BARBELITH underground
 

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


Underground > Temple >

Sacrificial Rites + Oaths

  
 
Margin Walker
02:52 / 04.03.02
As I stated in BK's "Are You Living?" thread, I'm in a really bad place in my life. What is of paramount importance right now is that I get a well-paying career. All other aspects I wish to introduce into my life (creative, romantic, etc.) I'll put on the back burner until that's accomplished. To that end, I plan on casting a runic binding spell.

I chose this method because, amongst other things, I plan on making a sacrifice (eitherby oath or physically--no animal rites), so as to increase the potency of the spell. Moreover, I feel like I need to atone for something that would profit no one in the world but me.

Unless anybody can think of a way more appropriate than Naudhiz (Heimdall's Aett), what would be appropriate sacrifice? Furthermore, what kind of sacrifice would most greatly amplify the spell?

For the record, I'm kind of a tyro at this stuff and this would be my first rite. My reason is (and perhaps this is a whole new thread) because magick can be done doesn't really negate that it should be done (or as Lothar put it "Stupid human, why are you asking me to stir your coffee? That's what the damn spoon's for!") I'm all for astral projection & ascending the spirit, but messing with the universe to acquire something as base as money is not anything I want to make a habit of. Thanks y'all....
 
 
We're The Great Old Ones Now
05:33 / 04.03.02
Sounds like you want to get into the steaming guts of your life.

If you're not ordinarily magically inclined, though, you might consider a few basic cleansings and so on in the runup to your working - they can be a bit overwhelming (or utterly disappointing).

I'm curious as to why you'd chose something so primal for what is effectively a modern desire - not criticising, but intrigued. In your place I might go with invoking or just meditating on Buskminster Fuller, who changed his life entirely as an alternative to suicide, and (at least partly as a consequence of his choice) is now thought of as a genius.
 
 
Lothar Tuppan
13:50 / 04.03.02
I respectfully disagree with Nick that your need is a modern one. The need to have abundance in your life, to have shelter (rent money), food, clothes, tools necessary to survive in your chosen society (a shovel in some, a legal copy of Adobe Photoshop in others), etc. are as old as human life as are the fears that go along with those needs. It's just the specifics that have changed.

My advice, is that in whatever specific ritual you choose to do start off slow to build momentum in the non-magical areas of your life.

<begin rambling personal story... cue the tiny violins >
About a year and a half ago I was really feeling the crunch of the 'dot.com' crash in Silicon Valley. No business, no money, and no one was hiring. I was stuck, and terrified, and felt that nothing could turn it around.

I was so wrapped up in it that I also couldn't successfully do any magic for myself.

I asked a friend of mine to do a Palo Mayombe ritual to change my situation. We did the ritual and I could feel the intense power of the magic working, I wept like a child, in awe of what I felt happening.

I didn't get a steady job though. Not a well paying one either. What I did get though was my first temp job that payed barely above minimum wage. It was better than nothing.

It lasted 3 days. During those three days I followed up on the ritual and got another temp job. The temp jobs lasted for about a month or two during which I started doing my own rituals for myself again. I then got a decent long term contract doing word processing. Nothing fantastic but it was paying most of my bills. After a month or so of that I got a great 3 month contract as a project manager again, kicked ass there and have been 'on my feet' since (knock on wood).

During that whole process I felt this vague energy of 'momentum' behind everything. As the momentum increased, the magic was easier to do successfully. Magical and non-magical work are intricately linked. Your hard work and your magic will slowly get you moving again. And then you can start accelerating towards your goal.

As for specific runes, it might depend on exactly what your statement of intent is going to be. I'll go over my notes and see what ideas I may have. As for sacrifice, the runes love your own blood. It doesn't even need to be more than a a few drops.

Finally, I recommend PM'ing Wyrd. She kicks ass with the runes and may have some very good advice for you as to specifics for the ritual.
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
13:58 / 04.03.02
Seconding the runes thing. Tho I found that they can get pushy if you use them a lot for a long time.
 
 
Wyrd
16:52 / 04.03.02
quote:Originally posted by Margin Walker:
To that end, I plan on casting a runic binding spell.

Are you referring to a bindrune - combining two or more runes as a talisman?

Nauthiz, well it's all about Need.

I'd suggest you really consider that rune deeply, and what is it saying. It's important to make the difference between needs and wants. So, if you're going to use Nauthiz then make sure that it is a genuine *need*.

If you are focusing on getting a good, well-paid career, then I'd suggestion you whittle down your intent to a very specific focus. With that in mind, choose a rune or two that will best reflect that desire.

If you're looking for a job, then the choice of rune could also be determined by the kind of career you want. Think about this all very carefully, and come up with what you want.

If you want to be more specific about the kind of job you are looking for I might be better able to recommend a rune or two.

Regarding sacrifice. Runes work really well if empowered by some of your blood (a couple of drops, nothing too excessive). But, sacrifice comes in all packages. Perhaps you might agree to give up something for a period of time while you're looking for a job. Something that is a true sacrifice. That will certainly add to the power of the intent, especially if it's something you want to get back to doing/eating/etc.

Remember, sacrifice = "to make sacred".

Oaths, are very important and be careful in your wording, especially if you are tying them into magic. You'll have to carry them out to the letter unless you want to suffer the consequences.

With planning the rite - choose a time and place that has significance to you, and the intent of your spell/rite. The more that comes from you, and the more you work on this, the better your results could be.

Good luck!
 
 
We're The Great Old Ones Now
19:32 / 04.03.02
Let me respectfully disagree with that respectful disagreement. The search is not for 'success' or 'wealth' or 'status', but very specifically for a 'well-paying career' - something which, although it has analogues in pre-industrial eras, only really exists from about 1800 onwards.

If it were me, I'd follow the logic of my stated desire and look for something which is contemporary, rather than a approximation drawn from an earlier concept-set. Horses for courses.

That's just me. I can see the other POV as well. 'Nuff said.
 
 
—| x |—
19:43 / 04.03.02
[Mildly thread rottish]

quote:Originally posted by Mordant C@rnival:
Tho I found that [the runes] can get pushy if you use them a lot for a long time.

You too?!?

Maybe it's tied up with their history?

<shrug>

m3
 
 
Lothar Tuppan
20:18 / 04.03.02
quote:Originally posted by Nick:
a 'well-paying career' - something which, although it has analogues in pre-industrial eras, only really exists from about 1800 onwards.

Read Margin Walker's post in the Are you Living thread. Put into context it seems as if MW is pretty much concerned with basic survival at this point no matter the specific wording of hir request.
 
 
We're The Great Old Ones Now
08:34 / 05.03.02
I will do - but all the same, I think the choice of words is significant, because it implies a longer-term survival which is inherently self-perpetuating. Whatever the immediate circumstances, the need expressed is more complex than 'wolf from door'.

But I yield the floor. I think I've said what I intended to say, and further bickering on this point would serve only to emphasise that I can be stubborn.
 
 
Perfect Tommy
08:34 / 05.03.02
quote:Originally posted by Wyrd:
...sacrifice comes in all packages. Perhaps you might agree to give up something for a period of time while you're looking for a job.I haven't decided if it's the same thing, or just related perhaps, but I am fascinated by the idea of the geas--or at least, as they appear in fiction. A geas (pl. geasa) is a taboo or required observance--Cuchulainn couldn't eat dog-meat, Fergus mac Roy couldn't refuse an invitation to go drinking. To break a geas was always bad news.

So, my thought is that you could adopt a prohibition or requirement which you must observe during the jobhunt. A trivial example: When I'm walking in my hometown, I don't cross against the light, even if the "don't walk" sign only just started flashing before I hit the curb. The entity that rules my city looks out for me, so it's the least I can do to observe his traffic signals to the letter. If you were to adopt something more substantial, I'd think that could significantly enhance your spell's potency.
 
 
Margin Walker
01:18 / 06.03.02
Are you referring to a bindrune - combining two or more runes as a talisman?

Perhaps I wasn't using the right terminology. What I meant was either a binging thong (worn around the waist or as an armband for a length of time) or by charging the rune/runic monogram, tying it with a leather thong & burying it to release the spell

So, if you're going to use Nauthiz then make sure that it is a genuine *need*.

Beleive me, it definitly is a need. I don't want to sound melodramatic, but I'm pretty damn desperate. Beleive it or not, I just did my taxes and I only made 16,000 last year & I've got loads of debt.

If you are focusing on getting a good, well-paid career, then I'd suggestion you whittle down your intent to a very specific focus. With that in mind, choose a rune or two that will best reflect that desire.

If you're looking for a job, then the choice of rune could also be determined by the kind of career you want. Think about this all very carefully, and come up with what you want.

If you want to be more specific about the kind of job you are looking for I might be better able to recommend a rune or two.

"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it", eh? Well put. The reason I used the word 'career' is because (& I can't beleive I'm saying this either) I want something with more responsibility. And I used to be such a good slacker.

Anyways, in the 5 years since I graduated college (BS Communication Arts), I haven't had a job that utilized my training. Which was fine then--I made enough for beer money & frankly didn't want a "straight" job. But poverty & aspirations have me hankering for a job with good pay, benefits & a chance to finally do some travelling. In other words, I'd love to get a job as, say, a writer or a photographer, but unless it pays as much as a boring, well-paid civil service job, I'll take the latter and maybe freelance the former in my spare time.

Regarding sacrifice. Runes work really well if empowered by some of your blood (a couple of drops, nothing too excessive).

Hmm, such thing are good to know.

That will certainly add to the power of the intent, especially if it's something you want to get back to doing/eating/etc.

This brings up a good point. What would the difference be between depriving yourself of something that you enjoy (a la Lent) vs. vowing to do something out of a sense of duty. For example, jogging 30 minutes a day--irregardless of weather, time restrictions, etc.

Oaths, are very important and be careful in your wording, especially if you are tying them into magic. You'll have to carry them out to the letter unless you want to suffer the consequences.

Thanks for the heads up. Also, thanks to everyone for all the help, as it's much appreciated.
 
 
Wyrd
17:07 / 06.03.02
quote:Originally posted by Margin Walker:
Perhaps I wasn't using the right terminology. What I meant was either a binging thong (worn around the waist or as an armband for a length of time) or by charging the rune/runic monogram, tying it with a leather thong & burying it to release the spell

That sounds fine to me.

I'd suggest you have a look at three runes: Fehu, Ansuz, and Radhio. Quite simply, you have Fehu for money, Ansuz for Journalism/Communication/Language and Raidho for Travel. I think I've hit all the pertinent points there.

You could create a bindrune - i.e. a sigil that uses all three runes in the image - or you could use the rune sounds as part of a mantra for the spell itself.

Personally, I wouldn't make use of Nauthiz in such an endeavour, but feel free to add it in if you want it in the mix. If you're creating an uber-rune out of the three or four of them, make sure you watch out for any extra runes that might pop into the image and cause some confusion.

quote:This brings up a good point. What would the difference be between depriving yourself of something that you enjoy (a la Lent) vs. vowing to do something out of a sense of duty. For example, jogging 30 minutes a day--irregardless of weather, time restrictions, etc.

The importance is what the difference is *to you*. That is what will make your choice of sacrifice effective.
 
  
Add Your Reply