Day Four - Novena to St. Cyprian

I have been doing my novena in the evenings, after tucking all the boys and one girl into their beds. It's set in our personal altar room - apart from the Vodou altars and in a special space that is consecrated to the Great Work. I am taking my time with this space. I still need to paint the walls, but that is a fall project after next week's events complete themselves. I love painting - ti's very meditative, so I am going to use the recuperative time to heal the boy and myself, metaphysically speaking.

But I did find a gorgeous round table that can be made taller - so it's a nice 40 inches high, with a shelf beneath for my things. I ironed out a deep violet satin cloth and set it with my best gold embroidered runner from India. Bought it years ago and finally have a use for it. I placed our three humogous golden globes in the triangle of the Arte and set them with blue candles. And I am lighting a new seven day candle each night for the Novena. I've placed nine gold coins as offerings on the surface and that's it. There is an incense burner off tothe side, but I am keeping the surface pristine.

The first three nights, nothing really happened. I evoked St. Cyprian, did the novena (three Our Fathers, two Hail Marys and one Apostles Creed), stood for a few minutes in meditative silence and then departed.

My St. Cyprian Offering table, prior to service.
Note the glow over the table

Last night was...uh...interesting. Lit the new candle like Mambo Shakmah taught us: Light it, say Legba open the door, and pinch out the flame. Light it again, repeat the Legba statement and again, pinch out the flame. Light it a third time, invoke Legba, and pinch out the flame. Now light with the intent of the novena - which in my case, is communion with St. Cyprian.

I set the new candle in place, evoked my prayer to Cyprian and then was doing my trois Pater Noster, when the room shifted dramatically. I thought I had a window open, but when I looked, the drapes were firmly shut. Back to my novena, I was on the second Salue Marie and the room shifted again. When I opened my eyes to look, a vague form was hovering in the triangle. I kept to my prayers, and went to the Credo, which I intended to do in Latin, but the French just took over (thank heavens for muscle memory or I'd been done in by the shift of power) and kept my eyes on the triangle. The form lifted over the table and then, slowly dissapated. Ayibobo.

As always, when I experience Divine presences, I was crying by the end. I sniffed my thanks, and backed out slowly. The candles continued to waver most of the night, lending a soft movement of light and shadow to the hallway. The dogs seemed content, and so I slipped into bed with all the family (husband, two standard poodles and a shih tzu on my head) and drifted off.

This morning, I woke to find both Uriel and Bodhisattva laying like two sphinx at the door, staring into the room across the hallway. Even an offer to go out did not dislodge them from their post. I got dressed, and when I rattled their leashes, they finally got up, but not without another look over their shoulders. Our house is haunted, so possibly it was the local spirits teasing, but it was an interesting coincidence.

I'll see how things go again tonight. I am sure St. Cyprian is getting lots of juice from all the sorcerers invoke Him. It will be interesting to see where this goes from here. Keep y'all posted.

A Novena to St. Cypriano - Day Three

(sorry been a bit off lately - major surgery will do that to a person...we're fine, thanks all!)


I've been doing the Novena of St. Cyprian for ten years now. He's apparently gained some serious cred recently - especially with the sorceress crowd. I keep finding blog posts about him and folks doing his novena. Thought I'd share my own experience with you all for the nine days of his work.

A bit of History:
There are two St. Cyprians out there. The first (and slightly better documented) was Cyprian of Carthage. He is endorsed as the true Cyprian by the Catholic church.  Born in Carthage in north Africa in the early 3rd century, he worked throughout North Africa for most of his adult life and was martyred in his own villa in 258 AD. Beheaded, actually, with his own sword. In true Catholic idiocy, his body was buried, disinterred, reburied and moved - twice. Supposedly, it now rests in both France and Rome. His bones are also distributed across four cities and several churches. The poor man is in worse shape than Osiris - no wonder he continually resurrects - he just wants to be whole again.

The second (and more interesting one) is Cyprian of Antioch. He was a bishop, but also a renowned Pagan conjurer, sorcerer and magician who dealt in shadows and dark magics.  He seriously lusted after St. Justina, and sent demons to bring her to him. When she dispelled his demons by the sign of the cross, he converted on the spot to Christianity.  However, he retained his magical prowess and continued to use a powerful book of spells he had written. Hey, once a sorcerer, always a sorcerer. He and Justina (who was now his bestie) were beheaded together, after a few rounds of torture. This Cyprian is considered to be the patron saint of witches, conjurers, root doctors, magicians, sorcerers, occultists, demonologers, necromancers, spiritualists, and spiritual workers, both good and evil. Needless to say, he's a busy guy.

His biggest devotional gang is on the Iberian Peninsula. Here is a link to a wonderful site with lots of prayers in both English and Latin: Prayers to St. Cyprian.  Although they tend to be skewed toward his Jesuit manifestation, they work, trust me on that one.

There are many books attributed to St Cyprian. The most well known is the  El Libero Infernal. St Cyprian's books have the reputation for having been quoted in the trials of the Spanish Inquisition, though none have survived in trial papers - at least none that have been found. Demonology would gain quite the foothold in Spain. The French priest and writer Helinand of Froidmont observed that "one could seek liberal arts in Paris, the Law in Bologna, medicine in Salerno and demons in Toledo." Cyprian's books played well with the underworld and its denizens.

For a well written examination of Cyprian's magical books, check out Dan Harm's blog on the many books attributed to this great wonder worker - Cyprian's Magical Discourse

The Novena - Nine Days of Magic and Recourse
A novena is simply a set of prayers offered (or spoken) for a specific number of days. You can dress it up from there. Don't have a lot of time or space? Then just say the prayers at the same time each day and head off to your life. Have the time to devote to a larger working? Then spend it at your altar with proper accoutrement for the saint.

Cyprian's Feast Days begin on September 19th and finish on the 26th. That's because the 19th is the date observed by the magical world as the Feast of Cyprian of Antioch, while the Catholic's observe the 26th for Cyprian of Carthage. Smart mages do well to work a novena for the entire 9 days as a complete Feast of Cyprian, just to hedge their own bets in the underworld.

I dress our personal altar in gold and purple, the colors shown in the above chromo of Cyprian. I strew 9 gold dollars on the cloth as an offering, and light purple candles in his honor. I place my own magical books on the altar beginning with my father-in-law's Masonic bible, my liturgy of Vodou and my Egyptian Book of the Dead. I light frankincense and myrrh incense and then say the following prayer to Cyprian:

Glorious Martyr,Saint Cyprian of Antioch,

who by Divine Grace converted to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,

you who possessed the highest secrets of Magic,

build now a refuge for me against my enemies and their evil deeds.

For the merit that you obtained before God, Creator of heaven and earth,

cancel out all evil spirits, products of hate,

the spells that hardened hearts have cast or will come to cast

against my person and against my home.

With the permission of the All Powerful God,

answer my prayer and come to my assistance,

through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 Light the candles, then offer 3 Our Fathers, 2 Hail Marys, and 1 Credo

Remember, Cyprian was a Christian sorcerer, so use Christian prayer to work with that particular stream. I am also a Vodouisant, and we use Catholic prayers for everything, both magical and mundane. It fits very nicely into my world purview.

Do this for nine straight days. Cyprian was said to straddle two worlds - the red realm (this one) and the black one (the underworld). See if doing this ignites your magic with a power and grace you've not felt before. I believe for me, it does. Let me know how you go. I'll keep you posted.

Is that a Lwa in your pocket? Part 2

I think I need to add some clarity to my previous post on the Lwa.

First off, They do not appear to physical manifestation. Not in the traditional sense. There is no magic circle, no billowing clouds of special incense and no brandishing a sword or athame (a knife for the uninitiated...).

When They do manifest, They do it within the rarefied arena of a fet. Now I must state here that in my own opinion, honest or otherwise, I feel there's been an overload of "riding with the Lwas" out there. Between Aspecting, Overshadowing, Possession, Channeling, Trance and the old stand-by "The Devil made me do it!", its no wonder no one takes credit for doing it THEMSELVES. Whatever happened to plain old inspiration? Where have all the Muses gone? Do we really need to channel Beings from the Pleiades or Moonchildren or Dogon Deities to actually be effective in the world? Really?

The Lwa (Thank Bondye) are not beings to be channeled. Nor are They beings to called down for a ride. In fact, if you know anything about Vodou, the person who holds the Lwa is not seen as special at all. You are the vessel of the Lwa and nothing else, period.  And I have seen some brilliant vessels who were total asshats in life. What was that line from Amadeus by Salieri -- "You choose for your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty infantile boy..." There ya go - who says God doesn't have a sense of humor.

The Lwa arrive in soft ways. They speak in dreams, allegories and paradoxes. They love paradox, they are the kings of Paradox country. They can (and often do ) hold opposing ideas as truth. Just look at Their so-called forms. LaSiren is a siren, a sorceress and a wife; she also half fish, half human. And we all agree to it, as if mermaids are the norm. Bossou is half bull, half man and we honor and revere him for his strength and his willingness to help get the job done. We just fetted Agwe, a man who is called a Shell of the Sea and yet captains a ship that is not a ship but might just be a Jin of Islamic stories. It's sheer madness, the kind of story you'd see on Spongebob Square Pants, and yet we all agree vigorously when asked if this is so. I think our rum has been spiked with acid.

How do we know the Lwa? Because we recognize the truth They carry. It's not the form of Siren that draws us in - it's that she owns true love. Don't we all want true love? Of course we do, and so we all agree that if this half human, half fish can offer it to us, then by George she's a woman who is also a fish. Or a fish who is also a woman. Wait, let me have another sip of the Koolaid, it'll make more sense later.

Ezili owns Unrequited Love. She cries over the imperfect world she is bound to be a part of. That is because She is separated from the Godhead. Knowing what perfection is (God) and seeing that the world cannot meet that standard, She cried pitilessly for us. (You really think a spirit that can move through time and space wants expensive clothing and perfume, etc? Have another sip of the Koolaid...)

Each Lwa is a part of the Godhead, and so each one carries a truth, given to Them at the beginning of time. And so if you want to SEE the Lwa, then look for the TRUTH They carry in the world.

The person who takes care of any and everyone, has endless amounts of energy, often wears metal jewelry and is quick of temper is probably walking with Ogoun (the warrior.)

The individual who can juggle ten projects, is a writer, a speaker or engages folks in long evenings of brilliant conversation might just be a Legba (the communicator.)

The man or woman who is a drama queen, loves to get dressed, smells great and is always coiffed to a T is probably walking with Ezili. But She can also manifest as the person who can command a room with a stern look, have people fall to her feet to do Her bidding, and carries the kind of charisma that most of us dream about.

The Lwa are their own "person" as it were. To mire Them down in trivial actions (Ezili likes perfume, Ogoun is always angry) is to deny the breadth of Their presence, the magnanimity of Their gifts and the omnipresence of Their blessings.

Truth is the universal language of this sphere we live in and on. When it's seen or heard or spoken, everyone within earshot is in agreement, on the same page at the same time. And that's because it resonates within ourselves. Like calls to Like. We all carry these truths within, which is why we can agree on it without. And the Lwa embody these truths. They are the universal language of God and She doesn't make mistakes, trust me on that one. So here, do this:

Next time you are in a store or on the street, look at the people around you. Put on your Vodou glasses, as it were and look at the world through the Lens of the Lwa. See if you can't suss out the truths as they surround you. And let that little old man lead you across the street. Smile at the cop as you cross the street. Offer a sniff of your perfume to the young dandy in the next cubicle. By doing so, you are engaging with the truth around you. Or the Lwa, if you prefer to see them that way. It's all the same and it's all good.

And watch  as They turn to you as well. Remember, the reason I became a Mambo is because when I called to the Lwa - They responded. They will for you, too. Without the Koolaid.

Ayibobo.

Is that a Lwa in your Pocket (or are you happy to see me?)

I was recently asked a very good question by a student in our Four Circles OnLine class about recognizing the Lwa when they choose to show themselves. Many folks think they know the answer, but in fact, the Lwa are pretty cagey guys.

When we begin to walk this path, we seem to find the Lwa everywhere. (Please, no grilled cheese sandwich stories...) I have heard many tales of Lwa - "they appear in my dream", "they talk to me out of thin air", "they are there one second, but they scoot out of my frame of reference..."

Let's get grounded, shall we?

It is true, the Lwa are everywhere. Remember that Vodou is a Fon word for "spirit" and to the African Fon people, Spirit was immanent, meaning everywhere in the world. The rocks, the trees, the springs and rivers were all seen as natural forces embodying the Lwa. We as occultists have come to recognize the spiritual zeitgeist of natural phenomena and we even have a name for it -  Elements. We use this term in a rather cavalier way, but it works 99% of the time. Those on the path of enlightenment will understand when you say "The water element was powerful this weekend." We understand the word element to embody all the occult characteristics of the implied meaning. We can even fill in the void left bereft of explanation by the speaker - that there was great emotion in the gestures and words;  that the intuitive meanings of the rites must have been magnificent; that the scrying was out of this world. The meaning of the element is implied in all these examples.

Vodou is a complex faith filled with implied meaning. The unspoken sense of numen is always present in a Vodou service. Numen filled the void of meaning for the ancient Africans. They didn't use that word for what they felt or sensed when they stood in the presence of magnificent natural phenomena. They simply called it a mystery. But today, we understand the mystery to be numinous, meaning filled with Divine Mystery.

So having established the numen of the Lwa, how does one know when this magical event occurs? The simple answer is you often don't. Even this semi-evolved mambo has had to go home and mull over something before the light bulb of knowledge glimmered on and I got the proverbial "Ah-Ha".

It takes a moment for us all to sort and sift through the daily clutter of phone numbers, internet addresses and email before we find the mental post it note with that description you had jotted down about Ogoun. But it's there, if you take a moment to think about it.

Ogoun is a warrior. He loves metal. He's a lover, a soldier, a leader and a wild man. He lives in the woods, but also in the forge. To recognize Ogoun is to see him as the soldier returning from overseas, the cop walking a beat, the security guy at the mall. Those are the obvious ones. But he appears in other guises as well. His love of metal makes him every jeweler who creates in silver and gold metals The medical doctor, working with scalpels and needles (Bhalindjo). The quick-witted lawyer, working in the justice system (Obatala). He is also the crossing guard, the grocery packer, the secretary/admin assistant to five directors in a corporation (Badagris). Ogoun has endless energy and so he is everywhere at once. But how do we know its Ogoun and not a feat of imagination when we see him? Like this:

I was in a very bad car accident years ago. I do not remember the crash at all. When I came to on the floor of the front seat, I had this odd sense of being out of time and body. It was as if I was watching myself from outside the car. A large man in dark blue clothing was asking me if I was alright. The Me on the floor was blinking at this mirage, while the me out of the car kept saying 'yes I am.' Finally, the man in blue looked up and said 'then come back.' And in that split second, I did, and when I again blinked from the car bottom, I saw a police officer leaning into the car and offering me his hand. No, I do not think of this as a near death experience. As a Mambo Asogwe, I think of it as being displaced for a moment, while the Lwa were present for me. It was Ogoun in the navy blue shirt, talking to me as the officer. And when He looked over at Me standing off to one side, He moved out of my conscious body, so the real me could come back on over.

In other words, at the moment of impact, Ogoun took my head and the brunt of the impact on my body. And just to show the extent of this action, Papa Don burst into tears when he saw the car at the garage - it was totaled. The garage mechanic said he didn't understand how I walked away. But I did. And I do.

Not all appearances of the Lwa are as dramatic. And they don't have to match up in sex, either. I offer Exhibit A to the left - the winner of an international longsword competition as proof that being feminine and an Ogoun are not opposing ideas.

But rest assured, when the crossing guard smiles at you, that's Ogoun looking at you. When the girl with the bubble gum pink nails perfumes herself and her cube next to you, that's Ezili Freda making her presence known. When the mail guy who hails from the deserts of New Mexico plasters his walls with pictures of sailing yachts, that's Agwe sailing along with him. And when small men of color carrying walking canes smile at you in elevators, at cross streets and on corners, that's Legba winking back.

Bilolo Papa Ogoun. Mesi anpil for my life.

Ever forward

Lodge Walker with DAN 1999 Kirkridge Initiation Weekend

I was reading a friend's blog this morning, regarding her new start into the world. This individual left a group she'd worked in for a long time, and was now on her own, free falling as it were into a new life without any borders or constraints. It's freeing and it's frightening all at the same time. I know this intimately - I had left a tradition I not only worked in for 20 years, but held two big-time initiations in, was a teacher and a lineage carrier. But some Else was calling and I couldn't resist the call any longer.

I was a third degree Gardnerian and a consecrated Last Walker of the Village Tradition, both from Dolores Ashocroft-Nowicki, herself a high muckety-muck over in England. I was also a  Magus in the Servants of the Light School of England that she ran. Big time occultist, that was me.

Not now. Well, I shouldn't say "was" -- you can't ever toss off an initiation. It's there, no changing things now. Sorry. Should have thought twice before saying yes. That's ok, I am still very proud of all of it.  But - that little nagging voice kept telling me this wasn't really my path.

Oh, I had "cheated" here and there. Attended a Gnostic Mass (shocking!) Sat in for two rounds of Shamanic training with Michael Harner (infidelity!) Did a two week drum intensive with Babatunde Olatunji (sweet...) But I always came back to the herd, to the safety of the SoL and Dolores' knee.

Then it happened. I was hit one day by the glorious idea that there was something else out there, and by God, I was gonna find it. I was using this new tool called the Web to speak to a person about Haiti, and Vodou and she made me an offer I couldn't refuse -- come on down and I'll kanzo you. Kanzo! The Holy Grail of Vodou! How could I not.

Well - here's how - sick parents, job that was 80% travel; a husband, a house, coven and a magical lodge. But the Lwa keep tickling me, keeping me up all night, surfing the World Wide Web (where do you think the 'www' in all those urls came from?) And every site I hit upon was Vodou, Haiti, Afro-Caribbean faiths, Voodoo, hoodoo, Port au Prince. I was hooked, drugged, high on the idea of traveling to a Third World country,  and laying down on a dirt floor. I was in.

And so I get what my young friend is experiencing. Please don't get me wrong - there were repercussions.  The coven/lodge divided over this. There was fall out. Some folks supported us and they are still here with us. But others left, feeling betrayed and let down. I asked them why should I keep doing something I don't feel called to do, just because you want a place to pray on Saturday nights? Why don't you do it yourselves? There was no answer - just recrimination. So be it.

The Lwa took it all away - the job, the coven, the lodge. We found ourselves adrift, alone and so we clung to one another, went to Haiti and laid down on that dirt floor. Eight days later, we got up and we've never regretted it -- not even for one minute. The work has been fulfilling, the joy electric and the Lwa delightful to be with. I couldn't be happier.

If I had stayed the course, I might not have continued the work in any capacity. I was tired. I was distraught over my lack of faith in what I was doing. I had doubts. Big ones. Now, here today, with my new faith and my courage, I have never had doubts -- even when things got tough (and they surely did for a time). But that is in the past. I am here, ayibobo. The work is good, the satisfaction palatable and I am happier than I have ever been.

Do what makes you happy. Dolores was my first and only initiator for years. I wouldn't change that for the world. The teachings she gave me were profound, even if they didn't fit my life after a time. But I've never been one to throw out the baby with the bath water. Her sage advice still gets me through the day at times. But one piece was truly epic and I use it always. "Forget what others say about you," she'd advise.  "It's none of your business what other people say about you." And she's right. I follow my spirits. "Keep your eyes on the prize" is what I am told daily by the Lwa.

Ayibobo Papa. I put my foot on the path and I've never looked back. I offer this same thing to my friend, if she happens to read this. You'll be much happier, M, trust me on that one. Kenbe La sweetheart - stay strong and have faith. The spirits never desert us, they just take us where we need to go.

Sosyete du Marche Inc. Calendar has been updated

Honor everyone,

Just trying to keep pace with the life of the houmfort here. We've updated the calendar for the last half of the year. Please check for our offerings of classes and services. Mesi anpil for looking!

Sosyete du Marche, Inc. Calendar

Naked Magic - Part Three: Calling the Ancients Forth

(Or how to invoke the Spirits without rude words)

Couple posts back, I wrote about the art of magic and knowing some basics. The directions and what they mean. The tools of the magician. So while some folks are out shopping for the gods (or in my case, the Lwa), the real magician is sitting at his desk, pen in hand, pondering the written word. Honest, I am not making that part up.

I just finished a long article on writing as an esoteric art form. Stodgy stuff, nice and dry -- an academic article worthy of its citations, commentary and footnotes (yawn.) But it really got me thinking about the work of a magician, and just what is needed to get your Godform on. I know Goetic art is getting a real workout these days, but that's just one part of the formula. What you really need is a good speaking voice and the acting chops of a Barrymore, inorder to bring heaven down to earth.

This past weekend, we serve Ogoun with a huge feast, lots of singing and banging of machetes. The Iron Man was mighty pleased. But I began the work with a full-on evocation that a friend in Germany sent me. This person has worked with the Lwa for 40-odd years. He does a fine job of melding Vodou with ceremonial magic. And his writing is superbly point-on for evocation. A small sample for your speaking pleasure - face the East, raise your dominant hand and make a fist. Speak the following with virtue and power:

Burn all of the errors of the past with the fires of my anger and all‑consuming fire of will, for I am OGOU‑FERAY.

 Let not the shadows of the past remain upon the face of the earth, for I shall plow a million times over the ground of the dead, to destroy and create anew, for I am OGOU‑ASHADE. 

Let not history remember the names of those who have given themselves unto errors and to the causing of pain and suffering to my people, for such history I shall cause to be destroyed, for I am OGOU‑OBATALA.. . (etc.)  

Good stuff.

I wrote hundreds of rituals when I was in training for the position of Magus in the SoL. I should probably publish them someday, so they will be used by folks. I certainly wrote them for that purpose. I've become lazy in Vodou. After all, there is a liturgy to be used. The words, the songs and the invocations are all there. I just have to get them memorized. But I was so taken by this one, that I had to use it. I had the entire sosyete stand and deliver, as I orated my little fanny off. I did do the traditional invocation over the veve in service. And I said prayers at the altars during the salutes. But this just felt right. Especially since it names Ashade - that was Edgar's Met Tet. So in a way, I also invoked him into the service as well.

My point here is that evocation is all about creating space for something to be with you. The word means "to call forth", and an magical evocation is even more than that simple phrase. Chic Cicero states that if invocation is the act of inviting Something in, evocation is the act of becoming that Something. I really wanted Ogoun present. And He came forth as requested.

But not because I mumbled, or wandered around in my speech. I choose these words for their meaning and their power. I evoked with great gusto and energy. And I did it so I could become Ogoun later in the service.

Dolores was a world class actress, trained in the London Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her tone and meaning were always evoking something - her disgust, her dismay, or her delight in what we were doing. "Balcony" she'd intone seriously, after we'd all taken a turn at evoking paragraph from our manuscripts of rituals. That meant whoever was seated far away couldn't hear us. "Mean it" was another saying, when we lagged in enthusiasm.

She taught me to speak with energy, to mean what I said and to do it with style and passion. Her example was to read from anything anyone had in the room - and make it sound amazing. And that was the secret. It wasn't what was written there, it was the passion, the intent, the energy and the vocalization that made it work. It was also what wasn't said - the meaning one implied by inflection, tone and pitch that also made the evocation work.

So go ahead, decorate your temple like an HGTV host on acid; wear all the bells and smells, medals and medallions you own; burn that last ten pounds of frankincense until the EPA comes knocking at the door. In the end, if you cannot orate the evocation with great emotion and power, then you will not call anything but derision into your space.

Too bad too, cause Mr. Mojo Rising is right there, waiting for the invite. If you want to party like its 1999, then you'd best get your evocation on and learn to speak like there is no tomorrow.