Rue has been used as an incense to drive away evil spirits and negative influences. It also has been used to attract money to the place where it is burned. In all cases it acts to strengthen the willpower of the person using it, and thus assists us in gaining our desires, whatever they are.
Rue is occasionally used to sprinkle Christian Holy Water around a place, or on a person. In this use it has as much virtue as the person using it thinks it has.
ST.-JOHNS-WORT
St.-Johns-wort has the reputation of being one of the most protective herbs there is. It has been used to “banish or drive away all phantoms, shades, spirits, and works of the devil.” To use it for this remarkable purpose, simply hang the herb at the place where the negative forces are to be blocked. This could be at a window, a doorway, or even around the neck of a person.
St.-Johns-wort is named for John the Baptist, whose feast day occurred at the summer solstice in the old (Julian) calendar. It is from the power of this famous personage who not only baptized Christ, but founded his own religion (The Mandian, or River Brethren) that the power of the herb supposedly comes. As with most herbs however, it is the inherent virtue of the herb which has been adapted to suit the personages of the religious practice.
The Druids supposedly used St.-Johns-wort to remove astral influences from people before the time of Christ. The history of the herb in magic is certainly of greater date than the spell which attributes the herb to the Apostle John provided here. This prayer is to be recited as St.-Johns-wort is burned in the family fireplace, or used as an incense to fumigate the home.
Saint John the Apostle of Christ
Who was by Christ called the Beloved
Be with all in this house,
And through thy holy office,
Drive away all phantoms, shades and spirits,
Keep and protect us from the works of the devil,
That thy grace, and the mercy of Christ
Be with this house, and all in it,
So long as this house shall stand.
In the name of Christ Jesus,
Through the Glory of St. John
Amen.
This is an example of how a herb with a strong virtue in this case for protection—can be adapted to suit the beliefs of many cultures over time. The above prayer came from a Pennsylvania hex-practitioner. I asked if the herb was named after St. John the Baptist, and he said, “No, why would they name the herb after him, and not the Apostle?”
SAGE
Sage is an herb of wisdom. It is used to bring problems or difficulties to resolution, to destroy illusions. A tea made from a teaspoon of sage and a cup of boiling water is added to a tub bath for this purpose. When the tea is sprinkled throughout a house it will increase the mental clarity of the occupants of the house.
Sage may be added to a charm bag to increase the potential for thought about the matter at hand. In this case it allows the owner of the charm to think more clearly about the matter, and with less illusions about it.
Mint, sage and cinquefoil are often combined to make a chann which causes the person using it to seem wise and trustworthy to others. The herbs are blended in equal quantities, and sewn up in a small white “pillow” of cotton cloth. This pillow is then prayed over for the effect desired, using the name of the one who is to use the charm. The completed charm is then placed in a small red chann bag and given to the recipient.
Sage, as an incense, can go both ways with ease. It is better to avoid using sage in incenses, and if it is decided to use it, always pray over it first for the effect desired.
SAMPSON SNAKEROOT
Sampson snakeroot is another useful herb which is usually treated as a garden pest. It is used in charms and has the reputation of aiding the restoration of male virility. For this purpose, a piece of the root is prayed over and worn around the neck. It should be worn for seven days before it is removed.
It is also thought that if a person chews the root he or she will be liked by others. In this case, several small pieces of the root are taken and are chewed “all day,” one piece after another. By sunset the person is supposed to gain in popularity.
This herb has an antipathy to iron, so the pieces of root used should be broken off by twisting or biting, rather than cutting with a knife. Many herbs have various antipathies, such as “gather at the full moon,” or “gather at night,” and so on. It pays to experiment to see if these instructions are real, as many of them are not. The use of a knife on Sampson snakeroot debilitates its ability to accept the force of the prayer, which is a good reason to avoid cutting it.
SANDALWOOD
Sandalwood is the single most popular incense fragrance. It is so popular that it is sold throughout the world as an incense, primarily in the form of sticks. It is burned as an incense for all sorts of reasons.
In Oriental religious practice (the Chinese, Hindu, and Japanese religious pantheons) sandalwood is burned as an offering to deities. For this purpose it is prayed over and dedicated to the specific deity. Like any prayer to a deity, this should be done only if one has a connection with the deity.
Sandalwood incense is thought to be invigorating to the elemental spirits. These are the spirits of earth, air, fire, and water who act to manifest the physical world. Occasionally this connection is taken advantage of by making a prayer for something which is wanted in the life while burning the incense. If one has a strong natural connection with the elemental forces, as indicated, for example, by pointed ears like Dr. Spock, the prayer will probably work.
SOUTHERN JOHN THE CONQUEROR
Bethroot, better known as southern John the Conqueror, is an unusual looking root. It has a small solid body which is circled by tiny rootlets. It looks as if each of these rootlets was grasping, like a burr.
The root has been used as a money charm for many years. To make a most effective money charm from the root put it in a small bowl and pray over it, asking the root to bring in money. The bowl and root are placed in a dark place in the house, in a closet for example. Once a week, as long as the money supply is coming in, it is fed with a penny, by placing the penny in the bowl.
If you wish, you can pray over the root and put it in a charm bag. If it is carried on your person it will have the effect of opening up your personal money supply, but it is primarily a household money charm.
SOLOMON'S SEAL ROOT
Solomon's seal is well known as a magical plant. The root of the plant is ground and used as an incense in rituals. It is a good medium in rituals where you wish to summon a spirit to visible appearance. The fumes of the incense act as the body which the spirit forms itself around. Some fumes act better for this purpose than others—benzoin, for example, will provide a form for only the most elevated spirits, and is of little use to the average person. Solomon's seal root will provide a form for the vast majority of spirits, and will suit the spell-caster who works with a variety of spiritual intelligences.
Solomon's seal root provides an excellent wash for sacred areas—altars and so forth. The altars, walls, and floors of temples and ritual areas can be washed with a tea made by boiling a tablespoon of the root in a gallon of water for about twenty minutes. The solution is allowed to cool and is then strained through cheesecloth. The cleared liquid is added to the wash water, about a cup to a standard wash bucket. Preparing an area in this way will also assist in summoning to visible appearance.
TONKA BEAN
The tonka bean is a short blackish bean that vaguely looks like a small piece of a vanilla bean. It has a distinctive flavor and taste. In magical use, the bean has gathered a great reputation as a charm, being used both as a love charm, and to ward off the evil eye.
As a charm to attract love, it is simply carried in the pocket or worn in a charm bag. To ward off the evil eye it is placed on a necklace, or a number of beans may be strung on a necklace, and is worn around the neck. Bracelets may also be made from the tonka bean. They cast a protective vibration on the person who wears them.
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sp; VERVAIN
Vervain was known as the holy herb of the Druids, and was used for magic and medicine. It is most useful as a spray or a housecleaning herb, as it will remove heavy vibrations. It will bring peace and contentment, eliminating the more malicious thoughtforms.
The tea is made by steeping about a tablespoon of the herb in a cup of hot or boiling water. Once cool, the herb is strained out and the water is used as a spray, a sprinkle, or on a washcloth as a part of the housecleaning routine. This solution is also used to wash altars to remove heavy thoughtforms.
Burned as an incense, vervain will act to remove heavy and malicious thoughtforms. In the Middle Ages it was thought to drive out devils when it was burned in the fireplace. Vervain has so many herbal uses in magic that it is also known as the enchanter's herb.
The use of vervain as a sprinkle was known in ancient times. Both Pliny and Discordies wrote that “water in which vervain has been steeped, if it be sprinkled in a room will make the guests merrier.”
WORMWOOD
Wormwood has long had a connection with the spirit forces. Historically, it has been used for summoning the spirits of the dead since as early as the ancient Greeks. For this purpose it was burned on a fire of privet, the wood chosen for use in funeral pyres, as it was felt that a fire of privet opened the doors to the underworld. In Christian practice it is said that wormwood was cast out of the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. One might say that wormwood has a rather unsavory reputation.
To use wormwood to summon the spirits of the dead, it should be finely ground and burned on charcoal as an incense. Wormwood can be used either to summon a spirit into a medium, or to summon a spirit into visible appearance. It is not as effective as Solomon's seal root for spiritual forces or non-human entities, but it is excellent when working with the dead of the human community.
Wormwood can also be used in making love charms and for other work requiring a change in the astral condition. The use of wormwood in summoning spirits is its most important use in magic, however. In working with the dead, it finds a place filled by no other herb.
Those who would like to work with the dead may use the following incenses for summoning. There is a great deal more to working with the dead than having the proper incense at hand, but use of a good incense will certainly assist matters.
Summoning incense number one:
3 parts wormwood herb
1 part Solomon's seal herb
This incense is useful for summoning recalcitrant spirits those who are not in the best mood when they are summoned. It must not be used when attempting to summon higher spirits, but it is excellent for summoning the human dead.
Summoning incense number two:
3 parts wormwood herb
1 part vervain herb
This incense is useful for summoning people who died in a depressed state, or people who are not aware they are dead. It is useful for lightening up spirits who are sad, as well as calling them to you. It will generally call a more elevated type of spirit than the first incense, but its action is much the same.
YARROW
Yarrow is probably best known for its use in casting the I Ching. The small fresh leaves of yarrow which are plucked during the time immediately following the new moon in Taurus are also one of the most potent materials available for increasing love. Thus Yarrow forms the ideal love charm material.
Yarrow picked at any other time will promote the growth of love as well. A tea made with a tablespoon of yarrow over which a cup of boiling water has been poured may be used in a bath, floorwash, or as a sprinkle to increase the capacity for love in the place where it is used. In a bath it will assist one to locate a lover.
7
Spells of Obeah & Wanga
Obeah and Wanga are the names of two religiomagical practices of African origin that are found primarily in the British colonies of the New World. They have lost much of their African background, and most of its religious associations. What remains is the magical practice. The names of the former religious practices now simply mean a spell. Ju-ju is another word with a similar meaning.
The spell indicated by any of these words may be used for either good or evil purposes. Since good spells are seldom complained about, the phrase usually heard is on the order of, “He put it wanga on me!” Occasionally one is asked for a specific wanga, but usually money or love charms are desired, with the spell being left up to the person making it.
Spells of obeah and wanga usually involve a magical charm of one sort of another. The charm may be made from natural ingredients, such as herbs, or the charm may be a manufactured item, such as an amulet. Obeah and wanga spells are rarely spoken charms; they are, or result in, real physical things. A material object is involved in the work. If the spell is a curse, the discovery and subsequent destruction of the material object will void the curse.
At the present time in the United States, the most common of these charms are the charm bags worn or carried for some particular purpose. They are often worn around the neck of those who believe in them. For the most part these are protective spells or charms. They are intended to keep negative energy away from the wearer, or add some quality which is desired. Negative wangas are usually placed near the home or workplace of the person they are designed to affect.
A sampling of these wangas follows, although any of the spells in this book which result in a physical object will serve as a wanga. Wangas are infinite in variety, both in kind and in purpose. The first wanga preparation I witnessed resulted in a liquid, which was to be poured on the steps of someone's house. The liquid contained a number of ingredients, and it was not as simple as the spells in this book.
The charm bags which ordinarily contain the herbs and material used to make obeah and wanga are sewn from ordinary cloth, although purists prefer cotton flannel. A piece of cloth about three by five inches is cut and folded in half. It is then sewn on two sides, and the material put into the bag. The remaining side is then sewn shut. In occult stores it is possible to purchase bags which are made for this purpose. These bags have a string closure which allows them to be used by those who do not sew.
Those who practice ceremonial magic according to the Book of the Law transmitted to Aleister Crowley will find a reference there to obeah and wanga.1 These spells might be of interest on that account and are much simpler than most ceremonial magic.
NUTMEG SPELL
Nutmeg is often used as a charm. In addition to relating astrologically to Jupiter, it has the reputation of bringing money to the person who carries it. Nutmeg has been used as a charm because at one time having nutmeg in the house was a display of prosperity. Nutmeg strengthens the Jupiterian influence around you if you carry it.
A typical charm or wanga made from the nutmeg is called “the gambler's nutmeg.” The charm is so popular in certain areas of the country that at one time it had an unofficial “fair trade” price of $25.00 in New York City. The popularity of the charm attests to its effectiveness. It is carried by people who gamble, by businesspeople, and by those who simply are asking for assistance in their economic evolution.
The nutmeg charm is usually supplied in a chamois skin or red flannel charm bag. The person who supplies the charm will usually instruct the purchaser in the following rules for its use. First, your wanga should be carried on your person. At night it should be kept with your personal belongings in the bedroom. During the day it may either be carried in purse, pocket, or worn around the neck in a charm bag.
Second, the wanga should be discarded if it drops to the floor or is broken in any way. In this event, you should return to the person who prepared the charm to find out if a new wanga is needed. It frequently happens that the first charm is lost in this way, usually after a few days or a week. This is not really a loss, as the charm has filled its function. It is usually an indication that you should replace the charm, as the influences which blocked the accomplishment of the work of the charm have now been removed.
Third, the cha
rm should be treated with respect. It is a living thing, and if you own it, you are asking it to work for you—to do what you cannot. By respecting the charm, you are demonstrating that you will allow it to work for you. This means that you will not show it to others, or treat the charm in a negative manner, such as tossing it around or thinking badly of it. These are the basic rules of a wanga. Some people who prepare charms will add more rules as to how to treat them, and with some charms, this advice is vital.
To make your own “Gambler's Nutmeg,” take a whole nutmeg, and drill a small hole in the stem end, about half way into the nutmeg. Clean out the shavings and put a drop of mercury into the hole. Seal the hole closed with a few drops of red sealing wax. Anoint the circumference of the nutmeg with a dab of sandalwood oil, and pray over it for yourself or for the person you are making it for. Place the nutmeg in a new charm pouch and it is ready to use.
This is a fairly simple wanga, and you will have an opportunity to test yourself when you make it. If you have been having money problems, they should begin to clear up in a month or so. The number of people who use this charm should convince the most hardened skeptic of its benefit. It has a positive effect on most people, and is certainly worth trying.
LUCKY HAND SPELL
The Lucky Hand spell is another standard wanga. It is a specific type of charm bag, made to “give a hand” to the person using it. It has the effect of making your life a bit easier by bringing you good fortune and opportunity. This particular spell comes from the North Carolina Gulta practice.
Century of Spells Page 10