Greetings once again. I'm afraid that life has, as usual, taken a turn for the busy, and as such has kept me from posting as much as I'd like.  To that end, a recent acquisition has inspired me to write this entry, which I hope will be of use to you.

The topic at hand, today, is that of weapons. More specifically, the topic is on the rather touchy subject of blessing weapons such that they have their intended effect, without all of the rather annoying malfunctions that might occur.

I recently acquired a new handgun, and, thanks to that acquisition, I was faced with the task of blessing the weapon and the associated munitions.  This is a subject I see and hear little about, despite the fact that in today's times, we should really be ever-aware of the fact that we live in a dangerous world.  There are times where we, as human beings, will require the ability to defend ourselves and our families from harm.

Before I get into too much detail on the subject, I should note that I, for one, abhor violence, as it oft causes more problems then it solves.  If at all possible, I'd advise one to flee a dangerous situation rather then get involved, but, unfortunately, that is not always a possibility.  If the possibility of escape is zero, and you must respond with force, your defensive tools had better bloody well work.

That need, of course, is what leads me to this post.  Of course there are plenty of mundane ways by which one might ensure that their weapon or tool is in working order.  For example, if you possess a firearm, remain dutiful about field stripping and cleaning the gun, for disrepair and abuse can lead to a fancy looking paperweight with more jams then proper fires.  If you own a knife, you should keep it properly lubricated and sharpened, as well as ensure that you keep an eye on the structural integrity therein.  Should the item be an axe, keep it sharpened and oiled to prevent rust, and ensure that there is no rot in the haft.  The examples of such routine, mundane maintenance are endless, so once that has been attended to, we are left with utilizing spiritual means to better our chances.

One can utilize magick in a great many ways when it comes to blessing our weapons.  It is important to note, firstly, that you must first have it with you.  You may have the single best piece of equipment in the world, but it will do you no good if it is not with you.  So, in turn, we should perform enchantments that make it easier to keep the weapon with us.  This can be as simple as blessing it with invisibility, such that it is easier to carry without being noticed by others, or you could enchant for accuracy when shooting or throwing, or, if its an edged tool, you can enchant for sharpness.  The possibilities are nigh-endless, depending on your level of creativity.

To that end, below are sample rites that are similar to the ones used to bless my gun and my bullets.

Blessing a Firearm:
Materials Needed:

•  Firearm
  
•  1 purple candle (representing will - tied to the Jupiterian sphere)
  
•  1 red candle (representing applied force and war - tied to the Martial sphere)
  
•  1 black candle (representing obstacles, for you are stopping attackers in their tracks - tied to the Saturnine sphere)
  

Ritual:

Remove the clip from the gun, if it has one, and make sure that the weapon is clear. You do not want to have burning candles anywhere near a loaded gun, if only because of Murphy's law.  It's a basic safety precaution to ensure that you do not shoot yourself, or anyone else.  As always, make sure you follow the basic safety precautions with your firearm, as I will not be held accountable for any mistakes you make.

Create sacred space in the area in which you are going to do the rite.  Situate the gun such that it is in the middle of a triangle made by the three candles.  The purple candle should be at the apex of the triangle, with the red on the left leg, and the black on the right leg.  Then you will sit down and make yourself comfortable.  Meditate, say mantras, and do whatever it takes for you to feel comfortable and ready for ritual work.

Once you are comfortable and ready, you will say a prayer similar to the following, changing the God as you will to fit your particular system of belief.

"Ullr, God of the Hunt, I ask that you bless this weapon with your skill in marksmanship.  Cause it to be ever-accurate when in my hands, and grant me the ability to hit the target I seek."

Once that has been done, focus on the energies of your chosen deity, and watch as they intermingle with the physical frame of your firearm.  When you are satisfied with the rite, close the rite and ground yourself out.

Blessing Bullets:

Materials Needed:

• Bullets
  

Ritual:

Set yourself up in an area that you can be comfortable but will not be bothered by interruptions.  Place the bullets on the altar or workspace, create sacred space, and then begin to meditate, say mantras, etc.  Get yourself in the mood to work magick.

Once you are ready, focus on the bullets and begin to chant Thurisaz, the rune of directed force.  Let the runic energies permeate each bullet, causing them to be pinpoint accurate, and able to direct the maximum amount of force into your intended target.  When you are satisfied with the energetic change of the bullets, ground out and close the ritual.

As always, use the above rites with your own caution. I am noting these for informational purposes only, and will not be held accountable for your use or misuse thereof.

Enjoy, and happy hunting!

Regards,

SE

My good friend Marcus the Wolf, over at Spartan Ruminations, posted on an interesting topic that I thought I would delve deeper into.  His original post was titled "Beauty and the Gods: do the Gods think your beautiful?", and can be found here.

As indicated in my responses to him there on his page, it is my experience that the Gods do in fact have their own preferences, beliefs, feelings, etc.  They are just as individual as you or I, as indicated in my previous posts.  In turn, we should be doing what we can to honor Their way of life as well as They seem to do the same thing for us.  Forging such a mutually respectful relationship is, in my experience, very beneficial, so I'd urge each of you to do just that.

Below are two of my responses on the aforementioned blog which should be useful for the sake of discussion:

Post 1:
"Ave,

Its interesting that you should post this article, which was linked to me by a friend. This is a consideration that I've mulled over time and time again, so I believe that my insight may, at some level, have some bearing. Before I start, keep in mind that the relationships I have with spirits are, from what I have been able to glean, rather atypical. I view them as bonafide individuals with definite wants, needs, and tastes.

Much of the time, I evoke the Goddesses I work with and for, and place them inside the body of one of my girls. My girlfriend, in particular, is a talented medium whose particular abilities and disabilities makes her the perfect hostess, so, I, in turn, draw those beings in and keep them there for the sake of gaining information, etc. It is, in many cases, a very unique way of communicating, as it is very hard to misconstrue the thoughts and wishes of someone when they are before you, in the flesh. To that end, I will attempt to curb my lewdness in this matter, and I apologize for any offense I may cause in others.

To that end, the female deities and spirits I've done this with are Kali-ma, Tara, Anael, Freyja, Sekhmet, and Isis (a very eclectic pantheon, to be sure, but I can safely blame that on my Patron, who is rather "popular"). I have copulated with each of the above, and the responses received are, more-or-less, the same. Each of them indicated a very clear and distinct sexual taste to which I would need to respond in a specific way. Without giving away too many personal secrets, one seemed to enjoy the use of a vibrator, and the other most certainly did not...the latter commented that it was too distracting, and therefor unpleasant. Some preferred vaginal intercourse to anal intercourse, whereas others were the reverse, and even still, there were some that had more of an oral fixation then anything else. The point of these examples being that the deities have very specific likes and dislikes, which is pertinent to this topic.

It stands to reason, given the above, that the same tastes and preferences would apply to their taste in humans. Some may prefer loyal, well-endowed lovers, whereas others would prefer orgiastic rites of passion. Some may prefer to work with a computer-based method of communication, whereas another may decide that She wishes to draw.

In essence, the main thought to be conveyed, herein, is that the answer "Do the Gods think you're beautiful" must be preceded by the questions "Is it possible for the Gods to have specific tastes?" Only if the answer to the aforementioned question is "Yes" may one go on to ask and answer the question indicated in the original post.

In sum, this is a fascinating topic, and I commend you for posting about it. I have a feeling that many will find this to be an uncomfortable topic, as many seem to prefer to keep their Gods at arms length.

Regards,

SE"

Post 2:
"Ave,

You are quite welcome, my friend. My approach is indeed unorthodox, but I believe it to be valid, as we discussed on instant messenger.

My experience has, if nothing else, revealed one thing: nowadays, most pagan folk don't tend to be all that comfortable with the idea of granting their Gods the right to be individuals. For whatever reason, that topic seems to be far too foreign to them, which is ironic, given the fact that many of them come from other faiths. There's something strangely uncomfortable about allowing that personality to creep in.

As we discussed previously, if one takes this post to heart, then one should approach his or her Gods and ask, simply, "What method would you prefer for X?" You'd be amazed what benefit that can have in your personal practice, even if the response isn't what you expected.

Beware, however, that if you are in a coven and approach a deity such as Pan in such a manner, the response you get may be a bit unnerving. Being His servant myself, I am perfectly well-acquainted with responses akin to "Have the large-breasted woman in the back disrobe and give Me the offerings." That's not foreign to His nature in the slightest (pun intended), so one would do well to keep the temperament of his or her Gods in mind. You might well be surprised by the response you get ;).

Regards,

SE"

As indicated in my responses that I quoted above, each of the spirits out there, being unique, are going to have some requests of you that aren't going to fall into what feels normal for you.  This can range from exposing flesh and getting past your insecurities, to things that are far less legal.  If the challenge falls to the latter side of the spectrum, you are well within your right to refuse, and can explain that doing such a thing would get you into legal trouble.  You are human, after all, and as such, have to obey earthly rules.

Having said such a thing to a spirit in the past, I know how nervewracking taking such a stance can be.  However, I've also found that the spirits I work with tend to respect you more for it.  There are times wherein you'll find that they will have requirements of you that they strongly urge you to obey that may well be uncomfortable.  If it is uncomfortable for you, you are well within your right to ask for something in return.  Its up to you to turn the relationship into a mutually fulfilling give and take, as opposed to a one-sided relationship that really isn't all that fulfilling.

So, dear readers, henceforth I task you with this: attempt to learn more about those you work with and/or worship.  Do so safely, but be open to the gifts and insight you will receive in turn.

Regards,

SE