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The Dagger (Fire)
Ideally this should be made by the magician from a piece of pure iron or steel, however it is not always
practicable for the magician to completely construct his weapons himself, and as in the old grimoires,
the magician was allowed to start with a knife which he had bought (although they go on to stipulate
that he should then use this knife to manufacture the other weapons from scratch). In an indirect way
the primacy of this weapon also indicates its ascription to the primary element fire. Assuming that the
magician has bought a dagger or a knife, preferably with a plain hilt, it is now up to him to inscribe it.
This he can do either by engraving, etching, (2) or less satisfactorily, painting. The simplest inscription
is his own magical name, or motto but for those who wish to take the procedure one step further, the
following additional inscription of the Godname and Archangelic name of Fire is suggested:
Elohim
Michael
The Wand (Air)
Eliphas Levi suggests (3) that the magical wand 'must be one perfectly straight branch of almond or
hazel, cut at a single blow with the magical pruning-knife or golden sickle, before the rising of the sun,
at that moment when the tree is ready to blossom. It must be pierced through its whole length without
splitting or breaking it, and a long needle of magnetized iron must occupy its entire length. To one of
the extremities must be fitted a polyhedral prism, cut in a triangular shape, and to the other a similar
figure of black resin.
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[2] Probably the easiest process, although not as aesthetically pleasing as engraving. The blade should
be heated and (engraver's) wax melted evenly all over it, or alternatively it can be gently warmed and
then plunged into a pot of liquid wax. The essence of this is to get a thin even coat on all the metal
surfaces then, using a needle cut the letters into the wax thereby exposing the metal underneath. Be
careful not to crack off any of the wax. If some comes off start the process again, using a thinner layer
of wax. The third step is to leave the dagger in a dilute acid solution (spirits of salt from the local
hardware shop will do) allowing it to eat into the metal exposed by the needle. Be careful not to leave
it too long or the acid will start to eat laterally, or to expose the hilt and pommel to the acid. Lastly,
melt the wax off the blade and polish the result.
[
3] Eliphas Levi, Doctrine and Ritual Of Transcendental Magic. Rider, London. p259.
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