Spells and Invocations
Searles O'Dubhain
searles@summerlands.com
Sat Nov 27 12:34:46 1999
I am often asked about spells and invocations. Here is an answer that I have recently given to this question:*p*Spells and incantations are really very close to prayers, blessings, curses and invocations. These verbal and magical constructs are keyed to our own spirits and their connect to deity and spirit within the three worlds of life,as well as the Otherworld. Truly powerful spells come out of the developmental process that occurs through long study, constant discipline and a truthful relationship with all of creation. Some excellent places to find such spells are on the sites of The Summerlands that are available to members (go to The Crossroads and fill out the "Sign Up" form). For that matter, some of our members are very accomplished in Drai/ocht (Druidism), Filidecht (Bardism) and spellcraft. Some excellent resources that one can purchase through the Rowanleaf Bookstore on our Marketplace are _Spell Craft, A Handbook of Invocations, Blessings, Protections, Healing Spells, Love Spells, Binding and Bidding_ by Robin Skelton; also _Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations, Collections in the Highlands of Scotland in the Last Century_ by Alexander Carmichael. To better understand the nature of the forces involved in changing reality through spellcraft, courses are offered in The Summerlands in the use of herbs, Ogham, Celtic tradition and other esoteric knowledge.*p*Spells are actually the focused will of the spirit that are stated in magical ways. The techniques of such spell workings were formalized by the Druids into certain forms and by using specialized techniques to enhance the poetry and power of the spell. Druidic poems are mainly rhetorics called roscanna. In this Irish one, the invoker is speaking the roscanna while he is dancing on one leg with one arm hidden and only one eye open. He is marshalling the energies of kinship, of Sun, Moon and Stars, of Sky, Land and Sea. He swears and seals the oath before Ogma, warrior god of eloquence:*p*"Ár a thraí cath co-mhart ann.*br*Isin cath iar ngall ro bhris comhlonna*br*for sléacht slúaigh. Silster ria slúaghaibh*br*Síabraí, íath fir fomnaí,*br*cuifí ciathaí, fir gan rogain.*br*Léantar gala. Fordám aisid,*br*fordám cloisid, forandíchráighid.*br*fir duibh. Béic finn nointam!*br*Fó Fó Fé Fé Clé a m'áinsí!*br*Noífit mann íar néalscoth*br*trí a treanncheardtaibh druag*br*Ním' chreadhbhadh catha fri críocha*br*Nísitmeata m'itge for neamairches*br*for lúachair loisces.*br*mart alt shuides, mart orainn trogais.*br*An comair sídh fri gach nae*br*go comair Ogma sáchu*br*go comair neamh agus talamh agus muir*br*go comair grian agus gealach agus réaltaí.*br*Dreim niadh mo dhream-se dóoibh*br*Mo slúagh-sa slúagh mór muireach*br*mochtsáileach bruithe neartóireach*br*ro gheanaius agus tocraí atá for róe cath.*br*Co-mhart a thraí. ár a thraí."*p*Not every roscanna is an invocation of power for battle.  Some are blessings, while others are prophecies. IMO they should be said and presented in their original languages and forms to retain the continuity of their creation and the power of their alliterative wording.  It is the flow and the form of the words that gives them power, as it is also the Ogham that define and maintain their meanings.  To understand and use even this one roscanna requires much study in language, lore, tradition and Ogham.*p*Here's a bit of what the previous roscanna is all about: *p*A frenzy of battle invites you to embrace death. *br*Our hosting in this battle will defeat the foreigners who have destroyed the prosperity of the Land.*br*Oh people of the Sídhe, Defenders of the Land, ravens will come upon our enemies with doom!*br*May the foreigners be hindered, may fear be heard among them and be their shared torment!*br*They are sad and doomed. *br*Ninefold brightness is upon us!*br*Victory and defeat! *br*Circling leftward I curse them! *br*Oh you my glorious ones!*br*The gods will sustain you from the clouds of the Sky, and the beauty of the Land, through the powerful skills of Druids.*br*My battle fire will not falter until the victory is won!*br*What I ask of you is not the work of cowards, in the dealing of death to the enemy, in the burning fields of battle.*br*The Shadow of Death has taken form. *br*Death goes before us to the foe.*br*Before the people of the Sídhe, *br*Before Ogma I swear! *br*Before the Sky and the Land and the Sea, I swear!*br*Before the Sun and the Moon and the Stars, I swear! *br*Oh warrior band, my host of battle, *br*My troops here, the greatest of hosts like the Sea, *br*Mighty waves of golden, powerful, boiling metal, and battle lust *br*Are created in each of you! *br*May you seek your foe upon the field, *br*Embracing death in a frenzy of battle! *p*In the original Irish, the words flow into one another through their sharing of similar sound and mutated meaning. The images of the rosc come one after another like the waves of the Sea. Each exhortation is a powerful doorway into a created future, a reality that will come from the power within each warrior, which will be sealed by the oath before the elements and the gods themselves. The entire incantation is given (by Lugh) while circling the host on one leg, against the Sun, in a crane dance, and invoking the left-hand power of Corrguíneacht against the enemy, as a blessing upon his own troops. The elements of the rosc are: *p*1. To create the object of its working,*br*2. To identify the means of its accomplishment, *br*3. To swear before the realms, *br*4. To swear before the elements, *br*5. To swear before the gods, *br*6. To call forth the power of each into the troops, *br*7. To the close the circle at its beginning with the creation of doom for one's enemies through battle frenzy and death dealing. *p*Another important aspect of this type of invocation is that one must embrace the power of the working with all aspects of being, accepting ill consequences if there is no truth within oneself. For the spell to have a force of its own, then the spirit of those involved must be at risk for any falsehoods or lack of commitment to the outcome. It's an all or nothing and worse situation. In effect, what is being said is that battle will be joined and death will be sought. Let the gods, the realms and the elements determine the truth of our victory or our defeat. Without risk and involvement there is no truth in such a working and there is the greater danger of a horrible rebound. Be careful of what is truly asked, for that is what will be truly given. Such a spell or invocation is not a business for the weak willed or the untruthful in spirit. That is why it is so important to know yourself, your techniques and your deities, before undertaking such a dangerous working. *p*Searles*br*