Understanding Real Magic -Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Understanding Real Magic

By Ian Allan

When I was first learning about Witchcraft I was always concerned about doing majick the right way. As time would go by I would learn all of the different definitions of majick, and all the different ways to create it and wield it. Ultimately, the best lesson that I feel is important is understanding energy flow and work. Specifically, how the energy flows through a person, a tree/plant/etc, and how it connects to the Divine. A Witch connecting to their Divinity (however, you define that as such) is where power can be greatly magnified and focused for the Witch's desired goal.
Aleister Crowley wrote that magic is “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will.” Dion Fortune and Starhawk wrote that magic is the art of changing consciousness at will.” Both definitions are accurate and helpful. 

However, real magic is more than just changing consciousness and reality at will. Magic is truly more than projecting will into thought forms. It doesn’t just happen in the mind or just on astral planes of existence. It is also more than just something we do to control the world around us or to manifest our desires (Curott, p28).

Magic is what happens when you have encountered the Divine. It becomes a life changing experience of connecting to the divinity that lives inside you and the world. Real magic is your relationship with the immanent divinity, and it how you craft yourself as a Witch (Curott, p29).

    When we craft magic it is a co-creation of reality between the Witch and the Divine. Real magic becomes a manifestation of the Divine in the world. 

So how does one encounter the Divine? 

The Divine is encountered by shifting our perception (altering our consciousness). Meditation can create this. Meditation, however, does not need to always be Zen meditation. Meditation happens in different ways. But it happens when we can get our minds clear enough to focus on only one thought or idea thus creating a sacred space inside ourselves. Creating a sacred space within yourself is helpful in that it is like building a temple where we can realize the Divine dwells. 

Opening yourself up to the Sacred, you will begin to see that you don’t have to be in an altered state to have magical experiences to know that the Sacred is present.We all have magical encounters everyday regardless of how psychic we may think we are. 

Exercise: Finding the Divine Presence 

Begin with a quiet meditation. Count yourself down with the Alpha meditation if you need to. Or use another way to slip into a meditative state. As  you feel peaceful and calm focus on a memory of an occasion when you were aware of the presence of the Divine. What did it feel like? When did it happen? Focus on the physical and emotional responses of that encounter. Allow yourself all the time you need to feel now as you did then. Take your time with this meditation. Ask the Divine, the God and Goddess, or both to be with you and to guide you. Stay in this physical and emotional state until you are ready to return to your wakeful state.

Exercise: Grounding and Centering

It is important to know how to ground and center yourself especially when working magic. The act of using and moving energy can sometimes leave residual energy in the Witches’ body, and this can sometimes make the Witch feel sick or dizzy. Knowing how to ground the energy and center the body is helpful in avoiding these reactions. One way to ground and center the energy is the Tree Meditation

The Tree Meditation

After doing any meditation or magical work you may find it necessary to dispel some left over energy.

Sit quietly (if you can sit outside by a tree all the better, but if you can’t you can sit where you are). Feel your body and your seat. Breath deeply and visualize roots growing from your seat down through the floor reaching to the ground. As they puncture the ground visualize a green energy flowing up the roots, and into your body. 

As the energy fills your body visualize branches growing from your head, and reaching up into the sky. Continue visualizing the energy flowing up the earth, through your body, into the branches, and see the branches reaching back down to the earth where the energy then flows back out into the ground. Continue with this visualization for a few minutes or until you feel your body returning to normal. When you are ready visualize the roots and branches pulling back into your body. Once fully retracted. Take a deep breath and slowly return to the space you are in. 

This mediation can also be done to heal your body with the energy of the earth. However, instead of growing branches out and back to the earth you will pull the energy up from the earth and move it to the area of your body you need healing, and allow it to fill the space with its earth energy. And then create a cycle of the earth’s energy filling the space, and the illness’s energy being cycled down to the earth.

Source: Witch Crafting; Curott, Phyllis

Planting by the Signs: Planting Rules part 3

Planting by the Signs:

Planting Rules: part 3

The first basic concept is to plant in the Light of the Moon (1st and 2nd Quarter) for crops that produce above ground. The Dark of the Moon (3rd and 4th quarter) for crops that will produce their yield below ground. Both planting Light or Dark of the Moon should take place when the moon is in one of the fruitful signs or even semi-fruitful. 

That is the basic concept. However, let's examine it a little closer, and look at the fruitful signs. 

The Moon Phases

1st Quarter: Best for above ground crops, and annuals that produce their seeds outside of the fruit. Many of these will be leafy green vegetables. This is the best quarter to plant your grains.

2nd Quarter: This quarter is also good for above ground crops, but is better for annuals that produce their seeds inside the fruit. This is the quarter best suited for peas, beans, peppers, pumpkins, squash. It is also good for planting grains.

3rd Quarter: Best for root crops. These will include your bulbs, perennials and even biennials. This is the proper quarter for planting those crops that will be harvested in the Spring and planted in the fall. Ideal for all trees, shrubs, and bushes, as well. Crops such as radishes, potatoes, carrots, and beets are best planted during this quarter. 

4th Quarter: Less desirable than the 3rd Quarter, but can still be planted in for root crops. Generally, this quarter is seen as a non-planting phase. It is useful for weeding, hoeing, and destroying pests (especially if done during a barren sign). 

The Signs

The Signs you want to plant in are going to be the Fruitful signs. There are semi-fruitful signs, as well, that you can plant in if you must. However, if you can plant when the moon is in the fruitful sign it is best to do so then.

Cancer: The most fruitful sign. It rules the breast and the stomach. This sign will give you quicj germination, good growth, and good yield. Cancer is ruled by the Moon thus giving it a natural affintiy for the Moon's energy and growth. 

Scorpio: 2nd most fruitful sign. It rules over the "secrets", aka the genitals. Its ruling planet is Pluto and seconded by Mars. It is excellent for planting and transplanting since Pluto and Mars together give their energy of "rebirth" and "action". The moon is Scorpio is ideal for producing strong vines and sturdy plants. Tomato and corn are two ideal crops to be planted during this sign.

Pisces: Rules the feet, and is the 3rd most fruitful sign. Pisces is ruled by Neptune making it a great sign for plants that are root crops and need osmosis. 

Taurus: Rules the neck and throat. It is a semi-fruitful sign and is an earth sign. It is good for root crops when quick growth is desired. It is ruled by Venus meaning it is good for procreation, offspring, and fruitfulness in general It is good for lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables.

Capricorn: Rules the knees, and is the 2nd in the semi-fruitful signs. It will produce rapid root growth where root, stalk, or pulp is desired. It is not a good sign for grain planting. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn which rules farms and farming so that is a positive. However, it also rules other areas such as: constraint, barren ground, poor circulation, starvation, and barriers (among other restrictive energies). So while Capricorn is an earth sign it is an unforgiving earth sign. Capricorn can produce decent growth, but do not expect more than is earned if you use this sign. 

Libra: Rules the reins, aka the Kidneys. It is the only masculine and air sign that is semi-fruitful. What makes this sign decent for planting is that its ruling planet is Venus. Which we have already discussed is good for procreation, offspring, and fruitfulness in general. Libra, however, is not good for food producing crops, but is better suited for ornamental gardening. If it is beauty gardening you are going for then Libra is the prime choice planting. 

Sample Chart of Popular Plants/Crops 

Plant/Crop	Moon Phase  *indicates 2nd Phase choice	Signs for Planting
Beans	2nd *1st	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra, Taurus
Biennials	3rd *4th	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Bulbs	3rd *4th	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Capricorn
Bulbs (for seeds)	2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Capricorn
Corn	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Cucumbers	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus
Grains	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra
Lettuce	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Libra
Peppers	2nd *1st	Scorpio, Taurus, LIbra, Cacner, Pisces
Perennials	3rd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Capricorn, Libra
Pumpkin	2nd *1st	Scorpio, Taurus, LIbra, Cancer
Tomatoes	2nd *1st	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus

Planting by the Signs: Part 2 Prepping

Prepping the Soil

source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/503558802057717528/

Part two's focus is on prepping the soil, fertilization and cultivation. Each practice is important to have proper growth for your plants and crops. Each also has its own moon phase and sign to consider when approaching the job. 

Tilling (prepping the soil before planting)

source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barnardo_boy_ploughing_C_1900.gif

When it comes time to till the soil you want to turn it during the Light of the moon. This will be during the 1st and 2nd quarter moon phases. The preferred signs are the barren signs (Leo, Gemini or Virgo). Since you are tiling the soil you want the ground to stay light and easily broken. The clods of dirt will be easily raked into the beds and rows. This occurs when you till the earth during the light of the moon because the moon's energy is growing and expanding making the soul more easily turned. 

On the other hand if you wait until 3rd or 4th quarters of the moon to till you will find that the dirt is hard and compacted. The moon's energy is waning and thus contracting. It causes the dirt to clump. This will also affect the dirt after your planting causing the dirt to pack in hard around the roots. 

Why Barren Signs for Tilling?

So why do we wait for the moon to be in a barren sign for tilling the earth? When you till the earth you aren't just digging the earth up for planting. You are also digging the roots up to expose, kill, and remove them. That is the main purpose of the barren signs. To kill the weeds and their roots to protect your future plants. The three barren signs for tillign are Leo, Gemini, and Virgo. They are listed here in order of most destructive and thus preferred order for tilling. (Aquarius and Aries are also barren signs, and can be used should the moon not pass into one of the other three during the Light of the Moon phase when you need to till). You have 14 days for the Light of the Moon (1st and 2nd Quarter phases) the moon will move into a one of the barren signs  during that time. Always till while the moon is growing in its energy and power. 

Leo-The Heart. Till the earth during this sign because it is a fire sign. It'll burn the roots. Being that it rules the heart it will bleed out the life force of the exposed weeds and roots.

Gemini- The Arms. A lot of farmers prefer Gemini to Leo. It is an air sign. Tilling during the sign of Gemini will cause the roots and weeds to dry out. It will blow the life out of what is exposed. 

Virgo-The Bowels. While some people don't think of Virgo as being the best sign to use for killing roots because Virgo (the virgin) is an earth sign the forget that the virgin is barren. She will not reproduce and tilling the soil under her sign will make the uprooted weeds the last of their line.

Cultivation (hoeing, weeding, shallow tilling)

While the first tilling is performed during the Light of the Moon preceding tilling (the shallow tilling with a hoe or tiller) will take place during the Dark of the Moon. It needs to be done during the 3rd and 4th quarter phases of the moon and when the moon is a barren sign. 

The hoeing and shallow tilling is not concerned with the making sure the dirt down near the root system soft and supple. This cultivation is concerned with the weeds you are uprooting near and around your plants. Thus it is concerned with the upper layer of the earth. This is why you want to use the Dark of the Moon. 

Using the Dark of the Moon you are using the declining energy of the moon, and this helps destroy the weeds. As mentioned above with the barren sign when it comes to tilling applies here too. You want to cultivate in the barren signs of Leo, Gemini, Virgo, Aquarius, or Aries. 

Fertilizing

Fertilizing your plants has to two factors to consider. The chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers, and the signs under which to use them. 

The signs under which to spread the fertilizer are the fruitful signs: Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

If you are using a chemical fertilizer you want to apply it to your plants under the 1st or 2nd quarter of the moon. Why? Chemical fertilizers are not in absolute concord with the soil and plants it is being applied to as it isn't fully of the natural world. This causes them to not be naturally absorbed by the plants Thus, applying it under the Light of the Moon aids in the break down of the chemicals and helps the plants to integrate the fertilizer. 

Organic fertilizers need to be applied when the moon is in its 3rd or 4th quarter. Since they are organic they are part f the natural world. That makes them part of the natural order of plant life. Because of this spreading the organic fertilizer during the Dark of the Moon hastens the process of organic decomposition. 

Watering and Irrigation

Generally, all gardens have to watered some time. Common sense (and the rules of the Signs) dictates that you should water your garden when the moon is in one of the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces). Should one of the water signs not be near on the calendar the earth signs Taurus or Capricorn are generally helpful. 

Watering or irrigation of the garden is not overly controlled by the phase of the moon. Keep in mind that deep watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering. Deep watering is the process of drenching the plant's root system to make sure it gets adequate water absorption. The water should soak about 8 inches or more below the soils surface. 

When it comes to phases of the moon and watering you might want to consider irrigation under the 1st or 2nd quarter as opposed to the 3rd or 4th quarters. Since the moon's energies are influx during the Light of the Moon it will aid in absorption of water, especially for fruit/vegetable growth. 

Planting by the Signs - Primer part 1

Planting by the Signs

A Basic Primer, part 1

Some basics in understanding how to plant by the signs is to understand how the Moon moves through the sky. It moves into a new sign approximately every two and half days. Each sign is connected to the parts of the human body (this is considered Rulership), is barren, fruitful or semi-fruitful, is connected to one of the four elements, and is either masculine or feminine.
If all you can keep in your head is what each sign is in connection to its barrenness or fruitfulness will be immensely helpful.

Sign	Rulership	Symbol	Barren or  Fruitful	Element	Masculine Or Feminine
Aries	Head	Ram	Barren	Fire	Masculine
Taurus	Neck	Bull	Semi-Fruitful	Earth	Feminine
Gemini	Arms	Twins	Barren	Air	Masculine
Cancer	Breasts	Crab	Fruitful	Water	Feminine
Leo	Heart	Lion	Barren	Fire	Masculine
Virgo	Bowels	Virgin	Barren	Earth	Feminine
Libra	Loins	Scales	Semi-Fruitful	Air	Masculine
Scorpio	Genitals	Scorpion	Fruitful	Water	Feminine
Sagittarius	Thighs	Archer	Barren	Fire	Masculine
Capricorn	Knees	Goat	Semi-Fruitful	Earth	Feminine
Aquarius	Legs	Waterman	Barren	Air	Masculine
Pisces	Feet	Fish	Fruitful	Water	Feminine

Now that you have that chart its important to understand the Moon phases and how they affect the plants, seeding, cultivation, and even soil preparation. The Moon has four phases known as quarters when it comes to discussing planting by the signs. 

Moon Phases

1st Quarter - 7 day period of the lunar month starting with the new moon. In almanacs and on calendars it is usually depicted as a full circle dark colored moon. 

2nd Quarter- 7 day period following the 1st quarter and goes until the full moon. It is usually depicted as a colored in crescent moon. 

3rd Quarter- 7 day period of the lunar month starting with the full moon. It is depicted with a full circle empty moon shape.

4th quarter- 7 day period leading to the new moon. It is usually depicted as an empty crescent moon shape.

During the 1st and 2nd quarter is what is referred to as the Light of the Moon. Those 14 days of the month are when the moon is growing stronger. It is also referred to as the waxing moons. This is the time of the month that gardeners will focus on above ground growth plants. 

During the 3rd and 4th quarters the moon is referred to as the Dark of the Moon. This is the 14 day period between the full moon leading to the new moon. The moon is also referred to as waning during this period. Gardeners will focus on root crops or plants that need to develop a deep root system. 

Planting tips under the Phases

During the first quarter of the moon you will focus on planting things that will seed outside of the fruit. During the second quarter of the moon the focus is on plants that seed inside the fruit. The 3rd quarter is best for root crops or plants that need a developed root system. 

Here is a small chart to give you an easier idea (once you understand the theory it will be easy to determine under which moon phase to plant what crop).

New Moon 1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	Full Moon 3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Grains	Beans	Beets	Same as 3rd Quarter, but not as productive
Strawberries	Eggplant	Carrots
Asparagus	Melons	Rutabaga
Cauliflower	Flowers	Onions
Cucumbers	Pumpkins	Potatoes

So how do you figure out what sign the moon happens to be in on any particular day? The easiest answer is get a good almanac. The almanac will have the calendar with the sign the moon is in for the time zone that it was created in. So there is a little math you may have to do if you aren't in the exact time zone as the almanac calendar is written in. Even if you live in the eastern time zone but the almanac time is set to the Boston time zone and you live in Knoxville Tennessee the sun will rise at a slightly different time than that of Boston. So you have to make an adjustment for the longitude of where you live. I am using the example provided in the book Raising with the Moon by Jack R. Pyle and Taylor Reese.

"As an example: The Time given in the almanac for their calculations is for Greenwich, England, or 0 degrees longitude. If you live in Peoria, Illinois, you must determine the degree of longitude for that city. Peoria is 89 and half degrees west of 0 degrees. Multiply this figure (89 and a half) by four, and that is the difference in time (minutes). If you live west of the longitude where the almanac calculations are made, you add this amount of time to the time given; subtract it is you live east of it. In this example 4 x 89.5=358. Each hour has only sixty minutes, so the difference here is 5 hours and 58 minutes, to be added to the time given in the almanac, because Peoria is west of Greenwich, England."

The math can sometimes get a little confusing. I am sure there is probably an app for your phone, or a website that will figure out the math for you. I don't know one off the top of my head, but if you do know one please comment below with that information! It would be immensely helpful!

Okay so for a part 1 of a primer I think this is quite a lot of information to absorb at first. Once you know what phase the moon is in, and what sign the moon is in (following the chart above) you will be able to start using this traditional method of planting and get in tune with Lunar, Solar, and Earthly powers!

I plan on doing a series of these posts examining planting by the signs more in depth. Be sure to follow, share and comment!