by John Michael Greer
One important lesson of the mysteries is that the magical realms have their dangers and pitfalls as well as their blessings. This is a lesson, unfortunately, that too many novice magicians learn the hard way.
As magical practitioners have known since ancient times, the parts of the universe we encounter with the magical senses are every bit as diverse as the parts we encounter with our physical sense. If you visit another city, for example, you may encounter lovers, friends, strangers, muggers, and politicians; if you go hiding in a forest, you may meet mosquitoes and skunks as well as deer and singing birds. In the same way, the universe of magic is inhabited by a vast range of beings and forces. Some of these may be friends to you, others may be hostile, and still others won’t be interested in you at all. In other words, the human voyagers you encounter in your magical journeys will be of many different sorts, and not all of them may be friendly or trustworthy.
Dealing effectively with potential trouble in magic is not necessarily a simple matter. Good intentions will help, but they’re not enough by themselves. Accurate information, which can be learned from books, from other magical practitioners, or from your own experience, is a good deal more useful.
Furthermore, there are several items of use in your magical journey. As in any journey, you need a good street map, a few coins for phone calls, and a bottle of pepper spray to help you navigate your way through a modern city; or some insect repellent, rain gear, and good hiking boots in the forest. In the same way, certain pieces of magical equipment will help get you through the rough places in the realms of inner experience.
In fact, it can be useful to assemble these things in a magical emergency kit, which can be packed into a convenient box or shoulder bag, kept in or near the room where you do most of your personal magical work, and carried with you when you attend group workings or festivals. That way, your protective and guiding tools can be used in the event of psychic or magical attack, when a ritual goes awry, or at any other time when magical energies become disrupted or unbalanced.
To some extent, the contents of your magical emergency kit will depend on the tradition of magic you practice, and on the skill and experience you’ve developed in it. Much will also depend on your own strengths and weaknesses. Still, the following items should probably find a place in your kit.
- A steel-bladed athame, ritual dagger, or trident. Most systems of Western magic make us of the subtle-energy effects of iron and steel for protecting against hostile or disruptive energies. Whatever specific tool your tradition uses for these purposes, one should be part of your kit. It should be ritually consecrated and kept wrapped in silk or linen to protect it.
- A portable censer, charcoal, waterproof matches, and a folding fan. Incense is one of the most useful tools in any magical emergency. Having these items ready will ensure that you can use the incense in any situation. The fan directs the incense smoke where it’s needed.
- Blessing incense. The actual type will vary somewhat depending on your tradition, but frankincense is nearly always a good bet. Rosemary, sage, and vervain are also common. All incense should be kept in airtight containers.
- Banishing incense. Again, your choices should be guided by the type of magic you practice. Cedarwood, mugwort, and myrrh are generally good options.
- Red oil. This is an ancient bit of natural magic well worth brining back into common use. Take a cup or more of St. John’s wort flowers, as fresh as possible, and put them in a clear glass jar; pour in olive oil while stirring, until the oil just covers the flowers. Put in a place where the jar will receive direct sunlight for at least a few hours each day, and let stand for two to four months. If the flowers are fresh, the oil will turn blood-red. Strain and store the oil in a cool, dark place. A drop of red oil rubbed onto the forehead will banish disruptive energies and help restore peace even in the most trying times.
- Salt. Many magical traditions use this to purify and banish. Good quality kosher salt or sea salt are best.
- A small bowl or cup, and a sealed container of incense ash. These, together with salt and clean water, can be used to consecrate holy water for use in blessings and purifications. Purl the water into the cup or bowl, and add a pinch of salt and ash. Then hold both your hands over the water and speak an appropriate blessing, concentrating on your intention. Holy water can be sprinkled around the edge of a circle to purify it. Any left over at the end of a working should be poured onto the earth.
- Protective talisman or amulets. Different schools of magic have different versions of these common tools, ranging from the little bags of herbs and graveyard dust to pasteboard disks covered with geometrical diagrams and Hebrew letters. Whatever the details, something of the sort is well worth having in your kit—kept in silk or linen to keep its charge at full intensity.
These objects, plus any other items you may choose to add to the collection, will give you options in more of the difficult situation that come up in magical work. The best kit in the world, though, will be useless if you do not know what to do with it. Take the time to make sure you know how to use every item in your kit. If any of the items are meant to be used in ritual workings, the ritual should be memorized and frequently practiced before you have to rely on it.