Magickal Exercises — Directing Your Own Energy

The body of energy, comprising primarily of the aura and the chakras, can be used for many things, such as the casting of spells and the performing of rituals. In simple terms, this is done by simply releasing the energy of the body toward a specific goal However, before you can begin working true magick, you must first learn to consciously direct your own energy.

Work With a Friend to Develop Your Magickal Skills

If you have a friend to help you, this exercise can be easy and enjoyable. You can both take turns practicing, and help to monitor each other’s progress. However, you’ll have to be honest with each other during this exercise. Center and ground your own energy before you begin.

Start this exercise by having your friend sit down, back to you, stripped to the waist (or removing as many layers as you’re both comfortable with). With your palm down and fingers together, extend your arm, straight out, and point it as your friend’s back. Keep your fingers at least an inch away from his or her back, or your friend will be able to physically feel what you’re doing.

Slowly move your hand up and down the line of his or her spine. Keep your arm straight and focus on sending your energy down your arm, out your fingers, and into your friend’s back. If you have difficulty doing this, focus on the flow of your breath. This isn’t as hard a technique as it may sound.

Imagine that you’re breathing in colored fog (I use purple, but you can visualize whatever color you like). Breathe this fog deep into your belly, about an inch below your navel. Exhale, but instead of breathing the fog out through your mouth or nose, see it flow down your arm and out your fingers, making contact with your friend’s back.

Have your friend tell you if he or she feels anything. This might be a tingling sensation, or the feeling of hot or cold. Everyone feels energy differently, so your energies might be interpreted in any number of ways. In time, your friend might be able to tell you where your hand is. Keep records on this exercise, and practice often.

Practice Magickal Skills on Your Animal Friends

Not everyone has a friend who will submit to this exercise. If you’re one of those people who simply does not have anyone to practice with, consider a pet. Cats and dogs work best for this exercise, and a patient pet is a better candidate. For cats and smaller dogs, rest them on your lap. For larger dogs, you’ll have to sit them in front of you. The principle is the same. Focus on sending energy into your pet, but without physical contact.

Your pet probably can’t talk, so you’ll have to watch your pet for evidence that they feel something. Signs can be as subtle as falling asleep or as obvious as jumping unexpectedly. You’ll have to keep a record of any signs you suspect might be significant, as Fido may keep you guessing for a while. This method takes a little longer, because of the reduced feedback you may receive, but it does work.

If you want to expand and increase your command of your own energies, you have to work at it. There are many various exercises that can help you do this. All of them have value. Experiment, practice, and have fun as you develop your psychic abilities.

Wiccan Sabbat Ritual Recipes — Stuffed Potato Recipes

Potatoes are a traditional food in the fall and winter, when they are in season. Turning a single potato into a full meal is not all that difficult. Stuffed potato recipes are an easy and effective way to do this.

These recipes have been created specifically with Wiccans and Pagans in mind. They include the vegetables and herbs of the season, and so are particularly suited to the Autumnal Equinox and Samhain.

Cheesy Stuffed Potato Recipe

The following ingredients should be gathered close at hand:

• 4 baking potatoes
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons dried chives
• ½ cup onion, chopped
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup sour cream
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Each potato should be well-scrubbed and patted dry. Before cooking, they should also be pierced several times with a fork to allow for the hot air to escape as they bake. If this is not done, they could easily burst. Microwave all 4 potatoes on high for approximately 10 minutes, or until they are tender. This may take as long as 15 minutes with larger potatoes. Rotate potatoes halfway through cooking time.
2. Preheat oven to 350° F. The butter should be melted in a skillet over low heat in a frying pan. Add onion, cooking until transparent. Slice off the tops of the potatoes and scoop out the insides with a spoon. Place the insides of the potatoes in a small bowl, adding chives, onion, half of the cheddar cheese, all of the sour cream, and the salt and pepper.




3. Return the mixture to the potato shells and place them all in a medium casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake potatoes until thoroughly heated, approximately 10 minutes.

Vegetable Stuffed Potato Recipe

 

The following ingredients should be gathered close at hand:

• 4 baking potatoes
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup broccoli, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• ½ cup ranch salad dressing
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Each potato should be well-scrubbed and patted dry. Before cooking, they should also be pierced several times with a fork to allow for the hot air to escape as they bake. If this is not done, they could easily burst. Microwave all 4 potatoes on high for approximately 10 minutes, or until they are tender. This may take as long as 15 minutes with larger potatoes. Rotate potatoes halfway through cooking time.
2. Preheat oven to 350° F. The butter should be melted in a skillet over low heat in a frying pan. Add onion, cooking until transparent. Slice off the tops of the potatoes and scoop out the insides with a spoon. Place the insides of the potatoes in a small bowl, adding salad dressing, broccoli, parsley, onion, and salt and pepper.
3. Brush the outside of the potato skins with the olive oil. Return mixture to the potato shells and place them all in a medium casserole dish. Bake potatoes until thoroughly heated, approximately 10 minutes.

Possible Variations for Stuffed Potato Recipes

 

To make a more complete meal, diced beef, lamb, pork, or chicken can be added to either of these recipes. Sausage and bacon are also appropriate. For vegetarians, crumbled and fried tofu can be added instead. Also, cheese may be added to the Vegetable Stuffed Potatoes for additional flavor. For the Cheesy Stuffed Potatoes, try substituting blue cheese for the cheddar.

 

Stuffed potatoes are a favorite of many Wiccans and Pagans around the time of the Autumnal Equinox and Samhain. Though they can be served all year round, in the fall they are especially appropriate, and make a wonderful addition to the ritual feast table, especially when paired with Harvest Mead and Harvest Pumpkin Pie.

Wiccan Sabbat Ritual Recipes — Harvest Mead Recipe

Harvest Mead is a traditional beverage that is a rich heady blend of fruit and honey and is served at many Wiccan Sabbats. Though primarily designed as a drink to be consumed for ritual purposes, it can be used for any purpose. It can be adapted to a non-alcoholic recipe quite easily.

This recipe has been created specifically with Wiccans and Pagans in mind. It includes the fruits of the fall, or harvest season. It is particularly suited to the Autumnal Equinox and Samhain. For other Sabbats, different fruits and spices can be used.

Traditional Harvest Mead Method

The following ingredients should be gathered close at hand:

• 3 oranges
• 2 lemons
• 3 apples
• 4 cardamoms
• 3 nutmegs
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 10 cloves
• 20 cups water
• 8 cups honey
• 2 tablespoons wine yeast blended in ½ cup water

1. The rind, flesh, and juices of the oranges and lemons should be added to a saucepan, but the white pith should be discarded. Make sure the rind and flesh are coarsely chopped. Chop the apples, discarding the core, and add to the mixture. The cinnamon sticks, cardamoms, cloves and nutmegs, and 10 cups of water should now be added and everything brought to the boil.
2. The mixture should be simmered for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Strain through cheesecloth, and add an additional 8 to 10 cups of warm water. Stir in the honey, taking care that it blends well. Next add the yeast solution, stirring carefully to ensure that it dissolves properly.
3. When the yeast solution is thoroughly dissolved, place the fluid in a sterilized container with a fermentation lock. Containers should preferably be new, but they can sometimes be found in second-hand shops. If using a second hand container, ensure that it is thoroughly washed and sterilized.
4. Place the container in a warm dark place and leave it for at least six months. After about six weeks, small bubbles should be seen rising to the surface. After about six months, this activity should have ceased. If not, the mixture needs a little more time before it is considered ready.
5. When the mixture has stopped fermenting, it can be decanted into sterile bottles with cork tops. Leave the mixture for a further week to ensure there is no additional fermentation. If there is, this will be indicated by a cork that lifts or pops out completely.
6. If there is no further fermentation, the mead is ready for consumption.

Non-Alcoholic Harvest Mead Method

This is by far the quickest and least complicated method of making Harvest Mead. It is identical until after the liquid is strained. Then, instead of 8 cups of water, add 4 cups of fruit juice and approximately 4 cups of sparkling water. It is slightly less flavorful than the traditional method, but it has the advantage of being quick and alcohol free, for those who do not consume alcohol.

The juice used should be complementary to the fruits that have already been added to the mixture. Apple, lemon, or orange all work well. A combination of all three is very flavorful. Some people prefer to use a grapefruit juice. Whatever is the favorite juice of those consuming the mead will work fine.

This version of Harvest Mead can also be consumed immediately as fermentation is not required. However, it is best left overnight, at least, to allow the flavors to develop. If it is to be stored, make sure the container is air-tight, as the carbonated water will go ‘flat’ if it is not sealed. As an alternative, the sparkling water can be added immediately before the mead is served.

Harvest Mead is a drink that is quite popular with those who practice Wicca. It can be made just for Sabbats, such as the Autumnal Equinox and Samhain, or it can be consumed all year round. It is full of flavor and a wonderful addition to any table, especially with stuffed potatoes or Harvest Pumpkin Pie.

The Wheel of the Year — The Fall Equinox and Its Lore

Often called Mabon or the Fall Equinox, the Autumnal Equinox falls in the second half of September, usually around September 21st. It is often marked on calendars as the “first day of fall.” It is a time when day and night are equal, the last day in the season where the hours of darkness do not overwhelm the hours of light. This is the height of the harvest, the culmination of what began at Lughnasadh. It is a time to think about what we have and to be grateful for it. The Autumnal Equinox is often seen as the Pagan equivalent of Thanksgiving.

As a part of the Wheel of the Year, the Autumnal Equinox sees the Goddess’s pregnancy advancing. She is still the Mother, but She grows wiser and is the Crone as well. The God becomes the Sorcerer and is poised to leave His physical body. It is not His end, but His beginning. The Goddess mourns Him, but She knows that She carries His child within Her. He will never truly be gone, but will reappear as the Wheel of the Year continues to turn.

The Themes and Practices of Mabon

As this Sabbat is a time of preparation for the resting period that follows Samhain, this is a good time to rid yourself of anything unnecessary and unwanted, a time to lay to rest the quarrels and arguments that have plagued you during the season. Get rid of your guilt, envy, and unwanted feelings, banish those things that are holding you back, keeping you from your true potential. This is the time of year to put your own life back into balance, just as the year is in balance as day and night are equal.

This is the season of balance, healing, and justice. It is common to celebrate these themes with festivals and celebration. It is a time of self-expression, of reclaiming the self before the cold of winter arrives. There are many symbols of the Autumnal Equinox, including:

• Cornucopia
• Dried leaves
• Gourds
• Grains
• Turkeys
• Wheel

The Feast of the Autumn Equinox
 
Lughnasadh and the Autumnal Equinox are very similar, both being harvest festivals, but the Equinox is truly a time of plenty. The foods of Lughnasadh are still available, as are many others that have finally come into season. Fish, oysters, game birds, and various meats are traditional. Vegetables such as turnip, zucchini, and cauliflower are also easily available. If you have wild foods in your area, this is the time to collect them.
 
If you’re looking for a truly traditional feast, serve goose. This goose should be smaller and less fatty than a goose served at Yule. Try serving the goose with cranberries, raspberries, or even rowan for an interesting alternative. Roast your small goose on a rack in your oven with a variety of herbs and spices for flavor.
 
There are many other foods you might try, including:

• Fish or shellfish cooked in tinfoil with seasonal herbs
• Fresh vegetables just barely cooked so that they are still crisp
• Boiled potatoes
• Turkey
• Duck
• Fruit Cobbler
• Fruit preserves

Beverages for the Autumnal Equinox
 
Fruit wines are a popular choice for the Autumnal Equinox, but they do take a few weeks to mature. If you’re making your own fruit wine, start it no later than Lughnasadh to enjoy it by late September. For a quicker alternative, mush some fruit and strain. Add the juice to a chilled sweet wine just before serving. For the non-alcoholic crowd, try chilled fruit juice mixed with sparkling water.
 
If you prefer liqueurs, make a fruit liqueur by adding vodka and fine caster sugar to some chilled fruit juice. Shake this mixture three times a day for eight days and serve chilled. Substitute sparking water for the vodka if your celebration includes children or those who prefer not to drink alcohol. Harvest Mead, both in its alcoholic and non-alcoholic forms, is also an appropriate choice
 
Celebrating Mabon
 
When thinking about September, we tend to associate it with the beginning of fall. But it’s important to remember that this month is also the end of summer. The weather is still usually warm enough to host a celebration outside, even if you do have to put on a sweater before heading out.
 
It’s always fun to go out and look for edible plants, nuts, and berries in your area. However, there are always a few poisonous plants hanging around that look like they might be edible. Take a field guide with you and don’t eat anything you’re unsure of. If you’re involving children in this, don’t let them eat anything until you’ve checked it out. If you’re lucky, you have a berry-picking farm nearby that you can visit. This takes most of the risk out of your little hunt.
 
Conker fighting is a traditional way to pass the time in the fall. Take a horse chestnut and skewer it. Suspend the horse chestnut from a knotted string at least three feet long. Face off with an opponent and try to smash each other’s conkers. The person whose conker breaks first is the loser. This game invites a great deal of hilarity, but you’ll also end up with occasional scraped knuckles from flying conkers. Consider wearing heavy gloves to protect delicate fingers if you’re worried.
 
Remember that you’re about to say goodbye to the warm days of the lighter half of the year. Hold a spiral dance, having all participants dance counterclockwise, in honor the dark half the year that is about to begin. Keep in mind that dances take practice, so you might want to have your dancers rehearse once or twice before the actual day.
 
A ritual is always nice, but not strictly necessary. If you do decide on a ritual, keep in mind that you should focus on the themes of the day and not of performing magick for yourself.
 
Dressing for Mabon
 
Dressing for the Autumnal Equinox is much like dressing for any other Sabbat. Pick something special in colors that both represent and honor the season. For this Equinox, choose clothing in the rich fall colors of yellow, orange, and brown. You could wear ritual robes in these colors or choose something more meaningful to you. Alternatively, you could dress in the God’s color of bright gold or the Goddess’s color of deep autumn red. You might also choose to use these colors to decorate your ritual space.
 
The Autumnal Equinox is a time of balance. It is a time to reflect on the abundance that nature provides and offer up thanks for what we have.