Spells for Change

1. Witchcraft: A Personalized Path to Change and Empowerment

This is the book I wish I’d had at sixteen, when I started researching my craft—it is devoid of a particular path or religion and fully adaptable to what works best for you and your craft.

Individualized practice. Witchcraft, in its modern form, is not a rigid religion but a flexible practice tailored to the individual. It emphasizes personal experience and experimentation, allowing practitioners to create a customized approach that resonates with their unique needs and beliefs. This adaptability makes it accessible to people from diverse backgrounds and belief systems.

Empowerment through action. Witchcraft empowers individuals to take control of their lives and create change through intention, mindfulness, and spell work. It's not about miracles but about using tools and techniques to focus energy and manifest desired outcomes. This active role in shaping one's reality is a key aspect of modern witchcraft.

Decolonized perspective. The book promotes a decolonized approach to witchcraft, acknowledging its history of appropriation and colonization. It encourages practitioners to be mindful of the origins of the Craft and to use it as a form of activism, addressing social and environmental issues with intention and awareness.

2. Modern Witches: Reclaiming Power and Identity

A common misconception about witchcraft is that it includes worship of the devil, when in reality, without the intertwining with another religion, it’s about reclaiming your power and re ning your identity.

Challenging stereotypes. Modern witches defy the media's demonized portrayals, instead focusing on self-discovery and empowerment. They come from all walks of life, blending ancient practices with contemporary concerns. This reclamation of the term "witch" is a powerful act of self-definition.

Diverse beliefs and practices. Witchcraft encompasses a wide range of beliefs, from Wicca and paganism to atheism and agnosticism. Some witches work with deities, while others focus on the energy of the universe or their higher selves. This diversity reflects the personalized nature of the Craft.

Nature and self-care. Modern witchcraft emphasizes a close connection to nature and the importance of self-care. It's about appreciating the world around you, prioritizing mental health, and nurturing your own well-being. This holistic approach integrates spirituality with everyday life.

3. Spellcraft Foundations: Focus, Intent, and Energy

The most important foundation for your craft is you, the practitioner.

Anatomy of a spell. The foundation of spellcraft consists of focus, intent, and materials. Focus defines the aspect of life the spell targets, intent clarifies the desired goal, and materials enhance the spell's energy. However, the practitioner's energy is the most crucial element.

Energy manipulation. Witchcraft is rooted in the idea that all beings contain energy that can be harnessed and directed with intent. This energy, neither good nor bad, can be used to create specific outcomes. The process involves finding, balancing, and connecting to personal and universal energy.

Ethical considerations. Before casting a spell, it's essential to consider its potential impact on others and whether it aligns with your higher self and the greater good. Spellwork requires a price, whether it's energy, a changed relationship, or a missed opportunity for someone else. Mindfulness and ethical awareness are crucial.

4. Tools of the Trade: Enhancing Intent with Materials

The materials we use in witchcraft contain energy, as all living things do, and their properties stem from their uses and their folklore.

Crystals, herbs, and tools. Witchcraft utilizes various materials, including crystals, herbs, and tools, each with specific metaphysical properties and associations. These materials are not essential but can enhance the intent and energy of a spell. The goal is to match the intent of the materials to the intent of the spell.

Crystals and their properties:

• Clear Quartz: Amplification, healing
• Rose Quartz: Love, compassion
• Amethyst: Stress relief, negativity dissolution
• Citrine: Confidence, abundance

Herbs and their uses:

• Oregano: Joy, satisfaction
• Thyme: Courage, purification
• Mint: Prosperity, protection
• Rosemary: Protection, healing

The witch's altar. The witch's altar is a sacred space for workings, devotion, and charging items. It can be customized to reflect different purposes and paths, from seasonal altars to working altars. The key is to create a space that feels magical and sacred to you.

5. Meditation and Grounding: Connecting with Inner and Outer Energies

Meditation, in basic terms, is a way of focusing energy and bringing awareness to your energy and self until a clear, stable mindset is met.

Meditation for focus and awareness. Meditation is a key aspect of witchcraft, helping practitioners focus energy and connect with themselves and the universe. It's not just about clearing the mind but about bringing awareness to emotions and balancing energy before spellwork.

Active meditation techniques:

• Yoga
• Hiking
• Creative activities (painting, drawing)
• Bathing or showering

Grounding for balance and connection. Grounding is the act of bringing down energy to reconnect with the material realm. It helps maintain balance and prevents getting lost in spirituality. Grounding techniques include eating, walking barefoot, and touching plants or animals.

Grounding exercise:

• Stand with feet hip-width apart
• Breathe deeply, visualizing energy flowing in and out
• Imagine roots extending from feet and fingertips into the ground

6. Shadow Work: Integrating the Darker Aspects of Self

But if it is repressed and isolated from consciousness, it never gets corrected.

Understanding the shadow self. Shadow work involves exploring and integrating the repressed, rejected aspects of the self, including negative emotions and flaws. Ignoring these aspects can lead to judgment, blame, and projection.

Shadow work techniques:

• Journaling: Analyzing intense emotional responses
• Tarot: Reflecting on inner truths and hidden desires
• Meditation: Exploring and accepting difficult emotions

Generational trauma. Shadow work can also address generational trauma and cycles of oppression. By facing our flaws and insecurities, we can break these cycles and create a more positive impact on the world.

Self-acceptance and healing. The goal of shadow work is not to eliminate negative emotions but to understand and accept them. This self-acceptance leads to greater tolerance of others and a more balanced perspective on life.

7. Cleansing and Protection: Maintaining Energetic Hygiene

When you hear a witch say something along the lines of, “You need to cleanse” or “Have you cleansed yourself recently?,” most of the time this translates to, “Something about your vibe is off.”

Cleansing for spiritual upkeep. Cleansing is the act of removing negative or stagnant energy from spaces and oneself. It's like spiritual cleaning, essential for maintaining energetic hygiene. Regular cleansing keeps spaces and energy in top shape.

Cleansing methods:

• Smoke cleansing with herbs like rosemary or sandalwood
• Sound cleansing with bells
• Water cleansing with saltwater sprays
• Deep cleansing of windowsills, altars, and bedsheets

Protection for energetic boundaries. Protection involves creating barriers to keep negative energy and entities out. It's the next step after cleansing, preventing unwanted energies from returning. Protection methods include wards, charms, and boundaries.

Warding techniques:

• Witch bottles
• Charm bags
• Salt rings
• Protective jewelry

8. Self-Love and Prioritization: The Core of a Witch's Power

You cannot heal the world or others without rst healing yourself.

Prioritizing self-care. Self-love and prioritization are essential for a witch's power and effectiveness. It's about putting oneself first, setting boundaries, and nurturing one's well-being. This is not selfish but necessary for maintaining balance and energy.

Setting boundaries. Boundaries protect energy and prevent burnout. It's about saying no to unnecessary commitments and prioritizing activities that support mental and emotional health.

Self-reflection and awareness. Self-love involves understanding one's needs, desires, and limitations. It's about being kind to oneself, challenging self-criticism, and recognizing one's worth.

Self-love checklist:

• What do you enjoy doing for yourself?
• Have you done something you enjoy lately?
• How do you talk to yourself?
• How does your energy interact with others?
• What boundaries do you have in place?

9. Banishing and Binding: Offensive Magick for Protection

Never cast a spell you don’t know how to undo.

Banishing for removal. Banishing is the act of removing specific negative entities or energies from a space or oneself. It's used when cleansing is not enough and a more thorough removal is needed.

Banishing techniques:

• Return to sender spells
• Banishing baths
• Targeted banishing rituals

Binding for prevention. Binding is a way of preventing someone from harming you or others. It's about restricting their ability to cause harm, not necessarily controlling their actions.

Binding considerations:

• Is the person attempting to harm you or someone you love?
• Has this person violated your boundaries?
• Is this a harmful entity?
• Would this situation be better handled in a mundane way?

Domination magick. Domination magick involves exerting one's will over others, often for protection or to achieve a specific outcome. It requires careful consideration of ethical implications and potential consequences.

10. Witchcraft as Activism: Decolonizing the Craft and Healing the World

Witchcraft is activism, and always has been activism.

Historical context. Witchcraft has always been political, with the term "witch" used to demonize marginalized groups and suppress dissent. Religious colonization and anti-witch laws targeted indigenous and pagan communities.

Spiritual activism. Modern witchcraft can be a form of spiritual activism, challenging injustice, righting power dynamics, and protecting the environment. It's about using the Craft to create positive change in the world.

Decolonizing the Craft. Decolonization involves acknowledging and addressing the history of appropriation and colonization within witchcraft. It's about respecting the origins of the Craft and supporting indigenous communities.

Denouncing white supremacy. The occult and pagan community has a responsibility to denounce white supremacy and create inclusive spaces. This involves challenging harmful beliefs and promoting diversity and equity.

11. Environmental Responsibility: Ethical Sourcing and Sustainable Practices

The land we live upon is sacred, and many practitioners put emphasis on working with, honoring, or giving respect to the spirits of the land we inhabit.

Connection to the earth. Many witchcraft practices are earth-based, emphasizing a connection to nature and respect for the environment. This includes working with the elements, honoring land spirits, and using herbs and crystals.

Ethical sourcing. It's essential to be mindful of how and what we take from the earth. This involves researching ethical herb and crystal harvesting and supporting sustainable practices.

Endangered and threatened herbs:

• White sage
• Palo santo
• Frankincense
• Sandalwood
• Arnica
• Black Cohosh
• Echinacea

Sustainable alternatives. Consider using locally sourced herbs, growing your own, or supporting small businesses that prioritize ethical and sustainable practices. This helps protect the environment and ensures that your craft aligns with your values.

Last updated: March 8, 2025