Greetings heathens and witches,
Welcome to the Horn and Cauldron podcast…
Today, we will go over the basics of creating and casting a spell. We go over types of spells, sigils, how to do your research, setting intentions, hexing, casting your spell, and post-spell aftercare.
What is spellcrafting?
Spellcrafting is the art of creating your own spell from start to finish. There are lots of ways to craft a spell, and no one way is the right way.
What type of spell do you want to cast?
Words:
Many spells are written down and/or recited later. These spells can be long or short, and do not have to rhyme—unless you want them to! When Julie was a Baby Witch, she thought all spells had to rhyme or be written in Latin. Do what you think feels magickal and comfortable.
Symbols & Sigils:
Some spells incorporate symbols or sigils as part of them, and some spells are all about the sigil. If you find a symbol or sigil out there that you like, go ahead and use it! Runes, and Tarot or Oracle card symbolism great examples of sigils and symbols you did not make yourself that are commonly used for spells.
If you prefer, you can make your own sigils, and there’s a lot of ways to do it. A popular way is to write out the intention of your spell, then cross out any duplicate letters. Now arrange the letters in such a way where they create an image that makes you feel like it’s serving the purpose of your spell.
Physical spells:
Jar spells are super common right now and are easy to do. Put all your stuff in the jar, seal it, then place the jar in a place where you can see it to remind you of the magick inside. Be careful of how you dispose of a jar spell.
Spells that you burn are fun and can really feel powerful. They really break down into two avenues: candle spells and burning other things. If you choose to burn anything for a spell, take the proper precautions! Fires can spread easily.
Candle spells are a lot like jar spells, but the candle helps to power the spell. The candles are typically carved to express your intention, then can be dressed and rolled in herbs. The candle is then burned each time you need the power of the spell or can be burned all in one go.
Other types of burning spells call for burning a piece of paper with your spell or a symbol written on it. These are most commonly for releasing or removing things from your life.
Amulets and jewelry are another fun way to make a physical spell that you can carry with you! The simplest form of amulet is to put items in a small cloth bag that fit your spell’s intention. You can also use lockets, or create your own jewelry. Keep in mind, that you will need to “charge” the item from time to time.
Kitchen witchery is another type of physical spell. You can craft your meal to include magickally-inclined herbs and imbue it with your intention. You can even use runes or sigils to add extra power! Just be careful that anything you add is edible and safe to eat.
Research
Now that you’ve got an idea of the ways you can cast a spell, start your research! Look at spells other people have done for ideas.
Research correspondences for your spell’s purpose. Look and see what’s recommended, then narrow down to what you have access to, then narrow down further to what you want to use. You’d be surprised what you already have or can easily get! Don’t forget to look up amplifiers or items that are complimentary for your spell. (Clear quartz is a great amplifier, and hot peppers are a good way to speed up a spell).
Figure out a good time to cast the spell. Phases of the moon, or times of day can boost your spellwork. Most importantly, find a time that you can be uninterrupted.
Intentions
Set clear intentions and speak in affirmations. Use “I am”, or “guide me to.” Be specific about what you want to accomplish with your spell.
A word about hexing:
Hexes, curses, or shadow work are often discouraged by modern practitioners. We feel that to have the light you must also have the dark. That is, if you wish to hex, curse, or otherwise or cast shadow magick, that is your choice alone, and should be done only with full understanding of the consequences of your actions. Any spell can backfire but hexing and shadow work can backfire spectacularly because of the charged nature of what you’re doing. Much like running headlong into a situation when you’re upset, performing magick while you’re angry may cloud your judgement and give deleterious results. We all know someone who deserves a good hexing, but just be sure that you’re not doing it in the moment just because you’re upset. (Don’t drive angry!)
Casting the spell
Now that you’re ready to put it together, write out your spell and gather the items you need to cast the spell.
Set aside plenty of time to get into the right headspace—Julie finds it helpful to have extra time beforehand to meditate so that her mind is clear.
Do your spell with confidence!
Post-Spell Aftercare
Eat something if didn’t during your spellwork. A small, but balanced meal or snack will suffice. Julie likes to give offerings during her spellwork, which means she gets a little snack. Magick can take a lot out of you, and this will help you recover. You may even want to take a nap!
You may experience a “magickal hangover”—this is totally normal! You’ve just expended a lot of energy in a very focused way, and it can take a bit of time for your energy reserves to refill. On the flip side, you may feel extra energized, if so embrace it! But don’t overdo it by doing another spell right away. Magickal work is a lot like weightlifting—you usually want to let that muscle group it recover before working it again.
A good way to channel and revel in the magickal space post-spell is to write down the spell you just cast in your Book of Shadows. Write down any observations you have about the spell, and how you feel. Continue to update the results in your Book of Shadows as time goes on, and your spell materializes.