Author: A Solitary Pagan
Feng Shui
ONE OF THE most important adjustmentsthat we can make as we begin to workconsistently with magic is to theenvironment in which we live and to our ownpersonal space. As we reach an internal peacewe create tranquillity around us, but equallyour environment must nurture us. For thepractitioner this means understanding both ourliving space and our own subtle aura – orenergy field – created by our own ...
Geomancy
THE WORD GEOMANCY (from the Latin geo,‘Earth’, mancy ‘prophecy’) had a differentmeaning in ancient times from that it hastoday and we shall deal with that aspect first. Itwas a method of divination used to interpretmarkings on the ground or how handfuls of dirtlanded when you tossed them, and was thereforethe reading of patterns or signs. Geomancyseems to have appeared as a word in thelanguage use...
Customs Associated with Birth
There are, in fact, several customs associatedwith birth and the surrounding period whichhave survived without people today necessarilyappreciating their magical significance. In Celticlore, the ‘toadstone’ protected the newbornfrom evil spirits and the Virgin Mary nut,actually the seed of the plant Entada scandens,counteracted birth pains. The shell of a seaurchin, known as the ‘cock’s knee stone...
To Protect a Newborn Baby
This spell uses crystals and symbolism. Theblue stone is reputed to bring about harmony inrelationships and to help its wearer to be true tothemselves, and to be able to openly state theiropinion. The blue bead or stone used hereshould preferably of lapis lazuli, which isconsidered a stone of truth and friendship.YOU WILL NEEDBlue bead or small stone with a holeCopal or cedar incenseWhite candleBo...
Protections and Purifications
There are many folkloric remedies for the evileye, ranging from painting an eye on the prowof a boat in the Mediterranean, supposedly tooutstare the sorcerer, to passing a plate filledwith burning coals three times round the headof the victim in India. Iron is always a goodspecific against the curse of the evil eye, as alsoare mirrors or glass beads, which dazzle. By and large it is the idea of en...
Antler Charm
The Antler Charm is a traditional protective talisman, deeply rooted in Scottish folklore and magical practice. Its origins can be traced to rural communities where the boundaries between the natural and supernatural were believed to be thin, and where charms and amulets played a vital role in daily life. The Antler Charm, in particular, was valued for its reputed ability to ward off harmful influ...
Removal of the Evil Eye
YOU WILL NEEDLemonIron nailsMETHOD✤ Drive the nails with some force into the lemon.✤ Visualize the evil eye being pierced.✤ Keep the lemon for three days, by which timeit should begin to rot.✤ If it does not, repeat the procedure.Here you have externalized the difficulty, checked thatthe spell worked and repeated the procedure if not. Youcould then repeat the diagnostic procedure to ensurethat you...
Diagnosis of the Evil Eye
YOU WILL NEEDOlive oilBowl of waterMETHOD✤ Drip three drops of olive oil on the surface ofthe water.✤ Watch what happens.✤ If the drops remain distinct there is no evil eye.✤ If they run together there is.✤ Dispose of the oil and water safely.✤ There are many ways of removing the evil eye.
THE EVIL EYE
The evil eye is a belief that dates back thousands of years and is present in over a third of the world’s cultures. Its influence remains significant today, especially in Mediterranean regions, the Middle East, South Asia, and Celtic countries. The core idea is that envy or ill will—whether intentional or not—can bring about harm, misfortune, or illness simply through a look or a compliment. The e...
SHAPE SHIFTING
Spells designed to bring about a difference inbodily appearance in order to dissolvemischievous enchantments by the fairy folk orfrequenters of the lower world were legion inmost cultures. In Celtic lore for instance, duringthe process of dissolving the enchantment,having cast a magic circle, the rescuer had tokeep repeating the name of the enchantedperson to remind them of who they truly were.Tra...
Winter’s End
YOU WILL NEEDWhite candleCorn dollyFireproof receptacleEither the sticky burrs from a cleavers plant(which has a cleansing effect) or several pieces ofpaper on which you have written your irritationsMETHOD✤ Light the candle.✤ Cup the corn dolly in your hands and reviewthe previous year, particularly winter.✤ Attach as many of the sticky burrs as you canto the corn dolly, making each one represents...
Making a Corn Dolly
Making a corn dolly is an ancient tradition used in harvest rituals to honor the spirit of the grain and bring blessings for the coming year. Corn dollies are simple figures made from the last sheaf of corn, wheat, or other grain. They can be used as offerings, decorations, or for seasonal celebrations like Lammas, Mabon, or Saturnalia. Before you start, gather your materials. You will need: Tip: ...