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).
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 *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.