Ex Penna

So there I sat in the front seat of my car, shoulders slumped yet every muscle tense and quivering.  I stared off blankly, looking into the rest of my evening, the rest of my week, with guilt and remorse, apologies and excuses.  The lights flashed in a chaotic display around me.  Yep, I was gonna get a ticket.

Now this may not seem like a big deal to some of you but I was in a tight jam and couldn't afford to give away any extra money.  Before you say it, yes, this was giving money away.  It was after 11:00 PM and as I was leaving my day job to start my night job, I went under a very fast yellow light at the end of a high arched bridge.  I passed under it just as it was turning red.  My ticket was over $250.00.

That's not to say that I didn't do my very best to avoid it.  As soon as I stopped, I grabbed the pentacle from around my neck and held it tight, clutching to a hope that in a few minutes everything would be fine.  I asked the Gods--nay, begged, pleaded, cried--to help me, to be kind to me, to fix this however a divine being can and I'd be so, so grateful.  By then, the cop was walking up to my car.  I tucked away my pentacle (just in case it mattered to him), dried my eyes, and tried to look casual as I rolled down the window.  I hoped the Gods were working on it.

They were not.

I know they weren't because I wouldn't have either.  I acted like a baby.  I begged for mommy and daddy to come outside and make the mean neighbor kid go away.  The gods aren't interested in us that way and they don't want us humiliating ourselves.  They don't care about our whims--and this, sadly, was a complete whim--anymore than we care about those of strangers.  They watch us for fun, they walk among us to learn and to teach, but they interact with us on a personal basis for their own purposes and not ours.  Unless you have become a pet favorite of a god or goddess, you are no more special than any other voice crying their name.  If, like me, you were extra whiny about it, prepare to be a lot less special.

So the gods didn't help me.  They didn't even look up from their ambrosia.  There I sat, sad and sorrowful, wishing for a miracle that wasn't going to come.  And why should it?  I was pathetic!  They might pity me, sure, but most likely they were disgusted.

And you know what happened?  That cop threw the book at me.  He got some notion in his head that I was the bust that would make him Sergent and took me out of my car, searched it, searched my purse, and was about to pat me down until I refused (remember, ladies, females can't get the pat down from male cops).  Just about then, another cruiser stopped by to check things out.  Now there were two cars--with all lights ablaze--and four cops looking me over like I was a mafia kingpin.  I was four months pregnant at the time.

They rolled up the tube of lipstick in my purse and flipped through my notebook.  They opened the positive pregnancy test that I still carried around with me.  I started to feel very exposed.  Then my boss drove by and I could see his wide eyes as we recognized each other.  The cops found nothing and I was horribly late to work where I then had to explain to my boss what happened and why he shouldn't count this against me.  This was a terrible night.



Okay, so we all have bad times.  We all have experiences that were going to be horrible no matter what we did or said, but that doesn't mean that some well-placed magic can't still help.  Had I been prepared and not frozen with worry, I would have seen an opportunity to use the right kinds of magic in the right places to soften the blow that was being dealt to me.  Had I stopped whimpering and offered something real, maybe the gods would have taken an interest.

All this happened when I had just turned 20, so I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on myself.  But it took me years to realize that what really stood in my way was the desperation I felt in the situation.  I don't like cops already and getting pulled over sends me into the closest thing I've ever come to panic attacks.  I was grasping at straws when I called on my patron deities.  Thing is, though, that they don't like being your straws.  They, like mortals, want to be treated respectfully.  They do things for you because they want to, not because you're so pitiful they feel sorry for your blubbering mess.  If you want something, you better use an extra large dose of respect and decorum--and that includes presents.  The gods enjoy promised gifts and if you know the kinds of things they like best, you're definitely going to get noticed.  Make a bargain with them.  Be kind and persuasive; be enticing, but be strong.  Show them that you are a business partner as well as your other roles as student, worshipper, disciple, and--occasionally--groupie.

Had I had the wherewithal to do things right, this is how I would've turned the whole night around:

1. Brief, straightforward prayer to my patrons with a promise of an offering if they help

2. Brief prayer to a god/dess, ancestor, or spirit who is specifically linked with my problem

3.  Spoken charm to Retain the Right

4. (As soon as the cop's face is in view) A mental push on him to recognize me as the kind of person deserving a second chance (exceedingly good, noble, or sexy--your choice)

5. (Before speaking) Charm to be eloquent

If I had done all that, I might not now be able to recall that night with such sickening clarity.  Sure, this all may seem trivial to some but giving up that money (and the insurance money paid out because it was a 3 point offense) was a very big deal at that time.  Even to this day, tossing away $250 for any reason would be insanity and I can't think of a soul who can afford it.

The point is that being prepared will save you from panic and panic is the kind of things that absolutely kills magic.  The Gods won't touch it, the spirits see the weakness and won't obey, that great flow that usually surges up through you when you cast will only trickle--if it even comes at all.

Maybe you've mistook this plant for another more famous summertime yellow flower, St. John's Wort.  Maybe you were sad that it wasn't a magical, mystical herb.  Well, you were wrong, sister!

Celandine is one of my very favorite herbs for one simple reason--it gives you get up and go!  I've never seen any spell component more inspiring to the uninspired, more energising to the lethargic, more steadfast to the worn out souls who just don't think they can go any further.

Make an infused oil from Celandine and use it to dress a candle that has been carved with your name and the aspect of your life that needs a boost.  Give it some power, let it burn, and then watch out!  You'll be amazed at how you suddenly have the energy and interest to get all those items scratched off your to-do list.  Just remember not to fight it or question it; this is exactly what you wanted--and needed!

Printable Book of Shadows Pages


Sooo, I'm doing a lot of printables lately, but it's only to show that you can find good information and have nice things without spending a lot of money.  I'm a firm believer that it's quite possible to have a rich magical life without going too far into the commercial aspect of witchcraft.  I've known witches who brag about their room full of purchased items they barely know how to use and shelves of books they've never read, but I've alo known many who stocked up on cheap, flimsy things at the Dollar Store and considered themselves brilliant.  Both are terrible ideas.

It's true that shopping for nice gear is fun.  I like to scout the shops as much as anyone else, but the possession of those items isn't enough to really make you feel it.  I would rather be out in the woods, digging roots and scrubbing the dirt from old bones than flipping through online shops and adding pretty things to my virtual shopping cart.  I believe that the connection is what makes your magic come alive.

This is one of my favorite charms because it has such a boom to it that you can easily work up energy to put behind it.  This charm comes from the classic "The Magic of Chant-o-Matics" by Raymond Buckland and is one of those he gives "to bring pressure to bear on another."  The language used may seem a little obscure to us today, but the effects are clear: exerting your influence on another person.

Influencing others is a staple of magic.  Even if it's in a totally benign way, we still use our powers to change people's thoughts and actions.  Charms are a nice shortcut to this process, especially when the situation is really not big enough to necessitate a full spell.  Try this the next time you want to make your will known to those around you in a big way.  I can attest to its efficacy!

Magical Names


This link references Pagan names but I changed it here because I feel that the topic goes far beyond spirituality.  It also specifies baby naming but we know that a change in title can happen at any time in life far beyond birth.  It is that "beyond" that I hope will inspire some interesting conversations among you.

The magic in one's name is a subject that deserves discussion.  It is common magical theory that to know the true name of something is to have power over it, hence many practices ranging from the old rule of not naming a child until it is a year old to our current use of secret names when among other practitioners.  Our innermost self is safe when we guard the key to it--our names.

Look up the meaning of your given name (there's no shortage of books of these lists) and see if it agrees with the person you wish to be.  If not, now would be a good time to take on another name even if you already have a magical one for ritual use.  Note, too, that your magical name should agree with your current best self and aspirations.  It is not enough to hold onto a name from your teen years merely out of tradition.  If your inner self has outgrown your moniker, find it a new one.

So here's the funny thing about having been a spellcaster for nearly 20 years--you lose track of things.  I never thought I'd get to the point where I couldn't quite remember if I'd read a certain book, if I have this or that herb in my collection, or in this case, where a piece of information came from that I really cherish.

Weird, huh?

But there it is, and though it didn't sound likely when I first began, I've come to the point where I simply can't recall every spell I've cast or client I've worked with.  That's one reason that I'm such a pain in the rear to readers, students, friends (and basically every caster I meet) about keeping impeccable records about everything.

So today I'm going to tell you about a formula that I use all the time, works incredibly well, and yet I'm not one-hundred percent sure whom to credit with its creation.  I'll note that at first I thought it was from Cunningham--and his "Incense, Oils and Brews" does indeed have a similar recipe--but it's not quite the same thing.  If you have any idea where this can be found in its original form, I'd love to know so that I can correct not only this post but also my own formulary at home.

But, no matter its source, here's the indispensable incense formula of my practice, Prayer Incense.

The most common magical tools are those that we see mostly in their ritual use-- the wand, cup, dagger, and pentacle.  While they do have their place on the altar as representations of masculine and feminine energies and the power of the Elements, they are also useful implements in their own right.

The wand is a classic.  Use it to shape and guide the energy you generate.

The dagger (or athame, if you prefer) is not usually for cutting but for controlling and containing spirits and masses of power better suited to sterner means than the lithe wand.

The cup (chalice) is the perfect way to continue the flow after you've made potions or charged waters; drink your brews from it, use it to asperge, make offerings, or soak objects to be empowered.

The pentacle (paten) is the ideal place to charge objects, acting as a mirror of your power--infusing your item from yourself from above and from the pentacle from below.

There are, of course, many other tools that are used in spellcasting such as the cauldron, boline, and scribe, but we're here to talk about what makes tools important and not just what makes them different.

To talk about that, let's back up a bit.  In the distant past of the magical community, we had a very different view of magical tools than we do today.  Before the Fraudulent Mediums Act which made casters feel compelled to prove their legitimacy as well as their rationality, we could be proud to own an object said to contain immense power and to wield it with importance in our own eyes and in those around us.  Before the Witchcraft Acts which compelled practitioners underground, denying knowledge of the magical properties of any object, we could find power in anything and anywhere.

After these changes, after becoming a society that has all but renounced magic, it has been hard work for its occult subset to regain that lost inspiration toward magical objects.  We're expected to be suspicious and skeptical about any item of power.  Though we well know our own power, there's just no proof of anyone else's.  So we wag fingers and make up rules.  Don't buy items with an impressive reputation for spellcasting and don't get pre-charged formulas.  In short, don't trust anyone or anything to help you work better or faster.  You just can't be too careful.

I tell you now that the truth is far from this attitude.  Other casters are not out to get you.  Sellers who tell you that they charge items (like myself) have very little to gain by lying and a lot of reputation to lose.  If you truly think that there's a risk that you're buying an item with a false, insufficient, or otherwise unacceptable charge attached to it, learn to detect such things instead of denying the validity of others' work.  When you have the talent for detecting the energy of others, you will never fear trickery and the trust and power you will gain is substantial.

In the meantime, you can find the trust and power you seek by getting to know your own tools.  Yes, I'm saying you should have tools, lots of them.  Find out what you like best, what works best for what kind of spells, what sounded good when you found/made/bought it but turned out to be a waste of time.  This is all important stuff.

Once you have your favorite implements, use them.  Use them all the time.  Gather power from other sources--charging them in sun- or moonlight, drawing up energy from the earth, or having fetches or other spirits flood your tools with energy--and tap into it as needed.  You'll be amazed at the results!  I can say this because that is the truth I'm talking about in the title---


Tools are magical storehouses.

That's why you keep them around.  It's not because you want to be fancy or that you're too thick to realize that your finger can be used instead of a wand.  A real wand--fancy or plain--can do great things for you just by holding on to all the strength that has flowed through it from previous spells.  You won't get that from your finger.

There are some easy ways to make this happen.  First is that tools should be made of the most natural materials available.  As has been stated many times before, plastic is a lousy conduit and nil as a battery; the same thing goes for it's abilities when it comes to magical charges.  Try to avoid it unless just as a decorative accent.

Once you have a quality tool you must give it a quality charge.  Having tools in which your faith is strong helps a lot here.  Every time you cast with this tool, if you give the work the very best you have--the strongest visualization you can muster, the most earnest focus, fluid motions, and rhythmic speech patterns--an enviable charge will build up within that tool.

Having items of power at your disposal will not stay a secret for long, which leads to our next truth--


Tools are signifiers.

These items quickly become a symbol of your influence.  Anyone who shares magical space with you will notice not only your comfort in wielding your tools, but also the crackling energy which surrounds such use.  They'll see the results of your work and consider it both your own aptitude at play and that of the grand object you control.

The best part of this is that spirits also take note of this power shift.  Any spirits taking part in your work--whether invited or just as curious interlopers--will recognize your tool as being a sharp weapon, a scepter of your leadership.

Amazingly, after what tools mean to outsiders, there's no comparison to what they mean inside you.  Setting up space with your tools helps to set the mood for the work that's about to begin.  Holding your tools in defense against a greater enemy bolsters your nerve and resolve.  With them by you, you have a physical representation to which to look, symbols of your mastery and might.

So they retain power and act as representations of our hidden ability, but what about what really happens during the casting?


Tools are amplifiers.

Let's think of spellcasting in the same terms as making dinner.  All the components of your spell are ingredients to the recipe you're using.  The power you call up is the heat of your stove and oven.  The formulas, decorations, and music you might employ are spices and herbs to give extra flavor.  Now you're cooking!  Everything is coming together nicely--bubbling pots and sizzling pans giving off wonderful aromas of what treats are to come.  You want to ensure their success, keep things moving in the right direction, and work your ingredients into their final form.

Your tools are your spoon, your spatula, your whisk and tongs.   You can cook without them, to be sure, and make something tasty, but think of the variety of foods you can make with the added implements to whip, deep fry, sear, and bake.  An entire world of cookery is now available to you.  That is the way magical tools work, as well.


In an effort to exert an opinion on a standard method, the magical community has swung too far in the other direction, calling the standard silly, pointless, and stodgy.  What a sad waste of potential that is!

Naturally, the topic of money is closely linked into any discussion of obtaining new items for magic.  I am of the mindset that money is not a necessity to great magic, but knowledge is.  Instead of bashing those who can afford expensive wares, study and work with the natural materials found right outside your door.  Learn the methods for making quality tools yourself and hone those skills carefully.  There are sources of power all around you if you open all your senses to them; utilize what exists around you.  Also study the occult traditions that support straightforward magic, especially using everyday items for spells.  In this, you will be richer and more powerful than anyone who is able to simply lay down cash for a flashy object.

Now that you know what it really means to wield a magical tool--or, hopefully, many--go and show the world.  Take up your wand and staff and perform your miracles.


Images from:

Witchesofthecraft.com