ipos

Domagick Day 25

In response to one of my recent entries on Tumblr, Andrieh-Vitimus asked, “HI William, I would love to see your key ring ( how are you getting them attached, are you using metal disks with a drilled hole, something else?) thats a great idea.. btw.. the key ring.”

I wasn’t sure my readers would know what I meant if I called the disks key tags. Each one is made from a circle of cardstock that has been reinforced with a metal edge. They’re not pretty but are surprisingly durable. After three weeks of being in my pocket all day, they haven’t ripped.

I draw the sigils on the key tags with fine-tip permanent marker. In the photo, it’s obvious how much even this ink fades and feathers after three weeks of handling. That’s okay! I like how personalized they’ve become because of it. The key tags will serve as offerings when they finally give out. I bought the key tags in a lot of 100 for around five dollars, so I can afford to enchant another!

Each tag also comes with a handy little ring, making it each to attach. These are my second attempt, however. The first time around, I used wooden disks purchased in the wedding section of a craft store. Permanent markers worked just as well on them, and the hole that had been conveniently drilled in top of each one could be used to slide them onto my key ring. Unfortunately, the disks themselves were too thick for me to use more than one of them at a time. Since that was my plan this month, I switched to the key tags. You can see my original version in the photo below.

A #magical #charm for the #demon #vapula. — A charm for the demon vapula.

Thank you for the question, Andrieh.

June Domagick Day 25

I would normally dedicate the weekend to Ipos and relaxation but it is also the last Sunday of the month. That means I’m supposed to be in religious classes via Skype for the majority of the day. Of course, Skype dumped my credentials sometime prior to my log on this morning, and I couldn’t find them anywhere I looked. By the time I’d made a new account, I’d missed the first class of the day. The ritual had already started. I’m thankful my teacher makes recordings.

With that work ahead, it made more sense to me that I dedicate today to Vapula and plan to take an afternoon “off” midweek instead. Two hours in seminary seemed like enough for today. I don’t mind including research in my daily “practice hours” as long as I don’t get into a funk and start doing nothing but reading or journaling. Days upon days spent gazing at your navel won’t translate into actually doing magick.

Take notes!

June 2017 Domagick Day 24

At the beginning of this week, I decided to remove the disk dedicated to Ipos from my key ring. I had enchanted it to heighten my ability to relax but felt increasingly sluggish as the month progressed, like I needed caffeine to get going in the morning again. I wanted to make sure the disk wasn’t the cause.

After five days without carrying it, I don’t think that is the case. If anything, I’m somewhat under the weather. My partner caught his cold from me, and the doctor recently said that my ears are still full of fluid. By taking decent notes and tracking how I feel in relation to the magickal work I’m doing, I can tell that things will right themselves soon enough. I have to be patient in the meantime—something that isn’t easy for me.

Perhaps that is why I feel like I haven’t made much progress this week, even though I have narrowed my computer search down. My partner has already purchased his camera too, which allows me to test his model out in advance. I jumped through several school-related hoops this week as well. That said, I have no definite answers about funding yet so I estimate I’ve gotten nothing done. It’s unlikely that I will hear anything before the middle of July, so I must accept this current pace.

I prayed to Ipos after I put his disk back on my key ring this morning. I asked that I see the grace in the day around me, and that I naturally find moments of relaxation in the days ahead. Afterward, I spent about ten minutes running energy through the disk.

Amon: Lord of the Solstice

June Domagick Day 19

I’m changing things up a little this week. Instead of making and enchanting a disk on the same day, I am splitting these activities across two days this time around. That’s because I’m working with Amon, who some choose to celebrate on the summer solstice. I’m trying that this year and will honor him with a feast tomorrow. I’ll enchant the disk afterward by running energy through it.

Today I drew Amon’s sigil on the disk I’ve carried on my key ring since the beginning of June. I prayed to him and asked that he help me find allies wherever I go too. Like Botis, Amon is said to reconcile friends. I also asked for other things, which I will keep private. I’ll be carrying out most of the “practical work” for Amon in the later half of the week, when I habe some appointments scheduled.

For Vapula, I spent an hour and a half catching up with all of my students’ quiz answers today. I took time off from their emails and messages over the weekend to spend it with my family, so there were more than usual waiting for me this morning.

Halfway through answering them, I realized I’d forgotten to remove the disk meant to help me relax / dedicated to Ipos. It could be psychosomatic, but I perked up as soon as I’d taken it off my key ring. It could also be the chocolate I had kicked in!

Lazy Sunday

June Domagick Day 18

It is difficult to describe what exactly I did for Ipos today. I carried his disk on my keychain and handled it whenever I changed clothes, but otherwise focused on the practical aspects of relaxation today. I took a nap, I played with pencil crayons and markers, and did very little else. Lately there’s been little chance to indulge in days like this, so I wasn’t going to pass it up. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Relearning Relaxation

June Domagick Day 17

I haven’t worked in the food industry for years, but I spent today at a local farmer’s market selling BBQ products. The crowd snapped up samples almost as soon as I could set them out. I don’t think I’ve ever worked anywhere so busy.

I didn’t find it stressful, though. I looked it as a chance to practice my salesmanship. I was surprised with how much I enjoyed my short shift, other than the wind. Perhaps learning to relax isn’t about picking up a new skill but changing my attitude.

This afternoon I will pray to Ipos and meditate for a short period of time. My son is coming later for dinner and games, so I’ll be dedicating the evening to fun with my family.

(This may be the third weekend I’ve spent relaxing with Ipos, but I’ve carried his disc on my key ring since the beginning of June. For the next little while, I may experiment and try wearing it only when I want to relax. I want to see if that increases my ability to focus. I need to make sure none of the enchantments in my “back-to-school kit” counteract one another. That could happen with so many variables in play.)

A Good Week, All in All

Domagick Day 16

Errands! Some days you have to run ’em. Today was that day. Before heading out grocery shopping, I said my last prayer to Botis for the week. I will continue carrying his enchanted disk on my keychain over the summer (and most likely well into the school year) but today will be the last day I run energy through it for its initial charging. I will top up its charge through repeated handling and prayer after this. I’ll round out my work with Botis with an offering this afternoon too.

For now it is back to work for me; I have some weekly meal prep to attend to before I can get to his offering, which will most likely consist of art I burn ritually. I hope to do the same for Vapula. Practical work is fine, but I like to make offerings to the spirits whenever I work with whenever possible.

This weekend I will relax a little less with Ipos that usual, as I am picking up a few hours of paid work. That’s okay. For one, it all goes towards the school fund. Secondly, I can concentrate on learning to relax after I’m done helping my brother at his place of employment.

Botis for Finding Friends and Allies

Domagick Day 12

I feel like the weekend was over too soon. I wish I could have spent a few more days learning to relax better with Ipos.

Today I started working with the fourth spirit in my back-to-school plan, Botis, a spirit well-known for reconciling friends and foes. I chanted OM for a while to still my mind first, and then focused on an image of his sigil. I slowly became aware of his energy as I concentrated on it. It felt damp, but not unpleasant. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the urge to go swimming outside, in the fresh air.

I asked Botis to help bring allies into my life, and then visualized that coming to pass while I ran energy through the disk I’d made for him. I plan to wear it on my keychain for the rest of the summer as part of my Domagick enchantment project, if not longer.

To put what I’d asked for from Botis into practical use, I made sure to ask for help multiple times when comparing computer and camera prices today. I know my way around computers well enough to understand whether or not I’m getting a decent deal in that area, but I am a complete newbie when it comes to cameras. It was nice to hear about the features from someone who deals with the cameras every day, even if they were trying to sell me something.

When it comes to my continued weekly work with Vapula, I am trying to make art every day in the midst of getting everything ready for school. Today that involved simply snapping some photos.

June Domagick Day 11

I purposely kept my work with Ipos low key today. I charged his enchanted disk passively by carrying it in my pocket while window shopping for school. My family ventured to Ikea to look at the office furniture. I should be able to find more storage for my apartment at a decent price. It will give me a better working environment come September.

Tomorrow I start with the daemon Botis. I’ll work with him to build friends and allies in the school year ahead.

I hope you all had a great weekend.

Cleansing Breaths: Get the Funk Out

(A recap! My back-to-school enchantment project lasts until the end of July. I’ll blog about it daily until at least June 30. After that, I will post updates as warranted. During the project, I will work with Vapula on weekdays and Ipos on the weekends to sharpen my learning and relaxation abilities respectively. I will also work with a different spirit each week on a new school-related goal over this eight-week period. That’s the plan anyway! I just finished a week with Purson, where I enchanted a disk to carry with me while I navigated the waters of student loans.)

I spent an extremely laid back half hour with Ipos this morning. It rained last night, so the temperature had finally dropped. I opened the window to soak in the fresh air and began taking cleansing breaths. From there, I moved into simple deep breathing and held the enchanted disc dedicated to him in my hands. I ran energy through it for the remainder of our time together.

To practice this type of cleansing breaths:

Exhale fully but not forcefully.
Inhale until you are approximately 3/4 full. Make sure to breathe into your belly.
Hold this until you feel you have to exhale—and then fill your lungs completely.
Hold your breath for the count of 3, 5, or 7. Basically, as long as you can.
Exhale fully but not forcefully.

With experience, you can learn to chain multiple cleansing breaths in a row. If you become light-headed or uncomfortable at any time, breathe normally again. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV, etc.

Thanks to Purson

Purson, I give thee thanks.
You have guided my hand,
Sweetened my tongue,
And whispered my name
In all the right ears.
It is done.
Amen.

June Domagick Day 9

The interview I had yesterday helped me decide which of the two schools I’d applied to that I liked best. Luckily, both had accepted me. One, however, will push me much further out of my comfort zone. I want that, even though it is a greater risk. What the hell, right? When it comes to my dreams, it’s time to go big or go home.

I dropped my student loan papers in the mailbox last night. The practical part of that is all done with, so I charged the disk I am carrying actively one more time this morning with twenty minutes of meditation. It will continue to charge passively through my daily walks and handling in June and July, along with the others I’m carrying during that time.

When my back-to-school enchantment project is over, I’ll have to figure out what to do with each disk individually. For example, I’ll probably want to keep carrying those I made for Vapula and Ipos, since I’ll want to continue improving my ability to learn and relax over time. Those disks meant to help me cut through specific red tape will need to be remade, like the one I made for Purson. I’m sure to encounter annoying bureaucracy again as a graphic designer, but it will likely be a different sort than the kind I’ve already faced.

Tomorrow I return to relaxation. I’m bloody ready for it. I feel fried after this hectic week of appointments.