Invoking Buffy: Using Pop Icons In Your Magickal Practice
By Taylor Ellwood
Many magickal practitioners sneer at the idea of using pop culture as a means of doing magick. But I believe that popular culture is an extremely effective magickal medium. Any pop culture icon can be made into a helpful focus of magick. Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes an especially good example.
(Important note: when I refer to "Buffy" I am NOT speaking of Sarah Michelle Gellar, but rather of the character "Buffy" herself. It is the character, not the actress, that is the focus of the energy.)

5 Steps to Using a Pop Icon in Your Magic

1. Observe your target.
   You need to observe your target deity very carefully, get an idea of his or her mannerisms and attributes. In the case of Buffy, I read books about her and watched her show, taking careful notes. It is important to think carefully about the pros and cons of using any pop icon in your magickal workings. As with any other kind, this form of magick shouldn't be done casually. Devise a list of your deities' relevant characteristics: in the case of Buffy I listed: compassionate, empathic, tough, strong, independent, strong willed and ready to protect those in need of help. Remember: you aren't dealing with a real person, you're working with the perception of that person. It's vital to keep positive: if you allow any negatives into your perception you weaken the potency of your magick.
   
   
2. Create a shrine.
   When working with Buffy I made a collage of images from fanzines, website art and book covers. The collage showed several aspects about her that reinforced my list of attributes. I created an altar of Buffy and wrote a statement of intent on the back of the collage. It went something like this: "Buffy, through the medium of this collage I create a link with you. I give of myself to you and in return ask that you act as my guardian when I call on you." I also dedicated a personal object (something of value to me) that I intended to offer to Buffy in return for her help. Suitable objects might include a lock of hair or a drawing that you create yourself. (Never use another lifeform; the idea is to sacrifice something of yourself in return for the god/dess' assistance.)
   
   
3. Bring it down to earth.
   After I created my altar I performed a ritual to Buffy to continue the work of reinforcing our connection. Collage in hand, I went outside with a lighter. I lit the paper and my sacrifice on fire and chanted as it burned: "Through the power of Buffy I will focus on improving my independence and will." I chanted this until the paper had turned into ash. By chanting I was adding energy to the focus of the spell. By burning the image with the writing and something that was personal to me, I was essentially making a sacrifice, an offering to Buffy.
   
   
4. Listen to your deity.
   After I burned the paper and chanted, I went inside, laid down and tranced out. This means I let go of my conscious mind and followed the energy I'd just released to the god form of Buffy. While in the trance I felt Buffy's presence. She and I spoke about my situation and she explained how she'd keep me focused on improving it. She advised invoking her once a day to remind myself of what I was doing.
   
   
5. Know when to let go.
   I stopped invoking Buffy after the situation I felt I needed her help with had been resolved. Remember that any entity, pop culture or otherwise, should only be used as long as you need it. Otherwise the entity becomes a crutch and you are back where you started.
   
   It is also foolish, even dangerous, in the case of a deity who is portrayed by a human actor, to confuse the character with the real person. Invoking Buffy is one thing; nobody should attempt to worship Sarah Michelle Geller.
   
   As for me, I worked with Buffy while she was useful to me and then I moved. I didn't want to become too enmeshed in Buffy's reality because I knew that while she helped me in the short term, I'd ultimately need to address the situations myself. The godform I named Buffy served as a useful focus to inspire me to do just that. -

Taylor Ellwood is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Literacy, Rhetoric, and Social Practice at Kent State University. He has been an active practitioner of magick for nine years. Taylor is hard at work on two solo books, one a Superhero novel and the other a book on pop culture and the occult. Taylor can be contacted at ashmage@hotmail.com.