Talismans, Wards, Charms, and other physical spellwork

[slvr_phoenix]

Well, I'm not sure exactly how to start this off, but it sounds like people would enjoy a thread specifically devoted to various physical forms of magick. (Such as creating a talisman, charm, ward, medicine bag, etc.) So here we can discuss them, what they can be useful for, and maybe talk about some of our favorites. :)

[Myst]

I carry gemstones to help me remember things I want to keep in mind, or help me ground (hematite), have courage (tigers eye), or have clarity (quartz), et cetera. They aren't protective like talismans or wards, but I like to hold my hematite worry stone to ground or think, or my quartz pillow when I'm trying to think clearly and succinctly. I guess you could call them charms. :)

[slvr_phoenix]

I'll start off with saying that one of my favorite things to do is inscribe runes on things. Sometimes I do it permanently (such as scratching in with a knife) and sometimes I do it only temporarily (such as using a dab of saliva or oil on a fingertip). Like if my car is having problems running, I use my rune for healing. If I want added protection while meditating, I put a rune of protection over my third eye. If I want to protect my house, I write runes of protection at each door and window using burning incense. (Lately I've been using dragon's blood for that.) And in my pocket I currently carry a little talisman cat totem.

[Myst]

Runes are very good for that, as well as sigils. You can use premade sigils (often made by ceremonialists for protection, et cetera) or you can make your own by combining letters or symbols into one specific symbol which will remind you of your intent. Then you can charge it for that intent and carry it with you or put it in an appropriate place... for instance, I'm thinking of using pine oil to draw protective runes and sigils on my door... :)

[MystyPines]

Hello Slvr Phoenix!

Great thread! I love to use charm bags, and usually combine all the spell components (candle wax remnants, stones, herbs, oil, parchment ashes) in the charm bag after a spell is done and carry it with me (unless it is a ridding, dispelling or banishing type of spell then I bury in the earth off my property). I have charm bag in my car for "travel protection" and I also have one in my pocket book for "prosperity," I also used one during my divorce proceedings for "Justice" and pinned it inside my bra and wore it to the courthouse. Although I did look a little lopsided, he he he. I also have a Witch Bottle I made last Samhain and keep it hidden up above the kitchen cabinets. Charm bags work great!

[slvr_phoenix]

Willow Raven, I love working with quartz. Clear quartz and rose quartz are my favorite crystals. Which reminds me that I still have to make my new wand one of these days... And the idea of pine oil is a good one. Strangely, I'd never thought about it before. Heh heh. I was just today contemplating etching runes into my doors permanently. Perhaps using oil would be a lot smarter for me. :)

And MystyPines, that's a great idea, to keep the magickal remains in a charm bag. I bet you could even use some of the 'powder' in the bag to augment later spells.

I love working with the physical things in magick. :) To me it's a lot more satisfying than working with visualization. And it's fun to make things. :)

I can't wait to find the right tools and come up with a design to make my next pentacle. (First step is to get a hold of some non-leaded silver pewter, second step is to design it.) I plan to inscribe Elemental runes on one side, and to put protective and healing runes on the other side. It'll be a personalized talisman of power, healing, and protection. Who could ask for more from a pentacle? :)

[slvr_phoenix]

That's cool. I've never been into doing magick so personal myself, but I can understand where it has it's place.

I'd always wondered, what if I made something like that to represent myself, and then did something like buried it in a place of power (such as at a crossing of lay lines). In theory it would create a direct and permanent connection to that source of power that I could tap any time I wanted to, right? For some reason though, I'm scared to do it. I don't know why. Some internal instinct I guess.

But I'd always wondered just what you could achive working with things like poppets of yourself. Anyone have any experience doing that? Or any knowledge or speculations?

[MystyPines]

I have used human figure candles to represent me and my husband in a "deepen love bond spell" with my husband's permission and him being present. I have also used a male figure candle for a spell for my son when he was having night terrors. I usually don't do spellwork for other people without them giving me the "okay" on it. Other than the poppet mentioned above, that is the only time in my 7 years of the craft that I did a spell without permission, and obviously I don't think the receptionist would have approved, he he he. I think alot of people have used poppets of themselves or use other personal items (hair, nail clippings, saliva, urine, menstrual blood) to connect or link the spell to them. :p

[Lavender]

Charm bags are one of my favourite things to use. I like to make the whole thing from start to finish. Usually, I just sew the bags out of unbleached cotton. Or I use coloured cotton to enhance the magic. I put in herbs, bits of candle, ashes, crystals, rocks, feathers, fetishes, runes, whatever I feel is appropriate for that bag. I like to have on hand a bunch of different things. Whenever I find something, like wooden figure beads or crystals, I'll get a bunch, clean then & store them in a cotton bag until I need them. For really special bags, I like to knit them out of fine silk & I line them with cotton or silk.

Charm bags is one term used a lot but I've heard other names such as mojo bags, medicine bags, & crane bags.

[Myst]

Originally posted by slvr_phoenix
I was just today contemplating etching runes into my doors permanently. Perhaps using oil would be a lot smarter for me. :)


Well we rent our apartment so we can't really be carving stuff in the door ;)

It may also be a good idea to walk around your building (house or apartment complex in our case) sprinkling salt or consecrated water for protection, and sprinkling it at the doorways to the building, et cetera. I also keep a black velvet bag with wax from a black candle, sage, and a few other trinkets from a protection spell I did when we moved here hung on the back of our front door, and a consecrated black mirror for a "return to sender" protection spell I did in our bedroom window. :)

[Lavender]

You can draw one in oil on your door. I wonder what would happen if you move? Would you have to remove it first?

[Myst]

Originally posted by Wildchild
You can draw one in oil on your door. I wonder what would happen if you move? Would you have to remove it first?

hehe Wild that's what I was saying, I draw it in pine oil or something similar. Removing it? Hm, I guess that's up to the individual. Maybe the next tenants wouldn't mind some extra protective energy?

[Lavender]

:lol: Yeah, and what if they can't get in through the door?

[slvr_phoenix]

Heh heh. I guess they would have a problem renting the apartment then. He he he he.

That does bring up another thought though. One thing I had been considering doing was placing runes and wards on wooden stakes to put into the ground as quarters to a 'hidden' circle. Does anyone have any thoughts on how effective that would be or anything I could add?

And another thought to throw out there: What are people's opinions on using their own blood in the creation of magickal tools? (Such as reddening runes.)

[Myst]

Maybe but are you sure no one would pull them up Slvr?

And the blood thing - I have no problem with that, sympathetic magick, it can help one focus on their intent and bind that to the tools involved, IMHO

[magicbabs]

I used a poppet twice.

The most significant time I used one was to get a woman that was dating my ex-lover to leave me alone.

My SAnteria friend told me to put the doll in water/freeze it and see what happened. Well, this woman had placed spells on me via a rootman (I have mentioned this before).

I put the doll in the freezer for about a month. My roommate kept asking what it was and I finally took it and threw it in a dumpster at a Waffle House that was significant to me an my ex-lover.

It was interesting to see. My ex-lover broke up with her and got back with her a few months later (she paid for more rootman work). SO Seth is walking blindly around with MAJOR spellcasting being done on him.

I tried to help remove it for him, but I am letting him live out his karma now....

Poppets are really cool and I think they work.

[slvr_phoenix]

Well Willow Raven, the idea was to send the stakes completely into the ground. That way they're not going to get run over by a lawn mower or pulled up by someone for being unsightly. Heh heh. (The joys of not owning a yard.) I thought it might be an unintrusive way of setting up a permanent circle. **shrug**

As for blood, my runes are written in my blood. (Luckily for me, they're wood, so it soaked in easily. Heh heh.) It just seemed the right thing to do for them. They're like a part of me. :)

[Myst]

Ah I see. Cool. :)

[Rick]

Originally posted by slvr_phoenix
That does bring up another thought though. One thing I had been considering doing was placing runes and wards on wooden stakes to put into the ground as quarters to a 'hidden' circle. Does anyone have any thoughts on how effective that would be or anything I could add?

Well... you could place 24 stakes, each with one of the 24 Runes of the Elder Futhark... personally, tho, I would place 8 stakes to the 8 compass points, & a 9th stake in the center (in Rune workings, 9 represents the 9 worlds in the Norse-Germanic cosmology). For protection, you could put a Thurisaz (Thorn) Rune on each of the 8 stakes, with the 'thorn' facing outward. This forms a thorn garth (an enclosure protected by thorns. Imagine a stop-sign shape, with a thorn on each side, pointing outward).


And another thought to throw out there: What are people's opinions on using their own blood in the creation of magickal tools? (Such as reddening runes.)

Staining (with blood or semen) the Runes comes from both Lore & tradition. It is part of the instructions on how to make & read Runes in the Havamal, part of the Poetic Edda. As has been stated in other threads, making Runes re-enacts the Norse-Germanic Creation story; carving the Rune gives Shape, staining the Rune gives it Substance, & chanting the Rune's name gives it 'ond', 'Sacred Breath'.

Even in 'days of yore', people used red coloring (paint, ink, pigment, etc) to symbolize blood, or put a few drops of blood into red coloring (my personally preferred method). Women who are of an age to have Moon Times have an advantage here, as they can obtain their own blood without cutting their skin.

Staining any magical tool (whether with blood, or symbolically) will imbue that tool with your personal energy, your 'thumbprint', so to speak. It will personalize that tool, & bond you to it forever. You probably shouldn't do it to any tool that you don't plan to keep forever (or at least 'til you wear it out). If you give away a tool that you've personalized in this manner, it should only be to someone that's very close to you, & that you trust, using Uncle Ricky's Trust Test:
(1) Would you trust this person with your money?
(2) Would you trust this person with your mate?
(3) Would you trust this person with your life?

And most importantly...

(4) Would you trust this person with your reputation?

[Lavender]

I've used moontime blood for spells. It has very powerful energy in that. It's not something I would do lightly.

Poppets are great for getting rid of unwanted attention. Freezing them works great but eventually, you may run out of room or buy a bigger freezer. :D

[Myst]

hehe Wild

"Honey, there's no room in the freezer, all your poppets have filled it up."

[slvr_phoenix]

Thanks all. :) I've got some more thinking to do now. He he he. ;)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Willow Raven
hehe Wild

"Honey, there's no room in the freezer, all your poppets have filled it up."

:lol: Or "Oh dear! You've defrosted Susan! The chicken was right next to her."

[Myst]

Originally posted by Wildchild


:lol: Or "Oh dear! You've defrosted Susan! The chicken was right next to her."

LMAO poor Susan, can't discern her from a chicken (wait that sounds like a person I know) *giggle*

[Myst]

Oh on the freezer stuff - a very popular spell is to get a zippy bag and put a paper with the name of a person and maybe some body bits or a picture, or even a drawing or some other symbol (if you can get those) in it, and leave it in the freezer. This could stop them from gossiping or keep them from causing trouble with you. Same principle as the poppet thing but a li'l easier for those who can't sew (read : me)

[Rick]

Originally posted by Wildchild
Poppets are great for getting rid of unwanted attention. Freezing them works great but eventually, you may run out of room or buy a bigger freezer. :D

I just LOVE poppet-cicles! So fruity & refreshing... :bubbles:

[Myst]

hehe

how about pizza poppets?

[slvr_phoenix]

Here is a question: What do you do when you're done with a poppet? I mean is there a way to un-relate it to someone so that when you toss it into the trash you aren't still affecting the person?

[Myst]

Give it to them? Cleanse it?

[Lavender]

Originally posted by slvr_phoenix
Here is a question: What do you do when you're done with a poppet? I mean is there a way to un-relate it to someone so that when you toss it into the trash you aren't still affecting the person?

I think that would depend on the purpose of the poppet. Such as did you put a time limit on it or is it indefinite? One thing I do is to make the poppet out of coffee filters & fill them with herbs. This way, they can be buried & are also biodegradable. In the incantation, I usually add that to let their negativity be put to good use, as the herbs & body of the poppet dissolves & is reclaimed by the Mother, let the negative energies be done also. I usually don't like using the freezer thing because I have a very small freezer & I worry about what to do wth all these poppets later. :rolleyes:

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Willow Raven
Give it to them? Cleanse it?

:lol: Yeah, I can just imagine the look on their faces when you hand them the poppet! :lol:

[Myst]

Originally posted by Wildchild
Yeah, I can just imagine the look on their faces when you hand them the poppet!

Why not? If it's a healing ritual or something as I understand folk myth used to say you had to give it to them or you'd be stealing part of their soul. And hey if it was a nastier spell and you're really in a bad mood cut it up and mail part of it back to them in a plain package with no return address :)

[Myst]

Originally posted by Wildchild
I usually don't like using the freezer thing because I have a very small freezer & I worry about what to do wth all these poppets later.

hehe that's why I use a paper with a name or symbol on it in a zippy bag instead of a poppet :)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Willow Raven


... And hey if it was a nastier spell and you're really in a bad mood cut it up and mail part of it back to them in a plain package with no return address :)

:rotfl: Remind me never to get on your bad side!

[Myst]

Originally posted by Wildchild
Remind me never to get on your bad side!

hehe :D

[Myst]

Then there's always carving someone's name or symbol on a corresponding candle with perhaps some incense(ie. someone you want to heal's name on a blue candle dressed with lavendar, or someone you need to protect yourself against on a black candle with sage incense burning), or using crystals (quartz for reflecting negative energies as Mari and Yvonne have mentioned to me, or onyx or obsidian for protection).

Hey, while we're on charms, how 'bout gemstones? I love carrying rose quartz and amethyst for friendship and love, tigers eye for courage, hematite for grounding, and so on. Comments?

[magicbabs]

I was told that you should only use one poppet per person. You put energy related to a specific person into a poppet,

[Myst]

Uhhuh.

Then what?

[Rick]

...I reckon essential oils might fit in this category...

Silver Venus sent me some absolutely wonderful oil that she made... Freya's Love Potion, I believe she called it... it's very subtle...

My favorite is called Norwegian Wood... it "opens' you... I like to smell it before I do readings (it's kinda hard to find, tho). I also found one called 'Odin'. Don't know what's in it, but it's very grounding. I've also used different 'money oils', with mixed results.

Anyone else?

[AngelsBratt]

A good friend of mine is a Crone. SHe told me that runes had to be given to me instead of me going out and buying them, I've also heard this about tarot cards, though I do own several decks. So my question is, do they have to be a gift from someone, or can I buy them myself, and they still work? I am very unartistic here............

[Myst]

Some people think that but I disagree. I've gotten all my tarot decks and runes myself and they seem to work ok :)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by AngelsBratt
A good friend of mine is a Crone. SHe told me that runes had to be given to me instead of me going out and buying them, I've also heard this about tarot cards, though I do own several decks. So my question is, do they have to be a gift from someone, or can I buy them myself, and they still work? I am very unartistic here............

I bought my tarot cards myself & made my runes. They seem to work fine for me.

There's a thread around here with great ideas for making your own set of runes. You don't have to be artistic to do that. Silver V painted the runes on stones & they look great.

[Rick]

My personal experiences are that it's good to learn on Runes, cards, etc, that have been given to you ('cuz the giver's energy helps you along). But at some point, you should acquire your own cards, make your own Runes, etc (OK, you can buy your own Runes if you want... I'm just a traditional purist on that point). :woah: 8O

[AngelsBratt]

For answering my question, and I have also found that my cards work great for me. I still haven't got the jist of runes, so they still mystifing me:confused: :wah:

[MistOfTheSea86]

Originally posted by AngelsBratt
For answering my question, and I have also found that my cards work great for me. I still haven't got the jist of runes, so they still mystifing me:confused: :wah:

Dont worry I am the same:)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Willow Raven
...Hey, while we're on charms, how 'bout gemstones? I love carrying rose quartz and amethyst for friendship and love, tigers eye for courage, hematite for grounding, and so on. Comments?

Yes, I do that too. I've strung them all on a bracelet to wear with me. When I leave the house without my bracelet, I feel like I'm exposed or something. Almost like going off without my shoes.

[Myst]

When I was in a friend's mystic shoppe the other day she had chakra necklaces for sale - a big quartz point with a small gem for each chakra wired onto it in a row, strung on a black cord. They were *gorgeous*, and what a brilliant idea - your not feeling well, you're upset, someone annoyed you, hey do some chakra work right there to help yourself feel better. Unfortunately the store doesn't take credit cards so I couldn't get one :(

[Flar's Freyja]

Bump for RainDrop

[Raccoon]

For attracting money I made a small rag doll to carry in my pocket, I placed the rune 'feohg' and a dime in it, along with some luck and money herbs (can't recall exactly >_<) I havent been able to try it out myself though, my boyfriend won't give it back :P


looks like a small version of this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v21/kakashi523/Picture20.jpg)

[wanderlust*]

I have a Powerpuff Girl (Bubbles, actually) change purse that my mother bought me when out and about. Inside, I keep a little lady bug charm that a friend gave to me to mean "friendship". I don't it every day, but on certain occasions, it comes in hand. Bubbles is there to remind me not to take life so seriously. To keep my cool when stressed. and to remember my childhood. The lady bug keeps my friends close, and makes me devote myself to them.

It's such a happy little thing.

I also have a large collection of stones. If I need help from a particular one, I'll wear it in a pouch around my neck. I always have my penticle necklace on for protection, however- and a turquiose stone ring that symbolizes my love for my boyfriend. it's one of those "keep the flame burning" things.

any little thing can be a charm, I suppose. yay physical spellwork.

[9-2-2]

I LOVE healing and divination... the two things I'm best at naturally. With healing, I simply apply energy directly. With divination, I almost always scry, though sometimes I use tarot cards for details, and DOTS divination for fun (enchant a box of DOTS candy, ask a question, and juggle the box around to mix up the candy. I once asked about the welfare of a friend, and one dot emerged... it was his favorite color, and it was completely mangled. Funny, he was having problems in life. You'd be surprised how well this works!!). I just started hopping realities, and I'm learning as well as having great fun.

[Teresa]

Bump!

[Lolair]

Thanks for the bump, I never would have found this thread otherwise!

I do a lot of physical spellwork. For the house I put strings of Rowan berries under doorways; I hung a besom over the front door; there is a special herb charm/ pentagram on our bedroom door; we also have a couple bull skulls to protect the house and it's occupants as the old cunning folk would have done; hawthorn around the house to protect from lightening and to create a happy household... lol I think the list goes on and on for the house. I'm a woodcrafter so I also make a lot of talismans and amulets for specific purposes using the corresponding magical woods that are to be worn as pendants. I just finished some willow pregnant goddess bellies pyrographed with henna designs. They are used to encourage an easy childbirth and promote fertility in those wishing to get pregnant... I'll see if I can get some pictures. I make all kinds of charms, mano ficos and mano cornutas, phallic roman amulets, albion knots... the number of pendant-charms out there is almost endless!

[KylalaKitty]

I have cats and I collect their old claws that have fallen off for protection spells and charms and I say say they work really well. I also collect bird feathers when I'm out walking. I use those for air related spells and additions to my charms. Cat whiskers work well for healing spells. I do have one cat tooth that I'm saving for when I really need it for a charm but I'm not sure what kind of charm I'll need it for yet.

[Windsmith]

Well, of course there's always food. Cooking and baking magic is pretty central to our practice.

One thing I've gotten into in the past couple of years is snow magic. I go outside and sculpt forms that represent my intention. When Spring comes and the increasing warmth and sunlight melts the snow, releasing the spell energy into the ground. Obviously, not a good choice for spells that need immediate results, but it's perfect for longer-term stuff. As an additional bonus, it's a tangible physical magical form, but then it completely melts away and doesn't become one more thing gathering dust on your altar or shelf.

[skilly-nilly]

One thing I've gotten into in the past couple of years is snow magic. I go outside and sculpt forms that represent my intention. When Spring comes and the increasing warmth and sunlight melts the snow, releasing the spell energy into the ground.

That's a good idea and one I can use =)

I've done much the same thing with the tidal zone on a beach-- you can do a big working for banishing something or letting go and then have it washed away by the rising tide.