Components of Successful Spellwork

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Spellwork encompasses magical practices that involve rituals, herbs, tools, or symbols. Optimizing the nuanced elements of witchcraft can significantly enhance the outcomes. However, this necessitates a thorough comprehension of the purpose behind these components. Each element contributes to achieving a magical mindset and approaching gnostic states. The discussion will cover the use of idols, creation of sacred spaces, employment of tools, and the significance of herbs, crystals, and colors.

General Spellwork & Egregores

In many basic practices, the core focus is an idol who grants their will. The idol is a statue, sigil, or object representing the being, servitor, or egregore you use to manifest. An idol often acts as a central point, capturing and intensifying one's thoughts and emotions, which in turn empowers the idol as it reflects your desires. This concept is pivotal in various religious and spiritual practices, where the physical representation of an idol becomes a conduit for personal and collective will. The being you choose can represent an aspect of life, nature, or even a personality. Chaotes sometimes create specialized constructs for this purpose called servitors. Servitors usually have singular purposes, as it's easier to program them that way. When worked with by multiple people, they are called egregores. Wiccans have two idols representing male and female deities or opposite forces. This is a great concept in my opinion, as it allows more flexible practicing.

Accompanied with the idol, is usually a sacred space, like a temple, altar or shrine. You would find that it's much easier to get into the magical mindset when you follow a ritual or routine before spellwork. The most common sacred space mages use are altars, decorated with things that correspond to their deity or thoughtforms purpose. While the induction of the magical mindset is mostly attributable to the use of sacred spaces and idols, it is definitely required to have your mind in optimal shape for gnosis to be maintained. Thus, gnosis can be maintained indefinitely as long as the needed conditions are met.

In initiating a practice, witches often employ various tools. These can include zodiac tools such as the chalice, athame, wand, and pentacle, as well as herbs and jars, each serving a distinct purpose. These tools facilitate the spellwork process by harnessing the gnostic state to channel "energies" or intent into objects, actively or passively executing the spell. Examples of this:

An athame is typically employed for banishing, absorbing energies, and enhancing specific aspects of one's craft. The wand directs energies, thoughts, and feelings into things. The chalice is for receiving energy, while the pentacle is used for dispelling or grounding it.

Incense is usually a given for these types of practices, not only for its aesthetic value but also its function. Fragrances naturally induce feelings, which is beneficial for gnosis. Inhaling large amounts of these fragrances can sometimes be dangerous, but is nevertheless used to overload a certain sense, strengthening spellwork in general. The ashes of incense can be added to spells as a substitution for the raw or dried ingredient and in some versions of ash-based spellwork. The aesthetic value, as mentioned, is very important to witchcraft. Should there be a reason you cannot use incense, you can sprinkle powders or just plain ashes instead.

What many people don't realize, is that a certain mindset is needed in order to elevate spellwork. It's similar to how obsessive Christians are to their religion or cult members are to a cult, barring the restrictive rules that accompany a cult or a religion. Witches can collectively use an egregore, without being called a cult. They are usually called a coven. This means they share a practice and do so rituals with one another, but still grant each other space and don't overstep each other's boundaries. Magic cannot be effectively practiced with a work-oriented mindset or while constantly thinking about sports. Your mind must be fully engaged in your craft when you partakes in spellwork. Meditation might help with this, but meditation should already be an obligatory part of your practice.

This is optional. Set out a day in the week when you focus purely on maintaining gnosis or your spellwork mindset. On that day, you will adhere to a routine of spellwork throughout the day. This includes casting a circle over yourself in the morning, cleansing and blessing each room in your home, and venturing into your private garden to commune with the nature spirits, among other practices. There is a mentality that you sometimes are able to achieve during these activities which makes it all feel real. That's the mentality you want to achieve as often as possible.

Basic Traditional Practice Summary

Minimum: a magical tool, incense, sacred space and something to represent your practice entity or god-form

Can choose a god or create a servitor for the practice.

Meditation to attain a mindset suitable for magickal results. 

Banishing & Binding

Banishing or cleansing is a broad term focused on clearing spaces, objects and other things that could negatively influence a spell. This is great to use in all forms of spellwork, and there are an abundance of banishing methods you can find online. Binding focuses more on keeping influences away from you, by specifically blocking their "pathway" that leads to you. This is of course a figurative pathway. I see it more as a wall that separates you from them. I might add links for books on both in the future. Both banishing and binding can be used on poppets, which is a really effective method of sympathetic casting. 

LBRP aka "Casting a circle."

This is a VERY traditional banishing ritual. It's a very small ritual that not only protects you and the people and objects around you, but also cleansing the space inside of the circle. There are alternative ways to banish that work just as good as this one. Find a method that resonates with you. This will really elevate your practice. 

Herbal Magic

A crucial step in succeeding in object-based magic is to eliminate doubts and pretense, by allowing yourself to be immersed in your work. Herbal magic is very abstract and thus also very strong. I suggest any Wicca source of herbs-based spellwork, as their works allow you to create your own full rituals while still being able to identify them with their practice. That said, herbs can be used in a variety of ways. Herbs can be added to spell jars or charm bags for carriable spells, added to a cauldron, burnt as incense, or consumed by an individual for the desired effect.

Crystals

Fairly new age, but just like herbs, crystals, or better yet — minerals — can be used in spellwork to contain energies or effects created by the spell. Crystals and herbs are only used in sympathetic magic, which is fairly strong without the need to access trances or communication with deities. Generally, you could just project your intent into a crystal and it should start working. 

Knot Magic

This is a fundamental aspect of magic and the method I started with to learn spellcasting. A basic way to use knot magic is to do this:

Find a small piece of string. Keep a basic intent in mind, like "someone will bring me food tomorrow" or something along those lines. You don't have to include the day though, because it can cause some doubts if the spell doesn't work, especially while you are a beginner. Make sure the intent is super basic so you can easily visualize or feel it. Now take the string, and while making your first knot, say "By knot of one, the spell has begun". After saying this, feel that the spell is busy working. Feel the knot locking that feeling into place. Next, as you're making your second knot, say "By knot of two, the spell has come true" and feel that the spell has actually come true. Going by the example above, I visualize and feel that there is no doubt that the person WILL come tomorrow to bring me the food. The knot locks that feeling in place. Lastly, you will say "By knot of three, so mote it be". Feel that the spell you just did has worked. This doubles down on the previous spell. Feel the knot locking it in place. 

Color Magic

Colors and textures are generally associated with feelings. You can use these to your advantage, especially in energy constructs. Color association has a place in many practices, and you can use your own associations in a spell. Without using a chart, fetch yourself a piece of paper and write down the basic colours in a column on the left. Then, for each colour, write down what feelings it brings up. You will use these associations in your craft. You can use dyed strings, coloured crystals you perhaps don't know the name to and fabrics in your craft. Be creative, but always make sure it feels right.