A spell is a spoken or written prayer or decree which is used together with the projection of our intention. Spells are intended to initiate or influence a situation, event or circumstance. They are petitions for specific outcomes. Belief in and the use of spells or prayers are universal and have been an integral part of man’s spiritual experience since ancient times. Spell casting methods may vary according to ones culture, tradition and beliefs.
The word ‘spell’ generates some odd looks from Christians who are uncomfortable with the term when really, it is very similar to prayer. A spell is a more direct projection of intention rather than what most prayer has become today, which is a request for permission or "please, please do this for me." Spells operate from knowing what we want and what is acceptable within the Wiccan Rede “and it harm none”. Spells are a natural projection of what we know to be true and within our rights to expect of the universe. We may use astrological and lunar timing, herbs, crystals, candles, colors and other items to enhance our spells. These can be boosters as they focus energy and our will but can also be seen simply as “prayer with props.” They focus our mind on the work at hand. They put us in a frame of mind to be in the presence of Deity and make a request or demand that the laws of the universe perform as expected. The law of return and the law of attraction are no less valid than the laws of quantum physics. As laymen, we cannot explain them in absolute terms or grasp their total concept. We just accept and expect them to work. Wiccans use ritual and its visual, audible and sensory cues to take us from the mundane to the spiritual, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. In various Christian denominations and practices, you may see special clothing and vestments, music, incense and seasonal altar colors and decorations. During a service, you may stand, kneel or raise your arms to God. You may hear responsive liturgy or acknowledgments such as "Amen", or "Hallelujah". This is not so different from Pagan or Wiccan ritual robes and clothing, our seasonal altars, chants, prayers or the sound of a “So mote it be” or ‘blessed be” in our circles. Please don’t look at we pagans as though our circles and traditions are strange and exotic. Accept our expressions as paths to the God/dess expressed in a manner that resonates within us. We approach our Deities with thankful hearts and a desire to be their expression in the world around us. When Your Christian Friends and Family Ask About Spells You say, “but there are no spells in the Bible! You witches and pagans make that up.” Really? Did Jesus need to spit on the ground and make magic mud to put in a man’s eye to heal him (John 9) ? Maybe he was using a ritual and cues to focus the man’s mind on what he was receiving and to put him in a place he could accept it, by expecting things to be different when he washed off the mud himself and he could see. The following is a great Bible story about a spell Jacob (one of the patriarchs) used to increase the payment of animals he received from his father-in-law, Laban. This is in Genesis 30. You probably have never read this story as most Christians only know the “greatest hits” and haven’t really studied the very thing they say they believe. [Careful study of the Bible is what leads me to dismiss it as fallible and not the exclusive way to God/dess. There are some valuable teachings and metaphors in the Bible. I simply do not accept it as the only way to enlightenment.] Here is the tale: 29 Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. 30 The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?” 31 “What shall I give you?” he asked. “Don’t give me anything, ” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: 32 Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages. 33 And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen.” 34 “Agreed, ” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” 35 That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. 36 Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks. 37 Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. 38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 39 they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. 40 Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals. 41 Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches, 42 but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob. 43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.” Did God tell Jacob to do this? No! Jacob used his own will and intention to focus on his goal. He focused the animals on his goal. No one was harmed. He did not take any of Laban’s animals, only created a better increase among speckled and spotted animals that were his by prior agreement. This fulfills all of the requirements for good spell work. 1. Clear intention: Increase my estate, provide for my family. 2. The use of the branches as boosters or triggers to make his intention clear to himself, the animals and the universe 3. He was due this for his honest hard work. 4. No one was harmed. The increase did not come out of someone else’s property. There are other stories and examples as well but I wanted to illustrate that spells can be simply prayers with props. Spells are honest, organic and come from our own desires. Don’t be afraid. So, make list of things you need to influence and get to work. Work for good. Do not harm anyone with your workings. You can start with simple candle magic and as you learn, you may then begin to incorporate herbs, crystals, incense, astrological and lunar correspondences and more. As above; so below. As it is my will, so mote it be!
1 Comment
|
AuthorsHP Stephen Guenther Archives
May 2017
Categories |