Caja de Pandora

Tried and tested

To begin, the magus must collect twelve pieces of paper and twelve of each thing that represents or empower their will, for example:

12 seeds for growth, new beginnings, opportunities 12 cloves of garlic for protection, curse-breaking, warding off enemies, health 12 flowers for peace, growth, beauty, etc 12 bay leaves for anything 12 coins for wealth and as payment to the spirits for their items 12 pinches of sugar 12 pinches of rice for household abundance

and so on

The magus must also collect a box, different colored ribbons, and a candle. The magus writes 12 desires or wishes on the pieces of paper, places them on a plate and places the 12 items on each of the papers individually (1 seed per paper, 1 pinch of rice per paper) while stating their desire and how the herb shall empower it. The magus will take the candle and set it near the plate, lighting it. They will then pray over the items, asking any spirits of their choosing for aid, simply conducting energy, and so on. The candle can be left to burn down entirely or the ritual can be further conducted where the twelve items are placed in the box. The candle is placed on the top and left to burn down and the box, empowered with magic and a spirit, is then decorated with the ribbons as an offering.

Each time one of the desires comes true, the box is opened, the paper taken out and burned, leaving the offering of the bay leaves, seeds, or other items inside. When all of the wishes have been granted, the box is taken and kept for another year but the offerings are wrapped up in a cloth or satchel and left at the crossroads with thanks or kept under the altar until the Deipnon where it is offered then.

hello my hand is gonna fall off

Utagawa Yoshishige

An official, Funimation-commissioned visual for The Heike Story. The blooming sala flowers that surround Biwa, known for their short lifespan, represent the impending tragedy facing the Heike clan as their former glory withers and falls away.

From the book : “My Book House Through the Gate.”

Concept art by Milo Manara for an aborted remake of the 1968 sci-fi movie, BARBARELLA. The original of course was directed by Brigitte Bardot’s first husband, Roger Vadim. He had wanted her to star in it, but she refused, and the part eventually went to Jane Fonda.