Book of Witchery (36 page)

For this Wednesday night esbat, we are working magick with the Norse god Odin. Odin is a trickster god, and in his search for wisdom he gained deep magickal knowledge. This spell also works with the images of the tarot card the Hanged Man. This illustrated card has many links to the god Odin, as Odin hung on the tree for nine days to gather wisdom and was eventually rewarded with the runes.

The Hanged Man card tells you to look at things from a new perspective. It speaks of a time of a transitional period, astral travel, and meditation. If you look carefully at the Hanged Man card, you will see that while the fellow is hanging upside down from his foot, he looks pretty peaceful about the whole situation. This card symbolizes letting go of that which no longer serves your highest good. This card's image illustrates the quiet search for inner wisdom and knowledge and the gaining of a new perspective on your current situation. Wednesdays are all about movement, communication, and change, so let's take this energy and put it to good use. Combining this with the light and influence of the full moon only sweetens the deal and turns up the power of the witchery.

Insight and Gaining New Perspectives Spell

This spell works with the runes as one of its props. If you have a set of runes, this is definitely the time to break them out. If not, no worries. The runes are a nice link back to the god Odin, but in a pinch you could also draw a few rune sigils on a piece of paper and set that on your work area. Improvise and be creative. What do you think you could also add to this full moon spell?

• 1 purple candle (purple for spirituality and to align with the energies of Mercury)
  
• A coordinating candle holder
  
• A nail or pin to engrave the candle with Wednesday's planetary symbol of Mercury (
  )
  
• A black feather or a picture of a raven (this bird was sacred to Odin, and the raven represents mystery and magick)
  
• The Hanged Man tarot card
  
• Your tarot deck, set off to the side
  
• Runes scattered across the work surface or a drawing of a few runes
  
• A lighter or matches
  
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell
  

Carefully engrave the Mercury symbol on the candle. Place the candle in its holder and then arrange the rest of the spell components to your liking. You may certainly embellish this spell by adding a statue or image of Odin, if you choose. This full moon spell is designed to help you look at things from a new perspective and to receive some inspiration, so put on your thinking cap and be imaginative. Take a few moments to ground and center yourself. Then light the purple candle and speak the following verse:

Odin, hear my call on this full moon night

Grant me wisdom and improve my insight

May I gain a new perspective at this time

Bless me with peace and inspiration divine

I now release that which no longer serves

This change begins with the sound of my words.

If you choose, this would be an excellent time to meditate and see what Odin has to tell you. Lay your hands on the card, feather, and runes. Take a deep breath and relax. Now let your mind open, and see what you learn. When you are finished, close the spell with these words:

By the power of Wednesday's witchery
This spell is sealed; I set the magick free!

Allow the candle to burn out in a safe place. Clean up your other spell supplies. Save the feather or raven picture for future magick. Return the card to the tarot deck, and gather up all your runes. If you like, now is the perfect time to do a simple reading with your runes or your tarot cards. Ask for clarity and for insight, then draw three cards or stones and see what Odin has to say.

Full Moon on a Thursday

The full moon's energy really adds intensity to all of these daily spells. If you work this magick wisely, you will notice a difference in the level of the results. When it comes to our families, many of us become passionate. When you are a parent, your emotions become even more involved. Whether you have an infant in your arms, toddlers or grade-school children running amok, teens adding their drama into your life, or college-aged children insisting they are adults but still running to you to fix their crises, being a parent is not a job for the faint of heart.

Let's not forget that you have to keep your marriage or personal relationships loving and vital too. No matter how you look at it, it's a lot of work. And for those of you who are pet parents, we want our beloved pets to behave themselves and to be happy and healthy too.

This full moon spell is designed for your entire family. In this day and age, it certainly is a good idea to work for the strength, happiness, and prosperity of your family and home. Running a home is a lot of work. Add your job, your spouse, the kids, and assorted pets into the mix, and you've got your hands full. So on a Thursday full moon night, you have a golden opportunity to work with all those complementary energies and whip up a little witchery designed to boost the entire family's health, happiness, and abundance.

This spell works with the red-bearded Norse god Thor. This Norse god is a defender of those he loves, and that theme makes it perfect for this type of magick. Also, the tarot cards the Ten of Pentacles and the Ten of Cups/Cauldrons are incorporated. These two cards are about all the emotional support of the home and family. The Ten of Pentacles is aligned to prosperity, success, and family support, while the Ten of Cups/Cauldrons is linked to emotional support, a good home life, and the loving bonds of a family unit.

Happy, Healthy Family Spell

• A green 7-day jar candle (green for prosperity and to align with Jupiter's energies)
  
• A permanent marker to draw Thursday's planetary symbol of Jupiter (
  ) and the names of each household member
  
• A photo of your entire household (make sure all of the members are in the photo; if necessary, use a couple of photos to get your kids, spouse, and your pets)
  
• 3 oak leaves gathered from a living tree (oak leaves are linked to Thor as well as the planet Jupiter)
  
• 1 tumbled turquoise stone for prosperity and protection
  
• 1 small tumbled moonstone for loving emotions
  
• The Ten of Pentacles and Ten of Cups tarot cards
  
• A 6 x 6-inch square of green fabric or a green sachet bag
  
• 12 inches white satin ribbon
  
• A lighter or matches
  

If possible, set up this spell on a safe, flat surface where the light of the full moon illuminates your working area. If weather permits, this would be a nice spell to work outdoors—just be sure to move the candle indoors when you finish the spell. To start, take the marker and draw the planetary symbol of Jupiter on the jar candle. Next, add the names of all the members of your household; this includes pets!

Place the candle and the other components of the spell on your working area. The stones can nestle around the jar candle. Lay the photo(s) of your family in the center of your altar, with the two tarot cards, the Ten of Cups/Cauldrons and the Ten of Pentacles, one on each side of the photos. Place the oak leaves above the photos and the cards. Keep the sachet bag or fabric and ribbon within reach.

Light the candle, and place your hands on the photos. Then repeat the spell verse:

Abundance flourishes on the night of the full moon

May the deities of Thursday heed this Witch's tune

Thor, hear my call and bless my family

Bring us love, support, and prosperity

Keep us healthy, happy, and secure, come what may

As we stand strong together through all of our days.

Gather the photos, one of the oak leaves, and the two tumbled stones, and place them in the center of the fabric. Gather up the edges into a small bundle, and use the ribbon to tie it closed, or place the items inside the sachet bag and pull the drawstring closed. Knot the ribbon three times, and say:

By all the power of three times three
This magick strengthens my family.

Finally, close the spell with these lines:

May the full moon bless all of the ways
I work my witchery on this day.