One of the most meaningful reasons for meditation is to focus yourself. Not only will it relax you, but it will quiet your mind, allowing you to proceed on your path. Meditate before any ceremony, ritual or spell; this is why we call meditation, STEP ONE. How do you meditate? There are many well-known methods. Included in this introductory lesson is a very effective beginner method of mediation. Following lessons will include advanced forms such as elemental and astral.

You will need: One large white candle ( use this small candle every time you meditate. When it runs out, buy a new one and do the same) Matches or a lighter

Meditation Ritual- Light the candle and sit in front of it in any position you feel comfortable. Breathe deep; fill your lungs with air. Release. Repeat this seven times. Look into the candle flame and clear your mind. Take another three deep breaths. Hum Lightly. Focus on looking into the flame. ( If this hurts your eyes, look a bit below it) Keep humming. You should feel your body relaxing. Soon you will be in a tranced state. ( Some describe this as a very relaxed state, hypnotic state, or floating free.) One you have reached this trance or relaxed state of mind, you are ready to proceed with the ceremony, ritual, spell or maybe even to face the day.

Self-Dedication - The first step in learning the craft is Self-Dedication. This, in itself, will allow energies to focus on you. Your body S full of psychic energy which you may already use, and Self-Dedication will open up the earth energies of air, fire, water, and earth (known as elementals) to you so you may use them as your own. Each energy that you can use is a tool, and the more tools you can use, the stronger your magick.
Self-Dedication and initiation focuses the Deity and astral energies to you, while Self-Dedication allows you the ability to reach out and draw the energies on your own.
Read this ritual over and memorize it so that you can recite it without having to stop and remember what is next. The reason why some memorization is important is the effectiveness of the ritual is directly related to your ability to fully focus on your task. Interrupting a ritual to look up the instructions can easily distract you and divert your energies elsewhere, hence defeating your purpose.
You will need- three white candles, one red candle, matches or lighter, sweet smelling incense, a cup with water, a quiet place.
Setup- This must be done on the night of the full moon. Place the three white candles in the form of a triangle. Place the red candle in the middle. Place the water to the left side of the triangle of candles. Place the incense to the right of the triangle of candles.

Perform STEP ONE ( Meditation)
Light the white tip candle and envision white light shooting up from the earth into the candle. (Visualize this as best you can. Later lessons will help you develop this ability.) Light remaining white candles while saying your name. Light Incense and walk around the candles while saying " On this night I come before the elements asking for the guardians to arise." "Open the path. Open the gates. Open the way. I am here." ( If you cant walk around the candles, simply rotate the incense in a circle around them) Light the red candle. Say why you have chosen Witchcraft or the way of magick. (It is important to be honest with this step. Do not simply state that you want to be a Witch. Do some serious soul searching and put your heart into it. You can keep it to one sentence or prepare an elaborate speech.) Stand in the form of a pentagram. ( Arms at shoulder height, legs spread slightly.)and say, " Earth Mother I invoke you." Stay in this position for a few moments. Kneel before the candles and take the water. Pass it through the incense and over the candles and say, " Bless me Earth Mother." " With this water charge your energies inside." ( This will purify the water) Put the cup of water down and place your palms over it while envisioning a white light coming from the earth, filling the water. Say: " As to Earth, as to me, may this water purify me." Hold the cup high over your head and say: " Open the path Open the gates. Open the way. I am here." Drink the charged water. Put out the red candle and say: " Great Earth Mother blessed be." " I am charged, so mote it be." Let the candles burn themselves out.

Tools - Practicing the craft requires a small gallery of tools. They will aid you on your path. The tools must be charged with energies from you and the elemental energies. Charge your tools only after properly channeling earth "elemental" energies through Self-Dedication. You will learn all of the various uses of these tools ( and more will be added) in later lessons.

The tools you will need are as follows:
1. Athame or Ritual Knife- this may be of any type you choose, preferably at least four inches in length.
2. Incense Burner- this may be of any type you choose.
3. Chalice or cup- any type
4. Bowl or Cauldron- must be black, painted is fine.
5.Book of Shadows- a blank book in which you will write all of your spells, rituals, and ceremonies.

To charge these tools, you will need the following:
1. Modeling paint & brush or something to scratch symbols into your tools.
2. Incense
3. Salt
4. White candle
5. Black Candle
6. Matches or Lighter
7. Herbs ( to be specified with each tool)

Charging the Athame - You will need Wormwood herb. (can be found in most health stores or any occult shop)

Setup - Place the black and white candle next to each other, a few inches apart. Place the cup to the left and the incense to the right. Place the paint anywhere. This charging must be done on the night of the full moon and after Self-Dedication.

Charging the Athame- Place the Athame anywhere under the candles.

Perform STEP ONE ( meditation). Light the white candle and say " Earth Mother the I Invoke." Light the black candle and say " Blessed Be" Light the incense and place the salt in the cup while saying "Earth Mother charge this water" Place your hands palms down, over the cup. Imagine a white light coming up from the earth into the cup. Hold your knife high above your head while saying " I call upon the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth" Place the tip of the knife in the cup of charged water while saying " Be blessed to Water and Earth" Pass the knife through the incense and candle flames while saying " Be blessed to Air and Fire" Hold the knife close to you. Visualize you and the knife glowing white while saying " Be charged creature of life" Mix the wormwood and paint. Paint a pentagram on the handle of the knife. Place your hands, palms down, over the symbol while saying "Earth Mother charge your symbol. So Mote it be!" Take the knife out into the rays of the full moon. Always drain the charged water from the cup onto the earth. The knife is charged.

Charing The Chalice - You will need some Basil herb for this charging.

Setup- Charging the chalice should be done during the waxing to full moon. It can be done immediately after you charge your Athame. Follow the same set up as you did for the Athame charging. Place the chalice anywhere under the candles.

Charging the Chalice Ritual
Perform STEP ONE ( meditation) Light the white candle while saying " Earth Mother thee i invoke" Light the black candle while saying " Blessed Be." Light the Incense. Put salt into the cup and with the tip of the athame draw a pentagram in the water while saying " As salt with water, I purify thee." " May this charge the chalice to the elements of Earth and Water." Visualize the chalice glowing white. Pass the cup through the incense and candles while saying " May this charge this chalice to the elements of Air and Fire" Hold the chalice over your head while saying " Earth Mother bless this chalice in your honor" Mix the basil with the paint. Draw a pentagram on the surface while saying "So Mote it Be!" Take the chalice outside and pour the charged water onto the earth. The chalice is charged.

Charging the Incense Burner - you will need- Nutmeg herb for this charging. (This charging should be done between the waxing to full moon.)setup - same as other chargings.

Charging the Incense burner ritual:
Perform STEP ONE. Light the white candle while saying;"Earth Mother thee I invoke" Light the black candle while saying:'Blessed Be." Light the Incense. Place salt in the chalice and put the tip of the athame into the water. Draw a pentagram in the water while saying: "As blade to water, salt to earth, bless this chalice, giving birth." Visualize the chalice glowing white. Sprinkle the incense burner with water from the chalice while saying:'With earth and water, bless this creature of air." Pass the burner through the candle flame while saying:"Fire bless this creature of Air." Hold the burner high above your head while saying: "Air fill this creature." Visualize the burner glowing white. Mix the nutmeg and paint. Paint a pentagram on the burner while saying: " Earth Mother bless this piece of art in your name." "So mote it be!" Take the incense burner outside and let the incense rise to the skies for a moment. (always drain the water from the chalice onto the earth.) The Incense burner is charged.

BOWL OR CAULDRON CHARGING You will need wormwood herb for this charging.( This charging should be done between the waxing and full moon) Set up-same as other chargings.

Bowl or cauldron charging ritual-
Perform STEP ONE
Light the white candle while saying;" Earth Mother thee i Invoke." Light the black candle while saying; "Blessed Be" Place salt into chalice, athame tip in water. Draw a pentagram while saying: " As blade to water, salt to earth, bless this chalice, giving birth." Visualize the chalice glowing white. Pour the water from the chalice into the bowl or cauldron while saying; " Charge this creature elements of all." "Bring to it your loving call." Pass the bowl through the incense and candles. Hold it above your head. Visualize the bowl glowing white while saying; "Earth Mother let this be your eyes." Mix the wormwood and paint and paint a pentagram on the bowl while saying: "So mote it be!" Take the bowl outside and drain the water onto the earth. The cauldron is charged.

Book of Shadows-
The Book of Shadows does not need to be` charged in the same manner as your other tools. It is simply a blank book of any type you choose, in which you write all of your ceremonies, rituals, spells, and results. Begin your book by recording your experiences through the Self-Dedication process, meditation and charging your tools. Continue your journal in your BOS with each practice of the craft. Your next entry should be about wax and water. The BOS is an important tool as you learn about and explore the craft. You will find some spells and rituals work better than others. The best way to find out which techniques work well for you is to keep track of them. Some important information to record is the time of day, phase of the moon, weather, emotional state, outside noises, distractions, location, items used, and results. This book will soon develop into a very useful and essential tool.

Wax and Water-
Some say the best readings are done from tarot cards and runes. Directions for these will be discussed in later lessons. For me, however, the wax and water method works best. Though it may take some practice to become very effective, it is a very easy process to learn. This too way my first tool of divination.
You will need- One white candle ( use the same one each time you use this rite, when it runs out get another one and do the same) Match or lighter. Your charged bowl or cauldron.

Wax and Water Rite-
Perform STEP ONE.
Light your candle and state out loud what you need to know. Hold the candle over the bowl of water so the wax drips into the bowl. Watch the wax and look for symbols it might form. When you see one, stop. The drippings may even clearly spell out the answers in letters or numbers. In this case, continue until the letters/numbers stop. After you have a symbol, you must interpret it. ( only you can do this. I can tell you what it means to me, but may mean something different to you.) Simply take the symbol and consider what it means to you. Such as an owl may mean sight, luck, beauty, money, etc. to you. If it spells out letter/numbers, you may not have to do interpreting. Practice this and you should become very effective at it.