Stir Your Coffee and Cast a Spell!
When you hear the word ‘spell’, chances are you think of witches and wizards, stirring up cauldrons of mysterious concoctions or sparks shooting out of the end of a twisted elder wand. But the reality is, witches are out here every day casting spells by simply stirring their coffee, repeating incantations in their head or stuffing herbs under their pillows before they sleep.
In the most basic sense, a spell is an intentional act of focusing energy to manifest a desired outcome. This could be anything from asking for guidance or protection, to healing or manifesting abundance. It’s important to remember that a spell doesn’t have to be a long, complicated ritual – it can be as simple as writing a few sentences in a journal or lighting a candle. Elements of a spell are included for their metaphysical properties and to set a clear focus, like crystals or herbs.
So how do spells work? At its core, a spell is an act of intention. When you focus your energy and set an intention, you are sending out a powerful message to the Universe. Combining spell crafting with a witchy lifestyle (one that focuses on mindfulness and gratitude) leads to being able to manifest with more accuracy.
Think of a spell like a seed that you cultivate in the garden of your life. When you plant a seed, you can’t expect it to grow overnight. It takes time, patience, and consistent care to nurture it into something beautiful. The same is true with spells – you must be patient and consistent in order for your desired outcome to manifest. And it won’t always work the first time, sometimes you need to practise and make mistakes in order to grow as a person and as a witch. And often it’s a change in mindset that leads to the most magical outcomes.
One thing you really need to understand is that words have power. You’ll hear a lot, ‘be clear on your intention’ or ‘intention is everything’ and that is because of two things:
- When you ask the universe to bestow you with something, it will deliver. It may not look exactly like you imagined, because the universe will always transform your desires into what you actually need; so being clear on why we want something allows us to receive it easier, and knowing our own motivations ensures we don’t use our energy on something that will just set us back. For instance, casting a spell to manifest a guy because you want to feel loved is going to land you in all sorts of trouble. The real issue there is you want to feel loved. So an experienced witch would focus on spells that dispel depression or negative emotions, and manifest something like confidence. This in turn makes room for things to move in – like a guy who meets you at your best level.
- Meaning what you say can do amazing things. Once you’ve gone deeper and figured out why you feel a certain way, you can turn your words into affirmations, prayers, incantations… all of which have been proven to physically change energy when paired with pure belief and intention. How do you think holy water is made? Infusing something with intention can alter it at a molecular level. Your words have power.
The last thing you really need to know about how spellcasting works, is that magic is an energetic exchange. Making a point to give something in order to have something returned is where the concept of sacrifices comes from. But it doesn’t have to be a goat or a virgin. Some of the best sacrifices are habits or food, but really the energy and time you put into casting a spell can be considered an exchange. Think about what you want. Think about what you’re doing. Think about the outcome. Think about possible outcomes. Actively engaging in your craft forces you to be present, and cultivates accountability and commitment. Or offer your patron a goat, idk.
