evyl thynges

Some good and/or interesting (or hokey) ‘examples’ included for most resources. tryin to organize & share stuff that was floating around onenote.

Journals (open access) — Folklore, Occult, etc

Culutural Analysis - folklore, popular culture, anthropology — The Mythical Ghoul in Arabic Culture

Folklore - folklore, anthropology, archaeology — The Making of a Bewitchment Narrative, Grecian Riddle Jokes

Incantatio - journal on charms, charmers, and charming — Verbal Charms from a 17th Century Manuscript

Oral Tradition — Jewish Folk Literature, Noises of Battle in Old English Poetry

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics — Nani Fairtyales about the Cruel Bride, Energy as the Mediator between Natural and Supernatural Realms

International Journal of Intangible Heritage 

Studia Mythologica Slavica (many articles not English) — Dragon and Hero, Fertility Rites in the Raining Cave, The Grateful Wolf and Venetic Horses in Strabo’s Geography

Folklorica - Slavic & Eastern European folklore association — Ritual: The Role of Plant Characteristics in Slavic Folk Medicine, Animal Magic

Esoterica - The Journal of Esoteric Studies — The Curious Case of Hermetic Graffiti in Valladolid Cathedral 

The Esoteric Quarterly

Mythological Studies Journal

Luvah - Journal of the Creative Imagination — A More Poetical Character Than Satan

Transpersonal Studies — Shamanic Cosmology as an Evolutionary Neurocognitive Epistemology, Dreamscapes

Beyond Borderlands  — tumblr

Paranthropology

GOLEM - Journal of Religion and Monsters — The Religious Functions of Pokemon, Anti-Semitism and Vampires in British Popular Culture 1875-1914

Correspondences - Online Journal for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism — Kriegsmann’s Philological Quest for Ancient Wisdom 

— History, Archaeology

Adoranten - pre-historic rock art

Chitrolekha - India art & design history — Gomira Dance Mask

Silk Road — Centaurs on the Silk Road: Hellenistic Textiles in Western China

Sino-Platonic - East Asian languages and civilizations — Discursive Weaving Women in Chinese and Greek Traditions

MELA Notes - Middle East Librarians Association

Didaskalia - Journal for Ancient Performance

Ancient Narrative - Greek, Roman, Jewish novelistic traditions — The Construction of the Real and the Ideal in the Ancient Novel

Akroterion - Greek, Roman — The Deer Hunter: A Portrait of Aeneas

Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies  — Erotic and Separation Spells, The Ancients’ One-Horned Ass

Roman Legal Tradition - medieval civil law — Between Slavery and Freedom 

Phronimon - South African society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities — Special Issue vol. 13 #2, Greek philosophy in dialogue with African+ philosophy

The Heroic Age - Early medieval Northwestern Europe — Icelandic Sword in the Stone

Peregrinations - Medieval Art and Architecture — Special Issue vol. 4 #1, Mappings 

Tiresas - Medieval and Classical — Sexuality in the Natural and Demonic Magic of the Middle Ages

Essays in Medieval Studies  — The Female Spell-caster in Middle English Romances, The Sweet Song of Satan

Hortulus - Medieval studies — Courtliness & the Deployment of Sodomy in 12th-Century Histories of Britain, Monsters & Monstrosities issue, Magic & Witchcraft issue

Annual of Medieval Studies at CEU

Medieval Archaeology — Divided and Galleried Hall-Houses, The Hall of the Knights Templar at Temple Balsall

Medieval Feminist Forum  — multiculturalism issue; Gender, Skin Color and the Power of Place … Romance of Moriaen, Writing Novels About Medieval Women for Modern Readers, Amazons & Guerilleres

Quidditas - medieval and renaissance 

Medieval Warfare

The Viking Society - ridiculous amount of articles from 1895-2011

Journals (limited free/sub/institution access)

Al-Masaq - Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean — Piracy as Statecraft: The Policies of Taifa of Denia, free issue

Mythical Creatures of Europe - article + map

Folklore - limited free access — Volume 122 #3, On the Ambiguity of Elves

Digital Philology -  a journal of medieval cultures — Saracens & Race in Roman de la Rose Iconography

Pomegranate - International Journal for Pagan Studies

Transcultural Psychiatry

European Journal of English Studies  — Myths East of Venice issue, Esotericism issue

Books, Texts, Images etc. — Folklore, Occult etc.

Magical Gem Database - Greek/Egyptian gems & talismans [x] [x]

Biblioteca Aracana - (mostly) Greek pagan history, rituals, poetry etc. — Greater Tool Consecration, The Yew-Demon

Curse Tablets from Roman Britain - [x]

The Gnostic Society Library — The Corpus Hermeticum, Hymn of the Robe of Glory

Grimoar - vast occult text library — Grimoires, Greek & Roman Necromancy, Queer Theology, Ancient Christian Magic

Internet Sacred Text Archive - religion, occult, folklore, etc. ancient texts

Verse and Transmutation - A Corpus of Middle English Alchemical Poetry

— History

The Internet Classics Archive - mainly Greco-Roman, some Persian & Chinese translated texts

Bodleian Oriental Manuscript Collection - [x] [x] [x]

Virtual Magic Bowl Archive - Jewish-Aramaic incantation bowl text and images [x] [x] 

Vindolanda Tablets - images and translations of tablets from 1st & 2nd c. [x]

Corsair - online catalog of the Piedmont Morgan library (manuscripts) [x] [x]

Beinecke rare book & manuscripts  — Wagstaff miscellany, al-Qur’ān—1813

LUNA - tonnes from Byzantine manuscripts to Arabic cartography

Maps on the web - Oxford Library [x] [x] [x]

Bodleian Library manuscripts - photographs of 11th-17th c. manuscripts — Treatises on Heraldry, The Worcester Fragments (polyphonic music), 12 c. misc medical and herbal texts

Early Manuscripts at Oxford U - very high quality photographs — (view through bottom left) Military texts by Athenaeus Mechanicus 16th c. [x] [x], MS Douce 195 Roman de la Rose [x] [x]

Trinity College digital manuscript library  — Mathematica Medica, 15th c.

eTOME - primary sources about Celtic peoples

Websites, Blogs — Folklore, Occult etc.

Demonthings - Ancient Egyptian Demonology Project

Invocatio - (mostly) western esotericism

Heterodoxology - history, esotericism, science — Religion in the Age of Cyborgs

The Recipes Project - food, magic, science, medicine — The Medieval Invisible Man (invisibility recipes)

Morbid Anatomy - museum/library in Brooklyn

— History 

Islamic Philosophy Online - tonnes of texts, articles, links, utilities, this belongs in every section; mostly English

Medicina Antiqua - Graeco-Roman medicine

History of the Ancient World - news and resources — The So-called Galatae, Gauls, Celts in Early Hellenistic Balkans; Maidens, Matrons Magicians: Women & Personal Ritual Power in Late Antique Egypt

Διοτίμα - Women & Gender in Antiquity

Bodleian Library Exhibitions Online — Khusraw & Shirin, Hebrew Manuscripts as a Meeting-Place of Cultures

Medievalists — folk studies, witchcraft, mythology, science tags

Small devotional acts.

Learn more about the history of witchcraft

Practice divination

Light a torch, lantern, or even a match

Thank her when you go through crossroads or intersections

Listen to music that makes you feel witchy or powerful

Do small, simple spells

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Burn candles; blue, black or white.

Think of her when you pass graveyards

Stand outside at night and listen to all the sounds

Dedicate a small part of the night to her

Read stories about ghosts or spirits

Burn incense blends that make you feel magical and in control

Greet animals, especially ones with black fur

Go on nighttime adventures

Wear makeup or clothes that make you feel powerful and confident

Get some plants that bloom/thrive at night

Be the ‘guiding light’ for others, however that looks for you

Sit in a room with all the lights off, burn a candle if you need to

Keep track of the moon phases, do things associated with each one

Incoporate darker colors into you home or outfits 

PRACTICE LOVING YOURSELF

Many, many, many other things not said here

“…There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago…”

So I have been thinking about our Contemporary conceptualization of the Christmas season a lot lately and it’s kind of interesting. So many things we associate with Christmas – Christmas trees, greeting cards, Santa Claus, his reindeer and elves, gift-giving in general – all of these things came into vogue in the 19th Century and are very sticky-sweet, in my opinion. They’re lovely, but not filling. If we just scratch the surface of the Christmas we know and love and peek back into its history, we find something much meatier.

Before the cheerful Christmas tree, a number of other plants were associated with Christmas. The holly, associated with sacrifice and the blood of Christ, and the parasitic mistletoe, associated with the death of Baldur in Norse mythology – these were the plants associated with Christmas before the Christmas tree became the standard.

Also, the Yule log. The Yule log, meant to provide light on the darkest night of the year, was a magic charm in and of itself. If it did not burn through the night, it would be a terrible omen. By watching the fire and coals of the Yule log, one could also predict who would give birth and who would die in the coming year.  

When our simple Santa Claus is reduced to his predecessors, one is left with Odin, ancient Norse God of battle, Saint Nicholas, the canonized former bishop of Turkey, and Father Christmas, the hard-drinking gluttonous representation of holiday merriment. And all of them brought ghastly friends – Odin, the spirits of the Wild Hunt and Saint Nicholas, his helpers (including Knecht Rupert, Krampus, etc.). Father Christmas, more of a personification of the season than a night visitor, undoubtedly brought many hangovers.

Before stories about reindeer, snowmen, or things of that ilk, there were ghost stories. Charles Dickens did not invent the Christmas ghost story in “A Christmas Carol,” but popularized an already-existing folkloric trend. If we look to the old tales of Christmas, we find stories about witches that rode the night air, cursing the birth of the Savior. There are stories about fairies, ghosts, and Devils that wreak havoc, frightening livestock and damaging property. In an era before television or radio, homemade storytelling was one of the primary forms of entertainment. And winter was the storytelling season.

You also have mumming, wassailing, and caroling – dressing up in colorful costumes and (sometimes drunkenly) begging for money door-to-door. As John Grossman notes in his book “Christmas Curiosities,” Christmas before the Contemporary Period resembles our Halloween more than it resembles the Christmas we know now.

In certain traditions, the gatekeeper is said to be the first spirit who was buried in that cemetery. The gate keeper is a guardian of the dead, of sorts, who help other spirits and keep the graveyard powerful and contained. Sometimes they reside in a vessel, and sometimes they roam around. For spirit workers such as death walkers, they may help lead you to troubled spirits or spirits they’d like you to help.

In my personal workings, I’ve found that the gatekeeper is usually not the first spirit who dwelled there, but usually a spirit who takes on responsibility guarding the dead. They may be soldiers, or other spirits. Some cemeteries don’t even have one.

In some traditions, you are advised to give an offering to the gatekeeper before speaking to the dead of that cemetery. The offering can be left on the gates or, if you can locate the gatekeeper themselves (by simply tuning into their energy: they usually make themselves known early), place it on their graves.

I have personally not found this to be necessary at all cemeteries. And oftentimes, my offering to the gatekeeper is simply cleaning up the cemetery before I speak to the spirits who dwell there. They usually appreciate that.

An abandoned railway tunnel in NSW, Australia from the late 1800’s. [750 x 1334]

Thurisaz

⦁ Destruction ⦁ Conflict ⦁ Change ⦁ Caged emotions ⦁ Primal tendencies

Freyja

I’m going to preface this by 1) saying that I wrote this “on the fly” – in that I just added every now and again with the intention of eventually posting it here so that it may – possibly, on the off-chance – be of use to someone, 2) this is, of course, by no means the definitive way of reading playing cards for tarot-like purposes: but is MY way.

Or opt for the PDF download: Divination With Playing Cards

With that being said, let us begin with some very rough correspondences to both the tarot suits and the elements. People will argue for days about which suits go with which elements and yadda yadda – this is what makes sense to me. Perhaps it’s the emblazoned Catholic symbolism stamped into my brain, but Heart/Love naturally goes with passion and fire. I leave Water for emotions at large – they are fluid, changing, and as such, Water/Spades, too, is/are a symbol for change. Diamonds/Mind/Air/Wands – not any complex symbolism going on there. Club… I’m almost embarrassed to say I use for Earth merely because it looks like a clover. Spade makes sense (considering)… but it’s just never jived for me.

Here’s a handy table:

Hearts - Fire, Swords 

Diamonds - Air, Wands 

Spade - Water, Cups 

Club - Earth, Pentacle 

Now we move into the real fun, actually reading the cards. Always remember. Tarot isn’t so much this card has this meaning – “it is fact, it is unchanging.” No! Each card can and will take on entirely new meanings when placed near or far from other cards. Allow them to! 

ABOVE ALL ELSE, TRUST YOUR OWN INTUITION;; 

this is simply a place to begin…

1 - Solitary, adjacent to the spectrum of life – the means by which one approaches life and the challenge in brings. 

{Hearts} Heart and the pursuits of love and passion are the main focus of your life. Drive and ambition. 

{Diamonds} Mind and reason are the main focus of your life. Knowledge is the key to overcoming any challenge. 

{Spades} Your beliefs are fluid and changing. There is an element of choice in your ability to persevere in that challenges can be overcome in a number of ways.

{Clubs} Indoctrination and stubborn. Very set in ones ways – whether good or bad, you stick to what you know and have experienced to deal with new challenges. Can also mean an inability to alter one’s own perceptions. 

2 - Balance, partnership, duality 

{Hearts} Can be an explosion partnership or one with a great deal of passion. Can also be a symbol of conflicting sides – another card can specify as to the details of a situation. 

{Diamonds} A partnership rendered with reason. A dynamic duo, one fixed on balance and the cohesive ability to maintain it. Can also mean, gathering focus toward one common goal – often between the heart and mind. 

 {Spades} A flexible partnership. On of a more fluid balance – in that, one man’s weaknesses are made up by the other’s strengths (and vice versa). Can also mean compromise and the power it has. When in the realm of emotion – adaptability. 

 {Clubs} A strong, but possibly difficult partnership. Conversely, it can also symbolize reliability and a steadfast companion. When in the realm of emotion – goal oriented and a hardworking spirit. 

 3 - Creativity, Spirituality and Magic

++ immediately place another card on top of any {3} ;; apply the above ideology to the 2nd card ++

{Hearts} Countless meanings reliant wholly on the cards nearest by. 

{Diamonds} Countless meanings reliant wholly on the cards nearest by. 

{Spades} Countless meanings reliant wholly on the cards nearest by. 

 {Clubs} Countless meanings reliant wholly on the cards nearest by. 

4 - Home, Foundation, Structure and possibly cyclical “seasons” or “ideas" 

{Hearts} Could signal basing ones personal foundation on passion and spirit, love, and power – which can be as dangerous as it is rewarding. 

 {Diamonds} Could be an allusion to "frame of mind,” but more literally, wealth and expenses. There are elements of distrust with this card – most often due to over-analyzation.. 

{Spades} The card of the vagabond. Travel, adventure and excitement – conversely, however, it can signal the inability to “settle down” or a phobia of responsibility. 

 {Clubs} The strongest foundation. One sure and steady. Can by a symbol of family or home in the literal sense, as well as compassion and loyalty. 

5 - Completion, the joining of the masculine and feminine, the elements, spirit, etc. – more specifically, what is MISSING from completion. 

{Hearts} Heart is the missing piece of the puzzle, be it due to a lack of passion for that which is at hand, or a longing for love (both physical and spiritual) can render one feeling incomplete 

{Diamonds} A signal of rashness, being driven purely by desires – and rarely the good ones, ie. Lust, greed, anger, etc. Only through applying reason and logic might one find completeness. 

 {Spades} Rigidity, intolerance and the ability to change/adapt. The inability to compromise or evolve based of prejudices or fear is hindering your ability find completeness or overcome an obstacle. Creativity is necessary to triumph. 

{Clubs} One cannot find completeness due to over-malleability – could be a symbol of one being used as a “doormat,” being manipulated (or manipulating), and the inability to make up ones mind. Being dragged in too many (often opposite) directions. 

6 - Harmony, Truth, Enlightenment, Love 

{Hearts} Romantic love is coming – and it will be a love of great devotion – one that will open doors to a plethora of new emotions; can also symbolize a marriage, a spouse, or a significant other 

{Diamonds} Enlightenment is on its way. There will be an illuminating series of events that will offer clarity to a situation. 

 {Spades} Troubled waters will calm, and burned bridges might be mended – IF there are proactive measures to remedy these turbulent situations. 

{Clubs} This is a card of Truth and Honesty – a card that can signify the curative powers of truth and the freedoms honesty brings. Can be a signal to be honest when it comes to a specific situation, or a message that the underlying truth must be sought out. 

7 - Education, Learning and Scholarly applications – can refer to literal schooling, such as higher education, as well as spiritual learning 

{Hearts} You have a zest for knowledge and crave a continuous stream of information to feel stimulated. Scholarly stimulation at the forefront. This can be a sign of ones character, or a signal that one must again find the passion they have lost in regards to learning – reassessing and realigning to any lost goals. 

{Diamonds} Expertly studious by nature, but can be cold and lacking a specific passion and understanding. Scientific understanding and overly-analytical, could be a pursuit of knowledge without consideration and application: cold, unfaltering fact 

{Spades} Emotional learning, dealing with the heart, love and familial bonds. Growth in the sphere of love and learning, spiritual growth based on the control of ones emotions – and the relationships they build. 

{Clubs} Knowledge is present. All that one needs to know to overcome or enact a situation is already in place, all that is lacking is the motivation and the metaphorical “push” to fell the dominoes. 

8 - Business, Wealth and Financial Prowess 

{Hearts} A born leader, strong, courageous and powerful. A risk taker, entrepreneurial pursuits – with great reward, there is a potential for loss. Can also signify rashness, wild, unchecked passions and foolishness – overspending, addictions, the dark realms of business – excess 

{Diamonds} A career built on knowledge and responsibility. These are the analytical thinkers, scientists, academics and teachers. They are a wealth of knowledge and ensure all is in-check and accounted for. Those who manage finances well, with mathematical precision, and a vehement sense of responsibility. Can also signal a lack thereof, as a message urging one to allot and plan more responsibly – a prism by which to focus ones passions. 

{Spades} A career built on guidance – caretakers, healers, social workers, counselors – a loving nature, keen on helping people and their communities at large. Conversely, they are sensitive and often lack the capacity to say “no.” Value duty over self, and can be easily distracted or lose track of finances. Can be caught up and lose themselves – often their own wellness, giving too much, overly charitable 

{Clubs} Extremely family oriented, value home and trust. Business and wealth are a means of support. These can be those who work to fulfill their obligations, but also public servants: police officers, office workers, housewives/husbands and occasionally those who own their own business. Overall a card of structure, and wealth as a means of support, but rarely to excess. These people have a tendency to be overworked, stern and responsible, and can be under a great deal of stress. They require a support network of family and loved ones (home) to unwind and lighten their loads. 

9 - Success, Accomplishment, Satisfaction, Primal Energies and Crossroads 

{Hearts} Love is highly valued, a means by which to attain happiness. These people are creatures of love and require (sometimes to a fault) a lot of attention. They are also the most passionate and loving individuals. This card may also symbolize crossing paths, a love that might evolve into something great, or might be a brief affair that changes ones perspectives on life at large. This is a card of choice – a choice of heart and the opportunity for a great love. 

{Diamonds} Prospective glory, success and accomplishment garnered by intellect and brainpower. The possibility for notoriety and acclaim that is well earned. Could also allude to a promotion or thankfulness/reward for a job well done. Someone who can lend a great insight to a particular situation. 

 {Spades} Indecision, constant evolution and being torn between matters of the heart and mind. A tipping point, a decision that must be made – with great consequence or reward. Having ones beliefs tested. 

 {Clubs} Roots that run deep. Success as a means of hard-work, labor, strength, and unmatched will-power. Conversely, a missed opportunity, fear of the unknown and stubbornness standing in the way of change. To be set in ones ways.

10 - Possibility, potential, the ability to alter ones own path and align it to what he/she desires – change (Feminine) 

{Hearts} A powerful and seductive woman, a dominatrix, but also one that is strong, passionate and in control of both her wiles and her desires. She has both the motives and the means to get all that she desires. 

{Diamonds} A sharp, bright woman, a masterful and just leader. She is not ruled by her emotions, but her wit – and she gains her power from her pointed dominion of her mind over her heart. The potential problem lying in a coolness or a fear of intense emotion. She fears most being taken advantage of. 

{Spades} Literally: A sweet, sensitive woman – maternal by nature, caring, giving and accepting. She is loving and nurturing. But she is also extraordinarily sensitive, both physical, emotionally and spiritually. This is both her strength and her downfall – can also be easily persuaded. 

{Clubs} A strong, resilient and ambitious woman – powerful and stern, but she does so from a place of love. She is gifted with natural power, commanding austerity and respect. She is loyal, courageous and a shelter from the proverbial storm. 

Knight/Jack - Possibility, potential, the ability to alter ones own path and align it to what he/she desires – change (Masculine) 

{Hearts} Literally: A handsome and loving man, one who is passionate and romantic, but also one with a temper – he can be prone to luxury and excess. Metaphorically: Primal passions, and a plethora of opportunities by which to utilize them. 

{Diamonds} Literally: an intellectual, a smart and witty man, but one who values thought over feeling. Possibly a man who values work, responsibility over emotion – can be as cold as he is smart. Metaphorically: The power of thought. Intelligence, calculation, and planning. Prestige and academic prowess. 

{Spades} Literally: A kind, gentle and loving man, heart-felt and sincere, but also one who struggles with illnesses, such as depression or one who bears a heavy, emotional burden. Metaphorically: Emotional turmoil, periods of great happiness concludes by periods of great sadness – one must find a means by which to balance and overcome these struggles. 

{Clubs} Literally: A family man, a man’s man – a man who is strong, proud a overflowing with masculinity. He is one who has great emotional and physical strength, but can be stubborn, insensitive, domineering and fragile in his masculinity. Metaphorically: Home, Hearth and Health/Wellness. Strength and power, but in the same sense, insensitivity and stubbornness. 

Queen - the feminine, bowels of desires, passions, etc. ruling of desires and passion aptly and emotionally 

{Hearts} Feminine strength, desire – a Queen of Hearts, a ruler of Love and Desire, Dominion. She is the Goddess of Fire, the Goddess of Passion, Desire, Creation and Destruction. 

{Diamonds} Wisdom, insight, guidance, a powerful and receptive female force of knowledge – specifically of witchcraft and esotericism. She is the Goddess of the Heavens. Comparable to the High Priestess. 

{Spades} She is the Queen of Emotion and the Seas. She is Calypso, she is Pomba Gira da Calunga, she is Goddess of the Depths and Recesses of the Human Soil. 

{Clubs} She is the Goddess of the Forest, Queen of the Wilds and Nature, she is the dichotomy: Life and Death – she is the bridge between the physical and the spiritual. She is the Warrior, the Huntress, the Protectress. 

King - masculine, reason, leadership, protection, but can also by tyranny and excessive force 

{Hearts} The God of Fire, Force and Smiting. He is raw power, he is life, light and vibrancy. He is powerful, but he can be equally destructive, tyrannical and oppressive. 

{Diamonds} He is Wisdom, Knowledge and the Guide. He is the wind, the eternal whisper – Ruler of the Heavens. He can, however, be wise – but lack emotional understanding. Can also be manipulative. 

{Spades} He is the understanding, the triumphant, he who rules the Dead. He is the God of the Underworld, the cold and invisible esoteric worlds. He is a force of great change, but he is also secretive, a force of trickery and places one in dangerous situations – that often provide the greatest opportunity for growth. 

{Clubs} Comparable to the Emperor, he is the God of War, Strength and Militant action. He is strategic, domineering and forceful – pushing people to the point of breaking, only to reshape them as stronger, better, more resilient. He is the General and the driving force of Conquest. He gives strength, but often at the cost of emotional/individualistic apathy. Imperialism, indoctrination, drive and force. 

Ace - Spirit {Divine Rule} ;; perfection

{Hearts} Love/Passion 

{Diamonds} Knowledge/Mysticism 

{Spades} Death/Change 

{Clubs} Life/Nature

Please note - though I myself am not a spirit worker, I’ve done enough research and seen enough of other people’s personal stories to say this: spirit work is not always light and fluffy and happy (obviously it can be, but not all the time). Spirits are not all willing to work with you peacefully - some are even downright rude or aggressive. It can be dangerous, and there are risks of getting involved with other entities not of this world. Make sure you know what you are getting into completely and are well prepared before engaging. Read and practice at your own discretion.

Updated: August 18th, 2016

General

[A Beginner’s Guide to Spirit Companionship]

[All the Spirits, All the Places] (tw: gif)

[Are You Overcomplicating Spirit Companionship for Yourself?]

[Bonding 101] (tw: gif)

[Boundaries - The First Component of Constructive Spirit Work]

[Branches of Spirit Work]

[Caution: Calling/Attaching Spirits]

[Common Spirit ‘Scams’]

[Considerate Spirit Offerings]

[Dealing with Spirit Anxiety]

[Dealing with Spirit-Induced Trauma and Injuries]

[Dealing with Spirits You Don’t Want to Deal With]

[Guardian/Protective Spirits]

[House Rules]

[How to Make Your Home More Inviting For Spirits]

[I Have No Time for My Spirit Companions]

[If an “Unbound” Spirit Approaches You]

[A More In-Depth Guide to Dealing with House Spirits]

[On Large Spirit Families]

[Settling In: Getting to Know Your House Spirits]

[Spirit-Caused Wounds]

[Spirit Companions: DIY]

[Spirit Companionship]

Spirit Companionship: [What Is It?]; [Why Choose Companionship?]; [Misconceptions]; [It’s a Commitment]

[Spirit Companionship and Insecurity vs. Trust in Yourself]

Spirit Companionship FAQ: [Part 1]; [Part 2]

[Spirit Defense]

[Spirit Do’s And Don’ts]

[Spirit Guides vs. Companions]

[Spirit Work]

[Spirit Work Basics]

[Spirit Work: The Importance of Putting Yourself First] (tw: gif)

[Spirit Worker Reminders]

[Spirits And Astral Walking]

[Spirits and Demons and Where to Start]

[Spirits and the Danger of Spirit Work, FAQ]

[Thoughts on Spirit Work]

[Working with Spirits]

[Working with Spirits: Contracts]

Communication

[Communicating with House Spirits]

[Contacting Spirit Guides and Other Entities]

[Contacting Your Spirit Guides]

[Guide: How to Communicate with Spirits, Gods, and Other Unseen]

[How I Communicate with Spirits]

How to Communicate With Your Spirit Companion: [Part 1]; [Part 2]

[In-Depth Psychic Communication Guide for Spirit Contact]

[So You Want to Talk to Spirits?]

[Spirit Communication: Tips]

[Spirits: Communications And Customs]

[Ten Things to Avoid When Communicating with Spirits]

[Tuning to the Dead]

Channeling

[Channel a Spirit] (an ask)

[Tips on Channeling Spirits] (an ask)

Possession

[How to Avoid Getting Possessed] (an ask)

[On the Topic of Possession, Attacks, and Other Spirit Problems]

[Spirit Vessels]

[What Exactly is Horsing] (an ask)

Banishing / Exorcism

[Dealing With Dead People - Banishing & Exorcism]

[Exorcism 101]

[How to Banish a Spirit]

[Kicking Them Out - An Intro to Banishings, Cleaning House, and Astral Relationship Intervention]

Spells and Magic

[Banishment Spell, Spirits Begone] (tw: sigil)

[Bottle of Spirit Be-Gone]

[Candle Spell to Banish Negative Energies or Spirits]

[Creating a Spirit Trap Stone]

[For Pleasing Household Spirits]

[“Get the Fuck Out!” Spell - Dead People Verison]

[Quick Protection Ward]

[Ritual to Invite Spirit Contact]

[Samhain Spirit Spell]

[Séance Water]

[Selective Spirit Door-Bar]

[The Soul Alchemists Trap Box]

[Spirit Drive-Out]

[Spirit Poppets]

[The Spirit Vessel]

[Spirit Working Powder]

Sigils

[A variety of spirit companion sigils]

[“Get out of my house, you wispy motherfuckers”]

[“I am not fearful of otherworldly entities”]

[“I am protected from malicious spirits”]

[“I am protected from negative spirits”]

[“I can easily channel spirits without negative impact”]

[“I can see spirits and ghosts”]

[“I communicate easily and quickly with spirits around me”]

[“I communicate with spirits with ease”]

[“I easily communicate with ghosts”]

[“I see and communicate with spirits with ease”]

[“I will have success in spirit work”]

[“Nice, positive spirits are attracted to me and communicate with me”]

[“No malicious beings may enter”]

[“Only kind spirits may enter and stay here”]

[“Protect this dwelling from all negative and evil spirits”]

[“Spirits bring me knowledge not harm”]

[“Spirits cannot enter through these portals without being invited”]

[“Spirits will not and cannot enter through this portal without being invited first”]

Blogs

[blackbearmagic​]

[spiritconnect​]

[spirithighway]

[spiritvexer]

[thedragonslibrary]

[thiscrookedcrown]

Get a talisman or an apotropaic charm, and wear it on your person. You can design one, or take an example from the past. It doesn’t really matter. But wear it, and keep your eyes on it. If it breaks or disappears, pay attention to what is happening around you.

Malevolent spirits are ‘bad luck bringing,’ associated with sickness, famine, death, and hopelessness. They hit you the hardest when you’re unguarded and on uneven footing. When you least expect it, and the most can go wrong.

Never call up what you cannot put down. It is a myth – and a dangerous one, at that – that a practitioner can only attract things that they can deal with. Just like how when you’re walking in the woods only wild animals will come up to you if you can deal with them. Or just like in real life you will only interact with people that you can easily send away. In reality a person can attract all sorts of things to them that they cannot deal with – and magic is no different. If you start calling for powerful entities that you have no hope of banishing, well, then you’ll get them. If you have zero experience, start with entities that you have a fair chance of fighting – like a kitty or a bunny. See how you do, gain experience in banishments. Go on from there.

What you call will come. It is a cool, but very scary, fact that what you call will come. Start calling Bael or Beelzebub and you can be quite sure the Lord of Flies will take notice of you. You may not be able to sense or see this interaction, but it has occurred. It is a frustrating reality of being a conjurer that you have to control your thoughts and not “accidentally” come in to contact with certain beings. Beings can and will appear to you even if you have not set up your summoning circle, your conjuration tools, or prepared yourself mentally. Avoid calling things when you are unprepared. Avoid calling anything you cannot deal with (see “never call up what you cannot put down” and “start small”).

You are not always going to immediately see the effects of a conjure gone bad (or good). So you conjure a spirit one day and stuff gets freaky, and you feel uncomfortable. But instead of properly shutting down your ritual and banishing your space, you just get up and walk away. Everything seems okay. Then a month later the water faucet bursts and floods your house. Things start to go missing. You can’t be near your closet without getting a panic attack. You feel the need to sleep with your lights on. Your pets won’t come in to your bedroom any more. If a conjure goes bad, you are not always going to immediately see the effects so you can take care of it immediately. Predator spirits can be very sneaky. They want to creep in to your life and start to take control without you noticing. If a conjure starts to go bad, shut it down properly. Banish to the best of your abilities. Take care of things ASAP. A “wait and see” philosophy does not really work with bad conjures. Likewise, you may not even know things have gone badly until the symptoms start to arise. When stuff starts going wrong, don’t wait – take care of your business. If you read that and say, “how do I take care of my business?” then conjuring is not right for you just yet.

Likewise, suppose you conjure a benevolent spirit to help you out. You may not immediately see the effects of it’s touch of grace. Give things a little time to develop – spirits are not “magic”, they require time to work just like we do!

Start small! Summoning big powerful stuff is not your goal as a beginner. Your goal is to work with safe conjures, get experience in banishment and protection, and learn how to safely work with spirits. Once you’re a big badass conjurer and this post is nothing but a distant memory, then go for those crazy summons. Until then, go for those domesticated animal, baby elemental, plant spirit conjures.

Make a habit of doing things right. During a recent psychic reading, a demon verbally kicked my ass for doing things wrong. It was a bit of a wake-up call. If it’s “only” a reading then I don’t need to protect myself, right? If it’s just a bunny spirit I don’t need a proper circle. But this is the kind of sloppy conjure habits that get people in serious trouble. Realize that the point of protection isn’t for when things go right, as you are expecting – it is for when things go really wrong. My ego tells me I don’t need a circle to conjure a kitty cat. But as a rational conjurer, I should know better. Do things right, even for small conjures. It is worth the effort.

You not being able to sense things does not mean that nothing is happening. One of the messages I am getting more often lately than any other is, “I see visualizations just as you described, but I don’t believe they are real.” Well, they’re real, and your self doubts are not stopping a spirit from wondering why you conjured it just to ignore it. Some spirits are going to take offense to this. I know when I conjure a spirit and then my dog (or something) distracts me, they get pissed off. When you conjure, you are dealing with a real being that had the courtesy to show up to your call. Even if you are not able to sense them, visualize them, etc., they are likely there. With experience you can tell the difference between a failed conjure and your inability to see spirits. Until then, always assume as spirit has shown up, thank it, and send it away correctly.

A spirit being “good” and a spirit being a boot-licker are two different things. I conjure lots of “good” (meaning, not predatory, friendly to humans) spirits that are short-tempered, impatient, and generally unwilling to be a doormat. Even when working with angelic spirits, perhaps the “most good” ones you can find, they get frustrated at me if I am doing something that bothers them. Just like you get irritated when people do things that bother you. Goodness is different than endless patience and a desire to comply to your every whim. Just like there are a multitude of predatory, unfriendly, wants-to-eat-you spirits who present themselves as being ultimately benevolent, sweet, and loving, there are a multitude of good spirits who present themselves honestly and don’t want to put up with your bull.