Author: A Solitary Pagan

Cerridwen, a deity associated with the feminine symbols of water and the Moon, is the shape-shifting Celtic Goddess of inspiration, wisdom, and the magical arts of enchantment, divination, and prophecy. She possesses the three aspects of the maiden, mother, and crone, and is a goddess whose invocation is a significant aspect of both the initiatory and mystery rites of Celtic magic. In her mysterio...

Many Witches pour a bit of ordinary surgical spirit (rubbing alcohol) into their cast iron cauldrons and light it carefully dropping in a lit match. This is often done as part of healing rituals, invocations to the elemental spirit of fire, scrying divinations, sabbat fire festivals, and various working rituals. (Note: A quarter cup of alcohol will burn for approximately three minutes.) Be sure th...

This fairly simple ritual is offered as one example of countless possibilities—I’ve included it to show you an example of one of the more accessible, and easy-to-perform rituals for the beginner Wiccan. It’s designed for solitary practice, but could certainly be adapted for use with a coven. Like most rituals, it can be tailored to your intuition, preferences, or circumstances. (It can also be rep...

It is probable that all alphabets were originally magical. Only in later times did they come to be reduced to the more prosaic transactions of mere record and trade. The names which the letters were given often concealed some religious secret, which they enshrined in an abbreviated form. Also, the number of the letters, and their divisions into consonants and vowels, had an inner and arcane meanin...

Birds can appear to us either in our physical world, in dreams, or during meditation, to deliver messages or help us find what we may be missing in our lives. The bird could appear just the once to deliver the message and then fly along, or it may stick around and act as a guide. One of the most difficult things to deduce is whether your visitation is mundane or spiritual, especially where species...

The first step in candle magick is to choose a candle whose colour and shape represent your desire. Next, you will have to dress, or energize, the candle. This is done by anointing the entire candle with an appropriate oil. The oil is usually made from a plant or flower that also represents your desire. Place some of the oil on your fingertips. As you concentrate on your desire, rub the oil o...

These gods and goddesses bring psychic self-defence, protection, righteous anger against injustice,also change, regeneration and survival.These deities are very powerful and should only be invoked in their most positive aspects for thepurpose of defending the weak and never for revenge or personal anger. Experienced witches call onthem only rarely and with the purest intent under the law of threef...

Protective Crystals have innate qualities as well as healing and empowering properties and so can offer instant harmony and energy even in the most draining situations. Certain crystals have, over the millennia, from Ancient Babylon, Egypt and the Orient, acquired the reputation of possessing strong protective qualities and are also usually potent in strengthening and healing. These include amber,...

Cleansing crystals should always be carried out after after use in protection, healing andempowerment. When you obtain a new crystal, cleanse it before charging it with your own personal energies. In thisway you can remove all the energies, not necessarily negative, of those who have prepared, packedand sold the stone. If the stone was a gift, however, you may wish to accept the loving energies wi...

Scratch the zodiacal glyphs for yourself and a lover on candles of the appropriate colour then light the candles. Move them closer to each other over a period of three days while speaking words of love and desire to increase the love energies. For the first two days, blow out the candles, sending the light to wherever your lover is. On the third day, leave the candles to burn down, allowing the wa...

Aphrodite Aphrodite is the Cretan and Greek goddess of love and beauty. Her name means ‘born from the foam’. She can be invoked for the gentle attraction of new love as well as for sexuality and passion (hence the term ‘aphrodisiac’). Aphrodite is especially potent in candle and mirror spells, romance, and love rituals involving the sea. Artemis Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo, the young Gree...

Because fairies are connected to nature, their spells are usually performed outdoors. A small brook, a secret lily pond, the base of your favourite tree, or a field of wildflowers all make excellent settings for fairy magick. Even large, lush window boxes, overflowing with fragrant herbs and delicate blossoms, can serve as a haven for the wee folk. Fairy Enchantments If there is one thing that a f...