Casting Spells- Part Two

Because of the importance in getting help from your inner self in bringing forth anything into fruition I want to add a bit to the previous post. To recap, make a spell as clear, as personal, and as lyrical as possible. In addition realize that the word 'cast' is an operative word. Cast the spell out into the world as something that is essentially yours,something deep and dear to you. That visualization of 'casting' it out will give it a bit of oomph and pixie dust. It will also get your inner self to commit to it a bit more. A spell is a ceremony of commitment. Just like standing up and committing to a relationship with another person by saying 'I do' you are committing to results when you 'cast' a spell. Do not treat the casting of spells like wishes offered by a genie from a bottle or a whim. They can too easily go off target, have no power, or bounce back on you to your hurt. In some ways a spell is nothing less or more that fully saying "I will." That act of saying 'I will' embodies the faith in your ability to receive, achieve and deserve. I will become a published writer. I will buy a car. I will lower my blood pressure. I will get a college degree. Anytime anyone has said anything like that they have not modified it by 'I think' or 'maybe'. When you are planning you spell decided if you need to break you big spell down into little spells. Maybe you need to say thing like; I will get into college, I will raise the down payment for a car, I will take up aerobic exercises. Again I want to emphasize that the main point I want to make in this post is about the mental act of 'casting'. Do that with strength and flair. Reach out to the magic that surrounds you to help you get the energy for a good spell and cast it for all you are worth. May the spark be with you.

Magic Basics-Casting Spells

As you read in the lore of magic you realize that spells are endowed with ritual and ceremony. They are framed and performed in such a way that they seem to have a lot of power and importance. They are not cast lightly. Think about this in relationship to the power your subconscious has. If you want to impress on it changes and get it to help you create your new life a well crafted spell will be just the thing. Your subconscious perceives things differently than your left brain does. The workings of the subconscious are not easily evident, they are hidden or occult. Magic is called the study of the occult. To craft a spell state the desired change in as lyrical, clear and happy way as you can. Bring in any sensory messages you can. Here is one I might use: "I am writing, I am writing large on the canvas of life, clothing my message, my vision, my values in all the joy, fun, and excitement that I can bring forth. I am writing for the hearts and eyes of my precious readers, whoever and wherever they may be. It is so.' Spells are clear, assertive and reach out into the universe for you, as well as getting your inner self to help you. Let the energy of the magic that surrounds you help you to craft some spells for yourself. Once you have cast them it will be easier to stand behind them and work to bring them into being. Cast spells for positive changes in your life. If you have negative things in your life do not react with negativity. Craft the spell so that you stay positive. Here is a possible example. 'I recognize that I have lessons to learn in this situation. I proclaim that I will become clear about all and I will move toward self nurturing behavior in this situation. If I need to negotiate I will do so. If I need to break ties I will do so. I recognize the right of all for respect, especially myself and my soul. It is so.' May you be able to cast good spells for yourself. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Story

A good story really has an impact, whether it is considered true or fiction. Good stories have a deeper truth. People are now looking back to stories about the ideals of the Kennedy years. Those were real ideals but the stories have power now fifty years later. Another example of the power of story is from the movies, Harry Potter (series) and Avatar. People in Pakistan have been noted putting on protests for better government dressed in blue as the characters in Avatar. There is a group known as HPA (The Harry Potter Alliance) dedicated to doing good works around the world such as relief in Haiti. So as a wise magician I suggest you find a way to clothe your magic in a good story. Tell yourself and others of the changes you want with flair and power. A good story has an impact. Don't simply say, I will go to school. Try instead a story about how you will celebrate the magic of your gifts by attending school, but you will struggle. You will eventually overcome all and will add greatly to a better world. Every good CPA, plumber, teacher, mechanic, does add greatly to a better world. Do not put yourself down. During the Middle Ages, in many countries, many adults and children as well streamed to the Holy Land to engage in The Crusades. This was before media had much power. The stories of the need to take back Jerusalem from the infidel captured the imaginations of all these people just by hearing them word of mouth. The medical and scientific knowledge that was held by by Muslim world would never have gotten back to Europe so well without the Crusades. All this because of the way 'story' called out to people. Novelists and film makers often do a great service to the world by identifying an evil and inciting a struggle against it. The artist may not be trying to cause changes but the stories do have an impact and changes often happen. Find a good story for yourself and be true to it. I once read that 'if your life is not working you are following the wrong script'. Harness the power of story for yourself. May the spark be with you.

Magic Basics-Using The Wand

Cause and effect is a basic part of magic. If you are not getting the effect you want you are "casting the wrong spells or mis-using your wand". I want to remind you that 'wand' is a metaphor for your mind, your attitudes, your actions or any tool you use to bring about the desired changes. So if you are not getting the desired changes it is good to stop and look at your practice of magic. You may not be clear about what you want. You may be pointing the wand in the wrong direction. If you have seen any Harry Potter movies you may have noticed that the students at Hogwarts school get very detailed instruction in their use of their wands. Just knowing there is a wand does not mean it will be used correctly. If you know that exercise will help you become healthier it also helps to exercise. Once I entered into a less than wonderful relationship because I had read "any relationship can be improved that can be talked about". I kind of blanked out the 'talked about part' and either because of his machismo or my shyness the relationship was never talked about and never improved. I didn't pick up the wand that had been presented to me. Using your tools is an art and a craft that is best approached with dedication and responsibility. We can all learn to manage our moods (that is one very effective magic wand). Being in control of yourself gives you control of your life. We can learn to use our mind better as well as develop other skills. So if you need to make a change in you life look for the tools to help you make that change. Some of the tools/wands you might use are: clarity of thought, self-nurturing, courage, creativity, cooperation with others, planning, research, among others. Don't be afraid to recognize the need for a better life. Become clear about your desires. Then reach out for them. If you are hit and miss about your goals they will be harder to achieve. Some people hold their desires inside until the need breaks out in anger. Then they exhibit such extreme anger that others react in negative ways, rather than agreeing to help that person achieve their needed goals. That is a very poor use of the magic wand. The wise magician recognizes that all have a right to a good life. Learn how to use your tools and get the good life for yourself. May the spark be with you.

The Band Wagon Effect

"Jumping on the band wagon" is a term for getting caught up in the excitement of the circus parade of life and joining in with others in what they are doing. You can use this as one of your magic wands for making positive changes in your life. Since we do learn from others and are social beings you can look for a 'band wagon' to jump on to help you with your needed or desired changes. A recent example in my own life is the use of a pedometer. I know I need to walk more. I have been hunting for ways to get myself in gear about this. Today my sister told me that the teachers in her Utah school district are "walking to Maine". The district has issued them pedometers and they record their steps with the school office. She told me a couple of funny stories about the way she feels compelled to make sure she gets every step recorded, such as not wanting to walk around her bedroom after she had changed her clothes until she got the pedometer back on her waistband so she didn't 'waste any steps'. Suddenly the pedometer my doctor had issued me didn't seem like such a lonely boring instrument. I found myself jumping on my sister's bandwagon of using a pedometer to motivate myself to walk. Of course the magic that surrounds me helped me find the old one I had very easily. It had been years and a different living location ago. Jo had also told me that if the battery was low it would not record accurately. That was also part of the magic giving me help. The battery was probably low when I got it, as it hardly seemed to record at all. I had just assumed that I wasn't one it would work on and put it away. But today I wore it all day, even with the low battery, just to acknowledge that I was trying to add steps. Tomorrow I will get a new battery and start recording in earnest. Each day, I am confident, I will try to make sure I at least do not walk less than the day before. I will also find ways to add steps. I suggest that you, as a wise magician, add the band wagon effect to your arsenal of magic wands. What changes do you need to make? Can you find others who are excited about making the same or similar changes? Jump on their bandwagon and go forward toward these changes. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Sparkle

The people of Disneyland know about the importance of sparkle in motivation and marketing. Calling their theme parks 'The Magical Kingdom' adds to the lure. You can add the same sort of lure to your endeavors if you plug in 'add some sparkle' to your own mind set. I was having some trouble motivating myself to do some 'tie up loose ends' work in my writing. Then I asked myself which principles of magic I could use to help myself get in gear. I realized that throwing a bit of pixie dust on my work would help a lot. It wasn't that hard, I just had to shift my focus a bit. My stories are imaginative and fun for me to create. But editing, tweaking and such was not. I shifted back towards enjoying the stories and that gave me the sparkle to do the more mundane work they needed. Polishing my work will end up giving it more sparkle. I just had to remember that. Now I can take my pixie dust and sprinkle it on other things. When I exercise I will make sure I have the best music I can set up to help me. I will arrange my plate for my nutritious meals with all the color and flair I can manage. I will make sure I am comfortable when I pay my bills. I will add all the magic and sparkle I can to my life. The other night I was able to spend a couple of hours in the company of my favorite one year old boy. He flirts, laughs, chatters and plays with a great magical quality. Every wise magician could learn from this boy. He draws goodness to himself by his sparkle. I suggest that you look around you and identify the places in your life that can use some sparkle and add it. Music, humor, color, taste, companionship, hope, are all part of the sparkle you can add to help you have a better life. You can even make up games to help you cut out the negative things that will hover around. The energy of magic is there for you to use. Don't hesitate to take advantage of that. May the spark be with you.

The Magic Of Community

The wise magician will cherish his or her community. The people who have the same values and goals as you do will strengthen and uplift you. They will go out and find out things you need to know and bring that back to you for your growth or joy. We all belong to several communities. I meet with several different writer's groups but I also feel part of several other communities. I believe in human rights, in being concerned about the health of the environment, in reason in government, in the arts, in the importance of education, in preservation of historical landmarks, in animal rights, in nurturing children, in humor as an important part of life, in good nutrition, in toleration, in the importance of science, among other things. So when I find out about the efforts people are putting forth for these different causes I feel like they are part of my family or community. When I can I do put forth an effort to encourage these causes as well. Because I feel part of these communities I seldom feel helpless or invisible. Just by bringing things to the attention of others I believe I have helped to pass on the magic. I suggest you take the time to explore what you believe in and would like to have happen to make this world a better place. Then use your opinion or voice as a magic wand. Speak up for your causes. Just sharing the news of a good article or program on TV will be a good start. Magic is not always thunderbolts. It can be gentle and persistent. By knowing your values you will find many small ways to act on them without stressing yourself, because the burden is not yours alone. Your community of people throughout the world are acting with you. Let the energy of the magic that surrounds you help you speak up for your causes. May the spark be with you.