Solitary Pagan

A Glossary of Divination X

XYLOMANCY is divination from pieces of wood, either from their shape when collected or their appearance while burning.

A Glossary of Divination T

TASSEOGRAPHY is the reading of tea leaves that remain in a tea cup once the beverage has been drunk. TEPHRAMANCY is divination by ashes obtained from the burning of tree bark. TIROMANCY is a type of d...

A Glossary of Divination S

SCIOMANCY is divination using a spirit guide, a method generally employed by channelers. SCRYING is a general term for divination using a crystal, mirrors, bowls of water, ink, or flames to induce vis...

A Glossary of Divination R

RADIESTHESIA is the general term for divination using a device such as a divining rod or pendulum. Other forms include “table tipping” which was practiced at the White House in the 19th century, the O...

A Glossary of Divination P

PALMISTRY is the broad field of divination and interpretation of the lines and structure of the hand. PEGOMANCY concerns itself with spring water and bubbling fountains and the omens contained therein...

A Glossary of Divination O

  OCULOMANCY is divination from a person’s eye. OINOMANCY is divination using wine. OMPHALOMANCY IS counting the number of knots in the umbilical cord to predict how many more children the mother...

A Glossary of Divination N

NUMEROLOGY is the numerical interpretation of numbers, dates, and the number value of letters.

A Glossary of Divination M

MARGARITOMANCY is the procedure of using bouncing pearls. METAGNOMY is the divination using “visions” received in a trance state. METEOROMANCY is divination from meteors. METOPOSCOPY is the reading of...

A Glossary of Divination L

  LAMPADOMANCY is divination using lights or torches. LECANOMANCY uses a basin of water for divination. LIBANOMANCY is the study of incense and its smoke. LITHOMANCY is divination using precious ...

A Glossary of Divination H

HALOLMANCY see ALOMANCY HARUSPICATION IS fortune-telling by means of inspecting the entrails of animals, as practiced by priests in ancient Rome. HIEROMANCY or HIERSCOPY is divination by observing obj...

A Glossary of Divination G

GASTROMANCY is an ancient form of ventriloquism whereby the voice is lowered to a sepulchral tone and prophetic utterances are delivered in a trance state. GELOSCOPY is the divination from the tone of...

A Glossary of Divination D

DACTYLOMANCY is an early form of RADIESTHESIA using a dangling ring. DAPHNOMANCY requires one to listen to laurel branches crackling in an open fire. DEMONOMANCY is divination with the aid of demons. ...

A Glossary of Divination C

CAPNOMANCY is the study of smoke rising from a fire. CARTOMANCY is fortune telling using cards such as the Tarot. CATOPTROMANCY is an early form of crystal gazing that utilizes a mirror turned to the ...

A Glossary of Divination B

BELOMANCY is an ancient form of divination performed by tossing or balancing arrows. BIBLIOMANCY involves divination by books. BOTANOMANCY is divination from burning tree branches and leaves. BUMPOLOG...

A Glossary of Divination A

AEROMANCY divination from the air and sky, particularly concentrating on cloud shapes, comets, and other phenomena not normally visible in the heavens. ALCHEMY is the practice of transmutation of base...

Symbolism for Divination W

● Well- blessing from the Goddess, inspiration, spirituality, health ● Wheel- completion, eternity, season/life cycles, rebirth, gains ● Windmill- business dealings, factors working together for one g...

Symbolism for Divination U

● Umbrella- temporary shelter, limited protection ● Unicorn- purity, nature, fairy blessings, Otherworld intervention

Symbolism for Divination T

● Tree- blessings of nature, good fortune, stability, power, security ● Turtle- fertility, security, defense against obstacles, slow gains

Symbolism for Divination S

● Salt- purity, stability, cleansing, grounding ● Scales- balance, justice, careful evaluation ● Scissors- duplicity, arguments, separation, division, strife ● Shell- Goddess, emotional stability, luc...

Symbolism for Divination R

● Ring- eternity, containment, wheel of life/year, wedding ● Rose- love, lost or past love, fullness of life, healing, caring

Symbolism for Divination P

● Palm Tree- respite, relief, security, protection, blessings ● Parrot- gossip, flamboyance ● Peacock- luxury, vanity, baseless pride ● Pineapple- hospitality, good things hidden by harsh exterior ● P...

Symbolism for Divination M

● Man- visitor, helpful stranger ● Mirror- reversal, knowledge, karma ● Moon- the Goddess, intuitive wisdom, guidance ● Mountain- hindrance, challenge, obstacle, journey, steadfastness ● Mouse- povert...

Symbolism for Divination L

● Ladder- initiation, rise or fall in status, connections ● Lion- power, strength, influence, ferocity, pride, domination ● Lock- protection, concealment, security, obstacles, sealed

Symbolism for Divination K

● Key- understanding, mysteries, opportunity, gain, security ● Kite- warning for caution, new ideas ● Knot- restrictions, marriage, bindings ● Knife- duplicity, misunderstanding, direct action

Symbolism for Divination H

● Hammer- hard work rewarded, building, creativity, fortitude ● Hat- honors, rivalry, independence, self-assertion ● Hound- advice, help given, companionship, trust ● Heart- love, pleasure, confidence...

Symbolism for Divination G

● Glove- protection, luck, aloofness, nobility, challenge ● Gate- opportunity, advancement, change, new directions ● Gun (any type)- power to gain goals, discord, slander, infidelity

Symbolism for Divination F

● Fan- indiscretion, disloyalty, things hidden, inflammations ● Fence- retention of possessions, defense, isolation ● Fish- riches, luck, sexuality, productivity ● Flag- warning, defensiveness, identi...

Symbolism for Divination E

● Egg- increase, fertility, luck, creativity, new start, hoarding ● Eye- introspection, awareness, evaluation, spirit

Symbolism for Divination D

● Dagger- complications, dangers, power, skill ● Distaff- creativity, changes, sexuality ● Dog- fidelity, friendship, companionship, faithfulness ● Duck- plenty, wealth, success ● Elephant- advice nee...

Symbolism for Divination C

● Castle- financial gain, security, inheritance, life of bounty ● Cage- isolation, restriction, imprisonment, containment ● Cat- wisdom, spiritual access, female friend, domestic strife ● Car- local t...

Symbolism for Divination B

● Basket- gift, security, comfort ● Baby- new interests, security, new beginnings ● Bees (hive, comb)- fertility, industry, community, self-sacrifice ● Bell- celebrations, news (good or bad, depending...

Symbolism for Divination A

● Acorn- youth, strength, man, small start for large accomplishment ● Airplane- travel, new projects ● Anchor- voyage, rest, problem solved, security ● Arrow- news, disagreements, direct action

Mirror Divination

One of the most ancient forms of divination is crystallomancy or catoptromancy, performed with a magic mirror. The Magi of Persia are said to have used mirrors, as well as the ancient Greeks and Roman...

Ouija Boards

Today, most people look at Ouija boards  and think, “Why would you want to open the gates of Hell?” It wasn’t always that way, however. The Ouija board came straight out of the “Spiritualism” movement...

Cauldron Divination

Divination is an art that has been practiced in one form or another since ancient times and in all levels of culture. There are a number of ways in which a cauldron can be used for divining. One metho...

Numerology Divination Techniques for a Solitary Pagan Practitioner

Numerology is a technique that involves using numbers to gain insight into different areas of life. Practitioners may use techniques such as calculating a person’s life path number or using the letter...

Pendulum Divination Techniques for a Solitary Pagan Practitioner

A pendulum is a small weight that is suspended from a string or chain. To use a pendulum for divination, the practitioner holds the weight steady and then asks a yes or no question. The pendulum will ...

Runes Divination Techniques for a Solitary Pagan Practitioner

Runes are a set of ancient symbols that were used by the Germanic and Norse peoples for divination. They consist of 24 or 25 small stones or tiles, each with a different symbol carved into it. To use ...

Tarot Cards Divination Techniques for a Solitary Pagan Practitioner

Tarot cards are a popular divination tool that can provide insight into a variety of different areas of life. They consist of a deck of 78 cards, each with its own unique meaning. To use tarot cards f...

Scrying Divination Techniques for a Solitary Pagan Practitioner

Scrying is a technique that involves gazing into a reflective surface, such as a crystal ball or a mirror, in order to gain insight and guidance. The practitioner may see images, symbols, or other vis...

Divination Techniques for a Solitary Pagan Practitioner

Divination is a practice that has been used for centuries by people of different cultures and religions to gain insight into the unknown. For Solitary Pagans, divination is a powerful tool that can be...

Altar Objects

This is a general term for the objects that youplace on your altar – candleholders, flowervases, crystals and so forth – which do notnecessarily have a specific magical use of theirown; they are prese...

Talismans, Amulets and Charms

These devices use all the other forms of magic intheir formation, but principally representationaland symbolic magic. They are ‘charged’ (givenpower) magically and usually are worn orcarried on the pe...

Symbolic Magick

In this system different symbols, rather thanobjects, are used to represent various ideas,people or goals. These symbols can be personalto you, or such things as Tarot cards, runes,Hebrew letters or n...

Representational Magick

Representational magic involves using anobject that represents something or someonefor whom you are working the spell. It helps inconcentrating the energy and visualizing thedesire and the end result....

Knot Magick

Knot magic works partly with the principle ofbinding, which is a type of bidding spell, andalso with that of weaving, which wastraditionally a female intuitive occupation. Itutilizes ribbon, rope, str...

Crystal Magick

Every stone or gem has its own attribute whichcan be used in magic. Crystals are used extensively in healing because of the vibrationalimpact they can have. Because of this, they lendthemselves to the...

Candle Magick

In candle magic, man discovered the ability tocontrol light and this is one of the oldest formsof magic as well as one of the most simple.Using candles to symbolize ourselves and ourbeliefs means that...

Herbal Magick

Herbal magic is often used alongside many other forms of magic. Used as talismans and amulets – for example in a pouch or bag – herbs become protective; the oil from herbs can also be used in candle m...

Colour Magick

Perhaps the simplest form of magic is thatwhich involves colour. This method of workingis also used in conjunction with various otherforms of magic. Colour can enhance, alter andcompletely change mood...

Elemental Magick

IN THIS PARTICULAR type of magic theElements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water aregiven their own directional focus to createadded power and give extra energy to yourspells. You will no doubt find that yo...

Invoking Water Element

Water is the Element of the West and is represented by a bowl of water or a goblet of wine or fruit juice. Its color is blue and, because it represents the giving of life, it is associated with the El...

Invoking Fire

Fire is the Element of the South and is usually represented by a candle or a cauldron with a fire inside. Its color is red and its associations have to do with power, determination, and passionate ene...

Invoking Air

The direction of this Element is east and the colour usually associated with it is yellow. Incense is often used to represent Air since the movement of the air can be seen in the incense smoke. When y...

Invoking Earth

Traditionally the direction of this Element is north and the colour normally associated with Earth is green. It is represented on the altar usually by salt or sand. Crystals, because they are totally ...

THE ELEMENTS

In most systems of magical working you willfind mentioned the four (or sometimes five)Elements, often in conjunction with theirdirections or, as they are known in magic,quarters of the universe or car...

Incantations

This type of spell prepares the magical workerand his helpers for further work by heighteningtheir awareness. It does not set out to call up thepowers, but appeals to gods, goddesses,powers of nature ...

Invocations

These call on what is believed to be the ultimatesource of power, which differs from spell tospell. Quite literally, they call up that powerand ask for permission to use this influence fora stated pur...

Healing spells and charms

Within this type of spell it is wise to go beyondthe presenting symptoms and to ask for healingon all levels of existence – physical, mental andspiritual – because the practitioner may nothave the kno...

Blessings Spells

These might be counted either as prayers orspells and need a passionate concentration onbringing, for instance, peace of mind or healingto the recipient. They hold no danger for thepractitioner but ar...

Bidding spells

These are spells where the spell makercommands a particular thing to happen, butwithout the co-operation of those involved.Trying to make someone do something whichthey do not want to do, or which goe...

Love spells

Many people’s first thought in this context is oflove spells – ways of making another personfind them sexually attractive and desirable. Intheory, love spells should be unconditional andthis type shou...

What We Are Drawn to

We do not control that which we are drawn to. Nor does it control us. Witchcraft is a symbiotic relationship between Witch and World, Living and Dead, Universe and Spirit. Growing on one another, feed...

Rage under The Morrigan

There is so much rage in the world now, and much of it is justified. The problem is that the rage in people becomes misdirected, lashing out wheresoever annoyance can be found. You’re allowed to...

The way of the witch was never meant to be easy

Witches do not walk in straight lines, in fact there are no lines, there are no rules to bind us, for we are free flowing entities of Nature. Walking in the peripherals has never been for the faint of...

The Magic of the Divine Masculine

Today’s “culture” (look up the etymology) invests so much time and energy toxifying masculinity, that the balance needs to be redressed. What do YOU think…? “The Magic of...

Discovering yourself as a Witch

Discovering yourself, and defining yourself as Witch can be as long or short of a process as you make it. Learning the vital differences, however subtle, between Jinxing, Hexing, Banishing, Binding an...

What is a Spell?

IN ANCIENT PAGAN communities the elders, orwise ones, had, by their very experience, anawareness of custom and a firm grasp ofwhat had previously worked when trying togain control over Mother Nature a...

Modern Magick

Today there is a rich heritage of magical practicesand beliefs on which we can call to satisfy ourneed for control over our own lives. Whereconventional religion no longer offers an outletfor our sens...

Magick, Curiosity, Exploration & Secrecy

Curiosity, exploration and secrecyOne of most interesting characters from earlytimes was Abraham Abulafia (1240–95), whomade available much arcane knowledge, whichultimately formed the basis of Kabbal...

Defining Magick

IT IS SOMETIMES best not to attempt anydefinition of ancient magic and magicalbelief. However, in any discussion of magicand its practitioners we must take account of aperiod in which the magical trad...

Ancient Beliefs and Magick Practices

Ancient beliefs and practices are the mainstay ofmagic. Modern-day spells often have their rootsin ancient rituals and today’s rituals arise fromknowledge of age-old spells.While we might make an atte...

Sacred Geometry

SACRED GEOMETRY MEANS different things todifferent people. The artists of theRenaissance period discovered theGolden Mean – a ratio which helped them to construct a perfect picture, calculated as1:l.6...

The main Feng Shui schools

Over the centuries many different schools ofFeng Shui have developed. The basic principlesare broadly the same, though each school has aslightly different focus. There are three mainschools in existen...

Feng Shui

ONE OF THE most important adjustmentsthat we can make as we begin to workconsistently with magic is to theenvironment in which we live and to our ownpersonal space. As we reach an internal peacewe cre...

Geomancy

THE WORD GEOMANCY (from the Latin geo,‘Earth’, mancy ‘prophecy’) had a differentmeaning in ancient times from that it hastoday and we shall deal with that aspect first. Itwas a method of divination us...

Customs Associated with Birth

There are, in fact, several customs associatedwith birth and the surrounding period whichhave survived without people today necessarilyappreciating their magical significance. In Celticlore, the ‘toad...

To Protect a Newborn Baby

This spell uses crystals and symbolism. Theblue stone is reputed to bring about harmony inrelationships and to help its wearer to be true tothemselves, and to be able to openly state theiropinion. The...

Protections and Purifications

There are many folkloric remedies for the evileye, ranging from painting an eye on the prowof a boat in the Mediterranean, supposedly tooutstare the sorcerer, to passing a plate filledwith burning coa...

Antler Charm

YOU WILL NEEDPiece of deer’s antlerHair from a black mare’s tailSilver tip for the antlerCairngorm stone (a type of smoky quartz)METHOD✤ Wind the horsehair around one end of theantler at least nine ti...

Removal of the Evil Eye

YOU WILL NEEDLemonIron nailsMETHOD✤ Drive the nails with some force into the lemon.✤ Visualize the evil eye being pierced.✤ Keep the lemon for three days, by which timeit should begin to rot.✤ If it d...

Diagnosis of the Evil Eye

YOU WILL NEEDOlive oilBowl of waterMETHOD✤ Drip three drops of olive oil on the surface ofthe water.✤ Watch what happens.✤ If the drops remain distinct there is no evil eye.✤ If they run together ther...

THE EVIL EYE

The evil eye is an ancient, widespread anddeeply held belief in more than one third of theworld’s cultures, but is particularly stronglyfeared even today in countries of Mediterraneanorigin, and also ...

SHAPE SHIFTING

Spells designed to bring about a difference inbodily appearance in order to dissolvemischievous enchantments by the fairy folk orfrequenters of the lower world were legion inmost cultures. In Celtic l...

Winter’s End

YOU WILL NEEDWhite candleCorn dollyFireproof receptacleEither the sticky burrs from a cleavers plant(which has a cleansing effect) or several pieces ofpaper on which you have written your irritationsM...

Making a Corn Dolly

YOU WILL NEEDTwo small handfuls of corn stalksGreen and yellow wool or cottonTrailing greenery (ivy or grape vine are ideal)Appropriately coloured ribbons for the ritual(e.g. red or orange for Lammas)...

The Blending of Pagan and Christian Festivals

Ways of dealing with problems within the community, which used a blend of Christian and pagan rituals, was partly a product of the interaction between Christianity and paganism. Pagan belief demanded ...

Folklorist Belief

FOLKLORISTS MAY BELIEVE THAT the first festivals arose because of the anxieties of early peoples who did not understand the forces of nature and wished to placate them. The people noted the times and ...

Folklore

The majority of people who are new to spell working may at times acknowledge that for them common sense backed up by practical action is normally more productive than theoretical or mystical thinking....

Weight loss knot spell:

Cut a piece of yellow ribbon that’s the length of wrapping it around your waist once. Say, as you tie your knots: “By knot of 1, my overeating is done. By knot of 2, I exercise too. By kno...

Death and Resurrection in Pluto

Pluto in a nutshell is all about death and resurrection, the unknown and secrets, and cosmic purpose and destiny. But what about the moons? All of Pluto’s moons have great significance and are tied to...

What is it about mirrors that can fascinate and frighten us?

They have been around for thousands of years in one form or another, and over time so many folktales and superstitions have been developed around them. Going back to ancient times mirrors were used to...

FOLKLORE ON A Stopped Clock

Lets examine the curious and sometimes sinister superstitions that have grown up around clocks over the years, and related how a stopped clock was often related to a death in many folk beliefs. Now th...

Three Fires

Three fires are burning within me,three fires, no less and no more;three flames are flickering in methat drive me and dance at my core. The first is faith, the bright lanternwith a steady beacon of li...

What is Death Witchcraft?

Here is a few facts on Death Witchcraft. I personally define death witchcraft as working with and honoring spirits of the dead (ghosts, ancestors) as well as the power of death itself (endings, resurr...

A Witches Guide to the Pagan Summer Solstice Celebration

Litha, also known as the Summer Solstice, is a pagan holiday celebrated on or around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year, and marks the official ...

Fairy Witches: The Age-old Connection Between the Fay and Witchcraft

Today fairies are not just for little girls’ imagination, they’re for witches and magical practitioners too. There’s a magical trend – working with the unseen world, namely working with the fae. There...