Ex Penna

Um...unless you've never read a word I've written before--yes!  An emphatic yes for always having an up-to-date almanac at hand.  But since there's so much more to say on the topic, let's talk about all the reasons why you should have one.

To be clear, I'm talking about any almanac designed for practitioners (so, no, not the Farmer's).  I have my preferences, naturally, but any of those on the market have the same basic set-up and therefore are all amazing.  No worries if you haven't chosen one for yourself; I wrap up with a list and links of those that I've discovered.

 

1.  Not Just an Almanac

While the dated pages are the real reason you bought the thing, everything else is simply amazing.  The rest of the book is filled with articles and bits of information that can range from herbal correspondences, seasonal recipes, magical handcraft ideas, rituals, simple spells, q&a--you name it.  It's super handy to grab this for a quick read while you're currently between books, waiting for the next issue of Witches and Pagans, or just have enough time for something short.

Plus you'll be keeping up with the current topics in the magical community. 

Plus they're usually written by big name authors (I highly recommend scanning through the front page of contributor bios before buying.  It's weirdly fun for me to get excited over one of my favorite authors being in the latest almanac and saving their article for last, like a super sweet dessert.  I know, I know--but I did admit already that it was weird).

2.  Cast More Spells in General

When you're able to really think about all the things you'd like to see happen in your future, and then plan for them in order of importance, you're more likely to see those great things manifest.  You may be thinking about how important it is to cast a spell for that possible raise at work, but to see it written down--a specific date and time--means that you have an appointment to show up, cast big, and get things done. 

What's more, when you take a look at the current month and see it looking sparse, you might start to consider the spells you can cast for the less-than-urgent issues in your life.  This means that you'll work magic into your life on a more consistent basis and you'll also whittle down the great to-do list of things you'd like to see happen in your life. 

As an aside, I'd like to mention that it is not only a practitioner's option to use magic, it is their duty to use it.  To have in your possession a tool which could vastly improve your life and the lives of everyone around you, and to use it only when everything else fails, is an error somewhere between stupidity and selfishness.  I do not subscribe to the notion that spells are only for the really big dangers in life; they are for that, but also for the little things--the everyday wonders and blunders, the hopes and goals we want for our futures, the pleasant things we want right now, the sweet burst of happiness and accomplishment that keeps us going in life.  Magic is, in short, for everyone and every desire.  If you want it, make it happen.

3.  Get Better at Good Timing

Almanacs generally have timing information in the back so it's a one-stop reference for how to get the very best from your spells.  Time based on moon phase, sign, day of the week, planetary hour, or any combination thereof, with ease. 

I especially love how timing by the moon offers so many options.  (At this point, you may like to swing by the shop and pick up my timing chart, Magic in the Moon Signs) This means that not only can you choose which exact aspect of the issue you want to be at the forefront of your magic, but doing so gives you a number of days in the month to choose from, so that your spell doesn't compete with other events in your life.

So, let's imagine this: Nancy is an artist and she wants to cast a spell to make her latest public project a success.  She could choose to cast on a Thursday when the moon is in Pisces to ensure that the project will be a financial success with many generous backers.  Or she could decide that it's more important that the art itself succeed, making a deep and personal connection to her audience.  In that case, she might like to try a Monday Sagittarius, Taurus, or Cancer moon.  If she just wanted to be able to get her point across without hindrance--leaving the audience and philanthropists to think what they will--she might opt for Sunday spell under Virgo or Libra.  And that's before she even decides on planetary hours.  That's a lot of options! 

4.  The Ideal Way to Keep Track of Your (Possibly Clandestine) Second Life

5. Quickly Chart Your Manifesting Time and Rate of Success

While this sort of information isn't important to every caster, it's a big one for professionals and similarly-minded personal practitioners.  Of course, knowing how long it takes for a spell to do its job is something we should all care about because there might come a time when exact dates are essential to your desires.  Imagine leisurely using up your last two weeks to plan how you want to cast for a raise at work without the knowledge that your prior money spells took a month before you saw results! 

6. It Can Also Be a Magical Diary

I have a filing cabinet drawer stuffed with my old almanacs purely for this reason; I just can't bear to throw them away!  I think about clearing them all out at times, but then I pick up one and flip through, seeing entries like "Tuesday--Protection: talismans, smudge, doorstep wash" and "DDTM ointment made" and "The Poke Root spell on the 4th may have a cruel twist; the Jackball is filled with moths who died in the candle flame", and I get a twitch of pleasant nostalgia and put them back in the drawer unharmed.

It is a sadly underappreciated aspect of magical practice to look back and reflect.  We should always be aware not only of where we are going, but from whence we have come.  There is something quite satisfying in reading over your old spells, remembering the trials that brought about the need for the spell and also the triumphant calm which followed its success.  You were a different person then, but everything that that You went through has led you here. 

7. There's a Bunch to Choose From

If you're a fan of variety, you'll feel right at home here.  There are so many general and specific almanacs on the shelves that you can try them all until you find the one that is just right for you.  Check these out:

Witches Almanac

The Witches Companion

Witches' Spell-a-Day Almanac

Magical Almanac

Sabbats Almanac

Herbal Almanac

Sun Sign Book

Moon Sign Book

Witches Datebook



Images from:
rebloggy.com
cosgeek.blogspot.com

Here in central Pennsylvania, August is hot and humid.  We're right in the midst of a sticky, sunny summer with few reprieves and fewer rains. 

It can be hard to stand the heat (or worse, work in it!), so here's a little traditional Malayan charm (as recorded in Walter William Skeat's "Malay Magic" of 1900) to cheer you while you're outdoors.

10 Websites that Will Help Drown Out the Noise So You Can Stay Focused



I am fortunate to have a room that I can dedicate to my practice.  There, I can carefully craft every aspect of the way it looks, smells, and feels to be exactly what I need to feel confident and competent as a witch.  The one thing I can't always control is how it sounds.  And there are times when that is all that seems to matter.

You see, I have a husband and kids and pets and they all have lives that create varying levels of noise in our house.  There's phone conversations, running in and out of the house, pots and pans clanging in the kitchen, talking, laughing, radio music, and movies playing on TV.  We live near a road which connects to a highway, so there's traffic noise as well as the occasional emergency vehicle on their way to the hospitals in the city. 

When I lay it all out like that, it makes this place seem like an endless chaos, which it is not.  But when I'm trying to concentrate, that's all I can think.  When the noise is all I hear, the chances of me making effective magic--despite having every other prerequisite--go right down to nothing.  And your own household might be far louder than mine!

To that end, I offer these helpful and creative sites that have but one goal: instantly block out the world so you can get things done.  And they do it well.  I'm a longtime Coffeetivity user for writing manuscripts, but have become a recent fan of Soundrown and Focus@Will for magic as well.  

Give one a whirl the next time you're working spells, writing in your BoS, trying out mental exercises, creating magical items, or compounding formulas.  You'll be amazed at the results!

It’s a quiet night at home.  I pass by the window on my way to sit with another cup of tea and catch a brief glimpse of the world outside.  Dark streets are painted a glossy ebony black with the rain that has been falling in silent sheets all day.  Jewel-like studs of color pop from shop signs, traffic lights and give a heartbeat to the otherwise lifeless, motionless scene. 

The use of magical seals goes back to at least the 1700's, with simpler examples extending back much further.  Stylized and decorative, seals force the viewer to imagine its purpose more than recognize it.  If I drew a heart shape and put my beloved's name inside it, anyone picking it up (including my target!  Eeep!) would know my intention.  Instead, by using a seal (and possibly adding only the target's initials), a viewer might assume the image has magical importance, see the attention given to perfecting the figure in detail, and find a mysterious value that either brings them to a state of curiosity, fear, or both, but they will not know what it does.  That, to me, makes the magic of the seal a form which no practitioner should ever be without.

Now, you may be wondering, how the hell you're going to make a shortcut out of something that is already widely available and public domain such as magical seals. 

(Psst!  If you weren't aware of that fact, here are some links to get you started:)


Raphael's Ancient Manuscript of Talismanic Magic

The Lesser Key of Solomon

The Book of Ceremonial Magic




The real trick lies in your preparedness.  Sort through all available seals, talismans, and sigils--yes, this will take a long time--and decide the ones you're most likely to need at a moment's notice.  I keep a selection of seals in my travel kit, drawn on squares of colored papers that relate to the purpose of the seal.  This not only helps me to choose what I need faster but it also adds another layer of correspondence to a spell.

You may choose to draw your seals on any kind of paper, or you can paint them onto wooden discs or flat stones; choose whatever works best for you.  Take some Full Moon time to draw out all the seals you're likely to use.  Put a lot of care into it; though you won't be impregnating them with a purpose just yet, you do want them as accurate and perfect as you can make them.  Remember that they will someday help you out of many a tight jam.

So how do we use these pretty little scribbles?  Because you made them ahead of time, the only time you'll be doing empowering is in your moment of need.  This actually helps a lot because it is at that time that you have the most intent focus on the problem, as well as the clearest view of its solution. 

When using your seal, press it between your hands and focus on what you need it to do.  Visualize the image of it covering the whole problem as it is suddenly turned in your favor.  For larger issues, or those more desperate, take about 10 minutes to build up your internal fire through either physically exhausting exercise (the more overwhelming, the better) or sexual excitement.  When you simply cannot go on a moment longer, grab the seal and focus on it as you completely collapse.  Pour all that concentrated force into the image.  This is the standard way to fuel a newly made sigil, so using it for a seal which has hundreds of years of practitioners' use behind it will make it incredibly strong.

When you are done with either method, carry or place the seal as is appropriate and take comfort in knowing that your prior planning (and your friend, Quill, of course!) has saved the day again.

Know Your Clientele

In business, this could not be more important.  Not only does your customer want to feel like you care, but you really do have to understand their needs if you're going to stay in business.  In a highly personal arrangement such as pro spellcasting, you will have to show calm, discretion, professionalism, and knowledge.  Then just listen to them explain the problem and pick out the places where magic can work to its fullest.

I've noted many times that the two most requested spells I get are love spells and curses.  That's what I know to be true of my area and my clients; you own may be different.  Find out!  Before you begin, ask people you trust what they would consider their number one concern at the moment.  Ask co-workers and other acquaintances in a light-hearted way what they would ask for if, say, a genie was to grant them one wish.  Write all this down.

When you feel that you know the kind of magic your clients will request, start accounting for other factors such as age and gender.  Find out what kinds of "witchy" things they find most interesting in general (for me, it's candles) and which are scary to outsiders (anything with blood!).  This may not sound important, but all these things can be a factor in making you and your offerings appealing.



Stock Up on Ready-Made Magic

People don't like handing over money with no guarantee of a return on that investment.  Online shopping is popular today but it would be far less so if shoppers didn't get receipts, tracking numbers, and contact information with the Better Business Bureau! 

But remember that a witch's customers are often without that luxury.  I am proud to say that I have an unblemished reputation with Quill's Occult Supply for shipping promptly, securely, and with all pecautions taken to ensure that your pakage arrives safely. 



Be Ready to Speak Some Harsh Truths

You don't believe in casting love spells?  You will have to say so.  Heard all you can stand and are not interested in helping?  Speak up immeditely.  Is the problem actually the client's fault?  Don't mince words. 

As a person of wisdom, part of what clients will come seeking is a different level of honesty than they can get in the outside world.  While they may think they're ready--or perhaps that you'll only dig into the shortcomings of others and not their own--they won't actually be thrilled to hear you talk about certain things.  You can frame your thoughts any way you like but sooner or later,  you will have to just say what they don't want to hear.   Be firm and don't let them change your mind.

This is especially important if you do tarot readings as part of consultations.  Some clients love to try and rewrite history, but you can't let them.  Learn straightforward methods for handling confrontation and use it every time this sort of thing comes up.  To retain your standing, you must never submit to being pushed around.



Know Your Style

This is your business--make it your own!  It's good not only for your comfort but for the customer's too to be able to recognize a bit of the type of person you are in your advertising, your working hours, the clothes you wear, the space you use for consultations, the types of items they receive, the divination tools you use, the types of spells you cast, etc.  Show them a little of your personality in everything. 

Here we have the essence of brand building.  When you have a strong brand, customers recognize your name and have a feeling associated with it and with your work.  No business, large or small, could ask for more than that.



Get a Handle on Confrontation

I've heard my share of complaints that I charge cash for my work.  When I offer a barter arrangement instead, I've been accused of being cheap.  Either way, my honor was being challenged and the one doing it only did so to either unnerve me, get something for free, or both. 

Be forewarned: you might have to speak sharply to those who approach you about your business.  Know what you're about before they even twitch their lips, and you'll do fine.  What's your stance on magic as an evil enterprise by the devil?  How about being called a fraud?  What would be your response to cold laughter when someone spies your advertisement?  Can you handle it?  Do you know what you'll say and when to say it?  If not, take some time right now to consider this very important issue.

It's been my experience that a witch is in the business of creating change, not making converts, so feel free to completely ignore all attitudes and comments meant to force you into defnding your practice.  Naturally, no one makes a piano teacher or baseball coach produce a free pile of evidence before engaging them for their services; the same should be said of the professional caster.  Be honest and straightforward with potential clients, note what you can and cannot accomplish for them, and then allow them to make their decision. 

This is where you are at your liberty to shut down conversations and tell the individual that neither they nor their disrespect are welcome to your business.  Be calm, polite, and firm; with this to arm you, no one can say they were treated badly, only that they behaved badly.

Of course, all of this might completly go against the way you handle confrontation.  Do what feels natural to you and what respects your practice.  Just remember that you are a business and you will be expected to act like a professional.  Do your best to decide ahead of time just what that looks like.





With this brief list to guide you, I am confident that you will quickly build a firm foudation upon which you can arrange your professional magical practice.  I suggest keeping a notebook for writing down questions and concerns as they come, and entering the answers as soon as they are discovered. 

Talking to other casters is a great source of such information and this is especially easy online.  Check witchcraft based social media or local organizations and pose your questions to anyone who seems able to help.  Doing so will prevent you from suffering from the same troubles and setbacks that so many of us have endured on our way to a thriving business in the ever changing, ever desirable world of professional practical magic.





Images from:

"A Visit to the Witch" Edward Frederick Brewtnall (British, 1846-1902).
http://professionalspellcasters.com/magic-ingredients-for-authentic-spells.html

Parentingbythelightofthemoon.blogspot.ca

You can make a very helpful magical oil with just a few ingredients from your kitchen cupboard!  So let's get into the kitchen and get cracking!

While there are several ways to make this oil, what I offer here is the one I use: 

Flying Devil Oil