Winter Magic
The Changing Face of Veles, which leads to the transfer of activity from outward creation to inward creation, from the active embodiment of potential reality to the assimilation of what has been realized and the creation of new potential fields, must, of course, be accompanied by a change in the nature of magical practice.
From Beltane to Samhain one must strive to realize as many potentials as possible, and from Samhain to Beltane one must not only organize what has been created but also prepare to reseed the field of consciousness.
Summer is the season of the Vanir — of life and activity; winter is the realm of the Jotuns — founders of pre-conscious reality.
In other words, during the Dark half of the year all the active work of magical practice should be directed toward the internal processes of awareness. It is in winter that Svarog forges the forms into which new life will be cast in summer.
On the one hand, it is very important not to lose what was gained in summer. For this it is essential to create proper anchor points for already realized elements — for example, to carve amulets to secure results already achieved (but not for new undertakings), to strengthen interactions with the ministering spirits whose connections were established in the Light half, to repay energetic debts, and to polish magical tools.
And although the Dark half is not a time for bright battles and fiery breakthroughs, the work done then is no less important than summer’s battles.
Just as alert wakefulness requires proper sleep, without winter’s assimilation summer activity will lack its vigor.
On the other hand, during the Dark half of the year interaction with the spirits of nature (at least with the benign ones) and with the forces of the elements is impeded, and this has two important consequences. First, Nature magic in winter acquires a dreamlike character, and all interactions occur precisely with the dreams of the nature spirits. (Not infrequently, attempts to conduct nature-magic operations in winter “as in summer” ended up interacting with wakeful redcaps or with elementals that had strayed from the Navi.)
Second, it is precisely the “sleep” of the nature spirits that facilitates goetic and similar operations at this time, freeing them from the distorting influence of natural factors.
Moreover, the crystal clarity of the firmament makes winter a particularly suitable time for angelic operations — whether Enochian or according to classical grimoire schemes.
Generally speaking, for the Western Magus who summons frequently, summer is the season of predominant contacts with “free” spirits, and winter with “ministering” ones. Such a division allows one to make effective use of the possibilities of each period.
And if summer is a time of open bonfires and nature’s wild revelry, then winter is a time of ritual hearth-fires and censers, “holding in check” the spirits called forth.
And so, just as summer is a time of growth “outward,” winter is a period of growth “inward,” and an understanding that “there is an appropriate time for everything” will allow the Magus to make the most effective use of the resources granted to the Magus by nature’s ordering of the currents of power.
I give thanks. Indeed, I have also noticed that in spring nature gives Strength for contemplation and accumulation, and in winter – for learning and inner development. But inattentiveness and denial of inner intuition tries to equalize possibilities and obtaining once internal advancement in spring tries to acquire strength in winter the same way. Not taking into account the laws of the World, not knowing and not understanding the laws of the Quaternary, not listening to oneself, it tries to advance towards Power in a noobish breakthrough manner of a dull-witted bull. Live for a century – learn for a century.
I think reducing various interfering factors also greatly contributes to various testing rituals. I don’t know if this is related to the energies of Navi you described, some personal features or just a specially favorable environment, but those single cases of successful Searching always somehow happened exactly on clear cloudless winter and autumn nights. Very interesting article. Thank you! 🙂
Everything always works for me precisely in winter, precisely at night. Why it is so I do not know.
Because at night and in winter a smaller number of living beings engage in active activity, hence fewer distractions for concentration and more freedom to implement will.
At night the World transitions to another phase, It is passive. Consciousness is active. From this we get the most effective result – neutralization. Imho.
How do magicians live in places where there is no winter?)
Thank you for the article! I was just thinking a lot about this after Samhain and wanted to know your opinion. And you were ahead of me) Did I come to the right conclusion that in winter it is not worthwhile to cut runes for the implementation of anything, and it’s better to dedicate time to diving into their meanings?
Cutting Runes in winter is possible and necessary, but for activities directed inward.
Thank you, very precise and practical, and most importantly – timely ))
Thank you for the article, as always, very concise and precise. Time for going inward, time for reflections, dreams, and tales. Even the names of the full moons during this period are corresponding – the Moon of Snow, the Moon of Long Nights (or the Moon of Oak), the Moon of the Wolf. I can add that during this period it is good to make amulets – for oneself, family, for health, once again. Also dream catchers and kytgyema – it’s time for dreams! Good travels to those who dream:)
Hello, who are the ‘dormant red-capped ones’? Here is the citation: ‘Often, attempts to conduct nature magic operations in winter ‘as in summer’ ended up interacting with the dormant red-capped ones or elements strayed from the Navi.’ Thank you.
Hello. The fairies in red hats are a type of Wandering fairies, most often belonging to the Malicious court, and therefore unfriendly towards humans.