Greetings folks,

As many of you are aware, there's a massive polar storm causing crazy temperature drops throughout most of the US. If you're in an area affected by this, please be safe & stay warm. Layer up, get a fire going, and stay inside where possible.

Blessings,
Chris

​Greetings folks, I hope this Monday has greeted you well & that your respective weekends were enjoyable.

I've been exchanging emails with a dear friend of mine and something he said got me thinking about a concept worth bringing to the table: offerings of gratitude. In my line of work, one spends a lot of time working to bring various desires and wants into manifestation, and this gives me a greater field of data to observe and understand. Through much in the way of analysis on my part, I've found a few trends and I seek to share one of those trends with you today.

It has been my experience that those who are consistently thankful for what they've got tend to receive more in the way of boons than those who are selfish & entitled. Neither attitude is immune to disappointment, but both attitudes have a direct effect on the nature of the magical effects achieved, and the difference between what these mindsets receive in turn is generally pretty staggering.

There are paths in which this is simply understood, and this concept is essentially the basis for the ideas around the Law of Attraction. If we boil it down, the takeaway is essentially that by being positive & appreciative of the boons we have in our lives, we're going to enjoy more of those boons. With spirits like St. Expedite, its simply well known that if you thank him publicly, more good things tend to occur.

I would suggest that you use this to your advantage and offer thanks to the spirits you work with for any and all boons brought to your table. Be mindful of what you ask for and further mindful of what you receive in turn, as gratitude is a currency of serious worth. We all like to work for those who are appreciative of our efforts, and the same can be said for spirits. ;)

Blessings,
SE

One of the more consistent areas of discussion that comes to my door centers around the idea of creating opportunities. Its been my experience that folks often look to cultivate these wonderful circumstances through overt, powerful-feeling extremes, though that's not often the appropriate response.

It is instead more useful to edge forward, one step at a time, being mindful of what you're trying to create without overdoing it. Too much force applied at the wrong time will destabilize oneself enough that taking advantage of fortunate occurences will become arduous. Better instead to conserve energy while taking one step at a time, ever mindful of the ability to create advantageous circumstances through chain reactions.

In whatever you seek, be it friendship or love, gain or stability, these things are achieved through time and consistent efforts, not through grand displays. ;)

Blessings,
SE

This quote, penned above, is something I heard of a voice deep, full of resonance and emotion. I am quite familiar with this voice, as he's been alongside me for many, many years now.

Normally, I don't share these things with others, but its clear that he wanted those words spoken here. They are to be the basis for a lesson, and so here we are.

We get bent out of shape, in life, over the institutions we see and interact with. So enclosed and ensorcelled are we by our Office that we forget what occurs outside of whatever institution we represent. We are not defined by these things, however, and we become so enamored by what they represent to others that we forget to become enriched by them.

Take pride in your vocation, but do not let life's busy-ness take you away from what is important. Don't let it dissuade you from time with your families, nor keep you from being a decent person. Those things matter to an extreme, as when its time to call for aid, those who have watched you make an ass of yourself will remember.

These are essentially "shower thoughts", but it strikes me as an important memo to share. 

Enjoy your day.
~PN/-SE


PS: Your station can change in an instant. Who you are at your core cannot.

...To ourselves. Yep, not the usual discussionary point here, as we're all well-aware that keeping promises to spirits is of import. But what of keeping them to ourselves? That's hardly ever thought through, to the point where folks make their New Years Resolutions and then essentially expect not to make the most of them or otherwise follow through. What kind of precedent does that set?

Ultimately, we are spirits too, and our Holy Guardian Angel and our guides are the ones we're making promises to. If we fail to follow through with those agreements with ourselves, we're failing to honor them. That creates some animosity, at the best of times, and it can darken the interconnection you and they share.

Food for thought. Hope each of you is having a good week!
-SE

PS: As a PSA, we have a pretty substantial lunar event coming up this weekend, so be sure to take care of all your prep now!

​One of the topics that came up on a board I moderate is the idea that a magician is immune to worldly pains or damages, and that strikes me as being worth discussing here. We're all human beings, and we exist on this planet for a reason. Part of that reason is to learn, to grow, and to essentially achieve the elevation of self that leads to the elevation of the world around us. Magi deal with this in what is perhaps a far more direct fashion, and it leads to far greater change and upheaval than what one would normally be experienced by someone who doesn't have that kind of background, and this means that the risks are, by extension, of more substantial magnitude. 

This also means that we have a greater skill in our ability to work within the world. To make do, as it were. I got to thinking about this when a friend was laid low by some seriously negative medical and financial circumstances. Its been awful to watch, but he's making do & healing from the debacle, which is lovely to see and witness. But it also brought up the opportunity to have this kind of discussion here, lest it be overlooked.

If you find yourself falling flat on your face, that's ok. Its a part of life for all of us, and none of us are immune. How you choose to respond, however, speaks volumes and changes your trajectory sharply. When that occurs, make a point of doing what you can to inch forward, one shuffle at a time if you have to. If you can run, run. If you can walk, walk. If you can crawl, crawl.

Make. Do. You've got it in you, and even incremental change adds up over time.

Blessings,
SE

​Hey folks, this is a life hack and a useful tip towards success. When you find yourself stuck and frustrated, without an end in sight, find a way to win. You’re not going to walk into all situations and walk out victorious, so when that doesn’t happen, find a way to create a benefit from that situation. 

If you’re getting fired from your job, use it as an opportunity to gain the support of coworkers & as a means of finding greener pastures somewhere else. 

If your wife is leaving you and there’s no remedy in sight, make your peace with it and use it as an opportunity to learn a lesson or three. Then, when you’ve hit the gym and redefined yourself and your standards, let that new person come to you. If you play your cards right, you’ll end up with an upgrade. 

The same goes for any other kind of trouble. There’s always an “out”, but it’s up to you to find one. If you become too mired to see that exit strategy, talk to someone who can help you find your way. 

I don’t expect people to enjoy terribly this post. It’s a life lesson and it’s not meant to be pleasant. When magic cannot achieve your aims, it’s clear that you are making the wrong choices in life. Don’t make the mistake of falling in love with potential. Instead, take the memo your guides are dropping for you and move forward with your life. 

Don’t let your pride or insistence become your undoing. 

Blessings,
SE

If you find yourself getting stuck in life, find a way to grow from it.  Nature abhors a vacuum, and growth tends to change our situation just enough to create one. The more you push that envelope in lieu of becoming complacent, the more external change conspires to fill that vacuum for you. 

It might sound a bit crazy, but it’s one of those wonderful observable phenomenons.  Use it to your benefit. 

Just some food for thought. 
-SE

Hey there folks,

In relation to my last post on taking back control in 2019, I thought I'd talk a little about the herbs that are controlling in nature here. That's a subject that gets talked about some, but its not enough for my liking.

There are more than a few out there, so I'll be starting with a short list of herb names, their Latin identifiers where possible, and their virtues so that new & practiced hands alike can make use of the information herein.

High John

For starters, we've got the old standard known as High John Root or High John the Conqueror. Its a staple of  many hoodoo-centric conjure practices, and as a result it can be a bit difficult to find. From what research I've done, High John is a member of the Ipomoea family of herbs, though which specific subspecies tends to be a subject of hot debate. I've had really good luck with Ipomoea jalapa and Ipomoea pandurata, but your mileage may vary and you should use what you've got access to locally where possible.

These are a relative of sweet potatoes and Morning Glory varieties, so there's a fair bit to work with here. If you cannot gain access to one of the two specific Latin names mentioned above, look for a Morning Glory type with flowers that are colored according to your needs. If you're looking to straight up control another person in a general sense, pick purple flowers. If you're looking for financial growth, and thus want to inspire your boss to be kind during your reviews, go with a Blue or Yellow Morning Glory. Love? Pink and Red. 

The seeds should not be ingested, as they have a substance in them that can cause you to hallucinate. Bear that in mind if you have small children or animals around. 

If you can get the roots, they should remain whole, as its from their wholeness that they derive their power. You can place a whole High John root into an oil and consecrate it as a means of creating a Compelling Oil.

The seeds should be crushed before use, as the act of macerating them seems to wake up the spirit within and make it more compelling my nature. This is likely owed to the hallucinogenic properties thereof, and once crushed they can be mixed into a fixing powder to be used with candle magic or placed in a sachet to be worn around the neck to create the ability to compel others to do as you ask.

High John works by causing others to want to impress someone of greater perceived power. It doesn't threaten others or anything of the kind, it just inclines others to believe that you are of great spiritual weight and worth adhering to the wishes of.

For a controlling herb, it is actually quite gentle. Powerful, but not aggressive, per se. My two cents, anyway.

Rue

Next up, we have Rue, also called Ruta graveolens. Its a compelling herb that works by way of inspiring others to do as you ask because if not, discomfort will be had by all. Its not an aggressive herb, per se, but its influence is felt poignantly.

When you use this to control another person, you're telling them "if you don't do this, you will be uncomfortable". Only do this if the thing you want them to do is going to be more comfortable by comparison to the spellwork's effects. Otherwise, it will be a wasted effort and won't get you much in the way of results.

Bear this in mind, as too much Rue will seriously unbalance your work and create more trouble in the process. Used correctly, it can be used to cut some of the excess sweetness from sweetening rituals, for instance, as a means of making for longer-lasting results.

I'd recommend using it as an additive to oils and satchets, rather than as the base component of the Work.

Devil's Claw

Devil's Claw, or Harpagophytum procumbens is a controlling herb that grasps the attention of a person, place, or thing. It controls the mind and the processes the mind gets up to, and can thus be used to get someone stuck on an idea or a concept. It incentivizes the idea of going along with a plan, rather than upon resisting the idea or goal, and can thus smooth the road when used in an interviewing process or as a means of generating the attention of another.

For instance, if your crush has a hard time paying attention to you, use some Devil's Claw with Rose petals, Rosehips, and crushed Guarana seeds to cause them to be energized by communicating or interacting with you. Carry it in a sachet that contains the person's photo for best results.

Devil's Shoestring

This is another old favorite, and it is otherwise referred to as Black Haw or Viburnum prunifolium. This is a controlling herb in the surest sense of the word, but engages in this role not by controlling the mind, but rather by controlling what others have the ability to do. Its a constraining herb in this sense, and can be used to create difficulty in getting away from whatever duty or aim you seek to have this person achieve.

As an example, if you've got a partner that's trying to divorce you, use Devil's Shoestring in conjunction with a disruptive herb like Mustard seeds to keep them from being able to get the help they need to do so. You can then follow this with works meant to assist reconciliation, causing leaving to be much more difficult than staying, thereby buying you time to sort out all but the most irreconcilable of differences. 

It works beautifully in powders and oils. Do yourself a favor and keep it out of alcohol, as while technically you can extract the good parts by doing so, it creates a more War Water-like concoction that will not help you as a controlling herb.

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal is a member of the Polygonatum family, and I've had best results with the multiflorum and biflorum varieties. This herb is consumed as tea in places like Korea, and its works wonderfully as a controlling herb when used to seal access to things. In essence, it acts as a kind of ID card, imprinting your image and intent into things.

If you use this, for instance, with Dragon's Blood (Croton lechleri), it creates a kind of sticky insistence that the person abide your wishes. When appropriately blooded and applied, it essentially acts as a "Read Only" effect on your spellwork, making it more difficult to undo or muck about with.

Combined with High John seeds and Frankincense, it can be used as a manifestation base for spirits and inclines them towards fulfilling your aims provided they are realistic. No spirit's going to be willing or able to do ridiculous things if they're outside of the realm of possibility, so bear that in mind.

When mixed with crushed Copal and Palo Santo, Solomon's Seal works wonderfully as a negativity-dismissing concoction, either sprinkled or burned. Its a kind but firm way of claiming a space as yours, and works wonderfully as a floor wash.

Calamus

Calamus, otherwise known as Sweet Flag or Acorus calamus is a domination herb that works by bending the mind towards a specific task. It must be accompanied by other herbs that guide its process if you want the ritual work to be stable and effective over the long term. 

It causes the target to obsess, slightly, over their directed focal point, creating neurosis and a fixed need to achieve that aim. It can be ignored, but its influence creates substantial anxiety, meaning its not a very kind herb in this respect.

Its stubborn and insistent, overpowering other herbs used alongside it, so bear that in mind when portioning out ratios to use. If its outnumbered, it'll start to tame ever so slightly. Otherwise, expect that the person will just be dominated and left without real direction, meaning that a set and forget spell can often be a bad idea with this herb.

There are more controlling herbs out there in the world, but this is enough to get you started.

Enjoy,
​SE

​Hey there folks! I am now freshly returned from my vacationing & starting off 2019. How better to do that than to start with coffee, a blog post, and loads of magic?

Well, I think that we can all agree that 2017 & 2018 have both been (differently) rough years. In 2017, I observed a trend of folks confronting the inevitable and being barred by it, often to the point of requiring a complete makeover. In 2018, this trend continued and got a bit darker, as each of us had to unpack to some varying degree the baggage in our pasts that prevented us from moving forward. 

Those who haven’t done so are now behind the curve, but those of us who have done the work and stared the Abyss in the eye have done something kind of amazing. As such, we are poised to fling off the shackles of yesteryear and take back control in the most amazing of ways. 

This is what I seek to do this year, and I would advice all others to join me in this process. Change what you can, advance in every way available to you, and make the most of this Time. 

Blessings to all!
-Chris/SE