Greenleaf Magic for Change

Witchy wisdom and the power of spells and rituals for social and personal transformation
1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-1-80065-288-0
Verlag: CICO Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 144 Seiten

Be inspired and make a better world through witchy wisdom, magical intentions, spell-casting, powerful potions and rituals for positive personal and social change. The essence of witchcraft is making things better, both personally and collectively. Witches have been taking actions for the good of all for centuries and that great tradition is gathering steam and positive energy as covens gather together to help create social justice, fight climate change, reject racism and inequality, and plant and grow community gardens to feed the hungry. Join best-selling author Cerridwen Greenleaf and be an agent of positive change. From solo spells and group rituals addressing special causes to creating power potions, using sacred stones, crystals and evolutionary rocks, social justice smudges and many more enchantments for equality, Cerridwen shares inspired rites for the right causes.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Greenleaf, Cerridwen

Leseproben

Creating an Altar for Change

Select a small table or shelf to be the foundation of your altar. In the interests of living sustainably, I like to use previously owned furnishings from small, independent stores, thrift stores, and even yard sales. Unlike newly manufactured goods, they are much higher quality and often have uniquely charming designs.

You will need to clean the energy of your antique-store treasures by wiping them with a clean, damp cloth and freshly drawn water. If the weather is cooperative and it is not raining, set the table out in the sun for a full day. When you bring the table into your home, place it where you want to station your altar and leave a bowl of salt on top of it for a full 24 hours.

WITCH CRAFT

Soy Joy Altar Candles

If, like me, you have candles burning nearly all your waking hours, you will need plenty of them. Get crafty to ensure you always have candles that are easy on your budget and good for the Earth. Where possible, I recycle leftover wax and reuse unburned candle stubs for the most sustainable approach to making and using candles. Otherwise, I use soy wax: soy candles burn clean, are free of any toxins or pollutants, and are much healthier for both people and the planet.

Pour the soy wax flakes into the microwaveable container, cover it with the lid to avoid splattering, and heat the wax in the microwave at medium heat for 1 minute, or until the wax has fully melted. If you don’t have a microwave, place the bowl over a saucepan with warm water covering the bottom, and put the pan over a low heat for about 4–5 minutes.

While you wait for the wax to melt, thread the wick through the candlewick base, and secure to the bottom of the container. Wrap the other end of the wick around a pencil or craft stick. Rest the pencil or craft stick on top of the jar to keep the waxed thread standing upright in the container.

Once the wax has melted, thoroughly stir in the essential oil with the metal spoon. Now, carefully pour the scented wax into the containers or jars, keeping the wick in the center.

Leave the candle on a cooling rack to cool for 24 hours, with the top of the wick wrapped around the pencil. To imbue your candles with even more positive power, recite this waxing poetic candle blessing spell while they are cooling and firming:

When times are dark,

Be the brightest candle.

Carry the light of love,

Carry blessing to the world.

Blessed be all.

Once cooled, unwrap and cut the excess wick, leaving roughly ½ in (1cm) of wick above the top of the candle.

Gather Together

4 cups (1kg) of soy wax flakes (available at most craft stores)

1 microwaveable container with a lid

2 lengths of candle-making wick for soy waxes

2 candlewick bases

2 x 6–8fl oz (175–235ml) thick glass containers, such as a jelly jar or Mason jar

2 wooden pencils or craft sticks

9 drops of an essential oil of your choice (see pages 12–13)

Large metal spoon

Cooling rack

Essential Oils for Love, Light, and Harmony

Blue tansy oil: This sweet-smelling oil is believed to be a great agent against fighting nervous disorders and emotional impulses. It is also sacred to Gaia, the Earth goddess, and brings deep understanding of life. If you are looking for new beginnings, tansy is ideal.

Cardamom oil: This oil has a rich and spicy scent and is ideal for anyone who wants to deepen their spirituality in magical workings. Its strong, feminine energy brings out generosity and open-hearted love. Try cardamom oil in peace rituals, or for greater happiness in love.

Carnation oil: The carnation flower is small and sweet, but its oil extract offers steadiness, strength, and the energy of a guardian. It can improve communication and open your mind and heart to new experiences. Carnation oil will uproot buried emotions and help you process them so you can renew and reset. If someone has been ill, it can abet stamina, release the weakness and sadness of sickness, and guide you in your return to joy.

Carrot seed oil: Warm and deeply comforting, this oil soothes the soul by keeping anxiety and stress at bay. Carrot seed oil enhances empathy, is pleasingly grounding, and removes spiritual blocks so users become more spiritually evolved.

Cistus oil: Extracted from the flowers of the rockrose, this essential oil’s aroma mimics sun-ripened fruit in the summertime—sweet, fragrant, and with hints of warm honey. Cistus oil can help you handle fear, sorrow, and worry. If you feel disconnected from yourself on a spiritual level, cistus oil will restore and rebalance you.

Lemongrass oil: Calming and balancing with a protective energy. Native to Asia, lemongrass has long been used to deter negative spirits from entering the home. The sharp and bright citrus scent can lift those who are feeling blue and in a rut. It is also a love attractor. Lemongrass oil can help with a fresh start in life.

Oakmoss oil: This oil has an earthy energy that matches its name—it can ground you and remind you of what you are supposed to accomplish during your life. It is uplifting and brings inspiration. Oakmoss oil is an attractor of abundance and highly recommended for money spells. It is also associated with older women; any rituals of cronehood and elderwoman’s wisdom should include oakmoss oil.

Palo santo oil: A resinous and richly scented essence. Palo santo oil contains the benefits of protection and purification and, for this reason, has been used by Native Americans and shamans for millennia to connect to the divine. It is also useful for abetting breath, overcoming headaches, and lifting depression. It is commonly utilized in aromatherapy or during soothing massages. Choose palo santo when you need to replace negative energy with positive.

Spikenard oil: A wonderful tried-and-true stress reducer. With an earthy and woodsy aroma, this oil is great for spiritually calming its user and alleviating insomnia. Perhaps the finest quality of spikenard oil is its ability to help you forgive, let go, and make peace with those who have hurt you, allowing you to clear the way for a fresh start.

Tuberose oil: An intensely rich oil, whose sweet scent can reach all the way to the heavens and contact the realm of angels. It is transporting and can quickly raise low spirits. Tuberose oil will reconnect you to your purpose here on Earth, bringing comfort and helping you to rise above depression, hardship, and suffering. If you are carrying out magical rites in which you need to connect with the spirit realm, use tuberose oil.

Western red cedar oil: This oil has a woody, strong, and refreshing aroma and is powerful for grounding. It can be used in nature spells and works well with forest and plant deities or energies. This essential oil promotes longevity and retains youthful looks and energy. If you want to connect with Mother Earth, choose western red cedar oil.

Simple and Sacred

A FOUR-ELEMENTS ALTAR FOR A BETTER WORLD

When visualizing positive change, the elements help me to stay grounded. I keep to what I call “simple and sacred” by honoring the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Make a list of what represents positive change to you—and let the elements keep you grounded with this four-element altar.

Choose items for your altar that represent each of the four elements. Plants, rocks, fossils, or stones can signify Earth, while a candle can represent Fire. Fallen feathers from a passing bird or long grasses that sway in the breeze can all work nicely for Air and can be easily found during a walk in the park. Water can be represented by a bowl of freshly drawn water, while a beautiful vase of flowers can encompass both Earth and Water elements. The only limitation when selecting elemental items is your imagination!

Place the green cloth over the center of an energetically cleansed table (see page 11 for more information on cleansing). Then place each of the four element offerings in the four corners of the altar (if your table is round, you can approximate). Your Earth element goes in the north, Fire element in the south, Air to the east, and Water to the west. Once these offerings are in place, set the green candle near the center of the altar. Place the incense in the center and light the incense, the candle, and, if you are using a candle in the south corner to represent the Fire element, you can light this now. Speak the following aloud:

Powers of the North, bring the cool clarity of reason in your wind,

May it bring fresh energy.

Powers of the South, bring the cleansing influence of Fire,

May it burn clean.

Powers of the East, bring your fresh wind of change,

May it blow anew.

Powers of the West, bring your refreshing rain,

May it wash clean.

Wind and water of transformation, thank you for your blessings.

Fire and grounding of Earth, thank you for your sanction.

Stand in front of your four-elements altar and absorb the sense of newness and possibility. Allow yourself to feel the breeze of change, the warmth of the candle, and the flow of water, and breathe in the scented perfume of incense. When the incense burns out, your spell is done. Extinguish the candles and take the blessings with you!

Gather Together

A green cloth, large enough to fully cover the table

An Earth element item, such as a crystal,...