Skye Alexander - The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book: Your Complete Guide to Crafting and Casting Spells

Avon, Massachusetts

In memory of my mother, Joan Britton

PART I
SPELLWORKING BASICS

PART II
SPELLS FOR ALL REASONS AND SEASONS

Many of us were introduced to magick spells at an early age, through fairy tales, books, and movies. We saw Cinderellas fairy godmother transform a pumpkin into a jeweled coach drawn by a team of prancing horses. We witnessed a princess kiss a frog and turn him into a handsome prince. We watched Hermione Granger move trees with her magick wand. And we wanted to be able to wield that awe-inspiring power, too.

The good news is, you do have that power. Everyone has magickal abilityits your birthright. And you know what else? Youve probably already done lots of spells, but you just didnt realize it at the time. Blowing out candles on a birthday cake, for instance, is a popular good luck spell. Hanging an evergreen wreath on your front door is an ancient protection spell. Cursing a driver who steals your parking space, well, thats also a spell.

Simply put, a magick spell uses thoughts, words, and actions to cause certain changes to occurand to generate outcomes through means that logic and conventional science cant explain. Have you ever made a wish that came true? Thats magick at work. Would you like to be able to do that more often? You can. By training your mind and developing some natural skills that you already possessand by aligning yourself with nature and the universeyou can create the reality you desire.

Hollywood tends to focus on the sensational aspects of magick, witchcraft, and spellcasting, which can make the whole idea seem scary or weird or even ridiculous to many people. In reality, most witches and wizards dont put hexes on people; they dont turn frogs into princes or fly through the air on broomsticks; they dont brew eye of newt and tongue of dog in cauldrons for enchanted potions (although cauldrons still serve as handy tools in spellwork). Instead, modern-day magickal workers cast spells to help them get better jobs, attract love and friendship, safeguard their homes and families, and improve their health. You can even do a spell to find a parking space in a crowded shopping mall on the day after Thanksgiving.

According to Aleister Crowley, often recognized as the most powerful magician of the twentieth century, Every intentional act is a magickal act. The purpose of a spell is to manifest something that you need or desire. That need or desire (or both) comprises your intent. When you cast a spell, your intent is vital to your success. Your intention, coupled with your attention, are the most important components in any spelltheyre what make your wishes come true. Thats why youll often hear it said that magick is all in the mind. Beyond that, a spell might involve carefully orchestrated steps and procedures, exotic ingredients, cool clothes, and specialized equipmentall designed to increase the potency of the spell. It may also draw upon the forces of nature and/or supernatural powers.

Few of us get the opportunity to attend Hogwarts for a magickal education. However, if you follow the guidelines in this book, youll soon learn to cast spells for all sorts of purposes. Youll develop techniques for honing your mental and psychic powers. Youll find out how to tap the natural energies in plants and gemstones, and use them to augment your spells. Youll discover how to call upon spirits, deities, and other invisible beings to enhance your spellworking ability. Finally, youll learn the best times to perform spells and rituals in order to produce the results you seek, safely and effectively.

Maybe youre not sure about all this stuff yet, but youre curious. Maybe youve dabbled with magick a bit and want to become more familiar with it. Maybe youre ready to take charge of your own destiny and start consciously creating the circumstances you desire in your life. If so, this book is for you.

Magick is the art of creating change in accordance with your will. Its also what happens when you manipulate energy to produce a result, using methods that conventional science cant explain. Witches, wizards, shamans, and others who work with the magickal forces of the universe sometimes add the letter K to the word magic to distinguish it from stage illusion, card tricks, and the like.

Many people think that magick, witchcraft, and the process of casting spells are weirdmaybe even a little spooky or evil. Unfortunately, for centuries suspicion, skepticism, confusion, and fear have muddied the magickal waters and interfered with the widespread use of spells to attract health, wealth, happiness, and all the other good things in life. The truth is, nothing is more natural than doing a spell. A long tradition of spellworking exists in most cultures, including Western culture. People from all walks of life have engaged in magick and spellworking for millennia, for myriad purposes. Today, curiosity about the art of spellcasting is growing rapidlyand as we gain more knowledge and become more familiar with magickal practices, the scary factor diminishes.

Youve probably already cast spells without knowing it. For instance, wearing a ring set with your birthstone is an ancient good luck spell. Maybe youve wished upon a star or made a wish before blowing out candles on a birthday cake. In essence, wishing for something really, really hard is a kind of spell. If you want something badly enough, and you think about it constantly, you send out energy to attract that new reality you seek and help it come into being.

Daydreams arent spells, however. The difference boils down to what spellcasters call intent. Intent means determining your objective and then performing an action with awareness, consciously channeling energy and emotion into the action in order to produce a result. Throughout this book, well talk about intent, focusing energy, creating images, and fueling your spells with emotion and willpower, for these are the keys to doing successful magick.