Well, it’s October, and so I have the spooky, the creepy…well and as I love to write about witches, the magical on the brain! I do a lot of research into pagan, Wiccan and paranormal magick, always on the lookout for some new spell or ritual to spark my imagination and a new story. So with All Hallow’s Eve just a few nights away, I give you The 13 Things You May Need To Do A Magick Spell.
1)Quiet space. You need to be able to clear your mind, center yourself, feel the energy of the earth and focus on what your intention is for the spell.
2)An alter. Now this can be just about anything you deem so. You can just have a special spot cleared out outside, under a tree or something. Or, an alter can be more elaborate, a table of some sort that you use to place the things you need for your spells. Many witches decorate their alters for the seasons as well.
3)Alter cloth. Sometimes used for color correspondences, say orange for general success or justice or black for binding and protection..
4)Candles. Candles are used not only to represent the element of fire, but since they come in many colors they also have color correspondences like the alter cloth. Sometimes witches cut words representing the intention of their spell into the candles, like the word protection, and the candle has to burn all the way down for the spell to be complete.
5)Crystals and stones. Just like the candles, each represent different things. Some witches use rune stones for divination on All Hallow’s Eve.
6)Oils or Incense. These would again each have their significance. An autumn incense can be made with frankincense, myrrh, rosemary, cedar and juniper.
7)Herbs. Again these have their own meanings, and are sometimes mixed, several at a time, into a small cauldron on the alter. Rosemary which stands for remembrance, is a great one for when witches are trying to contact ancestors who have passed away. Others used on Samhain are allspice, mugwort and and sage.
8)Flowers and Foods. Flowers and foods are the same way, having meaning, each of these things all accentuating the main intention of the spell. Chrysanthemums are used to ward off ghosts. Some foods used in Samhain spells are hazelnuts, apples (for love divination *winks*) and hemp seeds.
9)Cauldron. A three legged pot used to help transfer thoughts to magick. It can serve many purposes, to mix ingredients like herbal remedies for a spell, to burn papers with intentions written on them during a spell, or to be a ritual vessel holding water and salt. They really come in all sizes too depending upon what they are being used for.
10)A Wand. This is another magical tool. It symbolizes masculine energy. There are almost as many different types of wands as there are practitioners. Generally they are made of wood, but there are also ones made of metal and crystals too.
11)Athame. An athame is a double-edged knife that is used to cast a circle and direct energy during spells. It's NOT used for cutting. Stands for the element of fire or air, depending on the tradition.
12)Pentagram. The five pointed star with a circle around it is a symbol of protection. It represents the earth element and the human body. Sometimes it is just drawn onto parchment paper.
13)Most importantly though, a spell must have a very clear and very specific intention. The more the witch can see what he or she wants in their mind, the better chance the spell has of working.
And, speaking of spells and rituals, I have a story involving them which just released this month.
Working Out The Kinks, a novella with Rebel Ink Press
Blurb:
Making an appointment with his ex-girlfriend under a fake name, David buys himself one hour to get her attention. Hoping to apologize and remind her of their time together, he intends to do whatever he has to in order to make Meredith, a practicing Wiccan, forgive him for being idiot enough to have listened to those around him and choosing his political aspirations over love.
Meredith is resistant to let David anywhere near her heart again. Desperate, David plays all his trump cards and suggests a sexual magick ritual which incorporates the BDSM lifestyle he and Meredith used to experiment with. The methods he uses may be unconventional, like sensory deprivation and sensation play intended to build trust and to achieve altered states of consciousness. But David is more than willing to do whatever it takes if he can just get Meredith to agree.
Genres: Pagan, Contemorary, Erotic Romance
Adult Content Warnings: Explicit Graphic Language and Sex Magic with mild BDSM Elements
Click to Purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Reviews:
“Meredith and Davids journey was very intense and well very very HOT! You can feel their emotions in this story and you want things to work out.The author, Kiki really knows how to pull at your emotions when she is writing. I felt David’s pain and Meredith’s anguish with their unique situation.” ~ Back of the Book Reviews
“Kiki has such a way of extracting deep feelings from her readers. Their (David and Meredith) journey of rediscovery was HOT, as well as tender and full of emotions. I enjoyed how Kiki captured the Wiccan elements and told them with much attention to detail…I love that after reading a story by Kiki I feel like, not only have I read a great story but I have learned something new about myself and a greater appreciation for all things Wiccan. On a scale from 1-10 I give Working Out The Kinks a 10. Ever since I read Torn Asunder, I knew miss Howell would be an author I would want to read over and over again. If you are looking for a great short story with actual feelings you can relate to and a love to hold on to and never let go of than this story is one you need to pick up on October 17,2011.” ~Raquel at Skyla11377
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