Caitrin's Book of Shadows

As always it is not necessary to read all of this - Caitrin knows all of this and understands it, and will not be led astray by ignorance without being aware that she is ignorant or walking into danger (i.e. the QM will not screw you over if you don't know this stuff - it's an aide, not a necessity).

lists of magical uses for mundane things
lists of mundane uses for magical things
lists of symbols and their associated powers and possible connections to supernatural beings
notes on faeries and fae

6 Rituals
13 Spells
7 Names of Power
11 Words of Power
5 Sacred Rites

MEANINGS
Ritual:  A long series of magical and non-magical tasks that culminates in a long term result.  Rituals are the most formalized form of magic, and anyone with power of any sort, even if it only faith in something associated with the ritual, can contribute to the effect of  the ritual.  Most religions and magical traditions (and even some psychics) have rituals of varied sorts.  Familiars can often assist a witch in a ritual, to varied effect.  Most rituals are meant to be performed once, with the power of it continuing long after - or even forever after - the ritual is finished.

Spell:  Spells are a short series of magical tasks that accomplish a specific result that is usually short term in nature.  Spells are extremely varied, and what works for one tradition won't necessarily work for another.  They are often individualized, and have a wide variety of effects.  Witches spells take some time, but generally last longer than other types of spells.  A familiar can assist with spellcasting, and can be used as a vector to carry or hold a spell.  Certain types of spells are more easily used than others, but rarely are they quick.  Magical tools can mitigate this, and sometimes even replace entire tasks the spell normally requires; is is also possible to make a spell out of whole cloth.  Impromptu spellcasting can be dangerous however, unless it is a simple spell.  Hexes are a specific type of spell that bend some of these 'rules'.

Names of Power:  Exactly what the box says, these are names of power that can be invoked by a witch to certain effects.  Usually these are parts of a ritual or a rite, though they can have some effect on spells as well.  It might seem counter-intuitive that a name of power might be commonly known - Hecate, Danu, Freya, Odin, etc. are all commonly known.  A name of power consists of more than just knowing the name and some history.  A name of power is a name that the witch understands, inside and out, good and bad.  The common person might know that Danu is the Celtic Goddess of the feminine, but a witch is aware and ~understands~ that Danu is all that is female, within and without, for the witch and the world, and invoking her name means that the witch is invoking the feminine in herself, in the world, in the magic she does, and calling for assistance from the goddess of fae and Celt alike.  When a witch uses a name of power, she is invoking that beings attention, and it will always be aware that it is being called upon and by whom.  What happens after depends on the owner of the name and the witch who is calling it.

Words of Power:  A misnomer.  Words of power also includes specific gestures, short sayings, and quick rituals, mostly mundane in seeming, all to accomplish very small but intense magical effects.  These are above and beyond Caitrin's atropopaism and jinxes, which are types of "words of power" she has natural facility with.  Words of power are a mundane task that has a magical effect when performed by a witch, and they can be used as parts of spells or rituals; as an example, walking widdershins three times around a specific person can cause them to lose their way or trap them in a specific place, while in a spell it can be used to intensify the cursing or evil aspects of a spell when done as an extra bit of effort.

Sacred Rites:  These are largely mundane tasks that are sometimes accompanied by magical efforts or tasks that are performed as a duty or as a requirement.  Many of these are parts of coven rituals or designed to give homage to specific deities and patrons/matrons.  by and large a rite is performed on specific days, or during specific times, with specific requirements needing to be met. They are not meant to be undertaken lightly and often require a great deal of preparation to be performed properly.  As sacred rites are literally religious observances, they fall under the Religious Freedoms Act and with proper notification and forewarning, a practitioner cannot be fired or censured for taking time off of work to do so, with certain exceptions.  (Note that three of these are seasonal and day specific rites that will not come up in game; two have uses that can be game applicable, but are not necessarily going to be used.)

RITUALS:
1: Cat's Paws
This involved ritual takes six hours.  A familiar can help and will increase the effectiveness of the ritual.  The ritual involves a great deal of walking in circles, chanting, candles, crystal glasses, and wearing little or no clothing and must be performed at night with moonlight in the room, if not outside.  By the end of the ritual the witch should be able to walk atop the wine glasses without breaking them or spilling them, and move in absolute silence.  If a familiar assists, the witch will be able to fade into shadows if she is still and to see in the dark.  This ritual lasts one lunar month, from moon to moon regardless of phase.

2: Waking the Witch
This ritual is always performed on someone other than the witch, and can be performed on up to nine people at once, not including the witch herself.  It takes three hours at least and may take longer if there are many participants, and requires honey and spices (clover or rose honey are best) which may be mixed together, a linen robe for each participant, a pool or tub of purified water, a sanctified space, four sacred objects (traditionally Cup, Wand, Athame or Sword or Staff/Rod, and Coin), potable wine, and being both sky-clad and clothed at differing points.  This ritual also requires kissing (there is no gender requirement) and being touched by one or more sacred objects in personal manners (no penetration should occur); reluctance will taint the ritual.  A familiar can assist.  At the end of the ritual, the recipients will receive the innate talents possessed by the witch, whether inborn, ritual granted, or patron/matron granted.  This power will include the ability to perform other rituals and grant the recipients the ability to utilize spells and rituals, but not Rites or Words of Power.  They can invoke the Names, at their own peril.  This ritual lasts three days; if a familiar assists, it will last seven.  This ritual can be combined with the Sacred Rite of The Coven, and if it is, the powers are retained as long as the awakened witch remains part of the coven.

3: Breaking the Spell
This ritual takes an hour and some time to perform.  A familiar is required to assist.  Purified and non-iodide salt water to bathe in; a mixture of vinegar, honey, lemon, cloves, and either laudanum or psilocybe as a draught; an Athame, or Wand or Rod with a cutting tip or edge; black candles, white candles, and black dipped red candles; a silver basin which will be ruined.  At the end of the ritual any unwanted and undesirable spells, along with any ritual effects (unwanted or not) will be broken and the purified magic stored in the sacred object used.  This ritual can leave scars if the witch's hands are unsteady, though a familiar can assist in performing this task in addition to the rest of the ritual.

4: Enchant the Tool
This ritual takes up to five hours to complete and may require certain terrain or atmospheric conditions as appropriate to the working.  A familiar can assist.  This ritual requires four sacred objects less one that the tool to be enchanted is most similar to, five candles of differing colors, a ritual circle, and atmospheric and terrain conditions as desired or needed to effect the enchantments desired. It may also require other substances and tools appropriate to the making.  At the end of the ritual, the tool to be enchanted will have been given magical potency and certain qualities as desired by the witch.  If a familiar assists, they may add to the working their own gifts and properties as the witch desires or the familiar sees fit.  The enchantment remains as long as the tool is physically intact or the ritual magic broken.  Exceptions are possible, depending on the need of the witch.

5: Naming Names
This ritual takes an hour and some time. A familiar cannot assist.  The requirements are an inkwell and a brush or ink pen (self contained ink is not acceptable); as many sheets of fine parchment style paper as letters in the name to be created; a black dipped white candle (it must burn for at least one hour); purified water in a silver, gold, or leaded crystal Cup with salt; and a comfortable place to sit and work for the required amount of time.  At the end of the ritual the recipient or object is granted a True Name, with all the power and danger that is implied by such a thing.  Note that this True Name is not the True Name of the object or creature, but another True Name with similar potency and uses; a significant and real change on the part of the recipient can render the ritual undone.  Otherwise the ritual is permanent.  A witch who uses this ritual upon herself does not risk undoing the ritual by a significant change and is less vulnerable to manipulation through use of this ritual True Name.

6: Binding Brand
This ritual takes fifteen minutes to ten or more hours.  A familiar can assist.  The requirements include silk or linen rope or cord, an iron collar or shackles, a brazier, eucalyptus leaves, precious incense, copal, an Athame or other sacred tool which can cut or a branding tool of iron or brass, a blindfold of silk, and ink of any color laced with laudanum or psilocybe.  The recipient is sky-clad save for the ropes or cords used to bind them; the witch wears red or black silk or linen.  At the end of the ritual the victim is marked by the witch who may use any of her magics from afar on this person.  This person is considered a slave to the witch or to the coven, and each coven member who is to have power over the victim must participate in the ritual.  No sexual violation by any participant must take place three days before, at any time during, or for three days after lest the violator be condemned to share the victim's status and curse.  A Black Man is the exception to this rule, but a Black Man cannot be a participant, only an observer.  If a familiar assists, the familiar can follow the victim, use any of its own abilities upon the victim from afar, and can see through the eyes and hear through the ears of the victim; if wounds are inflicted on the familiar, the victim suffers them.  The victim bears a brand or mark which can be hidden though other magics and is tied directly to each participant.

SPELLS:
1: Hex
2: Airmed's Balm
3: Beast Calling
4: Blood of My Blood
5: Dowsing
6: Glamour
7: Lovesicken
8: Potionmaking Practice
9: Rune of Weal or Woe
10: Quickening the Child
12: Wending Way Knot
13: Widdershin Walking Curse

NAMES:
1: Danu
2: Nuada
3: Malebode
4: Airmed
5: Hecate
6: Baphomet
7: Aibell

WORDS OF POWER:
1: FORGET
2: REMEMBER
3: SNAP
4: QUIET, QUIET, QUIET
5: SUFFER
6: JINX
7: O.K.
8: HORNS OF THE GOD
9: VAJRAPANI
10: KYAAAAA
11: CROSSED ARROW FINGERS PRESENT

SACRED RITES:
1: Solstice Celebration
2: Equinox Celebration
3: May's Day Celebration
4: Making the Covenant
5: Investiture of Power