Valley Wands

Amulets or protective charms have been carried or worn in all cultures and times to offer protection against physical and supernatural danger, misfortune and illness. The first amulets were probably small painted stones; examples dating from prehistoric times have been discovered at the foot of rock painting sites in Western Canada. Talismans have the same protective powers, but in addition are actively empowered to attract good fortune, love and prosperity to the bearer. The terms tend to be interchangeable nowadays.

Many amulets derive their powers from nature and so crystals or gems are worn or carried for this purpose since they are believed to contain innate healing and protective powers. Metals are also regarded as inherently protective as they come from the earth, itself perhaps the most powerful protective force in nature and many amulets are crafted from or engraved on metal. Another common type of amulet or talisman was made from part of an animal, and was designed to transfer the animal’s salient quality or strength to the possessor, while also endowing them with the protective strength of the creature.

From ancient times, people also crafted amulets and talismans of tiny figures representing gods, sacred animals, arrows and tools. Indeed it was suggested that jewellery originated as the wearing of amulets made of lucky or healing stones.

Chinese parents still follow the custom of giving their offspring jade to protect them and keep them healthy, and in many countries coral jewellery is worn by young children to prevent falls. Coral and bell teething rings, given at christenings and naming ceremonies in both the Eastern and Western worlds, are said to ward off negativity and nightmares. In India, most amulets are still – as they have been for thousands of years – created from sacred plants.

In some cultures, for example that of Ancient Egypt, amulets not only guarded a person during life but were placed in the tomb for protection in the afterlife; protective hieroglyphics (magical letters) were painted on the tomb walls and placed as amulets on the mummy.

If you want to have a try at making an amulet or talismen for protection, try this simple method, it will require a little research on your part to choose the rune or symbol for you, that you believe will bring you protection.

Making a Wax Amulet:

As with all types of magic, consideration should be given to the moon phase that you make your amulet in. For the purpose of this exercise we are making a protective one, and therefore a full moon would be suitable, affording maximum strength and protection at the same time.

You will need:

• Candles (One will suffice but if you wish to make a more colourful amulet then several of different colours can be used).

• A pastry cutter (small)

• A piece of aluminium foil

• Compose some simple wording that means exactly what you want to achieve, don’t copy anyone else’s words, they must come from you. A simple example would be:

Power of the fire

Come unto me

Protect my home

So mote it be.

The simpler you keep it, the less there is to go wrong, but remember use your own words, and be specific about who or what you want to protect.

• Something sharp to use to engrave the cold wax.

Firstly let me clarify something, it doesn’t matter what colour the candle is, plain white works just as well as any other colour. I see in books all the time, use x colour candle for a spell for luck, or y colour for a spell for health, the fact is that the colour is only a focal tool, and brings no more energy into the working. What is most important is your belief in what you are doing. If you embark on a working of any kind, with anything less than 100% belief in what you are going to achieve, then it will be doomed to failure before you’ve even started.

Place the pastry cutter on the aluminium foil that you have doubled over and bring up the sides of the foil and tuck around the cutter. What you are doing is making a base for the cutter that is removable.

Now we are ready to start, this will take somewhere in the region of 40 minutes, so make sure you have allowed enough time where you won’t be disturbed. If you wish to set up an altar then do so, but remember the energy comes from within you, and the items on the altar should merely be regarded again as focusing tools to help you concentrate.

Firstly visualise your bubble of protection for you, or if you feel the need cast your circle. Remember a circle (or bubble) has three main purposes:

• To denote sacred space

• To keep any unwanted energies out

• To keep the energy you raise inside whilst you work.

Now bring your attention back to your candle, light it and place both your hands around the flame (not close enough to burn them) and bring your focus onto that flame. You now need to start chanting your wording, whilst focusing hard on that flame with your eyes. Recite it over and over, until you are totally absorbed in the moment, and there are no external distractions getting through to you. Visualise the flames energy moving through you and back into the wax that is pooling on the top of the candle.

Periodically pour off the molten wax into the pastry cutter lined with foil, and then return to the chanting again. This can be a slow process, depending on the size of the pastry cutter and therefore the amount of molten wax needed to make a disc about 1/3 inch thick.

When you have enough wax in the cutter to make a disc, allow it to cool, and extinguish the candle. Remove the wax disc from the cutter by removing the foil and then carve a symbol, name or rune that you associate with protection, whilst keeping your focus on your intended goal... the person, the house, the car what ever you are working on protecting.

Place the finished amulet in a discrete corner of the house, it doesn’t have to be on show to work, or give it to the intended recipient, and your work is done.

Have fun and stay safe

BB

Sian