September Christian spiritualism and Equinox magick

We are  amidst that part of the year,  the autumnal equinox, on which the  day and  night durations are equated.  It announces the dark part of the year, the period of darkness, apathy,   reflection and introspection.  The time of the year when nature sleeps , and pagan deities associated with  nature and growths  , leave the dominion over nature to their dark counterparts for  few next months.  It’s not all that dark though, for If You ask me , autumn and winter make great chance for self-improvement, learning,  and banishing ill and unwanted.  And the September is simply the best month to get ready for this period. Hence why Pagans see it as Harvest festival, referring to it as Mabon often, name modeled after a character in  Arthurian legends.  The equinox falls ( occurs ) anywhere from 21^st to 24^th of September, and this year ( 2012^th ) it’s on 22^nd of September, around 14 o’ clock, or 2PM. 

 Regarding practical spiritual work it’s a period of thanksgiving, Blessing, Harvesting and  finishing up  things that are long overdue, procrastinated.  It’s also a time for amendment,  ending disputes, quarrels, arguments of all kinds, and preparing for winter, by gathering energy, material magicka and performing appeasing and protective   rites and ceremonies of all kinds.

Old women and cunning women would place an  handkerchief over a shoulder , and would   smudge and/or cense  people with incense made from Fern leafs, Myrtle and Pine needles  ,  to end confrontations and fights.    It’s good time to ensure abundance during the  long winter , sometimes also cruel nights, which is traditionally done by folk ceremonies and communal rites, where the fruit s of all kind and vegetables were collected and then smudged with herbs such as Thyme, Yarrow, and other available. Smudging  these fruits of nature Is an example of symbolic or even sympathetic magick ( in a way ) for this  gifts of nature, smudged were “blessed and protected” to endure and remain despite the winter, and so  would the abundance as a concept   they embody . This is often done publicaly, on fields, on a cloth made from  9 different color yarns,  but of course , it can be adopted  to solitary practice and performed in the coziness  of Your home, by using a fine , new stylish cloth ( or even handkerchief ) to spread the fruits, vegetable and /or herbs ,  or they can simply be placed in some sort of bowl.

Now the ritual I wish to perform this Year is what I simply call “The Consecration of the Cross” , and it shares some similarities with smudging the fruits and vegetables, at least in the goal and aim department lol. Once consecrated during either equinox or Feast of the Cross  ( 14^th of September , also called Exaltatio Sanctae Crucis , or among the Orthodox Christian Exaltation/Elevation  of the Precious and/or Life-bearing cross , mind though that some Orthodox Churches still use  Julian Calendar for their services, meaning that according to mundane, Gregorian calendar, among the some Orthodox Christian places this holiday on 28^th of September )  the Cross becomes a  powerful relic, that when used with faith    bestows healing, protection and  victory over evil.

Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross commemorates tow events:  Finding of the Cross by the Empress  Helena , mother of St Constantine the great , and the retrival of the Cross from in 627^th year AD, when the Emperor Heraclius ,  decisively defeated Persians at  Nineveh and thus recovered the Holy Cross. 

 Empress Helena, searching for the Cross had encountered it under some temple of Venus, as instructed by certain Jewish old man called Judas. According to myth, she had also found the Basil plant, growing on Golgotha, on that spot. She had also found two more crosses, so she was wondering how will she be able to determine which one of them is the actual, True Cross, The Life-giving Cross as also said. Incidentally ( or maybe not ) there was a funeral procession passing nearby, so the empress decided to make somewhat a test. The body of the dead man, carried by procession was placed on each side of every Cross. With the first two, nothing came to be, but upon placing body on the third Cross the man had miraculously returned to life. Also, certain ailing women had kissed the same Cross and had miraculously healed. At this point It was clear, that very Cross was the Ture, Life-giving Cross.

The second event commemorated on this very day is recovering of the Cross, by emperor Heraclius in 627th year AD, when the Persians were defeated at the battle of Nineveh. The Emperor had then, along with Patriarch Zacharias , transferred the True Cross to the Temple of Resurrection in Jerusalem.

Before we proceed with the ritual instructions, it’s wise to note two other Holy days  in the same period  , according to Orthodox Christian calendar.   One is commemoration of St. Michael the Archangel’s miracle at  Collosae ( Chonae ). 

The Story speaks of Holy and miraculous sprig , appearing in place  Chonae in Phygia, after a prophecy that such will happen by by St. John the Theologian and St. Philip the Apostle.  They have also fortold the appearance of St. Michael the Archangel, which also fulfilled later. The sprig had healead many at that point, even  mute daughter of well known pagan from Ladoicea, who had, in an act of gratitude build a Church to St. Michael over the sprig, for it was the very Archangel Michael that appeared in his drea m with instructions to take his daughter to the sprig.  Jealous of  all attention and prosperity this Christian sanctity had been receiving local pagans comploted to destroy the Church by  means of constructing a dike,  that was  to   deviate the course of the  river , so it would wash away the miraculous sprig and the Church.  A young man, Archhipus, who settled by the Church ( where he had liven, eaten etc.  ever since the  very first time the Church was   constructed ) prayed  for salvation of the church and the spring. As a result of his devoted and sincere prayers, Archangel Michael appeared and opened a fissure in a nearby, large rock, and the water  plunged through    it, so both the Church  and the healing sprig were  saved.   Hence the name Chonae ( means plunging ) , and ST Archipus lived there peacefully until the age of  70, when he righteously ascended to G’d.

So it occurs to me why not petition St. Michael on this day, If we need salvation from some serious threat, particularly If we need swift help,   the kind that surpasses mundane human abilities and efforts .  Or to prevent some  sort of possible accident or catastrophe.

Simply light a candle  for him on an altar, with his image, next to a glass of water dedicated to him,  and place Your petition, written on a torn up brown p aper ( grocery bag  style )  beneath of behind Arhangel Michaels image. Offer a heartfelt prayer to him,  and let the candle burn all the way down. Alternatively, You  could as well, devide candle into seven partitions  and make this a Seven day candle type ritual, though offer new glass of water, as a “tribute” to the Saint each day.  When the petition is granted You could “feed the Saint” by affixing some  Grains of Paradise seeds behind his image [1]

I wrote about working with St.Michael the Archangel before, maybe You’ll find it inspirational J

 

Another day celebrated,  before Equinox,  both by  Catholic and Orthodox  Christians is Nativity of Virgin Mary ( or Mother Mary, Thotokos  in Greek Orthodox )  falling on September the 8^th  ( mind though  that services in some Christian Orthodox churches are still done following Julian celnder, while Gregorian is used as secular, which means, the Nativity of Mother Mary , for example , would be celebrated on 21^st of September, according to “mundane”  Gregorian calendar )  and commemorating and celebrating the miraculous birth of Mother Mary  by her elderly and previously barren parents St. Joachim and St. Anna. It is interesting to note here, how Catholic and Orthodox Christians do not agree that  Mother Mary’s  immaculate conception ,  meaning Orthodox believe ( unlike Catholic ) she has not been purged of the ancestral sin we all inherit by birth, least at Annunciations, or prevented by G’d from transmission of same ( ancestral sin ) upon her birth.  Both however agree that she was free of desires and urges akin to mankind, and therefore often referred  as Most pure Virgin.

Following quote illustrates  the Orthodox doctrine quite well :

"The Orthodox church does not accept the Catholic dogma of 1854 -- the dogma of the immaculate conception of the Virgin, in the sense that she was exempt at birth from original sin. This would separate her from the human race, and she would then have been unable to transmit to her Son humanity. But Orthodoxy does not admit in the all-pure Virgin any individual sin, for that would be unworthy of the dignity of the Mother of God." Sergius Bulgakov, The Orthodox Church. Crestwood: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997. [2]

Regardless of   dispute in terms of doctrines by theologians, regarding the matter, it is acknowledged by all of them, that her conception was miraculous, being that her parents very of age, and barren at the    point. This makes it  Nativity of  Virgin Mary, a great opportunity ,  for barren people to petition and pray to the Mother Mary and  The Lord Himself , for the aid in resolving their issue.

One of many artistic depictions of
St.Joseph of Cupertino

Another “red letter” holiday in Catholic calendar  in September, that should be mentioned here is  feast day of St Joseph  of Cupertino,  considered patron Saint of Air Travels/ing and studies and taking test. His feast day is 18^th of September. He lived a very commendable, humble life and would often give away his own clothes to the  poor. He was very devoted, ecstatic even, for he would sometimes levitate during meditations , and prayers of his, hence the coo name “Flying Monk”. Use the opportunity to petition this Saint for success in upcoming  year in Your studies and safety on Your travels, particularly if Your  means of transportation include airplanes and/or helicopters.

According to Catholic Christian Calendar, another  Feast day worth  being drawn attention at here , is St. Cosma and Damian’s feast day on Septemebr 26^th , more on how to work with them, I have written in one of my previous entries.  Petition them for healing, particularly for serious ailments,  and also  for expelling of  the “live things” in patients.

 

Cross Benediction  Ritual                                    

I’ve composed the ritual to use it myself, modeling after  the practice done in orthodox Churches on this  day, when the Holy Cross ( that is replicas  and models  of the same of course ) are placed in Churches  for faithful people that attend the service, to kiss, and pray before,  all in m emory of discovery of the True Holy Cross, by empress Helena ( see  description of the events that took place on this day during “Biblical times” , earlier in the text ) and  in grace and glory of his miraculous power.

·         Find a suitable standing Cross ( like those for altars ) or even a Cross pendant, or any kind of Cross dear to You that You would like to consecrate and bless, and plan on using in times of need

·         You can cleanse it before use, If You think that is needed (eg. If belonged to someone else, or You’ve found it somewhere, or was placed on sick person to heal them etc. )  You can  drive it through incense of Sage for this , or Sprinkle with some Florida water

·         Light  three new White candles on Your altar and set them so as to form a triangle

·         In the Centre Place a Cross,  Incense burner ( censer ) and If You have , small vial ( or other kind of pure container ) with some Holy Water*

·         Now  burning some Frankincense in the Censer ( If You wish You may add some St.John’s wart or Hyssop as well )  driving  the Cross through the smoke,   read Psalm 62^nd

·         Then Sprinkle the Cross with the Holy water* and say : “In the Name Father, Son and the Holy Spirit , Amen”Finally,  near the center of the triangle formed by candles,  spread some fresh Basil twigs, or dry basil , to sort of make a “bed” for the Cross. Place a Cross on it, and sprinkle some more Basil on it.  Express Your petition for consecration of the Cross, to be a powerful relic and weapon against evil spirits in the hand of the righteous, and ask Lord for his Divin e aid in such.  Holding hands over the Cross ( or breathing and speaking near it as You pray, so that Your breath “infuses ” it as You pray )  read prayer to the Venerable Cross ( or Prayer to the Holy Cross as known among Orthodox Christian )  which is as follows:

 

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; and as wax melts from the presence of fire, so let demons perish from the presence of those who love God and who sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and say in gladness: Hail, most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, for Thou drivest away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified on thee, Who went down to hades and trampled on the power of the devil, and gave us thee, his venerable Cross, for driving away all enemies. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me, with our Holy Lady, the Virgin Mother of God, and with all the Saints throughout the ages. Amen. [3]

 

·         Place the Cross in some nice box, on Your altar, or in some nice pouch  bag, where it shall be safe from nosey  people that have no business with such. Use in times of need to heal, bless or exorcize and banish evil, or place on altar during important rituals.

There , I sincerely hope You find this  article interesting and informative ( and therefore useful ), Have a Blessed and productive September, and good luck in all Your endeavors

Shadow J

 

NOTES:  This article was written and composed by me, therfore, If You wish to use it elswhere online, add cerdits ; Shadow of Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com , or a direct link to  this post (  webpage ).
CREDITS AND REFERENCES :

 [1] The way of feeding the Saint’s as suggested by Sir Ray T Malbrough, “Hoodoo    mysteries “ 

[2] As found on http://orthodoxwiki.org/Immaculate_Conception

[3] Prayer as found on http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/readings/threshold/prayer.shtml 

IMAGE CREDITS: 

Image of St Joseph if from http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=72
Image of Cross is from : http://www.freakingnews.com/Sky-Cross-Pics-36754.asp edited slightly for posting here   by myself.
Images are used here for illustrative and explanatory purposes without any ill will

The magick of padlocks

Padlock image , scaned from
Book covers( see credits ) and
edited, depicting confornted foce s
fighting as they emanate from padlock

Padlocks are lock devices invented in ancient Rome in third century, but  some consider they’ve existed in  simpler forms in ancient Egypt as well. However  The padlock, as we know it today  , with the lock body, shackle and key  had been, as said above,   made ( created , composed ) in third century, and quickly gained  popularity and spread beyond the great Roman empire. It was due to it being useful, practical and portable, more so in times when personal property was not as protected ( by law ) as today is. The origin of the word “padlock” may be traced into old English : “padlock” , even though the meaning of the prefix  “pad” remains unclear.  In Germanic and Scandinavian country, the words used to described padlock,  literarily translate to “hanging lock” or “hang lock”.  Possibly their simple use and effectiveness were not the only things that made people like them.   It is considered that in China they were initially used by  emperor and wealthy people, as a sort of power/status symbol. Wooden beams were used  before padlocks to protect property in china and were doing a good job. Padlocks were ( and are still ) mostly made of metal, so it could have been that this had added , at least spiritually, to their “protective” power.

In psychology, lock , and consequently  padlocks, bare many symbolic meanings, as they do in folklore and myths as well.  Well I’d say what Freud though keyhole or padlock and key represent, but I try to keep this blog pg rated lol. It’s worth mentioning ( for those unfamiliar with the fact ) that Freud’s analogies and symbolism were almost always sexually related.  Besides , symbols are not defined with how  some humans perceive them, but with  what they represent.  Therofore, locks and padlocks are usually indicative of something that is suppressed, locked, repressed or  dissociated in the unconscious or elsewhere, while keys are symbols or solution to the riddle, resolving of the problem and alike. Same applies to padlock and keys in dream analysis, and here is an example on how the locks dreams are interpreted by one online dream interpretation source:

“Dreaming of a lock represents that you cannot get what you desire. If you are locked out of something, first relate what you are looked out of to your life. Maybe you are concealing parts of yourself. You feel confused and locked out of society.
If the lock is shut around your wrist, even though it is by accident, in reality it denotes feelings of uncertainty about expressing your feelings. You probably feel like you cannot trust people with them, you may be right. However, it is a risk you should take if you want to be understood and accepted.”[1]

We should note, here, that the concept of lock and padlock is hardly ever separated in mundane speech or discussion, which is fine, because symbolically and in terms of esotery and occult, the two might be seen as  almost the same. That simply means , that  You’ll have to try harder to find an entry: “padlock” in dream dicitionries , but even when You do it will say pretty much the same as under “lock” or will simply say “look under lock” lol

Unfortunately, in occultism , padlocks are rarely ( if at all, in a proper manner )  dealt with at all, more entries on them we find in folk magick and folklore. Seems like indeed , over the years some magick related information and secrets get lost.  Where I live ( Eastern Europe ),  is however  common to find   some of the “oldest”  magickal secrets preserved intact, in their raw and “undistilled” form, which is so  simply due to lack of urbanization in remote ( usually mountain ) areas, where people  still have  much closer bond to nature and heritage of their ancestors, than most of us ( city people lol ) do.  Interesting, in Taiwan they are considered to be sort of luck generators, when affixed to the train station overpass. It is believed that the trains magnetic force shall empower them and make wishes come true[2]. Make sense, if we look at occult belief that magnetic field ( such as TV’s  electromagnetic  field )  help wishes come true. Hence, the same is with padlocks. Researching European, and American folklore, as well as drawing from  ( little ) written and ( rich ) oral tradition of Balkan  peninsula cunning folk,   has given me some, good information of properties and uses of padlocks in occult and magick, and here is what I’ve encountered:

·         Padlocks represent oppressive, constricting and protective force and impediment

·         Padlocks can be seen as “double headed” , as they can cross, or bind, and uncross or unbind, see examples latter in text. This is particularly true in  Balkan peninsula folk magick

·         Padlocks can be used in love magick ,  which gains popularity in certain urban areas of the world. This may be so because  padlock can be symbolic of an unbroken , firm, steady bond.

·         Padlock s like locks can be opened magickally using various plants, seals and or other techniques

Padlocks and crossing  

Padlocks can be used to cross indeed. The very simple  symbolism obviously played an important role here. Padlocks restrict, bind, lock, they can do same when cunningly employed to someone’s energy, will power, joje de vivere , allegedly even spirit. Certain sprit traps contained a padlock, as part of them. I witnessed a folk ritual that used a poppet  over which ( or around which ) a padlock was closed and then they were thrown together in a river, and  so symbolically sacrificed, or given, tied and helpless to watery spirit called Tartor, a nasty chthonic entity, invoked in Balkan peninsula folk magick. Somewhat less sever example , is what they call here “erotic black magick” where the personal concern of desired person  is collected and “locked in padlock” along with casters. This when properly done, violently binds two persons together, sometimes literarily  unless one of the parties in question dies. Similarly, a men’s personal concerns ( mostly seminal fluid ) can be collected on with a piece  of cotton or old cloth , which is then ritually ( while speaking and incantation ) “locked” with padlock to make men infertile or dysfunctional in a specific sense, ehm…lol   

Love locking with padlocks

As I have mentioned before, padlocks can be used for love magick, and even what is considered love manipulation and binding, taking away sexual virility and so on.  As of more-less recently ,  people from all around Europe have been practicing a strange ritual with padlocks. It seems to be a part of urban culure now, for a couple to write their names together, on a padlock and hung it on a bridge’s fence or even a tree in some cases.   This  was allegedly supposed to ensure the stability and endurance of the relationship, and was even more powerful if done of ( let’s call them such  ) cultic or legendary places, such as certain Bridges.  In Paris for example, there is “Ponte des  arts”  , or “Ponte Vecchio” in Florence ( Italy, it had 5500 padlocks attached to it , now removed  :O )  or “Most ljubavi” ( in town  Vrnjacka Banja ) in Serbia , Ponte Milvio in Rome ( Italy again, this one inspired by romantic novel ) etc . Usually these places have some sort of legend, or myth about the fierce love  between two Young people, associated with them.

Whether  such practice is effective or not, You tell me, You’ve probably encountered it somewhere near You. It can be illegal and damaging to the architecture, therefore people might consider that as well.

Padlock Uncrossing ritual

Now the following is an example of a ritual used to remove an evil spell, as used in Eastern Europe. It is however very possible that  the  such use of padlock and key is ( or was, or had been  ) more cosmopolite, however in such form,   it has survived where I live, and in some neighboring mainland and Mediterranean European countries [3]

It requires 6 black candles, and incense ( here was often either or a mixture of: Frankincense, Sage, Nettle, Blackberry leafs, Basil  and other ), a sponge or old cloth,  ( or piece of fabric ), needles or pins,  and a padlock with a key. In older days, they used candles covered with tar and or chimney sooth, which made the candles smell really nasty when burnt, and the odor created was considered to be a demonifuge of a kind.  Padlock has sympathetic role in the ritual in the way. For closed padlock may represent ( or even be used to ) restrained will power, luck, binding, captivity etc. Ritually unlocking a padlock was  symbolic of breaking bonds , much like piece of broken chain in Your Uncrossing Condition oil. It was also symbolic of “taking control” over  the messes and fusses  in Your life, and bringing it to desired state once again,  for which key of the padlock is used. The sponge or clothe is a form of image magick and it represents the very evil that oppresses one, bad luck , enemies, evil magick, evil spirits sent, evil energy, You name it. Warmed needles are stick into  it during one phase of the ritual , thus symbolically overpowering, defeating and destroying evil.  Let’s take a look at ritual broken down to steps :

·         Light six black candles and as You do  meditate  on Your strength  to  overpower evil and injustice

·         Light the incense

·         Inhale the incense smoke few times, than open/ unlock  the  ( locked ) padlock above the candles saying something along the lines: “This padlock I open, over my condition/situation / destiny power to gain” . This can be done few times. Then leave the unlocked padlock on the  left , and  the  key on  the  right side of the candles.

·         Heat  the needles or pins on candle flame and while  hot, stick them in the sponge saying something along the lines: “Sponge I puncture, evil to rupture”  Some people would repeat the procedure with a single needle , some would use more than one, others may use more than one and repeat the pining with each. This seems to have been left for intuitive insight of the practitioner to determine

·         When finished, take sponge and one of the two candles placed in the middle ( candles were usually place d in a row, one next to another, forming a line of a sort ) , and go  where there is some  river or stream ( moving, flowing body of water  ) light the sponge on a candles flame and throw it as swiftly as You can into a body of the water saying something along the lines: “Evil I have pinned, into neverland*  I’ve sent, Evil I have burned,   forever destroyed,  evil  I’ve send down the  water,   forever of  it I’m released!”** Take the candle with You, and come back home

·         Return the candle to it’s proprietary place among other candles, and then extinguish them candles by blowing them out, one by one, realizing that as You do so, You are destroying the power  that   the evil spell has over Your life.

·         Collect the extinguished candle and any remaining wax, or material , pack them in a paper bag and   carry and toss down the body of moving water.***

Now the local etnographist ****  that recorder the ritual adds what seems to be a modern addition to the ritual, more so If we take in  consideration that in many remote parts of Balkan peninsula, colored candles  where pretty much unattainable, all up to very recently. Furthermore, as younger I was taught the variation of the ritual, and it  did  not include  the following:

·         Light one green, one purple and one red candle

·         Take the padlock in Your left hand, and the key in Your right then lock and unlock the padlock 9 times as You speak something along the lines: “Padlock I  hold, future/destiny  to control,  this Key I hold , eternal luck  to  gain an’ withhold !” 

·         Place the Key and padlock a in a box separated on two compartments, ideally equal ones. The box was best to be wooden, or metal. It is hidden from plain sight, and can be opened  should the need for extra power and luck arise , regarding some serious issue or condition

Many Blessings , Shadow !

NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself, so If You wish to use it elswhere online, give credit , Shadow of Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com or simply a direct link to this post

        CREDITS AND REFERENCES :

 [1] according to www.dreamdictionary.org , lock entry

[2]  source of the information regarding  belief about padlocks in Taiwan  , can be found here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_padlocks

[3] Look under : Explanations and clarifications, under ****

Other  useful  reference : http://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/hl/Padlocks/Padlocks-in-China/

http://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/hl/Locks-and-magic/

Explanations and clarifications:

*Neverland is  the most similar concept , and most practical translation to/for  the “Land with no echo” mentioned often in banishing incantations of Balkan peninsula traditional witchcraft.  It’s a nasty place where all sort of evil became trapped to fight among themselves and eventually fade away. It is described as a place “with no echo, where rosters never sound themselves, dogs never bark, birds never sing etc…”

**While for this very ritual there is no specific incantation, instead generic banishment incantations are used, they take form as they usually do in Balkan peninsula  folk magick,  they use  simple, often corrupted language, and are formed so to rhyme in a very simple manner, much like  modern rapping, in a way. I have done my best to translate them to English here so that they still retain their natural syllable  melodies and rhythm , and  to be analogous to the original version

***Note how method of disposal are similar to those of  traditional Hoodoo and Conjure, it’s just unclear to me ( and always had been ) why is sponge tossed separately  from the rest, and prior to the candles. When I asked cunning folk lady that taught me the ritual she simply replied :” like everything in nature there is an order in which things are done “

**** and [3] Ethnograpist , anthropologist and journalist Jasna Jojic Pavlovski, had recorded this ritual, and has posted it in her magazine “Lek I amajlija, za srecu I ljubav” ( literarily Cure and amulet, for luck and love” ) and has added the part with three colored candles, that I was not aware of. The version given in above text  is translated from Serbian by myself, edited, and commented by myself, for Your convenience. The author has her website, for those interested here: http://www.vlaskamagija.com/o-jasni-jojic/   Padlock Image with Demon and Angel, is from the cover of an older edition of the author’s book, slightly edited by myself, and used here for illustrative purposes only with no ill will J

IMAGE CREDITS: The padlock image is an edition of  scan of the cover of the book "Cuda Vlaske magije" by above mentioned author, local ethnologist ( see under ****, [3] )  and is used here without any ill will for illustrative and explanatior y purposes only

St Elijah the Thunderous

St Elijah is the Old Testament Bible prophet and Saint , whose name , when translated is indicative of his strong faith in One True Lord/God, God of Abraham and Israelites. He was born in city Thisbe, hence sometime  called St. Ejijah Thisbite, and he had lived in Syria 850 years BC .

St Elijah, shown being
fed by Ravens

He had lived in time of reign of king Ahab and his dominant, evil  worshiping/er wife Jezebel, and was the one to  deliver a message  to king Ahab about  his wicked ways and the consequence they will have upon his people and lands. He had warn them that for the three and a half years, their lands  shall be arid, that the “Heavens will close”  and  no rain drop, nor even dewdrop shall be present on their grounds. And it had been so, the trees and plants were scorched and dry, and they  starve d.  He then, led by    Divine providence went to reside  at  brook Cherith nearside Jordan, where he had been fed by ravens, miraculously, and had drunk  from the brook . Once the brook dried up , due to the dry weather.

Here is how the good book describes these events (1Ki 17:1 ): 

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

² Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ³ “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴ You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

 ⁵so he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” [1]

God sent him certain widow of Zarephath, who  brought him meals and drinks, and fed him. In gratitude he miraculously replenished meat and oil in her store, and had resurrected her deceased son. He had then , with help of one of the solider of king Ahab, requested king’s acquaintance, and Ahab had  arrived at Elijah’s residing place, referring to him as “ troubler of Israel” , and they agreed to  organize a public sacrificing, in order to demonstrate what faith is true, Elijah’s or Ahab’s.  King’s priests  had officered  sacrifices to their profane deities, including the demonic Baal that Jezebel worshiped, and Elijah offered the miracle to his Lord. Miraculously, as soon as Elijah had finished his praying, the thunder , in form of radiant blue fire  descended from the Heaven and enveloped the sacrifice of Elijah, proving therefore that his faith was the  true way. 

“Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” [2]

He was forced to fled into wilderness, due to Jezebel’s threatening she would make sure to take his life. He slept in cave and was miraculously fed by Lord’s Angel by cake and water.  On his way to Horeb he took residence at cave where G’d in his mercy, spoke to him, giving him insight in questions he asked the Lord.

About six years afterwards he warns Ahab and Jezebel of their violent deaths, and how Jezebel would be eaten by dogs, and he had also warned his successor   Ahaziah that he will die  due to illness, and all those prophecies came to be.

As the time of his departure drew closer, Elijah had went to  Gilgals, to visit his anointed prophet successor Elisha, who refused to be parted from his teacher and went alongside Elijah. Witnessing wondrous miracle of ascendance of St Elijah into Heaven  in a fiery chariot, he  requested a double partition  of his teachers spirit.  Ascending into Heavens, St Elijah said  that his request will be granted and his mantle, falling from chariots felt into Elisha’s hand, thus being symbolically indicative of such.

“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. “ [3]

The “cult” of St. Elijah in folk magick

Throughout the Europe, St Elijah had been  identified with  all sort of spirits, despite the fact that he had  been a living person at certain point, like with Helios (???)  in Central Europe for example .In Russia and Eastern Europe, St Elijah is  highly venerated as folk saint, and often referred as “Thunderous” or “Thunderer” , due to belief  that he posses power over thunders, lightning and storms. On his feast day 20^th of July ( according to Julian calendar, celebrated to 2^nd of Auust according to Gregorian calendar, in Eastern Orthodox churches communities ) , and on this day folk people will not saw, harvest or do any sort  of field , or cattle work, due to the fear that this fiery Saint shall punish them and destroy their harvests , and lands.

In some remote parts of Balkan peninsula animal sacrifices are even today offered to this Saint, to “appease” him, associated either with agricultural goals ( in which case, the sacrifice, usually pig, is eaten by community, using bare hands to rip the  meat off the bones :S ) or health of the specific family member ( in which case the animal would be leaft to rot naturally outdoors and be eaten by scavengers ), so we can see how the first type of sacrificing, is more  a community ritual, whereas the latter is more a inside-family ritual.

Folk people in Europe, gladly  transfer orally legend of how St. Elijah was born, indicating how he is fiery and Thunderous. They say  how his Father saw Elijah as baby being surrounded by Angels that fed him with fire.  In Hungary they have even more weird legends about St Elijah. Some ethnologists think how he was ( in a way ) syncretized with Perun,  the Thunderous chief deity of Slavic pantheon , or more likely simply took it’s place in folk magickal traditions of Russia and Eastern Europe. In association with this is the belief explained bellow in text.

Folk people of Balkan petition Elijah against Ale ( demonic chthonic spirits, plural of “Ala”, they bring the bad weather ) and believe that he banishes them away and whirls  lightning at them, much like Slavic deity was believed to  Perun once had. Eastern Europeans believe that Ale are so nasty and devouring, that If it was not for St Elijah  and some other Saints and few spirits that fight them, they’d eat the Moon itself. Which according to folk belief would draw to Sun  fading from sorrow for his mate. Luckily St Elijah can get Ale , even If they hide in hollow trees.

If the thunders are heard on his feast day folk people of Eastern Europe have a habit to say: “That’s Elijah , drivin’ in his fiery chariot, across the sky, throwing ‘em devils down, whit lightning”  Indeed, folk people also believe that he vanquishes demons and evil spirits , with lightning, and furthermore that lightning - struck  places created on his feast days are indicative of where the demons stood , doing their mischief on this day. In connection to that is the ritual of collection of St Elijah’s  water, described latter in the text.

Cunning folk, and  folk likewise, in Eastern Europe had known  to invoke and petition Elijah  for many other things as well, such as to bring rain, or justice even. I remember reading a story of an old lady , when I was a little kid, in local newspaper. Her son was killed by neighbor and buried  somewhere on their land, but no one had believed her and the neighbor had mocked her, telling her how she would never encounter the body of her child, also being the key evidence of  this neighbors guilt. The old lady then, devastated, cried to St Elijah , “not to allow that the earth devours the evil secret" and asked   for justice. As the article then said, the skies opened on old lady’s cries and  a terrible storm started all of a sudden,   a storm that was not forecasted nor expected ( was a very dry , long summer ) and the rain started falling so intensively , followed with  an terrifying thunderstorm. In the morning, the body of the old lady’s son was found in mud , on the neighbors land, from which a great amount of soil was washed away by the rain. The justice was done.

Suggestions for  Hoodoo style working with St. Elijah

Ah, dang it, another one not on the list :S ( there are Saint’s we “do not work” with in Hoodoo because they are not on the “lists” of commonly petitioned  Saints in Hoodoo ) and If You want to know what I meant by that, I’ve addressed this issue in one of my previous posts, so to evade sounding like a broken record, perhaps You can read my article on St.Cosma and Damian

Colors we may associate with St Elijah are colors of Thunder and fire, therefore red and electric blue, latter in my humble opinion being somewhat finer , both corresponding to colors of the clothes and mantle he is usually wearing on religious depictions of this saint. He is said to be patron  Saint of sleep and sometimes transportation, but we could address Elijah for justice and mastery over adverse conditions ( such as torments by evil spirits as well ).  As we said above, in folk tradition he is petitioned against bad weather. I see no reason why he could not be petitioned for such as well.His feast day is 20^th of July , even though of course he could  be petitioned at any time. He could be given thanks in form of lightning a candle from him, or offering him a piece of cake and glass of water ( as he had found such in desert, when an Angel in his  dream told him to wake up and eat )   or even by  donation to Churches dedicated to him. He is also considered to be  patron Saint of the St. Elijah Church, Aliquippa PA [4]

Here is my suggestion for composing   St. Elijah oil

·         Base oil , Olive oil would make good choice

      ·         Juniper berries or Juniper essential oil

      ·         Piece of Lightning struck wood

Preferably made on his Feast day,  or under stormy skies during summer. Optional  ingredient may be an Raven’s feather.

And another thing that could be  used in working with this Saint is St Elijah water, used in magick as demonifuge, and uncrossing agent , also for empowerment, banishment and mastery over adverse conditions. As a very good substitute use Lightning oil

St Elijah's tarditional, Greek Orthodox
Icon , depiction

 St Elijah (  the Thunderous ) water

Simply :

·         Rainwater collected in a vessel on  St Elijah feast day

Use as in florwashes, baths or as a sprinkle

Following Orthodox Christian hymn can be used in work with St Elijah, preceding or following, a heartfelt prayer :

“An angel in the flesh and the cornerstone of the prophets,

the second forerunner of the coming of Christ,

Glorious Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha,

to dispel diseases and to cleanse lepers.

Therefore, he pours forth healings on those who honor him”[5]

  

Hope You find this informative and useful, many Blessings
Shadow  :D

NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself , therfore If You wish to use any part of it eslwhere on line, feel free but add  credits, Shadow of Shadows magick place,   or  Shadow-333@hotmail.com or a direct link to this post.
CREDITS AND REFERENCES:

[1] quoted from: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Ki%2017:1-17:7&version=NIV

[2] http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Ki%2018:38&version=NIV
[3] http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Ki%202:10-11&version=NIV
[4] according to  http://stelijahserbianorthodoxchurchaliquippa.com/the%20holy%20prophet%20elijah.htm
[5]http://orthodoxwiki.org/Elijah
IMAGE CREDITS: The image depicting Prophet  Elijah siting on mountain stone is a traditional ,  orthodox Greek  Ikon, and comes from  www.wikipedia.com , and the other , showing Raven's feeding St Elijah is from www.St-Takla.org used here with no ill will, for illustrative and explanatory purposes only :)

 

Magick of Thunder and Lightning

Thunder and/or lightning is a fierce natural phenomenon, appearing as a result of electric discharge in/from   atmosphere.   But how can the lighting  , so dangerous and intangible to human, be used in magick? What does this powerful symbol stands for in occultism ?  This is so very neglected topic, unfortunately , which has led to plenty of misinformation and misconception among newcomers to world of occult and esotery.

The Bible says : “The LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground.” Exodus 9:23, which basically supports even primordial beliefs regarding this phenomenon. For humans,  it was always seen as an act of Divine will, before the scientific explanation of the same, and even after that,  for many. Even pagan deities, and usually that/those  who were  ruling pantheons had power to throw lightning on people and other beings, creatures, entities. In Christianity , lightning is a symbol of G’d will, power, anger and punishment, regardless of what some fanatics, conspiracy theory supporter, self proclaiming Christians ( of they can even be called that ) post over and over, piteously on the world wide web, claiming how anything with a lightning symbol must be employed by the fiend ( Dev*l ) in some way. The Bible speaks of befall of an Angel , like lightning, but  not being the lightning (Luk 10:18 ) , it’s simply a comparison, a metaphor describing swift and ferocious free fall , not identification of the two motives.

In occultism Thunder is of Fire element. According to some ( newer source s ) with a dash of air as well , no pun intended lol  It symbolizes  Divine interdiction, acceleration , ferocious power and magick and sorcery in general. As opposed to  common every day reaction of evading in wide perimeter  places struck by lightning ( which is btw, highly irrational ), spiritual workers and cunning folk always seen lightning struck places, objects as prominent sources of power,  that should be employed however possible, to tap onto ancient powers. Certain trees , such as Oak, when hit by lightning were considered to be picked by Higher authorities ( mostly by Tiranis in Celts ) as even more special among these “Holly” trees. Cunning folk   and folk magick practitioners have also had high respect for lightning struck wood, Oak in particular. It could have been that this belief was ( somehow ) imported in magick from Slavic pagan religions, for Perun, Slavic pantheon chief  deity, had been said to  rule over the thunder and Oak, among other things. Slavic people have seen Oak as sanctity, and is so even today in Slavic countries, where  often  protective inscriptions are  inscribed in Oak, even nowadays, though being that  now commonly Crosses  are  inscribed,  it is most likely a latter input , coming from  Christianization.

 Beliefs and folklore  about lightning

 African people believe how Thunder and Lighting can be conjured, pretty much as other elements, in terms of weather making magick, Sotho-Tswana people also   believe in a deity called Modimo[1]  that manifests ( among other means ) through thunder and lightning. Black people also say  that when Rain, Sun and Thunder ( so called Sunwash )  are present together De*il is beating his wife ( ??? ) and  also that one should never talk on phone or be near Tv when  there are Lightning about. [2]  

There is another deity among Africans, Umpundulo being  the lightning bird-god of the Bantu tribesmen in Africa. Even today their medicine men  will go out in storms  in order to bid the lightning to strike far away.

Also, The Navajo Indians hold that lightning has great power in their healing rituals. And they associate it with wind, rain, and good crop growing. [3]
In  New Orlans Voodoo Hoodoo system of magick , with these particular elements Loa Chango ( or Xango sometimes  ) is associated and he is believed to manipulates them , to an extent. They are therefore symbolic of raw , masculine  power and energy, among other.

St Barbara, a venerated  Christian Saint, is often called Patroness of Thunder and Lightning, and is Voodoo Hoodoo syncretism , her image is sometimes used   to represent Chango. I have written about St Barbara before

In Orthodox Christian church, another Saint, St Elijah the Prophet  has the epithet  or being “Thunderous” or “thunderer” , meaning one that brings thunder, and is said to ride the skies in  fiery chariot.  Eastern European orthodox Christians say that If it thunders on his feast day, there will be no figs , nor hazels that year, meaning the reaping of the same will be poor, or insignificant. I  heard this superstition repeated over and over , as I grew up, ever since child, my granny used to mention it a lot.  On few occasions I bothered to check  how much  merit is there to this belief, it had seemed  to be very accurately ominous indeed.

Herbs and Minerals  that call or repel lightning

Throughout centuries herbs and minerals were associated with Thunder and used accordingly to repel it or even attract it. Hawthorn, Birch, Wood Betony and particularly Houseleek were used to protect from Lightning and electric storms. Out of the listed Houseleek was considered to have most protective power, against electric storms and  lightning, furthermore when strategically deployed around the house,  usually in four corners of the house, or yard.  Pilot weed burned during electric storms is belived to avert lightning  [4 ]  Feverfew protects from acciednts involving electric energy, so the  Hoodoo herbalism says , and closely looking up on it, it makes much sense to believe it's protective against lightning strike as well.

On the Other hand, Obeah Wood, Ebony, Nut tree (  Jugulans sp. ) were considered to attract the lightning. Oak was also believed to attract   lightning  , and  was associated with all sort of “thunderous deities” ( Zeus, Perun etc. ) . Pieces of  lighting struck wood resonate with spiritual power, and have been used to conjure and invoke lightning and electric storms* ,  and also  in   weather magick. In Hoodoo, they are used to empower or honor Loa like Chango .

Fulgurite or "Lightning glass"

Fulgurite is a naturally occurring mineral formed when Lightning  strikes in sand beaches. The heat from the lightning fuses nearby sand particles together, in a form of glass-y material, which is often listed and sold under mineral s used in crystal-therapy , and magick.  Fulgorite is believed to  be great adjunct to power,

As well as powerful tool in fire magick and defensive magick.  Amber, which is , as we know, not really mineral, but fossilized resin, has natural tendency to create static electricity and is therefore  often associated with  protection from Lightning and manipulation of electric energies, in “psionic “ type energy  work. Crystals that have photoelectric effect  can also be used the same manner .

Catching the lightning’s or Thunder’s “ashe”

As with anything else, Lightning is believed to have it’s “ashe” in  Hoodoo, which can be rather useful in empowerment and defense against evil. Mojo bags can be created outdoors when   thunders cut the sky, and are kept  raised  toward s the skies, open,    to “catch” the energy, the “ashe” of the lighting. A suggestion made about how to make Fulgurite onself, has some very magical methodology behind it, incidentally or not, and is a nice form to catch Thunder's energy and "ashe"  , perhaps even literatily lol . If You'd like to try here's how to make Your own Fulgurite

Lightning oil

Oil and lightning both correspond to same element, fire. So I was thinking, and came up with this simple Lightning oil formulation :

·         Base oil
·         Piece of Lightning struck wood
·         Optional: Piece of Fulgurite, Amber or Lodestone
If possible, combine all in an open vessel during the thunderstorm and raise above head , so that the oil may absorb some  of the lightning energy.
Could be used in weather witchery, empowerment or defense against evil, to strike fear or banish evil spirits, casting them  away. Could also make great adjunct to Uncrossing rituals  and formulas. Maybe also as devotional l oil to “thunderous” deities ( such as St. Barbara, Chango,   St. Elijah the prophet etc )

Same could be made into mojo bag, minus the oil and plus Obeah wood , for example. Such could be used for empowerment, mastery over adverse conditions and weather spells*

A little bit of Langikappe :

I suggest this grea scrap from London times, If You wish to know more on folk magick protection against lightning

NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself , should You wish to use any part of it elswhere online, add credits, Shadow of Shadow's magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com or a direct link to this post. Oil formula is my own personal "invention" so You may only post it elswehere online with giving credits and if You make no profit out of such.
CREDITS AND REFRENCES :

[1] http://books.google.me/books?id=8rGpO_TzeCsC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=african+beliefs+about+thunder+and+lightning&source=bl&ots=mmzoKhitkc&sig=3DWrp9MyQAa5F6bdHE2UK7DkPFg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WvP8T96AOYfGtAal87TwBQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=african%20beliefs%20about%20thunder%20and%20lightning&f=false

[2] As mentioned on here http://community.essence.com/forum/topics/20-superstitions-black-people
[3] according to http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_info/myths.html
[4] According to Cunningham  Scott

*Why’d someone used weather spells and magick , or conjure thunderstorm ? Looking back on history of Persia, Egypt, Rome, Greece, and medieval Europe to destroy someone else’s lands or crops, or even harm people, like  opposing army forces , for example. Sometimes, practitioner may summon Lightning or Storms , as instructed by spirits, to  express their will    or attitude towards something. Mamzelle Leveaux was said to had once conjured up a thunderstorm , and that way  had interrupted that public execution that was believed to be unfair.

IMAGE CREDITS: The thunder image is from www.science.howstuffworks.com and is used here WITH NO ILL WILL, for illustrative purposes.  Same goes for fulgurite image that is from    www.nature.com and is used here for illustrative and explanatory purposes only