Celebrate the changing of the seasons and the beauty and power of the Moon, the Stars, and the Sun. Written by a Witch who has spent many years teaching the Craft of Wicca to newcomers, this introductory guide presents everything you need to know for successful witchery, including: An essential set of instructions and guidelines for beginning the practice of the Ancient arts - An overview of Wiccan beliefs, laws, rules, and principles - Directions for creating and using basic tools of the Craft―athame, wand, cup, pentacle, cauldron, broom, black mirror, and meditation - Easy-to-follow instructions for altar setup, circle-casting, building power, Deity invocation, and more - An assortment of miscellaneous spells, chants, and invocations for a variety of purposes Walk the path of the Witch-live in harmony and balance, and discover the sacred within the natural world with The Craft. The first thing Dorothy Morrison hopes to establish in The Craft is what the Craft is not. "It has nothing to do with canned magic, or flying through the air, or snapping lightning from your fingertips," she explains. And no matter how practiced you are, Morrison assures readers it won't give you the power to "turn your enemies into toads so you can set them on the highway." Explaining what the Craft actually is takes more time and thought--both of which Morrison offers in her typically warm, humorous, and concise style throughout this all-inclusive handbook. Wiccans, who are the main practitioners of the Craft, have one overriding commandment, according to Morrison: if it harms no one, do what you will. It is a reminder that every action, thought, and spell has a ripple effect, so be sure that all your work is for the good. This responsible attitude seeps into every page of this practical magic handbook. Expect a highly detailed account of spells, wand skills, sample blessings, altar setups, invocations, and examples of how to use a cup, pentacle, cauldron, and athame (a double-edge knife that should never be used to draw blood). Morrison closes with a Craft calendar, listing celebrations and rituals for every month and season of the year. --Gail Hudson Dorothy Morrison (Louisiana) is a third-degree Wiccan High Priestess of the Georgian Tradition, and she has been an avid practitioner of the Craft for more than fifty years. She founded the Coven of the Crystal Garden in 1986, and she spent many years teaching Wicca to students both in the United States and in Australia. Dorothy's work has been published in many journals and magazines, including Circle Network News , SageWoman , and Crone Chronicles . She is the author of the acclaimed Everyday Magic , Everyday Moon Magic, Everyday Sun Magic, and Yule . In the following excerpt, author Dorothy Morrison sheds light on the Moon/Goddess connection. Because its energy is feminine in quality, the Goddess is often symbolized by the phases of the Moon. Each phase vibrates differently and corresponds to a specific Goddess personality, as well as to a variety of magical purposes. Waxing Moon/Light Maiden: When the Moon grows from light to full, we use its energies for anything that requires increase, growth, or enhancement. It's a good time to work magic involving inspiration, new love and friendships, financial prosperity, healing, increasing physical stamina, and garden planting. Full Moon/Mother: The Moon's energy is at its most potent when it reaches this stage. And while we can use it to boost any effort, it's of real benefit to especially complicated workings or difficult situations. Waning Moon/Dark Maiden: When the Moon shrinks from full to dark, we use its vibration for anything that we want to diminish or eliminate. This energy works well for efforts that involve dieting, breaking bad habits, and eliminating stress or depression. Dark Moon/Crone: Some practitioners use this phase to rest, regenerate, and regroup. Others use its energies for psychic work, divination, and delving into past life memories. In the following excerpt, author Dorothy Morrison sheds light on the Moon/Goddess connection. Because its energy is feminine in quality, the Goddess is often symbolized by the phases of the Moon. Each phase vibrates differently and corresponds to a specific Goddess personality, as well as to a variety of magical purposes. Waxing Moon/Light Maiden: When the Moon grows from light to full, we use its energies for anything that requires increase, growth, or enhancement. It's a good time to work magic involving inspiration, new love and friendships, financial prosperity, healing, increasing physical stamina, and garden planting. Full Moon/Mother: The Moon's energy is at its most potent when it reaches this stage. And while we can use it to boost any effort, it's of real benefit to especially complicated workings or difficult situations. Waning Moon/Dark Maiden: When the Moon shrinks from full to dark, we use its vibration for anything that we want to diminish