About the Autumn Equinox

What is the autumn equinox

The autumn equinox is the precise moment when the Sun crosses directly above Earth’s equator, marking the astronomical start of autumn. Equinox comes from Latin, meaning “equal night” as day and night are roughly 12 hours long worldwide. In the Northern Hemisphere, it happens in September, usually around 21st-23rd. In the Southern Hemisphere, it happens in March.

Autumn equinox in Neopagan religions

The celebration is called Mabon. It honors the equal length of the light and dark before the nights grow longer. People give thanks to the earth’s abundance and the autumn harvest.

It is a time to slow down, reflect, and prepare for the cold winter months.

Autumn equinox in Mesopotamia

In Mesopotamia, the autumn equinox was the time of sowing; there was a festival dedicated to the moon god Nanna (or Sin) to bless the newly planted seeds. It was the turning point signaling the transition from the scorching dry summer (Emesh) to the cooler planting months (Enten). It was also a time to honor the major deities, like Anu, Enlil, and Enki.

Simple ritual for the autumn equinox

Ingredients

    • A white candle.

    • A black candle.

    • A brown or deep orange candle (or any autumn-related color, or use white as a universal color).

    • A needle, or some tool to carve into the Autumn candle.

    • A vegetable oil.

Preparation of the Autumn candle

Carve the following symbol into the candle:

As you do so, recite the following: “May the arms of Chaos reach down and embed this candle with the powers of Autumn. May you bless me with the rejuvenation before the longest night comes.”

After this is done, rub a vegetable oil on the candle; while doing so, recite the following: “I bless you with the power to grow what is planted deep within.”

Do what is described above either one day before the autumn equinox, or on the same day as the ritual.

The Autumn Ritual

Place the 3 candles on your altar in a triangular pattern. The triangle should point at you, with the Autumn candle being right in front of you. The black candle should go to the left far corner and the white candle at the right far corner. If you want to use any incense, put it at the center of the triangle, if the space permits.

    1. Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.

    2. Say: “As above, so below.”

    3. Light the black candle.

    4. Say: “As within.”

    5. Light the white candle.

    6. Say: “So without.”

    7. Stay silent for a while to get a feeling for the moment.

    8. Say: “With the power of the second breath!”

    9. Light the Autumn candle.

    10. Say “May my power flourish just like Nature flourishes before the long night!”

    11. Close your eyes.

    12. Say: “Bless what is seeded within as it may grow unhindered!”

    13. Open your eyes and say “As above, so below.”

    14. Take the black candle with your left hand; as you blow it, say “As within,” but keep holding it.

    15. Take the white candle from the right side with your right hand; as you blow it, say “As without,” but keep holding it.

    16. Say: “As below, so above.” Now you can put the candles aside.

    17. You can let the Autumn candle lit, or you can blow it out and store it for the next year; this concludes the Autumn ritual.

About the Summer Solstice

What is the summer solstice

The summer solstice is the time of the year when the day is the longest and the night is the shortest. It’s the beginning of the astronomical summer. Usually happens between June 20th and 22nd on Northern Hemisphere and between December 20th and 23rd on Southern Hemisphere.

Summer solstice in Neopagan religions

Litha is a modern Pagan and Wiccan holiday that celebrates the summer solstice. It is also known as Midsummer. Many traditions greet the rising sun: Wake up with the sunrise and soak the sun in.

Other celebrations include dancing around large bonfires, singing songs, telling stories, writing down on a piece of paper what’s bothering you, and surrendering it to the flames.

Summer solstice in Mesopotamia

Mesopotamians didn’t celebrate the light and fertility at midsummer. Instead, they dreaded the solstice as it brought extreme heat, droughts, and possibly famine. They associated the peak of the sun’s power with Nergal, the fierce solar deity of the netherworld, war, and pestilence. During this time, people held six- or seven-day funerals for Tammuz (Dumuzi), the god of food and vegetation, as they believed he dies each year as the summer heat killed the crops. During this funeral, they placed a statue of Tammuz on a funeral bier, while women mourners and goddesses like Ishtar (Inanna) wailed, sobbed, and sang lamentation hymns.

Simple ritual for the summer solstice

Ingredients

    • White candle

    • Black candle

    • An orange or yellow (or any summer-related color, or use white as a universal color)

    • A needle, or some tool to carve into the Summer candle

    • A vegetable oil

Preparation of the Summer candle:

Carve the following symbol into the candle:

As you do so, recite the following: “May the arms of Chaos reach down and embed this candle with the powers of Summer. May you burn with the power of the Sun”.

After that is done, rub vegetable oil on the candle; while doing so, recite the following: “I bless you with power to illuminate the way and to burn what is hostile.”

Do what is described above either one day before the summer solstice or on the same day as the ritual.

The Summer ritual

Place the 3 candles on your altar in a triangular pattern. The triangle should point at you, with the Summer candle being right in front of you. The black candle should go to the left far corner and the white candle at the right far corner. If you want to use any incense, put it at the center of the triangle, if the space permits.

    1. Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.

    2. Say: “As above, so below”.

    3. Light the black candle.

    4. Say: “As within”.

    5. Light the white candle.

    6. Say: “So without”.

    7. Stay silent for a while to get a feeling for the moment.

    8. Say: “With the power of the ever-burning Fire!”

    9. Light the Summer candle.

    10. Say: “May Nature be protected from the heat”

    11. Close your eyes.

    12. Say: “But may the emanating heat of the Sun scorch my enemies”.

    13. Open your eyes and say “As above, so below”

    14. Take the black candle with your left hand; as you blow it, say “As within,” but keep holding it.

    15. Take the white candle from the right side with your right hand; as you blow it, say “As without”, but keep holding it.

    16. Say: “As below, so above.” Now you can put the candles aside.

    17. You can let the Summer candle be lit, or you can blow it out and store it for the next year. This concludes the Summer ritual.

About the Spring Equinox

What is the Spring Equinox

The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the time when the sun’s subsolar point is leaving the Southern Hemisphere and reaches the equator. At this point, the day and night are about the same length – Equilux actually usually comes a few days earlier, depending on the latitude. This time is commonly associated with Easter, eggs, bunnies, fertility, growth, nature waking up, etc. It usually happens around 20-21st March in the Northern Hemisphere.

Spring Equinox in Neo-pagan religions

Spring equinox is usually celebrated as the Ostara holiday in Neo-pagan religions. Ostara should be derived from the Germanic dawn and fertility goddess, Ëostre. Ostara is celebrated with traditional gemstones, incense, and colorful flowers. An Ostara ceremony includes the cleansing and decorating of homes, meditations on the message of renewal, and an appreciation for the days getting longer after the winter.

Spring Equinox in Mesopotamia

In Mesopotamia, the Spring Equinox was associated with the return of Inanna from the underworld. With her, Inanna brings warmth and fertility. It coincides with the spring harvest and the annual flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Spring Equinox was also associated with the triumph of the gods over the primordial chaos and the creation of the universe.

Simple ritual for the Spring Equinox

Ingredients

    • White candle

    • Black candle

    • A pink candle (or any spring-related color, or use white as a universal color)

    • A needle, or some tool to carve into the Spring candle

    • A vegetable oil

Preparation of the Spring candle

Carve the following symbol into the candle:

As you do so, recite the following:

“May the arms of Chaos reach down and embed this candle with the powers of Spring. May you wake up as Nature wakes up”.

After that is done, rub vegetable oil on the candle. As you do so, recite the following:

“I bless you with the power to wake up what is sleeping, to strengthen what is weak, to manifest what is unspoken”.

Do what was described above either one day before the Spring Equinox, or on the same day as the ritual.

The Spring ritual

Place the 3 candles on your altar in a triangular pattern. The triangle should point at you, with the Spring candle being right in front of you. The black candle should go to the left far corner and the white candle at the right far corner. If you want to use any incense, put it at the center of the triangle, if the space permits.

    1. Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.

    2. Say: “As above, so below”.

    3. Light the black candle.

    4. Say: “As within”.

    5. Light the white candle.

    6. Say: “So without”.

    7. Stay silent for a while to get a feeling for the moment.

    8. Say: “Just like Inanna returned from the underworld, and just like life returns to Nature”

    9. Light the Spring candle.

    10. Say: “May my powers grow and mature. May be visible what is hidden and may be reachable what is beyond”.

    11. Close your eyes.

    12. Say: “May the star of Chaos bless me with powers beyond the natural”.

    13. Open your eyes and say “As above, so below”

    14. Take the black candle with your left hand; as you blow it, say “As within," but keep holding it.

    15. Take the white candle from the right side with your right hand; as you blow it, say "As without," but keep holding it.

    16. Say: “As below, so above”; now you can put the candles aside.

    17. You can let the Spring candle be lit, or you can blow it out and store it for the next year; this concludes the Spring ritual.

Ouija troubles

So, many of you might have noticed the picture of a custom made ouija on my twitter account. I have created it for a entertainment purposes (for that is what Ouija really is). First day I have used it with my wife, an old "friend" reappeared, a spirit that was the reason I started with the occult to begin with, to get rid of it :-D.

My wife then had the usual nightmarish dream, next day our animals were agressive towards her, etc, usual stuff.

On the second night we were contacted by another spirit that seemed to be troubled by the same "friend" of ours and wanted to ask for help, we also get a date since when our "friend" should exist, 1879. I promised I will do my best but then something unexpected happened, I did the Sacred Chamber Ritual while my wife was hugging me. Next day the Ouija didn't work. I have originally thought it is because of the Hexennacht, but even a day after it didn't work. Question is what happened, maybe the ritual has some banishing quality I am unaware of, or maybe there is some strange astrological current that currently blocks the communication.

Progress with Lugalanna

Yesterday I had to omit the ritual as I was becoming too tired.

Anyway, I think that Lugalanna has already shown me my True Will. I have done some re-checking and found out there are abilities I have lost. For example I am no longer able to make myself hear the sound of a bell without seeing the bell in my mind's eye. Considering the amount of stuff I lost I restarted my practice with Initiation Into Hermetics (so I am at the step I, now).

Also, I finally made some time and changed the payment settings for my books, so all of my books are completely free now (including Magickal Curriculum AND Astro Magick Essentials).

New book available

Astro Magick Essentials now available for sale, check it out:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237567521/Astro-Magick-Essentials

3rd Grade, Week 2: Magickal prayer

What is a Magickal prayer
According to Papus the Magickal prayer is the most pure and divine version of Magick ceremony, as such it shouldn't be done regularly but only during special occassions so it doesn't become a mindless and boring habit, but always stems from the heart.

How to perform the Magickal prayer
First of all, I am going to present my modified version here, if any of you want to learn the original, you should study Papus' amazing work.

First of all, the prayer is a ritual, check for the basic format of rituals as described in previous section regarding preparation and finishing of the ritual (centering, grounding, casting the circle, etc), as for the content of the ritual, you stand facing a direction of East, or North, or black mirror, or a chair and you pray to the force you believe in (God, deities, spirits, Chaos, life current, whatever...).

I understand this might look too simple, but it really isn't. Your words should come directly from your heart, which at first goes really slowly as you don't really know what you can talk about. Can you cuss? Can you beg for something? Can you ask for cursing of your enemies? Can you ask for anything at all?

The prayer should come from your heart so there really isn't any limit of what you can say or how, I should just warn you about few things. First of all, praying people tend to have moral limitations. They think they shouldn't ask about anything specific because that would be selfish. So they usually ask for a "more opportunity to grow". I would say that the force you pray to have a very specific form of humor and you often get what you ask for. Well, how "opportunity for growth" be translated? Sometimes you get some crazy illness no doctor knows how to cure, sometimes your house burns down and sometimes you lose your job and become a homeless. Considering that you originally wanted a new ferrari this fate is far away from your desires.

Secondly don't do the prayer because you have to, it must be a "want", not a "need", you must have a correct mood for it else don't do it at all.

Don't try to be too formal. After all we speak about forces that know about all your masturbations, cussing and drug abuse even sooner than you do (that's a bit creepy, isn't it?). But don't be too informal, a little bit of respect won't hurt you. After your prayer is done, close the ritual as you are used to.

3rd Grade, Week 1: Basic format of the rituals

For a successful ritual we need to fulfill a list of procedures (no virgin sacrifice included, duh). So, first of all let's make the checklist:

-preparation
-performance
-finish

Too general? Well, let's take a look at these parts in depth:

Preparation
Preparation starts with a pen and paper. You write down the intended outcome and then starts an annoying process of research... can I use some servitor for my purpose? Is there one already available or need I create one? Does the tradition I am borrowing from have any conditions required to call the servitor, e.g. a specific planetary time, incenses, color decorations? How many of these can I cheat?

After the study is done and conditions filled or bent for the purpose we can start with the pre-ritual preparations:
1. centering and grounding
2. casting the circle around us to make us look more visible in the spiritual world
3. invoking/inviting deities/angels/demons/forces/divinity/whatever to gain spiritual authority

For centering and grounding you can use the Sacred Chamber Ritual I have presented to you earlier in this book or thousands of other practices available elsewhere

For casting the circle you can use the method available in your practice or you can draw a circle within circle on the floor using a chalk and into the space within these two circles you can write down your Alphabet of desire. You can also just walk 3 times around in the circle or let your Vital force to leave your body, draw the circle 3 times around you and then return back to your body (no wasting).
The circle itself is like a lighthouse, it grabs the attention of all nearby spirits/forces/whatever to turn their attention to you.

Regarding attaining the authority part the simplest way is a prayer to your deity/whatever to bless your ceremony to be succesful but can be prolonged by litanies, glosolalia, begging, asking, commanding, whatever feels suitable for the dramatic effect (if you are scared of what you are inviting into your place, more powerful experience the ritual will be).

Performance
The performance itself is to evoke/invoke the desired servitor (if any) and state your wishes as commands coming from the authority you have attained during the preparation. Also keep in mind to get straight to the point and be specific, as well. Using vague and general terms because you are scared to be "selfish" usually lead to vague and general misinterpretations on the spirits's side with quite a mischief at the end.
Also remember: never offer anything in return, you are not exchanging, you are commanding and the only one you are responsible to for you actions is the authority you have called prior the ritual, not during it.

Finish
Banishing is generally a no-no unless something really sick starts happening. Unless that is the case, use a standard license to depart, either borrowed from your tradition or use something like this one:
"O, mighty spirits, I thank you for your assistance during this ritual. Now you can return to your places and grant my wishes. Please leave quietly and don't bring any harm to me or my loved ones and be ready for my next call."

Sometimes it happens that servitors lurk on your place even after the license to depart. If that happens, don't freak out, mostly they just like your place and want to stay for a little while, leaving few minutes or hours later. That is actually pretty usual, just don't mind them and mind your own business.

As the next thing you should go to do something physical to get back the touch with a physical reality. For example take a bath, exercise, make a sandwich, smoke a cigarette, just do some activity.

Simple daily practice

So, this is the basic invocation I was talking about recently.

You know, saying:

ZI DINGIR ANNA KANPA,
ZI DINGIR KIA KANPA

repeatedly is fine, but unless you know the meaning it will have the minimum effects. So I have come with a simple litany that can be used during the day and that has a clear message of what do you want to achieve:

"Spirits, beings of the Light and the Darkness, don't forget about me, stand by my side and do my Will."

Simple, compatible with all 3 paths in Magick, easy to remember and gets strictly to the point, to gain the spiritual authority. In that manner it's actually better than ZI DINGIR, as ZI DINGIR only calls the spirits of heaven and earth so they remember. But you know, you can actually remember someone while not really giving a damn about him. This litany makes your fellow spirits a bit more pro-active.