Natural Witchery (23 page)

Truthfully, the sky will not fall in. I'd hate to imagine you running around the circle like Chicken Little, in a panic because you are worried about offending the gods by blowing out a quarter candle. Be practical, and do what works best for you. It is really going to blow the mood of your spell or ritual if you have to stop everything to go on the hunt for the candle snuffer.

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Scents and Oils

Essential Oils and Their Magickal Properties

In chapter 4 there were seasonal spells featured that all employed essential oils and those practical little oil-burner lamps. If you liked that idea and would like to craft a few of your own personalized spells, here is a short list of common essential oils, their magickal uses, and their planetary and elemental properties as well.

Remember: not all essential oil is suitable for direct contact with the skin. Some may cause blistering or an allergic reaction.

Bergamot—
Aligned to Mercury and the element of air. It promotes energy and success.

Cinnamon—
Corresponds to the sun and to the element of fire. This oil brings prosperity and energy, and increases your psychic responses.

Cloves—
Planetary influence is Jupiter. Elemental correspondence is fire. This is a good oil for protection, courage, and power.

Eucalyptus—
Aligned with the planet Mercury and the element of air. It is used for healing purification.

Frankincense—
Corresponds to the sun and the element of air. This is the oil for spirituality and meditation, and it also helps to relieve stress.

Honeysuckle—
Aligned to Jupiter and the earth element. This oil is a good one for prosperity, and it also boosts your psychic and intuitive abilities.

Jasmine—
Associated with the moon and the element of water. This is a good fragrance for keeping your intuitive powers working at their highest levels.It is also used to promote sensuality, love, peace, and spirituality.

Lavender's blue,
dilly dilly,
lavender's green …

Nursery Rhyme

Lavender—
Aligned to Mercury and the element of air. A wonderful oil for calming nerves, healing, cleansing, and for removing stress and anxiety.

Neroli—
Corresponds to the sun and to fire. This oil imparts joy, happiness, and energy.

Oakmoss—
Corresponds with Jupiter and the element of earth. This earthy oil encourages bounty and thankfulness, and it helps to get your personal prosperity up and running.

Patchouli—
Corresponds with the planetary influence of Saturn and the element of earth. This oil is a sexual stimulant, and its earthy scent brings prosperity.

Rose—
Corresponds to Venus and the element of water. This oil is for love and compassion, promoting inner beauty and, of course, sexuality.

Rosemary—
Associated with the sun and the element of fire, it improves memory and helps to bring about positive change.

Sandalwood—
Aligned with the moon and the element of water. A mystical, all-purpose magickal oil. A staple in most Witches' magickal cabinets.

Ylang-Ylang—
Corresponds with the moon and the element of water. This oil promotes happiness, increases desire, and encourages love.

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What's in a name?
That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.

Shakespeare

A Witch's Dozen of Crystals & Stones

Crystal and stone magick is one of those basics that many Witches begin with. Almost every Witch I know has a small bowl or bag full of tumbled stones that they keep on hand for charms and spells. Here are thirteen of my favorites, and the best part is that these crystals and tumbled stones are typically easy to find in metaphysical or magickal shops. They are also relatively inexpensive to purchase.

Amber—
This resin promotes healing, beauty, and strength. (Amber and jet beads are often worn together by high priests and priestesses to denote their rank.)

Amethyst—
Calming, healing, and centering.

Aventurine—
Good luck and prosperity; draws cash.

Bloodstone—
Healing and protection.

Carnelian—
Passion and energy.

Hematite—
Protection and grounding; helps remove migraines.

Jet—
Grants power over troublesome situations and individuals.

Lapis Lazuli—
Healing stone sacred to Isis.

Moonstone—
Safe travel, moon magick, and psychic abilities.

Obsidian—
Protection and destressing.

Quartz Crystal—
Boosts your own power and any other stone it is with.

Rose Quartz—
The “warm fuzzy” stone; love, friendship, and compassion.

Tiger's-Eye—
Protection and energy.

• • •

Magic and stones are anciently related.

Scott Cunningham

Working with Stone & Crystal Magick

Stones, crystals, minerals, and semiprecious and precious gems are natural gifts from the element of earth. What better way to tap into magick than by rediscovering their awesome powers and magickal qualities? As they hold and focus the earth's energies, stones, crystals, and gems are magickal batteries of sorts.

There are three important qualities needed for working this type of earth magick, and they are 1) the goal, or magical intention; 2) the desire to create a positive change (getting your affirmative emotions involved so your spell will pack a punch); and 3) the knowledge and basic skill to be able to perform the spell.

So, let's celebrate the beauty, power, and mystery of the treasures of the earth. Listed below is the information that will help you expand your knowledge.

Energies of the Stones: Projective and Receptive

There are two types of energies inherent in crystals, gems, and stones: projective and receptive. Projective energies are sometimes described as electric, hot, day, physical, bright, summer, masculine, and active. Receptive energies are often described as magnetic, cold, night, spiritual, dark, winter, feminine, and inert. It is important to know that one type of energy is not superior to the other, for they each have their place in magick, and they both bring balance to our lives.

Projective stone energies are able to get in touch with the conscious mind. They are associated with the sun and the planets Mercury and Mars. They are also linked to the masculine elements of air and fire. These stones tend to fall in the color range of red, orange, yellow, gold, clear, and sometimes black. They can be utilized to fight disease, and

can attract good luck. Projective stones bring vitality and health, and they also may impart courage and success to their bearers. These projective stones are powerful tools to fight off negativity, boost your physical energy levels, and grant you a strong sense of grit and determination. A few projective stones to try for these purposes are amber, banded and brown agates, carnelian, citrine, garnet, hematite, onyx, quartz crystal points, red agate, red jasper, tiger's-eye, topaz, and zircon.

Receptive stones have the opposite sort of energies. These are associated with the moon and the planets Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune. They are associated with the feminine elements of earth and water, and they are often cooler colors, such as green, blue, purple, grey, silver, pink, and black. These receptive stones are wonderful tools for soothing and calming situations and people. They promote grounding, may assist in meditation, and can help folks search within to find the answers they seek.

Receptive stones and crystals can also promote spirituality and wisdom, as they encourage peace and psychic abilities. A few receptive crystals and stones to work with include amethyst, azurite, blue and green agates, chalcedony, green jasper, lapis lazuli, malachite, moonstone, opal, peridot, rose quartz, sapphire, tourmaline (black, blue, green, or pink), and turquoise.

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Stones:
Their Colors & Their Magickal Meanings

Just like in candle magick, crystals and stones may be grouped together by their colors. Here is a straightforward listing for you to peruse and to work your earth magick with.

Red—
Red stones and crystals are definitely projective ones. Typically related to the planet Mars and the element of fire, they are forceful powers. Red stones such as carnelian promote courage and bravery, while red jasper promotes valor and banishes fatigue. Red crystals and gems also give the body a burst of energy, both for athletic prowess or for sex. Red stones may be incorporated into healing rituals and spells. Try these for drawing out the heat of skin irritations or minor burns.

Orange—
Orange crystals and stones are thought to be a gentler version of red ones. They are also projective and associated with the sun, such as the orange-colored stone citrine, which can grant you a positive outlook on life. These sunny stones and crystals are perfect for shedding some light on a subject or for a little creative illumination. Orange stones are linked to personal power. They can boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. This is a successful color. Work with it to pump up the volume on your own vitality, creativity, and energy.

This precious stone set in the silver sea …

Shakespeare

Yellow—
Yellow gemstones and crystals are projective. These will fall under the influence of the sun, the planet Mercury, and the element of air. And what a surprise: they are worked into magick for communication, visualization, and perception! These are the stones to work with when you need to get the old brain kicked into high gear. If you need help expressing yourself, whether it's in public speaking or writing, work with yellow stones and crystals. These babies will make you more eloquent while you are speaking and or writing, plus your thoughts will flow more freely.

Green—
Green stones, gems, and crystals reflect the colors of life, nature, and fruitfulness. Green is a receptive color and may be worked into spells for healing, gardening, grounding, good luck, and prosperity. A mystical green crystal to try is malachite. This stone encourages success, draws cash, and can even protect its bearer from danger. Any green-colored gemstone or crystal may also be incorporated into spells that work with the faerie kingdom or the elementals. As you'd expect, this color of stone is tied to the element of earth.