First let me start off with what magick is and then I'll go into using items and figuring

out their properties.

Magick is the use of natural energies to create a desired effect in our world. Its an intention sent out into the
universe that gets these energies moving. This means the more focus and claritiy used in spell work is what
determs how strong your spell is. The witch is always the main factor in whether a spell will work or fail.

The color of magick is sometimes talked about in terms of white or black, however, the energies of magick
have no color. They are simply neutral and are neither good or bad. What creates the purpose and use of
these enegies is the witch. It is always the witch who makes the magick have a negative purpose or a
positive purpose. Spells that are considered negative or black magick are ones that are designed to control
someone, mess with another's emotions, bring someone harm, involve greed, summon demons and etc.
Spells that are considered white or positive magick are the ones that focus on healing, prosperity, good luck,
blessings, harmony and etc. A lot of witches walk a gray path - an inbetween path.

Okay, so now you know what it is and how it works some - so how do you use it? The best way to use it is
with items at first like gemstones, crystals, colors and herbs. Everything has a vibration/energy. We can't see
it with the naked eye, but it is there. A lot of people can pick up on these vibrations by feeling. This is what
the witch does - she feels the vibrations and then taps into them for her work. A witch might carry a tigers
eye stone for protection or wear a rose quartz crystal around her neck on a red string to bring love into her
life.

The colors are the easiest for most as people normally already associate colors with feelings. Red to most
people is a color of love or power. White normally refers to purity and clean - I mean who doesn't associate a
white counter top as being clean? lol. Green is connected to the earth and therefore is linked to growth,
fertility and healing. Yellow is tied in with the element air so shares its properties as well as whatever goes
through your mind when you see it. For me yellow is harmony, communication and new beginnings. Black is
normally seen as negative but most witches say it is used for protection and banishment.

Do you need to memorize all that? Not really. Learn the basics of colors and then just use the color you feel
is right for the job. Any associations you have with a color will already be strong and you should use them.

Gemstones and Crystals can actually be used in the same way as colors. After all, they come in several
colors. That is one of the quickest ways to use rocks. Some witches I know don't use books on their
meanings, but just go by using the rock that feels the right stone for the job. They do this by laying out
several stones. They move their hand over the stones and see which ones speaks to them by feeling
different from the others. It might feel warmer or cooler than the others. It might even make your hand tingle
or feel like it is vibrating energy from its core. You can also learn the standard stone meanings by studying
and memorizing them for basic stones. This involves more work, but it is worth it.

 Tigers Eye - Protection

 Rose Quartz - Love and Matters of the Heart
 Hematite - Banishes negativity
 Quartz Crystal - Cleansing and Strengthens Spells (All-Purpse Crystal)
 Amethyst - Pyschic Abilities and Spirituality
 Black Opal - Aids Astral Travel
 Jade - Good Luck and Prosperity

The list goes on but these are some of the basics in stones. For really learning stones you need to pick up
the book "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Gemstones and Minerals" by Scott Cunningham. He even goes
into the properties of metals in this book. It is a common book on the shelves of witches.

Now on to herbs and they are the trickest. As much as I hate to say it, this is one of the areas you just have
to study and let sink in. There are a few exemptions like using flower colors and physical features of the
plant. By this I mean if the flower is red you can use it in love spells or if the plant has thorns you can use it
for protection. This also works for plants used for medicinal healing as they normally can be used in healing
spells - this is really true for comfrey and aloe vera. Things like pepermint, lavender, thyme, rosemary and
others must just be learned with time.
  Basil - Money and Peace
 Thyme - Health, Divination and Psychic Powers
 Catnip - Love
 Rosemary - Healing, Love and Protection
 Peppermint - Psychic Powers, Sleep and Purification
 Lavender - Peace, Sleep, Love and Protection
 Sage - Purification

For a better and more complete list of herbs I suggest another Scott Cunningham book called
"Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs".

There are also tons of websites that list the properties of herbs, gemstones and colors. Just make sure the
site seems professional and knowledgable as some times people just post random properties that aren't
common to the items.

Next lesson, if you are still wanting it will be on circle casting. Then the next on how to create your own
spells.