Olokun, one of the Orishas of the Ocean. His Sopon or vessel contains actual water blessed for him, my Godmother in Santeria once cleansed me with water she personally blessed in Olokun’s name.
Tonight is Hekate’s Deipnon, and I figured I would write this. I was also asked to write this by a client who needed her home and personal space cleared of negative energies. After I took a heavy curse off of her. The following is a ritual I came up with from various practices. But I made this ritual neutral so that it can be used by any religion and any God.
Idols come in both genders or can appear genderless
In Ancient Greece they used sacrificial animals, people, food, or even idols called Pharmakoi. The idea was that they were vessels that retained the bad energy. And that when you sacrificed them, you were killing the bad energy. So the first part of this is a Pharmakos cleansing. You’re trapping the bad energy into a vessel.
You have to map out where you are going to go. For instance you need to know every nook and cranny in your house. Every corner. If you have an attic, start there. And make sure you go to every spot in your property and home.
Ending in the basement as well as outside your prosperity. You have to pray, or chant, or do a spell. And you command all negative energy and bad spirits to be bound to the vessel. You do this while you are walking around. The vessel is a sacrifice that soaks up all of the bad energy around.
You also rub yourself, all members of the house (including pets) with the vessel. This is done so that any attachments or bad vibrations can be drained into the vessel. You’ll know it’s done because you will feel the property be instantly lighter. And you and those around you will feel lighter as well. If this was a bag of garbage, toss it into a public dumpster or community dumpster ASAP.
And say that no one will be harmed by this bag. That you consign the dark energy to its own dark world never to return. To be bound to chaos forever. Chaos meaning the primordial void. Then turn around and walk away without looking back.
If it was food, you need to go to a crossroads, railroad, or body of water, even a pond will do. And call upon the spirits of those places (in the name of your God/Goddess) to remove the bad spirits and energies. And that as the animals eat the food, they will not be in danger. That they will destroy the negativity. Again turn around and walk away.
Position your car so that you don’t have to turn around to face the spot when getting inside. You don’t want to look at the area even by accident. Make sure you can leave and leave fast without turning around. The reason for this is that all the negativity will go to you worse than before if you do. Or worse, you might see the spirits that are going to take away the bad energy.
Which can be dangerous by itself. Another possibility is you will see the bad spirits that you bound and they will be freed instantly to haunt you. Make sure you leave the proper offerings at the site for the spirits or God you called upon. Go home.
Part 2 : Casting Aspersions
An Asperger also known as an Aspersorium or Aspergillum, a device used to cast aspersions of holy water. This Aspersorium comes from Rowan Morrigan
The term “casting aspersions” comes from this. It’s a form of cleansing with holy water. You basically flick holy water on the walls. On the ground. On anything and on everyone even pets.
That’s what casting aspersions actually means. This is to bless everyone and everything the water touches. So with the water you blessed with your own prayers, bless the home. You will need an Aspersorium which is a fancy word for an object that you can use to flick the holy water with. The church uses fancy metal devices or even brushes or small buckets to do this.
But any object will do. You cast the aspersions from the outside in. From the front and back yard. Call on your God or Goddess and their spirits to protect and bless the property and dedicate it to them. Say,
“I dedicate this home to be your divine temple. This I holy ground and only that which you allow can enter,”
Bless the outside in. And enter the front door and bless the house from the basement all the way to every nook and cranny up into the attic. You should feel another wave of relief come upon you. Make sure you flick the water or asperse it everywhere.
Sometimes I even use the cap from the plastic bottle I keep my holy water to asperse everything. If all else fails just use your hand. You will feel the wave of relief hit and once that happens you will know the dedication ritual is done. Granted some people don’t choose to dedicate their houses to their Gods. Instead they just do normal blessings.
I’m just not one of those people. My house is a temple to the Gods. I want them to live there. Sure the upkeep is a little more stressful but ultimately it’s better.
Part 3 : Reclaim your Authority
Think of your Will as a personal forcefield. And as a reality altering force. Your enemies, including evil spirits, have no power over you.
With this part, walk around with a holy item that represents your faith after the cleansing.
Used Horse Shoes are powerful talismans and can represent many religions and folk practices, from El Tarot De Yemaya (the tarot of Yemaya occult store)
And command that any unwelcome or negative spirits need to go. Command them to leave in the name of your God/Goddess/Gods. And say that only the Gods and their divine spirits can be in your home. Do this to reinforce and reassert your control over the home and property. It restored the natural barriers that exist to keep bad spirits out.
And it also re-empowers them to keep things out you don’t want.
Part 4 : Warding
From the Sacred Signs Archive drawing sacred symbols or hanging up magical charms is a common method of protection
This part is a long term project and it’s not something you can do in one day or night. You go through the process of learning special prayers. Or getting or making amulets to ward off negative energy. Or talismans to bring protective energy. Also drawing symbols or writing special words or letters of power is important.
You have to research your own religion. Or your culture and heritage. And find out what is useful in keeping bad influences away. This will increase the power of the dedication and/or blessing.
From left to right Hestia, El, and Elegua. Just three of many Household Gods I worship
It’s been a while since I informed you of everything that was happening. Well, for those who don’t really know much about my personal life here it goes. I had to move back in with my mother because she needed the help to pay the bills. And well let’s just say I needed a lot more room than my modest bachelor accommodations. So we moved again.
God I hate moving. I really do. I hate the packing. The workload put into it. The unpacking.
The signing of new contracts etc.. Well actually the unpacking has some good to it. Hearing the voices of the Gods and your spirits. As they teach you where they would like their shrines placed. Poseidon is now blessing my bathroom. Zeus has his serpentine idol guarding my front door with charms wrapped in a red string for Haphaistos.
Elegua has his coconut. But I am waiting to set up a proper shrine for him behind the front door. And soon Hestia will have her fire altars in the kitchen as before. El (Yahweh) will have his own Judeo-Christian Altar soon with his Bible. As the Gods settle into their new temple, many blessings will follow.
A depiction of Zeus Meilichius, one of the Giant Serpent forms of Zeus. Also a household version of the God.
The Gods have already begone the harmonization process. I can feel the new home starting to take shape.
First Stage : Cleansing
Elegua, the Yoruba God of the Crossroads, protector of home and threshold, and messenger of the Gods. Also a master of magic. He often appears as a small boy. He is the Prince of the Yoruba religion.
First I had to spend a week doing a healing and a cleansing of the space. The people who lived here before were a bunch of dicks. All their negative energy was still around. I had hoped to be able to clean the house with one big smudging with Quita Maldicion (Take Away Curses). And some Church incense to bring in good energy afterwards.
But by the time these people finally left I had run out. They made their own move as inconvenient as possible for us. So, I improvised. My Godmother in Santeria had spoken to me a long ago of the importance of Sarayeye. This is a cleansing with a magical or spiritually charged object.
Such as a bundle of plants, an egg, a stone, or something else. It’s used to absorb something negative from a person. While also replacing the bad energy with positive, holy energy to restore balance to mind, body, and soul. Other spiritual groups have used a similar technique on objects. Like using Crystals or salt to clean other objects.
In this case I was cleaning a place.
I used a coconut which I charged with holy water and cascarilla. Then I walked around the house, from the very back room to the front door. I rolled it on the walls and then on the floor. Then I placed it behind the front door and asked Elegua to absorb everything bad that had ever happened in that place. The cleansing took place for seven days.
I could sometimes feel waves of energy, being drawn to that coconut. A nasty sickly energy. And I even had vague impressions of arguments. I learned later that the couple who lived here had gotten a divorce. And the guy who was supposed to have moved out since last month kept breaking his promise to leave.
He tried to stay here by finding a roommate. Even though he was supposed to have left. He didn’t care that he was screwing over a family. Which is why it took three months to finally move. I tried not to let it bother me.
I prayed to Nemesis and asked her for one favor : If this cocksucker reneges on his promise for the third time, may he also lose the apartment and have no where to go. He did it for the third time. And while I wasn’t sure if we were to have this home or not, he was forced out. He couldn’t find a roommate. He left the place dirty on purpose.
And his soon to be ex wife was even ruder. When my mother tried to use the gate access code, apparently the machine was still tied to this woman’s phone. My Mom apologized and asked if she could be let in that she had just moved to their old apartment. This lady hanged up on her. Like she was not worth speaking to.
Yeah, that was one of the best and strongest intuitions I had about people ever. I knew they were nasty without even having to see them. That never happens to me. Usually I have to meet people to get a sense of them. But these two really were so negative and disrespectful that even before I set foot in this apartment I could feel them in the ether.
But I digress.
I performed the sarayeye on myself and dog as well as my mother before I used it on the house. And I asked for all bad vibrations and energies from the previous months of the year to go. Two birds with one stone. After the seven days, I burnt incense to Elegua. And I threw the coconut into the crossroads.
Sacrificing the bad energy to the spirits there. Now I was really ready to get to work.
Second Stage : Dedication
Hestia (Ἑστία) the Goddess of Home, Hearthe, and Fire. The intercessor of the Greek Gods and humans in worship and offering.
Next, was my weeklong dedication ceremony. Now there is a big difference between blessing a house and dedicating it to the Gods. When you bless a house, how long it stays blessed depends on you. You have to constantly keep it blessed. With holy waters and oils or even smudging at least once a month for good measure.
Because if you don’t, the blessing will eventually erode away. Leaving the house as it was before it was blessed. Also, a blessing is nothing more than a protection and a positive charge for the home. Something to bring in good luck. And sometimes it can be a dedication for lay people and regular worshipers.
I know all of you at some point have heard of “holy ground”. Or even the older way of saying it which is “hallowed ground,”. Essentially this is ground that is blessed. Now you’re probably thinking,
“But M, blessing the ground of your house isn’t the same as a dedication. You said so yourself, so what gives?”
And you’d be right. Blessed grounds can be done by anyone. But, truly hallowed ground is something only a Priest or Priestess can do. Now I am not going to dazzle you with bullshit nor claim that I have fifty initiations and a priest title. I was part of a group, a Guild of Gnostic believers.
We were folk magicians and students of the occult. And the main tenant of our group was this : all believers are empowered to be priests of the Gods. And more importantly, that being a “high” priest or priestess wasn’t something limited to a small elect. All people have this as a natural right given to us by our Gods. The only limitation is whether we are moral and responsible enough to rise to the task.
We were all of the same rank. And we worked as a council to make decisions. Of course we mostly used divination. Whatever the Gods and spirits told us to do, we did. Sort of takes a lot of the decision making process out.
When you hear your Gods, there’s no reason to have so many debates. The few times we had to make decisions was due to things that directly had to do with the human side of religion. Like what types of rites we should use to draw power from the Gods. Of specific timings and place of gatherings. But anyways, we studied and covered the differences in consecration by level as well.
A dedication is a type of consecration for a temple or church. It means that it’s being specifically dedicated to a God, Goddess, Saint, or powerful spirits that a religious order serves. And the ritual is an invitation for that being or group of beings you serve to live there. That it is in effect the home of those spiritual entities. And that you are a partner, not only working with them, but keeping their home nice and tidy.
This is in no way servitude. Spiritual beings either can’t or simply won’t come down in physical form to clean a house. That doesn’t happen in real life. But the human ally lives here and has direct access. Conversely, there are things our entities can do for us on the other side that we can’t do.
But it’s as much their home as it is ours. And therefore, they do that work for us. It’s a symbiotic relationship. And contrary to the monotheistic notion of religion, it’s a partnership rather than a master-servant relationship. My mentors have taught me long ago that the Gods and their children do not seek for us to be their slaves.
In fact depending on the religion or culture, they may even want us to be equal with them. A good parent wants their child to grow up to become independent and free. If a parent tries to keep you co-dependent to them forever, they’re not good people. They have some serious character flaws. You share in the gifts of your spirit family.
The possessions and wealth of that house. In ways what you actually become is a caretaker of the property. And in exchange the spiritual beings who care for you will protect you and offer you anything they can.
You get to reap the benefits of the temple because you are caring for it on behalf of a spiritual being. And so you are paid in blessings and splendor to do the work of that God, Saint, or spirit. So, the dedication brings holy beings to a place to live in. Gods are the sources of all holiness and energy. And Saints and spirits radiate that energy in greater quantities than most people do or can.
So when their household avatars enter a house it’s like a small holy bomb going off in all directions. Everything is soaked in divine energy. And it never goes away for as long as you live there. Obviously, you still need to do your upkeep of the place and daily worship or veneration. But overall they stay there.
And their presence keeps the place well charged with their divinity. Without you needing to renew the dedication the way you would have to renew blessings of a home. I will say that at least in the case of the Catholic Church, when they dedicate a church, they usually celebrate the anniversary of when it was dedicated. As a way to give thanks. And I suspect that also adds greater divinity to the place.
That is the best spiritual security system you could ever have. Because it means that the divinities bring down their own guards. Their own attendants. Their own magical traps to protect the place you dedicate. Independent of what you do to ward it afterwards.
Now, in the old days I did an overly ceremonial dedication with magical charms. It was complicated as hell and lasted a week. Now it still lasts a week, but I have trimmed down all the ceremony. I rely on household offerings to call the Gods, Saints, and spirits I work with to enter. I entice them here.
Sort of like leaving food to lure a dove. I make sure that I verbalize, visualize, and set my intention that the ritual offerings are to bring the divine beings forth. To invite them to come down and eat. To stay, to drink, even to sleep in the home. Little by little I invite them even to decorate the area.
Usually by telling me how I am to set up a shrine. And on the last day I do a more simple offering which seals the deal. A sort of agreement for them to stay. One where I promise to attend to them. Something like the contracts I had to do with my landlord where I signed.
And once done the power floods the house briefly, I just know it’s hallowed ground now. Not merely blessed grounds. Whatever you use to ward the place yourself, is empowered by them. So your guides now have extra help. Which is what I did.
Now I was ready for the next step.
Third Stage : Calling your Guardians Home
The spirits of nature
I was guided by my guardians to do this. Guardians can go anywhere. And they automatically live in the home with you when you move in. However, this is a way of firmly entrenching them in the home. Making them the guardians of the place.
There are several reasons for doing this. One, it gives them total domination over the household and its affairs. They are able to help you keep unwanted spirits out. Because they can control the small, spiritual universe of your home. They wouldn’t even have to fight.
They keep out an enemy spirit by sheer force of will alone. From that point on, they become a part of the Genius Loci or spirit of a place. So appealing to your spirits also means you can ask them for favors regarding your home. Like a type of household saint almost. If you move, they will simply detach themselves.
Or even say “As I pack my things, you are to leave this place behind with me,”. And the place will release the bond as well. Once that happens, your guardians will rule over the place.
One thing I learned the first time I moved by myself was that the Gods and spirits guide you psychically. Through intuition they tell you where they want their images to be placed. Where each shrine should go. Where altars should be erected. And finally, where the talismans and amulets and other magically charged items are to go.
Sometimes they do this through feelings. Other times through thoughts or outright visions. And sometimes you will even hear voices in your mind guiding you. Or it could be all of the above. Including dreams.
I remember one time I had left some items on a crossroads as a decoration. To honor Elegua and his spirits. But they sent me a dream that let me know : they wanted my junk off of their property 😂. So the next day I went there and cleaned it all off. And that’s where I am at right now.
Setting up my shrines. So far the most complete shrines are the bathroom shrine of Poseidon.
Some of the household guardians
Household Spirits of the Home and Hearth
On the left, I use that wooden carving of vegetables to be vessels for my plant spirits. Some of my guardians are actually plants. On the right, I use that pig to represent the Sow Goddess Hen Wen (old white). I couldn’t find a white pig image, so I made due with this one. From left to right : The Laughing Buddha, hanging from him is a red string of prosperity that has a tea pot representing Home and Hearth Gods, a Tibetan Buddhist Bell with the face of the Buddha engraved in its hilt, a fancy clock to represent the Goddess Anna Perenna, two palm trees to represent the Goddess Asherah and the Goddess Sophia, my sister left images of the Virgin Mary along with a candle burning, and finally, a candle snuffer with the image of the divine lotus engraved in it. The Staff I use isn’t just a typical Witch Staff, it’s an idol to the Serpentine and Household avatars of Zeus Meilichius and Zeus Ktesios. The red string with charms represents his son, Haphaistos the Black Smith of the Gods. They guard our front door and bring in only good.
We’re still unpacking and getting everything done. But so far, life is good. I’m even doing my rituals again. It’s time to unwind, relax, but then get back to work. So, see you everyone.
A Flame Mouth is a Hungry Ghost who cannot eat food because it will turn into fiery coal in their hands. From Best Price Travel’s article
I decided to take advantage of this festival to write about a little talked of subject : Los Muertos Oscuros. The Dark Dead. This is something that is universal amongst all traditions, both old and new. Even Reiki practitioners have talked to me about the use of Reiki to help or aid the dead. Especially those lost in the darkness.
But first, what is this festival about?
Today at Sunset, the Hungry Ghost Festival begins. For those who don’t know, this is when the dark or toxic spirits of the dead are released. Specifically those who died and went to Hell for their sins. Hell isn’t entirely a Christian concept. Many faiths have their own version of Hell under different names.
Or states of hell. Sometimes referred to as “reincarnating into the lower realms.” Although lower realms isn’t always hell. Sometimes it’s limbo or even reincarnation as an animal. Though I personally don’t believe reincarnating as an animal is “lower” at all.
It’s being a part of nature. Humans after all, are animals. Typically, Hungry Ghosts are classified into three groups : Needle Mouths, Flame Mouths, and Corpse Mouths. A Needle Mouth is when a hungry ghost has a throat that is so tiny, it’s like a needle. Which is why they cannot eat food.
Flame Mouths are people that cannot eat food because it will burn up or transform into coal. And Corpse Mouths are the very worst. Those are people who were so evil in life, that they become decomposing corpses. They can’t eat because their mouths rotted away. This is a testament to their very literal rotten character.
For many generations there was very little that could be done for such people. It wasn’t until the Buddha’s two disciples, Maudgalyāyana and Sariputta had to face the fires of hell to save their mothers. Both of them had selfish and greedy mothers, who when they died, went to Hell and became Hungry Ghosts. If you want to read the whole story, go to my 2018 Article on the origins of the Festival. This also covers the rituals needed to appease them and ease their sufferings.
In addition to Buddhism, the same entity exists in Hinduism, known as a Preta. Which becomes a flesh eating undead revenant.
A depiction of a Corpse Mouth
In addition to not being able to eat because of their mouths, Hungry Ghosts have large distended bellies. This is for them to eternally starve to death without starving. Now, most religions also have what I call Dark Ghosts. Toxic spirits of the dead. They aren’t necessarily people who went to Hell.
Not everyone believes in Hell. But various religions have something akin to limbo or purgatory. And in this place a spirit with no light as we Santeros say, or divine energy, just keeps getting darker. And then more violent and nasty. Until they become something far removed from who they once were in life.
A soul that was put into a blender and so messed up that it’s unrecognizable as who it once was. In Santería we call this an Eggun Buruku. Literally the dark dead. In fact I believe the Shadow People mentioned in modern paranormal accounts are these types of spirits. Not demons but really dark souls.
Although at least some of them, do become demons according to certain folkloric beliefs. In Catholicism they are called Anima Solas or “lonely souls” that live in purgatory. In Ancient Roman beliefs they were called Lemures or Larvae. The root word meaning “mask”. Because their visage was so horrible that they were masks of fear to those who beheld them.
And of course we have the Jewish Dybbuk. The soul of a sinner who, unable to become one with God, is hunted and beaten by Angels for sport. So they must come down to our realms in order to escape. They are called Dybbuks because the root word in Hebrew is the word for “attachment”. They attach themselves to the living or outright possess them.
Whether they be animals or humans makes no difference to them. Symptoms of Dybbuk possession include speaking with someone else’s voice (dead person’s voice). Having any ailments or pains they had in life like back pain or anything else they had. Or total personality changes. In certain spiritual circles the belief of a deceased soul doing all of this to a possessed person is identical.
Dark, but not always Evil
Not all of these dark souls are evil or even punished by God through the Angels however. Some Dybbuks are just dark because of how they died. Such as suicides. And they stay in a state of constant purification until they are ready to become one with God, like the Anima Solas in Purgatory. A Rabbi once told me that such a spirit will be attracted to someone who acts like them.
So if a Dybbuk committed suicide, they will go to someone thinking of it. If a Dybbuk was a murderer, they will go to someone thinking of it. Once there, they possess and oppress the person. The person starts getting visions of this dead soul in life. And they relive all the things the deceased went through.
The person in theory, understands that killing themselves or someone else won’t give them peace. So they change their ways and live out their lives. The Dybbuk departs from the human. And they having fulfilled their duty, are fully purified. Thus allowed to enter Heaven.
This is just one of many ways that the dark dead are able to be purified. It’s not always about sin but more often than not, miasma. Negative energy from some event holding them back. And by being unable to release this bad energy, they stop themselves from going forward. Usually, what happens is that a descendant doesn’t remember their ancestors.
There’s this modern belief that the dead are automatically fine. That when they die, they go to God and that’s it. Some go to Heaven, others go to Hell, done. But it doesn’t work like that. Even in Purgatory, there are many different forms and dimensions.
Same with reincarnation. Not all reincarnation is the same either. But I digress. When people forget their ancestors, that’s a nail in their spiritual coffin. When they don’t give them offerings of food and money or drink or incense and candles etc.. the soul becomes like a homeless person.
Alone. Trapped. Always hungry and thirsting. Always cold or hot because they have no home to protect them. Always alone or in the company of spirits that make you feel alone.
This is why on Hungry Ghost Month Hades Money or Hell Money is burned. It’s a kind of fake currency that is charged with prayers or belief. Once it’s burned in honor of a specific person, that person has the spiritual version of it with them. And to them, it’s a real currency.
Here we back our currencies with gold or natural resources. Their, faith, belief, power, energy is what backs such a currency and makes it real for them. I knew one woman, who would burn the paper using a holy candle. The holiness of the blessed candle would be permanently infused into that money. So that the money would appear to the dead person she offered it to as a talisman.
It wouldn’t run out.
Warding
In many traditions we have some kind of altar or idol for the nameless and forgotten dead. In Yoruba practice, we have statues of Babalu Aye and Oro who are Orishas that have power over the nameless and forgotten dead. They are placed outside the house. And offerings are given to them to make sure these spirits are pacified and won’t harm the living. Special idols for Hekate are placed outside of household doors to ensure bad spirits stay away.
Or just plain using sea salt barriers to block anything or anyone from coming in. While everyone is in danger of being effected by them, the sick, the elderly, children, and pregnant women are most at risk. Animals should avoid being outdoors at night as well. If you keep them outdoors, you need to ward your front and backyards. As well as ward their places of sleep.
Bless their food and drink and ask the Gods to fill them with protective grace to ward off enemy spirits. By enemy I mean anything that could harm you, even if unintentionally. Do extra protections. These are some links with information with good advice on what to do during this month.
Finally, if you do decide to give offerings this month you need to be very careful. The Hungry Ghosts congregate all around people giving offerings. You need to charge your food and drink for libations but ask the Gods to put a timer on when the energy can be released. So that once you put it outside, it won’t release the energy until you have left and are safe. And wait until you are outside and far from home.
Pray to the Gods and ask them to charge the food and water. And that even if it is devoured right away in the physical world, it may endlessly replicate into the spiritual world until morning. That way many souls will be free. Or alternatively for the blessings on the food and water to be a gigantic bomb that will liberate an entire night’s worth of spirits when eaten. Cleanse the whole home.
Hungry Ghosts, like most spirits will possess an animal to eat on their behalf. The Hungry Ghost eats the energy inside the food, and the animal eats the physical food. Give your home an extra strength blessing. Do it for your Cars in case you need to be out late. Wear a protective charm with you.
And anoint yourself with oil. Or holy water. Bless any food or drink you have before you eat it and pray for protection. That way you will be given divine grace to protect yourself. Don’t offer the food to them when inside your home.
Because that will be an open invitation to them. And next thing you know, you will have legions over running your house. So when you do this outside, first have protection. Cast a circle, or wear a protection around your neck, have a charm bag etc.. even a salt circle around your car will do. Make it large enough to walk inside of.
Choose a place far from your home. Then what you need to do is pray to the Gods to charge the offerings. Either to ascend or elevate whoever will eat them. And that in exchange for them being crossed, for more good spirits to enter our home instead. That’s my advice.
I wanted to write about something strange. Something that caught my attention the other day. The same day as my last post actually. But I waited to post it because I find it annoying when bloggers post so much almost every day. I can’t catch up.
I waited till today to post this. For me, Friday’s symbolize the marriage of Haphaestus the Black Smith of the Greek Gods, and his wife the Goddess Aphrodite. A day for love. I thought this post was perfect for today.
Eros and Psyche
I think it goes without saying that I believe in the paranormal. But I’m often skeptical of people who let it take over their lives. People who won’t date you based on the astrological date of your birth. I see this a lot with Americans who check star charts. On tv, I remember watching a movie called “Holiday in Goa”.
And in this movie, one character is having a breakdown. His future wife won’t marry him unless it’s on a specific day. A day her astrologer says is auspicious for her and her groom to be based on their charts. I don’t know if that’s true. I’ve never stopped a practitioner of the Hindu faith and asked “hey is that true?” Because I find it to be rude.
I don’t want to be that stereotypical asshole who asks a specific ethnic group if a stereotype is true. Instead I like to observe and have conservations with people. And from there I learn. But I do know that for many people of varying cultures it is true. The stars, certain dates, and even the atmosphere and season determines things.
I must admit even I have fallen into that sometime. When my cousin got married on Mercury Retrograde I flat out refused to go. Everyone I knew said that he was doomed. Well his marriage turned out pretty well so far. So even if one day it didn’t work out, I doubt Mercury Retrograde would have played any part in it.
I try not to fall into religious fanaticism. I admit the supernatural is real. But not everything that goes wrong in your life is due to a curse. Or a demon. Or whatever the fuck.
Though I do believe karma can be a cause and effect kind of mechanism. And that someone else’s actions far, far away can effect someone else unknowingly. But I have never entirely believed in fate. Even though, I have seen strange things that I know only predestination can account for.
And this is one of them. I saw this story and it captured my attention. About a couple who died just hours apart. The headline had my attention because the son said, “God was up to something,”. I noticed they posted the birthdates of the couple in the article.
And I figured, “Let me look up their guardian spirits and astrology,” so I did. One born on March 24th, 1925 (Wanda Wold, age 96). The other on June 1, 1927 (James Wold) 94. I looked at both of their birthdays. This is Wanda’s small bit of information, her sign was in Aries.
And she was born on a Tuesday. Now James, was born years later the day after the week Wanda was born. On a Wednesday. So far nothing out of the ordinary. But I get the sense that she was the one who was in charge of the relationship.
At least based on the information. She was the leader per say. He was born in the sign of Gemini and in the year of the Rabbit. I looked up their comparability and they had as many pros as well as cons. Basically, as long as they worked hard at their relationship it would be well.
If not their differences would drive them apart. That sounds like every relationship. But let me tell you that’s not true at all. Some relationships are easier or harder than others. To have a relationship that works as long as you work at it is actually very rare.
And for there’s to have lasted as long as it did is also rare. Of both their charts, she was the one that fascinated me the most. She was born and also died in the year of the Ox. And she was born and died on a Tuesday. The husband departing just hours later.
He followed her to the other side soon after. Maybe there is such a thing as a soul mate. They were born right next to each other in the week. Which also makes me think he was born to follow her to this world as well. So what do I think? In Yoruba religion, we’re taught that the Orishas (Gods) pact with us before incarnation.
That we come down to Earth with our destiny already mapped out. But it’s not like the predestination of the West. Olofi (GOD) doesn’t control our lives like in predestination. There are many Gods. And each of them have special missions for us before we come down to Earth.
But those missions are specially attuned to who we are as people. If you are a fighter, they might ask you to come down and become a military leader for something. If you are a healer, you might become a modern doctor or a folk healer. No one reincarnates without a mission. Even if you think you are useless and don’t have a special reason for being, that’s not true.
Often times, people are like that if they have been ignoring the pact they made in Orun (spirit world, heaven). But for those who go to their charges head on with a smile, life can be good. And eventful. Clearly it was for these two.
Nehushtan, the Idol of the Hebrew Goddess Chokmah or Sophia. Moses made it out of Bronze to magically heal the Hebrews from the snake plague unleashed on them by Adonai.
Lately, it seems that this year, as positive and bright as it was meant to be, has gotten bogged down in negative energy. I was hopeful and even boasted that this would be the best of years. But I am reminded again, that what may be good in the spiritual world won’t necessarily be good for us. And this goes for every God and spirit. Even the Christian God sends trials and tribulations in the Bible.
Lately I’ve been pissed off because of it. Every once in a while, it’s good to be angry with your Gods and spirits. Because as my priest (of Zeus) once told me,
“Most of the Gods have never been human. So most of them don’t know what it’s like to be in our shoes and suffer. This is why we normally appeal to our ancestors for most personal things,”
And he’s right. Some of the Gods have been human at least once. Not just Jesus, but Gilgamesh, Herakles, the Orishas in Yoruba culture lived as men and women on Earth as well. And they all suffered horribly. Yet I find myself not doubting my faith, just angry.
I know there are cosmic reasons for why the Gods don’t give us the Paradise we desire. I know much of what’s wrong with our world is our fault. But it also feels like we live in a Multiverse that is rigged from the top. The Gnostics warned us of this. They talked about the Archons, false gods who are Demonic and often impersonate the real Gods.
They are the reasons our world is a living hell half the time. So the Gnostics busied themselves with special exorcisms and amulets to ward off the Archon’s and their influence. I consider myself a Gnostic Pagan. Gnostic Christians understand many things and I agree with much. But I don’t entirely agree with everything they preach.
Still, that’s the Christianity that I love and embrace. Because I feel a divine glimmer of truth in it all. I know that what goes wrong in our world isn’t really the fault of the Gods. I just wish they wouldn’t let things get so bad. And that goes for the Saviour God of the Christians too.
They claim to have all answers, but in reality they are just as lost as everyone else is. Which is why I embrace spirituality, not religion. I decide for myself what is or isn’t right instead of just blindly following religious leaders as many do. This doesn’t mean I don’t ask my leaders for guidance. It also doesn’t mean that I disrespect traditions or elders.
Just that at the end of the day, I think for myself and follow my own connection to the Gods. Which is a prime tenant of Gnosticism “truth comes from within,”. At this moment I am asking them for help in this current pandemic. And that is what I am sharing with you today. This is what came to me in my own meditations based on my mixed practices.
On Hekate’s Deipnon which I celebrated Sunday (day before the last phase of the Moon) I divined and asked for information. Why is this pandemic unleashed? What’s going on? What can be done about it?
Divinations
I did a combination of Bone Casting, Bibliomancy (Catholic Bible), and Cartomancy (cards). This is what I was told :
– Give offerings to Babalu Aye, Oro, and Hekate to fight the spirits of disease. I don’t know what this meant, except maybe they mean the Animistic force or energy of the disease. Everything has a soul after all.
– Pray to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and bless red strings and hang them on the entry points of every home. This is supposed to symbolize the blood magic that kept the Angel of death away from the Hebrew Slaves in the Bible.
– Also get sticks that look like Snakes and bless them to become like the Bronze idol Moses used to cure people from the plague of snakes (Hezekiah the Hebrew King disrespectfully called it Nehushtan or brazen thing). I suspect it was an idol of Sophia also called Chokmah, Goddess of Wisdom. This is to keep the pandemic itself away. Place them on the four corners of your home and ask them in the name of Sophia, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, finally God himself to ward away the plague.
– Give offerings to the “Mighty Dead” the Kings and Queens of the Ancestors. From Adam and Eve all the way to the dead Tribal Chiefs of various cultures. Great heroes, Saints, Buddhas, and other ascended masters etc..for them to divide into one of two camps : defense and offense. For some to defend you and your loved ones as well as other humans. And others to attack the spirits of disease.
This kept coming up frequently. What it means I can only guess at. The disease is spoken of almost as an entity or group of entities.
– Give offerings to all Gods of the Dead to kill the pandemic and turn away death itself from you, your loved ones, and the world at large.
– Give offerings to all the Animal Totems, Nature Spirits, and the Dead themselves to defend us and block death and disease.
– Offerings to the Apotropai, the Gods who ward off evil. That can be Jesus or whoever else you believe in. Every God has an Apotropaic aspect.
– Offerings to all Healer Gods and Spirits. Primarily I was directed to St. Raphael the Archangel. I even received two emails strangely enough that were related to Raphael. One of them was a new blog post from WordPress.
– Pray to the Sea and Earth Gods and Goddesses and their spirits to replenish the life forces of the Earth. This means going to places that are rural or wild and the sea itself as well as rivers or canals. You’ll have to look into your own religion or culture to see what the acceptable offerings are.
– Now finally, a lot of things are being mentioned towards the end of my divinations about water and the need to purify with water. I don’t know if the key to defeating this pandemic lies in water. But these references do mention the use of ablutions. That is to say, using holy water to heal and purify. I believe all homes need to be cleansed both spiritually and physically.
You don’t need to go to a church for that. Pray over the salt and water separately. Then mix the salt and water together and do one final prayer asking for it to be empowered as holy water. Then sprinkle it daily inside and out of the home. Apparently we are being warned to be hygienic both physically and metaphysically.
– The final divinations mentioned war coming. This can be metaphorical a “war against disease”. Or perhaps it’s a literal war. The US is always declaring war on somebody for natural resources or territories. So that doesn’t even come as a shock to me anymore.
– We are being warned of the old prophecies, specifically I am reminded of the 7 Fires Prophesies of the Ojibwe.
“The Seventh Prophet was younger than the others who had come and there was a glowing light from his eyes. He said that there would come a time when the waters had been so poisoned that the animals and plants that lived there would fall sick and begin to die. Much of the forests and prairies would be gone so the air would begin to lose the power of life.
“The way of the mind brought to the red, black, and yellow nation by the white nation would bring danger to the whole earth. In this time there will arise Osh-ki-bi-ma-di-zeeg, a new people who will emerge from the clouds of illusion. They will retrace their steps to find the treasures that had been left by the trail. The stories that had been lost will be returned to them. They will remember the Original Instructions and find strength in the way of the circle. Their search will take them to the elders and the new people will ask for guidance. But many of the elders will have walked the Path of the Souls to the Star Web. Many elders will have forgotten their wisdom and they will not be able to help. Some of the elders will point in the wrong direction and others will remain silent because of their fear. Some of the elders will be silent because no one has asked them for their wisdom.
“The task of the new people will not be easy. If the New People will find trust in the way of all things, in the circle and remain strong in their quest, they will no longer need the selfish voice of the ego and they can begin to trust their inner voice. The Waterdrum of the Midewiwin Lodge will again sound its voice. There will be a rebirth of the Anishinaabe nation and a rekindling of old flames. The Sacred Fire will again be lit. Wisdom will be once again be found in dreams of the night and of the day.
“It is at this time that the light skinned race will be given a choice between two roads. If they choose the right road, then the seventh fire will light the eighth and final fire, an eternal fire of peace, love, brotherhood and sisterhood. If the light skinned race make the wrong choice of roads, then the destruction they brought with them in coming to this country will come back to them and cause much suffering and death to all the Earths people.”
I don’t think this needs much interpretation. All the old apocalyptic stories and tales are being brought up by people. Some will say this is the reaction of ignorant religious people. Others still will say that this is just paranoia and it will all blow over. Except pretty much every prophesy we have read from almost every culture perfectly describes our current world.
At some point, one has to stop shrugging and going “Oh well this is normal,” and say NO, this is not normal. Because it isn’t. Accepting it as normal is like that Meme of the Dog in the burning house. Even if you think religion is BS, you have to admit that the fact that the Letra del Año (Letter of the year) out of Cuba said diseases would be really bad this year, is kinda accurate isn’t it?
“But M! We always have diseases etc..”
Yes that’s true, but everytime a Shaman or some other spiritual person makes a prophesy it tends to come true. I remember the first time I read the Oyeku Ofun Temple’s monthly divination saying death would come via water. I kept hearing almost every day of a new water related death. Including a mother who went crazy and murdered her own son. Then chugged his body into a nearby river.
It’s only coincidence if you’re lying to yourself and everyone around you. At some point you have to admit that something strange is going on. And then do something about it. I leave you all with this. I hope it will help arm the religious and spiritual amongst us against this new plague.
Updates
This section is for anything new that appears.
– Necromancy is needed. Specifically, Necromantic rituals for warding off the Dark Dead. Those forgotten and nameless ancestors. It would seem that at the heart or root of this plague are these toxic and sad spirits. It makes sense, diseases can be spread by all sorts of spirits.
But chief among them are Demons, Angels, Nature Spirits, and Ghosts. It looks like at the heart of this pandemic are the angry and restless dead. I believe that humanity having forgotten or abandoned many of our ancestral rituals has caused a surplus flow of the dead. I actually spoke of this recently to two different clients. I am beginning to think the dead are all angry and tired of being forgotten.
With that said, act as if this were Samhain : use protective rituals. Magical charms and crystals, barriers of magic, use Fire as well as the holy water. Specifically begin using blessed candles and incense. In mediaeval times, on Samhain, and even in the Christianized Hallow’s Eve and Hallow’s Day, sacred Bonfires were made to keep the roaming dead away in the Fields.
Another thing which was later used was the Yule Lamp, which was an oil burner with a blessed candle inside. Blessed oil as well, burned at night to keep all malign forces at bay. And especially to empower the thresholds of the house to keep bad things out of the home. If you have anything like that, use it. In my case I don’t, so I have to improvise.
Do rituals to avert evil as if in Winter time when they are strongest! I cannot stress this enough. Winter is dying hard. The departed and dark wintery spirits in general do not want to leave our world. It’s necessary to make them leave.
Tuesday March 24th
I’ve been told to perform the Hungry Ghost Ritual for all the dead everywhere. This is to appease as many as possible to
1) Weaken the pandemic as it seems death itself is causing it.
2) To ask the Divine Forces to permeate all worlds in an effort to cease the pandemic. As much as possible.
For information on what a Hungry Ghost is and how to do the ritual, please read my 2018 article on Ghost Month.
After I performed the Hungry Ghost Ritual, I have been told to pray to the Mighty Dead. To the Great Kings and Queens of the Dead. Asking them all to fight the disease and destroy it. Also for inspiration to help us fight it scientifically. And I was told by the spirits to specifically pray to my own ancestors and ask for guidance.
For protection. And to keep my family together. You reader, should do the same.
Sunday March 29th
We should all be making offerings to the Primordial Gods and Spirits of every religion. Particularly to the really arcane primordials. Such as the Hecatoncheires and also the original Three Cyclops brothers (Greek Religion) Brontes, Steropes, and Arges. Those ancient Black Smith Gods who built the charmed weapons of Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. While not everyone agrees they are Gods (just godlike beings), in my personal cosmology I view them as actual Gods.
In the early twilight hours of Saturday, I came to know that these were the Gods I had to personally pray to. I am also giving cthonic offerings to Kronos. Asking him to drain the pandemic away into Tartaros with him. While asking both the Cyclops Traid and the Hecatoncheires to lock the door behind. I also get the feeling these two sets of Gods are the ones we need to ask to handle the aftermath of this miss.
Including the mass crossovers of all the dead.
Thursday April 2, 2020
Final Update
I performed all of the rituals to empower the spirits to fight against the disease baring spirits. I will be doing a whole new Divination now. One for dealing with the pandemic itself.
Conclusion
Take what I have said with a grain of salt. I’m not prophet. In conclusion I will say this : I love the Gods, don’t think that I don’t. I also believe in them, have had experiences with them. But remember, even Jesus asked,
“Father, why have you forsaken me?”
And I don’t know about you. But I find myself asking myself that question a lot in these last few years.
If you’ve read my posts before, then you already know that I often divine with patterns. This means that I take random (or seemingly random) bits of information. And from there I actually find patterns which show a bigger picture of events. I’ve done this with Chinese New Year divinations, and African Disapora Divinations as well. Every Month the IFA Priests do their divinations about which of the Orishas (Gods) rule which days, I have paid attention to what happens on those days.
And from there I began to map out the days based on the ruling Gods. Like a do or do not list to avoid trouble. Or to take full advantage of the good energy available for projects or work related issues. I also include any holidays on those days or sometimes not the holidays themselves, but the Astrological shifts happening those days. With all that being said, let me show you what I found for this Month.
If you haven’t read my last post about the Orishas who rule the IFA Calendars, click on it. Otherwise you’ll be confused as Hell. So, Shango and Oya ruled the first day, then it was Obatala, Egungun, Iyami, and Sanpanna, then IFA, Esu, Osun, Aje, Yemaya, and Olokun. Then we get a breather with Ogun, Ochossi, and Orisha Oko. Notice a trend here? Energy in motion is what I am picking up this month.
Constant conflict or battle, dead ends and restarts, etc..we only get one day to chill out before the madness starts again. I believe part of this is the Mercury Retrograde. But the majority of this is what the Babalawos were telling us about in their new year’ divination. This whole year we are being forced to confront our inner demons. Our bad habits.
Our bad luck. Forced to look into reality no matter how painful it is. Forced to confront our darkness. We’re not being given a choice. And to make that point clear as hell, we are suffering another late winter.
I wrote in my Imbolc divinations that light and dark are fighting with no clear winner in the horizon. But, the dark is doing it’s damndest to win. We have corrupt politicians doing power grabs now more than before. We have more plots in Latin America with Bolsonaro and Duque stealing the elections in Brazil and Colombia and now another US backed coup. We have Shinzo Abe in Japan being a corrupt war monger stirring up the pot against North Korea, while ignoring the wishes of his own people.
Even the so called “good guys” like Bernie Sanders, was pushing regime change narratives in Venezuela. And the Democrats are so far to the right, that with the exception of a few things, they might as well be moderate Republicans. So even the people we are told are good, are not actually good. More mass shootings, storms killing people, and mean while we’re being told it’s all naturally and okay. And that’s just the political crap we’re going through.
I’ve recieved a flurry of clients reaching out to me and my Shaman friend over malevolent paranormal activity. No sooner do we help one group of people, than we end up with someone with something far worse. Like seriously, what the hell? I was already helping a friend through a Generational Curse and teaching him how to cleanse and bless his house after we and our spirits helped break the curse and heal his family. Then we had a guy on his death bed practically. At this point we have to take weeklong vacations to rest before being asked to deal with something else.
To further emphasize this : Mercury Retrogade began the day before the New Moon. So, as one Astrologer that I introduced you to said :
“We’re ending things right when we are suppose to begin them,”
Because Retrogrades bring an end to something that needs to go. And New Moons are a begining period where we can start over. So the begining period here, is that we are meant to destroy the structures and monoliths of power that aren’t serving us anymore. I already covered this a few blog posts ago. But it seems based on how I have interpreted the pattern I see in the IFA Calender plus current events that March is a real shirtstorm in the making.
It seems January and February were only leading up to our current situation. These are days of note.
March 5-6 : Double Chtonic power
Retrogrades are mini seasons of the dead. New Moons in Hinduism are considered the time for dark spirits of the dead. Which is why, traditionally, people try to avoid doing things or going to places on this day. Especially after dark. Both these days so close together says to me, that this Retrograde period is a time of extra reaping and extra harmful energies and spirits out there.
March 8th (this Friday) : Double Prosperity
Despite that, Friday actually seems more or less good. That doesn’t mean nothing bad will happen. In this season, even lucky days can flip on you. But Friday is an Ogun, Orisha Oko, and Ochossi day which as I explained last time is normally good luck. It is the 8th day of this Month which is a number for stable prosperity.
However number 8 is also the number for Hermes (Mercury) so I get the feeling that in this current retrograde, Friday will be bad for some and good for others. And even more people will find mixed results on that day. Also, Friday is good for Jobs and making money. Witchcraft for finding work is usually done on Fridays. But given the retrograde, we would have to be careful.
March 9th : Mixed Results
Immediately the next day, we have Sango and Oya. Oya is the gatekeeper for the dead. The guide for souls who need to cross. Saturdays are days to honor the dead in general. And number 9 while it can be prosperous, is also a number for destruction or domination.
In Numerology number 9 can mean slow, but long lasting prosperity. Sango and Oya are royalty. So I don’t know for sure what will come of this day. The good and bad qualities may duke it out or cancel each other out. To mention just how mixed this day is : In Greek religion, 9 is the number of Aphrodite. But in Santeria 9 is the number of Oya.
While Oya does bring prosperity, the retrograde and New Moon just a few days before, and the day itself will probably mean Underworld power on full blast.
Sunday 10th : More Mixed results, but leaning on a peaceful day
Or it should be anyways. It all depends. Sundays are good for white magic and spiritual meditation. This Sunday will be ruled by Obatala, Egungun, Iyami, and Sanpanna. Obatala the white king of Heaven is obviously going to have his influence felt.
But the Iyami Goddesses are known for being violent if offended. Egungun is a dead child of Oya and is the embodiment of all the dead ancestors. And Sanpanna or Sakpata is the lame footed God of disease and cures for disease. Seems like it could lean in any direction.
March 13th : Tripple Cthonic Power, or Mixed Results. You be the judge.
Wednesday is the day of Hermes who is in retrograde form right now. It’s the number 13 which can be good luck or sometimes bad luck. And it is ruled : By Sango/Oya. And again they can bring good luck or bad luck. Depends on their mood.
March 17th Sunday : Begining of Light Week
This is where the good actually comes from the reaping. I felt that Sango and Oya were bringing good energy this day. And it’s also St. Patrick’s day. The days ruled by Obatala and his party and the days ruled by IFA, Esu etc..and their party started to feel lighter and better to me. From this point forward.
I began to feel spiritual light appear.
March 20th : Full Moon, Sun enters Aries/Spring Equinox
Ruled by Orishas Oko, Ogun, and Ochossi. The good energy ia starting to appear en masse. An energitic doorway is open on this day.
March 21 : Thursday (Thor’s Day)
is ruled by Sango and Oya. If you read my last post, you know Sango rules lighting storms like Thor. I felt that Underworld Gods will gain some extra power this day. But, Thursday is good for prosperity magics. And Sango and Oya are both King and Queen.
With Oya being the Matron of the Market place and businesses, and Shango often depicted in statues with black cauldrons of gold. He is King after all. I feel that this is definitely when they will aid with money.
March 22 : Friday
Obatala and his Party, normally give me days of wisdom and spirituality. The number 22 in Angelic Numerology corresponds to the Archangel Raphael. Who teaches knowledge such as the magical uses of herbs (Book of Tobit) and is the Patron Saint of Healing. I feel this day will lend itself well to wisdom, knowledge, and clarity.
March 23-24 : Mostly Good
There’s a partial Chthonic influence on both these days. Saturday because that’s naturally a day for the dead. But I can feel the retrograde dying faster here. It is ruled by IFA, Esu, etc..and it felt like a day of great blessing. The number 23 always reminds me of Psalm 23.
Which I use in special baths for cleansing and blessing. The next day I can feel the retrograde starting to wrap up. I felt a nasty bit of negativity coming out as part of our reaping. But other than that, mostly a good day. Orisha Oko, Ogun, and Ochossi rule here.
And Sundays are meant for good energy as I explained. But it feels off. Dark and gray in the spiritual sense. Murky is the best word for it. That same under world energy feels stronger the next day on the 25th ruled by Sango/Oya but in the retrograde death throes.
March 27th : Extra Blessed
Now at first I thought this was weird as Hell. And I will tell you why : Because the three day lunar festival of the Ancient Greeks is happening here. And the 27th is the first and worst day : Hekate’s Deipnon or feast. Hekate told me when I first started out to celebrate the three day feast the day before the last quarter of the moon at Sunset. I’ve followed her instructions ever since.
Everyone has their own ways for doing this. Many modern practitioners of Hellenismos will do it the day before the astronomical new moon. But back to the point, Hekate’s Feast is a very nasty day. It’s a day when Hekate collects all the nasty energies from every corner in the world and brings it to the crossroads to destroy it all. And part of that, is that she finds all the dark, angry souls of the dead, including murders and suicides and brings them there.
The Hellenic will then go to the crossroads at Sunset with food and drink and leaves it there to appease the dark spirits and the Deity. But now that I am looking back on this, it actually does make sense. The next day : Hermes-Mercury leaves the Underworld and turns direct which ends the retrograde. So the final end of the retrograde is actually this day. Also, Hekate’s Deipnon is a day to spiritually and physically clean the home.
You take the dust to the cemetery and leave the bad energy there. You also confess your sins to Hekate and ask for a clean slate. A sort of absolution. That’s something other practitioners taught me, not my priest. Hekate’s Deipnon goes on the next day till Sunset.
That also makes sense because the actual day it goes direct, Mercury still needs some time to leave retrograde and station direct. And the moment Hekate’s Deipnon ends (which coincides with us leaving retorgrade) it becomes the feast of Noumenia. The new Lunar Month. Which brings positive energy and good fortune and tidings.
I purify and cleanse and ask for good energy to replace the bad.
March 29 : Cleansing and Restoration
Now that said, negative after effects of a Retrograde can still be felt days after it ends. On the third day of the Lunar feast, it’s the day of Agathos Daimon (the Good Spirit). Now Agathos Daimon actually is a name for a Serpent God of Good Luck. He’s married to Tyche (Lady Luck). But as is the case with may Gods and spirits, Agathos Daimon’s name is also a name used for a specific type of spirit.
Particularly a person’s spirit guides. This day is sacred to him, your spirit guides no matter the culture they may be from, and the Heroes of Ancient Greece. The God Agathos Daimon, brings good luck by causing a person to shed their karma and negative or useless traits. Things that don’t work anymore are driven out of your life as a reaping for you to gain good luck. So we just got through a Reaping and we’re going through a final one.
It was explained to me in the Soothsay session that this is similar to giving yourself a final rinse of water before finishing a bath. I was also told that there is a balance of both light and dark happening this day. And it’s ruled by Sango and Oya. Who I saw both glowing gold and pleased in this session when asked about this day.
March 30-31 : Final Blessings, Wisdom
The final two days are ruled by Obatala and company and IFA, Esu and company. We end on a high note with wisdom and clarity after the long reaping of this season. So those are my impressions about this month. Please forgive my weird little divination rants. They tend to come out when I am doing trance work.
I’ll probably read this after it’s posted and go : “What the Fuck?”
As always, take my predictions with a grain of salt. Based on a person’s energy, things could be very different.
Pretty much everything in the title describes what is happening Saturday. And I haven’t even finished mentioning the other holidays. And it’s Shani Pradosha in the Hindu Calender for Shiva. Which means we have a massive holiday and feast this Saturday. The Sky Goddess Nwt (Nut) of Ancient Egypt is celebrating her birthday tomorrow.
Briganti (Brighid) the Goddess of Fire, Poetry, Healing, and so much more is being celebrated on Imbolc. This is the second year that the Astronomical feast of Imbolc falls on the same day as Candlemas. Originally, Feb 2nd was turned into Candlemas because that was the day Imbolc was celebrated that one year. But the Catholics either didn’t realize or didn’t care, that some Pagan holidays change with the seasons. So they kept celebrating the Christian version of Imbolc on the same day.
While the actual day kept changing days every year. Whenever Imbolc and Candlemas coincide, I notice an alignment of energy between the Christian and Pagan faiths. All that faith concentrated on one day. Imbolc begins at Sunset tomorrow and ends Sunset on Sunday. If the weather is bad, that means the Winter will end soon and Spring will come faster.
If the weather is good and sunny, we’re in for a long Winter. For nature’s sake I hope that Persephone can leave with Hekate early from the Underworld so that she can become Kore the Maidan Goddess of Spring again. The polar vortex has already killed too many people. And the animals are afraid. They need the seasons to become normal again.
Sadly, for that to happen we need politicians to stop denying Global Warming. We need real action. Yemaya also has one celebration tomorrow (dates vary). And it’s Inventor’s Day and National Hedgehog Day in the US! Yay! No matter what feast you choose to celebrate, make sure you do offerings for spring to hurry the Hell up and get here already. I will be performing a special forecast on events for you tomorrow. Doing all the proper Divinations and services and letting you know what turns up.
Man, we have a lot of shit going on don’t we? So where do we begin? Ah yes, this past Saturday was the Autumnal Equinox. This is the last hurrah for the Sun Gods ending Summer in favor of the coming Winter. So, how does one celebrate the many holidays that appeared on this day? Well here is how I organize them. Sunset is the proper time to celebrate because in Ancient times, the day ended at Sunset. So whenever a Celtic Feast appears, the Eve the day before is always more important.
It’s that way for Hebrew festivals and some of the Greek ones too. This and all of these other Autumnal Equinox feasts ultimately are about the same thing : the ending of Summer in favor of Winter. The Sun Gods and Goddesses from every faith now retire so that the Lords and Ladies of Darkness can now reign. This is the time of the dark spirits.
Most notably, the Dub Sidhe (Dark Faeries). In Japan, the Sun Goddess Amaratsu is soon leaving to a cave until she is begged to return to the human world. The Hopi Goddess Hawk Maidan is now slowly leaving and the Spider Woman who created the Universe rules in her place. Now, Alban Elfed (light in the water) is celebrated differently by most Celts. I celebrate it the Druid way.
By giving milk to the trees and singing them songs. I also leave offerings to the lands and their spirits. Mabon is a Wiccan feast that merged with Alban Elfed. Essentially it’s the same holiday. Except that it is named after Mabon Ap Modron (Mabon Son of Modron).
He’s in one of the Celtic trinities. His Father Dagda is the Father God. His Mother Modron is the Mother Goddess. Mabon is the Son. So on Mabon, I usually make him an effigy with what I have on the land.
For Wiccans, Mabon is Thanksgiving. It’s weird for me to come Thanksgiving in November when it’s in the middle of winter. I make a Thanksgiving feast for Lord Mabon with his effigy. The Descent of Persephone I celebrate on the same day at the same time. I go to the Crossroads and offer flowers to both Hekate and Persephone so that she can lead Persephone back to the Underworld with Hades.
As for the Harvest Moon, I do a Hellenic-Jewish ritual with a set of prayers to Yahweh as well as to Selene and the Demi God Endimeon. Here are some links on the Equinox and Moon. As well as the Astrological report for this week :
Now I finished my ritual on Monday when the Harvest Moon was at it’s peak. I did a flower cleansing ritual with Persephone and Mabon on one of the sacred ponds I visit. The same one I use to celebrate the Nemoralia. It hit me only after I took the main picture of this blog that that Moonlight really was in the water (Alban Elfed). Amazing!
So, we are entering a new lunar event (lunation). And as usual, I have a bunch of things to share with all of you. So, Sunday is the Full Moon. However, in accordance with Astrology, you feel the event three days before hand. So starting yesterday and ending Sunday is the advance of the full moon. However, Monday is also Moon Day or Manni’s Day (Norse Moon Goddess).
So I soak up the power until Tuesday. I have a tray full of holy water that I charge with various astrological events. From Eclipses to Full and New Moons. Even Retrogrades. That way I can use the energy whenever I need it for a magical working.
This gives me access to the power whenever I want or need it. That way I don’t have to wait for a specific event to happen, to charm an item for a client or myself. I also give offerings to Selene the Titan moon deity, and to her lover Endimeon the Demi God son of Zeus. I worship him as the Demi God of Astrology and Astronomy. It was he, who introduced the ancient Greeks to the secular scientific study of the Moon and other celestial bodies.
It was his fascination with the Moon that led to him having met Selene in the first place. They loved each other. Legend says that he sleeps somewhere on Earth in suspended animation. Scholars say the young prince died and that his tomb has even been discovered. But this is inconclusive.
I sometimes do an in door Hellenic ritual with a white Olympioi Altar. Or because Selene is still technically a Titan, I water her sacred tree with milk, honey, or cream. One libation for her, the other for Endimeon. This is for them to bless the waters with the power of the heavenly bodies, Literally. As in the power of Heaven to consecrate the water further. That’s what I do for the first day at Sunset.
Today at the same time, the day before the actual day, I did a Jewish ritual. I pray to Yahweh and Asherah (GOD the Mother) for full blessings. I leave an offering at the Asherah Pole that I mentioned before. Then I read the Hebrew texts combined with my own praises to Asherah. This is because most of Asherah’s texts at least for me, have been hard to find.
Since the Monotheistic Jews hunted down the traditional Jews. These were Pagan Jews who worshiped the Elohim (Hebrew : The Powerful Ones, the Gods) until the religious genocides mentioned in Deutronotomy. When the old religions were wiped out in favor of the new Monotheistic form of Judaism. The book of Deutronotomy is probably one of the most genocidal, and prejudiced texts in the old testament and it details every part of this. It amazes me, that other texts like the Testament of Solomon is called “apocryphal”.
It doesn’t matter that a couple of years ago, they found his seal in an archeological dig in Palestine. Because oh no! Solomon being a Magician and summoning demons to build the Temple of Jerusalem, Blasphemy!. But Deutronotomy, a book that praises genocide and calls Kings who butchered their own people heroes, is Cannon. Except that Moshe (Moses) had been dead for a thousand years when this book became attributed to him. That means that Christian Cannon has actual Apocryphal works inside it.
But anything too magical or too Pagan gets called fake and removed. But I digress, I perform a Hebrew ceremony every New and Full Moon. Because Yahweh commanded the Hebrews to worship him on those days. With dancing and feasting apart from prayers. Hmm now what does that sound like to you?.
After I’m done, I sit down and meditate with the Prophet Maryam, sister of Moshe. The Prophets of Judaism are considered a type of Saint. And although they’re never called that by name, my understanding from a Rabbi was that it’s exactly what they are. They are powered by the Ruach HaKadosh (the holy spirit). They are in the constant presence of the Elohim and of Adonai especially. Maryam is a protective saint. Jews, Muslims, some Christian sects, Gypsies, and other groups use the Hand of Maryam for protection.
Of course in Islam it’s the hand of Fatima or Hamza Hand, she was the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. And each finger represents the five pillars of Islam. This is a hand with an eye in the center known as the Nazar. It protects from evil spirits and from the effects of black witchcraft. Especially the evil eye.
Women mostly meditate with Maryam. But I find wisdom in her presence as I ask her questions for divination. On the third day, I do a sort of good bye ritual for them. When the last day is close to Monday, I extend the good bye ritual into my lunar devotions on Monday. This year is a special lunation.
Because of yet more retrograde and eclipse energy. Only this time we also have Earth energy in every direction. Perfect for all Earth centered rituals, magic, and so on. Full Moons are also about illuminating things that need illumination. Personal relationships and so on as well as business relationships.
The Full Moon is in 3° Pisces. Pisces is a zodiac sign that is mostly associated with Heavenly Gods. From Zeus to Christ, Poseidon, and many others. The only dark association with this sign, is Typhon. So this is a lunation that is associated with enlightenment and self discovery.
But, everything has a dark side. Typhon represents that dark side. Typhon was a Dark God who fathered several monsters and malevolent creatures. There’s different versions of who his parents are. Typhon tried to overthrow Zeus to become the new King of the Gods.
Normally, his influence is minimal in this zodiac sign. But given that we are in Ghost Month, plus the retrogrades and the solar eclipse from August 11, Lord Typhon has a lot of power. So we need to remain neutral. Achieve a balance. Because emotions will be all over the place.
Under these types of lunations I have noticed that really spiritually sensitive people feel a high pressure on their bodies. The Moon’s gravity physically effects everyone. It causes the liquid in a person’s body to rush to their heads. This causes some nasty migraines, dizziness, nausea, etc..but for spiritually sensitive people it’s worse. Now, I’m going to say a few things that sound like some typical new age crap.
But please bare with me. Because it has to do with sacred sexuality. I was told once that women are directly connected to magic in ways men aren’t. I used to think that was a bunch of BS. I have since learned other wise.
I had an apprentice from the deep South. And this woman was so connected to magic that when her gift started waking up, she couldn’t handle the extra power. For one thing, her aura lit up like a damn Christmas tree. So that not only could spirits see what she was but so could other magic users. A sorcerer in her bar saw what she was and started laughing.
He described out loud to the whole bar that she knew she was a witch and was now using her power. He told her life story without ever having met her and described her magical struggle to accept herself. He then raised his beer and said “welcome to the tribe,”. That experience spooked her like any normal person would be spooked. She hadn’t known that some witches are so strong, they can psychically pull information like that.
She was also discovered by another witch at her work place who tried to recruit her. Because she was showering the whole place with her essence. We figured out that all these times aligned with her period. Now, I have never been very in touch with sacred sexuality of any kind. I’ve always focused on things that I felt were more practical.
In that time of my life, I left the philosophy and the meaning of life type stuff to others. I started to do research on the topic and finally found a Wiccan from Latin America. She was the total opposite of Wiccans from the US. She worships the native Gods as well as the British-Celtic Deities. Even though she’s younger than me, she surprised me with her knowledge and her wisdom.
I told her about my student and she informed me of a doctrine her group believes in. She says, that while it is true that women are connected to nature, they’re connected only to certain aspects of nature. In other words, it’s not like what some Wiccans in the US believe that women are naturally more adept at magic than men. We’re also directly tied to nature as well. Simply we’re opposites and don’t always see the wisdom from the other side.
They believe that women are connected to the Earth and Moon specifically. And that the Triquetra, the sign of the triple moon is connected to menstrual cycles. But especially connected to the flower of life. The flower is a motif like the tree of life and the cosmic egg. The mysteries hidden by symbols.
Women are able to give birth because of the flower of life within them. Men are connected to the seed of life. And so, one seeds, the other bares. When full Moons or a period begins, women soak up and absorb all the energy around them. Like a sponge but most do it subconsciously.
For men imagine feeling like you’re going to burst. The natural physical aspect makes some women over emotional and most ill. But add in the spiritual part and it’s worse. Now to furthur add to that mix, even if the energy is clean and good you can still soak up too much. And if it’s filthy energy it causes you to become depressed, angry, or sick.
She also had moments of paranoia. Regular grounding and cleansing wasn’t doing it for her. The Wiccan teacher told me that she had to work with the Tabbaco spirit. She had to wear a red bag with a red rope around her waist. The bag had to be full of natural Tabbaco. The plant, not the cigarette.
Tabbaco is used in Santeria and in native magics for cleansing. I knew that. But Cubans are used to burning it like sage. She taught me to keep it in the bag like a normal herbal bag. My student had to wear this around her waist.
Then pray for the extra power and the negativity to be taken by the bag and soaked up. If the red bag falls off and breaks that means it absorbed a powerful impurity. If not, she had to wear it until the period ended. Then, she had to burn it in a campfire outside her house. This is so the tabbaco spirit can drive away the extra energy and negativity.
It worked for her, even her symptoms were relieved. Whenever she had her period or an intense lunation was happening, she would do this. It grounded and centered her energy. If the bag broke she would burn it at home that night and replace it with a new bag. Then she would destroy that bag by campfire when her period ended.
She said when she burned the bag she felt something leave her. So for those of you who have those problems, this works. In my studies with them I learned of rare instances where it happens to a man. There are times when a man is found worthy by the Goddess to share in these secrets and powers. So they develope a sort of masculine menstrual cycle.
It’s worse for men. Because men can’t physically expel it out with a menstrual cycle. After all, our bodies are for seeding. Not baring or growing life. I have met men who had the headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
And strange cases of vertigo. They used a similar ritual I was never told about, because it’s an occult secret. One man named Gaitano told me that for him, he experienced the Dark God and a gentle white Goddess in visions that terrified him. He said his brain felt like it was throwing up excess energy like radiation. He released this malevolent energy from his psyche and the people around him were effected.
They became sad or violent. Finally, he was told to use that ritual. The ritual calmed him down. It alleviated the physical symptoms. It would be lifted from him almost the same way my student described.
He described the same feeling of something leaving him when it was done. But for men it’s different. Instead of having to do that ritual every day, it’s done at the beginning of their male cycle. Now, I don’t know what to say about this because outside of this group I have never heard of this. I also haven’t found many traditions that even talk of this.
These are Wiccans with indigenous spirituality. Perhaps it’s something in their various backgrounds that allowed them to discover this. All I know is that their knowledge helped my student. I have not found someone with her raw power ever again. She was so strong that she was doing healings in churches.
But her church got spooked by how she felt heat come from her palms when healing people. Too close to witchcraft I suppose. She is now a Christo Pagan witch. She uses the knowledge she gained from me and others to help herself and people in her town. She’s the healer there now.
So, for women out there who may or may not be going through something like this,you have a period relief amulet. For men, which I doubt anyone going through that try this. It may work for you too. Also, today marks the second Nemoralia. Remember the first started August 13 and ended the 15th.
But the second Nemoralia of Diana of Nemi is always on the Full Moon in August. And this year it ends on Moon Day. I end this with the final warning : water signs are good for Shamanism. But they cause people to accidentally blurt out what they subconsciously think. It’s good for introspection. Bad for public relations.
I wish you all a happy Sturgeon Moon! May the power of Water and Earth guide us all.
So yesterday, began the three day feast of Diana also known as Artemis. Specifically, Diana Nemorensis (Diana of Nemi). She rules over a lake with a sacred grove near the lazio region of the south of Rome. The lake is also known as “Diana’s Mirror”. On this feast, her spirits, the Querquetulanae (oak nymphs) prepare to welcome any human worshippers while celebrating the Deity herself.
Also known as the festival of torches, no one is allowed to hunt and kill animals at this time. Celebrants go to the grove of Nemi carrying torches with small parchments of paper with written requests for her. They tie them in string and leave them near sacred trees at the grove. Others will actually leave statuettes of her or clay formations of body parts that need healing. Or at least this was how it was done in Roman times.Offerings were also made to Hekate. For some reason the Romans seemed to have believed she and Trivia (Hekate) were the same person. This is because Diana had three aspects. In modern times, many Neo Pagan groups have used this day specifically for Hekate.
The Nemoralia was celebrated both from August 13-15 and also on the full moon of August.It depends on where your sources lie. Of course the accounts say the torch light mingled with the moonlight in Nemi’s waters. So it may have been celebrated twice. It is also the feast of Pomona and Vertumnus, the Roman Goddess of fruit and vegetation. And the Roman God of Seasons and Change as well as vegetation.While it was still daylight, I honored them using my Hellenic altar. I gave them the first fruits of the land. Not every Hellenic, or Roman Pagan agrees with these Gods being the same. I’m one of the few that do believe in at least some of them being the same. It makes sense that beings as powerful as Gods or Goddesses would have been known back then to more than one culture.
And they may have even have been given different names. The Yoruba practitioners in North America for instance, have told me they believed Amphitrite is the same as Yemaya.
Who knows? I’m no one to contradict either group. Now, on the offerings to both Pomona and her husband. What the apartment complex has is what Cubans call Cundeamor. In English, it’s called Bitter Mellon.
A small orange fruit that grows on the vines that grow on fences. It has both medical and magical properties. It’s sacred to Oshun in Santeria as it has properties in love and healing. I’ve used it to make Lustral Waters. The water turns cherry red when I strain the fruit inside it.
Very beautiful. It has a faint nature smell to it I like and you only need to strain one. It makes me think of cleansing. Purification. It is a natural anti inflammatory. And it is a natural cure to potions and powders left behind by witches to curse their enemies.
My Godfather taught me that when strained in water it could be used to heal a person who stepped on the powder or potion. Cundeamor would be strained in water. Once the feet were washed with the Cundeamor water, the person was healed of the black magic. That is a perfect offering to Lady Pomona. Legend has it, that she was originally a wood nymph so beautiful, that woodland Gods had tried to court her.
She told them all where they could go. It was finally the God Vertumnus who tricked her into marriage. He shape shifted into an old woman and talked her into marriage with him. Marrying a God can make a person become a God. So her marriage to him caused her to be deified.
Vertumnus, as an old woman, told her the story of Iphis and Anaxarete. Stressing how it was dangerous to turn down suitors coming to court her. Then later he appeared in his form to offer her marriage. I’m guessing you can figure out the rest from there? I try not to laugh too hard at this because my Lady gets upset. But she knows I love her very much.
She reached out to me back when I had no idea who she was. I had no clue why a nature deity would care if I worshipped her or not. It turns out, just because I don’t know how to garden doesn’t mean I can’t be close to nature. I believed that you had to be good at that because that’s what my ex made me believe. My knowledge of nature was colored with her lense of what it was or wasn’t.
As a necromancer, I find dead animals and give them proper burials. I ask whoever I feel is their God to take them. I also help protect the plants and animals where I live. I feed and water them. The animals feast on the offerings of my outside nature Altars.
And I even have groves around my complex that I use to honor the Gods on special occasions. I also found that I like Vertumnus a lot. He really is a trickster. He always makes her and me feel happy and lightens the mood. She does love him.
She gets angry but not in an actual anger sort of way. She tries to get mad at him whenever I read the story of how he courted her. But she bursts out laughing every time. Her laughter is so strong that at times I feel it on the wind outside. She is one of my favorite Godly relatives.
And my Lady Hekate, was ready for her offerings as well. I gave her a proper feast on the crossroads before going to the river behind my home. It has a Grove of it’s own for Diana of Nemi. Instead of an actual torch I am going to use a flashlight. I debated whether to use my electric lantern or not.
But there are other apartments back there and I really don’t want to attract any attention. I brought offerings for the Native spirits here in Florida as well as offerings for the Querquetulanae. But first, offerings to Hekate. As I mentioned yesterday in my post on Ghost Month, there seems to be many parallels happening all at once. Because now I will be giving offerings to Hekate as well as Diana of Nemi for three straight days.
Feasts of Hekate are always so that the dark dead can move on in peace. Hekate is the Goddess of the triple crossroads. She is a master of witchery in all it’s forms and a guide or psychopomp, to the dead. She’s worshipped not just by Hellenic Pagans but also by Wiccans. Especially Wiccans with a Celtic influence.
They believe that she and the Morrigan are like sisters. Not literal sisters, but friends. They both share the Crossroads. Hekate has many powerful functions in both religions and in magic. Idols of Hekate can be placed outside the home to ward off evil spirits.
And at least once a month, she destroys negative energy and takes away all the nasty ghosts in the area with her. For this reason, I called on Hekate to help me bless the food for the Hungry Ghosts. The reason for this is because the Ullambana Sutra is long as Hell, pun intended. Reading some of the sacred scriptures in all religions is similar to reading the Bible. Long and takes a lot of time.
And as much as I wish I had the time to pray over food with a gigantic sutra three times, I don’t. With Hekate I do a simple prayer. Then in Latin I do a benediction so that the spirits who eat the food are crossed over. I was doing it long before I ever heard of the Hungry Ghost festival. I noticed that crime and bad things in general actually decreased everytime I did this ritual on Hekate’s Deipnon (feast).
This is done once a month. So Hekate is a tried and true ally in not only neutralizing the bad spirits, but crossing them over. I have never met the same bad spirit twice. Eventually, she started bringing new bad spirits to my crossroads shrine to be crossed. The most issues we have here believe it or not actually come from cops.
Usually trying to over-exercise their authority and give out tickets for literally anything and everything. That includes “driving too slow”. But in terms of actual crimes, the one thing that happened was a guy who got drunk once four years ago and had to be arrested. The Catholics often talk about how Mexico is plagued by bad spirits and this is the reason for all the crime there. They have even attempted mass exorcisms to drive away the demons they think are over there.
Sadly, crooked governments don’t need spirits to be crooked. However, I can say that based on my little experiment, negative entities can and do make things worse. So, since either way we need Hekate for her own feast plus the Nemoralia, I called on her to care for the Hungry Ghosts at my Crossroads shrine. There, they are neutralized. Her spirits, the Empusae handle them well.
They take on the form of donkey headed men and women, and keep them in check. None of the entities have caused trouble. I first called on Elegua for help and he and his Eshu spirits on the Crossroads have also helped by protecting us specifically. Her spirits are the most aggressive hands on people here. They even force some of the Hungry Ghosts to come to eat.
They make sure they get booted off. My work on the Crossroads yields great rests. The ever expanding relationship I have with it and it’s spirits turned out to be more practical than I had ever imagined. So now I have other prayers to make for the hungry ghosts. That’s it for now everyone. – M
Adventures of A Mage In Miami 