Preparations for spell working
Several processes become automatic when preparing for spell work.
If you choose to wear special clothing, then this has to be prepared before you actually start your personal preparations. 
We give below some suggestions for personal robes which can be laid out with some ceremony before you begin.
Important magical workings require you to take a ritual bath which cleanses, purifies and clarifies your energy so that you are able to get the best results possible. Many practitioners prefer to take a ritual bath before performing any magical workings. For what you may consider ‘lesser’ magic you do not need to bathe, but may prefer to cleanse yourself by running your hands over your body before you embark on any working.
Ritual Bathing
Ritual bathing arose in times gone by from a perceived need to be in as ‘virgin’ – that is, unsullied – a state as possible. This is what gave rise to working skyclad, i.e. without clothes, so that there were no encumbrances between the practitioner and his or her gods or deities.
Ritual Bath
As you mix in your salts, bless the water and charge it with your intent – be that a particular magical working, a relaxing evening or a successful meeting. The candles used in this ritual can be in the colours of the Elements or those most appropriate to your purpose, for example – pink (tranquillity), blue (wisdom), green (self awareness) and red (passion). For spiritual matters, use purple.
You will need
- HOMEMADE BATH SALTS
- VOTIVE CANDLES ACCORDING TO YOUR NEED
- LARGE WHITE CANDLE
- ESSENTIAL OIL TO REMOVE NEGATIVITY (e.g. rosemary)
- LARGE GLASS OF MINERAL WATER OR JUICE
Method
Anoint the large white candle with the essential oil and ask for positivity, health and happiness as you do so.
Do the same with the votive candles according to your need. You may, if you wish, inscribe a symbol to represent your purpose on each candle.
Run your bath and mix in the bath salts.
Light the candles, first the white one followed by the votives. Place the latter safely around the bath.
The white candle should be placed wherever you feel is safest. You have now created a sacred space for yourself.
Lie back and enjoy your bath and at some point drink your water or juice visualizing your whole system being cleansed inside as well as out.
Before you get out of the bath, thank the water deities for this opportunity to prepare thoroughly for the new energies available to you.
If you are to perform a magical working, then keep your mind focused on that intent.
On this occasion, for safety’s sake, when you have finished your bath, snuff out the candles.
Making your bath salts
Commercial bath salts will do absolutely nothing on an esoteric level – they have too many chemical additives and artificial perfumes – so it is a nice touch to make your own using single essential oils, blends and/or herbs. The fact that you have mixed them yourself means they are infused with your own vibration and therefore will work on a very subtle level. Matching your bath salt perfume to your incense perfume does wonders for your inner self.
You will need
- 3 PARTS EPSOM SALTS
- 2 PARTS BAKING SODA
- 1 PART ROCK SALT (or Borax)
- BOWL FOR MIXING
- ESSENTIAL OILS IN YOUR CHOSEN PERFUMES
- HANDFUL OF HERBS (optional)
- NATURAL FOOD COLOURING
Method
Mix the first three ingredients thoroughly in the mixing bowl.
Use your hands as this will enable you to imbue the salts with your own energy.
This is your basic mixture and can be perfumed or coloured in any way that you please.
[box] Note: It is wise when using essential oils to mix them first if you are using a blend to allow the synergy between the oils to develop.[/box]Add your colouring first and mix to your satisfaction, then follow with your oil or blend a drop at a time.
Add the herbs to the mixture and combine thoroughly.
Be generous with the oils since the salts will absorb a surprising amount without you realizing.
Your nose, however, as with all oils and perfumes is the best judge – there is no right or wrong amount.
When you wish to use your salts, add approximately 2 tablespoons to a full bathtub and mix well.
Clothing and Jewellery
Inevitably there are certain things you will need to remember before you begin your magical working. While you are preparing and putting on your robes or ritual gowns you might spend time in reflection, silent meditation or prayer.
Prior to the beginning of any spell and while dressing concentrate on the matter in hand. Alternatively, simply focus on the Supreme Being, Cosmic responsibility and/or a successful outcome and ask that the event to follow helps you in your learning..
There is no limit to what can be worn. Some suggest white robes with black cords or vice versa, while others simply suggest that you are comfortable in what you wear. Many people will spend a great deal of time, energy and effort on fashioning suitable robes.
The idea is that when working magically you leave behind the ordinary mundane world, so turn off mobile phones, put away keys and name tags, remove money and other objects from pockets and so on.
It will be a matter of choice as to whether you wear jewellery or not.
Magical jewellery such as the pentagram, ankh or rings with magical symbols or significance are often worn, although they are by no means essential. Many prefer not to wear watches, since time is considered irrelevant. It is often better not to use perfume or cologne unless it is based on essential oils which are suitable for the work in hand, or complement any incense being used.
Poppets
A poppet is a small doll or figurine made from wood, paper, material or clay.
It is shaped roughly in human form and is used, primarily, for magic spells.
Originating from West African belief systems, poppets can be used to represent and help either you or someone else.
Only make a poppet of someone else if they have given permission, such as when you wish to help or heal someone. To make one without permission, or for inappropriate reasons, creates the wrong energy vibration and introduces a negativity into your magical workings.
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Making a Poppet
When you are making a poppet, it is good to have either taken a ritual purification bath or to have meditated both on whether the use of a poppet is appropriate at this time and how best to make use of the poppet. This is to ensure that insofar as is possible, you have removed any subjective feelings and emotions about the subject and are acting only as the creator of the object. You know that you are acting only as the channel for the energy that is being used.
You will need
- PAPER OR CARD (to act as a template)
- SOFT MATERIAL SUCH AS FELT OR COTTON
- NEEDLE AND THREAD
- STRAW, PAPER OR COTTON WOOL
- HERBS, APPROPRIATE TO THE RITUAL YOU ARE PERFORMING, MAY BE USED
Method
Draw the outline of a simple human figure on the card or paper, then cut it out. (It should ideally be at least four inches high.)
Fold the material in two and place the template on it. Cut around the template.
Sew the figures together, leaving a small area open.
Turn the figure inside out so the stitches are on the inside.
Stuff the figure with the straw, paper, cotton wool or herbs. You can personalize the poppet by adding a lock of hair to the filling.
You can also use buttons for eyes or draw on facial features if you wish. Finish sewing the material together.
Your poppet is now ready for use. Do not destroy it when you have finished with it – either give it to the person whom it represents or bury it safely in the earth.
Consecrating your sacred space
If you are going to be carrying out a fair number of rituals or spells, you will really need a sacred space or altar along with various other altar furnishings.
Whether your altar is inside or outside does not matter. To set it up indoors, your altar andor sacred space should preferably be in a quiet place in the home, where it will not be disturbed and where candles can be burned safely.
The space first needs to be dedicated to the purpose of magical working. You can do this by first brushing the area clean with an ordinary brush, concentrating your thoughts on cleansing the space as you work physically to bring this about. Mentally cleanse the space three times, imagining doing it once for the physical world, once for the emotional space and once spiritually.
If you wish, you may sprinkle the whole area with water and with salt (which represents the Earth). You might perhaps also burn incense such as jasmine or frankincense to clear the atmosphere. Think of the space as somewhere you would entertain an honoured guest in your home – you would wish the room you use to be as welcoming as it can be. You will later use your besom to keep the sacred space clear.
If you travel a lot or are pushed for space, you might dedicate a tray or special piece of wood or china for ceremonial working. This, along with your candles and incense, can then be kept together in a small box or suitcase.
Otherwise, you could dedicate a table especially for the purpose. Ideally, you should not need to pack up each time.
You will also need a ‘fine cloth’ – the best you can afford – to cover the surface. Place your cloth on your chosen surface and spend some quiet time just thinking about its purpose. You may, if you wish, have different cloths for different purposes or perhaps have one basic cloth which is then ‘dressed’ with the appropriate colour for each ritual.
Setting up your altar
To turn your dressed table into a proper altar, you will need as basics the following objects:
- Two candles with candle holders – you might like to think of one representing the female principle and one the male. You may also choose, in addition, candles of a colour suitable for the ritual or spell you are working.
- An incense holder and incense suitable for the particular working.
- A representation of the deity or deities you prefer to work with. An image of the Goddess, for instance, could be anything from a statue of the Chinese Goddess of Compassion, Kuan Yin, to seashells, chalices, bowls, or certain stones that symbolize the womb or motherhood.
- A small vase for flowers or fresh herbs.
Other objects appropriate for ceremonial working are:
- An athame, which is a sacred knife for ceremonial use; it should never be used for anything else.
- A white-handled knife (called a boline) for cutting branches, herbs, etc.
- A burin, which is a sharp-pointed instrument for inscribing magical objects such as candles.
- A small earthenware or ceramic bowl, or a small cauldron, for mixing ingredients.
- A bowl of water.
- A bowl of salt or sand, representing Earth.
- A consecrated cloth, or a pentacle, on which to place dedicated objects.
Some people additionally use bells to summon the powers of the Elements, whilst others have additional candles with the colours representing both themselves and the work they wish to do. You can also have other items on your altar, such as crystals, amulets and talismans.
You can do what you wish with your own altar provided you have thought through very carefully your logical or emotional reasons for including whatever you have there. You might, for instance, choose to have differing representations of the Earth Mother from diverse religions or include a pretty gift to establish a psychic link with the person who gave it to you.
Dedicating your altar
Now you have turned your space into an altar, dedicate it in such a way that it will support any workings you may choose to do. One good way is to dedicate it to the principle of the Greater Good – that none may be harmed by anything that you may do. (Remember that traditionally any harm you instigate deliberately will return to you threefold, particularly when it comes from such a sacred space.) It will depend on your basic belief just how you choose to dedicate the altar further, perhaps to the Moon deity and all her manifestations, perhaps to the Gods of power.
Try to put as much passion and energy into the dedication as you can and remember to include a prayer for protection of your sacred space. Some people will need to cast a circle each time they do a working, while others will feel that just by setting the altar up in the way suggested that that space is consecrated henceforth. If you wish to follow the principles of feng shui rather than Wicca within your work, your placings will be slightly different, as they will also be if you choose to follow the tenets of other religions.
However, whatever you do, you should take care to dedicate all of your tools and altar furnishings to the purpose in hand. You are empowering them and making them usable only in ritual and magical work. If you try to use them for any other purpose, you will negate that magical power.
Consecrating altar objects
If you are not using completely new objects on your altar – here we are referring to the basic ‘furnishings’ of candle holders etc – you should cleanse them before you dedicate them to your purpose. Treat them in the same way as you would any crystals you use, by soaking them overnight in salt water to remove anyone else’s vibrations and then standing them in sunshine (or moonshine) for at least 12 hours to charge them with the appropriate energy.
When you are ready, hold each object and allow your own energy to flow into it, followed by the energy of your idea of Ultimate Power. (That way you make a very powerful link between yourself, the object and the Ultimate.)
Ask this Power to bless the object and any working you may do with it and perceive yourself as truly a medium or channel for the energy.
Hopefully, each time you use any of the objects, you will immediately be able to reinforce that link rather than having to re-establish it. It is like a refrain continually running in the background. Now place the objects on your altar however it feels right for you.
Finally, if appropriate, create and caste your circle so that it includes yourself and your altar. The magic circle defines the ritual area, holds in personal power and shuts out all distractions and negative energies. You now have a sacred space set up which is your link to the powers that be. Again it is a matter of personal choice as to whether you choose to re-dedicate your altar and what it contains on a regular basis.
Casting a circle
Purify yourself first. You can do this by meditating, or taking a ritual bath.
One way is to, try to keep the water flowing, possibly by leaving the bath plug half in, or by having a shower. This reinforces the idea of washing away any impurities so you are not sitting in your own psychic rubbish. (Scent your bath water with your selection of a sacred or special herb or oil.) Ideally, your towel – if you choose to use one – should be clean and used only for the purpose of your ritual bath.
- Wear something special if you can, something that you only wear during a ritual or working. You can always add a pretty scarf or a throw in the correct colour for your working. This sets apart spell working from everyday confusion.
- Decide on the extent of your circle, which should be formed in front of your altar. Purify this space by sprinkling the area with water followed by salt – both of these should have been blessed.
- Sit quietly for as long as you can inside the area that will become your circle. • Imagine a circle of light surrounding you. This light could be white, blue or purple. If you are in a hurry and cannot purify and cleanse fully, reinforce the circle of light by visualizing it suffused with the appropriate colour for your working.
- Circle the light around, above and below you in a clockwise direction, like the representation of an atom. Feel it as a sphere or as a cone of power. Sense the power Remember to leave a ‘doorway’ through which your magic energy may exit. You should always feel warm and peaceful within your circle.
- Use your own personal chant or form of words according to your own belief system to consecrate your circle and banish all evil and negative energy, forbidding anything harmful to enter your space. Remember, you are always safe within your circle if you command it to be so.
- If appropriate, invite the Gods and Goddesses to attend your circle and magical working.
- Relax and be happy.
If you wish, you can use objects on the ground to show the boundaries of the circle, such as candles, crystals, cord, stones, flowers or incense. The circle is formed from personal power. This may be felt and visualized as streaming from the body to form a bubble made of mist, or a circle of light. You can use the athame (ritual dagger) or your hands to direct this power.
The cardinal points of the compass may be denoted with lit candles, often white or purple. Alternatively, place a green candle at the North point of the circle, yellow candle at the East, red candle at the South and blue candle at the West. The altar stands in the centre of the circle, facing North in the direction of power.
Consecrating your tools
Most magical traditions make use of the familiar magical Elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Some traditions have specific tools which are important to them. There is also a fifth magical element – that of spirit. The simplest consecration that can be made is to offer each of the objects to spirit that they may be used for the best purpose possible. You can specifically dedicate any tool using a short invocation such as:
I dedicate this magical tool to the purpose for which it is intended
You can, of course, be as creative with your speech as you desire. Anything else that is done will be according to the traditions of your own belief.
With all your tools, when you first purchase them or have them made, cleanse them before use, then dedicate them by filling them with your own energy as you did with your altar objects. You might also offer them to your appropriate deity.