrnq Jo BarE drale alrasqo puu uqdlu ralua elA 'spleg eq] ur paruuld sdorc asoqt lsn( ]ou 'sra -peel ssaursnq 'surrcrlrlod 'sluared 'dpapla eqt 'uarppqc ;o sdoro aql-,,sdorc,, rno o] pual alA 'u,lt.ol Jo slearls eql 'stele,l Joqreq aql 'suapre8 aql 'sp1ag eql eurruuxa ell' uqdle u1 ,,'Surlrasqo uE,, dlnrl sr acuBlJasqo rno 'rlBJJ aql ur deprloq ro(eu drala uo op e,l\ lur{1v\ sr srql 'surroJ slr IIB uI oJII pue r{}lBeri etoruord ot-srnod pue-dlllqrsuods -er rno sr lI 'pelcerroc eq sSurqt IIB tBr{r Suqoa(ord dllel -uau dq s8uorrvr lrlSu pue 'salrsoddo alrsuooar 'sar8raua ecuBIEq ol aJer{ eru a,v\ tlucrSolooa sr uorssrru JnO 'esJal -Iun eql JoJ alqrsuodsar eru a,l\ esnecaq s>lJo,/vr esJelrun aql uI Surqtftarra r*oq 3ur,r*.ou{ roJ ayqrsuodsat aru a,lr 'aroturaqlrng 'sn 01 elqEIrBAB sr a8pay*oul sIqJ 'slrrrds 'sleurld 'srels 'rele,rvr 'erg 'rre 'guea-s4ror* Surqldrale ol luBelu eI? e.tl lBql eAaIIaq e,/v\ seqclllA sV 1v\oq l!\ou>I

'11 Suteas

r{Jnru sE uorluuro;ur Surrraq dq sesou8urp rraq} pallos dnor8 eql ur otuos lnq 'dlpnsrrr uorlrpuoc s,eruuoC lnoqr

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THE POWER

OF

COLOR AND NUMBER In Salem I teach a very easy method for going into alpha and seeing with the Third Eye. I call it "the Crystal Countdown," a method based on Pythagorian principles of number and color. Pythagoras, whose work was based on the Hermetic Laws, is one of the few universally acknowledged wise teachers of science and spirituality. Pythagoras was born between 600 and 590 B.C.E. He was versed in the Eastern and Western mysticism of his day and was initiated into the Egyptian, Babylonian, Chaldean, and Eleusinian mystery schools. He also studied the Mosaic traditions with fewish scholars, as well as the Essene Brotherhood. At Crotona, a Greek colony in southern Italy, he set up his academy, where he taught his unique brand of philosophy and science based on mathematics, geometry, music, and astronomy. Pythagoras considered these subf ects absolutely necessary for understanding human existence, nature/ and God, whom he described as the Supreme Mind that pervades the universe both as the cause of all things and the power within all things. Similar to the theories of modern physics, Pythagoras's teachings posited that God (i.e., the universe) was circular and composed of the substance of light (or energy). He also taught that the nature of God (i.e., the universe) was the substance of truth, which, as some contemporary physicists would say, is the pattern of obf ective intelligence that underlies all phenomena. Pythagoras's philosophy is based on numbers, with the numbers one to ten constituting the sacred decad. Each number contains power and meaning in a wide range of human experience. For example, the number one stands

'euo ou srurBq pue IIE Jo pooS aql roJ sr 1l sB Suol sE plron lerrelrru er{t ur aFuEr{J a}EaJc puu '(Bqd -lB uI papuadsns ere eceds pue erurl ;o sauo8alec lBtueru aqr ro1) erurl ur prBlv\Jot Jo >lJEq IeABrl 'arrr1 daql ereql\ telluur ou seuo pelol uo ur {coqc 'a8pay'rou4 tuetrodrur ur 1v\Erp 'sraqlo o1 l.Sraua Surluaq puas 'ssaulI esou8erp ueJ e,l\ eqdle uI 'uorleruroJur reeq ro 'sernlcrd ees 'ezr -lBnsIA dlsnoaueluods arvr selels eseql IIE u1 '3ur1e1rpeu to 'olsnru Surlurrrldec o] Surualsrl 'Suruunr 'raded ;o pud e uo Surlpoop 'srueerpdep ur ,,lsol,, erB e.t\ ueq/v\ dep eqt Suunp olur drls o^\ tBql ecuert perotlB dllq8rls aql 'eqdp ol Eleq uror1 sele,l\ urBJq rno rel\ol uBc e^\ 'euo ol ueles ruorJ ul\op Surlunoc dq puu 'ursrrd E ur sE 'sroloc luau -oduroc stl olur rqft1 Suqeerq pue sede rno Sursolc dg '0ruelsrxe IIE Jo suorlBpunoJ leorlerueqleru eqt ureel pue dlalrsualxa eroru ualsds s,sero8uqrdd dpnrs ol stuapnls Lur a8urnoc -ue dlSuorts I 'asJalrun aq] Jo saruourBr{ Ieurelxa eql

ol eltldaceJ eroru 1r Sur4uru 'prl- eql sraluec pue secur -1uq 'ro1oc Jo seruoruJur{ eqi qrrm paldnoJ uar{,l\ 'duoru -JBr{ IBJrlerueq}Bru esnecaq ruelsds s,sero8uqld4

re;ard ot

eluoJ aAEr{ 1 sreed eql reAO 'sreqrunu su perueuadxa puu paureldxa eq uec 'leroru ro lucrsnu Jeqleq,l\ 'esJelrun aql uI duourreq Surzuure eql 'sero8eqldd ol Surproccy 'dlrssacau puu 'drourau 'qlre; 'rervrod 'a8e sr ua1 'suorlulrrull pue 'drepunoq 'uozrroq 'ueaco roJ spuuls euIN 'ecuerueluoc pur 'r*e1 'alo1 sr tq8rg 'sureeJp pue 'aunlro; 'a;r1 'uor8rleJ Jo Joqunu aql sr uales ',(cuarcg -Jns pue 'ppom eql 'eaceued 'eturl sr xrs 'eJuepr,rord puu 'qlleeq'L1rp1rir'dllprproc'uor1eura11e'uorlerpcuocar surerro8 aArJ ,,'eJnlBN Jo urBlunoJ eql,, pellBc sr puu 'dlr -sonledrur'dlrprrl'qlSuerls'duouueq sassedruocue rnoJ 'enurl pue 'ecuureduel 'dtald 'acuapnrd 'ecrlsn( 'eceed sI eeJr{J 'satrsoddo IIB pue '1enp sr }Bql IIE 'suorlureua8 'eouercs 'qluap sr o1v\J 'pulru sl U /pua pue SuruurSaq lelqe}s pue 'a1oqru. 'aleredes sr qrn{./v\ }Er{t JoJ

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Society has fabricated taboos about this kind of work, and most people grow up with powerful cultural inhibi tions about doing it. For example, we are told that it leads to "losing touch with reality," which is true in a certain sense, but not frightening when we realize that we are fust giving up touch with one kind of reality momentarily so that we can tune into other nonordinary realities. We are also programmed to dismiss any state that appears to us as "mindless." Zen monks, on the other hand, teach that a state of "no-mind," as they call it, is not an empty void but a void filled with unlimited potential. Most of us educated in Western school systems were taught primarily, if not exclusively, left-brain skills characterized by alert, mental, linear analysis. We have neglected to develop skills based on intuitive, spontaneous, nonlinear perceptions typical of right-brain thinking processes.

In general we have been conditioned not to value, appreciate, or induce the kinds of activity that foster alpha states: staring blankly for a period of time, daydreaming, letting the mind wander, observing silently without the incessant internal dialogue that chatters and comments about everything we experience. We don't remember, record, or review our nightly dreams. I find some people very reluctant to learn alpha and explore its potentials because of these societal attitudes. In time most people get over them when they realize that alpha is an important phase of life. We go into alpha states automatically anyway at various times of the day and night, so it is our responsibility to learn to use alpha correctly. The tendency today is to shirk responsibility in many areas of life. And I suspect that some people's inhibitions about learning this work come from their unconscious realization that aipha brings with it responsibilities. Our ancestors, however, knew differently. They knew they were responsible for

pelord lI 'sdurvt Sursrrdrns pue 'un; 'clteuerp ur srql a>lII 4rorvr crSeur eas ol peau a,t\ salull lv 'euqs 01 penulluoc uns eql alF{.tl luelBs u1v\olu1v\op uI uoouJoue 11e 'araql pue erar{ 'uo pue go pa^\ous peq }l tnq '}l uaas uele lou puq 1 pue duuad ,,'r(ln{ ur /v\ous lI eperu noiL,, 'pasnJ -cE er{s ,,;nod l,uplp 'tl plp noi(,, '>iro..r go ro3 aqs reryu esnoq dtu olur paqsnJ puerrJ e uoouJaryE leql reluT 'auoq lue.r puB qcunl Jno elB al!\ uar{J 'lle Jo poo8 aqr roJ aq puu rurBq ou op plno^\ tl palrrrp l\ous eql ueqa ruqr pe8reqc pue 'stuaruala eql pa>io^ur 'uqdp otur lue/r 'sada rno pesop an 'speles Jno Jo luorJ ut SuIulS 'pel{uln} sade ra11 ,,i1v\ous lnoqr aoH,, 'pa}sa8 -8ns 1 '(ep raruuns InJrlnueq e se.ry\ lI acurs ,,'1uf,r8eru Sutqlauros op s,la'L, 'palsaSSns I {ro1v\ },uplp l?q} uaq1A 'ool ruaql arou8r plno./v\ eqs Surdoq 's11nsur eql acrl -ou ol lou pepualard 1 're8uol puu ra8uol mor8 ace; s,du -ued eas plnor 1 a133r8 o1 uu8aq sroruotsnc oql sV 'qclllA e Suteq lnoqe rar{ pa}unut oq^\ uerplrqJlooqcs uorJ 4aa,u q8nor B per{ puq puu arur} aqt te lqSra dluo sem duua4 'seqcll1A erelr\ e,r lrr{} rreJ ar{} pue saqor 1ce1q dur lnoqu s{ruruer dlseu Surra}tnu pue s4oo1 dup 3ur}set uuSeq sJeruolsnc reqlo puB dep auo luuJnulseJ rueles e ur eJa^\ 1 pur ,(uua4 rerq8nep du 'qc1r6 e urB I lBqtr IoEJ er{t eprq ra8uol ou plno,/r I peurruretap prr{ 1ra}}V 'unJ oq uer daqt tcBJ uI 'uraql Sursn apq,nr ;lesrnod Surdo(ua ur Suorrvr Surqlou sr eJaql 1nq 'snorras aru eqdle;o srar*od aqJ 'euou rurrr{ puB llrlv\ nod leqr* oC 'euo ou ruJBq ol sr-sualsds snorftlar ro(uru raqlo Jo lBql e>lII-UEItqclIl to ./v\el IBcIqle eq1 'eqd1e Sutsn qlrl\ seruol ]Eqi (]rlqrsuodsar eq] JEaJ ol peeu ou sr ereqt 'd1sno1o,ru1 pasn oq relau plnoqs 1r q8noqlly 'sallesrueql JoJ erEJ ol plo ool Jo 'pauuqdro '1p arervr or{./v\ slBnpr^rpur esoql puD IJEIJ ro dnorS eq} ro] alqrsuods -er 'tuaqt JoJ erp plno./r\ ol{,/v\ slululue eqt 3ur11ua rcI pu7 Surlunq Jraql Surt;en roJ elqrsuodsar 'qlrvror8 rraql eql puo sdotc aqr SuuuBId s1oo1

eJnsua plno,/v\ lBr{} JaqlBal\

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POWER OF THE WITCH

to Penny that "what her mother was up to" was real, no matter what kids at school or strangers in a restaurant may think. Summer snow in Salem didn't upset any grand cosmic scheme, and according to the newspaper accounts/ everyone enioyed it. It harmed no one and provided a lesson in the Craft for a young Witch child. Some people dabble in Witchcraft thinking that once they acquire magical powers, they'll be able to ignore or even subvert the physical laws of the universe to their own selfish ends. What a rude awakening they receive when they learn that to be wise in the ways of magic means to work with the physical laws as well as the higher. During my first months in Salem, when I had very little money, I had to find ways to earn money to pay the rent. I could not expect a spell to absolve me from that necessity. Last year, when I ran for mayor of Salem, I astounded the local political leaders by proposing that we clean up the polluted water of Salem Harbor by hiring fapanese technicians specially trained in reversing environmental damage to urban waterways. I could not expect a spell to absolve the citizens of Salem from shouldering the responsibility for their harbor. "Why the |apanese?" people asked. I answered, "Because they are good at it." Nothing psychic about that! Those who are drawn to Witchcraft must first be well grounded on the material plane and understand and respect the natural laws of life. It is an ancient law of Witchcraft (and a modern discovery in Western physics) that spirit and matter are one. They cannot be separated. It is not possible to live solely on the spiritual level, but the wonderful thing is that we don't need to. We are always living on both planes. You never have to forsake the spiritual level when you become grounded on the material plane. Witches believe that in the final analysis all is spirit or energy. As Witches or scientists we must be grounded in both matter and spirit.

lBqt puru ur dae) 'dols 11rm 3uua11ng eql aurrl uI 'purru rnod qlrn aes ol;lasrnod urert ol aurl sI rI ,l\oN 'Surnarl eru nod lcelqo eql uo pexg pue uedo sada rnod qlr.tr l.1uo ,,ees,, ol peurBJl ueeq aAEq nod asnecaq xegeJ crleru -otnB uE sr lI 'ro]teq ueorcs oql oes nod dlaq plno.l reql p se 'prurvrdn IIoJ ol puel uane deu (aq1 'pesolc ere Laqi q8noqr uele lrq e Surrellng sade rno,( acrlou deur noa uorlrod ]uoJ] er{} dluo uo sa8erur aes aldoad lsotu lnq 'larulaq E aIII peeq errlua rnod selcrrcue sa8uurr slcalord adl prql aqt qorr{^\ uo ueorcs eql ',(lle -nlcV 'spleda rno( a,,roqu 1sn( pue nod ;o luorJ ur loo} auo lnoqB (uaarcs uorsrlelal B aTII) ueelrs ,(tdure uE ezrle -nsrrr.-ada s,purru rnod-adg pJIqJ rnod qttr* puB pesols sade rnod daa4 ro 'pereluac 1aa; nod uaqlA 'pacuBlBq '8urxe1ar puu dldaap Surqluarq

elnuru e puads pue 'sa(a rnol' esolc 'elqelro;uroc ta8 'u.r*op l1s 'ace1d larnb e pug eqdle otur Jlesrnod rnd oa '>looq eql ur dn Surqleruos >{ool ot alppru eqt ur dots o] alqu aq t,uo^\ nod esnecaq ur3eq nod aro;aq sdels eqt IIE r{}r1vt. Jerlrue} aru nod erns e{BW 'tI op ol lduellu nod ero;aq seull IEraAes u,/v\oplunoJ lelsdr3 ar{} roJ suorpenp arr}ua aqr q8norq} pEaU '{ooq srq} ur asroJoxa ro '1un1rr '11ads raqto (ue ol Surpeecord eroJoq lsrg 1l relseru lsnu notr 'luulrod -urr dleruerlxo tnq eldrurs sr tI 'ler{} lsn( op ol no,( r{Jeal IIr^\ asrlrexe 3uu'ro11o; eq1 'eqd1e Iorluoc ot ureel lsnu no,{ '1;er3 eql Jo sder* eqt urBel puB srer*od crqcdsd u,,vro rnod dolalep o] JepJo u1 'cr8uru JoJ srseq oguuercs eql uqdp ar{J 'r1ercr{c}rlA Jo }ruer{ aq} sr t1 's8ur4ror* ro; preoq8uuds eql sr rqdly sI etets

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the banality of Kansas from the splendors of Oz. In my tradition the rainbow is the crystal gateway into alpha. The indigo two is actually a deeper color and lower level than you need, so when the lighter violet one appears you will sense your awareness lifting ever so slightly. When you settle into orchid, count down from ten to one without colors to deepen the alpha state. Then mentally say to yourself with conviction, "I am now in alpha, and everything I do will be accurate and correct, and this is so." At this point you will perform the task you decided

separates

upon. Keep in mind that the alpha state is not like being asleep. Even though you have counted down, feel relaxed, and have your eyes closed, you are stiil in total control of what happens to you. You will hear sounds around you and you will be aware of the room you are in. Anytime you feel as though you want to come out of alpha, you may. In fact, anytime you feel that you want to start over/ you can. When you have finished your task and wish to return to what science calls the beta level of brain waves, or normal waking consciousness, erase what is on the screen with your hands. Then, while still in alpha, and with your eyes still closed, give yourself total health clearance in the following way: Place your hand about six inches above your head, palm downward. Then in one smooth swoop, bring your hand down in front of your face, chest, and stomach while turning your palm outward and pushing away from you. Say to yourself, "I am healing myself and giving myself total health clearance." This must be done every time you prepare to come out of alpha. By this simple procedure you will clear away any harmful energies that are present, and you will project an image of yourself as strong and healthy.

uorsre^ luoJal erou v 'IAe qlr1v\ UEJJ ar{r Jo ruopsr^\ eql pelJouuoc Jer.{lrnJ lBr{l uorsnep B /urepv ol paleuo a^il lEr{l ,,e8pall\ou) Jo eaJJ er{l Jo }InJJ,, sselelupu eq} eJBId -er ot olddu eqt esoqJ uorlrpBrt uBrtsrjqJ eq] 'dlSurlseral -uI 'rBls palurod-e^g B SuruuoJ spees u/rorq a^g :JalueJ Oql lE elrBtued papaes eq] pug IIr/v\ nod JIEq ur elddB uB lnc nod uaq11 ,,'puu1-a1ddv,, Jo ,,uolBAV,, pollBc sr erol qslaiA ur rlcn{.ry\ 'asrpered ur saqsrrnog ear} elddu aqr asnBoaq uoqrperl crllal er{t ur saqc}rlA ot perf,Bs sr a1d -de eqa 'ecrlcerd poo8 sr uortrlrpew alddy aql sreuur8aq lnq 'eqdp ur lno drrec uuc nod s4se1 duuur eJB aJeqJ

roJ

NOIJVJICIlW ETddV flHJ '>lro./v\ crqcdsd ro; dlsnorcsuoJ etBls eql Sursn puu rI Surllorluoc aru nod u.roptunoJ lursdr3 aqr I{lI^\ }Er{l sr ecueregrp dluo oqJ 'errolal puu srrrearp ur lqSlu ro (ep ,fiele ralue nod auo 'eluls lurrueu u sr eqdp asnBcaq 'plnoqs nod puy ']r ur aruoq iB IeeJ pue dpsea altnb eqdlu Jelue IIUt no,( 'uqd1e ot u1v\op Surlunoc le luercgord pur elqutJotruoo erotu rvror8 nod sV .lI lce;rad 01 rapjo ur s>laa/v\ aAU tseel lE JoJ dep drarra (uorlelrpau 8uvvto11o; eqt pue) lI ecrtcerd 'UEIJ er{l ur {ro/v\ ornlnJ 1e or da4 eq] sr eqdlu Surretue roJ ernpeoord rrseq srql 'Iuoor aql ur ecuasard rnod azrper ,(1pnper8 pue 'sada rnod uado dyvrols 'dn 1uno3 .Lqcrnb

ool uqdp Jo lno auroc nod uor{1v\ sJncJo relurrs Burql -eruos puu 'SurluorJosrp sder*1e sr rrruerp ro daels daap E Jo lno pallrels Sureg 'lI asr^pp lou op I tnq 'se/e rno( Suruedo dldurrs /q rqdp Jo ,,]no duus,, ,esrnoo ;o ,uec no1 'sel.e rno,( uedo nod se u./v\o rreql uo e8raluoc IIy( sroloJ aq] pue tq8rl IInJ eql ol Sururnter aru nod acurs dn tunoc nod su sroloc aos ol poeu tou op notr .uales ol euo uaql 'ua} 0l auo uor; dn l.yvrols lunor lxeN l8r

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of using an apple to link Witchcraft with evil is the Walt Disney frIm Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The evil queen turns herself into a wicked Witch and poisons an apple to give to Snow White. It is time to redeem the apple as the sacred fruit it has always been in Celtic lore. Co into alpha as explained above. When you are firmly grounded see the screen and bring up onto it an apple. Bring it clearly into view, look at it carefully, notice its size, shape, color, the stem, any leaves, smudges, bruises, wormholes. Then reach up with your hands (slightly above your eyebrows in front of you) and feel the apple with your index finger and middle finger. These fingertips contain acupressure points that activate the Third Eye. The blind, whose tactile sensitivity is extremely heightened, can often "see" or "read" colors, shapes, and forms using only their fingers. The tip of the index finger is for "seeing" and "reading." The tip of the middle finger helps you to memorize and recall. So feel the apple's shape, note its temperature, texture, and degree of firmness. Next visualize the apple cut in half. Examine it closer. See the pentacle of seeds. When you have finished keep your eyes closed and with your hands erase the apple from the screen. Then count yourself back up and open your eyes. When I teach this meditation in my classes each student describes a different apple, the reason being that each is a real apple that comes from somewhere beyond the mental screen. Often skeptical students think they are merely imagining apples. If you harbor a little doubt at fi.rst, don't worry about it. As you continue to do this meditation and the following one, you will gradually rcalize that what you experience in alpha is just as real as ordinary reality. You are in fact seeing a real apple. As you continue to do this exercise for the first few weeks, you will notice that it is not the same apple that appears

'se,(a rnod uedo pur dn 4crq ;lasrnod ]unoJ pue spuur{ rno,( qtrm doqs eqr asere 'depo1 eas ot Suro8 ere no,( ueas aaer{ nod no,( ueq11 ter{} IIE 1aa; 'erols ei{l ur lua -serd dlpcrqcdsd are nod asnDcaq puru rnod olur seruoc uoqururoJul eqJ '1rsrl crqcdsd rnod ol rorrd uorleru -rolur srql eAEq lou saop purur rnod 'reqruaruog 'seruoc leq/r oruoo ]aT 'ernlcrd alaldruoc E e,rBr{ 1p* nod os lsn( sllelep dn a4eur lou oCI 'sroloc ro sedeqs r'ra; e 'suorsserd -IuLt*eJ r dluo la8 deu notr '}rsra rrqcdsd lsrg rno( uo 8urql,{re,ra ees }ou duru no( esrnoo JO 'eJols aql ur stue}r aq] ees puu IeeJ ol spuer{ rnod asn 'rool; eq} Jo roluac eql ur sdeldsrp Surpuuls-aa4 luu'ele srelsr8ar r{sec eql eraq/r '1prvr aqt uo suSrs 'aro1s eql ur sJoloc aql eAJasqO 'rueql uo sI lBq./r puE ere sJelunoJ ar{} ereq^\ ocrloN 'uu1d roog eql ees 'l.lecqcdsd punoru IIE >looT 'ur >llBlvt ueql 'doqs eql eprslno Surpuets ada s,punu rnod ur ;lesrnod aag 'slueurtredap IBreAes qll^\ erols e8rul e upql reqter enbrlnoq ro doqs IuooJ-auo IIBrus B Osn ol Jars?a sl iI 'llBur B ur uorlBJol cgrceds E ur ro leaJts cgrceds e uo doqs Ieer B esoorl3 'dtlc ro ur'rol rnod ur erolaq pelrsrl ralau a.,req no/ doqs E ueeJJs rnod oluo dn Suuq pexBIeJ ere nod uaq,11A 'u^\opluno3 p1sdr3 aql Sursn rqdp otur oD 'dn rI Sur4eru lsnl 1ou are nod leql puB plJo/r leuJalxa aql tuorJ seruoo eqdlu ur earacar nod ter{} uolteruroJur eq} teqt alord dlaq pr* esrcrexe srqJ

TIAVUI

CINIW

'acuds puB eruu ur slsrxe rrqr eldde IEar E Jo acuesard aql olur Surddel ere notr 'dn srqt Sur4eur tou ere notr 'dlqrraprsuoJ drel deu eldde qcra ;o e8e puu 'ro1oc 'edeqs 'azrs eq1 'erurl qf,Ea 68r

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Then write down what you saw or draw a diagram so you won't forget it. When you have the time visit the shop you saw on your screen and confirm how many of the details are accurate. Don't be disappointed if they are not all 100 percent perfect. Keep in mind that you saw the shop at a particular hour on a particular day. It may have changed between then and your physical visit. For example, you may have seen on your screen a milk shake and wondered what it was doing in a clothing boutique. Perhaps a customer had carried it in. You might have detected a bright red color behind the counter that isn't there when you visit physically. Maybe the salesclerk that day was wearing a red sweater. Psychic work takes practice. It will take awhiie to learn how to evaluate your experiences. Always notice how many "direct hits" you have and be glad even if you had only a few. I think you will be surprised to discover that you are usually about 50 percent accurate.

THE ECYPTIAN SUN MEDITATION This meditation is wonderful for renewing your physical and psychic energies. After a long day of work I often use it to revitalize myself before an evening of teaching or meeting with my coven. You can also do it first thing in the morning before the busyness of the day begins. Do the Crystal Countdown into alpha. When you are ready see a bright psychic sun shining about six feet over your head. Notice how its golden energy pulsates. See the power of the sun leap out from it, eager to share itself with all living things. In time you will notice six beams of lasered sunlight

'Uel eql pue tqSrr aqi o] pre,t$no paturod sdrlra8ug eql 'la^al replnoqs lE aq plnoqs pueq r{cBA 'esod reLrrd uert -dd8g ue ur sE 'prendn surpd 'spueq rnod asrrr lxeg 'r{Juruols eqt pue e8uc qu aqt uae,rlaq snxald relos aql saterteued rueaq qlrnoJ aqJ ']rEeI{ aqr q8norq} sruuerls ruueq pm{t aqJ 'palBcol sr prordqt eql aJaql\ eql sralue der puocas aq1 'ur4uqc teorql 'adE prql rnod 'pur13 1ea -utd eqt ol slelert pue puer{ rnod sretue rrreaq isrg aql 'dpoq rnol. ;o sEeJB xrs o1 puaJsap pue eqo13 ,(rey aqr e^Eel IIr/( deql 'nod prB,/vto] palcarp tuees leql

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Now let the fifth and sixth rays penetrate the center of your palms. When the six rays have entered your body feel the golden rays flowing through your blood, your nervous system, up and down your spinal column, to every cell in your muscles, to every internal organ. Eventually you will feel a tingling sensation in your fingertips. It may feel icy or warm. Touch your feet together and cross your hands over your chest. With your eyes still closed, hold the light within you. Bathe in its warm glow, letting it renew your energy as long as it is comfortable. Repeat over and over to yourself, "The sun gives me physical and psychic energy." Sit like this for about ten or fifteen minutes and you will feel completely energized in body, mind, and aura.

INSTANT ALPHA The deepest alpha states require the Crystal Countdown in a quiet place. Unfortunately this is not always possible. Here is a method for going into alpha instantly for quick tasks when you cannot close your eyes, such as while driving a car or walking through a crowded grocery store. Instant alpha is great for finding a parking space or getting a table at a restaurant. But before attempting instant alpha practice the Crystal Countdown and the three exercises above for a couple of weeks until you feel comfortable and confident using alpha. First you must program yourself for instant alpha, and this of course requires going into a deep alpha state with the Crystal Countdown. When you are in alpha cross the middle finger of your left hand over the top of the index finger and hold it. This will activate the pineal gland. You may even feel a

JeIIeq Jnod ueqlSua4s llrlv\ ]I asne3oq-sseccns 'uorlcel -ord 'e,ro1 'qlleen 'qlpeq-s11ads 11e ro; alrsrnbarard r sr uollsllpew rBlS {urd aq1 '8urlr1 InJsseccns pue crSrur 1n; eql tE erB e^ol-Jlas radord pue rueatse-JIaS -ssecJns Jo aroc

NOIJVJICIfW UVJS )NId EHJ 'euo pesn dluo en lng inol E ur IIB sn JoJ Surlrervr saceds Sur4red rnoJ are.& araql 'luernelseJ eql Jo luorJ eqi ol punore pelcJrc e^\ uaqlA 'aceds Sur4rud e la8 ot eqdlu luBlsul pesn sn Jo r{cBe {Jolq eql punorB eAorp e^\ a[q./v\ os '1r op plno./v\ sraqlo eq] Io auo lqSnoqt qJEe all 'eceds e ro; e8uuuu ot pereqroq pur{ sn Jo auou }ErIt pezrluer a,/v\ uaq^\ paqSnel ela 'palls lol Sur4rud aqr pu? toerls aql uo seceds Suqrud eqt IIB pug o1 ]uernelser eql 18 polrrre a.rr pup saqrlllA earql qtr^t qcunl ol Suro8 sB^\ I aJuO 'nod ro; Surlrer* aq 1pr* aceds Sur4red E oarrru nod ueq6 ('alrlulndruuru ool sr lBr{I 'lods u Surrreal ruc E ees rala51) 'aceds Sur4rrd &drua uE ezrl?nsrl uaercs s,puru rnod uo pue sra8ug rnod ssorc uorleurlsap rnod ruor; qcolq o.t\l lnoqv 'aceds Suqred r Surpug roJ sr uqdle luelsul Jo esn poo8 y 'ecrlou s,lueruoru e tE ll paau nod releuer{,l\ uqdp asn ol dpuar ere nod puu >lceq ueql tunoc ;lasrnod '1I Jalue o] uorluelur aqr SuqBru pue sreSug rnod Surssorc dq lsn( uado seda rnoL qlll\ acrlou s,luoruoru e 1e eqdp olur oB ol alqe eq III/v\ nod ']r o]ur pugrurrroJ srq] paururer8 -ord aluq nod acuo pue 'ralndruoo E e>l{ sI puru eq1 ,,'egd1u luulsul uI tue l pue sre8ug dru ssorc 1,, 'dug'e1e1s eqdlu luelsur aqt raSSrrl lprvr nod sraSug rnod Surssorc dq reql;lasrnod ol leadag 'pessors sra8ug rnod ploq nod a1irl,l\ adg

prrql rnod ;o EerB er{} ur l.Sreue

Jo uortesues t'

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that it is correct to have these things. Self-esteem is basic to Witchcraft because magic can be done only by people who know they are worthy of it. If you have self-esteem, you will not feel guilty about having material things or your ability to create and possess your own fortune. After all, you can't contribute to the good fortune of others if you don't have anything to share. Use the Pink Star Meditation to clear your mind on these matters and remove the mental obstacles that prevent successful magic. Lie down, close your eyes, and count yourself into alpha. Visualize the sky and the cosmos. See the light of the universe, the God/Goddess, the Force, the All, or whatever you choose to call the Source of all living things. See white light coming from this source entering each foot. Next allow the light to travel up your body, stopping momentarily to empower each chakra. See the seven chakras as colored crystals in the same selluence as the colors in the Crystal Countdown. The feet are red, the spleen orange, the solar plexus yellow, the heart green, the throat blue, the forehead indigo, the crown orchid. As the white light exits through the crown it becomes a silver lotus flower opening out into the solar system. Your consciousness can travel on this flower, its petals softly and gently propelling you through space. Travel past the sun and all the planets. Soar out among the stars and planets we have not discovered yet. Enter new and unknown solar systems far beyond the range of earthly telescopes and radar systems. As you look ahead you see a bright pink star, its rays extending far out into space. Travel toward this pink star, and as the first rays from it touch you, feel its power drawing you into it, farther and farther to its center. You feel warm and exhilarated by the pink light. It surges through every part of your body. The rays fill your entire being and emanate as wings. You feel total self-esteem and total self-love. You

lsntu e.t\ leql suBeru srr{J 'Uerf, rno olur dlsnorosuoc sar8raua elurue' puu elBru qloq aturodJorur ea lur{l sannb -ar '4tor* sseusnorcsuoc sr qorr{,l\ 'cr8eru 1ad puy 'snons -uocun puB uepprq dlelrtrlar suretuar-d11ucr3o1orq err a1vl lEr{,/vr ;o alrsoddo eq}-snwruE ro erurup rno d1pns6 'xIJtBerJ/rolBeJJ eqi seop sr '8urql polBeJc drea,e seop su 'd8raue elerrre; puB eleru qloq ulBluoc arvr l.llentrrrds ro .{1prqcds4 'sauoruroq eleruo} pue elerrr qloq puu seruos -oIIIorr{J L puB x r{ioq urB}uo3 ar,r l(lpcrsdr{d 'alBiueJ pue aletu r{toq sr sn }o r{rBe }Bqt sn slla} rapueS;o e1d -rcurrd crlourreH aql 'reldeqc snorlard eql ur aBs e..v\ sV

SNWINV/VWINV UNO,t SNIJA:IW 'Bleq otur dn ;lesrnod lunoc puu ecuereelo r{tleeq lrlot Jlesrno( a.,rr8 uaqJ 'uosrad reqlo eqt roJ erues aqi oC 'dpoq aql lnoq8norql speards tr sB iq8rl 4urd olur urnl ,(poq s,uosred aql qJlulv\ ueql 'snxald rulos Jer{ Jo srq eprsur ]qBII eql Surceld allq^\ Ienpr^rpur ouo Jo eruuu aqr 4eads pue lq8tl 4utd ;o pugq euo a{EI 'uearcs luluetu rnod uo uoql arntttd puu e^ol-Jlas ;o r;€ e errr8 or e>lII plnorvr no,{ uroqlv\ ol aldoad o.rvu aes 'pasolc 111rs sada rnod qr116 'peaq rnod Jo u1v\oJJ aqt q8norqr dpoq luclsdqd rnod ratuear puB quBO ol urnleg 'ueql ssed nol' sB serpoq Fusolec raqto pue 'srels 'suns 's1eue1d aqr Surcrtou 'qlree ol {ouq luog 'spueq rnod ur puu (poq rnod ur lq8rl 4urd eql qtllA 'qupe ol urnler ot uolslrep eql a>luru pue lq8[ >1urd;o slnJpuerl orvg dser8 puB trno qcBar rels aql eprsur IIFs epq1tr 4urd 'elol lceJrad puu

duoureq 1ca;rad uI lsrxe soruso3 aql pue nol 'sseppoD /poC eql 'llv aql 'aslerrrun eJrlua eql qlra euo aou eru 96I

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meet our anima or animus and develop a viable relationship with him or her. Here is a meditation for doing fust that. Lie down, close your eyes, and count yourself into alpha. On the screen of your mind see a natural opening into the earth, such as a cave, a hollow tree trunk, a small animal hole, a well, or a spring. It helps if this opening exists in ordinary reality and it is one that you have seen yourself at some time or other. It should also be a place where you feel comfortable. But if you do not know of such an opening, let any one appear on your screen just as you let an apple appear. Spend a few moments looking at the opening, noticing what is around it. Be as sensory as you can: see obiects and colors; note the smells; feel the air, the temperature, listen for any sounds or noises. Next enter the opening by letting your consciousness descend into it. Once inside you will be in a tunnel. Proceed down the tunnel, noticing the atmosphere, the texture of the walls, the amount of darkness or light. Shortly after you begin your descent you will see a light. Head for it. Notice what color it is. When you pass through the light you will leave the tunnel and be in a room. Find a chair and sit down. Look around the room. Notice the furnishings and objects, the colors, the walls, the amount of light. On one wall you will see a closed door that opens out onto a balcony. Go over to it, open it, and step out onto the balcony. You will be looking out into the universe, as if you had stepped out onto the platform of a starship. Peer as far into the universe as you can. Become aware of the tremendous power/ energy, and light that pulsates through the cosmos. Take a few deep breaths and let this energy enter your body. Then step back inside and close the door.

Go back to your chair. Sit down. Ask your anima/

srerlrruBJ IEruruE rar{ sdaa{ qclllA v 'oJII urepou to suorlceJlsrp snolo^rJJ er{l q}r/r spuru puB sasuas rno Solc lou op pue plJolv\ IErnlEu eql 01 a^rtdeJar duls en ;r sn puerJJaq puB u1v\op sn lunq llrlv\ slEiurue rer*od lsn pug ol ra8ue aru strrrds uBrprenC 'ueql punoJ sradlaq luds aql rnq sradleq lrrrds naql pug tou prp deql ler{} rurplc sueru -EI{s pue soqJ}IiA duepueql peeu e^\ sB qcnru sE sn paau 'ralcerrqc Iecrqll.tu e ro '1a8ue uu 'lerurue ramod e 'snrurueTuulruu uB aq deql Jeqlaqn 'seprn8 lgrds 1so141 'sJaqlo o1 no,( ecnpoJlur ,(rur aqs Jo aH 'aprn8 lprds lsrg Jreql sr snurue/Brurur eql lerll JeloJsrp aldoad tsow 'aJrT rnod;o lcadse dra,ra olur ,{8reua rerl/srq ecnpoJlur uuc nol. reqlru1rl ruorJ lno purJ 'drqsuorl ^\oqol pue tar{}o qcBa .,v\ou>I -e1ar Sur4rol\ ? elueJf, ol te8 ol uorsses qcua Sursn 's4aan IBreAes JoJ {ee^\ e eJuo lnoqB snwrue/pruruu rnod ol daurno( sfi{} a{El no,( 1sa33ns 1 'Elaq olur dn 4ceq ;lasrnod lunoc pue 'ecurrealc r{tlBeq IElo} tlasrnod errr8 'uaeJts rnod asere uoqJ 'ue8eq nod araqu Suruado eql lB a8rarua nod 1t1un Ieuunl aqr dn dl4crnb ssud pue IqBII tBqr orur oD 'lauun] eql 01 drlua eqt s{r?ru }Er{l 1q3ll paroloc eql ro' uoor ar{} punore >lool e^Eel ol .(peet are nol uer{lA 'auo8 aq IIr^{ aqs/eq roop eq} uado txeu nod ueq1A 'roop eql tnqs puu 'duocleq aql uo lno {JEq oB'dn le8 1rr* snruruu/Erurue aql peqsrug eleq nod uaq/A 'reqlo qsEe /v\ou{ ol te8 pue sSurql aseql re^o lpa 'nod ruorJ speau ll iBr{,,l\ sniuruu/Erurue er{l4sy 'cr8eru rno( ur 'pellrr eq ol d8raue req/srq peau nod ter{t req/tu1q IIOJ sluBlv\ el{/3qs eluBu 8 Io} snluluB eq} lEI{] /r.lnIue {sV 'dpoq aqr

;o adeqs luraue8 aqt 'spurq aql 'ace; eql lB

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^\oq1sn( sluaurour ,/v\al u puads ol aql lE 3ut4oo1 luer* deur notr 'rar{lo r{cua aou{ ol te8 pue rrBrIJ E turq/raq JaUO 'uI eruoc Ilrlv\ snurue/vld.rruB rnod pur uado 1F.'* roop E uJ 'luarlBd ag 'nod ol eruof, ol snruruB

aql slualuolu./v\eJ

t6r

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around because they atune us to the natural world and the spirit that pervades it. Keep looking and listening. There are faces and voices in the clouds. The starry sky at night is alive with laughter and song. Establish a reciprocal relationship with your spirit helpers from the start. Be aware of how you fit into their mission and purpose, and do your best to be a partner or companion to your spirit guides. We must prove to them that we understand the reciprocal nature of the universe we are all related,

-that

A REMINDER Magic is the ability to change consciousness at will. It is more than iust wishful thinking, however. The laws of Witchcraft are the laws of magic. They derive from the seven Hermetic principles that scientists are now discovering operate on the physical plane. I would suggest that if you want to become an adept in the ancient ways of our ancestors and in the most modern scientific practices, you should meditate on the seven Hermetic principles and practice the meditations and exercises in this chapter. Only practice will make you a competent Witch. Start with reasonable tasks for a beginner, like finding parking spaces or looking for lost objects, communicating with other people, or caring for your health and the health of your family. Don't expect lightning bolts to flash out of your fingertips yet and don't imagine that you will ever change the physical laws of nature.

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My course in the science of Witchcraft does not proselytize. I don't want people to give up their religions. They can learn the Craft and apply it to their own forms of prayer and ritual in their churches and synagogues. The Hermetic Laws are universal and the underpinning for all serious spiritual work: Pagan, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, |ewish. For example, if Catholic prayer, novenas, Masses, litanies, rosaries, holy cards, candles, statues, medals, incense, and other religious articles work, it is because the Christian uses them in alpha, All sacred tools work if we are in a sacred state of mind that allows light to enter the pineal gland, shift consciousness, and link our thoughts and intentions with the mind of the universe. Those who deride moon worshipers, sun worshipers, and the efficacy of sacred objects, prayers, and rites overlook a crucial scientific fact: Light energy is the source of life, intelligence, and all knowledge. When we open the pineal gland by shifting our consciousness into alpha, light enters and brings knowledge and understanding. This is the basis of all religion-to let the light in, to let Divine Wisdom in. Mystics in every religious tradition speak of alpha states of consciousness and the lure of Divine Light, although they do so in their own metaphors and images. In their own ways they have learned how to enter alpha as they pray or worship. They learn how to become enlightened. Religious people without alpha skills merely recite their prayers from rote or rely on priests and ministers to do their rituals and praying for them. When their spiritual questing fails to give them answers or produce results, they seek out oracles or readers to give them information about the most pressing issues of their lives. Nine out of ten people who come to me for readings at my daughter |ody's Witch shop, Crow Haven Corner, on weekends are Christians looking for answers that they

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A WITCH'S

LIFE: EVERYDAY MAGIC

A Witch's life is filled with magic and power. We don't reserve our Craft for just certain days of the week or seasons of the year. Most of us live the life of a Witch completely and totally, day in and day out, and through the nights whether awake or asleep, for even our dreams have power. Every hour and minute is filled with magic and meaning and there is nothing that happens to us, good or bad, that is not part of the Craft. A Witch's life is filled with enchantment. In this chapter we will look at the everyday magic that enhances a Witch's life: magical spells for health, prosperity, protection, and love. In the next chapter we will consider the common milestones of life: marriage, birth, raising children, and death.

eql lueql 1vlou)I en sB lsrxa lou op eceld puu eurl /sseu -snorcsuoJ Jo alBls lBcrlsl.lll E ur sB IIa/v\ sB la^el f,rruolE -qns B uo lBr1l requaueg 'oslu JalJenb qcea ur rncco Lep Jo seIIIlt pue rea,{ eqr Jo suosBas eqt puB ',(lpcrqdrrSoa8 uorlcerrp rlcea ur aprqr slrrrds pue stueruale aql IIV 'ralBl!\ roJ lse,/v\ aql ur laeqdeg pue 'np JoJ qlnos eql ur IarrqBC 'arg ro; tsee er{t ur IeBqrrW 'qtrea roJ r{uou eql ur Iaun aru sla8ueqcff ar{I 'lse,l\ eql ur Jalun pue ,qlnos eql UI rIE 'lsua eql uI arg 'quou eql ur qtJEO qlr./r rBllB (u dn los I 'ueqt tuesardar ol pasn eq plnoqs suurrrsrlel ro s1oqu,(s qcqrvt puB suorloeJrp JnoJ aql prun8 slrrrds ro 'slururue 'sroloc 's1ueue1a qtlql\ ol su dre,r suorlrp?rJ 'dervr eruos ur lr uo paluasarder eq plnoqs uorlserrp qcBa puB suorlcarrp rnoJ er.ll Jo Jeluec eql uI slrs rellB aql 're1n8ue1cer ro 'arenbs 'punor reqleqlA 'pelonJtrsuoc pue pauorlrsod sr Jellp rnod de.r,r, aql ,{q ,(lpcqderSoa8 ;lasrnod punor8 ol luetrodrul sl 1I .sploq lr s8urueaur pue srar*od ler{1vt noul 'acu; nol. uor}carrp re^aqJrqlA 'sSuruur8eq pue 'qtrrqer 'ssauqser; 'tq311 meu ;o aceld aql 'lsee ecEJ 01 re;ard soriolllA eruog 'dcuelsuoc puu ,{re1s,(ur to uouceJrp or{} 'quou Surcu; oslu aJB nod ,lr Surae; puB tl Jo tuorJ ur Surpuels ere nol ueq^\ lBqt os rBl aqt uorlrsod 'alqrssod;1 U.11ITV NV dn eNIIIflS -lE

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POWER OF THE WITCH altar in the magic circle stands outside of time and place. There is more than one way to set up the quarters of an altar, and you need not fear that if you miss something, you upset cosmic forces. What's important is that each Witch's altar embody all four elements and the spacetime energies that are important for her or his personal magic.

One way to represent the elements on the altar is with stone or oil for earth, a candie for fire, incense or an air plant for air, and a bowl or chalice of water (naturally) for water. Place a pentacle on the altar to define the center. The point should be positioned upward toward the north. Above the pentacle place a thurible for burning incense. Place a black candle to the left of the pentacle and a white candle on the right. The altar is a power spot, a conduit or circuit in touch with energies that pervade the universe, and the black and white candles are used to direct energy. Witches believe that energy enters on the left and exits on the right. This is true of the human body as well as an altar-energy enters through the left hand, for example, and exits through the right. A black candle will draw in energy iust as it draws in all the colors in light. A white candle reflects all the colors of light energy and will thus function like a transmitter, sending out the energy from your altar. Stones, herbs, colors, and talismans on the altar should also reflect this basic left-right circuit. Every item corresponds to the purposes for which you are working. Charge them (see below) to either draw in or send out energy and place them to the left or right of the altar. For example, if you are working a spell to enhance your career or get a better job, you might charge lapis lazuli, cinnamon, or cloves for this purpose and place them on the left. These ingredients are associated with |upiter, the planet that rules careers and jobs. On the right side

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would be turquoise or purple amethyst, charged to send your spell out into the world where the energy will do your bidding. (You could also put a royal-blue candle on the left and a turquoise candle on the right.) Place protection items on each side of the altar, such as black coral or sea salt. The need for protection around an altar is often misunderstood. We are not worried about monsters or demons who will try to interfere with our magic. Magic is never performed in a state of fear but ioyously and with a sense of wonder. Rather we protect our work from energies and forces that might be conflicting with our intentions, such as astrological influences that are not in sync with our spell or other magical work going on in the area that is at cross purposes with our own. Sometimes we ourselves bring contrary moods or intentions (usually in the form of mental distractions) to our circle or altar, and we use protection items to neutralize their influences too.

CHARGING TOOLS A Catholic chaplain at a Boston hospital came to me for instruction because he spent a great deal of time anointing the dying and he felt the Catholic Church had not told him enough about spiritual tools, such as the holy oils, frankincense, myrrh, and candles he used in the last rites. Witchcraft has powerful techniques for charging sacred objects, and I showed him how to charge his oils and candles to make them more efiective conductors of both sacred energy and his own. Today he feels that his work with the dying and their families is much more satisfying for all involved. Charging a tool is a method of transferring energy from you and from the cosmos into an article that will be used for magical purposes. The first tool to be charged is the wand or staff with which you will cast magic circles. It's a kind of Catch-22, however, because all tools must be

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'doqs qc1r16 1eco1 rnod uorJ ro 'orols pooJ-lBrnleu puB -r{rluerl 'arols dracor8 e ;o uorlJes tarurno8 eql ur peseqcrnd aq uuc qJlr{/r 'tps ues qtvvr alcrrc lurceds E lser uec nod JO 'puelv\ rnod e8reqo o1 nol roJ elrrro B lsuc ot tueql Isp plnoc nod 'seqclriA arr oq/r spuoru a,ruq no,( JI 'arrrBr{lB ro 'pror*s 'puen E r.{}r,/v\ ls8c eq plnoqs elorrc aql 1ad 'alcrrc cr8eru E urqtr^\ pa8rrqc

/07.

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circle, walking clockwise. After completing one full circle make another circie about one foot inside the first, and then a third one a foot inside the second. You must have your altar set up and your wand and all the tools you will need inside the circle before you begin. When you have the circle cast with sea salt, hold your wand in your hand, go into alpha (eyes closed), and examine the wand psychically for any incorrect energy. Even if your wand has been recently made from new materials, there may be energies that are inappropriate for magical work, not necessarily harmful energies, just inappropriate. Look at the wand's aura to determine the energies to be removed. Seeing an aura is very similar to seeing the apple in the Apple Meditation. Let the aura appear on the screen of your mind. Some people find it helps to think of their screens as computers on which they bring up a file called " aura." An aura will look iike a light radiating around the physical body or obiect. With your eyes still closed, hold the wand in both hands and with alternating motions of both hands push out the unwanted energies while you say, "I neutralize any incorrect energy in this wand." Then put a small dab of protection potion (see page 217 for recipe) on the wand. Hold the wand in both hands again, close your eyes, and see your own aura. Allow it to travel around and into the wand. Watch your aura mingle with that of the wand. Notice how they both become brighter and stronger, extending outward into the space around you. Then say, "I charge this wand to catalyze my every thought and deed by my will. I ask that this be correct and for the good of all. So mote it be." This procedure is basically the same for charging any tool, herb, article of clothing or jewelry, or any obiect that you want to fill with your own energy so that the tool becomes a magical object capable of carrying out your spells. Go into alpha and look at the object for in-

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'esodrnd cgrcads eql roJ 1r SurSreqc aroJaq tr uo uoqod uorlcalord Jo qup u aceld o1 sr 1ca{qo ro Ioot u ur sar8reue Irenorur due azrlerlneu ol dervr elrleurollB uV 'asodrnd s,lce(qo aqt tsuru8e >lro1v\ plnoJ leql ,(8raua drrl -uoc due urorJ paplarqs pue pexg sr d8raua srql lur{l ^\ouqc1rir!\ ro; drs puu lce(qo aql Sur8reqc eru nol. esodrnd eql eluls 'tq8rrq pue Suorts ere surnB peurquroJ ar{t ueqlA 'euo Sururocaq 'a18unu s,1ca(qo eql pue ernu rnoL r{clB1v\ pur sede rno( eso13 'acueJeJralur ou ser{ }l lpql /u1v\o s1r dlernd sr 1r eJns e>leru ol ure8u urne s,]ce(qo aql >lceqo ueql ('d8reue dldurrs sr d8raua 'palourer acug 'lce(qo ro ecrld Suorr* aql ur sr lr ler{} esues eql ur dpo 1n; -IrrJBr{ sr d8raua loerrocul) 'sloege In}rrrJuq ou eAEr{ Ilrlv\ lI eJaql\ 'sotusoc oql ur aledrssrp ol lno ll pues puu puuq rq8tr eqr qtl^\ lno dSraua tcerrocur qsn4 'purq rq8rr rnod qtrr* lr raaol pue pueq t;e1 rnol. ur 1r ploq 'q8noua 'sarSreua alrrrdorddeur Jo loaJroc sr tcalqo eql IIBIITS

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POWER OF THE WITCH

hand and the herb by focusing your consciousness there. See in your mind's eye the aura of your own body around your hand, and then visualize the two auras mingling together. Focus on the person, place, or situation that you would like the herb to influence. After seeing everything completed in your mind's eye, the spell is done. Repeat out loud the magical intention you wish to bring about and then say , "I ask that this be correct and for the good of all people. So mote it be." Your spell will last four days if you have charged herbs, leaves, or flowers. Root, bark, wood, seeds, beans, and berries stay charged from three months to a year. Gums and resins stay charged for years. You may use these charged herbs, roots, or flowers by carrying them with you in cloth bags of the appropriate colors or you may burn them on charcoal as incense to release the energies. Or leave them in an open bowl in your home or business to send out or draw in what you want. While it is true that many herbs may be taken internally for medical purposes, the magic potions and philters in this book are not to be ingested in any way" The herbal magic discussed in this chapter is to prepare herbs only for carrying or wearing outside the human body, kept in the home, or burned as incense. As you become more skilled in your craft, you may want to charge herbs in a Witch's magic circle and in conjunction with the correct planetary hours and days.

CASTING

A CIRCLE I

explained the method for casting a circle in Chapter Four, but here are the basic steps outlined to help you remember them:

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all animals and small children from the area and any furniture that you do not want to be inside your circle. Remove

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always write our spells down first and spend a few moments reading them to each other before casting our circle. If a member reads her spell in the circle and it is different from what she read to us before, we stop her and point out to her that that is not the way she had agreed to read it. It is very important that a spell is worded corectly because you will get what you ask for and you must be careful so that what you get is really want you want. For example, a Salem Witch who was a former bank vice president wrote a spell to get rid of all her bills. She worded it "to get all my bills paid." Shortly after casting the spell she started to receive bills she had forgotten about, such as an old college tuition bill for several thousand dollars, a medical bill; even a friend from whom she had borrowed money several months before dropped by to remind her of her debt. She was swamped with bills and had to take out a loan to pay them off. She got what she asked for, but not in the way she wanted. So it is important to see your spell written out and to consider the way it is worded very carefully. Write spells on parchment paper or loose, unlined, unbonded sheets about four by five inches in size. Do not use recycled paper because whatever was written on it previously will be brought into your circle and it might contain energy that conflicts with the purpose of the spell. The formula we use is "I ask in the name of lGoddess/God or the All] that I lstate your name] be granted lhere state your desire]. . . . I ask that this be correct and for the good of all people. So mote it be." In the place for the name of the Goddess or God you can choose whatever name or form of the divinity with which you work. Since my coven is called the Black Doves of Isis, we write our spells in the names

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a^psslp puo '(.onsag qtod 8ur>yoans D aJ nts Surypg

:re^ol B 01 srrrBerp lueseeld Surrq o1 11ads e ro; aur(qr eldrurs E sr ereH '3ur,{es eru e,t\ }Er{n Jo dcuatod eq} sesseusnorcsuoJ rno uodn sassardurr qJlq,l\ '3uos ro luerlo;o rerrrod eql rl qlu\ selilec sarudqr reqr 11ads ualods E asnucaq pue uo JaIBI ureql Surraquaural ur sn pre ol serudqr aldurrs ut s11ads Jno lno elrJlr o.rv\ ueUO ,,'asrnc due aru uodn eceld ro 'asroler lads sqr lpivr durvr ou uL, luea lBql s11eds req ot esre^ alull B ppu ot pasn 4aa1 pql.g 'll ,l\oDI nod ruro; Ja^alEq,/v\ ur acua8r11elul IEIoI ro ',llv eql ',esralrun aqr qlIA suortualu rnoL lceuuoc noL lpql sr lurod luelrodurr aq1 '1r3rrg pue 'eura11 'uar*prra3 sarrrBu aqr esn seurlaruos e/r 'suorlrperl crprnJq cllleJ

rilll\ >lJo^\ oslB e^\ asnrJeg '1ads eqt q8norqr Supplq Ino op 01 ur 1v\BJp a,ry\ lBql secJoJ dSreua eJu poD puB sseppoD ar{t Jo serueu eqt sn rog '3uel. pue ur,{ eql ol rBllrurs 'aururure; pue aurlnJsrru qloq 'repuaS Jo secJoJ aql Sutlrun Jo esues clleruJaH aql ur sturol esaql esn aiA 'spoB urrlddSg p1o aql Surdrqsro.&\ ere a/{ teql uceru lou saop sarrreu asaqt 3urs3 'srJrso pue srsl Jo e17,

1{I] S,HJTIAA V

V 214

POWER OF THE WITCH

them with us after we leave the circle. Sometimes we also charge a talisman, stone/ candle, or herb to reinforce the spell and to carry with us as a reminder. In the spring near the feast of Beltane (May l) we put the ashes collected over the previous year on our foreheads. The darkened area draws more light into the Third Eye. This ancient custom of anointing the forehead with ashes in the spring was co-opted by Christians and moved to Ash Wednesday as a reminder of their mortality. We do this in the spring to remind us of new life and rebirth.

TII}IING

You will be doing spells and magic circles at different times of the month and year. Certain times are more auspicious than others for certain types of spells and rituals. In general, the month has two halves-the time of the waxing moon and tne time of the waning moon. The waxing moon is the best time to do a spell for growth, beginning, nurturance, initiation, and enhancement. During the waning of the moon do spells to banish evil, lessen or remove obstacles or illness, neutralize enemies, and remove harm. The three days after the new moon appears in the sky as a tender sliver just after sunset is the most powerful time to do a spell for growth and beginnings. The days fust before the moon is fullest are the most powerful time for spells for fruition and completion. The black moon, or the dark of the moon-the three nights when the moon is not visible because of its proximity to the sun-is the most auspicious time for banishing and neutrahzing spells. It is also wise to consult an astrological calendar to determine which signs the moon will be in during the month or which planets it will be near. If a spell is performed during a time when the moon is in a sign or in conjunction with a planet that is favorable or compatible with the purpose of the spell, you have a greater chance

seqc}IlA lBql IEIUIUE qsluuBlc E sI JIo,/v\ 0I{l fBq} ^\ou{ 'os1y 'reau Sunuoc tuorJ spoo,/v\ erll ur slBrurue raqlo dae4 plno/!\ qcnod cr8utu E ur perrrBc sBlv\ lr uaql\ ll Jo luecs aql seurrl lelerperu uI 'uortcelord roy pasn sr 4oq /7o114 '8utpaa1q elrssaJxa /rols ol paddrs eruo sB..v\ ee] urBAJaA 'rred lxau er{} JoJ ra,,*od ernsue ol 6 ,{renrqa{ uo salpuec punoru lr 8ul4urrds puu 3eq 4cu1q cr?eru e ur tr Surdr -ruc dq rarvrod crqcdsd uerqfteq ot auAraA asn seqclr1A :suorlod rnoL ur asn 11,no,( sluarpar8ur rerlrrueJ ssel aql ;o suorldrrcsep Jarrq ^\aJ

E erB

Jo oruos

ereH SINflI(IUUoNI

SIAIOS

NO Sf,ION

'uooru erlr Jo saseqd ro 's1auu1d 'su8rs eql Jo sselpre8er ssecons eAEq IIr/r pesncoJ pue arnd sr cr8eru asoq,/v\ r{r}IlA 1n;renod V 'tno lda4 aq Ila InJrureq ere teql due tuql pue alcrrr E otur auoc II,/v\ secuanljur pcr3010rlsu 1ryrer*od puB lceiloc tsoru aql dluo reqr >isB uec qJIL A u ',(8o1orlse lnoqu a8pa -I,/vlou>I Jo {cEI u ro; dn aIPru oJ 'arur} due 1e 11ads u op uec nod 'esrnoc ;o 'dcua8rerue uE uI 'aq 1pm deqt ralleq aql 'spnlrr pue s11ads rnod olur ll rol)EJ uuc puu l'3o -loJlse ]noqu nou>I nod arou eql os 'sBur4ror'r pc€uru;o sseuellloega aql aJuangur s(urvrle sureuud pcrSolorlsy 'suorluel -ur rno ecroJurer ]Eql suJelled lerlsalac repun uraqt 8ur -uno;red (q slenlrr pue silads rno olur ureqt rotrceI ol IIea op e^\ pue 'sloqruds pue slcalqo ;o dlrun tear8 r sr areqtr esrelrun cqderSoloq e uI 'qilBe aqt ur 'd1s eql ur 'purur eql ur sloquds uoruruoJ ere ereql sprolv\ raqlo uI 'snorJs -uooun alrlcelloc aq] pur snorcsuooun leuosrad rno ur saSurur leddlar{cru eril sB rar*od arurs aq} erBqs sJels aql ur suraued pddraqcre aql 'sn uqlr^\ stuerueloru ol puodserroc sluaruoAotu lBrlsalec teerS aq1 'ece ds Jeuut osle sr aceds ralno 'usooorcrru eql uo sueddrq Iusocorceru eqt uo suaddeq

lrqlA

'{ro./v\ or 11ads aq} roJ

ACIT S,Hf,IIAA V

917,

Y

2t6

POWER OF THE WITCH

protects its own, so we invoke its spirit to guard us in our work. Patchouli is an herb that has an aroma of fresh soil and deep fasmine. It is used by many Witches as a perfume potion. It brings love as well as protection. Cinquefoil is a plant that has five-lobed leaves. It symbolizes the pentagram. Goldenseal root and powder is ruled by |upiter. Witches carry it and often use it in spells to become admired by people in positions of power. Witches also hang the root in their homes or offices to bring fortune. Goldenseal is also a healing herb, still used to seal wounds. Often Witches put mustard seeds tn their cash registers at work to bring money. Cawy them and keep a few in your wallet. Witches use chamomile tea to cure a sore throat or a heavy cough; we also charge our chamomile tea bags in a circle to bring material comfort. Heather is always grown in a Witch's herb garden, then dried and hung upside down in the home to bring riches. A little cinnamon in your morning coffee does the same thing. Mistletoe was called "heal all" by the Druids. My ancestors cut it down from the sacred oaks in England and let it fall on fresh cloth. It is used year-round but it is charged at the winter solstice to retain its full power. It is a plant of the sun and brings health and wealth and power. Hibiscus flowers are dried by Witches to powder and used in letters and packages to loved ones far away. It is said that hibiscus and red poppy will bring a moon goblin to whisper sweet things in your lover's ear while he is sleeping, and he will dream of you as the moon goblins whisper your name.

:sfleds Surop ueq/r

fi

puru ur s]urod

uelas aseqt daay SUfl
Op

ol auoc lBq] seJro} alrlu8au ro alrlrsod due ruor; Jeleu -8rsap 1 auoduu puB] eru tcolord ol uorlod srql a8ruqc 1,, 'SurLes e1r{a uorlod orll JeAo esr,/v\>loolJ spuuq rnod alour pue uqdp luulsur olur oD 'Jarururs 1v\ols p o1 Surrg 'uorlod uotlcatord Sumrarq ro; d1a1os asn nod iBqt tod uorr Jo IaruBue uE ur ureql rnd puu stuerpar8ur eql IIE e8ruq3 ('dn reqt pos ,(ue acelder sde,r,rp /errer8 e Surqrnlsrp 11nd no,(

roJ pelsarrr aq plnoJ nod ro leloqs E esn lou op rdrarrerq ro a8ernoc rot aJeler nod auoauros;o eler8 e;o dol eql trlp aql a4e1) 'lsnp predarrerS;o qcurd E :'rvNorJdo

IUorJ

(ooz 1uco1 aq] re radea4 aqt 4sv) /1o'tt Surppaqs 'aAI D raot/ t:'rT s,Jlo,/v\ ;o qcurd r asuecuDluer;suoodselqel

qrrdu suoodselqri

T,

6

tles Bas suoodselqet 6 umAJaA uoodseel I s8urluqs uoJr ro uon peJep./v\od uoodsalqel I

reler'r Surrds;o

sdnr I ot Z

'eunu IoJ sluerp -ar8ur 3uu*o11o; oq] asn I 'rellu rnod uo uorlod uorlcelord o^Er{ sdervrp plnoqs no,\. NOIIOd NOIICflIOU4

ilZ

E{I1 S,HJIIAA V r

218

POWER OF THE WITCH

l. Do all spells and rituals in a magic circle. 2. Do all spells in alpha. 3. Always ask the God or Goddess that each spell or ritual be done in a way "that is correct and for the good of all."

what you project for because you will get may not come in the form that you had intended. For example, don't simply profect for a million dollars. You might receive it as a settlement for an automobile accident that leaves you paralyzed. A1ways state that what you are asking for is correct and for the good of all. You may also stipulate that the spell be totally acceptable to you in every way and that the money come in a safe and correct manner. Some people try to "negotiate" with a higher intelligence in order to make their spells work. "Oh, God," they pray, "if I win the million-dollar lottery, I'll never want anything else." Yes, you will! Never limit yourself. A Christian mother once prayed every Sunday in church that her son could get into college, promising her God that she would work three iobs if he did. Her proiection came through and her son went off to college. And true to form she took on two parttime jobs in addition to her regular iob to pay for the tuition. After one month the boy dyed his hair green, dropped out of college, and hitchhiked to California to live in a nudist commune. The mother was stuck with the three jobs to pay off the semester's tuition. Although this woman would not have considered her prayers a form of black magic, she was trying to manipulate someone else's life without knowing if the projection was really correct or needed. Her prayers were not said in a spirit of correctness and for the good of all. The woman's son never wanted to go to college and she never wanted to work three fobs.

4. Be careful of

it, but it

5.

'cr8etu ur eceld ou srq U 'sllads tseq eql ue^e lcolq pue elnpp uBc ter{} re}suoru paLe-ueer8 e sr dsnolue{ 't 'sarrsap uivro srq uorJ uorlre{ord e dlp -er elefi\ daqr rnq 'ueql ro; ,,padduz,, peq 1 tq8noqr pueqsnq-xa dyrg ,,'uec nod aqdepuraq] asn releu II,I 'sqtuou ro; a8ere8 dur ur Surllls ueaq eAEq ]BrIl lueru -aJ Jo s8eq ereds earql aseql ralo lq8norq I os ereq rarro 8ur4ro,,r nod ,l\Es L, 'pres puu '4unr1 req peuedo 'ce1ppe3 e ur dn e^orp uBruo/v\ pesserp dltue8ale uu rel?l stueuow ,,'lueruec ;o s8eq eJorrr eaJr{} peq dluo e,l\ JL, 'pres oq uns loq eql uroJ' {Barq B {oo} daqr sy 's8eq Fuoruppe aqr roJ erots are^\prrr{ erll o} oB lou plnoc (aql deprloq E sB/vr tI erurs rng 'qol eql qsrug ot luaruec ;o sSuq eroru aerql papeeu puu srrrls ;o tq8rg E pllnq spuorrJ Surdleq ecuo se,l\ puuqsnq-xa dry 'pue18ug o1 dervr dru ptud daql '{cols s,l.uedruoc aql tuorJ 3ur1ua1s ro asnqe ecuuls -qns ur pa8e8ua arar* daqt Jr eururalap ot saadold -rua Jraql ;o sasou8rrp crqcdsd etuos op ol aur panq duedruoc IBorrueql qsrlrJg u 'puu13ug ot ta8 l\oqeuos plno^\ I ler{t 1lads u Surtsec ral;r dllroqg 'dauoru oql a^Eq t,uplp lnq puelSug o1 oF o] palurn l eJuO 'rnoro plno.tl' paruBerp ra^eu a,t\ ]Br{} uor}Bnlrs E Jo }no Jo auo -aruos urorl l;r8 B sB sn ol seuoc lsn{ }r Surqtauos ro; Surtce(ord dllerrqcdsd dq sarurlauog 'l;r8 pelredxaun eql ]no elnr t,uop puv 'unop dauou ou qlra euo dnq ot elqe aq ro asnoq E ur,r duur nod rO 'luer aqt qlrlr dleq 1pn or{^\ eleuruoor E pugt deu nod rO 'esnoq e r{cns qlr/!\ euoaruos (rreru puB }eolu deur notr 'dauoru peeu lou l.eru notr 'lf (nq ol dauoru aql Surnrecer ueql JaqlEJ t1 ur 3ur,rr1 ;lasrnod lca(ord 'esnoq Jelleq E ur elrl ol tue,l't nod ;r 'eldurexa Jo{ 'll 8uilnq lno -t{}l1v\ sn o1 elqBIrE^E aq rqftru luE,t\ e.t\ lBq.tl, esnBceq lauour ro; tcalo.rd or 11ads B op ol elerl l,uop e,l\ ueUO ,9 s,uos raq

6rz

'EIUJE{

qll.t\ parelratur ei{s tBr{} drs plno^\ saqc}llA

lJI'I

S,

HJIIIA

V

220

POWER OF THE WITCH

Even unconscious envy of others' good fortune can ruin a spell. Occasionally I have discussed my profections or achievements with other people and have felt their jealousy. Others who are envious can neutralize or weaken our magic, as can our own jealousy and envy. Be discreet in discussing personal ventures or achievements. Don't brag or boast. Others working magic for the same thing might work against you. And if you do magic against someone else's goals, you are

practicing black magic.

PROTECTION SPELLS All living creatures have ways to protect themselves: fangs, claws, thorns, camouflage coloring, speed, acute senses of vision and hearing. The Goddess's plan is that as long as a species has a purpose, it will survive. She has not abandoned any plant, bird, or animal to live in a hostile environment without the means to survive. Even human beings can protect themselves from harm, evil, and danger. Whereas our bodily structures are often not as powerful or sensitive as our brothers and sisters in the animal kingdom, we have the intelligence and ingenuity to shape our environments and create the tools necessary for survival: fences, homes, door locks, weapons. In addi tion to the instinct for survival, we have been taught as children how to fend for ourselves and stay out of harm's way. Most of us learned not to speak to strangers, run out in the street without looking, venture into dangerous neighborhoods alone, go out in the cold weather without bundling up. Some of it is common s€ns€; some of it the traditional wisdom passed down from generation to generation. Most of us, however/ were not taught how to protect

-rad Suruelearq] oq] aes pue Er{dlr olur oB ot sI LEl'r tsald -urs eql 'd8reue InJurBq s,uosred Jeqloue ezllerlneu ol spoqiau IEreAes erB erer{J I IUVII eNIzITvuIntrN

'uosred leql /roDI e^\ IIa^\ Jalteru ou 'auodue lnoqe sseppoD eql ssenS-puo ^\oq -f,as rouuro elA iuJeel ot pasoddns eJE sallesrno o/'r suos -sel aqr Surpuutsrepun elqnorl a^er{ eIA 'ureel ot e}II sq} ur sr uosrad reqloue suossel tBqn slv\ou>l sn Jo auou luql raq plor 1 tng 'ra8uc raq pue speeu req qll,l\ azrqlrdurds plnol 1 q8noqrle 'pegu;oq se^\ L,'uossel r uI{ I{JEet ot atu Surpuas s,aq d8raua peq eql 4cuq 3utpues,, sulvr eqs alu plol aqs pue sread ue,ras-dlueal Jo puBqsnq req Surcro-rrp sen sluapnls (ru Jo euo arug ',(3raua pBq pue poo8 qroq ro; sao8 tBr{J 'plo;aerqr {JBq seluor nod ruorl lno pues nod ralaluql\ leql sr ,/vrEI s,qcll/A er{I 'uJnler ur sleqto Surrrnq lnoqlr./v\ sn lJBl\ql ro unri ol suose lslser dla,rrtce ai1 'ruJeq sn op uec auo ou luql os uollrnlls e Surzuelod pue d8reua Inluruq Surzrprlnau Jo poqteu B ,,'oJuersrsar eAIlrE,, esn a.r pretsul 'sre8ug ra33u1 dqclr eAEq a \\ op roN '{eaqJ rer{}o eq} urn} }ou op seqcllia 'salr1 tsud ul plp o/v\ IIAa aql roJ luaru -qsrund lrrxre{ }o puH e Suraq su Surregns ldacre 1,uop e/r puv 'llr-\\ aur^rp ere^\ 1r Jr s3 sn IIBJeq lBrll slll eq] Suuagns or sallasJno uSrsar lou op a^\ lnq 'e;t1 ;o tred alqulrlaut ue se Surre5ns euos ,^ arl aIA 'pueqarduoc ot sn roJ tear8 oot socroJ Jo lrlep e Jo elEJ dq peuturralep arp salrl rno reqr 'ssa1d1eq puB alqerauln^ aru s8uraq ueunq ter{} suals-rs IEIIq}e pue snot8tlar aluos uI punoJ sJallacl

peardsapr-*r )r{r erBqs tou op rJErJ ar.{r ur e1doe4 'sJeglo ol Sursner rnoqlr,l\ sellasrno pualap puB eJBJIea u/'ro

urrq

rno eloruord or Hoq oslu al6 '8ureq-11en pue &e;es ^\ou>l rno roJ elqrsuodser eru o^\ luql .r\ou>l seqclllA 'ctqcl.sd pue pcrs{qd qloq 's4cr11e InJIurEr{ IuorJ sellesrno plalqs ol ,/v\oq 'aruepq pue duorurBl{ uI seAII rno dea4 0l sacJoJ raq8q oqt qrr-i\ Iro./v\ ol .uoq 'crSeur q8norql sallesJno IT,Z

:IJIl S,Hf,J-INA V

POWER OF THE WITCH son or situation with your Third Eye. Then see yourself painting a huge white X over him, her, or it. Repeat this until you have blocked out the harmful scene. Say, "I neutralize this" as you "x" it out. Another method is to use alpha to visualize the harmful person and see yourself binding his or her body, head, arms, and legs with a beam of white light. Always ask, however, that this profection be done correctly and for the good of all. I use this technique when I see terrorists or murderers on television newscasts or when I read about similar atrocities in the newspapers. It is an excellent way of being involved magically in the welfare of your town or county or even in national affairs. It is similar to the projections done by prayer groups who meet and pray for the release of hostages or the capture of a criminal or an end to the drug problems in their neighborhoods. Of course we can't take on the problems of the entire world. We need to be selective and focus our energy. Usually Witches neutralize harm and do healing work on a rather personal and local level-their families and friends and neighborhoods.

THE BOTTLE SPELL This spell can be used to neutrahze the power of those who intend to do you physical harm, or hurt your reputation, or in any way pose a threat to your security. You will need: 4 tablespoons frankincense or myrrh 4 tablespoons black powdered iron (available at pottery shops where ironstone is made)

4 4 I I

tablespoons sea salt tablespoons orris-root powder (or oak moss) white candle bottle with a cork or lid mortar and pestle

1v\ou sI lI'['cle'eceds'ruoor srql ur] d8roue aqt azrrelod 1,, ';lasrnod ot Burdrs olrl^\ saer8ep 0gI por aql urnl d1e1 -ue1i 'd8raue pecuuleq eq IIIr!\ riJlr{^\ 'e8urur elrsoddo str aceld areqds uo]toq eql uI ']uesealdun pug no( luqt arnl -xe1 E ro rolof, E sB lr Surzrlensrl 'ereqds dol aql ur d8ra -ua pecueleqrur eceld 'uorlrsod IEcrueA 'tq8rrdn uB ur sr por aqJ 'pua qJBa 1r areqds p qlt^\ por E ernlcrd 1r tcarroc oa 'luasard sr '1n;uruq,{yqrssod 'd8raua pacuelBqrur ,Lelr ,(ue ur sa3ueqc lI JI 'rala^\oH 'pacueleq sr d8raua eql 'sseulq8rrq tuetsrsuoc qlpt pue dlpeers surnq ll JI .de./v\

(ue ur a8ueqc ro ';1aslr elecqdnp 'olour 'lno epe; ot sur8 -eq ll JI af,rtou puu d11n;erBc aruEIJ ar{} }B arels 'no,( erot -oq Sururnq elpuec elrq^\ E azrlunsra pur eqdp olur oD

'uortBnlrs eqt ecuBIEq ol 11ad5 dlrrulo4 srr{} esn suedduq sql ueq/A 'll lnoqB op ol l?tl1v\ Io sI ll lBtl,/v\ erns lou arB aA\ ]nq uorlenlrs Jo eruoq ro ruooJ p ur ecuelBqrur l.Sraua eluos sI aral{} 18I{1 esuas 0..v\ uefJo TTfldS IIIU\/TOd

'lsol st 11ads er{} Jo rarrtod or{t ro peqsualun eq releu plnoqs rI 'ellroq e ur arua8 E e{II sr lads srql 'dn tI 8rp IIr^\ uosrad ro IEruruE ou pue paqJnlsrp aq lou IIIr!\ ll aJaql\ aculd e ur alltoq aql drnq dllarcas '1su1 '11 IEes o] {roJ er{} JaAo xervr dup 'asrr*>1co1cr3lunoc ellloq aql Sururnt ellq/{ 'pue olpuec etFllr eql aIE} ueqJ 'sluerpar8ur drp eql qtr^\ ellloq eql III{ 'olr}oq aqt ur r1 aceld pue '}r purq o] pBarql 4cEIq B r{]r./v\ ll el} '}ueuqcrud eql dn IIou ,,'eq tI elou oS 'llB Jo pooS aqr roJ puB lcerroc eq sII{r rrq} IsB I 'rureq due au op ot ldresrelpe rno( aureul ;o ra.,nod eql ezrleJlnau 1,, '4ur >lcelq qlr,l lr uo alwr puB alrloq rno.( aprsul tg ol lueurqcred ;o aoard E lnc uer{J ur uoJr pue 'rapru,od loor-srrro 'lps eas aql xrw 'l.t\oq

E

pEerr{} >lrBlq uad lurodllBq {cEIq ro {ur >l3BIq radud luaurqcred

TJI]

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S,H3JI-^A V fi

POWER OF THE WITCH corrected and balanced." Remove the rod from your mental vision and see the candle again. It will remain still and bright.

THE PROTECTM SHIELD In my course on the science of Witchcraft I teach my beginning students a method for protecting themselves wherever they are and from any kind of physical or psychological harm. It is the most basic protective spell in the Craft but do not underestimate its efficacy. We call it the "protective shield." Go into alpha and at your innermost level envision a protective shield around you that resembles an egg. It is clear, shining, crystalline. See it grow brighter and stronger around your entire body until it is large enough that it will always be well beyond the reach of your fingertips no matter in what direction you extend your arms. When you see the egg-shaped shield clearly, repeat the following several times: "This shield protects me from all positive and negative energy and forces that come to do me harm. I ask that this be done correctly and for the good of all. So mote it be." I always put a protective shield around my car or any car I travel in, in addition to one around myself and others in the car. I firmly believe that I have avoided terrible collisions on several occasions when cars seemed to pass through each other instead of crashing. You can put shields around the members of your family, your home, and surroundings. Periodically go into alpha and inspect the condition of your shields. Although the shields will remain, they occasionally need reinforcing. You can repeat the following affirmations periodically at an alpha level to reinforce your protective shield. If these do not suit you, use them as models for creating your own:

"Incorrect or harmful thoughts or suggestions have no power over me at any level of mind."

will

toN 'ueegg raqunu ffc Suraq prole ot r{3noua dy*o1s Suto8 su,l\ eqs ,(leteunlrog 'pe;rn14cet puq >lonrl relrBrl E erer{/v\ dnaFd rBc-ueeunoJ B /vl,Es aqs IIIq aqr ;o dor erlt relo aaorp eqs sV 'raplnoqs raq uo dut dllsoq8 aql Sutledrcrluu se/v\ ar{s asneoeq d1no1s Sur,rup 'eurlcur daals u dn pelrets puu atetsrelur eql uo lcuq ro8 eqs 'eraq] 3uiqlo51 'selreu req rulBc pur lues{f,Eq er{l lno >lJaqo ot lsn( spuocas rvreJ B ro; peor eql Jo eprs aqt otuo raao pa11nd eQs lulod euo tV 'salul] IBreAas peueddeq srqa 'JIesIeq lnq rB3 0r{} ur euo ou sB/r ereq} Oxurs eq plnoJ rl lBq./v\ aas ol u,/v\op pe,/v\ols oris 'Ieplnol{s JaI{ uo de1 Surql -auos ro euoaruos rleJ eqs Suop eloJp aqs sV 'auruw ur puelrJ E tlsl^ ol Surrrrrp ocuo sBlv\ ruales urorJ r{Jlr/ V 'laeJ dluaml ot ueauu ur\op paddorp rur{} ,(lln8 B ruorJ taal dluar*r dlemq peddors per{ a^\ }Eql rvtus ar,r 'slq8rl eql uo ind puB peddors oq uar{^\ 1ng ,,'}ec-dperBos,, u Suraq dru lnoqe luatutuoc eprus auos qll,l\ 'p1p ag 'dols ol rec aqt Sut,trrp ,{oq aqt q}IA pepeeld 1 'ra8uep Jo uol} -Bsuas Suorls B qlr,/v\ >l3rs lleJ Llueppns 1 1nq 'pepeeq ere/r e/v\ eJaqa ees lou plnoJ puu de1 s,euoauos uo tEeDIsBq eql ut paurue( se^r I 'stq8llpueq eql lno paurnl daql slBu uesap aql oluo lno lo3 daqt sy 'lq8ru llluooul-llnJ 'rua1c e 'araql ser* 1 lq8ru isrg aqt ueql paurol 1 isdep esoql ur op ol Surql Iooc eql su/r tJ 'plv\oJc req ur sdoq eI{} Jo eluos qtril\ Uesep aqf q8norql Surpudo( s8urua,ra req tuads oqr* se8an sBT ur puerr;pr8 E r{lr^\ pua{ae./v\ e tuads I loor{rs r{8H ul acuo 'slo^el IIB uo re8uep o1 peurule aroru nod sa>leru (ta;es yo 33a uE urqlr/r elll nod teql Suriwou>1 'ra8uup lucrsdqd ol rarrreq IBar B ?ureq o1 uorllppe u1 'sder* duuur ur nod pren8 splarqs alrloaloJd ,,.IUJEI{

etu op ol auroc duur leql secroJ pue ser8raua a,r.rle8au puu alrlrsod 11e uror; de,r* tcarroc E ur pelcetord rue 1,, ,,'f,eI'rt ]oaJJoc

-ur uE ur eru lcegB ra8uol ou sorJorrrau elqerrsepun,, 97,7,

:IJIl

S,H3JI,,1A V

POWER OF THE WITCH

only does the protective shield keep harm at a safe distance from us, but it can psychically trigger information for us, as in this case, so that we can pick it up, pay attention to it, and use it in ways that will assure our safety.

AMULETS AND TALISIIII.ANS Since the

earliest

times human beings have used amulets (fetishes of animals, birds, plants, parts of the body) and talismans (geometric shapes) to protect themselves from harm. We find them in the remains of ancient cultures and still see them dangling from charm bracelets today. Some of these are part of one's culture. The Italians, for example, wear a charm in the shape of a horn that represents the spiral chakra energy of the body. Arabs use many talismans, a common one being the "Hand of Fatima," a representation of the hand of Muhammad's daughter Fatima with an eye on it. The Turks and Greeks wear blue glass beads to symbolize eyes staring out at the world, watching protectively. In our culture a rabbit's foot and a horseshoe are cultural amulets. Other talismans and amulets are personal and have meaning only for the individual who uses them. Traditionally, Witches have found protection in a variety of amulets and talismans, the pentacle being the most common and important. Another favorite is Solomon's Seal, two superimposed triangles, one pointing upward, the other downward, inside a circle. This talisman represents the mechanical dynamics of the earth and protects its structures. It is especially good to protect cars and equipment that operates on motors. Another talisman I use for protection is the tetragrammaton, a yellow equilateral triangle inscribed with the Hebrew letters for the fourfold name of God. If you draw a tetragrammaton on the floor in chalk and leave it for four days, you will be forewarned about harm heading

ar{l SuEq ol sen ecr}cerd lBuorlrper} V 'sarSraue InJurBq sasngrp pue srBW laueld eqt (q pelru sr qcrqrvr 'uorr ;o satl:adord e.trlcalord aqi Jo esnBcaq peleur8rro aoqs -asroq d4rn1 er{J 'sn o} }uetrodrur Lral sr seuoq rno Jo dlrrncas pue dlrlcues eql Surpren8a;es 'sarpuru; Jno r{lr1v\ Jo auole a^rl a.r reqrai{/A 'se^lesueql patcatord lou daql puq pelnraxo puB parnldec uaeq e^pr{ plno^\ seqcrl/A aroru dueu .t\or{ Jepuo^\ uauo I 'serJnluec IntJBeJ asoql Surrnp icua8rn peppe uo {ool tI }nq 'sarura Sururng aqt aJoJeq ue.\a anJl sBlv\ srqJ 'seuoq rraql Surlcalord ur erec ]ear8 a{Bt seqctrlA flIAIOH U1OI CNIIJTIOUd

'{let

InJurrBq srqt

Io aJJnos eql elecrpur osle UEO 1I 'uorlusteluoc dlpuau; -un Jo drsso8 lnoqp eur suop euooruos ueq./v\ dlleqrel eql reqt punoJ eABq I dlpnsn 'der* rnod saruoJ 8urure.r,r.

\ri

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228

POWER OF THE WITCH

horseshoe over a door or in a barn with the open end up, so that harmful energy would come in one end and turn

around and exit through the other. In tearing down old colonial homes in New England, workers have discovered horseshoes hidden in the walls, probably put there by the original owners who feared they would be discovered practicing Witchcraft if they displayed them openly. Iron nails also diffuse harm. Old railroad nails or handmade nails from earlier times make wonderful protection nails. Charge them first and drive three of them into a window frame, one in each lower corner and the third in the middle of the top to form a triangle. This will protect the window. If you are building a new house, lay four charged nails in the corners of the foundation of the house. Or if you live in an older home, simply place four charged nails in the four corners, either in the attic or in the basement. Your home will then be "nailed tight" against any harmful forces. Another effective home protection spell uses a mental representation of the Cheops pyramid, which Witches have long recognized for its magical powers, as did the Egyptians who built it. The triangular structures are hailed even in physics for their strength and power. Go into alpha and visualize the pyramid with its four equal sides made of brilliant white light or clear quartz crystal Position the pyramid over your house with one wall aligned with magnetic north. Ask that this pyramid of light energy protect you and your house and keep you safe. Ask that it be done correctly and for the good of all. I add a little extra power to my home protection spells by visualizing a sleeping dragon with its shiny green body curled up around my house. It waits and will awaken when someone comes to do harm. In ancient legends the sleeping dragon guarded the treasure hoard in the mountain or the castle. Today our treasure is our family and loved ones. I know Witches and others who

-eue puB seoJ ruorJ sasrnc IAe dq usqr srqSnoq] peprBnS -un u.&ro Jreql dq perurBr{ aq ol dlo{rl arolu rEJ eJB eld -oed '>lcel]B crqrdsd ruorJ ra8uBp IEntcE ,(ue ur tou aru sn Io lsou 'erua8 Jorror{ eql Jo s}srlolou rulndod dlsnopuaur -erl eql puB sre{euar^oru dq paluerc seSenrr eql airdsaq 'st d11eer crqcdsd t\oDI eldoad rvra; dran ]Eri.tr IcEltE 'esrnc eql o^orual ol pepeeu sI ra^aleq/r op to alpuBc u rqft1 1pn crqc,(sd aql ea; luul -Iqroxe uE ro; lnq 'seqruuJ rreql pue rrrai{t pesrnc peepur ser{ auoeuos }Br{l s}uerlt rraql 3ur11a1'rce1srql a8ernocua uala deru scrqcdsd lpcrqteun 'drlunoc plo aq] uorJ esrno dpuru; B ro >lcutlu crqcdsd Jo llnsar aql sB uees are sdrqs -uorlelar euosalqno4 pue 'ssaurlauol 'ssaulp 'luerudold -uaun 'Suropple s,osle euoauros Jo sruJal ur selrl neql Io sratsusrp IBrnlEu aql IIE terdrelur daqa 'asrnJ IrAe uB qlr^\ Iueql ,,paXOfl,, sBq Ouoaluos lBql pesurAuoc erB or{1v\ aldoed leau I dep drare dpeag ;1JVIMIHCISd 'slBruruB puB uerplqc ]o r{ceor er{t Jo }no lI dea4 ol arns ag 'roop rnod uo 1r Sueq pue 3eq urlsnru >lcelq u ur ratpqd aqt aoeld 'slro eql qlr./vl, rueql pulq uaql 'sluerperSur drp aql xrry

qrr(ru perepr*od slred n selual po;enbuic slred T, rreg s,;1or* lred I rapr*od pooaelpues strd 9

Io

esueJur{UEJJ

sdorp

g

Io rlnoqsted ;o sdorp g :sluerper8ur eql eJB araH ('pamarq lou ere sluarpar8ur aql teql ]dacxa uoqod E e>l{ sr ralpqd y) 'sreed ro; du.ue uireq sur.{ reql rerpqd lda4 eprsur eqr uO 'esodrnd prceds srql ro1 uoruurns

uortcelord E eAEq I roop ueqctDl dur;o

nod ter{l ro nol. o} seuroo luqt rarvrod IBruruE due asn uer no 'uoSerp eql ot lprds purue Jeqlo aruos re;ard

AJI] S,HSIIAA

V

* i i

POWER OF THE WITCH

mies who use malice or stick pins into dolls. Hexes, curses, and evil sorcery do exist, but unscrupulous practitioners who are versed in these forms of abuse are few and far between. Most of us will go safely through life without ever encountering them. What we should really be on the lookout for are our own thoughts and actions (and those of others) that can unwittingly profect harmful situations into our lives. Most people's malicious wishes are not meant to do harm, and as a matter of fact they prove to be harmless. This is because very few of our thoughts are absolute and focused. Contrary feelings of guilt or love dilute the mind's harmful intentions and thus dilute the hostile energy. However, a strong, absolute thought and a strong evil intention can actually do harm. The best way to protect yourself from psychic attack, whether in the form of a curse or a harmful thought projection, is to be aware of the possibility, refuse to accept it, and then do something positive to counteract it. Neutralize your "enemy's" power by psychically painting over it with a big white X, as you learned earlier in this chapter. Trigger your psychic shield when someone says something harmful about you. Also, visualize the protective energies that your pentacle draws into your body and your mind when you hear or see something evil. There are many ways to protect yourself psychically, but if you think that you are still in real danger, seek the help of others. Ask your coven members to help or other Witches to work a spell for you or to send you protection from their magic circle. They can also make you a special talisman, philter, or amulet. And by all means do not overlook the most obvious way to protect yourself from physical harm-call the police. Not all psychic harm comes from others. We must take responsibility for misfortune if it befalls us and not look

euo(lora tou ln8 'sJeqlo Jot uorlErrdsur uE sB e^res uBc alduexa rraql puu 'saa,r1rreq1 ur sarull ureuec ]E rueqt roJ qred tq8tr aqt eq duur uorlercunuar-Jles ro dlra,rrod IEnlcE Jo eill e aldoad palulrpap dral auros roJ 'lerreluru tou 'lunlurds sr eJrl Jo leo8 dreruud aqr reqr ur s1erlaq eser{t Jo a8ussaru Surdpapun eql qlr^\ ear8u 1 'lBapr uB se Lgarrod yo ltnds aql ro dua,rod enlBl suorllpBn lenllrrds euog 'ool tlur3 eql pecrlcerd eldoad iqrlearvr dueur luqt reqtuatuar plnoqs sreuuueroJ Jno uo saAlesuaql Iepou ol lue,. oq,l\ esoqJ 'aer8rsrp 1 'd1ra.rod ,srotserue rno stceger luqi e1&s-aJrl E e^tl ol enulluoJ tsnru a,l\ 'edorng Jo suarB lernr 'rood ruoJJ aruoJ suourpel rno Jo ,(ueur os ecurs luql alarleq (pe4elsru saqJrllA .(ueplooqrs ol rueql pues ro uerplqc rno JoJ seqroll -inq 11uvr a,t* ,,l\oq Jo rrroJ; oruoc llrlv\ IBe{u }xeu Jno areq^r tnoqe drron pue durrcs (lpnuuuoc 01 aAEr{ aa elrl louuec e,l\-a;rl

V $

ii ]I

JI oJrl a.\urnpord pue u?runq d11n; e

(reru 1o yooS -irerurrd aq] tou sr dlurelrec tI-aJII ;o snco; -ud aq: auroJaq dauou lrqt alef,olpe releu I elq,4A 'aJII 3ut11g1nr pue dddeq B roJ lultuessa eru Ilrredsord leuos 'snorJsuoc dtrradsord oq 01 peeu seqcrllA -rad pue

qrlpal

.LIIUAdSOUd CINV HI]VEAA 'sollesJno Surddez sn-are d11uar deql teq-'r JoJ rrroq] ees 01 srualqord u,/v\o rno o] esolc ool puets a-\\ uaUO 'paau noL iEqA\ eq drur rolasunoc e

ro 'lsrderaqr e 'crqcdsd e 'qol111

E

rrror; ,t\erl eplslno uV

'adeqs otur I)Eq a;q rnod ro3 or dlaq leuorsse;ord paau no( 'su:alqord urwo rnod Jo osnuc eql are nod araqru.

deur

sesEJ arrros ul ulv\o rno ro; drrpqrsuodser luuos -red e4er ot ueqt sarllnosnp Jno ro] asle euoeuos eruelq rersBe s-iu-\rlB sr U 'sleo8edecs ro; sellesJno eprslno

'searl

ol

1{I'I

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S,Hf,JI,,lA V

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232

POWER OF THE WITCH

should feel called to live a life of poverty, especially the abfect poverty that cramps the development of our talents and our ability to serve others. It is very difficult to balance spiritual and material needs. The Law of Polarity suggests that either extreme wealth or extreme poverty is not natural. Obsession with wealth and self-imposed poverty can both strip the human spirit of its ability to develop and evolve. As Witches we try to live somewhere in the golden mean. It is iust as wrong to give away your last penny as to give away nothing at all. Each of us is at a particular place on a spiritual path and each of us must live in a material world at the same time. We must each strike the proper balance so that we can flourish as both spiritual and physical beings. Many years ago I worried about charging a fee to people who enrolled in my Witchcraft classes. Like many others in the Craft, I thought that accepting a fee was somehow compromising my moral responsibility to share my knowledge with others. At the same time, however, I spent many sleepless nights worrying about how I would pay my bills. After struggling financially for some time I realized that if I wanted to continue teaching, I would have to charge money. A surprising thing then happened. My students seemed to value the classes more and took them more seriously. They also demanded a better quality of teaching since they were paying for it with hardearned money. I became a better teacher, more keenly aware of the exchange being made between my students and me. They paid tuition; I taught the Craft. Furthermore, my self-esteem was heightened when I realized that people were willing to pay money for what I had to offer. My tuition fees have never been exorbitant, but I am always touched by some students in every class for whom the fee is a real sacrifice. For them it is worth-

T

,,'pljol!\ eq] lnoqSnorql e8uBr{cxa }o ruroJ elqB}decc? uE sr Louow,, ,,'srSqlo ol secr^Jes eseql apr^oJd sn sdlaq puB peeu o1v\ lpr{l aql urBlqo ol sn salqBue deuow,, seJr^res puB spooS

:uorlBnlrs lBrcuBug Jnod a^ordlur o1 peeu nod rolelBq,lr oJII rnod olur iaerp IIr^\ daqt uoo5 'sseu -snorcsuoc rno,{ ;o lred aruocaq daqi llun suorlBruJ$B 3utno11o; eql leadar eurrlueerrr eqr uI 'waqt ]daccu ol no( qceat erur] eruBs er{} lB pue peau nod leql q}lee./v\ aql pue stroJruoo lBrreleru aqt lce(ord pr* s11ads ,Orredsord pue cr8eur deuo141 '3ur4urqt rnod urerSordar puu sapnl -IllE eseq] azrluJlneu uec no1 'dlue; rnod ro; eprrrord ro dlqeuo;uor alrl ot dauoru q8noue 8ur4eu dldurs ro 's11u;puv* IerouBug Suureoer 'qo( rnod ur prer{E Surrroru ruor; nod lua,rard [r1v\ ler{l sapnlrll? ur ;lasrnod Surloor aq deu notr '(lrredsord ol s>lcolqpBor crqcdsd Surlearc drur nod 'sluauruoc eseql qlut aar8e ol pual nod;1 aq

,,'suotssessod

rnod deivre a,tt8 plnoqs nod qlud pnlrrrds u 4p,u, oa,, ,,'gsglas pue ldnrror aq o] pual aldoad qrIU,, ,,'ear1 eJB aJrl ur s8urql lseq eq1., ,,',(ddeq aq o1 deuour paeu l,uop nojl,, ,,'lIAe IIU Jo loor eql sr deuo141,, ,,'sldnrroc deuo141,, ,,'slsruopeq eru sJe{aes deuo14J,,

'll qll,l\ aer8esrp ro eer8e nod;r ees pue qcee pear tsn{ 'ueql ?urz(lvue eurt qcnu ool pueds t,uoc 'euo qcBa ol esuodsar elrlrnlur 'alrrperutur rno( acrloN 'rrropsr,/v\ {loJ palleJ-os rno ;o lred eru ruaq} ;o duepdeuoru pue qllBa^\ lnoqB slueuelBts 3urno11o; eqr q8norqt pEeU 'uraql roJ elrqa -quo^\ 1I alBru ol dluqrsuodser dru azrlBer 1 pue 'elqr* eez

:I{I1 S,HSIIAA V

q

POWER OF THE WITCH

"Money is neutral and can be used for good." "I create my own financial situation." When we hang on to beliefs that we don't deserve a better car or home, or that we are not qualified for a promotion, we proiect those beliefs into our lives and they come true. On the other hand, if we can use alpha to get a parking space, we can use it to increase our income or get a better-paying iob. If you deserve a parking space, and the All arranges one for you, how much more do you deserve a good fob? Most of the things we never seem to get in life elude us because we have convinced ourselves that we do not deserve them and then we stop working to acquire them. There is no real difference in manifesting a parking space or a million dollars. The only limits to your Witch magic are those that you impose yourself, and I have come to the conclusion, after dealing with all kinds of people over the years, that all our limitations come from a lack of self-esteem. Once again self-esteem and proper self-love are at the core of successful magic and successful living. The Pink Star Meditation (page 193) is a prerequisite for all money spells for it will bolster self-esteem and create a strong self-image. It will strengthen your belief that it is correct to have personal wealth and health and to share them with others. Remember that every "I believe" must be turned into an "I know." It is one thing to believe something, another to actually know it. Sometimes profecting for needed money can work apparent miracles. Years ago, when my daughters and I moved to our new home, money was tight. We stopped in a restaurant for lunch, and when I looked at the menu I realized that we would not be able to afford lunch because I would be about $10 short. |ody, who was about nine years old at the time, felt sorry for me and I could tell by the question in her eyes that she wanted to help. I

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sreqt luelBs ur >lcBq pe^rrrB I ueqla 'lsr.I uoow lBrs/rf, req uo qclE1v\ xelou E roJ pelce(ord peq dpo{ rerqSnup dur eru;l r{clr{r!\ Surrnp 'pue13u1 ur uorlurodroc a8rul E JoJ >lJo,l\ Surllnsuor crqc,{sd Surop se/r I o8e sruetr 'slsanbar rnol. luer8 ol nod ol asues sa>leru leql ecua8rlleruJ req8rg er{t Jo arueu eql ur 8un1su 'pnop tsrl aqr elIJeU ('suorlrlrparu reqto Sursn ,(g palcalord aq uec ssaurddeq pue e^ol e4r1 salqrSuerul) 'peau ro luel\ nol. reqt srca(qo lerrateru ;o ,(1uo rs11 eri] apduo3 'reed qcee .(epqlrrq rnod ral;u uooru IInJ lsrg

aql uo 11ads aqt ur8ag 'enrl aruoJ sruBarp rnod Suraes ;o acuBqJ eroru ueAO aAEq llrlv\ nod '1sr1 uoow IBlsdrJ B IIBo saseqd eql qlrl\ uortcun(uoc ur ]srl

I luq,l\ 'uoour eql to

qsr,/v\ B

tca(ord nod

;1 ISIT NooI I T\rISIUC f,HI

'nod ro; cr8eur sploq reql eceld E uI tI daa4 ro nod qlrm 1r drrer ro ]s11 aq] urng 'd8reue lecr8eur qtr^\ pagrrro; sr uorlca(ord eql pue suollurqll IEcoA qlrl\ suolluelu rno( Sur8reqc ere nod lsrl eql Surlrcar dg 'pno1 lno relo tsrl ogl peer pue tueql tsrl 'poeu noL suretr eql ro; ecrnos raq8rq e Jo aluuu er{l ur 8ur1sr '11eds e lno e}rJ./vt ueqJ 'eABq }sntu nod luql esoqt ,{1uo 8ur1ca1es 'dressaceu dlnrl lou sr lBtl,ry\ Surprecsrp 'rueq] etenle^a l.11uag 'selnurur ueeryg lnoqe roJ paeu nod s8urql lBrreteru eql lnoqe {ulql pue IoBq tls tstl qsu* ofuru E e>leru oJ ISIT HSIItr CI517Itr1 V 'sn JEeu sB.r\ euo ou puB ruoor eql Jo elpprur eql ur elQet e tu Surltrs are^\ a^\ 1nq 'a4e1srur Lq lr peddorp pBq auoeruos Jr aas ol punore pa{ool e6 'Surqlou prrs er{s tnq 'tI te asr.rdrns rno pue eqt areq] Surpuuls sen IIIq ^\Bs oqa ssallrrA aqJ 'elBld req oluo pue Jre aql lo lno ul\op paleolt I11q 0I g r l.luappng ',{auou aql roJ Surlca(ord ser* al{s ter{l pue 'elu1d rer{ lB u/rop pe>lool oqs .rapro

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S,HSJIAA V

POWER OF THE WITCH was a package waiting for me from the corporation. Since

I had already received my stipend, I wondered what it could be. It was an extra gift-a Rolex watch. Since I have never been able to wear watches because my psychic energy always seems to break the timing mechanisms, I decided to give it to |ody as a present, not knowing that just days before she had prof ected for it on her Crystal Moon List. How happily surprised we both were!

HERBAL PROSPERITY SPELLS Herbs ruled by fupiter will draw money and prosperity. (See list of plants, page 3ll.) Cloves and cinnamon can be charged for a spell and sometimes added to foods. Scullcap and tonka beans are not edible but can be carried or worn in a royalblue or purple bag to bring luck, money, and influence. Valerian root will attract mone/; red clover tops draw customers to your business; and mistletoe wins success/ fortune, and gold. Crush cinnamon, cloves, sandalwood, mustard seeds, and tonka beans into a powder using a mortar and pestle. Sprinkle the powder anywhere money is kept, such as in a purse or wallet, cash-register drawer, or a safety-deposit box. Or carry the powder in a gold lam6 or bright blue pouch.

HERB AND CRYSTAL SPELL The following mixture can be used in spells to bring prosperity and gain money in unexpected ways. Ingredients include: 4 to

5 I I 3 I

tonka beans goldenseal root teaspoon mustard seeds cups sea salt ciear quaftz crystal

'deuoru o>leru ol .(auou puads o] aABq nod sarurleuog iarg uo qrter lr ral l,uop 1nq'lod aq] ol txau elols eql uo lr eceld'00I$ sE q3ns'1rq uorluuruouap a8rul u arreq noL;1 ('d8raua eqt qlrl\ oraJJelur uur solols lecrrlcele roJ 'elols eql Uo uJnl 'olols poo.4r ro se8 e esn 'alqrssod uaql 'raruurs E 01 ernlxru eql'I) Suug 'raqlaSot ureqt xlru pue tod ^\ols e olul stuerper8ur pe8reqc aql IIE lnd (8eq urlsnru paqceelqun ur) relolc per (paiatlg .(els saleel os) 3eq Bel elrtuoruuc llus Ees suoodsalqrl 7 drlama( ra.\lrs ro (ete1d p1o3 tou) drlaale( p1o3 s>lcrls uoruBuurt rer{l?ar{ ro qreq rar{lBer{

Io

go adorlorlor{ Jo aouno relB.n Suuds ;o sdnc

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plo8 e ur sluarpa.rSur aql 1p aculd uar{J 'lle ;o pooS aqr JoJ sr ler{l de,rr e ur qllee.r ro deuour nod Surrq ol sqreq aqr puB lets(n aqr a8reqc pue eqdle otur oD 'pueq ltel .tno( ur tl ploq pue l.troq E ur sluerpar8ur reqlo aqt qltrvr rI oteld 'eJro] Ielrncele slr e8reqcal ol ralBl\ de1 rapun tI unr uaq] 'sdep a.\la,tl,t roJ lles ees ur lelsdrc eq] JaAoJ

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POWER OF THE WITCH

but you should not have to burn money to get money! Etch the word money or wealth on the side of a gold, yellow, or bright blue candle and, as the potion is warming, hold the burning candle over the bill. Or place the candle in a holder and pile money around it. When you finish you will have a potion that can be dabbed on your wrists, forehead, and solar plexus. Wipe the jewelry clean and wear it as usual. The jewelry helps to charge the potion and in turn is infused with the energy of the money spell. Wearing it will bring prosperity. You can also pour the potion, once it has cooled, over a charged crystal. Seal the potion in a jar and place it on your altar, or if you have made the potion for someone else's use, give it to him or her as a gift.

A MONEY PHIETER

Here is a recipe for a money philter that can be used to attract wealth, food, clothing, and all necessary goods.

I I I I

tablespoon tablespoon tablespoon tablespoon

yellow mustard

seeds

mistletoe saffi.owers

clovers

Add:

l0 l0 t0

drops sweet orange oil drops sandalwood oil drops jasmine oil

Bind the ingredients together with:

I I

teaspoon myrrh tablespoon frankincense

Mix all the ingredients together and focus your intentions on the purpose of the spell. Cup your hands around

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POWER OF THE WITCH

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Begin this spell on Sunday, Thursday, or Friday as these days honor the sun, |upiter, and Venus respectively. Relight the candles every night until they are completely burned down. Daily repetition will increase the spell's effectiveness and your own prosperity consciousness.

IIIAGIC AND GAltlt.BLING A word about gambling and magic. I have always enioyed playing the Massachusetts state lottery, but I have never won "megabucks." It is exciting to take part in an event in which thousands of people are profecting for the same end result. A large number of participants evens out the psychic odds and makes the game fair. Lotteries and other games can be fun ways to use your energies to manifest moneyr they

should, however, be played in moderation. Also, I don't believe in luck. The people who win do so for a purpose. Everything comes about from self-directed energy and spells and is for a specific purpose, even though we may not always know what that purpose is. Witches don't have any monopoly on the lottery and to my knowledge are not cornering the money market. Most of the people who win are not Witches, but their winnings come from their own projections iust as those who do magic. When it comes to important things in life, like financial security, we can all proiect powerfully. The only guidelines I would advise for gambling and games of "chance" is to use moderation and never bet money that you or your family need for necessities.

LOVE Love is the most magical part of human life. Falling in love is like coming under a spell. Being in love is a kind of enchantment that transforms our lives and makes us

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POWER OF THE WITCH

to the mechanics of love magic without ever discovering the secret-namely, the self-love and self-esteem that only they can cultivate in themselves. Most love spells last for only four days. When a "love iunkie" comes into Crow Haven Corner for his or her third week still looking for the right herb or incense, |ody usually suggests another tactic. Either the desired "Mr. or Ms. Right" just isn't right or the individuals need to do magic on themselves first to become more attractive, more desirable, and more lovable. Love is a choice, one we make each morning. We either make the decision to love ourselves and everything in the world around us or we do not. We must start with ourselves and let our love flow out to the universe around us, and only then will love act as a kind of net to catch the right individual. No true lover will ever drain us of love. If he or she does, I suspect you have found a "love vampire," not a real lover. We will always have more love than any one individual can consume, and knowing this gives us a position of power to work from. Loving yourself and the world is the cake; the love of a lover is the frosting. If an aftair ends and you are left alone, you are still encircled and protected in a blanket of self-love and universal love from which you can derive happiness and the strength to go on with life, perhaps even seeking another partner. IIII.AGIC MIRROR EXERCISE Self-love means looking at yourself and saying that you love what you see. The best magical tool for this is the bathroom mirror that you face every morning when you get up. Fairy tales, legends, and folklore are filled with mystical and magical mirrors, and Witches continue this tradition of gazing into magical mirrors as a daily ritual of knowing and focusing on who they are and what they want to become. A bathroom is not too mundane for this purpose. Charge

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'tI uo rureq) ro '1a1nruu 'ueursrlel

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:IJIT S,HSIIAA V

POWER OF THE WITCH

I I I I 4 I

tablespoon strawberry leaves tablespoon damiana tablespoonmotherwort tablespoon red poppy flowers Adam and Eve roots tablespoon lovage-root powder

Add:

Z0

l0 8 5

drops drops drops drops

or more of rose oil strawberry oil musk oil patchouli oil

Blend with:

2

tablespoons orris-root powder

Mix all the ingredients together and catalyze the intentions of your spell by saying aloud, "I ask that a lover or companion be attracted to me and that there be love between us. I ask that this be correct and for the good of all people. So mote it be." Either visualize the specific person you wish to attract or the kind of person you seek. Be specific about what you do not want to draw in before you do the spell. Caruy this philter in a red or pink cloth bag. Remember, it is the energy and aura of the herbs, not the scent, that attracts. It's always important to proiect for a person who is corrcct for you, even though you may not know exactly what "correct" entails. For example, if you proiect for a specific person, you will get him or her along with, perhaps, drinking problems, miserable in-laws, a bitter exspouse, nagging children, or money problems. And the person's family will have you in their lives also. We may become an interference in their lives. We can never see completely down the path we walk, so we must tread

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:I{I1 S,HJJINA

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POWER OF THE WITCH

into the human soul. The Goddess's ability to see and know all things became a terrifying concept in patriarchal times, and her mystical eye was turned into the "evrl eye," associated during the time of the Inquisition with Witches. During the Burning Times, Witches were forced to enter courtrooms backwards so they would not have the advantage of being able to cast a spell on the iudges by an "evil glance." But the tradition of outlining the eye to honor the Coddess of Love and to make one's own eyes more radiant and mysterious is a time-honored custom. Green, rose, or copper eyeshadow or eyeliner draw in energy from Venus, the planet of love and romance. Pink eyeshadow, blush, or lipstick will strengthen self-esteem. Clitter refracts and reflects light and will send out light to others. Affixing iewelry to your body or face is also powerful. Remember to charge your makeup and jewelry and body paint before you use them, catalyzing them with the specific intention of your spell. Pay particular attention to how you adorn your forehead where the Third Eye is located. East Indians wear a red dot over this chakra point; ancient Druids wore crowns with a band of iewels in the center of the forehead; the African Berbers use black makeup to tattoo their faces with stars, moons, and other magical symbols. A quartz crystal worn across the Third Eye can be particularly powerful. deep

MAGICAL DRESS Anyone seeking a lover should pay attention to how he or she dresses. Not that you

have to dress to the hilt every day, but other people do evaluate us, at least initially, on our clothes. While clothes do not make either the man or the woman, they are the first indications we get of who the person inside those clothes might be. As you become more self-confident about your personal identity and know your

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POWER OF THE WITCH

us. While the manufacturers' perfumes may get us a partner, he or she may not be the coffect one. My favorite love potion to add to commercial perfume consists of:

l/4 I/4 I/4 I/4 I/4 l/4

ounce patchouli oil ounce styrax (benzoin oil) ounce lotus oil ounce heliotrope oil ounce orris oil ounce olive oil

Charge the ingredients and mix them together. Add a few drops to your favorite perfume or cologne. A bewitching, organic perfume starts with herbs and spices. Simmer any three of the following ingredients in a cup or two of spring water with a tablespoon of sea salt: apples, cloves, cinnamon, lovage-root powder, yarrow flower, strawberry oil, patchouli oil, or musk. Let the scent permeate your house or add a small quantity to your favorite cologne or perfume. You might also put a few drops on your lover's desk, pillow, car, doorknob, or clothes. Even though the scent will eventually fade, the magic stays and will work for the traditional four days.

THE GOLDEN STAR LOVE SPELL The Golden Star Love Spell that my daughters and I created years ago is a wonderful and powerful spell to protect your lover while you are apart. The materials you need are one gold pentacle, one piece of black velvet big enough to drape around a iar or a small, black velvet drawstring bag, a one-quart glass jar, and a three-foot length of thick, black silk cord. Co into alpha and hold the pentacle in your hand while repeating this rhyming enchantment:

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atmosphere with ingredients and magical objects that will work their special magic on the guest of honor. Here is how I would prepare a dinner to make a lover more amorous and responsive. Of course you must add your own personal magic so that a romantic night that begins with a meal ends up the way you envision it! Dress your table with pink and/or green, the colors of Venus, planet of love. The centerpiece could be roses, poppies, and bunches of hibiscus, the flowers of love. Scent the room with the aroma of a love philter or potion made from rose and strawberry oil. Dab it on a candle, mix it in with a potpourri, rub it onto the edge of a wooden table. Put a few drops on a ribbon and tie it to the door; put a few drops in a pan of water and boil it on the stove, allowing the fragrance to vaporizein the room. And don't forget yourself-mix several drops in with your bathwater or add it to your perfume or cologne. For a summer love meal begin with cold strawberry soup sweetened with honey and a touch of cinnamon for success. In winter serve cream of mushroom soup flavored with a few nettle leaves to encourage thoughts of love. Basil and a small amount of catnip can also be added to the soup. Basil has long been a traditional herb for love potions, philters, and love meals. When magically charged, the herb's aura produces a loving sensation within the human body. Directing its energy to the one you admire will stir a reciprocal feeling in him or her. Add a little to any recipe that can accommodate it. A tossed salad can include the flowers and leaves of dandelion, as well as rose petals if they have not been sprayed with pesticide. Season with a dressing of mayonnaise, poppy seed, brown sugar, and rose vinegar. Blend to taste. For the main course serve chicken with apricot or peach jam or fish baked or steamed with tomatoes, basil,

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you. You feel spontaneously drawn to each other, as if you intuitively know and understand so much more about each other than you could possibly know and understand from the short time you have been together. Such an intense and intimate encounter can easily be mistaken for passion. From talking with hundreds of people about soul mates, I am convinced that most of the soul mates we meet are not intended to become sexual partners or even life partners. Sex, as the saying goes, can complicate, even ruin, a beautiful relationship-which means, of course, that some relationships are not meant to be sexual. I believe that this is true for most relationships between soul mates. In some sense we always "fall in love" with our soul mates. But falling in love and falling into bed are two different things. Be grateful when you meet a soul mate, but be on your guard that the relationship doesn't evolve in directions that it is not intended to go.

HEALINC Witchcraft has always been part of the healing arts. In the earliest times healers used herbs and auras, hands and minds in addition to physical surgery and manipulation to cure diseases and heal the sick. As the practice of modern medicine evolved over the last few hundred years/ the ancient methods that use herbs, auras, hands, and mind/body/spirit techniques fell out of favor. Only Witches and other natural healers kept alive the art and science of healing by natural methods. Today, however, we are watching a resurgence of interest in these older and often safer methods. One of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences for me has been to use the Craft to heal others. Equai to $

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doctor would find the real cause of her problems. I went into alpha and profected for the right doctor. Later that day the second doctor called into the case discovered the woman's appendix and ordered an immediate operation. The appendix burst during surgery, but the woman's life was saved. I myself have been on the receiving end of bad medical diagnosis. Some years ago a gynecologist examined me and concluded without a test that I had uterine cancer and ordered more extensive tests. He also scolded me that I hadn't had a checkup two years earlier. I felt strongly that I did not have cancer, so I frantically called several Witch friends on the phone and asked them to use our method of psychic diagnosis to see what was up. They each confirmed that I did not have cancer. Later my doctor received the test results, which proved that my friends and I were correct. I did not have cancer. You cannot diagnose yourself very well, especially when you're upset. It is human nature to be biased. Either we wish so hard to be well that we don't see what our problems are or we suffer from some degree of hypochondria and are prone to find all kinds of ailments that we really don't have. It is always best to have someone else work on you.

PSYCHIC DIAGNOSIS At the beginning of Chapter Six I told you how a typical class of mine responded to learning the art and science of psychic diagnosis. Now I will tell you the specific steps so that you, too, can use it in your own life. First, you must have a guide or assistant to do psychic diagnosis. After you are very good at it and after much practice, you will be able to do it without someone to assist you, but it is always best to have a guide who is familiar with the case whenever possible. It keeps your diagnosis more focused and ultimately more accurate.

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suggestion that you are not diagnosing correctly cause a rush of adrenaline to the brain and you

will also will tend

to leave alpha and return to beta. Step Three.' Let your hands scan the person's entire body. "Touch" every part. Let your hands be drawn to any area that seems to be pulling your interest. If your hands feel naturally inclined to stop at any particular place, do so. Run your fingers down the body looking for scars, burns, rashes, diseases, warts/ or lumps. Then go under the skin and check the muscles. Check out the organs and glands. Examine the skeletal structure. Look for broken bones or bones out of place. Feel the heart; hold it in your hands. Test the lungs and the entire cardiovascular system. You can envision a vial of the person's blood on the screen. Shake the vial and watch the blood settle. Check out the brain, the eyes, ears, throat. View the bone marrow. As you examine the person's entire body several things may happen to you. You may "see" clearly the part of the body that is ailing. This may happen within the first few seconds. Often you may see some discoloration in the aura at that part of the body. Or you may "hear" (or "see") a word naming the illness, such as "cancet," "diabetes," or "slipped disk." You may see or hear nothing but just "know" as you probe around on a given part of the body that something is wrong there. Do not worry if you cannot name the ailment accurately. You may be able to say only that it is "a lung condition" or "something wrong with the digestive tract." But, on the other hand, don't be surprised if you verbalize a medical-sounding name that you have never encountered before and which you know absolutely nothing about. This happens sometimes-you intuitively know the technical name for a disease you have never heard of. I always keep a copy of Gray's Anatomy on

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put the head on because you will psychically experience those symptoms. Wearing the head could make you feel drunk or drugged, and this will impair your ability to diagnose accurately. The drug or alcohol condition is no threat to your own safety or well-being, but you will feel the symptoms temporarily. Third, if you still cannot find the problem, draw onto your screen light blue, gold, white, or orchid light and ask the light of the Total Intelligence to give you information about the person's physical condition. This will usually provide the answers. Step

Four:

When you accurately know the problem or

the location of the problem, send the person healing light and project for the person to be healed. See the color totally around the aura and especially in the area of concern. Use the following colors as they correspond to the nature or seriousness of the disease: emerald or kelly green: minor ailments red-orange: critical infuries or illnesses

bright pink: self-love and self-esteem violet: psychological balance ice blue: anesthesia, to shut out pain light blue, gold, white, or orchid: for Total Intelli gence/God/Goddess/the All Then project that the person is healed. Always visualize the end result, not the means to the end. For example, if you are working with an open wound, simply see the wound closed and healed. You do not have to visualize an operation. The reason for this is that we may not always project the best means for the end result. Lastly, send more healing light and ask that the healing be correct and for the good of all, just as you do in all your spells.

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POWER OF THE WITCH health clearance each time you count up from alpha also reinforces the healing magic in yourself as well.

ABSENT HEALING Absent healing is a method of sending healing energy to a person at a distance. It is the same procedure you used for psychic diagnosis and healing above, except you may not have to do the diagnosis if you already know what is wrong with the person. Count into alpha, bring the patient onto your screen, send healing light, use your hands to work the injured or painful area, ask your spirit guides to help you by sending energy to the person. When you have finished give yourself total health clearance and count back up into beta.

LAYING ON OF I{ANDS Witches take the common phrase "magic touch" quite literally. As I studied the ways of the Craft I learned that laying on of hands is a critical part of healing. Once again science is catching up with what Witches have known and practiced for centuries. Dolores Krieger, author of The Therapeutic Touch, teaches nurses and other health-care personnel a method of using their hands to help and heal. Her experience shows that simple human touch can affect a patient's blood chemistry and brain waves and elicit a generalized relaxation response. Nurses who practice therapeutic touch testify that their patients recover more quickly and with fewer complications than those who do not receive this treatment. To understand the laying on of hands try this experiment. Run your fingertips down the clothing you are wearing or across the top of a table or chair. Feel the sensations while you move your fingers. What you are actually feeling is not your clothing, table, or chair but only your fingertips. We know from subatomic physics that there is molecular space between your skin and material objects. Light energy passes through this micro-

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:IJI'I S,HSJINA

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your palms, by holding your hands palms upward for few moments in the Egyptian prayer pose.

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Step Two: When in the presence of the patient count yourself into alpha. Hold your hands so that the palms face the body of the patient. Place your hands over the head or crown chakra. Move your hands down the body, pulling and pushing away any harmful energy at that chakra. Do this as often as necessary until you see the aura glowing bright and strong. When that is completed repeat this movement at the forehead, throat, heart, solar plexus, spleen, and foot chakras (see chart page 130). You may physically touch the person's body lightly with your hands or you may make contact only through the auras by holding your hands an inch or two away from the body. When you have drawn away the harmful energy stand back from the patient and shake your hands, releasing any of the energy that may still be in your own aura.

Step Three.' Recharge your body, balance your energies, and polarize yourself by using the Egyptian Sun Meditation before you bring healing energy to the patient. Step Four: Place your hands at each of the patient's chakras and channel healing energy into them.

SYMPATHETIC MAGIC Dolls have been used by Witches throughout the centuries for healing spells. It is unfortunate that many people associate their use solely with evil voodoo spells that inflict harm. In the Craft, however, we use dolls made in the image of another person to empower that person with magic or healing energy. The correct use of a doll can help treat illness, relieve pain, and restore vitality. Dolls, or "poppets," to

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ro rrur{ Jo spuprls esn uer nod ro 'dqtluaq sr,l\ eqs Jo erl ueq.r uosrad eqt tuorJ uelel Surqtolc ;o sacard IIop eql olur A\as 'upc nod JI 'aceJ s,llop aql otuo palsed uosrad eqt Jo qdurSoroqd E osn uele Luru notr '>lcuq s,llop eqr ol qJelu ol 3et eruBu eltlrl B a>lerrr ro IIop aqi uo erueu eql etrr./v\ plno3 nol 'eruBu leqt dq 1l IIBo puu rl 3ur4eu are nod uror{1v\ ro; uosrad er{l jo err?u aql IIop eql aArD 'doqs qorr111 E lE IIop IIErus B dnq ro radud tuaurqcrud ro r{tolc roq}ra Jo }no IIop E a>leru uBc notr :au6 dalg 'seqJEpBer{ puB sr}rJq}r?

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A WITCH'S

LIFE: MILESTONES

The milestones in a Witch's life are marked by magical moments, special ceremonies, and spells that contribute to the meaning and purpose of life in general and the Witch's life in particular. As we pass through the stages of life we are keenly aware that our physical life is only a part of our existence. We live on higher spiritual realms as well as the material plane; we have a cosmic identity that transcends time and place. Whether we marry, end a relationship, give birth and raise children, prepare for death, or bury our loved ones, as Witches we surround these sacred moments with symbol and ceremony to keep our awareness focused on the multiple dimensions of human existence. Here are some of the ways we mark the milestones in our lives.

reqlo qcBe o] pue luesard IIE ol Suuulcap pue sada s,re -qto qcee olur (13urno1 3ur4oo1 elFll'\ 11ads leqrel E ]sec uaqt eldnoc 3ur1eau4 aqJ 'saJIIEqc pue s8urr aql a8reqc sasselserrd eql trrlp eql Jo tuorJ uI sr*o11td o^\1 uo IeeDI uroor8 pur aprrq aqt 'raqlo qcea Sune; 't.qJ 'salt1 s,a1d -not eql ur partdsuerl eAEq leq] sluela lJeJJocuI 11u dui*e Surqsnrq 'urootq crSeru E r{ll,l\ elJrl3 aq} sdeer*s }ur} -srssr eqt ueqJ 'alJrrf, aqt punorB 41en daql sr srelrenb rnoJ eq] ur sla8uuqtre JnoJ eqt laer8 uroor8 pue eplJq eqJ 'puB./v\ crSeur raq qll/v\ alcJrt eql slsBc ssalserrd qSrq eql 'aprsur ere ,(eqt acuo 'qlrou eql IUoJJ alcrlo ar{l o}ul ruoor8 puc epuq eql speel '4cau raq punoru paderp sproc {lrs >l3BIq }ooJ-eulu o/v\} qll//\ 'ssalserrd }uE}sIssE uv 's8urr Suppo/v\ o.1v\1 eql arE SaJIIBqJ aql ol ]xeN 'alp -uEJ >lcelq auo puu elrql\ auo uaeluoq puBls JeIEl'r Surrds ro eullrr qlll\ pellu secllBqt o/vq iSuruJnq erE qrrdru pur esuarupluer{ 'qlolc Icelq ro 'a1rq.ivt '4urd ur pederp sr r{Jrr{,l\ 're11u aql punoJB elcJlc rauul uB IuJo} pue alcnc aql eprsul tsn( puels spuorr; qclllA raqlo puu d1ute; etu -rpetutur eqJ 'suoqqlJ puu 'sret*o1; 's.(eSasou Jo peruJo; sI raleuPrp looJ-uaeun{} ol -euru E q}I/v\ alcJls crSeur aq1 'Surppar* aql ro; ecrld pue elup snorcrdsne dlpcrSolorrse ue lceles or pur dr1 -lyqlreduoc reql pue o^ol neql puelsrapun reueq ol ra8 -oloJlse uE llnsuoc plnoqs eldnoc

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992

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their mutual love and the goals each has for their life together. Next each picks up the other's wedding ring and drops it into the opposite chalice. While the couple's hands are crossed holding the chalices, the priestess loosely binds them in a figure-eight design with the black silk cords.

They then take a sip of the water or wine from each other's chalice. The rest is poured into a bowl, the rings removed and placed on the hands of the bride and groom. The high priestess then takes the silk cord, holds it over the heads of the couple, and pulls the loosely bound knot tight as she says, "I tie the knot." She then hands one end of the cord to the groom and one end to the bride. As they hold the cord between them the priestess places a hand on each one's head and announces to all present, "You are both bound in infinity. So mote it be." Then all the wedding gifts and magical presents rhat have been placed under the altar are charged. Then the circle is opened, the ceremony is complete, and the bridal couple and guests continue the celebration with gaiety and merriment.

ENDING A RELATIONSHIP Ending a relationship is an important turning point in life, and too often couples today do so without a formal and sometimes personal rite of passage to ease the pain of separation and prepare them for the next stage of their lives. In spite of the pain involved, separating is often for the good of the two individuals. The ancient Celtic Handfasting Ceremony allowed the couple to pledge their love and devotion for a yeil and a day at a time, after which, if they were mutually agreed, they could part company and go their separate ways. Today's marriage ceremonies are often "until death," and should the marriage not work out it becomes a very traumatic event, filied with guilt, a

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STNOISA'IIW :E{I'I S,Hf,JI1V\ V

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268

strawberry tea (one bag) small wand or stick from a willow tree sea salt

2

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pink candles a mirror one pink drawstring bag one quartz crystal a copper penny a bowl made of china or crystal that is special to you teaspoon dried iasmine teaspoon orris-root powder teaspoon strawberry leaves teaspoon yarrow plus drops apple-blossom oil or peach oil plus drops strawberry oil

On a Friday morning or evening (the day sacred to Venus) take a bath in sea salt in the light of a pink candle. As you dry ofi and dress, sip the strawberry tea. Use a dab of strawberry oil as perfume or cologne. Apply makeup or groom yourself to look your best. Cast a circle with the willow wand around a table with the other ingredients. Light the second pink candle. Mix all oils and herbs in a bowl. While you stir look at yourself in the mirror and say aloud, "Oh, Great Mother Coddess, enclose me in your loving arms and nurture and bring forth the Goddess within me." Gaze deeply into the mirror after you have finished mixing the ingredients and say aloud, "I represent the Great Goddess, Mother of all things. I shine in the light of the Golden Wings of Isis. All that is good and all that is great and loving only belongs to me." Then put half the mixture in the pink bag and add the penny and crystal. Carry it with you

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Child that children have a natural rapport with their mothers and nature in the first years of life and they lose this rapport in definite stages, perhaps never to reclaim it. When a child expresses his or her intuitive insights into reality or a sense of oneness with nature, adults often belittle, ignore, and discourage those perceptions. Witch parents, however, are different. They nurture those natural talents and help their children develop them. They create a supportive environment to keep their child's magical senses open and receptive.

BIRTI{ING A CHILD Mothers

can begin in the earlipregnancy preparing the child for birth and est days of life in the world. It is important what the mother thinks, says, and sees while she is carrying a child. |ust as her food, medications, and drink will have an effect on the unborn child, so, too, will her thoughts and emotions. Witch mothers send nurturing intrauterine affirmations to their child. While the unborn child is still part of the mother's body/mind/emotions, it is very important for her to see, think, and feel the great truths of magic so that the child is introduced to them even before birth. Affirmations that a Witch repeats for herself become affirmations for the child while the child is still part of the mother. Of course the mother can also address the baby outright and repeat affirmations geared especially for it. What should these affirmations say? You can write them yourself so that they reflect your own personality and the words you usually use in speaking, but the sentiments should reflect the basic laws of the Craft. Affirmations should begin to instill in the child a strong sense of self-esteem and self-love. The simplest affirmations could state:

"I am slowly becoming ready for a rich and fulfilling life in the world."

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signs of where a parent or teacher should direct extra attention and patience. The next step is to plan an anointing ritual with one's coven. In the magic circle each Witch comes forward and bestows on the child gifts that are lacking in the child's chart. For example, a Witch who is athletic could project

physical dexterity for the young girl. A Witch who is good at studies can proiect qualities that will help the young boy do well in school. In other words, each Witch should bestow his or her own personal talents as gifts upon the newborn child. In the circle each Witch in turn touches the child, allowing their auras to mingle. In this magical moment the Witch profects the qualities that she or he wishes to give the young Witch as an anointing gift.

TI{E CRAFT IN THE NURSERY After the baby is born jingles and lullabies become the primary means of instruction. Witch mothers watch carefully what they sing to their babies. Many of the old lullabies and rhymes have developed versions that are quite violent and negative as they get passed down from generation to generation and written up and illustrated in commercial books for children. Sometimes the original or earlier version is much more positive. Take "Rock a Bye Baby" for example. The baby falling from the treetop "cradle and all" is really not the kind of fear that you would want to instill in your child. I remember having been very frightened by this lullaby when my mother would sing it to me. Older versions say nothing about this but talk about the tasks and roles that other members of the family play in the baby's life. Witch parents usually monitor books, toys, and television and video programs very carefully since they are produced by the dominant culture, which is still very hostile to the Craft and Craft values. Sometimes in the

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happens to them. Children who grow up with magic know themselves and the world in deep and intimate ways. This intimacy becomes the basis for their power as Witches.

"A" IS FOR ALPHA

Even in the first year a Witch mother can begin to teach her child how to go into alpha and meditate. The great Swiss child psychologist )ean Piaget has pointed out that the mind of a child develops over time and changes in ways that depend on the environment. He says that the way we think about everything, from how nature works to our morals, depends to a great extent on the physical features of the world in which we are immersed. He also says that not only the content of a child's thoughts is determined by the environment but also the mode of thinking or the ways a child thinks and processes information. A newborn child spends a great deal of its sleeping and waking hours in an altered state of consciousness, but gradually the child learns how to maintain the alertness we call beta. For example, the one-day-old infant can hear, smell, and taste. By two or three months the child will recognize faces and will smile. By eight months the child's memory not only recognizes faces but can retrieve information from its young memory bank. As these changes occur the child is learning to hold its consciousness in beta in order to function in the physical environment. During these early months Witch parents begin to teach their child how to go into alpha. In years past we used to think that pastel colors were best for young infants. But more recent research, such as that by |erome Kagan, who has studied infant development for the last twenty years, indicates that babies respond best to bold primary colors, especially red, and stark checkerboard patterns rather than plain ones. So in their earliest months they are ready for the Crystal

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The pestle lying by its side could have been the neck on a guitar. So I told her that she had done well by seeing the correct shapes, even though she identified them wrong. This was one of the first times I learned that psychics can get the correct information but misinterpret it. We should never decide too quickly what we think information means. By playing the Crystal Countdown with our children and letting them see objects on their mental screens while in alpha, we teach them that thoughts are things, and that the world is not completely outside their minds. Anything around them can become part of their consciousness. In this way they will grow up to be comfortable with psychic experiences that happen to them naturally and spontaneously. Similarly, they will learn how to control their psychic experiences and be able to tune them on or off at will. When they see or hear fairies, spirits, animal helpers, or guides from other dimensions, they will not be frightened nor will they dismiss them as mere fantasies. They will take them as real and be open and receptive to the knowledge and wisdom that they bring to us.

DREAMS Children spend a lot of time dreaming and often they hesitate to talk about their dreams because parents don't take dreams seriously. Too often children wake up crying in the night from a frightening dream and parents come in, brush away their tears, and tell them to forget it, that "it was just a nightmare or just a bad dream." No dream is bad. Even the frightening ones have meaning and purpose. A good Witch will not dismiss a child's dream but help the child to understand it and make sense of it. It is also important to ask the child about his or her "good" dreams so that the child learns that dreams are not just the fears and anxieties that appear to them in their sleep. Witch parents make it a daily

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there when the monsters come and will give the child power to confront the monster, ask for the gift, and make the monster a friend or ally. As children get better with controlling the way they respond to disturbing dreams, they can be taught to incubate or program dreams around topics they find pleasurable or enjoyable. I always encourage children to have dreams about flying, or dreams in which they learn things about nature, or dreams in which they will meet their spirit guides or animal helpers. Later in life they will incubate dreams to help in problem-solving and decision-making, and they will have a rich and rewarding dream life.

PROTECTION SPELLS FOR CI{ILDREN Children are vulnerable, and our society seems to be getting more

violent all the time. It is important for all parents to teach children the truth about evil and danger and to teach ways that children can protect themselves against

harm. One of the reasons the Witches' League is working to change the image of the Witch in children's videos and books is that it gives children a false sense of danger and security-they think that Witches are green and ugly and ride broomsticks as they go around doing evil. In reality Witches are not evil, and the real threat to children's safety lurks in many corners of our society in the guise of average-looking men and women. The outlandish cartoon characters that gnash their teeth and lick their lips and wring their hands over doing evil things are not walking the streets of our cities. Average-looking people are, some of whom are trusted family members, and we must teach children the truth about this. In addition to educating children about safety and how to be street-smart, Witch parents also give their children ways to deflect harm. Any of the spells and exercises in the protection section of the previous chapter can be

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rl erl ur slueruou

IVIUNg CNV HJVEC 'sra8uerls ;o dre,r eq pue 'slaarls Surssorc pren8 uo aq 'a;es duld o1 repurual E sB alJes osle IIrl\ qlrr{-l\ IooqJs ol Suro8 ero}eq peeqaroJ pue stsr$\ s,pl1t{c e uo :nd aq UEJ uorlod uorlcelord ',tloq ruaq] rlceel e,l\ 'u-to :raqt op ol q8noua plo are ,(aql ueq.& pue 'uerplqc rno punore splerqs uortcalord lnd e16 ']noqu IIE sr 1r tBql\ puersrapun ot q8noua plo sI plrqc eql sE uoos su re8urp ro azllerlneu ol cr8eur esn ol ,/v\or{ pln{r E rioua} ol F-\e 'ueqt ro} euop ro uerplrqc ot lq8ner ,(pea ur8aq sar{r}riA 6tT

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immortality, thus assuring them a blessed life in the world to come. When Arthur himself was wounded unto death he was transported to Avalon, where tradition says he will wait until the world needs him once again. At that point he will return, Today when Witches use the cauldron, this ancient symbol of immortality, in their rituals, they are reminded of these sacred truths about life, death, and the land where no one dies. In modern Western society we have practically outlawed death from public and private discussion. The subject has become taboo. This attitude is unique in world history. Other cultures did not shun the topic of death as we do. In fact, teaching the "ways of death" was part of their spiritual traditions. For example, the Orphic and Eleusinian mysteries in Greece, the Osirian and Isis mysteries in Egypt, the Mithraic mysteries in the Middle East, the Druidic mysteries in Western Europe, the Oiibwa Midewiwin society (to name merely one of many American Indian medicine societies), the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Aztec Popul Vuh, the medieval tradition of ars moriendi, or the "art of dying"-ali these were attempts to give people a preview of what awaited them when consciousness left the body and embarked on its journey to the next life. Such spiritual traditions were undoubtedly powerful psychotherapy to deal with death and dying and prevent the fear and shock that seems to be part of modern man and woman's understanding of death. Witches celebrate death in our own sacred mysteries just as we celebrate life. Because our worldview is earthcentered and because we celebrate the changing of all the seasons/ winter as well as summer/ we do not see death as the end. It is merely one season on the Wheel of Life. Death is intimately woven into the fabric of the world and of all things. But then so is birth. If Persephone spends the barren season of winter in the underworld,

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POWER OF THE WITCH to be equally ioyful when someone we know or love begins a new life in the next world. We wear white to send out our own energy as a sign that we would accompany the departed energy of the loved one. Witches tend to favor cremation rather than burial. The loved one's ashes can then be used in protection potion/ kept in an urn near our altar, or blown to the winds in a spot that was special or holy to the departed or to those of us who remain behind. When Witches are buried we also bury their magical tools and robes with them, placing herbs and crystals into the grave. We cast a magic circle around the grave site. Dust from the top of the grave can be used in future protection potions because some of the deceased's light energy emanates up through the earth for years after the burial. Sometimes we plant a tree or shrub for the person or invite a newborn kitten into our home in honor of the person and to perpetuate the spirit of that person. In other words, we replace life with life.

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POWER OF THE WITCH human life-these still live in me and all those who practice the Craft. The sky gods of many cultures, the "star people," who may have inhabited parts of the earth, the root races, angelic beings and messengers, the technicians of vanished civilizations, the elves and fairies, little people whose legendary presence is found throughout the world-these ancestors of ours are still present in the universe, imprinted on the cosmic energy fields, or the Akashic records. Their legacy is available to us in alpha. The "time before time" still beckons us to enter and experience for ourselves our common roots and origins. A Witch's consciousness is not time-bound in the present, it ranges to the far edges of the universe and to the extremes of human experience. As a Witch I have always had the desire to experience both the past and future, to know where we have come from and where we are headed. Many Witches feel the same way. A surprising number of Craft people and other neopagans have iobs working with computers and computer programming. This is not unusual because computers are the latest in a long line of information-processing technologies that include Pythagorian systems, the fewish mysticism found in the Kabbala, the Tarot, and the ancient runic alphabets of old Europe. Like these ancient forerunners, computer language is a kind of secret code that can access information and help shape our lives and build our futures. Witches are drawn to this kind of work. Our Craft practices prepare us for channeling knowledge through light, color, and number. I see several scenarios or programs for the near future and the important roles that Witches will play in them. In this last chapter I would like to share them with you. I see Witches reclaiming the holidays of the earth and

sky. The old festivals of the Witches' calendar-

Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas-will once again become important cultural holidays, vital celebrations

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us. I propose that Witches go public on the maior earth and sky holidays with costumes, music, dancing, singing, feasting, and magic. If possible, get permits to raise Maypoles in city parks, organize parades or candlelight marches at Samhain, celebrate Yule at community centers or in Universalist Unitarian churches (which are often receptive to non-Christian liturgies). We can join with college students interested in anthropology or medieval customs and do rituals on campuses. If public places are not available, we will begin in our own backyards. We will notify the neighbors that we are going to sponsor or recreate some "colorful folk" celebrations and invite them to foin or just come and watch. I predict that within a few years, maybe even iust one year, we will have half the neighborhood holding hands and coiling around each other in a spiral dance! And in costume! I think it's important that we be as open about our identities as Witches as possible. Today Salem is a safe place for Witches to wear pentacles and capes on the street and to sponsor sabbat celebrations in public places, but it was not always so. The primary reason we are accepted today is that I and other Salem Witches have stood up for our right to dress as we wish, wear what we want, and celebrate our sabbats. I do not think we should hide our rites. And yet I realize that not every Witch lives in a safe town. If you cannot come out openly about the true nature of our celebrations because doing so would intimidate conservative members of your community who could cause trouble and even prevent your celebrations, find acceptable ways to explain what you are doing. Terms like "Witchcraft," "Wiccan," or "pagan" may cause opposition. However, most people are not threatened by Maypoles, for example, when presented as an old English folk custom. Lammas can be explained as a simple harvest festival. Yule celebrates our need for light and warmth as the winter months approach. The

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time is a powerful way to teach children (and adults) that we live in more than one reality. Some Witches claim that work and careers don't give them time to prepare or hold public celebrations on these days of the year. It's true that we do not yet get off work for our sabbats like we do for national holidays, but we can take a personal day. Some Witches make a point of asking for these days off when they apply for a f ob. Often employers are more than willing, especially if a Witch who takes off for Yule, for example, is willing to work on Christmas Day. I encourage you to do this even if you don't spend the day getting ready for lavish celebrations. These days are sacred, and we should create sacred space and time in our lives by taking off from work and spending the day consciously and productively in the ways of the Craft. Good Works: One of the first questions asked me by a born-again minister on a television talk show was: where were my hospitals and orphanages? He insisted that to prove that I was really a "religious" person, I should produce hospitals! Even the host pointed out to him the inconsistency in this line of logic. Not every religious group has to own and operate hospitals and orphanages. But he was adamant in quoting that "by their fruits you will know them." Well, on that point I can totally agree with him-we are known by our good works. And I see Witches of the future being known for their good works as we were in pre-Christian times before the slanderous campaign began to convince the world that we were capable only of "bad works." As part of reclaiming our traditional holidays I encourage every Witch and every coven to organize in coniunction with each holiday some form of volunteer work that will benefit the larger commu-

nity. For example, the spring holidays can include work on

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healthy place to live and as modern civilization continues to poison the planet, Witches will speak out for the rights of the earth. Our voices will be among the loudest,

calling all people to live in balance and harmony with the communities of plants, animals, and minerals. For many Witches this will mean taking stock of how they personally live on the planet. It is often perplexing to find ways to live so that our life-styles don't contradict our values as "keepers of the earth." Our cars, computers, clothes, heating fuels, plastic shopping bags-so many things we find it hard to live without-may be depleting the earth's resources, contributing to toxic wastes, exploiting native populations in other countries, and fostering the mistreatment of animals. Modern life is such a complex web of relationships that it is often impossible to know what effects our actions have on others. The business and industrial network literally webs the entire world and involves everyone. Clearly we cannot all return to living on the land. In America alone there are too many people to do that. But I strongly believe that in small ways we can each lead a simpler life that wastes less, pollutes less, destroys less, even costs less. Witches of the future will pioneer new ways for individuals to scaie down their needs and live lighter, touching the earth more gently. If each of us would contribute just five hours a month, that's about one hour a week, to some local organization that is involved in ecological or environmental work, we would see remarkable results in our own lives and in the broader community. Clean up the parks and woods; help the Scouts collect newspapers, plant trees, flowers, and shrubs. In Salem the Witches' League for Public Awareness bought and planted 200 fir seedlings. Again I can only offer a few suggestions that occur to me. You must find your own way to become actively engaged in the health of the environment. foin a local Audubon Society

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and new ages, and we will work with them. The past convergence was successful in heightening awareness about the interconnectedness of spirit and earth. Harmonic convergences will not be iust a fad but an ongoing call to spirit-minded people around the world to project health and well-being and balance between spirit and matter. In spite of what detractors said about the convergence being another doomsday watch for the world to end, those who took part understood its real purposethe alignment of our intentions with the evolving future of the earth and its communities of life. I see a future in which there is no war and no threat of war. I see the past conflict in Vietnam and remember how it was stopped by the unrelenting vision and voices of countless brave men and women protesting its escalation and pro)ecting for an end to it. I remember the great peace mantras of the 1960s-"Make love not war" and "Give peace 4 sfisngs"-and the peace symbol that became an international talisman working its magic on the minds and hearts of people everywhere. Although I think that conflict is part of human existence and will always be present in some form or another, I do not think that conflict between people or nations need erupt into war, especially in the future, when more armies will have nuclear weapons at their disposal. And I think that television will continue to erode widespread support for war, as it did during the Vietnam conflict, by bringing the horrors of the battlefields into our living rooms, where we cannot mistake them for glory. Witches must make peace an important goal. We must do magic and spells to work for a war-free world. Using the spells in this book for peace may be one of our most important contributions to our children's and grandchildren's futures. We can do binding spells, using white light to neutralize soldiers, their weapons, and especially the military leaders who send them into battle. We can

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ple who suffer from them. They are sometimes our own discomforts. In our traditional roles as healers and counselors we must offer our neighbors a healthier style of life and the science of magic to heal themselves. Witches of the future will be part of the health-care delivery system, working or volunteering in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices, bringing people vision and hope because of our unique perspectives on life and suffering, death and rebirth, the eternal exchange of energies between the material and spiritual realms. As Wiccan clergy we should demand the same visiting privileges that Christian clergy now have to counsel and heal our patients when they are hospitalized. People are dying because of addictions, loneliness, feat, and prejudice, I see Witches offering healing programs, centered on ritual, for alcoholics and drug abusers. Our covens will offer ceremony and ritual for bereavement groups. We will bring meaning and hope to the lonely and the abandoned. As earth-centered healers we offer a new vision to people alienated from the earth and the natural rhythms that put life in perspective and create a context of meaning. We will teach meditation, offer guided spirit iourneys, and help individuals discover their own sources of health and happiness through ritual and magic that will bring them into contact with their deepest selves.

I see Witchcraft becoming once again a maior religion, taking its rightful place alongside other spiritual disciplines. We will enrich those other religions by showing how the science of the Craft is the basis for all effective spiritual practices. But we must make the first move. I encourage every Witch who has the opportunity to become a "certified minister" by ioining the covenant of the Goddess or the National Alliance of Pantheists, both of which have won government recognition as religious bodies with the right to "ordain ministers." We must

Jo sluepnls IIB eSuellBr{c I 'Iuopsrlv\ parsBs puE uorlPrrds -uI qcnw suorlrpBrl pareler pue plo esoql ur Suue,rocsrp 'sreed lueoer ur dlrlenlrrrds uecrraurv eArlBN pue ruslqp -png uez perynls arreq suorSller urepou ro(eur eql 'sn Surpuelsrepun d1nr1 ruorJ ruaql palua,rard pue sn tnoqu s8urlea; rraqt pezrrelrerer{r oABr{ }Eq} suoruolslp puB seII aq] eprsu lnd ol uraql Surrep 'ruaql ot laltunuS e uaop ,l\oJql | 'arv aM oqt arza[ puv sn lpnls ol 'sarlrunur -ruoo qsr/(el pue uurtsrrqf, er{} ur ueruo/v\ puu uoru e8era -^B puB 'sreloqcs sno€r1er pue suerSoloaqr e8uelluqo I 'sSutql Sunq IIE Jo sseu -palceuuoJrelur eql pu8 oJII IIE Jo sseuporcEs er{} sazlu -3ocar luql uorsrl pnlrrrds E-uoIlBAIBs elelullln rno eq (eru tuq,r* pue errnl u,l\o Jno uI ro} ]no sarJJ dleleredsap os plrolv\ erll lBq/v\ sI l1 'sread Jo spuBsnoql roJ Suuq uaaq eABL{ suEJIJaiuV aAI}EN pue al!\ lBI{1v\ sI selJJIs uBIlsIJrlJ eruos ur ,,d3o1oeql uorlBeJt,, pellut Suteq sI leqiA 'uollu -arc qlrl\ duourreq ur 3ura,11 ro; drussaceu os sral\od aur,r -rp u^\o rno Surzquer roJ senbruqcel eql pue e8pelnoul aql aAEr{ sar{JlrlA 'sessecord IErn}Eu uI puu q}ree al{l ur rer*od ourlrp eql peztuSooeJ or{1v\ 'sro}secue rno }o uoIsIA lenlurds elqt a^r[ lnq puetsrepun dluo lou seI{3tI/A 'sel -pnts lecrSoloeql ur plag ro{uur e Surruocaq eru }Br{t suorl -Ipell sseppoc eqr Jo slururr puE seluouarar ar{l ur pasre^ dlnrt are am dluo esnureq sacuaJeJuoo qons ot pelll -ur ueaq eAEq seqJlrl6 dpearly 'serreullues pue satcua8e r{lrr}ra}ur Jo raqurnu 3ur,,*or8 eq} }e pue sreluec }sqppng pue 'qsrr*e{ 'uunsrrq3 lE slrar}al pue sJeur{ues ur s}uud -1cr1rud eq e 'sarlrAI]JE lBcluerunce ur lred Sutr*or8 A II!v\ -rele uB deld sar{JlliA '}ou ro ,,pagruac,, req}eqlA 1pm 'setrr snor8rleJ alBrrrrlr8el se peldac -cE aq lou IIr.r suorlBrlsrunu lulrdsoq pue 'spreun; 's8ur -lsBJpuBH 's8urturoue Jno rueql lnoqlllA 'sntuls IBrcHo sn ent8 o1 drussacau eJB ,,Jalslulur,, puB ,,pueJeaer,, a{rl sleqel 'arntlnl lueuruop eqr Jo se(a aql ur tBqt ezIIBer s6z

NAOUUOW

OI

J JVUf, Hf, II,,1A

296

POWER OF THE WITCH

religion to do the same with Witchcraft and the rich Goddess traditions from which we spring. Not long ago Barbara, a Witch friend of mine, was a

volunteer teacher in a local private school that had a distinguished reputation for providing a high-caliber education. Barbara's years of service to the school were recognized by faculty, students, and parents alike. When the position of principal opened up she was ofiered the post. Then word went around that Barbara was a Witch. Suddenly a woman whose reputation in the community was beyond reproach became an "unknown." People reacted as if they didn't really know her. At a conference with the school officials she affirmed the fact that she was a Witch, as were her husband and children. The offer of principalship was withdrawn. Ironically, when she left the conference she walked past a classroom down the hall where a movie was being shown explaining the beauties and mysteries of Native American spirituality. In the future those movies will be about us. And we will not lose our iobs because of who we are. I see the number of Witches growing by leaps and bounds, not because we recruit new members, for we do not and never have, but because the Goddess will call people to discover their original spiritual heritage. We will still require that initiates prove themselves and their intentions by studying with us for "a year and a day" before we accept them into our covens, but more and more men and women will come forth to do so as they realize the time is ripe and that perhaps the time is also short. New covens will spring up, new rituals will be developed, new ways to use our magic for the good of all will be discovered. We must be open and receptive to these newcomers. We must make ourselves available for those who are searching by living publicly as Witches, proud of our Craft and our life-giving traditions. Today I see Western religions groping for their mysti-

snegp dlrunururoc puu 'lueururalo8 'ssaursnq ur srepual aluoJeq III/V\ ol{r!\ uaulolv\ aes I 'uelppqcpuer8 puB uet -p1n{r rar{t ro; r{uue aqt eAEs ol puB plro^\ aql ur aSurqc E a{Eru o} luulv\ or{1{ uetuol!\ peluerJo-ecr^Jes '8uorls Suttrerur-pnlrrrds sB IIel\ se 'pcrlrlod 'cnuouoca 'Frc -os-sanssl S,ualuo.lv\ IIE IoJ sIunJOJ auoceq IIL/V\ sueAoc rno 'lentrr uoql aoqs o1 '1;er3 eql umldxe ot '4eeds ot sn elrlur (,,suer3o1eaql,, sellesrueql 8uiluc aruos) suetSoloaqt lsrurural dpearly 'sualoc rno Sururol pue sn Sulpug 'ernluu eururrueJ rreql ur tsadaep sr lBql\ ssardxa ot s(e.nr ro1 3ur4oo1 'rarvrod pue uorsrl Jo ueruon aes I 'dlue; auo Suruoceq pue spuuq 3up1oq 'ruoor8 pue eprrq eql punoff alrrrc e ut raqlaSol puels ol auodra,re IIBo lnq elsre uB Jo seprs arrsoddo uo aldnoc Surppar* E Jo serprue] er{r aleredes rou op a/v\ seruouerac SurlseJpuBH rno tB leqt ',aldurexe ro; 'aas 1yr,n daq1 'euocla/v\ are IIE eraq/r sn ol eletr,rrrS 1pH aldoed ,,'sJauuls,, puB ,,slulBs,, ;:o ,,'pauluBp,, puB ,,pa,\ps,, 1o 'sraprslno pue sreprsur 1o sauo8alec olur a1d -oad aptatp puu sallasueql punoru sllu./r plnq suor8rler reqlo sV 'llv eql r{il^\ sd1r{suor}Bler puosrad u,l\o rraqt atearJ pue sorusoc eqr Jo sqlnrl lerurrrds aql ureel dllcar -Ip UEO daqr qcqrvr ur uqdp 1o sdervr eqr tueql ./v\oqs ol sn {sB 11rn deql 'd8relc pue srelsruru uror} ulvrop pepueq ,,sqlnrl palBelar,, qiIA dn peJ errroceq eldoed sy 'slenba se raqlaSot >llu./v\ IIB r{c1q,l\ uo qled lenl -rrrds e 'ecuerpnu ou puB,{qcrurerq ou qlrl\ 'd1n; aledrorl -red uec ue{uo/r pue ueur qloq qorr{,r\ ur uor}rperl peroes e :o; Sururrad papuru dllenlrrrds aql ees I pezrlrrcou -ep aroru seuoreq plrolvt. eqr sV '1n;Surueeru pue Surlrcxa lJEIcr{clrla e>lBru l9qt ilE puB aruercs aql ol puB slBnlrr os

ctlqnd rno ol u^\Erp aq IIp\ Leql 'sseussaladoq puu ruop -aroq Jo lno sn ol Sunuoc 'suor8rlar u,l\o Jreql qlta peg -srlessrp 'ueuro.n puB uaru eos I 'UBIJ er{l Jo sde.la luarcur aql uI t! Surpug luegl eas I puB 'a8etrreq lucr8eurTleo t67,

AAOUUOWOJ ICVUf,Hf,IINA

POWER OF THE WITCH wearing the pentacle around their necks and speaking with the wisdom of the Divine Mother. I see a new breed of teenagers who will not find it necessary to turn to the world of Satanic rock lyrics, to movies and videos that glamorize evil, or to cults that encourage violence. Unlike today's generation, which rebels against a spiritual vacuum and a growing sense of powerlessness, the teenagers of the future will know the facts about Witchcraft. If they choose to join the Craft, they will do so with the understanding that to be a Witch means to repudiate the notion of Satan and evil power over the earth, to reiect violence and hatred as weapons of social change, and to turn to the divine mysteries of the Great Mother and discover rituals of empowerment that inspire service and commitment to society. Witch children will grow up with the law of the Craft inscribed in their hearts, dedicated to the principle of harming no one. I see scientists and mystics engaged in a fruitful dialogue, each contributing their own visions of the universe and discovering that they are speaking the same language and describing the same realities. This dialogue has already begun, and science and mysticism are once again becoming allies. Soon their insights will trickle down to average men and women who may for the first time realize that the universe is an interweaving of light, galaxies, stars, planets, and the myriad forms of life. With fresh eyes people will see that the All is a web of energies and auras, thoughts and words, visions and voices. In time everyone will participate in the great dance of light and life that Witches have been leading for centuries. But Witches must bring about this vision by reading and studying science. They must become as knowledgeable about scientific realities as they are about spiritual ones. To educate, change, and ultimately save society

reqt olrrn o] /Solorlse pue (qdosolqd uearo8uqtdd asn IIr,r\ sJelrrlv\8UOS 'UerCrSn{U pu8 rasoduroc lualBS e 'uoSerp -uad leeqcrw a>llf 'rBlnces eql pu? percBs aql Jo Bura,ear,r -relut aql drlaod pue 's8uos 's8urlured Jreql ur ssardxa roJ salrr*prru aqt erB sa8uurr puu 1pm daql 'sBopr sloqurds ro; 'e1or ^\eu E ,(u1d rJBrf, ar{l ur stsruv IEtrA 11r,r,r 'lI ut uud 3ut{ul pue lr Surratue dq ,fiorsrq Lpnrs r{8nu arvr teql os sruer8oloq su lsed eql pue sJolseoue rno lselrueul 'dra8rns crqc,(sd uro;red ',{ltuutsur IBaq or sdervr '/poq-aqt-;o-tno Bur -lurado ro; sanbruqcel pellortuoc spoqleu 'uorlucollq Jo aJEs pur punos 'selcrqel lnoqlur uorlelrodsuurl Jo sueeur luglsur :luerudolaaap crqcdsd ur srerluorJ,/v\au paeu e/a 'e8palnoul ,t\au eql slcalJer re8uol ou ]Er{l urSrpered lno-uro/v\ pup pezrprepuuls p olur selrl rreqt ;o serralsdtu puosred eqt tg ol drt uurlt Jer{tur so^lasuaql roJ e;rl ;o Suruuaur er{t ralocsrp ot puu eqdlu .Jerlaq purlq ;o s,(er* aqt uJeal o] sn ol etuoc ilr1vt sraqto ;o e8u eql 'e8y upecsrd ar{t }ser ol tnd pue e8y uerrenby eql Jo ssaullnJ eql alern8nuur ol dlaq 1p,r,r er* 'qceel pue IEoI{ ol uqdp Sursn le tdape eroru JeAe eruoceq a,t\ sV 'dlrpar lurreluru ur pepunor8 dlurg st dlrluer peroBs Jo uorsrl Jno ler{l plrolt aq} ecurluoJ IIII\ a'l\ searT elrlcnpord '1n;,(o( rno dg .{ro./v\ lenlrrrds IIE Jo aseq aql sr qtll{,v\ 'gurcqc1r16 Jo ecuercs aql ot {cBq sn spBal ,,er e,, rno lBrll plJol\ aql 1v\or{s IIII\ ala,,'pBep se poo8 sB sr e/v\B ur lder puels ra8uol ou uec oqrvr uosrad er{l puu ecuarcs enJl IIB Jo srsuq er{l sr ursrcr1sd141,, :spJo/r

s,urelsura lJBaq ol e>lBl 01 sJeqlo errdsur IIIr!\ al .ecuarcs Jo slsBq eql dlIIBeJ ur sI ,,rusrJllsdtu,, ro ,,uorJllsJodns,, sB seos plrolv\ eq] IErIA tEql ruJstB oqrvr 'ecuerradxe ueur -nq q salrsoddo eql elcuoJer uBc oqrvr aldoad luaredde sE plrolv\ eqt aroJeq puBls lsnlu all 'lrrds ar{r Jo e3en3uu1 aqr pup scrsdqd aql ;o a8unFuel aqr >1eads 01 alqu 'Suruueur uruldxe ol pue 'sdrqsuorlelar aq lsnu saqclllA^\eu ol 'sarnSg puB snBJ qrpvr 4ueds ol elqu Buraq sueeru ^roqs 667

AAOUUOWOJ JJVUf,Hf,IIAA

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POWER OF THE WITCH

music. Fashion designers will create clothing of fabric and color that is natural, comfortable, expressive of each individual whether it be to reflect the female energies of the Goddess, the male powers of the God, or the androgynous blending of the two. Clothing and jewelry will become magical tools once again for all. Strongly grounded in the Craft, artists, like Lisa St. |ohn, Tammy Medros, and Penny Cabot, will demonstrate that art, science, and spirituality are fust three sides of the same triangle. Witch artists will remind their audiences, or perhaps teach them for the first time, that all things are connected. I see a day when Wiccan songwriters, performers, sculptors, painters, and weavers will influence mainstream art with our images and symbols. I long for the day when the Goddess and the God are once again the malor motif of human life. I see a future in which the current interest in science fiction among so many Witches and neo-pagans will prove to have been a wise study of things to come, not the escapist fantasy that many detractors think it is. Witches have always tended to think in terms of the galaxy as a whole, to see all time and space in the present moment, as they divine the future. Our natural interest in space and the "times beyond time" will result in Witches being among the first to understand and accept extraterrestrial visitors for we have already contacted them in our dreams and visions. We know that the universe is so structured that anything might be true at some time and in some place, so we are free to speculate and dream. The plans and projections that we instill in our children today may become the nucleus for life in space and in other galaxies tomorrow. Out of our dreams will come the communities and ways of life that will reach beyond the planets and lead us back to the stars. As Plato taught, as many Native Americans knew, as ancient peoples around the world surmised, and as

'>lJBq sn OIuoJIa/t 'aluo3 III./V\ deqJ ot seull aql w sn JoJ Surlrer* are o8e suoaB duru os taueld rno palulndod reqr sruroJ ay1 leur8rro eql 's8uraq /sacur 100J ar{J 'peurlsap ere e.& }Bq,l\ JoJ IErlsaJus or{l

puP erB e]!\ or{1v\ ;o ,,3urraquauraJ,, B sr eJrT pue 'sarxepS aqr Suorue Surrrrl e[q^\ pleq e^\ reqr a8pe1,rlou{ eql IIE Jo ,,3ur11a8ro;,, Jo pul{ E sr qurg 'sruls aql ruorJ eruoc aAEr{ oq,r,r aldoad d4s ere ar'r 'perrarleq sdur'lp aAEq seqclrlA

IO8

/AOUUOWOI JJVUJHSJINA

EPILOCUE

On my altar is a sprig from an ancient oak tree in England that was struck by lightning. A modern Druid gave it to me twenty years ago, but the leaves are still green and alive. It has been charged with divine power. I like to look at it, for it always reminds me that the world itself is charged with divine power. No, the world rs divine power. Each plant, animal, rock, river, hill, path, shadow, fire, or twig has its own spirit, its own intelligence, a message. As a Lakota medicine man once said, "Everything has a voice and wants to communicate." Imagine how the universe would sing if humans had not lost the power to listen and hear and whisper back to the cosmos the secret desires of our hearts! Witchcraft is very old, but in our times it is becoming the path to the future, leading us out into the farthest reaches of the universe. What will we hear out there?

'uootu el{t Jo sdeurno( tuels aqt otur q8rq ro qg?e eql Jo s}etJas elrlral eqt orur daap-eraqrrrdue sn a{El uec cr8eru rno roJ 'lI pug III/v\ ar'r puv 'pa8ruqc sl lr qcrq,/v\ rItI^{ ruopsr/v\ eurlrp eqt JoJ asrelrun eql qcrees pur aroldxe uec e/r ]l qll1A'sll14s pue socrlcurd e e d1nr1 las sr 1r ,,'l1etx,, Jo ro; pue drnluef, 'puo.(aq eql roJ sn Buuudard lxau alou sr ,adeqs ,puaq ol elqe uaeq UBrJ ar{l (1urerra3 'a8ueqc pue sBr{ r{crl/A aql saurl rEepnu u^\o rno ol salup cn{}IIoeN trroq 'uorlrruJoJsuert pue qlaor8 ur sa8ualleqc lsalrar8 aq] roJ uaruol\ pue ueru peredard sdeivr.lu suq UErf, aqJ suqap aqt ur pun{ ldrnluac qlellue1vlt aql Jo -eq lJel aq III,I| orlla ierunJ eql olur dlalerq qrrBru IIr^r or{IA 'rEoJ ur ra,roJ sreqlo /uraqt ot d1pe18 oB sn;o euos

'slrrleer raqto tuor; sra8uassetu qll^\ sralunocua Burlrodar are aldoad plrolv\ eqt ]o slrrd 11e uI .eurl qcnu eaBq lou op ala 'sn un{trlvt d1r;os 3u€urs secro^ eur^rp arrrBs esoq} ol ualsll ot pauJrel lou aAEq e^r Jr asralrun aql ur Bur -3urs secroa aurlrp eql JEOr{ louuro elA .quEI roqtow Jno Jo eJro^ er{r o} u0}sll ol urBel }srg lou op a/{ ;r ,3urqtoN

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RES OURCE

APPENDIX and

TABLE

OF

CORRESPONDENCES

WITCH

SUPPLIES

(raunrr cABor rnooucrs) Crow Haven Corner 125 Essex Street Salem, MA 01920

wITcHEs' oRGANIzATIoNs

Witches' Antidefamation League

Dr. Leo Martello, H.P. 153 West 80 Street,

508-745-8764

Apt. lB

The Magic Door (A mail-order shop) P.O. Box 8349 Salem, Ma 01971-8349 ($7.S0 for catalog)

Witches' League for Public

wrrcHES suPPLrEs (cENrner)

(include SASE)

White Light Pentacles Sacred Spirit Products P.O. Box 8163 Salem, MA 01970

New York, NY 10024 (include SASE) Awareness P.O. Box 8236 Salem, MA 01970

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Converging Paths P.O. Box 53 Mt. Horeb, WI 53572

Ancient Ways c/o the Alchemist's

Council of the Magickal Arts

Dublin

4300 Lafayette St. Bellaire, TX 77401

Awen

Pallas Society News Box 2015 Los Angeles, CA 90035

The Faeries'Larnp P.O. Box 3407 Kansas City, KS 66103

Magical Unicorn Messenger

2

IRELAND Kaer Eidyn 8 Annandale St. Edinburgh EHZ 4AN Alban SCOTLAND

Tb.e Bard Annwn Temple of Gwynfyd 5102 N. l6th Dr.

Lot #3 Phoenix, AZ 85015

Temple of Wicca P.O. Box 1302 Findlay, OH 45839

The Beltane Papers P.O. Box 8 Clear Lake, WA 98235

The Magic Wand

The Broomstick

P.O. Box 11363 Detroit, MI 48211

3543 18th

Free

Head

Bookshop l0 East Essex St.

Spirit Rising

P.O. Box 5128 Laurel, MD 20707

St.

San Francisco, CA 94110

Caer Rhiannon

Newsletter

P.O. Box 5261 Riverside, CA 92517

The Druids'Progress

Cainteanna rra Luise

P.E.I. Bonewits, Archdruid

805-85 Wellesley East Toronto, Ontario M4Y IH8 CANADA

P.O. Box 9398 Berkeley, CA 94709 .

CNV'I3NT

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308

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Heresies

L'Etoile

1306 Canal St. Station New York, NY 100130867

The Hidden Path

Wicca Francaise 6 rue Danton 94270 Le Kremlin Bicetre Paris, FRANCE

c/o Windwalker

Llewellyn's New

P.O. Box 793 F Wheeling, IL 60090

Inner Keltia

Times P.O. Box 64383 St. Paul, MN 55164-0383

Kaer Eidyn 8 Annandale St. Edinburgh EHZ 4AN, Alban SCOTTAND

The Littlest Unicorn

Iron ]V[ountain

The Lunar Calendar

Artemisia Press P.O. Box 227 Florence, CO 81226

Luna Press Box 5ll Kenmore Station Boston, MA 02215

Isian News Cesara Publications

Clonegal Castle Enniscorthy IRELAND

fournal of Women & Religion 2465 LeConte Ave. Berkeley, CA 94709

Kindred Spirits Quarterly P.O. Box l0l Bega

New South Wales, 2550, AUSTRALIA

The Rowan Tree P.O. Box 8814 Minneapolis, MN 55408

Magical Blend. Magazine Dept. P.O. Box 11303 San Francisco, CA 9410I

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]Y[ond-Bhlane Mellerstr. 59'A' 4800 Bielefeld I WEST GERMANY

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Sh.atnan's Drum

Survival

P.O. Box 2636 Berkeley, CA 94702

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Silver Elves P.O. Box 2035 Guerneville, CA 95446

Starlight &, P.O. Box 452

Sirius

Helsinki, FINLAND 0010

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