THE SEA WITCHES BOOK OF SHADOWS

Chapter 3

Charge of the Sea Goddess

I am the blue-robed Keeper of the treasures of the Sea. For My adornments I choose from the spoils of all shipwrecks since antiquity. Countless pearls adorn my throat and wrists, while mother-of-pearl combs hold back my wavy hair. Jewels offered unto me by my earliest worshipers ornament my great throne. Attendant on Me are the Nereids, mermaids, and nymphs who dance near the shores and beckon mortals to their watery embraces.

In each generation I call many to my waters. These, then, are the sailors and divers who yearn to explore the depths of My Mysteries. To many more, My Presence gives comfort and sustenance in their daily lives. However, sacrifice unto me before traversing My Waters, lest I call to you to join me beneath the waves.

From My sacred womb descends all that Was, Is, and ever shall be. From me came all life, and to me all life shall return, for I am the Cauldron, the Holy Grail of Immortality. To drink of my waters is to know Eternity. Beware, however, of drinking too deeply, lest you know it intimately. I am the womb of the world and the blood of life. Salt-water flows through the veins of all creatures, and my tides control every female, who shall honor and serve me until the end of time.

The charge of the great Ocean Mother

You are the Source of All Earth's Life

Ever Changing Cradle of Creation

You are, She Who Dances with the Moon

Each Wave Celebrates Your Power & Fierce Beauty.

The moon commands and the waves abide.

All life comes from her deep waters

And when life is done all life shell return to your deep waters.

Drink deeply but drink wisely

For when knowledge is found, it cannot be un-found.

Liston to the silence of my shores for they speak of the wisdom of the ages.

May you share with me your secrets and your wisdom, and tell me of your life, loves and passions, share with me so I may also learn from my children.

I have watched over you from the moment you took your first steps from my shores and I will carry on watching after you until your return to my waters

Thank You for the Wondrous Experience of Being Alive and living a good and fruitful life

Healing flows from the Ocean in waves of tranquility and sanity, bath in my waters and feel the healing energy.

Feel your past be healed as the tides bring change and renew all they touch

Colors from the deep, soft hued shells, vibrant corals, and fishes,

of all colors share the deep with an endless variety of creatures. Each life, a living reflection,

I am the Great Ocean Mother and the unimaginable diversity of the deep Oceans of the world.

Feed the eternal parts of ourselves.

The Great Rite Invocation.

Assist me to erect the ancient altar

At which in days past all worshiped.

The great altar of all things.

For in times of old, woman was the altar

Thus was the altar made and placed And the sacred place was the point within the centre of the circle As we have of old been taught.

That the point within the centre is the origin of all things.

Therefore should we adore it.

Therefore whom we adore we also invoke,

O circle of stars

Whereof our Father is but the younger brother

Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space

Before whom time is ashamed

The mind bewildered, and the understanding dark

Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love

Therefore by seed and root, and stem and bud

And leaf and flower and fruit, do we invoke thee

O Queen of Space, O Jewel of Light

Continuous One of the Heavens

Let it be ever thus

That man, speak not of thee, as One, but as None

And let them not speak of thee at all

Since thou art continuous

For thou art the point within the Circle, which we do adore.

The point of life without which we would not be

And in this way truly are erected the holy pillars

In beauty and in strength were they erected.

To the wonder and glory of all men

Altar of mysteries manifold, the sacred circle’s secret point

Thus do I sign thee as old, with kisses of my lips anoint

Open for me the secret way, the pathway of intelligence

Beyond the gates of night and day, beyond the bounds of time and sense

Beyond the mysteries aright, the five true points of fellowship

Here where the Lance and Grail unite

And feet, and knees, and breast, and lip.

The elements- your guardian spirits of the direction

The elements are the guardians to living things.

There are five guardian spirits in total, four of which are the guardian spirits of the directions, the east, south, west, north, the fifth guardian being the divine being, the spirit of life that holds all things together.

The elements not only reside around, upon and within the earth but also;

Air; direction of light and governors the four winds

Fire; from a bolt of lighting, to volcanic lava to the fire that burns within our hearts.

Water; from the rain to the great deep seas.

Earth; where the elements all reside

The divine being; the life force within that creates the aura around all living things.

They also reside in:

Air: your mind. The nervous system and all thought process and communication

Fire; the blood that pumps through your heart and your physical wants, needs and desires and passions.

Water; the water within your body, your emotions, memories, feelings, reflections even within your tears of love, joy and pain.

The divine being: the life force within that creates the aura around all living things.

The elements are not only apart of the world around us, but they are also apart of us.

The great grandmother ocean

The great divine or otherwise known as spirit or mother-ocean is the life

The divine is within, around us and never leaves us; the divine is the spirit of life, the ocean is the goddess womb, all comes from her and all shell one day re-turn to her.

The divine; is the life spirit within all living things that never dies as it is the vessel, the life spirit resides. It is the living and that which has passed.

The ocean has no one color for the ocean is all colors, even the colors that as humans we cannot see.

The ocean: has no concept of time, for kind humans created time for the seasons and measure their life’s by, the ocean spirits do not need to create time, for the ocean has always been and will always be.

The ocean is neither male nor female, it is both. But we tend to view the ocean more female because of her chaotic vibes and unforgiving manner, the ocean and woman have a lot in common

The divine is the purest form of life’s energy

To know the divine ocean, is to know freedom and soar above all things.

The guardian spirit of the directions of Air

The airs protective masculine energy governs

The east

The color yellow

The infancy of all things

The direction of light

The dawn of each day

The season of spring

The spring equinox

The four winds upon the earth from the warm breeze to the full force of a hurricane,

Your mind

Your consciousnesses and your sub-consciousness.

Your nervous system within your body

Your thoughts process, travel, learning, wisdom, knowledge and communication.

Your six senses of healing, smelling, seeing touching, tasting and psychic and abilities

The guardian spirit of air is also the spirit that follows members of your spiritual family. Those still with us and those who have passed

The guardian spirit of water.

The guardian spirit of the west of the guardian of water without which without such we would never be.

The west

The color’s blue’s greens’ and slivers.

The maturity of all living things

The dusk and sunset of each day

The autumn season

The autumn equinox

All forms of water from a tear drop on your face to the great seas upon the earth itself.

Your emotions, feelings, views, judgments, consciousness and sub- consciousness feelings, bringing forth dreams, reflections of ourselves and those reflections which we don’t show the world around us, memories and balance,

The healing waters cleanse us off all deeds and re-news our bodies and inner-self’s.

The guardian spirit of fire

The guardian of the spirit of fire without which we would still be in a cold unknown world.

The south

The colors reds. Yellows, oranges, gold’s and blacks.

The youth of all living things

The high moon of each day

The season of summer

The summer solstice

All forms of fire from a bolt of lightning thumping into the earth, to the volcanic lava within the earth, to the passions running through our minds, bodies and souls.

The life’s blood that pumps from our hearts through our veins bring forth the great passions that make us human, physical, wants, desires’ energy, power, inspiration, confidence and sudden change.

The hardest of the elements to balance, when we are out of balance, we find that all around us burns within unforgiving flames.

The guardian of the spirit of the earth

The guardian of the earth, the place where we make our homes, without her we are no more.

The north

The colors greens, browns, all colors, because she is all colours

The advanced age of all living things

Midnight

The winter season

The winter solstice

From the earth we have come forth, from her we will all return

The other elements reside on the earth.

Earth elemental ocean correspondences.

Animals; cow, dune snake, stag. Land-gulls,

Astrological signs; Taurus, Virgo Capricorn.

Chakra; root

Color’s brown, black, green, yellow

Gift; faith

Emotions; confidence, determination,

Key words; money, structure, nature, support

Moon; dark

Musical expression- brass instruments and other metallic

Physical expression- sense of balance, tactile responses

Plants; ivy, oats, sea kale, sea Campion, tree mallow, sea holly, cat’s tail

Season; winter

Sense; touch, taste

Shape; cube, circle with equidistant cross at radius

Sounds; echoes

Spirit; hard-working gnome, the sea nymph

Stones; green agate, coal, salt, turquoise

Time; night

Tool- sand dollar, pentacle, flat stone

When completing the outer circle, the final destination is the element of earth at the northern point.

This is the mother spirit from whom we are rooted, the greatest connection of all things, here the seeds of our beings are sustained, fed and nurtured into maturity.

Represents sensibility, practicality and wisdom, while we reach for the stars, are feet stand still.

The deeper we ground our roots, the greater capacity we have to reach up to the heavens without topping from overextension. When we are grounded to the roots of the earth, the higher we can fly.

Fire Elemental correspondences.

Animal, komodo dragon, desert-dwelling animals, the great lion.

Astrological signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius

Chakra; the heart

Color; red, orange, gold,

Gift; illumination, attentiveness, purification

Emotions, yearning, passion, will, energy, lust

Key words; growth, activity, vitality

Moon; full

Musical expression- heartbeat, the gentle waves of the ocean

Plants, thrift, wild onion, chilli, smoked paprika, dried seaweed, sea-buckthorn, slender thistle, dune early marsh orchid

Season; summer

Sense; sight and touch

Shape; tetrahedron, triangle, (top point)

Sounds, static, crackling,

Spirit; the spirit of joy.

Stones, amber, ruby, carnelian, garnet, lava. Flint

Time; noon

Tool, cattle fish athame,

Turning clockwise around the circle, following the sun, we arrive at the south and the element of fire.

The brightness of this light banishes the shadows, within the rays of the fire there is no darkness only the sounds of the crackling fullness of fire, passion, light and the zest of being wholly participatory in the moment.

The sun dances high in the sky, and we dance within her rays, feeling the beat within our hearts, we live and we love under the sun’s watchful eyes.

Represents our energetic nature, the fire of body and soul.

Spirit element correspondences

Animals, mythical, creatures, white buffalo, the dove.

Astrological, the entire zodiac

Chakra; crown, third-eye

Colour; silver, white, rainbows

Gift; unity, wholeness

Emotions-selflessness, mercy

Key words, transform, transcend, self-awareness, internalize

Moon; the blue moon

Musical expression, the orchestra, the chorus

Physical expression; brain waves

Plants; ephedra, mistletoe, the world tree

Season; the wheel in motion

Sense; spiritual sense (hearing the inner voice)

Shape DNA dodecahedron.

Sounds; silence

Spirit- god/dess

Stones; fossils, petrified wood

Time; out of space, out of time

Tool; the-self. The cauldron

Many mystical traditions add a fifth element, designated as ether, the void or simply spirit.

It binds, unites, harmonizes and directs the others, in the sacred circle, the location for the fifth element is two-fold. The center and the entire sphere, both within and without, as above so below.

Represents the unknowable things in the universe- those things that go beyond the surface reality, beyond space and time.

Symbolizes our ability to transcend the human mind frame and the capacity of our spirits to reach out and touch the eternal. All within and all without.

Water elemental correspondences.

Animals, fish, seals, walrus, star fish

Astrological signs; cancer, Pisces, Scorpio

Chakra; sacral plexus

Color; blue, aquamarine, bluish-sliver, green

Gift; inventiveness, imagination. Fertility

Emotions; compassion, accomplishments.

Key words, waning crescent.

Musical expression, prayer bowls, singing bowls, gongs, drums

Physical expression, tears, saliva, perspiration.

Plants willow, lettuce, kelp, seaweed

Season; autumn

Sense, taste,

Shape- trident

Sounds, raindrops, waves of the oceans, running rivers

Spirit, undine

Stones, moonstones, sliver, pearls, river-bed stones

Time; dusk

Tool; cup

Turning once again we find ourselves at the western quarter in the element of water.

The earths tears rain down to fertilize of the expression, and we rediscover our psychic spiritual selves, as water allows us to swim within earths summing pools.

Water is that it appears, nothing can stop the flow, the clear waters honors our bodies allowing us to live, and honors our souls allowing us to swim within its great depths.

Represents learning to flow intuitively within life, water is patient and eventually flows through.

Air elemental correspondences

Animals, birds, all birds.

Astrological signs, Libra, Gemini, Aquarius

Chakra; throat.

Color; pale yellow, pastels, blues, whites,

Gift; truth sense, clairaudience

Emotions; cheer, hopefulness, freedom

Key words, communication, movement, the mind, new beginnings.

Moon; waxing crescent

Musical expression, singing, chanting, mantras, toning

Physical expression, breathing, learning

Plants, dandelion, bluebells

Season; spring

Sense; hearing

Shape; a circle with a dot in the center.

Sounds, bells and wind chimes

Spirit; the playful sylphs, from folklore

Time; dawn

Tool; wand

The element of air is the first point of calling for the most sacred circles.

We stand at the beginning, poised between darkness and the dawn, the inner and outer sounds of silences.

The winds are fresh and motivating. The winds blow away the cobwebs of the past and wake us from deep sleeps, they are ever giving and strong.

Our needs to keep moving and learning.

The elemental magic.

Magical themes

Air; direction of light, and governor to the four winds, movement, messages, knowledge. (The mind).

Fire: from a bolt of lightning to the great volcanic blood of the earth, (lava) energy relationships, physicality (the body) solar magic, needs and desires

Water; from the season rains to the great open oceans and rivers, healing, intuition, feelings, (the emotions) lunar magic, reflections and teardrops

Earth: where the element all resides, meeting together as one, grounding, stability, finances (roots), your body in which all elements reside.

Spirits: the life force within that which creates the aura around all living things, unity, harmony, enlightenment, peace, (the soul).

The energies of the elements are not just a part of the world but also a part of life, our lives,

When weaving spells or working with magic, we should add the elements into what-ever we are doing.

Choosing components according to their elemental association. Working with the elements as a focal point, use the elements to hold the spell together.

When meditating, surround us with symbols of the corresponding element.

If you are an elemental witch, weaver or just starting out, be sure to call the quarters or watchtowers into your circle, this will bring power into your workings.

Chapter 5

Wheel of the year

Primarily, the themes of birth, death and rebirth are played out across a year that is divided into light and dark, male and female, sun and moon, growth and rest, and heat and cold.

The continuous cycle lends itself to the image of a wheel. The ancient Celts and their predecessors saw time as a wheel or spiral divided by eight festivals.

The important thing to note about these times are that they connect you with the land and with the seasons. The land is our mother; she feeds us, shelters us, and gives us comfort and enjoyment. The festivals give us a chance to give something back to her and honor all that she does.

Samhain (Hallowe’en)

Northern 31 October – Southern 30 April

Celebration of death as a continuation of life

Borders between the dead and living are not fixed and impassable

Borders were at their thinnest so one can ask the ancestors and spirits for guidance and communication on the future

Celebrating where you came from

Traditional time for scrying

Yule (Winter Solstice)

Northern 21-23 December – Southern 21-23 June

Shortest night of the Year

Mid-winter festival linked to the Christian Xmas

Archetypally linked with the birth of a child of promise and light: Dionysus, Arthur, Jesus.

Celebrates the return of the sun and thus hope

Abundance spells and charms

Giving thanks and gifts of goodwill

Imbolc (Candlemas)

Northern 1st February – Southern 1 August

Celebration of light returning

Goddess as Brigid (St Brigid)

Fire Festival

Clarity

Light to shine, self-knowledge/creation

Eostre (Spring Equinox)

Northern 21-22 March – Southern 21-22 September

Night and day are equal, but moving towards summer

Balance and growth

Leave what you don’t want and create the new

Fertility and love

New projects

Beltaine (May Day)

Northern 3o April/1st May – Southern 31 October

Marriage of the Goddess and the God

May poles- phallic and yonic symbolism

Love magic (weddings/hand-fasting)

Animus and anima/masculine and feminine balances

Litha (Summer Solstice)

Northern 21-23 June – Southern 21-23 December

Longest day, shortest night

Sun is at its fullest power, yet year begins to wane from here

What brings light and joy into your life, and develop this

Self-development

Lammas (Lughnasadh)

Northern 1st August Southern 1st February

First harvest –first loaf baked

King begins his journey into the Underworld

Sorrow and celebration

Fruition, taking stock and harvesting what you have achieved

Mabon: (Autumn Equinox)

Northern 21-22 September – Southern 21-22 March

Harvesting the main crop

Take stock of what has served you well/what not

What needs repairing before the dark comes.

Preparation for harder times

North or South?

Traditionally, most of the celebrations were linked to the cycles of the northern hemisphere, and so for Witches in the southern hemisphere this has raised a dilemma. Do we follow the traditional Wheel of the Year timings even though they are opposite to our seasons? Or do we adapt and reverse the wheel, so it is in rhythm with our own environment. I personally adapt the wheel, spinning the celebrations so they are relevant to our seasons. For example, Samhain, a festival of death traditionally held during the northern hemisphere winter would, if we just went by date, happen in the warmth of late October in the Northern Hemisphere. Instead, it seems a rational option to make Samhain a cold season festival as intended and so spinning the wheel, its celebrated-on April 30. As a pagan- someone who honors the earth, aligning the festivals with our seasons feels much more connective to me, however, the choice is up to you.

Night after the storm 2014

We left the house at 8pm and made our way to the beach the main storm had past but the tail end was still with us, from the cliff top with could see the damage that the storm had done to the bottom road, the force of the ocean had smashed a hole into the cliff wall and from that the road above the wall had fallen in to the ocean.

We walked down the steps to the bottom on the other side of the hole, the waves were still smashing on the cliff wall and at times we were having to move away from the spray of the ocean, but looking down onto our small town beach we could see that the ocean and storm had taken our beautiful beach and left behind something that looked nothing like the beach we had come to love, gone was the golden sand and in its place a vast landscape of rocks and stones, the little bathing pool that has been on the beach since the 1920s had almost been washed away be the forceful tide, the ocean recalling what is her’s

The cold air was biting, and the winds tugged at our hair, but it wasn’t as cold as I thought it was going to be, I even had to take my woolly hat off as I was getting too hot. Looking out to sea we could see the white horses racing. All this energy made me feel alive, more alive than I had felt in weeks, the energy wrapped itself around us, and we laughed, played, walked and talked.

We hadn’t gone looking for the energy that was left behind by the storm, but it was there, and it made itself known to us, lifting our spirits. And made me remember that sometimes the best things happen when we don’t go looking for it, sometimes I forget to enjoy the ocean for what the ocean really is, being a water and land based witch I tend to forget about being me. if I had gone down to that beach to cast spells or charge my tools, I may of missed out on the pure joy of the ocean, of family and the happiness that we were all together taking in that moment as a family,

That evening I hadn’t gone looking for it, but the ocean showed itself to not only me, but to all of us, we all took a moment to become one and enjoy the evening at its best.

But our night did not end there, in that moment watching the ocean I had this overwhelming moment of saddens, I may of missed out on this, this moment of family and togetherness, the beauty of this night, if I had chosen to stay in that evening when my two older girls had decided to go to the beach to take photos, if I had chosen to stay in, that me, my husband and little one would of missed out of this night, this beautiful energy and sight, just the unexpected joy, could I have thrown this night away? Would something else of happened if we did stay at home. Or was this night already written in the stars, just giving us a little time to be able to receive the joy of this night

As above, so below, and the old magic spills out across the world .