A Spring time Cleansing Ritual

Spring has finally sprung here in New England and I am grateful for the change in the weather. Spring is all about out with the old, stagnant energy of winter and in with the invigorating, new energy of the season. But for some reason this year feels different, like the sludge of winter is still sticking around. Utilizing a cleansing ritual is just the thing to clear us and let us be ready for what the season has to offer.

I like easy when it comes to recharging my batteries, and this ritual is the epitome of simple yet effective.

Run a bath to your temperature preference and add to it, several sprigs of fresh rosemary, a cup of salt (any kind), Shaved fresh lemongrass, and a few drops of clary sage essential oil. Feel free to light some candles if it will help you to relax.

“Leviathan, as I sink beneath the waters bestow upon me a sense of balance once again into my life and my body. Allow the water to renew me as I was renewed through baptism. May the phoenix bring a new outlook that is not hampered by the heaviness of the world.”

Stay soaking in the bath until you feel that the water has done its job.

Daemonic Magick How-To: Infuse an Object with Daemonic Energy.

What you need:

  • Item
  • Oil of the Daemonic entity (see Wortcunning for Daemonolatry)
  • The Enn and sigil of the Daemonic entity. The Sigil and Enn are for the invocation to draw the Daemonic energy into the ritual space and into the item.

You are not trapping or attaching the Daemon to the item. You are simply drawing that Daemon’s energy/influence to the item. Basically consecrating and charging it in the Daemon’s name.

Step 1: Invoke the Daemon until the vibration in the room changes.

Step 2: Anoint the object in the Daemon’s name and ask the Daemonic force to imbue the item with their influence/energy.

Step 3: Hold the item between your hands and do 10 minutes of energy work where you infuse the object with that energy in the room that you’ve invoked. A proper mindset is important here. Keep your thoughts focused on infusing the item with the RIGHT energy and intent.

Step 4: Thank the Daemon, close the ritual space.

If you want to let the item charge in a pillar of Daemonic energy, you can find that method in The Daemonolater’s Guide to Daemonic Magick.

If you don’t understand how to do an invocation or what energy work is – then you should not be working with Daemons yet because you don’t have enough foundation to understand what you’re actually doing. Please read The Complete Book of Demonolatry.

Your Correspondences

In magick you often hear the phrase “As Above, So Below” and along those lines, the magician has their own correspondences just like the spirits do. Do you know what your correspondences are?

Let’s find out.

You Will Need:

  • 1 Natal Chart
  • Yourself
  • Pen and Paper

First, let’s figure out your element. By looking at your astrological sign, that will give you your primary element. So for example, if you’re:

Pisces/Cancer/Scorpio = WATER

Capricorn/Taurus/Virgo = EARTH

Aquarius/Gemini/Libra = AIR

Sagittarius/Aries/Leo = FIRE

Next, go through your chart and find out which signs each of your planets falls into. Then count up the elements. For example, let’s say you are an Aquarius with a Leo Moon. Aquarius Sun counts as 1 air. Leo Moon counts as 1 fire. Etc… Do this until you have an “elemental breakdown”. While the astrological (Sun) sign is the primary element, the signs where your other planetary/celestial bodies fall make up the rest of your alignment. Which means you can be the earthy part of water, or the fire part of air. (See the Complete Book of Demonolatry for more thorough instructions on how to do this).

For your planetary correspondence, some people just use the planet/celestial body that corresponds with their astrological (sun) sign. I’m a Cancerian, for example, so my celestial correspondence is the Moon (the celestial body that rules intuition, emotion, etc…). That said, I also identify deeply with Saturn, the planet of hard work and change among other things. But that’s also because I am the earthy part of water. More of my planets are in earth astrological signs than not. My Moon is in Capricorn – the earth element whose planet is Saturn. Hopefully you’re starting to see how this works.

Now I want you to consider your directional correspondences, planetary, scents, metal, colors, dates, seasons, stones, tarot suits, and your Patron and how it all often falls together in some way. What are you instinctively drawn to for the remaining correspondences?

For Example — My Correspondences:

Astrological (Sun) Sign: Cancer (with Capricorn moon)

Element: Water or Earthy Part of Water

Direction: Northwest

Planetary: Moon and/or Saturn

Scent: Frankincense

Metal: Silver/Iron

Color: Gray/Brown

Dates: September 10-30

Season: Autumn

Tarot Suit: Cups and Pentacles

Daemonic Patron: Leviathan

Stones: Onyx and Tiger’s Eye

Right about now you may be asking yourself what you would do with these correspondences. First, not only will it help you identify Daemonic forces that you might resonate well with, but it may help you pick the right Daemonic force for the job. Remember that when working magick, it’s like cooking. You’re adding the daemonic energy + your intent/energy, and mixing it together to facilitate a particular outcome. This is why foundational magical correspondences are so important to learn. That doesn’t mean you can’t break the rules, but you should know the rules first so you can break them in meaningful ways.

So know your own correspondences and use them in your magick, too. You may find your magick far more effective as a result.

March 2022 Sigil-Scope

Since William Briar left us to concentrate on other projects (with which we wish him the best of luck), I thought it might be fun to take over and post some sigil-scopes every now and again. I think the hardest part was choosing which sigil set to use. So, I decided to use both Goetia and Dukante.

Sigil for the month of March: BELETH: This month it’s time to look at the whole picture whether it be your career path, relationships with others, or your assets. Schedule an appointment with your financial advisor to see where you’re at. Revisit your plan for the next five years. Start taking steps now to adjust your trajectory. Think of it as some life spring-cleaning.

♈ Aries (Ram): March 21–April 19 – LUCIFER: If you’ve been thinking of learning a new skill or getting a certification, this is the month to look into it. March provides you with clear thought and good advice from a mentor (Daemon or human). It also provides the right energy for study. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you need it. You can’t know everything, and chances are you know someone more experienced than you who can share their experience for you to learn from. Shadow work is a good focus this month. Also, keep up with your meditation practice.

♉ Taurus (Bull): April 20–May 20: AMY: It’s time to get off your butt and start working toward the things you want, whether they be spiritual or mundane. It is only if you act that you can manifest “treasure” whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. If you need some motivation, you may need to use magick to raise the energy. Remember that sometimes, if we refuse to move on our own, the universe (or the Daemonic Divine) may sometimes force us to get moving on their terms. So, do it on your own terms, okay? This month, focus on divination and energy work.

♊ Gemini (Twins): May 21–June 21- VAPULA: It’s time to spread your creative wings and fly this month, Gemini! If you’ve been thinking about a creative project, it may be time to act. If you’re unleashing a creative project, have courage. You’re going to need courage to get over all your self-doubt and negative self-talk this month. And you may be called upon to find creative solutions to your problems, too. No matter what your situation, use March to focus on creativity and courage. Magickally speaking, use your meditation to daydream, and your magick as an exercise of your intuition. Creation is the most magickal act of all.

♋ Cancer (Crab): June 22–July 22 – PHENEX: Cancer, if you’ve been at a low point the last few months, March is a month of rebirth for you. Whether it be a rebirth of energy or a rebirth of ideas and motivation, March will be anything but slow and plodding for you. With a slow start to the year, March may even make you excited about things you’ve lost passion for! Magickally, work on reconnecting with your passions and things that invigorate you. Spring is just around the corner and what you plant now could grow into something truly fantastic.

♌ Leo (Lion): July 23–August 22 – STOLAS: This month may force you into a leadership position whether you want it or not. I know it’s a lot of responsibility, but you can do it with the right support (whether human or Daemonic). You just need to surround yourself with the right people and find your inner strength and you can show the world just how competent and powerful you are. Magickally, use this month to focus on natural magick and drawing out your strength. There is nothing that happens this month that you can’t deal with.

♍ Virgo (Virgin): August 23–September 22- ANDREALPHUS: Have the courage to explore new ideas, or enroll in a class this month, Virgo! Learning something new can be intimidating at first, but you enjoy learning and may even pride yourself on your book smarts. There’s always room for new knowledge or opposing viewpoints. But alas, don’t spend your valuable time on this planet arguing with folks on the interwebs about what you know. Use this time to enrich yourself and learn for your own edification. It will be far more useful to you. This month, take some time to explore an area of magicak knowledge you’ve never delved into that deeply.

♎ Libra (Balance): September 23–October 23 – MALPHAS: This month brings some big decisions for you, and you’re going to need to sit down and decide what you’re willing to sacrifice for what you want. This may include leaving behind a bad relationship, setting boundaries, saying no, or shuffling around your schedule to make time for something important. Shadow work would be very beneficial to you this month.

♏ Scorpio (Scorpion): October 24–November 21 – VALAC: Something has come up that makes you both uncomfortable and excited (or anxious) and you’re going to have to ask yourself if you’re going to charge ahead and take a chance, or if you’re going to sit back and miss out on an opportunity. All signs point to rewards being great if you take a chance and say yes. So, what are you going to do? This month, focus on meditation and ascension and seek wisdom from the Daemonic on the opportunities that arise.

♐ Sagittarius (Archer): November 22–December 21 – SATAN: If you’ve been isolated recently, March will be the month you may have no choice but to get back out into the world. Listen to your intuition and before you make a decision, look at the bigger picture and what your choice may manifest later on down the road. Don’t make big decisions based on immediate gratification. It may also be time to look at the balance in your life and to shift things around to make time for areas (i.e. self-care, family, play, work) that may be lacking. Magickally, balancing and grounding yourself will be of great importance.

♑ Capricorn (Goat): December 22–January 19 – FOCALOR: Focalor often brings a warning of stormy times ahead. March may be rough for you, Capricorn. Whether it’s being overloaded at work, or feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do, or fending off people who wish you ill – it is super important that you keep yourself organized and focused this month. March is a good month to do your magickal spring cleaning and reinforce your wards. Also consider cleaning the temple, your ritual tools, and any amulets or talismans. It will help get rid of winter stagnation, procrastination, and astral sludge that may have built up in recent months. Deep breaths! You got this.

♒ Aquarius (Water Bearer): January 20–February 18 – FURCAS: Beware listening too much to other people and their opinions this month. It will hold you back from being happy AND getting much of anything done. Instead, stand your ground, acknowledge that you know what’s best for you right now, and what others think doesn’t matter. You’re the one who has to live your life when all the critics are off living theirs. Besides, before social media – you lived just fine without all these people nestled in your business. AmIright? It was probably a more peaceful existence, too. Seek some solitude, reflection, and meditation this month. If you need wise council, don’t go to anyone you don’t trust 100%, whether they be Daemonic or human.

♓ Pisces (Fish): February 19–March 20: ANDRAS: If you find yourself on the defensive in March, don’t be surprised. You may be challenged to defend your ideas, choices, and/or ethics. And while you shouldn’t have to explain yourself or your actions to anyone, it’s probably best to draw a line in the sand, set some boundaries, and put meddling people in their place. That said, you may also need to do the self-reflection to make sure you’re not hurting yourself, or those you care about, in the process. Sometimes we’re wrong or we’re not seeing the whole picture and we have to acknowledge when that may be the case. There’s no shame in that. Just remember to ask yourself if the situation or subject is a hill you’re willing to die on. That said, ascension work, mediation, and shadow work are all wise pursuits this month.

Sacrificing Today for Tomorrow

This has been an insane month in many respects. My day job went from being on the slow side to moving at the speed of light and doubling up on the number of calls and readings I’ve done to planning my wedding and a move and then add in the state of affairs in the world around us and this has been a month I will happily say goodbye to.

As I was contemplating what to write about I got a pull to draw a card from my Dark Mirror Oracle deck and had to laugh at what I drew – Today for Tomorrow. The image is of a woman at two stages of her life – Young and Old, holding hands while standing at the top of a flight of stairs. It could also be read as a mother and daughter too, which still fits.

We are constantly in a state of sacrificing one thing for another. As children and young adults we study today instead of playing in hopes that our futures will be successful. As parents we give up things for ourselves so that our children can have more than we did. As adults we trade time spent with loved ones and pursuing our dreams to work stable jobs. Sometimes this sacrificing pays off but other times it doesn’t.

As magicians we also sacrifice things:

  1. Time. To learn, master, and to perfect our understanding of magick and the reasons why we do what we do.
  2. Relationships. Some of us are fortunate enough to have friends and family who accept our chosen path, but many are not so lucky. Being open with their beliefs could cause the end of familial ties and friendships.
  3. Space. The size of most of our libraries and ritual spaces can be considerable.
  4. Ourselves. If you include blood letting in your practice, you also give of yourself directly.

Sometimes what we need to sacrifice ends up paying off, other times it doesn’t and that in and of itself is a lesson, isn’t it? Who we become along the process can be quite eye opening.

Uncrossing Yourself

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I open my email to find someone panicked, thinking they’ve been cursed. Fortunately, 8 times out of 10, it turns out the person doesn’t know any magicians and they haven’t done anything to harm anyone. They’ve just had a run of bad luck and they automatically jumped to the “I’ve been cursed!” scenario because they either have wild imaginations, or they’re attention seeking. If there is actually anything metaphysical at play here, it’s often a self-created thoughtform causing the havoc. People who are always in crisis, are always emotionally volatile, and whose lives are always in upheaval of some kind, tend to routinely create these negative thoughtforms. Basically, they bring the bad luck on themselves, making the “curse” seem that much more real. It’s akin to a self-fulfilled prophecy.

That leaves the 2 out of 10. 2 out of 10 times it’s witch wars. Mary Sue Satanist got in a fight with Jack And Jill Luciferian and now they’re lobbing curses at each other because they have a difference of opinion on whether or not Lucifer and Satan are the same being (or whatever other dumb shit people fight about online because they seem to think magick and the occult are competitive sports rather than solitary spiritual pursuits). Hey, if you think that’s ridiculous, I’ve had people harrumph and stomp off just because I told them that I think thanking Daemons on online forums is tacky and attention seeking. It’s amazing how easily butthurt occultists are for all their alleged enlightenment.

That said – instead of freaking out and running to a teacher, elder, or friend for reinforcements every time you piss off some online grand poobah, there are a couple of things you can do.

And this goes for all you folks self-creating your own bad luck, too.

  1. For non-magicians, home and self protection magick is easy to do, and you should regularly clear your house of negativity a few times a year. For magicians – your home should be warded from all negativity from others, and negative energy feeders. You, too, should be regularly clearing your home of negative vibrations/energy. Especially if you are an emotionally volatile person who tends to have a lot of drama in your life.
  2. Don’t be a dick on the interwebs. While I believe MOST of the vocal online occultists are completely inept magickally (i.e. all talk no action, or occult enthusiasts with a lifestyle obsession), that doesn’t mean that you can run around being an asshole. Being a dick or cursing random online people will eventually earn you a magickal bitch-slap. I have wards in place that whenever someone lobs their vitriol my way, it bounces right back at them. So they suddenly think I’m cursing them, when in actuality, I’m not doing a damn thing except going about my business. By attacking me, they’re attacking themselves. You can learn how to make that kind of protective ward in The Preeminent Curse. It’s quite handy and makes for a nice, quiet, magickal life.

Ultimately, try the following to get rid of curses, negativity, etc…. when it rears its ugly head.

DISPEL NEGATIVITY

Sit down in front of a black candle (black is the color traditionally linked to absorbing negativity) and shove all your fears, worries, and anxieties into the candle via energy work – then light the candle and let the sucker burn down to nothing. Symbolically you are giving all that negativity to the flame so it can be burned away. Simple, but effective.

FUMIGATING/SMUDGING/ASPERGING A SPACE

Another common method is to fumigate your space by lighting a bundle of protection/banishing herbs (sage, dill, lavender etc.) and allowing the smoke to get into every corner of the space you’re clearing. The theory there is that negative spirits and nasty energy doesn’t like the properties (or smell) of the herb and will evacuate the space. For asperging – dip the herbs into blessed water and use the herbs to disperse droplets of blessed water through the space. (The herbs work best if you grow them yourself with the intent of using them to fumigate or asperge your space, and if you thank them before harvesting them.)

WARDING

Daemonolaters also practice “warding” which is a precautionary, proactive way of keeping negative shit out of your space to begin with. This means invoking protective Daemons at every quadrant, placing warding symbols or sigils of protective Daemons in those quadrants, and anointing above every door and window with a protection oleum. See Wortcunning for Daemonolatry for recipes.

EXORCISMS (for extreme circumstances only)

We even have rituals for exorcising negative (non-Daemonic) spirits from one’s home. See Keys of Ocat. This can remove “others”, feeder spirits (leeches), and negative thought-forms.

Take Time to Smell the Incense

The past week has brought to my attention just how many people feel that they can rush through the foundations and basics and still consider themselves competent magicians.

I understand that we live in a world where faster equates to better, but there are some thing that just can’t be rushed or faked and when it comes to magick going fast can create a recipe for disaster, or at least someone who doesn’t have a clue.

Why is there such a rush? When I started you were in pre-initiate for at least a year and you were constantly reading, being questioned, reading more, practicing, being tested, ad nauseum. We never would have imagined telling our instructors that we did a year’s worth of learning in less time, they would have put us to the flames, proverbially speaking. We took pride in being able to last through the entire program (at least half dropped out by the mid-year mark). It taught you patience, something that was important to understand and appreciate as some rituals took days or months, not minutes or hours to complete. It gave you the ability to delve deeply into areas that were of great interest as well as giving you time to grasp concepts that were more difficult. All in all, it gave me the time I needed to find myself as well.

When I became a Daemonolator I had to go through pre-initiate training all over again because I changed traditions, and although my background shared many core concepts of magick, working with Daemons within a tradition was new to me. I never felt like I should have been given a pass because I had already been practicing for 30 years. I learned something new, even from areas that I had thought I had already mastered. This was repeated when I entered seminary. I was a Priestess in my old path but this was a new road and I learned a lot in the 2 years that I was in the program. In truth I think the seminary program was more challenging the second time around and I honestly believe I am a better HP because of this.

When it comes right down to it, you should always be a student even when you are a teacher. This ensures that you don’t become stagnant and jaded, which would be a terrible thing in both your magickal and mundane lived.

So take your time when there are lessons to be learned, you are only shortchanging yourself in the longrun.

New Release: LARVA

From the Book Descrpition: A grimoire of 50+ Daemonolatry spells, sigil magick, and ciphers covering everything from protection, to stopping gossip.

From S. Connolly: My co-author, Ene, and I offer up our latest collection of spells and formulas, brought together from the grimoires of multiple practitioners (including ourselves). Some of the workings are more serious (like the Leviathan Key), others are things you didn’t even know you needed (like the enchanted to-do-list), but overall a fun and fascinating collection of the more folk-magick-y aspect of Daemonolatry. So leave the ceremonial magick in the temple, grab your ingredients, and let’s get to work! 

eBook, Paperback, Case-Wrap Hardcover

Linen Covered Hardcover w/Dust Jacket

Two Occult Books You Should Read

I don’t usually post unless it’s an announcement or site notification, but I thought I would share two books with you that I think every student of the occult should read, regardless your paradigm. ~ Frank D.

The Kybalion by Three Initiates

A tract of Hermetic philosophy that includes seven Hermetic principles that, in my opinion, all magicians should meditate on. I have found this one of the most inspiring books in my library and still pull it from the shelf from time to time when I’m in a reflective mood. You can totally find this book as a free PDF download on the internet, but I recommend a hard copy for those who feel inspired by the book.

My Life with the Spirits by Lon Milo Duquette

If you are looking for magical biographies that are actually interesting and don’t read like stereo instructions, this is the autobiography you want. Witty and relatable (whether you’re a Thelemite or not), this book resonated with me as I think it does with many magicians. Also, it has Goetic spirits in it, so there’s that. Add to that that Duquette is a very open-minded (chaos) magician in his own right, and this book will keep you turning the pages.

Which two occult books would you recommend and why?

When Good Goals Go Bad

I’ve talked before about setting magickal/spiritual goals for the new year, but I’ve never really talked about how to handle things when they go bad. Like – really bad.

Like, let’s pretend you said you would read all the occult books on your shelves at 2 books a month, and here it is, month three, and you’ve only read two chapters in a single book. What do you do? Beat yourself up mercilessly? Drop the goal completely? Or just shrug and say, “You know what? Tomorrow is another day.” and keep working at it until it finally becomes a priority? Or do you continue to take baby-steps toward the goal?

I like to point out to people that goals are just like lifestyle changes. They take some work. You have to have the mindset that you actually want to accomplish a thing, and if you actually want it — you will make time for it. Just like magick – intent is everything.

I did that this year. I decided to do a tarot journal for 2022! Pull cards every day, reflect on them during my nightly meditation.

So far, I’ve only pulled 5 of 7 days (actually 6, but I totally forgot to write January 3rd’s cards down – completely spaced yesterdays). By some accounts, people would say I’ve failed. But have I really?

6 out of 7 days isn’t bad (even if I did forget to record one), and I can still reflect on the previous week. Right?

So — your two chapters in 3 months isn’t 2 books every month, but it’s something, and you can build on that. Maybe find out where, in your schedule, you can find more time to read (or whatever it is for you). In my case, I need to come up with a routine that works for my tarot journaling. My 2022 is all about building routines that work better for me.

So instead of giving up, celebrate the small wins toward your goals, even if they’re tiny. And if you haven’t made any progress at all, forgive yourself and do one thing TODAY toward your goal, no matter how small. It all eventually adds up. To spring a writer-analogy on you all, 500 words a day for 100 days equals a 50,000 word novel. It adds up.