The Witch's Eight Paths of Power

My Q&A with Sable Aradia

1. What was your prime inspiration and motivation in creating your book, “The Witch’s Eight Paths of Power A complete course in magick and witchcraft”?

I was considering the nature of magick; what it was, why it worked, and how one could train to be better at the skills that made it work. I was designing workshops around this subject. Then I happened to be reading through a text version of Gerald Gardner’s Book of Shadows (for those who might not know, he is arguably the founder of modern witchcraft,) and I considered what he called the “Eightfold Way.” His theory was that there were essentially eight methods of working magick. I considered how these would apply and spent several years experimenting, studying and teaching these theories and exercises. The result is a practical, step-by-step workbook that takes you from beginning to advanced witchcraft practice. I guess I wrote the book I wanted to read.

2. How did you begin on a path of witchcraft origins wise will you share your story?

You have asked a simple question with a complex answer. I was about ten. I started having dreams that came true. I wanted to know what this was all about, and what I should do with it. Parapsychology studies couldn’t tell me that. But then I found a book in my school library: “Practical Candleburning Rituals” by Raymond Buckland. And I thought; wow, you mean magic is real? And we can actually learn how to do it?

At about the same time I discovered Greek mythology in school and I was fascinated. I’d always been very mystically-minded and the idea that there were goddesses as well as gods was irresistible. Then I was reading a book on the solar system and they had a picture in it of the goddess Diana because She was associated with the moon. My given name is Diane so of course I immediately made the connection. One night I stood under the full moon and I decided that I was going to pray to Diana instead of the images of the divine I’d already been offered. I believe She took me up on it!

I didn’t believe my friend’s mother when she told me that our impromptu ten-year-old dancing ceremonies around trees in honor of Diana and Venus, and charms to change the weather, were witchcraft; because that was an evil thing, wasn’t it? And we weren’t doing anything evil! But of course, witchcraft is exactly what it was. After my friend stopped doing the ceremonies with me, I kept it to myself until later in my teens, when I discovered that my silent faith had a name. The rest is history.

3. I study Shamanism profusely and intent is very important. Could you share your perception on intent with us?

Sure. As a shaman, I’m sure you’re aware that when you focus your intent to manifest your will in the world, you aren’t just bringing your conscious, surface desires to bear. You are also drawing upon your unconscious beliefs and assumptions, and the desires of your Higher Self. If you don’t really want what you think you want, or if you don’t really believe that what you want is possible, then it won’t work out for you. You might have hidden fears or motivations that could misdirect your intent.

To successfully manifest your will, you must also shift your consciousness when forming intent because the mind is made up of more than left-brain logic and communication, and different acts of manifestation and healing – what a Witch would call magick – take place on different levels of consciousness. Aleister Crowley said that “Magick is the Art and Science of causing change according to Will.” Dion Fortune said that “Magic is the art of changing consciousness according to will.” Both are true.

4. What are your thoughts on intoxicants and the role they play in your practice?

I define intoxicants as any external substances that change consciousness. So this includes incense, essential oils, and herbs, as well as some of the things that probably immediately come to mind, such as alcohol and drugs. We know that essential oils change mood and cause healing effects. We know that drinking caffeinated beverages perk up our mood and consciousness levels and we know that drinking chamomile tea relaxes and calms us. A recent article in the New York Times discussed a study that proved that humble frankincense, the most common and widespread incense ingredient, has noticeable and measurable effects on our consciousness. So we use them for a reason.

Witches work with a lot of these sorts of things. We use incense and smudging in our rituals and we heal with aromatherapy and herbalism. We often drink a cup of wine as part of our “Cakes and Ale” ceremony, which is something like the Eucharist. Some of us – though certainly by no means all – will also make use of stronger intoxicants, such as cannabis and hallucinogens, for specific magickal goals and journeyworking, just as many shamanic traditions throughout history have done. I’m one who has, and I detail this a little bit in my book, heavily laden with cautionary notes about the risks, which are often considerable.

5. Would you go into blood and breath with us and what you mean by that?

Control of blood flow and breathing is a core principle to many mystical traditions, such as yoga, Reiki, Tai Chi and so forth. The control of the flow of these basic elements moves energy through the body in specific ways which can then be utilized and directed towards your intent. For instance, a Tantric practitioner seeks to awaken Kundalini and thus join with the Divine. A Reiki practitioner seeks to awaken the healing energies that naturally exist in the body and spirit. There are external methods of controlling these things, such as drumming to a heartbeat and moving the body into different positions (like yoga asanas or binding practices), and there are internal methods of controlling them also (such as breathing exercises). Most modern mystical systems are familiar with the concepts of chakras and the flow of chi, so this is the primary paradigm I use to describe this process and how it works.

6. What exactly do you mean by the scourge?

The scourge is a tool used in some traditions of witchcraft (though not all). It’s more like a soft flogger made of cloth or leather, kind of like the ones you find in adult stores. It is used to ritually strike the body to produce changes in consciousness. As a magickal tool, it is symbolic of the pains and trials of life. I cover the ritual use of the scourge as a tool, but I also consider the magickal lessons in the pains of life. So I deal with such things as the five stages of grief, doing work with the shadow-self, the Hero’s underworld journey, confronting fear, and healing trauma as part of this chapter.

7. This is a wild card question. What from the book would you like to share with our readers?

Hmm, that’s a hard choice! Okay, based on your readership, who are probably familiar with mysticism but likely not that familiar with witchcraft, I guess I’ll offer my introduction to chapter three:

“The use of language, sound, and ritual is the most familiar form of Witch’s magick; it’s what people usually think of when they hear the word “Witchcraft.” Rites, chants, spells, runes, and charms speak directly to your conscious mind to formulate your Intent, and if well-written, they also utilize symbols, archetypes, correspondences, and mythology to speak to your unconscious mind. Most Witchcraft books focus on this Third Path. My intention with this chapter, then, is to teach you about the theory rather than specifics. Hopefully you will never need to consult a magickal recipe book ever again, and will instead have the practical tools at your disposal to make the best kinds of spells, rituals, chants, charms, and runes; the ones you write for yourself.

“These methods all use a language of symbols and art to speak to the subconscious mind, and through that, the Universe, to communicate a specific desire. Learning the Witch’s language of symbolism is like learning the language of manifestation. Using it makes it easier to communicate to the Universe what you want. The study and practice of this symbolic language is called “the art” or “the craft” for a reason.”

8. What are you up to next books wise or projects wise and any links you’d like to share with us?

I do a lot of different things and many of them all at once! I’m currently working on a book on my tradition of Wicca, Star Sapphire, and I’m researching a project on Pagan ethics around love and sexuality. I write a column at PaganSquare and on the Patheos Pagan channel and I’m starting a new blog there called “Between the Shadows.” I’ve been writing a fantasy novel series for a few years and I’m plugging steadily away at that. I’m also a musician and I’m working on a new album. I’ll be offering an online course in Star Sapphire Wicca and the Witch’s Eight Paths when I get back from my book tour, starting in November. And I do Tarot and teacup readings and Reiki in person and online.

Links: Well, the best one is probably my website, http://www.sablearadia.com; you can find everything from that point. I’m pretty active in social media; I have a Facebook page, a YouTube channel, a couple of WordPress blogs and I’m on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Thanks for chatting with me today. These were some great questions!

Blessed be,
Sable Aradia (Diane Morrison)
http://www.sablearadia.com