There’s a Little Witch in Everyone - Witch Week, Day 5

“Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake.
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Alder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble,
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble”
~ Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of MacBeth”

Thanks to Shakespeare’s vivid imagery, witches have been immortalized and “typecast” as cauldron-brewing hags cavorting with a pagan goddess and spirits for the past four hundred plus years.

Though “eye of newt and toe of frog” have come to be associated with witches’ evil practices, they also speak to the important use of objects and images. Symbolism is a keystone for practicing Wiccans. Plants, symbols, seasons, colors, and scents all represent important facets of life’s cyclical nature. Witches use these elements in food, meditation, clothing, and spells.

Here’s a shocker. It’s not so different from what the rest of the world does.

Every faith uses symbols to remind followers of specific people or events (Christianity’s crucifix, advent wreath, unity candle; Judaism’s Star of David; Islam’s crescent moon). It’s blatant in our holidays: Christmas trees, menorahs, clover, pumpkins, and cornucopia. Colors represent significant times of the year: red for Valentine’s Day, red/white/blue for 4th of July, black/orange for Halloween, blue for Hanukkah, and red/green for Christmas.

Colors and scents in candles are also popular among consumers who use them not only for ambient light but fragrance as well. Aromatherapy is a popular way to treat stress and other ailments as the scents help people relax.

Ok, so you get my point. Many of the tools witches use in their everyday lives and holidays are no different from the colors, scents, and symbols used by the masses to mark special occasions or aid in their daily routines. What sets the witches apart is that they combine these elements to maximize and bring about a desired effect. Combined with a spell, they’re able to envision the outcome and make it happen.

“Spells” sound mysterious. In reality, they’re the equivalent of prayers. The difference is that spells are said to the witches’ pantheons instead of one God. Witches often create their own spells. In order for the spell to work, they really need to believe what they are saying. If they’re just reciting words, nothing will happen. In Christianity, I’ve often heard the phrase, “The power of prayer.” The same is true of Wiccan spells. Spells/prayers only work if people truly believe in them.

Most spells contain the following: acknowledgment of the creator or a specific god, a request, and a tie to nature (earth, air, fire, water / north, south, east, west / sun, moon, stars, etc.). Spells are frequently repeated three times because one’s conviction grows with the repetition. Most importantly, spells are never (I repeat NEVER) to be used to harm someone else. For example, love spells can ask for love to enter someone’s life but it cannot be at the expense of the requestor’s object of affection.

If you’re interested or willing to take a plunge into witchy-ness, try the following to help relieve stress in your life. I’m not suggesting you pray to pagan gods, but you can use the elements below to strengthen your prayers and wishes to whomever you worship.
Candles: white to symbolize new beginnings and clearing mental space; turquoise to protect against negativity; blue to calm the stress, chaos in your life
Scents / Aromatherapy: lavender is a purifying scent and helps you relax; chamomile provides tranquility and peace; clove clears the mind; dragon’s blood cleanses negativity---WARNING: don’t use all the scents together. Pick the one you like best.
Things to do: take a bath with bath salts of the scents mentioned above, or make a dream pillow using a combination of dried herbs (or buy one online)

• Buy a dream pillow from Sonoma Lavender Shop
• Make your own dream pillow

Foods:

• Eggs symbolize many things. Seen as elements that bring about healing, protection, and the banishment of curses among other things, make yourself a dish that celebrates the egg (egg noodles with sauce of your choice, eggs over easy symbolize the sun, French toast, egg salad, etc.).
• Or you can try a drink instead: Joy Juice (6 large strawberries [or raspberries/blackberries], 5 crushed ice cubes, ½ a navel orange (peeled), ¼ cup orange juice, 1 tsp. sugar. Directions: Mix in blender until smooth. “Magical” properties: revitalization, health, and happiness (“A Kitchen Witch’s Cookbook” by Patricia Telesco)

Spell: Create your own spell (prayer) and ask for the banishment of stress and for happiness, contentment, and positive/productive energy to replace it.

None of this is evil. It’s merely a way to enhance your praying experience. After all, spells, prayers, and actions are only as good as the intent behind them.