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The Basics of Tools and Rituals
Water, blue in colour and west in direction, is associated with psychic
energy, emotion, intuition, and the subconscious. It overcomes
difficulties by flowing around them rather than confronting them, but it
also has the power of erosion and the power to overcome all things.
Those born under the water signs, Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces, share an
insight into the ways of others and the ability to feel their joys and pains.
Consecration
Everything used in magic making must be suitably consecrated. This
may be time-consuming at first, but it needs only be done once, for once
consecrated an altar and the things on it remain so, unless another
person touches them. If this does happen, whatever has been touched has
to be reconsecrated as it will have picked up negative energies from the
offender!
Once the place where spells are to be cast has been selected, then is the
time for consecration. A quiet space should be selected. It doesn’t matter
if it is indoors or outdoors, as long as it is a place where work can be done
and spells cast undisturbed. The space needs to be cleaned thoroughly.
Traditionally a besom is used for this and the task is performed three
times – once for the physical world, once for emotional cleaning and
once to clean the spirit. When this has been done, it is usual to sprinkle
water and salt around the area and to burn some incense.
Now the work surface, or altar, is prepared. It can be a tray, a table, a
dressing table or an ornately carved piece of furniture. It doesn’t matter,
for in magic making it’s the thought that counts!
On the altar there should be candles, including a silver one to represent
The Lady and the moon, and a gold one to represent The Lord and the
sun, and a pentagram, a censer, a bowl of water and a bowl of salt, an
athame, a chalice, a bell and a wand. Also, crystals and other items that
are going to be used regularly should be on the altar.
Everything in place, the altar is then dedicated to whichever power is to
be asked to bless the spells to be cast. Wiccans dedicate their altars to The
Lord and Lady. Others with no particular belief apart from a deeply held
conviction that the forces of nature can be summoned and used for the
greater good, may choose to dedicate their altars simply to the Greater
Good and the benefit of all.
Traditionally, each of the four elements is then addressed. One way is to
say to each in turn, 'Oh element * * * *. May all negative energies
depart, leaving only the positive. This is my will. So be it.’ As the earth
is addressed, a banishing earth pentacle is drawn over the bowl of salt on
the altar. When the water is being addressed, a banishing water pentacle
is drawn over the bowl of water. Similarly, a banishing fire pentacle is
cast over the candles when fire is being addressed, and a banishing air
one over the incense when it is air’s turn.
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