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THE BOOK OF ALICE
The beliefs and practices ofA Witch
Alice Lucinda Bront
Part 1 Oh My Goddess
Part 2 Magic and Morals
Part 3 Ritual and Spell-craft
Part 4 Pagan Poetry
Part 5 Kitchen Magic
Part 6 Further Reading
Part 1 Oh My Goddess
I met her once in a vision. If youve never had a vision, its like having a vivid dream whilst being wide
awake. She was a beautiful blonde in black robes. I asked her Are you Hecate? She laughed the
prettiest laugh and replied I have many names.
I believe that Gods and Goddesses are personifications of the Divine that make it easier for us to
relate to the Divine, as in its purest form it is perhaps nothing like us. This means that Gods and
Goddesses are a combination of divine energy/purpose and human ideas/perceptions. There is no
one true path/religion as they all (well nearly all) contain truths and they all inevitably get things
wrong. We are like children to the Gods? They don't expect us to get it right (but they probably want
us to try). After all they know how we work, they made us. There is no eternal reward nor
punishment I think, but small rewards and punishments to guide and nurture us. We are here to
learn and grow as people and to provide them with entertainment. We are like toys to the Gods?
There is no such thing as (no evidence for) an all loving God but if we show a God/Goddess
respect/worship they are more likely to favour us, dont you think? What is the Universe to a God, a
model train-set perhaps, a board game?
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What is the Universe? Physics + Evolution is like a computer programme written by the Divine. If you
understand the programme, you know what to put in at the start, to get out what you want at the
end. How much the Divine cares about the end result is open to debate but they are certainly
capable of pre-determining it, if they wished. Religion shouldnt deny science, it should embrace it.
Beliefs shouldnt be written in stone they should adapt to fit what is known.
Unlike a lot of Pagans I dont believe in reincarnation of the soul. I think therefore I am. Thusly, mind
and soul are the same thing. If I dont remember doing it, was it really me? So what about people
with Alzheimer's? I think that part of their mind has moved on already. With death we become
whole again. Our brains are the wombs from which our minds are born. Of course I could be wrong.
There is I believe, an afterlife but its nature remains unknown. I think rather than being a perfect
heaven or a perfect hell, it will be a 'level 2' with its own challenges and rewards. I believe in ghosts,
in that I believe the dead go to a spirit world and I believe that spirit world is close enough to our
own that we may gain glimpses whilst still on this side of the veil. I think belief in a spirit world is
essential to a belief in magic.
Part 2 Magic and Morals
Magic exists. Not in the Wizards throwing fireballs way. Real magic doesn't break the rules of physics
it works with or around them, in ways as yet unknown to science. An extreme example of this would
be: if person a) curses person b), person b) doesn't turn into a frog but they might get hit by a bus a
few days later or contract a nasty disease. There are plenty of things in this Universe that science has
not yet observed nor knows for certain. What is dark matter? What is dark energy? The spirit world,
maybe.
Spells aren't that much different from prayers, they are both asking the universe for something.
Prayers are just polite spells. Obviously this is ignoring the prayers that simply say thank you. A belief
in magic requires a belief in the spirit world (or at least something outside of known reality). Magic
works by affecting the spirit world which in turn affects this world. There are many ways to do this.
We affect the spirit world all the time in our everyday lives but spells are deliberate attempts to
manipulate things in a particular way.
Magic works. It doesnt always work how we want it to, nor to the time scale we desire but it works.
The only way to prove this to your-self is to start casting spells. Keep a book of shadows (a journal
of your spells) and tick them off when they come true. Remember the laws of Science (impossible
spells like gold from dust dont work) and remember that if you do things in the material world to
facilitate, the spell is more likely to come true. If you cast a spell to get a job but dont apply for any,
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good luck with that. Most people are not 100% successful with their spells even if they are sensible
about them but once youve figured out what works for you, in terms of spell-craft and you have
belief/conviction in your magic, youll find it works more often than not. I enjoy around 70% success
rate and Im not always the most sensible Witch.
Lets talk now about those times when spells work but not how or when you wanted. Sometimes
you get exactly what you asked for and wish you hadnt bothered. Something is teaching you a
lesson. The Goddess wants us to learn. Theres a lot of responsibility in being a Witch. When you (I
say when because most of you will at some point) misuse your powers (powers that everyone has
but only a few of us learn to use), chances are something will bite you on the arse. I dont believe in
Karma as such and the rule of 3 is a fairy story told to scare Wiccan children but there are eyes in
the spirit world that see what you do. Karma suggests that every negative action has a negative
consequence and every positive action a reward but in the real world we see that people can get
away with murder and good deeds can go unrewarded. Even within spell-casting there are no
guarantees that evil spells will be punished and good spells rewarded but they will be witnessed.
What might witness a spell? A God or Goddess, spirits of the dead, other spirits (elementals, the fey
and so on). If you Hex someone and their dead Granny finds out, what do you think will happen?
How do we know that something is evil? It really depends on what our parents, our grandparents,
our teachers, our peers and society in general has taught us. I would say that as an adult doing
anything that makes you feel guilt, is doing evil.
As a Pagan I follow a nature religion and there is no big epic battle between good and evil in nature.
If I do something 'evil' I'm not choosing Lucifer over Jehovah. I'm choosing myself over some other
life form. Any guilt I feel is empathy with that other life form (rather than my spider-sense telling me
I'm going to hell).
Evil is one of those words that each individual has to define for him or herself. For example I think
killing anything is evil. That doesn't mean I won't squash a bug or eat a sausage. When I do those
things I choose to be evil. Evil is simply putting your-self first.
Is breaking the law evil? The sane amongst us would agree that things such as murder and rape are
evil but when it comes to some of the more minor crimes like internet piracy or smoking weed,
opinions are divided. When a person breaks the law they might be thinking "I know it's very wrong
but I want to do it anyway." in which case they are committing an act of evil. However they might
honestly think "this stupid law shouldn't exist because everyone does it" or "this law shouldn't exist
because breaking it doesn't hurt anyone" or "I can see why some people need this law but I'm an
exception because... and it shouldn't apply to me under these circumstances."
Evil and illegal are two different things. Judges and Politicians and public opinion decide what is
illegal. We make our own individual decisions about what is evil. Maybe some divine being will make
a final judgement, maybe they won't.
My definition of evil can be broken down into the equation:
Evil = Choice + Harm + Empathy
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With that in mind you can better consider the implications of the following:
"An' it harm none do what thou wilt." Doreen Valiente
Its important to read the above correctly:
Do what you like, it wont hurt anyone. Do what you like ifit wont hurt anyone/anything.
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." - Aleister Crowley
What he meant was that we should learn to choose to do good because it is the better choice and
not because we are compelled to by some law.
Whilst Aleister may be more right, Doreen is clearly more useful when it comes to instructing/raising
the young.
So exactly how does magic work? No-one knows for sure but my theory is this: When you cast a spell
spirits take notice and make things happen for you, either because they want to or because they are
compelled to (not all spirits think like we do). So how do we make them take notice?
Part 3 Ritual and Spell-craft
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In the diagrams above: In the triangle I have replaced the more traditional spirit with mind. This is
because I believe that the spirit world like this one, is made of mind, energy and matter and our
minds are the souls that we take from one world into the next. When we die our physical bodies
are replaced? with spirit bodies but those spirit bodies are made out of some kind of matter that
we cant see (dark matter?) and powered by some kind of energy.
With the compass I have replaced the more traditional Earth, Air, Fire, Water with Solid, Vapor (Gas),
Energy, Liquid. This is to make things a little more scientific whilst still performing Magic in a tried
and tested manner. With the pentagram/pentacle again Earth, Air and Water are replaced by Solid,
Vapor and Liquid. This time Energy is seperated into Lightning and Fire. Drawn like this the
pentagram/pentacle more closely matches the compass points when drawn on the ground.
Spirit/Mind is absent from the pentagram/pentacle diagram but the Witchs mind will be
somewhere within the circle. Minds of the elements will be at their various points. The God and
Goddess will be where-ever they want to be. All other spirits will be somewhere random outside the
circle. So there is really no point in my opinion in having a point of the pentagram for spirit/mind.
Before casting any spells it is important to cast a protective circle. This isnt so much a circle as a
bubble with you (and your coven if you have one) inside it. You should visualise the protective
bubble as being made out of blue energy, whilst you call the Watchtowers. If you imagine a
Watchtower to be like a castle gate, the Guardian decides who and what is allowed in through that
gate. Each compass point has its own Watchtower and each Watchtower, its own Guardian.
At each compass point you should draw the invoking pentagram in the air with your athame, finger
or wand like so:
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Whilst drawing the pentagrams and visualising the circle you should speak the proper invocation
for each Guardian/Watchtower. Now you can if you wish write your own invocation. However here
for your convenience is my version.
Face North then turn to face the east and whilst drawing the invoking the pentagram say:
Spirits of the East
Spirits of Air and Vapor
I do summon stir and call you up from Gorias
To witness our rites and to guard the circle.
Eurus hear us!
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Turn to the south and then say whilst again drawing the invoking pentagram:
Spirits of the South
Spirits of Fire, Lightning and Energy
I do summon stir and call you up from Finias
To witness our rites and to guard the circle.
Notus hear us!
Then turn to the west and say, again drawing the invoking pentagram:
Spirits of the West
Spirits of Water and Liquid
I do summon stir and call you up from Murias
To witness our rites and to guard the circle.
Zephyrus hear us!
Then turn to the North, once more drawing the invoking pentagram and say:
Spirits of the North
Spirits of Earth and Solid
I do summon stir and call you up from Falias
To witness our rites and to guard the circle.
Boreas hear us!
I draw the invoking pentagram 3 times at each point during the invocations and after casting the
circle once, I turn 360o another two times whilst focusing on the energy bubble. This strengthens
the circle and it easier to visualise the blue bubble when you are not distracting yourself with words
and waving an athame.
Cast the Circle thrice about. This isnt actually in reference to turning 360o 3 times, thats just my
preference. The thrice about is physically, verbally and mentally. The verbally is the words (see
above), the mentally is the visualisation of the circle (protective bubble). So what of the physically?
Well there are several ways you can do this. You could draw a circle on the ground with chalk or salt
or salt water. You can place items to represent the elements at the appropriate compass points. For
example; Incense or oil to the east, a candle to the south, a chalice containing water (or salt water)
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to the west and a rock or crystal to the north. Or you can use symbols or colours or well the choices
are pretty endless. I usually go for the representitive items option when in doors. Outside I might
throw/pour some salt water around too but its really up to you.
Once the circle is cast you should welcome (invite) God and/or Goddess into it. I tend to speak from
the heart when doing this so thus the words are a little different every time.
It is also important to properly banish the circle after your ritual is completed, in order to release the
built up energy. Banishing is a similar procedure to invoking. You imagine/visualise the bubble
disipating rather than forming, you draw the banishing pentagram (see below) and the words are a
bit different. Also unlike with the invoking I only turn 360o once when banishing.
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Facing East:
Spirits of the East
Spirits of Air and Vapor
I do thank you for attending our rites
And ere ye depart to Gorias
Hail and farewell Eurus
Hail and farewell.
Facing South:
Spirits of the South
Spirits of Fire, Lightning and Energy
I do thank you for attending our rites
And ere ye depart to Finias
Hail and farewell Notus
Hail and farewell.
Facing West:
Spirits of the West
Spirits of Water and Liquid
I do thank you for attending our rites
And ere ye depart to Murias
Hail and farewell Zephyrus
Hail and farewell.
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Facing North:
Spirits of the North
Spirits of Earth and Solid
I do thank you for attending our rites
And ere ye depart to Falias
Hail and farewell Boreas
Hail and farewell.
At the end of the Banishing you should say Blessed Be out of respect for the Guardians and their
elements. I banish the same way I invoke, deosil (clockwise). Some people prefer to banishwiddershins (anti-clockwise) the choice is entirely your own.
There are lots of questions you may have about magic circles and I will try to answer some of the
more common ones now:
Why cast a magic circle?
Imagine if you will, that you are trying to bake a cake in a glass room with 4 doors and each door is
manned by a bouncer who works for you. Imagine the room is in the middle of a busy street. Lots ofpeople are curious as to what you are doing. Some may want to get into the room but the bouncers
will only let those in, who are of use to you. For example those bringing you ingredients. Now
imagine that the cake is a spell, the room is a circle, the curious people are spirits and the bouncers
are Guardians. With no bouncers and no glass room, random people may ruin your cake. They may
steal ingredients or change the temperature on the oven or mix things before they should be mixed.
Another reason some people give is that of building the spell before releasing it. A bit like blowing
into a balloon and then letting go. If you imagine the circle as the balloon, then without it your spell
is just a lot of hot air. The circle allows the power to build before it is released.
Why a sphere and not some other shape?
Traditionally a magic circle is spherical in shape and the reason is simply physics. If you push on a
sphere from the outside it has no weak spots. Other shapes have strong points and weak points and
the smarter malicious spirits will attack the weak spots. However a sphere isnt always the most
practical shape. Recently whilst at home I made a magic circle that was the shape of my flat
because it was the most useful shape of protective bubble for what I doing and for the space I was
working in.
Are the Guardians elementals?
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With regards the elements, the Guardians can perhaps be thought of as Kings. So for example Notus
is king of the element of fire. He is smarter, closer to being human and more powerful than the rest
of his kin (the other fire elementals/spirits). So it isn't technically wrong to say that the Guardians
are elementals, just as it isn't technically wrong to say that the Queen of England is an animal.
Humans are animals. Guardians are elementals but they are special.
Right now that the circle is cast we can get on with the business of spell-craft. There are many ways
to cast a spell. We make Magic all the time without even meaning to. A spell however is a deliberate
attempt at making Magic, directing the energy towards our goals. Obviously I cant tell you every
technique for spell-craft, for one thing theres plenty I dont know, for another how big would this
book have to be? So Im going to focus on my favoured technique, coloured candle magic and build
upon that with Runes and oils and more.
All you need for Magic is your mind but its easier with a few tools. For one thing you feel more like
you are doing something if you light a candle or whatever and that helps with your faith in the spell.
For another you attract more attention from the spirits that may aid you.
Magic is all about association. Red is for love because of hearts and roses. So for a spell to bring new
love into your life you might use a red candle. Or you could use some rose petals or no lets not go
there.
Obviously the first thing you need for colour candle magic is a candle of a colour appropriate to your
spell. The following are the associations I use for each of the colours. You may have your own
associations that differ from these and thats fine. Use what works for you.
REDlove, passion, anger, FIRE
ORANGEcreativity, energy, FIRE
YELLOWluck, happiness, AIR, FIRE
GREENmoney, the Fey, EARTH, WATER, AIR
BLUE physical healing, defence, masculine energy, WATER
PURPLEpsychological healing, psychic abilities, dreams, WATER, FIRE
PINKfriendship, feminine energy, FIRE, AIR
BROWNgrounding, basic needs, the home, EARTH
GREYinvisibility (doing things in secret), confusion, impartiality, AIR
BLACKcursing, banishing, binding, Goddess, EARTH, WATER
WHITEpurification, God, AIR, FIRE
Once you have picked a candle (or several candles in some cases) you might want to carve somesigils/symbols into it. I usually opt for the Norse Runes:
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FEHU
English equivalent: F
Meanings - Nourishment, possessions, wealth, material gain.
Reversed Meanings - Money could be a problem, loss, hardship.
URUZ
English equivalent: U
Meanings - Strength, speed, skill, power.
Reversed - Impotence, lack of what you need to succeed.
THURISAZ
English equivalent: Th
Meanings - Bad omen, lust.
Reversed - Removal of a burden, Quelling of a destructive obsession.
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ANSUZ
English equivalent: A
Meaning - You will be shown the right path.
Reversed The Gods are against your desires and thus you will have a hard time of it.
RAIDHO
English equivalent: R
Meanings Journey, communication.
Reversed Stuck when you need to be moving, lack of communication.
KENAZ
English equivalent: K or C
Meanings Illness, revelation.
ReversedGood health, things remain hidden, No news is good news.
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GEBO
English equivalent: G
Meaning - Gift
WUNJO
English equivalent: W or V
Meaning Joy
Reversed Hardship that if overcome will lead to bliss, a locked door.
HAGALAZ
English equivalent: H
Meanings A destructive force, a series of problems, disruption.
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NAUDHIZ
English equivalent: N
Meanings What you need is what is fated, look to your needs not your wants, you will be given
what you require.
ISA
English equivalent: I
Meanings A slippery path, standstill, a cliff edge.
JERA
English equivalent: J
Meanings Harvest, fertility.
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EIHWAZ
English equivalent: Z
Meanings The necessary tools.
PERTHRO
English equivalent: P
Meanings A female, fun times, an initiation, the powers of nature, something hidden.
Reversed A distraction.
ELHAZ
English equivalent: Y
Meanings Defence, protection, feel safe.
Reversed - Violation
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SOWILO
English equivalent: S
Meanings Light, success, nourishment, wholeness.
TIWAZ
English equivalent: T
Meanings Victory, no turning back, energy.
Reversed - Lethargy, a fight you cannot win.
BERKANO
English equivalent: B
Meanings Beauty, youth, sexual pleasure, fertility.
Reversed Ugliness, barrenness, aged.
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EHWAZ
English equivalent: E
Meanings A means of transport, energy, progress.
Reversed Sloth, standstill.
MANNAZ
English equivalent: M
Meaning Focus on yourself.
Reversed Focus on others, seek help from others.
LAGUZ
English equivalent: L
Meaning Flow
Reversed Blockage, Change of course/direction.
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INGWAZ
English equivalent: ing
Meanings A male, carnal pleasures, achievement, fertility.
DAGAZ
English equivalent: D
Meaning Opportunity, the right conditions.
OTHALA
English equivalent: O
Meanings Inheritance, transformation, change.
Reversed - Loss
So youve got your candle or candles and youve carved a rune or runes into it/them, now what?
Well you could add some essential oils, I use an oil burner these days but you can chose to directly
anoint the candle with them or use incense if you prefer.
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Magical Association Herbs/Oils
Love Rose, Lavender, Violet, Cherry, Geranium
Truth Bluebell, White Birch
Luck Lemon, Nutmeg, Lime, Daisy, Violet
Protection Chives, Ginger, Garlic, Dill, Frankincense, Myrrh,
Chili, Clove, Cumin, Pine, SandalwoodHealing Garlic, Chili, Eucalyptus, Geranium
Banishment/Exorcism Frankincense, Juniper Berries, Basil, Clove, Mint
Money Cedar, Dill, Jasmine, Mint, Pine, Vetivert
Psychic Power Opium, Dandelion, Jasmine, Camphor, Rue
Beauty Fenugreek, Bluebell, Licorice, Nettle
Magical Energy (adds a boost to any spell) Ginger, Cinnamon
Purification Lemon, Fennel, Iris, Tea Tree, Thyme
Of course there are many more herbs out there and no two Witches have quite the same ideas
about magical associations but you get the idea.
You can really make a spell as simple or as complicated as you want, you can add crystals, you can
wait for the right phase of the moon and so on or you can, not do those things. It just depends what
works for you and you wont know that until you try a few things.
Ill just say a little bit about moon phases in magic: The waxing moon is the best time for spells
regarding new beginnings. The waning moon is best for banishment spells. The full moon provides
the most power for spells of all types. Some Witches avoid doing spells on the new/dark moon but
its certainly a good choice for spells regarding matters that you want kept secret.
So back to our example; youve got your candle, youve carved a few runes into it and anointed it
with an essential oil and maybe youve put a few crystals round it Now what do you do? You could
just light the candle and visualise what you want and then put the candle out (There is much debate
about whether a candle should be blown out or snuffed out or allowed to burn until it goes out by
itself. I really dont care what method you choose.) However you might want to add some words
before, after or during your visualisation. These can be written in advance or thought up on the spot,
they can rhyme or not. It is traditional to say So mote it be at the end of a spell but you could
come up with your own verbal ending.
Part 4 Pagan Poetry
I just want to add a few Pagan themed poems I wrote:
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WITCHCRAFT
Wicca me this
Wicca me that
With eye of newtAnd wing of bat
Cauldron bubble
Candle ignite
Incantations in the night
In the light
Of gibbous moon
Spread the tarot
Cast the rune
Evoke the spirit
Invoke Goddess
With athame
Enchant and bless.
YOUNGER THAN LAUGHTER
GoddessMaiden, Mother, Crone
Younger than laughter
Older than stone
Maker of mountain
Sculptor of sea
Igniter of stars
Creator of me
The beauty of nature
Reflecting your ownGoddess
Maiden, Mother, Crone
Younger than laughter
Older than stone
Powerful beyond compare
Graceful, elegant and fair
Playful, youthful
Aged and wise
Mistress of both truth and lies
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Writer of the very fates
Gives potency
And castrates!
Queen Mabs Revenge
Dont speak of Merlin
The Wizard betrayed us
Dont speak of the Christians
Who spread like a plague
Dont speak of the armies
Who came to invade us
I made Britain Pagan
And so it remains
I am, Goddess
Queen of the Fey
I am, The Morrigan
Worthy of praise
I am Mab
I bring the old ways
And Ill be, lonely
At the end of all days
Lonely because
I only remain
Angry because
My World is in pain
Rise up my children
Im woken again
Follow me
Follow me
Through tempest I reign
Defy if you wish to be
Ruthlessly slain
Crows circle about me
Rooks cry out my name
And the Tower of London
Roosts the birds of my fame
For I never left you
I've only been sleeping
And now that Im woken
My rage begins reaping
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Some say the boy Arthur
Will return for his throne
Let him come
Let him come
With his sword
From the stone
Yet wait
That blades broken
And so will he be
For hes a mere mortal
And Im only ME
Excalibur rusts
In a lake with no Lady
Human polution
Has chased her awayWith Arthur abandoned
Who will stand 'gainst me?
I am The Morrigan
They'll rue the day
Follow me
Follow me
Into the fray
I am The Morrigan
Don't be my prey!
Part 5 Kitchen Magic
Kitchen Magic isnt really magic at all. Its understanding herbology and harnessing the powers of
nature in your home. Using herbs for practical uses gives you a greater understanding of their
magical uses. It can also help you to attune to nature. So here are a couple of ideas to get you
started on natures path.
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Kitchen cleaner spray:
1 spray bottle
A quarter of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (use half a teaspoon in larger spray bottles)
A few drops of lemon oil
A few drops of lime oil or blood orange oil or both.
Fill the rest of the bottle with water, screw the top on, shake, spray on your sink and kitchen
surfaces & wipe off with a cloth.
Bathroom cleaner spray:
1 spray bottle
A quarter of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (use half a teaspoon in larger spray bottles)
A few drops of thyme oil
1 drop of tea tree oil
A few drops of lemon oil
A few drops of pine oil
A few drops of peppermint oil (This is added purely for scent as I think it goes well with the pine. You
can omit it or replace it with another essential oil if you prefer.)
Fill the rest of the bottle with water, screw the top on and shake. Then spray on your bathroom sink,
bath and toilet and wipe off with a cloth. Then rinse the sink and bath with cold water.
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Part 6 Further Reading
Hedge Witch Rae Beth
A Witches Bible Janet and Stewart Farrar
Witchcraft for Tomorrow Doreen Valiente
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews Scott Cunningham
Advanced Candle Magick Raymond Buckland
The Crystal Bible Judy Hall
Way of the Runes Bernard King
Creating Magickal Entities David Michael Cunningham
BLESSED BE
Recommended