Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Casting a Curse

This article was originally posted on 10/19/2006 on the original version of this blog. It also alludes to the Ananael site, my other ritual magick site that is also currently down. Putting it online again gives me a new link to send out to folks who want to know how to cast curses. Let me emphasize that I am in no way encouraging anyone to start going around cursing people just because I am publishing this method - often it's a very bad idea.

Every so often I get an e-mail from someone who wants to know how to cast a curse against an enemy or somebody who has wronged them in some way. I had a pretty good Collection of Curses compiled by the alt.magick community years ago on my Ananael site, but what was missing from that collection is a formal ceremonial cursing spell. A while back I decided to write one, so that I would have something to send people who asked how I would go about doing it. Most of the people I have sent this to have found it to be "too difficult." I have a couple of responses to that.

Use a simpler curse. If the ceremonial system doesn't appeal to you or seems too complex, try using a different spell. Some of the curses in the collection are pretty simple and it is not necessarily true that a more complex ritual will be more powerful. In fact, a simple curse that you completely understand will usually be more effective than a complex one read haltingly from a script.

Did you think real magick would work anything like it does in Harry Potter? In the Harry Potter books and movies, you become a magician by (1) finding the right wand and (2) learning how to make a simple hand motion as you say one or two magick words. I've practiced for more than 20 years and I will say that I can often make magical effects work like that - now. It took a lot of years of practice to get there, though, and I still find that rituals using the proper forms are significantly more effective than the "quickie" magick that I can do without them.

Did you think you could do this without any work at all on your part? One of the common misconceptions about magick is that it is an easy way to solve problems. It isn't. Magick is like a martial art for your mind. It requires concentration, discipline, and dedication. If a mundane solution to a problem exists, that solution is usually easier than doing any kind of magick. Magick is more properly used when a simple mundane solution does not present itself, or when mundane solutions have already failed to resolve the problem.

These people usually respond by asking if they can pay me to cast the spell. Anyone considering this should consult the Ananael FAQ. I'm not in the business of casting spells for other people - at present I make plenty of money as a software developer, and I'm not interesting in involving myself in drama or conflict that doesn't concern me. Anyone who is determined to hire someone could try contacting Moloch at http://www.molochsorcery.com/. He advertises spell services on his web site and from his essays appears to be pretty knowledgeable about practical magick.

That being said, there are two basic ways to cast a curse and both are planetary in nature - Mars and Saturn. The magical power for Mars is "works of wrath and vengeance" while that for Saturn is "works of malediction and death." Malediction simply refers to any sort of negative influence, so Saturn can be used for a death spell or just to make someone unlucky for a day or two. It all depends on the charge given to the spirit - though as with all other magical effects, less likely outcomes are more difficult. A bad luck spell is pretty easy, while a death spell is rather difficult

I prefer to use Saturn for curses, simply because Mars is more violent and more concerned with making the target suffer. I don't personally really care if the target of a curse suffers - I'm casting the curse to resolve a problem and I just want it to go away. If I cast a curse so that an evil boss will no longer work for my company, it makes little difference to me whether that individual is fired over some traumatic scandal or gets a better job offer elsewhere and takes it. Either way, I no longer have to deal with them and that's what I care about.

The following ritual evokes the energy of Saturn for the purpose of sending a curse to a specific external target. The magical power associated with Saturn is “Works of Malediction and Death.” Thus, depending on the charge given to the spirit, this ritual can be used to send anything ranging from general bad luck up to and including death.

0. Basic Rituals

This ritual is written using standard Golden Dawn forms. There are three basic rituals that should ideally be committed to memory prior to attempting the entire rite. Ritual magick works by aligning the microcosm (your mind) with the macrocosm (the universe). Once the two are aligned, changes in the mind of the magician will influence whatever aspect of the universe is targeted by the magical operation. The three basic rituals used here are the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (microcosmic), the Lesser Invoking Ritual of the Hexagram (macrocosmic), and the Greater Invoking Ritual of the Hexagram for Saturn, which tunes the energy of the ritual to that of the planet. The Lesser rituals should be practiced daily for a week or so leading up to the actual rite. A curse of this nature should be performed on a Saturday, and if you possible during the hour of Saturn. I use ChronosXP to calculate planetary hours - it is a very nice program and even sits on your desktop, announcing each planetary hour as it arrives.

00. Temple Setup

When casting a curse it is important to pay attention to the setup of the temple. You will need a black circle on the floor large enough for you to stand in and extend your arms without crossing the edge. The traditional grimoires recommend nine feet in diameter, which is perfect if you have the space. If not, it can be smaller, but you want to make sure that every part of your body stays inside it for the duration of the ritual. You will also need a black equilateral triangle three feet or so on a side which is placed to the east of the circle with one of the points facing due east. It is vital that the circle and triangle are used in a ritual of this sort. A good way to make a temporary circle and triangle is to go to a party store and get a couple of rolls of black crepe paper. Then get some duck tape and tape the paper to the floor in the proper shape. This takes a little while but the effect is nice. When you’re done with the ritual, you can burn the paper, which is not strictly necessary (it can be thrown away too) but gives a stronger sense of closure to a rite.

There is only one way you can be hurt by a curse that you are summoning – if you try to cast it without the circle and triangle. Wiccans teach that magick follows something called the Threefold Law. They believe that if you cast something into the world it will “rebound” and affect you in the same manner as it affects the target. They also believe that it will affect you three times as severely. The “threefold” part of this is superstitious nonsense, but if you just use a circle without the triangle you can be affected in the same manner and to the same degree as the target.

Wiccans don’t generally use triangles in their rituals, so this effect is probably the origin of the Threefold Law doctrine. The problem is not that the spell rebounds or bounces, but that if you just use a circle you are putting yourself in the same “magical space” as the target and will be hit by the same current of energy. The triangle serves to put you and the target in separate magical spaces, so you can summon energy into the triangle without it affecting you in the circle. That’s a technical explanation, but the upshot of it is that you should make sure you use the circle and triangle, because otherwise bad things can happen to you.

When performing the ritual you will be standing in the circle. You will need to place a Magical Link in the triangle. This should be something that has a close connection to the target of the spell. A photograph works well, but make sure it’s a photograph of just the target and not anyone else. If necessary, cut the figure of the target out of a photograph of multiple people with a razor blade or x-acto knife and use that as your link. You can also use things like hair or fingernail clippings, but those are often hard to obtain. A photograph has the added advantage that you can draw the Characters for Saturn and the Intelligence and Spirit you will be summoning over the image of the target. You can also use a black candle placed in the triangle - it makes a nice focus for the conjuration.

I. Opening

Stand in the center of the circle, facing east.

Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.
Perform the Lesser Invoking Ritual of the Hexagram.

Combining these two rituals opens the Operant Field.

II. The Preliminary Invocation

Make the Sign of Apophis and Typhon (raise your arms above your head, forming a “V”). Say:

Thee I invoke, who art universe.Thee I invoke, who art in nature formed.Thee I invoke, the vast and the mighty.Source of darkness, source of light.

Then make the Sign of Silence. This sign is made by dropping your arms and placing your right index finger to your lips. Pause for a moment.

Then say:

Peh Resh Kaph Tau. The word is PAROKETH, which is the veil of the sanctuary. In and by that word (Make the Sign of Rending the Veil – put your arms in front of you with the backs of your hands touching, and then draw them apart as if opening a heavy curtain), I open the veil.

Pause for a moment, then vibrate:

ABRAHADABRA!

Make the Sign of Osiris Risen, crossing your arms over your chest like an Egyptian mummy. Visualize yourself and the entire circle permeated with glowing, golden light.

III. The Conjuration

Perform the Greater Invoking Ritual of the Hexagram for Saturn.
As you conclude with "Let the divine light descend!", visualize a column of dark purple light, almost black descending into the triangle and permeating the magical link. The circle remains bathed in golden light. You then begin to conjure the Spirit of Saturn. Vibrate the capitalized words.

ELOHIM, ELOHIM, ELOHIM. (el-oh-HEEM) Come unto me, God in BINAH (bee-NAH), the sphere of SHABBATAI (shah-bah-TYE). Send unto me TZAPHKIEL (tzaf-kee-EL), that great Archangel of thine, that he may answer my behest.

Pause until the presence of Elohim is perceived. If you don’t feel anything or see anything, wait three minutes or so before continuing.

TZAPHKIEL, TZAPHKIEL, TZAPHKIEL. (tzaf-kee-EL) Come unto me, great and mighty Archangel of BINAH (bee-NAH), the sphere of SHABBATAI (shah-bah-TYE). by the name of the great god ELOHIM (el-oh-HEEM). Send unto me AGIEL (ah-ghee-EL), that great intelligence of thine, that he may answer my behest.

Pause until the presence of Tzaphkiel is perceived. If you don’t feel anything or see anything, wait three minutes or so before continuing.

AGIEL, AGIEL, AGIEL. (ah-ghee-EL) Come unto me, thou bright intelligence of SHABBATAI (shah-bah-TYE), and answer my behest. In the name of TZAPHKIEL (tzaf-kee-EL) thy lord, compel the spirit ZAZEL (zah-ZEL) who is under thy dominion to manifest within this Triangle of Art.

Pause until the presence of Agiel is perceived. If you don’t feel anything or see anything, wait three minutes or so before continuing.

ZAZEL, ZAZEL, ZAZEL. (zah-ZEL) Come unto me, mighty spirit of SHABBATAI (shah-bah-TYE), and make manifest my behest. In the name of AGIEL (ah-ghee-EL) thy lord, come forth within this Triangle of Art that thou mayst wield the powers of the path of TAU (pronounced like it looks), the path of the planet Saturn.

Pause until the presence of Zazel is perceived. If you don’t feel anything or see anything, wait three minutes or so before continuing.

At this point, you deliver the charge to the spirit. Address it to Zazel. This is what you want the spirit to do. You need to write this part yourself, because it’s very personal. You should state what you want simply so that the spirit can’t twist your words around.

After the charge, pause for a moment before closing the temple.

IV. Closing

You then give the license to depart.

O thou ELOHIM (el-oh-HEEM) and thy ministers TZAPHKIEL (tzaf-kee-EL), AGIEL (ah-ghee-EL), and ZAZEL (zah-ZEL), because thou hast-diligently answered unto my demands, and hast been very ready and willing to come at my call, I do here license thee to depart unto thy proper place; without causing harm or danger unto man or beast. I charge thee to withdraw peaceably and quietly, and peace be ever continued between us. So mote it be!

Pause for a moment to give the spirits time to depart. Visualize the dark purple light in the triangle sinking into the magical link and vanishing.

Peh Resh Kaph Tau. The word is PAROKETH. In and by that word (Make the Sign of Closing the Veil – bring your hands together in front of you as though closing a curtain), I close the veil.

Give the Sign of Silence by putting your right index finger to your lip and visualize the golden light in the circle fading away.

Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. You’re done.

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27 comments:

Anonymous said...

93
Brother,

Your site, and this post, is fantastic. Keep the Work going. It is much appreciated by many of us who read your words.

93's

Unknown said...

Wait, I thought tzaphqiel was Jupiter. Shouldn't Saturn be qaphtziel?

Scott Stenwick said...

Assigning the archangels by sephira, Tzaphkiel corresponds to Binah, the sphere of Saturn, and Tzadkiel corresponds to Chesed, the sphere of Jupiter.

There are other lists of planetary angels from the various grimoires, though, that are different. For example, the Pauline Art assigns the planetary angels as follows:

Saturn - Cassiel
Jupiter - Sachiel
Mars - Samael
Sun - Michael
Venus - Anael
Mercury - Raphael
Moon - Gabriel

So if you were working with this schema, you could replace Tzaphkiel in the above script with Cassiel. The rest of the ritual would be unchanged.

Anonymous said...

All of this is noted and memorized!

Again I have a question :)

If I want to stop someone from doing something ever again, like a binding in witch terms, would it still require to use the black circle and triangle? Like the idiot neighbour from upstairs to stop making noise - I did some work on this issue and he stopped for a period of time after each ritual, but then returned to knocking away with his hammer.

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Almost forgot. I've read in different sources thatthe times when Mars is retrograde are not right for rituals of cursing and revenge, because the ritual will backfire and affect the one who cast the spell. Is that true? It maybe true for spells using Mars and it's logical, but I don't think it applies to spells using Saturn (since Saturn's sphere is higher on Tree), or does it? Even so, can that be avoided by using the circle and triangle?

Scott Stenwick said...

With a binding spell it depends on how it is constructed. Using the circle and triangle will prevent the effect you conjure from affecting you, but sometimes it doesn't matter. Like, let's say you cast a spell binding your target to behave like a decent human being. Do you really care if the spell nudges you in that direction as well? I wouldn't.

Astrological retrograde does not reverse spells, so the idea that a retrograde Mars would make a curse rebound is silly. I have a retrograde Mercury in my natal chart and those barely affect me at all, though they do seem to affect a lot of people I know. I do suspect, though, that unless your natal Mars is already retrograde, your curse won't work as well because retrograde periods can diminish the effective strength of the planet.

Incidentally, that same "reverse" nonsense also gets applied to Tarot cards. Up until pretty recently, nobody read a reversed card as having a reversed meaning. According to the Golden Dawn system, which is where decks like the Rider-Waite came from, an upright card is positively aspected - that is, stronger - while a reversed card is negatively aspected - that is, weaker. But the meaning of the card remains the same.

Anonymous said...

I think you're right, for both the binding stuff and Mars retrograde. I have acknowledged your answer and I will actc without having to take these things into consideration.

Thanks again for helping me get rid of unnecessary boundaries in my practices!

Anonymous said...

Now that i'm thinking about it, Mars retrograde acts more aggressive, so that would make such a ritual performed during that time, more powerful :)

Scott Stenwick said...

That might be one possibility, but I think it would depend on the spell and what exactly you are trying to do. Overall a retrograde planet is considered weaker, but some aspects - such as those related to past rather than future issues, for example - do seem to be strengthened.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm you're right about that too. A retrograde planet usually is weaker and/or influences on the inside, rather than the outside and also brings back past issues.

Yet I'm considering what some astrologists here are saying, that the following Mars retrograde from Sagittarius to Scorpio will be a hard one in terms of anger and aggression. Anyway, I think you're right and I'll go ahead with that kind of work even in Mars retrograde, if the opportunity rises. And if something bad happens to come my way after that, I always have the LBRP-LBRH to get rid of it.

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I hope it's not too late to ask you this, considering that I'm gonna perform this ritual in 24h.

If I'm going to invoke Saturn to lift at least some of my heavy mark, should I address it to the Spirit or the Intelligence? Or will the archangel be just right?

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

*heavy karma

Scott Stenwick said...

No, not too late. Sometimes the comments fail to show up as recent for a bit, but it looks like you just posted it.

I am not sure exactly what you mean by "heavy karma." If you mean it in the New Age "backlash" or "threefold law" sense, don't bother addressing it at all. That doesn't happen with magick in real life. Just conjure into a containment structure like a triangle or table of art and you'll be fine.

On the other hand, if you mean it in the more accurate Buddhist sense of eliminating old conditioning that you have built up over your life, though, the answer is that if you were working with the spirit and intelligence you probably would use the intelligence. Also keep in mind, though, that the archangel rules over both and is fully capable of passing your charge along to the appropriate one.

Anonymous said...

I mean karma in the Buddhist way, as observed over the years and researched in my natal chart. As I've said before, Saturn has been kind to me at his return, but i forgot to add that it is terms of my inner progress, while the outer circumstances keep getting harder. At least that's my perception of things and perhaps I should change it :)

Thank you!


Unknown said...

I know it's an 'Old as fuck' post, but it arised a particular question. This was the post that first introduced me to your blog, and now re-reading it I find you don't use (At least for the template here given) a 'specific' invocation for this operation, as in for example the orphic hymns given during your more recent planetary work. Do you find it makes a big difference? Is there a particular reason for omitting it here? I myself have never done a planetary or path work without a 'specific' invocation, hence my question.

Many thanks :)

Scott Stenwick said...

The simple reason is that back when I was first working with these, I did not use the Orphic Hymns or anything like them. I was actually introduced to the idea by Rufus Opus, as I mentioned in my latest Planetary Work series. I used to do all the space tuning with just the ceremonial forms, and then do the conjuration.

Rufus and I don't use the Orphic Hymns exactly the same way. I use them as a devotional counterpoint to the ceremonial tuning done with the Greater Ritual of the Hexagram. Rufus, on the other hand, uses them more like statements of intent for ongoing devotional work.

Basically, I do think that adding a devotional component to the rituals helps them work better. You can do planetary rituals without them, of course, and I did for a long time.

Fr. V.e.L.V.X said...

I notice that the Godname used in the example is Elohim rather than YHVH Elohim, why is this?

Scott Stenwick said...

Because this is a really old post. The planetary work posts are more up to date, and reflect how my ritual work has evolved over the years. Here's closer to how I would cast a curse like this today:

https://ananael.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-planetary-work-saturn.html

The one thing I might still use that I have in this ritual but not in my more recent one is that I might call in the Intelligence and/or Spirit in addition to the Angel.

At any rate, the godnames for Saturn from Liber 777 are YHVH Elohim (sephira) and AB (path). YHVH Elohim is more appropriate for mystical work and AB is more appropriate for practical magick, as per Column V.

Marco Gemelli said...

Dear Mr. Scott,
my name is Marco and I'm italian boy interested in Magik and esoteric themes,so sorry for my bad english!Doing my research I discovered your blog and this post specially,quite old (so I'm not surprised if not will have an answer). The point is that, I read in this post about the cast a curse method this statement,"It is vital that the circle and triangle are used in a ritual of this sort." I wonder, why using the triangle is so vital if during the ritual we go beyond physically its borders? For example, a candle is placed inside this triangle and during the ritual we should light it, and to do this our arms must go beyond the triangle, Wouldn't there be the risk of "absorbing" the energies within the triangle through the arms? Thank you Scott, Best Regards
Marco

Scott Stenwick said...

There probably is not much of a risk as long as you do not physically touch anything in the triangle while the spirit is present. So in your example, if all you need to do to light the candle is touch a match or lighter to the flame, you won't be creating any sort of link to it.

If you are worried about it, though, set up everything ahead of time. Place the link to your target in the triangle, light your candle, pour out your offering, and then don't touch anything inside until the ritual is complete. I sometimes do this anyway, even though I have never run into a problem with passing my hand or arm over the space.

Note also that other containment structures besides the Lemegeton triangle can be used. I use my Enochian setup for this and treat the Sigillum as a containment structure, and have also used the Trithemian Table of Art that you can find illustrated in a lot of my other articles on practical rituals.

Marco Gemelli said...

Thank you so much!! Your answer is illuminating.. I think about it :)

Scott Stenwick said...

You are very welcome. There is a whole lot of superstition surrounding this subject, and a lot of it is just the result of people not knowing what they are doing. My feeling is that magical ethics and magical tech are two completely different things, and conflating the two just confuses the issue.

93 said...

Hello Scott,
In very glad you're here.
This spell seems intriguing regarding an ancient problem of mine. I think it may help but I have questions. My issue is complicated.

Many many years ago....much over a decade ago, some malicious people in specific magical community decided to make up some very terrible slanderous horrible things about me that has since affected me and harmed me in many communities. I don't have any idea why anyone would do that. Maybe I wore my smile backwards or forgot to cut my left big toe nail. I don't know.

Anyway, they spread terrible rumours about me then people propagated the lies and essentially all this crap has made a hard life for me....to this day.
Yes, even over a decade later these assholes and their lies still occasionally haunt me. And...they still slander me eventhough I don't see them any more.
When I forget about it, it comes back to bite me. I've recently been told of a recent incident of this. Geez.

What's worse, I never was able to find out exactly who these people are who are nor exactly what was said. All I know is that I've heard whispers and felt the consequences. I suspect at least 3 INFLUENTIAL MAGICKAL people (in that specific magic community (not the oto)) who may be part of the problem. Beyond that, I have no idea whom else is also responsible but there are more. They've made my life difficult until now.
By now, I'm very angry and I don't give a damn what happens to everyone responsible. But I want it stopped dead with no memory anywhere...as if it never happened. Except for justice rebounding on everyone responsible.

I was looking up greater hexagram rituals and then I found this. This looks promising but I need advice. How may I customize this to fit my situation? Or is there another totally different operation I should do? Any advice would be nice. Thank you.

Fyi, I've done daily rituals on and off for over a decade so I've probably built something up.
*Lbrp
*Lbrh
*Occasionally middle pillar & a couple other ones.
*I've been getting more serious in my daily rituals during the past few months and lately adding GIRP and WATCHTOWER to my stack 1-3 a week... (I'm still refining it.)

*I used to be member of oto (3rd degree) but I let my membership lapse.

I'm sorry for such a long question.
Thank you for your advice.

Scott Stenwick said...

First off, the comments here are moderated. That is why they do not post right away. I didn't do that for years, but it got to the point that there were so many spam posts on my popular articles that I had to do it. So there's no need to enter a comment multiple times. I have to log in and approve them before they show up.

You can conjure a spirit of Saturn to stop things. Saturn rules boundaries, endings, things like that. Justice, though, would be Libra. You can find that under The Zodiacal Work - Libra on here.

In your situation I probably would see about doing both - a Saturn operation to stop whatever is going on, and a Libra operation to get justice to rebound on the folks doing this.

As for daily practice - personally I don't recommend the LBRH as part of a daily practice regimen. If it works for you it works - that's my first rule - but I find that combining the LBRP and the LIRH to open daily practices is more effective. I recommend that you try it out and see if that's true for you as well. I always follow that combination with some sort of invocation of divinity like the Middle Pillar, since the opening rituals on their own just set up a space for working magick rather than doing much by themselves.

93 said...

Thank you very much, Scott.
Sorry for the really really really really really late reply. Lol.

Bishop said...

Is it logical to call the AHB God of Path of Saturn and Cassiel instead of Sephirotic Angel?
Why is the charge adressed only to Spirit?

Scott Stenwick said...

Because this is an old article that I posted before I had completely worked out the sephiroth/path distinction. You'll get better results with AHB and Cassiel along with the intelligence and spirit, like in the more recent version:

https://ananael.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-planetary-work-saturn.html