Free After the Summerland (The Witches of Spring Hill Book 1) by Patricia Proctor

knife. “Each element represents a direction within the
circle. As you can see from the altar cloth, each point on the pentagram also represents
something: Spirit, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Within this circle, the
elements correspond with directions: Earth — North, Air — East, Fire — South,
and Water — West.
    Walking toward the top
of the circle he says, “Magic manifests itself in many ways. For Chloe, it has happened
quickly and obviously it comes in the form of Earth, as we can see it in her
exquisite gardens,” he says.
    Chloe smiles, grateful
for the recognition of her hard work. At the same time, she is excited that
her abilities are already manifesting.
    “The tools that you see
here on the altar are only a small part of what you need in order to work in
harmony with the elements and create magic,” Marcus explains. “Spells can be
spoken; potions can be created from herbs, flowers, and all of the plants that
you see growing around the property; and many rocks, stones, and crystals can
bring forth greater energy. Everything has a deeper meaning than what you may
have thought before and by focusing your energies you can acquire the knowledge
necessary to create magic. Eventually, you will learn how to cast spells. In
the attic you will find a box of books, some of which are grimoires, that will
help you.”
    “What are grimoires?”
Kaiden asks, intrigued by everything new he is learning.
    Marcus smiles, glad
that Kaiden is showing interest. “Grimoires are kind of like textbooks about
magic. They will teach you everything you need to know; including how to
connect with the elements, how to cast spells and charms, how to make amulets, and
so much more. You will discover more in those books than we could ever tell
you, especially the grimoires that have magical powers embedded in them. You
will also find books about your family history and lineage to help you know
where you came from so that you can better understand who you are and your
potential.”
    “Once you open a book, all
of the information within may seem ‘familiar’ to you. You will learn quickly,
especially from the grimoires. The magical powers in these books will invoke
your abilities. While reading, it may seem as if you have already acquired the
knowledge, especially that which relates to any elements already manifesting.
This land only makes your magical powers stronger. It teaches and gives you
what you need at the moment you need it,” Liam says.
    “And remember,” Marcus adds,
“even if you show an affinity to a specific element now, it does not mean that
you will not connect with the other elements as well. Be open and allow the
wisdom of past generations to guide you to where your focus needs to be.”
    Rowan feels goose bumps
rise on her arms as the words her grandfather is saying resonates deep within
her. Kaiden watches the flame of the candle on the altar and the longer he
looks at it the more connected he feels to the words his father, grandfather,
and great grandfather have spoken.
    “Explore and attune
yourselves to all of the elements. You may be surprised at what you discover.
The more time you spend experiencing them in various environments, the more powerful
your abilities will become. Elements can be conjured in many ways, not just
outside. Be creative — use a variety of methods to experience them. Consider exploring
them together so that you not only connect to the element, but also build a
stronger connection to each other.”
    “Learn from and with each
other because the stronger your bond is, the less likely it is that anything or anyone
can come in between you. And, the more time you spend together, the stronger you will become,” Liam adds, looking at each of them.
    Chloe realizes that the
Silvans have got to be witches and were probably using magic at school today.
This would explain why the three of them felt strongest with each other, especially
when they were face to face with the Silvans. They