OracleSpecial Edition 24 September 2020 What Paganism?is Pagan ChoosingHolidaysYourDiety News From the A Witch’s Tools
Egyptian Dieties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25
Choosing Your Diety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-15
Popular Crystals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31-34
Pagan Holidays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-12
What is Paganism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Table of Contents
Roman Dieties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-23
Greek Dieties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-21
Norse Dieties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27
Witch’s Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-30
Celtic Dieties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-18
What is Paganism?
Polytheism:
Paganism is simultaneously a prehistoric and postmodern religion-it is as ancient as the fertility symbols associated with the veneration of Gods and Goddesses tens of thousands of years ago, while its newest forms have emerged as recently as the mid-20th century. Broadly speaking, Paganism encompasses two key
It is believed that the word’s religious meaning developed either from the enduring nonChristian religious practices of those who lived far from the Roman cities where Christianity was more quickly adopted, or from the fact that early Christians referred to themselves as “soldiers of Christ,” making nonbelievers “civilians.”
Origin PaganismHistoryandof
Pagan Beliefs
One principle of the Pagan movement is Polytheism, the belief in and veneration of multiple Gods or Goddesses. Within the Pagan movement, there can be found many Deities, both male and female, who have various associations and embody forces of nature, aspects of culture, and facets of human psychology. These Deities are typically depicted in human form and are viewed as having human faults. They are therefore not seen as perfect, but rather are venerated as being wise and powerful. Pagans feel that this understanding of the Gods
3 nature and a revival of ancient polytheistic and animistic religious practices. Some modern forms of Paganism have their roots in 19th century C.E. European nationalism (including the British Order of Druids), but most contemporary Pagan groups trace their immediate organizational roots to the 1960s and have an emphasis on archetypal psychology and a spiritual interest in nature.
1.characteristics:Religiousand spiritual practices concerning the worship of, or devotion to, the earth, the natural world, and/or the manifest physical universe; and/or
Pagan; Paganism: “a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions; a religion other than one of the main world religions, specifically a non-Christian or preChristian religion.”
2. Belief in spiritual beings: Goddesses, Gods, nature spirits (fairies, elves, power animals), and ancestral spirits.
According to patheos.com,
Paganism represents a wide variety of traditions that emphasize reverence for
According to Merriam-Webster, the term Pagan comes from the Late Latin word Paganus, which was used at the end of the Roman Empire to identify those who practiced a religion other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Early Christians often used the term to refer to nonChristians who worshiped multiple Deities. In Latin, Paganus originally meant “country dweller” or “civilian;”
Pagan Definition
American folklorist Sabina Magliocco came to the conclusion, based upon her ethnographic fieldwork in California that certain Pagan beliefs “arise from what they experience during religious ecstasy.”
The MatthewWomanPaganin15
Excerpt from “The Faith of a Pagan?” by Greg Laurie
A key part of most Pagan worldviews is the holistic concept of a universe that is interconnected. This is connected with a belief in either Pantheism or Panentheism. In both beliefs, divinity and the material or spiritual universe are one. For Pagans, pantheism means that “divinity is inseparable from nature and that deity is immanent in nature”.
Animism:
festivals include those marking the summer solstice and winter solstice as well as the start of spring and the harvest.
We could even describe it as amazing faith. One would have thought that the strongest faith would have come from one of Jesus’ disciples like Peter, James, or John. But it came from this Pagan woman. The only other time Jesus called out someone’s faith as an example was when a Roman servant.Gentile—askedcenturion—anotherHimtohealhis
Paganism’s public rituals are generally calendrical, although the pre-Christian festivals that Pagans use as a basis varied across Europe. Nevertheless, common to almost all Pagan religions is an emphasis on an agricultural cycle and respect for the dead. Common Pagan
Faith is often found in unlikely places. The Bible tells the story of a Pagan woman whom Jesus commended for her great faith (Matthew 15). She was not raised as a Jew, knowing the Scriptures. She certainly did not have the privilege of walking and talking with Jesus as the disciples had. This woman had been raised in a Godless home, in a home filled with idols. But with what little she knew about Jesus, she applied dramatic faith.
Pagan Rituals
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Pagan ritual can take place in either a public or private setting. Pagan ritual is typically geared towards “facilitating altered states of awareness or shifting mindsets.” In order to induce such altered states of consciousness, Pagans utilize such elements as drumming, visualization, chanting, singing, dancing, and meditation.
reflected the dynamics of life on Earth, allowing for the expression of humor.
Goddess worship is central in Paganism. Pagans believe that nature is sacred and that the natural cycles of birth, growth and death observed in the world around us carry profoundly spiritual meanings. Human beings are seen as part of nature, along with other animals, trees, stones, plants and everything else that is of this earth. Most Pagans believe in some form of reincarnation, viewing death as a transition within a continuing process of existence.
practicesReligious
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Pagans understand Deity to be manifest within nature and recognise divinity as taking many forms, finding expression in Goddesses as well as Gods.
Most pagans worship the old preChristian Gods and Goddesses through seasonal festivals and other ceremonies. Observance of these festivals is very important to Pagans, and those in hospital will generally wish to celebrate them in some form. As there are many diverse traditions within Paganism, you should ask individual patients if they have any special requirements.
Paganism has roots in the preChristian religions of Europe. Its reemergence in Britain parallels that in other western countries, where it has been growing rapidly since the 1950s. The social infrastructure of Paganism reflects the value the Pagan community places on unity in diversity; it consists of a network of inter-related traditions and local groups served by several larger organisations. In Scotland the Pagan Federation acts as an educational and representative body.
Fasting
For ethical reasons, most Pagans strongly prefer foods derived from organic farming and freerange livestock rearing, while many are vegetarian or vegan.
There are no organised fast days, but some Pagans choose to fast in preparation for Ostara.
Some Pagans may wish to have a small white candle or a small figure of a Goddess on their altar.
Death customs
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Most Pagans believe in some form of reincarnation, viewing death as a transition within a continuing process of existence. Pagans accept death as a natural part of life and will wish to know when they are dying so that they may consciously prepare for it.
Diet
Services/?depth=4&srcid=2007en-GB/NHS-Mobile/Our-http://www.waht.nhs.uk/
If we are curious enough to just scratch the surface of our modern traditions, we might be very surprised to discover that there is actually nothing new in most of the holidays we celebrate every year. When it comes to festivities, rituals and traditions, we literally didn’t invent anything. We keep doing the same things the ancient Romans used to do 2,000 years ago – we simply call them by different names.
Rome and inaugurated it right on December 25th, 274 C.E.. It is no wonder that the biggest celebration of the Sun God fell on this date at the beginning of winter time: on December 21st in fact, with the winter solstice, the sun wins his battle against the darkness and the daylight hours slowly increase. That’s why such a peculiar date, marked by the victory of the light, was busy with the birthdays of many Gods: Dionysos, Hercules, Adonis, Mithras and Tammuz, the ancient Mesopotamian God of fertility.
time Pagan populace to adjust to this new faith. In exactly this way the date of Christmas was established on December 25th in order to replace the old Festival of the Sun God, and the same happened with many other holidays. This strategy worked out so well that with the passing of the centuries, even the memory of the original Pagan celebrations faded away and was almost completely forgotten.
Holidays with Pagan origins:
• Christmas • New Year’s Day • Easter • The Roman version of Halloween • May 1st - Labor Day • Epiphany or Three Kings Day • Saint John’s Eve
Christmas
The emperor Aurelianus built a big temple for the Sun God in
But December 25th was only the last day of more than a week of celebrations in Rome, known as Saturnalia, leading up to the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the birthday of the Sun. Starting on December 17th, the Saturnalia involved a lot of banquets and all sorts of parties with family and friends. During this time, all social rules were reversed, just like in the Carnival, but the most
When Emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 C.E., Paganism was outlawed and the Christian religion became the one and only official religion of the Roman Empire. But for the many Romans who remained faithfully devoted to Jupiter and his mythological crew, the transition to the new monotheistic religion was anything but easy.
For an ancient Roman, December 25th was the time to celebrate Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun. The Sun God was venerated under different names all over the enormous territory of the Roman Empire and became the most important God during the 3rd century C.E..
Pagan Holidays
And so the Church decided to replace the most important Pagan festivities with new Christian holidays on the same dates – as the calendar remained pretty much the same as before, it was much easier for the one-
On New Year’s Day the Romans would go on a procession to the top of the Capitoline Hill, where the priests would sacrifice a white
New Year’s Day
bull to ask protection from the Gods for the new year. Moreover, the High Priest, the Pontifex Maximus, would offer to Janus a pie made of flour, cereals, cheese, eggs and olive oil, to invoke the God’s benevolence.
The people would then celebrate by feasting together and wearing something red, which was supposed to bring good luck, health and fertility.
Easter
Easter is a very peculiar Christian holiday, which doesn’t fall on a specific date as all the other festivities, but it is based on the cycle of the moon: in fact, it falls on the first Spring Sunday after
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Also for the Romans, New Year’s Day was a very important date, but the most interesting fact is that originally the Roman year didn’t start on January 1st but in March. This was mainly because March was the month dedicated to Mars, the Roman God of war, which was also believed to be the divine father of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
But many traditions associated with Easter show completely different (and Pagan) origins: in fact, the word “Easter” itself comes from the name of Eostre, the Germanic Goddess of Spring. The famous Easter Eggs and the Easter bunny, which is supposed to deliver candies to the kids, were originally associated with Eostre, as symbols of rebirth and fertility.
Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.E., with his Julian Calendar, who permanently established the holiday on January 1st. The beginning of the year was dedicated to a very peculiar Roman God: Janus. According to the mythology, Janus was the two-faced God of doors (his name Janus comes from ianua, “door” in Latin), beginnings and passages: that is why the first month of the year, January, was named after him.
the new moon. The Jewish root of the Christian Easter Holiday are widely known: the Christian festivity is in fact connected to the holiday of Passover, which has its foundation in the exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
significant aspect of Saturnalia was the traditional exchange of gifts. The most popular gifts for this occasion were little figurines of Gods made out of clay, that used to be put on display on an altar at home: this might be at the origin of the Italian tradition of the Nativity.
Due to circumstancesextraordinaryinwartime, in the year 153 B.C.E. the consul Quintus Fulvius Nobilior exceptionally moved New Year’s Day to January 1st for the first time in However,history.itwas
labor movements and unions that improved the conditions of millions of workers. It does seem very modern, right? But it is not! In fact, May 1st was widely celebrated in ancient times too. For the Romans, May 1st was dedicated to Maia, an ancient Goddess associated with the element of fire and with fertility. The entire month was - and still is - named after her.
What about the Romans?
The Romans had a Spring holiday around March 15th dedicated to Anna Perenna, a pretty obscure Goddess, who was variously identified with the moon or with some Etruscan mother Goddess. Most importantly, she was a Deity of the circle of the year, given that her holiday would fall right on the first day of the year, according to the original Roman calendar. It was customary to celebrate with meals with family and friends, particularly in the woods sacred to Anna Perenna. On this occasion, the Romans would drink a lot of wine, since it was believed that each cup would lengthen their life by one full year. A traditional way of honoring the Goddess, as she was also associated with fertility and rebirth, was for couples to make love by the river.
The HalloweenversionRomanof
May 1st - Labor Day
Interestingly enough, Maia was considered a mother Goddess and that’s the reason why, after the Christianization of the Roman empire, the Church decided to convert the ancient festival of Maia into a holiday dedicated to another heavenly mother, the Virgin Mary.
fero, to bring) or even having lunch by the grave, to keep the dead person good company.
As most people know, Labor Day is a holiday that was established in 1894 to honor the
Moreover, it was customary for Romans to leave black beans on the graves, representing their tears. Also, the Romans used to believe, to be at peace, the dead needed to visit the world of the living now and then. That’s why on some days they would open the entrance of the Mundus, a deep pit which was believed to be the entrance to the underworld, to allow the dead to access the world of the living.
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Everybody knows that Halloween traditions originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, but did you know that the Romans had something very similar and probably even creepier? Nowadays we have only one day dedicated to the memory of the Dead, on November 2nd, while the Romans had multiple occasions during the year to try and reconnect with their passed loved ones. In February, the week from the 13th to the 22nd was entirely dedicated to visiting the dead, bringing food offers to the graves (this particular ceremony took the name of Feralia, from
But who is the Befana really?
Even though nowadays the coal is made of sugar, luckily for the naughty kids!
The rituals associated with this festivity differ from country to country and involve traditional cakes, such as the Three Kings Cake, or chalking the house doors with the initials of the Magi Kings, or attending mass. In Italy, Epiphany is popular, among children, as it is associated with a special character of Italian folklore: the Befana.
According to Italian tradition, she was the lady who pointed the Magi kings in the right direction for Bethlehem, but if we look back to Roman times, we will find some very interesting traditions that can explain where the Befana originally came from.
Epiphany or Three Kings Day
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Every January 6th most Christian Churches celebrate the holiday of Epiphany, remembering the visit of the Magi Kings to Baby Jesus, or, according to Eastern tradition, the day Jesus was baptized.
The Befana, whose name is actually a corruption of the world Epifania, is a little old witchy lady who lives in the mountains. During the night before the holiday, she flies on a broom and delivers little gifts, mostly candies, to the good kids: naughty kids, instead, only receive coal.
The Romans used to believe that during the twelve nights following the winter solstice, the moon Goddess Diana, accompanied by two obscure Deities, Satia and Abundantia, respectively the personifications of satiety and abundance, used to fly over the fields, to make them Moreover,fertile.the
year itself was seen as an old lady, possibly representing Mother Nature itself. Before dying, she would still make the last gift of seeds and food to the people, as a promise that she would be born again in Spring. Apparently, she would also deliver coal, not as a punishment for the naughty kids, but as a symbol of warmth.
Saint John’s Eve
But what did the Romans do on that very same date?
She was a very popular Goddess, particularly among the poor, who would constantly try to please her with offers or sacrifices, hoping to get a change of luck: but Fortuna was a tricky Goddess, very difficult to please.
Saint John the Baptist holds a few interesting records among the saints: not only is he the most represented saint in all the history of religious art, but he is also the one and only saint who is celebrated on his birth date instead of his death date. He is indeed a very special saint, as he prepared the way for Jesus, who was also in fact his cousin. Just as it happened for Jesus, Saint John’s feast took place on a Solstice: as the birth of Jesus on December 25th marks the rebirth of the Sun, so the birthday of John on June 24th marks the beginning of the diminishing sun.
celebrating Saint John, but there are some recurring elements, such as traditional homemade dishes, like the Irish Goody, bonfires, or herbs, like the so-called St. John’s Wort, that are supposed to be collected on Saint John’s Eve in order to keep evil spirits away.
The night of June 24th, the Romans would gather around bonfires in the countryside and dance, feast and drink all night long in honor of Fortuna, the Goddess of luck.
https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/history/7-pagan-festivals-still-celebrate.html#
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Saint John’s Eve is one of the most ancient Christian holidays: in fact Christians have been celebrating it on this date at least since the 4th century. Every country has his own way of
Ostara, the Spring Equinox
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These are known as Sabbats and are celebrated around the world. They are based on earth’s rotations and seasonal markers, Samhain Yule Imbolc Ostara Beltane Litha Lammas or Lughnasadh Mabon
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Yule, WintertheSolstice
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This is the time when the veil between the earthly world and the spirit realm is thin, allowing Pagans to make contact with their dead.
Imbolc
Annually on October 31, the sabbat called Samhain presents Pagans with the opportunity to once more celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth. In many Pagan and Wiccan traditions, Samhain marks a chance to reconnect with our ancestors and honor those who’ve died.
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The fields are bare, the leaves have fallen, and the skies are going gray and cold. It is the time of year when the earth has died and gone dormant.
Observed during the frigid month of February, Imbolc reminds Pagans that spring will come soon. During Imbolc, some people focus on the Celtic Goddess Brighid, especially as a Deity of fire and fertility. Others concentrate on the cycles of the season and agricultural markers. Imbolc is a time to harness the magical energy related to the feminine aspects of the Goddess, of new beginnings, and of fire. It’s also a good season to focus on divination and increasing your own magical gifts and abilities.
The eight Wiccan and holidaysPagan
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Eight sabbats, or seasonal celebrations, form the foundation of many modern Pagan traditions. While there’s a rich history behind each one, every sabbat is observed by connecting to nature in some way. From Samhain to Beltane, the annual cycle of seasons known as the Wheel of the Year has been influenced by folklore, history, and magic.
Samhain
Ostara is the time of the vernal equinox. Rituals usually observe the coming of spring and the fertility of the land.
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For people of nearly any religious background, the winter solstice is a time to gather with loved ones. Pagans and Wiccans celebrate the solstice as the Yule season, which focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes its way back to the earth. Focus on this time of beginnings with your magical workings. Welcome light and warmth into your home and embrace this season of the earth.
Also called Litha, this summer solstice honors the longest day of the year. Take advantage of the extra hours of daylight and spend as much time as you can outdoors. There are many ways to celebrate Litha, but most focus on the power of the sun. It’s the time of year when the crops are growing heartily and the earth has warmed up.
Mabon, the Autumn Equinox
While Pagans celebrate the gifts of the earth during this time, they also accept that the soil is dying. Warmth has now past, and cold lies ahead during this seasonal shift when there’s an equal amount of day and night.
At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it’s time to reap what has been sown throughout the past few months and recognize that the bright summer days will soon come to an end. Typically the focus is on the early harvest aspect or the celebration of the Celtic God Lugh. It’s the season when the first grains are ready to be harvested and threshed, when the apples and grapes are ripe for the plucking,
Beltane
During the autumn equinox, the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter.
https://www.learnreligions.com/eight-pagan-sabbats-2562833
Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when Pagans take a few moments to honor the changing seasons and celebrate the second harvest. Many Pagans and Wiccan spend the equinox giving thanks for what they have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings.
Litha, the Summer Solstice
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LughnasadhLammas/
and Pagans are grateful for the food we have on our tables.
April’s showers have greened the earth, and few celebrations represent the land’s fertility as Beltane does. Observed May 1, festivities typically begin the evening before on the last night of April. Beltane is a celebration that has a long (and sometimes scandalous) history. It’s a time when the Earth mother opens up to the fertility God, and their union brings about healthy livestock, strong crops, and new life all around.
How will I know when I have found my Patron?
It depends. You will probably just feel it. You might be magnetically pulled to one Deity, or just get crazy excited when you see or read about them, or get chills when you think of them. You might just decide it. You might
How do I find my Patron Deity?
for a Patron is a wonderful excuse to pop to the library or spend some time getting books off Amazon, which is awesome because Pagans LOVE reading and buying books! Over time, you will meet Gods and Goddesses you are really into: you can try connecting with them, doing ritual with them, feeling them out and seeing if there is a connection there.
Choosing a patron Deity can be a big deal: it’s like choosing your witchy mentor, your go-to God/ Goddess, shaping your spiritual life for years. Your patron can be a powerful source of spiritual insight and development.
to have fun and start learning and researching about lots of different Gods and Goddesses. Start flirting with the ones who catch your eye. Read their mythologies. Look up artwork of them on Pinterest. Maybe join a course to learn about them, or read a book and do some ritual for them. You could get one of those books with loads of different rituals to different Goddesses or Gods and see who you vibe with – Michelle Sky does some cute ones in her Goddess Alive! series, and there is a great illustrated mythology book by Kris Waldherr called The Book of Goddesses which is Basically,GORGEOUS.yourhunt
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Choosing Your Diety
What is a Patron Deity?
Once you have a patron Deity, it doesn’t mean you are in a monogamous relationship for life. Other Deities will still come in and out of your life, depending on what they have got to teach you. Sometimes you will have more than one Patron Deity, and that’s totally fine!
A patron Deity is your main Deity. Your go-to Goddess. your main Man. The one who guides you. The one who will weave your path with you. The one who is always a big player in your spiritual practice. They are your Cosmic Teacher. They are a powerful link with the energy of the Divine. As you work with a patron, the energy of their archetype rubs off on you: a devotee of Venus will find probably herself encountering themes of sensuality and the arts in her life, a devotee of Brigid will probably end up as a healer of some kind.
Finding your Patron is great fun, because it’s like dating. You get to know a whole bunch of different Gods, so then over time not only do you know what you like and need, but you can be looking for that special feeling of connection. That powerful resonance. So we start with research. Which pantheons are you into? Who calls to you? Who are you fascinated by? It’s time
Most people end up with a kind of Deity or Archetype they like to work with, usually correlating with their current life’s passion or calling. It’s just kind of natural. If you are a homebody and a devout home-maker, it makes sense that someone like Hestia would be the sort of Goddess you’d get on with – and it makes sense that a fighty run-for-glory Deity like Mars might not be your spiritual bestie.
Choice is the true power of the witch: knowing oneself, making decisions for oneself, not giving away our strength and power to something outside of us. We don’t passively hand away our responsibility and power to Fate or Destiny, waiting for something else to decide our future for us..
If your heart is open and earnest, if you are walking into a relationship with a Deity centred on love rather than what you can get out of it, you are good.
• Connect with their energy daily
• Tell them how great they are and why you like them so much. All deities like that.
• Leave them offerings daily.
read about a God and just decide – Yes. That’s the one for me. You might just have a favourite Goddess and decide, Her please. It doesn’t necessarily have to be all burning bushes and sacred signs from the heavens. Don’t think you have to wait for some super magical showy sign to prove you are making the correct choice and that you are right. Trust yourself.
How do I love a Deity?
Again, it’s the same as human relationships. Going out with someone cos you like them is good. Going out with someone cos they have a nice car and a beach house is…. less good.
What do I do when I have found my Patron?
• Create a Pinterest Board for them
• Write poems for them
• Consecrate an activity to them
How do you connect deeply with anything? You love them. You offer them your devotion, your passion and commitment: take time to hang out with them, think of them in your day to day life, chat to them in the mornings, leave them offerings, play their favourite songs, read books about them… you bring their energy into your life.
Tell them they are great and start including them in your life! It’s time to connect with them. and build a relationship with them.
Relationships are not a one way street. You don’t get the good stuff without putting in a little effort, without paying attention, without showing up. You gotta work for it. Good news is though, it won’t feel like work. If you have chosen a patron Deity who you are head over heels for and super excited about, meditating with them, leaving them offerings, drawing little pictures and playing music that reminds you of them or whatever it is you are up to is going to be so much fun! You are going to want to do it!
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• Play music you think they would like or that reminds you of them.
How do I connect with my Patron Deity?
• Meditate with them
• Cultivate an altar for your Deity
• Draw pictures of them
Mainly, you just pay them attention. Here are some ideas.
Can you make a wrong decision?
• Talk to them. Pray to them. Tell them what’s going on.
What do I do now I have a Patron Deity?
So if you have never noticed a lot of magical synchronicity in your life, or are not the visions-and-big-coincidences sort, don’t expect after devoting to the Morrigan to wake up with a flock of ravens on your front lawn after having a powerful, prophetic dream about Her.
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Of course, each individual deity has their own activities that they are master of, so of course you can do those too! If Artemis is your patron, nature walks could be a part of your devotion to Her – maybe you could have a go at archery too. If Venus is your patron, you could honour Her by eating dinner by candlelight, savouring every bite. If Yemanja is your patron, you could honour Her by taking sea salt baths and donating to Ocean Conservation charities. If Hecate is your patron, you could leave her offerings at the cross roads, or start learning the Tarot in Her honour.
https://badwitch.es/choose-patron-deity/
You work with them. You call on them for support, wisdom and guidance. You invite them to your rituals and spellcastings. You let them become your strength, your mainline to the Divine. You let them touch your life and transform you in the ways they wish.
What if I choose my Deity but no magical freaky stuff happens?
If you are expecting a dramatic supernatural occurrence, but have not spent time noticing the ways in which spirit talks to you or developing your intuition or (so importantly) learnt to trust your intuition, how are you going to notice a magical sign?
It’s like anything else. You can’t expect to see beautiful birds in your garden if you never take the time to look outside your window! How strong are your magical spidey senses? Can you be still enough to hear the subtle whispers of the divine, or are you always running at a mile a minute? Magic is subtle. It’s not generally flashy: we have to train our eyes to look out for it, to notice magical coincidences and not just sweep them under the rug.
Cernunnos is the horned God found in many traditions of modern Paganism and Wicca. He is an Archetype found predominantly in Celtic regions, and symbolizes fertility and masculine energy. Often celebrated around the Beltane sabbat, Cernunnos is associated with the forest, the greening of the earth, and wild stags. He is a God of vegetation and trees in his aspect as the Green Man, and a God of lust and fertility
Brighid, IrelandGoddessHearthof
A daughter of the Dagda, Brighid is one of the classic triple Goddesses of the Celtic Pantheon. Many Pagans honor her today as a Goddess of the hearth and home, and of divination and prophecy.
Did You Know?
In some stories, she appears to a hero as a hideous old woman, and when he is kind to her, she turns into a lovely young woman who rewards him for his good deeds. In other stories, she turns into a giant gray boulder at the end of winter, and remains this way until Beltane, when she springs back to life.
Cailleach is known in parts of the Celtic world as the hag, the bringer of storms, the Dark Mother of the winter months. However, she features prominently in mythology and is not just a destroyer, but also a creator Goddess. According to The Etymological Dictionary Of Scottish-Gaelic the word cailleach itself means “veiled one” or “old woman”.
Cailleach, Ruler of Winter
• The Celts didn’t leave us any information about their Gods and Goddesses, so much of what we know is from the writings of Julius Caesar and his contemporaries, as well as Christian monks who came along later.
Cernunnos, Wild God of the Forest
Wondering about some of the major Deities of the ancient Celtic world? Although the Celts consisted of societies all over the British Isles and parts of Europe, some of their Gods and Goddesses have become a part of modern Pagan practice. Here are some of the Deities honored by the ancient Celtic peoples.
Celtic Dieties
• Celtic Deities were generally connected to various aspects of daily life, such as domestic and labor-related tasks, and elements of the natural world, like streams, trees, or hills.
• Many of the deities from Celtic mythology were influenced by the pantheons of other groups that invaded the British Isles.
She’s often associated with the Imbolc sabbat, as well as with fire, domesticity, and family life. Brighid was the patron of poets and bards, as well as healers and magicians. She was especially honored when it came to matters of prophecy and divination.
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CauldronKeeperCerridwen,ofthe
Cerridwen is known in Welsh mythology as the keeper of the Cauldron of the Underworld in which knowledge and inspiration are brewed. She is considered a Goddess of prophetic powers, and because her symbol is the cauldron, she is an honored Goddess in many Wiccan and Pagan traditions. The legend of Cerridwen is heavy with instances of transformation: when she is chasing Gwion, the two of them change into any number of animal and plant shapes. Following the birth of Taliesen, Cerridwen contemplates killing the infant but changes her mind; instead she throws him into the sea, where he is rescued by a Celtic prince, Elffin.
Lugh, Master of Skills
Herne, God of the Wild Hunt
when connected with Pan, the Greek satyr. In some traditions, he is seen as a God of death and dying, and takes time to comfort the dead by singing to them on their way to the spirit world.
Lugh is the Celtic God honored for his skills as a craftsman. He is the God of blacksmiths, metal-workers and artisans. In his aspect as a harvest God, he is honored on August 1, on the festival known as Lughnasadh or Lammas. Lugh is associated with craftsmanship and skill, particularly in endeavors involving creativity. Lugh was known as a skilled warrior. His weapons included a magic spear, which was so bloodthirsty that it tried to fight without its owner. According to Irish myth, the spear flashed fire and tore through enemy ranks unchecked.
In British lore, Herne the Hunter is a God of vegetation, vine, and the wild hunt. Similar in many aspects to Cernunnos, Herne is celebrated in the autumn months, when the deer go into rut. He is seen as a God of the common folk, and is typically recognized only around the Windsor Forest area of Berkshire, England. Herne was considered a divine hunter, and was seen on his wild hunts carrying a great horn and a wooden bow, riding a mighty black horse and accompanied by a pack of baying hounds. Mortals who get in the way of the Wild Hunt are swept up in it, and often taken away by Herne, destined to ride with him for eternity. He’s seen as a harbinger of bad omen, especially to the royal family.
The FatherDagda,God of Ireland
The Dagda, father God of the Celtic Pantheon, plays an important role in the stories of Irish invasions. He was leader of the Tuatha de Danaan, and God of fertility and knowledge. His name means the good God. With his mighty club, Dagda also possessed a large cauldron. The cauldron was magical. It had an endless supply of food in it -- the ladle itself was said to be so large that two men could lie in it. The Dagda is typically portrayed as a plump man with a large phallus, representative of his status as a God of abundance.
The Morrighan is known as a Celtic war Goddess, but there’s a lot more to her than that. She’s associated with rightful kingship, and the sovereignty of the land. The Morrighan appears in the form of a crow or raven, or seen accompanied by a group of them. In the stories of the Ulster cycle, she is shown as a cow and a wolf as well. The connection with these animals suggest in some areas, she may have been connected to fertility and land.
Taliesin, Chief of the Bards
Although Taliesin is a documented historical figure in Welsh history, he has managed to become elevated to the status of a minor God.
Today, many modern Pagans honor Taliesin as a patron of bards and poets, since he is known as the greatest poet of all.
The andGoddessMorrighan,ofWarSovereignty
https://www.learnreligions.com/gods-of-the-celts-2561711
minor Deity, and he appears in the tales of everyone from King Arthur to Bran the Blessed
Rhiannon, Horse Goddess of Wales
His mythologized story has elevated him to the status of a
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In Welsh mythological cycle, the Mabinogion, Rhiannon is known as Goddess of the horse. However, she plays a crucial role in the kingship of Wales. The horse appears prominently in Welsh and Irish mythology. Many parts of the Celtic world used horses in warfare, and it is no surprise that these animals turn up in myths and legends or Ireland and Wales.
Aphrodite was a Goddess of love and romance. She was honored by the ancient Greeks, and is still celebrated by many modern Pagans. According to legend, she was born fully formed from the white sea form that arose when the God Uranus was castrated. She came ashore on the island of Cyprus, and later was married off by Zeus to Hephaistos, the deformed craftsman of Olympus. A festival was held regularly to honor Aphrodite, appropriately called the Aphrodisiac.
The ancient Greeks honored a wide variety of Gods, and many are still worshiped today by Hellenic Pagans. For the Greeks, like many other ancient cultures, the Deities were a part of daily life, not merely something to be chatted with in times of need. Here are some of the best-known Gods and Goddesses of the Greek pantheon.
Athena, the Warrior Goddess
As a Goddess of war, Athena often shows up in Greek legend to assist various heroes -Heracles, Odysseus and Jason all got a helping hand from Athena.
Artemis, the Huntress
Demeter, Dark Mother of the Harvest
Greek Dieties
Artemis was a Greek Goddess of the hunt, and like her twin brother Apollo possessed a wide variety of attributes. Some Pagans still honor her today because of her connection to times of female transition.
Ares, God of War
Ares was a Greek God of war, and son of Zeus by his wife Hera. He was known not only for his own exploits in battle, but also for getting involved in disputes between others.
Artemis was the Greek Goddess of hunting and childbirth. She protected women in labor, but also brought them death and sickness. Numerous cults dedicated to Artemis sprouted up around the Greek world, most of which were connected to women’s mysteries.
Perhaps the best known of the harvest mythologies is the story of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter was a Goddess of the harvest in ancient Greece. Her daughter, Persephone, caught the eye of Hades, God of the underworld.By the time she finally recovered her daughter, Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and was doomed to spend six months of the year in the underworld.
In classical myth, Athena never took any lovers, and was often revered as Athena the Virgin, or Athena Parthenos. Although technically, Athena is a warrior Goddess, she is not the same sort of war God that Ares is. While Ares goes to war with frenzy and chaos, Athena is the Goddess who helps warriors make wise choices that will eventually lead to victory.
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GoddessAphrodite,of Love
Hera, Goddess of Marriage
Eros, God of Passion and Lust
A prominent figure in Greek mythology, Gaia is also honored by many Wiccans and Pagans today. Gaia herself caused life to spring forth from the earth, and is also the name given to the magical energy that makes certain locations sacred.
Hestia, Guardian of andHearthHome
Many cultures have a Goddess of hearth and domesticity, and the Greeks were no exception. Hestia was the Deity who watched over the home fires, and offered sanctuary and protection to strangers. She was honored with the first offering at any sacrifice made in the home. On a public level, Hestia’s flame was never allowed to burn out. The local town hall served as a shrine for her -- and any time a new settlement was formed, settlers would take a flame from their old village to the new one.
Hades, Ruler of the Underworld
Ever wonder where the word “erotic” comes from? Well, it has a lot to do with Eros, the Greek God of and lust. Often described as a son of Aphrodite by her lover Ares, the God of war, Eros was a Greek God of lust and primal sexual desire. In fact, the word erotic comes from his name. He is personified in all kinds of love and lust and was worshipped at the center of a fertility cult that honored both Eros and Aphrodite together.
Gaia was known as the life force from which all other beings sprang, including the earth, the sea and the mountains.
Hecate, Goddess of Magic and Sorcery
GoddessNemesis, Retributionof
Hecate has a long history as a Goddess, from her days in preOlympian times to the present. As a Goddess of childbirth, she was invoked for rites of puberty, and in some cases watched over maidens who were beginning to menstruate. Eventually, Hecate evolved to become a Goddess of magic and sorcery. She was venerated as a mother Goddess, and during the Ptolemaic period in Alexandria was elevated to her position as Goddess of ghosts and the spirit world.
Hera is known as the first of Greek Goddesses. As wife of Zeus, she’s the leading lady of all the Olympians. Despite her husband’s philandering ways -- or perhaps because of them -- she is the guardian of marriage and the sanctity of the home. She was known to fly into jealous tirades, and wasn’t above using her husband’s illegitimate offspring as weapons against their own mothers. Hera also played a crucial role in the story of the Trojan War.
Gaia, the Earth Mother
Nemesis was a Greek Goddess of revenge and retribution. In particular, she was invoked
Hades was the Greek God of the underworld. Because he’s unable to get out, and doesn’t get to spend time with those who are still living, Hades focuses on increasing the underworld’s population whenever he can.
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Priapus, God of Lust and Fertility
https://www.learnreligions.com/gods-of-the-ancient-greeks-4590177
In Greek legend and mythology, Pan is known as a rustic and wild God of the forest. He is associated with the animals that live in the woods, as well as with the sheep and goats in the fields.
Zeus, Ruler of Olympus
against those whose hubris and arrogance got the better of them, and served as a force of divine reckoning.
Mt. Olympus. Although he is married to Hera, Zeus is well known for his philandering ways. Today, many Hellenic Pagans still honor him as ruler of Olympus.
Priapus is considered a God of protection. According to legend, before his birth, Hera cursed Priapus with impotence as payback for Aphrodite’s involvement in the whole Helen of Troy fiasco. Doomed to spend his life ugly and unloved, Priapus was tossed down to earth when the other Gods refused to let him live on Mount Olympus. He was seen as a protector Deity in rural areas. In fact, statues of Priapus were often adorned with warnings, threatening trespassers, male and female alike, with acts of sexual violence as punishment.
Zeus is the ruler of all the Gods in the Greek pantheon, as well as the distributor of justice and law. He was honored every four years with a great celebration at
Pan, FertilityGoat-LeggedtheGod
Rome had its own Gods and Goddesses who did not trace their origins back to Greece.. For example, Janus was a God with two faces that represented the spirit of passages such as doorways and gates. Believed to preside over beginnings, it is fitting that the month of January is named after Janus.
Vestal Virgins were not permitted to marry or bear children but were instead to devote their
Janus’ son was Tiberinus, the God of the river Tiber, which runs through the city of Rome. According to Roman mythology, the Gods had a hand in the founding of the city of Rome itself. Mars, God of war, and a Vestal Virgin named Rhea Silvia were the parents of twin boys, Romulus and Remus.
Juno was Jupiter’s wife and sister. She resembled the Greek Goddess Hera in that she kept a particularly watchful eye over women and all aspects of their lives. Minerva was the Goddess of wisdom and craft. She watched over schoolchildren and craftspeople such as carpenters and stonemasons. Minerva is thought to be the equivalent of the Goddess Athena, who was the Greek Goddess of wisdom.
Roman Dieties
The main God and Goddesses in Roman culture were Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. Jupiter was a sky-God who Romans believed oversaw all aspects of life; he is thought to have originated from the Greek god Zeus. Jupiter also concentrated on protecting the Roman state. Military commanders would pay homage to Jupiter at his temple after winning in battle.
lives to serving Vesta, Goddess of the hearth. It is said that King Amulius ordered that the twins be thrown into the Tiber River as a punishment to Rhea Silvia for betraying her vow of celibacy. Luckily, the boys were rescued from the river by a mother wolf. She helped to raise them until a local couple adopted them. As the boys grew up, they became important members of the community. They dethroned King Amulius and worked together to establish a new city. In a later argument about the city, however, Romulus killed his brother Remus. Romulus went on to name the city after himself, calling it Rome (or Roma).
Other Roman Gods and Goddesses who were adapted from Greek culture include Venus, who drew on Aphrodite, Goddess of love; Neptune, a sea God who was inspired by the Greek God Poseidon; Pluto, who ruled the Roman underworld as the God Hades did in Greek culture; Diana, Roman Goddess of the hunt who had her Greek equivalent in Artemis; and Mars, God of war, who was fashioned after the Greek God Ares. Just as the Greeks influenced Roman culture, the Romans inspired the cultural development of later societies. You may by now have noticed that many of the planets in our solar system were named after Roman Deities.
The presence and influence of Gods and Goddesses were integral parts of life in the
Roman state. The people of Rome built temples to their Gods and observed rituals and festivals to honor and celebrate them. Any favorable or unfavorable circumstances in Roman life could be attributed to the mood of certain Gods, so people would likewise make offerings to the Gods in thanks, or in an attempt to appease their tempers. Unlike many monotheistic religious or spiritual traditions, the Romans Gods were seen as caring little about the morality of the Roman people. Rather, their chief concern was being paid tribute through very specific rituals.
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https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/gods-and-goddesses-ancient-rome
In ancient Egypt, cats were often worshipped as deities, Bast was one of the most highly honored feline gods. Also called Bastet, she was a goddess of sex and fertility. Originally, she was portrayed as a lioness, but was sometimes portrayed with kittens beside her, as an homage to her role as a goddess of fertility.
Tasked with guiding the deceased to the afterlife and providing provisions – meat and drink – to traveling souls, Geb’s name was often invoked to heal sick people, especially those stricken with illnesses created by natural elements, such as scorpion stings and colds.
The Gods and Goddesses of ancient Egypt were a complex group of beings and ideas. As the culture evolved, so did many of the Deities and what they represented. Here are some of the best-known Gods and Goddesses of ancient Egypt.
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Anubis, God of Funerals Embalmingand
In Egyptian religion, Hathor was a predynastic Goddess who embodied femininity, love and joy of motherhood. In addition to being a symbol of fertility, she was known as a Goddess of the underworld, in that she welcomed the newly departed to the West. Artist and author Thalia Took says Hathor “protects women and is present whenever they beautify themselves. She blesses women with fertility, and many of the ritual objects associated with Her – such as the sistrum and menat-necklace –also have an erotic significance, and in fact the Greeks identified Her with their Aphrodite.”
Anubis was the jackal-headed Egyptian God of death and embalming, and is said to be the son of Osiris by Nepthys, although in some legends his father is Set. It is the job of Anubis to weigh the souls of the dead, and determine whether they were worthy of admittance to the underworld. As part of his duties, he is the patron of lost souls and orphans.
Egyptian Dieties
In the ancient Egyptian religion, Geb is known as the god of the earth and is the first king of Egypt. He is often portrayed lying beneath the sky goddess, Nut. In his role as a god of earth, he is a fertility deity. Plants grow within his body, the dead are imprisoned inside him, and earthquakes are his laughter. He is more than a god of the surface of the earth – in fact, he is a god of everything contained within the earth. According to Professor Geller at Mythology.net, Geb was
Isis, GoddessMother
Hathor, Patron of Women
Originally a funerary Goddess, Isis was the lover of Osiris. After his death, she used her magic to
Geb, God of Earth
Bast, the Cat Goddess
https://www.learnreligions.com/deities-of-ancient-egypt-2561794
Ra, the Sun God
Taweret, Guardian of Fertility
Maat is the Egyptian Goddess of truth and justice. She is married to Thoth, and is the daughter of Ra, the sun God. In addition to truth, she embodies harmony, balance and divine order. In Egyptian legends, it is Maat who steps in after the universe is created, and brings harmony amidst the chaos and disorder.
Thoth, God of andMagicWisdom
resurrect him. Isis is honored for her role as the mother of Horus, one of Egypt’s most powerful Gods. She was the divine mother of every pharoah of Egypt, and ultimately of Egypt itself
On that occasion an effigy of the corn-god, moulded of earth and corn, was buried with funeral rites in the ground in order that, dying there, he might come to life again with the new crops.”
In The Golden Bough, Sir James Frazer says, “[His] festival appears to have been essentially a festival of sowing, which properly fell at the time when the husbandman actually committed the seed to the earth.
Thoth was an Egyptian God who spoke as the tongue of Ra. Find out what’s special about this ibisheaded deity of ancient Egypt, and how he factors in to the story of Isis and Osiris.
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Ra was the ruler of the heavens. He was the God of the sun, the bringer of light, and patron to the pharaohs. According to legend, the sun travels the skies as Ra drives his chariot through the heavens. Although he originally was associated only with the midday sun, as time went by, Ra became connected to the sun’s presence all day long.
by some Pagans as a God of the underworld and of the harvest.
Ma’at, Goddess of Truth and Balance
Osiris, King of Egyptian Gods
Osiris was the son of earth and sky, and beloved of Isis. He is known as the God who taught mankind the secrets of civilization. Today, he is honored
Taweret was an Egyptian Goddess of childbirth and fertility - but for a while, she was considered a demon. Associated with the hippopotomus, Taweret is a Goddess who watches over and protects women in labor and their new babies.
Frigga was the wife of Odin, and had a powerful gift of prophecy. In some stories she is portrayed as weaving the future of men and Gods, although she did not have the power to change their destiny. She is credited in some of the Eddas with the development of runes, and she is known in some Norse tales as the Queen of Heaven
The Norse culture honored a variety of Gods, and many are still worshipped today by Asatruar and Heathens. For the Norse and Germanic societies, like many other ancient cultures, the Deities were a part of daily life, not merely something to be chatted with in times of need. Here are some of the best-known Gods and Goddesses of the Norse pantheon.
Because of his association with resurrection, Baldur is often connected to the cycle of death and rebirth. Baldur was beautiful and radiant, and was beloved by all the Gods.
ProtectorHeimdall, of Asgard
Heimdall is a God of light, and is the keeper of the Bifrost Bridge, which serves as the path between Asgard and Midgard in Norse mythology. He is the guardian of the Gods, and when the world ends at Ragnarok, Heimdall will sound a magical horn to alert everyone. Heimdall is evervigilant, and is destined to be the last to fall at Ragnarok.
Hel, Goddess of the Underworld
Freyja, Goddess of andAbundanceFertility
Frigga, Goddess of Marriage and Prophecy
Hel features in Norse legend as the Goddess of the underworld. She was sent by Odin to Helheim/Niflheim to preside over the spirits of the dead, except for those who were killed in battle and went to Valhalla.
Norse Dieties
Baldur, God of Light
Freyja is a Scandinavian Goddess of fertility and abundance. Freyja could be called upon for assistance in childbirth and conception, to aid with marital problems, or to bestow fruitfulness upon the land and sea. She was known to wear a magnificent necklace called Brisingamen, which represents the fire of the sun, and was said to weep tears of gold. In the Norse Eddas, Freyja is not only a Goddess of fertility and wealth, but also of war and battle. She also has connections to magic and divination.
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Tyr (also Tiw) is the God of oneon-one combat. He is a warrior, and a god of heroic victory and triumph. Interestingly, he is portrayed as having only one hand, because he was the only one of the Aesir brave enough to place his hand in the mouth of Fenrir, the wolf.
https://www.learnreligions.com/norse-deities-4590158
Loki is known as a trickster. He is described in the Prose Edda as a “contriver of fraud”. Although he doesn’t appear often in the Eddas, he is described as a member of the family of Odin. Despite his divine or demi-God status, there’s little evidence to show that Loki had a following of worshippers of his own; in other words, his job was mostly to make trouble for other gods, men, and the rest of the world. A shapeshifter who could appear as any animal, or as a person of either sex, Loki was constantly meddling in the affairs of others, mostly for his own amusement.
Tyr, the Warrior God
Thor and his powerful lightning bolt have been around for a long time. Some Pagans still continue to honor him today. He is typically portrayed as red-headed and bearded, and carrying Mjolnir, a magical hammer. As keeper of thunder and lightning, he was also considered integral to the agricultural cycle. If there was a drought, it wouldn’t hurt to offer a libation to Thor in hopes that the rains would come.
Thor, the God of Thunder
Odin was a shapeshifter, and roamed the world in disguise. One of his favorite manifestations was that of a one-eyed old man; in the Norse Eddas, the oneeyed man appears regularly as a bringer of wisdom and knowledge to heroes. He pops up in everything from the saga of the Volsungs to Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. He was typically accompanied by a pack of wolves and ravens, and rode on a magic horse named Sleipnir.
Njord, God of the Sea
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Odin, Ruler of the Gods
Loki, the Trickster
Njord was a sea God, and was married to Skadi, the Goddess of the mountains. He was sent to the Aesir as a hostage by the Vanir, and became a high priest of their mysteries.
In our Coven we ring the bell after calling the Watchtowers, and is to both to call them and to honor them. At All Hallows or Samhain we ring the bell 40 times to call the dead we wish to honor. Its hard to get the clapper to just ring 40 times so I usually just hit the bell with the athame to achieve this number.
Witch’s Tools
The besom, or broom, is used for sweeping a ceremonial area out before ritual. A light sweeping not only cleans the physical space, it also clears out negative energies that may have accumulated in the area since the last cleaning. The broom is a purifier, so it is connected to the element of Water. It is not uncommon to meet witches who
Altar
Bell
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If you have children, it’s not a bad idea to let them have their own altars in their rooms, which they can decorate and re-arrange to suit their own needs. Your altar is as personal as your spiritual
Besom
Hundreds of years ago, rural folks knew that loud noise drove away evil spirits, and the bell is a prime example of a good noisemaker. The ringing of a bell causes vibrations which are the source of great power. Variations on the bell include the shaking of a sistrum, a ritual rattle, or the use of a “singing bowl”. All of these can help bring harmony to a magical circle. In some forms of Wicca, the bell is rung to begin or end a rite, or to evoke the Goddess. Blogger Blau Stern Schwarz Schlonge at Coven of the Catta says,
You can have permanent altars that stay up year round, or seasonal ones that you change as the Wheel of the Year turns. It’s not uncommon to meet someone who has more than one altar in their home.
The altar is often the focus of religious ceremony, and is usually found at the center of a Pagan ritual. It’s essentially a table used for holding all of the ritual tools, and can also be used as a workspace in spell casting.
The athame is used in many Wiccan and Pagan rituals as a tool for directing energy. It is often used in the process of casting a circle, and can be used in place of a wand. Typically, the athame is a double-edged dagger, and can be purchased or hand-made. The athame is not typically used for actual, physical cutting. If you’d like to make your own, there are a number of different ways to do it. Depending on how skilled you are with metalworking, this can be either a simple project or a complex one. There are a number of websites that offer instructions on how to make an athame, and they tend to vary in skill level.
Athame
A popular theme is the ancestor altar, which includes photos, ashes or heirlooms from deceased family members. Some people enjoy having a nature altar, on which they place interesting items they find while out and about – an unusual rock, a pretty seashell, a chunk of wood that looks appealing.
path, so use it to hold the things you value.
Often, when people first discover Wicca or some other form of Paganism, they rush to go buy every single magical tool they can find. After all, the books tell us to buy this, that, and the kitchen sink, so you better hustle on over to Ye Local Wytchy Shoppe and get stuff.
• Blend herbs for magical workings
The candle is a commonly used tool in Wiccan and Pagan rituals. In addition to being used as symbols of the god and goddess, and the element of fire, candles are often used in spell workings. The theory is that candles can absorb your personal energy and then release that energy as they burn. In some traditions of Hoodoo and rootwork, candles are burned for a specific amount of days as part of the working. Some people believe that a candle you make yourself is far more powerful than one that is purchased. Others believe that it is the intent you put into the working that makes a difference, and not the source of the candle
Chalice
• Fill it with water and use it for moonlight scrying
There a number of magical ways you can use your cauldron:
Despite popular movies and television shows, there is no one single book of shadows. A book of shadows is a Wiccan’s or Pagan’s notebook of information. It usually contains spells,rituals, anotheralonginformationpantheons,mythsrulescharts,informationcorrespondenceabouttheofmagic,invocations,andlegendsofvariousetc.SometimesinaBOSispassedfromoneWiccanto
(and in a coven setting, there may be a coven BOS as well as individual members’ books), but you can create your own with a little bit of effort. A BOS is a very personal thing, and should contain the information you find most important.
have broom collections, and it is fairly easy to make your own besom if you don’t wish to buy one. The traditional magical formula includes a bundle of birch twigs, a staff of ash or oak, and a binding made from willow wands. In many belief systems, household items have their own set of magical properties. Quite possibly, few things are as magical as the basic broom. Long known as one of the most popular tools in a witch’s magical arsenal, the broom has a lengthy and complex history of folklore, legend, and mystery behind it.
Candles
• Burn incense, candles, or offerings in it
Cauldron
Book of Shadows
The cauldron, like the chalice, is found in many goddess-oriented traditions of Wicca. It is feminine and womblike, the vessel in which life begins. Typically, it represents the element of Water on the altar. In Celtic mythology, the cauldron is associated with Cerridwen, who has powers of prophecy. She is the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge and inspiration in the Underworld.
• Use it to represent the goddess of your tradition
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The chalice, or cup, is found in many
Many“ChalicesWren,ofduringthewiththeonrepresentswhichandcauldron,traditionsGoddess-orientedofWicca.Likethethechaliceisfemininewomblike,thevesselinlifebegins.Typically,ittheelementofWaterthealtar.Insomecovens,chaliceisusedintandemtheathametorepresentfemaleaspectoftheDivineasymbolicre-enactmenttheGreatRite.overatWitchvox,says,maybeofanymaterial.usesilverorpewter (be careful with untreated metals when serving wine), but ceramic ones are now quite popular and readily obtainable. Some Witches have many different kinds for different types of rituals. Many a practitioner will avoid real “lead” crystal because of the Saturn energy influence. The chalice is sometimes passed around the circle so each participant may take a sip from the cup. This is a bonding experience and often the words “May you never thirst!” are passed throughout the circle with the chalice.
Keep in mind that many magical uses will make your cauldron unsuitable for food preparation, so if you’re going to use one, keep a separate cauldron designated as your magical one. Also, be sure to season your cauldron properly if it’s made from cast iron.
There are literally hundreds of stones out there to choose from, but which ones you opt to use will depend on your intent. Select crystals and gemstones for use based upon their correspondences, or attributes, and you won’t go wrong. You can also use birthstones in magical workings. Each month of the year has its own birthstone - and each stone has its own magical properties. Keep in mind that when you get a new crystal or gemstone, it’s not a bad idea to cleanse it before your first use.
There are many different methods of divination that you may choose to use in your magical practice. Some people opt to try many different types, but you may find that you’re more gifted in one method than others. Take a look at some of the different types of divination methods, and see which one - or more! - works best for you and your abilities. And remember, just like with any other skill set, practice makes perfect! You don’t need all of these different divination tools cluttering up your workspace - figure out which one or two you’re more interested in, and work from there.
Pentacle
Nearly every tradition of Wicca (and many other Pagan paths, as well) uses the pentacle. Not to be confused with the pentagram (a five-pointed star), the pentacle is a flat piece of wood, metal, clay, or wax inscribed with magical symbols. The most commonly seen symbol, however, is the pentagram itself, which is why the two terms are often confused. In ceremonial magic, the pentacle is used as a protective talisman. However, in most Wiccan traditions it is seen as representative of the element of Earth, and can be used on the altar as a place to hold items that are going to be ritually consecrated. You can make your own, or buy one commercially.
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Wand
“There are wands of glass, copper, silver and other metals, but the “classic” material is still wood. Various woods have different magickal associations and uses. It is very common for a “Wand Witch” to have many wands of various types in his/her magickal closet. Witches who do not use athames often use a wand instead.”
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Crystals
Clichéd as it may sound, the wand is one of the most popular magical tools in Wicca, as well as in some ceremonial magic traditions. It has a number of magical purposes. A wand is used for the directing of energy during a ritual. Because it’s a phallic symbol it is used to represent male energy, power, and virility. Representative of the element of Air (although in a few traditions it symbolizes Fire), the wand can be used to consecrate a sacred space, or invoke deity.
Divination Tools
chakra, magic regarding clarity and confidence, and rituals of protection and strength. If you need a little magical boost when it comes to communication and your career, wear a piece of amber around your neck, or put it at your desk to keep away the office gossips.
Bloodstone
Are you interested in using crystals and gemstones in your magical workings? There are literally hundreds of stones out there to choose from, but which ones you opt to use will depend on your intent.
Bloodstone, also called Heliotrope, is a green speckled stone which includes shades of red and gold. It’s tied to the element of fire, and related both to the planet Mars and the sun. Use bloodstone in magical workings related to general healing, as well as fertility and abundance, both physical and financial. When it comes to matters of matters the body, this stone is often associated with (as you might imagine) the health of the blood–in particular, menstrual cycles and the circulatory system. If you’re trying to conceive, tuck a bloodstone under your bed, or keep one in your wallet to draw abundance your way.
Agate
Amber isn’t a gemstone, but a resin formed by hardened tree sap. It appears in shades of yellow and orange, although a few odd colors, like green or red, are sometimes seen. The color clues us in that amber is associated with fire and the energy of the sun. Use amber in workings related to the throat
Amethyst is actually a form of quartz crystal, and appears in a wide range of purple and violet colors. Associated with water, it is also connected to the water signs of Pisces and Aquarius. Use amethyst in healing rituals related to the crown chakra, such as treating depression or anxiety, mood disorders, and stress relief. On a magical level, amethyst comes in handy for sharpening the mind and enhancing our intuitive powers. It can also help with cleansing and consecration of sacred space. The ancient Greeks carried to help avoid drunkenness, so if you’re heading out for a night of shenanigans, carry amethyst to prevent yourself from overindulging
Popular Crystals
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Amethyst
Agate typically appears as a brown or gold stone, and is found with bands across it. Variations such as moss agate appear with green or blue colors. Connected to the element of Earth, agate is related to the brow chakra and matters of the mind. Use it in workings related to energy, depression, and mental health. A popular use for agate in magic is to use in rituals relating to discovery and truth, memories and healing, and overcoming feelings of loneliness or sadness. Carry agate with you if you’re feeling stressed out, or place one under your pillow at bedtime so you’ll have more energy during wakeful hours.
Amber
Diamond
Hematite
Hematite is one of the bestknown gemstones to use in magical workings. Also called Paint Ore or Iron Rose, this shiny silvery gray stone is tied to the element of fire and the planet Saturn, as well as the sun itself. Use hematite for healing rituals related to inflammation and blood disorders, as well as treatment of infection and fevers. One of hematite’s most common usages is that of protective magic, especially when it comes to homes and property; for this reason, it’s very popular in Feng Shui. It’s also an excellent stone to carry for willpower, confidence and problem solving, as well as psychic awareness. You can also place hematite stones around your doors and windows to keep away negative influences from the outside.
Jade
For thousands of years, jade has been a symbol of pure love, serenity, innocence and truthfulness. This pale green stone - sometimes appearing
white, gray, or even pink -- is connected to the element of earth, and to balancing the humors of the body. It’s also associated with healing of the internal organs, such as the spleen and liver.
33 Carnelian
Lapis Lazuli
Tied to both air and fire, with a strong link to the sun, diamonds
Its healing powers are used in treatments of impotency and infertility, and in some cases it is believed to stop excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds. On a magical level, carnelian comes in handy for magical shielding, or as a talisman against psychic attack. You can keep carnelian with your other crystals and stones to keep them safe from negative influences.
Lapis Lazuli, or Lazurite, comes in many different shades of blue, from pale to deep. It’s often seen spotted or banded, depending on the region from which it comes. The color is a reminder that lapis is connected to the element of water. Use lapis to treat depression and lift the spirits, as it is connected to the brow chakra and disorders of the brain. For a magical boost, incorporate it into workings involving altered consciousness, trancework, meditation, and connection to the gods of your tradition. Lapis lazuli was a popular stone in Egyptian funerary art and sarcophagi.
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and this sparkly stone has long been associated with marriages and engagements, but it can also be used in rituals treating fertility problems and reproductive health, including sexual dysfunction.
The reddish/orange stone known as carnelian is often streaked with white, and its colors are reminiscent of the rich landscapes of the American southwest. Use carnelian in rituals that involve grounding, because it is indeed associated with the element of Earth.
are typically clear but are sometimes streaked with yellow. It’s rare to find one that’s truly flawless. Diamonds can also be used for workings related to astral travel and scrying, meditation, and intuition.
Tiger’s Eye
Unlike rose quartz, white quartz is often clear, although it sometimes appears as an opaque shade of white. Connected to all four of the classical elements, the clear varieties of white quartz can disperse light in any color, which connects this stone to all seven of the chakras. Use white quartz in any healing ritual, workings connected to the divine, intution or spiritual growth and development.
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Obsidian
Connected to the heart chakra, rose quartz is often associated with love and relationships. Use it in workings connected to love or even friendship, both giving and receiving love, as well as relief of emotional issues and drama. Of note is the fact that over time, rose quartz will fade if it’s left out in the sun.
The glassy black stone known as obsidian is actually a volcanic byproduct. Naturally, because of its origins, it’s tied to the element of fire. Obsidian can be used to draw toxins away from the body, and is sometimes placed along the base of the feet during energy work, as a method of pulling toxins downwards.
34 Moonstone
On a magical level, include moonstone in rites having to do with wisdom and intuition, womens’ mysteries, and goddess-centric ceremonies. Carry moonstone in your pocket if you’re feeling jittery, and it will help to get your body’s natural rhythms back in order.
The tiger’s eye stone is so named because of its brownish-tan or gold colors with black banding. Connected to the element of fire, the tiger’s eye is often used to enhance overall energy and general physical health. Use this stone in rituals related to self-confidence, courage and protection. Carry a piece in your pocket, along with an amethyst and hematite, to filter out the negativity of people who are trying to harm your reputation.
In a magical setting, use obsidian for scrying and intuition, as well as workings involving womens’ mysteries and the subconscious.
Turquoise appears in various shades of blue, and often appears speckled or banded with black or white streaks. Associated with the element of water, turquoise is often found in the art and jewelry of the Native American tribes of the Southwest. Use this stone in treatments of stomach disorders, eye ailments, and even broken bones. It also comes in useful for general chakra alignments. In magical workings, turquoise is incorporated into rituals to bring about wisdom and intuition.
In Feng Shui, obsidian is used to clear obstacles.
Quartz
Turquoise
As its name implies, moonstone is tied to the lunar deities, in particular, any goddess with a triune or triple aspect. Diana, Selene, and Hecate are often associated with moonstone. This stone can be used in workings related to female reproduction, menstrual cycles and childbirth.
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