In my course that covers sound magic,
The wizardry of words,
I talk about how sound is a carrier of energy,
And how sound can be used as a tool in magical workings.
For that course,
As well as for many of my talks,
I limit this discussion primarily to bells and singing bowls,
Because both of them are quite commonly used and easily accessible.
When performing workings such as a sound cleansing,
A practitioner is by no means limited to just these two instruments.
All sounds are carriers of energy,
And instruments provide a vehicle for such.
So,
Frame drums,
Flutes,
Lyres,
And so forth are equally as effective in the practice of sound magic.
It basically comes down to a matter of choice.
The preferred instrument of the practitioner,
Or an instrument selected in accordance with that practitioner's particular tradition.
For this talk,
I would like to highlight two such instruments that I have found to be valuable in my personal practice,
Viking horns and bone whistles.
These instruments have their roots in both Norse paganism and Saxon magic.
When crafted according to tradition,
They are made from either horns or bones of animals.
Accordingly,
By their construction alone,
They are associated with land spirits,
And,
As with all relics,
They serve as a connection to the spirit realm,
And the otherworldly.
In ancient times,
These instruments were used for summoning others,
Signaling potential danger,
Or to make an announcement of,
Or a call to something.
As such,
They were viewed as instruments for calling forth the gods.
This idea continues on with their use in contemporary ritual practice,
As these instruments can be used for sound cleansing,
Ridding a space of negative or unwanted energies,
Invocation of deities,
And drawing the attention of practitioners in a circle to either a ritual's beginning or to various points of significance.
Whistles,
In particular,
Have been used by sorcerers to call forth spiritual allies and helpers.
With these instruments having such strong connections to spirits,
They naturally lend themselves to the practice of magic.
For any practitioner wishing to make them a part of their personal tradition,
A very important consideration is that the materials used to create these instruments be ethically sourced.
With horns,
For example,
They should come from those that were shed naturally.
Ethics are extremely important.
After all,
We are talking about strong and direct connections to the element of earth and spirits of the land and nature itself.
So after ensuring that the materials have been ethically sourced,
The instrument itself should at all times be handled,
Played,
And stored in an extremely reverent and respectful way.
They are anything but toys or trivial items.
Both horns and whistles are effective when used for the energetic cleansing of an area.
Be aware,
However,
That they are equally as effective for calling in spirits.
Therefore,
Our mindset or intention when using them for such purposes should always be pure,
For the highest good,
And to the harm of none.
If your wish is to summon a particular deity or spirit,
Begin with that entity in mind and keep that as your focus.
Think of it this way.
If you see me taking a walk in a park and wish to get my attention,
Shouting,
Will likely cause me to stop and turn around,
As it will many other people who also happen to be there at that time.
Instead,
If you were to shout,
It will more likely be just me who stops.
What follows is an audio recording with both music I wrote and spoken word to illustrate how these and other instruments can be incorporated into a ritual or invocation.
It features both of the instruments I have covered in this workshop.
As always,
This is to serve only as an illustration or guide.
How you choose to incorporate instruments or sounds into your practice,
Should you choose to do so at all,
Is entirely up to you.
By Moonlit Sky and Witch's Decree Protection surrounds and shelters me Evil repelled,
Intentions unfold Safe and secure,
My spirit holds From negativity,
I am set free No harm shall come,
So moon it be Be it known that the circle is about to be cast Let none be here but of their own free will Here at last,
Our circle is cast with light upon the ground We call upon the elements to guide our magic all around Enter we now a place that is void of space and time A gateway between the worlds This circle is now hallowed I call out now through the astral plane Wherein exists the realm of guides,
Guardians,
And ancestors I call out to my ancestors who have gone before me Join with me in this ritual of remembrance I hold in your honor May we all be gathered together in this sacred space In perfect love and perfect trust So moon it be All hail the fair spirits and elementals of this land And our beloved ancestors We ask that you attend our circle and bless our rites Hail and welcome May your journey into the use of sounds in your practice of magic Bring you many bright blessings And may you always have a song in your heart The crow flies from me to thee To send the message,
Blessed be
