Call me Fawn (she/they). I follow from @sponfawn . Inclusive Christian animist. Bi. Nonbinary. Haafu Nikkeijin. Striving to make this a safe space for all (Nazis/terfs/swerfs/etc don't count). some magic/spirit/occult stuff. some nature/ecology stuff. some politics
I was suddenly overcome with the urge to post about the great ally that Spider is in magic (perhaps I'm being nudged by Spider) and share a framework for spells that I came up with about 2 years ago. I have only done a couple spells with this method because it takes time but they have proven to be some of the most effective spells I've ever done. It combines sympathetic magic, the concept of energy cords, and spirit work.
If you like fiber art and crafting like me, you might find this process fun! This (literal) spell framework is useful for when you need specificity and don't want to or can't do direct energy work. For example, perhaps you have a job where one person or one project is causing issues, or you want a particular aspect of your life to grow a certain way, or you're 3rd on a wait list for a course you need, etc. You could use energy threads or other energy work directly, but maybe your energy system isn't doing so great or it takes too much out of you. This might be a helpful spell template for you.
This is a guide to help you transition off of relying on written-down magic all the time. Not for the very beginner, but if you’ve done a spell or two in your time you’re likely good to go.
Collecting written spells by others is one of my favorite things about Tumblr, but 90% of the time these days I just do magic as needed. Believe me, once you realize you can do this, it’s so empowering and freeing.
What do I mean by “just do it as needed” though? What I mean in particular in this case is how to cast spells without sitting down and writing one in long beleaguered detail or spending forever leafing through or searching for the “right spell.” Just do the magic!
How would you do this? Well, first you have to…
Be Familiar with some the Following Magics:
- Sigils
- Poppets
- Jar Spells
- Candle Magic
- Writing chants/words
- Cursing (if you wanna)
- Binding
- Any other favorite form of magic you might have
Have Correspondence Tables to Figure Out:
- Herbs you can include
- Colors you can include
- Runes and sigils
- The moon phase/other timing if that’s your bag
- Symbology general
Have a general supply of:
- Useful herbs
- Useful oils
- Useful incense
- Candles
- Matches
- Paper
- Colored Pens and Pencils
- Fabric and Sewing supplies
- Any other supplies to do the kinds of magic you like to do
How to Do It
1) Come up with the purpose for your spell. Let’s say… money, for example.
2) Look at your supplies and see what kind of magic you can do at the moment. Let’s say my supplies are somewhat limited, so I’ll stick with a classic candle magic money spell. I gather a candle, paper, matches, and some money-related herbs, incense, and oils, that I have marked as safe to inhale.
3) This is where your background knowledge kicks in. Ideally you’ve read about or at least done some of this kind of magic at this point, so you know the drill. It’s helpful if you’ve read others spells before - for any purpose, really, you can adapt anything. For my money spell, what I decide to do is to take my green candle, create a sigil, inscribe it into the side of the candle, anoint the candle while whispering my purpose “Bring money to me!” repeatedly, light the candle, say my little sentence nine times or whatever, raise energy maybe by singing or whatever, release, and I let it burn out while I do the laundry.
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure you label your herbs, etc. beforehand so you’re not just burning junk willy nilly like you can’t get poisoned or some silly stuff like that.
- Don’t get too worried about the strict meanings and correspondences of things. Fudge it a bit, it’s fine.
- Don’t think it has to be complicated. Start with charms, even. Little itty bitty tiny spells for things like protection or something.
- Allow yourself to get creative from the things you have around you.
- Gather knowledge and experiment! Read the spells that others have written. Read books on magic! Having this info allows you to figure out what you’re gonna do.
- Once you can do magic like this, believe me, it is WORTH it not having to leaf through stuff.
- If you are still having a hard time letting go like this, step back and try it again in a few months.
- Yes, your spell is going to be just as effective, if not more. Once you get into the creative process, you’re tapping into you and what you are ready to do as far as magic goes at the moment. That’s powerful.
- Just because you’re making it up as you go along doesn’t mean you can’t record it for future verification.
Oh man, let me tell you. Let me tell you everything. Please keep in mind that you are talking to a very traddy witch.
I follow Robert Artisson’s theory, the ten pillars of sorcery. Now of course there are other theories, this is just one.
To make spells work, you need:
1. Rightfully prepared materials of arte
Awakened herbs, blessed tools, etc. Each of these things is to be given a task. First bless salt, then bless water, using the rite below.
Place each item in the triangle of manifestation.
Then say, “Creature of [material], be cleansed, awakened, and prepare to serve the cause of my sorcery, in Bucca’s name.” Then explain to each thing what it’s purpose is, for example, “rosemary, I charge you to bring your powers of protection to this spell.” Or, “salt, I charge you to cleanse all you touch.”
Mix the blessed salt and water together, and use it to anoint every other item to purify it and make it ready to serve you.
2. Symbolic actions and vessels of symbolism
Your actions and tools should symbolically represent what you are actually doing. A knot binds. Throwing a stone banishes. Let your words and actions support your magical intent.
3. The power of the word used concisely and repeatedly
Your will must be embodied in words. Make no room for ambiguity or compromise.
4. The activity and power of the familiar
Be it the Devil, underworld spirits, plant spirits, nature spirits, or familiar spirits, or any other sort; there must be spirit activity to help the spell and empower it. Proper use of herbs in your spell will engage plant spirits to help you.
5. The transfer of hand, word, and deed
Allow the Devil to work through you! With each action you take, say, “this is not my hand that does this, but the hand of the Master.” Or, “it is not my tongue that speaks, but the tongue of the Master.” This will make your spell very strong. It is also very empowering.
6. Rightly gathered and aligned herbs, proper days, and observed moons
Herbs should be cut fresh on their ruling day with a cleansed and blessed knife, under a large moon. Offer goings, honey, blood, or egg whites to the plants. Do not let the herbs touch the ground. (incidentally… I definitely do not follow this rule. But here it stands).
Cast spells on proper days; look up daily correspondences to see which type of spell to cast on which day. Then also observe the moon phases. The moon has more power than most people realize, I think. The world follows the moon.
The purpose for using proper days and moon phases is because the energies you seek will be more prevalent on those days. It will make your goal easier to access.
7. The laws of sympathy and contagion
Okay so this one is like… symapthetic magic. Understand that magically, one thing can metaphysically become another thing. A candle can BE a person. I can explain this more if anyone is interested.
8. The triangle of manifestation
Use this fucker all the time. Put everything in the triangle. It helps it manifest and obey your will.
9. The secret fire
Belief, emotion, and imagination together create the secret fire.
You must internalize the outcome of your spell. If you wish to cast healing, first you must feel the healing within yourself. If you wish to harm another, first you must feel the harm within yourself. Experience the outcome of your spell as you cast it.
10. The law of silence
Do not speak of your workings until they come to pass. If you do, the spell will surely fail, and you may lose magical power. If you obey the law of silence, your magical power will steadily grow*.
11.Awareness of the power that binds
So Mr. Artisson says there are ten pillars, then springs #11 on you at the end.
I believe this is what is described as Gemma Gary as ‘the Becoming.’ It is the constant awareness that all things are interconnected.
Use these eleven ‘rules’ together. Write down whatever you want, put it in the triangle of manifestation. Ask the spirits to help you. Give offerings. Let Bucca act through you. Your will shall surely be done.
*Have I mentioned that this is only one theory of magic and is not universally true?
What makes a spell a spell? What are the moving pieces and the working parts? We get this question a lot, and though there isn’t a super easy answer, this is what we’ve gathered through our practice.
Intent:
This is your thought, you desire and your purpose. This is why you perform your spell, this is what gives it meaning.
Examples of Intent: To enhance love, to increase luck, to bring bad luck
Action:
This is your moving piece. This is what transforms a mere thought into something that is acted upon. This is the glue between your intent and your energy.
Examples of action: Combining ingredients, writing or saying things aloud, burning objects, drawing sigils
Energy:
This is the driving force of your spell. This is what your intent hinges on, and what will push your intent out into the universe.
Examples of Energy: Energy from an organic or important object, crystals, herbs, materials, consecration and charging
Using this basic formula, you can create your own spells for any use with any materials on hand!
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