A spell is a
spoken or written formula that when used in an act of magick is intended to
cause or influence a particular course of events.Belief in and the use of spells are universal and have been
an integral part of religious practices since ancient times.Methods vary according to culture but all spell work is based on ritual.
Spells are
closely related to Prayers, which are rituals consisting of a petition to the
Gods or deities (whatever the religion or faith) for a desired outcome.It involves the visualization of a goal, a statement of desire for the
goal, and ritualized movements of body positions (e.g., the bowing of the head,
the clasping of the hands, the closing of the eyes etc).In magick, spells are closely related to various methods of mind power
such as:creative visualization,
positive thinking, and positive imaging (see “What
is Magick”).All of which
emphasize our mental images of the goal and our identification with it,
repetition of our intent to achieve this goal, projection of our will, and a petition
to the spirits, deities, or the divine force for their aid.
These types
of spells are commonly used on a daily bases, the simple lighting of a candle
starting the ritual process. Such daily spells constitute minor magick's
such as: blessings, self-help, positive thoughts and the sending of
helpful healing energies to others. Used on a daily bases it is not
therefore necessary to undertake the cumbersome task of a full circle casting
ritual
Spells can
be beneficial or harmful and can be worked on people, animals, and nature.Their purposes are limitless and include:healing, love, money, success, fertility, longevity, and protection from
disaster, ill fortune, and evil.They
can also be used to exorcise ghosts and spirits, for victory in battle, truth in
divination, weather control, and the accomplishment of supernatural feats.When directed against enemies, spells can be used to cause illness,
destruction, loss of love, impotence, barrenness, failure and even death.Spells can be cast to affect the self, or directed to affect another
person.
A positive
spell is often called a blessing, although such archaic terms as bewitchment and
enchantment are still sometimes used.Negative
spells are generally known as hexes or curses.A binding spell is one intended to prevent harm, avoid danger, or to stop
someone from performing particular acts (e.g., halting a murder, preventing a
rape, or even stopping the spread of gossip).
In most
cultures, Witches, Sorcerers, Witch doctors, Magicians, and other magically
empowered peoples, cast both beneficial and harmful spells as the need dictates.However in contemporary Paganism and Witchcraft, a set of ethics exists
that prohibits the use of curses and negative spells against another (see the
“Wiccan Rede” and the “Three
Fold Law”).The acceptability
of binding spells is divided, and is widely debated throughout the community.
How it works
A major act of
magick requires a ritual and a spell performed inside a properly constructed
circle.The
spell consists of words or incantations (sometimes called a charm or rune); the
ritual is a set of actions performed while the words are being spoken.The ancient Egyptians believed words were so powerful that speaking them
would bring about the desired goal.Words
and names of power were vital to Egyptian magick and had to be pronounced
correctly and with the proper intonation.In
Western magick the ultimate name of power is the Tetragrammaton, YHWH (Yah-weh),
the sacred name of God.
A
spell-casting ritual raises power and energy through a combination of
visualization, meditation, identification, body movement and projection of will.The success of a spell rests on the energy and will power raised,
together with the skill in which they are focused and projected.Words, chants, songs, and movements, objects such as ritual tools,
effigies, poppets, cords, and candles, as well as materials such as parchment,
herbs, oils and others, all facilitate spell casting.
In
contemporary Witchcraft spell casting is performed within a magick circle (see Circle
Casting).Many covens work
spells as part of their regular meetings, though each coven may use differing
techniques.To start, the goal of a
spell is stated and some Witches write it down.The act of writing down the goal emphasizes the positive thinking
techniques and helps to bolster the will power to achieve the goal.Any preparations for the ritual are made such as lighting coloured
candles or mixing herbs and oils.Each
action generating energy and increasing will power concentration toward the
goal.
In healing
or love spell rituals, an herb filled poppet or cloth doll might be used to
identify the likeness of the object of the spell.To aid the likeness, the doll may be marked with the persons
name or astrological sign, or even stuffed with personal hair or nail clipping
taken from the object of the spell.A photograph
of the person might also be used.If
a doll or poppet is not being used, then a mental image or thought form is
created.If the spell is being work
by a group, all must agree on the image and hold it firmly in their minds.Power and energy is then raised by various means, including:chanting, dancing, tying knots in cords or clapping hands.Drums, rattles, and the playing of music may also be used to raise power.
Witches
invite higher forces to work with them in implementing a spell.This is usually some aspect of the Goddess or God together with the
forces of the elements.Other deities may be called upon whose aspects best suit the
nature of the spell.For instance,
a money making spell might be addressed to “Math” the God of wealth and
increase, similarly for a love binding spell “Aphrodite” might be called
(see Gods and Deities).
While
performing the ritual the Witch focuses intense concentration and will power
into achieving the goal, and when the psychic power and energy being raised is
at its peak, it is then released and directed towards the goal while visualizing
and seeing the results being accomplished.Once the spell has been completed the ritual ends with a psychic cleanup
to banish and ground any remnants of psychic energy.This is normally done with the “cakes and wine” ritual,
after which the deities and elements are thanked and the circle banished.
Sources
Much
of the above writing was sourced from:
The Encyclopedia of Witches
&Witchcraft- by Rosemary
Ellen Guiley.
Traditions Part 1 - Alexandrian
Wicca / Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC)
/Ár Ndraíocht Féin (ADF) /Blue Star Wicca /British
Traditional (Druidic Witchcraft) / Celtic Wicca /Ceremonial Magic /Chaos
Magic / Church and School of Wicca /Circle Sanctuary /Covenant
of the Goddess (COG) /Covenant of
Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) /Cyber
Wicca /Dianic Wicca /Eclectic Wicca /Feri Wicca /
Traditions
Part 2 - Gardnerian Wicca /
Georgian Tradition /Henge of Keltria
/ Hereditary
Witchcraft /Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) /Kitchen
Witch (Hedge Witch) / Minoan Brotherhood and Minoan Sisterhood Tradition /Nordic Paganism /Pagan Federation /Pectic-Wita / Seax-Wica / Shamanism /
Solitary / Strega / Sylvan Tradition / Vodoun or Voodoo /Witches League of Public Awareness (WLPA) /
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