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The Power of The Word Kleo Kay discovers how spoken words and their vibratory power impact on the world

The Power of The Word

Kleo Kay discovers how spoken words and their vibratory power impact on the world

by Kleo Kay, Esoteric Correspondent
first published: October, 2024

approximate reading time: minutes

When people heard the Egyptian priests of old singing and adoring their Gods, they would stop and listen, because the sounds were so beautiful… I found this idea so powerful that it virtually transported me back in time.

Incantations and Enchantments – The Power of the Voice and the Breath in Magic
Donald Tyson
(Llewellyn Publishing)

This fascinating book has taken longer to review than I would normally like,  as it turned out to be so interesting I became thoroughly immersed in it and starting using some of the knowledge shared within its pages.

Incantations and Enchantments’ is a valuable addition to the esoteric book shelf.  It delves into the spoken aspects of magical practise, examining the ways words were used in the past in the classical world, and also how to apply them in modern occult practice.

Tyson opens by stressing the power of the voice; how the voice forms an essential link between the inner being and the outer world, and how spoken words and their vibratory power impact on the world around you. We are all aware of the power of affirmations, but this book goes so much further.  Considering the make-up of each word, considering their vowels and consonants, their individual sounds, and their inherent power and energies, he focuses especially on the power and effects of vowels when intoned and vibrated in certain ways for specific magical purposes.

The sounds of the vowels are explored, dwelling on the differences between ancient and modern pronunciations. Another interesting fact Tyson shares is that the vowels themselves were thought of as spirit, held within the bodies given them by the consonants that contained them. Each word would have a magic all its own.  

The seven vowels used in ancient Greek were considered to be the pure sounds made by the planets.  The planets they were attributed to followed the Ptolemaic system, which is; Moon - Alpha, Mercury – Epsilon, Venus - Eta, Sun - Iota, Mars - Omicron, Jupiter - Upsilon, Saturn – Omega.  These vowels represented the spiritual energies of the planets, and by their use they could attract those planetary beings and energies to the magician who knew how to use them.   

Book coverTyson then continues with guidance on the ways to pronounce them for the best effect in esoteric work.  A stand out statement for me was when he mentions that when people heard the Egyptian priests of old singing and adoring their Gods, they would stop and listen, because the sounds were so beautiful, in preference to listening to any other music.  I found this idea so powerful that it virtually transported me back in time to hear them myself.

He follows through on this by explaining that if you wish to invoke beautiful and harmonious spirits, beings, and energies, they have to be called through the use of lovely, joyful sound and beautiful offerings.  In contrast to which, he describes how, when some of the witches of Italy of old were calling on demonic and devilish spirits to do evil work, the sounds had to be harsh and uncomfortable to the ear.  The concept being that a blessed spirit, being of good intent, would be uncomfortable with ugly and grating sounds, and vice versa. A malignant spirit would find harmonious sounds so uncomfortable, that in each case they would be unlikely to appear. The rule is, effectively, to each its own.

He devotes a chapter to Names and Words of Power, considering the power of an individual’s name, through to magical words of power that have come down to us through writings from the ancient world.  Many of these have either lost, or never had, an actual meaning in language, but are more about how to vibrate and externalise the vowels to call in the energies and spirits to which they resonate.

Tyson analyses various types of charms and spells from antiquity, exploring a variety of types including love, healing, and protection.  He advises on ways to structure your incantations and charms, how to focus them on your purpose, and how to empower them for best effect.  He discusses the power of brevity and repetition, rhyme and alliteration, and much more to help in the creation of an effective charm.  All have their place.

Tyson finishes with a very interesting chapter on how herbs, potions, rods, wands, and magical paraphernalia were enchanted through the use of spoken charms in the ancient world.  Of course, these can all be adapted and used in modern times, and through the use of spoken words and intoned vowels you can empower and enchant your own magical items.

To sum up, Tyson has written a valuable source book packed with information. It is well written and proves to be a good read, alongside being easily accessible. Therefore, the shared knowledge can be incorporated into your own magical practise quickly, easily, and effectively.  This book proves to be an excellent piece of scholarship, written in an approachable and easy to absorb way.  

Kleo Kay
Esoteric Correspondent

Kleo Kay is a writer, researcher, and occult expert, specialising in decoding the ancient world and its many mysteries. She currently resides at a secret magical location in the heart of Norfolk with her cats, hedgehogs, various divinities, and her long-time partner.


about Kleo Kay »»

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