Spell a Day – Jan 29th 2016

Protection. Feeling secure. Reflecting negativity. Today’s spell a day is about exactly this. Shielding ourselves from that which we do not want in our life. Negative forces that want to bring us down.

I have always been drawn to black onyx, which is traditionally a protection stone or a stone to ward off harm/negativity. When I was younger I had a piece of onyx that was shaped like a small obelisk that I wore for years. I would hang it on my bed post while I slept. It may sound crazy to some, but I could tell the days that I forgot it. The day always seemed full of mishaps and misunderstandings, frustrations and failures. I felt out of sorts without it during those early teenage years. I had bought it at this little shop in the mall of my hometown. One day it was gone and I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I searched. A few years later I was going through a difficult period in my life and I found it in an old box of random stuff. It seemed like the stone knew I needed a little boost and it returned to provide it. Sadly I have lost that stone again. Since I have had another necklace with a piece of onyx in it that I wore almost religiously for years. Due to the pentacle and crescent moon on the new pendant it became a symbol of my break with most other organized religions and started a lot of the comments regarding my status a s pagan or Wiccan by coworkers and friends. Initially I just felt it was neat and I wore it because of that.

Whether one believes in talismans or not, there seems to be a relationship between the importance one places on an object and your attitude about the world when you have it. Friends of mine who are devoutly Christian feel the same sense of loss and insecurity when they are without their cross as I used to without my onyx pendant.

Belief can be as powerful a tool as the supposed magical properties the tool is supposed to possess. What kind of symbol or talisman is important to you?

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Spell a Day – Jan 11th 2016

Today’s focus would be on using a locket or some piece of jewelry for magickal work. For the uninitiated, using the ‘k’ in magickal is to differentiate this type of spellwork from illusionists or tricks done for entertainment. I just think it looks better. More mysterious. Like saying Theatre instead of Theater. That swap of the letters trips up the eye and makes the reader stop, thinking, ‘Hmm, this is important or special.’

I never did much work with talismans of this sort. I have never made a hex bag, but I do thank the Winchesters for showing me how many times.
HexbagSupernatural

Some people find them very useful in their spellwork. I was always more of a gemstone/crystal person myself. Something about the feel of stone always made me feeler closer to Mother Earth.

In the second book in my Family Traditions series, I explore the use of a talisman in the form of a family heirloom passed down to the main character from his uncle. I am hoping to have this volume edited and out in the fall. A talisman for magickal work can be just about anything as long as it has meaning to the wearer. Many people of Christian faith wear crosses or crucifixes as a show of faith. These pieces of jewelry are ‘technically’ talismans of a magickal nature because of the belief that God will intercede on the bearer’s behalf. I am not trying to start a religious debate, but I do find it ironic that the Bible several times condemns the pagan use of these amulets or talismans, however you find quite a few of the same items in Christian denominations: rosary beads, Star of David as a necklace, medals and scapulars devoted to Saints or Angels. The idea of special ‘powers’ held by objects is also evident in the use of holy water. I have always thought that religions are not that far different as they like others to believe. It’s just always a “my way is better” attitude that spoils rational and thoughtful debate.  This is probably the biggest part of my break with most organized religion. I don’t need another person who feels they are more righteous with their God to tell me how to live my life. I can pretty much figure that out myself.

I used to wear a necklace with a dragon curled around a pentacle as a symbol of my belief in magick. My favorite was a pentacle with a crescent moon stuck through it with a piece of onyx in the middle. Onyx is supposed to help with warding off negative or harmful attacks. It is also supposed to help with healing and grounding oneself. I am very fond of that necklace. While I don’t often wear it openly, I still have it, tucked away with my runestones and tarot cards and other implements of magick and pagan worship. Always close at hand if I should need them.

What kind of talismans or amulets do you have or use in your life? I am curious to hear about any unique family heirlooms one might keep. Perhaps a locket or something that has been passed down for generations? Let me know gentle readers. Until next time.