The Art of Greater Magick
Greater magick is anything which is a formalized ritual or ceremony. In greater magick one relies on more esoteric forces, whether internal or external. More often than not the actual workings of these rituals is but a mystery to the mage.
To atheistic Satanists greater magick is used to release emotions. Many atheistic magickians see the psychological benefits of practicing these mysterious arts. To them it is a psychoanalytical tool, and even astrology is something which many non-believers can see beneficial uses for.
I have studied astrology rigorously for many years, and indeed endorse this approach... but, at the same time I can see the mysterious ways in which what is outlined in a chart actually manifests.
COTI members are not affiliated with the Church of Satan, other than the fact that most members have drawn inspiration for Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible. I am a fan of LaVey's writing and live my life partially by his code of ethics. Throughout this site there will be references to Anton LaVey.
However, COTI is more a chaos magick based church. We believe in using whichever forms of greater magick the individual finds helpful. Each clergy member has their own unique approach to magick.
How To Prepare For A Magickal Working
The Ritual Bath
For our magick to work well for us it is best to be in a pure, non-dirty state. A ritual bath is often used to bring forth our internal virgin. Many magickians choose to work 'skyclad', or naked. This puts us in the most intimate position attainable with our choosen Gods or Goddesses.
When pouring the bath you should bless the water and allow it to be charged with your intent. Reflect upon that which you would like to create through the art of ritual magick. You may wish to lit a few candles in the colours appropriate to your magickal working....
Pink = Tranquility
Blue = Wisdom
Green = Self awareness
Red = Passion
Purple = Spiritual matters
Ingredients needed for a ritual bath should include homemade bath salts, candles in whichever colours are your desire, a large white candle, essential oil, and a large chalice of juice/wine/water.
First things first, get your white candle annointed. Rub your essential oil onto the candle and visualize that which you are requesting. You might even speak aloud to the Gods/Goddesses/Universe. Go ahead and do the very same with the other candles you plan to use. You might wish to pick up your trusty burine and inscribe a symbol or words onto the candles for a little extra magick power.
While running your bath sprinkle and mix in the bath salts. Focus your energies onto your intent. Know that your magick shall work and that you are embarking on a bright new adventure.
Light your candles and put them some place safe. Suck in the beauty of the atmosphere which fills the room.
Hop into the tub. Enjoy your bath. Know that your system is being cleansed out and your wonderful magick is about to come to fruition. Drink your lovely chalice of wine/juice/water.
Before getting out of the tub you might wish to thank the Undines for the pleasure you just partook in. The Undines are the spiritual beings which rule over the Element Water. Thank them and then keep your mind focused on your intentions.
Snuff out the candles as forcefully as you wish.
Making Your Own Bath Salts
This is a task which is absolutely as easy as pie. No need to be incredibly fussy. It is great fun to make your own bath salts. You will need epsom salt, baking soda, rock or sea salt, essential oils, herbs, and food colouring (if you want).
Some people don't much like using chemical. You may most certainly omit the food colouring. Colour may help set the mood and give a bit of a boost to the spell, but you don't have to use it. It certainly will not fuck your whole spell over if you don't use it.
You get a mixing bowl and toss in 3 parts epsom salt, 2 parts baking soda, and 1 part of rock or sea salt. Use your hands to mix this up. Let the powerful energies inside your being drift down through your finger tips. Feel your power and use it. At this stage you can also drop in the essential oil and food colouring.
You might wish to wear some gloves when mixing in the food colouring. Otherwise, your hands shall be stained with colour. Don't worry about your skin getting stained in the bath. The colour becomes so diluted in the water that it is not a concern in the least.
Next add the herbs. Grind them up nicely in a mortar and pestle. You may find that you will get large chunks of herbs stuck to your naked body after you finish your bath if the herbs are not finely ground. Mix everything thoroughly. Make sure that you are still using your hands and not a spoon.
Next you may want to lean forward. Sniff and inhale! Do you like the way your bath salts smell? Are they pleasing to your senses? If not, alter them in any way you desire and keep mixing and mixing. Use your intuition, for it very rarely lets a person down.
When your salts are ready you should probably add just 2 tablespoons to your bath. I generally like to add a lot more, but to each his own.
Casting A Circle
This is just one of many ways to protect yourself from unwanted forces during a magickal working. It is up to the magickian whether he wishes to cast a circle or not. You might have other rites you use like strengthening your auric shield through your own personal visualization and/or meditation(s).
The first is to cleanse your spirit of negative influences. You can do this through a ritual bath. This can be done through a meditation. It's up to you, so long as you feel very purified after you are finished.
It's always nice to try to dress in something a little out of the ordinary for a magickal working. Your choice would again be a personal one. You might choose to wear special ornaments or jewelery. You might have special clothes you set aside to wear for a magickal. My simple way of addressing the issue of attire is to imagine I am about to go out on a date with Prince Charming. I try to wear something special and flattering... or something I haven't tried wearing before that is in my wardrobe. Evening gowns can be a lovely choice for witches. It is all up to you as to how you wish to change your magickal working into a special ceremony.
The next part of casting a circle is to determine the amount of space which it takes up. You might want a small circle around your altar. If you are working a large ritual with many people outdoors you could set up a rather large circle. Sprinkle water, followed by salt, into the area of your circle in order to purify the space.
Sit quietly in your circle. Allow it to become filled with your own personal energy. Sit for as long as you feel necessary. Remember that magick is an intuitive art - so use your own intuition!
While sitting imagine your circle bathed in light. Select a colour appropriate for your magickal working. Allow yourself to absorb this light. Let it fill your circle. Let the circle absorb the colour. Imagine an opening in the circle through which the magick can exit. You should feel peaceful, calm, and at ease in your circle.
At this point you are ready to chant and use words to banish negative influences from your circle. You might call upon the appropriate Gods or Goddesses. You might wish to dance in your circle or act out the sort of energy you wish to fill the circle with.
Object may be used to outline the boundaries of your circle. You can draw your circle with your athame. You may call upon the 4 quarters. You may want to express the elements in the corners they are associated with.
Greater magick is anything which is a formalized ritual or ceremony. In greater magick one relies on more esoteric forces, whether internal or external. More often than not the actual workings of these rituals is but a mystery to the mage.
To atheistic Satanists greater magick is used to release emotions. Many atheistic magickians see the psychological benefits of practicing these mysterious arts. To them it is a psychoanalytical tool, and even astrology is something which many non-believers can see beneficial uses for.
I have studied astrology rigorously for many years, and indeed endorse this approach... but, at the same time I can see the mysterious ways in which what is outlined in a chart actually manifests.
COTI members are not affiliated with the Church of Satan, other than the fact that most members have drawn inspiration for Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible. I am a fan of LaVey's writing and live my life partially by his code of ethics. Throughout this site there will be references to Anton LaVey.
However, COTI is more a chaos magick based church. We believe in using whichever forms of greater magick the individual finds helpful. Each clergy member has their own unique approach to magick.
How To Prepare For A Magickal Working
The Ritual Bath
For our magick to work well for us it is best to be in a pure, non-dirty state. A ritual bath is often used to bring forth our internal virgin. Many magickians choose to work 'skyclad', or naked. This puts us in the most intimate position attainable with our choosen Gods or Goddesses.
When pouring the bath you should bless the water and allow it to be charged with your intent. Reflect upon that which you would like to create through the art of ritual magick. You may wish to lit a few candles in the colours appropriate to your magickal working....
Pink = Tranquility
Blue = Wisdom
Green = Self awareness
Red = Passion
Purple = Spiritual matters
Ingredients needed for a ritual bath should include homemade bath salts, candles in whichever colours are your desire, a large white candle, essential oil, and a large chalice of juice/wine/water.
First things first, get your white candle annointed. Rub your essential oil onto the candle and visualize that which you are requesting. You might even speak aloud to the Gods/Goddesses/Universe. Go ahead and do the very same with the other candles you plan to use. You might wish to pick up your trusty burine and inscribe a symbol or words onto the candles for a little extra magick power.
While running your bath sprinkle and mix in the bath salts. Focus your energies onto your intent. Know that your magick shall work and that you are embarking on a bright new adventure.
Light your candles and put them some place safe. Suck in the beauty of the atmosphere which fills the room.
Hop into the tub. Enjoy your bath. Know that your system is being cleansed out and your wonderful magick is about to come to fruition. Drink your lovely chalice of wine/juice/water.
Before getting out of the tub you might wish to thank the Undines for the pleasure you just partook in. The Undines are the spiritual beings which rule over the Element Water. Thank them and then keep your mind focused on your intentions.
Snuff out the candles as forcefully as you wish.
Making Your Own Bath Salts
This is a task which is absolutely as easy as pie. No need to be incredibly fussy. It is great fun to make your own bath salts. You will need epsom salt, baking soda, rock or sea salt, essential oils, herbs, and food colouring (if you want).
Some people don't much like using chemical. You may most certainly omit the food colouring. Colour may help set the mood and give a bit of a boost to the spell, but you don't have to use it. It certainly will not fuck your whole spell over if you don't use it.
You get a mixing bowl and toss in 3 parts epsom salt, 2 parts baking soda, and 1 part of rock or sea salt. Use your hands to mix this up. Let the powerful energies inside your being drift down through your finger tips. Feel your power and use it. At this stage you can also drop in the essential oil and food colouring.
You might wish to wear some gloves when mixing in the food colouring. Otherwise, your hands shall be stained with colour. Don't worry about your skin getting stained in the bath. The colour becomes so diluted in the water that it is not a concern in the least.
Next add the herbs. Grind them up nicely in a mortar and pestle. You may find that you will get large chunks of herbs stuck to your naked body after you finish your bath if the herbs are not finely ground. Mix everything thoroughly. Make sure that you are still using your hands and not a spoon.
Next you may want to lean forward. Sniff and inhale! Do you like the way your bath salts smell? Are they pleasing to your senses? If not, alter them in any way you desire and keep mixing and mixing. Use your intuition, for it very rarely lets a person down.
When your salts are ready you should probably add just 2 tablespoons to your bath. I generally like to add a lot more, but to each his own.
Casting A Circle
This is just one of many ways to protect yourself from unwanted forces during a magickal working. It is up to the magickian whether he wishes to cast a circle or not. You might have other rites you use like strengthening your auric shield through your own personal visualization and/or meditation(s).
The first is to cleanse your spirit of negative influences. You can do this through a ritual bath. This can be done through a meditation. It's up to you, so long as you feel very purified after you are finished.
It's always nice to try to dress in something a little out of the ordinary for a magickal working. Your choice would again be a personal one. You might choose to wear special ornaments or jewelery. You might have special clothes you set aside to wear for a magickal. My simple way of addressing the issue of attire is to imagine I am about to go out on a date with Prince Charming. I try to wear something special and flattering... or something I haven't tried wearing before that is in my wardrobe. Evening gowns can be a lovely choice for witches. It is all up to you as to how you wish to change your magickal working into a special ceremony.
The next part of casting a circle is to determine the amount of space which it takes up. You might want a small circle around your altar. If you are working a large ritual with many people outdoors you could set up a rather large circle. Sprinkle water, followed by salt, into the area of your circle in order to purify the space.
Sit quietly in your circle. Allow it to become filled with your own personal energy. Sit for as long as you feel necessary. Remember that magick is an intuitive art - so use your own intuition!
While sitting imagine your circle bathed in light. Select a colour appropriate for your magickal working. Allow yourself to absorb this light. Let it fill your circle. Let the circle absorb the colour. Imagine an opening in the circle through which the magick can exit. You should feel peaceful, calm, and at ease in your circle.
At this point you are ready to chant and use words to banish negative influences from your circle. You might call upon the appropriate Gods or Goddesses. You might wish to dance in your circle or act out the sort of energy you wish to fill the circle with.
Object may be used to outline the boundaries of your circle. You can draw your circle with your athame. You may call upon the 4 quarters. You may want to express the elements in the corners they are associated with.
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