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.*
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.*
The Ritual
Procure for yourself distilled water, kosher salt, a bit of string, and a sharp knife. Mix the water and salt together in a bowl or cup, then say the following prayer over this concoction:
“Cleanse me with hyssop that I might be pure. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen."
Afterwards, see that the mixture you've created has been filled with astral light from the Heavens and turn your attention to the blade.
Pick up the knife, and hold it with reverence befitting a sacred object. Over this, say the following:
Pick up the knife, and hold it with reverence befitting a sacred object. Over this, say the following:
"Blessed creature of steel, I exorcize you and make you whole within the Light to serve the Sacred Balance. Let all ill intentions be purged from this vessel so that it might serve the Glory of the Heavens. Be cleansed and made whole."
Dip the blade in the Holy Water you've created in the step prior to this one.
Unwind the string and tie it to the object with which you wish to cut ties. Tie the other end around your finger. Say this prayer:
Unwind the string and tie it to the object with which you wish to cut ties. Tie the other end around your finger. Say this prayer:
"As I wind this string about this vessel, I make known its bond to me."
Then, dip your fingers in the Holy Water and anoint the string by pinching it between your wetted fingers. Do this thrice, anointing the string by pinching it nearest your tied finger, and then pushing towards the icon, jar, or tool you wish to disconnect from.
Say this prayer:
Say this prayer:
"As I make known my connection to this vessel, I seek to sever this bond, returning it and its contents to the unmanifest world."
Cut the string. Unwind the knot from about your finger and place it neatly upon the top of the item you've sought to sever the connection to. Then, say the following prayer:
"By the Powers That Be, this is done. My connection to that which is no more is no more, and I am freed of its burdens."
Bag up all of the materials you seek this disconnect from and bury it, preferably far from your home. When you do so, act as though you are interring a loved one. If emotions take you over, feel them and make your peace with them, as you are freeing yourself from the burdens they've brought to you and opening the way towards greater experiences and changes in accordance with your intentions, your will, and your way.
For particularly haunted items, as you bury them, sprinkle salt and holy water over the "remains". If the item is malefic in disposition, add sulphur to the mixture, being sure not to ingest any (you should be most careful here) - this retains and confines the negative energies at play so that they cannot follow you home.
When you've completed the burial, walk away from it, being careful not to glance back at your handiwork. Drive or walk home, and then take a shower. While in the shower, say an organic prayer thanking all in attendance for assisting you in freeing yourself. After this ritual is done, you'll likely feel exhausted, and your home will very likely feel *different*. Give yourself a couple of days to get used to how it feels, and use that time to become cognizant of how the energy of place has changed.
You may have to do this again and again until you feel lightened and freed of whatever has been plaguing you and holding you back. Often times, there is no malice in whatever magical things we hold onto, but tools unused can tend to cause us problems. This act is an act of reclaiming your divinity & the spark of joy that it brings.
You'll find new impressions and experiences at your doorstep, following this. The change can sometimes be overwhelming, but it is generally a good thing.
For those of you that have read this far, thank you for doing so. I appreciate your support & very much hope that my words help you to achieve a peaceful certainty upon which greater things can be built.
Blessings,
SE
For particularly haunted items, as you bury them, sprinkle salt and holy water over the "remains". If the item is malefic in disposition, add sulphur to the mixture, being sure not to ingest any (you should be most careful here) - this retains and confines the negative energies at play so that they cannot follow you home.
When you've completed the burial, walk away from it, being careful not to glance back at your handiwork. Drive or walk home, and then take a shower. While in the shower, say an organic prayer thanking all in attendance for assisting you in freeing yourself. After this ritual is done, you'll likely feel exhausted, and your home will very likely feel *different*. Give yourself a couple of days to get used to how it feels, and use that time to become cognizant of how the energy of place has changed.
You may have to do this again and again until you feel lightened and freed of whatever has been plaguing you and holding you back. Often times, there is no malice in whatever magical things we hold onto, but tools unused can tend to cause us problems. This act is an act of reclaiming your divinity & the spark of joy that it brings.
You'll find new impressions and experiences at your doorstep, following this. The change can sometimes be overwhelming, but it is generally a good thing.
For those of you that have read this far, thank you for doing so. I appreciate your support & very much hope that my words help you to achieve a peaceful certainty upon which greater things can be built.
Blessings,
SE
