I often hear from people who want to know why I offer black magick spells. I may have discussed this before but it bears repeating - there is really no such thing a black magick, white magick or gray magick. What matters most is intention. Because we live in a world that applies relative terms to things it is much easier to group things accordingly - thus we name spells of degrees and “colors” to discern the qualities they represent. However for me, the witch, it is quite different. Especially being Buddhist as I try to steer clear of duality whenever possible.

Certainly there are spells that can be used for darker workings and some that are just dreadful if the intention behind it is worked in shadow. It is also unlikely that a “white” spell can be used for darker means since it will not be created to support it. Yet in truth all spells are neutral. You can desire manipulation from a white magick spell as easily as a gray or black magick spell but perhaps it might be more difficult to own up to.

I like the directness involved with black magick. I like that the spells don’t care whether you are self-centered or a beacon of hope. You can be the best person on Earth and use a black magick spell or you can be rotten to the core, it makes no difference. Black magick is straight-forward, no holds-barred and honest about what you desire. If you want control then there is a black magick spell for it. If you want to manipulate others then there is a black magick spell for it. If you want to cause harm - well, you get the idea.

I prepare the black magick spells but I will not cast them for clients. I put it all together so the client can finish it on their end because I don’t particularly want to know what their intentions are. What I prepare is in truth completely neutral until the client adds their intention.

Black magick spells can be used neutrally too - often they are best used for hard-luck cases or for very stubborn situations and people that don’t respond to anything else. Because black magick is totally forthright, clients can get speedy results in situations that might have taken much longer if less stringent methods were applied.

For many situations though, black magick is NOT appropriate. If you want to marry someone or have a life-long commitment it is best to stay away from black magick unless you have tried everything else first. Black Magick should be the last resort as there are so many wonderful gray magick spells and white magick spells that get great results.

There can be karmic consequences with using black magick. This of course depends upon what you are using it for and what kind of person you are. You may not even believe in karma and if you don’t then it won’t matter to you what the consequences are. I believe in karma so I am careful about this, but those are my beliefs, not yours.

I will be adding a few new black magick spells over the next couple of months and I hope you are willing to give black magick a chance for those especially complicated and difficult situations. You’ll be surprised at how the true neutrality of magick can benefit you (as long as your intentions support it!).

The two new spells are LUCKY 13, a powerful prosperity and luck spell specifically made for making money any way you can and for gambling and other less than…well, I’ll leave that up to your imaginations as to what this spell can be used for.

The next is DARK ARTS LOVE SPELL, the first spell of its kind that I have offered that is based on hoodoo rootwork of a darker nature. This is for the most desperate love cases - you will need to email me first as I will only take certain cases that meet the criteria.

Look for these spells in February and March!

Recently I’ve been offering some amazing magickal jewelry and handmade amulets on Ebay. I’ve had a few questions about what the difference is between a spell and spelled jewelry and I thought I would answer them here because this may be of interest to all.

Which is stronger a spell or a magickal item with spells cast upon it?

There is nothing better than a directly cast spell for any situation. That is because a spell is focused will and intention and has immediate powerful energy that is released in the casting. Spelled magickal items (such as jewelry or containers of some kind) may have a number of spells attached to them but the spells are of a long-term and long-acting nature. In other words, for fast results seek a spell - for results that you are willing to wait for over a period of time, consider a magickal item. The best of course is both - a spell in the short-term then a magickal item to act as support in the long-term. For instance if I have a spell like Magnetic Attraction cast , then I might want to consider a ring that has an attraction or love drawing spell on it to keep the energy of my spell working at a higher frequency and duration. This is just one consideration for magickal spelled items.

What items can hold a spell?

Just about anything can - obviously items like wands, chalices, athames, sacred religious objects, scrying bowls, crystals (though they have inherent magickal qualities too), talismans, jewelry, witch bottles -the items are consecrated in a ritual to hold the specific qualities of the spell. Certain items work better than others - natural items that have their own magickal correspondences (wood, crystals, semi-precious stones, precious metals, witch-crafted items) are the best. Also symbols are excellent as long as they are crafted with a spell.

How long does a spelled item last?

Once an item has been consecrated and spelled it will last until the spell is removed and the item cleansed of all previous energies. That doesn’t mean that it will be effective indefinitely - like everything, even spelled items have an ebb and flow in their power depending upon how often they are worn and used. It also depends upon what spells and energy have been put into an item. For instance I have specific jewelry that I have worn during thousands of castings and these are absolutely the most powerful items I own. They will continue to supply power long after I have passed from this earthly plane.

Can you add a spell to an item I already own?

I could, yes and have done this for clients before but it is not something I do often.  I’d rather find the right vessel for you myself.

If I want my ex-boyfriend to return to me should I get a spell for this or a ring that has certain properties to return a lover?

I recommend a spell since it will be more powerful because it uses the energy from the spellcaster (me) the inherent power from the spell itself and any correspondences involved in the casting plus the energy of the client to complete the spell. A magickal item just has the energy for the spell cast upon it from the witch who cast it. Even though you will wear the item your energy is not a part of the spell itself, so it is not as directed.

I hope this helps you to understand more about what I offer. If you have any further questions please just ask and email me at amita@magickrituals.com or amita@mysticspells.com.

For a witch this is simply a grand day! For a Knights Templar - oh, bad, very bad day. Here’s a little more on that cribbed from Wikipedia:

According to folklorists, there is no written evidence for a “Friday the 13th” superstition before the 19th century. The earliest known documented reference in English occurs in an 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini:

This decision in going to battle before the English troops were rested (the English lost and King Harold was killed), further established Friday the 13th as an unlucky day.

My plans for today include casting (this is an excellent power day), going out to dinner with my Mom to continue her several days of celebrating her birthday (yes my mother needs at least three days to celebrate properly and she deserves them!), more work, grocery shopping and likely a nice bonfire tonight since the temps are getting much cooler. I’ll light a candle too for the Knights Templar as I do every year.

I hope your day is filled with luck and good fortune. The number 13 is a sacred number to witches and I bless you with its power!

I had an email from a client recently who wanted to investigate witchcraft further. He asked some excellent questions and for some recommendations from me on books that would give him solid information. Here are the questions I answered plus my short reading list (for beginners).

How did you know you were a witch?

I was born a witch. I have witchcraft from both sides of my family and my mother has always been a quiet daughter of Isis (Egyptian witchcraft). I was raised without any religious affiliation and told from a very early age (four, I think) that I was welcome to make my own decision regarding religion but that my parents were not especially enamored with Christianity, specifically Catholicism, which had excommunicated my father for marrying my mother (yes they used to do that in the early sixties!). I was offered information on just about everything (my mother kept the paganism light but she always stressed a connection with nature and animals) and when I was a teenager I decided I wanted to practice an earth-based religion so I joined a coven of witches in the Gardnerian tradition (through a family friend) and I became an initiate.

It took three years (not in a row) to become a High Priestess but I no longer practice Wicca in the religious aspect because I became Buddhist. This actually had an even more positive reflection upon my witchcraft since becoming an eclectic allowed me to practice all the mysteries I had always been attracted to like Faerie, Hoodoo, Voudon, Romany and Sino-Nipponese.

It took me years to accept that I was a witch. It isn’t instant. It takes years of study and discovery. I really never felt my power until I was in my late twenties. Being a witch follows very closely the Triple Aspect of the Goddess - Maiden, Mother and Crone. At least it has for me!

How did you learn to cast spells?

I learnt from the coven’s Book of Shadows and then the family notes my mother kept as well. For over 20 years I have kept my own books too. Study, trial and error, friends and mysteries that are handed down in the oral tradition all become part of my Book of Shadows.

Casting spells takes nothing but practice and you definitely need a predilection for it. You must have a natural ability (like with any craft - some people just have a knack for certain things) for spells to work.

You can’t learn spells from books, don’t make that mistake. They can teach you how to craft spells but spells need to come from you and need to be honed and developed over time. Most books on witchcraft have tons of spells in them but until you are crafting your own spells, using your own knowledge and words, they will lack power, imagination, focused will and intention.

What books do you recommend for a beginner?

1.  To Ride A Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft  by Silver RavenWolf

2.  To Stir a Magick Cauldron: A Witch’s Guide to Casting and Conjuring  by Silver RavenWolf

3.  To Light A Sacred Flame: Practical Witchcraft for the Millennium  by Silver RavenWolf

Many witches would disagree with me regarding Silver’s books, they’d say she practices “fluffy bunny witchcraft”. I disagree. These books are a full-course in Witchcraft 101 that are light on the dogma and give a terrific overview of the craft. Don’t take everything Silver says as gospel but she gives a great foundation.

4.  Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation  by Silver RavenWolf

This book is a compendium of further study into witchcraft and is practical for novices and even advanced students. It’s a huge heavy tome but has everything you need to go through the first degree of witchcraft (avoid books that go through the “year and a day” approach - it is better to get your information culled from other sources unless you have joined a coven).

I don’t recommend a coven however until you’ve done some study first. For instance I never would have put three years into the Gardnerian tradition if I had studied first to find where I really felt comfortable.

I hope these answers give some guidance. Feel free to comment below or visit me at mysticspells.com and try my Ask Amita feature!

I finally took a break today after two full days of casting. I was obliterated. I had so many candles going at one point I was starting to sweat, even with the coolness of the A/C. The altar was ablaze and there was a heady scent of pine and bayberry for a special success candle ritual I was doing. It was so strong it was like being in a pine grove. Ah, Christmas in July!

I love that in the Fall and Winter when it is cooler I can do so much of my work outside at the fire-pit but during the summer months I mostly stay inside for castings. Just too hot out there and the mosquitoes love to dine on me.

I was reading several new witchy books, one of them I mentioned on Twitter, a great Herbal, as we witches call them (essentially a guide to magickal herbs) and even though I have many books like these I still like to keep my hand in.

I opened the window in my room and little Lucy (my darling girl kitty) picked her nose up to inhale the balmy summer scent. Then in a flash of quick cloud-cover there was a low rumble of thunder and gorgeous summer rain fell in glittery sheets in the backyard.

Lucy hopped up into the window to get a better look and I put aside the book and listened to my favorite sound.

There was a little more thunder but it wasn’t very close and it rained for a good half hour until I saw a sliver of sunlight illuminate the dark wetness of the grass.

Lucy got bored and went off to do more important cat things and I curled up again with my book feeling such a sense of gentle peace with the earth.

Thank you Goddess for the summer rain.

I really do have terrific clients and I am fortunate to have worked with many of them for a number of years. I’ve been lucky to establish many ongoing magickal relationships with these clients for several reasons.

With some clients, unfortunately these relationships are not always as successful. I know part  is due to the nature of magick itself - not exacting (it isn’t science) and often people are in quite a desperate situation by the time they come to me, either being frustrated or having been scammed by online fakes or having dealt with real casters who might not have been able to provide the right spell for them. Because of this I know that emotions are usually high and I try to tread softly in my dealings with new clients.

However a client has responsiblities too and sometimes they are not aware that they can be their own worst enemies when it comes to getting the most from spellwork.

Here is how you can assure that you will always get the MOST from whatever work I do with you.

Make sure you read my blog and my FAQ. This is the best way to get the low-down on how I work and what I am like. If you don’t read anything on my blog, then you are not taking time to find out what I am like as a person and a witch and this will be to your detriment. Likewise, the FAQ is chock-full of answers to questions you will likely have and is the best way to find out how the process works.

Keep the lines of communication open without inundating me with your every concern through email. I am here for you but not on a daily basis and not to the exclusion of my other clients. If you do have a concern that you deem important please DO let me know because I cannot help you with something unless you tell me about. The time to do this is long before  a year or two later and you email and say the spell didn’t work the way you had hoped (yes, this has actually happened!).

Stay focused on your intention WITHOUT obsessing. This is paramount to the success of your spell. Obsessing about a spell will only derail it. I know people might think - but if I am focused isn’t that obsessing? There is a distinct difference. Focus is general, non-specific - it is a direction, a journey rather than a destination. Think of it that way. Obsession is always and only about the end result. I really mean it when I say to let the spell go once it is cast. You just walk away and not think on it again. I have done this myself for over 25 years of casting spells and believe me I know what I’m talking about. When I cast a spell for myself I never consider it again once it is complete. I just go about my daily life and do what I must. The spell works in its own way, on its own timetable and I don’t have to do anything more once it is cast.

I cannot tell you “how your spell is going” because your spell has already gone. Many people confuse witches with psychics and they think I have a little crystal ball that I look into and can tell them - oh, well , the spell would be manifesting but there is a blockage etc. Perhaps they think this because they have been to one of those con-artists who happen to call themselves a psychic who casts spells. I say this in my FAQ and I will say it here: once a spell is cast and is complete my part is done. You will know how the spell is going before I ever would.

Always be open. This is the best tip I can give on how to be a magickal client. My clients who get extraoridinary results from magick are the ones who are open to it. They embrace magick in many different ways. Part of this is to not be attached to a specific outcome. Be interested in the best possible outcome for all involved. That way you will always be happy because you will know that whatever happens it is for the best. Spells can work in unexpected ways too: I have a client who desperately wanted to get back with a man she thought was the love of her life. We did spellwork for this in a variety of areas like self-esteem and love returning. What ended up happening was she felt so good from the self-esteem spell that had been cast and the Magnetic Attraction spell that she ended up meeting another man whom she promptly fell in love with (and he with her) and all because she had thought she wanted to get back together with her ex. Ultimately she found the right love and the right happiness but in a roundabout way. If you are always open and not attached to a specific outcome - you invite new possibilities and opportunities into your life.

On that same note I have had others who have used a Prosperity spell  end up bringing them love and a Love spell end up bringing them prosperity! You never know what the Universe has in store for you and as long as you keep magick in your life and BELIEVE BELIEVE BELIEVE there is no telling what can be accomplished!

Use magick for you. Like the example of the client who purchased a self-esteem and confidence spell, I have a number of spells that are cast directly on you that will help the quality of your life. Often we get all up in our heads about our relationships when we need to really be focusing on our relationship with ourselves. You are the greatest gift you will ever have in your life - not anyone else! You owe it to yourself to use magick to make your life better.

Ask questions - I love answering them. After you’ve read my FAQ and been through my blog if you have a question that isn’t answered just shoot me off an email and ask me. You can ask me anything though there are some things I will not answer (like how my spells work and what I do during my spells etc).

The more proactive you are as a client, the better your experience will be. You are part of the magick too, always remember that!

In these wild and scary times I have more requests for Protection Spells than ever in my life as a witch. I wanted to give you some ideas on simple things you can do to help yourself have a sense of well-being and to protect yourself and your family from the kind of calamities we have been dealing with in this modern age.

How to protect your finances: this one has always worked really well for me. All you need is a representation of your money  - a bank statement, a coin, dollar bill - whatever you feel pulled toward. It is best if it is paper to fold it very small into a little package and tie it with string or a ribbon. Then you will take a small gladware container (or any plastic container - even a freezer baggie could be used) put the item in it add water and tuck into the back of your freezer. Just leave it there until you feel you don’t need it anymore. It is not a long-term solution but should keep things going for about six months without any enormous changes. This is a spell of sorts - a hoodoo inspired spell but please keep it in the spirit it is intended it is not a solution for serious money issues. This is just a “freeze” where you are (especially helpful if you have stocks etc.). It doesn’t mean that you will not be able to make MORE, you will but you should be frozen for a little while at the same level.

Protection from illness: be smart first and foremost and don’t rely solely on the metaphysical to take care of you. Always wash your hands after being in public and avoid anyone with signs of a contagious condition (as in how many times have you been in the grocery store and had someone walk by you hacking up a lung in your direction?). Keep yourself healthy as possible - don’t eat crap, junk food, fast food, avoid eating too much meat (or better yet become a vegetarian), make sure you take health-giving supplments (like Vitamin C and Vitamin B-12), drink tons of green tea (you get it de-caffienated) and get plenty of sleep. I know that these suggestions may sound even more daunting then casting a spell to many poeple - as in - how can I sleep when I am so stressed out about money and the world and a possible pandemic? To do this my adivce is simple: MEDITATE.

Quieting your mind is the key to well-being - even if you only do it for five minutes each day. There are many superb resources online about meditation - here are a few of my favorites:

http://kadampa.org/en/books

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/qanda06.htm

http://www.meditationcenter.com/

Many of you are quite desperate when you write to me and you all have my compassionate ear - however there are a few things that you might want to consider before you shoot your email off to me.

For instance: telling me how much you have already spent on spells cast by some con-artist will not get you a reduced rate on my spells. You wouldn’t believe how many people start out their emails to me like this!

When you write to me and say that you’ve already spent thousands of dollars with some Internet Scamcaster and don’t have a lot of money, it’s like a slap in the face. I am a legitimate witch. Why you didn’t do your homework and come to me first is not my fault certainly so why would you expect me to give you a discount based on the fact that you went to someone else and gave them a whole pile of money when you could have just come to me and gotten a good value - plus not have been scammed? It is a very negative way to start your communication with me. Unless you think it is pertinent for me to know that you have worked with another spellcaster, I don’t need to know about this to cast a spell for you.

Telling me you’ve been scammed by some psychic spellcaster or a ridiculous site set-up by con-artists in your first communication with me is just plain rude. I am completely sympathetic to you if this has happened to you but consider that I would not go to your place of business and inquire about services by telling you how terrible another service has been. If you feel you must tell me this, tell me later after we have a dialogue going.

Telling me that you don’t have any money isn’t going to get us very far in communication. I know money is tight - right now in this economy especially which is why I currently have several major sales going on my site. But I cannot cast free spells. I don’t have the time or resources to cast spells for people who cannot pay me for my work. When you pay for a spell with me you are paying for the WORK that I do and my years (25 years) of experience as a witch. It would be like going to the Doctor and saying, I know something is wrong with me but I cannot pay you to heal me. There may be some situations where you could get free medical care if you qualify but for most people that is not feasible. At my Doctor’s office you have to actually PAY before he will even see you!

Another important point: you don’t need to EVER email me to check on “how your spell is going”. I am not a psychic. I am a witch. I cast a spell and it is done - then YOU will know it has manifested long before I ever would. Every email I get checking on spellwork just takes time for me to explain that there is nothing I can tell you about your spell.

On that same note, I cannot tell you how my spells work or what I do when casting my spells. Please don’t ask. It is part of being a witch - to be silent.

If you have dark desires it is best that you keep them to yourself. I can certainly cast a spell for you but I don’t want to know what you are going to do with it if it is something dark. Use that energy when you complete the spell on your end and keep it very secret. Secret is best with dark magick - always.

Spells don’t work according to your time-frame, they work according to the the will of the Goddess and the Universe. I have no control over this, so coming to me with time constraints is meaningless. I have no control over when a spell manifests. I can give you a ballpark estimate but that is all. It is different for everyone, since every spell I cast for a person is a unique situation.

I cannot handle multiple ongoing inquiries. If after a few communications back and forth, you still don’t know what you want, please take some time to reflect before getting back to me rather than emailing me a dozen times and not making a decision. I am here to help you make a decision as best I can but consider that you are not my only potential client, that every email you send in inquiry is multiplied by other people sending inquiries. Imagine how quickly it can get out of hand!

Always be honest. You need to tell the truth. Often when a relationship has gone awry there has been infidelity involved on the clients part and they don’t always tell me this initially.  I need to know all the pertinent details BEFORE I cast your spell. I am not going to judge you - just be truthful - it will help me cast the best spell possible.

Please read my  FAQ!

I hope this helps you to understand the best way to communicate with me. My next post will give you tips on how to get the most from our communication.

I have a Yule Bayberry Prosperity spell that I have been using now for well over a decade and it always surprises me every Christmas to see bayberry candles and realize that most people don’t recognize the significance in Colonial America that bayberry had.

I love the smell of bayberry. It is Yule to me, through and through. My mother always burned candles from Williamsburg on Yule and the scent takes me right back. It’s difficult to find “real” bayberry candles anymore but Yankee Candle Company has a nice one although it does contain additional scents.

I’ve been offering my own family Yule spell for five years now to happy clients all over the world and since I only make a few candles (with bayberry essential oil) you might want to consider it.

Information on bayberry candles:

“Bayberry wax was Colonial America’s contribution to candle making history and became an important tradition there. Looking for a more economical alternative to beeswax colonial women discovered that a lovely wax could be obtained by boiling the grayish green berries of the bayberry bush. More economical than beeswax, better smelling and burning than tallow, bayberry became another alternative for candle making in colonial times.

Unfortunately, it takes about 15 lb of bayberries to make 1 lb of Bayberry wax. Collecting all those berries was very time consuming. Also, bayberry wax candles are very brittle and are prone to “blooming” or forming a white powdery residue on the outside of the candle after it’s stored for a few months. So, bayberry wax never caught on as the main source of candle making wax.

Yet, every colonist who could afford to do so would burn at least one Bayberry wax candle during the holiday season. On Christmas Eve the burning of a bayberry wax candle was considered good luck. It brought you health, wealth and prosperity for the coming year. A popular colonial saying was…

Just to let you know that magickrituals.com has been updated with my Christmas (Yule) and New Year’s offerings. These special spells are only offered once per year and have a very special price point!