Several Questions ...

[RubyRose]

Okay, I was reading (I have since finished reading) the book "Witchcraft: an Alternate Path by Anne Moura ... and a few questions have popped up, since doing so.

Q1~Is it necessary to "consecrate" the area (I currently keep all my wiccan supplies in a drawer in various boxes) or is it enough just knowing that the objects in the drawer have been consecrated?

Q2~ I'm currently still learning about the craft, but I was thinking about performing a self dedication ceremony in March when my year and one day studying is up, and am wondering if at that time I have to have all the basic tools (boline, couldran etc) as at present I don't have "everything" does it matter? Or can I continue to gain equipement after I'd dedicated myself ...

Note: I mainly want to dedicate myself for personal reasons, just a more concrete way (in my mind to say "I am Wiccan")

Q3~ When completing a spell using candles is it always necessary to bury the candles? Because at present I don't have a very big collection of candles, and I find it somewhat difficult to obtain some particular coloured candles (like Black Candles) I also feel that it would end up rather costly. Wouldn't it just be enough, to to cleanse the candles after each ritual, either by leaving them out under a full moon, or sprinkling salt and water over them?

Q4~ As I don't live in the United States, I think I may have trouble finding some more traditional American plants and flowers. For example, Ivy, Mistletoe and Pinecones (though I have seen pine cones in craft stores now that it's Christmas) Are there any other more Australian Yule decorations, or is it alright to use fake plants and flowers?

Q5~ When using oils, in a burner, which are best? Essential or Fragrant oils? Or isn't there a difference. Of late, I've been using Fragrant oils.

Well there's a few questions there, some were inspired from the book, and others just came to me.

Any help will be appreciated.

[jaiden]

Hmmm... Ruby... why not address these questions to Anne directly in her forum? It's right here in the Authors Circle... after all - it isn't too often you have a chance to interact directly with the authors, why not take advantage of it?

[RubyRose]

I did think of that, but for some strange reason, I popped this thread in here, I was hoping for other's opinions also ... might do up a thread in the authors forum also ...

[cloud]

Q3~ When completing a spell using candles is it always necessary to bury the candles? Because at present I don't have a very big collection of candles, and I find it somewhat difficult to obtain some particular coloured candles (like Black Candles) I also feel that it would end up rather costly. Wouldn't it just be enough, to to cleanse the candles after each ritual, either by leaving them out under a full moon, or sprinkling salt and water over them?
i cleanse mine afterwards. i agree with the $ issue.. that and i don't get to go shopping that often.

[RubyRose]

i cleanse mine afterwards. i agree with the $ issue.. that and i don't get to go shopping that often.

I'm the other way round, I go "shopping" a lot, but never have enough money ... lol

[Jenett]

Q1~ Consecration of storage space.

Personally, I'd cleanse/banish/consecrate the space for long-term use, just on principle. I don't think it's strictly necessary, but if you're setting aside a space to store tools in the first place, why not take a few extra minutes to focus on that space as well?

Q2~ Dedication

Dedication can indicate a desire to study further, or can commit you more strongly to a specific path (or deity). Do you think you need to have the tools you don't have yet to do that? Given that you're not working within a specific tradition, you'll need to make up your own mind whether those tools are necessary for what you're doing, or necessary for the work you want to do. If they're a 'nice eventually, but I'm not using it now', that's a different story from 'I feel the lack of this in what I'm doing'

Personally, I certainly am continuing to gain stuff after my initiation - in fact, about half the stuff currently on my altar came to me after my initiation. I was using other tools before that worked fine, but weren't necessarily aesthetically what I wanted long-term, or I've ended up being given gifts that are perfect.

Q3~ Candles:

Honestly, I think it depends. I reuse ones used for religious purposes all the time - but they're used for the same specific purpose over and over again. If I did spell work with candles, I'd either dispose of them after use, or make sure they were being used for the same basic purpose if I had to use them again. (i.e. I wouldn't take a candle, use it for one purpose, then try and cleanse it and use it for another purpose. While I think it's probably theoretically possible, it is messy in ways I don't care for.

There's a couple of choices here - one would be to find cheap candles somewhere. Another would be to have a collection of colored candles that you use over and over again, but where you use another (cheaper, white) candle for the actual spell work. You'd then discard that when you were done with it.) Another option if the color of the spell candle matters more than anything is to use a small birthday or party candle - they come in lots of colors, and are fairly cheap.

As far as disposal, I know some people who lightly melt the wax and repour it into a glass candle container with a wick: so you get layers of wax from all the different candles used. (You need to let it set between adding layers of wax). They light this not as a new spell candle, but as a reminder of what they did in the last year, and burn a little of it off regularly.

Q4~ Plant substitutions:

Honestly, it'd depend on what you were substituting for. If you just want decorations, then I'd go with what is available locally that's associated with a given time of year or holiday. (Not all of the plants you mention are equally available in the US or even in the UK, necessarily, either...)

If you're looking at a substitution for magical or ritual purposes (beyond seasonal decoration), your substitution is probably going to depend on what you're using it for. If there's a store that sells herbs, you can often find some suitable alternatives there, but you'd need to do the specific research depending on what you're working on.

Q5~ Oils:

I'd think it'd depend on the burner, and on the purpose: many people consider essential oils to have more magical/energetic 'oomph' than fragrance oils, but again, whether that matters for given use depends on what you're doing.

[RubyRose]

Thanks, very helpful Jenett.

[DebLipp]

Jenett gave great answers, but you did say you were looking for multiple people's input... ;)

Q1~Is it necessary to "consecrate" the area (I currently keep all my wiccan supplies in a drawer in various boxes) or is it enough just knowing that the objects in the drawer have been consecrated?

I don't consecrate my storage area. In a Wiccan ritual, the working space is consecrated each time when the circle is cast.

Q2~ I'm currently still learning about the craft, but I was thinking about performing a self dedication ceremony in March when my year and one day studying is up, and am wondering if at that time I have to have all the basic tools (boline, couldran etc) as at present I don't have "everything" does it matter? Or can I continue to gain equipement after I'd dedicated myself ...
As far as I'm concerned, your dedication is about you not your stuff. :D For me, the one thing I'd think was absolutely necessary would be the athame. I'd also make sure I had a robe if I was planning on using one as part of my rites. Also many traditions require a beaded necklace, if you want to follow that, you should have it before the dedication.

Q3~ When completing a spell using candles is it always necessary to bury the candles? Because at present I don't have a very big collection of candles, and I find it somewhat difficult to obtain some particular coloured candles (like Black Candles) I also feel that it would end up rather costly. Wouldn't it just be enough, to to cleanse the candles after each ritual, either by leaving them out under a full moon, or sprinkling salt and water over them?
Geez, I have about 5000 words on that in my book! The short answer is no, it's not always necessary. But for certain rituals you'd want to set the candles aside and not reuse them, or only reuse them for that purpose. For instance, I have black candles that I use in funerals. Once used, I'd never use them for anything other than a funeral.

Q4~ As I don't live in the United States, I think I may have trouble finding some more traditional American plants and flowers. For example, Ivy, Mistletoe and Pinecones (though I have seen pine cones in craft stores now that it's Christmas) Are there any other more Australian Yule decorations, or is it alright to use fake plants and flowers?
I would never use fake. It would be better to discuss this with an Aussie herbalist to find appropriate plant correspondences. Mistletoe represents eternity, pinecones represent rebirth; figure out what the meaning of the plants are in the ritual, and find appropriate native plants.

Q5~ When using oils, in a burner, which are best? Essential or Fragrant oils? Or isn't there a difference. Of late, I've been using Fragrant oils.
I don't think there's a technical meaning to the word "fragrant" oils. An essential oil is made from pure plant essence, and for that reason is very expensive. Several pounds of flower petals might go into that tiny vial of essential oil. In the U.S., anything sold under the name "essential oil" has to be the real thing. So, other oils, made with artificial chemicals in a lab, or diluted, or whatever, would be sold under some other name. If the same sort of thing is true in Oz, then "fragrant oils" might just be artificial ones.

Essential oils are always best, they have the life force of the plant. But you can't always get them and they cost a fortune. The best thing is to gradually acquire a stock of oils, and then add a few drops of the real thing to a base oil. Books like Magical Aromatherapy by Scott Cunningham give detailed instructions. As you're slowly building up an essential oil collection, use incense for pure plant essence, and the fake oils for nice smells.

[RubyRose]

Geez, I have about 5000 words on that in my book!
:lol: um, this is going to sound rather bad, but I didn't realise, half of the pagan authors that do exist, exist ...(mainly because, most books, aren't displayed on bookshelves, by some authors at the bookshops I frequent) ... but don't worry, I will (now that I know of you and your books) get around to checking out said books from the Library or Buying them ... hehehe ... yeah I'm sucking up, I know ... not something I do often ... :lol:

Um, thanks for the input ... my sole black candle, with have to be an "all purpose" candle, til I can get to Subiaco again, or Hillary's to aquire more ... so far I've only used it once, so I'm "safe"

[Septegram]

Q1~Is it necessary to "consecrate" the area (I currently keep all my wiccan supplies in a drawer in various boxes) or is it enough just knowing that the objects in the drawer have been consecrated?

Necessary? No, I'd say not. If you want to, of course, there's no reason not to.

Q2~ I'm currently still learning about the craft, but I was thinking about performing a self dedication ceremony in March when my year and one day studying is up, and am wondering if at that time I have to have all the basic tools (boline, couldran etc) as at present I don't have "everything" does it matter? Or can I continue to gain equipement after I'd dedicated myself ...

I don't think the hardware is critical. Remember, the tools are just that--tools. My training Priest once asked us in class "What tool or tools must you have to cast a Circle?" After much discussion, he told us that the only two you need are your first two fingers (and let's face it; if you lost them, you could cast Circle anyway, but you get his idea). Tools make things easier, but they're not essential.

Q3~ When completing a spell using candles is it always necessary to bury the candles? Because at present I don't have a very big collection of candles, and I find it somewhat difficult to obtain some particular coloured candles (like Black Candles) I also feel that it would end up rather costly. Wouldn't it just be enough, to to cleanse the candles after each ritual, either by leaving them out under a full moon, or sprinkling salt and water over them?

The idea that one must bury one's candles after ritual is a new one to me. We usually use the same ones from Moon to Moon, although I know some groups who will make a set for each Sabbat, then burn them down for subsequent New and Full Moon Circles. If there is any candle left by the time the next Sabbat rolls around, they put them aside, then melt 'em all into new ones come Imbolc.

If you do feel you want to cleanse them, any of the methods you mention above would probably work just peachy. The moonlight method would probably be good for a light cleansing, like a quick splash of water on your hands. Salt water would probably be more of the get-out-the-nailbrush-and-scrub type of cleansing, since it would carry not just the cleansing nature of salt water but your active intent, as well.

Q4~ As I don't live in the United States, I think I may have trouble finding some more traditional American plants and flowers. For example, Ivy, Mistletoe and Pinecones (though I have seen pine cones in craft stores now that it's Christmas) Are there any other more Australian Yule decorations, or is it alright to use fake plants and flowers?

I would not use fakes under any circumstances on my altar. I'd look for corresponding plants if I were you [didn't someone above this suggest you talk to a local herbalist? Perhaps if you did some studies on the aboriginal peoples' beliefs and practices re: plants you could gain some interesting and approprate insights...].

Q5~ When using oils, in a burner, which are best? Essential or Fragrant oils? Or isn't there a difference. Of late, I've been using Fragrant oils.

Not sure about the difference, so I really can't help you there. I'm guessing a "fragrant oil" is one that smells like the natural one, but is cheaper because it's made artificially rather than extracted from a plant. If that's the case, I'd generally prefer not to use such, but there are times when one must use what one can get/afford. "It's a practical Path," after all.

Hope that I've been of some small help.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Q1~Is it necessary to "consecrate" the area (I currently keep all my wiccan supplies in a drawer in various boxes) or is it enough just knowing that the objects in the drawer have been consecrated?

My viewpoint is going to be a little different than the other responses you've gotten. Personally I believe that all space and all matter is sacred space and matter as all was created by and is of the Divine. Therefore it is not necessary to consecrate any space, for it has already is, just by being. Periodic cleansings certainly would not be harmful, especially in an indoor space, just to remove any nasty, emotional energy that builds up, but really is only necessary if you feel it is affecting you or your practice.

Q2~ I'm currently still learning about the craft, but I was thinking about performing a self dedication ceremony in March when my year and one day studying is up, and am wondering if at that time I have to have all the basic tools (boline, couldran etc) as at present I don't have "everything" does it matter? Or can I continue to gain equipement after I'd dedicated myself ... Note: I mainly want to dedicate myself for personal reasons, just a more concrete way (in my mind to say "I am Wiccan")

Simply put, I would say no. I have always, from the time that I began this path, believed that the tools are simply a way to help harnass and focus the energy, and are not necessary to the practice at all. That energy can be harnassed and focused by you as well. If you wanted you could do an entire spell in your mind without the use of any tools, though most people find it easier to use the tools. Plain and simple magic is a concious manipulation of the energy around you, and anyone can manipulate that energy should they so choose. However if you really feel that you need to tools for your practice, or you just feel more comfortable incorporating them into your practice then by all means go out and purchase/make them.

Don't forget though that you can substitute objects for others. The cauldron can be any old bowl or pot that you set aside for only that purpose. In the same way, the boline and/or athame can be kitchen knives or letter opens you only use in your practice. Wands are pretty easy, you just go outside and find one that has been shed, or you could find a tree/bush that corresponds to the energies you wish to imbue into your wand and ask if it is willing to share some of itself with you. And of course don't forget to leave something for the anima of the tree.

Q3~ When completing a spell using candles is it always necessary to bury the candles? Because at present I don't have a very big collection of candles, and I find it somewhat difficult to obtain some particular coloured candles (like Black Candles) I also feel that it would end up rather costly. Wouldn't it just be enough, to to cleanse the candles after each ritual, either by leaving them out under a full moon, or sprinkling salt and water over them?

I don't do spellwork myself so that's not really a problem for me. But I do have candles that I light during ritual in honor of the Divine. And as those candles are only used to honor the Divine, I will continuously reuse them until they are gone, as they are already imbued with the spefic energy that I wish them to have, and in fact I feel that the more they are used for that same purpose, the stronger that energy becomes.

However with the candles used in spellwork, if the whole thing were not used up, you might also consider saving and melting down the remaining wax in a double boiler to make new candles. Thus saving you money.

Q4~ As I don't live in the United States, I think I may have trouble finding some more traditional American plants and flowers. For example, Ivy, Mistletoe and Pinecones (though I have seen pine cones in craft stores now that it's Christmas) Are there any other more Australian Yule decorations, or is it alright to use fake plants and flowers?

I would never suggest using fake plants and flowers, as they just do not contain the energy of the plant that you are wishing to use. There are plants everwhere that are going to be hard to get a hold of. I am sure that ther are plants in Australlia that don't grow here in the US, so instead of focusing on needing just that one particular plant try to find another native plant that contains the same type of energy.

Q5~ When using oils, in a burner, which are best? Essential or Fragrant oils? Or isn't there a difference. Of late, I've been using Fragrant oils.

Like Deb explained, the key difference is that essential oils contain the actual essence of the plant while frangrance oils are artificial. Personlly I wouldn't use a fragrance oil for just that reason. However, as previously stated essential oils are extremely expensive, so unless you can afford to purchase it or learn how to extract the oils yourself, I would suggest substituting something else for oil in the spell, like incense that has similar qualities/energies. Say a spell called for lavender oil and you just don't have access to it, then try burning some lavender incense as the intent is the same. If the spell calls for you to 'mark' an object with the oil, you could accomplish the same purpose by wafting it through the smoke let off from the burning incense.

Well there's a few questions there, some were inspired from the book, and others just came to me.

Any help will be appreciated.

You ask some very good questions, and through that I can see that you are vey sincere in your beliefs. I wish you have many blessings on your journey and never stop learning.

Brightest Blessings,
~Saoirse Aiyana

[Cerulean]

On the subject of Yule decorations, you don't need to use traditional plants if they are unavailable. Fake ones would be icky, to me. I live in tropics. I've made a nice wreaths out of eucalyptus, and it has seed pods that are kind of like pine cones. I used to get discarded pine branches from the Christmas tree sales in parking lots to make wreaths. Once, when I was on the mainland, I DID make a holy wreath, and boy did that hurt (it's spiny). Just use whatever looks festive. That's what people do where I live at Christmas. They use Norfolk pine trees for Christmas trees sometimes (please don't kill them). They have a wreath contest where I live every year and it's sooooo beautiful. People use a lot of seed pods and tropical plants. Add some bows or gold spray paint on some seed pods, and walla! You might be able to get authentic plants like misletoe, at a florist for a steep price, but you don't need them if it's a burden.

[RubyRose]

You ask some very good questions, and through that I can see that you are vey sincere in your beliefs. I wish you have many blessings on your journey and never stop learning.


Thank you. You've all been very helpful. Thanks again ...

[Kalika]

Okay, I was reading (I have since finished reading) the book "Witchcraft: an Alternate Path by Anne Moura ... and a few questions have popped up, since doing so.

Q1~Is it necessary to "consecrate" the area (I currently keep all my wiccan supplies in a drawer in various boxes) or is it enough just knowing that the objects in the drawer have been consecrated?

Q2~ I'm currently still learning about the craft, but I was thinking about performing a self dedication ceremony in March when my year and one day studying is up, and am wondering if at that time I have to have all the basic tools (boline, couldran etc) as at present I don't have "everything" does it matter? Or can I continue to gain equipement after I'd dedicated myself ...

Note: I mainly want to dedicate myself for personal reasons, just a more concrete way (in my mind to say "I am Wiccan")

Q3~ When completing a spell using candles is it always necessary to bury the candles? Because at present I don't have a very big collection of candles, and I find it somewhat difficult to obtain some particular coloured candles (like Black Candles) I also feel that it would end up rather costly. Wouldn't it just be enough, to to cleanse the candles after each ritual, either by leaving them out under a full moon, or sprinkling salt and water over them?

Q4~ As I don't live in the United States, I think I may have trouble finding some more traditional American plants and flowers. For example, Ivy, Mistletoe and Pinecones (though I have seen pine cones in craft stores now that it's Christmas) Are there any other more Australian Yule decorations, or is it alright to use fake plants and flowers?

Q5~ When using oils, in a burner, which are best? Essential or Fragrant oils? Or isn't there a difference. Of late, I've been using Fragrant oils.

Well there's a few questions there, some were inspired from the book, and others just came to me.

Any help will be appreciated.

Q1: In consecrating your space, largely what you are doing is banishing negative energies and influences. If you don't have the room to have a place for your things where they won't be disturbed (such as a room used only for rituals) then I would say you don't need to consecrate the space. I don't have the space where I keep my items consecrated, just the items themselves.

Q2: If you are performing the ceremony yourself... do what feels right. If you don't feel that you need to have all of those things at that time, then most likely you don't. The goddess knows your intentions and desires. I think you have a great idea. :)

Q3: It is not necessary to bury your candles. (Others have expounded on this point enough.) I re-use mine, and cleanse them after each use.

Q4: If you don't have access to certain plants, I say use what is available. There is a "magickal substitutions" thread here somewhere, so maybe that will help?

Q5: I don't generally use oils, so I can't answer this one. :)

Blessings,

Kalika

[crystal autumnwind]

As far as disposal, I know some people who lightly melt the wax and repour it into a glass candle container with a wick: so you get layers of wax from all the different candles used. (You need to let it set between adding layers of wax). They light this not as a new spell candle, but as a reminder of what they did in the last year, and burn a little of it off regularly.



Jenett...I just want to say thank you for such a wonderful idea! I think I will try that this year and then light it next Samhain.

Sorry, RubyRose...I really don't have anything to add to your questions, other than what has already been posted. I will say that there have been times that I used the small birthday candles. They are usually 99cents for a box of about twenty. I just stick them in a bowl of sand (like an incense stick) and let them burn down. Then I bury the little bit of wax left.

[RubyRose]

lol, I might just go out and buy a box of birthday cake candles, just so, in an emergency (most of my rituals have been done on the spur of the moment, and I usually don't have every coloured candle I need.) That reminds, me I have to get some plain white candles ... and white substitutes any colour.