The Components of Magick
A spell can technically be cast with three things: a goal, stemming from a need or desire; focus and visualization; and a gathering and release of energy toward that goal. However, just as the use of props facilitates drama and theater, spellcasting benefits from the addition of energy-rich ingredients to enhance the effects and results. These ingredients are also called components, and they possess specific corresponding energies that you can use to help achieve your goal. The system of correspondences is a classification of objects, entities, and energies, which affect one another or evoke certain outcomes.
The system of correspondences arises from a sympathetic association: by using components or ingredients that demonstrate a certain kind of energy, you can attract more of the same energy, thus illustrating the “like attracts like” principle.
Conversely, by using components possessing one kind of energy, you can push away the antithetical energy, like using a magnet to repel another magnet with the same polarity, for example. (For more examinations of magical methods. A correspondence is an identification of what an object’s energy represents: for example, a correspondence for sandalwood is purification. Thus, if you were creating an incense to help power a purification spell, you might choose to use sandalwood in it. Using sandalwood enables you to draw on the energy of the wood to help power your spell; since sandalwood is associated with purification, it also employs the sympathetic magic principle and draws your goal closer to you.
Components are the elements you use in the act of spellcasting to help gather energies associated with your goal. Looking through other spellbooks, you’ve likely noticed spells calling for a variety of components such as herbs, flowers, stones, incense, oils, candles, dolls (also called poppets), cords, and other objects. Some spells have elaborate lists of ingredients. However, a perfectly good, powerful spell can be performed with a comparatively short list of components. More components are not necessarily better. Remember, it’s how you use the energy of your correspondences that increases the power of your spellcasting, not how many correspondences and associated energies you can plug into it. It’s definitely an issue of quality over quantity.
Power Spellcraft For Life: The Art Of Crafting And Casting For Positive Change
Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Witches Of The Craft® 