There’s this minimalist trend going around right now thanks to Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix titled “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”, and it’s gotten me thinking about this in a spiritual context. This idea of questioning whether or not things bring you joy is pertinent in mundane matters, but it also matters insofar as magical and spiritual efforts are concerned.   In both, it’s easy to get bogged down by too many things, focusing less on experiences and growth and more on the hallmarks of whatever success you’re chasing. As such, it’s important to consider the ramifications of what these projects and processes entail. 

How many altars do you have? How many talismans? How many ongoing works? How many decks of tarot cards, sets of runes, etc.? It’s a pretty unfortunate thing to take in, but much of magic has been commercialized by the lowest common denominator. There are those who are incredibly powerful & talented, and there are those who simply aren’t....we live in the day and age where the best-marketed product wins out over the better-quality product. 

Knowing this, how much of this baggage have you brought home to roost? How is that affecting your home, your goals, your life, your magic? This might just seem like a trendy way to insert myself into the discussion (and it is is), but this really is an extremely important topic to be considering. 

I, for instance, have loads of books about magical practice. I use them for inspiration, and sometimes as a means of getting a different viewpoint. I can count, however, on one hand how many of them have actually been useful or illuminating. Among them, the most beneficial have been texts like the Bible, the Qu’ran, the Rig Veda, and the Tao Te Ching. Otherwise, most of them are a dime a dozen. Every once in a while I’ll see a phenomenal book that’s entirely worthwhile....that’s pretty rare though. 

As I write this, you can bet that I’m taking stock of what I have on hand and what I actually use. To be honest, the ratio isn’t that good, and I’m a professional sorcerer by trade. For those of you shaking your heads right now, GOOD. That’s the point! If I’ve fallen prey to this, you sure as hell have too!

This isn’t a criticism, it’s a matter of being real and bringing us all back to brass tacks. For every amazing piece of inspiration, literature, or profoundly potent magical tooling, there’s at least a dozen polished turds & space-wasters. To use Alton Brown’s assessment, if it’s a “unitasker”, you need to consider whether or not it’s being used often enough to be worth the space and effort. 

Sometimes they are. More often than not, they aren’t. 

If you make this assessment and decide that various items are not for you, you should dispose of them properly. I’ve included below a ritual to do so, and this will work for most items. 

*note: books can always be traded in or donated. Do not treat them in the way I’ve described below, for they are a sacred thing.*

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

A question hit my inbox this morning, and I thought I'd answer it here. The individual in question is fairly young, but lamented being bothered by demons and asked for a solution. Since this is an ongoing issue for some, I'll discuss some remedies here.

The word "Spirit" is heavily overused in our culture, mostly because we lack a cultural understanding that the denizens of the spirit world are not unified in form or function. Rather, they are different and have their own tribes, social structures, matriarchs and patriarchs. Some follow rigid rules and restrictions, while others are lawless and have no such limitations or boundaries.

As a result, dealing with their interference appropriately can take a variety of forms, beginning with the most simple of rituals and ending with brazen, forceful rites of expulsion. Which you choose to use depends most heavily upon what you are comfortable with, but also upon the nature of the entity you are attempting to remove from your space. There are times where this banishing can be achieved with a light tap, and there are times where the use of a sledgehammer will be necessary....sometimes literally.

So we'll start small and work our way up to more forceful means of responding. Of the methodologies used, the burning of sage is the least offensive. To do so effectively, procure for yourself a bundle of sage that's been ethically harvested and sanctify it appropriately. If you're Christian, the Lord's Prayer & Hail Mary will do. If not, and you'd like something a bit more sorcerous in nature, use this prayer:

"Spirit of sage, waken and hasten to me
Enchant this lovely bundle, help to set this space free.
Loosen the hold of demons and troubles dire,
As I set alight your base matter through the use of fire.
Genius Loci of various skill
Abide my laws, do my will.
Those present and of ill intent, 
Leave now, swiftly - be no longer present."

Repeat this prayer as you make the rounds through your space, ensuring that the smoke touches all that might require purification. I would recommend opening windows and letting the light into your space, as locales untouched by light have a tendency to draw near things that flee from it.

If this has worked, you'll experience a sense of peace, after which you can fill your abode with warmth and good cheer. Be mindful of this need to refill the space with pleasant energies, as ANY time you clear out a space, you've emptied liquid from a jar - it must be filled to the brim once more to ensure that nothing else takes up residence in the space you've cleared.

If cleansing with sage hasn't been effective for you, and you need a slightly more nuclear option, procure for yourself Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort), being mindful not to confuse it with Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood), for the herbs have different affinities unto themselves.

As before, you will make the rounds, but this time your attitude should be less peaceful in countenance. Instead of asking others to depart, this time you're demanding, gently yet firmly, that the entities who have taken up residence take their leave of you.

Use this oration:
"Spirits of place with ill intention,
This before me is due prevention
Of all ill and harm one'd seek to create,
And with it I send you elsewhere to seek your fate.
Leave now, gently and without trouble or harm,
For I seek to reclaim this space, making it safe and warm.
Leave now, for you are unwelcome here.
This space is reserved for those I hold dear."

Mugwort is suggested, in this instance, as its temperament is more aggressive than that of sage. Spirits are generally rather offended by it, and it can be a useful means of warding off their influence. That is the reason for it being chosen for this purpose.

To speak on offensive herbs, from a folk magic perspective, the most potent among them is rather easily recognized: Asafoetida, or Ferula assa-foetida. Its considered to be an "aromatic", and its commonly known as Devil's Dung. It smells awful to us and worse to spirits.

If sage is a gentle "please leave", mugwort's a "You need to leave, now." Asafoetida is in a class of its own, and it could be seen, accurately, as an herb that says "Get thee the f*** out of my house!" There are accounts of it being placed on coals to ward off the dead, demons, and other intrusive entities, and I can personally attest to its efficacy.

Just be mindful of using it around the house, as it stinks to hell and upsets everything around you...often to a visible extreme. This is what you use if you want to tell everything within a mile radius to go away, so bear that in mind.

You can couple this with a prayer, but its not needed. Such is the nature of this herb. 

In addition to the rootwork means of sending spirits packing, there are plenty of invocations that can be used to this extent as well. For instance, procuring for yourself a Medal of St. Michael and saying over it these words can provide a strong charm against Evil:
"St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Spare us the wickedness of the Devil and his Horde.
Act as a shield between the Righteous and the Fallen,
Vouchsafing us before the Lord and granting us his fury."

Play with this and get creative, as there are a great number of ways through which one might safely remove encroaching entities without an insane amount of work. 

Good luck,
​-SE

Hello everyone.

Fantastic to have you here as always, and your readership is much appreciated. To honor that, and in toast to the spirit of the holidays, this is part of my "Magic for the Holidays" mini-series.

To start us off, for those of us who are in the US, Thanksgiving is in a matter of days. We've passed Samhain, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day, and now its about time to interact with family. For some of us, that's a blessing, for others a curse, and in either scenario I present to you some magical tips that can be applied; I hope these tips bring about meaningful improvements that won't have you reaching into your pocket or purse for social lubricants. ;)

Without touching on the controversy around Thanksgiving, the name of the holiday centers around giving thanks for what one has. I have found that offerings go over particularly well during this time of year, and as such I would recommend doing so for the few days between now and the holiday proper.

Procure for yourself orange candles (you're welcome to go all-out and grab pumpkin spiced stuffs, if you like), egg nog, your alcohol of choice (if you or your ancestors drink), and a holiday treat of one kind or another (pumpkin pie, apple pie, gingerbread cookies, cheesecake, carrot cake, etc.). Pour a drink for yourself and then one for the landvaettir, your ancestors, your friends, and your family, be they with you physically or in spirit. Do the same with your snack of choice, light a couple of candles, and proceed to have a bite to eat and a nip to drink.

Bask in their presence, and if you feel moved to do so, tell stories about these people you're thinking of. It might seem silly at first, but I find that I become very comfortable with it within a manner of minutes. In doing this, you are providing offerings of sustenance and mirth, lore and imagination. All valid things to each of us, and an appropriate way to start oneself off in getting out of the work mindset and into that holiday spirit.

Enjoy,
SE

Greetings folks, I hope you guys are having a lovely day & it is wonderful to have you here.

I've been asked, repeatedly, for a "Dummies' Guide to Sigils", so it occurs to me that now is the time to do a short write-up. We're on the cusp of a retrograde, so it can be a pretty good proof of concept. Whenever switches like this are to occur, there's a fair bit of palpable tension in the air, so its easier to make magic work.

For the moment, I'll focus on the process of using ones that have already been created by someone else...those are easy to find, and I've shared quite a few of them here.

A sigil, be it for a spirit or a goal, is an encapsulated intention, condensed into a physically apparent and readily accessible form. It's a statement of intent, the symbolic representation of what you are looking to change, and it also represents the duality of the situation itself: what is (0) and what will be (1).

It is a binary, so working with a sigil is a bit like turning on a light switch. It can be made more complicated than that, but it doesn't need to be.

Here's a way of turning on that switch. :)

1. Get yourself seated and comfortable.
2. Light a candle and place the sigil in front of it.
3. Stare into that sigil and imagine that you're transferring that candle's light to the inside of the image in front of you.
4. As you do so, imagine that this light that you've just switched on is showing you exactly what you want to see.
5. Feel that desire you hold for the occurence of the goal you have in mind and feel those emotions switch from desire to fulfillment.
6. Let the candle burn down.
7. Shred of the sigil and toss it.
8. Go have fun and do something entirely mundane.

It's not really difficult, but it does take a little bit of focus. This is a G-rated version of making this work for you, and there are more complicated, grandiose methodologies as well. As you play with this, you may find that there are subtle modifications you wish to make to your method. I highly recommend doing so, as sigil magic is an intensely personal art form.

This is just to get you started. Have fun & enjoy your weekend.
-Chris