it’s funny when the people complaining about tradcrafters “gatekeeping” fail to realize that almost every major spirit tied to the Craft stands before a gate, a lock, or door in some way. like the whole point is to become initiated by these figures so that you can walk through the “gate” and then reap the benefits of the hidden knowledge, it’s not supposed to be easily accessible.
secondly, no other practitioner is supposed to be able to deny you your power. if you feel like another practitioner is ‘holding’ you back simply because they aren’t sharing their stuff or spoon-feeding you info, learn how to communicate with your spirits instead; they are the ones who are supposed to teach you. and if they aren’t willing to do so then perhaps it’s not your time yet, or perhaps you’re just not called to this specific branch of magic.
Anyone have any book reccommendations for southern folk witchcraft thats not focused as much on bible-centric beliefs? Im having trouble trying to find resources that arent super full of bible references
Is there a particular reason you want to specifically practice folk magic but also avoid the Christian bible?
I don’t want to come off as flippant with that question. It’s sincerely asked because resources will be much more difficult to find if they are both hills you’re willing to die on. It won’t be impossible but everyone has different boundaries so you might be able to get away with more if your limits are looser.
For example, I’m not southern but my craft is based in the folklore of my area. It’s an area which is heavily Christian. I’m not, but I also acknowledge the power that a tool like the bible has in certain workings. It’s also worth noting that just because something might come from a “Christian” source doesn’t mean there aren’t roots that dig even deeper.
If you truly want it to be southern, andfolklore based, and not Christian I would research stories and folklore of the area. Distill them down to their bones. Experiment with what works. Journal your findings. Get to know the local flora and fauna and the energy that resides in them and the land itself. Though to be fair, this is always my advice when it comes to locally based witchcraft.
Apparently I have hurt somebody’s feelings by not hating the Christian religion with a burning passion and believing that the problem lies in hateful people who will say anything to justify their even more hateful action. Apparently people still think making assumptions about people based on a single post is somehow a great idea, so allow me to make some things clear. I’ve had an influx of new followers lately anyways, so best I get this out of the way.
Trigger Warning. I get personal here. If you don’t like what I have to say, best you unfollow me.
• I grew up in a (mostly) Christian family. I have religious trauma from my mum’s mum telling me that being bisexual is a mental illness, that people who wish to be openly lgbtq+ should have mandated therapy and that lgbtq+ people shouldn’t have the right to marry. Don’t even get me started on the nasty things my mum’s dad has said about lgbtq+ people. Dealing with this as a teenager alongside untreated depression, social anxiety and adhd was traumatic, to say the least.
• That being said, I do not identify as a Christian. I do choose to study the Bible and accept Christian elements of folk practices from my region, simply because I don’t see a reason to totally separate it. If it worked for the older folks then might as well go with it, but other people don’t have to keep the Christian elements. There is no problem with incorporating your own religious views into folk practices.
• Studying the Bible has also left more room for perspective for me, as well as comparing what some Christians say is in the Bible vs what is actually in the Bible. I don’t view myself as an authority on such topics nor do I believe I have the “only right translation”. If I notice that there is absolutely nothing relating to what a person claims is in the text, then I point that out.
• I do not hate Christianity. I hate people who use Christianity or any religion to justify their hateful actions. Why do I not hate Christianity itself? I have put in time and effort into healing my religious trauma; because I know that just sitting with it and not resolving it does not do anything good.
• I believe there are Christians who set a better example of the religion than these hateful people. I believe that it is these people who are openly speaking out against hateful Christians who deserve a platform to speak on the religion. I do not believe it is impossible for Christians to deconstruct what was beaten into them and figure out how to be better people (and better Christians overall).
• How do I know there are Christians who set a better example? My grandparents on the other side of the family are the ones who showed me this. Both had gay uncles, and now my grandparents have multiple lgbtq+ grandchildren (including myself). They have shown us lgbtq+ kids nothing but love, support and acceptance. They have worked to go out of their way to deconstruct what the generation before them would have wanted them to believe on many topics. I have never met people their ages that have gone so far out of their way to understand people my age. Like anybody else, there is room for improvement still. At least they are trying. There are also the Christians and Christopagans outside of the family I have met who have also shown nothing that makes me think they are hateful Christians. If you haven’t gotten to experience something like this… I’m sorry for ya. I hope you can one day.
• No religion, Christian or otherwise, it safe from shitty people. Modern people like to use their religious beliefs to justify hate and people from centuries before us liked to conquer and colonize. Christianity wasn’t the first; it’s just the one that does it the most in recent centuries.
With all of that being said, if this somehow bothers you… I’m not sorry. We all end up having our own experiences that shape our perspectives, and we all choose how to decide what we do and don’t hate. I choose to take my experiences, seek to see if there is something beyond that and go from there.
Bealtaine (bee-YAL-tin-eh) is the ancient Irish fire festival that starts the night of April 30th- Oíche Bealtaine- and is celebrated May 1- Lá Bealtaine (though festivities can last longer). Bealtaine marks the beginning of summer. In modern Irish Catholic tradition, May is celebrated as the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
These quatations are all pulled from the dúchas.ie folklore collection. To learn more, go to https://duchas.ie
Significance of Fire
The ashes was never put out on May Day long ago.
-Mrs. French, Co. Mayo
A central theme of Bealtaine is fire, as it is with all the Irish fire festivals. On the eve of the holiday, all fires were put out. A central fire was lit at the heart of the island, which spread throughout:
On May Eve the Druids lit the great sacred fire at Tara and as the signal flames rose up high in the air and then a fire is to kindled on every hill in Erin; till the whole island is on fire with fires.
-Patrick Healy Co. Galway
A similar tradition has been revived at the Hill of Uisneach.
Having a bonfire and spreading the light from that central point would be a great way to honor the sacredness of fire and celebrate Bealtaine.
Back then, people would also guide their cattle through two bonfires at Bealtaine, to cleanse and bless them for good health and abundance. Speaking of cattle…
Protecting Cattle
The people also tie a piece of red cloth on each cows’ tail. This they tie on in the morning before letting them out. They do this to prevent the fairies from taking the cow’s milk. Sometimes they tie a horse-shoe-nail or “táirgne crúth” in the cow’s tails
-Mrs. Nora Maloney, Co. Mayo
On May Eve now people sprinkle Easter water on all the crops, cattle etc. and on the boundary fence. Perhaps this is apart from it’s religious aspect a survival of the old dread of ‘pishogues’ when people dreaded harm to their crops and cattle.
Long ago the people went out on May morning and blessed the cow with a lighting candle.
-Patrick Lally, Co. Galway
And while we’re talking about protection…
Yellow Flowers- Festive Protection
In years gone by the people used to throw a primrose in the byre door so that the fairies would not take away the milk from the cows for the year. It was at May eve that they threw this primrose in the byre door.
-William J Mc Laughlin
It is the custom for children to pick May flowers or Marsh marigolds on the last evening in April. These they throw on the doorstep or on the windowsill.
-Mrs. Norah Maloney, Co. Mayo
The first of May is called May Day or (Lá Bealtaine). On the eve of this feast the children gather may-flowers and place them on the window sills of the houses.
-P. Mc Closkey
“Cow-slips were hung on the door that day to bring good luck for the year.”
-Martin Costello, Co. Mayo
Try hanging up yellow flowers at your doors and windowsills for protection and good luck! If don’t have any flowers, don’t worry. There’s another way to welcome in good luck…
May Day Dew
It is also said that if you get up early on that morning and wash your face with the dew on the grass you will be healthy during the year.
-Collected by Anthony Clark
They washed their faces in the dew on May morning before the sun rose and and they would not get sunburned again for the year.
- Mrs. French, Co. Mayo
If a person wanted to preserve their beauty , they would have to get up one hour before sun-rise and wash their face in dew off the grass on May morning.
-Collected by Amy Gilligan, Co. Mayo
That’s all well and good, but there is something more sinister that May morning dew is useful for…
Baneful Butter Stealing
Long ago, on May morning, lots of old woman went out in the morning before the sun arose and swept the dew of the grass by pulling a long rope after them and calling, “Come all to me, come all to me.” This was a kind of witchcraft, taking away butter of other people’s milk.
-Collected by Rudy Stronge, Co. Donegal
It is also believed if one goes out early and milks the neighbour’s cow, they will be able to get all the butter from that cow’s milk so they will have double the supply while their neighbour will not get any.
Long ago on May morning some people used pull three ribs from the cow’s tail and take clay from her hoofs and bring it home. Then that person would have butter from the cows she did this to and the person to whom the cows belonged would have none after churning.
-Michael Costello, Co. Mayo
Some women used get a twig of mountain ash and put it under the churn on May Day and so get all the butter from her neighbours churn, on condition that she said she wanted the butter from her neighbours churn while making her own.
-Mrs. Butler, Co. Mayo
While I don’t condone butter theft, Bealtaine seems to be the right time to do it. Let’s look at another way to celebrate!
The May Bush
On May day morning, children get a small haw-thorn bush or at least a branch of one on which there is haw-thorn in bloom. On this bush they tie all kinds of coloured ribbons, papers, tinsel or other decorations left after the Xmas decorations till it is a gorgeous sight.
-Collected by Joan Martin
While hawthorn is the traditional tree chosen for the May bush, it’s important to remember that the Irish tradition states to never ever bring hawthorn indoors.
This quote’s sort of a miscellaneous one, but I thought it was interesting.
On May Night long ago the people used to leave a cake and a jug of milk on the table because they thought the Irish who were buried in America and other countries used come home on that night and visit their own home. Another old custom was to leave the doors unlocked that night. They considered it unlucky to give butter or milk way to any person on May Day as they would be giving away their luck. No stables were to be cleaned out on that day. The first person to go to the well in the morning was supposed to have luck for the rest of the year. It is not right to give money to anyone on that day. But if you get money on that day you will be getting it for the year.”
-Mrs. Joyce, Co. Mayo
Ah, can’t forget the ancestors. Or the diaspora! ;)
Anincredibly common tradition I saw while scrolling through dúchas (I really recommend you do it yourself! They have everything!) was that milk, coals, salt, money, or really anything isn’t to be given away at Bealtaine, or you’ll lose something for yourself. Something supernatural about Bealtaine surpasses the Irish tradition of hospitality. This to me really highlights a theme of abundance. Welp, that’s all I have for now!
Anyone have any book reccommendations for southern folk witchcraft thats not focused as much on bible-centric beliefs? Im having trouble trying to find resources that arent super full of bible references
Red Thread - protection against enemies, malefica, gossip, evil spirits, afflictions of health. Serves well to overcome enemies, against the evil eye, invite love, luck, joy and auspiciousness.
Blue Thread - protection against evil words, evil eye, healing melancholy, subduing fiery aspects that detriment the person (such as harsh tempers and excessive work), dark blue aids in spirituality and legalities.
Green Thread - in correspondence to my previous posts on the colour green. Darker greens seem to help more strongly with works relating to love and herbal medicine. Mixing it with red thread combines the aspect of Fauna and Flora essentially combining two aspects of the forces of Nature. Aids healers.
Black Thread - good for saturnine spells, wards off malefica, enemies, evil spirits. Bringing good fortune, honours, dominating enemeis and incredibly strong protective spells.
White Thread - protection, blessing, peace, healing. Good in combination to red in spells to remove evil and protect the person against inauspiciousness. Strengthens lunar qualities in the person.
Yellow Thread - I can’t help but think of pestillence when I think of Yellow so I would view this as a colour for protection against sickness, bestowing good fortune and healing pestillence. I remember Backwoods Shamanism making reference to the colour yellow being used to petition the spirits related to the sickness to either inflict or leave the person afflicted.
Algol’s Degree is 26 Taurus according to Christopher Warnock. Furthermore, for election’s sake. the Star should be either rising or culminating on the ascendant or midheaven. The Fixed Stars are said to be rising or culminating 5-8 degrees on either side of the Midheaven or Ascendant with the Ascendant being preferred due to its strength. With that said, let’s get into it.
Algol’s stone is said to be Diamond. The plants associated with her are Black Hellebore with the addition of Mugwort according to Agrippa. The Bodleian MS says of Algol “Hellebore Juice with an equal amount of wormwood place under a diamond etc. to bring hatred and courage, preserve the members of the body and grant vengeance over those you wish’.
The Image of Algol is said to be the head of a man with a bloody neck.
Her Talisman brings the following effects: Success in petitions, obtaining boldness, preserving the body, reflects evil sent against the magus and protects against witchcraft.
Her talismans are favoured for spiritual protection. Black Hellebore is toxic as an incense therefore mugwort would be preferred. Black and red candles are good colours but Warnock mentions toning down the rough energies of Algol by way of white candles. She is a good star to work with but one that does not take well to disrespect in any form. She requires good focus and preparation in the working be it devotional, spellwork or the preparation of a talisman both before, during and after.
Invocation of Algol as given by Christopher Warnock:
said nine times
O’ Algol, Hail Unto You, Beta Persei. O Ras Al-Ghul, fearsome, powerful Star. I ask that you grant me personal protection (or protect these people and this space) from incantations and all attack, reflect all attacks back upon the attackers.
The Symbol of Algol
Extra Notes
Algol does hold a particular place in certain groups of black magick as a star suited to empower works, empowering the creation of monsters and the works of transformation and alchemy. It can be called upon to increase the power of the witch and is regarded as highly auspicious in the LHP. Due to its incredibly dark nature, as well as highly transformative effects, Algol does impose evolution onto the person calling upon Her. Saturating an area with this star’s energy has been known to cause its inhabitants to take on a darker nature. It aids in darker works of alchemy and enlightenment through darker avenues.
Green is my favourite colour and so I thought about doing a post to discern it and figure out its applications in personal craft. The thing about it, though, is that it seems to be an incredibly multi-faceted colour. I couldn’t pin it down to one single energy or face because it seemed to represent a lot of things without being confined to any of them. Every shade of green brings up new images when I look at them but one thing I did notice was this:
The Lighter the Green, the younger the archetypes. So a light green would be more representative of the maiden, the virgin, Persephone and so on and so forth. It has a sense of purity yet it still has a deep profoud wisdom behind it that is characteristic of the spirit of green. Even with that, let’s take Persephone, she’s not a unifaceted character but has a lot of aspects tied to her.
The Darker Shades of Green split up into two as well. Both of them seem to exhibit the same profound wisdom but one, what would be perceived as the more earthy type of green, is closer to nature whereas the more cultivated and clean type of green seems more tied to civility. The Earthier Greens seem to paint more of a feminine aspect of the Serpent, more tied towards the esoteric aspects of nature with an emphasis on flora. The Cleaner Greens seem to hold more potency over the powers of wealth, luxury, diplomacy and politics. All three of them bring up images of women but in different fields of power.
Earthier Greens bring up the image of a Lady garbed in green bearing a blade, at her feet is a coiling serpent and her clothes seem to be made of leaves. Cleaner Greens brings up a picture of a lady wearing black, her hair done in a regal fashion, sitting on a throne. Lighter Greens bring up the image of a young woman with flowers in her hair, wearing a white smock and holding a bundle of wheat in her arms. So you can imagine the confusion that I felt when it came to this.
So, here’s what I could at least figure out when it came to this colour.
Earthier Greens are best for workings when it relates towards herbal medicines, healings, working with the Serpent Force in relation to plants, working with the genius loci, nymphs, dryads and the like. She is also a good colour to work with when it comes to divination, especially through means that are rustic or natural such as bone reading, divination through the rustling of leaves and travelling in the Green. I couldn’t pin her down because she had a chaotic energy, much like the earth that she represents. The blade she holds could be a symbol of nature’s ability to create and to destroy. A certain aspect of her is very firmly grounded in psychopomp and chthonic virtues.
Cleaner Greens seem to correspond well to workings of honour, dignity, personal development, envy, jealousy, politics (in whatever way one may interpret that) and power. I keep seeing the image of a green jewel so it seems that this colour is also suited towards works of finances and the more luxurious aspects of Venus. The woman I see in relation to this colour is intimidating, potent but seems to be the more cunning aspect of the snake. So I would assume that this colour also serves well for works of Veneficium.
Lighter Greens correspond to fertility, youthfulness, beauty, healing, growth and abundance. It seems to have the optimism that the other two colours don’t really have, so I would also see this as a colour suited to emotional healing. She also seems to correspond well to workings of creativity and love. A sense of personal freedom accompanies her wherever she goes so I would also find that this colour relates well to self love, healing of issues relating to the self and to glamouries. That same ancient and aged wisdom of the other two aspects still shines through so, well still being optimistic, she is still a very practical and deep thinking individual. So, as a whole the colours could correspond to psychological work and the facing of one’s own issues.
Some other aspects I picked up on were transformation, rebirth, sorcery (in every means and aspect of the word), underworld travel, spirit work, working with the genii of plants, working with the feminine aspect of the serpent that relates to flora and psychic ability, I keep seeing a divination bowl in relation to this. Alongside this, sociability, friendliness, intellect and cunning.
As a colour of Venus, she also relates to the signs Taurus and Libra and thus takes on some of those aspects.
This seal was made using symbols from the Ars Vercanus to create a message saying, in effect, : Enchant future endeavours with good fortune and blessings. It also makes use of the upward triangle (a symbol of fire) combined with the symbol offered for Projection to represent projecting power into the spell and into the future. It also makes use of a bowl representing the womb (of creation) combined with the sigil proposed for earth to representing birthing it into physical reality. The lines on each side serve the role of protecting the spell while creating a circulation of energy through the talisman when empowered. The sigils are actually separate but have been integrated into a line to form the message as well as connect them all into one single spell.
Talisman Elections
Colours - Yellow Paper with Blue Ink (Jupiter - Blue - of Sol). Day - Sunday, Hour of Jupiter - preferably in the Day for Solar Empowerment Moon Phase - Waxing to Full
Incantation that can be used - Advanced Planetary Magick Jason Miller
I - YE (EE EUW - VIBRATED AT THE BEGINNING OF RITUAL)
Fill me with joy and jovial grace. Lift me up with your benevolent blessings. Crown me with majesty and magnamity. Kindly kings and majestic mediatoiors, augment my awareness, my assets and my vigor, that I may assist others in finding their joy.
(A bright blessing of Kingship and Wealth).
The talisman can be pasted on the wall of the business, kept on a money altar, folded and placed in the wallet, used as a base for the creation of servitors etc.
Blue is a strong colour against the Malocchio. You can incorporate it in rites to cure the evil eye or as a spell bottle filled with various things (like black eyed peas) to be kept as an amulet against the evil eye. I’ve heard of some people painting their porch blue to confuse spirits because, as the old homage goes, spirits can’t cross over running water. So keeping a blue welcome mat in front of your door can very well serve against evil eye or wandering spirits entering your home. Dark blue is the colour of Jupiter so a jar painted with the various symbols of Jupiter can be used as a money talisman, so good for money bowls or a talisman in the way that each thursday you place a coin in it for money to expand or grow. Due to Jupiter’s assocations with legalities (alongside saturn) and spirituality, it could also be a good colour for those types of works. Since Blue has associations with truth, expression and the voice, then one can assume that it can be used to expose the truth in court, or reversed in order to silence someone, create delusions or illusions and misguide someone to your advantage. To the same, it can be used discover the truth and considering its association with spirituality, it could be obtained through supernatural means (such as through dreams, scrying etc.). It does have a very watery, flowy and submissive energy though, and I do seem to find it as a very melancholic colour, so I do find that it can be used in order to heal someone of melancholy or to inflict it. Maybe I’m thinking of Sadness from Inside Out.
Iron is used in protective magick, sometimes cursing and othertimes war magick (basically anything under the rulership of Mars as Iron is a corresponding metal). Red soil is generally red due to a presence of iron nearby, and it rusts thus causing the red colour (similar to Mars). So, hear me out, what if we used red dirt as a powder. Red dirt to make a protective barrier. Red dirt mixed with a little bit of storm water to create a potent cursing paste. Red dirt as a base of martial powders, mix red dirt with black pepper and red pepper to make a warrin powder.
The Greek Magical Papyri states the following which can be used in bowl divination to the magus’s desire
Rainwater if you’re calling upon heavenly gods Seawater if the gods of the earth River water if Osiris or Sarapis Springwater if the dead
As to the above, I am also sure of its applications outside of its hydromantic usages. One could possibly also asperge an area with spring water or use spring water as a base for philtres, offerings or the glass kept on the altar in cases where one is to call upon spirits. Seawater has an astounding healing ability in magick and could be used in the glass or as an asperge for the communication of chthonic deities. Rainwater can be used in the creation of holy water with particular emphasis, especially in Catholic and other Folk Magick traditions, on water that is collected on holy dates such as Good Friday, Easter Sunday etc.
As the fingers each correspond to an element, and each hand to receiving or projecting, this can be used to the magus’s advantage in talismans Talismans of a watery nature are best anointed with the ring finger, for example. Feelings of being ungrounded or airy are counteracted by charming with the thumb (earth) of the left hand (disintegration). Furthermore are the various symbols associated with each of the elements including colours and words of power.
Some Epithets of Lady Agia for Protection Prayers and Magick
Hekate-Medusa - “Protector, Guard, Gorgon” Hekate-Ekiskopos - “Hekate, the One who Watches Over” Hekate Ephoros - “Hekate the Guardian” Hekate-Arkuia - “Hekate, Spinner of Webs, the Entrapper) Hekate-Apotropaios - Hekate, the Averter Hekate Soteira - Hekate, the Saviour Hekate-Pasimedeonsa - "Hekate, All-Guarding” Hekate-Melinoe - Hekate, the Soothing One Hekate-Lochias - Protector of Birthing, Child Birthing Goddess Hekate-Limenskopos - Hekate who guards the Havens
Obtain a virgin white candle and bless it in the name of the person’s health that you wish to affect. On a sunday, light the candle and say their name over the candle three times saying:
“Name, I pray for your health and light this candle in honour of it.”
Thereafter, break the candle and place it in a safe place where it won’t light anything on fire. As you do this, pray the Lord’s prayer backwards seven times. When this has been done, snuff out the candle. Take it and place it at a three way crossroads with a coin and a prayer to the spirits that lurk there saying:
All ye spirits ‘neath the reign of the Matron Hekate-Androphonos, see here my enemy. I give leave for you to take them and offer a coin for you.
Leave then and do not turn back. When you get home, wash yourself in salt water.
IF A HUMAN BEING OR ANIMAL IS BEING ATTACKED BY EVIL SPIRITS, HOW TO RESTORE THEM AND MAKE THEM WELL AGAIN:
Thou arch-sorcerer, thou hast attacked (name of person); let that witchcraft recede from him into thy marrow and into thy bone, let it be returned unto thee. I exorcize thee for the sake of the five wounds of Jesus, thou evil spirit, and conjure thee for the five wounds of Jesus of this flesh, marrow and bone. I exorcize thee for the sake of five wounds of Jesus, at this very hour restore to health again N.N, in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (said three times)
*As general practice, I do invoke God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit by way of the Cross and so can recommend this same usage by signing the cross over the person or anointing their head with holy oil, rowan ash, holy ash or the ash of an appropriate psalm or prayer.
FOR FRESH WOUNDS
Fresh is the wound, blessed is the day, happy the hour I found soon to stop and arrest thee so that thou will neither swell nor fester until mountains meet +++ (+ signifies the point on which the person signs the cross over the wound)
A REMEDY FOR COUGHS
When cherries are in season, dry the stems of black cherries between two sheets of paper (to prevent them from becoming dusty) and save them in a (paper) box. Draw tea therefrom, for every drawing use four saucers worth of water and as many stems as can be taken between three fingers (assuming it is the thumb and the index and middle). Boil it like any other tea and drink until the cough stops. (it is said that even the most violent cough can be cured by this remedy)
FOR A PUTRID MOUTH
Take blackberry leaves that have been boiled in water and wine, put a little alum to it. A mouth that is rinsed therewith will have a good effect.
(Extra note: I’d like to say that the same remedy, excepting the alum addition, was prescribed in Gemma Gary’s Black Toad. It’s primary usage was to aid in cankers in the mouth. Research was done on alum to find out that it was fairly non-toxic and had a significant reduction of plaque and gingivitis. I’d still take precautions of adding a proportional amount of alum to the mixture.)
The 1st day of the month is suited towards the beginning of all things The 2nd day of the month is suited to works of hate and enchantments against enemies The 3rd day of the month is right for naught The 4th day is good for enchantments and conjuration of wicked spirits The 5th day of the month is good for works of invisibility and enchantments against one’s ehemies The 6th day of the month is good for theft (of which it is not specified but I assume works of discerning thieves and the such) and knowledge of hidden goods The 7th day of the month is good for naught The 8th day of the month is good for obtaining the love of virgins The 9th day of the month is good for naught The 10th day of the month is good for naught the 11th day of the month is suitable for enchantments held in the afternoon the 12th day of the month is suitable for theft the 13th day of the month is good for works of love the 14th day of the month is good for works of invisibility the 15th day of the month is good for naught the 16th day of the month is suited for works of discord the 17th day of the month is good for works for the love of women the 18th day of the month is good for (the) theft the 19th day of the month is good for works of hate the 20th day of the month is good for naught the 21st day of the month is suited for works of invisibility the 22nd day of the month is good for love the 23rd day of the month is good for discord the 24th day is good for naught the 25th day is good for all sorts of enchantments the 26/27th is good for love the 28/29th is not good for love (so possibly works to break up lovers or cause disharmony in relationships) The 30th day is good against enemies the 31st day is as the first, good for beginnings.
This is the pile that for some people is related towards starting something new. It does not, however, only tie to that. The vision I saw beforehand was a bolt of lightning and the Buri Nazar. These are people that can be naive or try to see the best in people which leads to manipulation by people in power. You are currently coming out of a stage in relation to this but you need to do work in preventing it in future. You have a protective spirit watching over you and any protection spells that some of you have done prior have been heard. You need to protect yourself against gossip, mental and emotional manipulation, chaos and conflict. A good option is also to protect yourself against the Malocchio. You may find yourself at the point of envy or the target of verbal abuse or incantations. I highly recommend a protection spell that covers you against evil thought, word, eye and deed. Due to the appearancde of a thunderbolt, the oak tree would be of good aid in these types of rites.
Pile 2: The Five of Cups, the Seven of Cups and the Knight of Swords.
The Visions that appeared in this pile were a snake coming from underneath dead earth, a deep and vast river and a woman crying in it. She had a serpent coiling around her feet. I fear that this pile may be subject to betrayal and conspiracies against them. This pile needs protection against people working against them and I actually feel that a return to sender spell or a truth spell is in order. You may have been betrayed by friends, family or other and are suffering from sadness but what you are being asked to do here is to cut through it. I see the knight of swords as a Conquest and a Conquering Character. A lot of you may feel lost in this path, especialyl in the case of someone close to you hurting you. This pile needs to protect themselves against - conspirators, malefica, ill wishes, deceit and enemies.
Pile 3 - Two of Wands, Six of Pentacles and Four of Pentacles
The visions of this pile was a person lounging in an orchard underneath a bright sun. I first thought that this was a pile that had it a bit better until I was told to look closely at the trees. There I saw a man looking from behind the trees. This is a pile of people who work hard and have established themselves, some of you might have started your own business, gained a promotion, a raise or have developed a good career. What you need protection from, however, is a kind heart. Do not let people sponge off your success and do not let yourself give into people trying to manipulate you out of your hard earned assests. There’s a difference between charity for good and overgiving. You have such a nice heart that can cause people to want to take advantage of the gifts that you have, be it financial, emotional or spiritual. You may also have people who are jealous against you because you have achieved this level of material fulfilment, spiritual fulfilment, relationship fulfilment etc. You’re being asked to guard against and be aware of people trying to manipulate you, freeload off of your success and people who are sending the Malocchio or ill wishes because you have something that they wish they had.
So story, exams were upon us, the department was visiting and I wasn’t in the mood to be looked at or for them to pay particular attention to me. What’s a witch to do? A charm for invisibility apparently, and so too came an analysis because it worked incredibly well. I then found out at a later point from Lord Asmodeus why one of the components worked so well. So let’s get started:
By the Cross Seal of Shielding, may they be made unaware of my presence. In nomine Astaroth, Lucibel et Baalzebuth. Exat.
So first we need to start with an understanding of magick.
First is the need, the desire, the requiring of a result. That was the force that drove it, I had a desire that I wanted fulfilled and so I took the actions to shape the energy of that desire into something concrete. Essentially it can be discussed as the relationship between Wod (Inspiration) and Willa (Willpower. The Willa whishapes the Wod was guided by the above incantation into effect. The Willa was also fortified by personal belief in both my ability and the words I was using. So now let’s get into it:
By the Cross Seal of Shielding - this was extracted from the Viridarium Umbris and its office is described as: to preserve or protect a thing from attack and to stand as sentinel. By the first part of this incantation, I am enlisting a force to come to my aid. That being the force of the Cross Seal of Shielding. After a particular ritual, I had a small discussion with Lord Asmodeus that referred to the Cross Seal as a repellant of sorts. It just made sure that nothing came near you, it wasn’t a shield but normal means but was like smoke around the person that both obscured them from sight and made it more difficult for energies to enter, so they rather went away. Kinda the same thing as how burning incense keeps flies away because of its smell.
May they be made unaware of my presence - This is the willa of sorts, the chisel that shapes the energy that I called upon giving it a charge. That was to essentially shield me from the mind and sight of the persons I did not want to be seen by.
In Nomine Astaroth, Lucibel, Baalzebuth. Exat - by here I was doing a final invocation to the Infernal Trinity of the Grimoire Verum, Lucifer, Astaroth and Baalzebuth. This couid be seen as a final empowerment as I was proclaiming that the spell would be empowered and brought to manifestation by the Holy Forces of Lady Astaroth, Lord Lucifer and Lord Beelzebub.
So now, from this we have a set of things to work with.
1 - The Desire mixed with the will to shape it 2 - the Preliminary Invocation 3 - the Charge 4 - the Casting.
We have already discussed the Wod and Willa so now we’re going to make an example using the above formats:
Say I wanted to call upon the Forces of Saturn to aid me in a work. So I could call upon the Intelligence, the Olympic Spirit or the Spirit but in this case, let’s do the collective of it. Now why am I calling them (the Passion). I’m calling them to aid me in the protection of my home as Saturn has power over buildings and the like. So let’s get started with something simple:
I call the Forces of Saturn, be thou the succour of the protection of my stead. In nomine Aratron exat.
This is one example but I know this formula can be applied in many ways
I remember once walking between, or rather flying, as a pigeon. I used the feathers of a pigeon as an atavistic link in order to aid the astral projection. I draw on, however, Bird Magic by Sandra Kynes for this post of how the magick of the pigeon can be called upon.
The Spirit of the Pigeon can be invoked for rites pertaining to communication between the worlds. It is a bird that can aid in interpreting messagesa and omens (to which I feel that it can be invoked by the placement of pigeon feathers on the altar during divination or kept under the hat or in a bag for the magus to carry the energy of the pigeon with them wherever they go). It is also connected strongly to fertility and matters of the family and home. (To another extent, I feel to mention that frog amulets were worn in Egypt to call upon the benediction of the Goddess Heqet who would aid in the safe pregnancy and birth of a mother. So to the same I could assume that an amulet calling upon the Pigeon could fill the same purpose). It can also work in the matters of luck and love and to foster peace and security. The pigeon can also aid the magus in the development of adaption to matters in their life. The associations of this bird are air and the God Perun).
From the Viridarium Umbris, the following is given in relation to birds and atavistic spirits:
Goosefoot or Chenopodium, is used in incensees and philtres of flight for the assumption of the bird spirit (going forth as a bird) Celandine is strong associated with birds with a particular emphasis on swallows Gorse is the same with an emphasis on Wrens
As for a ritual calling, I can offer the following.
One can prepare a representation of the pigeon (statue or laminated picture) on an altar. Before it, one can place feathers of a pigeon, the food a pigeon would eat, a glass of water and an incense (which can be taken from the above), in which a ritualistic calling is said and the trance state entered where one can commune with the atavism of the Pigeon for advice or for enlisting its aid in the works. Alternatively, in spells, the pigeon feather can be used to waft smoke over an item to both imbue it with the smoke’s properties and the benediction of the pigeon, a pigeon feather can be incorpated into spells and so on and so forth.
FEHU: CATTLE, A REPRESENTATION OF GOODS WON AND EARNED. THE RUNIC POEM OF FEHU SAYS THAT WEALTH AND LUXURY IS A COMFORT TO ALL MEN BUT ONE MUST BE WILLING TO GIVE TO OBTAIN FAVOUR IN THE SIGHT OF THE GODS. THE NORWEGIAN AND ICELANDIC FORM OF THE ANGLO SAXON POEM DESCRIBES WEALTH AS THE CAUSE OF DISCORD AMONGST MEN. IT PROVIDES SUCCESS, ADVANCEMENT IN CAREER AND LUCK FOR THOSE IN DIFFICULTY. IT IS SAID THAT THIS LUCK, HOWEVER, IS NOT TEMPORARY AND THUS THE CHARM MUST BE RENEWED IN BOTH SPIRITUAL AND A SOCIAL SENSE. AN ACT OF CHARITY IS SAID TO BE THE BEST SUCH AS DONATING TO A CHARITY OR GIVING AID TO A PERSON IN NEED, ESSENTIALLY EMPOWERING IT THROUGH ITS MENTION IN THE ANGLO-SAXON RUNIC POEM. IT IS GOOD IN AREAS OF MONEY, FRIENDSHIP AND THE OBTAINING OF MERIT AND HONOURS. AT ITS MOST PRIMORDIAL LEVEL, IT REPRESENTS THE FORCES OF INCREASE, DECREASE, TOSSING AND TURNING, THE TIDES OF FORTUNE AND CHANCE THAT CAN BE FICKLE YET CONSTANT AT THE SAME TIME. ITS ENERGIES ARE DESCRIBED AS ERRATIC AND WILD AND ARE THUS CONSIDERED USEFUL TO INVOKE WHEN DOING WORKS THAT REQUIRE RADICAL CHANGE. THUS IN THE CREATION OF A RUNIC CHARM, USE IT AFTER THE SUBJECT RUNE IN ORDER TO SPEED IT.IT IS FURTHER SAID TO EMPOWER THE PSYCHIC FORCE, AID IN THE TRANSFERENCE OF POWER OR THE PROJECTION OF SUCH (IN WHICH IT IS REGARDED AS THE SENDING RUNE). IT IS USEFUL IN ALL FORMS OF MAGICK AS IT IS SAID TO DRAW THE POWER OF SUN, MOON AND STARS. IT’S VERBAL FORMULA CAN BE SAID AS FOLLOWS:
FEHU, FEHU, FEHU F F F F F F F F F FU FA FI FE FO OF EF IF AF UF F F F F F F F F F
ACCORDING TO THE BOOK AEGISHJALMUR – ITS DRACONIC ASSOCIATIONS ARE WITH THE DRAGON FAFNIR AND IT REFERS TO BOTH THE DRACONIC FIRE AND THE GOLD THAT IT GUARDS.
UTHARK: NIGHTSIDE OF THE RUNES – DESCRIBES FEHU IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
IT REPRESENTS THE COMPLETION OF A PROCESS AND THE FOLLOWING RWARD.
IT DOES, HOWEVER, MAKE MENTION OF THE RUNE’S FORCES BEING MORE TAMED AS CONTRASTED TO UR. ITS STADHAGALDR (RUNIC POSE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD) IS AS FOLLOWS:
STAND STRAIGHT WITH ARMS STRETCHED OUTWARDS. THE LOWER ARMS POINT UPWARDS WITH THE HANDS CLENCHED.
IN DIVINATION ACCORDING TO THE SAME BOOK, IT CORRESPONDS TO THE FOLLOWING:
WEALTH, REWARD, TAMING THE WILD, REWARD FOR HARD WORK, GAINING CONTROL OVER A SITUATION, FINDING NEW SOURCES OF RICHES. IT DOES, HOWEVER, CALL FOR ONE TO AVOID STAGNATION AND THAT ONE SHOULD USE IT WISELY AND RESPONSIBLY.
THE RUNE DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE INVERTED UPON WHICH THE MEANINGS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS A CONTRAST.
IN A NORDIC KATABASIS, SEEKING KNOWLEDGE IN THE UNDERWORLD (HELHEIM AND FROM THE MOTHER HEL), THE RUNE IS DESCRIBED AS BEING THE FOLLOWING STEP:
THE MAGUS HAS LEARNT INTEGRATED AND LEARNT HOW TO CONTROL THE DARK AND WILD FORCES. THE POWERS OF DEATH AND DARKNESS CAN BE USED TO SERVE THE MAGUS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR WILL. THEY HAVE REACHED A STATE OF COMPLETION AND REWARD IN RETURN FOR THEIR SELF SACRIFICE.
FROM THE ABOVE, ONE CAN SEE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE MAGUS AND THE ALL-FATHER ODIIN WHO SACRIFICED HIMSELF IN PURSUIT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RUNES.
THE BRIGHT FEHU IN DIVINATION TIES TO: SOCIAL SUCCESS, WEALTH, FORESIGHT AND A NEW BEGINNING.
THE MURKY FEHU CORRESPONDS TO GREED, BURNOUT, ATROPHY, POVERTY AND DISCORD
Scissors - Scissors can be used in a lot of rituals with a primary influence in cutting things. It can be used to cut illness, cut the evil eye, cut spells away from a person or cut away any influences. It can be used in protection spells, especially against malefica (open up a pair of scissors to protect against witches). So one ritual you could do was to open up a pair of scissors and place your target candle in front of the blades.
Coins - it can be used in spells of prosperity but also in petition to spirits. You attach the coin to a candle in payment to a spirit for a work to be done. Some rituals to San Ramon to stop a person from speaking make use of sticking the coin on San Ramon’s Mouth in both payment and symbolizing his ability to silence people.
Eggs - Eggs have been used in ritual cleansings in many cultures across the world, they’ve also been used in divination. Alternatively, they can be used as symbols of birth, fertility and gestation (good for working servitors). It can also be used as a base for many powders.
Chamomile - Chamomile has properties as a herb of peace, curse breaking, divination and good fortune. Rubbing a candle with blessed oil, salt then chamomile can be used as a curse breaking or cleansing candle. Washing a candle in rose water and covering it in chamomile can be used in bringing peace to the home. Covering a candle in honey or a syrup and covering it in chamomile can be used as a money candle.
Keys - used to open doors, close doors, welcome opportunity and as an offering to various deities and spirits. It can be buried at an area where one wishes to unlock opportunities with an offering. For example, burying a key at a bank, giving an offering of some coins and water and leaving it for a week or two before picking it up. It can be a potent talisman for financial luck, opening the door to things such as customers, loans (if loans were wanted), financial abundance, security and the like. A key can be taken and touched to each of the doors and windows of the house with a prayer to lock the door against thieves/spirits/misfortune and hung from a red cord as an amulet.
A good way to empower it is keep a few stray tassels at the end and to hang something from them (especially if the cord is to be hung from an area or placed on the altar) - for example, a red cord for protection could have a nail, a charm of a dagger or sword, a San Miguel medal, a pentacle or other symbol of protection when hung. A cord to welcome opportunities can have a key hung from it and so on.
If your hair has been braided into the cord, it is recommended that it be kept on you at all times.
Hang the cord on a doorknob to welcome, over the door to keep out, over the stove or hearth to work it by fire or the spirits of the home, by a window or hanging from the roof to work it by air (or alternatively tied from a tree branch), buried in the soil or wrapped around a plant (with permission and suitable offering) to work it by earth and kept in a small jar of water to work it by water. Put it in the graveyard (with permission, respect, suitable offering and safety) to work it by the spirits of the dead. If you can, bury it or place it in the grave of someone you were related to (like a grandmother). In the case that you have built a relationship with certain spirits, you can bury it there. For example, a money cord can be buried in the grave of a banker, a love cord buried in the grave of two lovers who lived happilly and so on. In the case that it is a eco-friendly material, tie it to a rock and throw it in the river to banish, cleanse, remove etc.
If an illness has been bound in the thread, bury it at the roots of a tree or in the river (with respect and an offering or it can be bound to a surrogate (like tying it to a potato so that the potato can take the illness. Then you bury the potato then as it rots, so too will the illness).
A black cord can be taken and knotted in the name of your enemy (saying an incantation such as: I weave the thread, I lock the chains. I bind you, N.N. Thereafter, blow on the knots and bury it or tie it to the roots of a tree or bind it to a rock and throw it into running water.
To obtain a dream oracle about a situation, take a good cord and make a knot in it (not tying it entirely so that there’s still a loop. You’ll see why). While you do this, say a prayer asking for the oracle in your dream as to find out the end or circumstances of the situation. Place it underneath your pillow and go to sleep. When you wake up, try and work through the symbols, images or full blow narratives that appeared in your dreams. If they were positive, tie the knot entirely to ensure it maintains itself until the end. If it was negative, untie the knot to avert it.
In the case of doing temporary knot magick, use slipknots as they’re easy to remove and you get to add stuff into it more easily.
Though the thread spell is used on its own, it can be complimentary to another spell. Enchanting a pink cord while knotting it can be used to bind two poppets together in a love spell.
Anoint the cord with various things as according to your will. Sugar water for spells of love, healing, peace. Rose water for the same. An infusion of mint for healing spells, money spells, cleansing spells. Infusions of basil to ensure unwanted spirits do not come into the home when the cord is hung over the door.
Weave black dog hair into a cord used for dark arts, black cat hair into a cord for luck and good fortune.
From Dr. Fian, use a wooden stake to hold your braiding for general spells and benefic magick. Use an iron nail for spells of bane.
To spell a person to remain loyal to you, a spell you could do is to place a pink cord under their side of the bed, under their chair or under the doormat when they step over it (partially knotted, not entirely done) and then when able (without them seeing), tie the knot fully to bind them to you. Keep it near you or place it in a place where it cannot be seen by others. Alternatively, this spell can be done to charm people in all sorts of ways.
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