RavenWolf - To stir a magick cauldron: a witchs guide to casting and conjuring

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

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Title: Subtitle 2011 by Author Name

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First e-book edition 2013

E-book ISBN: 9780738716985

revised edition

Sixth Printing, 2011

First edition, fourteen printings

Book design and layout by Joanna Willis

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

First edition editing by Jessica Thoreson

Revised edition editing by Kimberly Nightingale

Interior illustrations by Tom Grewe and Kevin R. Brown, Llewellyn art department; symbols on 344 from Living Wicca 1993 by Scott Cunningham

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Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

This ones for the Morrigan

May all her people
live long and prosperous lives...

Morrigan Book Blessing

Hearken as the Witchs Word

calls the Lady and the Lord

Moon above and Earth below

Skys cool blue and suns hot glow,

in this right and ready hour,

fill these pages with thy power.

May no unprepared eye see

the secrets which entrusted be

to I who walk this hidden road

to find the Hearthstones calm abode.

Guardians from the Four Directions,

hear me and lend thy protection:

may these truths of Earth and skies

shielded be from prying eyes.

But to the Witches whose map this be

may the way be plain to see;

and, through all the coming Ages,

may we find home in these pages.

So mote it be!

Jack Veasey

Contents

: Lifting the Veil

Introduction

. Conjuring Your Courage

. Conjuring Sacred Space

. Conjuring Laughter, Focus, Triggers, and Salutes

. Conjuring the Mechanics of Quarters

. Casting Circles

. Conjuring Power and the Aspects of Divinity

. Conjuring Minor and Major Magicks

. Conjuring by Circumstance

. Conjuring Your Inner Self: Know the Craft Community, Circa 2000

: A Wicca 101 Test (Take it, if you dare!)

: Magickal Symbols

: Suggested Reading List

Acknowledgments

A good book is never, ever written alone. Friends and family listen to you prattle about it for an eternity, until in their opinion, it is finally out of their hair. To my family, thanks for bearing with me as I glued myself morning, noon, and night to the computer. Yes, the keyboard is detachable from my hands. See? Now we can go bowling, swimming, and (shudder) school shopping.

To Bried FoxSong: The strength and support you have given over these many years has not gone unappreciated or unnoticed. You were always the first, and the best, teacher.

To Lord Serphant of Serphant Stone: You accommodated your world to help me in mine. Not many people would do that. I honor you as well.

To Lord Ariel Morgan: You provided an opportunity for advancement. I will be forever grateful.

To the men and women of the Black Forest Clan: Together, we have made a wonderful temple. May our people live long and prosper, as the saying goes.

Special thanks to: Lady Diane McDonough, my friend and confidante. Lady MorningStar of MorningStar Farms, whose contributions to this book and stable personality enhanced my sense of self. Cynthia, for reading through the manuscript and offering special insights that only a new student to the Craft could provide. I love your many questions. They kept me on my toes. Lord Tim Zidik, for being indispensible to the Clan, and providing his own twist of information for this book. Lady Black Isis, for sharing her friendship with me. Lady Bats for circling always, in good form.

Finally, to my husband of more than twenty-five yearshang on for the next twenty-five, it will most certainly be grand. Ive never met anyone with such stubborn determination to make something work. I admire you.

To wrap up these thank-yous, I dont want to forget the Llewellyn staff, who most assuredly work hard on every authors book, right down to the switchboard operator, who is always pleasant and helpful. Sometimes I think we pen-in-hand-people dont give you the credit you deserve. Special to my heart are Nancy Mostad, Acquisitions Managermy friend and an excellent author in her own rightand Jessica Thoreson, for her editing expertise and dynamite personality.

preface

Lifting the Veil

It is ten minutes till midnight on Samhain Eve, the last harvest of the year and the time of the Feast of the Dead. The world fills with pulsating energies, straining beyond the veil to touch humankind, to remember, and to return the gift of memory.

You find yourself standing in a large, secluded clearing. Some call it a grove, others the Nemeton. The tall firs flanking three sides of this magickal place stand firm and regal, their dark shrouded limbs beckoning secrecy and protection. Behind you lies the midnight-white stubble of a corn field, its bounty given to the people so that they may prosper during the harsh cold months to come. The poison of humankind smokes in the backgroundthe cities overflow with crime and despair, corruption and greed. No longer are you a person of centuries past, but a person of the present.

A mist creeps upon the ground. Light and silvery, it tickles the hems of pant legs and long, heavy gowns, then caresses cloaks and capes of many hues. The moon begins its journey across the heavens, casting rippling beams of ivory magick upon all below. As before, you are one among manyyoung and old, robust and slender. A sea of faces, each barely masking taut anticipation, wavers before you. Eyes of all ages examine the grove carefully. Are they satisfied that all is ready? Whispers undulate in the mist, weaving threads of unity among the people. You can feel it. The people strive for oneness with the Universe, drifting close, then separating. With relief, you know you are finally a part of those around you, searching for a common goal.