Part 22 (1/2)

This can be done in a variety of ways, for example by leaping in the air if you are dancing, giving a final shout if you are chanting, blowing out a candle or casting your symbol into fast-flowing water. You can also bury it or burn it in a candle flame or on a bonfire. If you are banis.h.i.+ng something from your life, you can write it in chalk and rub it out or cut it up and dispose of the pieces.

You can use absolutely anything as a symbol for magick: a flower, a leaf, a feather, words or images written or drawn on paper, candles to represent people or objects, Tarot cards, photographs, related miniature versions of the desired acquisition - a key for a new home, a toy car for transport, a postcard for a holiday destination.

At the end of your spell you may like to finish the ritual by saying something like The wish is mine', or The power is won', or The spell is done', or even 'So let it be, G.o.d and G.o.ddess willing'. Many pract.i.tioners add 'If it is right for me'. Wiccans often say at the end of the ritual, 'So mote it be'.

A Three-Day Candle Spell For Reconciliation * On the first night, light two pink candles (pink is the colour of Venus in her gentle aspect), one for yourself and the other for the person from whom you are estranged.

* Set the candles apart at opposite ends of the table and into the one you designate for the absent person, speak the words you would like to say if he or she were present, whether regrets or forgiveness or both.

* Then, into your own candle, recall aloud the good qualities of the other person.

* Blow out your own candle, sending a message of love to wherever the other person is.

* Blow out his or her candle, absorbing positive feelings from all the good times you shared.

* On the second night, set the candles so that each has moved a quarter of the way across the table towards the other.

* Again light the candles in turn, this time speaking into the other person's candle thanks for the kindnesses shown to you in the past; into your own candle, express what you miss most about the relations.h.i.+p and would like to rekindle.

* As you blow out your candle, send positive wishes for the other person's happiness and absorb the light from his or her candle as healing of unfair or harsh words spoken in anger.

* On the final evening, place the candles so that they are almost touching and as you light your candle, express your hopes for happy times together once more.

* Into the second candle, make promises to try to be more tolerant and understanding in future, even if you think the disagreement or estrangement was not your fault.

* This time, leave the candles to burn down and sit in the candlelight, looking at old photographs, reading poetry or listening to music you both enjoyed.

* When the candles have burned down, plan a simple non-confrontational gesture of friends.h.i.+p - sending a postcard of a place you both visited, an e-mail recounting mutually pleasurable news about a joint friend or family member, or a small bunch of favourite flowers. Even if the gesture of reconciliation is refused, you have freed yourself of bitterness, though you may need to repeat the ritual several times if the hurt is deep.

A Spell For Increasing Self-Confidence Sometimes people around us - perhaps a critical relative, a spiteful ex-lover or a thoughtless colleague - can damage our self-esteem. We look at media ideals of loveliness and feel we are far from the image of perfection created by a society that wors.h.i.+ps youth. But if we can only believe in ourselves and love ourselves, hey presto, we radiate our own unique beauty and others are drawn to us, because of this powerful but indefinable personal magnetism. This spell is designed to boost that self-belief.

* Around your bathroom, light purple candles, placed safely so that they cast pools of light on the water when you fill the bath.

* Let the water run and then turn off the taps and add five drops of rose essential oil and five of ylang-ylang, dropping them into the pools of light.

* Place a rose quartz or amethyst crystal in the water to strengthen self-love and approval.

* Lie in the water and swirl the light pools in turn, making an affirmation for each one, for example: I exist, I am unique, lam of worth, I have many gifts [name them], I value myself, Hove myself, I am complete in myself, I treasure what I have and what I am, as I am right now.

* Continue to swirl the light, visualising it flowing within you, making you a body of light and loveliness.

* Finally, make a wish for yourself in each light pool.

* When you are ready, wrap yourself in a soft towel or robe and take out the plug, saying: Doubts and sorrow, flow from me, what I wish, I can be.

* Look at yourself in the mirror framed by light and you will see how your inner radiance creates true beauty that cannot fade.

* Carry the candles into your bedroom or living room and spend the rest of the evening reading a special book, listening to music or just dreaming of golden tomorrows as you gaze into the light.

A Spell To Repel Spite, Gossip Or Psychic Attack Traditionally, witch bottles filled with rusty nails, sour red wine (or even urine) and sprigs of rosemary were buried under the doorstep of a house as an age-old method of keeping away spite.

* Take a dark bottle with a cork and into it pour sour milk, old red wine and some dried rosemary, saying: Viciousness and venom, malevolence and malice, feelings turned sour, envy and spiked tongues, begone.

* Close the bottle with a cork and shake it over a sink, saying: Curdle and coil, serpents of spite, hiss and miss me, spit where you will do no harm.

* Uncork the bottle and run it under the cold tap until the mixture has flowed away and the bottle and sink are clean.

* Add a few drops of tea tree oil to the bottle and pour some into the sink drain and rinse the bottle again. Saying: Anger cease, go in peace.

Note that you have neither attacked anyone nor even returned the spite. You will probably find that the other person may be more positive on the next encounter. If you are suffering from an emotional vampire who drains you emotionally, add powdered garlic to the mix. It really works.

A Binding Spell For Protecting Children Against Bullying * Create a featureless image of clay to represent your child (or anyone you wish to protect - this could be your partner who is being bullied at work by an over-critical boss).

* Cover the image with tiny, clear quartz crystals - these are empowering as well as protective.

* Set a ring of pink candles around the image.

* Gently breathe in the light and blow it out around the image, creating a protective pink sphere as you exhale.

* When you have done this, extinguish the candles one by one, sending the light into the clay, saying: Stand symbol for my child [or partner]. Protect him/her with love and light from all who would do harm.

* Wrap the image in soft cotton wool or pink cloth and with a pink ribbon tie the cloth with three knots, saying: I bind thee in security, from all who would bring harm to thee, coc.o.o.ned in peace and harmony.

* Keep the image very safely in a drawer with soft, fluffy clothes. If the problem still persists when the clay crumbles, make another image and carry out the spell again, if necessary using golden candles for stronger protection.

A Rainy Day Spell To Banish Sorrow Or A Bad Habit * On a large piece of dark paper, with either white chalk or washable paint, write or draw what it is you wish to lose.

* Draw a square round the word or image to mark the limitations of its power, followed by a diagonal cross through the words or image.

* Put the paper on paving stones as it begins to rain and standing in the rain watch the words or image blur and disappear.

* When the paper has disintegrated, say: It is gone, it is done. Nought left of pain, I thank the rain. * Scoop up the soaked paper and dispose of it in an outside bin.

A Spell To Attract The Right Person Into Your Life I have used this spell for people who wish to call a current lover who is being over-reticent, but people have told me after I demonstrated it on television that it works just as well for an unknown lover; so I have modified it.

* Take a map either of your local area or country or a world map if you want a lover from afar.

* Scatter five roses across the map, saying: Near or far, o'er land and sea, a lover true I call to me.

* Light a pure white candle and taking a sixth rose (six being the number of Venus and love), pluck from it in turn five petals and burn each in the candle flame, saying: Burn a pathway to my door, five rose petals now are four, Four to three in candle fire, bringing closer my desire. From three to two I burn the rose, love no hesitation shows, From two to one till there is none, the spell is done, come, lover, come.

* Place the map and the roses, the candle and a vase with the rose from which you plucked the petals, in a safe place near an uncurtained window until the candle has burned down.

* Then put all the roses in the vase in your bedroom and when they die repeat the spell if necessary.

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