Eileen Holland - Spells for the Solitary Witch

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

665 Third Street, Suite 400

San Francisco, CA 94107

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2004 Eileen Holland

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: 978-1-57863-294-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Holland, Eileen.

Spells for the solitary witch / Eileen Holland.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 1-57863-294-3

1. Witchcraft. 2. Magic. I. Title.

BF1566.H643 2004

133.4'4dc22

2003025441

Cover and interior design by David A. Freedman

Typeset in ITC Giovanni and Clairvaux

Printed in Canada

TCP

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

This book is dedicated to all those who serve Isis, Great Magician, Lady of Spells, Lady of Words of Power, Goddess of Many Names, Queen of the Universe, Mistress of All Things Forever.

Solitary witches are those who practice the Craft without a coven or other group. Some witches are solitary because of circumstances, but the rest of us are solitary by choice. We enjoy gathering with other witches for sabbats, festivals, or rituals, and we sometimes participate in group spells or other concerted magickal actions, but we feel no need to join a formal group. We understand that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. We like our independence and prefer the freedom to do things our own way.

This book's spells are all designed to be cast by a single witch, working alone. Coveners can also use them, when they work by themselves or by adapting the spells for group use.

Love, money, wishes, uncrossing, protection... whatever your need, there is likely to be a spell for it here. Candle magick, knot magick, footprint magick, sympathetic magick, herbal magick, psi-magick, talismanic magick, kitchen witchcraft... there are many different kinds of spells in the book. Smudging, asperging, invocation, incantation, visualization... many different magickal techniques are used. Charms, potions, poppets, mojo bags, spell bottles, rituals... whatever your skill level, there is something here for you.

If you are an experienced witch (or otherwise adept at magick), cast these spells in your usual way. You can also adapt them as needed or use them to inspire creation of your own spells and rituals.

If you are new to magick, it is very important that you read this entire section before you cast the spells. Here are some of the things that you need to know: Magick is serious. Magick is subtle. Magick is sacred. Magick is spiritual. Magick is science. Magick is love. Magick flows from the Goddess. Magick is the manipulation of energy. Magick is all around us, if we know how to perceive it.

Many of this book's readers will be new to magick, and I have kept them in mind while writing it. Casting a magick circle can be daunting for new practitioners, so these spells can all be worked without circles. (If you usually cast circles for your spells, though, by all means please do so for these as well.)

How do you create spells for people who have little experience with magickspells they can actually make work? My solution has been to base most of these on correspondences and invocation. Everything in them, from ingredients to timing to deities, is specified because it empowers the spell's intent.

Magick teaches us that everything in the Universe is connected. Correspondences are magickal associations. They link herbs, animals, crystals, colors, lunar phases, and so on with specific energies, and thus with intended magickal results. Correspondences are powerful keys that help to open specific doors, and thereby direct magickal energy in desired ways.

If you have prior knowledge of magick, you will understand why certain herbs, candle colors, and so on are used in the spells, and why it is recommended that some spells be cast on particular days or during specified phases of the Moon. If you have no understanding of these things, you can nonetheless make use of magickal correspondences by simply following the directions for the spells in this book.

Names of deities are ancient Words of Power, so we invoke gods and goddesses to boost the magickal power of our spells. Different deities have dominion over different things, so we invoke them in accord with the intent of our spells. If you have studied mythology, you will understand why this god or that goddess is called upon in a spell. If you know nothing about mythology, you can still access of the power of invocation by following the spell directions.

A glossary of deity names is provided at the end of the book. It gives a very basic outline of who these gods and goddesses are.

These are cornerstones of magick, because no spell can be cast without them. A spell's purpose, or intent, is what that spell is meant to accomplish. A spell will not work properly unless you are very clear, in your mind and in your words, about what you mean the spell to do. Focused intent is crucial in spell-work, so many of this book's spells use writing as a technique to help with that.

Intensity is the power, passion, and energy that you pour into casting a spell. If you are ambivalent or uncertain about a spell, it is not likely to be fulfilled. The more intensity you put into it, the more successful that spell is likely to be. Keep this in mind when you raise power.

Magick cannot be practiced successfully without belief, respect, ethics, and responsibility. If you do not believe in magick, you will not be able to make magick. If you do not believe in yourself, and in your ability to work magick, you will not be able to make magick work for you. If you do not believe that you deserve the blessings that magick can bring, you will not be able to accept blessingseven when they make themselves available to you. It is possible to faithfully follow the instructions for these or other spells and still not have them work. You have to believe in magick, believe in yourself, and believe in your ability in order to work magick successfully.

It is dangerous to attempt to use magick unless you have respect for it. Failure to respect magick can result in having your spells go horribly wrong. To prevent this from happening, you must respect yourself, respect others, and respect the elements and the Universe, as well as respecting magick.

Magick does not work well for people who doubt themselves or have low self-esteem. If that sounds like you, work on those issues before you try to cast spells. Do whatever inner work is needed to get to really know yourself, to like and appreciate yourself, before you try to cast spells. Self-respect gives you the confidence you need to have in order to get spells to work.

To meddle magickally in someone's life is to disrespect that person. No matter how good or honorable our intentions may be, we should not cast spells for people unless they ask us for magickal help. To do otherwise is to invite interference in our own lives and affairs.

Successful magick requires a healthy respect for the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water). This is especially true of Fire. If you leave candles, incense, or anything else burning unattended, you will learn this lesson the hard way.