Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft

385 Pages·2000·6.34 MB·English

by  Denise Zimmermann

Wicca and
Witchcraft
by Denise Zimmermann
and Katherine A. Gleason
A Pearson Education Company
201 West 103rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46290
Copyright © 2000 by Amaranth
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys-
tem, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
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bility assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein.
For information, address Alpha Books, 201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290.
THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO and Design are registered trademarks of
Pearson Education, Inc.
International Standard Book Number: 0-02-863945-6
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: Available upon request from the Library of
Congress
02 01 00 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Interpretation of the printing code: The rightmost number of the first series of num-
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Printed in the United States of America
Note:This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its authors. It is intended to
provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with
the understanding that the authors, book producer, and publisher are not engaged in
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The authors, book producer, and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for
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directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.
Publisher
Marie Butler-Knight
Product Manager
Phil Kitchel
Managing Editor
Cari Luna
Senior Acquisitions Editor
Randy Ladenheim-Gil
Book Producer
Lee Ann Chearney/Amaranth
Development Editor
Lynn Northrup
Production Editor
JoAnna Kremer
Copy Editor
Susan Aufheimer
Illustrator
Kathleen Edwards
Cartoonist
Jody P. Schaeffer
Cover Designers
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Kevin Spear
Book Designers
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Indexer
Debbie Hittel
Layout/Proofreading
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Mary Hunt
Contents at a Glance
Part 1: Wicca Wisdom 1
1 All About Wicca and Witchcraft 3
Wicca and witchcraft are more than magick, and they don’t
involve the devil
2 The History of Wicca and Witchcraft 17
Surviving the torture, hangings, and burnings at the stake
3 Practicing Wicca and Witchcraft Today 29
A primer on the different kinds of witches and how you can
get training
Part 2: The Wiccan Way 41
4 Wiccan Deities: Homage to the Lord and Lady 43
The many, many forms of the God and Goddess
5 So You Want to Be a Witch? 57
Examine why you want to be a witch and learn about
the responsibilities involved
6 What You Need to Do Magick 69
All kinds of magickal tools and objects
7 Observing Ritual the Wiccan Way 83
The religious and magickal rites of Wicca
Part 3: So, You Want to Do Magick? 95
8 Dedicate Yourself to the Craft 97
How to become a witch
9 Preparing to Do Ritual 109
Cleanse your body and your mind
10 Where to Do Magick 121
Your sacred space and your altar
11 Cast a Magick Circle 131
Creating a space to do ritual and magick
12 The Witches’ Symbol 143
All about pentacles and pentagrams
Part 4: Working Magick 153
13 Esbats: Moon Magick 155
Celebrations of the Goddess
14 Observing the Sabbats 167
Celebrations of the God
15 Summon, Stir, or Call 179
The various entities you can invite to ritual
16 Why Do Magick? 193
Working with magick and how magick works
17 Enhancing Your Magick Power 205
Using colors, signs and symbols, talismans, amulets,
and more
18 Magick Powers of Nature 217
What you need to know about stones and crystal, herbsand
botanicals, and essential oils
Part 5: Any Time Is the Right Time for Magick 231
19 To Know, to Dare, to Will, to Keep Silent 233
Is this the time in your life for witchcraft?
20 Magick’s Astrological Correspondences 245
The connections between the energies of astrology
and your magick
21 Magickal Timing 261
Selecting the best time to do your magick
Part 6: Witches’ Brew: Notions, Potions, and Powders 273
22 More Ways to Work Magick 275
Poppets, candles, mirrors, powders, potions, and more
23 Spellcraft 289
Putting your knowledge together to write spells
24 Easy Spells 301
Spells you can use to do your magick
25 Divination 315
The many ways of looking into the future
26 Dreams and Visions 329
Dreams can be magickal, too
Appendixes
A Resources 341
Books and videos about Wicca and witchcraft
B Magickal Record 345
A sheet for recording your magickal workings
Index 347
Contents
Part 1: Wicca Wisdom 1
1 All About Wicca and Witchcraft 3
Welcome to Wicca and Witchcraft ..........................................................3
Supernatural Abilities? ..............................................................................4
Or, Super Abilities in the Natural? ............................................................5
Embracing Our Energy ..............................................................................6
What Do Witches Look Like? ..................................................................6
Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch? ....................................................7
Ever Met a Witch? ..................................................................................10
What Do Witches Believe? ......................................................................10
Three Times Bad and Three Times Good ................................................13
And If It Harms None, Do What You Will ..............................................14
Witches Do Believe in God ......................................................................14
Witches Don’t Believe in Satan! ..............................................................15
Are You Ready for Magick? ....................................................................15
2 The History of Wicca and Witchcraft 17
Searching the Spirit of Each Thing ........................................................17
Paleolithic Gods and Goddesses ..............................................................18
Nurturing a Fertile World: The Rise of Ritual ..........................................18
Pathworking with the Shaman ................................................................20
Of Popes and Pagans ..............................................................................20
From Gregory to Innocent: Papal Bull ......................................................20
Monk Madness: The Malleus Malleficarum ............................................22
Enduring and Surviving the Crucible ....................................................23
King James I’s Witchcraft Act, 1604 ........................................................23
Salem, 1692 ..........................................................................................23
Meeting in the Shadows and Emerging into the Light ..........................25
Solitary Pursuits ......................................................................................25
The Crucible as a Metaphor for Persecution ............................................25
A Return to the Natural ..........................................................................26
Witchcraft for the New Millennium ......................................................27
3 Practicing Wicca and Witchcraft Today 29
Starting Your Practice of Wicca and Witchcraft ....................................29
All Kinds of Witches ................................................................................30
The Witches’ Coven ................................................................................30
The Tradition of the Craft ......................................................................30
Solitaire ..................................................................................................33
The Eclectic Witch ..................................................................................33
The Hereditary Witch ..............................................................................33
Solitaire or Coven Life? ..........................................................................33
Pros and Cons of Coven Life ..................................................................34
Pros and Cons of Going Solo ..................................................................34
Neophyte Witch Seeks Training! ............................................................35
Training in a Coven ................................................................................35
Dedicated to the Craft ............................................................................35
Initiation: Earning Your Degree ................................................................36
Life as a Coven Member ..........................................................................37
Priests, Priestesses, and Elders ................................................................38
Training as a Solitaire ..............................................................................38
A Trip to Your Local Metaphysical Store ..................................................39
Wicca Workshops and Courses ................................................................39
Wicca Books, Videos, and the Internet ....................................................39
When the Student Is Ready, the Teacher Will Appear ..........................40
Part 2: The Wiccan Way 41
4 Wiccan Deities: Homage to the Lord and Lady 43
In the Beginning, the All ........................................................................43
Homage to the Lord and Lady ................................................................44
Who Is the Lady, and Where Is She? ......................................................44
Who Is the Lord, and Where Is He? ........................................................44
How Do You Relate to the Lady? ............................................................45
Luna: Maiden, Mother, Crone, and Enchantress ......................................45
As a Woman: The Female Mysteries ........................................................46
As a Man: The Male Mysteries ................................................................46
The Charge of the Goddess ......................................................................46
How Do You Relate to the Lord? ............................................................48
Nature’s Royal Prince, King, and Elder ....................................................48
As a Woman: The Female Mysteries ........................................................48
As a Man: The Male Mysteries ................................................................49
Charge of the God ..................................................................................49
Who Are All the Other Gods and Goddesses? ......................................50
The Pantheon: Getting the Big Picture ....................................................50
Working with Deities: Sometimes Light, Sometimes Dark ........................50
Choosing Your Pantheon: Some Famous Deities ......................................50
5 So You Want to Be a Witch? 57
Why Do You Want to Be a Witch? ........................................................57
A Self-Exploration ..................................................................................58
More on the Witches’ Council and the 13 Goals of a Witch ....................60
Following the Wiccan Way ....................................................................61
The Wiccan Rede ....................................................................................61
Honoring the Wiccan Rede ......................................................................63
To Know, to Dare … ..............................................................................64
All You Need to Put Yourself in Tune with Magickal Energy ................65
Magickal Purpose ....................................................................................65
Magickal Concentration ..........................................................................66
A Good Finger ........................................................................................66
Your Place in the Universe ......................................................................66
6 What You Need to Do Magick 69
Secrets of the Witch’s Magickal Cabinet ................................................69
Choosing Your Magickal Toy Chest ..........................................................70
What Are Magickal Tools? ......................................................................70
How Do You Use Magickal Tools? ............................................................70
Storing Magickal Tools ............................................................................71
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft
Witches Love Toys! ..................................................................................72
A Basic Magickal Inventory for Beginners ................................................72
For More Advanced Magick ......................................................................76
Where to Find Magickal Stuff ................................................................76
Metaphysical Stores, Catalogs, and the Internet ......................................77
Flea Markets and Found Objects ..............................................................78
Magick Craft: Making Your Own ............................................................78
Oh, What to Wear? What to Wear? ........................................................79
From High Priests and Priestesses to Covenmaids ....................................79
Can Witches Do Magick in Street Clothes? ..............................................79
Secrets of the Witch’s Wardrobe Closet ..................................................79
A Cloak of Stars: Skyclad ........................................................................79
Robes, Dresses, Hoods, and Shoes ............................................................80
The Ultimate Accessory: Jewelry ..............................................................81
Adorning with Body Art ..........................................................................82
7 Observing Ritual the Wiccan Way 83
What Is a Wiccan Ritual? ........................................................................83
Why Perform a Magick Ritual? ..............................................................84
When to Do Ritual ..................................................................................85
When Not to Do Ritual ..........................................................................85
All Kinds of Wiccan Ceremonies, Rites, and Rituals ..............................85
Performing Ritual as a Group ..................................................................86
Ritual Solitaire Style ................................................................................86
Moon Magick: Esbats ..............................................................................86
Sacred Times: The Witches’ Sabbats ........................................................87
Making Magick Takes Preparation, Body, Mind, and Spirit ..................87
All the Parts of a Wiccan Ritual ..............................................................87
How to Design a Wiccan Ritual ..............................................................88
A Guide to Wiccan Ritual Etiquette ........................................................88
Dressing Up: Choosing the Right Clothes and Jewelry ..............................89
Inviting Friends and Family to Share ......................................................89
Animals Join In ......................................................................................90
Recording Your Wiccan Ritual ................................................................90
Crafting Your Witch’s Book of Shadows ................................................90
Grimoires and Books of Shadows ............................................................90
Why Start Your Own BOS? ......................................................................91
Witches’ Knowledge: What to Put in Your BOS ........................................91
How to Choose Your BOS and Organize It ................................................91
Where to Keep Your BOS and Who Should See It ....................................92
What Happens to Your BOS When You Die? ..........................................93
Part 3: So, You Want to Do Magick? 95
8 Dedicate Yourself to the Craft 97
First, Take Your Magickal Name ..............................................................97
The Significance of a Magickal Name ......................................................98
Why Take a Magickal Name, and When? ..............................................98
Choosing Your Magickal Name ..............................................................99
What Your Magickal Name Says About You ............................................99
Coming to Your Magickal Name: A Self-Exploration ................................99
viii
Contents
The Name of Rebirth ............................................................................100
Numerology: Your Destiny and Life Path Numbers ................................101
Your Name in a Magickal Alphabet ......................................................103
Can You Change Your Magickal Name? ................................................104
A New Path in an Old Way of Life ......................................................104
What It Means to Dedicate ..................................................................104
Taking Your New Name in Dedication ..................................................105
How to Do Your Own Self-Dedication ..................................................105
9 Preparing to Do Ritual 109
A Cleansing Ritual Bath ........................................................................109
Why a Bath Is Important and When to Take It ....................................110
How to Take a Ritual Bath ....................................................................110
Consecration: A Means of Empowerment ............................................111
What Does It Mean to Charge Your Magickal Tools? ............................113
A Charging Ritual for Your Magickal Tools ............................................113
Learning to Ground Yourself Before Ritual ..........................................114
Visualization Techniques You Can Use ..................................................114
Focus Is No Hocus Pocus ......................................................................115
Fasting Before Ritual ............................................................................115
Magick Music ........................................................................................116
Using Music in Ritual ............................................................................117
Chants: Find Your Magickal Voice ........................................................117
Drumming ............................................................................................118
10 Where to Do Magick 121
Sacred Rituals Need a Sacred Place ......................................................121
What Makes a Sacred Place Sacred? ......................................................122
How Is a Sacred Space Different from a Magick Circle? ..........................122
Coming to Your Sacred Wicca Space: A Self-Exploration ........................122
Setting and Respecting Sacred Boundaries ..............................................123
Crafting an Altar ..................................................................................124
What’s So Special About an Altar? ........................................................125
What Do Altars Look Like? ..................................................................125
Altar Specs ............................................................................................125
Altars Big and Small ............................................................................125
Location, Location: North, South, East, West ........................................126
Sanctuary: Indoor vs. Outdoor Altars ....................................................126
Permanent vs. Moveable Altars ..............................................................127
What Goes on Your Altar? ....................................................................127
Porta-Pagan: Carrying Your Altar with You ..........................................128
11 Cast a Magick Circle 131
What Is a Magick Circle? ......................................................................131
When to Cast a Circle, and When Not To ............................................132
Round vs. Square ..................................................................................132
Getting Started ......................................................................................132
How to Cleanse the Sacred Space ..........................................................133
How to Define the Circle ......................................................................133
How to Put Up the Circle ......................................................................134
Where’s the Altar? ................................................................................134
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