Original Magic: The Rituals and Initiations of the Persian Magi - Michael M. Hughes 2018
Getting Clean: Cleansing and Purification
Preparation for Ritual
Magic requires preparation. You don’t just jump into a ritual—you need to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The link between physical and spiritual cleanliness is nearly universal in magic traditions. Preparation for spiritual work often required fasting or a restricted diet, avoidance of alcohol, silence, meditation, ritual bathing, and other cleansing practices. We see it in Pythagoras’s insistence on a vegetarian diet for his students, in proscriptions against sexual activity in ancient magical grimoires, in the Jewish mikveh, and among ayahuasca shamans who insist upon a very strict meat- and salt-free diet before their healing ceremonies.
Why this universality? There are all sorts of metaphysical explanations, but in short: because these techniques have been tested and simply work. Preparations like the above help set your focus and intention for the work ahead.
So while it is not absolutely necessary, it is helpful to begin all magic, including resistance magic, with a purification ritual.
Bathing
The most simple and effective preparation for magical work is a salt bath. Just run a hot bath and add salt—sea salt, Epsom salts, or special scented bath salts. Even plain old table salt works fine. One to three handfuls is usually plenty.
Light four tea lights and place them away from anything flammable at the four corners of the bathtub (or in the four cardinal directions if your tub is round).
You can, of course, buy or make your own special salt baths with herb sachets or essential oils. Be very cautious about adding essential oils to baths because some can cause skin and eye irritation. Do your research first and start with a tiny amount.
If you don’t have a bathtub, simply rub your skin with salt while showering.
Use the same visualizations whether you are bathing or showering:
Breathe deeply as you soak with eyes closed. As you inhale, imagine the water entering your pores and filling your body with light. As you exhale, visualize and feel the purified water exiting through your skin and pulling out all negativity, toxicity, and stress from within you. Repeat for several minutes.
You can also cup your hands full of water and release it over your head, shoulders, chest, and back. As the water runs down your skin, feel and see it washing away all negativity and tension.
Say a silent prayer of thanks to the universe or your deity of choice and ask for cleansing and blessing on the work ahead.
After drying off, you can apply a special cleansing oil or lotion (see below).
Purifying Diets and Fasting
Fasting and dietary restrictions also help set your focus and attune your body and spirit. It can be as simple as refraining from particular foods (commonly meat or animal products) to fasting from food entirely.
The physical benefits of fasting have drawn increasing attention from scientific researchers in recent years, but it’s the magical aspects we are interested in. There are possible dangers, especially for anyone on medications or with health issues, so please talk to your doctor before you try it, and always start with a short period (say, four hours) before attempting a longer fast. And never attempt a dry fast (without water)—always stay hydrated.
I will usually refrain from all food for at least six and sometimes up to twenty-four hours before major spellwork. The bigger the spell, the longer I try to fast. The change in energy level and focus is dramatic.
If fasting is not possible or appealing, consider abstaining from animal products, processed food, sugar, and junk. Eat whole, unprocessed foods prepared simply.
One thing to keep in mind: it’s probably not smart to fast before heading into an unpredictable situation, like a protest, in which you may not be able to eat for a long time. Take a cleansing bath instead and have a big meal. Be smart and flexible, not dogmatic.
Oils
Anointing oneself (or another) with oil before magical work is common. My go-to is Hyssop Oil, which is easy to make—just add one part dried hyssop herb to three parts oil. After a few days, you’ll notice its pleasant vegetal scent, and the smell will only get deeper and more rich over time. You can use any oil, including olive oil (which has a long magical tradition), but some carrier oils, such as jojoba, apricot kernel, coconut, or almond oil, will last longer before developing an “off” scent.
For Power Oil, which I save for special workings, combine the following with your preferred carrier oil (with twice the amount of oil as dried material):
1 part hyssop
1 part angelica root
1 High John the Conqueror root (whole)
You’ll need a container large enough to fit the High John the Conqueror root (I use a small glass jar). You can powder it, but it’s quite the chore, so I just leave it whole. Let it sit in a dark place for at least three days.
I use the Consecration Ritual (page 160) to empower magical oils and then apply them to the top center (crown) of my head, my third eye (middle of forehead between and slightly above eye level), and the centers of both palms.
You can draw a symbol as you’re applying the oil—a pentagram, cross, and hexagram are common. I say a prayer in my own words, or sometimes use the good old standby, verse 7 of Psalm 51: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Only a small amount is necessary. Further uses of oil for protection are covered in a later chapter.
Prayer
Prayer is a great way to get your head straight before doing magic. Unfortunately, thanks to fundamentalist dogma and moribund religious traditions, many people have negative associations with the idea of prayer. So I will state clearly: you don’t have to cower before a spiteful sky god or supplicate yourself before whatever demanding deity your parents pounded into your innocent head.
Prayer should be a joyous, deep, personal connection to a force, principle, or deity, not a groveling plea.
The goal is to aim your spirit toward union with whatever deity or archetype floats your spiritual boat. The Great Goddess, Yahweh, Jesus, Krishna, Persephone, Ganesha, Buddha, Hermes, Aphrodite, Hekate, the Universe as the Ultimate Ground of Being, the void, your deepest/highest self—you get the idea.
Sit comfortably with your back straight. Breathe slowly, naturally, and deeply. There’s no need to measure or count your breaths.
Light a white candle and burn your favorite incense. Watch the flame for a few moments, and then close your eyes.
The key to simple prayer is to open yourself, in humble gratitude, to aspects of the deity or force that exists in the vastness within you and outside of you. Don’t ask for anything. Don’t desire anything. Be quiet and listen.
When you feel like you’ve made contact, simply let it unfold. Relax into the communion between yourself and the higher power. Breathe slowly and deeply and experience the connection for as long as you feel comfortable. You may see visions or hear sounds, you may get messages or downloads of information, or nothing much may happen at all.
When you feel ready, give thanks and ask for her/his/its blessings. Open your eyes and blow out the candle.
This form of prayer can work wonders for your mental and physical health, as attested by abundant anecdotal evidence and numerous controlled studies.