City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism - Christopher Penczak 2001

Summoning and Banishing Spirits
Metropolitan Spirits

Totem animals and spirit guides have a distinct role to play in our magical development. Many feel they are cosmically “assigned” to us, or have some past-life association with us. These entities have a special bond and vested interest in our higher good. As such, practitioners often feel their presence even when not doing magical work. They are guardians and counselors, often that little voice we so often ignore, pointing us toward our best potential.

Other spirits can be as helpful and useful, but do not have such an immediate, intimate link with us, unless we develop it over time. Often, chance encounters lead to such relationships and pacts. Sometimes, you may be required to aid the spirit in some physical way. Most shamanic traditions talk about making bargains with higher beings for shamanic power and protection. If this smacks of the old myths of European witches signing pacts with the devil, such tales are simply corruptions of the European shamanic practices performed by wise women and cunning men.

These spirits need to be summoned or invoked to be empowered to work with you. You need to seek them out through journey work, or invite them into your space. When you are done your work, they need to be released, allowed to continue on their own journey. For unhelpful spirits, it is necessary to banish them from your space.

Your first option for obtaining the services of such spirits is to embark on a journey similar to your totem animal journey. In fact, ask your totem to lead you to the most appropriate being. Your second option is to bring the spirit to you. Cast a magick circle for protection, as described at the end of chapter 2. While in the circle, declare your intent. Ask the spirit you want to contact to join you in the circle. I usually add “for the highest good, harming none.” There, you can meditate and open yourself to the information or experiences this being has for you. Knowing the name of the being or its area of expertise is helpful. When you are done, thank the being and release it from the circle.

On rare occasions, you may run into an unhelpful spirit, one who makes mischief or leaves a disruptive energy in your home. Sometimes you have summoned it, and other times it shows up without any act on your part. Telling the spirit to leave is the first step, not taking it seriously. Most spirits of this nature like to play games and want to feel important. They soon tire of you and leave. Other forms of banishment include using substances that raise the vibration level of a space. Incense like sage, lavender, cinnamon, copal, and a combination of frankincense and myrrh are tried and true. You can also use salt and water or rose water to clear a space. It is a good idea to use these occasionally in your ritual space and before most major rituals.

Another effective technique that doesn’t rely on external tools is a variation of the Golden Dawn’s Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Many versions are used by ritual magicians all over the world. This example does not use the Hebrew prayer and names of god, but is very simple and effective for clearing a space and protecting you. The pentagram, the five-pointed star, is a strong symbol of protection (see figure 2, page 61). It is a symbol of incarnation, of opening the spiritual doorways and invoking something, or closing the doorway and banishing an unwanted presence. This exercise focuses on the banishment aspect.

EXERCISE 8 -BANISHING

Start Exercise i, getting in touch with your inner strength (see page 17).

Face the direction in which you feel the presence or unwanted spirit. If you are unable to sense a direction, face north or east.

Figure 2. Banishing pentagram. Draw the pentagram starting in the lower left corner, then complete the star pattern.

Draw a pentagram, a five-pointed star, starting in the bottom lefthand corner as you face it, and move up to the top point. Complete the star and visualize it with glowing fire, usually white, gold, or blue. Feel its energy project outward in the direction you are facing and cleanse that area.

Turn clockwise and repeat step 3.

Turn clockwise again and repeat step 3.

Turn clockwise again and repeat step 3. At this point, you have made a pentagram in all four directions. Continue the process by drawing one on the ceiling and another on the floor.

Say forcefully, “I banish all energy that is not correct and for the highest good.” Feel it as you say it, and know your entity has either been transformed or fled because of the change in vibration.

This is a good exercise to do whenever setting up residence in a new home, or when traveling and staying in an unfamiliar room. It cleanses the room of unwanted psychic pests and keeps harmful past psychic imprints from affecting you.