Keywords – Important underlying principles

Imagination -> Will -> Energy

Thought and Thought

Imagination -> Will -> Energy: Are three key aspects in Ritual working. Thought and Thought: Are two key aspects when working with other intelligences.

Imagination -> Will -> Energy

Take the banishing ritual of the pentagram for an example. Imagination: You visualise the pentagram.  This gives use a outline, a template, a point of focus.  Our mental creation. Will: We give this creation purpose, direction, intent.  Force.  The purpose of “Banishing”. Energy: Whether directing energy, vibrating, etc. Energy gives it form.  While penetrable on our physical plane, noticeable only by those sensitive enough, the energy gives it form on other planes. Two principles formed from these three actions are:  Force and Form. Visualisation is our Imagination.  The working with the intent of banishing is our Will.  And the vibration or raising and releasing of energy into the visualised image is our Energy.

Thought and Thought

In a simplified sense we have two layers of thought, thus the title “Thought and Thought”. Questions: What language do people who speak Spanish think in?  What language do people who speak English think in?  What language to bi-lingual people think in? Bi-lingual people can think in either language for the exact same thought.  This is the first Thought, the thought they can think in either language.  The second thought isn’t actually a thought, but is rather what we consider the thought: The expression in language.  Before we had language, how would we understand our thoughts?  Did we just not think, because we did not have language? The point of this is based on understanding why spirit communication can be confusing or not make sense.  The spirits know the first thought, the thought before we put it into words.  When they communicate, it is on the layer of the first thought, and we then interrupt that into something we can understand: Language, images, etc. Though this is definitely not the only form of communication.  Hearing a voice completely foreign to your own, or seeing an image or form before you are different.  This “Thought and Thought” is a way of understanding the mind for both communicating with spirits and other mental workings, for nested within this concept are some ideas around “Telepathy”. I was planning on writing on these further down the track, and expanding on them dramatically.  However, I have decided to share now (don’t know why I changed my mind, just felt the impulse to blog).  They are not “secret” but seem to be little known, forgotten or misunderstood aspects of Magick.  And in my opinion are very important principles to know.

Magick: The similarity between Wiccan Circle Casting and Golden Dawn Banishing Rituals.

Strange movements, drawing of imaginary shapes in the air, a monotonous drone of a strange language, imagined flowers popping open inside your body… all a lot like child’s play really.  However, there is a point to it all.

I just happened to meet a very interesting person when purchasing a book, an older gent who you would never take for practitioner of the occult, rather your “watch t.v, go fishing” sort of grandfather.  After a rather lengthy discussion, we kept in touch and (due to his initiation into the G.D) I asked about both the Lesser Banishing and Lesser Invoking Rituals of the Pentagram.  He summed up something I had been trying to explain for a while rather simply… (I will summerise, then show how this is an applicable example for Wicca)…

There is obviously something working behind all of this, otherwise people, such as myself, wouldn’t dedicate our lives to its (Magick’s) pursuit.  It seems rather childish to prance around drawing geometric figures in the air, and believing they are going to be a effective barrier against the hordes of hell (negative entities, energies, as your belief inclines. “Hordes of Hell” was his way, as with the prancing around, of emphasising the point).  The shapes are symbolic, the motions are symbolic, the Will… that is the barrier.  The Mind, that is the tool. He continued to explain, the flaming blue pentagrams act as targets for your vibration (When you vibrate the divine names and Angelic names during the Rituals) just like the visualise spheres are the concentration points in the middle pillar exercise.

To practically demonstrate this:
To Vibrate: Take a deep breath in, and with the entire breath out say the word in a monotonous sound (some say around natural “C”.  Wherever that is… I cant sing) inwardly, so it feels like your humming.  You should feel it vibrate.  A good single syllable is the Hindu “Om”.  And just space the “Oh” and “Mm” across the entire breath, without breaking the single sound.  When it comes to multiple syllables, each syllable is spread evenly across the entire breath.  Keeping with Hindi, you could try “Om namah Shivaya” which would divide the breath into six even parts.  (Om Nah Mah Shee Vah Yah – this is pronouncing each letter of the Sanskrit)
To Imagine a Target:  Visualise a white sphere in the nape of your neck (with visualisation I find it easiest to use memory, start by visualising a baseball there, then turn it into a pure white sphere, eventually the white sphere will became a memory available for memory recall), concentrate on it while vibrating your chosen word or sound (Middle Pillar would be “Yode-Heh-Vav-Heh El-Oh-Heem” though anything can be vibrated even “I Like Pie” and yield the result we want for this exercise).  You should feel that area vibrate.  Now imagine a larger ball in your chest, like a soccer or volley ball, glowing white, concentrate on it and vibrate your chosen word or words.  You should feel it vibrate in your chest.

Now, in the examples of Yoga and the Middle Pillar, the visualisation and the vibration is used to move energy (“all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration”).  The same way we focus on a singular point on ourselves is the same way we focus on a target outside of ourselves.  We are attempting to “trick” the brain into expanding our conciousness and send energy toward a target external of ourselves, through our “Sphere of Sensation” (aura, etc).

The goal of the LBRP is not only to raise the spiritual vibration or banish unwanted energies, but to help train the mind into directing energy outside of our physical bodies, expanding our awareness of our sphere of sensation as well as developing a “psychic awareness” slowly, along the way.

In Wicca, we have very similar methods, employing similar techniques (though less complex, yeilding the similar results).  Such as “Casting a Circle”, we are creating an imagined target and directing energy down our athame into it.  Whether your have used Divine energy like in my “Drawing down the Moon” https://wiccanwitchcraft.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/drawing-down-the-moon/ or use another form such as Emotional Energy in Konstantinos’ Noctural Witchcraft or Physical energy such as singing and dancing in Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft to name just one.  You still direct it into the target, being the imagined circle.

The result is “Expansion of the Conciousness” and “Directing of Energy”.  Forming a barrier with the “Will”, rather than what the outsider would just see as silly flailing of limbs and childish roleplay.  Though very different systems of Magick, one based on the Qabala and the other Witchcraft, the underlying goal is the same in the Lesser Banishing Ritual and the Casting of the Circle.  Through concious Will, we expand our awareness and we create a barrier.

Drawing Down the Moon

In my opinion there are two mains ways to bring an increase of “light” or “energy” into your body.  One is to bring it down from a higher source, external of the physical self and the other is to awaken it from within you and raise it up.  There is a third way, which I will briefly mention in this introduction and you can look up further later.

The First Method of bringing “down” is what we are going to be working with in this post.

The Second Method of raising up, is used in practices such as Yoga.  Where the lower chakra is awaked, the serpent uncoils and winds its way up the remaining six chakras to awaken them all.

The Third is a method from Konstantinos’ Nocturnal Witchcraft, where it uses it as a “Quick Energy Raising” technique.  It works quite well, however, without a banishing, in the words of another occultist “you appear as a flash of white light to the dark entities”.  This flash of white light is emotional energy which they are said to feed on.  A properly consecrated building will keep them out, as these sorts of things can be quite distracting when knocking stuff around or appearing as black shadows rushing about outside your circle.

Drawing Down the Moon

What is “Drawing Down the Moon”?

“If I command the moon, it will come down;” (Guiley, 1989, p. 107).  This quote about the Ancient Thessalian Witches[1] goes far to explain the following material, and is the basis of the exercise.

Drawing down the Moon is now commonly known in Gardnerian Tradition and Alexandrian Tradition Wicca covens as a group/coven exercise.  Gardnerian Tradition Wicca’s ritual of Drawing down the moon is as follows:

High Priestess stands in front of Altar, assumes Goddess position (arms crossed). Magus, kneeling in front of her, draws pentacle on her body with Phallus-headed Wand, invokes, “I Invoke and beseech Thee, O mighty Mother of all life and fertility. By seed and root, by stem and bud, by leaf and flower and fruit, by Life and Love, do I invoke Thee to descend into the body of thy servant and High Priestess [name].” The Moon having been drawn down, i.e., link established, Magus and other men give Fivefold Kiss:

(kissing feet) “Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways”;

(kissing knees) “Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar”;

(kissing womb) “Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be”;

(kissing breasts) “Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty and in strength”;

(kissing lips) “Blessed be thy lips, that shall speak the sacred names.”

Women all bow.

If there be an initiation, then at this time the Magus and the High Priestess in Goddess position (Arms Crossed) says the Charge while the Initiate stands outside the circle.  (Gardner, 1949, p. 5).

Alexandrian Tradition Wicca’s ritual of Drawing down the moon is similar, and is:

Drawing Down the Moon

Needs:

• Wand, Scourge, Priestess’ Athame
• Priest, Priestess

Follows:  Casting Circle, Witches’ Rune

Next:  The Charge

HPS stands in God position in N. before altar, holding scourge and athame.  Coveners are in S. facing altar.  HP kneels before HPS and salutes her with the Fivefold kiss (as he kisses her womb, she opens into blessing position).  HP again kneels before HPS who stands in Goddess positon (right foot slightly forward). HP invokes the Goddess, saying:

HP:

I invoke thee and call upon thee,

Mighty Mother of us all,               (touch right breast)

bringer of all fruitfulness;             (touch left breast)

by seed and root,                             (touch womb)

by stem and bud,                             (touch right breast)

by leaf and flower and fruit,

by life and love                                  (touch womb)

do I invoke                                          (raising wand)

thee to descend upon the body

of this thy servant and priestess.

Here, speak with her tongue,

touch with her hands,

kiss with her lips,

that thy servants may be fulfilled.

As he invokes, HP touches HPS gently with wand upon r. breast, l. breast, womb and upon the same three places again.  As he finishes the invocation, he spreads his arms in adoration (still kneeling) and says:

HP:

Hail, Aradia ! From the Amalthean Horn

Pour forth thy store of love; I lowly bend

Before thee, I adore thee to the end,

With loving sacrifice thy shrine adorn.

Thy foot is to my lip [kiss], my prayers upborne

Upon the rising incense smoke; then spend

Thine ancient love, O Mighty One, descend

To aid me, who without thee am forlorn.

HP stands and takes a step back. All adore in silence as HPS traces invoking Earth pentagram in air before them with athame, saying:

HPS:

Of the Mother, darksome and divine,

Mine the scourge, and mine the kiss,

The five-point star of love and bliss –

Here I charge you, in this sign.

This completes Drawing Down the Moon. HPS and HP now face the Coven and deliver the Charge.  (Sopia, Unknown, p. 56)

When you read these rituals it gives rise to the questions of “Sex magick” and eroticism in general.  And when you look at Ogden’s Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds you begin to see the quote “It is drawn down for the purpose of erotic attraction magic.” (p. 236) in relation to the modern Wiccan rituals.  But the symbolism in the ritual is what is important not the aspects which seem sexual.

These rituals in their complete forms are not the same as the exercise which will be covered in this post, but an important aspect still remains; the drawing into oneself, the Goddess in the form of the full moon.

Now, here comes the twist!  When I refer to “Drawing down the Moon”, the key word is “Drawing”.  Simon Craft in his book Maiden Moon: Advanced Wicca 101 says “Drawing Energy is literally tapping into a source of energy and pulling it to you. Anything that has energy can be drawn from.” (Craft, 2003, p. 118) From the perspective of the student of Wicca we are drawing energy from the Goddess in the form of the full moon.  The oddity here, is that we can Draw down the moon, without the presence of the Moon… make sense?  Maybe not, however, lets continue and it should all soon.

 

The Method

1. Outside, stand facing the moon.  The height in the sky is not important, just insure that if you look up you can still see it without moving from your position. (Do if there is a Full Moon, otherwise stand wherever you wish)
2. Standup straight, straight back, hands relaxed at your sides and feet about shoulder width apart (feet placement ensures stability during the exercise).
3. Close your eyes, with your back straight so your face is looking forward.
4. Breath slow and rhythmically.  Deep but comfortably, do not strain during inhales, exhales or holds.  Do this for a chosen number of times, however many it takes for you to feel relaxed.  Usually after meditating for a while, you can just think of the meditative state and in about 3 or 4, rhythmic breaths are you feeling quite relaxed.
5. Open your eyes and gaze at the moon, do these gently and few a few seconds, then close your eyes again.  (Do this if using the full moon for inspiration, if not replace it with a glowing bright white light)
6. With your eyes closed, visualise the moon as you saw her, but in a position above your head.
7. When this visualisation is strong, see her alone in the darken sky and see her light growing stronger.  When you have this visualisation construct and easily maintained…
8. Slowly raise your arms up toward her.  From your side, keeping your elbows straight, as you are making a big circle around you.
9. When your arms are in direct line with your shoulders, so you are forming a human cross or little letter “t”.  Slowly begin to tilt your head back as your raise your arms to a “V” position, which would be like having one hand at the 11 o’clock position and the other at the 1 o’clock position.
10. In the “V” position, turn your palms out, like you are about to catch a giant beach ball.
11. When your palms are turned out, visualise the light of the moon beginning to touch them, feel what ever sensations come.
12. Breath in, slowly and deeply, and as you do so, Feel the light being to enter your palms at the centre and slowly fill your hands to the wrist with this white light.
13. Breath out, slowly and relaxed.  See the light intensify, and observe and accept any sensations which you physical feel.
14. Turn your palms again, so your fingers are pointing toward each other.  As you breath in again, slowly and deeply, bring your hands down inline with your shoulders again, forming the little letter “t”, as you lower your arms also bring your head back to the looking forward, straight back, position.  As you lower your arms and are breathing in, see a shaft of light coming down from the source of light which filled your hands, it stays in level with your hands.  When it comes into contact with the crown of your head, feel it, see it.  As you lowers through your head see your entire head filled with light, as it lowers through you neck, see both your head and neck filled with light.  See the light slowly moving down with your arms, filling you, until your arms are in line with the shoulders.
15. See the light fill to your chest, them see and feel it rush through your arms to connect with your hands.
16. As you breath-out, see this light you have drawn glow brighter, feel its presence.  Reaffirm the visualisation.  And see the light filling like a bright ball at the crown of your head and in your chest where you sternum is.  Connecting the two is the shaft of light, but the light is throughout your body where you have drawn it to.  Just be aware they are connected by the light.
17. Breath in again, and as you breath in, lower your arms until they are at your sides.  Visualise the light moving down through your torso, reaching the base of your spine, filling your abdomen, waist, including your genitals, to the top of your legs.  Become aware that the ground below your is also black, like the sky that was around the moon.
18. Breath out and see all the previous visualisations.  See your body filled with light to the base of your spine, see the spheres of light on the crown of your head, at your heart and now begin to see one at the base of the spine, where the genitals are.
19. As you breath in again, visualise the light racing through your legs, rushing to connect to the black earth below.  As it does see it fill your legs with the same light.
20. Once this is done, focus solely on your body, and how it is filled with light, glowing bright.  Do a few rhythmic breaths seeing your body fill and glowing.  Now move on to whatever work you were going to do.

There is a bit of symbolism in this little ritual:

• The first is that of the Full Moon.Rather than seeing the Full Moon as purely Feminine, it is seen by some to be the Union of the God and Goddess.  The Suns light on the maximum possible of the Moons surface: the total unity of the God and Goddess.  So you are drawing in a balance of both powers.  We have used this as a preparation for a few exercises which require the construction of the body of light and with assuming the roles of Goddesses and Gods in rituals.  By seeing it as drawing both powers, we have a preparation the minds of the individuals that one can assume both a Goddess and God form regardless of Gender.  A male can be the Warrior Goddess Athena, just as a female can be the Egyptian God of the Underworld Anubis.
• The raising of the arms to a “V” position.  The V has three forms of symbolism in regards to the Goddess.  One is the “V” shape of the arms is a the Cup and the body is the stem.  The cup of which holds the element of Water, which is feminine and also attributed to the Moon.  The letter “V” also represents “Virgo the Virgin” which draws back to the previous symbolism of the Full Moon being a unity of the God and Goddess, the unity of a lovers embrace.  Going from the, what is referred to as the Maiden phase (waxing moon) of the Virgin, to the Mother phase (Full Moon).  The “V” finally represents the female reproductive organs.  If one were to create a downward pointing triangle with both their hands and place the thumbs on the “pubic line” (as I shall call it, and you can also do this if your male), this is the area where the female reproductive organs all fit when not pregnant.  Recoiling the thumbs we form the letter “V”.  The Earth is considered the Womb of our Great Mother.  The Earth is a feminine element and is also attributed to the Goddess.  The “V” in this sense symbolises our bringing of the light down to the Earth, through us.
• By turning your palms as if you were catching a beach ball, you are symbolising openness.  As if one were to embrace or hug another.  You are opening yourself to the Goddess and to the receiving of her gift.
• The symbolism of the Cross or little letter “t” is the symbol of humanity.  It is us, in a similar gesture to the previously mentioned… open and embracing.  It also symbolises in this ritual a direct connection with the divine.  On one side, if imagined is severity (cruelty) and the other mercy (weakness), balanced in between stands ourselves.  A direct path from Earth up to the divine is straight.  This represents our desire to be balanced, to not be cruel, but to not be weak, to be neither but rather both in their strengths and positive forms.  I guess, to not burn other religions at the stake for not following us, but at the same time not allowing others to oppress us, if that helps illustrate it.
• The spheres are significant as focal points.  Though in Yoga you will be familiar with seven, in this exercise we only use three.  The Crown is used as the entry point, our connection with this divine source.  Our heart centre is used as this is our connection with our arms, as well as the centre of the previously mentioned cross.  The base of the spine sphere is used as our connection to the legs, which is our direct connection to the Earth.  All three of these correspond to three of the seven chakras used in Yoga, so it is not too far of a “stretch” for those who practice it.
• The rushing of the light to meet the Earth.  Opposites attract, is one of the symbolic purposes.  The Earth being Dark, being a “earth” if we think in electrical terms.  Light and Dark are opposites so they attract, however in this sense both are forms of the Goddess.  The Moon controlling the tides: Water and the Earth, well, being the Earth.  “Like attracts Like” it is the Goddess unifying with herself.  The other symbolic use of this rushing to unite with the Earth is to remind us that this “light” is borrowed, we are filling our bodies while it rushes from the Goddess in one form to the Goddess in another, we have merely acted as a channel while taking our commission for making the connection.  Don’t worry about the literal sense of taking a “commission”, it is believed that all the energy returns to its source (part of the point of magick).

 

References:

• Guiley, R. (1989). The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft. New York, United State of America: Facts On File, Inc.
• Ogden, D. (2002). Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook. New York, United States of America: Oxford University Press.
• Gardner, G. (1949). The Gardnerian Book of Shadows. Unknown
• Sopia, S. (Unknown). THE PUBLIC DOMAIN VERSION OF The Alexandrian Book of Shadows. Unknown

 

 

[1] For more information on the Thessalian Witches in regards to “Drawing Down the Moon” (Ogden, 2002, p. 236). Refer to reference list.

Monday Magick: Attract or Strengthen Love by Cassandra Eason

The Candle and Mirror Ritual to Attract or Strengthen Love
by Cassandra Eason

From A Complete Guide to Magic and Ritual by Cassandra Eason (in italics)

The ritual should be carried out on the three nights before the full Moon.  Use a large oval mirror or the kind owned by all the best princesses in fairy stories.

• In a darkened room light a pink and green candle, the colour of Venus and of love.  One is for you and one for your projected partner.  Light the other person’s candle first.
• Take a red rose for the male in the partnership and a white rose for the female, and place one in front of each candle so that the candlelight reflects on it.
• Look between the candles into the mirror and call softly the name of your love if you know him or her or the unknown person who is waiting for you.  Say: ‘I call you [name], my love, to come to me of your own free will, that I may see your image in this mirror and before long in reality, so that we may move ever closer together.’
• As you speak, move the candles slightly closer together, then the roses.  As you do so, you may see in the mirror the image of the one you love.
• On the first night the image may be quite indistinct, perhaps no more than a shadow.  But smile and murmur your private words of greeting.  If you see nothing, wait until you have blown out the candle and you will see the other person in the after-image.  Speak the words of love before blowing out the candles.
• Blow out the candles, first the other person’s, then yours, sending the love to whoever is waiting, asking his or her light to return to you before the night is ended.
• Leave the candles, flowers and mirror in place.
• On the second night relight the candles, the other person’s first.  Repeat the ritual and words, bringing the candles and flowers even closer together.
• The image seen through the candle flame may be clearer now, and if you smile you may see the other person smiling too.
• Do not be surprised if you recognise the other person.  We may work with someone or see them every day, then suddenly see them through the eyes of love as though if were the most natural thing in the world.
• Say softly the words you wish to share, and you may hear as a whisper or sign words of love returning in your mind’s ear.
• Once again blow out the candles, first yours and then that of the loved one.  See the light in long thin rays bound off the mirror and go off into the darkness.
• You will see the person in the after-image, if not before.
• Once again leave the candles and flowers in place, but before you begin on the third night burn an oil or incense of love – jasmine, patchouli, neroil or lavender – and let the fragrance carry your thoughts as you sit in the darkness.
• This time, as you speak the words and light the candles, they will be touching, and if you place a tray beneath them their wax will mingle.
• Tie the roses together with red twine in nine knots, saying for each:

Knot one of love,
Knot two for joy,
Knot three for hope,
Knot four for passion,
Knot five for faithfulness,
Knot six for gentleness,
Knot seven for harmony,
Knot eight that we may grow old together,
Knot nine so be forever joined,
If it is the will of the other as it is mine.

• Only now look into the mirror over the candles, and see your face and that of the other person close in the two flames becoming one.
• Let the candles burn naturally, and in the mingled wax draw a heart with your joint initials entwined (or yours and a question mark inside if the lover is as yet unknown).
• When the candles have burned out and the wax is cool, cut out the heart with a black-handled knife and place the heart and the roses in a white silk scarf in a drawer.
• Do not actively seek your new relationship or put pressure on an existing one.  Let nature take its course.  Your loving rays have opened you to all kinds of happy possibilities, but as with those of any flower, the seeds of love must grow in their own time.
• Concentrate on making other aspects of your life happy, and love will come when the time is right.

 

My Commentary…

I chose this one because it reminded me a lot of a similar technique used in sigil magick.  Here I believe the attempt is the same, however, in Eason’s fashion is made do-able with little training. A good thing, but not if you like to know why you are doing things.  This is a simple Ritual which is in its most simplest way to describe it, a combination of Candle, Cord and Binding magick.

What I believe this is attempting to do, is create a psychic link with your target.  The method of gazing into the flame with a reflective surface backing is similar to scrying, however, unless you have developed the ability to “Scry” (which is in my opinion the ability to maintain your brain in an alpha state (alpha brainwaves) with your eyes open for long enough and consciously enough to discern the imagery which appears), which Eason does not elude to in this ritual the other thing is Visualisation.  There could be two reasons for her omitting which is meant to be use, and I am going to go with the positive one and that is, that she wants the user to attempt to scry, and in-turn practice toward developing clairvoyance before resorting to Visualisation.

Scrying would be the best method, however, there is a good use for Visualisation in this ritual as well.  To illustrate it, I am going to give an example of a section from an experiment I wrote which I eluded to regarding sigil magick.

This involved a few elements:

1. Psychometry (using an object associated with the person)
2. Meditation (Basic relaxation and rhythmic breathing)
3. Anchoring (A psychological term referring to cementing something in the mind)
4. Visualisation (of the sigil)
5. Scrying (in a sense)

Having obtained an object of the target, the next step was to get into my asana (posture used for meditation) and start rhythmically breathing.  Once an altered state was achieved (not as deep as alpha, but the first signs such as colours), I picked up the object and held it in my hands.  With my eyes closed, I looked at my eye lids, then steered through my eye lids like I was steering down into a deep dark well our out into the dark of space.  Keeping my mind fixed on the person I was attempting to connect to, I waiting until the impression of them came through the “scrying” and the “psychometry”.  Once an impression was felt (seen, or even just know its there) I visualised strong and bright (fast and hard) the sigil I had constructed to represent this person.  I waited for another impression, and then visualised the sigil over it again.  Repeating this three times (the mind works well in threes).  To test it, I got up from my asana and setup to work the ritual.  About an hour later I entered an altered state, and visualised the sigil, instantly I had an impression of the person I had anchored the sigil too.  I had anchored the sigil to the psychic link, the energy, etc of the person.

By the repeating of “Three times” with the visualisations of the person, just like the visualisation of the sigil I mentioned (to bring back the connection), you create that link (or hopefully do), and then you work your magick.

A few additional notes:

1. If you are working male and male, female and female, you will both have the same colour rose!  Well they don’t leave the “altar” once the ritual has started and are binded when finished, so it shouldn’t pose a problem.  However, you could simply initial the stem of each using her “your initials and ?” for unknown in the wax, for the stems if the person is unknown.
2. The necessity of a specific mirror.  Don’t go out and waste money on a new mirror for this ritual.  First of all, you are not guaranteed you are going to make the connection, unless of caused it is clairvoyance and clairaudience which is eluded to with “your mind’s ear”.  The efficiency of this work relies heavily on the link.  Also speaking from experience my first scrying mirror… I made from a $5 photo frame and a can of black spray paint.  I sprayed the wood backing which your photo back should sit against with three coats of black spray paint.  Waited for it to dry, and placed it back in.  And, it worked perfectly.  Just insure there are no imperfections in the glass and if there are issues with the wood backing, just spray paint the back of the glass (so when you scry, you are looking at the clear side).  The other issue, is if you are going to scry, placing the candles in front of the mirror creates artificial images.  False positives.  Placing them where no reflections would be seen would be better, however, this would require reconstructing a good deal of her ritual.
3. The weakening of your Will.  This is one of the issue that I have.  By saying something like “If it is the will of the other as it is mine.” takes the potency, takes your belief, all the effort you have worked and flattens it with the seed of doubt.  The idea that I like to embrace is that we all have free will, even if you look at hypnosis, if the mind finds a hypnotic suggestion which it finds foreign it can and often will reject it.  Firing the spell off, without that little flattening remark (unless of cause you believe you are so powerful that you can flatten and oppress the will of another with a little candle spell), will be just as effective in not affecting the free will of the target as it would be if it were mentioned.  If the person is sexually/physically repulsed by you, you may develop a sort of magnetism where in a form they are attracted to you, but it will not go against their will.  Though in saying that, the reason they are repulsed could be superficial reasons or past experiences in which they are making biased judgements.  The ritual could break through these blockages in their personality allowing them to see clearly what/who is before them.

There is so much I could do with this ritual to, in my opinion make it more potent and more direct on target, but I have a tendency to be controversial within groups as pushing the boundaries of their created “ethics”.  So I will just leave it here.

Book Review: Nocturnal Witchcraft

Title: Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magick After Dark
Author: Konstantinos
Publisher: Llewellyn World Wide
Date of Publicaton: 2002

Overview:

This is an excellent book on Witchcraft, covering a lot of advanced practices (without the watering down). It has a clear defined structure, and gives a sort of step by step method toward training, rather than an encycolopedia style book like a lot on the subject. However, a bit of previous knowledge may be necessary for some, for two reasons:

1. To employ some of the methods safely by filling in the blanks
2. If you do not wish to be a Nocturnal Witch, having the knowledge to mould and modify the work around your preference. For me personally, it gives an excellent alternative perspective from more mainstream Wicca, and a lot of the practices can be easily modified.

 

The Negatives:

Physical [Soft cover]: After moving and reducing my collection, I have repurchased the Fifteenth edition.  First impressions when it saw it, was “Wow, this looks cool, it shines!”. By the time I completed reading this book, the cover had lost most of the shine on the “l” and “a” of “Nocturnal” to my fingers, where I held the cover open.

Filling in the Blanks: Expanding on the overview regarding “To employ some of the methods safely by filling in the blanks”…
Lack of information on the purpose of the “Banishing” which is employed. A banishing is used prior to magickal works to remove unwanted “entities” or “influences” from the area. Commonly done after the circle casting, so that the circle acts as a barrier to stop them just coming back in after the banishing is complete. “A mere banishing by itself is not so effective as a banishing performed within a circle, because the circle will effectually prevent the banished forces from flowing back again”. (Fortune, Dion. Psychic Self-Defence, p. 180 [Purchase: Psychic Self-Defence). Konstantinos’ banishing was like a banishing coupled with a preliminary circle casting, which to me sounded great, two things in one.  The Banishing mentioned in this book is covered in on page 58. This will require, if using this book alone, a lot of visualisation practice and the practice of his “Quick energy raising”, as well as a bit of knowledge of what you are doing. This to me, would be a lot harder for the beginner to master than something which using vocal vibration and physical gesture (drawn pentagrams) performs the banishing, however it can be done. The knowledge of what you are doing is what I mentioned earlier “Removing unwanted entities or influences” so while you are constructing and expanding the orb, add to the visualisation (if you wish) it full of light, so the idea of “pushing” out every unwanted influence is done.

Invocation of the Quarters: Now I agree with Konstantinos that this should be employed, rather than the concept of other authors such as Raymond Buckland who advise to avoid this potent practice (Raymond Buckland is highly respected, and I hold nothing again him, however Invoking the Quarters and Assuming a God-form covered in “Nocturnal Witchcraft” is leaps and bounds beyond what is covered in his “Complete Book of Witchcraft”). However, I believe he is having you dive into the deep end prematurely. Sufficient practice should be done of banishings prior to invocation. It is much better to be efficient as sending something away, than it is to call something to you and not be able to efficiently send it away.

The Assumption of the God-form: This, though excellent is advanced and should not be placed in the beginning of the book. In my opinion one needs to have better than good Concentration, excellent visualisation skills as well as a developed and fortified Will. Practicing this to early in my opinion, can be harmful. Why?
Concentration: This is needed so you can maintain the visualisation of the God-form and not allow distractions to break it or stray thoughts negative or positive to enter the ritual. I recommended Meditation, though not Wiccan specific is however simple and effective. Keeping with Konstantinos, in his book “Summoning Spirits: The Art of Magical Evocation” he has a “Magical Training” section. Using Exercise set One and Two can greatly increase your concentration. I do recommend supplementing it with extra materials such as “Book 4 – Part I: Mysticism” by Aleister Crowley [FREE Download: Book 4 – Part I: Mysticism]and something on Yoga, proper Yoga, not the fitness craze, like James Hewitt’s “Yoga” (Teach Yourself Books) which covers Hatha and Raja (Raja covering the meditative aspects with Dharana which is concentration).
Visualisation: This needs to be strong, the visualisation of a full-scale God or Goddess within yourself, moving with you, etc is difficult, not only to create but also to maintain. I recommended practicing more basic visualisations first. Most Wiccans will have a copy of or know of a Wiccan with a copy of Scott Cunningham’s Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (though there are lots more books with excellent sections on visualisation, even sound dedicated to it like “Creative Visualisation” by Shakti Gawain. Cunningham’s book is more common, so I will use this) pages 82 to 84 cover a good section on “Visualisation”.
Development and Fortification of Will: This is argued about quite often regarding when it should be done. Two of the many arguments are: From one camp “It should be done before invocation of any form” and from another camp saying “It should only be done by the advanced student unless they ‘Will’ something undesirable”. I am on the fence with this, because if an error occurs and you are solitary, Will is a very important tool. However, if you develop your will, have negative thoughts, these can be “Willed” into existence the same way the positive ritualistic thoughts are “Willed” in a ritual. However, developing the Will is rather simple. Sitting in a meditation, avoiding itching, moving etc, for over 30 minutes is an exercise of the Will. Though at times painful and taking away from T.V time, you continue to push on and on, this is a development of your will. Setting yourself goals, avoid procrastination and pushing on with them regardless how much you want to stop, is the Will again. I have not found any Wiccan books which focus on the development of the Will directly as a separate subject (rather it is done through the practice of other training and exercises) so I will quote some non-wiccan sources for reference: Cicero, Chic & Sandra Tabatha. Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition. pg. 681. This book puts Development of the Will at the “Portal Grade” which is the grade before the Inner Order, in which one receives the title of Adept (an adept being an advanced student). Crowley, Aleister. Book 4 – Part II: Magick in Theory and Practice: LIBER III vel JVGORVM. pg. 399 (Free eVersion) pg. 427 (other version) [FREE download: Magick in Theory and Practice].  You will see in case of Crowley the punishments are sever, and without a doubt, beyond necessary. One simply needs to apply the concept of foot-noted in Crowley’s book “This practice must not be dodged; e.g. (1) by failing to cut at the first moment of discovery, and giving oneself (so to say) “I’ll make 10 cuts when I’ve made 10 slips,” or (2) by “I’ll make a slip in view of the immediate need: I don’t mind the pain of a cut.”” If you do not dodge the punishment or think it is worth the pain, your Will is not allowing negative ideas and defeatist attitudes to come through. Thought cutting yourself is excessive, and I DO NOT SUPPORT OR ENDORSE THIS! A measure needs to be taken, what I did is closer to the first reference from the Cicero’s book. I wore a rubber-band around my wrist, and every time I broke away from what I willed not to do, I would pull, release and flick my wrist with it. Sounds not that bad, it’s not… however, when you are trying not to think of something, and this act alone causes the thought to recur, 6 flicks on the wrist close together, leaves a red mark, usually containing a jump like dance and restrained swear words and physical assault upon your head for not shutting up.
Finally the Will is necessary to stop the God-form taking over or leading you astray. You need to stay focused and in control, because during this altered state, something other than the form could try to pursued you it is the God/dess you are working with and lead you to do or say something against what you are doing.

 

The Positives:

The Nocturnal Altar: Without a doubt this is my favourite setup of an altar. I have seen some overly clutter and complicated setups which hold no real symbolism and only a couple of the items are working tool. I have also seen some underdone altars. However, this setup is perfectly balanced without containing excess tools. Each item has a purpose. My favourite would have to be the “Nocturnal Portal” or black backed scrying mirror, used to represent Spirit (I am assuming by the invoking spirit pentagram being traced on it in the book). I use this (or similar) like this: Four Elemental items placed on their respective quarters of the altar though I will use permanent tools, unless somewhere where I can not access them then I use “East = Incense, West = Water, North = Salt and South = Candle” as mentioned in the book. The scrying mirror placed in the East behind the incense facing west (facing toward me), two candles one black and one white on either side of the mirror to the back. On the Northern outer side of the altar a wand, and to the Southern outer side of the altar an Sword (Dagger or athame). When working, the items are placed outside the four elemental representations, then when being used get placed in the empty space between them. Love this layout, and it can, as I have demonstrated in this example, be “altared” to match you personal preferences.

New Material: Though this is a positive, I believe it is a double-edged sword. Teaching techniques I have not read in any books on Wicca prior to his release, such as “Reading Minds” and custom-made spells and rituals. It is great and they are far from beginner material. Teaching you what he describes as “The Pull” which is a technique employed by a number of psychics, whether it is a literal pulling sensation, a warm feeling, a tingle, etc. The development and understanding of this “Pull” is a great asset. And obviously a “Darker” form of the craft, but not an evil form; rather a night embracing and working tradition, helps gain new perspectives on light and dark, and new ways to view the rituals of the Full and New moon and so on.

Emphasis on Scrying: Scrying is without a doubt an excellent skill to develop. Regardless what is it called from “Spirit Vision” to the scientific “Hypnogogic state” it is what is used for the communication with higher areas of ones consciousness or communication with beings of other dimensions, realms, etc. I believe continued practice of creating visualised pentagrams (shifting your eyes focus and bringing both side of the brain to activity) and gazing through them will lead toward full scrying ability, usually starting with what looks like “glitter” or shiny dust particles in the area (what some call the ether), to when in meditative states swirling colours, then shapes, and finally full images, and on.

 

My Experiences with this Book:

Getting back to “Invocation of the Quarters” I have a story regarding the application of this book:
I was already a practising Occultist when attempting to practice this book, so I to test its potency, I practiced it in a building I had no blessed or consecrated (which is like a permanent banishing, so that only invoked forces can enter). The circle cast using his banishing was penetrated by a positive entity when I applied it, and the elemental invocation (I did have Enochian (I wont say tablets because they weren’t the tablets) banners, from his book Summoning Spirits: The Art of Magickal Evocation). though the entity did not penetrate the circle, it began to move around the circle knocking down light objects. On both occasions, I performed the banishing, circle casting and invocation of the elements as listed in Konstantinos’ Nocturnal Witchcraft, but my goal was to experiment with this book, and I was not going to delve into a ritual until I knew its efficiency. I decided I would just meditate at the time, and practice scrying the Tattwas (I will cover this in a later blog). Facing South in a deep meditative state scrying Tejas (the Fire Tattwa), I heard a small object drop slightly to the right of the West Enochian banner. I thought to myself, “Just a breeze” though I didn’t physically feel one (yes, exiting the meditative state abruptly did send a bit of a shock through me). I quickly reentered the altered state and was about to begin scrying Tejas again, when behind me, slightly to the right of the Northern Enochian banner another small item dropped. I knew now this to be more than coincidence. Though unafraid, I knew I wasnt going to be able to complete my meditation with these constant interruptions. I performed the banishings and the closing of the circle etc, as said in Nocturnal Witchcraft, however I still felt a presence (that weird feeling when you think “Someones watching me”, I thought “Somethings here”). I decided that I should consecrate this building now, just incase it is negative. While moving around the building, I saw rushing away from me, a murky shadow about 4 feet tall, rushing from “South” to “West”. Whatever it was, was fleeing the consecration. After this, I decided to use this building again, to test the potency of my consecration and to try to recreate what occurred the first time, however this time scrying a different Tattwa (Apas, the Water tattwa of the West). I performed his banishing, cast the circle, invoked the quarters and sat facing West and began scrying the Tattwa. Soon I felt a presence, physically felt, I did not see, or hear, just felt as though a calm presence had placed its hand on my shoulder. Not seeing anything with my scrying or hearing anything, I decided to open my eyes thinking my partner was playing a joke on me. When I turned to look, still feeling as though the hand was there, no one was. I decided shortly after (I can’t remember why, it will be somewhere in one of my log books) to end the meditation. After performing the closing as mentioned in Konstantinos’ Nocturnal Witchcraft, I began to walk toward the exit of the building where I saw what looked like a pale blue glowing white figure (similar to the colour of a being I had seen previously in my teenage years, before my interest in the occult) move as though it had exited via the door and I saw it move past the window briefly. This shows in my opinion the efficiency of Konstantinos’ work, on two occasions, the only two times I attempted this exercise, I yielded results. Which in my opinion is why it should not be attempted as early as he has placed it in his book. Someone who is new, who picks up this book, invokes the quarters, but something similar to my first experience comes though, without proper banishing and circle construction it can enter the circle. Without a developed and fortified will, once in it can obsess the Witch (magician, practicing occultist, etc). Though I exited the circle while still believing it to be present, I did not have fear and proceeded with a consecration. As by this time, I had blessed a few homes with alleged similar activity.

 

Conclusion:

Excellent book, a must read and must have. Compliment it with a few other books including his “Summoning Spirits: The Art of Magical Evocation” and others on Wicca or Magick and you have yourself an excellent method of working Magick and practicing Wicca.