From the time the Romanies arrived in Britain in the fifteenth century, they protected themselves with a positive attitude. Whatever wasn’t good wasn’t even worth thinking about, and they focused on their search for happiness and talismans forecasting good luck.
The Romanies believe that it’s extremely luck to find a key. It means that you will soon be opening a door to success in love, marriage, or work, or even something very specific, such as getting a new car. No matter what form happiness is guaranteed.
But the good news is that you can still harness the good luck of a key without finding one by taking your own personal key and carrying out the following ritual:
With the key at hand, light a white candle. On a piece of paper, draw a door that will open to your wish.
Pour some candle wax on the drawing of the door and place the key in the wax, to weld the two together. Let the wax cool. Fold the paper around the key to form a neat envelope or parcel. Generously seal all the edges with more wax from the candle. Blow out the candle.
At night, toss the parcel into a fire, imagining as vividly as possible the door you are passing through. Pour all your energies into the flames and visual your wish being sent out into the universe. The spell has been cast. Don't dwell on your wish, because such thoughts drag it back to earth and sap its energy. Have faith. Believe in the spell and it may come into being in the strangest of ways!
When you feel under stress and need to assert yourself, use this girdle of fire magic tip and your detractors will be eating out of your hand
Picture a belt of fiery flames sitting upon your waist. It extends out, giving you space to breathe, and keeping any harmful comment or thoughts at bay. The girdle supports you, its heat stirring the fire in your root and sacral chakras, so that you are quite literally ‘firing on all cylinders!’
A red flannel or chamois bag filled with a wishbone (from the back of a chicken), a pebble taken from a graveyard and a ginseng root is said to be a powerful good luck spell that will draw money to you.
The most effective magical charms, powders and oils intended for use in love spells are best created and performed on a Friday. This day is said to be the sacred day of the planet Venus, the astrological patron of love
The following spell has proved successful with those who have used it. It calls upon the powerful feminine protective energy of Arachne the ancient Greek spider goddess.
To begin you will need a small amount of spider web. Before taking the web politely ask the spider whose work it is. The web is then placed in a saucepan of water with a whole ginger root finely grated and a handful of salt. Allow the mixture to come to the boil and then cool.
Put the cooled mixture into a bottle, keeping some for use right away in a cup or bowl.
Walk around your home both inside and out sprinkling the mixture as you go. While walking, visualise a massive web of protection being woven around the home by an immense spider. See the web as being made of spun steel, growing even stronger as it woven and lashed together time and time again.
When you are ready, sit quietly inside your home with closed eyes. Again visualise the web this time as an unbreakable barrier. On top of the web visualise Arachne as a giant spider ready to pounce on thieves and intruders intent on entering your home. Archane will also catch and eat negative energies that are directed towards your home.
Each time you leave home briefly imagine the spider and her web. Tell her you will be away from home for a while and you need her to be especially vigilant.
In the 20 century ley lines became part of modern folklore, perhaps better described as New Age beliefs.
It all started one day in the 1920s when a photographer named Alfred Watkins was walking on the Bredwardine Hills. As he looked from his high vantage pont across the Hereford landscape he was suddenly struck by the concept of lines traversing the countryside to link pathways and ancient buildings and monuments.
Excited by the idea he hurried home and on an Ordnance Survey map ruled straight lines and linked stone circles, old churches, holy wells and other relics from the path.
As more and more lines connected such features on his map Watkins came to the conclusion that he had discovered a system of straight lines that had been used by the Ancient Britons and later inhabitants of Britain as paths across the then road less island.
After a spending much time in further research Watkins eventually published his theories in 'The Old Straight Track', which created a vogue for seeking 'the leys', the name he gave the invisible lines, across the countryside of Britain.
Since the publication of Watkins’ book, ley lines have come to be regarded as something other than convenient pathways. As most mystical sites are situated on ley lines and psychic manifestation is associated with their junctions it has been suggested that they are channels for ‘geometric power’. Watkins did not claim the lines were anything more than ancient tracks, yet the last sentence of his book became an inspiration for ley hunters and New Age enthusiasts alike: “I feel that ley-man, astronomer-priest, druid, bard, wizard, witch, palmer and hermit, were all more or less linked by one thread of ancient knowledge of power, however degenerate it became in the end."
Here’s an interesting spell from the southern state of Louisiana in the US – its magical intention being to bring back a lost love!
Louisiana has had a reputation for weaving powerful magic for centuries. The warm, moist climate of the deep south of America is believed to be highly conductive to magical vibrations.
Spells cast and created there are said by some psychics and magicians to be among the most potent on earth. The spiritual heartland of Southern-style magic is Africa, and the spells of the South often have a real African flavour.
The following spell is really simple and uses only a few basic ingredients in addition to a good deal of creative visualisations.
In Louisiana it’s believed that five red candles burned before the photograph of a missing loved one will draw him or her back to you.
Arrange the candles in a circle and smear each with honey, and then dust them with sugar and cinnamon powder.
Light the candles and carefully place a photograph in the middle of the circle. Call the name of the missing lover exactly one hundred and nine times as the candles burn and visualize him or her returning to you with both an open heart and open arms.
Allow the candles to burn away to nothing at which time the photograph should be wrapped in a red cloth and placed beneath the bed.
Another similar method involves piercing a photograph with exactly thirty brand new fishing hooks and placing it in a jar of honey mixed with perfume. The whole jar may then be placed within the circle of five candles.
To give someone the ‘evil eye’ is a well-known saying but did you know that it has origins in the belief in witchcraft?
One of the most feared aspects of witchcraft was the Evil Eye, the ability of a witch to inflict ill luck and even death by staring at the victim.
In the west of England the practice is known as ‘overlooking’ and there is no shortage of stories about crops been ruined and animals becoming diseased by a witch gazing across a farm.
Belief in the Evil Eye dates back to Roman times and was not restricted to the witches of Britain but was – and in many cases still is – dreaded in different cultures around the world.
Protection was given to animals by hanging bells from their collars and to children in the form of red ribbons which they wore beneath their clothing.
It’s said the most effective way to stop the power of the Evil Eye is to spit in it!
One method by which witches believed they could commit murder was explained by Elizabeth Southern, better known as ‘Olde Demdike’, when she confessed to witchcraft at the Pendle Witch trials, at Lancaster Assize Court in 1612.
She declared that in order to kill someone by sorcery witches would: 'Make a Picture of clay, like unto the shape of the person whom they meant to kill, and dry it thoroughly, and when they would have them to be ill – and…have any part of the body to consume away – then take part of the Picture and burn it. And when they would have the whole body to consume away, then take the remnant of the said Picture and burn it, and so thereupon by that means the body will die.'
An example of the power of a witch’s spell was recorded in Yeovil, Somerset, in 1657.
According to the account at her trial a young boy, forgetting his parent’s warnings, accepted an apple from an old woman reputed to be a witch.
Evidence given at her trial stated that no sooner had he bitten into the apple than ‘he rose in the air and flew about 300 yards’.
With such charges laid against her the witch had little chance in a culture of superstition and fear – she was found guilty and hanged the following year.
This simple spell will keep you safe from negative energy and at the same time strengthen your aura
Items required: Four tea-lights, four candle holders
Suggest lunar phase: Best done at full moon
This effective ritual will protect you from a build-up of negative energy and hostile thoughts of others. This can manifest itself as nightmares, illness or just a really bad day! The spell works by strengthening your aura.
Lie flat on the floor and place the candles in holders around you – two at your ankles and two at your shoulders – not too close. Light them and lie back down and relax. The candles are there to absorb all the negativity and burn it away. Now when you feel nicely relaxed, begin to breathe deeply. As you breathe out, breathe through your mouth and imagine that you are blowing protective white light into your personal aura.
Continue until you are in a happier state of mind – this means that your aura is now back to full strength and the candles have burnt off the negativity. Work this spell once a month to keep up your defences.
A magical love spell to help you decide which lover to choose:
If you’re lucky enough to have several suitors but can’t decide which one's for you then here’s a simple little spell to help you decide:
Items required: White candle, oil of your choice (jasmine, almond and rosehip are all excellent), apple pips.
Suggested lunar phase: Best done when there’s a full moon.
First, dress the candle with oil, moving from both ends to the centre of the candle.
Next, take as many fresh apple pips as you have suitors and stick them in a line around the candle, naming each pip after each one of your suitors as you do so. Now light the candle and watch to see which pips falls first. The last pip to fall from the candle is the one you should choose.
This simple ‘Love Powder’ spell is from the Caribbean and involves the use of herbs and oils. Once prepared the powder can be sprinkled secretly on the belongings of a desired person and then in your own underwear drawer to forge a psychic love link between you.
To a handful of talcum powder add the following:
* five drops of rose oil * five drops of sandalwood oil * seven drops of lavender oil * a teaspoon of cardamom seed * a teaspoon of allspice * a teaspoon of crushed and dried lavender * a teaspoon of crushed and dried rose petals
Mix all the ingredients with a fork. As you mix, visualise warm pink light building and radiating out from the powder. Gently pour the powder into a small jar and take it with you to sprinkle a little on the belongings of the person that you desire. This powder may also be used as a charm to keep a lover thinking of you when they are absent. Place a small mound of the powder on the palm of your hand while standing within a sunny spot in a natural setting. Blow a little of the powder towards each of the four cardinal points (north, south, east, west) willing the beloved to feel the pull of your love and return soon.
At times we all feel threatened by outside forces, be they physical, spiritual or nothing more than a vague feeling of danger.
At such times it’s wise to safeguard the self by wearing a traditional formula designed to ward off negative energies and discourage the bad intentions of others.
The following recipe is similar to formulas sold in magical supply houses and just as effective.
It uses essential oils aligned with the planets Mars and Saturn, which are astrologically suited to the purpose.
To a glass bottle add the following:
One part cedarwood essential oil One part sage or rosemary essential oil Two parts sandalwood essence Four parts white pepper corns Six parts base oil (virgin olive, sunflower, or light mineral)
The oil may be worn on the skin (test a small patch first for allergies) or without the base oil, added to an aromatherapy oil burner.
For a more dynamic effect, dab a drop of the oil on the bark of a tall oak, silently asking the spirit of the tree for protection and courage.
By way of thanks, leave four coins of small denomination by the roots.
There are countless little magical charms and amulets traditionally used to protect yourself and your property from harm. Some of the most effective are outlined below.
Mirrors are said to frighten away dark spirits and tiny pieces of silvered glass are often sew into Indian cotton dresses as are bells which are also used for this purpose.
A tiny silver bell worn about the neck is a very potent protective charm as evil spirits are said to hate the sweet ring of any bell.
Mistletoe, carried in a little hand sewn cloth bag is an ancient Celtic method of protecting the self and is also used by the followers of magic from America’s South.
Marjoram or wild oregano is believed to absorb dangerous negative energies when powdered and sprinkled around the home. In Italy the followers of Italian witchcraft make this herb into a tea and add to the water when washing clothes to protect the home and inhabitants.
Cuban and Puerto Rican followers of the folk religion known as "santeria" regularly burn brown sugar, a pinch of sulphur and garlic powder on charcoal within their homes to cleanse them of negative energies.
Travellers are especially in need of protection when in a foreign land. A tiny mirror smeared with a clove of garlic and placed beneath the bed is said to protect the sleeper when away from home. The mirror may be also carried for the same purpose.
The herb Sage symbolises domestic virtue, wisdom, skill, esteem, longevity, good health and brings protection. And, it's said that Sage leaves hung above the threshold will trap dark energies and prevent them entering the home.
Also Sage tea with salt added may be sprinkled about the home in every corner to lift the "Chi" and disperse negative energies.
Sage has a long and respected history -the Romans considered it to be a sacred herb and held highly elaborate ceremonies for its planting and harvesting. A sage gatherer would have a ceremonial bath to ensure his feet were clean and pure before walking on the earth where the sage grew. After bathing, offerings of bread and wine would be made to the soil before finally harvesting.
There is also an old saying, of Greek origin, 'How can a man die when sage is growing in the garden?'
The Book of Shadows is the name used for a book that contains magical and religious texts in the religion of Wicca and other witchcraft traditions.
A Book of Shadows typically contains details of the witch’s personal spells, rituals, practices, ethics and philosophy of Wicca.
In British” Traditional Wicca”, which generally revolves around the structure of the coven, the book is traditionally copied by hand from that of one’s initiating High Priestess or Priest, who copied theirs in turn from their initiator.
But in” Eclectic Wiccan” (solitary practitioners) a Book of Shadows is usually a personal journal of the witch’s journey in witchcraft.
Witches usually make their own books but for “the curious ” like most things these days “The Book of Shadows” has been commercialised and can be found for sale in New Age shops and even on EBay.
