There are negative beings and entities that do not like to enter our earth atmosphere during evocations. If a magician insists on their manifestation and the magic wand does not suffice, then he must use the magic sword. The magic sword has several symbolic meanings, but as a rule, and so far as the magician is concerned, it represents a symbol of absolute obedience for every being, for every power. At the same time it is also a symbol of victory and superiority over any power and being. The sword is analogous to the light, for it is an aspect of fire and as such also of the Word. It is written in the Bible: "In the beginning was the Light, the Word, and the Word was with God." Anyone who is somewhat conversant with symbolism remembers how the Archangel Michael is portrayed with a flaming sword whilst slaying the dragon. The dragon represents the enemy, the negative principle. Even Adam and Eve were driven out of Paradise by an angel with a flaming sword. The symbolic significance is depicted in these cases in a very clear and succinct manner.
The magic sword serves as a magical instrument whenever the magician must exert a certain force, a certain compulsion upon a power or being, and mostly when the demands of the magician are against the particular being's will. The sword is an indispensable magical aid for a magician who concerns himself solely with demonology, because he can never achieve anything positive without the use of a magic sword. However, most or the time a true magician does not require anything more than a magic wand. Despite that, he will not fail to fabricate a magical instrument such as the magic sword in order to have it available should the occasion arise. The magic sword gives the magician a higher level of security and solidifies his authority. During certain procedures, especially during evocations, a true magician will only make use of the magic sword if a power or spiritual entity opposes him and refuses to obey him.
In some grimoires you will find that a dagger is mentioned or a magic sword. A magic dagger is really a small sword and it is
symbolically identical. A dagger is fabricated and prepared in the same manner as a sword.
When the magician summons demons and lower spirits, he can replace the sword or dagger with a trident. The trident should be mounted securely on a wooden stick such as a broomstick. The trident belongs to the same category as the magic sword and dagger and it represents the means of enforcement. Besides that, in the grimoires it is recommended that the trident be engraved with various divine names. However, this is a very personal matter and depends upon the purpose of the evocation and the personal view of the magician. Symbolically, the trident is at the same time an extension of the magic sword. The three prongs represent the three-dimensional world, and with the trident the magician can coerce the beings to fulfill his wish, not only on the mental and astral planes but also on the physical plane or, for that matter, on all three planes simultaneously. It should also be mentioned that when demons appear they usually do so with a trident and they are thus depicted in various paintings. However, this does not mean, as is foolishly assumed by the majority, that demons spear souls in hell with their trident. In reality the trident only depicts that their influence extends to the mental, astral and physical worlds.
There is also another use for the magic sword, dagger and trident. With the tips of these magical instruments the magician can disperse or dissolve undesired and uninvited apparitions such as larvae, schemata, elementals, elementaries, etc., which force themselves upon the magician during an evocation. There is also another possible use for these magical instruments which is not very well known. A magic sword or dagger, and to a lesser extent the trident, serve quite well as magic lightning rods.
When the magician has completed his evocation, particularly an evocation of higher negative beings, demon princes, etc., and he is ready to retire for the evening, he can protect his bed with a magic lightning rod if he is in doubt as to whether these beings will disturb him during his sleep. This is accomplished in the following manner: a copper or steel wire is wound around the legs of the bed and the two ends of the wire are wound around the sword or the dagger, which is then thrust into the floor. The wire forms an enclosure around the bed in the shape of a
square, and the dagger serves the purpose of diverting the influence that has been directed toward the magician into the ground. When the magician winds the wire around the bed, he must do so by imagining that it is a circle and with the wish that neither a being nor an unfavorable influence can penetrate beyond this circle, i.e. the bed, and that any influence regardless of who sent it is diverted into the ground by the wire. Then the magician can sleep undisturbed in his magically protected bed, and he can be certain that he cannot be attacked by any influence, regardless of its sphere of origin. If the magician under certain circumstances does not have a magic sword or dagger available or if he requires it for another purpose, then he can use a brand new knife which will only be used for this specific purpose. The magic lightning rod is also excellent protection against influences from black magicians, especially while one is asleep. An experienced, fully-developed magician can do without this kind of protection, because he has the ability to draw a magic circle around his bed with his imagination mentally and astrally with his magic wand, sword or dagger, and to protect himself in this manner against any undesirable influ-ences.
The fabrication of a sword is entirely personal and depends upon the individuality of the magician. The instructions in the various books recommend that the magician use for his operations a sword with which a human being has been decapitated. The idea of having this type of sword serves the purpose of creating a certain feeling of awe, and it also creates a certain tension as soon as the magician takes it in his hands. However, it is mostly sorcerers or others who require external influences to put themselves into a raised state of consciousness that would make use of such a sword. From a Hermetic point of view these or similar kinds of prerequisites are not necessary, provided of course that all the other required abilities are present. A sword made of the best steel (electro steel = stainless steel) is more than adequate. Should the magician not be able to fabricate a sword himself, he can have it made by a blacksmith or by a sword cutler. The length of the sword depends on the height of the particular magician. Generally, the sword should be between 28 to 39 inches (70 - 100 cm). The grip can be made from copper, because copper is an excellent fluid conductor.
The design of the sword is not of major importance. The blade can have either one or two cutting edges, but the tip must be very pointed and must have very sharp cutting edges. It depends on the inclination of the magician as to whether he wishes the grip of the sword to be adorned with appropriate symbols or not. This explanation should suffice as far as the fabrication of the sword is concerned.
The sword is loaded by transferring the particular attributes into it with the imagination. These attributes can include power and control over all beings, absolute victory and the respect for victory as the symbol of battle, life, etc. These attributes are dynamically intensified by frequently loading the sword. The magician also has the option to condense light-fluid into the sword, so much so that the sword resembles a glowing sun, a flaming sword, similar to the well known symbolic representation of the Archangel Michael with the flaming sword.
However, the proper attitude towards the sword is of the utmost importance, and is to be accompanied by an unshakable belief of absolute victory on all planes. This bestows upon the sword the might that every power and every being will fear the sword and respect it under any and all conditions. After each use the sword must be wrapped either in black or white silk and kept in a safe place, just like all the other magical instruments.
Through mental travel the magician can transfer the spiritual form of the sword as well as the spiritual form of the magic wand onto the mental plane. He can visit the planetary spheres with his magic sword and he can make his influence known there with his magical instruments in accordance with his wishes. It is a foregone conclusion that in those spheres every being must obey him. Therefore, during magical operations, i.e.
evocations, it is possible for the magician to transfer the mental form of the sword with his mental hand through the imagination into the particular sphere, and from thence to coerce the being to obey his will. This kind of coercion can only be accomplished without danger by a magician who is pure of heart and has a noble soul. If a sorcerer had the audacity to commit such an act, he would only incur the hatred of these beings and unmistakably subject himself to them and their influences. The history of the occult sciences gives us many examples of the tragic destiny and even
more tragic demise of many such sorcerers. The scope of this book does not lend itself to quote any of these events, therefore I shall refrain from mentioning any such occurrences.