THE GRIMOIRE
YOUR CRAFT YOUR VOICE
FINDING YOUR OWN MAGICK
TAROT TIPS: CHOOSING A DECK GETTING BACK TO NATURE THE MAGIC OF POETRY
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the first issue of The Grimoire - A regular magazine exploring the practices of paganism, witchcraft, and wicca, as told by those walking the path.
My journey began at university, where I discovered tarot and began reading the Raider-Waite deck. From there, I have become in tune to the practice of witchcraft, rune reading, and developing my intuition.
Most importantly, paganism has helped me discover my true self through this magazine and my podcast, the Old Path, I hope to inspire and educate others on a similar path, whatever stage they are at.
Through sharing our experiences, we can support ourselves and build a beautiful community, where nobody is judged and all are welcome Whether you are just starting on your journey, part of a group, or practice in solitary, I hope that there is something in this magazine that resonates with you.
Thank you for reading and blessed be Pantherion
Finding your own magick
BY PANTHERION
There’s little doubt that more people are discovering the pagan path. Whatever the reasons are – be it looking for an alternative to ‘mainstream’ religion or purely a want to connect with the natural world – the Old Ways are making a comeback.
Today, ‘beginner’ witches, wiccans and pagans have access to a whole treasure trove of information and sources. Social media, the Internet, and historical records, all of these have presented an infinite number of paths to explore, routes that our ancestors certainly didn’t have. I often wonder what they would make of the technology we take for granted, though that is likely an article in itself!
While being able to access information freely is something to be celebrated, it can be overwhelming at the same time.
Let’s take social media as an example. Each day, we are bombarded by images of altars, links to which spells work best for certain situations, and what to do around each of the Sabbats. It’s great, but at the same time, a lot to process.
That can lead to aspiring witches feeling as though they need to match or surpass others they are following online. From that, the first signs of spiritual burnout are often planted.
In recent years, there has been a greater recognition amongst the spiritual community of the need to only operate within your energetic means. If the ‘call’ or the intuition to mark a specific Sabbat isn’t there, then that’s okay. If you don’t feel that you have the level of energy to do something in particular, then that, too, is okay. More often than not, the small-scale, personal celebrations are the ones that result in the deepest connection with Spirit.
One of the many reasons I love paganism and being a practicing witch is that both present opportunities to do something that feels right for you. As a solitary practitioner, I also feel that I have the chance to learn my Craft in my own way, at my own speed, though at the same time, there is a lot to be said for the community feel that comes from a coven – again, a quick search online or on Facebook can help find covens nearby.
One of the many reasons I love paganism and being a practicing witch is that both present opportunities to do something that feels right for you. As a solitary practitioner, I also feel that I have the chance to learn my Craft in my own way, at my own speed, though at the same time, there is a lot to be said for the community feel that comes from a coven – again, a quick search online or on Facebook can help find covens nearby.
Each craft is unique, therefore. But what links all pagans, witches, and wiccans, is intuition. That is your own branch of personal magick.
Developing intuition doesn’t just happen. It needs nurturing, honing, and most importantly, a deep sense of love and Self. For all the information and resources out there, there is no substitute for your own intuition. That voice that is often referred to as your ‘gut instinct’? Guess what, nobody else has the exact same one as you. It’s the magick equivalent of a fingerprint.
While it will take some time, getting to know your magick self is exciting and can help answer those questions that may have been brewing but haven’t had the chance to be fully explored. Using mediums such as tarot or runes can aid that journey, too, but again, trust your intuition.
It was tarot that led me to take my first steps as a pagan. During my university studies, I struggled with feeling lost and that I wasn’t good enough when comparing myself to my coursemates. The Raider Waite deck came into my life and is still with me today. Others may be directed after a traumatic event or simply by curiosity. Whatever lights the spark, intuition is what keeps it burning.
So, how can you work with it?
Going back to the Sabbats, there is no limit as to how to mark them, from meditation, to tarot spreads, to full-blown feasts with friends and family. What matters is that it feels right to you.
In day-to-day life, intuition guides us to take a different route to work, be spontaneous, or helps us choose a new book to read. It has a voice, and by listening to it, we can begin learning from it. Take a bit of time each day, at whatever time feels right, to simply sit and listening to what messages come through to you. If you feel comfortable meditating, that, too, is a good way to open that door.
Remember, reader, you are unique. You are magical. You have a voice. No-one can take that away from you.
Blessed be.
Pantherion is a solitary male witch, living in Worcester, UK His Craft encompasses the natural world, tarot, runes, and wandwork. Creativity is an essential component of both Pantherion's Craft and his identity - he is the host of The Old Path Podcast, a performance poet, and writer. Pantherion is passionate about supporting others on the pagan path His spirit animal is the Leopard, and he works with the deities Brighid and Cernunnos. His favourite tarot card is The Empress.I inhale, and accept the promise of a new day into my being.
I exhale, and release the fear of yet another day. I look steadfast into the eyes of my soul, and tell myself
I am beautiful, I am blessed, I am loved. For there is nothing more beautiful and loved than a true heart.
© Leena Batchelor 2023 - ‘Positive affirmations’
I should also mention that I’m a Bard.
Okay, that may not surprise many people who know me, as I am actually a poet. But the term means more than that to me. I am studying my Bardship under the auspices of Druidry.
Now I hear the intakes of breath and see the sideways looks. Especially when I also explain that I’m Pagan, despite originally being christened by the Church of England.
First, let’s first set some context. How can you change from being Christian, and be both Pagan and Druid? Simple. Growing up, the dogma of societyapproved Christianity never connected with me, I never felt at ‘home’.
The more I questioned this, the more I wrote poetry. The more I wrote, the more I grew to realise I was more at home within the freedom and beauty of Nature, in moments I spent creating poetry at the side of a stream, feeling the pure crystal energy filling my being. I had connected with Goddess.
Poetry - an ancient craft for modern day spells
BY LEENA BATCHELOR
I connect with Goddess and Nature. Poems are my spells.
I know what you’re thinking - that’s a bold statement to make. And also, don’t spells equate to magic? Thus they’re not real. Right?
Wrong.
There is nothing more magical than finding the right words to connect with a treasured moment, to recall the beauty of a woodland walk. To develop understanding and empathy with another human being. To find peace.
There is nothing more magical than finding the right words to connect with a treasured moment
Leena is a former Worcestershire Poet Laureate who performs under the name Pixie Muse Poetry & Prose. She has released 5 solo collections. Much of her poetry focuses on reflections of our world, exploring the spirituality within humanity and nature, and what it means to be connected to both. Her latest project is the opening of an independent bookshop with a cafe and reading room in the heart of Worcester
Druidry is not a religion; it’s a spiritual movement which venerates the essence of nature and our ancestors, seeks wisdom and guidance by connecting with the world around us. Druids welcome all beliefs, whether Pagan, Wiccan, or Christian.
Okay, so where does poetry fit? Do I actually write spells?
Poetry is a beautiful and ancient craft, and I use poetry as a tool of intent in my practice. Long before ink first stained parchment teachings were spread through poems; the rhythm of poetry made these easier to remember. I am merely continuing an age-old tradition.
This is a hello to your transformation. We will not join you yet, but feel your continuance through memory and recollect…..
This is farewell, an adieu to a physical presence momentarily borrowed, then returned, while your soul rests eternally in peace
© Leena Batchelor 2023 - ‘Farewell’As for spell-making, how often have the lyrics of a song transported you back to a poignant memory? Numerous podcasts and YouTube channels exist with meditation to soothe mind and heart. The power and magic in holding a person’s attention and mind, healing them through poetry.
Rain, rain, go away, come back another day. [17thC rhyme - the original words were “Rain, rain, go back to Spain / never show your face again”, about the invasion of the Spanish Armada, and later revised for the wishes of children to be able to play outdoors]
Have you not also repeated this wish in the hope of fairer weather? It may not always have worked out (especially in the UK!), but this old rhyme is but one simple example of a spell poem. Try these lines when you next look in the mirror in the morning , I bet they’ll have an impact on your day:
I inhale, and accept the promise of a new day into my being.
I exhale, and release the fear of yet another day. I look steadfast into the eyes of my soul, and tell myself I am beautiful, I am blessed, I am loved. For there is nothing more beautiful and loved than a true heart.
© Leena Batchelor 2023- ‘Positive affirmations’
One of my most significant pieces of writing recently was for my father’s funeral. To be true to my beliefs, yet respectful of his, I wrote a secular, Paganthemed, service, to acknowledge his time in this realm. Nervous, as many of his old friends were there and I was conscious they may have been unaware of my beliefs, nevertheless with the support and love of my children before me, I breathed deep and true, and spoke.
Everyone said how touching and authentic they found the service, how much my words had helped them find their own peace with a difficult moment - poetry illuminating belief providing solace and release.
This is a hello to your transformation. We will not join you yet, but feel your continuance through memory and recollect….. This is farewell, an adieu to a physical presence momentarily borrowed, then returned, while your soul rests eternally in peace
© Leena Batchelor 2023 - ‘Farewell’
It has taken me a lifetime to feel able to state who I am without fear of the digital age’s version of burning at the stake. Now, I no longer fear the shunning or ridicule of keyboard warriors, for my words are swords whose blades cut sharp.
My words are companionship, whether shared or for me alone. If the dystopian fears of my childhood reading lists become reality, I will always have these. When I want to thank the bounty of Goddess for the beauty I find in my life, my poetry will serve, and serve well. That’s the magic of poetry, the spells I weave. That’s how poetry connects me to Goddess and Nature.
And as you feel the heartbeats between these inked lines, you become one of those threads, too.
Getting Back to Nature
BY CATH HODGETTSIn the days of old, we used to be a part of the natural world, only taking what we required as a huntergatherer species, exploring the lands, telling stories through cave art, astonishing at the stars and moon lighting up the night sky. But now, in the modern construction of society we have been removed from a lot of those. With how the world is changing (and it doesn’t look like for the better), it’s time to get back to nature…
I work 9 hours a day, 5 days a week in a warehouse. I live in a flat with no garden in a busy town on the doorstep of Cannock Chase and its surrounding woods and heathland. Day to day, my walk to work consists of concrete, litter, and car fumes. Same old, same old.
Only occasionally am I treated to seeing the hidden wildlife that lives in our suburbs: a squirrel crossing the road from Bridgtown Primary School to a small lining of trees behind a wall; two magpies foraging for breakfast on the patch of grass just outside the Honda car dealership; dozens of worms scattered on the pavement after a heavy rain; a family of jackdaws protecting their home (a chimney top) directly opposite where we live from a gang of wood pigeons.
I love seeing these little snippets of everyday goings on in our wildlife community. In a strange way I understand them - they’re just trying to survive and thrive like we are. Fortunately, unlike the wildlife, I get two days off at the end of the week, which is when I get to go on adventures with my future hubby.
For the Easter Holiday this year, we got some supplies from Go Outdoors and did some improvements on the Kangoo camper. We went to the Leicester Space Centre Museum and then discovered Jubilee Wood just on the border of Loughborough. We got our gear on and walked up a muddy trail before going off the path into the beautiful Hazel trees that were around us. We found a slight steep climb that was guarded by a rock and we set up camp.
If I’m completely honest, I struggle to meditate at home; my better half can meditate no problem at all, just by sitting on the rug, lighting a stick of incense and calm himself like a pro. There are too many distractions for me and because of my anxiety, it’s hard to switch off and think of absolutely nothing. Being outside however, I can meditate easily. It’s just so wonderful to hear the birds singing their songs to one another, watching two butterflies flying together in unison but they are actually fighting for the attention of a female butterfly close by.
During our time in Jubilee Wood, we talked, listened, drank coffee, and even did some whittling which was incredibly therapeutic. I have been wanting to make a wand out of hazel for a while, and what better time or place to do it than where we were at that moment in time!
My partner sawed a branch off one of the trees in the wood (which I thanked it for and said a blessing), and he trimmed it down so we both had a piece of the branch to carve. I stripped some of the bark but not all of it, as I quite like the colour of hazel bark, and just went with the flow.
I went with a basic floral design as it has been a fair few years since I last did some carving, but I think it turned out pretty well. I love Barry’s design even more; instead of a wand, he made something that looks like a spear/arrow. It is rustic with the bark and I love the incorporation of runes that go hand-in-hand with Paganism.
After some much-needed rest and time spent outdoors, we packed up our belongings just before the sun decided to set. We got back in the car and discussed what a wonderful time we had had, just being outside and listening to the wildlife around us while we whittled our hazel branches. In that moment, I had a realisation. That was how it must have felt for our hunter-gatherer ancestors, de-stressing and relaxing after a full-on day of excitement and adrenaline.
Listening to the birds singing, watching the sun traverse its course across the sky and discussing their thoughts about the day. It’s nice to know that we aren’t that different from our ancestors, it’s just that they did things slightly different to us.
My partner and I are already planning our next adventure, hopefully a night under the stars in the hills of Church Stretton or a walk in a wood closer to home. Whatever we plan though, it is something to look forward to and something that makes us feel connected with the world on a deeper level.
Cath is 32 years of age from Bridgtown, Cannock. Paganism is something that has always called to her as she describes herself as very empathetic and a huge Selenophile. She immerses herself in the craft on a daily basis now by appreciating Nature, the stars, the planets, and by taking care of the area she lives in. Her favourite tarot card is the Death card, simply because it represents change - which is not necessarily a bad thing! - and can lead to better opportunities or take us on different paths.
I first discovered the tarot in 2013, during my time at university. As most students can testify, I was struggling with homesickness and that age-old question of 'what if I'm not good enough to pass my course?' had become a daily thought.
In other words, I was lost.
It was during a wander around the local bookshop that I found some guidance. Sitting on a bottom shelf next to a collection of wellbeing and self-help books was a copy of the traditional Rider-Waite deck. Something about it spoke to me. I bought it there and then.
First crafted back in the early 1900s, the Rider-Waite deck is often the first deck that new readers get. It has been the foundation for many of today's modern decks. The 78 cards are divided into four 'minor arcana' suits - Pentacles, Swords, Wands, and Cups - and 22 other cards known as the major arcana. Each card has a unique meaning and energy, depicted in the artwork.
The Rider-Waite deck is perhaps the most widely available. Some practitioners believe that your first deck has to be gifted to you - I personally am not one of them.
I believe in trusting your intuition.
Choosing your deck
BY PANTHERIONToday, there is no shortage of choice for anyone wanting to explore the tarot. From mythical creatures to plants, ancient civilisations, and even pets, new themes are constantly appearing. That means that there is every chance that you will be able to find a deck aligned to your interests, beliefs, and identity.
There are also decks that don't follow the traditional 78-card format. These are known as oracle cards. Another key difference is that many oracle decks have the meanings written on the cards, making interpretation much easier. If you're the sort of person who finds it hard to remember information, then oracle cards are likely a good fit for you.
While it is amazing to see so much variety, it can be overwhelming. And that is absolutely natural.
Spend some time looking into the various decks that are out there. You can find them on sites like Etsy, but personally, I prefer looking around the local new age or metaphysical shop. Find where your closest one is and pop in. Chances are the server will be able to advise you or, even better, you will naturally be drawn to one in particular. Pay attention to what you're feeling; that will be your intuition working.
If you're unable to get to a physical shop, have a look at whether they have an online store instead. Again, trust your intuition. Ideally, avoid using sites like Amazon, as these decks may have been mass-produced and there is a risk that the deck itself loses the energy that makes it unique.
When you find a deck (or decks in my case!) spend a bit of time getting to know it. I believe that every deck has its own personality. Some of them will be nurturing and be that 'arm round the shoulder' when you need help, others will be more, shall we say, frank. Regardless, they all have something to teach us.
Sit with your deck for a while and take in the artwork. Do any of the cards resonate with you? Try not to look at the guidebook to start with; you guessed it, use your intuition. As you shuffle your deck, ask it a couple of questions along the lines of 'what lessons will you teach me?', 'how can I work with you in the best way?', or 'why was I drawn to you?' to start building that important connection with the cards.
Sit with your deck for a while and take in the artwork. Do any of the cards resonate with you? Try not to look at the guidebook to start with; you guessed it, use your intuition. As you shuffle your deck, ask it a couple of questions along the lines of 'what lessons will you teach me?', 'how can I work with you in the best way?', or 'why was I drawn to you?' to start building that important connection with the cards.
Keep on connecting with your deck as often as you can. Some readers recommend doing a daily card pull, which is great for that continuous connection, but it might not feel right for you. So long as you maintain communication on a regular basis, yours and your deck's relationship will remain strong.
These are all methods I have tried with all the decks I own and that work for me. You might find that something completely different is better suited to your practice or why you want to read the cards in the first place. That doesn't mean there is a 'right' or 'wrong'.
What matters is that you feel comfortable and confident in working with your cards.
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The Old Path
Thank you for reading this first issue of the grimoire I hope you have enjoyed the articles!
If you have a story to share, or want to contribute to a future issue, send an email to pantherion78@gmail.com. Let's walk the path together. Blessed be
Pantherion