Dear Keri: Where’s Horatio?

Asked privately, but it’s a damn good question, so here we go:

“I haven’t read much about Horatio lately. You still have him/it trapped in that trinket? You do all your own dirty work yourself anyway. I don’t see you as the kind of magician ordering spirits around.”

Well…

You haven’t read much about him, because I haven’t had anything worth writing in public about him. Yes, he’s still tied to the trinket in the Waking, and has his own little nook in the Dreaming.

When I was headed down the path of Ceremonial Magic, I was starting to bluster order some attending spirits around. But when all that blew away, I found the spirits that I thought were beneath me in hierarchy, were actually above me. Considerably above me. And the only reason they played along with the game was because reasons, not all of which I have been allowed to find out.

I quickly learned to do my own Dirty Work myself. Which has been fun and freeing. See also: Breaking Chains.

I know the things that haunted my tarot deck evaporated after a year of non-use. And that was a mutual agreement to release each other after a year of quiet abiding. I know that if I don’t keep a handle on Horatio, the same could happen to him.

And considering who gave me Horatio in the first place, that would be bad.

So, yes, I have been sending him off on gopher assignments. As well as regular feedings of rum (You thought that was all for me?), and regular reminders that while I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m still the Head Bitch In Charge of this ‘relationship’.

Which brings me to the crux of why I haven’t done more. Just what does one do with a captive spirit? I am used to handling things on my own, how do I integrate him in my practices? The whole “I have an enslaved sentient being attached to my hip.” doesn’t sit well with me, either. Many of my stories and dreams are about releasing captives, not abusing them further.

I will also admit to some fear of the matter. Over and over again, I read of warnings from others about sorcerers that empowered their servants too much, and are now bound to the servant’s will instead of the other way around. Y’all careful readers have noted how I’ve spent the past ten months breaking chains of control, manipulation, and deception off of me. I really don’t want to fall prey to another opportunist.

At least I know enough not to listen to the first series of emails my initial posts about Horatio generated. No way am I going to send off the bound trinket to some random place in Louisiana so some “Gentleman Bokor” can train and prepare Horatio for my immediate use. I know I’m naive and ignorant. But, please… No.