THE SEA WITCHES BOOK OF SHADOWS

The power of the tides

High Tide

Brings things towards you- attraction

Wonderful for prosperity spells

Perfect for asking for better health, a pay rise, a new job, more recognition

Low Tide

Removes things, takes things away

Perfect for removing obstacles, negative feelings, pain, bad memories, office politics

King Tide:

These are very high and low tides that happen on a regular basis

Energies are even more emphasised so make sure what you are asking for is what you truly desire

It may be worth ‘saving up’ a desire especially for a King Tide if it is a request that can wait

Timing& Cycles

Dawn:

New beginnings

New projects

Creativity Spells

Initiations

Sunset:

Completions

Asking for help for a project or issue that may be long or difficult

Spells for Faith and Preparation

Midday:

Asking for increased personal power

Confidence and Strength

Asking for the courage to allow our ‘light to shine’

Spells to invoke the Masculine Divine or to bring masculine attributes to a spell

Midnight:

The Witching Hour!

Self-Knowledge

Change

Asking help from our ancestors

Turning dreams into reality

The moons

Full

Moon is full in the Sky

Full energy

This moon gives you high impact and is perfect for attraction spells of any type.

Great time to explore finding your true path and Purpose in life

Witches celebrate their relationship with the Divine formally once every 28 days during full moon.

Waning

The moon is growing smaller in the sky

Energy is reducing

Good time to perform spells with a purpose and intention of getting rid of something that no longer serves you or to reduce an obstacle

Great time to give up a bad habit eg any addiction, any limiting or negative belief

Dark

No moon visible in the sky

Traditionally a time of introversion and rest

Good time for Spells that ask for peace and creative flow

A time for healing your shadow side

Experienced Witches can use for powerful healing

Waxing

Moon is growing larger in the sky

Energy is growing

Good time to perform spells with a purpose and intention of growth and moving towards something you desire

Wonderful time to ask for more money, more positive relationships, and better health

Wonderful for prosperity spells

Perfect for asking for better health, a pay rise, a new job, more recognition

Know thyself

The know thyself can be seen as the most important part of not only witchcraft but in life itself, before we undertake any spiritual journey, we should really look into ourselves and find the person hidden deep within.

Look into yourself, who are you? Where does the source of your personal strength come from?

Take time to learn about yourself. Not just on the inside that you show the world but on a much deeper level as well, the side of yourself that you hide from everyone including that, which you hide from yourself,

When I say know yourself, I mean truly know yourself, honestly and wholeheartedly. Really dig down deep into who you are from the depths of your soul. Do not lie to yourself and take stock in all your virtues and your vices. One cannot make any progress without first knowing what you're about and what you need to work on. Endeavor to heal your Shadow self.

Without Darkness, there can be No Light.

There are always two sides of energy. Male/Female, Day/Night, Good/Evil, love/hate, life and death.

Everything is made of energy and has its opposing side but in the end they all work and complement one another in balance we may not be able to see the perfect balance that it creates but the balance is there. Without your life’s lessons you wouldn't be the unique person you are right now. So, take stock in getting to "Know Thyself".

Myself, I’ve come from a very poor family, my dad was an evil man, my stepdad wasn’t any better, and my mother was weak and turned to alcohol to escape from the world. I was abused by a family friend as a child, I run away from home a number of times, I lived with the travelers, and lived on the streets, I turned to alcohol and drugs, I watched as a dear friend of mine turned to prostitution, she wasn’t just a friend she was as a sister to me. I got to such a low point in my early life that I really didn’t care if I lived or died and even prayed that death would take me, because the afterlife had to be better than this hell, it wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I pulled myself up from hell that I had created for myself. And that point was when I found out I was going to have my first child, I was 16. I am nothing like the girl I once knew back then. I’m nothing like my mother or any of the other people I once knew when I lived in the shadows of London. I come out of the darkness, stronger, wiser, and more understanding of others.

My life’s lessons made me face who I wanted to become and who I would continue to be.

Facing not only your life’s lessons but also facing and understanding the know thyself is going to be one of the hardest of the life’s/ the paths lessons, but it’s worth every painful and loving memory

As a witch, Wicca magic worker or priestess we have the tools available to us that the average person doesn't have. With this knowledge and wisdom comes a responsibility for taking charge of our own life.

What makes you happy? What things do you enjoy doing? What would it take for you to feel successful and happy in your life? It is important to be both realistic and honest when you think about these questions and how does walking a witches or Wicca path connect to all?

The divine/religion/the path of the wise

Just for now, let’s just agree that the divine is big, possibly way beyond our ability to understand it vastness, deeper than the oceans, higher than the tallest mountains, bigger than the skies and beyond.

Okay look out of your window and describe and write down what you see.

Did you just describe every feature of our world or just what you could see?

Now describe the changes of the color wheel throughout the day.

If you can’t describe our planet or changing colors of the day how can you describe the divine or the craft of the wise?

A religion, any religion or the craft is basically like looking out of a window and describing the divine as you see it, is it possible for you to describe it as a whole if you haven’t seen it in its entirety.

As a result you only see the divine/religion/or path the way you see and live it, just because you see something one way doesn’t mean that everyone else will see it the same way, this is because everyone see’s things differently.

Think of this.

A mother and child are taking a walk in the park.

The mother is watching other children play, she can see other mothers with other mothers. She can see dogs running around and watches her watch to keep an eye on the time. She is looking for potential dangers and her wits are always about her.

The child on the other hand, sees only potential friends and no dangers, she sees the trees, the flowers, the warm sky and the butterfly’s, both are looking at the same place, both are right in what they see, but they are looking at something so big that each will see a different part of it, just because they don’t see the same thing doesn’t mean they each is wrong, because both is right.

This is what I mean when I said that only you can walk your path, no one can walk with you and in the end you are on your own because no one else can live your life or see through your eyes.

Witch, pagan. Wicca, priestess

As pagans of what-ever path we have chosen of the pagan ways, we are following the ways of our ancestors, but are we really and if we are truly following them, what to what extent are we doing so.

What does history really teach us about paganism about our beliefs, crafting, training and temple?

What do we really know about our roots?

We know that monotheism began around 2000 or more years ago, but even the most devote Christians can’t be sure when their religion as it stands now truly began. We know Buddha sat beneath the tree and traveled the lands teaching his wisdom, we know that Wicca only started in the 1940s and 50s so we can safely say that the majority of wicca know where their version of paganism comes from.

Questions

What about your own personal version of paganism?

1) Where does your paganism version come from?

2) Are you a modern pagan, Wicca, are you a wise person, a teacher, seeker, a witch, druid, a temple priest/ess.

3) Think about your path, where has it been

4) Where is it going?

5) Where does its roots lay?

6) have a look to see where your roots of paganism are

7) How was it practiced in the old days?

8) Do you take from other traditions and religions?

9) Design a pagan mind map of your version of paganism

10 do you have many gods or just one or two

11 do you believe in no god at all, just a divine sauce

This isn’t going to be as easy as you think, tracing your own personal roots can be very long and drawn out.

You may find that a roman goddess that you have taken as your own god was in fact a different goddess from some other religion.

The Romans took on the deities they felt they needed at different times in their lives, for example they imported Isis who become the goddess of women’s mysteries from Egypt.

Is your own version of paganism imported from another religion, if so what does this religion teach you? If in fact in teaches you anything.

The Four Powers of the Magus

The Four Powers of the Magus are the personal attributes traditionally necessary and required for the successful use and practice of magic. These are - To Know, To Dare, To Will, and To Be Silent. Without these four attributes combined, the individual will never be successful in magic.

The reasoning is quite simple; none of the attributes mentioned are enough in themselves, as all four attributes must be present to balance each other out. For instance:

1) To Know - Knowledge is no good, without the will and audacity to see magic done.

2) To Dare – Audacity is no good, without the knowledge and will to see magic done.

3) To Will – Will power is no good, without the knowledge and audacity to see magic done.

4) To Be Silent – What good are the above, without the discretion to remain silent until the magic is done? To reveal your magic before it is done, dissipates its power and effectiveness.

So, anyone aspiring to use magic, he/she needs a knowledge of what he/see is doing, the audacity to use it, the will power to control it, and the discretion to remain silent till the work is done.

The 12 Rules of Witches

And what they could mean to you.

Know Yourself

You must know your strengths and weaknesses and develop in accordance with that knowledge. Also, it means that you have to be yourself and not lie to yourself. In short be yourself not what others would want you to be.

Know Your Witchcraft

This, we hope, is clear. We have to find a PUT and follow it diligently and not hastily.

Know your craft what-ever path that is, Wicca, witchcraft, temple work, lone wolf, know the witch within, know the witch without and know your craft, learn it.

Learn All You Can

This does not mean that we should seize on 100 things at once and not come to a conclusion. All of that you touch and start, must finish until the end. It is better for you to know a lot about a small number of things, rather know small amount of a lot of things, jack of all trades master at none comes to mind.

Use Your Knowledge Wisely

Do not blindly spend your strength at all trifles and tell everybody your ways. There is a reason why some things should be hidden within the shadows.

Strive to Balance

The balance in everything, like nature: a balance of light and darkness, strength and experience, male and female, for the balance, there is harmony. Take only that which you need and give back when-ever you can.

Think about the Words you choose

Do not clutter unnecessary words and you should not say anything that comes to mind. The words must be put with logic and consistency, you should always think before you say anything, because in the words placed great strength. Once words have been spoken, words are hard to take back. Choose your words with wisdom and a pure heart

May there be Peace with your Ways

Same as with words. Things should be thoughtful, reasonable and brought to a conclusion, leaving energy tails.

Enjoy Life

It is natural and there is nothing wrong with it. It is taking the lives of all, if this is in line with your path and not detrimental to the surrounding world. Enjoy the life you have, if the life you have isn’t a joyful experience than look at the steps needed to make it such,

Feel the Rhythm of the World

Rhythms of nature, fertility cycles and phases of the moon should be your clock. The time of man has no meaning to the times of the witch, we live outside of the time of man, for 99% of us we do have to live as close to the time of man because of work, keeping appointments, kids needing to get to school, but that’s a part of life that has been created for us, but when we feel the rhythm of the earth and seasons we begin to break the chains of time, and in affect time slows down, down here in Cornwall we have a saying, I’ll be there directly.

Breathe and Eat Well

That is useful and relevant environmental and agricultural cycles. Breathing should be deep and smooth. Each breath should be pointed towards healing our bodies, and easing our souls, the foods we eat should be pure and should be the right foods for who we are, again not what others want us to be.

Develop your Mind and Body

This means that there is no room for complacency, and always strive for better, improve and develop the body and new experiences. Meditation and yoga are the best places to start off from, and both can do even if you are unable to move as much as you once could. There are even yoga moves for people who are wheel-chair bond

Meditate

Meditation relaxes the body and mind, a source of knowledge. To meditate is to feed the body, water the soul and ground the being.

Nature’s gifts

Anything that you come across in nature and you think is beautiful can be placed upon your altar.

Beautiful pebbles and seashells collected from a beach can also find a place on your altar. As can bird feathers, leaves, pine=cones and small stones found at a forest or lakeside.

If it looks good and feels right to you then you can include any item of your choosing that nature has placed on your path. Just take a moment to thank your god/goddess for the precious gift and place upon your altar.

Weak as water

There is nothing in this world as weak as water,

Yet its experience is such that it has no bounds,

Its depths such that it cannot be seen by human eye.

In length it is without limit,

In distance it has no shores,

It is measureless when it rises to heaven,

It produces rain and dew.

When it falls upon the earth it gives riches and moisture,

There is no creature in the world to which it does not impart life.

And nothing that does not bring to completion.

It holds all things in its wide embrace,

Its wealth is sufficient to supply the wants and needs of the whole world.

Its subtlety such that it cannot be grasped in the hand,

Strike it you hurt it not.

Apply fire to it will not burn,

Earth cannot hold its power.

For the waters cutting power is such that it will work its way through stone and mental.

Its strength so great that the whole world is succored by it.

Wind cannot control it, as water will lift itself up into the wind and will full lazily back down to the earth.

There is nothing either generous or mean about it for it flows and rashes with echoing sounds thought-out the vast expanse of earth and heaven.

Waters

Many people assume that holy water is church-blessed water only, this isn’t the case. Holy water is a complex concept. The church/religion did not invent the concept of holy water and so do not own the rights to it, they only adopted the name from an earlier pagan use, various pagan shrines possessed many holy water fonts, holy water has many magical, religious and spiritual traditions.

Holy water can be found in many different sites, old wells, pagan sites.

Holy water is in fact any water that has been held sacred or has significance use for the spell caster. It may be water from a shine at a pagan site, it could be rain water that you have collected from the leaves of trees, and you could even have an offering bowl and leave it outside over-night and use the dew from the morning. Or even create a ritual just for holy water, however if this holds no meaning or truth for you than substitute holy water for normal spring water.

Holy water is used for.

• Cleansing and purification.

• Altar or temple room cleansing and blessing

• Healing.

• Healing spells, holy water is believed to be able to heal your normal everyday headaches and tensions.

• Cleansing and empowering your tools, crystals, robes, anoint candles, or to re -hydrate dried herbs and flowers.

• Exorcism and banishing rituals.

CHARGING HOLY WATER

• Collect your water

• Prepare yourself, a ritual bath with salt; cleansing herbs and crystals is usually best for this.

• Prepare your water either sky-clad or ritual robes.

• Pour your water into a glass or crystal bowl.

• Then place it in between two white candles, some will also place a drawn symbol of their faith under the bowl as well,

• Light your altar incense, cleansing incense or make up your own with frankincense, copal, benzoin and or just use white sage,

• Light your candles

• Use an incense wand (feather wand) and waft the smoke over your water

• Hold the bowl in front of you just above head height.

• Say a cleanse spell or say something like.

• Mother Gaia I call to thee, bless this water, bless it clean, that which is seen and unseen.

• Replace the water in between the candles until the candles have burned out.

• Bottle the water

MAGIC BLESSING OF WATER

“Oh, Great Ones, My Goddess and my God, I call upon you, In need of your help,

Bless this water, (Hold up small bowl of water.)

Bless this water, with you power, with your purification, with you healing powers,

Bless this water (put bowl down, and now use the water for power, purification and healing)

With the water you so blessed, May this harm none,

The spell is done, so mote it be and blessed be.”

Consecrated Water for Ritual

How to Make Consecrated Water for Ritual

In many Pagan traditions - as in other religions - water is considered a sacred and holy item. The Christian church does not have a monopoly on the phrase “holy water,” and many Pagans include it as a part of their magical tool collection. It can be used in a variety of ways, but is often incorporated into blessings, banishing rituals or cleansing a sacred space.

SEA WATER~

Sea water is often believed to be the most pure and sacred of all types of holy water - after all, it is provided by nature, and is a powerful force indeed. If you are near an ocean, use a bottle with a cap to collect sea water for use in your rituals. If your tradition requires it, you may wish to make an offering as thanks, or perhaps say a small blessing as you collect the water. For instance, you could say, “Sacred water and magic for me, my thanks to the spirits of the sea.”

~THE MOON METHOD~

In some traditions, the moon's energy is used as a way of consecrating water to make it holy and sacred. Take a cup of water and place it outside on the night of the full moon. Drop a piece of silver (a ring or a coin) into the water and leave it out overnight so that the moonlight can bless the water. Remove the silver in the morning and store the water in a sealed bottle. Use it before the next full moon.

Interestingly, in some cultures it was gold that was placed in the water, if the water was to be used in rituals related to the sun, healing, or positive energy.

SALT AND WATER

Much like sea water, home-made salt water is often used in rituals. However, instead of just throwing salt into a bottle of water, it is generally recommended that you consecrate the water before use. Add one teaspoon of salt to sixteen ounces of water and mix thoroughly - if you’re using a bottle, you can just shake it up. Consecrate the water according to the guidelines of your tradition or pass it over the four elements on your altar to bless it with the powers of earth, air, fire, and pure water.

You can also consecrate salt water by leaving it out in the moonlight, in the sunlight, or by calling upon the gods of your tradition.

Keep in mind that salt is typically used to banish spirits and entities, so you should not use it in any rituals that call upon spirits or your ancestors - you’ll be self-defeating by using salt water.

TYPES OF WATER

When you’re making your own holy water for ritual use, you may wish to use different types of water, depending on your purpose.

Spring water is typically purified and can be used in rituals related to purification and protection. Morning dew - which can be collected off the leaves of plants at sunrise - is often incorporated in spell-work related to healing and beauty. Use rainwater or well water for rituals of fertility and abundance - although if you’re using it in your garden, do not blend in salt.

In general, stagnant or still water is not used in the creation or use of holy water.

Finally, keep in mind that in a pinch, holy water blessed by some other religion’s deity can be used, as long as your tradition has no mandates against such a thing.

GHOST WATER

Used for hexing and necromancy weaving.

Place a bottle of spring water on a grave before midnight and during a full moon, you will need to place the bottle under the moon so it will be able to soak up the moons rays, remove before midnight or before daybreak.

MARIE LAVE AU WATER

This formula comes from Marie lave au the renowned queen of New Orleans voodoo.

This formula is sometimes classed as holy water or blessed water, please do not be put off by the term voodoo, because this is a very powerful blessed water which should be used when the time comes, and not looked over because of the term voodoo because I know it sometime is.

1 cup rainwater

1 cup spring water

1 cup rose water

1 cup holy water (which ever religion you follow)

1 cup lavender water, or 1 cup of spring water with 20 drops of lavender essential oil.

This water is used for

Psychic enhancement

Protection

Aura cleansing

Cleansing spells

Banishing spells.

WAR, WATER. IRON WATER OR WATERS OF ARIES

In times long gone this formula was used by many folk healers who would use it to treat anaemia, this medical use is no-longer popular but this still remains a very important magical formula and is used by many witches around the world. This water becomes much more aggressive when the gods of war are invoked, either they be Aries, mars or another god, using their corresponding herbs, stones and colors.

WAR WATER IS USED FOR,

To gain protection, this is a very aggressive forceful spiritual cleanser

To remove a curse or hex and sends it back to where it come from

To place a curse

To use as a weapon during psychic warfare, witch wars, or the spiritual battlefields.

Place iron nails in a mason jar,

Enough water to cover the nails, leave the jar until the nails have turned to rust, typically 7 to 15 days.

Keep the jar in a cold place

Strain the water and use when needed.

Some witches myself included will leave the nails within the jar and will top up with water when ever needed, I know another witch who has kept his jar like this for years. You never know when you need an aggressive water so keeping the nails within the jar will pack a good punch.

Another version of war water which has more than a punch,

Collect water from a fierce thunderstorm the raindrops have to flow into the jar you are using.

Add rusty nails, nails found in graveyards, railways, and walks over the moors or woods would be better.

Some of your own urine.

Use in the same way as the above but be warned this will carry a lot of energy so only use if you have no other choice.