I need help w/ materials!

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I need help w/ materials!
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Post # 1
I don't always have all the materials I need for a spell or ritual, so can someone give me a basic tutorial on what i can subsitute for what? please!!
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 2
Why Herbs Are Used In Magick?

Herbs are used in magick for their "vibrations" or "essences". What does this mean? Herbs, like people, have gender, are ruled by a planet, an element, and are often sacred to a God or Goddess. This is known in Wicca as the herbal correspondence, and it is an important element in Wiccan Magick Spells. Growing and nurturing herbs in your own magickal garden can give you the advantage of having your own energies already influencing the plant. A plant such as Angelica, ruled by the Sun, will then have all of the influence of the Sun and fire, along with your personal energies.

Wiccan Ways to use Herbs

Charms and sachets - Fill a small bag, of the correct color or material, with herbs to make a charm or sachet. You can carry the charm with you, hang it in the house or car, or bury or burn it, depending on the purpose, and the spell you are performing.

Incense- Herbs can be burned as a ritual incense, such as the sage smudge used to clear negative vibrations from a space.

Bath - Make a sachet, and place it in your ritual or healing bath. Fragrant herbs like lavender make a very relaxing bath, and you can use certain herbs to alleviate skin and other conditions, such as using eucalyptus in a bath when you have a cold or flu.

Oils - Place herbs in an oil, let them steep for a few days, then strain. You can make annointing oils for you ritual work, beauty oils for your hair, skin and nails (try coconut or jojoba), or flavor oils for cooking and seasoning, such as steeping rosemary in olive oil.

Teas- Use herbs to make teas for healing illness. Some herbs can be used to mildly alter consciousness, such as valerian or kava kava which can facilitate trance like states.

Smoking- You can make herbal smoking mixtures which will also facilitate altered states of consciousness.

In spellwork, herbs can be sprinkled or placed around or within boundaries (such as your home, altar, or magick circle) to define a "territory" for your magick to work. Of course, you can always use flavorful herbs in cooking and seasoning your food. There are many healthful benefits, and they taste great! Always give all plant life respect, where ever you are- remember, the word "weed" is simply a value judgement! Dandelion, for instance, has many, many healing and nutritional qualities which are extremely beneficial not only to the wildlife which feeds on it, but to you, too! Learn to recognize the herbs around you- even in a city, there are many wonderful herbs growing wild, which you can gather and use. Herbs are Nature's gift- use them with wisedom and joy!


Below are more than 60 herbs commonly found in the kitchen, and the most popular and useful herbs in Wicca. Available herbs are conveniently hyperlinked.



Angelica Root
Sun Fire Masculine
Use in protection and exorcism incense, and also carry the root in a pouch as a protective talisman. Add to bath to remove hexes. Smoking the leaves can cause visions. Angelica protects by both creating a barrier against negative energy, and by filling it's user with positive energy. Removes curses, hexes, or spells that have been cast against you. Enhances the aura, giving a joyful outlook. Relieves tension headache, diuretic, beneficial to the stomach and digestion. Relieves buildup of phlegm due to asthma and bronchitis. Use with caution- Large doses can negatively affect blood pressure, heart, and respiration. If pregnant, can cause miscarriage.


Basil
Mars Fire Masculine
Use in love and prosperity spells. Carry to attract wealth. Sprinkle basil over your sleeping lover to assure fidelity. Use it in a ritual bath to bring new love in, or to free yourself of an old love. Also used for purification baths. Sprinkle on the floor for protection, and burn as an exorcism incense.


Bay Leaves
Sun Fire Masculine
Use in potions for visions, clairvoyance and wisdom. Place under your pillow to induce prophetic dreams. Carry to ward off evil, and scatter or burn for exorcism. Add to cleansing teas and baths. Scatter on the floor, and then sweep out for protection. The priestesses at Delphi are said to have chewed bay leaves to induce their visions and prophesies.


Blessed Thistle
Mars Fire Masculine
Purification, hex-breaking, protection from evil- removes unwanted influences, particularly of malevolent intent. Strew to cleanse buildings or rooms, beneficial in healing spells. Strengthens liver function, combat hepatitis, aids memory purifies the blood stream. Good fof migraine, nausea, and gallstones.


Burdock
Venus Water Feminine
Used in protection incenses and for healing, especially the feet. Carry as a protection sachet or burn for purification of a room. Rinse with a root decoction for ridding oneself of a gloomy feeling about yourself or others.


Bramble (Blackberry) Leaf
Venus Water Feminine
Powerful herb of protection, and used in invocations to the goddess Brigit, who presides over healing, poetry, sacred wells, and smithcraft. Also used to attract wealth. If twined into a wreath with rowan and ivy, will keep away evil spirits. A bramble patch is a favorite hiding place for faerie folk, use to invoke and attract faerie spirits.


Cacao (Chocolate)
Venus Water Feminine
The Aztec's Food of the Gods. An aphrodisiac, a mild euphoric, and helps to heal depression. It is extremely effective in love potions and spells. Cacao is a required offering during Day of the Dead, can be used to appease restless spirits, or attract passed loved ones during seance.


Camellia
Moon Water Feminine
Brings riches and luxury, expresses gratitude. Place fresh blossoms in water on altar during ritual to attract money and prosperity. Used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating skin conditions.


Caraway
Mercury Air Masculine
Carry for protection against spirits who mean harm, especially Lilith. The seeds can be used to ensure faithfulness, and can be used in spells to attract a lover. Used in cooking, will induce lust.


Carob
Mars Fire Masculine
Often used as a chocolate substitute, but although the flavor is similar, the correspondences are opposite. Useful for protection and prosperity (the dried pods were once used as currency). Can be burned as an incense to attract spirit helpers and familiars, or to deter poltergeists.


Catnip
Water Venus Feminine
Animal magick and healing pets, increases psychic bond with animals. Use as a tea for happiness and relaxation. Can also be used during meditation, increases psychic abilities. Useful in love magick- try burning dried leaves for love wishes.


Cayenne Pepper
Mars Fire Masculine
Use in hexes, or to break a hex. Use in love or separation spells. The fire or spark of the spirit, it adds power to any spell. Contains capsaicin, which acts as a stimulating digestive aid. Apply externally for joint pain. Aids circulation, blood pressure, and colds. Those with ulcers or chronic bowel disorders should avoid using in large quantities.


Cedar
Sun Fire Masculine
Healing, purification, money, protection, love. Cedar smoke is purifying and can cure nightmares. Keep cedar in your wallet or purse to attract money, and use in money incense. It can also be used in love sachets or burned to induce psychic powers. Use to draw Earth energy and grounding.


Chamomile
Sun Water Masculine
Chamomile tea is a great relaxer. Prosperity wishes, use to attract money, use as an amulet for prosperity. Use in sleep and meditation incense. Prepares body and mind for magick. Add to a bath or use to wash your face and hair to attract love. Bathe children in chamomile tea to protect from the evil eye, useful in breaking curses cast against you.


Cinnamon
Sun Fire Masculine
Spirituality, success, healing, psychic powers, lust, protection, love. Burn cinnamon as an incense or use in sachets and spells for healing, money-drawing, psychic powers, and protection. Mix with frankincense, myrhh and sandalwood for a strong protection incense to be burned every day. A male aphrodisiac.


Cloves
Jupiter Fire Masculine
Protection, exorcism, love, money, good luck. Use in incense to attract money, drive away negativity, purify, gain luck or stop gossip. Wear to attract the opposite sex or for protection. Worn or carried to repel negative energies around you, also said to protect babies in their cribs if hung over them strung together.


Coltsfoot
Venus Water Feminine
Add to love sachets and use in spells for peace and tranquility. Smoke the leaves to aid in obtaining visions. A soothing expectorant and anti-spasmodic, which can be used to treat bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, and chronic emphysema. Caution: Do not use if pregnant or nursing!


Cumin
Mars Fire Masculine
Burn with frankincense for protection. Mix with salt and scatter to keep away evil spirits and bad luck. Use in love spells. Steep cumin seed in wine to induce lust. Place the seeds on, in or near an object to prevent left. Burn with frankincense for protection.


Red Clover
Mercury Air Masculine
Protection, money, love, fidelity, exorcism, success, clairvoyance, beauty. Brings good luck. Induces clairvoyant powers. Use for rituals to enhance beauty and youth.


Comfrey Leaf
Air Saturn Feminine
A strong herb for protection against any type of negativity, especially when traveling, and particularly for protection in the astral realms. Very nutritious, beneficial for healing sprains, strains, fractures and sores. Also soothes an upset stomach.


Damiana
Mars Fire Masculine
Sex magick, lust, love, visions. Use in lust spells. Use in love baths. Burn to enhance visions. Damiana can be prepared in a tea for use in sex magick. It is a mild aphrodisiac. It produces a marijuana-like euphoria when smoked. Good for enchanting a male lover. Damiana tea is the best thing for hangovers. Use caution with this herb.


Dandelion Leaf
Jupiter Air Masculine
Divination, wishes, calling Spirits. Use the root in a tea to enhance psychic powers. Used in Samhain rituals. Sleep, protection, healing. A very nutritious and universally beneficial herb. Use in dream pillows and sachets, the leaves and flowers can be used in tea for healing.


Dill
Mercury Fire Masculine
Hang in the doorway to protect your home, or carry to protect your person. Can be used in money spells. Add to a ritual bath to become irresistible to the one you desire. Use in love and lust spells.


Eucalyptus Leaf
Air Moon Feminine
Uses include great healing properties, kills germs, infections, eases lung congestion, heart stimulant. Attracts healing vibrations and protection. Use to purify and cleanse any space of unwanted energies. Also useful in dream and sleep pillows.


Fennel Seed
Mercury Fire Masculine
Healing, longevity, courage, vitality, virility and strength. Use for protection spells of all kinds. Prevents curses, possession and negativity. Use for purification. Gives strength, courage and longevity. Delicious flavor, purifies breath, aids digestion and weight loss.


Feverfew
Venus Water Feminine
Love and protection. Include in charms or sachets. Also a strong herb for health and spiritual healing. Use to ward off sickness and bolster immune system. Protects travelers, keep in your suitcase or car the next time you travel. Excellent treatment for migraine headaches- eases inflammation and constriction of the blood vessels in the head, reduces sensitivity to light and nausea.


Dried Fig
Jupiter Fire Masculine
Fertility, love spells- excellent ingredient in spell bags. Divination. Sacred to Dionysus, Juno and many others. Recommended for a Beltane altar. If placed on the doorstep before leaving it will ensure you will arrive home safely.


Flax Seed
Mercury Fire Masculine
Use to keep the peace at home- place in a bowl to absorb negative energy. Useful in healing and protection spells. Also, carry flax seeds in your wallet or purse to attract money. Very nutritious, good for cholesterol.


Galangal Root
Mars Fire Masculine
Psychic abilities, luck, money. For courage, strength, and for avoiding legal problems. Worn or carried, it protects its bearer and draws good luck. Placed in a sachet of leather with silver, it brings money. Powdered galangal is burned to break spells and curses. It is also carried or sprinkled around the home to promote lust. Worn as a talisman, galangal aids psychic development and guards the bearer's health. A mild hallucinogen- eat about three inches of the root for this effect. Use caution with this plant.

Moon Water Feminine
Wear to attract love. Use in healing spells. Use in Moon incense, use to increase spirituality.


Garlic
Mars Fire Masculine
Use is in protection spells- traditionally used to ward off vampires. Great healing properties, antiviral, antifungal, strengthening. The ancient Greeks placed garlic on the stone cairns at crossroads as an offering to Hecate.


Ginger
Mars Fire Masculine
Love, money, success, power. Use in love spells. Eat before performing spells to increase your power.


Ginseng Powder
Sun Fire Masculine
Rejuvenation, longevity and sexual potency. Use the root in spells to attract love, maintain health, draw money and ensure sexual potency. Carry to enhance beauty. Burn to break curses or ward off evil spirits. Make into a lust enhancing tea. Useful as an antidepressant, equalizes blood pressure, and aids digestion.



Hibiscus Flower
Venus Water Feminine
Useful as an aphrodisiac and in love spells. Also use to induce dreams, and enhance psychic ability and divination. Soothes nerves, antispasmodic. Tea aids digestion, and sweetens breath. Helpful with itchy skin.


Holly Leaf
Mars Fire Masculine
Luck, dream magick. An excellent protective herb, keeps away lightning, poison, evil spirits, and other malign forces. The wood is used for all magickal tools as it will enhance any wish you have. A powerful protection. Do not consume, for ritual use only.


Hops
Mars Air Masculine
Use in healing incenses and spells. Put inside pillow to induce sleep. Tea helps with a restful sleep. Also drink tea after magickal practices to balance and refocus your energy back to ordinary reality. Use in healing sachets and amulets. Also burned during healing prayers.


Horehound
Mercury Earth Masculine
As a tea to increase energy and strength, both physically and mentally- it increases concentration and focus. Carry or burn for protection wishes. Called the "Seed of Horus" by the Ancient Egyptians, it is excellent for blessing one's home. Gather flowering Horehound and tie with a ribbon, then hang it in your home to keep it free from negative energies. The leaves and stems are used in candies, cough drops and syrups. Used to treat asthma, coughs, colds, bronchitis, sore throats, and skin irritations. Also used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant, and stomachic.


Hyssop
Jupiter Fire Masculine
An excellent purifying herb. Use in purification baths and spells. Associated with serpents and dragons, and can be burned as an incense to call on dragon energy. Aids in physical and spiritual protection.


Juniper Berries
Sun Fire Masculine
Useful for protection magick of all kinds. Makes a nice incense for protection. It can be burned or carried to enhance psychic powers. Attracts good, healthy energies and love. Aids in digestion, intestinal cramps, diuretic, eases arthritis. Banishes energies injurious to good health.


Mandrake Root
Mercury Fire Masculine
Protection, love, money, fertility, health. Mandrake intensifies the magick of any spell. To charge mandrake root with your personal power, sleep with it for three nights during the full moon. A hallucinogen when used in tea- it has great power as a visionary herb, empowering your visions and propelling them into manifestation. A whole mandrake root placed in the home will bring protection and prosperity. Carried, it will attract love and couage.


Morning Glory Blossoms
Neptune Water Masculine
Happiness, peace, visions. Place under your pillow to stop nightmares and induce beneficial psychic dreams. Sacred to the Aztecs. Do not consume, toxic.


Moss
Jupiter Earth Masculine
To ensure good luck, especially with money, carry any type of moss removed from a gravestone. Use in prosperity spells, Gnome magick and spells to Mother Earth. Use in "Witch Bottles" for home and business. Place in your bra When a MALE lover is near to attract sexual attention.


Mugwort
Venus Earth Feminine
Use in dream pillows for prophetic dreams. Burn with sandalwood or wormwood in scrying rituals. Drink as a tea sweetened with honey before divination. The plain tea can also be used to wash crystal balls and magick mirrors. Leaves of mugwort can be placed around these to aid in scrying.


Mullein
Saturn Fire Feminine
Protection and courage. Keeps away demons and nightmares while sleeping, also protects against wild animals. Useful in protection and exorcism spells. Invokes spirits, use on scrying tools to aid divination. This plant is the Original Witch's torch, used to illuminate spells and rites. Useful as an expectorant to clear and heal lungs, stops diarrhea and soothes hemeroids.


Nettles
Mars Fire Masculine
Carry to remove a curse and send it back, or sprinkle around the house to keep out evil. Use in purification baths. Highly nutritious for anemia, skin disorders and allergies, restores health, expectorant, stops bleeding. One of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo-Saxons.


Nutmeg
Jupiter Fire Masculine
Luck, money, health. Carry for good luck, and to strengthen clairvoyant powers. Use in money and prosperity spells. A hallucinogen when made into a tea. TOXIC in large doses! Take no more than a pinch!


Orris Root
Venus Water Feminine
Love, protection, divination. Use to find and hold love- a powder made from the root is used as a love drawing powder. Protection from evil spirits. Roots and leaves hung in the house, and added to the bath are good for personal protection.


Pau d`Arco
Pluto Fire Masculine
Works best during the waning Moon- can be empowered by drawing down the Moon directly into the herb. The active ingredient is xyloidin, a very potent antibiotic and antiviral. Can relieve arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, eczema, gastritis, psoriasis, pyorrhoea, rheumatism, skin and nails, ulcers. Used to treat chronic candida. Potent tonic and cell regenerator, stimulating natural defenses and revitalizing the body. Also a sedative, an analgesic, and a diuretic.


Passion Flower
Venus Water Feminine
Promotes emotional balance, peace, attracts friendship and prosperity. Heightens libido, use in love spells. Calming and soothing, promotes emotional balance, aid in sleep. Use to relieve nerve pain and hysteria.


Pennyroyal
Mars Fire Masculine
Carry in a green bag to attract money and to aid in business transactions. Burn for protection in meditation and astral travel. Use for ridding negative thoughts against you, carry when dealing with negative vibrations of all kinds. Caution: stimulates menustration when consumed, and can induce miscarriage.


Peppermint
Mercury Fire Masculine
Purification, sleep, love, healing, psychic powers. Promotes sleep and visionary dreams. Use in healing and purification baths. Burn as a winter incense. Very useful for stomach upset and heartburn, nausea, and to ease congestion during colds and flu.


Pine
Sun Air Masculine
For sacred wisdom. Prosperity,fertility, healing.The Pine tree is an evergreen, its old title was "the sweetest of woods". Its needles are a valuable source of vitamin C and can loosen a tight chest. The scent of Pine is useful in the alleviation of guilt. Burn for strength, and to reverse negative energies.


Raspberry Leaf
Venus Water Feminine
Protection, healing, love. Calming, promotes sleep and visions. Useful during pregnancy and childbirth, eases diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Beneficial to the kidneys.


Rose Petals
Venus Water Feminine
Love, psychic powers, healing, luck, protection. Use in love spells of all kinds. Drink rose tea before bed for prophetic dreams. Domestic peace and happiness, promotes joy of giving. Helps clear away headaches, dizziness, mouth sores and menstrual cramps. Heart and nerve tonic.


Rose Hips
Venus Water Feminine
Rose hips are very high in Vitamin C. Rose hips also contain A, B, E, and K, organic acids and pectin, and have a high concentration of iron. The hips are strung like beads and worn to attract love. A woman should eat rose hips during her menstrual period. A woman's lover should gather roses for this purpose. The earliest known gardening was the planting of roses along the most travelled routes of early nomadic humans.


Rosemary
Sun Fire Masculine
Protection, love, lust, mental powers, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep, youth. Burn to purify and cleanse. Use in love and lust incenses and potions. Use for healing of all kinds. A tea of rosemary causes the mind to be alert. Circulatory, digestive and nerve stimulant. Heals headache, depression, and halitosis.


Sage
Jupiter Air Masculine
Immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection, prosperity. Use in healing and money spells. Purifying, use as incense during sacred rituals-walk the smoke to the four corners of the room to repel and rid negative energies and influences. Especially good when moving into a new home. Heals wounds, aids digestion, eases muscle and joint pain, colds and fever.

Saturn Earth Masculine
Prosperity, protection, purification, consecration of ritual tools. Sprinkle a few grains around your sacred space to clear it of any unpleasant presences. Some ancient rituals call for pouring dry salt into a receptacle of water to symbolize the dissolving of evil.


Shavegrass
Saturn Earth Feminine
Also known as Horsetail. Fertility spells. Nutritious, helps the body absobrb calcium, may help to strengthen bones, hair and nails. Control excess oil on the skin. Diuretic, helps to relieve urinary disorders. May help blood to clot, reduce fevers, and calm nervous tension. Also can be used in snake charming!


Scotch Broom Leaf
Mars Air Masculine
A Druid sacred tree. Use in purification and protection spells and scatter to exorcise evil spirits. Burn to calm the wind. The branches are used to make traditional besoms. The tea can induce psychic powers, and its smoke is a sedative. Use in moderation, can be toxic.


Seaweed
Moon Water Feminine
Offers protection to those at sea. Summons sea spirits and sea winds. Uses in sachets and spells to increase psychic powers. Scrub floors and doors of business with infusion to attract customers and bring in positive energy. Use in money spells. Fill a small jar with whiskey, add kelp, cap tightly and place in the kitchen window. Ensures a steady flow of money into the household. Helps regulate an underactive thyroid. Relieves the pain of rheumtism and rheumatic joints.


Spanish Moss
Jupiter Earth Masculine
Luck, money, banish poltergeists- To ensure good luck, especially with gambling, carry Spanish moss. Use in "Witch Bottles" for home and business. Place around home, or burn to banish poltergeists.


St. John's Wort
Sun Fire Masculine
Health, protection, strength, love divination, happiness, exorcism. A Druid sacred herb. Use in protection and exorcism spells and incenses of all kinds. Use as a tea to treat depression. Use the leaves in a necklace to ward off sickness and tension. Carry to strengthen your courage and conviction. Burn to banish negative thoughts and energies.


Star Anise
Jupiter Air Masculine
Protection, purification, youth, psychic powers, luck. Use for protection, meditation and psychic power incenses. Can be used in purification baths. Wards off evil and averts the evil eye. A pillow stuffed with anise seeds will keep away nightmares. The tree is planted by the Japanese around temples and on graves as an herb of consecration and protection. The seeds are burned as incense to increase psychic powers, and are also worn as beads for the same purpose. Sometimes star anise is placed on the altar to give it power; one is placed to each of the four directions. It is also carried as a good luck charm, and the seeds make excellent pendulums. The tree is often grown near Buddist temples where it is revered. A stimulant and diuretic. Promotes digestion and relieves flatulence.


Tea
Sun Fire Masculine
Riches, courage, strength. Use the leaves in money sachets, incenses and spells. A stimulant. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, and other youth enhancing compounds. The leaves can be used in scrying.


Tobacco Leaf
Mars Fire Masculine
Sacred to the Native American Tradition. Tobacco ties- wrap tobacco leaves in pieces of white, red, yellow and black cloth, and hang them around the ceremonial space at the 4 cardinal directions. Smoke to allow communication with spirits. Burn as an incense to purify a space. Spirits appreciate offerings of tobacco.


Thistle Flower
Mars Fire Masculine
Represents courageous defense and deep rooted ideals. Protection spells, also used to bring spiritual and financial blessings. Carried in an amulet for joy, energy, vitality, and protection. Can be burned as an incense for protection and also to counteract hexing.


Thyme
Venus Water Feminine
Burn for good health and use in healing spells. Burn as purification incense. Wear to increase psychic powers.


Valerian Root
Venus Water Feminine
A muscle relaxant and a tranquilizer. Use for dream magick and sleep protection baths. Keep in the home or grow in the garden to aid in keeping harmony. May be used to purify a ritual space. Useful in consecrating incense burners. Drink tea daily, in moderate doses, during times of purification.


Vanilla
Venus Water Feminine
Love, seduction, mental powers. Use in love sachets, and wear the fragrant oil as an aphrodisiac.


White Willow Bark
Moon Water Feminine
Love, divination, protection, healing. Carry and use in spells to attract love. Use the leaves, bark and wood in healing spells. Burn with sandalwood to conjure spirits. Brings blessings of the moon into one's life. Eases muscle and joint pain, beneficial for arthritis.


Yarrow Flower
Venus Water Feminine
Use to dispell melancholy, negative energy, lingering sorrow, or depression. Carried as a sachet or amulet it repels or rids of negative influences. Aids in divination. Good remedy for colds. Opens the pores and purifies the blood. Said to prevent baldness as a hair wash.

http://www.wejees.net/herbs.html
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 3
Colors- bright or dark, deep or light, regardless of whether it's a royal blue or a brilliant yellow, color affects us.

It's a proven fact that colors have an affect on our intellect, and they invoke different emotional responses. Colors used in magick are similar in that they evoke a response, but keep in mind, response to color in an individual matter, so go with your instincts. The colors must have meaning to you.

The magick of colors can be used in many different ways, and the use of colors in magick is only limited to what you want to use the color for.



White
Always burn at least one white candle to symbolize and reinforce the contact with pure spirit. Elemental spirits, Angels, Gods of wisdom, divination and prophecy. Purification and cleaning on all levels, contact with higher self and spiritual helpers, aura-healing, truth seeking, consecration, spiritual enlightenment, protection against negativity, breaking curses, exorcism, meditation, divination, inpiration, and clairvoyance. White can be a replacement for any other color.


Yellow
Elemental air. Deities for trade, travel, knowledge and magick. Vitality, change, progress, contact, communication, and trade. Confidence, joy, cheerfulness, learning, knowledge, mental clarity, concentration, speaking and writing and visualization.


Gold
Sun-deities, solar energies, and masculine energy. Abundant self confidence, creativity, perfection, financial richess, success in investments, luxury, worldly power, magickal power, overcoming bad habits and addictions.


Orange
Deities of good luck and good fortune. Charm, kindness, encouragement, stimulation, optimism, success, abundance, prosperity, feast and celebration, achieving business goals, investments, success in legal matters.

Copper or Bronze
Love-goddesses, love and passion, positive relationships in love, friendship in business, career promotions, successful negotiations.


Red
Elemental fire, deities of love, passion, sexuality and war. Courage, will-power, determination, speed, assertivity, aggression, masculinity, independence, physical strength, sports, competition, conflicts, health, sexual attraction and potency, love and passion, fertility.


Magenta
Magnetism, the ability to attract or speed up results. Life purpose, life path.


Pink
Love-goddesses, softness and tenderness, romance, caring, nurturing, youth, peace, friendship, femininity, emotional love, emotional healing.


Green
Elemental earth and elemental water. Nature and fertility deities, Mother goddesses. Nature, fertility, growth, rejuvenation, recovery, healing, harvest and abundance, prosperity, harmony, balance, peace, hope, home, plants and animals.


Turquoise
Changes, intellectual and intuitive insights, inventions and originality, renewal, brotherhood, humananity.


Blue
Elemental water and elemental air. Deities of the sea and sky, truth and wisdom. Peace and tranquility, calmness, truth, wisdom, justice, counsel, guidance, understanding and patience, loyalty and honor, sincerity, devotion, healing, femininity, prophetic dreams, protection during sleep, astral projection.


Violet
Elemental spirits, angels, and Gods of divination and prophecy. Psychic abilities, divination, counter-acting negativity and black magick, reversing curses, psychic healing, psychic power, inspiration, meditation, spirituality, spiritual power, astral projection, third eye.


Brown
Elemental earth, stability, grounding, conservation, protection of household, family and pets, healing animals, finding lost objects, buildings, material increase, to make relationships solid, to increase decisiveness and concentration, to attract help in financial crisis.


Gray
Neutralizing negative influences, putting a halt to action.


Silver
Moon-goddesses, female energy, cycles, rebirth, reincarnation, healing of hormonal imbalances, emotional stability, remove or neutralize negativity, intuition, dreams, psychic abilities and psychic workings.


Black
Elemental earth, deities of the Underworld. Repel and banish evil and negativity, protection, breaking free from bad habits and addictions, deep meditation, opens up deep unconscious levels.

http://www.wejees.net/colormagick.html
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 4
What magic does fragrance possess? It can move our souls, bring back memories, calm our minds, and set the stage for romance. Perhaps the secret lies deep in the most ancient core of our brain- the limbic system. It processes our sense of smell, and also controls our "autonomic" nervous system- our breath, our heartbeat. Scent can affect the autonomic nervous system, causing the breath to deepen and slow, which in turn, calms the heart.

Many illnesses begin in the mind, and the benefit of aromatherapy is that it helps ease the unconscious causes of distress. Aromatherapy utilizes essential oils to stimulate both psychological and physical benefits. Essential oils are not perfume or frangrance oils- they are literally the pure "essence" of a plant, and are unadulterated by any artificial or chemical ingredients. Not all ready made aromatherapy products labeled with the word "aromatherapy" are pure and natural. Avoid products which use "fragrances" or chemical ingredients. True aromatherapy products will contain only essential oils, and other natural ingredients.

Essential oils have a rich, natural aroma, which can offer either relaxing or stimulating psychological benefits by triggering the brain (perhaps in the same way phermones do, by stimulating the release of subtle hormones.) The components of the oils also enter the lungs, and oils applied to the skin absorb into the bloodstream, providing actual physical benefits. But essential oils must be used with care- they are very concentrated, and in pure form, can irritate the skin. They are commonly diluted with "carrier" oils such as sweet almond, apricot kernal, grapeseed, or jojoba, and stored in brown or blue glass bottles to protect potency.

Essential oils are often blended together to form "synergies". Properly blended in the right proportions, synergies can be of greater benefit than the individual oils used seperately. That is the art of an aromatherapist, and their special blends are often closely guarded professional secrets.

Experimenting with aromatherapy can be a fun way to add a rich, calming sense of beauty to your life
List of 35 Essential Oils

ANGELICA
Skin irritation, congested skin, psoriasis, flatulance, anemia, detoxifying rheumatism, gout, fatigue and stress relief, insight, mediation and Angels.


ANISE
Aids digestion, antiseptic, eases headaches and respiratory problems, muscle relaxant. Stimulating and uplifitng, balancing, clears the mind.


BERGAMOT
Clears oily skin and acne, dermatitis, antiseptic, soothes cold sores, aids digestion, cold, flu, antiseptic, immune system booster. An uplifiting fragrance, anti-depressant.


CARROT SEED
Excellent for wrinkle smoothing, revitalizing mature skin, healing eczema, psoriasis. Contains Vitamins A, C, B1, B2. Mood stabilizing and vitalizing, uplifting.


CEDARWOOD
Balances combination and oily skin, heals acne, rashes, excellent hair and scalp tonic. Eases coughs and bronchitis. Good for grounding, sedating, relaxing, and balancing.


CHAMOMILE
Soothing acne, sensitive and delicate skin, eczema, heals wounds and burns, eases muscle pain, anti-inflammatory. The fragrance is calming and sleep inducing.


CINNAMON
Strong antiseptic, aids poor circulation, muscle aches, colds, flu, etc. A male aphrodisiac. Stimulating and warming, psychic powers and protection.


CLOVE
Antiseptic, treats colds and flus and anusea. Use to relieve tooth and gum pain. Useful with acne and bruises. Wear to attract the opposite sex, or to repel negativity.


CORIANDER
beneficial for acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis, digestion and circulation. Calming, soothing, and warm.


CYPRESS
Astringent and antiseptic for oily, skin, tonic. Helps break up cellulite, aids circulation. Excellent for relaxing, tension and anger reduction, assists life transitions.


EUCALYPTUS
Treats fungal infections, cleans wounds, antiseptic, anti-viral, bactericidal, colds, flu, fever. Strengthening, invigorating and uplifting.


FENNEL
Treats bruises, cellulite, cellulitis, asthma. Detoxifying and antiseptic. Courage, strength, and energy, uplifting and cheerful.


FRANKINCENSE
Heals dry and mature skin tonic, scars, antiseptic, very rejuvinating. Aids digestive, diuretic, tonic, astringent. Meditative and calming, sedative, aids inner guidance.


GRAPEFRUIT
Tissue toning, treats congested skin, cellulitis, diuretic, digestive, antiseptic, liver tonic. Relieves nervous exhaustion and stress, joyful and energizing.


HYSSOP
Very emollient, softens scars. Antirheumatic, hypotension, diuretic. Stimulates lymphatic system, helps relieve emotional grief.


JASMINE
Antiseptic,very hydrating t dry and sensitive skin, softens scars. Aphrodisiac, emotionally warming and balancing.


JUNIPER
Skin toning, antispetic, clears oily complexion. Detoxifying, diuretic, arthritis, flatulence, strengthens immune system. Relieves nervous tension, strengthening and expansive.


LAVENDER
Antispetic, bactericidal, heals burns, scars and wounds, cold sores. Analgesic, antibiotic, eases headaches, decongestant, PMS. Balancing, purifying, uplifting, aids intuition.


LEMON
Blood purifier, antispetic, immune system stimulant. Brings solar vitality and energy, purifying mental clarity.


LIME
Astringent, tonic, restorative, emollient, anti-viral, detoxifies, eases rheumatism. Stimulating, cheefrful anti-depressant fragrance>


LINDEN BLOSSOM
Mild astringent, emollient, tonic, antispasmodic, diuretic. Sweetly sedative and calming, nerve regulator.


ORANGE
Heals stretch marks, digestive aid, gentle tonic, detoxifying to stomach and liver. Hypnotic, Connects to the inner child, lightening to the heart and mind.


MYRRH
Antiseptic, astringent, disinfectant, revitalizes the skin. Bronchitis, candida, digestive, wounds, flatulence. Energizes the crown chakra, sacred connections.


NEROLI
revitalizes mature skin, rejuvinating. Antispasmodic, antiseptic, digestive aid. Sedative, anti-depressant, creativity and love.


PATCHOULI
Chapped skin, wrinkes, oily hair and skin. Diahrea, vomiting, stomach pain, headaches and flu. Frees the spirit and creativity, grounding, aphrodisiac.


PINE
Stimulating and refreshing, muscle relaxant, antispetic, circulation, eases aches. Sedative, comforting and calming.


PEPPERMINT
Indegestion and nausea, colds and sore throat, tooth aches, colic and mental fatigue. Promotes visionary dreams.


ROSE
Antiseptic, tonic, good for wrinkles and dry skin, cell regenerator. Aphrodisiac, connects to the heart chakra, draws romantic love.


ROSEMARY
Acne, oily skin, scalp, thinning hair, wounds, antiseptic, rheumatism, sore muscles, bronchitis, colds and headache. Stimulating for body and mind, strengthening mental clarity and awareness, strengthens nervous system.


ROSEWOOD
Tissue regenerator, sensitive skin, tonic, antiseptic, analgesic, calming. Balancing and anti-depressant.


SANDALWOOD
Astringent, dry skin, dry eczema, irritation, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antiinflammatory, diuretic. Sedative, meditative, aphrodisiac, elevating and spiritual.


TEA TREE
Acne, cold sores, antibiotic, insect bites, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial. Revitalizes mind, after shock.


TUBEROSE
Sensuality, fragrant, softening, relaxing, and euphoric, centers emotions.


VERBENA
Antiseptic, emollient, reduces skin swelling, antispasmodic, detoxifying. Sedating and spirit lifting.


YLANG YLANG
Sedative, relieves PMS, aphrodisiac, exotic, sensual. Positively mood altering, reduces stress.

http://www.wejees.net/essentialoil.html
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 5
Crystals carry energy vibrations, and can subtly help to bring the energy vibrations within your body and aura into a healthy and vibrant balance. Quartz, in particular, is uniquely potent and useful- have you ever wondered why quartz crystals wind up in everything from inexpensive wristwatches, to the most advanced technology we possess? The electronics industry is based on the properties of silicon and quartz crytals; these amazing natural minerals organize and regulate electrical energy. Metaphysically, the quartz crystal can be "programmed" to help clear away negative energy from the aura and re-align the chakra energy centers of the body.

Scroll down this page to browse the healing and metaphysical properties of more than 50 crystals and gemstones!
Clearing and Programming Crystals

Crystals are a tool and can be like a storage battery for thought energy. "Clearing" has to do with the energy of the stone or crystal. Crystals can be "programmed" with our thought energy and then act on our subtle energy fields. They also to help to create situations in our lives that will lead us in directions that allow positive growth and healing.

Clearing a crystal or gem stone is a simple task, and it is a way to insure that there are no left over negative energies from the person who owned it before you. It is a way to personalize your crystal, and create a new energy bond between you and your new gem stone partner. There are many ways to do this, but this is a simple and effective way - make sure you will not be disturbed. Hold your new crystal under running water, and as the water pours over it, close your eyes and imagine all the negative energies are washed away down the drain and out to the vast ocean to be purified by the cycles of life. You can also leave them in the warm sun, and allow the power of it's light purify to the crystal with "fire".

To program your new crystal, simply hold it in your hand, close your eyes, then in your imagination, create an image of what you want your crystal or gem stone to help you create. Keep your crystal close to your skin, and when you can not wear it, store it in a special box or bag, which has also been purified and blessed

Each chakra has a color, and different gem stones and crystals can be associated with these.

The ROOT CHAKRA'S color is red, other colors associated with the Root Chakra are black brown, and gray.Gemstones like garnet onyx, and red jasper are beneficial.

The NAVEL CHAKRA'S color is orange.Gemstones like carnelian and orange zincite help to bring the system into balance.

The SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA'S color is yellow. Gemstones like citrine and yellow sapphire are used.

The HEART CHAKRA'S color is green and the secondary color is pink. Gemstones like rose quartz or green tourmaline are useful.

The THROAT CHAKRA'S color is blue like aqua or turquoise, secondary colors are various shades of lighter blues. Gemstones like turquoise or blue lace agate balance this chakra.

The BROW CHAKRA'S color is indigo or shades of dark blue. Gemstones like lapis lazuli or sodalite compliment this area.

The CROWN CHAKRA'S color is purple, the secondary color is clear or white.Gemstones like amethyst or clear quartz are perfect.


Crystals and the Zodiac
Aquarius hematite, amethyst, amber

Pisces amethyst, opal, bloodstone, coral, aquamarine, fire opal

Aries fire agate, aquamarine, bloodstone, citrine, diamond, emerald, jade

Taurus carnelian, diamond, blue tourmaline, chrysocolla, rose quartz

Gemini rutilated quartz, aquamarine, blue sapphire, emerald, jade, pearl

Cancer moonstone, ruby, carnelian, opal, fire opal

Leo citrine, amber, garnet, jasper, carnelian, diamond

Virgo smoky quartz, watermelon tourmaline, amethyst, moss agate, geodes

Libra rose quartz, tourmaline, bloodstone, citrine, jade, moonstone, opal

Scorpio turquoise, moldavite, malachite, moonstone, opal, peridot, ruby

Sagitarius lapis, obsidian, topaz, azurite, chalcedony, smoky quartz, turquoise

Capricorn tigereye, jade, black tourmaline, green tourmaline, garnet, smoky quartz

Metaphysical Properties of Crystals
Agate Balances ying-yang energy, stabilizes the aura. Imparts strength and courage. Opens one to innate creative talents.

Amber Purifies body, mind, and spirit. Balances electromagnetics of the body and allows even flow of energies. Provides a positive, soothing energy. Spiritualizes the intellect.

Amethyst Calming energy. Encourages spirituality and contentment. Stone of stability, strength, and peace. Excellent for meditation. Enhances psychic ability.

Aventurine Independence, leadership, creativity. Balances male and female energies. Aligns intellectual, physical, emotional, and etheric bodies.

Aquamarine Courage, intellect, protection. Assists spiritual awareness and actualization.

Azurite Awakens psychic ability, insight, and intuition. opens the third eye. Excellent for clearing the mind for meditation.

Amazonite Balancing energy, harmony, Fosters Universal love.

Bloodstone Bloodstone imparts strength, courage, and the self confidence needed to succeed in business and legal affairs. Attracts wealth, sexual potency, insures victory.

Calcite Energy amplifier, excellent for clearing and cleansing.

Carnelian Carnelian is ahealing stone that counteracts feelings of apathy, fear and rage. Fosters peace within and without, imparts self confidence, and inspired verbal and written communication.

Celestite Excellent stone for dream recall and astral travel.

Chrysocolla Strength and balance. Promotes harmony and attunement to the Earth. Purifies one's environment.

Citrine Dissipates negative energy. Warmth, joy, and optimism.

Diamond Purity, perfection, abundance, and inspiration.

Emerald Loyalty, sensitivity, harmony, and tranquility. Assists in memory retention and mental clarity.

Fluorite Stability, order, discernment, and concentration. Helps one to understand and maintain ideals.

Fucite Fosters loyalty, emotional sensitivity, harmony, and tranquility. Assists in memory retention and mental clarity. Attracts balance, abundance and prosperity.

Garnet Commitment, devotion, love, stability and order. Even flow of energy.

Hematite Excellent for the mind, and grounding.

Jade Harmony, peace, fidelity, confidence. A great dream stone.

Jasper Protection, awareness, insight, and grounding.

Kunzite Communication, love and peace. Protects and dissolves negativity. Excellent for meditation.

Kyanite Never needs cleaning or clearing, aligns all chakras. Tranquility, communication, and psychic awareness. Excellent for meditation and dream recall.

Labradorite Represents the light of the Universe, extra-terrestrial energy. Intuition and illumination.

Lapis Lazuli Knowledge, wisdom, perfection, protection, and creative expression.

Lepidolite Honesty, stability, hope, acceptance. Assists in change and transition. Facilitates astral travel.

Lodestone Lodestones are natural magnets, and for many centuries, have been used to charge spell items, primarily to attract things to the one using them- good luck, healing, money, love.

Malachite Transformation and spiritual development. Clears the way to attain goals.

Moldavite Clarity and eternity. Extra-terrestrial and interdimensional access.

Moonstone Lunar female energy. Emotional and intuitive. Rhythms, cycles, and destiny.

Obsidian Dispels negativity. Grounding, healing, protective. Helps one to clearly see one's flaws and the changes that are necessary.

Onyx Centering, self-control, and intuitive guidance. Assists in the grieving process.

Opal Creativity, inspiration, and imagination.

Peridot Healing and protective. Allows one to understand changes in one's life, regulates life cycles.

Petrified Wood Grounding, provides strength. Stone of transformation.

Pyrite Shields from negative energy, good stone of protection. Enhances intellect and memory. Symbol of the sun.

Clear Quartz crystal Universal crystal, clarity of consciousness....The quartz crystal can be programmed to help clear away negative energy from the aura and re-align the chakra energy centers of the body.

Rhodochrosite Love energy. Excellent stone for balance in all areas.

Rose Quartz Empowers and attracts the energies of love, happiness and peace. Encourages healing on all levels.

Ruby Love, nurturing, spirituality, wealth, and protection.

Ruby Zoisite Facilitates trance states and a connection to the divine. Good for facilitating communication with angels and Divine Beings. Deepens an understanding of the esoteric and unseen.

Rutilated Quartz Intensifies energy. Stimulates the brain. Inspiration and clairvoyance.

Sapphire Beauty and prosperity.

Shiva Lingam "Crypto Crystalline Quartz", said to contain the loftiest vibration of all stones on Earth. They emanate a vibration that will purify your temple or home. The stone represents both the male energy of knowledge & the female energy of wisdom.

Smoky Quartz Dissolves negativity, grounding, and balancing. Excellent for meditation.

Sodalite Logic, efficiency, and truthfulness. Enhances group communication.

Sugilite Spiritual love, perfection, inspiration, confidence. Alleviates negative/destructive emotions.

Tigereye Earthy, grounding. Represents sun and earth. Optimism, insight, personal power.

Topaz Success, true love, individuality, creativity, and joy.

Tourmaline Inspiration, understanding, self-confidence, balancing.

Tourmalinated Quartz Strength and balancing. Combines attributes of tourmaline and quartz.

Turquoise Spiritual attunement, strength, and grounding. Excellent for astral travel.

Zircon Virtue, unification, continuity, and purity.


http://www.wejees.net/crystals.html
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 6
What Color Ritual Candle Should I Choose?

Enchanted Works and other vendors offer so many different kinds of ritual candles, different sizes, different types, and different colors, that sometimes it gets really confusing about which kind of ritual candle is right for you. Does it really matter? Do the Gods fail to listen to you if you use the wrong color or shape of Wiccan ritual candle?


As with all other ritual tools and altar supplies, they are used in order to help you focus your energies and your intent. So what is YOUR best way of focusing? For some people, it is researching what colors of ritual candles have historically been used for what types of Wiccan rituals. Many people, especially beginners to Wicca, feel most comfortable by using the same "tried and true" colors and types of ritual candles. This comfort can often translate into better focus.

Now, of course, if a specific color means something special to you, and it is not the "standard" color that you read about here, or in a Candle Magick book, that's ok. Strong personal feelings are definitely one way to help you channel and focus. You may even have strong feelings about not using any colored candles at all, and sticking to black or white. That's ok too. Your focus is not the same as my focus, and what works for you may not work for me. If you want strict rules for rituals, try Ceremonial Magick. Wicca is a lot more relaxed :-)

So, anyway, what are our color correspondances for our ritual candles? I'm glad you asked.

White: White ritual candles are your typical "all purpose" candles that you can use in place of just about any other candle. White candles are also often used to signify the Virgin Goddess, so if you wish to use Her energies, white ritual candles are always a good choice. White is for purity, for cleansing, and for good clean fun :-)

Black: Black ritual candles can be used to signify the Crone Goddess. All energies associated with the Crone are appropriate for use with a black candle. When dealing with banishing, repelling, or otherwise pushing something away from you, black ritual candles are also appropriate.

Red: Red ritual candles signify the Mother Goddess. Kestra generally always burns three candles for each ritual, PLUS another color if applicable. White for the Maiden, Red for the Mother, and Black for the Crone. Red is used by some to signify love, will, strength, and sex.

Silver: Silver ritual candles are sometimes used in place of the white, red and black Triple Goddess candles. They can be used to signify "the Goddess" as a generic Deity, or if you wish to involve one particular Goddess with your working. Silver is said to help develop psychic abilities, and mediation of disputes.

Gold: Gold ritual candles are sometimes used to signify "the God." Gold is said to aid with anything that utilizes solar energy, or understanding.

Purple: Kestra loves purple. Purple ritual candles can be used to win legal battles (yeah, how do you think Kestra wins all those cases? :-)). Purple is good for wisdom, for power, and for general success. Purple ritual candles signify royalty, which is perfect for Kestra, since she's a Princess.

Lavender: lavender is not just another pretty color. Lavender ritual candles are used in cases where you desire intuition, to spiritually shield, or to provide yourself or another with dignity.

Blue: Blue ritual candles are often used to promote general inner calm and tranquility. Blue can used anytime you wish to send someone gentle calm energies, or it can be used in conjunction with any other type of candle.

Light Blue: Communication, inspiration and peace are all associated with light blue ritual candles.

Brown: Brown ritual candles signify the earth, help with concentration, and help you to make decisions. Brown ritual candles can also be used in conjunction with any other ritual candle colors. It is also said that using a brown ritual candle will help you to find objects that have been lost.

Green: In general, green ritual candles are associated with healing, prosperity, money, and success.

Dark Green: Dark green ritual candles are used to counteract "too much green." In other words, greed, jealousy and too much ambition. Useful to draw these things away from you.

Yellow: Yellow ritual candles stand for creativity, concentration and imagination. They can also be used to attract solar energies. Some use them for clairvoyance and communication.

Orange: Most people associate orange ritual candles with Samhain. However, they can also be used at other times of the year. They generally signify success, strength, and joy.

Grey: Neutral grey makes a great ritual candle for pondering important complicated issues during meditation. It can also be used to help neutralize negative influences in your life.

You may have noticed that many "aspects" listed by each color of ritual candle are duplicates. For example, you can use brown or yellow for concentration. This is by design. Wiccan rituals have always been built around what people have had around their houses, or could easily make. And, as stated before, your milage may vary. Use what YOU think is right. These suggestions are just that, suggestions.

http://www.enchantedworks.com/db/view_article.php?story_id=20050314181328
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 7
Magickal Woods

There are many different types of woods that are said to have magickal properties. As with all things, there are differences of opinion when it comes to which wood is right for which applications (or witch applications :-)). Below I will list my own experiences with different woods, and why I like each one.


Ebony - Ebony is by far my favorite wood. I absolutely love the blackness of the wood, its heaviness, and its energy. Ebony has been an amplifier for me. It is sad that the wood is SO expensive, and SO hard to find. I feel blessed that we purchased a beautiful ebony hand carved totem from the artist who created it in the Solomon Islands. It is carved into shapes from the sea that are beautifully created. It's one of the most magickal pieces I have.

Yew - Yew is a very interesting and paradoxical wood. It is absolutely beautiful, being smooth and gold colored, with great grain. It's been associated with death, rebirth, magick and runes. This beautiful tree and its wood are sacred to Hecate, and is a very appropriate wood to use in any workings regarding Her.

Willow - What can one say about Willow? It is a wood for moon magick, promotes psychic energy, and sacred to the Crone. This tree loves water, and tools made from it can help make wishes come true.

Bloodwood - Bloodwood is a really cool wood, being dark and lovely. Bloodwood represents life, and is said to aid in healing. Some believe that bloodwood can reveal secrets of ancient worlds, as well as help you to accept the understanding of this knowledge. Bloodwood is a very powerful wood.

Purpleheart - Kestra has always loved purple, and purpleheart is an utterly marvelous wood that has interesting energies and magickal properties that seem to be a bit different for each person who touches it. Unlike some who believe that you shouldn't allow others to touch their ritual materials, Kestra feels that if you can't cleanse your own tools of anyone else's energies, perhaps you should learn how before you try to do workings with them. Everyone who has touched Kestra's purpleheart wand reports feeling a different type of energy, so you will just have to buy one of your very own :-)

Cherry - The office furniture at Enchanted Works is made of cherry. Cherry encompasses energy of desire and true will. It can amplify your intent to create magick, and aids with spells of renewal and attraction. It is also very good for finding spells. Kestra sometimes uses it to attempt to find where she lost her mind. Thusfar, she has not been successful :-)

Alder - Alder helps you create oracular energies. It is the tree of fire, and the wood of the witches. Alder also indicates protection.

Oak - Sacred to the druids, Oak is a masculine wood, ideal for use in tools that are to be used to invoke the God. Oak stands for wisdom, authority, endurance, strength and protection. Oak's power is often used to amplify power, intent, and endurance of all spells it is used with.

Ash - Ash is a wood of balance, including both the Elements of Earth and of Water. Tools made of Ash are well suited to water or sea spells, divination, prophecy, or oracular functions. Ash is said to be the father of trees, and is said to contain special guardian spirits that can absorb sickness.

http://www.enchantedworks.com/db/view_article.php?story_id=20050314180822
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 8
Do I Really Need to Buy Ritual Tools?

Since this article is written by a shop owner who earns her living (at least in part) selling you ritual tools, you might expect the answer to be "of course! And you should buy the most expensive ritual tools that you can possibly afford. They will make your magick more powerful." But guess what? Kestra tries very hard to give you the honest truth about her views about Wicca, Wiccan practices and ritual tools.

So, do you really need to buy ritual tools? "Need" is a very strong word. Of course you don't "need" to buy ritual tools. You can make just about anything you would ever need. For that which you can't make, you can compromise, for example using your finger as a wand or athame. Now if only we could use our finger to light candles like in Charmed :-).


So why DO people purchase ritual tools and ritual supplies? A ritual tool is used to help you to focus your energies. It is used as an extension of your body, to channel your energy into a specific task, or to "save" energies for use later. Examples are using your energy projected down a wand for consecrating an object, storing energies into a crystal, or drawing down energy from Deity into a statue.

Do you need to buy a wand? Not especially. You can find a stick in the woods and use it. However, if you want to "tune" your energies for a specific purpose, or use that extra "boost" of using a specific type of wood that corresponds to a particular Deity or a particular intention, either search for that wood on your walks through the forest, or purchase a wand of the appropriate type.

But what about an athame? Don't you HAVE to have that special Klingon dagger athame with the spines on the side as your ritual tool in order to make the most powerful circle? Well, uh..... NO. If you feel better with that kind of a tool, and it helps you project your energies best, then by all means, buy one, or even two. That way you'll have one for each hand. Can you use your wand in place of an athame? Sure you can. Can you use a dinner knife as a ritual tool? Of course. But there's something about beautiful athames that evokes something in the brain. Holding it gives you a special feeling of power that comes only with that particular tool. If that is the case with you as well, that is the athame you must have. You can always make your own, or use what you can, but there is just something special about the power you can channel through a really nice knife. Call me materialistic, but there it is.

What about those cool offering bowls? Yeah, they are nice ritual tools aren't they? Do you HAVE to use them? Course not. You can use paper cups, household bowls, anything else you desire to hold your salt and water (sea salt is best, but table salt will do if you have to). Do you need a bell? Well, you can try a water glass and a fork. That makes a nice "ding" if you can't afford a bell. Candles? You can always make your own. If you aren't that handy, however, votives are inexpensive. So are "chime candles." However, a really beautiful pentacle pillar or a Triple Goddess pillar can certainly set the mood, and bring your head into the appropriate ritual space. And, of course, there are the color correspondences that help your mind focus on the working ahead.

Now...do you really need to buy a cauldron as a ritual tool? If you're going to be burning incense on charcoal, you most definitely need an appropriate vessel for that. It would also be a very good idea if that vessel were FIREPROOF. Things that ignite, or ooze plastic goo all over your altar are not good choices, and I would imagine that your focus would be rather scattered as evil smells permeated your ritual area. Might be useful for a ritual celebrating the wonders of swamp gas, but likely not anywhere else. So if you decide to use a substitute for the good ole stoneware or cast iron cauldron, please ensure it will do the job.

So, if you don't want to buy your ritual tools and supplies, you CAN, with a bit of creativity and thought, make/find/use substitutes. Will your focus be as strong? That varies from individual to individual, as well as with the situation. If you find that a ritual tool makes a big difference, perhaps you should use it. Just please be certain that you choose the RIGHT kind of substitute to avoid unintended consequences, and uninvited ritual guests who arrive in a large red truck and wear strange robes with funny black helmets. Their favorite ritual tool is often called a firehose.

http://www.enchantedworks.com/db/view_article.php?story_id=20050426160944


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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 9
This thread has been moved to General Info from Magic Items.
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Re: I need help w/ materials!
By:
Post # 10
Excellent information ginseng!
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