WICCA

“An’ it harm none, do what ye will.”

Wicca is an earth-focused, Pagan practice that focuses on pre-Christian traditions, folklore, and ritual magic. Wiccans typically worship a god and goddess, practice magic, respect nature and celebrate the seasons.

Wiccan altars are places within the home and garden for rituals, contemplation and worship. They usually represent the four elements (air, water, fire and earth) and often feature a chalice, wand, pentacle, figures, and seasonal items.

Elements of a Wiccan altar

A small table, a shelf, an upturned box or even a tree stump can be used. Often surfaces are covered with an altar cloth which may have magical symbols on it. Candles, figures and symbols are often placed on the altar, along with tools like wands, knives (athame) and an offering bowl.

The four seasons are often represented as follows:

Earth (North) – crystals, salt, soil or stones

Water (West) – a cauldron, seashells, driftwood, a chalice, a bowl or bottle of water

Fire (South) – candles (usually red, white, green or gold)

Air (East) – incense, bells, feathers

The objects on the altar should be placed in a purposeful way and have spiritual significance, inspire you, and remind you of something significant. The location of the altar should also be decided in a purposeful manner.

Wands – wands are used as points of focus, like an externalised third eye. Practitioners focus all of their attention into manifesting something and use the wand to re-enforce their will.
Cauldron – represents the womb & the goddess. Primarily used for burning incense and herbs, and candles. Filled with water it provides a black mirror for scrying (fortune telling).
Athame (ritual knife) — is the masculine to the feminine cauldron. Used for casting protective circles and, like a wand, to re-enforce the will of the practitioner. They invoke deities, & are used to open & close doors to spirits.

Wiccan Runes

Wiccan Runes consist of thirteen symbols used for divination. Usually thrown into a cloth with only the runes that land face up interpreted, the one that are furthest away being most significant. They can be used to interpret past events, to help with present choices and dilemmas, or to make predictions about the future. They are often sometimes used to enhance spells or ritual magic, and can be meditated on to understands their energy and power.

Most sets are made up of: the Sun, Moon, Flight, Rings, Trinity, Woman, Man, Harvest, Crossroads, Waves, Star, Scythe, and Eye. The sun being success and vitality, the moon being intuition, secrets and change, and rings representing commitment and union.

SPELLS

Wiccan spells use natural energy or the energy of the universe, and often involve tools like candles, herbs or crystals. Some common spells are for protection, prosperity, good health, love and connection, healing, purification and banishing unwanted habits or demons.

An important component of Wicca is the law of three that says that whatever you put out, you get back threefold, meaning if you cast spells with ill-intent you get it back times three.

Some spell books to get you started are The Book of Practical Witchcraft by Pamela Ball, A Practical Guide to Connecting with the Magick of Candles, Crystals, Plants & Herbs by Jason Mankey, Earth, Air, Fire and Water by Scott Cunningham, and Spells & How They Work by Janet and Stewart Farrar.

Wiccan Altar Craft Ideas

Make your own loose incense by collecting naturals gums & resins, drying flowers such as lavender and chamomile, adding herbs and spices and burning on a charcoal disc in your cauldron.

A pentacle—a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle—is a symbol of protection, balance and the five elements and represents the interconnection of humanity with nature and the divine, with the circle symbolizing unity, wholeness, and the containment of energy. Make one out of malleable branches like willow, bound together with white cord.

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