Lesson 2

Basic Candle Magick:

Here is a taste of magick you may use as soon as you complete the Self-Dedication. This type of candle magick is very basic, yet quite effective. Lesson four will deal sole with magick, but this being an introductory lesson, it is only fair to include a taste..

This is a good time to iterate how closely Karma and ethics are intertwined. If you cast an evil spell, you may be in for some Karma even though you might call yourself a White Witch. You choose your own color of magick not once, but each time you practice, Some traditions believe in Karma as " What you do comes back to you." Do you? This is your own moral choice.

The magick you will learn from this course and the magick you will learn to create on your own can be used for any purpose.  Keep in mind that for any magick it is best (though not necessary) to do calling magick, such as money, love, health, luck or anything that brings something to you, during the waxing moon (first quarter) to the full moon.

Banishing magick, such as bindings, quitting bad habits, curses, or anything pushing energy away, should be done during the waning moon (last quarter) to the new moon. These are optimal times, but you cannot always base your magick around the moon.

Basic candle magick deals with only two colors, black and white. (Lesson four will have a complete list of colors and meanings.) Envision the white candle as the waxing to full moon and the black candle as the waning to new moon.

For any calling purpose, use the White candle.

For any banishing purpose, use the Black candle.

(Note: Always use candles that are solid color throughout. Scratch off some of the wax if you are uncertain).

You will need:

One White or Black candle, Candle holder, Matches or Lighter, Olive oil. 

Basic Candle Magick Ritual  

For white candle- Rub oil from the tip of the candle towards the base while humming and visualizing your reason for doing this spell. Continue humming and visualizing for about 5 minutes.

For black candle- Rub oil from the base of the candle towards the tip while humming and visualizing your reason for doing this spell. Continue humming and visualizing for about 5 minutes.

Continue for either candle- Place the candle into the holder and light it. Chant your chant for as long as you can while visualizing your purpose. To chant, use a monotone humming voice.  You should create a specific chant for your purpose. It can be as simple as one word, or as complex as you wish.

Examples: "Money, Money, come to me", "Bring love.". or " Protection surround me, complete serenity." When you cannot chant and visualize any longer, put the candle out and repeat the spell the following night ( or day).  After you see the first glimpse of the results of your spell that night or day, let the candle burn all the way out.  

Remember, after the completion of any spell or ritual, always say, "So mote it be." ( This simply means, " It is over.") 

Altar Setup:
You will need a compass to setup your altar.
As I did when I was beginning, you should start with your four tools and Book of Shadows.   

Place them as follows:

1. Athame to the south of the altar.
2. Cup to the west of the altar.
3. Incense burner to the east of the altar.
4. Bowl to the north of the altar.   

 The relationship of the position on the altar with the polar directions:
South= raw energy (athame)
West= water or subtle energy (chalice)
East= breath (incense)
North= grounded (bowl)   

You should only have one candle on your altar (known as your altar candle). This does not include the candles you use in your rituals or spells. You should have two colors on hand or your altar candle. White for calling, black for banishing. Always use the same candle until it runs out. ( You may switch the white and black candle back and forth.) This candle should go in the middle. Your BOS should go wherever you can read it best.  

Circle Casting:

Circle casting means to place a barrier around you and your altar, so no other outside "unwanted" energies can break or get inside, hence weakening your ritual or spell.

Also, circle casting encloses you so that only your energies and the ones you call get in, That is why we call this Step Two. I have tried most of the circle casting techniques out there, and have gotten weak results. My coven has taught me a great circle casting technique that I continue to use with great results to this day.   

Tools you will need:
1. Salt
2. Water
3. Black or White candle
4. Dirt from the earth
5. Your tools    

Setup:
Circle casting does not need a big open space. You may have your altar against a wall, facing any direction, or even use the bathroom. For white altar circle (calling), use sandalwood incense. (stick or cone is fine) For black altar circle (banishing) use patchouli incense. (stick or cone is fine) If this is calling magick or any ritual or ceremony, follow directly. If this is banishing magick, visualize black light instead of the white light. 

  Circle Casting Ritual

Perform Step One. Setup altar. Place the salt into the chalice and place the athame tip into the water. Draw a pentagram while saying, " As salt with water, I purify thee." Visualize the cup glowing white. Light the incense while saying, " As air to wind, charge this area." Visualize the smoke rising and glowing white. Place the dirt into the cauldron and say, " As earth to flesh, I charge thee." Visualize the cauldron glowing white. Take your athame and point it down. Visualize white light shooting up from the earth into you. Visualize yourself glowing white.

Place the athame back on the altar and put your hands over your head, palms up. Visualize all the white light you pulled from the earth coming out of your hands and forming a circle around you and your altar. Visualize the area glowing white. Lower your hands and say, " Charged is this circle of light. Nothing may enter, nothing may leave, unless I choose it to be."

Now you must charge yourself. Take the water and drink a sip. Take the incense and breathe a bit. Take the earth from the cauldron and rub your hands in it. Now proceed with your ritual, spell or ceremony. From now on, whenever you do any ritual, spell or ceremony, first perform Step One, (meditation) and Step Two, (circle casting).   

 Releasing:
(Releasing will be referred to as Step Three)   

 Closing your circle for a spell:

Take the athame and point it up. Visualize the white light shooting up into space while saying, "So mote it be." Always drain the charged water into the earth. Your circle casting is complete.   

 Raising and Projecting Energy

This is an important chapter so read it carefully!
To raise energy means to bring up enough charge to effectively perform your rituals, spells and ceremonies. Projecting energy means to send it out to accomplish your intentions, or even to send energy to the earth so others may use it. Raising energy is Step Four. To raise energy, simply visualize what you are raising the energy for and hum or chant in a low voice. Try to make it as clear as possible.

 Example: You are doing a basic candle magick spell as in the Introductory Lesson. For money, you hum ( or chant your purpose) while visualizing for as long as you possibly can.

Projecting energy is exactly the same as releasing the circle when circle casting. It projects energy out to accomplish whatever task you request. Keep in mind you have to push the energy out of yourself (project). To do this, mentally feel the energy leaving your body and visualize it.

Example: Flex all the muscles you can in your body and release. That too is releasing energy. Now flex all the muscles in your body and release- but at the same time mentally push all of your energy out while visualizing this, be it a white light.

Seem easy? Guess again. This may take some practice over a period of months to effectively use.   

 Daily Rite:
This does not have to be preformed daily. Just practice this rite as often as you wish. It helps develop your visualization and raising and projecting.  Perform Step One and Step Two.

Visualize yourself engulfed in a Green light. ( Green is health. More information on visualization will be covered in Lesson Four) Hold as long as you can, trying not to let any other thoughts come into your mind. Start humming and feel the energy rise. Do not visualize at this point. Do this as long as you can. Now, visualize and hum at the same time, for as long as you can.  Perform Step Three. Remember to project- point the athame down giving the earth healing. This rite will drain you of energy when done properly. You should feel energetic again in about 30 minutes. It also helps you and the earth.  

Initiation:
Having learned all taught so far and presuming you have been practicing for at least one month, you are ready for initiation. This is not self-initiation taught in many books: this type of initiation will call upon the astral powers and energies to accept and notice you.

You may have to perform this ceremony for a few weeks before you are accepted. You already have the earth (elemental energies) with you.  

Astral powers or energies must now be channeled into you so you may move on through this course. This will open the gates of the Deities, Spirits, and Astral Entities.

Do not perform this ceremony if you feel you need more practice and do not take it lightly. This is the same ceremony I had to do before the coven would teach me the ways, and it took me three weeks before I had contact with these energies. Don't despair! Though you may get it the first night, it does take time. Above all, don't give up.  

 You will need:
1. incense
2. your tools
3. a flower of any type
4. four white candles ( in addition to your altar candle)
5. a white robe
6. use both the black and white candles for your altar candles

Setup- Place your tools where they belong: the altar candles can go next to each other, the four white candles should go on the floor next to your altar in a rectangular position, the flower below the altar candles, and you should be in your white robe (nude). This can be done any night, but only at night.  

Initiation Ceremony:

Perform Step One and Step Two.
Kneel before the altar and hum for about 10 minutes. Take the flower and kiss it. Raise it above your head and say, " Oh God and Goddess hear me, blessed be. Spirits and powers hear me, blessed be. Come to me this night, for this is your rite." Light the four candles while saying, "These candles are your door, come through oh God and Goddess, blessed be.

These candles are your door, come through oh spirits and powers, blessed be." Place the flowers inside the rectangle of candles while saying, " This is me, I call you, oh God and Goddess, hear me. This is me, I call you, oh spirits and powers here me." Take your incense burner and make sure the incense is still burning.

Place the burner inside of the rectangle of candles while saying, "Let this be your form oh God and Goddess come forth. Let this be your form oh spirits and powers come forth." Hold your hands up over your head and say, " I am your child, I am your light, bring to me your loving grace, come forth and welcome me." Lower your arms.

Take your athame and point it at the burner. Visualize the burner glowing white. Point the athame up above your head while saying, " Open the gates, open the way, come forth."

Remove your robe so that you are completely naked and say, " I stand here before you in my total purity. Oh God and Goddess come forth and accept your child. Oh sprits and powers come forth and accept your child." Drink from the chalice and say, "I am ready for your acceptance oh great ones, give me the sign."

Sit before the rectangle of candles and chant, "Come forth, come forth," and so on. Continue chanting until the sign comes, or for about half and hour. This sign can be as simple as a thump on the wall, a breeze, or anything out of the ordinary, or it can be the actual appearance of the God, Goddess, Spirits, or Powers. ( If this happens, don't panic simply move to the next part) After you have gotten the sign (and you must get a sign to move on) move on.

If after a half hour you have not received a sign, perform Step Three and try again the next night. Only continue with the following if you have gotten the sign. Say, "Oh God and Goddess, I adore thee. Oh spirits and powers, I adore thee."

Take the white altar candle and hold it saying, " Purify to the forces of light." Take the black candle and hold it while saying, " Purify me to the forces of darkness." Kneel before the altar and say, " I am your child. Protect me. I am here. I am blessed." Put your robe back on and say, "So mote it be."

Perform Step Three, but release the energy up instead of down. You are now initiated into the craft and accepted by the God, Goddess, spirits, and powers. You will gain a spirit guide later in the course, but for now, welcome and greetings! Your path is now starting!

If you do not get the sign within four weeks, go back and practice what you have learned thus far. You are simply not ready yet. Don't give up!   

 Moving On:
Assuming you have completed initiation lets put some things together.

Whenever you start any Spell, Ritual, or Ceremony, what do you do? Perform Step One, Step Two & Step Three.

This is your foundation for all spells, rituals & ceremonies. Of course many steps will follow, but for now, this is a good start.

Try this: Write a chant for any purpose you choose and perform the steps. Where does your chant go? Step Four.

This is basic magick. What you can do with just that, is unlimited. Imagine what knowledge you will have at the end of this course!   

  Deity, Spirit & Elemental Altars

Deity, spirit and elemental altars offer a way of communicating with the astral world. When you setup one of these altars and invoke the forces, these powers will come to you and help you on your path. Many traditions hold these types of altars in a hush-hush type manner.

It is often not talked about and not taught. As this is a complete course in Witchcraft and you learned all thus far, you have every right to learn this art.

When I first cast my spirit altar and invoked, it took me by surprise. I contacted a spirit by the name Lethor and he was a playful little thing, but I gained the knowledge of what I was seeking at that time. Whatever purpose you have in mind for your altars is your business. It may be a spell, worship or any other reason.  

Deity Altars:
You will need all of your tools and deity incense, and a picture of the deity you wish to come. It would be a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with deities by finding a book about them. If you can find a picture of the one you wish to call, frame it. Obtain a white robe and a white candle (not your altar candle).

Spirit Altars:
You will need all of your tools and spirit incense, a white robe, and a white candle. 

Elemental Altars:
You will need all of your tools and elemental incense (shown later), a white robe, and a white candle. Setup for all altars- Place your tools in their normal places. ( The mirror's normal place is wherever you choose) Place the picture (for the deity altar) wherever you choose. Place the white candle next to your altar candle.   

Incenses:
Deity Incense - myrrh, basil, thyme, wormwood.
Spirit Incense - wormwood, anise, cloves mustard seed.
Elemental Incense - Wormwood, celery seed, dill, bay leaves, mint.