Thursday, December 21, 2017

Letting Go and Saying Goodbye


A friend of mine passed away recently, and at times like this, I know many people, myself included, who can’t help but think about all the good times that we’ve had with the person who passed, and we all find ways to send them our blessings and wish them well on their journey.

We all know those people who are just great guys, and you can’t say enough good things about them, and this man was one of those people. He was the father of four wonderful children who are no longer children, and grandfather to two who are children. He’s been a friend for more than 30 years, much as I hate to admit we’re that age, but he was smart and funny and kind. How do you say goodbye to someone like that? As a friend it’s hard enough, for his family, so much harder.

One way that I try to say this difficult goodbye is by sending blessings to those who have gone. This is my Spell/Blessing to say goodbye to those who have passed and to help them on their journey. Smudging is always first, for anything magical as far as I’m concerned, but this can be as simple as a lighted candle, or as complicated as you want to make it.

You will need:

Paper
Candle(s) White candles are usually my first choice, but you may choose another color for any number of reasons.(for a gathering, you can use any fire source large enough for the number of people.)



First, I smudge and light a candle. If I happen to be with other people, we use either a larger fire source or more candles.

If you’re with others, you can tell stories about the person, or if you’re alone, simply meditate. I’ve done both, and the effect is similar.

Write down what you liked/loved most about the person before you meditate or tell stories. Once you are done with the gathering, light the papers on fire and let them burn to ash. While doing this, say the following:

May the elements receive you
May your spirit fly free
May blessings follow you
Across the soulful sea

Reaching for the heavens
Becoming one with the all
Riding the elements
Seeing the truth of it all

Rise above, release all pain
Find your peace eternal
While in our hearts you remain
Blessed Be


Afterward either close your circle if you cast one, or end your ceremony. It’s always hard to say goodbye, especially to close friends and family. To me, this spell/blessing gives a sense of closure that is often not possible in our daily life. 

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Yule gifts, yuletide, wiccan gifts,

Come check out our Yule sales!! We've got some great gifts and gift sets, many include an extra gift to keep or share! www.paganrealms.com   https://youtu.be/oYVFbMF1Hrg via @YouTube



Friday, November 17, 2017

A Spell for Love and Peace

We’re coming up on Thanksgiving, and the holidays are stressful times for a number of reasons, many of them involving family. Whether you have a good relationship with your family, a poor relationship with your family or no family at all, holidays can be trying. This week's spell will help with that.

What I like to do if I am hosting is prepare the house for the influx of energies by first, if possible, airing the house to let the stale energy out and bring in the fresh. I live in Texas, so it’s not uncommon to have all the doors and windows open in November and December, but then it can also snow the next day, so you never know. Then I smudge. I have a good relationship with my family, and, of course, with the friends who come, but I want the house to feel good, so sometimes I cast a peace and love spell.

This spell uses many of the same concepts behind the balance and harmony spell I told you about a few weeks back, but this one focuses more on love and peace since we generally spend holidays with those we care about in one way or the other. The better the space feels, the better those in it feel. If you’re not hosting, and you’re going to someone else’s home, you can use this spell to charge a stone or piece of jewelry to wear or carry.




You will need:

1 Blue Candle (choose the shade according to your goals)
Stone or piece of jewelry

You can include a stone or piece of jewelry in the spell and wear/carry it throughout the day as well as cleansing and brightening the energy in your home to bring peace and love.

Once you have aired and smudged, blend your oils or herbs in your bowl/cauldron. If you’re using oils, anoint your candles and your stone or jewelry with the oil. Set your talisman aside.

Light your white candle while saying

Peace and love enter here
Welcome all and have no fear

Light your blue candle while saying

Element of Water flow pure and free
Peaceful energies by my decree
As my will, so mote it be


Walk through your house with your candles. In each room walk through the room with your candles and repeat the above. When you have finished, place your candles on your altar. Hold your talisman over the candles and repeat the spell again. I try to hold it high enough simply to let the energies raised in the candle and throughout the house flow up to and infuse the talisman. It doesn’t have to be terribly close to the candles. You will then close your spell as you normally do. Keep your talisman with you when you need peace.



Friday, November 3, 2017

A Luck Spell for the New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Samhain. I know we did. We just had a small celebration here. We lit candles and honored those who have passed, and then I worked with my cards to seek insight for the New Year. This time of year, most of us will now turn to preparing for Yule and Christmas; however, this weekend, I will use the full moon to cast a luck/blessing spell for good fortune in the New Year.

It’s a little soon for the New Year on January 1, but whether you choose to celebrate the New Year now, or then, or both, a spell for good luck is always in order. This spell can be as complex or as simple as you like. You can set up altars for all the elements as well as your main altar, or you can simply use your sacred space. I often celebrate both, and I use this spell for both events. You can do it anytime around the New Year to bring luck to your New Year.

If you choose, you can use this for starting new projects, but I prefer to use something more personal to the project itself when I ask for luck for a project, and I save this for the New Year. If you cast this 
on a full moon, it will add power to your spell.



You will need:

Rose petals (dried)

Ground and center yourself as always. Anoint your candles with the oil. Ginger adds power and positivity to your spell and is also good if some of the things you want to attract are success and money.

Light your candles while saying

Blessed good luck flies my way
Sends all trouble far away
Brings good luck from far and near
Joyful luck surrounds me here.

Blend the herbs in your bowl/cauldron. Using your gold candle, light your herbs while saying

Lucky fortune flies my way,
Send success in bright array.
Happy chance comes to me,
As my will, so mote it be

Focus your will on visualizing a happy and prosperous New Year. Picture your desires coming into being. Maintain this focus as long as you can hold it purely and clearly. When you’re finished, let the energy dissipate and close your circle or release the elements if you have called them.




Friday, October 27, 2017

A Spell for Abundance

We’re coming up on the pagan New Year, and I don’t know about you, but I’m always good with having extra money. This week we have, so this week, here’s an abundance spell for you to add to your book of shadows if you wish. You can focus on money, love, creativity, or any area where you wish to have abundance

This spell comes in two parts. The original spell itself and the daily follow up that you can use to strengthen your spell if you choose. This spell doesn’t require a circle, just a sacred space.

You will need:

1 Green candle (Other color options are below if you prefer a different color or goal)
Bowl/cauldron/small plate
Silver Coin
Paper





If you want to sit for a minute to work on raising energy, by all means, do so. However, you will raise energy in other ways as well. You will raise energy when you carve your goal into the candle. If you are looking for a specific amount of money, carve that number. You may also carve abundance, money, wealth, or whatever term resonates best for you into the candle.
You will raise energy when you anoint the candle with the oil.  Both of these are simple ways that you can raise energy by blending your energy with that of the candle and boost the power of your spell.

Write your goal on your piece of paper. Anoint your coin and place it in your bowl/cauldron/plate.

Light your green candle and drip the wax onto your coin while saying:

Harvest is in and
Days grow short
Toil’s reward will
Money needs support

Repeat this three times while dripping wax on the coin. Cover both sides of the coin to bind your energy with the energy of the oil, the candle, and the coin.

Burn the paper, and close your spell with this:

Money freely flows to me
As my will, so mote it be

When the coin is covered and set. Place it in the spell bag, or any small bag you can carry with you.

To boost the strength of the spell, hold the coin in your hand at least once a day and repeat the closing of the spell:

Money freely flows to me
As my will, so mote it be

Candle colors:
Copper: Business success, passion, money, fertility, career growth
Gold: Luck, wealth, success, money, victory, enlightenment, career
Brown: Money, financial success
Green: Money, prosperity, abundance
Purple: Ambition

Money Drawing Oils: Bergamot, Strawberry, Grape, Heliotrope, Cinnamon


Friday, October 20, 2017

A Spell for the Waxing Moon


The feminine fluidity of the pull of the moon can lend extra power to your spells. Work with the waxing moon for spells of growth and for new beginnings.  Use the full moon for binding spells and any type of spell you want to make stronger, and use the waning moon for spells of letting go.

What do you want to begin in the New Year? As you know, I like to use this time of year to prepare for the New Year and the winter. With so much time spent indoors in the winter, I usually use the time to develop my skills of all kinds. I study, not only pagan subjects of course, but also jewelry making, art, and writing. When it’s time, I want to have everything in place to help me get the most out of this time. One way to do this is to use the moon phases leading up to Samhain for your preparation.

This spell is for new beginnings. I’ve used this spell on both the waxing moon before Halloween, and on the one after. To me, doing it beforehand helps me prepare for the letting go of the waning moon. It can be easier to put the past behind you when you have the future planned.

You will need:

    1 White candle
    1 Gold candle
    1 Green or purple candle (both of these attract success, but you will most likely want to use the color of candle that most closely aligns with your goals
    Essential oil based on your goals


Your choices of candles and oils will depend on your intentions. What you want to begin will determine which oils you will use. For example, peppermint aids healing and brings positive momentum in your life. Sandalwood heightens psychic abilities & spiritual levels. Tea Tree oil helps eliminate confusion and overcome challenges.

Once you have chosen your candles and oils, set up your altar. For this spell, I simply call the elements as a part of casting my circle, so I don’t set up all five altars, just the center one. Write your intentions on the paper. What do you want to do with the New Year?

Once you have anointed your candles, and have everything where you want it, sit, stand, or kneel in front of your altar, clear your mind and meditate about what you want to do in the New Year. Write your intention on the paper.

Light the white candle while saying

Mother moon I call you near
Guide my path through all fear
I begin the new and hold it dear
Aid my journey and bring me clear

Light the gold candle while saying

Father Sun draw near to me
Aid my goal and set me free
I challenge the old and begin anew
Trusting you to see me through

Light the green or purple candle, and burn the paper while saying

I take these goals and make them mine
As with this flame, my goals align
The goals I seek now fly to me
As my will, so mote it be

Meditate on your intentions and hold them as a pure intention as long as you can. Then ground and release the energy, and close your circle.



Friday, October 13, 2017

A Spell to Banish Negative Energies




Sometimes, we all need to get rid of negative energy. The world acts on us at times, whether we want it to or not. People can send negative vibes, even without meaning to, and some do so for various reasons. Other times we can’t help but deal with negative people, whether at work or at home, and every now and then, we even do it to ourselves by letting negative thoughts creep in.

Of course, regular smudging helps, but sometimes you just need that extra energy that a spell can give you. At this point, consider whether you want to eliminate a negative situation, or if you think someone intentionally, or unintentionally, want to hurt you.

You will need:

Sage, either oil or loose herb

Set up your circle and your altar. I’ve listed some stone, herb, oil, and candles that correspond to your task that you can use for decorating. Your altars to the elements, should you use them for this, should always be decorated to please the element to whom it is dedicated.

Set up your candles and bowl or cauldron on your primary altar. Anoint the candles with the oil, and/or put the sage in the cauldron. I’ve found that either of these will work if you only want to use one.  In the event you believe someone is purposefully sending you negative energy, carve the name of the person into the black candle.

In addition to the spell candles, I’ve included candles to represent the God and Goddess in this one, and an invocation to the gods. Naturally, you will adapt this to your own beliefs, so take what you need, and leave the rest.



Cast your circle and call the elements. Finally, face the candles you have set up for the deities.

Lord and Lady draw near to me
I ask your strength to set me free
Banish evil far from here
Alleviate all cause for fear

Light the candles for the Lord and Lady
Light your white candle while saying

Cleanse this space, and wash it clear
Take all malaise far from here
Protect us here in this place
Add your strength to this sacred space

If you are banishing a negative situation, you will light the black candle next, and the orange candle last. If you are banishing negativity from a person, you will light the orange candle next, and the black candle last. The verses are the same in either order. The last one draws on all the energy that you’ve created, so it has the greatest power.

When you light the orange candle say,

Clear the air, blow strong and free
Take this trial away from me
Ease this strain and send relief
Aid this work in strong belief

When you light the black candle say,

Drive all evil before your flame
Reverse this evil and perfect your aim
Send it back from whence it came
Repelled and bound I now proclaim

Clean and clear, wild and free
As my will, so mote it be

Oils & Herbs: Sage, Verbena



Friday, September 29, 2017

A Spell for Cleansing and Charging Your Tools

YAY!!! It’s almost Samhain!!! This is my favorite time of the year, and the same is true for most pagans and Wiccans I know, and while I generally don’t go to many group rituals during the year, my favorites of all the rituals I’ve been to are the Samhain rituals. This time of the year, the veil between the worlds is thinnest, and it's one of the best times to do magic. 

Samhain is also a time for letting go. We want to leave those things from the past that limit us behind and prepare to move forward into the New Year. Since I use my athame to cut those ties, I cleanse it before and after the ritual, so when I cut the ties between the things of the past that I’m releasing and set my intentions for the new year, I want my tools to cut cleanly. Afterward, I want to cleanse it of any residue from the past that might cling.

The dual cleansing is just my personal quirk, but tools pick up energy from anything and everything they encounter, so unless you can ensure that your tools never touch anything negative, even negative energy, I recommend periodic cleansing and rededication. You should always cleanse and bless any tools you get, whether you get them as a gift, or you purchase them yourself. Your tools should contain your energy, and only your energy, and preferably your most positive energy. Rededicating and charging a tool also strengthens your connection with the item.

This spell works best when done on the full moon. This year the full moons fall at the first of the month, so if you choose to do this, you’ll have a cleansed athame for all your prep work for Samhain as well, and then the November full moon falls shortly after the holiday, so you’re ready for the new year.

Cleansing accomplishes several things:


  • Removes any negativity that may cling to the tool from other workings or other people
  • Allows you to strengthen your connection to your tools by imbuing them with a portion of your own energy
  • Merges your energy with the energy of the elements to consecrate the piece for sacred work




You will need:

  • Tool to be cleansed and charged
How you set up your altar will depend on the space you have available, of course, but I like to set up a small altar in each of the quarters for each of the four elements, as well as setting up my regular altar in the center of the circle. It’s always nice if you have an actual altar for this, but you can use anything as an altar, as long as you smudge it, and it will hold the items you want to use for the spell.

Earth – North
Air – East
Fire – South
Water – West

On your earth altar, place the dirt or salt. On your air altar, place your incense. On your fire altar, the red candle, and on your water altar place your bowl of water. On your center altar, place your white candle. Use your oil blend to anoint your candles.

Cast your circle. Once you ground and center again, light your candles and incense.

Visualize yourself filling with white light. It flows in and through you and becomes a part of you, just as you are part of it. Hold this white light with you throughout the ritual, taking a moment now and then to reconnect if needed.

Pick up the item you wish to cleanse and bless, and turn to the earth altar. Take a handful of the dirt or salt and let it flow from your hand back over the item. Repeat this motion three times while saying the following:

Element of Earth, I call on thee
A strong foundation provide to me
Cleanse and purify this piece today.
To banish ill both here and away

Turn to the east, to you air altar. Pass your item through the smoke three times while saying:

Element of Air, I call on thee
Purity and rebirth provide to me
Cleanse and purify this piece today
To cast off ill both here and away

Turn to the south, to your fire altar. Pass your item through the flame three times while saying:

Element of Fire, I call on thee
Tempered steel provide to me
Cleanse and purify this piece today
To burn out ill both here and away

Turn to the west, to your water altar. Scoop a handful of water from the bowl, and let it flow back over your item. Repeat this three times while saying:

Element of Water, I call on thee
Water’s purity provide to me
Cleanse and purify this piece today
To wash out ill both here and away

Return to your center altar and pass your item through the flame three times while saying:

God and Goddess, I call on thee
Unite with us to bless this piece
As my will, so mote it be


Hold your item up in front of you and visualize the white healing pure energy flowing into the item you want to charge. When you finish, release any remaining energy, and close your circle.





Friday, September 22, 2017

A Spell for Wisdom

Blessed Mabon to everyone!  The pot roast is on, and we're preparing for feasting. We've already talked about things to do for Mabon, but this week's spell is certainly as valid for Mabon/Equinox as at any other time.  On a waxing moon is best, so now would work well, and as the summer fades, we move forward toward the end of the year, and the New Year on Samhain, a time of reflection.

For me, the winter months are a time of study as well as reflection, so one of the spells I work in preparation for this study and the New Year, is a spell to bring wisdom, so that I can use what I’ve learned over the past year in the coming one. As you can tell, I tend to use different types of spells based on my goals, the time of year, and my energy level, so starting with a spell to increase understanding and knowledge and thereby wisdom, is, for me, a lovely way to start my prep for the new year.

First, of course, you will prepare your space. What symbolizes wisdom to you? Bring it to you altar. You will want to choose a shape or image that symbolizes wisdom to you. You can use anything you can carve on the candles. One thing I do is use something that represents different aspects of the need. For this spell, you could use something like knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.





You will need:

3 candles(yellow, purple, black, white, dark blue, all represent wisdom)
Mint (herb or oil-I’ve used both equally effectively)
Sage (I usually just smudge with the sage before casting the spell, but you can also mix it with the mint and burn it as an offering if you choose)
Almond oil (if you choose to use herbs rather than oils, use the almond oil alone to anoint your candles)

After smudging, and casting the circle, ground and prepare your energy. When you feel ready, carve your symbols on your candles, and anoint them. As you light them, say,

My thirst for knowledge
Seeks so deep
Where wisdom flows
From the universal sea

Mix the herbs together in your cauldron for your offering.

Show me the way
To find the path,
Of understanding
Now found at last

When you are done, focus your will on your intention, in this case, you will probably use some version of how your knowledge and understanding will make you wise. As you light the mixture, say,

I drink in awareness
To quench my craving
And In my abundance,
Clarity it does bring

Let your herbs burn, and when they are ash, snuff your candles while saying,

In the Pool of Nature’s Wisdom
Body and mind do see
As my will,
So mote it be

Close your spell.

For Wisdom:

Herbs and oils: Mint, Almond, Sage, Bay leaves



Friday, September 15, 2017

A Spell for Balance and Harmony



Next Friday is the Autumnal equinox, the day when day and night are of equal length, and we switch from the growing part of the year to the part of the year for storing and studying. Depending on the deities you follow, you may see this as Persephone returning to Hades for the winter before she returns to Olympus in the spring, or as has more recently come to be associated with the equinox, the imprisonment and freedom of Mabon, son of Modon. However, regardless of which deities you associate with the equinox, it is a time of change and a time of balance.

The spells normally cast during Mabon are for protection, prosperity, security, self-confidence, or for harmony and balance. This week we’ll look at a spell for harmony and balance that you can use whether you simply want to make your home a more inviting and pleasant place to be, or you have issues with a relationship of some sort, a spell for harmony and balance can help you.

I do this spell in two parts. First, I lay out a tarot spread. The spread I use depends on where in my life I want to focus, and if you choose to use this step, you will need to choose the deck that suits your needs best. Tarot helps me know which areas need work the most. I use the Motherpeace deck, but any set you're comfortable with will work.

Smudging beforehand can help you clear negativity in your space, allowing you to focus your energy on creating the harmony and balance you desire.

For this spell, I use music to set the mood and to help me ground. I’m new to the singing bowl, so that’s what I’m using right now because they fascinate me, and the sound is so beautiful and soothing, but you can use, drums, nature sounds, harp music, or whatever works for you. When you do the spell, it becomes your spell, and the more attuned you are to the sounds, or any portion of the spell, the more powerful the spell.




You will need:
Almond oil (or some sort of carrier oil)

Pour 2 tbsp. of your carrier oil into your bowl. Use an eyedropper to put three drops of each of the oils into the carrier oil.  Blend the oils with a wooden spoon while saying,

Nature’s balance
Comes to pass
As sands flow through
The hourglass

Anoint your candles, and as you light them, say,

Seeds grow to plants
And bless us with their worth
Until their spent stalks
Return to Mother Earth

Focus on the flame of the candle, and bring the resolution you desire into your mind. Say

Show me the balance
Help me find a way
To live in peace and harmony
Every mortal day

Settle into the music and hold the pure picture of it in your mind for as long as you can with no interference or doubt. Once you finish, focus again on the candle and say,

Balance and harmony flow to me
As my will, so mote it be


Slowly release the energy you have raised and release your circle if you used one. This spell doesn’t really require one, but you will do what works best for you.