GG1

The Guardian's Grimoire

Number One

The Book Of History

by Abritha

Know that there are many realms besides the physical one in which we now live. In the astral plane alone there are countless lands, in which all sorts of strange creatures and demigods dwell, such as appear in legends and folklore throughout the physical world. In the beginning, before man ascended into sentience, the passage between most of these lands was difficult or impossible, and many of the beings in those lands had never met or heard of one another.

When humanity, which then had no home except the physical world, began to reach out to the spiritual and astral worlds for guidance and meaning, there was a great upheaval: for the energy of their questing was so great that many gates opened between the physical world and the various astral lands. Not only that, but over time, many more gates opened between the different lands themselves, and there came to be traffic from one astral land to another, and between the astral and physical realms.

In the physical world, the results of this mingling were humans with unusual gifts and fondness for our ways; and these today are called shamen and pagans. In the astral realm, many strange new beings were born of minglings between different races. Those who had come before, and who now called themselves the "Pure Ones," did not know what to think of these new children, who seemed to be subject to none of the old rules they had followed, and who often exceeded their elders in raw power. They came to be called simply "The Mixbreeds," or even Mongrels by those who feared them. A great Council was established of members of all the Pure races; but the Mixbreeds, though many were of noble lineage, were not included.

The time came when a single dark entity, having access to so many of the other destructive races, was able to temporarily unite them and attack their lighter brothers, with the hopes of conquering them, and eventually all of the astral and physical realms. However, as the gods would have it (for there is contact between the astral and spiritual, or godly, realm, as there is with the physical) he was sidetracked and weakened by an obsession with another Mixbreed, and this made possible his defeat. He was destroyed and his army routed by a mere handful of other Mixbreeds. When they had recovered, this group, angered by the lack of aid they had received from the Great Council on which many of their own families sat, departed for the physical world vowing not to return. As the news of this event spread, many other Mixbreeds and even a few Pure Ones sided with the exiles, and decided to follow them to (from their perspective) the New World. The Council, regretting its former inaction, sent this group with their blessings, named them Guardians, and charged them with watching over the gates to the physical realm so that no dark power might abuse them. This was the First Wave, and the handful that preceded them were called the Progenitors.

In the physical world this became a golden time, when many civilizations flowered under the combined wisdom of human sages and "heavenly" immigrants. Over time, however, some of the First Wave became enamored of power and prestige, and wished to control the gates for their own purposes rather than for the greater good, or to use their magical power to make kingdoms for themselves; and perhaps some of them had intended this from the start. When the Council learned of this (which took some time, for the dark Guardians sent false reports of their doings) a Second Wave was sent to police the first; this group, like the ones before, consisted mostly of Mixbreeds, largely of noble lineage. This resulted in the Guardian War, after which the Second Wave remained as watchdogs, the First Wave (those who had not turned) resumed its campaign to aid friendly and potentially powerful humans, and the Progenitors went into hiding, though promising to come forward as Elders to the others if they were needed, for they had many enemies.

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The Vows of Guardianship

by Abritha

The Guardians come in myriad shapes, and often mix the expected traits of two or three "pure" races. It would be foolish to expect us all to have identical agendas, powers, or practices. These things, however, hold true for all.

We are sworn to help and protect each other first of all: for despite our differences, we are all "alien" (not aliens!) to this plane, and most of us are Mixbreeds together.

We are sworn to control the gates that lead to the astral lands: for although much good can be done with them, so can much harm come through them.

We are sworn to help and protect those true humans who would be our allies: for it is part of the nature of the "collective unconscious" of humanity that it has a marked effect on the gates we must control. During the Era of Science, when belief in our peoples and their lands waned, the gates largely sat idle; but we are experiencing a renewal of religious faiths of all kinds, some friendly to us and some unfriendly, and this resurgence is feeding power to the gates that will make them more difficult to guard. It is in our own interest to discourage those whose energy feeds to dark gates, and to encourage those whose energy feeds to the gates leading to our own and allied lands.

We are sworn to be watchful against those, physical or astral, Guardian or not, who might seek to harm us, our charges, or the gates. Those of us who came as warriors or assassins are also sworn to be the first defense (or offense) against such beings, but all must resist them in whatever way they are able.

In the interest of fulfilling these vows, we must strive to (re-)learn all we can of magic, mythology, religion, counseling, combat, and whatever other skills will aid our specific vocation.

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Inherent Risks of Awakening

by Abritha

Certain problems are common in Guardians in the process of remembering who they are. These can be avoided or curtailed if one is aware of them; or they may fade after the Awakening is complete. Should they become severe, or fail to improve after the Awakening, seek counseling, preferably from trained Pagan clergy or from pagan-friendly professionals.

MEGALOMANIA

The Guardian, beginning to realize his true nature and powers, exaggerates them and believes himself to be uniquely Godlike. He should be assured that, although he is indeed unusual in racial makeup and abilities, there are a score of other Guardians who can make similar claims. If he is tempted to ideas of invincibility, he is reminded that there are many beings as powerful or more powerful than he is: and that, like any being encased in mortal flesh, he can die.

There may also be intolerance or impatience towards true humans. The Guardian is reminded that these, too, are the people he has sworn to protect, and that the enlightened among them are destined to ascend into our own lands.

We are not gods, though with spiritual striving we may move further in that direction. We are Guardians.

PARANOIA

The Guardian, remembering that we have powerful enemies and that she is not invulnerable, becomes obsessed with the idea that her personal enemies are legion and that they are coming to attack her. She is assured that, unless she is actively involved in some actual working, she is unlikely to be attacked in earnest. However, she is also reminded that a certain amount of caution is advisable for Guardians in general, and that she should therefore practice cleansing, shielding, and banishing. Beyond this she should not trouble herself, for confidence is itself an effective shield, and lack of it leaves any other shield incomplete.

She is also assured of her own ability to deal with minor problems. If the time comes that she is genuinely at risk from something greater than herself, she should seek out other Guardians or other pagans who are friendly to her or her cause.

INCOMPLETE/INACCURATE/FACETED MEMORY

Memory of our Astral selves and deeds is complex and difficult to retrieve. It often takes years to establish complete (or functionally complete) memories. The process can be sped along by interaction with other Guardians: however, this occasionally results in collective flights of fancy rather than facts. When the Guardian is able, he is encouraged to check his theories with other Guardians and through astral travel. (Remember, however, to be cautious in revealing these theories or memories to those who are not Guardians.)

Sometimes memory comes in very small pieces, and each piece is embellished by the Guardian's mind into a complete tale, only some of which is true. When this is the case, the tales often seem contradictory to each other, but contain common themes. The Guardian is encouraged to study the themes that arise from these ideas, and to pursue them, since they will probably lead towards the true memory.

RELIVING OF MEMORIES/PROJECTION

The Guardian regains a true memory (or a large fragment) of an emotionally intense event or series of events. However, she wrongly interprets it as belonging in the present or future rather than the past. This can contribute to paranoia (see above). She may also subconsciously recreate the event: that is, since she believes that it is going to happen, she unwittingly projects the people and props she needs to act it out on the astral level. This can happen to groups of Guardians as well as to individuals.

The Guardian is urged to test whether emotionally charged astral beings are projections or are real in themselves, and to verify whether a remembered event is in the past or the future through divination if possible. She may then (if she is projecting) devise a ritual or journey to help her deal with the information she has remembered, or talk it out with other Guardians. If she has devoted a great deal of emotional energy to the projection, she may need to banish it as if it were real, before she can move on to dealing with the emotional baggage.

SCAPEGOATING

This is most common in groups of Awakening Guardians. As past memories (real or not) come to light, there is a temptation to hold other Guardians accountable in this life for their (alleged) actions in others. This is discouraged, since it often leads to unnecessary discord and, of course, does not alter the original events.

FEAR OF INSANITY

The Guardian takes his returning memory as a sign of dementia. This is an understandable concern, as our existence is hardly accepted as fact by humanity at large. it is hoped that the Guardian will be soothed by exposure to this book, and by communication with other Guardians and even, on a more limited basis, with other pagans in general.

INCOMPLETE/REPEATED AWAKENING

The Guardian, unable at the time of first Awakening to deal with the ramifications, shuts herself off from the spiritual and astral realms. She may be able to exist for years in this way: but in time, the Awakening will begin again, moving at an accelerated pace until it reaches the point at which it was previously stopped. The re-Awakening may be prompted by meeting another Guardian, or by some other event.

ODDITY MAGNET

The Guardian finds himself at the center of odd coincidences, unusual psychic or astral activities, and other peculiar events a disconcertingly large amount of the time. Unfortunately, this one never entirely goes away. The Guardian is encouraged to approach the Cosmic Oddities to which he is prone with a sense of humor.

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Suggested Reading

by Estara Korai

Instructional and Ritual Books

Books and articles by SILVER RAVENWOLF. Although (contrary to popular opinion) her books do not necessarily stand alone, in combination with other books she fills in important gaps. She also has a tendency to provide information a new Guardian might need to know, like how to do inconspicuous magic at work or consecrate an item at a fast food restaurant. (A lot of this practical “in the field” information comes from her articles in the 1995-97 Llewellyn Magical Almanacs, but there is also much to be gained from any of her books.)

Books by Z BUDAPEST. Although men will have to be willing to overlook some non-inclusive language, Z is another author who understands and addresses the needs of those who are ethical but not always pacifist. (She is, in fact, the coiner of the phrase "You must be able to hex to be able to heal.")

Books by RAY BUCKLAND, especially his "Complete Book of Witchcraft," which although not truly complete (don't try to slide by with his version of circle casting) offers a lot of information, as well as exercises and workbook-style quizzes. Ray is sometimes criticized for making grandiose and unsupported claims about his teachings (especially in the case of Pecti-Wica, his allegedly Scottish tradition), but for our purposes, whatever works, works.

Books by SCOTT CUNNINGHAM. He is noticeably more pacifist than a Guardian, but his works are tremendously valuable for gaining a beginning understanding of magic, solitary Wicca, stones, herbs, and elemental magic.

"Way of the Strega" by RAVEN GRIMASSI. This contains some off-the-beaten-path ideas and methods of magic, such as shadow magic and a simple countermagic involving a bowl of water, some vegetable oil, and scissors.

"A Grimoire of Shadows" and "Magical Rites from the Crystal Well" by ED FITCH. The material in these books has influenced a number of pagan traditions, and both cover subjects that are seldom discussed elsewhere. The "Grimoire" also has an extensive section of exercises (presented by level) for magical and psychic development.

"Thelema Without Tears" by LON DUQUETTE. A good overview of the hows and whys of several of the essential ceremonialist practices, including the banishings (both lesser and greater) of the Pentagram and the Hexagram.

Works of Fiction

Although overreliance on fictional influences will get you looked at strangely by other pagans, it is true that certain fantasy novels and role-playing games are helpful. Recommended, among others, are books by Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, Gael Baudino, Dion Fortune, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Mercedes Lackey, and games by White Wolf (Vampire: Masquerade, Werewolf: Apocalypse, and Mage: Awakening).

In fact, it is largely because of the works of Mercedes Lackey, an apparent favorite of young Guardians, that the term "Guardians" was chosen to represent us at this time.

Other Potential Studies.

AT LEAST 3 BOOKS ON YOUR PREFERRED TRADITION, if you have one. If you lack a teacher, this will provide you with some depth. It is especially good to have at least one book containing exercises, and at least one book about the mythology and/or religion of the region from which your tradition comes. Having a specialty from which you can work your way out is often helpful.

AT LEAST 1 BOOK EACH ON AT LEAST 3 OTHER TRADITIONS. Sooner or later, you are either going to team up with, come up against, or do magic for, someone from a different tradition than yours. Some familiarity with the other person's system will prove extremely useful.

WORLD MYTHOLOGY/RELIGION/SYMBOLS. This, again, provides you with some depth of knowledge about other beliefs with which you might come into contact. Also, knowledge of symbols is useful in your own magic, as well as in identifying the work that others have done.

DIVINATION. The choice of method (Tarot, runes, omens, geomancy, etc.) is yours. This provides you with a means of getting information about the present and near future, both physical and astral.

ASTRAL PROJECTION. This gives you a means of "going home" to collect information, materials, or allies, or for calling on enemies.

FENG SHUI. This is an ancient Chinese art of creating harmonious surroundings based on how energy naturally flows through space. This is good to know because the better the natural energy flow of your home is, the more difficult it is for harmful energies to "stick" there. Several books and videos are now available on this art.

MARTIAL ARTS/SELF DEFENSE. Not every threat you ever face is going to be on the astral plane. Elaborate rituals aren't much help against a skinhead who's about to knock your head off with a board. A well placed kick, however, is.

SURVIVAL/DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. Total survivalism is not recommended (unless you want to leave no doubt in the minds of your neighbors that you're a complete loon), but common sense dictates a certain level of preparation against whatever natural (or unnatural!) catastrophes are likely to occur in your area. Lanterns or flashlights, preserved food, bottled water, first aid supplies, and other such items are strongly recommended.

COUNSELING. Take a class on counseling if any are available near you. Being a Guardian involves a l-o-t of listening to other people's problems.

THE YELLOW PAGES. Know who the other "guardian-like" services are in your area, so that if someone comes to you needing detox, a shelter, a bodyguard, the police, a doctor, a psychiatrist, or a lawyer, you have some idea of where to send them.

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The very first things you have to learn.

by Estara Korai

The following practices are essential to all other work. To master them is to have a solid foundation in place for learning any specialization, and to have the means to protect oneself in the meantime. The practices are presented in the following manner: first, an explanation is given of what the practice is and why it is important. Second are details on one straightforward method for the practice. Third, some possible variations are given, to show how the practice can be altered or personalized.

Keep the following balance in mind.

1. Learn the simple method first. This gives you the "feel" for the practice and what it is intended to do. It also gives you a version to teach to others in need.

2. Learn at least one variation. After you have mastered the simple version, doing at least one variation will give you a sense of what is possible, and encourage you to experiment to find the best methods for you.

3. Study other variations. Getting a sense of how other traditions approach the practice will help you understand what is happening should you come into contact with members of those traditions. The more systems of magic and religion you study, the better you will understand what others are doing and how best to respond.

Also remember that READING IS NOT ENOUGH. These skills must be practiced on a regular basis to be mastered and used effectively.

Meditation.

This skill involves moving from your normal waking state into a state of focus and calm. The ability to reach this state is needed in every other magical or spiritual endeavor. It is also beneficial to your mundane life, as its calming influence relieves stress and improves concentration.

Simple Method:

The most common method of meditation taught is the "clear-mind" meditation. Sit comfortably, take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and whisper to yourself, "Clear." Try to completely empty your mind of all thoughts. If you catch yourself thinking, take another deep breath and repeat to yourself, "Clear." It will take quite a bit of practice to be able to completely clear your mind for any length of time, but you should begin to notice improvement after only a few sessions.

If you find the clear-mind meditation maddening rather than helpful, try a single-focus meditation. Sit comfortably, take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and this time, focus on a chosen word, phrase, or image. Use this "mantra" to focus your mind and clear it of other concerns. Thoughts pertaining to the "mantra" are acceptable, but these to should fade as you practice more.

If neither of these appeals, try an action-oriented meditation. This is similar to a single-focus meditation, except that the focus is an activity rather than a word or image. You can use tai chi, yoga, a martial arts kata, spinning thread, or any relatively simple activity to clear and focus your mind. A friend of mine meditates while doing embroidery.

Variations:

Any studied form of standard meditation is acceptable. Only remember that clearing and focusing is not the same thing as zoning out: going into mild trance in front of the television is not meditating.

Awakening the Other Senses.

These activities are meant to train your astral senses, which (unless you have already reawoken them) may be atrophied and inactive in your physical life. These senses are crucial in detecting and performing magic, and in communicating with nonphysical beings.

Simple Method:

Begin by choosing a simple focus object for the sense you want to train. For example, you might select a candleholder for sight, or the chime of a particular bell for hearing, a favorite perfume for smell, a piece of fruit for taste, a feather or a piece of textured fabric for touch.

Study the actual object first, paying close attention to its details. Then, remove the object and try to recreate it in your mind as accurately as you can. For example, look closely at the candleholder, then close your eyes and try to "see" it in your mind.

Variations:

As you become good at this, start to choose more complex objects as the focus. Then, try to focus on more than one sense at a time: for example, try to recapture both the sound and the appearance of the bell. Ultimately, you want to be able to sense an object as clearly in your mind as if it were actually in front of you.

You will find that your other senses also improve as you practice other exercises in which they are used.

Centering.

Centering is simply concentrating all of your focus and energy into your physical body. (You are literally Contemplating Your Navel.) This is a preliminary step in self-cleansing and grounding, and the practice helps the ability to focus on the individual chakras to balance them--all skills coming up later. Centering also collects your energy for you, which may be scattered by activity or lack of focus. Centering is related to meditation, and each skill helps the other.

Simple Method:

Take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and begin to imagine that you are following your own breath inside your body. Each breath carries you deeper into yourself, deeper and deeper, until you find yourself within your center, behind your navel.

Variations:

As this skill improves, it is possible to center using fewer breaths. While in your center, you may imagine that you are surrounded by a vast pool of liquid light. (Such experiences will become more vivid as your other senses awaken.) Take note of the color of this light: it is a personal power color for you, and may be used to help you project and control energy.

Grounding.

This connects your energy to the energy of the Earth. This has obvious benefits for followers of an Earth-honoring religion, but it has additional uses as well. One, it serves as an anchor, making you more difficult to move by outside forces. Two, it serves as a source of additional energy in order to conserve or augment your own. Three, it provides a channel with which to send away excess or unwanted energies.

Simple Method:

Sit down and center yourself. Then move further down into yourself until you at the very tip of your spine. From here, imagine that a large tap root is growing down out of you and into the earth. Each breath pushes the root further down into the earth, plunging all the way in time to the very center of the Earth, her molten core. Feel the root reach into the heart of this core, flooded by warm, golden, healing energy. Now, use your breath to pull this energy up towards you. As it reaches you, breathe it up through your spine and let it radiate out into the rest of your body until you are entirely filled with the light of the Earth's core. At this time, if needed, you may send unwanted energies back down the root to be recycled by the Earth (see self cleansing, below).

Variations:

Numerous different effects are possible in grounding. You can actually journey astrally into the center of the earth, by which you will gain other things than energy; you can send down a pillar instead of a root, which emphasizes the anchoring effect; you can send down roots from a standing position, and become a tree with flowers of energy blooming from your arms; you can elongate your astral legs until they touch the core of the earth, which frankly feels odd but is sometimes done. Once you master one method, feel free to experiment with others.

Self cleansing.

This is another skill that improves your personal energy and focus when you are preparing to do serious work. It also clears out pockets of negative energy that may be attached to you, whether due to your own mindset or health or to outside influences. Self cleansing is also a preliminary step to some of the later exercises.

Simple Method:

Center and ground yourself. Place your hands on the earth. As you do, breathe deeply and imagine that all sickness and negativity inside you is gathering into a ball in your chest. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale see that collected negativity cascade down your arms into the earth. Release it all into the ground, and imagine that the earth takes the energy into herself and cleanses it for her own use elsewhere.

Variations:

The release can be done through your feet if kneeling and touching the ground is too conspicuous for you; it can be flicked out the hands (be sure not to hit anyone!), released into a smoky quartz you keep for this purpose, stomped into the ground, or released by a catch phrase you save for releasing negative energy harmlessly. With practice, a variation can be developed in which you envision another person being cleansed--be sure to have the person's permission.

If only (or additionally) an external cleansing is required, the body can be smudged (purified by exposure to incense smoke--sage is the most often used for this), or a rattle can be used to break up energy around the body. If you are experienced with moving energy through your hands, you can also sweep energy off of another person with your hands (be sure to cleanse yourself afterward). For these methods, be sure to move smoothly over the body so as not to leave anything behind. You might, for example, make a habit of going up the front of the body and down the back, or of starting at the head and moving consistently toward the feet.

Shielding.

For a Guardian, the art of shielding is crucial, and its benefits hopefully are obvious. Depending on the strength and intent of the shield used, it can range from a buffer against irritating coworkers to armor against a magical onslaught.

Simple Method:

Center and cleanse yourself. In your center, see the pool of colored light that represents your personal energy. Imagine that a mist of that color rises within your body, filling you completely. It continues to expand, out your pores, your nose and mouth, until it takes the shape of an egg around your entire body. This egg of light develops a hard shell that keeps out all unwanted energy.

Variations:

Most decent books will give at least one or two methods of shielding--sometimes they will be presented as "quick" forms of circle casting. Books by Scott Cunningham and Silver RavenWolf are suggested as starting places for experimentation. Shields can be created ahead of time and triggered by catch phrases, stored in objects, molded into different shapes, decorated with symbols. Individual chakras, parts of the body, or objects can have their own shields, as can entire areas. Here, more than in any of the other fundamental skills, there is room for individual experiment. In any case, you should cleanse yourself or your object before shielding, to prevent accidentally sealing in negative energies (though this opens up interesting possibilities for combative magic, which is outside the scope of this article).

Chakra balance.

The chakras are energy centers located down the spinal cord. Each is believed to govern different functions, encompassing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Making sure these centers are balanced with each other and filled with clean energy allows everything else to run more smoothly.

Simple Method:

Center yourself, then move down to the base of the spine. From here, you will move into each chakra, measuring the size and brightness of each chakra. They may be envisioned as spheres or wheels. If any are too large or small (racquetball size is good), take note of this and imagine it growing or shrinking to the desired size. Likewise, if any are very dim or murky, imagine them becoming clearer and brighter. It is helpful to use energy obtained by grounding to feed small, dim, or murky chakras.

Base chakra: the tip of the spine. This governs the impulse for physical survival. It is usually seen as red (the colors are commonly used, but are only suggestions).

Sacral chakra: the sexual organs (lower abdomen). This governs sex, obviously, but also basic empathy and "gut reactions." Orange.

Solar plexus: just that, above the navel but below the chest. This is the seat of the Will. Yellow.

Heart chakra: the heart. It governs compassion and is the balance point of the chakra system. Green (pink if you prefer).

Throat chakra: the base of the throat. It governs intellect and communication. Blue.

Third eye: the forehead, between the brows. It controls the astral senses. Indigo.

Crown: at the top of the head. It is the link to the spiritual realms and their wisdom. Violet.

Variations:

Stones or candles of the appropriate colors are often used to help balance the chakras. There are whole books devoted to the chakra system for those interested in further study.

Cord cutting.

This practice enables you to detach yourself from draining persons or situations. It is a good thing to try when you are feeling inexplicably drained or obsessed, or when you are conscious of wanting to "cut ties" with a particular person.

Simple Method:

Center yourself, then relax. Imagine that you are studying yourself, with eyes open or closed, whichever makes it easier for you to "see" astrally. Notice whether there are any colored strands of energy attached to your body. They will most commonly attach to chakras if they are present. Some strands may lead to friends rather than enemies, and these will look and feel benign. If you notice that any strands are unusually thick, dark-colored, or simply feel bad, you may decide to cut them. To do this, simply imagine yourself taking up a knife or a pair of scissors and severing the cord close to your body. Imagine the cut searing, making it impossible to reconnect. Your short end is reabsorbed into your body, and the long end fades away into nothing. Do this as unemotionally as you can, since a strong reaction only serves to reinforce the connection.

Variations:

With practice, this can also be done for other people. You can also learn to move your consciousness along a cord to see who or what is at the other end.

Clearing a Space.

This should be done before shielding an area (or casting a circle, which is after all only a variant of shielding), for the same reason that you should cleanse yourself before shielding yourself. A banishing (a gung-ho version of clearing space) is often sufficient in itself without a shielding, though it never hurts to put up a shield if you want negative energies to stay away.

Simple Methods:

Some of the same things work for space as for individuals: you may move around the area with a smudge stick or incense, or sprinkle consecrated water if you know how to make it, or shake a rattle or bang a drum. The general practice is to move clockwise as a general rule, but for banishing there is also a case to be made for moving counterclockwise. Experiment (at a non-crucial moment) to see which feels better.

Banishing:

Below is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, an essential of Ceremonialist practice. A CM (ceremonial magician) will tend to do this ritual at the least provocation, whereas Wiccans, when they know the practice at all, tend to save it for emergencies. Note that the standard CM version is Kabbalistic--in other words, it utilizes Judeo-Christian names for God and angels. For those who are not comfortable with this, there follows an explanation of what each part does and how it can be altered.

Preliminary notes: as you draw figures in the air, imagine that energy (of your personal color) is flowing down your arm, through your fingers or athame (knife), and actually creating the desired picture in the air.

The Banishing Pentagram mentioned is that of Earth. To draw it, start at the lower left corner of the star, move to the top point, and so on. Ceremonialism has a different Banishing Pentagram for each element, but this one will do for a start.

1. The Cabalistic Cross

Touching the forehead, say "Atoh."

Touching the chest, say "Malkuth."

Touching the right shoulder, say "Ve-Gedurah."

Touching the left shoulder, say "Ve-Geburah."

Clasp hands at the heart and say "Le-Olam. Amen."

2. The Pentagrams

Facing East, point with fingers or athame and draw the Banishing Pentagram. Thrust into the heart of it, saying, "Yod He au He!" Turn toward the South, continuing to draw a circle as you do.

Facing South, draw the Banishing Pentagram and thrust into it saying, "Adonai!" Turn toward the West, continuing to draw the circle.

Facing West, draw the Banishing Pentagram and thrust into it saying, "Eheieh!" (Eh-hey-yeh) Turn toward the North, continuing to draw the circle.

Facing North, draw the Banishing Pentagram and thrust into it saying, "Agla!" Turn toward the East, completing the circle.

3. The Archangels

Facing East, stand with your arms stretched outward in a T, and say:

Before me, Raphael!

Behind me, Gabriel!

At my right hand, Michael!

At my left hand, Auriel!

About me flames the Pentagram, and in the column shines the Six-Rayed Star.

4. Repeat the Cabalistic Cross

Explanation:

1. The Cabalistic Cross

This establishes your association with God and the center of the universe. In Cabalism, "Atoh" is the Crown, or God as total potential; "Malkuth" is the Kingdom, or the physical realm; "Gedurah" is the Pillar of Severity, "Gebulah" is the Pillar of Mercy, and "Le-Olam" is the center of harmony. (In Biblical terms, "Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, Forever.") If your path gives you some way of identifying yourself with Godhead or the center of the universe, it can be put here in the place of the Cross.

2. The Pentagrams

If you hate pentagrams, you can replace them with another symbol of protection (Thor's hammer is the other popular choice). The Names of God (the words you say as you thrust) can be replaced with the names of deities that you associate with the directions or elements.

3. The Archangels

The Archangels serve as protectors. They can be replaced with other protective entities: some people use more gods here, but it seems more appropriate to use demigods, heroes, totems, or some other mid-level beings. The "About me flames..." statement is basically an affirmation that the banishing is successful

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Minor Possessions or Attacks

by Estara Korai

This is a checklist for how to deal with an "average" problem with possession, psychic or astral attack, haunting, and the like. If you find while working through this list that the problem is too thorny for this approach, seek help.

By the way, this is not a call for you to put a "Ghostbuster" shingle on your door and go into business professionally. This information is provided because, as a Guardian, you are likely to be asked for this kind of aid at some point. You are allowed to refuse--in fact, in certain circumstances it is recommended. As I will say several times in this article, if you don't feel up to the task, DON'T DO IT, or at least get help.

1. Do a Lesser Banishing of the Pentagram. Truly, it never hurts to start here.

2. Survey the Scene. Have a long talk with the victim(s) of the attack. When did the problem start? What else was going on in their lives at the time? What are the attacks like? Do they tend to happen at a certain time or in a certain place? If the problem is confined to a certain physical area, go there and have a look around. (Be sure to shield yourself.) Try to get a feel for the energy around the person/people involved and the area.

3. Take Care of the Mundane First. This is an important principle of serious magic. If you suspect that other serious problems are partly or fully responsible for the "attacks"--for example, a drug addiction or an untreated mental disorder--these must be taken care of before any heavy magical working is attempted. In fact, once the related problems are in hand, the "attacks" may disappear. Realize that some people for whom an addiction or disorder is the real problem will not want to face this, and will insist that you do magic for him or her. Stand firm. If the victim will not cooperate, you will not be able to help him whether you do a working or not, in which case it is better that you save your time and energy for someone you can help. Regrettable, but true.

4. What Does the Victim Gain? Sometimes, although a genuine magical problem exists, it is being aggravated by the victim herself. Ask yourself if the victim is gaining something, however subconsciously, from the idea of being under attack? Does it make her feel special? Does it gain her extra attention? Does it arouse pity and doting behavior from her normally apathetic boyfriend? Taking stock of the victim's motives does not mean that you are blaming the victim, and you should avoid suggesting to the victim that you hold her at fault. It does let you know whether you will have to overcome the strange urge in some victims to continue to be attacked, as well as the attack itself. This makes your job much more difficult. If you suspect that the victim has ulterior motives, suggest tactfully that you will only be able to solve the problem with the active assistance of the victim. A victim who insists the contrary, that she is powerless to even help and that you must rescue her, is holding on to the position of victim, and until she changes her mind you will not be able to solve her problem. Again, sad but true.

(You may notice at this point that you are being asked to turn a good number of people away, and wonder if the author is being quite fair. Rest assured that this advice comes from years of experience, and that the people you are turning away now, you would otherwise be turning away weeks, months, or years from now, with you exhausted and them none the better for it.)

I will give an example of this particular problem. I worked for a while with a woman named Dawn (not really her name). Dawn was a woman of genuine magical abilities, and actually did attract the attention of "baddies." However, because she was from a twisted family and had been a sickly child, she was also the sort of person who was used to getting all of her attention by "acting out" or having things wrong with her. Being attacked fed right into this for her, so she ended up walking around with the astral equivalent of a "kick me" sign on her back, which didn't make it easy to keep her pest-free. She wasn't able to get rid of her attackers on a long-term basis until she moved away from her family and dealt with some of her emotional and health-related issues (see #3).

5. Projection or Entity? Typically, the only people who fall under genuine attack are those with genuine psychic or magical gifts themselves. Mundane people seldom fall under "the Evil Eye," and although some of these will offer you good money to free them of imaginary curses, it is unethical for you to accept. You may, however, do some general protection or prosperity spell for them, charging only the cost of your materials, if you think it will make them feel better.

If the victim seems to you to have latent abilities but is unaware of them, gently suggest--in whatever terms the person will find comfortable--that you suspect that he has these abilities, and that in a calmer moment he might wish to learn more about them. This will enable the victim to develop the strength to defend himself, and may win you a future ally in other cases. If the victim is already studying psychic abilities or magic, enlist her aid in whatever work you undertake, so that she can learn to repeat the process herself if need be.

The question now arises of whether the being making the attack is real or created. Sometimes a powerful astral or physical being will create a "flunkie" to do his dirty work. If this is the case, it should become apparent from divination, feel (unfortunately, this only comes with practice), and possibly the practice of following "cords" of energy that will connect the creation to the creator. You will have to deal with the creation first, followed as soon as possible by the creator.

It is also possible for the victim to unwittingly create his own attacker. This most commonly happens because of severe emotional trauma, either in this life or a previous one, that is subconsciously being acted out by the victim. After the initial dealings with the projection, which you will have to banish as if it were a real being, the victim will need to confront this trauma and come to terms with it to prevent another attack from occurring.

How do you tell a projection from a real entity? Besides learning the "feel," you can look for a strong correlation between the attacker's nature and the psychological makeup of the victim. For example, the victim believes that he was once burned as a witch and the attacker is an Inquisitioner; or the victim is a survivor of sexual abuse and the attacker is a rapist. This, however, is not proof in and of itself. A real entity, or even one created by someone other than the victim, will have access to information that the victim does not. The following is a Buddhist story about this method of testing.

A widower came to a monk with his problem. He had found another woman that he wanted to marry, but the ghost of his first wife was haunting him and making threats against the new woman. He was full of conflicting emotions, and wanted to know what to do. The monk suggested that, the next time the ghost appeared, the widower should take up a handful of rice and ask the ghost to tell him how many grains of rice he was holding. If she could answer correctly, the widower must do as she said. When the widower tried the experiment, however, the ghost shrieked and vanished, for she could not answer, being only a projection of the widower's guilt over marrying again.

Now, if you are dealing with a real entity, you must (without becoming paranoid about it) consider the chance that the entity is actually trying to get you indirectly. Examine your memories, if you've had any, for enemies, and try a divination about it. Again, don't get paranoid, and don't fall into the trap of thinking that everything that happens to anyone has something to do with you personally. Just be aware of the possibility. If you think that you are dealing with something with personal enmity towards you, seek help.

6. Talk to the Attacker. Obviously this will not always be possible. But sometimes, for example in some hauntings, the "attacker" is not completely hostile, and you may be able to come to some sort of mutually acceptable terms. In any case, the attempt will allow you to see exactly what you're up against, and help you divine what its motives are and what its weaknesses might be.

If at this point you feel that the attacker is more than you can handle alone, SAY SO. Seek help, or refer your client out to someone you think more suited to the task. There is no shame in admitting that a problem is too big for you. Better that, than that you should come to harm attempting the impossible.

7. Attempt the Work. This will vary too much by situation to be described here. Proceed according to the standards of your own tradition and experience. Again, as always, be willing to bow out and get help or a referral if you're not making any headway. The truth is that not every problem is solvable, especially by a solitaire.

Once you're satisfied that you've cleansed the area and the victims and eliminated the threat against them, leave maintenance instructions, along with referrals to people that can help with any residual difficulties (for example, counselors, feng shui practitioners, appropriate clergy). If the problem was area-specific, take special care to make sure that the energy of the area is restored to a balanced state.

Grimoire contents Article contents

Wards and Guards

by Chameleon

CONTENTS
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Part I - Shielding 101
Part II - Quick "N" Easy Protective Spells
Part III - Serious Magick for the Religiously Oppressed.
Part IV - Back to Iowa and other Spells
WARDS AND GUARDS I - Shielding 101
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You will note that _Wards and Guards - The Series_ is occasionally tongue-in-cheek. I have found bigots of all sorts, but particularly the Religious Warfare types, take themselves far too seriously. A good belly laugh does wonders for relieving the tension and, quite frankly, they have no idea of how to deal with laughter. Keep smiling <|:-D

1. SHIELDS

OK, you've heard that you should practice your shielding, right? Books, live teachers, etc. all say you should be doing this, and do you? it's like exercising - one morning you wake up tired, say "I'll let it slide JUST TODAY" and the next thing you know you've turned into a limp noodle with barely the strength to use the TV remote. don't despair! You can still erect a barrier against the attacks of Those Who Mean Us Harm.

SHIELD #1, THE WARM FUZZY - This is for the Profoundly Limp Noodle to use, as all it requires is that you're still breathing. If you aren't breathing religious bigots are the least of your worries. That said, as you inhale imagine energy and strength pouring into your body with the air. As you exhale, imagine your expelled breath as a golden mist. As you continue to breath in and out visualize this mist becoming a warm, protective sphere around you, growing larger with each exhalation.

You can do this while tuning out exhortations to REPENT OR BURN! by letting your eyes rest somewhere less distracting than the slavering idiot next to you and setting your face in a contemplative expressive. The idiot will think you are considering their viewpoint while you are actually achieving Nirvana through this simple meditation. Nod occasionally and make polite, affirmative noises from time to time. When they start to wind down, thank them for their concern, say "You've given me much to think about", and LEAVE - BEFORE they invite you to their Bible study group. These folks are used to dealing with clear opposition, not passive resistance.

This is also a good shield to cook up any time you feel a need for a little extra protection. I frequently summon it up while waiting for commuter trains or when I need to ride the bus home at night. I wouldn't call it a heavy duty shield in general although with practice it can become surprisingly strong.

SHIELD #2, MIRRORED SPHERE - This one requires a little more visualization power but is well worth it. It is designed specifically for repelling psychic attacks.

When you cast your shield visualize it as a mirrored sphere with you on the inside. The mirrored surface reflects the Nasty Influences trying to harm you. Actually, I visualize a geodesic dome of mirrors. Some people prefer boxes. The important point is that it completely surround you with reflective surfaces.

How to build this? It takes a little practice (or a good Astral Construction Crew). I started practicing at home in quiet surroundings, working on how I wanted the final form to look and building it in my mind. Once I got the shape firmly set I worked on summoning it up by an act of will at a moment's notice. I had incentive, as I was working with Fearsome Fundies at the time, and I got to the point where I could almost instantly snap it into place regardless of the chaos around me. If you are often in situations where you feel mentally assaulted take the time to develop this shield.

OK, those are two very basic shields. Keep them in mind, because we'll be using them in the next section of Wards and Guards - Quick "N" Easy Protective Spells

WARDS AND GUARDS II - Quick "N" Easy Protective Spells
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A word about various supplies and implements first: this section assumes you are either in an emergency situation or a situation where donning elaborate robes and engaging in a 3 hour ceremony is not practical. Therefore, when I say "salt" I mean everything from ritually consecrated sea salt harvested by a 10,000 year old ritual under the proper astrological sign you just happen to have in your pocket to those little paper packets from the fast-food emporium of your choice. In fact, I tend to assume the little paper packets are more readily available. Use your own best judgment, folks. As I said, these are "quick and dirty" spells for tight situations and most of the energy in them comes from your need, not the ingredients themselves.

TURNING YOUR SURROUNDINGS INTO A PLACE OF WORSHIP - What better way to foil the plans of religious bigots intent on converting you at work than to make your desk a Holy Place? If you are waiting in the hospital for news of a loved one's health, why not pray where you are instead of worrying about chapel hours and possible Roaming Missionaries?

Also, please note that by the term "Fundy" I do not refer to any one particular group. A "Fundy" is any creep who insists you believe as they do or "suffer the consequences". These folks can be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Atheist, or even fellow Pagans who think the God/dess talks only to THEM and not you. They practice religious intimidation and even black magick (though they won't admit it) to get their way. Stand firm!

PROTECT YOUR DESK - Summon your Warm Fuzzy Shield at least once a day while seated at your desk. I used to do this over a hot cup of tea as part of my daily "settling in". If anyone asks what you are doing say you are either 1) trying to wake up, 2) going over your list of things to do in your head, or 3) praying for world peace. If they ask why you don't pray the way they do tell them you use a different phone service than theirs, one with fiber optic lines so you don't need to pray as loud "cause the signal is clearer. If it isn't morning, tell them you're taking a moment or two to compose your thoughts, or you're on your coffee break. Over time your desk will accumulate a Warm Fuzzy aura.
Please note - "desk" is used as an example. Cab and truck drivers can do this in their vehicles, cooks in the kitchen, etc. Wherever you happen to be, if you've got a minute or two to sit or even stand still, you can do this.

STEALTH WATER AND SALT BLESSING - All you need for this is water and salt. If you have the time and means, use spring water (easily available these days at the corner store) and sea salt. However, this can be extremely effective with water out of the tap and condiment packs of salt. I know of at least two instances where this was done in a hospital situation in the wee hours of the morning with great success.

Summon a shield - I prefer Mirrored Sphere for this myself, as it is a mini-ritual, but Warm Fuzzy will certainly work if that's all you've got the juice for - add a pinch of salt to the water, and speak a brief blessing over it. I usually go for "Mother Goddess and Father God, bless this water and salt and make them holy" - it's short, it's sweet (all right, salty), and easy to remember under stress. Certainly, however, you can get more elaborate if you desire.

Now, with your finger, draw a circle around the area you wish to protect. With a desk, I'd drag my wet finger around the edges of the desk. With a hospital bed, do the same for the bed frame. If you're in a waiting room do your chair. If you're in court do your chair, but discreetly. For cars, circle the entire car. If anyone asks, tell them you're removing smudge marks from those [expletives deleted] neighborhood kids. No, salt isn't good for the finish, but a pinch in a glass of water is not nearly as toxic as your average winter's road salt.

Add any additional protective signs and/or runes you feel would be of assistance to you.

INCENSE POTPOURRI - with the potpourri trend continuing this is a fashionable means to protect yourself. Either buy or (better yet) make a protective incense or oil. You want something with an odor even without being burned. Get a small, nice, pretty container - pottery works best for me, followed by glass. Plastic is usually incompatible with this but there are exceptions. Fill the bottom of the container with the incense and/or oil, then make a "tossed salad" of protective herbs and/or flower petals. Use some sense - you want a perfume, not a fumigation. Be subtle. Set it on your desk, on a counter, wherever. If anyone asks, it's air freshener.

STEALTH ALTARS - If you have a definite work station - a desk, cubicle, whatever - why not make it into an Holy Place? In the four cardinal directions hang a picture for the element - a landscape for Earth, birds or clouds or musical instruments for Air, seascapes for Water, you get the idea. Or, in a corner of your desk, put a stone, bird feather, seashell, and piece of charcoal in a small bowl to represent the elements. There are an infinite number of variations on this. Add a cut flower (or even a dried one) in a small vase. I know of several Pagans who keep a God/dess image on their desk - usually a postcard with a female or male image, solar disk, or a picture of the grove they worship in. If these items are small they will fit on almost any desk. I used to keep a toy dinosaur, Darwin fish, and a copy of Stephen Jay Gould's _Ever Since Darwin_ on my desk to fend off the Creationists. Use your imagination. Since this is a personal altar/holy space whatever has meaning for you will make a good addition. Consecrate the area with the Stealth Water and Salt Blessing and perform a daily shield exercise there. You'll feel much more connected and serene and the Fundies will have absolutely no idea you are (EEK!) performing PAGAN RITES in PUBLIC!!!

PS - don't forget to decorate your work area for Halloween, Yule, etc. - it's traditional, it's Pagan, and it's fun. I used to bring in pussy willows for spring, flowers all summer, colored leaves, Indian corn (maize), and dried wheat in the fall, and dried plants in winter. It's a way to keep riding the Wheel of the Year when you live in Chicago and don't get out much.

Please note - a Darwin fish is just like those Fundy fish they paste on their cars, notebooks, etc., EXCEPT the fish has feet (it's evolving, get it?) and instead of the word "JESUS" inside it says "DARWIN".

SONIC SHIELDING - Take your favorite ritual music in an instrumental only version and play it while your work. The Fundies will have no idea what it is (although oddly enough they often wind up enjoying it...). If you play it softly it will help drown out distracting sounds (such as loud Fundy praying) while improving your basic frame of mind. This can be almost anything really - harp music, whale song, rain forest noises, a jam session at the last Sabbat, whatever. I have a collection of Yule songs on tape along with some VERY Olde English Caroles that either have little to do with Christmas as a Christian holiday or deal very irreverently with the childhood of Jesus which I love to play throughout December. Pumpkin Carols are good for Halloween. Madrigals can be appropriate for May celebrations (pay attention to some of the lyrics). There are Pagan songs that share tunes with Christian hymns - Simple Gifts/Lord of the Dance and That Old Time Religion come to mind. If you play an instrumental version you can enjoy YOUR version and the Christian Fundies can enjoy THEIR version at the same time! And if that ain't a feat of magick I don't know what is...

OK, so far we've dealt with protecting you and protecting your personal space. Next time we move on to Serious Magick for the Religiously Oppressed.

WARDS & GUARDS III: SERIOUS MAGICK FOR THE RELIGIOUSLY OPPRESSED

Okay, your shields are up, your surroundings filled with incense, images, and sounds to reinforce you on the psychic plane, and you are STILL being harassed. It could be frothing rabid Christians force-feeding you Bibles, it could be a plague of Jehovah's Witnesses leaving knuckle-imprints on your front door, it could be disbelieving atheists who want to either excise your "misguided and superstitious beliefs" or have you committed, it could be relatives or others intent on taking away your children because your beliefs are more than a little unconventional. What do you do? You get serious.

There is, however, one obstacle that people sometimes trip over, the prohibition of the Wiccan Rede that goes "harm none". Well, if you AREN'T Wiccan this probably isn't a problem - so skip the rest of this paragraph. If you ARE Wiccan please remember that "Harm none" applies to YOU, TOO. We aren't talking about strolling down the street indiscriminately turning innocents into loathsome toads, here. You are under attack, those you are opposing are not innocents and you are an agent of the Three-fold Law - the one where you get what you give, times three. Or, in this case, THEY get what they give, times three. None of this "turn-the-other cheek" stuff, please.

That said, keep in mind that the following are not ""quickies". You will be dealing with some considerable force here, so be respectful of it. Do a psychic pest removal of your space before working, and make sure you will be undisturbed while doing the spells. Although I've written these from a Solitary perspective, there is no reason they can't be modified for use by a group.

DEFENSE

Your home should be your refuge, whether that is where you are experiencing problems or somewhere else. Just as you should buy strong locks for your doors, you should also thoroughly equip your house with psychic guards. I find the following can be easily incorporated into spring cleaning, although certainly it can be done any time you have the energy to thoroughly scrub your entire dwelling place.

1. As always, take care of the mundane cleaning first. Scrub floors and paint walls, etc.

2. Light purification incense in center or "hearth" of the house.

This is not necessarily the physical center, but the room you intend to spend the most time in or the magical work area. In my case, this is the kitchen which is way off to one side of the apartment, but I spend a lot of time there. Invoke Deities of your choice. In this case, I don't think a Circle is practical as you aren't intended to contain energy but to drive out Nasties. Bless salt and water and combine them in a clean spritzer. You don't need to make salt-water sludge, here, just a pinch will do.

3. Carry the incense from room to room, "fumigating" each room and hallway. Spritz rooms lightly with salt and water. Don't forget attics and basements! If you are truly obsessive do the yard as well (if you have one). Work from the center outward.

4. Optional: repeat fumigation with a blessing or prosperity incense.

5. Engage Wards and Guards (see below)

6. Decorate.

7. Think happy thoughts.

SUGGESTED INCENSE: A basic purifier of sage, cedar, and bay. Or those smudging sticks that are getting so popular these days. This not only works, but doesn't leave the sulfur-and-brimstone ambiance of some other purifiers. Other additions are copal or myrrh. Or, if your tradition has a particular preference, use that. For blessing incense, use a cinnamon and clove base with other pleasant scents as additions for a pleasing atmosphere.

UNSUGGESTED INCENSE: Pretty much all the "traditional" ones, those containing such lovelies as garlic, sulfur, asafoetida, and other - *ahem* - aromas guaranteed to exorcise both the dead and the living. Some formulations are downright toxic. Don't use these unless you have a MAJOR infestation of high-caliber Nasties. In which case, why would you want to live there anyway?

WARDS AND GUARDS: PENTAGRAMS: Draw a pentagram, point upward, on the side of all doors with a white pencil. Draw pentagrams, point outward, on all windowsills. These pentagrams do not need to be large or conspicuous.

OILS: Anoint doorways and window frames with protective or anointing oil. A dab on jambs, thresholds, and lintels should do.

HORSESHOES: Okay, we've all heard of horseshoes and we all know what they do. The question is, points up or points down? As near as I can determine, points up attracts and stores luck, but some say this luck then STAYS in the shoe until it is inverted. An alternate theory says that points-up negative energy enters one end of the horseshoe and exits the other, deflecting Nasties. Points down mean the luck showers down across a threshold, like a gentle waterfall, which should be an interesting way of blessing your houseguests, but no word on when, if ever, the "luck runs out" and you need a new horseshoe. EVERYBODY agrees that iron is A Good Thing, so get those horseshoes up whichever way you hang "em.

IRON NAILS: These should be old, preferably handmade antiques, or railroad spikes. Charge four of "em up and place one in each corner of your house. Around windows drive three nails (nail nails, not railroad spikes), one in each bottom corner and one in the top center of the frame, forming a triangle.

Okay, now that that's done, don't forget to do an occasional "fumigation" of your occult work area.

WITCH BOTTLES - WHY WITCH BOTTLES?

Well, because they work, for one thing. I became interested in protective spells both out of personal need and because I found I had a knack for them (or at least, that's what all the people who have asked me for assistance have said). A short time later I encountered a group of spells called "Witch Bottles", all of which had certain properties in common:

*All are spells of a protective nature. Sometimes they trap negative energy, sometimes they repel it, sometimes they convert to another form, but all are of a protective or "ward and guard" nature.

*All involve filling a container, most often a bottle, with magically charged ingredients.

They fall into one of two subdivisions of bottle spell:

*Those that are "loaded" once, and derive their power primarily from the power of their contents.

*Those that are "cumulative", and derive their power not so much from the inherent power of the ingredients but from an accumulation of a lot of not-so-powerful small elements to make a whole larger than its parts. These often involve repeated chants, and rely also on the cumulative power of these as well.

As to which might be "better" - for beginners the cumulative witch bottles should be easier to produce in an effective manner, not requiring the intense, focused concentration of those that need a large initial "charging". For an adept, however, it may be more a matter of what is felt to be appropriate.

Although you can use huge, quart or larger size mason jars you can also be equally successful in using smaller bottles and jars. Clear glass seems to be the preferred material, although there is nothing to say that colored glass or plastic wouldn't work. Due to copyright considerations, I can't reproduce some spells for your convenience - you are going to have to do some research. Perhaps by a future edition I will be able to actually give you the text of some of these.

COLONIAL WITCH BOTTLE

This is a "classic" witch bottle, the oldest example of which in America dates back to the 1700's (hence, "colonial"), and in England they've been made since at least the early 1600's. I've never seen this one presented quite the same way twice, but I've seen it several times. Improvisation around the basic theme seems perfectly acceptable, especially since this is a "personalized" spell. Given that there are no expensive, rare, or difficult to acquire items required, I'd say this is about as folksy as folk magic can get. It also posses some risk in the making of it, so use some sense, please. You want to hurt your ENEMIES, not YOURSELF.

This is a "reflective" spell to turn a specific act of evil magic directed against you back toward the originator. It is specific to one person, the one whose bodily fluids are incorporated into the spell. It is also quite powerful. Some of the ingredients are pretty icky (the "gross" factor is a vital component of both the spell and its power) so this may not be one to pass around to beginners or the squeamish, and some people might have problems with using actual blood, especially the suggested menstrual blood.

It can also be used as a general warding spell if placed inside the walls of a house or buried on private property. If it is to ward a household I suppose blood from all living under the same roof can be incorporated if you're feeling especially thorough or threatened, but one person alone should provide more than enough power to handle even worse-than-average Nasties. In any case, this one is sure to set Fundy teeth on edge and make them run screaming and gibbering into the night (heh, heh, heh).

MATERIALS: Small jar or bottle; Debris: broken glass, broken mirror (optional), rusty nails, old razor blades, barbed wire bits, other similar objects; hawthorn thorns (if available); urine (I told you this can get gross); blood; disposable lancet if needed for blood letting (check drugstores or medical supply stores where diabetic equipment is sold) - if you don't use disposable - sterilize! black candle; protective gloves

VISUALIZATION: You don't need to know the source of your misfortune in order for this to work, you need only focus on the actual problem, spell, curse, or other reason for this spell. Of course, if you can name names that is all to the better.

The negative influences are attracted to the urine and blood, which carry your essence, but are caught in the wire and metal, baffled and cut by the glass, impaled by the thorns, dissipated by the iron. and drowned by your urine (pleasant, ay?). The blood lends more power to the spell.

Thorns and mirror are optional, but considerably increase the spell's power. Thorns have long been recognized as useful in defense, and the mirror shards reflect any residual baneful energies away from you.

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE: Use some sense around rusty metal, razor blades, and broken glass. Use gloves to protect your hands - nothing says you can't, after all. Wire cutters and similar paraphernalia may be needed to cut barbed wire and such to a length that fits in the bottle. Do this as prep work.

Do NOT share blood letting instruments. we've all heard about HIV and how it is spread, so do your friends a favor and don't share EVERYTHING with them. Also, there are nasty things that can be spread by contact with bodily fluids besides HIV, and some of them can be fatal, too. Sterilize any blood letting devices thoroughly. Use disposable if you can. let's be careful out there. In regards to other bodily fluids - again, gloves are OK. Don't handle someone else's, it's not a healthy practice even if no one has lethal viruses in their system. Better yet, do this one entirely on your own.

HOW TO:

1) My sources usually don't mention this, but I'd suggest constructing this within a Circle.

2) Fill the jar with the "debris" and hawthorn thorns until they form a tangled mass. Nails and wire bits should be bent. Blades should be broken, bent, and/or rusty. The glass should have jagged edges. The pile should not only LOOK nasty, it should BE nasty.

3) Cover these with your own urine. If you're female, or simply uncoordinated, it is perfectly acceptable to piss in a container prior to starting this project and pouring it from the chamberpot into the witch bottle. Or else use a really big jar with a wide mouth.

4) Add some of your blood. A few drops is sufficient, let's not get carried away. Menstrual blood is particularly effective. However, if you're male or otherwise do not have access to this substance please use a sterile implement and some sense. You only need a FEW DROPS, not buckets worth.

5) Seal the bottle with black wax. If you wish, inscribe runes or other symbols into the seal to further fix the spell but do not break the seal. If you do, remove it and start with fresh wax again.

6) Clean up any spilled bodily fluids with bleach, Pine Sol, Lysol, or similar heavy-duty disinfectant.

7) Take it to where no person or animal will find it and bury it upside down in the Earth with some sort of appropriate banishing words. I prefer something along the lines of "Leave me alone, asshole", but most folks like stuff that rhymes.

This is NOT intended to hang around your house. When you have built it you need to bury it. This can be done in a remote place. Most versions (and actual findings) of this Bottle say to bury it UPSIDE DOWN, and archeological finds of these apparently also commonly have bent iron nails buried in the hole along with Bottle.

Alternatively, if this is used as a warding spell in household defense, it can be placed INSIDE a wall. In this case, place right-side up to avoid smelly leaks and spills. These have been found in both masonry and plaster walls.

I find this particular spell fascinating because it actually does have a long-term documented history of use.

TIM MURPHY'S TRADITIONAL WITCH BOTTLE AND HOUSEWARMING GIFT

OK, so Tim wasn't the one who called it a housewarming gift. But it WOULD make a great one, wouldn't it? And though he gave it to me, it seems to have come from yet another source so if you want to know where it came from you'll have to ask him yourself.

MATERIALS: three glass containers that fit inside each other; mercury; eye dropper; water; "fill" - pebbles, sea shells, sand, more of the same sort of thing; decorations for lid of third jar (optional); consecration tools

VISUALIZATION: Tim didn't include a specific one, but I think if you read the spell you'll get the idea.

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE: Again, no specific tips. However, anyone who's worked with mercury knows how it slips, slides, bounces, and disappears (hey, they call it quicksilver for a reason). This is why "eye dropper" appears on the materials list.

HOW TO:

1. Transfer the mercury by medicine dropper to a tiny bottle or vial. Make certain the cap is tightly closed.

2. Fill the second glass vessel with water and drop the vial with the mercury into it. Screw the lid tight.

3. The third container should be quite a bit larger for it holds the pebbles, shells, and a quantity of sand. Fill to three-quarters with the stones and shells; make a well in the middle of the sand to cradle the water jar and hold it upright. Carefully arrange the units so that the interior jar of water and mercury is hidden from view.

4. The lid of the third jar can be decorated in any way you choose; this final touch belongs to your imagination and inventiveness.

5. To charge the bottle, with your dominant hand make a series of counterclockwise circles around the completed bottle as you say:

Earth holds water,
Water holds life,
Life in safekeeping,
Free from all strife.

This could become quite an art object if you get serious about decorations.

OTHER WITCH BOTTLES

I'd love to give you full instructions, but the following ARE copyrighted. Listing of these resources in no way constitutes an endorsement of any particular belief system. They are intended for reference.

LAURIE CABOT'S WITCH BOTTLE FROM _THE POWER OF THE WITCH_

This spell is intended to neutralize the power of a particular individual or organization who in any way poses a threat to your security, be it physical, financial, or emotional. The quantity of some of the more expensive ingredients used may put it outside some people's price range.

DRAGON'S PEACE, FROM SCOTT CUNNINGHAMS' _CUNNINGHAM'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MAGICAL HERBS_

A quick spell to bring peace and quiet to your house.

Frankly, I have never associated Dragon's Blood with peace before, but I include it for the curious and those for whom it works. Look under the entry "Dragon's Blood".

AVENGING ANGEL TRAPS IN _GREEN EGG_ #101

This spell is intended to protect against the prayers and influence of organized groups hostile to your activities. MY personal all-time favorite and very effective in my experience. I've also worked up several variations on I'd love to share, but it's that nasty copyright thing again. Hey, I get in enough trouble as it is....

JAR OF STONES, FROM CUNNINGHAMS' _EARTH, AIR, FIRE, AND WATER_

This is a house protection spell, and I suppose that, since you are supposed to use an EARTHENWARE crock or jar it isn't EXACTLY a "bottle" spell, but it follows the same format of filling up a container.

SAND TRAP, FROM SCOTT CUNNINGHAM'S _EARTH, AIR, FIRE, AND WATER_

More Earth magick from Scott. The end result resembles some of those "sand-paintings" people used to use as planters.

THREAD CHARM BOTTLE FROM DIANE CAMPANELLI'S _WHEEL OF THE YEAR_

This is a general protective charm, and a lot more pleasant to make than the some of the others listed here. Also a natural for any sort of needleworker, as it requires many, many little tiny threads

VENGEFUL GOSSIP TRAP, FROM _GREEN EGG_ #102

Although the tone of the source material seemed to indicate that this was a tongue-in-cheek enterprise, what the hell. We still need to deal with vengeful gossips, don't we?

WARDS & GUARDS IV: BACK TO IOWA AND OTHER SPELLS

HOT FOOTING, a.k.a. BACK TO IOWA, by Chameleon

I call this one Back to Iowa because of my nemesis at a former place of employment. Among other things, this woman compromised computer security and failed to do several work assignments, which she attempted to blame on others. Including me, hence my fury and this spell. Shortly after I did the following she lost her job and returned to her home state of Iowa. Hence the name of the spell.

The PURPOSE of the spell, why you do it, is to get someone off your back. The intent is not to HARM someone but to make them GO AWAY and leave you alone. This is NOT, however, intended for petty grievances. This is a serious spell with a fairly good kick to it. If it backfires it can make YOU go away i.e. lose your job. Use at your own risk.

And, oh yes, this is COPYRIGHT material. If you reproduce it in ANY form whatsoever you must include the following:

*************************************************************
* Copyright 1994 by Chameleon. *
* May be reproduced under TWO conditions: *
* #1, this disclaimer must accompany text. *
* #2, copies are to be distributed WITHOUT CHARGE *
* unless PRIOR permission of the author is *
* obtained to charge for this text. *
* Chameleon may be contacted at the e-mail address *
* brumstik@interaccess.com *
*************************************************************

MATERIALS: Hot Foot Powder, bowl to hold powder, small jar or vial, 4 black candles, 2 black rushlights, drum or other rhythm instrument (optional, if you know how to clap your hands)

A word about certain items: HOT FOOT POWDER is one of those "magical incense" things you buy at occult supply stores - you know, the ones labeled "sold as a curio, for entertainment purposes only". Z. Budapest in _The Goddess in the Office_ describes this as a white powder, but the Hot Foot Powder I bought is most definitely black (and smells pretty good, too, in fact). The only thing I can conclude is that Z and I go to different occult suppliers. RUSH LIGHTS have nothing to do with Mr. Limbaugh. Traditionally, they're rushes dipped in wax or tallow then lit - a sort of candle, very long and thin, that burns quickly and doesn't throw a whole lot of light. The ones I used were a thin candle wick about 15 inches long dipped in black wax a couple of times. These babies are fragile, so handle them with care until you're ready to use them.

Cleanse and purify your altar area. Set up your altar for charging magickal tools. Arrange the four black candles for lighting purposes and use no other color of candle during this spell. If you want, drape the altar in black, wear black, and otherwise dress up the area.

Pour a small quantity, about a spoonful, of the Hot Foot Powder into the bowl and place it on your altar. I usually put things I intend to charge on top of my pentagram, but use your own preferred method. Get comfortable in front of the altar, you're going to be there for a little while.

Put the black rushlights on either side of the bowl. Light them, while focusing on your grievance. Get a good rhythm going - beat that drum, shake that rattle, clap those hands, beat that floor, whatever - and make it an urgent sort of beat, the sort that makes you want to run. As you do this, chant:

You shall rise, you shall rise
You shall walk and you shall fly
Out of my life and away
Onward
Outward
Away
Begone!
And trouble me no more
I give you no power
You have no power
No power
Over
Me!

Keep repeating this chant and get really worked up. Feel that power and anger rising up. Get loud if you want (well, not so loud the neighbors call 911). Keep repeating the chant until the rushlights have burned almost completely down, then grab that bowl full of Hot Foot Powder and send all the furious energy into it. Visualize that powder just bubbling and boiling over with your emotion. When the fury is in the powder pour the powder into a small jar and close up tightly. Be sure to ground yourself before leaving the Circle.

Now, take that charged powder and lay it in the path of your enemy. Make sure you aren't seen doing this. Pour it into your hand then with a strong puff of breath blow it over an area your foe walks over regularly. This spell is specific to one person, so don't worry about it affecting other people who cross over it. Hot Foot Powder is very fine, and if you only use a spoonful it shouldn't be visible on a floor. If it is, it will look just like dust. Blame it on poor housekeeping, the local construction site, whatever.

BINDING THE ENEMY, from _A Phoenix Not Yet Risen_ by Chameleon

This is part of a larger collection of spells oriented towards resolving an injustice along the lines of child abuse and sexual assault. Like the proceeding this is NOT intended for petty grievances. This is for REALLY SERIOUS STUFF. This is a high- power spell and I suggest you consider carefully whether this much of a magickal kick is needed. That said, the intent is, again, not so much to HARM the enemy but to render the foe HARMLESS. Do try to keep this in mind.

And, again, this baby is COPYRIGHTED. By the same person, in fact, as the above so it, too, has the following conditions attached:

MATERIALS: black altar cloth, black candles, dark or black candle holders, water, sea salt, cauldron or bowl, black human shaped candle, thorn or bolline, red cord several feet long, 13 red-headed pins, large jar with a lid that's big enough to hold human shaped candle, "debris" - rusted wire, bent nails, staples, thorns, nettles, or the like, urine, and an athame or sickle.

NOTE ON MATERIALS: HUMAN SHAPED CANDLE: a "poppet" or other black figure may be substituted for the black candle. It's just that the candles are already in a handy human shape and wax is easy to carve, cut, and stab. BOLLINE: for those of you who don't know already, it's a knife dedicated to making ritual objects or harvesting ritual plants or the like. Basically, a magickal utility knife. If you don't have one don't sweat it, though. Substitute a sharp, sturdy knife like a paring knife or heavy x-acto blade. RED CORD: Preferably cotton or wool thread, somewhere between kite string and packaging cord in weight. Should be at least two or three feet long, but not so long you get it all tangled and snarled when you start knotting it. RED PINS: I like quilting pins, if you can get them with red heads. They're big and impressive looking and don't bend quite so easily as regular straight pins. "DEBRIS": when dealing with rusted wire and the like, use some sense and be careful. "Harm none" applies to YOURSELF, too. URINE: Yeah, it's icky, but it's also a great way to show contempt.

Purify the area and yourself. Drape the altar with a black cloth and set up the black candles and candle holders. Bless the water and sea salt and mix in a cauldron or bowl. Wash the black, human shaped candle in this salt water. On the candle's back write the name of the Oppressor backwards, three times, with a thorn or bolline, saying

This is [name]
And this is the evil within him/her
This is [name]
And this is the shame within him/her
This is [name]
And this is the binding of him/her

Place the human candle on the altar and take up the red cord. Dip it into the salt water, wring it out if necessary, and while you tie nine, evenly spaced knots in the cord think of your anger at the injustice done to you. Take the cord and bind it around the human candle, starting at the neck and ending at the feet. As you do this, say:

I bind you, I bind you, I bind you
You can never harm me again

Repeat until the binding is done. Place the red-headed pins in the salt water, then pierce the figure in the appropriate places as you say the following:

At temples, 2 pins, 1 in each => You will not think of me, you will not think of me. At forehead, "3rd eye" position, 1 pin => You will not dream of me. At eyes, 2 pins, 1 each => You will not look at me, you will not see me. At mouth, 1 pin => You will not speak of me. At hands, 4 pins, 2 each => You will not restrain me, you will not touch me, you will not reach for me, you will release me At groin, 1 pin => You will not lust after me. At feet 2 pins, 1 each => You will not approach me, you will walk away from me.

Place the bound candle in the jar. Arrange various debris around it - rusted wire, bent nails, staples, thorns, nettles until the candle is in a "cage". Fill the jar with urine and screw on the lid. If you're female or you're a guy with poor aim it is perfectly OK to pee into a container big enough to prevent "accidents" and a mess first, then poor the urine into the jar with the bound image. Depending on how much space you left in the jar this may take a lot of urine so you can either stockpile it in a separate container in preparation for this, or you can fill up the remaining space with that salt water you were using earlier. In any case, the bound figure should be completely covered. Seal the lid with wax from the burning black candles and inscribe with any runes or symbols you find appropriate. As you do this, say again

I bind you, I bind you, I bind you
You can never harm me again

Place the jar on the altar and make sweeping motions around it with an athame or sickle saying:

I cut all bonds between myself and this evil
It is gone from me!
I cut all ties between myself and this evil
I am set free!
I cut all links between myself and this evil
It is gone, and will never return to me!

Take the jar to a remote place and bury it upside down in the ground where none will find it. When this is done sprinkle some salt above the site, then walk away and do not look back.

Grimoire contents Article contents

Glossary

By Estara Korai

Astral: a level of reality that is separate from the physical world. In the astral world, mythical beings are real. Humans can be trained to see and interact with the astral world.

Aura: a field of energy around a person. It can be seen with practice.

Awakening: the process of remembering your spiritual identity. This can take a long time and have strange effects on your personality.

Banishing: sending away negative energy.

Cabala: a magical world view created by the Hebrews. It divides Godhead into ten parts, which are arranged in a treelike pattern and each have different functions. Knowledge of these parts and how to travel between them is the foundation of Cabalistic magic.

Ceremonial Magic: an elaborate form of magic, based largely on the Cabala and on Greek and Roman religion and folklore.

Energy: actually, everything is energy. In this context, "energy" is the stuff that magic and astral objects are made of.

Guardian: a person whose spirit has agreed to serve the world and its people. To some, a Guardian's spirit is seen as having a non-human origin. There are several types of Guardians, including healers, teachers, seers, and warriors. These functions are very like some views of shamanism, and the study of shamanic practices would probably be rewarding to Guardians.

Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram: a specific method of banishing created and used by Ceremonial Magicians. It is useful to other people as well.

Magic: a method of gaining control of energy, and thus control of the astral and physical worlds.

Negative energy: in our context, energy that is not wanted or that is harmful.

Pagan: someone belonging to a nature-oriented religion. Pagan religions often have more than one God, have female Goddesses, and allow or encourage the use of magic.

Pentagram: a five-pointed star, generally seen as a protective symbol in magic. It is also a religious symbol for Wicca.

Positive energy: in our context, energy that is desired and helpful.

Possession: the control of a person's body by someone other than that person.

Projection: an astral being that was created by a physical person. This can be done intentionally or accidentally: the accidental ones sometimes turn on their creators, if they were made out of negative energy.

Religion: a way of thinking about the astral and spiritual worlds and their relation to us.

Shield: a protective "wall" of energy that seals positive in and negative out.

Spirit: the part of a person that survives death.

Spiritual world: the place where God(s) reside.

Wicca: a specific pagan religion honoring an equal Goddess and God, worshipping at Full Moons and eight seasonal festivals called Sabbats, and practicing magic. It is nature-based, and tends to be much less elaborate than Ceremonial Magic. Wicca is only one pagan religion: there are others.

Wiccan Rede: "An' it harm none, do what you will." The "harm none" is often a sticking point for Wiccan Guardians, but it is to be understood that self-defense is acceptable.