Wiccan Handbook – Part II: Faery, Elemental and Angelic Magick
According to Merriam Webster, magic (n) is defined as: “the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces.” While this definition is fairly simplistic, “magick (v) to produce, remove, or influence by magic,” is truly much more complex. Ask an authentic Wiccan to define magick and you may receive an answer similar to the following: magick is the ability or power to effect change on the physical or metaphysical plane by aligning inner forces with natural and supernatural forces. Inner forces include: will, thought, emotion, imagination, and spoken words. Natural forces are the correspondences found in nature: plants and herbs, crystals and rocks, the color spectrum and candles, water and smoke (air). Supernatural forces are the Divine (Godhead), Deities and spirits.
Up until the modern Age of Science, humans would commonly observe magick in the world all around them. Life was magical. Their awareness of magick led to their efforts to use it for the purpose of enhancing their lives. The earliest evidence of magick comes from cave paintings of the Paleolithic Era depicting rituals designed to secure successful hunts. All religious systems incorporate magickal rites, including Christianity. In essence you could almost say there are as many forms of magick as there are people who practice it. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the magickal practices associated with the Wiccan Traditions.
All forms of magick can be categorized as either White or Black magick, however in truth- magick initially has no color to its character. All magick begins as neutral and amoral, or otherwise Gray. It is the energy and intent of the practitioner, as well as the energy of the natural correspondences and the supernatural that determine the distinction between “White” and “Black.”
White Magick always comes from a place of hope, peace, temperance and love. The intention behind White Magick is to produce positive change through healing, blessing, protecting, or eliminating (transmuting) negative energies. The natural correspondences used will align with these intentions and the supernatural beings invoked are beneficent to humans and nature.
Black Magick always comes from a place of anger, greed, hatred and fear. The intention behind Black Magic is to produce negative change through malicious acts that cause harm to others. The natural correspondences used will align with these harmful intentions and the supernatural beings invoked are hostile and malevolent towards humans and nature.
All magick will produce a karmic effect upon the practitioner, as energy always returns to its source. For those who practice White Magick, blessings of love and healing return three-fold. There is a belief amongst Black Magick practitioners that the supernatural beings they invoke will protect them from the karmic effect they have incurred. However, this is a fallacy as the laws of the universe cannot be circumvented- karmic debt must always be settled!
All forms of magick can be further categorized as either Formal or Practical magick. Practical Magick (also known as informal magick) is comprised of small enchantments we perform on a daily basis. Practical Magick may be ritualistic, for instance as in the blessing of food and drink, or it may be simplistic, as reciting a short incantation or prayer. There is no ceremony associated with Practical Magick and it does not require any enchanted tools. Other examples of Practical Magick may include: vision boards, positive affirmations, candle lighting and burning incense. Formal Magick on the other hand, must always incorporate a ceremony consisting of three elements: 1) casting a circle and raising power; 2) spell or incantation; 3) rite or procedure. It requires a purification process and altered states of consciousness. Formal Magick is also very corporeal as it requires the casting of a Magick Circle as well as enchanted tools. Examples of Formal Magick include: Banishing Rites, Sabbat Rites, The Great Rite, Wiccaning Rites and Death Rites. Invocation is the act of calling, or inviting: deities, spirits and supernatural beings into our plane of existence. A deeper classification of magick can also be based on the diversity of these deities, spirits and supernatural beings which are invoked during a ritual or rite.
Faery Magick: This form of magick is typically practiced by the Wiccan Celtic Traditions, most especially by the Irish Tradition. It is polytheistic, venerating multiple deities from the Celtic Pantheon. It is also a syncretic form of magick- it blends the supernatural beings, the Fae with Wiccan beliefs and rituals. As it is an earth-centered religion with a strong focus on the environment, Faery Magick is most often practiced in secluded nature, in woodlands and forests or next to lakes and large bodies of water. It is also practiced at fairy hills, fairy mounds, in fairy rings (natural circular formations of trees, plants, or mushrooms) or within standing stones. These particular locations are known to be portals to the Fae realm.
The practitioners of Faery Magick place heavy emphasis on herbal and folk healing. Practitioners (generally female) maintain communication with fairies through rituals and ceremonies, which typically include music and dance. Offerings of food and drink are often left outdoors as sacrifices to the Fae. The Fae communicate with the practitioners through dream states, trances, altered states of consciousness, and direct channeling. They assist in anything environmentally related, granting bountiful crops, protection of people and land, and facilitating in healings.
It is often said that those who are initiated into Faery Magick do so because the Fae first revealed themselves to the practitioner. However, those with a desire to connect to the Fae should consider reading Celtic and Irish fairy tales. Although hidden, these stories often contain detailed instructions on how to access the Fae realm.
Elemental Magick: Like Faery Magick, Elemental Magick is also syncretic- blending supernatural beings with Wiccan beliefs and practices. However, unlike the Fae, Elementals are created on the earth plane and act as guardians of nature. There are multiple types of Elementals. Some Elementals are created by natural disasters or large-scale tragic events. They can also be created when humans destroy the environment in the name of progress. These Elementals can be malicious, unpredictable, and destructive very similar to the energy that created them. They can be responsible for the cause of hauntings, accidents and even death. To summon these Elementals is to do so at your own risk! There are however, other Elementals that Wiccans do incorporate into their magick. These supernatural beings are formed by (and personify) the four elements: air, fire, water and earth.
Earth Elementals are known as gnomes. Gnomes live within the ground, and can easily move through rock and dirt. They are protective beings, extremely faithful, brave and are known to attach themselves to a particular person or family. They are invoked for matters dealing with the earth, gardening, farming and the home.
Fire Elementals are known as salamanders. They are said to inhabit fire, volcanoes and energy discharges like lightning and orbs. They are willful and feisty beings known for their volatile nature. They are invoked for matters dealing with enlightenment, manifestation, willpower, passion and sex.
Water Elementals are known as undines, or mermaids and nymphs. They, obviously, live in bodies of water. They are sensual beings that are enchantingly beautiful and are typically invoked for all matters concerning love and eroticism.
Air Elementals are known as sylphs. They inhabit the air and are particularly associated with strong winds, jet streams, and doldrums. Air elementals are also beings of great beauty. However instead of expressing love, they can be quite arrogant and detached from human concerns. Sylphs are connected with all of the arts and may be invoked for clarity, transparency and intellectual concerns.
Elementals may typically be invoked during the casting of the Four Quarters but it is also quite common to invoke them individually in the areas they inhabit. A grand resource to learn more about the Elementals and how they can be incorporated into magick is the 16th-century manuscript entitled, “A Book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies, and Salamanders, and on the Other Spirit” by Paracelsus.
Angelic Magick: Angelic Magick is another form of Elemental Magick for which Angels are commonly known as Spirit Elementals. In truth, Angels are “non-denominational” as the manifestation of the Divine Creatress’s grace for humankind. There are nine choirs of angels: guardian angels, archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, thrones, cherubim, and seraphim. However when invoking angels for magick, the guardian angels and archangels are the most appropriate as both are involved with the Earth and human affairs.
In Wicca, guardian angels are commonly called spirit guides. They may be assigned to us at birth and follow us throughout our entire lives, or they may serve us as a temporary “guard and guide.” Typically, guardian angels are humanoid and small in stature, but can change their shape, appearance and size. Archangels are very large and powerful beings, each one having a specific purpose and ability. They are gender neutral but their powers give them distinct “male/female” energies and personas.
The Christian Bible only mentions a few Archangels- however ancient Jewish texts name fifteen:
*Ariel (Lioness of God) – Ariel is the angel of the earth and assists humans with physical needs (money, home, etc). She is also invoked for all matters concerning environmentalism and animals. Pink is Ariel’s color, and She is associated with wind.
*Azrael (Whom God Helps) – Azrael is the angel of death and aids the deceased in transitioning to the afterlife. Invoke Azrael for Death Rites and the grieving process. Beige is Azrael’s color.
*Chamuel (He who sees God) – Chamuel is the angel of peace; He eases anxiety and stress. Invoke Chamuel to bring harmony back into chaotic situations and to help find lost people or objects. Pale green is Chamuel’s color and He is associated with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.
*Gabriel (God is my Strength) – Gabriel is the Messenger. She is invoked for all matters concerning communication, parenting, child-rearing, conception, and adoption. Dark yellow is Gabriel’s color.
*Haniel (Glory of God) – Haniel is associated with women and needs specific to their gender. She is also invoked to assist with clairvoyance. A pale candle-light blue is Haniel’s color.
*Jeremiel (Mercy of God) – Jeremiel is the angel of emotions. He also assists with psychic vision. Violet is Jeremiel’s color.
*Jophiel (Beauty of God) – Jophiel is the angle that transmutes negativity, clearing our minds, bodies, and space. Jophiel is invoked for all matters concerning love and beauty. Fuchsia pink is Jophiel’s color.
*Metatron – (Metatron) is said to be the prophet Enoch who was taken to Heaven and transformed into an Angel. He is the Angel that watches over children. Invoke Metatron for any issues surrounding young ones. Dark green with dark pink is Metatron’s color.
*Michael (He Who is like God) – Michael is the Protector. He has the strength to banish evil entities and clear all negativity. He is a warrior invoked for protection, courage, strength, and justice. Cobalt blue/purple is Michael’s color.
*Raguel (Friend of God) – Raguel is an angel of harmony bringing peace to all types of relationships. Aqua blue is Raguel’s color.
*Raphael (God Heals) – Raphael is the Healer and often works in conjunction with other Archangels. He is invoked for all healing rites. Emerald green is Raphael’s color.
*Raziel (Secrets of God) – Raziel is the keeper of the universes’ secrets. He heals spiritual and psychic blocks and assists with dream interpretation. Invoke Raziel to learn esoteric secrets. Rainbows belong to Raziel.
*Sandalphon – The prophet Elijah who ascended into Heaven, Sandalphon acts as an intermediary between God and humans. Invoke Saldaphon for sound healing. Turquoise is Sandalphon’s color.
*Uriel (God is Light) – Uriel is an angel of illumination, wisdom, and philosophy. Invoke Uriel for clear thought. Pale yellow is Uriel’s color.
*Zadkiel (Righteousness of God) – Zadkiel is an angel of justice, and is often working in conjunction with Archangel Michael. Invoke Zadkiel for memory and mental function. Dark blue is Zadkiel’s color.
It is important to note that when working with Angels in magickal rites, Gods and Goddesses are typically not invoked. It is also equally important not to call upon the Four Quarters by the elements. Instead, when calling the Four Quarters, one should have knowledge of the Four Quarters associated with each Angel: Raphael (East); Michael (South); Gabriel (West); Uriel (North).
– The Goddess Kingdom© 2023
