April crafts by Lela Moon

April crafts by Lela Moon

Someone said to me that these crafts were too basic and easy…

YES, they are, because I have had so many people say they would love to make things but feel they cant because they are not good enough.

Everyone should be able to make these.


Dog raggie

You will need old material




Cut it into three strips



Tie one end

Tightly plait it

Tie the other end



Give to the dogs


Bow Key Ring


You will need 

Thin card
Glue, I used a glue gun
Material
Key ring holder



Cut out the thin card into these shapes



Glue the thin card onto the material



cut out round the shape with pinking shears



And then put material on the back of the bit like this.



Fold the edges into the middle to make the bow and stick down



Stick on the ribbon end bit to the back


Then wrap the thin oblong bit round the bow and attach the ring to the back







Put on your keys and off you go



This can also be made with felt and foam leaving out the thin card.


Tree

Remember your tree you made for your altar ?

Well now is the time to add the blossom onto it.

Screw up little bits of tissue paper or loo roll and stick to the branches. Ta Da!

Lela Moon

Alex Sanders by Starlitenergies

Alex Sanders (1926 – 1988)

Alex Sanders – the “King of the Witches” as he became known - was responsible for founding the Alexandrian Tradition of Wicca, now one of the main traditions of the Wicca/Witchcraft movement. But his reign was fraught with criticism and controversy.

Alex Sanders was born Orrel Alexander Carter on the 06th June 1926 in a house on Moon St, Birkenhead. He was the eldest of six children to parents Hannah and Harold Carter. His father Harold Carter was a music hall entertainer who suffered from alcoholism, and soon after the birth of Alex, moved the family to Grape St in Manchester, there he unofficially changed the family name to Sanders. Alex was unaware of his official surname until he applied for a passport later in life, at which time he officially changed his name to Sanders by deed poll.

As a young boy Sanders suffered with tuberculosis and would regularly visit with his grandmother in Wales, where he could benefit from the Welsh fresh air. At the age of seven, he is believed to have happened upon his grandmother “Mary Biddy” performing some sort of pagan ritual. Taken by surprise she immediately swore young Sanders to secrecy, and initiated him on the spot claiming, “Now, you are one of us”. Thus he became her student and started on the path of the Old Religion.

Sanders was a natural psychic who learned all he could from his grandmother. He claimed that she gave him her “Book of Shadows” to copy and taught him all the rites and magic of the witches including clairvoyance by scrying in inky water and using his grandmother's crystal. Sanders also claimed that following the Blitz during WWII and just a few months before her death at age 74, his grandmother conferred upon him the second and third grade initiations involving ritual sex. After her death he tried to contact other witches, and though failing continued with his studies while working for a time as a healer in Spiritualist Churches under the pseudonym of Paul Dallas.

After the War had ended Sanders began working as an analytical chemist at a laboratory in Manchester, were 1947 he met and then married a co-worker called "Doreen". He was 21 at the time, she 19, and together they had two children "Paul and Janice". Sanders had wanted more children but not Doreen, she also disapproved of his practicing Witchcraft. Five years later the marriage deteriorated and Doreen took the two children and left him. According to his later second wife Maxine, Sanders had been so grief-stricken that he cursed Doreen with a fertility spell; when she later re-married she had three sets of twins??

Depressed Sanders began drinking; he drifted from one low paid job to another and indulged in sex with both men and women. He started on the left-hand path, worshiped the devil and studied "Abra-Melin" magic, hoping to use it to gain wealth and fame. He regularly boosted about his feats of magic and made some amazing claims. One like Aleister Crowley before him, he claims to have created a “magical child”. He created it during a rite of ritual masturbation with the aide of a male assistant. He says, “the baby disappeared shortly after its creation and grew up as a spirit called Michael”.

"Michael" was the spirit he used during trance work, and it was Michael (he claims) who was responsible for forcing him to act badly at wild parties, to insult people, and generally act in an abominable way. “Eventually the spirit of Michael settled down and I was able to control it”, he says. When channeling Sanders used a familiar entity called "Nick Demdike", who claimed to have been a persecuted witch from Lancaster during the trails of the 17th century.

In the early 60’s, Sanders is reported to have sought entrance to some Gardnerian covens, including that run by Patricia and Arnold Crowther, who refused to accept him. Not to be put off so easily, he somehow managed to obtain a copy of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows. This he copied (badly from all accounts) and embellished it with a few of his own amendments. He then used this as the bases to found his own coven, claiming it to be a copy of his grandmother’s Book of Shadows.

Sanders was a born showman who avidly courted publicity. In September of 1962 he even succeeded in convincing the Manchester Evening News to run a front-page article about Wicca. As a result he soon attracted a large following. During this period Sanders and his coven worked from his home at 24 Egerton Road North, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. One of his initiates was "Maxine Morris", a Roman Catholic 20 years his junior. After her initiation, they handfasted and she became his High Priestess. They were married in a civil ceremony in 1968 and moved into a basement flat near Nottinghill Gate, London. Later that same year, Maxine bore him a daughter they called "Maya".

From their new home the Sanders’ ran his London coven and taught training classes, he claimed to have initiated more than 1,623 witches working in 100 covens around the country, all-practicing what had become known as the Alexandrian Tradition. At one meeting, a gathering of sixteen of his covens, Sanders was bestowed with the title of “King of the Witches”. Sanders frequently appeared in ritual photos as robed or wearing only a loincloth while Witches surrounding him were naked. His explanation for this was that the old “Witch laws” required that the Elder of a coven should be easily identifiable from the other coven members.

In 1968-69, Sanders with Maxine appeared in and gave technical advice on a film called “Legend of the Witches”. During the press preview of the film, they met with and were introduced to Stewart Farrar, then a reporter for the Reveille. Stewart would later be initiated by Maxine, and move on to become famous himself as a witch and author.

In 1972 Maxine gave birth to another child, a son they named "Victor", then just a year later in 1973 they separated. Sanders moved to Sussex were he resided in relative obscurity until he died on the 30th April 1988 after a long battle with lung cancer. His funeral was a mass media event, Witches and Pagans from all over the country attended to pay their respects. During the course of the funeral a pre-recorded tape was played in which he declared that his son "Victor" should succeed him as “King of the Witches”.

Victor Sanders had no desire to take up the title and left the country for the United States. Maxine stayed on in London and continued to run a coven and teach the craft, her half-brother "David Goddard" acting as High Priest. A short time after his funeral, a Witches Council of Elders was convened formed mainly from the Alexandrian tradition. They decided there would be no successor to the “King of Witches” and the title was discontinued.

Without doubt Alex Sanders was a controversial and flamboyant man, who without scruples plagiarised the work of others to embellish his own. Whither he did so with malice, remains the question? Personally I don’t think so. More I assume through innocuous indifference, and mainly for the benefit of his students, even though it resulted in criticism from many in the craft. He was also without doubt a very skilled witch, and powerful magician, whose contribution to the newly evolving movement, brought witchcraft back into the public arena and changed the face of Wicca. He helped to influence many newcomers entering the craft and Alexandrian Wicca remains today one of the largest traditions of the craft.


Starlitenergies

Sources:

The Encyclopedia of Witches &Witchcraft - by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft - By Raven Grimassi
A Witches' Bible - By Janet and Stewart Farrar
What Witches Do - By Stewart Farrar
Man, Myth and Magic - Edited by Richard Cavendish
Triumph of the Moon - Ronald Hutton

Dark Goddesses by Thia

Dark Goddesses by one of our lovely Students Thia (Priestess of the Oak & Ash):

The Dark Goddess is the Crone. She is the balance to the Maiden and the evolution of the Mother. She holds both within her and augments them with the wisdom of life’s lessons.

She is the mature and aged Maiden and Mother, who possesses the wisdom and experiences of youth, adulthood and old age and who stands as a bridge between death and rebirth.

The Dark Goddess is our guide through the illusion of fear. It is through facing our fear and seeing it for what it is, that we can move through it. In embracing our fear, it melts away and we are bathed in the light of wisdom. We find comfort in her arms because our fear was only an illusion. But we have to go through the fire of self doubt, anger, fear, sadness, regret, and anguish so that we can be reborn on the other side. She represents the cross roads. The cross roads of life to death, fear to acceptance, ignorance to wisdom. 

What are the commonalities in Dark Goddesses?

The Dark Goddess is often shown as the crone or a hag. She is frightening and often violent. The patriarchal societies used the archetype of the scary, ugly crone as a witch to scare and warn away women from their true power. She represents the fury of being suppressed, abused, belittled, controlled, and debased. What better way for a patriarchal society to hide their fear of women than to make use distasteful and worthy of scorn and punishment.

Another commonality is the Warrior Goddess. Bloodthirsty, sword in hand, taker of souls on the battle field, consumer of men. She is vengeful and merciless in her warrior form.

She is also taboo – that which is hidden, secret, unknown and unknowable. She is the shadow, the night, the mist, the darkness. She can embody obsession, sex, and lust. She speaks to our hidden desires. 

What is the role of the Dark Goddess?

The role of the Dark Goddess is to reach across the chasm and help us find the courage to confront and eventually embrace our own dark side. To embrace that which we are afraid of and that which we loath. To help us burn through our rage. To help us stand after being overcome by despair.

She is the balance to light, joy, sunshine, happiness. She is darkness, despair, rage, and fear. From the balance we find rebirth, acceptance and wisdom. She lights the path through the mists of confusion and doubt until we can find our own pathway.

The Dark Goddess works in the shadows. She works with the subtle energies and the unseen. You won’t necessarily know she is there. If you become attuned to her you can perhaps feel a shift in the energy, like a shadow that has crossed the moonlight, or a breath of cool air that is there, and then gone.

You cannot have light without darkness. You cannot know joy without despair. You cannot know peace without rage. The Dark Goddess brings us the gifts of the darkness to bring balance to the light. Without her we live but half a life. 

What is there to celebrate and honour in the darkness?

There is so much to honour about the Dark Goddess. I personally love the mystery, intuition, transition and transformation. I love the serenity that comes from meeting and embracing the darkness. I embrace the rage because it is the fire that creates transformation. I embrace the Winter and the darkness because we rest in the Earth only to be reborn in the Spring. I hope that when I pass I will embrace the journey to the other side with peace knowing that there is someone there to guide me. 

Working with the Dark Goddesses

The Dark Goddess helps us with spells to protect us from negativity and to find strength in ourselves. Here are some examples of how to work with her:

· Protection spells, especially for children

· Banishing fear, bad habits, nasty people and ugly energy

· Conquering fear and internal darkness

· Bring balance to our energy

· Give us courage

The Dark Goddess is a pathway for prophecy, divination and intuition.

She is the key to wisdom and empowerment. 

Symbols and Associations

There are many symbols for her Darkness, as well as many associations.

Crone/Hag
Dark Moon
Crow/Raven/Owl
Cauldron
Black
Autumn and Winter
Warrior
Death
Fate
Winter
Destruction
Night
Revenge
Sex
Obsession
Transformation
Taboo

Meditation with a Dark Goddess

Because I associate the underworld with the Lower World used in journeying, I am not going to use that allegory for this meditation. I am instead going to use a meditation about going into the darkness.

Close your eyes. Welcome the darkness there. Get a sense of the darkness. How does it feel. Are you afraid, or do you welcome it? What does it represent? The unknown? Possibility? Ill intent? The Void? See how it feels.

Now imagine yourself walking in the twilight towards the darkness. As you take each step towards the darkness feel yourself going deeper and deeper into a state of relaxation. When you are ready, breath in the darkness and exhale the mundane world.

Walk along and notice surroundings. Look for signs of the Dark Goddess. Do you see ravens? Owls? Is the moon out? Are you in a forest or the mountains? By the beach or in a field? When you have a sense of place, look for her. See if she will show herself. Does she appear as a hag? As a seductress? Is she you or someone else? Show respect. Thank her for being there.

Ask her how you can serve her. Ask if there is something she would like you to know. See if there is something she would like you to do. When you feel the encounter is complete, thank her for appearing. 

When you are ready, walk back out of the darkness towards the twilight. Deepen your breath. Rub your hands together or feel your body to start to come back. 

Once you are back, drink water. Write down what you learnt.

Really she doesn’t require anything from us mere mortals…but a little acknowledgement of the darkness as well as the light is nice. The Dark Goddess works with the unseen in the back ground. How she works is not always that obvious. You have to know how to look for the unseen in the shadows to perceive her.

Spell with the Dark Goddess

Set the environment with dark crystals.
Burn a black candle.
Set out the Moon Tarot card if you want.

Goddess of the Darkness
Goddess of the Night
Bring to me your Power
Bring to me your Might
I call on you to help me move beyond where I am now.
I need your power to create new opportunities
I need your courage to strike out in new directions
I need your resilience to move forward though I don’t know how
I need your perseverance to continue on, even in the face of rejection
I need your warrior spirit to slay uncertainty and indecision.
Bring me those opportunities that will further me along the path.
Fire up my intuition to find the right direction.
Sprinkle this direction with good fortune and serendipity.

I know with your guidance I will come through this period of now knowing and emerge on the other side wiser and with a new course.

Goddess of the Darkness
Goddess of the Night
Thank you for your Power
Thank you for Might

Bay by Unity

Bay by Unity

Laurus nobilis

Other names: Grecian Laurel, Sweet bay, Sweetleaf, Hero's crown, Indian bay, Baie Daphne, Laurier D' Apollon, Lorbeer, Laurier sauce.

Planetry ruler: Sun
Element: Fire
Gender: Male
Associated deities: Adonis, Apollo, Aesculapius, Cere's, Cerridwen, Cupid, Daphne, Eros, Faunus, Ra, Vishnu.

Magical properties: Protection, purification, strength, power, healing, creativity, spirituality, psychic powers.

The bay tree is an evergreen that is native to the Mediterrean, but grows all over the world. It is a slow growing tree that does well in pots. It can grow up to 6o ft in sunny climes and about 25 ft in Britian. The leaves can be picked all year round and can be used magically, and in cooking to add flavour to savoury dishes ( remove before serving)
DO NOT TAKE BAY INTERNALLY !

Lore:

In Greek myth, Eros shot Apollo with a golden arrow of love, and Daphne with a lead arrow, causing Apollo to fall in love with her. Daphne didn't return his feelings, and fled from Apollo. She begged the Gods for help and was turned into a Bay tree. From that time Apollo wore a bay wreath in Daphne's memory.

Greek's and Roman's crowned athletes with bay wreathes, and Roman soldiers wore bay after having won a battle. It was a symbol of both wisdom and victory. Nowadays Grand Prix winners are given wreathes of bay.

To be crowned with a wreath of laurel meant great academic achievement, we still use the title 'Poet Laureate' meaning 'crowned with laurel'.

The ancient Priestesses of Apollo at Delphi chewed bay leaves to induce a prophetic state. The temples roof is said to have been made of bay leaves, to protect the temple from disease, witchcraft and lightening. Bay was also dedicated to Apollo's son Aesculapius, the god of medicine.

In Rome bay was also used in purification rites. Emperor Claudius moved his court to Laurentium during a plague, as it was a well known area for bay tree's.

Magical uses:

A bay leaf placed under your pillow or inside a dream pillow, will bring prophetic dreams and inspiration.

The leaves can be used in sachets for protection, purification, inspiration, healing and to attract love. They can also be kept amongst your clothes to keep moths away.

Bay leaves can be used in incense during cleansing and purification rituals, to increase your psychic powers or to invoke Apollo, Cere's and Aesculapius. Mixed with Sandalwood it will remove curse's and hex's.

Write a wish on a bay leaf and burn or bury it to make your wish come true.

Bunches of bay leaves hung up over windows and doors will bless your home and protect it against lightning and poltergeists.

If a couple in love pick a bay twig, break it in half and keep half each, their love will last.

Place one dried bay leaf in each corner of a room to avoid being hexed.

A bay leaf can also be worn or carried in your pocket to give you strength and ward off negativity.

An infusion of bay leaves can be used as a floor wash to get rid of hexes and jinxes.

When an unwelcome guest leaves your home, sweep their footsteps out the door with a broom and then smudge the house with bay leaves to ensure they don't return.

Culpepper say's that bay resist's witchcraft very potently. Neither witch, devil, thunder or lightning will hurt a man in the place where a bay tree is.

Healing:

Bay leaf essential oil can be used with a carrier oil as a massage for bruises and sprains.

Fresh bay leaves can be added to bath water to ease aches and pains.

A poultice of bay leaves, simmered until soft, can be placed on the chest to relieve head and chest colds.

Culinary:

Place bay leaves in flour containers to deter weevil's.

Add to parsley and thyme to make a bouquet garni - REMOVE BEFORE SERVING.

Recipes:

Healing Incense

2 parts juniper berries
1 part crushed bay leaves

Anti-Hex bath

4 parts Rosemary
3 parts juniper berries
2 parts bay leaves
1 part mugwort.
add to a muslin sachet before adding to bath.

Apollo Incense

4 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
2 parts Cinnamon
1 part Bay

Unity

Aleister Crowley by Starlitenergies

Aleister Crowley 1875 – 1947

Aleister Crowley was perhaps the most controversial and misunderstood personality to figure in the new era of modern day witchcraft according to most sources. Known by the popular press of his time as “The Great Beast” and “The Wickedest Man in the World”, Crowley was a powerful magician, poet, prophet and famed occultist. He was also a one-time witch, though most of the elders of the craft seem to discredit him the title.

Crowley was a man before his time. He lived in a society that couldn’t really understand him. His writings so shocked the peoples of his era that he never really got any praise that some believe he deserved, and as a poet he never received any recognition.

Crowley was born on the 12th October 1875 in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. His parents Edward Crowley and his wife Emily were wealthy brewers and the epitome of respectability. They were also devout Christians and staunch members of the Plymouth Brethren sect. They brought up young Crowley in an atmosphere of pious religious narrow-mindedness, against which he constantly rebelled. His whole life thereafter seems to have been a revolt against his parents and everything they stood for. His father died when he was 11 years old.

After the death of his father, Crowley inherited the family fortune and went on to be educated at Trinity College Cambridge. There he wrote and studied poetry. He loved the out-doors life and was a capable mountain climber, in pursuit of which he attempted some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas. In 1898 he published his first book of poetry called "Aceldama, A Place to Bury Strangers In", a philosophical poem by a 'Gentleman of the University of Cambridge' in 1898'. In the preface he describes how God and Satan had fought for his soul and states: “God conquered – and now I have only one doubt left – which of the twain was God”?

It was while he was at Trinity that Crowley became interested in the occult and with his roommate Allan Bennett, they began to study whatever they could. Crowley soon discovered that he was excited by descriptions of torture and blood. He liked to fantasise about being degraded and abused by a 'Scarlet Woman', one who was dominant, wicked and independent.

One of the books he read about this time was by the author 'Arthur Edward Waite', entitled “The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts”. It hinted at a secret brotherhood of occultists and Crowley became even more intrigued. He wrote to Waite for more information and was referred to "The Cloud upon the Sanctuary – By Karl von Exkartshausen". This book tells of the 'Great White Brotherhood' and Crowley determined he wanted to join this group and advance to its highest levels. Later that year on the 18th November 1898, he and Bennett both joined the 'Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn', the elusive Great White Brotherhood.

In 1899 Crowley is reported to have become a member of one of “Old George Pickingill’s” hereditary covens situated in the New Forrest, although apparently he was not welcome for long. It is alleged that he obtained his 'Second Degree' before being dismissed due to his contemptuous attitude toward women, failure to attend rituals with regularity, his personal ego and sexual perversion (Crowley had a bias toward homosexuality and the bizarre, shocking during his time even amongst witches). The priestess of his coven later described him as “a dirty-minded, evilly-disposed and vicious little monster!”

As well as being dismissed and outcaste by the New Forrest witches, all was not well within the Golden Dawn. By this time Crowley had moved out of Trinity College without earning his degree, and taken a flat in Chancery Lane, London. There he renamed himself 'Count Vladimir' and began to pursue his occult studies on a full-time basis. Crowley had a natural aptitude for magic and advanced quickly through the ranks of the Golden Dawn, but the London lodge leaders considered him unsuitable for advancement into the second order. Crowley went to Paris in 1899 to see 'S.L. MacGregor Mathers', the then head of the Order and insisted that he be initiated into the second Order. Mathers at the time was experiencing growing dissension to his absolute rule from London, and sensed in Crowley an ally. To the consternation of the London lodge he readily agreed to Crowley's request and initiated him into the second order.

However their allegiance was an uneasy one, for Mathers like Crowley was a powerful magician and both were intensely competitive. Mathers taught Crowley 'Abra-Melin' magic but neither attained any of the grades of the A\A\. They quarreled constantly and allegedly engaged in magical warfare. Mathers is said to have sent an astral vampire to attack Crowley who responded with an army of demons led by Beelzebub. In April 1900, Mathers due to problems within the London lodge dispatched Crowley back to England as his 'Special Envoy' where he made an abortive attempt to regain control. Shortly thereafter both Mathers and Crowley were expelled from the order.

Crowley began to travel, mostly in the East studying Eastern Occult systems and 'Tantric Yoga'; he also studied 'Buddhism' and the 'I Ching'. Then for a time he lived in an isolated setting near to Loch Ness in Scotland. In 1903 he met and then married Rose Edith Kelly, sister of the well-known artist Sir Gerald Kelly. She bore him one child. While they were on holiday in Egypt the following year, April 1904, he and Rose took part in a magical ritual during which he alleges to have received a message from the God's. As a result of this communication he wrote down the first three chapters of his most famous book “Liber Legis, the Book of Law”. This book contains his oft-quoted dictum: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the Law, Love under Will”, upon which Crowley based the rest of his life and teachings.

In 1909 Crowley began to explore levels of the astral plane with his assistant, a poet called “Victor Neuberg”; they used 'Enochian' magic. Crowley believed he crossed the Abyss and united his consciousness with the universal consciousness. He describes the astral journeys in “The Vision and the Voice”, which was first published in his periodical “The Equinox” and then posthumously in 1949.

Never far from controversy in 1909 through to 1913, Crowley serialized the secret rituals of the Golden Dawn in his magazine 'the Equinox', which he also used as a vehicle for his poetry. Mathers who had written most of the rituals and who was still his greatest antagonist, tried but failed to get a legal injunction to stop him. His action only served to gained Crowley more press publicity and notoriety.

By now Crowley was fast becoming infamous as a Black magician and Satanist; he openly identified himself with the number 666, the biblical number for the antichrist. He also kept with him a series of 'Scarlet Women'; the best known of these was Leah Hirsig, the so-called “Ape of Thoth”. Together they would indulge in drinking sessions, drugs and sexual magic. It is believed that Crowley made several attempts with several of these women to beget a 'Magical child', none of which worked and instead he fictionalised his attempts in a book called “Moonchild”, published in 1929.

In 1912 Crowley became involved with the British section of the O.T.O. (the Ordo Temple Orientis or Order of the Temple of the East), a German occult order practicing magic. He then moved and lived in America from 1915 to 1919, moving again in 1920 to Sicily where he established the notorious Abbey of Thelema at Cefalu.

In Sicily he proceeded to involve himself in Italian occultism and in 1922 became the head of the 'Ordo Temple Orientis'. However (as he routinely did) he began to attract more bad publicity. The press denounced him as “The Wickedest Man in the World” because of the alleged satanic goings on in the Abbey. It has now come to light that many of the allegations were false and were no more than press sensationalism. However their effect had serious repercussions for Crowley. In 1923 Mussolini the then ruler of Italy stepped in and expelled him from Sicily.

Crowley wandered around for a while visiting such places as Tunisia and Germany before settling for a time in France. While in France he engaged as his secretary the services of another aspiring magician 'Israel Regardie'. Regardie would later become famous himself and played a prominent role in exposing the complete rituals of the 'Golden Dawn' to the public. Crowley continued to travel around Europe during which time he picked up a growing heroin addiction, a habit he would suffer from for the rest of his life. Back in England in 1929 he met and married his second wife 'Maria Ferrari de Miramar'. The marriage took place in Leipzig, Germany.

In 1933 Crowley met with 'Sybil Leek' another famous witch and became a frequent visitor to her home. Sybil a hereditary witch was only 16 years old at the time and later wrote in her autobiography "Diary of a Witch" - (New York: Signet, 1969), that Crowley talked to her about witchcraft. He taught her the words of power and instructed her on the use of certain words for their vibratory qualities when working with magic.

Already notorious and well known to the press, Crowley then became involved in a famous and sensational libel case. In 1934 before Mr. Justice Swift, he sued Nina Hamnett a prominent sculptress. Nina had published a book “Laughing Torso” (Constable and Co., London, 1932) in which Crowley alleged she had libeled him by saying he that the practiced black magic. As the case proceeded the other side produced such evidence of Crowley’s bizarre life-style and scandalous writings (as they were considered at that time), that the justice was horrified. Crowley lost the case and was forced into bankruptcy, much to the delight of the popular press who again had a field day.

In his penultimate year 1946, a mutual friend Arnold Crowther introduced Crowley to Gerald B. Gardner. His meetings with Gardner would later lead to controversy over the authenticity of Gardner’s original 'Book of Shadows'. It was alleged that Gardner paid Crowley to write it for him? But this has now been discounted. While it did contain some of Crowley’s writings, this was the result of Gardner and Crowley comparing notes on rituals used in 'Old George Pickingill’s' covens in the New Forrest area. Doreen Valientes book "Witchcraft for Tomorrow” does much to shed light on this controversy.

At the time of his meetings with Gerald Gardner, Crowley was a feeble old man living in retirement at a private hotel in Hastings, barely kept alive by the use of drugs. It was here that he passed from this world into the next on the 1st December 1947. Unrepentant and unbowed he left this world with a final snub at the society that had so misunderstood him, he left instructions that he was to be cremated and instead of the usual religious service, his 'Hymn to Pan' and other extracts from his writings was to be proclaimed from the pulpit. Finally his ashes were to be sent to his disciples in America.

In many ways Aleister Crowley was not a well-liked man, but he influenced and had an effect on the build up to the new era of modern witchcraft. His knowledge of witchcraft and magic was profound and without question, and he has passed on that knowledge through his books. In today’s more liberal society more and more of Crowley’s books are being reprinted as we begin to appreciate his strangeness. Indeed some of his books have now gained classical status. These include: Gnostic Mass and The Book of Law (New York: Samuel Weiser, 1977) from which portions of the well known “Charge of the Goddess” were written by Doreen Valiente. Other books include: Magick in Theory and Practice, 777 And Other Qabalistic Writing and The Book of Thoth to mention just a few.


Starlitenergies

Sources

The Encyclopedia of Witches &Witchcraft - by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present - By Doreen Valiente
Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft - By Raven Grimassi
Witchcraft for Tomorrow - By Doreen Valiente

Altars by Tansy Firedragon

Altars by Tansy Firedragon (Rachel Patterson)

What is an altar?  Well I think it can be anything you want it to be…

Let’s start with the traditional idea, that an altar is a flat surface often a small table or the top of a cabinet where you lay out all your ritual tools, offerings and image of deity.  It is also a place that you can go to for meditiation and connecting with the Divine, it provides a focus.  It is also a practical place to put everything you need when in ritual so that you don’t have to run around looking for everything once you have cast a circle!

A ‘traditional’ (for want of a better word) altar for instance has some guidelines – what items to use and where to put them.  Goddess items go on the left and God items on the right.  Goddess items being a chalice and a cauldron, God items being a wand and an athame.  Representations of the four elements are usual as well, salt or soil for Earth, incense for Air, a candle for Fire and a dish of water for Water.  A pentacle is often placed in the centre of the altar and either statues or candles to represent the Lord and Lady. 

But I like to mix it up a bit…to me an altar is an extremely personal thing, it not only represents who or what you follow, your faith, but also a reflection of you as a person. 

I have several altars around the house and I also have one in the garden.  If I use deity representations on them I do usually stick to the Goddess on the left, God on the right guideline but generally I go with my intution.  

I like to have altar clothes that I change with the seasons, using colours to reflect the Sabbats or the feel of the energy for that period.  I love to have fresh flowers on my altars, if possible ones taken from my own garden.  And candles…always lots of candles...  I sit in front of my altar to meditate so having lots of candles to light for me to focus my mind is important.  But then I tend to add whatever I feel is right, it might be particular crystals, it might be an offering dish to leave bits and pieces in when I want to thank or petition the Divine.  One of my altars has a magpie wing and skull along with some rusty nails and hag stones appear on all my altars as a nod to my matron deity The Cailleach and my Ganesha altar has lots of brightly coloured bits and bobs.  I like to use natural items to represent the elements, I have shells for Water, pebbles for Earth, feathers for Air and candles for Fire but I don’t have these on every altar.

An altar doesn’t have to be on a table or cabinet top, I do have both but I also have a tiny shelf in my kitchen with an altar on and I have seen altars in cupboards that can have the doors closed or on trays that can be hidden away if you don’t want them to be seen or are short of space.  Mantlepieces or window sills also work very well if you are short of space.  They don’t have to be overly obvious either, if you are conscious of other people in your home or still ‘in the broom closet’ then an altar can just be a couple of pretty items sitting on a shelf, a vase of flowers and a crystal perhaps.

Altars can be used for a particular purpose, you could have a healing altar with specific herbs and crystals laid out, an altar to celebrate and honour a particular deity with items that represent them and a place for you to leave offerings.  Altars can also be used to represent an element, you could even have four small altars, one at each direction in your home.  And faerie or dragon altars can be great fun to create.  One of my altars is what I call my ‘working altar’ it is where I leave any candle spells to burn out, or medicine bags and witches bottles to work their magic once I have created them.    I also like to represent my totem/power animals on my altar, whether it is with photo of the animal or in the case of my life long totem, which is a wild boar I actually have a little figurine of one, I also have feathers from my bird totems as well.

What about an altar to celebrate the inner you?  A place where you can put representations of your wishes and desires and really connect with your being.  Make it bright and happy, cover it with flowers and sparklies, even add a photograph of yourself.  I know it sounds a bit vain, but really it is all about boosting your confidence and inner well being.  Stand in front of it each day and say affirmations to give yourself a boost before you start your day.  Re-visit in the evening and thank deity for all the positive events that were created for you during your day and congratulate yourself on all your achievements.

Altars are an excellent place to leave offerings and petitions to deity.  It doesn’t have to be complicated, just a dish that you pop your petition in (a wish or request written on a piece of paper folded up is just fine) or a crystal or two.  But again go with your instinct, if your intuition tells you that the deity you are honouring or thanking would like a few chocolates then use them.

Outside altars are really easy to make, they only need be a large stone with some crystals on or a faerie statue works well.  Hang some wind chimes above it to make a beautiful sound.  Large pebbles can be painted and varnished with element symbols on or pentacles and placed in a group.  Sea shells are wonderful to add to a garden altar and little pots of herbs would be perfect.

Nature provides us with all sorts of wonderful items that work well on inside and outside altars. Fallen tree bark is beautiful, unusual twigs and sticks, pretty leaves, shells, pebbles, sea glass, acorns, and seeds can all be used.

Altars can be decorated with up cycled items such as old necklaces, pretty beads, mirrors and buttons.  Altar cloths don’t need to be expensive either, I use chiffon and satin from the haberdashery and it’s only a couple of pounds per metre, I also use old scarves that I have found in charity/thrift stores for a few pence each.

Don’t forget about bones too, I know it freaks some people out but I have often found small animal bones when I have been out walking and have been gifted several from road kill.   I certainly don’t advocate harming any animal just to get a bone for your altar…however they are available from animals that have passed away naturally or from accidents.   The bones of an animal carry a huge amount of power within them, they are wonderful items to place on your altar.

There are some gorgeous statues of the Gods and Goddesses available in all price ranges and styles, but you can also have a go at making them.  I have made fairly simple goddesses from Fimo modelling clay, but would also suggest searching the charity shops and second hand stalls for figurines that would suit your purpose.  Again it can be quite simple, if you don’t want an actual statue you could use representations, a candle for each using colours that represent the male and female to you.  A hag stone could be used for the Goddess and a twig for the God…be creative and use things that have meaning to you personally.

Don’t forget to dust your altar regularly, it will keep the energy flowing.  Unloved and unlooked after altars will block and stall your own energy.  Every so often clear off everything from your altar and look careful at each item before deciding to put it back on the altar ask yourself has it served it’s purpose?  Refreshing and revamping your altar gives your whole spirit a boost.

Whether you have a tiny shelf in a corner, a cupboard or seventeen grand altars around your home, it is a reflection of YOU, have fun with it, go with your instinct and make if YOURS.

Tansy

www.rachelpatterson.co.uk 

Rosemary by Unity

Rosemary - Rosemarinus officinalis

Other Names: Incensier, Dew of the Sea, Rose of the Sea, Sea Mist, Sea Dew, Ros Maris, Rosmarie, Guardrobe. Mary's Mantle, Polar Plant, Compass Plant, Romarin, Romero, Rosemarino.
Planetry Ruler : The Sun

Element : Fire
Gender: Masculine

Powers: Protection, Love, Lust, Mental powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth.

Rosemary is a hardy, evergreen perennial that grows between 3-6 ft. It is native to the Mediterranean and was said to have been brought to Britain by the Roman's. It is now grown throughout the world, and is a popular ornamental, culinary and magical plant. Rosmarinus is from the Latin meaning 'Dew of the Sea'.

Rosemary can be hung up around the home for protection against thieves, evil spirits and negative energies, which makes it a great addition to any protection bags/pouches or bottles. It can also be placed beneath your pillow to keep away nightmares. Powdered rosemary kept under the bed is said to keep a couple together, and hung over cradles, it will deter faeries from stealing babies, although it is also said to attract faeries and elves !

Rosemary can be used in spells for fidelity, memory and to dispel jealousy. It is perfect for purifying ritual baths, and used as incense during past life meditations.

A sprig of Rosemary, wrapped in cotton and tied around your right arm is said to dispel depression and keep you merry and bright; and in the middle ages it was worn around the neck to protect against the plague. Along with Rue, it was placed in Courts of Justice as a preventative from the contagion of gaol fever.

Rosemary infusion makes an ideal purifying wash for your hands before any healing work. Rosemary has a long tradition of being used to boost memory, the Greeks used to wear it in their hair for just that purpose. In France it was burnt along with juniper berries in sick rooms and hospitals to purify the air. It was also added to bridal bouquets to symbolize love, and funeral wreaths for remembrance.

Rosemary makes an excellent hair rinse ( see recipe below ) it adds strength and shine to your hair and stimulates growth. The essential oil, (diluted in a carrier oil) can be massaged into the scalp to prevent baldness and as it increases circulation it makes a soothing and warming massage oil for aches and pains. The infusion can be used as an antiseptic and astringent toner for your skin, and can be drank to relieve headaches, indigestion, menstrual cramps and nervous disorders.

ROSEMARY LEAF SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN INTERNALLY IN LARGE AMOUNTS ( ESPECIALLY BY PREGNANT WOMEN). ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED INTERNALLY AT ALL.

Rosemary is said to only flourish in gardens where the woman rules the home. It repels insects from neighbouring plants, and makes a good insect repellent when applied to the skin. The leaves and flowers can be used to create a yellow-green dye.

Rosemary is sacred to Hebe, Aphrodite and the Virgin Mary. There is a Christian story that says the flowers were originally white, and turned blue when Mary spread her blue cloak over a rosemary bush to dry.
As a culinary herb, rosemary is used as a flavouring for game and poultry, oils and wine.

Recipes:

Vegetarian Goulash - serves 4

2 tbsp rosemary infused oil
2 medium onions, sliced
1 dsp wholemeal flour
1 tbsp paprika
275ml hot water mixed with 1 tsp tomato puree
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 sprigs rosemary, approx 10 inches long
225g cauliflower sprigs
225g carrots, peeled and chopped into small chunks
250 g new potatoes, washed and halved
1/2 green pepper, de-seeded and chopped
150g soured cream or Greek yogurt
salt and pepper

Heat rosemary oil in flame proof casserole dish, fry onions until soft, then stir in 3/4 of paprika. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in water, tomatoes and rosemary. Bring to boil, stirring. Add vegetables and seasoning. Cover and bake in re-heated oven 190oC/375oF/Gas 5 for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and remove rosemary sprigs. Stir in soured cream or yogurt and remaining paprika. Serve with fresh pasta and/or garlic bread.

Herbal vinegar hair rinse:

Apple Cider Vinegar cuts through the residue left by styling products and shampoo. Lavender, rosemary and chamomile are beneficial for all hair types.

1 tbsp dried lavender
1 tbsp dried rosemary
1 tbsp dried chamomile
250 mls ( 8fl oz) apple cider vinegar

Steep dried herbs in apple cider vinegar in a covered glass jar for 2 weeks. Strain and pour into a glass bottle. Add 1 tbsp to 250ml ( 8fl oz) warm water and pour through hair for a final rinse after shampoo and conditioner.

Protection incense:
2 parts frankincense
1 part rosemary
1 part sandalwood


Unity

Bibliography :

Holistic Herbal - David Hoffman
Herbcraft: A Guide to the Shamanic and Ritual use of Herbs - Anna Franklin and Susan Lavender
Cunningham's Encyclopaedia or Magical Herbs - Scott Cunningham
A Kitchen Witches world of magical herbs and plants - Rachel Patterson
Jekka's complete herb book - Jekka McVicar

The Art of Ritual

A new book from our very own Tansy Firedragon (Rachel Patterson) is published on 27th May 2016 but is available for pre-order now...

The official blurb:
"The Art of Ritual takes you through every step of ritual format from the basics to the more unusual. What ritual is, how to create it, work with it and all the different aspects and stages of putting a ritual together and how to get the best out of it whether you are a solitary or within a group. From set up through the entire process including the cake...this book covers just about all you should need to know to give you the best ritual experience. Drawn from the author's own teachings and experiences this book also shares a variety or different ritual scripts and suggestions along with those from members of her coven."

Not only is it packed full of ritual information but it also includes several ritual scripts written by members of the Kitchen Witch Hearth Guardians:

Sunchylde Dryadmoon (Tracey Roberts)

Starlitenergies (Samantha Leaver)

Autumn Ravenflower (Vanessa Armstrong)

Unity (Sue Perryman)

Amunhart (Joshua Petchey)

Stormloverwolf (Stacey Mantle)

and...the image on the front cover is from a Kitchen Witch Coven ritual held at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park so some of our members will be able to recognise their bottoms!

CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGES FOR A COMPETITION...

http://www.rachelpatterson.co.uk/#!the-art-of-ritual/crh0

http://www.moon-books.net/books/art-ritual

http://kitchenwitchhearth.wix.com/coven#!shop/c1t0i
https://www.facebook.com/kitchenwitchuk/

March from a Witch’s point of view…

March from a Witch’s point of view…

by Tansy Firedragon (Rachel Patterson

March heralds the arrival of spring and the celebration of Ostara, the Spring Equinox and let’s hope it also heralds the end to this persistent rain we have been having.   

Dark and light are equal on the equinox so it always represents a time of finding balance for me.

And of course with Ostara being in March we get to celebrate new life and new beginnings in the form of chocolate...who could argue with that?   Mother Earth is awakening and feeling the first joys of spring, join in the celebrations and revel in the new and exciting energy.   It is a time to plant new seeds, not just in the garden but within your life as well, a time to bring in the inspiration and make wonderful plans for new schemes and adventures.

I know you don’t really want to hear this but…think ‘spring cleaning’ too, not just the house but a whole magical spring clean that includes clearing out old habits and past worries too.   Write down any bad habit or niggling  worry that you want to be rid of, empty your head of all those issues and jot them on a piece of paper.  Light a candle (I like to work with a green, yellow or white candle for this but go with what works for you) and set the paper alight then drop it into a fire proof container to burn out, let the flames burn away the bad vibes.  Bury the ashes or allow them to be taken away in the breeze.  Then sit quietly and watch the flame of the candle … take a few moments to visualise positive energy coming into your life, see yourself as you want to be and bringing new adventures into your life.  Allow the candle to burn out safely.

As you do the mundane housework (yep I know it’s boring but it has to be done, lots of dust and clutter can interfere with the flow of positive energy) visualise clearing out the negative energy at the same time.  As you hoover visualise it sucking up all the stale energy, as you dust do the same, wiping away the negative vibes.  Then go around the house… dance and sing if you want (the  neighbours won’t mind) bringing happy and positive energy into the house. 

And of course with Ostara being in March we get to celebrate new life and new beginnings in the form of chocolate...who could argue with that?   Mother Earth is awakening and feeling the first joys of spring, join in the celebrations and revel in the new and exciting energy.

Magical workings for this month are; new beginnings, rebirth, renewal, new life, growth, balance and fertility – not just of the baby kind but new projects and ideas as well.

If you happen to find a dandelion head don’t forget to make a wish, call upon the four quarters to bless you and then blow…

You can make yourself an easy egg protection charm:  Take a fresh egg and empty out the insides by making a small hole at each end and blowing out the egg yolk & white (you also get breakfast as well) then you can very carefully push some herbs into the centre of the egg shell, go with what feels right for you and what you have to hand but basil, fennel, garlic, mugwort, rosemary or bay would all work well.  When you have added the herbs just pop a small piece of tape across each hole.  You can paint the egg or decorate it in any way you like, maybe with protection symbols and runes. 

If you want to work with deities that are associated with the month of March you could try; Vesta, Juno Lucina, Ceadda, Aegir, Rhiannon, Isis, Mars, Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, Cybele, Rhea, Ostara, Dionysis, Bacchus, Pan, Dagda, Astarte, Sheela-na-gig, Minerva, Iduna and Ishtar.   You might like to set up an altar to them or make an incense in their honour and meditate, see what messages and guidance they have for you.

Totem animal energies that are particularly associated with this month are wolf, cougar, whale, hawk, falcon, buffalo, frog, eagle, snake, rabbit, chicks, unicorns and merpeople and with all the rain we have had lately I suspect the merpeople will be out in force ;-)   Call upon their individual and magical energies to help you and guide you through this month, meditate upon them or pop a photo of the particular totem on your altar or mantelpiece.

Veggies that are in season during March in the UK are; artichokes, purple sprouting, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, chichory, chard, endive, spring & winter greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rocket, sorrel, swede and watercress.  Seasonal fruit is a bit sparse but apples and forced rhubarb are good.

If you fancy a bit of foraging (please make sure you have identified the plants correctly before eating!) then you might find these during March; alexanders, chickweed, dandelions, fat hen, nettles, sorrel, watercress, wild rocket, chives, cow parsley, meadowsweet, wild garlic and primroses.

If you like working with the energy of crystals then a few suggestions to work with that correspond to the month of March are aquamarine, bloodstone, hematite, imperial topaz and ruby.  I love to meditate with crystals.  Make yourself comfortable somewhere that you won’t be disturbed and hold the crystal in your hand, look into it, deep into it, study all the facets and any imperfections then take yourself down into the crystal itself and explore…

Making a loose incense or an essential oil blend to help you connect with the flavour of March is always fun, you could use lotus, magnolia, ginger, jasmine, rose, sage, lavender, narcissus, African violet, broom and strawberry as any of those would be perfect for this month, but go with your own instinct and make a blend that speaks to you.

Make every day full of the joys of spring…

Tansy

Originally published in The Mystik Way magazine

www.rachelpatterson.co.uk

March Crafts by Lela Moon

March Crafts
Mother’s day in the UK this month and the garden is starting to wake up nicely.

Two simple crafts this month:

A picture frame
Bracelet with meaning

The picture frame

You will need;
Card, birch twigs, scissors, glue gun or strong glue, decorations and your picture.



First of all take your card and draw a square inside to the size of the frame you require.

Cut out the middle.




Take your twigs and stick to the edge of the frame.



Then stick on your decorations.

Take your picture and stick to the back of the frame.



DONE...Easy.


The bracelet with meaning

This is the tradition of Martia, a red and white bracelet worn from the 1st of March till the 31st.

The tradition came from ancient Greece and is still practiced today.

The bracelet is worn to protect the wearer from disease and from the rays of the sun.

At the end of the month the bracelets are placed on rose bushes and taken by the swallows so they can weave it into their nests. It was also wrapped round jugs of water to protect the water from the sun and keep it cold. Some would also tie them round fruit trees to make them produce a good harvest.

You will need; red and white ribbon and any beads you want to add.

Take the two bits of ribbon and tie at one end



Wrap the two bits round each other and then add the beads if you want. Then tie the end together.



Wear it and then put out in the garden at the end of the month.



Note: If at all possible we would advise using biodegradeable ribbon or even coloured twine so that we don't add more trash to the Earth.