The Witch's Yearbook: Spells, Stones, Tools and Rituals for a Year of Modern Magic

A year of modern magic

Have you ever looked at a full moon on a clear winter night and shivered? Or sown a seed and marvelled as it unfurled from the earth? Have you walked in an ancient forest or sat in a stone circle and felt a deep sense of peace and belonging? Do you wonder if there is something beyond the grind of the everyday? Do you believe in magic?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you need witchcraft in your life. No longer tainted by notions of sorcery, hexes and cobwebs, witchcraft has been rediscovered by those of us yearning for re-enchantment. Another way of looking at the world opens up when we take time to cast a spell, interpret the tarot, honour our ancestors with rituals or watch our pendulums swing – a new perspective filled with mystery, wonder and possibility.

This book will guide you through a year of magic. Based on the cycles of nature and guided by the seasons, it will give you the tools and know-how to unveil the magic that surrounds us. By celebrating the eight sabbats (festivals) of the Wheel of the Year, you will work with nature to activate your hidden power and trigger miraculous happenings. Witchcraft can attract love, give your career a boost, protect your home and help with healing. It will enrich your life. Whether you are a solitary hedge witch or part of a coven, a practising witch or an aspiring one, this book will take you on a year-long magical adventure.

THE WHEEL OF T

HE YEAR

The natural world is at the heart of witchcraft. Witches observe and respond to the seasons and cycles of nature and are guided by its wisdom. The eight chapters in this book correspond to the eight annual sabbats of the witch’s calendar. These occur at equal intervals throughout the year and mark the high point of the seasons and moments in the agricultural calendar. Originally Celtic festivals, they occur at solar events called solstices and equinoxes and at the midpoints between them.

On a sabbat, witches honour gods, goddesses and nature, and are thankful for all that they provide. As well as a time of ritual and reflection, sabbats are a good opportunity to eat and drink with other witches. Some chose to gather in covens, although many witches choose to practise alone.

The cycle of the eight sabbats is called the Wheel of the Year and is the cosmic cycle of all things: birth followed by death, then renewal. Picture the sabbats as the eight spokes on a wheel, constantly turning as surely as night follows day and summer follows winter.

Two of the eight sabbats occur at solstices (the longest and the shortest day) and two at equinoxes (when day and night are of equal length). These are the solar, or minor, sabbats, which are also known as quarter days. In the midpoints between them are the four Earth, or major, sabbats, which are also known as cross-quarter days.

THE EIGHT SABBATS

The dates for the eight sabbats in the northern hemisphere are given below. In the Southern Hemisphere, some witches follow the traditional northern hemisphere wheel. For example, they celebrate Samhain in October. However, it can be difficult to prepare for the harvest sabbat when it is early spring. As a result, other witches work harmoniously with the cycles of nature and celebrate sabbats during the appropriate season.

The four major sabbats

Samhain, 31 October: the witch’s year begins. Plants die back, dead souls return. A time to prepare to descend into stillness.

Imbolc, 2 February: the darkest days are over; the earth is preparing to burst into life.

Beltane, 1 May: a festival of fertility. Plants sprout rapid external growth. A time of development and learning.

Lughnasadh, 1 August: the first harvest. Plants are fruiting. A time to be grateful for what has been created.

The word ‘sabbat’, meaning the witch’s festival, is based on a claim made by Gerald Gardner, an English witch and anthropologist. He suggested that the word was first used in the Middle Ages, and was a mixture of the Jewish Shabbat and other heretical celebrations.

The four minor sabbats:

The two solstices mark the turning points of the year.

Winter solstice (Yule), 21 December: the shortest day. Plants are dormant. This is a time of stillness, rest and recuperation.

Summer solstice (Litha), 21 June: the longest day. A time of intense, active energy and powerful magic.

The two equinoxes occur when the sun passes across the equator, making night and day equal across the globe.

Spring/Vernal equinox (Ostara), 21 March: the first day of spring. Germination begins. A time of powerful energetic release.

Autumn equinox (Mabon), 21 September: the second harvest. Seeds are dispersed. A time to take responsibility for our actions.

WORKING WITH THE FOUR ELEMENTS

The four elements of earth, air, fire and water are the basis of all life on the planet. They are also the foundation of natural magic and central to spell work and rituals. Each element corresponds to an astrological sign, season, colour and cardinal direction (also called a ‘quarter’). Tools used in magic work are assigned to different elements; the governing element is used to purify the tool before magic work begins.

Earth

Direction: north

Meaning: material abundance, fertility, work, money

Season: winter

Astrological signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Colours: green, gold, black

Tool: the pentagram

Air

Direction: east

Meaning: intellect, clarity of thought, communication

Season: spring

Astrological signs: Aquarius, Libra, Gemini

Colour: yellow

Tool: the wand

Fire

Direction: south

Meaning: inspiration, intuition, creativity, sexual energy

Season: summer

Astrological signs: Leo, Sagittarius, Aries

Colours: orange, red

Tool: the athame

Water

Direction: west

Meaning: emotions, love, psychic power

Season: Autumn

Astrological signs: Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer

Colours: blue, silver

Tool: the cauldron

The pentagram

The five-pointed star known as the pentagram is the most important symbol of witchcraft. The four lower points represent the four elements, with the uppermost point representing the fifth element: spirit. The pentagram also resembles the human form, with the head at the top and four limbs extending from the central ‘body’.

Place a pentagram at the centre of your altar and have it nearby during spell work. Either draw one on a piece of paper or buy a more substantial metal or ceramic version. Before use, cleanse and charge it overnight in the light of the full moon.

When a pentagram is enclosed in a circle, it is called a pentacle. This disc is often worn by modern witches as protective jewellery and to identify themselves to other witches.

WHAT A WITCH NEEDS: TOOLS TO MAKE YOUR MAGIC FLY

You do not need to spend a fortune to perform magic, but spell casting and rituals are much more effective with the right tools, and there are a few items that are essential. Most of these can be home-made or adapted from things you already own.

Altar

This is central to all that you do as a witch, so take a little time to set it up and decorate it. Find a place in your home where the altar will not be disturbed. This could be a mantelpiece, windowsill, shelf or a simple raised structure on a table. You do not have to buy anything special (unless you want to!); this will be your place of quiet contemplation and ritual, not a display to impress your friends. Some witches place their altars facing north – the realm of midnight, dreams and magic. Others place it facing east to honour the rising sun.

Now to decorate it… Start with your altar cloth (natural fibres like cotton or velvet work well), then add items that chime with the seasons and your intentions – you will find suggestions throughout this book. Candles, crystals and a pentacle are a good selection to start, then you can add flowers, herbs, charms – whatever feels right.

Cauldron

One of the most potent symbols of witchcraft, a cauldron, is also very handy. This round, black pot with three legs and a handle was once a common sight in homes. Hung over a fire, it was used to cook soups, broths and stews. The modern witch has a specially made cauldron, about the size of a medium saucepan, to mix herbal potions, burn incense and cast spells. It is also a lovely thing: the three legs represent the triple goddess and its full-bodied shape symbolizes Mother Earth. Cauldrons have been replaced with saucepans for cooking, and you could use one of these at a push, but they do lack magic. A cauldron is one thing worth investing in.

Athame

Pronounced a-thay-me, this is the witch’s ritual knife. Never used for cutting (except for the cake at a hand-fasting ceremony), it is used to direct and control psychic energy, to draw magic circles and to call the quarters (point to the four cardinal directions) at the start of your rituals. Traditionally, an athame was made of silver or steel, with a black wooden handle. Some have double edges and are decorated with symbols and runes. It is important to treat your athame with respect. Purify and consecrate it before rituals, then wrap it in a white cloth and keep in a safe place when it is not being used.

Book of shadows

Recording all your witchy activities in a book is a satisfying and useful thing to do. A type of supernatural journal, a book of shadows (also known as a grimoire) is an important map of your witch’s journey. Use it to write up all your spells, rituals, incantations, herbal remedies and incense recipes. Do not be tempted to record all of this on a computer: it needs to be hand-written, preferably in blue ink. Keep your book of shadows safe, and remember to update it. It is an essential tool and a record of how far you have come.

Wand

Made from wood taken from a sacred tree, a wand is used to send a spell in whatever direction the wand is pointed. (To make your own, see Witchy Craft: Make an apple wand). Wands made from different trees have different purposes: hazel or elder make good all-round magic wands; apple wood works in love spells, and willow is good for working with lunar energies.

Crystals

These beautiful treasures from the earth will complement your magical work. Find out more about them in Crystal Magic.

Pentagram

This five-pointed star, the most important symbol for a witch, is a core element of witchcraft. See more about this in Working With the Four Elements: the pentagram.

Incense

Incense is a blend of resins, herbs, spices and oils that releases a powerful aroma when burned. It creates the right atmosphere for spell work, depending on the ingredients chosen. (To make your own, see Winter Solstice: Make your own incense).

Candles

The gentle light of a candle creates a calm, focused mood that will give your spells and rituals weight and potency. Lighting a candle is a sacred gesture, summoning the elements of fire and air and symbolizing the light that is born out of darkness.

It’s a good idea to have a selection of candles in a variety of colours and sizes. Differently coloured candles have different meanings: pink is used for love spells, silver for clairvoyance, green to bring abundance, blue for healing and inspiration, and purple for protection. White is a neutral colour and can be used for anything. Use a fresh candle for each spell and allow it to burn down and extinguish after magic work (shorter candles or tea lights are a safer option as they burn out faster).

A WITCH’S HERBAL

Using plants, especially herbs, in spells and remedies is