The magic of braiding hair
Hair carries a portion of one’s magical potency, being connected to the head and therefore one’s thoughts, intentions, mentality and identity. A person’s hair may be one of the first things that we notice about them, directly informing our perceptions of them. Hair is often connected to emotion; tangled, brittle and turning white when a person is stressed, or neat, clean and strong if they are happy and healthy. In some societies such as in ancient China, a person wears specific hairstyles and headdresses to represent their age and status. Hair can be taken as a taglock, for good or ill. It can be cut to symbolise grief and mourning, or as a rite of passage and separation from a stage of life. We unconsciously associate many things with this part of our body. Because of its power, there are even superstitions on how to dispose of hair properly.
Hence, there is a lot of unrealised potential for those who go through the trouble of keeping and caring for long hair. I will mostly be focusing on the use of braids as a medium of magic. In brief:
Blessings and glamours can be braided into the hair through chanting, with herbal washes to accentuate their effects
Charms and accessories can be incorporated with corresponding colours and symbols
The comb can be a magical tool to remove stresses and clear one’s mind, and to prepare the hair for braiding
I recommend braiding the first inch or two to set and tidy the braid, then begin the spell when ready
Any hairs that come loose while combing can be seen as a vessel for unpleasant energy and snapped as a small cord-cutting ritual
Braids can be used for binding, as in the case of weather magic, to bind rain spirits for temporary relief from bad weather
It can also be used as a quick solution to bind the unpleasant actions of others, such as when dealing with negative colleagues and family members
Hair braids are meant for temporary magic, in the sense that you’ll eventually want to unbraid them so that you can care for your hair, and remove or change the magical effects; especially if you’ve used it for binding.
The structure of the chant can be something simple, with further embellishments added to the charm. A three strand braid corresponds to the three powers of land, sea and sky.
I braid in the blessings of XX to adorn me.
By the power of Three, by Heaven, Earth and Sea
For example, a poetic invocation of knowledge and psychic power for the purposes of divination can be spoken thus:
I braid in the thoughtfulness of thousands, the movement of stars, the knowledge of worlds. I braid in the wisdom of the ages, of enlightened beings, of weathered stone. I braid in the blessings of heightened intuition, bright as the moon in her fullness. By the power of Three, by Heaven, Earth and Sea.
Planetary powers can be invoked alongside poetic imagery of that which you wish to emulate. Here are some examples.
The Sun, for leadership and prestige
I braid in the light of the morning, the grace of the Sun, the dignity of lions. I braid in the voices of authority, the eloquence of leaders, the fires of torches that brighten the darkness.
Venus, for beauty and seduction
I braid in the grace of Venus, the allure of sweet fragrance, the elegance of flowers. I braid in words like butterflies, and charming smiles. I braid in the seduction of union with divinity, the promise of passion, the awakening of desire.
Mercury, for wit and inspired thinking
I braid in the swiftness of Mercury, the lightning strike of clarity, the sharpness of needles to pierce through all delusion. I braid in the whirlwinds of inspiration, of nectar from the heavens, the brightness of mirrors caught in the light.
Even without the invocation of various powers, poetic imagery alone can be used. In this case, one’s hair is likened to vines, nets, chains, ropes, and spider silk.
The binding of a person’s harmful words and actions
I bind in my braids the spirit of XX, like a vine of thorns I trap them, like heavy chains I bring them low. I bind their vileness like the web of a spider, like a fish caught in nets, like the spring of a trap, like the tightening of a noose. No harm can come from a tangled fly, no injury from speck of dust.
Since I mentioned weather magic, I may as well include a simple chant if you happen to be caught out in the rain. You’ll find greater success if you already have a good relationship with weather spirits.
I bind the rains of heaven high, no storm above shall dim the sky.
The skies shall clear, right now and here, the clouds all woven in my hair.
And so, by the power of Three, by Heaven, Earth and Sea, I hope you enjoy this simple method of sympathetic magic.
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