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There are many charms, spells and enchantments that require the use of a talisman in their working. Unlike amulets, which are naturally occurring objects, a talisman must be created in order to imbue the tool with its proper power and focus.
The simplest talismans are those that only need to be a symbol or word inscribed on a piece of paper. Depending upon the work you are attempting, they may quickly grow more complex and difficult to construct. Some require expensive and exotic metals and gems and etching into their surfaces to complete as per instructions.
While a small simple talisman may be created in a matter of minutes, there are those that require vast amounts of time to complete. You may be required to actually find a way to mine and smith the ore yourself or perform some other time consuming task in order to acquire the materials you will need for its construction. Rituals concerning their making also run the gauntlet from a simple blessing to the following of multiple cleansing of the practitioner or working only during specific phases of the moon and planets.
Amongst all this time and effort to use material objects to create a material object, where does the magic enter into it? How does it go from being pieces and parts to a powerful magical tool? The giant secret underlying a talisman's power was stated in one simple sentence of Israel Regardie's book 'How to Make and Use Talismans'.
After working through the majority of the text that described the specific materials and rituals needed to create various talismans, their purposes and the etheric entities that they are used to summon or contact, was found this easily overlooked sentence. It stated that ALL the preceding instruction was designed merely to help the student make sure that they had adequately convinced their subconscious mind that the item WOULD work. Quite simply put, the power that drives your talisman is the same Force of Will that is required for all your magical workings. It derives from the unshakable faith that your Will is capable of performing the magical work you are preparing for.
This does not mean that one should cut corners or do shoddy work. The building up of the requisite Force of Will can be an essential part of a practitioner’s success. There are some that are sure enough within their abilities to work great magic while sitting in their housecoat at the kitchen table. Others may still need the psychological aid that a full-blown and fully costumed ritual provides for them to make the work real enough for their minds to make it so. Whichever way makes you the strongest is the one right for you.
Even with a strong faith and will, one should take care to prepare certain talismans correctly. Many higher level works involve dealing with powerful etheric entities that may have no particular need or desire to aid the human magician. In order to request their time and effort one should go to whatever lengths are needed to make the contact point appropriate and inviting. Just as you would not invite the presence of an influential human with a photocopied invitation, you would not want to use an improperly constructed talisman to call upon a powerful etheric entity.
Talismans are not particularly 'magical' in and of themselves so much as they are a focus point by which you can channel your mental energy. Like a key for a lock, your talisman must still be able to access the sublime forces that influence the universe around you to flow into the shape you desire.
As well as writing and researching on the paranormal and occult phenomena that intersect our reality, Douglas Mefford can also be found helping spread literature to the world at Bell, Book & Candle Publications or hanging out at his bungalow in Greenwoods Village.
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