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Prompt 20. Sunday 14th April 2018 - The 20th prompt will be.. Breaking the fear of practicing & writing your own workings.
Following up from last weeks blog
post about ‘starting to learn Herbs and stones’ I decided to make this weeks
post about writing your own spells and next weeks post about breaking the fear of practicing.
The more I thought about this the more I felt it was really one in the
same blog as the two go hand in hand along with obviously practicing other people’s
workings.
PLEASE NOTE EVEN IF YOU’RE THE
WISEST OF CRONES AND EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED YOU MIGHT STILL LEARN OR AT LEAST
ENJOY SOMETHINGS WITHIN THIS BLOG.
For the sake of this blog post
when I say “working” or “workings” I am referring to any spell, ritual, prayer,
meditation, enchantment, psychic ability, magickal act etc etc any act of magick or craft etc..
How I got started and broke my fear.. So let us start with breaking the
fear of practicing or indeed where to start!
For me when people ask how long I’ve been a Witch/Pagan usually I answer
with something like 14-16 years (I’m 29 now).
The reason for this is that I’ve actually been practicing some form of
Witchcraft / Pagan Practice / Spiritual Life all of my life but it wasn’t until I
was 13 that I discovered the things I did actually have a name, I belong to a
group of people and that witchcraft is actually a real thing..! But I only found my confidence and came out of myself (not out of the broom closet until I was 25) and I was able to practice..
So I started studying, learning about witch
history.. Learning about what real life
witches do, the occult, how it’s not Satanism, how you can even still be a
Christian in this day and age. This was
a happy accident I discovered while researching about paranormal so of course
those studies continued too and then developed and went on Paganism or more
specifically Wicca.
For the first 2-3
years from 13 - 15/16 I became scared to practice, now armed with my new knowledge
I worried too much that something bad would happen, something would go wrong, I
was doing these acts for more selfish reason and such forth. I had purchased a few tools and items.. (I
was very lucky at that time as I lived in a town that had more Antique Shops,
Thrift Stores, Junk Yards and Flea Markets than regular shops!!) My Grandmother bought me my first Tarot deck
and while I’d never been allowed to light candles I certainly had a large
collection along with other trinkets, knickknacks and things. Eventually circumstances saw that just before
my 16th Birthday I ended up leaving my Dads house and that town and moving to live
with my Grandparents. I was back with my
old friends at my old hang outs and indeed met new friends too. One particular new friend was very much into the
practice himself, or some much darker and twisted version of it, and he took it upon himself to get me
out of my comfort zone and start practicing..
(While our friendship wasn’t long lasting for other reasons, mostly that
I became busy with college, voluntary job and an actual job.. Plus my best friend broke up with him and it was just awkward - it’s definitely
part of my foundation getting over my fear to be able to be so open about it all now!)
Some believe that you need to be initiated by another into the craft whereas others say if you follow X you can initiate yourself; which is more or less what I did.. During my 2nd-4th year I did some initiation online courses and then much later on in I believe 2014/15 initiated myself following my officially coming out the broom closet announcement by following and practicing Timothy Roderick's book - 'Wicca: A Year and a Day: 366 Days of Spiritual Practice in the Craft of the Wise' ..which I'll mention more about further down this blog post.. But YouTuber DragonFeather369 has some amazing videos on that book.
Yes when I practice (even now) sometimes I feel really stupid, self-conscious, nervous, shy, weirded out, worried people can hear/see me etc.. But that's the same with almost anything I know I'm like that when making YouTube videos regardless of if the content is planners, magickal, arts and crafts or something else entirely. Same with gaming around guys I like or people I want to impress (I like to think I'm good but worry they'll judge me if I mess up!) But don't worry.. It's ok a lot of people talk to themselves and even more talk to their pets and some even talk to their plants. You can always pretend you were on the phone and/or work in a more secretive place ie late at night or when you're home alone. Work in whispers or not aloud! Next week I will talk about Magickal Housekeeping and Everyday Practical Magick which is more aimed for those who want to practice but are still in the broom closet because of family, friends, religion, society or some other reason. But for those of us out and proud and shouting from the mountain tops it's still good practices to keep. Keep going and you'll get there.. I promise.
So after all of that we are definitely
ready to start practicing and writing our own workings. Starting is always scary breaking that fear
of ‘what if’ and the glass is half empty.
Take the leap of faith and always do what feels right to you. Never fear asking for help. Another thing I’ve learnt is that this is a
never ending pool of knowledge. There’s
so many religions and faiths and spiritualities – Which is why now I feel me
saying I’m Eclectic Wiccan is more just Eclectic or Eclectic Pagan perhaps
since while I do keep the Wiccan Religious side mostly but lean towards my own
kind of craft with elements from all walks of life. Plus I absolutely love to read / hear
different people’s opinions and takes on the same subjects. – geek!
..But you’re not here to listen
to me babble on about myself.. So lets
us break into the next phase for anyone who isn’t there and for anyone who is,
you may even learn something or just refresh some of them baby steps.
So shake off the fear.. First of all fearing something, doubting
something, disbelief in something.. Nothing’s
going to work for you!! If you enter
into a magickal working thinking this is a load of old codswallop, it’s clearly
fake and this is a load of cow dung. Guess
what.. It’s not going to work!! You’re right!! Congratulations!! But it’s as Roald Dahl said “Those who don’t
believe in Magic will never find it!” You have to at least believe in the idea or
want to believe! As Jack Skeleton said “Just
because I cannot see it doesn’t mean I can’t believe it!” and so enjoy this amazing unique and wonderful journey and remember as Tolkien said "Not all who wander are lost!" So go in with an open heart and an open mind
and see what comes to you..
Ok let's say you believe.. But how does this work? Right..
I’m going to be honest with you and tell you how I feel it works (other
people will have various opinions). For
me I feel that you have a hope, a wish, a dream, a desire.. Something you’re longing for (not destined as
that’s a whole other thing) but something you want. For you..
For others.. Be mindful of being
careful what you wish for, the Wiccan Rede Rule of “Harm none, do as ye will”
(do what you like as long as you don’t hurt anyone, that includes
yourself). Or other rules like three
fold law, karma and such forth. Just do
good things with good intentions and then read about the rest later. So for me I feel that setting your intention
for what you want and spending time creating that working, setting up that working,
doing the working itself opens our hearts and opens our minds, even our subconscious
mind, to look for those opportunities to find good even in the very bad, to use
ourselves to aid, heal and help others.
I don’t believe we can just light a candle, wish for a million and wake
up the next morning with a big bag of cash posted through our door. What I do believe is we can light a candle,
wish for a million and over the next few weeks be presented with opportunities in
career / job, living / accommodation, relationships and much more a wealth of
opportunities that could lead to that abundance of money if you work hard and
take every opportunity created by you making that decision. The act of lighting the candle is simply
symbolic that you did this thing to mark your intentions for what it is you want in order for you to actively look for the results and other things to happen but ultimately
it’s your decision and your choices to take the bull by the horns and go for it.
That’s not to say that you won’t wake up with a million shoved through
your letterbox.. I suppose in some weird twist of fate it could happen. But another point to consider here is also greed in that! Wish for money, wish for abundance, wish for a better financial situation but do you really need a
million? Will a few thousand not buy you
your house, get you out of debt and put you and your family in a comfortably living
situation? People say to me if magick is
real and I believe in it and I practice it then why am I still disabled unable
to work coping with multiple illnesses/disabilities? To which I don’t have an answer but I can
tell you that through magick I’m still alive, it’s given me faith and something to
believe in, work with/for, have, teach, do.. And my practice is rewarded when I'm offered medical opportunities and medication to improve my situation the best we can right now. It’s taught me things and that alone to me is magick. It’s given me the strength to keep fighting
and keep trying.
So we believe.. We have some tools and ingredients (or
not). Where do we start to practice?
For me I won’t say jump into
casting a circle, summon some ancient being and have a tea party while cursing
your enemies. Seems a bit of a leap.. and not something you should ever do!! But each to their own. Perhaps start with simple things. Next week, as said, I plan to do a blog on everyday
magick looking at some of the more basic and mundane things that everyone can do. I mentioned this in my last few
blogs that practicing doesn’t need all these tools and items, an altar..
etc. My practice may look elaborate with all this stuff as seen on my instagram @ instagram.com/missimoinsane but believe me deep down I know I just need the very basics and myself. So start with simple things like stirring your morning
tea/coffee clockwise while wishing for positive influences all day or anticlockwise while wishing your tiredness away so you can focus on the day ahead. While bathing at night hold your hands over the
water and ask that this water washes away all the negativity you’ve accumulated
throughout the day, even add salt to purify if you wish (Epsom salt is
especially good and has additional relaxation and health benefits!) – this could
be a sink of water, bowl of water or bath etc..
Prayer is such a simple and easy one pray for the health and safety of
others, light a candle in respect of that. Practice some of those
protection workings. Grab yourself a
book (Elemental Encyclopedia of 2000 Spells is a good place to start.. huge
heavy hardback, hard to hide! But they
do have a 500 paperback version that’s smaller) there’s a few spells
there.. Or you could get a book that’s
more of an initiation into a craft/practice such as Wicca. One book particular is the big orange Wicca A
Year And A Day 366 book by Timothy Roderick.
(BE WARNED the book requires you to purchase items for the practice
which comes with quite a hefty priced shopping list!! Yes you can substitute some of those candles
for smaller ones or white if you can’t find the colour you need but still
pricey!! I took it upon myself to write
a blog with the shopping list contents: HERE!!)
Which is a great book for beginners (even if you want to be a witch and
not wiccan it’s still a good book for you!) there’s a new page or two for each
day giving you tasks and teaching various workings including giving you more
details on various things such as grounding and meditation.
So you’re practicing? Good!
How do you write your own
workings? It’s actually a lot easier
than people think and can be done in multiple ways.
Words:
First note that if you’re
adding words, like a speech you don’t have to make it rhyme it doesn’t have to
be a poem. But if that’s what you like
then there are many books and even phone apps and online websites that can help
you with rhyming words and/or poetry. Words
don’t have to be complicated they just have to be accurate and heart felt; say
what you mean and what you want. Does it
need to be spoken aloud? No! Sometimes people feel very self-conscious as
is without talking to themselves too. So
saying the words aloud in your head to yourself is still putting those words
out there just not literally aloud.
Equally you can whisper, I know a girl who finds whispering magickal and
says her words are carried in a whisper by the winds. Others feel the need to stand on top of
hills, cliffs, mountains and scream and shout their words to the world.
Tools:
Tools are not needed; but
they’re sure fun to have!! Your index
finger of your more dominant hand can be the best wand. Or for me I use my whole hand, I have a wand
I just prefer to use my hand. Tools can
be sourced from things you have around the house.. cups, knives, sticks, bowls
etc.. But can also be sourced and/or
made from various places and various materials.
Ingredients:
Use what you have, what you can find, what you can swap, etc.. Don't spend silly money if a working requires X which will cost you silly money to import a tiny bit that might not even make it through customs.. Don't risk it. There's many alternatives for every ingredient you would need. I will go on to explain changing ingredients..
Grounding, Casting Circles, Meditation etc:
Do you need to? Well it depends who you ask but if you're asking me then no, at least not for everything! Do what feels right to you! Some people take a long blessed bath complete with some salts and essential oils to purify themselves. They then smudge their spaces. They call the quarters (elements, deity, spirits, guides etc etc) and cast a circle of protection making sure they have everything they will need so as not to break the circle and step outside of it. Their practices are long drawn out events sometimes repeated daily, weekly, monthly, yearly etc.. Their practices are deep and well constructed ritualistic / sacred events. Whereas other people just light a candle and say a few words. Do what you feel is right, although when inviting spirits and such forth even benevolent ones I'd always cast a circle and exercise some cautions before and after. Seek information on smudging, ringing of bells or chimes and similar. Also some people prefer to not eat before a practice to increase their vibrations and eat after as part of a grounding and restoring your energy. You'll figure out what works best for you.
Using a pre-existing spell or other workings:
Always do your
research so lets start with you bought a book that has a spell in it, found one
on the internet or your friend/family/coven passed one down to you. First believe in it or it will never work; remember open heart and open mind.
Second just because it worked for someone else doesn’t mean it will work
for you. Like how not all people gel well
with all forms of divination, not all people have the same psychic abilities
and/or intuitions and not all people are going to get on with all forms of workings and types of work. One person who works
primarily casts their spells with herbs could be terrible with candles magick, water etc etc.. and visa
versa.
But you have this recipe, let's
say it’s a spell. So option 1 use the
spell as is and see what happens (making notes is always great to have a
journal or a computer or notebook or phone or something where you can keep
notes – what you did, what you changed, moon phase, day of the week,
ingredients, how you did it, did it work, your thoughts and feelings). Option 2 you see what the spell contains and
see how you can change it to make it your own. Does it call for a blue candle but you feel a
green candle would work better, does it call for sage but you can’t get any
where you live and can substitute it for frankincense resin or palo santo
wood. Option 3 completely rewrite the
spell using your words, your ingredients, things you made, include other
things, turn it from a big complex spell to a much simpler or visa versa. Be creative.
It’s not difficult and as said in my last blog a basic knowledge of say
10 herbs and 10 stones will give you a little insight. Revisit the blog I wrote about colours how
can you use colours be it candles, stones, feathers, yarn, clay, beads or other
objects.
Creating your own recipes:
How to write your own working
from scratch? This becomes a little
harder than say altering one but works very much on the same principles. First you have to decide what it is you wish
to achieve. (Having a working notebook
is fantastic for this.) Second write
down some of the items you might like to include. Third research those items and see if their
properties work together with your intentions or clash, see if they work well
with others – especially if you’re making say incense or an oil you want scents
that work together. If you’re making
something a little more dangerous like tinctures maybe consult some
professional information. Remember what
I said in my other blog post how some herbs, resins, bark, spices, flowers etc
etc can be poisonous to humans, cats and/or other animals when inhaled or
ingested or even when come in contact with the skin. Fourth get to making.. do your working /
practice and see what happens. Making
notes helps you to change things up for next time or know how to repeat. Repeat and have enough repetitive successes? Why not add those to your Book of Shadows as
your personal recipes? Have fun and
explore!
Note. Recipies are the ingredients used and how much but also when some days, dates, astrological events, moon phases etc have great effects on your workings. Recipes may also refer to things being measured in "parts" please refer to my blog about herbs, stones, oils etc for information on what "parts" mean in recipes ie "one part X to two parts Z". Recipes this can include anything from stones used, herbs, incense, objects, colour of candles, candle shapes etc..
Next week I’ll be looking more
closely at Magickal Housekeeping and Everyday Practical Magick.
Finally I just wish to say that you're never too old or too young to learn / practice. You're never too old or too young to have a mentor, teacher, join a coven etc. Asking for help, assistance, advice is recommended even if you're the most introverted or solitary witches. These days there's 100s if not 1000s of Facebook groups and Forum based apps like Amieno. As well as the Instagram community and the YouTube community.
Activity..
Read books.
Read other peoples opinions.
Practice.
Book Activity..
(Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. and/or any further information you find out.
Thank you all for the support. For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/ Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me. If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :) I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups.. & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/
Imogen x
Sunday April 22nd's prompts No.21. Magickal Housekeeping and Everyday Practical Magick.
Sigils are used not just by witches and magickal practitioners but by everyone! Yes even the mundane and in truth you've been seeing and using them your whole life without realising it. Sort of. In the past Sigils have typically been given a bad representative, associations with demonic and none benevolent beings, or bad/dark magickal practitioners. I know when I first saw them / heard of them I strayed away and indeed for the longest time believing they're not a good thing. Oh how wrong I was. Sigils are not just bad, not just used in Alchemy, Dark Occult practices or in Malpractices by other Magick wielders! They are used literally for everything, even in the mundane world unrecognised.. In this blog I hope to clarify what they are, how to use them and in fact how easy it is to write your own!
The world Sigil comes from the word 'seal' - Think of 'wax seals' and how they were (and sometimes still are) used for sealing envelopes and often stamped with the family crest, official logo, professional title, royal emblem etc.. This sealed closure traditionally was used to not only show who the letter/goods were from but also of its/their importance and indeed that the envelope/package had not been opened by an intervening source nor had the contents been seen or tampered with and this seal was very much the security for the contents of the package. Thus in that respect it's like the power of said seal preventing people from sneaking a look as the wax seal show if someone broke in, literally! There for by adding this wax seal it signs our intentions and desired goals to keep the contents private and away from prying eyes. And ensures our receiver gets the contents in tact, as sent.
Signs and Symbols - Think of logos - the word logo comes from the Greek word logos meaning to create or the word of God (eg "let there be light"), brands, traffic symbols, even alphabets and numbers! Whenever you think of these your brain no doubt floods with associated imagery to a known 'thing'. Think of McDonald's - You can associate the sign, logo, what their brand / product is. Now think of a love heart - The shape, what it means to every school girl doodling about her crush right through to the congratulations on your wedding card. Now think of universal road signs like stop, no entry, go, danger... Think of the Zodiac signs, Monarchy Royal Stamp, The President's.. All those physical signs/symbols are associated with mental imagery and comes with a familiar attachment. - This is why one of the key goals for people employed to create logos is to create memorable simple imagery that sticks with us. But that's for another day.
Sometimes these Signs, Symbols and/or Sigils can come to us in our dreams - I will do a blog on this as part of my BoS / Grimoire Book Prompts Blog Series.
On the whole Sigils are often an image drawn, burned, painted, sketched, printed by what ever means of a visual creation. But some also theorise that sound can be a Sigil could be sound as sound has associations and feelings and empowerment. We are able to recall memories, feelings, physical associations, movies, parties, people, theme tunes.. This music could be electronic music, mantra, singing bowl, voice recording. I know YouTuber Kelly-Ann Maddox touches on this in her about Sigils video. She also suggests how Sigils have associations and in this way we could use scent also by use of perfume, incense, oils etc to create our own personal scent for workings - I know I like to mix my own oils and incense when I'm doing workings. I go find out their correspondences or what herbs/oils work best for my intention (same with candle colours, stones etc..) so in theory they too can be Sigils? Sorry I've detoured - but there's some food for thought!
That said putting Signs and Symbols etc aside Sigils are often created for a one time use, I'll explain how to create later. Though some are designed to be used over and over again and I'm know there's some ready for you to cookie cut and use for yourself - these can be found in books, the internet etc. Though this can come with a stigma. On one hand is the commonly used Sigil more powerful because of all the energies of all the people who have used it? Or is the energy from that Sigil spent from being over used again and again? Is a brand new Sigil more powerful because it's new (created by you hopefully) or is it weaker because it's never been used?
What can I use Sigils for?
As said Sigils can be used for Demonic practices and associations but also for Angelic correspondences too. Also as mentioned Sigils can be used in Alchemy and the Alchemy Table and Sigils can be commonly known/used or personal and designed specifically for you as a one off use or reused; I shall explain..
Sigils can be used as words, to sum up a meanings, as an alphabet all on its own such as hieroglyphics. It could be used in prayer, ritual, spells.. and various other workings. Sigils can be used by themselves as empowerment, as logos and/or brands and/or symbols, As a signature (your mark associated with just you), to seal.
How do I write my own Sigils? How do I use Sigils?
There are a number of different kinds of Sigils and Sigil creations, perhaps the most common two being 1. Sigilisation/Sigilization - The Austin Osman Spare method. 2. To Witches Sigils.
Let's briefly look at the Witches Sigils first, since this is not the method I use but one worth mentioning, I guess. The Witches Sigils is made up of a chart. Decide on a word that sums up your desire, for me and this example I used the word "Protection". Starting at the first letter follow the sequence of letters along drawing straight or curved lines to the next letter. - Some say you should draw a circle at the first letter and a cross at the last letter but I have seen it most commonly done without. As said this is not my prefered way of creating Sigils. Perhaps you might want to draw/print out this chart and stick it in your Books (Book of Shadows, Grimoire etc etc..) then use tracing paper over the top to draw your Sigils..
- In all honesty I'm not practiced or even well studied in this area. So a lot of the study for this you'd need to do yourself. Though the following information may help you and is the most common way of creating Sigils.
The Austin Osman Spare - Sigilisation/Sigilisation method is the more commonly used when creating Sigils.
Austin Osman Spare was born and died in London, England 1886 - 1956. He was an English Artist and Occultist. Today he is known for many things as he was greatly influenced by Symbolism and Art Nouveau and is recognised for his art which usually included a great deal of lines, mosters and sexual imagery. There are also a few Tarot decks featuring his working. And of course he is also known for creation method of Sigils which as mentioned is known as Sigilisation/Sigilization.
Austin Osman Spare - "It is not important whether a Sigil is the 'correct' one or not, but it IS crucial that it has been created by the magician and is therefore meaningful to him/her. Because s/he has constructed it for personal use, the Sigil easily becomes a catalyst of his/her magical desire, and sometimes it will even awaken this desire in the first place." - Book of Pleasures.
Austin Osman Spares method was simply to create a 'fusion and stylisation of letters to formulate a desire in a sentence'.
There are a 5 key points to this method.
1. The Intention
Note. Decide if this Sigil is going to be for 'mechanical' and thus created for one time use or if the Sigil is going to be for 'repetitive' magickal use for multiple use possibly used throughout your practice. If it's the later you may wish to write down your recipe of the Sigil and its meaning.
Step 1. The statement of intent is to be written in present or past tense, even if it is a want, desire, wish, future coming. Creating that you want something will only increase a want for that thing and not the thing itself. Creating that you have said thing will cause manifestation to occur properly - I touched on this in my 'how to make a manifestation box' blog.
So don't write "I WILL BE POPULAR BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR." simply write "I AM POPULAR AND I CONTINUE TO BE SO." - Another don't write "I WISH TO HAVE LOTS OF MONEY" but instead "I AM WEALTHY AND MY MONEY CONTINUES TO GROW" - Another don't write "I WANT TO PASS MY EXAMS" simply write "I HAVE PASSED MY EXAMS, I DID AND CONTINUE TO DO REMARKABLY WELL".
2. The Creation
Step 2. Once you have your 'Power Sentiment/Statement' of intent simply write it out in all capital letters. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAULDRON FAMILY AND THEY ARE BLESSED- This is then where hairs are split. Some say remove all vowels (A, E, I, O and U) others leave them in. I personally remove them as this is the way I originally learnt and what I feel works best for me. This is your choice..
Step 3. Once the above is done simply cross out any letter that repeats itself leaving the original letter. Write out the remaining letters. Now here's the fun (and in my opinion addicting) part. First let's take the English Alphabet. Each letter you're left with you use to draw a Sigil. These letters can be drawn any size and any way up and are to form more of a weird picture. Now keep in mind some letters you don't need to be re-draw. For example if you have a "T" you already drew the "I" and an "L". Using a "B" which can also be a "D", "P", "I", "C". Drawing an "M" also covers you for "N", "V" and "W" I shall show you...
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAULDRON FAMILY AND THEY ARE BLESSED IABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAULDRON FAMILY AND THEY ARE BLESSED BSLTLY LV MY CLDRN FMLY ND THY R BLSSD
BSLTLY LV MY CLDRN FMLYNDTHYRBLSSD BSLTY V M CDRN F
B S L T Y V M C D R N F
Step 4. Some people like to encase their Sigil in a circle - being that it contained, protected and gives power, plus it focuses the energy on what's inside excluding anything outside the circle.
Another way to do this is to match the English remaining letters from your sentence with the equivalent of another alphabet such as Elder Futhark Runes, Elvish, Witches Alphabet but to name a few which is when your creativity kicks in, it's how we have the super pretty Sigils which don't resemble English at all and that is very much the point of Sigils as you'll see in the next steps.
3. The Forgotten
Step 5. If you opted to write this somewhere as a future reuse Sigil then that's fine. But this point is where you put the Sigil away and let it manifest. Perhaps even in your manifestation box!! Maybe create a manifestation box just for your Sigils!! Put it somewhere where you won't see it, won't think of it, but when you do see it it will add to the growth of it's power. Allow it to do it's thing for however longer desired time. Some people skip this step entirely, others allow a day, a day and a night, a week, one lunar cycle.. The the idea is basically 'out of sight and out of mind your subconscious takes over causing things to grow. Plus by creating this you put your intentions out there to the universe anyway!!
4. The Charge
Step 6. Now congratulations you've drawn a Sigil. You may or maynot have hidden it away for a length of time. But this is an important step as you need to 'Activate' it.. So here's a few ways we can do this..
Meditation: You can meditate on the created Sigil.
Getting to know: Sleep with it, keep it on your person, look at it, give it life.
Sex: You can think of the Sigil or not during sex but most importantly during climax.
Masturbation: You can think of the Sigil or not but most importantly during climax.
Heightened Emotions: Like climax high state of emotions such as:
During grieving a loss, great sorrow.
Dring great happiness.
During fear / scared (watch a horror movie or those screamers on YouTube).
During hysterical Laughter.
During heightened anxiety.
Asphyxiation: (please practice responsibly) Hang upside down; Do not strangle yourself or anyone - this especially goes against the "and harm none" at the point of Asphyxiation look at the Sigil. <-- I don't recommend No. 6 but I'm putting it out there as there's people that do!
Exhaustion: Go for a run, do some exercise, the part of the brain that kicks in as we strive to stay awake use that to focus on the Sigil.
Etc..
5. The Destruction
Step 7. Use it for it's intended purpose but this should result in it being destroyed (or at least this copy if you wrote down the Sigil recipe to use again) To destroy you can..
Burn (fire)
Flush away (water)
Send it out to sea (water)
Bury it in the woods (earth) or at the beach (water/earth) - away from your home if that's what your working requires.
Bury it in a planter (earth) or in your garden (earth) - at home if that's what your working required.
If you drew it in pencil you can simply erase the image or if you drew it on a white board.
You can shred the paper into pieces and put it in the bin.
Etc..
Finished!
An alternative for entire destruction, those that wish to reuse, may wish to do so in a productive way.. Some simply write it and/or the recipe in their Books (Book of Shadows, Grimoire, Spell Book, Witches Journal etc etc..) and some like to make a bigger use of it like drawing it and having it framed on a wall (especially good for protection), carve it into wood and have it as a statue in your home, write it on paper and roll it up and put it inside a witches ball and gift to a friend, have it tattooed (please tattoo responsibly) - make it such a permanent thing in your homes that it becomes part of the furniture so you don't see it any more; you know like that new figurine for your collection you keep smiling and looking at then after a few weeks you don't even really notice it any more as you're now occupied with your new wall hanging..
Using skull candles to change, influence, affect and/or open one's mind...
First, and most common, skull candles are used to change/affect/influence someone else's mind. For example to make someone think about you, to make someone forget you, to aid someone's memory.. And more.
Second, and less common, skull candles can be used to make changes to your mind or thinking, bring about something you want be it memory, mental behaviour change, make you forget or remember, bring about a mental clarity. Show a mental/psychic link between you and another.
Using a colour representation of your choice. Though typically they are
White - all purpose / positive.
Black - negative / dark / grounding.
Red - love / affection.
Green - money / prosperity
And so on.
I make my own skull candles. I have a variety of skull styles and sizes..
But purchased ones work too.
This is how I do it:
I put in thought about what it is I want to achieve (intention). I will select relevant herbs, oils, stones and/or other objects to infuse into my wax while melting prior to pouring. - If you purchase your candle make sure you cleanse and consecrate, think about your intention, select the previous mentioned items to add later.
Once the candle is made, set and ready. {Some people like to blindfold the skull candle, so the unknowing intended can not see who is doing this working or what has been done!}
Carve into the bottom creating a well. This is where items can be placed.. (also known as loaded / loading candles.) Such as writing the intention on paper 3 times folding it up and placing it inside - with the name of the person/people it's regarding and/or a photo.. description and/or personal items such as hair, fingernails, or something generally belonging to that person. (optional add the previously mentioned to a bought candle or more herbs, oils and/or other items to a self made). Take the removed wax and cover the well in the bottom of the candle. Seal it all back up. (optional. carve the name and/or intention into the side, front or back of the skull. - most people choose back for doing working on others as they can't see the back of their head!)
Meditate, praying, ritual, spell or whatever feels right to you to add your energy, intentions and perhaps additional oils into the candle each night for a week. Pay attention to moon phase new moon will be great for new things and positive improvements, leading up to the full moon will work best with bringing and building up positive such as making someone come to you, improving memory, aiding with mental health improvements.. The full moon is more or less an all rounder for workings of both kinds. Leading away from the full moon works best for banishing and getting rid of negative energies, bad relationships, aiding in ending bad thoughts, removing and all those types of workings - at least in my experience and from most things I've read.
Once the 7 nights has passed or the relevant number that feels right to you or the night that corresponds best for you.. Such as there may be a night that is the perfect moon phase, it's in the person's star sign, it has all the relevant astrological aspects and requirements this would be much stronger to do on night 3 than wait until night 7 when the moon is in the wrong phase, it's astrological ratios don't corresponds with you/the intended or otherwise.. So work with what is best to suits.
Upon the burning night you will want to (if you didn't before you might want to engrave the candle - such as the name of the intended, usually I wait until this stage as a final this is my intention step) then dress the candle with oils, anointing. Add herbs if you so wish. Place on a candle stand in a fire safe bowl adding sand and/or salt to the bowl for grounding and additional fire protection.
State again what your intentions and requirements are for this candle and its contents; once again reaffirming your goals three times.
Light the candle and meditate over the flame. Let the candle flame completely burn out. Do not interfere with the flame. You can put your hands around the outside of the candle a good 4-6" away making sure your skin and clothes are not near the flame. Stare into the flame and scry or meditate while repeating the desired intention.
HERE IS A GREAT VISUAL WALKTHROUGH BY YOUTUBER Madame Pamita
Once the flame burns out you may have seen a vision in the flame, any smoke from the paper or items, the candle may have only half burnt for example only burnt down the right side of the skull. Look into those correspondences..
- Left hemisphere processes linear and sequence. It's also the side of the brain that processes verbal information such as speech. Logical. Analytical. Objective. (so the answer you seek may be in talking, or taking a more logical or objective approach) etc..
- Right hemisphere is more creative. Intuitive. Thoughtful. Subjective. (so the answer you may see may be in a creative outlet or take time to be thoughtful and perhaps meditate on the subject. Or take into consideration that person's thoughts and what could be in their mind) etc..
Delving further into left brain, right brain functions and characteristics. Or associations. May reveal some answers. In other situations it's a case of allowing that intent to be taken into the air, into energy force and put out those desired intentions and wait. Not everything is black and white and you don't you get answers at once or even how you may expect.
Once done the remaining contents should be disposed of. Correctly..
-Negative / neutral / bad energy working such as banishing or removing - toss it away in the bin, bury it at sea or generally take away from your home...
-Positive / invoking / good energy workings bury in your garden, reform into a wearable charm (such as in a vial), bury in a plantpot in your house, keep in a jar under your bed...
My latest experience 1st August 2017 (Blessed Lammas wishes today.)
Me I have no problem sharing this. Tonight I put out my intentions between me and this other person and during burning I got a phone call out the blue from said person and while the candle was still burning down the right side. We discussed our situation at hand. And while my intention was that I wanted things to either move on and progress and develop now or end and be done with because we seem to have been at this stalemate for months where we just 'are' and it's not healthy. As the conversation turned so did the candle as the majority right side burnt away with the paper that oddly didn't smoke or behave like burning paper at all. Sadly it seems this has taken a turn for the worst of the two and it would appear it is the end of that relationship, I could be wrong. But at least it is a development and not just same thing different day... I wonder how this will unfold.
Imogen xo
2-3 Hours later (update) So tonight is riddled with emotional Magick. I did said skull candle spell I've been working on a while and tonight is burn night. The intention was to influence my boyfriend (long distance) to either make the effort to come see me NOW or break up with me. During the first 5 minutes he called... (out the blue) and we talked - we broke up. I'm very sad but at least it's progress one way or another.. Trying to get 'ok' with it by basically blogging and focusing on learning new things. I went to make a cup of tea and that exact area where I was sat doing the skull candle before I found a black craft feather!! I have absolutely no idea where it has come from!! No clue!! So I Googled the meaning of 'black feathers' which apparently means a spirit is watching over me and I am protected and loved and/or a sign of clarity that I'm on the right path. Now I feel somewhat emotional... Shaking.. Actually. Back feather meaning http://www.wishingmoon.com/what-do-black-feathers-mean/
