Happy Michaelmas 2020, dear friends, and hail to all Holy Angels! We give thanks for you today with love and respect and glorify your Creator.
This year, I felt moved to make this Michaelmas less about my requests and more about gratitude, celebration of the Angels, and prayers for protection and growth for all as we continue to navigate the global pandemic and all of the chaos and social ills we face at this momentous time.
May all of those who have passed from COVID-19 be lovingly guided into the world to come by Angels sent for this purpose.
May they find peace, rest, and spiritual progression in accordance with His Will.
May all enemies be reconciled, all warring friends brought back together in love, and may we all leave this year with vision and values clearer than ever before.
These things I pray Shem Yeshua ha Mashiach.
Amen.
Update from the Following Morning:
Last night, I offered water, candles, and Frankincense to all of the Angels with whom I work. I left them to burn overnight.
When I checked the Temple in the morning, however, although all of the candles had been lit at the same time, only one was still lit — the candle of Michael. Today is 8th of a 9-day ritual with the Holy Angel. And he continues to work. Hail, holy Michael! Hail Holy Angels! Glory be to God!
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2020. Sun Phase: Set. Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent at 19 % Illumination in 19 Degrees Scorpio. Mansion of the Moon: #5, al-Kalb (the Caduceus) Planetary Day: Day of the Sun. Planetary Hour: Hour of the Sun. Activities: Ritual Ablutions after 6 days of Daniel-fasting with no sex, alcohol, or meat; Prayers; Opening by the Bell of Art; Conjuration of Angels of the Lord of the Four Directions as per Heptameron; Conjuration and Evocation of Michael to visible appearance; Ritual cleansing of miasmatic contaminated objects; Curse-Breaking and defensive reflective magic against past and future curses; License to Depart; Prayers.
After 6 days of Daniel-fasting, no sex, no alcohol, and no meat, I felt an inner nudge to call on Michael for assistance in the current work on which I have been focused for the past week. It was the Hour of the Sun on the Day of the Sun with the Moon waxing in the Lunar Mansion of Al-Kalb, the Caduceus. This Mansion is very much in harmony with some of the work with which I would seek the Angel’s help, particularly, as Christopher Warnock notes, for defensive work. In addition, as Volguine notes, al-Kalb “exerts an especially favourable influence for exposing enemies,” and as Agrippa indicates, is useful for ” revenge from enemies” and “frees captives.” All of the above were highly appropriate for the work at hand.
I cleansed myself with ritual ablutions for purification, garbed myself in a white robe, my L-skin belt, and my Sacred Magic of Abramelin Crown, and picked up my Key of Solomon Wand. After sounding the Solomonic Bell of Art three times before entering the Circle, as per the Hygromanteia, I enterered the Circle then sounded the Bell to each of the full Quarters, as per the Key of Solomon.
In the Circle, Michael’s spirit Table with his statue was placed in the current direction of the Sun as assessed with astronomical software. The Table also featured offering candles; a glass of fresh water offered to God on behalf of the Angel; a vessel filled with a cleansing mixture of Holy Water, Florida water, and waxing Moon Rain Water; my Black and White-Handled Knives as well as Lemegeton’s Goetia Pentacle to be cleansed from recent miasmatic contamination; the Black Mirror of Art; the Heptameron Sigil of Michael, and other tools.
For the Evocation of Michael, I began a new method emerging from a synthesis of methods of Conjuration from the Arbatel and Heptameron Grimoires. After practicing a method for sealing the Spirit Body I learned from the Esperitista, I began the prayer from Arbatel Aphorism 14, modified to include the name of Michael:
O Lord of heaven and earth, Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible; I, though unworthy, by thy assistance call upon thee, through thy onely begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, that thou wilt give unto me thy holy Spirit, to direct me in thy truth unto all good. Amen. Because I earnestly desire perfectly to know the Arts of this life and such things as are necessary for us, which are so overwhelmed in darkness, and polluted with infinite humane opinions, that I of my own power can attain to no knowledge in them, unless thou teach it me: Send me therefore thy Spirit Michael, who may teach me those things which thou wouldest have me to know and learn, to thy praise and glory, and the profit of our neighbour. Give me also an apt and teachable heart, that I may easily understand those things which thou shalt teach me, and may hide them in my understanding, that I may bring them forth as out of thy inexhaustible treasures, to all necessary uses. And give me grace, that I may use such thy gifts humbly, with fear and trembling, through our Lord Jesus Christ, with thy holy Spirit. Amen.
After additional prayers, I prayed a modified version of the prayer from Arbatel Aphorism 21:
Omnipotent and eternal God, who hast ordained the whole creation for thy praise and glory, and for the salvation of man, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send thy Spirit Michael of the solar order, who shall inform and teach me those things which I shall ask of him; Nevertheless not my will be done, but thine, through Jesus Christ thy onely begotten Son, our Lord. Amen.
As per the Heptameron, I proceded with the Conjuration of the Angels of the Quarters for Sunday:
At the East. • • Samael. Baciel. Atel. Gabriel [*Fabriel]. Vionatraba. • • At the West. • • Anael. Pabel. Ustael. Burchat. Suceratos. Capabili [*Capabali]. • • At the North. • • Aiel. Aniel, vel Aquiel. Masgabriel. Sapiel. Matuyel. • • At the South. • • Haludiel. Machasiel. Charsiel. Uriel. Naromiel.
Finally, I proceded to the Heptameron Conjuration of Michael for Sunday, holding the Wand of Art, with my Solomonic Sword linked to Michael near at hand:
I Conjure and confirm upon you, ye strong and holy Angels of God, in the name Adonay, Eye, Eye, Eya, which is he who was, and is, and is to come, Eye, Abray; and in the name Saday, Cados, Cados, Cados, sitting on high upon the Cherubin; and by the great Name of God himself, strong and powerful, who is exalted above all Heavens; Eye Saray, maker of the World, who created the World, the Heaven, the Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is in the first day, and sealed them with his holy Name Phaa; and by the name of the holy Angels, who rule in the fourth Heaven, and serve before the most mighty Salamia, an Angel great and honourable; and by the name of his Star, which is Sol; and by his Sign; and by the immense name of the living God, and by all the names aforesaid, I conjure thee, Michael, O great Angel, who art chief Ruler of the Lords day; and by the name Adonay, the God of Israel, who hath created the world, and all that therein is, That thou labour for me, and fulfil all my petitions, according to my will and desire, in my cause and business.
I performed additional prayers and Conjurations, additional purifications and sprinklings with the Holy Water mixture, offerings of Candles and Water to God on behalf of the Angel, and sat down.
I began to gaze into the Mirror while continuing to vibrate and chant the name MICHAEL. Then I entered a free-flow rapid stream of prayers and free-form Conjurations, while gazing into the Mirror. I continued and continued until the room began to fade darker and the Spirit Table appeared to shine brighter. Mysterious lights and streaks began to drift around the Circle, indicating the presence of the Spirits.
Then the offered candles dimmed down before flaring up again and I heard an infinitely warm and rich voice speaking into my mind while a light seemed to concentrically glow and fade into the center of the Mirror. I recognized the arrival of Michael with an immensity of warmth and light, a terrifying power but a comforting loving presence…
M: “Greetings Adam, Son of Adam,”thewarm voice said, playing on the familiar title “Son of Adam” for humankind and my literal name.
I greeted the Angel with love and respect and asked if I could ask both his insight and his assistance with things in harmony with the Will and Nature of God. I began by asking the Angel for his impression of the cessation of my work with “St. Cyprian of Antioch” and the processes involved with ending that work such as severing the pacts, destroying the ritual tools, burning and smashing the statues, etc.
M: “You have done well. Did I not warn you that that “Saint” was no Saint, but a legion of Liars and Impostors? Did I not warn you lest you fall into a pit of deceit? This, you did. But now, at least, you shall be clear of your folly.”
I repented of my foolishness in believing the spirit’s lies about who it was and what it claimed to be doing and that I had not listened sooner.
M: “Be comforted, you are not alone. This legion of “Cyprians” draws new fools every day by the force of their greed, lust for power, gullibility, and arrogance. Some of these impostors mean well, but most are dark and intend nothing but deception and destruction to their own gain. Being Sons of Hell, they turn those who follow them into even worse Sons of Hell than they are. Fools under their sway among you humans propagate their lies and illusions and catch more souls in the web of their deceptions. Many are those who fall into their snares. Many are those who are puppets in their clutches. Many are those who are food on which for them to feed. Many are those who stumble into the pit alongside them. Truly, they will reap the fruits of their folly in destruction worse than they imagine. Tell your humans to bewarelest they be prey for Liars more cunning than they!“
After hearing these chilling words, I asked how I could possibly express this to them when they so fervently believe the opposite about “Cyprian.”
M: “It is not for you to make them believe or disbelieve. You can put point to the cliff towards which they stumble and warn them that they are in danger of a terrible fall. Some will listen. Most will not, and ignoring all warnings, plummet off the cliff to their destruction. Then their “Cyprians” will abandon them, laughing at their demise. And they will be shocked, but it will be too late. The Jaws of Evil gape wide to catch, devour, and consume the unwary. But you humans trust lies and ignore the truth. You take darkness to be light and light to be darkness, but some among you, might, by Grace, understand.”
I explained that I had already destroyed all of the statues, implements, and tools of my work with “Cyprian and Justina” and dismantled and cleansed the Table on which those tools and statues had once stood.
M: “You did well, but have more to do, as I see, you know. Pick up your Knives and Pentacle. Wash them in the Water (Holy Water, Florida Water, Rain Water). Then press each in turn to the head of my Statue. Three times through flame. Then ground them against the blade of your Sword and leave them on my Table.”
I did as I was instructed for each item in turn. When I touched each item to the head of the Statue, I seemed to feel a flush of energy, like a vibrating wave of warmth flooding through my forehead.
I thanked the Angel for his help with this and asked if it was acceptable to use the Mirror of Art with him, as I had never done so before, and had many who cautioned against using the dark Mirror with Angels, favouring instead, the Crystal.
M: “Is my name not upon the Mirror’s back? You can use it. Next time, use also the Triangle with it. I will help you with the Triangle to focus on my Presence and those of others whom you Call. Fear not the Triangle will offend. Is it not my Sigil inscribed three times upon it? Should I be offended by my own name, when the concentrating power is mine by grace of His (God’s)?“
I was surprised to hear him invite me to use the Triangle for communicating with him as I had only ever seen it recommended for malevolent daimons, but I was remembered of the Table of Art in some grimoires, which employs a triangle shape. His logic was sound, and who was I to argue after all?
I asked him if he could give me a visual of his face in the mirror.
M: “Have I not shown you before? Why do you ask for a Dream when you could have Reality? My face is no face. My wings are no wings. But focus anyway and see.”
As the room darkened once again, I seemed to see a vague outline of a face in the Mirror. Resembling a man. Strong. Mature. Wise. And then it faded out.
M: “Dreams upon Dreams. Symbols upon Symbols. Your kind hunger for these, but they are pale substitutes for Truth.”
I asked the Angel about another matter about which I had been wondering and never asked, Heaven and Hell. I asked “is there really a Heaven and a Hell? The answer that came was cryptic and enigmatic, but profound and incisive:
M: “Heaven and Hell are both metaphors and literal. They are metaphors for your feeble mind to relate to that which you can neither understand nor relate. Their literal Truth is more than you can understand and not what you imagine. You think in time and space but they are neither in time nor in space.
Do not confuse imagination for Truth or image for Being. Is it your business to know all things or that of the One who made all things? Some things will not fit in terms your mind can grasp. Your reason is a pale light, like a candle in the dark. Yet you expect it to light up the whole universe. How can a candle light the universe?
The Mysteries of God are beyond conception. And Heaven and Hell are Mysteries of God. Yet you humans try, in vain, to conceive despite this fact. And then you cling to the models you have made, the shades of your ill-conception, and call them God’s. How are they God’s? You made them.
They are like children’s drawings. Yet you take them to be accurate maps of the entirety of Being. Would you navigate by the crayon map of a child? Of course not. Yet you try to navigate the Unknowable by your mind’s crayon maps and call that “knowledge.” That is not knowledge, but make believe. Instead of make believe, simply believe. In what? What God will give you to know.“
I was reminded of the Espiritista’s recommendation that I drop the overanalytic machinations of my mind and lean more on sensation and experience. I asked the Angel if he had any recommendations for working with the Cuadro Spirits that the Esperitista had shown me:
M: “You will learn in time. Trust the one I sent to teach you and whom I sent you to learn from. He will show you the way. He is a friend — was his name not a hint from me? Continue with your baths and prayer. More will be revealed in time.”
I asked if the Angel had any insights or guidance to offer to better serve my Social Work clients:
M: “Continue to learn and listen. Humble your heart, listen well to criticism and suggestions, and trust in God. He will give to you what you are to say and do. When they speak to you, those in your care, listen to them as if God Himself were speaking to you. For how will you know when he is or is not? You cannot. Therefore listen with a humble heart and have faith.”
I turned to the final matter about which I was concerned. I asked if others had indeed worked malefic magic against me as the Esperitista had indicated and I had already suspected:
M: “Yes. Two men, in fact. But I will help. God nurtures and protects those who choose Him, who are those whom He has chosen. Their curses will be sent back upon their heads, magnified threefold in accordance with God’s Justice to the ones He loves and calls His own. I will tend to that. For you, forgive them. Leave it to God and do what I tell you now.”
The Angel instructed me to proceed with working defensive spiritual work to reflect back all past and future curses from this point on, such that they will be magnified and strike back three times as severely as what they intended for me. He did not permit me to share everything involved in this, as it was private and so that those men who sent the curses, one of whom reads this blog, could not counter them. He prevented only for me to share this:
M: “Take up my Mirror. Reach into… [redacted] and trace three times [redacted]. Cast… [redacted] in each direction in turn, saying… [redacted]. Pick up the Sword, trace a Cross in each direction, then stab that direction, proclaiming [redacted]. Call on God by the Names… [redacted] and recite the incantation “The curses thou send now to me, / Turn back around and go to thee, / The curses thou send now to me, / reflect back to thee now times three.” Continue with [redacted] and [redacted]. All will be taken care of. Your Father is a loving and faithful. He will protect and nourish you with all you need to know and do. My Sword will cut through all according to His will.“
This charm will remain in place going forwards from now on as an enduring Ward and defensive work against any who would work malefic witchcraft against me again.
I thanked the Angel again for his wisdom and insights, as well as his much-appreciated help. After a series of final prayers, I prayed the second prayer from Arbatel Aphorism 21:
“Forasmuch as thou camest in peace, and quietly, and hast answered unto my petitions; I give thanks unto God, in whole Name thou camest: and now thou mayest depart in peace unto thy orders; and return to me again when I shall call thee by thy name, or by thy order, or by thy office, which is granted from the Creator. Amen“
I thanked Michael once more and proceeded with more prayers then gave the License to Depart to the Angel and the other spirits previously Conjured. Just as suddenly as he had come, he was gone.
I sounded the Bell to the four Quarters in reverse Order and formally closed down the Temple.
Light in Extension: A Magical Journal 