Book of Witchery (31 page)

Garden Witch Protection Spell

This Saturday witchery is designed to stop bad feelings and harsh words between two friends. It's tough when a person that you consider your friend turns against you for whatever reason. Perhaps you quarreled or you have simply grown apart. In these situations, however, now that the feud is on, your defenses are low. Emotions can be raw, and feelings may be hurt very easily on both sides. Why? Probably because you know each other well enough to know exactly which buttons to push. If you feel that you've hit your limit on what you can handle, then try this protection spell designed to end the fight and let the both of you heal and move forward in a positive way.

Gather the following supplies:

• A single stem of blooming snapdragons (if you recall from Tuesday's chapter, snapdragons break manipulative energies and are very protective magickal flowers)
  
• A few dark purple pansies—a bloom or two will suffice
  
• A black satin ribbon
  
• A 6 x 6-inch square of cotton or silk dark purple or black fabric (it's best if the fabric is natural)
  

Take a few of the snapdragon blooms and a pansy flower, and place them in the center of the cloth square. Repeat the spell below three times, and on the final saying, gather up the sides of the bag and tie it closed with the black ribbon.

Snapdragons, snap back at hostility
End the quarrel between my friend and me
The bewitching colors of purple and black
Remove hurt and keep negativity back
Pansies are a sure cure for the brokenhearted
Let us both move on and our relief get started!

Knot the bag three times. Close the spell by saying:

For the good of all, with harm to none
By Saturn's energies, this spell is done.

You may keep the charm bag on your person for as long as you need to. Allow yourself some time to mend. It won't be instantaneous, but you can reinforce this spell every Saturday as needed. Perform in a waning moon phase to push away the hurt and in a waxing moon phase to pull healing toward yourself.

When you feel that you don't need the herbal charm bag anymore, open it up and give the floral components back to nature. You now have two options with the fabric square and the ribbon. You may wash them by hand, allow them to air-dry, and save them for another use. Or you can dispose of them in a garbage can well away from where you live and work.

Colors, Candles, Metals & Crystals

Colors

The colors linked with Saturn and Saturday's protective magick are black and dark purple. Yes, I agree that purple has shown up all over the daily color correspondences, perhaps because it is a very popular color with magick users. There is just something mystical about it. However, for today's spells and color magick, we need the deepest, darkest purple that we can find.

Black is the classic Witch's color. This midnight hue is a traditional color to work with and to wear on a Saturday or anytime you want to appear in control and confident. Whether you go trendy, dramatic, and gothic or more subdued, such as wearing a classic tailored black jacket and slacks, black is a seductive, attention-getting color for clothes.

Now, typically magick users adore all colors, but we tend to save our all-black ensembles for special occasions. Honestly, doesn't everybody? No matter your religious preference, almost every woman owns a “little black dress”—something she saves for when she really wants to turn a few heads or make a confident statement.

Candles

Black is also the traditional candle color for protection magick. There is something extra intriguing and witchy about black candles. Sometimes these may be hard to locate throughout the year. Your best bet is to watch for black candles during the fall months (especially around Halloween) and stock up on them.

If you check out a few specialty or trendy candle shops at the mall, you will be able to find black jar candles and votives. It always makes me smile to see a classy jar candle labeled something like “Midsummer's Magic” or “Midnight Spice.” Typically these are patchouli scented, which is perfect to use in candle magick, as patchouli is associated with Saturn and protection. Work with either of these dramatic and dark-featured colors for Saturday candle spells designed to protect, neutralize gossip, and deflect harm.

A Black Candle Uncrossing Spell to Deflect Negativity

Have you had one ghastly week at work? Is bad luck plaguing you, or does everything seem to be going wrong? Maybe you simply feel that you are surrounded by everyone else's psychic garbage. Before you start to panic, stop and consider your options. Here is a candle spell to break up those bad vibes and to deflect the negativity that seems to be surrounding you. Technically, this would be referred to as an uncrossing. A crossed condition is somewhat like a low-scale hex, but a crossed situation typically happens from a combination of events and influences. Uncrossing spells and rituals focus on making the magickal problems leave for good, as opposed to focusing on where it all started from.

All this time you've been waiting for the perfect excuse to get all vamped up and to break out the black candles. This dramatic spell is a favorite of my friends and students, as many of them love to have any excuse to be as theatrical and witchy as possible. For this spell, you'll need to go all-out: black clothes, dark makeup (if you wish), and several black candles. Play your favorite magickal music—Native American drums, haunting Celtic tunes, or a dreamy synthesizer piece—whatever you find particularly inspiring or magickal.

When should you work this spell? Set it up late Friday night and, as the clock strikes midnight, signaling the start of a new Saturday, light the altar candles and begin the spell.

Gather the following supplies:

• A black piece of cloth or scarf to drape over your work area
  
• 2 black votive candles (you will use the votives as altar candles for illumination)
  
• 1 black taper candle to represent the negativity you are fighting
  
• 3 coordinating candle holders (2 votive cups, 1 candlestick holder)
  
• Matches or a lighter
  
• 1 brown paper lunch bag
  
• A black permanent marker
  
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell
  

One of these candles must be a taper, as you need to be able to easily snap the candle in half during this spell. This is a quick sort of witchery, but it's very effective. Ground and center yourself before you begin this spell, and remove all hatred from your heart. Put yourself into a determined and practical state of mind, and then get to work. Begin speaking the charm as the clock strikes twelve:

As the clock strikes midnight, this candle spell now takes place
Fear and dread, begone—I banish you from time and space!

Light the black taper. Take a few moments to calmly visualize all of the negativity and problems that you need safely removed from your life, and say:

This black candle represents all the negativity
With magick, I break the bad luck that is surrounding me
With Saturn's power to bring all problems to an end
These crossed conditions will now surely begin to mend.

Pinch out the candle and then snap the taper in half, and say:

By the powers of the moon, the stars, and the sun
As I will, so mote it be, and let it harm none.

Place the broken taper candle into the lunch bag. Fold the bag closed and drip a bit of the votive candle wax on it to seal the spell. Now, draw the symbol for the planet Saturn (
) on the bag with the black marker. You may allow the votive illuminator candles to burn until they go out on their own or save them to reuse for another Saturday spell.

Take the paper bag holding the candle and remove it from your property. This represents the negativity that has been surrounding you, so let's get rid of it. Take a drive—or better yet, a walk—and toss the brown bag into a public garbage can, somewhere away from your house and away from where you work. Once it's been disposed of, turn your back and don't look back. Put all of this garbage behind you.

Metals & Crystals

The metal associated with the planet Saturn is lead. Lead is very toxic, as I am sure you know, and this metal is aligned with the element of earth. Lead is considered receptive, probably due to the fact that this material is so malleable. It was once used to ward the thresholds of the home, and the metal is complementary to protective and defensive magick. While I find the history to be fascinating, this metal is not recommend for magickal use today.

The following crystals and stones that are connected to Saturday and the energies of Saturn are useful for grounding, centering, protection, and for absorbing negativity. Three of these featured crystals are easy to find as tumbled stones; the black tourmaline is sold in its raw form. Keep a good supply of crystals and stones in your home. They will come in handy for all sorts of protective witchery.

Obsidian:
Obsidian is a naturally occurring glass. It's lava that cooled so quickly that the minerals inside of it did not have time to form. Its elemental association is fire, and its planetary correspondence is Saturn. Sometimes this black, translucent stone is called an apache tear, and you may also find obsidian with white patterns in it—this variety is called snowflake obsidian. No matter what variety you discover, this is a great stone to help you ground and center. An excellent choice to add to any Saturday spell, obsidian is a popular stone to utilize in protective spells and magick designed to fight negativity and break bad luck. Check out a few stores that carry inexpensive tumbled stones and pick up a few to have on hand.

Hematite:
Hematite is a solid, heavy-feeling silvery-black colored stone. This stone is popular for its grounding and calming properties. Hematite is a stabilizer, and you may often find rings carved out of it. I always felt light-headed whenever I wore a solid hematite ring. I can and do work with the tumbled stones of hematite successfully, and with no side effects, but in my research, I discovered why this type of jewelry affected me so. Wearing or carrying hematite will calm you down and open you up to impressions and the feelings of another (think of it as having similar qualities as moonstone).

Not everyone may experience this; in fact, if you need to be more receptive and levelheaded, then this stone is the way to go. Hematite claims the elemental correspondence of fire and the planetary association of Saturn. Hematite may be also used in types of emotional healing rituals, so if you wanted to, this would be a great stone to add to any spells designed to help feuding friends or romantic partners heal, forgive, let go, and then to move forward.

Jet:
Jet has the folk name of Witch's amber or black amber, probably due to the fact that many high priestesses wear beads of amber and jet to denote their rank. Jet is ancient fossilized wood, which explains its compatibility with amber. Jet has links to many crone goddesses, such as Hecate. Its elemental associations are earth and Spirit. This black stone, like the other featured crystals in this chapter, also claims the planetary correspondence of Saturn. The jet will clear your aura, boost your psychic abilities, and allow you to see things as they truly are.

Jet becomes electronically charged when it is rubbed. It is a sympathetic stone and will absorb pessimistic or negative energies. It can be placed in a heavily trafficked room in your home to absorb bad vibes or to absorb anger. If jet is placed in the bedroom, it promotes a good night's sleep and guards against nightmares. Try placing jet around a candle and then focus your intentions on creating a happy and argument-free zone in your home. Set the candle and the stones somewhere in the most-used room in the house and silently let them do their work. On an interesting note, today some magicians suggest that female Witches work with jet for issues regarding menopause and perimenopause.

Black Tourmaline:
This has the magickal associations of the element of earth and the planetary correspondence of Saturn. It is a receptive stone and a powerful tool for protection, as it absorbs negativity and magickal manipulations. Black tourmaline will help seal your aura, and it also reflects and pushes out psychic pollution. Think of it as a clever little secret to defend yourself from needy emotional vampires and the occasional psychic vampire. The black tourmaline stone is sold in chunks and comes in its rough crystal form, which I personally enjoy. This stone is considered to be brittle, and it does shatter easily, so handle it carefully.

The nifty thing about black tourmaline is that it creates a psychic barrier. If you are inside the boundary, then black tourmaline helps you to make quick decisions. When someone is on the outside of the tourmaline barrier, the stones reflect any unbalanced energy right back to them like a mirror. For the exact reasons listed previously, I use this bewitching crystal often when I do back-to-back clairvoyant or tarot readings for several hours with the general public. Because I have to tell you, you do get some wild and sometimes even unbalanced folks in for readings.