Articles — materials

The candles have been extinguished, the circle opened, and the spell completed.  But what do with the leftover stuff?  You probably know how easy it is to get saddled with ritual debris: candle stubs, bits of fabric and string, bottles, bags, and written spells.  Though no longer useful, these items once held great meaning.  Just throwing them away seems inappropriate.   But keeping them around can stunt your magic and clutter up your house.  In this article, we'll consider ways of ethically, safely, and effectively disposing of the physical remnants of spellwork. Re-using ritual items Some ritual items are suitable...

Magickal oils have a long, long history. Long ago, oils were a precious source of food and fuel, and the finest were reserved for sacred applications. Oils were offered to the Gods and used to anoint the newly born and dying. Mages scoured the globe for rare flowers, spices, and resins to create special oils for magic, some of which are still in use today. The popularity of oils in contemporary witchcraft is due to the legacy of medieval magic, the influence of New Orleans-style Voodoo, and the works of the late, great green witch Scott Cunningham—among other sources. The...

Bright and cheery Citrine is a member of the Quartz family. Citrine comes in shades of honey, amber, and deep gold--sometimes with tiny rainbows inside.  It's one of the best stones for attracting positivity, dispelling stale energy, and lifting the mood.  History Some say that Citrine is mentioned in the Bible, but the "golden stone" in Genesis was probably Topaz.  The Romans likely acquired Citrine in trade with the East.  Their jewelers were among the first to regard it as as a precious stone.  Medieval Celts prized Citrine as a health-bringing amulet, and it was thought to ward off poison...

Shimmery green Aventurine is a marvelous addition to your crystal collection.  Aventurine is a form of microcrystalline Quartz.  It doesn't grow into points and clusters like some other types of Quartz, but forms chunks and slabs of opaque crystal.  Green Aventurine gets its color and shimmer from small amounts of the mineral Mica. It varies from frosty pale green to a deep, vibrant emerald. (Peach- and orange-colored Aventurine also exist, and are colored by iron oxide.)  Most Green Aventurine comes from India. Because of its beauty, low cost, and moderate hardness, Green Aventurine is a popular stone for carving.  Tibetan...

Interested in burning resin incenses like Frankincense and Myrrh?  The first thing you'll need is a roll of charcoal tablets. Most stick and cone incense is charcoal-based, meaning the fragrance ingredients are pre-mixed with charcoal to allow them to burn evenly.  Using charcoal separately allows you to burn incense that wouldn't ignite well on their own, like pure tree resins and herbs.  With charcoal, you can avoid unwanted additives and make custom blends to suit your ritual needs and preferences. Charcoal comes in rolls or boxes of tablets, and is available for a few dollars any place that sells resin...