The Spellcaster's Reference: Magickal Timing for the Wheel of the Year

249 Pages·2009·22.48 MB·English

by  Eileen Holland

20no
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The Spellcaster's Reference
Magickal Timingfor the Wheel of the Year
Eileen Holland
Holland, Eileen.

The spellcaster's reference .

magickal timing for the whee"
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Contentd
t
Introduction ............................................... v

Part I: UJing ThiJ Book
.r: - i '.
Correspondences ........................................... 3

Rituals and Spells ......................................... 13

Inspiration & MagickaJ Things ............................... 17

Affirmations ..............................................29

, Guidance................................................. 34

.
:r.: - .•.. :~_: :cJ or transmitted in Glossary .................................................35

·'.';:om-mo. recording •

•c :"=-'-'>;;::1 in writing from Part II: The Year
Waxing Year, Waning Year ...................................39

request. 1-he Seasons ..............................................42

Months ..................................................48

The Astrological Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ............. 60

Days of the Week ..........................................88

Hours ..................................................102

Part III: Other Cycled
::::areriaL
Lunar Cycles ............................................. 131

Daily Solar Cycles ......................................... ISO

Annual Solar Cycles .......................................154
The Spelhaster's Reference
Part IV: Intent ano the Whee/.; of the Year
Auspicious Timing ........................................ ISS

Ibis directory ~f intentions provIdes a variety ~f auspicious times to choose
from fer ear/; working.
lntr.
Glossan' ................................................229

I i
Glossan' of Materials ...................................... 239

Selected Bibliography ......................................247
onven',on," .i,dmc m
~teric ted~
philosoph;
.... more spiritual waL T;
also an accurate one. The
we stand, move in their courses. E
gies stream around us and th:0'''::¢
us, as we pause to contemplate 01..:
with these energies, we can pt':-'::Ofl'
effects on us, on others, and or: ::."
or possess the reGuisite knO\de-::~
these tides to empower our m,:;0.J
One of my most cherish.:': ±
was just a dented tin thing w::n ::
countries, but around its bdSt' :r :
seasons, the houses of the Z(\.i.La,:
a
of time studying that globe a::':
upon its meaning.
As an adult, I heard the .::a.:.: (\
Wiccan religion. Wiccans See r:co
made perfect sense to me. \\'he::: \\
we generally mean the solar .:::.:::"'.
Sun, and the eight sabbats wit:: "'~
is actually composed of mal~': '-."l!
practice magick do well to 1e2:':-: •
influence the natural world. 3...":': W
and rituals.
IV
............. ISS

Introduction
............. 229
r.§
, ............239

...............247 on"'ntiom! ";'dum infMm' u, 'h" timing i, ""'Y'hing &0­
~teric philosophy teaches that same truth, but in a deeper and
'"""'"' "" more spiritual way. "Tides of time" is a cliched phrase, but it is
also an accurate one. The heavenly bodies, mcluding the one upon which
we stand, move in their courses. Ebb and flow-flux and reflux. The ener­
gies stream around us and through us. Nothing stands still except perhaps
us, as we pause to contemplate our place in the cosmos. If we are in tune
with these energies, we can perceive them. We are then able to notice their
effects on us, on others, and on the natural world. If we are adept enough,
or possess the requisite knowledge, we can utilize the powerful energies of
these tides to empower our magick and rituals.
One of my most cherished childhood possessions was a toy globe. It
was just a dented tin thing with bright blue oceans and garishly colored
countries, but around its base it had concentric circles that marked the
seasons, the houses of the Zodiac, the months, and so on. I spent a lot
of time studying that globe and doing what I now know was meditating
upon its meaning.
As an adult, I heard the call of the Goddess and began following the
Wiccanreligion. \Viccans see the year as a wheel, ever turning, and this
made perfect sense to me. When Wiccans speak of the Wheel of the Year,
we generally mean the solar cycle, the Earth's annual voyage around the
Sun, and the eight sabbats with which we celebrate that voyage. The year
is actually composed of many interlocking wheels, however. Those who
practice magick do well to learn and remember this. All of these cycles
influence the natural world, and we can use them to enhance our magick
and rituals.
Tht Spellcaster's Riferwre
Perhap if is because of that toy globe that J have always thought of
the \car as a series of circles. I have always been able to sense our place
on the nric)l1s wheels at any time. and this has been beneficial to me in
m\" Fractice of magick. It was what prompted me to gather this informa­
tion. to write this book, and to share my research with you. Please use it
constructively. to work positive magick that benefits yourself or others. I
am a witch who bides the Rede of "harm none:' so any attempt to work
negative magick with the aid of this book is more likely to fail than it is
to succeed.
P,\
[jtfing
;;i;(~Uf}";
VI
.,s:-::. : ~a\'t always thought of
"",,. .;.blt to sense our place
::'mehcial to me in
:'(,,'::1
this informa­
with \'ou. Please use it
\'ourself or others. I
. 5(' am' attempt to work
Xi: ::kth' to fail than it is
II
I H E 0 B V lOG S G S E FOR The Spellcaster's Riference is to deter­
mine auspicious times to cast spells, perform rituals, or
engage in other magickal operations. It can, however, also
be used in many other ways. Perhaps the most important of these is to
understand and use the Principle of Correspondences.
Corredpondenced
"As above, so below,"
This basic metaphysical principle means that everything in the Universe
is connected, that the macrocosm influences the microcosm. All things
and beings share atoms that are in constant motion. Nothing ever actually
stands still. Nothing is truly separate or distinct. Everything is connected,
but some things are more connected than others.
The Principle of Correspondences is also called the Law of As­
sociation. Correspondences are magickal shortcuts, direct links between
things. Knowledge of them is extremely useful, because they help to
achieve results.
Correspondences are a particular interest of mine. and I have been
researching them for a long time. I am fascinated by how they have been
applied in so many cultures. faiths. and traditions throughout history.
From Mesopotamia to China, from Nabatea to Ireland, and from In­
The S/lellcasters Reference
~ -~=1f
dia to the New World, we find magickal correspondences. There is often Cbarm: clay. honey, mud. mus~. :x
wide agreement, but with variations for local climate, fauna, and flora.
Sometimes there are cultural or religious differences. \Vhatever the case, Stone: all
all correspondences are powerfUl, and you can make use of them to in­
Animal: bison, buffalo. cattle. ea::-:
crease the effectiveness of your workings.
toise, wol£ all burrowing crt'ar;..:;:;:'s
Here, we will briefly discuss ways to incorporate correspondences.
*
Metal: coal, lead, mercury
Planets
Fungus: mushroom
In classical correspondences "planets" mean the seven heavenly bodies Incense: amber, benzoin. musk. ::'.at
that our ancestors could observe with the naked eye: Jupiter, Mars, Mer­
Plant: all, but especially g:ram. ::2-0:
cury, Saturn, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun. The remote planets and even
major asteroids also affect everything with their vibrations, but here we Goddess: Bona Dea, Ceres ::\:0C
will confine ourselves to r1lOse heavenly bodies about which the most lore
Danu, Demeter (Queen of [he Fr:
has been accumulated.
of the Land, Queen of the S0:':2. I
Knowing which planet has dominion over a time period or an in­ Nerthus, Ninhursag (La.:k ot' [n.
tent affclrds the opportunity to utilize that planet's correspondences in a Ops, Parvati (Lady of the ::\~~"':"-:::..l
working (see Hours, p. !O2). It can help in deciding things such as which
Terra Mater (Mother Earth . T2r.a
angels to evoke for a ritual, what flowers to use, or appropriate items to
add to a spell bottle. God: Adonis, Arawn, Artis. B;-:':::::
the Dagda, Damuzi, Dionysus. ~
(Lord of Growth), Osiris G
Elements
(Lord of the \Voods), Saturn
The elements recognized by most traditions are are Earth, Air, Fire, and Evocation: dryads, gnomes, n,H:'::,,, ;;
Water. As with the planets, knowing which have dominion over
particular intentions or time periods affords the opportunity to utilize
their correspondences in workings. Here are some basic examples:
Color: blue, pale blue, skY blu<'. ~.<'~
F.arth
Tool: athame, censer, sword. \\:-::,:::'f
Color: black, brown, green, ocher, russet
Cbarm: bellows, blue circle. fa:-:_ ~e;;
Tool: beeswax candle, pentacle
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~:-:---.-.­ Using This Book
: .:: ~o-,:, ,~~icnces. There is often Cbarm: clay, honey, mud, musk, pottery, soil. yellow square
" : ::~ .::::nate. fauna, and flora.
~ .:._~~-~:~:-:.:cs, \\-hatever the case, Stone: all
,""',:'"'-":' : ~_ =:.l~C use of them to in-
Animal: bison, buffalo, cattle, earthworm, goat, jaguar, mole, stag, tor­
toise, wolf, all burrowing creatures
::,:~a:e correspondences.
Metal: coal, lead, mercury ;I:
Fungus: mushroom
::-_ sewn heavenly bodies Incense: amber, benzoin, musk, patchouli, sage, sandalwood
:-1:" :-..~:~': c·.-.:: Tupiter, Mars, Mer­
-=--0 Plant: all, but especially grain, roots, banyan tree, all root vegetables
~ :':::10te planets and even
~- =.-o~ -.:=-~atlons, but here we Goddess: Bona Dea, Ceres (Mother of Corn), Cerridwen, Coatlicue,
:':.~, ~:~: ,,\·hich the most lore Danu, Demeter (Queen of the Fruitful Earth), Gaia, Hebat, Isis (Lady
of the Land, Queen of the Solid Earth, Goddess of Green Things), Ki,
:.: c' 0-:- ~ ::...-::e period or an in­ Nerthus, Ninhursag (Lady of the Stone Ground), Nokomis, Onatha,
:: --=0:,
~ ':0:-respondences in a Ops, Parvati (Lady of the Mountain), Persephone, Pomona, Rhea, Sita,
~ = ':: .:.-=-:.:-_:: ::-::ngs such as which Terra Mater (Mother Earth), Tonantzin (Bringer of Maize)
_-0', :: 2?:,ropriate items to
:::5 : _
God: Adonis, Arawn, Attis, Bacchus, Cernunnos (Lord of the Forest),
the Dagda, Damuzi, Dionysus, Geb, Green Man, Horned God, Marduk
(Lord of Growth), Osiris (The Great Green, Grain of the Gods), Pan
(Lord of the Woods), Saturn
=2:"::-:_
D:cc' 2:0 2:0 Air. Fire, and Evocation: dryads, gnomes, nature spirits, plant devas, Uriel
=
c. 0-:-:-: :'':-.:5 :-.2',-c dominion over
.:..-..-------.:: ----~ ::':' : :::unicy to utilize Air
Color: blue, pale blue, sky blue, clear, white, pastels
Tool: athame, censer, sword, whistle
Cbarm: bellows, blue circle, fan, feather, flute, perfume
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