Elements of Magic

JANE MEREDITH (Katoomba, Australia) is a writer and a priestess of the Goddess. She has been presenting workshops and rituals internationally for more than sixteen years. Jane is the author of Rituals of Celebration and Circle of Eight (Llewellyn). GEDE PARMA (Australia) is an initiate and teacher of the WildWood tradition of witchcraft and a hereditary healer and seer with Balinese-Celtic ancestry. Gede is the author of Spirited; By Land, Sea and Sky; and Ecstatic Witchcraft (Llewellyn).

"Gede Parma and Jane Meredith have excelled themselves in putting together one of the most comprehensive compilations of practices found in the Reclaiming Tradition. This will not only be useful for anyone who is following the Reclaiming path, but also those who are solitary or want to build on their coven practices."—Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, teachers and authors of The Inner Mysteries and Lifting the Veil"Elements of Magic is a soulful and grounded offering that honors the past while inviting the future."—Ivo Dominguez Jr., author and elder in the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel"In this approachable, engaging guide, Jane Meredith and Gede Parma seamlessly weave together an introduction to Reclaiming and a course in the foundations of natural magic. With brilliant contributions by more than a dozen witches, activists, priestesses, and storytellers, there is something here for you...You'll experience the Craft as practiced by one of its most longstanding and entrenched traditions."—Thorn Mooney, Gardnerian priestess and author of Traditional Wicca"Reclaiming has so much to offer with its insights into community work, activist magic, and bringing healing to this planet...This book is like a dandelion seed-head, spreading wild wisdom and ecstatic practice."—Tony Rella, author of Circling the Star "This array of essays, exercises, and rituals at once honors the practices from which our knowledge of the elements comes and explores the depth and richness that the Reclaiming movement has developed over the years. Elements of Magic will be a valuable resource for those who seek a spiritual connection to our world, whatever their tradition."—Diana L. Paxson, author of Trance-Portation

• CONTENTSForeword by Starhawk…xvReclaiming’s Principles of Unity…xixIntroduction…1How to Use This Book…9Earth 15Earth Is Sacred • Paul Eaves 18Practice: Tree of Life Grounding—Heidi Marian 27Ritual: Connecting with Spirits of the Land—Zay Eleanor Watersong 30Practice: Casting the Circle—Gede Parma 32The Web of Life • Fiona Mariposa 36Exercise: Ecstatic Breath Work with Plants—Riyana Rose Sang and Chuck 44Spell: Magical Herbal Sachet for Protection—Riyana Rose Sang and Chuck 46Meditation: Rotting Body—SusanneRae 48Earth Activism • Ruby Berry 51Practice: Anchoring to Core Worth—Kellie Wilding 60Air 63Air Is Sacred • Gwydion Logan 66Exercise: Exploring Your Relationship to the Principles of Unity—Preston Coyote Vargas 76Practice: Creating Ritual Space withVisualization—Abel R. Gomez 79Practice: Burning Herbs Purification—Seraphina Capranos 82Practice: Boundaries and Borders with the Witch's Knife—Tarin Towers 85Sacred Sound, Sacred Song • Suzanne Sterling 87Exercise: Writing and Singing Chants—Irisanya Moon 98Spell: Wish Birds—Phoenix LeFae 100Communication and Conflict • Gerri Ravyn Stanfield 102Exercise: Basic Interpretation of a Tarot Card—Tarin Towers 112Fire 115Fire Is Sacred • Raven Edgewalker 118Ritual: Building a Fire with Magical Awareness—Catherine Gronlund 128Practice: Wands and Energy—Tarin Towers 131Practice: Playing with Your Energy Boundaries—Catherine Gronlund 133Transformation By Fire • Pandora O’Mallory 136Practice: Flame Gazing—Seraphina Capranos 145Spell: Candle Spell—Thibaut Laure 147Sharing Power • Copper Persephone 149Ritual: Creating a Wand with the Spark of Life—Preston Coyote Vargas 157Practice: Expanding Your Senses—Jennifer Byers 161Water 165Water Is Sacred • Rose May Dance 167Trance: Place of Power—Thibaut Laure 179Trance: The Barrier and the Well—Heidi Marian 181Practice: In-Drinking—Irisanya Moon 184Ocean of Emotion • Jane Meredith 186Process: Deep Check-In—Jane Meredith 195Trance: Water Cycles—Phoenix LeFae 198Personal Healing • Willow Firefly Kelly 200Ritual: Herbal Bath—Riyana Rose Sang and Chuck 209Trance: Meeting Our Ancestors Through Our DNA—Lisa Lind 211Spirit 213Spirit Is Sacred • Dawn Isidora 216Ritual: Creating an Altar for Spirit—SusanneRae 226Practice: Aligning the Three Souls—Fortuna Sawahata 229Practice: Dropped and Open Through Ritual Space—Lisa Lind 233Divination • Flame 235Exercise: Elemental Pentacle—Rae Eden 244Spell: Creating a Sigil—Phoenix LeFae 246Working with the Spirits • Gede Parma 248Ritual: Calling an Ally—Gede Parma 258Trance: Divine Purpose—Jane Meredith 260Creating a Ritual 263How to Create Your Ritual 265Planning the Ritual 268Structure of Ritual 272Sample Rituals 273The Ritual 274Glossary 277Resources and Recommended Reading 291Contributors 297