When making talismans, they are in the shape of patuas, awuré or guias,
precision, timing and virtue mediate the process. It can of course be as simple
as calling the spirit of rue for the purpose of protection and embed the
talismanic object with this virtue alone, and it will have some effect. If we
relate to Bruno and his discourse on the nature of magical bonds between material
magica of earth and the influence of stars and spirit we will end up with a
precise construct that contain as much virtue as possible.
One example is the construction of a guia made for the sake of
protecting the wearer from spirit intrusion. Before making such guia or
talisman we need to assess the nature of the request. In this particular case
it was both about the person being highly receptive to spiritual influences and
had little control in keeping out spirits. It was like the spirits invited
themselves in disregarding any invitation or denial to enter from the person in
question.
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| Guia made for the purpose of warding of spirit intrusion |
At the first point we need to contemplate what an intrusion of spirit is
and what material magica can be used to bring a halt to the intrusion,
something that says ‘stop’. Iron, rue and sea salt would be natural choices for
the warding off itself, but in extension of the protective element a piece of
mirror, for reflective purposes and red choral for its property of warning was
included. The strings of the guia were made on a Thursday in the hour of Mars,
calling both of these potencies with appropriate incense and fire, bringing in
the influences of protection and dominion. Not only this Thursday is a day
important for the aesir Thor and Scandinavian folklore often advices us not to
do any work on this day, in particular nothing that involves round things. And
so, we invited in a breaking of boundaries in working with rounded beads and
making a necklace. This act was not done as a provocation, but as a statement
to the forces of this day to respect the bond that was made, which is why snake
bones were invited in as a break in the rhythm, both in capacity of its own
protective virtue, but also because of the association the aesir Thor holds
with snakes in the shape of Jormudngandr. The charge was placed in a sea shell because
of its capacity of securing what is held and a bell, to ward off intrusions and
a silver anchor was added and the sealed with Breu Branco (Protium heptaphyllum),
a resin that holds powers of exorcism and healing. The talisman was then placed
overnight in the Igba Oya (the shrine of orisa Oya) to benefit from these
potencies of a warioress that sets boundaries.
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| A guia made for the combined purpose of healing and protection |
Another case is a talisman/guia for health and protection where Tuesday
and Moon hour was elected for stringing the beads. Certainly, choosing Moon can
be risky, as her waxing and waning phases do have an effect on health. We
choose however St. Johns day in a waning Moon, three days prior to her
blackness. For protection and healing we worked with the spirit of lavender,
classic repellent of poison and enemies along with rue and the magical powder
called waji. Waji is a blue pigment, but it carries the virtue of fire and
strength, being a good choice for inviting strength of health into the
combination of material magica expelling poison and casting off poisonous
animals.
The charge was gathered in a
snake head cowry given its association with protection and firmness and sealed
with Breu branco and then consecrated at the feet of Exu Omolu, lord of
sickness and dominion, in whose honour the yellow beads were also added.
In this way the power of all kingdoms, celestial, vegetal, mineral and
animal were combined to embed in the talismanic guia as much virtue from all realms
possible to give.
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