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Underground > Temple >

Hunter-Seeker

02:14 / 22.11.08

I've been lurking on and off for a while, and wanted to say hello. Also, I'm interested in everyone's opinion.

I might as well pose the question, and save everyone some time...

What is one physical(ish) magickal item/creation/paraphernalia that if you saw anywhere, from a sense-dep center to a flea market, that you would ogle and seriously consider acquiring, to the point of inquiry?

Now, the traditional magickal argument is well afoot, I know. Something is only as powerful as you make it, make your tools yourself, etc and painfully so.

My approach would be to make something with enough broad symbolism and theme that it would be impressionable to the average person, while containing symbolism and form highly desirable to adept people who would likely need/want it. It would be a channeled effort of creation, and I would be creating a big 'n bad template, with enough juice to do most things the user wanted…and without preattached strings of restrictive form.

These objects, of course, would remain more or less away from the general public, but accessible. Just not front and center of the aisle.

Now, the idea occurred to me with the holidays...I'm broke, I do what's in my capacity to help others and fulfill some vague socio-spiritual role, and I have lovely heathens for friends. Thusly, I have this.

An example of a gift would be a laminated tarot deck with an expanded major arcana, based off two books that practically shaped this person's life. The major arcana would be all redrawn to the important archetypes within the book, and expanded to a much larger number, with emphasis on odder patterns, (asymmetrical warfare, the speaking ring, the child soldier), for added connection to this reality.
I'd also have the traditional minor arcana done in an obscure art, and the minor and major would add up to this person's birth number, with a mirror card counted among those.

Another idea is the use of futhark, occultist symbols, and private/partial sigils, all etched into magnetic hematite. Enough to be worn between both wrists, precisely the size of the wearer.

This is a template, and it is very late, but I welcome ideas, theoretical plans, conjectures, and constructive criticism.

What would catch your eye?

11:20 / 23.11.08

I hate to say it, but there's no such single object, because that's just not how I approach things.

I either need something very specific and magically-charged, or I need something so general I need it to be generally lacking charge, so its charge won't clash with any of its potential purposes.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I wouldn't expect the one thing that I need would necessarily have any relationship to what anyone else would need.

But then I live in an area where I have a lot of resources for things like Pagan craftsmen etc. so maybe I'm not the audience you're looking for...

--Ember--

17:57 / 23.11.08

I vote with Ember on this one. Every answer you get will refer basically to the values and ideas of each individual who contributes one, at that particular point in their lives. Pay attention to the answer you've already given and forget the search for the essence of the magical tool. Ask instead what you want to achieve with such an object, and produce your tools for that. Identify task first, then tools.

You the magician already have the resources you need. Success.

23:58 / 04.01.09

What is one physical(ish) magickal item/creation/paraphernalia that if you saw anywhere, from a sense-dep center to a flea market, that you would ogle and seriously consider acquiring, to the point of inquiry?

A bowl.

Sorry, that was rather terse. Let's try again:

A pretty, magic-looking bowl.

Right. Having said that, I think the others are right in pointing out the highly individual nature of tools. I personally like bowls because I can use them to hold things, charge things, make offerings, etc. And eat!

Didn't quite catch the second half of your post, were you wondering on the suitability of gifts? Unless you know the other person well, maybe it's best to give something you find important and magical. I'd feel honoured if someone were to give me something they'd invested their own magical energy in, especially if it's something like a lucky charm, etc.

03:47 / 28.03.10

At a market in Cuba, NM, I spotted a hand-carved wooden statue (about 20cm tall) of a Dominican monk, kneeling in prayer, a black-covered book open in his hands. I took it home and painted a tiny golden pentagram on the cover of the book and placed it on a shelf where it freaked out nearly every visitor for several years. One newagey woman said it had a strange aura, as if the statue was suffering. It was stolen from my apartment, along with a blue guitar and a leather jacket (as well three packs of cigarettes and four beers - the thief left me four cigs and two beers).

03:42 / 07.07.10

That's interesting, C - it seems as if, possibly, you are surrounded by evil.