Even if my time with ceremonial magic were up now instead of a month from now, there are still some projects that I would need to see through. One of those is my latest experiment with the Stele of Jeu: talismans inscribed with the beneficial sign.
The first one I made at Heartland Pagan Festival.
The second I inscribed at the jewelry store I’ve been working at over the summer.
For this one, I used the variation on the Beneficial Sign favored by the Order of the Hollow Ones, as I thought it would make a more attractive piece of jewelry The inscription, which is difficult to read because I’m still learning to use the engraving machine, are the first and last lines from the final passage of the Stele in the original Greek:
ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἀκέφαλος δαίμων ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν ἔχων τὴν ὅρασιν … ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ Χάρις τοῦ Αἰῶνος, ὄνομά μοι καρδία περιεζωσμένη ὄφιν. ἔξελθε καὶ ἀκολούθησον.
I am the headless spirit[1] with sight in my feet[2] … my name is a heart encircled by a serpent. Come forth and follow.
During my lunar rites last night, I dedicated the second talisman by laying it across the first as I performed most of the rite, donning it as I incanted the final passage.
Boy, howdy, does it tingle. I look forward to carrying it as a talisman of power and protection, and as the most obscure way for fellow magicians to identify me EVAR[3].
1 – As I’m sure you all know, the Greek noun “daimon”, which it currently seems fashionable to leave untranslated, can be understood as spirit, demon, god, or even soul. Interestingly, my studies thus far seem to indicate that it overlaps pretty thoroughly with the Latin “genius”. More experienced students of Greek and Latin may win my undying love by sharing their thoughts on this matter.
2 – The verb here is “echo”, which conveys an interesting sense of “I am the headless spirit who holds his sight in his feet”.
3 – This is kinda like if you see me at the bar on toga night and say, “Hey! That’s a peplos not a toga!”