Michael H's Magic thread

[Aliki]

8 hours ago, SLK said:

 

They were on the thicker side. I carved the names, wrapped the twine and said a few words out loud.

 

When burning his flame burned very high, his candle melted within minutes but the wax seeped over to my candle, stayed around it and stayed lit until my candle burnt out. Mine stayed burning away nicely for a very long time.

I think he's having a difficulty to let go did he tried to reach out after by chance?

The way i see it i think it performed as it should he has a kind of attachment trying to hold on and reach out you're standing your ground thought hope he wasn't kinda toxic or in some way kinda abusive those are a bit more difficult to succeed and i think need more experience but it doesn't seem it failed if that makes sense give it some time to do its job maybe that's what it needs it's either this or it's not meant to end yet for some reason I think sometimes this plays a role too but on the more toxic or abusive cords i think experience plays a role too experience and/or time it can be anything that's why i said i perceive magic as something personal cause mostly you can know the reason 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Aliki

[SLK]

Both toxic and abusive, I stayed but stronger. This was last year, another incident, a period of stay, a gut feeling and I have finally left, hopefully I am strong enough to make it for good this time 

[Aliki]

1 hour ago, SLK said:

Both toxic and abusive, I stayed but stronger. This was last year, another incident, a period of stay, a gut feeling and I have finally left, hopefully I am strong enough to make it for good this time 

Hope you will get through this you definitely deserve better my best wishes to you 

[MichaelH]

I changed the title of the thread to reflect my ongoing interest in magic.

 

As a Christmas gift to myself, I bought Sasha Graham's 365 Tarot Spells on Kindle. I already had her 365 Tarot Spreads and used a few of them, and thought the companion volume on spells would be a good idea too.

 

I've had a read through and most of them seem very simple so I will be having a go at some of them over the next days weeks and months. And let's see how I get on 🙂

[MichaelH]

Today I did two spells from the 365 Tarot Spells.

 

The first one was a visualisation on the Nine of Cups, a card that has appeared a couple of time this week so is obviously something significant for me. I did a recording of myself reading the visualisation so while actually doing the spell I could close my eyes and just listen. Then I read the final incantation to close the spell.

 

Then I did a money spell, using the Ten of Pentacles. I lit a green candle and made myself some peppermint tea. This spell used ten small coins to place on the card in the positions of the Tree of Life Sephiroth, while reading a short phrase for each coin. Then I said the final incantation and waited for the green candle to burn down.

 

I did my finances for 2022 and noticed that my net worth declined a bit owing to world events and having spent a fair bit on upgrading the house (new windows and wood flooring). So though I'm not short of money, there is a sense of things diminishing, and I thought a money spell would be worthwhile.

[MichaelH]

Sasha Graham recommends using a special tarot deck just for magic, so I have now repurposed my Radiant Rider Waite deck for this purpose. It was the first deck I bought but since I have been collecting other decks I've not used it for readings for a while. It seems ideal for magical purposes now.

[MichaelH]

Today being Full Moon, and having had the Nine of Cups in my cards a lot recently, I did the 365 Tarot Spells Nine of Cups connection ritual this evening. And at the end I made a wish. 

 

I really love this book. Very easy to follow, and the spells cover a lot of situations so it's going to be my companion for the rest of the year. Not necessarily doing a lot of spells just on the day they are listed for, but choosing which ones call to me. 

[BlackKat76]

Just read this thread, and curious what were your results if so did it pan out how you expected?

[MichaelH]

I dip in and out of magic, mostly candles and tarot cards. I just had an evening of spell casting using candles, and creating a talisman. I enjoy it but I'm not a serious magician and only do things when I feel drawn to it. Results - well, I feel good in myself, grounded and stronger in self-confidence so that's a plus. And I don't really have any money worries.

[Tanga]

18 minutes ago, MichaelH said:

I dip in and out of magic, mostly candles and tarot cards. I just had an evening of spell casting using candles, and creating a talisman. I enjoy it but I'm not a serious magician and only do things when I feel drawn to it. Results - well, I feel good in myself, grounded and stronger in self-confidence so that's a plus. And I don't really have any money worries.

Cool 😎 - how did you create it & with what?  No need to tell me details of what exactly it is - just - was it a paper Tarot card you drew?, was it a crocheted disk?, Did you make a Sigil and paint it in your own blood?, was it?... you get my drift.  🙂🙃

I like Sasha's book. I flip through it now-and-then and do something that takes my fancy, or something similar to it.

 

I am a progressive Wiccan.  I grew up loosely Roman-Catholic and when I left home explored until Wicca fit my foot - Lol.

I have been solitary, and not.  I am presently solitary.

 

I so wish I had free use of candles - because I love the whole idea.  However, my partner is paranoid that I might burn the house down here -

so at best, I can have tea lights.  I have coloured tea light holders.

 

My Magickal Tarot decks are:https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/tarot-of-cat-people/,

A small version of https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/aleister-crowley-thoth/,

and a copy of  https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/modern-spellcasters-tarot/.

[MichaelH]

4 hours ago, Tanga said:

Cool 😎 - how did you create it & with what?  No need to tell me details of what exactly it is - just - was it a paper Tarot card you drew?, was it a crocheted disk?, Did you make a Sigil and paint it in your own blood?, was it?... you get my drift.  🙂🙃

I like Sasha's book. I flip through it now-and-then and do something that takes my fancy, or something similar to it.

I created a talisman from a ring that I wear. It's one that has small peridot crystals in it, and I started wearing it again after a while of having it in a drawer. I charged it with the power of heightened intuition. I did also create a sigil using regular ink and a brush... no blood involved. I charged that by burning it using a candle flame.

4 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

I am a progressive Wiccan.  I grew up loosely Roman-Catholic and when I left home explored until Wicca fit my foot - Lol.

I have been solitary, and not.  I am presently solitary.

I'm solitary at the moment. I do have a close friend (he was my best man when I got married four years ago) who is also a practising witch. We talked about things over the years and then a little while ago I felt drawn first to tarot and then to magic. I'm a Quaker though not a Christian so approach spirituality with an open mind. I would use the word magician for myself rather than Wicca or witch.

4 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

I so wish I had free use of candles - because I love the whole idea.  However, my partner is paranoid that I might burn the house down here -

so at best, I can have tea lights.  I have coloured tea light holders.

I love candles. But I am careful with them and mindful of where they are placed and never left to burn without me or my partner being around to keep an eye on them.

 

This is my sitting room before starting the spell. I like lots of candles around.

 

Using pink and white candles and tarot cards to signify myself and what I was wanting to conjure.

 

 

Later I added the items from the Magician's table onto my altar. I also stood in the Magician's pose with a stick and recited the incantation several times.

 

It was a great evening 🙂

[Tanga]

1 hour ago, MichaelH said:

1) I created a talisman from a ring that I wear. It's one that has small peridot crystals in it, and I started wearing it again after a while of having it in a drawer. I charged it with the power of heightened intuition. I did also create a sigil using regular ink and a brush... no blood involved. I charged that by burning it using a candle flame.

 

2) I'm solitary at the moment. I do have a close friend (he was my best man when I got married four years ago) who is also a practising witch. We talked about things over the years and then a little while ago I felt drawn first to tarot and then to magic. I'm a Quaker though not a Christian so approach spirituality with an open mind. I would use the word magician for myself rather than Wicca or witch.

 

3) I love candles. But I am careful with them and mindful of where they are placed and never left to burn without me or my partner being around to keep an eye on them...

This is my sitting room before starting the spell. I like lots of candles around...

Using pink and white candles and tarot cards to signify myself and what I was wanting to conjure...

Later I added the items from the Magician's table onto my altar. I also stood in the Magician's pose with a stick and recited the incantation several times.

 

It was a great evening 🙂

1) Ahh... wonderful.  I have a new Magickal pendant - a gold spider charm.  I should charge it with something specific.

Thanks for the nudge in that direction.

 

2) Wicca - is actually almost a kind of religion. So you would say "I use the word magician rather than witch". i.e. you don't come under Wiccan.

 

3) That looks beautiful!  Thank you for sharing photos. I like your ritual knife (Athame it's called in Wicca). And the "stick" is a Wand 🙂.

I am always careful with candles - but my partner has paranoia from a childhood experience, where he accidentally set light to the curtains. 🤪. WHOOps. Quelled before it became worse. 

 

I haven't any recent photos...

Lets see - here is an Altar that I set up for a Blue Moon. Can't remember which one & don't remember what it was for. It's on a Tile that's about 22cm square.

And I may simply use Tarot cards like in the photo - where I choose a card to represent myself and then place the 4 elements/cardinal points around it (in a ritualistic manner - perhaps "calling in the 4 quarters"), and meditate on that.

 

Years ago - I read 'Portable Magic - Tarot is all you need' by Donald Tyson (whom I think was a ceremonial magician) and started using Tarot after that in spells & ritual.  I don't have much ritual space - I do things in my bedroom. My main permanent Altar is on my windowsill, and if I do specific rituals/spells I set up an Altar of some sort. Sometimes in the centre of the floor. Sometimes next to the main Altar on the windowsill.

 

If I'm doing a spell for someone else - I may print off an image of a Tarot card (I downloaded pdfs from Etsy) and colour in the card whilst I think of my intention. I could cut and paste items into the image... write affirmations on it etc.  Then place it on the Spell Altar for a duration - before I burn the card (offering the possibility up to The Universe).

Edited November 13, 2023 by Tanga

[MichaelH]

21 hours ago, Tanga said:

1) Ahh... wonderful.  I have a new Magickal pendant - a gold spider charm.  I should charge it with something specific.

Thanks for the nudge in that direction.

I also wear a pendant, a pewter Triskele. I charged that too, with the power of self-confidence.

21 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

2) Wicca - is actually almost a kind of religion. So you would say "I use the word magician rather than witch". i.e. you don't come under Wiccan.

Understood 🙂

 

21 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

3) That looks beautiful!  Thank you for sharing photos. I like your ritual knife (Athame it's called in Wicca). And the "stick" is a Wand 🙂.

I am always careful with candles - but my partner has paranoia from a childhood experience, where he accidentally set light to the curtains. 🤪. WHOOps. Quelled before it became worse. 

The knife is actually a letter opener that I was gifted many years ago. I've not done anything magical to it but use it as a symbol if I need the four suits on my altar. The stick was really a stick - I'm on the lookout for a wand but haven't found one yet.

21 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

I haven't any recent photos...

Lets see - here is an Altar that I set up for a Blue Moon. Can't remember which one & don't remember what it was for. It's on a Tile that's about 22cm square.

And I may simply use Tarot cards like in the photo - where I choose a card to represent myself and then place the 4 elements/cardinal points around it (in a ritualistic manner - perhaps "calling in the 4 quarters"), and meditate on that.

I like to use Tarot cards too, and have done several of the spells in the 365 Tarot spell book. I've got a couple of other e-books now too, though not anything physical yet. I'm up in Dublin tomorrow so may have time to go into a shop called Dervish which has a good range of esoteric items. We have a small shop here called Purple Lotus which I use to buy spell candles, crystals and some of my decks.

21 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

Years ago - I read 'Portable Magic - Tarot is all you need' by Donald Tyson (whom I think was a ceremonial magician) and started using Tarot after that in spells & ritual.  I don't have much ritual space - I do things in my bedroom. My main permanent Altar is on my windowsill, and if I do specific rituals/spells I set up an Altar of some sort. Sometimes in the centre of the floor. Sometimes next to the main Altar on the windowsill.

 

I use a small table with a cloth in our sitting room. I don't have the space for a permanent altar.

21 hours ago, Tanga said:

 

If I'm doing a spell for someone else - I may print off an image of a Tarot card (I downloaded pdfs from Etsy) and colour in the card whilst I think of my intention. I could cut and paste items into the image... write affirmations on it etc.  Then place it on the Spell Altar for a duration - before I burn the card (offering the possibility up to The Universe).

That's an interesting idea, I might try that sometime.

[Tanga]

1 hour ago, MichaelH said:

1) I also wear a pendant, a pewter Triskele. I charged that too, with the power of self-confidence.

Understood 🙂

 

2) The knife is actually a letter opener that I was gifted many years ago... 

The stick was really a stick.

The lovely Triskele - 3 vortexes powering up  "Power On!".

 

An Athame can be anything that looks blade-like.  Lots of letter openers are sold as Athames.

And a stick used for the purpose of drawing/directing/influencing power or directing your will - is a wand. 

Traditionally one would cut their wand by moonlight with their ceremonial knife after asking permission from the tree.

 

If I had the space for a gigantic Altar -  Wooohoooo!  

Edited November 14, 2023 by Tanga

[MichaelH]

I'm starting to think about wands - I ordered a ready-made one from a guy here in Ireland which is on its way. It's made of holly wood and looks really nice, varnished but not painted or stained so the natural wood appearance is still evident.

 

And when out for a walk I picked up a stick which I am going to fashion into a self-made wand. I'm not very handy with things so it may take a while but I'll at least get some practice in sanding and creating it.

[Misterei]

3 hours ago, MichaelH said:

And when out for a walk I picked up a stick which I am going to fashion into a self-made wand. I'm not very handy with things so it may take a while but I'll at least get some practice in sanding and creating it.

I don't use wands in my practice any more ... but I have 2 nice ones I treasure for sentimental reasons. One is willow wood my friend found or cut. One is from an olive tree I cut ritually during the full moon or whatnot [years ago and can't remember]. The one I cut is exactly the length from my longest finger to elbow. I left tobacco and blood [mine] for the tree as an offering. Both have been beaded by my friend which is why I've kept them as works of art.

 

Your post put me in mind of these fond memories!

[MichaelH]

My holly wand arrived the other day and it looks lovely. I found a good wand dedication ritual that I am drawn to so will do that when I next get a chance.

 

Yesterday I had a period of magic and tarot, so did two candle spells and a reading from the Emerald Lotus site.

 

An emotional healing spell using a pink candle, and a good luck spell using a green one. I like to get dressed in magical clothes when having a bit of time for spell casting.

 

[Tanga]

 

On 11/20/2023 at 11:40 PM, Misterei said:

... The one I cut is exactly the length from my longest finger to elbow. I left tobacco and blood [mine] for the tree as an offering. Both have been beaded by my friend which is why I've kept them as works of art.

 

Your post put me in mind of these fond memories!

The "Traditional" length for a wand.

Oooh - beading sounds cool.

 

 

On 11/23/2023 at 10:27 AM, MichaelH said:

My holly wand arrived the other day and it looks lovely. I found a good wand dedication ritual that I am drawn to so will do that when I next get a chance.

 

Yesterday I had a period of magic and tarot, so did two candle spells and a reading from the Emerald Lotus site.

 

An emotional healing spell using a pink candle, and a good luck spell using a green one. I like to get dressed in magical clothes when having a bit of time for spell casting.

 

Your ceremonial outfit looks lovely 🙂 (dapper comes to mind).   And - I'm nabbing that Tarot Spread 🙂 👍

I don't often dress up at home. But I have a Kimono robe that my Japanese neighbour gifted me. It was indigo - but I re-dyed it Lavender and like it a lot more now. I sometimes put this on.

(I have a selection of plain coloured robes for group-work, which my mother happily made for me - she likes sewing. But I've not worked in a group for a while so they sit unused).

 

As tomorrow is the 1st day of the full moon - for me.  (I tend to count the day before and after the full moon. This way - I have 3 days to do a ritual instead of one so it's a bit more flexible. I may "grow" the spell on the 1st day through preparation, "do" it on the second, and "release it" - or clear it away/burn/etc. on the 3rd).  I am jotting down ideas for dedication of my new magical spider pendant...

 

 

[MichaelH]

On 11/25/2023 at 7:08 PM, Tanga said:

Your ceremonial outfit looks lovely 🙂 (dapper comes to mind).   And - I'm nabbing that Tarot Spread 🙂 👍

 

There are some really lovely spreads on the Emerald Lotus site, I use it regularly for ideas when I feel in a new spread kind of mood. Glad you like the outfit 🙂

 

 

I don't often dress up at home. But I have a Kimono robe that my Japanese neighbour gifted me. It was indigo - but I re-dyed it Lavender and like it a lot more now. I sometimes put this on.

(I have a selection of plain coloured robes for group-work, which my mother happily made for me - she likes sewing. But I've not worked in a group for a while so they sit unused).

 

As tomorrow is the 1st day of the full moon - for me.  (I tend to count the day before and after the full moon. This way - I have 3 days to do a ritual instead of one so it's a bit more flexible. I may "grow" the spell on the 1st day through preparation, "do" it on the second, and "release it" - or clear it away/burn/etc. on the 3rd).  I am jotting down ideas for dedication of my new magical spider pendant...

 

 

My wand is now dedicated and part of my repertoire. It feels really lovely. I've discovered a site called The Traveling Witch (despite the US English spelling of travelling) which also has some interesting ideas for spellwork, I have a couple of spells lined up for the next waxing Moon.

[Tanga]

Aha - just googled the travelling witch.  🙂.  I shall enjoy reading thank you.

 

This may or may not "fit" you but I'll post suzannecorbie.co.uk

Wiccan priestess, Tarot reader and wonderful teacher here (a favourite).

I am waiting for her to complete her pdf courses on the 8 festivals of the year, and will probably buy them as a job lot then.

[MichaelH]

I had a look at Suzanne Corbie, thanks for that.

 

It's difficult to know who to follow on the Internet and social media when it comes to magic (or tarot for that matter). I asked my pagan friend for guidance and he was a bit vague, so I guess it's a matter of seeing who I like and who I get a good feeling from. I asked my pendulum about signing up for a course online and it said No... So my pendulum is also a magical ally who is looking out for me 🙂

 

I did another candle spell yesterday. At the moment I am looking at prosperity and abundance as it's been an expensive year and next year is looking to be another one....

 

 

[Misterei]

17 hours ago, MichaelH said:

It's difficult to know who to follow on the Internet and social media when it comes to magic (or tarot for that matter)....

Yep. One thing Ive noticed is that being good at social media is one skillset and being good at tarot [or magic or whatnot] is a DIFFERENT skillset.

In a very few people the skillsets combine and you get someone genuintely good at both.

But I see many instances of people who are good at social media ... and mediocre or downright bad at tarot ... getting elevated b/c they know how to please the Algorythm Gods. Sometimes i suspect the best Tarotists or witches or whatever may not even be on social media ... b/c they're too busy doing their craft in real life.

 

I'm old and from a different era. I know the young people do everything on social media now ... but I also think things like witches and tarots ... there's a reason for the archetype of the wise old witch woman or the Hermit as an old man on a mountain. Wisdom, like wine sometimes gets better with age.

[Tanga]

On 12/20/2023 at 10:30 AM, MichaelH said:

I had a look at Suzanne Corbie, thanks for that.

 

It's difficult to know who to follow on the Internet and social media when it comes to magic (or tarot for that matter). I asked my pagan friend for guidance and he was a bit vague, so I guess it's a matter of seeing who I like and who I get a good feeling from. I asked my pendulum about signing up for a course online and it said No... So my pendulum is also a magical ally who is looking out for me 🙂

 

I did another candle spell yesterday. At the moment I am looking at prosperity and abundance as it's been an expensive year and next year is looking to be another one....

 

 

Yup. You just have to find your "fit" yourself.    Speaking from experience.

Online courses don't work too well for me if I know little on the subject. I really prefer live teaching - I remember things better this way. I've been to numerous live courses and presentations on Tarot & magick over the years - great access here in central London so I'm lucky. 

(Suzanne is old school. She got more media active during lockdown. Read Tarot for many years at Treadwell's bookshop in central London, and is also a practicing Wiccan priestess.)

 

 

15 hours ago, Misterei said:

Sometimes i suspect the best Tarotists or witches or whatever may not even be on social media ... b/c they're too busy doing their craft in real life.

 

I'm old and from a different era. I know the young people do everything on social media now ... but I also think things like witches and tarots ... there's a reason for the archetype of the wise old witch woman or the Hermit as an old man on a mountain. Wisdom, like wine sometimes gets better with age.

That's the one - mostly. 

 

[MichaelH]

I did a couple more spells on the day of Winter Solstice. It seemed like a magical day to me 🙂

 

As I live in Ireland and my ancestry is Irish, I looked up 'magician' in the dictionary. There is a word 'draoi' (pronounced dree) that really means Druid, but there is also 'draíodóir' which seems more neutral. There is also 'asarlaí' but the meanings for that include necromancer and witch-doctor so I was less drawn to that one. So I could say in Irish: Is draíodóir mé (I am a magician/wizard)

[MichaelH]

 

I've done some more magic today, the day of the New Moon.

 

I enchanted a bracelet I wear with the power of manifestation, the power to put things into action. I feel in need of a boost at the moment, I have visions and intentions but the step of putting them into action is often lacking.

 

I also got a pair of antlers to incorporate into my magical outfit. I saw the film Saltburn last year and there is a scene were Barry Keoghan wears a pair and I thought they looked really good.

 

So I dedicated them today. Reading about Irish mythology, there is an unmarried, handsome red-haired warrior god named Fer Maisse who appeals to me so I have started to speak to him in Irish. As the child of immigrants from Ireland who has returned to my parents' homeland it feels important to me to be in touch with the spirits of the place. Fer Maisse may not be his real name as Irish mythology was written down much later (it simply means Handsome Man) but I liked the idea of dedicating my antlers to him.

 

Edited January 11, 2024 by MichaelH