The Witch’s Pyramid

The power used in magick and witchcraft is rooted in the knowledge of four simple rules known as the witch’s pyramid. These are the four corner stones of magick, and though they may not be completely magickal in and of themselves, their joint application is. The ability to utilize the four magick rules will result in the ability of what is known as ‘witch power’. 

The four rules of magick are: Imagination, Willpower, Faith and Silence.

Imagination is the ability to summon within your mind an idea or desire. The imagination used in the witch’s pyramid should be focused and complete.

Willpower is the drive for the idea and desire summoned with imagination. This is the magickal will, which should be potent and unwavering.

A firm Faith in ones abilities is also necessary for the application of the magickal will and vivid imagination. Without this then there would be no belief in the powers of the witch. You must have strong faith in your spells, faith in your own true power.

Silence is a necessary tool for the budding practitioner of the occult arts. Though we are in a more ‘enlightened’ time period in which there is more freedom, it would do you well to practice in the art of secrecy. Tell no one of your workings that is not understanding to your cause. For their cynical responses can be damaging to the faith that you have built and their negative energies can affect the course of a spell. Also a more mundane reasoning to keeping silent about your workings is the very real damage of fear. Fear from neighbors who upon learning of your extra-curriculum activities will proceed to call the authorities every night you are casting a spell. Fear from coworkers who slander your good name to elevate themselves and diminish your time at a job. Fear from fanatics who will picket your house or harass you with their benedictions and prayers of enslavement.

The culmination of the four rules or pyramid powers will result in the basic and fundamental achievement of witch power. Stay true to the witch’s pyramid and magick will most certainly be a foot.

Beatus Esse,

T.LH

Lionheart’s Protection Potion

This potion is best prepared during the waning moon as close to the new moon as possible. Also steel or iron pots are good for creating protection potions (though for any other potion I highly recommend glass or earthenware pots).

Tools:

·      Steel or Iron pot

·      Mortar and Pestle

·      Bowl or mixing vessel

·      Measuring Cup

·      Measuring Spoons (table spoon and teaspoon needed)

·      Cheesecloth

·      Jar or Bottle that can hold at least 1 ½ cup of water with out over flowing

Ingredients:

·      1 ½ cups Water

·       1 tablespoon Sea Salt

·      2 teaspoons Ground Sage

·      2 teaspoons St. John’s Wort

·      1 teaspoon Dragons Blood (ground)

·      1 teaspoon Juniper

Instructions:

 In a bowl or vessel start mixing the herbs together, enchanting each ingredient with red protective energy. Do this by holding the herb in your power hand (the hand you write with) and visualize yourself being filled with red light, slowly start tensing your muscles while chanting “Protection, Protection, Protection…”, I find it helps to also visualize a shield while building the energy, then focus the red light into your power hand and release your muscles slowly visualizing the energy transferring into the herb. Once the ingredient is enchanted add it to the bowl or vessel. Do this for each herb. The Dragons Blood can be enchanted while you crush it in your mortar and pestle, as you grind the Dragons Blood chant and visualize red light being pushed into the powder. Once you have enchanted and added each ingredient to the bowl begin mixing with your power hand while focusing on your intent. Now place your hands over the mixture and again enchant it with red protective energy.

  Next bring 1 ½ cup of water to boil, add the tablespoon of sea salt and mix well. Once the water is boiling turn heat down slightly and mix in your herb mixture. Let steep while mixing occasionally, here I would like to note that you should still be focusing on your intent. Once the herbs are blended place hands over the mixture (careful not to burn yourself) and enchant one last time with red protective energy. Turn off the heat and let cool. Once the mixture has cooled use the cheesecloth to strain the potion into your jar or bottle. Label the potion and date it.

Using your potion: DO NOT DRINK! This potion is for anointing your wrists and third eye while visualizing a red shield surrounding you, or you can use it to anoint candles for protection spells or even jewelry like necklaces to give them a protective power. The potion should last a long while as long as you keep it in a dark place away from direct sunlight. Record your performance and results in a journal specifically used for magick, dreams and meditations.

Beatus Esse,

T.LH

Wiccan Inspiration: Magick Motto

A magickal motto is a name or phrase that you instill into your daily meditations and prayers, this is so the motto integrates itself with your essence. Technically any quote or adopted name can be a motto such as "As Above, So Below" an ancient axiom that is a simplified explanation about how the microcosm reflects the macrocosm, or that the universe is reflected in its smaller parts. My name Tytus Lionheart, is a motto, Tytus is an old polish name meaning 'fire', the element I am most attuned to and a reflection of my personal nature, it is also a link to my past as my Grandmother was a practicing witch who escaped from Poland to America when the Nazis invaded. Lionheart is a testament to my adoration of the symbol of the lion; a symbol of strength, courage, loyalty and pride. All of these qualities are integrated into myself when I refer to myself as Tytus Lionheart, I mark my tool and talismans with this name. I represent myself to the online and Wiccan communities as Tytus Lionheart, so then these qualities are representing me. Mostly the motto is an insight, a revelation that you spend your whole life attuning yourself to, such as Aleister Crowley's motto "Love is the Law, Love under Will" from which he spent the rest of his years working this motto into his life and spiritual practice.
A magickal motto has been revealed to me as well, one given to me by my Higher Self and I have begun melding it into my practice, usually I end a prayer or invocation with this motto, “Thy Will is God: Thy Will be Done”- this motto is my combination of the principles in the axioms “as above, so below” and “do what thou wilt”. “Thy Will is God” reminds me that my soul is a part of the Great Spirit and I am a reflection of the Divine Will, there for my Will must be in tune with the Will of the Great Spirit. “Thy Will be done”; 'Will' here is that of True Will, True Will is attuned to the Will of the Great Spirit as should be accomplished through the work of the magician and witch. It also means that one should put to good use the abilities granted when one is attuned to their True Will, through the power of the soul connected to the divine, one should use that power for the benefit of others in need of such power. Examples of this are healing, divination, spirit communication, protection, spiritual guidance, path working, teaching magick, etc. It is also a reminder that learning and studying the occult and magick is not just for personal power but for the power of a community as well. It is important for me that I give back for all I have been blessed with. So then “thy will be done” is the Will of the Great Spirit which is always for the highest good and benefit of all.

Wiccan Inspiration: Celebrate Self

 

Starhawk

 

 

“Celebrate Self and see Self everywhere”

 — Wiccan saying about compassion (from “Spiral Dance” by Starhawk)

Invocation to Lord Hermes

Here is an invocation I wrote myself to my patron, Lord Hermes also called Mercury:

 

image from www.gaiaonline.com

 

"Hail Lord Hermes, Gracious God of Magick, Market and Communication. Hail be to the Clever One, Whose keen mind can outwit man and god alike, Whose skill of thieving is but a testament to His brilliance. The Guide of Dead Souls, with compassion greater than any other God. Whose speed of travel is as fast as thought, Whose beauty has caught the love and grace of Aphrodite. Bless all that study Your ways my Lord Hermes, may all witches, magicians, priests, priestesses and wizards alike revel in Your secrets and be made masters of their craft and knowledge. Bless those that seek Your wisdom, O' Great One! O' Enchanted One! Guide us through our lives and aid us in our magick. Beatus Esse!"

---- Tytus Lionheart

 

 

 



Wiccan Inspiration: Morning Prayer

       

O gracious Goddess, O gracious God,
Lend me health, strength and love
During thus coming day.
Assist me in all challenges ahead.
Share your divine wisdom.
Teach me to repect all things.
Remind me that the greatest power of all is love.
Blessed be.

 

Wiccan Inspiration: Hekate

 

“When faced, fear becomes power” —Lady Hekate

                                              

Book of Interest: Witch School First Degree by Rev. Don Lewis

 

Experience has taught me that doing “book of the week” articles was strenuous, so then I started “book of the month”, which also turned out to be shamefully hard to keep up with. I noticed that many people want reviews on books of magickal studies because said books can be rather pricey. In this observation I am bring back book reviews but I am making no promises as to when I will be posting a new review. The new title of this posting series is then “Book of Interest”, books I find to be worth mentioning. Much of my magickal knowledge comes from mentors and books, the books I will be posting will be judged by my own experimentations and opinions. They do not reflect my feeling towards the author or any who enjoy their work the reviews are merely my opinion.

Here is how its going to be set up: I will explain the book briefly (for further detail on each book buy one and read it), then I will give my notes on the books, the books level of study (Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert), I will rate the quality of the book using a point system from 1-5; 5 being the highest score. For courtesy sake I will also rank the necessity of the tome (Don't need, Must have, Great for Covens, Great for Solitaries, Workbook, Grimoire). For ease of use there will be a summary of the books rating/ranking to be used as a quick reference.

To kick off the Book of Interest posting series I would like to mention the works of my traditions First Degree workbooks. First Degree is a level of initiation within Wiccan groups, it is typically the first level of priesthood within the Wiccan religion. Now I am not trying to ‘convert’ anyone to my tradition or claim that the tradition I follow is the only way. A large part of my current workings and practices is based around the teachings of this book which is a manual for attaining magickal and spiritual development. The book itself says it is merely a workbook through the wiccan system and one can take the teachings and go on their own path or they can continue within the traditions system. The tradition is called the Correllian Natavist Tradition and the book is part of their Witch School (at www.witchschool.com) written by the head of the tradition, Rev. Don Lewis-Highorrell.

 Witch School: First Degree by Rev. Don Lewis     

  

  When I first got the book it was after I had taken a couple online classes at Witchschool.com. I wanted to further my magickal training and after getting the book and going through the lessons, that’s exactly what I’ve done. From simple grounding meditations to powerful chakra workouts, magickal and psychic development is a main focus. There are many Wiccan aspects to this book because it is a workbook for a wiccan tradition, but those can easily be augmented for those that don’t vibe with the wiccan system. Overall the book compels one to add their own individuality to the practices, making the rituals and meditations much more personal and enriching. Each lesson has a magickal exercise, a spell and god/dess information. The book is definitely great for beginners, especially those interested in Wicca and paganism. I give the text 4/5 for ease of use and enriching material.

Summary: Level-Beginner Topic-Wicca, Magickal Developement Star-4/5 Necessity- Work Book

Book of Shadows: Candle Colors and their Magickal Purposes

      

Candle Color Correspondences

Pink: Love, compassion, calm, peace, attraction, friendship, happiness, relaxation. Pink can be burned to for rituals designed to improve self-love. Ideal for weddings, hand-fastenings and all forms of union.

Yellow: Critical Thinking, study, purification, luck, confidence, divination, communication, eloquence, travel, Money*. Yellow is the color of the element Air. Yellow be burned during rituals to heighten visualization abilities. Program a yellow candle to stimulate your conscious mind and burn it before studying for any purpose, let it burn during your studies. *Money is here associated with yellow because of the association with Air and Lord Hermes/Mercury, god of merchants and trade.

Red: Courage, strength of will, power, passion, lust, passionate love, anger, maintaining health, bodily strength, physical energy, sex, protection and defensive magick. This is the color of the element Fire. Red is associated with life/death since it is the color of blood.

Green: money, wealth, prosperity, healing, luck, joy, employment, fertility, growth (not only spiritual growth but the growth of plants/crops). Green is the color of the element Earth.

Blue: calm, meditation, blessings, healing, psychic, peace, patience, happiness. Blue is the color of the element Water. Blue is associated with the ocean, all water, the realms of sleep including dreams.

Purple: purification, blessings, extreme psychic and spiritual energy, protection, justice, power, extreme healing energy used for severe illnesses and injury, meditation. Purple candles can be burned to enhance spiritual activities and to increase your magickal power. Purple is associated with the Higher Self and is the color of the element Spirit.

Orange: attraction (to attract things, people, ideas,etc.), courage, energy (adds energy), interviews, social events. Burn to attract specific influences or objects.

White: protection, purification, all purposes. White contains all colors. It’s linked to the Moon. White candles are usually specifically burned for purification and protection rituals, but white candles can be used to substitute any color and can be used for any magickal purpose.

Black: Banishing negativity, absorbing negativity, protection. Black is the absence of color, in magick, its representative of the night and of outer space. Black candles can be burned for casting out baneful energies or to absorb illness and nasty habits.

Higher Self and Spirit Allies: The Ritual of the Genius/Juno

"The Higher Self is the part of you that lies above your conscious mind. It has access to knowledge and abilities that your conscious self does not, and it is not troubled by the fears and anxieties of the material world. Higher Self is an aspect of your soul, which is immortal and experiences many lifetimes. Higher Self is not a separate part of yourself, but rather a different level. The Higher Self is the part of you that becomes an Ancestor or a Spirit Guide after death, and it has that same ability now. It has knowledge and ability far beyond the conscious self, and it works always for the good -that is its nature and it cannot do otherwise, not because it is prevented from doing so but simply because it would never occur it the Higher Self to do ill." (from Witch School First Degree)

"The ancient Romans called the Higher Self the GENIUS (masculine.) or JUNO (feminine.). They considered the Genius-Juno to be the Divine part of each individual. Every person was encouraged to be in touch with the Genius-Juno and to move in sync with it." (from Witch School First Degree)

RITUAL FOR THE GENIUS OR JUNO

You will need:

 *some incense (any kind that you particularly like)

*a candle or candles. Your favorite color or any color   you like.

*a glass of water, juice, wine, or other beverage.

*a picture to represent your Higher Self. It can be a      photograph or drawing of your self, or a drawing             representing the qualities of your Higher Self.

 

            Set up an ALTAR using these elements. The altar can be anywhere that you would like, and will be

taken down when you are done (or left up to use again, if you wish). You can set it up any way that seems good to you.

 

            Begin by Releasing. Let all of the tensions and anxieties of your day flow out of you, as is discussed in the EXERCISES section of this lesson.

 

            Now light the candle(s). Focus on the flame and concentrate. Make your mind still, so that you are not thinking of anything else but what you are doing here and now.

 

            Light the incense.

 

            Now say;

 

          “I invoke You, O Higher Self.”

 

            Now try to imagine the image of your Higher Self before you. You can imagine It looking just as you look in the flesh, or as you would like to look, or might see It as a cloud of beautiful white light. Or some other image may come to you -one that you haven’t thought of yourself, but which the Higher Self Itself has chosen. It doesn’t really matter because the Higher Self doesn’t have a physical form, and the image is only to help you communicate with It better, by giving you something to focus on.

 

            Speak to the Higher Self. These words are only to give you a basic form; you should speak from the heart.

 

          “I attune to my Higher Self. I move in harmony with my Higher Self. I am at one with my Higher Self. Oh Higher Self, I ask You to help me to see and understand the lessons of my life, give me clarity and courage to learn them, and help me to learn them with ease and joy. I rededicate my self to the purposes for which I entered this life and ask You to guide me through them.*”

 

            Lift up the glass. Imagine a bright white light shining from it, as though it were glowing.

 

          “O Higher Self, I offer You this glass in token of the love I bear You.”

 

            Now drink the liquid. Imagine the white light entering you along with the liquid -spreading out through your chest and giving you a pleasant warmth.

            Put the glass back on the altar.

 

            Now take a few minutes and meditate while the candles and incense burn, and the offering stands. Imagine your Higher Self strong and healthy and happy. Concentrate on It. In this way you are sending the Higher Self energy and strengthening your bond to your It.

            When you have finished, say;

 

          “O Higher Self, I pray that You have enjoyed this offering. I give you my thanks and my love.”

 

            Now put out the incense and extinguish the candle. It is an ancient belief that you should never extinguish a candle by blowing on it -Rather you should use a candle snuffer, pinch it out with your fingers, or extinguish it with the side of a blade. This is because blowing on the flame is considered disrespectful.

            You should also wash the glass under cold running water and imagine white light flowing through it along with the water. Say;

 

          “I cleanse you,”

 

            Concentrate on the water and white light removing all excess energy from the glass.

 

*You can also use this invocation by itself, anytime you feel a need to attune to the Higher Self. --- (From Witch School First Degree)

                                                                                                                                                    Lately I have been working a lot with my Higher self, I didn't use to do things like this but it was a part of a training lesson for my first degree priesthood. I made contact with my Higher self through an invocation ritual where my Higher self presented itself to me. I always had a familiar bond with cats and I have been fascinated by lions specifically, since I was a child. I always knew my spirit ally would be a lion, but I was not expecting this: my Higher self appeared to me as a lion with a mane of fire, two long horns and large angelic wings. I was not afraid when the lion roared, I knew it was only displaying its power. I held up a medallion of a lions head and told my Higher self that this was to be my link to it. Every time I wear the medallion I feel the presence of my Higher self. We've been working together for about 2 months now. I have discovered that I don't need the medallion to communicate with my Higher self, I can contact him through my solar chakra. I also discovered what my Higher self wants to be called, he told me telepathically he wants the name Lyon (LEE-on), We both thought the spelling with the "y" was fancy. He is friendly and likes to play, he is also very powerful as he has shown me more than once. When I call on Lyon he appears to me usually on my right side and we have merged effortlessly during my "shamanic walks" or journeys through out the city practicing my auric and astral viewing powers, with Lyon my astral and auric viewing are intensified, my sense of smell increases when we merge and my actions become quick, strong and very catlike. Lyon protects me, I know that's why he made contact with me was to start protecting me, I think from other spiritual entities.we haven't been working with one another long but I already feel like we've been together my whole life. We are great friends now, I call on Lyon for help in magical training and workings, I call on him for protection and I call on him just to have a friendly presence by me when I get those feelings of loneliness. Lyons presence in my life is a message from Spirit, this I know, but for what I still haven't Figured out.Lyon and I are still discovering each other, or more Like I am discovering him.

Drawing of my Higher self used in ritual

As I started working with Lyon I started wondering about other spirits and consulted my divination stones to see if there were other spirit allies willing to work with me, I asked for an animal totem to make a sign, that night I saw a neighborhood cat my fiancé and I call O'maley the alley cat, right outside my door, O'maley has never come to this part of the hood, he walked right up to me, put a paw on my leg and stared into my eyes, I then said "ok, I get it." And that's how I understood that Cat spirit is one of my guides. I haven't worked with Cat much. I mostly work with Lyon but cat does help me in many ways too.

 

 

 

Through the ritual of the Genius/Juno, you can meet an important magickal ally in your pursuit for self transformation, power and enlightenment. The Higher Self will always be there to aid us and protect us and some believe it will be there long after we are dead to continue our souls journey to the Goddess.