Dire spells.

[silvermage]

Spells to my mind have, in our times at least, become far too focused on mundane matters. People summon angels demons and whatnot and ultimately for what? Regrow my hair? Help me make money? Can I have sex with him/her? Sure these things are all within our reach a practitioners of the arcane art regardless of the path we choose. However, why do we not seek greater powers more actively or seek to match the ancient masters? Moses parted a sea, which of us can honestly claim to be able to do that on demand? How about even changing a staff into a serpent? Merlin Emrys created a ward spanning the entire British isles, the effects of which can still be perceived in certain places (at least according to some friends of mine who live in London). So let us take our highest spells, our greatest workings and try to do better, this at least is my opinion on the way forward. In the spirit of this quest, I'll share one of my best spells, I'm sure there are plenty of variations on it but this one is mine. This spell will conjure rain, but not any old rain, quite literally a rain of holy water. A fair amount of power is required so depending on the path you follow extensive preparation would be required. The first step is to mark the area wherein you wish to affect your spell. I do this my marking storm sigils centered around Ansuz runes on stones (preferably fist sized and white) and placing them at the four cardinal points around the area, be it a home, village or city. Second, form a link between the four markers via spell or base energy-work, a clockwise flow from marker to marker should be established but only between the sigils. The sigils will already begin gathering the required power for the coming rain, however the Ansuz runes must be charged and compelled to project their energy toward the central area of the casting. Here place a scroll (parchment or paper, either is fine) marked with the "Helm of Awe" runic construct or a similarly powerful blessing. Spend a day infusing all the power you can manage into your work. Next a standard rain spell should suffice to draw the water bearing clouds into the area you have bespelled. As the first drops of rain begin to fall, burn the scroll and release its power upwards, drawing with it all that you have gathered into you sigil stones thus creating an upwards wave of positive energy but with the intent of blessing the rain. The effect is that since water is the primary element of change, it absorbs the positive energy released within the area and condenses it into a tangible form more able to affect the material plane. Whilst the effects are quite clear to any adept, they can be directly observed in the case of plants, areas damaged by pollution, areas of concentrated negative energy and the ill, whether human or animal touched by the water. The spell can be quite tricky to use but I've used on several occasions to great effect.

[Gaeus]

Your absolutely right. While I am not terribly experienced with magic, I definitely feel like people set the cap lower than it really is. I'm mostly interested in the more psionic like abilities and elenental magics because I want to be able to prove magic. I'm probably alone in my quest but I think a fireball would be enough proof people need ehh/ As I said, I'm not terribly competent in ceremonial magic or even with sigils but I'm definitely gonna give this a try. By the way, it would appear that this is multiple spells prepared simultaneously for a dire effect, versus just a plain ol dire spell. Either way, I'm with you!

[silvermage]

You are right Gaeus, one could consider it as several spells combined for greater effect, I however tend to think of it more as using pre-prepared components to facilitate a greater working. As to conjuring fire I'm sure someone somewhere has managed it but due to the general secretive nature of practitioners I doubt they'd share the method. I can part flame such as having to pass through a wall of it (a rather nasty incident with a burning field necessitated this) or manipulate a candle flame but that was just using a properly directed wind spell generally I'm useless at anything involving the direct use of fire. Here is another spell which has served me well over the years while not as grand as holy rain its still above the level of what one generally sees. I call it Forbidance, its a very powerful ward combined with elements from a binding. With this spell one makes an area, such as ones sanctuary (mine comprises a part of a local river spanning the length of about five football fields so the range is fairly large) totally inaccessible to anyone who does not carry a token that you have prepared. At the four corners of said area, place some part of yourself, I use sigils, but blood/spit/hair/semen should do fine though this would expose one to risk from rival practitioners. Next mark the corners with the runes Berkano and Ansuz. Do not yet charge these runes. Next proceed to the center of the area and mark it as your own using the Manaz rune surmounted by any runes or sigils of protection you favor, here again I use the 'Helm of Awe'. Around the central rune set angled Laguz runes opening a flow of energy towards the perimeter runes. Once done return to the perimeter runes and infuse them with power. This comprises the first layer of the casting which will power the external layer or barrier from the inside. Hereafter set the Dagaz rune at each corner just outside the line of your previous runes but strike each one through with the sign of Isa thereby creating the sign of the closed gate create four runestones bearing the sign of Laguz and place them at the midpoint between each of the struck Dagaz runes and charge them to channel the energies evoked from the initial layer of the casting into the barrier. As the spell is cast using your own essence it will prove no barrier to you, however none can enter save those who carry a token bearing the Dagaz rune and crafted by your own hand. Note that this spell can be countered using a Runic Compass. A true compass can only be crafted by a master of the runes so they are very rare thus reducing the risk to nearly nothing. In five years this spell has never failed me, therefore I feel quite confident in recommending it to anyone who needs this kind of protection. The next spell I'll share (if there is any interest of course) involves the river I mentioned earlier and how one can call water up from underground reserves by magic.

[Lucius]

Both of those spells are great- please do share the third one!

Is it possible perhaps to draw a diagram of the second spell please?

Overall, great spells! [thumbup]

What area of magic is this from, my gut instinct says ceremonial...?
Thank you,

[silvermage]

Hello Lucius, well the spells I use are for the most part my own creations drawn from different systems and remade through experimentation and singed fingers into my own admittedly rather strange method. Runes for the forces they represent and govern, Sigils to direct one's own will and power and a few modified laws from ceremonial magic to bring stability to what is created. (Being stupid enough to try anything once also seems to help in my case.) You are quite welcome to pm me if you'd like diagrams of my constructs but I'd need to email them to you since my blackberry doesn't seem to like uploading images to the forum. Now my third spell requires a little explanation. As mentioned above my sanctuary sit nicely on the bank of a river that runs right through town, its source being a spring some ways up a mountain just outside the municipal limits. Now, I've always believed that if you take care of the land, the land will take care of you so on one occasion about 8 years back when the river dried up (its not that big, more of a stream really but I love the place so in my mind its a river) I decided to intervene. I found an area in the middle of the streambed that directly faced the source and did the spell. To my great surprise (not to mention that of my apprentice at the time who rather freaked.) I got instant results. The spell is as follows. Before casting, a stone shaped more or less like a spear-point will be needed. If it can be found near the place of casting, all the better. Using willow charcoal inscribe on this stone the runes Othalla, Berkano and Laguz, signifying a renewed flow of energy from past or ancestral sources. Next cast the usual precautionary circle to guard against unwelcome influences. About the circumferance of this circle repeat the pattern of runes used on the spearpoint creating a second more active circle. The runes should then be charged as strongly as you can manage. Once this is done a certain eerie feeling should fill the area, as it does in most cases where strong magic is invoked. To further shape your intent and direct your will an invocation or chant can be used. Personally I simply used "Aqua ex terra, Aqua ex umbra, Voco tu." (Which is bad latin for "water from the earth, water from shadow, I call you"). Once the apex of power for your circle is reached finish with something along the lines of "Ad mihi" or "Ad hic locum" whilst piercing the earth at the centre of your initial circle with the spearhead stone. On my first casting the water had already started seeping slowly back during the chant so the last part was merely a closing to the spell, but if said water is more deeply underground with no ready passage to the surface the spearpoint should open the way (leave it when the water covers it, to provide an anchor for the lingering effects of the spell the ground themselves). Do not close the circle or dismiss the raised energies until the water you desire is flowing strongly. I've used this spell twice more over the years in the same location with similar results, thus I would label the method as quite reliable.

[Lucius]

Thank you very much, you're spells are really interesting.

I think I'll take you up on that and PM you [wink] [thumbup]