Spellwork—the act of combining the energies and vibrations to manifest a desired outcome—allows us to physically interact with our spirituality and explore the depths of our personal power.
Image credit: Katherine Hanlon
There are many paths on the road to becoming a magickal practitioner. Some of us pick up the wand to rebel against Christian dogma, only to find an identity that fits. Others instinctively vibe with a nature-based spiritual practice, and a lucky few are raised in the Craft as family tradition.
Similarly, no two magickal practices look the same. Each practice is as unique as the person performing it. However, the vast majority of magickal practitioners have at least one thing in common: we work spells.
The methods and reasons we cast spells are, again, widely varied, yet this is the crux of why many of us find paganism alluring to begin with. Spellwork—the act of combining the energies and vibrations to manifest a desired outcome—allows us to physically interact with our spirituality and explore the depths of our personal power.
To learn about how spells and magick actually work, check out What is Magick, Really?
One of the things I struggled with when I first came to the Craft was the actual mechanics of casting a spell. I’d read fistfuls of information in books (this was in the mid-aughts, before the interwebs was the fabulous community it is now) but the ready-made spells never felt quite right. I’d attempted to create a few spells on my own, which mostly involved using instinct to arrange things on my altar. The problem there was that I wasn’t sure what to do once everything was in place.
It wasn’t until my formal self-initiation in 2018 that I realized what was missing: a foundational spell structure. Once I had that laid out in my book of knowledge (i.e., shadows, tides, mirrors, what have you) my practice developed a life of its own. No longer distracted by not knowing what to do or how to do it, my spellwork took on an elegance that allowed me to embody each spell, rather than fumble through someone else’s words and actions. I was able to focus on my intention and the energy instead of whether or not I was “doing it right.”
(Note: If you find ready-made spells in books that vibe with you, use them. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it can be extremely effective.)
Crafting a Spell
Below, I’ve shared my basic spell structure in the hope that it can help others deepen their practice. It’s by no means written in stone—take what you like, leave what you don’t, change details to suit your preferences, or simply say “huh, that’s interesting” and go do something completely different.
Step 1: Defining your intention
Intention may be the most important aspect of spellwork. Your intention for the spell defines why it’s needed and what it will accomplish—the whole reason for casting the spell in the first place. Even if it’s just a gut feeling, spells always begin with intention.
Intention may be very specific or very broad—this will vary depending on what the spell is intended to accomplish. You may cast a spell to bolster your confidence (general) or to help you stick to your boundaries with a prickly family member (specific).
Note: Though many of us ethically use magick to defend ourselves against toxic people and situations, it’s advisable to avoid causing others harm or manipulating their free will. Check out Magickal Ethics: Safe, Sane Practice for more info.
Step 2: Gathering supplies (if needed)
Most spells involve magickal items of some kind, but not all. Some spells may only require your beautiful, magickal self to cast your intention into the aether. This step is about determining the items you’ll need to align your spell’s energies with your intention.
Items to choose from include (but are not limited to) tarot and oracle cards, crystals, herbs, incense, symbols, essential oils, enchanted waters, specific colors (including what you’ll wear), candles, and practical tools like matches or chalk.
Having a loose idea of the actions you’ll take during the spell will help you determine the supplies you’ll need. For instance, if you intend to dance a sigil to bolster your confidence, you may only need specific clothing (if you choose to wear any). However, if you’re blending a healing tea, you may want to infuse it with amethyst and specific herbs*, wear blue to represent water and healing, and place your teacup on a chalkboard decorated with a salt mandala or a special symbol. How simple or complex the spell becomes is up to you and your practice.
*Warning: ALWAYS thoroughly research crystals and herbs before ingesting water infused with them. Not all crystals can be submerged in water without damage. NEVER ingest essential oils.
Step 3: Deciding what to say (and how to say it)
Like supplies and actions, any words or sounds you use in your spell are entirely subjective and should feel right to you. You may start your spell by calling the four elements, welcoming the deities you’re working with, or by playing “Bohemian Rhapsody.” As long as it’s safe, and vibes with the energy you’re building, it’s appropriate.
Likewise, singing, chanting, using rhymes, playing music (either on an instrument or a device), or speaking off the cuff are all acceptable, as is sitting in silence. Decide which feels right for your intention and desired outcome.
Step 4: Magickal timing (hours, days, and moon phases)
Choosing an advantageous time to cast your spell is controversial among magickal practitioners. Some say you must do things at the right time, or your spell will combust. Others say timing doesn’t matter at all. My personal opinion is that whether or not time matters depends on the spell and how you practice magick.
If you decide to choose an auspicious time for your spell, research moon phases, hours of the day, days of the week, and seasons to determine which of each align with your intention. You might choose just one corresponding time (such as a moon phase) or get really specific and cast your spell at midnight during a waning gibbous on a Saturday in winter.
Some practitioners also get spells ready to cast during a certain kind of weather, such as a thunderstorm. In these cases, prep as much as possible beforehand so you can get going when the time is right.
Step 5: Full circle: Activating your spell
Activating, or completing, your spell is the point where you fling your intentions to the cosmos. You’ve gathered up all the energy and vibration you need to make it happen. Activation releases that energy and begins bringing the vibrations around you into alignment with your intention.
There are literally hundreds of ways to do this, such as extinguishing a candle, drinking a (safe!) potion, sealing a spell bottle, erasing or tearing up a symbol, burning something (safely!), finishing your chant, splashing water on something, etc. Your options are limitless.
Just as with any other piece of a spell—do what feels right to you.
Step 6: Self-care after spellwork
Casting spells is like exercising—you need to let yourself rest and recover afterward. Once your spell is activated, thank and release any deities or energies you summoned, close your circle (if you used one), and put away all unneeded supplies (excluding things that need to stay out, such as incense that needs to burn down or a mandala giving off energy).
Right after the spell is finished, make sure you ground and center. Take a few moments to breathe deep in through the belly and out through your mouth, visualizing the energy you just expended being restored by the earth, cosmos, or the element with which you most closely associate.
Once your casting space is set to rights, let yourself forget about the spell for now. Bathe, have a snack and/or a beverage, and chill out with a book, TV show, or a favorite hobby. It’s important to give yourself this break, both to allow you to recover and to detach from the energies you cast so they can travel as far as possible.
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