St Cyprian And Christian Aggression
Today starts the nine day lead up to the feast of St Cyprian of Antioch, the Sorcerer Saint. Many have already begun their novenas already and a few teachers have posted announcements and thoughts to start of the season.
As I sit here amongst the chaos of mid-move unpacking (I don’t even know where the box with his statues is at the moment), I am reflecting on some of the chaos in the world at large.
St Cyprian is just as much the Christian Bishop as he is the Wizard, and as such walks the paths between Heaven and Hell, Pagan and Christian, Holiness and Diablerie. Right now, I can’t address any magic or wisdom associated with Christianity without first acknowledging how the harm caused and evil done in the name of Christ seems to be accelerating. This effects everyone, but is of particular concern to those that these Christians have deemed enemies. LGBT communities, secularists, atheists, and of course those who practice any form of Magic or Witchcraft.
- Earlier this year Roe V Wade was overturned by theocratic Christian Justices appointed to the United States Supreme Court. It seems that they are willing and eager to make further decisions that would impose their particular view of Christianity on the nation.
- Christian Nationalists have been harassing and threatening the staff and board of a public library in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, demanding that they ban 400 books. The library may have to close completely because insurance companies will not take the risk while armed Christian Survivalists continue to threaten the staff and patrons. Worst part? Not a single one of the 400 books are stocked in that library.
- A Christian set fire to the Satanic Temple in Salem Mass and specified that he himself considered it a hate crime and wanted people to know that it was.
- Last month the Washington Post reported that Christian groups are stepping up their harassment at Pagan and Wiccan festivals.
Many Occultists and Pagans are justifiably concerned about returning to the days of the 80’s Satanic Panic. So how are those who work with Saints and Christian Grimoires supposed to act in such times? How are those who practice mystical or Gnostic Christianity or even those who practice in more enlightened mainstream denominations like the Epsicopal Church, to react?
“Don’t defend the faith with words” was the first thing that came to mind. Was this Cyprian or me? Doesn’t matter really. The point is this: Whether or not these idiots and aggressors represent your view of Christianity or not, now is not the time to argue about it. When people who are traumatized and threatened blame Christianity, its because enough Christians act that way to make it seem like that is Christianity. Defending Christianity with words about what it should be, or what it is to most, does not help the people that have been hurt and are being hurt, nor does it stop the growing amount of theocrats that are influencing government.
I am afraid that even though Christianity is set to no longer be the majority, a greater share of Christians will be of the intolerant hateful strain rather than the liberal and loving variety.
So if we don’t defend what Christianity should be, or how we think it is with words: what should be done? What should have always been done. Show it through actions. If someone says that they feel afraid going to a pagan festival, go with them. If a temple or a shrine or god-forbid the home of a Witch gets vandalized or destroyed: donate money, time or both to get it cleaned up. When someone tells you that they hate Christianity and want it destroyed, tell them you hate the same things about it that they do, and while you see more in it than whats bad its completely understandable how that good can be obscured.
And of course, there is magic.
Use magic to protect and shield people that belong to faiths under fire. Use magic to bind and attack individuals and groups that perpetuate this evil in Christs name.
This year, if you do a Novena to St Cyprian, please accompany it with meaningful action against the growing Toxic Christianity or in support of its Victims.
A SORCERER’S PRAYER TO ST. CYPRIAN
In the name of the great and mighty power of God I invoke the sublime influence of St. Cyprian, in Christ Jesus. I ask that you be my mentor and my master by virtue of the grace bestowed upon you by God omnipotent who was, who is, and who will ever be.
You learned to control storms on Mt Olympus, the casting of enchantment and illusion in Argos, the mysteries of the witches craft at Taurapolis, necromancy among the graves of Sparta, and incantations in Memphis. Finally in Antioch, drawn by power, you found grace of Christ.
Oh Holy Cyprian, you who equally partakes of the Mass and the Sabbat, bless my efforts to follow you in your path. You who commingled with angels, devils, and earthly spirits, grant the power to command the spirits as you did, and as Solomon and Manasses did before you.
I thank you Lord for the many gifts of nature and grace with which you enriched the spiritual treasure house of your most faithful servant St. Cyprian. I thank you, my protector, for the special favors I have received by your powerful intercession.
(insert prayers, petitions, spells, or requests for intercession here)
Oh Cyprian Holy Thaumaturge : Saint and Sorcerer, Martyr and Magus, bless me. Take my prayers and spells and make them your own. When the Lord hears them he will not ignore them, they will cease to be my words, but yours.
Amen
A Prayer Against Those Who Do Evil In Christ’s Name
Oh Holy Saint Cyrpian, Saint Justina, and Saint Theoctistus I beg you for intercession in this dark hour.
Those who claim to know and speak for Christ, but who preach only hatred, ignorance, and intolerance are gaining in power. Their perform deeds of pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in God’s name. Let them be now and forever be ANATHEMA MARANATHA.
Though they are surely as strange to you as is they have never lived, they are rising to positions of worldly power and influence, and putting forth laws and judgements that serve only poverty and ruin. Let them be now and forever be ANATHEMA MARANATHA.
As you were martyred standing against Diocletian’s persecution of Christians, I ask that you aid us in stopping those who would do the same to others in Christs name. Let them be now and forever be ANATHEMA MARANATHA.
Cyprian, use your sorcery to cut off their access to the angelic hosts, and to curse and confound their efforts of evil.
Justina, shield their victims with the sign of the cross and haunt them with the evils that they would perpetrate on others.
Theoctistus, take up your arms once again and wage war against the wicked and deceitful that do evil and call it love.
Let all the angels of Heaven withdraw their blessings from these false prophets and sewers of hate.
Let all he demons of Hell lose upon these powers and principalities, and let Lucifer delight in their destruction.
As the psalms say Let their days be few; and let another take their office.
Let them be before the Lord continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
This short prayer is easily combined with imprecatory psalms such as Psalm 69. or 109.
A couple lines are stolen from Psalm 109, and a few turns of phrase are stolen from Charles Dickens Ghost of Christmas Present:
“There are some upon this earth of yours,” returned the Spirit, “who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”
A Spell of Three Nails
Purchase of make a cross of three nails. Go somewhere that hatred is preached in Christs name and hold this cross in fervrent prayer repeating the phrase ANATHAMA MARANATHA over and over again. Gather a link to the Church, group, or individual and bring it home with you. A pamphlet will suffice.
At midnight undo your cross and separate the nails.
By the three prayers Christ uttered in the Garden of Getsemane before his arrest, I thrice bind those who spread hate in his name.
By the three hours of darkness that covered the land during his suffering, I thrice blind those who spread hate in his name.
By the thee days Christ spent in hell after his death and before his ressurection, I thrice condemn those who spread hate in his name.
By the three nails that pierced the flesh of god, let these enemies of love and righteousness be nailed down.
Amen.
Nail the nails through the link and bury it somewhere it will not be disturbed such as the grave of a soldier.