Spells
A spell, at least the way I’ve come to understand it, is just focused intention given shape—like cupping your hands around a small flame so it doesn’t blow out. We use them to name what we’re reaching for, to nudge energy into motion, to remind ourselves that change is possible even when the world feels heavy. And honestly, half the magic is simply choosing to pay attention.
What Makes A Spell Work?
I remember standing barefoot in the damp soil behind the community garden in Portland, a handful of rosemary trembling between my fingers. I whispered a wish and let the wind carry it over the wet cedar fence. That’s when I realized a spell isn’t just words on a page or flickering candlelight—it’s a conversation. Intent gives it direction. Action gives it form. Energy, whether from your body, the weather, or the land, gives it weight. You can speak the most beautiful incantation, but without focus or movement, it’s like scattering seeds in cement. I like to pair a clear intention with some tangible act—lighting, writing, knotting, planting, or stirring—and let the surrounding energy, the hum of the city, the creek nearby, or even your own breath, do the rest. The land beneath your feet has stories to tell, and a spell works best when it becomes part of that dialogue.
How to Use Found Spells
Spells aren’t recipes. What works for me on a rainy winter morning might flop under the July sun. Read, learn, then adapt. Change herbs, tools, timing, or the words. Make it your own.
How to Adapt A Spell
Start by asking: What drew me to this spell? Is it the goal, the imagery, the rhythm of the ritual? I often take notes on what feels meaningful versus what feels performative. Maybe the spell calls for a bay leaf, but your space only has dried sage. Substitute thoughtfully—choose correspondences that resonate with your body, your land, or local seasons. Change language to suit your voice; chant in your own words. Shift timing to match the phases of the moon or your personal energy. Watch, notice, record results, and be gentle. Adaptation isn’t failure—it’s translation. It ensures the spell aligns with your life, your surroundings, and your ethics. You don’t need a book to tell you how magic “should” feel. Start there.
When Spells Don't Work
Sometimes nothing seems to happen. That’s part of the lesson. Check the basics: Were you clear about your intent? Did your actions reflect it? Was your energy scattered or distracted by outside pressures? Maybe the timing or tools weren’t aligned, or the environment—your body, your space, or even the weather—wasn’t in sync. Often, a spell doesn’t fail; it redirects. You may notice subtle changes over days, weeks, or months, or the lesson might be about patience, boundaries, or letting go. Journaling helps; track what you did, what you felt, and what shifted. Reflect on ethics, too—sometimes a spell resists because it would override another’s autonomy, or because the energy isn’t yours to move. Magic works in dialogue, not domination. Take notes, stay grounded, and adjust
Binding & Freezing
Magic for setting boundaries, pausing harm, and creating space to breathe.
Candle Work
Flame-focused spells where wax, color, and intention burn messages into the unseen.
Container Magic
Small worlds built in jars and bags, holding energy, prayers, and plant-made memory.
Craft & Fiber Magic
Stitch by stitch, knot by knot, intention braided into thread, cloth, and patient hands.
Digital Magic
Modern spellwork woven through pixels, playlists, wallpapers, and coded personal sacred space.
Disposal & Release
Letting spells go through soil, water, wind, and honest, biodegradable endings.
Foundational
The quiet roots: breathing steady, feet grounded, circles cast with breath and focus.
Inner Work
Turning inward through vision, breath, and body, where real magic starts and settles.
Mirror & Reflection
Facing your own eyes, shadows, and truth through glass, water, and darkened surfaces.
Natural Elements
Working with leaves, stones, bone, rain, soil, and the weather’s honest moods.
Representational
Giving form to intention through dolls, drawings, photos, and stand-ins for the heart.
Smoke & Fire
Transformation through flame and drifting smoke, carrying prayers upward and ash homeward.
Sound & Music
Rhythm as spellcraft: bells, drums, hums, and breath shaping unseen currents.
Symbolic & Written
Words as bones of spells, letters and marks carrying quiet, focused power.
Trance & Journey Work
Stepping sideways into spirit roads through breath, offering, devotion, and deep listening.
Water & Baths
Cleansing and charging through salt, moonlit water, and the body’s ancient memory.