A spell is designed to initiate change on some level by shifting the balance of energy within a situation. The shift does simply occur in response to your wish for a change: there are certain stages through which you must pass. Let’s take a look at them.

The Basic Steps:

While every spell is different, most steps can be classified somewhere in the following:

1. Establish your need or desire. There’s no point in doing a spell for the sake of doing a spell. That’s simply a waste of time and energy.
2. Compose your spell. Take the time to think about your desired outcome, and what energies you wish to harness to help you achieve this outcome.
3. Shift consciousness. In order to maximize your spellwork, you should ideally be in a spellcasting frame of mind. Author Lilith McLelland calls this being in “magick mode.” Our everyday, scattered, and busy brains aren’t very efficient at gathering energies, including them into a sleek, powerful spell, and releasing them toward a goal. Shifting consciousness allows you to attain a different state of mind, filtering out the surface noise and distractions in order to concentrate and focus on what you’re doing.
4. Raise energy and release it toward your goal. This is the moment where spellcrafting becomes spellcasting. Spells are powered by the energies held by the components or ingredient you choose to use and by your own personal energy as well.
5. Manifestation. Ideally, the final step is the achievement of your goal.