Carolina Dean

What are the Major Magicks?

Herb Magick

Potion Magick

Rune Magick

Sympathetic Magick

Talismans

Mojo Magick

Tarot Magick  

Magickal Potions are classified as a major magickal application due to the wide variety of ingredients that the can be made from, their individual correspondences and the array of methods in which they can be used.

The first ingredient called for in any potion is intent. You must first know exactly what your goal is and why. Additionally, you must keep you intention clearly in mind while you are making potions.

It is very important that you know exactly what you are putting into your potions. If you are unsure of an herb, do not put it in a ptoion. Some herbs such as cinnamon are skin irritants and can cause rashes when placed on the skin, some herbs emit a toxic smoke when burned, etc... Therefore, you will have to do your own research  on the effects of each herb that you use.

Potions come in two types , those that you can ingest and those that you cannot. However, potions can be further classified into seven distinct categories. Potions often come in the form of herbs which have gone through a process of infusion. However, some potions come in the form of Elixirs, Oils, Ointments, and Tinctures.  

The recipes that follow work well for magickal powders, sachets, bath salts, potpourris, incenses, and oils. They are not designed for human consumption. Let your nose by you’re the judge when deciding upon proportions. In addition, many of them make excellent foundations for Mojo Bags (see below)

• For powders, finely grind the herbs together and add to unscented talc or cornstarch.

• Coarsely grind the ingredients for sachets and both dry and simmering potpourris. You may wish to add some essential oils of the herbs listed in the recipe to keep the scent strong.

• To make bath salts, fill a plastic bag or jar with rock salt or pickling salt. Add oils and/or herbs, and shake vigorously. Add a handful to the bath.

• Burn these mixtures in their pure forms on charcoal blocks, or mix with sawdust for a self-burning incense.

In addition I’d like to note that the names I gave to these formulas are drawn from various aspects of popular culture including movies, television, and comic books.

Wapner- Use this formula in legal matters to make a judge more inclined to rule in your favor.

• Skunk Cabbage
• Sunflower Seeds
• Bay Leaves

Wayne- Use this formula to obtain a raise, increase your finances, and to make sound investments.

• Alfalfa
• Five Finger Grass
• Lucky Hand Root

Winchester - Use this formula for the return of missing people and animals.

• Cypress
• Yarrow
• Rosemary

Wither- Use this herbal combination to break spells.

• Black Walnut
• Galangal
• Mint

Wolverine- Use this formula to accelerate physical healing.

• Mistletoe
• Eucalyptus
• Boneset

X- Use this formula to obtain and maintain mental balance and health.

• Allspice
• Thyme
• Rosemary

Zatanna - Use this formula to reverse energies and send them back from whence they came.

• Lemon
• Sage
• Peony Root

Rune Magick entails the use of the Runic glyphs in the practice of magick. Just like each glyph has a divinatory correspondence (see divination) they also have a magickal one.

• Carving the glyphs of candles
• Writing one's magick goal on paper in Runes
• Sewing the glyph into clothing, or mojo bags
• Painting the glyph on household wares, or even one's body
• Using the Runes for divination
• Creating a Bind Rune
  

What is a Bind Rune?

The practice of creating a Bind Rune is unique to Runic system.  To Create a Bind Rune, determine your magickal goal and research which Runes correspond to that goal.

Next, you get to be creative and combine the Runes that you have chosen into one glyph in which each individual Rune can be found.The Bind Rune is then ritually activated in a magick ceremony.

Sympathetic Magick works on the principle that ‘invisible bonds connect all things’ Sympathetic Magick can be divided into two categories, Homeopathic Magick and Contagious Magick. The Scottish anthropologist Sir James G. Frazer first described these types in his book The Golden Bough (1890).

• Homeopathic Magick holds that “like attracts like.” A classic example of this type of magick is the melting of a waxen image of an enemy resulting in his or her death. Visualization is a form of sympathetic magick, instead of creating a physical image of your goal, you are create a mental one. Many taboos come from homeopathic magic. People avoid certain harmless things because they resemble various harmful things. Among the Inuit (Eskimos), for example, parents have traditionally warned their sons against playing a string game, such as cat's cradle, in which children loop string around their fingers. They feared that playing such games might cause the children's fingers to become tangled in the harpoon lines they will use as adults.

• Contagious Magick holds that “things once in contact with one another continue to exert an influence on one another after they have been separated.” An example of Contagious Magick from a folk magick remedy to cure a wound would be to rub some medicine on the object which caused the wound in the first place. People who believe in contagious magic fear that an enemy can gain power over them by obtaining parts of their body. Therefore, they carefully dispose of their nails, hair, teeth, and even their body wastes.

Poppets

The most familiar form of Sympathetic Magick used in Wicca and Witchcraft is the use of Poppets, or dolls. The Poppet is made in sacred space, while mentally focusing on the individual that the poppet is intended to represent.

The Poppet is made from two pieces of cloth which are cut in the shape of the human form. This cloth can also be something that the individual has worn, or simply a colored piece of cloth that matches your goal. The pieces are sewn together, turned inside out, and stuffed with cotton, herbs, straw, gems, etc. If you have a link to the individual, add that to the poppet as well.

Finish by sewing up the opening used for stuffing. Next, personalize the doll giving it the features of the person it is intended to represent. When you have finished, wrap the doll in a clean cloth until the spell or ritual is to be performed.

Link

Pattern for Making A Poppet

 
The Naming Ceremony

When the doll is made and there is no more work to be done in its creation, present it to the four directions, beginning in the North and say:

From the

(North, East, South, West)

the element of

(Earth, Air, Fire, Water)

now cleans

this poppet for positive means.

In the name of the Lord and Lady,

As I will so mote it be.

When done, turn to the North again and holding the doll in your hands, visualize the person’s face and say these words:

This poppet represents,

(N) in every sense;

and everything to it I do,

happens to (N) too!

Your Poppet is now ready for use.

HOW TO MAKE A QUICK AND EASY NO-SEW DOLL FOR USE IN MAGICK

Your doll is then completed. As you can see this is a very simple process which gets easier each time you make a doll.

See Also: How to Create & Work With Spirit Dolls 

Talisman magick is closely connected to with the magick of symbols and is a very personal form of magick. A Talisman is an object which carries the power or force that it intended to represent. Talismans are imbued with the particular energy that is represents with ritual inscription, consecration, and empowerment. Most Talismans are round as circles are said to hold energy, and they can be made of anything that can be drawn upon, including metal, wax, cardboard, or even paper.

On the front of the Talisman is a symbol of your need or goal, such as a Rune, Astrological Sign, Number, or a self-created Sigil. The reverse indicated who the Talisman is for, again, this is typically done with the language of symbols. You can write your magickal name in Runes, inscribe your Natal Chart, or arrange specific information about yourself in a manner pleasing to the eye.

Alternately, you can design a personal symbol which is intended to represent yourself. In addition, and this is my favored form of signing the Talisman, you can use the method of Crossing and Covering, in the manner of writing your petitions. After the name paper has been signed, you can write a keyword or phrase around the names in a perfect circle. For example:

Talismans are made in sacred space during the Full Moon on the day and in the hour of the planetary influence associated with your goal. As in our previous example, the Talisman should be made on a Thursday, during the Full Moon, in the hour of Jupiter. However, it is suggested that you design your Sigil and personal signage on a separate piece of paper beforehand.

At the appointed hour, gather your materials and create sacred space. Inscribe your sigil on the front of the Talisman while focusing on your goal, visualizing it as if it has already come to pass. Next, inscribe your signage on its reverse, again visualizing your goal.

When you are done, ‘smoke’ the Talisman in incense as you recite a spell calling on the force with which you intend to charge the Talisman. As in the example above you may say something like:

“Jupiter!

On this your day & in your hour,

I humbly call upon your power;

that it may my talisman bless,

& crown my works with success!”

There have been many methods devised on how to create your own sigils in magick, which will be briefly reviewed here:

1. Write out a statement of your intent, being specific as possible but also brief. For example: “I will be a successful doctor.” Now look at the letters of the alphabet, and remove all the letters which repeat themselves. Take the remaining letters and rearrange them, moving pieces of one letter into another, finding one letter in the shape of another, etc… Play with them until they don’t resemble anything remotely associated with your intent.

2. Using those Runes which correspond to your goal, create a Bind Rune and use it as a symbol in the making of your Talisman.

3. A third choice, involves using symbols which have been created and used by others, such as The Seals of Solomon.

4. Finally, render each letter in a keyword to its numerical equilvalent and sigilize it on a magick square, or Kamea, which corresponds to your goal. The Kameas and their correspondences are as follows.

Kameas, or magick squares, represent planetary energies in a mathematical format. To make a sigil, or magickal symbol, using a Kamea you must first determine a keyword that best describes your goal. For example, if your intent was to be a successful physician, you might choose the word ‘doctor’ to represent yourself as being successful in your chosen vocation. Using the Western system of Numerology, render the keyword to its numeric equivalent:

Now add up all the numbers that correspond to the letters making up the word,

4 +6+ 3+ 2+ 6 +9= 30= 3

Now choose a square which corresponds to your goal. As in the example above, Jupiter rules success in one’s chosen profession. Draw a circle around the first number in the given sequence signifying the start of the sigil, then draw a straight line to the next number in the sequence drawing a parallel line across the last one signifying the end of the sigil. In the case of a number appearing twice in a sequence, this is symbolized by two triangles joined at the upper-most point. Finally, draw a square around the number which corresponds to the sum of the digits.

 This will result in a sigil of the keyword. This sigil can then be used to create a talisman, or it can be drawn on a candle to represent one’s goal, written on a piece of paper and tucked into your pocket, or a mojo bag.

Another example of using this method entails creating sigils of the names of individuals. For example, to create a sigil for the purpose of attracting a specific person, use the Kamea of Venus to create a sigil of their name.

The Kameas & their Correspondences

Kamea of the Sun

Day: Sunday

Color: Yellow

Sign: Leo

Correspondences: Health, vitality, ego, power, success, advancement, leadership, and growth

Kamea of the Moon

Day: Monday

Color: Silver

Sign: Cancer

Correspondences: Clairvoyance, sleep, emotions, astral travel, imagination, women, birth, and reincarnation.

Day: Tuesday

Color: Red

Sign: Aries, Scorpio

Correspondence: Male sexuality, strength, lust, anger, destruction, medical issues.

Kamea of Mercury

Day: Wednesday

Color: Purple

Sign: Virgo, Gemini

Correspondences: Communication, intellect, writing, contracts, information, wisdom, science, memory.

Kamea of Jupiter

 
Day: Thursday

Color: Blue

Sign: Sagittarius

Correspondence: Success, abundance, money, growth, gambling.

Kamea of Venus

 
Day: Friday

Color: Green

Sign: Taurus, Libra

Correspondences: Love, pleasure, female sexuality, arts, music, beauty, luxury, social affairs.

 Kamea of Saturn

Day: Saturday

Color: Black

Sign: Capricorn

Correspondences: Real estate, banks, debt, obstacles, binding, knowledge, time, discipline.

A mojo is the staple talisman in the Hoodoo Tradition, but it appears in other magickal traditions as well and under various names. It is characterized as a flannel bag containing one or more items such as dried herbs, seals, gems, curios, and/or personal items such as hair, teeth, clothing, etc... Although most mojo bag are made of red flannel, some magickal practitioners make a practice of matching the color of the mojo bag to their goal (See Candle Magick)

Traditionally, mojo bags are not sewn from two squares, although they can be. Instead they are made from one rectangular piece of flannel which is roughly 6 ½ X 5 ½ inches, that is folded in half and sewn to about 3 X 5 inches. The extra material goes into seam allowances and the tube created for the drawstring.

That items which you place in a mojo bag are determined by your goal, and what is traditionally believed to correspond to that goal.  Generally, there are at least three items in a simple mojo and many people try to ensure that the total ingredients comes to an odd number---3,5,7,9,11,13 and never more than 13. Sometimes mixed herbs are counted as one item.

How a mojo bag is prepared and consecrated in Hoodoo and Wicca are very different as each path has it's roots in the beliefs and traditions of people from various parts of the world; whereas Hoodoo is based on ancient African beliefs and practices, Wicca is based on pre-Christian Europeon traditions. In addition, each practitioner will often have their own methods of fixing up or consecrating a mojo bag.  The method of creating and consecrating a mojo bag described below draws on elements of both systems. 

To successfully make and empower a mojo bag, mark a candle with your goal and impale it with nine pins, reasserting your desire with the insertion of each pin. Remember, the ninth pin goes through the wick. Light the candle and some incense. Fill the mojo with all the ingredients and tie it shut. A mojo bag is correctly tied by pulling on the drawstring sealing the bag shut. The loose ends of the drawstring are tied in a knot and the doubled string is then wrapped around the neck of the mojo bag and tucked     behind the cord and pulled tight. Dress, or anoint, the mojo with oil (again the oil utilized will often be determined by one's goal) and finally, hold the mojo bag over the  burning incense and chant a spell specific to your goal. Repeat your incantation three times, feeling the power grow with each recitation. When you are done, leave the mojo in the light of the blessed candle until it burns out.

Once properly made and empowered, you should carry your mojo on you below the waist and sleep with it under your pillow. Once a week, dress the mojo with oil again. Never let another person touch your mojo or it will be rendered useless.It has become a personal practice of mine, to keep my mojo bag in my shoe during the night. In this way I will not forget to carry it with me the following day.  Some people feel that a mojo’s power generally last for a year, and should be buried after that time while others feel that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If your mojo is still working for you don’t dispose of it, but if the cloth wears out sew it all up into a new cloth.

If your mojo stops working for you, Cat Yronwode owner and proprietor of the Lucky Mojo Curio Company suggests that you empty its contents on a tabletop. Inspect any hard items such as dried roots, coins, shells, lodestones, etc for damage. Set the undamaged hard items aside and place the damaged item back in the mojo bag with the soft items. If a seal or petition is still working set it aside as well, but if it is llegible, or needs re-making put it in the mojo and bury it in your back yard. Wash all the undamaged hard items with alcohol and replace all the damaged hard items as well as the soft ones and make a new mojo bag.

Links

How to Tie a Mojo Bag (Youtube)

Selected Mojos

EXERCISES

1.      In your own words, define major magicks in your journal. Below this make a list of each of the major magicks.

2.      Write a brief definition, in your own words, beside each of the major magicks.

3.      Please refer to the Chapter titled An Herbal Primer on workbook exercises associated with herb magick.

4.      Research and prepare one each of the types of potions mentioned in this chapter (infusion, elixir, oil, ointment, and tincture) and answer the following questions regarding each of the potions. Remember to use safe practices techniques.

·        What class of potion is this?

·        What is the intended purpose of this potion?

·        What is the recipe for this potion? Please include the name by which you know the plant or herb as well as its Latin name.

·        How is this potion intended to be used? Is it edible or non-edible?

·        What sources did you use to derive this recipe?

5.      Think of one goal that you would like to achieve and write it in your journal. Determine at least three runes that correspond to your goal and draw them below your written goal. Beside each rune you have drawn, write its magickal correspondences.

6.      Using at least three of the runes you have determined to resonate with your goal, design a bind rune and draw this in your journal.

7.      Sew a poppet of yourself and ritually name it. Soak a white handkerchief in salted water and allow it to dry naturally. When it is dry, wrap your poppet in this handkerchief and keep it in a safe place.

8.      Think of a goal that you would like to achieve. Using the Magic Squares described in this chapter, design and create a talisman for that goal. Show your work at each step in your journal.

9.      Sew a mojo bag out of flannel or chamois.

10.  Choose one goal that you would like to achieve and write this in your journal. Research the herbs, minerals, seals, etc… that correspond to your goal and using the guidelines as given in this chapter devise a recipe for a mojo bag. Record your recipe in your journal.

11.  Gather all the things necessary and prepare your mojo bag.

12.  Think of a goal that you would like to achieve and write this in your journal. Using the information given in this chapter and in the chapter on divination, choose three tarot cards for the three-card tarot spell. Photo copy or print your chosen cards offline and glue these in your journal in the order given in the spell. Above each card, write what the three positions means. Remember, the first card represents whom the spell is for, or who it is to affect.  The second card represents your goal.  The third card is placed between the first and the second ones, and it represents how your goal will manifest. Finally, below each card write what that card means and explain why you chose that card for that position.