Friday, July 21, 2017

Spell Casting Basics

Now that we’ve looked at a few spells, some of you may have some questions about spell casting basics. It’s been quite a while since we talked about this, so I thought this might be a good time to revisit those basics. Your ritual tools will vary depending on the path you follow.

Spells can be as simple or as complex as each spell caster desires, so this week we will look at ways to secure your spell casting space before you begin spell work. All spells vary based on the individual and the tradition you follow; however, the parts of preparation we’ll talk about today are common to a number of disciplines and can be customized to fit your needs. On the other hand, because there are so many different traditions, we will only discuss the core of the steps this week, and we’ll discuss them more in depth later.

All the steps in your preparation for ritual are vitally important to the success and safety of your ritual and spell casting; however, none are more important than your spiritual and psychic preparation.  This final step in your preparation, if done carefully, and with consideration and thoughtfulness, will enable you to control the energies that you call forth.

One of the most common ways to prepare yourself is through a ritual cleansing.  Take a ritual cleansing bath, using water charged with sea salt, rose petals, lavender, or whatever makes you feel most peaceful and comfortable within your own skin.  It’s not about cleansing the body; it’s about cleansing the mind and spirit.  Once you are done, stay in the tub while the water drains, and let all the stresses of the day drain away with the water.  You may also want to smudge anyone who will enter your circle.

It now comes down to your spell.  Think about what you want to accomplish.  State your intention.  Are you seeking love, money, health, or protection?  Determine this before you choose your spell. Write it down.  If you choose not to use the god/goddess you follow, do research to discover which deity governs your chosen area.  Learn something about them.  What do they prefer in ritual?  This is not always easy to discover, but if you do your research and listen to your intuition, you will most likely do fine.

Once you have done the basic goal setting and learning about the deity involved, you can begin to prepare your invocation.  Your invocation is how you ask for the help of the god and goddess.  Some people find it helpful to write down a step by step structure for their rituals to keep them on track and within the limits of what they have chosen to do.  As I’ve mentioned before, just as not all people are friendly, not all the energies in the universe are friendly either.  You don’t want to allow your ritual to go outside the limits of your ability to control, and having a written structure can help you in that area. 

Once you have done this, and after having made sure you have cleansed and prepared your ritual space, you will need to set a circle of protection.  You can use something physical such as candles, or salt, to set the stage for your visualization of your circle, or you can choose to only visualize your circle only.  Either way, you will cast the circle as well as setting it up.  There are a number of rituals that will include setting your circle as part of the instructions.  I generally use my athame to set the visualization; however, if you are new to ritual, you may want to have something physical to help you with the visualization.  Most people see the circle as a pure blue or white light.  The circle will help you gather energies and it will serve as your protection as well.

Depending on how formal you wish to be with your spell or ritual, you may want to call the quarters as well. If you wish to do this, you will set up your ritual space to have an offering space, generally a small table, decorated to please the element you wish to call in addition to your altar.

You may also wish to call on your god/goddess personally and use the altar candles to invoke the deity(s) of your choice.  Choose carefully. 

Never take a tentative approach.  If you are not sure of yourself, and your goals, do not practice alone.  Work with a group of experienced witches if you need to until you are more confident.  You must know what you hope to accomplish, and how you hope to accomplish it.  Half measures allow for unwelcome energies to enter your rituals, especially if you are unsure when casting your circle.  When you are sure of yourself and your goals, proceed with respect for the universe and the God and Goddess, and you will be fine.

On a last note, make sure you are grounded before you start your ritual.  There are many different ways to ground yourself, and grounding, in this case, is simply a way of connecting your subconscious to the energy of the earth.  The method I use is to visualize a tree growing down my spine and into the earth, connecting me to that energy.  Grounding is another way to protect yourself during ritual work.

The specifics of the ritual will be determined by the path you choose, and your goals, but these basic steps should get you started.  Rituals don’t have to be complex.  You can start simply if you choose and work up to more complex rituals.  If you are new to ritual and spell casting, you should definitely start with a simple ritual, or work with a group of experienced practitioners. 

A written structure can also help you know when and how to end your ritual.  You will need to have a specific and firm ending to close the ritual and release the energies you have been dealing with.  Do not end your ritual without this.

Once your ritual is done, respectfully release the quarters and bid the god/goddess farewell.  Make sure you have released all the energy raised, and then and only then should you break the circle.

As you work your rituals and spells, whether simple or complex, always remember that what you send out, whether good or bad, will come back to you.  Take responsibility for your actions, and as it harm none, do as thou will.  Always work with positive intentions.  Also, remember in all your preparations, the first key to magic is to understand yourself and the basics of the physical world around you.  Then you can learn to work with the energies of the universe.


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