Magical Inks

[Baratoz]

Do you really need different inks to write spells or is it up to individual preference? I already have regular ink and the dipping type pens from when I was doing a little bit of calligraphy. So I was just wondering if I should bother getting the special inks.

[Kristofski]

I've never heard of needing different ink to write spells... I'd have thought that, as it's the information that's important, it wouldn't matter too much what you wrote it with. Though I have been told that you can charge ink by "gobbing" (spitting) in it a little bit. Not tried that though.

[Sobek]

well in certain respects it could be said that the type of ink used is similar to point of using different coloured candles and stuff. but in all seriousness unless you think it to be of significant importance just use regular old ink.

[LaFiamma]

Do you really need different inks to write spells or is it up to individual preference? I already have regular ink and the dipping type pens from when I was doing a little bit of calligraphy. So I was just wondering if I should bother getting the special inks.

If you want to...if you have a preferred type of ink...or color, but in the end, it's really about your own intention and what you put into the effort, not so much materially. writing is a magical process in and of itself. Take a look at this passage from the book Techgnosis by Erik Davis:

"Though writing has become the most commonplace of information technologies, it remains in many ways the most magical. Brought into focus by properly educated eyes, artificial glyphs scrawled onto the surface of objects leap unbidden into the mind, bringing with them sounds, meanings and data. In fact, it is very difficult to gaze intentionally upon a page of script written in a known language and not automatically begin reading it. The ecophilosopher David Abram notes that, just as a Zuni elder might focus her eyes upon a cactus and hear the succulent begin to speak, so do we hear voices printed out of our printed alphabets. "This is a form of animism that we take for granted, but it is animism nonetheless- as mysterious as a talking stone."

that said...
I have a pen that I use pretty much exclusively for writing invocations (Though, I adore it and want to get another one for every day use) I don't believe that the type of ink really makes a lot of difference, though some people think that Dragon's Blood ink is extra-magical. For some writing, I actually prefer to use a paintbrush and watered-down acrylic paint. But that's mostly because I like the aesthetic quality. I don't think the pen that I use makes the difference in the end. I could use my fifty-dollar tornado pen or I could use a Bic. It's just my preference. The experience is different because the pen is different...it's very heavy and very smooth, and the barrel is made of an anodized aluminum in my favorite color. The point is extremely fine and needs to barely touch the surface of the paper, as opposed to needing pressure like a cheap ball point pen would. I also need to be more careful because it uses a liquid ink and I am left-handed, which makes it easier for me to smear the ink before it dries. There's also the smell of the leather from the book that I write my invocations into when they're finished, the feel of the paper, the sight of the cover with its blue foil over the leather surface

I could write with a regular ball-point pen onto a 99-cent spiral notebook, or I can use my super-expensive pen in the leather bound book with super-smooth paper, the one that I carry with me into public ritual when I'm using one of the invocations.

It's a completely different experience, but in the end neither is better than the other in the grand scheme of things. Which experience I choose to take is just the one that I prefer over the other.

[Addalaide]

Yeah i agree i think alot of it is the way you use colors, like red, if you want more passion you use a red candle and right in red ink, but it isnt a must i use white canles probly 95% of the time.

But i know how to make dragons blood ink:

Need:
1 good quality deep red caligraphy ink
dragonsblood resin
and an extra amber colored bottle
and dragonsblood oil(10-20 drops)

crush dragons blood resin up finly and put into the empty bottle, add the red ink and oil, close the bottle and shake well, let sit for 2 week shake it a fue times in between. fuilter it.

and here is a link to other ways and other kinds

http://groups.msn.com/PaganHearthRecipe ... links.msnw ( i had to scroll down the site befor i saw the text)

[Witch1693]

I use different color, water, wax level for different spells and things. if my spell involves no candles i will use a more liquid wax based ink to be a supplement for the canlde. and water level just depends on how long it will last. and there are many toher factors i take into consideration. i never buy ink fomr someone else i always make it myself. and depending on where i make it also depends. i also bless each ink. if i bless it with my love i will use it for love spells. if i just plain blass it i use it for any non important spell. if i want to make an important spell that i dotn have an ink for then i make a smaill amount for it.

Alex

[Baratoz]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I wasn’t sure if I should use different inks or not, but I think I’ll stick with basic black and the dragons blood for a little color. The reason I am going to use fountain pens is because I like the look of the lettering and feel of the pen and thanks for the ink recipe Addalaide. Some day I will try making my own.

Also, I am very happy today. I found out last night that there is a magick store within a few miles from where I live. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet because I am working when they are open, but I will be checking it out this weekend.

[LaFiamma]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I wasn’t sure if I should use different inks or not, but I think I’ll stick with basic black and the dragons blood for a little color. The reason I am going to use fountain pens is because I like the look of the lettering and feel of the pen and thanks for the ink recipe Addalaide. Some day I will try making my own.

Also, I am very happy today. I found out last night that there is a magick store within a few miles from where I live. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet because I am working when they are open, but I will be checking it out this weekend.

in the end, things like the ink and paper you use are always up to your preference and what you have available.

[Baratoz]

in the end, things like the ink and paper you use are always up to your preference and what you have available.

True. It's all about what you are comfortable with. I enjoy calligraphy and won’t have a problem doing my entire BOS in it. That would probably drive some people insane because it can be a bit tedious.

[LaFiamma]

in the end, things like the ink and paper you use are always up to your preference and what you have available.

True. It's all about what you are comfortable with. I enjoy calligraphy and won’t have a problem doing my entire BOS in it. That would probably drive some people insane because it can be a bit tedious.

wow. yeah, that's crazy.

me...don't have a BOS. Not part of my religion. I have my dedicant's writings though, and for the sake of my priesstess's eyes and sanity (and to be able to email them to her...lol), I type them up in MS word.

[Witch1693]

Oh speaking of inks...... Does the dragons blood and doves blood ink really contain blood?

[juliaki]

Does the dragons blood and doves blood ink really contain blood?

No.

[LaFiamma]

Oh speaking of inks...... Does the dragons blood and doves blood ink really contain blood?

Dragon's blood is a type of resin...here's some interesting information on its sources and history. I'm not 100% sure of the validity of the information, but it does seem to match what I've read in other places that i know to be reliable in the past.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_blood

Dove's blood was harder to track down information for, but it's very similar to dragon's blood...in fact, contains dragon's blood resin. Here is an ingrediant list that I found for dove's blood ink (it did not contain information in the quantities, only the names of components)

DOVE'S BLOOD INK

dragon's blood resin
cinnamon oil
bay oil
alcohol
gum arabic
rose oil

[Addalaide]

Your welcome,

I think the only difference in dragons blood and doves blood is the herbs put into it. The link i posted has 3 types of ink recipies on it dragon bat and dove blood, thay all have dragons blood resin in it.

(link agin) http://groups.msn.com/PaganHearthRecipe ... links.msnw

[Witch1693]

Og ok. i have been researching wicca and i was surprised when i came upon the doves blood becuase wicans dont use blood. lol. I am having a stupid streak today.LOL!

Alex