Physical vs Nonphysical Links

[glaive]

My job has me work directly with 4 bosses on a regular basis, and two of them are remote. I'm putting together domination jars for each of them. For one boss, I was able to actually get a strand of hair. For the other 2 jars I've made so far, I couldn't get any physical links, so I used a piece of paper that has their name, DOB, and home address written out.

I'm planning to report back if one of them seems to work better than the other. I could also see the jars with written paper taking the lead, since they technically include 3 links, and the hair is only a single strand of hair.

I was curious what other people's experience has been. Do you try to get a physical bit of materia from the person whenever possible, or have you found that other methods are similarly effective?

 

[Keldan]

No, I don’t need any physical bits from anyone. Are you really saying you need bits from someone who lives 10,000 miles away just to start working on them?

 

[Morell]

I always used only text on paper, whatever information was available. Even online username is enough. I think it is easier to connect the username or name in your mind with a person than the hair. Might not work for everyone this way, but it works.

 

[glaive]

Are you really saying you need bits from someone who lives 10,000 miles away just to start working on them?

No, as I wrote in my initial post I did not need or use any physical links for 2/3 workings I just did.

My bottle with hair is actually the first time I have used a physical link. I wanted to try it because I've been reading some stuff that suggests workings are more effective the more personal of a link you have. For example, Jason Miller's Real Sorcery:

One of the things that your observation of the target should have revealed is what kind of magickal links you can get a hold of. The more personal the link, the stronger the outcome. This is something that experience has shown me is hard for people to understand. When requesting links from clients I get questions such as 'Can't you just think of the person?' or 'Can't I just send you a photo?' The answer is sure, if that's all you have. It's not a very strong link to work with. Pictures are excellent to help your focus when used together with a personal link, but are surprisingly weak links in and of themselves. As for just thinking of the person, purely mental efforts in magick yield purely mental results. If you want tangible results, make tangible efforts. Go for something more personal. In the past, sorcerers have gone to great lengths and risk to obtain hair, fingernail clippings, articles of clothing, or signed documents.

I always used only text on paper, whatever information was available. Even online username is enough. I think it is easier to connect the username or name in your mind with a person than the hair. Might not work for everyone this way, but it works.

That makes sense!! Subjectively, when I was putting together the workings, I felt like the hair had more inherent "juice" as a link, whereas I had to work the written paper a bit more. Though, that doesn't necessarily translate to how effective they will each be.

 

[Morell]

That makes sense!! Subjectively, when I was putting together the workings, I felt like the hair had more inherent "juice" as a link, whereas I had to work the written paper a bit more. Though, that doesn't necessarily translate to how effective they will each be.

Indeed it doesn't. However we have that underlying everyday understanding that text on the screen and/or the avatar represents actual person. I assume that it is the reason why it is possibly more effective than hair.

 

[Grayhoss]

Well, the original meaning for talisman was 'to make marks like a magician', back before literacy was widespread. So in many tradition, the written word held great power indeed.
A name and personal details will suffice if you, as the magician feel that they constitute a solid 'hold' on your subjects.
Some traditions called for a person's 'name in the faith' ie, baptismal, Confirmation, or birth-name for use in Workings upon them, for example.
You might try getting an image or screen cap of them from the Net and printing it out, and writing the textual links on the back..