Black Moon

A Black Moon occurs when there are two dark cycles of the moon in any given calendar month. It is believed that the second dark moon of a time of great power within the spiritual world and any magick worked during this time is especially powerful.

Pagan Pathways: Stregheria

Stregheria is the Craft of the Italian Witches. It's an ancient system, steeped with history that dates back to the 14th century. We are the descendants of an ancient people who used moonlore, nature, symbolisms, and Spirits (Faery) to work their magick. Stregheria resembles Wicca in that both systems are Goddess based. Both Stregheria and many Wiccan traditions accept the duality of both a female and male God. In Stregheria the Goddess is known as Tana and the God as Tanus. Diane and Dianus represent the Moon goddess and god respectively. Many of the Goddesses and Gods are known by different names in different traditions. Stregheria and Wicca celebrate many of the same rites or Festivals even though the names are not the same and sometimes they occur on a slightly diffferent date.

The reference to the 14th Century is a reference to the teachings of Aradia and to the Stregheria tradition. It is not meant to say that Stregheria is a product of the 14th Century or that all Streghe in Italy follow the same tradition founded by Aradia in the 14th Century. Stregheria in Italy goes back way before pre-christian times and there are many Streghe in Italy and the US who follow traditions that have nothing to do with Aradia de Toscano. Stregheria has many differences from Wicca. Their festa's for example follow a slightly different mythos from that of Wicca.

The Watchers called Grigori, are called to guard the ritual circle and to witness the ritual. Strega also recognizes a third person, Aradia. She came to be known as the Holy Strega, a spiritual teacher and wise woman. The message of Aradia, called the Covenant, offered her followers the path to freedom and personal empowerment. Aradia also taught that the traditional powers of a witch would belong to any who adhered to the way of the Old Religion. Aradia called these Gifts and Beliefs. The Charge of Aradia is the message she left her followers. Aradia was their teacher and the founder of the Triad Clans of Italy. There are many Streghe in Italy who are not of the Triad Clans and do not follow the teachings of Aradia.

Spell Troubleshooting

We all have those times that we do a spell and for some reason something just isn't right. There's something that we haven't done correctly or we were so overcome with emotions that we forgot something entirely. Here is a small list of suggestions of things that you can do and check to make sure that things are in order.

MOON CYCLES
Keep track of what moon cycle we're in when you're going to do a spell. To some people this is a technicality when actually it is very important. How can you ask for the help of natures forces when you aren't working with her?

WATCH YOUR CANDLES!
Are you blowing out your candles? If you are this may be your problem. Wither snuff them out or allow them to burn themselves out. Candle snuffers are fairly inexpensive and are completely invaluable if you are squeamish about putting a flame out with your fingers. The thing here to remember is that by blowing out the candles you are mixing fire and air magic. Fire magic brings energy, passion and power whereas air magic brings peace, tranquility and calmness. The complete opposite. So together they cross out each other, hence, crossing out your spell. Also use a lighter to light the candles and not matches. Matches contain sulphur which is used in banishing spells.

FOR THE GOOD OF ALL
Remember the Rede and the three fold law. And don't forget that everything you do, both good and bad will come back to you times three. If for any reason you are unsure if it is for the good of all, don't do it. End spells by saying "if it be for the good of all, so mote it be". This protects you and all involved if the spell isn't meant for the good of all.

MEDITATE DAILY
Meditation is good for stress release, relaxation and connecting with your higher self. These are all things that are key to effective spell casting. If you can't relax, you can't concentrate. And if you can't concentrate on what you are doing, the spell isn't going to work. It's also advised to meditate before any castings. You can also ask the God and Goddess for assistance and guidance with any spell working problems that you are having while you meditate. Keep a journal of your meditations and see your progress.

HAVE CONFIDENCE
You need to have faith in what it is that you are doing. Have faith in your abilities. Otherwise it's not going to work. You're sending out negative thought energies by thinking that you messed up or that it isn't going to work. This mixes with what you put out there and hinders the positive energies from taking form.

ALWAYS WORK WITH THE MAGIC CIRCLE
Cast a circle for every magical work you do whether it's a simple candle spell, divination, whatever. You are calling spirits and energies for assistance and without any form of protection you can possibly have negative things enter your work too. Look at the circle as a security blanket for magic.

CLOCKWISE!!
Movements within the magic circle should always be in a clockwise motion. This includes casting, dancing and what ever other moving you will be doing. When uncasting the circle go counterclockwise.

Waxing Moon Love Spell

For the next seven days, drink rose-petal tea every night at some time between 9 pm and 11 pm. There are several companies that make black tea with rose petals, or you can add fresh rose petals from your garden to your tea (kind of hard to do in the dead of winter, though).

As you sip, visualize yourself as a loveable person who attracts the kind of person you are looking for. Add honey to your tea if you wish to appear especially sweet; cinnamon to appear spicy hot; rosemary to appear brilliant.

Go outside at 11 pm on the night of the Full Moon, and seal the spell by saying:

As my will, so mote it be.