Solitary Magick

What is magic anyway?5

The ancient Egyptians called it heka; on the other side of Africa, the Yoruba, parent culture of myriad spiritual and magical traditions, call it ashé. The most familiar word may be the Polynesian man...

What is magic anyway?4

According to general worldwide metaphysical wisdom, common to all magical understanding and tradition, there is an inherent energy radiating from Earth and all living things. Analytical traditions and...

What is magic anyway2

Occult is a word commonly misinterpreted. It doesn’t mean evil or satanic. It has no moral connotations whatsoever. Occult really means “secret” or “hidden.” Secrets may be kept hidden for a host of v...

What is magic anyway1

Rational people know how to define magic—magic is illusion, sleight of hand, at best the fine art of tricks, at worst fraudulence—or so goes the definition usually taught to schoolchildren. Another in...

Morgan Le Fay, Fairy Witch Goddess.

Shrouded in legendary mystery, Morgan Le Fay has been a prominent character in the Arthurian legends. She was the sister and aid to King Arthur himself. In some of the legends, Morgan Le Fay saves Kin...

Circe, Witch Goddess of Aeaea.

A name that’s come to be popular in modern times, Circe is a nymph and goddess of Ancient Greece. Her father, Helios, sends her to exile on an island called Aeaea. Circe is a goddess of transformation...

Isis, Egyptian Goddess of Magic.

While not referred to as a “witch goddess”, Isis was indeed an Egyptian goddess of magic, in particular ritual magic. She is as ancient as time itself, and henceforth is the embodiment of the Feminine...

 Hecate, Goddess of the Crossroads.

Hecate is a well-known witch goddess of Ancient Greece still worshiped by modern-day pagans. She is the lady of the crossroads with three heads or, alternatively, guarded by a three-headed white dog. ...

Cailleach, The Winter Witch Goddess.

Cailleach is a witch goddess from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. She is the Old Woman, the Winter Crone, the Veiled One, the Old Hag, and the Old Crone. Cailleach is the epitome of the “old ha...

Baba Yaga, The Slavic Witch Goddess.

Perhaps one of the most well-known pieces of Slavic folklore is the story of the witch goddess Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga was once a well-respected and revered witch goddess in Eastern Europe and Western As...

Working with the Enchantress Pomba Gira, 1.

Pomba Gira (pronounced pohm-ba shira), is Brazilian female spirit found in the traditions of Umbanda, Quimbanda, and Candomblé. She is revered by initiates and noninitiates alike as she is quite easy ...

Working with the Enchantress Pomba Gira, 2.

To work with Pomba Gira involves a ritual called a trabajo. This ritual is similar to the trabajo of the exus, with some specific differences. All trabajos, like any ritual, include a specific intent,...

Working with the Enchantress Pomba Gira, 3.

Pomba Gira is often called the Sacred Whore. She was originally thought to be a Kongo deity unique to Brazil. Some say she is the wife of Exu and shares many of his characteristics. Some say she is a ...

Working with the Enchantress Pomba Gira, 4.

Pomba gira spell for quick money You will need : ​ 1 red tea light 1 pack of long white cigarettes 1 box of matches 3 red roses 1 bottle of Gin { airline bottles work well for this} 1 piece of pink pa...

Working with the Enchantress Pomba Gira, 5.

​A significant study on the cult of Pomba Gira, this is the most comprehensive work in the English language on the Devil’s mistress, whose Brazilian cult has bewitched so many. It is a book that...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc, 1.

Deep in ancient history, all the way from the regions of eastern Europe and India to the British Isles, are the roots of the worship of Brighid. Her name is also spelled Brigit, Bridget, and Bride (pr...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc 2 Brighid of the Tuatha De Danaan

Brighid is of the Tuatha De Danaan, the people of the Great Mother Danu, also called the Fae. She was probably originally a Sun Goddess. The story of Her birth is that She was born at sunrise, and a t...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc, 3. The Triple Goddess.

Brighid is a triple Goddess, but not in the sense many think of as maiden, mother, crone. She has three aspects and all have associations with Fire and Water: Brighid the Healer and Midwife, Brighid t...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc, 4. Brighid the Healer.

As Brighid the Healer, Her wells and springs figure prominently, as their water is considered holy and healing. She is a Water Goddess. In this aspect She is the teacher of herbal and plant medicine. ...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc, 5. Brighid the Smith.

Brighid the Smith is mistress of the smithy fire, the anvil. She is associated with horses in this aspect. But this also extends to fine jewelrysmith workings – silver and gold – and any craft that a ...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc, 6. Brighid the Bard.

Brighid the Bard, the Inspirer of the Fire in the Heart and Mind, which produces song, music, poetry, stories, writing, eloquence, theatrical performances, and the harp. Although the oral tradition wa...

GODDESS BRIGHID and Her Holy Time of Imbolc, 7. Brighid the Goddess of Imbolc.

Brighid is the Goddess associated with Imbolc, the holy days celebrated from the eve on January 31st until the night of February 2nd. It is the beginning of the first signs of Spring’s return. As a Go...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out,10. First steps working with Hecate.

If you are ready to start working with Hecate, you can start small and work up progressively. Here are some ideas to start your journey. Include her in your altar Having her picture on your altar or l...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 9. What to do when you are called by Hecate.

Receiving these signs from Hecate herself might be overwhelming. Maybe you sense that she’s trying to get through, but you are not completely sure. That is normal, especially if you have never worked ...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 8. Symbols.

Sometimes, the calling is even more obvious. If straightforward symbols, like Hecate’s wheel or triple moon imagery, appear around you repeatedly, she might be trying to call you.

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 7. Crossroads.

Hecate will likely call you when you are standing at a crossroads. But not only metaphorically! If you have a strange experience while standing at a crossroads, especially in a forest, pay attention. ...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 6. The Number 3.

Hecate is often represented as a triple female figure. This is the representation of crossroads, one of her domains. In Greek mythology, she is also connected to the three realms of the Cosmos: earth,...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 5. Torches.

In most representations, Hecate is holding torches. This is related to her soul-guiding and gate-keeping duties. Unlike keys, torches are not frequently seen in our daily life, so spotting one without...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 4. Keys.

Hekate is the goddess of gateways, and keys are one of her symbols. Of course, we handle keys on a daily basis. But if you unexpectedly come across keys while running errands, or find a long-lost bunc...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out,3. Black dogs.

Dogs are sacred to Hecate. They are her animal companion and she is frequently depicted with one. Repeatedly coming across large, black dogs can be a signal from her. However, this sign can manifest i...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 2. Hecate’s calling.

Hecate is known to call people even when, more often than not, some witches are afraid of working with her. she may call you despite you knowing very little about her -or even if you do not know her a...

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out, 1. Get to know Hekate.

Hecate is one of the lesser-known Greek goddesses. The abilities attributed to her in Greek mythology are many, and they are mysterious. That is why, even nowadays, some myths around her present her a...

Hekate…7 Invocation to Hekate.

Hekate of the Three Ways, I invoke You, Maiden of the Land, the Underworld & the Seas as well, Chthonia, Enodia, Phosphoros, Propylaia, Atropaios, Propolos, Kourotrophos, She of the Saffron Robe &...

Hekate…6. Hymn to Hekate.

Hail, many-named Mother of the Gods, whose children are fair. Hail, mighty Hekate of the Threshold. Shape the course of my life with luminous Light And make it laden with good things, Drive sickness a...

Hekate…5. The Orphic Hymn To Hekate.

I invoke you, beloved Hekate of the Crossroads and the Three Ways Saffron-cloaked Goddess of the Heavens, the Underworld and the Sea Tomb-frequenter, mystery-raving with the souls of the dead Daughter...

Hekate…4. Rituals.

In whatever guise Hekate presents Herself to you, regular devotions are an important part of spiritual practice. A simple, basic way to do this is offered here for you. You may perform your rite indoo...

Hekate… 3, Primary Cult Centers, Festivals & Ways to Honor.

Primary Cult Centers. Lagina, Miletus, Argos, Eleusis, Aigina Festivals. Hecatesia or Hekate’s Night (celebrated on different dates – August 13 or 16, November 16) Dark Moon – last d...

Hekate…2. Symbols, Animals, Offerings & Sacrifices.

Hekate…2. Symbols, Animals, Offerings & Sacrifices. Symbols: torches, keys, rope, knife, dogs, snakes Animals: dogs, owls, crows, snakes, frogs, the toad (conception), snakes (guardian and underwo...

Hekate…1, Epithets.

Aidônaia (Lady of the Underworld). Anassa eneroi (Queen of those Below, Queen of the Dead). Angelos (Messenger). Antaia (the One in Front). Antania (Enemy of mankind or Sender of Nocturnal Dreams). At...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 8, Hekates Night Conclusion.

   The middle of August coincides with many things that relate to Hekate. The Nemoralia festival, the Kourotrophos festival, possibly a Deipnon one year, the Ides of Hekate, and loosely the dog ...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 7, Further Dating.

Hekates Night, 13th August, 7, Further Dating. There are two more possibilities or connections to the 13th and Hekate. The first is the possibility, though I call it the least likely, that the date is...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 6, Kourotrophos.

The ancient Greek calendars were luni-solar. The years were marked by the solstices or equinoxes (region dependent), for example the first day of the year in Athens was the first new waxing moon after...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 5, Nemoralia.

There is an ancient Roman festival called the Nemoralia which was held on either the 13th-15th of August or over the full moon of August. This festival is in honour of Diana Nemorensis. Women would ho...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 3, Offering at the Crossroads.

The crossroads offering is seemingly a later addition and it’s pretty obvious where it comes from – the Deipnon. Every lunar month, on the dark moon, we offer to Hekate at the crossroads to honour Her...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 2, The Modern Line.

Hekate Night is mentioned in several modern Pagan books, by that name and sometimes not by any name, simply listed as a night sacred to Hekate. When these books cite other modern, but still older, boo...

Hekates Night, 13th August, 4, Protection and Harvest or Crops.

As noted above, one of the things people find issue with when it comes to this festival, is the idea of Hekate protecting the harvest/crops. Many people find the idea of Hekate and agriculture to be, ...

Ghostly Connections 11, Seance.

On occasion during a seance, someone who has not before beheld any phenomena may find that quite suddenly they become aware and that their nascent abilities have been kick started. This usually happen...

Ghostly Connections 10, Mediums.

Some mediums work with a particular spirit guide, while others call upon spirit assistance and wait for one to make contact. To begin each person closes their eyes and holds hands with the person on e...

Ghostly Connections 9, An Occult Journey.

Those who are beginning their occult journey may wish to try a Ouija board, with one or several people, the best conduits are wooden. Each person touches the message indicator lightly with the tip of ...

Ghostly Connections 8, Telepathic and Clairvoyant Projection.

The ancient Egyptians believed every soul had a double (ka). Other beliefs are that a living person can project their astral body or their soul which is a reflection of their physical form. It is also...

Ghostly Connections 7, Spiritualism.

Spiritualism became popular throughout England and America in the 19th century, it came about as people felt the need to gather with others and share a new faith beyond anything scientific. There was ...

Ghostly Connections 6, The Feast of the Hungry Ghosts.

The Chinese celebrate the Feast of the Hungry Ghosts, beginning on the Ghost Month, which is 15 August, the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and lasts for six days. The Buddhist ceremony o...

Ghostly Connections 5, Messages.

A determined spirit will transmit a message to the living one way or another, there may be signs such as items moved around the home, or even taken out of drawers and placed in specific places where t...

Ghostly Connections 4, Supernatural and Spiritual Beings.

Spirit, comes from the Latin spirit (breath), a supernatural being or essence, spirits are less definitive than ghosts, who are the apparitions seen by the living, ghosts are quite tuned in to the ear...

Ghostly Connections 3, Fear of the Unknown.

It is usually those who die tragically, suddenly or by the hand of another, who remain attached to the earth plane, there is possibly unfinished business or an intense tie to people or a place. Spirit...

Ghostly Connections 2, Differing Hauntings.

Every haunting is different and by seeing a ghost we understand that death is but a doorway to a different realm. We leave our physical body behind and become an ethereal entity that vibrates at a dif...

Ghostly Connections 1, A Universal Contact.

Ghosts are universal, some quiet, some noisy, most benevolent, some malevolent. However a ghost presents itself to the individual or the many, you are forced to take notice. Ghosts make contact for a ...

Types of Ghosts10, Demons / Low Level Entities.

Types of Ghosts10, Demons / Low Level Entities. I don’t want to get into the debate as to whether demons are actually ancient gods or not, suffice to say, there is a type of spirit out there that I al...

Types of Ghosts 11, Elementals: Fairies Are a Type of Ghosts?.

Maybe you think I’m crazy for saying elementals and fairies are a type of ghost. But hear me out. There’s a fine line between fairies and ancestors. There are NUMEROUS stories in Celtic and Norse lore...

Types of Ghosts12, Poltergeist.

I’m including the poltergeist under the “other” type of ghosts for a reason. When we break down the term poltergeist, it is a German word for “noisy ghost“. And while it very could be the soul of a de...

Types of Ghosts 7, Wraiths.

Types of Ghosts 7, Wraiths. A wraith is described like any other ghost, as a spirit of someone who died that has stuck around after leaving its body. However, a wraith is a ghost that has attached its...

Types of Ghosts 8, Animal Spirits.

Types of Ghosts 8, Animal Spirits. Sometimes an animal’s soul lingers at the site of its death, at its physical home, OR around his or her human friend. Sometimes animal ghosts aren’t of this world at...

Types of Ghosts 9, Shadow People, The Hat Man, and Shadow Spiders.

Types of Ghosts 9, Shadow People, The Hat Man, and Shadow Spiders. Some people believe shadow people were once of a human nature, though I’m not quite sure I believe in this theory. I’ve encountered a...

Types of Ghosts 6, Hitchhiking Ghosts (Attachers)

Types of Ghosts 6, Hitchhiking Ghosts (Attachers) You’ve heard those creepy stories about people pulling over to the side of the road to give a girl in a prom dress a ride home? And then they find out...

Types of Ghosts 3, Wandering Souls.

Types of Ghosts 3, Wandering Souls. While also apparently a Spanish flamenco song, wandering ghosts are a type of ghost that I am all too familiar with. I don’t know the song, but I know the ghost. I ...

Types of Ghosts 5, Doppelganger and Fetch Spirits.

Types of Ghosts 5, Doppelganger, and Fetch Spirits. Now the doppelganger is a ghost that could be the soul of a dead human being OR the fetch of a human being. This spirit is the “spiritual twin” of a...

Types of Ghosts 4, Residual Energy or “Imprints”.

Types of Ghosts 4, Residual Energy or “Imprints”. This type of ghost isn’t intelligent, meaning it isn’t a sentient being with its own thoughts, feelings, or form, necessarily. A residual energy ghost...

Types of Ghosts 2, Intelligent Ghosts and Classic Hauntings.

Types of Ghosts 2, Intelligent Ghosts, and Classic Hauntings. This is probably the most iconic type of ghost or what we also call a “classic” haunting. This spirit is the disembodied soul that once in...

Types of Ghosts 1.

Types of Ghosts 1. It’s midnight. Someone calls your name from down the hall. You peak from your bedroom door and notice that everyone is sound asleep in their own beds. You turn to go back to your be...

Bellarmine Jugs and their Connection to Witchcraft1

Bellarmine jugs, bottles, and drinking mugs were produced by the potteries of the Rhineland area, from the sixteenth century onwards. They were exported in large numbers to this country, where they be...

Bellarmine Jugs and their Connection to Witchcraft2

When used as a witch-bottle, these vessels have been found with highly unpleasant contents, such as human hair entangled with sharp nails, cuttings of human finger-nails, a piece of cloth in the shape...

Bellarmine Jugs and their Connection to Witchcraft3

Believing that a magical link existed between the witch and themselves, they tried to put the magic into reverse, and turn it back upon the sender. They used their own hair, nail-clippings, urine, etc...

Bellarmine Jugs and their Connection to Witchcraft4

In Christian times, sculptors tried to work it into Church decorations by calling it a symbol of the Holy Trinity; but in the sixteenth century, it was banned by the Council of Trent, who declared it ...

Benandanti 1

Participants in the lingering remnants of an ancient agrarian cult in northern Italy, which came to the attention of the Inquisition in the late 16th century because of the cult’s nocturnal battles wi...

Benandanti 2 The Unknown Origans

The origins of the benandanti cult are unknown; the roots are probably ancient. The leaving of the body and doing battle in spirit, in the guise of animals, is shamanic in nature. The benandanti may b...

Benandanti 3 The Church

The benandanti came to the attention of the church in 1575, when a priest in Brazzano heard rumors of a man in Civdale, Paolo Gasparutto, who could cure bewitched persons and who “roamed about at nigh...

Lucius Apuleius1

Lucius Apuleius is best known to us as the author of The Golden Ass, one of the most famous romances in the world, containing as it does the story of Cupid and Psyche. His importance to the study of w...

Lucius Apuleius2 The Golden Ass

His book The Golden Ass was translated into English by William Adlington in 1 566 (Simpkin Marshall, London, 1 930 and AMS Press, New York, 1 893), and in our own day by Robert Graves in 1 950. It pre...

Lucius Apuleius3 The witches in The Golden Ass

The witches in The Golden Ass have many of the characteristics attributed to those of the Middle Ages. They can change their shape by means of magic unguents; they steal parts from corpses to use in t...

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Thyme.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Thyme. Burning thyme gets rid of insects in your house. A bed of thyme was thought to be a home for fairies.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Tarragon.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Tarragon. Put in shoes before long walking trips to give strength. It has been used to relieve toothache and as an antifungal.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Summer Savory.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Summer Savory. It was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Some thought it was a cure for deafness.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Sage.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Sage. Thought to promote strength and longevity and believed to cure warts. American Indians used it as a toothbrush.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Rosemary

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Rosemary. Rosemary in your hair will improve your memory. It will protect you from evil spirits if you put a sprig under your pillow.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Mint.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Mint. It was believed to cure hiccups and counteract sea-serpent stings. The Romans wore peppermint wreaths on their heads. It was added to bathwater for its ...

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Parsley

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Parsley. Used for wreaths and in funeral ceremonies. Believed to repel head lice and attract rabbits.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Oregano.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Oregano. Used for “sour humours” that plagued old farmers. Also used for scorpion and spider bites.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Marjoram

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Marjoram. The Greeks believed it could revive the spirits of anyone who inhaled it. At weddings wreaths and garlands were made of marjoram.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Lovage

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Lovage. Chewing on a piece of the dried root will keep you awake. Lovage warms a cold stomach and help digestion. Added to bathwater, it was believed to relie...

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Garlic

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Garlic. It was thought to give strength and courage. Aristotle noted garlic’s use as a guard against the fear of water. It’s also been widely used against evi...

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Chives

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Chives. Bunches of chives hung in your home were used to drive away diseases and evil.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Fennel

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Fennel. Bunches of fennel were used to drive off evil. It was used in love potions and as an appetite suppressant.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Chervil

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips, Chervil. Eating a whole plant would cure hiccups; chervil was said to warm old and cold stomachs.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips Caraway

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips Caraway Caraway was used to scent perfumes and soaps. The Greeks used it for upset stomachs.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips Borage

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips Borage The Romans believed the herb to be an antidepressant, and ancient Celtic warriors took it for courage.

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips Basil

Herbal Folklore & Old Fashioned Tips Basil Precious to lovers in Italy and considered sacred in India. Many years ago, Italian men wore a sprig of basil to indicate their intended marriage. A cup ...

Folk Medicine and Remedies Tips to Boost your Immune System

Folk Medicine and Remedies Tips to Boost your Immune System Eat Garlic (preferably in food, not raw) Get your 5 fruits and vegetables a day Eat Bell Peppers Use Turmeric, Echinacea, Elderberry or Gins...