Much divination concerns discovery: rituals designed to bring what had previously lay beneath into the light, to examine and understand the ground upon which we stand, along with an increased awareness of the effects of the inertias and agents contesting that ground. In knowing where we stand, we may not only better defend ourselves and our kin, but may indeed learn to fly on magic carpets. In remaining ignorant, we risk having the rug pulled out from under us.

No more is this locating of solid ground more relevant than in one of the most burning kinds of questions put to the diviner: am I safe? How are my enemies working against me? Have I earned some spirit's ire? Am I under crossed conditions?

Such questions can of course be the product of simple ego or self-importance, a transference of jealousy, or motivated by baseless paranoia. But - in the face of streaks of terrible misfortune, unexpected obstacles, and high weirdness - they can also be eminently sensible inquiries to make calmly and critically. By correctly diagnosing difficulties we may most effectively strategise solutions and remedies.

Through the class recordings of this course, students investigate many of the dark corners and foreboding chambers of the House of Restrictions, the Twelfth House, which rules the witchcrafts and impediments laid upon us. In being able to read each of the Sixteen placements of the House of Bindings for various formulations - which, for the purposes of this series, we may call Crossings, Hauntings, and Curses - we are also able to consider means and methods to regulate, ameliorate, and even cure such unfavourable difficulties. We cover best practices in setting questions that neither automatically assume ultimate doom nor ignore absolutely any potential problems or inauspicious circumstances.

In maturely investigating the more potentially unpleasant or even sinister ways in which we engage with place, spirit, power, and other practitioners - and, crucially, how they interact with us right back - we seek to better ground ourselves in our responsibilities, our self-reliance, and our communities.

The three sessions that make up this course break down thusly: 

First Session: Jinxed Luck
In which we introduced how to cast shield charts to assess dangers: what to look for, when to resort to divination, and how to get the most out of your risk assessment readings through best phrasing and house quesiting. Particular attention is paid to how the Sixteen Figures speak and caution us in the Twelfth House, the House of Hindrances. We stress distinguishing misfortune from maleficia, while offering useful spiritual baths, cleansings, blessings, and protections to recharge good luck and get things back on track. 

Second Session: Spirit(ual) Interference
In which we discuss best practices around navigating hauntings and other forms of interference by spiritual beings and forces. This includes consideration of issues arising from restless dead – unquiet familial spirits, local dead, other stray wandering ghosts. We discuss cunning means of cleansing, filtering, and re-balancing spiritual energies, as well as setting up wards and spirit bowl traps against more malevolent entities. Specific workings with the virtues and spirits of the Sixteen Figures are explored – from appealing to powerful female ancestors through Puella’s spells, to down-regulating haunted domestic stress and tension to peaceful habits of home and hearth with the sorceries of Populus. 

Third Session: Magical Attack
In which we ground students in some fundamentals of finding oneself under magical attack: from basic Dos and Don’ts to specific geomantic ways to deal with the attack and its effects, the attacker, and the harm to yourself and your environment. We discuss reading particular strategies of remediation from geomancy readings, including works of uncrossing, empowerment, protection, reversal, and a variety of geomantic approaches to counter-attack: from Tristitia’s Black Arts of counter-magic to moonlit Via’s watery works of reversing-mirrors and illusion; and from invoking Albus’ clarity and illumination of the mind through spoken charms, to encircling with heavy Carcer’s impenetrable defenses and inescapable bindings.

By purchasing this class, you agree that you understand that no part of the material dictated or provided throughout the duration of the course may be reproduced, distributed, or used in any other form (neither electronic nor mechanic, including photocopies and recordings), without the direct and written consent of the instructor, Dr Alexander Cummins.