The magick of influence, persuasion and swaying

     “If you call upon another to ask for a favor, take care to carry a little of the five-finger grass with you,

and you shall certainly obtain that you desired”

"Pow Wows or a Long Lost friend"

J.G. Hohman

     

     Every now and then, we are faced with a complex situation, which could be resolved in our favour, if only some kind of authority would sympathize with us, or be more prone to overlook our shortcomings. Maybe the stars have aligned in some messy constellation, intent on messing up our chances to accomplish something that depends partially on the will of other people. So we’re faced

with a sharp, resolute “no” even if we really deserve a chance. Maybe you have, like I occasionally have, went the wrong way, and annoyed or disappointed some people and you need something to smooth the situation out and just slightly push them in the direction of forgiveness and understanding.

     That’s where the magick of influence comes in. And when I say “Influence” I’m referring to the Hoodoo style magick of influence. Because; technically speaking, domination, love domination, controlling, boss fix(ing), all of those are influencing. But in the Hoodoo magick, influencing implies subtlety, and gentleness, a quality that the aforementioned lack. It’s also more clandestine, for if you try to magickaly manipulate or force someone into doing something, or behaving in a specific way, sooner or later they will become aware of it, or at the very least they’ll became aware of the extraneous and alien nature of their urges. For a person with a strong will power, composure, stability and mental integrity, this is the key to break the spell you have over them. When you use the Influence magick, almost every single time, the person won’t be aware of it, because it’s temporary, subtle and feels natural. So the influence is like a gentle push in a certain direction.

     This of course, does not mean that the Influence magick is something completely innocuous. It does affect the personal will of the object of the spell, but it doesn’t force them to do what they wouldn’t be able to do, at some point anyway. It simply makes your target more susceptible to suggestion, agreement with you, and more soft and sympathetic towards you. Although, if we look at it from another perspective, magickally convincing someone to stop being evil or annoying to you or someone innocent is a rather pacifist and harmless way to deal with a nasty person if you ask me. So maybe the morality of influencing depends a lot on the situation and reasoning behind each particular case. One thing is for sure, it’s far more ethical than its coercive counterparts (Domination, commanding and compelling etc.) even if that limits the scope of the use.

     Another important thing about the influence magick, it can be more “diffuse” as it were. The target of an influence spell does not have to be a specific person, it can be several, a whole group of people. As the practical examples given here later will illustrate, you can make yourself eradiate the aura or influence so you can simply target anyone in your proximity. Kind of like glamour, except less illusory and more persuasive. 

     In Hoodoo influence products, like the oil, incense, powder and so forth, are used to sway, and persuade, or inspire people to agree with you, and do you favours. The oil is often used in conjunction with the skull candles, and can be used to dress oneself so as to radiate the influence too. Many practitioners use it in rituals to send dreams to people, and inspire ideas. This is particularly good for sending messages to people you don’t wish to harm, or whose free will you don’t wish to violate, but rather just open for a new perspective. Sometimes they cross lines with “Look me over” type of spells, influencing someone to notice you or thing of you in  a fond or romantic way. Honey jar spells are the perfect example. Also drawing customers, for example by pouring some Yellow dock ( Rumex crispus, R. obtsuifolius ) root infusion on the doorknob of the front door of your business place, can be seen as influencing too.

Timing and materia magicka

     These are the kind of spells that are really done when the time arises, in a nick of time. However, if possible prepare the paraphernalia, potions, or charms you’re going to use during Mercurial times ( Wednesday or in hour of Mercury ) or on Sunday or during to Sun hours to receive admiration, favours and to be perceived as coveted. Otherwise think of the way you want to influence your target or a situation, and chose appropriate day and hour, for example to make someone more kind, friendly you can try the Venus day and hours. If you wish to confuse someone, or make them oblivious to some flaw of yours, you’d do well by aligning your work with the illusory energies of Monday and hours dominated by the Moon.

     Mercurial herbs, and Venus herbs are often used for influencing someone, and so are the Lunar herbs. But some plants are particularly renowned for sweetening people towards you and making them drop their defenses. Such is the Five finger’s grass for example, widely believed to make people do you favours and agree to help you. Vanilla makes people friendlier to you, and can turn them from enemies into friends. I don’t know if you have it where you are, but we have the “Vanilla sugar” readily available in the grocery stores, which is common sugar scented with the Vanilla extract. This on itself makes an extremely good influence powder to make someone prone to help. Lovage, as the name implies, will make people more loving towards you. Romantically and philanthropically. Balm of Gilead buds will make people more forgiving towards you.

     Red brick dust is sometimes added to the Hoodoo “Influence oil” formulas, in which case it’s sort of an “euphemism” for the menstrual blood [1], much like Ammonia is for urine, which in turn is also an influencing agent, making feisty people more submissive to your will. Same goes of course, for the menstrual blood and the red brick dust.

     Bergamot essential oil has the similar effect. It greatly enhances your personal power and magnetism and makes people see you more worthy. It’s used in the “Essence of Bend over” Hoodoo formula, though when used for influence it will enhance your personal magnetism as opposed to outright compelling people. Hoyt’s cologne can be used to make people “have eyes only for you” [2] and one of the main ingredients is the Bergamot essential oil. Same goes for the Florida water, which can be used to create this likeable-person aura, and make people sweeter towards you.

     Honey, sugar and vanilla beans should be staples of these spells, rosemary herb will empower women and help them exert their influence and power and so will the Angelica, without being crudely compelling. 

     Similarly to Vanilla ( hence why they’re suggested as substitutes for one another in magick, by some authors ) a Deerstongue entices communication and convinces people [3]

     Some minerals can be used to soften people up or calm the situation. Blue Chalcedony can inspire brotherhood and good will [4], rose quartz will soften people’s hearts and make them more forgiving, while Howlite will calm temperamental individuals, hostile and hot-heads.

     Now let’s get into a few practical suggestions and examples.

Aura of influence wash

     Combining the laundrybluing dissolved in water, with some Coriander, Licorice and Sweetflag, letting it sit, and washing your clothes with the resulting ( strained obviously ) liquid will get people to respect you and agree with you. As the clothes washed with this will radiate, what can be called an aura of influence. [5]

Magnetism charm

     To make people drawn to you, use a magnet/lodestone. Couple it with the First pentacle of Mercury from the “Clavicula Solomonis”, which : “conveys personal magnetism upon the owner” [6] and you’ll have a powerful charm to inspire respect and admiration. Fumigate both the Lodestone and the Pentacle drawn or copied on a piece of nice paper with the Vanilla and Frankincense incense; as you pray that they bring you more personal power, magnetism, attraction and that je-ne-se-qua charm. Then wrap the pentacle around the lodestone and secure it with a piece of yellow thread, and as you tie it, speak affirmations, aloud or in your mind, that as you tie the thread, you also secure the power of the charm. You can then put it in a small vial or a jar, or a mojo bag, for the sake of convenience, and wear on yourself when you need to draw others to you, and impress them.  The Third pentacle of the Venus, can be used in a similar way.

Influence talisman

     Prepare the Fifth Seal from the Sixth book of Moses**, and a piece of Master Root. Wrap the Seal

around the piece of root and place it in a small vial ( glass vial pendants make it that much more pragmatic to be worn on one’s behalf ), or charm bag, and optionally add some lodestone grit as well. Pray over it and consecrate it like the previous one, and use in a similar fashion. This serves to influence those you meet and interact with towards you.

Oil of influence

     Judika Illes in her “Element Encyclopedia of 5000 spells” suggests mixing some powdered Red Brick dust and  powdered Deerstongue, covering that with oil, adding a lodestone to it and, optionally, a few drops of Patchouli essential oil (providing that your target doesn’t hate the aroma), shaking it well and leaving it to sit overnight. Then one needs to rub that on their hands before shaking with the person you’re meant to persuade.[7] 

Direction spell

     Here’s a ridiculously simple, but nonetheless very effective method (at least it was for me), to give someone a little push (or pull lol) in a specific direction. It’s from one of the very first books on magick I’ve ever bought in my life.

     To draw someone towards you, or to draw them away from some dangerous situations; drip a few drops of perfume on a matchstick. When it dries out, light the match and blow the smoke in the direction of your target while envisioning what you wish them to do. [8] You can use some Vanilla fragrance oil or Vanilla extract for the cakes, or Bergamot essential oil instead of the perfume to supercharge spell a bit further.

The Open Palm Charm

    “To ask for a favor, take care to carry a little of the five-finger grass with you…” [9]

     This inspired me to compose the following charm; combine some Five fingers grass* (Potentilla reptans!), Vanilla scented sugar, and a lodestone in a charmbag. Place it in a center of a triangle marked by three white candles, and read the Hebrews 4:12-13 over it, and then follow with a heartfelt prayer that it brings you favours, kindness and open hearts, minds and hands of people you interact with. If you really find it hard to put this to words, read Psalm 32^nd over the charm instead. In fact if you feel so inclined, you can also read this Psalm after your personal prayer. When done simply carry the charm on your behalf.

To sweeten up a situation  

     “To sweeten a situation, write your petition, place on a plate and dust with powdered sugar. Set a piece of Sara Lee poundcake on top the petition. Place a pink candle into the cake. Drizzle the sugar cane syrup over the poundcake and light the candle. Things should start going your way.” [10]

For women to have more influence in the house 

      If a woman wished to have more influence in the home, she should grow Rosemary in small pots (even a single plant will do) and arrange them throughout the home, and take care to have a piece of Angelica root, or some Angelica root threads on herself when in home, wrapped in some purple fabric. When she speaks the housemates will listen. Her presence will be felt all through the home.  

      

*For this particular use, I’ll usually press a whole leaf ( which has 5 leaflets or lobes ) of the plant and add it with the other ingredients in a soft, thick fabric, rather than a mojo bag. What I’ve also done to make sure the dried leaf remained “whole” was to make a small hard paper envelope that it fits nicely and then place it in the envelope, seal that and add that to a sachet with the other ingredients. The charm will work even if the leaf gets crushed and crumbled, but I have OCD and sometimes like to complicate my life unnecessarily lol. Also it’s important to use Potentila reptans, as other species of Potentilla that are mistakenly used interchangeably with this one in magick ( most notably in the US ) seldom have five lobed leafs ( the five fingers symbolism is important here ) and are actually used for different things in  magick.

**While these talismanic  seals from both the Clavicula Solomonis and 6^th and 7^th Book of Moses have their respective guidelines regarding creation and consecration in the Grimoiric/Solomonic tradition, when used in Hoodoo, it’s most of time sufficient to just add them to the mojo bags, preferably though, the versions you’ve copied/drawn yourself on parchment paper, with a magickal ink. In a pinch of course the printed copy will do, but that to me, and most traditional practitioners is not really an option. In any case, for this type of work the consecration of the talismans or seals is also simplified, and most people simply hold them between the palms as they speak prayers for empowerment and consecration.

NOTE: This article was written and composed by myself, so If you wish to use any part of it elsewhere online, feel free as long as you add the credits; “Shadow of the Shadows magick place” , Shadow-333@hotmail.com or a direct link to this post.

CREDITS AND REFERENCES:

[1] According to Judika Illes ( “Encyclopedia of 5000 spells” )

[2] Read more about the Hoyt’s cologne as well as this fantastic and fun spell here: http://www.luckymojo.com/hoyts.html

[3] According to; http://www.alchemy-works.com/herb_deerstongue.html

[4] Judy Hall; “Encyclopedia of Crystals” ( also in the “Crystal Bible” )

[5] Judika Illes; “ The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 spells” Harper’s Element, 2004^th London, pg 337^th

[6] Acc. to “Secrets of magical seals” by Anna Riva pg. 19^th

[7] As under the [5] pg. 339^th

[8] Elizabeth Swift “White magick for everyone” 

[9] Johan George Hohman; “The Pow Wows or a long lost friend”

[10] By Miss Denise Alvarado, from www.creolemoon.com

IMAGE CREDITS:

The hand image ( the first image in the post ) was taken and edited by myself

The seal image ( the second image in the post )  is retrieved from here http://www.esotericarchives.com/moses/67moses.htm  edited by myself, and is used here for illustrative and explanatory purposes without any ill will.