Creating Sacred Space
There are many reasons why one may wish to create a temporary sacred space and various different methods by which to do so, a few of which are detailed below to give you an idea of different techniques. You may wish to do this if you are consecrating tools, performing divination (e.g., reading the runes, ogham, or tarot), creating offerings, working any kind of magick, or simply desiring a space in which to focus and connect. If conducting any kind of formal magickal work outside in nature (for example, group ritual or spell work; your solo meditations and connection exercises will be fine), you must ask permission from the spirits of place first and bring offerings. I strongly recommend building connections with a particular location for this purpose (see Finding Your Power Place, page 105).
Remember to use the power of your voice. This does not necessarily mean excessive volume, but it does mean speaking from your centre with conviction. If you are timid and afraid to be heard, you will not be!
Purifying the Space
If performing any kind of magickal or meditation work within your home, be sure that the space is not only physically clean and tidy but also energetically clean. A simple method of doing so is to use incense (frankincense will do) or a smudge mix such as lavender, sweetgrass, and sage. If you are able to grow these herbs yourself at home, then that is even better! Take a portable censer, ceramic dish, or large shell and fill it with a layer of earth to absorb the heat. Then, placing a lit charcoal disc on top of your earth, add your herbs or incense. Using a feather or fan, make sure the smoke reaches every part of the room. It is a good idea to regularly perform this simple rite throughout your home to keep the energies pure. Don’t worry, you won’t misplace anything that is welcome and meant to be there. You can also then seal this purification by going around the room a second time but with blessed salt and water or water from a holy well or spring if you have it, simply flicking drops of water with your fingers and tracing your preferred symbols of protection around the walls, doors, and windows. If you do not have a preferred symbol, I recommend the pentagram.
Exercise: Calling in the Seven Directions
This is the equivalent of asking for their blessing and creating a simple circle; it’s not a full invocation.
Facing the east, raise your hands, palms facing forwards, and say:
I call to the east and the element of air! Grant us your qualities of clarity, logic, and inspiration here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
Turn clockwise to face the south. Raise hands, palms forward, and say:
I call to the south and the element of fire! Grant us your qualities of action, transformation, and will here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
Turn clockwise to the west. Raise hands, palms forward, and say:
I call to the west and the element of water! Grant us your qualities of emotion, intuition, and wisdom here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
Turn clockwise to the north. Raise hands, palms forward, and say:
I call to the north and the element of earth! Grant us your qualities of stability, nurture, and stamina here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
Reach and face the above. Say:
I call to the above, the stellar realm! Realm of the stars, the angels and the Divine, grant us your guidance and insight here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
Reach and face the below. Say:
I call to the below, the realm of the ancestors and the luminous beings of the inner earth! Grant us your wisdom, power, and knowledge here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
Bring your hands and focus to the heart of self, saying:
I call to the within, to the divine spark, to the star within, to the spindle within the void by which we are all connected! Grant the insight of the true self and the power of connection here today/tonight…hail and welcome!
When closing, perform in reverse order, turning anticlockwise, and revise the statements to “we/I give thanks for” instead of “grant us” and end with “hail and farewell!”
Exercise: Casting a Circle
You can use this technique in addition to the above or as a stand-alone technique for creating sacred space.
The raw basis of the technique is as follows: using your wand, dagger, or finger as an extension of your will, stand in the east of your circle. With your wand/dagger/finger extended at full arm’s length in front of you, visualize an electric blue light coming from the point as you walk a complete clockwise circle and then eventually joining up at the point where you began. When your work is done, repeat the process in reverse, tracing the circle in an anticlockwise direction, taking the energy back into yourself.
The key to the effectiveness of this technique is energy, intent, and focus. You may find that words or song come to you as you focus—that there is a chant or rhyme that works for you—or that you prefer to cast your circle in silence.
It may suit you to declare your intention in a straightforward way, like so:
I cast this circle as a boundary of protection and power, creating a space between the worlds.
Or you may prefer something more elaborate, such as this rhyme calling on the elementals to protect your space (remember to thank and dismiss them upon closing the circle):
To sylphs of air, I call to thee
Of harmful winds be circle free.
Salamanders who dwell in fire
Protect this space from ill desire.
To undines of the sparkling wave
From all harm my circle save.
And gnomes of sturdy, ancient earth
Protect from those who know no worth.
The circle cast, the web is spun
Let nothing pass till work is done.
The Becoming the Faery Tree exercise featured earlier (see page 50), can also be used as a simple method to create sacred space when performed with that intent. However, for heavier work it is recommended to use something a bit more sturdy!
Tools
As mentioned, Faery Craft does not require expensive tools or garments, as it is a path of nature and the heart. However, you may find that certain objects wish to work with you as allies. Sometimes they will stay with you for a long time or perhaps only for a day. We must always remember that all things possess spirit and thus they do not belong to us, as we are all connected as part of a larger pattern. Therefore, it is up to the individual to be aware of when it is time to allow such tools to move on, either returning into nature from whence they came or passed to other respectful hands. As your awareness and sense of connection strengthens, you will be able to sense when an object wishes to work with you and when it wishes to move on. You will also become more keenly aware that often a simple pebble is far better than any shop-bought bauble and a twig far better than the shiny crystal-clad wand in that glass case!
Here are some potential tools that you may wish to incorporate into your practice:
Wands and Staffs
A traditional tool in many magickal paths, the wand acts as a focus for your energy and an extension of your will. They can be used for creating sacred space, drawing sigils in the air, and many other energy-directing functions.
A staff has a similar role but has the added quality of acting as a bridge between the sky and land, rooting you to your surroundings. If undertaking a walking meditation or journey out in nature, or when setting out with magickal purpose into the wilds, a staff can be a trusted and also very practical companion.
When working with Faery, it is most likely a wand or staff will choose you. Not in the Harry Potter sense of going into a shop and trying them until you find the one that makes your hair stand up like in an eighties pop video, but in the sense that it will be somewhere on your path, and you will simply know. Don’t try or want too hard, but allow it to happen naturally, and one day you will most likely find yourself holding a piece of wood and simply knowing
that it is for you. This is my personal preference, rather than cutting from living wood or buying from a shop, though I have been lucky enough to have been gifted beautifully crafted wands by dear friends over the years. You may choose to decorate or personalize your wand, perhaps with ribbons or paint. Consider whether you wish to add symbols of power, whittle or carve it to change its shape, or whether it is perfect just as you have found it.
Do not worry too much if you are unable to identify what tree your wand or staff comes from, but if you are able to discover it, then there may be some meaning and special qualities for you to be aware of. I would recommend a good tree identification guide and a couple good books on tree lore that relate to the kind of trees you may have growing in your part of the world. As a starting point, here is a very brief look at some trees traditionally associated with Faery that may be suitable:
Alder
The alder has very strong associations with Faery and must be treated with much respect. It is a very protective wood in a very warriorlike way and would be a good wand for a strong will.
Apple
Apple is sacred to the divine feminine, especially to many ancient wisdom goddesses. This tree of Avalon brings visions of the otherworld and connection with the healing powers of the inner earth.
Ash
Another warrior tree, ash is seen as possessing qualities of strength, endurance, and protection. Yggdrasil, the world tree of Norse culture, is an ash. This tree also has strong associations with masculine energy and the Horned God.
Beech
Beech is a powerful gateway tree for seekers in the quest for knowledge and wisdom. It is often associated in ancient British lore with the power of the serpent.
Birch
Birch is traditionally associated with beginnings and rebirth. It is a feminine energy and aids in travelling between the worlds. It is one of several trees associated with protection.
Blackthorn
Blackthorn is used for what is known as a “blasting rod”—a specialized wand with the power to bless or curse. Strongly connected with deep magick and the darker side of Faery, blackthorn is a powerful choice for a wand or staff and is not for the faint-hearted.
Elder
This tree is connected with powers of transformation and shapeshifting. It is seen as possessing or often being a feminine spirit capable of changing forms. However, a wand or staff made of elder may not last long.
Hawthorn
Deeply rooted in Faery lore, hawthorn is associated with spring and marriage rites. Its energy is not wholly dissimilar to its sister tree, blackthorn, only more connected with spirits and gods of fire and light than with darkness.
Hazel
A popular choice for wands and also water-dowsing rods, hazel is said to bring the gifts of eloquence and the power of divination. Deeply associated in folklore with ancient wisdom, it is one of several trees seen as being particularly potent gateways to Faery when growing in a pair.
Holly
Holly has a fiery and passionate energy that, when well managed, can be an excellent choice as a wand or staff to aid with energy building and as a focus for magickal work.
Oak
As one of the most revered and sacred trees in many cultures, oak is a sturdy choice for a wand or staff. Connected to the Green Man, Horned God, and the Dagda of Irish lore, oak is known for its magickal qualities of protection, particularly against fire or lightning.
Rowan
Rowan is said to protect against negative influence, so it would be a good choice if you do a lot of work clearing energy in troubled areas. It is connected to many solar and fire deities as well as having strong ties with Faery.
Willow
Willow is a traditional choice for wands, being a good balance of light and dark and having many magickal qualities. Connected to the moon and the element of water, willow enables communication with spirits and also has powers of healing.
Yew
With its associations with death, war, and poison, yew may not be everyone’s first choice as a companion tool. However, if you are willing to walk the deeper path and connect to the inner drumbeat of the earth, yew has the power to bring the deep transformations needed.
Swords and Daggers
Those who are used to working in ceremonial magick groups may wish to use a sword or dagger in their work. However, it must be remembered that it offensive to most Faery beings to use iron in your work. Bronze, silver, or even wood can be a viable alternative. In most cases, the sword or dagger performs much the same functions as a wand. In ceremonial work they are used to command spirits (amongst other functions), but this is not a technique I recommend when trying to build a trusting connection with the realms of Faery! A sword or dagger may prove most distinctly useful when having to cut old connections or unwanted attachments that may form during the work. You also may wish to have a weapon of this kind made from traditional material (including iron) for use in the unlikely event of encountering unwanted attention from harmful Faery beings or other spirits. This should not be kept on your person or in any area of your living space where you hope to attract or work with Faery.
Enchantress Sorita D’Este wields her
ritual sword with the grace and power
befitting a Faery queen!
(photo courtesy of David Rankine)
Stones, Pebbles, and Crystals
Our friends from the mineral kingdom are more akin to allies than they are to simply being tools. They have an energy, a spirit, and (to an extent) a will and personality of their own, and this must be accepted before you can truly work with them. Expanding your awareness in order to be able to embrace and connect with a consciousness so different from your own is a valuable exercise that will certainly strengthen your work with and connection to the Faery realm. Pebbles may not appear to be as glamorous or enticing as crystals, but, again, a pebble found in a special place may hold more power than the shiniest crystal bought from a faceless shop.
Stones and pebbles have many uses, and as your awareness and connection to your surroundings strengthen, so will your intuitive awareness of the magickal potential and spirit of objects. A stone found in a place of power can be held in meditation or even just kept in your pocket to help you “plug in” to the energy of the place. (I hope I don’t need to say that under no circumstances should you be chipping parts of standing stones or sacred structures of any kind for this purpose!)
Charging a pebble or crystal with healing energy and then putting it in water can create a healing elixir, or you may charge it with another intent—for example, clarified thinking or enhanced prowess. A stone may help to balance your energies or ground you after magickal work, or you could breathe your troubled thoughts into it and then wash them away. When you do find such allies to work with, spend time simply holding them and emptying your mind, letting them speak. They will most likely communicate to you what they would like to help you with.
If you choose to work with crystals, try to be sure that they have been ethically mined, for not only will the energy of ill-treated crystals be scarred and hard to work with, but it is also against the ethics of Faery work to use something that has been cruelly rent from the land. You don’t need masses of all kinds and colours of crystal; a trusty piece of clear quartz will serve you well in most kinds of energy work. If you are looking for a crystal that is particularly associated with Faery, you may want to seek out a piece of staurolite. I also find that moldavite is a very powerful stone when wishing to channel the energies of the sidhe, but it may not be for everyone. If crystals are something you find particularly helpful, you may wish to try malachite and amethyst to aid in psychic awareness and meditation.
Hagstones, also known as holey stones, fairy stones, and wish stones, are stones that have a naturally worn hole running all the way through them. Most commonly found on beac
hes, they can also be found in streams or by rivers, as the hole is made by water eroding away the stone over many years. These are particularly potent items, most often hung around the home or worn on the person for protection. If you are lucky enough to find or be gifted a hagstone, thread some red wool the length of your arm through the hole and tie it into a loop, then hang it by your door; that will protect your home from any harmful energies.
Hagstones are also renowned as granting the ability to see Faery beings if you look through the hole. I would suggest that this is a simplified hint at a possible use in trance and journey work. Try holding the stone in your hand when out in nature, and then imagine yourself travelling through the hole as a gateway. See where it takes you…
Chalice or Bowl
Water, especially from springs and wells, is very important in magickal work, being used most often for clearing space, blessing (both space and individuals), healing work, protection, and to consecrate tools and other objects. Of course water needs to be contained, and a silver, glass, or wooden bowl or chalice should be dedicated purely for this purpose. If used for anything mundane in addition to your magickal work, the energies will become tainted and ineffective. Silver is most preferred due to its reflective qualities that aid in holding energy, particularly if charging your water with moonlight.
Drums and Musical Instruments
Faery beings enjoy music played by natural instruments rather than recordings. You will also find that different elemental beings will be attracted by different kinds of sound. For example, earth elementals find the sound of the drum appealing, whereas some water spirits enjoy voice and strings. (For more detail on this area, see the sections on the elements in chapter two.)
Drums and music can also aid in creating altered states in which you may experience a heightened awareness of your surroundings and the spiritual beings within the landscape, so it is definitely worthwhile finding something that resonates with you. A simple, regular beat on a bodhran (a traditional Irish drum used in journey work) can be highly effective. The trick is to listen for the vibration between the drumbeats.
Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm Page 13