Fertility has become an issue in the West as we delay having children into our thirties and forties. The fertility of the Earth and all her creatures is also of concern to witches, who try to live in harmony with Nature.

The myth that witches fly on broomsticks came from the practice of 'riding' broomsticks through fields to ensure good crops. A broomstick isn't necessary, however. You can simply walk through a field or around a garden, channeling the life force, to achieve the same result.

If you are trying to have a child and medical science has failed you, magic is definitely the way to go.

HOW TO HAVE A CHILD: (for men and women)

• Get in touch with the Goddess, the Universe, god, the Big Energy, by whatever name you call it. Communing with the Moon, which rules semen, menstruation and the womb, is a good way to do this. When you can feel the creative energy of the universe, the urge toward life, draw it into yourself. Don't be discouraged if it takes you some time to learn to do this. Practice it on a regular basis, especially when the Moon is full.
• Children choose their parents, not the other way around. Make a place in your heart, your home and your life for the baby. Take a concrete step: buy a teddy bear, stop smoking, get out your childhood toys, write a poem, set up a room . . . whatever feels right to you. Trust yourself.
• Practice the magic and rituals that feel appropriate to you, your partner and your situation.
• When you are ready, address the Universe. Speak to the pool of souls awaiting rebirth. Inform them that you are ready to host a soul, and that you promise to be the best possible parents for the child that chooses you. Fill yourself with love for the yet-to-be-conceived child, because Love overcomes all physical obstacles.
• Wait patiently, committed to your goal. A soul may have already chosen you but be waiting for the planets to line up so that it can come through at the right karmic time. Keep doing whatever medical stuff you have been doing, if that feels right to you.
• Be open to the idea that biology isn't everything. Consider adoption or fostering a child. The soul that chooses you may be born to someone else, but nevertheless become your child. Egyptian mythology gives us the example of Isis adopting her nephew Anubis, the jackal-headed god, who had been abandoned as an infant. She reared him and he became her devoted ally. Adoption is pleasing to the Goddess.

Opening to the Goddess also worked for my sister, a Christian who had her first child with the aid of fertility drugs and a Novena to St. Anthony. Desperate for a second child, she finally got pregnant with an extreme fertility treatment that almost killed her, and caused the baby to miscarry. She spent weeks in the hospital and then in a wheelchair, but the physical recovery was nothing compared to her emotional trauma. The healing took time, as all healing does. When she was ready to try something new she stopped seeing her infertility doctor, got in touch with the Universe and had a healthy second child.

Bright Blessings on all of you who undertake the sacred responsibility of parenthood.

CORRESPONDENCES:

INVOCATIONS: Anjea - tree spirits - Wadj Wer, the Mighty Green One

Goddesses:

Abundantia - Aditi - Agni-Durga - Ahirat- Ala - Althea, She Who Makes Grow - Ama-arhus - Ama-no-Uzume - Amasagnul - Amat - Ama-arhus - Ama-terasu - Amauntet - Ana - Anahita - Anat - Anath, Lady of the Mountain - Andarta - Annapurna - Antil - Anu - Aphrodisias - Aphrodite - Arad - Aparajita - Arianrhod, the High Fruitful Mother - Arionhod - Artemis - Artios of Muri - Asase Yaa - Asherah - Ashrat - Asherdus - Ashertu - Ashratum - Ashtarat - Ashtaroth - Ashtart - Ashtoreth - Astarte - Atargatis - Atete - Athirat - Attart - Baalat - Baba - Badb Catha - Banba - Bat - Bata - Bau - Bhu - Bhu-devi - Bhumi - Bhumidevi - birth goddesses - Bride - Brigid - Brigit - Ceres - Cerridwen - Chantico - Citlalinicue, Star Garment - cobra goddesses - Cybele - Demeter, Mother of Abundance and Fertility - Disani - Disni - Divona - Dizeile - Durga - Dusara - Dus-Shara - Dushares - Earth goddesses - Egera - Eostre - Eriu - Ernutet - Estsanatlehi, Changing Woman - Etain Echraide - Fauna - Feronia - Fjorgyn - Fodla - Freyja - Frigg - Gatumdug - Gefn - Hertha - Horn - Horta - Ilmatecuhtli, the Old Princess - Ilythyia - Isermuthis - Ishtar - Isis, the Green One - Ix Chel - Jagaddhatri - Kades - Kadesh - Kaltesh - Kime - Kshumai - Kumari - Kybele - Lailah - Laksmi - Lat - Latona - Leucothea - Liber - Libera - Ma - Macha - Maeve - Mahi - Mardoll - Mater Matuta - Matlalcueye - Mawu - Mayahuel - Medb - Menglad - Menglod - Mokos - Morrigan, Great Queen - Muso Koroni - Mousso Coronie Mut - Myrrha - Nanaja - Nemain - Nerthus - Ninanna - Nin-Imma - Nin'insinna - the Nommo - Omecihuatl - Paraskeva - Parthenos - Parvati, Daughter of the Mountain - Perchta, the Bride of the Sun - Pidray - Platnitsa - Prithivi - Posti - Prthivi - Pusti, for growth - Qadesh, the Holy One - Qadshu - Quadesh - Renenutet - Rhiannon - Rosmerta, Great Provider - Saraddevi - Sataksi - Saule - Seta - Sharra Itu - Shaushka - Shulmanitu - Skalf - Smyrna - Sri - Sri Lakshmi - Syr - Syria Dea - Thalna - Thermuthis - Tlozolteotl - Tlazolteotl Ixcuiname - Tu - Turan - Vanadis - Vasudhara - the Wawalak - Xochiquetzal-Ichpuchtli - the Yaksas - Yolkai Estan - Zami-Mata

Gods:

Adad - Adon - Adonis - Ah Uuc Tical - Ammon - Amsu - Amun kamutef - Ash, Lord of Libya - As-im-babbar - Attis - Atunis - Ba - Baal Hammon - Baal Zephon - Bel - Bhumiya - Chango - Cinteotl - the Dagda - Daghda, the Good God - Damu - Damuzi - Deng - Dionysus - Du'uzu - Ea - El - Egres - Enki - Eros - Fray - Freyr, the God of the World - Hadad - Hapy - Harinaigameshin - Hermes - Igishuba - Indra - Ishtaran - Itztapal Totec - Izquitecatl - Jaguar - Kalunga - Khonsu - Kronos - Menu - Min - Mithra - Mithras - Mitra - Nandi - Nandin - Nandisa - Nanna - Ningishzida - Ninib - Ogma - Orishanla - Orisha-Ijaye - Orisha Ogiyan - Orisha-Popo - Peruda - Plutus - Priapus - Priapos - Rammon - Rimmon - satyrs - Serapis - Shiva - Shulman - Shulmanu - Shul-pa-e - Sida - Sido - Sin - Siva - Suen - Sulman - Tammuz - Ta-Uz - Telipinu - Telipuna - Tepictoton - Tepoztacatl - Tezcatzoncatl - Thammuz - Tifenua - Tlaloc - Tlaloque - Tomiyauhtecuhtli - Totoltecatl - Ususu - Xango - Xewioso - Yauhqueme - Zeus Chronius

PLANTS: (for charms and spells)

banana - bistort - bodh tree - carrot - chickweed - cuckoo flower - cucumber - cyclamen - dock - fig - fly agaric - gentian - grapes - juniper - *lettuce - mandrake - mistletoe - oak leaves - olive - patchouli - peach - pine - *pomegranate - poppy - *pussy willow - *rice - sage - *St. John's Wort, gathered naked on Midsummer Eve - sunflower - violet - wheat

For: (Goddesses are listed before gods)

children:

• Invoke: Ahurani - Guan Yin - Hathor, Mother of Children - the Kotharat, for conception and childbirth - Kuan Yin, Hearer of Cries - Kwannon - Sinivali -Sung-Tzu niang-niang, the Lady Who Bestows Children - Yemana - Yemoja, to cure infertility;
• Kuan-yin, for childless women - Mutinus, for a child - Obatala, who makes barren women fertile - Wamala - Wepwawet, who opens the way to the womb

• Invoke: Sarasvati, the Bountiful, invoked by men who want sons - Tzu Sun Niangniang ; Chang Hsien - Mitura

• Invoke: Artemis, Lady of all Wild Things - Epona, for the fertility of domestic animals - Hatmehyt, for the fertility of fish ; Enten

• Invoke: Ashnan - Durga ; An, Father Who Makes the Seed Sprout

• Invoke: Spandaramet ; Pan

• Invoke: Baal - Sarapis - the Vanir

• Invoke: Inanna, the Storehouse

• Invoke: Al-Khidr, the Green One - Ih P'en

• Invoke: Ningishzida, Lord of the Good Tree
• Plant: vervain root

• Invoke: Xochiquetzal

• earth dug up by the horns of a wild boar
• earth dug up by the horns of a bull
• earth from a prostitute's doorway