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Spell Types: Addition and Subtraction

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

In an earlier post, two types of spells were discussed based on permanency. I'm going to discuss two more ways to categorize magic based on whether or not you cast your spell to bring something new to the table or send something away that's already there.

The two categories I am about to present are in no way universal and don't even make sense when applied to a lot of kinds of magic. Remember, we're not trying to label all kinds of magic that exist or have existed in the history of mankind and every infinite astral realm.

Rather, the goal of this post is to present two ways of thinking about practical magic. Consider these labels to be a thought exercise, if you will.

By attempting to sort a broad variety of practical magic into one of these two categories, it gets us thinking about what the hell we're going to do with all the energy we raise.

Addition and Subtraction, eh?

These categories only apply to the spell itself and not its consequences and eventual effects. If you bear with me I can hopefully explain.

Cleansing, banishing, and exorcisms are very often "addition" spells that add new powers and energies to a space. When you conjure up a dollop of solar energy, it is going to automatically banish shadowy type energies and spirits. When you call on the power of a tree by burning its resin in order to clear a space, you are adding something (tree vibes) and as a consequence something unwanted is removed.

So we can't make the mistake of thinking all cleansing and banishing spells are "subtraction"; many of them are not. At the time of the spell, we were directing energy and power to arrive and come to us. The secondary effect of that power removed something incompatible with its presence.

Conversely, many spells which cause desired things to arrive are actually "subtraction" spells. If I target a financial blockage and directly blast it or send it away, I am removing and dispelling energies. As a consequence, something I want is now flowing into my life.

Why does it matter?

Let me ask you this: can you turn left and right at the same time? Can you inhale and exhale at the same time?

Spells seem to be particularly good at pulling something in, or sending something away.

A strong spell can certainly have enough power to do both. I know witches, whom I am not jealous of at all, who can just sit down with a goddamn birthday candle and like a twig they found on the ground, and say "bippity boppity the frog goes hoppity; my brother gets the new job he wants and all his financial troubles are solved."

And then six weeks later their brother is moving to the big city with a 300% raise and also the IRS is dropping its audit.

For the rest of us, we actually have to sit back and think about what we want our energy to do.

If I have limited energy to cast spells, if my spells flop into a little useless puddle when they lack direction, I need to find the best ways to use the spells I do have the time/space/energy to cast.

If I know whether I am trying to pull in a desired future, or send away a current reality, this is going to give me such a great foundational basis for cooking up a strong spell.

Addition

We might also call this category conjuring, bringing, summoning, or calling. This can be as simple as pulling in a lump of desired energy to liven up your bedroom. It can be as detailed as choosing a future you desire, and placing that future in your direct path.

Examples include conjuring up a new job, a new friend, a new commission, a new smexy date night with your partner, a new opening in a program you really want to join, a new influx of cash, etc. etc.

If you don't have it yet, and you want it, it's an addition spell!

Remember, adding energies into a space is also an effective form of cleansing and banishment (I don't have comforting energies in my room, and I want them - so I'll add them!).

Pros of addition-style spells:

It's easy to grok.

It's extremely gratifying and validating to practice with - it can provide you a clearly verifiable chain of cause-and-effect that proves your magic worked.

It adds, brings, and increases. That's great. We want that a lot of the time.

Cons of addition-style spells:

If a situation is already "full", it can't just hold more energies. An overflowing cup needs to be emptied before it can hold something else.

Trying to over-conjure energies into a situation can cause wicked bad side-effects and chaos (or, it can just fail).

It's just straight up really only going to thrive if the actual need in your situation is a lack of those specific energies. If you're dealing with any other problem, it's probably going to be disappointing.

Subtraction

This category could also be called dispelling, refusing, or sending away. This can be as simple as pointing at something and saying "begone!" It can be as complex as predicting possible outcomes and pushing them out of the path of your future, so that they are very unlikely (or nigh impossible) to occur.

Examples include banishing unemployment, loneliness, an empty inbox, distance from your partner, inability to join a program you really want to participate in, and and empty bank account.

If you already have it, and you want to get rid of it, it's a subtraction spell!

Pros of subtraction-style spells:

You get rid of stuff you don't want. That's great. I love that.

Negative manifestation (as in, removing things that are undesired) is a huge relief.

Preventative noping out can help you avoid a huge variety of unwanted futures.

Cons of banishment:

Like any style of magic, if it's not really what's needed, it's not going to produce ideal results.

Casting like a madman and severely draining energies out of a situation can do weird stuff.

Practical Application

For me, this concept stops me from blindly throwing energy at a situation.

It really requires me to step back and think about the situation in-depth. And I think that's a good thing, especially when spells are going to be actively influencing the lives and circumstances of others.

I probably should be sitting down and thinking, "do I want to protect someone from discord? Or empower them to deal with these situations? What's really best?"

The addition and subtraction model helps me start planning spells, and is a guiding light to help prevent me from getting lost in the weeds.

That being said, I do not strictly follow this model. There's a lot of overlap - empowering someone to deal with their own shit is very similar to protecting them; and does it matter if I add or subtract energy if all I'm doing is a simple cleansing?

The real utility in this model is helping me think about magic in a way that elevates me from being in the forest looking at trees, to hovering overhead and looking down at the whole region.

For this reason, I find it to be primarily helpful with planning, troubleshooting in hindsight, and helping me stay on track when many spells may be needed for one situation. I do not attempt to ultimately categorize all my spells into one of these two categories.

As with all the posts in this series, this one is presented for your consideration: take, modify, or discard as you please.

Thought Exercise

Go through your collection of spells, or read through a spellbook, and try to label every spell as either adding something, or subtracting something.

Challenge mode: What do wards count as? >:D

Crossover: Combined with One-Shot and Continuous Concepts

One-shot addition: A spell to bring you one perfect news story you need for your journalism class.

One-shot subtraction: A spell to get rid of Becky, she makes everyone super uncomfortable with her political rhetoric.

Continuous addition: A prosperity jar to generally call in the commissions, hours, and tips you need to pay your bills and have extra in the bank.

Continuous subtraction: An amulet that proactively identifies self-identified Sigma Males and pushes them out of your sphere so you never interact with them.

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

Practical Magic Tech: Spellcasting Altars Are a Powerful Tool For Sticky Situations

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

In this other post, I was talking about two ways to think about spellwork: continuous magic, or one-shot magic. But our goal in this series is not to learn how to just cast single spells like a cook reading out of a recipe book. Our goal is to learn how to be a chef that can manage a kitchen and its staff.

So, real talk: Very often, aspects of our lives are not going to be solved with one spell.

Yes, it's really good to be able to cast a spell and have it manifest. But, more real talk: Getting spells to do something is actually pretty easy.

The real problem with practical spellwork doesn't lie in getting together some magic and causing stuff to happen. The real problem is situations resolving in the way you want, especially complex situations that are resistant to change or that require a lot of change.

In this other post, I talked about the virtue of a general spellcasting altar; one that you use to handle most any spell you need to sling.

In this post, let's talk about specific spellcasting altars, built to address one area of your life, or one important situation, that requires close monitoring and regular, active spellwork.

An Altar With a Goal

When I build a general spellcasting altar, I align it towards my method of spellcasting in general. I might invite a god or goddess of witchcraft to oversee the altar. I will probably store my tools and components near there that I use for spellcasting. It might be my good-vibes spiritual center that reflects my current path and progress.

In contrast, I build goal-oriented altars to very specifically reflect their purpose:

An altar to assist me in divinatory power might be dressed in indigo, silver, and violet; have figurines of mermaids or ravens, be decorated with mirrors, stuffed with amethyst, and drizzled with wormwood.

An altar to aid my finances and prosperity might be covered in green and gold, have stacks of fake money and dragon figurines, jars of coins, nuggets of jade, lodestone weighing down paper money, and just loads of chamomile and basil as far as the eye can see.

An altar to assist with bringing peace to my home might be decorated in soothing pale blue and white, filled with plates of cream and honey, decorated with a figurine of Hestia or Eirene, and sprinkled with aquamarine and blue chalcedony.

Most importantly for me, any such altar has space to hold one-shot and continuous spells as they work unto my needs. This may be in the form of a digital altar where spell cards are stored, or in a physical surface or container where components are held.

Goal-Oriented Altars Can be Like Hyperspells with Many Intents

I support limited, focused intent for individual spells. This means that any single situation may require a variety of spells to be cast upon it to achieve my goals.

Suppose I want to bring peace to my household. Depending on what's going on, I might need to cast a few different spells:

Reducing arguments

Increasing loving communication

Reducing feelings of anger

Increasing feelings of wellbeing

Keeping an instigator away from the home

Drawing enjoyable, healthy experiences into the home

If I build and consecrate an altar unto the purpose of peace in my home, that altar becomes like a hyperspell slowly storing and building up all these intents, until my purpose is finally achieved.

Certainly, one single spell might do - but we don't need to build altars for situations easily resolved with one spell. If your situation is being resistant to spellwork, or it's something you know will need ongoing maintenance, consider an altar instead of a series of independent spells.

Using Goal-Oriented Altars

Remember at the beginning of the post, when I was saying the real challenge to practical spellwork is resolving complex situations to your satisfaction?

Your situational altar is the command center for addressing a sticky, tough-to-manage situation.

Perform divination about this situation nearby

Store one-shot and continuous spells effecting that situation on this altar

Keep a detailed record of what you've tried so far

Use this altar as a platform for hosting complementary, simultaneously cast spells

Light candles or incense on the altar, or feed it with direct energy work, to charge all spells stored within it

As you continuously store spells and magics related to your situation in this one altar space, it will accumulate and gain power. That power will become more nuanced and more finely honed to your purposes with each spell you store in it.

With enough active focus and work, this altar will become a source of power in and of itself. Each successive spell will coast on the crest of the one before it, and amazing progress can be made in ways not as easily seen with spells individually and stored outside of an altar's nexus.

The types of spells you cast should be specially chosen based on how you need the energy to move in the situation.

A major benefit of a goal-oriented altar is that it lets you see your current, ongoing efforts - and past, completed efforts - all in one place. You can walk by your prosperity altar and see that your debt-banishing candle is nearly burned away, you have a whole pile of incense ashes for your cash-drawing petitions, and that you've already given the spirits an offering today. In a real way, it carves out space in your life to give important issues the attention you want to give them.

This also gives you a chance to consider the types of spells you're using and whether you need more or less variety, or more or less effort applied to a specific end.

Maybe the problem with your situation is a specific blockage that won't be overcome by more conjuration type spells; maybe you need a banishment-type spell to bust open the way forward.

The post that details that isn't in the queue yet, so if you don't see something like "spell categories #2" in the masterpost, remind me to write it. There's a ton of information to get down and sometimes stuff gets lost in the stampede.

Setting Up A Goal-Oriented Altar

Set up a goal-oriented altar with any methods used to consecrate a spellcasting altar (methods will be in the masterpost... if you're far enough into the future).

Keep a goal-oriented altar as long as you need it. For some people, altars for prosperity or protection might be kept indefinitely, as these issues are often ongoing for most.

Other altars might be extremely specific, like "help me get into a new housing situation with room mates I gel with," and will be relatively short term.

Take down the altar when you're done with it. It's not like you have to, keep that bad boy for as long as you want. But you don't need to keep the altar up once your purpose has been served.

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

Practical Magic Tech: Microcosm Method of Altar Building

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

I'm a very big believer in intuitively building altars. But that doesn't mean people who can't or don't want to build an altar intuitively should be left hanging.

This post is part of a series on practical spellcasting. In this series, a spellcasting altar is defined as something pretty specific with specific uses. So this post is not meant to address all spellcasting altars everywhere, but just the style I'm describing for this series.

One method of building an altar is to make it like a map of the metaphysical cosmos. This is where we can utilize our elements/directions correspondences, if you're into that sort of thing!

In this post I'm only speaking about my own understanding of the metaphysical cosmos, as it is the only one I'm qualified to speak on. If your understanding is much different, I believe the same concepts apply; your altar would just look a lot different than mine.

Pros of microcosm altars:

Just as a poppet of a person contains their essence, a map of the otherworld contains it's essence. It's a good way to link yourself to the powers you seek to work with.

If you're really into correspondences, microcosm-type altars are going to help sort and categorize them for you. Each correspondence goes somewhere on the map you create with your altar.

If you're not vibing with your intuitive flow, a microcosm altar is a safe bet. Put the representations down and be done with it.

A microcosm type altar can help you visualize what's happening metaphysically: these elemental building blocks and powers are feeding into a central cauldron, and once the spell is done brewing it can be drawn into our world through the axis mundi

Cons of microcosm altars:

If you don't have a concept of the metaphysical cosmos that you believe in, you're going to have to either just accept what someone like me says, or you're going to have to sit down and figure it out. And sometimes these beliefs can be elusive and not so easy to just hash out.

Just copying someone else's microcosm isn't going to necessarily work for you. I put Fire in the East, Earth in the South, Water in the West, and Air in the North. But just because that works for me doesn't mean it's going to work for you. There may still need to be some intuitive modifications, or extra research, before it clicks.

This method can feel stilted or excessively formal.

Here are some example altars I built for the purpose of demonstrating the microcosm method:

In this first altar, the microcosm is represented by the three worlds. I may visualize power coming from each world and running through the antler into my charm bowl where I work over my spells. This altar might be much improved by painting my central bowl to represent the four directions and their corresponding elements.

[Photo Description: A picture of an altar containing tarot cards, antler tips, a small dish with a charm bag inside of it, and a cup of coffee. Text from top to bottom: "Coffee and coffee warmer (very important)", "Lower Middle, and Upper worlds represented by tarot cards and antlers", "Tarot card used as a focus point to represent intent of spell", "Central bowl holds charm bag to bee worked over; it can hold offerings too", and "Tarot cards that represent personal authority and the ability to change the strands of fate".]

In my second altar, the microcosm is represented by the four roads and trifold Hekate. I once again have a central bowl which I use to gather power. Objects can be left in this bowl to charge. It can also be used to send offerings, or to help spirits imprint on vessels (among many other things). Hekate is brought to this altar because her power, if she chooses, will open the four roads. The four roads themselves are represented by decorated wooden tokens.

[Photo Description: A picture of an altar where a figure of Hekate overlooks wooden tokens surrounding a stone bowl. There is a clay figurine, nails, and bay leaves within the bowl. Two candles are near the Hekate figurine. Text from top to bottom: "Figuring to the goddess Hekate (elevated to show respect)", "Hand made directional tokens used to open the four roads", "Devotional candles", "Central stone cauldron holds ingredients, spirit vessels, and offerings", "(No altar cloth)".]

In my third altar, I've chosen simple colorful stones to represent the four directions and the central Spirit which collects and combines their powers. The rabbit-skin altar cloth only covers part of the working space, mostly to ensure it isn't damaged by nearby candles and salt water.

[Photo Description: A picture of an altar composed of five rocks arranged in a diamond pattern, a clay frog figurine, and a nearby container for salt water. A candle holder on a fire safe dish is located next to two small plastic containers labeled "Cloves" and "Chamomile." Text from top to bottom: "Candle and offering dish away from flammable surface on fire safe dish", "Spell ingredients nearby", "Salt water used for cleansing", "Frog figuring acting as a spirit vessel", "Altar cloth only covers a portion of the working space", and "Colorful stones represent the four elements and four directions".]

In my fourth altar, the decorated altar cloth (a casting board repurposed for this picture) does most of the heavy lifting. The ritual wand is placed nearby. This altar would be much improved if the spirit vessels were placed in their appropriate corners (fire and water respectively).

[Picture Description: A picture of an altar. The altar cloth is painted with a circle divided into four sections. Planetary symbols are on the outside of the circle. A wand lays across the altar and a bottle of salt and candles are nearby. In the middle of the altar cloth is a clear quartz tower standing on a wooden disc. Text from top to bottom: "Common spell ingredients", "Spirit vessel", "Quartz tower represents the axis mundi", "Decorated altar cloth indicates elements, directions, and planetary powers", and "Spellcasting tools are stored nearby".]

Raising Power: An Intro Into Powering Your Spells

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

I'm having a fun time thinking of a new way to say the same disclaimer for what is now my 13th post in this series: I'm attempting to present one way of working with practical magic. This way is not universal. It's not even particularly helpful for many. If you are already pleased with your magical success, I am not trying to invalidate you by telling you to start doing stuff in a much more formal, ritualistic way. Rather, this series is for people who aren't happy with where they're at and want to try new stuff to troubleshoot their success.

I'm worried that in most of this post my tone is a little more "this is definitely the right way to do things" than my other posts in this series. While I always strive to state and restate that this is really only one way of doing magic, sadly I can't afford to hire a copy editor. Just please be aware that for the whole post I really only am talking about the style of spellcraft described in the overall series.

This post is I think the longest out of any of them, almost all of it is under the cut :)

Yes. Let's get to it.

Stuff needs power to go.

Car needs gas. Lightbulb needs electricity. Spell needs energy.

If you have a car without gas, you'll still have a car. The lights might even turn on and the engine will try to turn over - it's just not going to go, you know?

I have a lightbulb in the lamp. I still have it; it's just not doing anything. If I turn on the flow of electricity, it's going to do it's job - until I turn the flow off again (or it burns out; it happens).

I very commonly see spells that explain how to set up a magical machine, but fail to explain how to actually power it.

"Just leave it in the sun!"

If the sun automatically charged everything in its light with magical power, why aren't my lawn ornaments incredibly powerful sources of magical energy?

"Leave it in the sun with intent!"

Yes, now we're getting somewhere! But this is charging or recharging outside of actual spellwork - taking something out into the sunlight once you're done with a spell really isn't the same thing as raising and directing energy during the course of a spell.

And, okay, once again, this is just my belief system that I believe in because it's how stuff works for me:

But if no energy was raised during the actual creation of the enchantment, how do you know that the spell actually exists? I mean an enchantment has to exist before you can charge it, according to my linear understanding of time.

"All you need to do is speak or think your intent, and your enchantment is complete."

Well, that's true. I have been practicing magic for a little while now, and I know how to access my personal power, and raise and direct it only through my words. This is a fair bit more tiring for me because it directly drains my personal energy into the spell's battery, so to speak.

But in order for this process to be really successful, I still have to access and raise my personal power.

Consider the differences in these two approaches:

I hold a rose quartz ring and say, "this ring glamours me to look beautiful," with the same state of mind as ordering from Taco Bell. I say it with a ton of intent - I mean I really mean what I say - and that's that.

I hold a rose quartz ring and drop into my magical state of mind that connects me to my personal power. I scoop a ladle of golden energy out of myself, and pour it through the crystalized intent of my words - "this ring glamours me to look beautiful." My words are a hollow structure with specific form, and as I speak them I pour the nectar of my power into them, filling them up as molten metal fills a mold. My intent had structure, but now it is set, permanently - my power has made my words real; my words have given structure to my power. And that's that.

When I do the former, there is still some enchantment. I truly believe that words spoken by humans have incredible power. Truly, just by speaking "this ring glamours me," I have already done an act of magic. It is not psychological - as my word, so shall it be. Not, as my power.

Yet I find that when words are spoken without being filled with power, they are like molds made of sand. Yes, there is structure there for now - yes, you can fill it with power. But if you are not careful, and do not quickly empower the enchantment, the sand will crumble under the pressure of astral winds, and little of the original will be left.

But I kind of feel that raising a lot of power during the initial casting is way more important than raising little/no power and just charging it later.

Let's switch metaphors away from molten metal and sandy molds.

Let’s imagine something a lot more mystical.

Suppose your intent is pencil drawing. During your act of magic, you are literally raising your two-dimensional drawing off the paper and turning it into a living, animated, three-dimensional form.

Once the spell is done, the three-dimensional form is set. Yes, you can go back to your spellspace and modify it later, but unless you do that, the spell is what it is.

The amount of power you raise during the initial casting of the spell is how much of your two-dimensional drawing actually gets converted into its animated, 3D form.

Let's say I cast a spell for *spins wheel*... opening doorways to learn more about witchcraft. My pencil drawing might be books about witchcraft and a teacher willing to mentor me.

If I raise only a little power, maybe only the books pop out of the page and become real. They're small and don't take much energy to raise up, after all. If that's all the power I put in the spell, that's what the spell is going to do for me - it's going to bring interesting and helpful books to my attention. When I recharge the spell later on, it's still just an "interesting books, come hither!" spell. Recharging is not the same as going back to reforge and expand the capacity of the spell.

If I raise a little more power, maybe the head and shoulders of the teacher pop up along with the books. Now, I will not only get lots of books coming my way, but also knowledgeable people start talking to me to give me tips. If I recharge the spell, it's still going to be a "interesting books and helpful advice" spell. Because what the spell is now, and what it does when I recharge it, was set during the initial casting.

What about the initial intent? The initial intent doesn't matter once you actually create something and set it loose.

The initial intent will influence the spell during it's creation.

But if you lacked the resources, energy, etc., to call that intent fully into being during the initial casting, then it's like drawing up the plans for a Ferrari, only having the energy to build the frame, and asking why the battery isn't powering the interior lights. There are no interior lights. There is no interior. You never built it. Putting gas into an engine on a frame can't power features that you never had the energy to build.

I hear you barking big dog - What about people who are really bad at raising energy and have difficulty casting huge whopper spells?

This is why I'm a huge advocate of limited, focused spell intents.

Guess who can't pull of amazing feats of expansive power and build a Ferrari all in one setting?

Remember our spell intent to "open doorways to learn more about witchcraft"? And how some of that energy went to pulling in books, and only after that, the rest of the energy started going towards a teacher?

Well as it turned out, what I really wanted was the teacher. I just had a spell focus too general, and some of that energy went to other places.

If I recast the spell to only say, "connect me with a teacher who will help me improve my craft," the books aren't sucking up my energy any more. And yeah, maybe I can't manifest the whole teacher in a perfect way, but I can at least this manifestation is going way further. At the very least I can pull him out of the page down to like, his knees.

You can also do stuff like, cast one spell to banish blockages, so that your "addition" spell cast next week (when you've had a chance to recharge a bit) has way less resistance, so that energy goes even further.

Or, you can basically keep spells "under construction" (ideally on altar, but we all do what we gotta do) for an extended period of time, returning to work on it and slowly empower it for a period of time before sealing it ("so mote it be," etc.).

And, what the whole point of this whole dang series is about - you can just pay spirits and powers to donate their energy to fill up your spell and really make it pop off the page.

How do you access your personal energy, or tap into external power sources?

Okay! Yes! THIS IS WHAT ALL THOSE SUPER IRRITATING PSYCHIC/MAGICAL EXERCISES ARE FOR!

Have you ever seen someone say, "how can I get started with spells?" and someone else is like "why not try meditating and making energy balls?"

And you were like "how? How does that help? What does that have to do with anything??"

As it turns out, they really help a lot! There's just usually a huge disconnect between explaining techniques that teach accessing and manipulating power, and spellcasting.

So let's plug 'em in together :)

Now y'all might be a bit frustrated because this post is not the place to step out detailed descriptions of various exercises. I'm just going to put some general categories here to provide search terms and such.

Breathing, meditation, visualizing, and altered states of consciousness

Accessing your personal power is something you're going to have to figure out for yourself. Generally, most people find success through breathing techniques, meditative exercises, or any method which provides an altered state of consciousness (ASC).

Entering into an ASC on its own is not likely to automatically connect you with your personal power.

Rather, it can help give you the space to explore yourself, outside of everyday concerns, so you can find the power within.

Visualization is therefore often used to guide yourself through altered states until you find what you're looking for.

Examples include using breathing techniques to reach ASC, then using visualization to develop a connection to your inner power. For example, if I continuously use a visualization that my inner power is located at a very specific lake in my mindscape, that lake will eventually legitimately become connected to my inner source of power.

You could also pathwork to your source of inner power, or use ASC to speak to guiding spirits who explain to you how to access it.

You can experiment with energy body techniques to see if your personal energy is primarily located at a certain point (many people store their energy in their spines, hearts, or solar plexus, for example).

You can also get yourself very worked up into a certain emotional state and drain out that emotional energy to power a spell (useful if you want to be emotionally drained).

I found my inner source of power by fucking around until I figured it out. One day I was trying to send messages out to spirits, but I could intuitively tell they didn't work. Then I figured out if I visualized my inner voice as a certain color, it suddenly... just started working. That was the first building block. Later on, I "spoke" words not from my throat, but from a different place within. That worked even better. Just by a process of experimentation, I discovered how to speak with power, and that led me back to my source of power.

Although practice to reach ASC and/or discovering how to tap your inner power may be frustrating at first, and be time-consuming each time you do it, that practice stacks up. I can slide in and out of my magical awareness now very quickly, not because I am a talented natural witch (HAH), but because I've spend such a long time practicing that it's become easy for me.

Straight up energy work exercises

Practice taking energy from one thing and using it to power another thing, like how this post describes.

Practice energy exercises where you root into the ground and draw power up into yourself.

Practice energy exercises where you call your excess energy back from wherever you left it and into your body.

Practice those elemental energy balls!

Now I want to make a wee note here. I don't practice "energy work" when I cast spells. When I cast a spell I do it Ye Olde Wytche style, with candles and herbs and chanting and stuff. I do not sit down and specifically visualize and direct balls or tendrils of energy myself as one does with energy work techniques. However, because I have a background in energy work, I know how it feels when energy is moving. I can feel the difference between when I'm working with energy, or working with nothing. Because I've sat down and made energy tethers between lots of things, I know what it feels like when an object is properly tied to an energy source that powers it.

You don't need to specifically do energy work to cast spells. But if you are struggling to understand what it feels like to raise, manipulate, and program energy, then energy workers have you covered! They have like a million exercises that's just practice, practice, practice of working with energy.

Just ask. That's what this whole series is about.

Here's a fucked up lil trick that's basically cheating, it's so goddamn easy. It's so wild. You don't have to feel energies or enter ASC or tap into your personal power or any of that shit. It's the best. It goes like this:

*Gather some kitchen basil in a little dish* *Gentle incense cleansing going on* *Wash face and hands, prepare to meet important, special guest.* *Hold basil dish.*

"Basil, hi. My name is Fool Chicken. I've been reading about you and I've been told you're a really powerful, special plant with a lot of uses. I'm actually quite fucked in the finance department lately, if you know what I mean. There's no way I can pay all my bills this month and I need, need, need my phone for work. I'm asking you to please help me out and donate your energy to this money candle I'm making. I know such a spell would be trivial for you to accomplish; I've heard you can make mountains move if you choose to do so. I'm therefore asking you now to apply your great powers to my purpose, that my bills are taken care of this month, or at the very least my phone. As upfront payment to you, I'm dedicating this incense to you, and this glass of water. And once this spell has become manifest I will bring you whatever offering I am able to afford. I trust that in your hands my finances are safe. Thank you."

*Sprinkles basil in a little circle around cleansed, consecrated candle* *Light candle*

All that being said, talking to spirits like this now automatically sends me to ASC. But your mileage will vary ^-^

Like for example, maybe Basil isn't your BFF right now and doesn't want to hear your life story; maybe he's not going to be keen to sort out your needs and he's only going to help if you give him a clear, direct statement of intent: "Basil, I request your power unto this intent: My bills are taken care of this month. I thank you for undertaking this operation for me." *Lights candle* "Basil, as thanks for assisting me in this spell, I have these offerings for you:..."

Or maybe, you've not got the strongest spirit voice yet, and you need a couple extra little steps like casting a circle, or opening the roads, to help you. Or maybe your spells are only really thriving when you call on Hekate ahead of time, or pray to your ancestors first.

There's a lot of troubleshooting that sometimes needs to go down. But actually stopping to either personally raise power, or invoke spiritual powers, is going to go a long, long, long ways towards powering your spells.

Powering them to such an extent that you make yourself scared about the power of witchcraft ^-^

Why I Do Spellwork

I am not new to the world of magick and have been practicing spellcasting for nearly 6 years now, refining my skills in rituals and spellcasting. I never could be religious about my beliefs although I have tried in the past and found that I use magick best as a mental strategy to manage feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Everyone is different when it comes to their reasons to begin their spiritual journey into witchcraft and although it sounds like a religion it can be as religious as it can be nonreligious. I tend to practice on the nonreligious side. Sure I like hearing the stories that come with deities, Gods, Goddesses, etc. I find them to be something quite interesting and all have morals. One could always learn from tales of old. Their symbolism means a lot to me when it comes to spell crafting and although I may not worship them, I see them as spiritual guides. 

I am no master at the craft, I am always learning more each day I study. Each day I learn something new about myself and what materials and symbols mean for my spells. I enjoy learning. I feel like the mind becomes more and more aware with the knowledge that fills it. 

I use my studies not only for me but I find it useful to help others who ask for it. I always focus on the positive outlook of spellwork, I work to achieve happiness, luck, protection, etc. If someone came to me for a protective spell or charm I would put my little heart and soul into it to help them. I sometimes think that I worry too much for others and I care too deeply (that’s usually what gets me hurt), but the feeling of helping others is too good for me to stop.

Overall, spellwork and rituals really help influence the energy around me. Whether it is to help my mental state or to help protect my home from negative forces. Spellworking is a gift and a spiritual guide to the unknown and to understand better yourself and the others around you.

I figured I should just share this to this blog instead of keeping things separate.

Obsidian

Obsidian is an igneous rock which means that it is made up of volcanic materials. It is formed when molten rock is immediately cooled to create a sort of black glass. Obsidian can come in many colors such as green, tan, and brown and rarely can be seen in the colors blue, red, orange, and yellow. It is technically found around the world but you can find it’s purest form in geologically volcanic areas where there has been recent volcanic activity. 

Fun Fact:

Looking as sharp as it may feel to the touch, obsidian has been sharpened to such a fine point that it has replaced steel surgical tools for the most precise surgeries in the medical field.

Magickal Properties and Uses:

Black obsidian

Protection, scrying, banishing grief, benevolence, healing

Green obsidian

Protection of income; open financial opportunities

Snowflake obsidian

Grounding, responsibility, purification, change, growth, deflecting negative energy and emotions

Obsidian can be used for divination, spellcasting, rituals and more. Here are some ideas:

Placing it in a charm bag with other magickal items. The effects can give you protection when roaming around in your everyday life or to help heal from depression and grief. 

Using it in your rituals. Just placing the rock on your altar can serve as a natural absorber of negative energy and to keep your circle pure. 

Use the rock while meditating. Having a polished obsidian rock in your hand while meditating can help with concentration and grounding when you really need it. Being one who has trouble focusing, I use the stone to focus on like how it feels in my hand, the cool touch, the warming of the stone from my body heat.

Sources: 

https://geology.com/rocks/obsidian.shtml

Grimoire for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows by Ann Moura, page 232

Spellwork Aftercare

Introduction:

Creating spells and rituals requires learning, connecting, and creating a sacred space to work. Spellwork may even be performed for days at a time and any practitioner knows that the energy used in these spellworkings can be draining and hard to gain back. Taking care of yourself during and after your practice is just as important as sleeping or taking a walk to de-stress. Here are some ways to replenish energy and rest yourself after using energy in your work.

1. Take A Bath

Draw a bath using your favorite scented Epsom salt for your water (my go to is usually lavender Dr. Teals). If you would like, you may add flower petals to the bath for added scent or for the correspondence of the flowers, typically chamomile, lavender, or even white rose petals work wonderfully for cleansing and relaxation. You can even bring your crystals to the bathroom, BUT, rule #1: always make sure you know what crystals can or cannot be added to water. I for one, never place my crystals in the water with me but I place them to the side or in an area free from getting splashed. The crystals will be able to connect with you even when they are not in the water or on your skin. While taking your bath meditate using a method that works well for you and focus on relaxing. Your energy will soon return quicker by the next morning.

2. Take A Nature Walk

I have mentioned this method before in the intro and I understand that it is not everyone's cup of tea but hear me out. Taking walks are scientifically proven ways to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and to stay healthy and happy. Whichever path you follow, nature is a large part in practice and connecting with nature is an amazing way to feel more energized before coming back to the altar. Going to your favourite woods, forest, or- if you live in a city like me- visit your local park. Take in the scenery, recognize what you are doing in the moment and feel the energy come back through the ground and dirt under your feet. Allow the sun and wind to cleanse you of your previous spellworking and allow more energy to flow through you for another day or night. Always remember to stay safe when going out, let people close to you know where you are going and remember to bring necessary supplies (this isn't the dark ages, bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, etc.)

3. Rejuvenate Over Time

Although this seems like a less likely route to take, let me explain for those who love to chill or for the witches that are in the "broom closet" (dang I haven't used that term in a long time). I understand that some may not be able to take baths or visit a park or nature walk as easily as others and sometimes taking the longer path to regaining energy is the better option. I used to be in this predicament a while back and found that taking time in doing menial tasks, reading a book, trying new hobbies, or even taking an off day to watch a movie or TV show would be the best way to recover from any spellwork. Our bodies and minds need any type of rest to recover and to prevent burnout so don't ever beat yourself up for "being lazy" or "procrastinating too much." The more you resist resting the more stressed and uneasy you become. There needs to be a balance of work/school, spellwork, and play/downtime and it's not an easy task to manage but usually in most cases as time goes on you eventually create the perfect routine to follow. I need to stick to a routine, if I don't I lose track of everything; I start to forget important dates, I can leave my phone/wallet/keys at home when I go out, I just become a complete cluts when I don't stick to my routine. Routines can even include hygiene habits or sleep schedules. It's totally up to you how you want to make your resting period good enough to gather more energy for your spellworkings.

I hope this helps! It seems like very minimal and repeated information but this is just as important as learning new things in your path. I wish I knew how important resting was when I first started because I went way over my head quite a few times and felt absolutely drained to the point that I was stressed with my work and had pushed it to the side for quite a bit of time even though it's so important to me. It took me a while to figure it out.

Sending good energy and hope everyone is having a wonderful Ostara!

Casting Spells: The Power of Words and Beliefs

Shaina Tranquilino

January 28, 2024

Words are powerful. They have the ability to shape our reality, influence our thoughts, and impact those around us. Just as ancient sorcerers used spells to manifest their desires, we too can harness the same power through the words we speak and the stories we tell. By consciously shifting our narratives from lack to abundance, victimhood to empowerment, and complaint to gratitude, we become alchemists casting beautiful spells that attract positive experiences into our lives.

1. From Lack to Abundance: The first step in casting beautiful spells is transforming our perception of scarcity into one of abundance. Instead of dwelling on what we lack, focusing on abundance opens doors for opportunities and possibilities. By affirming statements like "I always have enough," "The universe provides for me abundantly," or "Opportunities flow effortlessly towards me," we begin to reprogram our subconscious mind and invite prosperity into our lives.

2. From Victim to Empowered: Playing the role of a victim disempowers us and restricts personal growth. However, by embracing a mindset of empowerment, we tap into our inner strength and resilience. Our words hold immense power in this transformational process. Affirmations such as "I am in control of my own destiny," "I possess all the resources I need within me," or "Every challenge is an opportunity for growth" help us shift from victimhood to empowerment. As we believe these statements, they act as spells that empower us with confidence and determination.

3. From Complaint to Gratitude: Complaining breeds negativity while gratitude cultivates positivity and attracts more blessings into our lives. When we complain about circumstances or people, we unknowingly invite more reasons for dissatisfaction. By consciously practicing gratitude in both thought and speech, we transform complaints into appreciation for what is already present. Expressions like "I am grateful for every lesson life offers me," "I appreciate the love and support I receive daily," or "Thank you for this beautiful day filled with endless possibilities" become spells that manifest joy, contentment, and abundance.

4. Casting Beautiful Spells: Once we have shifted our own stories from lack to abundance, victimhood to empowerment, and complaint to gratitude, we can then extend these beautiful spells to others. Our words carry energy and intention that can influence those around us. By consciously speaking positively about others, acknowledging their strengths, and encouraging their growth, we cast spells of inspiration and upliftment. The ripple effect of these beautiful spells can create a harmonious environment where everyone thrives.

The power of words cannot be underestimated; they possess the ability to shape our reality and attract more of what we believe. By shifting our personal narratives from lack to abundance, victimhood to empowerment, and complaint to gratitude, we cast beautiful spells that transform our lives for the better. As we speak positively about ourselves and others, our words become catalysts for change, empowering not only ourselves but also those who come into contact with them. Let us remember the incredible power within our voices and use it wisely as we embark on a journey of intentional living through casting beautiful spells.