Book of Witchery (32 page)

About half of readings are fun. People are happy, in a good mood, and really enjoy their readings. But the other half . . . the client is typically wound up emotionally and their auras are leaking all over the place. They have no qualms about dumping all that on you. After all, in their mind, that's what they are paying you for—your time and attention. So unless you want to wade through all that emotional muck and mire, you need some psychic protection on hand, because, my witchy friend, if you don't shield against that, you will be carting it home with you at the end of the day.

It's a delicate line to walk. You do want to remain open to the psychic impressions; however, you don't want to get bombarded with all that swirl of negative emotions and anxiety either. Personally, if I do not protect myself, I have found that I will become overloaded very quickly. For me, that's a bad situation, since when that scenario does occur, all of my mediumship abilities will come roaring out to play—it's sort of like, “Hey, we are all psychically warmed up. Let us out so we can show off and do our thing!” And I am merely along for the ride.

Honestly, while that sounds super-cool to some folks, in reality, it's a gigantic pain in the ass. Yes, sometimes I have no choice in the matter, and the messages from the other side of the veil will pop through. But typically these surprise visits from the client's dearly departed don't last too long, and it's usually pretty mild. However, if I choose to do the medium thing on purpose, then I want a controlled environment so I can begin and end the session when I decide.

I mean, think about it—would you want a bunch of folks' deceased relatives talking your ear off night and day? 'Cause once they find you and figure out that you are open to the messages, it can be tough to turn them off, so to speak.

In an effort to help me combat this problem, a coven sister and
jewelry
-designing friend, Ravyn, made me a bracelet out of black tourmaline chunks, and it works like a charm. And it's the strangest thing, but the bracelet goes on vacation and disappears from time to time. My theory is that it needs to recharge and to purify. So when it is ready to go again, it always shows back up somewhere in my home.

Black Tourmaline Boundary Spell

If you are the sort of person who really wants or needs a fast crystal protection spell that is no muss, no fuss, then try out this Saturday witchery while working with your black tourmaline. Hold the black tourmaline jewelry piece or the raw chunks of stone in your hands. Visualize what it is that you want them to do. Then repeat the following spell verse three times:

Lovely tourmaline crystal so chunky and black

Reflect all negativity right out and back

While I am inside of this magickal boundary

I am protected from any psychic vampirey

By the element of earth, keep me free from the mire

May this crystal spell grant the outcome I desire.

Now go ahead and work with the black tourmaline. I bet that you will notice a huge difference.

Potions, Philters & Oils

Magickal Protection Oil

In keeping with our theme of the day, here is a recipe for you to create your own magickal protection oil. Add this to candles or dab a bit onto a talisman or a sachet bag filled with protective herbs. Put a bit on a cotton ball and rub it on doorframes and thresholds to ward your home or office. (Don't go overboard, now—we don't want to ruin the woodwork or cause someone to slip on a oily surface.) Just a small amount will work beautifully. As with all philter and potion recipes in this book, do not apply it directly to the skin.

• 1 small decorative glass bottle
  
• Base oil, approximately
  1
  ⁄
  8
  cup
  
• Clean dropper
  
• 3 drops myrrh or cypress oil
  
• 3 drops patchouli oil
  
• 1 pansy flower (dark purple or black is best)
  
• 1 small morning glory leaf or tiny bit of the vine
  
• A small chip of black tourmaline
  
• 6 inches each purple and black thin satin ribbon
  
• 1 small metal pentagram charm or talisman that you feel coordinates with protection
  
• A label and a pen (to list the ingredients and to decorate and mark the bottle)
  

Pour the base oil into the bottle; fill it three quarters of the way full. Add the essential oils one at a time. Next, add the herbs and the crystal. Close up the bottle with the lid, place your fingers over the lid, and carefully shake up the mixture. Hold up the mixture to the sunlight and allow the light of Saturday's sun to illuminate the philter for a moment or two.

Wipe off the outside of the bottle. Use the label to list the ingredients and the use of this potion. Decorate the bottle by drawing the sigil of Saturn (
) or pentagrams. If you have other magickal symbols that you would like to use for protection, then add those to the label. Attach the label to the glass bottle, and finish up by threading the metal charm onto the ribbon and then tying the two colored ribbons around the neck of the bottle.

As you finish tying on the bow, hold the bottle in your hands and concentrate on the visualization that your aura around your entire body is glowing with a deep and sparkling purple color. Silently call on the god of karma and time, Saturn, and the triple goddess Hecate to ask for their assistance. Visualize that protection is swirling around you, your home, and your loved ones in the best possible way. Now pull all that energy from your visualization into the philter bottle that you hold in your hands. Take a deep breath, hold it for three counts, and then blow it out slowly. Now, repeat the charm below:

Hecate, I call upon you now

This philter with your magick endow

Saturn's strong energy will circle around

With this potion, only protection is found

Witches' herbs and crystal add their power

Begin the magick in this hour.

Set the bottle aside, and ground and center yourself. Clean up the supplies, and eat a few crackers or do something physical. Make sure to store the protection philter in a dark, dry place out of the reach of young children.

Essential Oils

In this final chapter on the days of the week, here are the essential oils associated with Saturn:

• Cypress
  
• Myrrh
  
• Patchouli
  
• Mimosa
  
• Tamarisk
  

Some of these essential oils, such as the myrrh, may be on the pricey side. Personally, I always have regular old essential patchouli oil on hand for protection spells. I just enjoy the scent of it. Plus, if you need to watch your budget, go for the patchouli. It's available everywhere—just make sure you are purchasing essential oils, not fragrance oils.

Tarot Card Associations

The tarot cards that correspond with Saturday's protective and troubleshooting energy are Temperance, the Knight of Swords, and the Two of Swords. The suit of Swords often represents conflict, power, decisions, and judgment. The Major Arcana card featured in this final chapter is Temperance. This card symbolizes moderation and patience, a way of maintaining a sort of inner balance. These are the qualities we will want to tap into for our Saturday spellwork.

Temperance

Temperance is a Major Arcana card that typically shows a winged female figure pouring liquid from one cup into another. While some folks assume that this is an angel, this winged figure has probable Pagan origins. (Think of Isis and her sister Nepthys—both of these goddesses had wings.) The Temperance card may be used in spells designed to help you find the right balance. This symbolism can assist you in finding a way to harmoniously blend all of the aspects of your life. It may also mean that you need to work harder to pull things and situations back into alignment in your own life. When the Temperance card appears in a tarot reading, it means that the person has a mature and balanced personality, and that they can handle difficult situations with diplomacy and competence. This is the sort of tone or imagery that we want to invoke for Saturday spells.

Knight of Swords

The Knight of Swords can be summed up in two words: no fear. The Knight of Swords symbolizes a person who is fearless. They ride into situations and handle even the most difficult things in a spirited and competent fashion. In a reading, this card symbolizes a direct, honest, and open person. This is the tarot card to work with when dealing with a conflict or argument with another person. This type of energy comes in handy when you need to make a quick and wise decision, are working to overcome obstacles, or if you are breaking negativity or attempting to deal fairly with a difficult person.

Two of Swords

Many of the cards in the suit of Swords represent struggle or conflict. However, the Two of Swords stands for balance and restored peace. This card speaks of two equal forces that have maintained a balance. Neither is better than the other; they are both just as strong or as right. In magick, this card invokes a truce and a cautious peace. Work with this card when you are trying to create a peaceful resolution to a problem and when justice is the issue. This card will help ensure that the magick turns out fairly for everyone involved. Now, with that idea in mind, here is a tarot spell to try when you need to call for justice and harmony.

Tarot Spell for Justice and Peace

Here is our final tarot spell, and it's a doozy. Remember to work your spells honestly and ethically, especially when you call for justice. Justice is a neutral force. It doesn't take sides or play favorites. The scales will be weighed for you as well. So be honest and fair in both your magickal and mundane dealings. You may use whatever style candle you prefer—taper, votive, or pillar. Even those little mini taper candles would be fabulous for this spell.

Gather the following supplies:

• Temperance, Two of Swords, and the Knight of Swords tarot cards
  
• 1 black candle
  
• 1 white candle
  
• 1 gray candle
  
• 3 coordinating candle holders
  
• Mullein flowers or leaves to banish negativity
  
• An item of sympathy
  
• Matches or a lighter
  
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell