Bird Magick – Bring Nature into your Spells, Healing & Rituals – Part 1

Bird Magic
Bird Magic

Paganism is usually thought of as a nature religion, but for many Pagans who live in a town or city, and even for those in the countryside, it can be difficult to know how to incorporate nature into your rituals and spells.  Elsewhere I suggest finding things from nature and putting them on your altar or using them in spells and rituals, but here I will describe another way of interweaving nature with your life and beliefs!

Since birds vary so much in physical characteristics (from big to small, from many coloured to plain) and in character (eg some birds being hunters, other singers, others more family orientated, and many a combination), we can use them as symbolic forces to aid in healing, balancing our weaknesses, and nurturing our strengths.  Through the wisdom and power of bird medicine we can life up our spirits and strengthen our sense of clarity and balance.

 

Bird Magick – The realm of air and sky

The skies have long been associated with a freedom far removed from everyday life.  When we feel depressed or unable to act, bogged down in everyday life, we can look up at the birds for inspiration to leave the mundane world and life ourselves through the air by potent magical ritual.

Just as the ancient Greeks and Egyptians among others revered many birds, such as Osiris or the Phoenix, so in Western religious lore through Angels can we see a link between birds and holiness.  Birds link us to this realm of the sky by at once living on earth but being able to fly high.

The realm of air is connected to oxygen and breath.  One of the best things you can do for a calm mind is to take deep slow breaths and draw energy into all parts of your body, this is at once relaxing and enlivening.  Thinking about birds can help to remind us to slow down and truly draw in and appreciate the air element, and the way in which it can bring us pleasure and calmness.

Bird Medicine

As with any aspect of Paganism and Wicca, your imagination is in a way your only limit to the way you practice both life and magic, but here are some suggestions of ways to connect with bird medicine.

 

Watch and Learn – First step

Birds make amazing entertainers if watched regularly.  You will soon learn to know their habits and routines and see many quirky things they do.  Get some binoculars to really get close to them, and see their markings and behaviour clearly.  By practising bird watching you can improve your skills of patience and observation and enjoy nature in an engaging way, as well as gain a deeper understanding of these mystical creatures.

 

Study and Draw – Second step

You can study natural history books and draw them in a sketchbook that you keep specifically for this purpose.  This will really help you to understand their abilities and special powers and characteristics, and from there you will begin to realise how to incorporate these traits into your own life.

 

Feather Healing – Third step

When you’ve found a bird that you feel a particular affinity to, try and get a feather of it.  Feathers contain the energetic properties of the bird, and to make the connection between you strong, it’s important to either find or be given the feather. Be careful though as some feathers are actually illegal to own, such as the eagle feather, unless you are classed as a native american.

By placing the feather on your altar or sacred space, it will help you to remember and connect with the bird’s healing medicine.  You can honour the feather in your rituals and prayers, why not say it’s characteristics and strengths out loud?  You should make offerings to the spirit of the bird – what you offer is up to you, you may wish to offer your own hair to cement the bond, or gather acorns, nuts, herbs or other natural things.

Coming Soon – Part 2 – Birds and Their Healing Properties – Discover the powerful characteristics of the crow, heron, eagle and more!

 

Thanks to Jonathan Keyes for the inspiration for this article

Spell for How to Bless and Empower your Tattoo

My Dragon Tattoo
My Dragon Tattoo

As some of you may know, I have been in Cambodia volunteering at an community based ecotourism project, which aims to give money and benefits to the local community whilst helping preserve the elephants and the forest. This is the second time I have been to Cambodia and I really love it, and it was partly this that made me choose to get my first tattoo there.

I got two dragons forming a heart shape (based on the Anne Stokes Dragon Heart Pendant), and in the middle the Cambodian letter for ‘J’ which is the initial of my wonderful dog Jumble who passed away last year at the grand old age of 17. This simultaneously allowed me to express my love for my dog as well as Cambodia, in a form which reassures me, making me feel like Jumble is still with me in some way.

Tattoos are an amazing way of marking something powerful upon our bodies, the planning and even the pain of the tattoo contribute to the significance of the finished product. By blessing your tattoo you can add powerful energy to the tattoo, perhaps using it for protection, courage, or strength, and also as a way to keep linked to someone who is no longer here.

This spell has been written with honouring a dead loved one in mind, but can easily be adapted to suit your tattoo.

  • Wait for a new moon (when the moon is at it’s smallest)
  • Buy or make some holy or blessed water
  • Bring a black and a white candle (symbolising the cycle of life and death)
  • Bring some incense (Ideally Frankincense for it’s ability to bless, purify, aid meditation and give power and courage)
  • Get some Frankincense oil to anoint yourself with
  • If applicable take a photo or keepsake of the dead loved one you would like to honour

Go to a quiet place, light your candles and incense and sprinkle your holy water around you saying, I bless and consecrate this space. Meditate for a few minutes upon the keepsake or photo of your loved one. Think clearly of your intention, in this case for the tattoo to be a bond to my dog, and also to give me strength and courage in my everyday life.

The ouroboros or uroboros (/?j??r??b?r?s, ?j??ro?-/, from the Greek ????????? ???? tail-devouring snake) is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail.
The ouroboros or uroboros (/?j??r??b?r?s, ?j??ro?-/, from the Greek ????????? ???? tail-devouring snake) is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail.

Take the essential oil and add a few drops to your holy water. If you have an wand you may wish to stir the water with it, but if not just using your finger is fine. Then anoint your tattoo with a holy symbol. (Make sure it is fully healed first or the oil could irritate the tattoo!) I have chosen ouroborous for it’s connotations with life, death and rebirth, and also with it’s links for healing. The picture shows the ouroborous snake interweaved with a pentagram which is beautiful, but as my tattoo is on my back I will just do a circle!

“Oh high ones hear my call

Grant that this sacred and powerful

Marking upon and within my body

Be consecrated in honour of my loved one ………(insert name here)**

As a sign of our never ending bond

As a talisman of courage and power”

At this point think about the sign you have anointed your tattoo with, and if a loved one signified by the tattoo, think of them too, and imagine a part of their spirit flowing into the ink. If the tattoo is not of a loved one but perhaps a totem animal or something, imagine this thing coming partly to life on your body, drawing down energy from the new moon.

As you are filled with energy, begin to chant..

“Fill me with your magickal power

Your love, your truth, and courage at this hour

Bring me strength, bring me protection

Guide me in the right direction”

Repeat this a few times till you feel sufficient energy has flowed into you and your tattoo, finish by saying

“To seal this tattoo as symbol of eternity and love

I ask this favour from above. So mote it be!”

The spell is finished and now you can feel happy in the knowledge that you have added to the power and meaningfulness of your tattoo, as well as perhaps strengthened a bond with a loved one.

I’d love it if anyone would like to share a picture of any special tattoo that they have had done, please feel free to post a link to your pic, or if you’d like me to put it directly in the article let me know and I will!

Blessings

StormJewel

Make your own spells – magickal correspondences

Phases of the Moon For Spells
Phases of the Moon For Spells

Making a spell from scratch is a great way to create something really powerful, but to do this, its best to use the correct magickal correspondences, such as finding out which day of the week is best for your particular spell, which colour candle to use, how to choose incense for your spell, and what part of the lunar cycle to do it on.

To make this easier I created a page with all these spell correspondences on it, you can find it here!

Not only can you find out about magickal correspondances but also lots of tips about how to craft a spell and how to make it effective.  I really welcome feedback and suggestions so if you think that I have missed things out or have any ideas on improving what I have written then please do comment or email me.

Blessed Be

StormJewel

See the Spell Correspondences

(Photo credit: The philosopher)

How to magickally charge your jewellery & talismans

I’m sometimes asked if my pendants are magickally charged. Whilst I believe that symbols that have been used for a long time, gather significance, and a magick of their own, the pendants do not come precharged by a person.

So in this blog post I’m going to tell you how to magickally charge your own Pagan, Wiccan, Buddhist or other alternative jewellery and symbols.
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  1. Mermaid and Dolphin for Harmony and Happiness

    First, think about what it is you want the talisman to help you with. For instance, if you have the Mermaid and Dolphin for Harmony and Happiness you may just want overall happiness and harmony, or perhaps you have a particular situation that you want happiness and harmony to come to, such as your family life

  2. Think of a positive way to state your intention, for general happiness you could say:
    “This pendant brings harmony and happiness into my life.”
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  3. For a particular situation such as family life, you could say:
    “This pendant brings harmony and happiness to my family life.”
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  4. Next, find out the magickal correspondances that match your desire – ie the best day of the week to do the spell, the correct colours and so on.
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    In this case you would pick:

    Friday, as it is associated with family, harmony and friendship
    The Waxing Moon: Because you want to attract harmonious energies
    Lilac: as it is associated with inner healing, calmness and tranquility OR
    Light Blue
    : for its associations with peace and harmony
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  5. High Celtic Cross Charm for Guidance and Protection

    Get a spell candle in your chosen colour.
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  6. Make or get some blessed water to cleanse and purify the pendant, leaving it ready for you to imprint your magickal charge.
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  7. You may wish to get herbs to add extra power to the spell, in this case Aniseed, Jasmine Flowers or Meadowsweet would work well.
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  8. I highly recommend getting or making some incense as fragrances have a very powerful effect on our subconscious.  Jasmine, Lavender, Rose and Orange are all connected with happiness and peace. Vanilla is for granting wishes and promotes a positive vibe

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Ok, now you have all the equipment and preparation you need to magickally charge your pendant. Now it’s time to begin.

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  1. Light your candle and incense.
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    Step 2 is optional, but something I find really helps to add power to spells.
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  2. Wheel of Taranis Charm for Strength and Courage

    To raise magickal energy I like to cast a sacred circle, then stand in the middle, taking deep breaths and imagining my self rooting into the ground like a tree.  Then I stretch my hands upwards and imagine they are reaching up to the sky.  Hopefully you will begin to feel energy flowing through you, but don’t worry if you don’t.  You can then imagine a circle of swirling energy growing in strength between your outstreched arms.
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  3. Now that you have raised your energy, get your blessed water.  If you have some herbs you can mix them into the water.
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  4. Sprinkle some of your blessed water on the talisman and say three times

    “I cleanse, bless and consecrate this pendant”
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  5. Take your jewellery in your hand and stare at your candle, repeating your intention.  Imagine the positive energy flowing into your pendant.  Try to visualise the successful achievement of your pendant helping you, whether that is having happy times with your family, generally enjoying life or whatever
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  6. Keep doing this until you feel the pendant is charged.
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  7. Finally say:
    ‘An it harm none, so mote it be!’
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  8. Close your sacred circle if you opened one, and now you are done!

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Your pendant is now magickally charged, all you have to do now is wear it regularly, the more you wear it the more attuned to you, and thus the stronger it will become.
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I hope you enjoyed this article, as with everything, these are just suggestions, so if you feel like changing something or doing something differently, then give it a go!

Let me know how it goes and please leave your comments below!

StormJewel x

Anne Stokes Dragon Love for Brave & Tranquil Heart
Elf Heart for Happiness and Love
Pagani Pentagram to Increase Psychic Ability

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Samhain and Halloween – what does it mean?

English: Halloween pumpkin.
English: Halloween pumpkin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in whole world. This celebration in the West means pumpkins, witches and ghosts. In other countries where Christian and Catholic roots are prevalent, the Day of the Dead is celebrated, but what’s it really about and how can you celebrate it?.

As with many festivals that we celebrate today, such as Christmas and Easter, Halloween comes from Pagan times, and was (and is still by many Pagans) called Samhain, which can be pronounced Sow-een, Sow-in or Sav-ain and is usually celebrated from or somewhere between October 31st and November 11th..

Samhain is a time when the boundaries between the living and the dead become blurred and thin, and it is the time of the year when it is supposed to be easiest for the dead to come to the earthly realm.  This has perhaps lead to the idea that Halloween is a scary time – but it should be one of respect and celebration!

I went to a Catholic girls school many years ago (kind of funny when you become a Pagan, RE lessons were always a big debate!) and my head teacher explained at assembly that Halloween is a scary time, and the following day (Day of All Saints or All Hallows) is to get rid of this badness and let the ‘good’ in.

I politely explained afterwards that in fact Halloween (Hallows Eve) and All Saints Day were derived from the Pagan festival Samhain and is about honouring the dead, and to her credit she took it on board and asked me to do the assembly next year!

As most Pagans and Wiccans believe in reincarnation, or the spirit of a person or animal as continuing in some way, this time of year is special since it represents a celebration of continued life.

Many other cultures also have a time to honour their dead, for instance in Mexico they have Los Dias De Las Muertos or ‘The Day of the Dead.’ Samhain is also the last of the Harvest festivals, as for Pagans in the Northern Hemisphere, it coincides with the last harvest before winter.  This is where the pumpkins come into it as they represented food from the harvest!

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How you can celebrate Samhain

Ceramic Mini Cauldron for burning Incense
Ceramic Mini Cauldron for burning Incense

Like any Pagan festival, the way is open for you to celebrate in whichever feels right.  However here are some traditional ways and guidelines that you may wish to follow.

A word of warning: If you are not an experienced Witch or Pagan to avoid such things as chanting or drumming to raise the dead, unless you are with experienced magick workers, as these are very strong energies! It is also wise to ask goddesses or whoever you like to invoke, for protection.

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Decorating your altar

In keeping with the harvest theme, why not decorate your altar with pumpkins, corn or hay, gourds or conkers, or anything else relating to the season. (Just use what is around if you are from the southern hemisphere!) Offerings of cakes and ale are also appropriate.

Black candles are also ideal, especially ritually charged black candles, which help to provide protection.

The cauldron is also an important symbol for Halloween, you might wish to put a mini cauldron incense burner there, and burn something like frankincense or myrrh which are traditionally used to honour the dead.

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Ritual ideas..

  • As mentioned, the cauldron is often important for Samhain rituals, so if you have a big one, this could be the focal point of your ritual.
  • You might wish to invite the Crone or Wise Woman to bring wisdom to you, or the story of the Goddess Cerridwen.
  • For honouring and contacting the dead, ritual drumming or chanting can be excellent. Why not place items of those you wish to honour on your altar?
  • Bobbing for apples is an ancient Pagan tradition, as apple magick was highly valued.  When you catch the apple in your teeth a little of your soul is supposed to creep into the apple and then you can either eat it for prosperity or bury it in your garden or a green space nearby to ensure abundance over the coming winter months.
  • You may wish to try crystal ball scrying or some other method of divination to contact those you wish to honour and communicate with.Isis for Magical Inspiration
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Goddesses and Gods you can Invoke..

  • Hecate
  • Cerridwen
  • Morrigan
  • The Wise Woman (Crone)
  • Anubis
  • Isis
  • Ishtar
  • Cernunnos

Whichever way you choose to celebrate Samhain, it’s a great time to honour the dead, celebrate life and appreciate the changing of the seasons.

Blessings

StormJewel

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Have any good Samhain ritual tips or things you like to do? Let me know in the comment box!

How to do a Green Man Ritual

I found this great Green Man by Abby Willowroot and thought I ought to share!

A Green Man Ritual

Practicing the ways of the Green Man means living in harmony with nature and living according to the seasons. It means looking for the blessings and gifts that are unique to each time of the year.  Without winter, there is no spring; without summer there is no harvest.  rituals fo the Green Man can be done for many purposes – to heal the environment, to restore balance, or to ensure abundance and the success of new ventures.  Green Man rituals should be performed with green, white or light blue, and yellow candles.  Green candles are for growth, health and vegetation.  White or blue candles represent air.  Yelow candles shine with the light of the Sun and its vital energy and warmth.

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Symbols used in Green Man rituals may include: a growing plant, a branch, fruit, dried grains, a small bowl of earth, leaves, berries, and acorns or other nuts.

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A Green Man Invocation

I call to you now, spirit of nature, strong and free

Come and teach me, I am ready to honour you

I celebrate your gifts; I am ready to learn your truths

As my ancestors did before me.

I see your power and your pain, beneath the green mantle

Of the scars on your body and the great sadness in your eyes

You are no longer abandoned, we hear you again

We are ready, to honour your ways

Reveal yourself, Green Man

Weave your spells of green magic

Teach me and I will listen for your voice;

I will celebrate your sacred wisdom ways.

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It is best to do a Green Man ritual outside, and if possible in a wooded place. Take your shoes off, sink your toes into the cool earth, and feel the energy of the Green Man move up through your body.  Before you begin your ritual, take a few moments to listen to the trees, notice how they rustle, creak and groan as the wind passes through them.  Breathe in the oxygen they have produced for you, and know this is the miracle of the Green Man’s Magic.

In earlier times peasants knew the ways of the fields and forest, and gave back to the Earth with the sacrifice to the Green Man.  Today we still have opportunities to make sacrifices and give back to the Earth, but the sacrifices we are making are those of care, awareness, and moderation.  Recycling and conservation are contemporary Green Man sacrifices.

Today the Green Man is reemerging into our consciousness.  His presence brings balance and energy to the reclaiming of our ancient heritage.  For men, the Green Man is especially important, as he is a guide to accessing balanced male power. In our time, the Green Man is emerging with a clear, strong voice, guiding us toward a healthier and more stable balance with nature.

By Abby Willowroot

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You can find all my lovely Green Man items here. Do you honour the Green Man?  Have you done any Green Man rituals or similar?  Leave your comments and experiences below!

How to do Candle Magick

Candle Magick (like most spells) can be as simple or as complex as you like.  Whilst putting a lot of effort into your spells is a good way to make them poewrful and successful, there is also a benefit to quick and easy spells, especially if you repeat them frequently say once a day for a specific length of time or maybe once a week for a particular length of time.  This might be useful if you are working with a particular day of the week – for instance Friday for love, passion and fertility spells.

The key points for candle magick are as follows:

  1. The colour of the candle.
  2. Any oil that you may use to anoint the candle.
  3. The magickcal symbols and sigils that you carve into the candle (such as the pentagram, triqetra etc).
  4. The god, goddess or other type of divinity (eg air, earth, water and fire spirits, angels, fairies etc) that you invoke or call when lighting the candle.
  5. Herbs that you sprinkle around the candle and into the flame (only a tiny bit into the flame don’t start a fire! :o)  You can also carve a hole in the bottom of the candle to put in herbs as well.
  6. The words you choose to say whilst meditating upon the candle
  7. The day of the week you do the spell on.
mixed bag of coloured spell candles
mixed bag of coloured spell candles

As with all magick it is pretty much all up to you, although choosing the right colour spell candles is essential.  However if you want to do a spell and find you do not have the right candle you can always use a white one as white is all purpose.  Alternatively why not stock up on an inexpensicve bag of mixed candles so you always have the right one handy!

Whichever way you choose to do your candle magick make sure you have fun and it feel right to you!

Blessings!

StormJewel x