Guide to Praying the Rosary for Witches and Conjurers Includes full text of all prayers and step-by-step guide! By CK Meeder instagram.com/effluviah herbalist-witch.tumblr.com twitter.com/effluviah — Preface: It is preferable for you to read this guide while holding a rosary (or similarly numbered/beaded prayer necklace or bracelet) in your hand, or while referring to an image of a rosary. The rosary is used to help keep track of the prayers as you perform them, so as to avoid losing your place, repeating any, or from making any other mistakes. However, should you lose count anyway, simply begin again from where you know you had left off before becoming confused, or if you are truly concerned, begin from the last large bead, the beginning of that prayer cycle. When using the rosary, begin from the Cross, and work up to the medallion (where the rosary is “joined” into a necklace or loop, usually with a depiction of Jesus, Mary, Lady of Lourdes, the St. Benedict Cross, or a portrait of a Saint). Laying the rosary flat on a table for now, as you learn to pray, go to the right of the medallion, and make a full circle, ending again at the medallion where the beaded strands join. This is the “correct” order, although if you are left-handed, you may find it easier to work the beads in the opposite direction. As you hold it in your hand to pray, move the rosary slightly forward as you count, to avoid bunching up the rosary and causing discomfort while praying. You may work the beads in whichever direction feels more suitable to you, although classically the right side is followed first! Note on use with Witchcraft and Conjure: This is not necessarily for exclusive use within the Catholic church, although it is largely a Catholic practice, and has been adopted in many regions for use with folk religion or folk practices, including witchcraft and conjure in many forms. You do not have to be explicitly “pure” Catholic to utilise the powers of the Rosary. All are welcome to pray! If you are utilising the Psalms as incantations or spells, you may wish to recite the Rosary before, after, or both upon having read the relevant Psalm for your spellwork or purposes. You may replace the readings of the Mysteries with more appropriate readings for your specific faith or practice, or for the intent of your spellwork, any incantations you may have prepared. However, if working with Psalms or the Bible in your spellwork, I recommend reading the Mysteries and then meditating on your intentions. I have also made minor annotations where necessary to allow for you to more easily adapt the Rosary to your specific individual practice.
Starting at the Cross: Make the Sign of the Cross (signum crucis): In the name of the Father, And of the Son, And of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Recite the Apostle’s Creed: Note: If you are a witch or conjurer, you may replace the line proclaiming faith in the Catholic Church with whichever line of text is more appropriate if you have one, or omit it entirely. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church (see above note), the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. On the first large bead, and every subsequent large bead (on some rosaries, the beads are all similarly sized; if this is the case, the more isolated bead between each set of 10 beads), pray an Our Father (the Lord’s Prayer): Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pray one Hail Mary on the three smaller beads after that (above the cross and below the centre medallion, on the thread hanging down), and on all the small beads between the larger or isolated single beads (10 each). Note: The first bead is for faith, the second for hope, the third for charity. Hail Mary, Full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. On the last large or isolated bead before the medallion, pray the Glory Be (the Doxology). Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Before praying the next set of beads, called a “Decade”, focus on the medallion and meditate. You can mediate on the Mystery appropriate for the day’s prayers (more on this in a moment after we have gone over the basic structure of the rosary), or you may simply meditate in general on associated feelings or on things you wish to address in your prayers today if that is more fitting for your intentions or spellwork in the moment. (I advise reading through the Mysteries at least once before beginning personal meditations or more specific meditations, particularly if utilising the Bible or Psalms in your spellwork.) Once you are finished meditating, pray another Our Father (Lord’s Prayer). Proceed to pray the Hail Mary on the next 10 smaller beads, following with a Glory Be on the extra long space between the larger bead and the smaller beads, or in the space on the chain/cord between beads before the next set of 10 if your rosary does not have differently sized beads. After praying the decade of Hail Marys (or set of 10 Hail Marys), pray the Glory Be, with the optional Fatima Invocation: O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of Hell, And lead all souls to Heaven, Especially those most in need of thy mercy. Amen. Reflect on the second Mystery of the set appropriate for that day, and continue on like this in order, until all 5 Mysteries for that day have been completed. At the end of the last decade, pray the Hail Holy Queen once more, over the medallion.
Below are listed the different sets of Mysteries, and their appropriate days for reading. The First is to be read on the first large or independent/more distanced bead, the Second for the second large bead after the 10 Hail Marys, and so on until the rosary is completed for that day. The Joyful Mysteries Note: To be read Mondays (Moon Day) and Saturdays (Saturn Day) The Annunciation: He came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28 The Visitation: When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” - Luke 1:41-42 The Nativity: Mary gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. - Luke 2:7 The Presentation: When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. - Luke 2:22 The Finding in the Temple: After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. - Luke 2:46-47 The Sorrowful Mysteries To be read Tuesdays (Mars Day) and Fridays (Venus Day) The Agony in the Garden: Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Matthew 26:41 The Scourging at the Pillar: Pilate said “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood… and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.” - Matthew 27:24, 26 The Crowning with Thorns: They stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. - Matthew 27:28-29
The Carrying of the Cross: So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull. -John 19:17 The Crucifixion But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. - John 19:25 The Glorious Mysteries To be read Wednesdays (Mercury Day) and Sundays (Sun Day) The Resurrection: Entering the tomb, they saw a young man and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here.” - Mark 16:5-6 The Ascension: So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken with them, was taken up into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” - Mark 16:19 The Descent of the Holy Spirit: There appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. - Acts 2:3 The Assumption: My beloved speaks to me: “Arise, my love, my dove, my fair one, and come away for behold the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.” - Song: 2:10-11 The Crowning of Mary: A great sign appeared in Heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” - Rev 12:1 The Luminous Mysteries (also called the Mysteries of Light) To be read Thursdays (Jupiter Day) The Baptism of the Lord: When Jesus was baptised, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and behold, a voice from Heaven saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:16-17 The Wedding Feast at Cana: His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” - John 2:5
The Preaching of the Kingdom: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; Repent, and believe in the gospel.” - Mark 1:15 The Transfiguration: He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. - Matthew 17:2 The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, and said “Take; This is my body.” Jesus took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.” Mark 14:22-23 When you have finished reading the appropriate Mysteries for the current day and completing the Hail Marys, upon reaching the medallion again, conclude by reading the Hail Holy Queen on the medallion. And there you go, you have learned to pray the Rosary! In Closing I hope this guide is helpful for any of you who are either just learning the Rosary Prayers, or are looking for a more specific guide on utilising the rosary for conjure work, witchcraft, or any other folk magic variations! Much love and light CK Meeder instagram.com/effluviah herbalist-witch.tumblr.com twitter.com/effluviah