Do you want to practise witchcraft but don't know where to start? Do you find it all too confusing? Maybe you've been practising for a while and want to go back to basics. Or perhaps you're a seasoned witch and want to explore more ways of practisin...
Now that you know all about The Basics, cleansing, charging, protection, ritual components, tools, ingredients, divination, and altars... you are almost ready to begin casting spells! But first...
What is a Spell?
A spell, at its most fundamental, is a type of ritual intended to exercise a witch's will. In other words, when you cast a spell, you are purposefully sending your desire out into the cosmos (or into your subconscious) in hopes that it will manifest and become real.
You may notice that definition sounds rather like a prayer, like those practised by Christians or Muslims, etc. And you would be correct; praying is the most basic of spells a witch can perform. Spells -like prayers- have some kind of structure, they both commonly share: 1. An address to a higher being/force. (God, goddess, elements, spirits, planets, etc). 2. A petition of desire. (The thing you wish to happen). 3. An expression of gratitude. (Thanks in advance to the forces at work, or gratitude for the things you have received).
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Another thing they have in common is ritualised actions and words. For Christians, praying often involves kneeling, bowing the head, putting your palms together, and saying "Amen". Praying may be performed at the same time everyday, or in the same way in each church service. For witches, spells are also highly ritualised, with meditation, repetitive movements, and rhythmic chants. Small spells (charms) may be repeated at the same time everyday. Wiccans commonly use the phrase "So mote it be" to conclude their spells, which is essentially equivalent to "Amen".
Of course, most spells are a lot more elaborate than mere prayers. No matter how complex a spell is though, the one goal of a spell is to make the witch's will known to the universe, or to internalise it in the subconscious. Each component of a spell is designed to make it more powerful, to increase the witch's chance of success. Or in other words, to communicate with the subconscious in the most effective way possible. (I will discuss more about how to make a spell more powerful in the next chapter).
Types of Spells
Every witch practices differently and every spell is different. With that said, spells can be very roughly categorised into different types. There aren't by any means any hard-and-fast rules about this, I am merely breaking spells down into different types to make the various ways of practising more digestible to beginners.
🧙♀️ Ritual spell: This is what I would call your stereotypical "spell". They involve thoughtful planning, gathering of ingredients, preparation of the ritual space, and the performance of specific steps. It is highly recommended to practise divination before deciding to cast a ritual spell. Ritual spells can vary in length, from 10 minutes, to very elaborate rituals spanning several days. Ritual spells also vary a lot in terms of ingredients, components, and steps performed.
🧴 Craft spell: This refers to any spell where a potion, balm, powder, jar, poppet, or pouch is created for magickal purposes. For example, a healing balm made from herbs with medicinal properties, or a batch of black salt for protection.
