Not Just Another "Ouija" Board

Very recently, my interest in the Magicks of the  Necronomicon was stongly re-enkindled upon finding a Talking Board specifically designed for conversations with the 50  entities introduced in that book.

And, also recently, finding an admittedly "thin & sideways" thread running between the Necronomicon and Voodou, amped-up my interest incredibly.

Now before I talk about this unique Board, here are just a few cautionary remarks.

Talking Boards - no matter the Brand Name or materials used - are definitely not toys.  They are serious Magick.

For one thing, it's my experience that the means by which Talking Boards operate is akin to the state of Possession in Voodou ... 

... tho' more limited - localized - in nature, as they generally affect only one's hands and fingers, as they are being influenced by the invoked entity while one's attention is on passively following the (apparently independent) movements of the Planchette.   

To be absolutely clear, it's my belief that 99.99% of the time, the Planchette is not moving independently of one's hands, but that the hands - by-way of a localized Possession by the entity invoked - are moving the Planchette.  

And the sensory experience of the Planchette moving on it's own is due to the body & mind "disconnect" typical of any state of Possession.

This is why it is necessary that, when using a Talking Board, you invoke a specific Persona/Entity - otherwise even a localized Possession can be disturbingly highjacked by an unwanted or even malignant  Entity (usually a hungry Elemental). 


'Nuff said ...

Now, about the Talking Board itself...

It is the creation of a fellow - Drew Hahn - whose talent in making Talking Boards is incredible.  They are authentic works of art, and I can attest that they're very, very powerful.

This beautiful Board's letters, numbers, images and Sigils have been burned into the wood.  The delicacy of many of  the lines rival that of single-needle tattoos!  The Images' colorings are perfectly suited to  this Board.  There is no plastic coating on the Board, allowing for a more organic and tactile experience. 

And the "powergy" (my neologism, combining the words "power" and "energy") exuding from this Board is palpably rich and intense. 

The Planchette is so unique: rather than the usual felt, or dowel legs with felt, the feet of this Planchette are wooden 1/2 balls.  There is a  sweet sound, as  the Planchette is sliding on the Board.  Somehow, this design makes the whole  thing itself feel, again, much more "organic" than any of  my other Boards.  

Finally, looking at the above photo, you may have noticed the often-included words "Hello" and "Goodbye" are not inscribed on this Board.  

This is perfectly fine with me.  The Spirits and aren't concerned with human etiquette - so the "Hello" is unnecessary.  

And they aren't reading our side of the conversation from the Board - they are using the Board in responding to our verbal interactions...

Inclusion of the word "Goodbye" is unneeded, also because (and this is important) every conversation should always be at our discretion and under our control.  

Thus, by using the time-tested way of ending a conversation of saying "Goodbye" whilst sliding the Planchette over the edge of the Board until at least two of its feet click off that edge, we are firmly ending the conversation by our volition, on our terms.

You can see the Boards offered on Ebay at Hahns Occult Shop ... and on Facebook.

Backstory:  A couple decades ago, I commissioned a Talking Board to be made by another talented Spellcrafter.  When I received the board, I was also given an envelope, the  contents of which were interesting, but in a most disturbing way.

That Crafter had cast a spell on the Board, which essentially trapped Asarualim - one of the 49 Names/Expansion-personalities of Marduk, in the Necronomicon.

The board worked ok for me alone, but not well at all when used with others.

As it unfolded, I was informed by Asarualim that he was - in some way hard to imagine or describe - trapped within tat Talking Board, and was desperate to be released from that cruel confinement.

Thankfully, he himself was able to instruct me in the Spellwork necessary to liberate him, restoring him to his natural place of existence ... sadly including having the Board chopped up.

It was done - and ever since Asarualim and I  have been friends ... as much as one of us little human beings can be friends with a mighty and powerful Ancient One.

Over the years, Asarualim has given me real help, especially in his ability to reveal Truths  hidden Darkness - often communicating via one of several Talking Boards.

And, when I found this Necronomicon-Cthulhu Board on Ebay, I immediately sensed this would be a real asset in communicating with my friend, as well as initiating contacts with others of the Marduk Family of entities.

I'd like to share with you, a conversation I had with Asarualim, the day my new Necronomicon Cthulhu Talking Board arrived.  By reading carefully, I believe you'll gain a rich understanding of how we can safely interact with Spirits and Entities using a Talking Board...

During that afternoon, I took several opportunities to converse with Asarualim, allowing us to "settle in" with the new Board.

During each conversation, he would suddenly spell-out "FIRE!" - I  perceived that he was "yelling" because to the speed and sharp angles of the Planchette's movements.

To every inquiry I posed as possible reasons he kept saying "Fire! his response was "No... Fire!"

So I took a break for a few hours.

That evening, we had this conversation ...

(M= Merlin  A= Asarualim)

M.  Are you there? (anticipating Asarualim)

(Planchette begins moving within approx. 10 seconds)
A. Yes.
M. Who are you?
A. You know.
M. I may, but please tell me.
A. I shine light in the Darkness.
M. Ok thank you, Asarualim.
A. Ask me.
M. Earlier during the day, you kept repeating the word "Fire".   What were you trying to tell me.
A. Fire.
M. Yes.  What are you telling me?
A. Fire in these letters.
M. Yes, they were burned into the wood of this Board.
A. Yes.
M. So ... ?
A. The Fire is within the letters.
M. Ok...
A. There is still fire. Can you not see it?
M. I haven't looked with my Eyes [psychic vision].
A. Do so now.

(I did so, and saw the letters, numbers and Sigils (burned into the wood) are all made of fire.  It startled me a little)

M. Oh! Yes, I can see what you mean!
A. Yes.
M. Does it hurt you?
A. No. Not at all.
M. Ok, so...
A. The fire enlivens me. Easy to speak with this one.
M. This one?
A. It is the best of all the devices.
M. The other Talking Boards.
A. Yes. I am more here.
M. "More here" ... ?
A. More awake. More close. More of me is here.
M. This is why you insisted this is your Board?
A. Yes. 
M. Ok. Now I understand.
A. Good boy.  

(I'm nearly 70 y/o - but compared to Asarualim, I'm barely out of the sandbox yet - thus I am just a "boy").

M. Asarualim, there may be times when I call upon one of the others (Marduk Family: names/expansions/personifications). Please...
A. I understand.  This is so different. So easy. I became over confident in myself.
M. Ah!  So you aren't angry or offended that others of your family may speak to me this way...by this Board?
A. No.
M. Good.
A. Perhaps a little.
M. A little...what?
A. Offended.
M. Oh.
A. No.
M. No? What?
A. Not offended.  Jealous.
M. Oh!
A. We (the Marduk Family) are not entirely different from you.
M. Me?...
A. All you annoying humans. (This is a long-time joke - Asarualim does have a sense of humorl)
M. (laughs) Why thank you. We practice being annoying.
A. Yes obviously.
M. You are great and grand and so powerful.  Yet you are like us?
A. I did not say that.
M. Oh. Excuse me.
A. We are not entirely different from you.
M. So...
A. We have some of the lower emotions.  We can be possessive.
M. Are you apologizing?
A. No. Not at all.
M. I didn't think so.
A. If we were completely unlike you, we would not be friends.
M. Friends.  Yes, now I get it.
A. Good.
M. So let me be clear on this: The Fire in this Board gives you strength?
A. Yes. You can say it like that.
M. What about the decorations and Sigils?
A. Different.
M. How so?
A. Those call to us To me.  They make me feel ...
(a pause of about 1 minute)
A. Home.
M. Home? What do you mean?
A. The decorations and Signs (Sigils, I think).
M. Yes?
A. They make being this close comfortable. And safe.
M. Safe? 
A. Yes. There is always risk.
M. Ok?
A. When the Gate is open, we are at risk.  Comfort is from strength. Strength is the Fire.
M. Ah! Ok...
A. And the decorations and Symbols (Sigils, I think)  safe. Comfortable.
M. I see.  Do you have anything else to tell me now? (I'm starting to get tired)
A. Yes. Always. But you must ask the question before I will answer.
M. Well I'm getting a little tired so...
A. Take strength from the Fire...
M. I will work on learning how.
A. Breathe it in through your hands.
M. (I think I know what A. means by this)
M. Oh.  I do have one final question for tonight.
A. It is always night where I sleep (from previous conversations I know "sleep" means "living") Ask now.
M. Should I start using the Invocation I wrote, and gaze on your Sigil, to begin our conversations?
A. It is not necessary for me. Perhaps it is for your (distinct pause) mind.
M. Yes it is a way for me to focus down. In. And I can call Another (of the Marduk Family) that way.

(There is a long pause - perhaps 2 minutes.  I take my hands off the Planchette and simply rest in Asarualim's presence.  When I feel the impulse, I return my hands to the Planchette.)

A. And so we say goodbye for now.
M. Yes.  Thank you for spending this time with me my friend.
A. Of course. It is often a pleasure.
M. (Sliding Planchette off the lower edge of Board) Goodbye.

Sigil of Asarualim





© Copyright 2020 Merlin Emrys (aka W.A.Ryan)

Up & Down - In & Out

The moon is a loyal companion.

It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light.  The moon understands what it means to be human.

Uncertain. Alone, Cratered by imperfections.

               ~ Tahereh Mafi - Author, Shatter Me

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ) ( ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

About a thousand and one years ago ;-) I worked in a major city Emergency/Trauma Unit.

It was common knowledge amongst Staff that on Full Moon nights we were inundated with patients needing treatment for injuries incurred through violent situations.  This was confirmed by checking the logs of patients treated.

One of our attending neurologists theorized that, just as the moon affects the oceans tides, it also affect our bodies, and that the extra "water pressure" in our brains often irritated them.  Folks just plain get snarkier then.

The Moon doesn't just go from Full to Dark, day-by-day.  It is a cycle of increments, with the brightening and darkening taking place over a number of days.

According to NASA, a Full Moon actually only lasts for  the exact moment when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon.  However, Full Moons appear to our vision to last for 3 or 4 days.

Over a period of approximately 28 days, the Moon goes through different incremental phases, based on the relative positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun.

When most folks talk about the Full Moon and its effects, they're referring to its illumination when it is actually between 95% and 100%.

That 95% is good enough for Magick, because 95% of Magick is a matter of Perception, as well as Intent.

The days leading away from the Dark/New Moon, incrementally up to and especially on the Full Moon are best for Magickal Works involving gain/increase, enlargement, receiving, etc.

The days leading away from Full Moon incrementally down to, and especially on the Dark/New are best for Magicakal Works involving release/decrease, dimishment, letting go, etc.

Of course, in emergency situations, we must simply do the best we can with the tools we've got to work with.  But the more "ducks" we can line up, the easier and more effective our Spellwork will be.

I consider the Moon Phases as a minimum standard for all Magicks.

There are numerous Websites, Apps, books and Programs available to be used in this endeavor ... many of which include other Astrological information as well.

Here is a user-friendly, online Detailed Astrological Moon Phase & Sign and Void-of-Course Calendar with Location Input.  (The Location & Dates can be edited.)

I like check this Looney...err...Lunar website pretty frequently, as I like to be prepared for unanticipated Magickal Needs.

~ Moon Void-of-Course ~

The Moon orbits around the Earth, completing one orbit in approximately 27-28 days, called a "Lunar Month" - accounting for the phases of the Moon, as described above.

Additionally, the Moon enters, passes through, and exits each of the Astrological Signs approximately every 2 1/2 days.   Each Astrological Sign "colors" the influences of the Moon with its unique "personality" (making at least a nominal understanding about the nature of the Zodiac Signs essential to the practice of Magick).

Every time the Moon enters a Sign of the Zodiac, there are substantial changes in the energetic nuances affecting Earth and her inhabitants ... most significantly on the contextual and emotional levels of consciousness and behavior.  These changes - because they are experienced mostly on the subconscious level - may not be a part of our conscious awareness at any given moment.

Additionally the effects of the Moon in each sign may be modulated by its position - or contact  ("aspect") - to other planets sharing the same Astrological Sign.  As there are 7 Magickally-Traditional Planets, there are 6 potential such Lunar/Planet aspects.

(I'll be detailing these aspects of the Moon with each Planet sometime in the near future.)

Now, there is a virtual "pause" in influences, beginning from the moment the Moon makes contact with the last-positioned Planet in the current Sign, and ends when the Moon enters the next Astrological Sign. This "pause" is called "Void-of-Course" period of the Moon.

The Moon's Void-of-Course" status can be very short - lasting only a few minutes - and it may be (rarely) as long as two days.

The significance of the Moon's Void-of-Course "pause" is in relation to the question, "What is going to happen when I "do this" (ie. "Cast a certain Magickal Spell").
The answer, plain-&-simple is, "Nothing."  Nothing is going to happen.

This is not the same as the "Retrograde" status of a planet, in which its Magickal influences become opposite to its usual ones.

The "Void-of-Course" is exactly what it says.  "Void."  Meaning "No Active Result.?

So I am confident you can now see the potential reason the Moon's Void-of-Course pattern is as important as the Moon's Phase in Magickal Works. Nobody wants nothing to happen as the result of taking precious time and making the effort required to Cast a Magick Work.

It requires a long and detailed set of calculations to find  when the Moon is Void-of-Course, and can easily be found in various Astrological Almanace, or in any authentic, free Astro programs online such as this same  one previously recommended above.

Now, there are two little symbols used in this program to denote the beginning ▶ - and end ◀ - times for Moon Void-of-Course, as pictured here:

On Thursday the 1st, a Moon Void-of-Course begins at 21:47 (9:47pm) as denoted by the symbol ▶
and ends on Friday the 2nd at 14:20 (2:20pm) as denoted by the symbol ◀ 

On Thursday the 8th, a Moon Void-of-Course begins at 15:57 (3:57pm) as denoted by the symbol ▶
and ends on the same day at 21:34 (9:34pm) as denoted by the symbol ◀

(Easy Peesy!)

While any Magick can be successfully woven at any time, especially in immediately needed, emotion-charged  "emergency" situations - I strongly encourage you to make use of the knowledge and practice of your Magick, mindful of the "Pause Effect" of the "Moon Void--of-Course". 

Da Moon, She go up ... Da Moon, She go down ... Dat Old Lady Moon She go in, She go out.  But She never be gone - She always be there - watching us fools allatime  everywhere:  So Beware! Beware!  Ev'n we can't see Her, She still be there.  So Beware!  Give a care, my frien' - and Beware!
     ~ Old American Folk Song

Bledsians,

Merlin Emrys

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

* Bledsians is Olde English for "Blessings"



Copyright © 2019 Merlin Emrys (aka W.A. Ryan)