#Willworks

[contentcollectivestudio]

30+ Years Experience in Textiles & Fashion / Luxury Goods, 4th Generation Retailer that understands social commerce, merchandising and taking brands that Last Mile - over and over again. I understand what you need to be visible and have the experience to set the tone and fly! Contact me, there are a couple select openings in the studio - looking for retailers and brands that want to make a difference. Will Works Pin It!

[thisfuckingloser]

Called out of work cause my fucking wallpaper is yellow (my mental illness is getting worse) and then when I go to do something productive (cut my dogs nails) I clip one too short and now he's bleeding everywhere. (He's fine now I wrapped it in gauze and he's on the couch). Just feels like I can't do anything to help people, like I'm just getting worse and bringing others down.

[wirsindkrieg]

Probably the two biggest lessons I want people to learn when it comes to these things are “Question everything,” and “It’s all just tools.”

All of the candles, the incense, even the words, they’re all just there to help you focus on what you’re trying to do. And when you’re a beginner, they can be especially useful as a way of helping you embrace the magical by creating a (often metaphorical) space where your mind can set aside the mundane world and say, “We’re going to do magic now.”

I’ve seen far too many people get caught up in the tools to the point that they forget that they are the the one doing the magic. You see it in complicated spells that call for specific ingredients, or posts about all the magical uses of something (especially crystals and herbs). Remembering that it’s all just tools lets us recognize that substitutions can be made, and more importantly, that sometimes there’s a better tool for the job.

To stretch a mundane metaphor: If I’m putting a nail into a piece of wood, anything heavy and durable enough can do that job. I could use a wrench, or a crowbar, or a particularly dense fruitcake. But it’s so much easier if I just grab a hammer. If you’ve got something hanging around you that you want to get rid of, you could break out the candles and incense and salt and chanting. Or you could go the simple route and say, “I don’t want you here, and if you don’t leave, I have the tools to make you leave.”

tl;dr: It’s so useful to remember that the tools we use in our magic are just that: tools. And the great thing about tools is that if one isn’t doing the job well enough, you can probably find one that works better and easier.

Also, question everything. Doubly so if it’s coming from someone who claims to be an authority.

Y'all ever get the vibes that we're out here seriously over-complicating witch shit

A while back I was in a bit of a pickle. I didn't know how to approach the situation from a magical perspective. A friend of mind said, "hey, not to be pedantic - but have you tried just asking?"

I did just that. I went out and had myself a little prayer asking for help, and the situation was resolved.

Just the other day a friend of mine had an unwanted spirit in her house. She asked for help on banishing it.

"Not to be pedantic," I said. "But have you tried asking it to leave?"

She did just that and it left immediately.

I think we can forget how simple magic and witchcraft can be.

Perhaps, breaking out the candles and chanting over fancy incense is not supposed to be the first step.

I've been practicing magic for nearly 9 years; not too long, but enough to learn a thing or two. I saw a post last month: "y'all are over-complicating cleansing, just blow on it and brush it off."

Bullshit, I said. If that worked, why am I over here with my damn chants and saltwater.

I tried it, and it worked. No visualization, no incantations, no charmed saltwater.

It's come into my awareness since I recreated my blog in January that the kinds of things I like to discuss and create content on is not beginner level/101 magic.

I think the kind of stuff I'm into is step 3 or 4, well beyond asking the spirit to leave, and well beyond pulling out the first candle to speak a charm over.

I think at that point, it's alright for things to get technical and complex.

But do you guys ever feel like....

Candle spells aren't supposed to be that complicated.

Cultivating power isn't supposed to be that complicated.

Talking to spirits isn't supposed to be that complicated.

Maintaining spiritual hygiene isn't supposed to be that complicated.

Do you all ever get the vibes that we're out here going nuclear on ourselves and everything around us when we're not supposed to be?

I think maybe I'm a part of that culture. I do label stuff as 101 that I shouldn't be. I think that because my goal is to break stuff down to where anyone regardless of experience level can understand it, I somehow think it's basic, everyday, or beginner level.

When it ain't.

I wonder how many people out here think they're magically weak or incapable because they're doing "simple, basic, beginner" energy work exercises and are actually raising huge amounts of energy - and exhausting themselves.

I wonder how many people think magic is fake or have given up hope because they started with a "basic, beginner" candle spell "anyone can do" calling for 2 candles, 7 herbs, and the intermediate-level instruction to "visualize and set intent."

I wonder how many people have given up on finding their spirit guides, or been scared away from it, because of discussions on how many skills you need to start.

I know it can get complex, and at a certain level it's very wise to have certain skills before you progress...

I just can't help but feel that not all of it is supposed to be hard, most of it should be easy, and the things that help people commonly everyday should be easiest of all.

[stardewstardropthoughts]

I’m here again bc I’m down bad for these men (and 2 exceptional ladies): What would they get us as a wedding gift, and how they react to us coming up the aisle 🥹💖💖💖

God I am down astronomical for them so I get that lol, I’ve included links to what wedding rings I think they would give you 😌 I just did the bachelors in this one but if you want the bachelorettes lemme know!

What the bachelors give you for your wedding and how they react to you walking down the aisle

Harvey:

First off, he’s sweating

This is a lot of attention and he’s not use to it

He got you something meaningful as a gift, something to symbolize what you mean to him

It’s a beautiful hand made photo album with all the pictures you’ve ever taken together in it, and a few he’s taken when you weren’t paying attention

Under each picture is a brief description and the reasons he loves the photos and you

Very worries you’ll think it’s cheesy or dumb but you love it and him

The moment he sees you walking up the aisle towards him?

He’s trying not to sob, he thinks you look absolutely ethereal

Could hardly stop complimenting you enough for mayor Lewis to get the ceremony started

This is the wedding ring:

Sam:

He’s so excited, he’s been pacing all day

His mom and his friends could barely keep him calm lol

He got you one of those eternal roses that are in like the jars of liquid to preserve them

It’s not much but you love it none the less, it’s a super sweet gift

When you start walking down the aisle?

Tears, doesn’t even bother to hide it he just loves you so much, and to see you walking toward him ready to spend the rest of your life with him? He’s crying

Gives you a forehead kiss before mayor Lewis can start his speech

This is the ring he gets you:

Alex:

He’s trying to remain calm on his wedding day, trying to look very nonchalant

But he’s readjusted his tie and shirt like 25 times in the last ten minutes

He’s frazzled but he won’t show it

He got you a silver heart shaped locket with a picture of you on one side and him on the other side

Your wearing it currently with your wedding outfit

When he sees you walking down the aisle any anxiety he had has gone out the window

He thinks your the most elegant person out there and he can’t believe he’s so lucky to have you

This is your wedding ring:

Shane:

He’s so nervous and it shows, he’s sweating, he threw up this morning

His anxiety is off the charts

He got you a dainty bracelet with little emeralds embedded in it since you once told him those were your favorite gemstone

When he sees you walking up the aisle he’s so much calmer

It’s amazing how just the sight of you can help his nerves settle

Thinks you look absolutely amazing, he still can hardly believe that you want to marry him

This is the wedding ring:

https://mollyjewelryus.com/shop/kite-cut-lab-emerald-engagement-ring-solid-rose-gold-2/?gclid=CjwKCAiAr4GgBhBFEiwAgwORrRCFJ6df2CMqs7EB8KVAaZhuZT6AQVATBAl-CGhiBUY2nsfi9ojYIRoCNkcQAvD_BwE

Sebastian:

He’s pretty calm day of, he is however enjoying watching his mom run all over the place fretting

Has to tell her to calm down a few times

He got you a dainty little necklace with a labradorite crystal on it in the shape of a star

When he sees you walking down the aisle towards him is when he starts sweating

He thinks your the most perfect person on the face of this earth and he isn’t sure how he managed to bag a baddie like you

Can’t stop smiling for the life of him

Just adores you, tears on his waterline but not falling cause that would ruin his eyeliner

Yes he wears eyeliner

This is the ring:

Elliott:

Oh god this man is so excited

He loves you with all his soul and he cannot wait to be married

He got you a very pretty pair of pearl earrings and a matching necklace to go with them

When he sees you walking down the aisle he has to physically stop himself from running down it to pick you up and kiss you

Thinks your absolute radiant, the most beautiful person he’s ever laid eyes on

Could recite a whole sonnet for you on how much you mean to him

He’s sobbing though so you’ll have to wait for that

This is the ring:

[retroactivebakeries]

notes from a d&d heartbreaker in which each class is based on the mechanics from one of the weird 3.5 classes:

Mystic/Warrior/Expert: "Passive" classes, where your powers are either always on or just things you can use whenever, as much as you want (although maybe borrowing resets from the swordsage and warblade). Mystic is modeled on 3.5 warlocks and dragonfire adepts, while Warriors and Experts split the difference on the various non-casting classes, and the non-casting parts of guys like rangers or bards. The simplest classes, intended as an easy entry point into the game.

Mage: For each level of spell, you can cast a certain number of spells each day. Modeled on 3.5 sorcerers and other spontaneous casters. The next-simplest class down from the passive classes.

Channeler: Similar to the mage, except instead of divvying up spell uses by level, you have a single pool of resources that's used to cast all your spells, with the cost scaling with spell level. Based on 3.5 psionic classes.

Chaos Adept: Each round, roll to randomly determine which powers you can use that round. Modeled on the 3.5 crusader.

Living Grimoire: You have to prepare your spells in spell slots of the appropriate level in advance of casting them. Modeled on D&D wizards/clerics/druids, but drawing more from the weird, pulpy roots of its inspiration, the writing of Jack Vance.

Pactbroker: Make pacts with multiple puissant supernatural beings, each with its own set of powers—but you can only use one at a time (at least, to start out with). Modeled on 3.5 binders and vestige magic, and to a lesser extent, dragon shamans' auras.

Willworker: You can cast spells as often as you like, but have to succeed on a roll to do so, with failure meaning you can't use that spell again until some 1/interval reset. Modeled on 3.5 truenamers.

Demiurge: Instead of spellcasting,you have a set of magical devices, construct servitors, and other neat stuff, gaining more or upgrading existing items as you gain levels. Modeled on 3.5 artificers, but without the infusion part.

Gifted: Similar to the passive Mystic class, but not all of your abilities are constantly on—you have a limited number of points to allocate between them, requiring you to choose your power load-out in advance until you get time to reallocate. Modeled on the 3.5 incarnum classes.

Some classes will need a specific set of unique powers—probably the passive classes, chaos adepts, the gifted, demiurges, and pactbrokers.

For the rest, instead of class-specific flavor/spell lists, you'll largely customize the classes' flavor by picking from one of a couple sets spell lists—maybe something like, Earthsea/Gandalf-style wizardry, Thulsa Doom/Elric-style pulp sorcery, cleric-type miracle working, psionic powers, and wuxia-style cinematic action that may not technically be magic.

Some classes may have a handful of spells that are unique to them, primarily ones that play off the unique quirks of their casting mechanics.

[maddiviner]

So, @ceruab13 was asking about books focused on Enochian magic and the Angelical language.

I scrolled a bit, and it turns out that the interest stems from the popular television drama, Supernatural! I actually think it’s kind of neat that Supernatural incorporated the Enochian language into the show. I watched an episode or two back in the day, but have trouble keeping with long shows, so it’s not my fandom.

If people are interested in learning more because of it, though, so be it. I could try to write my own summary of Enochian magic, but other people have done that, and much better than I could, so I’m providing a list of books instead. Some are published and available in ebooks and print; a few are freely available online, either out of copyright or just free to distribute.

This is a short reading list featuring books I’ve read focused on Enochian magic, the history of it, and the concepts involved. It is not a recommended reading list, exactly. It’s just a list of everything I’ve read that might be relevant, with a little bit about each book.

Some are books written by magical practitioners to help others learn the art; others are focused on the history surrounding John Dee and Edward Kelley. I hope you find something worth reading here. Again, these aren’t limited to recommended favorites - it’s just a list of everything that might be, in some way, helpful.

First, before I start listing the secondary sources, I’ll suggest reading some of Dee’s diaries.

They’re actual diaries, and you should keep them handy in a tab if you’re reading more about this. Also check out A True and Faithful Relation, which is a later account of their workings. That link includes (typed) excerpts, but you can find scanned copies through Cornell’s digital library, too. You can keep these handy while reading any of the following works, and it’ll be helpful. Don’t feel discouraged if the Elizabethan grammar and such seems obtuse, and if secondary sources help provide context, let them!

The Essential Enochian Grimoire, by Aaron Leitch.

This one’s really comprehensive, and covers both purist interpretations of the tradition and Neo-Enochiana. On top of that, there’s a lot of good historical context here, too. A lot of the strictly historical authors ignore the existing occult traditions that influenced Dee and Kelley, or just don’t talk about them enough, whereas here there’s entire sections devoted to them.

I really liked the chapter that attempts to outline the worldview present in Dee’s diaries. I recommend this for the willworker who hasn’t got any experience with Enochian, but not for someone just starting out with magic. If you’re used to working in a spartan fashion, you might find the calls for equipment daunting, but the workings in this book are very adaptable.

John Dee and the Empire of Angels, by Jason Louv.

Not a book of practical magic, but a biography of Dee and Kelley. Louv himself is an occultist, and therefore willing to entertain explanations for the incidents that other history researchers might not. He also keeps grounded and admits that none of this can be strictly proven, and that Kelley, of course, could’ve been a charlatan. I tend to see a critical approach to Dee and Kelley (rather than treating them both as sages) as the mark of a decent book on Enochian magic.

Here, the author speculates a lot on what was actually going on, and doesn’t shy away from mentioning the paranormal aspects that are hard to explain. Louv’s tone and pacing are excellent, and the conversational tone of the book will no doubt maintain your attention to the very end. A lot of it feels like juicy Elizabethan gossip (except with citations!), and will give you a feel for Dee and Kelley’s complicated world.

The Angelical Language, by Aaron Leitch.

Whereas The Essential Enochian Grimoire covered the working of Enochian magic in practice, Leitch’s The Angelical Language gives us a narrative of the system’s reception and development, with special attention to the language itself. There’s plenty of practical bits woven in there, and the blending of history and magical technique enriches the experience of both. Also, while I did like this book, I had a tonic clonic seizure while reading it. I liked how the author included pronunciation notes for the Enochian letters, even though I doubt I vocalized them properly.

Primarily focused on the language itself, the book doesn’t include as much practical advice as The Essential Enochian Grimoire. The practical parts he does give look like they’d be easy to adapt to different scenarios, though. There’s not an overt focus on having a lot of tools. I lost consciousness and seized for a good three or so minutes while reading this book on break at work and woke up in the emergency room. I’ll probably get the second volume and read it soon. Leitch himself suggested not reading the Angelical words out loud next time? 😆

Enochian Vision Magick, by Lon Milo DuQuette

Lon really isn’t my cup of tea, particularly since I’ve ditched Thelema and don’t plan on ever going back. This book is notable, though, because he uses really archaic techniques for his scrying operations, making them quite different in energetic texture than the more common Golden Dawn methods. His methods require a lot of “stuff,” so to speak: ritual tools and accoutrement.

DuQuette’s attitude of treating ritual tools as training wheels to be internalized and eventually rendered unnecessary as skills develop isn’t exactly unsound. It’s certainly one method of doing it, but it’s not very accessible. It’s certainly not how most people (who tend to pick up magic in their early years, and may not have a ton of resources) are doing things. I didn’t. I’m mentioning this one for completeness, mostly. Read it to see what Thelemites are doing Enochian-wise, and how Crowley’s influence survives to this day in Enochian magic.

The Vision and the Voice, by Aleister Crowley

Crowley was an abusive piece of shit. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, you can check out The Vision and the Voice. It’s available here online. It’s Crowley’s journal of his experience scrying the Enochian aethyrs with his student and service top, Victor Neuberg. They had decided that the Algerian desert was the perfect place for a month-long scrying operation facilitated by a sex magic ritual wherein Crowley took the passive role. In the desert. Let that sink in. 😝

Following this experience, Crowley considered himself to have reached a state of enlightenment. The experiences therein and the visions were, in fact, fairly intense. Oddly, I hadn’t read this when I did my (first) Enochian workings, and didn’t pick it up until much later, and then only for completeness sake. I don’t recommend actually listening to Crowley’s advice on hardly anything, but it’s good to read this to understand his influence and history. You probably shouldn’t listen to one iota of his actual “teachings,” but there’s plenty to be learned from the guy. You can learn a lot about aerodynamics from watching a fiery plane crash.

The Queen’s Conjuror, by Benjamin Woollet

This is more of a straight-up history book detailing the remarkable lives and work of John Dee and Edward Kelley. Woollet provides enough background material to give an ample window into Elizabethan life, occult and beyond. This book gives no practical (or other) instructions and, as far as I’ve been able to tell, was written by a non-magical historian. I consider The Queen’s Conjuror a necessary read for that reason.

Sometimes we forget how magic can intersect with things like politics and science. This biography of John Dee reminds us that it’s all always already connected, and that Dee’s primary impetus was a (highly political) “immanentization of the Eschaton”. This book entertains various theories about the situation at Mortlake, fully admits Kelley may have been a charlatan in some capacity, and features other refreshing takes from an academic perspective.

The Black Lodge of Santa Cruz, by Satyr

Magic, much like fire, can be a useful tool. It can also reduce precious things to embers. This is the memoir of a magician who, in the late 1980s, was part of a small and controversial Enochian studies group in California. Read it here.

Satyr, working with his wife and their easily-possessed mentor, begins a series of experimental Enochian workings. Things rapidly spiral out of control amid already tense occult political situations. The context for this (the Caliphate OTO’s squabble over succession, etc) may feel irrelevant to modern practitioners (it is to me, for all intents and purposes). Nevertheless, we can all recognize the egos, personality clashes, ambition and other factors that contributed to the unique situation in Santa Cruz. In terms of magic itself, this memoir documents a period of great innovation, both inside Enochian circles and in other areas.

Heartbreaking in places and illuminating in others, The Black Lodge of Santa Cruz gives the story of one of the most infamous cases of the notorious “Enochian breakdown” phenomenon people talk about, where someone starts doing intense Enochian workings only to have their lives driven into pure chaos. Recommended reading before you attempt any so-called hell-rides (those month-long scrying operations people keep doing), at very least.

I hope something here interests someone!

[midnight-blue-blood]

I don't know their intention. I'm not supposed to know they're coming at all.

The long run. Distance is best.

Why is an Archon coming to the domain? This is hardly devolved to the point of their attention.

[ghoul-mortician]

The horror in Mage: The Ascension

From Guide to the Technocracy page 24

Let’s begin be re-examining the foundation of the whole game. We can sum up all the mystic mage philosophy presented so far in four words: Reality is a mess. Some people believe that reality is guided by consensus. If that’s true, then this reality, as we experience it, is defined by the combined will of billions of humans. Collectively, the human race creates a dominant paradigm for the world, one based on simple, reasonable ideas: gravity works, truth is proved through logic, two plus two always equals four and so on. A few isolated groups rebel against these notions, but the general consensus still creates what we see and experience. For the most part, our world is the one humanity has chosen. There’s one complication, though: Although humans form the most populous society in the world, they’re not the only one present. If reality is a tapestry woven by mankind, then someone or something is starting to snap the threads. Fringe groups, occult societies, monstrous creatures — all of these terrors hide within the warp, woof, and weave of the world, straining against the accepted fabric of reality. The insanity of the supernatural world is tearing reality apart. Some creatures are even more dangerous. They drastically alter reality itself to fulfill their own desires. By their will, so is it done. Call them whatever you like — willworkers, magi, mystics, shamans, Reality Deviants — in a word, they’re mages. They do not share the reality of the Masses. Instead, they place themselves above and beyond it, pursuing their own dangerous dreams. Through their power, any madness can be made manifest. ... Think, for a moment, of the horrifying reality of that statement. Through the mind of a mage, all things are possible. Any dream, any nightmare, any lust or desire can be realized. Any base urge can be fulfilled through sheer force of will. The darkness in a wizard’s soul calls out for meaning to define the mysteries of his existence. Offer him a mythos of primitive gods, and he’ll summon them into reality. Tell him lies of death and resurrection, and he’ll tear the veil between life and death asunder. Speak to him to him of spirits and the unseen, and he’ll release them into the world. Such is the madness of primitive magi.

[coloursfalllikesnow]

finally got around to doing some quick headshots for a few of the NPCs in my Hunter the Reckoning game. got a few more to do but here’s some for now.

Gabrielle & Destiny: Newly moved to the West Virginia town of Bone Ridge after the mysterious death of Gabrielle’s ex-husband and subsequently inheriting a house in the area, these two were the reason the cell came to the town in the first place. The House of the Basilisk discovered some posts online where Destiny showed a photograph of a creature she stumbled on in the abandoned mine in the area, which, as the cell learned when they arrived, apparently tracked her down and attacked her while they were en route. After the cell ended up bungling their assignment to protect Destiny from the monster, the girl vanished from the home after another attack from the creature - and, based on some deductions and a photograph of a large wolflike monster escaping the house, became one of the mysterious Lycans.

Lousia: Encountered for the first time outside the mine as they were investigating it, Lousia didn’t start off with a great first impression of the cell, but things warmed up. Lousia is a member of the Riese family, known locally for living on the outskirts of the town and being strange and a bit reclusive. Louisa is a kinfolk to the Bone Gnawer tribe, and she and her family are under the impression the cell are also kinfolk, due to their ability to see spirits and apparent immunity to the Delirium... which is thanks to their Sight.

Ozzie: Louisa’s uncle and a Bone Gnawer Ragabash, Ozzie assisted the cell in clearing out an infestation of strange, mutant animals. He’s a jovial, friendly fellow, and enjoys jokes, as well as teasing the “kinfolk.”

Patricia: Louisa’s grandmother and Ozzie’s mother, Patricia is a powerful willworker as well as a Garou elder - she’s the one in charge of their tiny sept, and is keeping a very close eye on the newcomers.

“Jack”: That’s probably not his real name. This enigmatic figure has a canny knack for appearing and disappearing wherever pleases him, and seems to appear as a void under a Hunter’s Sight, and that can’t be a good sign. But he’s been helpful so far. Maybe. It’s hard to tell.

???: It’s probably fine, don’t worry about it.

[straightyuri]

oh wait maybe alex's mobs willwork now

[idontliketomatoesleavemealone]

Ai do nott sink so

me when i realize my moots do not, in fact, have a canadian accent

[contentcollectivestudio]

Progress. You determine and enjoy. Content Collective Studio, Authentic & Storytelling.

[a-celestial-dream]

If my future man doesn’t propose to me with THIS ring in particular:

I probably won’t say yes.

This is literally my dream ring because it looks like the midnight sky is trapped in a stone.

(Ring belongs to Willwork Jewelry)

[neotrances]

ok i’m stopping for now i did two other things but willwork on them more before posting eh

[cranberrybogmummy]

This is inspiring me to do more cheese based ttrpg campaign ideas!

I had an idea about dwarfs making and cave aging cheese? Well this could tie into it some shady willworker/magic user faking dwarven aged cheese with forbidden dairy magic but then the spell used mutates those who eat the cheese in odd and terrible ways! Possibly aging them supernaturally!

Thank you so much for posting this it’s inspiring!!!

like the idea of unnaturally aged cheese. making my gouda old using dread magics forbidden by the college of sorcery

[deershauna]

i'm going to try to be more normal and less intense towards sadie. maybe fantasy of mine willwork out