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Introduction

YOUR MAGICK LIFE FORCE

So many of us take extra-special care with our outward appearance. We pay top dollar for the latest fashions, text our hairdresser for emergency highlights, and hit the gym religiously. And while we talk about how critical it is not just to take care of our physical body, we must also focus on the importance of looking after our soul.

Have you ever thought about what makes someone unique? For a moment, forget about a person’s name or how they look. Instead, concentrate on their essence, their life force. It sounds clichéd to say that no two people are alike, or that each person is simply composed of thoughts, actions, and behaviors that are theirs and theirs alone.

But we all share something very important. We have a purpose on the planet and are here for a similar reason. Each of us is on our own personal journey, with our souls evolving at different rates—but at the same time, we have a responsibility to one another. We are all part of the same universe, which in a way makes us part of one another. How we interact with those around us has an impact on how our soul develops, so if we try our best to help—and not hinder—our fellow humans, we can make such a difference in people’s lives.

Whether you believe in Wicca or not, within each person a mysterious power resides. Most of the time, as we go about our daily lives, this part of our life force is concealed, but then, occasionally, something unexplained happens that leaves even the most skeptical people scratching their heads. You may have a weird dream that later comes to fruition or you get an extreme feeling that something is wrong. Have you ever met someone for the first time and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end? You’re not sure why, but there is something about this person that rubs you the wrong way. It might be that they’re telling you an anecdote, and you immediately know they are not telling the truth. We call these “gut instincts,” but really, they are far more than that. These feelings are all-powerful and shouldn’t be ignored. Some believe that our guides plant thoughts in our minds to make us aware when something isn’t as it should be. Others think that we have the ability to tune into the energies around us, recognizing the positive and the negative vibes. Each one of us possesses this power, but often we shoo it away, thinking we have an overactive imagination. 

HOW TO FIND YOUR MAGICK

Before you can use your unseen attributes to the best of your ability, you must first find out what they are. It’s really a matter of going on a quest of self-discovery. Not everyone possesses the same kind of magick and some witches who have practiced for years still struggle with certain crafts. We can look at it from a practical perspective by comparing magickal skills to the specialties of craftspeople who work in the building trade. There are plasterers, carpenters, electricians, pipefitters, and masons—each skilled in their own way, just as each magickal practitioner is skilled in their own particular art. One witch might be a fantastic potion maker, but will struggle with divination, while another might be an excellent tarot reader or have a flair for palmistry but has no success with spellcasting. Everyone’s magick is different. It’s safe to say that we are all individually good at something, so we must find out what it is we are best at—and only then will we be able to connect to our internal power. The way to unearth your talents is first to try out those practices that you are most interested in. You might have an avid interest in crystals or love to carve your own wands. Your passion could be candlemaking or you might be an expert at creating poppets. Your heart will always tell you which witchy path to follow; you just have to pay attention to the signs and listen to your inner voice. 

To find your magick, you have to invite some form of spirituality into your life. It doesn’t matter what type of spirituality it is, just as long as you open your heart to a path that brings you in tune with the Universe. For some it might be a religion they feel an affinity with, for others it could be more of an interest in the afterlife. We must take time to sit quietly and think about life in a more spiritual way.

Every person is on a slightly different vibration so each one of us might differ somewhat in our opinions. Dig deep to find your own truth and when something feels right to you, believe it. We were not born onto this earth by accident, so it’s vital for us to understand why we are here; why we are living and breathing right now. It’s no mistake that you have been given life. You are special and you have been chosen to fulfill some karmic life path, so you must make sure that every minute you live on this earth you are the very best person you can be. This way, you will raise your vibration and ascend to a higher level upon death. We have spoken of this in our other books, but it’s worth repeating for those who haven’t yet read them. There is a purpose in life. It’s not just about going to work, coming home, feeding yourself or the kids, dogs, and cats, and going to sleep … it’s far more than that. It’s about perfecting your soul. You need to get to know your true self, pay great attention to how you are feeling, and learn to trust your gut instincts. When you truly know yourself, you will be able to harness the power within and holistically care for your entire being—and extend those positive vibrations to the world around you.

In order to unleash our inner magick, we must also be at one with ourselves and our thoughts. Meditation is the perfect exercise to enable this. It’s essential to do a little bit of meditation every day. You don’t need to spend hours and hours sitting in the lotus position, trying desperately to reach a meditative state; simply go to bed half an hour earlier than usual and, as you relax, try to focus.

Another excellent exercise to do when you want to tune into your higher self is to sit very quietly in a room with no distractions. Turn the television or music off and just close your eyes and listen to the silence. After about ten minutes of this, you will start to feel differently. Pay close attention to your thoughts; what are they saying? You might like to do a bit of meditation and imagine yourself somewhere tranquil, like a beautiful lake, an open flower field, or a secluded beach. Picture yourself touching the flora or walking barefoot along the sand. It’s at times like this that you can truly connect with your internal voice and unleash its power. (See pages 25–29 for more detailed meditation exercises.)

We need to focus on every single part of our being, from the condition of our bodies to the well-being of our minds. Everyone has ups and downs in life and often, when we are in a negative frame of mind, that can impact our physical health. Whether you’re happy or stressed in your current situation, one thing is for sure: it will change! When life starts to become challenging, negative energy can barge into our hearts and minds, taking control of our emotions and the decisions we make. It can also engulf our souls in a negative fog, which can be harmful to our work life and relationships. Once our mood starts to plummet into a downward spiral, it can feel like it’s impossible to break the pattern. The good news is there are lots of ways to prevent that spiral from happening and cast out those negative vibes. First, you must take the reins of your life. This is your existence and your journey, so you have to take control of what happens to you, as best you can. Of course, there will be many things that you cannot influence in life—illness and other people’s actions, to name a few—but once you get into the right mind-set, you can banish any negativity around you, replacing it with positive energy.

Most of the time, more than one problem hits us at any one time, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and beleaguered. Trying to eliminate multiple issues at once rarely works so, instead, just address one problem at a time. Be kind to yourself and work within your limitations. The solutions sometimes take time to sort out, so try not to bombard your mind with too much; once you have conquered just one obstacle in your life, you will feel more empowered to work on the next one.

Write down a list of all the things that make you unhappy, such as a difficult relationship with a significant other or a family member, a problematic living situation, or unhealthy eating or sleeping habits. Once you have your list, put them in order of priority. Without focusing on any of the other issues, just focus on the worst of your problems. If your relationship is faltering, try to better communicate your feelings, do something to spice it up, be more loving to your partner, or make an appointment to see a therapist. It’s essential to do all of these positive, practical things first, and then give it an extra boost by coupling it with a little magick.

EACH LIFE EXPERIENCE IS A LESSON

If you have read the other books that we have cowritten over the years, you will know that Leanna has been in touch with her spirituality from a very young age and has spent many years searching for the purpose of her life. After practicing meditation, hypnotherapy, and astral projection, she believes she has found some of the answers. Of course, your truth might be different from hers, which is why everyone must seek their own. Throughout human history, we have come to understand how the physical body functions, but there is still one thing we are trying to fathom: our vital life source—the human soul. The body might become diseased or wear out over time, but the essence of a person is a different matter. Each soul is unique and has its own identity, and everyone’s spirit is developing at a different rate. During one of Leanna’s hypnotherapy sessions, when she was regressed to a time before birth, she was told that the soul was immortal. Our bodies are just a vessel to carry our souls, and by the time we have finished reincarnating we’ll have resided in many forms. We’ll all be young, we’ll all be old; we’ll all be disabled, we’ll all be hale; we’ll all be poor and undistinguished, we’ll all be rich and famous. The purpose of living is to learn and ascend from our experiences. Sometimes we have to undergo some pretty harsh lessons in order for us to grow; this is because we need to thoroughly understand life’s tests by experiencing them firsthand.

It doesn’t matter if we don’t achieve everything that is dealt to us in any one lifetime. Sometimes, it takes many reincarnations to triumph over a set task, but have faith; we will all get there in the end. When you try to balance the physical with the spiritual, it can take time. Use baby steps and be kind to yourself.

Throughout this book, we will give you lots of magickal tips and techniques so that you can begin to embrace your life on a more witchy, spiritual footing. Practitioners across the world will all have their own thoughts and ideas about what witchcraft means to them, and these are ours!

In this book, we will be discussing the overall well-being of a witch and cover many kinds of physical and emotional issues that can be alleviated with a spell or two. Twinning practical techniques with rituals only amplifies the magick and, above all, empowers you, the spellcaster. You don’t need to spend lots of money on your tool kit, either: many things can be sourced from Mother Nature. However, you must take time when you are gathering or acquiring your items; each one is very important for your future tasks. Listen to your instincts when you are choosing and if it feels right, then go ahead and use it.

ESSENTIAL ALTAR ITEMS

Before you perform any type of magick, first you will need to set up an altar—a sacred space that you create as a base for all your spellwork. A small table is okay or, if you are limited for space, you can purchase or make an altar board that can be packed away when you are not using it. Both of us always leave our altars set up in an accessible area within our homes so that we can get to them quickly when need be, but some witches may prefer to keep their practice private.

Over time, you will probably stockpile many items. You might want to buy a special box or small chest to house all your precious things. If not, designate a set of drawers that is specifically used to house all your objects. Following is a list of the key items you will need for your holistic magickal tool kit.

Altar Cloth

The color of your altar cloth should pertain to the magickal task at hand; for self-care rituals, it’s always best to have a yellow or golden cloth covering the surface. This color represents all things that relate to health. White is also an acceptable shade when you are casting any kind of well-being spell. Lavender or deep purple is a good color for spells involving spiritual fulfillment and chakra work.

Candles

Not every spell calls for a candle, but they are required for many rituals, so make sure you have a stash of different-colored candles in your collection. There are a few varieties of candles you can buy, but the most common is the “spell candle,” which measures about 4 inches (10 cm) in length. These work well because there is plenty of room on the wax surface to inscribe your desires. Tealight candles work well, too, as they burn quickly, but they have limited space for engraving. Chub candles, which may be tall or short but are chunky—usually a minimum of 2 inches (5 cm) wide—are excellent for engraving. For spells that don’t need inscriptions, you can opt for a small beeswax candle. These are quick burners and useful if you want to cast a last-minute spell.

The most important thing when you’re performing a ritual is your intent, so if you condition your mind to believe that your spell is definitely going to work, you give it a far better chance of succeeding. One of the reasons a witch inscribes a candle with her wishes is simply to amplify that intent. So often you might think a spell hasn’t worked because you weren’t sure of the spelling or the inscription on the candle was so small that you could barely read it. But misspelling or text size makes no difference whatsoever to the outcome. It’s all about the intent.

For self-care rituals, make sure you have two large, white chub candles at the back left and right sides of your altar. They will cleanse, bless, and complement any ritual you are performing. The smaller spell candles should be situated toward the front or center of the altar. It’s always best to use yellow or gold spell candles unless otherwise specified. Once a spell is complete, the large chub candles can be blown out and relit at a later date.

Pentagram

The symbol of a pentagram (a five-pointed star) is widely used in ritual magick. If you don’t have an ornate one, you can simply draw the image on a piece of paper or print one out from an online source. Always make sure the pentagram is placed on your altar in the upright position, with the top point facing away from you, the two side points left and right, and the lower points at either side on the bottom.

Quartz Crystal

Quartz is an amplifying stone, meaning that it enhances and projects positive energy to the surrounding area. Having a small piece of clear quartz present on your altar during any spell relating to health and well-being will magnify the magick.

Ritual Dish

This is a must-have. It’s best to use a small dish that is fireproof, as you may need to burn incense or leaves. Don’t just grab any old cereal bowl out of the kitchen cupboard; you need one that is sacred and used only for spellcasting.

Salt

Salt, typically kept in an open bowl, purifies and cleanses your magickal space. Some witches like to have a bowl of sea salt or table salt present on their altar to sanctify their tools. For example, you can rest any crystals you might be using for a ritual on top of the salt to cleanse and bless them.

Stormwater or Rainwater

Weather witches collect natural rainwater every time there is a downpour, and they transfer it into bottles to use later. During a thunder and lightning storm, the water contains added energy, so make sure to place a sturdy plastic container or bowl outside when a storm is forecast. This water is used for bathing, blessing candles, and in healing lotions and potions.

Wand

A wand is a necessity for casting a circle at the beginning and the end of your spell. You can purchase some beautiful wands online, or you may fancy having a go at making your own (see chapter 10). If you do decide to make your own, you’ll find some great wand-making tutorials on YouTube. You also may want to build a wand collection so that you can choose a wand for a specific spell, depending on the type of wand wood.

White Feathers

White feathers represent all things spiritual and will help you to call upon your chosen deity before a spell commences. You can purchase these at a store or online, or, even better, use bird-given feathers you find outside.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

This is your altar and you are in charge, so any trinkets or charms you have created or found will grace your magickal workspace. Having items present that represent the four elements is a practice widely used by experienced witches and is a nice touch.

• You could place a small dish of soil or a bowl of pebbles somewhere on the table to signify the earth element.

• Athames are wonderful for creating a magickal circle before your ritual begins, and the ones with sharp blades can even be used to inscribe your candles.

• A besom or broomstick is often propped up beside the altar, or you might source a miniature broom to rest on the altar’s surface. This symbolizes the clearing away of anything negative.

• A cauldron works as an excellent container for any herbs you might use. You can even place a florist foam block inside it for holding your incense sticks.

• A sacred cup, or chalice, is perfect for holding stormwater and can even serve as a vessel for blessing potions.

• Crystals offer so many different properties and you can learn about which ones to use specifically for certain issues in one of our other books, The Crystal Witch. Corresponding crystals add extra punch to a spell.

WHERE TO PLACE YOUR ITEMS

Traditionally, a witch’s altar should face north, but there are really no hard-and-fast rules: your spells will work just as well wherever you orient your altar. Altar placement is personal to every witch, so you must do what you feel. However, you might want to put your representative objects on the following points of your altar to help your spell along:

North–Earth

CANDLE COLORS Any shade of green

ITEMS Pentagrams ♦ salt ♦ dirt from outdoors ♦ metals or ceramics ♦ herbs and flowers ♦ seeds ♦ dried foods ♦ stones or pebbles ♦ crystals

South–Fire

CANDLE COLORS Red, orange, and brown

ITEMS Candles ♦ lighters ♦ matches ♦ volcanic stones ♦ spices ♦ orange or yellow flowers ♦ images or figurines of cats, lions, tigers, or dragons

East–Air

CANDLE COLORS Yellows, cream, and gold

ITEMS Feathers ♦ athames ♦ swords, knives ♦ wands ♦ wind chimes ♦ bells ♦ incense ♦ anointing oils ♦ images or figurines of angels, fairies, or deities and of birds, dragonflies, or butterflies

West–Water

CANDLE COLORS Blue, turquoise ♦ white

ITEMS Chalices ♦ stormwater or rainwater ♦ seashells ♦ crystal ball ♦ mirrors ♦ seaweed ♦ sand ♦ wine (white, red, or rosé) ♦ images or figurines of mermaids, fish, dolphins, or whales

Whenever you cast a spell, take a photo of your altar so you can refer to it again in the future. These pictures can be placed in your journal.

THE BOOK OF SHADOWS JOURNAL

Most witches like to record their magickal practices so they can list the ingredients they used or, later, compare the outcomes of spells. The journal or notebook used for this purpose is called a book of shadows or grimoire. You really don’t have to spend a lot of money—any hardcover journal or notebook will do (a sturdier hardcover is best because it will get thumbed a lot over time). I (Leanna) have oodles of these books, each one different but all packed full of information. In one book I might have a list of all the moon phases for that particular year, so I know the best time to cast a spell, and in another, I’ll make a list of herbs that I like using, writing the magickal correspondence next to each one. I also like to start a new book at the beginning of every year. I might write down my dreams or any psychic experiences I might have, as well as recording any spells I have done, with a small section at the bottom to log the outcome of the ritual.

Most witches love to collect all kinds of books on Wicca and end up having an extensive collection in their bookcase, but when you want to perform a particular spell and you need to quickly check what ingredients are best to use, it can be difficult to remember just what information is in which book—especially if you are like me and have hundreds of them. To make this easier, while I am reading I copy down anything I might find interesting or useful into one of my own books of shadows. It’s straightforward to reference, and above all, you’re able to easily access the knowledge of other witches and combine one spell with another—this often adds more impact. You can purchase some adorable journals or notebooks today, and loved ones are never stuck with what to buy you for birthdays or yuletide—they can always source a pretty jotter.

How Can It Help Me to Grow and Learn?

Sometimes, I might just opt for an early night in and spend an evening with all my journals on my bed. If you record your spells and make notes about each one, it can really help to jog your memory. Oil blends and mixed herbs can be easily forgotten, so you’ll have this wonderful reminder at hand any time you need to reflect. 

Can I Share It with Others?

I’ve never been one to keep my spell formulas a secret. Nowadays, witches love to share information with others, many joining online forums or creating blogs and YouTube channels, giving demonstrations that might help other witches. It’s a fantastic way to share good ideas, and there is always something new to learn.

When you come to create your altar, remember that there is no right or wrong way. Yes, it’s wonderful to practice tradition and set everything out and have your items perfectly positioned, but sometimes you might just want to cast a quick spell without spending hours and hours in preparation. There have been many times when we have simply just lit a candle in the living room or the kitchen to help along a situation and the spell has worked just fine. It really all boils down to your intent and your mental mind-set, and often we do not need a barrage of objects to help us do that. Just go with the flow and do what feels right!