Blog Archives - Sorcerous Endeavors

Protection: Part 5.3 - Pacts

2/25/2015

As a continuation to the series of posts I've been writing, our next step in the Spirit Work Tree is Pacts, the second of three types of relationships.

Previously, we discussed worship and how to get started, and now we're on to a more formal arrangement.

I've discussed pacts, the associated processes, and the mechanics thereof several times before. The last time was in 2013, and it seems that its high time I covered the subject again, per requests from clients and other interested parties. The subject has come up more than a dozen times over the past few weeks.

Pacting is a sorely misunderstood subject that seems far too easy to misunderstand. This is a bit amusing to me because the premise behind it is simple: its a tit for tat relationship. Rather than having such a relationship with a person, instead you're endeavoring to create such a relationship with a spirit. The concept isn't complicated, but folks really like to make it into a convoluted affair.

Protection: Part 5.2 - Worship

2/24/2015

As a continuation of the Protection Series, I thought I'd spend some more time talking about the first type of relationship one can have with a spirit or set thereof: Worship.

Herein, I'll discuss worship and how to begin a dedicant practice.

Protections: Part 5.1 - Relationships with Spirits

2/21/2015

In keeping with the several posts on the subjection of personal magical protection, some client issues came up that have prompted me to discuss the effects of worship and the effects it can have on one's safety,

Working with deities is a major keystone in most magical systems. Either by and through the creation of pacts with various spirits or through the worship thereof, most of us wind up with spiritual relationships that shape our lives. They change the way we think about the world around us and they can be wondrous things.

These relationships can also be harmful, parasitic, and troubling. The trick is figuring out which end your relationships fall into, and then either working to grow them or cutting ties and moving on. You are who you spend time with. More after the break...

Protection: Part 4 - Stones

2/17/2015

For those of you who have followed along the set of posts written recently, by now you should have some idea of how deep the magical rabbit hole can go. If you followed along, you'll have more of an idea of how you can mix and match various magical techs in to get a result.

Protection is an easy subject to start with as its all a matter of how you handle your business. If things go wrong or you didn't do enough work, or you didn't handle the work properly, the effects are pretty obvious. If you handled the workings appropriately and all went well, life should improve for you. The proof is in the pudding...or, in this case, the proof is in the response.

Having said as much, now that we've covered herbs, prayers, spirits, etc. and their uses with regard to defensive magic, we can now get into the subject of protection through the use of stones and metals that are amiable to that end.

Like plants, minerals have their uses too. Each has their own properties and associations, both elemental and planetary. As such, they too are building blocks that can be used to spin your spells.

Protection: Part 3.5 - the Use of Herbs

2/16/2015

I've spent the last several days talking about the properties of various herbs that can be used in magical work. I've spent relatively little time discoursing on the subject of actually using those herbs...more specifically, how to do it. The point of today's lessen is to remedy this.

Working with herbs is all about relationships. What you cultivate is key, and if you don't have a relationship with the spirits behind the fleshy, fibrous mass that is their corporeal form, the roots, stems, leaves, resinous chunks, seeds mean nothing to you and have no power outside of what you create and will. What you imbue into them, if you will.

Protection: Part 3.4 - Herbs (again)

2/15/2015

'Ello again folks. Hope all is well.
We're around again for another round of herbs that can be used for protection.

Protection: Part 3.3 - More Herbs

2/15/2015

Greetings folks! Hope you all enjoyed your Valentine's Day and weekend thus far. We're getting back to protection magic in full swing. If you've been reading the previous articles, you've probably realized, by now, that I've been speaking on magical herbs in alphabetical order.

That isn't to say that there are only a handful of herbs in each category that can be used for magic; really, the information is there to whet your appetite and spark a curious fire in you so that you can use the info I've provided to delve deeper into the Artes Magickal. They are, after all, a passion of mine. ;)

Happy VDay!

2/14/2015

Or Lupercalia, if that's your thing.

May the kind spirits of Venus visit you and your loved ones this day, offering blessings in palatable forms.

Enjoy!

SE

Protection: Part 3.2 - Herbs, continued

2/14/2015

As a continuation to yesterday's post, I'll be talking more about herbs in this one. We covered a few helpful tidbits previously, and we're going to do the same thing today.

Herbs can be flexible, and that gives them great power and potency if you're wise in their use. There's a reason folks who did magical work in Europe were once called Cunningfolk....cunning and intelligent are two traits you must have if you want to be successful here. Otherwise, you're just going to wind up being a dumb patsy who can't get anything done. Nature spirits are from nature, and thus have no real concern regarding whether or not they're honest, helpful, or harmful. Sometimes interactions with humans are there solely for the sake of the game. Just something to consider.

Protection: Part 3.1 - Herbs

2/13/2015

As discussed over the past two entries, protection is a multi-step, many stage affair that has a great deal to do with preparation, awareness, skill, and flexibility. Learning to improvise is good, but being prepared is better.

When your preparations have failed you, its time to get creative and work with what you got. In keeping with this theme, I've decided to discuss herbs that can be used for protective magic. Some are offensive, some are defensive, and some are a mixture of the two. There are those in this list that only work (for protection) when combined with other materia magica too. I'll do what I can to summarize a portion of those tidbits here, but rest assured that you're going to have to play with the mixtures you want to use to learn the ins and outs of the spirits behind the flesh. I'll be using both folk names and Latin names where possible.