Lady Sable Aradia - The Witchs Eight Paths of Power: A Complete Course in Magick and Witchcraft

First published in 2014 by Weiser Books

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

665 Third Street, Suite 400

San Francisco, CA 94107

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2014 by Lady Sable Aradia

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-551-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available on request.

Cover design by Jim Warner

Cover image Vibrant Image Studio / Shutterstock

Interior by Deborah Dutton

Typeset in Adobe Garamond, ITC Franklin Gothic, Nuptial Script and Trajan

Printed in the United States of America.

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For my teachers in the craft: Lady Vichary, Lord Grunnar, Lord Maphis, Lady Dolphanie, and Lord Redleaf. I cannot offer you any greater gesture of my gratitude than this, to teach what you have taught, informed by what I have learned. May these pages be a part of your legacy.

And the Wicca should be properly prepared and purified, to enter into the presence of the Gods.

GERALD GARDNER, THE GARDNERIAN BOOK OF SHADOWS

PART ONE
THE BASICS OF THE EIGHTFOLD PATH

PART TWO
INTERMEDIATE PRACTICES

PART THREE
ADVANCED PRACTICES

As a Witch, I believe the most misunderstood element of what we do is the practice of real magick (first spelled with a k by Aleister Crowley to differentiate the art, or craft, of magick from magic as illusion). We are taught in our culture that magick is somehow wrong, or that it is dangerous and mysterious, and only the truly gifted can do it.

But magick is really about self-empowerment. The practice of magick uses a language of symbolism and metaphor to circumvent that little voice in the back of our mind that tells us something will not work. It speaks to our subconscious in primal symbols which set forces in motion to bring about our True Will.

Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, wrote in his Book of Shadows, about The Eightfold Way, or the eight different methods of performing magick:

1. Meditation or Concentration.
2. Trance, projection of the Astral.
3. Rites, Chants, Spells, Runes, Charms, etc.
4. Incense, Drugs, Wine, etc., whatever is used to release the Spirit.
5. The Dance and kindred practices.
6. Blood control (the Cords), Breath Control, and kindred practices.
7. The Scourge.
8. The Great Rite.

Since I teach the Eightfold Way as workshop intensives, the creation of which led to the writing of this book, people ask me if these methods need to be practiced in any particular order. Gardner tried to answer this in his theory of the Five Essentials:

1. The most important is Intention: You must know that you can and will succeed; it is essential in every operation.
2. Preparation: You must be properly prepared according to the rules of the Art; otherwise you will never succeed.
3. The Circle must be properly formed and purified.
4. You all must be properly purified, several times if necessary, and this purification process should be repeated several times during the rite.
5. You must have properly consecrated tools.

Each chapter in this book covers one point of the Eightfold Way. I would suggest that represent advanced skills and practice. The vast majority of my students drop out before they begin the work of the last three paths. The ones who persist usually also take their Second and Third Degree initiations and go on to found covens. They are among the most effective Witches I know.

Gardner says these five essentials and Eight Paths, or Ways, cannot be combined into one rite:

Meditation and dancing do not combine well, but forming the mental image and the dance may be well combined with Chants. Spells, etc., combined with scourging and No. 6, followed by No. 8, form a splendid combination. Meditation, following scourging, combined with Nos. 3 and 4 and 5, are also very Good. For short cuts concentration, Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are excellent.

I don't entirely agree with him, but it's often not necessary or desirable to combine paths. Still, there's no hard and fast rule about this in my experience. As a matter of fact, one of the exercises I've included here combines dancing and meditation to great effect.

My tradition, Star Sapphire, was founded twenty-five years ago in Canada by Gardnerian and Alexandrian initiates connected to the Hereditary Celtic tradition through Sybil Leek. In addition, most in this motley crew were avid martial artists, or they practiced with Dianic and Reclaiming groups. Before I was a Star Sapphire Witch, I was an eclectic Witch, solitary and then covening, for many years. I have practiced yoga quite seriously, am a Reiki master and teacher, and have dabbled in Tantra and Ritual Magick. As a result, my background borrows from a variety of sources: British Traditional Witchcraft, Reclaiming methodology, Ritual Magick symbolism, Eastern mysticism, and energy work. This book will draw upon these sources to show you how to develop each of these eight techniques to hone and refine your magickal skills. I'll break them down into component elements and then assign exercises, reading, and practice to improve those skills. As I tell my students, magick is just like any other skill or talent; some people are born with more natural ability than others, but if you want it badly enough, with practice you can be brilliantregardless of where you started!

So, if you are serious about mastering magick, and you're willing to do the work and study, then let's explore the Witch's Eight Paths of Power!

.

This book is intended to be used for informational purposes only, and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or prescribe, or to substitute for medical advice or treatment. It is always advised to consult a medical professional before starting or trying any substance, treatment, exercise, or regimen. Likewise, any ingredient in spell work in this book, herbal or otherwise, should be reviewed for safety, as well as contraindications with any current medications with your qualified health care provider. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for issues related to mental or physical health, how you choose to use the information contained in this book, or any repercussions of your actions, whether legal, health-related, or spiritual.

1) Meditation or Concentration. This in practice means forming a mental image of what is desired, and forcing yourself to see that it is fulfilled, with the fierce belief and knowledge that it can and will be fulfilled, and that you will go on willing till you force it to be fulfilled. Called for short, Intent.

GERALD GARDNER, THE GARDNERIAN BOOK OF SHADOWS

Magick is the Art and Science of causing change in conformity with Will.

ALEISTER CROWLEY, MAGICK IN THEORY AND PRACTICE

Intent is the wellspring of all magick. I find that many people believe they know what this means and how to do it, but in practice, forming clear and precise Intent, and willing it to happen, is not nearly as simple as it sounds. It takes training and effort! Quite a few things must come together at once. You must: