Religion

A common ritual or rite used by many occultists, wiccans, ceremonial magicians, and others is called a centering ritual. It is understood in a modern context as creating a clean mental space,...

An athame is a wiccan's most important ritual tool. A newly acquired athame, or one which has been used in a ritual to clear or deflect disturbing influences like violence or unhealthy behavior,...

Different faiths and even different churches within a faith have rules about the proper way to light and extinguish altar candles. If you are performing a ritual as part of your own spiritual...

When choosing items for your Pagan rituals, it's important to pick items that are truly meaningful to you. Read on for some ideas on picking out ritual items.

For families with a new infant, understanding the difference between baptism and christening can be confusing. Researching the topic turns up a wide range of opinions on how the two ceremonies...

When a person moves into a new home, experiences a life change, picks up on negative energy or otherwise needs to cleanse psychic energy, she may consider turning to ancient and neo-pagan...

Home cleansing rituals are an important part of many religions. Smudge stick cleansing, developed by ancient shamans, is common in the pagan and new age movements. Jewish tradition demands biur...

Drawing down the moon is a eurphoric and profound experience. It is a way to feel completely connected. Drawing down the moon also generally results in an extra jolt of power/energy. So, if...

Essential oils are used in wicca, witchcraft and neo-pagan spiritualities to bless, banish, or otherwise bring about change in the world. They are used in both major and minor rites and rituals,...

Taking the life-affirming step to stop smoking requires courage. Committing your intentions in a pagan ritual is a loving way to assert this decision and ask for assistance through communing with...

Past lives can affect you in the present. If your past lives are riddled with bad karma or excess stress, you will need to release this stress in a calming, healing ritual. Many of the problems we...

Folk Magick, whether or not you believe in it and its power, may be able to help you with a variety of problems. It has been used by many people for many years now. Here is one that can...

So you have your altar, but there’s nothing on it yet. Read this guide to find out how to get really great ritual items without breaking the bank at some over-priced metaphysical shop.

Ok, so you know your faith, but you’re not sure how to make a space to practice and pray. There are as many ways as there are people, but here I will share one way of making yourself a ritual space.

In a perfect world, one would never need to hide their faith. If you’re a teen or you’re feeling a need to keep your faith hidden from your family or spouse, read this article for some useful ideas.

Tefillin, known in English as "phylacteries," are Jewish ritual objects used during weekday and non-holiday morning prayers. They are integral part of the Jewish service, and religious Jews...

Whenever a person performs a spell or magical ritual of any style, it's recommended that they first cast a magical circle. A magical circle is something of a safety precaution, which makes sure...

"Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...." By uttering these words while gazing at the first star of the evening and focusing on a wish with all your heart, you were using white magic...

A magical talisman is more than a neat-looking mystical decoration. It is a tool designed to accomplish a specific task. The better you define the task and the more effort you put into creating...

Black magic spell books are things of which legends are made. Throughout history, those rumored to be witches or sorcerers have always been said to have a book that contains all their most wicked...

How to tell if a spell has been cast on you is not a glittery or showy event as demonstrated on television or in fiction. An infinite number of spells and spell casters exist. A spell may have a...

Ever since the re-awakening of spiritual witchcraft, it has been more common for everyday people to want to learn the practices involved. And of all the inquiries often asked, the most common...

If you're a Pagan, witch or Wiccan, at some point you may wish to use a magic wand in ritual or spell work. The wand is one of the most popular magical tools in modern witchcraft. It is a phallic...

When you find it's your time to host the next Sabbat or Esbat at your house, be a gracious host or hostess and prepare well. Hosting a ritual is not exactly like hosting a gathering of friends or...

The word "meditation" comes from the Latin "meditatio," which means to think deeply or contemplate. Meditation has been used in religious practices for more than 5,000 years....

Baptism, also called Christening, signifies either an acceptance into or personal adoption of the Christian faith. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith, but is an important...

Wicca is believed by many of its followers to have descended from the matriarchal pagan religions that existed in pre-historic Europe. This claim cannot be verified, and Wicca may only date back...

Vibrating sound waves help to shape and shift the world around you. So, when chanting, singing or speaking an incantation (another word for blessing or prayer) during a magical ritual or spell,...

Wicca is a highly personal religion, practiced alone as a solitary or with others in a coven or open circle. There is no “right” or “wrong” way in Wicca, all individuals bring their own flair to...

If you're familiar with casting spells at all, learning to do a drawing spell is an easy transition. If you're new to magic, drawing spells are a great place to start, since they're quick, simple...

Add the grounding element of earth, balance and potency to your rituals by utilizing the powerful sage spirit. Sage is a silvery-green leafy plant that is a sacred herb among Wiccans and Native...

A housewarming ritual is one of the most fun and satisfying rituals you'll ever perform. You don't even have to be pagan to enjoy one. You can go extra-formal and cast a circle, call on a patron...

Wicca is one of the few religions that does not require socialization among practitioners. If you choose to become a Wiccan, you may choose to join a coven if you desire a group setting. However,...

For Wiccans, meditation is by and large one of the most important rituals you can perform. As a daily ritual for many, it is quite possibly the most frequently performed ritual of the faith. Funny...

Magic circles are an important part of ritual practice, regardless of the specific type of wicca that you follow. A magic circle is used to help attract the Gods and Goddess while protecting you...

The imbolc ritual is one of the eight wiccan sabbats and is celebrated on February 2 in celebration of the Celtic fire goddess Brigid. Also known as candlemas, imbolc is a time of rebirth and...

Beltane is one of the eight sacred sabbats celebrated in wicca. The ritual is performed on the evening of Beltane, April 30, in celebration of spring, growth and fertility. While you should...

For Wiccans, meditation is by and large one of the most important rituals you can perform. As a daily ritual for many, it is quite possibly the most frequently performed ritual of the faith. Funny...

Becoming a Wiccan or Witch is not something people are generally born as or randomly decide they want to become. Rather, it is usually something that comes to you through what you might call...

In many belief systems, the idea of a purification bath is a sacred ritual. In addition to being physically cleansing, it is a way of washing away negativity and purifying the soul and spirit....

Whether it's a formal ritual or done spontaneously, a Wiccan ritual's purpose is to contact the divine. Similar to most religions, Wiccan rituals generally follow a basic structure patterned that...

A polytheistic pagan religion, Odinism dedicates worship to the deities which pertain to the Norse pantheon. The Rite of the Bragi is an Odinist ritual conducted to honor the gods and goddesses of...

Most of us are stuck with our childhood religions. Our beliefs, morals and ethics are guided by them, usually at a deeply subconscious level even if we’ve moved on and taken on other religious...

Invoking various spirits can give great power to any magical rite or personal transformation ritual. Call upon the spirits of nature for guidance and support to give your magic or ritual added...

It all begins in the mind: this is what everybody keeps reminding us. Well, let us visualize our intent, then. This ritual, which takes as long or as short as you would like, would help you focus...

Ever wonder how to write your own non-denominational ritual for healing, for cleansing, for loving, for letting go? Here are a few easy steps you can take to make the power of prayer work for...

Even though you're already taking precautions to protect your family in your home with things like smoke detectors and security systems, you might not have given thought to asking for the same...

Pagans celebrate the spring equinox by performing centuries-old rituals, usually in forest or some other natural setting. This time of year is also known as Oestara and it allows you to rejoice in...

Facing doubts and overcoming them can be the hardest thing you do, but, to gain happiness and self-confidence, it needs to be done. Mirror talk is a simple ritual that will get you in touch with...

When people first get interested in spell casting, they often feel that they need elaborate rituals. Sometimes it is difficult to find a spell for exactly the thing you want to try. A candle...