Spell Writing
by Blayze

Before learning how to write a spell, it is important to understand just what a spell is. To me, a spell is a raising and manipulation of energy to achieve a desired goal. The way that this is achieved can take many forms, often dependant upon the philosophical and spiritual path of the spell caster. By this I mean that the form a spell takes will be essentially flavoured by the trappings with which the caster feels connected and comfortable.

A witch who lives in harmony with nature and favours the use of common herbs may concentrate mostly on spells which employ the use of such herbs. A ceremonial magician may cast a spell using a precisely calculated ritual and formula. Both of these examples are perfectly valid and will work equally well. It is the intent behind the spell which is important as well as believing the goal will be achieved.

This workshop will concentrate on natural magic, and more specifically, the use of readily available objects and the power of the mind, i.e. visualisation. I will look at the steps that can be used to create a simple spell as well as how to most accurately define the goal of the spell and the consequences / outcomes of such.

Yes, there are consequences of spellcasting, your goal may be achieved but not in the way you envisioned the outcome. The phrase “be careful what you wish for, you may just get it” should always be in the mind of the spell caster when writing the spell.

Whilst I cannot define or judge your own ethics or morals, I will say that taking responsibility for your own actions is very, very important, as is understanding exactly what you are doing and why. Ethics in magic is a very hotly debated topic and often divides and defines magickal paths. The Wiccan law of “an ye harm none, do what thou wilst” or Do you what want as long as you harm no-one, is a good gauge to use when writing a spell and trying to work out the ethics of it.

Before writing or casting your spell, ask yourself these questions.

•	Why do I need to do a spell?
•	Can I achieve the outcome I desire, without magic?
•	Have I tried other avenues first?
•	Will my actions harm someone, including myself? If so, why am I casting the spell?
•	Every action has a re-action and magic that is negative can bite me on the bum… have I thought about this?
•	What are the actual results that I expect from my spell - what other ways could this result manifest itself? 
•	How specific is the spell?
•	What can go wrong with this spell?
•	Have I actually defined my goal correctly - is this what I really want?
•	Would I wish this spell to be cast on me?

Only you can answer these questions, but please, think about any spellwork that you do very seriously. When you are starting out, and even when you are experienced, it can be very hard to fix a mistake that could leave you with another problem on top of the original.

That said, magic can contain wonder and beauty, and a well planned and cast spell is truly the essence of magical experience.

Before we move onto various types of natural magic as well as breaking down and writing spells themselves, I would like to examine two types of magical goals that seem to be high on the agenda of those who seek to learn magic in the first place. These are  love spells and manipulative magic on other people.

Both of these forms of magic are considered by many pagans to be negative forms, as well as somewhat of a taboo. Now before you leap in and say, well I got into magic and paganism to break taboos, there are good reasons for their being viewed in this way. Manipulation of other people (which is against their will or without their consent), no matter how well intentioned (healing falls into this category too) takes away that person’s free will and binds them to you. Who are you to judge what is right or best for someone else or to judge them and mete out punishment or revenge?

Ask yourself… “How would I feel if someone was trying to manipulate me, trying to force me to do something against my will or my nature or without my consent?”. Would you like someone to fall in love with you because of a spell you cast or because they truly and naturally loved you for who you are? What if they turned out to be not what you wanted at all… or abusive and you had bound them to you. Or they stalk you or something worse. These types of magic can be very hard to undo as strong magical and psychic links have already been forged. This does happen. Magic is not a toy and it can very easily be doubled edged!

As previously mentioned, spells can take many different forms. In natural magic these can include spells utilising magically charged items such as:

•	Incense
•	Herbs
•	Cords
•	Brews
•	Candles
•	Food
•	Oil

When using a single item or a combination of items in a spell, the caster would raise energy and direct or focus it into the object. The energy is then released or keyed by another action and the spell is complete. Throughout the casting of the spell the caster visualises the goal completed.

We will look at the different ways of raising energy with the above items.

•	Incense - by grinding
•	Herbs - by crushing, rubbing or chanting over them
•	Cords - by spinning them or tying knots in them
•	Brews - by stirring them
•	Candles - by rubbing or anointing them
•	Food - by chanting, stirring or grinding it
•	Oil - by blending or shaking them or chanting over it

Other methods of raising energy include drumming and dancing around the objects.

Methods of releasing the energy from the items include:

•	Incense - lighting it
•	Herbs - scattering them or tying them up
•	Cords - untying knots or throwing them in the air
•	Brews - drinking or sprinkling (asperging) them
•	Candles - lighting them or extinguishing them
•	Food -  eating it
•	Oil - anointing with it

Again, when releasing the energy you need to visualise your goal as achieved.

So, we have looked at different spell forms, different ingredients and items, different methods of raising and releasing energy.

In between the raising and releasing of the energy is the focusing and directing of the energy. This is the hard part, it involves sensing or feeling the energy you have raised, feeling when the energy has been focused fully and is ready to be released. This takes both practice and intuition.

However, if you follow the basic steps of spellwriting you should begin to understand the inner workings of your spell and make the process simpler, if not easier.

The first step to writing a spell is to define what the spell is actually for, i.e. what is the goal or outcome you wish the spell to achieve.  Try to write your goal as a sentence and then break it down into just a few words. These can become the basis for your chant if you are using one. You need to define the essence of what you are trying to achieve.

So now you have your goal, what are some of the results you could expect from this spell? What are the repercussions? What are the unforseen circumstances? Can you define the goal in another way?

Once you have your final goal you can then work out the mechanics of achieving it through magic. Ask yourself these questions:

•	Is there a particular form or style which springs to mind when you think of this goal?
•	Are there any correspondences for the goal, such as elemental (earth, air, fire or water) or herbs, colours or numbers?

For example, if your goal was for healing, say burning away an illness or infection, you may wish to use fire as your purifying element and a pale blue candle for a colour of healing.

Herbs may also correspond, you could look at ways of using these herbs, maybe as an incense or a bag charm. You could use the herbal essential oils and anoint an appropriate object with it.

Once you have worked out your form then you need to find the way of raising the energy, focusing it and releasing (keying) it. For an incense you may gather the herbs and resins which are appropriately corresponded to your goal and grind them up (always concentrating on your achieved goal). You may make up a chant to say as you grind the incense. See the energy infusing the herbs… see them glowing with energy and focus the goal into them. 

You may choose to then light the incense straight away (to release energy) or to leave the incense to blend for an hour, or a moon phase or a numerologically appropriate number of days.

To release the spell infused in the incense you place some on a lit charcoal block. You can say the original chant as you watch the incense smoke carry away your spell… or you could add some extra lines such as “I ask the powers of Air and Fire to carry my spell on tongue of flame and breath of wind. With harm to none, so mote it be!”

You may also choose to burn only a certain amount or number of pinches of the incense, or the whole lot. You may choose to burn a little bit over several days. All of this depends on the goal itself and your intent.

The spell writing steps then are:

•	Define the goal
•	Find the form - use correspondences if desired
•	Decide how to raise the energy
•	Decide how to focus the energy
•	Decide how to release and key the energy

Remember that when you have cast your spell you also need to try to achieve your goal in a mundane well… help the spell as it were. For example, if you did a spell to find a job, then send in a job application, don’t just wait for someone to ring you out of the blue. Someone may in fact ring you but it is wise to make an effort to help yourself as well.

A final word on the timing of your spell. This can be very complicated and involve astrological and planetary alignments or it can be as simple as a phase of the moon or day of the week. Of course, you can perform your spell at any time, however some times are more complimentary to your goal than others. The moon phases and their corresponding types of magic are as follows:

Waxing - magic for the beginnings of things
Full - magic for the culmination  / fullness of things
Waning - magic for the ending or banishment of things.

Have fun with magic and spells, be creative, but always remember that as they really do work, take care and be careful what you wish for. With harm to none, so mote it be!

Some Correspondences

Colour corespondences

•	Red: 	Vigour, fearlessness, endurance, fire 
•	Orange:	Force, outcomes, warmth, empathy 
•	Yellow: 	Intellect, prophesy, inventiveness, air, activity 
•	Green: 	Development, abundance, confidence, well-being 
•	Blue: 	Water, harmony, restoration, happiness, reflection 
•	Purple: 	Devotion, commitment, perception 
•	White: 	Safety, cleansing, purity 
•	Black: 	Banishing, the void, rest 
•	Brown: 	Earth, nature, groundwork, new undertakings 
•	Pink: 	Relationships, diversion, leisure, positive outlooks. 
•	(Adapted from “A Witches Brew” P. Telesco)

Numerical correspondences

1.	oneness, beginning, agreement, sun magic, energy
2.	symmetry, sanctification, alliance 
3.	balance, objectives, body-mind-spirit, trinity 
4.	components, time, aspirations, triumph, elements 
5.	adaptability, perception, psychic endeavours 
6.	protection, devotion, completion of tasks 
7.	wisdom, variety, moon magic 
8.	power, personal transformation, control 
9.	universal law, service to others 
10.	dependability, rationality 
11.	doubles, couples, unity 
12.	productivity, longevity, a full year 
13.	veneration, forbearance, belief 
(Adapted from “A Witches Brew” P. Telesco)