Author: Silver Ravenwolf

Silver Ravenwolf is the author of the best-selling Teen Witch and in keeping with the practice what you preach maxim is also the proud mother of four teen Witches. Solitary Witch is a jam-packed learning and resource guide for all serious young Witches, and Ravenwolf’s writing style uses modern terms along with their associated historical roots. Extensive endnotes and footnotes direct you to the source of the information or clarify the topic being covered. This book makes a perfect training companion to Teen Witch and To Ride a Silver Broomstick.

Amongst the many topics covered in this 608 page tome of wisdom are: the Green Man, Pow Wows, the Book of Shadows, High Holy Days, the Witch’s Pyramid, Craft of the Wise, the Great Mother archetype, the Great Work, the Charge of the Goddess, the Solstices and Equinoxes, Elixir of the Moon, and the Golden Dawn. Authors cited or discussed include Ronald Hutton, Doreen Valiente, Tempest Smith, Dion Fortune.

Solitary Witch has been described as “This is the ULTIMATE book of shadows!”, ” every single page [is] useful and relevant.”, and “A modern Solitary Witch can practice for a lifetime with only this book for guidance.” Such an extensive resource book is invaluable for any witches library. It provides an encyclopedia look at almost anything and everything relating to wicca and witchcraft.

About the Author

Silver RavenWolf (Pennsylvania) is a nationally recognized leader and elder of Wicca, and through her writing has been instrumental in guiding the future of one of the fastest-growing faiths in America today. The author of seventeen books, she has been interviewed by The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Bust Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, the St. Petersburg Times, the National Review, Publishers Weekly, Body & Soul Magazine, and Teen Lit Magazine. Her many titles include the bestselling Solitary Witch, Teen Witch, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Stir A Magick Cauldron, To Light A Sacred Flame, American Folk Magick, Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver’s Spells for Prosperity, Silver’s Spells for Protection, Silver’s Spells for Love, Halloween, and the Witches’ Night Out teen fiction series. Her new book Hedge Witch is forthcoming from Llewellyn in September 2008.

The Spiral Dance provides a brilliant overview of the growth of modern-day Wicca, as a reemergence of a Goddess-worshipping religion. Many people consider that this book has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness, and has been an immeasurable influence on the neopagan movement. Starhawk’s 20th-anniversary edition explores how the practice of ritual and Goddess religion have progressed during the past 20 years. These ways have influenced and enhanced Starhawk’s original ideas.

Starhawk delves into topics such as the Younger Self and the Deep Self, the Place of Power, the Horned God, Equinoxes, Solstices and Wheel of the Year, the Book of Shadows, the Old Religion, the Burning Times, the Great Mother archetype, and summoning and grounding energy. Many famous authors and personalities are mentioned, including Robert Graves, Joseph Campbell, Dion Fortune, Anton Ehrenzweig, Barbara Brown, and, Herb Goldberg.

Almost every pagan has a copy of The Spiral Dance in their library. It has been the inspiration for many women starting their own covens. Starhawk has done a wonderful job of taking the basic ideas of modern Witchcraft and combing them with feminist/earth-first concepts, giving birth to the Goddess Movement. Many pagans find that Starhawk has described many of their feelings about religion and spirituality throughout her book.

The Spiral Dance is an essential additional to all pagan and magical libraries.

About the author

Starhawk is a Witch, peace activist, ecofeminist, and author of several books, including The Pagan Book of Living and Dying, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and Truth or Dare. She is the cofounder of the Bay Area Reclaiming Collective, and she teaches and lectures in the U.S., Canada, Central America, and Europe.

Astral projection is the term used for various processes that allow your conscious mind (awareness) to leave your body. Another commonly used term is out-of-body-experience (OOBE), as the conscious mind travels out of the physical body into the astral realm.

There are many benefits to be gained from successful astral projection. It offers evidence that you are far more than just your physical body. By having an out-of-body experience you learn that there is something beyond the purely physical realm. By learning to project your awareness you can develop a self of peace and confidence that there is some kind of after life, where our soul remains aware after our physical passing.

Many people believe that you can heal yourself through astral projection techniques. Your mind plays a critical part in the bodies natural healing process – just think of the placebo effect, where people (unknowingly) take a sugar tablet and yet experience healing effects well beyond someone not prescribed some form of ‘medication’. Likewise, it has been suggested that your mind can hinder the healing process, and removing your consciousness through an out-of-body experience can assist your body in healing without the risk of interference from your mind.

Problem solving is another benefit that many people claim from use of astral projection. People see things more clearly and from new perspectives during astral projection. It is possible to see things from a third-person perspective, which can assist you in solving minor or serious problems that arise in your life.

Many people choose to enlist the aid and assistance of spirit guides, guardian angels, or deceased loved ones. They find that these astral entities share their wise words and kindness, which in turn soothes them, and assists them in living a better, more fulfilling life.

Self development and self growth is another benefit reported by those who regularly project. They report enhanced mental clarity, better perception and memory, and even increased intelligence. Likewise, they report that astral projection has helped them grow on a spiritual level also.

Many people ask the question, “does astral projection really work?” The answer is a resounding, “yes,” and natural projectors have been closely observed in scientifically controlled laboratory conditions, proving the existence of the astral projection phenomena.

Learning to project into the astral is something natural and there is no need to be afraid of learning to project consciously. We naturally project, without being consciously aware of it, during our sleep, although some people naturally have ‘lucid dreams’ where they literally ‘wake-up’ within their dream and can control and interact with the environment. Astral projection takes this a step further, as it is no longer necessary to be asleep to learn to project.

Learn astral projection, and you will experience an entire world of beauty and knowledge. You just need curiosity and enthusiasm to begin as soon as possible. Luckily, a new course offers breakthrough methods that are set to revolutionize the learning of astral projection.

Past life regression is a popular occult technique that uses meditation or hypnosis to recover memories of past lives or incarnations. There are many stories to reinforce the theories of reincarnation and past life memories, including some modern scientific evidence. Therefore, many occultists believe that we lived earlier lives, perhaps many of them. There are certain theories that also express that what we are in this life is the karma or the results of our previous births.

A past life regression recording can help with this technique. Binaural recordings help your brain to oscillate between frequencies that influence dreaming and your waking activities and lets you get to a state in between that helps in understand your past life. Once your brain starts reading these frequencies, then it becomes very easy for you to recall memories of your past life.

The frequencies that are relevant to these techniques are the alpha frequency, where you are completely aware and totally active; and the theta frequency, that helps in dreaming and other related activities. It is therefore necessary to oscillate between the frequencies of the alpha and the theta levels. It helps your brain to get into the alpha and theta frequency states at the required levels so that you are able to easily recall your past life memories what you were and what you did. You can learn many things from your past lives, including skills, and you may even discover things to help you understand the purpose of your current life.

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In occultism, a lucid dream is a dream where the person knows that they are dreaming and can then try to control things in the dream. This is a stage beyond a dream being merely vivid. In a lucid dream, it is possible to do anything the dreamer desires, with a popular experience being flying. Some people have lucid dreams for spiritual reasons, as it is possible to do similar things as during astral projection.

Dreaming, waking up, sleeping all events that are controlled by the brain and the brain in turn is controlled by the various frequency levels that operate in and around the physical being. The frequencies related to dreaming and lucid dreaming are the theta frequency range, which is when you are capable of dreaming, and the delta frequency when you are deeply asleep. The alpha frequency state is the state when you are wide awake and your mind is active.

When you are sleeping, your brain is in the delta stage and once it reaches a high, it gets into the next frequency level of theta where the process of dreaming begins. These dreams are the ones that you have no conscious control on. Once you reach the theta level, you need to have enough expertise to pick up the alpha frequency whereby you are awake but immediately you need to drop back to the theta state even before you are fully awake. The truth is that since you went into the alpha frequency state, you did wake up and so did your subconscious, but then since you dropped back into theta you shall continue to dream. Since you are awake and aware of the fact, you realize you are dreaming while you are dreaming and therefore you have the power to control this whole activity because of this realization. In a lucid dream your can achieve what is not possible in normal waking life, making it an ideal place to practice magic and divination.

The key to lucid dreaming is the ability to change your brain frequencies; if there is an external stimulator it can help. Lucid dreaming binaural beat music can help you get to a stage of lucid dreaming easily. It is most ideal if you wake up from deep dreaming, then go back to sleep in the state of blissful sleep while you are listening to binaural frequencies. Your subconscious will awaken, but since you start sleeping again, you will be able to dream – so you will know you are dreaming, moving into the lucid dreaming state.

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Astral projection, also known as astral travel, is a popular technique for out-of-body experiences. For some people astral projection is spontaneous, however it may also be practiced intentionally. While it is possible to have an experience where you are ‘really there’ (and can sense, feel, and see your body) it is just as common for the projection to be experienced entirely in the mind, as a type of willed daydream.

Astral projection can provide an out of the world experience, transforming you into a rejuvenated and highly energetic person. You are mind can traverse so many different places while your body remains in the same physical location. For example, you might be laying on your own bed, in a darkened room, but your mind could be roaming around in other realms – both ‘real world’ and astral realms, such as exploration of the pathways of the Tree of Life.

Traditionally, occult practices range from inducing trance states to the mental construction of the Body of Light (a second body, described in Aleister Crowley’s writings), through visualization and controlled breathing, followed by the transfer of consciousness to the secondary body by a mental act of will.

In modern times, the use Binaural Beats to entrance the mind can be very useful for anyone wishing to experience astral projection. It has been observed that Alpha and Theta frequencies (between 5-12 Hz) can cause a shift in consciousness which many people find leads to a separation of the conscious mind from the physical body.

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The letters INRI come from the initials of the phrase inscribed on the cross of Jesus at his crucifixion. It stands for “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum” (“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).” In Magick and Alchemical symbolism this keyword, INRI, stands for “Igne Natura Renovatur Integra“, that is “The whole of Nature is renewed by Fire“. This is a fundamental principle of Spiritual Alchemy that the removal of the superfluous by Elemental Fire does not destroy, but rather renews. Fire is a purifying force, by which nature is renewed. A perfect symbol for this is the Phoenix.

The letters INRI also represent the Hebrew words for the elements. I for Yam = Water, N for Nour = Fire, R for Ruach = Air, and I for Yebeshas = Earth.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn converted these letters into their Hebrew equivalents and gave them the attributions of I = Yod = Virgo, N = Nun = Scorpio, R = Resh = Sun, I = Yod = Virgo. This final Yod/Virgo is dropped as it is repetitious. Note that this also creates a full circle, which is contained ing the symbol of the Ouroboros, self devouring serpent. The Ouroboros represents the transformation of each of the elements into each other, and from the Prima Material (spiritual) to the Physical (Magickal Elements) and on to the Divine Quintessence (Spiritual, Renewed).

Following on, these attributions are transformed into the corresponding Egyptian deities: Virgo = Isis, Scorpio = Apophis/Set, and Sol = Osiris. This again symbolizes the cyclic process of creation (Isis, mother of all things), the destruction (Apophis slays Osiris), and renewal (Osiris risen). This is seen in the seasons, The Sun (Osiris) dies every Winter and is reborn every Spring.

Using the initials of these Eyptian gods we get IAO which forms the name of the Gnostics Supreme God. Following the Egyptian mythology, we find the ritual LVX signs. The L sign representing Isis in mourning, V the sign of Apophis and Typhon, and X the sign of Osiris risen. These signs, when taken as Roman letters form the word Lux, Light.

Via this complex magickal process the magickal elements of INRI are transmuted into LVX, light. If we treat LVX as Roman numerals we get the number 65 which has the same numeric value as the Hebrew word Adonai (ADNY). Adonai means “My Lord,” which symbolizes an Adept’s task of uniting himself with her Higher Self.

The pentagram is one symbol heavily associated with magick and wicca. It is a very ancient symbol with the first known drawings of a pentagram dating from 3500BC at Ur in Ancient Mesopotamia. The Hebrew people considered it to be a symbol for the truth and representative of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Old Testament). The Ancient Greeks, such as the Pythagoreans called the symbol the Pentalpha, as it can also be composed of 5 A’s (or Alpha’s). The pentagram is a symbol of the microcosm (man) as opposed to the macrocosm (the universe/God), which is symbolised by the hexagram.

The pentagram is the simplest of all geometric stars. It is generally formed by marking 5 equal points on a circle and drawing connecting the diagonally opposite points. When contained within a circle is is called a circumscribed pentagram or a pentacle.

Alternative ways of constructly a pentagram are by extending lines out from the sides of a pentagon out until the these lines meet at a point or by creating lines between the diagonally opposite corner points within a pentagon.

The elements are represented on the pentagram with Quintessence (Spirit) at the top, the highest point, symbolically representing perfection and attainment, as this Fifth Element only comes into existence when the four primary elements (Earth, Air, Fire and Water) are in harmony. Moving clockwise around the points of the pentagram the elemental correspondences are Water, Fire, Earth and Air.

The placing of the magickal or alchemical elements on a pentagram is similar to the four elemental squares of John Dee’s ‘Great Tablet of the Watchtowers’. The pentagram has the elements in the same places as the corresponding squares, with the top point, Quintessence, corresponding to the ‘Tablet of Union’. The two top squares of the ‘Tablet of the Watch Tower’ are Air and Water, which correspond to the middle two points of the pentagram, while the lower two squares, Earth and Fire, correspond to the lower two points of the pentagram respectively.

The Inverse Pentagram

It is only in modern times that the Inverse or Inverted Pentagram (two points at the top, one point at the bottom) has become associated with black magick and Satanism. In the ancient world there was no distinction relating to the orientation of the points.

With regards to the Magickal Elementals, an inverse pentagram would have the Quintessence, Spirit, at the lowest position, with the physical lower elements above it. This is certainly symbolic of the Left Hand Path concept of a physical path, over a spiritual path.

In magickal ritual an elemental pentagram is traced in the air either with the index finger or a magickal working tool. A pentagram is always invoked starting at the elemental point. If a banishing pentragram is required it is formed moving away from the elemental point. The elements are represented on the pentagram with Spirit at the top, and moving clockwise around the points the elemental correspondences are Water, Fire, Earth and Air.

This practice is analogous to what is desired within the ritual, either invoking forces (drawing them in) or banishing them (sending them away).

The nature of the elements is that they are not fixed, and under constant transmutation. Thus there attributions at the cardinal points vary from ritual to ritual, and concept to concept. The elements attributed to the cardinal points of the magick circle are based on the nature of the winds. The Easterly wind is attributed to Air, the Southerly wind is attributed to Fire, the Westerly wind is attributed to Water, and the Northerly wind is attributed to Earth. The center of the circle is Spirit.

The magick circle can be seen to be a complex symbol in itself, the practitioner within the centre taking on the role of the Quintessence (Spirit) as he is creating and giving life to circle.

The Archangels invoked at each cardinal point are derived from the first chapter of Ezekiel: “1:10 Regarding the form of their faces, each had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left and the face of an eagle.” This symbolism can be seen in the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

To the East (Air) is Raphael (Healing of God) who is represented by Man, symbolizing the mental properties. To the South (Fire) is Michael (Like God) who is represented by the Lion symbolizing Will. To the West (Water) is Gabriel (Mighty One of God) represented by the Eagle. To the North (Earth) is Uriel (The Light of God) represented by the Bull.

This first matter has been described in various ways. It has been described as water, but not in the sense of the water we drink but instead it is a smoke or humid vapour, thick and dark.

The famous alchemical write Antoine-Joseph Pernety wrote: “Thales, Heraclitus, Hesiod, have regarded water as the First Matter of things. Moses appears, (Genesis, Chap. 1), to favor this idea by giving the names Abyss and Water to this First Matter; not that he understood water as the element which we drink, but as a kind of smoke, a humid vapor, thick and dark, which is condensed, more or less, according to the greater or less density of the things which has pleased the Creator to form from it. This mist, this immense vapor, was condensed or rarefied into a universal chaotic Water, which thus became the principle of all for the present and for the future.”

The four alchemical elements are conditions in which a substance is found. This is comparable to the modern conditions of solid, liquid, gas and radiation. Fire has the properties of heat and dryness (expansion), Water the properties of coldness and wetness (contraction), Air the properties of heat and wetness (expansion), and Earth the properties of dryness and coldness (contraction).

In Nature and the Physical World, the alchemical elements are always found mixed in varying quantities. They are never found by themselves. The alchemical elements undergo constant transmutation in a life, death, and rebirth cycle as part of the substance which they form. An example of this process is a tree. While it is living it can be said to be ruled by Water (contraction and dampness). When the tree dies the wood is transmuted into a dry hard substance, and is said to be ruled by Earth (contraction and dryness).

There is a fifth element in Alchemy known as Quintessence, or Spirit. The Quintessence is the fifth essential property, the spirit or life-force of an object or thing. The Quintessence (fifth element) only comes in to existence when the four prime alchemical elements are brought together into a state of equilibrium or harmony. This is essentially what the process of alchemy is about.

The Book of Genesis reveals the formation of the World from the Prima Materia (Prime Matter) as an alchemical process that begins with the First Light (Fire). This Fire was congealed into Water, then separated by Air. The lower Waters congealed into Earth. The Prima Materia is separated into base matter, purified and brought into equilibrium to create divine matter.