Freaky!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

celeste	12 May 2003
The other day I bought a Tarot Spells book that had caught my eye some time before. Being relatively new to this(I have tried a couple of non-tarot spells that were successful,but didn't always give me the results I expected.), I tried to follow the instructions to the letter. The spell I was working required candles but I didn't have any, so that was the only thing I was missing. I decided to go ahead anyway. The particular spell I was working was one for warding away your enemies. I had been recently having trouble with a couple of co-workers who were verbally abusive, rude, and liked to throw thier (little bit of)power around. They work together,which makes them worse individually. I hate going to work when they are on and always feel like I am walking on eggshells around them. Management is aware of the problem but isn't doing anything despite numerous complaints from workers and patients alike. Anyway, so I decided to try this spell. It was basically a cross formation of the two of swords,8 of swords,the Hanged man and Temperance with the offending parties significator and name in the middle. The basic message of the incantation was to limit thier powertripping, stay away from me(physically)and not bother me at all, and mind thier own smallminded business. After I finished,not being sure if it worked,I finished with the closing incantation,sealed thier names in a jar,cleared the cards,and re-shuffled the deck for next time. Then, a card fell out of the deck. Knowing this was not just coincidence, I turned it over curiously. It was the 4 of wands,in the Thoth deck, Completion. I thought that was kind of freaky, also that it was confirmation of sorts that I did it right. The next day, the offending parties were not rude or unpleasent to me once. They didn't speak to me unless I had to ask them a direct(work-related) question. They kept thier distance from me physically,but without animosity or tension. So, I think it worked.

Red Emma	12 May 2003
Celeste, I'm charmed. I've done a few spells and have some small successes, but nothing this dramatic. Maybe I'll leave the candles out next time. Goddess Bless

celeste	13 May 2003
Well, I hope we both have good luck! I'm still struck by how weird that was.They weren't exactly friendly to me...just sort of ...neutral.

Major Tom	13 May 2003
I'm happy to hear that this spell seems to have worked for you. I'm guessing it's early days yet, it will be interesting to see how things develop. The Enemies spell from Janina Renee's Tarot Spells is a binding spell. One of the most often unforeseen aspects of a binding spell is the binding of the object to the caster. I strongly recommend the following practice: Before casting any spell, first perform a reading asking the question, "what will the result be if I cast this spell?" Once you have this answer, and know what the results will be, you can then decide whether or not to proceed with your spell. In this way you accept full responsibility for your actions. Even though you've already cast your spell, you might find it useful to do a reading asking what the results are going to be. Red Emma - Candles can add considerable strength to a spell, but it is important to "dress" the candles with oil first, concentrating on the purpose of your spell.

Kiama	13 May 2003
There's nothing weird about things like that working! ;) Magic is the art and science of focussing the will and energy to achieve a certain goal. That's exactly what you did: You used your will and energy in this spell. It wasn't the cards or the candles that made the difference, but the fact that yu needed the spell to work, so you put yourself into it. The power isn't in the tools, the cards, the candles... It's in you! :D (This is coming from my own perspective, so feel free to not belive it if you like.) The only reason we use tools in a spell is to help us focus and make us feel as though we are actively performing magic. Hopefully you will continue to have much success in this area! (As long as you have the correct intent, and enough will and energy to help that intent along! :D) Here is a cool quote from a Hermetic magician friend of mine, to another Hermetic magician who was surprised and commented on it when he actually felt and swa the guardian angels during the Lesser Banishing Ritual: "Of course you saw the angels: I called them, didn't I?!" }) Kiama

Red Emma	13 May 2003
Celeste, in your case, I think "neutral" is good. Very good! Major Tom, thanks for the "dressing the candles" advice. I plan to use the upcoming waning moon to get my father out of my head. At the moment I'm undergoing a series of psychological treatments, of the behavioural school, to banish his extremely abusive effects on my own behaviour -- some 60 years later. After I plan the ritual, I will do a reading on the potential outcome of the event. That was a good idea. As for leaving the candles out, that remark was pretty much tongue-in-cheek. It just seemed to fit there. Goddess bless

celeste	13 May 2003
Hi Major Tom: I appreciate your comments and yes, the spell that I cast was the Enemies one from Janina Renee's book Tarot Spells. At the end of the spell she reccomends taking the paper out of the sealed jars after 'problems with the individual have been resolved' and then casually discarding them. I would think that this would remove the "binding"effect in as harmonias a way as possible. I hear your warning about thinking about and reading of any subsequent consequenses from working a spell. (I've done a couple of other non-tarot spells and learned a lesson or two in humility). I'm impulsive at times and learn things the hard way,something I've chalked up to too much fire in my astrological chart-lol. I did a three card spread after the fact and came up with the Two of Swords reversed in the past position, The Chariot in the present position, and the Ace of Cups in the future position. That seemed pretty positive to me. But seriously, I will heed your warning and read about the consequences of any spells before I undertake to cast any more. Thanks :)

sagitarian	14 May 2003
That's awesome Celeste. I don't know, I've always been pretty...hesitant to even think about spell work. I've done VERY few, with good results. I'm glad to hear this spell worked out for you.

The Freaky! thread was originally posted on 12 May 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.