OK, I am home and have my books, etc.
The first thing I want to talk about is circle casting. It is important to draw a circle of protection around yourself whenever you are doing any kind of even semi involved spell work. When you call the Goddess and/or God into your circle and invoke the elemental guardians (The four quarters- I'll talk more about them later), mischievous spirits may be nearby, and you do not want them interfering with the spellwork you are going to do. A properly cast circle will keep them at bay. In order to cast a circle, or do any kind of magick, for that matter, visualization is very important. You must visualize the energy flowing from your wand, fingertips, etc in order for the spell to manifest. Practice some concentration and visualization techniques before you try spell casting. Start with something simple, like an apple, and work your way up to something more complicated, like your best friend's face or your dog or one of your children's faces. When you can build and hold this image in your mind for several minutes, you are ready for more complicated visualizations like those used in spell work. In order to properly cast a circle, you will need some salt (I use sea salt), water in a bowl, and some incense to burn. The salt purifies and consecrates the water, or can be used to actually trace the outline of your circle on the floor or ground. I am going to post a basic circle casting ritual from Avatar's Book of Shadows. (Thanks, Avatar). Visualize the circle being cast as you walk around the perimeter three times. I usually visualize purple, blue or white light coming from my fingertips and surrounding me as I cast.
From Avatar:
Circle Casting, Solitary
Calling a circle for the solitary witch is done almost in an identical fashion to what a coven would do. The only main difference is that there are not different people to do different things, its just yourself. Below is a simplified version of the coven circle for the solitary witch. Use it, change it, make it fit YOUR needs!
Casting the Circle:
Starting at the east, and moving in a deosil (clockwise) direction, Carry with you the
bowl of consecrated water from the alter, sprinkling drops on the ground creating the
circle. As you sprinkle the water, say the following, or something similar.
"As this sacred water creates the circle, let it cleanse and bless this ground."
When you reach the point you started, place the water back on the altar, taking the bowl
of salt in your hands. Follow the same route that you followed before, sprinkling grains
of salt on the ground in the same place as you sprinkled the water. When you reach the
point you started at, place the bowl of salt back on the altar. As you sprinkle the salt, say
the following, or something similar.
"As this sacred salt creates the circle, let it bless and cleanse the circle."
At this point in time, you shall take the sword/wand/athame (or your finger) and starting at
the eastern point, walk deosil (clockwise) around the circle three times to scribe a triple
circle with the sword point (finger tip)
While this is being done, you should visualize the tip of the
sword/athame/wand setting a bluish fire that shall remain until the circle is broken.
Visualize the fire reaching up above, and below the ground to form a perfect sphere of
protection.
While tracing the triple circle with the sword/wand/athame, you should say
the following or similar.
"Closed may this circle be, Under the protection of the Mother Goddess, And of the
Horned God."
"Protect us and guide me within the circle O' Great Ones, for I am within and between the
worlds, Until such time as it be broken."
"Thrice about the circle is scribed, And thrice be it sealed!"
"The Circle is Cast, SO MOTE IT BE!"
After I cast my circle it is time to call the Goddess and the God to witness and assist in the rite. I wrote the following invocation myself, and use it every time I cast a circle.
Oh Silver Lady of Light and Shadows,
Of shining waters and starry nights,
Who greets her children with moon-drenched kisses,
and holds for them the eternal Light,
Join me now and guide my footsteps on your path
of Truth and Right.
Oh Golden God of Strength and Wisdom,
of sun-lit fields and forests deep,
Who protects his children and gives them comfort
in times of waking and of sleep,
Join me now and grant me knowledge
of how best your Rede to keep.
Oh Lord and Lady
Gold and Silver
Mother, Father,
Each half of the One,
Join me now and bless my workings,
Whether rites of moon or of sun.
As above then, so below here
This is my Will,
Let it be done.
Mote it Be
I then use a chant to call in the guardians of the four directions- North, East, South and West. These four directions are represented by the four Elements of Earth (North), Air (East), Fire (South), and Water (West). They are called the four Watchtowers, or Guardians, and are also there to protect you within the circle and witness your rite. Each is represented by a certain color- green for Earth, yellow for Air, red for Fire, and blue for Water. I usually light candles of these colors at the four points in my circle representing thier respective directions.
This is the chant I use- it was written by a friend of mine, and sounds much better when sung to the proper tune, but I don't know how to convey that here.
The Earth, the Air, the Fire, the Water, return return return return
The Earth, the Air, the Fire, the Water, return return return return
Ai yea ai yea ai yeh ai yeh ai yea ai yea ai yeah ai yea
Ai yea ai yea ai yeh ai yeh ai yea ai yea ai yeah ai yea
(Repeat three times)
You can proceed with whatever kind of magick you wish to perform from here. Since Duchess asked for a healing spell, I am going to post a simple healing and a simple general happiness spell here now. FOr spells done for another person, you should have something belonging to that person such as an article of clothing, a lock of hair, or a photograph of them and place it on your altar or sacred space. Remember to NEVER do spellwork for someone else without asking their permission first (Unless they are unconscious or something). This is considered manipulation (even if your intentions are good), and is forbidden
Happiness/Comfort Spell
You need
Jasmine oil (Jasmine petals in vegetable oil, or a pre-bought jasmine essential oil- most head shops sell essential oils)
Freshly picked flower (any kind will do)
Paper + Pen
Candle (Blue for tranquility, pink for happiness, or white for general blessing)
Container
Write down on a piece of paper who or what makes you sad or angry and burn the paper saying: "I burn this paper to bring me (or the person's name you are doing the spell for- Remember to ask his or her permission first!) happiness."
Then drip the jasmine oil on the flowers and burn the flowers saying: "I burn these flowers to bring me comfort." Pour the ashes into the container while saying: "Goddess, bring me happiness and bring me comfort." Repeat it three times then put the container somewhere cool. (i.e. fridge).
Long Term Healing Spell
Supplies:
· a feather
· rosemary oil
· a shell
· a stone
· an onion
· a horseshoe
Directions:
This spell is good for slowly healing long-term illnesses.
Write the name of the person you wish to heal on the onion. You can either use your athame (a ritual knife- I'll talk more about ritual tools another day) to inscribe it or use a pen; it's fine either way...
Plant the onion in a pot or garden. Put a stone to the north, 3 drops of rosemary oil to the south, a shell to the west, and a feather to the east. Cover the objects with soil.
Place the pot on the horseshoe, or place the horseshoe close by if the onion is planted in the garden.
From Avatar's BOS
Closing the Circle
Turn towards the Altar, athame/wand/sword to the sky, and you should
say the following or something similar.
"O Goddess of the Moon, Queen of the stars,
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, I thank thee for your blessing, and being with me during this
rite."
"Mother Goddess, As you depart, leave if you will, some small part of thy strength and
joy within me until next we meet."
"Blessed Be!"
"Oh Horned God, As you depart, leave if you will, some small part of thy strength and
joy within me until next we meet."
"Blessed Be!"
The candles should then be put out on the altar, starting with the east, and working widdershins (counter-clockwise).
I release the four Guardians here by doing the invoking chant in reverse order:
The Fire, the Water, the Air, the Earth, begone begone begone begone
The Fire, the Water, the Air, the Earth, begone begone begone begone
Ai yea ai yea ai yeh ai yeh ai yea ai yea ai yeah ai yea
Ai yea ai yea ai yeh ai yeh ai yea ai yea ai yeah ai yea
(Repeat three times)
From Avatar's BOS
You should then take up the sword/athame/wand/fingertip and starting at the east, proceed
docile (Clockwise) around the circle cutting it with the tip. Visualize the blue flame being
sucked back into the sword/athame/wand and the magick being released. Placing the
athame/sword/wand back on the altar, say the following or something
similar.
"Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again."
"The circle is closed, Blessed Be!"
I like to use the following closing chant:
The Circle now is open,
open but unbroken,
so Merry Meet and Merry Part
and Merry Meet again.
(Repeat three times)
It is important after working any kind of magick to ground yourself afterward by doing something mundane such as eating or drinking (We often call this part "Cakes and Ale," but you can eat or drink what you want) and by relaxing or meditating- preferably while in contact with the ground, so all excess energy will drain out of you and into the ground (aptly called "grounding" yourself) so you can relax again.
Wow- Long post- feel free to post any questions- this is just scratching the surface of everything I want to tell you all, but I want to make sure the interest is still there before I go babbling on and on like an idiot. Blessed be to all of you!
Merry Part.
Kym
. A good friend of mine happens to be a Wiccan priestess. It's really not my place to speak for her, but I will mention this: my understanding of her is that it was the strict conservatism of her Catholic upbringing which led her to Wicca, a belief system much more in tune with her own sensibilities. She is a considerate and caring person, so it makes me quite angry to think that she suffered under rigid religious rules as a child. SRD isn't the only one whose least favorite word is "church."
Where you could wish a lot of happiness towards somebody? 
