In Sickness and In Health

Nothing like losing an entire week to illness to throw off ones entire routine. I'm still not at 100% but recovery is slowly coming along. It used to be that the herbal medicines I grew up taking could knock a cold out in a weekend. Now, I don't know if it's my own failure to keep my immune system up or if this years bug is just that awful, but I've been laid up for over a week. Fever, sinus infection, junky cough, sore throat, going thru 10 boxes of tissues in 6 days (my nose is sooooo red >_<), and finally coughing so hard that gave me a bout of laryngitis that has lasted about 4 days now. So yeah, I had FUN this week. I'm so far behind on my blog lists, emails, and everything else....

I've got to get started on more occulty things for February. I've been planning a shrine/altar to Erzulie Freda for months, and with all the Valentines Day stuff n the craft stores, now is the perfect time to build it. I've also left my Norse studies fall by the wayside, however since I've been sick, I thnk The Old Man will forgive me. I also need to get back to my yoga classes. Three large snow storms in a week certainly didn't help motiveate me to leave the house while I was still well :p

Thank you to my followers! I promise I'll have more things to post about just as soon as I get them done.

American Gods

This book makes so much more sense after reading up on Norse mythology and getting a better sense of what the Old Man is like. It also helps to pass the time while being sick.

Dark Winter, Dark Magick: Vinegar Bottle

No, Jack I said 'vinegar', not 'jar-o-dirt'.

 
So on the Dark Moon, I made a little special something. I wrote previously about a co-worker (Darth A-Hole) who believes that he can do whatever he likes, regardless of the consequences to others "Because [he] Can." I have personally witnessed this excuse for a human being in action, gloating over his deeds, while his (now ex)girlfriend was weeping to me and begging for some kind of help or guidance.

Now, this was not a task I took lightly. I consulted various oracles before committing to cast anything, just to be sure. My pendulum almost smacked me in the face, it swung so hard.

I had already cast a small hex on Darth A-Hole that resulted in his being demoted and forced to work 3rd shift, after having spent the last 2 years thinking he was cock-of-the-walk and getting away with all sorts of bullshit. In doing a second Working on him, I didn't want to get too indepth. I figured a souring spell mixed with a binding (to keep him from doing harm to others) would be the best option.

Vinegar spells are popular in Hoodoo and I have a certain affinity for the down and dirty feeling of Hoodoo rootwork. I scoured my resources and books, finally adapting a few spells and tips from the Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells  .

*** The following is a basic account of what I did to make the spell bottle, not an actual formula. I don't usually write my spells and formulas down, as many are concocted on the fly.***

First, I wrote his full name on a slip of paper and tucked it into an empty vodka nip-sized bottle.
I then poured in enough salt to cover the bottom of the jar (to protect others from his influence and 'seal' the bottle's energies).
Next, I added Angelica root (Angelica root in considered a woman's domination herb, as opposed to High John root, which is traditionally masculine) to make him bow to a woman's control; Rosemary, another woman's herb, to protect and offer more control to the women around him; and Rue, to make him rue the day he decided "Because I Can" should be his justification to trample on others.
I topped it off with apple cider vinegar, to generally 'sour' his life and make him actually face the consequences for his actions.
The bottle was then sealed with black wax (I had a black tealight with his name carved onto it) and painted the bottle three colors: White, for protection and make sure whatever befell him wasn't truly dangerous, just instructive; Red, for powerful and swift action; and Black, to ensure that his own negativity would be sent back to him at full force.
Even though the paint was still kinda wet, I wrapped some black yarn around the bottle to fully bind him and his actions, tied with nine knots to seal it. A final dip in the melted wax and it was done.

I then scrubbed my hands with a mixture of Dead Sea Salts, Dragon's Blood, and Hyssop extract to get all the paint and negativity off.

The bottle sat on my Altar since the Dark Moon. I find that letting a hex 'brew and ferment' for a little while often increases the power.

Today, I presented the bottle to his Ex, who still must live with him and whom he still tries to control. She was instructed to merely keep the bottle in a safe, dark place, and every now and then, when he's being particularly prick-ish, to just give it a shake and know that things would be taken care of.

Some would call me a Wicked Witch for hexing a co-worker like this. Some would argue that I'm interfering with his Free Will and that I should leave things for Karma to sort out.

This is a man who has hit at least one woman, and probably a few more, who blatantly breaks the rules of our job, and yet is never reprimanded (even for serious things like leaving a 3rd-shift trainee ALONE on her second night for over an hour). I could go on, but let me put it this way: Even his own immediate FAMILY members can't stand him.

I am a Libra, we seek Balance and Justice. I see this a just giving Karma a little shove in the right direction.

Impatient, are We?

We're supposed to get a huge 'Snowpocalypse" starting around midnight. I told the Old Man that I would get him His whiskey (Canadian Mist, until I can afford better) when the snow started coming down.

Two minutes later, I look out the window and  these huge, fat, snowflakes are just pouring down from teh sky.

Ok, Ok, Allfather, I'm coming ^_^

Dark Magick: My Version

Dark Magick. Yeah, I've walked down that way a few times.

I've never killed an animal and used it's blood. I've never cast a curse or hex on random people just to cause trouble. I don't communicate with demons (that I know of) and I've already sold my soul to Satan (I wanted a PS2 and damned if I would get it!)

But, I have used blood and sexual fluids in my spells. I've cast a few minor hexes and at least one major Curse (all on fully deserving parties, I assure you.) I have also used legal and somewhat-illegal plant materials. I can hurt, but I can also heal, and my Healing Magicks have become stronger.

Dark Magick (for me anyway) is the stuff you didn't read about in Wicca/Witchcraft/Paganism 101. It's the darker things that have a nothing to do with the God and Goddess and worship and fairies and healing energies and white light. These are the spells that involve getting your hands dirty, literally and figuratively, and using methods that many would consider taboo.

But I will say this: My Workings have become 10 times more effective ever since I started venturing into the more shadowy side of the Occult. The methods I use to manifest my desires may not agree with most people, but they Harm None, and I Can Do As I Will.

Old God, New Music

So, I'm assembling a playlist for a Working later tonight, one that will require me getting into a righteous, angry and determined mindset.

I 'feel' a nudge on my left side and a voice in my mental ear says 'Get B to give you his collection of Amon Amarth. You'll find something in there.'





The Old Man sighs almost wistfully and nods his head to the music. 'If only the bards and musicians had had THESE kinds of instruments in My Day. Nothing scares the shit out of your enemies more than stuff like this.'

Can't argue with logic like that ;)