St. Cyprian of Antioch vs. the World of the Sick Image
Praise to the Most Wise Magician, Mystic and Martyr, St. Cyprian of the blessed and venerable city of Antioch. May his name be ever spoken by those who Know it.
May the Saint enter the heart of the banker and compel them to curse Mammon. May His love destroy the walls of every prison and court. May His power tie the tongues of the oppressor.
First, by way of introduction: Cyprian, a 3rd century pagan sorcerer, converted to Christianity when a woman he was hired to enchant was able to dismiss his magik with the simple sign of the cross. Later both he and Justina, the lady in question, were gruesomely martyred in Nicodemia and their remains left to be consumed by dogs. Legend has it that these remains were spirited off to Rome and interred in a secret ritual chamber in the Basilica al Celio of Sts John and Paul, and then taken away again to Piacenza (the purported reliquary casket for their remains is currently in Milan at the Castello Sforzesco). Afterwards, the legend of Cyprian grew and he became (along with the likes of Pope Honorius II) synonymous with magic, divination, and enchantment. Over time he has become the patron saint of witches, enchanters, diviners, and necromancers.
One of the earliest literary examples of Cyprian’s magical efficacy and prowess is what is called the Oratio Cypriani a magical Christian prayer used to remove maledictions. All current versions of this work (which can be found in Arabic, Greek, Latin and Ethiopian) all stem from no earlier than the 14th century. But a few scholars believe that there is intertextual evidence which suggests that the original was most likely penned in the 4th century possibly by the Saint himself.
Once his story made its way into Iberia and from there to Brazil the Saint’s character begins to become a bit more morally ambiguous and his legend really begins to blossom. Of particular interest is the idea that in converting to Christianity he did not renounce his previous knowledge but merely added the techniques and powers of this new faith to his previous body of knowledge and experience. His initiations, which occurred in such storied places such as Mt. Olympus, Memphis and the Sassanian Empire, now included his induction into the Mysteries of Christ. The potency of this new initiation was as such that he was given power over all spirits and occult forces.
He is said to bestow a number of gifts to his adherents: 1) He is effective in protecting them from all forms of maledictions; 2) He affords them with mastery over all manner of invisible beings; 3) He ensures that the right books find their way to his devotees and that they are understood as well as aids them in writing the right books. In short he provides his devotees with the tools of spiritually radical liberties.
But in what way can these liberties be extended into the modern world? The saint can be of service to the contemporary world as a spiritual force who provides protection against any form of bad image magic. The unquestionably evil, magical forces of advertising and propaganda are perhaps the best examples of this form of occult pandemic. The Renaissance mage, Giordano Bruno, certainly was aware of the power to use imagery-based magical techniques in order to manipulate the masses as his works on image magic and magical bonds display (see also Couliano’s “Eros and Magic in the Renaissance”). Since Cyprian is often called upon to block and or reverse such inconveniences as jinxes, hexes, maledictions, and the Evil Eye it stands to reason that the Saint can also be called upon to protect the faithful from more contemporary, sophisticated versions of these ills.
As a vehicle for advertising and propaganda Social media serves as an anxiety-laden manipulation engine that delivers this shit to order. May the crosier of our purple-clad saint immobilize these forces of Hermetic shadow.
Below are some contemporary spells which may prove useful to comrades wishing to work with this saint in their struggle against the sick vision of what the Internet and marketing has become. The astute will notice the inclusion here of material culled from the Shem haMephorash and the 6th and 7th Books of Moses.
Spells for working with St. Cyprian
These require a small altar to the Saint containing an image, and offerings of water, incense, flame, and oil. A glass of water, a censer, a purple candle or lantern, and a vial of (the saint’s) chrism will fulfill these requirements.
Protection Against Advertising
Lay out six little vessels each filled with a small quantity of pure olive oil in front of the altar to St. Cyprian of Antioch. Daily starting on a Sunday until Friday take one vessel and recite over it Psalm 31 in a low and solemn voice. After each recitation anoint the hands and face with the oil and say:
“By the secret name of God, NLK, Thou Alone! I call for you to send forth the Angel Nelakhel of the choir of the Thrones to aid and assist purple-clad Cyprian in allowing me to escape all wicked tongues seen and heard who seek to do me harm. In particular may all forms of advertising, a quiver of lies volleyed against the eye and ear, fall short of their mark and be rendered impotent. May these six vessels blessed by the Lord of Pleasure strengthen and ennoble me, a true servant of the Highest. This will be done for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen - Selah!”
Protection Against Propaganda
Take a small mirror and lustrate it with water from Cyprian’s altar. Then consecrate it with fire by passing it above the lantern burning on the altar. Devote it through suffumigation. Finally, perfect and enliven the mirror with Holy Oil. Leave this mirror on the saint’s altar for nine days.
Beginning on a Monday, find a video or writing of the propagandist vexing you and turn your back to it. Raise the charmed mirror and look at the wicked spirit’s reflection. Recite Psalm 12 and then pray:
“Almighty Father, my God HHH, Three-in-One! Send forth thy powerful Angel, Hehahel, of the choir of Virtues, to assist the blessed Saint Cyprian of Antioch in his work on my behalf. Allow them to work diligently to ensure that all conspiracies against me may become unstable and come to naught; Let them be armed with the fierce and terrible majesty of your seven swords! Thus armed let them turn away from me all imagery and noise which may cause danger and injury to my soul’s quest for Peace. This will be done for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen – Selah!” Repeat this for seven days avoiding any additional contact with the wicked spirit.
Protection Against the Poison of Social Media
Fill a new clay pot with fresh spring water. Pour into it pure olive oil naming the afflicted individual (“I perform this blessing on behalf of NN.”). Recite over this pot Psalm 10 daily for nine days, keeping in mind the adorable and Secret name of God, HHO. After each recitation say: “May it be thy most holy Will, Oh, HHO, to send forth thy Kerub, Hihaiah, to aid and assist the blessed Saint Cyprian of Antioch to heal the body and soul of N., son of R.”
Concurrently, reproduce the logo of the social media company that is afflicting the victim on a small, square slip of paper. Lustrate the paper in the corners and center with water from Cyprian’s altar. Then consecrate it with fire by passing it above the lantern burning on the altar. Devote it through suffumigation. Finally, perfect and enliven the petition with Holy Oil. Then say: “Foul and unclean spirit, you are not welcome here. All of your powers to oppress and afflict NN. have been dispersed by the ministrations of St. Cyprian of Antioch, through the holy agency of the Kerub Hihaiah, and by the power and authority of the secret name of God, HHO. You are defeated and shall find no respite here. I bind you in the name of Hagios Cyprianos, Hihaiah, and HHO”
Place the petition beneath the eidolon of Cyprian or underneath the lantern for nine days reciting the above each day and refraining from engaging with the application.
After the nine days has passed add into the pot 10 new coins and say: “Armed with the coins of the Lord of Wealth may Saint and Angel free the afflicted from all plagues and oppression. Thou wilt strengthen him, O Lord, in soul and body and deliver him from evil. This will be done for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen – Selah!” Bury this in the front of the home of the afflicted.
Afterwards take the petition paper and burn it in the censor saying: “Thus bound and gelded, I purge you from this home, foul and unclean spirit. Come not again lest you earn the wrath of the God Most High.” Take the ashes and carefully leave them in a stream, taking care not to look back at the stream when leaving.
May the wise and wonder-filled saint of Antioch, Cyprian! Bestow his blessings to you in your struggle for liberty. Ora Pro Nobis, O Sanctus.
(above image by Stuart Littlejohn)