Course Four: Rites 201
spirit that tries to enter will be compelled to count all
the seeds, leaving no time to create mischief!WITCH BOTTLE
These were very popular in England in the 17th
and 18th centuries. Take a glass jar with a screw-on
lid, and fill it with sharp objects: pins, nails, tacks,
broken glass (especially shards of a broken mirror!),
thorns, urine, salt, etc. Add herbs of rosemary, basil,
and bay leaves. Screw the lid tight, and seal it with
melted wax from a black candle, saying:
Witches’ Bottle, herbs and charms,
Banish evil, ward off harm.
Protect me from all enemies
As my will, so mote it be!
(—Gerina Dunwich)
Hide the bottle in the back of the cup-
board under the kitchen sink, or bury it
at the farthest corner of your property when the Moon
is waning. A Witch bottle protects its owner from
harm, and makes a great housewarming gift!IRON and GARLIC
Similar in concept to the Witch bottle is the an-
cient custom of driving iron spikes (very large nails
will do as well, and it’s most effective if they’re mag-
netized) into the ground right before each entry into
your house. Due to its magnetic qualities, iron creates a
field that disrupts the coherence of non-corporeal enti-
ties, and is thus anathema (“curse”) to all evil spirits.
Similarly, powerfully acidic spices, such as gar-
lic bulbs and chili peppers, hung over your windows
will keep evil spirits (especially vampires and dream
demons) from entering.TO KEEP OUT SORROW
Write these words on a piece of paper:
T R E E
R O A D
E A V E
E D E N
Read from West to East and North
to South, then speak aloud:
TREE of Knowledge,
ROAD of Pain,
EAVE of Home
EDEN again.
If you solve this riddle, burn the paper on your hearth.
It will keep your house from sorrow, all year long.
(—Valerie Worth)Travel and Communication
CIRCLES OF LIGHT
Morning Glory and I use this one all the time as we
travel: When you are walking in a dangerous place,
riding in a car, or flying in a plane, you can set up a littleportable Circle of protection around yourself and oth-
ers with you. Close your eyes briefly, and make circles
in the air in front of you with the index finger of your
writing hand. Visualize these circles of light spiraling
outward to completely surround you, as you repeat:
Wrapped am I in Circles of Light
No harm or ill may come to me.
In the darkness of the night,
I move safely; Blessed Be!BEFORE AN AIRPLANE FLIGHT
You who would dare to journey by air must first
be freed from folly and pride. In sunlight stand and
pass your hand near to the gleam of a candle’s flame.
Kindle a feather within its fire, and when it is black,
smother the wick. Gather soft wax and fill the cracks
under your nails. Then say:
Too near to the Sun I may not fly,
Scorched I should run from his mocking eye.
Yet far from his scorn, below his sway,
Let me be borne and spared this day!
(—Valerie Worth)FOR AN IMPORTANT LETTER
When your letter has been sealed and stamped,
lay it on a black cloth and pour a circle of salt around
it. As you do, say:
Words that run before my pace,
And carry me beyond this place,
Please the eyes that greet thee next
And work my Will within thy text.
Fold the cloth over it, and kiss the folds;
then mail it immediately. (—Valerie Worth)TO GET AGREEMENT
Light a pink candle for love and a blue candle
for healing on a Wednesday or Friday evening. Say:
Please (name), do think again.
May the consequence heal my pain.
Grant my request and you will see,
The good in your heart set me free.
Bless you!
(—Gillian Kemp)Exorcism and Banishment
If a house or a person has become haunted or pos-
sessed by malevolent spirits, a ritual of exorcism or ban-
ishment should be performed. Light white candles in
every room, or place five around the person. Draw a
pentagram of salt on the floor of each room or around
the victim, and sprinkle water into all corners, using a
spring of fennel or rosemary. As you do, say:
Water, Salt, where you are cast,
No ill or adverse purpose last.
Evil spirits all must flee;
As I do will, so mote it be!- Rites.p65 201 1/15/2004, 9:09 AM