I haven’t posted here in a while, I think because it’s felt, this year, like there was somehow very little space for contemplation. In 2024, I’ve produced a couple of material items that may interest you—a book of decanic images and poetry, a set of elemental perfumes— but today I’d like to share a recent piece of magical work with you. The U.S. election was yesterday and, well, you might need it.
Over this course of this fall, I’ve been working on a new book project, and I have found it a bit hard to focus. As a project for the magical experiment group graduates of my tarot class have formed, I thought I could fashion an Ace of Swords talisman to help me regain the sharp edge of my attention.
With some help, I managed to do it, and I am very happy with it. But what I wanted to share with you is a short ritual spell I wrote for the talisman consecration.
It’s conceived as a kind of ladder for climbing from the 10 of Swords to the Ace of Swords. If you’re a little familiar with the occult history of the tarot and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, you will probably recognize some of the words.
I rise from RUIN
Defy DESPAIR
Renounce the thoughts that INTERFERE
Forgo what’s FUTILE
Trust the SCIENCE
Return from EXILE; seek alliance.
Make my TRUCE
Abandon SORROW
Own the PEACE I used to borrow.
O Force Invoked, Blade of Attention
Lord of Free Will and Invention
Wind of Power, Root of Air
I can FOCUS anywhere!
So far, I’ve mostly used this spell for biking up steep hills, or regaining my concentration while writing. But I think you could use it for really any situation where you need to change your thought-pattern, whether it’s doom-scrolling on social media or lying awake in a state of existential dread or facing a massive deadline after weeks of procrastination.
We all need clarity, and if a little spellwork helps you get there in the weeks and years to come, you are more than welcome to it. Below is a PDF version you can print out, if you like. It’s illustrated with the relevant cards.
An Ace of Swords Spell for All Purposes.