The Planning of a Spell

I take days to plan a spell. Unless I don’t have the luxury to do so of course. But I like to think about what I wish to accomplish and to be certain of my motivation for doing it in the first place. Typically my spells focus on illumination or enlightenment. That and healing, although health problems can be something we choose before we focus into form.

Essentially our issues begin when we forget that we’re Source Energy. If we remembered that then it might be a little more difficult to cause each other so much grief. But forget we do and then sometimes a witch will address such imbalances with some spellwork.

Magick is manifested desire. So if I want someone to stop causing me harm, then I can either choose to place my attention elsewhere and ignore the fool, or if that’s not possible I can set an intention for a spell that either binds the person’s action and/or allows him or her to see the effects of their behavior. The idea with the latter is that when someone understands they’re being an ass, they stop. The first intention is always available if understanding is simply beyond the individual’s comprehension.

But a witch does what a witch does and sometimes taking the high road isn’t really an option. So when I’ve had enough of someone’s behavior and it’s clear they’re clueless, I prepare for a binding spell, if only to create the space for a time out, a sort of go to your room and think about it intention. I balance the spell with an intention of clarity because a binding spell that doesn’t create the space for enlightenment is a little revenge-y in my estimation and I’m not comfortable with that.

Because I believe we’re all expressions of Source Energy, I prefer to view myself from that standpoint. I’m not sure how I judge someone else who may have arranged for these experiences prior to incarnating just as I and everyone else have done.

Although many witches perform curses, I’ve never been comfortable with it, nor do I believe the notion that a witch needs to know how to curse in order to heal. I’ve been a healer all of my life. I don’t have to cause someone harm so that I know how to extend healing blessings or intentions. I don’t want to experience the kind of emotion necessary to do something like that. Again, I am Source Energy. The body and the world I temporarily inhabit is a projection of collective consciousness. I suppose I’m reluctant to make any of it too real. And it seems to me that one of my primary functions should be to see everyone and everything with loving Source Vision, so I normally prefer a do no harm approach.

Sometimes people just lose their way or their awareness of their Source Presence. It’s with that in mind that I balance any binding spell with intentions for awakening and remembrance. I initially create a sigil from the individual’s name which I then bless. The idea is to create the vision I want to see about this person instead of the nonsense they’re creating. I spend a few days visualizing the individual awakening to the truth of their behavior and then wanting to make amends. During the spell itself, I see the situation as resolved and then cast that intention.

I love to balance energies, so consideration is made for the day of the week, the hour, moon phase, etc. For a binding spell I use black candles along with a candle or two reflecting the day of the week. I may use both black and white stones to balance binding with awakening, or I might use only white candles to support the idea of issue resolution. It all depends on the situation at hand.

After casting a circle, I perform a self-purification ritual followed by the Rite of Awen and the Pentagram. I like herb magick, so I’ll frequently grind herbs and resins to throw on a piece of charcoal burning in the cauldron, grinding widdershins for the purpose of binding or magicks of decrease, or deocil for magicks of increase. During the preparation for the spell, I either locate one I’ve already written or write a new one, and while chanting the spell, I cast the sigil I created into the cauldron, invoking Elemental Fire to increase the intensity of the spell.

I envision the situation with the person resolved. Understanding has been achieved and the individual is moving in a more positive direction. I see the individual as Source Energy, and in perfect love and perfect trust, I extend blessings of clarity and peace.

But here’s the thing. I only do a binding spell when nothing else works and something must be done. I would rather respect the individual experiences that we’re all here to have and to view the situation dispassionately with Source Vision. Because at the end of the day, performing a binding spell is a result of judgment. And sometimes I’m not sure if I’m binding a person’s behavior, or my own view of it. Unfortunately when safety is at issue or crimes are being committed and no one is doing anything, sometimes a witch must become the warrior who acts on behalf of self or others.

Although a binding isn’t a curse, it’s still something I do as a last resort. But that’s a decision each witch must make and I judge no witch for choosing something else. We each must define our own way, our own expression. Our will comes from within, from alignment with Source. And it’s up to each witch how that is manifested.

Blessed Be

~ Jan