The Common Sense Spell Book

By Debbie Dawson

In The Common Sense Spell Book, you will learn how to create magic. Real spells, keyed to you and filled with your own symbolism that work with your own strengths. It begins with what you need to know and consider before you start, what you need to do to create and cast a spell and what should be done to clean up afterwards.
Delving thoroughly into both the theory and mechanics of folk magic, The Common Sense Spell Book contains and explains all you need to know to be able to confidently craft successful spells and perform real magic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris NZ
• Release date: Nov 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493130603

Debbie Dawson

Debbie Dawson has been a Witch for many years. Inquisitive and contrary, she has spent most of those years questioning and challenging the accepted forms. She has been an active part of the New Zealand Pagan and Witchcraft community, running coffee meets, workshops and festivals. With her best friend, Debbie runs a small Pagan Supplies business that focuses on providing community and opportunities for beginners and those who also like to question and challenge the norms. Debbie lives on a small farm in North Canterbury New Zealand with her husband, children and far too many animals.

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Copyright © 2013 by Debbie Dawson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 11/22/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

0-800-443-678

www.xlibris.co.nz

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Contents

Dear Reader,

Part One

Creating Spells

Preface   What is a Spell?

Chapter One   Before You Begin

Witchcraft

Magic

Ethics

Belief, Faith and Doubt

Chapter Two   Supernatural Entities

Chapter Three   Should You Cast a Spell?

The Four Powers of the Magus

Be Careful What You Wish For Because You Just Might Get It.

Intent is Everything

What are your strengths?

Spell Structure

Chapter Four   Spell Methods

Amulets and Talismans

Banishing Spells

Binding and Cursing

Candle Spells

Charm Bags or Mojos

Cleansing and Purification

Cord Magic

Creativity

Crystal or Gem Magic

Elemental Spells

Healing Magic

Herbal Spells And Powders

Petition Magic

Sigils

Sympathetic Magic

Tarot Spells

Combinations

Chapter Five   Spell Timing

Moon Phase

Moon Sign and Void of Course

Days of the Week

Further Astrology

Seasons and Sabbats

When None of the Timing is Right

Chapter Six   Components

Altars

Anointing Oils

Book of Shadows, Book of Mirrors and Magical Journals

Casting a Circle

Herbs and their Associations

Incense

Meditation, Visualisation and Pathworking

Offerings and Sacrifice

Symbolism

Tools and Paraphernalia

Chapter Seven   Energy

Raising Energy

Directing Energy

Releasing Energy

Chapter Eight   Finishing a Spell

Grounding and Centring

Part Two

Reference Material

Chapter Nine   Planetary Correspondences

Planetary Hours

Chapter Ten   Elements and Elemental Correspondences

Chapter Eleven   Colour Correspondences

Chapter Twelve   Devotional Work

Afterword

Glossary

Bibliography and Recommended Reading

Acknowledgements

Dear Reader,

This book was inspired by an evening online. I found another unscrupulous witch selling all sorts of spells. Some of her spells shouldn’t be spells; they should simply be visualisation exercises. Some of the write-ups in her ‘spellbook’ were fantasy based delusions and some were downright dangerous to a potential customer. Sadly though, people were paying her money to do these things that they could have been doing for themselves.

Those of you who know me will know that I don’t like books of spells. I dislike it intensely when some seeker comes along asking for a spell. Don’t panic, I haven’t sold out. I still believe that each individual creates the perfect spell for them and them alone. You will not find spells listed like recipes in this book. You will find some simple common sense ideas and guidelines for creating your own spells. Spells that are keyed to you, filled with your own symbolism, meaning, strengths and abilities. You will find discussion on the components of spell-working, some ethics and cautionary tales.

I have written this book for those who are teaching themselves. Those who either haven’t found a tradition to learn from or want some outside ideas. When you are part of a tradition, you learn how to do things their way first. I believe this is important. I don’t agree with borrowing willy nilly from all sorts of traditions without a decent understanding of everything else that is a part of that tradition. There are reasons for what they do and sometimes those reasons aren’t clear when you’re only getting a superficial glance at it.

I don’t expect anyone to treat my book as the ultimate guide or as complete and entire wisdom that must be followed. In fact, I’d be deeply disappointed if you did. Read it all and question everything.

Bear in mind that I’m a great believer in figuring things out for yourself. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, they are what most of us learn best from. You may find some of my anecdotes useful but if you choose to follow something I’ve done, make it your own. I can’t count the number of times a seeker has come to me all confused. I’ve done everything the book said, absolutely perfectly, but it didn’t work. If it hasn’t come from the heart, from deep within you, you may as well recite Shakespeare for all the good it will do you. It must come from you—you are the magic.

Blessings

Debbie

Part One

Creating Spells

PartOnePic.jpg

Preface

What is a Spell?

A spell is a working using magic to achieve a desired result. It can take many forms depending on your own abilities and strengths. You may already know a couple of simple spells learned as rhymes in childhood—Rain Rain Go Away and Star light, Star bright. A spell may be simple or complex. It may be a petition or prayer, where you ask for Divine Intervention or help to achieve your wish, or words inscribed on a candle. It may be something you can do at any time or one that specifically requires a full moon in Aries on a Tuesday. Many things can go in to building and creating a magical working, it’s up to you.

With an abundance of spell books available in specialist and mainstream bookstores, websites that contain ready-made spells like recipes or even spell-a-day mailing lists that fill your email inbox with their ‘wisdom’ one could ask the question, why would you want to create your own?

Here are a few questions to ponder. What if you do something different from the book? Miss out a herb? Can’t afford to buy red candles for another 2 weeks? Need to do it now but the book says it must be waxing moon in Aquarius and that doesn’t happen for 3 months?

The problem with these books is that they can only show what has worked for that author. They will have their reasons, some of them unconscious, for the components they have included in the spell. That doesn’t mean that those reasons (or components) will mean anything to you or make any difference to your own working. They can be useful as a place of inspiration but results rarely occur as planned when following another’s spell. I’m not saying don’t buy the books. In fact, I encourage you to read as much as you can. What I am saying is that spell books and other magic related books should be used as reference material rather than absolute gospel that must be followed. That includes this book.

Most (but not all) of the components in a spell are props to focus your mind and will. They have some associations of their own but little actual power. These props do one of two things. They either put you in the right mindset to achieve your goal or provide a focus for the magic; something for it to flow into like a lightning rod or an anchor that keeps a ship in one place. A physical item that is the magnet for the magic.

In the following chapters, I’m going to go into all of the pieces and considerations needed to create your own spells. It may sound like a lot of work, but if you want something sufficiently to resort to spell-working then you should be prepared and willing to put in the work. But first there are a few concepts that need to be looked at.

Chapter One

Before You Begin

Before we get into all the theory and mechanics of crafting spells, I think we should have a few clear explanations of the words I use and some of the concepts that I’ll be delving into. Many of the words and concepts have been defined repeatedly and in very different fashions to the point where many a beginner feels as if their head may explode from the sheer weight of contradictory information.

I don’t intend to set myself up as the person who gives you the ‘right and true’ definitions but these are mine and this is what I’ll use throughout this little book. I have come to these definitions after many years in the Pagan and Witchcraft communities and through a great deal of research so they’re also not something I’ve made up on the spot.

Witchcraft

Witchcraft is the practise of folk magic. It is not a religion however the practice of witchcraft can contain religion depending on the Witch. It is also not the province of any one religion; witches come from all faiths and belief systems and there are no core beliefs or practices that must be followed if you are a Witch. Witchcraft is neither black nor white—not good or evil. It is a tool that can be used to achieve an end. What kind of end that is, well, that’s up to the Witch.

Etymologically the use of the word witchcraft used in a positive manner is a new thing. Before Gerald Gardner and later Starhawk ‘reclaimed’ the word, it meant evil and nasty things. While you may call yourself a Witch it is not religious discrimination or offensive in any way for others to portray witches as ugly old hags at Halloween, in the dictionary or in fairy tales. Nor is Hollywood perpetuating a lie when they make movies of child-hating witches. It’s the correct traditional usage of the word. If you choose to use the words witch or witchcraft you do not automatically gain the right to redefine it for the rest of the world or for history.

In the same vein you have no right to tell people what a ‘real witch’ does or what a ‘real witch’ believes. These things are individual. Witchcraft is a highly personal undertaking and as such how one witch practises will vary from another. Don’t turn into one of those know-it-alls who thinks that their definition is the only right one. There is no one true way or right way in witchcraft—there is only what is right for you.

I’ve recently been told that there is a Witches Creed that all witches adhere to. This is an absolute fabrication. There is a poem called the Witches’ Creed, but it is up to the individual witch to decide if this is what they will subscribe to. Nothing can be called a blanket rule for all witches. This includes the ‘law of three’, ‘harm none’ and any other similar edict.

I realise that this sounds like a bit of a lecture and probably quite negative on the whole. It’s something that many of us have struggled with for years. Yes, there is a belief that the words ‘Wicca’ and ‘Witch’ are interchangeable and many do use them in that manner. But there are a lot of witches who are not Wiccan and frequently have to explain that to people. All Wiccans may be witches, but not all witches are Wiccan. Not all Pagans are Wiccan either, there are many paths within Paganism—Wicca is only one of them.

Spell crafting is a component of Witchcraft. If a Witch seeks to bring about their desires they may craft and perform a spell. Witchcraft brings together all the components of the spell and adds the touch of magic to bring the Witch’s desires to life.

Magic

British occultist Aleister Crowley defined magic the best way I’ve ever heard. Magic is the art and science of creating change in accordance with will. That’s it. There is no special ‘gift’ required to be able to do magic. No incantations in different languages needed. No magic words unless you work to make those words triggers for you. There is no need for rhyme or flowery language or contracts with any supernatural entity, unless you wish it.

There are forms of Magic that do require some of those things—known as High Magic or Ceremonial Magic and Low Magic. These forms work, in part, on dealing with other entities (angels, demons and constructed thoughtforms), learning formulas, Gematria and building upon the structures and forms of every magician who has worked on it before. Picture the magic like a road. At first a dirt walking track was created but through time and building on the work of others it has become a sealed road with crossings, road rules and traffic lights. This is how those forms of magic have grown and evolved over time. However to use these forms takes a lot of training and work and we won’t be going into them here.

What we will be looking at is Folk Magic, often mistaken as Low Magic. There are some who believe that there are also rules and structures that you need to know within folk magic too. For the most