Casting on the son of a preacher

[innocent]

I was trying to work a little spell this morning, on a friend of mine (Don't worry no hexes or anti-free-will work) and it just didn't work. I've used it before, but it felt as if he had some sort of protection from all magick around him. It wasn't like it just didn't work, something felt odd about it not working. Am I just crazy or is there something up?

I've also noticed that for me it is impossible to lie to this man. Always has been like that from the moment I met him. I can try but i'll wind up telling him the truth by the end of the sentance.

[Sibylle]

You're not giving any specifics about the spell you were trying to work, so I'm just groping in the dark. Maybe this guy simply has a strong personality - what people often call up as "magical" protection is mostly concentrated energy that can surround a person and function as a sort of shield against outward influence. But any sort of personal strength, or positive attitude, love etc. works just the same way, and in fact IS the same thing - concentrated energy surrounding someone.

Maybe that's what it is?

Hugs!!

[Ron]

The son of a preacher man is likely to have a stronger link with his divine channels, and, if memory serves, biblical litteralists (ie. Evangelicans) will often seek salvation, which to them often implies, among other things: immunity to "sorcery".

If this is so, then it may be possible to make an appeal afore divinity to have your will done, than rather to directly inflict sorcery.

Rhad.

[Djiril]

Does he know you're doing this? Maybe it would work better if you told him.

[Sequoia]

The thing about spells is that they are basically ritualized prayer - you are focusing, gathering energy, directing it, and sending it off. A little more complex than 'just' a prayer, but basically the same concept.

How much time and focus have you put into it? Did you meditate on it, really concentrate your mind on it, or did you merely pop up an alter, wave a wand, say some words, and hope it all goes well?

The other part of it is that, focused ritual or none, your friend is the son of a preacher. Is he as devout in his faith as his mother/father? Nearly all of the time, when someone has deep faith in something, that will create a lot of energy that is with them. It could be focused on anything - praise, protection, or even simple thought about their faith. With this much energy around a person, conscious or not, it could negate any kind of energy work you try to do. (This includes 'spells'.)

What kind of spell were you trying to do, if I may ask? I don't care if it was "negative" or a "hex" or whatever. You might find more effect in actually talking to him yourself, or speaking to your version of the Divine and asking them to assist you.

You could also try your spell again if you wanted, this time taking it more seriously and focusing (if you didn't before). Remember - you're simply using ritualized patterns to direct your thoughts and energy, and possibly asking for assistance from another being. In order to do this effectively, you do need to pay careful attention and focus, especially if it is new for you. (Folks who have done these things for a long time can often just "pop" whatever energy they need into existance - but this is ONLY because they've done it for so long, they can easily slip in and out of that focus required. It doesn't mean they're "more powerful mages" or what have you. You simply build a faster/larger capacity for focus and direction as you learn.)

A decent amount of this probably depends on what you're trying to do, though. Care to share it?

[orgtigger]

I was trying to work a little spell this morning, on a friend of mine (Don't worry no hexes or anti-free-will work) and it just didn't work. I've used it before, but it felt as if he had some sort of protection from all magick around him. It wasn't like it just didn't work, something felt odd about it not working. Am I just crazy or is there something up?

I've also noticed that for me it is impossible to lie to this man. Always has been like that from the moment I met him. I can try but i'll wind up telling him the truth by the end of the sentance.
What's his aura like? If you can't lie to him he probaly has a strong aura.
If he has a strong aura it's likely going to bit a BIT harder to get energy near/on/around him.

[Gen]

I've had "Son of a Preacher Man" in my head all day, thanks to this thread.

What Ron said is accurate; Christians work magic, too, whether they call it that or not, and they are often incredibly well-protected. I discovered this when, on a whim, I tried to hang with St. Francis in his tomb in Assisi -- I was hit with an unbelievably powerful headache, no doubt the work of a thousand years of censer-swinging monks. Whoops.

One gets this kind of protection just by becoming a Christian -- the magical protection has become ingrained over the centuries, in the same way that a magical altar set up in the traditional way can be much more powerful, and I think ancestor spirits of a sort (i.e., dead priests and the like) exert an influence as well.

I think this over-protection is actually harmful to some Christians (or others aligned with very old, entrenched energies) because it can become growth-inhibiting.

I do believe that for a spell to work on someone, they have to consent to it on some level. It may just be his higher self saying no.

[innocent]

His aura is very very thick bright neon blue. He is extremly religous. Your probably right about it being that. I definatly agree that a person must consent on some level. I might try it again later with more energy in it, then again I might just give up.

[orgtigger]

I'm going to be a little crass here, and call it like I see it.
For some it's an "Armor of Ignorance" ,that's when a persons disbelief is so strong it creates a shield.
That doesn't sound like the case here, and a lot of christians do do aura work and majick without even realizing it.

[AmbivalentMirage]

Umm... if you said that he must consent on some level and the magic has not worked, then clearly he is not consenting on any level. In that case, should you be casting against his will? Casting a spell against someone's will is not merely casting for/towards something the other person does not desire... It is also casting without their permission, altering parts of their lives without their agreement. It's a magical type of manipulation.

I don't have a problem with casting against someone's permission, but serious consideration must be given ahead of time. Plan out your spell and consider it, rewriting and recreating it until it is precisely what you want. Work some divination to understand what the consequences of your actions might be. Think it through and proceed with caution.

Also, remember that even "failed" spells can have karmic consequences for YOU. Just because you did not get the desire effect does not negate your original action.

[orgtigger]

Last but not least you may be going at it the wrong way, instead of casting it on 'him' cast the spell on his enviroment to acheive the desired effect.
I do hope this is a positive/non-love spell, if he does aura work he could probaly trace it back as well.

[Tobias]

Ha!

Christians sometimes do have quite powerful magick protecting them. It depends on the denomination and the comittment level. A Preacher's Kid is going to not only have eveything he's been raised with, but also the regular prayers of his parents.

I was very involved in Christianity myself. My parents were missionaries, so I understand what it is to grow up in the center of the religion. It has only been recently that I've even seen the parallells between the spiritual work and protection we had there and magick/spellwork.

Your friend is most likely protecting himself subconsciencely from whatever it is you are trying to do. Accepting "Magick" is very difficult for someone raised Christian. There's just too many warnings against it. You might have some resistance from his diety too if it isn't the right timing for him to learn about non-Christian magick.

[Sequoia]

His aura is very very thick bright neon blue. He is extremly religous. Your probably right about it being that. I definatly agree that a person must consent on some level. I might try it again later with more energy in it, then again I might just give up.

I don't subscribe to the theory of "aura colours", nor do I have any clue what neon-blue means to you, so I'm going to disreguard that part.

Basically, he's a religious person - this means he is a spiritual person. He believes in his God, and the protection and love that God gives him. Unless you are doing something in a passive format, such as prayer, meditation, or (god forbid) actually talking to him about it... you probably aren't going to see any kind of obvious result. Pumping energy into something is only going to exhaust you. What are you trying to do? Could talking to him, or some other normal thing work?

Whether you believe in his God or not, to him God is very real - he believes God is protecting him. And, all deity aside, his belief that he is being protected protects him. His own belief in it directs his energy as surely as your spellwork does. It's all one in the same. You're just doing it consciously.

[Ron]

Umm... if you said that he must consent on some level and the magic has not worked, then clearly he is not consenting on any level. In that case, should you be casting against his will? Casting a spell against someone's will is not merely casting for/towards something the other person does not desire... It is also casting without their permission, altering parts of their lives without their agreement. It's a magical type of manipulation. Daniel has a point there. But despite it -- lol -- you might also try manipulating his environment; the apple never falls far from the tree.

:artist:

[Ron]

Accepting "Magick" is very difficult for someone raised Christian. Um, I'm sidetracking here... but my parents were raised Chr-stians. (My mother was in a British colony, and my father played hookey to go to a reformed church) And my mother... could be called a witch; she blesses, heals, preys.. I dunno. My father accepts the concept as a thing that should be used to help others (he has no concept of self).... But I don't quite agree with your point. I haven't really supported myself, but ... oh screw it. :) Have a nice day.

[edit] I have comtemplated that Tobias was referring to the "acceptance of magic" as in the effectiveness of a spell.

[Sleet]

Christians work magic, too, whether they call it that or not, and they are often incredibly well-protected. I discovered this when, on a whim, I tried to hang with St. Francis in his tomb in Assisi -- I was hit with an unbelievably powerful headache, no doubt the work of a thousand years of censer-swinging monks. Whoops.

My father-in-law is a Presbyterian minister, a very devout man. He's also a magnificent woodworker, and loves to work in oak. I have a spiritual affinity for oak, and recently I placed my hand on a beautiful bookshelf he made - it was a stunning piece of strong, sturdy oak, and I wanted to just get a feel of the oak's vitality. When I laid my hand on it I immediately got a very strong feeling of "The one who shaped me doesn't think like this, please withdraw your hand now."

It was odd, let me tell you. But it makes sense in retrospect. A person strongly influenced against this sort of thing (call it what you will; magic, auras, whatever) might very well be shielded from it.

[Sequoia]

It makes me sad to hear people talking about how rejected they feel by other religion's energy. Sometimes I wonder if it's the energy of the object or place, or if it's the energy of the person experiencing it, that makes the distinction between faiths.

[innocent]

oh I found it incredibly hard to accept magick, being raised catholic. I was sure that I was born evil with my 'abilities' one day I realized that I really needed to quit supressing them and I sought help from this board. Now look at me!