*-Spell Casting-*

[AphrenSama]

Hello Eveyone and Welcome to Spell Casting for Beginners!
-My name is AffrenSama. You can call me Sensei Affren, or AffrenSama.

I understand that there are many other systems of Magick- Ceremonial Magick, Folk Magick, Voodo, Hodoo, etc. But this class is going to be on the Magic in Wicca, and the general beliefs and magick rituals within Wicca.

Rules:
1) Follow the General rules of the Guild
2) Be respectful to yourself, the class and the teacher.
3) An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will.

The Class times will be random, depending on my plans outside of Gaia, but for the most part I will be here.
I am in the Eastern Pacific time zone.

What you will learn:
-In this Class you will learn how to cast spells.
-Magick correspondends needed for a spell to be successful.
-The meanings of specifc symbols.
-How to use ritual tools and what tools you will need for specific spells.

Homework?
-There will be homework at times.
-Don't take it as a drag, it is to help you learn and understand the information.
-The homework will be do the following day- via PM.

Students:
-PM me if you wish to be a student and I will add your name to this list.
1)the_wiccan_one
2)Marii McKane
3)nooblett
4)Dark Eagle Babe
5)celticfaith

Thank you for your time. And Welcome all who wish to learn.  

[AphrenSama]

What is Magick?
-Before we get into the fun stuff... lets talk about what Magick is so you can get an understanding of using it.
-The definition of magick is - a change of situation through ritual means.
-Magick is using the energies from specific sources to work your will to get it to happen.
-These Sources of Magick would be the deities, the elements, etc.

Rules of Magick:
-There are Rules in Magick you must follow.
1. An Ye harm none, do what Ye will.
2. Mind the 3 fold law ye should, 3 times bad and 3 times good.
3. Never use anothers ritual tools without permission.
4. If you are casting a spell on someone, it is important to get persmission before casting the spell.
5. Spells to alter anothers free will is also a big no-no.
-Those are the Rules in a nutshell. Some people might believe in more, some people might believe in less.
-Learning magick from someone is always risky because there are so many ways to do magick that there could be much controversy.  

[AphrenSama]

Types of Magick
- What I mentioned above about Hoodo, Voodoo and etc. Those are systems of magick. But there are many types of magick.
1. Candle Magick
2. Color Magick
3. Animal Magick
4. Elemental Magick
5. Cord Magick
6. Petition Magick- [Basicly Prayer Magick]
7. Saint Magick - [using the energies of the Saints (More comfortable for those who are still closely connected with Christianity)]
-etc.

Magickal Correspondents (MC)
-All types of Magick, all of those above have something called Magickal Correspondents. They are things that are used in spell work that help with the intend.
- Ex. In Color magick, Green is for healing.
- In Elemental Magick, Fire is for passion. etc.

*I will later be posting lists of the magickal correspondents for herbs, Stones, Trees, etc.  

[AphrenSama]

Elements
- There are Five elements of nature. Here are their representations on the alter and their directions:
- Air- East - insence or bird feather
- Fire- South - candle (if you cannot have candles, use something else, something red, or even a picture of a flame or candle)
- Water- West - a bowl of water
- Earth - North - salt or a rock
- Spirit - (has no direction) - The God and Goddess Statues or Candles are representations of this.

Altar
* Your Altar is something very sacred to you. It is something that is a place you can go for safety, comfort, to pray, or meditate. It is something that reflects your personality. It can be anything from a dresser, to nightstand to its own personal space.
- Your Altar can be perminent, or you can only put it up when doing spells. That too, is up to you and providing your environment allows it.
- Nothing but religious things may be placed on your Altar. And once you concencrate the tools on your Altar, you will not want others to touch them.
- Some also believe that in order to first begin spells you have to also have the 4 ritual tools that correspond with the elements and diections. Avalibility is a big thing here, and if you can't get something (ex. athame) then improvse but don't get sloppy.

Four Elemental Tools
Wand- Air
Athame- Fire
Chalice- Water
Pentacle- Earth
- In some traditions the Athame is Air. And the Cauldron is sometimes Water. This is all depending on what you believe and if you belong to a tradition.
- Many Wiccans can do without these tools, but then again, Many believe that they are essitial. This Again, is personal preference.

Altar Set Ups
1. You can have something as simple as representations of each element in their specific direction.
2. You can use the altar set up of a specifc tradition.
3. You can do it as you like.
4. You can place two candles in the back of the altar, the Altar Pentacle in the center, and everything pertaining to the Goddess, or feminie tools on the left, and masculine tools on the right side of the Altar.
-Again, this is what ever you feel is best.

*Last comments about the Alter. Through all of this just remember that the alter is an important part of spell casting. When setting up the alter, all things are to be dedicated and cleansed before put on the alter, before every ritual (though not everyone does it that often). You don't have to have all the ritual tools, but it is up to you. Some of the tools you can go without.  

[AphrenSama]

Ritual Tools
-There are Many ritual tools, and here I will give explinations to their uses, and a picture so you can take a look if you've never seen them before.

ATHAME- http://www.paganhearth.com/Ritual/Images/Athame Simple Wood.jpg
-The Athame is a double edged ritual knife. It can be likened to a dagger. That link shows the most 100% origional basic Athame. Most Athame's have a black handle, and for good reason. The on in the picture does not that that isn't that big of a deal. The athame is used much like the wand, to cast the circle.It is also used to direct energies, invoke and banish energies. The black handle is used to ground, it pulls in all the wondering energies and concumes them. This knife is NEVER EVER EVER EVER used to harm anything. It is not used to cut anything physical. If even 1/16 drop of blood touches the blade, it is tained. Some believe if that happenes, you can just re-bless, concencrate and dedicate it again, but others believe it is forever tainted and that it won't be able to used.

BOOK OF SHADOWS- (BOS)
http://wicca.arwen.no/bilder/book of shadows.jpg
-That is an example of a BOS. A BOS is basicly just a book you handwrite yourself that has spells and rituals and recipies and potions in it. It could also have charts and inportant info you don't want to foget. You can make one, or just simply go by one of those lineless sketchbooks or journals at a book store and use that. It dosn't have to be black, it can even be a notebook. Its up to you.

Chalice-
http://www.gypsymagick.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/gm1102.jpg
- chalice is basicly a ritual cup, used mainly for liberation to the God and Goddess. It is also used sometimes, to gather, hold and disperse energies.

Wand-
http://www.wandworkshop.freeserve.co.uk/golden-spiral-wand.jpg
- wand is a ritual tool, that can be made or bought. Many perfer to make their own because of the whole energy and personality with it. Most wands are made to be the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Most beginners build their wands from Willow, but any tree is fine. Most people, when making a wand look at the MC of trees, which will come later. The wand is used to cast the circle, and direct energies. Personally I think the Athame is better because it goes one step farther then the wand and banishes and invokes energies.

Sword-
-I'm sure you know what those look like so I don't have to post a link. The sword is a mix between the staff and the athame. It isn't usually used for solitaries. It is mainly used in coven settings, and then it is used only by the high priest/ess. It can do the same as the wand and the athame.

Staff-
-The staff is used mainly in Shamanistic traditions. When the staff is forked, or has an antler on one end, it is often called a 'stag'. If you chose to use this, it is mainly used for outside rituals.

Cauldron -
http://www.raven9.freeserve.co.uk/witchway/pictures2/cauldron-small-old.JPG
-The cauldron as I said in an eariler post can represent the womb of the Goddess, where all magick flows from, or as the element water. the cauldron in modern day setting is used much differently. A solitary would normally have a small cauldron, instead of a large one used in coven settings. This cauldron would be used as an insence burner or used to place a tea candle of certian rituals/spells. The cauldron is most always in the center of the circle or the center of the alter, b/c as I said, it is where all magick flows, so it is the center of creation.

THE RITUAL PENTACLE-
http://www.sacredwheel.org/crs/graphics/pentacle.gif
-the ritual pentacle is often a flat piece of wood or metal with a pentacle on it, that sits at the center of the alter. The chalice and often bread sit on it for liberation.

THE BLACK MIRROR-
http://www.isisbooks.com/med_images/SCRYMI.jpg
-The black mirror is a tool used only for diviation. i'm not teaching a class on divination so ask someone else about it, lol. It is also called a scrying mirror, as is a scrying bowl, a black bowl used for scrying.

THE BESOM-
http://www.somethingforthewickend.co.uk/acatalog/msbbesom.jpg
-Or also called the broom is rarely used during rituals. Its peak is during the Imbolc celebration when the circle is symbolically sweeped. Other then that, the broom is rarely used.

The WHITE-HANDLED KNIFE
http://www.whitewitchweb.com/gfx/BL02.jpg
-Also called a Bolline. It is a kinfe used to inscribe candles and harvest herbs. It can be something such as a discarded almost dull kitchen knife, that you use for herb harvesting and candle inscribing. But the bolline is only used for magick, you can't use it to harvest the herbs and then use it to clean the dirt out of your fingernails. Its used for magick only.  

[AphrenSama]

Magickal FYI's
- These are some important things you will need to know before beginning and doing any type of spell work.

1. As Wiccans, we believe our breath is the sacred breath of spirit, bring life. With that being said, we don't often use our breath to blow out a candle, since we believe air and fire are elements, thus we don't want to use our breath (air) to extinguish a flame. Many people use a snuffer to snuff out candles.
2. In my personal belief; matches aren't a good idea, because the sulfer in the matches creates negativity, so use a lighter. If you choose to use matches: try not to use them for love, friendship, or harmoney. Since matches are organic they would work well for out- door work.  

[AphrenSama]

The Magick Circle
- The Magick Circle is a very important aspect of doing magickal work. It is like a barrier to help protect you and your energies when doing magick. It will keep the energies held within it until you are finished with your magick.

Casting A Magick Circle
-This procedure is very important because the circle must be cast for every spell, espically when you are beginner. The circle also acts like a bubble, you raise energy and it stays in the circle until you are ready to relase it into the universe to get your goal. This procedure is the very basic, and you should learn this by heart, because you'll need it EVERY time you cast a spell.

-For casting the circle, you won't need anything. If you choose to use the wand, Athame, etc. to cast then that is ok but since you are new and you haven't blessed, or concecrated your tools, then you can't really use them.

1. Begin at North.
2. Extend your index and middle fingers on your dominant hand.
- Your dominant hand is the hand you use most, the hand your write with.
3. Walk deosil [clockwise] around the circle and say:
"By the Air that moves us,
By the Fire that is in her Spirit,
By the Living Waters of her womb,
By the Earth that is her Body,
The circle is cast let the ritual begin"
4. Visualize a white ring of light in the area you are walking to create the circle.
5. Visualize the right connecting when you get back to North.
- Some people cast the circle 3 times, by walking around 3 times instead of one. This is up to you.
* This circle casting was taught to me but I promise you there are trillions of ways to cast a circle.
* Casting the circle is also sometimes referred to Closing the Circle.

Taking Up The Magick Circle
- This should be done once the whole rite is finished.
1. Beginning back at north, do the same hand gesture.
2. Walk Widdershins [counter-clock wise] around the altar.
- Some Wiccans believe you never walk Widdershins in a circle, but others believe you do only when taking up the circle.
3. As you walk, say:
"Now the time for the ritual has passed,
All ye elder Gods,
Leave if you must, but stay if you like,
To walk beside me in all aspects of life.
Blessed be, Merry Part."
4. Visualize the energy you placed down, coming back up into your fingers and fading away.
* Taking up the Circle is soemtimes referred to Opeining the Circle.

-Closing the Circle should be done before every spell, and opening the circle should be done after every spell. This is important for many beginners.  

[AphrenSama]

Symbols
-Symbols are very important in spellwork. You can use them as a focal point. You can use them to inscribe into candles to empower the candle with the entent you are working. Or you could simply use them as magickal short hand. The next few posts are going to be for symbols.

 

[AphrenSama]

 

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[AphrenSama]