| Spells |  

 

 

|  What is a spell?
A spell is a means of gathering energy and directing it towards a specific goal or purpose. Spells are rituals within themselves and can be very complex or very simple. It takes a long time to perfect the art of spell crafting, so don't expect your first spells to work perfectly. Spells can also be very powerful, and with power comes responsibility.

 

|  When should a spell be used?
The use of magic must be respected, therefore spells should be a the result of much careful consideration. Spells should only be performed if they are worth the investment of the time and energy that they entail. If a person becomes reliant on magic to solve all their problems and to cater to their every whim, they will quickly find themself unable to deal with everyday life. A spell should be well planned and all alternatives should first be considred. Because a person's emotions will be reflected in their magic, it is important never to do a spell out of haste or anger but rather to be mentally prepared, in a state of calm relaxation, and focus. It is important to realize and evaluate your intentions to determine the exact effect that your spell will have and to realize any reprocussions.

Spells can be made to suit almost every purpose imaginable. Because spells can be used for good as well as for bad, many ethical issues surrounding spells arise. Many consider it unacceptable to perform spells that will have any negative effect on a person, invade a person's privacy, interfere with a person's rights, or manipulate a person's free will. Many beliefs maintain that the energy that you put out when you are doing a spell will come back to you. This belief is known as Karma, the principle of which is cause and effect. Wiccans are bound by the Threefold Law, in which it is believed that for every action, good or bad, the person who performs that action receives three times its effect. Wiccans are also bound by the Wiccan Rede, which states: "An it Harm None, Do as Thou Wilt," basically meaning that a Wiccan is free to do anything, including any spell, as long as it doesn't harm anyone in any way. The Rede, however, is very open to individual interpretation. It is up to the spellcaster to determine what spells are acceptable to perform, though many belief systems have rules surrounding spellcasting that one may choose to adhere to. For those who are not bound by their beliefs, spellcasting is a question of ethics. As long as the spellcaster is willing to take responsibility for their magical workings and accept any reprocussions, any spell may be performed- 'good' or 'bad.' Each spell is the personal choice and responsibility of the person who performs it.

 

|  It didn't work. What went wrong?
There are several possible reasons your spell may not have worked. It may well be that you did something wrong, in that case you need to review carefully each step you took. Perhaps your will was not strong enough, or your spell was misdirected. It may just be that you need to practice spellcasting more before you are able to achieve measurable results. Certain spells must be reinforced after the initial spellcraft period- burning down the candles used during the spell each night afterwards until they burn out, for example. Magic does take time, you cannot expect your magic to take effect instantly. It is said that magic takes the path of least resistance. If you can find no fault in your in your casting, it is possible that your magic is working in a slightly different way than that which you intended. For example- you do a spell to get a job at the store of your choice, but a week goes by and you learn that the position is filled by someone else. Heartbroken, you wonder what you did wrong, but not soon after you are offered an even better job. Spells are tricky creatures, and the best way to master them is with practice and experience.

 

 

 

| The Steps to Casting a Spell |