A spell is the most common way for working magick to effect change in our lives. Many common things we do everyday can technically be considered a spell. Even prayers like the rosary or a novena, can fall into the category of spell work. Generally, speaking a spell is when we offer up our energy and intention to the Divine (of course, depending on your actual belief). I do not believe we need tools to cast spells, but others do. I believe we are perfectly capable of casting all sorts of magick with just our hearts and will. Considering this, I think gossip is actually a form of a spell. But why, you ask?
[level-path-of-magick-part-1]
While the intention behind any one piece of gossip may not be well formed or thought out, there is some kind of intent behind it, and it is usually negative. Any act that gathers our energy, focuses our intent, charges our energy with emotions and releases that energy out into the world is a spell. This would make prayer and spellwork synonymous, at least in theory. For instance, many religions, not just witchcraft or Wicca, light candles to release prayers and intentions. Witches, generally speaking, do this kind of thing, but more consistently conscious. We prepare the candle before hand by rubbing oils or herbs on it. We perhaps carve symbols in the candle. We check to see what times of day might be best to do this work. We consciously raise the emotional and psychic energy and release it in rhythm with the lighting the candle.
Intention is the key behind any spell. Here we are not simply speaking of what need you wish to have met, but that you intend to create change. To enact a spell, we must take action. To ensure the success of our spell work, we must follow through on actions in the real world, as well. A spell commits us and our energies to action. We can hardly expect to get a job we never apply for or even talk to the company about. Nor can we expect to reconcile with a former loved one, if we never talk to them again. We must enact our magick IN the real world AND on the spiritual level. Once we have released the spiritual component, the energy and emotions behind our need, then it is time to go forward and assume things will go as you planned and follow through on the real world steps to make your plan and goal a success.
In both prayer and spell work we should be seeking to align ourselves with Divine Will. When forming our intent, though, we try to also be as conscious as we can be about the ramifications of the pursuit our wants, wishes, and needs in the everyday life and spiritually through magick. It is acceptable, as Christians do, to leave your intentions in the hands of the Divine. Most pagan people do think that magick is simply a tool that we have been given to use, just as we use our minds to our benefit. There are standard phrases that some people chose to work into their intents to try and minimize negative effects from spell work. Phrases like, “with harm to none so be it”, can be added to the end of each spell to try and account for this. But this is taking the easy way out, and may not protect us from backlash, if we have not pondered the consequences of our actions before hand.
Spell work is always unique, because it is often done with one or more props or components, like herbs, stones, oils, and incense. Here I will make reference to magick or magickal thinking within certain religions, but please remember that I am not speaking of magick as something that is only found in Wicca or witchcraft. Many cultures world-wide practice their own variations of magick and magickal-thinking. While a Catholic Christian mass might have a components of magick and magickal thinking, such as transubstantiation, those components are in the context of a high ceremony. Magick is not always accomplished withing the context of a high ceremony, or even a ceremony at all. In some religions, it might be thought of as a more elaborate form of the rosary, mala work, or even stations of the cross. In some cultures, magick’s primary function is that of healing and prevention of psychic attacks or curses. Magick and spell work can be performed within the context of large-scale religion, like Wicca, Buddhism, Christianity, or Voudon, where some props are preferred over others and there is a standard of conduct and ethics to the casting of spells or using the principles behind magick. But many New Age people use the principles of manifestation and the law of attraction as a stand alone form of magick that does not need components, ceremony, or even formal religion.
There is a standard set of tools to use with spell work in the tradition of witchcraft,which will be addressed in your assignment. But, no matter what your religion, tradition, or path, never forget the most essential and magickal tool you have is yourself!
Assignment:
Read these articles and write a little about the tools you feel a connection or attraction to!
Wands: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wand
Athame: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athame
Chalice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalice
Besom or broom: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Besom_broom#In_Wicca
Cauldron: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauldron
Please submit your thoughts about each of these tools, and how you might use or work them personally.
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[/level-path-of-magick-part-1]
[level-current-students]
While the intention behind any one piece of gossip may not be well formed or thought out, there is some kind of intent behind it, and it is usually negative. Any act that gathers our energy, focuses our intent, charges our energy with emotions and releases that energy out into the world is a spell. This would make prayer and spellwork synonymous, at least in theory. For instance, many religions, not just witchcraft or Wicca, light candles to release prayers and intentions. Witches, generally speaking, do this kind of thing, but more consistently conscious. We prepare the candle before hand by rubbing oils or herbs on it. We perhaps carve symbols in the candle. We check to see what times of day might be best to do this work. We consciously raise the emotional and psychic energy and release it in rhythm with the lighting the candle.
Intention is the key behind any spell. Here we are not simply speaking of what need you wish to have met, but that you intend to create change. To enact a spell, we must take action. To ensure the success of our spell work, we must follow through on actions in the real world, as well. A spell commits us and our energies to action. We can hardly expect to get a job we never apply for or even talk to the company about. Nor can we expect to reconcile with a former loved one, if we never talk to them again. We must enact our magick IN the real world AND on the spiritual level. Once we have released the spiritual component, the energy and emotions behind our need, then it is time to go forward and assume things will go as you planned and follow through on the real world steps to make your plan and goal a success.
In both prayer and spell work we should be seeking to align ourselves with Divine Will. When forming our intent, though, we try to also be as conscious as we can be about the ramifications of the pursuit our wants, wishes, and needs in the everyday life and spiritually through magick. It is acceptable, as Christians do, to leave your intentions in the hands of the Divine. Most pagan people do think that magick is simply a tool that we have been given to use, just as we use our minds to our benefit. There are standard phrases that some people chose to work into their intents to try and minimize negative effects from spell work. Phrases like, “with harm to none so be it”, can be added to the end of each spell to try and account for this. But this is taking the easy way out, and may not protect us from backlash, if we have not pondered the consequences of our actions before hand.
Spell work is always unique, because it is often done with one or more props or components, like herbs, stones, oils, and incense. Here I will make reference to magick or magickal thinking within certain religions, but please remember that I am not speaking of magick as something that is only found in Wicca or witchcraft. Many cultures world-wide practice their own variations of magick and magickal-thinking. While a Catholic Christian mass might have a components of magick and magickal thinking, such as transubstantiation, those components are in the context of a high ceremony. Magick is not always accomplished withing the context of a high ceremony, or even a ceremony at all. In some religions, it might be thought of as a more elaborate form of the rosary, mala work, or even stations of the cross. In some cultures, magick’s primary function is that of healing and prevention of psychic attacks or curses. Magick and spell work can be performed within the context of large-scale religion, like Wicca, Buddhism, Christianity, or Voudon, where some props are preferred over others and there is a standard of conduct and ethics to the casting of spells or using the principles behind magick. But many New Age people use the principles of manifestation and the law of attraction as a stand alone form of magick that does not need components, ceremony, or even formal religion.
There is a standard set of tools to use with spell work in the tradition of witchcraft,which will be addressed in your assignment. But, no matter what your religion, tradition, or path, never forget the most essential and magickal tool you have is yourself!
Assignment:
Read these articles and write a little about the tools you feel a connection or attraction to!
Wands: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wand
Athame: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athame
Chalice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalice
Besom or broom: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Besom_broom#In_Wicca
Cauldron: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauldron
Please submit your thoughts about each of these tools, and how you might use or work them personally.
[easy_contact_forms fid=4]
[level-current-students]