24 Spiritual Spells from Acquaintance with Darkness

Make a circle with the salt around you (purifies and protects the area simply provides a "sterile" work environment). Then place water into the cup, and add both a drop of your blood and a pinch of salt. Chant "Ashels" repeatedly and then drink the salt mixture.

Chant

All these dream-sleeps on you my love
All these dream-sleeps on you my love

2nd person

Sleep gently, Sleep gently
Sleep gently, Sleep gently

Opening the Gates of Power

This is accomplished in much the same manner as Macha's Fence. But for this the God Manannan Mac Lir is called upon to aid the magician. The main sources of power will be The Two Powers and the energies of Land, Sea and Sky. The Two Powers represent Earth and Sky, Underworld and Upperworld. Land, Sea and Sky represent the three elements found in Celtic thought. Any altar used should be in the center of the working area and represent the Bil, or the World Tree, which is the center of all things and touches all realms. As you open each gate, know that it will remain open and that its energies will be available during the entire ritual.

The prayer is: "We call upon Manannan Mac Lir, Keeper of the Gates. Aid us in opening the gates to the realms of power. Keep us safe from harmful influences and let the energies summoned be balanced and potent. Manannan... Manannan... Manannan."

As with Macha's fence, the last three intonations of Manannan's name are vibrated.

Then, face the altar, using your power hand, make a clockwise spiral motion, saying: "Let this gate be opened. This altar is the Bil, the sacred Worldtree, the center about which all else revolves. Let this gate be opened." See that the altar is actually the Bil, and feel its energy.

Next look up and raise your hands. Make a clockwise spiral towards the ceiling, while saying: "Let this gate be opened. Power of the Upperworld descends down to Middle. Let this gate be opened." See energy descending down to fill the ritual area.

Next look down and lower your hands. Make a clockwise spiral towards the floor, while saying: "Let this gate be opened. Power of the Underworld rises to Middle. Let this gate be opened." See energy rising up to fill the ritual area.

Next, move counter-clockwise to the stone representing the Land. With your power hand, make a clockwise spiral over it while saying: "Let this gate be opened. This is the Land upon which we stand. Let this gate be opened." See yourself standing on firm, stable land. Feel its power.

Next, continue to move counter-clockwise to the bowl or cauldron of water which represents the Sea. Make a spiral motion over it, clockwise, saying: "Let this gate be opened. This is the Sea that surrounds us. Let this gate be opened." See yourself in a great sea, feel its power.

Now move counter-clockwise to the incense representing the Sky. Light it and make a clockwise spiral over it saying: "Let this gate be opened. This is the Sky that stretches over us. Let this gate be opened. " See the great expanse of the sky surrounding you, and feel it's power.

The gates are now opened, and your energy sources are ready to be utilized in your magick. Alternatively, or additionally, you could have opened gates of the fire and well, as in ADF liturgy.

This is a technique developed based on the etymology of the name of the Goddess Macha, who is not only a war goddess, but a goddess of Sovereignty as well. The root of Her name means, field, plain, an enclosure for milking cows, pasturage for beasts, closed field, or corral. Thus the root of this goddess' name means a safe and nurturing enclosure. This is sacred space, the innangardhr, where peace and harmony dwell. The idea of sacred space or a circle is not a new idea and can be found throughout Ceremonial Magick as well as Wicca. By calling upon Macha, you can establish a sacred space or enclosure. First you would visualize a golden wall surrounding the working area. Start a one point, and pivot counter-clockwise forming the wall as you spin (More on the value of counter-clockwise later). When you are completely surrounded by the wall, next form a roof and then have the golden light travel below so that you and your working space is surrounded by a globe.

Then say the prayer as follows: "We call upon Macha, whose name is the closed field, the fence, the milking yard, the pasturage for beasts. We ask, Holy Macha that a sacred space be established here, by and in thy name. Let a magickal enclosure surround us as a corral encloses our cattle, insuring safety and succor, that we may work our magick free from harmful outside influence and the forces of destructive chaos. Macha... Macha... Macha."

The last three intoning of Her name should be vibrated so that the force of Her name fills not only yourself, but the entire working area as well. Vibrating a word or name is used to create resonance between it and you, much like how one tuning fork, when struck, can cause a second fork to resonate and make sound even though they are not touching. Macha's name should be vibrated to create resonance, and to gain access to Her authority. (part of associating one's self with a higher power). To vibrate, the name to be used is chanted, usually in a deeper voice than usual. One tries to produce more resonance in their voice. Imagine that the sound reverberates throughout the room and within oneself, that everything is affected by the sound.

Once the sacred space is created, it must be cleansed. First, visualize a brilliant white light above you, near the top of the enclosed area. Now see light stream out of this to completely fill your sacred space. Know that as the light fills your area, it cleanses everything, on all levels, and that no negative energies can remain. The energy should swirl in a counter-clockwise direciton.

When this idea of cleansing can be fully felt, say: "Peace up to heaven, heaven down to earth, earth beneath heaven, strength in each, a cup very full, full of honey; mead in abundance. Summer in winter, peace to all."

Now, you have a safe, working area. This enclosure also acts to contain magickal energy as it is raised so as to concentrate it in one spot.