Traditional Witchcraft and the Occult: Can Witchcraft Really Help You to Achieve Wealth and Success?

Spells for Money and Wealth

Many people – probably most people – doubt that witchcraft can be used for prosperity or success.

Those who do believe are often inclined to see witchcraft only as a self-help tool, something that can be used to clear out old thought patterns, leading to more positive thoughts and success in financial and career endeavors.

While witchcraft undoubtedly has an effect on the person performing it and it may well be used to reprogram the brain for success the ways the positive thinking cult gurus claim, however, this is not the main purpose of witchcraft.

Witchcraft is primarily used to affect the outside environment, to destroy negative forces around us, to clear the path to success of all obstacles, to destroy those who would oppose our success and to arrange affairs in the world in our favor.

Thinking positive is simply not enough. While there are powerful mental forces in the the universe, mere thoughts are not powerful enough to have an effect on the outer environment. There must be great force behind the thoughts – or the will. Successfully using that power consistently comes from an understanding of the occult sciences.

A lot of people who were skeptics before trying a spell in to get money in an emergency situation are amazed at how effective it can be. Maybe they have a sudden expense come up and they need a particular sum. After working a spell, they get that exact amount of money to the penny. This is a common story, but all too often people stop there.

But, in order to get the best results out of prosperity spells, they should be worked very regularly. Moreover, it is important to develop a plan of action involving witchcraft for creating a more financially stable life beginning by clearing out any hexes that may have been placed upon you, clearing out obstacles, meeting your immediate obligations, then finally accumulating wealth so you can live the life you always dreamed of.

The book, Spells for Money and Wealth, shows you how to do this.

Although a lot of people are suffering right now because of the current economy, not everyone is at the same place financially.

If you are in debt, you will need to do a little more work than someone who is not. First of all, you must destroy any hexes or other adversarial energy, which may be intelligences or thought forms, that may be working against you. Once you’ve done that, you must destroy obstacles in your outer environment.

Spells for Money and Wealth

Then, you must get a steady flow of money coming through your door. While Spells for Money and Wealth contains spells for emergency situations, it is ideal to get far enough ahead that emergencies are either rare or non-existent. The regular practice of witchcraft for prosperity helps to bring a steady flow of money into your bank account. After this, you can begin to accrue wealth.

While you can accomplish a great deal under your own occult power, it is important to have powerful spiritual allies who can arrange circumstances in the physical world in your favor. Alliances with the dead, the saints, the deities of the ancient world and other powerful spirits can help you accomplish specific goals.

This and more is discussed in Spells for Money and Wealth.

Learn How to Cast a Magic Spell for Prosperity and Financial Success

Are you unhappy with your present financial situation?
Would you like more money?
Would you like a better job, a raise or a promotion?
Are there things you would like to buy, but you need more money?
Do you want to be surrounded by other successful and wealth people?
Would you like to never have to worry about having enough money, again?

Here’s the opportunity to end your money problems forever…

This is the original book of Spells for Money and Wealth by author, researcher and occultist, Angela Kaelin.

Maybe you have already asked yourself why some people seem to enjoy a life of luxury and have the knack of making money easily.

A few of these successful people are famous or run famous companies, but most are just ordinary men and women – just like you or me who somehow seem to have the mysterious power to attract money, good fortune, riches and success.

It is a fact that many people are still using witchcraft today.

Now, this genuine powerful occult knowledge is offered at a price you can afford!

While more people are becoming interested in witchcraft and the occult, many are quickly disappointed because they try a magic spell and it doesn’t work or they buy a useless lucky charm and soon realize that they have wasted their money.

Now you can prove to yourself once and for all that occult forces do exist.

How to get what you want by means of occult knowledge and power…

Spells for Money and Wealth reveals the mystical and occult formulas used by successful occultists throughout history to keep a steady flow of money coming through their doors and includes wealth-drawing you can use to bring riches into your own life and ultimately get whatever it is you want out of your success.

Discover how to:

Clear out old energy patterns that are keeping you from success
Destroy obstacles
Lay the foundation for financial success
Transform yourself so you can take on any challenge
Attract powerful and influential friends
Have the red carpet rolled out for you

Ultimately, achieve whatever you want to in your business or career. Imagine yourself never having to worry about money, again – having all the wealth you will ever need and enjoying the fruits of your successful endeavors.

Spells for Money and Wealth

Looking for a job promotion?
A pay raise?
A business of you own?
Maybe you would like a lifetime of leisure and relaxation – knowing that you need never work, again.

With all the money you want, what would you buy?

A big house
A new car?
An exotic vacation?
A life of happiness?

Don’t miss this opportunity!

Get Spells for Money and Wealth today!

Copyright 2013-2019 © Winter Tempest Books.
All rights reserved.

Witchcraft and Love Magic in the Ozark Mountains Old-fashioned Love Spells

by A. Giovanni

(This article is reprinted here with the permission of the author, A. Giovanni.)

Granny and Jed Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies. (Public domain image.)

Most people who have seen the old television comedy “The Beverly Hillbillies” have no idea about some of the little grains of truth in the show. The show’s creator, Paul Henning, was a native Missourian who was clearly very familiar with the area and the people of the Ozark Mountain region. On the show, the Clampetts make visits to such locations as Silver Dollar City, Springfield and Joplin, Missouri.

What most people who have watched the show never guess is that Granny was more than just Elly May’s grandmother. Granny, who once says she comes from Taney County, which is the southwestern Missouri county where Branson is located, is a “granny woman,” which is an old Ozark term for conjure woman. The word, “medicine,” is another word for potion among old-timers.

“Hillbilly” is perceived by some a pejorative term and probably to others it seems like a joke. The rest of the world probably can’t imagine what the area is still like–even today. It’s probably especially hard for city-folk to imagine that there are such people as those who live in the hills outside of beautiful, modern Branson, Missouri. They’ve have always been secretive and distrusting of outsiders and for years nobody knew much at all about them until a folk researcher named Vance Randolph married an Ozarker and spent decades trying to ingratiate himself into their culture, which is really impossible for anyone who wasn’t born among them.

In the 1940s he published several books, but arguably the best one is “Ozark Mountain Magic and Folklore.” The ancestors of the original Ozark Mountain settlers came from England and Scotland by way of Appalachia. And, as is alluded to in a two-part episode where the hillbillies go back to England to find their noble ancestors, their ancestors were probably among the earliest American arrivals and were made of a rough, tough stock of people who could survive even the worst adversity.

The Ozark Mountains is still very rough terrain, but 100 years ago, it was only a special breed of people with strong survival skills who were able to live there. The winters are hard and the people live in relative isolation from each other in the hills and “hollers.” Before recent modernization of the highways and literally cutting through the rocks of mountains made travel easier, they were isolated from the outside world and often from each other. They had to rely on what they knew about the environment, animals, insects, plants and herbs and the practice of witchcraft, which grew and thrived among them.

They had magic for all the important aspects of life, but love and courtships was very important, especially for young women although young men, also, practiced love magic. Girls conducted a variety of spells to see their future husbands or to know his name. They used charms and potions to induce love and lust and to dominate their boyfriends and husband.

The following are just a few love spells collected by Randolph in the Missouri Ozarks:

Beltane, the 1st day of May, is a very important day for those who want to know the identity of their future husbands.

Mirror scrying

If you would like to see your future husband, you must go to a well at noon on May Day and hold a mirror in such a way that it reflects the daylight into the darkness. Then, look into the water and you should see the face of your future mate. But, if you happen to see yourself lying in a coffin, you will die before the next May Day. If you see nothing, you’ll probably be an old maid.

A variation on this procedure requires you to have a glass of water, a gold ring and a mirror. Place the glass in front of the mirror and gaze fixedly at the reflection of the ring in the water.

If you want to see the face of your future husband, rise very early on May 1st and go to the well carrying a guinea egg and a glass. Once at the well, break the egg into the cup and gaze into the water. There you should see the initials of your husband to be reflected in the water of the well.

Similarly, if you wake early on May 1st and look into the reflection of a mirror, you should see the reflection of your future husband’s face or his initials

If you would like to dream about your future mate, look at the new moon over your right shoulder at night and repeat the following incantation:

“New moon, new moon, do tell me

Who my own true lover will be,

The color of his hair, the clothes that he will wear

And the happy day he will wed me.”

Love Attraction and Lover Return Spells

Wear a yellow garter to attract a man and keep him faithful.

Carry a wasps nest to attract men. If you attach it to the aforementioned garter, so much the better.

The following love charm will probably only be practical if you work in a morgue or have legal access to dead bodies. You must obtain a needle that has been stuck into a dead body. Cover it with dirt in which a corpse has been laid. Then wrap the whole thing in a piece of cloth cut from the shroud that has covered a dead body. Keep this charm with you to make any woman fall in love with you.

If you take the needle from the above charm and stick into the footprint in your own yard where your lover has stepped, he will have to stay with you whether he wants to or not. If he leaves you, he will get sick and if he stays away very long he will die.

Use the following spell if your lover has been away from you for a while and you want to see him. This spell is said to work regardless of circumstances and is most effective on married men or those otherwise engaged or involved.

Arrange your shoes in a “T” shape. As you do so recite the following incantation:

“When my true love I want to see, I place my shoes in the shape of a ‘T’.”

If you have quarreled with your true love and want to make up, prick the middle finger of your left hand with a needle. Write your initials on an ironwood chip and bury it. He’ll be back within three days.

If you want to inspire desire and lust in your lover, keep dried turkey bones in the room or car where the two of you will meet. This will put him or her in an amorous mood.

The dried tongue of a turtle dove, likewise concealed, will render a girl unable to resist your advances.

There are many more spells and customs among the people of the Ozarks, but it’s difficult to know how many people still practicing such things. The area, especially around Branson and the Lakes has become the new home for a lot of fundamentalist Christians who believe that theirs is the only history. And, they are very fearful of anything that seems to them to be witchcraft. So, witches in the area are very much in the closet.

Copyright © 2012 A. Giovanni. All rights reserved.

Traditional Witches’ Book of Love Spells

Cast your own powerful love spells.

Includes formulas for necessary inks, potions and magical oils.

No moralizing, no judgments, no fluff.

Spells to Find an Unknown Love
Spells to Attract a Particular Person
Spells to Bind a Lover to You
Commanding Spells
Spells to Reunite Lovers
Spells to Banish Unwanted Persons

 

 

About Santa Muerte or Holy Death: Ritual to Consecrate a Talisman to the White Lady of Mexico

by Sophia diGregorio

Sophia diGregorio is the author of The Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico

Santa Muerte, or Holy Death Death, is believed by some to be a representation of an ancient Aztec goddess called Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. Although this origin is disputed by other researchers who point to a long history of death goddesses throughout Mexico and in Western Europe, as well. She may be a little bit of both.

Santa Muerte was practically unknown until a few years ago. According to one account, her influence grew in Tepito, which is a neighborhood in Mexico City that the police were unable to control. She is sometimes described as a “narco-saint” and is associated in the minds of law enforcement agencies with the drug trade. But, her significance and popularity is much broader than that.

Santa Muerte is not necessarily associated with crime, but she might be characterized as a spirit of defiance, which has grown out of the injustices perpetrated by the government and law enforcement agencies on good, hard-working Mexican people. The police and the organized criminal class is intertwined in Mexico, just as they are in many large cities in the U.S.

Los Zetas, the infamous drug traffickers said to be responsible for a great deal of violence in Mexico, was formed by police officers. In cities like Juarez, it is estimated by some that 1/3 of the police department is comprised of members of drug cartels. In other parts of Mexico, the police engage in the human trafficking of people from Guatemala and El Salvador. Sporadically, there are reports of good townspeople fighting the police to rescue the victims.

So, you can see that, at least in some places in Mexico, if you have been victimized by criminals, the police and the legal system may not be the best place to turn for help.

In past centuries, the Catholic Church has stood between criminal governments and the people, but the Catholic Church in Mexico has failed to meet the needs of many Mexicans either physically or spiritually.

Because of this, Santa Muerte has become a refuge for those who need protection from criminals of both the common and police classes.

In circumstances of oppression like this, witchcraft always grows darker and stronger. Such is the case with the Santa Muerte.

Her popularity is, also, growing in parts of the U.S. where people face similar injustices and dangers from the same two classes of people.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico

Getting to Know Santa Muerte

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial by Sophia diGregorio

In most representations of Santa Muerte, she is depicted as a skeleton wearing a hood and holding a scythe like the grim reaper. The scythe and her deathly appearance symbolize her power over life and death. Essentially, she is the spirit of death and probably a combination of several such spirits from both Mexico and southwestern Europe.

Because of her thin, skeletal image, she is sometimes called “la niña blanca” (the white lady or “thewhite girl”) or “la niña flaca” (“the skinny girl”). She is quietly referred to by many as, “mi amiga” (“my friend”).

Commonly, she is depicted holding the earth in her hands as a representation of her earthly powers. Sometimes she is standing on it, similar to some depictions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In some depictions, she seems to be holding what looks like a crystal ball, however, in other representations it is clearly the earth with the various continents she holds in her hand.

She often holds the scales of justice. This is reminiscent of the Egyptian goddess Maat, who represents law, order, balance and justice. One of Santa Muerte’s most important functions is to mete out justice in instances where crimes and criminals would otherwise go unpunished.

Frequently, she is depicted with one or two owls either perched at her feet or behind her shoulders. The owl has associations with witchcraft in Mexico, Europe and around the world. In Mexico, it is believed by some that witches can turn into owls and there are many reports of human-looking owls (Lechuzas) flying in the air along the Rio Grande and all the way from Monterrey, Mexico to northern Texas. Furthermore, the owl is regarded as a bad omen in Mexico and to hear an owl hooting is seen as a sign that death is nearby.

As further evidence of Santa Muerte’s connection to other goddesses of death in Western Europe and earlier civilizations, the owl is associated with Hecate, the Greek goddess of the Underworld and Minerva or Athena the Roman goddess of Wisdom. The Akkadian goddess Ishtar, who is depicted with owl-like claws and wings, is accompanied by two owls, one on either side of her.

Less often, we see Santa Muerte depicted with a black cat, which is among her chief pets. Cats are associated with both good and bad fortune and with protection, however, they are often considered an omen of bad luck in Mexico.

Santa Muerte statues used primarily for success in business and finances are usually painted gold and she is depicted with golden coins.

Sometimes she carries an oil lamp to light the way. The light is, also, a symbol of illumination and always a symbol of Luciferian rebellion and the willful desire to obtain the knowledge of the gods.

She is, also, often pictured with caskets, skeletons, skulls and horseshoes.

The horseshoe is an ancient symbol with many different meanings. In this instance it may be associated not only with good fortune and protection, but with the crescent moon because Santa Muerte is similar to other goddesses from the Mediterranean. Our Lady of Guadalupe is, also, frequently depicted with a crescent moon.

Statues of Santa Muerte commonly have a cavity in the bottom filled with amulets, seeds or other representations of her power

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico

Colors Associations of  Santa Muerte

The colors, altar cloths, candles and other dressings used to honor Santa Muerte and to facilitate magical working differs slightly from those used by most modern witches in the U.S. and England. In some ways, they seem closer to the color associations of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Gold, red, black, and white are probably the most commonly seen colors. But, she is dressed in other colors, as well.

Gold or golden yellow is for money, success and financial concerns

Red is for matters of love, romance and protection, especially from the Evil Eye

Black is for total protection from enemies, hexing and revenge, and protection from the Evil Eye

White and bone-color are for peace and harmony in the home and among neighbors

Blue is for increased mental powers and concentration

Green is used in matters pertaining to the law, courts and justice

Amber is used for healing and releasing habits and addictions

Purple is, also, used for health and healing and sometimes revenge.

In the modern devotion to Santa Muerte, she is typically approached like any Catholic saint. Unlike other saints her powers are not limited and she does not pass judgment on you or your needs or desires. People often giver her a special altar, which becomes a place of power over time as you work with her.

Once you are used to working with her, you can ask her to lend her power to any of your spells. She is extremely versatile and will be able to help you with all your needs. Simply, tailor your candles and other dressings for her altar, accordingly.

In the U.S., you may have difficulty finding Santa Muerte articles unless you live in Texas or the southwest. If you are fortunate enough to have a Mexican grocery store near you, you may find Santa Muerte candles, scapulars, pendants and other articles sold along with images of other saints. Most Mexican tiendas, also, keep dried herbs, incense and magical powders on hand.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico

Ritual to Consecrate a Talisman to the White Lady of Mexico

If you would like to keep the power of Santa Muerte with you, always, you can use the following ceremony to consecrate a pendant to her to create a talisman.

You will need the following:

A statue of Santa Muerte (a prayer card or even an image of her printed from the computer)

Red Ribbon or Cord
White Candle
A glass of fresh, clean water
A Santa Muerte pendant (you may substitute a skull, skeleton or grim reaper)
A red or black cotton handkerchief
Santa Muerte Money Spell

Cleanse the pendant and chain by rubbing it with a little alcohol. Then, allow it to dry.

This consecration ceremony takes place over the course of 3 nights. So, place two marks on the candle to divide it into three sections.

If you are using a prayer card or paper image of Santa Muerte, place it under the candle holder on your altar. Place the glass of water near the candle. Water is the most basic offering to the spirit. You may, also, bread, candy, fruit or some other small offering to her in a little bowl.

On a Tuesday or Thursday night during a Full Moon, light the candle and pray to Santa Muerte, asking for her protection while holding the pendant in your hand, as follows:

“Most Holy Death, I ask that through this image you will cover me with the cloak of your protection, that you always take care of me and guide me through all snares and dangers. Give me your blessing so that I never lack the things I need. Give me strength, health, prosperity and protection. [Add any other petition.]”

You may use a different prayer, the above is only an example. In fact, the words and actions in this consecration are less important than your own energy. There are a lot of prayers to Holy Death, but there is no standard prayer. Many people like to begin and end with a recitation of The Our Father, but this is not a requirement. The best thing you can do is really speak from your heart and make a connection with the spirit of Santa Muerte. Whatever wording you use, ask for her protection to be granted to you through the pendant.

When you have finished your prayer. fold the pendant and cord up into the handkerchief and place it on or in front of the Santa Muerte statue. If you are using an card or paper image, place the handkerchief in front of the candle. Allow it to burn down to the first notch. Then, snuff out the candle and take the handkerchief and place it in the bottom of a drawer.

On the second night, retrieve the handkerchief with the pendant from the drawer and repeat this procedure. It is not necessary to cleanse the pendant, again, as long as no one else touches it. When the candle as burned to the second notch, snuff it out. Place the handkerchief in the drawer.

On the third night, repeat this procedure, allowing the candle to burn down completely. Now, the pendant is ready to wear.

Whenever you need help, touch the medal and ask Santa Muerte to be with you.

Some practitioners repeat this ritual every three months to maintain its power.

The Judeo-Christian god demands worship and his followers consider themselves his servants. By contrast, Santa Muerte serves the people. She doesn’t take anything from the people; she doesn’t demand service and she doesn’t pass judgment or punish. She only gives protection and power to those who have no other advocate and no other recourse.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico

Santa Muerte is a Mexican saint, but her devotion is truly a gift from Mexico to the world!

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial by Sophia diGregorio

In January 2013, a new book in English, The Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico is the first book especially for American (and English-speaking) devotees of Santa Muerte. There have been numerous books in Spanish from Mexican presses written for Mexican audiences, but few in English written especially for people who are not as familiar with Mexican culture and Catholicism. This book was written by an American Santa Muerte devotee and lover of Mexican history, culture and language especially for non-Spanish speakers.

It contains information about Santa Muerte, her history and legends. It shows how to construct an altar for her, how to consecrate it and it gives prayers, spells and rituals for obtaining the assistance of Santa Muerte for love, protection, prosperity, healing and all of the necessities of life. The next book in the series delves into how to really tap into the power of Santa Muerte and is set to be released in the winter of 2014.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 2: Altars, Meditations, Divination and Witchcraft Rituals for Devotees of Most Holy Death

Update: The 2nd Volume of this series was released in July 2016. A third one, on the subject of healing with Santa Muerte, is in progress.

Comments

Note: The comments below were provided by readers of this article when it was hosted at another website. The responses by “TraditionalWitchcraft” are those of the author of this article.

Duby:

Very captivating to say the least. Your knowledge and research on these subjects must be very time consuming, but well worth the effort. I fear with the way things are changing within the US we may soon need Santa Muerte to protect us as well.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Thank you for your kind comment, as well. I really live and breathe the occult. I think it occupies most of my waking time and a lot of my dreams.

And, yes, I think for some of us, this is happening already here in the U.S. and actually has been for a long time. I have had protection from Santa Muerte and a host of saints. In my experience, they don’t work for the Catholic church, they just work! Mexico is a really magical place, so maybe they get their power from something down there.

Dominique:

Thanks for this article!  I’m taking notes…

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Dominique,

The above prayer could be expanded. She is sometimes called Santisima Muerte or Most Holy Death because some say she is actually a high ranking spirit who commands armies of both angels and demons.

My natural tendency is to start with the Our Father and to end the same way and to address her as Most Holy Death or Santisima Muerte. I always ask her to enlighten my home and cloak me with her protection. Since I’m a person who needs a lot more spiritual protection (we all have as many locks and alarms on our houses as we feel we need – some of us need more than others to feel safe) I always invoke her darker side for protection from evil.

The longer you work with her, the stronger and more powerful her presence seems to become in your life.

magicman:

Hi,

I have been living out of my car for 5 years. Now I just have enough money to rent a space in a persons living room for a wile. I desire some more income for my own apartment and a girlfriend. Will Santa Murte help with this? Can I have other things as well like I have St Romo and some Buddha things or is she jealous ? Thanks For the help Grant What color should I get?

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Magicman,

It sounds like you have had a streak of bad luck. Santa Muerte is appealed to by people who have had had difficult times and need a little boost. Gold Santa Muerte statues and golden yellow candles are used to appeal to her for financial help. Red Santa Muerte statues and red candles are used to request favors in the romance department.

If you have limited space or are in a situation where you are not free to burn candles, you might want to just get a small Santa Muerte statue – I’d start with the gold. Keep her with you, say prayers to her, invoke her power and generally establish a relationship with her. I suggest gold because you’ll probably want to get your finances straightened out so that you’ll have time to devote to a relationship. You can still use the gold statue, but use a red candle – most practitioners agree that the color of the candle dominates. Also, you can always sew a little red cape for your gold statue to use in love rituals.

Some people say she is jealous. I don’t find this to be true – I work with an army of spirits, including Hindu ones. I find her to be perfectly compatible with other saints and spirits – although she is less specialized and more powerful than most of them. I do have a special altar for her and this is recommended by most people.

Thank you for your comment and your question. I hope this helps. And, I hope things improve for you very soon. The fact that it’s hard times for so many people is exactly why Santa Muerte has become more and more popular.

She does seem to demand devotion. Many people who work with her grow to genuinely love her, so if you work with her for very long the devotion will probably follow very naturally. She is one of the most powerful spirits I’ve run across.

My continuing research on Santa Muerte suggests that she is an ancient spirit that has been helping people, much like Our Lady, for a very long time.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial by Sophia diGregorio

As the authority of both church and state have crumbled, Santa Muerte’s following has grown ever larger.  Devotion to Santa Muerte is not so much a matter of faith or belief, but a matter of experience. To know the power of Santa Muerte for yourself, you must forge a personal connection with her.

The Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico was written especially with non-Catholic, non-Spanish speaking people in mind. The author attempts to make Santa Muerte accessible to English-speaking readers.

You can find it at Amazon.com and other online outlets.

A nice article and review of this book may be found at: http://ideefixemon.blogspot.com/2013/02/santa-muerte-unoffical-saint-of-mexico.html

Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 2: Altars, Meditations, Divination and Witchcraft Rituals for Devotees of Most Holy Death

Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 2: Altars, Meditations, Divination and Witchcraft Rituals for Devotees of Most Holy Death provides potentially life-transforming rituals and prayers to Santa Muerte. This book goes deeper into the modern devotion to Santa Muerte and the author shares more insights into Most Holy Death.

Get it at Amazon…

…or get this or our other Winter Tempest Books in print using cryptocurrencies.

 

 

Owls in Witchcraft: The Mexican Lechuza and the Tik-tik, Wak-wak, or Aswang of the Philippines

Throughout the world, there is a remarkable number of stories about sightings of shapeshifting witches, often in the form of owls. While these stories are part of legend and myth, they are actually a part of present reality for people throughout parts of the U.S., Mexico, the Philippines and other places in the world where similar creatures are seen, most often at night.

The belief that witches transform into other creatures at night is a world-wide one. While the belief has been mostly eradicated among the “educated” and the “rational,” the fact is that many people, even hardened skeptics, have had encounters with these creatures. Although, accounts vary slightly from one region to another.

A witch with the power of transformation can take on a suitable shape to perform whatever function she has in mind. Apparently, the owl is a favorite form for many. The best known owl witches are found among the people of Mexico and the Philippines. They are very similar.

The Lechuza of Mexico

The name for a common owl in Mexico is “tecolote” or “buho.” The word, “lechuza,” is used by Spanish-speakers in other areas to mean an ordinary barn owl, but in some regions of Mexico when someone speaks of seeing or hearing a lechuza, they aren’t talking about an ordinary owl!

Lechuzas are witches who turn into owls and sometimes other animal forms at night. The Mexican lechuza is not always evil, but seeing one is usually very frightening. They make a terrible shriek and to hear own in your home is a portent of death. The sound made is a high-pitched shriek sometimes accompanied by a cracking or popping noise.

It is fairly common in Mexico for people to see what appear to witches crossing the moon in the sky. If the witch is a lechuza, some people say that reciting the All Father prayer backwards will make them fall from the sky. Witnesses say that lechuzas appear as human-sized owls with the faces of women. It is customary to throw rocks at a lechuza to drive her away.

Witches are known to conduct a lot of business at night. Many witches bury workings or spells in places and use a winged form in their travels to make sure they remain undisturbed. Sometimes lechuzas seem to have more sinister business, such as getting vengeance on a rival.

In most accounts of encounters with lechuzas, they are not so much dangerous as they are frightening. They are large, flying creatures who make a terrifying noise. In other accounts they have pursued or attacked people. Occasionally, they attack people in their beds.

Some people say that if the lechuza doesn’t make it home before dawn, she will be stuck in her owl form all day.

People in Mexico and Texas warn that if you’re walking at night and hear the whistle of a lechuza, you should not whistle back. If you do, the lechuza might swoop down and get you!

If you hear one outside your house, don’t open the door. They especially try to lure small children out of the house.

In some parts of Texas, Lechuzas hang out at night in certain places. Sometimes two or more lechuzas will work together either for a good purpose or malefic one.

Sightings of lechuzas are reported all the way from Oklahoma in the U.S., through Mexico and all the way down to Argentina in South America.

The Apache Indians, originally of the southwest are alleged to have among them women who can transform themselves into owls. The Nanticoke of the Algonquin Indians of the northeast of the U.S., also have legends of the Goo’koos, witches who transform themselves into owls. There may, also, be some relationship between these legends and those of the Thunderbird, which are still seen by people from time to time in the States, but little discussed.

In the Philippines there are lots of stories about a terrifying creature called the Aswang (sometimes spelled Asuwang). Stories about the Aswang vary slightly from place to place throughout the country, but it is generally agreed upon that it is a witch who transforms into a blood-sucking bat-like creature at night.

Unlike the Mexican lechuza, the Aswang is always terrifying and dangerous. Its primary targets are pregnant women and their unborn children. The Aswang is said to have some device by which it sucks blood from its victims.

Many of the same precautions taken against malefic witchcraft are used to defend against the Aswang. Strands of garlic, salt and silver are used to keep it at bay. Needles are placed into the door or threshold and other devices designed to confound witches are employed against them. There even formulas for detecting the presence of an aswang. Defensive weapons, including blessed spears made of local wood are used against them.

Closely related to the aswang is a being called a “tik-tik” and “wak-wak” along with other names in different regions of the Philippines, all of which seem to relate to the cracking or popping sound the creature makes. Like the Mexican lechuza, the tik-tik takes the form of large owl.

Some people say the aswang and the “tik-tik” are one and the same. Others believe that the tik-tik is a companion to the aswang. Yet others conjecture that the tik-tik is the form of a witch who has died.

A similar owl-like being called a “pontipinnak” is known in Malaysia.

Please, visit:  Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Owl Goddesses

The world has a long history of owl goddesses that goes back, at least, 6000 years. Little is known about some of them, but they are often associated with warfare, death and the underworld.

Sumerian Innana, Akkadian Ishtar or possibly Hebrew Lillith

The Sumerian goddess Innana and the Akkadian goddess Ishtar is depicted as a woman with owl’s wings and feet, accompanied by two owls. Ishtar is associated with warfare.

Similarly, the earliest Hebrew story of creation tells of a woman called Lillith, who was the first wife of Adam before she rebelled. She, too, is associated with the owl.

The Greek goddess Hecate is Queen of the Night, whose companion is an owl. She is the patron goddess of witches.

The Roman goddess Athena who is somewhat similar to Hecate, is associated with the owl.

The Owl on a Greek Coin from 450 B.C. with Athena’s head on the Other Side and the word Athena in Greek next to the owl in the picture.

The Owl on a Greek Coin from 450 B.C. with Athena’s head on the Other Side and the word Athena in Greek next to the owl in the picture.

La Santa Muerte or Holy Death of Mexico is commonly depicted with an owl. While not properly speaking a goddess, she has a lot in common with ancient owl goddesses of Western Europe and Mesopotamia and appears to be a blend of native Mexican Indian traditions and southwestern European ones.

Lakshimi

The Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity and beauty, Lakshimi is depicted with an owl at the lower right.

Lakshimi

Normally, Lakshimi is depicted sitting on a lotus blossom being showered with water from the trunks of two white elephants, who represent prosperity, abundance and good fortune.

Possibly, this depiction on the right is another aspect of her power.

Please, visit:  Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Goetic Demons Who Appear as Owls

There are, also, two Goetic demons who are depicted as owls and who are said to appear to the conjurer in such form.

Stolas

Prince Stolas is one of these (pictured to the right). He is one of the most dangerous demons. According to the Goetia, “Stolas is a Great Prince of Hell, commands twenty-six legions of demons, and teaches astronomy and the knowledge of poisonous plants, herbs and precious stones. He is also known as Stolos and Solas. He is depicted as either being a crowned owl with long legs, a raven, or a man.

Marquis Andras

Marquis Andras, who is pictured to the left, is a Grand Marquis of Hell, appearing with a winged angel’s body and the head of an owl or raven, riding upon a strong black wolf and wielding a sharp and bright sword.

Like Prince Stolas, he is regarded as highly dangerous and capable of killing the conjurer who, if he allows himself to be lured out of his protective circle, is subject to instant death.

Please, visit:  Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Comments

Note: The comments below were provided by readers of this article when it was hosted at another website. The responses by “TraditionalWitchcraft” are those of the author of this article.

diyomarpandan:

Great article!

Besides tik-tik, aswang (Hiligaynon) and wakwak (Cebuano), we in the east coast of Mindanao (Kamayo) believe in ayok, a similar vampire-like being.

I want to point out the origin of aswang though. They were initially the babaylans or native priestesses of Panay, whom the Church demonized and made into aswang.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Thank you! I really appreciate your comment and your input and I’m hoping for more comments like yours.

I’m sorry that my research on the Tik-tik or aswang is so limited. I have access to more information about the lechuza because my husband and his family are from Mexico and have had experiences with them.

The point you make about the babaylans is, also, made in the documentary above, entitled “The Aswang Phenomenon.” According to the narrator of the film, it seems to have, also, been a conscious attempt on the part of allopathic medical doctors to demonize (literally) their competition and drive them out of business. This is their M.O. everywhere!

Thanks very much for your comment and observations!

Shawn May Scott:

What an excellent article!!! I have read about shapeshifting and touched breifly on owls but never to this extent have I had so much information in one source. Thank you for the great read. Voted up, shared, pinned, tweeted etc.

Lori Anne Brown 16 months ago from Sanford, Florida

Great information! I had never heard of the Tik-tik before. Really interesting.

jadesmg:

Interesting article. I was unaware of the frequency of the depiction of peoples transformations into owl particularly. I know alot of spirit or soul type anial depictions are of birds. I assumed this was always as they are possibly viewed as free-er and better able to navagate outwith our own realms. I guess the owl is just this but a little further, not only are they able to fly but they do it at night, beyond our own daily ventures. Increases the sinister and hidden elements of thes transformations and depictions. Thanks for sharing your information.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Shawn May Scott,

What a nice compliment. Thank you!

Lori Anne Brown,

Thanks for your comment. The Aswang is very much like a vampire and really scary. They’ve even done a bunch of movies in the Philippines about the Aswang and, like the lechuza, there are lots of stories about strange encounters with these things.

jadesmg,

Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I’m sure there’s a lot more than this, because these transformation stories really are world-wide. I think a witch is able to choose the form that suits her (or his – although it seems to be mostly women) purposes best. The owl is predatory, has great night vision and can see all around. In native American folk tales, it is common for animals and people to exchange characteristics with one another. This was done as part of a bargain or out of kindness from one species to another when one was in need.

I really appreciate all of the nice comments. Thank you!

Dominique:

Well done, as usual madam. Your articles are wonderful and I always feel like I learned something.

However, I would like to suggest something for this article. All the research I’ve come across has said that the picture of the Sumerian goddess you had above wasn’t Inanna, but actually Lilitu, who was the Sumerian desert goddess who eventually became the Lilith of Jewish mythology.

But, that was, what 5,000/6,000 years ago, so I guess we can’t really know!

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Dominique,

Thanks for stopping by and adding your insights.

Yes, that image of the owl-winged lady with the 2 owls is officially called the “Burney Relief” and the depiction is just called “The Queen of the Night.” From what I could tell, nobody’s is really sure which queen of the night it depicts. Ishtar as the most common candidate I’ve seen, but Inanna and Lillith are all in the running.

The owl goddess or owl-woman concept seems to be an old one. I don’t know if the researchers know why. The materialist looking at this would say that the influence of this idea spread from one place to another. But, it may just be because there really are such “queens of the night” – like Tik-tik and Lechuza.

I just edited to add Lillith because that’s a really good point. Thank you!

kitty:

Very interesting. I’ve actually been wanting to write something about La Lechuza for quite some time…but you’ve done a great job! Didn’t know about the two owl demons…interesting that the one teaches its student about herbs, plants, and stones (all things that wise women used at one time in healing methods, etc. and continue to use today). Thanks!

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Kitty,

Thank you! I’m sure there’s more to say on this subject. The owl and witchcraft seem to be very much intertwined. The lighter aspect of the owl is its wisdom and ability to penetrate the darkness; but it’s other aspect is predatory. The owl is a raptor that swoops down and grabs other creatures at night and so it’s a bird of death, too. So, it seems to me that it represents two important aspects of witchcraft: Wisdom and power.

I really appreciate your insights. Thank you!

jolinabetts:

Hi TraditionalWitchcraft!

Your topic regarding the ‘wakwak’ and ‘tiktik’ is very interesting, oh and the aswang as well. Very well written.

Back in the 80s, i remember reading a headline with a picture of an alleged Leader of the Aswangs in the Southern Region of the Philippines. His head was decapitated and was held by one of the townfolk in another town. I hope you won’t mind me telling this story but this happened and was made into a local movie in Manila once.

A young college freshman had nowhere else to go on her semestral break and her classmate Michelle asked her if she can come with her to her place a 3 hour ferry ride into the South. Raquel, the name of this college freshman agreed and they rode the ferry and came to the town by foot from the port, it was almost 4 in the afternoon.

Just to let you know, Old Witchcraft , that the setting of the sun sets fast by 5pm and by 6pm its already dark in some months except December.

Raquel felt chills to her spine when she walked into town because there are no people coming out of the houses to meet them, no children either. Michelle led her to her ancestral home where her father was waiting for them. He seemed very pleased to see Raquel and told her they’re having a feast in her honor. Then slowly as the sun sets at 5:30, the town folk came out of their houses with candles lit in their homes.

In the 80s there are still towns in the south of the Philippines that don’t have electricity.

Michelle coaxed Raquel that they should take a nap because of the long trip then she will wake her up if its time for dinner. Raquel agreed and they both slept on a straw mat on the floor. Raquel could not sleep and she heard some whispers outside her window, the father and some tall man were conversing. ” She’s quite plump, Michelle picked a good one this time”, the father said and the tall man was smiling and said ” its been awhile since a tourist visit this place, we better beat her to a pulp with a club so we can make her bones into soup”. Raquel got nervous because the tone of their voices aren’t normal. She looked at Michelle and she noticed she was wearing golden jewellry, like earrings and rings. Raquel slowly put the earrings and rings on her and make the sleeping Michelle to the side where Raquel used to be lying down. Raquel covered her body except her head and her arm with the glittery gold jewellry.

Then she heard someone coming into their room and she couldn’t look behind her because they might see her, she heard a loud smack and something is being dragged down to the stairs. As soon as the door closed, she looked back and saw her friend is no longer there.

Then she peeked outside the window and saw that the father and the man are holding a sack with traces of blood which seems to have Michelle in it. The town folk gathered in a dim lit area and cackles of laughter are among them and they were moving far away from the house.

In no time Raquel looked for her way out, she leaped from the 2 story high house and ran barefoot into the woods. Then she heard a wailing sound of something flying behind her. It was the townfolk, they were gaining on her. These so called townfolk are aswangs. Raquel ran as fast as she could until she was at the beach and saw a boatman who lives near and ask for his help. He took pity on her and let her hide under a small canoe.

The screeching stopped upon reaching the beach, Raquel could hear a gruff voice of a man talking to the boatman and asking her whereabouts. The boatman denied and the people and the man went back to their town, At the break of Dawn, Raquel was able to escape with the help of the boatman. The news broke out and some people hunt down the father of Michelle. His head was decapitated and as shown on the front page news dated 1988.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

jolinabetts,

That is an amazing story! Thank you very much for sharing it.

I have read about entire towns in the Philippines filled with witches who live apart from the rest of the population.

jolinabetts:

Hi TraditionalWitchcraft!

Thanks for replying. You are right the entire towns in the philippines especially the provincial ones have a lot of witches and most of them take form as lowly provincial maidens going to the city looking for work as house maids.

The Tiktik is a creature which resembles an owl also but with large wings and has a long tongue that if a pregnant woman is sleepin, her tongue usually latches on the tummy like a leech and suck the ammiotic fluid and even the baby.

The Aswang also resembles an owl too and they often take a lot of forms too, like dogs and cats. They are cannibals in the night.

The wakwak is also the same as the Tiktik although this one preys on small children.

I hope this may interest you. You hit the mark about Owls 🙂 they are very sacred creatures.

Oh TraditionalWitchcraft, the ‘mangkukulam’ or witch, in filipino, is still revered as a dangerous being in the Philippines. They usually cast a spell on some person and the person who was cursed with a mangkukulam have an extreme case of boils or small lumps growing bigger everyday. Once a doctor tries to incise the boil, they often see some leaves and soil and twigs of all sorts inside a boil or a bump.

jolinabetts,

Thank you for this information. I’ve read a little about the mangkukulam, but I hadn’t heard about the soil and twig filled boils. In the southern states of the U.S., there are reports of snakes in people’s abdomens and sometimes wombs. The delivery of this kind of spell usually involves the person breathing a substance prepared by a witch. Of course, it’s more than just the substance, there is a great deal of malice imparted into it.

Thanks for the good info. It’s hard to find a lot of good information about witchcraft in the Philippines online. If you have any good recommendations in English or Tagalog, for that matter, I would be interested in knowing about it.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about this subject.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Thanks, also, for distinguishing the difference between the Tik-tik and the Wak-wak.

Interestingly, the Mexican Lechuza is said to prey on small children, too. It makes a noise and tries to trick a child into walking outside the house and then it snatches him or her.

jolinabetts 16 months ago from The Philippine Islands

Hi TraditionalWitchcraft! Thank you for replying, you’ve been very gracious.

Yes i will research about the books for you. I’d be happy to do that.

May i ask, i always wanted to know if witches in the United States are mostly from American Indian descent? I hope i don’t offend people on this article of yours, I’m curious how witches are in the US? Here they are revered as Hags with unruly hair and who lives in remote areas.

Your friend,

Jolina

TraditionalWitchcraft:

jolinabetts,

That’s very nice of you. Thank you!

It is a complicated question about witchcraft and who practices it. I tend to define witchcraft pretty broadly to include things that other people might not consider to be witchcraft. In English, we really only have one word for it. I’m not sure it was always that way, though. A lot seemed to change with the advent of popular culture like movies and television. But, if you go back several decades a lot of people had strong folk beliefs and there were many people, especially in rural areas, who were thought to be witches of some kind or other. Usually they distinguished the good from the bad. There were healers, root workers and conjure doctors who took hexes off people. And, there were the malefic witches who cast spells on people.

Some American Indian spiritual practices are similar to witchcraft practices around the world, although I’m not sure they would like to be called witches. They are well known for their abilities to bring rain during a drought and to perform healing miracles. But, they really got shoved to the side. A lot were killed and who knows how many were absorbed by the Europeans. A lot of white people have an Indian grandmother a few generations back, it seems. But, they were so abused and mistreated at one point that this was usually kept secret and sometimes only known by the family. The rest of the Indians were shoved off onto reservations by the middle of the 1800s and a lot of information about them was completely lost. Although, many of these traditional practices are still going on, a lot of Indians grew secretive about them. But, a lot was preserved in books by researchers. The Indians were and probably some of them still are capable of doing a lot of amazing things like being able to walk into an encampment unseen and even to put hexes on people, similar to the mangkukulam spell you mentioned. People who can do things like that are always secretive.

Witchcraft came to this country from everywhere that the people came from. So, there is witchcraft here literally from all over the world. It seems to me that most of it is practiced in the southern and southwestern states, though.

The most intriguing aspect of American witchcraft to me is what I call American Hoodoo. This is witchcraft with both an African and American Indian basis. But, over the years they combined more and more ideas from the Kaballah and European folk practices. I think most people would be surprised at how strong European practices remained in parts of the U.S., especially in the old west or southwest, which is now called the midwest. Right in the middle of the country, out on the old frontier in the middle of the 1800s, there weren’t a lot of Christians preachers or churches – just wilderness and a few Indians. And, it is here that a lot of European practices survived well into the 20th century. (I mention this in my article on Ozark Mountain Love Spells.)

But, a lot of people felt like witchcraft and magic was something only low class or uneducated white people did. A modern form of witchcraft from Britain – Wicca – became popular here between the 1980s and 1990s and it’s very big now. The biggest demographic is probably white and fairly middle class.

But, if I had to hazard a guess about what demographic practices the most witchcraft in the U.S., I’d say it’s the Spanish-speaking people. Most Americans don’t know about it because they don’t speak Spanish or hang out in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. The other large group of magic practitioners are black people, especially in the south. A lot of them still have their old family traditions handed down from one generation to the next, even those who are essentially Christians. And, based on the people I met when I had my metaphysical bookstore, I’d say there are more black people practicing some form of traditional witchcraft in private than most white people would imagine.

One reason for the survival and strength of American Hoodoo is much more classist than most people would like to believe. And, if you don’t have a lot of money or powerful friends, you don’t get fair treatment or justice. That’s where Hoodoo comes in. For some people in this country, especially in the south, it was the only weapon they had. Sadly, things haven’t changed all that much. And, frankly, I don’t think it’s all that great here for women, either, which is why a lot of women are attracted to it. (I kind of mention that in my review of the movie Season of the Witch – it’s all about white middle-class women turning to witchcraft.) Whenever there is a lot of oppression, witchcraft flourishes and grows stronger. A similar thing is happening in parts of Mexico right now because of all of the corruption and desperation. (I mention this in the Santa Muerte or Holy Death article here – you can see them, if you click my profile picture.)

I apologize for having to speak in such broad generalizations about this subject. I’ve thought about it a lot and I do quite a bit of research on the subject. But, this is just my (one person’s) opinion, of course.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

With regard to this: “Here they are revered as Hags with unruly hair and who lives in remote areas.”

Movies like “Bell, Book and Candle” and “I Married a Witch” in the 1940s starring glamourous women as witches began to slowly change the American perception of what a witch is or looks like. The 1960’s to 1970s television series “Bewitched” continued this idea. Witches became very beautiful and glamorous. Most sensible, educated people in the U.S. didn’t believe in witchcraft, at all. But, that started changing more and more from the 1970s (See Season of the Witch – you can see this whole movie, if you go to my blogposts on Season of the Witch) and by the 80s and 90s, witches were trendy – even when they were oddballs and outsiders, they were beautiful and powerful women.

But, there is still the old image of the witch. When I think of the more traditional witch image in the U.S., I think of the Swamp Witch from the Bayous in Louisiana characterized in Jim Stafford’s song by that name.

It’s about a scary witch who lives in a shack in the thick forests and swamps of the south. When there’s an outbreak of some kind of fever, the townsfolk blame Hattie, the swamp witch. But, Hattie cooks up a brew and saves the town. So, there’s still the idea that witches, even scary ones, aren’t all that bad – maybe just misunderstood.

Just like in W. Europe, traditionally in the U.S., good witches are thought of as being young and beautiful and bad witches are thought of us as old hags with warts on their noses. But, increasingly the witch as an old hag is an unpopular image. In fact, some modern witches (Wiccans) kind of have their own public relations group right out of Salem, Massachusetts and elsewhere in the country who monitor negative imagery of witches in the media. They are very active in speaking out against anything they see as inaccurate or negative.

Kyanelii:

This is beyond interesting! I grew up in the Mexican/US border and my family believed that they were witches! I remember having a cook out with my family at night & one was flew and stood on a light post.. And just looked at us, making some kind of “human laugh..” It sounded exactly like a human laugh and the face was unforgettable.. Just like a “persons” face! My aunt came outside and started rehearsing a prayer backwards and threaten it to being out some “onions and chile” because according to Mexican legends, that is also suppose to make them go Away!

Without a doubt.. If you guys could hear the sound and the face they have… You guys would never forget it!

Aika:

I would want to add further details about the Aswang. It isnt all the time that aswang takes the form of an owl. A lot of times, aswang takes a humanoid form with unruly hair and red eyes. Aswangs have different types, which are the tik-tik and ‘wak-wak’ among others. They are called such because of the sounds they make when they are around.

Tiktik or “keek-keek” as what others call them is often depicted as a female ghoul with the shape of a bird that feeds on the unborn child of pregnant women and newborn babies. They are known for their long tongues that could penetrate the house to sneak on their victims.

While the Wakwak is said to be a female that has bat-like wings and red eyes. It feeds on the internal organs of its victims, focusing on the heart which is said to be the tastiest part of humans. They are also known to victimize someone who is gravely ill and about to die, which the folks would refer to as “inaaswang”.

Another kind of aswang, “Mananangal” is almost the same as wakwak only that it can separate its torso into two. It is the most popular of all the aswangs because it is often portrayed in Philippine movies. Accding to legend, manananggals are beautiful women during the day. At midnight they would apply a special oil to their body that would enable them to separate the upper half of their body to their trunk. The half of the body would fly to search for victims while the lower half would stay were it is left. It is said that when you find the torso of a manananggal, you can put salt into it so that the upper half would not be able to return and attach with its half eventually causing death to the aswang.

I came across your blog because of my recent encounter with the these creaturse. I am a believer of ghosts and entities but has been a skeptic when it comes to aswang. I thought with the advent of modernization, aswang will remain as a part of Filipino Folklore,but guess I was wrong.

Two nights ago, I was watching TV at our living room when my dad called me to his room. He said in a low voice to listen as he heard a sound that belongs to a tiktik. Our dogs as well as that from our neighbors were all barking and howling, they appear to be distracted at something from the bamboo groves by the river. My dad said that the tiktik might have been watching over the 3 pregnant women in our neighborhood.

I was totally over that story when just last night, my best friend and I decided to hangout at the nearby basketball court. Our place is not rural, in fact it is almost a developed town but mostly occupied with sugarcane farms and a river nearby surrounded with thick bamboo groves. We sat on the bench to talk and as my friend was about to light his cigar, we heard a loud flapping sound from the big tree meters away from us near the river. I was about to leave when my friend tried to stop me saying aloud that it must have been bats hovering around us. The wakwak after hearing what my friend said, has yet to prove to us that she is not a bat, once again flapped its wings much louder than the previous one that the whole tree shook. One could imagine that even the biggest bat cannot make that loud sound that almost shook the whole tree. It must have been coming from big wings, one that wakwaks have. We ran after hearing the second one and swore never to return there again at night.

Almost all of my relatives have a story to share about aswang, and now that I have my own, I could say that these legends are bound to be true.

TraditionalWitchcraft:

Dear Aika,

Thank you for your detailed account of your views on these creatures and your recent experience. Dogs seem to have a keen awareness of thees things, including the Mexican lechuza and it’s pretty common that a visitation is preceded by a peculiar howling of dogs.

Anonymous:

When I was little I saw a huge bird out side my house my dad owned 5 little pigs and 2 big pigs the next morning 1 pig disappears my dad could here a crying baby in the woods next to my house are neighbor said he saw a huge bird take are pig .the next day there was a second piglet missing and claw prints in the mud. That night my dad stayed up all night waiting to see what or who was taking the piglets. What he saw scared him. In the distance appeared the bird 3 ft tall. It’s wing span was enormous. He tried to shoot it but the bird seemed to shield itself with its wings. It made a horrible sound as it flew away.

Please, visit:  Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

See the entire Winter Tempest Books Catalogue.

Traditional Witchcraft: What are Enemies?

Traditional Witchcraft: What are enemies?

In black magic spell books, we often talk about our enemies. But, what exactly are enemies? How do we identify them? How do we acquire them? What is the danger of ignoring them?

Some people believe they do not really have any enemies. There is a prevailing cultural belief that if we go about our lives being kind to others, minding our own business and trying to do the right thing, no one should want to hurt us. But, of course, this is a naive outlook on life.

Our enemies are those who, little by little, tear our happiness to shreds and disturb our peace of mind. Some of these people are authoritarians and bullies in our our homes, our schools, our work places and even among those we count as friends. They are, also, those who have no qualms about committing crimes against us, simply for their own personal gratification. Ranging from the seemingly less insidious to the deeply wicked, they are all enemies when they stand in the way of our personal goals.

Everyone Has Enemies

The unsettling fact is the world is full of truly evil people. Regardless of how good we are, there are those who see us as enemies or as prey. Therefore, even the most innocent among us have enemies.

Some of these enemies may be mentally disordered. Psychologists have a variety of classifications for such people who lack humanity or conscience. They call them psychopaths, sociopaths, narcissists and the like and they make up a remarkably high percentage of the population. Moreover, they are often attracted to positions of authority and influence in which they can acquire power and the admiration of others and thus obtain access to a pool of victims.

Some medical research studied that these people’s brains are structured differently from that of a normal person. Although, some of them may be members of our own families and we may have nothing in common with them. Many of them are bosses or people in positions of authority in society. Many of them know what they are – that they have other than normal human emotions and thoughts. They see normal human emotions and ability to empathize with others as a weakness to be exploited.

Psychopaths and sociopaths can both be very charming, clever and difficult discover. Even psychologists cannot always tell and many people are married to such people for years before they are able to see through their masks. Different experts place their numbers at between 1 and 3% of the population for psychopaths and as many as 30% for sociopaths. The number of such people varies from place to place, as well.

Such people commit evil acts because they enjoy doing so. They often have an exaggerated sense of their own self-importance and self-worth. They do it for their own gratification and personal satisfaction – not because they have been hurt in some way, which is a claim such people sometimes try to make. They do not know love or conscience. They, also, become very angry once they are discovered by their victims and it is then they are often at their most dangerous.

Not all such people are criminals – some are simply too clever to be caught – but undoubtedly they are responsible for a large percentage of crimes. There are psychopaths who thrive on controlling and dominating anyone they come in contact with. There is no logical answer to the question, “Why?” as in “Why do these people do what they do?” They are simply manifestations of evil in the flesh.

So, you can see that you do not have to do anything wrong to acquire such an enemy. You should never blame yourself for having such an enemy, nor should you tolerate anyone blaming you for it. Such irredeemably evil people exist simply because evil exists.

Once you understand evil exists and people do evil things simply for their own pleasure, then you can be better prepared to deal with such enemies whenever you run across one.

Get: The Devil’s Grimoire: A System of Psychic Attack

How Do We Acquire Enemies?

The power of a glance – the evil eye.

Most often, we acquire enemies very unexpectedly and through no fault of our own. We acquire them simply in the course of living our own lives and trying to mind our own business.

To put it simply, the world is full of mentally unstable people and predators of one kind or another. So, you can acquire an enemy simply by existing. People who aren’t “team players,” who are individualists or independent thinkers often acquire enemies. You can attract enemies by being a nice person, being attractive, well-dressed or even a little bit successful. People who are especially individualistic and unique or who stand out in any way often attract enemies. But, even the most average and conformist people have enemies, too.

Some enemies are people with personal problems, for instance, they may act against us out of envy because we are smarter or more attractive. Some are narcissists who literally believe the entire world revolves around them and the people in it are there simply to benefit them in some way.

Lots of these people end up being school administrators, managers, salesmen, businessmen, law enforcement agents and judges. Simply having the misfortune of running across them at work, school or in the course of living your own life means you have acquired an enemy.

Sometimes your worst enemies are members of your own family into which you were born entirely by chance. Sometimes we unknowingly marry them or we marry the children of such people. We often run across them when we are most vulnerable, for example, they exploit our need to earn a living. They prey upon us at our work place, on your way to and from our work place or take advantage of our need to earn money in some way or other. They take advantage of us when we most need help, for example, when we try to report a crime or to escape the clutches of a violent person.

Enemies are often the people who work within various established systems, whether it be law enforcement, the school or university system, the corporate system, etc. Such people thrive in hierarchies – in situations of unequal power dynamics in which they can get the upper hand.

Get: The Devil’s Grimoire: A System of Psychic Attack

What Exactly Are Enemies?

Enemies are people who threaten our existence in some way. They are those who threaten our privacy and disturb our peace of mind. They are people who are in some kind of position to make your life miserable or even completely unbearable. Moreover, they are people you have no option of simply avoiding.

Sometimes our worst enemies are members of our own families – often they are interfering in-laws. In the worst cases, they are our most trusted confidants (spouses), who harbor a secret and sometimes violent agenda against us. These are often the most difficult enemies to deal with.

Very often we find our worst enemies at our workplace. It’s our bosses or co-workers who seem intent on destroying our peace and happiness.

Sometimes our enemies are criminals of one kind or another. Some are harassers, stalker and violent criminals. Some are thieves and worse. Others are scammers of one stripe or another.

A criminal enemy is one who has no fear of committing crimes against other people and often you will find that you have little or no help from law enforcement agencies. Sometimes you find that in the course of defending yourself, you run the danger of breaking laws – a fact the criminals are counting on and one which keeps them safe. They typically have no conscience and no ordinary human fear of the consequences of breaking the law. If they choose victims who are good, upstanding citizens, then they feel safer because such a person is less likely to commit a crime in their own self-defense.

Con artists are named such because they are artful at fostering “confidence” in others. Psychopaths and sociopaths are especially good at this kind of social deception, they tailor their behavior to their victims and can keep up appearances for years. This accounts for many people’s experiences in marriage, when the con artist’s mask unravels, when he can no longer keep up the facade and they learn the truth about the person they are married to. This is a dangerous situation, but a common and every day one. Now, you have a very dangerous enemy – one who has been close to you, who has had access to your financial documents or to other sensitive information. This is an example of a very dangerous enemy because he or she often knows far too much about us and may have access to personal material or information that could seriously harm us.

Another type of dangerous enemy is the white collar criminal, who lies, cheats and steals using fraud and hiding behind what appear to be legitimate fronts – often financial institutions or other companies that appear to be reputable. These people steal by moving around numbers, shuffling paper work or by directly stealing private information, which they use for the furtherance of their own selfish ends.

Another enemy is one who comes into your neighborhood, who is a a nuisance, a drug dealer or otherwise threaten the peace of your home and your privacy. Enemies who threaten our privacy or our homes -whether these are stalkers or white collar criminals – present a very real threat to our survival. These are especially dangerous enemies.

Sometimes you find out way after the fact that your enemy set out from the beginning to harm you, often posing as friends. Although, in these cases, you may not recognize that a person you thought was a friend is an enemy until they do something to you.

Get: The Devil’s Grimoire: A System of Psychic Attack

Why It’s Important Not to Ignore Our Enemies

Avoidance whenever possible is the best way to deal with enemies. If enemies become too numerous, you can become overwhelmed. So, once you recognize our own vulnerabilities and the opportunities our enemies take against us, we must try to take steps wherever possible to insulate yourself. Of course, this is not 100% effective. Therefore, it is only a partial remedy.

Dangerous enemies should not be directly confronted. If you must engage them, do so anonymously. Never make threats or say anything that could be construed as such.

Enemies of all classes are a particular danger to witches and occultists because they can disrupt our peace of mind – this is perhaps the greatest harm they do when it is analyzed at the most basic level. Interference from enemies can disrupt our ability to focus and achieve our personal goals. In the long term, they can become a threat to our happiness, our health and our very lives.

It is not necessary to hate your enemies – that’s just a waste of your time and energy, but it is wise to have a healthy fear of them. It is, also, necessary to the fruition of your own plans and the attainment of your own goals that wherever you cannot avoid them, you must eliminate them.

The necessity of putting your enemies out of the way before you are able to make your other dreams come true. A major foundational step to creating a more satisfying life is to put your enemies out of your way so you can achieve your personal life goals without obstacles.

If you are plagued by enemies or other misfortunes, it is important to clean up this aspect of your life before you can really make you can reach your other goals, for example, success in love, money or other personal pursuits.

Nonetheless, when we come to recognize that human enemies exist and take steps to aggressively and proactively defend ourselves against them, we strengthen our level of protection. This higher level of protection, which is a feature of the practice of black magic, functions to eliminate a broad swath of unfortunate circumstances and paves a smooth road for success in all of your other endeavors.

The Devil’s Grimoire: A System of Psychic Attack by Moribus Mortlock

The Devil’s Grimoire: A System of Psychic Attack

Have you ever felt powerless against someone who was in a position to make your life miserable?

Have you ever wished you could relieve your misery through entirely secret and legal means without ever leaving the comfort of your own home?

Inside this book is a powerful system of psychic attack designed to help you do this.

To gain and maintain control over your life, dominate your enemies, get revenge, restore your peace of mind and prove the power of witchcraft to yourself, put the little devils in “The Devil’s Grimoire” to work for you.

The Devil’s Grimoire is available in paperback and digital formats at Amazon and other online retailers.

Click here for information about how to order print books from Winter Tempest Books using cryptocurrencies.

Find more Winter Tempest Books at Psychic Powers & Magic Spells.

The End

Traditional Witchcraft: Should I Worry About Bad Karma If I Use Black Magic?

Some people regard black magic as a misuse of spiritual energy. Some define it as any act that interferes with another person’s free will and believe that no witchcraft, even healing, should be conducted without the permission of the subject. Some modern ceremonial magicians call it “the left hand path.” Some warn that it is karmically dangerous to the spell caster.

But, none of this is really relevant in traditional witchcraft. In fact, the purpose of most of traditional witchcraft is to affect the outer environment and those around us and what is commonly called black magic is only an integral part of witchcraft, itself.

The definition of “black magic” used by Winter Tempest Books authors is that it is simply malefic witchcraft, meaning it is witchcraft used for the purpose of causing harm or injury to another. Moral judgments and ethical considerations are withheld and reserved for the individual, who is the only person fit to judge his or her own particular situation. Moreover, we always advocate that, for your protection, such witchcraft should be done secretly and without violating the laws of whatever state, country or other legal jurisdiction you live in.

Some members of modern witchcraft religion state that no “real witch” would use black magic. But, if this were true, why is that that most of the documentation of witchcraft in Western Europe, New England and around the world is full to the brim with instances of curses and demonic visitations? Obviously, this assertion doesn’t hold water.

The dominant class of popular, modern religious witches often warn against the use of black magic because of a fear of it “recoiling” on the one who cast the spell. They have various names for this, such as the “Law of Returns,” and the “Three-fold Law,” and it appears that this modern dogma evolved from the Hindu concept of Karma.

The Doctrine of Karma

The ancient Hindu religious principle of Karma is similar to, but, also, differs from the modern New Age concept, which is described below. In Hinduism, which includes a belief in reincarnation, karma occurs after death and it determines the soul’s path in its next incarnation. Both this life and the next incarnation could be affected by your past deeds. At the core of the doctrine is the concept of cause and effect, the idea that your actions in this life and past ones have have effect on the present and the future. Suffering is seen as a “spiritual gift” by which a person learns and becomes stronger, so disease and other adversity is seen as part of life’s lesson.

This doctrine of karma has been recycled and revamped by Western New Agers and Christianized. Then, it was adapted by Wiccans. (Read more about the Christianization of Wicca in the U.S. in a previous article, “Differences Between Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca: How Wicca Became Mainstream Modern Witchcraft.”)

By contrast, in traditional witchcraft, suffering is not regarded as a spiritual gift. People do not need to learn cosmic lessons by disease, injury, violence, etc. There is no God or system that judges and rewards or punishes.

A danger of this kind of thinking is that it engenders the false belief other people want or deserve to suffer or that we, ourselves, deserve to suffer because of some imagined transgression in this or a past life. Crime survivors might internalize the abuses that have been perpetrated against them by others and imagine that they are somehow deserving because of some imagined bad behavior. For instance, an abused wife may be convinced that she deserves to be abused because she abused her husband in a past life – this is the kind insanity that can flourish when this notion of karma is taken to an extreme.

Karma is a religious doctrine that has no place in traditional witchcraft, which is not a religion, at all. Such thinking prevents people from looking for solutions to health issues, excuses criminal behavior and allows evil-doers to prevail.

Then, there is the negative psychological aspect of accepting this religious belief.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Wiccan Guilt

Wiccans believe that witchcraft and, indeed, all of life is governed by their version of the law of karma. They are constantly warning people about the dangers of bad karma and bad intent.

Among Wiccans there is a common belief that the things you do now can affect completely unrelated events down the road, either for good or evil, based on the nature of the action you have taken.

Wiccan belief is that if you send out negativity, this causes more negativity in the world, which will inevitably boomerang its way back to you. But, if you send out positive energy, positive energy will come back to you. (To that I say, if you’re a woman, try walking down a street in New York City beaming positive energy at everyone you encounter and see how much positive energy comes back to you. A word of warning: Don’t try this without years of martial arts training.)

This concept of karma within Wicca can become absurd, leading to Wiccan guilt, which is a lot like Christian guilt. Neither are mentally healthy. The New Age belief in past lives affecting the present one is similar to the the Christian doctrine of Original Sin. The Wiccan belief of being cosmically punished if you step out of line is similar to the Christian doctrine of Judgment.

Many Wiccans and New Agers swear this Westernized karmic dogma is true. This is because religious people often have a confirmation bias – if they believe a doctrine, they will look for proof of it where none exists.

For example, a Wiccan who gives a sum of money to charity, then experiences some kindness from a stranger in the next day or two might attribute the kind behavior of the stranger to having made a charitable contribution, when in fact, it was just an encounter with a kindly stranger and nothing more. If the same Wiccan had knocked down an old lady and stolen her grocery money the day before instead, he or she would still have experienced an encounter with a kindly stranger the next day. There is no cause and effect in this situation because there is no cosmic overseer judging and punishing your every move. This is simply a religious belief similar to those held by Hindus and Christians.

To further illustrate, if you think a bad thought about someone and then trip over a piece of loose carpeting and stub your toe, this injury is not a result of your “transgression.” Or, if you fail to adequately tip a waiter and a month later your house is foreclosed on, it is not reasonable to say this is because of a karmic law.

Wiccan guilt comes in when you do good, but good does not return to you – then, you may feel you have not been good enough. If some accident befalls you, a loved one dies or you become the victim of a violent crime, you may be encouraged to believe that this was because of some wrong action or thought vibration on your part. Karma-based beliefs engender a remarkable degree of self-blaming, victim-blaming and criminal enabling.

Letting Go of Harmful Beliefs

The doctrine of karma is simply a religious belief, the key word being “belief.” Such cultural and religious conditioning is a form of mind control.

Holding onto such unfounded beliefs is ultimately destructive. It leads to a state of being in which the person constantly fears they are doing something wrong. To let go of this programming, you only have to allow your rational mind to overcome this irrational and unfounded religious belief.

If you have had the misfortune of being subjected to either Christian or Wiccan indoctrination and consequently fear stepping out of line because of imagined cosmic repercussions, you may have to do some deprogramming before you feel comfortable using black magic.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

The Power of Black Magic

Fortunately, black magic can help break the chains of religious conditioning. Traditionally, black magic rituals involving such things as the recitation of the “Our Father” prayer backwards or meeting a spirit in a cemetery or a crossroad at midnight mark a witch’s passage into the world of witchcraft.

Former Wiccans who want to make a break from their religion might perform a short ritual by writing the “Rede,” “The Law of Returns” or whatever other dogmatic belief on a sheet of paper and burning it in a little ceremony to break the psychological tie to this religious philosophy.

Of course, none of this is really necessary. Simply performing acts of black magic is enough to make the break.

The use of black magic is often a matter of survival. Sometimes violent crime survivors discover their ability to use it very spontaneously.

Sometimes using black magic is the right thing to do in a situation to prevent harm to yourself or someone else. Black magic can be a means of restoring justice and peace – and maintaining it.

Black magic can provide the ultimate form of protection. Once you begin practicing black magic, you will naturally require more protection, but the acquisition of this protection is part of the process of learning more about witchcraft, especially communicating with and employing spirits.

Black magic thinking has the power to release people from a sense of being victimized. It helps crime survivors regain control over their lives. If you have been through a terrible ordeal at the hands of some malefactor, black magic helps you heal, restore balance and re-establish more control over your own life.

Above all, black magic is a mindset. It is a strong self-defense mentality. It helps to undo some of the damage done to us by living in a victim-blaming society in which we are blamed for the failures and evil actions of other people. It helps to restore power and autonomy to the individual.

Get Practical Black Magic at…

Practical Black Magic: How to Hex and Curse Your Enemies

Smashwords: Practical Black Magic: How to Hex and Curse Your Enemies by Sophia diGregorio

Amazon in paperback & for Kindle: Practical Black Magic: How to Hex and Curse Your Enemies by Sophia diGregorio

To obtain this and other Winter Tempest Books in paperback using cryptocurrency, please, click this link.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

The Use of the Magical Circle in Traditional Witchcraft: How it is Cast and Why

A Magician

The casting of circles in witchcraft is very old and appears to be universal.

Those familiar with the modern, popular form of witchcraft, Wicca, know that they cast a circle by “calling the corners.” This procedure is sometimes complex and technical in nature and involves the use of specific colors of candles and other implements. Some of them do it to create “sacred space” to celebrate seasonal holidays, worship their gods and goddesses, or to raise a “cone of power” for some particular purpose. This is one example of the use of a magical circle in a modern form of witchcraft, but there are many others.

The next most familiar type of circle-casting to most people might be the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram described by Israel Regardie in the book, “The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order.” In this version four spirits or energies are called to form and guard the circle at the four cardinal points.

The circles described by Regardie are similar to those found in some old medieval grimoires, including “The Lesser Key of Solomon.” These circles are used to summon and converse with demonic spirits. Furthermore, such rituals as these involving circles were documented by the authors of some of these old grimoires who observed and recorded the activities of witches around them at the time.

Those who are new to witchcraft may have the impression that circle casting is something only Wiccans or ceremonial magicians do, however, this is not the case, at all. Although, the Wiccans and ceremonial magicians have their own, often complex methods involving the recitation of specific words and the use of certain magical implements, the casting of a circle as part of a spell is common to witchcraft around the world.

Henry Fuseli – Scene of Witches from “The Masque of Queens” by Ben Jonson {pd}

Worldwide, the circle is primarily used as a place to concentrate power and to perform acts of witchcraft, particularly those involving manifestations of spirits or transformations.

The Obeah men and women were magicians who were among the slaves brought to the Caribbean from some region thought to be in northern Africa. The people from this region of Africa were extraordinary in their beauty, physical strength and intelligence and were prized by the human traffickers who bought and sold them, bringing them primarily to Jamaica despite the fact that they were considered dangerous and inclined to rebellion. The Obeah men and women were both revered and feared by other people because of their magical abilities. The Obeah form of ritual magic sometimes involved the magician drawing a magic circle with a special type of chalk. The origins and content of the chalk are disputed by researchers. Some say that it was formed from the native earth of Africa. Others say that it was made of powdered, white egg shells.

According to researchers, the aboriginals of Australia, also, used similar circles in their magical rituals, including witchcraft for the purpose of cursing enemies. The magician might use the circle alone or with a group of people in this procedure. In such an instance, the circle becomes a metaphysical container for the energy involved in spell casting.

Magic Circle

But, the circle functions to protect the magician and his or her work, also. The following tale, entitled “The Witch as Cat,” involving a chalk-drawn circle comes from Bohemia, historically a German region, which is now part of the Czech Republic; it illustrates the use of the circle in witchcraft as both a protective device and a place from which to conduct acts of magic:

At the end of the sixteenth century a miller woman lived in a mill with her six children. No servant could stay in this mill because during the night a cat with six kittens would always come and bite and scratch the worker, sometimes to death. However, one day a journeyman came to the mill who knew black magic.

When he asked for a night’s lodging the miller woman said that it would not go well with him, because the place was haunted.

“That doesn’t matter,” said the journeyman. “I’m not afraid.”

That evening he lit a candle, drew a circle around himself with sanctified chalk, then sat down at the table. Near midnight a black cat with her six kittens approached the light, wanting to put it out. The journeyman grabbed a hatchet and cut off one of the cat’s paws. She let out a terrible shriek, then all of them ran out the door.

The next morning the miller woman was ill, and no one knew what was wrong with her. However, the journeyman knew what it was; that morning instead of a cat’s paw he had found a human hand lying on the ground. He reported the event, and the miller woman was burned to death, along with her children, for these too someday would have learned witchcraft. ( Josef Virgil Grohmann, Sagen-Buch von Böhmen und Mähren. Erster Theil: Sagen aus Böhmen (Prague: Verlag der J. G. Calve’schen k.k. Universitäts-Buchhandlung, 1863), pp. 225-26.)

Witch and Black Cat

The following story illustrates how a witch very simply casts a circle to perform a conjuration. This account demonstrates the efficacy of a simple circle for summoning spirits, which is accomplished without elaborate ritual, incantations or a lot of ceremonial tools. A book and a glass in a circle along with a pan of hot coals upon which some stinking herbs were thrown is used to conjure spirits, which take on various forms:

The Witch took her staff and there drew him about the house, making a kind of Circle, and then took a book, and carrying it over the Circle, with her hands, and taking a green glass, did lay it upon the book, and placed n the Circle an earthen pan of Coles, wherein she threw something, which burning caused a very noysome stinck, and told the Maid she should not be afraid of what she should then see, for now they could come, they are the words she used and, so calling Beelzebub, Tormentor, Satan, and Lucifer to appear, there suddainly arose a very high wind, which made the house shake, and presently the back Door of the house flying open, there came five spirits, as the Maid supposed, in the likeness of ragged Boys, some bigger than others and ran about the house, where she had drawn the staff, and the Witch threw down upon the ground Crums of Bread, which the Spirits picked up, and leapt over the Pan of Coals oftentimes, which she set in the middle of the Circle, and a Dog and a Cat of the Witches danced with them; and after some time the Witch looked again in her book, and threw some great white feeds upon the ground… (Bower, Edmond, Doctor Lamb revived, or, Witchcraft condemn’d in Anne Bodenham, 1653, Cornell University Library Witchcraft Collection,P. 4-5.)

A Witch in His Circle

The circle may be seen as a three dimensional geometric shape that confines and concentrates the energy that makes possible manifestations and other acts of magic. For example, in the 1947 book, “Ozark Superstitions” Vance Randolph mentions how conjurers in the Ozark Mountains force the appearance of a witch by arranging brush in a circle and lighting it on fire at midnight.

In the following story, we see that a circle large enough to accommodate an outhouse, with the cardinal points marked, is used to make someone ill by means of malefic witchcraft.

An account from circa 1579 from the book, “A Detection of Damnable Driftes Practised by Three Witches Arranged at Chelmifforde in Essex,” demonstrates that the circle not only accumulates power, but holds it in place. It is alleged that an accused witch, Mother Staunton came to the home of a Mrs. Cornell to ask for some milk, whereupon she was turned away on the suspicion that she was a witch. The second time Mother Staunton appeared, she drew a circle in the dirt with her knife outside the door of the house, marking out the cardinal points. Afterward, Mrs. Cornell departed from the house, and stepped across this circle and became very sick.

In many nations around the world, we see the circle used as for both power and protection; to contain the energy needed for a spell or ritual and to guard that energy. Sometimes it is empowered by a prayer, such as the “Our Father” or powerful names or symbols. It is drawn with knives, staffs or special chalk and often oriented toward the four cardinal points, north, south, east and west. But, the circle does not have to be created in an elaborate ritual to be effective.

Get the book, How to Write Your Own Spells for Any Purpose and Make Them Work by Sophia diGregorio

How to Write Your Own Spells for Any Purpose and Make Them Work

At Amazon for Kindle and in paperback

At Smashwords

Get this and other Winter Tempest Books in paperback using cryptocurrencies. Click this link for more information.

Differences Between Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca: How Wicca Became Mainstream Modern Witchcraft

by Sophia diGregorio

There are many differences between traditional witchcraft and Wicca and while there are numerous articles on this subject – in fact, I’ve written a couple of others on this topic elsewhere – it doesn’t hurt to stress it all the more, especially for newcomers to “the craft.”

The term “traditional witchcraft” is one that has evolved in recent years to try to distinguish more historically-based and folk practices from the modern witchcraft-based religion Wicca, which has become very popular in recent decades. Wicca began in Britain in the 1950s, but was not fully exported to the U.S. until the 1970s. Wicca was first very popular on the west coast, in Colorado, Massachussetts and a few other isolated regions until it became part of mainstream pop culture with the release of the movie, “The Craft,” in 1996.

At this point, Wicca became the loudest and proudest voice among those who practice witchcraft, which has generally remained a secret or, at least, private practice for most people. But, this movie made witchcraft – or, at least, a form of it – popular, especially among high school and college aged people. Since then Wicca has remained relatively popular and it is now very often the first introduction many people have to the occult.

But, there are fundamental differences between this modern form of witchcraft, Wicca, and traditional witchcraft.

Those who wanted to take witchcraft mainstream created a “kinder, gentler” form of witchcraft for mass consumption back in the 1970s.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

How Witchcraft in the Form of Wicca Entered Mainstream Popular Culture

In 1974 there was a meeting of some neo-pagans in Minneapolis, Minnesota at which they attempted to codify the beliefs of witches, but they weren’t really talking about witches as much as Wiccans. These people claimed to speak for all witches, but they were actually a group of Wiccans looking for a way to make witchcraft more palatable to Christians.

The following is the result of their attempt to codify and define the beliefs of witches:

“Principles of Wiccan Beliefs” 1974 Council of American Witches

Wiccan priestess preaching in a temple.
Date: 26 August 2007
Source: The Priestess in the Temple.
Flickr user bluheron / Heron Herodias.
Image Lic.: Creative Commons 2.0

We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarter.

We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called supernatural, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity — as masculine and feminine — and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.

We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. — and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

We see religion, magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it — a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft — the Wiccan Way.

Calling oneself “Witch” does not make a Witch — but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.

We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.

Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be “the only way” and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.

As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.

We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as “Satan” or “the Devil”, as defined by the Christian traditions. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

The Council that came up with this supposedly did so to counteract misinformation and dispel stereotypes, but actually they succeeded in making more of this very thing. Interestingly, this witches’ council was assembled by Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, President of Llewellyn Publishing. They have been the primary publishers of books on Wicca and Neo-paganism since, at least, the 1970s. And, it is their books that are common sources of confusion about what witchcraft -at least, traditional witchcraft – is. This is because their Wiccan authors do not usually acknowledge and have even worked to deny the truth about witchcraft.

Not surprisingly, this Council of Witches, which was founded in 1973 ceased to exist by 1975 because of differences among its members.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Black Magic, Demons and Other Spirits

“Bide the Wiccan Rede, ye must; in perfect love and perfect trust.”

Mother Goose: A Traditional Witch

A fundamental difference between traditional witches and Wiccans is that traditional witches do not acknowledge or accept the Wiccan Rede or any other moral code. The Wiccan Rede became popular with many non-Gardnerian Wiccans. Gardnerians have never acknowledged it, their “code” is the Charge of the Goddess.

The Wiccan Rede has roots that stretch all the way back to the late 1960s and seems to stem from something said by Doreen Valiente in speech she gave.

On the other hand, traditional witches are entirely self-autonomous and do not acknowledge any code or authority, therefore, they usually have no problem with the practice of black magic. In fact, traditional witchcraft is quite a lot darker than Wicca and the the slick, glittery popular culture conception of modern witchcraft from the movies.

In contrast to traditional witchcraft, Wiccans eschew black magic. Some go a little further and declare that anyone claiming to practice black magic or work with demonic entities is not a real witch. Some, also, claim that Satanists and Luciferians are not real witches. Some Wiccans are very reactionary to this aspect of traditional witchcraft and expend a lot of energy trying to convince people that real witches don’t practice black magic or commune with the devil.

On the other hand, many traditional witches don’t consider Wiccans to be real witches. And, in recent years, some Wiccans do not consider themselves to be witches and do not practice spell casting, rather they just celebrate the earth and its yearly cycles.

As stated in the “Principles” above, Wicca does not recognize evil, ascribing these characteristics to forces of nature. Furthermore, most Wiccans do not believe in the existence of demons or devils. By contrast many traditional witches work with spirits of all kinds and of different natures.

Traditional witches, also, employ familiars, but they are not cats or dogs – they are spirits. By contrasts, many Wiccans translate “familiar spirit” to mean a pet.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Traditional Witches Look and Act Like Everyone Else

Most traditional witches, unless they’re in business as witches, do not dress any differently from other people. They, also, typically do not use telltale phrases like, “Merry Meet” and “Blessed be.” The closer we fit to the witch living alone on the edge of town with a black cat stereo-type, the more circumspect we tend to be with regard to our lives and our activities because people knowing anything about our personal business has not worked out well for us in the past.

By contrast, Wiccans tend to be very social and they dress in certain ways and use certain phrases so they can recognize each other in social settings. They are the vocal majority who are “out of the broom closet.

Wicca and the Self-help Movement

Traditional witchcraft is not a self-help movement. It is not about personal empowerment through positive thinking or affirmations. It about changing the outer world. Traditional witches are very serious about altering circumstances in the outer environment, yes, even manipulating other people. Traditional witches understand that there is a an occult science that makes this possible. Witches have a natural power to cause changes in the outer environment and they spend a lot of time studying the occult and trying to improve upon and perfect their natural abilities.

By contrast, many aspects of Wicca focus on self-help and changing things about one’s self as opposed to changing things in the outer environment. Some even forbid using witchcraft for healing without the subject’s permission.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Wicca’s Earth-Centeredness

Traditional Witchcraft

Unlike Wicca, traditional witchcraft is not an earth-centered religion or, for that matter, an earth-centered anything else. In fact, it’s not a religion, either. Traditional witches do not worship anyone or anything.

Traditional witches tend to rely more on history, old documents and old practices, whether from old grimoires, the writings of the Hermeticists or from folklore.

On the other hand, Wiccans tend to rely more on their own books on the subject of Wicca, which is really a completely different thing. The Llewellyn Publishing Company is probably the most important publisher to shape present-day thoughts about both Wicca and witchcraft. But, Wicca is in many ways the converse of everything that both traditional witchcraft and historical witchcraft represent.

Read a related article at this blog: What is Traditional Witchcraft? How to Know if You are a Wiccan or a Traditional Witch.

Click here to visit Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Get Practical Black Magic at…

Practical Black Magic: How to Hex and Curse Your Enemies

Smashwords: Practical Black Magic: How to Hex and Curse Your Enemies by Sophia diGregorio

Amazon in paperback & for Kindle: Practical Black Magic: How to Hex and Curse Your Enemies by Sophia diGregorio

Get Winter Tempest Books in paperback using cryptocurrencies.

Traditional Witchcraft and the Occult: What is Initiation?

by Sophia diGregorio

There are two basic types of initiation:

1) Initiation into a group, religious or secular in which you learn more about the organization, more responsibilities or degrees. This kind of initiation is largely symbolic of information and knowledge that is to come.

2) Initiation by the acquisition of knowledge about the occult – includes personal research, study and experimentation. This kind of initiation does not involve a ceremony, but it is a true initiation into the occult.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn is a very good example of how initiation works in free masonic groups, covens and other secret societies. We can see how it worked because the Golden Dawn was intentionally transparent unlike its predecessors or most other such contemporary organizations.

In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s original organization, initiates were both ceremonially initiated into the order and subsequently initiated to various levels of it, however, they were, also, expected to undergo a specific course of study in order to graduate to each level. But, you do not have to be an ceremonial initiate into the Golden Dawn, any other Hermetic order or a coven to become an initiate into traditional witchcraft and the occult.

You can do it yourself.

Now, when I say you can do it yourself, I don’t mean this the same way Raymond Buckland meant it when he said it. (Buckland was an earlier Wiccan author who advocated self-initiation into the Wiccan religion.) You can skip right over any ceremony and right onto true initiation by making your own personal study into the occult.

All true initiation is self-initiation because study, research and experimentation are the only ways to truly know the truth about witchcraft and the occult. This is not something that can be conferred in any ceremony or by any coven leader, master or guru.

Visit: Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

The Meaning of the Word “Profane”

The word, “profane,” is derived from the Latin words, “pro fanum,” meaning “outside the temple.” This word has evolved to mean a lot of different things, but in witchcraft it simply means a non-initiate or a person who lacks the knowledge to understand the true meaning of something.

To the profane certain works read differently than they do to the initiate. For example, as you make your personal study of the Kabbalah and initiate yourself into that knowledge, you will find that works by authors who belonged to Hermetic organizations read very differently than they did before you had that knowledge. As another example, the Bible used by the Christians, especially the New Testament and some of the last books of the Old Testament, also, reads differently after a study of the Kabbalah, which may explain why it seems so contradictory with just a superficial reading. The purpose of the book does not seem to be what most religious folks think it is.

Your understanding of the tarot, astrology and things related to Western alchemy, also, appear completely different to someone who has initiated himself or herself into the esoteric sciences. Things that once appeared arbitrary or nonsensical now appear to make logical sense.

Visit: Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Importance of True Witchcraft Initiation

Unfortunately, a lot of ego is often involved in the concept of initiation and degrees of mastery in formal organizations. Covens and other initiatory orders can become playgrounds for narcissists and more often than not the social dynamics of such organizations often gets in the way of a person’s true witchcraft initiation, which cannot be conferred by another person and can only be attained through diligent study and personal experimentation.

Traditional Witches’ Formulary and Potion-making Guide: Recipes for Magical Oils, Powders and Other Potions

For this reason, independent study is usually the best method of attaining true witchcraft initiation. The leadership of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, who recognized the dawning of this new age and the easy availability of published material to a relatively educated public, rendered most of the functions of initiatory orders irrelevant.

Now, anyone can find the writings of the Hermeticists and study witchcraft and occult subjects entirely on their own. There is no need to find an order or coven or look for a master or guru because this is literally a new age. You how have the power and ability to initiate yourself through the acquisition of knowledge, once held for only a select few, which is now readily available to anyone who seeks it out.

Visit: Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

Traditional Witchcraft and Occultism Involve Experience and Knowledge Rather Than Faith and Belief

Click the image above to go to our sister site: Psychic Powers and Magic Spells

While witchcraft often plays a role in the religions of the world, it is not a religion. Occultism may well be described as a study of occult science and witchcraft may be described as the practical application of those scientific theories.

Religious people often try to place the paradigm of their various beliefs or faiths on witches and occultists, but these are not relevant to occultism or traditional witchcraft, which are based on experimentation and experience – not belief or faith.

How to Begin Studying Traditional Witchcraft

In the beginning, ask yourself what first attracted you to the occult and witchcraft. Were you able to make something happen that seemed strange or  impossible to you at the time?

For example, were you able to:

Heal yourself or someone else very quickly by other than mundane means?
Stop a harasser or bully in his tracks?
See through to someone’s true self?
Know the explicit outcome of a future event (claircognizant)?
Hear or see those who were in another location (clairaudient or clairvoyant)?

…Or, possibly you had some other experience you cannot completely explain or would like to consciously reproduce.

Choose this or some other area, which is your greatest interest, to begin studying and experimenting with.

To become adept at all magic, first learn to heal. Magical Healing: How to Use Your Mind to Heal Yourself and Others

To expand your psychic abilities and gain true initiation into the ancient mysteries, learn to read the tarot.  How to Read the Tarot for Fun, Profit and Psychic Development for Beginners and Advanced Readers

To gain control over your environment, learn to communicate with spirits and fearlessly experiment with conjuring and spell casting.

To acquire information and assistance, learn to communicate with spirits. How to Communicate with Spirits: Séances, Ouija Boards and Summoning

If you have previously been involved with a religion like Christianity or Wicca, you may have to do a little de-programming to succeed at genuine witchcraft.

Take your focus off religion, fall out of a sense or worshipfulness for spirits and authorities. See religion for what it is:  An artificial social construct, which is possibly the oldest form of mind control on the planet.

Recognize witchcraft for the manifestation of the occult science (a set of esoteric scientific theories) that it is.

Work spells according to your desires, not according to a moral code.

Don’t get caught up in the ceremonial or ritual aspects of anything you do and never be ruled by faith or belief. If an idea you previously held proves false, be prepared to let it go and move on in pursuit of true knowledge and illumination.

Witchcraft revolves around abilities and the acquisition of power. Whatever aspect of it you embark upon pursuit of, experiment and look for results.

Click the images below to purchase them from Amazon.

Magical Healing: How to Use Your Mind to Heal Yourself and Others. Click here to purchase.

How to Read the Tarot for Fun, Profit and Psychic Development for Beginners and Advanced Readers. Click here to purchase.

How to Communicate with Spirits: Séances, Ouija Boards and Summoning. Click here to purchase.