| Magical spells can consist of only words, but most | | | | wool yarn, small squares of paper, and beads make |
| witches prefer to include an item or two that they can | | | | very nice additions to spells. Thread and yarn can be |
| physically manipulate while casting a spell. Including | | | | used for physical and magical binding, paper can be |
| something you can touch in a spell helps focus your | | | | used to write names or intentions on, and a bead in |
| intention and creates a powerful symbol of the thing | | | | just the right color can add a little extra spice to a spell. |
| you are trying to bring about. Physical symbols, when | | | | Trusting Your Intuition |
| properly loaded during spell casting, can become a kind | | | | I believe that a witch is formed by nature and forms |
| of stand-alone intention. I believe a properly put | | | | nature in return with her spells, and only when she |
| together spell can infuse mundane objects with power | | | | opens completely to receiving what nature offers can |
| and that those objects can hold your intention long | | | | she truly be shaped into the witch she is meant to be. |
| after you've moved on to other concerns. Such an | | | | Our spells are our medicine for the ills of the world, and |
| object can help reinforce your spell's power every | | | | nature lovingly provides us with all the ingredients we |
| time you see it, or it can be put away out of sight and | | | | need for them. After a while, nature will provide you |
| allowed to work its magic the way a planted seed | | | | with all sorts of interesting things to tuck away in your |
| does. | | | | cabinet. If you have been thankful for each one and |
| Each spell is a unique thing and each one requires it's | | | | carefully tucked it away in your magical medicine |
| own special combination of ingredients. For instance, if I | | | | cabinet, when you need to create a spell the |
| felt the need to cast a spell of good luck for myself, | | | | ingredients for it may instantly pop into your mind, |
| the ingredients could vary depending on the situation or | | | | making the process of forming a spell nearly as |
| the type of spirits I felt needed to be contacted to | | | | magical as the spell itself. |
| enhance the spell. Creating a spell is a lot like an art | | | | If the ingredients you need for your spell don't come |
| form; you draw words and intent from your heart, | | | | into your mind right away, another good way to let |
| combine them with a few specific objects, and create | | | | your intuition guide you is to clear your mind, open your |
| something that is more than a sum of it parts. | | | | cabinet, run your hands over the boxes, open drawers, |
| After you start to practice witchcraft regularly, you'll | | | | look inside bags, and let yourself hear, feel, or see |
| find gifts from the natural world presented to you all | | | | what is needed. This is different from "thinking" about |
| the time. They probably were being offered to you all | | | | what you need and feels a little like discovering all your |
| along, but you just didn't realize what they were for. | | | | treasures again. Even though you really already know |
| The feathers, stones, seeds, bits of fur, and other | | | | about everything that's there, some things will seem |
| presents that you'll find are meant to be the ingredients | | | | "different" or "new" or will seem to stand out is some |
| of your magical spells. After a while, you'll need a place | | | | way, and that's a hint from your intuition that that |
| to keep them all and I suggest that you make and | | | | object will work for your spell. |
| stock your own magical medicine cabinet with them. | | | | Casting Your Spell |
| Finding and Stocking Your Magical Medicine Cabinet | | | | Traditions vary so much, and witches themselves vary |
| A spell could be centered on a pebble you found while | | | | so much, that I'm not going to be able to tell you how |
| walking on a beach or a seed from a particularly | | | | to put a spell together so that it works for you. I can, |
| delicious apple you enjoyed one autumn and, if you're | | | | however, tell you what works for me in a general |
| like me, you've probably collected dozens of these | | | | way. |
| small treasures. It will benefit your spell crafting if these | | | | I understand that casting a spell means that I do have |
| ingredients are kept together and any type of cabinet | | | | to "cast" it or send it out into the world to do its work. |
| or chest will work, but I prefer one made of wood or | | | | The spell has my intention attached to it and I have to |
| other natural materials that can be hung on a wall. | | | | let go of it and trust it to work somehow. Letting go |
| You might be able to find something suitable at a store | | | | can be very hard. After all, if I feel the need for a spell, |
| that sells house wares, a large spice or jewelry | | | | then something is concerning me and it's hard to let go |
| cabinet with drawers and doors for example. Because | | | | of that concern. But spells are like butterflies, you can't |
| many of the items you'll be storing there will be small, | | | | keep them in a box, you have to let them go. You |
| you'll need some boxes and bags to help keep them | | | | have to trust that your butterfly will flutter where it |
| all organized. If you know how to sew or crochet, small | | | | needs to go, so once I cast a spell I try not to think |
| bags are easy to make and you can make them | | | | about it anymore. |
| exactly the right size for your cabinet. Another way to | | | | When casting spells for healing, I'm very inclined to "tie |
| keep things contained is to wrap them in a piece of | | | | knots." For spells meant to influence an outcome, I |
| cloth. Because they're made of one hundred percent | | | | usually sing some part of them from my heart chakra. I |
| cotton, I keep several big red bandanas around for that | | | | discovered these working styles through practice, |
| purpose. | | | | experimentation, and by listening to my intuition. You |
| Along with your natural or "found" ingredients, it's a | | | | can do the same because as a witch, this is what |
| good idea to stock your cabinet with a few "created" | | | | you're meant to do. |
| items, too. For instance, some cotton thread, cotton or | | | | |