Journal studying the grimoire tradition

I like to approach witchcraft through an anthropological lens and practice directly from the source material if possible. Lately my attention has been on the Solomonic grimoires and the true identity of the entities behind the written names. They are ancient and closer to minor deities and djinn than they are angels or demons. I want to uncover their true identities to gain their favor. I’ll share what discoveries I’ve made through study.

I’ve been introduced to Duchess Bune and she works quickly. Now I’m researching her and how old she might actually be… I believe she is related to the concept of the Agathos Daimon.

When I’m honest with myself, I realize the real question beneath my petitions isn’t “Can I receive more?” It’s “Can I hold it?” Can I manage growth without sabotaging it? Can I circulate prosperity instead of clutching it from fear?

That’s where the serpent symbolism feels important. A serpent sheds its skin. It doesn’t hoard the old form. It grows through cycles. Prosperity, if it’s alive, has to move like that too.

The Agathos Daimon was honored with something simple: a splash of wine, a moment of gratitude. Nothing elaborate. Just recognition.

Maybe that’s the lesson that keeps surfacing for me. If Bune resonates with that archetype at all, it isn’t as a spirit who drops gold into my lap while I stay unchanged. It’s as a force that asks for maturity and awareness.

Performed my first contact with the Duchess today. Nothing more formal than introducing myself and presenting offerings for now because I want to build up a relationship and truly know her energy. I did state my true purpose in wanting to get to know her but also do not expect anything to happen in that aspect right away.

Had a dream where I was turned into a cobra snake and I was hurriedly moving across cracked and parched earth towards the direction of titaness sized Hekate and Sekhmet who were causing the earth beneath us to shake. They picked me up using magic, and as I was suspended in the air between them, they told me about an important event to look out for (sorry for being vague it’s for my safety), but that I would be safe when it was happening. I woke up shortly after that but I haven’t had a dream like that in ages.

I’ve aquired the icons to set up a small altar to Bune and handling them filled me with giddiness over how lovely they are.

If you are uncertain about getting to know the Duke, I highly recommend starting the process of introducing yourself, for she works swiftly if you put in the effort on your end.

This week my mind has been more focused on Hekate, and wondering why I am so opposed to working with Angelic spirits, when it is Hekate who originally created them. Much like the demonized spirits and deities of the Goetia, I should dig deep and get to the real identities behind the names.

I already feel so standoffish and prickly just thinking about studying them. I can’t even imagine trying to connect or communicate with them. I haven’t had any issues contacting the Gods and entities I intended to reach out to, but I cannot fathom communicating with the angelic realm. It will probably be the most personally challenging thing I’ve ever done as a sorceress.

I feel like I’ve hit a wall on my research. This is how it usually goes though. I’ll run out of relevant research material then suddenly out of nowhere the right information is given to me so I can continue. I’m ready to get my hands on that information at any time, universe.

Research has been slow. Been working overtime (praise to the Duchess!) and working on my food garden. I know Bune and her more ancient iterations are responsible for my new found interest in raising food crops and she has made all the materials I need and want available to me almost as soon as I express a desire for them. She truly is remarkable. May she continue to bless me with work and growing food plants!

My Bune sigil amulet arrived. If the relationship between us is a more permanent arrangement I’ll probably have another done in fine jewelry metals. Something about her sigil is so pleasing to the eye. I love the speculation that her sigil is a map of mining sites on Cyprus. The idea absolutely aligns with the other research I’ve done and it’s exciting to think about the possibilities.

Just getting around to reading your entries, what made you feel attracted to or called to Duchess Bune?

magiclcj said:

Just getting around to reading your entries, what made you feel attracted to or called to Duchess Bune?

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I’m a devotee of Hekate and in the time I’ve been a student of hers, she has repeatedly put me in contact with entities that might help me with my more earthly concerns. Most recently I’ve been dealing with finding employment that will accommodate several disabilities that became much more disabling late last year. I practice Demonolatry and have a relationship with another entity that falls under Hekate’s domain as a guardian spirit, so I was familiar with the Duchess’s name and kindness from others that know her and have given public praise. I decided I wanted to reach out to Bune and introduce myself as a student of Hekate so I could build up a relationship with her.

This is getting long so I’ll try and keep it brief. I wanted to show that I was serious about getting to know her, so I’ve been spending my free time studying possible connections between her and the various spirits and deities that I think she may have been known as before her name ended up in the Goetia. After a few weeks of studying I made an offering to the Duchess while stating my needs and intentions. Shortly after that, she graciously put me in the path of employment that is very accommodating of my needs right now. The type of work couldn’t have been more perfect and the timing was impeccable as my benefits had just run out.

It seems to me that she will go out of her way to help humans if she can. My in own experience and UPG, she finds humans silly and endearing. Her energy feels like a kind, rich auntie to me.

All praise to Duchess Bune, she of the harvest and tombs. May she continue to bless her followers when they need it most.