Friday, 23 September 2011

Practical Magic blog party 2011

Magic
Bright Blessings
from the modern witch....




Merry meet .....
Thank you for visiting my post for the Practical Magic blog party.
This year I have included some information about making a Book Of Shadows.
I created my own version called B.O.O.K
(Book Of Open Knowledge)


Now lovely ladies, and possibly gentlemen.. 
 ...are you ready?
 )O(


To some it’s a world of magic and holds many secrets, to others it’s a way of life. 

When this is practiced as a religion then it is called witch, wicca in the Old English term. 

Some connect with the fairy,  this type of witch is of the faery faith. Faery wicca.
I really enjoy researching this area for my book of knowledge. 
Pictures of my pages are shown further down in post.

 This belief is neither black nor white because it is a religion which respects nature in any forms. There are certain spells that are learned and used but must adhere to the rule or its code of conduct respected by all witches. 
All spells used must also conform to the Book of Shadows, used by all as a reference guide. 
Spells can either conform or adopt a person’s personality and the Wican Rede or rule is the one thing that everyone involved must respect and follow in order to have a good order in this religion.


To create a spell to harm, manipulate, dominate or control another person is very much forbidden in the world of Witchcraft. 
The Book of Shadows serves not only as your guide but your references for spells, rituals, tables and correspondences, divinatory meanings and other things that you would like to know of and used for your consumption as long as you follow the order.

The spell that springs to mind from the film 'Practical magic' for me ...
has to be the Amas Veritas spell.

Amas Veritas is based on Latin, 
and translates as (approximately) 'True Love'.


Young Sally: " He will hear my call a mile away. He will whistle my favorite song. 
He can ride a pony backwards."
Summoning up a true love spell. called Amas Veritas. 
" He can flip pancakes in the air. He'll be marvelously kind, 
his favorite shape will be a star, 
and he'll have one green eye and one blue."
Young Gillian: Thought you never wanted to fall in love.
Young Sally: That's the point. The guy I dreamed of doesn't exist, and if he doesn't exist,
 I'll never die of a broken heart. 


“I dream of a love that even time will lie down and be still for.”

Me cognoscis, ergo me amas - To know me is to love me
Vincit omnia veritas - Truth conquers all.




What is a spell ?...... 
A wish, an intention cast out into the Universe..

What wish would you like to share with the universe?
Your visions, your ideas, your secrets can be placed into a book of shadows..
...these pages are known as bos pages.

Remember :  Harm Ye None 


Making a Witchcraft Book:
Book of Shadows




Witch Spell Book HERE




(below - Jasmoon's blank bos pages)



Book of Shadows is a secret book that is known to be filled with mysterious spells and incantations. However, this thought only exists in television series and movies. 
 Back at the past, the fear of being discovered was at its peak that any secrets and wisdom handed down were performed so verbally; not to mention that the capability in reading and writing were given mostly to the wealthy.


Generally, the Book of Shadows is a witchcraft book that serves two main purposes.
 The first purpose serves as a witchcraft book that serves as a reference guide of all sorts. 
This could be a place where one keeps tables and correspondences, rituals and spells that one would like to try.
 On the other hand, the purpose is more personal. In this aspect, one would keep track of dreams, spells, rituals, and personal readings. 
Therefore, it is a more magical journal than an ordinary workbook. 
This is the common purpose of Book of Shadows as a witchcraft book.


Since the purpose of the book is already known, one can now decide what s/he needs to make.
When it comes to the inside design, one prefers to keep the handmade design on the book, s/he should utilize their own handwriting on the pages. 
Remember that one should utilize the witchcraft book by candle light at certain times in order for one to make sure that the lettering of the handwriting is quite large and clear enough for one to make out.  On the other hand, if one prefers to use the computer, s/he can type out the pages of the witchcraft book and print them but this will decrease from the magic.....from within you best shared onto the pages via hand! 


The main point to remember is that one should reflect his personality as a spiritual being and who would want one to be become when creating the book of shadows or any other witchcraft books. 
When you plan to start writing a book and you are not happy with it, you can start over. 
Never be discouraged when it didn’t turn out great the first time.

I use birch plywood to make the covers for my books. 
I can then burn my wording / design into the wood & use mixed media ....
I finish by sealing with wax or mat varnish.
You could use papier mache, cardboard covered in strips/layers of paper/paste 
- I would say at least 6 & leave to completely dry ...naturally.
Then gently sand so a smooth, even texture.
Gesso the entire cover, front & back.
Now they are ready to decorate in any way you please.
Remember to seal to keep that treasured design.

Use post screws to connect covers & pages together.
(Those used in albums/scrapbooking.)

                                                  Text
 Hocus Pocus or hocus-pocus is a generic term 
that may be derived from an ancient language and is presently used by magicians, 



usually the magic words spoken when bringing about some sort of change.


                 It was once a common term for a magician, juggler, or other similar entertainer.
The origins of the term remain obscure. 
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the term originates from hax pax max Deus adimax, 
a pseudo-Latin phrase used as a magic formula by conjurors.

Below are some examples of writing to help inspire, 

its fun to design your own :0)




                      Abracadabra is an incantation used as a magic word in stage magic tricks, 
and historically was believed to have healing powers when inscribed on an amulet. 
The word is thought to have its origin in the Aramaic language, in which abra (אברא) means "to create" 
and cadabra (כדברא) which means "as I say",
providing a translation of abracadabra as "create as I say", thus its use in magic.





(Stamp by Marina)


The Theban alphabet is a writing system with unknown origins.

 It was first published in Johannes Trithemius' Polygraphia (1518).
 It is also known as the Honorian Alphabet or the Runes of Honorius after the legendary magus 
or the Witches' Alphabet due to its use in modern Wicca and other forms of witchcraft as one of many substitution ciphers to hide magical writings such as the contents of a Book of Shadows from prying eyes. 
The Theban alphabet bears little resemblance to other alphabets, and has not been found in any previous publications prior to Trithemius'.


 below help is at hand....



Page inspiration for your book of shadows:



I use photocopy A4 paper

Tea bag the pages front and back - cook in oven to dry 
(gives a great crispy feel to pages!)
Burn edges, that's it they are ready for you to create wonderful text/images!
 I photocopied my hand written pages/ designs 
(below)
 then aged & distressed. 





The pages above are made for a landscape A4 sized faery book.




Some links to visit:



If you want to use a particular spell, but don't have certain materials that it requires, 
consider substituting another material for the one the spell calls for. 
Most experienced witches write their own spells. 
Therefore, you can take the love spells and change them to suit your needs 
and it would be the same as writing your own spell.
 If you are not sure how to do that, 
you may need to read a book on Wicca to get started on your magickal journey.

Remember that the magic is within you....



Non-Manipulative Love Spell



You will need:

A red candle

A pink candle

Red or pink flower petals

Some purple lilacs

A red pen

White paper

An envelope

Some perfume

A symbol of permanence/stability of your choice

With the paper and pen, write ten things you would like in a lover. 
Set the paper down on a flat surface and say:

Aphrodite and Venus, bring me a lover.
Let he/she be faithful and true
Let he/she love me for who I am
And let me love him/her for who he/she is.

Light the pink candle, and say

Let the first feelings of love strike me and this unknown person Let our love be one of friendship and romance

Light the red candle, and say:

Our relationship will be strong, and we will have the courage to trust each other and to be ourselves, 
and to help each other overcome whatever crises may befall us. 

Spray the paper with perfume. 
Put it and the flower petals and the symbol of permanence in an envelope and seal it, 
imagining being happy and safe in the lover’s arms or something like that. Say:

Let this love be sweet and flourishing like these flower petals, 
but let it be far more enduring, like (permanence symbol).

Then finish the spell by keeping the envelope with you, 
or burying on your property, or keeping it by your bed at night.

By Micaela

Sweet magical daydreams 

Love & light
Trace
oxo

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