Devotional art of grand Lady Leto and Her blessed twins (inspired by Her statue)
“What is, is always a totality of ensembles, all present together, in an orderly series of stages of enfoldment and unfoldment, which intermingle and interpenetrate each other in principle throughout the whole of space.” David Bohm
In the 80s, theoretical physicists first observed the paradoxical behavior of subatomic particles known as quantum entanglement, or “spooky action at a distance” as Einstein called it. This phenomenon has been observed whereby the properties (quantum states) of a set of particles will never be independent of each other, regardless of distance, after they have interacted. This observation would be like taking a set of twins, dying one’s hair black, and then discovering that regardless of where the twins were located, the other’s hair turned black instantaneously as well. Spooky! This property of non-locality could not be explained by the current theory of quantum mechanics, so many physicists proposed their own respective models to explain the observations.
The theory of implicate order, and its counterpart explicate order, were detailed by physicist David Bohm in his book Wholeness and Implicate Order in 1980. Implicate order theory provides a model of the universe as an “unbroken wholeness of the totality of existence as an undivided flowing movement without borders" in which space and time as we observe them are merely derivatives (unfolded, explicate order) of the deeper reality. It sounds complex, but Bohm provides an illustrative example:
Imagine a fish in a tank with two separate cameras recording from two separate angles and projecting onto two separate screens. Now imagine you can only see the tv screens and not the actual fish; two 2D models (explicate orders) of a 3D objective reality (implicate order). By observing only the 2D models, one can discern that the “two” fish are somehow interrelated: when the fish on screen A moves 90 degrees, so does the fish on screen B, etc. It is not that one screen is causing the changes on the other screen, just that all of the image content on one screen correlates with the other.
If we scale up the fish example to our observed universe, we might say that our 3D world defined by space and time is merely a lower dimensional model of a higher dimensional reality ie. the implicate order. What if the twins were never really twins? The “two” particles we compare in the quantum entanglement experiments may simply be an artifact of how our current explicate reality has temporarily unfolded, leaving us looking at one deeper reality on two screens.
Along with observations regarding quantum entanglement came other observations about… well… observation itself. The classic example of this is the double-slit experiment, in which single photons are allowed to pass through two parallel slits in a screen and the resulting pattern formed is recorded. This experiment is best known for its conclusion of the particle-wave duality of light:
“Sending particles through a double-slit apparatus one at a time results in single particles appearing on the screen, as expected. Remarkably, however, an interference pattern emerges when these particles are allowed to build up one by one.” The Fabric of the Cosmos, Brian Greene
When behaving as waves, single photons simultaneously pass through both both slits and then meet again (interfere) at the other side of the barrier.
In one variation of this experiment, conducted by the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1998, researchers built a tiny detector which was able to observe which one of the two slits the particle went through. And here’s where things get interesting for us (my emphasis added)…
“Once an observer begins to watch the particles going through the openings, the picture changes dramatically: if a particle can be seen going through one opening, then it’s clear it didn’t go through another. In other words, when under observation, electrons are being “forced” to behave like particles and not like waves. Thus the mere act of observation affects the experimental findings.” Source
By observing the photons as they pass through the two slits, we are forcing the collapse of the wave function itself, turning a wave of probability into a point of certainty.
When we combine David Bohm’s Implicate Order and the nature of wave interference patterns, we come to Holonomic Brain theory of quantum consciousness developed in collaboration between Bohm and neuroscientist Karl Pribram. As opposed to Conscious Mental Field theory, which I discussed in my previous Science of Magick post here, Holonomic Brain theory models the brain as a holographic storage network. In this framework, the non-locality of memory is viewed as an inherent property of the system, since all parts of a hologram contain the whole of the stored information.
“Holography relies upon wave interference. If two wavelengths of light are of differing frequencies, they will interfere with each other and create a pattern… The hologram illustrates how “information about the entire holographed scene is enfolded into every part of the film.” It resembles the Implicate Order in the sense that every point on the film is “completely determined by the overall configuration of the interference patterns.” Even a tiny chunk of the holographic film will reveal the unfolded form of an entire three-dimensional object. Source
In essence, this theory proposes that the totality of human consciousness is enfolded into a neural hologram, making it a sub-implicate order of reality. In fact, Bohm posits that there are infinite sub- and super-implicate orders, where higher orders organize lower orders and are also influenced by them.
To summarize the main conclusions under these frameworks thus far:
1. Implicate Order is a hidden, all-encompassing, higher-dimensional reality which we observe only through a lower-dimensional projection (explicate order) dependent on space and time.
2. Events that are observed can be changed by the act of observation. In choosing to observe one possible quantum state, the observer defines it as such. (It’s our choices, Harry….)
3. Consciousness exists as a sub-implicate order, which is organized by and exerts influence on super-implicate orders.
Implicate Order provides a mechanism for magick. The basic definition of magick within the Chaos paradigm is the act of imposing one’s will on reality, ie. using your mind to create change in the world around you. Sorcery is performed using visualization techniques to focus the subconscious mind on a desired outcome, such as in Austin Osman Spare’s sigil methods. The practitioner, in an altered state of consciousness, visualizes the reality they desire and manifests it into reality. Using the frameworks we have discussed, we can translate this definition into the following statement: Magick is the practice of defining a certain state of reality by encoding observational information within the sub-implicate order of consciousness which is then decoded within the Implicate Order and manifested in the explicate order of our observed reality.
It is interesting to note that David Bohm himself experienced a paradigm shift during his career. The results from his own work lead Bohm down a rabbit hole into the realms of spiritualism and philosophy, which drew criticism from his contemporaries regarding his reputation as a physicist. However, as a chemist and a chaos witch, I find his embrace of the overlap between hard-science and metaphysics relatable and inspiring.
“Consciousness is much more of the implicate order than is matter… Yet at a deeper level [matter and consciousness] are actually inseparable and interwoven, just as in the computer game the player and the screen are united by participation.” David Bohm
Everyone say thank you american indigenous people for cultivating corn, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cacao, pumpkin, squash, and anything i missed. Makes life more meaningful globally
When I say "connect with nature" I don't just mean the aesthetic forests with deer and beautiful flowers.
I mean the weeds growing through concrete, the fungus that grows on the rotten shed, the nettles that always seem to return and the scary, spindly cellar spider in the corner of the bathroom.
Nature is not always pretty or magical - the pigeons and seagulls you swat at are nature too, the wasps and flies that hover by your meals are animals too, store-bought strawberries and the leaves that fall from your neighbour's tree are not all that different from the Giant Sequoias and it's seeds.
If you want to connect and understand nature, I mean *really* connect to it, in it's entirety, you have to seek out and learn about the ugly, scary and mundane things as well. You don't have to like it, just don't forget that it's there.
the wicked movie teaches important moral lessons like "be bisexual in college" and "don't trust politicians" and "if you push someone who's in a wheelchair without their permission, someone might throw a bench at your head with their mind"
This is a list I have compiled and have created. With the herbs, they must be negatively charged, just like anything else. Tell them what to do and charge them with your intent. Herbs have polarity, they can heal but they can also hex.
BANEFUL HERBS
Angelica root - misery, strife, distress
Asafoetida - drives enemies away
Bayberry - depression
Blueberry - confusion, strife
Catnip - distraction, loss
Cayenne - anxiety
Chickory - to sow discord
Chili powder/flakes - discord, spicy misery
Clove - stop gossip
Dahlia - bad luck, loss
Foxglove - causes, nightmares, vanity
Gardenia - seal their love life
Ginger - bitterness
Hemlock - discord, misery
Ivy - binding
Lavender - depression, insomnia
Lotus - depression
Mandrake - misery, strife
Mint - visions, nightmares
Mistletoe - serious harm, anxiety, confusion
Mugwort - nightmares, hallucinations, paranoia
Mullein - nightmares
Nightshade - nightmares, anxiety, sickness
Onion - strife
Poppy seeds - discord, nightmares
Rose - tempt into cheating
Rosemary - nightmares, insecurity
Rue - misery
Spanish moss - bad luck, binding
Tobacco - substitute for (most) any baneful herb
Vetiver - silence
Wormwood - misery, strife
OTHER INGREDIENTS Glass shards - reflect transgressions, to cause harm
Sharp objects (pins, needles, thumb tacks, thorns, etc) - damage, cause harm
Rusty nails - cause harm
Glitter - make their problems stick to them
Price tags - Debt, financial troubles
Dead battery - drain their energy
Vinegar - to sour, to rid yourself of them
Charcoal - block their vision, lack of clarity
Hot sauce - spicy misery
Cover hex jar with tin foil - make victim feel isolated and alone
Googly eyes - evil eye, to make them always feel watched, paranoia
Agar or Pectin - stick their problems to them, cause them stagnation
dog/cat shit - to shit on their life (energetically sever the connection to your pet though)
Cigarette butts - to cause addiction and troubles
Salted earth (just combine hydrophobic soil and salt) - dry up their resources, cause infertility
Nasty bong water - it's gross, need I say more?
Dog hair - fear, anxiety
Urine - to sour
Citric Acid - to pucker, to get them to stfu.
Pro-tip: use ingredients your target is allergic to. This can really help make a powerful hex, especially if they are allergic to nuts and go into anaphylactic shock or have any other extreme adverse reaction.
Any herb CAN be used banefully. Any crystal CAN be used banefully. First see what the herb/crystal is used for and, well, reverse it. Love => loneliness/loss of love. Peace => paranoia. Dream work => nightmares. Mental Clarity => delusions. All you need to do is negatively charge them. Tell them what to do and focus your rage and hate into the herbs/crystals to charge them up.
For more information on baneful ingredients, spellwork, and other herbs' uses, check out The Cobalt Athenaeum discord server!
“CONNECTING WITH THE LAND
Go somewhere you know well. Someplace that calls to your bones and stirs your blood, whether that's a forest clearing, a pasture, a churchyard, or a mountain trail. “Betwixt” places such as crossroads, the place where three creeks meet, a river between two mountains, the base of a tree grown into three, or a mountaintop are especially good spots to help bring you “between” times and places. Ponder what took place here. How many footprints do you now follow? How many forgotten graves lay beneath the red clay? How many bones has this soil devoured?
Feel the presence of the place. This is the spirit of the land. While few speak of the spirit as having form, it is likely to appear as an animal, a cluster of summer gnats in the sunlight, or a whisper on the breeze. Those with the sight are more inclined to see them; some have reported the spirit of the land lives in the trees themselves and is a simple voice that speaks from an unknown source, while others say it takes the form of giants that make their residence in the mountaintops or the rocks by the rivers. Many of them are left without a name because, much like this work, they're too old for those things or anyone living today.
When you find where your roots are nourished, give an offering to the land. The Cherokee gave corn, tobacco, and blood. The Irish gave bread, butter, and sweet things. Today's Appalachian workers give tobacco, food, hard candy, whiskey, coins, and old cheap jewelry. Sit with the land and feel your surroundings. Walk about and familiarize yourself with the hills and rocks and trees.
Don't expect them to be accepting of you right away, or at all, really. As with any other friendship, it takes time to become familiar with each other and sometimes it will never grow. Some of these land spirits simply wish to be left alone and unbothered by humans. Who could blame them, after the blooddrenched history they have witnessed in these hills? The spirit of a place is simply someone who has taken up residence on that land, meaning it could be a little person, or a haint, or it could simply be made up of the events that occurred there. For example, a bridge known for suicides wouldn't be a good place to start, as it would contain the spiritual traits of its distinguished events.
It will take many times of showing up, giving an offering, and simply presenting yourself before any presence will be shown. Because not all spirits have your best interest in mind, I'd reckon you ought to carry three used horseshoe nails on you: one around your neck and two under the soles of your shoes. It's quite an odd thing to try and do, but with a handy pocketknife you can pry the soles up just enough to slide a nail under it right at the heels. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but horses have always been regarded in Appalachia as being able to see and protect from haints.”
3: ‘Barefoot Wandering’
by Jake Richards
In Greek mythology, there are various personified spirits called daimones. Eventually this word evolved into what we now know as “demon” (a word with negative connotations), but daimones weren’t necessarily “evil” spirits. Most of these daimones are the children of Nyx, Eris, or Zeus. In general, the daimon children of Zeus are personifications of morally good concepts, while the children of Nyx and Eris represent the malevolent forces which plague humans. Some daimones (like Hebe, the goddess of youth, or even Eris herself) were full fledged gods, while others were mere personifications with no mythology or cult.
Moros: the personification of doom (the force which drive humans toward inevitable death). Prometheus saved mankind from misery by taking away the foresight of our own doom (Moros) and replacing it with Elpis (hope).
Keres: female spirits of violent or cruel death. One of the Keres, Akhlys, was the goddess of deadly poisons and the death-mist which clouds the eyes of mortals before death.
Hypnos: god of sleep, husband of Pasithea (relaxation)
Thanatos: god of peaceful or non-violent death. As the twin brother of Hypnos, he represented the eternal slumber of death.
Oneroi: spirits of dreams, they were sometimes considered the children of Hypnos rather than Nyx. Their leader was said to be Morpheus, a man who appeared in the dreams of kings bringing messages from the gods.
Nemesis: goddess of righteous indignation and deserved retribution against those with too much good fortune. She represented the balance of good and bad fortune.
Hesperides: spirits of the evening sunset. They were sometimes called the daughters of Atlas.
Momos: mockery, blame, complaint, and harsh criticism. Zeus expelled him from heaven for criticizing the gods.
Oizys: female spirit of misery, woe, distress, and suffering
Apate: female spirit of deceit, guile, and fraud
Philotes: friendship and affection. She may have also been the spirit of sexual intercourse.
Geras: male spirit of old age
Eris: goddess of strife. She is the mother of a host of malevolent spirits of war.
Moirai: the fates were sometimes called daughters of Nyx, although more often they were the daughters of Zeus and Themis.
Anaideia: ruthlessness and unforgiveness
Adikia: injustice and wrong-doing
Adephegia: gluttony
Aergia: idleness, laziness, and sloth
Alastor: counterpart of the Erinyes who punished the family of murderers
Aporia: powerlessness
Lyssa: mad rage, fury, rabies
Epiales: nightmares
Dolos: trickery, cunning deception, and craftiness
Koalemos: stupidity and foolishness
Kakia: vice and immorality
Epiphron: prudence, shrewdness, and careful consideration
Phyge: flight, escape, retreat, and exile
Phrice: horror, she is a more severe counterpart of Deimos and Phobos.
Phthisis: wasting away, perishing, and decay
Hubris: insolence, violence, reckless pride, arrogance, and outrage. Her son, Koros, represented insolence and disdain
Dyssebia: impiety, sometimes called the mother of Hubris.
Amekhania: helplessness and want, sister of Penia and Ptokheia
Ptokheia: beggary, sister of Amekhania and Penia
Penia: poverty and need, sister of Amekhania and Ptokheia
Eleos: mercy, pity, compassion
Sophia: wisdom
Elpis: hope. She was the last spirit that remained in Pandora’s box, representing humanity’s hold on hope in the face of all of these terrors. Her daughter, Pheme, was the personification of rumor, report, and gossip.
Sophrosyne: moderation, self-control, temperance, and restraint
Phthonos: jealousy and envy, especially in the context of love
Nosoi: male spirits of plague, sickness, and disease
Maniai: spirits of madness, insanity, and crazed frenzy
Arai: female spirits of curses (this is where I got my URL)
Poinai: spirits of vengeance and punishment
I got a LOT of these from @afledglings-guideto-witchcraft when they answered an ask I sent in, that blog is a fantastic place for information whether you've been practicing a few days or a few years imo.
I've been posting a lot about trying to find information on this subject and now I've gotten a good list compiled in a google doc and figured I'd share it with y'all, feel free to add on your own notes or just any commentary you have or experiences you've had using certain ingredients. I'm using some of these to make a hex jar to try and help a friend out with a shitty abusive household, which I might post more about if y'all would be interested in it, or if I just feel up to it.
Black pepper: bad luck, punishing negative energies
Pickle juice: to bring sourness
Broken glass: cutting ties, warding off negative energies, pain
Black salt: banishment
Thumb tacks: pain and suffering
Rotten tea/anything moldy: for detriment on their life
Hot peppers: pain, irritation, burning, anger
Garlic: disgust and repulsion
Dead matches: to drain energy
Salt: to intensify wounds, to sting, to keep someone away
Mustard seed: strife and discord
Onion: breaking relationships/habits/etc, strife
Lemons: causing pain (think lemon juice on a cut), souring a relationship, or any good luck the target has been receiving lately.
Rusty Nails: can be stabbed into lemons, or added to sour jars/hex jars. Pins the hex/curse to the target.
Vinegar: souring, dissolves relationships
Poppyseed: intoxication and confusion
Alum: stops communication/speech.
Small pickles: male impotency
Beet pickles: female hormonal problems
Thick mud: darkness, suffocation, feeling trapped
Feces/urine: to make their life nasty
Black candle wax or strings: binds the curse to the target
Coffee: insomnia
Tea: lethargy/oversleeping
Gravel: Being crushed and stepped on by life and the people around you
Don't ever let anyone tell you you are a bad person or you're going to get hurt if you practice baneful magic at all no matter what. The threefold law is a rule that Wiccans follow, no one else is obligated to believe in it, I respect people who believe in it and they should respect people who don't. Always make sure to judge a situation very carefully and use this magic appropriately.
And, very very important, research on how to protect yourself from a spell backfiring (because you can get hurt), make sure that your intention is very focused on your specific target(s), and, if you're doing something similar to what I'm doing, do something (protection jars, spells, etc) to protect other people around this person or people from the effects of the jinx, hex, or curse. Oh and if you're casting a spell on someone else who practices witchcraft, make sure you know the signs if they deflect the spell back onto you and try and do what you can to prevent that from happening.
a couple new enamel pins! really excited about this series - eda, raine and more to come soon!
system of 30+ want to start posting here and Instagram but we will see 🤷
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