ECLECTIC SOULS

Witchcraft 101:

Cleansing vs Uncrossing vs Banishing

Alright witches. Lets dive into some witchy basics and discuss the differences between cleansing, uncrossing and banishing. This will hopefully help you differentiate between them. But.. lets be honestly if you do something like call a spell an uncrossing when "technically" doing a banishing, who cares its all in good spirit. The reason i think its good to have a difference in mind between these falls into how you handle a spell. If I'm doing an uncrossing vs a banishing i would choose different spell ingredients, maybe work with different gods, or choose a different element to work with.

Cleansing: I consider cleansings as the foundation and most basic of these. Its almost an umbrella term the other two fall under. All banishings are cleansings, but not all cleansings are a banishing. Cleansings are when you're trying clear something away. Most often people will use this term in day to day workings and general upkeep to make sure nothing has stuck to them. This would include more casual things like smoke cleansing, showering and asking the water to cleanse you, sound cleansing, etc. Its not a full spellworking or ritual, but still done with energy and intention. Sometimes you may do a cleansing and realize whatever is there, is stuck deeper then you expected. So you take the next steps and do a more "intense" cleansing like an uncrossing or banishing.

Uncrossing Spells: Uncrossing specifically refers to removing unwanted energy. Usually when discussing what is an uncrossing, I sperate it from just a cleansing by describing it as a very intense cleansing where you're trying to strip away intense and specific energy. These are more work and a step up from an everyday cleansing for more intense scenarios. This is very spirit focused; think of it as taking out the bad and putting in the good. Some types of spells I would consider an uncrossing are: removing hexes/jinx/curses, removing the evil eye, spiritual detoxes, road openers, removing any stubborn energy, removing feelings, etc. I associate uncrossings with water: it's soaking in and getting that energy out. I would choose herbs/spell ingredients that are uplifting and purifying. Think salt, rosemary, rue, and lemons.

Banishing Spells: Banishing spells remove unwanted entities, spirits or people. You can use it to get rid of very deep rooted things like habits or insecurities. Banishings are quite a strong forms of spellwork. You're really kicking something out and away from you when you do a banishing. Its connected to more deep rooted things that you're trying to remove from your life. Some types of spells I could consider a banishing: cord cutting, exorcisms, banishing a spirit attached to you, getting rid of insecurities, freezers, etc. I associate banishings with fire. Burn and gtfo. I would choose herbs that have more of a kick to them and are defensive. Think nettle, blackberry leaves, cloves, even pepper in some cases.

Please note this doesn't have to be something strict. Like i said at the beginning this is just a guide that will help you differentiate so you can tackle the spellwork as effectively as possible.

the question i have received the most in regards to witchcraft is, “where do i start?” so i decided to make a quick guide on the most helpful areas to me as a beginner. your mileage may vary.

visualization - learn to use and work with your imagination, if you are able.  

intent - a descriptive and detailed goal can help you manifest your desired intent.

grounding and centering - grounding releases excess energy back to its original source; centering helps to focus during spellwork and bring yourself back to reality afterwards. 

channeling - the act of harnessing energy; there are many different sources of energy to choose from when it comes to powering a spell.

protection - i think it's really important to learn how to protect yourself, from wards and shields to charms and amulets.

different types of magic - learn about the different types of magic and make note of what your interests are - there are so many paths to choose from. 

divination - some popular methods include tarot cards, oracle cards, runestones, scrying mirrors, or pendulums.

research - familiarize yourself with folklore and history behind various magical practices; it can be super helpful to understand the history behind different correspondences, rituals, holidays, deities, etc. it will also help you to know which of these practices are closed or open to others.

after you’ve got some idea of your witchy interests, do some further research! see what path is right for you, and expand on it. good luck!

Welcome to December 25th, here's some stuff about witchcraft to think about because you're on your phone looking for a distraction :)

So anyway here's stuff that's really useful to learn how to do before you actually need it because putting it all together for the first time on game day is stressful.

Creation and Desecration of a Poppet

A poppet is a deeply sympathetic representation of someone or something (usually another person).

According to the law of sympathy, whatever you do to the poppet will happen to the person it represents. You could cleanse and bless it, or smite it.

Poppets can be made in a wide variety of ways, from paper dolls, to clay figurines, to crocheted stuffies - anything you like. They also must be worked over magically to link them to their target.

The most ideal poppet is decorated to look very similar to the thing it represents, and is imbued with a taglock (such as hair, nail clippings, footprint dust, etc).

Learning Prompts:

The handicraft of creating the poppet - start with any arts and crafts you're interested in and see if they'll work for you

Practice making several poppets - you do not need to consecrate them. How easy is it for you to decorate it just like the real person? How easy is it for you to include taglocks?

Find a disposal plan. ""Voodoo dolls"" are steeped in public awareness; will it be safe for you to throw away the poppet in the trash when you're done with it?

Consecration or enlivening poppet as target. Find or develop a ritual to fill the poppet with magical life so that it becomes the target. Practice this once or twice (perhaps on a poppet of yourself, to cast blessings or prosperity magic on yourself)

Desecration or severing link. Find or develop a ritual to end the sympathetic link between the poppet and its target. Practice this once or twice.

Storage and tending of enlivened poppets. They are alive and they act like it. If you intend to have poppets sitting around for long-term spells or to use as-needed, you will need a system of storing them so that they "go to sleep" and remain undisturbed until you need them.

Consecration, In General

Here I mean "consecration" to be an act of magic which anoints an object as sacred unto a purpose, and therefore primed for magical use. In crude terms: you're making an object magical and giving it a purpose at the same time.

Consecration is a very useful thing to know how to do. In and of itself it can form a kind of minor enchantment (I consecrate this mug of oolong tea to be a potion of survival +1), but it can also prepare the way for powerful enchantments (I consecrate this ring to become a divine protector, ready to receive the powerful enchantment I soon cast upon it).

Learning Prompts:

Find or create a minor consecration spell which can be cast in under a minute. Strive to obtain one which is covert and can be done even in the presence of others. (Perhaps we could call this a 'cantrip'). Such a spell tends to be suitable for moving fate a few degrees over, or to dig a shallow pool in the tides of reality.

Find or create a hefty consecration spell. Consider what abilities or access you have that allows you to redefine the fate and purpose of an object. Contemplation of this spell can provide great insight into one's own belief and path. Such a spell may completely reorient fate, and carve new channels into the waterways of reality.

Practice minor consecrations on 5 different types of objects. Consecrating the tea, that's easy - stir it a few times. But how to consecrate a hairbrush? How to consecrate a mirror?

Practice major consecration twice, unto two very different domains. Perhaps a pepper oil of fiery smiting, and a crystal bracelet of deep soothing. This is an opportunity to compare and contrast the powers you raise when you work within different domains.

Desecration, In General; and Spell Reversal

To make profane; as in, to remove the magic from something and make it no more than a lump of physical matter, or a meaningless event like scattered dust on the winds of fate.

In my opinion, all witches should learn this - "don't raise up what you can't put down" also includes "don't enchant shit if you don't know how to undo enchantments."

To know how to nullify magic also means you can nullify unwanted and harmful things around you, and take the force and energy out of them.

Learning Prompts:

Find or create a minor desecration spell, one that you can cast on the fly and without tools or ingredients. Such a spell may be like a slapping a broom on a dusty rug; it will shake free things not tightly held.

Find or create a major desecration spell. Such a spell is like steam cleaning and shampooing a rug; it must remove every particle of magic and leave nothing behind but stripped fibers.

Practice minor desecrations 5 times in day-to-day life, targeting stank vibes and irritating situations that do not serve you.

Practice minor consecrations and desecrations 5 times by consecrating a stone, candle, etc., unto a magical purpose, and then removing the consecration.

Find an opportunity to cast a major desecration, which you may find the opportunity to do the next time the need for banishment comes up; or when sorting through old magical tools you no longer need, etc.

Find or create a solid spell reversal, one that you can use without having to have physical spell remnants on hand. Note that reverse to sender is not the same as nullifying your own magic.

Binding Divination Tools to Veracity, and Sundry Divination Management

Or if you like, binding veracity to divination tools. Binding is not baneful magic. Binding means to attach one thing to another thing, or to prevent something from being ways.

You can cast a binding on your divination tools to constrain them to only tell the truth, to truly peer beyond the veil, and only deliver what it can see; and never reflect your personal whims.

There's plenty of magic you can cast for your divinatory tools to make your life easier.

Prepare a binding spell to constrain a divination tool to only reflect the kind of truth you want. Do you want a tarot deck to only show your true state of mind? Do you want a set of runes to only read the will of the gods? Do you want your charm set to only read on the future, and not the past?

Find or create a protection spell to stop undue influence on a divination tool. This does not mean "evil spirits are manipulating your reading." Undue influence also means the strong emotions of querents, random psychic garbage, and the like; but it can also have an impact on the way you phrase questions and work with the tool itself.

Find or create a spell to enchant your tool as a magical seer/oracle. You can use a tarot deck out of the box, of course. You can also enchant it to be a magical object that obtains truth from mystical sources. Try it and see if you like the difference.

Find or create a charging ritual to revitalize your divination tools. This is a good opportunity to examine elemental energies; what kinds of energies are best suited to the purposes of divination and seeing beyond? The full moon is classically used for such purposes. Challenge yourself to recharge your divination tools once a month for 3 months, and see if you like the difference.

Blessing, In General

You have the power to generate and coalesce benevolent and helpful energies, and to distribute them into the world around you. You can bless anything you like, and perhaps the more the merrier; it's a very fine way to transform a space, and put love into the world.

Try considering blessings to have 2 parts; the first is to evoke a desirable force, and the second is to apply the force in a certain way: You could evoke the winter dawn as a blessing power, and then ask it to do something specific (provide a calm day, to make wise choices, to avoid bad traffic, etc).

Write your own minor blessing spell that you can perform in a minute or less. Try centering this blessing around a wonderful and benevolent force, whether it be a certain god, mushrooms, unconditional love, and so forth.

Write a separate minor blessing spell using a very different focus. Try the deep blue calming waters of the deep ocean, or the sprightly breezes of alpine hills, or the feeling of the first sip of a perfect bowl of soup; but make it have really different vibes from the first blessing.

Practice both minor blessings and see the difference. Challenge yourself to use each blessing cantrip 5 times. Try clustering the blessings to fill a space with that kind of energy (such as five items on desk blessed under the alpine breeze, and five items in the bathroom blessed under the deep ocean). Can you feel a difference in the spaces as you move in and out of them?

Write a major blessing using the various benevolent and lovely powers of your practice. This is another good opportunity to explore your practice. When you are in need of love, kindness, grace, and softness, what part of your path rises to meet your needs?

The Big Practice

Consecrate a poppet unto yourself. Bind and enchant a divination tool to be a powerful oracle of truth, and read on the most helpful equipment the poppet needs (RPG style: weapon, armor, familiar, potion?).

Whatever the answer, make a tiny container spell which serves the purpose. Consecrate it to be the tool that the poppet (you) needs.

Give the enchanted container spell to the poppet and cast a blessing on it, to be empowered with the new tool it has been granted in life.

Carefully store the poppet and its tool.

Periodically, perhaps between 1 to 6 times a year, recharge your divination tool and discern what new tools the poppet might need. Desecrate the old tool if you need to (or let them stack up), and consecrate new tools.

Witchcraft is a little difficult to get knowledge on. After baby witches have read the well known books and resources, basic correspondences and "how to make your own spell" stuff, we tend to feel lost. On the internet we either see other baby witches, or witches so advanced that everything they post could possibly be a shit post. They'll talk about things that you have absolutely no idea about, and when a witch gets to that advanced stage, they either have a hard time explaning their unique UPG, or part of their practice is simply too personal to share.

So how does a baby witch involve into a more advanced and confident one?

Now i can't tell you a certain answer, because these are just my opinions and theories, but this is how i did it. Keep in mind there is no rule book! Only suggestions.

1. Historical Resources

Okay baby witches. Its time to put down the new age modernized books of witchcraft that only have bare bones information like correspondences and moon phases. You've learned everything you can from them. Now, you need to find books on magic HISTORY, as well as some science books. See how your ancestors did magic, why they did it, what they believed. This will give you a deeper understanding and connection to magic.

Old texts like The Three Books Of Occult Philosophy are interesting with great info...but it was written in the 1500s and even I have a hard time understanding it. Old old grimoires like this and other famous ones ARE good texts with lots of info, but if you start with these you will probably burn out and not really be able to understand them.

Books about magic history will give you a great start to truly understanding magic, some of my favorites are Art of the Grimoire: An Illustrated History of Magic Books and Spells by Owen Davies, and Magic: A History: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present by Chris Gosden. That last one was actually found in my public library of my very southern small town.

Other good books are folklore books! Read the old fairytales of your region, learn about your geological location, what kind of trees are native, what superstitions does your region believe in, what locations have legends and what are they? Learn how your ancestors practiced. Certain regions have certain correspondences for different symbols or native plants. Getting to know the story of your land is a great step in becoming more advanced in witchcraft.

Next, science books. I have a book that is a feild guide to stars. Its not a spiritual book, but it tells me what the night sky looks in my region everyday. Gardening or herbalism books will help you get a better idea of what to associate things with plants, and why they have the correspondences they do. I also really love books on sciences of the mind, like psychology or dreams. Learning how the brain works helps you control it and your power. Again, just having all this information is very helpful.

Now after that i recommend trying to dip your toe into the ancient grimoires and cryptic magical knowledge. Don't feel bad if it takes a few tries to understand it!

2. Make Your Own Path

Stop following every rule or instruction from your resources and books. THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO PRACTICE. Start making your practice YOURS. dont like smoke cleansing? Come up with something else, like singing, music, sweeping, even blowing bubbles to cleanse a space. After reading your historical resources, make shit up! The best spells are the most intuitive ones!

Once i went on a walk in my neighborhood with a small bell. I asked the spirits to guide me to something cool. I said that i would hold up my bell in each direction, whichever direction it rang more for, i went that way. I ended up finding a bluejay feather! Be creative, try new things that no one has ever done before in the magic space, like making sigil tokens out of shrinky dink plastic, or enchanting an object to cast wishes. You don't need to look up spells on google anymore, make your own! Think of it like pretending when you were a kid. Oh, you found a cool leaf? Lets put it in the spell! Oh, you wanna dance around the object to infuse it? Lets go! You have a piece of jewelry from your grandmother that you want to add to the spell? Go for it. Literally just make shit up, see what works and feels good. Do you associate good luck with this random native plant? Well then its good luck then!

Magic has been practiced since the dawn of time, and over thousands of years cultures practiced in thousands of different ways. And guess what? They all made that shit up. And it worked for them. You need to make your own story. Part of the power advanced witches have is simply a good connection with the self and nature. I know witches who can simply speak words filled with power and make shit happen. Go wild. Get close to your child self and the Earth around you.

3. The start of a spiritual initiation

A spiritual initiation is a series of events that change you to your core, an awakening that destroys everything you once knew. Think of it as similar to the tower card, leading to positive change.

A spiritual initiation can be something your spirit guides do with your consent, but it can also happen to anyone living a normal life.

These events are kind of like a "finding god" moment. You will learn so much, so quickly, and nothing will ever be the same again. You will open a door, and once you take that first step you will be flooded with spiritual experiences and personal growth. Over and over, relentlessly, until you have become a refined and better version of yourself.

Mine was not searched for, it was placed upon me. I talk about it a lot, but it was my journey with CRPS. i was an athletic 18 year old in her prime, and within one year i became bedridden, housebound, and a wheelchair user. I went from a normal teen to the strangest and hardest circumstances. It was isolating. It was lonely. I spent countless hours unable to even lift my hands, hold my phone, or feed myself. I only had my mind.

I call this feeling of loneliness and distress that absolutely has no escape, The Empty Room. Named after an oracle card in my favorite deck.

The Empty Room is a place where only you and yourself are present. There is no comfort, there is no distractions. Just silence. But, The Empty Room is very special. Within it are infinite possibilities. It is space and time, it is the mind. The Empty Room shows the truth, the ugly and the good. In order to survive The Empty Room, you must find your truth within it. Find whats hidden in the nothingness.

The spiritual initiation puts you in this room, it forces you to look deeply at yourself, to be honest with yourself. To CHANGE. This change and growth can be incredibly painful, and oh so rewarding and beautiful. People and myself have described it as like being torn to pieces and having to rebuild your entire self. But this ultimately leads to mental, spiritual, and emotional healing.

During this time, which could be months or years, as you grow and change and rebuild yourself, you will tend to have more experiences with the other side. You will be more in tune with your magic, more powerful and more confident.

I can't tell you how to start your initiation, its unique to everyone. Maybe you make a wish to the world, maybe you ask your guides, or maybe it just happens.

But, once you start it.. you see the world with different eyes. You're more powerful and connected with the world around and within you. You may have prophetic dreams, or paranormal experiences, or moments where you speak to God. Moments where it feels like the world looks directly at you, waiting, listening, watching. It will feel like you have someone gently guiding you to peace, perhaps dead loved ones or your deities. You will get more messages from them. Magic will become easy. Akin to breathing.

This journey may be the hardest thing you ever do. And it will make you the best and most powerful version of yourself. And you will know when it happens.

To the Gnostics, Abrasax is the great archon who created the whole world. There is quite a bit of nuance considering how Basilides Gnosticism views this deity. Nuance that I am not qualified to go over at the moment. Carl Jung refers to Abrasax as a truly terrible entity that encompasses all evil and all good, in his Red Book. I've seen negative reactions from people on Discord to this entity, but also some positive reactions.

But to the Hermeticist…who and what is this weird rooster head, snake-legged deity that is found all throughout the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM)? Let’s find out? 

In the Discourse of the Ogdoad and Ennead (D89) we are given strings of vowels and nomina Barbara for the Hermetic student, namely Tat as he is being taught by Hermes. To Christian H. Bull in his The Tradition of Hermes Trismégistōs, the string of Greek vowels and nomina Barbara/voces magicae is the totality of the Kosmos. Tat asks to receive the imprint of fullness by ways of hymns of praise to God. Bull seems to agree with Alberto Camplani that the “imprint of Fullness (Pleorma)” is coded within these string of vowels and voces magicae. 

From personal experiences — I have to agree with this, but I had to fuck around and find out for myself as I read this book many months ago when vowels and voces magicae were not big in my praxis. Anyways, here is the full hymn: 

Great! So how does this tie into ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ and what is this names value to a Hermeticist? For starters — This name, has a numerical value of 365, according to isopsephy. 365, as the majority of you know, is the totality of days our Earth revolves around the Sun. In PGM VIII. 1-63, specifically in lines 45-50… we see a love spell invoking Hermes to which we are given the name of ABRASAX equaling 365 explicitly, and quite possibly a voces magicae for Hermes.

The Sun's importance in Hermeticism is ever-present. Most explicit in my opinion is SH 2a from M. David Litwa’s Hermetica II:

Also important to note: Thoth. Many believe Thoth is just the god of the Moon, yet Thoth has a Solar form: the Baboon. Baboons and their screeches are believed to be connected to the language of the gods. This is confirmed in the Demotic Book of Thoth. Where a scribe of Thoth’s Scribal College: The House of Life [𓉑], says this about the great teacher, Thoth: "The signs revealed their form. He called to them and they answered to him. He knew the form of speech of the baboons and the ibises." Thoth is also believed to be the creator of not just words and language but also vowels (Philebus 18b-c). For clarity's sake, Thoth is an extremely important figure in Hermeticism. Our teachings are based upon a syncretic god: Hermes & Thoth — Hermēs Trismégistōs. 

More evidence for the importance of ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ is found in PGM XIII.1-343 — the famed Heptagram Rite, which we can perform more clearly and neatly here. This is a ritual that invokes Aiōn. Aiōn is believed to be the power of the Unknowable, Ineffable Godhead in Corpus Hermeticum XI. In lines 80-89 of PGM XIII, we are given voces magicae to Aiōn in 7 different languages as seen below.

Birdglyphic: ΑΡΑΙ Hieroglyphic: ΛΑΙΛΑΜ Hebraic: ΑΝΟΧ ΒΙΑΘΙΑΡΒΑΘ ΒΕΡΒΙΡ ΕΧΙΛΑΤΟΥΡ ΒΟΥΦΡΟΥΜΤΡΟΜ Egyptian: ΑΛΔΑΒΑΕΙΜ Finally, in Baboonic: ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ 

(The voces magicae for Aiōn is continued in 'Falconic' and lastly hieratic languages). Thus, we can see a clear link to baboons and Thoth, the name Abrasax to the baboons, and their "language." We see a connection between Aiōn and Abrasax, and we also saw above in PGM VIII that it could also be used as a voces magicae to Hermes!

But let’s look at the imagery as well. A rooster head with snake legs. The legs, to me, are Chthonic of course, and curl up to shape an Ω, the seventh sphere, Saturn. The connection to Omega is something Christian H. Bill points out. The rooster is also a Solar animal. So to me, we have a beautiful image representing the totality of All Things from the Sun whose an image of Truth, directly subordinate to the One Primal Deity (SH 2a), down to the Du’at/Underworld. Both Hermes and Thoth are connected to the Underworld as well as the Sun. Hermes' planet, Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Hermes is also famously known as a psychopomp, a traveler and mediator between Hades and Mount Olympus, Death and Life. Thoth, with His solar connections stated above, is also a key member of the Ancient Egyptian Underworld. In the Ani Papyrus, we see Thoth as the recorder/scribe that lists every heart that is weighed up against the Divine Feather of Truth -- Ma'at.

Thus what we have here, from a Hermetic standpoint, is that Abrasax is not a malevolent archon or a demon as denoted by the early Catholic Church, but rather a beautiful deity that is worthy of reverence whose name equals our revolution around the Sun, the Image of God. Abrasax — a name that is connected to both Hermes and Thoth, for reasons stated above. A name that also has a connection to Aiōn, an extremely important power/god in Corpus Hermeticum XI.

That is my interpretation, from a Hermetic standpoint. There are many interpretations of this elusive yet captivating deity. Abrasax can be a voces magicae for Hermes, or for Aiōn, it can be what I said, or you can take the Gnostic approach, or Jung, or Catholic approach to Abrasax. Regardless of what you do with the information, I shall continue to raise my voice in jubilation and cry out:

ΧΑΙΡΕ ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ ! 

Haruspicy

In ancient times the haruspex (diviner) interpreted the divine will by inspecting the entrails of a sacrificial animal. First the animal was ritually slaughtered. Next it was butchered, with the haruspex examining the size, shape, color, markings etc. of certain internal organs, usually the liver (hepatoscopy), but also the gall, heart and lungs. Finally, when the animal had been butchered, the meat was roasted and all the celebrants shared a sacred meal.

Ornithomancy

(modern term from Greek ornis “bird” and manteia “divination”; in Ancient Greek: οἰωνίζομαι “take omens from the flight and cries of birds”) is an Ancient Greek practice of reading omens from the actions of birds, equivalent to the Augury employed by the ancient Romans. Although it was mainly the flights and songs of birds that were studied, any action could have been interpreted to either foretell the future or relate a message from the gods. These omens were considered with the utmost seriousness by Greeks and Romans alike.

This form of divination became a branch of Roman national religion, which had its own priesthood and practice. One notable example occurs in the Odyssey, when thrice an eagle appears, flying to the right, with a dead dove in its talons; this augury was interpreted as the coming of Odysseus, and the death of his wife’s suitors.

Bibliomancy

Using texts such as the works of Homer to divine answers. Usually opened at random or using three dice to determine what lines should be interpreted.

Limyran Oracle

A set of 24 stones or potsherds (pottery fragments), each inscribed or painted with a letter of the alphabet. Each stone should have one of the Greek letters (Α, Β, Γ, etc.). Keep the stones in a jug, box, or bag, and when you want to consult the oracle, pick a stone without looking. (One ancient method was to shake the stones in a bowl or frame drum until one jumped out.)  This method is similar to the use of rune stones. Stones used in this way would be called psêphoi (PSAY-foy) in Ancient Greek (calculi in Latin); inscribed or painted potsherds are ostraca in Greek (testae in Latin).

Kleromancy

Divination using dice or the knucklebones of sheep, which were called astragaloi. The four sides of the bone were given a numerical value and these were then added together to equal an alphabet character.

Oneiromancy

A form of divination based upon dreams; it is a system of dream interpretation that uses dreams to predict the future. Dreams were also used for healing in Ancient Greece, especially in the sanctuary of Askelpios. Sleeping in the sanctuary of a god was believed to facilitate dreams sent from that particular deity.

Kledon

A brief overview of defixiones, or curse tablets, in the Greco-Roman world.

What were they used for?

Defixiones expressed a formalized wish to bring other persons or animals under the client’s power, typically against their will and without their knowledge. Most often (but not exclusively) for:

Inflicting death or harm such as illness (ex: fever, consumption, blindness, idiocy, lameness, broken limbs, loss of memory, insomnia)

Loss of consort, family, or property

Defeat in war or athletic competition

Public humiliation

Failure in business

Loss in a legal case or conviction

Denial of afterlife

Injury to race horses

Breakdown of public baths (really!)

To revenge upon an unfaithful lover or to inspire lust in a new or former lover

When (and where) were they used?

Glamour magick is the art of illusion, enchantment, and transformation. It is a form of witchcraft that influences perception, helping you shape how others see you—and how you see yourself. Often associated with beauty spells, glamour magick extends far beyond physical appearance, touching on charisma, confidence, energy projection, and personal empowerment.

What is Glamour Magick?

Glamour magick is the ability to create an aura, illusion, or energy field around yourself to influence perception. This can be subtle (radiating confidence, appearing more attractive) or dramatic (completely shifting how you are perceived in a space).

Key Aspects of Glamour Magick:

• Illusion & Perception – Shaping how others see you.

• Energy Manipulation – Projecting an aura of beauty, mystery, or confidence.

• Psychological Influence – Aligning your actions and appearance with desired outcomes.

• Inner Alchemy – Changing your self-perception and unlocking hidden power.

Glamour magick is not deception—it is a tool of empowerment, allowing you to embody different versions of yourself as needed.

Uses & Applications of Glamour Magick

⭑ Personal Power & Confidence

• Make yourself appear more confident, charismatic, or authoritative in important situations (interviews, speeches, negotiations).

• Command attention when entering a room.

• Enhance self-love by seeing yourself in a new light.

⭑ Beauty & Attraction Spells

• Enhance your natural charm and allure.

• Strengthen magnetic presence, making others drawn to you.

• Boost your radiance and personal style.

⭑ Influence & Social Perception

• Be seen as trustworthy, mysterious, or irresistible depending on the desired effect.

• Appear invisible or unnoticed when needed (useful for avoiding unwanted attention).

• Shift your perceived energy (e.g., appearing powerful in a leadership role, approachable in social settings).

⭑ Spiritual Transformation

• Align with goddesses or deities associated with beauty, wisdom, or seduction (Aphrodite, Freyja, Hekate).

• Use glamour magick for shadow work, integrating hidden parts of yourself.

• Enhance dreamwork and astral projection by shifting your astral form’s appearance.

Methods of Practicing Glamour Magick

Glamour magick can be performed through visualization, ritual, enchanted cosmetics, clothing, perfumes, and energy work.

⭑ Visualization & Energy Work

One of the simplest forms of glamour magick is projecting an aura through visualization.

Example: Confidence Aura Spell

• Close your eyes and breathe deeply.

• Visualize a glowing golden or red aura surrounding you.

• Imagine this energy making you radiate power, beauty, and confidence.

• As you step into a room, picture people noticing and respecting your presence.

⭑ Enchanted Beauty & Self-Care Rituals

Makeup, skincare, and beauty routines can be ritualized and infused with magick.

Ways to Enchant Your Routine:

• Lipstick or Lip Balm Charm: Before applying, whisper:

“With each word I speak, my voice is heard. My words captivate and command.”

• Mirror Enchantment: As you gaze at your reflection, say:

“I see myself as divine, radiant, and powerful.”

• Perfume or Cologne Spell: Anoint yourself with intention: Rose for love, jasmine for sensuality, lavender for peace, cinnamon for attraction and boldness, etc.

⭑ Glamour Through Clothing & Colors

Fashion is a powerful tool in glamour magick. The colors, textures, and styles you wear influence energy and perception.

Color Correspondences in Glamour Magick:

• Red – Power, confidence, passion, boldness.

• Black – Mystery, protection, authority.

• White – Purity, elegance, divine energy.

• Pink – Soft attraction, friendship, charm.

• Green – Wealth, prosperity, health.

• Blue – Calm, wisdom, trustworthiness.

Example: Enchanted Clothing Ritual

• Hold the clothing item and infuse it with intention (e.g., a red dress for power, a black cloak for invisibility).

• Say:

“As I wear this, I become the energy I invoke. I walk with power, I shine with radiance.”

⭑ The Art of Presence & Body Language

Your posture, eye contact, and movement influence how people perceive you.

• Stand tall and move with purpose.

• Maintain eye contact to assert confidence.

• Slow, intentional movements exude mystery and grace.

• A well-timed smile can captivate and disarm.

Glamour Magick Exercise:

• Imagine a golden thread pulling your spine upright, making you appear poised.

• Envision a soft glow around your face that makes you radiant.

Glamour Magick Spells & Rituals

⭑ Magnetic Attraction Spell

To draw attention and admiration.

Needed:

• A red or pink candle

• Rose or jasmine essential oil

• A small mirror

Instructions:

Carve your name into the candle. Anoint it with essential oil while saying:

“As this flame burns, so does my allure. Eyes turn, hearts stir, my presence is known.”

Light the candle and stare into the mirror. Envision your aura glowing and expanding, making you irresistible. Let the candle burn down. Carry the mirror with you for continued effect.

⭑ Invisibility Spell

To avoid unwanted attention.

Needed:

• A black candle

• A smoky quartz or obsidian crystal

• A small black cloth

Instructions:

Light the black candle and hold the crystal. Whisper:

“Shadow cloak, silence veil, unseen I move, unheard I sail.”

Visualize your aura dimming, blending into the background. Wrap the crystal in the black cloth and carry it for continued effect.

Glamour magick is a form of self-empowerment, transformation, and energy work. Whether through enchanted beauty rituals, confidence spells, or aura manipulation, this practice allows you to embrace your divine presence and radiate power.

Before I made this account and started this blog I thought quite a while about what my first post would be, and I ultimately came to this spell. Much like the forces this ritual calls upon, I want solar power to come down here, and illuminate the magick of the PGM to other people in ways it can be worked in our modern world, ethically and thoughtfully. In short, I wanted to dawn this blog with solar magick, enjoy!

This is a cornerstone of my magickal practice, and a ritual I come back to time and time again. It is a catchall ritual which can be as the title suggests, for all things. Some ideas would be to consecrate your divination tools to give true readings, to grant solar blessings to people, and to create magickal oils. My favorite use of this ritual though is to cast on myself as a charitesion. When used in this manner others will begin to orbit you like the planets orbit the sun. Try it!

I would suggest foremostly opening this consecration with the Orphic Hymn to Helios and any other devotional work you see fit. I prefer to do this consecration at dawn or dusk on a sunday, though any day will function well. If you are to do this spell beyond these conditions you should work this magick at least within the hour of the sun. For the duration of this consecration, burn frankincense and manna, or just frankincense. Waft the object you are consecrating through the incense smoke when you ask for the blessings of the secret names of Helios, in exception of the 10th and the 12th hours as these are malefic faces of Helios we do not want to receive the blessings from. If you are consecrating something in a bottle, such as an oil, ensure the vessel it is being kept in is open while you waft it through the smoke.

PGM IV. 1596-1715 

“I invoke you, the greatest god, eternal lord, world ruler, who are over the world and under the world, mighty ruler of the sea, rising at dawn, shining from the east for the whole world, setting in the west. Come to me, thou who rises from the four winds, joyous Agathos Daimon, for whom heaven has become the processional way. I call upon your Holy, and Great, and hidden names which you rejoice to hear. The earth flourished when you shone forth, and the plants became fruitful when you laughed; the animals begat their young when you permitted. Give glory and honor and favor and fortune and power to this NN which I consecrate today for NN (the purpose). I invoke you, the greatest in heaven ĒI LANCHYC AKARĒN BAL MISTHRĒN MARTA MATHATH LAILAM MOUSOUTHI SIETHŌ BATHABATHI IATMŌN ALEI IABATH ABAŌTH SABAŌTH ADŌNAI, the great god, ORSENOPHRĒ ORGEATĒS TOTHORNATĒSA KRITHI BIŌTHI IADMŌ IATMŌMI METHIĒI LONCHOŌ AKARĒ BAL MINTHRĒ BANE BAINCHCHYCHCHOUPHRI NOTHEOUSI THRAI ARSIOUTH ERŌNETHER, the shining Helios, giving light throughout the whole world. You are the great Serpent, leader of all the gods who control the beginning of Egypt and the end of the whole inhabited world, who mate in the ocean, PSOI PHNOUTHI NINTHĒR. You are he who becomes visible each day and sets in the northwest of heaven and rises in the south-east.

In the 1st hour you have the form of a cat; your name is PHARAKOUNĒTH. Give glory and favor to NN. In the second hour you have the form of a dog, your name is SOUPHI. Give strength and honor for this NN (object/person). In the third hour you have the form of a serpent, your name is AMEKRANEBECHEO THŌYTH. Give honor to the god NN. In the 4th hour you have the form of a scarab; your name is SENTHENIPS. Mightily strengthen NN in this night/day for the work for which these consecrations are sung. In the 5th hour you have the form of a donkey; your name is ENPHANCHOUPH. Give strength and courage and power to the god, NN. In the 6th hour you have the form of a lion; your name is BAI SOLBAI, the ruler of time. Give success to NN and glorious victory. In the 7th hour you have the form of a goat; your name is OUMESTHŌTH. Give sexual charm to NN. In the 8th hour you have the form of a bull; your name is DIATIPHĒ, who becomes visible everywhere. Let all things done by NN person, consecrated object) be accomplished. In the 9th hour you have the form of a falcon; your name is PHĒOUS PHŌOUTH, the lotus emerged from the abyss. Give success and good luck to NN. In the 10th hour you have the form of a baboon; your name is BESBYKI. In the 11th hour you have the form of an Ibis; your name is MOU ROPH. Protect NN for lucky use, from this present day for all time. In the 12th hour you have the form of a crocodile; your name is AERTHOĒ. You who have set at evening as an old man, who are over the world and under the world, mighty ruler of the sea, hear my voice in this present day, in this night, in these holy hours, and let all things done by this NN, be brought to fulfilment, especially because I have consecrated it for those reasons. Please lord KMĒPH LOUTHEOUTH ORPHOICHE ORTILIBECHOUCH IERCHE ROUM IPERITAŌ YAI. I conjure earth and heaven and light and darkness and the great god who created all SAROUSIN, you Agathon Daimonion the helper, to accomplish for me everything done using this N,N thing."

When you complete the consecration, say, “The one Zeus is Sarapis.” 

Further reading, The Secrets of Helios by Alison Chicosky

Many love spells in the ancient world, particularly in the PGM are that of what are known as fetching charms, or binding spells: love spells targeting specific people. However, there are a number of more generalized love spells, ones with no particular target, such as the Stele of Aphrodite.

The Stele of Aphrodite is Greek Magical Papyri (PGM) spell number IV. 1265-74, and dates back to the late Hellenic period of ancient Greece. It was used primarily for love magic, specifically to invoke the favor and obsession of a desired individual, as well as for favor and success within friendship, popularity and beauty. The stele was believed to harness the power of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, to sway the emotions and actions of whoever sees you in favor of the practitioner.

Step by step instructions on how to create your own below ☆

(Note: NN here means simply the name of your target. Tried and tested many times.)

𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚜, 𝙶𝚘𝚍𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚊𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜 ⛧

An example of voces magicae, or magical mystery/nonsense words, these magical vowels in Greek, the alpha-beta-gamma-delta or ΑΒΓΔ, were sung before most invocations/evocations of spirits, Gods, and daemons as a way to harmonize with the spheres of the universe (in accordance with Pythagoreanism.)

TO PRONOUNCE SINGLE VOWELS IN ANCIENT GREEK:

A- ah as in father

E- ay as in day

Ē- ee as in seek

I- ih as in stick (if it appears after a

consonant)

O- oh as in broke

Ō -the same as O, except the sound is drawn out, like oooh

U -oo as in truth

IAỒ, an extremely common magical name for God, is pronounced ya-oooh."

In the Greek Magical Papyri, a 2000 year old Greco-Egyptian magical text, it states to sing these vowels in accordance to certain sounds:

the “A” with an open mouth, undulating like a wave; [A, α]

the “O” succinctly, as a breathed threat. [O, ο]

the “IAÔ” to earth, to air, and to heaven. [ΙAΩ, ιαω]

the “Ê” like a baboon; [Η, η]

the “O” in the same way as above; [O, ο]

the “E” with enjoyment, aspirating it, [Ε, ε]

the “Y” like a shepherd, drawing out the pronunciation. [Υ, υ]

—PGM V. 24 – 30

If it did, it wouldn't be heavily influenced by fucking Greek magic, since Solomon supposedly lived thousands of years before that period.

Medieval monks, who really wrote the Ars Goetia, had a very well documented habit of assigning parentage of magical texts to apocryphal figures like Solomon to make them seem cooler or more powerful. Particularly to christian adjacent figures, since otherwise these books would be considered hersey.

Even the word Goetia itself derives from the Greek Goêteia, meaning sorcery, specifically sorcery utilizing chthonic powers, or the Underworld: Gods, Daemons, and the Dead.

Goêteia comes from the proto Indo-European word goos, meaning to mourn, cry, or to wail; it comes from ancient funeral laments and mourning practices.

Also, Solomon likely never existed, hate to burst your bubble, but there has been zero archeological evidence found to support his, or his "father" king David's existence. Unlike other real kings of roughly the same periods, like King Nebuchadnezzar II.

Even the fact that the magic circles within the Ars Goetia utilize the same coiled serpents and five-pointed stars that Greek goêteia uses, stemming from EGYPT and Egyptian practice, not some psudeo-biblical figure like Solomon.

But wait, there's more

Even the use of demons isn't Solomonic, nor is it Jewish or christian.

It's also fucking Greek.

The word demon itself derives from the Greek daemon, meaning earthly divinity (rather than heavenly/ouranic) or a messenger of the Gods.

It was taken and absorbed into early christian theology like many other concepts such as Tartarus due to early christianity rising in the same region.

Particularly the use of daemons in magic through evocation, or even invocation (calling them within yourself to become possessed, a hallmark of Daemonism and the Engastraitai) through ritual incantations of voces magicae and nomina barbara.

All of it is fucking Greek, no Solomon to be found.

I'll add a step further: even the use of Jewish aspects of magic within the Ars Goetia stems from Greek goêteia, as Greek goêteia was a syncretism of Greek, Jewish, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian magical and spiritual practices.

Fuck, just take a look at the Greek Magical Papyri sonetime if you don't believe it.

Hell, even take a look at the Coptic Magical Papyri, which was a syncretism of early christianity and what we would call "ancient Egyptian" religion and Magical practices:

See the similarities?

Solomon my ass.

☆ ☆ ☆

I have seen some people claim that magic or witchcraft did not exist in Ancient Greece. This is not the case. So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce you all to the strange and wonderful world of Ancient Greek magic!

First, what do we mean by "magic"? Radcliffe Edmonds, one of the leading scholars on Ancient Greek magic, defines "magic" as "non-normative ritual behavior." In short, what makes something magic, and not just normal religion, is that people in a given culture think it's weird. The word "magic" itself refers to the magi, Zoroastrian priests — the Ancient Greeks thought they did magic because to them, Zoroastrianism was foreign and weird. They also thought that Ancient Egyptians could do magic for the same reason — what the Greeks thought was spooky magic was just normal religion in Egypt. Within their own culture, magic was basically heteropraxic religion. Magic was not considered hubristic, at least not inherently.

There are multiple Ancient Greek words that refer to magic. The word μάγος, magos, itself means "magician" or "charlatan." There's also γοητεία, goetia, usually translated as "sorcery." The word most often translated as "witchcraft" is φαρμακεία, pharmakeia, the use of drugs or herbs to transform or influence people. This is what Medea and Circe do.

One of our best sources on Ancient Greek magic is the Greek Magical Papyri, or PGM, a set of magical texts from Hellenistic Egypt. When I first learned about it, I thought it was too good to be true, but here it is: uncorrupted ancient pagan magic! Essentially, the PGM is one of the oldest known grimoires, and the ancestor of the entire Western magical tradition. The papyri contain spells and rituals for almost every purpose: curses, love spells, divination, dream oracles, summoning daimones, necromancy, even full mystical rites. Most of them include invocations to various gods, which are heavily syncretic. Helios/Apollo (treated interchangeably) is invoked the most often. Aphrodite appears pretty often, too. Hekate-Artemis-Selene-Persephone (conflated with a whole bunch of other chthonic goddesses, including Ereshkigal) has her own set of spells. You'll even find the names of Egyptian gods and Hebrew angels in there.

One of the most common features in PGM spells is voces magicae or barbarous names, nonsense words that are supposed to be the secret names of the gods, which give you the authority to call them up. They act almost like a written form of glossolalia. Most are supposed to be spoken or chanted aloud. Some sound like actual names, or are well-known magical epithets like ABRASAX. Some are just strings of Greek vowels. Some of them are palindromic; there's lots of spells that use the "abracadabra" disappearing-letter-triangle format. There's also charakteres, apparently-meaningless magical symbols, the distant ancestor of modern sigils.

Another major source for Ancient Greek magic are defixiones or katadesmoi, curse tablets. They're little lead leafs called lamellae, which are inscribed with curses and then deposited in wells, graves, and other chthonic places. Thousands of them have been found.

Here's the text of a curse tablet that invokes Hekate and Hermes Kthonios (copied from Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World by John G. Gager):

Hermes Khthonios and Hekate Khthonia Let Pherenikos be bound before Hermes Khthonios and Hekate Khthonia. I bind Pherenikos’ [girl] Galene to Hermes Khthonios and to Hekate Khthonia I bind [her]. And just as this lead is worthless and cold, so let that man and his property be worthless and cold, and those who are with him who have spoken and counseled concerning me. Let Thersilochos, Oinophilos, Philotios, and any other supporter of Pherenikos be bound before Hermes Khthonios and Hekate Khthonia. Also Pherenikos’ soul and mind and tongue and plans and the things that he is doing and the things that he is planning concerning me. May everything be contrary for him and for those counseling and acting with…

Another curse tablet, which invokes Hekate to punish thieves, includes a drawing of her and charakteres. This is how she's depicted:

From Curse Tablets and Binding Spells in the Ancient World by John G. Gager

It's supposed to be a woman with three heads and six raised arms, but to me it looks like Cthulhu, which is honestly appropriate.

There was a very fine line between love spells and curses in Ancient Greece. Some love spells in the PGM call upon the spirits of the dead and chthonic gods to torture a poor girl until she submits to the magician. Just as many defixiones attempt to forcefully bind a lover. But there's another, gentler kind of love spell described by Theocritus in Idylls, in which a witch named Simaetha invokes the Moon and Hekate and uses an iynx wheel to make a man love her.

If you want to know how to apply all of this in modern practice, I'm still working that one out. I've found the PGM very hard to adapt, because a lot of its requirements are dangerous or impractical. Many of its spells require gross ingredients worthy of the Scottish play, or plants that scholars can't identify, or procedures that I don't plan on attempting. And if you haven't noticed by now, most of them fly in the face of modern magical ethics. (Don't let anyone tell you that the gods will punish you for doing baneful magic, because that's clearly bullshit.) On the other hand, Crowley adapted his Bornless Ritual almost word-for-word from PGM V. 96—172. So far, the best resource I've found on modernizing Ancient Greek magic is The Hekataeon by Jack Grayle. Its material is clearly historically-inspired, but still doable, and spiritually relevant. I really recommend getting it if you have the means, especially if you have an interest in Hekate specifically. I'm happy to have it as a model for how to adapt ancient magic for myself in the future. To me, it strikes the perfect balance between historically-informed and witchy, which is right where I want to be.

If you can't access that one, here's some other books I recommend:

Drawing Down the Moon: Magic in the Ancient Greco-Roman World by Radcliffe G. Edmonds III: An introduction to Ancient Greek magic, both scholarly and accessible. It covers the definitions and contexts of magic, curses, love spells, divination, theurgy, philosophy, basically everything you need to know.

The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation by Hans Dieter Betz: The definitive English edition of the PGM. A must if you plan to study ancient magic in-depth, especially as a practitioner.

Curse Tablets and Binding Spells in the Ancient World by John G. Gager: An English edition of the texts of many curse tablets.

Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds by Daniel Ogden: a sourcebook of ancient literature concerning magic.

The Golden Ass by Apuleius: A Roman novel about a man who is turned into a donkey by a witch. A very entertaining story, also our source for "Cupid and Psyche" and one of the best sources on the Mysteries of Isis that we have.

Adhara's post introduction: Hello, lovebugs!! I'm back and with an informative post that can help those who are searching for jobs; trying to be financially wise, and who are in need of some stability! Hope you all love it!

Ares Aphneiós;

Meaning of Aphneiós: Rich, Wealth;

Lord Ares is amazing for those who need urgent money, I say this because he helped on situations that I was having panic attacks in fear of not having money at the end of the month, and he helps everyone, regardless if you work officially with him or not!

Athena Evræsítækhnos/Mítir Tǽkhni;

Meaning: Inventor of Arts; Mother of all kind of Arts;

This is an amazing Epithet for those that have art's business, Lady Athena will support your artistic skills and help you make wise decisions for your artistic business!

Zeus Ktísios;

Meaning: Giver of riches;

This epithet is not only for those that want new jobs, but also for those that want to have your own property! King Zeus will help you with anything related about wanting a new house or your own business!

Zeus Nikaios;

Meaning: Victorious;

For those who are waiting for a new job interview! He will bring victory and success for you <3;

Hermes Æriounios;

Meaning: luck-bringer;

Lord Hermes is a wonderful Deity for those who need luck in finding a new job!

Hermes Kærdǽmboros;

Meaning: Bestower of Wealth;

If you're in need of some money, you can go to Lord Hermes! He's the bestower of wealth!!