There are numerous books, articles and web sites devoted to the creation and use of magickal workings and I’m not about to add to that plethora. However, I do have concerns that there’s a popular misconception that the best spells workings incorporate words that rhyme, tools that are ‘special’, strange herb concoctions and all manner of odds and ends. How many of us have seen the marketing that encourages us to write our spells out with dragons blood ink, or to use expensive crystals in conjunction with exotic talismans or poppets.

The simple truth is that the success of ethical spell work is largely dependent on the intent, and more precisely the intensity of that intent, rather than on the tools and materials used to create the outcome. Certainly, correctly corresponding materials can enhance, can focus or magnify the outcome, of that there’s no doubt. These tools and apparatus can also enable the intent or intensity of the practitioner to become more closely focused and engaged with the outcome. But tools, herbs, special ‘stuff’, rhyming words and other related paraphernalia don’t alone make for good magickal workings. It’s about the desired outcome and how strongly that desire is felt.

Alistair Crowley described magick as the manipulation of energies to bring about a desired result and so magick is about modifying or focusing the naturally occurring energies around and within us to bring about the result we intend. In other words, if we line all the arrows up so that they all go in the same direction, we’ll actually have a straight path to follow and we can see the goal before we start. Energies naturally flow all around and within us and magick is simply aligning those energy forces into something less random and more precisely aimed at an expected result. Special inks, herbs, expensive tools, secret talismans and so forth might help us line those energy arrows up into a more precise line but without our own intent and deep desire, the energy line is just that, an energy line. It won’t have any purpose or any depth of commitment. When you’re absolutely committed to the outcome, when you can very clearly, precisely and accurately define exactly what you want, then your magick has a much stronger chance of success.

So define your desire first, wish it, want it, need it, see it, own it. When you can honestly be wholeheartedly committed to your desire, when you can taste it, feel it, know it’s yours, then your magick can be done without any tools and ‘stuff’ at all. Your desire alone is the magick when it’s strong enough.

Smiles and blessings, Amethyst