#learning spell

We all have that one person in our lives. The one who casually drops racist lingo into the conversation, the one who thinks that all men are horribly mistreated, the one who shares article after article of xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic crap on facebook. Even though people have tried they just can't get it through their heads that white, middle aged, Christian, males aren't the most threatened group on the planet (which they think America is at the center of by the by). You've tried to talk to them, you've tried to face them down with facts but they just get louder. Normally you would just drop contact with this person but for whatever reason that isn't on option. Sound familiar? Well if you, like me, have to deal with one of those people this spell is for you.

The goal of the spell is to help the target learn on their own. If done right it should encourage them to seek out knowledge and absorb viewpoints other than their own, becoming more tolerant for it. This spell isn't intended to make or push anyone in to anything. It's intended to give them a kick in the pants to do it on their own.

What you'll need:

A needle

Thread

Fabric of choice (I tend to favor black felt)

Stuffing of choice (or none at all if you prefer to leave poppets unstuffed)

A lotus something (it can be tea, a seed pod, a picture, a bead, just something)

Ginseng (liquid or solid, either works)

A miniature book (you can make one by cutting several sheets of paper down to a small size and taping/stapling them together then gluing a cardstock/construction paper cover on the outside. It doesn't have to be pretty)

Honey

A jar if you wish to seal it up and store it/bury it somewhere

A passage or article on tolerance

A piece of the target (hair, nail clipping, photo, name written of a piece of paper)

Optional: Eyebright

How it's done:

Make a person shaped poppet. If you don't know how to do this check out my tutorial on it right over here.

Stitch a mouth (this can be a simple line) and open eyes (oval shapes) on to the poppet.

Put a little of your stuffing in the head, just enough to give it shape at the crown.

Place your book in the "brain" of the doll and visualize the person gaining and absorbing knowledge.

Add a little more stuffing and drip/place the ginseng inside. This is to help with a clear mind and focus. Imagine the target gaining these qualities as you add the ginseng in.

Stuff the neck and arms then place your lotus thing where the heart would be. This is to help with illumination and inspiration. As you place the lotus object in the poppet imagine the person's heart unfurling like a lotus blossom in the sun (knowledge and tolerance).

Stuff the legs and lower torso leaving the stomach open. In the center of the doll, the gut, add the piece of the person that the doll is supposed to be.

Finish stuffing and stitch up the side.

Optional; you may blow over the doll to give it "a breath of life." Some people feel like this ties the poppet too closely to them though. It's all up to you.

Sit the doll up and inform it very plainly "You are X and you are going to learn."

Take a dab of the honey and spread it over the mouth of the doll while saying "You will learn to speak sweetly and without deceit."

Rub the ginseng or eyebright over the eyes while saying "You will learn to see the world clearly and know of the true troubles of your fellow man."

Focus on the poppet and say "Now you will listen to begin learning justice, tolerance and truth." Begin reading your article while visualizing that person listening to and absorbing its message.

Finish by saying "Now, go out into the world and learn!"

Store the doll in a safe place (I like to put mine in a jar in a cupboard) and periodically take it out to remind it of its duties or recharge it with another article. This may be especially useful to do when you have just had a negative interaction with the real person.

That's it! Like all spells this may take a while and will likely manifest in its own way but I think that the results are worth the wait. Remember to be supportive of the target learning and changing their opinions, rubbing it in their face isn't going to get you very far.