There was a spectacular Full Moon this past week and I had the opportunity to get outside and do the spells on the patio over the fire pit. I love to do this when I can (usually every Full Moon) and this night was warm but not too warm for a fire. I had the torches lit too which really amps up the ambiance. Then it was just me, the elements and the Goddess going to work.

I am often asked how I begin my spellcasting. I won’t give away too much here but I can let you know the general gist of what I do.

I don’t call the quarters anymore - I haven’t done that in years except for sabbats. I begin with meditation and getting into the Alpha state by grounding and centering myself. Everything that I do, including casting my circle of projection is energetic, I don’t walk the circle or use an athame or wand or other ritual tools. I have these items of course ; many of them on various altars throughout the house, but my spellcasting is all about energetic connection and focused will and intention. Everything else is symbolic.

That is not to say that I do not use correspondences in my spellcasting (and crafting). I do, including herbs, oils, curios, sigils, veves (in Voodoo), mojos and root bags (Hoodoo) and many other magickal items. I like the connection between the spirit and the mundane for most spells I cast.

If you’ve ever had me cast a spell for you, you have most likely gotten an envelope that smells great, that contains the results of your spell. You may have also gotten a mojo bag or root bag as results, or even a talisman or amulet. Sometimes the items I use in the spell are consumed in the working (Beacon of Love uses a 7 day candle that is completely consumed for instance) but I try to have something to send to my clients so they can have a connection with it and at the very least see what I’ve been up to on their behalf.

Unfortunately I am limited to not using any plant matter in spells for International clients, so I have had to revamp several spells to make the results I send comply with these regulations. I’d rather be able to send herbs and spell powders though, since I do use them so often.

Once my circle is cast and I have called in my protectors ( I won’t tell you how I do that, sorry); I commence with the casting.

Most of the time I have multiples of the same spell; but each has to be handled individually, since no two circumstances are ever the same. The process can be intense and exhausting (depending upon the spells ) and some spells like Magnetic Attraction take five days total, so  imagine all these individual workings set up on my altar to be tended to each and every day. I have to put spell workings on all the altars. Some time I will take a photo so you can see what I mean.

The Beacon of Love is my favorite to get multiples of because each one requires a 7 day candle that is kept lit for exactly that - 7 days. The only safe place to keep them when I am out of the house is in the walk-in shower! Once a couple of years ago I ran a special and had 9 clients participate - the floor of the shower was ablaze with candlelight and the smell from the infused oils and herbs was intoxicating. Even the postal delivery person was intrigued and asked why the house smelled so great!

There have been many times that I have cast until the sunrise and this is a truly remarkable time. I don’t realize how much time has passed as I have been “between the worlds” but then the sky takes on this smoky grey tinge and I watch the color begin to seep back into the world. When I see the sun glinting between the hemlock trees in the backyard I know it’s time to come back to the mundane.

I’m always a bit sad to leave that circle of protection between the worlds. It is cocoon-like and safe. Time does not exist there. In Buddhism, the space between the worlds is what we call emptiness.

I’d like to share a few lines from the “Heart Sutra” with you about that:

“In the Void There Are No Forms,
No Feelings, Perceptions, Volitions or Consciousness.”
“No Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Body or Mind;
No Form, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch or Mind Object;
No Realm of the Eye,
Until We Come to No realm of Consciousness.”
“No ignorance and Also No Ending of Ignorance,
Until We Come to No Old Age and Death and
No Ending of Old Age and Death.”
“Also, There is No Truth of Suffering,
Of the Cause of Suffering,
Of the Cessation of Suffering, Nor of the Path.”
“There is No Wisdom, and There is No Attainment Whatsoever.”
“Because There is Nothing to Be Attained,
The Bodhisattva Relying On Prajna Paramita Has
No Obstruction in His Mind.”
“Because There is No Obstruction, He Has no Fear,”
“And He passes Far Beyond Confused Imagination.”
“And Reaches Ultimate Nirvana.”

I get this question a lot - “How does the spell work?” Usually I answer - “It just does.”

The truth is I cannot know how because every single situation is different. Every client who comes to me may have an issue that fits in the general nature of one of my spells but their specific situation is unique; the conditions, the players, the obstacles - all of it. Thus when I am asked about percentages or rates of success I can’t really give them. What works for one may not work for another. Even if the situation is similar, the conditions or players or obstacles may not be. Also occasionally I don’t get the entire truth. I may get an edited version; important elements may be left out. There may be a selection of spells at my site that I cast over and over again for many clients but the truth is there is only ONE SPELL and that is the one that I cast for YOU and that spell will be as unique as you are.

You must believe the spell will work. It would astound you how many people come to me with a half-hearted doubting mind and expect their spell to delivers miracles by the pound. If you don’t believe in spells, witchcraft, energy, etc. why would you even consider purchasing a spell? It’s not as if the spell is operating under its own power (it is not; it operates under my power, your power and the power of the Universe) and by some lucky chance even though you don’t believe in all this hoo-ha it will end up working for you. If you think that I have some kind of supernatural powers you are wrong - my abilities are ALL NATURAL. Everything I do is tied to the Law of Nature, nothing supernatural about it. I am a seasoned witch, like any artisan who knows their métier. This is real world witchcraft; not Hollywood witchery. The work I do is not out of the big spellbook on “Charmed”.

Know what you want. Sometimes you may think you know what you want and yet when it comes right down to it, it may not be at all what you thought it was. Perhaps you want someone to love you. Seems simple enough. Yet, what if you aren’t ready to love back? What if you are really more focused on your career or your children or just enjoying being on your own? What if you don’t know this? What if you you are just going through the motions thinking that the old boyfriend you dumped three years ago is really who you love simply because no one else has shown up or because you are tired of not having a date on major holidays? Do you know balls to bones that this is what you want?

Some clients come to me and know what they want but they want it NOW! TOMORROW! YESTERDAY! They give me time constraints and say if you can’t make this happen in 2 weeks then forget it. Two weeks. I’ll cast a spell that will make him leave his wife and kids and come to you, move in with you and love only you. In two weeks. When being with him for the past five years as his mistress has not been enough of a catalyst to get him where you want him! This my dears would be more than a little unrealistic.

Real spells take time to manifest. Especially spells that involve other players and obstacles.

Know your obstacles. There will be obstacles. There always are. If there weren’t ; everything would be just ducky and you wouldn’t be taking your problems to a witch. A spell without obstacles is like Disney World without that freaking mouse.

Magick likes the direct route. It doesn’t like obstacles. It doesn’t want to have to get around or over anything. It likes to go to the source, weave its spell and fold back into the eternal energy pool of the Universe. That’s why if you come to me unaware of the obstacles to your desires; you can find yourself quite woebegone.

For instance if you came to me with the situation that you want to marry your ex-girlfriend who is currently married to a man that she is not in love with but is in love with you but is considering staying with her husband because of the kids and to top it all you are married with children too - then you my dear have a hefty sack o’ sorry obstacles! It’s not that it cannot be manifested (where there is focused will and intention there is a way!), rather that you must know and understand each specific obstacle and how it will come to play in your particular situation. A working like this would need several powerful spells. You would not be able to just have one spell cast and expect it to be the WD-40 of spell casting and have it fix everything.

Tell the truth. If you lie; the spell will die. I’ve had clients come to me and tell me a long story but leave out the fact that the girlfriend they are trying to get to return to them has a restraining order against them. Now this is an extreme case but it has happened. You certainly don’t have to tell me things that are not pertinent to the spell - you know, I don’t really care if you stole a stapler from work. However when it comes to something that is extremely important to the spell you are having me cast (as in casting a love spell on a married man that you do not tell me is married ) consider me as discreet as a shrink.

Don’t obsess. This is one that I should have made into a flashing button that my clients can wear. I recognize that when it comes to love there is a very fine line. In fact that line is actually intertwined. Yet it does no good for the working. It doesn’t help the spell.

Clients who obsess usually send me several emails a day or at least several per week. Some will hound me unto the end of the Earth, never letting me take a single day off or considering that I too have a life with errands that must be run, family to see, dinner to have, time to meditate or categorize my new herbs.

It is all obsession. They will send me long-winded emails and ask me questions like I am a psychic and not a witch. It is not healthy. Obsessing doesn’t get you what you desire. Obsession usually means you are going after the wrong thing or wrong person. Because if it was right - you would not be obsessing.

When you have a spell cast take my advice - once the spell is complete - LET IT GO. The rest is up to the Universe. Keep your focused will and intention but that is not obsession. That is what you did when you had the working done in the first place. Letting go once the spell is complete allows it to manifest unhindered by you. If you obsess, you will sabotage yourself.

In the end how it works is very much dependent upon you. Take this advice to heart. Then watch the magick happen.