Spellcasting as a Job--pt. 1: Setting Up Your Business

Author: Quill / Labels: ,

Being a professional spellcaster is a tricky job.  That is why I so rarely do it these days.  I bring magic to the public in many ways, but this is one I reserve for special occasions only.  But that's not to say it cannot be done, only that it must be done with great understanding and care.  In three parts I plan to outline how to give your spellcasting business that kind of forethought, effort, and edge to be a success.


The Concerns Over Professional Spellcasting
We need to begin with a somewhat obvious topic, controversy.  You would think that by now the magical community would tire of judging the living daylights out of one another for their minor differences in preference, but no.  Casting spells for pay is still a hotly debated issue.  Some folks take their magic to be a sacred office and insist that no one should be paid for what is sacred.  This view is popular today, but it is by no means traditional.  The sacred office of ancient priestesses was a paid position that funded the temples. On a mundane level, if you want to get something from a knowledgeable person on any topic, you need to provide value.  In many cases, both ancient and modern, that value is money.

You will probably only have to deal with this issue when you're discussing your work with other practitioners.  Regular folks expect to pay for your work.  I have only rarely been approached by a non-practitioner who asked for free spellwork.  More often than not price is brought up directly after they finish making their request.  So you're looking at two sentences: "Can you do this?  I will pay you that."  But a fellow practitioner will keep you engaged in debate for an hour or more with no intention of engaging your services.  That may sound harsh, but it has happened to me on several occasions.

So decide first how you're going to handle this. My chosen method is to tell the person that we each have our own way of doing things and that they cannot dictate my choices anymore than I can dictate theirs.  This usually does the trick and they leave you in peace.  If they're particularly nasty about it, though, go ahead with a "If you were any damn good, maybe people would be offering you money!"  So, on that note, onward we go...

Another concern is that there is a limited market for this kind of work.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  It doesn't matter where you live, there is someone out there wishing they could meet someone like you.  When a person like that actually gets the chance to meet someone who knows magic, it is really rare that they are interested in casting for others.  Many practitioners won't cast unless it's a situation they completely agree with or have a personal stake in.  As you can imagine, it's not too likely that some random individual will be able to fulfill these obligations with their request.

Having only a handful of spellcasters who are willing to work for strangers means that each practitioner has the freedom to set up their business the way they wish and not be bound by what every other professional on the block is doing.  Also note that with less witches about there is less competition.  With a little effort, you can easily be the go-to caster for your town.

And that brings us to publicity.  Good word of mouth is your best asset.  A newspaper ad (if you can pull it off) might get you some attention out of curiosity, but having solid recommendations passed person-to-person will get you clients.  Interested parties tend to be regular people in desperate situations.  They are often professionals, parents, and those who consider themselves rational yet fairly open-minded individuals. They are always noted by their attitude of being willing to take a chance on anything if it works.  Speak to those people, and you will have a quick following.


How to Do a Good Job
Sure, it may seem easy to hang your shingle on the door and be open for any magical business that comes your way, but there are a few things to work through first.

How will you manage your business?  Unless you work from a storefront (lucky you!), you're going to have to arrange business hours and days of availability.  Now decide how you will make this public.  Keep it really simple and you won't have to bother with signs and other fanciness; people will just know when you'll be around and can easily spread the word to others.  Maybe your hours are weeknights after 7 or only on weekends.  Give a comfortable yet personal way to contact you (a cell phone number or IM, perhaps--not your house phone) and openly receive your clients at those times.  

Will you receive walk-ins?  Some people just want something small and they want it today. Can you provide that?  If you're doing this from home, you must realize that there's a good chance you'll get occasional surprise visitors (usually accompanied by someone you already know) on your doorstep during your "open" hours.  Can you have some goods ready ahead of time for them to take?  Set a reasonable price for these goods before you begin.  Try to make them all about the same value so that people know how much cash to bring.

Remember, too, that you may have to be firm about your hours.  Do not extend them unless you're ready to set that as the new norm.  If knocks at the door at 11 PM and phone calls at work are out of the question, you must insist that they stay that way.  People don't often recall that you made an exception for them, they just know that you were okay with it.

Your next step is to set your spells.  Don't feel bad about excluding certain types of magic.  For example, I really don't like doing love spells anymore.  It's not a moral thing, I just have had too many bad experiences from it in the past.  Many of the love spells I've cast were for people so painfully desperate that they could not let go of the situation so that the spell could work.  Others ruined their own success by acting weird when their love interest suddenly began to moon over them.  I can't work like this!  I just got so disenchanted with the whole issue of bringing together these people who won't let their own fondest dream come true that I don't even want to do it anymore.  So I hold the rule now that I don't do love spells.  Simple as that.  If a client wants one, there's other witches out there that can help them.

Choose the forms you are comfortable working with on a regular basis.  As you know, I really like formulas. So my clients get a lot of them.  But I also like many other things, too, like talismans, knots, novena candles, conjure/mojo bags, poppets, and anything with herbs.  I have a high success rate with them, know them well, and have all the goods to work them on a regular basis.  So that's my core and I pick spells from them when I'm going to work for someone.  This makes it easy for me to stay stocked up on the necessities and quickly research spells to use, as well as helping a client know what to expect from me.

What's Next
After-care of a spellcasting is another important part to consider.  As I mentioned before, some folks are not
too keen to let you do all the work while they twiddle their thumbs.  They get restless and can end up working against their own objective.  Giving them things to do can be a real help to the both of you. Anything from positive affirmations to repeat every time they have doubts to ritual baths to consecrated talismans can work in both a magical and a mundane way to console their restless minds and further your efforts.  Consider how you will offer these things and when, plus what kind of items and advice you will give.

Another aspect of after-care is how long you will be available to clients after the spell is cast.  I've had folks that came, got their spell cast, and I never heard from them again.  And then I've had those who thought that fixing all their problems forever would be a life-long effort on my part.  If you're still receiving calls about the ups and downs of a client's relationships or their job months after you're done with their spell, something needs to be done immediately.  And before you get ahead of me, this isn't about whether or not your spell worked; problems that don't have a definite ending will always have the potential to turn from wonderful to not so favorable from time to time. Let's say your client wants to improve their relationship with their mother. Things go well after the spell is cast, so they call and share the great news.  But then mother gets ill and they are worried.  So they call and ask your advice about whether years of your directed anger made her sick.  Now she's on the mend but resentful of the amount of time your client was unable to be at her bedside, so they call and worry that the spell is failing.  This can go on for years!  Make your clients aware of how long afterward you will be available to discuss the matter.  After that point, they should know that they will be responsible for maintaining what you have created.

Being a professional spellcaster can be a difficult job but with a few tricks you can simplify it into a very rewarding one.  Make the essential points clear to clients: the value you offer, the price you request, time to wait for results, what to do in the meantime, and what will happen afterward.  Tell them the kinds of spells you cast, when and where the working will take place, and if they are allowed to be present.  Make sure they know that they are responsible for coming in with a clear idea of what they want to have happen (though you can counsel them with this beforehand, if you choose), how much information they're willing to share, and to obtain some personal item of the target if such is necessary.  Let them know your terms before you begin and you have a greater chance of a successful result for all concerned.


Next time...

Spellcasting as a Job--pt. 2: What It's Like to Work for Others

Images from:
witchesofeastend.wikia.com
lovespellsandmagic.com



0 comments

Paths to Power and How to Walk Them

Author: Quill / Labels: , , ,

The title of "paths to power" can mean different things depending upon one's tradition.  Gardnerians hold them as eight methods that are used individually or in combination to create magical effects.  In essence, they are the building blocks of a magical rite.  Another name for that list is "The Eightfold Path," like Buddhism's system for achieving enlightenment.

But what we're talking about here are the methods by which a practitioner improves his/her art. By now, I believe, we're all well acquainted with the ways in which a spell can be cast.  We know about chanting and astral projection and meditation, and even if we don't use them regularly we know where to go if we want to learn more about them.  But what great leap exists for those of us who have mastered the beginner stuff? Where does one go to gain magical edge?  That is just what we're going to talk about now.


Please note that this post is meant specifically to explain my latest chart, "Paths to Power," but all readers are welcome and not just parchment shoppers.  I think I can elucidate beyond what is written there, and the image will be more of an extension of this post and not the other way around.  But I don't want to oversell it, so let's begin so you may see for yourself.

To start, let me be clear that this is no definitive list and there are many more ways to achieve the same ends that I have not mentioned.  Each practitioner has their own favorite methods for nearly any objective in the occult, and this matter is no different.  But what I have outlined are the simplest, most straightforward (though challenging, as you will soon see) methods for becoming a stronger spellcaster with a greater body of power from which to draw.

As you see from the image here, my chart gives simple titles to each of the paths.  Generally, I would recommend deciding for yourself just how to act out these guidelines, but instead I will take you through them one at a time so that the full breadth of my meaning is clear.

Diligent Study
We're starting with one of the hardest objectives to obtain. Witches are all about knowledge, to be sure, but how many of us are really serious about our studies?  The answer should be "everyone," but that's certainly not the case.  Life gets in the way; we are just as easily distracted as anyone else and possibly more so.  The things we're being distracted from can be very hard work.

But dedication to study is dedication to progress, so we should be constantly chasing it.  However you need
to get the job done, do it.  Post to-do lists in your home and workplace reminding you to put time in on your practice.  Combine your efforts with a friend and motivate one another. Give up a favorite time-killer (video games, late nights out, TV, etc.) for a month so you can focus. Whatever it takes.  Reset your mind to make time every day for advancing your knowledge.

Study can take many forms, of course, but don't be deceived by what sounds appealing.  Do not go after study which feels nice (chit chat with other witches over coffee, for instance).  You must strive to make the body of your study based on that which is most effective.  Read the books that make you nervous, take notes, research, compare what you discover with what others have told you.  Listen to all sources, too: work at meeting new people, especially those with more experience, be social in a physical setting even if you have to create one (like forming a MeetUp group to get together in person or organizing a learning coven), ask questions of everyone you meet and record their answers.  This is how you grow.

Clear Goals
Maybe this should be first but, I swear, nothing could be more important than study, not even knowing what you want to do with that study.

Your goals should be both short- and long-term.  In the short-term, know where you're going with your spells. What would be the ideal outcome of this situation?  What will be the next step after your immediate goal is complete?  Plan ahead so that your spellwork becomes a running effort to guide that aspect of your life--and eventually, all other aspects, as well--into the direction you choose.  This makes you the conductor of the orchestra, not a player.

In the long-term, you should take some real time to analyze what you want magic for in the first place.  Why did you become a practitioner?  And I don't want to hear any answers about "coming home" or wanting to "get back in touch with nature."  I'm talking about why you chose to start casting spells.  This is a more serious question than it seems on the surface.  Some folks come to witchcraft because they need something to help them stand up for themselves, they have a hard time relating to others, or they want to leave behind the fatalistic attitude around them that puts the individual as a powerless instrument of an indifferent world.  But there are some that come for more disquieting reasons: a drive for control and/or punishment of others, wanting to feel different or superior to the masses, or as an explanation for strange or possibly dangerous "quirks" (I've met a surprising number of unmedicated Bi-polar sufferers who were deeply into magic).  Not all of these reasons are necessarily bad ones, but each person must know for themselves why they are here.  It can and often does affect their decisions as they delve deeper into witchcraft.

One other aspect I like to think about is just what you see when you think of the "perfect" witch.  I may have talked about this elsewhere but it bears repeating.  Something that kept me going when I was first learning magic was the clear idea I held of just what I felt was the most important and impressive parts of magic one could learn and exactly what a person who had achieved all my dreams would look and act like.  I saw this person in great detail, not only as a hope that someday I might be so fortunate as to meet or even study under her, but that I could possibly become her.  Doing this is more than a mental exercise; it's a direct vision of your future.  Work with it wisely.

Fearlessness
Traditionally, the witch is a creature with nothing but contempt for normality.  She rejects standard ideas on what is dangerous, what is ethical, and the lengths one must go to fit in with society.  Somewhere along the line we've traded that in for something far more safe and tame.

But if you're going to excel in witchcraft, you'll need a little of what she possessed as a birthright.  You will need to do the hard work, try things without a guaranteed outcome, and test the limits of accepted rules and barriers.  Gaining skill and wisdom is work, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and it requires guts.  You will have to really try for this, and what is more, you'll probably be doing it alone.  There have certainly been some harrowing moments in my history and I had to face them on my own.  But coming out the other side was moving and empowering.

Now, it may be treading on some toes, but I suggest you throw away conventional "rules" about what to cast and how to cast it, at least for now.  Until you've tested it out for yourself, accept nothing as the law.  As you've seen I don't subscribe to the Wiccan Rede or any version of it, nor do I feel indebted to every person I've ever cast a spell for or upon, but that is only because I dared to go against the common thought and see for myself.  For me, these concepts do not hold true.  I've never been dealt 3 times the good or bad I've given out and I've never felt tethered to someone I cast upon.  But that is what it's like for me; you will have to see what it's like for you.  My father (not a practitioner but certainly a magical person) says "If you don't push your limits, you won't know where they are."  This is your life and your practice--know the boundaries.


Strong Focus
This is something spellcasters are constantly striving for in a general way, but I also mean it quite specifically. Don't wish for it, work for it!  There are books and websites full of exercises to help you achieve longer and stronger periods of intense focus, but a way to begin today--with no tools or research--is just to become conscious of everything you do.  When you move and speak and think with awareness, you have taken the first step to increasing focus.  Contrariwise, when you have your mind vaguely set upon your current task but also invested in what will happen next, what happened yesterday, plus fears and hopes about each, you are diluting focus.  Give each action your full attention.  In the words of Ram Das, be here now.

And this translates to magic nicely.  As you cast your spell, watch and feel the movements of your hands, the shaping of ink into words, clay into a human image, herbs ground into powder.  Invite all your senses to the
party and really suffuse yourself with the experience, thinking of nothing but the moment.

Silent Observation
The hidden world has its secrets written in plain sight.  The answers you want are all around you.  But they're not going to scream to be heard.  So my advice is, as delicately as I can put it, shut up!  Observe nature and human behavior.  Learn to look at things without attaching judgement.  See the world and your changing life experiences as though you were a historian looking back 100 years.  Train your mind to see only the patterns and you will discover the pattern to everything.

Vigorous Exercise
Now here's where I might lose you.  As you may have noted from a recent post, exercise has become an important aspect of my life in the past year.  I have by now dropped 50 pounds and have been able to see and feel the vast ways in which I am different.  One of them is that my abilities have increased.  I know now that I have the kind of calm determination required to overcome any obstacle, I have trained my mind to work for me and stay positive and present, and I have turned a soft, sluggish form into a body of light and energy.  This isn't bragging, by the way, it's just how things feel for me now.  And my work reflects that.  If that sounds good to you, I suggest you lace up your shoes right now.

When I say vigorous, I really mean it!  As long as your doctor approves, you should be tackling the kind of workouts that make you think twice about why you got involved in the first place.  Breathe hard, sweat like water, push your muscles to the limit, give it everything you've got.  And do it every day.  If you can achieve this, it's almost like meditation--you're mind simply stops running.  There is no thought, there is only movement.  Only this moment exists.  It is an incredibly powerful technique that will give immediate results.  I don't often talk about auras and energy bodies and things of that nature, but exercise can get you flowing smooth and bright like nothing else.  It's as though you are a tree still dormant from a long winter, then suddenly spring breaks and your sap begins to run.  Then it's woosh! and you're bursting out all over with signs of new, fresh life.  On top of the standard health and beauty benefits of exercise that are so often mentioned, your power will quickly become the number one reason to begin and continue working out.

Humility Before Greatness
After all of this building up, we need to temper.  I can't stress enough how important it is to listen to others.  I have met many witches who did nothing in a conversation but wait for their chance to talk.  A particularly glaring example of such a lack in humility (though by no means an example of "greatness") was a fellow coven leader who contacted me through a public ad about joining our group (yeah, I don't know why she would join a second group either.  I didn't find out that part until later).  I met with her to discuss the focus of our coven's work, our rules and rituals, etc., and to see if she would be a good fit. After all, that was the point of meeting.  But she was not content to relinquish control, even concerning someone else's group, so she spent our entire time together trying to wrestle it from me.  I don't think I cleared the basics of our information in over 2 hours because she only wanted to discuss non-magical topics about herself.  In the end, she absconded with all my personal paperwork and the next time we met told everyone that I had been dying to join her group.  Nothing could be further from the truth, only because she was merely bent on wasting time and holding attention.  That is not how to learn nor how to teach.

So, firstly, listen to others.  Especially when you ask the question, put your teeth together and listen to the answer.  But remember this, too, when going to festivals, conferences, inter-coven gatherings, or any time you have the opportunity to meet with new people who might possibly have different practices and experiences from your own.  Be respectful and polite always, but especially with elders, leaders, teachers, and anyone whose dedicated time in the occult outweighs you own.  It's okay to fall into rank.  It's not a personal judgement and you're certain to be above someone else anyway.  But remember that you learn the juicy information those individuals have to offer only when you show that you deserve it.  Mouthy, self-important, insecure folks don't get the goods.

This also transfers to non-corporeal beings.  The Gods are not playthings, nor are they simple associations to add a little flavor to your spells.  Treat them with the kind of honor befitting a being much larger than yourself. Do the same with beings that are roughly equal to, but different than, humans such as the dead and beings from other planes of existence.

Dedicated Effort
If you have a teacher, congratulations!  You're a rare and wonderful breed.  If you do not, don't feel too bad--being taught in person requires a ton of effort and unless you have that to give, don't even think of it.

On that note, if you have a teacher, get the hell off the internet and go do your homework!  Teachers of nearly every variety give their students important self-study techniques, tasks, or reading material to do between lessons.  Get that stuff done right away, and do it well.  There's a good reason why you're being asked to do it, even if you can't figure it out yet.  Too many students balk at the idea that learning isn't all late night conversations and watching witchy movies.  What you get out of it is in direct relation to how much you put in.  So put it all in, if not just for the hopes of a stunning outcome but also in celebration of how fortunate you are to have someone to guide you.

If you don't have a teacher, however, you'll have to become one for yourself.  Set tasks to be completed, structure your study so that you're always progressing, investigate what you hear and read, experiment with the old and the new, become a student of magic itself.

Self Mastery
By now you see how many times self control figures into the plan.  There will come a time when the only thing standing between you becoming the next great thing or falling back into anonymous witchhood (or worse, leaving it altogether) is your ability to take charge of yourself.

So plan now for the flaws that might hold you back.  We all have something (or maybe several somethings) that become a block in advancement.  Take stock of your behaviors and reactions, your thoughts and your drives.  Your first goal is to be aware of them and then in time to be in charge of them.  Conquer doubts, fear, anger, and pain.

Don't allow yourself excuses like "I'm too shy/busy/old/young" or "that's not really my thing" when what you really mean to say is "I don't know if I can handle it."  Go forward with confidence into what will serve you best.  The only way to move with confidence is to know and have mastery over yourself.

Constant and Concentrated Magic
Here's the crown jewel: cast spells.  Cast them all the time, for big problems and small.  Do it for things that haven't even really erupted into problems yet.  Cast for those you care about, cast for better things at work and home, cast because the spell sounds fun.

And I'm not talking about idle wish-making.  I'm not even talking about lighting a candle and meditating on your intention.  I mean the whole deal--plan, research, gather components, prepare space, cast with everything you've got in you, observe, and then record.  Do it big and do it often.  Magic is a muscle that grows the more you flex it.  And if your goal is greatness, you better flex!


In all of this, I hope that you have been able to consider not only how you plan to walk one or more of these paths but also how much you really want it, how much you're willing to invest.  That alone can decide your fate.  When wisdom is the goal, knowledge and experience are the key.  If you are ready to learn and willing to try, there are no heights beyond your grasp.

Images from:
pinterest.com
legionofpagans.com

0 comments

The Magic of Thoughtforms

Author: Quill / Labels: ,

This is a topic so dear to my heart not only because of the number of times I've used thoughtforms, but also because of the emotional ties that are created with each.  You may find your thoughtforms becoming beloved friends with their own personalities, voices, and quirks.  And that is as it should be; to properly work this type of magic is to create a nearly-independent life form.  

Your vision of a thoughtform may vary, but don't be afraid to
let it be fanciful.  The more it inspires, the better the charge
you will be able to give it.

If you've never heard of thoughtforms before, I'll briefly explain.  But chances are that you have heard of them, and possibly even used them, because of the number of other ways they can be defined. Golems, fetches, artificial elementals, familiar spirits, servitors, egregores...they have slightly different jobs but are generally made the same.  All of these terms describe non-corporeal beings that are created by the caster from a fabric of energy to perform a specific physical function.  If that sounds difficult, prepare to be surprised.

There are a variety of methods that practitioners use to achieve this same goal, but to make things simple I'll just say what works best--anything you do to raise energy can make a thoughform.  And that's it.  Some folks like dancing, some chant, some like sex magic or drumming or just silent, steady focus.  Whichever of these (or none of the above) that gets you charged will work perfectly.  So now you know the fire, all you need is the hearth in which to tend it: the ceremony.

This is the method I use, and though not everyone will do it this way, it's simple and serviceable.

How to Create a Thoughtform

1.  Planning
Get into a comfortable position to begin.  Decide how you will raise the energy needed to fuel your thoughtform.  Choose a single purpose for your thoughtform's existence. You can arrange in front of you items, photos, and written phrases which will encourage your focus.

2.  Raising Energy
Start your energy-raising technique, be it active or passive.  As you do this, repeat statements of intent, words or phrases, or songs which represent your desire.  If you have arranged items for this purpose, repeatedly look at these things and speak aloud the words written.  You will begin to feel a charge of energy building up in your body.  Become aware of it and do whatever causes it to grow.

3.  Shaping Energy
Hold your hands out in front of you, palms facing inward.  Push all the energy you have built into the space between your hands.  You will notice it forcing your hands apart slightly.  Take a deep breath, pull your hands closer together again, and compress the energy.  Repeat the process again and again: build energy in your body, extract it to the space between your hands, and compress it into a solid sphere.

I guess it's not that crazy of an idea...
4.  Molding Thoughtform
When you have done this to a satisfactory point (a stiff ball that resists further compression), you can stop raising new energy and work this ball into a finished thoughtform.  Sit comfortably and refocus on your goal. Choose a final shape for your thoughtform's body.  You don't need to be restricted to humanoid or logical shapes.  For example, a very effective cursing thoughtform I made a few years ago looked like a Super Mario chain chomp.  Don't ask me why I chose it; it just made sense at the time.  

5.  Communicating with Thoughtform
See your thoughtform's image clearly.  Give it a name and speak it aloud.  Talk to your thoughtform while you're still holding it, giving it instructions and establishing a dialogue. It is essential that you can sense your thoughtform's responses or, if very strong, hear them.  This will allow you to learn information they gather as well as keep the respect of your creation.

6.  Instituting Respect with Rules
Give your thoughtform the name or title by which you are to be addressed.  This should remain constant in all communication.  They should answer questions with it, greet you with it, and leave with it.  "Sir" or "Madam" work fine, but so will any name you see as respectful and by which you are comfortable being known.

Tell your thoughtform the rules right away--how often you'll check on them (once to twice a day at first is good, after things start shaping up you can switch to once a week), how they are to arrive when you call (quickly and with a polite greeting), where they are to be when they're not with you, what they are to be doing, when their task will be complete (a sort of expiration date), and how they will be charged up when they run low on energy.

It's also important that you tell them what will happen if they disobey.  You must have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to a rebellious spirit.  All manner of unpleasant things can come of letting your creation run wild, so set clear limits on bad behavior.  If they do not come when called, for instance, warn them once aloud that if they do not appear when summoned you will do suchandsuch.  It's a generally effective threat to say that it will be banished instead of returned to its elemental source.  Remember to make good on this threat if they keep it up.

Ensure they understand all of this before moving on.

7.  Setting Thoughtform to Task
Now it's time to send your creation out into the world to do your work.  This could mean any number of things depending upon your goal and what kind of thoughtform you've made.  Reiterate their job, make sure they understand, note how they will be called for next time, and then send them off.  I like to ask if they're ready and then give one sharp clap with the word "Go!" and envision the thoughtform zipping off to work my will.

It's very important that you keep up a solid schedule of checking on your thoughtform.  At first it's easy to call on them a few times a day but as things in the situation get easier, you may end up thinking less and less about it.  Unfortunately, time spent away from you means time spent wasting away.  Your thoughtform needs energy to survive so you will need to fuel them up regularly or end up watching them becoming weak, sluggish, and ineffective within a few days to a few weeks.  The amount of energy they use will depend upon the difficulty of the tasks requested.

If you are using a thoughtform for cursing, you've got a great opportunity for keeping it permanently charged: instruct it to take energy from your target and not you.  Since it will be with your target all the time--and you're actively trying to drain the individual--it can easily remain fueled up on their energy.  If you're using the thoughtform for benevolent purposes or simply to gather information for you, just use your own energy to keep it working at its best.


Now that you know how to bring a thoughtform to life, let's talk some specifics of choosing the right one for you. (Note: I know this seems backwards, but we all know that the above information is what you came here for, not discussions on slight variance and nomenclature.  It's okay; I'd be the same way.)
The traditional reason Familiars are bright beyond
their species is the spirit which
inhabits their body. 

As I said in the outset, there are lots of names for these beings and they each have their own style. So here's a quick run-down of a few of the different kinds of beings that can be created and their function:


Golem--from Jewish folklore.  Golems are generally bound into an image of clay or stone.  The stories say that they come to life to walk and move like other living beings, but we're not interested in going to that extent.  Creating Golems is good if you would like an image to represent your thoughtform, you want an object to carry to keep it close, or you want to be able to call the spirit out and then send it "home" to the image when you're done.

Fetch--Irish origins.  Fetches are used to find and return with people or things.  It's handy to keep a fetch if you're working on large projects that require assembling items. Think of remodeling your house and hunting for the perfect kitchen table, bedroom drapes, and bathroom sink.  Tell your Fetch what you're after and have it go get them!  This form is also good for finding long-lost friends/family members, hunting rare plants, finding a teacher or coven, and looking for out-of-print books.

Artificial Elemental--This was the way I first heard about thoughtforms.  Unfortunately, it was so damn long ago that I can't quite be sure where I came across this term.  But no matter its origins, an Artificial Elemental has become much more than just a synonym.  These are beings created out of an element and, as such, can be used for multiple purposes pertaining to their element.  You can make one of each, if you like, but to save confusion I suggest you create one based on the element with which you're having the most difficulty in your life right now.  Need money, a stable home life, and a better job?  Work up an Earth A.E. and go through your problems one by one with its assistance.

Familiar Spirit--We normally think of Familiars as being animals, first and foremost, but in earlier times it was considered a powerful spirit who only happens to be bound in a living body.  While you can call existing spirits into a creature's physical form, it's much more specific to create your own being for this purpose. Traditionally, this is how to make any animal into a magical creature who will understand and follow your instructions.  Familiar spirits are general servants and companion spirits.  They are similar to non-corporeal beings but with a physical body, they can do a lot more.  Have your Familiar keep watch at your front door, be present at your spells to add power, and go out by night to keep an eye on friends and enemies.  For those of us who practice alone, having a Familiar Spirit can be a great comfort.  They might be the only one in your life who really understands.

Servitor--This term comes from trade (as a glassblower's assistant who does the preliminary work) and education (as a undergraduate at Oxford who serves a higher member for college funding).  In magic, we're talking about a general servant.  This is the kind of being who will be at your side, keeping evil at bay and strengthening your protections.  In most ways, this is like a Familiar Spirit without the body.

Egregore--from the Golden Dawn and Rosicrucian traditions.  Here we have a sort of spirit that is created from the "group mind" of a coven working in harmony.  When a group is focused together with one thought in mind, something greater is created than any of them could have made alone.  This is the Egregore, and its influence can be quite long-lived when done well.  The ability to conjure these beings is one of the main incentives for joining a coven.


Here are a few quick links to get you started:

Artificial Elemental Ritual  
Artificial Elemental Techniques 
Notes on Egregores 
Creating Artificial Elementals


As you see, there is very little required for creating thoughtforms and yet they can produce results as impressive than the most arcane spells.  I hope this has been enlightening to the point that each of you will be outside tonight or in a quiet room, calling up Fetches and Servitors and Golems.  Together you will cultivate a deeper knowledge of magic, plastic reality, and the workings of that magical marvel, the human mind.


Images from:
Deviantart.com
Goodfon.su
pinterest.com

0 comments

Quit Writing Your Own Spells!

Author: Quill / Labels: , , ,

What I'm about to say is probably the most inflammatory statement this blog has yet seen, but it is all completely true.  I have experienced it over the course of my 17 years as a witch and am prepared to back it up with historical information.

There is a theory rather new to the magical community which states that only newly-minted spells should ever be cast.  Proponents of this idea write fresh material for every situation, and suggest that all others do the same.  What follows is an argument on why this is nonsense.  As a theory it has no grounding and in practice it makes magic worse.


The Theory

1.  No historical basis
To begin, this is a modern theory.  You will not find Agrippa discussing it.  In fact, you will see just the opposite--traditional works are great champions of the magic worker being a hard worker.  Reading, researching, calculating, divining, channeling...all in the name of a better cast spell.  Nowhere do they mention basing magic on one's intuition or a list of correspondences.  This was time-tested information and created to be used time and time again with reliable results.

2. Makes no logical sense with other standard magical practices
Which makes one ask, "Just why would generations of magic workers bother with carefully writing books, creating charts, and calculating formulas for precise spellwork if any old spell you can write in 5 minutes would do the trick?"  That is the question.

Alongside this is the normal expectation of keeping a Book of Shadows or Grimoire.  These books are a sort of magical diary for many, but their primary function is as a register of all the spells a witch has cast and their outcomes.  Why would anyone today even keep a book like this if it were meaningless to reuse a spell?  And who would ever pass on a book to another witch when such works would be worth even less to another?

3.  It sounds like a ploy 
Whether or not those working under this assumption are actually trying to deceive others (and I can easily believe that they are not.  Many of those I've heard it from are innocently passing along what they have heard, but about which they have no direct knowledge), a statement like this smacks of a desire to make oneself distinct from the crowd.  It happens a lot in conjunction with phrases like, "Real witches know the truth..." and "You don't really have to do suchandsuch; that's for newbies."  These are easy to pass around, sound smart when saying, and gain some easy street-cred by bestowing on others.  Knowledge and the illusion of knowledge are not, for casual purposes, so different.

The magical community is run on knowledge--gaining it, hoarding it, sharing it, selling it, even stealing it.  Whatever it takes, we love being "in the know."  There are quite a few concepts floating around us that make us sound like we have access to some secret information that not everyone is privy to, and their infectious nature is so thrilling that they are rarely questioned.  This is one of them.

Never have I heard a proponent of the "new spell theory" share just where they learned it, or--more meaningful to a practitioner--personal stories where it proved true.  I would be willing to accept the concept's validity if I was told something like, "I spent two weeks casting pre-written spells and nothing happened.  Then I wrote my own and in 30 minutes---presto!"  You would think this kind of statement would happen a lot, but it doesn't.  And that's a shame because from that alone I could understand why one would choose to believe and share this "rule."  With neither personal gnosis nor tradition to back them up, I just can't find any reasons to accept it.

4.  Its reasoning seems to come and go
So are we all to write brand new spells because 1) they're stronger, 2) they work better, or 3) using pre-written spells is just taking the easy way out?  I've heard all these answers and a few more.  Which is it?  Can they all exist at the same time or is one the truth?  In light of the fact that none of the folks I have personally heard this from have any experiences from which to draw to support the claim itself, I can't imagine that these statements are any more compelling.

Besides, what is "stronger" when it comes to magic?  What is "better"?  I've cast some spells that didn't astound the world but I can't say it was because I used a spell with an expiration date.  Sometimes the timing is off, you're tired or distracted.  Maybe you're so deep in the desperation of your problems that you can't focus on eradicating them.  Or maybe you're having a bad day, you're experiencing a slump, or otherwise off you're game.  These things happen and they can crop up for a variety of reasons or no reason at all.  There just isn't one easy way to make sure every spell goes perfectly every time.

The other reasoning I've heard is even more confusing to me: Every spell we cast must have our personal stamp so if you must cast a pre-written spell, change something--anything--to make it your own.  Why?  First, what reason is there to need every spell to be made your own?  Do you alter every recipe in a cookbook or switch around the seams and darts in a dress pattern?  Any time you cast a spell, bake a cake, or sew a shirt, you have made it yourself and you have put your own energy into it regardless of whether you followed the instructions to the smallest detail or not.  There is no further tweeking necessary to identify it as your work.  And second, if the goal is not to change for the better but simply change something, you will nearly guarantee a poor outcome.  It's impossible to receive reliable results from arbitrary changes, magical or no.


The Practice

1.  Writing is time consuming 
In practice I find this idea cumbersome.  I cast quite a few spells, big and small, on a regular basis.  Most often I work the little stuff several times a day: speaking charms and using formulas to stay safe, get my way, and smooth the rough edge of an average day.  I can't imagine using a different charm on Tuesday from the one on Monday.  And the spells I cast that are more substantial--require tools or a list of components--are often put together with very little warning.  I need something, go to my workroom, scan the bookshelves for the spellbook I need, and flip to the right page so I can begin working.  If I had to sit down and write a new spell I doubt I could manage it that fast.  And if I did, of what quality would it be?  Which leads me to my next point...

2.  New spells are often poorly written
Now this isn't a judgement on your writing skills or my own, but it is often seen that a writer who is crunched for time can't put out their best work.  This is especially true when the piece has as many specifics as a spell carries--a solid rhyme scheme, meaningful words without ambiguity, positive phrasing, and a memorable rhythm.  I might be able to come up with parts of a spell rather quickly, the components that would work for my cause and how I can use them, but any spoken/written parts take a considerable amount of time to form. And so they should.  Why is a quickly jotted spell better than one which took shape over the course of days or weeks?  Why would a poet's delicate phrasing be dumped in favor of whatever 4-line ditty I thought up on the spot?

When I see the quality of the free spells available online I'm reminded of this fact.  With little to no research, herbs, stones, colors, and even deities are plucked nearly at random and briskly stirred together with a glitter covered wand.  That doesn't represent what I think of as magic.  It almost makes the rampant plagiarism found online preferable (almost).  You can usually recognize them by how carefully they are constructed.

3.  It works in favor of those who spurn any kind of investment
The magical community is known for its difficult attitudes towards money.  Some shun the very thought of connecting any payment with magical work, others are open to reimbursement only for the cost of materials. We love books but the online community is rife with stolen material because we don't want to pay for them. We want more classes, more teachers, more workshops, more public events, but we don't much care for compensation.  Professional spellcasters and tarot readers are regularly called shysters by our own kind purely on the basis of their fees. Providing value is a hard road to walk when you're constantly told never to expect any in return.

Because of all this, it's easy to see concepts creep into conversations which support getting something for nothing.  "Free magic spells" are some of the most searched keywords for witchcraft.  To think that this, shall we say thriftiness, could be a virtue would put a lot of minds at ease.  And what could be more thrifty than writing your own spells and having them only call for items you already own?  I totally get that.  But I don't at all condone it as some sort of rule or witches' "secret."

Magic is meant to be an investment.  You put your focus and your energy into this time, this object, these words, this movement.  And what you get out of it is the return on your investment--an amplification of the energy you put in.  Magic doesn't have to cost a lot of money but a little outlay does quite a bit to enhance its effects.  Get the real silk ribbon, the beeswax candles, the good ink on parchment, and your spell will reflect that effort.  Leave the dime store stuff behind; use a bit of finery instead of a truckload of garbage.  And the same goes for written spells--find an author whose words work for you and cast away.  Check out the old grimoires (most of which are in the public domain and are truly free online) and see how the greats did it.  If you wish to write your own work, have at it.  But please don't feel like there is no other way.  To do so is to be willingly blind to treasure.  

4.  This idea can easily inspire less casting
I honestly don't know how a witch who follows this idea can get anything done.  The research alone would cost me more time than the actual casting of a spell.  And couple that with the fact that one can never revisit old works, no matter how effectual they were, and you'll never save time again.

You know, that may be my biggest issue with the whole thing.  I like to re-cast spells.  I like going through my old BoS and seeing something I did 10 years ago and casting it again for a new situation.  I like knowing that the spells I'm working today have been worked by countless other practitioners in other times, in other countries, for other problems I couldn't possibly imagine. But always there is a link between us, a thread that holds us together even though we've never met.  It's human desire, love, dreams, hope for better things, and a trust that life itself is not cruel but can be reasoned with.  I like being part of that chain and knowing that the work I do today will continue on with my children and students, moving onward into an unseen future.  I want to remain a part of that chain, so I will continue to use the old spells and any new spells I create will be carefully crafted to last for another lifetime.


Whether you decide to write your own spells or use the tested materials of others, I hope only that you do so with awareness.  If you follow the "new spell theory," take some time to test it.  Take notes, record your work with both types of spells (or have yourself and a friend cast different spells for the same purpose in your respective lives, and share the outcomes), and see how their fare.  Share spells with coven mates and friends, compare ideas, and work to improve your success rate in whatever way works for you.  But please don't turn away from generations of written spells.  Don't toss your BoS and believe that no one will ever want or need to read it.  You are a part of that living chain, the same as I am, and what moves with it can only build in power.  

Images from:
free-witchcraft-spells.com
shutterstock.com

0 comments

How to Get What You Want

Author: Quill / Labels: ,

Be honest--this is what we're all here for.  No matter how many altruistic feelings you have as you cast spells for the healing and happiness of others, you're still working to change what is into what you want it to be.

That is the nature of magic and you shouldn't be ashamed to admit it.  Magic is essentially manipulative--as in molding, shaping, and transforming with your hands--and manipulation is a helpful tool in the magic and in the mundane.  If you don't think that our human interactions (and, indeed, life in general) is manipulative, just take a look at dating, job interviews, buying and selling, and both sides of parenting.

There's a give and take to these relations, and sometimes one or the other must be gently--or not so gently--coerced.  You pretend not to be too interested in a house so you can negotiate a better price.  He plays it cool on a date and she's intrigued.  Sons and daughters know just the right way to ask so that a parent is compelled to say "yes."  It's not right or wrong, it's just how we get things done.

But when it comes to magic, sometimes we just lose it.  In the chaos that ensues as we try to bail our sinking ship, we make choices that go completely against our efforts.  We go at the task with a bucket in one hand, a tea cup in the other, and two spoons in our teeth.  Our intention to quickly right our ship by using every tool and every limb fails miserably. Energy spent, water rising around our ears, we can at least congratulate ourselves for holding off the flood as long as we did. But we could have done a lot better. We could have taken a stern look at our tools, our space, and our energy reserves, picked up the bucket and scooped a full gallon of water back to the sea with every movement.  I'll show you how to do just that.

Simply put, it's not the spell you cast that ensures you get exactly what you want. Instead, it's all about organization, timing, and agility.

All practical magic is based on this information.  Unfortunately, no matter how many spellbooks you own they can never teach you how and when to use the spells they contain.  Few newcomers are willing to learn from a teacher, though many really need one because this is precisely what they teach.  To begin...

Organization

Looking at your situation as though it were a puzzle--and not a personal catastrophe--is the very first step. You must be pragmatic about it!  Forget, for the moment, about the good and bad; forget your fears and your hopes.  Forget about whether it's a curse or a cure you're about to cast and down what lane of the
shadowy future it might lead.  Just make your thoughts orderly in any way that helps you.  I suggest you write down the exact problem on paper and really look at it.  What's your angle?  What are your goals here?  Write a list of short phrases that represent the outcomes you desire.  Let's make an example: Jenny's sister is starting fights and making the whole family miserable.  As Jenny sits down to work, she puts aside her anger at her sister, frustration over the shattering of her family, and feelings of shame for contemplating casting against her own sister so that she can be clear about what really needs to happen in the situation.  She makes lists, does some divination, and talks with friends until she knows just how she wants to attack the problem.

Now you can go through your books and find spells that relate to your desired outcome.  Don't do this step before you're really clear or you'll end up with a ton of great, but thoroughly muddled, ideas without a clue on how to proceed.

Write down the name, source book, and page number for each spell that fits.  Have 2-3 spells for each angle of the problem so you will have options later in the planning process.  In the case of Jenny, she decides to look up spells for family harmony, ending strife, and binding troublemakers.


Timing 

 This is more than picking a good day and time, and even more powerful of an option than calculating Planetary Hours.  The timing I mean is at what point within the situation.  If you know you'll be seeing your target in person next week, you might wish to forgo a distance spell and opt for working something more intimate instead (like sprinkling him with powders, secreting a talisman in his belongings, or plucking a strand of hair from his coat to use in a later spell.  Sometimes, too, things will need to happen in a certain order to have the best outcome.  Maybe your boss has to wait for a phone call, attend a meeting, and go over paperwork before she can discuss your raise with you.  This early in the day is not the time to work a spell so you can eloquently make your case for a generous raise.  Work on other aspects of it now and do your eloquence spell right before you go in her office.  This is a more efficient use of time and ensures that the right changes happen in the right order.  After all, you wouldn't want to be a wit in front of the copy boy and then a dope with the boss, right? Keep your focus on what you need and how their remedies are to be arranged.

So Jenny's sister has stirred the pot again and then left town.  She won't be back for two weeks, so Jenny's got plenty of time to work on home matters.  She clears away the misfortunes Sister has left in her wake and brings clarity and peace back to her family home.  Maybe she will add a little strength of will to the other family members so that when Sister returns, they're ready to stand up against her bad attitude.

Agility 

 This is always last because what we're talking about is a "think on your feet" type of mentality that keeps us continually aware of what we have to work with at the moment.  Nothing happens in a vacuum, magic included, and we need to be ready for reactions. This is why some people have such a hard time with cursing. They lob a curse at their enemy and think the situation done (same problem with love spells, oddly enough).  But it isn't done--targets feel the effects of the spell and react, and they do so in whatever way feels natural for them.  Some grow sullen and depressed, certain that life hates them and they must recoil to be safe from it.  Not a bad option from the caster's point of view.  Other targets will lash out with anger, frustration, or jealousy and only cause further damage for you to clean up.  This is a witch's nightmare.  Unless you want to micro-manage every target, you're better off casting a spell with a fairly predictable reaction that you can work to your advantage and then (as needed) casting on the new situation that is created by the change.

Jenny decides not to bind her sister but instead to bolster the rest of her family because their safety is her primary concern.  They are happy and unified when Sister returns.  She tries bits of her old tricks and they don't work; the family remains solid and efforts to divide them fail.  Sister feels the brunt of spells she feel are effectively taking away her power, and she reacts.  Because Sister is overly dramatic she is furious--and possibly scared--and so goes wild and fakes a serious illness to regain sympathy.  Jenny's family, now strong and aware, tires of her antics and ignores her.  Jenny sees that Sister needs reigned in with stronger measures and decides to bind her for the safety of everyone concerned. Sister's behavior is halted and Jenny's conscience is clear.

You see how Jenny's spells worked?  She made an orderly task of it, worked within the brackets of time that were the best fit, and then allowed the changing situation to dictate the rhythm of her working.  She didn't need to whale on her sister with the strongest curses she possessed, nor did she need to confuse or exhaust herself by working all her spells at one time.

So there you have it--the quickest way to get what you want from anyone, any situation, any time.  It is as simple as the mundane manipulations we perform every day, and should quickly become just as obvious an option when you are contemplating the brewing of another of life's storms.  Just remember to stand tall, choose your bucket, and bail your ship with a firm hand!


Images from:
prismmagazine.ca
everythingunderthemoon.net

 

0 comments

Who is This "Joe Pye"?

Author: Quill / Labels: ,

Of all the useless things people have named for them--cocktails and sandwiches and diseases...I'd rather be like Joe Pye.

Joe Pye was an Indian medicine man of Massachusetts, or so the legend goes, with such skill at healing the incredibly difficult disease, typhus, that the lovely Gravelroot was given his name.  Whether or not this was exactly so is a matter of opinion.  There doesn't seem to be a consensus on the matter among scholars (though, if you're as devoted to wild plants as I am you might like to read this in-depth article on just how very far the search for Joe Pye has come), but that doesn't stop the legends from rolling along.  

But, brilliant Indian herbalists aside, who is the Joe Pye you are likely to meet in the present-day woods?  A tall and stately figure with whorls of leaves rising in decreasing layers to meet a crown of fragrant purple flowers.  He is a lovely sight in clusters by the side of a creekbed and impossible to miss in a meadow, towering over the heads of every other plant. The butterflies and the bees love him dearly.  And so does the witch.

I won't bore you with the habitat and growth-cycle business of Joe Pye Weed, nor with its impressive medicinal uses.  I'm certain that many folks enjoy this kind of detail in other witchcraft pages but I regard it purely as packing material for filling out otherwise meager magical information.  And I don't ever like excess packaging.  So we're just going to tuck in to the good stuff right away, shall we?

If you don't have this plant in your stocks now, I suggest you remedy that right away (and not just because I sell the whole leaves in my shop).  If you find it growing wild, so much the better, because every inch of this plant has its own magic!  The leaves are the most commonly used, so we'll start there.  Lay a whole leaf in the sole of your shoe and everyone you meet will regard you with respect.  Tuck a leaf in your cheek (as though it were a pinch of snuff) and your words will be pleasing to the ears of the one whose amorous attention you seek.  Carry it in your pocket or add to formulas and mojo bags to bring gambling luck and general good fortune.

The flowers are another matter altogether.  Their focus is all love: drawing it, keeping it, strengthening it, and regaining it. There is also a lesser known method, noted by Catherine Yronwode of Lucky Mojo, for using Joe Pye blossoms in rites to inspire visions.  Call up spirits to answer questions on love and you'll neatly combine the two.

Before Joe came along, the root was the "big show" and the originator of the common name of this plant. Called Gravelroot, Gravelweed, and Kidneyroot, it is a clear standard for the root's use in treating kidney stones (that's all the medicine I'll talk, I swear).  But for magic, it's more about what's in your pocket than in your kidneys.  This is the part to use when you want money luck, business success, a new job, or prosperity in general. Roots can be carried alone or as part of a mojo.

Gathering Joe Pye Weed is a simple matter.  As always, carefully count the number of plants in any grouping (if you are taking roots or whole plants) and the number of leaves per plant (if only gathering leaves).  Your harvest should be no more than one-quarter of the total.  And I'm completely serious.  Unless the whole of it is about to be mowed down, never take more than is your share.  This ensures that there is enough for other witches, herbalists, and botanists, plus the wildlife who call its habitat their home.

Once you have your Joe Pye Weed at home, inspect each piece and wash where necessary.  Roots will need scrubbed with a stiff-bristled brush and leaves gently rubbed with the hands under cold running water. You will need to allow leaves to air dry for an hour on a kitchen towel before further processing, but the roots can be hung up to dry immediately.  Any area in the home with plenty of circulation will work for this.

If you would like to press your leaves, as you see them in my shop, you can layer them between sheets of plain paper and then weigh it down with large, heavy books.  Let your leaves rest this way for only a few days at a time.  Leaf pressing takes much less time than you think, and leaf molding is faster yet.  So watch your leaves!  You won't spoil them by checking in every other day. When they are quite flat, let them sit in their papers but without the weight so they can finish drying completely.

The other drying method is, of course, much simpler--just let them sit uncovered on a tray until they are curled and crunchy.  Crumble and pack away in a bag or bottle.  Done. This method is what you'll want if your goal is Joe Pye Weed you can add to bags and formulas: quick drying and easy to store on a spice rack.

Joe Pye Weed has become a favorite herb of mine not only because all parts are useful but because I call upon its virtues so often.  I always keep the leaves on hand because of the amount of public speaking I do (large and small) and the number of people I'd like to impress with that speaking.  It's something I keep in my emergency kit, give to our kids for school events, and have tucked in nearly every mojo I have carried. Couple that with its inclusion in my popular magical powder, Quill's Bag of Tricks (currently sold out), and I must keep a good supply year round or face a bewildering span of time until they grow tall again.

But now is the growing season, when all green things are lush and bright, and Joe Pye stands sentinel at his high purple post in the meadow or by the stream.  When you need him you can find him there, always ready to help.



Images from:
wvu.edu
color photos taken by author



0 comments

Is an Exciting New Witchcraft Book About to Shock the World?

Author: Quill / Labels: , ,


This is the question I keep asking myself.  At the moment, I am deeply immersed in the revision of one of three manuscripts I have written for possible publication, and forming a book proposal for another.  Both are difficult tasks, challenging what I think I know about what a reader deserves, what a publisher expects, and—most importantly—the actual worth of what I’m writing.

To start things at the beginning, please note that I am a writer only in the sense that I cannot seem to help myself.  I don't use the term because I've been in print in the past, frequent a prestigious writing workshop, or have a regular column in a magazine (though that would be cool).  Instead, I can only term myself as such because any time I wish to express something formidable, I always end up doing so with pencil and paper.  When I want to interact with the world, I write.  When I want to teach, I write.  When I want to be creative just for fun, I write.  So it seems as though the two of us, myself and the printed page, will never managed to quit the relationship we've built.  But (and this is quite important) that does not mean that I am any good at it.

It’s a heavy matter, contemplating greatness or absolute lousiness.  The last thing I want to do—as a writer, as a witch, or as a person—is fool myself.  Trying to make it in an industry built on creativity can be like looking in a funhouse mirror—sometimes you seem like a giant, sometimes a distorted mite.  Just because my book is about magic and witchcraft doesn't make it salable.  Just because I understand a publisher's issues doesn't mean I can satisfy them.  And just because I know the magical community fairly well doesn't mean that my book can fill its needs.  But it is just as likely that with the right polishing I've got a million-dollar idea that publishers would fight over.  I may just have what the community needs most—a book of thrifty, beautiful, natural methods for increasing knowledge and power in the beyond-beginner spellcaster.  I can teach you to find your own ingredients, make tools lovelier than those in stores, find ways to grow as a witch no matter your limitations, and work several forms of traditional magic at little to no cost. Lots of illustrations, lots of let's-cast-this-right-now inspiration, and absolutely no moral dictating.  Any interested readers out there?  

Some people believe that if one is compelled to do something then it must certainly be because they are perfect for it, they have a genius that will not be denied.  In reality, I've been drawn to many artistic endeavors throughout my life with mixed success.  Looking at it realistically, I’m not a fantastic guitar player despite spending nearly all my free time practicing as a teenager.  I wasn't tremendous then and I’m not now.  I only cared about it a great deal and enjoyed it.  That is a lot, of course, but that guarantees only pleasurable music, not great music.  In the book proposal process I've had to think of some very hard truths about my manuscript and one of the questions I’m forced to ask is just that: am I making only pleasurable music?  That wouldn’t be a problem if I was writing as a hobby or self-publishing to pass out to friends and family.  But in the book trade at large I have to be so much more.  The world of publishing is painful, a near constant slash at one’s ego.  And it’s more money driven than in the past.  The houses are more cautious about taking risks, the editors are more strapped for time, and the author is called upon to do a large amount of what used to be insider work. If I’m going to weather that, I’ll need some capital-g Greatness.  Conjuring that will be like pulling a rabbit from the hat.  If all goes well, I won’t reach in and find it empty.
 

But right about now, surrounded by stacks of paper, scrawled lists penciled in on the intermixed post-it notes, and endlessly—hopefully—seeking impressive Google search keyword results for my topic, I dream that there are readers out there wishing just such a book were available.  We might be on opposite sides of
the country, or even the world, and there is no signal on the line between us because there is no line.  That’s what drives me on at these times.  I know that if I give up altogether on producing a book or decide to just go small and distribute it on a purely local scale, that reader will never get to see it.  So I go on doing the hard work of putting up the poles and running the cables so that when at last my book is in its beautiful binding and I tap out my Morse code message, there will be many stations receiving.

Images from:
freeehdwall.net
rwwgroupblog.com

0 comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Powered by Blogger.

Blog Archive