With my first day of junior year approaching in less than forty-eight hours, I felt it a good idea to cast a small, albeit hopefully effective, spell/blessing for the coming school year. Especially considering how horrible my grades were last year. This being an extremely important year in my life, affecting not only my GPA, but what kind of colleges I can get into, it is time to clean up my act.
What better way to do this than with the blessings of Athena?

My supplies were simple:

• a 4-inch blue taper candle
• some blue modeling clay to hold said candle in place
  
• a small piece of stained blue agate for said modeling clay to sit on (I always feel comforted if some sort of stone is sitting beneath my candle, couldn't tell you why)
• a cup of tea (for sheer comfort. I love tea!)

As you may have observed, the color theme of this spell was blue, to symbolize wisdom and intelligence (I felt them most suitable in regards to improving performance in school). Into the candle's side I carved [sideways] some words that I felt most defined the goal of the spell: "wisdom, focus, motivation, success." Near the very top, above these words, I then drew the rune of Sol, symbolizing success and intelligence (shown below). This was my first time incorporating any aspect of rune magic into my spells.

I then brought the candle (and its homemade 'holder') outside onto my deck with my cup of tea, placed them both at my table (not to be confused with an altar, which I don't really possess right now. I'm not sure if I really feel as though I need one), and began to meditate.
My neighbors had taken the opportunity at this point to begin mowing their lawn, so I wasn't very deep into my meditative state. I took the opportunity to become more aware of my natural surroundings, smelling the air (the scent of fall is starting to set in), listening to the crickets, watching the sun set through the trees, etc.
After a while, I invoked the goddess Athena and began talking to her quietly, looking towards the sky (almost as if for acknowledgment, heehee). I addressed her and asked her assistance in staying focused and on-task this school year, reaping good grades.
Almost immediately after, I saw two small birds (very high-up in the sky to the point where they looked like insects) fly past each other in an "x" formation, and smiled. It does sound a bit hokey in retrospect, but I do feel as though this was indeed the acknowledgment I was looking for.

I spent a few minutes more meditating, focusing on my breath and the flame, before addressing the goddess once again, this time elaborating on my wishes regarding my academic performance this school year and, ultimately, thanking her.
Following this I looked up to the sky, and in a couple of seconds I saw a group of crows fly across the sky. Just as they were about to disappear into the trees, I realized that it might be a smart idea to count these crows (no allusion to the band intended), and quickly counted to myself under my breath, hoping for a traditional lucky nine. I counted just eight and frowned, but in a split-second a ninth crow flew just behind the group, as if trying to catch up.

At this point, I felt deeply satisfied that my spell was 'working,' and continued to meditate before taking the match with which I had lit my candle and burning its other end in the candle's flame, charring it. With the ash I drew on my hand the Sol rune (it is noteworthy that I intend on applying this rune to my hand in henna to keep my pledge for 'academic excellence' on my mind at all times).

For a last time, I thanked the goddess Athena and pledged to her that I would fulfill the cause of this ritual and also provide her with some sort of payment in return, once I thought of what would seem most appropriate.
A single bird flew across the sky.

I brought my candle inside and reflected upon the ritual, and when the candle burnt down to the last half-inch or so, I snuffed it out and buried it with the match used to strike the flame (along with a little note of thanks) by my favorite cherry blossom tree.
Blessings!