The Witching Hour Page 5
Summary
In this chapter we discussed several mental and spiritual techniques to enhance your magickal practices. Try none of them, try all of them; the choice is up to you. In the next chapter we will cover the supplies and practicalities for working with magickal powders and herbal blends.
[contents]
chapter two
Tools and Supplies
I conjure thee. These are the words I use to set in motion almost all magickal operations that I perform, including my ritual circle casting. Please note that in my tradition we start with the north; however, in many practices magickal individuals begin in the east. The choice is entirely yours.
I conjure thee, O circle of power
So that you will be for me
A boundary between the world of men and the mighty ones
A meeting of perfect love, trust, peace, and joy
Contining the power that I will raise herein
I call upon the guardians of the north, the east, the south, and the west
To aid me in this conjuration.
Thus, in the name of the Lord and Lady, do I conjure thee,
O great circle of power and protection.
As above
So below
This circle is sealed.
“I conjure thee” are the most powerful words I speak every single day. These words have great meaning for me and I use them as a powerful trigger for the manifestation of what I desire.
What do these words mean? Should you use those words?
Let’s take a look in the Oxford English Dictionary for the meaning and derivation of the word conjure. The basic Latin meaning is con, translating as “together,” and jure, “swear.” Initially, the word meant the following:
to swear together
to bind together
to band together
to combine
to make a compact by oath
To be conjure meant “to be blended,” “to appeal to something sacred,” “to restrain a negative force by calling to something higher than oneself.” As early as 1450 practitioners of Christianity were “conjuring the Trinity” (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) to do their bidding, mimicking the Pagan religions and practices before them. In 1535 there is a reference to “conjuring holy water” by “praying over it that whosoever they sprinkle therewith may receive health as well of body as of soul.”1
The idea of the word conjure representing something bad occurred when the word became linked with political uprising, witch trials, and other events in which individuals conspired against the ruling class. In the 1500s a conjuress was a sorceress. It also meant slight of hand, trickery, and deception (legerdemain). Around the same time people used the word in association with invocations, charms, and spells.2
In 1649 there is reference to this classic invocation: “I conjure thee, O creature of Galbanum, by the living God, that thou be for our defense.”
At first thought, you might assume that Galbanum3 is a demon.
Nope.
It is a gum resin used in incense and medieval medicine. In this instance, the practitioner was—through the words spoken—commanding the resin to bind to their intent. In essence, they were, by word, linking the purpose (protection, healing) to the field of the resin. “By the living God” is invoking “active (living) perfection (God).”
Herbal and Braucherei/Pow-Wow magick rely heavily on “the word.” Not the word of a divinity (although those words are used), but upon the words you speak and the way you present them to the universe. You will find a great deal of Braucherei in this book, and in my daily practice I rely heavily on these Pennsylvania German magickal techniques.
The thought creates the word. The word shapes the field. The field acts upon the body, mind, and soul.
That is Braucherei.
That is conjure.
In this book we are working with my technique of utilizing the sea of potential, the word, herbal powders and herbal blends, binding them together to enhance our development of spirituality and bring joy to ourselves, our families, and the world.
Let’s conjure!
Getting Started: Supplies, Timing, and Tips
A magickal powder is a formula of dried herbal ingredients ground and blended by the practitioner for a particular purpose, such as love, health, protection, prosperity, etc. An herbal blend is usually a high-quality mix of dried herbs chosen for their color, magickal properties, scent, and texture. Sometimes these blends are lightly ground or not at all. As all things in the universe have a unique vibratory pattern, the ingredients in a magickal powder or blend are constructed to match the energy vibrations of what you desire to manifest, thereby either attracting the object or situation to you or removing unwanted energy patterns from your field of being.
Magickal powders and herbal blends enhance your mental magicks, affirmations, meditations, rituals, spell casting, and daily living by supporting your work through color, texture, shape, and energy pattern. They help you to create a bond in the physical world and assist in building a stronger bridge to what you wish to manifest. Herbs are living tools that, when awakened to your desire, can help you to connect, create, and fulfill any purpose. Just like you, they are one with the pure, positive potential of the universe.
How Magickal Powders and
Herbal Blends Can Be Used
Similar in formulation, magickal powders and herbal blends are used in a wide variety of magickal practices and techniques. Examples include as offerings to the gods, gifts to the beloved dead, in gris-gris bags, to stuff poppets and dream pillows, for enchanted potpourri, added to incense, or scattered around empowered candles, to name just a few. Magickal powders and herbal formulas aren’t just for spellwork. They can be used in meditation, affirmations, healing salves (depending upon the ingredients), prayer bags sewed into clothing, and other spiritual practices that do not require spellcasting.
In this book most of the formulas given can be used both as herbal powders or magickal blends unless otherwise indicated. The list below is an example of the versatility of both powders and blends. Some of the suggestions work better with powders and others with blends.
loaded into candles (a small hole is hand drilled into the bottom of the candle)
sprinkled around the base of a candle
as a candle coating (wherein a candle is rolled in honey and then coated with the powder)—please note this is a highly flammable option and should be done only under controlled circumstances
used in conjuring, gris-gris, or prayer bags
stuffed into dolls, sachets, or pillows
added to blessed water, which can be sprinkled around a room, meditation area, magick circle, or left as is in the center of a table or altar
used in the laundry
added to other spell components
hidden under carpets
added to polymer clay projects (jewelry, figures, runes, etc.)
added to paint (for painting ritual tools, cards, wooden objects, etc.)
sprinkled over divination tools
poured into a ritual bowl over a petition
added to incense
rolled into petition papers that will be burned
left at the base of a tree
used as an offering in a cemetery
poured over the top of something that has been buried
placed in rattles or drums
left as offerings, particularly outdoors or on your altar
sprinkled into foot tracks
sprinkled at front and back doors of a business or living area
added to the ritual bath (body-safe herbs only)
used in spiritual cleansings
added to handcrafted soaps (body-safe herbs only)
added during the brewing process of handcrafted ca
ndles
folded into paper or cloth packets to be put in pocket, purse, wallet, or placed behind pictures
added to ritual oil that is used for anointing people (body-safe only) or for dressing magickal candles
used in sachets for clothing drawers, office drawers, in closets, etc.
added to bottle and jar magicks such a money jar, a room blessing jar, or a jar to repel unwanted influences
added into the layers of a rolled beeswax candle (only a small amount should be used, and powder should be placed near the bottom edge of the candle)
Research into magickal powders uncovers a compendium of recipes that differ from town to town, state to state, and country to country. Their use can be found in a variety of magickal practices, including Hoodoo (a magickal system), Voudon (religion), Santería (religion), Wicca/Witchcraft (religion), Druidism (religion), Braucherei (Pow-Wow system), and more. Ingredients chosen for any powder or herbal blend are influenced by individual teachers and practitioners as they learn and grow in their chosen craft, religious beliefs, cultural habits, and the availability of ingredients. This array of individuality makes formulas highly valuable.
In most cases, a formula is designed either to attract or repel unwanted energies; in the herbal world many plants have the capability of doing both. For example, chamomile is used for stress relief, banishing worry, or dissipating fear. The flowers are also added in many success and money spells to draw good fortune to you. The fruit of a peach is sweet and vibrates with the energy of success, love, and prosperity; however, the pit of the peach is poisonous and is used to protect the person who carries it and to banish hungry ghosts and astral nasties. The peach pit can also be used to dispel debt.
It is important to remember that every formula—either passed down from generation to generation or found in print—first began as an intuitive process wherein ingredients were mixed and matched to fulfill a mental need. The need may have been focused on healing, heightening one’s spiritual desires, or bringing money or food into the home. Many formulas can be used not only for powders and herbal blends but also for magickal oil and blessed water recipes as well.
Types of Herbal Powders
Where herbal blends are relatively straightforward—putting the herbs in a bowl and mixing them, perhaps adding a few drops of essential oil, fluid condenser, or a fixative such as orris root to complete the physical process—magickal powders are a bit more complicated due to the grinding process. There are basically four types of magickal powders:
Mass Market Powders: Those with a fine base talc, sometimes colored, sold in novelty stores, over the internet, or in catalogs for magickal purposes. If not made by yourself, these mass-produced formulas contain little herb and a lot of talc (sometimes arrowroot or rice flour is used). Unless you know the practices of the supplier, you have no clue who made it, what it contains, or how old it is. Talc was originally used as a base to cut costs and save time, and it could be blown quickly into the air if necessary. This type of powder is not to be ingested.
Machine-Ground Herbs from Health Food or Organic Suppliers: While these are not sold as magickal powders, they are used by magickal practitioners in their powder blends. This type of product consists of herbs and roots finely ground by a machine from a supplier whose primary function is to sell dried herbs to the public for consumption or topical use. From my experience, these powders do not retain their scent or texture and are so fine that they can be hazardous to your lungs during the mixing process, although they can be used in a pinch if you are missing an ingredient in your own powders. Another drawback is that you have no idea of the product’s age and because they are so finely ground, one herb can look much like another. When purchased in bulk for large batches of powders, this type of product cuts costs, saves time, and can be easily blown into the air. This kind of powder could be ingested depending upon the selection used. Follow supplier warnings and instructions as not all herbs sold this way are edible or safe.
Personalized Powders: The third category of powder is hand ground with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder and is coarser in nature. This type of powder is more likely to retain the original scent of the herbal ingredients. Ritual setting, hand movements, and sounds uttered during the grinding process do much to enhance the energy pattern of the powder. If color is desired, diamond glitter (used in soap-making products and gel candles) can add that “flash of Spirit” and merge with your color correspondence. Colored talc can also be utilized for this purpose; however, it is messier and can stain clothing and other materials. The practical rule here is to put color in powders that will only be seen by yourself, not those that you will use around the general public. This third type of powder is usually made by yourself or a trusted friend or practitioner, and typically contains a variety of unnatural or unusual elements chosen for their vibratory associations. Just like a recipe for a good apple pie, each ingredient is chosen for its ability to blend with the others to create the ultimate formula. Minute amounts of essential oils or fragrances can also be added to heighten both the aroma and pattern of the formula. A fluid condenser ramps up the power. Orris root is often added to personalized powders to assist in their preservation, both aroma and storage quality. This type of powder is not ingested; however, you can easily make your own herbal powders or magickal blends that comply with food-safe standards.
Food-Safe Hand-Ground Magickal Powders: Commonly used in cooking magick, these consist of standard food-quality herbs such as pepper, parsley, sage, lemon verbena, etc. As there are a wide variety of edible herbs, basic formulas are easy to grind, combine, and use, particularly if you feel your magickal powder selection is not safe from pets or children. This powder does not contain any additives.
Why Make Your Own Magickal Powders or Herbal Blends?
Making your own powders or herbal blends allows you to tailor the ingredients to a particular, private purpose. From choosing something special for your healing circle or Samhain ritual to helping your daughter dump the crappy, abusive son-in-law to asking for mental clarity in an emotionally charged situation, being able to design your own formula helps you to intimately manage the energies you wish to promote and blend your thoughts and the herbs together during the mixing and grinding process. From stress relief to good fortune, working with your mind, your hands, and the spiritual world of plants can bring great satisfaction in any situation. Making your own powders and herbal blends is an individual statement of power and allows you to intimately experience the bond of all things.
Your own magickal powders and herbal blends are extremely economical. Powders cost less to make, do not waste our natural resources, are easy to store and simple to use, can be mixed with many magickal practices, and lend well to secrecy. “To be silent” is a high priority if you are looking at magick as a science governed by quantum physics, where the fewer observers, the better! As significant quantities of the herb are not needed by the practitioner for either powders or blends, when shopping for ingredients one can choose the higher-priced organics, which usually carry a better aroma and are of better quality. If you wish to gather herbs from the wild, little is needed to dry for your personal magickal cupboard, thus conserving our wildcrafting resources.
If you raise your own herbs, making powders and herbal blends allows your enchanted garden harvest to last through the long, cold months of winter. Since you have grown the herbs yourself, you know their age and, very importantly, you know how they grew, what you put in the soil, what rituals you performed in the garden to help them grow, and what the season was like. Here, as a gardener, you have communed with the living spirit of the plant. You have lived the bond between plant and human through watering, weeding, touching, caring, or perhaps just observing, depending upon the nature of the plant. You know what was in the soil, the angle of the sun across the plants any given day, and perhaps rushed to save them a time or two from frost, hail, or violent storms. You may have already
performed lots of magick surrounded by those living plants, perhaps a summer solstice ritual in the garden or a Mabon celebration with friends and family as you harvested some of the plants. You may have learned the best way to dry those plants for the greatest yield, both for food and for magick. Here, the bond of being, the oneness of the all, has already been experienced with those plants, creating a stronger platform for your magickal work.
Making magickal powders and herbal blends can be a fun lesson in teaching students. Not only are the students able to take something home with them, they quickly learn the properties and correspondences of the herbs, grasp the importance of the ceremony chosen, and experience a broad range of magickal techniques in creating one simple formula. From selecting whole dried herbs, they become more intimate with the magickal plant world. They learn consistency, texture, color. Most importantly, students learn that the powder is an alchemical pattern in itself that can be enhanced by the spiritual practices used in its creation and become a powerhouse in their personal magick. All plants have their own individual DNA, just like humans, and their pattern of individuality combines with your work to create a powerful tool in the magickal powder or herbal blend.
Magickal Powder and Herbal Blend Additives
Powder and herbal blend formulas are often unusual due to a variety of additives. These additives are used to strengthen the formula, knitting the desire tighter to the herbal bond and creating a unique bridge to the ultimate manifestation.
Additives can include ground gems, stones, feathers, shells, and bones; ashes of a petition or photo; graveyard dirt (of which there are several varieties); saltpeter (highly flammable), iron dust, rust, and glitter; shredded and pulverized paper money, newsprint, pictures of saints or gods and goddesses, parchment talismans, rune pictures, printed words of power or intent, pictures of a goal, names on a business card or court document (use a copy), a logo from a company or school, a phone number, internet IP address, or tarot cards; dirt from a bank, a jail, a successful corporation, your job, or the property of someone who has been trying to hurt you; scrapings from a car, gravestone, church, or statuary; naturally shed cat whiskers (for balance) and cat claws (for protection); a dog’s tooth (naturally lost, not taken) to command people; salt, sugar, colored powder, eggshell; resins such as myrrh, dragon’s blood, frankincense, or copal; brick dust or pulverized rune stones; menstrual blood, saliva; essential oils (one or two drops only), liquid fragrance (one or two drops only), and my favorite fluid condensers (which you will learn how to make in this book).