Please, Throw Away Your Trash

Embrace every aspect of yourself, even the darkest, most painful and wicked parts of your psyche. Become a whole human being, not a fragmented creature who is in denial of the trash they house within ... love yourself, every bit of you. Such a position is not a new one, but it is one that I have been coming across as of late and thought I'd very briefly comment on.

The argument runs something like this: The goodness that many think they are is a lie, a falsehood, a sham created  in order to make themselves appear good and righteous, both to others and to themselves. This lie, this denial of the darker aspects of the self ( i.e., the shadow) bifurcates the psyche and causes a whole host of mental, emotional, and physical problems. By becoming conscious of the shadow and embracing it, one becomes whole and healthier. Moreover, one lives in truth rather than a lie.

With just a little bit of honest introspection I'm sure we can all find some previously undiscovered trash scattered about our minds. We are indeed deluding ourselves if we think our house is clean. Becoming conscious of the shadow is indeed important. But being conscious of the shadow is not the same thing as accepting and welcoming the darker aspects of the shadow into one's life. I find the very notion that we should love and accept ourselves (and that others should love and accept us) just as we are, trashy-dark-shadow side included, to be rather repulsive. Trash stinks! By accepting one's trash and permitting it to remain one will always stink. I believe it would be more healthy (and sanitary) if people would locate the trash housed within their psyche and haul it to the dumpster where it belongs. "Personal growth," ... I think that's what it's called.

Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil (Free of Charge While Supplies Last)

Does life have you down? Are you experiencing unwelcome bouts of anxiety. Do you see yourself as unsuccessful? If so, are you looking to turn that anxious frown upside down and become the success you always dreamed of becoming? Then look no further. Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil is the answer to your prays. Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil is specifically designed to alleviate anxiety and unhappiness while drawing success your way. And as a bonus feature, Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil  includes a mantra (Cupahay Tinrez) that, when recited, will increase the speed at which serenity, happiness and success begin to flow into your life. While you may be put off by the amateurish design of Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil, its potency will amaze you. How much would you pay for such a miraculous item - 5 dollars, 25 dollars, 25,000 dollars? Certainly, no monetary value can be assigned to such a powerful magical tool. Yet, on account of the magnanimous nature of its creator, Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil can be yours FREE of charge. Simply download the above Sigil, print it and hang it in a prominent place in your home or office in order to reap the rewards it will bestow upon you.

Disclaimer: Karmaghna's Talismanic Sigil is inert. Batteries not included.

A Working Sigil

Prepare to Invoke The Powers of the 7 Classical Planets

Unfortunately, this notice is terribly late.  "Eleusyve Productions is announcing a 10 hour YouTube event – livestreaming video of all the productions of the Rites of Eleusis they’ve completed with LIVE commentary tomorrow: Saturday Nov 28, 2015 12noon – 10PM PST. " http://zeroequalstwo.net/eleusyve-livestreaming-all-productions-of-the-rites-of-eleusis-saturday-november-28-starting-12noon-pst/

Perennial Religious Ideology: How do we end terrorism? (Non-magical content)

Religious ideology remains even after the death of its current adherents. So, while killing terrorists may satisfy the desire for revenge, it will not make the world a safer place to live. New terrorists will simply find their justification among the corpses of those extremists that precede them. What the hell are we to do?

So You Don't Believe In Magic!

"Bulgarian magician Orfi" by Nikolaeva84 CC BY-SA 3.0

A long standing proposition for many within the magical community (both past and present) has been that belief in the efficacy of magic is a necessary prerequisite for any magical operation to be successful. With just a little bit of reading one can see that this proposition is upheld by both traditional and non-traditional magical practitioners alike. Yet, my personal success at attaining results through magical technique devoid of belief in the efficacy of magic clearly demonstrates (to me at least), that belief is not a necessary element for magical success. Interestingly, there was even one occurrence (during a particularly "dangerous" evocation) where I was afraid that the magic might work that I attained some incredible results. It should be pointed out that I did not "disbelieve" in the utility of magic, but rather held to the notion that it might be effective. I'm not sure if magical success can be had while disbelieving its efficacy, but I am convinced that non-belief in magic while leaving open the possibility that it might work does not ensure failure.(Interestingly, it is my magical successes (devoid of a belief in the utility of magic) that has begun to nurture a belief in the power of magic to bring about results.)
So, I say, give magic a try even if you have doubts about the ability of magic to manifest your desires. As long as you leave enough room in your head for the idea that magic might work, you may just be surprised at the results.   

Let Us Just ...

photo credit: Kool Cats Photography over 2 Million Views via photopin cc

 
                                             Let Us Just ...

                             Let us just be together for a moment 

                             and enjoy the stilled silence 

                             where no words need be spoken.

                             Let us just feel together for a moment

                             and watch the darkness overtake the twilight.

                             Let us just cherish each other for a moment

                             before the torrent of life takes us away yet again.

I'm Training in The KKK

"Personal Training at a Gym - Cable Crossover" by www.localfitness.com.au CC BY-SA 3.0

Did I get your attention? Good. I'm not joining the Ku Klux Klan, however, but rather going to begin working through Peter J. Carroll's systematic magical training program entitled Liber KKK (Here KKK stands for Kaos Keraunos Kybernetos, which Caroll translates as "The Chaos Thunderbolt Steers All Things"). Some time back I posted that I was about to work through a magical manual/training program written by Geof Gray-Cobb - namely, his The Miracle of New Avatar Power (you can read that here). While I had every intention of doing so, the more I read of the material and worked with the system (albeit, only in its beginning stages) the more I began to realize that this method of approaching magic was not for me. I know I will be chastised by many for not having the determination to work the system once chosen, but try as I might, I could not follow this system and be intellectually honest with myself. The rituals seemed hokey to me and I could not bring myself to believe in the existence of the entities that facilitated their success. So, I now find myself about to embark on a journey through Liber KKK. I have actually wanted to work through Liber KKK for some time but for whatever reasons never did so. Now is a good time. I must admit though, the pace at which I will complete the exercises will be painfully slow. There is no need for me to rush through the work. I wish to savor the workings and drink them in like a fine wine. Before I begin the first stage or "Conjuration One" of Carroll's work, however, I will set out to devise a suitable banishing ritual for myself. I'm not fond of The Gnostic Banishing Ritual (suggested by Carroll), and while I find The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram a powerful and effective banishing ritual, I can not share in its effectiveness since I remain outside those currents of magic for which it is best suited.
While magical diaries are advocated by most practicing magicians, I can not bring myself to use them. In lieu of a diary, I will use this blog to record some of my successes and failures along the way. Hopefully, someone will find something I record to be helpful.  

The Passing Of Geshe Lhundup Sopa

Geshe Lhundup Sopa
1923-2014

Truly the end of an era. May you pass through the bardo swiftly and safely, Geshe-la.

 

Shhh...I Will Be NAPping

"Taking A Nap" by Rosino CC-BY-2.0

Last year I became aware of a system of magic detailed in a "modern grimoire" entitled The Miracle of New Avatar Power written by Geof Gray-Cobb. Intrigued by many of the claims of magical success attributed to this work found on the Internet, I decided to obtain a copy for myself. My initial reaction to the book was not favorable. It seemed bogus or hokey. In his book the author promotes a system of magic that functions due to an all-powerful force intrinsic to human beings (though dormant and unrecognized by most) that can accomplish anything. Anything? That's an awfully big claim, indeed. Moreover, the success stories presented in the book seem incredible and contrived. Time after time we read of an individual going from rags to riches in virtually no time at all. Despite my initial reaction to the book I now find myself preparing to work with this system of magic. Why? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe because I'm desperate to find a way to make changes in my life that I am unable to presently accomplish. Maybe its because I know that reality extends beyond my house of beliefs and that there may be truth in the author's claims that I am currently prevented from seeing. You may ask, "How can you possibly hope to succeed with this magical system if you don't BELIEVE?" Well, first off, I'm very good at suspending disbelief. Secondly, the author assures his readers that belief in his system is not required for success. He makes it very clear in the beginning portion of his book that he presents his system in such a way that it bypasses the conscious mind and begins to awaken the New Avatar Power  (NAP for short) within the unconscious mind. So, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by exploring this system of magic. As I do so, I will post anything that seems noteworthy.

For those interested, there is a whole Forum section devoted to NAP at Evocationmagic.com
Also, Brother Moloch has some interesting things to say about NAP in a three part blog post, the first of which can be found here.

A Public "Thank You" To Saint Expedite.

THANK YOU, SAINT EXPEDITE, FOR QUICKLY PROVIDING ME WITH A NEW JOB AND DELIVERING ME FROM AN INTOLERABLE WORK ENVIRONMENT. MAY THIS POST INCREASE YOUR RENOWN, ELEVATE YOUR STATUS, AND GIVE HOPE TO THOSE WHO NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

Curse Them With Kindness!

A few weeks ago I found myself in need of performing some instant magic. As I did not have the time to construct and perform a elaborate ritual, I decided that the best course of action would be to create a thrall/servitor to work my will. This thrall/servitor would have only one purpose ... to create obstacles that would prevent two individuals from perusing a particular course of action. During the birthing process I instructed the thrall/servitor to put obstacles on the path that these two individuals where traversing. At the time I saw these obstacles to be negative in nature in that they would thwart the plans being made by direct sabotage. Sometime later, however, something rather interesting occurred. My thrall/servitor contacted me and informed me that my will could be more easily accomplished if it could "bless" the two individuals with favorable events rather than thwart their plans through sabotage. I had not thought of this approach when I created the thrall/servitor, so I was somewhat surprised when my little creation suggested it. In any case, I gave the thrall/servitor permission to work my will by bringing about some favorable events for my "victims."

So, the moral of this story is ... favorable events can also function as obstacles to a particular path. Moreover, the victims will never realize they've been cursed.

*Just in case you are interested, my thrall/servitor failed to carry out my will and was promptly destroyed.

The Three Modes of Magick in Donald Michael Kraig's "Moden Magick"

*While I was cleaning out my computer recently I happened upon several files that I created ages ago but had forgotten about. Before deleting them I thought I would post them here. Below are some initial thoughts I had about DMK's discussion of magick in its three modes of operation.

I have a problem with Kraig's discussion concerning the definition of magick in Chapter One. I do not have a problem with Kraig's definitions per se. My problem arises when Kraig gives examples of the various magickal modes (White, Grey, Black) in actual practice. In Kraig's definitions of the three magickal modes, each mode of magical operation is seen as a method for bringing about a willed event. In White Magick the willed event is the Knowledge and Conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel, whereas the willed event in Grey Magick is something beneficial to oneself or others, and the willed event in Black Magick is something detrimental to oneself or others (irrespective of whether one wills them consciously or unconsciously). Thus, each mode of magic is set apart and distinguished by the particular event that is willed. In Kraig's examples, however, he tries to show how one magical mode can become another as a result of secondary events that are the result of engaging in one of the three magickal modes. For instance, Kraig shows how a ritual to obtain a thousand dollars (good for oneself = Grey Magick) can become Black Magick if, for example, your uncle dies and you are given the money from his estate. In this example, Black Magick results not from that which is willed (attaining a thousand dollars, i.e., a good to oneself) but rather an unwilled negative secondary event to the primary willed event. This is clearly at odds with his definitions regarding the three modes of magick. If we follow Kraig's lead, a Black Magickal operation could become White. For example, a Black Magical operation to make another ill (willing something detrimental to another) is transformed into White Magick when the ill person (or his family members) realizes the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of existence and seeks out a spiritual path (a good to another). I think this problem arises because Kraig wants to attach some type of moral (karmic) responsibility to a magickal operation irregardless of what is willed by the one undertaking the ritual. According to the Buddhist tradition, however, to receive full karmic retribution three things must occur: 1) the willing of some event, 2) engaging in an action to cause the willed event, and 3) the manifestation of the willed event. If any of these three are missing, one does not experience full karmic retribution.

The Dance Of Earth Spirits

While I was cleaning out my computer recently I happened upon several files that I created ages ago but had forgotten about. Before deleting them I thought I would post them here. 

This morning I drove my wife to our veterinarian. As I waited outside in the van I thought that I, being in a rather isolated mountainous area, would work with some earth energy (Franz Bardon style). After completing my meditations, I began to notice my surroundings more vividly and became more aware than usual of the living energy of the neighboring trees and grasses. While observing the scenery I got the impression of something playful weaving around the trunks of the trees. Shortly thereafter, I got the impression of something else dwelling near the ground, at the base of the trees. It was the impression of something very old. It was not a negative impression, but I did feel a little queasy in its presence. I then decided to observe the trees near me. The closest tree gave me the impression that it wanted to be played with. I instantly felt the desire to go up to the tree and feel its needles and bark. I wanted to climb into it. I thought that if I were a child I most certainly would have spent some time exploring this tree. A short distance behind this tree grew two others. The impressions I got from these two were somewhat mixed. They seemed friendly enough but rather preoccupied. They were of different varieties and their limbs were intertwined. The impression I got was that they were new lovers, too busy with themselves to be bothered by me. To their left were two other trees whose limbs were somewhat also intertwined. They too were a couple, but were not new to each other … they had grown old together. The biggest and dominant of the two partially obscured the smaller from my view (though I don't recall having this thought at the time, I think now that the big dominate one was the female of the pair). While I received no negative impression from this couple, I clearly sensed that they wanted to be left alone.

Air Travel, A Tree Spirit and Cake.

I've probably mentioned this at least once or twice over the years, but I hate flying...with a passion! I'll do it of course, if I absolutely have to, but I'd rather drive irrespective of the distance and travel time. So, when I find that I can't avoid air travel I always take along my Archangel Michael Golden Coin and ask Michael for protection during my travels. This time around, however, I got a little unexpected protection from a spirit that manifested in the branches of a tree as I lay gazing out the window hours before my flight.

At first the spirit's "face" seemed pleasant enough, but gradually it began to shift into what I perceived to be a more sinister expression. So, I was a little leery when the "spirit" offered to make sure I was unharmed during my travels. Of course, spirits oftentimes demand compensation for their assistance. This "spirit" did not disappoint! It asked for a "special offering" in exchange for its services. I immediately turned it down as I did not like the sound of "special offering." However, after considering its offer for a minute and realizing that I might be too quick to judge, I decided to enquire as to what it wanted. It wanted me to eat a piece of white cake upon my safe return home. WTF? I mean REALLY...eat a piece of white cake. That certainly took me by surprise. Well, anyway, the agreement was made.

Above is a pic of the "cake" I had to choke down when I got back safely (It's coconut cream pie and not technically a cake, but I got the feeling that it would be acceptable despite not being what the "spirit" had initially intended). I have some suspicions as to why it chose this form of payment. Probably had something to do with requiring me to undermine some body magic I am currently engaged in. In this respect it was a little sinister after all.

What strange form of payment has a spirit requested of you?
 

A Tibetan Buddhist Spell Book

Chances are that after you have perused a number of books on Buddhism you will have learned something of this religion’s history and philosophical underpinnings. Chances are slim that you will have learned much of anything about the magical practices that appear scattered throughout Buddhist texts and have been put to use by Buddhists since the earliest days of Buddhism’s initial formation (Ok, OK, there are some notable exceptions, but works on Buddhist magic are proportionately small in comparison to other areas of Buddhist inquiry). Just so you know, I’m not talking about Buddhist magic as some do, as a method of personal transformation from an ordinary human being to an extraordinary being, such as an arhat, bodhisattva or buddha, but rather I’m talking about pure practical magic that gets stuff done. I won’t argue against viewing human transformation as a magical act, I only want to point out that there is a more worldly side to Buddhist magic than that. You can find Buddhist dharinis and mantras being used in spellwork, magical amulets (such as Gau boxes in Tibet) being used for protection,* the use of magical daggers,** and many Buddhists who specialize in the practice of practical magic.***

Anyway, in my search for tidbits of information on Buddhist magic I came across an interesting find and I thought I would share it with you…it’s a Tibetan Buddhist spell book that was found among the Dunhuang Caves in Western China. Here is a link to a blog post about the spell book written by Sam van Schaik (the blog post…not the spell book), who is doing work with the Dunhuang collection of manuscripts (link). And here is a link to the spell book itself, if you’d like to read it for yourself (link).
_________________________________________________________

 *If you are interested in Tibetan amulets, you might want to check out Tadeusz Skorupski’s Tibetan Amulets. I looked at this book years ago but can’t recall what I thought of it. It has 2 poor reviews on Amazon, but I don’t find either of the reviews worthy of much consideration.

**For the magical use of daggers in Tibet you could take a look at the dated work entitled Dagger Blessing: The Tibetan Phurpa Cult : Reflections and Materials by Thomas Marcotty or simply look at my blog post about this book here.

*** For Buddhist magical specialists in Tibet, do not pass up the chance to read CIVILIZED SHAMANS: Buddhism in Tibetan Societies (Smithsonian Series in Ethnographic Inquiry) by Geoffrey Samuel.

   

Four-stepped Spirit Offering.

 

There is a myriad of ways to make spirit offerings. What follows below is merely MY way of making an offering to certain beings that exist outside of the physical realm. It’s not an elaborate procedure, but it works for me. I like to keep things as simple as possible. There is nothing particularly special or powerful about the way I make my offering. I simply outline it here with the hope that it will generate some ideas in the mind of anyone looking to construct their own offering ceremony.

While I have offered incense to the spirits in the past, I currently bestow upon the spirits a portion of the universal energy that I breathe into my body and discharge through my hands. It is my intention that this energy will transform into whatever is most needed or desired by the spirits. This breathing in and release of energy is undertaken four times, with each occurrence being directed at a certain group of spirits.

Offering #1: Hostile spirits.

The first offering of energy is made to those spirits that are hostile towards me. I request that these hostile spirits accept the offering as payment for any misdeed I have done to incur their wrath, irrespective of whether this misdeed was done willfully or in ignorance. I also ask that these spirits join the group of spirits to which I will make my next offering, those spirits that assist and protect me (see Offering #2). I express my hope that they do this so that we may work for the benefit of each other whenever possible.

Offering #2: Spirits that assist and protect.

The second offering of energy is made to those spirits that act kindly towards me, protecting me and assisting me in my life. I offer the energy to these spirits as payment for their assistance and to demonstrate my gratitude.

Offering #3: Neutral spirits.

The third offering of energy is made to those spirits that are neutral towards me, those that are neither hostile nor friendly. I ask that these spirits join the group of spirits that assist and protect me (see Offering #2). I also express my hope that they do this so that we may work for the benefit of each other whenever possible.

Offering #4: Deceased relatives.

The fourth offering of energy is made to my deceased relatives. I offer the energy to my ancestors as an expression of my gratitude for all that they did and sacrificed for their families. I also thank them for their role in bringing about my existence and for their part in shaping the positive qualities of my psyche.

 

Body Magic and Temporary Tattoos Revisited

 

 

Several weeks ago I blogged about a method of utilizing liquid eyeliner to create a temporary tattoo that could be used in a magical working (read that here). Since that time I have employed that method of tattoo construction to work a bit of body magic (which is, by the way, manifesting far better than anticipated). Consequently, I think it would be a good idea to offer some comments regarding that method.

First, since I did not have tracing paper, I took the suggestion of video #1 and used wax paper as a medium to transfer the tattoo onto my arm. Unfortunately, no matter what drawing device I used (liquid eyeliner, ballpoint pen, sharpie marker), I could not get the image to transfer to my skin. So I give the wax paper technique a thumbs-down! I simply had to free-hand the image.
 

Second, the liquid bandage used to seal the tattoo actually absorbed the eyeliner and caused it to smear slightly. This was not an issue until the liquid bandage dried and started to crack in places my skin stretched during movement. As the liquid bandage cracked, it actually lifted the tattoo off the skin. If any of the bandage flaked away, it took a bit of the tattoo with it. Of course, I have to admit that I bought the cheapest liquid eyeliner I could find and the type I purchased was not water-proof, so that probably led to some of my negative results. For me, the biggest drawback to using liquid bandage to seal the tattoo is that I “lost” the tattoo when it came time to remove the bandage to fix/repair the tattoo. If the tattoo is only going to be on your skin for a short time, this is not an issue. However, since my tattoo will be on my body for weeks or possibly months, I find it inconvenient to have to completely redraw it each time I want to spruce it up.

I have found that simply drawing the tattoo with liquid eyeliner and setting it with baby powder is sufficient to keep my tattoo visible for about 24 hours, if I am able to keep it dry. Near the end of the 24 hour period (i.e., sometime the next day) I redraw the tattoo using the faded lines that still remain visible. 

   

Body Magic and Temporary Tattoos

 

I am currently in the beginning stages of planning out some body magic and thought it would be helpful if I placed one or more appropriately designed sigils on my body during the course of my working. There are numerous ways this may be accomplished. One could make such temporary magical tattoos using ink pens, markers, paints, etc. If one is going to use these items on the body for a short amount of time, they are probably not going to cause much harm, except for a possible allergic reaction. However, since I am planning to keep the sigil on my body for an extended period of time, I am somewhat concerned over the possible toxicity of any substance I would leave on my skin. I found quite a bit of disagreement on the internet (go figure!) regarding the safety of using pen and marker to mark the body.   While most of the ordinary pens and markers of today are labeled “non-toxic,” they are only declared to be so when used appropriately (e.g., when used on paper, poster board, etc.). Since “skin illustration” is not included among the “appropriate” uses for these items, I am somewhat cautious about their use on my body. After looking around I found a technique for making temporary tattoos that utilizes liquid eyeliner. Since eyeliner is intended to be placed on the skin, I figure it’s one of the better choices with respect to safety. Additionally, as some of the instructional videos illustrating this technique demonstrate, they can look very much like an authentic black/uncolored tattoo.

The items needed for this type of temporary tattoo are:

1. Liquid eyeliner

2. Powder

3. Tracing paper/wax paper (for the non-artist like me)

4. Liquid or spray bandage

5. Rubbing alcohol.    Although neither of the videos linked below shows this, you might consider cleaning the area where you are placing the tattoo with alcohol beforehand.

Rather than try to explain the technique, I have included below two videos that adequately demonstrate this method for making temporary tattoos.

When I begin my body magic, this is the technique that I will be utilizing. If you use another method of generating temporary tattoos, please share it in the comments. 

 

Calling All Sorcerers, Witches and Workers of Magick!

 

What clandestine act of sorcery are you currently brewing in your cauldron? Are you working to seduce your best friend’s gal/guy? Are you conjuring some demon hoping that it will grace you with a gazillion dollars? Whatever self serving magical act you are doing ... STOP IT NOW! Let us, the magical community, do something to bring those responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings to justice. Let’s get this/these predator/s identified and incarcerated as quickly as possible. So…say a prayer, light a candle, construct a sigil, contact your spiritual buddies or beseech your favorite god/goddess. Whatever, your method of working, let your next magical act be directed towards the IDENTIFICATION AND CAPTURE of the party/parties responsible for the callous act of violence at the Boston Marathon.