Most of what we see online as far as spell work and rituals is pretty elaborate. Lots of different components, energies, and work go into them. I think in the beginning this is a good thing. It teaches you about the energies, how to use them, and how to weave them together. The more experienced we get, the less we need all that. Some may still want it or like the aesthetics of it which is fine but it isn’t needed to perform the magic.
In our Crane group I put up a simple way to infuse your morning water and create blessing water that can be used in tons of different spell works. It kicked off a conversation about simplicity in spell work. Many of us have practiced for a long time, and over time what that looks like changes. We know the energy of ivy, have built the bond between ivy and us, and thus can pull that energy without pulling the physical plant.
Now there are some things, like herbal medicine, which require physical components, but when we weave and cast we do so with energy. Nothing is needed but us, that bond with any helper spirits or energies, our intention, the emotion to fuel it, and the voice to create the vibration on the Web for it. To increase its power and focus you can use an added carrier such as a candle or sigil.
Skills
Along with practicing representational magic, you are building certain skills. You are learning to tap into your own gifts and soul senses (physic senses). You are retraining your brain to pay attention and to process those senses and the Knowing that comes from soul and our connections.
We learn what it means to build and maintain bonds with the unseen – spirits, nature spirits, elements, Deities, and so forth. Finding the ones that work well with us and ones that perhaps don’t vibe right for us. We deconstruct and build our own foundations to work and live from through this process.
Life Magic
Once you have done the upfront work, learned how to connect and weave energies from a representational state, you can use it in its purely spirit/ energetic state. It goes from large and flashy to simplistic and always accessible. It becomes what I like to call Life Magic. Some might say it is a form of Folk Magic, but still many tools can be applied to folk magic.
Maybe that is one reason that it is hard to show advanced practices – because to an outsider, it doesn’t look like much, because we do not need much anymore. Even in public rituals and spells, the advanced caster incorporates all the physical aspects so the audience can connect and move into that head-space, but rarely needs it for themselves if practicing alone.
This isn’t just magic for advanced practitioners though – I just think having a strong understanding and experience with the energies can be extremely helpful. Let’s be honest though, most of our ancestors probably didn’t do a lot of elaborate spells with lots of various components – they spoke their magic. They cursed and healed through words and energy. There are many ways to learn these skills, not just representational magic. It is more about which way works for you and gives real results, because at the end of the day the result is what matters.
Candle Magic
So in the spirit of sharing – I thought I would share this video I made on simplistic candle spells and some thoughts about simplifying magic. Whether your are an advanced practitioner or a very beginner practitioner – this is for you:
On a side note:
Just letting everyone know I am running an early bird special, now through Aug 20th, on the Death Emissary/ Death Doula course – trying to help it be more accessible for people in these tight times.
The Death’s Emissary course is a two part Course that takes you through your own personal journey into the realm of Spirits and prepares you to serve as a Death Emissary / Death Doula in your community.
Part 1, the Spirit Walker Course: Developing understandings of the Spirit realms and building the personal skills to interact with and navigate them. It is the personal journey and development of a Spirit Worker.
Part 2, the Professional Death Doula: Learning and developing the skills of a professional Death Doula. To walk with the dying, the grieving, and the dead. Furthering the work of transformative healing of the Soul, and applying it outwards into our community.
Death Emissary Courses combine lecture and demonstrative work, along with live post discussions, practical application, opportunity for one-on-one time with the instructor when you need it, and space for participants to connect to each other- sharing experiences – and building community together.
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