Crafting Magic

In most of the books and websites I’ve read regarding spellwork, there’s always an entire list of props that are deemed ‘necessary.’ The list varies depending on factors such as the Path of the practitioner, the complexity of the spell’s purpose, whether or not it’s ritual, practical, or a combination, etc. For myself, I have found a lot of the prep-work that’s so often put forward as necessary... isn’t.

There are some steps that I won’t skip over because yes, they are important. But the level of ceremony I put into them is much less than many practitioners would consider appropriate. I don’t believe it’s necessary to have either a wand or an athame to cast a circle, for example, nor do I feel the need to have an elaborate set up with items symbolising all of the elements, or specific gods/goddesses/spirits. My personal take on many of these props is not that they themselves have any specific energies that are inherent to them, but that we ourselves imbue them with said energies and the use of them is not so much because they’re required for the actual spell, but that the placing and use of them act as physical keys to help us settle into the required mental and emotional state to begin.

Personally, I find it very easy to attain an appropriate mental state without taking a bunch of actions first, so much of my spellwork is done only with the components required for the actual purpose of said spell. I mainly work with candles and gemstones, with herbs and flowers only used occasionally. I meditate and visualise to bring myself to the required state, and my placement of protective circles and wards against negative spirits and energies is done with visualisation. I don’t need to walk the physical boundaries of a Circle for it t exist -- walking or not, the placement of it is a matter of will, not physical action.

This is my process, and it works for me. Spellcraft, like so many other things, does not have any One True Way in which it has to be performed. The only key thing one should never neglect, whether they choose to set up a complete altar near the area of their Workings, or simply place a crystal and a stick of incense, is the protections. Make a physical circle of chalk or salt, walk your circle with wand or athame, simply visualise it being brought up around you, or some other method you find works for you, but always create the protective circle before beginning spell work.

While I don’t believe that a bunch of physical props or spoken cantrips are necessary components of spellwork, I do believe that imbuing physical items with the energies associated with one’s intent is a more effective method than simply releasing those energies out into the Aether to either reach the intended recipient or not. Being an individual who is very much into the creating of things through various mediums -- knitting, crochet, bead- and leatherwork, among others -- it seemed only natural to me to combine the two. Even when a project can take several days, weeks, or even months to complete, as long as one only works on it when in the correct mindset and emotional state, one can imbue that item with the energies required for a specific purpose.

The most... commonplace, I suppose... example would be prayer shawls. Regardless of one’s personal spiritual or religious beliefs, or lack thereof, the idea of a prayer shawl is to knit or crochet a shawl for someone going through a difficult time. Illness, a tough period in their life, etc. While working on said shawl, the crafter thinks positive thoughts for and about the intended recipient, and only works on it while in a positive mental and emotional state. It’s a Working of love and compassion. Belief in magic and/or higher powers is not a prerequisite of a prayer shawl, nor does the term ‘prayer shawl’ even need to be applied to the item. It’s the intent of the gift and the feelings of the giver toward the recipient that are ultimately the only important things. A gift given with true love and caring will carry with it those positive energies whether or not either the giver or recipient believes in any special Power.

This can be applied to any item one can create. Quilts, jewellery, clothing, ornaments, decorations, even toys.

If one, like me, does believe in the inherent magical energies of certain items, such as gemstones and plants, one can incorporate those into the crafting. Decorating an item with gemstone beads that amplify the energies for a desired result, or creating a small pouch to fill with stones and/or herbs to insert into a stuffed toy or pillow, or simply incorporating symbols into a design, whether beading, embroidery, created with intarsia or fair isle, or whatever other method suits your specific craft.

Even in this, I don’t believe such components are necessary. I have used them, and undoubtedly will continue to in the future. But my belief is that ultimately, spellwork is a matter of one’s own mindset and will. Simply by working while in a positive mental and emotional state, and keeping the ultimate purpose forefront in one’s mind, one can engage in spellcraft. It’s a matter of one’s own beliefs and choice as to whether or not to incorporate a request to spirits or deities to strengthen or ‘bless’ the Working. The majority of the energy and power that goes into said spell is personal power; you pull in the energy, you provide the intent, be it a Cleansing, or a Warding, or any of a myriad of other ‘spell’ types.

Myself, I tend to only do protective and healing spellwork. My own morals and ethics don’t allow for spells meant to increase luck, bring monetary fortune, or attract love. Even with my belief that the majority of the power that goes into spellwork is personal power, there is still the importance of intent. Selfish intentions, or the desire to manipulate and ultimately warp another’s will, no matter how well-meaning one might be in such an undertaking, are still things that will attract negative energies and malicious spirits.

Regardless of how much -- or how little -- validity one puts into the idea of spellwork, one must always exercise caution when imbuing an item with intent, and respect the power of that intent.