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Communication Spells

 
 
Frank Fress
14:57 / 22.04.04
'ello, I was wondering if anyone knew of effective communication spells. I am trying to contact an old friend whom I haven't seen in years and has not returned my phone calls, letters or emails. I am at a loss. Please do not reply to this if you are one of those crusaders who thinks a spell directed at a specific individual is rape or something. I am fully aware of the karmic repercussions involved with forcing my will on someone else. So please no self-righteous lectures about magickal responsibility...You silly bastards.
 
 
Quantum
16:19 / 22.04.04
Write their name three times around the edge of a circle of card like this (quantumquantumquantum)and pierce it with a pin in the centre. Put it by your phone. They should call within three days.
It may need a bit of charging if you haven't seen the person for years and years, use a sigil technique or something if you want.
Good luck!
 
 
Frank Fress
16:51 / 22.04.04
Yeah, I saw that technique on some silly "magic" site akin to Yahoo astrology and the like. I'm not talking about writing someone's name on a bay leaf and taping it to my phone or something. I'd like some tried and true techniques...Has anyone ever had success with writing someone's name in a circle and putting by their phone?
 
 
trouser the trouserian
19:14 / 22.04.04
Mark Twain used to utilise a technique whereby he'd write an extremely detailed letter to someone he hadn't heard from for a while, then get 'angry' and rip it up in a frenzy and go out and get pissed. Sounds analogous to the old sigil process - but he claimed it would inevitably result in the person concerned getting in touch with him.
 
 
Frank Fress
21:50 / 22.04.04
Thanks absence, that's a little more like what I was talking about. It sounds similar to what someone mentioned on the love spell discussion about planning a vacation in order to meet someone special. Real Magick! I'd also like to add that I'm trying that silly name circle thing. I let you know how it works out.
 
 
Seth
23:28 / 22.04.04
I know you're probably not a twat, but your first post makes you sound a lot like one. You've come to the wrong place if you want to be narrow minded about the type of responses you want, if you only want to read things that will affirm your little model of what you think you want and who you think you can be. People of the board, respond to this thread any way you want to.
 
 
charrellz
23:53 / 22.04.04
Felix Severe: Going in thinking the card thing is silly is sort of self-defeating. As Parappa the Rapper from that damn head-ache causing game would say "You Gotta Believe!" But seriously, if you're going to try a method, REALLY try it, don't just sit there going "this is dumb, it wont work..." You have to will it too happen, not the other way around, and i'm rambling.
 
 
pony
02:03 / 23.04.04
seth-

i wouldn't really considering that narrow-minded, he simply seemed to be stating that he was entirely aware of a certain set of potential responses, and that he didn't see the need for his thread to get bogged down in a debate that doesn't seem like it's going to evolve very much in the near future. yes, people can always reply however the fuck they'd like, but i think that the initial request was also valid.
 
 
Frank Fress
02:20 / 23.04.04
I apologize for any misunderstanding in my first post. I've have often seen topics go off on a tangent arguing over the ethical issues involved regarding certain types of spells and did not wish to see the same happen to my topic. Which is why I tried to make my motives for creating the topic as clear as possible. Sorry if I stepped on any toes. As for the name circle thing, I did sound like a twat. That is why I made a point of making another post mentioning that I tried the technique anyway. Had I not seen the technique some other place who's credibility I questioned, I wouldn't have refuted the technique's effectiveness. However, I don't see anything wrong with not accepting a technique after coming to my own conclusion regarding it. Now having said all that, let us move ahead with the discussion of the topic and not turn this into a debate on Barbelith posting etiquette, or ethics, or whether or not I am a twat, which I obviously am.

Let us not lose focus...
 
 
kid entropy
12:08 / 23.04.04
sorry man,you still sound like a twat.do many of your pals just dissapear?
 
 
Chiropteran
13:22 / 23.04.04
A while ago, when I was on a servitor-design rampage, I was playing with the idea of a servitor to "remind" people to get in touch. I was still tossing around ideas for feeding and invoking, but the intended effect was that the servitor would tweak synchronicity to constantly remind the "target" of you -- from thinking they see you in crowds everywhere they go to having their address book keep falling off the table and opening to your address, stuff like that.

I have no idea how well it might work, and obviously the person would have to "get the hint," but it was an idea. And, while I suppose it could be open to abuse (i.e. harassment), it could be seen as less "invasive" than directly implanting suggestions, since the effects are mostly external and rely on the target's own awareness and choice.

Eh, FWIW.

Have fun!

~L
 
 
Frank Fress
19:33 / 23.04.04
That sounds like a cool idea. Maybe you could work it out to operate sort of like the GEK servitor.
 
 
Seth
22:18 / 23.04.04
Which is why I tried to make my motives for creating the topic as clear as possible.

No you didn't. There's no motive in your first post, simply that you want to be in touch with someone who doesn't seem to want to be in touch with you. That's assuming that all the contact details you're using are still current. You ask for a technique and get defensive about ethics before anyone's even mentioned the issue. Great way to sidestep that particular landmine.

There's no reason why you'd like to get in touch (hence why I say there's no motive), and frankly that's essential to my decision of whether to help you with technique. If I'm not convinced about your motives - and to be brutal, your ethics - why the fuck should I help you? I don't know you, therefore I don't trust what you say about having thought the situation through until I see it here in black on green.

So no context, no backstory, no motive = no technique from me. I don't share with people who want ability without accountability. One of the best things about this forum is that we'll tell you if you think you've temporaily lost perspective. It's one of Barbelith's most powerful assets and I'd hate to see the board turn off its critique just based on your say-so. On the other hand, let me know more and I might be extremely happy to help. But then, why the fuck should you care? Other people here have already given you some of what you want.

I'll be happy if all I've done here is stand up for things which I think are important. Like open ethical discussion without tabboos or restrictions.
 
 
Frank Fress
23:19 / 23.04.04
Jeez...

Seth, I think you have missed the point. If you don't want to help me, then don't. This topic has now become what I hoped it wouldn't, which is a shame. There seems to be a trend in starting arguements in threads on Barbelith, a trend I had hoped I could dodge. Seriously, I've seen a great number of threads turn hostile. I think that is bullshit. I will be wary in asking anyone anything on this board again, lest someone disagree with something I said. Is that what you want? Are you trying to prove your moral superiority to me? Relax mate. I hope you don't nitpick this message for something rant about in the name of everything this board stands for. The message of mine you quoted was an apology.
 
 
Seth
10:17 / 24.04.04
It's phrases like this that I have a problem with, Felix:

I've have often seen topics go off on a tangent arguing over the ethical issues involved regarding certain types of spells and did not wish to see the same happen to my topic.

Since when was discussing the assumptions behind our motives and the impact that we have on wider systems irrelevant to a thread discussing our workings? That's all part and parcel of the magic that we do (probably two of the most important facets), and if you're not interested in that then I question the entire basis of your practise. Therefore I don't care if I've missed the point of your request not to engage in this type of discussion. I considered it and thought it was bobbins, you silly bastard.

But I'll put my money where my mouth is and leave myself open to criticism in a way you've tried to avoid:

I've recently been thinking about using magic to get in touch with an old friend. Last Sunday I met up with my mate Dave from college, and we were both discussing Rob, one of our best friends from when we were lil' teenagers.

Rob moved to another town several years back, and that drifting effect took place, where life moves on and, one by one, all the available means of getting in touch become out of date. No working phone numbers, postal or email addresses. We were close to his Mum, and she's also moved over the last couple of years. So we have no means of contacting him through her, either.

Last time I saw Rob was about two or three years ago, with Dave. We had a great evening, as if no time had passed at all, and parted company on great terms. We've always been close, never fallen out for more than a couple of hours after a heated pub debate (which we both thoroughly enjoy).

When I saw Dave last Sunday, he was concerned that Rob was going through a tough time. He'd heard that his journalism hadn't taken off, that he was depressed, that a relationship hadn't worked out for him. We agreed that it would be great to get in touch, had we any means of doing so. We love the guy, and he might appreciate a some old friends checking in at least.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. There's tons that I don't know about Rob and his life right now, but we've been mates through some tough times (for both of us), and I'd love to get in touch in case he needs a mate like me now. He might not, but I'd be extremely surprised if he wasn't pleased to hear from me, at least.

So as I say, I've been thinking about using magic to contact him. So I'll throw it out to the board (including you, Felix. I'd appreciate your ideas and challenges).

- Do you have any questions about my motives, assumptions, or the situation?
- Are there any non-magical means that I could try?
- Does knowing more of the context enrich your understanding of what type of magic I could use?
- Have I missed any wider impact that my actions could have should I use magic to get in touch?

I'm not going to be around until Thursday (off to London to study), so I won't be able to respond to anything 'til I get back.

And about your *moral superiority* comment: grow up. This isn't a power struggle, it's about iron sharpening iron, about making sure that the magic we do gets the best results for everyone concerned. I don't give a flying fuck about looking good in debate, because I'm not very good at debates.

I care about people, not ideas. Which is why I might still be very happy to offer you help if you explain more of the context. Just don't expect not to be challenged on your beliefs about that context, because those challenges are just as magical as any working you intend to do.
 
 
nidu713
15:15 / 24.04.04
Everyone that has posted to this thread sounds like a twat (myself included)... in fact, everyone that has ever posted to any thread anywhere has sounded like a twat.

So, now that we've defined who's a twat and who's not... onto bigger and better things.

I once ran into an old shaman who told me of a few ancient tried-and-true magickal technique to establish contact with someone... pick up the receiver end of a telephone, extend right or left index finger, then depress the correct symbol sequence on the corresponding symbol matrix. The only catch is that you must know the symbol sequence of the person you are trying to contact... but once you have that, it's a piece of cake. Once completed, you must hold the audio output extension of the receiver to your left of right ear while holding the audio input portion of the receiver to your mouth. If you have completed all of these steps correctly, you should hear a ringing noise emit from the audio output of the receiver.

Similar results can be accomplised with the newer shamanic techniques of e-mail, or older techniques such as the stop-by visit.

...I know... I'm a twat.

But seriously, if communication is the issue here, why re-invent the wheel. If the magickal process is the focus, then I guess I understand where you are coming from.
 
 
Char Aina
14:26 / 25.04.04
has anyone ever noticed the relationship between a preemptive 'defense' and subsequent 'atacks'?

try wearing a tshirt that says 'dont talk to me' next time you go clubbing, felix.
 
 
Lilith Myth
17:31 / 25.04.04
This is Seth in a Lilith Myth costume. Not quite as cute as Lain in her bear pyjamas, but you'll have to make do.

All I wanted to say was -

pibu911: have you read this thread? Beacuse from reading your post, you haven't. The general slant here is, "when all else fails, how do you get in touch?" ie: we have no means of getting in touch (at least, in felix' case, to our satisfaction. Ze still hasn't made it clear whether ze could just be *on ignore*).

So yeah, to not have read the thread and making a snarky and frankly irrelevant post makes you look like a twat. But then you've already blessed the thread by pre-empting that response...
 
 
nidu713
16:30 / 26.04.04
Uh... touchee, but let's say twat one more time. I don't think my point has sunk in yet.
 
 
Salamander
17:14 / 26.04.04
yes, we are all twats everywhere, now, communication. Do you have something that belongs to your ex?... I mean friend, (heh heh heh), good I thought you did. Make a small cloth doll, inside leave the something inside the doll and then make the doll to look like this person. Now get a tiny toy phone, doesn't matter what type o' phone, and superglue it to the dolls head. (If you can remember if the person is left or righty, and which side they put the phone on, this may help). Then place doll near door to room. Whenever you leave the room for THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING, hit the doll three times, like your angry at it. The person should call in no more than three weeks.
 
 
Shahaoul
13:32 / 27.04.04
In the past I've used a servitor as a communicator to quite a good effect. Also, I've found on occasion when I'm bored and doodling and have drawn the servitor's sigil I've been able to project my 'mental voice' into someone else's head. Naturally, as soon as I become conscious of the fact and try to control it or do something cool with it, the effect stops.
 
 
De Selby
03:27 / 04.05.04
There were a few suggestions, relating to anger and being pissed off with the person for not being in contact sooner, ie. the mark twain thing. Surely if you expressed anger towards the symbolic embodiment of the person you are only going to push them away? I know when people are irrationally pissed off with me, the last thing I want to do is listen to anything they have to say.

Personally, I would be trying to get rid of all the obstacles which are stopping you from contacting that person, ie. the physical distance between you, rather than creating reasons why they shouldn't contact you even if they could.

If you make a sigil for you to both be in physical contact with one another, then who knows? You jump on a bus somewhere, sit down, and who should be sitting next to you visiting some family in his hometown? Even seemingly stupid and obvious things, like writing on bits of paper and being constantly reminded of that person, seem to work given the right perspective.
 
  
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