SOTW Episode 5&6 Show Notes

Woohoo! Over 1000 downloads on Podbean and over 100 likes on Facebook! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get down to business. We decided to split our episodes into two parts but that doesn’t make a huge amount of sense for the notes so I’m just keeping them as is. Thank you all again for listening/reading/sharing and we are always looking for topics suggestions!

Types of Spells

Spells and Magick

1. Spell: A spell/charm/hex is a set of words, spoken or unspoken, that invokes a magical effect
2. Magick: The power of influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.
3. All spells invoke magick, but not all magick requires a spell

What Makes a Spell?

1. Words: Either spoken or unspoken, in rhyme or in another language; words are used to put your intent into the universe.
2. Herbs: Herbs, plants, flowers and burning incense all bring in Earth and their characteristics. The different attributes of the plants along with what part of the plant you use will have an effect on the spell. Consult a resource, like Cunningham’s Encyclopedia or the web before getting in too deep. Like chemistry, mixing the wrong herbs together could create a disastrous result.OK! I’m a little tied about sharing this as I feel we really should pay tribute to the people who take the time and energy to publish a book. While searching on Google for Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (which you can order online at the hyperlink) I found an entire copy of the book in .pdf form. If this had taken some real digging I probably would have avoided sharing the link, but it’s literally the third option in two different browsers...so I’m assuming you all could easily find it as well. I strongly suggest you purchase some essential books for your personal library as research can always be done with a book...it’s harder when the router is out or Mercury is in retrograde :-) Please be conscious readers and support your authors! Online Copy of Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
3. Crystals, Gems and Metals: Regarded as conduits for energy, Earth and in general. A caster can harness this energy for healing, love, protection and offensive spells. As with herbal components; size, shape, color and type of crystal will determine its' use in spell casting. Yup, found another link. As always, be generous to your authors and independent vendors (Like The Gypsy Haven in Elgin!) and build your witchy library whenever possible. Online Copy of Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia Crystal, Gem, & Metal Magic
4. Numbers and Colors: Both of these are used in conjunction with all other components. Numbers can be used to predict wealth, love and success, and they are also important knot work and divination. Colors have an inherent psychological effect on people and the same can be said for it's magical properties. Using a certain color in the casting of spells, or even just using colors on day to day basis, helps to channel mystical energies through you, and transferring them to others. Numerology and colors are huge! Basically all humans have an inherent reaction to colors and society has built certain beliefs into numbers. In all honesty, you can read every book out there about numbers and colors and they all could tell you a different thing. My way is to combine whatever feels right after a decent amount of research. I like going to the source to see where the belief all started and work my way through history...but that's just me :-) Here's some sites to get you started, and one of the coolest ways to start is by finding out your own personal numerology. Colors

Offensive vs Defensive Spells

1. Offensive Spell: Spells used to outwardly affect the world, your circumstances, or others
2. Binding Spell: A spell or working that restrains someone metaphysically, preventing them from doing something. It is often used to keep the individual from causing harm to themselves or to others
1. Write the name of the person you are trying to bind on a small piece of paper, wrap it in black thread/ribbon while focusing on that person. Traditionally you would add a bit of the person to the piece you are wrapping such as hair, clothing, personal article, or a picture of the person. Primarily you are trying to invoke the essence of that person into the paper that you are binding. You can then add the paper to water and freeze it. *Side note: If you only need the spell for a period of time you can first wrap the bound paper in foil before freezing in order to keep dry. This will allow you to thaw out the binding and burn it while saying “My wish is no more, this person is free, undo this spell, without hurting thee.”
2. Using a poppet/voodoo doll
3. A Spell Tablet (katadesmos): A spell scratched a prayer to the gods into the lead, usually asking the deities for their assistance in smiting someone who had wronged them. Used to restrict the individual from performing harmful actions against yourself or themselves
4. A candle inscribed with the person's name on it
5. A specific rune charged with restraining the person
6. Handfasting
3. Invoking: Invoking is a form of voluntary possession where you invite a deity, spirit, Spirit, or specific energy allowing you to become a human host. The ritual of Drawing Down the Moon is an excellent example of invocation of deity.
4. Evoking: Evoking a deity/spirit/element is to call upon it and ask it to join you during ritual or a working. Sometimes this involves simply asking (“Hail, Ares, we ask you to join us in the circle tonight!”) or making an offering (“Great Brighid, we offer you this bread as a gift of thanks!”) in hopes that the deity will turn up.
5. Defensive Spell: Spells used inwardly to affect yourself, your home, or things directly attached to you.

Fire Spells: Spells that incorporate primarily the element of fire; this can include incense, bonfires, the sun, summer spells, birth/rebirth, Altar tools like an athame or candles, oils and herbs like cedar, cinnamon, basil, ginger, pepper and rosemary, stones such as carnelian, garnet, bloodstone.

6. Candle Spells: Commonly used for self or home, candle spells can be used for almost any intent. Using different colored candles the witch can inscribe her name, her intent, the things she is trying to banish, include things she is trying to bring into her life or the essence of herself or someone else.
1. Color correspondences *Side Note: Colors correspondences do not always need to match each person, the color represents what you want it to.
2. How the witch burns the candle will affect the direction of a spell. 2 sided candles and repel a person/thing/emotion and then bring something forth
7. Bonfires: Many spells incorporate burning something in the bonfire or making a sacrifice to the fires. This could be to release the workings into the universe, to destroy something from yourself/life/environment.

Air Spells: Spells to bring travel, inspiration, clear thoughts, happiness or freedom. Incorporates: altar items like bells, feathers, incense and ornamental fans, stones like clear quartz, amethyst, and fluorite, herbs and oils of lavender, mint, pine and meadowsweet

Beltane

1. The word 'Beltane' originates from the Celtic God 'Bel', meaning 'the bright one' and the Gaelic word 'teine' meaning fire Luckily with Facebook we're able to post a crazy amount on info on all of the holidays as they come up. So like us there to stay up to date on all the holidays!
2. History:
1. The Lord and the Lady are getting to it and their union brings about healthy livestock, strong crops, and new life all around.
2. Traditionally all fires in the community were put out and a special fire was kindled for Beltane. "This was the Tein-eigen, the need fire. People jumped the fire to purify, cleanse and to bring fertility. Couples jumped the fire together to pledge themselves to each other. Cattle and other animals were driven through the smoke as a protection from disease and to bring fertility. At the end of the evening, the villagers would take some of the Teineigen to start their fires anew." (From Sacred Celebrations by Glennie Kindred) Green Man - Beltane
3. A-Maying: Couples spent the night in the woods and fields, made love and brought back armfuls of the first May or hawthorn blossoms to decorate their homes and barns. Hawthorn was never brought into the home except at Beltane - at other times it was considered unlucky. Young women gathered the dew to wash their faces, made Flower Crowns and May Baskets to give as gifts. Everyone was free to enact the Sacred Marriage of Goddess and God, and there was an accepted tradition of Beltane babies arriving nine months later!
4. The Romans, would pay tribute to their Lares, the gods of their household. They also celebrated the Floralia, or festival of flowers, which consisted of three days of unbridled sexual activity. They wore flowers in their hair they held plays, sang songs, and danced.
5. May 6 is the Norse celebration of Eyvind Kelda, or Eyvind Kelve. Eyvind Kelda was a Norwegian martyr who was tortured and drowned on the orders of King Olaf Tryggvason for refusing to give up his Pagan beliefs.
6. Fairies >:-(
7. Norwegians celebrate the Festival of the Midnight Sun, which pays tribute to the Norse sun goddess. This festival marks the beginning of ten straight weeks without darkness. “Spring is waning. Sunna, Heathen Goddess of the Sun, drives her chariot through the darkening sky. On Midsummer Eve, Sunna's strength begins to decline, and those who honor her gather to celebrate this passage.”
3. Additional Deities: Green Man, Cernunnos, Jack-in-the-Green, Odin, Artemis, Bacchus, Hera, Juno, Kokopelli (Hopi), Pan, Pan, Priapus, Sheela-na-Gig (Celtic oversized Vulva goddess), Xochiquetzal (Aztec - Sho-kee-ez-al), Aphrodite, Astarte, Flora, Maia, Oshun, Freyja, Rhiannon, Apollo, Herne, Faunus, Cupid-Eros
4. Plants Associated with Beltane:
1. Hawthorn, Birch, Rowan, All-heal, blessed thistle, broom, curry, daffodil, dogwood, coriander, dragon's blood reed, fern, fireweed, nettle, flaxseed, hawthorn, marjoram, paprika, radish, rue, snapdragon, mushroom, almond, meadowsweet, rose, woodruff, tansy, elder leaves, oak, apple, hawthorn, birch, elder, ash, blackthorn, grape vine, mountain ash (rowan), holly, willow, cedar, yew, and hemlock.
5. Stones:
1. Malachite, garnet, rose quartz, emerald, beryl, tourmaline
6. Animals:
1. Swallow, dove, swan, cats, lynx, leopard, goats, rabbits, and honey bees
7. Symbols:
1. May baskets, crossroads, eggs, butter churns, strings of beads or flowers, ribbons, fires, fertility, growing things, ploughs, cauldrons of flowers, baskets and chalices
8. Food:
1. Dairy, bread, cereals, oatmeal cakes, cherries, strawberries, wine, green salads. Dairy foods and eggs are in tune with this season. Sweets of all kinds, honey, and oats are all fine foods for Beltane
9. Activities to try:
1. Wash your face in dew at sunrise on Beltane for beauty in the coming year. (Traditionally the dew from the hawthorn tree, but dew from grass and flowers will do.
2. Dance around the maypole
3. Go “A-Maying” or more legally...go on a picnic. The German Rheinlanders go into the wine fields and drink
4. Commune with the faeries or make a fairy garden
5. Set up a Beltane altar
6. Enjoy your animalistic instincts and confirm your love with your partner...wink wink
7. If you live near water, make a garland or posy of spring flowers and cast it into stream, lake or river to bless the water spirits
8. Make a May bowl: wine or punch in which the flowers of sweet woodruff or other fragrant blossoms are soaked-and drink with the one you love
9. Plaiting and weaving straw, creating things with wicker, making baskets and fabrics
10. Serve an evening meal of breakfast foods to invoke the fertility of the Sun God. Pancakes, eggs, milk, cheese, bacon, sausage, and honey are good options. Fix an extra plate for the Sun God, and leave it outside in the East when supper is finished.

Ok everyone! Hope you all take some time this weekend to enjoy the outdoors and eachother's company. Have a very blessed Beltane and we'll be back soon!

~LeFay