My Very First Spell

Let's take a trip down memory lane...

The year was 1998, and it was the summer before my senior year of high school. I was learning about Wicca and had a few books about that and about spells & witchcraft in general, one of which was the Necronomicon. I remember wanting to do a love spell because I was a naive and lonely teenager, so I chose a sigil out of the Necronomicon (I don't remember which one). I had another book of spells which included love spells, but I remember that I liked the sigil idea better because I didn’t need a bunch of herbs or other stuff to cast it.

I had an altar set up; it wasn’t a very “good” altar but it’s what I had access to while 16-17 and living with my parents :-) A lot of the stuff I had on that altar was kind of random and haphazard. There was a lot of Asian stuff like prayer flags, a chakra wand (which I think was plastic), some feng shui stuff and other Asian symbols and motifs. I was really into Asian (especially Japanese) stuff at the time. I still love and appreciate Asian art but I don’t use it in my everyday life anymore.

The actual casting of the spell was pretty simple. I drew out the sigil, said a chant that I had cobbled together, and burned the paper in a candle flame. Probably shouldn’t have done that indoors...

Now that I’m writing this, it brings me back to December of that same year, when I started dating “Ryan.” Lest I make this post length rival that of War & Peace, I’ll just say that “Ryan” was an abusive asshole. Our relationship started off with him telling me he loved me on our second date, and after 2.5 years of emotional abuse and being on again/off again, he physically abused me. Luckily that was the end of it.

It really makes me wonder if I invited that by doing that spell. Not that the abuse was my fault, and I’m not generally a superstitious person, but the timing of those events really makes me wonder. Because I sure did get “love” but it was toxic and harmful.

But even though that relationship did damage me, I came out of it wiser and better and he...well, he didn’t. He has had a string of domestic assault incidents and legal problems. Last I heard he was homeless on the streets of Seattle.

This all just goes to show that we all start somewhere. I’m sure a lot of experienced witches look back on their early spells and cringe. But that’s OK, because that’s part of the learning process. You’re most likely not going to do it perfectly the first time.

If you’re reading this and nervous about doing your first spell, just know that you’ll do fine. Also read my Tips For Your First Spell to get some ideas, tips and tricks to help you along.

Thanks for reading, and Blessed Be!
<3 Aranea

My Annual Yule Ritual

Hello readers! Yule is coming up and I thought I’d share my personal Yule ritual with you all, in case you are interested or want to incorporate a new tradition into your celebrations.

This is a tradition that I started doing about 10 years ago. One of my best friends used to have an annual Yule/Solstice party. They would get a Yule log for the fireplace, and have small pieces of paper and pens ready. All the partygoers would write down 2 things: 1 - Something you were grateful for in the past year and 2 - Something you are hopeful for in the coming year. These would all be tied to the log with twine and the log would be put in the fire.

I always liked doing this because it’s beneficial for us to reflect on the good things in our lives. So often we get stuck on the bad things that are happening and it can be hard to get out of that downward spiral.

Nowadays that friend lives in an RV and is a traveling hairdresser...so I adapted the ritual for use at home by myself. My husband, although he is not spiritual, enjoys doing this as well. I think he also recognizes the benefits. :-)

We write on the paper same as always...something we are grateful for and something we are hopeful for. Instead of a log in the fire, we just use the flame of a candle to burn the paper. And of course my mini cauldron to let it finish burning in. We usually have a glass of wine to accompany us while we’re doing this.

This is a simple little ritual that can be done solo, in a large group, or anywhere in between. You can do it on its own or fit it into a more complex ritual or celebration. And of course you can add in any details that your heart desires. :-)

<3 Aranea

Knowledge Leads To Inspiration

Image courtesy pixabay.com

I’ve recently been in a bit of a rut…husband and I have been doing a lot of house cleaning and purging and the 2 rooms I do my work in – my altar/meditation room and my craft room/office – are in a constant state of flux and disarray. Things are slowly but surely coming together. (I am in the middle of a craft room overhaul and it’s pretty close to being done.)

I’ve been holding off working on the crafts I want to do because the space has been in such chaos, and I want to get the rearranging and organizing done before I start crafting again. I also really want to dive into writing – I’m not much of a creative writer, but I’ve always loved writing down my thoughts and opinions. That’s one of the reasons I decided to start a blog.

But a combination of working full-time, living with mental illness and chronic pain, and all of the purging of “stuff,” has left me feeling stuck and overwhelmed. Additionally, with new endeavors, I tend to get too deep into “research mode” to the detriment of actually taking action.

In the middle of all of this, I’ve been trying to get myself motivated and inspired to create, so I have a goal to work towards. If I can get my spaces in order, I can create. If I can get myself inspired and excited to create, then that will motivate me to get the cleaning and organizing done.

That was my thought process, anyway…

I was watching a video on writing, and they mentioned inspiration and the importance of finding it. And I thought - maybe I need to soak up some knowledge. History, astronomy, psychology, philosophy, biology, physics, mythology, there is so much to learn! And there is also visual inspiration from art, fashion, nature, design, and decor.

Knowledge leads to inspiration. When you have more stored in your memory bank, you have more information from which to draw upon when you are creating. When you have learned more, experienced more, read more, seen more, done more, thought more, you will be inspired to create more.

It’s also very important that you keep learning throughout your life. It’s healthy for your brain – when you learn something, your brain makes new connections between neurons which is important for neuroplasticity and brain function. If you don’t give your brain some exercise, those unused connections basically die off. Here are a few articles that explain this much better than I can:

Learning rewires the brain

Neuroscientists reveal how the brain can enhance connections

Neuroplasticity: Learning Physically Changes the Brain

How to get inspiration

 

I came up with a few ideas:

• What interests you? Google it. Find relevant blogs, articles, videos, books, forums, groups, etc. I keep a list on my phone of things to look up when I think of something and can’t look it up right then.
• Journaling. The exercise of putting your thoughts on paper will help get your brain going.
• Use sites like Stumbleupon, Pinterest, Instagram, or tumblr to get ideas.
• Get out into nature; go for a walk or to the park. Find nature hikes in your area. You can get inspiration both from your surroundings and the meditative act of walking.
• Watch documentaries about things you are interested in. History, science, culture, etc.
• Talk to people. Join a local or online hobby group or meetup to find like-minded people.
• Look at art. Any kind, style, subject matter.
• Practice your thing. Whatever your chosen medium is for expressing yourself, just do it.
• Look at what other people are making/doing. It’s OK to get inspiration from others, just make sure you are not outright copying or plagiarizing.
• Meditate.
• Listen to music.
• Exercise – good for your body and brain! https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jun/18/how-physical-exercise-makes-your-brain-work-better

So get out there, read some books, watch some documentaries, look at some art and get inspired! I’ll be taking that journey right along with you.

Until next time,

Aranea <3

13 Goals Of A (Secular) Witch

Scott Cunningham’s 13 Goals Of A Witch has been around for quite some time, and I think it’s a good set of guidelines for anyone practicing witchcraft (and for life in general). I wanted to take these ideas a bit deeper and write out what each one means to me, and also reframe them from a secular point of view.

Awesome sunset reflecting off the clouds. (Picture by me)

13 Goals Of A (Secular) Witch

1. Know Yourself: Explore what you are drawn to and what you shy away from. Explore your strengths & weaknesses. Identify how you can be your best self & work towards that. Know your flaws and work to overcome them.
2. Know Your Craft: Experiment! Find the methods, tools, ingredients & symbols that you work with best and perfect your skills. Practice, practice, practice! Be confident in the knowledge that your workings will have the intended effect because you put forth your best effort and intention.
3. Learn: Always be learning. Read, watch, ask, listen, do. Don’t get complacent or stuck in one way of doing things. There is always more to learn. Knowledge is power.
4. Apply Knowledge With Wisdom: Use your skills & knowledge with care, respect, and purpose. Be aware of all possible outcomes & consequences. Do your best to mitigate harmful or unwanted effects. Be circumspect in the application of your spellcraft.
5. Achieve Balance: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and don’t let yourself be overcome by your thoughts & feelings. It’s OK to take a break from witching, or to try a new method or ingredient.
6. Keep Your Words In Good Order: Write and perform your spells with purposeful meaning. Don’t be sloppy, vague, or unfocused. Keep your intent foremost in your mind.
7. Keep Your Thoughts In Good Order: Recognize when your thoughts go into negative patterns. When you notice negativity, have a plan to work through it.
8. Celebrate Life: Practice gratitude. Appreciate nature. Seek pleasures of physical, mental, and spiritual natures. Indulge yourself (with moderation). What’s the point of living life if you don’t allow yourself to enjoy it once in a while?
9. Attune With The Cycles Of The Earth: Watch the sun rise and/or set every day that you are able. Become familiar with the cycle of the moon. Keep track of the change in seasons. Learn how to read stars & constellations.
10. Breathe And Eat Correctly: Practice good posture and breath control. Eat wholesome, nourishing foods in appropriate portions.
11. Exercise The Body: Regular movement is important for physical AND mental health. Even a 15 minute daily walk is beneficial.
12. Meditate: Make a habit of 5-10 minutes at the same time each day. Sit in silence or listen to calming sounds/music and focus on your breathing.
13. Honor Nature/Earth/Universe: Don’t be wasteful. Don’t litter. Be a good steward of the earth. Implement eco-friendly habits in your life wherever you can.

Thanks for reading and Blessed Be!

<3 Aranea

Our Kitties

Snuggle Time!

Cuteness incoming! I wanted to write a bit about our cats. We have 2 girls named Moo and Squatch, and we love having them both; they provide endless companionship and cheap entertainment.

Moo

Moo is done. with. your. shit.

Nicknames: Moo Baby, Moo Thing, Moo Bear, SchMoo, Kitty Girl, Butthole #1

Moo is about 6 years old and we adopted her from the local humane society in March 2014. When we brought her home she acted differently than any other cat I've ever had, and I've had quite a few cats throughout my life. Instead of hiding and being defensive, she walked right out of the carrier, made a circuit of the house, sniffed around a bit, and then came to hang out on the couch with us and made herself right at home. I've never experienced that when bringing home a new cat! We fell in love with her instantly.

One evening in April 2015, hubby and I were hanging out in the living room. Moo was sitting on the windowsill as she likes to do (ground level window in daylight basement). The window was open but it has a screen. Suddenly we hear this crashing sound from the window and Moo had busted through the screen and took off. We immediately started calling for her, trying to lure her with food and looked around the backyard in every hiding place we could think of, but she just wasn't there. We were so perplexed as to why she did that because we didn't see any other cats, dogs or anything.

For 2 weeks we looked. We posted on Facebook, Craigslist, let the Humane Society know, put up flyers, drove and walked around the neighborhood, all with no sign. When we were home we kept that window open in the hopes that she would come back in or we might hear her. 2 weeks later, almost to the HOUR, we heard meowing at the window. We immediately jumped up from what we were doing to investigate and it was our Moo! We let her in and checked her over. She was not hurt, she was a bit thinner and had some dirt and grease on her but was otherwise fine. After a good meal and a bath, she curled up with us and went to sleep. We had been starting to give up hope and we were so incredibly happy that she returned to us.

Moo has been such a joy; she is sweet and friendly and playful. She has her frustrating moments (picky eater, hairballs, trying to dart into the garage), but overall she is a wonderful cat and we are grateful that she is in our lives.

Some of Moo’s traits and quirks:

• She will sit or lay on any plastic bag if it's on the floor or in a chair.
• She has a very soft, sweet meow.
• She loves to sit on the windowsill and will chitter at whatever is out there.
• She is extremely photogenic.
• She will run up to one of us and make a chittering meow as a greeting.
• She likes to sleep on me. I'm a side sleeper and she will get up on my hip and waist area and lay there. I really like it because her warmth, weight, and purring are very comforting and relaxing. If I'm laying down because I'm in pain I always hope she will come lay on me.
• She doesn't give a crap about catnip but she LOVES valerian.
• Her "crazy time" usually involves freaking out on the cat tree or rolling around in the hallway and pulling herself around on the carpet.
• She's always getting her claws stuck in things - carpet, blankets, our clothes, etc. We often have to help her disengage.
• She likes to wait for me while I'm taking a shower, and when I finish and pull the curtain back she will sit on the edge of the tub and trap me (of course this is under the guise of demanding pets).
• She will sit and stare at you. Just stare.
• She likes to play the stalking & hunting peekaboo game.
• She loves anyone that comes to visit and will shamelessly solicit pets from them.
• She likes belly rubs but hates being picked up and held.
• When I'm at my altar, she will come and lay on the floor under or next to it.

Squatch

The Squatchinator...Makin' Squatchies!

Nicknames: Squatchie, Squatchie Thing, The Squatchinator, Dangus, Shitbag (if she’s been really bad), Butthole #2

Next up is Squatch. We got her in September 2015 from a coworker of mine who lives on a farm and had barn cats. Squatch was about 12 weeks old when we brought her home. She is a polydactyl cat and has a crooked tail. I wanted to name her for her huge feet (which I just love) but I didn't like her original name "Thumbsy” and I didn't like the name Bigfoot. But Bigfoot is also known as Sasquatch, and I thought shortening it to Squatch sounded perfect for our silly little kitten.

Squatch also has some other genetic...interestingness. Her fur pattern is a weird mix of tabby, tortoiseshell, and the piebald gene. Now pay attention class, this may be on the quiz later. The piebald gene is basically a melanin distribution gene. It's what creates coat patterns like Moo’s, or tuxedo cats, or black cats with white socks, white cats with a colored tail, etc. So anytime you see a cat with white areas, their piebald gene is activated to some degree.

The tortoiseshell or calico pattern is due to a gene which allows for red/orange coloring to appear alongside the black or brown coloring. This is widely known to mainly happen on female cats, and only very rarely on male cats. This is only partially true. The “male” calico or tortie cats are actually intersexed; they have XXY chromosomes. This also happens in humans and is called Klinefelter syndrome. These cats have male-appearing genitalia but are actually sterile. So they are not truly “male” in the sense that they do not produce sperm, but the Y chromosome makes them appear male and the extra X chromosome allows for the red coloration in their fur.

Though Squatch is female (she is spayed), she does have some very interesting physical characteristics with her giant feet, crooked tail and coat pattern. I'm not sure if it's because barn cat colonies have limited gene pools or what.

Squatch, while having a very different personality to Moo, is still mostly a great cat. She's about 3 years old so she still has a lot of kitten in her and can get rambunctious. She is very sweet, very vocal, and a bit wild. She's a lot of fun to play with and we can get her going crazy with the laser pointer or the caterpillar.

Some of Squatch’s traits and quirks:

• She purrs VERY loudly.
• She spooks easily.
• She likes being picked up and carried around. She will perch on your shoulder.
• She steals small things and hoards them. Whatever she can pick up and carry in her mouth. I'm sure there's a treasure trove under the couch as I'm writing this. She also sometimes puts these small things inside our shoes. Some of the things she's stolen:
• Electric tealight
• Bottle caps
• Pork rinds
• Packing peanuts
• Shoelaces (still in wrapper)
• Lip balm tubes
• Screwdriver cap
• Transformers toy
• Binder clips
• Spools of thread
• Dish scrubber (from upstairs even!)
• Candies in the wrapper
• Kabuki brush
• Glass marbles (the flat back ones)
• Soft foam earplug
• Makeup sponge
• Face powder pouf
• She is scared of strangers and will run and hide under the bed when anyone comes to visit. It takes her a while to warm up to people.
• She doesn't meow so much as trills. Mrrrrrrrow!
• She likes to eat plants. I had to get rid of my plants because she kept destroying them no matter what I tried!
• She will sometimes sleep between my feet at night, or behind my thighs.
• She likes to burrow in blankets, under butts and pillows, etc.
• If we go upstairs and she doesn't follow us, she will yowl and cry…as if we disappeared and are never coming back.
• She looks confused a lot of the time.
• She HATES her paws being touched.
• Anytime I'm in the kitchen she seems to think I'm preparing a freshly killed rabbit just for her. Even if I'm just cleaning.

And there you have it! This was kind of fun to write. Our kitties are such a big part of our life, it just seemed right to dedicate a post to them.

<3 Aranea

Why I practice as a solitary witch

Along the Historic Columbia River Highway in Oregon (picture by me)

Hello, readers! I wanted to write a bit about my practice; specifically, why I practice as a solitary witch. In my admittedly biased opinion, there are many benefits to a solitary practice but I can definitely see some potential drawbacks as well.

I am first and foremost an introvert. I don’t like being around people most of the time and I prefer to just do my own thing at home and hang out with my husband and cats (AKA Small Furry Overlords). Being social is very draining on my energy reserves and I need to recharge after “people-ing.” Doing my craft by myself allows me to really get in touch with myself with fewer distractions and lets my brain more easily sink into the right frame of mind that I need to perform my spellwork.

Another reason I prefer solitary practice is that I can do my witchcraft the way that I want to. My spells and workings are highly customized for my needs and preferences. I either heavily modify existing spells or entirely write my own. Additionally, I think my practice is a bit unusual in that I approach it more from a psychological angle instead of invoking or calling upon supernatural forces. Being solitary also allows me to do my witchcraft on my own schedule – no need for coordinating with others.

My practice is also very eclectic – as an atheistic elemental witch, I might have trouble finding someone else whose practice and beliefs are able to work with mine! However, if I did find other people I wanted to do magick with, I would definitely be open to working with them to come up with a method that everyone would be happy with.

There aren’t a lot of covens in my area and I don’t think there are many pagans either, though there are probably more out there than the ones I know about! As far as local covens, there are 2-3 that I know of and they are very secretive. I live in a fairly religiously and politically conservative area, so I understand the need for secrecy and blending in. I know one of the local covens is Wiccan, so that would not be an option for me. I don’t know about the others.

I don’t know the details of how local covens practice their craft, but from what I have read and seen I get the impression that Wiccan covens can be highly ritualized and very ceremonial and formal. I don’t feel that that type of witchcraft really jives with my personality. I tend to be more comfortable with down-to-earth workings.

I listen to the Hex Rated podcast, and I really like their concept of an “un-coven.” Basically, the four of them get together and discuss/trade ideas, eat food, and maybe do some very informal and on-the-spot magick. One of them (I can’t remember which) even mentioned that much of their group workings are made up as they go along. I admire that spontaneity! I wouldn’t be able to pull that off; I need a plan before I do anything! But I would love to be part of a small, informal witchy discussion/idea sharing group. I do belong to a few online communities, but I think there’s something to be said for in-person interactions as well.

Some Drawbacks

Even though I personally prefer to practice my witchcraft as a solitary witch, I can see the potential for some drawbacks to this style of practice:

• Someone who is more extroverted than me might prefer to work magick with other people.
• Someone new to witchcraft who joins a coven may be more likely to get in-person training and teaching from a more experienced practitioner. This may be very beneficial for those whose learning styles may need a more guided or mentored path.
• Doing magickal workings in a group or in a more formal style might resonate more with some people, so their personal preferences might be more in line with practicing in a coven.
• If doing a spell on a large scale, more people may be needed in order to raise enough energy.

These are all considerations one will have to think about when starting their path or if presented with an opportunity to join a coven. I think either way is valid as long as it works for you!

I’d love to hear your thoughts, feel free to drop me a comment!

Thanks for reading!
Blessed Be,
<3 Aranea

What Is Witchcraft? Who Can Be A Witch?

So what is witchcraft? It’s not what most people might think it is. A person wanting to know more about witchcraft these days would probably just google it, and they might see these definitions:

Merriam-Webster:
witchcraft
noun witch·craft \ˈwich-ˌkraft\
Simple Definition of witchcraft
a : the use of sorcery or magic
b : communication with the devil or with a familiar

Dictionary.com:
witchcraft
noun
1. the art or practices of a witch; sorcery; magic.
2. magical influence; witchery.

These are problematic because…well, they’re either redundant or just wrong. ("Communication with the devil"?! Come on, Merriam-Webster!)

In my opinion, the best and most accurate definition is from Urban Dictionary (read the whole thing but here’s the summary): “Witchcraft is the practise of any Magickal Art from any religious or spiritual system, regardless of alignment or intent.”

OK, so again…what is witchcraft? In my opinion, the simplest and most inclusive definition of witchcraft is manipulating energies to bring about change. Which energies to manipulate, how to manipulate them, what tools to use, and what kind of change is all up to the user. Whether you’re participating in a highly ritualized ceremony with a coven, or meditating alone with a green candle to send healing energy to someone, it’s all witchcraft, and it’s all valid.

Witchcraft can help you:

• Effect the change you want, i.e., to make your sincere intent into reality
• Achieve greater understanding of yourself, others, and the universe
• Decide on a course of action or make a decision
• Train your brain for different states of consciousness

What Witchcraft is Not

Unfortunately, misconceptions still exist and we must do all we can to dispel them. Witchcraft is NOT:

• Devil worship/satanic
• A religion unto itself
• Only for a certain type of person
• Dogmatic

Let’s talk about these a bit. The idea that witches were/are satanic or worship the devil exists thanks to Medieval Christianity. The Church engineered a propaganda campaign in the Middle Ages to try to convert local people from their old Pagan religions. Part of this was putting forth the idea that witches, also known as “wise folk” or “cunning folk” (who had been around for millennia and were actually revered as healers and protectors in their communities) had made deals with the Devil or were consorting with demons. They also turned the Horned God of the local people into a representation of Satan to spread further influence. Modern witches and Pagans overwhelmingly don’t even believe in the Christian devil.

Also, witchcraft in and of itself is NOT a religion. Witchcraft is a practice and can be paired with, or practiced separate from, any religious beliefs. There are witches of all religions; I personally have heard of witches who are Christian, Jewish, Asatru, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Pagan, Unitarian Universalist, pantheist, deist, animist, and secular. I think this misconception comes from the popularity of Wicca, which is the largest subset of the “Pagan” umbrella. Wiccans do practice witchcraft as part of their religion. Also, many of the books and other resources on the subject are Wiccan-based so I think that adds to the perception that witchcraft = Wicca. Some books I’ve read use the terms “Witch” and “Wiccan” interchangeably, which is actually kind of confusing.

Who Can Be A Witch?

Witchcraft can be practiced by anyone. It is not exclusively available to only a certain type of person. All races, all sexes/genders, all sexual orientations, all religions, all nationalities, all socio-economic statuses, all levels of able-ness, all political viewpoints, etc. There are elements of witchcraft as a practice in cultures all over the world. Witchcraft is highly adaptable which is so great because it can be tailored for use by anyone. Which leads me to the next point…

Witchcraft is not dogmatic. There is no one “right” way to do it. Some people may think there is, and that’s fine if that is how they want to practice their craft. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sticking to a certain tradition if that’s what a person prefers. But you have to remember that everyone works differently – some people may work best with clearly defined rules and guidelines. Some people take a little from various areas and some people make it up as they go! When reading/learning about witchcraft or planning a spell, I try to keep my motto in mind: “Do what works best for YOU.”

The thing I love about witchcraft, besides actually doing it, is the variety of practitioners. There are so many ways to practice the craft and they are all valid. That fits in nicely with one of my core beliefs about humanity, which is that everyone has something to learn, and everyone has something to teach.

How do witchcraft and magick work?

There is currently no scientific explanation for how magick works. I think it depends on who you ask. Someone who is Wiccan and worships the Goddess and God is going to have a different answer than a Hellenic Polytheist or a Pantheist. The "how" of magick is relative to your particular paradigm.

Since I am an atheist, I have been approaching the practice of witchcraft from a scientific or psychological angle. Luckily I am not the only one, though secular witches are a minority. Many sources I have read indicate that using magick is a way for us to tap into and communicate with our subconscious. If our subconscious has different wants than our conscious mind, the subconscious will usually win.

Example: You want to lose weight, but you get pleasure and enjoyment out of eating certain foods. Your subconscious is soothed by eating the food and this will often override your conscious desire to eat healthier and lose weight. You need to find a way to change what your subconscious wants (or find a better way to self-soothe) so that it matches your conscious will.

If we are able to access our subconscious, we can sort of re-program it to be aligned with our conscious will. This is done through meditation and visualization.

Brain Waves

We know that our brains produce several different types of waves depending on our activity and mental state. When we are casting a spell, meditating, trancing, or doing a visualization, our brains will produce waves in a certain frequency. The known types of brain waves are alpha, beta, theta, delta, and gamma.

I will summarize these here, and provide some links at the end of the post if you care to dig deeper.

Alpha waves (8–12 Hz)* are produced when one is in an awake but relaxed state. Light meditation, going for a calm walk, reading a good book, or sitting quietly and reflecting over a cup of tea are alpha states. They also occur during REM sleep, which is when most dreaming occurs.

Beta waves (12-38 Hz) occur during normal waking consciousness, and can vary in amplitude depending on the person’s thought patterns or concentration level. Beta waves are active, working, alert. Interacting with people, working at a fast pace, trying to figure out a problem, or performing a delicate or dangerous task all use beta waves.

Theta waves (3-8 Hz) are the “daydream” waves. When you’re doing a task on auto-pilot and your mind is wandering where it will, you’re in theta wave territory. Theta waves would be happening if one were dozing, zoning out, or even going into a trance state. We also produce theta waves when we dream. When you get one of those “light bulb” moments (like a flash of inspiration or understanding), that is a flash of theta waves. Other theories associate theta waves with learning, memory, and spatial awareness.

Delta waves (0.5-3 Hz) are usually found in deep sleep. These are the slowest classified waves and are also more frequent in female mammals. Delta waves are necessary for the body to repair itself on a cellular level during sleep. Disruptions in delta wave activity are associated with many conditions including depression, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, ADHD and some types of seizures.

Gamma waves (38-42 Hz) are the fastest type of wave. They are used in cognition, perception, memory and information processing. There is a strong association between high cognition and gamma waves. It is still not known how/where gamma waves originate as they are actually faster than our neurons.

When doing magick, visualization, or meditation, we are aiming for alpha or theta waves. For a light meditation or quiet reflection, alpha waves are ideal. For trance work or deep visualization, theta waves would be best.

But HOW?

So, OK, if all we’re doing is hacking into our subconscious and intentionally inducing certain brain waves, why do we need all the accoutrements like a wand, cauldron, candles, herbs, etc.? Well, some people may not need all those things, and kudos to them. I imagine it takes a lot of talent, work, and/or skill to be able to do that.

But, when we use implements or materials, we are helping ourselves to make the needed associations because of widely accepted attributes that are given to colors, herbs, crystals, elements, etc. For example, say I want to do a money spell. Well, because the color green is widely associated with money even in the mainstream world, I would use a green candle, write my intention on paper with a green pen, use mint (herb or oil), or charge a piece of malachite or green aventurine. Because green has this association, it will help me focus on money in my visualization when I am doing the spell. (If you would like to look into this further, look up “memory association.”)

This kind of symbolism really works for me – I’ve always been very interested in symbols and associations so this kind of stuff is right up my alley. Some people may get great results simply by meditating on their intent with a colored candle. Some people need a custom-tailored spell with lots of associations. Everyone is different and the important thing to remember is do what works best for YOU.

*The speeds of the different brain waves are taken from this website. I have seen a variety of ranges on other sites so I don’t really know which is the “right” one.

Does magick always work?

No, it doesn’t. That answer might surprise you, but there may be one or more reasons why a spell you did doesn’t work. Some of these reasons might include:

• Your intent was not strong enough. The whole point of magick is making your will into reality. If you’re trying to cast a spell and you can’t muster up the feeling or desire, it’s not going to work. Intent is key.
• If your spell sort of worked, or worked in a way you didn’t expect, you may not have been specific enough, TOO specific, or could have used better wording when casting. If it worked but results are unexpected, it may be for reasons out of your control.
• The spell may have been too complicated. Particularly for newbies to the craft, it’s better to start simple. An overly elaborate spell can actually cause distraction while doing it, therefore weakening your focus.
• You may have been doing the wrong type of magick or using the wrong type of materials. What I mean by this is that certain things will resonate more with you than others. For example, I am much more comfortable (and get better results) using color or elemental magick than using herbs. Try experimenting with different ingredients or methodology.
• You may also want to approach the problem from another angle. Example: I wanted to do a money spell but I wanted to also tackle my spending problem. I rewrote a money spell to be a “free of debt” spell because if I didn’t have the debt, I wouldn’t need more money.
• You may just need more practice. Witchcraft is a practice and a skill and just like any other it needs to be done regularly. If your intent is strong but you just can’t get it right, pick a day/time every week or 2 weeks and re-do the spell once or twice, maybe with a few tweaks. (Some people say you should only do a spell once. I do not hold this opinion.)
• You may be expecting too much out of magick. You can’t just do a spell and sit back and wait for the results; there is still work to be done. Even though I did my “free of debt” spell, I still have to watch and modify my behavior. But doing the spell kind of kickstarted it, and also I noticed that paying down my debt is much more in the front of my mind and I am focusing on that more since I did the spell. As long as I remember that I am re-aligning my subconscious, that helps me keep my expectations realistic.
• You may need to wait longer. Magick isn’t instantaneous. Try to have a realistic expectation of the timing of results.

Further Reading

I realize my view of how magick works is not common; indeed, many of the explanations I’ve read tend to be based in the supernatural. If you’d like to read more about my personal beliefs and worldview, please visit my post My Beliefs And Practices. It may help connect and give more perspective on the information in this post.

Additionally, here are a few other websites which I think explain this very well:

How To Use Magick With A Straight Face

Understanding Magick

How Magick Works: The 90% Beneath the Surface

Why Your Brainwaves are the Key to Your Success

WHAT ARE BRAINWAVES?

Seekers and Guides: Trance and the Brain (Book Excerpt)

I’d love to hear your views and ideas on how magick works. I think it’s important to discuss these things as we can all learn from and teach to each other. Leave a comment if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for reading and Blessed Be!

<3 Aranea