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About Iso'onna

Halloween is just around the corner so let's talk about something similar to a vampire. Blood sucking yōkai is rare in Japanese Folklore, but there is one kind of vampire-like (in terms of sucking the victims blood) yōkai indigenous throughout Kyūshū Region [九州地方] called Iso'onna [磯女] (blow) (or Isohime [磯姫] including other regional variations).

Generally, Iso'onna is described as a anthropomorphic, serpentine yōkai with a women-like appearance with long dark hair, but in most cases, observers fails to distinguish her with any ordinary coastal rock due to her elusiveness when lurking near or in the ocean for hunting her victims. ①

Similar legend ① is also told in Amakusa City [天草市] (Kumamoto Prefecture). Locals are warned not to sleep in a fishing boat with the fishing net still casted on its sides because Iso'onna would use that net to climb onboard to suck the blood of sleeping fisherman using her hair.

While she does possess a Siren like quality as well. A legend ② from Minami-shimabara City [南島原市] (Nagasaki Prefecture) tells a story of a man spotting a woman at the coast who was idly looking at the tides. Then as soon as the man called her out as he approached her, the woman suddenly turned around and after making an ear piercing screech, she wrapped her long body around the man and began draining all the from him via her long dark hair. This is the reason why the locals are warned to not approach a woman near the coast especially during the night of New Years and Obon ③.

In a particular case ④, the locals of Ojika Town [小値賀町] (Kitamatsu'ura Dist. [北松浦郡], Nagasaki Prefecture) believes that the true identity of Iso'onna are the souls lost at sea who appears on the surface on a calm day; begging to return the souls within the sea back to the land.

Meanwhile, the legend ② of a perhaps identical yōkai called Isohime [磯女] from Nagashima Town [長島町] (Izumi Dist. [出水郡], Kagoshima Prefecture) is told to not only attack anyone near sea coasts to suck-out their blood, but some may die only by looking at her even a glimpse.

Sources:

1. "Yōkai-jiten" [妖怪事典] (2000) by Kenji Murakami [村上 健司](1968-present)

2. "Sōgō-nihon-minzoku-goi" (1st Edition) [綜合日本民俗語彙 (第1巻)] (1955) by Tokihiko Ōtō [大藤 時彦] (1902-1990) & et al

3. "Gensō-dōbutsu-jiten" [幻想動物事典] (1997) by Takumi Kusano [草野 巧] (n/a)

4. "Jōmin: Gotōrettō-ojikashima Chōsahōkokusho" [常民: 五島列島小値賀島 調査報告書] (1963) by Chūō University's Society of Flolkloristics [中央大学民俗研究会]

Sometimes I wonder if my patrons watch me open a container with my teeth, and then elbow their fellow gods and point going, "look look! That one's mine" 😏

Magick: Four Powers of the Magus, Four Powers of the Sphinx, or The witches pyramid

The four powers of the magus also sometimes referred to as the Four Powers of the Sphinx, or the witches pyramid is a magick philosophy that was first articulated by the French occultist Eliphas Levi in his book Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual. The Four Powers of the Magus are to know, to will, to dare, and to keep silent. All of these powers build upon one another. Sometimes a fifth power is included which is known as to go which is not traditional, and is said to have been added later by Aleister Crowley. This philosophy shows basic understandings of attributes necessary for the successful use, and practice of magickal manifestation. It is also sometimes portrayed in a physical form as a pyramid, or pentagram with each corner being used to represent one of the powers of the philosophy.

To know (Noscere):

To know is your intention, and knowledge, and in the philosophy it is connected to the element of Air. One should always strive to learn, and to seek out knowledge. There is always more to learn, and always room to improve. Know what you’re doing always within your practice, and consider everything from all angles. Make sure you are balanced in your thoughts and actions. Know yourself and your practice inside, and out, so that you can be effective when using your magick. Study, research, practice, and internalize every part of your craft.

To Dare (Audere):

To dare is to do magick, and to follow it up with action, and in the philosophy it is connected to the element of water. Dare to practice the craft, and to push past all limitations you come up against. Your emotional, and mental aspects must push to help you, and your practice courageously, so that you can accomplish anything you desire. To dare is to put your Will into your action.

To will (Velle):

To will is your power to manifest, and in the philosophy it is connected to the element of fire. Bring together all aspects of your being to direct them toward your goal. Your will is directly correlated to your manifestation, and your energy, focus, and discipline that you put into it to make your desire, and reality. You cannot just do, you must put yourself into your practice. Your will is what manifests change, and is present within everything you put fourth to manifest your desire in your working. It is not enough to merely have a strong intention if the practitioner is not willing to follow through on it.

To keep silent (Tacere):

To keep silent is to not speak about the working, and to not interrupt it by focusing too much on it after the working is done. It is connected to the element of earth. This is not a call for you to hide your practice, but it is to help inspire you to keep privacy, so that you can avoid your magick being dispelled from people knowing about it, helping you not to focus on your spell after it has been cast, and to give you an opportunity to hear divinity in the silence. All of this can be achieved by keeping silent about what you are doing in your working, while it is still doing its work. It will keep ones focus clear on their manifestation and will let the spell take its course.

To go (Ire):

To go was added later by Aleister Crowley, and is connected to the element of Spirit. This is what is achieved when one has mastered the other four aspects, and is the end result of using them. Which is really just to go out into the world and use your practice. Other forms of traditions may have their own 5th power such as To Imagine, or To Love, or the fifth power is simply represent their tradition.

Tip for new witches:

Stop asking other witches and magic practitioners what you should believe; instead research, read, gather information, form your own beliefs. Ask other practitioners what they believe sure, but stop asking them what you should believe.

requested by anonymous

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requested by anonymous

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as someone who is a HUGE daydreamer and often builds up a whole world of expectations when i make plans, i made this spread for myself, and it’s proven to be incredibly useful. hopefully it’s of use to some of you as well!