Iron

Iron is a metal ruled by the planet Mars. Mars governs aggression, war, and defense. War is partially about a defensive action to protect a nation. Iron is associated with war because it was used in weaponry before firearms were invented. This metal is very hard. This makes it suitable to be molded into spears, daggers, swords, and shields. When we want to feel safe we can use protective magick to stabilize our living environment. There are many ways iron can be used to make your home feel safe.

One of the most common ways of using iron in protective magick is to hang a horseshoe above the entrance of your home. This can be hung beside the doorway or above. There is a debate as to which direction the horseshoe should be hung. In northern European countries the horseshoe is hung upside down so luck will not run out. In countries like Germany, Spain, and Italy it is the opposite direction so the luck will pour down on you.

There are other ways iron can be used to for protection. One way is burying iron railroad spikes at the 4 corners of your house. When you are living in an apartment you might want to have iron spikes in the corners of each room. I have seen iron spikes used by magickians in the Palo Mayombe tradition. This is a very beautiful form of artistic magick. These spikes would be covered in red wax and encased in red thread. 

Another way to use iron is to place bowls of iron filings near the windows of your home. This is a magickal method to prevent break ins. If you live in an area where there is a lot of crime this method of protective magick might be suitable for you. Iron is a tough metal which is hard to penetrate. This was why it was used to fashion shields historically. This concept comes from sympathetic magick. The idea is that the link with iron will make your home hard to penetrate.   

Jupiter Herbs and Scents

Jupiter Herbs
Milk Thistle, Agrimony, Sage, Balm, Red Rose, Betony, Hyssop, Borage, Houseleek, Chervil, Dock, Chestnut, Dandelion, Cinquefoil, and Samphire.

Jupiter Scents
Lime, Magnolia, Nutmeg, Oak, Sage, and Sandalwood.

Snowflake Obsidian

Snowflake Obsidian promotes a dispassionate attitude. Many times we can become very angry. We don't know how to control our temper. Snowflake Obsidian is a great stone to use when you have anger management issues. There are various ways you can use this stone to alleviate the tension inside. You can carry it in your pocket to hold whenever your moods trouble you. This crystal is good for absorbing negative feelings. 

This stone is especially good for meditation involving the Sacral Chakra. The Sacral Chakra is the second chakra going up from the root. This chakra is about our sexuality. These organs deal with issues centering around control. When we are having control issues we might wish to try meditating by placing a piece of Snowflake Obsidian on the pelvic region.

Affirmations

The more I receive, the more others are able to receive. 

 
I am achieving my goals easily. 

 
I desire, believe in, and accept my highest good. 

 
As I manifest my own highest good, I allow others to manifest theirs. 

 
I am achieving my goals easily, effortlessly, and harmoniously. 

 
I patiently trust in the power of the universe.

 
My heart's desire is coming true. 

 
I listen to and honor my inner female.

Night Time Mind of the Witch

In times gone by mankind had a different form of existence. We were not always exposed to this much electricity. We have constant access to light. We merely need to turn on a light switch. This may force us to be thinking a certain. Sometimes depriving ourselves of light can be a healthy magickal activity. I have never tried this, but have considered doing it.

There is an idea of attaining different levels of consciousness through light fasting. This activity should enable the practitioner to attain new ideas. It is suggested that a weekly light fast is a very good idea. In days gone by man might have had different sleeping patterns. There has been discussion of an idea. This idea discusses the concept of 1st and 2nd sleep.

We typically sleep throughout the entire night. It is said that in the Middle Ages and other times of history this might not have been the case. In earlier societies people would have gone to bed much earlier. They would not have stayed up watching television. They would not be able to see in the dark. Their resources would be limited. There is a theory that people in previous societies had a phase where they woke up in the middle of the night. They would use this time to record their dreams. This time would be used for mystical purposes. This would include prayer or meditation. In the middle of the night there are increased prolactic levels in our bodies. This is a hormone associated with the pituitary gland.

This information was read in The Witches' Almanac:

The Witches' Almanac, Issue 33: Spring 2014 - Spring 2015: Mystic Earth

The Element of Earth

Earth is the element which governs the Northern quarter. The ruler is Ghob who is also called Ghom. This is from Norse mythology. He oversees the gnomes and dwarves. The color associated with earth is dark green. It is cold and dry. The season is winter. The time is midnight. The symbol is the pentacle. Earth is symbolized as ritual salt.

These ideas come from a book on Norse magick. There are other traditions which contradict these ideas. These ideas are the ones I have worked with for this past year. This is influenced by a street name in my life.

Gemstones, mountains, caves, and soil are associated with the element of Earth. Respect, endurance, responsibility, stability, thoroughness, and purpose in life are also Earth qualities.

Here is the book I have been working with:

Norse Magic (World Magic Series)

Celtic Love Spell

This is a spell I have adapted from another source. This spell originally came from a book by Laurie Cabot. I eliminated certain details which I didn't want to do. The original spell calls for hair off a cat. 1 cat that is female and another which is male. I don't like this idea and didn't include it. I don't have a pet cat. It would not be convenient for me.

2 Cups of Springwater
2 Tablespoons of Sea Salt
3 Clover leaves
3 Roses
2 Willow leaves

Boil the ingredients in a cauldron. Let it simmer.

'By my birth of the 2 serpents,
I call the Goddess Cerridwen
and the God Celi to send me
on their magical moonship
to my lover's side.
The wren sets the cauldron boil
and brings life to the sacred land.
Bring me to my lover's side
and let us love hand in hand.'

Brew this to use as a love potion.

Here is the book this spell came from originally:

Love Magic: The Way to Love Through Rituals, Spells, and the Magical Life

Anat

Anat is a Canaanite warrior Goddess. She is a virginal Goddess of sacrifice. She uses the arrow as her weapon. Her temperament is quite violent. She takes joy in slaughter. In the 14th Century BCE she defends her brother. Her brother is the storm God Ba'al. This story is from the Ugartic text 'The Epic of Ba'al'

This book will tell you more:

Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan (Library Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies)

Wednesday Magick

There are different planetary days each week. Wednesday is associated with the planetary energy of Mercury. Mercury is the planet which governs the mind. This includes speech, mental activity, writing, short distance travel, and relations with neighbors. 

There are colors associated with Mercury. People will debate on this. My magical book which I used as a resource said that purple, magenta, and silver are colors associated with Mercury. Other people have told me different. I have heard that the color yellow relates to Mercury. I have never tried this, but other people might. 

Mercury can be used for magick pertaining to astrology, communications, writing, editing, editors, education, healing, hiring, journalists, language, knowledge, learning, legal responsibilities, and phone calls.

Here is a link to purchase a Mercury Amulet:

Bronze First Pentacle of Mercury Key of Solomon Pendant Ceremonial Magic Amulet Jewelry

Enochian Magick

More than a year ago I purchased a book on Enochian magick. I plan to soon explore this form of magick. It was invented by John Dee. He has compiled much information which was dictated to him by angels. I have become very interested in angelic magick. I have been in contact with angel for more than a decade. She will talk to me many times throughout the day.

There are 30 Aethyrs in Enochian magick. There is a different call to summon the angels from each aethyr. We are not experienced with this form of magick. I have merely been reading a book about this magick for more than a year.

The author of this book recommends starting at the 30th aethyr and moving down to the first aethyr. The first aethyr is supposed to be the one which is closest to God.

Here is a very popular book on Enochian Magick:

Enochian Vision Magick: An Introduction and Practical Guide to the Magick of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley

Bornless Ritual

Crowley used the Bornless Ritual as a daily invocation. It was taught to him in 1899 by Allan Bennett. It can help the practitioner get in touch with his higher genius. This higher genius is called Augoeides. The Bornless Ritual is used as a prologue to Goetic Magick. It is thought that it is best to have a strong bond with good forces prior to working with demonic entities. 

The Bornless Ritual is a surviving fragment of a Greco-Egyptian exorcism ritual. Crowley used the Bornless ritual to work up a current, improve concentration, and to invoke. There are many barbarous names which are used in this ritual. This is probably because Crowley wanted the Gematria to match out to his own personal vision. This action was highly criticized because people believe deities can become angered if their names are changed. It also makes it less historically accurate. 

Here is an audio recording of the Bornless Ritual:

Sonic Ritual: An Invocation of the Bornless One

Mandrake

Mandrake is a traditional witchcraft herb with a sinister reputation. It has been used since ancient times for various things. It is well known as an ingredient in flying ointments. The root is commonly used to make a poppet. I will be growing Mandrake for the first time this year. I have the seeds in my refrigerator as I have read in the instructions. I ordered my seeds from a website which I am very fond of. It is called Alchemy-Works.  I have ordered the entire collection known as 'A Witch's Garden' from this website. 

Here is a link to Mandrake seeds on Amazon:

Unique~(Harry Potter Herbology Class)~MANDRAKE Seed~1 Seed ONLY

Gardening When The Moon Is In Taurus

Taurus is the astrological sign which governs the neck and throat. It is a very fruitful astrological sign. It is good for planting root crops. This year I intend to start many of my seeds on a Taurus Moon. I have selected Parsnip, Mandrake, Lettuce, and Onions to start on this lunar phase.

Here are some links so you can buy seeds too!

Unique~(Harry Potter Herbology Class)~MANDRAKE Seed~1 Seed ONLY

1,000+ Buttercrunch Heirloom Lettuce Seeds- 2013 Seeds

All American Parsnip 300 + Seeds Earlier and taller topped than Hollow Crown

Onion Yellow Sweet Spanish Great Heirloom Vegetable 300 Seeds

Tokyo Long White Bunching Onion Seeds - Allium Cepa - 1 Grams - Approx 450 Gardening Seeds - Vegetable Garden Seed

Clary Sage Wish Magick

Clary Sage can be used in wish magick. You need a complete leaf of the plant to conduct this magick. On the leaf you would write your wish. Place the wish beneath your pillow while you are sleeping. Dreams in the evening should indicate whether this wish will come true If the answer is not to your liking you may bury the leaf in soil. 

This link will allow you to purchase seeds to grow Clary Sage with:

Herb Seeds - Sage Clary - 250 Seeds

Ophiel

Ophiel is the 6th Olympic spirit. He rules over everything associated with Mercury. The spirits in his legions number 100, 000. He will give you a familiar if you are seeking one. He helps you study all of the arts. This spirit is of very dignified character. He can convert Quicksilver into the Philosopher's Stone.

I have never directly spoken with this angel. He is not the angel I communicate with. I am interested in working with the planetary force of Mercury this solar year. This is the Olympic spirit I would most be interested in at this current time.

There are 2 geomantic figures associated with Ophiel. The first is 'Albus' and the 2nd is 'Conjunctio'. I have read that this is no mild mannered spirit. It is said that Ophiel brings horror and fear unto whoever calls upon him. I am a little bit scared of him as I type these words. Eventually I will be less afraid. This will enable me to do the magickal working I desire.



This is one of the books I am working with:
A Treatise on Angel Magic: Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks

This is the seal of Ophiel

Geomantic Figures

There are 16 geomantic figures. These are the primary figures used in geomancy. This is a form of divination which is not very common. People are more familiar with the idea of the I Ching. This form of divination is very similar to geomancy. The geomatic figures even resemble the figures called ba gua which are used in the I Ching. Geomantic divination is originally from Africa. It was introduced to Europeans in the Middle Ages.

Geomantic figures each have 4 lines. Each line represents one of the elements. These are either active or passive. Each line contains either 1 or 2 points. A solitary point is considered active, whereas a double point is considered passive.

25th Path - Yesod to Tiphareth - Psalm Prayer

'I hate men of divided heart,
but I love your law.
You are my refuge and my shield,
in your word I hope.
Depart from me you wrong doers
that I may keep the commands of my God.
Uphold me according to thy word and I shall live,
and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Help me that I may be safe
and ever delight in your statutes.
Thou has rejected all of them that stray from thee,
for their deceitfulness is in vain.
Sustain me and I shall be safe,
and I will always meditate upon thy commandments.
My flesh shudders for fear of thee,
and I am afraid of thy judgments.'

Third Eye Ritual

This ritual helps open your third eye. It is a ritual which involves the magick of invocation. We will be invoking the qualities of an archangel by the name of Asariel. This angel is said to govern over things related to Neptune. This ritual will involve some very simple magick. It involves drinking tea and lighting some candles. I would suggest casting a circle before working with this magick.

There are many magickians who work with the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. This is a good idea. It is a good idea to do the LBRP before and after this working. This invocation should be done 3 days prior to a full Moon in the element of water.

The supplies for this ritual are very simple. You will need 13 votive candles in the color purple. We don't fully understand the relevance of the number 13. I personally like it because Neptune is 13 degrees in Sagittarius in my horoscope. That is my astrological chart. This number relates to me and I would gladly use it. You might want to understand this number numerologically  before you work with it. The color purple has natural association with the intuitive faculties of the mind.

Here is the invocation:

'I invoke thee, O Asariel,
archangel of Neptune
and ruler of clairvoyant powers.
I ask thee now to open my 3rd eye
and show me the hidden light.
Let me see the future.
Let me see the past.
Let me perceive the
divine kingdoms of the unknown.
Let me understand
the wisdom of the universe.
So mote it be!'

When you are doing this invocation you would sip Yarrow tea. This will help you gain control of your intuitive faculties. You should have a scrying device handy. You might wish to do some scrying after you have finished this ritual. Once you have completed the invocation you should concentrate on your 3rd eye while relaxing. 

Affirmations

These are the affirmations I have been working with over the past couple of months.

I am falling in love with myself. 

I feel the life force flowing through my body.

Through surrender, I find the light within me. 

I am asking for and listening to my inner guidance. 

I listen to my gut feelings. 

I am learning to trust my intuition. 

In harmoney with the whole, I find my individual freedom. 

Today I see the gift I receive from every person I meet. 

Mercury Associations and Deities

The following information comes from www.alchemy-works.com.

• Mercury
• The Magus 1 
• 2
• B
• Bet (House, tent)
• Messengers
• Guides
• Thieves
• Tricksters
• Teachers
• Wisdom
• Communication
• Commerce
• Magicians
• Anonna
• Asclepius
• Ate
• Brahma
• Buddha
• Corvus
• Dhanvantari
• Dianecht
• Dosojin
• Ea
• Eleggua
• Fugen Bosatsa
• Furina
• Ganesha
• Glooskap
• Hanuman
• Hermes
• Hermod
• Inari
• Iris
• Loki
• Manannan
• Mediterina
• Nabu
• Nzambi
• Okuninushi
• raven
• Shen Nung
• Tara
• Tashmit
• Thoth
• Xaman Ek
• Yacatechutli
• Yanauluha

Ostara

Ostara is a Sabbat named for a virginal German goddess. Trips to the Underworld are of importance at this time. There is a theme of resurrection which coincides with various different paradigms. This is a holiday of new life and the returning Sun. It is the beginning of a new solar year.

I celebrated Ostara by fasting this year. I have done this 3 years in a row. I did not engage in any other festivities. My mind has been on work completely. I haven't taken any time to celebrate.

Birch Bark

Yesterday I climbed Mont Royal here in Montreal. I made it a magickal mission to obtain a piece of white birch bark on my descent. My Holy Guardian Angel was instructing me on which tree to tear a piece off of. She told me that most of the trees cannot take it. They have many people who will tear the bark off when they see it. These trees are the ones that are not off the beaten path.

I was at the summit. I could hear the tapping of a woodpecker. This magickal moment filled me with awe. I wanted to follow the sound. I didn`t want to scare the bird away. I quietly followed the sound until I found him. He was tapping his beak into a tree which looked dead. I was happy to see him there. I went on my way. My Holy Guardian Angel told me not to rip the bark off the white birch tree at the summit. I listened to her. I walked down the hill.

I wanted the white birch bark for a magickal exercise. Birch is associated with Venus. I thought that I could use some love in my life. Birch seemed appropriate as a piece of paper to list out goals for the coming year. I am going to draw up a list of goals to accomplish. This list will be to commemorate my 38th birthday. I will write it up on my piece of birch bark.

I had begun to lose hope of finding a tree my Holy Guardian Angel would think it okay for me to tear a piece from. I wandered down many snow covered paths. I encountered many people walking on the mountain. Some people were cross country skiing.

I began to realize that I was further north than I had thought. At this second I decided to turn down a very small path where few people had walked. This path was very tiny. It might seem like a bad idea, but my Holy Guardian Angel told me that I could take this path to get out to the street.

This was when I saw my tree. It had lots of bark on it. It was all alone. My angel told me that this tree could take a bit of bark being torn from it. I climbed knee deep into the snow to be able to reach up and pull away a big piece of loose bark. My pants were covered in snow.

I rolled up my piece of bark and put it in my bag. I stumbled out to a highway where there was no sidewalk. I walked along for a few minutes to get out to the street. I was only a few blocks north of where I had hoped to exit. 

Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel

 

Many of you are familiar with the Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. This is something I have undergone without being initiated into Ordo Templi Orientis. My interest in Thelema occurred because of this experience. We are doing things backwards from how they are normally done. I am involved with Thelema so I can understand what I am going through. 

I am constantly striving to do what my Holy Guardian Angel tells me to do. There has been an interruption in my life due to people problems. This is something which I do not deal with very well. I have a hard time talking about this. I do not like confronting people. I avoid people like the plague. Merely do I wish to concentrate on the Great Work.

I am going to discuss briefly how I was contacted by my Holy Guardian Angel. I worked with a book called 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron. I will provide a link below if any of you are interested in purchasing this book. I worked with this book for many years. I engaged in a daily practice called 'Morning Pages' for 15 years. This involves doing 3 pages of longhand writing each morning upon waking. This was how I had a spiritual experience. My Holy Guardian Angel began communicating with me 4 years later when I was 26 years old.

Planetary Planting

Author: Alex Gorzen

Planetary planting is when we use lunar cycles to make the most of our gardens. This is a form of astrology called natural astrology. Mundane astrology is very different. Mundane astrology is also known as judicial astrology. This is an interesting area of study, but not necessary for gardening. Mundane astrology uses the ingress of the year to predict political and worldly events. You would cast a chart for the spring equinox to determine what will happen in the coming year. 

Roman naturalist Pliny wrote of the Moon's influence on tides prior to 100AD. It wasn't until Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity that tidal laws were revealed. This occurred in the 1600s. This is the theory behind lunar agriculture. We can understand that the Moon has an impact on tides. Astrologers believe the Moon also impacts vegetables and plants in natural astrology. Plants are composed of water. This would be pulled by lunar forces just as the ocean is. There are theories  that the air and earth also experience tides. In 1 study it was noted that land rises and falls as much as 12 inches each day. These things have a very strong impact on the world around us. 

I am getting ready for gardening season here in Toronto. Our weather stays cold here in Canada until the end of May. I am looking ahead to insure that I get the most out of my crops. I plan to keep everybody up to date with my progress and research as I create a witch's garden using planetary planting. The link below will lead you to one of the books I am using as a resource..

Written Affirmations

I have fun visualizing what I want.

I feel creative power coming from deep within me.

Within me is a special place of serenity and power.

I feel the presence of a power greater than myself.

I have a personal relationship with a higher power.

I trust my inner knowing in all situations.

Today I am honest, spontaneous, and true to myself.

In my own unique way I am a genius.

Yule

Yule is a Pagan holiday which is celebrated on Winter Solstice. This is the shortest night of the year. It occurs on the same day as Christmas. Many Wiccans celebrate this holiday. Other Pagan religions celebrate it too. It is a celebration which has crossed many boundaries. Most cultures have some festivities on Yule.

It is named Yule which is symbolic of a wheel. This is a word from Scandinavian culture spelled 'Jul'. This word is where Yule is known to be from. In Scandinavian culture winter was very long. Yule was a halfway point towards the summer. Most of us do not live in Scandinavia. This is a very small country. This word is very important because it is the one which is used. The Scandinavia culture might have had more power than you would think.

In Ireland and Norway the lights were left burning throughout the night. This was a symbolic gesture to bring back the light. Many Pagan religions have associations with the Sun. The Sun is a very powerful luminary. It heats up our entire world.

Christmas honors the virgin birth. This is not a concept foreign to Paganism. The word virgin was 1st applied to priestesses in Mediterranean temples. This was during the Roman Pagan period. Women were not bound by secular law when they became priestesses. They were free to take as many lovers as they wanted. These concepts are not associated with Christmas, but the virgin birth is.

Yule is a time of festivities. Many of them you are familiar with. The Christmas tree is a Yule custom. Many Wiccans also celebrate with a tree. People like to decorate trees for Christmas. Sometimes they are Fir. Fir is a tree associated with prosperity. It is a Jupiterian tree.