Conjurin' the Red Hoodoo

I have written of use of blue color, or rather blue colored curios in Hoodoo before, in my article "Hoodoo blues" , and have decided to do the same,  regarding the color red, which is so prominently used  in Hoodoo too.

Red  Ochre powder

Whether  it’s Red ochre ,  red brick, Cayenne,  or any other red curio or formula, Hoodoo  associates power, fierce and quick drawing qualities with such. It is no mistake that color red is corresponding to Protective, Blockbuster and thunderous deities In Hoodoo, such as St. Michael  the Archangel, St Barbara or Chago Loa, and we can even see red

Being’ one of the colors that correspond to Legba.   Speed and drawing/conjuring things is also commonly seen as “red” in Hoodoo,  and therefore candles  dedicated to St.Expedite  are often red wax dyed candles.

It’s also correspondent to love, passion , attraction and even luck drawing, for the Red Fast Luck formula is red indeed, and the color often comes from flakes of Alkanet root in it.

Much like Fire and South , to which color corresponds,  the red in Hoodoo ( and in magick ) is a powerful adjunct to any kind of spiritual work, in terms of speed and power. Blood which is red, is sacred , and ties to ancestral, constantly flows, hence is an enlivening,  and radiant , beckoning spiritual energies. To color seems to share the properties.

Fiery wall of protection products are often associated with  fire and color red and share it’s protective and “fiery” ( hence the name  ) qualities. Most of the    botanicals used  in the  formulae correspond to fire, Mars or Sun.

Reddening

Reddening is a New-Orleans Voodoo Hoodoo style folk ritual/spell  of laying lines made of powdered red bricks in front of doors, windows or even around yard and house. It is believed that this practice originates from using red ochre ( a natural dye Fe2O3, anhydride of yellow Ochre (  or just Ochre, Fe2O3 x 5H20 ), traditionally used in Africa as a skin dye and apotropaic agent.  Ochre naturally occurs as clay and is sometimes used as material or part of material for making a poppet, to work sympathetic ( image ) magick on someone, more so in African derived traditions.

Red bricks and chunks and pieces of them, are used to make the traditional 3 cross marks on Mamzelle Leveaux’s grave , as a part of wishing or rather petitioning ritual,  performed at her resting place. 

Powdered red birck dust, makes for a Hoodoo powder “pre excellence” , use to nullify conjure work, preferably that focused on objects , or even foot track magick. It’s commonly used to sprinkle over powders and objects or liquids , lain down in crossing work , such as foot track magick or sprinkling Hot foot powder where someone will walk over it. Sprinkling such with Red brick dust powder , renders such crossing harmless.  

Seems though, that like many curios of  New Orleans style conjure, red brick is  a two-headed conjure, for it can be used to cross , or swell a men as Zora Neale Hurston recorded in her folkloric work : “Mules and men”   , which says:

So Pierre took me with him to steal a new brick. We took the brick home and dressed nine black candies by writing e offensive doctor's name on each. His name was written nine times on a piece of paper and placed face down on the brick. It was tied there securely with twine. We put the black candles to burn, one each day for nine days, and then Pierre dug a well to the water table and slipped the brick slowly to the bottom. "Just like the brick soaks up the water, so that man will swell." [1]

 I have also read of Crossing Hoodoo jar spell  , recently,  that utilizes   brick, rusty nails, beans, and other things, all in  nine amounts [2]  

Red Hoodoo dyes

     Certain botanical contain natural  red dyes  and are often used to give color to oils in Hoodoo  ( or other type of formulae if/when needed )  , such as Alkanet root ( Alakana tinctoria )    , Puccon root or Bloodroot ( Sanginaria candiensis ) Cayenne pepper flakes ( Capiscum annum )  , Red Sandalwood powder   ( Pterocarpus Santalinum ) even Dragon’s blood resin  (  Dracaena Drako ), or common Onion peel ( Allium ) , and are all source of dye but have magickal use as well 
     You’ll probably use flakes of Alkanet to tint “Red fast luck”, for they  are protective of those that would wish to Jinx our money, while You’d probably go for Cayenne pepper flakes or   Onion peels in oil that’s supposed to banish or move ( away  ) someone or something. Fiery wall of protections contains Sandlwood ( often red one, to give color, even though Red Sandalwood is really a love related botanical  ) and Dargon’s blood resin ,  as those are protective and fiery.

Hmm, That inspired  me ;
Red Hoodoo powder:

Red Cayenne flakes,
an apotropaic botanical

·         Red brick dust, powdered
·         Dragon’s blood resin
·         Cayenne flakes 

Pulverize , If You wish add to a base of talc powder dyed red. If You use minerals such as Saltpeter or Epsom salts , it would make a nice “Run Dev*l Run” type of sprinkle.

Use as uncrossing or evil banishment agent, also could be used in offensive magick  too ( Red brick dust, and Cayenne are also used in Crossings , and Dragon blood is ingredient often found in “Dark arts” formulae or “pact working ) ,  and can of course, due to containing Red brick dust,  be sprinkled on “fixed” items , to render them harmless.   

Red Fast Luck

It’s a Hoodoo condition oil formula, as recorded by folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, red in color,  containing either

1)

·         Cinnamon
·         Wintergreen
·         Vanilla
·         Flakes of Alkanet ( for color )

Modern versions may include lodestones, even pyrite chips , orange peels and what not. These are however not parts of the formula as originally recorded by Hurston  , or

2)
·         Citronella essential oil diluted
·         PRESUMED: red dye

Again as recorded by Hurston,  this one could be referring to a lucky floorwash they use in New  Orleans, being simply diluted Citronella in water.

Now I said Red Fast luck , and not simply Fast luck as usually referred , to evade confusing it with yet another formula, containing  Bergamot ,as well as one ingredient of red Fast luck version 1 , as given above,   plus the third ingredient, an Asian grass  [3] which was traditional in New  Orleans and was   pale yellow colored .  

Also , it should be wisely to add here, that even though I myself  ( for my own workings ) as well as many suppliers will dye  Fast luck ( or rather Red fast luck ) red, it’s commonly sold in form of oil that has two layers, red and green,  alluding to the versatile use an nature of the oil , which can be use in love and money matters.
Therfore, Fast luck, as the name cunningly suggests  brings fast, though  most often very short lasting luck, and is as such preffered in things that may require luck in a hurry , quick money , love, lottery games and slot machine games .

It smells so very  fairly , that it can be used as magickal perfume as well.

Wickedly red

Another thing is closely related to color red , and often associated with same in Hoodoo, and it’s the De*il.   In all honesty  , attributing red to the Wicked one, may not be  an example   of  Christian, or/nor  other kind   of spiritual influence  on Conjure  ( Hoodoo and Creole Voodoo  ) as  an system, but rather an example of commercialism and it’s effect on anything really. Or an example of a trend, influencing magick  like anythin’ else that has to do with human beings.  See the trend of depicting the wicked one as horned, red figure was common even in midleage artwork, and later in modern days ,  prominently seen on commercial labels. A certain ( and quite famous  )  laundry detergent ( name beginning with “P”, ending with an “l” ) have once had a label clearly depicting red devil, and some   lye suppliers in States still use  red devil on their  stickers and labels of all sorts.

Hence, an example is “Red Devil Lye” which is use in Hoodoo in some places, by means of burring four  unopened containers with labels facing outwards in four corners of the yard, to ward off enemies, and is reportedly  very effective [4] Yronwode, Catherine “Hoodoo Herb and Root magic “
Red Devil image , is also often seen on various Hoodoo formula packages and labels such as Run Devil Run or Chinese wash, to name just   a couple of them J

NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself, therfore If You wish to use any part of it elswhere online add credits: Shadow of Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com ,  or a direct link to this post
CREDITS AND REFERENCES :
[1] quoted from :http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma01/grand-jean/hurston/chapters/hoodoo3.html#4 
[2] as stated on http://www.examiner.com/article/new-orleans-voodoo-curio-spotlight-red-brick-dust
[3]according to :   "PHARMACY RECIPE BOOK" , NEW ORLEANS PHARMACY MUSEUM
[4] Yronwode, Catherine “Hoodoo Herb and Root magic “, entry of "red lye"
IMAGE CREDITS:
Image depicting Ochre powder ( first image ) is from www.123rf.com  , and slightly edited here by myself, used  here for  explanatory and illustrativ e purposes, without any ill will. Second image, showing   Cayenne pepper flakes is from www.dreamstime.com  edited  by me for use here, and  used , as the previous one withou t any ill will

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