Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Temple >

Astral Ritual Implements

gotham island fae

12:30 / 10.12.02

Hey, Barbelith.
I have a Solstice ritual that will be conducted in NYC that I am currently preparing for. As I will be traveling to New York by plane I have had doubt cast on my ability to travel with my atheme. Regardless of the actual difficulty I would experience in this endeavor, I have been inspired to try an experiment.

I wish to create and consecrate astral forms for my magickal tools. I know that the tools themselves are not mandatory for ritual working. I am intrigued, however, by the idea of forming an imaginal proxy for those times when the physical object is unavailable.

My first inspiration was to start with mudra-like hand positionings. I don't know much about them, so I am uncertain whether there are specific mudras for the four (five) elements or not.

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated, Barbed Ones...

13:49 / 10.12.02

There probably are various mudras in usage to represent the elements - there's a book I came across recently called 'Taoist Shamanism' or suchlike that I recall suggests a few mudras along these lines.

However, I'd say anything that you arrive at yourself creatively might be more effective than any prescribed mudras. Maybe form your hands into a shape resembling each of the elemental weapons, turn the name of your athame/whatever into a sigil and try and further abstract sigil until it is something simple enough to emulate with your hands, draw spontaneous pictures whilst meditating on each weapon and see if any of the shapes 'clicks' with you enough to be taken as a mudra pattern, and so on.

15:37 / 10.12.02

I've found that a quick knife-drawing gesture [just suddenly pulling my right fist closed and to my right hip] is enough to call the imaginal form of my knife. Perhaps this is because it's the only magickal tool I have and I crafted it to operate on both physical/non-physical realities.

I discovered the trick quite by accident. In the midst of a swirling nasty headspace, I made a physical/internal move to sweep it away. The end result was sudden calm, with a relaxed fist and the familiar feel of the knife in my palm. It works so well, it has taken over from "part horse's mane" for this task.

The next weird feeling that occurred was the reassuring weight of it hanging at my left hip. This time, it felt about the heft and length of a sword. I didn't draw it at that time, just thanked it for being there.

I didn't set out to feel those two things, they both just happened at appropriate moments. I would hazard that it is an effect of the intent during the crafting: to be used in both worlds.

... hope this is of use.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

21:37 / 10.12.02

This is interesting to me, as I am currently trying to find a way to forge a dreamsword so I can kick my nightmares' collective arse.

On a purely practical level: I think it's only knives in carry-on bags that cause consternation on the skyways. You'd probably be alright if you popped your atheme in your check-in baggage (I did that with my huge nail-studded collar the last time I flew, and all was well).

22:20 / 11.12.02

I had a sword that kept on recurring in my dreams.It was a typical lightweight, decorative sword but it had the word 'Scott' etched into the metal of the blade.I lost it for a while in a dream, and then regained it in another and 'insofar as I am wont to find a rational explanation', I still often imagine myself swinging that sword when I feel insecure,or cold or alone.There is something there,some kind of attribute that has been attatched to the 'sword image' that runs deep into my psyche.But why should it?Is it too much Errol Flynn movies?.
In a dream ,sometimes it is possible to 'will' an object into existence ,and then to use that implement within the current paradigm.In my own experience this has been a bit hit and miss,because sometimes the sword has no real effect on the entites in question.Half the time if I believe in the properties of an inanimate object it will manifest, but again its hard to plan ahead.I find that dream objects stay with you though,at least until they have outlived their usefulness,like ideas.They are worth cultivating,and you might find that they cultivate themselves the more you embellish their existence by your own need.
Some advice:when you feel the need to envoke these 'weapons', try to think of the astral objects as being made up of light,as existing in a sideways reality,waiting to be called.Ephemeral,weightless,a thoughtform -your own creation and therefor completely under your will.
In some sense,at some level of consciousness,these objects will take on a developement cycle of their own.For me,the 'imaginal sword' is a form of banishment ritual.

gotham island fae

15:13 / 12.12.02

A couple of things:

This work will also be serving as the consecration/dedication of my ritual tools. (Five years seeking and I am only now beginning my trek down the practical path.) I think it will be beneficial to do both the dedication and the astral consecration in the same rite, rather than "tacking on" the astral aspect, later.

I have yet to decide on a practical, portable wand. I have a few, much too large, substitutes that I have been getting a feel for. None of them has (nor spatially, could have) claimed the fire space on my altar. An interesting thought has come to me to craft an imaginal wand first, then waiting for the physical one to heed the call.

Your thoughts thus far have been enlightening, thanks.

15:43 / 12.12.02

I think it will be beneficial to do both the dedication and the astral consecration in the same rite, rather than "tacking on" the astral aspect, later.

Exactly what I did. It was part of the intent from the start that this tool should work on all planes. The assembly, consecration and dedication took several months - I gleaned much about my own state from the amount of work it took to get the knife ready.

Funny that you should mention the wand. I knew that the knife was coming a long time before it found me [and when it did, it wasn't how I had expected. duh!]... I'm still waiting on the wand, but I've held its imaginal form already. It even did that extending trick to full staff/spear size.

Thanks for this thread. It couldn't have come at a better time for me... all the best with your own endeavours, FF & MC.

16:53 / 12.12.02

An interesting thought has come to me to craft an imaginal wand first, then waiting for the physical one to heed the call.

I've done that one, actually. It was in planning for a blade I was going to have made, but for various reasons haven't been able to craft yet. I crafted it in my mind to exacting detail as I wished it to be, including the materials used in its construction, and what sorts of energy work it would be most useful for and the like. It became real enough that I can use it as an astral athame, willing the vision of it into my empty hand and using it as if it were real in this world.

I think one thing that helped was finding an astral space to store it in when its not in use. I've been developing an inner realm for some years now, which slowly adds detail and additional landscape as needed. It began as a starting point for shamanic work, but has becomoe useful as well as a storage space for astral items, servitors, and the like. Funny thing, when I placed the blade in there, a suitable containment sprang up around it, complete with a guardian I did not expect. So, all I need to do if I want to use it is travel there in my mind, grasp it, and refocus to the present world with it in my hand.

I do have an actual blade which is similar in form to the astral one which I use as an Athame, and I've found that the two can overlap well enough, the astral giving a particular flavor to the physical one. So, this sort of working has worked for me.

As for dream blades, I've one of those two. Had it since childhood, and it comes and goes as these things do. When confronted with nightmarish problems, I instinctively think to hit them with my sword, and it appears. Its form varies depending on the current form of my psyche, as these tend to do. Its even been a gun at times. The key thing is that I didn't specificly craft this one, I just reached for it unconsciously when needed and it was there. I think if you give yourself that option, it'll turn up for you when you try to use it. Its more a manifestation of will than anything else.

gotham island fae

12:35 / 16.12.02

Pseudo-Mudras:

Earth - Palm down. Fingers curled in, fist-like. Thumb extended to side (center).

Fire - Palm vertical. Thumb extended up. Fingers extended to side (center).

Water - Flat hand. Palm up.

Air - Flat hand. Palm forward.

Wand Evocation:

It's coming. I've seen it. Now I just need to find it.