While it would be the height of paranoia to describe sorcery as a combat sport, it is inevitable that the practitioner will face potentially harmful censure at some point in their career. This has been especially true in my case, as I am nothing if not a controversial voice among my fellow Neopagans. As such the following article, which originally saw digital print at ChaosMagick.Com back in early 2023, is a step by step guide for countering such hexes and psychic assaults one drop of blood at a time. A ritual for slightly more experienced or desperate adepts perhaps, and an operation that is performed very much at your own risk.

The Meat Hook
A Bloody Minded Defence
By Gavin Fox

There comes a time in every magickian’s life when they need to take a stand. Just like any other occult discipline the chaos meta-paradigm has its share of internal politics in play, as well as self appointed gatekeepers to either ignore or forcefully circumvent as the situation requires. Running afoul of these draconian forces is unfortunately quite normal, and a prolonged psychic attack from those who would seek to silence you can prove extremely draining unless dealt with swiftly. Never underestimate the damage that can be done by focused belief.

While a purely defensive stance may be more attractive for those who wish to do no harm, warding and banishing only goes so far. The best way of dealing with a counterfeit Crowley is by forcing them to disengage and retreat back into the shadows to lick their wounds. Responses should remain proportionate, however, and indiscriminate action against those who are assumed to have crossed you are best avoided. There is little to be gained by falling in to paranoia over a perceived hex and becoming the aggressor as a result. A good parry and considered riposte is a far more intelligent solution.

Necromancy, being a discipline that has as much to do with manipulating energy as it does the spirits of the dead grants a number of options for those seeking to counterattack in this way. And all it will take is a little blood and a lot of vitriol. The Meat Hook ritual starts with the magickian scanning their bioelectric field and teasing out any strands that appear to be connected to them from elsewhere. This is by far the most difficult part of the entire process, and will require focused concentration on every inch of the chaote’s body in succession to achieve.

Divination may also prove useful, though the identity of those perpetrating the attack is far less important than confirmation that an actual attack is even taking place. As such any readings should focus on that aspect of the situation instead. It is better to work slowly at this exploratory stage, testing and retesting over a number of days, as what comes next can be pointlessly painful if not done for the right reasons. Areas which hold these unexpected bioelectric connections will have a certain cold tingle to them, and for those who have more experience in monitoring the flow of energy around their body a discernible pull or suction will also be felt.

If the chaote is adept at seeing into the unreal world lines may also be observed snaking off into the astral. Not every one of these will be negative, however, especially if a group of semi autonomous servitors are maintained as part of their occult practice. As with anything, discernment is required to prevent mistakes. Once these locations have been marked, the second stage of the Meat Hook begins. Here the Chaote pricks the skin where the suction is felt the strongest, pressing deep enough to draw blood.

This flash of pain is designed to short circuit the energetic connection between attacker and victim, and turn their negative efforts against them. It also promotes healing at that spot once the ritual is concluded, as well as directing a bodily fluid recognised as carrying the very essence of a person to where a strong defence is needed the most. While a medical lancet will provide the cleanest micro puncture, a sewing needle or safety pin is more than sharp enough to do this as well. That said, there is no need to slash wildly at your own flesh to get results. A drop or two will do.

The direction of travel changed, it is the magickian’s turn to send back their own parcel of negative emotion using the pain travelling along the astral thread as a carrier wave. This is where the vitriol comes in to play. Disgust, seething rage, incredulity that someone would dare attack in such a way. All these emotions and more are visualised as pulses of snarling, white hot anger snaking their venomous way back up the unwanted connections and eventually returning to their point of origin. That counterfeit Crowley is going to have a very bad day.

Once the Meat Hook is completed the chaote banishes with laughter, freely gloating over the massively magnified damage that they have caused to those who would harm them. They then cover any cuts that did not close on their own and go about their day. Life should quickly improve, and any astral wounds heal. Of course, this operation is not without its dangers. Vital areas of the chaote’s body such as the eyes or genitals should not be pierced, even if the magickian identifies those as exhibiting unwanted bioelectric connections during the initial evaluation phase. Nor should they attempt this procedure at all if an illness would be made significantly worse by doing so.

In those cases banishing, warding and defensive servitors my be the only safe option, as this is not the kind of ritual which can be done by others on the chaote’s behalf. The pain and blood generated during the Meat Hook is designed as an acceptable loss during an occult duel, and should undertaking this operation actually harm the practitioner more than weathering the psychic assault they are receiving normally then there is no point in continuing. Again, good divination at the outset can prevent costly mistakes here, as can a generally level head.

Blood magick of any kind, as a subdiscipline of necromancy, is inherently dangerous. Despite the long and storied history of using said fluids in a ritualistic setting, many would try to warn others against doing so in our seemingly more enlightened post-occult age. Yet in that taboo lies its power. The Meat Hook can be utilised to regain dominion over the chaote’s own bioelectric field, and strike back even when they are unsure of exactly who those attackers actually are. Because nothing is ever free that is unwilling to fight to remain so, and sometimes a little pain must be weathered to remain safe.