Life Hit You With a 2' x 4'? Use This Quick Magickal Solution

Almost no one gets to escape the Universal 2' x 4' between the eyes. What is a Universal 2' x 4'? It's a life event that knocks you off your feet without warning. Usually this kind of event is blindingly shocking, and can cause a person to lose confidence in themselves, their actions, their decisions... everything.

Luckily, there is a magickal fix for those times when you find yourself flat on your back, having been the victim of a universal hit between the eyes. Whether you just broke up unexpectedly with your significant other, lost your job, suffered a car wreck, or any of the other curve balls that life can throw at you, chances are that you are out of touch with your personal power. You can't have access to your personal power if you feel depressed, shocked, victimized, or otherwise lacking in confidence.  Personal power is diametrically opposed to those negative states. The most obvious step, then, would be to get into a more positive feeling place.

Right. Good luck with that. If you are like most people, when you throw a good pity party, getting into a positive frame of mind is the last thing you feel like you can achieve. Misery loves company, and if you have invited other people to your pity party who also feel depressed, chances are that you will not be able to climb out of your present negative state without help.

The Walking Ritual: A Magickal Antidote for the Pity Party
The Walking Ritual is just what it sounds like: a walking magickal ritual during which you recite a mantra in cadence with your steps. The Walking Litany is a form of a continuous spell that surrounds you and affects you as long as you are walking and speaking the mantra in cadence with your steps. From a magickal point of view, a practitioner looking at you as you do the Walking Litany would see a shimmering shield around yourself and encompassing your aura. This simple spell will reconnect you with your personal power, which is your knowledge (your experience and your observation) plus your control plus your responsibility. Once you are back in contact with your personal power, then you have access to the resourceful parts of yourself. One third of your personal power is responsibility. Magickally, we call it your "respond-ability." In other words, your personal power allows you to use your knowledge in a controlled manner to respond to the unexpected events that appear in your life.

How to Do the Magickal Walking Litany
The good news is that the Walking Litany, one of the three forms of the Navajo Beauty Way, is simple to do. Use the following directions to do this simple magickal spell:

1. Start by assessing yourself on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. This will be your baseline against which you can compare your state after you have done the Walking Litany.

2. Begin walking in a purposeful manner. Walk for at least two city blocks, or further if you desire. You do not need to walk in any specific direction, but ensure that you walk at least the length of two city blocks. You need this length of time to truly notice the effect of the Walking Litany.

3. As you walk, say the following litany in a voice of command and in cadence with your steps:

"With power around me, I walk in the world.
With power within me, I walk in the world.
This one carries power.
This one walks in power."

4. Repeat this litany as you walk until you have reached the end of your walk.

5. At the end of your walk, pause to once again assess your condition on all levels. In addition, evaluate the way you feel about the unexpected problem that has appeared in your life. You might also ask yourself the following questions, either generally or specifically with respect to the life event:

• What is different?
• What has changed?
• What is no longer present?
• What is new?

Most likely you will find that your view of your unexpected life problem will have changed dramatically. The Walking Litany may have already helped you find some solutions or work-arounds for your life problems. Short of that, the Walking Litany will have raised your level of being so that you can see life from a different point of view. There is a magickal saying, "The level of your being attracts the level of your life." SO if your level of being has been raised by the Walking Litany, chances are that the life events you attract will also change, for the better. Feel free to use the Walking Litany any time you feel negative, blue, or simply "down in the dumps." Remember that the Walking Litany is an actual spell that is not only effective at raising your level of being, but also at protecting you with a temporary shield. This temporary shield can remove you from negative influences in any environment. The Walking Litany is a handy and simple magickal spell to use at any time!

For more simple magical rituals and spells, check out our Witchcraft Spell Books series for Kindle.

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What is Blessing Magic?

 Bestowing blessings on another is a great way to spread magic, positive energies, and do a pay-it-forward. Blessing magic is just what it sounds like - any ritual that includes a blessing. For instance, in ritual we often bless people with smoke from the Firebowl and Water from the Chalice with a blessing such as "For the peace of your mind, and for the joy of your heart." We also bless new homes and old objects to clean out junky energies and invite harmonious energies to enter. Blessing also invites higher beings (angels and totem spirits and Spirit guides) into our lives to help us. Blessings given to another set the intention to receive blessings back on yourself. One example of a blessing ritual you can do individually or as part of a ceremony or formal ritual is the Nighttime Blessing Ritual. Try it out for yourself.

Nighttime Blessing Ritual
To perform this ritual you will need a Chalice (magical Water element tool), sea salt and spring water. Here's how to do it.

1. Hold the chalice with both hands in front of you and flow water blue energy from one hand to the other, through the chalice. Continue until the chalice becomes warm or tingly. This "keys" the Chalice to the person holding it.

2. Pour spring water into the Chalice until it is halfway full and add a pinch of sea salt to it. Swirl the mixture in the Chalice in a clockwise direction.

3. Blow water blue energy into the chalice while swirling the water and salt mixture clockwise. Then say this verse out loud blowing water blue energy into the chalice and swirling the water clockwise after each line:

"Water and earth where you are cast,
Let no spell nor adverse purpose last.
Bless these people and bless their space,
Far from here send baneful trace."

The Chalice is now "charged."

4. Holding the chalice in your left hand, face the first person you will be blessing. Dip your right index finger into the water and draw a vertical line down the center of the person's forehead. The line should be 1 to 1.5 inches long.

5. Now dip your finger in the water again and draw a horizontal line of the same length from left to right through the center of the first line, forming a cross.

6. Then, starting at the right end of the horizontal line, draw a clockwise circle, touching both ends of both lines. As you draw the circle and say to the person, "For the peace of your mind."

7. Repeat the same procedure on the person's chest over their heart. As you draw the circle, say, "For the joy of your heart."

8. Ask the person to take a sip of water from the Chalice and as they sip, say, "And for the health of your body."

9. If there are two people participating in the ritual, reverse roles and repeat the process. If there are many people, one person can bless everyone, and then one person in the group blesses the first person.

Try out this ritual for yourself at the end of the day or anytime you feel the need for harmony, peace and blessings in your life. You will find this ritual and many other simple magical techniques using magical tools in our Kindle book Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Magical Tools.

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Need a Quick Magical Fix? Gotcha Covered!

Life happens... accidents, whoopsies, etc. Luckily for you, the Esoteric School has a no-cost ebook waiting for you along with a special magickal articles library when you register for a free membership. Just go to https://shamanschool.com/ and click the Learn More button at the top. Sign up for our newsletter while you are there for more magical tips and get the ebook, easy as you please! These magical quick fixes can help you with so many everyday irritations from being stuck in traffic to having a headache to just feeling a little down. They are simple and can start immediately helping you explore how magic and rituals can help you in your everyday life. The only trick is remembering to use these magical tips. We are so used to putting up with our life conditions that often we forget we have choices. Magicians and shamans know this however and look for solutions instead of just staying in the problem. Here is just one example of the type of magic you will find in this complimentary ebook.

Magical Rooting
If you have problems with mood or energy swings or with staying in present time, rooting may be a great ritual for you. Do you worry about what has already happened or what is coming in the future? If so, then you are not living in the present. Rooting helps you ground or anchor yourself to stay in present time, get rid of negative energy and balance your energies.
Follow these directions for rooting:

• Place your heels, palms or seat (or all three) on the ground. You can extend roots from more than one body part at once.
• Extend your roots out your palms, heels or the base of your spine. You extend roots with your intention. You don't need to think about it, just do it! 
• Push your roots through the carpet or tile, into the sub floor and down into the earth. If you are in a multi-level building, you will need to go through each level until you reach the earth. If you are wearing shoes with thick soles, you may have to extend the roots out the sides of your shoes.
• Once your roots reach the earth keep extending them down through the topsoil and deeper layers until you reach bedrock.
• When you reach bedrock, lock your roots in.
• With each exhaling breath send any unwanted energies down your roots into the bedrock. The earth is highly receptive and will receive these energies easily.
• With each inhaling breath pull in minerals, fluids and other energies from the earth for nourishment and balancing. You don't have to specify what you're pulling up – your body and your roots will work automatically with the earth to pull up what is needed.
• Once you feel relaxed and nourished pull your roots back up into your body. Always be sure to pull your roots back – if you stand up without doing so you'll feel a slight "popping" sensation and your body will be sore for a few days.

Rooting will make you feel balanced and refreshed and takes only a few minutes to do. It is also an easy technique to do anytime and anywhere with no one else even being aware of what you are doing. No special tools or ingredients needed. So what are you waiting for? Get to www.shamanschool.com and get your copy of the no-cost ebook 10 Quick Magical Fixes to be on your way to using real magic for real change in your life.

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Use This Simple Magical Ritual to Live Your Dreams

There are daily rituals that can help you magically in many ways, but there are some magic rituals that can help you live your dreams by making them come true. We often think that the only way to get what we want in life is by hard work. Magic can help us manifest those things we desire without all the hard work though. In our Daily Rituals to Attract What We Want in Life ebook, you'll learn about all types of magical daily rituals and there's a whole section on daily rituals for manifesting what you want. Here's one of the daily rituals you'll find in this book to help you manifest and live your dreams.

Creating Future Memories
Once we have put out to the Universe what it is we want, the Universe starts working on delivering it. Many manifestations don't appear because either we aren't ready to receive them or we get in the way somehow of them being delivered. Our job is to clearly state exactly what we want to have happen and then it is up to us to let it go and give the Universe room to work its magic and deliver. This is sometimes very difficult for people, especially those movers and shakers that believe they have to "do" something or be in control. One daily ritual you can do to help stay out of the way, build energy and force into what you are manifesting and let you feel like you are still playing a part is creating future memories. We usually think of memories as coming from past experiences, but you can also create memories of future events. By adding specific thoughts, emotions, and physical actions into memories we create, we make them real and create them in our lives. The more energy put into creating these memories, the greater likelihood of them manifesting in our lives.

We sometimes refer to this daily ritual as the "Pack Your Bags" ritual because if you are for example working on manifesting a great vacation for yourself, one of the actions you can do while waiting for the Universe to deliver is to pack your suitcase acting as if your dream vacation is already a reality. For this example, here's how you would do the future memory ritual.

1. Sit in a quiet space relaxing your mind and body.

2. Envision the future situation as if it has come to fruition already. For this example you might see yourself on the beach reclining in a beach chair.

3. See as many details as you can – smell the ocean, feel the sand between your toes, experience the joy of relaxing with a cool drink taking in the spectacular view, and so on.

4. Sit this way for at least 3 minutes a day adding more textures, feelings and sensations each time.

You'll find that the more time you spend creating these type of future memories, the faster they will manifest in your life. You can use this type of ritual for making changes to negative things in your life too. Just start envisioning the goal that you have not been able to accomplish and see yourself changing the actions you do. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, but can't keep away from the cookies, see yourself starting to reach for the cookies and instead reaching for an apple or for the phone to call someone for support or getting up and going for a walk. Add in the sensations, sounds, emotions and as many details into the new memory as you can. Creating future memories gives you a way to influence and help create your own future magically.


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Getting Answers from the Four Directions

It is often said that two heads are better than one. Well, how about four heads? When you really need some new and different perspectives on a situation or event that has been bothering you, one of the best guidance you can get is from the four directions. Tribal and religious customs have long acknowledged the power of the four directions as source of advice and guidance. They have made use of four directions ceremonies and prayer.

A simple way to receive guidance from the four directions is to ask one direction per day for help. This is a simplified four directions ceremony. You'll need a Sun Yellow candle (any candle that is bright yellow), pen and paper, and some white broadleaf sage (you can use either the leaf clusters or a smudge stick). While white broadleaf sage is primarily an air element botanical, it has enough of the other three elements (fire, water and earth) to be used in all four directions. White broadleaf sage is highly prized for its strong aromatic properties (strongest of the different types of sage) and is considered the king of all sages. It is excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.

Ready? Here's how to ask for answers from the four directions.

Four Directions Ceremony
DAY 1

• Sit facing East, direction of the element Air (thoughts, communication, ideas, inspiration, enlightenment).
• Write the situation on paper as clearly and succinctly as possible. Then write the outcome you want, also as clearly and succinctly as possible.
• Light the Sun Yellow candle with a paper or wooden match (no lighters!).
• Hold your hands up to and around the candle flame and say in a strong voice:

"Child of wonder,Child of flame,Nourish my Spirit,And protect my aim!"

• Hold the situation and the desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes (with eyes open or closed).
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What ideas, inspiration or communication is needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Then write whatever answers come to you. Do not question or think about the answers – just write! Write until there are no more answers.
• Thank the East.
• Tear the sheet or sheets of paper that have the answers off the pad and store them in a safe place. Do NOT read the answers.

DAY 2

• Sit facing South, direction of the element Fire (action, passion, will, power).
• Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
• Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What actions are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
• Thank the South.
• Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.

DAY 3

• Sit facing West, direction of the element Water (emotions, compassion, language of Spirit).
• Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
• Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What emotions or Spirit changes are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
• Thank the West.
• Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.

DAY 4

• Sit facing North, direction of the element Earth (manifestation, physical reality, the body).
• Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
• Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry your question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What physical changes are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
• Thank the North.
• Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.

DAYS 5 and 6
Do not think about the situation or ponder the answers you have been given. Do not read the answers you wrote.

DAY 7

• Sit in the South facing North, with the Sun Candle and your answers in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry your thanks and appreciation to the four directions.
• Relax and read the answers.
• Thank the four directions.
• Meditate on the answers for as long as feels good.
• Go where the answers suggest, following the ones that your intuition tells you are appropriate at the moment. 

The four directions never fail to give good directions. Have fun with this simple yet effective four directions ceremony.

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All the Magical Basics in a Single Book

Want to really get started with your magical practice this year with all the basic principles and basic rituals? Check out this ebook on Kindle or in paperback. To whet your magical appetite, some of the magic topics and techniques you'll find in this book include:

• Using a Book of Shadows
• Contact rituals to connect with higher beings
• Scrying
• Sending psychic messages
• Walking meditations
• Magical weather working
• Relocating unwanted spirits
• Grounding and clearing negative energies
• Preventing nightmares
• Healing and blessing rituals
• and lots more

Just to whet your appetite a bit more and show you what a valuable magical resource this book can be, here is one of the simple rituals you'll find there.

Grounding Out Negative Energies with Grandmother's Tear
Grandmother's Tear or Apache Tear is a type of obsidian which is volcanic black glass made from feldspar, hornblend, biotite, and quartz. These stones are great for grounding out excess or negative energies such as anger, frustration, pain, or irritation. By using Grandmother's Tear to absorb these types of energies you transfer these unwanted energies into the half worlds. The stone itself does not hold the energies so it doesn't have to be cleaned regularly like many crystals do. It is simply a conduit or portal for transferring these energies into the half worlds. This means you can carry one of these stones with you and use it as many times as you need to throughout the day. Here's how you flow negative energy into it.

1. Obtain an Apache Tear or Grandmother's Tear stone from a rock and mineral store or gem store or from an online source.

2. Decide for you which is your dominant hand. You do this by naturally pointing at something and whichever hand you point with is considered your dominant hand.

3. Hold the stone in your dominant hand.

4. Using your intention, flow or push out the unwanted energies that you want to be rid of. Get in touch with the feelings and physical sensations around it and feel yourself pushing these out of your body and into the stone.

5. Be aware of how you feel and once you reach a place of peace or calmness, stop flowing energy into the stone. You may also feel the stone being warm, tingly or heavy at this point.

6. Sit for a few moments simply breathing, being relaxed and enjoy the sense of peace you have.

This is just one of the great magical treasures awaiting you in The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners to start you on your magical journey and inviting magic into your life.

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Making Magick a Way of Life

You can make magick a way of life by using magick anywhere you can and taking notice of the results. Most of us are in such a hurry that we don't notice when the magick happens. That's why people say magick happens in the "in betweens", little gaps in our lives where magick slips in. We are usually so preoccupied we fail to notice. But to live a magckal life, you not only need to DO magic everywhere you can, but notice and appreciate how magick is taking place in your life. Be sure to remember also to give thanks when you ask for help and magickal help arrives. Consider The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners, our Book 4 of the Witchcraft Spell Book series of Kindle books for a bunch a neat magickal rituals to include as part of your magickal practice.

Walking In The Rain By Running Water for Fresh Insight
Here's an example of one of the rituals you'll find in this Kindle book that can help you let go of old patterns and habits that interfere with your spiritual growth or enjoyment of life and make room in your life for magick. The element of Water has long been used since tribal times for cleansing and to help in releasing the old and bringing in the new. By walking in the rain by running water, old beliefs that no longer serve were washed away by the running water and new ideas, insights, and inspiration came from above with the rain. Here's how it's done:

1. If you can, find a place in Nature where you can walk in the rain by running water (you would, of course, have to perform this ritual on a rainy day).

2. As you walk by or stand in the running water feel your old beliefs and worries fall away, being carried by the flow of the water to be recycled in some other form, in some other place in the Universe. Also release any repetitive thoughts, feelings of anxiety, and anything negative you want to release.

3. As you stand under the rain, feel the brightness and refreshment of the new bursting into your world-- new ideas, new will to work, new expressions of creativity, and new feelings of all kinds.

If you want, you can also pray to whatever powers and beings inspire you, telling them exactly what you want to release and what you'd like to welcome into your life. For this ritual to work, you need to have running water, not standing water as standing water is stagnant, and therefore does not do a great job of carrying negativity away from you.

But What If It's Not Raining?
If you find yourself needing this ritual at a time when it is raining and can get to a source of running water such as a river or stream, then great; you're all set. More often you will find this situation of rain and getting out into nature by running water does not fit into your schedule or you need the ritual on a sunny day. Instead, you can turn to your shower. Fresh water from above and running water below and chances are you already work a shower into your day. Just follow the same directions as in the above steps using the shower for running water below and falling water from above.

Magick can become a way of life for you just by inviting it in and practicing some type of daily rituals or intentional acts each day. The rain ritual is a great way to clear out your old negative beliefs about your life and clear the way for your new magickal way of life.

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Developing a Magickal Practice

Our last newsletter article gave you several daily rituals to explore using to invite magick into your life and discover your own magickal pathway. I hope you have had time to try at least one of these out by now. If not, no worries, you can get started anytime you are ready, but of course there is no time like the present and really you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting started. Keep in mind that the more you pay into your magickal practice the more you will get out of it. In other words, the more consistent you are with your practice, the more results you will see. No matter which of the rituals you picked, aim for doing it each day for 40 days in a row. This will help you develop consistency in your practice. Although the goal is to practice your ritual 40 days in a row that is merely the goal to go towards. The consistency comes from the journey on your magickal path. Here's the part that really helps you develop consistency: If you miss a day when aiming for your 40 days, you must start over at day 1. I don't know anyone that has not had to start over at day 1 so don't beat yourself up when it happens. Just know it is all part of the process.

Just to make all this even easier for you and give you the simplest magickal exercise to practice aiming for 40 days in a row, here's the Consistency Exercise.

1. Choose a very simple act (ie. – touching your nose or making a mark on a paper)

2. Pick the time of day that you will do your act every day.

3. When the time you have chosen comes, do the simple act. Do it every day at the same time for 40 days in a row.

4. If you miss a day during your 40 days, which you almost certainly will, you must begin your 40 days over at day 1. Even if you are at day 39 and miss the next day, you start over at 1.

5. Remind yourself the important thing is to do the exercise, not accomplish the goal, so do not berate yourself when you end up missing a day and have to start over.

This exercise works as an act of intention which makes it a magickal act and by choosing a simple intentional act to do every day at the same time then consciously doing it you are able to:

• increase the level and quality of your connection to the higher
• bring yourself back to present time
• invite magick in to be a part of your everyday life
• build your inner force
• become more comfortable with practicing your magickal skills in public
• make changes to your habitual thought patterns.

Try the Consistency Exercise for yourself and keep it going. Then use the same principle using some of the other daily rituals we've presented you. Remember, what you pay into your practice will pay you back in unexpected ways. When you're ready to move on to more magickal learning consider our collection of Kindle books or ebooks that can help you open the doorway and invite even more magic into your life.


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Life Magic is Simple (and Secret)!

There's definitely magic in the beauty and pageantry of ritual. I love the rhythmic chant and flow of putting up a full-cast circle. But not all life magic has to be so complicated, nor is it practical to do a full-cast circle for everyone or at any time. And most of us don't have the time to commit to performing a formal ritual for every little thing.

That's where life magic comes in. Life magic is magic for life. It is magic that can be done during the flow of life, without anyone actually noticing. There is, indeed, magic in secrecy.

Life magic is the practice of conducting magic while appearing to do everyday activities. You get the effect of the magic without the weird stares from other people!

Life Magic--Some Definitions
Before we dive into how you can create life magic rituals that fit perfectly into your life, we first need to discuss a couple of definitions, or magical principles.

1. All magical acts are intentional acts, and all intentional acts are magical acts.

2. Any magical ritual you create has the significance that you empower it with.

3. Secrecy, or the shielding of your magical ritual from others, has its own magical power.

So now you know the three principles necessary for you to create your own life magic rituals.

Life Magic--Some Examples
As you think about what might make a good life magic ritual for your life, let's work our way through the three principles discussed above.

The first one says that all magical acts are intentional acts, and vice versa. This means that each time you perform your life magic ritual, you need to pause (at least internally) and put the majority of your intention and attention on your ritual. For instance, if your life magic ritual is clasp your hands together, with your right thumb crossed over your left thumb, you need to put your attention on your hands. You may still be walking or talking or do other activities, but your attention and intention need to be focused on your hands. It's kind of like walking and chewing gum.

Next, your magical ritual has the significance you assign it. Suppose you tell yourself and the Universe that when you clasp your hands in this particular way that you are connecting with your guides and angels. This then becomes the magical power of this ritual. You may want to make this significance more clear by writing down the meaning of this gesture, or doing some ritual in which you communicate the significance of this life ritual. You may also want to have a word of power you think or say when you clasp your hands, such as "Connect" or "Guide Me." Choose what works for you.

Finally, secrecy can add an element of magical power to your ritual. It is tempting to get all excited about your life magic ritual and want to tell everyone about it. Don't. Be silent. Be secret. Be magical. If you are able to practice your life magic ritual for at least 40 days in a row without talking about or having it noticed by others, you will feel an extra burst of magical force with your ritual. Try it and see. Chefs like to say that the secret is in the sauce, but magical practitioners like to say that the secret is in the secrecy! For more simple daily rituals you can add to your magical repertoire get our Daily Rituals for Attracting What You Want in Life ebook.


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Ten Magical Ways to Get a Grip!

We get lots of requests from people asking for magical ways to "get a grip" in life. Whether it's a traumatic weather event wreaking havoc, unexpected deaths in the family, or just general chaos, we thought this would be a good time to put out some quickie magical "fixes" that you can use any time you need to bail yourself out of a tricky situation. Here's our Top 10 List:

#1: Stay in Present Time
There's no time like the present. To drag yourself out of either the past or the future, look at yourself in the mirror and give yourself this command in a powerful voice:
"Come to present time!"
This snaps you back into the present moment, where you can exercise the most power.

#2: Stop Obsessing
If your mind has jumped on the hamster wheel and is going around in circles, a few drops of White Chestnut flower essence will work wonders. White Chestnut calms the mind and quiets repetitive thoughts. Add 4 drops to spring water and sip continuously for an all-day effect.

#3: Bring in Sun Energy
The light of the sun nourishes your Spirit. To bring the sunlight into a focused presence indoors, burn a sun candle (either a bright yellow candle or a candle with a sun image on it). Or try out this more detailed ritual.

#4: Switch Hands
Sometimes you need to switch hands to switch your focus. Choose something you normally do with your dominant hand and do it with your other hand for the day. For instance, if you normally open doors with your right hand, start using your left hand. This forces you to be present to yourself and causes you to have an interval of consciousness in an otherwise mechanical day.

#5: Swing Your Worries Away
Sometimes a little action is called for. If you're in a sticky situation and you can't find an exit, use your pendulum to clear the air. Find a quiet place and sit in the south facing north. Begin swinging your pendulum in a clockwise direction. Allow the pendulum to continue swinging until it stops naturally - it will stop swinging when your situation has cleared. Then wait patiently for a door to open.

#6: Ask and Ye Shall Receive
If you're not sure what forces are behind your sticky situation, do a question circle to find out. A question circle gives you answers from four different perspectives - thought, action, feeling, and manifestation. Check this article for how to do a question circle.

#7: Don't Forget to Breathe
Your body will keep breathing regardless of whether you are paying attention or not, but taking the time to do some conscious breathing will open up a space in your life where the Universe can assist you. It's impossible for you to get "caught up" in a situation when you breathe consciously. Take a few minutes to find a quiet place and do some deep breathing. It will oxygenate your body, occupy your mind, and free your Spirit to clearly communicate with the Universe.

#8: Rescue Yourself
One of our all-time favorites is the Bach Flower Remedy called Rescue Remedy. It's a unique combination of five flower essences that will restore a sense of peace and stability in any situation. It works for mental, spiritual, and physical trauma. Rescue Remedy is also called Five Flower Essence and is available in most health food stores.

#9: Feel Your Body
No matter where your mind travels, your body stays in present time. If you're having trouble staying in the now, anchor yourself by becoming aware of a specific part of your body. For instance, notice the back of your left hand - feel a slight warmth or tingling or weight there. Now stay in touch with that sensation as you do other activities. You'll stay in your body and in the now, which will go a long way toward clearing up any messy life situation.

#10: Be Powerful
There's nothing like an act of power to get you back on track. How do you do an act of power? Simple. Decide what you're going to do and when. When the time arrives, do it! For instance, you might decide to get up out of your chair in 2 minutes and do a yoga stretch. When the time arrives, get up and just do it. It's the quickest way we know to restore personal power.

#11: Bonus Tip - Hire an Angel
There are hundreds of thousands of unemployed angels just waiting to help you - just ask. Request an angel that specializes in what you need (like a parking angel), ask for what you want (be specific about time, place, amount, etc.) and thank your angel in advance. Then, when you get what you want, thank them again. It's as simple as that!

Got some great magical tips and tricks for getting out sticky situations quick? We'd love to hear them. Please email them to us at info@shamanschool.com or leave a comment below. And if you don't have any of your own, get our free 10 Magical Quick Fixes ebook for more quickie magic.

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A Magical Ritual to Help You See Your Financial Blind Spots

We've been talking about how to attract money and establish a good relationship with money and your thoughts about it in order to pre-pave the way for the Universe to deliver it to you lately in some of  our blog articles. What if you really have no idea though about why the money you desire is just not coming to you? It may be that when it comes to financial issues, you have a blind spot and aren't able to see what issues are affecting you. This is when it is helpful to get some help from higher powers and beings and using rituals are a great way to do this. One of the rituals you'll discover in our Daily Rituals to Attract What You Want in Life ebook is the Question Circle. This ritual helps you address the beings of the four directions for help and guidance. To do this ritual you will need to gather a Sun Yellow Candle that can easily be carried from place to place, wooden or paper matches to light the candle, a pen, and notebook or paper. After you gather your materials, here's how to do the Question Circle ritual:

1. Locate the directions north, south, east and west. Use a compass if you need to in order to assure you have the directions correct.

2. Create a circle of space about 5-10 feet in diameter.

3. Sit in the South side of your circle facing to the North with your Sun candle in front of you.

4. Light your candle with the wooden or paper matches, hold your hands above and around the flame of the candle and charge the candle by saying:
"Child of wonder, child of flame, nourish my spirit and protect my aim."

5. Now take your candle, pen and paper with you and go sit in the center of your circle facing to the East.

6. Write down your question which in this case might be "what blind spots do I have in regards to finances" or "what is blocking the flow of money from coming to me" or "what's the best way to get a job".

7. Take the next 3-5 minutes to let the question just sit in your mind. Don't try to answer it, just sit with it.

8. Next, take your sun candle, paper and pencil with you and move to the East perimeter of your circle. Set your candle down in front of you and ask the question you wrote down out loud to the East. Be prepared for a flurry of information to come at you usually faster than you can write it all down.

9. Start writing everything you get until no more information is coming. Thank the direction of the East and move in a clockwise direction to the next direction which would be the South.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 in each direction, moving clockwise to each direction when finished with the previous one. In other words you will start with East as we have outlined, then proceed to repeat the process with South, then West, then North.

11. After you finish the process with North, go back and sit in the center of the circle facing the East and send thanks out all the way around the circle and blow out your candle.

Doing this ritual, you will find that you receive different types of information from the various directions. This is because the beings in the different directions all specialize in certain areas. For example, the East will give you information about communication, planning and ideas. South will give you guidance on steps of action to take, will-power energy and desire. From the West you will get feelings and spirit guidance and the North will give you more practical steps to take. Some of our advanced students recently did Question Circles and even we were amazed at the clear and specific information they received from each of the quarters on their given questions.

Like the Beatles song says, sometimes we need a little help from our friends. Daily rituals can help you make friends and allies of higher powers and beings which can bring truly magical things to your life.

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5 Basics of Effective Magickal Spell Work

When people hear the phrase "Spell Work" they often think of Harry Potter and his gang casting spells with their wands, or other similar movie references. In truth, spell work has very little to do with magick wands or the number of witches participating in such an event. Casting spells off the top of your head with your magick wand usually doesn't produce more than a headache. In this article, we will review the 5 basic steps of magickal spell work. These steps are practical, simple, and easily accomplished by practitioners of any level. To learn even more about simple beginning spells take a look at our Kindle book, The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners.

Step #1: Choose the Type of Spell
The first step to performing a magickal spell that actually accomplishes your aim is to choose the type of spell you will use. Pairing the right type of spell with the effect you want to magickally create in the world is very important.  Trying to use a simple single candle spell to change events on a global scale is not likely to be effective. At the same time, designing a complex Tarot spell to tweak a small aspect of your business would be overkill. The spell would probably accomplish the aim, but you would spend far more time and energy than necessary to affect such a small part of your world. So choosing the right type of spell is the key to starting off on the right foot.

Before you can choose the most appropriate type of spell, you first need to define the aim of your spell. What do you want your spell to achieve? Write the aim of your spell in one sentence. Depending on the complexity of or degree of change you want your spell to create, choose the appropriate type of spell. Though there is a huge variety of spells available, the most common types of spell used in present time include:

1.    Sun Candle spells
2.    single candle spells with appropriate carvings
3.    simulacra spells (often better known as voodoo)
4.    walking litany spells
5.    multiple candle spells
6.    Tarot spells
7.    circle ritual spells
8.    black mirror spells

Sun Candle, single candle, simulacra, and walking litany spells are the easiest to perform, and can be done with very few ingredients and just a little preparation. The more complex spells--multiple candle, Tarot, and circle ritual spells--require a great deal more planning, preparation, and caution. Most practitioners can accomplish the majority of daily needs with the first four simple spells. The last four types of spell require the ability to do a variety of Tarot readings to analyze the situation, prepare and check on verses and other spell requirements, the ability to set up a full cast circle, plus the ability to safely open and close a black mirror, and more. The best way to begin with spell work is to start with the first four types of spells. Once you have mastered these four types of spells, learning the last four types of complex spells will be a natural next step.

Step #2: Write Directors and Limiters
In the beginning, we suggest you start with simple aims for your spell, as well as simple spell types. Once you have chosen the type of spell you desire, the next step is to write Directors and Limiters. In the simplest of terms. Directors and Limiters specify what you want and do not want your spell to do, achieve, and more. For instance, if the spell is about your money situation, you would create Directors (what you want your spell to do) that will specify the range of money that you would like to come into your life. If you work with specific Spirit beings, you would also request their help in your list of Directors. In your Limiters, you might want to specify that the money that comes into your life be from a free and legal source. One novice spell caster neglected to add this specific Limiter to her list, and ended up earning very good money (as specified in her Directors) in her job. The only catch was that the job was with a Mob operation, hence illegal. Creating very specific Directors and Limiters is crucial to the effectiveness of your spell. For instance, with money spells, you may also want to have a Limiter that states that your spell will not cause untimley death or loss of property to anyone... without this Limiter your spell may bring you the money you desire through an inheritance, at the expense of a family member's untimely death. In short, Directors and Limiters are the magickal way of specifying the who, what, when, and how of your spell.

Once you have a solid and specific list of Directors and Limiters, you may want to write verses to accompany your Directors and Limiters.  Verses are lyrical or poetic versions of your Directors and Limiters, and can be used in conjunction with your Directors and Limiters to strengthen your spell. For instance, with a Sun Candle spell, you may decide to place your Directors and Limiters between a magickal Plate or Pantacle and the Sun Candle. As you light the Sun Candle each day, keep the Directors and Limiters under the candle while you read your verses aloud in a voice of command. Taking the time to write verses and read them daily (often for 40 days at a time) sends a strong signal to the Universe. While verses are not strictly necessary, the lyrical vocalization of your spell on a daily basis roots your spell deeper in your psyche, and attracts that which you desire into your life more quickly.

Step #3: Check Your Directors and Limiters Plus Verses
Even if you write what seems to be perfect Directors and Limiters plus verses, it is always a good idea to check your results with a Question Circle. A Question Circle allows you to check whether any of your Directors or Limiters will achieve the intended results of your spell. A Question Circle will also help you check your verses. The Four Directions, along with Sky, Earth, and any specific Spirit guides who help you, can offer all kinds of lyrical inspiration, not to mention what is excessive or missing from your Directors and Limiters.

To do a Question Circle you will need to gather a Sun Yellow Candle that can easily be carried from place to place, wooden or paper matches to light the candle, a pen, and paper, plus your spell aim, Directors, Limiters, and verses. After you gather your materials, proceed with the Question Circle using the following directions.

1. Locate the directions north, south, east and west. If you are unsure of the cardinal directions, go outside with a compass and take readings of the directions. Be sure to use your compass outside as there is too much electromagnetic energy inside a house to give you accurate readings.

2. Find a space in your house that is 5 to 10 feet in diameter, moving whatever furniture necessary.

3. Gather your materials, and then enter the circle from the East and walk clockwise to the South. Once you reach the South side of your circle, sit facing the outside of the circle with your Sun Candle and materials in front of you.

4. Light your candle with the wooden or paper matches (no lighters), cup your hands around the flame of the candle. Once the candle has a tall active "working flame," charge or program the candle by saying the following verse aloud in a voice of command: "Child of wonder, child of flame, nourish my spirit and protect my aim."

5. Now bring your candle and materials to the East side of the circle, walking clockwise to reach the East. Sit facing the outside of the circle, again placing your candle and materials before you.

6. Take a few moments to calm and quiet your body and mind. Then say aloud in a voice of command, "Please show me what changes I may need to make in my choice of spell type, my Directors and Limiters, and verses to create the most effective spell for my aim."

7. Sit quietly and allow the answer to come. Be prepared as each direction on the Medicine Wheel often has much to offer. Keep writing until the flow of information stops.

8. Bring your candle and materials clockwise to the South. Sit facing the outside of the circle, and then follow the same steps as outlined previously to ask the South for guidance on your spell. Repeat with the directions West and North.

9. Finally, return to the center of your circle and sit facing East. Ask the same questions of "Sky Above" and "Earth Below." If you have specific Spirit guides, ask them this question at this time.

10. Once you have received all the information flowing to you, thank all of the directions and any Spirit guides. Blow out your Sun Candle.

11. Take some time to read through the answers from each direction of Spirit guide. It may take a few days for all of the information to fall into logical order. Allow the information to percolate for the next few days. Alter your spell type, Directors and Limiters, and verses as guided by your Question Circle. Then move onto the next step.

Step #4: Record Results and Launch Your Spell
Once you have tweaked and updated your spell type, Directors and Limiters, and verses as needed, record every aspect of your spell in a Book of Shadows. A Book of Shadows is a sacred magickal book in which you record every spell you ever launch. A Book of Shadows can be as simple as a spiral bound notebook, or as complex as a deeply embossed leather book with parchment paper. Many people place the symbol of the pantacle (star inside a circle) on both covers of their Book of Shadows to protect the contents.

In your Book of Shadows, write the date and time you launch your spell, along with the spell type, Directors and Limiters, verses, and any other details. For instance, if you use a single candle spell, you may have carved symbols onto the candle. Record each of these symbols as well. If you choose to read your spell verses aloud with your candle lit on a daily basis, record each time and date of each reading. Finally, jot down any signs and guidance you receive regarding your spell or the progress of your spell.

Step #5: Checkup on Your Spell
There are as many ways of checking on the progress of your spell as there are types of spells. For beginners, use the Question Circle method to check on your spell. Instead of asking how you can change your spell verses or type to better achieve your spell's aim, in Question Circle ask how your spell is progressing, and whether you need to take any action steps. Sometimes adding an extra daily mantra or walking litany add a great deal of force to your spell. Very infrequently, some spells go awry and need to be taken down. In the case of a simple candle spell, all you need to do is break the candle you used in half. Bury both halves in the Earth for a moon cycle. This will "take down" your spell and reverse any damage the spell may have caused. For the most part, the Question Circle will simply provide reassurance or offer additional suggestions to boost your spell's power. Feel free to check on your spell as often as once a week.

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Magick to the Rescue Part 7: Lost? Find Your Way with Magickal Bread Crumbs

Earlier in this series Magick to the Rescue:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

The Esoteric School receives frequent requests from people asking for guidance and answers along this life journey, be it answers to questions about career and family or guidance on Spirit paths. While many schools of magickal or esoteric teaching tend to charge high prices for such services, the Esoteric School is more about offering many different wants for the "every man and every woman" to find their own answers through simple magickal rituals and options. Through our blog and newsletters, our article library, and inexpensive self-paced courses, our goal is to allow as many people to bring magick into their lives as possible.

Of course, if you feel lost in your life then browsing through our online article library can seem a big overwhelming task. Knowing where to begin in your use of magick can be as important as the use of magick itself. The following section offers five different ways you can discover answers and find your way on your path magickally, step-by-step... or if you are into fairy tales, bread crumb by bread crumb. If and when you feel lost, scan through the following list and find the option that attracts your attention. Your attention--and your intention--will get you started in the direction you need to go. Then all you need to do is follow the first bread crumb to the next, and the next, and the next... and before you know it you will be striding with confidence down a pathway lit with magickal help and guidance!

Magickal Solution #1: Follow the First Answer You Hear
Whether you are completely lost and have no idea what you want in your life, or you are just a little muddled about your next step to reach your goal, the Universe is always happy to deliver answers to you instantly. Many students have tried this approach with surprisingly positive results. The Universe will answer any question you ask deliberately with an immediate answer.

The steps to this ritual are simple. Simply say to yourself or out loud in a voice of command: "Universe please provide me an answer to the question I will ask. I will follow the first answer I hear, trusting that you know exactly what I want and will not lead me astray. [Ask your question here]." You don't have to use these exact words, but follow the intent of the words and phrases, and announce to the Universe that you want and need guidance to a certain question. The question could be as big as a new direction for your career and as small as to whether you have a cup of coffee in the morning.

The key is to follow the first answer that the Universe provides, which will be the first answer you hear. You might hear the answer as a voice in your mind (and even in your own voice). You might hear a snippet of a conversation from a passing group of strangers. A song lyric may possess the answer you seek. The important thing is to take and follow the FIRST answer you hear. The answer may seem crazy at the moment or not in sync with your question, but just use your best judgment as to how to use that answer. You will be amazed at the results. At the next crossroads on your path, ask the Universe the next question. This will lead you from bread crumb to bread crumb until you find your way along your path. More importantly, you will have developed a relationship of trust with the Universe. You will have greater trust with each answer you receive, and proceed with ever greater confidence!

Magickal Solution #2: Pick a Card, Any Card
Just as a magician doing stage magic might invite you to pick a card, any card, and then guess the card without looking at it, the Universe also invites you to pick a card to find answers to questions you seek. Only there's no smoke or mirrors when you play the "pick a card" game with the Universe... just the answers you seek. You can use Medicine Cards, Angel Cards, Tarot Cards, Sacred Path Cards... whichever set of cards calls to you.

First, ask your question to the Universe, either out loud or in your mind. Next, pick up your deck of choice and shuffle the deck until the mix feels "right" to you. Then fan out the cards on a table and choose a card. Or cut the deck and take the top card. Or use any method you like. Just remain consistent in your approach.

This card is your "theme of the day" as well as the answer to your question. Most of these decks come with books that explain the meaning of each card, often with each card having two different meanings depending on whether the card is upright or reversed. Choose your card, note its position (upright or reversed) and then read the meaning of the card. As with all the methods offered in this article, follow the advice offered by the card as best you can. Most of the time the answer will mesh neatly with the question. If not, hold the answer in mind as you go about your day. Chances are that the meaning of the card will appear more clear as the day goes on. If not, sleep on it and see what your dreams tell you about the card. Answers may trickle through your mind and consciousness in the most amusing and interesting ways.

Magickal Solution #3: Create Your Own Method
Ancient proverbs, wise gurus, and other spiritual teachers have often said that we know what is best for ourselves, and that the answers we seek can be found within our own hearts. If this be true, one of the neatest magickal ways to gain answers is to create your own method for the Universe to deliver answers. One person took seven different books, opened each book to a random page, and underlined a word or phrase. She then arranged the seven books in an ordered stack. Finally, she opened each book to the page she had marked and wrote down the word or phrase. The combined words and phrases from the seven books made up her "answer" from the Universe. Invariably, though there were missing words, the message was quite complete and readable. More importantly, the message made perfect sense to the person. She continues to use this method to this day to gain the answers she seeks. Other people have asked people they encounter what's happening in their lives. The answers may be deep or shallow (depending on whether the people were strangers or friends), and the answers have always shed light on the asking person's situation. The person may have had to "dig" or "decipher" the meaning, the answer was always there to find.

Magickal Solution #4: Reach Out and Touch Someone
This method is similar to the one just previously discussed. Only, this time, instead of asking a bunch of different people you encounter about what is happening in their lives, you reach out to a person with whom you have not had contact for a very long time. Perhaps a friend who was also a neighbor moved away and you lost contact over the years. Or maybe you changed jobs, and you now move in different social circles. Dig back through your old contacts and see if one jumps out at you. If so, then ask the Universe your question and request that the answer come from the conversation with the person with whom you are about to speak. Then pick up the phone and reach out to that person. However you go about choosing a person from your distant past, the Universe will find a way to send the answers you seek humming across the telephone wires or into the internet chats. The Universe encompasses all methods of technology, new and old.

Magickal Solution #4: Astrocartography
Those who have been members of 12-step programs have probably often heard that "geographic moves" won't solve life problems since "everywhere you go there you are." It is true that we carry ourselves and unique personality quirks with us wherever we go. At the same time, it is also magickally true that there are different places on Planet Earth that are more or less beneficial to us in a variety of ways. Some places are better for our health, while other places are better for finances or relationships. Spiritual development can be easier in certain locations, while our careers may flourish in yet other locations. Some locations have multiple benefits with few drawbacks.

Astrocartography, which is the science of mapping our astrology onto a global map, can help us find the best places for certain areas of our lives. Astrocartography can help us locate "power places" for various aspects of our lives. Many sites on the internet offer this service, and the cost is inexpensive. Some sites offer you readings on three places around the globe, while other sites offer you a global reading, which tells you where different lines from your astrological chart cross on the globe, and offering pros and cons for each location. If you are looking for a new and interesting method of finding magickal answers to your questions, consider browsing around astrocartography sites to see if they pique your interest!

Magickal Solution #5: The Good Old Coin Flip
The Universe is just as happy to offer answers through complex rituals such as Question Circles as it is through simple methods such as flipping a coin. If you are looking for a simple "Yes or No" answer, sometimes flipping a coin is the way to go. One of our students uses the coin flip for the most important decisions in his life. And guess what? The answers have never led him anywhere other than where he wanted to go. You, of course, may not be ready to put major life decisions in the result of a simple coin flip. Instead, start small. Prepare your coin by holding it in your dominant hand and flowing energy into the coin until the coin feels warm, energized, or charged. Decide which side of the coin means "Yes" and which side means "No." Also decide how you will flip your coin. Will you flip the coin with one hand, catch it in the same hand and then place the coin over top of your other hand? Or will you simply catch the coin in the same hand and see which side faces up? As with all of these magickal "bread crumb" methods, choose a method for your magickal work, and then consistently use this method every single time. Now you are ready. Ask the Universe your question, again aloud or in your mind, and flip your coin. Note the answer and go with it.

Even if the answer seems contradictory to what you expected, follow the answer that appears. Along with following a consistent magickal procedure, trusting and following the answers provided by the Universe will help you develop a strong relationship of trust with the Universe. If you second-guess every answer you receive through these methods, then you might as well seek the help of a counselor or business coach. All of the previous methods, like much of the magick we teach, is aimed at helping you develop your own personal relationship with the Universe, without the need to seek the help of a magickal practitioner. While there is certainly a time and place for seeking guidance and help from others, how much more magickal would your life be if you could directly ask the Universe for the answers you seek? Wouldn't life be so much more magickal, more fun, and more miraculous?


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Magick to The Rescue Part 2: When Life Isn't Fair

See Part 1 of Magick to the Rescue HERE.
 

Have you ever had an experience that made you stomp your foot and say, "Life's not fair!"? Most people have, and the fact of the matter is that often life isn't fair.

So what can you do when life has dealt you an unfair event, and it appears that you have painted yourself into a corner with no way out? How about when you find yourself in a situation where there seem to be no options, no recourse?

Look to magick, of course! One of the best things about magick is that there are very few situations that magick cannot fix. There are some situations, of course, where magick is not recommended because of karmic debt, life lessons, and certain other specific situations. For the most part, though, magick can create wonderful and surprising outcomes out of situations that are downright unfair. When you find yourself stuck in an unfair situation, consider the ritual outlined below as a possible option. You may have to do a little creative adjustment to the steps since this writeup is short, so it is not possible to cover every unfair situation in life.

Step #1: Divine the Players and Factors
While you may already know who is involved in putting you into this unfair situation, doing a divination to discover all the possible players and factors contributing to your situation is always a good idea. When you know all the players and factors involved in your situation, you will more easily be able to handle the situation thoroughly in the following steps.

A question circle is one of the best ways to gather as much information about your situation as possible. Question circles empower you to ask for help and information from the four directions, as well as Sky and Earth. There are many forms of question circles, but in this case all you need to use is a simple circle. Gather a notebook, pen, and bright yellow sun candle plus wooden or paper matches. You will also need a fairly open area for the circle, a space at least seven feet across. Finally, you will need to know the four cardinal directions of East, South, West, and North. If you are unsure, take a compass outside to figure out which direction is which. Do not attempt to use the compass inside as there is too much electromagnetic energy that interferes with a compass reading.

Now you are ready to start your question circle. Enter your circle from the East and sit in the center of your circle, sitting in the South facing North with your Sun Candle in front of you. Light your candle with wooden or paper matches, and wait until the flame is tall and strong. Then cup your hands around the flame and say in a voice of command:

"Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish My Spirit
And Protect My Aim!"

Now focus on the candle flame and become very curious about and interested in discovering all the players and factors involved in your situation, along with possible solutions or loopholes. Sit in meditation about this for two to three minutes. Then leave the Sun Candle in the middle of the circle (perhaps surrounded by glass or on a plate for safety), and walk clockwise around the circle until you reach the East.

Seat yourself comfortably in the East, facing East (the outside of the circle), and take a moment to breathe slowly and relax. Focus on the problem at hand. Then, with your pen and pad ready. say in the voice of command, "Winds of the East, Bearers of Knowledge, I request your help with [briefly describe your situation here]. Please tell me all the factors, players, and other issues related to my situation in a way that I can clearly understand. I thank you in advance for your help." Then be prepared to write like crazy. The Winds tend to deliver information in bulk and with speed. Sometimes you may have to simply jot down keywords and fill in the blanks later. Once the flow of information has stopped, you may do two things. If there are items on your list that are unclear, you may ask the winds to clarify by saying, "Winds of the East, Bearers of Knowledge, I thank you for this information. I ask if you could clarify [name the item here]." Then write more until the flow of information stops. You may ask for clarification up the three times. When you are done, say, "Winds of the East, Bearers of Knowledge, I give great thanks for the information you have given me today." Wait a few moments and see if you feel the Winds acknowledging you. Some people do, some people don't. Either way, waiting for a response is polite. Take the time now to fill in your notes before moving clockwise to sit in the South.

Repeat the same procedure for the remaining three directions, using the following forms of address:
"Winds of the South, Bearers of Power..."
"Winds of the West, Bearers of Feeling... "
"Winds of the North, Bearers of the Strength... "

Once you have completed those three directions, walk clockwise around the circle and seat yourself in the center, facing East. Now put your attention first up toward the Sky and perform the same sequence of steps as you did with each direction. Then put your attention down into the Earth, again following the same steps. Use the following forms of address:
"Sky Beings Above, ..."
"Earth Beings Below... "

Finally, sit in the center of your circle and sort through your notes. Jot down and highlight the most pertinent points. Then move on to Step #2.

Step#2: The Effect of Others and Your Own Effects
From the copious amounts of information, you should be able to identify which people are affecting your situation, as well as which of your actions are negatively affecting you situation. Your job is now to write a list of all the people and factors (aside from yourself) that are causing your unfair life situation. Make a second list of all of your own actions and habits and behaviors that are affecting the situation.

You will deal with the people and factors on the first list in the next step. In this step, think about how you can change the way you behave and think about the unfair life situation. Is there any way to think about the situation differently? Could you reframe the situation to say that it is certainly not fair but it is equal? After all, not all of us are dealt the same hand of cards. If you simply carry a lot of negative energy with you, consider carrying a hematite or Apache Tear obsidian stone with you. Every time you feel negative, hold the stone in your dominant hand and flow all of that energy down your arm and into the stone. The stone will send the energy to the half world, never to return again. If you decide to change one small aspect of your behavior, perhaps create a keepsake to remind you of your commitment. For instance, if you decide not to engage with a particularly obnoxious co-worker, carry a small angel charm or wear a ring to signify your commitment to change this one small thing. Hold the charm or ring in your dominant hand and flow your conviction to keep this commitment into the object. Once done, carry this item around with you always. When you feel the need to tangle with this particular co-worker, hold your talisman and remember your promise to yourself. You will find your commitment easier to keep.

Now that we have addressed your effects on your situation, move on to the next step to learn how to deal with the other people and factors that make your situation so unfair.

Step #3: Magickally Handling Outside People and Factors
To deal with outside people and factors affecting you situation, return to your question circle. Light and charge the Sun Candle as you did before, using the same charge verse "Child of Wonder..." Now look at your list. Take the first person or factor on your list. See the person standing just outside your circle, trying to get in. Point your finger at that person and say in a voice of command:

"I am neither your creature nor your get
To be ruled by your whim or your let
I go my own way by night or by day
To serve my own purposes yet!"

As you say the verses, see the person melt away or fade away or run away. Then move on to the next factor or person. When dealing with factors, use the best image that represents that factor. For instance, if you are dealing with a law, then see a law book or a scroll on which the law is written. Use your imagination. This is your protection circle so use the imagery that is most meaningful to you.

At the End of the Day
Most of the time doing this ritual once takes care of most situations. However, if your situation is complicated or changes constantly, then you may want to repeat this ritual as much as possible. The good news is that the more magic you use in your life, the more force you will gain in your level of being. The more force you have in your level of being, the less unfair situations will be foisted up you! It's magick to the rescue every time you find yourself stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation! You can get more magic rituals to work on issues in your daily life in our ebook Daily Rituals for Attracting What You Want in Life or in our Kindle book Witchcraft Spell Book: The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners.

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Have No Fear of Fear

"Fear is the emotion that comes forth when you are choosing a thought that is not up to speed with the desire that you hold. You're going to feel it and you're going to feel it stronger. It is the reason that the word "terror" or "terrorist", or "terrorizing" is such an appropriate word. It is not only in the action that you witness, or that you hear about, it is in the speculation that begins to run rampant. The power of the terrorists is much greater in things that never come to be than it ever is in the things that do come to be."

---Abraham

Fear comes in all shapes and sizes, just as people come in all shapes and sizes. We all have fear, although many of us are unwilling to face our fears, or even admit that we have fears. Most people consider fear to be a sign of weakness, a vulnerability to be covered up as much as possible. But you have probably noticed that fear is one of those emotions that you can run from... yet you can never truly hide from fear.

Fear shows up in those pre-dawn hours as nightmares. Fear shows up in specific phobias. Fear is the driving force whenever we avoid anything in our lives, whether we avoid social situations or the entanglements of certain types of relationships.

The good news is that fear is a useful sort of beacon in our lives. Fear shows us where we are "stuck" in our lives and gives us a chance to face the factors that keep us from moving forward to the next phase of our lives.

Magickally, fear can be faced, addressed, and released in many different ways. One of the best and most satisfying methods is to use the "Big Burn" ritual. The Big Burn ritual is great for literally "burning away" anything unwanted, including negativity, fear, and other factors in life that are no longer useful. Here's what you will need to do this ritual, along with how to conduct the ritual.

The Firebowl
A Firebowl is just what it sounds like--a large bowl made of a sturdy material. Brass, cast iron, and ceramic are best. Hardwood, like iron wood, also works. Although Firebowls can vary in size, the most convenient size seems to be 4-6 inches wide and 4-6 inches deep. This size can easily be carried from place to place as you do this ritual. One important consideration is to choose a Firebowl that has a slight curve inward at the top, and then a slight outward flare above that. This shape allows the smoke from the Firebowl to rise upwards in a nice column. In addition to your Firebowl, you will also need:

• Self-starting charcoal discs (can be found in many religious or New Age stores)
• Wood chips to insulate the charcoal from resin or incense and facilitate burning
• Pine resin
• Unscented kitty litter or gravel or fire clay
• Finely ground or rubbed sage
• Sun Candle (any candle of bright yellow will do)
• Pen and plenty of blank paper
• Optional: set of prongs to hold the charcoal discs during lighting (prongs used in ice buckets are ideal)

 Preparing for the Ritual
Once you have gathered all of your materials, find a quiet place in your house to do this ritual. You will need to sit in the South facing North with all of your materials in front of you. If you don't know which direction is South, you may need to use a compass to locate that direction. Use your compass outside for best results and least interference from electrical and other power-related sources inside your house.

Once you are comfortably seated in the South facing North, sit down and write a list of all the fears you are ready to release from your life. You can write a comprehensive list and do this ritual once, or you can write a shorter list first to see what happens. You can always repeat this ritual at any time, so don't worry if you leave anything off the list. In addition, we often recommend that people do this ritual multiple times even with a complete list. Fears take many years to settle into our lives, so it may take some repetition to truly remove those fears from their entrenched places.

Once your list is complete, your next step is to prepare your firebowl by putting the kitty litter (or gravel or fire clay) at the bottom of the firebowl. Add at least two inches to prevent the Firebowl from getting too hot at the bottom.

Next, use paper or wooden matches to light and charge your Sun Candle with the following verse:

"Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!"

Charging the Sun Candle is the equivalent of telling the Sun Candle what you want it to do for you.

The Big Burn Ritual
The following directions will take you through the rest of the Big Burn ritual.
1. Wait for the Sun Candle flame to settle into a nice tall "working flame". A "working flame" is tall, steady, and strong.

2. Use a wooden or paper match to light the charcoal, using the flame of the charged Sun Candle. Alternately, you can also hold the charcoal in a set of prongs and light the charcoal directly from the Sun Candle flame. The charcoal should begin sparking and growing warm immediately.

3. Once you are sure the charcoal is lit, place it in the center of the Firebowl. Blow Sun Yellow energy pulled from the Sun Candle onto the disc until the charcoal is burning strongly. Don't think about "how" to pull energy from the Sun Candle and blow it at the disc. Your body and higher self already know how to do this. Simply feel the energy radiating from the Sun Candle, allow it enter your body, and then feel the same energy going out with each breath as you breathe Sun Yellow onto the charcoal.

4. Once the charcoal is burning well (you will see areas of orange and yellow), add wood shavings to the charcoal. Once the wood shavings have started to burn, add the pine resin and the rubbed or powdered sage until the Firebowl is producing a strong column of smoke.

5. Use the verse below to charge the Firebowl (to program the Firebowl for a specific purpose). Blow Sun Yellow energy from the Sun Candle into the Firebowl before and after each verse:

"Fire and Air where you are cast,
Let no spell nor adverse purpose last,
Not in accord with me!
Clear from my life these unwanted matters,
Send far from my life these negative factors!
Thus my will, so it be!"

Now you are ready for the Big Burn part of the ritual. Place your Firebowl in front of you (be sure your Firebowl is large enough to accommodate the burning of the paper on which you have written your list – if not, move the entire operation to the sink or some other place that is safe for burning).

6. Hold the list of fears you want to release in both hands. Take a moment to focus on the list, and focus on the fact that you are ready to release these fears. To assist you in this process, feel free to call upon angels, spirit guides, or any other spiritual helpers who might assist you in releasing your fears. Once you feel your intent is clear, and you have asked for any assistance you feel may be helpful, you are ready to move to the next step.

7. Light your list from the flame of the Sun Candle. If you have more than one sheet, start with the first sheet and burn only one sheet at a time. Once the sheet has caught flame, put the burning list in the Firebowl and watch it burn. Say a mantra if it feels right to you, or just visualize your fears going up in smoke. Repeat the process for each page of your list of fears.

If the fears on your list have been in your life for a long time, or if you simply feel right in doing so, repeat this ritual for 40 days in a row. You can write a new daily list of fears or you can burn the same list for 40 days in a row. The act of repeatedly releasing fears through this process for 40 days is based on the fact that 40 is a spiritual number, and we have witnessed the power of repeating a ritual for 40 days in a row.

The next time you find yourself "stuck" in life, held in place by fears, simply do a Big Burn and magickally clear those fears out of your life. You may want to keep a journal to track the appearance of disappearance of those fears from your life. Many people find the Big Burn to be a very satisfying magickal way of releasing anything that is no longer needed in their lives. The Big Burn is a great magickal ritual to use any time you are ready to move into the next phase of your life and need to release the old.

For more great rituals using magickal tools check out our Kindle book - Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Magical Tools.

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 Image courtesy of   pigdevilphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net