Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Love Magic Series: Honey Jars for Love


This article continues my series on Love Magic...
and just in time for Valentine's Day!

Sweetening spells are among the most gentle of love spells, and also very effective at gaining favor with a specific individual. If you've read my other articles here, you know I feel that love should only need a little push - if it needs any more than that, then you're likely better off drawing a partner that will complement you, and who you will complement in turn. But giving a love spell the good ol' college try on that special someone you've had your eye on is certainly encouraged.

Honey jars and other sugary container spells work by surrounding the target with an energy which encourages that person to think sweetly about you - gently bringing them around to favoring your attentions. Packing the honey jar with herbs which apply directly to the effect you are wishing to have on the target helps to further personalize and focus the spell's power. Loaded with a carefully crafted petition paper which contains personal concerns of both the smitten and their love-interest, these jars pack a real punch without being overly aggressive.

Honey jars are the one of the spells that I'm happy to suggest to those who are looking for something to try on their intended sweetie. They are easy to make, and never cause things to go off the rails through unexpected results (which can certainly happen with love spells - I will be doing an article on this at a later date). As is suggested before undertaking any magical work, doing a divination to read the full situation and to determine if a honey-jar is an appropriate action to take that is likely to succeed. If you are unable to read for yourself, seek out a reputable worker to do a reading and consultation for you.

You'll find lots of info out there that may suggest that honey jars are slow in working, and they can be if you are not working them often enough to bring about results more quickly. You will often find instructions for just working a honey jar 1 or 3 times per week, which is fine once you've already gotten a good deal of momentum with it. To really build up some movement you will want to work the bottle at least once daily until things start moving your way. And while burning candles daily is indicated when you are first starting the work, I like to work the bottle in some way 3 times daily to build some force - you may light a candle once daily, but take some time to hold that bottle and pray over 3 times a day!

So without further ado, here are some instructions for making your own honey jar for love.

MAKING a HONEY-JAR for LOVE

What you'll need:

* small jar of honey

In the old days workers would sometimes match the type of sweetener to the skin color of the person being targeted. If the person was dark-skinned, they would choose molasses, a light skinned person would get clear Karo syrup, medium skin would get honey, etc. However any substance which is naturally sugary sweet can be used, and today there is much less emphasis on race, and honey seems to be the most common sweetener used. You can get it nearly anywhere, and it often comes already packaged in a small glass container perfect for use in a honey jar spell!

If you'd prefer to use a different kind of sweetener (I've heard of some people simply disliking the taste of honey and so wishing to use something they felt more kindly towards), you are free to. I would just suggest that you stick to natural substances, and not use chemical sweeteners of any kind.

If you can't find a small jar, or you'd rather just use some honey that you already have on hand, you can empty the appropriate amount of honey into a small jar that has a metal lid (you will be burning candles on top of this, so you need a lid that is heat-proof). Small canning jars and empty baby-food jars are perfect for this.

* Queen of Pentacles' Love-Drawing Herb Blend, or herb blend of your own making

* red 4" candles (if you are trying to inspire passion/lust), or pink 4" candles (if you are trying to evoke romance)

You'll need 7 candles the first week, and 3 every week after that. Plan on working the jar at least 2-3 months. Make sure to get enough candles to keep you going for a little while. Honey jars are notoriously slow to work, due to their subtle nature - so just prepared to keep things going for a good few weeks before you really start seeing a change slowly taking shape.

* an appropriate love condition oil such as Love Me, Come to Me, Dixie Love, etc

* small square of parchment paper to write your petition

* either a pen with red ink, or an eraser-less pencil

* a hair from your target and a hair from yourself - if you absolutely cannot get a direct personal concern from your target you can use pictures

* spoon

* tool to inscribe candles

To craft your honey jar spell, start by gathering all your supplies together on your work surface. If you need to transfer honey into the jar for the work, then do so prior to beginning.

This work is best done on a Friday, which is associated with Venus. If you enjoy working by lunar timing and planetary hours, you can harness the waxing moon to help increase your target's passions, and work during the planetary hour of Venus on a Friday.

1) Take your parchment paper, a square of 3"x3" is ideal, and write the name of your target 7 times in block letters using either the red pen, or the eraser-less pencil. Turn the petition paper clockwise 90 degrees, and cross your own name tic-tac-toe style across the target's name 7 times in block letters. This puts you on their mind, influencing it. While you are doing all this, pray your intent, letting your emotional desires pour down through you and into the writing.

2) Now, condense your petition down into a short phrase, such as "LOVE ME" or "WANT ME", etc. Write this phrase cursive-style - i.e. in one continuous connected stream of writing - in a circle around the crossed names. Do not lift the pen at any time during this part! Make sure the last letter your write joins seamlessly to the first letter than you wrote down. Remember to pray your intent during this process.

3) You can decorate the corners of the petition paper with symbols of love, such as hearts, or anything else that means love, romance, passion, etc to you.

4) Now take a dab of your love condition oil, and anoint the petition paper with it in a 5-spot pattern (like the face of a dice that reads as 5). Continue to pray your intent, linking the power of the oil to your work.

5) Next take the target's hair. Using a small dab of honey as glue, stick the hair in the center of the petition paper. Then cross your own hair on top of your target's hair, making an X or +. Pray your intent as you do this. Imagine your two lives becoming intertwined romantically as you do.

6) Take your love herbs and pray over them - talk to the spirit of the various herbs letting them know what job you wish them to do for you. You can then place some of the herbs in the center of the petition paper. (You may wish to mix a few drops of your love condition oil into the herbs before doing this, to dress them.)

7) Now fold the petition paper towards you, praying that your love be brought to you. Turn it clockwise and fold it towards you again. Depending on how much of your herb blend you put in the petition paper, this may not fold very neatly, and that's ok; just take care not to tear you petition paper.

8) Open the honey jar and eat three nice spoonfuls of the honey (eat enough of the honey to make room for your petition paper packet to fit into the jar).

9) As you eat each spoonful, say something to the effect of "as this honey is sweet to me, may ______ grow sweet on me", and then place the petition paper packet well down into the honey. Close the jar tightly.

10) Do the following daily to get your honey jar heated up and working strongly for you:

Take one of your 4" candles, and inscribe the name of your target on it, and your petition phrase ("LOVE ME", "WANT ME", etc) onto it.

Dress it with your love condition oil while praying your intent.

Melt a few drops of wax off the bottom of the candle, letting it drip on the lid of the honey jar. Stick the candle to the lid using the hot wax as the adhesive - it should stick firmly once the wax hardens.

Light the candle, and allow it to burn itself out.

11) Once you have seen good positive movement towards your goal you can then work the jar on a maintenance schedule by burning candles on the jar 3 times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Continue this until your goal is achieved.


Honey jars can be worked even once a relationship is established, helping to foster continuous romantic feelings. I still have the honey jar that I made when I was first pursuing my now husband. On our anniversary, I burn a candle on it - the rest of the time it has a place of honor in our home.

Or you may wish to conclude the initial honey-jar, and begin a new one that is more suited to a long-term relationship (use the same process, but different condition oils and herbs appropriate to your situational needs). If you wish to conclude a successful honey jar working, you may bury it in your yard with respect.

If after a few months you have not achieved success, and you wish to stop working the honey jar and move on with your life, you may do so. Simply open the jar and remove the contents, allowing them to rinse off in running water, and the honey to wash away. Pray your thanks to the jar, and your intent to leave the work. Recycle the glass!


If you are unsure about making your own honey-jar, or would like to have a professional worker prepare one especially for you, and perhaps even work it on your behalf, please feel free to contact us here at Queen of Pentacles Conjure Shop & Village Witchery! We can happily craft a custom Honey Jar for Love Drawing for your individual needs!

Have a very happy Valentine's Day!





Saturday, February 6, 2010

Return to Sender!! Reversing & Mirror Work to Restore Balance


If you've read my articles here or visited the website for my conjure practice, you'll know that I'm a tender-hearted spiritual worker who doesn't deal in crossing work. My personal moral ethic is based in Eastern systems where one tries to take into account the ripples our actions cause on the fabric of Life, and cause as few waves as possible - living lightly and balanced in a compassionate and dispassionate way. I've spent many years working very hard to master my mental/emotional self by being mindful of my reactions and making conscious choices about how to respond without letting myself get drawn into the drama of my (or anyone else's) maya. I'm certainly no Vulcan, and it's an ongoing practice that one never truly masters...unless you attain sainthood. And I'm no saint either. It has helped me gain new levels of health and healing, and I do my best to let it inform every area of my life. For that reason, I simply don't consult on - and certainly do not work - in the realms of Revenge, Crossing, Break-Up, or other such actions.

That fact does NOT mean that I believe in turning the other cheek, or shying away from offensive action when under attack! Karma at it's very core is cause-and-effect. If you cause harm, then you open yourself up for an equally unpleasant effect. I strive for balance in my life and in my magical practice, so I don't desire to call up any additional negativity than what is already going around. (Really - does the world need any more violence and anger??) But sending that mess wheeling right back at the person who sent it...that is right up my alley!

That's where a wonderful little type of trick comes into play - Reversing.

Reversing work sends negativity right back to its source, so an enemy reaps exactly what they've sown. And reversing work isn't just for when someone has been working roots against you or otherwise sending a mess your way through spiritual means. It can also help deflect emotional and mental attacks on one's wellbeing and way of life. The relative that always demeans you and talking negatively about you to the family, for instance. Or a workplace bully that pushes everyone around and glaringly abuses the power they have. Or an ex-lover who had decided to play it dirty and badmouths you all over town trying to get friends and acquaintances to think poorly of you and abandon you. All of that is negativity that can be sent back to whence it came.

Whenever there has been a real effort on an enemies part to make life miserable for you, Reversing is generally a justified response. One could just cleanse away the negativity by doing Uncrossing work on their person, home, and if needed their workplace; that would relieve the pressure the mess was causing and allow for new positivity to begin coming back into one's life. But when the crossing occurred maliciously, it can be part of stepping into one's power and really beginning the healing process to take offensive action against one's persecuteor. Standing up for one's self and saying "NO - I'm not going to allow you to harm me anymore. I reject your attacks, and I send your ugliness right back to your doorstep!" can be extremely therapeutic and necessary in many cases.

However, as with any form of practical magic, it's always a good idea to do a divination (or have one done for you by a professional worker) to determine if Reversing is the best work to get your job done.

It's also worth mentioning that Reversing work is best worked in conjunction with Uncrossing or other spiritual cleansing work, to make sure that the residue of all misfortune or other lingering negativity that you have suffered due to the enemy's actions are cleansed away and your road opened to greater happiness and prosperity. In the case of ongoing Reversing work being necessary, Protection work should also be performed for yourself to maintain a strong shield should any strong work happen to still reach you (such as might happen if the enemy gets someone else to work against you on their behalf). If you are unsure about the best way to deal with your particular situation, please consider having a magical consultation with a professional.



MIRRORS and REVERSING WORK

The herbs used in Reversing work are ones that are known for clearing away negativity sent by other people, clearing away long-standing negative conditions, breaking free from negative and evil people, and protecting from negative energy while cleansing it away. Crab shell powder is commonly employed, harnessing a crab's "backwards walk" to walk the mess back to where it came from. Practitioners will often dress Reversing candles that have been named for the enemy with the crab shell powder, or surround the Reversing candle with a circle of it laid down counterclockwise. This ensures the enemy is kept within a barrier that will send back anything that comes out.

Mirrors play a central role in Reversing work for rather obvious reasons - you want to reflect a particular energy back to its source. As I'm sure you've noticed by now in a mirror everything is backwards - reversed - so in Reversing work many things are done backwards and in mirror-writing. This all builds a magical resonance and a strong symbolic link with sending conditions back.

Take a look at this very simple Reversing spell, looking for all the "backwards" elements in play:

You will need:

* small mirror that you have never looked in
* black candle
* Reversing oil
* crab shell powder
* hyssop herb
* a rag
* knife or other carving implement
* sharp object to inscribe candle

(NOTE: NOT catching your reflection in the mirror is VERY IMPORTANT. When using mirrors to redirect negative energy to a target, you definitely want to keep your reflection from being caught. Otherwise, a piece of you can be caught in the mirror, and you can end up crossing yourself up in the work.  When shopping for a mirror for this type of work, reach behind the front display mirror for ones that have not reflected you, and be very mindful to not let it catch you as you check out. Some practitioners, myself included, will cover their face with a scarf or handkerchief and put sunglasses on when putting together and performing a working like this.)

1) Take the black candle and cut the tapered end (the end you normally would light) off. Turn the candle over, and carve a new tapered top onto the bottom, making sure enough wick is carved out so that it can be lit. This is called "butting the candle".

2) Carve your enemy's name onto the candle in backwards mirror-writing (so that it would be legible in the reflection of a mirror, but looks reversed) 3 times. If you do not know the name of your enemy you can write "MY ENEMY", or a similar phrase, in mirror-writing 3 times instead. Pray over the candle your intent for all harm caused to you by the enemy be reversed back onto them.

3) Dress the candle with Reversing oil, stroking the candle in a motion away from you. Continue to pray for harm to be reversed.

4) Affix the dressed candle to the small mirror taking care not to catch your reflection in it. (You can do this by melting a few drops off the bottom of the candle, letting the wax spill onto the center of the mirror, then sticking the candle to that wax and holding it until the wax hardens.)

5) Take the crab shell powder and create a circle around the candle, laying the powder down counter-clockwise. Continue to pray for the harm to be reversed.

6) Light the candle, and allow it to burn all the way out.

7) Repeat this ritual for 3 days.

8) Once the candle has burnt out on the 3rd day, wrap the mirror, any wax remains, the crab shell powder, and any other ritual remains in the rag. Break the mirror once it is wrapped up in the rag.

9) After collecting the ritual remains up in the rag, make a strong tea from the hyssop herb and add this to a bath. Pour the bath water over your head and down your body while you pray the 51st psalm, or pray that you be cleansed of all ties to the Reversing. Collect some of the used bathwater before draining the tub, and take it to a crossroads to dispose of it. Leave both the bathwater, and the rag with the ritual remains in the center of the crossroad. (Try to choose a crossroad where a small broken mirror in the road will not cause any major issues. If you cannot find a suitable crossroad, you can always dispose of the ritual remains in a running body of water - though please keep ecological responsibility in mind.)


REVERSING ONGOING WORK with a MIRROR BOX

Reversing work is great for sending back what's already come your way from a circumstance that has already been dealt with successfully. Sometimes though the attack or negativity coming at you may be ongoing due to a more complicated happenstance that may not be so easy to permanently remedy. Some enemies may be pathologically obsessed with causing you harm, and work against their target, or keep someone on the payroll to work against the target for years and years on end. Other times the negativity may be coming from a vindictive close relative who is difficult to get distance from. Or a company owner who enjoys playing dictator with employees that can little afford to lose their jobs. I'm sure you can imagine a few other scenerios in which ongoing negativity would be difficult to stop permanently. This can be a perfect situation to employ a mirror-box.

A mirror-box is used to contain the enemy, surrounding them with mirrors so that anything negative that they put out into the world, will be immediately reversed back onto them. The box will act in an ongoing manner, unless it is ritually dismantled. This may seem drastic, but I look at it as a great teaching tool - the perpetrator will suffer only as long as they behave poorly. Ideally, they will eventually indulge in some healthy introspection as to the source of their misfortune, and decide to stop treating other people like garbage. As soon as they do, their life will improve drastically. It's sort of a magical shock-collar!

A mirror-box is made by taking a container - a shoe-box, a bottle, a jar, a wooden craft box, etc - and lining it with mirrors or other highly reflective items. Tin foil placed shiny-side inwards can be used in a pinch. A representative of the enemy is then placed inside the box. This can be a doll-baby or poppet stuffed with personal effects, herbs and curios, and named for the enemy, or simply a picture of the person in question that has been strongly ritually linked to them. Reversing herbs, as well as other herbs or curios that may apply to the specific case (for instance adding slippery elm if the enemy has been using gossip or slander against you, or hot foot or banishing powder if you are wanting to get rid of them from your life) may be added to the box to help focus and amplify the intent. Of course prayer is said throughout the creation process.

The mirror box, or mirror bottle, is then sealed and disposed of. I prefer disposal in running water for this particular trick, as the symbolism can be harnessed on several levels depending on your intent. The water can be asked to wash away that person's harmful influence on your life, or it can be asked to wash that person out of your life for good, or it can just be used as a generally neutral disposal place (as opposed to disposal at a graveyard which could have very different connotations). Take a cleansing hyssop bath afterwards is recommended.

Again, performing a divination or having a reading/consultation to determine if it is actually justified &/or necessary before using a mirror box is strongly suggested.





I've run into quite a few cases lately where a mirror-box was indicated, yet people were hesitant because they felt they didn't feel confident in actually making the box itself...even though it is quite simple. But I understand that some people are more crafty than others, and so I decided to put together a Mirror Box & Reversing Spell Kit.

This kit contains everything you need to start getting your relief for your misery:

*
Mirror Box (3"x3"x5")- to place the name paper or dolly of your enemy in to keep any new negativity sent out from effecting you

(Patterns of mirrors may vary from box to box - the one your receive may look slightly different, but will be equally effective.)

*
3 Black Candles - when butted, inscribed with the name of your ememy in mirror-writing, and dressed with Reversing oil and herbs, these will work to send past negativity sent your way back to their source

*
Reversing Herb Blend - a 5 ingredient blend of traditional hoodoo herbs and curios, including Rue and Crab Shell Powder dressed with Reversing condition oil; this blend can be burned on a charcoal as incense, used for dressing candles, sprinkled around your black Reversing candles to amplify the effect, folded inside your enemy's name paper, and placed within the mirror box

*
Reversing Oil - a 3mL bottle of Reversing oil to dress candles, and name papers with, made from high-quality essential oils of traditional reversing herbs, and fixed with authentic herbs and curios in the bottle

*
Parchment Paper - for writing your name paper, if applicable

*
Hyssop Bath - (not pictured) used to cleanse yourself after working the mirror box, to ensure that no negativity from that conjure will remain with you

*
Complete Detailed Instructions for Use and Disposal



--> This Mirror Box & Reversing Spell Kit is best suited for those dealing with ongoing negative situations, not only sending back what has already been sent, but also making sure that any future negativity never hits its mark and is turned right back on its source.

--> This kit will also work best in conjuction with Cleansing/Uncrossing work to rid yourself of the lingering effects from the negativity in your aura and around your home.

You can read an in-depth article,
Cleaning Up and Getting Uncrossed, on why and how to work basic cleansing and uncrossing for yourself here on this blog.

--> If you would like personalized advice on Uncrossing and Reversing work, please consider purchasing a
Magical Consultation with Queen of Pentacles.

You can purchase this and other hoodoo spell kits from the Queen of Pentacles Conjure  website.



I hope this article has been enjoyable and enlightening!
Happy Hoodooing!