The psychic reality
Learning how to enter this psychic reality in a practical way is known as Casting the Circle. However, if I was to begin practicing witchcraft beyond the basics, then there were several things I would need. I decided to start collecting the witch's working tools. These were initially the four basic elemental tools - the chalice for water, an incense burner for air, a small brazier for fire and the pentacle disc for earth. Yet, more important than these and my first priority was to hunt for an Athame, the witch's ritual knife and by far the most personal of all magickal tools.
I quite like the idea of acquiring the ritual tools, especially the knife, which gave me a physical symbol for the concept of the 'witch within'. This identification with the Athame that the witch develops makes a lot of sense. The knife is made of steel and is strong, and I would aspire to be like this. It is sharp and I hoped I could hone my psychic senses in this way. I was told that once acquired, no one else should touch my Athame, and similarly, there are parts of myself which only I should completely own too (or at least begin to reclaim). A witch's Athame is only brought out for ritual, being a private thing, which is also like the practice of witchcraft.
the rituals
The main work of the witch is through symbolic association and ritual acts of intention. Starting with the circle, this is traced over the area in which you wish to work using the Athame. The intention here is to use your will power to create a sacred space which wholly contains you or the coven. The circle is an ancient archetype which communicates an immediate feeling of wholeness. It can act as a symbolic 'gateway' to the psychic reality within. Nothing ordinary should be brought into the circle and for this reason some witches often practice their rites naked (or skyclad as they prefer to call it), whilst others choose to work in ceremonial robes.
Casting the circle is formulated by a spell - "East by Air to North by Fire, the line is formed and the two are one. . ." This spell continues until all four cardinal points and their corresponding elements are invoked (see table); a reminder that we too contain these four basic elements.
I was shown that the four elements are a perspective on life and not just the physical nature of things around us. They can be seen quite actively within our personal make up. For example, if I describe someone as being "down-to-earth" you know immediately what I mean. Or if I complain about someone else being an "old-stick-in-the-mud" we soon get the picture and what too much of the earth element can do. In other words, witches attribute certain symbolic characteristics to the elements. This is principally because of the way each element corresponds to different feelings. For witches, feelings and thoughts are things, and can be made every bit as tangible as the point of my Athame. (Something not lost on contemporary Jungian psychology with its reference to the four basic personality types - See table.)
elemental table:
|
Element
|
Direction
|
Colour
|
Season
|
Quality
|
Jungian Type
|
|
Earth
|
South
|
Olive
|
Winter
|
Practical
|
Sensation
|
|
Air
|
East
|
Yellow
|
Spring
|
Logical
|
Thinking
|
|
Fire
|
North
|
Scarlet
|
Summer
|
Creative
|
Feeling
|
|
Water
|
West
|
Turquoise
|
Autumn
|
Sensitive
|
Intuitive
|
elemental qualities
Having formed the boundary of the circle we can now commence building the elemental qualities into it, and consequently ourselves. First, the earth pentacle is held as we mentally form the image of our bodies in the circle. We are like a lightening rod for the energies experienced, by earthing ourselves. Next, the chalice of water, our feeling function; becoming open and aware of emotion and desires. We each take a small sip from the cup as it is passed around the circle of coven members. Then the Air tool, the censer of incense. Heady perfumes steam upward and each witch focuses upon a ritual intention. Finally, the fiery brazier, the symbol of creative will in the ritual. This is our power to be who we are and who we can be.
a balancing act
Entering into the witches' circle means becoming more aware of the basic aspects of life and also being aware if things get out of balance. By using the elemental tools in however a simple way, the witch is creating a balanced space in his/her psychic reality. This also creates for me a greater sense of balance in my practical life, as well as in my psychic one. And this was just a beginning.
booklet
for more information
Write and
request a copy of the booklet 'Witches'
an introductory guide to the art of witchcraft. Available for $5 (postage
included) :
PO Box 179 Newtown 2042.
(Sorry Australia only) •