Invincible Magick Spells Of The Afghan Mullah Sensees

Book: Invincible Magick Spells Of The Afghan Mullah Sensees by Muhammad Ibn Arabi

All the spells and signs are from the mountains of Afghanistan and the surrounding areas. All have been handed down from generation to generation, student to student. All are in their original form and have not been translated or altered so as to preserve the originality and power.

Download Muhammad Ibn Arabi's eBook: Invincible Magick Spells Of The Afghan Mullah Sensees

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Muhammad Ibn Arabi - Invincible Magick Spells Of The Afghan Mullah Sensees

Herbal Magick A Witchs Guide To Herbal Enchantments Folklore And Divinations

Book: Herbal Magick A Witchs Guide To Herbal Enchantments Folklore And Divinations by Gerina Dunwich

Herbs can be used to cure or to curse, as well as to conjure or to banish Supernatural entities. They can enchant our gardens and our homes, and guide us on the path to Transformation and self-improvement. But, most importantly, Herbal Magick can open the door to spiritual realms and other worlds, and serve to connect a human being with Mother Nature and the Divine.

There probably exists no plant or tree that hasn’t at one time, in some part of the world, been used in a spell or potion, or utilized as an amulet. And it is said that all parts of a plant, whether they be roots, buds, flowers, stems, or bark, are magickally significant.

Herbs are Mother Nature’s gifts to all of humankind, regardless of spiritual beliefs, magickal tradition, or culture. And whether you pride yourself as a country Witch or an urban Pagan, herbs can reward you with a wealth of enchantment,
divination, and folklore. Blessed be!

Buy Gerina Dunwich's book: Herbal Magick A Witchs Guide To Herbal Enchantments Folklore And Divinations

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Finding Spell

When you have lost Something (this works great with keys, not so well with remote controls), first look everywhere you can think of, especially the last place you saw them (the Gods get pissed off if you use magic out of sheer laziness.) If you still can't find it, stand still, close your eyes and calm your mind. Breath slowly from deep in your stomach and with your mind, call to the thing your Looking for. Then open your eyes and begin to walk slowly around. The lost thing will call you to it. You must be aware and "feel" for it.

I once was looking for some seeds I wanted to plant and passed a shelf three times. I was sure I hadn't put them on the shelf but I kept coming back to the shelf and sure enough there they were Calling out to me. I've also used this to find car keys lost in a huge field. I walked right to them.

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Some Thoughts On Ceremony And Ritual Magic

There is much confusion and substantial posturing on the subject of ritual magic. Sadly, there is also considerable ignorance and prejudice…not only from opponents such as fundamental religionists, by from proponents who have a personal vested interest, an axe to grind, a dogma, a favourite writer or teacher to praise. So into this tangled and heated maze, I intend to briefly venture. When I do so, I will try to avoid some of the standard explanations and dogmatic statements about “what magic is”, as you can find them repeated, often thoughtlessly copied from one another, in many books.

The simplest way to begin is to consider not what ritual and ceremony are today, but what they were in the ancestral cultures. Why so? Because much of our attitude toward magic, friendly or hostile, is conditioned by our living in a post-Christian modernist culture. If we can step aside, so to speak, and look for a moment at a collective consciousness untrammelled uninhibited and unconditioned by Christianity, we might gain some insights. The 19th century occultists, from whom 90% of contemporary literature on magic is derived, had difficulty making this step. They were either reverent towards the conditioned Judeo-Christian worldview despite their occultism, or they were in extreme (even childish) reaction against it. Today, in the 21st century, and as a result of their pioneering work, their suffering and genius in some cases, we are now less conditioned, and, hopefully, more aware that the world is very different to that of either religious or modernist propaganda.

Ceremony and Ritual in the past

Magical ceremonies were conducted in ancestral cultures for two primary purposes: to commune with and draw upon spiritual powers and presences, and to mediate and present such spiritual powers and presences to the community. The first purpose was, and still is, jealously absorbed by political religions. The second purpose is the historical origin of all theatre (including the modern film and television industry), but at a deeper level is the ultimate aim of true magical ritual.

Ideas such as “self-development”, “control of supernatural forces” and so-forth are materialistic and modern. All ancestral magic, be it formal and complex such as the ancient Mysteries of the classical or Egyptian civilisations, or the relatively simple folkloric magic of the ordinary people, was deeply involved in ideas such as participation, relationship, transformation through interaction, and, especially, with the resonance of spiritual forces out to the greater world. The now popular concepts of the isolated would-be-superman, who changes things according to his will, or the elite occult group that influences politics and money, came into shape in the 19th century, and have continued in various forms to this day. Most of these are either a) fiction, or b) egocentric wishful thinking.

What is a ritual?

A ritual is a pattern, comprising words, movement, sounds, and intentional content such as clothing, implements, and a wide range other factors. The two key concepts are pattern and intentional content. The most important consideration, however, is that this ritual pattern is shared between humans and other beings…humans and spiritual beings. You cannot have magic without the harmonious exchange between humanity and other orders of life. A ritual, a ceremony, is a special pattern that enables this exchange.

There are of course, two modes of magic, co-operative and coercive. In this article, we are discussing co-operative magic. Similar principles apply to both modes. However, I have never grasped the sense of a type of magic in which humans attempt to force powerful spiritual beings (more powerful than the human ritualists) to do their will. Does this not seem to be absurd…not to mention childish and illogical?

When is a ceremony not a ritual?

In some sense we could define any intentional gathering as a ritual or ceremony. But what distinguishes a magical ritual is that the intention always involves spiritual beings. They may be ancestors, faery races, gods or goddesses, trans-human beings compassionate to humanity, the spirits of the living creatures in nature (often rather loosely called totem animals), or conscious entities from remote metaphysical dimensions. If they, whoever they may be, are not part of our ritual, it is not magic. It is merely an empty ceremony.

A ritual and a ceremony are essentially the same thing. The ceremony is the outer form, while the ritual is the magical pattern-making. Hence the popular modern definition that “ceremonial magic” is the complex stuff with fat scripts, many implements and much arm-waving, while other forms of ritual are somehow more direct or simple. This is not true, of course, but is widely published. A very simple ceremony lasting a minute or two, such as placing an offering of wine upon a dedicated stone, can be a powerful and complex ritual involving humans, spirit beings, forces of nature, ancestral consciousness, stellar awareness! Do not be fooled by props…or propped by fools.

Magic for the future

Some years ago, during a famous interview, the late Robert Graves was challenged by a religious presenter, regarding Graves’ interpretation of myth and history. Graves responded that there are three ages or eras: first that of matriarchy, or of the collective past, then that of patriarchy or of the collective present, and, next, the age of magic. For Graves, the age of Magic was that which is about to come into being, as humanity evolves from the polarisations of female and male, and becomes androgyne. But he was also referring, more immediately, to contemporary liberation from religious stereotypes, and the increased opening of spiritual imagination and awareness. Being both a poet and a satirist, Graves then floored the smug presenter by saying (something like) “But you sir do not know the difference between magic and necromancy, so there is nothing further we can talk about”.

I doubt if anyone can improve upon Graves’ definition that Magic is always of the future. Through ritual and ceremony we create new interactions between the metaphysical and physical realms: this is how the future is generated. It is not a simplistic linear future, but a future of many potentials. Some of those potentials do not manifest, others do, though often in a surprising manner. Ritual Magic is very close, in practice, to the theories of quantum physics, in which consciousness affects outcome of any event or series of events.

And a last word of warning

Am I going to warn you about demonic influences or drugs and magic or moral issues of sexual spells? No…that is all puerile nonsense. But I would urge you to heed this warning: we are privileged. We are privileged to be able to practice magic, in any form. I am privileged to be able to write this article, you to read it. In most parts of the world, right now, this would be illegal. It may become illegal here. Therefore, and thus far, we enact our magic, our ceremonies, and our rituals not merely for ourselves, but from a place of privilege whereupon we stand, on behalf of others. For those others who cannot, who are not, allowed to do so. Do not let your privilege and freedom be eroded. Work magic for the sake of liberation through magic.

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Arthur Edward Waite - The Book Of Ceremonial Magic

Paganism And Magical Traditions

One of the most fascinating discoveries of my life has been that most of what we are accustomed to call spirituality would have been meaningless to our ancestors. By spirituality I mean the entire range, orthodox religion, New Age alternatives, and revival paganism and magical arts. This conclusion did not come easily, nor was it a sudden revelation: it crept up on me over the years, as a result of research, study, and inner experience. Many of my suspicions have been confirmed through long talks with elders from tribal cultures around the world, with whom it was possible to compare contemporary ethnic practices and shamanism to the modern artificial substitutes so widely sold . In Ireland, it seems clear that the traditional wisdom of the elders, handed down by word of mouth, through songs and stories, is often radically different to “Celtic revival” modern spirituality.

Most recently I have been impressed (though not always convinced) by the writing of Ronald Hutton, a British academic who has explored many aspects of both historical and revival paganism. Hutton challenges some of the basic modern assumptions about ancient paganism and old religions in a thought provoking manner. Thus he also challenges many of the foundations of revival paganism (His books include: The pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles : Their Nature and Legacy and The Triumph of the Moon : A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft).

In some my own books over the last 20 years or so, I have explored the practical, transformative, magical effect of working with the UnderWorld, the older spiritual traditions of the sacred Earth, and how to make such traditions vivid and contemporary for us today (These include:The UnderWorld Initiation; Earth Light; Power Within the Land; The Living World of Faery). In many ways I consider historic accuracy to be essential, but it need not be the ultimate goal. Historical accuracy in restoring old spiritual traditions is less important than effective inner transformation: if it works, well and good; if it don’t work, don’t do it.

Remember that some of the material in older traditions is totally unworkable and inappropriate; we do not have mate with a mare (as reported in the 12th century by Giraldus Cambrensis) to tap into an ancient Irish tradition of sacred kingship and fertility. We do not need to sacrifice a bull and wrap ourselves in the skin in order to gain prophetic visions (another ritual reported in the Middle Ages) . These old practices are historically significant, but invalid or inappropriate for 21st century people. I merely cite these dramatic examples as obvious methods that are historically reported, but not necessary today. Many other lesser examples could be discussed, but we do not have the space in a short article of this sort.

Yet we do need a consistent accuracy in our understanding of ancestral history, mythology, legends. If we do not do our homework, we can easily become lost in a morass of trivia and wishful thinking. What has happened, of course, is a series of fakes, fads, and fashions, from the 18th century to the present day. Today there is so much fantasy, falsehood, and fakery in publication on ancestral magic and pagan practices that we need rigorous application and research more than ever.

In my lifetime, and during my own career working and recording with Irish musicians, Celtic tradition and music has become ruthlessly emasculated and utterly pulverized by commercial interests. Finding accurate information is not an easy task, but the solid basics are defined in a small number of trustworthy reference sources…the rest is down to common sense and inspiration (in that order).

I should add one mildly uncomfortable fact about Celtic tradition (as the examples I quoted above come from Ireland and Scotland): there are many hundreds of ancient manuscripts, especially in Ireland, that have not been translated. There are far more medieval Irish and Latin Texts unassessed untranslated and unpublished than there are in print. A strong voice on this subject is the Irish writer John Minahane (The Christian Druids, on the filid or philosopher- poets of Ireland ), who, like Ronald Hutton, takes a fresh look at old material, and scoffs at many of the assumptions that we have inherited. Like most modern writers, I have used the trusted translations and sources, with a lot of individual research, retranslation, and so forth. But on dark storm tossed nights, I awaken suddenly and scream “ What if…what if…all those other Irish, Welsh, and European source materials, actually tell us something different ? What if they all say that the UnderWorld was the propaganda of only a few druids in a remote part of Kerry ?” I suppose we can always assert that these new translations are forgeries, or suppress them somehow. That’s the usual method.

Some of my own inspirations and insights have come through visions while living on a powerful sacred site: others came through my early teachers at a time when esoteric training was still hidden and secretive in Britain. And, as must always be the case, I have developed my understanding through long study, research, consideration and comparison. But ultimately, in spiritual arts or disciplines, it is only the doing that counts, not the reading about, writing about, or thinking about.

We do not have to accept everything in a religion or in an old tradition to respect its inner truths.

Like many other people in Western culture, I absorbed certain typical ideas in childhood: mostly of the kind that tell us that spirit is elevated, up there, in the light. Later I found that these ideas, so ingrained in our culture, were the decadent end of a propaganda program, started by political religions, by the various branches of Christianity, but also found in Judaism, and in Islam.

Now I am not going to waste your precious reading time bashing these religions, as many people have done this, often with justification. I think that there are truths and insights in all orthodox religions, Western or Eastern, and that these truths are good, valid, and trustworthy. But… and this is the big one, we do not have to accept everything in a religion in order to respect its deep inner truths. Indeed the deep truths are often in conflict with the politicized dogma, for the deep truths are eternal, unbound by time and history, and have no connection to human power plays or politics.

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Pagan Spells Mix Of Spells

Book: Pagan Spells Mix Of Spells by Al Selden Leif

Spells are simply Rituals used to perform magic. As discussed in Using Magic, the particular ritual is only part of what makes magic work. It can, however, be a very important part. rituals help to focus your mind on your goals. Certain items can help to focus the mind in particular directions. By combining particular Rituals with particular objects, you can virtually force your mind to focus in the direction you desire.

Buy Al Selden Leif's book: Pagan Spells Mix Of Spells

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Magical Theory And Tradition

Book: Magical Theory And Tradition by Marcus Cordey

The theories and principles of magic are as diverse as the theories and principles of science. Indeed, the two fields were once one and the same only to diverge into Natural Philosophy and Occult Philosophy in the later Middle Ages. But unlike science, there are no concrete laws of magic. After all, science deals with the known and tangible where magic deals with the unknown and intangible.

Herein is proposed one collection of such principles as they are believed to govern the nature of magic. These principles have been derived from those described by Isaac Bonewits in his book Real Magic, as well as The Golden Bough of the 19th century anthropologist Sir James George Frazer, but have been further simplified and organized to embody their meaning as clearly as possible. It should also be remembered that these rules are only meant to help guide and direct a
student of the Occult arts, and are most likely represent only the smallest fragment of the greater laws underlying the true nature of reality.

Download Marcus Cordey's eBook: Magical Theory And Tradition

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What Is High And Low Magick

High magick is ceremonial or ritual magick, used more by the practitioners of The Order of the Golden Dawn, Kabbalists, and followers of Aliester Crowley. High magick also follows a set of guidelines and certain formalities. Ceremonialists call upon demons and other entities to do his/her bidding; this ritual takes time and needs to be done correctly. These guidelines follow a very precise set of parameters and if deviated from usually cause problems for the practitioner.

There are also other references to the differences; one of the more common ones is that High Magick came from those that lived in the cities, castles on the hill. It is said that those who practiced High magick had more time on their hands, therefore their rituals are more expansive. Low magick is practical everyday, or folk magick, generally used by wiccans and witches, and other nature-based religions. Low magick has less formality and encompasses more of the "common sense" magick. Low magick often involves the use of herbs, aromas, stones, flowers, animal parts (sympathetic magick) and other natural materials. These animal parts are NOT the result of sacrifice, but rather the practitioner finds that feathers, furs, and discarded bones. Low magick came from the fields, and the lowlands. The fact is that most of those who lived in the lowlands worked from dusk to dawn, had little if any time or need for elaborate ceremonies; therefore the practice of low magick was straightforward and to the point with little fanfare.

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What Are The Different Types Of Magick

These is high and low, black and white, tantric, and chaos magick, there are candle, herb, sympathetic, representational, symbolic, color, crystal, knot, moon, and elemental magick. Now this is not a complete list, there are many more such as fairy, tree, sigil and even gargoyle magick. Raymond Buckland and Silver RavenWolf give the following summary of the different types of magick; each form is well represented in either of their books.

Candle magick is the use of colored candles to represent the four elements, air, fire, water and earth. When lit these representations are powerful forces indeed.

Since the beginning of time mankind has used herbs to heal and perform magick. The use of herbs in magick is only second to sympathetic magick in age.

Sympathetic magick is the oldest form of known magick. When early man first started the hunt he would wear animal skins to become part of the animal he was hunting. There are many cave drawings that depict this, but none better than the "Sorcerer" in France.

Those who practice Voodoo or Santeria magick use representational magick, similar to sympathetic magick. Representational magick is the use of a personal item, such as a lock of hair or a fingernail clipping to represent the person for whom the spell is cast.

Symbolic or divination magick is the use of symbols to represent various ideas. This includes Tarot, Runes and numerology. Color magick, which is another form or symbolic magick, is the use of color to achieve a desired result. Each color has a certain quality assigned to it, and the combination or the individual use of this assigned color will bring about the desired result.

Crystal or gem stone magick works off the principle that stones give off a vibration and that using this vibration will assist the practitioner in healing or in casting a spell.

Knot magick or binding magick utilizes rope, string, yarn or ribbons to perform a binding spell, which allows the practitioner to stop someone from performing an unwanted action.

Moon magick emphasizes the different phases of the moon to perform certain types of magick.

Elemental magick uses the four basic elements of magick; fire, water, earth and air. Each element has different properties; therefore, they can be used separately or together in achieving a desired result.

It is important that you understand that each of these forms of magick has a basic common denominator, that being the intent and the ability to visualize of the individual. The better the ability to visualize and the clearer the intent, the greater the chances of achieving your desired result.

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The Magic Pyramid

Of the Magician's Pyramid, the tip of the pyramid is the work performed and the power used, and the four corners of the base, the four sources of that power. They are, equally and in no order, Imagination, Will, Faith, and Secrecy.

Imagination (Air): You must be able not only to devise potent ways to achieve your aims, but also to visualise or feel the energies you are working with and the results of your efforts. You can only do what you can think of, but you can do anything you can think of. Allow yourself to daydream and develop your imagination. Make use of your wildest ideas, dreams and fantasies. As long as they remain under your control, the wilder, richer and more fantastic the better, but be careful not to lose touch with reality. There are many who have gone before you and have gone insane, and it might be best for you not to follow them if your mind is not strong enough. If you can sit for an hour with your mind blank, not thinking a single thought for that time, then your mind is strong enough, and if not, then you must practice.

Will (Fire): You must be focused and determined. Nothing must distract you or waive you from your aims, and so you must develop your will. You must be able to assert yourself, to dispense with any opposition and traverse any obstacle. In your mind, there must be nothing that can stop you. If you do not have the will, you do not have the way. Now, be warned that failure is devastating to the will, and sometimes it is better not to try at all than to try and fail, and have not the will to try again. To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail, and you cannot afford to fail. Therefore, prepare. If you can hold your gaze on the centre of a candle flame for an hour, without looking away and maintaining your awareness the whole time, then your will is strong enough, and if not, then you must practice.

Faith (Earth): You must believe in yourself utterly and, if you call upon any talismans, amulets or deities in your work, you must believe in them utterly also. The slightest doubt, however deeply buried in the back of your mind, can still thwart your aims. He who does not believe in himself is his own greatest adversary. In the words of Paracelsus, "Through Faith the Imagination is invigorated and completed, for it really happens that every doubt mars its perfection..." Indeed, every doubt you hold will dent your will, and whether the dent be slight or great, you cannot afford the detriment to your will. It is for this reason that you must be able to depend completely upon the validity of your own words. Every time you tell a lie, break a promise, make a prediction that does not come true, or simply say something which is proved wrong, whether the fault is yours or not, it will dent your faith. For this reason you must say nothing that you cannot be totally certain is the truth, not of the past, the present, nor of the future.

Secrecy (Water): Knowledge is power, and to give knowledge, and therefore power, to someone who may then use it against you themselves, or pass it on to someone else who might, is folly. You should not reveal to anyone any more about yourself than you wish them to know. Guard also your knowledge of other things. Study and learn all that you can, and share it only if you are given something in exchange. The total power you have over those around you is the total of that which is relevant and which you know, and they do not. Never give in to vanity, and never feel that you have to prove yourself to anyone. Keep your tongue still and your ears sharp. Remember that those around you may, and probably will, be keeping many secrets themselves, as well as trying to learn yours, so always read between the lines, and never take anything that anyone says at face value.

If you are strong in Imagination, in Will, in Faith, and in Secrecy, then you are strong in magick. What you lack in any of these, you lack in magick. Not only must you be strong in each of these, but you must be strong in each of these equally, for any imbalance in these will unbalance your magick. You must keep your Imagination, Will, Faith, and Secrecy in balance. He who allows his imagination to reign becomes insane, he who allows his will to reign becomes megalomanic, he who allows his faith to reign becomes stagnant, and he who allows his secrecy to reign becomes paranoid. Whereas he who allows his imagination to suffer becomes brain-dead, he who allows his will to suffer becomes indifferent, he who allows his faith to suffer becomes inhibited, and he who allows his secrecy to suffer becomes ignorant. He who develops each of these in balance becomes powerful, he who neglects any one of these becomes nothing.

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Frabato The Magician

Book: Frabato The Magician by Franz Bardon

Though cast in the form of a novel, Frabato the Magician is in fact the spiritual autobiography of Franz Bardon, one of the 20th century's greatest Hermetic adepts.

Frabato was the author's stage name during his career as a performing magician, and it is Frabato who occupies center stage in the novel as well. Set in Dresdent, Germany, in the early 1930s, the story Chronicles Frabato's magical battles with the members of a powerful and dangerous black lodge, his escape from Germany during the final desperate days of the Weimar Republic, and the beginning of the spiritual mission which was to culminate in Franz Bardon's classic books on Hermetic magic.

More than an occult novel, Frabato the Magician is itself a work of magic which illuminates Bardon's other books as well as providing a revealing look into the dark occult forces which lay behind the rise of the Third Reich.

The four Bardon books can be considered unsurpassed classics. You will find more Information in one Bardon book than in a hundred other books on this subject. The reader will be pleasantly surprised that nothing is hidden behind the veil of incompetence or arrogance. Everything is out in the open and nothing is omitted. These books have enjoyed a world-wide acceptance since 1958, which we feel will continue to grow. We feel that everyone is entitled to this knowledge and not just a select few, since this was the intention of Divine Providence.

Evidence regarding the events related in this book will be reserved for people trained and developed in magic. Humankind will have to resign itself to the fact that a great deal of evidence Concerning the workings of our cosmos can only be furnished through spiritual means.

Buy Franz Bardon's book: Frabato The Magician

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Religion And Worship

Religion and Worship. “Almost from their beginnings, magic and religion have been intermingled. ” (Believing in Magic The Psychology of Superstition, Stuart A. Vyse, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford, 1997) The root of the word religion means relinking. And as the pagan religions are the only religions that I know of that insist that the interaction of the worshipper with their deity be direct and personal, and that the rhythms of our world are the signals and timing for most interaction, we may well be the only religion that has a primary accomplishment of relinking our people with our selves, our Gods, our world, and Nature Herself. Most of the standard definitions for religion specifically refer to the Christian God, or another monotheist deity. Our dictionaries and encyclopedias are so inherently Christian it is difficult to find a non-Christian definition of religion or worship. Raymond Buckland insists that the first call of a Witch is the worship of the Gods. But there is little definition of that process of worship that is not also the process of ritual magick - it is hard to discern wherein the difference lies. I have read through many of these books looking for a concise answer. That answer seems to lie in the interactive responsibility of the Witch to focus their awareness and responsibility for the consequences of their magick on the entire system which is comprised of the Gods, Our world, our community and all the other Children of the Gods. This comprehension of their role within the entire scheme is in line with my definition of a Witch, “One who knowledgeably undertakes through their vows to their Gods the obligation to further growth and harmony.” What that definition also implies, yet does not outright state, is that that obligation also includes personal growth and development. The Witch never promotes growth and success in the system without offering themselves the same opportunities. There may be rare circumstances where a Witch will spend so much of their energy for a particular outcome, that they compromise their own success and health - but offhand, I cannot imagine what would demand such a sacred gift - sacrifice. It is not healthy or reasonable to demand things of any teacher, healer, priest/ess which lessen that person's own path and powers. We are not victims or martyrs because we have decided to enrich our entire community, we are simply responsible members of our community. And much like the goose that laid the golden egg, if you overtax those who have the gift, you will loose all that it offers. You must always prioritize your health and well-being, for if you are lost or in failing health, then what do you have left to offer.

This is also a religion, that by its very nature, would never demand you harm another. That is not the point. “I am the Mother of all things, and My loved is poured out upon the world.” And She who is the mother of all things, never demands that you harm any of her Children. (Charge of the Goddess)

Is this a Goddess religion? Do we have male Gods? Yes. I think the primary reason that we are considered a Goddess religion, is that all other religions have male gods. Thus, in explaining our differences, people take the prominent diverse feature, the female divinity, and focus on it when explaining our beliefs. But the male aspect of our world is a partner and consort of the Goddess. Without the God, we would not have the balance and creative interaction that allows for the Wheel of Life. Do we value men in this religion? Absolutely. We could not be who we are without male and female aspects to balance and provide all the parts to our Sacred World. Why is there any question about the importance of the God? “The image of the Horned God in witchcraft is radically different from any other image of masculinity in our culture. He is difficult to understand, because He does not fit into any of the expected stereotypes, neither those of the “macho” male nor the reverse-images of those who deliberately seek effeminacy. He is gentle, tender, and comforting, but He is also the Hunter. He is the Dying god - but his death is always in the service of the life force. He is untamed sexuality - but sexuality as a deep, holy, connecting power. He is the power of feeling, and the image of what men could be if they were liberated from the constraints of patriarchal culture.” (The Spiral Dance A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, Starhawk, Harper & Row, San Francisco, CA, 1979.

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Frater Fp - Sigils In Theory And Practice

Early Magick

One tradition holds that witchcraft began more than 35 thousand years ago, when the last great sheets ice began their journey across Europe. Legend holds that small groups of hunters followed the free-running game and bison across the tundra. Armed only with the most simple weapons, these tribes depended on the extraordinary gifts of their shamans. These shamans could attune themselves to the herds, the animal mind, the spirit of the herd. As they became an integral and interactive part of the energy all life forms share, they were able to call those of these herds who were willing, to pits, cliffs or traps that allowed the clans or tribes to be fed. This was an ongoing cycle of life, in which both the herd animals and the humans understood and regarded as a sacred gift the life of the food animals.

Other traditions hold that “25 thousand years ago in Paleolithic Wo/Man depended upon hunting to survive. Only by success in the hunt could there be food to eat, skins for warmth and shelter, bones to fashion into tools and weapons…. Nature was overwhelming. Out of awe and respect for the gusting wind, the violent lightning, the rushing stream, Wo/Man ascribed to each a spirit; made each a deity … a God. It was at this time that magick became mixed in with these first faltering steps of religion.” (Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Raymond Buckland, p 2-3)

“Male shamans dressed in skins and horns in identification with the God and the herd; but female priestesses presided naked, embodying the fertility of the Goddess. Life and death were a continuous stream; the dead were buried as if sleeping in a womb, surrounded by their tools and ornaments, so that they might awaken to a new life.” (Spiral Dance, Starhawk p3). The power of Woman to bring forth life was one of the greatest mysteries, and women were revered. Through new life, came the survival of the clans, and provision for children and the elderly. When these were provided for, there was new strength and the wisdom of the elders which allowed all to thrive.

The first true example of what we consider sympathetic magick took place, when those early people put on the antlers and robe of their prey, invoked the power to draw that animal into the dance of life and death, and played out the hunt they sought to occur in future days. “The Penobscot Indians, for example, less than a hundred years ago, wore deer masks and horns when performing rituals for the same purpose.” .” (Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Raymond Buckland, p 2-3) The rituals and processes we use for magick today appear to be similar or the same as those used by our ancestors. Models found of life-size prey were found, complete with spear marks in the clay.

Human psychology is blessed with the gift of imagination, of visualization. And there is little practical difference between creative visualization and spellwork. The same steps, procedures, preparations, focus and energy are present in both. Only the name and the respect given the process differs.

The primary difference between these early magickal practices and later, more formal, religious practices has to do with who performs the acts related to the desired outcome. In the tribal system, the entire clan performed the dances, the sacred plays of the hunt. Sometimes there was a leader considered a specialist, a shaman. Many times, the entire group was part of the process.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - Magick Without Tears
Aristotle - Metaphysics
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Did We Invent The Gods

Yes. Or have they always been there? Yes. Are they reflections of us, or are we a mirror of them? Yes. Are our Gods external to us, or an internal representation of our own essence. Yes. Do we worship the Gods, or recognize that they are but a complex anthropomorphization we use to give meaning to our lives? Yes. All of the above. Every race of humankind views God/dess in their own image; racial features, social behaviors, etc.. And each race chooses how they will view the Gods. Those who must analyze their world into component parts will find more technical answers. Those who are content to enjoy the mysteries in our lives, simply use the magick inherent in the belief system. There is no conflict in saying that we worship the Gods, even though we are also scientifically based in our world. A rational individual can choose what they intend to do, even if that chosen behavior is irrational. So long as you know it, you acknowledge it and you accept the consequences, there is no conflict. The ability to explore your world rationally, only provides greater meaning to the method you implement in its exploration. There is always a structure, a paradigm through which we make decisions. And the pagan paradigm, which honors each individual as their own best authority, brings honor to all of us, and provides a base culture which works by recognizing everything and everyone's potential: everything and everyone's right to their own path and decisions.

d. Physiological changes based on magick use. Use of magick has other effects besides those not tangible or measurable by the average person. Training in magick has high demands on our mental and intellectual capacities. Earlier I mentioned that magick is weak unless your goal, ritual, and behavior all reinforce each other. That internal consistency is the product of a mind that has learned to examine itself and make rational, reasoned decisions on what its thoughts and behaviors will be. Recent scientific studies have shown that not only is this considered a plus for your in your social interactions, but it also has a physical effect on how your physical mind works. They did studies of individuals involved in Rational Emotive Therapy - a branch of psychology which teaches this internal decision making and consistency - and discovered that with time (three months, I think) the chemical makeup of the brain changed. There was more efficiency and different brain functions were enhance in information takeup. So magick is not only a great way to express your interaction with the divine, but it will literally change you.

e. Psychological changes based on magick use. The way you choose to view your world also has monumental effects on how successful and happy you will be within it. I worked for a very nice lady, named Rose. She had an odd tendency to go from an isolated negative incident to an assumption that everything was bad. If one person was five minutes late to work, she would dress us all down at staff meetings, cautioning everyone to be on time. Any isolated misbehavior became the model and assumption for future speeches. I tried to talk to her about it a couple time, but she just did not seem to understand, that it was only one person, one time. To her each incident was everyone, all the time. She - as I later discovered - was Catholic. The Catholic belief system is based on the idea that we are all horrible sinners, and without direct and frequent intervention and supervision, we would all tumble down that long hill to indulge in the very worst of our natures. With those beliefs as a starting place, it was a normal progression to believe that someone else was just about to demonstrate even worse behavior unless she was responsible enough to intercede now.

My view was very different. With a belief that each of us is a mirror of the Gods and much as they are a reflections of us, I believed the best of each person, unless it became necessary and obvious that their behavior was going to effect others. So, I might mention to the single offending individual that their behavior was not acceptable in this environment, but it would never occur to me to offend everyone else by assuming their behavior would also be negative.

How does this effect our daily lives? I like to illustrate it this way: if you were expecting your significant other to show up, and they not only don't show, but they don't call - ALL NIGHT! - you would very likely go past unhappy, concerned and worried, and proceed over to becoming really angry! If your view of the world is that we are all just bad behaviors waiting to get loose on the world, then it is not hard to see how you would easily assume that your significant other was rude, thoughtless and probably not worth your time.

Now, what if the next morning, you discovered that your SO's mother had a heart attack, your SO had to go to the hospital with her, and was the only family member available to give blood - since Mom had a rare blood type - so your SO had to stay overnight, and was tanked out on drugs to increase blood production and not coherent.

Now, what would your assumption be? Most of us would understand under those circumstances. Now let's look at the Pagan paradigm and review this incident. Same instigating factors, of course. No SO, no call. Now you are worried and concerned. But since you know that your SO is a responsible person, who would not deliberately inflict harm, and who values you as a person innately divine, there has to be something else going on. See, with an assumption that this person is innately divine and a reflection of the Gods, it takes more for you to assume that they are rude and scummy people. It would take actual proof.

So, from the wiccan paradigm, you are more likely to treat others, their decisions, and behaviors with respect. And you will incur that level of respect in their reactions to you. A definite Win-Win situation.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Sir William Stirling Maxwell - The Canon
Aleister Crowley - The Book Of Lies
Max Heindel - The Message Of The Stars
Phil Hine - Oven Ready Chaos
Ea Wallis Budge - Legends Of The Gods

Contemporary Magick

1. magick today is a far cry from that of times past - although it may be that its most crucial element - belief - is still the crux of any working. However, the magick which we discuss as part of the Wiccan, pagan training is believed to be a natural part of almost anyone's abilities. With training and some sensitivity to the feel of the energies, almost anyone can work and use magick in their ritual, ceremonial, and daily life. In addition, we understand so much more about our lives and environment than those early witches did. It is particularly powerful to weave your magical and religious symbols into your professional and personal environment. Thus, you are always aware of your goals and values as you go about your daily endeavors.
2. In a last note, I will discuss the word Witch. Today we use this to indicate anyone who uses such power within a context of responsibility to their community and the world as a whole. I have defined the role of a witch as, “One who knowledgeably takes on the obligation to further harmony and growth for our world, our selves and our community.” I believe this obligation will be fulfilled by all power at that Witch's command, including personal talents, skills, strength and psychic power. It is important that all these personal endeavors be in concert, so as to maximize the effect of the working. In the past definitions for the word Witch were much less complimentary. Any rudimentary research into witchcraft from conventional publications will quickly discover that even in the 1970s and 80s, a witch was always considered an evil-doer. Even books which seem unbiased, include these biases - as well as a bias against women. Anyone who worked energy for evil was considered a witch, and was obviously a female. Anyone who worked energy for good or personal reasons was considered a sorcerer and in almost all the books I read, a male. The exception was healers - who could be male or female, but were classified as white witches.


Books You Might Enjoy:

Melita Denning - Mysteria Magica Book V
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Dion Fortune - Ceremonial Magic Unveiled
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Associative Magick

Associative magick is very similar to the sympathetic magick. Poppets for success and health are one of the most common forms of associative magick. What happens to this, will happen to that. So, I create a poppet by sewing together two parts of a simple doll-like figure (looks a lot like a ginger bread man). I make the poppet of green for healing, I sew up the edges visualizing each stitch as cementing the spell's success and holding in all the energy we have for our friend in this doll for that person's healing. Then, I stuff it full of herbs that should help with the healing. Sometimes, we write on the doll all that we hope will come to pass - sports, freedom from pain, whatever seems appropriate. If it is more than one person, then the entire group can then charge the doll by focusing their energies into the poppet. After that, the poppet can be given to the person it was intended to assist. As you can see there are many forms of magic involved in even the simplest working. Other forms of association, I keep coins or cash on my altar, to encourage its development. One might put something spelled and gold in a new wallet to encourage wealth. You might put a picture of the house you have always wanted in a box with other items that represent success, to encourage success in that endeavor.

Creative Visualization - most spells are a complex form of creative visualization. This process works not only for those who are involved in the magickal world, but is a profound force in the day-to-day world of many within our culture. The trick here is to bring into focus not just that you want this to happen, but that is has happened and all is now accomplished. Again and again the human psychology has shown that we work best when we can visualize the process and the outcome. Our minds tend to fill in the blanks of what needs to be done when we have established a definite goal and outcome.

Shamanic - entering that other world, that space and bringing back knowledge of personal interaction and sharing it with social group. Shamanic magick is not typically performed by individuals new to the practice. Some magick associated with Shamanic practices, such as performing meditation or vision quest for totem or spirit guides, is common. Within the shamanic belief system, they focus on the attributes and lessons that each animal has to teach. Looking for a focus animal can show what studies or personal development would be appropriate with a spiritual path.

Elemental - calling on the basic powers associated with the elements and blending their gifts in with your needs to provide a solution. This magick can work in more than one way. You can simply work a meditation on the element itself, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit and explore the depths of what the meditation brings. Or, you can use an element as a focus through which you examine a particular situation in order to provide insight. Thus, you might look at your life through Earth, and examine it for evidence of grounding, sensual aspects, success and growth. If you looked at it through the lens of Water, you might examine your emotions, your development, transitions and transformative experiences. Etc. You may simply want to weave one or more of these elements into another spell or working. If you are working on a spell for a new job, then the Earth for abundance, the Fire for success, etc.

Colors - actually a form of elemental magick. This one is also woven tightly with the Creative Visualization within the process of acting in accordance with your stated goals. Again, using colors within your rituals and spells will assist in showing that inner symbolic mind consistent and meaningful messages related to your goal.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Jarl Fossum - Seth In The Magical Texts
Amber K - The Basics Of Magick
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Aristotle - Metaphysics
Aleister Crowley - Magick

The Four Directions Correspondences For Ritual And Magic

he Four Quarters in Circle Casting

It’s a common practice to call upon the energies of the four quarters in circle casting for ritual. Many of the modern aspects associated with each direction have been filtered through ceremonial magic. Other traditions borrow from native cultures and add a shamanic component with animal spirits as guardians of each quarter. The term Guardians of the Watchtowers is sometimes used to call the quarters and believed to be derived from the Enochian (Angelic) system of magic developed by John Dee in the 16th century.

orrespondence Systems

Various traditions and cultures have different correspondences for each direction that are to be used as a complete system. A person working with a group will undoubtedly be trained in that group’s style. But options aren’t limited for solitaries. Encyclopedic books of correspondences are helpful tools.

You can, however, develop your own system of correspondences that you relate strongly with as well as studying the systems of those who came before you. The purpose is to use these components in ritual to focus your mind on the working at hand.

What is presented here is a framework to build from based on systems that have worked for others over the centuries. Below are common correspondences related to each direction to help you connect with the energy you are calling on.
East - Direction of New Life

Season: Spring.

Element: Air.

Colors: Pastels, Yellow.

Tarot: Swords.

Other correspondences: Archangel Raphael, animals that herald in the spring such as the robin, waxing moon, creativity, inspiration, clarity of vision, youth. The eagle is a common totem for the east. Some traditions have the altar facing in this direction because it is the place of new beginnings and vision.

South - Direction of Passion

Season: Summer.

Element: Fire.

Colors: Reds and oranges.

Tarot: Wands.

Other correspondences: Archangel Michael, sun gods and love goddesses, fierce, fiery animals such as the lion, passion, sensuality, regeneration, the full moon, adults in their prime.
West - Direction of Intuition

Season: Autumn.

Element: Water.

Colors: Blues and purples.

Tarot: Cups.

Other correspondences: Archangel Gabriel, dark gods and goddesses, the otter or other watery creatures, dreams, intuition, emotions, the waning moon.

Pentacle in the North
Pentacle in the North
North - Direction of Mystery

Season: Winter.

Element: Earth.

Colors: Browns and black.

Tarot: Pentacles.

Other correspondences: Archangel Uriel, the bear, the ancestors and spirits, the dark moon, the divine mystery, stability, darkness, crones. Some traditions have their altar facing this direction because of its association with spirituality, and the occult.
Learn to Associate with Each Direction

Spend some meditation time with each direction getting to know what aspects are important to you in your area of the world. What plant life flourishes in the different seasons where you are? What animals seem more prevalent and what are their actions? What scents do you associate with each direction? For instance, I would place earthy musk scents in the north and flowery scents like lilac and lavender in the east.

You don't have to be in a rural environment to notice these things as the directions are based on spiritual concepts. Mythological creatures may come to your mind as guardians of each direction or to bring in energies you need to work with.

You may want to spend a period of time over days, weeks, or longer meditating on each direction before moving on to the next. However, in the process of casting a circle or in the middle of ritual, you very likely will be prompted by the spirit of the direction that needs your utmost attention.

Trust your intuition and write down or sketch everything that comes to you in these meditations even if it seems unimportant. This can prove invaluable to your personal practice and provide information in developing your own system of correspondences to use for years to come.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - The Initiated Interpretation Of Ceremonial Magic
Eliphas Levi - Transcendental Magic Part Ii The Ritual Of Transcendental Magic
Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic
Eliphas Levi - The Doctrine Of Transcendental Magic

Is Your Magic Wand Broke

I recently watched a movie called Willow. The main character was a little man that lived in a beautiful forest and dreamed of one day becoming a great sorcerer. Early in the movie a fairy gave Willow a wand to aid him on his journey. He made several attempts to use the wand but the results were never what he hoped for. At the end, when he needed it the most, Willow realized he no longer had the wand and he was forced to rely on his own inner strength and resources to save the day. magic is like that. Willow's initial attempts to use the wand were not very successful because although he believed in magic, he was expecting the wand to do all the work. If the magic in your life is not what it should be, don't blame it on your wand. Wands, candles, oils and other tools can help you focus your thoughts and set the mood for magical activities. But as Willow learned, it is ultimately the power that resides within you that will determine your success.

You were meant to live a magical life. Although it's not as simple as waving a wand and saying a few special words, the process is not as complicated or mysterious as many people believe. Think of magic as the bloodstream of the universe. It flows through all things. We all have the ability to direct its flow through our lives. Getting the results we want is primarily a matter of training our mind.

However, it's essential that both our thoughts AND feelings reflect what we want. For example, we may send forth words or thoughts that we would like better health or more money, but if the universe picks up that what we are actually feeling is ill or broke, then by the Law of Attraction, more illness or financial challenges may be drawn into our lives.

We need to understand the universe does not communicate with us through mere words. To work properly, our words need to inspire intense feelings within us that send a clear message. We must imagine in our thoughts what it would actually FEEL like to have the things we desire. When the images in our mind are clear enough to generate the feeling of vibrant health or what it's like to drive a new car or have extra money to spend, we will begin to draw more of these things into our lives. The Law of Attraction is really a very simple law, but conditioning our mind to generate the proper signals can be challenging. If you're not getting the results you want, take a closer look at ALL your thoughts and feelings and work on sending out only those that you want multiplied in your life.
Finally, in the movie mentioned above, the town sorcerer gave Willow some great advice. He said, "Forget all you know or think you know. All that you require is your intuition". Above all else, trust your feelings! When you feel good inside about something, that's an indication you're doing the right thing. Let your true feelings or intuition lead you in the direction that's best for you and all things will begin to work the way they were meant to!


Books You Might Enjoy:

Miyamoto Musashi - A Book Of Five Rings
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Marcus Cordey - Magical Theory And Tradition

Spring Flower Magic

As spring arrives, our gardens begin to bud and eventually bloom. For hundreds of years, the plants that we grow have been used in magic. Flowers in particular are often connected with a variety of magical uses. Now that spring is here, keep an eye out for some of these flowers around you, and consider the different magical applications they might have.

* Crocus: This flower is one of the first you'll see in the spring, and it's often associated with newly blooming love. The crocus is also known to enhance visions and bring about intuitive dreams.
* Daffodil: The bright petals of the daffodil are typically found in shades of white, yellow or even pale orange. This flower is associated with love and fertility -- place fresh ones in your home to bring about abundance. Wear this flower close to your heart to draw love and luck.
* Dandelion: The leaf of the dandelion is used for healing, purificaiton, and ritual cleansing. To bring positive change about, plant dandelions in the northwest corner of your property. The bright yellow flowers can be used in divination, or placed in a sachet to draw good energy your way.
* Echinacea: Also called purple coneflower, this garden mainstay adds a little bit of magical "oomph" to charmes and sachets. Use it for prosperity related workings. Burn the dried flowers in incense, and use on your altar during ritual as an offering to deities.
* Goldenseal: This sunny yellow flower is often found growing in the wild, alongside roads and in fields. Use it in money spells, or for business dealings. Work it into charms connected to matters of financial gain or legal issues.
* Hibiscus: This lusty flower incites passion -- use it to attract love or lust, or for prophetic dreams about your lover. Burn in incense, or carry in a sachet to bring love your way.
* Hyacinth: This flower was named for Hyakinthos, a Greek divine hero who was beloved by Apollo, so it's sometimes considered the patron herb of homosexual men. Hyacinth is also known to promote peaceful sleep, and guards against nightmares. Carry in an amulet to help heal a broken heart or to ease grief when a loved one dies.
* Lily: The Easter lily or Tiger lily is associated with all kinds of Spring connections -- fertility, rebirth, renewal and abundance.
* Narcissus: Named for another Greek figure, the Narcissus helps promote polarity and harmony. Its calming vibrations bring about tranquility and inner peace.
* Tulip: The tulip appears in many different colors and varieties, but is typically connected to prosperity. You can use the different colored variations in color magic -- use a dark strain such as Queen of the Night for full moon rituals, or bright red flowers for love magic.
* Violet: In Roman myth, the first violet sprung from the spilled blood of the god Attis, who killed himself for Cybele, the mother goddess. However, today the violet is associated with tranquility and peace. The leaf offers protection from evil, and can be sewn into a pillow or sachet for a new baby. Carry the petals with you to bring about luck and enhance nighttime magic.

Important: Remember that some plants can be toxic to pets. Before you plant or pick any of these, be sure to check to make sure it won't be harmful to your furry companions. A great resource to check is on the ASPCA website at Toxic & Non-Toxic Plants.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Nathaniel Harris - Liber Satangelica
Sepharial - Astrology And Marriage
Dion Fortune - Ceremonial Magic Unveiled
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Poppet Magic History

Ramses and the Poppets:

When most people think of a poppet, they automatically think of the Voodoo doll, thanks to this item's negative portrayal in movies and on television. However, the use of dolls in sympathetic magic goes back several millennia. Back in the days of ancient Egypt, the enemies of Ramses III (who were numerous, and included some of his harem women and at least one high-ranking official) used wax images of the Pharoah, to bring about his death.
Greek Kolossi:

It wasn't uncommon for the Greeks to use sympathetic magic in workings related to love or war. Christopher Faraone, Professor of Classical Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago, is one of the foremost authorities on Greek magic today, and says that Greek poppets called Kolossoi were sometimes used to restrain a ghost or even a dangerous deity, or to bind two lovers together. In Idyll 2, The witch (Pharmakeutria), written about 200 b.c.e., the tragedian Theocritus refers to melting and burning wax dolls. He relates the tale of Simaetha, rejected by Delphis, attempts to get her lover back with magic.
The Princess Who Played with Dolls:

Wax dolls certainly weren't limited to the ancient classical world. The one-time Princess of Wales, Caroline of Brunswick, was married to the man who later became King George IV, and evidently couldn't stand him. She spent many hours forming wax dolls of her husband and jabbing them with pins. Although there's no concrete evidence as to what this may have done to George, when Caroline ran off to Italy with her young lover, George didn't object. The royal couple remained married but lived separately until Caroline’s death in 1821, according to witchcraft and Evidence in Early Modern England by Malcolm Gaskill.
West African Fetish Magic:

West African slaves brought with them a doll called a fetish when they were forced to leave their homes and come to the American colonies. In this case, the doll is not so much representative of an individual, but is in fact possessed by spirits connected to the doll’s owner. A fetish contains significant power and is typically worn or carried by its owner as a talisman. During America's Colonial period, slave owners were allowed to kill any slave found with a fetish in his possession.
American Hoodoo and Folk Magic:

In American Hoodoo and folk magic, the use of poppets as a magical tool became popular following the Civil War. There is some dispute as to whether the dolls are used at all in Haiti, which is the home of Vodoun religion, and a few sources disagree on whether the use of poppets is truly a Vodoun practice or not. However, the Voodoo Museum of New Orleans does stock a variety of dolls in their gift shop.

Regardless of how you make your poppet -- out of cloth, a chunk of meat, or a glob of wax, remember that poppets have a long tradition behind them, and that tradition is influences by the magical practices of a wide range of cultures. Treat your poppets well, and they will do the same for you.


Books You Might Enjoy:

Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Naomi Janowitz - Magic In The Roman World
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Giuseppe Bezza - The Astrological Metaphors
Robert Ambelain - Martinism History And Doctrine