This weeks blog post is something that has hit at me hard over the years as a practicing witch.  I had for years always figured that I had to have substantial amounts of dried herbs and candle colors, oils, and other assorted objects that cost a lot of money.  For that reason for many years I did not actively try and cast any spells.  I felt that while I considered myself a witch, there was a lack of magical practices in my life.  I felt I couldn’t craft spells because I didn’t have the best herbal selection (and I also had no real idea how to use the herbs in spells) or burn any incense or candles.  I felt that there was no real way I could cast or craft any spells.

I was constantly refining my energy working techniques and manipulation of those energies, but I still felt that things were lacking.  Then one day I had an idea to use yarn, paper, and pens for crafting a spell.  I knew then that there were ways I could craft spells.   I tried two spell experiments and both of them got me the results I wanted, though they took longer to work than I had originally anticipated.   Yet they worked.  I once again felt that I could call myself a witch confidently.

I feel that many new witches feel that they can’t practice spell craft because they can’t buy any fancy tools or they don’t have access to herbs, ect.  This is a common issue that I have come across in my dealings with seekers on the various forums I belong to where I discuss witchcraft with seekers, newbies, experienced, and elders of all sorts.  When I tell them that they don’t need anything more than their mind or even a pen and paper they seem aghast.  So that is where this post is coming from.

Crafting and casting spells

In most spell books there are things like candle colors, herbs, oils, that many people don’t have access to in their early days.  There may even be day and planetary associations which make no sense to a beginner.  They just use the associations because they simply feel that if the spell says they need it then they must need it.  This makes many feel as if they cant actually craft spells.

I mentioned above that I found a solution to my no candles and no oils or herbs situation.  I started to use string of various colors, paper and pencils.  I occasionally had extra coins and flowers.  So I was able to work with them and make some very specific spells for specific situations.  I have since through a project I participated have come to create a new specific style of spell crafting based on reworking spells published and written by others.  I have also learned the simplest fact in spell crafting and casting: Use what you have on hand and what you find works.

In the process of learning the spells can be incredibly simple I also had to relearn and craft my definition of  both spells and magic.  So before I can address how simple a spell and magic is I have to address what magic is and what I consider spells to be.  Once these two concepts have been established I can get onto explaining and elaborating on how with just a piece of paper, a pen, and your imagination you can cast

Magic:

The force built up during  the casting of a spell or the manipulation and direction of subtle energies towards a specific desire and goal.  The process of manipulating energy towards specific goals.  The result of energy manipulation and direction of intent.   That is magic.  Let’s break it down into simpler explanations for each section.

 The first definition was “The fore built up during the casting of a spell.So Magic is the force built up during the spell.  What is this force?  Well this force is the intent.  It is your desire and emotion.  The first thing when you think about crafting and casting a spell is what are your defined needs and desires for the situations.  It is through working with the emotions associated with the goal that spells gain their true power. This is the intent.

You may be asking what about the colors and the symbols that I often read about in spells and rituals.  Why are they there?  Those  are popular herbal and color symbols that have become associated with certain magical actions and have specific properties.  Their energy is there to add extra power to your spells, but how much is always up to you.  What makes them have power is that you associate them with your intent and thus that has their energy.  You will make this association yourself, but that comes later.  For now all you need is paper and pencils or even just your mind.

Those associations hold energy and power.  These energies and associations come into play within magic.  They can be essential and are very nice tools and toys to play with.  Yet they are not what makes the magic.  What makes the magic is the intent these items and more,

Ok.  So the first aspect of my definition of magic was explained.  The second was the process or manipulation and direction of energy towards specific goals and intents.  This is true.  Spells and rituals are called magical actions because they involve the process of magic.  Each spell and ritual involves the direction and manipulation of various energies.  That process is magic.

When you take the emotion,  intent as well as physical energy, mental focus, and the energy found within the various symbols and associations we develop over time and combine all of these various vibration frequencies into one cohesive item  directing that new energetic form towards an outcome is magic.

Finally magic is the result.  When you add those processes and energies together and you obtain your desire you have effectively worked magic.  Thus magic is the result.  You are crafting magic in the creation of the intent.  You are creating  the magic through the manipulation and creation of the new energetic form.  Finally you receive the magic when you obtain your goal and desire.

To me magic is all of those things at once.  The key behind magic is all three of those definitions in action.  Intent is all you need to start magic as the actions can be mental. but every part of my definition is still in play.  Learning this simple fact which while “hammered” in through many books took several years of failure with both spells and rituals.  Yes I failed.  It was when I started to really apply intent my spells and rituals I started to see how a simple action could actually be a spell.

One of the books that was key to this new inspiration was the book: Instant Magick by Christopher Penczak.  Here I learned how to craft spells and work magic simply by focusing my mind and directing the mental energies towards the desired outcome.  I had been using that type of magic for years with out knowing it.  Now I had learned how to refine it and work with it.

So now that You understand what magic really is to me, the next thing to cover is spells.

Spells:

Spells are a specific type of magical action.  There are many types of spells.  You have herbal spells which would deal with herbal lore, crystal and gem magical spells which deal with gems and crystals, you have kitchen magic (which involved food as well as oils, soaps, and other objects), you have candle magic which uses primarily candles as their magical  aids, There is the art of evocation which are spells that call and work with specific spirits.  Basically any action performed with an intent towards obtaining a desire and a change in your life could be considered a spell.

I have heard it argued that energy manipulation performed during healing sessions like Reiki, Polarity Treatments, Integrated Energy Therapy, and several others is not a form of magic.  I would have to disagree.  I would call Reiki a very specific type of magic using a specific type of energy.  The energy is manipulated and directed by the practitioner who controls the intent.  You will have to come up with your own decision on if energy work is considered magic or not.

Ok.  Enough of a lecture.  It’s time for you to get your hands dirty and explore magic and energy manipulation  You have to have an idea of what energy feels like in order to be able to direct any sort of energy in spell work and magical workings.  So before I give you an outline for a simple spell for you I want you to understand the nature of the energy we work with when we work magic.

Energy exercise one:

This is a very simple exercise and will form the basic of any simple energy manipulation exercise.  Put aside five minutes to do this exercise.

Sit or stand in a comfortable position.

Rub your hands together vigorously for about 20 seconds.

After rubbing your hands together hold them about 5 inches apart.

Slowly move your hands close to each other until you feel a magnetic “charge” between your hands.

Feel this force and focus on it.

Eventually you’ll be able to manipulate it’s size and shape.  For now just focus on holding that force as long as you can.

Release the energy after the time you set aside and record your results.

Energy exercise two:

Set aside 5 minutes.

During these five minutes focus on nothing but an emotion, a desire, a goal, or an item.

During those five minutes focus all the mental energy into your hands and form that energy into a ball

After the five minutes are up release the thoughts and the energy at the same time.

Record your results in the book.

The second energy exercise listed there is a very simple form of magic called mental magic.  It was the direction of thought and energy towards a specific goal and outcome.  That is indeed magic.  This is the sort of spell craft that requires no tools but your own mind and your own desires.

These sort of spells are what I use more often than not.  I have used these sorts of spells and magical techniques for catching buses when running late, to calm me down before a test, to grant me wisdom and a quick mind when taking tests, for protection driving and in travel, and many other items.

I know not every one is comfortable with visualization and mental exercises.  I said in the beginning of this post that I would provide a simple way of casting spells using house hold objects and now I will.

To craft a simple spell using only pen and paper requires only your imagination and a willingness to give magic a try.

Spell outline

On the paper write out or draw in the center something that represents your goal or need

Focus your emotional thoughts end energy into the writing of the words and the drawing of the images

Fold the paper stating a rhyme or phrase about your desire over and over.

Once the folded paper with your desire has reached a small amulet/charm size that you can carry with you tie the bundle with a knot

Direct the energy raised through the chant and the actions into the object and into the universe.

Carry the new talisman with you until your desire comes true.

Now I’m sure you would like a sample spell that follows that outline so here we go:

Money wish

Materials: Coin Paper Pen Green Ribbon

Spell:

On the paper write your wish for money to come to you include any details you feel are necessary such as job desires (if employment is what you seek) what you need the money for and any other things that come to mind

Once you have written out a list of what you desire and need the money for place the coin in the middle of the paper Start folding the paper

As you fold the paper state: “Ever shall the money flow to me Free from debt as of now will I be”

Once the paper has been folded into a small bundle that can be kept in the wallet take out the ribbon.

Wrap the folded bundle in the green ribbon several times. As you wrap the bundle repeat the chant above. After several passes tie a knot and place the wrapped bundle into your wallet or pocket until your financial problems cease