Witch Moon Page 8

  "She turned him down. So he decided to get her run out of town. And since she was openly Wiccan, what better way to do that than to orchestrate a few ritualistic animal sacrifices, get the locals all stirred up over the Witches in their midst? Hmm?"

  Sniffling, young Shauna lifted her head. "You were the one paying Bryan Marcomb to kill those animals that way, mess up the tombstones, and all that?"

  "You bet he was," Rowan said. "And when Bryan wanted out-threatened to tell the police everything unless you let him go, you killed him. Didn't you?"

  Jonathon stroked his daughter's hair. "And then you came back here to get rid of any evidence of a connection between you and Bryan," he said, as his mind filled in the blanks.

  "My God. Is this all true?" Officer Cantone asked.

  "I'm sure we'll find the evidence, either on these two, or still in Bryan's room." Jonathon said. "But what I don't understand is why? Why is one piece of property worth more than a young boy's life? Hmm?"

  "It's the pyrite in the stream out behind the house." Mirabella said softly. She walked over to where her friend Gwenyth stood looking puzzled. "It's not really pyrite at all, hon. It's the real thing. Gold. And Jim Hayes knew it. And he wanted it all for himself."

  The cop's eyes widened. "How do you know all that, Miss Saint Angeline?"

  She looked at Jonathon. And he knew. He knew these were the things that his wife had whispered to her in that magickal circle. How else could she have figured it all out-or known to come here, now, just at the moment when his daughter's life was in grave danger?

  "An old friend told me," Mirabella said softly. "She, uh, prefers her name be kept out of this. It's nothing you can't verify, after all."

  "Arrest those two, Billy." Jonathon instructed. "And get some men out here to go through Bryan's room for evidence. We'll take the witnesses' statements tomorrow. It's been...a long night."

  Billy cuffed Mark and Sally Hayes, and escorted them to the waiting cruiser. Mirabella turned to Jonathon, to Rowan. "It's done." And then she turned, and walked away.

  There was no doubt in Bella's mind that, given the chance, the Hayes couple would have taken Rowan, and perhaps Shauna as we'll, killed them, and tried to make it look like suicide. Or maybe an accident. And if they had succeeded, it would have been one more crime for the good folk of Ezra Township to lay at the feet of the local Witches. And possibly, at Bella's own feet.

  But thanks to one determined mother's love for her daughter, it didn't turn out that way.

  Bella got all the way to her car. The others were pulling away now. The police car. The vehicles of her friends and sisters. She stood there, listening to the motors fade in the distance. Then to the crickets chirping and the gentle breeze whispering through the trees.

  And then the breeze changed. It whispered "Mirabella..." in a voice that was becoming familiar.

  Ashley's voice.

  Closing her eyes to prevent tears, Bella said, "I saved her. What more do you want from me?"

  "Save him...." the trees seemed to whisper.

  Bella opened her eyes, a trill of alarm running up her spine. "How?"

  "Love him."

  Damn. Why did her heart have to hurt so much? "I already do," she said softly, and she turned, and he was standing there.

  "I'm sorry," Jonathon said. "I was wrong. I was wrong about everything. I was wrong about your faith, your beliefs. I was wrong about Ashley and about my own daughter. But most of all, Bella, I was wrong to ever let myself think for one minute that I had any choice at all about loving you. Because I didn't. And I don't."

  She lifted her brows, tipped her head back to search his face.

  "I need you," he told her.

  Beside him, Rowan said, "We both do."

  Bella blinked as her eyes filled with tears. "I...I don't know what to say."

  "Say you'll marry me." Jonathon said.

  Rowan clasped her hands together, pursing her lips and blinking her own tears back as she waited to hear Bella's answer. She might even have been holding her breath.

  Mirabella smiled. "I'll marry you."

  He swept her into his arms, and kissed her deeply. And then they parted just enough to enfold Rowan in their arms as well.

  "Take care of each other," the breeze whispered.

  Rowan pulled free of them, and looked up toward the sky. "We will, Mom. Thank you. Thank you for sending Mirabella to me."

  Bella, arm in arm with Jonathon, went to her. "Don't think she won't be back, just because this little crisis is over," Bella said softly. "She'll always be with you, Rowan. And so will I."

  Jonathon shook his head. Rowan and Bella both looked at him, and he had tears in his eyes. "I don't know what I ever did to deserve to have three such incredible women in my life." His voice was choked with emotion. "But I'm so glad I did it, whatever it was." He looked at Rowan. "Because I love you. I love you so much." And then he turned to Bella, cupping her face in his hands. "And you...you saved my heart. My soul. You made me live again. I didn't think I could love this way twice in a lifetime. But Bella, I do. And I believe you, what you said before. This isn't the first time around for us."

  "No, it isn't," she told him. "And it isn't going to be the last."

  New Beginnings Rite of Spring

  Candles:

  Pale green and red

  Oils/herbs:

  Pine, Sage, Jasmine for green candle. Cinnamon, Dragon's Blood for red.

  Other:

  1 sheet of paper, length of siring, pen, matches, cauldron.

  Timing:

  Spring on a Tuesday, moon full or waxing and in Aries. Mercury in Virgo is excellent if possible. (First performed on Tuesday at dawn, March 2nd with a full moon in Aries, Mercury in Virgo, 1999.)

  Ritual:

  Create sacred space. Call on the energies of the four Quarters.

  Dress candles with oil, moving your hand thus: Dress the red candle by moving your hand and the oil from the center of the candle to the end farthest from you, then flip it over and repeat. This is to send energy, will, action into the Universe. Dress the green candle by moving your hand from the end farthest away from you into the center, then flip it over and repeat. This is for drawing in success and new growth. Carve symbols for Mercury, Aries, Mars on the red candle; Venus, Virgo, the waxing crescent on the green.

  Centered and grounded, write your goals on a sheet of paper. Put emotion into it and write I WILL often. Scrawl what comes to mind to help empower it. Rub it with the remnants of oil and herbs with which you rubbed the candles. Now roll your "scroll" tight and bind it with white string, three times around, tied in three knots, pulled tight in the middle. Add a drop of Dragon's Blood oil to one side, a pinch of pine to the other. Place in the cauldron until you are ready to continue.

  When you are ready, ground and center, face East, light the pale green candle, invoke Air and Inanna (or the Goddess of your choice) and the energies of Virgo, Venus, the Virgin, the maiden. Face South, invoke Fire and Utu (or the God of your choice) and the energies of Mars, Mercury, the bridegroom.

  Now, feel the presence of the Divine and hang with Them for a bit. Next, take up your "scroll" and light one end from the green candle, the other from the red, and drop it into the cauldron. Dance as it burns, chanting:

  Fire transforms Air!

  Air transforms Fire!

  The Cauldron transforms my will and desire!

  Combine the two, get something new!

  Let what I've written now transpire!

  When the energy is brimming, point at the cauldron and release it all at once:

  As I will, so mote it be!

  (POW, the power hits!)

  It is done.

  Relax. Give thanks to Deity, close Quarters, ground and center. Or remain and meditate for a while, awaiting word from the guides.

  To Make Cold Infused Oils

  (best for fresh herbs)

  Fill a clear glass jar with the herb.

  Pour enough base oil to cover
the herb.

  Soak for 2 to 6 weeks in a sunny place.

  Strain through a jelly cloth.

  To increase potency, fill the jar with more fresh herb, cover in the oil you extracted from the last batch, and soak for 2 to 6 more weeks.

  To Make Hot Infused Oils

  (best for dried herbs)

  (also keeps longer)

  Place herbs in glass bowl.

  Cover with base oil.

  Place bowl atop saucepan of water or double boiler.

  Heat water on burner.

  Simmer the herbs this way for 2 to 3 hours.

  Strain and store.

  Oils should be stored in dark glass bottles. All are most potent when freshly made.

  Charge of the Goddess

  I am darkness as well as light;

  Mistress of death but also of life;

  Bow before Me on this night

  And worship both My black and bright!

  By myriad names have I been known;

  I rule both Hell and Heaven's throne;

  I rain My love upon My own,

  En masse or just one Witch alone!

  If a gift you would receive,

  Come to Me by darksome eve;

  In forest glens, My altars dwell,

  So dance, rejoice, and cast the spell!

  All the secrets shall be known;

  The chains that held you, now disown!

  I crush them with the force of love,

  For as below, so is above!

  I'll teach you all the mysteries;

  Circle of life and rebirth is Me!

  And the only sacrifice I ask

  Is that you love—that is your task!

  Love Me, that you surely do,

  But love your fellow humans, too,

  For truly as I live in thee,

  I live in each of them, you see.

  For every breath and every stone

  And every being is Mine to own;

  From Me they come; to Me they go

  We all are one—as above, so below!

  Ghost Busting Spell

  On our property was a house with a lot of history. It was falling apart and had to be torn down, and later one of my daughters put a trailer on the lot where it had stood, as a temporary home.

  But there were odd happenings, noises, sounds, shadows she would glimpse moving past outside at night, but nothing solid. Her dog would stare intently at something, barking and growling, but there was nothing there. Or was there?

  We decided not to take any chances. I designed the following ritual for a group of Witches to perform together, outside on the lot itself, but it can easily be adapted for one Witch alone or for indoor use. For us, it did the trick.

  We began by casting a circle and purifying the space in the manner of our tradition. There are countless books where you can find information on how to do this. We had a small bonfire in the center, and we purified every person present with smoldering sage. Once the circle was cast and all were present, we invoked the sisters, Inanna and Ereshkigal, the Queen of Heaven and the Queen of the Underworld where the dead reside. We called on the four directions to aid us in our work.

  The leader says:

  We join together this night to assist a spirit not of this plane to find its way to the other side. We come together to tell the spirit who lingers here, in love and with harm to none, that it must go on toward the light and leave this place.

  The following herbs are then tossed onto the fire to create a lot of smoke: Asafaetida, Angelica, Rosemary, Vervain.

  Together, all present use their ritual daggers to draw giant "Earth Banishing Pentagrams" in the smoke. (The Earth Banishing Pent is a five-pointed star drawn beginning the line from the bottom left point to the topmost point. The first line drawn is repeated. Practice this to get it right.)

  As the pent is drawn, all together intone:

  You are spirit; we are flesh.

  We are Earthbound; you are blessed!

  We now cut the ties that bind.

  Off you go, your place to find!

  So mote it be!

  Next the leader opens the Western Gate—that is, the westernmost point in the circle, careful to state that nothing may enter and that this door is an exit only.

  Everyone moves in a widdershins (or counter-clockwise) circle around the fire. The speed should increase with each time around, as all chant:

  Ashes to ashes.

  Body to dust,

  Spirit to Summerland,

  Go now ye must!

  Chant and circle faster and faster until power pulses. When it is at its peak, the leader shouts:

  RELEASE!

  And everyone relaxes, letting go of the power.

  Immediately after this point, the Western Gate should be closed and sealed with an equal armed cross and blessed water, sometimes called Moon Water or Holy Water.

  The area can then be blessed by tossing other herbs, such as Sandalwood, Rose petals, Pine, or your own choices onto the fire, and moving deosil (clockwise) around the fire, this time singing a song of blessing and thanks together.

  Afterward, thank the Deities that have been called. Thank and release Quarters. Take up the circle. Ground any excess energy into the Earth.

  Money Potpourri

  Supplies:

  • 2 parts Pinion Pine and Sweet Grasses

  • 2 parts Spearmint

  • One half part Cinnamon

  • 3 whole Cloves, crushed

  • 3 drops Sage oil

  • 1 pinch Vervain (to make it go)

  • Some people shred a dollar bill to add to the mix or include silver coins.

  • Others include a magnet, or lodestone, for "drawing."

  Instructions:

  Mix it up. Then sit quietly and go into a very relaxed state, almost a meditative state, as you visualize your financial needs being met as the money you require flows to you. Open and close your hands several times, rapidly. Feel that energy? Send the image of your needs being met into your hands and then hold them over the money mixture and send it into the mix. Feel it, almost see it, empowering the herbs with your power.

  Say:

  I am one with all creation, Even being in every nation.

  Every dollar, every dime, Every bit of wealth is mine.

  I have but to will and dare

  To stretch my hand and claim my share.

  All I need belongs to me. I claim it now, and blessed be!

  Place the money potpourri around the house to attract wealth. Simmer it in a pot or just let it sit dry and spread its scent and energies. Sprinkle a little in your wallet and inside your shoes (just a pinch), in your purse and in your pockets, in your mailbox and checkbook, anywhere associated with money.

  To Solve A problem

  This spell calls on the three sisters of Norse Lore, Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld.

  Supplies:

  • Red, white, black candles

  • Red. white, black thread

  • Runes in a pouch

  • White Sage

  Instructions:

  Cleanse area with White Sage.

  Cast a circle.

  Place red, white, and black candles in a row on the altar.

  Place circles of red, white, and black thread in front of each corresponding candle.

  Invoke the Sisters by chanting:

  Sisters three. Come to me

  Meditate on what the problem is, its possible root and causes.

  Reach into the pouch and mix Runes while saying:

  Past, present, future know

  Answers hidden, now will show

  Threads of truth, weave for me

  In the Runes the truth to see

  Draw first Rune, place in center of red thread circle, and say:

  Urd, Sister of Things past,

  I ask for guidance.

  Show me the root of my problem.

  What has caused this problem?

  Draw second Rune, place in center or white thread
circle, and say:

  Verdandi, Sister of the Present,

  I ask to see the truth.

  Show me what is happening now.

  Draw third Rune, place in center of black thread circle, and say:

  Skuld, Sister of the Future,

  I ask for insight