The Solstice That Wasn’t (June 2012)

  So just the other day I was commenting on the Red Work course forums how I had gotten through the Headless One rite without my life falling apart and relatively unscathed. Which apparently the Powers That Be took as a challenge because that same day, it did! In a big way, on pretty much all spectrums.

So lets just say I had a really crappy couple of days. Yesterday sucked, and I decided I just want to tear it all down and start over. A clean slate. Since it was the summer solstice, I thought it would be a good day to start. So I did some searching and decided to try this Baphomet ritual by Andrieh Vitimus,. (adapted for my own solitary use) It sounded like just want I needed and I was excited to try. So I studied it all day, committing it to memory and set up my altar as shown to the left.

Now i’m not always good about doing divination before doing magic. I’ll admit it’s a thing I often overlook. But it seemed prudent in this case and I had a nagging sensation coming from my spirit altar (which contains my ancestors, nature spirits, archangels, and my more osticlly-inclined animal companions). So I gave a full offering (including some nifty new Morning Star incense I was excited about), and asked for their advice via divination. Now I suck at divination, I’ll freely admit. Just stink at it! It’s my weak point. But I tried the Tarot cards and the message seemed pretty clear. There is no escape. Magic will not work. I’m stuck and that’s all there is too it. The only way out is to suck it up and keep my head low. Ouch.

This incidentally matched a similar divination I did with Hekate the night earlier for the Dark Moon. It sucks when you get it from two sources and can’t ignore it. (Note: I don’t believe in being a slave to ones spirits. I firmly reject that mentality.  However I think its wise to heed their counsel, especially if they are adamant about something.)

I did not like this answer. So I broke out the pendulum. I’m actually pretty good at pendulums. My first one I got when I was under ten, which was included in a “Kreskins ESP kit” I found at the local thrift store. I was fascinated that it worked! Anyway I asked a bunch of questions. What if I change XYZ? What if I wait? Every time the answer was a firm NO. The thing was practically flying out of my hand.

<sigh>. I don’t know what their reasoning was but I chose to accept it, and dismantled the altar. (This btw is no ill reflection on Andrieh’s ritual, just my own suitability to perform it at this time). The ritual never happened.

I chose instead, since the hour of Venus was upon me, to evoke Anael to have a chat I’ve meaning to have. On the bright side I got to finally test my new conjure box. It worked really well. I felt that the connection was super clear and strong and her words like were like silk in my mind. It really increased the clarity of the conjuration. Kind of like the HD version. I also spent some time crafting about a dozen or so blank talismans for etching later at the appropriate magical hour (which is apparently the amount of talismans I can get out of 8.4 ounces of pewter).

Oh well, sometimes the best laid plans get thwarted. It sucks to be told one is stuck with no magical recourse. Maybe I’ll try one of those Road Openers Gordon was talking about?