Spellworking
April 3rd 2008 05:50
Spellworking is about visualization, thought, perception and focus. Thats it. If youve been running around the web or buying up on 'witchcraft for beginners' Im sure youve just shelled out a couple of hundred bucks for every different colour of candle and insence there is, not to mention icons, idols, herbs and purifying crystals.
I am not talking about rituals, I am talking about spells. There is a distinct difference, the two are NOT the same and its a mistake that many people (even authors) are making these days. I myself have a book titled 'white spells' and in every one she recommends at least 7 candles. 7 candles! What the fuck could you ever need that many for!(actually, stick around long enough and I'll tell you) but, you notice how up there, Ive said focus?
So, your mind is swirling with candle colours, insence blends and moon phases, and just when you think you've got it worked out, Kleonaptra tells you you're wrong. Actually you're not, just a little misguided.
A ritual is a complex spellworking, but a ritual does not, essentially, HAVE to have an outcome. A ritual generally is giving thanks or praise, celebrating a holy day or generally communing with the Divine, which is an enriching experience in itself. A spell is asking for an outcome - its using your energy along with that of the universe to make something happen.
When a ritual combines with a spell it is usually for a very important purpose - thats why you go to the trouble of ritual. If you really, really want something to happen and are inexperienced in using your own energy, a ritual is the best way to go. You connect to the diety (there really is only one but it helps your focus to pray to different facets of it for different things) you thank and praise the deity, you give up your own power and ask the diety to do said thing for you.
If you are experienced, it requires only the turning of your thoughts to the subject matter, visualizing the outcome, perceiving the forces that influence it, and focusing on the outcome. If you do it correctly, that is all that is required for it to work.
Im sure you dont know it, but spellworking is a form of prayer. Im sure, each and every one of you is spellworking everyday. Have you thought - "Where the hell is my blue pen?" and suddenly found it at your fingertips? Thought "please, I need that light green, Im late" only to have it mysteriously flick as your tyres toe the line? Coincidence! I hear you scream. We dont believe in coincidence here at kalikapsychosis. There is no such thing.
Now, back to candles and such. The authors of all those helpful books are not wrong. The auras of candles are intensely useful in creating the perfect atmosphere for spell work. No one knows why, but candles stabilize moods and make people feel good, they relax and soothe and bring comfort no matter what colour they are. But colour influences mood. Scent, aroma, is also a big mood influence. When they tell you to assemble certain items for a certain spell, it is all only for one purpose - to create the specific state of mind required for that particular spell.
The purpose of this post and my recommendation, is that if you are into spellwork, dont be led by the nose. Choose a book if you like, but as a guideline only. Some books will tell you gold is the colour for money, others black, yellow or green. Some will tell you pink is the colour for love - others red, light green or blue. The important thing is - what colour do YOU associate with the thing in question? What scent? Which crystal?
Say you want to do a prosperity spell. For me, a mid range green says money. Reason? 'greenback' and green always signifies growth. Id choose frankinsence, just because it was given by a king to a king, and Id have some gold on the altar too, as gold the Gods generally get, but they like it in coins! I have no idea what diety would support this kind of spell, Kali certainly does not, but you may find a demon who will pay you out in cash in return for a little energy.
Dont get your balls in an uproar! Yes, demons are about just as surely as angels but I usually find them easier to deal with. Demons come, get paid, and go again. Just make sure you bargain out the price. Angels generally want 'major life changes' as payment, and Im not into that.
Then youve got moon phases and planetary alignments to consider. Plus sabbats, solstices, equinox and seasons and turnings. If you are in the southern hemisphere this can be ABSOLUTE MURDER and Im not kidding. I cant help but celebrate Samhain (Hallow's Eve) on the 31st of October, but here in Australia Samhain should technically be around May. Cant do it. Just like I cant do 'Yule' in June or July. Eostara in October? I dont think so!
So I follow the northern principle - I do not reverse my altar or my calandar. I think thats taking it a bit too far. As for moon phases, a general rule is - Waxing moon = power building, maiden energy. Waning moon = power draining, Crone's energy. Full Moon = Full Power, mother energy. And New Moon.....Darkest of the dark done in the dark where only the Goddess' fourth face dares to look.....I know, we got a lot of empowered women out there saying that the 'New Moon' is the freshest and best time to work, but theres a reason why its black girls (and boys I hope?).
When it comes to planetary alignments, you have to consider - How important is this spell? If its big time, like healing someone who's dying or injured or for a successful, healthy birth, you want to wait for the correct moon phase AND for the correct planet to be in the correct part of the sky. By that I mean you need it above you while you work. If its something smaller you can get away without worrying about the planets, but its always helpful to wait for the correct moon phase. In the preparation meditation, you can even weave a little into it as to the planets being vastly laid out in the universe, all become nothing before the one, thus the significance of the specific planet dulls beneath your brilliance mighty one, or similar.
I was once horrified to read in a spellbook that 'This spell must be performed in the kitchen. Not very mystical I know, but you need the stove' AARRGH!!! Avoid spellworking in the house AT ALL if its important. Smaller spells and meditation can be done before your altar and the space around it should be consecrated by you anyway. If its a big deal, you want it done outside. If a fire is needed, GO SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN LIGHT ONE!! No stoves, no modern appliances. You should not even wear jewellery of any kind - metal against the skin signifies a protection from mystical energies, so you'll be chanting for a helluva long time if you've got 'call lock' on. If you are inside and need a fire, you should buy or make a small earthenware bowl, made out of a natural substance like terracotta. Ive lit small fires in a clay bowl I have in the house and no adverse effects.
Of course, I now live with an actual fireplace, which is handy. At Swallow Hill my Hearth WAS my altar. It was a massive open fire that took up a whole wall and had a large brick setting. During the day it was an altar and in the evening when I lit the fire it was like lighting a beacon of magic. Damn I loved that place.
If you want to spellwork, you really have to have an altar. Im not talking ooky spooky sacred altar, Im just saying a flat surface somewhere accessable to you. Mine has moved a lot - when I was younger and spent most of my time in my room, it was on my bookshelf, now Im never in my room its in our loungeroom. Currently, on top of our dvd case. You dont need an icon but I have one - years ago, it was a female figure but I changed her to the dragon. Over the years the Black Dragon has gathered objects to him - a Lapis Lazuli tower, a bone, two necklaces of mine, and indian coin, a piece of Zayfirs hair, a miniture sword of Kmans, my silver and amythest ring. I have many more sacred objects that have at one time or another adorned the altar, such as an owl's flight feather, a rabbits foot, a crystal chip, an amulet. But an icon, once established, will actually tell you what he wants around him.
The purpose of the altar is to familiarize yourself with ritual and with the divine. Every night when I light the candle I am thankful for my prosperity, my strength and the fact I may speak to them at all. I ask for clear thought, the strength to overcome my obstacles, and insight. Then I light my insence using the flame of the central candle. The insence is the offering, the flame, the central candle, is the focal point. Just lighting the candle I feel all the spiritual presences lining themselves up from wherever they were floating. I feel my own aura centre itself and its like a sense of something much deeper inside my chest. I have been doing this same ritual for years (and probably years before that in other bodies) and if the ritual is familiar and ingrained in you it makes visualization that much easier, anywhere, anytime. The daily ritual is a good tme to ask for things you need and it saves you having to do a separate ritual for every little thing you want to ask for.
Today, I gave myself a tall, strong red candle, with pink swirls. Its a symbol of my rage which is now peaking, a reflection of my strength and to symbolize I will need more strength to overcome the hardships Ive laid in my way. Red is rousing, and Im in need of that right now. Ive chosen to burn opium insence, as I need the musky strength of it to fuddle the heads of others and come out on top.
To some of you, this is sounding like black wicca isnt it? Of course to some of you, all wicca is bad wicca. Newsflash - Im not specifically talking about wicca at all. Wicca is connected to paganisim and is mostly gentle. Im talking about actual, real, spellworking, working your will and learning how to bend others energy to your own.
So....Choose your colours, choose your aromas, and start focusing your thoughts today.....Whatever you perceive can be changed by what you visualize and trust me....The Universe is with you, one way or the other.
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Oh I love this post. I love witchcraft/wicca whatever it's called. There is the best shop here in Melbourne that has spell books and every tool you could ever need. I could spend days in that shop (not that I ever buy much).
I actually really like the practice of wicca. The idea that what you put out comes back to you - so watch out if you're putting out nasty sh!t. And the idea of worshipping nature and goddesses rather than some omnipotent being.
For a while a friend and I were quite in to it. Though mostly now I'm just interested in the whole thing rather than practicing anything - though after reading this I want to go out and get my own book of shadows and start doing a few spells!
Kylie
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Thats awesome! I never would have guessed!
My book of shadows is one of those mega sized A3 artbooks. I havnt updated it in years which is naughty, but a lot of work has to go into it. Every page. Its not enough to scribble in it, at least in my opinion.
There are gonna be angry wiccas out there thats for sure. I have said negative things here - about the black new moon, demons, and specifically I mention bending other people's will to your own. A lot of people consider this naughty, and not to be connected to wicca.
But wicca and witchcraft are even younger than what I describe - The manipulation of forces has been a priestess' occupation since long before it was called wicca or witchcraft. I dont think it had a name, originally.
I believe in a true understanding of 'Balance' good and bad have to be considered - we are human, imperfect, and sometimes we wish nasty things. Its part of life and to deny it can be worse than giving in to it.
I like that, it was what drew me originally away from the catholic church. Obviously, from the name of my blog, I worship a goddess, I believe that the energy that makes up the planets and the void and even the molecules that make up your computer, like the fabric of matter, is in a way conciouss. THAT is actually the deity, in my mind. Kali represents death and rebirth, the womans role, its why I love her. So that would be how I see God - The male in the fabric of matter and the female in the void.
You are SO lucky to have a good spell shop...We got NOTHIN here and Im searching sydney trying to find one...I tend to get a headache in 'Inner Harmony' but I did always like 'tree of life'.
Just set up an altar if you want to do something - in whatever room you spend the most time clear off a flat surface, light a candle and burn an insence stick. Just that will wet your appetite for more!
Thanks for the interest Kylie, as I said, I never would have thought you'd be into it!
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Cryptic much?
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Its a nice idea - I was going to advertise a few things locally. I make beauty spa treatments (hair treatments, face masks etc) that contain no preservities and such, make them from my graden herbs, tried that as a sideline a few years ago, no one wanted them because they had an expiry date!
And psychics tend to avoid me like the plague....Why, I dont know.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Some sensitives will pick on your energy, positive or negative, because when you're isolated they tend to concentrate and can become overwhelming due largely they haven't been siphoned off with distractions.
Raven
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Picking on my energy is a usual thing - I got it to spare, just call me a constant input output transmitter. I giggle at the power play tricks, thinkin - you want it? Take and see if you can handle it!
Thanks for the advice, I'll check out my local market stall costs. We get a bit of tourist trade out here - in the right outfit I could sell out.