WIXLIB

Change the energy of a room withseasonal decorations. Use sweetsmelling flowers in Spring, bowls offresh fruit or herbs in the Summer, setout pumpkins and colored leaves inAutumn or baskets of pinecones andevergreen branches in Winter. Thesesymbols of the season are beautiful andusually inexpensive or free.The wise Wiccan will follow nature'scue and use natural decor in their hometo accent each season. This bringsmagical energies into the home and helpsreconnect those within to the energies ofthe natural world.NOTE: It's always best to decorate withlive plants, as they can bring a healthy

energy and vibration to your home, butsilk plants or even prints and artwork ofthe outdoors can also help the mindconnect with nature. If you decide to useartificial greenery, try to have at leastone potted plant in the mix.Small water fountains, or even bubblingfish tanks are nice additions too, as theyprovide the soothing sound of runningwater and bring the magical energies ofwater into your home. DVD's of naturesounds can also create a relaxingatmosphere.If you grow flowers or herbs, you canbring in fresh cut roses, lavender, orsage to hang in your kitchen. Theiraromas can invoke the element of air.

For the element of earth, simply gatheran assortment of pebbles, or set out yourcollection of stones and crystals in aceramic bowl.Lighting candles would add the elementof fire, bringing all four elements intothe room.These are all small things, but they canhave a big impact on your energy leveland peace of mind. and THAT willhave an influence on the flow of magicalenergies in your life.When the weather permits, open a dooror window to invite in fresh air. Themagical energies of Air can also beinfluenced with aromatherapy. Thispower is something that many of us

overlook in our busy lives, but it haslong been used to influence our mood.When we enter our home the first thingthat greets us is the aroma. Essential oilslike sweet orange and clove spice canbe used to create a warm refreshingatmosphere on cold dreary winter day.Aromas can help lift our spirit and willencourage family and friends to relaxand linger in a cozy, inviting atmosphere.Candles fragranced with essential oilcan be used to give your home a pleasantambience and aroma. You can also add6-8 drops of your favorite scent to waterin a diffuser or simply place the dropsdirectly into a bowl of boiling water. Ifyou place a drop or two of oil on a cold

light bulb, the fragrance will fill theroom as the bulb warms up. Three orfour drops of your favorite essential oilon a cotton ball can add a hint offragrance to a drawer or cupboard inyour home.NOTE: You can read more on the use ofherbal, crystal and candle magic in Book#3 of the Living Wicca Today Series,Wicca: A Beginner’s Guide to CastingSpells.Finally, we highly recommend that youallow your Mother Earth to bless yourkitchen with an assortment ofunprocessed foods. Her bountiful gifts ofliving foods can help improve yourhealth and increase your lifespan.

Spiritual leaders from many differentpaths also believe that these foodsactually enhance our ability tocommunicate with the Divine.The bottom line is, the more ways youfind to connect with Nature, the moreopportunities the Divine has to offer youwisdom, healing and true spiritualfulfillment!Many of these tips can also be used togenerate magical energy in your office atwork or even in your car to make yourcommuting more enjoyable.Today, look for simple ways to bring thebeauty of Nature into your home. Startwith one room, or even a corner in aroom, and build a magical atmosphere

that will create a feeling of comfort,peace and happiness when you enter thespace. This will help the magicalenergies to flow freely through your life.

Your AltarYour altar is a place of power andmagic. It's also a place for you toexpress your faith and to do yourspiritual or magical work. SomeWiccans maintain an altar as adecorative space in their home orgarden, but most will set it up anddismantled it for each ritual.You may want to have a round altar torepresent the Goddess, or you mightprefer a square one that is symbolic ofthe elements. Either is fine. It can be setup on any flat surface. A small table isnice, but even a cardboard box willwork in a pinch.If you are outdoors, you can use any

available flat space, including theground, a log, a stump, or a large rock.During outdoor rituals a fire issometimes used for the altar.The exact layout is a matter of personalpreference. Use your imagination whensetting up your altar. If you don't have allthe traditional items, use a nature-basedaltar plan. A round stone might representthe Goddess, or a seashell can work inplace of a cup or chalice, and a smallbranch makes a wonderful wand torepresent the God.Tools sacred to the Goddess, like thecup or cauldron, are usually placed onthe left, while symbols of the God, suchas the wand or athame, are placed on the

right. Flowers and the censer arecommonly placed in the center so thearoma and smoke can be offered up toboth Deities. In some traditions the altaris set up facing North which isassociated with the Earth, but othersprefer to set it up facing East, where theSun and Moon rise.Don't get so wrapped up in the details ofsetting up your altar that you miss the joyof celebration with the Goddess andGod. These are simply traditions. As faras the Deities are concerned, there is noright or wrong way to commune withthem. They welcome all with open arms.An altar can be simple, perhaps holdingonly a flower and a candle on a small

stump outside. Or it can be elaborate,with a full size table, a special altarcloth, candles, ritual tools, incense,herbs or flowers, and statues of theirGod and Goddess. The choice is yours.In his book, Wicca: A Guide for theSolitary Practitioner, Scott Cunninghamdescribes the Wiccan altar and ritual thisway: "Though we may setup images ofthe Goddess and God, we're not idolworshippers. We don't believe that agiven statue or pile of rocks actually isthe deity represented. And although wereverence nature, we don't worshiptrees or birds or stones. We simplydelightinseeingthemasmanifestations of the universal creative

forces-the Goddess and God. The altarand the magic circle in which it standsis a personal construction and it shouldbe pleasing to you."I believe that when we feel happyinside, the Divine is happy too!

Your Magical ToolsTools can be helpful in creating amagical life. In Wicca, certain objectsare traditionally used in ritual to helpinvoke the Deities, banish negativity, ordirect energy. Your Craft tools can helpyou create the proper frame of mind oratmosphere for your magical work. Theydon't need to be elaborate, but theyshould be special to you.To better understand the role your toolsplay, think back to a time when youdressed up for a job interview or animportant social event. What you woremade you feel better about yourself, andthus improved your chances for asuccessful outcome. You knew that your

clothes didn't really have magicalpowers, but there was no question thathaving the right outfit and accessoriesboosted your self-confidence, and THATis why these things are important.Magical tools work the same way. Theyare a part of our rituals because they canhelp us focus our thoughts and generatethe ideal atmosphere to work in.Below you will find a list of the mostcommon tools and their general uses.While these items are not required topractice Wicca, you may want to collectsome of them to enrich your rituals. Youcan shop for these tools in our MagicalStore, or search through antique andsecond-hand shops for them. Some

prefer to make their tools and infusethem with a little of their own energy.In addition to the standard tools like theathame, cauldron or broom, use toolssuch as relaxing nature sounds andmusic, fragrance or aromatherapy, andcandles, stones, pendants or even wands,to help you focus your thoughts. Justremember, these are ONLY tools, andnot the real source of your power.Common Craft ToolsAthame: A ritual blade, usually doubleedged, with a black or dark handle. Thetwo sides symbolize the God and theGoddess, coming together at the point tojoin the spiritual and mundane worlds. It

is never used to cut anything on thephysical plane. This tool is only used todirect energy that is raised during ritesand spells. It is most often associatedwith the element of air and the eastquarter, but some associate it with fireand the south. Coven members can sharemany of the ritual tools, but the athame isalways personal. The sword is a largerversion of the ritual knife or athame, andstories of magical swords seem to bequite common in mythic literature!Bells: Often used to invoke directionalenergies, to ring in the sunrise on aSabbat, or to invoke the Goddess inritual. Some believe they can be rung toward off evil spells and spirits, and

many others use them to evoke goodenergies or bring good luck. You canplace them in cupboards or hang them ona door to guard your home, or ring themin ritual to signal a spell's beginning orend. Any type of bell can be used.Besom: A witch's broom is still used inWicca today. Some begin rituals bysweeping the energy out of the circlespace (indoors or out) before drawingthe circle. The bristles do not need totouch the ground. While brushing, simplyvisualize the broom sweeping the area topurify it for your ritual workings. Thebroom was traditionally thought to be apowerful tool against curses andpractitioners of evil magic. Some

believed that laying a broom across thedoorway could block any spells sent tothe house or to those in it. Some also usethe broom to raise energy in a circle.The broom is most often associated withearth and the north, but some traditionslink it to air and the east.Book of Shadows: Also called a BOS,is a witch's book of spells, rituals andmagical lore. It's your personal magicaljournal and can be one of your mostvaluable tools.Boline or Bolline: A white-handledknife used in magic or ritual. Unlike theAthame, which is only used in ritual, thisis a working knife. It may be used to cutwands, cords, sacred herbs, flowers, or

to inscribe symbols onto wood, candlesor wax.Candles: Candles are used at most allWiccan rituals and celebrations. You canplace candles on the altar to representthe God and Goddess, to mark thequarters, or simply to help set the moodfor something magical. We suggest youkeep a good supply on hand at all times.Candles represent fire and the south.Cauldron: This tool symbolizes theGoddess or feminine aspect of theDivine and the waters of rebirth. Thecauldron is an ancient vessel used forcooking and brew making. It is thecontainerinwhichmagicaltransformations take place. It is also

symbolic of the element of Water. Celticlegends about Kerridwen's cauldronhave influenced some Wiccan traditions.The cauldron can also be used as a toolfor scrying (gazing) if you fill it withwater and stare down into its depths.Chalice or Cup: A ritual tool, thechalice represents the female principalsof creation. It is used to drink from,especially in rituals where femininesymbolism is important. The chalice canbe made from most anything. Feel free touse one made from glass, ceramic, woodor metal. The chalice is most oftenassociated with water and the west.Crystal Sphere: The quartz crystalsphere has been used in Divination since

ancient times. Most crystal balls on themarket today are glass or plastic.Genuine quartz crystal spheres can bedetermined by their inclusions orirregularities. Larger crystals are beyondmost budgets, as they often retail forseveral hundred dollars. Small crystalscan be effective too. The diviner simplygazes into the ball until images appear inthe mind or in the depths of the crystal,revealing the information they areseeking. Some use the crystal ball at FullMoon rituals, and believe that exposureto moonlight can increase its ability toinspire our psychic powers.Grimoire: A magical workbookcontaining ritual information, magical

properties of natural objects andpreparation of ritual equipment. Oftenused interchangeably with Book ofShadows.Incense: You can burn herbs, oils, orother aromatic items to scent the airduring acts of magic and ritual. Incensepurifies the ritual space and you canconsecrate items being used in ritual bypassing them through the smoke. Anytype of incense and censer (burner) canbe used in a Wiccan ritual. The incenserepresents fire and air, as well as southand east.Pentacle: A circle surrounding a fivepointed, upright star (pentagram). Wornas a symbol of a witch's beliefs. The

five points represent the Earth, Air, Fire,Water and Spirit. This symbol is oftenworn as a pendant or placed on theWiccan altar. Some also hang Pentaclesover doors and windows to provideprotection for those within.Wand: The wand has been used forthousands of years in both magic andreligious rites. This tool is often used toinvoke the Goddess and God. It is alsoused to direct energy, to draw magicalsymbols on the ground, or even to stirbrew in a cauldron. For some Wiccans itrepresents the element of Air and it's asymbol of the God or masculine aspectof the Divine. The length and type ofwood vary by tradition, so feel free to

cut yours as long or as short as you like.You may also want to strip the bark orcarve magical symbols into your wand.The choice is yours.NOTE: At the end of this book I havelisted a glossary of additional Wicca andWitchcraft terms and their definitions. Ihope you will find this reference helpfulas you continue your studies.TIP: Don’t be too concerned if you lackthe proper candles, aromas or othersuggested tools for magical work, Focuson sending out positive thoughts andfeelings. The words you utter or thetools you use in your magical rituals,will not affect the results nearly as muchas the actual thoughts and feelings you

send forth into the Universe.You won't fail at magic because youused the wrong color candle or differentincense than suggested. Alwaysremember that wands, candles, oils andother items are simply used to help youfocus your thoughts and set the mood formagical activities.

Increasing Your MagicalEnergyNo matter what path we choose to walk,Mother Earth has an effect on our lives.We have all been refreshed by the feel ofsoft grass beneath our feet, the freshoutdoor air and the warmth of the sun onour face or the cool waters of a lake orstream."Always have the Brothers of Lightlived where rejoice the angels of theEarthly Mother: near rivers, neartrees, near flowers, near the music ofbirds; where sun and rain may embracethe body, which is the temple of thespirit.” The Teachings of the Elect

Most are satisfied with this naturalexchange of energy, and they will gooutdoors to recharge whenever they findtime to. But in Wicca, you can learnmethods to draw on and amplify thisDivine energy whenever you need it.As you learn how to work with thisenergy, always be respectful of thepowers and spirits of our Mother Earth.You are not trying to control the forcesof nature and bend them to your will.You are simply working WITH them toinfluence the direction they flow throughyour life.If you are raising energy for spellworkor magical purposes, you know howimportant it is to follow the Harm None

rule and remember the Three-fold Law.To consistently insure the best results,you may also want to focus your work onwhat you can GIVE to the Earth andthose around you.As the three-fold law teaches, the morepositive energy you send out, the moreyou get back. You simply can't out-givethe Universe. Thoughts and energy sentforth from a giving or loving heart willalways multiply and return to you inkind.On the other hand, if you allow yourmind to simply focus on what you needor want, you may end up multiplyingyour needs and wants. This is why manyget discouraged with spellwork and

magic. They send forth the wrong type ofthoughts and energy and then wonderwhy the results were not what theyexpected. Keep in mind that anytimeyou worry about negative or harmfulenergies, you give them added power. Ifyou worry too much, you can actuallydraw more negative energy into yourlife.So, as you begin any energy work, if youwant positive results, always make sureyou are sending forth positive thoughtsAND feelings. Fill your mind withpeaceful and relaxing images. Imaginewhat it feels like to already have theresults you desire. Without clear,positive thoughts that generate positive

feelings, negative energies can easilyslip in and affect your results.Finally, don't expect magical results tohappen overnight. With a strong will andsolid visualization skills, you canachieve what others believe isimpossible. But, as with the muscles inyour physical body, the strength of yourthoughts or mind must be developedover time.It will take practice. The more youexercise your visualization skills, thestronger your mind becomes. Thestronger your mind or intent is, the moreeffective your magic will be. Some willfind it easier than others, but ALL arecapable of developing these skills!

GroundingThe thoughts that you hold in your mindhave a significant impact on what youwill experience during magical work.Each day, your thoughts and actions areaffected by the energy of the places yougo and the people you see. It's always agood idea to clear any negative beliefsor feelings you may be holding aboutyourself and others before you beginritual or spellwork. Grounding is a greatway to remove negativity and excessenergy from your mind and body.In Wicca, grounding can be described asthe process of getting rid of negative orexcess energy by pouring it into theEarth (the ground). The Earth is a great

purifier. You can then draw energy backout of the ground to renew yourself. Theenergy you draw from it is clean energy.By taking some of her energy, you makeyourself more like your Mother Earth,and your connection can help youbecome stronger, more focused andcalm.One popular method of grounding is toimagine you are a tree. Visualize rootsextending from your feet into the ground,then allow all negative energy to flowout through your roots. When you havereleased your negative thoughts andfeelings into the ground, then draw freshenergy in just like a tree would draw inwater.

Some prefer to sit on the ground andplace t

Wicca, like most spiritual paths, teaches that the Divine is within us and in everything around us. You are a part of this supreme universal power and MAGIC IS ALREADY WITHIN YOU! What you imagine, you have the power to create! With magic you can create your dreams, heal your world, love your