Sunday, September 20, 2009

God, Saint Christopher, and Ethan Knox.....

“The match once struck burns so bright and for so brief a time.” Ethan thought to himself. The muffled sound of Brian singing in the shower broke the spell of fascination the match had cast over him. He quickly brought his attention back to the matter at hand and lit the candles about his makeshift altar which he had erected in the small motel room he now shared with his husband.

Before him on a small end table he had moved to face North he had arranged an assortment of objects that to the uninitiated may seem strange indeed. Bathed in the light of the candles he had lit for both atmosphere and illumination could be found several dried herbs and roots, various papers, an assortment of oils, incense, and a small red drawstring bag on which a small St. Christopher medal had been sewn.

Taking up a six inch candle of the palest white, Ethan anointed it with a combination of Block-Buster and St. Christopher Oil, muttering a prayer under his breath. “God before me, God behind me, God be with me; I on they path O’ God, thou O’ God in my steps. In the twisting of the road, in the winding of the river. Be with me by night. Be with me by day. Be with me by night and by day. Amen!””

When he was satisfied that the candle was properly prepared, he placed it in a candle holder. Under the candle holder he slid a sheet of paper which detailed his route from South Carolina to Washington State which he had printed off of mapquest, along with a photograph of the house he and Brian had bought together. Ethan thought it odd to own a home in a far away place which he’d never seen before with his own eyes. He recalled how he had been unable to get away from South Carolina due to other commitments and how Brian had flown to Oak Harbor alone to see the house in person and make an offer after they had found it online together.

From a small box beneath his makeshift altar, Ethan withdrew a round saucer, a small paper cone, and a small baggie of powdered incense. He began packing the powdered incense into the paper cone until it was completely full. He then placed the saucer over the opening in the paper cone and quickly flipped it over. Placing the saucer on the altar, he gently thumped the cone and then slowly lifted it revealing a perfect cone of powdered incense.

Ethan lit the candle and incense then took up a small pencil that was missing its eraser and a square of brown paper that had once been part of a grocery sack. He paused for a moment considering his words carefully and then began writing.

"May we travel upon the road with complete protection, arriving safely to our destination. May nothing block our intended path or impede us in any way, shape, or form. If we require assistance, may we find those who can and will happily come to our aid. And when our journey knows success, lead us safely to our new home where we may know safety, prosperity, comfort, and love. Amen.”

Once Ethan was satisfied with his petition, he turned the paper a quarter turn clockwise and signed his own name across the petition nine times. Silently, he anointed the four corners and center of the petition with Block-Buster Oil, which is believed to remove all obstacles from one’s path. Ethan then placed a whole comfrey root in the center of the petition and anointed it with St. Christopher oil, who is said to be the Patron Saint of travelers.

“St Christopher Protect us…” Ethan began his prayer “…as we set about our journey on the road to our new home. Warn us when danger is near so that we may stop while it is still possible. Be at the ready to direct us when our vision blurs. Carry us safely to our new home on the other side of the country just as you carried Christ in your strong arms across the waters. Amen.”

Ethan then wrapped the petition around the comfrey root and secured it with nine knots tied in a length of thread. The package was then placed in the small drawstring bag, along with some dried mint and a silver Mercury dime, and some earth from their new home which he had asked Brian to bring back to him. Finally he placed some of his own hair and nail pairings in the bag along with a small piece of bath tissue on which was some of Brian’s whiskers which he had carefully wiped out of the sink.

Ethan breathed a brief prayer into the bag then secured it shut with a knot. “Drink deep of this delicious oil which I now feed you…” Ethan muttered anointing the bag with Saint Christopher Oil “draw strength from its power, applying it to the task which I have set before you. See my husband and I safely to our new home on the other side of the country. Let no obstacle impede our path. When necessary, let our requests for assistance be met by those who are willing and able to provide for our needs and who will do so happily. Amen!”

“Smoke, lift this prayer to heaven.” Ethan whispered as he closed his eyes and placed the bag in the smoke rising from the burning incense. “God before me, God behind me, God be with me; I on they path O’ God, thou O’ God in my steps. In the twisting of the road, in the winding of the river. Be with me by night. Be with me by day. Be with me by night and by day. Amen!”

“What’cha doing there, babe?” Brian asks emerging from the bathroom.

“Blessing a charm to protect us on our journey…” Ethan replied keeping his eyes closed.

“You know” Brian continues “I have a charm that could use some blessing too.”

“You do, do you?” Ethan asks mischievously.

“Uh huh”

Ethan turns towards the sound of Brian’s voice and open his eyes to come face to face with Brian’s waist wrapped only in a cheap yellow motel towel.

“And where would this charm be?” Ethan continued the flirtation offering his hand to Brian who lifts him up where they now stand eye to eye.

“Around” Brian replies casting off his towel nonchalantly.

“I think I have just the oil to bless your charm with.” Ethan says leaning in to kiss Brian.

“Are you sure that wasn’t a love spell” Brian asks continuing to kiss Ethan as they both fall back on the bed.

“No, this is the love spell” Ethan replies as their shadows dance across the walls of their room brought to life by the flickering light of candles.



1 comment:

  1. I find it quite interesting how you blended magick and religion perfectly. I never knew the 2 could intermingle.

    ReplyDelete