Psalms Magic: How I Do It, Using Psalms 65 as an Example

 

Biblical Magic has been practiced since there was a Bible. Medieval grimoirists, occultists, witches and practitioners of folk magic have all used Bible verses and references to God, Jesus, saints and angels in their workings. The idea of witchcraft being a strictly pagan practice is fairly new. 

Don't get me wrong, I have a deep respect for pagan witchcraft, and I understand that many witches prefer to avoid all the trappings of Christianity, due to the harm that modern Christianity has done to them and others. I felt the same way for a very long time, and it took me over three decades to finally make some peace with my Christian roots. 

 

Despite making peace with Christianity, I am not a Christian. I consider myself a Gnostic in the broadest sense of the word, in that my personal gospel is based on my own experiences and knowledge, and not on any one book. I practice mysticism with a Christo-Gnostic flavor, and I do work extensively with Saints and Angels. I'm really into the Holy Spirit aspect of the Trinity, as both Sophia and Protennoia (Barbelo), and my power-trio of Saints include Mary Magdelene (straight up avatar of the Holy Spirit), John the Baptist (who channeled Holy Spirit via Baptism) and John the Evangelist (who channeled Holy Spirit via writing). 

But heck, I've only just started and here I am getting way off topic. 

Psalms magic. 

I have a special journal dedicated just to Psalms and biblical magic. It's not just a notebook, but an alter unto itself. Because I've experience housing instability a lot in recent years, I've made my magic portable as possible. Using the page of a journal as an altar keeps it simple, without the need to cart around loads of implements. 

My Psalms journal has been cleansed with holy water (my own holy water is a collection of river waters and spring waters, as well as sulfur water from Indian Springs in Georgia. Use whatever water you consider holy, whether from the well of a church, from Lourdes, or from the ocean, a lake or a river). I have also anointed my journal with Exodus Holy Oil. You can make your own, or you can buy it from a reputable source (I like the oil that Twilight Alchemy Lab makes).

To start a new working - in this case Psalm 65 - I open to a clean page. At the top I make a circle for a talisman. You can use a color corresponding to your working. Psalm 65 is for abundance, and using green or gold would be appropriate. I used green. You can also color your circle in with an appropriate color. 

You can make your talisman either by writing your name and a few keywords, such as abundance, prosperity, etc. Or by sigilizing your intention, if you're into sigils. 

Below my talisman, I write out the entire Psalm. I have a pen that I use only for magical work. It's cleansed and anointed. It's a special pen, more high-end than a Bic. It's red and gold, very Yin, fiery, active colors. I'll write out my Psalm with this pen (for more introspective journaling, I use a green pen). It can be a Psalm from any version of the Bible. I like more straightforward, modern versions, but if you prefer the archaic formality of the King James version, go for it.

You can light a candle, but you don't have to. I will usually anoint myself in an appropriate oil. For prosperity work I like King Solomon's oil, which grants money and the ability to use it wisely. If you have a money oil you like, use that. I also dab a little oil onto my talisman, then I read through the Psalm aloud, finishing with an Amen. 

Then I read through the Psalm again, more slowly and contemplatively. Every line or so, I go off into an improvisational tangent, allowing the symbolism of the Psalm to inspire me. For instance, when I reach line two: 

You who answers prayer,

    to you all people will come

I might add  "To You, all people will come, for there is nowhere You are not. You are within all things, and are all things, and Your abundance fills the Universe. "

And when I reach the lines: 

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

    the hills are clothed with gladness.

 The meadows are covered with flocks

    and the valleys are mantled with grain;

The very mention of wilderness and flocks of sheep are going to remind me of John the Baptist, one of my power saints, so you know I'll end up going on a tangent there. Go on your own tangent, make the Psalm yours. 

Psalm 65 is a great place to start with abundance work, because it is a very approachable Psalm. Its symbolism is straightforward, and it is a Psalm about blessings, prosperity. The imagery of grain, and water, and flocks, all bring to mind the blessings of the earth. And it is a joyful, positive psalm. Can't recommend this one enough. 

After my initial reading, I'll go back and read the Psalm twice daily, in the morning, usually after a shower when I'm clean, and at night before bed. Sometimes I'll have a set number of days, and sometimes I'll repeat it for as long as feels right. 

All you need for Psalm magic is a Psalm. Everything else - oils, candles, waters, perfumes, herbs, colors - is your way of making it your own. I encourage you to experiment with this gentle but potent magical system. Let me know how you work with Psalms, or the Bible, in your regular practice, and how it works for you. 

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash