Clothes Make the Mage

Virginia Postrel: On Glamour

I want to talk about a tool with the potential for influence that is often overlooked in conversation on sorcery, that being personal style and presentation. I recently discovered an older lecture on "Ted Talks" by Virginia Postrel about Glamour. I would like to touch upon a few of the points that she made and expand upon them here. First let’s look at her definition of glamour:

"Any calculated, carefully polished imaged designed to impress and persuade."

Many magical operations are designed to impress and persuade. I some cases the spell has been directed at an individual that the worker is attempting to persuade or influence in some way. Attention given to personal glamour can be a deciding factor in the outcome of that working. Studies have shown that most people make a decision about a new acquaintance within the first thirty second to two minutes of interaction. It is within your power to influence that decision not only with magical action, but with a carefully crafted image, as well as communication skills.  This naturally applies to interactions of both a personal and professional nature.

When I was in New Orleans this past fall at the Folk Magic Festival, one of female attendees of the festival approached me and commented on how I was "The most elegantly dressed man there". I don't say this to brag, because trust me when I say that I won't be featured in a Calvin Klein ad anytime soon. After she made the comment I began to try and explain to her that I consider personal image another tool of sorcery. She nodded her head in agreement, but it seemed clear that it had never occurred to her to utilize it as such. Some magicians will dismiss the notion of mastering glamour as an art. They feel that if a working is powerful enough than that is all that matters. More experienced workers know that magic works better on a path of least resistance. Proper glamour application can provide just that. No point in creating a mojo hand to command respect and power, when your entire wardrobe comes from Hot Topic. I was once guilty of that myself. Unless of course the circle that you are attempting to influence and image you are attempting to project is of a gothic nature. 

What many tend to forget in regards to glamour, which Postrel pointed out in her presentation is that glamour was once thought of as being rooted in magical practice and witchcraft. Consider the etymology of the word itself:

Glamour (n.) 1720, Scottish, "magic, enchantment" (especially in phrase to cast the glamor), a variant of Scottish gramarye "magic, enchantment, spell," alteration of English grammar (q.v.) with a medieval sense of "any sort of scholarship, especially occult learning." Popularized by the writings of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Sense of "magical beauty, alluring charm" first recorded 1840. As a verb, by 1830s, from the noun. Via. Etymonline.com

The way that is applied may have been changed, but the intent has not. Your chosen look can project an air of enchantment, magical beauty, or alluring charm if you craft if that way. As Postrel states, "Glamour is all about transcending the everyday". People are rarely drawn in, attracted to, or impressed by the average or every day. Be it mystery, beauty, power, success, or sex, people are attracted to and long for the things that they do not encounter on a usual basis. If you can successfully embody and project one or a combination of these things, than you can influence and persuade a great many of people. 

Two things to remember when crafting your image which Postrel also points out are that glamour is an illusion and should appear effortless. This is the balance that has to be understood and mastered. As an illusion it is essentially a deception, or misdirection, like a stage magician performing a sleight of hand. Also much like a sleight of hand maneuver it should be practiced and honed until it seems as if no effort is needed to pull it off, until appears to the target to be magic. Practice in front of a mirror, work on your mannerisms, walk, body language, posture, etc. Do t his so that nothing about you ever comes off as unauthentic, forced, or awkward. Glamour is enchanting and elegant; you should strive to be as well. People will often ask, "why not just be yourself"? You are being yourself, just cultivating, practicing, and projected a beneficial aspect of yourself that few take the time to do. There is a part of everyone that is sexy, mysterious, powerful, and so on. You are merely tapping into that with your image ad when done successfully those that are attracted to such things will respond. Look around you, glamour is used all around you to influence and persuade, and marketing, and the like. Shouldn't you tap into that power?

I have never seen glamour mentioned in connection with conjure practice. However if you look into the old lore, and descriptions of many conjure men and woman, you will see that they created images for themselves that projected power and mystery to attract and persuade clients. Actually being able to project that onto a client is one of the secrets to being able to help them. I will let you all ponder that for a while. I know that I learned to importance and of image presentation early on from my mother before I ever learned any conjure. I remember asking her once, why she was going through the trouble of doing her hair, makeup, and the rest just to run to the store. She replied with the old phrase, “you never get another chance to make a first impression". I have heard people exclaim, "I ain't trying to impress anybody". Well the fact is no matter what,   you are leaving an impression, as a sorcerer you should be in control of that that impression is at all times. 

Also we all know that feeling that washes over us we know that we look good. Look good and you feel good. Feel good and you begin to attract good, in whatever way you perceive it. Looking good effects us and thus those around us on a metaphysical level. 

"You will like the way you look. I guarantee it." 

How to Write a Hoodoo Style Name Paper

Often in Hoodoo candle burning rituals a petition paper or name paper is made and set under the candle during the burning. Name papers are also used in mojo hands, and placed inside shoes for certain workings.  There are almost as many ways to make name papers as there are rootworkers. I am going to explain the basics of how I do it.

I was always taught that the name paper should be made from a brown paper bag. I do';t think this is a hard and fast rule however. You can use parchment, or blank white paper as well. I still use brown paper bags since I keep them on hand for other things such as disposing of items at crossroads. The paper should usually be torn by hand and not cut with scissors or a knife. The reason for this is that scissors and other blades being symbolic of weapons are usually used in enemy work or conjure meant to break up magical influence and bewitchment. So unless the name paper is being used for such a purpose then tear it by hand. I usually use a bone folder to get a good crease and then tear along that edge. You can find bone folders located in the scrap booking section of most craft stores for pretty cheap.

Using a Bone Folder to Crease the Paper

Tear along the creases as carefully as possible, It doesn't have to be perfect by any means. It should look something like this when you are done.

Next the name of the petitioner(s), and the condition that you want to bring about are written in the form of a cross on the paper. I was taught that the number of times the name(s) are written should always be an odd number such as 3,5,7,or 9. I use 3 for manifestation, 5 for domination and power, 7 for blessings and luck, and 9 for enemy work and cursing. If I am burning the candle for myself or a client I will write them name first and then cross the name with words representing their desire. If it is a working for one person to have power or influence over another I write the name of the target and then cover their name with the person who will be dominant in the situation. The following is an example of a name paper that I made for a steady work candle for a friend.

First I wrote her name seven times

Next I turned the paper twice clockwise and wrote the words "STEADY WORK". If you wish to bring or attract something the direction should be clockwise. If you wish to banish or repel with the working turn it counterclockwise.

Next you will want to write a short but precise petition phrase in a circle around the names. The name phrase should be written in one continuous motion going clockwise. You then go back and dot your I's and cross your T's. The phrase I used was "May Jane Doe obtain steady work with a wage sufficient enough to meet all of her financial needs". You will want to dress your name paper with an appropriate oil, powder or both before folding it. One traditional way of anointing the paper is by putting a dab of oil in each corner and then one in the center, this is known as a "5 spot". I personally anoint it in the form of a cross going top to bottom and then right to left. I will then anoint the circle of words going clockwise.

Next you will want to fold your name paper. The first fold should be toward you for drawing or away for repelling.  In this case the fold was toward me.

Next turn the paper once, again clockwise for drawing or counterclockwise for banishing.

Fold again the same direction you did before

Repeat this process a second time and you should end up with something that looks like this.

That's my method in a nutshell. I used different colors here to illustrate the various parts of the name paper, but one can be made using one color. They can  be written with pen, pencil, or quill and magical inks.

5 Black Saturdays Pt 1: Poppets

I always prefer to use a poppet whenever possible for  enemy work.  They are just very  hands one to me and get me in the right mindset for the task at hand. Poppets can be made from a variety of materials such as clay, wax, straw, spanish moss. When I make poppets, my go to is usually a spanish moss one. Making a spanish moss poppet is the essence of simplicity.

You will need:

Two Strong Sticks

 The sticks can be any kind of wood. You can chose a wood that corresponds to the purpose of the poppet if you chose. I have used bamboo skewers in a pinch with no problems.

Cord Or String To Tie the Sticks Together and Bind the Moss to the Sticks

 In this doll I am using raffia to bind the sticks and the moss. You can use any material that you wish. I usually use jute or raffia as they are natural fibers and strong enough for my purposes.

Spanish Moss

 Spanish Moss is traditionally used in dolls that are meant to represent a person no matter what condition the doll is created for.

Rectangle of Fabric. Black in this Case

Cord, String, or Ribbon to Bind the Outside of the Poppet

 The color of the cord should match the intent of the doll. I like to use waxed thread (Tandy Leather in this case) because it binds so well

Step  One:

Tie the Two Sticks Together in a "T" Shape

Step 2:

Wrap the Sticks With Spanish Moss

Step 3:

Use Cord to Bind Moss to the Sticks

Step 4: 

Lay the Fabric Over the Poppet and Bind With Cord

That's it. Pretty quick and simple. I tend to make a mess with the spanish moss and probably spend more time cleaning up than making the doll. You can add any pictures, personal concerns, or details to the doll that represent the target at this time. Once the doll is made it just needs to be consecrated and then "baptized" for the work at hand. 

Baptizing Your Doll

The process of baptizing your doll is essentially the final task in naming the doll after the intended target and making your will be known that this poppet will act as a sympathetic link to them. Your ritual should be along the lines of this:

“I baptize thee (Name), in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (you
may substitute your personal Higher Power here). In life, this is now that who
I wish you to be. All that is asked of you happens now as I so do command.”
“As day goes by and time is infinite, I alone now control the deepest desires,
dreams, and actions of (Name of doll or person whom the doll represents).
Your life is now as joyful servant to me and my family, you are mine to
control, for my purpose alone.”

Credit: Denise Alvarado "Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual"

While speaking the words I anoint the forehead of the poppet with Black Arts oil in the form of a cross. Once  baptized you can use it in any spell that calls for a poppet.

Hope You enjoyed Part 1! Remember, share all five posts on either Facebook or Twitter and be entered to win you own "Black Box" with all five handmade items from this series and 4 surprise items used in enemy work. See you next week for part 2.

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