Arcanus has gone underground

To all looking for Arcanus, it has once again gone underground. The physical location is closed and Mr. MacKenzie is only taking on select clients. As with entities like Arcanus, they exist when they are needed, and dissipate when not. Will Arcanus arise again? It is possible, but only time will tell.

Yours sincerely,

The Spirits of Arcanus

Playing Card Divination

Divination via the innocuous playing card has been in use for a very long time.. Usually relegated to the Hollywood idea of a gypsy in a brightly painted wagon, or the back room of an herb shop. It has remained a viable means of foretelling and supernatural investigation. I give here a standard list of meanings to the cards in hopes it fuels your own inquiry into this fascinating method -

Hearts (Cups):
Ace: love, friendship, the home and distinct happiness
King: fair haired man, affectionate, generous, impetuous, honest man, hasty in decisions, not to be relied upon for advice
Queen: fair haired woman, trustworthy, faithful loving woman, gentle & pleasing
Jack: fair haired young person, good friend, a close (or long lost) friend
10: good fortune, happiness, good news, happiness in family
9: the 'wish card', dreams and desires will come true
8: invitations, but also partings, parties or celebrations
7: someone is unreliable, broken promises by friends
6: unexpected good fortune, generosity, imposed upon by untrustworthy people
5: jealousy, inability to make a decision
4: changes, travel or postponements, marriage delayed, bachelor or spinster
3: be cautious an impulsive decision threatens good ones
2: success by careful thought, friendship

Spades (Swords):
Ace: conflicts, a difficult love affair, misfortune, bad news, tidings of death
King: dark haired man, ambitious, usually successful, his ambition overrides everything else
Queen: dark haired woman, seductive or unscrupulous, treachery, betrayal, malice, widow
Jack: dark haired young man, well meaning but lazy person, hindrance in all work
10: worry, grief, imprisonment, negation of all good
9: bad luck, can mean delays or quarrels, all kinds of unhappiness in all things
8: disappointments and opposition, be cautious, friends might turn out to be rivals
7: a warning against loss of friendship, quarrels with friends, bad things
6: an improvement in the person's life, use perseverance to make your plans work
5: anxiety, setbacks, interferences, success in business, harmony in partners
4: jealousy, business troubles, sickness, minor misfortunes delay project
3: partings due to faithlessness, lourney, bad things in love or marriage
2: scandal, gossip, danger of deceit, change, removal, loss of home, division

Diamonds (Coins):
Ace: money, a ring, important message, or a valuable gift
King: fair haired man, stubborn and powerful, vengeful, dangerous when crossed.
Queen: fair haired woman, flirt, sophisticated, witty, interferes in other's affairs
Jack: a relative, someone not really reliable, selfish or jealous, bad news
10: journey, changes usually bringing wealth, money as objective, maybe not result
9: opportunities and surprises, usually financial, taste for adventure, travel, changes
8: late marriage or new relationship, unexpected money, a journey
7: a gift, lies, rumours, unlucky gambler, criticism
6: a reconciliation, warning against a second marriage, early marriage; early end.
5: successful meetings, especially business, unexpected news; may be business success
4: an inheritance, changes for the better, unhappiness from bad friends, betrayal
3: legal or domestic battles, quarrels, domestic disagreements
2: a great love affair increases in importance, opposed by friends

Clubs (Wands):
Ace: harmony, property, achievements, love, peace of mind, professional success
King: dark haired man, honest, open, generous and faithful
Queen: dark haired woman, strong, helpful, attractive, nice woman, inclined to be temperamental
Jack: a reliable friend, sincere but impatient
10: unexpected money, good luck or a gift, unexpected good fortune with bad loss
9: a new romance, disputes with friends, bad quarrels
8: opposition, chance of recklessness, someone will use money not his own
7: prosperity, chance of romantic interference, good fortune, beware of opposite sex
6: business success, profitable business in partnership
5: help from a friend or spouse, marriage with a wealthy woman
4: bad change of fortune, failure of project due to friends
3: good marriage or partnership, long engagement, and then a fast wedding
2: disappointment and opposition from friends or associates

The Offering Bowl

In working with spirits, one is often called upon to give offerings for services rendered. If you maintain an altar in your home, this can be difficult to give offerings as you have to have something in which to place them. That being said, I give you The Offering Bowl.

This simple item of so innocuous a form lends itself to great power and practice. In this brief summary, I will explain the use of The Offering Bowl and how you can bring its blessings and power into your life very simply and VERY effectively.

With this Offering Bowl, there comes a stone. This is the house of the spirits and upon which thy practice will be built. Within the center of the bowl, you will place this stone and in a central location of your home, you will place the bowl. This can also be placed in the kitchen as this is, traditionally, the center of the home. The hearth being the “heart” of the family and home. Once your Offering Bowl is placed, perform the following rite to call upon the spirits and receive their blessings –

Gather a bottle of Spring Water. It must be of the earth. Distilled or purified will not do. Stand facing the Offering Bowl with arms outspread say the following –

I call unto the spirits in this place and of my ancestors. Come and find reposed in this stone of the ancients. Make it thy home and receive the offerings in thanks for thy blessings. Protect all that abide here and lend thy help in times of need.

Bring the love of those that have gone before and take the hand of those that live giving guidance, protection, love, knowledge, and anything that will move us deeper toward that hidden knowledge.

As it is, so shall it be.

Open the bottle of water and slowly pour a small amount over the stone saying –

                Sprits of all, accept this offering from my heart. I thank you for watching over me and all here.

                In faith and frith, I give, and unto thy touch I receive.

Keep the bottle of water for daily, weekly, or monthly offerings as you feel appropriate. I give daily upon awaking, but your method is personal as are the spirits with which you commune.

Until next time.......

 

The Red Meal

Communing with the gods and spirits can be as easy as performing The Red Meal. This is a eucharist taken and offered in the realm of spirit. Follow the directions below and feel the touch of the all.

If you have a stang, then position it in the north of your place of working. Provide the following for the rite -

              Round of dark bread
              Red Wine
              Cup or drinking horn
              Bees wax candle

Center with appropriate method. When ready, light the candle saying -

              Fire of wisdom illumine me with thy brilliance and burn within my heart.

Hold thy hands in invoking (touching index fingers and thumbs forming a triangle) o'er the bread and say -

              Old one, this bread with thy power make red, with thy pure touch make strong

See power flowing into the bread. Hold thy hands in invoking o'er the cup of wine saying -

               Queen Of Elphen, fill this cup with thy bloody blessing. As this wine becomes thy blood, so                             does it enter mine.

Raise the bread and break off a piece. Dip it into the wine and see the two powers combine. Say -

                As the blood flows into this flesh of the land, so does the blood flow into me. Blessings upon the gods, spirits, and ancestors, and in turn bless me with the red road.

Eat of the bread. Hold up the cup and drink of the blood. Leave the loaf at a tree and pour the wine over it in offering.
It is done.

Until next time.....

Care and feeding of The Spirits

We work with spirits a great deal at Arcanus, and like any good relationship one needs to continually cultivate it. Spirits require attention and feeding and interraction to remain vianle for our needs. In the old days, one would leave a bowl of milk and honey on the front step or at the hearth to appease the house helpers or other spirits responsible for helping the goodwoman or goodman. For it was important to keep them happy otherwise mischief would insue.
We, in this modern age, have let this age old practice fall by the wayside and wonder why bad luck follows us. Spirits want to help us, but we must show that we are thankful for them or they will simply leave us to our fates, or teach us a lesson in respect. Much like a trusted friend would. We can revive this practice and bring ourselves back into the good graces of the wee ones by a simple method.

For kitchen spirits - Provide a bowl with a stone in the center. The stone serves as a spirit house in this instance. Every few days or so, place an offering in the bowl and let the spirits know it is a gift of thanks for all of their help in your life. Example "spirits of hearth and home, I give this gift freely to you all as a thank you for the good tidings you bring and the help you offer. May you find it enjoyable and bring peace and happiness to all that dwell here".
After a couple of days pour the contents outside at the base of a tree and return the bowl to its place of honor in your kitchen. Keeping in mind that it is the house of spirits. Keep it clean and ready to recieve the next offering.

On offerings - I vary my offerings at times. During holidays, I may place a bit of the holiday meal in the offering bowl. Other times, I may pour a bit of dark beer or milk and honey over the stone. Try different things and watch for positive results either in your luck being better, or an air of contentment settling over your home. Then you will know what they prefer. The spirits want to help, so let them. But always give thanks for the boons they bring.

Until next time......

Healing Rituals

In our practice of the cunning path, there comes upon occasion the need to heal in one form or another. As a practitioner of Traditional Crafte, I have encountered many forms of healing from energy to herbal. This, in conjuction with modern medical techniques lend a cunning man or woman the ability to assist their prospective tribe in all aspects of their lives. Below, find a simple ritual that I have found effective. In fact, it saved my life -

Basic Healing Ritual -

Materials -

Patient

Herbs appropriate to the healing being done

Teapot

Kettle of boiling water

Smudge Stick

Pine or Oak bough

Bowl of water

Teacup

Matches

Light candles, incense and smudge. Smudge the room. Utilize the Sphere Working to clear and prepare the room and patient for healing. Take up the Athame and describe an upright pentagram over the herbs saying:

“Oh creature of (name of element), remove the affliction of (name of affliction) from (name of patient), child of the Dark Mother and the Witch Father. Allow the body to heal with thy powers. As it is, so shall it be.”

Place the herbs into the teapot. Pour the boiling water over them saying:

“Release thy healing powers into the water of life and give comfort and health to whomsoever drinks of your bounty. In the name of the Mother and the Father, as it is, so shall it be.”

Let the herbs steep for about 10-20 min. Pour into a cup. Take up the Athame or Wand and describe the pentagram of Spirit over it saying:

“Unto the body you are healing. Go straight and pure to heal this child of the Mother and the Father. Let (name of ailment) be banished away and never to return. As it is, so shall it be.”

Give the brew to the patient and have them drink it til it is gone. Say :

“Dark Mother, thank you for giving me life and breath of the magic way. I praise everyday that I am your child and you are my Mother of All. Thank you and bless all that has been done here. As it is, so shall it be.”

“Witch Father, thank you for giving me the courage of life and knowledge of the natural way. I praise everyday that I am your child and you are my Witch Father of the sky and sun. Thank you and bless all that has been done here. As it is, so shall it be.”

Make offerings of incense to the Dark Mother and Witch Father.

You may need to repeat this again if the ailment doesn't disperse within a day or two. Also, you should give the patient more of the healing herb blessed by you to take throughout the day at regular intervals depending on the affliction and herb being taken.

Until next time.....

Fetishes

Steps for making a fetish -

1. Determine the nature of the fetish
2. Gather materials in harmony with the desire
3. Cut a 5 inch by 5 inch piece of red flannel or a colour that is in harmony with the desire

At your working space, perform the centering exercise by closing your eyes and breathing deeply through the nose and slowly exhaling out of your mouth. Do this three times.

Keeping your eyes closed, allow yourself to relax to the point of nearly falling asleep. This is the beginning of the Theta Gamma state. The easiest way to achieve this is by rolling your eyes up and letting yourself relax into the meditative state.

When achieved, begin the process of making the fetish.

Taking each component in your power hand, ask your guides and spirits to bless the item and grant the desire.

Example for psychic power:

I call upon my spirits that guide me. Empower this (herb, stone, shell, bone, etc) with thy sight. Grant my own sight into the realms of the dark and let all be lain before me. Ancestors that walk with me, lend thy touch and take my hand unto the depths of all knowing.

Place the component into the center of the square of flannel. When all components have been blessed, gather up the corners of the flannel and create a pouch containing the items. Using string, wrap around the items nine times saying:

Round and round I bind these tools. To awake the power unknown to fools. I wind my fate to the worlds around. And unto this path I am truly bound.

Tie the string into a knot to bind the materials into the flannel.

Holding the fetish between your hands, take a deep breath and gently breath upon the fetish visualizing the fetish glowing with each breath. Do this three times. Then say:

I give thee breath from my breath. I give thee life from my life. Thou art part of me and thou art empowered on this plane.

If this be a protective fetish, keep it with you always. If it be for a specific purpose, psychic ability, etc, keep it safe and hidden from the eyes of the mundane and utilize it when you have need of its powers.

Bit O Sorcery

The follow excerpt from my grimoire is a very powerful way of connecting with the Red Thread. This is the serpent power that courses through all. The Kundalini, if you will. This is one of the few rituals that requires a specific item. The Serpentine Blade. This is a Kris shaped dagger that evokes the power of the serpent and the coursing power of the Red Thread. I hope you find it interesting and useful -

The Ritual of the Serpentine Blade -

This rite connects one with the red current that runs through the world. The current of the serpent. This force runs through thy body and the lands and propels all upon the path of the cunning folk. The Serpentine Blade is of the crooked way and symbolizes the nature of our people.

Thus we begin. Gather unto thee a blade forged in fire and in the form of a serpent. A Kris shaped blade sharpened and pointed to draw life force into it and direct it as ye will. It must be able to cut and draw the red from ye. Wood hilted is traditional, but bone or antler are also allowed. For this be a tool of the fell ways and the dead will favour it.

The Old Gal should be waxing into her beauty or fully present. Then, to a place of isolation go. A cemetery is good for working if one can be from the eyes of the living. The land of the dead being unavailable, and a wood being out of thy realm, a spare room with an altar will suffice. Upon the altar provide the following -

Serpentine Dagger

Lancet

Sorcery Incense (Sandalwood, Dragons Blood , and cemetery dirt anointed with thy own blood)

Censer with Charcoal kindled

Red Wine

Cup

Black or Beeswax candle

Symbol of Sorcery (this can be a sigil specific to your path. My tradition has it's own and is known unto only those of our ways)

Kindle the candle saying -

The light in the dark do I strike. The beacon of the gods to I shine. From all realms I call to the spirits that can aid me in my task. Grant me thy power and thy vision. Come and fill this place with thy presence.

Lay thy dagger upon the symbol. See it as a thing not yet alive but awaiting the essence. Placing thy hand upon it, utter the following incantation -

Serpent of steel. Seeker of the power of life. I bless you unto this world. Forged of fire and hilted of nature, I touch you with the spark of my life. Into you I pass a part of me and thus birth you into existence.

See energy passing into the dagger from your hand. Give as much as you can until the dagger glows in thy minds eye. Once done, pick up thy dagger with both hands and breathe upon it and say -

I give ye breath of my breath. Life of my life. So that ye may serve me and the gods. From me ye will pass power, and to me ye shall bring it. Always faithful to my will. Always a part of me.

Blow upon the dagger and see if flame in thy minds eye. Replace thy dagger upon the altar and symbol of sorcery. Cast ye incense upon the coals and say -

To fire to I call. I cast this herb upon yon coals and kindle the flame of the gods. And to the gods will ye take my voice. Creature that made this child of the earth, now ye will bless it with thy touch.

Touch the tip of the dagger to the coals. Pass the dagger through the smoke saying -

Into thy lungs does this power pass. Awaken from thy slumber my child of power. Awaken and breathe thy life.

Feel the dagger pulse with its breath. Pour ye a draught of wine. Pick of yon dagger and place the tip into the wine saying -

Drink of the essence of the gods. Taste the intoxication of the power. Wake unto this life and be of this plane.

Wipe the wine from thy dagger. Using the Lancet, draw blood from ye. Rub this blood upon the blade saying -

Feast upon my force, oh child of my heart. Feast and take thy sup upon the force granted me by my ancestors. Sustenance is given thee and now ye are awake and powerful. To my will ye shall now serve and to my purpose ye shall be bound.

Feel thy force absorb into the blade and feel the dagger become part of thy life. It shall be forever bound unto thee. As a child to its parent.

Place thy dagger upon yon symbol. Raise the cup of wine to toast the beginning and say -

To ye do I raise this cup. Welcome and be blessed unto our path. Ye kindred of mine and ye servant of the way. I drink to thy birth and to thy life to come. Slanche.

Drink of the wine. Raise the cup again and give toast and thanks to the spirits that attended and lent their power to thy rite saying -

Kin of mine and the gods. I raise this cup to thy greatness and give thanks for thy help in this working of the old way. I drink to thy health and ask ye to go to yon places in peace and frith. We are the same and our blood runs through the lands. Slanche.

Drink thy toast to the spirits. This ends the ritual of the Serpentine Blade.

This blade will serve ye from this time hence. Ye shall use it when calling the gods and sending power. Periodically, upon its day of birth, ye will feed it with thy blood. This will keep it strong and thy bond powerful. Truly ye have given birth to a power of the land and to thy will ye shall direct it. Keep it with thee always. So it is done.

Until next time......