Tag Archives: magic

F is for Fascination

Leave a reply

Fascination. Glamor. Enchantment. The art of making friends and influencing people or rather The Art of making friends and influencing people. One of the most common bases of magic practices, and well attested to in pop culture, but also in the accumulated knowledge of esoteric traditions around the world. While in a certain sense all magic is about influencing something or someone, it is the magic of Fascination that deals with that influence specifically and directly.

I specifically like the world Fascination. There is a certain ring to it that just tickles the forces within and around me. To fascinate another and make yourself into the sparkling, glittering being or object that cannot be resisted. To magically improve your charisma, wit, or subtle appearance that people are drawn to you, either with love, with trust, or loyalty, or any other emotion that draws people together into various bonds and commitments. That is the means of fascination.

How do you fascinate people? There are many ways. Some of the most mundane ways begin with simple things. Dress nicely. Smell nice. Stand up straight with good posture. Speak clearly. Make a point of remembering people’s names, even if you have to come up with some kind of sleight of mind trick to do it. Present yourself with grace, wit and ease, even when it would seem impossible in a certain situations. Fake it till you make it.
Some more complicated mundane tricks can also be used. Things like NLP aka Neuro Linguistic Programming. Social Proof. Books like The Game as well as the endless titles of books for women on how to catch men, that introduce various tactics and methods and even specialize with certain types of men. A lot of the sociology, psychology and just plain subtle manipulation that is taught in these books walks a very fine line of being nearly magical in the results that they produce.

The archives of magic are also filled with endless ways to enchant, glamor and fascinate people. The most simplest of ways relies upon personal effects. Bathing in dew collected on Midsummer morning collected from plants. Washing yourself in an herbal tea that is said to make you eloquent, or draw romantic partners to you, or even reunite you with a straying lover. Many a love oil can be used to fascinate people or persons, to find the desired partner, whether it’s for a lasting relationship or short fling.

Some more complex methods involve the manipulation of energy. Learning to project your personal energy by your eyes is probably the most obvious form of fascination, where literally your gaze charms and enchants the target(s) as you draw them to you. This would then be followed by surrounding them with your breath (hopefully pleasantly smelling) and then perhaps sealing it with a kiss or touch that is also a means to deliver further enchanting forces. Although, once you’re close, you could turn to more heavy handed techniques where you gain the personal effects of the target, from hair to bodily fluids, which are then used in spells to bring influence, love, or control and domination, depending upon what you are desires or needs are. If you cannot gain their personal effects, then you instead leave enchanted items for them to walk over, on, or through or under or consume, that will cast the spell upon them. From powders laid secretly down for the target(s) to walk through, to feeding them foods magic with magical herbs, perhaps with a bit of your own personal effects mixed in for extra measure. This breaks the separation between you, uniting you and your target together, and filling their being your essence.

More spiritual methods are also available. You could literally call on a wide range of spirits, from pagan Gods to spirit allies that you encounter, to help you influence people. You could also influence them spiritually by visiting the target(s) in dreams, and through the sleeping or subconscious mind plant what you desire into their being, to bring about the influences and results you desire.

One way that I find interesting I learned from the Crystal Silence League. It is known as developing the sexual force, another name for animal magnetism. By developing this force, which is inherent in all people, to a healthy and vital level, not only will it support your health and vitality, but it also attract desired or healthy partners for sex and romance to you, but also friendships, even working relationships. Because that animal magnetism goes beyond just sex and love, but into all aspects of life. To work with this sexual force, you need to find it’s source, a power that slumbers in the subtle body, located in the general area of your sex IE your genitals. Find that source and feed it with pleasure, with breathing exercises, with understanding your sexual nature and it’s healthy and natural expression that is personal to you. Use these things like throwing fuel onto a fire. Start small, with kindling, and when it begins to grow stronger, you can feed it more and more, until it becomes a might blaze that will then surge through your channels and centers of your body. Work with that energy. Listen to it intuitively. What does it tell you about yourself? How does it want to influence and attract people? What makes you feel like a precious jewel, that is desired by all? Who does it attract you to and who does it push you away from? Follow this intuitive push and see where it leads you.

The art of fascination can take many forms, some of which will work better for some people then others. Find which parts tick for you and work well. Enchantment is a subtle and demanding art, because if used to roughly and bluntly, people often will realize that they have been or are attempted to being manipulated, which often creates the opposite of the desired reaction. Remember that one of the major keys to Fascination is empathy. Know how to relate to people, if you really want to enchant them. It is also what turns you into a controlling robot, who is jerk, and into a sensitive human being, who knows how to relate to other human beings.

E is for Empowerment

Leave a reply

be-your-own-hero-300x280
First some ideas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empowerment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empowerment_(Vajrayana)

I like the concept of Empowerment. While it has a more social and political and cultural implications in the west, I also like it’s understanding in the terms that come from Vajrayana. I also found empowerment plays it’s role in modern American neo paganism, both in a social context and in an esoteric way. What I find is that one seems to fuel other, in it’s searching and it’s steps of slowly gaining it.

Of course, esoteric Empowerment has a different name, that is probably much better known, and much shorter. Initiation. Initiation is something that seems to be absent from a lot of contemporary spiritual practice, although it is making a come back. Some people gain it from traditions. P re-exisiting orders, Lineage, passed down from the founder. People seek in it various ways. Other methods of initiation are personal and unique. From the spirits themselves, you can be initiated, by Gods, by Angels, by the Fae, many beings. Some initiations are specific to the spirit giving it. Others might be deep, and require time and many challenges. The major initiation in modern western esoteric orders is the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. Nothing could be more personal, even though the practice of it well documented and worked on by many. I think this practice also shows how Initiation is also an empowerment. It is just access to special club, or the specific rituals, but it is the power, the current of that tradition, those spirits. From the power gained from the initiation, they may be able to move mountains, metaphorically speaking. They have been empowered and so they acted with that power to change things to make them better.

In the USA, Empowerment’s twin streams very much run side by side. In the beginning of alternative spirituality movement it attracted a people of a variety of different groups. This dates back to the late 19th century. While there was plenty of men who were involved in alternative spirituality and occultism, there are also quite a few very famous women. Madame Blavatsky is a key figure that comes to mind. At a time when women had few rights and were very much limited, she worked to create a movement, a movement that continues on to this day, and has influenced much of Western occultism and alternative spirituality. Her books are still published and sold today. She very much demonstrates a power, being empowered through her spiritual aspirations she did more then many other women of her day.

With the second occult flowering in the USA in the 60’s, which brought with it the spread of Wicca, it then also picked up more of the cultural empowerment. Many minorities found the idea of Wicca, witchcraft and alternative spirituality as means to find their own empowerment, to pursue their goals of empowering themselves socially, culturally, and politically. Some minorities have always had their spiritual means of getting one up on the Man. The role of conjure doctors and spiritual workers in African American communities was often not only spiritual, but also physical, as they cared for clients physical needs with their knowledge, helping them when they were sick, not only from being hoodooed but also from colds, illnesses and injuries. The same for Appalachian folk magic, and Pennsylvania pow-wow practitioners. The Mexican curandera or curandero would be consulted for herbal knowledge for sickness just as much spiritual ailments. While not all of them are minorities, in a sense, they are often limited to specific communities, and often derided by outsiders for their “backwards superstitions” by others.

Among the gay civil rights movement, there were quite a few people and groups that embraced alternative spirituality to gain empowerment both spiritually and also to help them in their fight to gain temporal empowerment. One figure was Eddy Buczynski, the founder of quite a few American witchcraft traditions including the Minoan Brotherhood. At a time when gay men were standing up and going out, he created one of the first spiritual traditions for gay men. A magical practitioner and gay man who was also a major activist was Leo Martello, who founded a Witchcraft Anti Defamation League and Alternative Religions Education Network, who was also very active with Gay liberation during the time of Stonewall. Another significant figure was Arthur Scott Evans, writer of “Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture” in which he asserted that the Witch mania of Europe also targeted people who may have been accused of engaging in homosexual acts. All of these people in some way found the empowerment of alternative spirituality and practices, which gave them the force and power to pursue empowerment in the physical world.

As I watch and read the events of the day, and the responses of people, and the responses of the wide neo pagan community in the USA, I feel I notice how spiritual empowerment helps to give fuel to the physical empowerment that people pursue. There is great inequality still existing in the world. Women, people of color, GLBT people and others. Yet I am aware of many of these minorities finding power for themselves, what some might call “power within” to work to make changes, to empower others like them, and work to create a planet where we can all live together, with justice, with liberty, with equality and maybe as a global family.

thetimetobeawesomeisnow

E is for Runes

Leave a reply

I felt like double posting this week, cause, well I can.

 

Anyway, I would have to say the letter E is probably one the more under represent vowels in the various Futhorcs.  So, it makes this easy

Eihwaz

Eihwaz – The yew tree.  Another one of those darn trees just popped up again.  You’d they lived in the woods or something, these rune-casters.  This particular rune has some interesting overlapping meanings.  The first meaning I learned for it was defense.  Different then the protection rune that follows shortly after, Eihwaz is more like the pit of spikes defense. Sure it protects you, but it can hurt you too, as well as anyone else who tries to violate it.  After working with it some more, I came to understand it’s defense a little better, that it was also the severe warning.  It makes it look dangerous to those who think about violating it.  Or it just freaks people out.  I do use this rune to protect things, and more then a few times when someone who was bad news came around, they often just couldn’t stand to be here and fled, in some cases quite literally.
The other, more focused on attribution that I have learned and seems more common, is that it is the rune associated with death, dying and ultimately, the Underworld. I understand it more as the gateway to the Underworld.  Through this rune, you can reach those dark and sometimes frightening places below, where the dead, ancestors and various spirits of underworld and cthonic power reside.  Actually, you can reach lots of places with Eihwaz though.  The underworld is actually really well connected to all sorts of places, so if you’re spiritually traveling from point a to point b, you can use Eihwaz as the medium to get there.  Of course, if really want to avoid getting lost, use Raidho, and if you want to get there fast, use the next rune, Ehwaz, but, Eihwaz opens the door.  It’s the gate of the Underworld, but also the shortcut to every else.

 

Of course, within the tree cosmology I have seen, Eihwaz corresponds to The underworld, much like Aesc is the upper world, and Berkana is the creative power, and Thurisaz is the Destructive power, and Ac is the Middle World.

Eohlx

Eohlx – The name I prefer to know this rune by, as it talks about sharp swamp grass that can lacerate skin if you handle it unwisely, or just step through it.  It is also universally known as the rune of protection.  It there is any rune that everybody can agree on, it is this one.  I don’t think I have ever come across any author or writer about runes who has indicated otherwise.  The exact source of this protection is up to debate, but it seems that the protection is inherent.  Without walls, without armor without shield, without anything, you can be protected.  A giant “who goes there?” and “back off” all in one.  It’s kind of amazing.  Use it in all protection work, seriously.  You can’t go wrong. One of my favorite aegishlamur variants is known as “Solomon s innsigli” meaning Solomon sign.  It’s basically a 8 spoked sign made up of variants of Eohlx.  I have used it quite often for protection work and made some other version of it, and they all work amazingly great and give a very solid protection against any harm.

Ehwaz

Ehwaz – Ehwaz, the horse, the rune of quickness and speed and fleetness.  It makes travels short and bearable to those riding on the horse, but remember the steed does have a mind of it’s own.  To make the journey, you need to work along side your mount, not just force to do what you want.  Steed and rider, working together as a team, not as combatants.

 

Ehwaz is find to be anything gained with speed, or quickness.  Wealth that is quickly gained and equally quickly lost.  Fast cars, Fast men, fast music, fast women.  You can have lots of fun, but don’t expect it to be anything permanent.  If that is what you’re hoping for, you’ve come to the wrong rune.  Be thankful for what you got when you got it, but don’t try to hang to it too tight.  Just remember the memory of it fondly once it is gone.

Ear

Ear – The rune of Death. The tomb. Different from Eihwaz.  Ear is more like the Death Card of the Futhorc.  Everything dies, everything rots, everything fades away. Your wealth won’t last forever.  Eventually the fortune will disappear.  Even the best of friends goes away eventually, cause you might outlive them, or they outlive you.  There is nothing too big to fail.  All things fail. It is the natural order of things.  Sometimes it’s best just to go with it.
Not all endings are “THE END” though.  Some endings are just little.  The closing of a chapter.  The time to turn over the tape or record.  Maybe it’s time to move some place else, look to someone else, become something else. It’s an ending, but the story goes.

E is for Energy

Leave a reply

energyBy energy I mean “subtle energy” which in various cultures and languages and traditions has a multitude of names like chi, ki, prana, mana, orgone, quintessence, azoth etc… But for simplicity’s sake, I’m going to just say energy.

The concepts of subtle energy seem primarily rooted in eastern systems of metaphysics and cosmology. In most western metaphysics and esoterica from before the occult revival, there wasn’t much focus on it. In fact I would say the only recognition of subtle energy is when Agrippa mentions quintessence, the fifth element. Moving into the 20th century, energy becomes the thing, with it’s heyday really taking off in the 60’s and 70’s with the Aquarian arrival and the widespread blossoming of new age philosophy, theosophy and other organizations that are more influenced by Eastern metaphysical systems being blended into Western metaphysics.

Some people really embrace energy metaphysics. Other people see everything as energy, which can be a useful frame of reference for some things. Other groups reject it completely and see everything through a different lens, like spirits, or information, or psychological context. I personally see them all as useful frames of reference to work through them all at different times depending upon context and necessity. To me it just makes sense and has a certain usefulness when dealing with different situations. I also find it interesting how they can all overlap and interact. But this is post is about energy.

Energy is something that is really quite useful to work with in the modern culture that we live in. For one thing, thinking about energy is something that most countries and regions need to think about. How to move it, how to supply it, to whom it is supplied, and what the energy is sourced from. As technology advances energy slowly becomes more available to more people, we can see the effect of how energy production from various sources effects the environment, people and culture. What is interesting to me is that all of these physical productions of physical energy that is used to power technologically advanced areas and nations can also be sourced into for the kind of energy I’m talking about here. If you don’t believe me, tap into the spiritual power of electricity around you. Take some of it into you, carefully, and see how it’s power is available. Other people have tapped into the energy production from nuclear power and fossil fuels, but as time moves forward we also have solar, hydro electric, and wind power (hopefully) becoming more available and widespread. Of course, most spiritual practitioners will already be tapping into energy of the Sun, Water and Wind, albeit in different ways.

Of course, once you have that energy, it’s all a question of what do you want to do with it. While flinging lightning bolts around sounds fun (cause that would be awesome) there is so much more to do with energy then just that. The obvious first one that many people turn to is healing. So much so that “energy healing” is the phrase for various types of metaphysical healing. Although I find the exact combination of words kind of humorous (cause you’re healing energy?) even though I know it means that you’re healing with metaphysical energy, it is still very amusing to me. The next common thing is using that energy to produce results. The energy of the elements, or the undifferentiated energy of creation, or other energies can all be focused on achieving results of a more material focus. Gaining wealth, drawing love, influencing people, encouraging crops, creating protection etc… are the second most common use of energy. This is usually done by visualizing the energy, putting the intention into it and then sending it on it’s way to do it’s thing. While some energies are easily recognized and accepted within various metaphysical communities, there are some that are more modern. Like the energy of money. How do you visualize that? What about the energy of Love? The energy of beauty? Maybe you could draw from Earth, or Venus, or Water, but what about just those energies themselves, on their own. What about the energy of a curse? Or the energy of harmful spirit? If you can visualize that and make it work, you can easily just manipulate the energy of those things in ways that other people might see differently coming from a more tradition perspective. If you are being followed by a spirit of the dead, being able to manipulate the energy of the dead, or death could be a useful trick to have to limit it’s effectiveness, or change it around and send it away (or back).

Of course, the other side of working with energy is that it is very personal. It’s much more about the ability and skill of the practitioner then anything else. At least in working in other frames of reference, like spirits, where it’s more about the relationship of the spirits and the practitioner and keeping the favor of the spirits then anything, energy is much more individual focus. I think that is why energy is more popular and acceptable means of working in this 20th century western culture because we are so individualistic. We want to be distinct and different and do things on our own. Having to rely on spirits is much harder thing to deal with then just being able to “plug in” and complete the circuit. It’s much more mechanical then other methods. Information and psychology can also do that, but there is still something about energy that is more accessible. Energy is much more fluid, free form, spontaneous, more natural gift and talent that people are more desirable to have. It can also be a great way to explain various extra sensory phenomena, from divination to psychic intuitive and mediumship, whereas looking at them from other models doesn’t always work well with everything. Explaining everything as energy is just a useful frame for many things, and one of those frames is that of the personal practitioner, and their personal energy, and being able to connect with external energy.

As an exercise, pick something in front you, right now, and draw it’s energy into you. Do it gently. Give some of your energy to it, again, gentle. If you feel like you’re going to get a headache, you’re pushing too hard. Feel how that energy of the object is different from yours. Feel how the object changes when you put your energy into it.

Another exercise is to examine your own energy. Stop, and feel your energy. How does it feel right now? Do you like how it feels? If not, why? Now change it. Change the energy to match up with a perception of how you want it to feel. When you have changed your energy, how you do feel now? Is it different from before? Now, reach out to the source of pure cosmic energy within you. Some people see it as just from the top of their heads. I tend to see it as coming from the center of my being, a pinpoint of shining light deep within. Let that pure cosmic energy fill you. How do you feel now? Do you like that feeling? How is it different from before when you first felt your energy? How is it different from when you shaped your personal energy into something more desirable? Now collect that pure cosmic energy and form it into a sphere or ball. You can use your hands if you want, but you have to. Let the ball fill up and become dense. Then turn that energy into any other kind of energy that you may want. Then take the ball and either send it to someone, or fill yourself with it’s energy to charge you with it. Notice how being filled with that energy feels differently, but also how you interact differently with the world while filled with that energy. Try this exercise with different energy at different times or different days. Maybe even stack energies together, to see how they mingle and what effects they have.

D is for Devotions

2 Replies

 

Devotions.  In my experiences it seems that most neo pagans of various sorts are not especially into, or do, devotions.  Oh, they might be dedicated to this god, or that goddess, and they might collect all sorts of images and read all sorts of books, but when it comes down to it, the most you might call “devotional” is that when they do a ritual and offer up some stuff and ask for something in return.  It’s certainly not a regular practice, let one weekly or daily.  This of course might be my own slanted viewpoint, as I find I am often interacting with people who are new to the craft, and so the idea of devotions is not something they are aware, usually because of their background.  They might even be actively rejecting it, as it has something that triggers old memories of childhood religious training, or unpleasant interactions in a previous religious settings.  So, they seem to fall by the wayside.  I do believe there are people who do devotions, and I like to think I follow many of their blogs, but over all it seems to be something that is done more by longer established living traditions, like ATR’s, culturally situated Buddhist practices, Hinduism, etc…

Of course, what’s interesting is that if you look into some of the first books about Wicca and witchcraft, devotions are there, but not always obvious.  I think because it’s kind of small in the context of a wiccan circle because it comes down to the cakes and wine.  That is all it is.  That is the devotional part of the ritual, but at the times I have done it, if you do it with reverence and it can be really intensely devotional.  Although it seems that many groups treat it more celebratory then as an act of devotion and offering, and also a communion with the gods.

Of course there are many other ways that it can be done.  My personal methods are mostly done through incense, a candle (or two) and clean water.  All of the items are blessed by me, and in doing so I clearly state that it is for this goddess or that spirit, and set it out for them to partake from. It’s all pretty straight forward and also very historical, as many cultures have offered incense, flame and light, and water, perhaps followed with prayers of praise and adoration.  Sometimes I have included food stuffs, usually sweets.  Some other ways is that I find items or plants that have a relation to the god or spirit, and I leave them their, as part of their personal collection.  For my main goddess I have given un-shelled walnuts, as she is identified with walnut trees.  These were votive offerings that I have blessed, and remain in a bowl on her space by her.  Another offering that is good to make is prayers.  Making prayers to powers that you have a good relationship with, even just to thank them, and praise them, is a great way to build a relationship with them, especially if you don’t ask for anything specific, or just indicate general blessings and good fortune, which if they are spiritual close to you, they will already be supplying to you as best as you can.  Not that asking hurts, but if you only go to someone to ask them for something all the time, I know people get tired of that behavior, and so I can only imagine that gods and spirits do as well.  Sometimes it’s good just to be grateful, and express that gratitude.

Other devotions can be even more involved.  Leaving things in specific places.  What little knowledge I have of ATR’s is that various spirits have places associated with them, where offerings to them are expected to be left.  It’s very easy to look into European and Mediterranean, and other regions of antiquity and soon figure out places that were that gods or spirits special zone of influence.  It can be correct to leave offerings there.  It also seems that some areas were also open to any spirit. Crossroads seem to be a popular place where all spirits go at some time, and so leaving offerings there, and placing them there in a ritualized manner with respect and devotional practice can be quite the experience.  Doing it in a public place that is often traveled through, can also be an intense experience, as demonstration of your dedication to overcome potentially socially awkward situations (like being in a graveyard with a crossroads in the middle of the graveyard, leaving offerings for the spirits of the dead, and other beings, at midnight) that in and of itself is an offering of time, and facing your fears.  Or going to the beach at dawn, and leaving offerings to be picked up by the surf.  All these places can have a devotional element, that when done with a focused intent, can help you connect more with the gods and spirits.  Another part of devotions can be timing.  As indicated in previous paragraph, times can also be an important part.  If you really start doing devotional practice, you end up with your own liturgical calendar of feast days, offering days and what not.  Depending upon their role, some gods might want their offerings down during daylight hours.  Other spirits might prefer them given at night, when it’s dark.  Some might prefer it to be during a new moon, whereas others prefer a full moon.  Some prefer having their water refreshed once a week, whereas others might need it refreshed every day, along with incense and prayers when it is given.  It depends upon you and the spirits and gods being worked with.  It also seems that spirits and gods know what they can ask for from someone, and not from someone else.  While one person might be called to make baked goods which go uneaten for 3 days, until they are shared, others might only need to give a quick prayer.  The one who must bake, can bake, and the one who can pray, is pretty much only able to pray.  While some might think the physical offerings and time that went into them might be more meaningful, a heartfelt and sincere prayer done with focus and intention can be quite powerful, even more meaningful because of that focus and attention. But it has more to do with the time, that which can be given as well as the time that it is given.

By giving focus to offerings, place and time, a devotional practice will soon develop.  From my own experience, a devotional practice will really transform and change how you interact with gods and spirits, as well as your own spiritual practice.  When you start making offerings, it seems as though something switches on.  It makes the spirituality more day to day, and more real in a practical physical sense.  If you are willing to dedicate 5 minutes every day to relate to some spiritual intelligence, then maybe there is something more to this.  Even if you are just operating from a psychological model, drives the point of a certain level of realness which change ones practice in a many ways.

A is for Aegishjalmur

Leave a reply

IMG_0002

I’m sure most people who are interested in this sorts of things will be somewhat passingly familiar with the aegishjalmur, and it’s also most common appearance.  However, there are quite a few variations on that form, and they were used for a good number of things from looking at various spells and entries in Icelandic magic of the middle ages.

This particular version, shown above, is one of my favorites.  The name  of these is aegishjalm arnirniu (I’m sorry, I don’t quite know how to put accent marks in there, so I apologize for their absence) which is translated as the Nine Helms of Aegir.  The text associated with them says “These are the nine helms of Aegir that everyone who deals with knowledge cannot do without. Each of them should be used.”

 

Following these directions, I put them all down on a piece of paper, in red ink, and proceeded to use that as petition paper that would I burn candles on (thus the waxy circle on the paper, yes this is a photo graph of the actual talisman).   As there is no further directions given, I just laid them all out as I felt was aesthetically pleasing, and using oils and incense with them as it relates to wisdom, knowledge, and mind empowerment.

 

Here is a spell.

 

What you’ll need

-a purple candle

-a wisdom oil (King Solomon’s Wisdom, or just Wisdom etc…)

-incense (wisdom incense if you can, but just frankincense or copal will do in a pinch.  You can could also burn sage leaves)

-a candle holder

-piece of paper

A piece of solomon seal root

-red pen

 

Take the piece of paper (something about 2×4 inches will be fine) and using the red paper, write the 9 helms of aegir on the paper. Put it however you want, but there should probably be a helm in each corner and a helm on each side with one helm in the middle.

 

Using the Wisdom oil and your finger, dab a small amount of oil on to each helm.

 

Take the solomon seal root, and fix it with the Wisdom oil.
Take the purple candle, and anoint it with Wisdom oil.  Do this however you prefer anoint candles. Set the candle in the holder, and place the holder on top of the piece of paper. ( I find a good brass holder is good for this purpose.) If you can, place the Solomon seal root under the candle holder, on top of the paper, or place it next to the base of the holder.

 

Light some charcoal, and put it into your censer, brazier or whatever you burn charcoal in.  Put a good pinch of incense on the charcoal and let it smoke.  Light the candle wick and let it burn.

 

As the candle burns, you should pray.  You might recite mantras for wisdom, recitations from Psalms or Proverbs.  You can also pray silently, and allow the Wisdom of God or the Gods, or the ancestors to come to you and fill you.  You could also meditate.

 

You can do this spell in one day, by letting the candle burn down. You could also repeat it for 7 days, burning the candle in 15 minute increments, snuffing it each day with your fingers or a candle snuffer, until the 7th day, where you should let it finish burning.

 

Take the solomon seal root, and put it into a flannel bag of either white, purple or red, along with the paper with the nine helms on it.  Carry it with you, or place it under your pillow as you sleep, keep it on a secure place on your altar or wherever you keep your altar.  Whenever you are doing your daily practice of prayer, you should take it, and wear the bag, or sit with it while you do your daily prayers or meditation.

Bune

Leave a reply

Recently, I did a conjuration of Bune, using the method laid out in Strategic Sorcery by Jason Miller. As part of a deal made in that conjuration, I am broadcasting the name of the Bune far and wide, and just how awesome he was. He fulfilled my desires with no problems, and brought me the finances I requested. If you are looking to conjure a spirit and need help with monetary issues, you should go and conjure up Bune.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bune

Audhruna – Runes of Wealth

Leave a reply

Lately, I have been focusing a lot on wealth, money and prosperity and financial magic. Most people seem to have been affected by that economic shift that has affected the United States over the past year. While it seems the low point has passed, we have not yet a satisfying middle for most people. This of course has many people scrambling, and a lot of magical folk that I know are often turning to some kind of money magic to help them out. Being of a practical bent, this is something I have been working on for a while, and while I am not the Donald Trump of Occultism, I do have some opinions and experience of it.
Two of the books that I have read recently that focused on financial magic are “The Sorcerer’s Secrets” by Jason Miller, and “The Witch’s Coin” by Christopher Penzcak I have to say, in some ways these two books represent very different ends of the magical spectrum about magic and money. Jason Miller’s work I would have to say is the more “practical sorcery” side of the financial magic spectrum. Christopher Penzcak is more representative of the “spiritual relationship” with money. Both have useful ideas, and techniques, and I think people of all sorts would be benefited by reading both, and doing the exercises they find within, and utilizing the spells and techniques.
One of my first comments, when it comes to money magic, is that almost absolute necessity of creating a “money altar.” I put that in quotation marks, because it doesn’t even necessarily have to look like an altar, but you should have a special place where you do money magic, whether you are a professional with clients (where you could also work money spells for them at the same location) or a amateur or hobbyist of some kind (which means you don’t necessarily market your magical skills to others, but you do practice magic). I say this because dealing with finances and money is something you are going to do for all of your life, in some way shape or form, and by creating a relationship with it that is inclusive of spirituality, it gives you a center and focus for dealing with finances. This altar will be the where you work your money magic of all kinds; keep most of your curios and items for money magic.
There are several types of money magic. The most basic and familiar kind can be called “Money-drawing.” This type of magic is about bringing money to you, however that may occur. The next type can be called “Money Protection.” This type of magic is about savings, long term investments, protection from theft, scams and fraud, and managing finances. The next type of money magic can be called “job magic” (although I think the word “job” is a dirty three letter word. I usually prefer employment or work.) This magic is about finding, getting, and keeping a job, with some work place related spells aimed at influencing co-workers, management and work environments. The final area of money magic can be called “gambling magic” and is aimed at magic to influence risky endeavors, which can cover everything from slot machines and poker games, to high-risk investing, and investment in new ventures, like film and television. At least the first three should be represented on your money altar, with the fourth one (gambling) maybe being present, if that is something you do, or are good at. I myself have no ability at gambling, and so I don’t pursue it. There is one other area of related to money magic, which can be called “debt collecting.” It is about money, but more so about influencing people to pay their debts to you, and to give you what they owe you, but if the other three are going well, this one isn’t really a major consideration.
Of course there are runes that relate too many of these areas of magic. With bindrunes, any rune can be combined together to make an audh-stafir (or rune of riches). There are specific runes that deserve mention that are good for money magic. Looking at these, some people may disagree with me, and other works may also present different runes. The ones I am presenting are the one that through my work, have made it clear to me that they are more related to financial magics then anything else.
The first one is Feoh/Fehu. Feoh means Gold in most academic translation of the various Rune poems. Somehow, some people decided that meant “cattle”, but gold seems to be the basic meaning. Just about every book out there most rune types will point you to this rune for wealth. It’s true. This rune does seem to draw wealth to you. However, easy come, easy go is the saying. Feoh doesn’t keep the money with you. It seems part of the nature of this rune is that one you have the money, you will start spending it, and using it. So don’t stop with it, if you have bigger plans then just being everyone’s best friend at the bar.
The second financial rune is Gebo. The name of this rune means “gift” and that is exactly what it is. But it ain’t a free gift. That is, there are certain obligations and responsibilities that come with that gift. I, personally, don’t use this rune much because of it. In this day and age, Gebo is more like contracts, agreements, and business deals. There is an exchange between two parties, and so long as the agreement is kept, it will work out. The breaking that contract made with Gebo can have serious consequences. It is a good way to get people to keep their work, or follow through with a contract, whatever it maybe.
The next financial rune is Jera. Jera means “year” or “Harvest” usually a good year and good harvest. This rune is about Long term financial magic. It definitely means work, but it is work that pays in the end, if you were keeping at it, much in a sense, like a farmer tending his fields and reaping a good harvest for his efforts. If you do work Jera, it should be worked within a defined time period, generally more then a month. At the end of that period, if you want to continue with Jera, you need to examine your previous spell, and make changes. Don’t work the same spell twice, although an on going spell can be worked, so long as the elements that need to be renewed are simple, like candles or offerings.
The next rune is Peorth. “Peorth!” I can already here some people saying. Yes, Peorth. This is, of course, the rune for gambling and high risk financial magic. The Anglo-saxon poem strongly associates it with games of chance, and so it can be used to help with those risky investments. Often, its best purpose is to knowledge about which investment will pay off, but it can also be used to work chance and gambling luck in your favor. Another way to use this rune is also in the locating of hidden treasure. To me, part of the meaning of Peorth is that it actually refers to the dead, who are living it up in their afterlife. Sometimes they can be petitioned to give up their wealth, and so, hidden treasures, and buried valuables might be revealed. By the way, this is for the dead that you are not related. For your ancestors wealth look to Ethel.
The following rune is Berkana. Berkana is the rune of Growth and nurturing of things to help them grow. While most people think of plants, babies, animals and pregnant women, this growing and nurturing can also be about your finances, savings and money. Berkana clearly belongs to the area of money protection, as it is more about money you already have, and are trying to improve. It grows the money, while also protecting it. It is not fast to act, and it does need “a seed” to start with. So, once you get the money from Feoh, start working Berkana to see it grow.

The next rune for money magic is Ehwaz. Ehwaz isn’t completely a money rune. Its name means horse, and while horses are often the mark of the wealthy, and also gambling related, one of its most common uses is to speed things up. This rune, when combined with others, is for emergencies, or Fast Money. Sometimes, Shit Happens. When you need it, and you need it NOW!!! Ehwaz is the rune to use.

Inguz is the next financial rune. Its name refers to one of the epithets of Freyr. In most descriptions, they talk about an image of him being paraded around the lands of Northern Europe, and how he brings fertility to the land. That Fertility is often the quickening of growth of fields, so that food for people and for livestock can be provided. Money magic wise, Inguz is the “active” counterpart to Berkana. Savings, investments, Trusts, where money is placed and is secure, but it is also actively being used, often with higher interests that are paid. This can also be about money that is used for endeavors that will pay off. Education is one very clear example. Enchant your tuition checks, for investing in your future, so that when it ripens, you can be ready to reap the benefit.

Ethel is the rune of ancestral property. This rune is about inheritance, and property. This rune can also be about calling up the skills of ancestors, which are inherent in you, to aid you in your work, if they are related. I might also suggest that you have a good relationship with your ancestors if you are going to do this. It is also a way, that by working with ones ancestors, and giving thanks and veneration for their aid, they can help you directly, by helping you in your work, financial management, and income. After all, if you are pursuing a relationship with them, it will benefit them, to benefit you. Make sure you show gratitude. On the other hand, when it comes to property, this rune is also invaluable, as it helps with real estate investments, and development. It also works well in your personal real estate, your home, whatever that may be.

This pretty much covers most of the runes that deal directly with money and magic. There are some other runes that deserve mention. While not money related per se, they can be worked with financial magic for particular situations or gain. Os the rune of Gods and of the mouth, is really great for those who work in environments where what they say helps them to make their money and succeed. It is also good for any other situation where speaking might be needed (interviews, asking for that raise or promotion etc…). Wunjo(Joy) is good for influencing work environment, to help it be productive, peaceful and pleasant. Eohlx (elk-sedge) and combined with other runes are well suited for money protection, as this is the main protective rune. Protect your wallet, savings, job, reputation, home, investments, you name it, it can be protected. Sowelo(sun) is a great rune to spur on success, aiding you in a number ways to excel. It can also make you “shine” more and let prospective and current employers see you in a more beneficial light. When it comes to money management Teiwaz(a god of justice and judgment) and Mannaz(man) excel in helping one to make decisions. They are also beneficial in seeing through scams, fraud, and pyramid schemes as well. Yr(bow) is the rune to use if you are involved with a craft or skilled trade. It will help you in your skills, and also help to gain respect for abilities. Kalc(chalice) helps one to assess ones skills and desires, and in doing so, seek the best vocation and career, as many people go through life, working, but doing so without direction. It can also bring about the glamour of desirability, helping you to gain employment, particularly if it is your chosen career field.

The previous are all runes that work well within the area of money magic. They might also be runes that are worth paying attention to when receiving a reading, and asking questions related to finances, money and employment, as their presence might indicate benefits or problems.

Of course, when it comes to financial magic, one should also be working practically with financial actions and management. What real world actions are you taking to gain money? If you are doing magic to get work, are you following through with sending out resumes, asking about opportunities from people, and checking the classifieds? Are you checking your investments, reading about changes in Wall Street, and knowing you are handling your money and how? If you are using magic to put a favorable wind at your back, you still need to open the sail, and steer the ship.

Divinatory Methods

Leave a reply

In contemporary runic practice, the Runes are very frequently used for divination aka fortune telling or readings. I say contemporary practice, because there is no solid evidence of divination with the Runes. However, there is quite a bit of lore that indicates that runes were probably used for that purpose, mostly from mythic sources. The sagas indicate runes being used, usually for magic, and sometimes that magic would be divinatory in purpose, but the runes were incidental to the magic, and not the main focus.

The most often quoted example of “runic divination” actually comes from a Roman historian, named Tacitus. In his history of Germania, he makes note of their method of performing lots. However, his language does not explicitly indicate the Runes only that symbols were carved in piece of wood from the branch of a fruit bearing tree, and from those symbols, answers were given from the gods. This method does work very well with the Runes however, and I often use an adapted version for readings with the Runes.

Other methods are derived from tarot, where a specific layout is used, often named after a mythic figure or symbol, or associated with cosmological forces and patterns. The simplest of these is the One Rune or the Odhinn’s Rune, where a single rune is selected and that answers the question or gives insight to the issue being asked about. This method works well for either “simple” yes, no or maybe answers. The yes answer would be an upright figure selected, a no would be an upside down figure selected, while a maybe would be any of the “non-invertible runes” with the maybe being explained more depending upon the meaning of the rune.

Another common version of a layout is the 3 Runes or the Norns Spread, named after the etin women who gather around the well of Urd (Wyrd in Anglo-Saxon), watering Yggdrasil with the well water, and patching it with white clay, who are also the mistress of Fate, or Wyrd. Their names are Urd, Verthandi and Skuld (or Wyrd, Metod and Skuld in Anglo-Saxon). When it is called the Norn’s spread, it is specifically used for looking at the past, present and future, while other values can be used for the three runes. These values are often connected in some way, such as Body, Mind and Soul, or Seed, Plant, and Fruit.
The final method of divination is based upon working magic with the runes that make information known to you. There are numerous ways to do this, from focusing on certain runes to bring you into contact with knowledgeable entities, or beings that possess the information you seek, such as contacting Gods or spirits, to summoning up the dead to ask them questions which they would have had the answer to. You could also work to travel metaphysically, popular known as astral projection, but in northern tradition it has the name hamfaring, referring to the part of the being known as the hamr (shape) which can travel from the body, which can then go seek the information that you desire.