I Put A Spell On You
By Jackie Joice
We’ve seen it before on television or the silver screen, a frazzled individual in a dark room with a candle shaped in the image of a male or female or genitalia. The individual’s shadow is towering and projected onto the wall. He or she strikes a match, lights the waxen image, mumbles a few lines and — voila — he or she soon finds true love. Does it work? You had better believe it, but not necessarily in this manner and the truth may surprise you.
Hollywood’s portrayal of Wiccans and the “craft” is, for the most part, false and inaccurate. Unfortunately, this demonization and stereotype of Wiccans sells. Who can blame the entertainment industry for capitalizing on stereotypes? Tinsel Town has been profiting from stereotypes for decades. The truth is, wiccans are ordinary people living ordinary lives. Nothing more, nothing less.
Casting a spell is no different from praying, repeating affirmations, meditating or wishing. Asking for a desired outcome is all about one’s intention and what an individual focuses his or her energy upon. When one prays, that person is addressing God or a god for the request. However, the description of spell-casting in the first paragraph is far from reality to a true practitioner of the craft. Casting spells involves intense research, planning and detailed knowledge, according to Glory Vernon, an ordained priestess and Wicca instructor currently residing in Long Beach.
For a spell to be successful, it must be performed under strict guidelines. For example, Venus symbolizes love. So if one wanted to cast a spell to attract a lover, Venus must be in a favorable planetary position. One must know what hour to conduct the spell and what colors and herbs to utilize. More importantly, one must be specific about what he or she wants. If one is not specific, results can be disastrous and, in some cases, fatal. In fact, Vernon actually discourages her students from casting spells of this nature. Vernon prefers teaching her students to love themselves. Once an individual possesses self-love, he or she can attract a possible mate instead of controlling the will of another. The motto or creed of Wicca is: “Harm none; do as you will.” This creed applies to all the world’s inhabitants, including animals and plants.
According to Mathew Watkins, a gay Wiccan and former Long Beach resident, “ a spell is simply magic in use. Magic, then, is causing reality to conform to your wishes. The Secret (by Rhonda Byrne) is very popular of late, and that is a kind of magic. Christianity and Judaism are full of magic — turning wine into blood and wafers into flesh.
“You don’t get much more magical than that,” Watkins continued. “Waiting for Elijah at the Sader dinner? That’s a kind of magic, because Jews really expect him to come through that door any minute.”
There’s no law against performing a love spell, but if one’s not careful and knowledgeable, one can attract an obsessed lover-turned-stalker that may cause more pain and havoc than one could imagine. Like attracts like, and — more importantly — you must be careful what you ask for, because you may get it, and not necessarily the way you planned it. The key is to love oneself and practice positive thinking and doing. If you’re looking for love, don’t look, just be available, attend social gatherings and look your best at all times. Then, maybe, that soul mate will manifest. It’s that simple.
Contact Vernon at www.thelivingmuse.com, or contact Watkins at thecarny@magicalarts.org.