How to Self-Defend with Magick

As magicians, it’s important to study the area of self-defense carefully since we have considerable power and force. The inappropriate use of that power and force can cause Universal backlash. We must be especially careful to control our tempers and not use our abilities reactively. According to Western magical practice, “You have a right to be here and follow your own path so long as you hinder no one else in doing likewise.” This foundational principle asserts our right to exist and follow our own path and by extension, our right to defend ourselves against those who might seek to prevent us from walking our path. As you grow in magical ability, you will inevitably attract beings on different levels that seek to interfere with your path in some way. 

Here’s a good rule of thumb to use when it comes to self-defense: “In cases of direct and violent personal harm you are entitled to defend yourself by any means available, provided you did nothing to encourage or provoke the attack.” Let’s break that rule down into its component parts to study it in greater detail.

1. Direct: Upon your body, mind or spirit. A direct threat in a spiritual, magical and shamanic context includes attempts by any outside force or influence to drain your energy or impose their will upon you.
2. Violent: Anything that’s damaging to your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual well being. It doesn’t matter what the attacker’s intentions are, or whether he or she “means” to harm you. Remember, Rules of the Road states that the Universe does not care what a person intends to do, only what a person actually does.
3. Encourage: Creating or permitting unnecessary opportunities for a known hostile being to attack you.
4. Provoke: Being excessively pushy when you know someone has a sore spot or is under a lot of internal or external stress.
5. By Any Means Available: Using any means you choose to defend yourself when attacked. As long as the other parts of the above self-defense rule are met, the Universe does not care whether your response is excessive. In many spiritual systems, it is actually considered a crime to not defend yourself appropriately. In doing so, you are enabling the perpetrator to NOT learn spiritually appropriate behavior; therefore, prolonging his or her lack of growth. In general, any infringement on your sacred psychic or emotional space gives you the right to defend yourself.

We hope this helps you guys understand a little bit better when and where it is appropriate to use Magick to defend yourself. Learn how to defend yourself magickally by taking our Magickal Self Defense Course!

The Magick of Dayenu

    Today we will be teaching everyone the “Magick of Dayenu.” Roughly translated, Dayenu means "it would have been enough" or "it would have sufficed." This message opens the door to new blessings coming your way. People who are sincerely happy in spite of difficult situations are practicing the art of Dayenu. They look around at their world and say, "This is enough. This is good. We are happy." Or, to take Dayenu one step further, they say, "Not only is this enough, but the step before this would have been enough." Dayenu specifically says, "It would have been enough," not "it is enough." So the truly happy people who practice Dayenu look at their lives and accomplishments and say, "It would have been enough, and we can be happy, even if we did not get as far as we are now ... even if we had stopped at the achievement or happy moment before this one."

    Here is a real-life example of using the art of Dayenu. I have two friends who continually amaze me—they are married, so maybe that has something to do with why they are so happy. Both were hit one year with acute and chronic physical problems, which not only caused them a lot of pain, but also prevented them from doing a lot of work and earning the same income they usually do. The following year, they recovered somewhat from their physical problems, although they still had many doctor visits and healthcare bills. But they were incredibly, oddly, amazingly happy. I asked them, “What makes you so happy? So much has happened to you." They reply, "Yes, it has ... good, bad, ugly, and back to good. Look at where we live. It's a chunk of Heaven! That's enough. Just having this place to live is enough.” Explaining further, they tell me that their physical problems have forced them to have down time, which they would never normally take. They have spent this time with their horses, enjoying their land, and NOT working. They used to live in a big city and had to pay big bucks to relax with the help of massages and therapists, and so on. Now, living in the country, they can relax for free. If they had nothing else but this land, they said, it would have been enough. Do they have physical pain? Yes. Have they had to cut back on expenses? Yes. Do they still have bad days? Of course. But overall, they are living in the magick of Dayenu. On balance, they look for the happiness that comes from acceptance of current conditions, and appreciation of all that has come before that. They understand that even if nothing else good occurs in their life, all that has been in their life thus far “would have been enough.” This is the real definition of the word “Dayenu”. The beauty of Dayenu is that by living in appreciation of all that was good that has come before now, we always attract greater good into our future. Bumps in the road notwithstanding, appreciation of the past and acceptance of the present always (always!) leads to future good. It can be no other way.

If learning about The Magick of Dayenu interested you, feel free to check out the rest of these recipes in the B is for Blessing Magick book in our Kitchen Table Magick series. 

Manifesting Money into Your Life

 Often times, the best ways to invite positive energy or money into your life is through manifestation. One of these common ways is through the act of meditation! We will be teaching you how to complete the “Walking Meditation” ritual to help you with your Money Magick! If you enjoy, be sure to check out more of our Money Magick recipes!

Ingredients

• A place to walk each day at least the length of 2 city blocks (preferably outside).
• The time to not feel rushed on your walk.

Recipe Directions

1. Decide for how long or for how far you will walk each day.
2. On the first part of the walk you will do the talking. You can talk to your guides, your totems, your angels or the Universe in general. Talk about what’s on your mind, what’s going on in your life, or what you want or need. Talk about anything that’s important to you or that you need help with.
3. When you reach the halfway point in your walk, it is time for you to listen. Take in everything your guides or the Universe are trying to express to you. Feel your feelings, feel the sensations in your body, hear the sounds around you, smell the smells, and take in the sights. Be aware of any thoughts or feelings that come to you. Allow the magick to flow to you by becoming an instrument of listening and absorbing.

This recipe will help you develop a deeper connection and relationship with the Universe and the higher in yourself which will increase your trust and certainty that spiritual helpers are on your side.

Removing the Barriers to Love

Wanting to get to the love of your life this Valentines Day? Here is a recipe that will teach you how to remove the hidden blockages to your life. If you want to learn more about having a successful Valentines Day this year, check out Love Magick!

Ask Spirit of Owl: Remove Hidden Blockages to Love

Time Required: 45 minutes

Ingredients Needed:

• A quiet place free from distractions
• Paper and pen optional to write down discoveries throughout the day

Recipe Directions:

1. Say aloud or in your mind, "Spirit of Owl, I request your help."
2. Wait a few moments until you feel the presence of Owl (no more than a few seconds). Even if you are not able to feel the presence of the Spirit of Owl at this point, just know that Owl always appears when someone requests their presence and help.
3. State your request. For instance, if you need help seeing why you keep having negative love relationships, you might say, "Owl, please come with me today and show me what is causing these negative relationships in my life. Please show me in a way that I can clearly understand. Thank you in advance for your help." Appreciation is very important to this process. Appreciation before, during, and after the process is one of the best ways to honor a Spirit guide such as the Spirit of Owl.
4. Keep an open mind to what Owl will show you. Owl will ride with you on your shoulder, whispering in your ear, giving you knowing and understanding where before you had only blindness and confusion.

Grind the Negative Energy Out of Your Life

If you ever wanted to undo a mistake that you made or get rid of bad energy in your life, we have a solution for you. There is a stone called the Hematite stone which is a type of grounding stone that can be used to pull and attract the bad energy away from your life. It deepens your connection with the Earth and dumps your negative energy into the stone. If you found this ritual enjoyable, check out more Undoing Magick recipes in our eBook!

Grounding Stone Recipe

Time Required: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• A sample of hematite
• (Optional) paper and pencil or pen to write Directors, Limiters, and verses
• Material made of natural fiber or a small bag made of natural fiber

Recipe Directions

1. Hold the hematite stone in your dominant hand (the hand with which you naturally point).
2. Focus on the problem or issue that you want to undo in your life and flow those unwanted energies into the hematite stone. This is not a thinking exercise. Just will it, feel yourself pushing that energy out into the stone, and it will happen.
3. When the stone feels tingly or warm, you have grounded the unwanted energies into the stone.
4. Wrap the stone in a natural material, like cotton or wool, or place in a small bag made of natural material to store it safely.
5. Put it away in a safe place where no one will find it and open it or bury it in the ground deep enough that it will not be found.