The Grimoire of Lady Sheba - Hardcover

Sheba, Lady

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0875420761 ISBN 13: 9780875420769

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, 2001

Synopsis

Lady Sheba inherited her practice of witchcraft from more than four generations of Witches. Recognizing a profound need for a new understanding of the forces of nature, she elected to publish her grimoire, a personal magickal workbook copied by hand from the time of her initiation.

―The Power: Description of the rules and requirements for
    correct, effective use of Witchcraft
―The Tools: How to make, consecrate and use magickal
    instruments
―The Language: Includes diagrams of the lost Theban script and
    Runic alphabet
―The Rituals: Complete instructions for performing rituals for
    every purpose
―The Recipes: The famous secret herbal lore of the Craft, including ointments, teas, incense,
    perfumes and oils
―The Dances: Traditional square dances as well as magickal "Witches' rounds"
―The Book of Shadows: The Holy Book of Witchcraft
―The Eightfold Path: Describes the steps to magickal attainment.

First published in 1974, this ground-breaking volume includes essential information for practicing Wiccans. Llewellyn is proud to present this hardcover edition to celebrate our company's one hundred year anniversary.

About this title

About the Author:

Lady Sheba was one of the first people in the United States to officially establish the Craft as a legally recognized religion. She registered "The American Order of the Brotherhood of Wicca" as an religious organization in Michigan on August 13, 1971. She stated that she was a witch "by traditional heritage" and a "Gardnerian Witch by choice."

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

1 The Power

The foundation on which all your witch power is built is the witches' pyramid. The first side of the four so-called sides of the pyramid is your dynamic, controlled will; the second, your imagination or the ability to see your desire accomplished; third, unshakable and absolute faith in your ability to accomplish anything you desire; and fourth, secrecy-"power shared is power lost." You and your co-workers must work in solitude, peace, and harmony.

These four things, will power, imagination, faith, and secrecy are the basic rules and the absolute basic requirements for the working of Witchcraft. Without all four working together you cannot accomplish the arts and crafts of the Wise Ones.

With your pyramid of power working for you, be sure you have ample knowledge of the universal power tides. The source and the ebb and flow of these cosmic power tides are marked by the movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets through the solar system.

The eight great solar power tides that occur throughout the year mark the time of our religious Sabbats. This is our cosmic calendar. They are a time to draw close to the Gods and receive the magical rejuvenation from contact through the cosmic power tides that are closer to the earth at the Solstices and Equinoxes.

It is not enough to know or possess knowledge and power. One must know how to focus or aim the power in the desired direction and for the purpose intended.

The famous witches' "cone of power" is accomplished by using your pyramid powers to build and focus the force or power raised by your own electric and magnetic body, and brought together and held as a beam of light (power) by your will, within the Magick Circle. Then by the force of your will, command the power cone to come forth and accomplish the purpose for which it was raised.

The Magick Circle acts as a lens to constrain and focus the magical cone of power, very similar to the lens on a modern spotlight.

When you begin to build the cone of power and cold chills are tingling up and down your spine, and your will has increased in power and determination until you feel highly intoxicated and ready to explode; when you have experienced all these things, then know that you have succeeded in raising the mystical, magical cone of power. When you know you have succeeded, drop to the floor or earth and point your Wand in the direction you are sending the power, binding your will to the cone of power and visualizing the accomplished result.

You may also raise the cone of power and send it forth as a familiar in the form of a bird or ball of light, etc., and have it report back to you when it has completed its errand.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

The mystical magic of Witchcraft is the highest science known to man. Practical Witchcraft is the knowledge of and the ability to manipulate the metaphysical and metapsychical universal laws of nature established by the Creator of the universe, and it encompasses the lowest of the universal laws of nature, unto the highest laws of the spirit.

The powers obtained by the knowledge of and the use of Witchcraft are neither good nor evil, but are neutral. The universal laws remain the same. It is the application of the laws by the individual and the results obtained by their use that alone determines what is known as white or black Witchcraft.

The power comes from one source only-the God Force. Our God and Creator of all things did not create anything unclean or evil. but as either positive or negative. Man gave these positive and negative forces within nature the aspect of good or evil.

The universal law of "Like Unto Like" upon which the Sympathetic Magick aspect of Witchcraft is based has been used since time began.

Witchcraft is used today in America by people who would be shocked to find out that the wooden duck decoys set out on the water to attract the ducks from the sky is and always will be Witchcraft. This is a modern example of the universal law of "Like Unto Like" or "That Like Produces Like," which is often called "the Law of Similarity."

Another aspect of Sympathetic Magick is "Contact." Witches believe that things that have once been in contact with each other, such as a person's clothing containing their perspiration or things that have been once a part of the body (cut hair or nails or urine) continue to act on each other no matter what the distance between the severed parts.

Knowing Sympathetic Magick to be an application of the universal law of "Like Unto Like," we thus make use of this ancient wisdom in the rituals by using waxen images or clay puppets.

I would especially have you remember that miracles and magick acts are accomplished by the use of the powers of your mind which today's scientists cannot explain or understand.
2 The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path has never been published openly before. Without this knowledge you cannot work the Arts Magickal, since the Eightfold Path to the Center is the basic essential in all the workings of the Craft.

The First Path
Intention and concentration of intent. Mental imagery or visualization. Meditation.

The Second Path
Rising upon the planes. Using the many Trance States, better known today as "altered states of consciousness." Projection of the Astral Body.

The Third Path
The Keys: rites, rituals, chants, spell-casting, runes, charms, amulets, talismans, the magick link.

The Fourth Path
The correct and controlled use of drugs (hemp, kat, mushrooms, etc.), ritual wines, whiskey (known as "the elixir of life"), and incense.

The Fifth Path
The dance and kindred practices to raise the fiery cone of power.

The Sixth Path
Warricking, blood control by use of the Cords, breath control, and kindred practices.

The Seventh Path
The ancient rite of scourging to purify.

The Eighth Path
The great rite, the spiritual union as well as the physical union of male and female to create life. Sex Magick.

Comment: The five essentials for the working of the Eightfold Path are Intention, Preparation, the Magick Circle, Self-purification, and the Consecrated Tools.

To me the Intention of the Wise One is the most important feature of the Eightfold Path. You must know beyond any shadow of a doubt that you can and will succeed. This is the absolute essential of every operation of magick or religious worship.

Preparation: You must be properly prepared for the work you are doing according to the rules of the Art, and you must take note of the cosmic laws and the planetary times. All ritual preparation must be observed or you cannot work the Arts Magickal.

The Magick Circle, our temple between the realm of the Gods and the world of man, must be properly formed, consecrated, and purified.

Self-Purification, cleanliness of body and mind. You must be prepared and purified according to the rules of the Art. If a rite should be of long duration, lasting through a Moon and Sun, then the Circle and the operator must be purified often through the night and the day.

All of your holy altar tools must be properly constructed, purified, and consecrated to the God/Goddess. Keep your tools highly charged with power. This can be done by recharging in the Magick Circle with the Dance, by concentration, or as I personally do, by sleeping with my Magick Knife, feeding it constantly.

There are many ways of using the Eightfold Path and the five essentials to gain the Center. The Center is the union with the God/Goddess, the source and sustainer of our being.

All of the Paths do not combine well together; but many of the Paths can be combined to bring faster and more powerful results. Each person must work out his own best combinations.

The First Path, intention and concentration of intent, is essential in all workings. It combines easily with all the other paths and leads to the Second Path, the union of the operator with the evoked Entity.

The Fourth Path is a very powerful way to the Center. The aids quickly unlock the inner eye and swiftly release the spirit from its physical prison. Therefore, "Judge Ye wisely with whom Ye will choose to tread the Pathways to Wisdom, for Ye must accompany them until they stand in the Divine Light of the Center." This knowledge must not be taught to fools.

About this edition

• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0875420761
• ISBN 13: 9780875420769
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 243