Introduction to Magick: Magickal Clothing and Jewelry

Most magickal practitioners feel that it is appropriate to dress in a special way for the working of magick because it is sacred activity. For some, this means working skyclad, or in the nude. For others, it might mean a ritual robe. Then there are those who choose to dress in elaborate costumes, complete with jewelry and accessories. All three are perfectly acceptable.

Working Skyclad for Magickal Purposes

The term ‘skyclad’ means, quite literally, to be ‘clothed by the sky'; in other words, nude. There are many individuals and some Wiccan and Pagan traditions that either require or prefer to work skyclad. There are three main reasons for this. These include:

• Encouraging energy to flow more freely if it is not impeded by clothing.
• Expressing the idea that the naked human form is not something to be ashamed of.
• Differences in income and social status disappear if everyone is nude.

Ritual Robes in Magick

Most magickal practitioners work robed. Sometimes this is because the robes have magickal significance, or because it is simply too cold to work skyclad. Color and style will vary according to personal taste and the requirements of particular groups.

The easiest style of robe to make is simply a T-shaped robe with long sleeves and usually a hood. The robe should be loose enough to allow for movement and dancing, as well as sitting cross-legged. The sleeves shouldn’t be too long, as they will drag in the candles and catch fire. A large hood is a good idea, as it can be used to block outer vision, aiding in visualization and meditation.

Other, more elaborate styles can also be used. Check the local fabric store for patterns, usually in the costume section. The only limit is the imagination, and possibly the cost. When choosing fabric, it is important to pick something that feels good against the skin, for the robe may be worn for long periods of time, in some cases. A breathable fabric, such as cotton, is also a good idea.

Color, when applied to ritual robes, can be a lot of fun. For those who are working solitary, and are not confined by the rules of a group or teacher, any color that is healing, balancing, or empowering will work very well. For those who simply cannot decide, starting with white or black is never a poor choice.

Groups and many teachers will have specific requirements. The color of the robe might reflect a degree system, or everyone in the group may wear the same color. Many groups have their novices, sometimes called dedicants, wear white to represent innocence and purity. However, this is not a firm rule.

Jewelry and Accessories During Ritual

Special jewelry is often worn by magickal practitioners, even those who work skyclad. Many, especially those of the Wiccan faith, wear silver bracelets, and women will wear silver necklaces, while men wear silver torques. High Priestess of that same religion will often wear a crescent crown and garter. High Priests usually opt for a horned mask, or a horned headpiece.

Usually, magickal practitioners will wear jewelry that reflects their faith. Crosses, the Star of David, pentagrams and crescent moons are all commonly seen during ritual. Jewelry pieces featuring crystals and gems are very popular, as they channel the qualities of the stones. Wedding rings are worn during the practice of magick, as they are considered sacred and blessed. All jewelry worn during magickal practice should have magickal significance.

Many practitioners will wear a cord around their waist. In most groups, this is given at initiations, but solitaries may make their own. A simple white cord is usually the best choice. Suitable cord can be found at most fabric stores. Make sure it is long enough to be effective. The traditional length is nine feet.

When it comes to footwear, many practitioners work barefoot. This helps to keep them grounded. However, this is not always an option. Perhaps it’s too cold to have bare feet, or it might be uncomfortable for some, depending on the surface. Footwear should be comfortable and practical. Slippers, if indoors, sandals it it’s summer, and definitely boots if there is snow on the ground.

Having an attractive and sometimes dramatic appearance can help to increase confidence when working magick, especially during the first steps in magick. This increase in confidence, no matter how slight, will increase the quality and power of all magickal workings.

Introduction to Magick: Choosing a Magickal Name

When one practices magick, and especially during ritual magick or casting a circle, one effectively takes on a new persona. Some magickal practitioners, though certainly not all, choose to recognize this ‘alter ego’ by taking on a new name, a name that is only used during magick, or among other magickal practitioners. This name is often called a magickal name.

Should You Choose a Magickal Name?

The decision to take a magickal name is intensely personal. Assuming a new name is a message to the Higher Self that a new facet of the personality has been embraced. Eventually, being called by this magickal name will assist the Higher Self to shift into a higher state of consciousness, thereby making it possible to work magick with greater ease.

Many magickal practitioners choose not to take a magickal name. They feel that it is not a good idea to make a distinction between their magickal selves and their mundane selves. The theory is that emphasizing this difference makes it more difficult for them to incorporate magick into their daily lives.

Each practitioner must decide for themselves if a magickal name is appropriate for them. Either choice is to be accepted and respected.

How to Select a Name for Magickal Practice

There are many different theories on how to select a magickal name. Some feel that a name should be chosen that reflects the Higher Self, its nature, and the qualities it embodies. Other will insist that a magickal name should be selected that describes the qualities one wishes to develop. The truth is, either method is appropriate

Most practitioners will use a combination of meditation, divination, and a great deal of research to choose a name. There are many possibilities when it comes to sources for magickal names. Some of these are:

Ancient mythology

• Herbs and flowers
• Animals
• Sounds
• Elements of nature
• Fantasy or science fiction novels
• Foreign languages
• Acronyms
• Star charts
• Magickal Symbols
• Other people and places

The source of a magickal name is not nearly as important as the feelings it generates.

Magickal names should be filled with power and magick. Don’t be afraid to try different names until one truly fits. However, it can take some time to really connect to a name. Don’t toss one aside too hastily, for fear of discarding one that might truly be perfect, especially when first starting out on a magickal path.

Initiation in Wicca

When discussing the nature of initiation, it is important to recognize that there are two types of initiations. The most recognized is the acceptance of a Wiccan into an established group, recognition of training received, and a dedication to the Goddess and the God. In some group initiation ceremonies, power is passed to the new member, or blessings are received from the group.

Wiccan Group Initiation

Many groups have three or five initiation rites, each marking a different level of training and responsibility. It is true that anyone wishing to enter into group practice should undergo an initiation, since part of an initiation ceremony is to attune with the other members of the group. However, this is not the only form of initiation, nor is it the most important.

Personal Initiation in Wicca

There are many, many people out there who are convinced that individuals who do not receive a Wiccan initiation cannot practice Wicca. Most agree that this is simply not the case, though many traditions have 'secret' rites that are not shared. There are a vast array of published texts, so virtually anyone can go to a decent bookstore to obtain a book filled with rituals. Many Wiccans write their own initiation rites.

The essence of Wicca, the beliefs and practices that are associated with Wicca, are readily available for anyone who can read. It's believed that the Goddess and the God accept all who choose to follow Their path, not simply the ones who have received group initiation, regardless of some practitioners may say.

For many, personal initiation is more appropriate. This type of initiation is the process of the individual's attunement with the divine, with the Goddess and the God. It can be gradual, taking years in some cases, or it can be immediate and spontaneous. Today, many groups will not perform a ritual initiation unless and until this personal initiation has occurred.

Recognizing Personal Initiation

The personal initiation may take place months or years before the individual finds a coven or teacher. This form of initiation is by far the most important. One can practice Wicca fully and joyfully without ever contacting another person involved in the religion. The form a personal initiation takes varies from person to person. But most people who have experienced this will say that they just knew when it had happened.

Many Wiccan will say that they knew when they had received this personal initiation when they found themselves and their personal energies beginning to ebb and flow with the natural world, when the ways of old had become a part of their life, and when their relationship with the Goddess and the God is strong and unquestioned. Some choose to mark this occasion with a ritual, others do not.

Many Wiccans are content with this personal initiation. Some wish to expand themselves as Wiccans further, and continue their search for a group or instructor. Another benefit of having this personal initiation occur first is that if you do find a coven or instructor, they will almost certainly find that you are ready for instruction.

It is usually recommended that eventually, all those wishing to study Wicca locate a group or instructor. Not necessarily for coven initiation, but having a group of like-minded individuals can give a much needed sense of community.

Ultimately, how each Wiccan approaches the idea of initiation is an individual decision. Some feel the need for a group initiation, and they should definitely pursue the idea. For those that do not feel the need, personal initiation is just as valid.

Traditions and Paths of Wicca

One of the benefits of Wicca, and one of its problems, is that there is no 'right way.' There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of different denominations of Wicca, usually referred to as traditions. In addition, even if one is a member of a tradition, there are usually variations on exactly how the individuals involved actually practice.

Traditions of Wicca

The term 'tradition' means that it is a practice handed down from person to person. In Wicca, it means a way of celebrating the Goddess and the God, a loose set of guidelines for ritual practices. Below is an attempt to categorize the various traditions, but keep in mind that this is hardly an extensive list. Instead, it only addresses the most common traditions.

The Alexandrian Tradition was founded by Alex Sanders in the 1960s; this tradition is mostly modified Gardnerian, and is fairly structured.

The Ashling Tradition is loosely based on Irish practices, but is easily adapted for other pantheons as well. There are elements of Ceremonial Magick, and much Celtic Witchcraft involved. This is one of the few traditions which employs a five-degree system, instead of the classical three-degree.

British Traditional Wicca is a mixture of Celtic and Gardnerian practices, based mostly on the teachings of the Farrar husband and wife team. This tradition has become fairly accessible in recent years.

Celtic Wicca is a mixture of Celtic and Druidic practices, with a little Gardnerian thrown in for good measure. Stressing the elements and nature, and a strong connection with the Ancient Ones, this tradition stresses a vast knowledge of plants and herbs, and a connection to the fairy realm.

Ceremonial Witchcraft is essentially Ceremonial Magick, with Wiccan beliefs and practices. Often, the magick used has a distinct Egyptian or Kabalistic flavor.

The Correllian Nativist Tradition is fairly structured. A blend of Celtic Wicca, Aradian Wicca, and Native American spiritual practices, Correllian Wicca is very suited to North American practice, though it is now found worldwide.

Eclectic Wicca isn't really a tradition at all, but rather refers to those people who learn from various traditions and apply what works best for them. This is by far the most common tradition in recent years.

The Gardnerian Tradition is what most people mean when they say 'traditional Wicca.' Organized by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s, Gardnerian Wicca adheres to very structured practices. Gardnerians are not very vocal about their practice, and Gardnerian Wicca is almost always an initiatory tradition.

Seax Wicca was founded by Raymond Buckland back in the 1970s. This is an interesting tradition, since Raymond Buckland created it without breaking his original Gardnerian oath. This tradition is very popular in Europe, and is gaining strength in North America. For the Wiccan who isn't sure about which path they'd like, this is a good place to start.

Other Common Terms and Their Relation to Wiccan Traditions

Family traditions, also called 'fam trads,' are actually quite rare in Wiccan communities. One can say that they practice a family tradition if they can trace the practice of Witchcraft through their family tree, in addition to being taught by a living relative. Channeling their spirit or otherwise contacting them once they've passed on does not "count."

There is some debate about how far back one must be able to trace the Craft, but usually two generations is enough. Sometimes, a family tradition will adopt an individual to carry on their tradition, but this is seldom done, and only if the individual is held in the highest esteem. The ceremony is intricate and important, and a symbol of the great respect the family in question has for the candidate.

The term ‘natural Witch’ has cropped up with increasing frequency in recent years. This fairly commonplace term is often misunderstood. Some people will say they were born with great gifts, and that makes them a natural Witch. This is not the case. It's believed that everyone is born with gifts, and some choose to use them. In reality, the term 'natural Witch' simply means that a woman was a practitioner of some type of magickal system (not necessarily Wicca) while she was pregnant with her child.

There is a school of thought that says these children have more of an inclination to follow a more magickal religion than others; there is not much evidence to support this. It certainly does not mean that these children are more 'powerful.'

There are, of course, many other traditions out there. Then there are those people who combine different traditions. Someone might be a Seax-Gardnerian, a Correllian-Alexandrian, or any number of combinations. Some Wiccans will even combine Wicca with other spiritual paths, such as Druidism, Asatru, or many other paths. Since Wicca is an inclusive tradition rather than an exclusive one.

A final note about traditions: there is no such thing as a Satanic Wiccan, since Wiccans do not believe in Satan.