The Seat of Spirit / Chairs as Spirit Vessels

Inspired by dreams and visions, I began the process of creating this new ritual tool. Where a chair serves as a receptacle for receiving spirits, allowing them to manifest in this seat.

I came across this child sized rocking chair at a thrift store, and immediately knew it was the one. The people working in the shop told me this chair had been there since before they were hired, and they never expected to see it go. But for only $6 it became mine.

The Seat of Spirit

To consecrate this spiritual throne, it was washed with water imbued with willow and blessed under the full moon, anointed with a Serpent Oil of my own design, and dressed in smoke & powders before being fed. Finally, a spirit in my court who has dominion over gates and spiritual passages was invited to be the first to sit and empower this seat.

The Seat of Spirit is foremost a receptacle for working with spirits. It allows the magician to perceive the presence of spirits in a safe and controlled way. Comparable to the how a triangle is used in ceremonial magic. The seat is a focal point you are drawing spirits to appear through. I like a chair for this receptacle because while being an object the mind naturally sees a place for beings to rest, it also shows the spirit a level of respect by allowing them to sit with you eye to eye. In a similar way that you would sit across from another person you might be negotiating with. It's practical and symbolic. 

Preparing the Seat:

Consecration of the seat is it's own ritual process, but once completed this tool will be ready to use during any ritual where spirits are conjured. To start select your desired chair, I recommend something made of wood. Also get, an oil dedicated to serpent spirits, a white magic powder of your making designed for calling in spirits, water, and willow (or some plant local to you that grows by the water. Ideally a tree.). Preform this under a full moon.

Hallow your ritual space however you normally would. Call in lunar spirits to preside over and watch this rite. Place the chair in the west, or in the direction of the moon if it is visible to you. Begin by washing the chair with the water that has been imbued with the willow. Taking a damp cloth, gently go over every part of the chair, being very attentive as you do so. Next anoint the seat in your serpent oil, saying a prayer to the serpent of the land as you do. Take extra care when rubbing oil on the seat of the chair, it's legs, and it's back. Visualize the serpent of the land rising up from the soil and around the chair. Finally take your powder and fill your right hand with a small amount. Then blow a puff of air so the powder disperses all over the seat. Then begin a conjuration of the The Seat;

Seat of Spirit, I awaken thee, become yourself here with me. Receive all beings called into you, hold them fast, make them true.

To conclude the rite you should call a familiar spirit of yours into the seat. A spirit you know and trust who's presence you can be easily discerned. When they come you will know the seat has been successfully empowered. If they don't some repeat the conjuration of the seat with increased intensity until they do. 

Using the Seat:

I utilize this tool very similarly as I would a triangle within ceremonial magic, with some minor differences. The biggest being I treat the chair as a spirit itself, I feed it regularly, bathe it, and speak to it. It is it's own being. No living person will ever sit in this chair again while it's in my possession, as it is set aside for my spirits.

When I work with the seat as a tool I'll place it in the direction I'm calling the spirit I plan to invite to sit from. When I first started using this chair I would also place a triangle of the art with a scrying surface on the seat for added focus. I phased these out once I got more familiar with how spirits appear though the chair. I also found placing offerings at the front of the chair on the floor is best, as is finding ways to have incense rest on and around the chair so the seat is surrounded with smoke. Objects dedicated to spirits, or spirit vessels, will sometimes be placed on my chair's seat as a focus for me when calling certain spirits.

Different types of spirits will also come in their own ways when called to sit. I find that feminine spirits will take easily to this receptacle, sitting in comfort. Masculine leaning spirits tend to loom around the chair, and might eventually settle into the seat in time. I also notice that when the chair is in the room during conjurations, and not used a focus during ritual, spirits will sometimes naturally find themselves drawn to it. Especially if I've called them into the seat before. So it can act like a magnet when charged properly, and I find that having a house spirit regularly "sit" here helps dissuade others from trying to take up residence when not invited. 

A chair makes for a natural spirit receptacle, serving as a powerful place to seat spirits once or long-term. Since beginning to use this type of tool myself I've noticed the various ways grimoires, folk practices, and other occult traditions utilize chairs in ritual. I would highly encourage others to explore ways of incorporating a place for spirits to sit with you when doing magic.