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Lesson 2: Getting Started

Practice schedule: Cross of power daily, Meditation at least weekly, Candle Meditation three times a week, Mental magick as needed.

Magick clothing: When working rituals or even in meditation practice it is often helpful to wear special clothing. The most commonly used ritual wear is a robe and a cord or belt. You can simply use a plain white tee shirt until you can buy or make a robe. Special clothing such as a robe etc.. are not necessary to working magick or developing your spirituality. In fact you can wear any clothes or simply go naked (sky clad) if conditions and privacy permit.

There are basically three types of fibers available. Polyester is an artificial petroleum product and is usually frowned on in magick, as is plastic, even though we use candles which are also petroleum products. Polyester ,while convenient, simply put tends to inhibit energy flow. It also does not feel so good against the skin, and so is not recommended. Animal derived materials such as leather, silk and furs tend to insulate energy flow. They are good for wrapping magickal items in, but can sometimes transfer there vibrations to what they protect. Plant fibers such as cotton tend to allow energy to flow better and so is the ideal material for magickal clothing. It also works great for spell bags as it allows the power to be released.

You can find many patterns for making a basic robe. The best to use for the beginner is a basic T pattern. You can make a very simple robe by taking a length of cotton material cut to the length of the distance from your chin to the floor times two. So if your measurement is 5 feet from chin to floor you could cut a piece to 10 foot. It can be shorter if you like, 7 or 8 feet should put it near your knees. Cut a hole in the top for your head and stitch around the hole and edges. White is the standard colour choice of beginners. You do not want long sleeves, as beautiful as they are, because they can catch on fire from the candles! Your robe can help you get in the mood to work magick, meditate and practice divination.

You can also make a ritual cord, though a belt works well too. Take about 33 feet of black cotton cording and cut it once at about 11 feet long. Fold the 22 foot long piece in half, loop it and tie a knot connecting the halfway point of the 22 to the end of the 11 foot piece. Braid the cord as you chant something like "Made to measure wrought to bind Blessed be This cord entwined". Now tie a knot in the end. The cord can then be consecrated by casting a circle and passing the cord through incense smoke and sprinkling it with holy water.

Basic circle: You will need an alter for many of your practices and spells. You can begin with any table or box. A dresser top suffices for many. Place a white candle in the center towards the back, please do not use a wooden candle holder. You will also need a small bowl of water, a small dish of salt, an incense burner or bowl of sand/dirt, some incense such as sandalwood, some incense charcoal to burn it on or stick or cone incense, matches and a white alter cloth. You may want to mark out the circle in masking tape or with some rope. Make your circle about 6 feet wide with the alter in the center. You can easily do this by laying a 6 foot strip of tape where you want the circle. Then place another running across it half way down so you have a 6 by 6 foot equal armed cross on the floor. Use a 3 foot long string secured to the center to find the perimeter of the circle. After you have marked off the circle you can remove the tape forming the cross.

For your layout you can find many examples of simple alter layouts in many books and websites so I will not cover that more.

Light your candle and touch the edge of your charcoal to the candle flame. Note; incense charcoal is not what you bar-be-que with! Please only use incense charcoal and read the directions on the container. The charcoal will spark and crackle, this is normal. When it starts to spark quickly place it on the sand/dirt in your censer/ incense burner. If you are using stick or cone you will light it after you have charged it later.When you do, blow out the flame when you see a red "cherry" on the tip. Be careful not to burn your fingers.

If you like you may now sprinkle a small amount of salt on to the floor on the perimeter of your circle, thus making a circle of salt. This is messy however, and I usually just just skip this and put some salt into the water to make holy water and sprinkle the area with that later. 

Take a moment to relax and breath deeply.  Focus on the top of your head, and hold this breathing deeply until you feel a sensation there. You may either focus now on your left palm or the pointer finger of your dominate hand. The Orders teachings begin with using the left palm, most others tell you to use your dominate hands pointer finger. I have not noticed a difference as the energy can be projected from anywhere on your body with the same results. When you gain a certain level of focus you can use your mind alone and simply visualise a circle around you and it will work, but for now use your hands to project the energy. Begin in the east and walking clockwise visualise an electric blue flame going out from your finger or palm to the edge of the circle. Keep breathing deeply. When you have walked the entire circle back to where you began, just stand there for a moment and visualise the glowing blue circle of power around you. Now walk again around the circle chanting this or some other circle invocation : I conjure you o circle of power that you shall be a boundary between the world of man and the realms of the mighty ones. A guardian and protection for the power raised within you. As I will so mote It Be! You should memorize this or any other words of power you use to cast a circle, but this chant works very well. After you have become proficient in circle casting you can chant this as you visualise the blue energy projection, but in the beginning it is best to concentrate on one thing at a time.

Now hold your hand over the salt and project the same electric blue power into it, breathing deeply of course. Do the same for the water and incense. Take three pinches of salt and add them to the water saying any appropriate words, or none at all. Sprinkle some incense on the charcoal if you are using charcoal, or light your stick or cone. Now walk around the circle sprinkling the charged salt water clockwise. Place it back on your alter and do the same with the smoldering incense.

Consecrating your clothes: If you can place your robe on the alter do so. If your alter is too small you can lay it in front of the alter. Sprinkle it with water as you say By the power of earth and water I cleanse you! Pass the robe through the smoke of the incense and say By the power of air and fire I cleanse you!

Now charge the robe with the same blue power you cast your circle and charged your holy water and incense with. You may want to chant this or some other words three times :O mighty Creator from this hour, Robe me in your strength and power. Earth, moon, stars and sun. By the four elements let this be done! Then say this in a loud and forceful manner: As I will so mote it be!

Put your robe on and place the cord on the alter. Cleanse and charge it the same way saying three times : Made to measure Wrought to bind Blessed Be this cord entwined. Again finish by forcefully saying: As I will so mote it be!

Tie the cord around your waist. There are several ways to tie one on. The easiest is to make a small lope on one end, this loop goes to your left. Run the other end through the loop and back to your right. Now make a half hitch by running the cord under and up between you and the cord, this will leave a loop outside the cord away from you. Drop the free end of the cord down through this and pull snug. This cord is now a circle around your body and will provide psychic protection. It can be worn when working almost any magick or at night during sleep if needed.

Opening the circle: Now to finish the ceremony, for charging objects or healing someone that is present go back to the east and reabsorb the blue circle of power around you walking counter clockwise. If it is for magick to effect something outside the circle you may wish to visualise the energy going out to that goal. You may say this or some other words :The circle is now open but unbroken, may the Creator be with me guiding me and guarding me in all that I do. Put out the candles and if you sprinkled a salt circle sweep it up counter clockwise.

While I am on the subject of charging things I think you should know that on the magickal plane positive energy repels negative. Energy going in a clockwise manner will repel negativity, and as like attracts like positive vibrations will attract positive energy. This is why we move clockwise when casting a circle. Also clockwise, also called sunwise, increases, or raises energy, as we call it. Counterclockwise, also called earthwise, grounds the power out. We cast a circle clockwise to raise power and open it counterclockwise to remove it. When raising energy, what you don't use must be grounded out into the Earth. To leave psychic or spiritual energy in unnatural concentrations without intent can cause problems. It can attract unwanted attention from the astral planes in the form of dis-incarnate entities (spirits, ghosts, etc..) and from practitioners of the occult who follow a darker, more self serving path.

If you are working in a group the same procedure is followed for basic circles, only several people will do the work instead of just one. Energy can be raised very simply by holding hands and chanting with focus, on the desired outcome, just like in mental magick. Energy is drawn up through the feet and down through the crown into the center of the body. The solar plexus works best for projecting power this way. When everyone is full of power the leader will direct everyone to begin circling the power clockwise. This may be done by squeezing hands or beginning to slowly walk and eventually building up to skipping clockwise in the circle. The whole time continuing to breath in the power from the Earth and Universe. When the power peaks the leader will give a signal and the power will be released. Usually everyone will collapse to the ground at this point.

Colour magick: Modern science and psychology has confirmed what spiritually sensitive people have always known, that colour affects us as human beings. Jails and other such facilities are painted a shade of blue green because it calms and soothes people. Marketing specialists have used this knowledge for years, albeit in a different way than we do. That is why packaging can influence your purchasing choices!

Basically, colour magick works because everything is in a state of vibration. The faster the vibration the less dense it is. Different colours also vibrate at different rates. These vibrations are energy. When you employ a colour you are using its vibrations and its energy to change yourself and the world around you. The following is directed at candle magick, but the information is applicable to all uses of colour magick, from selecting ritual or street clothes to some forms of stone divination and magick. The Order also teaches the the most effective burning times for each colour.

White: Is a combination of all colours and can be used as a substitute for any colour but black. White works well for cleansing and blessing rituals. White candles are common in protection spells when silver is not available. White candles are often used for religious rituals and meditation. There is no special burning time for a white candle.

Red: This colour is for passionate love, power, healing and physical strength. It gives courage, vitality and prolongs life. Red corresponds to Mars. The suggested burning time is one hour.

Orange: This one takes away pain and suffering. It can be used with red to facilitate healing. Orange corresponds with the sun and can be used in spells and meditations involving the ego. An orange candle should be burned for two hours.

Yellow: A yellow candle is burned to attract riches and bring cheerfulness. Yellow corresponds to Mercury and so can be used for all intellectual pursuits and communication. If you want information to come to you, use yellow. It also helps in testing and learning. Its time frame is three hours.

Green: Green is another good healing colour, but is gentler in nature than red. It is used for all growing things from plants to money. Protection, food, business, jobs, luck and gambling all fall under greens influence. Green is a colour of Venus and of the Earth. It is used with brown in working tree magick. There is no specific time frame for burning a green candle.

Blue: This colour is used in rituals involving water, rain and protection. It can be used with pink for heterosexual love spells. Blue corresponds to Jupiter and so brings long term wealth and control over your life. Light blues tend to calm and subdue, dark blues can be oppressive. Bright or royal blues can help you regain control when things get out of hand. This colour is not suggested during depression. Burn blue candles for three hours.

Purple: This colour can break spells, both those you have cast and any cast on you. It stimulates psychic abilities and can also be used for sex rituals. It can also help you develop your innate divine powers. Burn purple candles for one hour.

Violet: this colour is used for understanding spiritual mysteries, hidden things and secrets. This colour also helps to develop unused portions of the brain and higher psychic and spiritual faculties. It has no set burning time.

Indigo: Difficult to find candles in this colour, indigo, a very deep reddish purple, helps to manifest psychic and spiritual gifts. It stimulates the third eye and is good for vision and the eyes. Substitute purple if indigo is not available. Like purple indigo should be burned for one hour.

Brown: Earth tones like brown and reddish brown draw Earth energy. Brown protects from illness and brings harmony with the earth element. This colour brings stability in all endeavours and is especially good for spells for your home. Burn brown to bring things into physical manifestation. After you have attained a goal with another colour use brown to keep it. Brown also helps to relieve stress. Brown brings slow and steady progress and prosperity. It is used in any magick worked for animals and can be used with green to gain the power and wisdom of the trees. Burn slow working brown for twenty-four hours, jar or seven day candles work best for this.

Pink: This colour is used with blue to represent the female in heterosexual love spells. A pink candle can bring babies, good health and helps to develop the heart chakra. It has no set burning time.

Black: Often feared in our modern culture black candles are used to remove things from your life, not to kill or curse others. Remember, what you send out returns three fold! It expels enemies from your way, banishes problems, connects you to the dead and is useful in drawing power to you from the depths of space and the mind. Black also absorbs power, so can be used like a battery, charge a black candle over several sessions and then burn it to release the power. It corresponds to Saturn. Black can be burned for one hour or until burnt out.

Gray: A combination of white and black, grey neutralizes other forces. It conceals your activities and can shroud your mind from psychic intrusion. It can be very useful in magick working with fog. It can also cause confusion when used on another, so only use grey candles on yourself. burn gray candles for thirty minutes in the early morning and late evenings or during heavy fogs.

Silver: Use silver candles to protect against negative forces. Silver is the best for protection and for breaking spells. Silver corresponds to the Moon and should be burnt in three sessions, but has no set time frame. Please note that most silver candles have a this foil wrapper on the outside.

Gold: Gold corresponds to the Sun and attracts positive energy and wealth. It brings vitality and power. It can be used to bring fame, though this often interferes with the metaphysical pursuits taught by the Order. Burn gold candles for one hour. Please note that most gold candles have a thin foil wrapper on the outside.

Unlike some systems with very complicated candle rituals where several colours are used the Order advocates keeping it simple. I agree with this mostly.If you are doing a ritual try to use the appropriate colour as much as possible, in magick nothing invokes a specific power or energy like excess! If you are doing a love spell and using red candles, also use a red alter cloth, a red robe, a red incense, red coloured oil, red symbols and any other way you can work red into it. You might eat red foods before the ritual or drink red juice, tea or wine. Red make up can also be worn. When doing a ritual you want to keep a specific type of energy, and you want it as strong and concentrated as possible. Using several energies can dissipate the power of the ritual. If you are going to combine colours or energies you should only work with two or three at the most. Red and pink work for romantic love. Red and purple for very sexual love. Purple and silver for breaking spells. Purple or blue and silver for protection. Red and green to vitalise and heal and so on. When working magick try to use colours that compliment each others energies. When raising power, however, you can use opposites, but alternately. Switch from black to white. Red for fire and blue for ice/water. Gold and silver for the Sun and Moon. These are more advanced techniques and I will leave it up to you to experiment, with caution, how the power of colours effects you.

Preparing candles for ritual use:Cast a circle as in the basic circle casting above. Lightly wash the candle with salt water and then pass it through the incense smoke like you did your robe. This will cleanse the vibrations of the candle. This method works for any object that will not be harmed by water.

Take the candle and hold it in both hands, breath deeply and focus on your desired outcome. Using a large nail or knife (cleanse them first), inscribe what you want to happen on the candle. You can write it in a short phrase in English or carve symbols representing your desire. Charge a small amount of oil with your desire. Olive oil is an all purpose oil, later you will learn to make and use more specific oils, but for now just use olive oil. Rub some of the oil on your palms and rub your hands together vigorously. Concentrate on breathing deeply and keep focused on the outcome. When you can hold your hands out in front of you about three inches apart and feel the power you are ready. Grasp the candle, again focused on your intent, and rub the candle. To make something happen, increase, heal attract something or any other intent where your energy must go forth, begin in the middle of the candle and rub out towards the ends. To decrease, remove or banish rub from the ends in towards the center. The direction of the rubbing is not a hard and fast rule, just do what feels right here. Keep up the rubbing for at least five minutes. By rubbing the candle while concentrating on the desired outcome you are actually impregnating the candle with your magickal energy and will. You may find chanting out loud or in your head helps to maintain focus. End by quickly and tightly squeezing the candle and forcefully saying As I Will So Mote It Be!

Place the candle in its holder on the alter and light it. Now is the time to begin the ritual. If you are charging an object like a charm, talisman or amulet it would now be placed on the alter in front of the candle. If you are doing a healing you would begin that.This is also the time to do the mental magick you learned in lesson one. As you progres through these lessons you will clearly see how each builds on the basics you learned in earlier lessons. You don't need long drawn out complicated rituals to get results. The basics are very potent in themselves, but what you can add to them from later lessons will increase that power. Real magick is not very complicated, it just requieres some work, dedication and persistence. All you really need to work magick is the nessicary energy, intense consentration, faith in your self and some practice.