“THINK on THESE THINGS”
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

There’s a song that says “…..it ain’t necessarily so,” and it certainly isn’t! How often we accept someone’s casual remarks as fact. Even appearances can be misleading. But, knowing this, we still have a tendency to take a thread and build a yard cloth.

It makes all the differences in the world what we believe. To simply accept an opinion, even our own when hastily formed indicates a lack of sound thought.

We sometimes have the failing of believing everything we hear. But it is far wiser to know, with certainty, the facts about a teaching by looking at its followers.

The eyes and ears of our hearts and spirits are often more accurate in determining right from wrong than we can expect from normal hearing and seeing. However blessed we are to have our faculties, we are still in dire need of that sixth sense known as common sense.

Only the very foolish can close their eyes to truth and accept without question the many issues of life that face us daily. Surely we must form opinions and carry on, but we need those who have the ability to think clearly and truthfully. All else is merely opinion.

___________________________

Available online! ‘Cherokee Feast of Days’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler.

Visit her web site to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones……and also for those who don’t have access to the Internet: http://www.hifler.com
Click Here to Buy her books at Amazon.com

Elder’s Meditation of the Day
By White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their web site: http://www.whitebison.org

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – August 8

“The Creator told every one of us in our tribal beginnings to look after our ceremonies, and each other.”

–Barney Bush, SHAWNEE

Our ceremonies are important and each has a purpose. They teach us about the Creator and about each other. The ceremonies teach us to be humble and teach us to pray. They teach us to look inside ourselves. We should remember to pray each morning. Ask the Creator to guide our thinking. Think only good thoughts. Think good thoughts about our relatives and about our brothers and sisters. Pray for our children in ceremony. Give thanks to the Great Mystery for life. All life is sacred. Pray in a sacred way.

Oh Great Spirit, I come to You this morning in ceremony. I come to this sacred place to talk to You. I thank You for Your guidance and protection. Give me Your eyes today so I may see the beauty in all things.

August 8 – Daily Feast

Life is complicated, no doubt about it. We start something and it leads us into something else – and that into another thing, and we ask, “How did this happen?” On the other hand, we wouldn’t like it any better if we were confined to a treadmill that goes and goes but gets nowhere. It is life lived at a time when order as we once knew it, is nonexistent. It helps to go back to where we started and take each bend and turn and change things – even if we have to admit we were wrong and ask someone to forgive us. All is not lost, and it helps to admit we made moves that were wrong. And even against our most selfish nature – begin to make them right.

~ Do not wrong or hate your neighbor; for it is not he that you wrong: You wrong yourself. ~

SHAWNEE CHANT

‘A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II’ by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

A Stress-Free Home
Your Wellspring of Energy

by Madisyn Taylor

Your home will be infused with supportive energy if you take the time to create a stress-free home.

Sometimes our lives are so busy that we treat our homes as if they were impersonal places that we merely pass through. But we can make certain that our homes truly feel like our sanctuaries by taking the time to tend to them like gardens, which need care in order to offer us the beauty of their blooms. When we take the time to treat our homes like beloved treasures, we can shift their energy from being merely places to being wellsprings for the replenishment of our energy.

Consider that homes are the outer reflections of those who live within. If we feel that the current appearance clashes with how we’d like to see ourselves, it can keep us from fully allowing our light to shine. Updating our homes to reflect our inner landscape need not involve massive redecorating or a large outlay of money. Small things can make a big difference, like simply moving items so that we constantly gaze upon the things we love the most, liberating the treasures we’ve hidden in our closets, using our best dishes and making small repairs. Organizing and cleaning is a no-cost way to remove chaos from our homes and introduce more calm. Lovingly rejuvenating our personal space can become a creative project that increases the flow of good throughout all aspects of our lives and increases our feeling of connection. We can give old things new life by donating them to charity, opening space for newness to enter. Removing stress from our homes can be as simple as putting our bills into pretty boxes and choosing a specific time to deal with them, or removing clutter so that we and our energy can move freely throughout our space.

Simplifying our space lets our imagination and energy roam free. We can choose to prioritize our homes, making them the true heart of our family’s activities. Then we are free to focus on what really matters—time to ourselves, to share with loved ones, and to replenish our energy so that we have more to share with each other and with the world.

 

Source

The Daily OM

Thoughts on Conjuring Spirits

Author: Crick

When one incorporates Ceremonial magic into their practice they are in essence, engaging in the art of connecting with spirits. I personally believe that there is a misconception of such a practice in today’s society. There is the belief that such a pursuit is endorsed primarily by those who engage in Black Magic.

As an old school witch, I frequently engage denizens from the spirit world. I do this as a useful mode of understanding and enlightenment without the connotation of evil that has been embellished upon by Abrahamic religions and Hollywood studios. I personally don’t differentiate between White and Black magic.

Allow me to explain this viewpoint:

I see spirits, demons, divas and so forth as entities not of this material world. As such, I personally believe that they don’t fit into the moralistic views that humans strive to label them with. Such labels generally derive from man-made religions and are used to validate the precepts of such religions. I personally see religion as an anathema to the freedom of the mind and soul. And hence I see otherworldly entities as beings that have their own sense of awareness of being/reality that may or may not coincide with human concepts, much like a wild animal that has a different level of comprehension and awareness than a human.

This is not to say that humans will not incorporate such entities in an effort to arrive at results, which their fellow humans may view as evil or dark outcomes. But again, such results are based upon moral interpretations as they currently apply to society.

On the other side of the coin, if one accepts the premise that these beings are of their own level of awareness, then there is also the possibility that such beings/spirits will engage in activities that are detrimental to the practitioner/summoner of these beings. If I may use an analogy, it is like being in the shoes of a lion trainer; you prepare the best that you can and then take your chances.

As a further disclaimer of the moralistic aspects of summoning spirits, if one were to take a close look at ancient texts involving Ceremonial magic, one would see constant reminders and exhortations to meditate intensely on the undertaking at hand, and to make one’s desired goal known to the God that is utilized in such a process.

Adonai is the Hebrew name used in place of “YHWH” as a name for their concept of God and is the God that is frequently invoked during Ceremonial magic rites. There are four Grimoires I personally reference when seeking guidance on the preparation of summoning spirits (or demons or what have you) .

They are the Secretum secretorum (Secret of secrets) not to be confused with “Kitab al-asrar” (Book of Secrets) , which was written by Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi: The “Grimorium Verum“, or the “Most Approved Keys of Solomon” which was published by Alibeck the Egyptian in 1517 C.E, The “Grand Grimoire” and “The Constitution of Pope Honorius the Great.”

I use these references because I personally believe that preparation is of the utmost importance when connecting with otherworldly beings for whatever reason. I tend to substitute the Christian/Hebrew implications with my own insertions based upon my own interpretation of Deity, but I do follow the descriptions of talismans, symbols and such to the letter. The reason for this is that the summoning of spirits began centuries ago, long before my presence on this planet and such experience from learned folks is invaluable when engaging such a discipline. For instance, the Grimorium Verum contains 45 Talismans to be used in conjunction with the art of working with otherworldly beings. Within the Grimoires are tables, which contain certain periods of the day and night that are ruled by certain planets. These tables are invaluable when engaging otherworldly entities.

The “Key of Solomon the King“, states that the hours of Saturn, Mars and Venus are good for communion with spirits, the hour of the first named planet for invoking souls in Hell/Hades, and that of the second for those who have been slain in battle. Another example from the same Grimoire states that the best time to converse with spirits should be made in the day and hour of Mercury: that is the 1st or 8th, or the 15th or 22nd day.

In addition to these tables, there is information as to the proper method of purifying and consecrating, the type of tools to be used, how to properly cast a protective circle and many other topics which should be adhere to in detail. It cannot be stressed enough that such preparations are imperative in order to arrive at a desired goal when conjuring otherworldly beings. Short cuts can lead to deadly results for the practitioner.

In addition to the Grimoires previously mentioned, there are of course other Grimoires of equal importance. The practitioner must choose that which works in favor of the individual. For instance, if you follow the path of Vodou, then you are probably familiar with “Le Veritable Dragon Rouge” (“The True Red Dragon”) , which was discovered in the tomb of Solomon in 1750 C.E.

Another example is the Munich Manual of Demonic Magic that was written in the 15th. Century. Other examples are The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage also written in the 15th century, the 6th and 7th Books of Moses, published in 1849 C.E. The Heptameron (Seven Days) of Peter de Abano (1496 C.E) . The Libri Tres de Occulta Philosophia (Three Books of Occult Philosophy) by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa which was written 1531 C.E. and so forth.

In closing, no matter what source material you use to summon spirits, do not undertake such an endeavor as a matter of curiosity or approach such a discipline in a cavalier manner. There are no second chances and short cuts and/or mistakes carry a heavy penalty for you the practitioner…

The Nature of Black and White Magick

Author: Gentle Deer Lion Tamer

Let me begin with the premise that all magickal operation is identical. The energy used in “Black Magic” is the exact same energy used in “White Magic”. It is not the kind of energy or the source of the energy used that separates one form of magick from another, but rather, it is the intent (the specified outcome) of the magick as programmed by the practitioner that determines the black or white aspect of the magick.

These five steps include; desire, intent, alignment, ritual and expectation. Intent is the steering wheel of the magickal operation. It is the aspect of the magickal operation that actually “programs” or dictates how the expected outcome of the magick will come into manifestation, exactly what the magick is to do, the manner in which it will be accomplished (if required), and what is to transpire at the completion of the magick (how the energy used in the magick will be dissipated at the conclusion of the work).

So, lets look at the difference between “Black” and “White” magick.

In this world, my disincarnate mentors told me, there are Two Great Laws of Interaction. These Two Great Laws constitute the basis by which we can easily discern “Black Magic” from “White Magick”, and the corresponding creation of “karma” (the eternal negative consequences of our mortal behavior) when eternal laws are broken. The Two Great Laws state:

1. You shall not deliberately, maliciously, with forethought and intent, injure another on any level or plane of mortal association – mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This law also includes murder.

2. You shall not deliberately, maliciously, with forethought and intent, deprive another of their “free agency” (the right and ability to make decisions relating to the path and destiny of one’s life).

Although you may at times do things, which inadvertently violate one of these laws, the lack of deliberation, malice, and intent negates the karmic aspect. In the case of inadvertent violations, this is called “experience”. We are all here to experience life and its associated trials and difficulties, most of which we either bring upon someone or ourselves creates for us. That’s just part of life, and necessary to our growth and evolution.

Only when the specified conditions of deliberate, malicious intent with forethought stated in the Two Great Laws is violated have we crossed the line, and eternal consequences and retribution are mandated.

There are, of course, always natural consequences to the decisions that we make. That again is part of our mortal learning process, but natural consequences do not have eternal ramifications. Natural consequences are contained within this mortal experience and are here to teach us the lessons inherent in mortality.

When we pass beyond the bounds of this lifetime, we take the knowledge and wisdom of our experiences with us, and hopefully, leave the highly charged emotional aspects of the experience behind. It is, however, this highly charged emotional aspect of the experience that imprints the experience within our memory and makes it a lasting part of our life.

Using the Two Great Laws as our guide, can we say that “White Magic” is any magickal operation that does not violate either of the Two Great Laws and that “Black Magic” is any magickal operation that does violate either of the Two Great Laws? Simply put, yes. However, let’s look at this further.

In Central and South America, there are three broad categories of sorcerers. These three broad categories broken down into their individual components may make our study much easier. The first category is called “curandera” or “curandero”, depending on the gender, and means “curer” (healer). This is an individual trained in healing and other magickal operations frequently referred to as “white magick”.

The second category is that of “bruja” or “brujo”. This is someone known to practice the “black arts”, or what is perceived as the negative use of magick. This sorcerer is usually widely known and feared. He/she specializes in death, disease and misfortune. In some areas of the world, and within certain cultures, this practice can be very widespread.

The final category is that of “shaman”. A shaman is essentially a bridge between the “currandera” and the “bruja”. The shaman is equally versed in the white and black arts, and understands that the basis of all magickal operation is identical. It is the practitioner that determines the course and outcome of his/her work.

The shaman knows that greatest source of available power for magickal operation resides in the dark side of human nature. Like the “bruja”, the shaman has walked the deep, dark depths of his/her soul and has confronted his/her own demons. His/her reality has been systematically destroyed and rebuilt upon an entirely different foundation.

The shaman knows that balance is the key to power and magick, and that balance requires that the shaman be able to walk equally as far into the darkness as into the light. The shaman, unlike the curandera or the bruja, is willing to cross the line between black and white, at will, without reservation or hesitation to keep the balance. Like the “Heyoka” of Oglala (what most non-Native Americans refer to as the Sioux Indians) tradition, the shaman is the sliding balance of power on the scale of Light and Dark.

CASE STUDY

Many years ago I had a friend who had a “VooDoo” doll brought to her to be destroyed. The doll was found in a drawer buried under a pile of towels in the beauty parlor of a young woman recently and suddenly deceased. The relatives, unaware of the nature of the doll, thought it was strangely unique and grotesquely fascinating, and took it home, where it found its new home on the nightstand next to the master bed.

As the story was related to me, over the next several months, the husband suffered a heart attack, the family was involved in multiple automobile accidents, and the general atmosphere of the home and the owners’ lives had taken a very dark and dismal turn. The couple finally traced the origin of their disasters back to about the time the doll was brought home. The doll was then passed to another relative with equally dismal results. And so it went until it was finally brought to my friend to be disempowered and destroyed.

This may be a classic case of “black magick”, in that it may constitute the misuse of negative magickal power, or there may be circumstances in the lives of the victims and the perpetrator of which we are unaware. Either way, it will serve as an excellent case study for our purposes. Two things are very apparent about the creator of this doll.

The first is that whoever created and empowered this doll was ready, willing and able to do so with deadly precision. The second is that the Creator of this doll either intended to hurt as many people as possible, perhaps as an act of terrorism, or this was very sloppy workmanship in the doll’s programming, because at the conclusion of its mission, presumably to kill the beauty salon owner, the doll was not programmed to realize its work was accomplished and dissipate the energy. It continued to exercise its program on anyone who unwittingly came into its presence.

No Master Sorcerer would leave such a blatant error. This was either a deliberate act of uncontained terrorism or the work of a proficient but sloppy sorcerer.

Magick is an art. Like the great masters of any field, every Master Sorcerer has an identifiable signature on his work. Meticulous workmanship is the hallmark of a Master, and his signature commands respect. One does not have to be a Master Sorcerer to practice magick, however, anyone who does must be prepared for the consequences of their creations.

So, is every use of magick to produce death, disease, or misfortune an act of “Black Magick”? Absolutely not! In our society, is every homicide a murder? Absolutely not!

One of the prime functions of the negative use of magick in primitive settings was the use of death, disease and misfortune directed against hostile neighbors and invaders as an accepted means of self-defense. Does the use of negative magick for self-defense purposes appear to violate the Two Great Laws? Yes, there is malice, forethought and intent to kill, injure or otherwise incapacitate another.

Malice is defined as the desire to harm another. Forethought is defined as “deliberate, with planning before hand”. And intent is defined as the aim or the goal of one’s actions. However, this is where the difference lies.

When someone comes against us, as the aggressor, with intent to harm, kill, or take away our free agency, they have broken the Law and we have every right to use any means at or disposal, including magick, to defend ourselves and all that is within the bounds of our stewardship, as long as we are not the aggressors.

Therefore, we can now see that the use of lethal magick does not necessarily constitute “black magic”.

By process of elimination, we can now define “black magic” as the unprovoked, aggressive use of negative magick. Negative magick can be defined as any act of magick that violates one or both of the Two Great Laws, the result of which will incur karmic debt. I believe this to be the best definition of “black magick” that I am aware of, taking into consideration all the possible complexities and ramifications.

So why would anyone want to practice black magick?

As a universal aspect of human nature, greed and power seem to rule the list of mortal weaknesses. The strong dominate the weak, bringing them into physical or psychological bondage, forcing their allegiance and cooperation to whatever end is desired.

To accomplish this, there does not seem to be any greater instrument of bondage than the fear generated from the use or apparent use of the supernatural, and thus, magick.

One of the most powerful lessons I learned in my studies with Medicine people among Native Americans is that it does not matter what reality may truly be. If the people believe it is real or they can be convinced that it is real, it is real. Again, our individual illusion of reality prevails.

So, to the medicine people, sorcerers, shamans and witches of the world, illusion is everything. This is not to negate what they truly are capable of.

Many of you will remember the highly successful psychic surgeon in the Philippines, who, when subjected to Western scrutiny, was found to be using chicken fat and raw meat in place of human malignant tumors. But to his patients, convinced of his skill and supernatural ability, this surgeon had a successful recovery rate second to none. Why? Because he successfully altered his patients’ illusion of reality about their medical condition so completely that the fabric of reality was altered in conformity to the patients’ belief.

Let me repeat that one more time; HE SUCCESSFULLY ALTERED HIS PATIENTS’ ILLUSION OF REALITY ABOUT THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION SO COMPLETELY THAT THE FABRIC OF REALITY WAS ALTERED IN CONFORMITY TO THE PATIENTS’ BELIEF.

Believe it or not, there it is. Your illusion of reality is your reality, and your illusion of reality, when coupled with consistent belief and strong emotion, can alter the fabric of reality. How did we originally define magick? The ability of a mortal human to alter the fabric of reality in conformity with and in proportion to will and intent. I had a great deal to learn while working with Chief Two Trees in North Carolina, when I failed to truly grasp the power of a person’s belief system to change reality. Fortunately for me, I stayed on came away wiser than most.

THOUGHT FORMS, POPPETS AND BRAINWASHING

Now that we have finally defined “black magic”, how does it work?

Method Number One: Some forms of black magic are nothing more than an effective form of brainwashing. For instance, I, being the powerful sorcerer, instill within your illusion of reality that, should you ever disobey my rules, you will immediately be struck blind. If I, like the psychic surgeon, can create such a total belief, and you knowing break one of my rules, the mental and psychological stress of that knowledge can and will produce the desired effect.

However, it is your reaction to my suggestion that caused the blindness, not any direct action on my part. This is the power of the voodoo death curse – whether someone has actually had the death chant sung on him or her, or whether a person just believes it is so, the end result is usually the same.

Method Number Two: This method actually requires the sorcerer to perform magick and is usually used in situations where insufficient time or contact prevents brainwashing. This method requires the creation of a manifest thought form. In other words, the sorcerer stirs himself/herself into a frenzy of anger and hatred, and then focuses that power into the creation of an etheric being of the same nature.

Once the manifest thought form takes shape, it is programmed with the exact specifications of the magickal operation. This includes whom to strike, how to strike, what to strike with, and at the completion of the magickal operation, the manner in which the manifest thought form would be returned to its former state. In my experience, the programming is primarily accomplished through emotionally charged visualization. Once all the preparations are complete, and only then, the manifest thought form is sent on its way.

It is at this point that a master sorcerer will initiate additional magickal work to protect himself/herself from the possibility that the entity might somehow be returned to its creator to execute its malicious task there. When every possibility and contingency have been accounted for and covered, the sorcerer bides his time, possibly continuing to fuel the fire as required.

Method Number Three: This is basically the same as Method Number Two, except that the manifest thought form is projected into a physical object, any physical object. In the case of our earlier study, the physical object is a grotesque doll, most probably a doll whose image is used each time this individual’s magic is performed, such that, this doll is the “business card” of this sorcerer.

The next step in this process is to plant this physical object inconspicuously in the immediate presence of the victim. This aspect of physical presence in the victim’s immediate proximity is based on the belief that the physical object can more effectively hold and retain the focus of the power right under the victim’s nose, all the while, executing its program.

The individual who practices “black magick”, bringing pain and misfortune to others, is every bit as cold, calculating and eminently capable as any “hit man”. These individuals are feared and respected wherever they work, for very good reason. The use or threat of black magic against you or anyone you know is not a threat to be taken lightly. But these individuals are not infallible or immune to their own magick.

I am personally aware of one individual who became the victim of his own evil deeds. Should you ever believe yourself or another to be the intended victim of black magic, history has shown that your disbelief in their “religion”, “black magic” or the sorcerer’s individual capabilities will not shield you from the intended effects.

History has also shown that your particular religious association, beliefs, or faithfulness will not protect you. These misconceptions actually add to the effectiveness of the sorcerers work. By virtue of your false sense of immunity, and the elapsed time it takes to realize your error, the effects may already be working.

Black magick is very much like cancer. If you contracted cancer, disbelief in the cancer will not save your life, neither will your religious associations, beliefs, or faithfulness. It has been my experience that the actual victims of black magick usually have some knowledge that a potentially hostile situation exists, that the opposition may escalate the confrontation, and that by tradition or desperation they may resort to unorthodox measures.

Awareness is the key to survival in this life. Awareness is the key to dealing with black magic. You must arm yourself with all the knowledge possible and seek immediate expert assistance. Like cancer, time and expert help are critical. People just don’t want to believe or accept that they have cancer, so frequently by the time they take action, it is too late.

I do not personally practice black magic, although, I will not hesitate to meet force with force. I have, however, been called upon many times over the past ten years to assist others who have become the target of etheric terrorism and black magic. I sincerely hope that the information presented here was both understandable as well as useful.

Love and Blessings,

Dale

Gentle Deer Lion Tamer

_______________________________

Footnotes:
Magick, White and Black Magick

How to Fight Like a Witch

Author: Bob Makransky

For the past five years I’ve been involved in this nuisance lawsuit over a piece of land which these people sold me; then they made a new (falsified) registration on the same land and took it over by force (threatened to kill me, and did beat me up when I went over there – to the land they had sold me) . They are family of thugs who have been doing this sort of thing to poor Indians in my village for years, and getting away with it by terrorizing their victims. But this time, they picked the wrong boy (in this lawsuit I have three co-plaintiffs who are all poor Indians who the thugs pulled the same trick on – but since I’m the only one who speaks Spanish and can read and write, it’s fallen to me to fight it) .

It all started when my teacher, don Abel Yat, was doing a Mayan ceremony and in the midst of it he stopped (as was his wont) to make a prediction: “You are about to have a huge land problem.” All of don Abel’s predictions have come true, and so did this one, two weeks later.

This thing has been dragging along in the Guatemalan judicial system for years, and occupying mucho of my time and costing mucho money. I’m going to win the case in the end, but wotta drag. I asked my spirits, “Why is this Kafkaesque nightmare happening to me?” and they answered, “To teach you how to fight like a witch.”

Truthfully, I have no interest in learning how to fight like a witch. All I’m really interested in is learning how to lie in my hammock and smoke dope like a witch. But Carlos Castaneda’s teacher don Juan – and also my own teachers – are of the opinion that the best way to learn witchcraft is to find yourself in an all-out fight with a black witch who is much more powerful than you are. If you survive, then you will have learned a great deal (which really can’t be learned any other way) . It’s by fighting against a black witch that I learned what demons are, and how to defend against them; what curses are, and how to remove them; and what psychopaths are like, and how to deal with them.

Anyway, in this nuisance lawsuit my opponents aren’t witches (thank God!) . And I have learned a few things about how witchcraft works, which I will pass on to you. In brief, witchcraft works as little flashes or pings every now and then. Witches have to set up an intent (which is what casting spells is all about) and then wait patiently until the Spirit suddenly pops an opportunity up before their eyes. And then, and only then, do they act.

Don Abel showed me some techniques for bewitching to overcome. I really think the thing is childish but it does it indeed work. If you can obtain a photograph of the person you wish to overcome or a hair or fingernail cutting from the person – great. If not, just make a small drawing of the person by hand. Make a little cross of sticks (don Abel used jocote – flat pine sticks oozing sap and used for fire starters) . Wind a red thread around the sticks to join them into a cross. Then place the photo or artifact of the person you wish to overcome in the center of the cross. Fasten it to the cross by winding the red thread around it (don Abel said not to pierce the photo, since that would be definite black witchcraft and result in physical injury to the person being bewitched. The idea is to overcome the person – not incur bad karma, which will have to be paid in other lifetimes) .

After performing a “Scat” ritual over the cross (choose a Saturn transit and Saturn hour for this, and follow instructions in the BOS in the Magic 101 folder
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagicalAlmanac/files/Magic%20101/) , place the cross in your shoe (I wrapped these crosses in duct tape first to keep them intact) ; and imagine grinding the person you wish to overcome into the dirt with every step you take (as Nancy Sinatra crooned) . As I said, it’s childish; but it does work. Nonetheless one day, after I had been tripping on acid, I decided this was bullshit and tossed the crosses in my shoes into the garbage.

Don Abel also did a ceremony on the correct day (Tzi, which rules lawsuits) to help win the case. You can get the same effect (and I have reiterated the intent to win the case after don Abel died) by performing Scat rituals now and then, particularly when things bogged down or when things started moving forward (e.g. prior to the pre-trial hearing) .

When casting a Scat spell to get rid of someone, white witches don’t visualize bad things happening to that person. Rather, they visualize themselves happy, relieved, joyous, now that said person is gone. Psychic healing is done by visualizing the person as well. The point is that the visualization has to be done as if the action is unfolding in the here and now, unlike normal daydreams, which take place in the future. One has to feel all the feelings – joy, relief, health, whatever – that would be felt if the visualization were actually true. It’s those feelings, which are being felt which attract the object of desire; which make the visualization come true.

Dilettante witches think all you have to do is cast some spells or invoke some spirits, and next thing you know, hey nonny nonny – everybody will jump through a hoop for you and whatever you desire will fall at your footsteps with no effort on your part. False! If you want to work with demons, that can be true – and you will pay for it, pal; but when you are using white witchcraft, you must take 100% responsibility for making your desire reality. When once you make a vow, make a commitment, or cast a spell, it must be IRREVOCABLE. You must be willing. When you invoke witchcraft for any reason, expect 1) that the Spirit is going to send tests your way to prove your intent; and 2) you’re going to have to do whatever is necessary to make your desire reality – go that extra mile when you are already completely, utterly exhausted.

The term unbending intent means taking complete responsibility. Once you make the decision to do something, you must be willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to make it happen. This is the mainspring of witchcraft – of how to make witchcraft work. To be a witch means to be thoroughly undaunted and unfazed – to go to any extreme required to realize your desire. This is what holds the average person back: not only social constraints about conventional morality and “dealing with the devil”, but also the general lethargy and mediocrity which society encourages. Only witches are willing and ready to go to the utmost extreme necessary to realize their desires, thus only witches are really taking responsibility for their world, and only witches are in a position to control it.

After working on my case for a year, and apparently having it complete, the Guatemalan D.A.’s office told me they wanted to drop my case for lack of personnel; the Assistant District Attorney told me that they could only work on “urgent” cases (stupid of her to tell me that because I’ve lived in Guatemala long enough to know what “urgent cases” means – it means cases where the plaintiff is the nephew or brother-in-law of a minister or deputy) . It seemed I was stymied. But a chance remark by a friend, to call in this international agency which was investigating corruption in the judiciary and District Attorney’s office, led me to play a super-long shot: contacting a friend of a friend who I thought might be able to advise me, but who turned out in the end to work for the very same international agency that the D.A.’s office was terrified of (something I hadn’t known before) .

When I explained my case to her she told me to forget it, that wasn’t what they do (their job is to police corruption in the judiciary and district attorney’s office due to narcotics traffickers) . But when I insisted she told me, “Okay, get your documents and sworn testimony from witnesses and I’ll submit them to my boss.” It took me a month of intense effort to round up all the statements from all the witnesses, but I got it together and submitted it to her. Next thing I knew her boss had written a strong letter to the Guatemalan District Attorney telling him to continue my case; and he passed the order on to the A.D.A. who had dropped me. The A.D.A. was pretty pissed off when I next saw her, but swallowed it and realized she had no choice but to continue my case, so she did. Voila! Tinker to Evers to Chance! That’s how witchcraft works: nothing, nothing, nothing, and then BING!

The same thing happened at a later point, when I had to set up a trap to arrest the defendants in the case (in Guatemala, everything is do-it-yourself, including doing the police’s work for them) . It’s too difficult to explain the whole situation here (although it is really interesting – but would lead too far afield) ; suffice it to say that it was Tinker to Evers to Chance again – an apparent obstacle, which turned into a miracle for me.

The point is, that if you are going to use white witchcraft, be prepared to have the Spirit roll marbles in your path, or block you somehow, so it seems you must give up just when everything seems to be working fine. The Spirit is a trickster – it’s always doing that kind of shit to test the mettle of real witches. Here’s where the phony witches peel off – they’re looking for a free ride or handout. IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE WITCHCRAFT TO GET WHAT YOU WANT, (whether black or white) , YOU MUST BE WILLING TO GO TO ANY EXTEME NECESSARY, ENDURE ANY HARDSHIP NECESSARY, COVER ALL BASES, DOT ALL i’s AND CROSS ALL t’s. And the amazing thing is, that when you do this, miracles happen (like me, with no cuello (inside pull) being able to bring pressure to bear on the Guatemalan District Attorney’s office, and being able to instruct the police on how set a trap to arrest the defendants.

Conscious awareness is where all links ultimately have to be made. A witch, however, never makes links through direct intervention, by acting on his or her own accord. This is how average people blow things or trip themselves up. They fail by acting on their thought forms, by being impatient and pushy, by being unwilling or unable to trust in the Spirit to bring them what they want in the fullness of time.

This shows lack of faith. Only the Spirit can move the wheel of chance. Therefore the basic principle of witchcraft is patience. Conscious awareness can only exist if there is also unconscious awareness – something that is being hidden. The trick of witchcraft is to take in everything so that nothing is any longer hidden. Another way of saying this is, we must become aware of our own prejudices and taken-for-granted assumptions, since it is our own images and expectations which blind us to the truth.

The answer to how to fight like a witch lies in holding it all in. Once it is determined that the other person is shameless and is acting in bad faith, you do not talk to your opponent, or waste time and energy trying to convince him or her of anything.

Reject all thoughts of rancor as they arise. By hoping the other person “gets what’s coming to them” you not only close your own heart, but you insure that the other person won’t get what’s coming to them because you are not releasing that desire. I have no rancor for my opponents in this stupid lawsuit (though I certainly regret all the time and money I’ve wasted on it) . The day a bunch of them beat me up, I actually reached the Place of No Pity (see the article on same posted in the Magical Almanac files Consciousness folder:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagicalAlmanac/files/Consciousness/) – when I got up off the ground and dusted myself off, they were still standing around me threatening me, and yet I felt no fear or anger whatsoever – it was like something had been lifted off me (this feeling lasted for a few weeks; but I still have little personal rancor for these a**holes – I just want to win this stupid lawsuit; and get them off my case) .

It is helpful to have patron spirits helping you (for everything – not just fighting) . This is because spirits can see connections, which we humans miss. They can see light fibers, which we humans can’t (unless we are exceptionally gifted psychically) . What’s really going on beneath the surface of everyday life is quite apparent to spirits, even though it mystifies us. In order to fight like a witch (or do anything like a witch) you can’t rely on thinking mind – everything your parents and society have taught you – that’s just too dumb. You have to rely either upon your own intent; or else do what spirits tell you to do (act on their cues) .

But when I “won” the pre-trial hearing (which basically means I will win the case – even though it’s going to drag on for another year or two – the only question remaining is how much in damages I will be awarded) I thanked my patron spirits, the 9 Mayan gods for their help. And they told it wasn’t them, it was the spells don Abel – and I – did that produced the miracles; that I should give myself more credit. So even if you don’t have patron spirits, the techniques given here are really all you need.

_____________________________

Footnotes:
(excerpted from Magical Almanac, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagicalAlmanac)

Yes Witches Can? Yes, Witches WILL!

Author: Courtney Weber

A few weeks ago, I struck up a conversation with a stranger in the grocery store. As Witches, we are no strangers to synchronicity. My copy of Christopher Penzcak’s “The Temple of High Witchcraft”, which I carried with me, sparked a conversation about our neighborhood, Inwood—the northernmost neighborhood of Manhattan.

Here, one will easily come across a Botanica (a Spanish magick store) , a candle-lit street shrine or even a severed hog’s head on a silver platter in the nearby Fort Tryon Park (Yep. Don’t ask me what for) . The streets are sprinkled with confetti of curses and hexes—usually one storeowner against another. My favorite Botanica closed last year, and I suspect it was the magickal doing of the rival Botanica on the next block.

I laughed as I told the woman about it.

She shook her head. “If they truly have that gift, ” she said. “It is a shame they’re wasting it on such petty issues.”

Over the next few days, I thought about that. She made a good point. I wondered what would happen if my neighbors began focusing their powers on things of a higher caliber. Would “freezing” rent spikes and landlord harassment prevent further gentrification? Could a strong banishing rite rid the block of drug dealers and gun-wielding teenagers?

Then, I thought about what I do with my own Magick.

I pulled a poppet I’d made from its hiding place. This poppet was used in a spell to keep an individual from verbally attacking myself and others—which had occurred frequently. I wrote the individual’s name on the forehead of a Cabbage Patch doll, bound it from neck to foot in white cloth and placed duct tape over its mouth.

I stated to the Gods that the subject would no longer harm others through words and actions, replacing her anger and pain with healing light.

I did not bind frivolously. At the time, it felt ethically correct. The person was wracking up high Karmic debt through verbal violence and physical threats. Since I was knew how to stop the damaging actions, I felt it my responsibility to do so—sparing a spiritually ignorant person the pangs of Karmic repercussions she would not understand and sparing others from further pain she was certain to cause.

The spell worked with frightening accuracy. Overnight, she stopped slandering others and overcompensated with effusive compliments all around. That was good. But she cowered in my presence, which I found annoying—not empowering. I was constantly aware of her moods and movements. It was taxing.

I unbound the doll and announced to the Gods that the spell was complete. The person was no longer under my power or protection.

The days following the unbinding were interesting. First of all, the subject immediately suffered an emotional breakdown. I now wonder if the binding delayed a necessary collapse by holding her in stasis. (The subject is reportedly doing much better now)

Right away, I received new messages from the Gods in my dreams in regards to our Magick group. My Tarot reading accuracy increased dramatically. I realized that the one binding spell nearly monopolized my psychic energy bank. I was back to my old self—something I didn’t realize I’d lost.

But where to direct this new energy?

On Tuesday, November 4th 2008, I—like so many—chanted…um, screamed “YES WE CAN!!!” as Obama won the election. And I, like many, lamented the loss of marriage and rights to thousands of our citizens in California, Arizona, Florida and adoption rights in Arkansas.

Inspired by Obama’s election speech on change, the woman in the grocery store and the change in my Magickal focus, I organized a number of our Group members to join a marriage equality rally at City Hall. We offered Handfasting Rites to any couple wishing to marry that day. One young couple took us up on the offer and before a crowd of supportive strangers, exchanged vows to live as husband and husband for a year and a day.

As I bound their hands with a lavender ribbon, I cast this spell, “May this union mark the beginning of change so that one day all unions will be legal under the Constitution of the United States of America. So mote it be.” With that, the two men jumped the broom and the people cheered. Binding their hands was a far better use of my psychic energy than the binding of an unfriendly acquaintance.

Whether or not you supported Obama’s election, few Witches could argue with his acceptance speech: Change begins with us. As Witches, it is vital that we do not waste our powers on things of little consequence. Instead, we must spread those energies to larger, more pertinent issues.

“Dress rehearsal is over y’all, ” Orion Foxwood said at the Harvest Home Gathering this fall. “It’s time to get in the game.”

“As above, so below…” We recite the phrase, but do we understand what it means? Most Witches work with the concept of Below—using their Magick to improve their lives and those of their loved ones—but not always aiming their energies toward that equally important realm, Above. Our occult bookshops are choked with books for recipes on attracting a mate or increasing personal prosperity.

But where are the spells for attracting peace to a war-torn region? Increasing prosperity in an impoverished neighborhood? Many Witches do not understand that Above is a reflection of Below. If we wish to build a healthy global community, the changes must be made in our immediate vicinity, first.

The Handfasting worked on both an Above and Below level. On a Below level, it provided the young couple the opportunity to pledge commitment to one another for the first time. On an Above level, those witnessing took with them the beautiful sight of two men joining a union of Perfect Love and Perfect Trust and perhaps the question, why can’t all enjoy it?

Perhaps most importantly on an Above level, the spell cast on their union aimed to make all such unions legal in the United States of America. I want my children to marry whomever they wish.

Do you?

Now, if the principle of As Above, So Below holds true, and individual lives must be healthy in order for a population to thrive, sending your energies to a higher collective good does not mean abandoning changes for the better in our personal lives. But when you’re burning a series of candles to increase your powers in the workplace, throw in a spell that increases prosperity in a famine ravished community.

While you’re sticking your mother-in-law’s name in an ice-cube tray to freeze her religious jabs at the holiday dinner party, also throw in the name of groups causing death and injury in the name of religion.

As Hecate told our Group on Samhain Eve, “Mend the holes in the sweaters in your lives.” Our answer was not “Yes we can, ” but “Yes we WILL.”

We are Witches. We were born with the power to bless and to curse, to heal and to destroy. We serendipitously wind up in situations where something is needed when we are just the ones to provide it. Let us put our Goddess-given abilities to proper use.

Let us bring our brooms out of our personal broom-closets and into the mess around us. There is a lot of sweeping to do.

Where will you begin?

Justified Cursing

Author: Sickle

What do I mean when I say curse? Simply put, I define a curse as any magick which intentionally harms or hinders. If I were to use magick to stop the growth of a tumor by attacking it directly, I would in effect be cursing the cancer. I use this example because the rest of what I am going to say relates to how curses can be used for the greater good.

I was recently discussing the idea of curses with a trusted friend of mine. I was saying that there were times when curses were necessary, if not down and out required. She went on to remind me of the Threefold Law.

First of all, the Threefold Law is bogus.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If I punch a brick wall with 20 lbs of force, I get 20 lbs of force back against my fist. I don’t get 60 lbs of pressure in return.

If I dig a hole one foot wide, one foot long, and one foot deep, the “Universe” doesn’t fill in that hole with nine square feet of earth. As a matter of fact, the “Universe” doesn’t even care about my little hole.

If I curse someone (for reasons I’ll get to later), the magick is not going to rebound to me, bringing with it three times the doom and gloom I may have sent . Experience has taught me this is so. Some may say, “But wait! What about what you said about ‘an equal and opposite reaction’?” Fair enough question. Let’s say that the above mentioned brick wall will collapse if I punch it with 100 lbs of force. Let’s also say that I have conditioned my fist to withstand 200 lbs of pressure, as well as being able to stand the rough texture of the bricks. I still get the reciprocated force, but it doesn’t affect me, at least not like it does the wall. I felt some pressure, but the wall has collapsed.

What does come into effect, are the consequences of ones actions. If I destroy ten oak trees because I suddenly find myself in a fit of rage against acorns, that’s no big deal (as far as the “big picture”). If I destroy all the plants on Earth because I hate flora in general, I will surely suffer from the loss of oxygen and ultimately die (very big deal). This isn’t a response from the Threefold Law. My destruction due to rage didn’t elicit the wrath of the “Universe”, and result in the ultimate demise of yours truly. My death would be a result of my actions, as well as general stupidity.

The reason I was talking with my trusted friend about curses, is because I was saying how they could be used as acts of justice. If there is a serial rapist on the loose, would it not be the responsibility of those who can to stop him? What if your only method of stopping him involved whispering the Words of Darkness, and making his member shrivel up? Would it be justified?

I say yes.

During this same conversation, my friend mentioned that doing so may interfere with the rapist’s karma. Perhaps he came into his current incarnation to learn what it was like to be convicted of a horrible crime, sentenced to prison, and so on. My problem with that is that it allows said rapist to continue his horrendous actions until said lesson comes into play. Who knows how long that might be? How many people must suffer just so he can learn?

I hear people–mostly New Agers–all the time talking of the “Journey of the Soul”. This is the idea that, before we were born into our physical bodies, we chose what kind of life we would live, in order that we might learn spiritual lessons. These same people preach that it is wrong to interrupt someone’s Journey, as it results in the retardation of the soul’s evolution. The problem here is that kind of thinking can lead to any number of atrocities. For example, the starving could be left to starve. After all, they knew what they were getting into, right? Who are we to interfere with their Cosmic Lessons? Murderers could go unchecked. Perhaps they needed to experience the taking of life. No?

Going back to our rapist-at-large, one could say that it would be wrong to interfere with his “Journey of the Soul”, as he is simply following a path to spiritual evolution. If not, then karma will surely make things right. Equal and opposite reaction after all, right?

True. In order for that happen, though, you sometimes must BE karma.

I look at karma as the result of ones actions. Kill ten trees and you’ll live. Kill them all, and you’ll die.

Commit horrible acts, and you’ll get cursed.

By no means am I advocating “casual cursing”. There’s a big difference between stopping a killer and killing your ex-boyfriend because he dumped you for your sister. The decision to throw a curse must be well thought out, just like any other form of justifiable punishment. Other methods of justice must be sought as well. Cursing can take time, and there are instances when a mundane method would have been more practical, not to mention faster.

However, if you’re unable to stop someone from committing heinous crimes in any other fashion than by hexing, I say it is your duty to do so. To stand back and wait for something else to bring things to a halt is actually a promotion of the crimes. If the perpetrator had done nothing wrong, then they would not be the victim of the curse in the first place–provided you are an ethical curser. It isn’t like they were just minding their own business when you decided to give them leprosy.

There are times for letting things be, and there are times for changing the course of the flow.

Just make sure your reasoning is just, and your fist is strong.

Is There a Right Time to Curse?

Author: Sleeping Moon

First off, I want to get something straight that even pagans seem to misunderstand. Or have been misguided into believing. (Not all, mind you, but most.) Hexes are NOT curses! Hexes are painted signs posted on barns down in the south to promote positive influences over the property and those that live there.

Curses are quite different. From the Wikipedia (on-line dictionary) the definition is: A curse (also called execration) is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, “curse” may refer to a wish that harm or hurt will be inflicted by any supernatural power, such as a spell, a prayer, an imprecation, an execration, magic, witchcraft, a god, a natural force, or a spirit. In many belief systems, the curse itself (or accompanying ritual) is considered to have some causative force in the result.

They claim that a curse holds no power unless the recipient believes in it. I don’t believe that’s necessarily true. A curse has merit no matter what. It’s a solid form of magick just as a spell is. It has its purpose and has a place. They exist for a reason and if used correctly, they can be a force of nature to be reckoned with.

There are a few pagans who have called a dark deity as their matron/patron. Kali, The Morrigan, Calliach, Hecate, Badb, Skatha, Nemisis, Morgana, Innana and Lilith, Hades, Anubis, Setesh, Hoder, just to name a few.

What’s the difference with calling one of these dark deities and a curse? There are many forms of magic to use in calling forth the dark deities, but all in all, the dark deities are: Dark. You wouldn’t call on Kali or The Morrigan to cast a love spell. They are more for revenge and war than love and laughter.

In the beginning I would never have even thought about cursing any one. For any reason whatsoever. Many years later, my logic has changed.

I feel that there is a time to curse and a time to use another approach. If harm befell upon your loved one, for example if he/she was raped, shot, or killed, (these being the more serious offenses) , I can agree that a curse is more of an appropriate form of magick than to send that person ‘peace and love’. The damage has been done and is irrevocable so in my opinion, a curse is warranted and justifiable. Surrounding yourself with protection and that loved one (whether living or not) is always a positive take, but you would want to see that person get the justice he/she deserves. Right? You wouldn’t want that person to be able to harm other folk, right? You’d do every thing with in your capable means (with in the law) to get what they deserve.
So why not a curse?

I understand that Wiccans, the traditional ones, wouldn’t condone such a notion because of the three-fold law. But, as I stated beforehand, the damage HAS been done, so there is no further harm. Every thing in life has a good and bad side to it, just as it does in magick. No matter what we do in magick, we are taking something from some one else. That extra energy we use to cast a spell could be used for some one fighting a serious illness. In the air we breathe, we are taking that air from some one else. We use a candle to focus. We use that source of light from some one that may need it during a power outage or in a third world country that has no power what so ever. The list could go on and on. It’s a nice rule, but it’s an oxy moron. It doesn’t fit. Not technically.
Of course I would never agree to a curse just because I didn’t like some one. The damage that would warrant a curse from me would have to be severe.

Curses have a long history. It dates back to ancient Egyptian times. Probably dates back to the cave men, but for theory’s use, I will stick to then.

In Haiti, curses are called getting “crossed”. In Voodoo it’s called a jinx as well as a form of foot track magic. The “evil eye” is thought to stem from the Middle Eastern and the Mediterranean areas.

In Greece they are called katadesmoi and in Rome, tabulae defixiones. In Ireland there are many known forms of curses such as curse stones or egg curses, New Year curses and milk curses. Chinese peoples have them. The Indonesians, the Indians (not with the feather!) the Europeans, the Brits and the Scottish people have curses in their history. Even Native Americans.

The Native American people of the southern plains called these types of witches Skin Walkers. Skin Walkers where as nasty as one witch or wizard could possible get with the use of black magick. These beings are supposed to be able to extract revenge upon the help less victim by placing an animal skin over their human bodies and thus shape shifting into the form of that animal. While in the guise of the animal they choose, they can wreck havoc upon the poor soul they choose to victimize.

Even in the bible there are curses hidden within. God himself placed a curse upon the snake “You are cursed more than all cattle”, (Genesis 3:14) . As a result of Adam and Eve disobeying God, the ground is also cursed: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” (3:17) . Cain is cursed from the earth, “So now you are cursed from the earth”, (4:11) . In the New Testament Paul sees curses as central to the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion. In Galatians 3:13 he says: “Christ redeems us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”. He refers to Deuteronomy: ” anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” (21:23 RAEDM)

So if even God himself used them, they are credited aren’t they? Why can’t we use them if the damage has been done?

I wish the world were all frilly and white. But, it’s not. There are lines of grey that border on crossing over to black; there are lines of grey that border on crossing over to the lines of white. That’s the way life works. It’s the way Nature lives and the way humans are bred. Nature is neither cruel nor loving, it just is. And magick is the same, in my book.

Again, if the damage has been done, why can’t a curse be warranted?

Why Sharks Circle You Before Attacking

Two great white sharks swimming in the ocean spied survivors of a sunken ship. “Follow me son” the father shark said to the son shark and they swam to the mass of people.

“First we swim around them a few times with just the tip of our fins showing.” And they did.

“Well done, son! Now we swim around them a few times with all of our fins showing.” And they did.

“Now we eat everybody.” And they did.

When they were both gorged, the son asked, “Dad, why didn’t we just eat them all at first? Why did we swim around and around them?”

His wise father replied, “Because they taste better without the shit inside!”

 

For more great Pagan humor, visit Turok’s Cabana

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2016 August 8

Perseid Meteors over Mount Shasta
Image Credit & Copyright: Brad Goldpaint (Goldpaint Photography)

Explanation: Where are all of these meteors coming from? In terms of direction on the sky, the pointed answer is the constellation of Perseus. That is why the meteor shower that peaks later this week is known as the Perseids — the meteors all appear to came from a radiant toward Perseus. In terms of parent body, though, the sand-sized debris that makes up the Perseids meteors come from Comet Swift-Tuttle. The comet follows a well-defined orbit around our Sun, and the part of the orbit that approaches Earth is superposed in front of the Perseus. Therefore, when Earth crosses this orbit, the radiant point of falling debris appears in Perseus. Featured here, a composite image containing over 60 meteors from last August’sPerseids meteor shower shows many bright meteors that streaked over Mount Shasta, California, USA. This year’s Perseids holds promise to be the best meteor shower of the year.