Play Your Own Devil’s Advocate

When it comes to spells, blessings, hexes jinxes and curses it truly does fit the old witch’s proverb

“A blessing and a banemaker on the same branch.”

But what does that mean? It comes down to this, magic whatever it’s purpose comes from the same place and is thus subject to some of the same rules and pitfalls. Or, the more commonly used caution: loopholes.

To get a better understanding of loopholes and how they work, just look to pop culture, folklore, fairy tales and you’ll see them in bright technicolor. Stories of people making a deal for something and it backfires. Wishes granted but in strange ways, things taken literally etc.

So, my tip is to work backwards. What’s the end goal or your base of the spell, and play around with it! Pretend you’re a tickster and figure out all the ways you could make it go sideways.

“I want Jessica to stop being mean to me.”

What could be done with that? Does Jessica leave you alone because there was an accident in the family and she quits her job? Does she stop bugging you because suddenly your best friend becomes her target? Maybe she gets a promotion and you no longer report to her, and she makes your life miserable because she gives more work to your team (she’s not directly pestering you, but by association.) or maybe she becomes suddenly fascinated by you and wants to be your best friend in a cloying way.

Maybe you’re trying to do something nice! “Ronald is less stressed about his relationship.”

Suddenly Ronald is apathetic not just in his romantic relationship, but friendships too! Maybe he doesn’t have to stress about the relationship because his girlfriend/boyfriend breaks up with him. Maybe he stops being frustrated in his relationship because he quits his job and moves to Atlanta. Or, maybe he stays frustrated in the relationship but 5 years down the line he has the perfect one because you didn’t specify time.

Take a look at those “simple” spells and see how a genie would mess with it. It can also help give you inspiration for other spells and workings. Maybe you don’t want to pass the buck to your friend when Jessica is on a tirade, but could you direct it at the jerk from accounting? Kill two birds with one stone as it were.

Figure out the most ridiculous interpretation of a spell, and if you’re inclined, share it with me!

I know a with who wanted to make plants grow more...and weeds suddenly took over their herb garden. Oops.