Raven talons shred you
Wolf claws shred you
I shred you.
Throw the cold ashes in the garbage. You can also run the whole mess through a paper shredder; that works, too. This spell also can be used to shred the plans that people are trying to (or have) put in place against you.
The power to converse is incredibly potent when you realize you are always in control, but you don’t have to exert control—meaning you are in control of yourself, and therefore it is unnecessary to inhibit another person, particularly if they are just blathering and acting like an idiot.
I have this discussion in this book for two reasons. First, many chants, charms, and spells are spoken. Understanding the power of your words is essential when using them. Secondly, you can change the pattern of any conversation with another person by your own behavior. You can boost your abilities in verbal discussion mode with magickal powders designed to enhance your words and protect you from the words of others. You can learn to immediately dismantle a negative energy pattern before it gets rolling. Later, in private, if the event was disturbing, you can do a complete spiritual cleansing, which will aid in dissolving the conversation’s chi and leave you free to move forward. Realizing the chi of conversation, you can now go back and systematically put a personal cleansing technique in action to eradicate each and every one of those nasty memories. Destroy the pattern.
How do you do that? With the realization that you are dismantling something that is actually “there” (even though you can’t see it, sort of like the air you breathe), you take back your personal power. You can write the event on a piece of paper and burn it. You can pour your thoughts of unhappiness in salt and then disburse the salt back to the earth, where the energy will be transformed from the negative to the positive. You can choose any type of release you like because now that you know the enemy, you can quickly dispatch it.
If you must go into an environment in which you realize that confrontation is necessary (such as a court case), carry a small natural sponge with you that you have previously enchanted to absorb all negative energy. When you get home, dump the sponge in salt water and do a complete spiritual cleansing on yourself. You can also carry a mix of salt and Mars magickal powder that has been commanded to destroy all incoming evil against you. When you are alone, dump the powder in the trash off your property and away from yourself. If you use either of these ideas, the sponge or the powder, be sure to end the process with a feeling of gratitude that “all will be well.”
Voices in the Water
When I was young I learned to whisper magick into running water. You simply stand as close as possible to the running water—a stream is best although a fountain can work in a pinch—and speak your intent. I would cup my hands around my mouth and then whisper my resolve into the water, leaning as close to the liquid as possible so that the moisture of my breath could mix with the movement of the water.
The trick (if you would call it that) is to merge your voice, intent, and breath with the energy of the water and let go of your inhibitions at the same time. This is why the discussion of release was so important in the beginning of this book. To let go of the ego, to merge with the element, brings not only success but a personal fulfillment of oneness with the universe. With voices in the water, the impregnated liquid then disperses your desire into the universe when the circumstances are right for the fruition of your desire, sort of like a time release capsule. You can also work with flame in the same way, though you must be careful not to be too close to the fire as to damage your lungs. Whether using water or fire, I employ powders and herbal blends as an offering to the universe and a seal to the whisper working.
Summary
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I loved writing it. It contains many of my personal ideas on energy, magick, and the use of mental and physical enchantments. Remember, there is more than one level in any magickal explanation. Always! Contemplation and experimentation are necessary to achieve your greatest success. Don’t forget to use the DNA of your physicality (a taglock such as a piece of your hair) as well as the DNA of your soul (your lineage) for more power in your workings, particularly for those that involve your own self-improvement mentally, physically, and emotionally. And those repetitive thoughts you have over a problem are a clue to the solution you need. Look for what “feels” right, and that is your answer. Finally, you can’t escape your own hatred; you must defeat it.
[contents]
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19. This quote about using planetary glyphs as a divinatory tool is from a November 1972 magazine article in Sybil Leek’s Astrology Magazine (page 16).
20. Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy, 535.
21. Four Thieves Vinegar, Evolution of a Medieval Medicine, July 28, 2016. http://secretofthieves.com/?p-412
22. From Scientific American Cyclopedia of Formulas (1910), page 878.
chapter six
Magickal Powders
and Herbal Blends
This chapter contains formulas that I have written, used, and sold in candle, sachet, or powder form for the last fifteen years. I have provided only the best of my many formulas—those that myself and my customers, friends, and coven members have relied upon with great success. These herbal blends and whisper charms are most effective if used in conjunction with the information you learned in the first three chapters of this book; however, you are free to use whatever structure you desire and what works best for you. Most of my formulas can be used for a variety of intentions; for example, my angel formula was designed for all workings in which you request the assistance of angelic energies.
Over time you will create your own recipes and whisper chants that will serve you well; those provided here are simply examples for you to try if you like. The formulas can be used in a variety of applications as you see fit. The spells that accompany the magickal recipes are merely guidelines. Feel free to add additional ingredients or matching fluid condensers. Remember, you need only 1–3 drops of the fluid condenser in your powders (depending upon how much powder you have made). If you wish to color the powder, you can use colored sugars, crushed colored chalk, or the color powders sold online for color runs.
There are a few herbs that I have purposefully not included in these formulas for different reasons, but you are free to use them in your own work. These include mullein (which is super fluffy); wolfsbane (highly poisonous and not recommended); mugwort (doesn’t grind well and is poisonous); nightshade (poisonous); rosehips (when you grind these, they become a high skin irritant, although they can be added to sachet bags without problem as long as they are whole). This is not to say I don’t use poisonous herbs, but I am extremely careful, and I keep all toxic herbs secured. Several herbs are considered harmful to some and not to others; these would include pennyroyal, angelica, calamus, and benzoin.
Please research all ingredients of any formula listed in this book in relation to your medical condition before use. A quick search on the internet of any herb will give you plenty of information on warnings and hazards of the plant. If you have children, grandchildren, or pets or are pregnant, my suggestion is to stick to the food-grade non-poisonous herbs, as the array of substitutions are amazing and just as good. Even then, there are those individuals who have allergies to food-grade plants (such as peanuts and almonds).
I will never forget when my father, who suffered from dementia, rose early one morning and tried to break into my locked magickal cabinet because he was convinced I had his favorite tea in there and believed I was keeping it from him. Of course this was absurd, but such confusion is a commonality of the dysfunction. My point is, you never know what dumb thing someone is going to do. Mark it and lock it. Always.
Please note:
Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling 1-800-222-1222 from anywhere in the United States.
When gri
nding any magickal powder, always wear a safety mask.
None of the formulas given in this section are to be ingested. They are for magickal purposes only.
Keep in mind that some herbs are a bit fussy to handle. Lavender tends to fluff; I use a heavy mortar and pestle and only grind until they are broken. For herbs from the garden such as marigold, calendula, and saffron petals, I use very sharp scissors to cut these petals into bits as they don’t grind well. Another tricky herb is boneset, which has a tough texture; you will probably have to use a screen to separate the powder from the stalks (depending on where you bought the herb or how it was harvested). Dried lemongrass can also be difficult to break down depending upon your equipment. Sometimes I use a large strainer positioned over a bowl, working the herb around in the strainer with the pestle. What can be powdered drops into the bowl, and the remainder is given back to nature with a silent prayer of honor.
Binders/Fixatives
Adding a fixative mixed with essential oils can boost the aromatic properties of an herbal blend and help bind the various energy patterns together to assist in the flow of the intent. These fixatives can be used alone, together, or in raw or powdered form, depending upon your choice of the finished product. For example, orris works well in powders, where oakmoss is better suited for herbal blends.
Angelica Root: Sun; element of fire. Poisonous when fresh, but the drying process is said to eliminate this poison. However, it too carries precautions for pregnant and nursing women as well as those suffering from diabetes.
Benzoin Gum Powder: Mercury; element of air. Has a vanilla-like aroma and reduces the evaporation of fragrance. The additive is used in a variety of soaps and cosmetics; however, there are cautions about skin contact for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Calamus root: Moon; element of water. Also should not be handled by pregnant or nursing mothers.
Frankincense: Sun; element of fire. Because it is a resin, frankincense is “gummy” in that it will clump after you have powdered it. Frankincense is considered a higher vibration tool; it binds to provide protection, which pushes out negativity, and it is a cleansing and clearing vehicle suitable for all manner of banishings.
Myrrh Gum: Moon; element of water.
Oakmoss: Saturn; element of earth. Oakmoss binds and sets—an excellent one for the stability of a spell or to “set” a weight upon something that should not rise. Saturn helps something to “hold its form.”
Orris Root: Venus; element of water. With its violet-like aroma, it is an attraction vehicle and works well to draw things, people, and energies toward you. I wouldn’t choose it for a banishing powder due to its planetary properties.
As a magickal powder can be mistakenly ingested if it is scattered on the floor or tossed in the air. You may choose to use these fixatives in raw form rather than powdered, particularly in potpourri, dream pillows, or sachets. Many fixatives have health warning indicators for different medical conditions. Even though this book does not contain any ingestible recipes, when in doubt on the safe handling and toxicity of any plant or root in relation to your medical safety, research is the key. Never rely on a magickal book for health information. Seek a qualified professional or medical material from an accredited source. I realize I have mentioned this more than once in this book; however, I want to make it sincerely clear that you should always be careful when handling herbs, roots, and plants.
These powders or herbs/roots can be used in combination; for example, you may wish to choose one from each element and bind them together dressed with gold flakes or a few drops of universal liquid fluid condenser for a super binding ingredient to be used in several spells or rituals. To bind an enemy, use all the above listed ingredients along with non-poisonous sumac. Stuff the ingredients into a poppet. Wrap the poppet in red thread. Place the poppet in a brown bag of the same ingredients dressed with a raw egg. Bury off your property.
Fillers
I don’t recommend using fillers in your raw herbal magickal powders unless they somehow correspond to your intent. Typically, fillers are only added so that the powder can be bulk sold; however, if you are going to draw a magickal sigil with the powder on the ground or on a powder plate, you may find adding a filler helps in the physical construction of the design. Typical fillers are arrowroot, buckwheat hulls, cornmeal, and rice powder.
Arrowroot: Jupiter; element of fire. Luck, purification, healing. Sometimes used as a substitution for graveyard dirt. Antidote for poisonous words or actions. The powder can mold if subjected to moisture. The powder can also gel, which makes it useful if you are trying to manifest something that just refuses to come into form; arrowroot can help the process or speed a spell. (Note that vervain can also add momentum to spellwork.)
Buckwheat Hulls: Venus; element of earth. Lightly crushed buckwheat hulls are used in sachets and poppets to help cut down on the expense of the herbs, particularly in larger sachet pillows and poppets. Ground to make a flour, it can be used in powders for both money and protection.
Cornmeal: Venus; element of earth. A sacred mother herb thought to vibrate well with the intent of protection, honoring deity, safe birthing, and good luck in general. Cornmeal is also used for healing of mental disorders (particularly Alzheimer’s) and for wisdom spells and protecting the heart when one has been wounded by the unkind thoughts and words of others.
Rice Powder: Sun; element of air. Rice is thought to guard against all misfortunes, which makes it an excellent additive for protective magickal work. Added to bladderwrack, you can magnetize a metal container during a storm, welcoming the energy of the storm into the bowl. The power from the storm is then used in a protective, defensive magickal application. Rice also vibrates well to the intent of fertility and money magick. Green rice (a formula that includes dried rice, green powder, and other additives depending on the practitioner) is used for drawing money. Poppets stuffed with dried rice are used in fertility spells.
Rough Ground vs. Smooth Ground Powders
Some practitioners prefer finely ground powders whereas others, like myself, like the rougher ground. Although smooth powders are less detectable in magickal practice, rough grounds are easier to clean up in enchantments done at home, are less likely to cause respiratory difficulties, and if you are using the powder as an additive in a conjuring bag or sachet packet, the consistency doesn’t really matter. For a pillow, I would use the raw/rough blend or a very rough ground mixture, as you don’t want the powder to sift through the material. The consistency doesn’t affect the magickal application other than you may have spent more time and energy to obtain a smoother powder, which can enhance the formula through the effort you expended.
Whole Leaves as Carriers
I have a selection of large dried leaves for winter use. In the fall and summer months I have a list of places where I can obtain fresh leaves that I use instead of white or red conjuring bags. Sometimes I write directly on the leaves with an indelible marker and use the leaves alone as an additive. With large leaves you can place the powder, a photograph, charm, or herb blend inside, and gently fold or roll the leaf (depending upon its fragility). You can use colored embroidery thread or even a bit of glue to hold the packet together. You can also use large-leaved vegetables from the grocery store such as lettuce, cabbage, leeks, etc.
The only rule that I’ve been taught is to never use a rotted plant, as disease or dysfunction has already become part of the plant. I realize that once any pattern is formed it begins to break down; however, if the rot is there, the chaos within the plant won’t serve you well and may rebound the work or send the enchantment in a direction where you honestly did not want it to go. When using fresh plants, 4–12 hours is the key; after that, remove the item, whether it be fruit, vegetable, herbal, or other, unless you are working with a particular drying process. It is thought that dying plants (mainly flowers) that have not been told that they will be used for magick or ritual will deaden the
chi of an area in dried form.
Use large plantain leaves for healing packets (Venus as in its function in Taurus/Earth). Large dandelion leaves (sacred to Hecate) are useful for strength, divination, and messages, and are also excellent for court cases due to their association with Jupiter. Lettuce leaves are great for protection and love drawing (moon/water). Large maple or sassafras leaves make great packets for money magicks (Jupiter/air). Corn leaves off of an ear of corn can be used for money, abundance, and prosperity packets (Venus/earth). Hollowed-out oranges and lemons are ideal for spiritual cleansings, where you take out as much of the fruit as possible and set aside. Fill the shell with spiritual cleansing herbs. This fragrant vehicle can be used as offerings, as an altar focus, or placed directly in a bowl of water that also contains the squeezed juices along with floating white candles to spiritually cleanse an area through the combination of water, earth, and fire.
Power Herbs
Power herbs are those plants that are thought to add speed or power to any particular spell. They aren’t used all the time, usually only when you feel the greatest need. Favorites are:
The Witching Hour Page 22