Practicing Witchcraft: What You Should Know About Blood Magic

Sage has been a witch for 25 years. She enjoys writing informative articles to teach others the craft of the Sages.

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The blood magic

‘Blood Magic’ conjures up all sorts of gothic imagery, doesn’t it? Even the word “blood” is a real eye-catcher. Combine it with words like ‘magic’, ‘ritual’, ‘spell’ or ‘rite’ and the first thing that comes to mind is human sacrifices on a stone altar dripping with dark red and other images that look like straight out of a horror movie.

As always, the fiction is much darker and more engaging than reality. Yes, blood can be dangerous – both magical and mundane. But fire can also be dangerous, and yet no one would dare to tell you not to use it to cook your meals. You just have to learn how to use it safely and properly.

The truth is that blood magic can be very powerful if you are inclined and know what you are doing. It should not be undertaken lightly or carelessly; but it doesn’t deserve the “taboo” stamp that many are so quick to give it.

Use of blood in magic and spells

The Power of Blood

I certainly don’t have to tell you that blood is a powerful thing. This is something that is so ingrained in us that we all understand. The fear and reverence for blood dates back to our earliest human ancestors. The sight of this bright red liquid – whether from an enemy or friend, your prey or yourself – immediately drew attention. Blood is associated with such powerful concepts that some people cannot take it and will faint if given too much of it. Hemophobia is the fear of blood.

Blood is associated with death: the slain warriors in the field, the victims of violence, the hunter’s prey all lay bloodied in their final state. Blood is also associated with life: it is part of the fertility cycle that sustains life. If you lost too much blood, you would become weak and die. If your blood is tainted, you will wither.

Blood is associated with pain: you see it when you stumble, fall, have an accident, or fight. Blood is also associated with passion: if you love doing something, if you’re good at it, it’s “in the blood”. Someone you love, especially family members, is your “blood.” Blood connects you to things or others. Even if you don’t know someone, you can sympathize with them, your “heart bleeds for them”. Blood is passion, it’s connection, it’s pure emotion.

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blood is life It flows throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every part of you. Blood is energy – when you exert yourself, your heart beats and your pulse races while your blood flows even faster. A woman bleeds during her menstrual cycle, she bleeds when her hymen ruptures, there is blood at birth. If you donate blood, you might be able to save someone’s life.

Whatever small microscopic particles are floating around in there contain the essence of all that you are. A scientist can (illegally) clone you if he had even a drop of blood. Your blood contains your DNA—a blueprint not just for you, but for your entire ancestral lineage.

Something that contains so much power is inherently powerful in magic. Maybe some would say it is also powerful.

Blood magic is not a blood sacrifice

Blood Magic: No damage needed

Blood magic is not magic that involves killing humans or animals in ritual sacrifices. Let’s just get that straight. We’re not talking about putting an innocent creature on an altar or in the center of a pentagram and killing or wounding it. That would be all wrong, let alone illegal, and is not at all what I mean when I talk about blood magic.

Blood magic is the use of a few drops of blood during a spell or ritual – usually your own blood, but if you’re looking for someone else’s blood you can use their blood (with caution and permission, of course). These few drops can empower a magical work in a number of ways.

What are you saying?

Is blood magic evil?

The first thing you need to learn about blood magic is that it is not inherently evil. Blood isn’t evil, is it? Does it make you “bad” or want to commit malicious acts just because it’s in your body right now? If not, why do you think it would get “nasty” outside of your body? Some people mistakenly think that the use of blood in magic is “dark” or somehow just associated with malicious intent. That’s just not true.

The negative connotations stem from the fear of blood I talked about earlier: fear of our own mortality, fear of power, etc. are the driving factors behind the fear of blood. In fact, if you’re hemophobic, you may want to avoid blood altogether. It’s not for everyone.

But I come from a more objective perspective. I see blood – like any object or component you would use in magic – simply as a tool. It’s a very powerful tool, but a tool nonetheless. It is neither benevolent nor malicious in itself. You can use it for a variety of purposes, although like any other tool, it is not recommended to be used for unethical purposes.

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Back to the fire analogy – I could use fire to burn down my neighbors house if they make me angry. I have access to fire, which can be a very powerful destructive choice if I choose. So what’s stopping me? The fact that I am an ethical person who has no interest in harming others. Just because I don’t want to hurt anyone with fire doesn’t mean I shouldn’t use it. Following the same logic, I don’t want to hurt anyone with blood magic; Just because I don’t want to do any harm with it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t use this powerful tool.

A good tool for blood magic are the spikes that diabetics use to test their blood sugar.

Small things have a big impact

Practice safe blood magic

Before I start talking about ways to use blood in magic, let’s discuss ways to use it safely. First there are a few not to keep in mind:

Never take more than a few drops. Never draw blood from an unwilling participant (this also applies to animals as they cannot consent). Don’t smear people with your blood, don’t let others smear you with blood, and don’t try to exchange blood in any way; Remember that many diseases can be transmitted through blood. Never ingest blood, either direct or in the form of drink; Aside from the fact that you can catch diseases, blood is itself toxic to humans. More than a few teaspoons can cause hemochromatosis and potentially serious organ damage. Don’t let others drink your blood, either raw or in the form of food or drink; This essentially means you are giving that person your power, and not in a good way.

The correct way to safely perform blood magic would be:

Disinfect the skin area with an alcohol swab or disinfectant gel. Disinfect a small poking tool, e.g. B. a pin. Poke only far enough to break the skin. Squeeze your few drops to save for your use. Clean the wound immediately and apply an antibiotic ointment. If it’s still bleeding, put a bandage on it. Handle and dispose of anything that has come into contact with blood with extreme caution until the end of your ritual or spell. Disinfect surfaces (your skin and your workspace), utensils, and all other tools after performing blood magic. Keep the wound clean while it heals.

What’s your experience?

When (and when not) to use blood magic

I can’t tell you exactly when and where blood magic is your best option, but I can give you my reasoning: I only use it in extreme emergencies and under the most important circumstances.

I will use it for protection – not as petty protection, for example if my colleague is a nuisance I will not use blood magic to keep her away; but great protection when serious life-changing threats (accident, crime, etc.) are possible, I use it for health and well-being – not for minor issues like a sore throat or skinned knees, but for major health issues like illness, injury, surgery, or breaking up unhealthy ones dependencies. I will use it for desperate needs – not for small things like saving money for a Disney trip but for big things like if I was on the brink of homelessness or starvation I would use it to draw what I need to survive

That’s all. I have more rules about when I should never use it:

I never use blood magic unless I (or the person I’m doing it for) are fully willing to accept the consequences (which means they will be thought through very carefully). I never use it to attack other people without their permission (unless it’s fatally necessary for protection, of course; I had no problem banishing a violent family member who refused to leave my mother’s house and my life threatened with a gun). I never use it in love or relationship magic; Bonds between people must be developed naturally and not forced. Blood magic turns a potential bond into a chain: emotional slavery. I never use it to gain power; If you can’t earn it naturally, you don’t deserve it and probably don’t know how to apply it. I never use it to harm anyone or anything. I never use it for revenge or retribution.