By Zhana Levitsky of folkmagic.org
Social justice work requires strong protection magic, especially for members of the most vulnerable communities in America: the BIPOC & LGBTQIA populations. There’s no room for ambivalence on issues of equality and racial justice. There are many ways to take action: donate time and money to Black causes, educate yourself on the issues at hand and, as witches, perform protection spells and do your part in magical advocacy.
Racism and systemic disempowerment of targeted groups are not new issues in America or abroad so we’re going old school and accessing some ancient magic on this potent full moon eclipse. Enter the SATOR square: we’re not fucking around.
This magic 2D palindrome has been found in the ruins of Pompeii, at excavations in Syria, France, England and throughout Europe with the earliest examples dating back to 79 BCE. It reads SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS, in Latin. The translation has been the subject of much speculation, but no consensus has been reached among scholars or occultists, although theories abound. Because it’s a palindrome with four symmetries, the words can “be read top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top, left-to-right, or right-to-left; and it may be rotated 180 degrees and still be read in all those ways”, according to Wikipedia. The SATOR square was typically carved in stone or pressed into clay and the tablets were inset into walls or gates to protect buildings, deflect harm, and magically fortify the space.
You can make your own very simply at home and join in our cause of sending magical protection as a shield for the most vulnerable communities at this time.
You will need: paper, black sharpie, candle.
- Cast your magic circle in whichever way it is customary for you
- Ground & center yourself
- Draw the SATOR square
- Cut the square out
- Hold the square in your hands and chant 1x “SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS” in your big, magic voice followed by a declaration that “this spell sends instant and potent protection from harm to theBIPOC and LGBTQIA community”.
- Visualize a crystal of protection forming around each targeted group of individuals, especially those on the front lines of racial justice work. Take your time, this is big magic, really feel it.
- Repeat 2x more and finish with a loud “The will of the Witches be done! And so it is!”
- Place your newly charged SATOR square on your altar with a candle on top.
- Light the candle.
- Chant SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS as you watch it burn and visualize systemic change.
- Release the spell out into the universe
- Release your magic circle
- Practice self love and self care. Witches are vulnerable too.
Altars up!
The world needs your magic right now. Be the change you want to see in the world.
And as I like to say #bethewitchyouwanttoseeintheworld
