The Charmers’ Psalter
The Charmers’ Psalter © 2013, 2014, 2017 by Gemma Gary. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First North American Edition, 2020 First Printing, 2020 ISBN 978-0-7387-6580-8 Originally published by Troy Books Inc. 2013 ISBN 978-1-909602-22-9 Llewellyn Publications is a registered trademark of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. Cataloging-in-Publication Programme data is on file with the British National Bibliography. Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public. All mail addressed to the author is forwarded but the publisher cannot, unless specifically instructed by the author, give out an address or phone number. Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific location will continue to be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to authors’ websites and other sources. Llewellyn Publications A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive Woodbury, MN 55125-2989 www.llewellyn.com Printed in the United States of America
Contents Introduction and Manner of Use
13
The Magical Psalms
19
Exorcism & Blessing of the Working Ground 19 20 For the Opening of the Rites of the Wise 22 For Blessing In Thanks for Blessings & Answers Received 23 24 To Avert Evil To Defend against Enemies & Return Curses 27 35 For Safety Amidst Evil 38 Against Slander 44 To Expose Slanderers, Liars & Persecutors To Undo the Damage Caused by Slanderers 47
Against Evil, Plotting & Vengeful Enemies Against Evil Spirits and People Against persecution Against Magic For Peace For Fear For Reconciliation For Joy and to Dispel Melancholy To Hasten the Healing of the Sick Blood Stopping For Broken Bones For all Physical Injuries For Aches and Pains For Aches in the Head or Back For the Eyes For Money and Material Needs Against Poverty For Success in Business To be Fortunate For the Respect of High Persons For Power To Cause Love 8
47 48 53 54 56 60 65 66 73 74 75 75 76 77 77 79 80 82 85 87 93 94
To Curse Enemies & Oppressors To Strike Enemies with Terror For Vengeance upon Enemies To Punish the Harmful To Return Evil upon Enemies For the Destruction of Enemies & Persecutors To Kill Enemies To Raise Dark Assistance against Enemies Other Verbal Charms For Toothache To Charm a Sprain For Bone-Setting For Blood-Stopping For a Burn or Scald To Charm Warts For Illness in General Against Epidemics A Herb-Gathering Charm for Healing A Herb-Gathering Charm against Witchcraft A Herb-Gathering Charm for Vervain 9
97 100 102 102 103 105 107 109 111 111 112 112 113 113 114 114 115 116 116 117
A Charm against Thieves & Enemies A Suffolk Charm against Thieves A Charm to Protect the Household by Night Protection from Assault A Welsh Cursing Charm
10
117 118 119 120 120
Introduction & The Manner of Use
W
ithin this little book are presented a working collection of magical Psalms and verbal charms, to be written or spoken, for a multitude of needs. True to the ‘magpie’ nature of traditional, or folk magical practice, the sources of the book’s content are various. Of the magical Psalms, which form the larger portion of the book, the Sepher Shimmush Tehillim is of course a major influence, alongside many and various regional British folk magical, antiquarian and Cunning Craft 13
The Charmers’ Psalter
sources. These have also been drawn upon and have informed the collection of verbal and inscribed charms given within the latter part of the book. The Psalms, which themselves may have their origins or inspiration in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian prayers and invocations of divine power, have a long pedigree of use within magical tradition. The Psalms have a strong presence within the Grimoire tradition, in which they are employed within spiritual and preparatory rites as well as within the constructs of the talismans of Art. Employed within the magic of the Church and the folk magician alike, the Psalms have, and continue to be turned to within acts of operative magic catering to an array of life needs and desires; principally within rites and spells of a curative nature, as well as for apotropaic purposes and to influence matters of love luck, fortune and social standing. True to the ‘double ways’ nature of traditional magic, the Psalms have their 14
Introduction & Manner of Use
uses dark as well as beneficent, for they are anciently of aid also to the magic or cursing and the conjuration of destruction and death upon one’s enemies and those of an evil disposition. Whilst the traditional magical uses of the Psalms may appear to be almost entirely for the serving of material needs and desires, rather than for the purposes of spiritual advancement, they are possessed of a great beauty, and in one’s recourse to them in times of distress and great difficulty there is to be attained a moment of contemplative comfort, and an acknowledgement of the immanence of the divine presence; turned to for spiritual strength and assistance. To the folk magical practitioners; the charmers, ‘white witches’ and cunning folk, for whom the Bible has always been a potent magical item in its own right, with its traditional employment within rites of divination and as a book of power, the Book of Psalms presents a rich resource informing their spoken conjurations 15
The Charmers’ Psalter
and charms and the construction their inscribed talismans. The manner in which the Psalms and other verbal charms may be employed can vary according to the nature of the situation for which assistance is required, but also, in some cases, according to the inclination and judgment of the practitioner. Often the charm is of use simply in its reciting, either in thought or in its physical utterance; invoking and conveying the power of the spoken word. In such cases, the manner in which their power is conveyed may be aided by the employment of pertinent incenses and plant materials upon coals so that they may be up-born within the arising fumes of virtue. Over oil, water, or certain mixtures, they may be uttered, therein to impart their power to be conveyed in the act of anointing, sprinkling or pouring. The use of spoken Psalms and other charms may be aided by the 16
Introduction & Manner of Use
accompaniment of suitable prayers, devised by the practitioner in accord with the nature and circumstance of the work. Within the work of charming another, it is an old tradition that the words be spoken in such a manner that they are sotto voce, so as to be inaudible to the patient or client. In addition to their utterance, they may also be manifested of course in their inscription in ink upon paper or parchment, wherein other possibilities of practice and execution are afforded. Such written charms may be folded and bound, or else sewn shut in a specially prepared charm bag in order to be worn or carried by the patient, or installed about the home or other area as circumstances direct. Their power may be imparted upon a place by burial, or, in the act of burning, by the scattering of the eternal ashes of the charm. To the operations of the practitioner are further possibilities afforded in the employment of bottle magic, within 17
The Charmers’ Psalter
the vessels of such the written charm may be sealed with pertinent substances and other materia magica suited to the purpose.
18
Psalms for Magic & Charming
For Rites of the Wise For the Exorcism & Blessing of the Working Ground Psalms 68 Verses 1-5, and 134
Psalm 68 Verses 1-5: et God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the
L
19
The Charmers’ Psalter
righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Psalm 134: ehold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
B
For the Opening of the Rites and Workings of the Wise Psalms 141 Verse 1-2 and 104 1-9
Psalm 141 Verses 1-2: ord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as
L
20
Psalms - For Rites of the Wise
incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 104 Verses 1-9: less the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
B
21
The Charmers’ Psalter
For Blessing
Psalm 92 Verses 12-15 or 122 8-9 or 128 1-2 Psalm 92 Verses 12-15: he righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
T
Psalm 122 Verses 8-9: or my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
F
Psalm 128 verses 1-2: lessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
B
22
Psalms - For Rites of the Wise
In Thanks for Blessings and Answers Received Psalm 150
Psalm 150: raise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
P
23
Body, Mind & Spirit / Magic
The Psalms have a long history of use within the “Cunning” and folk-magical traditions. Within “The Charmers’ Psalter”, Gemma Gary presents a personal working collection of magical Psalms and other verbal charms serving an array of operative magical needs; including healing, protection, curse magic, and the averting of evil. $14.99 US ISBN 978-0-7387-6580-8 51499
9
780738 765808