The Witch's Eight Paths of Power: A Complete Course in Magick and Witchcraft

265 Pages·2014·5.37 MB·English

by  Lady Sable Aradia

First published in 2014 by Weiser Books
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
With offices at:
665 Third Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright © 2014 by Lady Sable Aradia
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may
quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-551-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available on request.

Cover design by Jim Warner Cover image © Vibrant Image Studio /
Shutterstock Interior by Deborah Dutton Typeset in Adobe Garamond, ITC
Franklin Gothic, Nuptial Script and Trajan
Printed in the United States of America.
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For my teachers in the craft: Lady Vichary, Lord Grunnar, Lord Maphis,
Lady Dolphanie, and Lord Redleaf. I cannot offer you any greater
gesture of my gratitude than this, to teach what you have taught,
informed by what I have learned. May these pages be a part of your
legacy.

And the Wicca should be properly prepared and purified, to enter into
the presence of the Gods.
—GERALD GARDNER, THE GARDNERIAN BOOK OF SHADOWS
CONTENTS
Introduction
PART ONE
THE BASICS OF THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
1. Intent
2. Trance
3. The Craft
PART TWO
INTERMEDIATE PRACTICES
4. Intoxicants
5. Dance and Sacred Movement
PART THREE
ADVANCED PRACTICES
6. Blood and Breath Control
7. The Scourge
8. The Great Rite

Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Permissions

Appendixes: Correspondence Tables
Appendix A: Astrological Correspondences
Appendix B: Color and Chakra Correspondences
Appendix C: Elemental Correspondence Chart
Appendix D: Moon Phases Chart
Appendix E: Numerical and Color Symbolism
Appendix F: Planetary, Color, and Music Correspondences

Bibliography
Further Resources
INTRODUCTION
As a Witch, I believe the most misunderstood element of what we do is the
practice of real magick (first spelled with a “k” by Aleister Crowley to
differentiate the art, or craft, of magick from magic as illusion). We are taught
in our culture that magick is somehow wrong, or that it is dangerous and
mysterious, and only the truly gifted can do it.
But magick is really about self-empowerment. The practice of magick uses a
language of symbolism and metaphor to circumvent that little voice in the back
of our mind that tells us something will not work. It speaks to our subconscious
in primal symbols which set forces in motion to bring about our True Will.
Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, wrote in his Book of
Shadows,1 about “The Eightfold Way,” or the eight different methods of
performing magick:
1. Meditation or Concentration.
2. Trance, projection of the Astral.
3. Rites, Chants, Spells, Runes, Charms, etc.
4. Incense, Drugs, Wine, etc., whatever is used to release the Spirit.
5. The Dance and kindred practices.
6. Blood control (the Cords), Breath Control, and kindred practices.
7. The Scourge.
8. The Great Rite.
Since I teach the Eightfold Way as workshop intensives, the creation of
which led to the writing of this book, people ask me if these methods need to be
practiced in any particular order. Gardner tried to answer this in his theory of
the Five Essentials:
1. The most important is “Intention”: You must know that you can and will
succeed; it is essential in every operation.
2. Preparation: You must be properly prepared according to the rules of the
Art; otherwise you will never succeed.
3. The Circle must be properly formed and purified.
4. You all must be properly purified, several times if necessary, and this
purification process should be repeated several times during the rite.
5. You must have properly consecrated tools.
Each chapter in this book covers one point of the Eightfold Way. I would
suggest that chapters 1–3 are the most essential. Chapters 4 and 5 lead to deeper
practice, but they are optional. Chapters 6–8 represent advanced skills and
practice. The vast majority of my students drop out before they begin the work
of the last three paths. The ones who persist usually also take their Second and
Third Degree initiations and go on to found covens. They are among the most
effective Witches I know.
Gardner says these five essentials and Eight Paths, or Ways, cannot be
combined into one rite:
Meditation and dancing do not combine well, but forming the mental
image and the dance may be well combined with Chants. Spells, etc.,
combined with scourging and No. 6, followed by No. 8, form a splendid
combination. Meditation, following scourging, combined with Nos. 3
and 4 and 5, are also very Good. For short cuts concentration, Nos. 5, 6,
7, and 8 are excellent.
I don't entirely agree with him, but it's often not necessary or desirable to
combine paths. Still, there's no hard and fast rule about this in my experience.
As a matter of fact, one of the exercises I've included here combines dancing
and meditation to great effect.
My tradition, Star Sapphire, was founded twenty-five years ago in Canada by
Gardnerian and Alexandrian initiates connected to the Hereditary Celtic
tradition through Sybil Leek. In addition, most in this motley crew were avid
martial artists, or they practiced with Dianic and Reclaiming groups. Before I
was a Star Sapphire Witch, I was an eclectic Witch, solitary and then covening,
for many years. I have practiced yoga quite seriously, am a Reiki master and
teacher, and have dabbled in Tantra and Ritual Magick. As a result, my
background borrows from a variety of sources: British Traditional Witchcraft,
Reclaiming methodology, Ritual Magick symbolism, Eastern mysticism, and
energy work. This book will draw upon these sources to show you how to
develop each of these eight techniques to hone and refine your magickal skills.
I'll break them down into component elements and then assign exercises,
reading, and practice to improve those skills. As I tell my students, magick is
just like any other skill or talent; some people are born with more natural ability
than others, but if you want it badly enough, with practice you can be brilliant
—regardless of where you started!
So, if you are serious about mastering magick, and you're willing to do the
work and study, then let's explore the Witch's Eight Paths of Power!
1. Gardner's Book of Shadows is believed to have been written from 1949–61. The materials were
later compiled by Aidan A. Kelly and posted online in the mid-nineties. The full text can be found
online at www.sacred-texts.com/pag/gbos/index.htm.
Disclaimer
This book is intended to be used for informational purposes only, and is not
meant to treat, diagnose, or prescribe, or to substitute for medical advice or
treatment. It is always advised to consult a medical professional before starting
or trying any substance, treatment, exercise, or regimen. Likewise, any
ingredient in spell work in this book, herbal or otherwise, should be reviewed
for safety, as well as contraindications with any current medications with your
qualified health care provider. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any
responsibility for issues related to mental or physical health, how you choose to
use the information contained in this book, or any repercussions of your actions,
whether legal, health-related, or spiritual.