Breaking Spells

Think another witch has cast a spell on you? Break it with this simple spell.

Tie a knot at each end of a silver cord. As you do, visualize the first knot representing you and the second the witch who cast the spell. Cut the cord in the center while visualizing the spell breaking and chanting the following:

"From you to me this spell I break,
This was not right for you to make.
Its intention I will abruptly end,
And back to you the spell I send.
This is my will, so mote it be."

Good luck! Hopefully you never have to use this, but just in case.

Empowering Crystals

I have just started really giving crystal magic thought and would like to share what I am learning with you. Within the next week I will post a brief guide to crystal correspondences along with an accompanying free printable BOS page. Last week I posed how to cleanse crystals since I have found many people don't know how or that they should. Today, however, I would like to address empowering or charging crystals with you magical intentions.

This is actually very easy and simple. You can empower crystals with your magical intent, whether that be to draw things to you--money, love, or luck--or keep things away. To do this, pick a crystal to match your magical intent, cleanse it, then charge it by chanting the following:

"This crystal I hold with intentions clear,
To contain the magic within it sphere.
Make it last and hold it long.
Enhance the magic, make it strong."

Envision your intentions infusing into the crystal and coming to pass while you chant. When you are finished, use it for whatever you needed it for or just carry it with you. Told you it was easy.

You can use this same technique to charge just about any magical object you use by simply changing the word "crystal" to that of the object you are using. However, I use a different chant for potions simply because I like chanting "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble," but you can use this for potions as well and even when you are cooking.

Do you use crystals in your magical workings? How?

The Raven

"Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore--
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
                                                                 --The Raven, Edgar Allen Poe

The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe is my favorite poem, followed closely by Blake's The Poison Tree. Ravens also happen to be my favorite animal and one of my totems. Today I would like to touch briefly of their magical meaning and give you a Raven Invisibility Feather Spell.

Ravens have a long and rich history. Like many birds, they are seen as messengers between this world and the next. Odin kept two ravens named Thought and Memory as messengers as did Apollo. If a raven appears in your life, turn your focus inward as ravens symbolize change. However, the change ravens bring are generally meaningful and revelatory. Ravens are very perceptive and will only visit those who should expect change. If you are struggling to realize what should change, you may need to change the way you are looking at the problem or yourself.

Apart from being messengers, ravens are also considered powerful teachers of the magical arts. This is part of the reason I am drawn to the raven. I'd like to say I picked the raven, but in reality it he picked me. I have had an extremely strong connection to them since I was a small child. He has been an incredibly great teacher and when I have struggled, he has pointed me in the right direction. Just as ravens can mimic the calls of other birds and animals, we too can learn to understand the meaning in various symbols and messages that surround us. As a totem the raven teaches and reveals magic within.

If you dream about a raven it generally means big changes are coming or an end to a phase or habit in your life. It could also mean someone is taking advantage of your misfortune as ravens eat carrion or will steal food from others. On rare occasions it can signify an impending death.

Spirit Symbols:
Introspection, Self-knowledge, Magic, Creation, Wisdom, Truth, Answers, Messages, Secrets, Change, Instruction

This spell does not actually make you invisible. Instead it promotes the inability of others to see you as in they will be more likely to look past you or allow you to go unnoticed. However, this can aid in invisibility during astral projection or other times where you walk in between worlds.

1. Find a raven feather freely given. This means capturing a raven and taking its feathers will not work. You must find it on the ground.
2. Charge the feather with your desire.
3. When you wish to be invisible hold the feather in your hand.

In order for this to work you must be very still, quiet, and discreet. With practice this spell can be extremely effective.

Have you used the raven in any of your magical workings? What totem animals do you use?

Cleansing Crystals

Note: This post contains potentially problematic practices or language, cultural appropriation, or misinformation. I have been working diligently to decolonize my practice, for which you can learn more about in my article Decolonizing Witchcraft: Racism, Whitewashing, and Cultural Appropriation in Witchcraft and How to Decolonize Your Practice. I believe in documenting my journey in witchcraft and that my readers can learn from my mistakes, so the posts will remain as a learning opportunity.

Grimoire vs Book of Shadows

In passing conversation the other day, I was asked what the difference between a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows (BOS) is. Most witches keep a BOS, but not a Grimoire. A BOS is a witch's personal book of magic; a diary of magic if you will. It includes records of all magical workings, dreams and their meanings, rituals, etc. If the witch does not also keep a Grimoire, it can also include spells and other magical information needed to perform magic. It's always a good idea to keep records of your magical workings. This will not only help you progress as a witch by seeing your power grow, but will also allow you to see what works and what does not work for you.

A Grimoire is like a BOS, but not as personal. It holds information about rituals, spells, potions, and how to prepare magical tools. It also contains lists of correspondences and magical properties of herbs, gemstones, food, colors, etc. Basically, it contains all your magical research. It does not contain personal information or records of magical workings.

Most witches keep just a BOS. I am personally in the process of transferring to two separate books. I'd much rather keep all my research in one book and my thoughts and feelings in another book. In doing so I can keep my personal information from others while still sharing my research.

If you wish to start a Grimoire, I suggest using something with removable pages. This way you can add and remove pages as you need them instead of taking your entire book into a ritual where it may be damaged. This also allows you to easily move pages around if you decide to reorganize it. Some people keep their BOS and Grimoires on their computer. I find this cumbersome when I wish to perform magic, but it may work for you.

Remember, your BOS contains very personal information. It is a sacred object and should be treated as such. Honor it by giving it its own special hiding place where others will not be tempted to mess with it. Bless it and protect it. It is only for you and whoever you authorize to see it. You need to be sure that whoever does see it won't disclose its contents to others or harm you or the book. If someone makes you uncomfortable, do not show it to them. This is just another reason I suggest keeping two books. Others like to see your research, not so much your personal thoughts. Keeping a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows is the best way to do this.

I hope this clears up any confusion you may have. Do you keep just a BOS or a BOS and Grimoire?