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If ye be Working for ill,
Expect to experience it thyself,
And if ye be Working for good,
And not interfering with another's will,
Experience the joy that will be thine!
But he was very popular; I was not. He was not even in the same classes with me. So how, how could I get what I wanted?
Like many people who turn to the Craft, what I wanted was POWER. Power to force another to do my own will. I did not see this as a bad thing. I had no evil intentions. At that time I had no conception that there were ground rules.
For every action you take, there is a reaction. True in physics, true in Witchcraft.
But I was intent; I was focused, and more than all that... I had a BOOK!
And if anyone can point me in the right direction, I would like to get a copy of that book; it is long since gone. It was a tiny grocery store book, with a white cat on the front and was titled something like "White Witchcraft." It was published sometime in the early 70's.
So I got a piece of wood and a red pen, just like The Book said. I got up before sunrise, went out into the front yard (don't ask me why I didn't go to the BACK yard!), turned around three times as the sun rose, wrote down my initials and his, drew three hearts around them, then buried them while chanting some words I do not remember.
Within two weeks, he was mine and I had what I thought I wanted. Only... it turned out that it was not what I wanted--not at all!
Well... enough of my story, I'll tell the rest of it to a therapist someday.
Thing is, there ARE consequences to magical actions. And they are there if you believe in them, AND they are there if you do not! I speak not only from the research I have done, which repeats this in slightly different ways ad infinium, but from my own personal experience.
DO NOT INTERFERE WITH ANOTHER PERSON'S WILL!!!
DO NOT SEND OUT NEGATIVE ENERGIES!!!
Because these things come back to you, often very painfully, my response to people who ask me about doing bad things to people is this:
"Since everything you send out comes back to you times three, it would take a very stupid witch indeed to harm others."
Lecture done, let's get into it!
One of the most intense personal emotions anyone has to face is grief. The loss of a loved one, whether it be family, friend, animal companion, or a part of one's self can be devistating.
With a person's help, or at least permission, you can help them through their grief. Many materials can be used to make a grief bag, and I do not always keep to the following ingredients. Practical considerations should be taken into account.
The cloth used to make the bag should be fairly soft. If they are crying a lot, and using this bag to wipe their eyes, a rough cloth will irritate them. The cloth needs to be tightly woven enough so it keeps in the herbs. Color choice is important. Green, for healing or blue, for soothing. Other colors may seem appropriate for the individual.
I usually paint the symbols onto the bag using fabric paints. Keep in mind these paints dry hard, so keep them away from where the person will be wiping their eyes. If you use magic markers, or pens, keep in mind these may come off on the person's face.
The stone to use usually chooses itself. Just put several on a flat surface and let your hand be guided to the right one. A piece of jewelry or glass can be substituted. Just remember that it will be in a fire, so chose something that will not burn up or melt.
Symbols can vary also, depending on the person and their grief. Herbs can be substituted. I would stay away from mugwort, as it opens the psychic senses and if a person is deep in their grief, their senses are usually already wide open. All this said, here it is:
Concentrate all your grief into the bag. Keep it near and hold it when you cry, when you miss your loved one so much you feel like you want to follow them to the Summerlands. Dry your tears with it. Focus your grief on the bag in any way you want, throw it against the wall, stomp on it, yell.
When you feel it is time, burn the bag. It may be days, weeks or months, don't rush. Make sure the fire is big and hot enough to burn the bag completely.
When the ashes are cool, retrieve the stone that has been in the bag. This stone represents the tie between you and your loved one. The rock, like the tie, will always remain. Keep it.
Symbols on the bag:
Eternal life. Only the body is gone.
Egyptian meaning reincarnation. They will live in the physical world again.
Goddess Hecate's symbol--the crossing of three roads. She is the Goddess who brings us into life and the Goddess who awaits us on the other side.
Gebu--a gift or sacrifice. Their gift to you was sharing their life with you. Your sacrifice to them will be your grief.
Berkana--new growth from old roots, healing. Knowing them will have an influence on your life as you continue to grow. You will heal.
Herbs:
Chamomile—very soothing. The scent is soothing as well as the herb itself. Good for puffy, irritated eyes.
Mint--just a little for the scent. Mint can irritate eyes.
St. John's wort--for strength. Usually when a friend has died there are many details that must be seen to. Sometimes it is hard to keep going and this herb adds strength.
Lilac--another soothing scent.
Yarrow--healing herb in many ways, spiritual, physical and emotional.
To empower the bag:
Cast a circle in your usual manner. Use the Five Elements to cleanse all that you are using of previous energies; the cloth, herbs, rock (or other item) and the cord used to tie the bag.
When everything is cleansed, put the selected herbs into the center of your rectangular cloth. Place the rock (or other object) on the cloth as well. Wrap the cloth around the mixture and tie the cord firmly in place. I like to tie it, wrap it again, tie it, then wrap it a third time and tie it. The power of three.
Hold the bag between your palms and ground and focus yourself. Think of your friend, and how much you love them. Visualize the wind blowing away their grief, the fire transforming their sadness, the water flowing and healing them, the Earth strong and steady, and finally, the Spirit, the All (what ever term you use for it) enfolding the person with love and compassion. The more vivid your vision, the stronger the magic.
Hold this in you mind, draw in energy for that which surrounds you always. When you feel you have collected enough energy, send it down into your hands. See it leave your palms and enter the bag.
Put the bag down on your alter and ground. It is very important that you ground the energy that is still left within your body. If you do not release this energy, it will effect your thoughts, emotions and sleep!
Thanks the Elements, Goddesses and Gods (who ever you called) and open the circle. Give the bag to your friend as soon as possible.
For non-Pagan friends, or those I do not know REALLY well, I have made the bag with out the symbols and WITHOUT empowering it. It makes a good item to wring and a good tear catcher.
