The Witches Digest

When John and Suzy Burton decided to move to a smaller house, they informed the removal men that they would like to take a few precious stones with them.

To be more precise, 13 huge rocks from the garden.

Mr Burton, a druid, and his wife, a witch, were the proud owners of a stone circle which, they say, gives them positive energy.

So when the pagan couple left their historic £1million mansion, Abbotts Court in Weymouth, Dorset, a dozen men with a crane and a fleet of trucks took the rocks to their new home in Dorchester, ten miles away.

Neighbours watched in amazement as the stones, each weighing between half and three-quarters of a ton, were placed in the garden.

The couple - both antique dealers - had them aligned at special points around the extensive grounds of the £600,000, six-bedroom property to encircle themselves with energy.

Each was apparently placed along a ley line which runs from Maiden Castle, an Iron-Age hill fort near Dorchester, through to Maumbury Rings, a Roman amphitheatre.

Mrs Burton then invited 20 witches from her coven to dedicate the stone circle during a night-time ritual.

The 60-year-old - whose mother and grandmother were witches - said: ‘We had a blessing of the stones and we brought the energy back.

‘You could feel the energy circling the stones. We feel they are a place between worlds.

‘It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you are near these stones - but it is something extremely powerful.

‘You can feel the energy pulsing around you, moving inside you - you feel at one with nature and get a real high.’

The stone circle was erected in the ten-acre grounds of 11-bedroom Abbotts Court by Thomas Burberry, founder of the fashion house, in the early 1900s.

Mr Burton, 64, and his wife, who teaches magic and witchcraft, discovered it when they bought the property in 1980 and planned to leave it as an historic landmark when they downsized and moved to Dorchester.

But the property developer who bought the mansion threatened to throw out the stones if they were left behind.

So the couple employed a specialist removal firm to rehome the rocks.

Mrs Burton, who has five children and 12 grandchildren, said: ‘It was a really big job bringing the stones with us.

‘We had to employ about a dozen rather burly men and a crane to transport it all - but it was well worth it. Although I think a few of the neighbours were a little surprised, on the whole I think it’s been really well received.

‘We are so happy finally to have it all sorted.

‘We were very upset at the thought of these stones just being dumped - but couldn’t think of how we could get them with us.

‘They’ve made such a difference to our lives. We were delighted when we realised we would be able to take the stones with us.’

Technorati Tags: druid, ley lines, pagan, paganism, sacred space, stone circle, witch, witchcraft

Basic Recipe:

•  Dissolve Gum Arabic in water, approximately one part powder to two parts water.
• Allow the material to soak for approximately three hours.
  
• In the meantime grind the herbal material to be used until it is finely powdered (using mortar and pestle or other grinding tool).
  
• Mix this powder into the liquid until it can be shaped into small cones.
  (Add food dye if you want a colourful result, but be aware that it will stain your hands)
  
• Allow to dry completely in a warm area.

Incense Recipes – These can be smouldered on charcoal blocks, or used to make cones and sticks by adding to the Gum Arabic solution.

Love Drawing:

3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Yarrow
1 part Orris Root

Protection:

4 parts Valerian
2 parts Rue
2 parts Bay Leaves
3 parts Dill
2 parts Caraway
4 Parts Lavender
6 tsp Sandalwood

Power:

1 part Cinnamon
1 part Anise
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Lemon Peel
3 drops Lemon Essential Oil
1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil
Dry petals of 3 white roses

Sacred Space:

4 parts Cedar Chips
1 parts Thyme
1 part Sage
2 tsp Rosemary
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 Pinch Salt

Earth: 

3 parts Patchouli
2 parts Pine
1 part Bistort
1 part Vervain

Air: 

4 parts Rosemary
2 parts Mugwort
1 part Chicory
1/2 part coffee beans

Fire: 

4 parts Frankincense
3 parts Cinnamon
1 part Orange Peel
¼ part Thyme

Water: 

3 parts Lavender
1 part Willow Bark
1 part Catnip
¼ part Valerian

From Issue 1 - Beltane 2008

Technorati Tags: elemental incense, incense cones, incense recipes, pagan, sacred space, wicca