User blog:Denzel Crocker/Prologue

I walked into the new age shop Magical Musings. As soon as I did I was hit with a overpowering smell of incense that the store frequently burnt. The store was small and many items were packed into a small space. The right side of the store was all books. Mostly new age or magical. The middle was different items for magical uses such as incense burners, statues of gods and goddesses, alter cloths, cauldrons, and other such things. The front left was the cashier and glass cases with different jewels, crystals, pendulums, and magical items of the gem stone nature. beyond that on the left side where herbs in plastic containers by name and price and incense. In the very back left hand corner of the store was a small tea table and a four padded chairs. Today I was only concerned with the books. I began pursuing the selection. I came upon the oddest book i have ever seen there, and that's saying something.I have seen many odd things in this store. It was a worn faded pink leather bound book with a red heart on it. The second I touched it I felt a strong magical presence. I opened the book. At first I could not read any of the markings in the book, much less determine what magical, esoteric, or country they might have belonged to. Then my head began to feel a little cloudy and the symbols began to shift. Greetings from... I was cut off from my reading by the shop clerk Amy. She was a somewhat bland looking girl of about 20 years of age. She stood about 5'7 had Brown hair that hung to her upper back and dull brown eyes. She wore a long black dress and a matching  white apron. Like something a maid might wear. "May I help you with something today Steaven?" (the a is silent it is said Steven) She asked from close behind me.I could almost feel her breath on my neck.She was one of those people who liked to get too close and invade my personal space. I was not sure if she did this cuz she liked me or if that was just the way she was. Besides she never really said. I shook my head a little "Umm yeah... how much is this?" I handed her the book. She turned it over in her hands looking at the front and back cover. She found no price sticker and asked me to wait for a moment. I did so as she went into the back to ask the store owner. Lilith the owner was a sultry woman whom I occasionally had tea with as we discussed different esoteric topics. She would almost always hit on me in some fashion or another and I would always try to play it off like nothing was amiss. I could never tell if she was serious or not. Mostly because I got the feeling she was just toying with me. Although I did occasionally think about testing the waters so to speak, but I backed out as this was the only store like this in the whole city and ordering online was such a pain. So I just treated it as playful banter. She had straight silver medium length hair and amber eyes that seemed almost red to me when viewed properly. The oddest thing about her eyes is that sometimes when I looked too long it seemed like the whites of her eyes went black. Her skin was a milky white and seemed without imperfection, however the wisdom she often spoke with hinted largely at her being quite old. Which is why it was so hard for me to tell what her age was. She also had a large bust, that I would guess was a 36 D, and a body that was out of this world. I could make these observation from the clothing she wore, always a revealing Gothic Lolita. I guessed she bought most of her clothing from hot topic. The store clerk came back out. "This is not one of our books." "Did you bring it in?" I"No, I found it here on the shelve." She looked at me quizzically then asked for me for the book and to wait again. She went into the back again to talk to the store owner. Amy resumed her position at the register and Lilith came out to speak with me with the book in her hand. She ushered me over to the table and seated herself with the book set on the table in front of her. As I walked over to talk to her She was toying with a lock of her silver hair and watched me the way a wolf might have looked at a sheep. I took a seat across from her. Her expression changed to a lewd grin. I thought of it as one of her normal jokes. But before she was able to say anything I could feel someone looking at me. I glanced across the store at Amy and saw her cheeks reddening as she stared at me in the same manner. But she no longer looked like the Amy I remember. she had a fluffy tail and ears. I t also seemed like there might be feathers coming from her wrists. My head began to cloud Lilith spoke calling back my attention before I had the chance to fully understand what I had seen. "This book" she pointed at it "You found it here on one of my shelves?" I shook my head in agreeance and to clear my head. She nodded not in agreeance but as if she was confirming something to herself. "Then the book is yours as it chose you" "If you find any spells or incantations I suggest you follow them." there she kinda trailed off smiling lewdly again as if thinking something dirty to herself. I nodded and said my thanks to her as I picked up the book and began walk out with it. As I stood Lilith patted my ass. I turned and she winked. I could feel both of the girls eyes burning a hole in my back as I left. It was Samhain(Halloween) of 2014 and my home was decorated as such. I lived alone in a rural portion of south eastern Florida, in an apartment building, second floor room 222. I went straight over to my pet corn snakes and set my book down next to them. I had two amelanistic corn snakes and 4 mice, which I kept and bred for the snakes. They were fine but the mice needed food and a change of substrate. I took care of the job and started to set up for tonight's rituals. I went into my ritual room, which is actually just the second bedroom in my two bedroom apartment. The room was almost empty if not for the the waist high three legged alter table in the center of the room. On its round top the wheel of the year was etched into its surface. I went to the closet and got undressed to don my ritual robe. I looked at myself in the mirror that was hanging on the back of the closet door. I was 23, stood six feet tall, and weighed 175. I flexed and watched my image in the mirror.I was not weak or unmuscular but I felt I still needed to be more defined and toned. My six pack hardly showed. I frowned, then put on my robe. I was quite proud of the robe. It was black medium weight cotton with embroidered hems. The hoods hem was sky blue with clouds. The right sleeves hem was marked by flames. I had cut out and sewn three fire patterns. One red,orange, and yellow and sewn them on top of each other to produce the effect. The left sleeves hem had crashing blue waves. The bottom hem was marked by snow caped mountains. I wore a yellow rope as a belt with it that wrapped around my waist three times. I pulled my cauldron out of the closet and filled it half way with water. It was not a large cauldron, nor was it fancy. Just plain cast iron. I set it the west side of the room. I got out a platter that was marked with a pentagram and placed it on the north end of the room. I returned to the closet to pull out a red pillar candle and lighter I set it them in the south. I got out my incense burner. It was the shape of a sexy fairy holding onto the bowl and a ring of mushrooms helping to support it. It kinda reminded me of some art work by Amy Brown. I set it in the east after filling the bowl with water. I went back to the closet and got out a white table cloth, a bottle of dragons blood oil, and a statue of the Celtic goddess Morrigan. I placed the white cloth on alter, then the statue, and finally the oil. I looked around at the set up and decided to finish. I picked up the oil and went to the south end of the room. There I picked up the lighter and moved to the north. I move the lighter and oil into my left hand. I then Face North and place my index finger in front of me at about my lower belly. This point is the bottom of a circle. Draw a curving line up and to my left and back to center at about eye level. I Continue drawing from this point around to the right to complete the circle. Then I draw a vertical line straight down as far as I can reach while standing straight. visualizing this circle as being brilliant, transparent, green flame composed of one inch think lines and the green flame filling the whole circle. Then I state

I conjure you forth earth to aid me in enhancing my body, earning more money each pay check.

I move to the east. I remove the glass bowl and light the tea candle underneath. I replace the bowl and pour in a little oil. I stand back up facing east. I make the symbol for the element of air by facing east with my index finger pointing straight ahead at eye level.Drawing a circle in the air from that point clockwise to a point about level with my lower belly and back to the beginning point. Then I draw a vertical line straight up as far as I can reach. visualizing the line I draw to create this symbol as a bright celestial yellow colored flame about an inch thick. visualizing this flaming yellow colored flame completely filling the circle of my symbol.

I summon you air to Improve my state of mind for this ritual, to increase my concentration and attention to the matter at hand, and to adjust my attitude to be appropriate for this work.

I move to the south and light the candle. Facing South I place my index finger in approximately the same position as for starting the symbol for Air. This point is the top of the triangle. I Draw a line down and to my right as far as I can reach at about level with my lower belly. I Continue drawing from right to left at this level to form the base of the triangle. At the left-most point of this base I continue drawing back up to the beginning point. I Imagine this triangle as being brilliant, transparent, red flame composed of one inch think lines and the red flame filling the whole triangle.I then I state

I call you forth Fire to light my passion for magic, to set a burning drive in my soul to accomplish my goals, and to give me the energy to do so.

I move to the west. Facing West I place my index finger in front of me at about my lower belly. This point is the bottom of a triangle.I Draw a line up and to my left as far as I can reach at about eye level.I Continue drawing from left to right at this level to form the top base of the triangle. At the right-most point of this base I continue drawing back down to the beginning point. I Imagine this triangle as being brilliant, transparent, blue flame composed of one inch think lines and the blue flame filling the whole triangle. Out loud I say

I Invoke you Water to enhance my relationship with my deity and to still the churning tides of my emotions.

I return to the center and Face East and place my index finger in front of me and pointing above me. Drawing a curving line around to my right to make a circle.I visualize this circle as being brilliant, transparent, violet flame composed of one inch think lines and a violet flame filling the whole circle.I Place my index finger in front of me and pointing down below.I Draw a curving line around to my right to make a circle. I visualize this circle as being brilliant, transparent, orange flame composed of one inch think lines and an orange flame filling the whole circle. I Point my index finger at my heart and touch my chest. I visualize myself being filled with brilliant white light.

With the ritual half way done I remember the book I left by my snakes. I think to myself that would be an excellent thing to add to this ritual. I leave the room get it and return. I place it on the alter and open it. I begin to try to read it again. Again I can not read it much less identify what I'm even looking at. My head then begin to cloud and as it fogs over the book begins to make sense. I leaf through it until I find a page that feels right. As i look at the page it slowly dawns on me that I'm just staring at a black circle. However the longer I look at it the more it seems there is more to this page. however the longer I look the more my mind fades out and the circle envelopes me. I cant see anything but darkness but I can feel it. It feels like I'm falling in black honey. Sinking slowly. I can breath but the darkness is tiring to get in, trying to change me. I try resiting but its no use its getting in. As it flows in I can feel myself changing. My heart begins to fill with fear. I think frantically but there seems to be nothing. The darkness is filling me with nothingness. Just as the last vestiges of light are leaving an odd saying pops into my head. what you resist persists what you look at disappears. I let go of the fear and realize the darkness is a kind of energy.I allow the darkness in and see it transmuting inside of me into all the energies I just called forth. A bright light envelops me and I feel more powerful and satisfied than I have ever felt in my whole life. This feeling is so peaceful and relaxed I fall asleep.