Trees and Witchcraft

Trees and Witchcraft

Beliefs concerning trees, their magickal properties and the spirits that are thought to indwell them, are sol old and so widespeard that it is impossible to do more than give a glimpse into tree lore and its connection with witchcraft.

Trees not only have distinct personalities of their own, for those who are sensitive to such things; but many trees are the abodes of spirits, which may be friendly towards humans, or sometimes very much otherwise.

A hunted wood in Sussex, particularly connected with the ghost of a witch, is Tuck's Wood near Buxted. The story behind this haunting is that, many years ago, a beautiful young girl called Nan Tuck somehow acquired the reputation of being a witch. One day an angry mob set about her and threatened to "swim" her in the pond at Tickerage Mill. She fled, with the mob in pursuit, and made for Buxted Church to ask for sanctuary. She manaaged to reach the church, and tried to grasp the 'sanctuary ring' -- the big ring of iron on many old-fashioned church doors -- but the parson pushed her away, quoting the text about "not sufferiing a witch." Presumably, she was abandoned to the mob.

She subsequently hanged herself from a tree in Tuck's Wood, and ever afterwards her ghost has haunted the wood and its neighborhood.

It isn't peculiar that there are many stories of ghostly phenomena connected with woods and with trees in general, when you realize that so old and powerful a living thing as a tree must have a strong aura surrounding it. Some sensitive people can see the auras of trees, as a faint silvery light against the sky.

By leaning your back against a tree, you can attune yourself to its vitality, drawn deep from the earth and nourished by sunshine and rain. Many trees have healing influence upon humans, when their life-force is contacted in this way.

Discover Your Personal Power Through Witchcraft

Blessings,
Arabella

Trees and Witchcraft

What IS a Book of Shadows?

What IS a Book of Shadows in Witchcraft?

"Book of Shadows" is the name given by modern witches to the book in which they write their rituals, invocations and charms. Witches copy from each others' books that which appeals to them, and things which have been learned from experience; so that in practice no two books are exactly alike.

An old rule of the covens, with regard to written material of this description, is that when anyone died his book was to be burned. The reason for this, from the old days, was to save embarrassment to the person's family. A written book was proof positive to accuse a person of witchcraft; and as the latter was popularly supposed to run in families, the discovery of such a thing might make the position of a witch's surviving relatives very difficult.

Such a writing is called a "Book of Shadows," because its contents can only be in this world's shadow of the realities of the Other World; the world of Magick and Beyond, the world of Gods and Spirits. Even so, I am told, do Freemasons regard their ceremonies; which they preserve "until time and circumstance shall restore the great originals."

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Blessings,
Arabella Jolie

What IS a Book of Shadows in Witchcraft?

Don't Worry So Much About Spell Casting!!!

Don't Worry So Much About Spell Casting in Witchcraft!!!

I remember the first time I cast a spell -- at least I remember worrying about the first spell that I cast!

The particular spell I chose had to be done at night in the light of a full moon. I remember that I had to either raise a chalice of a potion that I mixed together up to the moon for 15 minutes, or leave the open chalice beneath the moon's light for the night, retrieving it before daylight.

I chose the latter, as my neighborhood was rather congested, and I didn't want to attract attention. I followed the directions, feeling the power of the moon in the night and blessing the Goddesses for their gifts.

The next day before dawn, I retrieve the chalice and buried it per instructions for thirty days.

During those thirty days, I worried that I hadn't gotten the measurements correct for the potion, didn't have the chalice in exactly the right location to receive the moon's direct beams for the longest period of time, and on and on and on. I did exactly what I shouldn't do when spell casting -- I doubted myself.

My spell was cast with an open heart. That belief was all I should have been concerned about. The universe understands intention and meaning, and after a spell is cast, it is time to leave the rest to the universe.

The spells that I cast after that first spell were done have been more successful because I have cast them, then let them go, knowing that they will be fulfilled to the good of the recipient.

Discover Your Personal Power Through Witchcraft

Blessings,
Arabella Jolie

Don't Worry So Much About Spell Casting in Witchcraft!!!

The Truth about Black Cats

The Truth about Black Cats in Witchcraft

Yesterday as I was driving, a black cat crossed my path. It crossed from right to left, and after it arrived to the other side of the street, it turned and stared into my eyes with its beautiful golden ones. I smiled back at it.

Bad luck? Good luck? I've heard so many things over the years!

My father used to claim he didn't believe in anything, but would make a u-turn to avoid the crossing of a black cat in front of him -- if it was crossing in the wrong direction. I can't remember if left to right was the wrong direction or vice versa. What pressure he must have been under to make the adjustments he had to make!

According to Wikipedia, "In Western history, black cats have often been looked upon as a symbol of bad omens although they are considered to be good omens in other cultures."

The truth is, what you believe is what manifests itself. Like attracts like. If you believe something is bad luck, then it becomes that for you.

I choose to see this beautiful black cat's crossing as a wonderful sign of good luck for me.

Discover Your Personal Power Through Witchcraft

Blessings,
Arabella

The Truth about Black Cats in Witchcraft