Esbats

Esbats are a little different from sabbats. Generally, not as much preparation and ritual goes into celebrating them. Some Wiccans, consider them to be the rituals held on the nights of the full moon throughout the year, for a total of 13 Esbats in all. Others believe them to be days or nights set aside for magickal workings. Here, any moon phase can be used for an Esbat, depending upon your need at the time. For those who hold to the full moon definition, included below are the names, months and correspondences of each full moon throughout the year. The first list of moons, which is found directly below, is from Silver Ravenwolf's book To Ride A Silver Broomstick, and consists simply of month and moon names.



Wolf Moon - January

Storm Moon - February

Chaste Moon - March

Seed Moon - April

Hare Moon - May

Dyad (pair) Moon - June

Mead Moon - July

Wyrt (green plant) Moon - August

Barley Moon - September

Blood Moon - October

Snow Moon - November

Oak Moon - December

Blue Moon - variable

The Wheel Of The Year *Sabbats*

The Wheel of the Year is the cycle of seasons continuously turning from birth to rebirth again and again. With our spiritual awakening and growth we learn about these cyclic paths start to see the patterns in life itself. Sabbats mark actual events in Nature which are associated with the changes of the seasons. These natural energies of the Earth help keep us in tune with those cyclic changes.


The Goddess and God travel the Wheel of the Year repeating the God’s cyclic story of His birth, life, and death. The following is a quick tour:

*Yule - The Goddess gives birth to the God and rests from Her labor

*Imbolc – The Goddess recovers from giving birth and the God is a small boy

*Ostara - The God is seen as a growing youth

*Beltainne - The God has reached manhood, falls in love with the Goddess, they unite helping the earth to burst forth with life and new growth producing Nature’s bounty. The Goddess is impregnated by the God

*Litha - Both the God and Goddess are at the peak of their strength and powers

*Lughnassadh - The first harvest and the God begins to weaken

*Mabon - The second harvest, and the God is coming to his end

*Samhain - The God dies, only to be reborn again at Yule There are Eight Sabbats in a year; each represented by their own meanings, associations, and celebrations. They are divided into two categories: The Minor or Lesser Sabbats and the Major or Greater Sabbats, with them alternating approximately 45 days apart from each other, making up the Wheel of the Year as you will see in the diagram on the next page.


Quartering the Year: The Greater & Lesser Sabbats

The Lesser or Minor Sabbats occur at the Quarters of the Year:

* Yule / Winter Solstice

* Ostara / Spring Equinox

* Litha / Summer Solstice

* Mabon / Autumn Equinox

The Greater or Major Sabbats - occur at the Cross Quarters of the Year, the midpoints between Solstice and Equinox. They mark the turning of seasons and are considered very powerful days in and of themselves. Midpoints are times of great power just as in Nature most creatures reach their peak of strength in the middle of their lives.

*Imbolc/Candlemas

*Beltainne

*Lughnassadh/Lammas

*Samhain

We will begin with Yule because it is the first seasonal holiday that falls after Samhain (the Witch’s New Year).

Yule [pronounced YOOL] or Winter Solstice (c. December 21)
Is a Lesser Sabbat and the shortest day of the year and celebrates the passing of the longest night and the return of the Sun’s Power. The Goddess gives birth to her Son, the God who is reborn once again and symbolizes the Sun. Wiccans light fires, candles, Yule logs to celebrate the return journey and welcoming the Sun’s returning light, warmth, and the life it will bring. Yule is a reminder that death is followed by rebirth.

Imbolc [pronounced IM-bolk] or Candlemas (February 2)
Is a Greater Sabbat and celebrates the early stirrings of Spring awakening the Goddess with the lengthening of daylight as the child-like God’s strength is increasing. The Sun’s warmth fertilizes the Earth (the Goddess) causing seeds to sprout. It is a time that welcomes the change from old to new, of purification, inspiration, and creativity. Wiccans traditionally used this time for initiations and dedications along with celebrating the festival of Brigid with bonfires, candles and blazing cauldrons.

Ostara [pronounced oh-STAR-ah] or Spring Equinox (c. March 21)
Is a Lesser Sabbat and marks the first day of Spring. It represents the warrior aspect of the god in the Caledonii Tradition. A festival of fertility and a celebration of the sacred balance between the day and night. Regaining her strength fully the Goddess envelops the Earth with fertility and the young God continues to mature with the daylight overtaking the nights darkness. Eggs are colored and placed on altars as magickal talismans. Ostara begins the journey of stored energy bursting into fruition with the focus of renewal, expansion, planting opportunities for the future, and the return of the Sun’s life-giving warmth.

Beltainne [pronounced BEL-tayne] or Mayday (May 1)
Is a Greater Sabbat and a time when the cares and fears of Winter are shed giving way to youthful lustiness, playfulness, and sexuality. It is the celebration of the Earth’s awakening as fires were lit on hilltops in order to bring the Sun’s light down to the Earth, the walking between two bonfires to ensure fertility. People dancing around maypoles which symbolically represents the union between the Goddess and the God creating a sacred circle of abundance. The young God is stirred by the exuberant energy and emerges into manhood. He desires the Goddess, they unite in a handfasting and once again in love the Goddess becomes pregnant ensuring life after the harvest.

Litha [pronounced LEE-tha] or Summer Solstice (c. June 21)
Is a Lesser Sabbat and marks the longest day of the year. The God and Goddess are at their peak of power, as is all of nature's bounty with all that is green and growing. The Earth is awash in the fertility of the Goddess and God. It is the high time of the Sun King in all his glory and is marked with festivals of fire. In the past, bonfires were leapt to encourage fertility, purification, health, and love. Litha is a classic time to perform love and healing magick..

Lughnassadh [pronounced LOO-nas-ah] or Lammas (August 1)
A Greater Sabbat which is the beginning of the first fall harvest, the day the first grains are cut. This Sabbat gets its name from the Celtic God Lugh, who is associated with the nighttime hours lengthen, the God begins to lose his strength and becomes the God of sacrifice. The Goddess watches with sorrow as he is dying but with joy knowing she has her child inside her, who will be reborn at Yule. Lughnassadh is a time of giving thanks for what we have and making offerings of gratitude.

Mabon [pronounced MAY-bon] or Autumn Equinox (c. September 21)
One of the Lesser Sabbats and where once again day and night are of equal duration. It is the second harvest festival and is associated with the taking of corn and other last fruits of the year. The God prepares to take His journey into the unseen, towards his death at Samhain, and the Goddess is beginning to mourn his loss. Yet She feels the presence of the God burning within her womb as she watches his weakening. This is the completion of the harvest begun at Lughnassadh, as the fields are cleared of their bounty and Nature draws back, readying for winter and its time of rest.

Samhain [pronounced SOW-wen or sah-VEEN] (October 31)
Is a Greater Sabbat and considered the Witches’ New Year, representing one full turn of the seasonal year. Samhain literally means “summer’s end” and is the last of the three harvest Sabbats. It marks the death of the God and the starting of a new year. This celebration honors those that have died and crossed over. A “dumb” supper is often celebrated to honor the dead in which a place at the table is set in honor for those who have passed over and the meal is eaten in total silence. The veil between the worlds of life and death is said to be thin on this night. It was believed the worlds of the living and the dead merged on this day and it was in order to maintain peace between the two worlds that most of our Halloween traditions evolved such as trick or treat. Samhain is a religious time of fasting, reflection, meditation and prayer, looking back over the last year, coming to terms with death, and honoring ancestors.

Persephone, Greek Goddess

of Innocence and Receptivity and Queen of the Underworld

Persephone, a Greek goddess known in her childhood by the name Kore (or Cora, meaning young maiden), was the only child of the union of Demeter (goddess of the bountiful harvest) and Zeus, the mighty king of the Olympians. The Greek goddess Persephone was born when Demeter was Zeus' consort, long before his marriage to the goddess Hera. By all accounts Persephone had an idyllic childhood, raised by her nurturing mother and played with her father's other daughters, the Greek goddesses Athena and Aphrodite. Always a cheerful and compliant child, the little goddess Persephone was a parent's dream.

According to Greek mythology Persephone's life was soon to change. As signs of womanly beauty began to shine along side her childlike innocence, the adolescent goddess Persephone unwittingly attracted the attention of the Greek god Hades, brother of Zeus and ruler of the underworld. One can hardly blame Hades because the underworld, in Greek mythology, was the realm of the sleeping and the dead. It probably needed some "brightening up", and the young goddess Persephone's radiance would assuredly liven up the place.

The god Hades, however, did not bother to woo the young Persephone, traditional goddess protocol notwithstanding. After asking for (and receiving) her father's approval for Persephone's hand in marriage, Hades simply abducted her one bright sunny day when she stooped to pluck a narcissus from a field of wildflowers near her home. The meadow was suddenly rent open, and Hades simply reached out and snatched Persephone away, taking her to his underworld kingdom and making her his queen. Although the young goddess Persephone grew to love Hades, she remained lonely for her mother and the life she'd known on earth.

Her mother, the goddess Demeter, had heard Persephone's screams when Hades grabbed her. She began an intensive search for Persephone. After learning how Zeus had betrayed their daughter, and consumed by grief and sorrow, Demeter demonstrated her outrage by withholding her blessing from the earth until Persephone was returned to her. Droughts ensued, and the earth lay barren. Mankind was facing a major famine. Zeus finally relented and sent the god Hermes to bring the young goddess Persephone back to her mother.

Part of Persephone missed her mother horribly, but another part had grown rather fond of the god Hades. And Persephone was rather enjoying her role as Queen, even if it was in the underworld. While preparing to return to the earth with Hermes, Persephone accepted a pomegranate offered to her by Hades. She knew full well that anyone who had eaten while in the underworld would not be allowed to return, even a goddess -- Persephone went ahead and ate seven of the seeds. Her choice prevented her from ever being fully restored to Demeter, but did open up the possibility of a compromise. Hermes was able to negotiate an agreement on her behalf between Hades, a god who was usually rather cold-natured and self-centered, and Demeter. Persephone would be allowed to stay with Hades in the underworld for four months each year (winter) and would return to the earth and her mother the remaining months. The goddess Persephone was soon reunited joyfully with her mother. Each year as Persephone left to join her husband in the underworld, Greek mythology tells us that the goddess Demeter would begin to grieve, bringing on the cold, barren winters. But a few months later Persephone, the goddess associated with awakening, would return to bring spring and its verdant growth in her wake . . . thus were the seasons established.

Not that the goddess Persephone sloughed off any of her responsibilities as the Queen of the Underworld . Apparently Persephone didn't spend all her time "going home to momma". Having made the decision to consume the seeds of the pomegranate while in the underworld, Persephone managed to somehow always be there when others came visiting, ready to receive them into the underworld and to serve as their hostess and guide.

The goddess Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, was willing to help Psyche pass Aphrodite's tests so that Psyche could be reunited with her beloved husband. Psyche had been assigned to go to the underworld and return with some of Persephone's famous youth serum/beauty ointment (actually it was a sleeping potion, but hey, we all know what a bad night's sleep can do to our appearance!) While Psyche was in the underworld, she found Persephone to be both a gracious and generous hostess.

The Greek goddess Persephone also helped Heracles (Hercules), loaning him Cerberus, the ferocious three-headed dog that guarded the entrance of the underworld, so that he could complete the Twelve Labors he'd been assigned to make retribution for the death of his wife. The goddess Persephone was also at home in the underworld when Odysseus (Ulysses) arrived. She rewarded him with a legendary tour of the souls of women of great renown.

In another intriguing story, the Greek goddess Persephone agreed to hide Adonis, a mortal youth who was Aphrodite's lover, from Aphrodite's suspicious husband. But upon seeing the beautiful Adonis, Persephone, receptive goddess that she was, also fell for his charms and refused to give him back to Aphrodite. (Remember, these Greek goddesses were the original "wild women", refusing to yield to convention!)

Eventually, Zeus had to step in to settle the argument. He ruled that Adonis should spend a third of the year with each of the goddesses, Persephone and Aphrodite, and be left to his own pursuits the remainder of the year. Unfortunately, Adonis chose to spend his free time hunting and was killed in a hunting accident a few years later.

The Greek goddess Persephone represents both the youthful, innocent, and joyous maiden aspect of a woman as well as the more womanly self who, innocence lost and family attachments loosened, can begin to consciously decide for herself.

In Greek mythology Persephone, goddess of the soul, is the possessor of its dark and frightening wisdom. But the goddess Persephone is also the harbinger of spring . . . and a reminder of all the growth and hope that it brings.

Meditations to Invoke the Goddess Persephone

• Persephone, help me give full attention to the moment I am in so that I do not miss valuable opportunities that come my way.

   Persephone, teach me to not be too critical of myself when I seem to lack initiative and discipline.

• Support me, Persephone, so that I can be more supportive, good-natured, and receptive to others.

• Great Goddess, remind me that my value does not depend solely on compromising just to please other people.

• Persephone, help me to accept others as they are.

• Goddess, let me be a loving and forgiving person.

• Today is my chance to be healthy and happy.

• Great Goddess, I give myself credit for knowing what is best for me.

• Persephone, lend me your ability to experience joy in life, greeting each day knowing that my life is full of amazingly wonderful surprises.

• I allow myself to march to the beat of a "different drummer", not always trying to remake myself into somebody that I think is what others expect and want of me.

• Persephone, teach me how to trust my intuitions and follow my own path.

• Help me remember that the times of greatest sorrow also lead to the moments of greatest growth.

• Persephone, lend me your ability to sense an invisible spirit present in the world, and allow me to stay connected to my past while my life undergoes changes and upheavals.

Ostara / Spring Equinox

With Ostara coming up next month on March 20th. I thought I would put up a few post to honnor this Sabbott.

History….Germanic dawn deity meaning is “The month of beginnings or the month of openings. Light and dark are equal at this time, but the light is steadily growing stronger. The goddess Eostre mention to be connected with spring equinox is an Old English goddess. Red colored eggs have been used at spring equinox as far back as the Mesopotamian cultures. Red is the color of blood and life, while the egg itself represents birth and regeneration. Ostara begins the journey of stored energy bursting into fruition with focus of renewal, expansion, planting opportunities for the future, and the return of the Sun’s life giving warmth. This is the time of spring's return; the joyful time, the seed time, when life bursts forth from the earth and the chains of winter are broken. Mother Earth has moved closer to the sun beginning to warm the great womb of the Goddess. She is no longer the Crone but has turned from Crone to Maiden and all of life is fresh and new. The grass is starting to green up and trees are sprouting out. The earth has awakened from Her slumber. This is the time when the Goddess Hecate returns to the underworld and Persephone returns to Demeter. Light and dark are equal. It is a time of balance, when all the elements within us must be brought into a new harmony. Now is the time to see how well our own souls are balanced and to plant those things that we are lacking in ourselves. It is a time to look within our hearts to see the empty spaces to be filled.


Primary ritual focus…Fertility, sunrise ceremonies, offerings to the goddess of spring

Poplar mythos…Return of the goddess, Persephone, from the underworld

Planetary ruler…Mars

Magickal Ideas for rituals….

 Color and empower eggs for health, wealth, and prosperity

 Celebrate the return of the goddess by conjuring potted plants and giving them to friends and loved ones

 Incorporate chocolate into your ritual

 Review the items your magickal cabinet or box and replace what is needed empower the supplies during the ritual

 Bless seeds for the garden

 Hold your ritual at dawn

Candles: Gold, green, yellow, peach, pastel colors.

Gemstones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, red jasper.

Incense: African violet, jasmine, rose, sage, strawberry.

Ritual herbs: Acorn, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, lily, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, rose, strawberry, tansy and violets.

"Define Humility and Compassion. Define what it means to "Walk your Talk"

Humility defined means: The quality or condition of being humble. It is the lack of vanity or self-importance. Humble: that which is abject, ignoble, or of poor condition, as we ordinarily say, not worth much. We refer to someone’s dwelling as “humble,” or we say that someone is of “humble” birth. The Latin root of humility, humilis, means lowly, humble. Humility is a state or quality of being humble of mind or spirit; also an absence of pride or self-assertion. It can be a way of being that we choose for ourselves.


Let’s look at humility in a higher and ethical sense. It is that by which a person has a modest estimate of his or her own worth, and submits him/her self to others. Humility is truly the mother of all virtues. It makes us a vessel, a vehicle, an agent instead of ‘the source’ or the principal. It unleashes all other learning, all growth and process. If we are humble then divinity can use us in this way to impart guidance or counsel to others. If someone comes to ask us about the path we are on, then we as a vessel can give the knowledge forward, not as the source of that knowledge but as a guide to the knowledge we hold. Also as a vessel we are the “holder” of our beliefs. Humility allows us to “hold” our beliefs to ourselves while we respect the beliefs of others.

Humility as a continuous condition is rare. Most of us are busy vying for position in life. We compare our talents and accomplishments and possessions to the Joneses. We aspire not to be so much the best that we can be — what we are called to be — as we do to be better than others. And in so doing, at times we are forced to eat humble pie. None of us tolerate others very well who are prideful. We have to face our own limitations and the fact that many others have greater abilities or have achieved greater heights. We may suffer humiliation. Humiliate, from the same root as humility, is what others do to us to lower our pride or dignity, to cause us to seem foolish or contemptible.

Compassion is the deep awareness of the suffering of another joined with the wish to relieve it. If we join compassion with humility then compassion can drive us in to action. Being humble allows us to act in compassion for others. If we meet someone who has a broken spirit, who is in need of a friend, then compassion drives us to listen, to lend guidance, to help him or her mend. “Walking your talk,” means utilizing compassion and humility. One could give lip service to his or her path. I, for example, could say “ I am Wiccan, I believe that I should ‘harm none.’ I believe that I am responsible for all of my own actions and therefore I should act and furthermore think my thoughts carefully.” It is quite an undertaking to actually do these things as opposed to stating them. Walking your talk means that one should let their actions speak in lieu of words. One should not be different in his/her actions and words. “Walk your talk” could also be phrased as “Live your talk.” Using compassion and humility we should attempt to be non-judgmental, to love unconditionally, to honor all that exists. Then our challenge is to express this each moment of the day with all that we encounter.

Express, not preach. Be an example. Let others observe you and gain understanding from that observation. For you can be sure, your behavior and attitude will be noticed and people will begin to be drawn to you because of the example you set. It is useless to “talk” our path if we do not “walk” it. It misleads others at first, into thinking that we are somewhere along our path that we are not. Then when the time comes to put our beliefs into action we will find ourselves at a loss, wondering what to do or how to handle any difficult situation. If we talk our path more than we walk it, and someone happens to need our counsel or just plain needs our help, then we will find that we are in no position spiritually to help that person.

Integrity defined means: the quality of being complete or undivided. Integrity in walking our talk is not always easy to sustain. There are a few things that we can practice to preserve integrity as we walk our talk. When we feel compelled to judge, we should remember humility and compassion. We should try to see both sides of a situation or place ourselves in the shoes of the person before we conclude any judgments. Always be slow to judge. We should be 100% honest. We should first and foremost be honest with ourselves. We should not deny to ourselves that something is not hindering us in walking our talk if it really and truly does. We should be honest with others. To be otherwise is a sacrifice of our integrity. We should “take responsibility for our own actions.” If we make excuses for our actions then we rob ourselves of humility and integrity. We should “live and love” by our values. Our Values make up a huge part of our path. If we do something that goes against our values in the name of convenience or in the name of pleasing another, then again we have sacrificed our integrity. We have become divided. We can preserve our integrity and humbleness by learning to say no. We should say no to that or those who limit our ability to live by our values. Sometimes we may find ourselves in situations that seem to force us to hide our values. But as a friend of mine so eloquently put it, “if we apply the values of our path to our life daily, then we will sooner or later emerge from those situations that limit our spirituality.”

In conclusion, when we “walk our talk,” our life is a message. Our actions are the values that we are broadcasting to others. We should always focus to align our actions with our beliefs, realizing always that even the smallest seemingly unimportant gesture could be sending out a message to others. In walking our talk, we will find happiness and fundamental worth to our personality. We will find a sense of fulfillment at each level or stage of spiritual growth in our lives.

Shielding

A shield is a bubble of energy that works like a window screen. It filters energy that moves through it and defends against other’s negative energy. It also prevents people with psychic abilities from using them with you. Shields help empathy keep others’ emotions separate from their own.


Creation

Begin by clearly thinking through your purpose for the shield. Why do you want a shield? What exactly do you want it to do? Will it keep out all energy, or just bad energy? Will it be temporary, or will it be permanent? Will it only be defensive, or will it attack in response to negative energy. Once you have clear intent, begin drawing energy and swirling it around you. Picture the energy as anything you wish. Common visualizations are soap bubbles, waterfalls, balls of light, fire, trees/vines, crystals, feathered wings or fur, tank metal, and armor. Choose an image that you enjoy thinking about that isn’t cramped or heavy. Swirl the energy around you. When you feel the shield is strong enough, let go. It will maintain itself with whatever purpose you gave it as you created it. If the shield depletes over time, repeat it or add more energy.


Effects

A shield can have many effects, alone or in combination. A shield can keep energy on one side or the other, or act as a filter to allow only certain energy inside. It can convert energy from one form to another so that a filter is unnecessary. Shields help empaths keep out some of the extra emotional energy so they don’t feel overwhelmed. Shields can also define boundaries in a physical world, which people will usually not cross. Often they won’t even realize why they stopped there. The edge of a shield works as a psychic alarm. When someone physically crosses it, the shield gives the owner a psychic warning that someone is nearby. Shields cause any effects you intend them to have when you create them. Just like any psychic ability, energy follows thought. Whatever you think about when you create the shield affects how it is created. Shield effects are not at all limited to what is listed here, anything you can think of, you can do.

Maintenance

Stress sometimes interferes with maintaining a shield. Under normal circumstances, a shield maintains itself for quite a while. However, large amounts of negative energy, attacks, illness, and lack of sleep all weaken a shield.

Daily Stress

Daily stress is the most common difficulty with shielding. While a shield often prevents psychic energy from adding to the stress, eventually the shield weakens. More rest, planned time alone, meditation, and avoiding stress are the best cures. Daily or weekly meditation replenishes a drained shield and helps relax you.

Empathetic Overload

Empathic overload is similar to, but can be more intense than, normal stress. Large crowds, schools, and cities are filled with intense emotional energy. Empaths who are particularly sensitive to this learn to build very strong shields to keep other people’s emotions separate from their own. The first few days of an emotionally intense environment can be particularly tiring if the empath has not yet made a strong enough shield. Meditation and self-examination are important to protect from the empathic pounding of emotionally intense environments. Meditation helps relieve the stress and emotional energy in a controlled way. It also gives time to identify the difference between empathic emotions and personal emotions. By identifying yourself carefully (especially emotionally), you add an extra layer to the shield which defines “self” and “other”. This helps external emotions bounce off harmlessly.

Tools of the Trade

Altar – A table or other flat surface used for ceremonial purposes and magickal workings.

Athame - A consecrated ceremonial knife used in ritual works by Wiccans and witches. Often made of Iron or Steel with a white or black handle of natural material. Some feel it should have no sharp edge as it is not used for cutting in the material planes. This knife should never have cut flesh and is never used for bloodletting.

Bolline - A curved white handled knife. Often used in non ceremonial magick and “Kitchen Witchery”. Used for practical magickal applications, such as, harvesting herbs, to cut a stick for a wand or to inscribe on candles. This blade has a sharp edge and is used for cutting on the
physical plane.

Book Of Shadows (BOS) – A journal of your personal magickal works and works of others you have been fortunate enough to have had them share with you. It is a reference book of your and others magickal work. This is an item rarely shared with others and is often kept hidden and is consecrated when one is begun.

Broom - A consecrated broom used for ritually cleansing the sacred or ritual space.

Cauldron – An iron pot with three legs. Represents the Cauldron of Rebirth and is most often kept in the south portion of the altar, symbolic of Fire. Is often used to hold charcoal or candles. Can be a very powerful ritual tool.

Cup or Chalice – Any container used for holding water or wine. This tool is most frequently kept in the west portion of the altar, symbolic of Water. Used in the symbolic Great Rite in combination with the athame. “As the Rod is to the God, So is the Chalice to the Goddess.” It represents feminine energies and is similar to the cauldron, but both have very different functions.

Pentacle – A five pointed star surrounded by a circle. It represents the elements Earth, Air, Fire Water and Spirit. It is worn by most witches as a symbol of their beliefs. It is represented on the altar in the north, symbolic of Earth. It is a very potent protective symbol.

Wand - A short rod made of wood or copper. Can truly be made from any material so long as it holds meaning for the Witch. Can be tipped with crystals or stones, decorated or painted or left plain, depending on the witch involved or the use of the wand. Some are made for general use, while others are made for very specific purposes. It is represented in the East on the altar, symbolic of Air.

These are but a few of the basic tools and their uses. There are many other tools used by witches.
Crystal balls, staffs and stangs, mirrors and runes. Even bowls of water. Salt and sand, candles
and stones. Many tools have many different uses. Remember that tools are implements to help
you focus you energy. YOU are the one who raises the power, not the tool. A hammer does not
build a house, the carpenter wielding it does. But, the carpenters hammer is how he makes his
way in life, and most tradesmen I know do not treat their tools with disrespect, even something as mundane as a hammer. The tools of the Craft need to be treated with the same respect. Many witches have MANY tools, but most use all of them rarely. The tool is merely an object of focus.

What is a Book of Shadows (BOS)

A book of shadows, also known as a Grimoire, is a personal compilation of spells, thoughts and feelings gathered by wizards and witches. As a collection of knowledge, the book of shadows was passed down from generation to generation of witches and warlocks. In Wicca and Paganism, it's traditional to create a Book of Shadows, which is a notebook containing information regarding your tradition, gods and goddesses, correspondence tables, sabbat and esbat rites and rituals, magical recipes, and more. Making my book of shadows was one of the first magical projects I had ever done. It is one of the most important items you have in the craft and great care should be made when making yours.

The book is ideal for keeping secret notes, spells you have performed, deities, the sabots, or any other information you would like to record. There is no right or wrong way to fashion your book as it is highly subjective to your taste. You may decide to create more than one book; some make one for different subjects. You can collect your information in a leather bound book or in a simple three-ring binder from a local stationery store. On the inside cover, it is customary to inscribe a book dedication to someone or something. You can simply declare the book to whichever Deity inspires you in your search for truth. You can proclaim that your intentions are honorable and you will work against none. You can also inscribe a spell to protect your BOS. I used the witch’s alphabet to inscribe my books protection spell. One meaningful aspect about keeping a book of shadows is to write it by hand. It helps witches to better absorb the details of their spells. Some do keep their BOS in an electronic file, but if you do I would recommend keeping it stored on an external device in case your computer crashes.

The Content

To start you off and to get you into the mood, jot down the research and history of your journey. Give details of your adventure: why you started, who influenced you, what you noticed, and so on, so forth. Include your thoughts on color, moon phases, astrological signs, symbols, and describe the set-up of your altar.

Separate your book of shadows into sections if you wish. For example, a section can hold your spells, while another can be for your potions and recipes (for documenting the cakes and ale and other ingredients of your potions.) A third part could contain the historical information and studies of lore, or this is where some may make separate books instead.

When casting your spells, keep track of the ingredients in your potions, the phase of the moon, the time of day, and other factors that will affect your spell. Once the spell has been cast, write in the result and any improvements you might want to include.

Your book of shadows will flourish with you as you continue studying and learning about magick. Whether you decide to share it and pass it on to others, or choose to keep it for your eyes only, is entirely up to you.


To make your own BOS You will need:

A hard cover journal, diary or hard cover loose-leaf notebook (in which case you won’t need the baggie)

Baggie that will fit just the pages of your book

A large brown paper bag

Some ribbon

Decoupage or glue thinned down.

Black paint and a small paint brush

Old plastic bowel

Optional: Any special stones, jewelry pieces, pressed leaves or flowers

Step 1: rip up your brown paper bag into 2 inch pieces and crumple each piece up.

Step 2: gather an old bowl or plastic bowl that you can toss after the project and place decoupage or glue in it.

Step 3: place only the pages of your book inside the baggie. This is to protect the pages while you work on the cover.

Step 4: undo the crumpled pieces of paper and flatten, leaving it looking wrinkled.

Step 5: Cut 3 strands of ribbon 2 inches longer than the book and use some glue and glue these ribbons to the binder of the book. It’s ok that it is on the outside it will be covered over with the paper. Let dry.

Step 6: place the brown paper pieces into the bowl and cover both sides of paper with glue and place on your cover. Continue doing this, overlapping each piece until you cover the entire cover and wrap around to the inside of your cover. Let dry. Do the same thing to the back cover and side binder the same way covering the glued pieces of ribbon. Leave the rest of the ribbon away from the glued book until dry. (The ribbons will act as bookmarks when you’re finished.)

Step 7: In the witch’s alphabet write you can write “Book of Shadows” with your paint, Remove baggie from pages once the glue dries. You can glue stones and bits of jewelry to decorate the outside of the book or find a picture that is special to you and decoupage in the center of the book

Grounding And Centering

"Grounding and centering" is a visualization and meditation exercise you can use to focus yourself on the  present and learn to feel more whole, more aware. Try it whenever you are stressed, worried, or nervous. The image of a tree evokes feelings of stability and connectedness for many people. This may take some practice, but with diligence you may find that this exercise helps you.


Some Wiccan teachers require that the student ground and center before and after any magickal or ritual practice, where others require grounding and centering only after the work. The act of grounding and centering itself can take only a few moments or flourish into a full meditation. These practices become easier each time you use them, and will enhance and strengthen your psychic and magickal abilities. There is an added benefit to learning grounding and centering - anytime anyone treats you unfairly, or you lose your cool, or you feel that you are disconnected and lost, floating in this big Universe all by yourself, practice the technique. It is easier to learn grounding and centering by going outside the first few times.

To Ground and Center: Sit in a chair with your feet on the ground to begin. Choose a quiet place without disturbances. As you practice this exercise, you can perform it anywhere.Take slow deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth three times. Close your eyes. Imagine your breath pushing down through the base of your spine, through your feet, like a tree pushing down its roots. Imagine those roots pushing down through the floor and into the soil below. Imagine they can feel something in the quality of the earth, what grows there, and how healthy it is. Push down through the waters under the soil, down through the bedrock, and down into the center. If there's still any tension or fear, let that go through your "roots". For some people, imagining that there is a fire at the center of the Earth and throwing negative feelings into the fire helps to make those feelings dissipate. Imagine you can draw some of that fire up. Feel it as the earth's living creative energy, and bring it up through the rock and the water and the soil. Bring it into your legs and feet, like a tree's roots would draw up water and nutrients. Bring it up your spine and imagine your spine growing like a tree trunk, reaching up to the sky. Bring some fire into your heart, into any place inside you that needs healing or extra energy. As you imagine the growth and energy flowing into you, raise and open your posture and re-focus on your breath. Direct the energy up through your arms and out of your hands, up through your neck and throat and out the top of your head. Visualize branches of energy that reach up to the sky, and let them spread around you and reach back down to touch the earth, creating a protective filter around you. Take a moment, look at that energy web, and notice if there are any places that need to be repaired or strengthened. Send energy in that direction. Now open your eyes. Look around you. How do you feel? Relaxed? Revitalized? More attentive?

"Whatsoever ye put out will return to thee, multiplied times three."

Now that brings us to the Threefold law or the Law of returns. This is a natural effect and like gravity can't be ignored, or wished away. Whenever we do something, or say something, or conjure something, we send out energy whether good (not causing harm) or bad (causing harm) and this energy affects the whole. We cannot separate ourselves from the world we live in, our actions will come back to haunt us. And this provides the natural reason as it were to abide by the Rede; for doing harm will come back to harm us, and doing good will come back to help us. Wicca is a religion of personal responsibility. We are responsible for our actions, and we will pay the consequences not far away in some mystical land, but here and now, and because of this we must ever strive to make our actions correct and for the good of all. In all things, we must ever consider the consequences and strive to work with Nature and with the Goddess, for the good of all, to preserve the balance and to send out positive healing energy.

"An it harm none, do as ye will."

Wicca is an ethical religion. A VERY ethical religion. And to make things more interesting, the decisions about what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad are left up to the individual. Wicca has no code of laws, no ten commandments, no rules of conduct, just one piece of advice and a principle of return.

If it harm none, do as ye will.

The core of this statement is the word harm. What is harm? Harm is a vague word; it could mean any injury however slight, or a major injury under a specific context. The degree of injury in the word harm must come to us from the context it is used in, but in the Rede we have very little context, so what constitutes harm? This is the bit that you have to think about, use some common sense and intuition. The following is my definition of harm and the reasoning I used to arrive at it, but please, please do not take my word for it...in this most crucial aspect of Wicca you must form your own conclusions based on your own reasoning and moral sensibilities.

It is not physically possible to live without causing some small injury to someone or something. For instance: if you brush your teeth, you are causing harm to the bacteria that live on them. If you take antibiotics to cure an infection, you are causing more harm to bacteria. Not to mention that you can't possibly eat anything... whatever you might eat, plant or animal, is harmed by your Ingestion. So using common sense and Goddess given wisdom, we see that this is not the type of harm that is meant by the Rede. So we are back to the question...what constitutes harm. Well to answer this I turned to Nature. What is Nature's definition of harmful? I started first by looking to plants and animals to answer those things that might be considered harmful to someone but occur regularly in all of Nature and came up with the following.

1. It is not harm to kill and eat something to continue your existence.
2. It is not harm to defend your young from predators.
3. It is not harm to defend your body from disease and parasites.
4. It is not harm to use natural materials to construct your nest.

Okay...so far, but what if you take ALL the natural materials from an area and leave nothing for someone else to use.... Then some other concepts come into play. Moderation, necessity, and balance. When injury is caused is must be driven by necessity (to continue living, to grow, to procreate) to not be a harm. It must be confined to the specific need and no more...moderation. SO proceeding from these concepts my definition of harm goes as following: Harm is any physical, emotional, or spiritual act that destroys the natural balance or does not serve to promote life, healing, growth or enlightenment. In this perspective, it is not a violation of the Rede to remove a tumor, or brush your teeth, or eat meat, or dig up weeds. There are some injuries that are necessary to promote life, healing, growth and enlightenment, and these are not harm. With harm defined then the Rede becomes a good piece of advice...there is nothing forbidden to us, but in every act we must consider what the consequences will be, not only for ourselves but for all of Nature, so we are always striving to act correctly and for the good of all.

The Wiccan Rede(Full Version)

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.

Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,

let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.

Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,

and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.

When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.

When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.

When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's

insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.

Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.

White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.

Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.

When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.

As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.

When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.

When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Some definitions of beliefs that fall under Paganism

What is Wicca?


Wicca is a spiritual path based on a respect for Nature and the God and the Goddess. While many Western religions look for Deity from an outside source, Wicca finds the respect from within. Humans are a combination of both male and female. The Wiccan concept of Deity reflects this in the worship of both a God and Goddess. Wicca is about living in Harmony with the natural world and the cycles of life. The earth and the universe are often seen as a manifestation of God and Goddess. Wiccans strive to live with nature, not against it

.What is Shamanism?

Shaman are traditionally the Medicine People of a clan or tribe. They interpreted the seasons and omens in everyday life. They were often people of great power. They were most in tune with Nature and the force of life. They mastered shifts in awareness and gained magickal knowledge through self imposed trials. They used tools such as drums, rattles and chants to overwhelm the senses, creating a bridge between the physical world, to a realm of vaster energies. It is from these beginnings that all magick and religion arose, including Wicca. Many of the techniques in Wicca are Shamanic in origin.

What is Druidism?

The druids were a Shamanic group that arose out of the Celtic tribes of Europe. The druids organized common knowledge from other traditions and clans and passed it on, in oral tradition to serve the political, social and spiritual needs of the people. They fell into classes of Scholars and Bards and kept the records of stories and songs, myths and legends. They kept track of ancestries, prophecies, pledges, treaties, alliances and legal codes. They were responsible for educating the youth and often acted as lawyers and judges in disputes. They often recruited youth who showed promise in their teachings.

What is Norse Magick?

Norse Magick is also referred to as Odinism or Teutonic Magick. It is based on the Pantheon of Norse Gods and Goddesses. Odin, Thor and Freya being foremost in the pantheon. A Norse priest is called Godhi (go-thee) and the Priestess is called a Gydhja ( gith-ya ). Both are known by the Norse term Vikti, meaning “wise one”. Norse magick is also developing the Warrior Spirit. It is deeply family based and much of its practice involves the tenets of living well, both with nature and the gods, as well as with clan and family. It has a “Rede of Honor”, which is a set of rules by which one should live ones life. Honor and courage are requirements for this spiritual path.

What is Celtic Magick?

Celtic Magick is based on the Celtic pantheons. It is similar to both Druidism and Wicca. It is steeped in myth and legends of Faery folk and Faery Magicks. It is also a shamanic based path. Nature and the reverence of such are highly important to the Celtic Magickian. Many Celtic Practitioners have contacts with Faeries and Familiars. It also tends to lean towards the Ceremonial side of Magick.

Why Magic with a “k”?

This is to separate “magic”, which tends to be done with smoke and mirrors, and is performed by people like, David Copperfield, from “magick”, which comes from within, a Magickal Work, performed by a priest or priestess, or solitary practitioner. In a sense, it separates True Magick, from illusion.

What is Paganism?

Paganism, also called neo-Paganism, is an umbrella term that describes a variety of denominations. For example you have Christianity, which branches out into many different churches/beliefs. For example it has Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, and so on. For the most part Paganism organizes themselves and operate without a centralized religious body or a standardized dogma. While variety of belief and practice is a source of pride for Pagans, it can sometimes be a source of confusion for others. Under Paganism's umbrella are found such diverse traditions as Wicca, Shamanism, Asatru, Eclectic, Family Traditions, Celtic Traditionalism, Druidism, Strega, Santeria, Voudon, Ceremonial Magick, Mystery Traditions, solitaries, as well as a wide variety of Blended paths such as Judeopaganism, Christopaganism, Buddhistpaganism (or Easternpaganism), and so on. These traditions, while spanning many centuries and cultures, share at least one of several characteristics: they are indigenous, earth-centered, contain magickal elements, recognize both male and female deities, were suppressed or eradicated by another religion, or stress a connection to and respect for the natural world.

Beliefs we identify as fundamental to Paganism and how we interpret them are uniquely our own. We have on occasion been asked to name the most important belief or concept of Paganism. This is difficult given that there are many traditions within the denominations. However, if we could reduce Paganism down to its essentials, we believe its two most central concepts are interconnectedness and blessedness. The belief that every part of the universe is interconnected, whether "animate" or "inanimate,” we believe all are connected at deep levels that extend beyond space-time as we know it. This shapes how Pagans view the nature of the Divine, the sorts of relationships possible with the Divine and the universe, and forms the Pagan approach to prayer and magick. Paganism is a way of living, praying, and connecting to the flow of the universe.


Paganism takes the position that human beings are unflawed in their natures, are not spiritually doomed or damned, are born with all the tools and skills necessary to live ethically and spiritually, and are naturall oriented toward their own greatest growth and development. No part of Pagan belief, practice, ritual, or sacrament is designed to "save" Pagans from a flawed or corrupt nature, or to prevent punishment arising from such theoretical flaws. Pagans believe that humanity can improve itself, but Pagans do not equate the human ability to make bad choices with a imperfect nature. I believe that the concepts of interconnectedness and blessedness are what link together most of the divergent paths and traditions within Paganism. Yet they are not the only common threads Pagans share.


Pagans gather in churches, homes, or outdoors, and meet in groups that may be called, among other things, circles, covens, churches, or groves. Unlike members of some religions, however, Pagans generally do not send out missionaries, hold revivals, or try to gain converts. Most Pagans who "converted" to Paganism in the traditional sense. They became Pagans by deciding that Paganism reflected what they already believed and then adopted the word "Pagan" to describe themselves. Like other religions, Pagans have clergy who perform religious functions such as marriages and funerals. Pagans also observe a sacred year and have religious holidays and other celebrations. Most modern Pagan traditions are described as "earth-centered." Pagan holidays often fall on dates that mark the change of seasons.


Most Pagan traditions stress personal responsibility and put the burden of developing spiritual practices, beliefs, and ethics on to the individual. Even those traditions that offer established beliefs and methods encourage their members to test ideas so that members build the mental muscles necessary to judge the soundness of beliefs for themselves. Those traditions that offer established moral guidelines also tend to encourage their members to explore ethical ideas so that members can find their own ethical sense and form their consciences accordingly. With this freedom comes a corresponding responsibility; a responsibility for one's beliefs, behavior, and degree of spiritual development. On the whole, Paganism's approach to the issue of personal responsibility is very empowering for the individual.

Teachers, GOOD & BAD (Part 4 Questions)

When seeking a teacher, ask yourself these questions:

Does this person force their ideas on you, often without explanation?

Is this person controlling, manipulative, selfish, and egotistical?

Is this person constantly secretive, making you "pull" information from them?

Is this person supportive of your own spiritual growth or do they try to keep you "less than"?

Does this person claim to be a friend, but act otherwise?

Does this person expect you to "pay" for your training in the form of sex, free meals, cleaning their house, etc?

Do you feel your energy being depleted after spending time with this person?

Does this person use their abilities to instill fear in you?

Does this person constantly demean you or "test" you as a supposed measure of your progress?

Is this person genuinely interested in your well-being, or are you merely an extension of them, i.e. a means to a higher degree?

Do you feel mutual trust with this person or are you a victim of their control and manipulation?

Does this person create an answer based on ignorance to your questions to avoid having to admit they "don't know"?

Does this person claim to be a High Priest/ess but have no proof of training, group experience, or lineage? (Their status may be all in their mind.)

Does this person ask you to give up possessions or people?

Does this person float in and out of your life at will, appearing when you are useful to them and abandoning you when you are needy?

Is this a person you desire to link with, possibly for a lifetime?

Above all, does this person appear, through their actions, to be living in accordance with the Rede?

Think carefully about your answers to these questions. If the teacher does not "fit", if you experience major negativity from this person, BEWARE!

There are practitioners in the Wiccan community that have the ability to be exceptionally competent teachers. You can seek them out, or when you are ready, they will appear. TAKE HEED of this necessary message for those of you seeking a teacher! These warning signs could spare you many dark nights and much chaos. Know this, brothers and sisters, just because someone claims to be Pagan does not give them an inherent ability to teach, nor does it ensure that they are harmless. There are hypocrites in all religions and unfortunately, Wicca is no exception.

Teachers, GOOD & BAD (Part 3 The Bad)

ON THE OTHER HAND... You Should AVOID a teacher who:


- Possesses a superior attitude... If a teacher states or implies that they are the sole holder of some sort of "special" or "secret" knowledge disclosed only to a "chosen few", you really don't want to know what that may be...really.

- Excludes members of any race or culture... Bigotry of any kind has no place in spiritual circles.

- Is attacking or violent... Obviously.

- Is either overly sensitive or too insensitive... Someone who either sees slights and attacks where there are none or ignores actual tangible problems may not be in touch with "reality". Best to leave them to their own little fantasy world.

- Is ingratiating... Someone who is overly friendly and shares intimate details of their personal life with you almost immediately may be looking to "win you over." This is a real danger sign that is often overlooked. By "baring their soul", they encourage you to do the same in return. This "instant intimacy" can leave you vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. Go slowly when meeting someone new.

- Is controlling... No teacher should expect you to abandon your family and friends. Isolation from the rest of society is a classic cult activity. You should not be expected to run errands or perform tasks. Sometimes you and the teacher will work out a "fair exchange of energy" in return for training. Make sure it IS fair. If you feel like you are being taken advantage of, you probably are.

- Is continually canceling classes... This is a classic indication that they simple have your money and no longer care about fulfilling the deal. If they are postponing classes until several months from now, you may have a real problem on your hands.

- Belittles you or uses you as an "example"... You deserve to be treated with respect even if you are a novice. No teacher has the right to strip you of your self-esteem. You should not be bullied into doing something that makes you uncomfortable or that you do not understand. On the other hand, being held up to others as the "teacher's pet" is also incorrect and this teacher may be setting you up for something that you may not want to become involved in.

- Has few or no "elders" in their group... "Where are the people who have been trained before me?" is a good question to ask. Perhaps they DID mature and move on... or perhaps they just ran screaming from the room!!...It pays to check. Talk to anyone you can find who has trained with this teacher before.

- Wants a lot of money up front... You should be able to get a class schedule or other outline of what the training will consist of BEFORE you sign up. Look it over carefully and ask questions. If the information seems to be no more than what you can get free from books or by talking with other Witches, it may not be a good value. Degrees and titles are earned; they are not bought...or sold.

- Has assistants; cohorts or senior students who you are expected to obey... Some groups do have a system of 'elders" who deserve respect. However, you are not obligated to accept anyone simply based on his or her "rank" within a group. If the teacher has an "entourage" which follows them everywhere and seems to "cater" to this teacher's every whim, watch carefully. You may end up being the next "groupie."

- Is overly idealistic and impractical... If this teacher has marvelous plans for the world-and especially if they tell YOU that you will be a part of this grand scheme-but he/she cannot balance their checkbook, take care of their children or hold onto a job, you want to leave now. You may end up not only shoring up these "dream castles"; you may end up supporting this person financially and emotionally. Witchcraft is a Path of personal responsibility and a teacher should be able to manifest this in his or her own lives.

- Exhibits any of these characteristics... lying, sexual misconduct, theft, physical violence or abuse.

"Thus the wise man residing in the Tao sets an example for all beings. Because he does not display himself, people can see his light. Because he has nothing to prove, people can trust his words. Because he doesn't know who he is, * people recognize themselves in him. Because he has no goal (secret personal agenda) in mind, everything he does succeeds." *(Meaning he does not set him/herself above anyone.) -Tao Te Ching

Note: Some "famous" teachers of the Craft utilize an incredible "Natural Charisma" to get your money or to pray on your spiritual innocence for their own self-serving needs. Don't let their glitter get in your eyes! Seriously consider the fact that you could very well be talking "Cult Leader" behavior. Do know that their fame buys them ZERO special privileges and that they must measure up to fundamental ethical standards of the craft, everyday in every way.

Teachers, GOOD & BAD (Part 2 Good Teacher)

A GOOD TEACHER... generally:


- Has a sense of humor... Humans do silly things sometimes, and a sense of humor can help keep things in perspective. A good teacher will help you laugh at yourself (and them!) but will not hold you up to ridicule.

- Has respect for all living things... One needn't be a vegetarian to care about the lives and welfare of animals. Environmental concerns are also important as Neo-Paganism is a "nature or earth-based" religious Path. Abuse of any living thing is pretty much a "no-no".

- Has a healthy self image... A teacher who realizes that he or she can learn just as much from a novice as the novice may learn from the teacher is probably comfortable in what they know, yet open to new ideas and concepts.

- Is kind and compassionate... This doesn't mean that you will not be challenged or have to work hard, but it does mean that your honest efforts will be met with encouragement and gentle guidance. A good teacher will not "look down his or her nose" at your sincere attempts; they realize that experience is necessary to gaining knowledge.

- Tells the truth and is direct... This means that you will not be led astray either by one who is afraid to confront you when you are heading in a wrong direction or by one who seeks to manipulate you for unspoken ends. They call a spade a spade and want you to do the same. They 'walk their talk" and do not have a separate code of conduct for themselves while expecting you to follow another.

- Is able to teach by example... The good teacher will often tell stories of the time that they really 'screwed up". They also can tell you about their successes and failures and do so-neither making excuses nor being overly melodramatic about their experiences. They can offer practical examples and show applications of such examples clearly. They are not "mysterious" so much as they demonstrate the "mysteries" in simple ways to help you understand them.

- Has a global point of view... Local "gurus' may only be interested in making a name or creating a following for themselves. A good teacher will encourage their students to reach beyond the local area and embrace the rest of the world community.

- Is inclusive rather than exclusive in attitude... Anyone who promotes an "us vs. them" is dangerously close to becoming a cult leader. There are real forces out there to contend with, but a teacher who finds an enemy around every corner should be avoided.

- Allows for mistakes and admits that he/she is not perfect... "We are all in this together" is a good statement to hear from a teacher that you are considering working with.

- Is flexible, yet honors commitments... Too rigid a set of rules and regulations stifles energy flow and the learning experience. Too random a training program may also interfere in the discipline required for growth. A balance between the two is best.

- Encourages you to do your own research and ask questions... A good teacher wants you to discover and explore new ideas. A good book list should be included in any training program. You should be able to disagree with a teacher without being censored or reprimanded. (A well thought out concept should be "thought provoking" however and not just "provoking".).

- Gives credit where credit is due... A teacher who is using references or techniques from other sources should plainly state this fact. The use other people's work without credit is theft, plain and simple.

- Listens more than talks... A good teacher is genuinely interested in your thoughts, feelings and opinions. Feedback is one way that a teacher can tell how you are absorbing and integrating the materials and lessons. Someone who talks all the time about his/her experiences is more interested in impressing you with their personal knowledge than helping you to acquire knowledge of your own.

- Wants you to mature and move on... A good teacher wants his or her students to surpass them. That is the greatest compliment that a teacher can receive. Just as a good parent wants to send mature and well balanced children out into the world, so does a good spiritual teacher want their "children" to grow up and leave home.

Teachers, GOOD & BAD (Part 1)

The Many Ways to Pass along the Knowledge by Wren Walker of The Witches' Voice
There are all kinds of people out there today tho may call themselves "teachers" or "experts" in Witchcraft and Wicca. Some advertise in New Age shops and publications or over the Internet. Some are well known local personalities who offer regular lectures, workshops or Wicca 101 classes. You may hear of a teacher through networking with other Pagans in your area. How can you know that these people are who they say they are? Or more importantly to you perhaps, how can you know that a teacher will be the right one for you? There are many Paths and many different approaches to passing on the Craft. A little prior research into the various systems or Traditions in advance is almost a necessity before making the decision to take training in a particular system. We encourage everyone to do as much reading on the subjects as possible. See what interests you and then try to find a teacher that will help you further develop in these areas of interest. There are some definitive things that you can do to help insure that you enjoy a positive experience BEFORE you spend a lot of time or money in classes or other training. We have provided a listing below that we have developed from personal experiences, the experiences of others and various reference materials that may help to know what you should be looking for and how to ask the questions that may help you decide if this is the teacher for you. Some teachers may not exhibit all of the signs listed, but most teachers will fall predominantly into one category or another.

So You Wanna Be A Witch

I am often asked how one becomes a witch. Do you find someone who is a witch and they make you one? Or are you a witch just by saying you are? Can you make yourself a witch?

The process of becoming a witch doesn't happen overnight. It is a life change, a new path upon the journey of your life. It takes consideration, study and work. If you have previously followed a mainstream religion, you may have things that take time to let go, and new things that take time to absorb. I have heard many people say it is often hard, coming from a life of Christianity, to feel comfortable praying to the Goddess. All new things take time, but if you are serious upon this path, you will find your way. The Gods call their own home to them.

No matter how you have came about finding the Old Religion, here you are. So where do you go? To the book store. For a novice, books are like the air you breathe. You must have them, or access to them in some way. If you cannot afford, or do not feel safe having books on the Craft, the internet is the next best place.

In both books and on the internet you will find a wealth of knowledge that will help guide you upon your new path. Of course, as with anything else, there is good information and bad information. Avoid any kind of book, or internet site, that speaks of controlling another person in any way, harming them, doing love spells on a specific person, or tells you to chant in latin, even though you have no idea what you are saying (yes, I have seen sites like that). These books/sites will not fulfill your need for knowledge in the Craft and will only serve to confuse you.

If you have access to a teacher, in my opinion this is the best course of action. A teacher or a coven can often be found if there is a new age book store in your community. Also, the Witches Voice is a site that offers networking in every state. It has grown extremely large over the past few years and is a valuable resource in the Craft community. All of my coven members have found me on the Witches Voice so far. The site is on my links page!

Having a mentor can offer so much to you when you are beginning. There will be things you come across that you have a hard time understanding and need clarification. If you have a teacher, they are just a phone call or email away. If you do not, you must try to decipher things on your own, and may not come to the correct end on them. If you do not have a teacher, again, the internet is the next best place to look. There are cyber covens, and online/email classes now available to people that can be a valuable resource to a novice. If you go to Onelist and do a search for covens, you will find several cybers that could fit your purpose.

If you are only looking for a 'how to' on casting spells, then the Craft is not for you. Witchcraft is a serious spiritual path, in which magick is performed, but is secondary to the religion itself. I would suggest you look to ceremonial magick for that.

All of this being said the way to become a witch is through study and dedication. Gather all of the information you can. Read whatever you can get your hands on. Go outside in nature and commune with the Goddess and God. Listen to the trees and the wind and the rush of the water, for this is the witch's world.