Witchlings Course – Lesson 3

Witchlings Course Lesson 3

Wiccid Academy of Witchcraft & Magic

Intuition & Tune In

Greetings Apprentice!

Welcome to your third lesson of Witchcraft and Magic, I dearly hope you are enjoying the journey so far.

In this lesson we learn about the Sabbat Midsummers Eve, We talk about the season Summer and 2 new Moon phases. We will be adding to your altar set up and tap into the wisdom of some of the main Greek Gods/Goddesses – how can we call them in to assist our magical work? Tool of the month is incense and the censor, I have created a beautiful ritual for Midsummers or a New Moon for you and you will also learn how to cast a basic circle, we take a closer look at kitchen witchery, find out how to raise power in your energy work and there is a new self-care ritual. You also get your regular tasks – A new meditation, We start a new book, There is a new practical activity for you to try out and you will be adding to your Book of Shadows!!

Excitingly you also get a bonus this month – ‘The Kitchen Witch Herb Chart’ you can print, laminate & put in your kitchen for easy reference.

There is a lot to cover this month so just a reminder that this is self-paced and self-monitored learning, how much or how little you participate and integrate these teachings into your life will be entirely up to you. I am simply here to provide you with the tools you need to bring magic into your everyday life.

Love and Blessings to you, Bella x

How to get the most out of your lessons:

When you receive your lesson each month, I recommend you print and then skim through all the material to give you insight into what you will be doing for the month. Then gather the materials you will need and create a sacred study space for yourself that is quiet and private. I like to cleanse my space with a smudge stick or incense to clear any negative energies before I start.

It is up to you how you choose to study, some of you might like to tackle it all in one big hit and some might like to do a bit each day. There will be some tasks that will be required to be done daily but may only take a few minutes such as your morning ritual. Once you read through your material you will better understand how you will work through it.

A few other things to note:

♥ If you see this symbol it means there is an important point to note

♦ This symbol means you are asked a question that you will be required to ponder/explore/journal about

Some simple Terminolgy you may see throughout this course:

• Athame: A magical black handled knife used in ritual
• Boline: A magical white handled knife used in the preparation of magic ingredients such as herbs
• Wand: A magical tool used to cast circle and direct energy
• Book of Shadows: A sacred book to record all your magic information, rituals, recipes and more
• Pentagram/Pentacle: A 5 pointed star representing Earth, Air, Fire, Water & Spirit. A symbol used to represent unity and protection
• Guardians: Each direction has a Guardian that represents the qualities of that direction and who you can ask to attend your magic ritual for guidance and protection. (Please note: in the North the directions and representations are different)
• Cast circle: To create a sacred space
• Altar: A table/surface where you can place all of your magical tools/ingredients and use as your sacred space to perform ritual and magic
• Rite: Another word for ritual, magical working, spellwork, ceremony
• Deosil: Anti Clockwise
• Widdershins: Clockwise

Things to do for the month at a glance

• Read through your lesson
• Take note of any supplies you may need and make plans to attain them
• Continue to perform your morning ritual (Lesson 1)
• Set up your altar with this month’s Altar Set Up suggestion
• Do your energy work
• Perform your ritual
• Do your meditation
• Read your book
• Perform the monthly practical activity
• Add to your Book of Shadows
• Carry out your self-care rituals
• Journal the journal questions

Lesson 3.1

Sabbats – Midsummers Eve or Litha

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year.

Southern Hemisphere: December 21-22^nd

Northern Hemisphere: June 20-21^st

A greater Sabbat – A great Fire Festival

A History of Midsummers

It is said that at one time or another, Midsummers has been celebrated in almost every culture in the world. The Romans, the Greeks, the Norse, the Aztecs, the Celts and Jews all celebrated this day in their own way – honouring their own Gods & Goddesses and taking part in their own traditions. However, there were common themes running through these celebrations such as:

• Although not a harvest festival – Midsummers is still a celebration of nature with crops growing at this time
• Celebrated as a Solar Festival or a Fire Festival
• All night vigils were often held from dawn to dawn
• Celebrations and rituals focused on fertility, abundance, success, good fortune and prosperity – symbolic of the rich crops growing

Some Olde Midsummers Traditions:

• Bonfires were lit and people danced around them or rolled burning wheels down hillsides
• Some cultures pilgrimaged to sacred bodies of water like a well (think of St Brigids well in Ireland)
• The Teutons would gather branches of ash to make wands and magical staffs
• For Celts, June was the month of the Oak – a sacred tree that was a symbol of strength & vitality
• Druids gathered herbs on this day to use in food, healing and magic
• To ensure a fertile and abundant crop – young women would run ‘riding’ a broomstick through the fields
• An excellent day to connect with the Fae as Midsummers marks the transition from one season to the next so the veils between the worlds are thin. Fairies also like sweet flowers, honey & nectar – all of which are abundant at this time of year
• Native Americans would gather chestnuts to use as protective amulets
• Considered an auspicious time to get married.

The story of Goddess & God

The baby conceived during Beltane grows in the Goddess womb and at this time the creative powers of Goddess & God are at their peak – even as the Sun God grows weaker as the days become shorter.

Magical Associations:

Herbs: Chamomile, Tarragon, Basil, Fennel, Lavender, Vervain, St John’s Wort, Lemon Balm, Verbena, Cinnamon, Rue, Foxglove, Mugwort, Rosemary, Yarrow, Thyme, Sage, Mint

Trees: Elder, Iris, Oak, Hazel, Rowan, Fir, Pine

Flowers: Carnation, Sunflower, Sturt Desert Pea, Daisy, Meadowsweet, Honeysuckle, Rose, Heartsease, Marigold

Crystals: Brilliant red or orange crystals like Ruby or Garnet, stones of the sun such as Jasper, Amber or Carnelian and Citrine, also Diamond, Yellow Tourmaline, Jade, Emerald, Calcite, Peridot, Tigers Eye

Colours: Gold, Green, Orange, Blue, Red, White, Yellow

Foods: Fresh Fruits, Cheese, Honey, Pinenuts, Pumpernickel bread, Spinach, Sunflower seeds, Squash, Semi dried tomatoes

Gods: Greek Gods – Helios, Hyperion, Prometheus, Zues; Norse Gods – Hodur, Odin, Thor; Celtic Gods – Belinos, Hu Egyptian Gods – Amun-Ra, Ra; Roman Gods – Apollo, Janus, Jupiter, Sol;  Scandinavian God – Baldur

Goddesses: Greek Goddesses – Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, Gaia, Hera, Hestia; Roman Goddesses – Aestas, Aurora, Bona Dea, Juno, Vesta; Egyptian Goddesses – Amaunet, Anuket, Bast, Hathor, Sekhmet, Celtic Goddesses – Aine, Brighid, Epona, Sul; Welsh Goddesses – Cerridwen, Rhiannon

Animals: Bees, Bulls, Butterflies, Summer birds like swallows, robins and wrens, Horses, Snakes, Cows; Hawkes & Eagles

Perform Rituals at this time for:

• Healing
• Love & Sex
• Increasing your Magic
• Marriage
• Faerie Magic
• Growth
• Protection
• Divination and Scrying
• Purification
• Success
• Partnerships & unions – personal or business
• Happiness
• Strength
• Your animal familiars
• Owning your Identity
• Wealth and Abundance
• Career
• Travel
• Empowerment
• Energy
• Green magic

♥  As this is in the quadrant of Fire, any magical working you do at this time will give you amazing results and success, especially if performed when the sun is at its zenith.

Activities to celebrate Midsummers:

• Begin any rituals at dawn
• Use hex signs in your rituals – research one that is appropriate
• Rub the ashes from your Midsummers fire on your third eye to increase your magical powers
• Build your own circle of stones
• Work on bringing harmony and balance between your everyday or ‘outer’ world and your family life
• Make a set of Witch Runes
• Harvest your herbs
• Commune with fairies
• Run through a field on a broomstick to ensure a bountiful harvest!
• Make a small white bag and fill it with Midsummer herbs. Tie with a red string. Imagine any troubles or negative thoughts you have going in to the bag and then throw into a Midsummers fire.
• Dance around a bonfire
• Make a wand or magical staff
• Hold a magical feast

Lesson 3.2

Seasons

SUMMER – This cycle is from the Summer Solstice to the Autumn Equinox

Summer marks the high point of the year.

♥ What sort of energy work or magic would be awesome to do while having access to this powerful energy?

History & Legend:

Beginning on the eve of the Summer Solstice, Druids celebrated the festival of light with ceremonies at midnight, dawn and midday – A tradition that is still practiced by modern day Druids. Also during the solstice large fire wheels were rolled down hills to honour the victory of the Sun God.

Associations:

Direction: South

Colours: Red, Green, Yellow & Orange

Element: Fire

Plants: Chamomile, Lily, Vervain, Fennel, Wild Thyme, St John’s Wort, Verbena, Mugwort, Elder, Rose, Yarrow and Lavender

Crystals: Citrine, Red Agate, Tigers Eye, Garnet, Amber, Carnelian, Sunstone

Animals: Snakes, Lizards, Fireflies, Cats (including the big ones!), Horses

Foods: Lemonade, Summer Fruits, Fresh herbs and Vegetables, Fish and Chicken

Gods & Goddesses: Amaterasu, Bast, Kali, Hestia, Pele, Vesta, Horus, Ra, Hephaestus, Lugh, Brigid

Things to place on your altar or in your sacred space:

• Brightly coloured flowers
• Fresh herbs and harvested fruits or vegetables
• Representations of the Sun
• Tools associated with fire such as candles or a cauldron
• Gold coins
• Orange or red candles
• An orange, green or red altar cloth
• Representations of the Sun Goddess and God
• Summer crystals (see above)
• Red, orange or yellow ribbons
• Golden fern pollen – according to legend it reveals buried treasure wherever it falls!

Perform Summer Rituals for:

• Achieving success and happiness in your career
• Motivation
• Connecting with family and friends
• Wealth
• Celebrating and having fun with children
• Joy, fun and pleasure
• Travel
• Increasing your connection to nature
• Improving fertility
• Increasing passion
• Claiming your identity
• Understanding your strengths and utilizing them
• Connecting with the power of the sun
• Strengthening your solar plexus chakra
• Working with teens/young adults
• Celebrating the men in your life

♦ Raise your awareness – Notice the cycles that exist all around you: In nature, at your work, in your home, in your body. Journal your observations.

Lesson 3.3

Moon Magic – Plan your rituals by the Moon

This month we look at the energetic influence of Aries New Moon and Full Moon. You can check online as to when each sign is passing through the month or get yourself a Moon Diary.

The Zodiac & the Moon:

The new Moon – the Sun and Moon will be in the same sign

The full Moon – Cosmic powers are at their peak at this time

Blue Moon – A second full Moon in a month that occurs once a year

Moon in Aries

Energy around this Moon: Power, expression, force, self-reliance, assertiveness, leadership, energy, spontaneity, fearlessness and enthusiasm.

Associated Element: Fire

The Sun is in: Libra

Associated Sun Element: Air

Colour Association: Red

Crystals: Amethyst, Quartz, Aquamarine, Sardonyx, Carnelian, Fire Agate, Red Jasper, Emerald, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Unakite, Bloodstone, Aventurine, Ruby

Animals: Ram, Owl

Flowers & Plants: Cedarwood, Poppies, Calendula, Pomegranate, Onion, Honeysuckle, Alder, Chives, Tigerlily, Pine, Garlic, Chamomile, Geranium, Impatiens, Rhubarb, Cabbage, Sweet pea

Gods & Goddesses: Amon-Ra, Ares, Mars

Perform Rituals for:

• Gaining confidence
• Boosting your energy
• Controlling your fear or anger – are you ready to release it?
• Becoming more assertive
• Starting a project
• Being a pioneer or a leader
• Bringing new opportunities
• Taking risks and being courageous
• Learning new things
• Controlling your temper (or learning how to harness it to assist you – cause it can)
• Bringing more spontaneity into your life
• Success in sports
• Setting intentions
• Boosting your social life and circle
• Cleansing and consecrating your magical tools
• Rising to challenges with authenticity and honour
• Adding passion to existing relationships
• Protection
• This is a great time to be creative and work on some music or a writing piece
• Overcoming obstacles
• Initiations

Focus your Awareness on: Being present and focused in your rituals. Don’t skip over steps or rush.

♥ Remember: Aries energy is like a burst and will not carry through long term so follow any magical workings up with another ritual to keep the energy and magic flowing.

Lesson 3.4

Working with the Sun

Sun magic works faster and is more powerful then Moon magic and is good for moving things along quickly. There are 4 main times when it’s best to use the energy of the Sun – sunrise, midday, sunset and midnight.

• Sunrise: Dawn is associated with the East and Spring so perform your ritual facing the East. Seeing as the Sun only rises true East on the Equinoxes you can work facing the position the Sun actually For accuracy you can check the exact sun rising time in the paper. Perform dawn rituals for: New beginnings, Group and community rituals, Starting a new project, Mending a broken heart, Improving your health, Greeting the day, Good luck, Improved finances, Attracting new love, Connecting with Nature, Positivity, Improving your career prospects and opportunities, Cleansing and Rejuvenation
• Midday: Midday is associated with the South and Summer. The energies at this time are similar to Full Moon energy but more intense – like a burst. Perform midday rituals for: Bringing in what you need quickly such as more physical energy, power, strength, healing, clarity, confidence, passion or money; sending distance healing to someone with a serious illness or condition. This is also a good time to charge your crystals or magical tools.
• Sundown: Dusk is associated with the West and Autumn. The exact time of sunset varies like the dawn so you can get a precise time from your local paper. Perform dusk rituals for: Completing anything you haven’t finished, Releasing stress & Confusion, Diminishing pain and sickness, Releasing whatever no longer serves you, Seeing justice done, Letting go of regrets, Releasing grudges, Reducing your debt, Releasing depression.
• Midnight: Midnight is associated with the North and with Winter. It is an important Sun time as it corresponds with the dawning of a new day. Perform midnight rituals for: Overcoming grief and sorrow, Releasing emotional pain, Bindings and banishing’s, Contacting ancestors & loved ones that have passed, Meeting your shadow & releasing fear.

Lesson 3.5

Gods & Goddesses

Why call Goddess or God into your ritual? To add power and energy to your spell, also to help direct the energy and add extra protection to your sacred space.

Gods & Goddesses usually govern or give patronage to particular industries, or personal attributes (like beauty for example)

How do you call them into your ritual? Simply take a moment to connect with the energy of the God/Goddess and ask them to attend your rite. Sometimes you will get a confirmation that they are there. For example: There is a meditation I do where I visit Goddess Brigid and ask her to gift me with inspiration. When she lights the flame of inspiration on the crown of my head I often feel heat and tingling.

From this month we begin to take a closer look at Gods & Goddesses from individual pantheons and we will begin with the Greek pantheon.

I could write pages and pages on each of these Gods & Goddesses but here we shall briefly discuss the myths, associations and attributes of each one as well as exploring how they can assist you in your magic.

Gods:

Ares:

Also known as: Mars (Roman equivalent)

Associations: Ares is the God of War. He is often associated with the violent, physical and untamed side of war

Sacred to Ares: Sword, Spear, Chariot, Helmut, Flaming torch, Shield, Vulture, Dog & Boar

His Story: Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera and is one of the twelve Olympians.

The Greeks were unsure about Ares as although he displayed the physical valour required to be successful in battle, he was also dangerous and was described as “overwhelming, insatiable in battle, destructive and man-slaughtering”. His sons Phobos (Fear), Deimos (Terror) and his sister Enjo (Discord) rode with him on his war chariot. Places and objects associated with Ares are given savage, dangerous and militarized qualities. When represented in myth he is often cast in a humiliating light and it was said that he displeased his father Zeus who told him that he is the God most hateful to him and was he not his son, he would have been cast out of Olympus. This may be because his value in war was doubted as in the Trojan war he was on the losing side and returned to Olympus wounded and whining.

Ares was also famously one of the lovers of Aphrodite until their affair was revealed and he was humiliated by her husband and all the Gods ridiculed him.

Invoke Ares in your rituals for: When you have to face a battle of any kind but be careful with this energy as it may be a bit unpredictable.

Poseidon:

Also known as: God of the Sea, Earth Shaker, Tamer of Horses

Associations: God of the Ocean

Sacred to Poseidon: Trident, Horse, Fish, Dolphin, Bull

His Story: Poseidon was one of the 12 Olympians in Greek Mythology who is brother to Zeus, Hades, Demeter, Chiron, Hera and Hestia. He is usually depicted as an older man with curly hair and a beard and is mostly associated with the ocean but was also named Earth Shaker because of his ability to cause earthquakes. He also had a strong affiliation with horses.

It is said that Poseidon was given dominion over the sea when he defeated his father Cronos. The world was divided up between his 3 sons after drawing straws with Zeus being given the Sky, Hades the Underworld and Poseidon the Sea. The Earth and Olympus was given to all three of them.

In his good natured aspect he created islands and gave sailors safe passage on calm seas, but when he was angered he would strike his trident into the ground and cause earthquakes, rough seas and shipwrecks.

Invoke Poseidon in your rituals for: Safe passage if you are travelling by sea, Fair weather, Invoke his powerful energy for any fertility spells

Zeus:

Also known as: Allfather, Cloud gatherer

Associations: Sky and Thunder God, King of the Gods

Sacred to Zeus: Thunderbolt, Oak, Eagle and Bull

His Story: Zeus was the youngest son of Cronos and Rhea, he was one of the 12 Olympians and known as King of the Gods on Mount Olympus.

Cronos heard that one of his sons was prophesized to overthrow him so he ate all of his children – but Zeus was spared by his mother cleverly giving Cronos a stone wrapped in swaddling – which he ate. Zeus was hidden and raised in Crete but always planned to free his brothers and sisters, which he did by forcing his father to basically throw up his children after being given a potion by Metis. Zeus and his brothers and sisters then did in fact overthrow their father in the war of the titans.

In most traditions he was married to Hera with whom he had several children however, he was also very well known for his many affairs from which he fathered many children (like more than 20!)

He was respected and honoured as King of the Gods who assigned the other Gods their roles and it was said that even those who were not his natural children addressed him as Father. All Gods would rise in his presence.

Invoke Zeus in your rituals for: Use his powerful energy to add power to spells that need a lot of oomph, Spells for justice, Spells for protection when travelling by air, Binding spells (be careful with these)

Goddesses

Aphrodite:

Also known as: Cytherea (Lady of Cytherea), Cypris (Lady of Cyprus), Acidalia, Cerigo

Associations: Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love, Beauty, Pleasure, Procreation and Sexuality

Sacred to Aphrodite: Myrtle, Doves, Horses, Swans and Sparrows, Dolphins, Roses, Scallop shells, Girdle and Mirror

Her Story: There are several myths about the birth of Aphrodite. One is that when Cronos (Titan) cut off the genitals of Uranus (Sky) and tossed them into the sea, she rose up from the sea foam. Another is that she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.

Because of her beauty the Gods worried that rivalry over her would start a war so Zeus married her off to Hephaestus – the ugly and lame God of Smithing who was not seen as a threat. Aphrodite was known to have many love affairs with both Gods and men including Ares – God of War and Adonis, as well as Anchises – A member of the royal family of Troy.

Invoke Aphrodite in your rituals for: Love spells including self-love spells, Spells to connect with your own beauty or to bring beauty into your life, Fertility spells, Spells to invite more pleasure into your life, spells to feel more comfortable and accepting about your sexuality, spells to connect with your sexuality.

Athena:

Also known as: Pallas, Athena Polias (Athena of the city)

Associations: She is the Goddess of Wisdom, Craft, War and Heroic endeavours

Sacred to Athena: Olive trees, Snakes, Armour, Helmets, Aegis, Owls, Gorgoneion (protective amulet)

Her Story: Athena is the daughter of Zeus and Metis.

As opposed to her brother Ares she has a calm temperament and is slow to anger. When she went to battle it was for a purpose and she would only fight for ‘just’ reasons. She was known for her military strategy and generalship.

Athena is a companion of heroes and is the patron Goddess of heroic endeavours. She is the virgin patroness of Athens – her namesake city and the Parthenon was erected in her honour. She was known as the protector of Athens.

Invoke Athena in your rituals for: Clarity and when you need to make a wise decision, Rituals to promote creativity, Rituals for justice and for when you need to ‘go to war’ with a clear and level head

Hera:

Also known as: Juno in Roman Mythology

Associations: Hera is the Goddess of Women and Marriage, She also has the gift of Prophecy, Embodies Wisdom, Love & Independence

Sacred to Hera: Pomegranate, Cow, Lilly, Panther, Sceptre, Throne, Peacock, Cuckoo, Lion, Feather, Cow, Diadem

Her Story: Hera was the daughter of Cronos and Rhea (both Titans) and was married to Zeus (as well as being his sister!).

Described as Queen of the Gods & Goddesses, she was known to be majestic and solemn with fierce jealousy and a lust for revenge against any who crossed her, especially the lovers and many offspring of Zeus. Paris famously earned her hatred by choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful Goddess in a contest.

She is often depicted enthroned and wearing a ‘polos’ – a cylindrical crown worn by some of the Great Goddesses. She would also often hold a pomegranate that symbolised fertile blood and death.

Invoke Hera in your rituals for: Spells for the protection of Women and Girls, Spells for Marriage, Spells for calling back your power, Spells to gain back your independence, Spells for wisdom.

Lesson 3.6

A closer look at: Kitchen Witchery

Picture this…A woman goes out to her garden and in a sacred manner collects herbs and fruits/Vegetables while she thanks Mother Earth and each plant for their bounty and blessing. She goes inside and stokes the fire, moving her cauldron over it to warm in preparation for the magical meal she is about to make. She begins to prepare the ingredients for the feast, putting all her love and intent into the food. She adds the prepared ingredients to her cauldron and then sits over it, stirring and continuing to put her intentions into the feast. She then gathers her loved ones around her kitchen table and gives thanks to Hestia Goddess of Hearth & Home for this food, her family and all the blessings in her life. The family then partake of this nourishment, each one benefiting from the energy, love and magic that has gone into it……

This is the essence of Kitchen Witchery.

A Kitchen Witch is usually one who uses herbs, crafts, foods and utensils to perform spells. The tradition of the Kitchen Witch has roots in early folk magic and folklore and focuses on the hearth and kitchen being the centre of the home. Meals, potions and brews that are sometimes passed down through generations are lovingly prepared over hours, not dumped out of a box or a can in minutes. Everything is sacred, every part of preparation is done with intention and the kitchen witch brings magic into every part of the meal or recipe. He/she uses her kitchen magic to give power to spells, to heal, to create, to protect the home, to bring harmony to the home, to bring peace to the world and to give magical gifts to loved ones.

The Kitchen Witch uses her energy to enhance whatever she is preparing and the magic itself is activated when the food is eaten or the created object is used.

How can you incorporate Kitchen Witchery into your daily life?

• Have a small altar in your kitchen with items you can easily move when needed. You might like to add God/Goddess representations, a cauldron, a candle and maybe some crystals.
• Use organic chemical free ingredients in every creation you make
• Grow your own food and ingredients for your magical recipes, brews and potions
• Collect ingredients from your garden in a sacred manner, thank the plants as you cut them
• Put your intention into everything you create Eg: Using basil in your meal can invite prosperity
• Make magical potions for healing, love, prosperity, health and anything else you can think of
• Make magical charms
• Make magical beauty products
• Inscribe sigils into pastries
• Pay attention to what direction you stir according to your magical intention – will you stir deosil or widdershins?

Make your kitchen a magical space

• Have a statue of Hestia Goddess of Hearth and home in your kitchen
• Hang herbs to dry in the kitchen
• Create a sacred space in your kitchen, decorate it in a way that pleases you and makes you feel comfortable to be in
• Have live herbs and plants in the kitchen
• Keep your kitchen clean – a cluttered space = a cluttered mind and in magic that won’t do
• Keep a book of magical recipes that is separate from your B.O.S

♥ How can you make your kitchen a more magical space now?

Download your free printable PDF here: Kitchen Witch Herb Chart

Lesson 3.7:

Magical Tools: Incense and Censor

The censor is basically an incense burner. You can use an elaborate gold and chain swinging censor like the ones they use in churches or you can simply use a bowl with some earth or sand in it. The censor is generally used with charcoal disks that you light up and then place on top of the sand (the sand absorbs the heat from the charcoal so your bowl doesn’t crack). Your powdered incense is then sprinkled on top and as the charcoal disk slowly burns the incense is burnt too releasing its aroma. You can also use incense cones in your censor. You can pretty much use anything for a censor, it doesn’t have to be fancy. I love the idea of using a large seashell, as mentioned above you can use a simple bowl or you can use one specifically made for this purpose.

Element: Air

Use it to: Cleanse your space, help you focus, healing, cleansing yourself and objects (like your tarot cards or crystals), to invoke Goddess & God

Types of Incense: Incense comes in a few different forms like stick incense, incense cones or powdered. You can procure incense fairly cheaply but it’s also great to make your own. When using incense consider first what purpose you want it to serve to help you choose the one that will be most suited or beneficial. For example: If you want to cleanse yourself, your space or an object – use white sage. If you are performing a love spell – use rose. If you are creating your own – carefully choose ingredients that will aid your spell and have the attributes representative of what your spell is for Eg, Use basil for prosperity.

Where to find it: If you are after a censor bowl op shops or flea markets would be a great place to look for one or you could order one online. Otherwise you can find incense itself and incense holders everywhere in retail outlets.

Lesson 3.8:

Your Altar set up for this month

For your altar set up this month I would like you to focus on your Goddess & God representations. You might like to start looking around for statues of each of them (if you haven’t already) but for now refer to the list of Goddess & God representations in Lesson 1.

You might also like to consider what season it is and find out what Sabbat is coming up and add representations for them such as fresh flowers, a coloured tablecloth, crystals, candles, fresh herbs from your garden or fruits. Add whatever feels good and sings to you.

Also add anything special you would like blessed such as crystals, new cards or jewellery.

Lesson 3.9:

How to Cast Circle – Basic

What is a circle?

A circle is a safe sacred space you create to perform your magic in. It is a space to contain and raise energy. Creating this protective circle helps prevent negative entities from leaching onto you or being attracted to you when you are working so closely with the otherworld and energies.

Why do you need to have one?

For protection, to help you focus, to connect more deeply with Deity and to do your magical workings.

How to cast circle – A basic format

Casting circle can be a really elaborate affair and very rewarding spiritually but with this lesson we will just start with a simple format so you can experience what it feels like first without feeling overwhelmed.

How big your circle is is really up to you but traditionally they are about 9 feet in diameter when doing solitary workings.

You can choose to work indoors or out and can use various methods of marking your circle out. For outdoor rituals you can mark the circle with a sword or magic knife or use salt. For indoor rituals you can use chalk, salt (the one I most commonly use) or a white cord. If you have a permanent space you could also be really bold and mark out your circle permanently with paint.

You of course don’t have to do any of these things and can simply visualize a circle of white light which is what I do the majority of the time. First of all, make sure you have all the things you will need for your ritual and have your altar set up according to the altar set up outlined in lesson 1 with any additional bits and pieces you will need for your ritual (representations).

Mark the directions (N,S,E,W) with white candles placed just outside the perimeter of the circle. Then using your finger or your athame if you have one, hold your arm straight out in front of you and point your finger/knife. Begin to walk widdershins (anti-clockwise – deosil clockwise for northern hemisphere) around your circle and visualise white light streaming out of your finger/knife. As you see the ring of white light forming see it expanding above and below the line. As you do this say the following:

I conjure you circle so that you may provide me with a safe and sacred space to work within. So mote it be.

By the time you are back to where you started the white light has extended all the way to the ceiling and below the ground/floor so that it has formed a large sphere all around you.

Now walk the circle with your representations of the elements – Your bowl of water (sprinkle some), your salt to represent Earth (sprinkle this too), A candle to represent Fire and your incense to represent Air.

Now it is time to call in the guardians of the directions to ask them to attend your ritual (Turn to each direction as you invoke them)

Hail Guardian of the North, Element of Fire

I bid you welcome. I ask you to stand sentinal, watch over and protect me while I perform my magick on this day

Blessed Be

Hail Guardian of the East, Element of Water

I bid you welcome. I ask you to stand sentinal, watch over and protect me while I perform my magick on this day

Blessed Be

Hail Guardian of the South, Element of Earth

I bid you welcome. I ask you to stand sentinal, watch over and protect me while I perform my magick on this day

Blessed Be

Hail Guardian of the West, Element of Air

I bid you welcome. I ask you to stand sentinal, watch over and protect me while I perform my magick on this day

Blessed Be

And now call in Goddess and God:

Goddess and God of all that is.

I ask you to witness and bless this magical working within this sacred space.

Blessed Be

If you are asking a particular Goddess or God to attend your ritual you can substitute ‘Goddess and God’ for their names.

At this point you might like to call in your guides and/or ancestors

Your circle is now ready for your ritual.

When you have completed your spell remember to thank the Guardians and Goddess & God. Now walk deosil (clockwise – widdershins anti-clockwise for northern hemisphere) around the circle with your hand/knife pointed at the centre and ‘cut’ the circle, visualise the white light dissipating and say

‘The circle is open but never broken’.

Please note: Some people identify the attributes of the Guardians differently to what I have here. For example: The Guardian of Air might normally be associated with the east however, because I live on the east coast – I associate Water with the east. This is something you must take into consideration and figure out what works best for you.

♦ Journal your experience of this

Lesson 3.10

Energy work for this month: How to raise power for your circles and rituals

What is raising power?

It is simply raising energy to utilize for your rituals, it gives them more power. It is also a way to more strongly connect with the Divine. There are lots of fun ways to raise power:

• Drumming
• Dancing
• Music
• Singing
• Banging things together – your hands, sticks etc
• Drawing up energy from the Earth and drawing down energy from the Cosmos
• Rubbing your hands together quickly and vigorously

Once you have raised power you are ready to begin your ritual (you can also raise power during the ritual – like once you have said the incantation – to give it lots of power and oomph).

♥ A little word of caution here though is to make sure you are able to handle the extra power. If you begin to feel strange or a little woozy, stop immediately and ground yourself.

Lesson 3.11:

Ritual for this month:

A Ritual for Midsummers Eve or a New Moon. (Also good for when you have just made a big life change like marriage, a new house, new job etc).

This is a 2 part ritual – part 1 is just for you and part 2 is a magical celebration with your friends and family. (Part 2 of this ritual is optional)

You will need: Part 1

• Your journal
• A pen
• A picnic rug or blanket
• A censor or bowl with a little sand in it
• A charcoal disk
• Some powdered incense
• A lighter
• Some water

The Ritual:

• Prepare what you will need the night before
• Arise just before dawn. Take your journal, pen, your censor, your incense & charcoal disk, lighter, your rug and your water.
• Go to your favourite place in nature. It can be your backyard, a mountain top, the forest, the beach. Wherever you feel most connected to nature – try to find a spot where you can have some privacy (and be safe!)
• Set up a little sacred space for yourself
• Light your incense and then spend a moment connecting – to yourself, to nature and the divine. Dig your feet into the ground, breathe in the air, hear the life all around you, feel the rising sun on your face.
• Face the Sun and Invoke Goddess and God:

Great God of all that is

On this day I greet you with love and appreciation

For all that you have gifted me with

Your wisdom, Your creativity and Your energy

I ask for your presence and your blessing throughout this sacred rite

As I reflect on my successes and release what no longer resonates with me

Blessed Be

Great Goddess of all that is

On this day I greet you with love and appreciation

For the gifts that you will continue to bestow upon me

Your wisdom, Your creativity and Your energy

I ask for your presence and your blessing throughout this sacred rite

As I look to the year/month ahead and create the vision of what I will bring into my life

Blessed Be

• As you sit in your sacred space and feel the energy of the rising Sun sit and reflect on the year/month that has been. What were your successes? What didn’t work out how you thought it would? What is no longer working for you? What do you need to release? Write it all down. Celebrate your successes and release what you need to – energetically let it go.
• Now look to the year/month ahead. What would you like to bring into your life this year/month? A new career, a relationship, more money, more travel, deeper connection? Write it all down and then sketch out an action plan for how you will bring this all into fruition – knowing that you have the fertile energy of the Goddess behind you to propel your goals and dreams forward.
• Feeling energized, refreshed, motivated and inspired – Thank God and Goddess for attending your rite. Snuff out your incense and go and have the best day!

You will need: Part 2

• Red, yellow and orange candles
• In season fresh flowers
• Pine cones, nuts & seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables
• A feast fit for the God & Goddess themselves

The Ritual

• Lovingly prepare your feasting table decorated with your candles, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and flowers
• Invite your most treasured friends and family over for a magical feast (a bit of pre-planning will help here) and ask everyone to bring a plate and a small gift (if it’s Midsummers)
• Invite Goddess, God, your Guides and your Ancestors to your feast
• As everyone is sitting around the table ask each person to share with everyone one thing they are grateful for from the past year/month
• Celebrate with wild abandon – eat, drink and be merry!
• Exchange gifts
• Thank Goddess, God, your Guides and your Ancestors for attending your feast and conclude your evening whenever you are ready.

Lesson 3.12:

Meditation – Connecting to your inner Kitchen Witch

First of all you may like to call on Goddess Hestia to help you move through this meditation as she is the Goddess of Hearth and Home.

Go to a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and sit comfortably or lie down with your spine straight.

Take 3 deep breaths, on the last breath breathe all the way down into your toes.

Beginning at your feet, with each breath, breathe and feel into each and every part of your body. Up through your legs, into your dantien (centre), through your torso, into your chest, your arms, your shoulders, your neck and your head.

Once you are ‘home’ in your body, take another deep nourishing breath and visualize yourself in a beautiful garden. See, sense and feel the fresh air, the insects and animals enjoying this space, the large trees and beautiful plants and flowers everywhere.

This is your very own garden of Eden. It is filled with everything you could possibly desire in a garden. There are fruit trees with every fruit imaginable. There are vegetables and herbs, there is a beautiful greenhouse, there are cosy little nooks with places to sit and dream.

You begin to wander around the garden and as you do you begin to pick flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables in a sacred manner – thanking each and every plant for their gift as you do.

Once your arms are full with nature’s bounty you head inside to your kitchen. This is your dream kitchen. What does it look like? Is there a large stone hearth? A huge island bench? Is it filled with light? Is there a large table for family and friends? Your dream kitchen will be whatever you want it to be.

You put your ingredients on the bench and take a moment to look around at and connect with this sacred space you have created for yourself. There are herbs hanging to dry, there is a statue of Goddess Hestia watching over everything you do, there are candles…It is a cosy and comforting space.

You light a candle and thank Hestia for watching over you while you create and then you cleanse your space with a smudge stick.

Now you are ready to begin.

You begin to gather your ingredients thinking about the magic you are about to create. What will you make with your ingredients? A magical meal for your family and friends? A potion for healing? A natural skincare recipe? A remedy?

Begin to prepare your creation and as you do so, pour your intention into every part of it. Think about the properties of each ingredient; consider how you will stir your recipe.

Take some time with this now……

When you have finished, give your creation a blessing that seems fitting and prepare to share this in whatever way seems right to you – if it is a gift wrap it beautifully, if it is a meal for family then prepare the table for a feast.

Knowing that once the recipe is used or partaken of – the magic will be released, take a moment to sit now and take a few deep breaths, as you do so, slowly come back into your body.

When you are ready open your eyes.

Are you itching to go create something now or make your kitchen a more magical space?

Have fun with this x

Lesson 3.13

Self-Care Rituals

Last month we talked about the importance of sleep so we can have a clear mind and good energy for our rituals. This month I want to talk about Movement or Exercise. As part of our holistic self-care routine exercise is essential to keep our energy flowing, keep our minds clear and keep our moods positive.

I would recommend a minimum of 3 x 30 minutes a week doing something you actually enjoy – and use this time to really connect with your body and listen to your own inner wisdom.

To up the benefits even more, exercise outside and connect with Nature and the Divine at the same time! I rarely feel more in tune with myself and the Divine then when I am walking through a forest or walking on the beach – feeling the earth under my feet, feeling the fire of the sun on my face, feeling the air breathe all around me and feeling the water as I swish through it or feel its energy as it cascades down my local waterfall.

If you struggle with exercise I suggest asking a friend to exercise with you and making the effort to find ways to enjoy it. I mix my exercise routine up all the time and love:

• Walking in Nature
• Swimming
• Rollerskating
• Kickboxing
• Weight training
• Climbing mountains with friends and family
• Combining cardio and strength by going for a walk near one of those outdoor fitness parks
• Yoga

Bonus Magical Bits

Your Practical Activity for the month:

Make a Midsummers or celebratory Wreath

Making a Wreath is a traditional activity for Midsummers Eve (or for any special celebration). Make one for your head, to hang over your altar, to place on your Midsummers feasting table or to hang on your front door.

You will need:

• A wreath base you can find in a craft store, or a vine, or florist wire or flexible branches you can weave together
• Flowers – choose ones that are fresh and in season
• Greenery, fern leaves or fine vines would be nice
• Ribbons in colours that are meaningful to you or that are sacred to Midsummers (silver and gold would be nice as accent colours)
• Scissors and Glue

Method:

1. Wind the vine or wire into a circle of an appropriate size remembering that it will be bigger once it has everything added to it
2. Weave in the greenery or vine, use glue to secure if needed
3. Weave in your flowers one at a time, weave them in and out of the wire to help them stay in place, adding a bit of glue if you need to
4. Add your ribbon
5. A nice touch might be to give it a light spray with hairspray glitter to give it a bit of extra sparkle and bling

♥ If you are making a wreath to throw in water – use long stemmed flowers that you can weave together on their own.

Your reading suggestion for this month:

The real Witches Kitchen by Kate West OR Magick for the Kitchen Witch by Deanna Anderson

Your Book of Shadows:

For this month:

• Copy in the Sabbat info
• Add The Seasons and The Moon Phase
• Add info about utilizing the energy of the Sun
• Add the information about Gods & Goddesses
• Add Kitchen Witchery
• Add tools – Censor and Incense
• How to cast circle
• How to raise power
• Add Midsummers/New Moon Ritual

As I have previously mentioned, your Book of Shadows is your own so it is 100% up to you how you wish to lay it out and what you wish to include.

Next month:

In Lesson 4 we move into the second quarter and we begin to go deeper. You now step into the role of an intermediate witch!

• We continue to learn about Sabbats, Moon phases, Seasons
• We will learn about the Japanese pantheon
• The wonders of a Wand
• We will learn the full casting of a circle
• We take a look at Faerie Magic
• An introduction to Crystal Magic
• Energy Work: An introduction to the Chakra System
• Introduction to Divination
• + All the regulars – A new Altar set up, A new Meditation, A new Ritual a new Reading suggestion, A new Self Care Ritual and Adding to your Book of Shadows

It’s going to be another amazing month full of magic!

In the meantime, I hope you have enjoyed this lesson as much as I have enjoyed putting it together. Remember – you will only get as much out of this as you put in so I would recommend daily practice.

If you have any questions you can email me anytime: bella@wiccid.com.au or post them in our Facebook group.

Please also remember to fill out the feedback sheet and email it back to me so I can continue to improve your learning experience,

Love, Light & Blessings to you, Bella x

Resources

https://wiccid.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Wiccid-Academy-Lesson-3-Updated-Final.pdf

https://wiccid.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kitchen-Witch-Herb-Chart.pdf

* Disclaimer:

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure an individual’s safety throughout this program – All recipes, meditations, magical workings and rituals are suggestions only and should only be undertaken under your own discretion and responsibility. Belinda Payne & Wiccid do not take any responsibility whatsoever for any adverse reactions to any of the items listed above whether physical or mental. If you are unsure as to whether you are fit to undertake any of the above listed items – please seek the advice of a health care professional.