Lunar Raiser

If you’re anything like me, you’ll think upcycling is among the best things in the entire world. 

I combined my love of altar making and the art of upcycling to make a sweet little sacred space to perform magick and the like.

Here are some ideas for your very own upcycled altar:

Pentacle disk:

Old jam jar lid painted black with a star on top.

Cardboard decorated with ribbon, rhinestones, and old buttons.

Teacup saucer with a star in the center.

Pringles can lid with a star etched into the center. (backing this with a bright colored piece of paper doesn’t look half bad)

Athame/Ritual Knife:

Take an old comb and place the stick-handle part into a cylindrical shape. (toothbrush travel cases and toilet paper rolls work well, but the roll should be cut a little to fit the comb) Wrap it with ribbon, and top with a knife of sorts. Pocket blades, antlers, horns, and even a whittled piece of wood will be fine. Decorate as desired, and make sure the ‘blade’ won’t fall off. 

Cauldron:

A large kitchen bowl or terracotta pot can easily be redecorated and adapted to use as a cauldron. For the kitchen bowl, you can paint it black, leave it alone, or just glue a few things onto it. Mine was spray painted black and trimmed with little white moon-glyphs. To add a handle, drill holes into the side and attach wire or metal securely. Terracotta pots are similar, but have to be treated with more care when moving and drilling. 

Take a bunch of stones and glue them securely into a plastic or glass bowl. You can do the same on the outside, or leave it as it is. 

Candles:

Melting down crayons into coca-cola bottle caps, acorn lids etc. can be an endearing addition to your altar. You can pick the perfect colors, add sweet scents, and place the herbs you wish to use right into the mix.

Statues:

Crafting your own statues is so much fun. You can create gods and goddesses out of felt, scrap fabric, old tees, and even rags. Give them personality and stuff them up with intention. If your ‘statue’ is of a deity with specific symbols, you can add those onto them, and keep sachets of their herbs/plants inside of their little bellies.

Get some clay or play doh and shape out the statues yourself! They can be faceless like mine if you don’t feel confident on their features, or they can be simple ‘goddess’ or ‘god’ statues with no real identity.

Altar Cloth:

Patch together old tee shirt scraps, rags, and scarves

Crochet/knit an altar cloth using leftover yarn.

Weave a natural cloth using things outside like willow tree branches and long plant leaves. 

Dress up a blanket using paint or embroidery. You can even make it a little guide for where to place certain items.

Element Representation:

Most of the elements can be easily represented by things found just outside, but making a unique plaque for each is more exciting. I place each little representation on these four podiums:

Earth -

A large, flat stone with the Earth symbol painted onto it. Using a steppingstone or a boulder is a nice little way to incorporate Earth into your altar. I place crystals, salt, and other Earth-y things onto this during rituals and spells. Taking a shoebox lidand tracing a circle out to work as the plaque as good as well.

Fire -

I took a burnt piece of wood and smoothed it down a bit. My friend is a good wood-burner, so she helped me get a nice fire symbol onto it. Jars full of burnt paper, wood, etc… are excellent representations for an upcycled altar.

Air -

I took a bag of feathers from my crafting drawer, and picked the most realistic looking ones. I glued them onto my fabric-covered disk into the shape of the air symbol. It’s light, which I feel is quite fitting ;) Placing a bird picture, a woodwind instrument, or even your wand here is a sweet idea.

Water -

The Book of Shadows (BOS) is used to store information you’ll need in your magical tradition, whatever it may be. 

Many Pagans and Wiccans feel a BOS should be handwritten -this will not only transfer energy to the writer, but it also helps you to memorize the contents. (Make sure you write legibly enough that you’ll be able to read your notes during a ritual!) - but some use a computer to store information as well. 

Bear in mind that a BOS is considered a sacred tool, which means it is an item of power that should be consecrated with all of your other magical tools. 

To make your Book of Shadows, begin with a blank notebook. A popular method is to use a three-ring binder so items can be added and rearranged as needed. If you use this style of BOS, you can use sheet protectors as well, which is great for preventing candle wax and other ritual drippings from getting on the pages! 

Whatever you select, your title page should include your name. Make it fancy or simple, depending on your preference, but remember that the BOS is a magical object and should be treated accordingly. Many witches simply write, “The Book of Shadows of [your name]” on the front page.

What format should you use? Some witches are known to create elaborate Books of Shadows in secret, magical alphabets. Unless you’re fluent enough in one of these systems that you can read it without having to check notes or a chart, stick with your native language. While a spell looks beautiful written out in flowing Elvish script or Klingon lettering, the fact is that it’s just hard to read unless you’re an Elf or a Klingon.

When it comes to the contents of your personal BOS, there are a few sections that are nearly universally included.

Laws of your coven or tradition: Believe it or not, magic has rules. While they may vary from group to group, it’s a really good idea to keep them at the front of your BOS as a reminder of what constitutes acceptable behavior and what doesn’t. If you’re part of an eclectic tradition that doesn’t have written rules, or if you’re a solitary witch, this is a good place to write down what YOU think are acceptable rules of magic;

A dedication: If you’ve been initiated into a coven, you may want to include a copy of your initiation ceremony here. However, many Wiccans dedicate themselves to a God or Goddess long before they become part of a coven. This is a good place to write out who you are dedicating yourself to, and why;

Gods and Goddesses: Depending on what pantheon or tradition you follow, you may have a single God and Goddess, or a number of them. Your BOS is a good place to keep legends and myths and even artwork concerning your Deity. If your practice is an eclectic blend of different spiritual paths, it’s a good idea to include that here;

Correspondence tables: When it comes to spellcasting, correspondence tables are some of your most important tools. Phases of the moon, herbs, stones and crystals, colors – all have different meanings and purposes. Keeping a chart of some sort in your BOS guarantees that this information will be at the ready when you really need it;

Sabbat rituals: The Wheel of the Year includes eight holidays for most Wiccans and Pagans, although some traditions do not celebrate all of them. Your BOS can include rituals for each of the Sabbats. Click here for more information.

Other rituals: If you’ll be celebrating each full moon, you’ll want to include an Esbat rite in your BOS. You can use the same one each month, or create several different ones tailored to the time of year. You may also wish to include sections on how to cast a circle and Drawing Down the Moon, a rite that celebrates the invoking of the Goddess at the time of the full moon. If you’ll be doing any rites for healing, prosperity, protection, or other purposes, be sure to include them here;

Herbs/Crystals: Ask any experienced Pagan or Wiccan about a specific herb or crystal, and chances are good that they’ll expound on not only the magical uses of them but also the healing properties and history of use. Herbalism and crystology are often considered the core of spellcasting, because plants and crystals are ingredients that people have used for literally thousands of years. Put together a section in your BOS for herbs, crystals and their uses. Click here and here for more information;

Divination: If you’re learning about Tarot, scrying, astrology, or any other form of divination, keep information in here. When you experiment with new methods of divination, keep a record of what you do and results you see in your Book of Shadows.

Sacred texts: While it’s fun to have a bunch of new shiny books on Wicca and Paganism to read, sometimes it’s just as nice to have information that’s a little more established. If there is a certain text that appeals to you, such as The Charge of the Goddess, an old prayer in an archaic language, or a particular chant that moves you, include it in your Book of Shadows;

Magical recipes: There’s a lot to be said for “kitchen witchery,” because for many people, the kitchen is the center of hearth and home. As you collect recipes for oils, incense, or herb blends, keep them in your BOS. You may even want to include a section of food recipes for Sabbat celebrations. Click here for more information;

Spell workings: Some people prefer to keep their spells in a separate book called a grimoire, but you can also keep them in your Book of Shadows. It’s easier to keep spells organized if you divide them up by purpose: prosperity, protection, healing, etc …

The biggest dilemma with any Book of Shadows is how to keep it organized. You can use tabbed dividers, create an index at the back, or if you’re really super-organized, a table of contents in the front. As you study and learn more, you’ll have more information to include (this is why the three-ring binder is such a practical idea).

Keep in mind that as our technology is constantly changing, the way we use it does too - there are people who keep their BOS completely digitally on a flash drive, their laptop, or even stored virtually to be accessed by their favorite mobile device. A BOS pulled up on a smart phone is no less valid than one copied by by hand in ink onto parchment.

You may want to use one notebook for information copied from books or downloaded off the Internet, and another for original creations. Regardless, find the method that works best for you, and take good care of your Book of Shadows. After all, it’s a sacred object and should be treated accordingly!

Book of Shadows consecrating ritual

You can consecrate your new Book of Shadows and Pen(s) of Art with a simple ritual:

On the night of a New Moon, cast a Circle as you feel comfortable doing, and gather together your book and pen(s), along with a blessed bowl of water, inside the circle. By candlelight, consecrate your writing equipment by holding your hands out, palms down, over the equipment and saying words like these:

Book of Shadows, leaves of white Pen of Art with point so fine Soon be filled with Sabbat rite Magick charm and chanted spell. Day by day and night by night, White pages pen of art will fill.

Then anoint each pen, book, etc. with a symbol of your choosing (Pentagram, Crescent Moon, etc.) saying something like:

From this night of the moon, I dedicate this book and this pen (etc.) To the Mysteries of the Ancient Ways. As I will, so mote it be!

I will just call it a ‘book’ for simplicity :) 

Here are some of my thoughts on creating and keeping a book. YMMV

Ask yourself what your book is actually for

My book is a tool in my practice. It is meant to inspire me and help me grow. I include things I want to learn or understand better. I add sigils and spelled pages so the book itself is magical and can provide for me when I need it. I write about ethics and morality, and what I believe is important. I also write tips and tricks that seem useful but that I am unlikely to remember. I do not include anything I already know well, because I don’t see the point in writing down information I already know that I will never look up.

Everyone keeps a magical book for different reasons. Ask yourself what yours is for, and use that as the core of your book.

Don’t write your book for other people

Don’t think of your book as being an heirloom that will one day be used to train other witches or be passed down to your children. Think of it more like a school notebook that will help you get to the next level. Very likely by the time you become a mentor or have wee little witchlet babies, your opinions or beliefs will have significantly changed and nothing you are writing down now will be important. Think of your magical book as field notes, not the finished memoirs of your magical journey.

What is the point in stressing over the exact placement of your color correspondences, and spending four hours decorating the pages with utmost care, when three months from now you may discard colors as being unimportant, and six months from now your journal will be full and you’ll need to get a new one anyway? When you are fifty or sixty and have a lifetime of information to share, then such pains would be worthwhile. For now, is the information you copy off the Internet or out of other books really so worthy of all that care and attention?

Don’t rewrite books that already exist

It is a romantic notion to have a tome that explains magic, details how to cast spells, reviews every plant you’ll ever encounter, and has an encyclopedia of spirits and rituals to boot. But creation of such a thing would take months, if not years, of full time work. The good news is that such books already exist, and you do not need to rewrite them. I admire the patience of those who decide to rewrite field guides of plants around the world, drawing their own pictures to boot, but I would much rather pick up a copy of Medicinal Plants and Herbs on Amazon for $6, and save myself months of labor.

To create accurate entries in your book, you will need resources such as these anyway. I understand that not everybody has the resources to collect books, or the privacy to download PDFs of books, or swing by the library whenever they need something on plants or mythology or what have you. But if you do have access to such resources, just buy the book somebody else wrote and save yourself the trouble of trying to replicate professional publications.

I’m not saying that including information from other books in your special book is bad. I am saying that if you intend on writing a full-length publication on plants or animals or magic or whatever, it may be a lot more convenient and helpful to just see if one already exists and buy it.

Things you could include:

Use your book not only as a tool of information, but also as a tool of inspiration. Draw or paint images or symbols that inspire you. Write quotes or passages that instantly take you to that witchy headspace. Try including some of your favorite witchy tasks or actions that always make you feel great.

The steps to take in case of certain emergencies - such as attack from another witch, danger from spirits, different mundane disasters, and so on. During times of panic or stress it can be difficult to remember exactly what can be done to relieve the situation.

Lists of the magical items you have on hand. I create enchanted items like a hen lays eggs and it is difficult for me to remember what I already have. Consider how useful (and satisfying) it would be to have a list of all the enchanted items you have on hand - it would also be easier to think of new things to make or experiment with.

Your current protections, how they were made and what powers them, etc. It is not good to create protections and forget about them. It is also easier to create safe spaces and protect those you love when you can easily see what has already been done.

Self-love magic, or steps to take in case of mental upset. When I am depressed or anxious it can be difficult for me to remember the helpful magical actions I can take to manage my emotions. A page in my book called “Read me if you’re depressed” is infinitely helpful to get back on track.

Mixtures and recipes you are likely to use but unlikely to remember, especially helpful magical baths, cleansers, incenses, teas, or charm bags.

A quick list of the medical dangers of the magical ingredients you own, so you can run through and double-check before you start any magical action. For example, noting that you shouldn’t throw angelite in water and then drink it, or that Valerian root may negatively interact with depression medication, or not to rub cinnamon oil on your skin.

The steps to anything you are trying to learn - such as the steps to enter trance or complete a certain ritual.

Magical actions that will probably be useful to have around or that you would like to try later, such as breathing or gazing exercises, energy work techniques, and alternate forms of things you already do (such as a new way to ground or shield).

Meditations or mental rituals that you can do anywhere, and your experiences with them.

The names and preferences of spirits you have encountered so you can help foster relations with them in the future.

Spells you really enjoy that you are likely to use over and over again in the future, or spells that were really cool that you don’t want to forget.

Writings about your beliefs and paradigms, what you believe magic is all about, and what you believe your place in it is.

Sources. Where did this information come from?

Your opinions. Don’t just include information - include what you think about it. Write about why you like it or don’t like it. Question the information itself. Ask how it fits in to your paradigm and how it could be improved.

Ways to organize your book:

Use an existing method of journaling such as the bullet journal method as inspiration to create and organize your book.

Use a binder so you can rearrange pages to your liking

Don’t use sections at all. If your book has five sections (Plants, Spells, Rituals, Correspondences, Crystals) then I will bet you $10 that you are going to spend a lot of time trying to figure out where to put anything that doesn’t fit neatly in to a predetermined category - and that it will happen a lot. Even worse you may be tempted to disregard or throw away information that doesn’t fit neatly in to your book, simply because adding another section would ruin the ‘aesthetic’.

Try writing in chronological order. In a few months it will be exciting to look back on your progress and see the changes as you flip through the days. If you use an index, you are also not likely to 'lose’ any information. And there is no need to ever reorganize or worry about where to put what.

Create a clear system of labeling so that when you go to each page you immediately understand what is on it. Sigil is an obvious header. Essay or Musings may be a good way to start off blocks of writing. Numbering each page and adding dates may be very helpful to you as well.

Don’t worry about skipping pages or not having enough room. It is easy enough to write (cont. page 47) and carry on a few pages later. If you have pages left blank, fill them with artwork, pressed flowers, quotes you like… whatever suits your fancy.

No page needs to be totally filled. It is okay to waste space. It is okay to start a page and add to it for weeks, and it is okay to start a page that never gets finished because you don’t need it any more.

It is okay to cross things out, have scribbles, etc. Perfection is not necessary.

Decoration

No book has to be decorated. That’s up to you.

Do what makes you happy. Your pages do not have to be perfectly matched like a team of horses. Some of my pages are written in pencil, others in ink. Others have fancy calligraphy, others are painted. I use cursive or block letters to write depending on how I am feeling.

Write when you feel like writing, and decorate when you feel like decorating. I am usually in one mood or the other. I have pages and pages of undecorated content that I add when I am feeling studious, and when I am feeling creative I go back and add drawings or color.

Getting fancy

Use whatever works for you, but it is good to plan ahead:

Do you want to carry your book around with you? If so, use something that will fit in your bag or purse. A two inch binder is mighty useful but not mighty portable.

If you will be using ink, do some testing to make sure that the pens you have will not bleed or smear on your paper.

If you plan to decorate your pages with paint or watercolor, get an artist’s book or papers that can handle it.

If you plan to be very artsy with your book, decide if lined paper will drive you crazy or not. If you want your pages to be highly organized, grid paper may be the best for you.

As far as I know “Book of Shadows” is a Wiccan term, but keeping a magical journal of some kind can and is done by many different people from many different practices.  “Grimoire” is a more generic (and older) term.

I have a fabulous glitter-covered binder I call my Book of Things and Whatnot.  Because my witchcraft is haphazard and usually improvised, my binder is filled mostly with information, correspondences, and short essays, and the only spells are ones I’ve actually done with notes on how they turned out.  On the other hand, some people’s books/journals/etc are almost entirely spells.  Unless you’re following some kind of path with specific rules about it, what goes into your own book is entirely up to you and your personal style of witchcraft.

I know a lot of witches love the idea of having those gorgeous leather-bound books that actually look like proper grimoires but who have trouble committing to putting anything in it because organizing them is a pain in the ass.  Books with bindings that can be undone and redone solve this problem neatly.  Scrapbooks are brilliant for this: if you tend to put other papers and objects in the book, the spine will expand to accommodate; the pages are covered in plastic, which protects from oils, melted wax, and other spills (particularly good for people with cats!); and additional pages can be added, removed, and reorganized very easily.

brigid standing by gently guiding scientists who are trying to harness dark matter, so that the whole world can be lit and no one will be cold again.

freyja tinkering with biochemicals to create plants that can cure infertility and sterility in humans, and are a rapid growing food source.

thor providing engineers with inspiration to create bigger and more successful space shuttles, so we can go out among the stars and find new worlds.

loki ceaselessly energizing doctors and technicians who are working to cure cancer, so that he can help children to stay with their parents and live happy full lives.

skadi protecting endangered species from extinction by helping conservation projects around the globe, exposing poachers to capture.

sol helping scientists who are working to stop global warming, using her rays to light the way to a greener future for mankind and all of the living on Earth.

mani watching over the oceans, guiding away those who would destroy it’s natural resources, lighting a path in the night to reach into the shimmery depths.

May you never forget to set your alarm.

May your hardest class of the day be unexpectedly cancelled.

May your bus always arrive on time.

May you always find a ride when you need one.

May the bathrooms on your floor always be clean.

College presents its’ own set of challenges for all of us. Aside from the usual hurdles involved with classes and coursework and meeting new people, there’s transplanting your witchcraft to deal with. The three biggest problems in that arena are:

Conflicts with roommate(s)

Materials like candles, incense, and blades not allowed in dorms

Lack of available resources

Fortunately, there are ways of dealing with that.

The first and most important thing is dealing with your roommate. If you know the person beforehand, I strongly urge you to sit down with them and have an open and honest discussion about your beliefs and theirs. Put everyone’s cards on the table and see where you both stand. Hopefully, you’ll be able to come to a consensus. If not, see if you’re able to find another roommate, because that’s a fight you don’t want to have to have in your room.

Now, as to the tools of your trade, there are plenty of substitutions you can make that work just as well, even if they aren’t as much fun to use.

Knives/Blades - If it’s a ceremonial blade that you use purely for symbolism, you can make a “knife” with your dominant hand, by holding it up with all four fingers and thumb straight together and rigid. If you’re using it to carve something, pins or toothpicks with do that job. For cutting purposes, substitute a pair of scissors.

Incense & Candles - Depending on your roommate’s sensitivity to certain smells, you could get a reed diffuser for scented oil or a plug-in air freshener. For the light of the candles, you can get battery-powered tealights or decorative electric candles or string lights (available as holiday decorations).

Additionally, if your practice includes burnt or scattered offerings, you can put the materials in a bowl and leave them on your altar space from dawn until dusk or vice versa. Then, take the offering and dispose of it, as appropriate, in one of the following ways:

Into your room trash or an outdoor trash receptacle (for paper, larger items, or uneaten food)

Down the sink drain or toilet (ONLY if liquid or fully water soluble)

Scattered on open ground (ONLY if small non-littering particles like herbs)

Consume it yourself (if food or drink and safe to do so)

Please keep in mind if you choose to scatter an herb offering, DO NOT scatter salt on grass or in a garden, as it will harm the plants and make the soil alkaline and unable to grow anything.

As for raw materials, you can do witchcraft with just about anything, even down to pencil and paper if need be. If you have a green thumb, see if your window will let you have a couple of potted herb plants on the windowsill. If not, check the supermarket spice aisle for readily available herbs and spices. You can also order herbs and materials online, provided that they don’t conflict with your dorm’s rules. Check back on this blog for more tips on cheap and easy witchcraft.

Keep in mind, these are NOT necessary to practice witchcraft or to call yourself a witch. I just thought I’d share with you all what I, personally, use, as well as what others use that I wanted to keep for reference. Hopefully this will become a useful list for you all, as well.

Athame: This is a ritual knife used to direct magical energy; this many be a regular knife if visualized as a ritual tool. It may also be a letter opener, pocketknife, etc. The handle color may vary, but black is traditional. Bell: May be a tiny bell with a delicate chime, or a larger bell. Used during ritual to call upon the Fairie Folk (if delicate in tone) Bolline: A cutting tool used in magical work to inscribe candles, cut herbs, cut thread, or any other such use. Any tool designated as the working tool may be used - traditionally a two-edged blade, white handle. Bowls: One for sat, one for water, one for libation. Broom/Besom: A ritual broom not used for housework, but for clearing the ritual space during Circle Casting and for spell work. Candle Holder: Can be individual, candelabra, votive holders, etc.. Cauldron: Metal pot for magical work. When burning a candle inside it, you may want to put a layer of clean sand on the bottom of the pot. Should be large enough to hold melted wax and to burn twigs inside without creating a hazard. Lidded is best, but if not possible, you may get a separate lid for covering when ready to put out any fire within. Censer: Container for incense that can be carried around the Circle or set on the Altar; should be partially filled with clean sand to hold incense and prevent burns. Cingulum: A nine-foot-long cord of red silk, wool, or cotton that is knotted at Initiation, and worn with a robe, kept on the Altar or wrapped around a tine of the Stang or around the top of the Staff. Crystal Ball: A smooth sphere without facets, but may contain bubbles and other markings within; clear ones of natural quartz can be very expensive but manufactured lead crystal also work. Cup: Used for the beverage of Esbats Rituals, etc. Incense Burner: Suitable to hold the type of burning incense used; may be a stick holder, cone holder, or resin holder. Pentacle: A flat disk with the five-pointed star in a circle engraved or painted on it; may be of wood, clay, ceramic, wax, brass, silver, gold, or simply drawn on a piece of paper. Plate: One to hold bread or other such food. Robes: May want a variety of colored robes depending on the type of ritual or spell work involved, or a basic white or black robe. The cingulum cord may be used with the robe to tie it about the waist. Staff: Used as a long wand, may be decorated and carried as an indication of Craft association or simply for walking in the woods. Stang: May use this instead of an Altar, by sticking it into the ground or placing within a stand; decorated for the Sabbats. Tarot Cards: Choose a deck that draws you, and use for divinations; you may acquire a variety of decks over time. Wand: Should usually be the length of the forearm to the fingertip; about 12 to 16 inches. Select one from Nature or buy one, but choose one that appeals to you; the tool most associated with Witchcraft is the wand.

What you need:

Amethyst

Lavender

Rosemary

Sigil of your choice (some phrases could be “I will sleep well” “I am rested” etc)

NOTE: if you don’t have herbs or crystals, you can use just the sigil if needed. If you don’t work with sigils, you can write a phrase down on paper and use that instead. 

So yesterday a friend of mine asked about what exactly magick is, what makes a spell, and what was high/low magick, internal/external, and (of course) black/white. This was my rather lengthy response. Magick is, simply put, the raising of energy, be it from the caster or some other source, and giving said energy a purpose. Most practitioners agree in that you must act in accordance with your spellwork in order for the magick to work. This is because you are not doing impossible feats, but instead commissioning the Universe to work in your favor. Most, if not all, magick can typically be classified into two groups, external and internal magick. Neither is more powerful than the other; the sole difference is how you go about achieving the end result of the spell. The most common type of magick, external, achieves the end result by any number of physical means; that is to say, the caster does a series of physical actions. For example, the caster may say an incantation while placing items into a sachet to bring them good luck. This magick is the magick that often uses things such as candles, crystals, herbs, and different ritual tools. The energy used in this type of spellwork would come not only from you, but the energies of all the items and tools that you use as well as any spirits or deities you may call to aide you. The less common magick would be internal magick, which achieves the end result through different processes done within the caster. This type of magick does not require any tools, items, or incantations spoken aloud. While the caster may decide to light candles, play music, or burn incense to help them focus better, all of the actual spellwork occurs within the caster’s psyche. For example, the caster could dim the lights, play a low tribal sound, light lavender incense, and have a candle lit, but within her psyche they are inside a temple honoring their deity if they have one, and casting the same spell as mentioned above in the external magick. Meditation that involves self discovery or raising energy is often considered a form a intrinsic magick. Now that we’ve gone over the the two most general terms of spellwork, we can also talk about “High” and “Low” magick. Depending on the witch you ask, you will get multiple different answers as to what seperates “High” magick from “Low” magick. The most commonly distinction was that “High” magick was practiced by priests and priestesses and magick-centralized people such as them, while “Low” magick was practiced by your common folk. As you can guess, the most common between these two is “Low” magick. “High” magick is often referred to as Ritual or Ceremonial Magick due to it typically being more intricate and complicated than “Low” Magick. This is where many choose to plan ahead months in order to get the perfect astrological positions, the best ingredients, and the most beautiful of tools. This is also the kind of magick that is typically found in covens and is used for more grand purposes. “High” magick is mainly for rich people with a lot of free time and a lot of education on things such as language, Hermeticism, Kaballah, and things of the sort. “Low” Magick, on the other hand, is the kind of magick that does not require specific timing, 30 different incantations in 12 languages, expensive robes with runes and sigils inscribed in them, a sterling silver athame, and 25 different illegal and quite poisonous herbs, and no I am not exaggerating on this. “Low” magick is typically used for things such as bringing rain, attracting a lover, healing minor injuries, a full harvest, and things of the like. Now onto the stereotypical designations of Black and White magick. Truly the only people you will here use these terms are the fake, the ignorant, and the pompous. Black and White magick are used to divide harmful, self profiting, “dark” magicks such as hexes, curses, and jinxes from the benevolent, selfless, “light” magicks such as healing, protection, and other such spells. In truth, there is no real “Black” or “White” Magick, and to say that there is rather denotes a lack of knowledge on any subject whatsoever. With those different labels out of the way, we can now discuss different components of magick more, such as Incantation, ritual tools, uses of candles, and things of the like. The simplest way to think of an incantation is a prayer. It is any string of words, long or short, that states the purpose of your spell. Some may rhyme, some may not. Some may be in a different language, others may not. It can be fancy or straight to the point. It all depends on the caster and the purpose of the magick you are doing. Herbs, or any plant rather, are used by burning, eating, letting sit in water, scattering, or any other way. Plants have long been used in magick and have gained many correspondences throughout the ages. Certain plants may be aligned to planets, elements, days of the week, deities, emotions, and many other things. Almost any plant you can think of has properties used in magick, and many have slightly different properties depending on what part of the plant you use. Incense are often used in magickal workings in order to set the mood, represent the element of air, or use the properties of the herb it is made from. Crystals and many other stones have different properties used in magick. Most practitioners will tell you that energies have their own energy and properties to be used, and are great for storing your own personal energy. Crystals can be associated with elements, deities, plants, days of the week, etc etc. By using any combination of the above listed components and many others I haven’t listed or no components at all, a practitioner of magick uses their own energy and, if they are using them, the energy of the components to achieve the purpose of the spell, whatever that may be.

Its really simple, all you need is the flowers/herb, string, sissors, and a place to hang them.

1. set out you flowers. (I’m using the ones from my graduation.)

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2. Cut them down til they are more managable.

3. Tie your string to one of your plants ( a little less that half way up)

4 Take another plant and place it next to the other and wrap the string around the whole bundle

5. Repeat step 4 till all plants are done

6. Continue to wrap access string around your bundle till about 15 inches (38 cm) are left

7.Take the string and push it through the middle of you bundle

8. Then tuck in through bottom stems

9. hang

Take a pillow case around your house and some cheap art supplies (makers or paint) and create you own altar cover. Heres the steps:

1 Take your pillow case and sew up the open end

2 Then take your paints and draw the symbol you wish to be on it ( you can even do one for each side)

I would suggest a Triquetra or a Pentacle but it is entirely up to you