The Raven's Crucible

Tag: arbatel

  • Ora et Labora: Invocation in Alchemy

    Because of their obscure imagery, alchemical texts have come to mean a great many different things to a great many different people. Amidst all these interpretations, there are two specific (opposing) schools of thought that are worth talking about. They are worth talking about because both are incorrect. The first view is that alchemy is…

  • Solomonic Magic in Practice: Calling the Spirits

    We’re now through all the preparatory phases in our deep dive on Solomonic conjuration. We’ve talked about setting the stage, consecrating our tools and completing the requisite purifications. We’ve talked about spirit names and seals, and the various different ways a spirit may show up when called. We’ve invoked various divinities, patrons, and gatekeepers for…

  • Solomonic Magic in Practice: Choosing a Spirit

    Let’s recap where we are in our Solomonic ritual. We’ve consecrated our tools, our spaces, and ourselves. We’ve drawn out our circle. We’ve invoked various powers (God, angels, intermediary spirits, patrons, directional guardians, etc.) to set the stage. Now we’re ready to actually summon the spirit we are trying to contact. Before we can get…

  • Beginning Spirit Work: Solomonic Conjuration for the Modern Mage

    I’ve written previously about how to get started with divination, and how to build a solid magical practice more generally. The vast bulk of my magical work at this point, however, is spirit conjuration – specifically in or inspired by the Solomonic tradition. Let’s say you’re learning your chosen divination system and you have your…