The Modern Guide to Witchcraft: Your Complete Guide to Witches, Covens, and Spells (Modern Witchcraft Magic, Spells, Rituals)

by Skye Alexander

It also means taking responsibility for your thoughts, words, and deeds because everything you do affects everything else.

“This is done for the greatest good of all and may it harm none.” In essence, this turns over responsibility for the outcome to higher (and wiser) powers who have a better understanding of how to bring about the best possible outcome.

I’m not worthy (of love, wealth, a great job, whatever). My relationships stink. I’ll never amount to anything. People are out to get me. Life is a struggle. You can’t be rich and spiritual. I live in an unsafe world.

Angelic Connections Perhaps you’ve heard of four archangels known as Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel. According to some schools of magickal thought, these archangels (an order of divine beings above angels) guard the four directions: Raphael guards the east. Michael watches over the south. Gabriel presides over the west. Uriel governs the north.

Elemental Connections When magicians speak of the elements, they’re not referring to the periodic table you learned about in school. They mean the four elements: air, fire, water, and earth. These elements are the energetic building blocks that make up our world. We’ll go into more detail and depth about the elements later on, but for now let’s just note their relationships with the four directions: Air relates to the east. Fire is associated with the south. Water corresponds to the west. Earth is linked with the north.

Color Correspondences Each of the four directions resonates with a certain color. Magickal art, including tarot cards, often depicts these color connections. You might also choose to incorporate them into spells. (Note, however, that Native American medicine wheels do not use these same color correspondences.) Yellow relates to the east. Red is associated with the south. Blue corresponds to the west. Green is linked with the north.

Three More Directions In addition to the four compass points, you’ll want to consider three other directions when you do magick. The first of these, Above, refers to the heavenly realm and all the beings that live there: God, Goddess, angels, spirit guides, ancestors, and so on. The second, Below, corresponds to Mother Earth, the foundation of physical existence. Within means your own inner self. It’s important to align yourself with all seven of these directions and to balance their energies when you’re doing magick. They are all sources of power, and they all influence outcomes.

Name Culture Attributes Amaterasu Japanese beauty, leadership, brightness Aphrodite Greek love, beauty, sensuality Artemis Greek courage, independence, protection Axo Mama Peruvian fertility Bast Egyptian playfulness, joy Brigid Celtic creativity, smithcraft, inspiration, healing Ceres Roman nourishment, health Ceridwin Celtic inspiration, wisdom Cybele Asia Minor fertility Diana Roman hunting, purity, independence Freya Norse love, healing, sensuality Hathor Egyptian love Hecate Greek magick, death, wisdom Inanna Sumerian journeys, facing fears, courage, grief Isis Egyptian art, nourishment, wholeness, awakening Kali Indian transformation, death, destruction, change Kuan Yin Asian compassion, humanitarianism, mercy Lakshmi Indian wealth, abundance Pele Hawaiian fiery spirit, destruction and rebirth, vitality Sekhmet Egyptian grace, dignity, strength Siva Slavic fertility Sophia Greek wisdom, power Tara Indian nourishment, protection, compassion Tiamat Babylonian power, magick, protection Yemaja Nigerian secrets, dreams, childbirth, purification

Purifying Ritual Bath Try this fragrant purifying scrub before doing a ritual or other magick work. Use warm—not hot—water. Do not use this scrub on your face. If you have sensitive skin, blend the herbs and essential oils into the almond or jojoba oil and omit the salt. Rub the oil gently into your skin prior to your bath or shower, and then rinse off. CLEANSING BATH SCRUB 1⁄2 cup sea salt 1 teaspoon lemon zest (fresh) 1 cup fine Epsom salts 1⁄2 cup sweet almond or jojoba oil 3 drops lavender oil 3 drops frankincense oil 2 teaspoons lavender flowers (fresh or dry) A lidded jar large enough to hold at least two cups of scrub A small glass bowl A damp washcloth 1. Purify the ingredients first. You can do this by visualizing white light around them. Grind the dried flowers finely while you state aloud that they will cleanse and purify your body, mind, and spirit. 2. In the covered jar, shake the two salts together. In the bowl, mix the oils. Open the jar and add the oil blend to the salt. Close the jar and shake to combine thoroughly. Open the jar and sprinkle the herbs over the oil and salt blend. Close the jar and shake to blend one final time. 3. To use the salt scrub once you are in the bath or shower, place about a tablespoon in the center of a clean, damp washcloth or in the palm of your hand. Gently rub the salts against your skin. Imagine them loosening any negative energy that may cling to you. Feel the purifying salt, lavender, frankincense, and lemon soaking into ...