by Julie
Often times people ask me if I have spells. Yes, I have spells.
Some have worked, some haven't. What a witch must keep in mind is
that what works for me, may not work for another witch. Magic is
within everything. How it is perceived is different from witch to
witch. Some think patchouli oil is the best oil for a prosperity
spell. I prefer clove oil and have had success in using it. One of
the wonders of magic is that there is normally a wide variety of
correspondences to choose from for any one desired result. There
must be about a hundred different herbs listed for love and at least
thirty for wealth and money (a few of which I have listed).
I prefer to perform candle magic. Candle spells are simple, they
are not time consuming (very important to a witch with little time)
and they work. When I do a candle spell, I carefully choose an
appropriate color for the candle, a stone, an oil, and three herbs,
one for the physical realm, one for the mental realm and one for the
spiritual realm, plus one more as a type of catalyst (normally these
catalysts are either Dragon's blood, Mandrake, or Mistletoe).
How do I pick my correspondences? First, I must know what I'm doing
the spell for. Is it a prosperity spell, a healing spell, a spell to
find a new job or maybe to improve communication with a loved one?
Once I determine what I'm trying to accomplish, I hit the books.
Within my library, I have several books that index what various
colors, herbs, oils and stones correspond with various desired
results. I try to be as specific as I can and try to blend my choice
of correspondences to better "describe" my desired result. If I'm
going to perform a prosperity spell, what attributes are going to be
needed to reach the final goal? Creativity, physical strength,
courage? I try to chose some herb or the oil to correspond with
those added aspects and keep in mind that most herbs and oils have
several attributes. Its is very possible to have an herb with the
attributes of both wealth and, say, strength. With one herb you can
accomplish two ends. I leave the color of the candle to the core of
the spell. For a prosperity spell, green, a banishing spell, black.
The same applies to the stone I use. I leave it to the core of the
spell.
Having said all that, now I must also add, use what you have! One of
the first spells I did, I literally raided my spice cabinet for the
herbs I needed. Okay, so maybe fennel would not have been my first
choice, but it worked! I am fortunate to have an orange tree in my
back yard. Yes, I use the leaves, blossoms, fruit, and bark in place
of other possibly more popular herbs. Use what you have!
Once I've gathered my correspondences, I then charge them with the
purpose of the spell. How is this done? There are a few techniques
that must be utilized for this part of spell working.
1. Ability to Meditate This is the art of clearing the mind of all
mundane thoughts and feelings. It is a state of relaxation and
peace, the goal to reach a state of non-thought. This is not easy
and I still haven't mastered the technique yet, but do the best you
can. There are several very good books on the subject and even in
many of the books on Wicca and witchcraft there are simple
techniques to help in mastering meditation. This is essential to
spell work. Your mind must be at peace so that you can focus on what
you're trying to accomplish.
2. Ability to Visualize This is the ability to see with your mind,
not with your senses. Although it is called visualization, remember,
use all your senses! Close your eyes. Within your mind's eye, see a
tree, whatever kind of tree you want or are familiar with. Let your
mind see its limbs, its leaves or needles (depending on the type of
tree), the trunk, etc. Let your mind feel the bark. Is it smooth,
rough, spongy? Does the tree have a fragrance? Let your mind smell
that fragrance. Let your mind hear the wind as it rustles the
leaves. Visualization is not easy for some, but with practice you
can visualize anything. (Taste also falls into this category, but
for our little discussion, tasting a tree may not be prudent.)
During spell work you will visualize your goal (and be specific and
detailed!) before directing it into the item you're charging.
3. Ability to Direct Energy This is the ability to take the energies
of the correspondences and your own energy and directing it towards
your goal. When you charge an object, that energy is initially
coming from you. From within yourself imagine (visualize) a bright
light, maybe white or the color that corresponds with your goal,
forming within yourself centered between your chest and stomach. Let
that light grow and expand. Then direct that light up through your
body, down your projective arm, out your fingertips (or through your
athame or wand) and into whatever your trying to charge. While you
direct that light, that energy, you will be visualizing your intent
with as many specifics as you can.
It is important to realize that magic is energy flow. It is not
power. All spells create a tangible connection between the objects
used and yourself. When you work magic, be specific, but be
careful! If you do a spell for a new job, remember to be specific in
that your new job doesn't come at the expense of another! "An Ye
Harm None" Remember these words when you work magic. As you finish
your spell, (for me after I light the candle), I add something to
the affect of "May the energy of this magic harm none and take a
path that is for the good of all involved."
For candle spells remember that the flame must be allowed to
continue to burn until it goes out on its own. I use three and seven
day candles that are in glass jars. You can sprinkle your herbs on
the top of them and they are safer. Remember not to leave a burning
candle near drapes or where something flammable may fall into the
flame. Keep in mind that the glass jars get hot, so handle with care
and as the candle reaches the bottom of the jar, make sure the
candle is not sitting on something that might burn from the heat. I
suggest getting a ceramic dish and put some sand in the bottom to
act as insulation. When I leave my home, I place the candle in my
bath tub, just in case. If for some reason it gets knocked over,
there is nothing in my tub that could catch on fire.
For positive spells, once the candle is out, use the stone as a
talisman. Carry it with you or put it someplace where its presence
will have an affect. For banishing spells, very carefully remove all
remnants of the candle, especially the stone, without touching it.
Wrap the remnants in white paper and bury it outside, preferably
some distance away.
Remember to write down your spells! You can either keep these spells
in your Book of Shadows or elsewhere. My Book of Shadows is riddled
with pieces of paper, napkins, whatever I happen to jot notes and
spells down on. Some choose to use their computers as their BoS.
Regardless, with the spells written down, can keep track of what
works and what doesn't and you can also keep track of what you are
doing while you're doing it.
A few words about magic and ethics. Most magic, at least
initially, is done for yourself. There will be times when spellwork
will be used to benefit other people. Any ethical witch WILL NOT do
a spell that will affect someone else specifically without that
person's permission. A witch must respect another person's soul
path. What if you can't ask them (i.e. you can't reach them, the
person is unable to communicate, etc)? Then you must honestly
consider if that person would object. If your favorite aunt were
deathly ill and could not communicate, and you wanted to do a
healing spell for her, you would need to consider if she would agree
to the spell if she could. If she were a devout Fundamentalist
Christian, chances are pretty good she'd say no. You must respect
her choices and her soul path.
No witch in their right mind will perform magic that is intended to
manipulate, control or harm another. Remember, what you send out
will come back to you threefold.
A witch should never sell a spell. If someone asks you to do a spell
for them, it is not unreasonable to ask them to cover the expenses
of the materials used, but other then that, no money should be
received for the magic you do. That is counter productive and can
cloud the intent of the magic.
When someone asks you to do a spell for them, if possible, instead
of you doing the spell, teach them how to do it. The spell will have
a better chance at success and they will have a better understanding
of how the magic works.
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