So you want to do a spell, yet you are not sure where to start. Well let’s begin with the basics. Why? Why are we wanting to do a spell? What is the intention for this spell? Are you looking for clarity, direction, love, peace, inspiration? There are so many applications for spell work and every word you speak is a spell. Hmmm, makes you want to choose your words more wisely in the future huh? Well, in this article, I’ll talk about what to consider when developing a spell to make it as successful as possible.
INTENTION
The first thing we need to look at is the intention behind the spell. What do you want the spell to do for you? Now, when it comes to spell work, most practitioners live by the rule of, “Do as thy will, yet harm none.” That being said, if you are considering doing a spell to harm another person, that is ill advised; it will only work it’s way back to you in some fashion. So, it is up to you to figure out what your true intention is for the spell. This may take some time and if you need to, meditate, and ask your spirit guides for guidance. Once you are firm on your intention, you can begin to write it down and form the spell into how you will bring it into being. When you bring it into being, make sure you are seeing it as already being done. Manifestation is a powerful tool and we need to know that everything we want is already ours.
SUPPLIES
You have your intention and your idea for a spell. It may be a water spell or a fire spell, using candles. It could be an earth spell in which you bury something, or an air spell in which you release something into the wind. In any case you have your beginning and now you can start gathering your supplies. Candles, feathers, dirt, water. You also may want to consider color aspects, time of day or even the day of the week, what phase the moon is currently, etc. Your spell can be as elaborate or as simple as you would like. There are no “rules” in how you have to “do” a spell. It is what feels right for you.
HOW TO BEGIN
Now we have everything we need to begin our spell. As I said in the beginning, I am going to go through a basic spell that is somewhere in the middle of what practitioner’s may do for spell work. I am Eclectic, which means that I will take whatever I feel calls to me from different paths to use in my magical workings, so there are times when I do the following and times when I don’t. It just depends on the spell.
CIRCLE AND SPELL CASTING
Gather all your supplies in the area you will be performing this spell and make sure you will have minimal to no distractions. You will want to cast a protective circle around you to keep you safe while you’re working. If you don’t know how to cast a circle; you can take your index finger of your dominant hand and imagine a white light emerging from the tip of your finger as you draw a circle clockwise on the floor around you. Imagine that it throws up this white wall of protection all around you that nothing can penetrate. Once the circle is drawn, do not cross the boundary or let any other human cross it. If you need to leave your circle, you can cut a doorway into it to move out of the circle to get something and then seal the circle again when you return. Animals can move through freely; cats especially. You’ll release the circle when you are done; I’ll talk more about this later.
Once the circle is cast, you can begin working your spell. Now some practitioners will do more with their circle casting. Some will also call the Quarters, or the Watch Towers, or certain Gods/Goddesses to aid in their spell work. This is where the research into your spell comes into play. If your spell calls for any of this; this is when that is going to happen. You will call for the Watch Towers of the East, South, West, North. You will call on Hekate to help with a scorned lover. Whatever outside guidance or help you have reached out to will be with you inside your circle to guide you and enhance your spell.
Your circle is cast, any outside guidance or help is with you, and you are working your spell. Listen, this part is just like arts and crafts when you were young. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it needs to be you. If you can’t remember a saying you want to say, write it down and read it off the paper. Don’t want to say something out loud because you have roommates, and they may think you’re crazy? You can whisper or say it in your head. Remember, it is about your intention. You work that spell!
HOW TO CLOSE
Good! You’ve finished your spell and you feel good about it. Now what? Well, let’s close the circle, leave any offerings we need to, and clean up. You remember I said I’d come back to closing the circle? Here we are. If you called in any Deities, thank them for their visit and time and let them know they can stay if they like or go. Release the Quarters if you called them in. Now take that same index finger that made the circle and now go counterclockwise and remove the white wall of light. If you have any remnants left over from the spell, dispose if it accordingly. Examples would be to bury, burn, scatter in the wind, or drop in a river or stream. Of course we do not want to pollute Mother Gaia so please make sure everything is natural when disposed. Leave any offerings that may be necessary if you worked with helpers for your spell; food, drink, etc. The only thing left to do is clean up your space and put your tools and supplies away for the next time.
The anatomy of a spell is quite simple… or maybe quite complicated. It all depends on how you decide to do YOUR SPELL. Do you want it to be elaborate where you plan everything out to the tiniest detail, call the quarters and two Deities, or three? Or do you just need a protective ball of white light around you to get through the work day? Whatever it is, it is always going to be what fits for you. Spell work is just another tool to be used on your spiritual journey to manifest what you want to bring into existence.
