Resources
Art and Sigil Supplies
Alchemy Works: special inks, seeds for Witch herbs, and much more—www.alchemy-works.com
Blick Art Materials: Don’t have an art supply shop near you? Check out www.dickblick.com
’ Craft Rituals: ritual ink, grimoires, and more—www.kevencraftrituals.com
Rosarium Blends: sigil ink and paper, among other lovely things—www.rosariumblends.com
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Bibliography and
Suggestions for Further Research
Art, History, and Culture
If you’d like to find out more about some of the artwork and cultures I have mentioned, here is a list to get you started. When it comes to art history and anthropology in general, try to find the most current versions of textbooks, as new information and research is always being uncovered.
Courtney-Clarke, Margaret (photographer). Imazighen: The Vanishing Traditions of Berber Women. Essays by Geraldine Brooks. New York: Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1996.
Critchlow, Keith. Islamic Patterns: An Analytical and Cosmological Approach. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 1999.
Edwards, Betty. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. 1979. Reprint, New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, 1999.
Lewis-Williams, David. The Mind in the Cave: Consciousness and the Origins of Art. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002.
Lewis-Williams, David, and Thomas Dowson. Images of Power: Understanding Bushman Rock Art. Johannesburg: Southern Book Publishers, 1989.
Morphy, Howard. Aboriginal Art. London: Phaidon, 2007.
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History, Volumes I and II. New York: Prentice Hall, 1995.
Von Petzinger, Genevieve. The First Signs: Unlocking the Mysteries of the World’s Oldest Symbols. New York: Atria Books, 2016.
General Symbols and Magic
To check out the Key of Solomon and other esoteric works in the public domain, head over to www.esotericarchives.com.
Bruce-Mitford, Miranda. The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols. New York: DK Publishing, 1996.
Lunde, Paul, ed. The Book of Codes: Understanding the World of Hidden Messages. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2009.
Paine, Sheila. Amulets: Sacred Charms of Power and Protection. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2004.
Parker, Derek and Julia. The Power of Magic: Secrets and Mysteries Ancient and Modern. London: Mitchell Beazley, 1992.
Pennick, Nigel. The Book of Primal Signs: The High Magic of Symbols. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 2007.
Pepper, Elizabeth. Magic Charms from A to Z. Newport, RI: The Witches’ Almanac, Ltd., 1999
Ronnberg, Ami, and Kathleen Martin, eds. The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images. London: Taschen, 2010.
Austin Osman Spare
Interested in reading more about AOS and his influence on chaos magic? (A glass of whiskey is recommended as well.) Many of the books on AOS and his work are hard to find and/or rather pricey, but a good Google search will also get you excerpts of texts and PDF resources.
Baker, Phil. Austin Osman Spare: The Occult Life of London’s Legendary Artist. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2014.
Carroll, Peter J. Liber Null & Psychonaut: An Introduction to Chaos Magic. York Beach, ME: Weiser Books, 1987.
Grant, Kenneth. Images and Oracles of Austin Osman Spare. Edmonds, WA: Holmes Publishing Group, 2003.
Spare, Austin Osman. The Book of Pleasure (Self-Love). 1913. Reprint, Calgary, AB: Theophania Publishing, 2015. Also available in PDF format online.
Good Starting Places to Explore Other Symbol Systems
There are many, many symbol systems out there. I’ve selected a few really good books in case you’d like to investigate some of the ones not covered in this book. These are ones that all have a home in my personal library.
Dominguez, Ivo, Jr. Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans. San Francisco, CA: Weiser Books, 2016.
Flowers, Stephen E. Icelandic Magic: Practical Secrets of the Northern Grimoires. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2016.
Gray, Eden. A Complete Guide to the Tarot. New York: Crown Publishers, 1971.
Laurie, Erynn Rowan. Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom. Stafford, UK: Megalithica Books, 2007.
Paxson, Diana L. Taking Up the Runes: A Complete Guide to Using Runes in Spells, Rituals, Divination, and Magic. Boston, MA: Weiser Books, 2005.
Magical Herbalism
Paul Beyerl’s books are full of herb lore, history, uses, and magical associations—it’s definitely worthwhile to have at least one of them in your library. Scott Cunningham’s book is also an easy-to-use guide that tends to be readily available. Harold Roth’s book focuses on thirteen specific herbs for Witchcraft, but what is especially wonderful about it is that he focuses a lot on the growing aspects and working with the plants versus just lore, use, and history.
———. The Master Book of Herbalism. Custer, WA: Phoenix Publishing, 1984.
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1999.
Roth, Harold. The Witching Herbs. Newburyport, MA: Weiser Books, 2017.
Witchcraft and Paganism
There are many, many books on Witchcraft and Paganism out there, so here are a few of my favorites that I always recommend.
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler: If you’re interested in learning more about modern Paganism, this is the number-one book I recommend for getting an overall look at the history of Neo-Paganism and many of the branches you will find. Alas, Margot passed away in 2014, so we won’t get any further updates from her, but I hope someone will carry the torch and keep track of cultural developments for a future edition.
Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente: If you’re looking to find out more about Witchcraft, the first book I always recommend is Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente, the mother of modern Witchcraft/Wicca. Much of the beautiful poetic language that you can find in Wicca came from Doreen, and she continued to research historical Witchcraft and folklore after parting ways with Gerald Gardner. I love her attitude and her no-nonsense approach, seasoned with a dash of whimsy. Also check out her books Natural Magic and The Rebirth of Witchcraft.
The Witch’s Book of Power and The Witch’s Book of Spirits by Devin Hunter (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2016 and 2017). If you’re looking for something more recent, with a more modern take on Witchcraft, check out these two books by Devin Hunter. The latter is especially good if you’d like to read more in depth about working with spirits, deities, and other entities.
Interested in learning more about Modern Traditional Witchcraft? Visit www.moderntraditional witch.com to get started. I started the website in 1998, so it’s been going a long time and was recently revamped. It also has more books for you to check out. For weekly ramblings, follow my blog at Patheos, A Modern Traditional Witch.
With the rising cost of print media, there are fewer hard-copy Pagan magazines on the market, but a subscription to Witches & Pagans magazine from BBI Media will definitely make you and your mailbox happy. You can also enjoy their online blogosphere at www.witchesandpagans.com. If you’re into reading blogs, check out the wealth of Pagan voices you can feast your eyes and brain on at www.patheos.com/Pagan.
[contents]
Index of Symbols
anchor, 29, 70, 137
arrow, 45, 47, 76, 85, 99, 137, 165, 167, 168, 170, 171, 174, 182
bowl, 162, 167, 172
butterfly, 71
chevron, 12, 19, 28, 40, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 55, 85, 162, 173, 176-178, 182
circle, 12, 19, 40, 64, 66, 84, 125, 142, 146, 162, 163, 169, 172, 174, 176, 182
colors, 7, 10, 21, 38, 82, 116
crescent, 54, 99,
146, 162-167, 172, 173, 176, 182
waning, 54, 182
waxing, 54, 165, 167, 182
cross, 12, 28, 44, 46, 169, 174
diamond, 53
directions, 47, 60, 76, 99, 136, 177
dot, 7, 12, 14, 19, 23, 28, 38, 39, 40, 42, 77, 84, 85, 168, 169, 173, 174, 176, 182
closed, 39, 40, 174
open, 40, 168
elements, 59, 63, 74, 79, 111-114, 136, 182, 201
eye, 64, 165, 172
flower, 74, 177
hand, 9, 12, 14, 16
heart, 12, 62, 99, 162, 163, 169, 170, 174
hexagon, 57, 58, 60, 84
hourglass, 65, 170
infinity, 65, 77, 147
key/keyhole, 68
leaf, 74, 85, 165, 165, 173
letters, 3, 26, 37, 38, 81, 132, 149, 167
lines
dashed/dotted, 42
diagonal, 19, 41, 43, 46
horizontal, 41, 44, 48, 52, 74, 137, 144, 165, 172, 174, 177
vertical, 19, 41, 44, 48, 52, 61, 85, 144, 169, 173
wavy, 12, 14, 19, 21, 48, 49, 85, 167
zigzag, 12, 14, 49
mandorla, 63, 64, 85, 168, 173
numbers, 38, 77, 149
pentagon, 55, 57, 58, 171
polygons, 58
rectangle, 52
scales, 69, 99
shield, 19, 31, 53, 56, 66, 162, 169
spiral, 12, 14, 19, 21, 53, 55, 56, 57, 62, 99, 147, 162, 168, 169, 173, 177
spoon, 73
square, 51-53, 84, 136, 176
star, 12, 23, 56, 59-61, 77, 85, 137, 143-145, 165, 167, 170, 171, 174, 177, 179, 182
five-pointed, 56, 59, 143-145, 182
six-pointed, 12, 60, 77, 144, 170, 177
seven-pointed, 145
eight-pointed, 61
triangle, 12, 27, 28, 45, 50, 53, 60, 63, 74, 84, 144, 162, 163, 167, 170, 174, 177
vesica piscis, 63
wheels, 66
wings, 67, 177
X, 12, 46, 61, 66, 76, 144, 174, 177
zodiac, 79, 77
[contents]
The Witch’s Cauldron
The Craft, Lore & Magick of Ritual Vessels
Laura Tempest Zakroff
Explore the spellbinding history, tradition, and modern uses of the Witch’s cauldron. From blessing and using your cauldron in ritual and divination to practicing kitchen witchery with it, this easy-to-use book provides essential information for Witches of all ages and skill levels.
The Witch’s Cauldron shows you the ins and outs of one of the most iconic tools in Witchcraft. Learn about the cauldron’s role in lore and mythology, its development through the ages, and old-world witchery. Discover how to choose, personalize, and care for your cauldron, and find unconventional ones already in your home. This entertaining book also features advice and spells from well-known writers, helping you delve into the endless possibilities for using a cauldron in your practice.
978-0-7387-5369-0, 288 pp., 5 x 7
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit Llewellyn.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Witchy Crafts
60 Enchanted Projects for the Creative Witch
Lexa Olick
The most powerful magical objects a Witch owns are those she makes with her own hands. When it comes to crafting, however, it is difficult to find projects that reflect the magical arts. Jam-packed with fun and imaginative ideas, this unique book is designed specifically for Wiccans, offering step-by-step instructions for 60 delightfully witchy craft projects.
Weave magic into essential ritual items such as your Book of Shadows and wands. Create magical home décor and concoct recipes for health and beauty. Learn to make a goddess cornucopia, crochet pentacle coasters or a ritual capelet, recycle old tarot decks, make runes out of bottlecaps, create accessories like bags and jewelry, and build a charm box.
Witchy Crafts also gives tips on the basics of Wicca, forming a craft group, crafting by the seasons, and preventing common mistakes. Includes color photos, line drawings, and correspondence charts.
978-0-7387-2618-2, 312 pp., 7 x 10
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit lLlewellyn.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Wandlore
The Art of Crafting the Ultimate Magical Tool
Alferian Gwydion MacLir
This enchanting, one-of-a-kind guidebook is for anyone who’s ever wanted to know how magic wands work or longed to have a real magic wand of thier own. Written by the foremost authority on the making of wands, this book is the first devoted solely to the art of wandmaking and its mysteries. It approaches the craft from its theoretical foundations, through the selection of wood and the art of carving, to the enchantment and dedication that charge a wand for magical use. Readers will discover how a tree branch is transformed into a wand of magic, gain an understanding of the tree spirits, or dryads, and learn about stones and their powers. This book reveals the true use of phoenix feathers and unicorn hair as wand cores. No magician, Witch, or Druid should be without this groundbreaking work.
978-0-7387-2002-9, 288 pp., 7 1⁄2 x 9 1⁄8
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit Llewellyn.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Magical Candle Crafting
Create Your Own Candles for Spells & Rituals
Ember Grant
Add a spark of enchantment to your spiritual path by learning to handcraft your own candles—a powerful way to infuse personal energy into your magic.
Filled with candle recipes and spells, Magical Candle Crafting is a hands-on guide for making votive candles using inexpensive, easy-to-find items. Ember Grant takes you through each step, from mixing the wax to adding ingredients to charging your candle with energy. Learn to craft candles for rituals specific to the elements, chakras, moon phases, planets, and sabbats. Create spell candles for prosperity, love, romance, inspiration, and many other goals. The included timing guidelines and correspondences—herbs, essential oils, symbols, and chants—will further empower your magical intent.
Complete with design and decoration ideas, this book is perfect for all magical practitioners and those curious about spiritually mindful candle crafting.
978-0-7387-2135-4, 264 pp., 7 1⁄2 x 7 1⁄2
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit Llewellyn.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Henna Magic
Crafting Charms & Rituals with Sacred Body Art
Philippa Faulks
Henna has been used for centuries by cultures around the world for mystical, medicinal, and decorative purposes—and its allure continues to enchant millions of people today.
Henna Magic is the first book to explore the magical uses of this natural, non-permanent form of body art. Learn about henna’s fascinating history and its traditional uses in various cultures, and discover how to create original henna tattoos that resonate with your spiritual intention. Through easy-to-follow steps, you will learn to mix henna paste, incorporate magical herbs and oils, prepare the skin for application, and create designs to turn every occasion, ritual, and spell into a beautiful expression of power.
Also included are design ideas for specific areas of the body, concise explanations of the significance and meanings of symbols, and a thorough exploration of magical, planetary, herbal, and elemental correspondences to enhance your spiritual practice and spellcraft.
978-0-7387-1915-3, 288 pp., 7 1⁄2 x 7 1⁄2
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit Llewellyn.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Mixing Essential Oils for Magic
Aromatic Alchemy for Personal Blends
Sandra Kynes
This straightforward guide will help you understand how to choose the best oils for your own creative and magical mixing. Not only will you find step-by-step instructions on how to measure, mix, and assess blends, but you will also gain a full understanding of essential and carrier oils and how they work together.
Mixing Essential Oils for Magic is divided into three sections: the historical background of oils and their present-day uses, an encyclopedic listing of plant profiles from which essential and carrier oils come, and thorough cross-references for the oils and their magical associations. Learn about the historical uses of scent in ritual, how to blend oils by botanical family, scent group, perfume note, or magical association, and also how to make unique mixes an integral part of your spiritual and magical practices.
978-0-7387-3654-9, 336 pp., 7 1⁄2 x 9 1⁄8
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit Llewellyn.com
Prices subject to change without notice
Practical Sigil Magic
Creating Personal Symbols for Success
Frater U ... D ...
Practical Sigil Magic by Frater U ... D ..., Europe’s best-known ceremonial magician and contemporary occult author, is widely regarded as the definitive guide to the topic. Unavailable for a number of years and long sought-after by ceremonial magicians, mages, and hermetic practitioners, this classic work is now available once again.
Sigil magic is one of the most efficient and economical of magical disciplines. It can be performed without complicated rituals or paraphernalia, is independent of philosophical and dogmatic premises, and can be learned easily and quickly. Most important, it will give even beginners the immediate chance to convince themselves of its power and their own abilities. This classic reference work will provide magicians from novice to adept with instruction that will empower and advance their magical practice.
978-0-7387-3153-7, 168 pp., 5 3⁄16 x 8
To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD or visit Llewellyn.com