A Necromantic Rite
Jul. 6th, 2024 10:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lostianvsA Necromantic Rite
While exploring a new part of the forest, I came upon a hidden grove of abandoned charcoal grills laid out in a circle. The area appeared to have been a public park, but clearly had not been used for many years. The grills and hand operated pumping well were all grown over with shrubs and the entire area had been overshadowed and hidden by trees. It was very easy to miss.
Using my other senses, I picked up on something disembodied trying to communicate with me. Inspired by astrological magic, I felt like weaving an impromptu rite of necromancy. The method I used was inspired by a passage from the Greer and Warnock translation of Picatrix.
The traditional astrological interpretation of this passage suggests a method focused on timing benefic and malefic planets with a rising sign and a seventh house suitable to some working. In my personal practice, I view these electional guidelines more as inspiration for magical pattern building. My experiments in natural magic leveraged reason and psychic ability to reveal sensible things associated via some hidden force that transcended space. I like to use astrology to reveal hidden connections that transcend time.
In this case, I'll ignore zodiacal considerations and focus on the arrangement of the planets as a sequence of events that inform ritual structure. The ascendant corresponds to the beginning and the 7th house corresponds to the end (the last of seven traditional planets). This might suggest a ritual structure that starts with a benefic planet (Venus or Jupiter) and ends with a malefic planet (Mars or Saturn), with the magical work occurring somewhere in the middle.
I stood in the middle of the grove and spoke the Charm of Cultivation (Jupiter). During the last stanza, I crossed my arms over my chest to direct the focus of the charm on making my body "agreeable." I then reached out to whomever was present with an ad-hoc charm.
I'm still trying to confirm the other things I hit on. At this point, I don't want to read too deeply into the encounter. Witches tend to stumble upon strange areas. However, the presence of beer may suggest an avenue for ritual offerings. I may return to this site to explore its potential for obtaining a paredros. This particular section of the forest isn't far from an old family cemetery.
Greer, J. M., & Warnock, C. (2011). The Complete Picatrix: The Occult Classic of Astrological Magic Liber Atratus Edition: The Classic Medieval Handbook of Astrological Magic. Page 139.
Ianvs
While exploring a new part of the forest, I came upon a hidden grove of abandoned charcoal grills laid out in a circle. The area appeared to have been a public park, but clearly had not been used for many years. The grills and hand operated pumping well were all grown over with shrubs and the entire area had been overshadowed and hidden by trees. It was very easy to miss.
Using my other senses, I picked up on something disembodied trying to communicate with me. Inspired by astrological magic, I felt like weaving an impromptu rite of necromancy. The method I used was inspired by a passage from the Greer and Warnock translation of Picatrix.
...to do any working with any of the planets, the working should be done with a body that is agreeable to the nature of the planet. ... Make the Ascendant fortunate with a benefic and the seventh house unfortunate with a malefic; this is because the Ascendant signifies the querent (and therefore it should be made fortunate in order that things should go vigorously forward), while the seventh house is assigned to the thing desired (and therefore it is appropriate that it be infortunated and debilitated in order for the ordained effect to be brought about).
The traditional astrological interpretation of this passage suggests a method focused on timing benefic and malefic planets with a rising sign and a seventh house suitable to some working. In my personal practice, I view these electional guidelines more as inspiration for magical pattern building. My experiments in natural magic leveraged reason and psychic ability to reveal sensible things associated via some hidden force that transcended space. I like to use astrology to reveal hidden connections that transcend time.
In this case, I'll ignore zodiacal considerations and focus on the arrangement of the planets as a sequence of events that inform ritual structure. The ascendant corresponds to the beginning and the 7th house corresponds to the end (the last of seven traditional planets). This might suggest a ritual structure that starts with a benefic planet (Venus or Jupiter) and ends with a malefic planet (Mars or Saturn), with the magical work occurring somewhere in the middle.
I stood in the middle of the grove and spoke the Charm of Cultivation (Jupiter). During the last stanza, I crossed my arms over my chest to direct the focus of the charm on making my body "agreeable." I then reached out to whomever was present with an ad-hoc charm.
Spirits of the Dead,
that time forgot.
Speak to me now.
Tell me your lot.
After a moment of listening, I began to see images of people walking around the grove, stoking fires, and picnicking. The era of the clothing spanned from the 1980s to the early 2000s. From the 2000s, attendance dropped off and this park was slowly forgotten. However, I saw that travelers like myself visited infrequently to this day. To this effect, one of the charcoal grills called out that it had something to show me. I approached and found two freshly emptied beer cans inside the grill which confirmed recent occupation. Satisfied that the charm had worked, I ended the ritual by reciting the Charm of Peace (Saturn) and returning the grove to its former inactivate state.that time forgot.
Speak to me now.
Tell me your lot.
I'm still trying to confirm the other things I hit on. At this point, I don't want to read too deeply into the encounter. Witches tend to stumble upon strange areas. However, the presence of beer may suggest an avenue for ritual offerings. I may return to this site to explore its potential for obtaining a paredros. This particular section of the forest isn't far from an old family cemetery.
Greer, J. M., & Warnock, C. (2011). The Complete Picatrix: The Occult Classic of Astrological Magic Liber Atratus Edition: The Classic Medieval Handbook of Astrological Magic. Page 139.
Ianvs