Whether you're Wiccan, pagan, or something else, learning to create a spell is a great way to harness the power of yourself and your own magic. Successful spell casting is about concentration and dedication more than the words you say or the motions you do.
Spell casting and writing your own spell is easy to learn. In this guide, we'll help you understand what magic spells are, how you can go about writing spells, and what you can expect after you perform them.
What is a spell?
A spell in the simplest definition is a set of words that are meant to have an effect in this world. You've probably seen it cast in books or movies, but many people believe that our thoughts and intentions hold immense power. People who believe this are called many things, including “Witch” or “Magician”, although most prefer to call themselves witches.
Magic spells can be used for pretty much anything you want them to – your magickal intentions really drive where the spell cast goes. With the strongest intentions, your spell will work effectively even if it involves dancing the chicken dance. The true rule of spellcasting is this: you must believe, with your whole heart, that magic works.
Does this mean that prayer is spell casting?
A spell is a set of words meant to have an effect in this world, so yes – many types of prayer count as spell casting. Christians who say their prayer worked? In magickal terms – their spell worked. But Christians tend to get upset if you tell them they've just cast a spell, so be nice about it.
What types of spells and magick are there out there?
There are so many types of spells in practice today, including love spells, money spells, healing spells, protection spells and more. A lot of magickal practices revolve around the elements – Earth for grounding energy, Fire to create light and warmth, Air to inspire knowledge and Water to nourish life.
Some spells revolve around the seasons – spells for springtime rebirth, summertime reflection, autumn retiring, and wintertime death or hibernation. Some spells reflect periods in our lives or ways that we live out our ideals.
What about black or dark magic?
Some people believe in “white” magic or “black” magic, but this can be problematic. In western society, we tend to associate “white” magic with good things, and “black” magic with bad.
Because we use these color terms to refer to race, it means that they can be unintentionally loaded with negative energy and racism. It's also just plain lazy. We can easily avoid this issue of racial bias by focusing instead on specificity.
Instead of using those terms, you should be more specific about what you're casting. In other words, it's not “dark magic” or “black magic” to cast a banishing spell. It's banishing magic. Plus, being more specific is a great rule for spell casting. With intention, follows energy.
Do I need a formal ritual to create a spell?
Absolutely not. You can cast without a circle, ritual, full moon, holiday, or whatever else you think you need. All you need is your intentions and your focus. Everything else is a bonus.
Can poems be spells?
Yes, yes they can. In many traditions, spells are almost always poems. Of course, we're not saying that in order to cast a spell you need to write poetry, but the old adage of “a poem is just a spell that got caught in my throat” is pretty accurate.
Poems are great because they give us rhythm and intention with our words. They're also easier to memorize, which means that we avoid stumbling through our words as we're actually going to cast a spell. Magickal spells are ideally memorized, although reading them from a piece of paper is fine, too.
How To Write Your Own Spell
Writing your first spell can be really intimidating, but we're here to show you how to write your own spells for any purpose you'd like. Spell construction isn't nearly as hard as it seems. The most important part is you – the spell caster. Let's begin!
Let's write one to find your lost remote. Maybe you haven't lost it yet – but you will. I promise. There comes a moment in any real life where you misplace your remote, your keys, your wallet, or anything else important. Writing these spells and rituals is as much about predicting the future for yourself as it is about magick or witchcraft.
Step 1: Figure out the structure of your spell
Any basic spell just needs intention, but most of us like to use a little flare or art with our magic, too. So decide: do you want to do something physical? You could write something down, burn a piece of paper, throw a stone – whatever floats your boat.
The right spell is simply the spell that feels best to you. Here are some other activities you could incorporate into brief rituals or spells to increase your power:
- light a candle
- crush some herbs
- burn some herbs
- make a little craft
- perform a daily ritual
- leave an offering
- perform a ritual cleansing
- sprinkle black pepper
- use an incantation
- bang together your cooking pots
- dance under a new moon
- track the moon phase
- construct a magickal device
The world is honestly your limit here. Since we're just trying to find a lost item though, I'm going to use the ability to leave an offering in my own spell.
Step 2: Figure out the words you'll use in your spell
Spells don't need to be spoken, but speaking has a lot of power. It wills something into existence. So let's find a good line for your spell. What about “as I will it, so mote it be”?
That seems obvious enough and has a little bit of rhyme in it. Hey – that can be the end of your spell! Most of us end our spells with something similar, although we may use other words.
For the rest of your spell, why not brainstorm a few easy to rhyme words? “Lost” seems to be easy to rhyme, as does “keys”, “remote”, and even “find”.
Now that you've got a word list, start playing around with some couplets. You want your words to have some rhythm, a little bit of craft, and most importantly, they should help you focus your magickal energy.
Your incantation should be easily repeated, because it'll help you build power. An energetically charged spell is better than a boring one.
If you can't think of any good words, here are a few options:
- I lay out here the true cost; Help me find what I have lost
- I come here down on bended knees; help me find my lost car keys
- Strong of will and strong of mind, guide my hand and help me find
This is obviously just my own personal interpretation of incantation and magick – you can definitely write your own. Creating your own spell is a bit of an art, but magic spells are easy to write once you've done a few.
Step 3: Perform your spell
Now that you've got the action and the words finalized, you're ready! You're now also an expert in spell construction. Magic spells should flow from you easily, and you should be able to easily improve your life.
This is what witchcraft is all about. Let your magickal intentions define your everyday, and you'll really benefit.
If you decided you needed to burn a particular candle color, or way for meteors to make their cosic entrances – go ahead and prepare. Otherwise, you can just tuck this spell away for safekeeping until you're ready to use it. If you think it's something you'll use regularly, consider memorizing your incantation.
Step 4: Take Action
Christians will pray and expect things to just go ahead and happen. The same just isn't true for witches and magick users. In order for our intentions to show up in the world, we need to be able to take steps towards success ourselves. Nothing is ever truly up to fate or cosmic energy: we can always intercede.
So take action. In this example, you need to start searching for your keys. Retrace your steps. Where did you leave them last? Did someone accidentally take them? If you can't find them – do you have a back up set? When will you need to use them next? Can you get a spare set made?
This type of action is important for charging your ritual and ensuring that you learn from your mistakes and choices. Spellwork is also self work. It's about leaving no stone unturned and really taking charge of your life.
Step 5: Document, Tweak, and Repeat
Your magickal practice exists because you're willing to practice spellcraft throughout your life. But, even if you create unique spells, you need to document them. At our very core, the ability to remember and repeat is challenging. This is why you need to keep a book of shadows.
Document your successes and your failures. Did you successfully shift reality? Or are you still stuck up against that wall. Did you write better words? Did you do something special with your energy? Did you draw something, too? Do you feel like you had three times more power just now? All of these observations about your energy and success can help you as you craft spells in the future.
Useful Tips for Magick and Witchcraft
We've covered the very basics of leading a magick-laden life above, but there are a few other things that we should cover for when you make your own magick. When I started making spells, I didn't always do a good job of keeping the karmic principle in mind. You know: the threefold rule.
For example, if you write a love spell to help someone fall in love with you, you may run afoul of the threefold rule. You'd be creating a spell that would attempt to control someone else's behavior.
That's a big wrong no-no for any self-made rituals. It's just plain wrong. And so, you would have those negative energies come back to you three times or more. It's really not worth it.
Can I write a love spell at all?
Sure you can! Just make sure that the spirit of your love spell is not about controlling someone else. Instead, write your spell to attract love energies to your life, and avoid the manipulation and control of inviting a specific person into your life.
Beg for cosmic entrances of love into your life. Use the seasonal equinoxes as a way to find balance. Leave tokens of your love on window sills for all to find.
Can I write silly spells?
Absolutely. Writing one to pray for a snow day from work or school is always a fun way to experiment with spell construction. Magic spells are really what you make them: nothing more and nothing less. As long as you understand the principles of magic, you really can't go wrong.
I once wrote one to help me learn to
Other thoughts about spell writing
Starting out, this practice can be really intimidating. You might worry about how to do it right, or if you're going to make a misstep. But the first step in any journey is really just beginning – so don't be afraid to take a chance.
If you're really worried about the karma associated with your actions, keep your workings light and fun, and don't try to influence the actions of others. Working on yourself is always free, even if it's never easy.
The most important thing is intention here – so keep your focus, and good luck!
If you've enjoyed this article, don't go without letting us know! We want to write content that impacts you and has a positive influence on your life. We won't know if you don't tell us. So – let us know in the comments below:
- What kind of spells you've got in your back pocket?
- Did this guide help you write something new?
- Do you feel engaged, informed, and educated?
- Do you think spells are the bees' knees now?
- What future guides, tutorials, and videos would you like to see on this website?
WITCHYVERSE is powerful because of you – the reader. Whether you're looking for the meaning of life, a new meditation, or something in between, we want to make sure that you feel supported in your magickal journey, wherever you are. As we close, we'll leave you with this: an' it harm none, do what ye will.
