Articles — magick

When working magick in a group or coven, everybody brings different skills and talents to the table.  You may have a booming voice, a knack for writing rituals, or an astounding psychic gift.  Or (let's face it) you might not.  Not everybody's contributions are equal.  But next time you start to feel intimidated by the attainments of others, remember this: You can surpass loads of candidates just by being a basically decent person. Yep, it's true--there are a lot of jerks in the occult world. Some express their personality faults mainly in a magickal setting (I call them "circle jerks"),...

A sachet of leaves tucked under a pillow, a handful of berries strewn across a doorway: Herbal charms and remedies are one of the most familiar forms of magick. Herbal (“green”) witches keep elaborate pantries of herbal ingredients, each with a different power to enlighten or heal, bother or protect. (To be clear, we’re talking about the ritual use of herbs here, rather than the medicinal and psychoactive effects they can have on the human body.) But how, exactly, does herbal magick work? How does an unassuming pinch of bark or leaf become a partner in a magickal charm or...

Today, we’ll look at a versatile and inexpensive addition to your spell kit: Black ritual salt. Black salt is a potent ingredient in defensive workings. Black salt combines the grounding properties of salt with the protective power of the color black. (Technically not a color, yes I know). In this article we’ll cover the basics of using black salt in spellworking. Most black salt spells have the same basic purpose: Creating a barrier of protection and/or “earthing” crummy energy to be disposed of later. Types of black salt There are basically two kinds of black salt on the market: Black...

Magickal partnerships are as diverse and complicated as any other human relationship.  Just for fun, here's a list of five ways that Witches and occultists can pair up.  If you work magick with another person, try seeing which category (or categories) your partnership fits into! The Teacher and Student (Merlin and Nimue) In this type of partnership, the experienced practitioner passes on knowledge to the eager neophyte.  They may be conveying a specific skill, like reading the runes, or an actual initiatory current.  It is generally expected for the student to offer something in exchange--dutiful attention, at least. Since initiation...

Invisibility is one of the classic folkloric powers of the Witch. Along with riding on broomsticks and eating little children, the Witches of legend are able to become invisible at will. They can travel unseen and make all kinds of mischief under the cloak of magick. In the Middle Ages, invisibility potions and powders began to be recorded in magickal grimoires. Many of these concoctions involved complicated rituals and toxic ingredients.  Other recipes, like soaking poppy seeds in wine, probably didn't have much effect besides making the magician feel really good! Because spirits were believed to move about unseen, many...