“To Cure the Sick and That, Gratis:” Successful Healings Using Hybrid Solomonic-Conjure Methods

By Frater S.C.F.V.

A. Introduction: Healing by Fire, Oil, and Herb

After having three people near me require healing in a short period of time and wanting to help them as best I could, I plunged into analyzing 13 different Conjure and Rootwork Formulas for Healing Oil in an attempt to better understand how they work so that I could optimize a Healing Oil to help those around me.

Having created my own 11-Herb formula, I designed a method that would enable me to promote the healing of three individuals within the same working. The method ended up being a hybrid form of Solomonic magic and Rootwork, which, combined with the Healing Oil formula, ended up producing results which, to me, were nothing short of amazing…

B. Talismanic Design: At the Crossroads of Health and Illness

As the base of this method, I opted to use my consecrated Tablet of Lights, which I made following Balthazar’s (2018) Solomonic Conjure method. This method involves consecrating a dedicated surface (e.g. large white plate in my case) using formulae from the Key of Solomon adapted to the task (Peterson, 2004).

In Balthazar’s original method, consecrated chalk markers are used to draw relevant symbols–often Key of Solomon Planetary Pentacles relevant to the task at hand–on the Tablet of Lights. I have previously used such chalk markers, which I consecrated along with white chalk on the Day of Epiphany both in my own home Temple and by Mass at Church using hybrid elements of the Key of Solomon, Carmelite Chalk Blessing, and Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses (Peterson, 2016). However, today, I opted to use consecrated glass markers, that is, markers that are water-soluble, so can be washed off, and useful to write on both glass and ceramic, as well as dry-erase markers. Both ended up tracing very clear and vibrant lines on the Tablet service, which can be helpful information who are looking for a tool for this purpose, that is, to inscribe magical figures in a robust but non-permanent manner.

More and more, however, instead of lifting Pentacle designs for the Tablet from particular grimoires as in Bathazar’s original method, I have been communicating with my Spirits and asking them to guide me to draw the design needed for the ritual at hand. The idea is to continue to work within the scope of the tradition, but enlivened, guided, and tailored by the relationships I have with my Spirits. These designs seem to “flow from the pen,” one part at a time, as if the Spirits were saying “draw this. Now write this name. Now draw this.” Then, looking back at it, the whole gestalt or pattern comes into view, but not from a place or rational forethought, calculating, or planning-in-advance, like an epiphany or a vision.

To quote the Science Photo Library: This is a “17th century engraving symbolizing the search for knowledge in alchemy. The naked figure is the god Mercury or Hermes, the messenger of the gods. In each hand he holds a caduceus, his symbol. The two other men carry a sword with a serpent wrapped around it, and a sword with a cockerel on it; these are both symbols associated with Aesculapius, the god of medicine. The Sun and Moon represent the two alchemical essences. In Greek mythology, Hermes was believed to have power over sleep and dreams. Aesculapius was believed to dispense medical knowledge by using dreams. Image from 1677.”

In this case, I was drawn to produce a form that started out with the structure of a Caduceus, referencing healing and Hermes Trismegistus, and therefore, magic. However, this design omitted the serpents. Instead, another “pole” was added to form a Cross with a Rose in the Center, in refence to the Rose Cross. The Fama Fraternitatis, one of the fundamental manifestos of the founding of Rosicrucianism, says that Rosicrucian Brotherhood do not “profess any other thing than to cure the sick, and that gratis.

As this was a ritual for healing done for free, out of love and a wish to be of service, it seemed appropriate. In addition, in reference to the Caduceus, it is worth noting that I did not know this at the time, but it was revealed to me later that another reason the Spirits had me draw the Caduceus is because the Waxing Moon was moving from the Lunar Mansion of Al-Iklil (the Monkey, for protection) and into the Lunar Mansion of Al-Kalb (the Caduceus to heal and prevent illness) at the very time I would end up performing the candle working…

The Three 3 Initial Rosicrucian Manifestoes: the Fama Fraternitatis (1614), the Confessio Fraternitatis (1615), and The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (1616). It’s worth noting, as Samuel Robinson has pointed out, that there is also a fourth Rosicrucian Manifesto, which is the Speculum Sophicum Rhodostauroticum (1618).

In addition, the Crossroads and the 5-Spot pattern of Hoodoo inspired the structure of this Talismanic figure. At the top, a golden Sun was drawn to symbolize both Keter as the Sephirotic Source of Light in the Kabbalistic system and the Light of Healing, itself a reference to the Golden Dawn Neophyte Grade Ritual (“the Light hath Healing in its Wings”).

The Caduceus wings have seven sections, seven for the 7 Planets, 7 Archangels of the Heptameron/ Lucidarium system, and 7 Olympic Spirits of the Arbatel system. When I reached out to the Archangels and Olympic Spirits to see who would assist with this work, the two triads of Raphael-Michael-Sachiel (Mercury-Sun-Jupiter) and their corresponding Olympic Spirits (Ophiel-Och-Bethor) stepped forward.

Therefore, the Angels’ names in Hebrew were included alongside the Olympic Spirits’ standard Sigils from the Arbatel. Finally, a powerful Divine Name of healing, YHVH Rapha (“God of Healing”) was included at the top of the Talismanic figure, to rule over and energize all of its contents, as well as to drive the “energy” of the healing involved in the ritual itself.

The herb “Self-Heal,” a central ingredient in my personal Healing Oil formula.

C. Foci and Curative Aims: The 3 Targets of the Work and Their Ailments

This hybrid ritual was targeted at three individuals, all of whom I know and care about, two here in Montreal, and one, a friend in Nigeria, Africa.

First, J.P., here in Montreal, has been complaining of “muscular pain going down my sides, great nausea making me throw up and making it hard for me to keep any food down, and disrupting my sleep…” His ailment was a physical one that impacted his psychological experience (e.g. by disrupting sleep).

Second, C.L., also in Montreal, has been suffering from “a burning feeling in my mouth, swelling around my gums, redness, pain, and a general lack of energy, like I’m exhausted all of the time and can barely get anything done…” Therefore, her issue was both physical and psychological.

Finally, C.O., in Nigeria, Africa, has been struggling with a debilitating “pain in my waste and stomach which makes me barely able to stand up, it’s so bad…” This is a strongly physical issue that is causing him significant distress.

I advised all three individuals to consult their doctors about their issues and explained that if needed, I would recommend them to consult a doctor afterwards as well. In addition, I explained to all three people that my approach is one of holistic healing, that is, combining (1) Western medicine with (2) herbalism, and (3) the spiritual, magical, and alchemical uses of herbs. They agreed.

D. Fixing the Candles and Preparing the Body: Ritual Preparation and Set-Up

Having already infused and prayed over my 11-herb Healing Oil, I set it out along with 3 light-blue candles. In Rootwork, light-blue is a colour that is used in candle magic for healing, peace, and spirituality.
Each of the three people to be healed was designated their own candle. I took a pin with a light-blue head at the end of it, and used this to inscribe each candle with the aim of the working for that person. In addition to their full names, the following specifications were inscribed in their respective candles:

For J.P.: “healing, no pain, no nausea in stomach, good appetite, joy, freedom, peace.”

For C.L.:healing, no burning, pain, or swelling in mouth, energy, joy, peace, love, free.”

For C.O.:healing, no belly pain, no waist pain, freedom, peace, joy.”

While carving the candles, I looked at photos of the targeted person and repeatedly focused on seeing the candle as an extension of that person, such that my work on the candle connects back to them. I continued to pray until all three candles were inscribed.

Thereafter, I dressed each candle with some left-over 11-Herb Healing Blend and the 11-Herb Healing Oil, drawing the Oil towards me as I dressed it to symbolize drawing the healing towards the client, and ensuring the Oil and Herbs were thoroughly rubbed into the candles.

The bottoms of the candles were warmed and they were then stuck to the Tablet of Lights to fix them in their positions.

The Tablet fixed with the candles was then placed on the dedicated spirit table I have reserved for Raphael and Ophiel in my Temple Room. As noted above, consulting the Archangels and Olympic Spirits, I inquired who wished to help with the healing work at hand and the Jupiter Archangel Sachiel and Sun Archange Michael and the Arbatel Olympic Spirits Bethor, Ophiel, and Och indicated that they would be willing to assist. Therefore, I included the 3 Angels’ statues and the 3 Olympic Spirits’ Arbatel Sigils on the table as well.

In addition, a candle was anointed with Healing Oil and fixed to be offered up to God on behalf of the Spirits, as well as water to refresh them, offerings of Herbs to energize them, and Sandalwood incense. Finally, stones connected to my work with these different Spirits were also included on the table as loci of their power and symbols to bolster the sympathetic resonances of Jupiter, the Sun, and Mercury to be called upon.

In terms of ritual preparation, it is worth noting that 3 days of Cleansing Herbal Baths were completed followed by 7 Nourishing Herbal Baths each night. No alcohol was consumed during this time. No drugs either. Abstinence from masturbation, etc. was also strictly maintained. Food was eaten in moderation.

On the day of the Ritual, I took a purifying Herbal Bath while praying and cleansing myself with Hyssop, Rue, Basil, Mint, Rose, Lavender, and Cocoa Butter. Donning my standard Solomonic regalia, I put on my white robe, Lion Skin Belt, priestly stole, a white cloth wrapped around my head, with my Abramelin Crown over that. Under the robe, I wore my Medallion with the 7 Archangels and 7 Olympic Spirits upon it, anointed in Fiery Wall of Protection Oil. I was nudged to also include the Bell of Art, my Solomonic Wand, and a Wild Turkey feather foraged during my time in Ontario. I brushed my teeth and put on cologne to remove any unappealing odours that might displease the Spirits, a method inspired by Dr. Stephen Skinner. Then I entered the Temple to begin the work.

D. By Invocation, Oil, and Flame: A Hybrid Solomonic-Rootworking for Healing

Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2022. 10 PM to 2:30 AM.
Planetary Timing: Oil and Powder made in the Day and Hour of Mercury. Consecrated and empowered and candlework for healing done in the Hour of Jupiter given work to be done with Sachiel and Bethor.
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent in Libra, good for bringing balance and harmony to situations magically (e.g. health to bodies imbalanced by symptoms and disease).
Lunar Mansion: Al-Iklil (the Monkey, for protection) on cusp of Al-Kalb (the Caduceus to heal and prevent illness).

Having completed my Ritual Bath and put on my ritual clothing, I entered the Temple and begun the ritual by delivering a battery of knocks on the Raphael spirit altar and on my Ancestor altar. I asked my Ancestors to assist in the healing work to be done and asked for the Ancestors of the three people in question to also come to their aid.

I then picked up the Bell of Art and rang it repeatedly in a Cross Formation while saying “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…” I then proceeded through a series of extensive prayers to God as Adonai Rapha, the Lord of Healing, asking for His aid, that He might be glorified through the miracles of his healing work in these three people’s lives and cited multiple healing miracles in the Bible as testaments to Divine Power and asking that similar works be done here. As a side note, the method of citing relevant stories or historiolae (a kind of incantation incorporating a short mythic or scriptural story that provides the paradigm for the desired magical action) as precedents in magical work is discussed in detail in Agrippa’s Third Book of Occult Philosophy.

Next, through prayers by the Divine Names pertaining to healing (YHVH Rapha, Adonai Rapha, and El Elyon Rapha), I called the Angels and Olympic Spirits and throughout used Divine Names of Healing, Adonai Rapha, YHVH Rapha, El Rapha. I lit the Spirit offering candle and 3 Sandalwood sticks symbolizing 4 different triads of 3: One candle for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One candle for Michael, Sachiel, and Raphael; one candle for Och, Bethor, and Ophiel; One candle for J.P., C.L., and C.O. I offered the candle and incense to the Most High God in their names and then invited the Archangels, Guardian Angels of myself and the 3 targets, the Olympic Spirits, and the Ancestors of myself and the three people to find in them sources of power, refreshment and fuel for their work. The herbs in the Oil and glass of Water were similarly offered with additional prayers said over them.

Next, I cleansed all of the tools and myself with a combination of Solomonic Holy Water made by myself according to the method in the Key of Solomon and some Holy Water consecrated by a Catholic priest and gathered from a Cathedral.

I then asked for the Angels’ and Olympic Spirits help to empower the Healing Oil in the bottles on the altar and anointing the candles, as well as the Healing Sachet Powder also on the table, with the virtues of healing as specified by the Roles of the spirits of the Herbs included in the Healing Oil (please see my article on Healing Oil for more details). I asked for God’s healing power and will to extend the Good and Love to enliven and empower the Oil and Powder as well. I then anointed the heads of each Archangel, my own forehead, and the Sigils of the Spirits with some of the Oil to create a connection between them, myself, the Oil in the bottles, and the Oil on the candles symbolizing the three people to be healed.

Next, I lit the candles for the three people to be healed and prayed that they be linked to their human targets in order to benefit and heal them. I picked up the Turkey Feather I had personally ceremonially gathered while out in a forest, holding my Solomonic Wand in the other hand, and began to use the feather to rhythmically and repeatedly waft the exorcised and consecrated Sandalwood spoke over the Angel statues, Spirit Sigils, Bottles of Healing Oil, Jar of Sachet Powder, myself to cleanse me as the practitioner, and the Tablet of Lights and three Candles of the people to be healed.

While doing so, I prayed personalized prayers for J.P. C.O., and C.L. in turn, praying about exactly which aspects of their bodies and minds needs healing (e.g. for J.P., his belly pain, nausea, and appetite to be healed, and for peace, joy and a feeling of comfort to come to his mind; for C.O. for his waist and belly pain to be healed and for his mind to be filled with peace, joy, freedom from worry and physical pain; for C.L. for her mouth to be free from burning, pain, and swelling, for her lethargy to be enlivened with energy, and for peace, freedom from physical and mental ailments, and a feeling of comfort to fill her mind).

Next, I recited prayers for the Sick from Agostino Taumaturgo, as mentioned in the Healing Oil Article. This was followed with praying Psalms 147, 46, and 27 over the Oil, Powder, and Candle work.

Finally, I asked the Angels and my own Guardian Angel to coordinate with the 3 targets’ Guardian Angels to coordinate their healing, and for my Ancestors to work with their Ancestors to effect their healing as well. I asked each of the 11 Herb Spirits included in the Oil to assist with each of their roles and the 3 Olympic Spirits to help assist the healing in each of their spheres (e.g. Mercury – changing illness to health, governing the crossroads of sickness and health, assisting communication with doctors as needed, etc.; Sun – bringing healing light into the situation, illuminating the causes of the illness and obstacles to health so that the Lemongrass can clear them as a road-opener; Jupiter — expanding health and joy and peace of mind) working in concert with the Archangels. I then prayed more prayers to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit again praying for the healing with total confidence that it would come about and giving thanks in advance for the wonders to follow.

I then recited a final series of prayers, closed the Temple, and invited the spirits to continue to enjoy the Offerings while completing their work.

E. Carromancy: Reading the Wax

Examining the candles the next day, I was surprised to see that J.P’s candle was still burning, many hours longer than usual. This suggested to me that the Spirits were still working on him. In addition, I I noted winged forms in the wax that reminded me of Angels, suggesting their work in intervening in the situation. The wax flows that were circular were largely clockwise, suggesting that the work was being done and the healings were progressing. Some substantial wax floods had appeared near C.O.’s candle on the left, suggesting that the impact of the work might be more significant than expected. Finally, some petal-shapes were observed near all three candles, suggesting positive results would flow out of this work. The days that come brought results greatly in harmony with these ‘pictures in the wax.’

Appearance of the wax the next morning, with J.P.’s candle still burning.

E. Astonishing Results: Documented Healings in Action

The next morning, I woke up feeling grounded and a deep and sustained sense of well-being that stuck with me the whole day. I did not remember the last time I felt this clear, joyful, and at peace… I wondered if this might have been an outcome of the ritual, being in the presence of the Angels and Spirits, Divine blessing, the power of the Herbs in the Spiritual Baths, or a combination of all of the above. Either way, I was grateful for it.

I reached out to C.O. first in the morning and asked how he was feeling since I completed the ritual on his behalf. As he was so far away, I could not get some Healing Oil to him, at least not as urgently as he would need it, so the results that he would share could only have come from the candle working, prayers, and intervention of the Spirits.

I was filled with awe at what he shared, for the Lord and Spirits had acted quickly… C.O. said that “My condition has improved tremendously–l can now sit and stand freely! Just little pains which l know will clear up within the next few days. Whatever you did worked like a miracle. I thank the Triune God for using you as a vessel to get me up and running again. I am grateful, brother. May God meet you at your point of need, just like he has used you to meet me at my point of need. I feel born again in mind, body, soul & spirit. I even slept like a baby too!” I told him that I was so happy to hear this and gave glory to God for this blessing. C.O. said “This is the fastest healing ever. God bless you…”

I went to see C.L. and gave her some of the Healing Oil. I instructed her to rub some of it into her cheek over the area of her mouth that was burning, swelling, and reddening. She agreed and rubbed some into her cheek in my presence. Not even minutes later she said “I can’t believe it but… the pain is really going down… wow… what’s in this??” I explained the 11 Herbs in the formula and what role each played as well as how I had spiritually prepared them and which Spirits I had called upon. She said she was “so grateful…” and had tears in her eyes. I checked in with her again in the afternoon and she said she had just applied a little more of the Healing Oil and that “my pain continues to be much lower… and my obstacles to contacting a doctor seem to be gone too… I already got a dentist appointment! Thank you!” Glory be to God! This was the second successful healing.

Finally, after work, I took a vial of Healing Oil and went to see J.P. I asked him how he had been feeling since this morning. He said “I woke up already feeling better… it seems like I had been very constipated. Today, I finally had gas and was able to go the bathroom… My nausea is gone. The pain in my belly area is significantly lower.” I praised God once again and thanked the Spirits for this third healing miracle… I instructed J.P. to keep rubbing some of the Healing Oil into his belly area over the parts that hurt. He said he would also rub it into his painful shoulder and see if it helps with that as well. I wished him all the best and he thanked me for my care and attention in this matter.

On the second day after the work, I checked in with C.O. to see if the healing remained stable or if the situation had changed. C.O. reported “I feel 99% better. It is only minor aches and pains now…” Praise God and the Spirits for their work!

When I checked in with C.L. She reported that when she used the Oil, rubbing it in to her cheek, she felt “a wave of comfort wash over me, not just my mouth, but my whole body… My mouth pain continues to be gone. The burning feeling is gone. I have an appointment with my dentist just to be safe, but I feel so much better.”

Finally, to my surprise, I received a phone call from J.P., the most skeptical of the three, who does not believe in magic; J.P. never calls me, so this made his reaching out even more striking. He said “not only am I feeling better with my stomach pain and nausea and eating better, but there’s something else. I have been rubbing the Oil into my really painful shoulder and… it feels much better. Like I can lift my arm in ways I haven’t been able to for a long time… So thank you..”

Healing candle for M.D.A.

F. Additional Healing Work: More Complex and More Intensive

With the above work thus completed, I thought I was done with healing work for a while. However, shortly after the above work was completed, my dear friend M.D.A., who has taught me a great deal about Esperitismo and often helped me with spiritual work when I was in need, fell very sick shortly after I did the above workings.

I asked if he would consent for me to do some work for him and he agreed as he was truly struggling with everything from fever, soreness, cramping, diarrhea, loss of taste, irritated red eyes, a weight on his chest,, coughing, and fever chills… He tested for COVID-19, but tested negative. To make matters worse, his immunosuppression made the illness, whatever it was, hit him even harder.

In an attempt to help M.D.A., I followed essentially the same procedure as above, inscribing and dressing the candle with the Healing Oil, calling on Michael, Sachiel, and Raphael as well as Ophiel, Och, and Bethor in the same way as before, giving the same offerings, and even using the same Psalms. Checking with my Spirits, they did not require me to do a complete new Tablet of Lights set-up for him, saying I could use the same plate set-up as I had used for the previous work, simply placing M.D.A’s candle at the base of the Cross structure inscribed on the plate. This, I did.

The Moon remained waxing in the Lunar Mansion of Al-Kalb (the Caduceus to heal and prevent illness), which was fortuitous for the work at hand. The only difference with this working is that I rubbed some of the Healing Sachet Powder I had made on the outside of his candle as I did not have any of the herbal mixture left over. I prayed that all of his symptoms would disappear and that he would be heal again and that even his fibromyalgia pain would decrease. I poured my heart into this ritual for my dear friend and closed the Temple. I called on his Guardian Angel and his Ancestors, as well as my own, to assist in the work.

At the end of the night, after leaving his candle burning, I saw that it had burned in a very interesting way. The candle burned down the middle, but an outer shell was left. Also, a skull-shaped hole had appeared on the right side. Divining from the wax, my sense was that this healing was not going to be as easy or as simple as the others. The Spirits were “drilling down the middle” into M.D.A’s core bodily issues and symptoms of the illness, which were affecting his internal organs and assailing his immune system. His wax pool was pulled over the Sigils of Och and Bethor as well as the Name of Raphael, suggesting that these spirits in particular were working on him. The skull hole did not strike me as implying he would die; instead, it suggested to me that an Ancestor spirit would help in the work.

The next morning, I checked the candle again and the “walls” of wax had melted down, but two points of the wax folded in, pointing at the center of the candle. This suggested to me that the illness was still hitting him, “stabbing” him with symptoms as symbolized by the wax points. Another image that came to me was that the illness “had its teeth or claws” in him and was not going to let go easily. Still, some progress had been made with help from his Ancestor, as seen in the melting down of the wax walls.

I checked in with M.D.A. on Messenger and he confirmed my suspicions; not only was he not feeling better, but he was feeling worse! All of the above symptoms had intensified… He was definitely getting “stabbed” by the illness, with more suffering than before. I explained to him that sometimes, healing work brings results that come quite quickly, and other times, for more complex situations or more serious conditions, the work can provide more strengthening, clearing obstacles to healing, and facilitating communication with the right professionals, through the process. This can especially be the case when the odds are stacked against the healing, such as in the case of immunosuppression. As much as we try to ease the work of combating illness through magical means, Nature, Divine Will, and the work and abilities of the spirits also can affect the outcome. As a result, I mentioned above, “nothing is guaranteed” with healing work and the help it brings does not always come in the form we expect.

Nevertheless, I pointed out that there were good signs and it looked like an Ancestor of his was going to assist in the work. He told me about his great-grandmother who was apparently an extremely accurate diviner with tea leaves and had some magical abilities. I suspected she might be the “skull-shaped hole” I saw in his candle wax. M.D.A confirmed that she was actually one of his working Ancestors in his Espiritismo work and he thought “she would definitely step in.” Magic can be truly amazing sometimes and sometimes things will happen that we could not have made up as they seem too perfect. However, as we were talking about M.D.A’s grandmother and great-grandmother, he suddenly stopped and said the following:

What’s more, he had a feeling he was going to receive assistance from an Ancestor, because that same day…

The next morning, I checked in with him again and he confirmed that his pain level remained significantly lower than it had been to the point that he was able to “go to sleep pretty comfortably.” I noted possible impacts from Rosemary and Thyme, two Herbs in my Healing Oil formula, which were included to help ease sleep and facilitate sound dreaming. He also noted that his fever had gone down to 36.6 degrees, which was strange to him since he still felt feverish.

Healing Candle Work set-up for M.D.A., myself, and R.C.

G. “Physician, Heal Thyself!:” Three More Candle Workings for Healing

I was not finished working towards my dear friend’s healing, however, nor were the Spirits. In fact, I got a nudge that I had to another candle working for M.D.A to strengthen the work already being done.

What I was not prepared for however, was the impact that all of this healing work done in a short period of time was going to have on me as the worker. I found myself dreadfully sick with a bad cold: sore throat, coughing, and higher body temperature, but still under fever. I was COVID-negative, but still feeling awful.

At the same time, another friend, R.C., messaged me to say that she was also feeling quite sick with a cold of her own and asked if I could help. As she lived in Montreal not far from where my plans were taking me today, she consented for me to pick up some personal concerns (e.g. some of her hair) to use in the working, which I did. We both were masks and maintained social distancing while I picked up the hair. I gave her some of the Healing Oil too to rub on her throat, chest, and forehead while saying prayers to help connect the Healing Oil I was going to use on her candle to her as well. She agreed to do so.

My plan was to do a healing working for M.D.A, myself, and R.C. at the same time.

For my work on myself, I started by making a hearty chicken soup with lots of pepper as well as Thyme, Rosemary, and Basil. I prayed over the Herbs, asked for their help in bringing healing, and then recited Psalms 49 and 50 over it before eating it.

That night, I made the following Healing and Sleep-Supporting Spiritual Bath, including and requesting the aid of the following Herb spirits:

  • Chamomile
  • Self-heal
  • Althaea
  • Angelica
  • Thyme
  • Mint
  • Rosemary
  • Lavender
  • Honey

I also made a chamomile tea to go with this. I prayed Psalms 49 and 50 over the tea and bath, while they both steeped. I drank the tea, did the bath, and went to bed immediately after air-drying.

The next day, on the Day of the Sun, I consulted with my Spirits as to how to proceed. This time, I was to use a different Talismanic design on the Tablet of Lights:

This time, the Heptameron / Lucidarium sigils for Michael and Raphael were to be drawn in a Cross, forming an ‘Angelic Crossroads.’ Sachiel’s sigil was included over the Cross, with Yeshua (Jesus) written in Hebrew underneath. The standard Arbatel Sigils of Bethor, Ophiel, and Och were included in the bottom right ‘quadrant’ of the plate.

Finally, YHVH Rapha (God of Healing) was included along with four crosses marking the points of the Angelic Cross. The three candles for M.D.A, myself, and R.C. were placed on the middle arm of the Cross.

All three candles were inscribed with a yellow-headed needle, as it was the Day of the Sun, with the full names of those included and the following words:

M.D.A. “complete recovery, full healing, freedom, peace”

Myself: “no pain, no fever, no cough, full healing”

R.C.: “no pain, no fever, no cough, full healing.”

I dressed each candle with Healing Oil, while drawing the healing from top of the candle to the bottom. I added my own hairs, conveniently collected from my beard trimmer to my candle, R.C.’s hair to her candle, and as I had no personal concerns for M.D.A, I simply did prayers for him while anointing the candle and gazing at his picture. I asked that each candle be linked to the healing of the person whose name was carved into it and used to eliminate their pain and illness and replace it with health and wholeness.

The Moon was waxing in the Arabic Lunar Mansion of Al-Balda (The City or The Desert), which Christopher Warnock points out is a a good time to “end a situation,” in this case, by bringing illness to an end.

Before I started this working, I refreshed the water glasses of all of the Angels, Saints, Ancestors, and Olympic Spirits with whom I have active spirit tables in my Temple room. I asked each to aid the work according to their abilities. I knocked on my Ancestor altar and asked my Ancestors to assist the work, also calling on the Ancestors of M.D.A and R.C.

The Operation proceeded as above, still working with Archangels Michael, Raphael, Sachiel and Olympic Spirits Bethor, Ophiel, and Och, still offering 3 sticks of Sandalwood, but with different Psalms; this time, I was nudged by my Spirits to use the potent combination of Psalms 3, 67, and 77. I invited the Spirits to pray the prayers with me for added efficacy.

This working produced a deep feeling of peace, reverence, and thick spiritual presence in the room. The energy felt comforting and reassuring. The candles burned strong and clean during the ritual and the Spirits’ candle did as well. My final prayers addressed Christ as the Master Healer, and played on the wording in Luke 4:23, in which Yeshua muses that the people would surely say to him “Physician, Heal Thyself” (Ἰατρέ, θεράπευσον σεαυτόν), or healer, heal yourself. I asked that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit help me to do just that.

H. Carromancy: Interpreting the Candle Wax

The next day, I went to interpret the wax from the three candles and saw the following. First, in M.D.A‘s candle, I saw a fairly clean burn with minimum pooling. One of the “points” that was previously pointing towards the center of the candle after the previous working, suggesting the illness still had its “claws or teeth” in M.D.A, was now pointing away from the center and off to the left. I interpreted this to mean that the illness was ‘opening up’ and clearing, but still affecting him. Finally, I also saw that some of the wax was “bending over” away from the center of the candle, suggesting that the illness is starting to submit. But it will take more time before it’s fully resolved.

Second, my own candle appeared a series of happy petal-like shapes, suggesting a positive result would be coming for me. No issues, just a flowering of results that would likely come surprisingly quickly.

Finally, R.C.’s candle showed that her own issues were “standing up” to the attempts to heal them, suggesting it might take a little longer than expected for her healing to come through, but she would get there. There was a wall of protection around her that was assisting (small wall of wax on the right); at the same time, this wall of wax could also suggest that the illness itself was “putting up walls” and resisting the work. As it turned out, the results of the Operation were in many ways fully consistent with what the wax suggested.

I. Health in Abundance: Results of the Final Candle Working

The next day, I felt remarkably better. My throat felt much less painful, my coughs were few and far between, I had no fever, and my drippy, runny nose had returned to normal, such that I was breathing easily again. By the end of the day, my symptoms were all down by about 95%. it was the fastest recovery from a cold I’ve ever had.

It’s worth noting that when I discussed the healing work I had been doing with my Hoodoo teacher Aaron Davis and how I had become sick in the process, he noted that he had also experienced this and decided, as a result, not to do healing work for more than 2 people per day. He also recommended that after every healing work I do in then future, I do a strong cleansing bath. He also pointed out that in my Clinical work, I am also “outputting a lot of healing energy as it is,” so doing magical healing on top of that can drain us and make us susceptible to illness. I noted his advice and plan to practice it going forwards.

Thereafter, I checked in with M.D.A and he informed me that there were significant improvements and he had tested negative again for COVID-19:

He had some lingering symptoms, but it was clear that the worst was behind him and he was on his way to a complete recovery.

Finally, I checked in with R.C. and she reported that a number of her symptoms had improved as well. She agreed to continue to use the Oil until her condition was completely healed and thanked me for my help.

All I can do is quote Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, Oh Lord, not to us, but to Your Name be the glory glory, because of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”

H. Concluding Thoughts on Magical Healing in Practice

Healing work is being of service. For those on the Rosicrucian path, it is a central feature of their spiritual work and approach. If we make ourselves available to heal, drawing on help from our Spiritual Allies and the Herbs given to us, we can sometimes witness true miracles, miracles that inspire humility, reverence, and bolster faith in a big way, just as Yeshua’s miracles did to many in his own time. For the Christian mystic called to the “Imitation of Christ,” prayers and work for healing can be a vital practice that brings wholeness, health, and love to the suffering and the ill. However, healing is a universal human concern and people on many Paths will also feel a call to it. If so, I hope that reading the workings above will yield some helpful ideas for how to approach healing in a way that harmonizes with your own tradition.

By way of closing reflections, I can say that I I feel so grateful to have been a part of these workings and to be blessed by witnessing people getting helped, both with access to the Oil and locally and without directly even being able to access it, in another province (M.D.A) and even in another country on another continent (C.O.). What’s more, I felt truly awed by the power of the Divine, of Angels, Spirits, and Ancestors, working together through the means of magic and prayer to work wonders. Some of these healings were nothing short of miraculous and helped bolster my faith that I am on the right path and doing the work I am meant to do to be of service.

Of course, suffering and illness are perennial human realities and, as such, the work of healing will never be done. Healing, as I humbly see it, is part of an ongoing path of service to the community and co-labouring with the Source of All healing to soothe the sufferings and symptoms of injury and illness. Individually, our own healing as practitioners is also never done, as we strive to work through all of our own shadows, sufferings, and issues; bringing spiritual work into those dark inner spaces can be a fruitful avenue for light in extension.

I. References

Balthazar. (2018). Solomonic Candle Magic. Course Bundle purchased from the author, no longer available online.

Peterson, J. H. (2004). Key of Solomon. [online eBook] Esoterica Archives. Available at: http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/ksol.htm

Peterson, J. H. (2006). The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses. [online eBook]. Esoterica Archives. Available at: http://www.esotericarchives.com/moses/67moses.htm

Harnessing the “Burning Ring of Fire:” Fiery Wall of Protection Oil in Rootwork and Solomonic Conjuration

By Frater S.C.F.V.

A. Introduction: The Wall of Flame that Burns Transgressors

Fiery Wall of Protection Oil is a well-known and time-tested condition oil in the Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork traditions. While standard Hoodoo Protection Oil will ward off evil and guard the people and places anointed with it, Fiery Wall of Protection goes a step forward to ensure that if anyone crosses its protective boundary, they get burned. To illustrate this point with an analogy, if the general-use Protection Oil is a fence blocking a property, Fiery Wall of Protection is an electric fence.

Like many Conjure methods, the Fiery Wall formula finds the roots of its rationale in the Bible. Zechariah 2:4-5 states: “Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” Similarly, the Fiery Wall of Protection formula surrounds us with Divine, Angelic, and Herbal protection with power and heat behind it.

Variations on the Fiery Wall formula–of which there are many, as we’ll see shortly–have long been used by Rootworkers for a wide variety of reasons. These have ranged from combating curses, jinxes, and crossed conditions being thrown in our direction to keeping abusive men away from their children, to keeping potential mistresses away from husbands, protecting children from sexual predators, keeping away the law, protecting soldiers doing tours in active warzones and many more.

Fiery Wall of Protection is perhaps best-known as being linked to the famous candle working that uses it, but it can be used in much subtler ways when the herbal formula is applied in Fiery Wall of Protection Oil, Sachet Powders, Floor Washes, Incenses, and so on. As cat yronwode (2000) notes, you can “Use the Oil to dress yourself or any wooden furniture or metal surfaces such as door knobs. The sachet powder is deployed by sprinkling it in carpets or laying down piles in the corners of the room. The incense powders can be burned at any time to set a shield in place in a given area. The mineral crystals can be applied to an area in the form of a floor wash or sprinkled into the rinse water of your laundry, to dress the clothes you wear when dealing with people from whom you desire protection.”

About the famous Fiery Wall Candle Working, Miss Cat (2000) adds that “basically, this spell is an enactment of the results one desires, with candles standing in for the participants, somewhat after the nature of doll-babies. Often the major reason to perform this spell is to remove a bad person from a social situation such as the family or a work site. Depending on how wicked the “Perpetrator” is, this removal can be performed with differing degrees of severity, from very mild to very extreme. The form in which I learned this spell is Catholic Christian hoodoo and it calls for the total and unconditional removal of the unwanted person from life. However, it can be adapted for use in other religious — or completely non-religious — contexts, and with a lessened degree of severity, if circumstances warrant mercy. Variations such as these arise because different folks have different reasons to work such a spell and because the conditions they are working under may differ.”

The Fiery Wall formula is potent and useful, but like all tools in the Rootwork arsenal, it also has its limits. As Michelle Gruben (2017) aptly states, that “a Fiery Wall of Protection (…) does not punish your enemy for past sins, and it does not prevent them from transferring their negative attentions to someone else.” Thus, it will not necessarily be helpful to undo malefica that has already been thrown at us, whether that be jinxes, crossed conditions, or substantial mental, spiritual, or physical curses. For that, we need to look to other methods (e.g. using Uncrossing condition Oils, doing Despojos, using spiritual baths, using suffumigations of Uncrossing-related herbs and incenses, etc.). However, once that work is completed, a Fiery Wall is a wise way to seal a protective barrier around the space that has been cleansed and made spiritually “clean.”

B. Different “Woods” to Build the Fire: Herbal, Root, and Curio Variations on the Fiery Wall of Protection Formula

If you ask 10 different Rootworkers about the Fiery Wall of Protection Formula they use, you’re likely to get 10 different answers. This is because it is a folk formula that has been used for years with regional variations in different parts of the United States, depending on the availability of different ingredients, substitutions employed, and variances in “style” from say New Orleans to Louisiana.

To better understand the “root essentials” of Fiery Wall of Protection, let’s analyze some variants of the formula and then try to tease out the key components that need to be included to make the Fiery Wall formula what it is so that it can do what it needs to do.

1. First, cat yronwode (2000) notes that the Lucky Mojo formula uses “Rue, Sandalwood, Black Snake Root, and other herbs and essences.”

In Miss Cat’s formula, Rue is there for protection, warding the Evil Eye, and helping with diffusing curses and jinxes thrown our way. Sandalwood has many uses, but here, adds protection. Black Snake Root yields both protection and boldness. Like a suggestive dress, the phrase “other herbs and essences” leaves a lot to the imagination. However, we can tease out some of those possibilities by consulting other sources.

2. Second, Papa Gee Papa Gee at Aroma G’s Botanica in Nashville Tennessee, in his Fiery Wall of Protection formula, includes “Dragon’s blood resin, bay leaf, ginger root, angelica root, marjoram, red pepper, chili, Peppermint.”

This formula adds some interesting new elements we don’t see in Miss Cat’s admittedly abridged and incomplete list. Dragon’s Blood adds, not only a fiery red colour, but also protection, good luck in the operation and help in invocations (e.g. of Archangel Michael who is often called upon in Catholic versions of the Firey Wall spell). Bay Leaf helps ensure our victory against our enemies. Ginger adds not only protection, but heat — essential for Firey protection. Angelica root is a very smart choice to include if we will be calling on Angels for protection in the Candle rite; it not only protects, but helps heal if we have been burned already, and facilitates angelic work. Marjoram helps drive off those who would wrong us and also protect our business or home from jinxes. Red Pepper and Chili both add heat–more fire to the Wall–as well as warding power. Mint is a smart choice to include, because it not only adds protection, but also builds mental fortitude and helps shatter jinxes and curses thrown its way.

3. Third, Hurricane Badessa (2022) from The Conjured Saint in Rhode Island also includes Rue and Chili among the herbs used in his Fiery Wall of Protection Oil, again for protection and heat as we’ve seen.

4. Fourth, the Art of the Root‘s Fiery Wall of Protection formula includes “cinnamon, rue, salt, black pepper, dragon’s blood, and many other protection-related herbs and oils.Some of these are familiar from what we’ve seen so far, such as Rue and Dragon’s Blood. Cinnamon here helps “fire up” the Fiery Wall and provide purification and protection. Salt provides protection and wards curses, jinxes, and Mal Ochio; it is also a “power booster” in workings, just as salt “boosts flavours” in food. Black Pepper also adds fire as well as warding evil and offering protection.

My intense Fiery Wall of Protection Oil. Formula to follow below.

5. Fifth, Hoodoo and Rootworker Mama Sarah at Conjured Cardea uses an interesting formula with some surprising twists for Fiery Wall of Protection. Her method includes “dragon’s blood resin, calamus root, allspice, cat’s claw, juniper, sea salt, iron filings, basil, orange zest, rosemary, witch grass with frankincense, amber, and cinnamon oils.” Dragon’s Blood, Salt, and Cinnamon, we’ve seen so far, but almost everything else in her formula is intriguingly different. Calamus here helps with dominating and controlling our enemies; other formulas sometimes use Master of the Woods (Woodruff) or Master Root for the same purpose. Cat’s Claw cleanses and rebalances the space it is used in (e.g. interior of the Fiery Wall Circle in this case). Juniper is likely included to add strength and energy. Iron Filings add strength and protection; in grimoire magic, they are linked to Mars. Basil protects the home and drives away the Evil Eye. Orange Peel attracts luck and success, similar to Bay Leaf. Rosemary protects against evil and cleanses. Frankincense is included for scent, blessed power, and protection. Amber is a creative and unique choice not seen in any other formula I studied, which was likely included for protection as it “protects” whatever is encased within it. Witch Grass is typically used for binding, love-magic and cursing, but can be used to try to control enemies as well, which is likely the rationale here.

6. Sixth, Dr. E (2022) at Conjure Doctor uses a variety of herbs in his Fiery Wall of Protection formula, some of which include “ginger, rue, and angelica.” These recur in formulas we’ve already seen for the reasons already outlined

7. Seventh, Ocean Delano (2011) at Turning the Magic Around synthesized several Hoodoo sources to craft the following formula for a Fiery Wall of Protection Oil that includes “Ginger • Dragon’s Blood • Rue • Cinnamon • Sandalwood • Devil’s Shoestrings • Black Pepper • Red Pepper • Angelica.” All of these inclusions are common staples of the formula and are included for reasons we’ve already seen.

In addition, Delano’s (2011) fascinating article on the subject of Fiery Wall of Protection interestingly adds a formula for a Fiery Wall of Protection Sachet Powder:

• 1-2 tbsp Powder Base (talcum, flour, cornstarch, or cornmeal)

• 1 tbsp salt, powdered

• 1 tbsp dragon’s blood resin, powdered

• 1 tbsp frankincense resin, powdered

• 1 tbsp myrrh resin, powdered.”

My Fiery Wall of Protection Sachet Powder. Formula to follow below.

8. Eighth, another Rootworker, who wished to remain Anonymous, shared the following insights into the magical rationale behind the Fiery Wall of Protection Formula in 2011, stating that “traditional Fiery Wall of Protection smells rather spicy because of the addition of Ginger root/oil, and slightly woody scent because of the addition of Sandalwood, and since the “wall” is usually said to be created by St. Michael’s fiery sword, Angelica root is added into the blend. Other staple ingredients are Rue for reversing back evil to the sender, Devil’s Shoestring to trip the enemies from doing harm on you, and Black Pepper or Grains of Paradise, for protection and banishing. There are more ingredients depending from one Rootworker to another, such as Red Pepper, but with these, you can’t go wrong.”

9. Ninth, the ever-insightful Sam Block (2012) at the Digital Ambler, when analyzing the structure of the Fiery Wall formula, provides an interesting Planetary perspective to illuminate the ingredients in a style typical of grimoire magic. To quote Sam, Fiery Wall of Protection Oil “combines the essences of Fire, Mars, and the Sun to create a barrier of protection that both drives off evil and keeps harm out, a two-pronged approach that helps keep the things anointed with it safe and free from all harm.  It’s also good at driving out evil entities from a place already anointed with it, burning them out, as it were, from their current place and keeping them from coming back.  Although the oil has traditionally been categorized as more Solar than Martian, I incorporated the strength of Mars to lend the recipe and consecration a bit more oomph.”

He goes on to say that he “based my recipe off of the one Ocean Delano used, with a few extra things to pump up the power.  The idea was to combine fiery, hot, and protective Martian and Solar materia: Martian to give the oil the fire to kick anything wicked approaching it in the balls, Solar to lend the oil a defensive character to let nothing harmful pass through.  Since both Mars and the Sun are ruled by fire, anything hot, peppery, spicy, or stinging would do.  I found more than half of the stuff I needed in my spice cabinet, and the others can be found at swanky gourmet supply stores or new age/occult suppliers.”

Sam’s Fiery Wall of Protection formula includes the following:

• “1 tbsp pink rock salt (trace amounts of iron oxide)

• 1 tbsp true cinnamon

• 1 tbsp dragon’s blood resin

• 1 tbsp frankincense resin

• 1 tbsp myrrh resin (related to Saturn, but the myrrh plant is spiky and thorny, good Martian qualities)

• A dash of chili powder

• A dash of powdered Saigon cinnamon (hotter than true cinnamon, but cassia will suffice)

• A dash of crushed red pepper

• A dash of powdered ginger root

• A dash of finely ground black pepper

• A dash of red sandalwood (normally ruled by Venus, but used to “build” a wall of protection; its redness helps, and is used in hexing in some traditions)

• 1 cup castor oil

• 1/2 cup olive oil”

One thing I love about Sam’s work is that he is a master of meticulous details, a trait I wonder if he derives from his meticulous work as a computer programmer. We see this in his decision to include Pink Rock Salt in particular for the Salt component because it contains “trace amounts of iron oxide,” with iron being linked to Mars. He goes beyond most recipes to include not just Dragon’s Blood or Frankincense, but both, with the addition of Myrrh for its Saturnian connections linked to boundary-setting in the Fiery Wall as well as its spiky, thorny qualities, which fit the Fiery Wall’s intention to “bite back” at those who try to cross it. In another great example of Digital Ambler meticulousness, he includes not one, but two kinds of cinnamon, the second being Saigon Cinnamon. The other ingredients we’ve seen before. A combination of castor and olive oil are included to provide a pure and stable based to hold all of the above along. It’s a thorough and solid formula overall.

10. Tenth, in her excellent Conjure Cookbook: Making Magic With Oils, Incense, Powders and Baths, Miss Talia Fenix (2010) provide the following formula for Fiery Wall of Protection Oil on pages 48 to 49, which includes “Ginger, White Mustard Seed, Grains of Paradise, and Sandalwood.” This formula is sleek, clean and tight. Grains of Paradise are included for protection, especially of the home, and the interesting addition of White Mustard Seed both helps (1) disrupt the activities of meddling or injurious enemies and (2) offer protection.

11. Eleventh, my wise Rootwork teacher Aaron Davis kindly shared his own Fiery Wall of Protection formula with me, which includes “devil shoe string, bay, pinch sulfur, 5-finger grass, angelica, woodruff, calamus, pinch dragon blood, camphor resin/oil, petition paper ash, write petition on Isaiah 41.” Many of the fascinating staples of the formula are included from Devil’s Shoe String to Bay, Angelica, and Dragon’s Blood. However, Aaron interestingly also tosses in Sulfur; I wonder if he drew this from grimoire work, where Sulfur can be used to ward off demons after they have been conjured! In any case, it is a powerful, although stinky, warding curio. Five-Finger Herb is here for “success in all things that five fingers can do,” which is smart, given all of the hand-based work we do in the Fiery Wall of Protection candle working. Camphor is included for both its powerful cleansing ability and its protection. This idea offers another complement or substitute to the Frankincense, Dragon’s Blood, and Myrrh resins we’ve seen so far. Finally, Aaron is a master of creative uses of ash in his work and his use of it here is no difference; he has us write a petition on Isaiah 41, burn it to ash, and include that. This is a brilliant addition of biblical material for those dauntlessly unoffended by uses of this type.

If we look at all of the formulas above, we find that they have some commonalities: they must include (1) protective herbs or curios (e.g. Angelica, Rue, Sandalwood, Dragon’s Blood, Ginger, Devil’s Shoe Lace, etc.) (2) they often include herbs designed to disrupt crossings or jinxes as they come our way (e.g. Rue, Mint, Mustard, Devil’s Shoe Lace, etc.), (3) they must include hot or fiery Herbs (e.g. Black Pepper, Chili, Cinnamon, Cayenne, Ginger, (4) they often include Salt as a “power booster,” cleanser, and protector, often alongside Pepper, (5) they almost all include at least one Incense (e.g. Dragon’s Blood, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Myrrh, Camphor), and (6) they sometimes include herbs designed to produce control or mastery (e.g. Woodruff, Master Root, etc.).

C. A Fiery Wall of Protection Incense and Sachet Powder Crafted on the Day of Mars

On this Day of Mars, 2022-08-24, I strove to integrate what I learned from analyzing the traditional and contemporary formulas given above in addition to what I had available in my current curio collection to arrive at the following formula:

I. Frater S.C.FV.’s 13-Ingredient Fiery Wall of Protection Formula:

Ginger (Protection and Heat)

Chili (Heat, Aggression to Boundary-Crossers, Protection)

Cinnamon (Protection, Heat, Purification)

Angelica (Protection, Angelic Power, Healing for the Protected)

Rue (Protection, Warding the Evil Eye, and helping with diffusing curses and jinxes)

Black Pepper (Heat, Protection from Evil, Warding Jinxes)

Himalayan Pink Salt (Cleansing, “Power Boosting,” Mal Ochio and Malefica-Warding Power, and because of its “traces of iron” linked to Mars, inspired by Sam Block)

John the Conqueror Root (Victory, Control, Luck, Commanding Power)

Dragon’s Blood (Protection, Luck, Invocation Enhancement),

Frankincense (Blessed Power, Protection)

Sandalwood (Protection from Evil)

Bay Leaf (Victory)

Mustard Seed (Disrupting Enemies’ Work Against Us, Protection)

Steps for an Oil or Sachet Powder:

• Finely grind all dry ingredients. I tossed them all, in batches, into a coffee grinder and grinded them as finely as possible. We especially want to do this with the larger and coarser ingredients (e.g. Frankincense resin, Dragon’s Blood, Sandalwood, Rue, etc.).
While adding each ingredient, I spoke to its Spirit and asked it for what I wanted it to add to the oil or Sachet Powder (e.g. “Spirit of Ginger, bless this Oil and Powder with your fiery heat and fierce protection”). If you wish to use a similar approach, I included the role of each ingredient that we are asking it to serve in parentheses above.
• Mix all dry ingredients after grinding. You can then divide this herb mix up depending on the applications you want to do (e.g. I put some in an olive oil base and mixed some into a sachet powder base, and kept some additional amount for future uses).
• If making a Fiery Wall of Protection Oil, add the herbal mix to olive oil in a mason jar or bottle with a lid and and mix thoroughly. If you have castor oil, you can follow Sam Block’s lead above and use a mixture of the two. I only used olive oil because that is all I had on-hand. You only need enough herbal mixture total for about 1/10th of the jar, so a little bit goes a long way. For a stronger oil, add more; it’s up to you and your needs. This formula is potent.
• If making a Fiery Wall of Protection Sachet Powder, add a small amount of the herb mixture to a mixture of 2/3rds cornstarch to 1/3rd baking soda (if using Miss Talia Fenix’s method). That’s what I did. Others like to use talcum powder. The choice is yours. Experiment to find the ratio that is best for you.
• In either case, shake the bottle or mason jar thoroughly.
• Allow to rest for at least 7 days (e.g. on an Angelic Altar (e.g. St. Michael) or Ancestor Altar, if you use one). At least once per day, continue to shake the bottle thoroughly as the curios and materia will tend to settle in a layer on the bottom.

Quick Divination Tip to Check on the Spiritual “Readiness” of an Oil: If you aren’t sure if your Oil has rested long enough for your Spirits to set it up for you, try doing a Pendulum reading with a yes-no question (e.g. “Should I leave this Oil to rest for another day before I use it?” If you get a Yes, leave it. If No, you can remove it and put it to use).


D. A Psalmic Arsenal for Protection: Options for Psalm Empowerment of Fiery Wall of Protection Oil

In a traditional Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork context, all we would need to do to “empower” an oil like this spiritually is to simply pray over and recite Psalms over it. Which Psalms should we use? Many options exist.

Psalm 23 is a standard “Swiss Army knife Psalm” that can be used nearly for anything. We can also add on additional Psalms depending on our circumstances.

To provide some examples, here are some ideas of Psalms to use for different contexts of use of the Fiery Wall of Protection Oil, Sachet, Incense, etc.:

  • Use Psalm 12, Psalm 74. Psalm 93, Psalm 109 if you are facing severe persecution or oppression,
  • Use Psalm 11 to add righteous retribution against enemies, appropriate for Fiery Wall,
  • Use Psalm 14, Psalm 36, Psalm 43, or Psalm 31 if you want to use the Fiery Wall to keep our slander and gossip against you,
  • Use Psalm 29 if you feel a need to drive out evil and restore peace and tranquility to your home,
  • Use Psalm 30, Psalm 105, or Psalm 106 for protection from enemies, good in most Fiery Wall applications, especially if they have thrown curses at you affecting your health (i.e. what Brujeria calls “physical witchcraft”),
  • Use Psalm 33 fi you are using Fiery Wall of Protection to protect all members of your family,
  • Use Psalm 34, Psalm 70, if you know people are actively throwing malefica at you to destroy and cast back evil as soon as it hits your Fiery Wall of Protection,
  • Use Psalm 40, Psalm 101, or Psalm 145 if your magical opponent is conjuring malevolent daimons or Muertos Oscuros (Dark, low-level dead spirits) and sending them to torment you,
  • Use Psalm 44 or Psalm 116 if you fear that someone is going to physically try to come and hurt you or your loved ones,
  • Use Psalm 47 if you are trying to gain mastery over your enemy,
  • Use Psalm 48 if you want your enemies to be hit with terror after they throw at you as part of the “Fire” added to the Fiery Wall,
  • Use Psalm 53 to protect against unknown enemies who are working behind your back to try to hurt or ruin you,
  • Use Psalm 54, Psalm 55, Psalm 94 to reverse malefica back at its sender amplified by Divine retribution for evil,
  • Use Psalm 76 to invoke Divine protection and retribution against enemies who have unjustly wronged you,
  • Use Psalm 79 for the most aggressive form of “fire” to be added to the Fiery Wall, in cases of life and death,
  • Use Psalm 88 if you want a combination of reversing evil and healing the effects it had on you, your loved ones, or client,
  • Use Psalm 91 or Psalm 141 for protection against someone who is abusing you psychologically or emotionally,
  • Use Psalm 112 to amplify your power and strength against your enemies,
  • Use Psalm 125 if you will be traveling and anointing yourself with Fiery Wall of Protection to protect you while abroad (carry a Comfrey root and St. Christopher medal in a Mojo bag too to help with protection while traveling)
  • Use Psalm 130 if you are a soldier or someone living in a war-torn area and need protection while passing by sentries in a warzone.

You can also use combinations of Psalms from different categories to tailor your Fiery Wall of Protection to exactly what you’re up against. This is sufficient to “charge” the Fiery Wall product you are making with its intended purpose from a Rootwork perspective.

E. Mixed-Method Empowerment: A Blended Solomonic and Conjure Approach to Empowering a Fiery Wall of Protection Oil, Herbal Blend, and Sachet Powder

In my case, as I am also a grimoire magician with ongoing relationships with multiple Spirits, I opted to use a mixed approach, combining Solomonic magic with Rootwork approaches.

This worker was completed on Tuesday, August 24, 2022 in the Day and Hour of Mars, to heighten the “fiery” component in the context of attuning this Oil for use in protection from magical attacks being thrown at me. In this case, the fact that I was being thrown at was confirmed by 3 methods of divination by myself as well as by 2 objective third-party readers, since I favour objective replication in such matters.

As timing was of the essence, I was not able to wait for a waxing Moon as would be more traditional in grimoire work. As I know some of my grimoire friends will be triggered by the fact that I did this working on a waning Moon day, I would humbly suggest that 5 important points are worth noting.

First, in Rootwork, urgency overrides perfection; that is, when we need something now, there ways of working around imperfect circumstances. In this case, I simply factored the waning Moon into the formula by design, such that it is the Mal Ochio and Malefica thrown at me by the enemy that wanes when it contacts the Fiery Wall.

Second, this work was done in the context of a larger multi-day working involving a whole series of cleansing baths, reversal works, despojos, suffumigations, uncrossings, etc for which there is precedent in traditional witchcraft to do during waning Moon phases when we need to get rid of something.

Third, it’s worth noting that Moon phases were not historically factored into Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork until later on when grimoire materials (e.g. 6th and 7th Books of Moses, etc.) came into the picture and influenced the way some workers operated; indeed, the American slaves and marginalized and oppressed peoples who created these systems based them on flexibility and urgent needs. If they needed something now, they found a way to make it worse.

The same goes for Planetary Days and Hours; these were completely disregarded in Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork for much of its history with zero impact on results. Therefore, many Rootworkers use them when convenient and disregard or work around them when not while others never mind them at all and still get results.

Fourth, the context of our relationships with spirits can also yield more flexibility with regards to the magical timing of operations. When I first contacted the spirits in question, I respected all of the traditional protocols included timing. However, as Aaron Leitch, myself and others have often pointed out over the years, once we’ve built up a connection with a given spirit, we can be a little more flexible in terms of magical timing because our spirits know us and come when we need them. Moreover, when we are combining Solomonic and Rootwork, we also have more freedom than we do in a strict Solomonic approach, which I’ve also done and recorded elsewhere here at Light in Extension.

The final point that’s worth noting is that what I was doing in this particular working was not a full-blown evocation of 14 Spirits. Rather, it was a call for assistance in the context of long-standing relationships that did not require the extensive back-and-forth communication of the type I would engage in within a full evocation.

In any case, the Moon was in a fitting Lunar Mansion on this Day of the Moon, namely, Al-Tarf (the Glance of the Lion’s Eye). The 11th century Picatrix says Al-Tarf is good for causing infirmities to others who have afflicted us and Agrippa agrees in the 16th century. In that respect, it seems appropriate to a Fiery Wall of Protection. It’s also good for separation work ,which is appropriate to materials designed to create boundaries (i.e. the Fiery Wall).

For the Altar set-up, I used St. Michael the Archangel’s Altar since the associated Fiery Wall of Protection Spell associated with this Oil and Powder call on Michael.

However, I was pulled by my Spirits to include not only Michael, but the full 7 Heptameronic Archangels and Arbatel’s Olympic Spirits that are my long-term Spirit allies, with whom I have been working for years. The statues of the 7 Archangels were arranged in a Circle with an orange ribbon symbolizing the Fiery Wall of Protection to be formed by them tied around them all.

The Sigils of the Olympic Spirits were positioned partly under each of the associated Archangels (e.g. Bethor with Sachiel). In the center of this circle of Angels and Sigils, which was itself located in the center of my Solomonic Circle, I placed a golden Altar Cross. Around the Cross, I placed the 2 bottles of Fiery Wall of Protection Oil, the jar of Herbal Blend with the Incense censer over it, and the jar of Fiery Wall of Protection Sachet Powder I had made with the offered candle over it.

I opened the Temple with the Bell of Art in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, conjured the 7 Archangels and Olympic Spirits with a series of prayers and conjurations, and then offered the Triune God water, a candle offering, and Frankincense in their name, which I then encouraged them to partake of. I also called on my Ancestors to assist. I then asked the Spirits of the Angels, Olympics, Ancestors, and the Spirits of the Herbs themselves to empower the Oil, Powder, and Blend with all of the virtues mentioned above, working in harmonious, exponential, and synergistic manner. At one point during this working, I saw a bright white flash surge past the outside of the Circle on my right, seemingly from a spirit arriving.

I then thanked all of the Spirits for their assistance, closed the Temple, and left the candle and incense to burn out overnight. In the next morning, I confirmed that the candle and incense had burned out cleanly with no adverse drippings or other indications. These items will remain on Michael’s Altar for the next 7 days, then a final 2 days on my Ancestors’ Altar to complete the 9-day period linked to Ancestors.

When I finally do perform the Fiery Wall of Protection candle Operation, each Guardian Candle will feature the name of both one of the 7 Archangels and the associated Olympic Spirit. In this way, the same Spirits who empowered the oil will be called again to drive the candle work. And so, the Fiery Wall will come full-circle.

F. Conclusion: Stepping into a “Burning Ring of Fire”

The Fiery Wall of Protection is a staple of African-American Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork and will continue to remain so because of its versatility, effectiveness, and potency. May we always find ourselves at its Center, in the confines of its secure Heat, and woe betide those who, foolishly taking aim at us, would dare try to cross its Fiery Wall, for, paraphrasing Zechariah 2:4-5, “I, saith the Lord, will be unto you a wall of fire round about, and will be the Glory in the midst of you…”

References

Badessa, H. (2022). “The Fiery Wall of Protection.” The Conjured Saint. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://www.theconjuredsaint.com/product-page/fiery-wall-of-protection-oil-spiritual-protection-removes-negative-forces

Block, S. (2012). “Fiery Wall of Protection Oil.” The Digital Ambler. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://digitalambler.com/materia/fiery-wall-of-protection-oil/

Dr. E. (2022). “Fiery Wall of Protection Hoodoo.” Conjure Doctor. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://conjuredoctor.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=17

Fenix, T. (2010). Conjure Cookbook: Making Magic With Oils, Incense, Powders and Baths. Bolton, On: Amazon.

Gruben, M. (2017). “A Quick and Dirty Fiery Wall of Protection Spell.” Grove and Grotto. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/the-fiery-wall-of-protection

Mama Sarah. (2009). “Fiery Wall of Protection Ritual Oil.” Conjured Cardea. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://conjuredcardea.indiemade.com/product/fiery-wall-protection-ritual-oil-hoodoo-voodoo-witchcraft-highest-protection-removes-unwante

Delano, O. (2011). “Uncrossing Follow-Up: Fiery Wall of Protection.” Turning the Magic Around. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from (https://turningmagicaround.blogspot.com/2011/04/uncrossing-follow-up-fiery-wall-of.html?m=1)

Papa Gee. (2022). Wall of Fire: Hoodoo Wall of Protection Oil.” Aroma G’s Botanica. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://www.aromagregory.com/product/wall-of-fire-hoodoo-protection-oil-fiery-wall-of-protection/

The Art of the Root (2021). Fiery Wall of Protection. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://artoftheroot.com/products/fiery-wall-of-protection-oil-for-hoodoo-conjure-vodoo-pagan-ceremonies?gclid=Cj0KCQjwxveXBhDDARIsAI0Q0x2tfvGbk2uz6N40-fCqjMH5NBV4yqzCB3VzA0ETHQ3VdWU3uIr9Ul4aAszHEALw_wcB

yronwode, cat. (2000). Fiery Wall of Protection Magic. Lucky Mojo. Retrieved 2022-08-23 from https://www.luckymojo.com/fierywall.html

Divination with St. Cyprian – Insights on the Shadow and First Pentacle of the Sun

By Frater SC.F.V.

Date: November 24, 2018
Sun Phase: Set
Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous (206 degrees) in 28 degrees Gemini
Mansion of the Moon: Dhira
Planetary Day: Day of Saturn
Planetary Hour: Hours of Mars and the Sun
Activities: Solomonic Ritual Purification by Water; Solomonic Bell Sounding to the Spirits of the Quarters; Offerings to the Most High and Saint Cyprian; Prayers; Rune Divination with St. Cyprian; Temple Closing 

Today, the Moon is in the 7th Mansion of Al-Dhira, a time when it is auspicious to seek and strengthen friendships and give and receive assistance.  About this Mansion, the Picatrix (11th century) says:

“The seventh Mansion is Aldira, and it for the acquisition of all good [things]. When the Moon has come around to this Mansion, fashion a seal of silver, and sculpt the image of a man clothed in robes and with his hands extended to heaven after manner of a man who is praying and supplicating [the gods]; in the breast [of this image] write the name of the lord of this Mansion. Cense it with all things which have sweet odors, and say: You, Siely, cause such and such to happen, and fulfill my petition. Ask [of it] whatever you wish from among all the good things. Carry this seal with you, and you will receive all you ask for. And know that Selehe is the name of the lord of this Mansion.”

Agrippa adds the following in the Three Books of Occult Philosophy (16th century)

“Aldimiach or Alarzach: arm of Gemini. 17°08’34″ Gemini. Brings money and friendship, profits lovers, disperses flies, destroys teaching authorities. To obtain every good thing. A man well clothed, holding his hands up to heaven as it were praying and supplicating.”

Therefore, it seemed to me that today was a fitting day for divination, both on a question that has been on my mind lately and to ask a question of Saint Cyprian from a friend as a way of building that friendship and assisting a friend in the spirit of Al-Dhira. 

I began by purifying myself with ritual bathing. Then I donned my scapular of Saint Cyprian white Solomonic robe, Stole, and placed my Cyprianic Rosary around my neck. I sounded the Solomonic Bell of Art three times before entering the Circle, as per the Hygromanteia, then sounded the Bell to each of the full Quarters, as per the Key of Solomon, saying “I greet and bless the Spirits of the (direction) with great love and respect in the name of Adonai!” I continued greeting the Spirits of the Above and Below and all other directions. As I did this, I began to see ‘sparks’ of light flickering around the Circle, suggesting the presence of Spirits. I formally opened the Temple in the name of YHVH. 

I then unwrapped my Solomonic Wand from its white covering and began preliminary prayers. I lit four large candles in each of the Four Directions as offerings to the Most High. I then made offerings of a chocolate and banana muffin to Cyprian as well as a purple lavender candle, a stick of incense, and a glass of fresh Spring water. Earlier today, I gave the bread offerings from last week to the local spirits of the land and local animals and the remaining bit of water from Cyprian’s offering from last week to our house plant.

I also felt a sense of warm presence in the room, which was very pleasant. I addressed the Spirits in each direction in term, pausing to ask if any of them would like to introduce themselves, and offering each blessings, respect, and friendship. No Spirit took me up on my offer today–sometimes they do and sometimes they do not–but I invited any Spirits presence in each direction to partake of the Candles lit in each of the Four Directions in a spirit of peace. 

Out of the corner of an eye, I saw a spot of light drift up a wall. Then a black tablecloth spontaneously fell off of a chair over which it had been draped outside the Circle. I invited the Spirit who had moved it to engage in conversation, but it did not wish to, so I did not press the matter.

I then said some additional prayers and sat down and gazed into my Crystal while chanting Saint Cyprian’s name and inviting him to be present and to speak with me. 

I greeted him and continued to gaze into the Crystal as Cyprian sometimes opts to communicate with me through it. Today, however, he gave me a nudge to close my eyes, so I did. 

Immediately, I saw the good Saint wander out of what appeared to be a black mist appearing on my closed eyelids, holding his golden Crozier, and stand “before me.” 

I greeted him once more and he greeted me back in his warm and knowing voice. I asked him if he could offer any insights on how to best go about integrating darker aspects of our Shadow that emerge in the course of meditation and spiritual work.

His answer came immediately and was very interesting:

As we begin to move beyond the identification with the familiar and to open up some inner space where there was once only total immersion in unconscious patterns, it is normal for shadows to arise.  These shadow fragments of unintegrated Selfhood are naturally drawn into the light of awareness and Divine presence. Here, they can at last be seen instead of looked from

As these previously fragmented and splintered off shadow aspects of ourselves and programs begin to well up within us, they carry a fascinating power. If we are not careful, we risk being possessed or taken over by them. A splintered off aspect of us that lusts for power, for instance, may itself seize control over us, inspire us to focus on it and identify with it, and then further dissociate into it carrying us off completely on a course of action it stipulates. Do not confuse this with integration; it is not. It is simply another form of disintegration and dissociation. It inspires a dream-like state of acting out its drive or program, totally automatically and unconsciously. In time, we awaken from such a state and wonder what happened while we were carried off in its waking dream. Be wary to fall into this trap.”

I asked Saint Cyprian how we avoid falling into so tempting a trap and he said:

Consciously remain dispassionately aware of the shadow aspects as they arise. Notice them. Note them. Acknowledge them. Greet them. But then let them be. Remain detached and equanimitous towards them. As we slowly make the unconscious conscious and meet it fully without allowing ourselves to be taken over by it or to identify with it, it will become integrated on its own. Instead of having power over us, it will give us back the power that splintered off into it as a fragment. This is authentic integration.

I asked Cyprian if he could offer some more specific insight into some specific Shadow content I was experiencing. He said simply:

Cast three Runes. The first will be of the Past, the second the Present, and the third the likely Future.”

I obliged and cast the three Runes on his Altar. They came out as the following:

Divination with Saint Cyprian. 
From left to right: Uruz, Thurisaz, and Wunjo.

The Past Rune was Uruz, the Rune of Strength, the giant Aurochs. The meaning was that I had once found strength, virility, and a sense of manhood through a splintered off sense of lust for both power and sexual conquest. Uruz encompasses the raw, wild power of freedom, precisely the state I felt when I allowed myself to be “possessed” by this powerful Shadow drive.  However, I did not always wield this power with responsibility and sometimes, the result was misery for myself and others.

As a result, I seem to have pushed down this aspect of myself, disidentifying with it because of the danger and mischief it risked inviting into my life. Recently, it arose back into my consciousness with a vengeance as a deep yearning with a dark amoral tone, only this time, it was, as Saint Cyprian said, seen rather than looked from. The challenge was to acknowledge and allow it to be without being swept away by it as I had been in my youth.

The present Rune was Thurisaz, the Rune of Chaos, Evil, and Temptation, the Thorn, the Giants fought by Thor with his hammer Mjölnir. This is a warn about resisting temptations, especially ones that offer rewards through dishonesty and trickery. Fittingly enough, it represents the raw forces of the human psyche from anger to lust, which can give us power or alternately overpower us. The meaning is clear: as this Shadow aspect arises, it beckons me into the unbridled pleasure-seeking that once led me astray; it promises reward, but threatens to unleash the chaos of Pandora’s Box into the stable clearing of beauty and order I had constructed in my life. The advice of the Rune is in harmony with Cyprian’s advice: notice, acknowledge, but be not led away. Possession by old patterns only provides the illusion of integration; not true integration itself.

The final Rune, the Rune of the Future, was very encouragingly, Wunjo, the Rune of Joy. Interestingly enough, Wunjo looks just like Thurisaz, except that the point of the Thorn has shifted up to resemble a Flag. If I can integrate this Shadow rather than being possessed by and swept away by it, the promise is joy, happiness, light, and a satisfaction deeper than mere impulse gratification, with roots far deeper than superficial urge-fulfillment. Wunjo contains the sense of things going well due to harmonizing ourselves with Life, much like the Sephirah of Tipharet on the Tree of Life. The message is to strive for harmony, balance, and the kind of honesty and truth that set us free from the convenient lies that can bind us. 

From left to right: Uruz, Thurisaz, and Wunjo.

I thanked Saint Cyprian kindly for these wise insights and asked if I could ask him a question on behalf of my friend Chijioke, namely, if he could share anything about the nature and uses of First Pentacle of the Sun from the Key of Solomon. 

Again, the inner prompting to close my eyes came, and I again saw Saint Cyprian standing before me. Immediately, he began to speak saying:

The First Pentacle of the Sun draws forth the Solar virtues. It is best consecrated when the Sun is in the sky and left on the Altar in view of the Sun. It bestows confidence, even a radiant glow upon the one who holds it, which attracts and fascinates. It can lighten the spirit and bestow joy and even glory. Beware, however, for this Pentacle can bring out arrogance and pride in those who have tendencies towards such qualities. It depicts the face of mighty Metatron; know that whenever you gaze upon the face of Metatron, he also gazes upon you. Be mindful that you use not his countenance for evil; instead, live in a worthy way that you might be found worthy when gazed upon.”

Once again, I thanked Saint Cyprian for this wise instruction and asked him if he had any final insights he would like to offer. He said quite simply:

Yes. Forgive my servant N, with whom you recently quarreled. He meant well. You, like him, have your own faults. Hold no grievances against him. Forgive and walk your own way, putting your disagreement behind you, and allow him to do the same.”

I said I would and thanked him for this advice. His ghostly form smiled,  nodded, and then vanished into the black mist from whence he had emerged. 

I stood back up and used my Solomonic Bell to give the License to Depart to Spirits in the Four Directions and in the Above and Below, blessing them as they left, before formally closing the Temple.

Pathworking on the 30th Path of Resh (ר)

GoldenDawnlogoDate: March 20, 2018
Time:  7:33 – 8:04 A.M.
Sun Phase: Rising, Golden, clear sky on the Spring Equinox, Sun in Aries
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent in 6 degrees Taurus, Lunar Mansion of Thurayya
Planetary Day: Day of Mars
Planetary Hour: Hour of Mars into Hour of the Sun
Activities: LIRP, Pathworking of the Path of Resh (ר), LBRP

Path 30.jpg

I projected into my astral Temple wearing a red robe, the red and green-striped nemyss of the Hierophant, since I will be serving as Hierophant in tonight’s Spring Equinox Ceremony, the Rose Cross Lamen around my neck. The Temple appears brilliantly golden with a bright orange banner baring the Hebrew Letter Resh (ר) in harmony with my Will to travel along this Path.

I perform the Lesser Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram with the Hierophant’s Scepter, then I exit the large golden doors of the Temple. After performing the Sign of the Enterer three times, I project through a vast orange archway baring the letter Resh (ר) in white.

I find myself flying through a black and infinite space until I see the Path that connects Yesod (דוסי) to Hod (הוד) coming into view below me. I pass through its border of orange light and find myself standing in a beautiful green field. The sky is a brilliantly clear blue with sparse wispy white clouds drifting peacefully within it. How different this Path feels than the chthonic Path of Tav, the volcanic Path of Shin or the watery and Piscean Path of Qoph (ק)!

cloud.jpg

The energy here, the whole atmosphere of the place, is exuberant, vivacious, and brimming with light and hope. Off to my left, I see a giant green mountain with trees and greenery growing all along its slopes. Looking more closely, I see that the mountain takes the shape of a giant Green Man. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see. A bright yellow-golden  Sun–the Planetary attribution of the Path–illuminates the scene overhead in clear and golden light. Nothing is foggy here; all appears  sharp and pristine.

I test the vision by vibrating RESH (ר) and tracing the Hebrew Letter in the Air in Orange Light as well as vibrating YHVH ELOAH V’DA’AT (תעדו הולא הוהי), the Divine Name of the Path. The astral images grow crisper as they resonate with the Name.

In the Name of YHVH ELOAH V’DA’AT (תעדו הולא הוהי), I ask for a Guide to lead me through the Path of Resh (ר). Moments later, I hear the sounds of galloping horses. Turning around to look behind me, I discover that the sounds come from two white horses. One is riderless. On the other, I see a blonde-haired child in a red robe who reminds  me of the child on the Tarot card of the Sun–the Major Arcanum attributed to the Path of Resh (ר).

horse.png

“Two White Horses in Finland” By Pasi Laaksonin

I greet the smiling child with the peace and blessings of YHVH ELOAH V’DA’AT (תעדו הולא הוהי), which he returns. I ask him if he would guide me through the Path and he happily exclaims “with pleasure!” His whole presence is brimming with pleasant exuberance, optimism, and life. It feels rejuvenating simply to be in his presence.

I climb on the back of the second white horse and can feel its powerful muscles shifting below me as it gallops. I have never physically ridden a horse, but the experience here reminds me of the feeling of riding an elephant bareback in Laos and feeling its strong muscly form shift beneath me with every step she takes.

“Can you initiate me into the Mysteries of the Path of Resh (ר)?” I ask the Child.

“I cannot, but I know one who can!” He says, smiling.

“What kind of Spirit are you,” I ask. “You shine with so much Light that you remind me of an Angel.”

Hearing this, the Child laugh. “Hehehe! No! I am a Solar Spirit, a Child of the Sun! In another way, I am a reflection of your own Inner Child. Are you in touch with him?”

This comment gives me pause for a moment as I reflect.

“I hope so!” I say.

Hearing this, the Child laughs out loud.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“To see the Alchemist,” he replies.

Our horses’ gallop slows into a slow shuffle as we enter a lush green forest and make our way along a light brown-earthed winding path through the trees and underbrush.

I look around at the forest. Between the trees, I am surprised to see three mighty lions. One has the golden fur one is accustomed to see on a Lion, but the other two are brilliantly Green and Red respectively. They growl at us as we walk by and I wonder if I should be on my guard.

green lion.jpg

“Don’t mind them,” the Child says, smiling and joyfully and ebulliently calm as always.

At last, we come to what appears to be a cabin in a clearing in the woods. The outer walls are beige-white and the roof is made of red slanting shingles. Large plumes of mysterious smoke emerge from a golden cylindrical chimney on the roof.

“Go on in,” says the Child. “I’ll wait for you here.”

I knock on the golden door, which has an engraving of a solar disc with a point in the center, the alchemical sigil of the Sun, carved into it.

“Come in!” Says the warm voice of a friendly older man. “I’ve been expecting you.”

I enter the cabin and find it quite crowded inside. A cauldron simmers over a fire as a tall-grey bearded man wearing robes with golden symbols of the Sun emblazoned upon them stirs some kind of red liquid within it. Wooden tables are littered with a wide variety of alembics, tubes, retorts, flasks, and other Alchemical instruments. Sunlight filters in through grimy windowpanes.

lab.jpg

I greet him with the peace and blessings of YHVH ELOAH V’DA’AT (תעדו הולא הוהי), which he returns.

“Forgive me,” he says, “I’m working on a tincture of the Stone.”

“The Philosopher’s Stone?”

“Yes,” he said. “To turn Lead into Gold, the metal of the Sun. It is the Great Work of the Adept; Tipharet (תפארת) is the Sphere of the Sun. The true Initiate who attains it must himself or herself become gold, become the Sun.”

“In the Name of YHVH ELOAH V’DA’AT (תעדו הולא הוהי), may I ask you your name?”

“Ah, you are so formal!” Laughs the Alchemist.

alch.jpg

“Of course. It is Rashael. Resh (ר), Shin (ש), Aleph (א), Lamed (ל) in your beloved Hebrew.”

I laugh and thank him.

“What is the meaning of those Red, Yellow, and Green Lions out front?” I ask.

What he begins to reveal comes in a flow of insights clearer and more illuminating than any I have ever seen in an astral vision, without the slightest hesitation to interrupt the flow of the communication…

“The Green Lion is often shown eating the Sun,” Rashael says. “This an alchemical symbol for a substance that dissolves gold, the universal vitriol. The Red Lion is at once liquefied Gold and the rubedo or reddening stage, born out of the blood of the Green Lion. The Yellow or Golden Lion is the perfected and transmuted Gold itself. So much for alchemy, but to me… they are my pets!”

red.jpg

I laugh and ask him if he would be willing to Initiate me into the Mysteries of the Path of Resh (ר).

“Yes,” Rashael says, “but to know the ways of the Path of the Sun, you must be Him. Therefore, drink this, the tincture of the Sun, the Red Lion, tincture of the Stone itself.”

He ladles the mysterious red liquid into an Erlenmeyer flask and trusting him, I drink it. It has no flavour, but sends a wave of warm sensations radiating through my Sphere of Sensation. I feel an Inner Light glowing out from my Heart region and radiating warmth throughout my consciousness.

po.png

“The Heart is the Sun within. Gold is its Nature, but how many mistake it for lead!” Rashael says.

“Many take themselves to be lead and reflect that perception to you. They may see only lead when they look at you too! But if you remember nothing else, remember this:

The true alchemist sees gold where others see lead, shows others how to transmute potential into gold, and does the same to the lead he or she finds within him- or herself.

When others reflect lead at you, see with Alchemical eyes, speak with an Alchemical tongue, and reflect naught but gold back to them. If you attain this Wise Arcanum, then you yourself shall be the Stone!”

gold.jpg

I bow and thank him for these wise words.

“You know, the least important part of alchemy happens in the laboratory, with plants and metals,” he continues.

“The most important part happens in the transmutations of daily life, the prima materia. Who sees this shines from the Heart of the Inner Sun and sees the Light that hides in darkness.

Oh, if you would go on to Hod (הוד), take this with you.”

Rashael lifts up a radiant golden medallion on a gold chain and places it around my neck. Engraved into this Solar Pentacle, are a Circle with a point in its center and a Hebrew letter Resh (ר).

resh.jpg

I thank the wise Rashael, who radiates warmth, golden love, and Solar wisdom in everything he says, for all he has given me and wish him well. He returns my blessings with his characteristic good-humored grace. When I ask him if I can call upon him again, he says  “Happily! Drop by anytime. It was a pleasure.”

Grateful and still glowing from the effects of his tincture, I rejoin the Child outside and climb back up onto my horse.

The Child continues in his exuberant way, smiling and laughing.

“Did you get what you were looking for from the Alchemist?” He asked.

“Yes, indeed! Abundantly so!”

“Fantastic. Sounds like him, alright! He never disappoints! On we go to the end of the Path to Hod (הוד).”

As our white horses shuffle their way through the forest, we come upon the Red, Green, and Yellow Lions again. This time, however, they do not growl. Instead, they bow graciously as we pass. “How interesting,” I think, wondering if they recognize my golden medallion as the Alchemist’s.

art.jpg

“Island of a Thousand Waterfalls” by Piotr Dura.

At last, we come upon a golden bridge over a vast gorge. On the opposite side, the orange Mercurial Temple of Hod (הוד) (הוד) glows brightly in the Sun.

“I can go no further, I’m afraid,” smiles the Child. “Be safe, be well, and do not let the darkness of dreary thoughts consume you. Instead, tune into your inner Sun and shine from within!”

I thank the Child for his counsel and guidance through the Path of Resh (ר) and we salute each other goodbye. Then I make my way along the golden bridge towards Hod (הוד). Looking to my left, I see a vast waterfall thundering into the depths.

Standing before the great orange doors of Hod (הוד), I hold up the medallion. The Sun reflecting off its surface casts a glimmer on the door, which open its mighty double doors. I step inside and the scene fades to orange.

At home in my astral inner Temple, I perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram and return to my body.

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Update I: a sense of glowing inner warmth, spiritual presence, and gratitude for the Gold has within lingered me through as I did my social work with older adults throughout the day. I reminded myself to remain sensitive to gold hidden in the lead of problems and work presented throughout the day and I found more than enough to prove Rashael right!

Update II: at night, my ability to practice the reflecting only gold back to those who see lead philosophy was tested when my Temple’s Officers all informed me for different reasons that they would not be able to attend the Equinox Ceremony and we would have to cancel it. I was shocked. After all of the preparations for the Ceremony I had done, I was really blindsided by this. I would have no choice but to renew all Officer positions until the following year since we could not install a new Hierophant in the Temple until the next Equinox, the Autumn Equinox. Then I went to my girlfriend’s house only to find her facing numerous daily life challenges. What a bushel of lead I was handled here from which to attempt to make Gold!

If anyone ever tells you that Alchemy is all about “love and light,” they have never done the real work; real Alchemy works with all of the dross of life, with suffering, with the messiness and complexity of life, and is hard work.

***

Calling on the Divine, my HGA and the Spirit of the Runes to show me a Rune best suited to the lessons of this Pathworking and the aftermath of having to cancel the Equinox Ceremony, I cast Nauthiz, the Rune of Necessity. It literally means “need-fire” or “firey-need.” Esoterically, it suggests constraints and constrictions, which remind me of the energies of Saturn and the Sephirah of Binah (בינה).

nauthiz.jpgNauthiz connotes need, necessity, extreme circumstances, needs, wants, cravings, compulsions, and desires. Nauthiz suggests obstacles and adversity, but also the perseverance to overcome them. It counsels patience and tends to have a delaying influence. It also suggests hard-work, creative friction, the consequences of past action, short term pain for long-term gain,

As Tyriel writes, “Invoking need is more powerful than wishing, but what we need and what we desire are not always the same. In this sense, Nauthiz can protect us from ourselves, but its lessons are often harsh. The force of the past exerts its effect on us in the present. Previous action catches up with us and attempts to restrain and restrict future action, which is the counter-movement of the cyclical processions of JERA. However, armed with humility we can learn our lessons from not only our own errors, but the mistakes and successes of others.”

Update III: The Nauthiz Rune proved Prophetic; today was a difficult day of friction, conflict, delays, and needs for patience and perseverance. Rashael’s work of transmuting the lead of daily life into gold goes on…

 

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