Century of Spells

by Draja Mickaharic

  I agree that ________

  All this do I swear with my right hand on God's holy word, calling upon God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy Spirit to bear witness to this and knowing that all of the angels of heaven will now aid me in keeping to my oath and contract, or they will punish me eternally should I break it. Amen.

  PRAYER TO SAINT HELEN FOR SIGHT IN THE CRYSTAL

  I found the following prayer in an old booklet dating back to the 1860's which describes the manner of making a crystal, consecrating and using it. The consecration involves it being blessed during the saying of a mass, so it would be difficult to suppose it could be done by anyone who was not a Roman Catholic priest. The booklet is attributed to (St.) Thomas the Ox of Christ, better known as the Dominican theologian St. Thomas Aquinas. It is unlikely, however, that he was the real author.

  The prayer given below is to be said over the crystal before looking into it. It is to be spoken aloud as would befit a prayer made for the person who is to look into the crystal for another. The text did not specify whether this was quartz crystal or lead crystal-you will probably want to use quartz.

  I pray thee, Holy Lady Helen, mother of King Constantine, who didst discover the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by that most sacred devotion and finding of the Holy Cross, and by that Most Holy Cross, and by the joy which thou hadst when thou didst find that Most Holy Cross, and by the love which thou hadst for thy son King Constantine, and by all the blessings which thou enjoyest perpetually, that thou should show me in this crystal whatever I seek and desire to know. Amen.

  ISLAMIC PRAYERS AGAINST EVIL

  Moslem religious practice has a rich and varied source of magical spells and charms in the form of the Surah's of the Koran. This book, revealed entirely through the agency of the prophet Mohammed, is the Holy Book and the foundation of Islam. The last two Surah's of the Koran were revealed especially for the protection of humankind against evil.

  The Koran, because of its peculiar nature in the tongue in which it was written, cannot be even approximately translated into another language. The last two Surahs are included here for the use for which they were originally intended.

  SURAH CXIII

  The Daybreak

  In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

  Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak

  From the evil of that which he created;

  From the evil of the darkness when it is intense,

  And from the evil of malignant witchcraft,

  And from the evil of the envier when he envieth.

  SURAHCXIV

  Mankind

  In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

  Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of Mankind, The King of Mankind,

  The God of Mankind,

  From the evil of the sneaking whisperer,

  Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind,

  Of the jinn and of mankind.8

  THE PRAYER OF THE SEVEN AFRICAN TOOLS

  This prayer is a combination of the Yoruba Nigerian pantheon in African magico-religious practice, and the Christian pantheon of Christ, the apostles and the saints. The two mythologies are blended in the traditional belief that Christ was a carpenter, and that the seven principal deities of the Yoruba pantheon use tools to do their work on the earth. It is a spoken spell, in that it works to effect changes in the life of the person who prays it with sincerity over a period of time.

  The seven deities of the Yoruba pantheon are:

  Chango (Sh-ang-go): The deity of fire, male virility, benevolence and wealth. He is similar to the Roman deity Jupiter.

  Orula (Oh-rule-ah): The deity of fate who sends humankind to earth with a life to live and a destiny to work out.

  Ogun (Oh-goon): The deity of iron, craftsmanship, surgery, manual skills and warfare. He is similar to the Roman deity Mars.

  Elegua (E-leg-wa): The deity of the crossroads and trickster of the Yoruba pantheon. He is similar to the Roman Mercury.

  Obatala (Oh-baa-ta-la): The deity of morality, spiritual growth, purity and kingship.

  Yemaya (Yem-ah-yah): The Mother Goddess of the Yoruba pantheon, she is the “owner of the sea,” and deity of salt water.

  Oschun (Oh-shoe-n): She is the deity of gracious living and entertainment. Similar to the Roman Venus.

  The seven tools mentioned in the following prayer are gathered together. Beginning on any convenient day, the prayer is made holding each of the tools in your hand in tum, and setting each tool down to pick up the next one at the next line of the prayer. At the end of the prayer of the tools, they are put away saying, “In the Narne of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, that they grant my wish for what I need most.”

  The prayer must be prayed with fervor and sincerity for seven consecutive days, to begin to effect changes in your life. At the end of the first week, conditions usually begin to change, and after the second week of continuous prayer, the most needful condition is in the process of being remedied.

  I pray that the Seven Powers come to my aid.

  Chango, you are the hammer, and I pray to you that I may have fulfillment in love.

  Orula, you are the saw, and I pray to you that all obstacles may be removed from my life.

  Ogun, you are the chisel, and I pray to you that you make my dreams come true.

  Elegua, you are the mallet, and I pray to you that you make me dominate over my enemies.

  Obatala, you are the wrench, and I pray to you that I have money for my needs.

  Yemaya, you are the pliers, and I pray to you that I gain power and success.

  Oschun, you are the hatchet, and I pray to you to protect me against all evil.

  I pray that the seven powers come to my aid in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and that they grant my wish for what I need most.

  1Yogananda. Scientific Healing Affirmations (Los Angeles: Self Realization Fellowship. 19811. p. 15.

  2John Hohman, Pow-Wows or the Long Lost Friend (Brooklyn, NY: Fulton Religious Supply Co., 1820), p. 17.

  3Pow-Wows or the Long Lost Friend. p. 53.

  4The Book of Secrets of Alburtus Magnus (NY: Oxford University Press. 1973).

  5Papus, What Is Occultism? (Albuquerque, NM: Sun Books, 1981), p. 69.

  6This spell was given to me as a gift from a Blue Ball, PA, Hexenmeister in 1980.

  7This spell was a gift from an Ephrata, PA, Hexenmeister, 1979.

  8This translation is from The Meaning of the Glorious Koran by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall (NY: New American Library. Mentor Books. 1978). p. 455.

  9

  Written Spells

  Spoken spells have a transitory force, affecting only the action to which they are directed. Written spells, on the other hand, are thought to last as long as the written spell is in existence. To maintain the long term effect of the written spell, many of the prayers of the Egyptians were written on coffins and placed in the Book of the Dead with the mummy.

  As written spells combine the effect of symbols, these spells are thought to be far more potent than any other kind. The Islamic Koran is, as the revealed word of God, a sort of written spell in itself. Anyone who has heard it read aloud in Arabic knows that it is also a spoken spell of great beauty, even to those who cannot understand the language. The Latin psalms have the same quality, but without the tonal beauty which is found in the Arabic language.

  Older written spells on parchment, some of which have been in existence for hundreds of years, are particularly revered. In many cases their real effect lies in the fact that so many people believe in them. Some older writings have taken on a “magical aura” solely due to their age.

  Because of their strangeness and the mystical power associated with strangeness, spells written in a foreign language or in a mystical or “magical” alphabet are also thought to have great power. This is one reason why spells written in Hebrew characters are supposed to be superior in quality. In the Middle Ages, a talisman was a man
who wore a tallis, the shirt or undershirt worn by orthodox Jews. As this was felt to be a source of power to them, the idea of “talisman” quickly transfered to a spell written to give power or protection. In the first thousand years of Christianity, Hebrew was the pre-eminent language for the writing of spells, and Jews, who were the most literate members of any European community, were the pre-eminent “magicians of choice.”

  This obviously lead to some silly situations. One old “authentic spell” in a European museum was removed from display when it was pointed out that the words of the spell said, “What is the meaning of this?” in Hebrew characters transliterating medieval French! It had been supposed to be a spell to call upon a demon to cure sick children.

  Written spells form another branch of the spell-caster's art. In the Hex practice of the Pennsylvania Dutch country, himmelbriefs, or “heavenly letters,” are designed to act to protect the one who carries them against ills and evils of all kinds. The older versions were written with painstaking care by the hexenmeister who copied them one letter at a time. The newer versions are usually mimeographed copies of a typed original which are sold for a dollar or two as curios.

  Just as a spoken spell requires a certain ability to use one's voice, a written spell requires a certain ability to concentrate upon what one is writing, and hold the image of the desired work for the spell throughout the entire operation. The spell should be written with a new pen, or at least a pen which is used only for writing spells. It must be written with absolute concentration on every letter of the spell. It should then be read aloud in the same manner when it is finished. If the spell is to be given to someone it should be enclosed in an envelope, but not sealed. Most of these spells are to be carried on the person when they are in use.

  The first spell in this section is an example of a symbol and a spoken spell or prayer. The other written spells are well-known gnostic spells or modern hex spells.

  STAR OF DAVID SPELL

  The Star of David, two interlaced equilateral triangles, has a great history as a magical amulet. Not only is it the symbol of the Jewish religion and the Hebrew people, it is also an occult symbol of continuing repute. It is not a symbol in the sense of the Ve-Ves of the Vodun religious-magico practice. It is a particular occult statement of fact which must be experienced to be understood. It is still used as a symbol of power by those who believe in it.

  The Star of David is used to grant wishes by inscribing it on a piece of paper. The symbol is held at arm's length and the individual's wish is spoken aloud three times. It is then felt that the wish will come true. See figure 2.

  Figure 2. The Star of David.

  Figure 3. The Sator Spell.

  SATOR SPELL

  The Sator Spell is one of the oldest written spells known to humans. It has been found wherever the Roman legions marched-from England to Egypt. At one time, in parts of medieval Germany it was required that every house have a plaque which had the Sator Spell written on it. The plaque was to be thrown into any house that was on fire to aid in putting out the fire I I guess you could call it an occult fire extinguisher.

  The spell has also been used as a love spell, and for any number of other purposes. Its origin is in doubt, and learned scholars debate its meaning. The only thing that we know for certain about it is that it is both old and well known.

  For use as a protection against fire in a house the spell is written on a piece of paper or parchment and placed at the highest point of the house, inside the house. See figure 3.

  ABRACADABRA SPELL

  This is one of the most widespread spells of all time. Supposedly taking its origins from the gnostic Christians of about 300 A.D., it is now thought to date from a much earlier time. It is written as a spell against fever, which is supposed to disappear just as the name Abracadabra disappears from the spell.

  Figure 4. The Abracadabra Spell.

  The charm is to be written out and hung around the neck of the person to be healed. Its longevity seems to testify to its ability to heal. See figure 4.

  BANISHING SPELL

  The spell shown in Figure 5 was written on parchment or paper to cause negative forces to leave the place where it was displayed. It was said to be so powerful that it would drive away the devil himself. It uses the name of a gnostic deity form, but like most spells of this type it is probably not the same as the original gnostic use of the charm.

  Figure 5. The Abraxas Spell.

  A SPELL FOR SAFETY FROM GYPSIES

  Apparently the author of Alburtus Magnus felt that the Gypsies were able to outsmart him easily. He included the following spell in his book of Egyptian Secrets, to be carried to protect people against “the arts and wiles of Gypsies.”

  Just the same as the prophet Jonah, the prototype of Christ, had been provided for during three days and three nights in the body of the whale, so may Almighty God protect me against all danger with his fatherly kindness.

  WATER SPELL

  This is a more advanced kind of written spell. A spell usually for protection or healing, is written on parchment paper with a water-soluble ink. The spell is then prayed over in the usual way and the ink is washed off the paper into water. The water is then used as the medium of the spell. The person for whom the spell is made can wash in the water, or the water may be used for washing floors, etc. In some cases, the water is sprinkled over an area where the person is to walk.

  Rice paper, which dissolves in water, may also be used to write the spell on. The written spell, as it dissolves into the water, can make quite an impression on the mind of the person who has never seen this happen before! This is particularly true if spirit seals also form a part of the spell.

  10

  Miscellaneous Spells

  There is no end to the number and kinds of spells you can learn to cast. This present work has been a guide to get you started. This chapter includes a miscellany that may interest you. The spells listed here fall into no real category, yet they have been used successfully for many years by the practitioners who taught them to me.

  SEVEN KNOB WISHING CANDLE SPELL

  This is a means of fulfilling a wish which you know is possible to bring to fulfillment. Wishes that are not possible are usually not worth going after. It is important to know what you want and go after it. If you have a clear idea of what you want, and if it is something that it is possible for you to have, you can usually get it.

  First purchase a seven knob wishing candle at an occult or curio store. This is a candle with seven distinct knobs on it, usually all of one color.

  Second, write out your wish, simply as possible, using as few words as possible. The candle should be rubbed with a bit of cooking oil to which you have added a drop of your favorite perfume.

  When the Moon is new, place the candle on the paper with the wish, light it, and let the first knob burn down while you concentrate on your desire. This is continued for seven days, burning one knob each day while concentrating on your desire, your wish.

  For the next seven days the burned-out candle is left on the paper on which the wish is written. At the end of the week, the wish is usually on the way to fulfillment and the candle remains and the paper may be discarded.

  FOUR THIEVES VINEGAR

  Four Thieves Vinegar is one of the tastiest salad dressings you'll ever experience. It also has a wide-ranging reputation for healing and practical magic. For healing, it is used as a preventative tonic against all sorts of diseases, although its reputation was gained as a preventative against the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages. It is also used as a wound dressing in the old style treatment of gangrene, being applied to the wound after the maggotts have eaten off the dead flesh. It is not recommended for healing anymore, as there are more conventional ways of treating these illnesses.

  To make the original Four Thieves Vinegar, peel a number of cloves of garlic. Place the garlic in a clean glass bottle. When the bottle is full of peeled garlic cloves, wine vinegar is poured over the garlic until the bottl
e is full. The bottle can then be capped and placed in the refrigerator, root cellar, or spring house for a week or so. The vinegar should be used a little at a time, with new wine vinegar being added as some is drawn out. It will last a year or so before a new batch needs to be made.

  Purists use a red Bordeaux wine, and wait for it to tum to vinegar before using it. With modem pasteurized wines this may take some time, so wine vinegar is a faster starting place. Apple cider vinegar is not the “real thing” but it works just as well in magic and better for some healing work.

  Four Thieves Vinegar Tonic

  This is a spring tonic which is also good for occasional use in the heat of the summer. It adds potassium to the system, and is supposed to clean the blood. It is definitely a home remedy curio—and is not included here as a serious medical recommendation.

  Take a tablespoon of Four Thieves Vinegar, place it in a small glass or cup. Add a teaspoon of honey and mix. Then add a tablespoon of hot water and drink it.

  Four Thieves Vinegar Spell

  This spell is used to keep a person from drinking. Mix one of his or her favorite drinks, and place some of it in a small bottle which has a secure cap. Add the same amount of Four Thieves Vinegar to the bottle while you pray that his or her drink will tum sour in the mouth, and sit uneasily on the stomach. Then cap the bottle and seal it with tape—cellophane tape will do fine.